Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland

Name: China Under the Empress Dowager — Chapter 12 The coup d'état of 1898
Author: Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland

China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

Summary

“China Under the Empress Dowager — Chapter 12 The coup d'état of 1898”, published in 1914, is a work by Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland. It explores elements such as Jung Lu, Yüan Shih-k'ai and Empress.

Quotes from China Under the Empress Dowager… (Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland)

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ At this first audience Yüan Shih-k'ai was informed of the Emperor's determination to maintain and enforce his reform policy, and was asked whether he would be loyal to his sovereign if placed in command of a large force of troops. "Your servant will endeavour to recompense the Imperial favour," he replied, “even though his merit be only as a drop of water in the ocean or a grain of sand in the desert; he will faithfully perform the service of a dog or a horse while there remains breath in his body." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ At this first audience there had been no mention of the proposed removal of Jung Lu. Scarcely had Yüan left the Jen Shou (Benevolent Old Age) Palace Hall, than the Empress Dowager summoned him to her own apartments, and closely questioned him as to what the Emperor had said. "By all means let the army be reformed," said the Old Buddha; "the Decree is sensible enough, but His Majesty is in too great a hurry, and I suspect him of cherishing some deep design. You will await a further audience with him, and then receive my instructions." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ The following Decree was thereupon issued by the Empress Dowager in the Emperor's name:—
"The nation is now passing through a crisis, and wise guidance is needed in all branches of the public service. We ourselves have laboured diligently, night and day, to perform Our innumerable duties, but in spite of all Our anxious energy and care We are in constant fear lest delay should be the undoing of the country. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ It was her intention there to confer with Jung Lu before resuming the Regency, because of the unmistakable hostility towards her then prevailing in the southern provinces, which she wished to allay, as far as possible, by avoiding any overt measures of usurpation until her preparations were made. On the 1st of the 8th Moon, the Emperor, who was then in residence at the Summer Palace, received in audience Yüan Shih-k'ai, the Judicial Commissioner of Chihli, and discussed with him at great length the political needs of the Empire. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ He was to put Jung Lu to death and then, returning immediately to the capital with the troops under his command, to seize and imprison the Empress Dowager. The Emperor gave him a small arrow, the symbol of his authority to carry out the Imperial orders, and bade him proceed with all haste to Tientsin, there to arrest Jung Lu in his Yamên and see to his instant decapitation. Kuang Hsü also handed him a Decree whereby, upon completion of his mission, he was appointed Viceroy of Chihli ad interim, and ordered to Peking for further audience. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ Under the present conditions of our Empire it is of the first importance that our defences be strengthened, and it behoves Yüan Shih-k'ai therefore to display all possible energy and zeal in the training of our troops, so that an efficient army may be organised, and the Throne's determination to secure homogeneous forces be loyally supported. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ His duties are evidently of no light responsibility, and funds having been specially raised for this enterprise, we command him now to betake himself with all despatch to Shanghai; he shall on no account procrastinate any longer. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland, China Under the Empress Dowager… (1914)

“ To secure this end it was essential that Jung Lu, the Governor-General of Chihli and Commander-in-Chief of the foreign-drilled forces, should be put out of the way, and this before the Empress could be warned of the plot. The Emperor therefore proposed to have Jung Lu put to death in his Yamên at Tientsin, and then swiftly to bring a force of 10,000 of his disciplined troops to the capital, who would confine the Empress Dowager to the Summer Palace. At the same time the most prominent reactionaries in Peking, i.e. ”

Edmund Trelawny Backhouse and John Otway Percy Bland

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