Книга только для ознакомления
. Under the circumstances, however, it would be
impossible to accept his resignation as his services to the
country just at this juncture were indispensable. She would,
however, appoint a substitute to go into mourning for him, and
this with the knowledge that she had borne a son whose services
were so necessary to the safety of the government and the
country, would be a sufficient comfort to the spirit of his
departed mother, and Yuan was forced to continue in his official
position as Governor of the province without the intermission of
a single day of mourning. Such is the elasticity and adaptability
of the unchanging laws and customs of the Oriental when in the
hands of a master--or a mistress--like Her Majesty the Empress
Dowager.
One can imagine that in proportion as the Empress Dowager was
pleased with the statesmanship manifested by Yuan Shih-kai in
unintentionally reseating her upon the throne, in a like
proportion the Emperor would be dissatisfied with it as being the
cause of his dethronement. This was not, however, against Yuan
alone but against the father-in-law of the present Regent and
even Prince Ching as well. During the whole ten years, from 1898
until his death, while he was a prisoner "his heart boiled with
wrath" against those who had been the cause of his downfall.
It was not until the Boxer troubles of 1900 were over, and Yuan,
by the masterly way in which he had disregarded the imperial
edicts, had protected and preserved the lives of all the
foreigners in his province, keeping peace the while, that honours
began to be heaped upon him
|
