In order for a society to complete a major change, it is generally necessary to go through two separate ways.

The first is to smash the old state apparatus and establish a new regime through violent revolution.

The price of such a change is extremely high, a large number of people will have to shed blood and sacrifice, and the war will also cause great damage to all aspects of society.

This kind of change is expensive, but it is easier to change because the old things have been smashed and do not exist anymore. The state apparatus built on the ruins of the old is itself a change from top to bottom.

There is also reform, that is, the preservation of the old state apparatus and the search for change. Or rather, the use of the old state apparatus to bring about change.

Such a reform and the former are much less expensive than paid, but the change is much more difficult.

The old and new ideas, all kinds of old and new forces, are intertwined, and there are repeated games, contests, and struggles.

Every step taken will go through difficulties and twists and turns, and it will be accompanied by huge social pains.

The Wuxu method belongs to the latter.

The main content of this change is: to use reformists in personnel, such as reformers Kang Youwei, Huang Zunxian, Tan Sitong, Liang Qichao, Yang Rui, Liu Guangdi, Yan Fu, Lin Xu, etc., have all been reused.

Economically, the Bureau of Agriculture and Industry and Commerce and the General Bureau of Roads and Mines were set up, and the establishment of industries, the construction of railways, the exploitation of mineral deposits, the organization of chambers of commerce, and the reform of finances were promoted.

Politically, the way of speech was widened, and the people were allowed to write and talk about things.

Militarily, the green battalion was eliminated and a new army was formed.

Culturally, the Eight Stocks were abolished, Western studies were promoted, the Jingshi University was established, a translation bureau was set up, students were sent to the West, and scientific works and inventions were rewarded.

The main purpose is to learn from Western culture, science and technology, and scientific management systems, develop capitalism, establish a constitutional monarchy, and put the country on the road to prosperity and strength.

Yuan Shikai played a very disgraceful role in this reform, and many people believe that the failure of the Wuxu Reform was because he was betrayed by Yuan Shikai.

There are reformists and conservatives in the Wuxu Reform Law, which faction does Yuan Shikai belong to?

The occurrence of the Pentecostal method is not accidental.

In April 1895, news reached Beijing that Japan had forced the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki.

Under the organization and initiation of Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and others, 1,300 people who took the examination in Beijing jointly wrote to Emperor Guangxu, bitterly stating the grim situation of the nation's peril, and putting forward the proposition of refusing peace, moving the capital, training troops, and changing the law.

Although, due to the obstruction of the diehards, this book was not sent to the hands of Emperor Guangxu; However, this can be said to be an exercise in the Wuxu Method.

After the failure of the book on the bus, the reformers actively carried out propaganda and organized activities, wrote books and lectures, and introduced the lessons and lessons of foreign law reforms. Many newspapers and periodicals, societies, and schools have been established in various localities to create public opinion and cultivate talents for the reform of the law.

On August 17, 1895, Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and others founded the "Universal Gazette" in Beijing to advocate reform and organize a strong society.

In terms of ideology, Yuan Shikai definitely belongs to the reformers.

Since he was young, he was not a conservative person, otherwise, his road to the imperial examination would not have been so bad.

In North Korea, he used the "Western Method" to train the new army, which shows that he is open to the outside world.

He has been stationed in Korea for more than ten years, and often deals with Westerners, how can he be the same as those frogs at the bottom of the well in the Qing court?

As early as July 1895, Yuan Shikai became acquainted with Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, and presented the Book of Ten Thousand Words to Rong Lu for Kang Youwei.

In August 1895, when Kang Youwei organized the Strong Society, he was one of the participants and an activist. He once donated 500 yuan to the society and mobilized others to donate.

In December 1897, Yuan Shikai wrote a letter in support of Weng Tongyi, who had changed the law, and openly declared: "The current situation is dangerous, and it is necessary to change the law. ”

Soon after the incident, Yuan Shikai continued to write: "In China's current situation, it is not enough to strive for self-improvement, and it is not enough to improve oneself by sacrificing the law of change. …… The reason why countries are rich and strong is that they use people who change the law to change the law; The reason why I am poor and weak is that I use the old people to seek the rule of law. ”

In March 1898, Yuan Shikai was still discussing the reform of the law with Weng Tonggong.

It is clearly recorded that Yuan Shikai is "the way that his words must die and be divided, and the law must be changed in order to preserve several provinces".

Not only that, but in the early days of the reform, he was still a strong advocate of the reform.

On August 24 of the same year, Lafayette and Emperor Guangxu decided to go to Tianjin for a military parade in October, and rumors were rife in Beijing and Tianjin that Ronglu was going to abolish Guangxu during the Tianjin military parade.

To abolish Guangxu, for Lafayette, it is as easy as a snap, why do you have to wait until the Tianjin military parade? Obviously this is nonsense, a rumor.

But who made this rumor? Both reformers and conservatives are possible.

If it is a radical faction among the reformers, the aim is to intensify the contradictions and urge the reformers to take further action to remove the stumbling blocks of reform as soon as possible.

If they are conservatives, the purpose is also to intensify contradictions, create tension, induce reformers to take drastic actions, and find an excuse to suppress reformers.

Whether it was a radical or a conservative in the Restoration, their purpose was achieved.

Because, the reformers fulfilled their wishes.

Whether Kang Youwei or Liang Qichao, no matter how angry they are, they also know that these individuals are bare-handed, and they also know how much power the Guangxu Emperor they rely on has?

Hearing rumors, these scholars of the Restorationists lied, they wanted to find a grip for themselves, they wanted to grab a gun.

Do they also know that in countries with backward systems, in countries where there are guns and are the kings of grass, it is the barrel of a gun that comes out of power?

They quickly found their target - Yuan Shikai.

Because, among those with heavy troops, Yuan Shikai is the only reformer.

In Kang Youwei's view, Yuan Shikai is simply a hardcore reformer.

Previously, Kang Youwei had considered the issue of using Yuan Shikai.

He believed: "Among the generals, Yuan Shikai was stationed in Goryeo, knew foreign affairs, talked about changing the law, used to run a strong society with his colleagues, and knew that his people were different from Dong (Fuxiang) and Nie (Shicheng), and he was the only one who could save the military power. ”

But the relationship between Yuan Shikai and Rong Lu is well known, and Kang Youwei is "worried about Rong Lu's use, and refuses to do it", so he sent his close disciple Xu Renlu to test Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai asked Xu Shichang to receive him, and Xu Shichang used ambiguous words to deal with it.

The self-righteous Xu Renlu thought that he had succeeded in separating the relationship between Yuan Shikai and Rong Lu, so Kang Youwei drafted a secret training officer on behalf of Xu Zhijing, and recommended Yuan Shikai to Emperor Guangxu.

He also asked Tan Sitong to hand over the secret fold, and asked Yuan Shikai to enter Beijing to meet with kindness in case of contingency.

On September 11, Emperor Guangxu ordered Ronglu to inform Yuan Shikai to come to Beijing to see His Majesty.

Although Yuan Shikai is in favor of changing the law in his heart, he is different from Kang Youwei and others in that his mind can still remain calm. He had to think more, and he had to weigh it harder. Receiving Rong Lu's notice, at such a sensitive time, the emperor's summons must have been unusual.

Yuan Shikai immediately informed Xu Shichang to come to Tianjin, and then sent him to the capital to inquire about the news, he wanted to know the truth.

At this time, there were more and more people in the imperial court who opposed the reform, and the Guangxu Emperor obviously felt that Lafayette's attitude against the reform was becoming more and more tough.

Emperor Guangxu knew that his power was limited and his influence in the court was limited, and he was very frightened.