Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2013

 

A New Look at Prince-Regent Zai Feng’s Dismissal of Yuan Shikai

(Abstract)

 

Li Yongsheng

 

Zai Feng’s dismissal of Yuan Shikai was inevitable, as he had long resented Yuan’s betrayal of the Guangxu Emperor at the time of the Hundred Days' Reform of 1898 and was in addition suspicious of Yuan's overwhelming power and influence. Before his dismissal, Yuan had tried to seize financial power and had strongly advocated that China and the US exchange ambassadors. Taken together with memorials from the official supervisors accusing Yuan of having so much power that he threatened the throne, these factors led to Zai Feng's decision to dismiss him. The idea that Zai Feng wanted to put Yuan to death or try him makes no sense, and the view that Yuan fell because of the failure of his policy of alliance with the US against Japan is contrary to the historical facts. Although the Japanese government was happy to see Yuan dismissed, it was not engaged in any conspiracy to bring him down.