In the 11th year of Xianfeng in Qing Dynasty (186 1), Emperor Xianfeng collapsed in Jehol Palace on July 17th, and the eldest son of the Sixth Prince was appointed to the throne, with Pai, Prince Yi, Duan Hua and Jing Shou as command ministers, as co-organizers, Yin Mu as military affairs minister, Kuangyuan as the left servant of the official department and Zou as the right servant of the ritual department. This is the system of "taking care of life" in the Family Law of the Qing Dynasty. Neither Empress Ci 'an nor Empress Cixi, Zai Chun's biological mother, wanted to be marginalized by power and worried about their throats. They were dissatisfied with the arbitrary power of Su Shun and others, and they clashed with the supreme sovereign minister of Gu Ming.
On the first day of August, Prince Gong, the half-brother of Wenzong? In the Jehol, Yin Dian knocked on Zigong, Ci 'an and Cixi summoned them in the name of the Syrian family, and the secret merchants worked together to deal with Su Shun. On September 30th, two queens summoned Prince Gong Yi? Gui Liang, Jia Zhen and Minister of Military Affairs Wen Xiang. Accuse the minister of life and try to put forward the idea of listening to politics. Prince Gong then sent Qin Bing to order the sudden arrest of Zai Yuan and Duan Hua. Speaking of Prince Rui Renshou, please escort him back to Beijing by the way. On the first day of October, the imperial edict awarded Prince Gong the title of "Yi Wang" and took charge of the military department. Later, he was appointed Minister of the Interior, and he was given double salary to show kindness. The left assistant minister, the left assistant minister, the right assistant minister Shen and the right assistant minister Bao are still walking in the history of military affairs, and the girl Cao in the crack of the temple is still on probation. 106, the imperial edict ordered Zai Yuan and Duan Hua to commit suicide and beheaded Su Shun. The remaining five people, Jing Shou, Yin Mu, Kuangyuan, Du Han and Jiao Youying, were dismissed. Chen Fuen, the most secret party aid official, was exiled to Xinjiang and his assets were confiscated. Huang Zonghan, the most secretive person, was dismissed and will never be used again; Outside, assistant minister Liu Kun, Cheng Hao, Taipu Temple Shao Qingde Kedai, and alternate Jing Tang Fu Ji were also dismissed.
126, Prince Gong, together with the university students, ministers of the Sixth Department, the Ninth Department, John, Zhan, Ke, Dao, etc., met the Empress Dowager personally in charge of major affairs, and fixed the power of the Empress Dowager with hanging articles of association. So that the Empress Dowager of the two palaces actually took all the power of the emperor. On the first day of November, a ceremony was held in hall of mental cultivation. The "Caring for Life" system became a "hanging curtain" system. Empresses of the two palaces are in charge of the imperial court, while Prince Gong is in charge of the overall situation. It has been 103 days since the death of Emperor Xianfeng, which is a coup that shocked China and foreign countries.
Regarding the Xin You coup, one view holds that the Xin You coup is not an accidental event, but has its specific historical conditions. It was caused by the disharmony between literate Sect and Prince Gong, which in turn led to Su Shun's favor and Prince Gong's abandonment from the ranks of ministers in charge of life. The struggle between Empress Dowager Cixi and the minister in charge of life for supreme sovereignty has caused a dispute between the system of "taking care of life" and the system of "hanging curtains". Take Dong Yuan's suggestion as an example. This event marks an open struggle between the highest levels of the ruling class. At the same time, Empress Dowager Cixi was the biggest beneficiary of the "Xin You coup". The success of this coup enabled her to enter the political arena, thus winning the highest power of the country in one fell swoop and actually ruling China for nearly half a century. Therefore, the academic circles usually regard "a coup in the heart" as the mastermind or game of Cixi after the death of Emperor Xianfeng. Conspiracy and instigation.
In this regard, it is questioned that the mastermind of the coup was not Cixi, but Yi, who was widely supported at home and abroad at that time. Group. A coup in mind is the inevitable result of the imbalance of power in the Qing court, and it is a historical accident that Cixi came to power through a coup. The reasons include: first, there is no doubt that the army played a decisive role in the success of the coup. The military deployment of the coup was made by Sheng Bao, an imperial envoy and assistant minister of the Ministry of War, who had the strongest military force in Beijing. Although Shengbao has been an official to a bachelor's degree in cabinet during Daoguang years. After several ups and downs, he didn't have any contact with Nora as his inner concubine, nor did he see Cixi participate in the military deployment of Shengbao. Why did Shengbao decisively stand on the side of Cixi and Yi in the coup? On the one hand, because he made enemies with Su Shun and his gang on the eve of Xianfeng's escape to Jehol. Second, because he and Yi? Cooperate closely and tacitly. According to Weng Tonghe's diary "Wen Gongdi (Yi? ) Back to Beijing, I heard that St. Kezhai (Shengbao) went to Beijing ",and according to" Jehol Miza ","Today Gong (Shengbao) arrived on the 15th, and I don't know how to take measures to see the palace in the city. ), I know everything myself. " It can be seen that after Shengbao arrived in Beijing with the troops in September 16, there was enough time, and it was entirely possible to have a good relationship with Yi, who had just returned from Jehol. Meet and plot. If there are conspirators in the military action of Shengbao, is it also a game? And it didn't succeed until it was out of Beijing. /kloc-After September of 0/6, Shengbao further dispatched troops, and he also went straight to Jehol to "leave tigers and leopards in the mountains" and stood by for action. All this is obviously without the planning and participation of Cixi. Since there is no evidence that Cixi participated in the planning of decisive military action, the theory that Cixi instigated the coup seems unconvincing.
Secondly, it is equally doubtful that Cixi instigated "playing the curtain to listen to politics". Attending the memorial service were Shen Bao, college students Zhou Zupei, Jia Zhen, Minister of Finance Shen, Minister of Punishment, etc. They are all Yi? Party followers have nothing to do with Cixi. Obviously, Cixi, who is far away from Jehol, can't instruct them in terms of personnel relations or geographical barriers. As for Dong, who took the lead in "listening to politics", he was the suggestion of Shandong Road at that time. He was just a small local official and did not know Cixi, who had just been promoted from concubine to empress dowager. His petition was sent out on September 10 and sent to Jehol on September 14. And at this time, huh? I haven't returned to Beijing from Jehol. Due to the limitation of personnel and time and space conditions, it is difficult for Cixi to direct the performance of Listening to Politics. And Dong is Zhou Zupei's favorite pupil, and his promotion should be inspired by Zhou Zupei. It is worth noting that all the plays about "listening to politics behind the scenes" put forward that "the queen mother has the right to temporarily manage the affairs of state affairs", with special emphasis on "simplifying and supporting the prince's assistant government", which is obviously intended to make the brother respect the prince. Seize power.
Third, Cixi and Yi? The most powerful evidence of conspiracy is the game? On September 5th, I met an uncle and sister-in-law of the Empress Dowager Miyako in Jehol Palace. The report said that on September 5, Yi? I rushed to Jehol on the grounds of mourning. "It's time to knock at Zigong Palace, and the audience shouted. After the sacrifice, the queen mother summoned me. Brother Gong, please meet the Imperial Palace. No, I'm alone. At this time, Xu Fang went out. " Miza in Jehol, which is of high historical value, also revealed that it is a game? After arriving in Jehol, I spent some time alone with the Queen Mother. What is "unique" is not clear. Therefore, we can infer Cixi and Yi only by indirect estimation and speculation such as vague "independence" and conspiracy. It is inevitable that there is insufficient evidence to plan this coup in that "temporary meeting".
Fourth, although Cixi's ambition is great, her wings are not full enough to be the mastermind of the coup. Until "listening to politics", it was almost impossible for the main participants in the coup to become the confidant of Cixi. In contrast, it is the rising game that has the strength to instigate the coup? Group. Internationally, Britain, France and other countries openly support Yu Yi? Group to replace the stubborn Su Shun group, and even intend to use force to achieve their goals. At home, because of Su Shun and others in 1858' s "Wuwu Kechang Case" and 1859' s "Counterfeiting Banknotes Case", scholars hate their guts. Now, seeing that Su Shun and others care about Xianfeng's life, everyone is in danger, so they play chess soon. A big party formed around it. Even general officials like Sengqin expressed their opposition to Su Shun and eight other ministers. Not only that, huh? He also scored frequently because of his achievements during the Beijing peace talks and won wide support from Beijing bureaucrats and military circles. On the other hand, Cixi at that time, besides the name of Empress Dowager Cixi, could she expect a coup? The back of the object?
On this basis, Chen Chao pointed out that Cixi had no army at that time, lacked human relations and was limited by time and space conditions. Obviously, there is no reason to be the mastermind of a coup. The mastermind behind the coup should be Yi? With his closest friends. Together with Empress Dowager Cixi, they urged Empress Dowager Cixi to "listen to politics behind the scenes" to avoid the suspicion of "insurrection" when seizing power from Minister Gu Ming. Empress Dowager Cixi, who was extremely greedy for power and extremely clever, was very willing to join hands and was pushed to the stage in this coup. It can be said that the coup in mind is the inevitable product of the power imbalance of the Qing ruling group, and Cixi's coming to power through the coup is a historical accident. The contingency of history provides an opportunity and stage for Cixi's authoritarianism.
After reading the above two viewpoints, it can be said that in order to really figure out who is the planner of the "Xinyou coup" policy, the academic community needs to continue to study and explore in order to solve this historical unsolved case.