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| Case: 1876 demolition of the Qing court on the pretext of the public railway Wusong |
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In 1863, British and American trading firms in Shanghai by more than 20 guns team to help defeat the Qing Suzhou Taiping regained the occasion, the joint request to allow them to build a self-made Su-hu railway from Shanghai to Suzhou. Li when he was governor of Jiangsu, although intended, but awed by the literati nationwide boycott of Western technology, not Shanzizuozhu, pushed the matter to the court. Li conveyed to the court for the Western business people: only China's own railway construction and management, will benefit the Chinese people; while employment in the mainland Chinese government will not tolerate a large number of foreigners.
The so-called must be made by the Chinese themselves to the railway's answer is just a pretext. 20 years later, the court not only has no intention of self-made railway, on the contrary, it on the pretext of public opinion in 1876, demolished in China's first railway. |
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[Foreign: first railway built up without the knowledge of the Qing say]
Qing railway construction will rise to the height of ideology, be classified as "Road" despised by the "clever tricks and wicked craft." This is a direct result of foreign firms in the plan to build a railway Wusong deceptive means - in 1872, they formed a body called the Wusong Road Company, then bought the land along the outside Shanghai is announced to build a common Wusong road, in order to obtain local government support. Some foreign companies are optimistic: the first railway repair up suddenly, perhaps enough to get the last Qing tolerated and even recognized.
In 1874, the laying of the railway company formally started, as many as 2,000 workers once. January 20, 1876, all built for embankment and began laying the tracks. Thus, the construction of the railway is not unusual for the intention of the road completely exposed, in order to avoid the interference of local government, laying the tracks very quickly, less than a month to complete the full three-quarters, then, locomotive whistle Stoke start trial operation , made of raw rice cooked rice.
Government's response is really strong. Taiwan Feng Road Shanghai court set fire by the light requirements of the British consul in Shanghai, Medhurst stop train traffic. Feng said: Wusong British companies set up the day the road construction is permitted only an extraordinary way, and now it is made out of railway lines were ultra vires. Two Rivers Governor Shen Pao-chen also called for the immediate suspension of the remaining sections being laid.
Subsequent negotiation process and its complexity, this is not going to repeat. The final outcome is: December 13, 1876, the British decided to 285,000 taels of silver prices by the Chinese to buy the railroad. Two Rivers Governor Shen Pao-chen had considered running the operation to continue, but the final choice of the removal of the railway. October 20, 1877, the final delivery of a purchase money clear road, the railway has been completely handed over to China, accompanied by the removal of rail is shipped to Taiwan, the train was thrown into the Yangtze River.
[Opinion: Feng Shui is not to destroy records of the grounds of exclusion of the railway]
The traditional argument is: the beginning of the railway in China, people worry about the destruction of feng shui, trying to hinder. This rhetoric exists in a large number of the Qing court officials into the memorial letter, Li, Zuo, Shen Pao-chen counties as well as local officials have mentioned that.
But strangely, the land of China's first railroad construction and operation, and no such phenomenon. 1942 book "History of Shanghai," Shanghai residents recorded the response of Wusong railway: they not only did not oppose the railway, on the contrary, many people watched with great curiosity to see or chase the laying of the railway. Year's "declaration" is to send reporters to the scene reported the public railway response: In addition to Shanghai residents, tens of miles residents travel outside the carriage, rickshaws, two-wheeled transportation such as railways came to watch, their number reached more than 1,000 per day people. Business people also took the opportunity to open stores along the railway. "Rail travel has become a major event when people talked about and some do not live in the city almost throughout the year to carry out the pro-people came to watch with friends, had deserted parking, actually jumped for the fun of the zone. "
"The Times" in 1876 published May - seal Shanghai correspondent of communication, a true picture of the relationship between people and the railway:
"Somewhat and expect the contrary, in this region, there was no opposition to the Chinese people. But in the middle of the works, showing a growing interest and friendship. ... After a few Lilu has paved the stone ballast stacked ... ... the countryside filled with fun thousands of residents of nearby towns and villages swarmed daily watch works, and discuss various things, from small motorcycles to the paving stone ballast. We are very pleased, obviously they are looking forward to an enthusiastic happy days to come. the old man and a child, old woman and little girl, scholars, craftsmen, farmers - representing all segments of society. "
This "declaration" the first day of the year the official opening of the train did exactly the same report:
"I rose in the first line of a vehicle to travel. Only see the railway two bystanders gathered, those who want to take the complex can not count, it feels really inadequate bus used by the train as seen in the Chinese elements, I do not know the danger clofibrate, and women and children actually living their most of them. first heard the voice rattles, cover will show everyone has been in place, can no longer register the car. the car to do their best face with a lighted, on the sidelines cheering Yi Jie, compelling gaze, instant car will be passing on, the body feel distant, such as hanging banner carry on. "
Obviously, this is inconsistent with the usual "Chinese people against imperialism and the construction of railways in China," the brilliant description does not conform to the popular "ignorance of the people to destroy the feng shui of this modern civilization, the railway refused" to express criticism. But that is precisely the history of Physiognomy: collective rationality fame and fortune and the line of people in conditions of free choice, no one volunteered to be a captive of ideology.
[The court: There are ways to remove the fishing Wusong Railway suspects]
This attitude of people on the rail so that the court apparently felt quite awkward. Previously, the construction of railways in Western businessmen refused the request, the court repeatedly to the public interest as an excuse, for example, in 1866, three trade ministers Chonghou that said: "Xing for the railway, will cause a nuisance, there are seven men that know not." October 1867 to January 1868, three months, court officials called 18 Central and local leaders to discuss rail issues collectively, and finally concluded that most of the name of public opinion against the construction of railways. Specific comments summarized as follows:
1, emphasizing the railway built in the "feelings inconvenience." Lee Han Zhang say the most representative: "I am cutting the mountains, causing me to Tian Lu, hinder my feng shui, accounting for people's livelihood and business terms, the people must be rallied together to protest the demolition, officials can not rule against himself, can not be ordered to compensate, causing shock people change" .
2, emphasizing the destruction of the railway made "little people living." Tseng Kuo-fan's point of view the most representative: "If ... ... to listen to its founder, wire, rail, car donkey is the way out of any chariot poor hotel porters carry. ... ... From the line of foreigners, foreign places of interest while accounting for the mainland; from The foreigners who echoed the Chinese line of, they also won the tyrannical and share the benefits the poor. all is not feasible. "
The discussion also identified a stop foreigners in China railway construction and effective method:
"(If the powers that they are) self-defense as a speech to persuade, by about desire within; I units must fight off damage to the people, the official can not be punished for compensation, and other words, within loads about" - if the Western countries to ensure that their responsible for railway safety requirements regarding the construction of railways to write the treaty, the court should, if Chinese people rallied together to protest the demolition of the railway, the West may not require compensation for a Code also written treaty. Temple on top of the bigwigs think so, "he will scrap family ... When thinking back then," quit.
This approach has since been implemented court insisted. However, the emergence of the railway in 1876 Wusong and people welcomed the railway, brought to court no small embarrassment - the railway company employs local residents work 200 per person per day wages up to the text; the acquisition of land at high prices in order to avoid disputes; residents along the graves of careful investigation, try to avoid touching the destruction ... These measures have effectively won the goodwill of people along. Court envisaged mass incidents against the railway does not appear.
Of course, sporadic incidents have mass, but has nothing to do with the rail against the exclusion. "Declaration" was the seventh day dynasty September 2002 reported a group of events:
"Two days ago, to the Bay of Wusong train, is driving line, the middle case of steep old juvenile male and eight women, 900 came to blocking.'s Long and why, say because of Mars in the motorcycle the day before flying into the vicinity of the thatched cottage on the To trillion burning as well. tube car comfort of foreigners that is warm words and promise to seasonal steward who come to see, everyone had passed to give way. is the opening line just a few steps, that what people have light vertical? former monk for re-rolling in , Hebei plans pulled. force the machine can not sleep after the enemy, then the interpretation of hand. car then start the line. "
There are also other sporadic case. However, similar to the above events, people aim is to protect the individual interests of the railway itself is not hostile.
The real hostility from the gentry intellectuals and the court. Laying back in the early Wusong Railway, Shanghai brewing to prevent some of that gentleman, even those who threw themselves in a way intended to take, and once implemented, but because the driver stopped the train in time, while not causing the accident. Finally, a direct result of the events were removed Wusong railway, it is also a Chinese soldier's suicide on the railway. This commit suicide, many people suspected at the time was deliberately arranged the Qing dynasty in "phishing."
"The Times" reported on the matter are:
"In the (train pass after) January period, a person is run over by a train. ... It is suspected that he was instigated by local officials. In any case, this event is greatly utilized. This Road station ... ... proposed a "life for a life to life" requirements - that is to train drivers to offset the life of the deceased's life. The idea of course is ridiculous. ... But, the British consul to hold a full hearing might make people satisfied with China. Under his direction, a vice-consul of the trial of the manslaughter trial of the case held. Needless to say, the case in the trial court, is over. the driver immediately put the innocent free, but officials did not get their hostility eased.
People were crushed to death a Chinese soldier. Finding is that neither the property of the deceased, and no friends. According to an eyewitness, said the party was to die the initiative: "The soldier was the line to the train, the driver left the track after airing the whistle, the cause of the train line near its body is only six yards when, Hu entered the railway within the induced tragic death "- and therefore the media was that this Chinese soldier's death was premeditated, and the largest suspect that the Chinese government, specifically, the Shanghai Road station Yamen.
Could not confirm the truth already. But surely this incident has brought to the Qing court to negotiate a direct transfer, Wusong Railway eventually be removed, this life, "contributed." Qing court as a way to display foreign "to public opinion," but ironically: demolition eve of 145 in Shanghai, Wu Song, a joint public and Bay Area business people intrinsic Two Rivers Governor Shen Pao-chen, a request to retain the railway to continue operating. |
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| Debate: "Spirit Train" over the train entity |
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December 1880 to February 1881 the railway between the great debate set off a direct cause is twofold: First, Tong King-sing began in October this year the construction of the railway Tang Xu, Kaiping coal to meet the need of transport, railway Tang know things can not be discussed, only to do low-key, but still talk ensued; second year, Russia's negotiations on the issue of abrupt tension Ili, border crisis deepened makes the construction of railways to consolidate national defense a top priority.
[Liu Ming-chuan: Railway personnel carriers Zhaofaxizhi can consolidate national defense]
Liu Ming-chuan Beijing memorial is the fuse triggered the controversy. Liu Military origin, conversation As a result, are largely confined to military and defense areas:
"Military forces of the Road, the trial of your enemy. Rail made from Russia from Europe, asymptotic Kokand, in turn from the open to reach Vladivostok Hunchun. Man is not made at this time of the holding, non-Wei forces, it is also a rail minors. No years, bad and unexpected. " |
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"If the railway caused the momentum to contact, through blood, Caibing section rates, and into the crack, anti-border sea transport guns, Zhaofaxizhi, garrison of soldiers to the guerrilla tours, 18 provinces together for the stretch , capable of reaching a soldier with a dozen soldiers of the future military power, the right of all rates in court, outside the inner light weight, not Jiang Chen of the check carry on. "
"If once the railway made under the imperial, self-revealing of the machine, then the momentum of the stand-up, ... not just about easily into Russia, Japan, watching for potential elimination from the heart can carry."
Liu Ming-chuan proposed court building north-south rail lines: South 22, one from the Qingjiang by Shandong, one from the Hankou through Henan, reached Beijing; North east from Beijing to Shenyang, west Gansu. Memorial day of receipt of the Qing court that issued the Edict: "with Li, Liu Kun-yi Northern, carefully raise the Nanyang Business Minister, proposed a properly played", triggered controversy.
[Li: the expense of poor people never had to seek national security statecraft]
Liu Ming-chuan manipulator behind the memorial is Li. Prior to that, Lee has been seeking to build the railway, overtly or covertly call for 20 years. Down after the court's decree, Lee immediately wrote a letter off more than 4,000 words long, strongly support Liu Ming-chuan.
Lee's memorial is very particular about the strategy. Lee is very clear, the construction of the railway from the ideological level, the greatest resistance to the "moral", so opening the memorial to "prove" the construction of the railway is connected with the saints of the road: "The saints as both rip wood boat, wood of Ji Yan , Zhou Ji Lee, the economic barrier. clothes cow horses, cited heavy Zhiyuan, to facilitate the world ", railways, and the saints," economic barrier "," benefit the world "is essentially the same.
Immediately afterwards, Li stated the construction of the railway nine benefits, such as logistics and communication north and south, in the national economy and greatly beneficial; conducive to military transport, to consolidate national defense; four army can quickly build to the capital, Emperor Xianfeng fled to hot-free River of shame; of great benefit in the transport of relief supplies, if the railway, DE surprising shortage will not starve to death so many people off and so on.
Very high for the market in the court's "Pirates of making railway equal welcome to open the door" for foreign troops on Chinese soil come and go point of view, Li said: "The country's rail, are so conscription against an enemy, an enemy without using smell "that this concern is purely fuss, the railway construction on the land in the country, anything their government let foreign enemies, unable to control the ride to the railway management. Furthermore, if I can not self-improvement, even if not for the railway, the same or a foreign enemy would not try to be brave in my country?
Previously, the Imperial Academy Bachelor of Zhang Xiang Shi Du memorial against the construction of railways has been one of the most important reasons are: the railway opened, will lead to "stall the driver to China seeking food and clothing to the vertical will be no fear of losing their livelihood Sham, trouble will end." , concerns the railway will be deprived of a coachman who like the livelihood of these people, causing social unrest. Li think this is nonsense, for example: when the British first made railway, also have such concerns, the results caused by the railway, along with coach but more as a living person, because the railway just take Avenue, remote villages and towns still need to coach, promote urban development along the railway, the natural demand for the carriage up.
In Li view, making the railway not only won the people's livelihood will not count, but profit is a good thing for the people. Very popular among the ruling and opposition parties can not build the railway point of view that foreigners covet the mainland, Li deeply ridiculous: "If people consider much of the coveted, and the first stop Simin Shigetomi of the machine, regardless of who may not be much to give in, never even went so far as coveted, Gyu of people seeking asylum country road, past and present no such method is also. "- to prevent enemies, and let the people are poor, through the ages, never this and other governance.
In another passage, the foreign affairs veteran who reveal their true feelings: "Hong Zhang old men, to serve the country on short men, even if everything smoothly, what up Juanai abuzz! Wish when a large gentleman works cited Junfu way to discern foreign world the truth, not only forgetting the actual name of the retreat, but suddenly much accustomed to common map, world misfortune! overall misfortune! "
[Liu Xihong: "Spirit Train" is far better than physical train]
Li hoped that "when a large gentleman's way," insight into the foreign world the truth, not mere hearsay, misleading the people and the country making wild, true desire is good. But the sad thing is, the empire was an ideological-based countries, many of the literati who do not live in the real reality, but instead will be a long and stubbornly hang on their placement in sage, life is not their faith, from the sage way of life is. So, even if they bid farewell to hearsay, some of Western civilization as the immediate field trips, their conclusion drawn is still very likely to be absurd.
Government to pass Senate Liuxi Hong is one such example. Liu previously ambassador to Britain, Germany, the Western countries have personal knowledge. In this controversy in railway Liu concluded, "can not monk eight, non-profits were eight, nine harmful to those who" get those who oppose the construction of railways, such as Li Hongzao, Weng, Yu and others appreciative of the amount. Its mission to the Western experience, greatly enhanced the weight of its objections.
To sum up, Liu roughly six objections:
First, the counter rail will help to consolidate national defense, Liu that the country lies in the people and keep, and dangerous terrain and heavy, if built railway, but not without risk, but since the level of their risk; Second, you can refute the railways engaged in transport ample treasury, Liu said: "Sheng Zhao's own way of making money Avenue, not at the efficiency of merchants"; Third, it was proposed for the construction of the railway, to facilitate visits to court over the people, benefit politically developed, Liu said: "The police Officials of the Hunming, not in the spirit of the footprint. " Fourth, the counter rail is conducive to people's livelihood point of view, that the railroad did help the people of Lau travel, merchants can benefit, but the flow of goods, while convenient, will lead to "the people will increase the luxury property on the virtual Mi"; its five Lau will consider the construction of railways, "the god of mountains and anxiety that dry easily flooded the disaster called"; Sixth, Liu that the railways will lead to public disorder, "cover the people angry at this time the heart is not flat, once the creation of the railway, House destroyed their fields tomb complex, the outrage Yi Shen, whereas V Mang the thief, then English people were slaughtered in the name was borrowed, because the public mind for chaos. "
Liu's theory that views its own origins. West wrote on his mission when the personal diary, "the British light carriage private mind" in the records of an anecdote, as Liu's position in this debate the comments -
London during a "Persian Military Governors' had asked why China does not manufacture Liuxi Hong steamer car. Liu Xihong full of philosophical wisdom, in a sense of humor as a response:
"Currently, we are in the Qing imperial government is planning to create big train, big train that is not coal, not the tracks, was able to exercise day tens of thousands of years."
"Persian Military Governors' puzzled, Liu Xihong with a confident smile, told him:
"(According to our Chinese sage taught classics) is the court order is Baiguan, is Baiguan to being the nations. This trip the most speed, day and tens of thousands of years, not to be in the coal steamer iron are also."
In Liu Xihong view, the ideology of the classics of the specification, the train is better than any entity the "spirit train", a real train would disrupt the order of the Empire, only this column, "Spirit Train" to bring harmony to give the Qing Empire .
Liu seems that they have been wonderful on their own to such words impressed. Proudly wrote in his diary:
"(Persian Military Governors) also heard the laughter. I from London, where the Outback, will now make the (completely accurate) and kai of giving people a little extension to the debate on the barge every A, endless Persian Military Governors will nod . Yubi resigned, WANG Yue: Today, experience the special fast, no wonder the Chinese are famous. "
In their smug at the same time, a British gentleman was in the "Times," he wrote pointedly ironic:
"China to prevent Cheyne's party, he does not make things change only to prohibit service. Destroyed the railway main proponents who? Unknown, heard a total of seven, set within history, has always been to create a seven saints, it seems this can be classified as 'Seven stupid' name, pass after the world. Wusong years discussed the railway, the subject of ridicule, a combination of ... ... unexpectedly and Guo (Song Tao) to make the same to the Bolin Gong (Liu Xihong), with the concept, but not concentric with the like , that the telegraph, railroad, although not contented at the heart of the barbarian in ghosts useful, is not appropriate in all the Han Chinese have used to ... ... the emperor, fear of AIDS the day of wisdom, which Fenshukengru, has passed that laugh. railway people to stop is fully Yi Xiao offspring no doubt. "
But in the end, Liu Xihong the "spirit train" Li beat their physical train. Court's decree are: Liu Ming-chuan's proposal, "needless to Reconsideration," shelved, not to mention. |
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