Today, when I see the history of the Beiyang warlords, I can't help but feel that General Cai Ye really deserves to be the first person in the Republic of China.
Cai Yi's original name was Gen Yin, and the word Songpo. A native of Shaoyang, Hunan, he was born on December 18, 1882. His father's name is Zhengling, his mother is Wang, and he has 3 sons, and Gen Yin is the elder. His family has been farming for generations. Gen Yin began to teach at the age of 6 and was a talent at the age of 13. In the spring of 1893, he walked to Changsha and was admitted to the School of Current Affairs sponsored by Liang Qichao and Tan Sitong, and since then he has formed an indissoluble bond with Liang Qichao who is both a teacher and a student, and a comrade.
In 1899, he went to Japan and studied at Tokyo Daido High School and Yokohama East Asian Business School.
In 1900, he returned to China with Tang Caichang to participate in the uprising of the Self-Reliance Army. Changed its name after failure"Retardium", aspire"Shed blood to save the people"。Return to Japan. He entered the Army Seijo School, graduated in 1902, and was admitted to the third class of the Tokyo Non-commissioned Officer School at his own expense, graduating in 1903. During his stay in Japan, Cai Ye successively published articles under the pseudonyms of Bo Meng, Fen Xisheng, and Cone Sheng, in the "Qing Yi Bao" and "Xinmin Cong Bao" sponsored by Liang Qichao, and his views were mostly influenced by Liang Qichao and Yang Du, and he participated in the organization"Anti-Russian volunteers"。
After graduating in 1904, he returned to China and successively coached the new army in Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan and other provinces. At the beginning of 1911, recommended by Li Jingxi, who had been transferred to the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, Cai Yi was appointed as the assistant commander of the 37th Army of the 19th Town of the Yunnan New Army.
On October 10, 1911, the Wuchang Uprising broke out. Under the situation of various localities responding one after another, Cai Ye launched an uprising at 8 p.m. on October 30 after careful deployment, and occupied the provincial capital by the afternoon of the next day. Zhong Lintong, the commander of the 19th town, was killed on the spot, Jin Yunpeng, a military staff officer, absconded in disguise, and Li Jingxi, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, took refuge in the French consulate. The Yunnan uprising was successful, and Cai Ye was promoted to the governor. Immediately assisted Guizhou and Sichuan provinces to become independent.
There is only one thing he has practiced throughout his life: to support the republic with the people of the whole country, so that the imperial system will never happen in China.
In January 1912, Cai Yi, who had just become the governor of Yunnan, praised Yuan Shikai in a telegram to Li Yuanhong for his "great talent and strategy." but two weeks later, because Yuan Shikai ignored the fact that ** had been established and the state system had been decided, he tried to convene a so-called "national assembly" in Beijing to decide on the monarchy or democracy. Cai Ye also called Sun Yat-sen and the provincial governors, saying that this was "Yuan's cunning". Cai Yi organized the Yunnan Northern Expeditionary Army to prepare for the Northern Expedition, and in the "Northern Expedition Oath", he wrote: "If you are willing to take the risk, there is a thief of Yuan." ”
But when Pu Yi abdicated, the imperial system has been removed, Yuan Shikai admitted, Cai Yi's attitude changed, began to support Yuan, Yuan Shikai in Beijing after the inauguration of the big **, he called to congratulate, and called it "the hope of the group". The reason why he quickly changed his position was actually related to the predicament that China was facing at that time. Like Liang Qichao, Cai Ye represented the views of a considerable number of people at that time: that is, although Yuan Shikai had such and such problems, his ability was outstanding, and China must now have a political strongman to "make decisions on the platform" in order to reverse the declining trend. But for many, they can tolerate Mr. Yuan's abduction of power. But there are limits to this tolerance, or acquiescence, and there are conditions. For them, China must follow the republican system, not engage in the imperial system, and cannot claim the title of emperor to ascend the throne. The fundamental reason why I support you for more power, and I support you for doing things that are out of the ordinary, is that I think you can build a better country within the framework of a republic.
But Yuan Shikai insisted on breaking everyone's illusions, and Cai Yi was one of the most drastic changes, in 1915 Yuan planned to ascend the throne as emperor, fearing that Cai would oppose and tighten surveillance on him. Under the pretext of going to Tianjin for medical treatment, Cai fled to Japan and returned to Yunnan via Hong Kong. On December 25, he telegraphed with Tang Jiyao, Dai Qin and others to declare the independence of Yunnan and crusade against Yuan Shikai. The next day, he established the protector **, served as the commander-in-chief of the First Army, sent troops to Sichuan, and won many victories. Soon Guangxi, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Hunan and other provinces responded one after another, forcing Yuan to abolish the imperial system in March 1916 and die of despair.
After Yuan Shikai's death, Li Yuanhong succeeded him as **Da**, and on July 6, 1916, Cai Yi was appointed as the overseer and governor of Sichuan. However, at this time, Cai's condition deteriorated, and he hastily dealt with the aftermath of Sichuan Province, that is, he went to Japan in September to treat throat cancer. On the morning of November 8, 1916, he died in Fukuoka, Japan, at the age of 34. Cai Yi wrote in his will: "I command the first army of Yunnan to protect the first army in the Sichuan battle and the personnel who contributed to the battle, and implore Luo Peijin and others to verify the petition for compensation and awards, so as to show fairness; With a short life, failing to do its best for **, it should be a thin burial. ”
On April 12, 1917, Cai Ye returned to his hometown, and Beiyang ** held a state funeral for him in Yuelu Mountain, Changsha, and Cai Ye also became the "first person in the state funeral" in history.
Cai Ye is not only a military strategist but also a thinker, he is the first person in China to advocate the ideas of "soldiers are not the party", "civil war is not awarded", and "army nationalization", so Cai Ye is known as the ancestor of modern soldiers and the protector of the gods.