In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, it was a stormy era. When the ancient empire was forcibly swept into the maelstrom of the world, it seemed so powerless, like a lamb to the slaughter. Against this background, the "Xinqiao Treaty" is like a huge stone, weighing heavily on the hearts of every Chinese. It is not only a shame of land reparations, but also a trampling on the dignity of a country and a nation.
In the process of signing this treaty, one detail was particularly noticeable: the Great Powers demanded the killing of 142 ministers. What kind of number is that?What's the story behind it?
Of these 142 ministers, some of them were princes, ministers, and governors who supported the peasant uprising, and some were leaders who bravely stood up in the uprising. The reason why they are included in this "punishment" list is because they dare to resist the oppression of foreign powers and dare to speak up for the interests of the nation. However, their bravery was not duly rewarded, but instead became a reason for the Great Powers to demand execution.
Faced with such a request, the Empress Dowager Cixi was in a dilemma. On the one hand, she did not want to see her ministers put to death, because it would undoubtedly arouse popular anger and threaten her position;On the other hand, she did not have the strength to confront the great powers, and could only succumb to their obscenity. So, she came up with a self-righteous "clever plan": first dismiss all these people, and then transfer them back to their original posts after the attention of foreigners is diverted.
However, Cixi's cleverness did not escape the eyes of foreigners. They insisted on the execution of Zaiyi, Zaixun and others, and added the other two "culprits" of the Boxer Rebellion, Dong Fuxiang and Yuxian. These people are a thorn in the side and flesh of the Western powers, and their existence poses a threat to the interests of the great powers in China.
In order to appease the anger of the foreign powers, Cixi had to start with the ministers closest to the Boxers, executing 3 people, exiling 8 people, and 11 people being given a reprieve. However, for Zailan, Zaixun and other people who were once important ministers of the imperial court, Cixi hesitated. She knew that if these people were also executed, then the face of the Qing ** would be gone. So, she sent Li Hongzhang to negotiate with the foreigners. After several verbal battles, the foreigner finally reluctantly agreed to give Qing ** the last trace of decency. These people were ostensibly declared to be executed, but in fact they were sent to Ili and other western regions, and could not return to the capital for the rest of their lives.
The signing of the Treaty of Xinchou was a turning point in the history of the Qing Dynasty. It not only marked the complete reduction of the Qing court into a puppet regime, but also made the Chinese deeply realize the importance of national strength to a country's international status. The cruelty and humiliation of this treaty made later generations cherish the value of peace and independence even more, and it also provided a valuable lesson for future generations: only by continuous learning and progress can we gain a firm foothold on the world stage.
Looking back on that period of history, we can't help but feel a lot of emotion. The hidden truth behind the Xinqiao Treaty reveals the incompetence and corruption of the Qing court, and also allows us to see the suffering and struggle of the Chinese people in that era. However, it is precisely these hardships and struggles that have forged the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation and laid a solid foundation for our prosperity today.