Secrets of the Eight Warlords

Author: Chen Feng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The historical ancestors of Yuan Shikai can be traced back to his great-grandfather. Yuan Shikai's great-grandfather, Yuan Yaodong, was a Xiangsheng scholar but died before turning 40. It was said that he died from overworking on his studies. Yuan Shikai's great-grandmother, Guo Shi, lived much longer than her husband and lived to be over 90. Guo Shi came from a wealthy family in the same prefecture and understood the importance of literature, poetry, and etiquette. Under her dedicated education, all four of her sons became accomplished individuals, and there were no illiterate members in the family. The eldest son, Yuan Shushan, was an admitted scholar and once served as the acting principal and instructor of Chenliu County. Yuan Shushan was Yuan Shikai's grandfather. He had two sons: Yuan Baozhong and Yuan Baoqing. Yuan Shikai's biological father, Yuan Baozhong, styled Zhongchen, although he donated to become a Tongzhi, he never held an official position and spent his life managing family farmland. As the eldest son of Yuan Shushan and the eldest grandson of Yuan Yaodong, heed the family affairs in the Yuan household. He was very enthusiastic about the Confucianism of Cheng and Zhu. His noble family status gave him significant influence in Xiangcheng County, where even the local government respected him, making him a true "local emperor."
By the end of 1858, the rebel forces of the Tianmen (Ribbon Gang) from Xiangcheng, Xincai, Shenqiu, and Fuyang counties united to attack wealthy families and occupied areas such as Xinxingji and Shangdian in the east of Xiangcheng County. As a result, the Yuan family, living in Zhangying in the northeast of Xiangcheng, faced great threats. Yuan Baozhong moved his family to Chenzhou to escape the rebellion. To counter the Tianmen uprising, Yuan Baozhong, along with his uncle Yuan Jiasan,ed local wealthy families to organize the Xiangcheng County militia. They selected a strategic and difficult-to-attack location about 40 miles northeast of the city to build walls, surrounded by moats, set up drawbridges at the gates, and constructed "artillery towers" on the gates and corners, with local militia guarding the fortress. This became a well-known fortress in the area, known as "Yuan Fortress."
The original name of Xiangcheng Yuan Fortress was Shiyao Village, and the Yuan family moved into the fortress in 1857. The fortress was vast, covering dozens of acres. It had three three-story, four-sided courtyards arranged in the east, middle, and west, with various architectural styles of towers and houses. On September 16, 1859 (the 20th day of the eighth month in the ninth year of the Xianfeng era), Yuan Shikai was born in this enclosed and sturdy fortress. At that time, the Yuan family had already become a grand and noble family for three generations, lending money in places like Tianchengheng Money Exchange in Beijing and Yu's Pawn Shop in Chenzhou. The family had over 30 members, with three generations living together, well-provided for in terms of food and clothing.
Yuan Shikai's uncle, Yuan Baoqing, rose to prominence through his battles against the Tianmen. He followed his uncle Yuan Jiasan in campaigns across Henan and Anhui. It was said that he often achieved victories with unconventional tactics, showing great strategic ability. Later, he was noticed by Mao Changxi, the Henan militia minister, and was transferred to Henan to assist in organizing militia forces in various prefectures and counties. He led troops to surround and attack the Tianmen in areas such as Xiangcheng, Qiu, and Xia. He was a ruthless and fierce general who killed like a machine.
Soon after Yuan Shikai was born, Yuan Baoqing's wife, Niu Shi, also gave birth to a son, but the child died shortly after birth. Yuan Shikai's mother, Liu Shi, had very little milk after giving birth, while Niu Shi had an abundant supply. As a result, Yuan Shikai was breastfed by Niu Shi. Niu Shi grew very fond of Yuan Shikai and treated him as her own. During Yuan Shikai's childhood, the Tianmen became increasingly active. The Tianmen were extremely fierce, and wherever they went, dust rose, blocking the sky, with thousands of horses galloping like a whirlwind from the heavens. Therefore, whenever the Tianmen arrived, the Yuan family, hiding in Yuan Fortress,