The Legend of Yuan Shikai: A Turbulent Era's Mastermind's Maritime Intrigue

Author: Xu Gang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: An era where one could be born into life or die by it is a great era. The subject of this book, Yuan Shikai, was born into such an era. On one hand, he shook hands and embraced with Sun Yat-sen; on the other hand, he cunningly snatched the crown of "Provisional President" from his grasp, only to later don the yellow robe and become an emperor. Was it Yuan Shikai who had long been plotting to seize the state, or was it the times that fulfilled him? How did he maneuver in the turbulent historical currents? How did the man with one wife and nine concubines manage state affairs, domestic and foreign affairs? This book vividly recreates the legendary tale of a chaotic era's ambitious figure, flipping and turning, competing with rivals, with abundant historical details, thereby opening a window for us to understand an era. The poet Xu Gang, with fervent passion and poetic language, vividly depicts the late 19th and early 20th century—an era where light and darkness coexisted, dreams and despair were intertwined, progress and decline shared the same breath. It presents a tragic depiction of the lives of the people in the twilight of the times, truly a soul history of the Chinese nation in the early 20th century.