Righteous Sorrow -- The Political Career of the Second-in-Command in the Late Qing Dynasty (Volume 1 and 2): The Political Career of the Second-in-Command in the Late Qing Dynasty

Author: Ying Yong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Recently, "The Demise of Power," planned by Beijing Qianli Culture and published by China Film Press, has entered the market, sparking a wave of interest in Yixian. In a bookstore, a middle-aged man was holding the book, unable to put it down. He said he had always admired Yixian, a very representative figure. When he first became the Prince Regent, he was full of ambition. Amidst suspicion and jealousy, he endured humiliation to seek ways to save the country. Yixian's spirit was truly worth learning from.
Yixian (1833–1898) was the sixth son of Emperor Daoguang, the younger brother of Emperor Xianfeng, the uncle of Emperor Tongzhi, and the uncle of Emperor Guangxu. His era was marked by continuous uprisings, war clouds gathering, encirclement by foreign powers, and the Qing Empire's crumbling under the wind and rain. Like a lean horse on a rugged path, he strained to pull the broken chariot of the Great Qing, attempting to restore the nation. In the early years of the Tongzhi reign, he was enfeoffed as the Prince Regent, effectively holding the highest power in the court. He finally suppressed "internal turmoil," established peace with Western powers, and created the "Tongzhi Rejuvenation." From then until the late Guangxu reign, except for the ten years he was dismissed, he continuously led the central military affairs and the Office for the Administration of Foreign Affairs, a prime minister, overseeing both domestic and foreign affairs for nearly three decades. From him, we can clearly see the political and power shifts of the time.
Yixian was called into service five times and dismissed four times, making him the second most important figure in late Qing, after Empress Dowager Cixi. Yixian was one of the few members of the imperial family in ancient times who opened his eyes to the world, and a pioneer of China's modernization movement. He advocated self-strengthening, led the Self-Strengthening Movement, but was labeled a "traitor" and a "sellout to foreign powers." In reality, Yixian was a great patriot and a savior of the nation. When he first became the Prince Regent, he was full of ambition, with a grand blueprint to save the country. Unfortunately, he soon faced obstruction from Empress Dowager Cixi and conservative factions.
This is a long historical novel in the form of a biography about Prince Gong Yixian. It is another masterpiece by the renowned historical novelist Ying Yong, following "The Eight Banner Disciples of the Great Qing Empire." It reveals many previously unknown secrets of the imperial palace, power struggles, intrigue, and the rise and fall of Yixian, providing a comprehensive analysis of the new Yixian. In recent years, there have been many novels on Qing history, especially those set in the Qing court, but few are as outstanding as "The Demise of Power."
The novel takes Prince Gong Yixian as its main character, exposing stories of palace intrigue and struggles against foreigners. It weaves the issue of the Self-Strengthening Movement throughout the narrative, presenting a new Yixian to readers. This novel has attracted a wide readership, especially men, primarily because Yixian is portrayed as a well-rounded character, from his external struggles to his inner world. His endurance and sacrifice for the sake of saving the country are vividly depicted, particularly in matters involving foreign relations, China's direction in the late 19th century, the handling of foreign affairs, and palace intrigue. Thus, this novel holds significant educational and historical value.
Another character, Empress Dowager Cixi (Lan'er), is also well-portrayed. Young Cixi was beautiful and lively but ruthless in her heart, willing to go to any lengths to achieve her goals and maintaining a very intimate relationship with Prince Gong Yixian. In her later years, Cixi ruled all of China, but her origins and inner life revealed her loneliness, cunning, and emptiness. She loved Yixian but also hesitated due to her own interests, repeatedly elevating and suppressing him. All this stemmed from her fear and suspicion of Yixian, leading to a bloody struggle between them. Cixi stood above the Self-Strengthening Faction and the conservative faction, maintaining a delicate balance. Yixian suffered greatly in his struggles with her, and her political tactics were so cunning that readers can't help but reflect after finishing the book.
In recent years, historical novels have been particularly fruitful, with diverse styles. Some are deeply literary, like "White Gate Willow"; others are more narrative, like those by Erhuo He. Ying Yong's novels differ from these, as his historical fiction is closer to "history as fiction." This style emphasizes the accuracy of historical sources, building upon a solid foundation of historical data to construct conflicts between characters. Of course, many details are fictionalized. Historical commentary is the soul of historical fiction, and only with a clear historical evaluation stance can the narrative come to life.
"The Demise of Power" is a historical novel of a very high standard, with significant educational and political and cultural value. It is a book that every man in politics, business, or those who aspire to success should understand and read carefully.