Tan Sitong

On June 11, 1898, Emperor Guangxu promulgated the "Ming Dynasty" edict to the whole country, and the vigorous Reform Movement of 1898 in modern Chinese history began. In order to recruit talents from all over the world, the Military Aircraft Department sent two telegrams urging Tan Sitong to come to Beijing as soon as possible. Tan Sitong bid farewell to his wife Li Run and embarked on the journey. On the way, Tan Sitong was deeply shocked by the sight of people dying of hunger and mourning on both sides of the Yellow River, and he firmly believed that only reform could save China. At the same time, Empress Dowager Cixi and her close veterans who were in the Summer Palace quietly dismissed Weng Tonghe, the military minister who had assisted the emperor in reforming the reform and recommended talents for the emperor, and sent him back to his hometown. Promoting Ronglu to the position of governor of Zhili and minister of Beiyang, he controlled the military power and commanded the three armies of Beiyang, which was a warning and blow to the reform and reform that had just begun. After Tan Sitong arrived in Beijing, he was immediately summoned by Emperor Guangxu. His brilliance and fearless courage were greatly appreciated by the emperor. Emperor Guangxu excitedly awarded him the rank of Zhangjing, fourth rank, and ordered him to serve in the Military Aircraft Department, hoping that he would become a minister of ZTE. Revolutionary figures Kang Youwei, Yang Shenxiu, Lin Xu, Liu Guangdi and others held a banquet in Deyuelou to cleanse Tan Sitong. They had a long talk by candlelight and jointly planned the great cause of reform. Yuan Shikai, the Minister of War, also came to visit Tan Sitong and presented 500 taels of silver...