[50] At present Chinese Minister in London.
[51] Now known as the Empress Dowager Lung Yü.
[52] Kang Yi was a bigoted reactionary and the arch instigator of the Boxer movement at the capital. Young China has carefully preserved one of his sayings of that time: “The establishment of schools and colleges has only encouraged Chinese ambitions and developed Chinese talent to the danger of the Manchu Dynasty: these students should therefore be exterminated without delay.”
[53] In 1901, this official begged Tzŭ Hsi, just before her departure from K’ai-Feng fu for Peking, not to return thither, on the ground that her Palace had been polluted by the presence of the foreign barbarians.
[54] The Emperor prided himself on being a great stickler in such matters, and many of the younger officials feared him on account of his quick temper and martinet manner in dealing with them.
[55] K’ang’s subsequent escape under British protection, in which one of the writers was instrumental, is graphically described in despatch No. 401 of Blue Book No. 1 of 1899.
[56] She was thrown down a well, by Tzŭ Hsi’s orders, as the Court prepared for flight after the entrance of the allied forces into Peking. (Vide infra.)
[57] It is interesting to note that this Manchu Prince (Tsai Ch’u) was released from prison by the present Regent, the Emperor’s brother, and was appointed to the command of one of the Manchu Banner Corps on the same day, in January 1909, that Yüan Shih-k’ai was dismissed from the viceroyalty of Chihli. The Emperor’s party, as opposed to the Yehonala Clan, heartily approved of his reinstatement.
[58] Vide Blue Book China No. I. of 1899, letters Nos. 266, 401, and 426.
[59] As an example of Chinese official methods: the Shanghai Taotai when requesting the British Consul-General’s assistance to arrest K’ang Yu-wei, did not hesitate to say that the Emperor was dead, murdered by the Chief Reformer. Vide Blue Book No. I of 1899; letter No. 401.