Kang Yü-wei.—China Mail's Interview.—Beheading of Reformers.—Relatives sentenced to Death.—Kang's Indictment of Empress.—Empress's Reprisals.—Emperor's Attempt at Escape.—Cantonese Gratitude to Great Britain.—List of Emperor's Attempted Reforms.—Men now in Power.—Lord Salisbury's Policy in China.
康有為（Kang Yü-wei）.—中國郵報（China Mail） 訪談.—改革者被斬首.—親屬被判死刑.—康有為對太后（Empress）起訴.—太后報復.—皇帝企圖逃跑.—廣東人對英國的感激.—皇帝試圖的改革清單.—現任掌權者.—索爾茲伯里勳爵（Lord Salisbury）在中國的政策.
In considering the recent bolt from the blue, as it seemed to the outside world, at Peking, it is necessary to say a few words more about the Reform leaders. Kang Yü-wei, commonly called the Modern Sage, is a Cantonese. He has brought out a new edition of the ancient Classics, which he contends have been so glossed over by numbers of commentators as to have lost their original significance. In especial he says the personality of God was originally clearly stated in them, that it is the commentators who have hidden this, and that only by a return to the belief in a living God can China once more take her proper place among the nations. He also insists upon the brotherhood of man. Missionaries, who know him, dwell upon his learning and enthusiasm. The only British Consul I have heard speak of him, dwelt rather upon his want 571of practicality, and described him as a visionary of about forty and impracticable. He saw him, however, at the most agitating moment of his career, during his flight from Peking. When it is considered that he is a man of not large means, who has no official post, who must have devoted his time mainly to study to have passed the examinations he has and revised the Classics, and that at this comparatively early age he is the undoubted leader of the army of youthful literati of China, a man in whom those I have spoken with seem to have unbounded confidence, it is clear that this account of him must be a little overdrawn. Probably he is not a practical man. But that he has evidently an extraordinary gift for winning and guiding adherents cannot be denied. A representative of the China Mail describes him as "an intelligent-looking Chinese of medium height, but not of unusually striking appearance. For a native who does not speak any Western language, Kang has imbibed a wonderful amount of ideas" [this is only a rather amusing instance of European superciliousness], and the impression he left upon his interviewer was that he has a firmer grasp of the situation than the majority of his compatriots. It may be considered that some of his views are those of a visionary, but there can be no doubt of his earnestness; and it must be borne in mind that there never yet was a reformer in any country whose views were not at first believed to be outside the range of practical politics. For those who are interested in the present crisis in China, it is better to give the China Mail's 572interview with Kang Yü-wei, to be followed by his own open letter to the papers.
"Before proceeding with the interview, Kang wished to thank the British people for the kind protection they had afforded him, and for the interest the English people were taking in the advancement of the political and social status of China and the emancipation of the Emperor. He also wished to explain that the reason why he had not consented to an interview before was that he was very much distressed upon learning that his brother had been decapitated and that the Emperor was reported to be murdered. The excitement and anxiety of the past fortnight had unnerved him, and he was disinclined to see any one or to discuss the events which had led up to his flight from Peking.
"After this preliminary statement, Kang Yü-wei proceeded with his story.
"'You all know,' he said, 'that the Empress-Dowager is not educated, that she is very conservative, that she has been very reluctant to give the Emperor any real power in managing the affairs of the empire. In the year 1887 it was decided to set aside thirty million taels for the creation of a navy. After the battleships Tingyuen, Weiyuen, Chihyuen, Chênyuen, and Kingyuen had been ordered, and after providing for their payment, the Empress-Dowager appropriated the balance of the money for the repair of the Eho Park Gardens. Later on, when it was decided to set aside or raise thirty million taels for the construction of railways, she misappropriated a large portion of the 573money. The first intention had been to construct the railway to Moukden, but it was never carried farther than Shanhai-kuan, the remainder of the money being used for the decoration of the Imperial Gardens. Every sensible man knows that railways and a navy are essential for the well-being of a country. But in spite of the advice of one or two of her counsellors the Empress-Dowager refused to carry on these schemes, and thought only of her personal gratification. She has been steadily opposed to the introduction of Western civilisation. She has never seen many outside people—only a few eunuchs in the Palace and a few Ministers of State who have access to her.'
考慮到最近在北京發生的突然變故（對外界而言），有必要再多說幾句關於改革領袖的事。康有為，通常被稱為現代聖人，是廣東人。他推出了古代經典的新版本，並認為這些經典已被眾多評論家過度註釋，以至於失去了原本的意義。特別是，他認為經典中原本明確陳述了神的個性，但這些被評論家掩蓋了，只有回歸對活生生的神的信仰，中國才能再次在國際上占據應有的位置。他還強調人類的兄弟情誼。認識他的傳教士們讚賞他的學識和熱情。我所聽到的唯一一位英國領事對他的評價則是，他缺乏實際性，描述他為一位大約四十歲、不切實際的夢想家。然而，當他在逃離北京的最激動人心的時刻看到他時，這位領事的描述難免有些誇張。
當考慮到他並非大富大貴之人，也沒有官方職位，但能夠投入大量時間進行學習，通過了眾多考試，並修訂了經典，且在這相對年輕的年紀成為中國年輕文人的無可爭議的領袖，他所取得的成就不可小覷。那些與我交談過的人似乎對他有無限的信心。儘管他可能不切實際，但他顯然擁有非凡的才能，能夠贏得並引導追隨者。《中國郵報》的一位代表描述他為“一位聰明的中等身高的中國人，外表並不特別引人注目。對於一個不會說任何西方語言的本地人，康有為吸收了大量的思想。”這只是一個有趣的歐洲傲慢例子。他給採訪者留下的印象是，他比大多數同胞更能掌握局勢。或許他的一些觀點是夢想家的觀點，但毫無疑問他是認真的。必須記住，任何國家的改革者最初的觀點總是被認為超出了現實政治的範疇。對於那些對中國當前危機感興趣的人，最好引用《中國郵報》對康有為的採訪，再附上他給報紙的公開信。
“在進行採訪之前，康有為希望感謝英國人民對他的保護，以及英國人民對中國政治和社會地位提升以及皇帝解放的關注。他還希望解釋，他之前沒有同意接受採訪是因為他聽到兄長被斬首和皇帝被報導為被謀殺的消息後非常痛心。過去兩週的興奮和焦慮使他神經緊張，不願見任何人或討論導致他逃離北京的事件。
“在這番說明之後，康有為開始講述他的故事。
“‘你們都知道，’他說，‘慈禧太后沒有受過教育，非常保守，她一直非常不情願讓皇帝真正掌管國事。1887年，決定撥款三千萬兩銀子來建造海軍。在訂購了戰艦定遠、威遠、致遠、鎮遠和經遠之後，慈禧太后將餘款用於修繕頤和園。後來，當決定撥款三千萬兩修建鐵路時，她又挪用了大部分資金。原本打算修建通往奉天的鐵路，但最終只修到山海關，剩餘的錢又被用來裝飾皇家花園。每個明智的人都知道，鐵路和海軍對一個國家的福祉至關重要。但儘管有一兩位顧問的建議，慈禧太后拒絕推進這些計劃，只考慮個人的享樂。她一直堅決反對引進西方文明。她幾乎沒有見過外界的人——只有宮中的一些太監和少數有權進見的國務大臣。’
"'Through whom does she conduct the affairs of State?'
"'Before the Japanese War Li Hung-chang was the man she had most confidence in. After the war Li Hung-chang was discarded, and she seemed to repose most confidence in Prince Kung and Jung Lu. As a rule, however, she retains absolute control in her own hands. There is a sham eunuch in the Palace, who has practically more power than any of the Ministers. Li Luen-yên is the sham eunuch's name. He is a native of Chihli. Nothing could be done without first bribing him. All the Viceroys have got their official positions through bribing this man, who is immensely wealthy. Li Hung-chang is not to be compared with him. Before she handed over the reins of government to the Emperor, a year or two ago, the Empress-Dowager used to see many Ministers, 574but since then she has only seen eunuchs and officials belonging to the inner department. I have seen her myself. She is of medium height and commanding presence, rather imperious in manner. She has a dark, sallow complexion, long almond eyes, high nose, is fairly intelligent-looking, and has expressive eyes.'
"In answer to a query, 'Who inspired the new policy at Peking?' Kang replied: 'About two years ago two officials, Chang Lin and Wang Ming-luan, sent a memorial to the Emperor advising him to take the power into his own hands, stating that the Empress-Dowager was only the concubine of his uncle, the Emperor Hien Fêng; therefore according to Chinese law she could not be recognised as the proper 575Empress-Dowager. The result of this memorial was that the two officials were dismissed for ever. They were Vice-Presidents of Boards, one being a Manchu and the other a Soochow man. The Emperor recognises that the Empress-Dowager is not his real mother. Since the Emperor began to display an interest in affairs of State, the Empress-Dowager has been scheming his deposition. She used to play cards with him, and gave him intoxicating drinks, in order to prevent him from attending to State affairs. For the greater part of the last two years the Emperor has been practically a figure-head against his own wishes. After the occupation of Kiaochou by the Germans, the Emperor was very furious, and said to the Empress-Dowager, "Unless I have the power, I will not take my seat as Emperor; I will abdicate." The result was that the Empress-Dowager gave in to him to a certain extent, telling him that he could do as he liked; but although she said this with her lips her heart was different.'
“‘她是通過誰來管理國家大事的？’
“‘在日本戰爭之前，慈禧太后最信任的人是李鴻章。戰爭之後，李鴻章被棄用，她似乎最信任的是恭親王和榮祿。不過，一般來說，她將絕對的控制權保留在自己手中。宮中有一個假太監，實際上比任何大臣都有更多的權力。他的名字叫李連英，是直隸人。任何事情都必須先賄賂他才能辦成。他非常富有，所有的總督都是通過賄賂這個人獲得官職的。李鴻章和他根本無法相比。在她一兩年前將政權交給皇帝之前，慈禧太后經常會見許多大臣，但自那以來，她只見太監和內務府官員。我見過她本人。她中等身高，氣勢逼人，舉止頗為威嚴。她皮膚黝黑，眼睛細長，鼻子高，看起來相當聰明，眼神很有表情。’
“回答一個問題時，康回答說：‘大約兩年前，兩位官員，張麟和王明鑾，向皇帝呈遞了一份奏折，建議他掌握實權，指出慈禧太后只是他的叔叔咸豐皇帝的妃嬪，按照中國法律，她不能被承認為正統的皇太后。這份奏折的結果是，這兩位官員被永遠免職。他們都是部委副總裁，一位是滿族人，另一位是蘇州人。皇帝認識到慈禧太后並不是他的生母。自從皇帝開始對國事表現出興趣以來，慈禧太后一直接謀他的廢黜。她曾與他一起打牌，給他喝酒，以防止他處理國事。在過去的兩年裡，大部分時間裡，皇帝事實上是一個名義上的傀儡，這並非他本人的意願。德國占領膠州後，皇帝非常憤怒，對慈禧太后說：“如果我沒有實權，我就不做皇帝，我會退位。”結果是，慈禧太后在某種程度上向他讓步，告訴他可以隨心所欲地做事；但儘管她口頭上這麼說，她心裡卻不是這樣的。’
"'How do you know this?' asked the interviewer. 'Did you hear it yourself?'"
"Kang's reply was: 'No, I heard it from other officials.'