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The End of the Empire （4）
Wuchang Uprising |
| CCTV.COM 2002-08-01 10:08:12 |
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After the Huanghuagang Uprising was suppressed, the New Army became the one armed force the Qing government relied on for its rule. It had spent 10 years in building up this most advanced army of China of that time.
The year after the Geng Zi Disturbances, the declining Qing government decided to set up a modern army. In 1901, a "new administration" was set up. The Qing government spent great efforts to build up an army. Leaders of the "Westernization" drive were very active in carrying out this reform.
 In Wuhan, Huguang Viceroy Zhang Zhidong began to organize Hubei New Army. The war industry he started during the "Westernization" drive made Wuhan the most important industrial city of the whole country. It also provided material foundation for the building up of the New Army.
Hubei New Army was very strict in its recruitment, paying more attention to the educational level of its officers and soldiers than other New Army units did. After a few years' training, provincial New Army units were the most militant among Qing troops.
In late autumn 1906, a large－scale military maneuver was held at Zhangde, Henan Province with Yuan Shikai as commander－in－chief. Cracked troops from all New Army units took part. The fine performance of Hubei New Army won universal praises. Commander Liang Hongyuan became the center of attention.
A graduate of Beiyang Naval Officers' School, Li Yuanhong served first in the Beiyang Fleet, then he was in charge of the training of Hubei New Army. His outstanding military talents won him prestige in the army. The abrupt rise of the New Army attracted the attention of the revolutionaries. They began to develop their forces in the New Army. Wen Xue She （Literary Society） headed by Jiang Yiwu and Gong Jin Hui （March Together League） headed by Sun Wu had great influence amid Hubei New Army. Many fine young men became their members. Growing revolutionary power waited for their opportunity to ripen.
 In June 19ll, Railway Rights Protection Movement broke out in Sichuan. People in Sichuan were enraged by the Qing government's policy concerning the railways, fearing that they might sell the right to build railways to foreigners. Petitions turned into armed conflicts. Sichuan was chaotic. The Qing government quickly sent Hubei New Army into Sichuan, leaving Wuchang unprotected. The revolutionary army seized this opportunity to stage their long－prepared uprising. But the news leaked out and the uprising had to take place ahead of time. On Oct. 10, a day to be recorded in history, shots ringing out in Wuchang New Army shocked the country. The Qing government never expected the army it had fostered painstakingly for 10 years to become its gravedigger.
A flag with 18 stars flew over the yamen of governor－general of Hubei. Sun Yat－sen was abroad and Huang Xing was in Hong Kong. The uprising army elected Li Yuanhong Hubei military governor of Republic of China.
The success of Wuchang Uprising generated chain reactions in the whole country. In the short period of a few months, 18 provinces proclaimed independence. On Oct. 10, 1911 a death toll rang out for the feudal monarchy which had lasted thousands of years.
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Editor: Liu Baoyin CCTV.com
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