A Compilation and Study of Yuan Shikai's Correspondence During the 1911 Revolution

This System systematically collects and organizes letters and telegrams exchanged between Yuan Shikai and various parties, found across archives, diaries, chronologies, collected works, newspapers, and other sources, and subjects them to in-depth analysis and research. It faithfully depicts Yuan Shikai's political and military plans during the upheaval that brought the Xinhai and Renzi years to a close, as well as his connections with various parties. It also objectively portrays the shifting alignments of political forces and the rise and fall of individuals during the Xinhai Revolution. The book thoroughly traces the restoration of Yuan Shikai's political prestige and the emergence of a climate in which he was seen as indispensable, as well as his choices on major historical questions such as peace negotiations between the north and south, the Qing emperor's abdication, and "republican unity of the five ethnic groups." It also examines the effort and dedication he brought to the founding of the Republic of China. With insight and sound reasoning, it explores how the attitudes of different political factions shifted amid changing political fortunes, and objectively and faithfully recreates the interactions among individuals, the nation, and society during the Xinhai Revolution.