1875 - 1887: Prince Gong as Prince Regent
In 1875, shortly after the accession of the Guangxu Emperor, Empress Dowager Cixi becomes severely ill from liver problems and dies. This left Empress Dowager Ci'an by herself, so she reappoints Prince Gong as Prince Regent to rule by her side.
Using his position to push for modernization, Gong accepts Shen Bouzhen's rejected proposals for the reform of the Military Imperial Examinations with the inclusion of Mathematics, the abolition of the military examinations as they were based on obsolete weaponry, and a telegraph line from Fuzhou to Mawei and Xiamen, and then proceeding across to Taiwan. This time, he relied on another company for the latter to be completed instead of the Danish one that was originally contracted for the project. He also aloud the Woosung road to continue operating. Like in the original timeline, Shen Baozhen succeeded in initiating construction of the Keelung Coal Mine in Taiwan, the first modern coal mine in China, to fuel the Fuzhou Navy Yard.
One of the most important actions taken as mentioned above was the modernization of the military. Or specifically, the modernization of the Eight Banners and Green Standard Army. Gong would arrange for western instructors and competent drillmasters to come and teach soldiers the art of modern combat. Volunteers were also sent abroad for such education. Along with training, soldiers would also begin wearing western style uniforms. Green Standard Army soldiers would wear standard uniforms consisting of a black jacket and red trousers with the latter sporting a yellow stripe down the legs. On their heads, they would wear traditional Manchu hats or turbans depending on the location/season. Bannerman soldiers would wear German style uniforms with custom designed Pickelhaube that resembled traditional helmets. Each uniform had different colors based on the banner the soldiers served under. Like in the original timeline, in 1885, with assistance from Germany, Li Hongzhang would establish the Tientsin (Tianjin) Military Academy, which offered a two-year program, taught by Imperial German Army officers in German language medium. Subjects included drill, fortifications, surveying, mathematics and science. Like in the original timeline, a naval academy is established in Lüshun (Dalian, or Port Arthur), a naval college is inaugurated in Guangzhou in 1887, and yet another one at Weihai in 1889, and one at Jiangning (Nanjing) in 1891.
The Imperial court would be introduced to western fashion as well, though they would only wear them on select occasions such as military related business, visiting another country on official business, or attending a western style ball. Depending on their rank, men's uniforms or suits would be designed to have the same color schemes as their traditional robes. They would also wear Women would wear dresses that had the same colors and patterns as their traditional robes while maintaining their Liangbatou hairstyles. Civilian clothing would remain unchanged with the exception of western style shoes being worn. Particularly, in factories.
Industrialization would pickup much quicker than it actually did historically. The major factor in this was that power was moved back from the regional governors to the central government. Under Gong's leadership, the Qing government cracked down on unequal treaties and showed little resistance in governmental projects.
Like in original timeline, the Kaiping Mines, the Shanghai Cotton Mill, and the Imperial Telegraph Administration would come about from 1877 to 1881.
Regarding transportation, railways would see an uptick in construction. Those against the construction were mostly arrested under Gong's orders. Standard gauge railways would connect major Chinese cities with narrow gauge cities built to connect mountain communities. Beijing and other major Chinese cities would have tramways built. Western style horse drawn carriages would be introduced to the imperial court and other wealthy Chinese families. The roofing of these carriages are modeled after roofs of traditional sedan chairs. Those who carried the sedan chairs were reassigned as coachmen and footmen respectively. Shipping would also grow in size due to high demands from the Qing government. An imperial yacht would be constructed at Jiangnan Shipyard and launched in 1879.
With the money made from modernizing industrialization, the Qing were able to have the Old Summer Palace rebuilt. Including, the Xiyang Lou with its western style buildings. Outside the imperial residence, in major Chinese cities, western architecture as we know it would not pick up as quickly as it did in Japan. However, the introduction of western building techniques would result in the creation of a new type of architecture that's best described as 70% Chinese and 30% western.
Like in the original timeline, Ci'an dies in 1881.
The Sino-French War would still occur like in the original timeline, but with the help of modernized armies, the war ends with Tonkin becoming a Chinese protectorate.
Guangxu would get married two years earlier than he did in the original timeline. In 1887, he would marry Consort Zhen, who would become Empress Keshun. The money made from the modernization efforts allowed for the wedding to be ever so grand. That same year, Prince Gong would step down, allowing Guangxu to rule China on his own right.
1887 - 1900: Reign of the Guangxu Emperor (Note: His reign does go beyond 1900. The main focus is on the late 19th century.)
In 1887, a member of the Imperial Court would represent China at The Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. That same year, the Mo-ho Gold Mining Company was established and would begun operations in 1888 like in the original timeline.
During her marriage to Guangxu, Empress Keshun would bear three children; Princess Xingmei in 1891, Crown Prince Guanghui in 1893 and Prince Dachuan in 1897. Xingmei would have the privilege of not having her feet bounded as the practice of foot binding was abolished in 1895.
Like in the original timeline, the First Sino-Japanese war would occur, but due to China having modernized its army and navy in this version, the war ends with a stalemate. However, China still loses Korea and Formosa. Despite this, China doesn't give Japan war reparations. Many local warlords would express their disappointment over the stalemate, often blaming the central government for the war's outcome. As a result, the Warlord Era begins earlier but with two different factions than in the original timeline. The warlord armies were not well equipped, resulting in many of them being smashed by Imperial soldiers.
Such conflicts would also occur within the Imperial Court as many conservatives weren't fond of the changes Prince Gong and Guangxu brought to the empire.
One of them, Prince Duan, would go as far as to attempt to dispose Guangxu and become Emperor of China himself. He and many other corrupt officials were punished accordingly thanks to the vast amounts of court members who supported the changes.
In 1897, a member of the Imperial Court would represent China at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. That same year, like in the original timeline, Prince Gong would die. As he did in the original timeline, Guangxu Emperor would personally attend his funeral and cancelled imperial court sessions for five days and ordered mourning attire to be worn for 15 days. The emperor also granted him the posthumous name "Zhong" (忠; meaning "loyal") and gave him a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, issuing an edict honoring him as a role model of loyalty that all Qing subjects are to learn from.
On June 11, 1898, like in the original timeline, Guangxu would pass out reforms that included Qing Dynasty into a constitutional monarchy. This time, there was more support from the Imperial Court and no coup. Without Cixi and Duan to intervene, the Hundred Days' Reform was a success.
In 1899, construction would begin for a western-style regional palace on the grounds where Ming Palace once stood in Nanjing. The Palace of Capodimonte, the Royal Palace of Naples. and the roofing of the Xiyang Lou would serve as models, resulting in an Italian Baroque palace with Chinese elements. Construction would last until the second half of the 1900's. In 1914, Guangxu would host a western-style ball there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Taiping Rebellion's defeat.
In 1875, shortly after the accession of the Guangxu Emperor, Empress Dowager Cixi becomes severely ill from liver problems and dies. This left Empress Dowager Ci'an by herself, so she reappoints Prince Gong as Prince Regent to rule by her side.
Using his position to push for modernization, Gong accepts Shen Bouzhen's rejected proposals for the reform of the Military Imperial Examinations with the inclusion of Mathematics, the abolition of the military examinations as they were based on obsolete weaponry, and a telegraph line from Fuzhou to Mawei and Xiamen, and then proceeding across to Taiwan. This time, he relied on another company for the latter to be completed instead of the Danish one that was originally contracted for the project. He also aloud the Woosung road to continue operating. Like in the original timeline, Shen Baozhen succeeded in initiating construction of the Keelung Coal Mine in Taiwan, the first modern coal mine in China, to fuel the Fuzhou Navy Yard.
One of the most important actions taken as mentioned above was the modernization of the military. Or specifically, the modernization of the Eight Banners and Green Standard Army. Gong would arrange for western instructors and competent drillmasters to come and teach soldiers the art of modern combat. Volunteers were also sent abroad for such education. Along with training, soldiers would also begin wearing western style uniforms. Green Standard Army soldiers would wear standard uniforms consisting of a black jacket and red trousers with the latter sporting a yellow stripe down the legs. On their heads, they would wear traditional Manchu hats or turbans depending on the location/season. Bannerman soldiers would wear German style uniforms with custom designed Pickelhaube that resembled traditional helmets. Each uniform had different colors based on the banner the soldiers served under. Like in the original timeline, in 1885, with assistance from Germany, Li Hongzhang would establish the Tientsin (Tianjin) Military Academy, which offered a two-year program, taught by Imperial German Army officers in German language medium. Subjects included drill, fortifications, surveying, mathematics and science. Like in the original timeline, a naval academy is established in Lüshun (Dalian, or Port Arthur), a naval college is inaugurated in Guangzhou in 1887, and yet another one at Weihai in 1889, and one at Jiangning (Nanjing) in 1891.
The Imperial court would be introduced to western fashion as well, though they would only wear them on select occasions such as military related business, visiting another country on official business, or attending a western style ball. Depending on their rank, men's uniforms or suits would be designed to have the same color schemes as their traditional robes. They would also wear Women would wear dresses that had the same colors and patterns as their traditional robes while maintaining their Liangbatou hairstyles. Civilian clothing would remain unchanged with the exception of western style shoes being worn. Particularly, in factories.
Industrialization would pickup much quicker than it actually did historically. The major factor in this was that power was moved back from the regional governors to the central government. Under Gong's leadership, the Qing government cracked down on unequal treaties and showed little resistance in governmental projects.
Like in original timeline, the Kaiping Mines, the Shanghai Cotton Mill, and the Imperial Telegraph Administration would come about from 1877 to 1881.
Regarding transportation, railways would see an uptick in construction. Those against the construction were mostly arrested under Gong's orders. Standard gauge railways would connect major Chinese cities with narrow gauge cities built to connect mountain communities. Beijing and other major Chinese cities would have tramways built. Western style horse drawn carriages would be introduced to the imperial court and other wealthy Chinese families. The roofing of these carriages are modeled after roofs of traditional sedan chairs. Those who carried the sedan chairs were reassigned as coachmen and footmen respectively. Shipping would also grow in size due to high demands from the Qing government. An imperial yacht would be constructed at Jiangnan Shipyard and launched in 1879.
With the money made from modernizing industrialization, the Qing were able to have the Old Summer Palace rebuilt. Including, the Xiyang Lou with its western style buildings. Outside the imperial residence, in major Chinese cities, western architecture as we know it would not pick up as quickly as it did in Japan. However, the introduction of western building techniques would result in the creation of a new type of architecture that's best described as 70% Chinese and 30% western.
Like in the original timeline, Ci'an dies in 1881.
The Sino-French War would still occur like in the original timeline, but with the help of modernized armies, the war ends with Tonkin becoming a Chinese protectorate.
Guangxu would get married two years earlier than he did in the original timeline. In 1887, he would marry Consort Zhen, who would become Empress Keshun. The money made from the modernization efforts allowed for the wedding to be ever so grand. That same year, Prince Gong would step down, allowing Guangxu to rule China on his own right.
1887 - 1900: Reign of the Guangxu Emperor (Note: His reign does go beyond 1900. The main focus is on the late 19th century.)
In 1887, a member of the Imperial Court would represent China at The Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. That same year, the Mo-ho Gold Mining Company was established and would begun operations in 1888 like in the original timeline.
During her marriage to Guangxu, Empress Keshun would bear three children; Princess Xingmei in 1891, Crown Prince Guanghui in 1893 and Prince Dachuan in 1897. Xingmei would have the privilege of not having her feet bounded as the practice of foot binding was abolished in 1895.
Like in the original timeline, the First Sino-Japanese war would occur, but due to China having modernized its army and navy in this version, the war ends with a stalemate. However, China still loses Korea and Formosa. Despite this, China doesn't give Japan war reparations. Many local warlords would express their disappointment over the stalemate, often blaming the central government for the war's outcome. As a result, the Warlord Era begins earlier but with two different factions than in the original timeline. The warlord armies were not well equipped, resulting in many of them being smashed by Imperial soldiers.
Such conflicts would also occur within the Imperial Court as many conservatives weren't fond of the changes Prince Gong and Guangxu brought to the empire.
One of them, Prince Duan, would go as far as to attempt to dispose Guangxu and become Emperor of China himself. He and many other corrupt officials were punished accordingly thanks to the vast amounts of court members who supported the changes.
In 1897, a member of the Imperial Court would represent China at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. That same year, like in the original timeline, Prince Gong would die. As he did in the original timeline, Guangxu Emperor would personally attend his funeral and cancelled imperial court sessions for five days and ordered mourning attire to be worn for 15 days. The emperor also granted him the posthumous name "Zhong" (忠; meaning "loyal") and gave him a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, issuing an edict honoring him as a role model of loyalty that all Qing subjects are to learn from.
On June 11, 1898, like in the original timeline, Guangxu would pass out reforms that included Qing Dynasty into a constitutional monarchy. This time, there was more support from the Imperial Court and no coup. Without Cixi and Duan to intervene, the Hundred Days' Reform was a success.
In 1899, construction would begin for a western-style regional palace on the grounds where Ming Palace once stood in Nanjing. The Palace of Capodimonte, the Royal Palace of Naples. and the roofing of the Xiyang Lou would serve as models, resulting in an Italian Baroque palace with Chinese elements. Construction would last until the second half of the 1900's. In 1914, Guangxu would host a western-style ball there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Taiping Rebellion's defeat.
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