46 THE GOVERNOR THE GOVERNOR 47 already a senior official-a vice-president of the Board of Works since June 1899.After the collapse of the reform,Yuan's horizon Yuan proposed both long-range and short-range measures had widened considerably,perhaps a sign of the empress's increas- against the Boxers.In the long run,he hoped to promote under- ing reliance on him.Military training remained his primary re. standing between the common people and the Christians;more sponsibility;and in 1899 he made two major defense proposals, immediately,however,he was determined to maintain law and or- that the empire's modern forces be increased to 10,000 men,and der and to liquidate the bandit elements and the Boxer leaders. that the army be made self-sufficient in military supplies.But his He was firmly against the government's plan to organize the rebels memorials now covered an extensive range of topics,including tax into militia units: reform,coal-mining,and foreign relations.+The government had Leaving aside the impossibility of reassembling those already dispersed been consulting him for some time about the Boxer problem.In and restoring those already suppressed,it would be difficult for the gov- July 1899,he submitted a memorial on the religious incidents in ernment to find capable people to lead the militia.Qualified officials and gentry simply.would not undertake such a task.Even if they could be Shantung,suggesting that the unrest there could be stopped by persuaded,how could they understand the feelings and aims of the Box- sending a well-disciplined force to police the area.He also sug- ers,who after all practice a heresy and use magical incantations?How gested that local officials be informed of the provisions in China's could they control them?Further,the militia has always been financed treaties and agreements so they would be in a better position to by the ordinary people.To organize hundreds of thousands into new militia units would require a huge sum of money.Where would it come deal with foreign representatives.Yuan himself was the only man from if not from the people?Please allow me to speculate on the evil with the experience and the military force necessary for the job. consequences of all this.As soon as bandits can use the name of militia Further,he knew the province and its people well. and heretical sects are given legitimate authority,they will operate Two corps of Yuan's troops had been dispatched to Shantung openly;it will be impossible to disband them again.Unchecked,they in May 1899 for the ostensible purpose of a joint maneuver with will seize the opportunity to satisfy their own selfish ends.How then can the provincial garrison.On his appointment,Yuan took the rest general chaos and widespread suffering among the common people be prevented?7 of his division with him.But this does not mean he was to wield a heavy hand;on the contrary,his instructions from the throne Yuan's suppression of the movement was both severe and thor- were to proceed with caution.He was to see that conflicts between ough,prompting the anxious dowager empress to demand that he the common people and the Christians were handled fairly,and be more lenient.The situation in Shantung had quieted down, he was not to rely solely on military force,"lest the people be however,especially after the famous Pingyuan incident of October frightened into revolt."(Yuan received the opposite advice from 1899.The rebels fled to the more open province of Chihli.During a former local official in Shantung,Lao Nai-hstian,who had made the turbulent year of 1goo,Yuan laid a foundation of stability in a special study of the Boxers and felt that they should be sup- his province.As Putnam Weale recorded,"Shantung is all right, pressed at any cost.) never fear....The provincial governor is a strong Chinaman, The first thing Yuan did was to test the Boxers'claim of invul- one Yuan Shih-k'ai." nerability.A number of Boxers willing to put themselves to the To suppress the Boxers,Yuan requested that his division be ex- test were killed by his firing squad.Previous demonstrations had panded.In response,Peking instructed him to reorganize the 20 reportedly left the Boxers unscathed(proving only,'one supposes, corps of the provincial garrison into a vanguard for his army.Feng that Yuan's marksmen were more accurate than their predeces- Kuo-chang,who,like Tuan Ch'ijui and Wang Shih-chen,now sors).Yuan charged that even in force the Boxers were ineffective, held a rank equivalent to prefect,was placed in charge of this nothing that once 400 to 500 of them attacked a single church and work.The morale of the officers and men was high,thanks to their failed to take it."How can they wipe out foreigners?Even if they success against the rebels.Yuan's Right Division was far stronger could recruit millions of people and roam around everywhere, than any of the other divisions of the Imperial Guard Army- spreading like bush fires,what effect would they have?" Jung-lu's Central,Sung Ch'ing's Left,Nieh Shih-ch'eng's Front, and Tung Fu-hsiang's Rear divisions.It also had the good fortune