The Reform Movement of 1898 was intended to make the Qing Dynasty stronger, but why did Cixi obstruct it?

Whenever the country is in danger, there will be a group of people in China who are willing to contribute to the country and try to get the nation out of danger. The Reform Movement of 1898 in the Qing Dynasty also happened in this situation. After the Opium War, the Qing Dynasty gradually became a foreign colony, and its national strength was weakening. Without reform, it will only become a fish in other countries. From 65438 to 0898, the Qing Dynasty began to seek a new way out and political reform. As the emperor at that time, Guangxu supported the reform that was remembered by history, that is, the Reform Movement of 1898, also known as the Hundred Days Reform. Vigorous political reform, three months issued a series of laws, but was killed by Cixi.

So if this reform is successful, can it become a world power? Not necessarily, but any political reform is to modify, abolish or add new laws and regulations. These measures are not necessarily good, but a new attempt for the future. Let's talk about the specific situation at that time. Before the political reform, the Qing Dynasty had begun some explorations and made some achievements. Take the Westernization Movement for example. After learning that foreigners controlled foreigners, the military strength and other fields of the Qing Dynasty made great progress, which provided the foundation for the Reform Movement of 1898.

Briefly talking about the content of the Reform Movement, the Reform Movement of 1898 basically carried out reforms in four aspects: politics, education, economy and military affairs. Politically, low-level officials and peasants were allowed to communicate with the emperor, reformists with western education were appointed, and redundant government institutions were abolished. In education, institutions of higher learning have been established in various regions to study a series of western majors such as medicine and business, and pay attention to the invention and creation of foreign students. Economically, we completely abandoned the concept of agriculture-oriented in the Qing Dynasty, established the country by industry, encouraged private enterprises to build railways, and allowed businessmen to buy and sell freely. Militarily, the army was abolished, military schools were organized and weapons were improved. Most of these measures have just been implemented, and few have been completed, and they are basically broken.

If the above measures can be implemented, in fact, the result can only be said to be 50-50, because the Qing Dynasty at that time could not realize the transformation of the country. The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 made the Qing Dynasty face huge compensation, and the implementation of the measures needed a lot of money. Even if it succeeds, can the Qing Dynasty become a powerful country in a short time? Moreover, in the late Qing Dynasty, the contradiction between Manchu and Han was almost in the outbreak stage. If the reform is carried out, it will greatly enhance the strength of the Han nationality and inevitably lead to civil war. Secondly, foreign countries will not see the birth of a powerful country. If the reform is carried out, the Qing dynasty will certainly be hit by a new round.

However, we cannot generalize. If the political reform is thoroughly carried out, the Qing dynasty may be able to usher in new vitality. As for the practice of Cixi's coup, there is no problem and there is some truth. Because Tan Sitong, one of the six gentlemen who supported the Reform Movement of 1898, once mentioned selling Xinjiang to Russia and Tibet to Britain to pay off the money owed to the great powers. If this opinion is adopted, the consequences will be unimaginable, and Cixi's timely stop will inadvertently safeguard the reunification of the motherland.