In 1924, Feng Yuxiang's army invaded Peiping and surrounded the Forbidden City. Once the gate was closed, no one was allowed to enter or exit. The military police outside the door were very tight, with a sentry every three steps and a post every five steps, trapping Puyi in the Jinluan Hall.
In the past, Puyi was in the Jinluan Palace, relying on the help and support of his ministers, but now he is the only one left, and he is a little helpless. Just when Puyi was panicking, Feng Yuxiang sent him a proclamation to amend the superior conditions of the Qing Dynasty and asked Puyi to sign it. It said: 1. Emperor Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty will permanently abolish the title of emperor from now on; 2. The government of the Republic of China will reduce subsidies. The cost of cleaning the house; 3. Within three hours, Puyi moved out of the palace and freely chose his residence.
Puyi dared to be angry but dared not speak out about the ultimatum-style conditions. He could not resist and could only obey obediently.
In fact, Puyi doesn't care about this kind of thing. This is not the first time that he has been kicked out of power. As the saying goes, a man can rise and fall, and this is nothing to be ashamed of. So, he picked up a pen, signed the proclamation, and agreed to comply with it. He would get through this hurdle first. But after all, he is not a seasoned politician, and his ability to bend and stretch is not yet complete. In this sudden and inevitable change, with no advisers around to help him, he was a little overwhelmed, pessimistic and depressed.
Puyi had no idea what to do next.
When he arrived at the limited time, Puyi had no choice but to walk out of the Jinluan Palace and go to Beifu first to find his father.
Puyi was restless in Beifu. Beifu was different from Jinluan Palace. Not only did he lose his freedom, but his safety was not guaranteed. what to do? He thought of finding a way out from foreign forces. His first thought was Japan.
Puyi originally had two close ministers. One was Zheng Xiaoxu, the former consul general of the Qing Dynasty in Kobe, Japan, who had a very close relationship with Japan; the other was Luo Zhenyu, who had been in Japan for a long time, and he also It has inextricably close ties with Japan.
Zheng Xiaoxu was originally a fellow countryman of Chen Baochen, a veteran of the Qing Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, he not only served as the consul general in Kobe, Japan, but also served as the border affairs supervisor of Guangxi. This person has outstanding talents and abilities, and is highly valued by both the government and the public. He repeatedly refused the invitation of the President of the Republic of China and refused to serve as an official in the Republic of China government, but continued to follow Puyi. Therefore, Puyi regarded Zheng Xiaoxu as a rare loyal minister. Puyi appreciated some of Zheng's pro-Japanese suggestions.
Luo Zhenyu was an antique dealer by trade. He established relations with Japan through the sale of antiques and cultural relics. In those years, the Japanese upper class, the imperial family, the imperial family, and the business community were very interested in Chinese antiquities. Some Japanese people do it to study cultural relics, some to collect them, and some to buy and sell them for profit. What they are interested in are mainly historical relics from China. Luo recognized the favor of the Japanese upper class for ancient cultural relics, and as an academic authority on Chinese ancient cultural relics, he made friends with many celebrities in Japan, both in the government and in the public. Over a period of time, he has become a figure who can speak out and play a certain role in Japan's political and business circles. Therefore, Luo made some suggestions to Puyi to move closer to Japan, which also attracted Puyi's attention.
Both Zheng Xiaoxu and Luo Zhenyu will like each other and are willing to help Puyi find a way out. In other words, both of them could help Puyi with ulterior motives and use Japanese power to achieve their personal goals.
Zheng Xiaoxu told Puyi that in order to find a way out, he wanted to take Puyi to the Japanese barracks in "Dongjiaominxiang". Zheng said that he had agreed with the Japanese Colonel Takemoto Takichi of "Dongjiao Minxiang" that Takemoto's adjutant, Captain Zhong Changqiu, put on plain clothes and bring a doctor to send Puyi out of Beifu and take him to the Japanese barracks on the pretext of sending Puyi for medical treatment. Puyi was very interested in this method and was a little tempted. However, due to the opposition of many princes, the trip failed.
The next day, Luo Zhenyu, who was ordered to go to Tianjin to ask for help, came to Beifu. He told Puyi that he had found the Japanese garrison headquarters in Tianjin. The Japanese side said that Colonel Takemoto in Beijing would send cavalry to patrol near Beifu. If any abnormal behavior by the National Army against Beifu was discovered, the Japanese barracks in Peiping would immediately take "decisive measures."
Puyi was deeply moved by the news brought by Luo Zhenyu, which further confirmed that Puyi could really rely on Japanese talents.
At this time, Puyi took advantage of the chaotic situation in which Duan Qirui and the Fengjun rebelled against Feng Yuxiang, and issued an appeal for help to the diplomatic mission in China; he also asked the "Sunchon Times" of the Japanese Minister's Office to publish an interview with him. . The newspaper was ordered to do something, and it was happy to take the opportunity to give Puyi a hand. In the newspaper, it wrote consecutive articles expressing "sympathy" for the "royal family" and scolding the National Army. Puyi was very proud of this and believed that Japan was the party he could trust.
When the access control of "Beifu" was lifted, Puyi was determined to move out of "Beifu" and find a place where he could get shelter.
Puyi chose the Japanese Embassy in China as his refuge.
Puyi took the initiative to come to find a backer to wait for a comeback, and the Japanese minister in China couldn't ask for it. This is exactly what the Japanese aggression and expansion group wants. Therefore, the Japanese minister tried every means to hold Puyi firmly in his hands and make Puyi firmly close to Japan so that he could be useful in the future.
For this reason, Japanese Minister Fenze provided all conveniences for Puyi's entry, food and accommodation, and warmly entertained him.
After Puyi entered the Japanese Legation, the Japanese Legation quickly became the palace of the Qing Emperor through careful planning and arrangements by the Japanese.
In this way, Puyi lived the old life of the Qing emperor in the Japanese legation unscrupulously.
The most interesting example is Puyi’s birthday celebration at the Japanese Legation. This year coincided with Puyi's 20th birthday, and the Japanese minister held a large-scale celebration for Puyi.
Under the planning of the Japanese Minister, this birthday celebration was very grand and unique.
The birthday celebration event will be held in the auditorium of the Japanese Embassy.
The auditorium of the Japanese Embassy is newly decorated according to the layout of the Forbidden City. The floor was covered with a luxurious yellow carpet; the Taishi chair where Puyi sat was covered with yellow satin; the glass screen behind the chair was covered with yellow paper; the servants all wore Qing Dynasty red tasseled hats. The birthday celebration activities are no different in etiquette from those in the Qing Dynasty palace. About 600 people, including elders, old ministers, gift-givers, and people who took the opportunity to curry favor with Puyi and the Japanese, came from major cities. They all rushed to the auditorium of the Japanese embassy and bowed and kowtowed to Puyi who was sitting on the imperial chair. , congratulations to the emperor for his long life, and the atmosphere was extremely warm.
In the middle of the ceremony, Puyi also delivered an impromptu speech to the 600 guests. He was very proud of this birthday celebration, and he was able to enjoy the glory for a while, and he got over the addiction of being an emperor. . At the same time, he also further experienced that only the Japanese still regarded him as the emperor.
At this time, Puyi's determination to seek refuge in Japan became increasingly firm.
Another thing that made Puyi burst into tears was that he wanted to go to Japan, and Japan gave a very satisfactory reply to Puyi's idea of ??going overseas.
Puyi wants to go abroad to Japan, what should he do specifically? He has no idea. At this moment, his favorite Luo Zhenyu gave him an idea. In order to facilitate the eastward journey to Japan, you can take two steps: the first step is to go to Tianjin Pier. Make preparations to go to Japan in Tianjin. Once the conditions are met, you can take a boat to Japan. Puyi readily accepted this.
Luo Zhenyu told Japanese Minister Fenze about Puyi’s idea of ??going to Japan. Fenze was happy. This suited the Japanese side, and Fenze then decided to send the police chief and plainclothes policemen from the Japanese Consulate General in Tianjin to Beijing to escort Puyi from Peking to Tianjin.
When Puyi arrived in Tianjin, Japanese Consul General in Tianjin Shigeru Yoshida and the officers and soldiers stationed there took Puyi off the train. The next day, the Japanese-run "Shuntian Daily" published a statement by the Japanese Minister to China in Peiping, explaining that the former Emperor Xuantong suddenly transferred to Tianjin. This statement was tantamount to informing Duan Zhengyi and his foreign minister about Puyi's trip to Tianjin.
Puyi arrived in Tianjin and became more dependent on Japan. The Japanese authorities drew Puyi closer and closer.
As soon as Puyi arrived in Tianjin, he entered the Japanese concession and moved into a new house with modern equipment. He became even more proud.
Although Puyi's ambitious plan to use external forces to restore Japan remained unchanged, his eastward journey to Japan was delayed due to changes in the domestic situation. As a result, he lived in Tianjin for seven years.
During these long years in Tianjin, Puyi's thoughts of restoration and revenge became more determined and urgent.
During this period, the people around Puyi who could get close to and advise him were Zheng Xiaoxu and Luo Zhenyu. The indignant remarks made by these two men to Puyi about the current situation were completely in line with Puyi's long-term vision of restoration and revenge. These two people played a big role in Puyi's restoration plan.
Puyi still received meticulous care from Japan in Tianjin, just like in Beijing. When Puyi wanted to be restored, the Japanese authorities gave him all-round help and support, both spiritually and materially.
Japan observed that Puyi liked that everyone still called him emperor, and spared no effort to use every opportunity to let Puyi know that Japan had never changed its recognition of the existence of Emperor Xuantong and the throne.
One day, just as the warlords' melee was about to reach Tianjin, Lieutenant General Koizumi Ryuichi, the commander of the Japanese garrison in Tianjin, came to Puyi's residence and said to Puyi: "Please rest assured, Emperor Xuantong." , We will never let Chinese soldiers enter the Japanese concession." After hearing this, Pu Yi was very proud. First, the Japanese military still calls him the title of Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He was flattered. Since Puyi was kicked out of the Golden Palace, no one except his entourage still regarded him as the emperor. Today, the Japanese military still respectfully calls him emperor, making him feel that Japan is his trustworthy friend; secondly, the Japanese military also offers to protect Puyi's safety. This kind of expression made the last emperor who had long wanted to go to Japan grateful.
A few days later, Japanese official representative and Consul General of Japan in Tianjin Shigeru Yoshida invited Puyi to visit Tianjin’s Japanese expatriate primary school. This event was carefully planned by the Consul General of Japan. Puyi couldn't get it, so he gladly accepted the invitation.
This event was originally a very ordinary event. However, the Japanese had ulterior motives. The purpose was to do what they wanted and further soften Puyi.
On Puyi's way to and from elementary school, Japanese primary school students held colorful paper flags and cheered "Long live Emperor Puyi!" This scene moved the frail and incompetent last emperor to tears.
During these years in Tianjin, every festival or Puyi’s birthday, the Japanese Consul General in Tianjin, the Japanese garrison commander and his generals would come to Puyi’s residence to congratulate him. Every time Japan's "Tianchang Festival" occurs, Japanese dignitaries in Tianjin invite Puyi to visit the military parade.
Another time, Puyi went to the Baihe River for a stroll, and by chance he saw a Japanese warship parked in the middle of the river. When they were overlooking the beautiful scenery of the warship in the river, the captain of the warship suddenly approached the river bank in a small boat and hurriedly walked to Pu Yi. He respectfully told Pu Yi that it was an honor to see His Majesty the Emperor admiring the beautiful scenery of Japanese warships in the river. I specially came to invite His Majesty the Emperor to visit the warship.
Puyi readily accepted it. This was the opportunity he had dreamed of to have further contact with the Japanese military.
When Puyi walked to the warship, Japanese naval commanders and other senior officers lined up on the warship to salute Emperor Puyi loudly as a reception for a head of state.
Puyi, as the head of state, inspected the honor guard on a Japanese warship, which was very glorious.
When Puyi returned to his residence not long ago, the Japanese captain led some Japanese officers to visit to show respect for Emperor Puyi. Regarding this matter, Puyi once mumbled to the people around him: "Judging from this matter, I feel that the Japanese respect me from the bottom of their hearts."
In the past few years in Tianjin, Puyi was very comfortable in life and very proud "politically". First of all, his living conditions are much better than those of the Yangxin Hall in the Forbidden City; secondly, in the Japanese Concession, both the official and the people still respect Puyi as Emperor Xuantong, which makes him both famous and proud; thirdly, in the Japanese concession, When the domestic situation eased slightly, several pro-Japanese ministers such as Zheng Xiaoxu and others made many suggestions for the restoration plan, which were all in line with Puyi's wishes. As a result, Puyi became more and more convinced day by day that Japan would be the first foreign aid force for his restoration, and he believed day by day that the plan to rely on Japan for restoration should be put on the specific agenda immediately.
Soon, in order to restore the country, Puyi sent his younger brother Pujie to Japan to study military affairs through the great Japanese warlord Okura Kihachiro in Tianjin.
Then, step by step, Puyi embarked on the path of surrendering to Japan and becoming the Japanese puppet emperor, and embarked on the criminal path of supporting Japanese aggression and expansion.
In 1931, before Japan launched a war of aggression against China, it had already greeted Puyi.
Two months before the "September 18th" incident, Pu Jie returned from Japan for vacation and brought Pu Yi a message from the Japanese military Yoshioka Aki, telling him: "Now Zhang Xueliang is making trouble. It's outrageous. Something may happen to Manchuria in the near future... Please take care of Emperor Xuantong. "
Not only that, before Pu Jie returned to China, the Japanese nobleman Mizuno Katsu. Viscount Bang greeted Pujie and said that he was going to China to visit Puyi and presented him with a fan in person.
Shortly after Pujie returned to China, Mizuno Katsukuni visited Puyi and brought him a fan. On the fan, there is a couplet of poems written:
"The sky is empty and time is not without rules."
The two messages, oral and written, that Pu Jie brought back to China were actually a hint from the Japanese aggression and expansion authorities to Pu Yi, letting Pu Yi know that Japan was about to take action. Puyi’s hope is here!
Puyi met and colluded with Japanese first-level war criminals Seishiro Itagaki and Kenji Doihara, and reached a consensus on Puyi's trip to the three northeastern provinces to establish a Japanese puppet state.
One day in September, Lieutenant General Kashii Kohei, the commander of the Japanese garrison in Tianjin, brought Puyi to the Japanese barracks. When Puyi arrived at the Japanese barracks, the first person he saw was Colonel Seishiro Itagaki, the chief of staff of the Kwantung Army. Sitting beside him was Puyi's old minister Luo Zhenyu. After sitting down, Luo handed Puyi a letter.
This letter was written to Puyi by Xizhu, a descendant of Puyi’s distant clan and the chief of staff of Zhang Zuoxiang, deputy commander of Northeast Security.
Zhang Zuoxiang also served as the provincial chairman of Jilin Province. Zhang went home to attend the funeral and was not in Jilin. Xiyu took advantage of this opportunity to seize real power. As the chief of staff of the Northeast Security Command, he ordered the opening of the city to welcome the Japanese invading army, and became one of the founding fathers of the Japanese puppet state in Northeast China.
Xizhu said in a letter to Puyi: He has been waiting for the opportunity for 20 years, and today he finally got it. Please Puyi not to lose the opportunity and immediately return to the "birthplace of our ancestors" to take charge of the great plan. But with the support of the Japanese, they can occupy Manchuria first and then control the pass. As soon as Puyi arrived in Shenyang, Jilin immediately announced restoration.
One day in November, Doihara Kenji, the leader of the Japanese invaders, arrived in Tianjin. Puyi met with Doihara Kenji overnight.
Kenji Doihara was one of the five major war criminals sentenced to death by the International Military Tribunal. It is said that Kenji Doihara was a Japanese soldier who made his fortune by invading China. He could speak fluent Chinese. Wherever he went, disaster would befall him.
When Kenji Doihara saw Puyi, he told Puyi that the Japanese Kwantung Army had no territorial ambitions in Manchuria. He hoped that Puyi would not miss this opportunity and go to the birthplace of Aisin Gioro's ancestors to personally lead this nation. Puyi will be the head of state of this country and can do everything independently. Finally, Doihara Kenji also emphasized that an independent empire would be established in Manchuria. The empire would be entirely decided by Emperor Xuantong.
Puyi listened with rapt attention. He believed that this was a good opportunity for restoration. He should not miss the opportunity and should seize the opportunity to go north. So Puyi secretly boarded a Japanese ship overnight and left Tianjin.
Under the arrangement of the Japanese Kwantung Army, Puyi first arrived at Yingkou by boat, and then transferred to Lushun overnight.
Puyi waited in Lushun for three months. During this period, many elders of the Qing Dynasty, relatives of the emperor, and some politicians who were obsessed with officialdom, when they learned that Puyi was going to be restored and restored to the throne, they all rushed to visit Puyi and tried their best to show their courtesy and farewell to Puyi. He pays heavy gifts in the hope of getting an official position in the court. Puyi also lived up to expectations and would not refuse anyone who wanted to buy or run for an official position. Whoever paid a high price would be a high official. As long as he was willing to pay a high price, everyone would be an official.
These people who knew how to be officials and exercise to be officials all gained something, and they all later became the new rich and powerful of the Puppet Manchukuo. For example, several leading figures: Zheng Xiaoxu, Zang Shiyi, Xizhu and others all became high-ranking officials above the minister of the puppet Manchukuo State. Among them, Xizhu was very ambitious and obsessed with officials. He was not satisfied with being a minister. He wanted to be the prime minister.
Xizhu believed that he was the pioneer for Puyi's restoration. He first sent a letter to Puyi who was still in Tianjin, asking him to become the emperor; and later paved the way for Puyi's restoration in Shenyang. . Not only that, Xizhen also sent people to send money to Puyi several times, including hundreds of thousands of yuan. Finally, he made it clear to Puyi that he asked the "emperor" to appoint him as the "prime minister".
In fact, these people who were sluggish and traitors did not know anything at the time. To become a high official, they not only had to bribe Puyi, but also bribed the Japanese master Seishiro Itagaki.
If Seishiro Itagaki disagrees, no one can become prime minister.
Three months later, when Puyi was eager to take refuge in Japan, Seishiro Itagaki personally went to Lushun to talk to Puyi.
Seishiro Itagaki told Puyi that in order to adapt to the wishes of "all walks of life" in the three northeastern provinces, "Manchukuo" would be established in the three northeastern provinces. The capital is located in Changchun. Changchun was renamed Xinjing. This country is composed of five main ethnic groups, namely Manchu, Han, Mongolian, Japanese and Korean. Puyi took power as the head of state.
What Puyi cares about is not that the three northeastern provinces were separated from the motherland to establish a Japanese puppet state. What he cares about is that he wants to be the emperor. He also felt that being in power was not as legitimate as being an emperor, and it was more of a restoration. For this reason, Puyi also bargained with his Japanese master.
Finally, Itagaki Seishiro said to Puyi: "Government is just a transition. Emperor Xuantong is the twelfth emperor of the Qing Empire. This is very clear. In the future, after the establishment of the parliament, I believe that the constitution to restore the imperial system will definitely be adopted. Therefore, the current governance is just a transitional method." This means that Puyi should go to Changchun first to take office and then talk about it after he becomes the emperor. Soon, Puyi became the emperor of Manchukuo and was grateful to Japan.
In this way, Puyi, as the head of state of the Puppet Manchukuo, became the number one traitor. He handed over the three northeastern provinces to Japanese imperialism, turned them into Japanese colonies, and became a member of the Japanese militarist group. Invasion and expansion, waving the flag and shouting.
Who did Puyi’s puppet Manchukuo recruit to engage in “state affairs”? Most of these people became prisoners of the Soviet army.
After Puyi arrived in Changchun, he couldn't wait to experience the addiction of being a head of state again. To this end, he also held a grand founding ceremony. The "heroes" who attended the ceremony included Puyi's accompanying veterans Zheng Xiaoxu, Luo Zhenyu, Hu Siyuan, and Chen Zengshou, as well as Zhao Jingqi, Mongolian prince Guifu, and Mongolian prince Qiran special Mubeile; as well as the official of the clique: Zhang Jinghui, who surrendered to Japan. Former Harbin Special Administrative Region Governor, Provincial Governor, and Chairman of the Northeast Administrative Committee; Zang Shiyi—the former Chairman of Liaoning Province who surrendered to Japan; and Xi?—former Qing Palace Minister, former Northeast Security Deputy Commander who surrendered to Japan, and Chief of Staff of Zhang Zuoxiang ;Zhang Haipeng et al.
At this ceremony, the head of the Japanese Kwantung Army read out a list of appointments to the State Council.
This list is the appointment of the chiefs of various ministries of the Puppet Manchukuo, which is also a list of traitors of the Puppet Manchukuo, as follows:
Prime Minister Zheng Xiaoxu; Director-General of the Ministry of Civil Affairs Zang Shiyi; Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Xie Jieshi; Director-General of the Ministry of Military Affairs Zhang Jinghui; Xi?, Director-General of the Ministry of Finance; Zhang Yanqing, Director-General of the Ministry of Industry; Ding Jianxiu, Director-General of the Ministry of Transport; Feng Hanqing, General-Minister of Justice; Zheng Xiaoxu, Director-General of the Ministry of Culture and Education (concurrently); Zang Shiyi, Governor of Fengtian (concurrently); Xi?, Governor of Jilin Province (concurrently); Cheng Zhi, Governor of Heilongjiang Yuan Yuan (concurrently); President of the Legislative Yuan Zhao Xinbo; President of the Supervisory Yuan Yu Chonghan; President of the Supreme Court Lin Qi; Director of the Supreme Procuratorate Li Yuan; Speaker of the Senate Zhang Jinghui (concurrently); Vice Speaker of the Senate Tang Yulin; Councilors Zhang Haipeng, Yuan Jinkai, Luo Zhenyu, and Guifu; Director of the Executive Government Secretariat Hu Siyuan; Secretaries of the Executive Government Secretariat Wan Sheng?, Shang Yanying, Luo Fubao, Xu Baoheng, and Lin Tingchen; Director of the Internal Affairs Department Bao Xi; Special Official of the Internal Affairs Department Zhang Yanqing , Jin Bidong, Wang Jilie, Tong Jixu, Wang Dazhong, Shang Yanying; Director of the Security Department Zhong Jixu; Attendant Military Attaché Zhang Haipeng; Secretary of the State Council Zheng Chui; Secretary of the State Council Zheng Yu.
Puyi's long-awaited stage glory has been realized, and he is very proud.
After the ceremony, Puyi took office as the puppet head of state. Although Puyi didn't care about any major events, he arranged the pomp and pageantry of being an emperor in a down-to-earth and glorious manner. Every day, many distinguished guests come to pay their respects and pay their respects. The people who came included people from the Aisin Gioro family, old ministers in the opposition, new dignitaries of the current dynasty, ministers-in-chief, special councilors, as well as some gentry, wealthy businessmen, local ruffians and the like from various places. These people who came to visit and greet him all came to make offerings, send money and gifts, to be loyal to Pu Yi, and to achieve success, promotion and wealth. Regarding the fact that the three northeastern provinces will become Japanese colonies and will be plundered by Japan; and the people will become slaves of the subjugated country and will be ravaged by Japan, these people, like Puyi, will not interfere at all.
Most of the officials around Puyi were old warlords and bureaucrats who were determined to join Japan, and they were also some idle people. They only care about plundering people's wealth and never care about the people's suffering. Just take Zhang Jinghui, the Prime Minister of the Puppet Manchukuo (Shortly after the establishment of the Puppet Manchukuo, Zhang Jinghui replaced Zheng Xiaoxu as the Prime Minister. This was the need of the Japanese invaders), as an example, this can be seen.
Zhang Jinghui is a powerful figure in the Northeast, and some people say that he was born as a "bearded" (bandit). His performance can be called the most traitorous. Not to mention anything else, just his official skills of "blowing" and "shooting" can tell what kind of historical figure he is.
Once, at the state affairs meeting of the Puppet Manchukuo, after the leader of the Japanese Kwantung Army emphasized that "Japan and Manchukuo are of one heart and one virtue," Zhang Jinghui said: "We are illiterate old men, so just say Use bad words! Japan and Manchuria are two grasshoppers tied by a rope."
People cannot live under the oppression of Japan's colonial policy. All the food that the people in the three northeastern provinces worked hard to grow every year was stolen by the Japanese Kwantung Army. In this regard, Zhang Jinghui said at the State Council: "The Japanese Imperial Army worked hard, and our Manchuria provided food, which is nothing. People who are suffering from famine should just tighten their belts and get over."
Because Zhang Jinghui was against Japan Extremely shameless and disgusting flattery, the Japanese aggressor group was very satisfied with him. The Japanese Kwantung Army called Zhang Jinghui a "good prime minister".
As for what Puyi’s puppet Manchukuo did? This issue is not something this book will address. Just one or two facts about Puyi's treason cannot be ignored in this book.
Puyi, unlike his ancestors, betrayed his country and sought glory, opened the way for Japan's aggression and expansion, and put the people of the three eastern provinces in dire straits. In 1941, when Japan declared war on the United States and Britain, Puyi immediately issued an edict to "mobilize the people of the three eastern provinces to fight to the end for Japan's Greater East Asia glory circle"; in 1942, when the Japanese first-level war criminal Tojo Hideki arrived in Changchun, Puyi flattered him face to face and said: "Please rest assured, Prime Minister, I will use all the strength of Manchukuo to support the jihad of pro-Japanese country." He also gave a large amount of platinum, diamonds and other jewelry to the Kwantung Army to support its invasion and expansion.