Qing dynasty (Zhang Xun)

Although the Qing dynasty was overthrown in 1912, following the 1911 Revolution, many people in China wished for its restoration. Ethnic Manchus and Mongols believed that they were discriminated against by China's new Republican government, and restorationism consequently became popular among these ethnic groups. The Qing also enjoyed support among sections of the Han Chinese population as well, such as in Northeastern China. Many were disappointed about the Republican government's inability to solve China's problems.^[5][6] Finally, there were numerous reactionaries and disempowered ex-Qing officials who conspired to overthrow the Republic.^[7] As a result, pro-Qing restorationist groups, most notably the Royalist Party, remained an underrepresented but powerful factor in Chinese politics during the 1910s.^[5][8] Several royalist uprisings were launched, but all failed.^[8][9]

The confrontation between President Li Yuanhong and Premier Duan Qirui about whether to join the Allied Powers in World War I and declare war on Germany led to political unrest in the capital Beijing in the spring of 1917.^[10]

General Zhang Xun utilized Xuzhou as a primary base between 1916 and 1917.^[11]

On the morning of 1 July 1917, the royalist general Zhang Xun took advantage of the unrest and entered the capital, proclaiming the restoration of Puyi as Emperor of China at 4 am with a small entourage and reviving the Qing monarchy which had been abolished on February 12, 1912. The capital police soon submitted to the new government.^[10][12] General Xu later published an edict of restoration that falsified the approval of the president of the republic, Li Yuanhong.^[13] He was also supported by several other officials, including Beiyang General Jiang Chaozong,^[14] former Qing war minister Wang Shizhen,^[15][16] civil affairs minister Zhu Jiabao,^[16] and diplomat Xie Jieshi.^[17]

On 5 July 1917, Duan's republican troops seized the Beijing–Tianjin railway 40 kilometers from the capital.^[18] On the same day, General Zhang left the capital to meet the republicans, his forces further bolstered by Manchu reinforcements.^[18] Zhang was faced with overwhelming odds; almost all of the Northern Army was opposed to him and he was forced to withdraw after republican troops seized control of the two main railway lines to the capital.^[18] Duan Qirui ordered an aerial bombardment of the Forbidden City compound, and a Caudron Type D aircraft, piloted by Pan Shizhong (潘世忠) with bombardier Du Yuyuan (杜裕源) was dispatched from Nanyuan Airbase to drop three bombs over the Forbidden City, causing the death of a eunuch, but otherwise causing minor damage; other sources state that the Caudron aircraft was piloted by the principal of the Nanyuan Aviation School, Qin Guoyong (秦國鏞). This was the first recorded instance of aerial bombardment deployed by the early-republican era Chinese Air Force.

On 9 July 1917, General Zhang resigned from his appointed positions, retaining only the command of his troops in the capital, which were surrounded by republican forces.^[19] The restored imperial court prepared an edict of abdication for Puyi, but fearful of Zhang's royalist forces, did not dare proclaim it.^[19] The imperial court began secret negotiations with republican forces to prevent an assault on the city, even asking the foreign legations to mediate between the parties.^[19] The uncertainty over the imperial court's own fate and that of General Zhang caused negotiations to fall apart.

On the evening of 11 July 1917 the republican generals announced a general assault on the positions of the royalists,^[20] the attack began the next day morning on the 12 July, with royalists troops entrenched on the wall of the Temple of Heaven and the republican troops to assault the Imperial Palace.^[20] Shortly after the fighting began, negotiations resumed, resulting in the royalists giving up their positions. General Zhang, dismayed, fled to the legations quarter.^[20] Once General Zhang had fled, the royalist troops called for a ceasefire, which was immediately granted.^[20]

Quick facts Government of Zhang Xun, Date formed ...

Government of Zhang Xun
Cabinet of Empire of Great Qing
Date formed	1 July 1917
Date dissolved	12 July 1917
People and organisations
Monarch	Xuantong Emperor[21]
First Minister	Zhang Xun[22][23]
No. of ministers	19
Member party	None (Some former Royalist Party members)[24]
History
Predecessor	None
Successor	None

Close

The Government of Zhang Xun was formed after the Qing dynasty was restored on 1 July 1917 by General Zhang Xun. Puyi (the Xuantong Emperor), who abdicated in 1912, became Qing emperor again. The government only lasted for 12 days, after which the army of the Republic of China forced Puyi to give up his throne. Puyi accepted Zhang's resignation on that day, dissolving the government.

• Constitutional Protection junta
• Guangzhou government of the Republic of China
• Army and Navy Marshal stronghold
• Wuhan government of the Republic of China
• Great Han Sichuan Military Government
• Hubei Military Government
• Constitution Protection Region of Southern Fujian
• Shanghai Commune of 1927
• Hailufeng Soviet
• Communist-controlled China (1927–1949)
• Chinese Soviet Republic
• Fujian People's Government
• Northwestern Federation of the Chinese Soviet Republic
• Yan'an Soviet
• Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region
• Inner Mongolian People's Republic
• East Mongolia People's Autonomous Government
• Monarchy of the North