National Protection War Against Yuan Shikai

To realize his dream of becoming emperor, Yuan Shikai had confidants organize the “Peace Planning Society” (Chou'an Hui). In December 1915 he announced his acceptance of the throne, renamed the Republic of China the “Chinese Empire” and ordered that the next year be called Year 1 of “Hongxian”, preparing to ascend the throne. His restoration caused uproar. Sun Yat-sen issued a declaration against him, calling on patriots to rise together and defend the republic. Liang Qichao published “Strange Is the So-called Question of the National Polity” attacking the monarchy. Liang's student Cai E secretly left Beijing and returned to Yunnan by way of Japan. On 25 December 1915 Cai E, Yunnan military governor Tang Jiyao, Li Liejun and others declared Yunnan's independence, formed the National Protection Army and sent troops against Yuan, beginning the National Protection War. Cai led the main force into Sichuan and, though outnumbered, defeated the Beiyang army in fighting around Luzhou and Naxi. Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Zhejiang and other provinces declared independence in turn, and the Beiyang clique itself split, with Feng Guozhang, Duan Qirui and others cool toward the monarchy. Opposed by the whole nation and abandoned by his own followers, Yuan was forced on 22 March 1916 to cancel the monarchy and restore the title “Republic of China”, having played emperor for only 83 days. He still tried to remain president, but the National Protection Army and many sectors firmly opposed this. On 6 June 1916 Yuan died, in anger and isolation. The war defended the democratic republic, crushed Yuan's plot, and showed that the idea of democratic republicanism had taken root. In 1917 Zhang Xun restored Puyi, but it failed within twelve days.