Prince Gong ordered Li Hongzhang to assist the coastal provinces in purchasing gunboats, but in fact it was to regain the power of coastal defense

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the flag was moving, and the number of qi was exhausted

A bright moon hung in the sky, quietly watching the far east. For a long night, a gloomy atmosphere permeated the tense court. After thinking about it for a long time, Prince Gong finally made up his mind and issued an edict.

The content of this edict may seem simple, but it hides a complex political game. It demanded that Shandong, Guangdong, and other coastal provinces quickly raise funds and that Li Hongzhang purchase a batch of gunboats from Britain in order to strengthen the defense of the coastal areas. At first glance, it is undoubtedly for the purpose of safeguarding national security and enhancing the strength of coastal defense.

However, it's not that simple. The real purpose of Prince Gong was to try to further strengthen the central government's control over local coastal defense affairs and limit the power of local governors through this measure. Although Li Hongzhang is ostensibly in charge of unified procurement, in reality, he is only Yixun's right-hand man, acting as an agent of the central government.

In this political wrestling, Liu Kunyi, the governor of Liangguang, was uncompromising. He tried to circumvent the intervention of the central government by building his own way. He first prevaricated and delayed, and later proposed to buy it and build it himself, and finally designed and built a gunboat called "Hai Dongxiong". This gunboat is on par with the "Zhenbei" class gunboats ordered by Li Hongzhang in terms of performance, and even slightly improved in some aspects.

However, Prince Gong insisted that Liu Kunyi was not allowed to build it on his own, and instead demanded that all provinces must be purchased by Li Hongzhang. This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to Liu Kunyi. In the end, he could only reluctantly accept and purchased a gunboat from the imperial court.

Behind this open and secret struggle is a microcosm of the increasingly turbulent political situation in the late Qing Dynasty. As the Western powers pressed in, the central government rushed to centralize power over coastal defense in order to counter external threats. But at the same time, the local governors were unwilling to give up their power and interests, and adopted various means to try to maintain their position.

This contradiction between centralization and decentralization was not only embodied in the construction of coastal defense, but also penetrated into all levels of the Qing government. The growing debate between reformers and conservatives has plunged the entire political situation into a state of turmoil.

At this moment, Prince Gong's edict has undoubtedly exacerbated this contradiction. He tried to strengthen the rule of the central government by shrinking local powers, but this would undoubtedly provoke a backlash from the local governors. Against this background, the future fate of the Qing court is uncertain.

The accumulated shortcomings of the late Qing Dynasty have accumulated to the point where they cannot be concealed. The contradictions between the government and the opposition have intensified, and forces from all sides have wrestled one after another in an attempt to safeguard their own interests. This situation not only seriously affected the country's security and development, but also accelerated the decline of the Qing Dynasty.

When Prince Gong issued this edict, perhaps he was not aware of the consequences it would entail. However, this was undoubtedly a gamble, a test of the foundation of the Qing government's rule. Regardless of the final outcome, it will become an indelible page in the history of the late Qing Dynasty.

Passionate calls for reform and a confrontation with complacent conservatives pushed the Qing court to the brink of collapse. In this context, Prince Gong's edict seems to be a sharp sword, pointing directly at the lifeblood of the Qing government. It is not just a simple military order, but also a political contest.

It was a war without gunpowder, but no less intense. The various forces are fighting for each other, each holding its own word, trying to win the final victory. Even if the final outcome is unpredictable, it is undoubtedly the beginning of a new chapter in history.

When this bombshell fell, there was no doubt that a storm was set off within the Qing government. The wrestling of various forces will have a direct impact on the future direction of the country. This is undoubtedly a political game that will turn things around, and it will have a far-reaching impact on the historical course of the late Qing Dynasty.

After Prince Gong's edict was issued, all forces acted quickly to try to gain the upper hand in this political contest.

Li Hongzhang, as an agent of the central government, immediately launched the procurement plan. He was in close contact with British merchants and soon finalized a large order. These gunboats will arrive in China one after another and become a new coastal defense force in the coastal areas.

But at the same time, the local governors were not without countermeasures. They understood that once the central government achieved full control over coastal defense, its political position would be seriously weakened. Therefore, the governors in various places have adopted different countermeasures.

Zhou Hengqi, the governor of Shandong, was the first to react. He quickly raised funds, cooperated with the central government's request, and paid Li Hongzhang the procurement fee. This is undoubtedly a positive and cooperative attitude, and it also implies that he is willing to accept the leadership of the central government.

Fujian, on the other hand, has taken a more proactive stance. The province had already purchased two Randolph gunboats on its own, so it no longer had to follow the central government's directives. This not only reflected the independence of the Fujian governors, but also implied that they were trying to assert their coastal defense authority.

However, in the case of Guangdong, the situation is even more complicated. Liu Kunyi, the governor of Liangguang, was not keen on buying gunboats, but first of all delayed for a long time. Later, when he could not shirk it, he proposed an even more tempting plan - to build his own gunboats.

This is undoubtedly a more radical approach. Liu Kunyi hopes to circumvent the intervention of the central government and maintain the autonomy of coastal defense in Guangdong through self-creation. He assigned Wen Zishao, the general office of the Guangdong Machinery Bureau, to be responsible for the design and manufacturing, and finally succeeded in creating the "Haidongxiong", a gunboat with excellent performance.

However, Prince Gong was clearly not satisfied. He insisted that all provinces must be procured by Li Hongzhang, and that no independent construction was allowed. This move is undoubtedly a comprehensive blow to the power of local governors.

Under this strong pressure, Liu Kunyi finally had to give in. He could only let his recital be dismissed, and reluctantly bought a gunboat. This is undoubtedly a serious blow to him, and it also represents that the central government has temporarily gained the upper hand in this game.

However, this does not mean that the local governors have withdrawn from the political battle. On the contrary, their inner anger and resentment against the central government have only increased. The accumulation of such contradictions is bound to erupt at some point in the future, causing an even more serious impact on the Qing government.

All of a sudden, the forces of all sides were tense and undercurrents were surging. In fact, this battle for coastal defense power has gone beyond a purely military category and has become a complex game involving all levels of politics, economy, and society. Rifts within the Qing government were deepening, and the country's future prospects were worrisome.

When Prince Gong promulgated this edict, he probably did not expect such a widespread and violent response. But this was undoubtedly a turning point, marking a new stage of development for the political situation in the late Qing Dynasty. Next, we will witness the tremendous transformation that this country is undergoing.

This is not only a contest for coastal defense construction, but also a political contest concerning the fate of the country. The various forces will compete in an extremely fierce way to try to dictate the future direction of the Qing government. This process is bound to be magnificent and dizzying.

Let's wait and see what fate such a change will ultimately lead to the Qing Dynasty. Maybe this will be its last struggle, or maybe it will open a whole new chapter in history. In any case, this political scene at the end of the Qing Dynasty will undoubtedly become an extremely important stroke in history.