Prince Gong (Qing Dynasty) - Biography - Fall From Grace

Fall From Grace

In 1865 Yixin was accused by Cai Shouqi (蔡壽祺) for "monopolising state power, accepting bribes, practising favouritism, behaving arrogantly, and showing disrespect towards the emperor." Empress Dowager Cixi became suspicious of Yixin and stripped him off his position of Prince-Regent. Despite so, Yixin continued to remain as a central figure of power in the Qing imperial court. In 1869, An Dehai (安德海), a eunuch and close aide of Empress Dowager Cixi, was executed by Ding Baozhen for travelling to Shandong, because eunuchs were forbidden to travel out of the Forbidden Palace without permission. Ding Baozhen was believed to have been instigated by Yixin, and Cixi was very unhappy with Yixin. In 1873 Yixin strongly opposed the construction of the Old Summer Palace and further incurred the anger of Cixi.

In 1884 the Sino–French War broke out and Yixin was in charge of directing the military department (軍機處), which was disorganised and indecisive on whether to fight or make peace. This resulted in a Chinese defeat in the war and Yixin lost considerable prestige. Later that year, Empress Dowager Cixi dismissed Yixin from office and ordered him to remain at home to "recuperate from illness". Yixin was replaced by his younger half brother Yixuan. Some officials such as Baoyun (寶鋆), Li Hongzao (李鴻藻), Jinglian (景廉) and Weng Tonghe, who previously served under Yixin's administration were removed from office. This incident was known as the "Cabinet Change of Jiashen" (甲申易樞) or "Political Change of Jiashen" (甲申朝局之變) because it took place in the Jiashen Year according to the Chinese sexagenary cycle.

After his dismissal, Yixin remained in Jietai Temple in western Beijing most of the time. In 1894 on the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War, Yixin, who was already in his old age, was recalled back to the imperial court to deal with the situation. Yixin served in the military department and Zongli Yamen until he became critically ill in 1898 and eventually died in that year.