民国初年的技术官僚与科技转型之殇——曾鲲化误报军情事件探析

The Failure of Technocrats and Technological Transformation in Early Republican China:An Analysis of Zeng Kunhua’s Misreporting Military Intelligence

曾鲲化是近代中国铁路调研与管理的开拓者,1917年调任株萍铁路局长。护法战争期间,他因向北京汇报战场实情而被湖南督军傅良佐以误报军情为由抓捕扣押并拟枪毙,引发多方介入和舆论哗然,被罚当兵数日后才被押解进京。旋因傅良佐北逃与段祺瑞下台,案件遂告消弭。但曾鲲化误报军情事件并非普通个案,通过爬梳事件背景与缘起、经过与结局、当时的舆论反应等展开解读与反思,可表明在民初政治纷乱与社会动荡相互交织的背景下,技术官僚与科技转型无法独善其身。曾鲲化的经历不仅展现了一个技术官僚难以施展才学的乱世缩影,而且为科技转型与社会转型的互动提供了反面案例。

Zeng Kunhua was the pioneer of railway survey and management in modern China. In 1917, he was made the director of the Zhuping Railway. During the War of Defending the Constitution, he was arrested and nearly shot by the Hunan overseer Fu Liangzuo for reporting the battlefield facts to Beijing under the pretext of misreporting military intelligence. Under the multiparty intervention of public opinion, he was sent to the army for several days before being escorted to Beijing. Because Fu had fled north and Duan Qirui had stepped down,the case was resolved. However, that incident was not an ordinary case. It can be interpreted and reflected upon in the context of its background and origin, its past and outcome, and the reaction of the public opinion at that time.Its analysis shows that in the context of political chaos and social unrest at the beginning of Republican China,technocrats and technological transformation were unable to be left alone. The experience of Zeng has not only shown the epitome of a technocrat, but it has also provided a reverse case for the interaction between technological transformation and social transformation.