清末奕劻请辞首席军机大臣之缘因探讨——基于报刊文献的考察

Discussion on Yi Kuang’s Resignation from Head of Grand Council in the Late Qing Dynasty: On the Investigation of Newspapers and Periodicals

随着清末内政外交艰难程度的逐渐加深,以奕劻为首的各皇族在派系林立中不断寻求生存之道。若言在裁撤军机处、试办责任内阁的过程中,奕劻请辞首席军机大臣当属自然,但是早在筹办责任内阁之前,奕劻就有了卸任首席军机大臣之举措,并先后力荐载沣、载泽等继任其职,这除了与奕劻擅用政治权术,与"载"字辈相抗衡有关之外,还与近代以来外务繁杂,以致奕劻欲图专理部务和被弹劾时试图及早乞休,免至成为众矢之的等主观意图,以及清末枢务繁难、内外交困而奕劻已年近古稀、精力衰败等客观原因密切相关。

With the gradual exacerbation of the internal and external difficulties in the late Qing dynasty,the royal clans led by Yi Kuang consistently tried to seek a way out among factions.Even in the process of closing the Grand Council(军机处,literally meaning Office of Military Secrets)and setting up the the Responsible Cabinet,it is not unusual for Yi Kuang to resign from the Head of Grand Council;however,before the preparation of the Responsible Cabinet,Yi Kuang had took the initiative to resign from his position and successively recommended Zaifeng,Zaize and others to succeed him.This was related not only to Yi Kuang’s intention in the political struggle,but also to his physical condition as well as the domestic and international situations.