Xu Gang 
Republic of China 
On Yuan Shih-kai

Yuan Shih-kai, an important official in the late Qing Dynasty, had great power in the early years of the Republic of China. Although he has the talent of governing the country, he was eventually defeated because of proclaiming himself emperor. However, to sum up his life with "a usurper of state power" is neither fair or just, nor true according to the history. Yuan Shih-kai managed the chaos, implemented a number of new policies, ranging from police, railway, post and telecommunications, training the new army to constitutionalism, forest administration and industry. Zhang Taiyan said, "As an official, he has presumptuous ambition; however, he made great achievements for the country". The man is of both new and old style and is complex and changeable. His merits, crimes, right and wrong deeds can be thought of and discussed in the long history.