The early 20th century marked a period of intense political upheaval and revolutionary fervor in China. One striking event that encapsulated the mounting tensions was the assassination of Anhui Governor Enming in 1907. This assassination, carried out not by an external insurgent but by a high-ranking official within the Qing administration itself, sent shockwaves through the empire and exposed the deep fractures within the imperial system. This article delves into the historical background, key figures, unfolding of events, and the broader implications of this dramatic episode in late Qing history.

Historical Context: The Waning Qing Empire and Rising Revolutionary Movements

By the early 1900s, the Qing dynasty was struggling to maintain control over a rapidly changing China. Internally weakened by corruption, inefficiency, and foreign encroachment, the regime faced growing discontent from various social and political groups. The failure of the Self-Strengthening Movement and the humiliations of foreign imperialism had inspired a generation of reformers and revolutionaries alike.

One of the prominent revolutionary groups active during this period was the Guangfuhui , which advocated for the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and the establishment of a republic. Unlike earlier failed uprisings, these revolutionary groups increasingly sought to infiltrate the Qing bureaucracy to carry out targeted assassinations and sabotage efforts, aiming to destabilize the regime from within.

Key Figures: Governor Enming and Revolutionary Leader Xu Xilin

Anhui Governor Enming, the victim of the assassination, was a notable figure within the Qing administration. He was related by marriage to Prince Qing Yikuang, a high-ranking Manchu noble, indicating his status within the imperial elite. Though historical records are sparse regarding Enming’s precise political stance, his efforts to recruit reform-minded intellectuals like Yan Fu to oversee Anhui’s higher education institutions suggest he leaned towards reform rather than reactionary conservatism. His tenure reflected an attempt to modernize provincial governance through education, military training, and industrial development.

In stark contrast stood Xu Xilin, the assassin. Officially, Xu was the director of the Anhui Police Academy and a supervisor at a military school — positions he had acquired through purchasing official rank, a common practice at the time. Secretly, however, Xu was the leader of the Guangfuhui in Anhui, a revolutionary committed to overthrowing the Qing dynasty. His placement within the provincial bureaucracy was strategic, allowing him to gain the trust of officials like Enming and to access sensitive environments.

The Assassination Plot: A Revolutionary Gambit

The assassination took place on July 6, 1907, in the city of Anqing, Anhui province. Xu Xilin invited Governor Enming to attend the graduation ceremony of the police academy, ostensibly in his official capacity. As Enming was about to enter the academy’s gates, Xu suddenly drew a handgun and fired multiple shots, reportedly hitting Enming three times.

Contemporary Western media, such as the New York Times, reported the incident promptly, though some details were inaccurate. For example, initial accounts claimed that Enming died instantly on the spot. In reality, he succumbed to his injuries approximately twelve hours later. Historians speculate that Xu’s poor eyesight may have contributed to the non-lethal placement of his shots. Originally, Xu had intended to use explosives, but a bomb malfunction forced him to resort to his pistol, firing seven shots that struck Enming in non-fatal areas such as the lip, hand, waist, and legs.

Following the shooting, Xu was immediately arrested and executed on the spot by decapitation. Before his death, Xu admitted to being a member of the revolutionary Guangfuhui, confirming the political motivation behind his act.

The Aftermath: Shockwaves Through the Qing Government

The successful assassination of a provincial governor by a high-ranking official within the Qing system was unprecedented and deeply unsettling. Compared to earlier failed assassination attempts, such as the 1905 attempt on five Qing ministers abroad by Wu Chui and others, Enming’s death was a far more severe blow to the regime’s stability.

One of the most troubling aspects for the Qing court was that the assassin was not an external insurgent but someone who had bought his way into the bureaucracy and earned the governor’s trust. This revelation exposed the vulnerabilities and corruption inherent in the Qing patronage system, where officials could purchase ranks without genuine loyalty or commitment to the dynasty.

In a poignant final act, Governor Enming left a memorial before his death. In it, he recounted his efforts in education, military training, policing, and industrial development within Anhui. More importantly, he expressed his frustration and bewilderment that someone like Xu Xilin—a well-educated man, who had studied abroad and was from a respectable family—could harbor revolutionary sentiments and engage in such treasonous acts.

Enming warned the imperial court, particularly Empress Dowager Cixi, about the dangers of appointing officials without rigorous scrutiny. He suggested that former overseas students, who were often exposed to revolutionary ideas abroad, should be carefully vetted before being entrusted with positions of authority. This warning underscored the Qing court’s dilemma: how to modernize and reform the state without losing control over the loyalty of its officials.

Broader Revolutionary Strategy and Its Failure

Xu’s assassination was intended as the opening move in a coordinated uprising across Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. The plan was for local revolutionary groups to seize control of key cities like Hangzhou, then regroup in Nanjing to establish a base in the wealthy Yangtze River Delta region. From there, they aimed to launch a northern campaign to overthrow the Qing dynasty.

However, the detailed planning of this insurrection ultimately worked against the revolutionaries. The closer the coordination between various secret societies and revolutionary cells, the greater the risk of exposure. The Qing government quickly cracked down on revolutionary networks following the assassination, and the broader uprising never materialized.

The incident nevertheless highlighted the growing sophistication and boldness of revolutionary activities within the Qing empire. It revealed a new form of insurgency that combined infiltration, targeted assassinations, and coordinated rebellion—a far cry from the more spontaneous peasant uprisings of earlier centuries.

Cultural and Political Implications: Trust, Reform, and Revolution

The assassination of Governor Enming by Xu Xilin represents a critical moment in the waning days of the Qing dynasty. It encapsulates the internal contradictions of a regime attempting reform while beset by corruption and revolutionary dissent.

The event exposed the fragility of the Qing’s bureaucratic apparatus, where loyalty could not be guaranteed by official rank or social status. It also highlighted the challenges faced by reform-minded officials who sought to modernize China within the existing imperial framework. Enming’s trust in Xu, despite his promising background and connections, tragically became misplaced, signaling the difficulties in distinguishing genuine reformers from revolutionary agents.

Moreover, the assassination underscored the increasing influence of overseas-educated Chinese, many of whom returned imbued with republican and anti-Qing ideas. The Qing court’s suspicion of these individuals reflected a broader tension between modernization and political control that defined the late imperial period.

Legacy: A Prelude to Revolution and the Fall of the Qing

Though the assassination did not immediately topple the Qing dynasty, it was emblematic of the escalating revolutionary pressures that would culminate in the 1911 Xinhai Revolution. The Qing court’s inability to effectively respond to these internal threats, coupled with its failure to implement meaningful reforms, paved the way for the dynasty’s collapse.

Xu Xilin became a martyr figure for later revolutionaries, symbolizing the sacrifices made by those willing to risk everything to change China’s political order. Governor Enming, on the other hand, serves as a tragic reminder of the complexities faced by reformers caught in the crossfire between tradition and revolution.

In retrospect, the assassination of Anhui Governor Enming stands as a vivid illustration of a dynasty in decline, grappling with the forces of modernization, ideological transformation, and revolutionary change. It offers scholars and readers alike a window into the turbulent transition from imperial China to the modern republic.

Conclusion: Understanding the Internal Struggles of Late Qing China

The 1907 assassination of Governor Enming was more than a violent political act; it was a symptom of the broader crisis afflicting the Qing dynasty. It revealed how deeply revolutionary ideas had penetrated the imperial bureaucracy and how the traditional structures of power were ill-equipped to manage these challenges.

This episode invites reflection on the complex interplay between reform and revolution, loyalty and betrayal, modernization and tradition that characterized China’s journey into the 20th century. It reminds us that history is not only shaped by grand battles and sweeping movements but also by intimate stories of trust broken and ideals contested within the heart of power.

As we study this event today, it illuminates both the fragility of long-standing regimes and the enduring human struggle for political and social transformation.