Editing Yuan Shikai (section)

== Years in Joseon Korea ==
In the early 1870s, [[Korea]] under the [[Joseon dynasty]] was in the midst of a struggle between isolationists under [[Gojong of Korea|King Gojong]]'s father [[Heungseon Daewongun]], and progressives, led by [[Empress Myeongseong]], who wanted to open trade. After the [[Meiji Restoration]], Japan had adopted an aggressive foreign policy, contesting Chinese domination of the peninsula. Under the [[Treaty of Ganghwa]], which the Koreans signed with reluctance in 1876, Japan was allowed to send diplomatic missions to [[Seoul|Hanseong]], and opened trading posts in [[Incheon]] and [[Wonsan]]. Amidst an [[Imo Incident|internal power struggle]] in 1882 which resulted in the queen's exile, the [[Viceroy of Zhili]], [[Li Hongzhang]], sent 3,000 men of the [[Huai Army]] under Wu Changqing into Korea to restore stability, which became Yuan Shikai's first military deployment.{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=79}}{{sfn|Powell|1955|page=73}} Yuan distinguished himself during his service on Wu's staff in Korea, including both in battle and in his administrative ability, and was recommended for promotion to the rank of subprefect by Wu.{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=79}}{{sfn|Shan|2018|pages=35–36}} Yuan also became known for enforcing strict discipline among the Chinese troops in Korea.{{sfn|Shan|2018|page=35}} In the spring of 1884, after Wu returned to China, Yuan became the commander of the Chinese forces in his place. The Korean king proposed that some of his troops be trained by the Chinese, and Yuan Shikai was put in charge of training the Korean royal guard,{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=79}} as the head of a new Capital Guard Command.{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=56}}

China's reassertion of [[suzerain]]ty over Korea aggravated the split between pro-Japanese Korean progressives and pro-Chinese conservatives. In December 1884 the progressives attempted to form a new government with Japanese backing during the [[Gapsin Coup]], and the conservatives led by Queen Min turned to the Chinese garrison for help. Yuan led his troops to defeat the outnumbered Japanese and recover King Gojong. The 26-year-old Yuan established himself as a resourceful leader, and from that point Viceroy Li Hongzhang gave him a critical role in regaining Chinese control of Korea.{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=80}} In October 1885, Yuan was appointed Chinese imperial resident in Korea by Li,{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=80}}<ref name=Busky>Busky, Donald F. (2002) ''Communism in History and Theory'', Praeger/Greenwood. {{ISBN|0-275-97733-1}}.</ref> restoring a custom that dated back to the Mongol [[Yuan dynasty]].{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=60}} Yuan Shikai spent the next nine years in that position{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=80}} and operated as if he were above the law.{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=60}} He ended any attempts at reform, changed the composition of the Korean government, and worked to minimize any other foreign influence, especially Japanese. Yuan was allied to the corrupt Min oligarchy, and historians have characterized his reign in Korea as a "dark age."{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=60}} His behavior and rule created a lot of antagonism against him and China among Koreans.{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=80}}{{sfn|Paine|2003|pages=56, 60}} However, during those years China was able to maintain its control over Korea and contain Japanese and Russian influence.{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=80}}{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=60}}{{sfn|Shan|2018|page=55}} He wanted to remove Gojong from the throne on several occasions, but was prevented from doing so by Li Hongzhang.{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=58}}{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=76}}

In the early 1890s, the Japanese protested that China was obstructing Japan's trade with Korea, but more importantly a rebel movement that threatened Chinese interests, the [[Donghak Rebellion|Donghak Society]], emerged in the Korean countryside.{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=80}}{{sfn|Paine|2003|pages=112–113}} It existed for many years and held sporadic protests against corruption and foreign influence, but in early 1894 it had spread rapidly in opposition to the government's taxation policy. The rebels agreed to a ceasefire on 1 June 1894 to remove any pretext for foreign intervention, and on 2 June the Japanese cabinet decided to deploy troops to Korea only if China did so. The Min faction, not being aware of the latter and feeling threatened by the rebels, requested China to send reinforcements on 3 June. They were also advised in this by Yuan Shikai. Japan started military preparations immediately.{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=113}} Within days, over 2,000 Japanese troops landed in Korea and marched to Seoul, and additional troops and warships arrived during the following weeks.{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=114}} They quickly outnumbered the Chinese force in Korea.{{sfn|Paine|2003|page=116}} Yuan requested Li Hongzhang for permission to leave Korea in late June, but this was not granted for twenty days, and he left Seoul on 19 July by disguising himself as a Chinese servant of the Russian military attaché on his way to Beijing.{{sfn|Paine|2003|pages=114–115}} This ended his twelve years in Korea.{{sfn|Boorman|Howard|1971|page=80}}

Yuan Shikai had three Korean concubines, one of whom was Korean Princess Li's relative, concubine Kim. 15 of Yuan's children came from these three Korean women.<ref>{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gzVCDwAAQBAJ&q=yuan+korean+concubines&pg=PA52 |page=52 |title = The Revival of China, Volume 1 |last = Mao |first = Min  |year=2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XGrNgHpMWkMC&q=yuan+korean+concubines&pg=PA97 |page=97 |title=Thorny Road to Dignity: Surviving Mao: A Chinese Psychiatrist Embraces a Miracle in America |author=Zhong Liu |publisher=iUniverse |year=2004 |isbn=0595319777 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WU43AQAAIAAJ&q=yuan+korean+concubines |page=92 |title=Beijing Odyssey: Based on the Life and Times of Liang Shiyi, a Mandarin in China's Transition from Monarchy to Republic |author=Steven T. Au |edition=illustrated |publisher=Mayhaven Publishing |year=1999 |isbn = 1878044680 }}</ref>