Golden Mirror

History is always written and “justified” by the victors.In Anyang, an ancient capital of seven dynasties, lies the final resting place of China’s last “emperor” — Yuan Shikai.Amid the vast currents of history, the clang of weapons and galloping horses bore witness to loyal ministers fighting valiantly for the honor of the nation and the dignity of the people.The land of Huan also witnessed Yuan Shikai’s dramatic return to power — and his eventual downfall.At Yuanlin, a royal tomb that blends Chinese and Western styles, stand two stone horses — stone effigies that honor ambitions swollen to the point of sacrifice, yet later generations debate and mock them.The blank stele ought to bear carvings of his legacy: founding modern schools, forming China’s first police force, actively pushing forward modernization reforms… all the way to the pinnacle of power.If it is said that only cunning warlords can rise in chaotic, fragmented times,Then I hope the reflection of history can serve as a golden, illuminating mirror.