Chen Bi Recovers Peking’s Social Order After Genzi Incident

In April 1900, in the name of supporting the Qing Dynasty and eliminating the foreigners, members of the Boxer Movement massacred numbers of fellow believers, foreigners, innocent people and officers, which had aggravated the contradiction between China and foreign countries. As a result, the foreign powers had quickened the step of aggressing upon China. In August, the foreign powers occupied Peking, and then they plundered and burned insanely. After the fall of Peking, Empress Dowagers escaped, so did many officers. As a consequence, the society was filled with chaos and unrest, and people were extremely fearful.Chen Bi, as the Xuncheng Censor of Midtown of Peking, was entrusted with a mission-to undertake the responsibility of organizing the affairs of the five districts in Peking, recovering and rebuilding Peking’s social order at such a critical and difficult moment. To recover Peking’s social order, for one thing, Chen Bi rectified police, punished bandits and the members of the Boxer Movement remained. What’s more, he tried to found the modern patrol to strengthen the ability of our security administration. For another, putting peaceful situation above everything else, he proactively got in touch with the foreign powers, discussed the problems of establishing the administrative offices where the Chinese would be received and strived for the Jurisdiction over the ground. Also, Chen Bi negotiated with Robert Hart, the minister of tax bureau of Chinese Customs, about founding Bureau of Commerce and distributing the operation licenses to tradesmen to ensure the normal market transaction. In order to promote the development of Peking, Chen Bi enhanced the road administration, improved the road conditions and imported the street lamps. At the same time, he set up modern schools, developed modern education and fostered professional talents, which promoted the further development of Chinese modern education. Besides, Chen Bi expanded social relief, adopted the refugees and beggars, established the Technology Bureau, introduced western advanced technology and imparted skills of livelihood. All he did recovered Peking’s social order and propelled Peking’s modernization.