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Yuan Shikai held enormous power as the commander of China’s strongest army. By early 1912, the Qing dynasty was on its last legs and a republic had been declared. In that momentous year, provinces in revolt had overthrown the emperors, and a provisional republican government had been set up in Nanjing under Sun Yat-sen . In February 1912 the child‐emperor Puyi formally abdicated “in a proclamation that transferred the government to the people’s representatives,” granting Yuan Shikai full powers to organize a provisional government . Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader, then resigned to let Yuan become President in hopes of…