In 1907, Mr. Cheng Hsiao-hsu petitioned for permission to retire irom public life. His request was granted and he went to live at Shanghai, where he engaged in business and public welfare work. In his leisure moments, he continued to Write poetry and also to maintain an interest in the reform movement. He founded the Constitution Preparatory Society in conjunction with Mr. Chang Chien, the statesman and industrialist, and other liberal-minded Chinese, and did much to foster the strong movement in certain moderate circles for a constitutional monarchy as opposed to a revolution and republic. On several occasions, he sent memoranda to the Manchu Court advising that concessions be made to the trend of modern thought. The steps taken, however, were too late to stem the flood of revolution.
Recall to Manchuria After being in retirement for two years, Mr. Cheng Hsiao-hsu was recalled by the Viceroy of Manchuria, Gen. Chang Hsi-liang, to participate in the conference connected with the Construction of the Chinchow-Aigun Railway, which the Harriman interests were planning to build in Manchuria, In that connection he was active in recommending that the port of Hulutao, on the Gulf of Pechil Should be constructed on modern lines as the southern terminus of the line, a fact which indicated his foresight and constructive ability, for the port was later completed by the Japanese, At this time, he did all he could to restrain Russian and Japanese activities in Manchuria.
Mr. Cheng Hslno-hsu Governorship of Hunan the difficult situations which eventually resulted, in 1894, in the outbreak of war between China and Japan and his return to China.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.