Hien-Fung died in 1861, leaving his enfeebled throne to his infant son, Tung-Che, then only five years old. The government was carried on for him by the so-called Regents, two of the late Emperor's wives, one the legitimate Empress, the other the secondary consort, who did their best to consolidate his power, and seem to have ruled with considerable wisdom and moderation. Rebellion was still, however, rife in the important province of Yunnan, a Mohammedan prince, named Suleiman, still defying the Imperial authority. This leader even sent his son Hassan to England in 1872, to try and obtain the recognition of his father by Queen Victoria. Needless to add, he was not successful, the British Government having already espoused the cause of the young Emperor. In 1893, the Regents resigned their delegated authority into the hands of Tung-Che, now seventeen years old, but he only reigned two years before he died of small-pox, leaving no children, although he is said to have had two legitimate wives and sixty-nine concubines. His brief term of office was marked by one special event full of significance for foreigners: the various ministers accredited to Pekin, but hitherto not received at the Palace, succeeded in forcing the young monarch to see them in the very stronghold of conservatism. CHAPTER XIV A child of four chosen Emperor--The power of the Empress Dowager--The Palace feud--The Palace at Pekin--A Frenchman's interview with the Emperor--The Emperor's person held sacred--Coming of age of the Emperor--An enlightened proclamation--Reception of the foreign ministers in 1889--Education of the young monarch--He goes to do homage at the tombs of his ancestors--A wife is chosen for him--His secondary wives--China, the battle-ground of the future--Railway concessions.