Empress dowager cixi

[xlwoo]

Chapter 44

Concubine Zhen had been confined in an empty room of an old deserted building. As she was always kind to eunuchs and maids, they often came to see her and talked a little. Her sister, Concubine Jin, often sent her maid to bring her sister some delicious food. While Concubine Zhen was eating, the maid told her all kinds of news through the barred window so that Concubine Zhen could follow up with the situation. One day she wanted the maid to take a note she had written to her sister. The maid could not refuse and hid the note in her pocket. But on her way to Concubine Jin's chamber, she lost the note somewhere. She was not even aware of it. When she reached the chamber of Concubine Jin, she could not find the note. So she was in a panic and Concubine Jin was terrified, too, because they didn't even know what was on the note. If anything written on it was against the rules and if West Empress Dowager should know it, both of them, Concubine Jin and the maid, would die. So the maid traced back the way she had come, but found nothing remotely like a piece of paper.
The note was picked up by a eunuch, who handed it in to West Empress Dowager. She read it and was angry, because the note read like that: “Make the emperor stay for the negotiation. But it was not the time to mind such a trifling thing.”
Late in the evening on August 12, the bad news came at last that the joint troops would soon enter the capital. West Empress Dowager decided to leave Peking.
“Old Buddha, the foreigners will soon come into Peking.” Prince Zaiyi came running to report in a frightened quavering voice, “What should we do?”
“You said that Yihetuan could resist the foreign invasion. They have special magic and are bulletproof. Now you go to defend Peking. If you let the foreign armies enter the capital, I will skin you.” West Empress Dowager was really in a great fume.

[xlwoo]

But the Chinese army and Yihetuan scattered before the foreign guns. And early next morning West Empress Dowager sent for the emperor, the queen and Concubine Jin. She told them her decision and ordered the queen to take eunuchs to bury her treasures in the backyard.
Then she was attired in a dress like a peasant's wife and so were others as suitably dressed. But before her departure she ordered Concubine Zhen to be brought to her presence. “The foreign troops will soon come into Peking. I can't bring you along with me since there are already so many people I am taking. They will certainly rape you, which will be a great insult to the royal family, to the emperor. So I advise you to end your life before such things happen to you.” West Empress Dowager said to Concubine Zhen in a calm serious voice.
“I am not afraid of death, but I beg Old Buddha to let the emperor stay to deal with the foreigners.” Her aim was that if the emperor could stay out of the control of West Empress Dowager, he would have the opportunity to actually seize the power. But West Empress Dowager had sufficient experience to see through such a farce and she just ordered the eunuchs to push Concubine Zhen into a deep well. The emperor implored West Empress Dowager on his knees to spare her life, but she just waved to the eunuchs to execute her order. Concubine Zhen, still young (born on February 27, 1876 and died on August 13, 1900), fell into the well with a long loud shriek trailing behind her in the air.
While Concubine Zhen died in the Forbidden City, an old prime minister Xu hanged himself at home. He was the most conservative courtier, always opposing to anything made in foreign countries. When other courtiers used kerosene lamps, he still used candles. He was short-sighted, but refused to use glasses. Now the foreigners would soon reach the Forbidden City. He didn't want to see West Empress Dowager and the emperor taken captives or insulted. He decided to die for the nation. He called in his son and wanted him to be a martyr, too. His son promised to die with him. They prepared two pieces of rope and two stools. When the father put his head into the noose, the son stood aside and comforted his father, “Father, you go first. I will follow.” He took away the stool under his father's feet and watched his father hanging from the ceiling. Then he escaped by climbing over the back wall, but as destiny had it, he was captured by Japanese soldiers and kept as a captive till a peace treaty was signed. He was transferred to Qing government and was executed by the order of West Empress Dowager.

[xlwoo]

But the Chinese army and Yihetuan scattered before the foreign guns. And early next morning West Empress Dowager sent for the emperor, the queen and Concubine Jin. She told them her decision and ordered the queen to take eunuchs to bury her treasures in the backyard.
Then she was attired in a dress like a peasant's wife and so were others as suitably dressed. But before her departure she ordered Concubine Zhen to be brought to her presence. “The foreign troops will soon come into Peking. I can't bring you along with me since there are already so many people I am taking. They will certainly rape you, which will be a great insult to the royal family, to the emperor. So I advise you to end your life before such things happen to you.” West Empress Dowager said to Concubine Zhen in a calm serious voice.
“I am not afraid of death, but I beg Old Buddha to let the emperor stay to deal with the foreigners.” Her aim was that if the emperor could stay out of the control of West Empress Dowager, he would have the opportunity to actually seize the power. But West Empress Dowager had sufficient experience to see through such a farce and she just ordered the eunuchs to push Concubine Zhen into a deep well. The emperor implored West Empress Dowager on his knees to spare her life, but she just waved to the eunuchs to execute her order. Concubine Zhen, still young (born on February 27, 1876 and died on August 13, 1900), fell into the well with a long loud shriek trailing behind her in the air.
While Concubine Zhen died in the Forbidden City, an old prime minister Xu hanged himself at home. He was the most conservative courtier, always opposing to anything made in foreign countries. When other courtiers used kerosene lamps, he still used candles. He was short-sighted, but refused to use glasses. Now the foreigners would soon reach the Forbidden City. He didn't want to see West Empress Dowager and the emperor taken captives or insulted. He decided to die for the nation. He called in his son and wanted him to be a martyr, too. His son promised to die with him. They prepared two pieces of rope and two stools. When the father put his head into the noose, the son stood aside and comforted his father, “Father, you go first. I will follow.” He took away the stool under his father's feet and watched his father hanging from the ceiling. Then he escaped by climbing over the back wall, but as destiny had it, he was captured by Japanese soldiers and kept as a captive till a peace treaty was signed. He was transferred to Qing government and was executed by the order of West Empress Dowager.

[xlwoo]

West Empress Dowager and the emperor rode on a wagon, and the queen and Concubine Jin on another wagon, followed by some courtiers on horseback. Prince Zaiyi and other princes followed up, too. At noon, they reached a small village. Head eunuch Li found an old man and brought him to the presence of West Empress Dowager, who didn't force the old man to kowtow before her because of her disguise as a peasant's wife.
“Do you have any food?” She asked him.
“All food taken by soldiers. They just gone.” The old man replied.
What could West Empress Dowager say? Soldiers wanted to eat, too. Lucky, they didn't kill the old man and eat him. “Do you have tea? We are thirsty.” Eunuch Li asked.
“This a poor place.” Said the old man, “Never taste tea my whole life. Always use dried date flowers.” So saying, he went to boil water and poured hot water into a crude bowl with some dried date flowers.
West Empress Dowager looked at the dirty bowl, dent at the brim, frowning, but thirst forced her to drink it. A few hours later, they arrived in a small town. The mayor received and provided them with decent food, though not like dainties in the palace. At least their hunger was cured.

[xlwoo]

West Empress Dowager and the emperor rode on a wagon, and the queen and Concubine Jin on another wagon, followed by some courtiers on horseback. Prince Zaiyi and other princes followed up, too. At noon, they reached a small village. Head eunuch Li found an old man and brought him to the presence of West Empress Dowager, who didn't force the old man to kowtow before her because of her disguise as a peasant's wife.
“Do you have any food?” She asked him.
“All food taken by soldiers. They just gone.” The old man replied.
What could West Empress Dowager say? Soldiers wanted to eat, too. Lucky, they didn't kill the old man and eat him. “Do you have tea? We are thirsty.” Eunuch Li asked.
“This a poor place.” Said the old man, “Never taste tea my whole life. Always use dried date flowers.” So saying, he went to boil water and poured hot water into a crude bowl with some dried date flowers.
West Empress Dowager looked at the dirty bowl, dent at the brim, frowning, but thirst forced her to drink it. A few hours later, they arrived in a small town. The mayor received and provided them with decent food, though not like dainties in the palace. At least their hunger was cured.

[xlwoo]

Now they wanted to issue several urgent orders, but they didn't bring any seals in a hurry. In general, a written order should have a seal on it, like the seal of West Empress Dowager, the seal of the emperor, the seal of the Secretarial Bureau or that of the cabinet, for the highest authority. Every yamen had its own seal. But they couldn't use the seal of the yamen of this town. Just as they were in such a perplexity, another secretary arrived, bringing the seal of the Secretarial Bureau. They issued some orders to move the troops to blockade the routes the foreigners were supposed to take if they wanted to pursue. Next they discussed where to go to set up their temporary palace. They could not stay in this small town. The nearest city big enough to have decent place for the royal family was Taiyuan City. So to Taiyuan City they made their way.
The mayor of this small town was Wu Yong. West Empress Dowager was satisfied with his service and appointed him as the royal harbinger to prepare lodging and food for them. He went ahead and came into another town smaller than his. It was deserted. Even the mayor was not there. Then some eunuchs, some bodyguards and some soldiers arrived. They asked Mayor Wu for food and fodder, but he couldn't find anything in this deserted town. An officer glared at him, drawing out his sword. It looked as if he would kill Mayor Wu if he couldn't give him what he demanded. Wu got fumed and said to him aloud, “You fled before the foreign armies and you want to kill me. Are you ashamed of yourself?” He recalled all the bad things happened recently and started to cry bitter tears. When he dried his tears and opened his eyes, no one was there except himself. Later people said that they had been driven away by his tears. Perhaps he could try to weep before the foreigners and drive them out of China.

[xlwoo]

Now they wanted to issue several urgent orders, but they didn't bring any seals in a hurry. In general, a written order should have a seal on it, like the seal of West Empress Dowager, the seal of the emperor, the seal of the Secretarial Bureau or that of the cabinet, for the highest authority. Every yamen had its own seal. But they couldn't use the seal of the yamen of this town. Just as they were in such a perplexity, another secretary arrived, bringing the seal of the Secretarial Bureau. They issued some orders to move the troops to blockade the routes the foreigners were supposed to take if they wanted to pursue. Next they discussed where to go to set up their temporary palace. They could not stay in this small town. The nearest city big enough to have decent place for the royal family was Taiyuan City. So to Taiyuan City they made their way.
The mayor of this small town was Wu Yong. West Empress Dowager was satisfied with his service and appointed him as the royal harbinger to prepare lodging and food for them. He went ahead and came into another town smaller than his. It was deserted. Even the mayor was not there. Then some eunuchs, some bodyguards and some soldiers arrived. They asked Mayor Wu for food and fodder, but he couldn't find anything in this deserted town. An officer glared at him, drawing out his sword. It looked as if he would kill Mayor Wu if he couldn't give him what he demanded. Wu got fumed and said to him aloud, “You fled before the foreign armies and you want to kill me. Are you ashamed of yourself?” He recalled all the bad things happened recently and started to cry bitter tears. When he dried his tears and opened his eyes, no one was there except himself. Later people said that they had been driven away by his tears. Perhaps he could try to weep before the foreigners and drive them out of China.

[xlwoo]

When they arrived in Taiyuan City, some pieces of news came. Ronglu was in Baoding City, preparing for any emergency. The foreign armies were keeping the capital in order and waiting for Qing government to send someone there to negotiate. The peace negotiation between Qing government and foreign envoys began even when West Empress Dowager had still been on the way to Taiyuan City. One of the conditions persisted on by the foreign governments was to execute all the courtiers who had stubbornly used Yihetuan against foreigners and hence caused the war. The Qing government representatives pleaded that by Chinese law princes were never executed. The joint foreign troops marched towards Baoding City and took it. West Empress Dowager was afraid that they would come after her in Taiyuan City. So she escaped to XiAn City with the emperor and other royal family members, leaving those princes and other courtiers in Taiyuan City, because those were the ones on the list that the foreigners wanted Qing government to punish.
At last they reached XiAn City, their final destination. It had been the capital for many dynasties back in the Chinese history. It was inland far enough from Peking. So West Empress Dowager thought that the invading armies could not march so far to it. Once she was safe, she restored to her former luxurious life despite the capital being still in the hands of the foreigners. Ronglu came to XiAn City directly from Baoding City from which he had fled.
On September 7, 1901, a treaty was signed and peace was restored. The members of Yihetuan were either killed or arrested or scattered in escape. Through bargaining, all the courtiers belligerent to foreigners and responsible for the war were executed except Prince Zaiyi, who was banished for life to Mongolian district.

[xlwoo]

When they arrived in Taiyuan City, some pieces of news came. Ronglu was in Baoding City, preparing for any emergency. The foreign armies were keeping the capital in order and waiting for Qing government to send someone there to negotiate. The peace negotiation between Qing government and foreign envoys began even when West Empress Dowager had still been on the way to Taiyuan City. One of the conditions persisted on by the foreign governments was to execute all the courtiers who had stubbornly used Yihetuan against foreigners and hence caused the war. The Qing government representatives pleaded that by Chinese law princes were never executed. The joint foreign troops marched towards Baoding City and took it. West Empress Dowager was afraid that they would come after her in Taiyuan City. So she escaped to XiAn City with the emperor and other royal family members, leaving those princes and other courtiers in Taiyuan City, because those were the ones on the list that the foreigners wanted Qing government to punish.
At last they reached XiAn City, their final destination. It had been the capital for many dynasties back in the Chinese history. It was inland far enough from Peking. So West Empress Dowager thought that the invading armies could not march so far to it. Once she was safe, she restored to her former luxurious life despite the capital being still in the hands of the foreigners. Ronglu came to XiAn City directly from Baoding City from which he had fled.
On September 7, 1901, a treaty was signed and peace was restored. The members of Yihetuan were either killed or arrested or scattered in escape. Through bargaining, all the courtiers belligerent to foreigners and responsible for the war were executed except Prince Zaiyi, who was banished for life to Mongolian district.

[xlwoo]

There were two theaters in XiAn City. Since West Empress Dowager set up her temporary palace there, Big Brother went to watch operas everyday, escorted by a group of eunuchs. Big Brother liked to accompany the singing by beating the drum. So the owner of the theater and the leader of the troupe had to let him do it. There were often some soldiers there, who were under the command of Ronglu. One day, Big Brother didn't beat the drum correctly and the opera singer faltered in his singing. So some soldiers who didn't know who Big Brother was laughed at him. Big Brother thought it was contempt to him. He began the fight with the soldiers and the eunuchs joined to protect Big Brother. They had to even if they didn't like the boy, because if anything serious happened to Bit Brother, they would be executed first.

[xlwoo]

The general of the division these soldiers belonged came to see Ronglu to beg pardon, but Ronglu told him that it was the fault of Big Brother. The general shouldn't worry about it. Ronglu said that he would take care of it. In the war time to pacify soldiers was very important. That was what Ronglu did. So when Big Brother complained to Ronglu about the fight, Ronglu criticized his behavior. Big Brother took it out on the owner of the theater. He went to complain to the mayor of XiAn City, who ordered the theater to be closed. Furthermore, he declared that in the war time all the entertainment places and restaurants should be closed.
So many courtiers and other rich people came to the city. It was a good chance for business. All the owners of the theaters and restaurants sent in a petition to open these places again. After briberies these places were opened once more, but fighting was prohibited.
West Empress Dowager had sent Mayor Wu Yong to other provinces on business. Mayor Wu came back to report that his assignments were accomplished. West Empress Dowager was happy with him. When he had passed Canton City and met Governor Zhang, Zhang had said to him that he should advise West Empress Dowager to expel Big Brother because it was for him that his father, Prince Zaiyi, had brought such catastrophe to the country. He was really the cause of it. When Mayor Wu saw that West Empress Dowager was happy, he conveyed the opinion of Governor Zhang to her. West Empress Dowager already disliked the boy and Some other courtiers informed West Empress Dowager that the boy should be removed from the position of the future successor since his father was responsible for the disaster and on exile. Besides, the boy was really an unsuitable candidate for an emperorship as he hated to study. So the boy was deprived of the title and sent to live with his father in Mongolian district.

[xlwoo]

The general of the division these soldiers belonged came to see Ronglu to beg pardon, but Ronglu told him that it was the fault of Big Brother. The general shouldn't worry about it. Ronglu said that he would take care of it. In the war time to pacify soldiers was very important. That was what Ronglu did. So when Big Brother complained to Ronglu about the fight, Ronglu criticized his behavior. Big Brother took it out on the owner of the theater. He went to complain to the mayor of XiAn City, who ordered the theater to be closed. Furthermore, he declared that in the war time all the entertainment places and restaurants should be closed.
So many courtiers and other rich people came to the city. It was a good chance for business. All the owners of the theaters and restaurants sent in a petition to open these places again. After briberies these places were opened once more, but fighting was prohibited.
West Empress Dowager had sent Mayor Wu Yong to other provinces on business. Mayor Wu came back to report that his assignments were accomplished. West Empress Dowager was happy with him. When he had passed Canton City and met Governor Zhang, Zhang had said to him that he should advise West Empress Dowager to expel Big Brother because it was for him that his father, Prince Zaiyi, had brought such catastrophe to the country. He was really the cause of it. When Mayor Wu saw that West Empress Dowager was happy, he conveyed the opinion of Governor Zhang to her. West Empress Dowager already disliked the boy and Some other courtiers informed West Empress Dowager that the boy should be removed from the position of the future successor since his father was responsible for the disaster and on exile. Besides, the boy was really an unsuitable candidate for an emperorship as he hated to study. So the boy was deprived of the title and sent to live with his father in Mongolian district.

[xlwoo]

Chapter 45

West Empress Dowager and the emperor left XiAn City on a return journey to the capital. The routine was that all the roads should be repaired, no pits allowed. Yellow sands must be strewn on the road surface. At such a time the routine was still kept. The local government had to organize people for the toil. And on the return trip West Empress Dowager, the emperor, the queen and Concubine Jin all rode in palanquins, not on wagons any more. They came to Kaifeng City, which had been the capital of Song Dynasty. West Empress Dowager was reported that the foreign troops had withdrawn from the capital after the treaty had been signed. The foreign envoys would come to meet her when she arrived in the capital. She felt at rest that the foreign envoys were still so polite to her. She had been afraid of their attitude toward her ever since the war broke out.
From the Kaifeng City they took a ship to ferry across the Yellow River to the north side. Then they hit a small town, called Yellow Millet Town. There was a story about this town. In Tang Dynasty there lived a young man who had desired to be a high-rank official. Once he went to the capital for the government test and passed this small town. He stayed in someone's house there for the night. An old man gave him a clay pillow to rest his head on. He himself went to cook millet for supper. The young man was tired from the journey and lay down on the bed. When his head touched the pillow, he found himself in the capital. He was the first in the test and was appointed a high position. He did everything so good that he was promoted fast till he was a prime minister and was then conferred a title of duke. Now only the emperor was above him in rank. He could be promoted no more. He had a huge family, sons and daughters, grandsons and grand daughters. He was very happy with his life and lived to a very old age. But at that time he woke up. It was but a dream. And the millet was still being cooked. The story was called the Yellow Millet Dream that meant life is short at best. Why should everyone hustle and bustle to run after wealth and fame?

[xlwoo]

Chapter 45

West Empress Dowager and the emperor left XiAn City on a return journey to the capital. The routine was that all the roads should be repaired, no pits allowed. Yellow sands must be strewn on the road surface. At such a time the routine was still kept. The local government had to organize people for the toil. And on the return trip West Empress Dowager, the emperor, the queen and Concubine Jin all rode in palanquins, not on wagons any more. They came to Kaifeng City, which had been the capital of Song Dynasty. West Empress Dowager was reported that the foreign troops had withdrawn from the capital after the treaty had been signed. The foreign envoys would come to meet her when she arrived in the capital. She felt at rest that the foreign envoys were still so polite to her. She had been afraid of their attitude toward her ever since the war broke out.
From the Kaifeng City they took a ship to ferry across the Yellow River to the north side. Then they hit a small town, called Yellow Millet Town. There was a story about this town. In Tang Dynasty there lived a young man who had desired to be a high-rank official. Once he went to the capital for the government test and passed this small town. He stayed in someone's house there for the night. An old man gave him a clay pillow to rest his head on. He himself went to cook millet for supper. The young man was tired from the journey and lay down on the bed. When his head touched the pillow, he found himself in the capital. He was the first in the test and was appointed a high position. He did everything so good that he was promoted fast till he was a prime minister and was then conferred a title of duke. Now only the emperor was above him in rank. He could be promoted no more. He had a huge family, sons and daughters, grandsons and grand daughters. He was very happy with his life and lived to a very old age. But at that time he woke up. It was but a dream. And the millet was still being cooked. The story was called the Yellow Millet Dream that meant life is short at best. Why should everyone hustle and bustle to run after wealth and fame?

[xlwoo]

When they entered Hebei Province, they were transferred to a special train at a small town and reached the capital in the train. It was the second time for West Empress Dowager to ride in the train. The first time the train she had ridden was a sample train in the imperial West Garden before the Purple-Light Pavilion. A foreign businessman wanted to build railroads in China. Many Chinese people opposed it, including some conservative courtiers. To gain support from West Empress dowager, the foreign businessman offered a sample mini-train as a gift to West Empress Dowager. The rails only covered a short distance with a couple of train cars on them. For safety, West Empress Dowager wouldn't allow the locomotive to draw the mini-train. Instead she ordered eunuchs to push and pull the carriage she sat in. The experience was told as a joke among the foreigners.
When West Empress Dowager got off the train, she saw the foreign envoys coming to welcome her. She waved to them. Then she was carried in a palanquin into the Forbidden City. When West Empress Dowager returned to her chamber, those remaining in the Forbidden City, the royal household, the maids and eunuchs, all came to pay their respects to her. Except one. Royal Concubine Yu who was the concubine of the late emperor Tongzhi, the biological son of West Empress Dowager, not of the present emperor Guangxu. In the absence of West Empress Dowager, she took charge of all the things in the Forbidden City.
The buried treasures are still there. She informed when she was summoned to see West Empress Dowager later, alone. “Now I must return these to the rightful persons.” She continued, pointing to a tray carried by a eunuch kneeling a little behind her. On the tray stood three imperial seals wrapped in yellow brocade. One belonged to West Empress Dowager, which was made of white jade. One was the emperor's, which was carved from an emerald of the best quality. The third was the queen's, which was cast in gold. What if these seals were stolen? No one could answer this question. Concubine Yu really deserved a reward, which was only a praise of words. “I always know you are a good thoughtful lady.” said West Empress Dowager, who very seldom praised people like that.