Got Li Hongzhang's telegrams. This whole thing's a mess, a real shocker. The court's always been careful not to tick off the foreigners. The memos spell out the power imbalance—everyone knows the score. Those Boxers are running amok in Beijing, burning churches and killing people—we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Then on the 20th, foreign warships show up in Tianjin, demanding the Dagu Fort by 2 p.m. on the 21st. Luo Rongguang said no, so they opened fire. He had no choice but to return fire. After a day-long battle, the fort fell—we didn't start this fight. Now everyone's furious, and the foreign embassies in Beijing are in serious danger. We're doing what we can to protect them. Who knows what'll happen next? You coastal governors—stick to your orders, keep your eyes peeled, and do your best. That's the bottom line. Over.
The court's response is a joke. The Boxers are running wild right under the Emperor's nose, and the court's flip-flopping between cracking down and appeasing them—giving the foreigners a free hand. Foreign warships suddenly rolled up on Dagu Fort, demanding its surrender—a blatant act of aggression! Luo Rongguang fought hard, but he was outgunned. The fort fell—we were forced into it. Beijing's a pressure cooker, the foreign embassies are in mortal danger, and the court's scrambling to protect them. No one knows what's coming next. We're counting on those coastal governors to keep their heads and do everything they can to save the day.
