The Boxers caused trouble, and among the ministers in the court, besides Duan and Gang, there were certainly many who believed in them. Especially a particular prime minister who had the most faith in them. I once heard that he gave his master brother a couplet that read: “Creating wonders never seen before in history, neither leftist nor malevolent, attacking heresy to rectify people's hearts; loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and frugality—this spirit remains unbroken. For this world, few good stories remain, with both surprise and joy, relying on divine power to instill fear in the hearts of the cold and barbaric; farmers, industry, and commerce can now dissipate grievances and anger.” The meaning of this couplet, which defends the Boxers, comes from genuine sincerity, and just a few words can reveal his thoughts; his foolish loyalty is truly hard to understand.
At the beginning of May, after Luo Dian wrote the exam in Guizhou, he went to visit Minister of Rites Qi Xiu, who said to him: “When you return to cancel your leave, there should no longer be any trace of foreigners in Beijing.” It is evident that Qi Xiu truly believed that the Boxers could win. Later, after the allied forces entered Beijing, Qi Xiu was arrested by the Japanese army, his hands bound with ropes, unable to even take his own life, and ultimately was executed; wasn’t this just inviting trouble?
Wang Peiyou once petitioned to provide rations for the Boxers, earning the favor of Duan and Gang, and was appointed as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture. The county magistrates, having received orders from the court to capture the Boxers, went to see Wang Peiyou to ask what to do. Wang Peiyou told them: “The recent order to capture the Boxers is not the true intention of the government; you only need to follow the established protocols, which means doing your job; otherwise, you will definitely be impeached.” The county magistrates then left, enlightened.
Furthermore, the Minister in charge of railways, Xu Zhuyun, because the railways in various places were burned, petitioned for funds to repair them. After the memorial was submitted, Duan, Gang, and others reprimanded him for being meddlesome, and soon after, it was decreed that there was no need to discuss it further. This clearly indicates that the Boxers burned the railway lines at the instigation of Duan, Gang, and others, without a doubt.
He Naiying took office as the magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture in early May, aligning with the wishes of Duan and Gang and strongly advocating for appeasing the Boxers instead of suppressing them. This earned him the favor of Duan and Gang, and he was promptly promoted to Deputy Censor.
Mr. Wu Yusheng had served as a magistrate and later became a chief examiner. After leaving the capital, his family had amassed a collection of antiques and inscriptions. One day, members of the Boxer movement stormed his home, looting everything and taking it all to Prince Duan. Prince Duan kept only the antiques and inscriptions, distributing the rest among the Boxers.
Prince Duan loved collecting antiques and inscriptions, so he certainly appreciated those items. Mr. Wu's family fortune was entirely looted by the Boxers. It’s truly tragic to think that his hard-earned wealth was taken away; it's genuinely heartbreaking.
