Guangxu

“ Although we have been in the habit of assisting our tributaries, we have never interfered with their internal government. Japan's treaty with Korea was as one country with another; there is no law for sending large armies to bully a country in this way, and compel it to change its system of government. The various powers are united in condemning the conduct of the Japanese, and can give no reasonable name to the army she now has in Korea. Nor has Japan been amenable to reason, nor would she listen to the exhortation to withdraw her troops and confer amicably upon what should be done in Korea. ”

“ I hereby order Infantry Commander to command various Imperial soldiers, plus Shenji Division, Tiger Gods Division, with Horse cavalry, in addition to Wuwei Middle Troop, to suppress these bandits, to intensify searching patrols, and to arrest and execute immediately all criminals with weapons who advocate killing. Imperial soldiers are not to tolerate any criminals, all criminal leaders are to be arrested. ”

“ Under heaven, people with righteousness are not murderers and arsonists; national policy should not lean towards bandits and breaking up international alliance at will. At the moment when the foreign legations were being surrounded, several decrees were directed at the Zongli Yamen, requesting ministers to go and stop any aggressive attacks and offer solace to the diplomats, but the Royal Decrees were never delivered, no ministers went. ”

“ Now that the war has not ended, there are many foreigners doing business in China, all these people must be protected. It is the responsibility of all military commanders, viceroys, and ministers to have a clear list of all the foreign merchants and priests in every trading cities and towns and county, protection must be offered according to diplomatic treaty, all conditions must be strictly adhered to. ”

“ About Righteous Harmony Boxer Association, during the reign of Jiaqing Emperor, bans had been imposed, recently the boxers were into physical training and self defense, at the same time they offer protection for the community, did not create any troubles, this is why decrees had been issued before, to instruct local magistrates to use appropriate measures during suppression of their activities; association or not association, bandits or not bandits, once someone create troubles, the local magistrate should arrest them and punish them severely. ”

“ It is your job to provide defense for the dynasty, so that foreigners cannot fulfill their ambition, it is also your job to maintain logistic to Peking, so that the Imperial Court would not run dry of supply; everything must be practical. Those provinces alongside of rivers and sea, foreigners have ambition to invade, do treat it as urgent. ”

“ Grand Scholar is to begin selecting reliable officials, together with capable military troops, when diplomats are ready to leave Peking, protection is to be provided along the way. If ever there is bandits emerge, there should be immediate retaliation. If diplomats wish to send telegrams to their own countries, help is provided by Zongli Yamen staff, there should be no delay, to show them that Imperial Court is always keen to assist the foreign powers. ”

“ Foreign powers must understand and forgive China for being in this situation. This twisting and winding situation, forcing China to make a last resort decision, a short term last minute decision just to get by, the relevant minister should make sure that all foreign powers understand the full meaning of this decree. ”

“ The Imperial Court is fully aware of this regrettable disaster. It is more than reasonable to issue a Decree on those Imperial misdeeds [??] , and since the Imperial Court has suffered unspeakable hardship and disgrace, it is the Imperial Court's obligation to give a clear explanation to all my ministers and all people under the Heaven.
This disaster was caused by conflicts and disputes between Boxers and Chinese Christians converts. Ignorant people claim that it was because our country encouraged and protected bandits, escalating it into an upheaval. ”

“ Recently all those local magistrates have the habit of following old customs, they never try to interact with various priests, and not sympathetic with boxer members, in dealing with disputes between christian converts and the common people, did not do in depth investigation nor administer fair judgment, resulting in deepening the foul feelings and hatred against each other. Boxer members then use the hatred against the christian as an excuse to form associations; more over, criminals and bandits also join in, creating disturbances, dismantle and destroy railway lines, set fire on churches. ”

“ Recently, throughout the Peking city, Harmony Righteous Boxers who hate the Christians, have begun to fight the foreigners as enemy, they burn churches and kill christian converts, had spreaded to a wide area, it is difficult to exterminate them, also difficult to pacify them. Foreign soldiers have grouped around Tiansin and Taiku Fort, this war between us and the foreigners had started, it is difficult to predict the final outcome. ”

“ Those bandits, using evil speech and twisted theory, incited and seduced uneducated people, even among princes and ministers. Some were young and wanton, some were ignorant. They were jealous of the military might of the foreigners, did not understand their own shortcomings, were taken in by the devils and the fake. Believing in the magic power of the Boxers, they began to practice at their own homes as well as in the streets and the market places. Once they were supplied with rations and weapons, Boxers began with two or three people and now they have tens of millions followers. ”

“ Decree 1 Yesterday, boxer criminals created disturbances in Peking City, and orders were issued to Infantry Commander Yamen arrest the bandit leaders, and to conduct thorough search patrols. Criminals that created rumors and social unrest were arrested and executed. Last night, inside Peking City, there was arson and destruction going on as usual, there were agitators openly yelling "kill, kill, kill", using weapons searching for revenge, and some murders did occur. ”

“ We have more than 20 provinces, [a] huge population of 400 millions, it is not difficult to put out the foreigners fierce fire, to showcase the might of our nation. The royal court will generously reward those who fight bravely on the front line, will also reward those who donate money in preparation of the war. The royal court will immediately execute traitors who escape from the battle field, or anyone who collaborate with the enemy, no one should hope for any leniency. ”

“ He is to send successive armies of valiant men to Korea in order to save the Koreans from the dust of bondage. We also command the Manchu generals, viceroys and governors of the maritime provinces, as well as the commanders-in-chief of the various armies, to prepare for war and to make every effort to fire on the Japanese ships if they come into our ports, and utterly destroy them. We exhort our generals to refrain from the least laxity in obeying our commands in order to avoid severe punishment at our hands. ”

“ If there are rascals and bandits, try to agitate and incite disturbances, causing harm to local county, these members should surrender their leaders to the Imperial Court, then the court will punish them accordingly. If they insist on the path of criminal, once the Imperial soldiers go after them, their parents and wife will be discarded, families collapse, someone will die a disloyal and unfaithful death. ”

“ The murderer must be arrested and charged. All the foreigners and priests that had been murdered and property lost, Peking Government and Hebei Viceroy are to conduct thorough investigation, and report to the Imperial Court. Recently many bandits rioters burning and looting, disturbing peace, is not to be repeated. All viceroys and military commanders are to conduct investigations, to suppress and prosecute, to prevent future disturbances. ”

“ For more than 200 years, the Court had always acted in deep kindness to those foreigners of great distances. Our ancestors had always treated them with respect. During the reign of Daoguang Emperor and Xianfeng Emperor, said foreigners began to be allowed to trade with China, and yet they begged for the permission to preach the teaching of Christ, since the teaching was for the good of the people ”

“ Any of you who are brave and powerful during combats, have killed some enemies and achieve good results, there will be substantial awards. If anyone retreat from the battle front, too afraid to charge forward, will be executed on the spot, the commander will be charged with military laws. ”

“ All the righteous boxer should do their best towards the monarchy, to share the same hatred, and to fight one common enemy, only unity will bring success, must always keep the spirit up, is of the outmost importance. ”

“ Western religion has been introduced into China for years, priests are always converting common people into doing good deeds, christian converts have never caused any troubles, that is why christian converts and common people have peace with each other, each doing what they believe in. In recent times many churches have sprung up among provinces, the number of christian converts have increased many folds, thus there are unlawful people pretending to be converts without the priest's knowing, these criminals have begun to bully common people. ”

“ You should not hesitate and keep on speculating, opportunity will be missed, resulting in the downfall of the Imperial Court, the finale would just be unthinkable. It is important that all the viceroys should combine forces, to prevent formation of dangerous outcome. ”

“ This upheaval and chaos was initiated by the Boxer bandits and their supporters who went into rebellion. Certainly there were reasons behind this. Foreign nations had been preaching Christianity in China for a long time. In dealing with disputes between locals and the Christian churches, the local magistrates did not always act impartially: those who tried to avoid controversy would favor the Churches, causing harm to the locals; those who are into making a big name of themselves would do the opposite. ”

“ Criminal followers and accomplices are to be disbanded and expelled from Peking City. All Boxer shrines are to be dismantled. Zaiyin, Yigong, Fuliang, Zaizou are to inspect street patrols, and any inefficient patrols should be sanctioned and punished. ”

“ Strict discipline is of first priority for soldiers, any soldiers who are into looting and disturb the local county, soldiers involved shall be executed immediately, their commanders shall be charged with military laws. If the superior officials and ministers cannot controlled the soldiers, all of them will be severely charged. ”

“ The Court had issued decrees to ban the Boxers from attacking the foreigners, offered protection for the foreign legations, and compensation to Chinese Christians converts. Only the other day the Court had issued a decree to mediate between the Boxers and the Chinese Christians; after all, they are all our people. The Royal Court had done it's best to treat foreigners with kindness. Besides being ungrateful, they have been blackmailing more. ”

“ Viceroys of various provinces, had always receive strong support from the Dynasty, and the Dynasty always threat you like part of the family, situation like this, it is time for you to return the favors. ”

“ If any of the diplomatic staff and families wish to go to Tientsin, Ronlu should provide adequate protection along the way, but due to the broken up of the railway line, there might not be a 100% safe land trip. The diplomatic personals should stay where they are, wait for the reopening of the railway, then decide on circumstances, according to each individual case. ”

“ The kind rewards from the benevolent Empress will only increase, it shall not cease. In this difficult times, the boxers commanders and soldiers should be thankful of these awards, and to be worthy of these rewards, and aim for great achievement on the battle fronts. ”

“ The foreigners have cunning and deceptive plans, we hold the rules from heaven, the foreigners relied on brute force, we have the support of the heart of the people. China has many loyal patriots, they are not afraid to die. ”

“ The troops sent are for the protection of common people; there are news that soldiers sent from Hubei province did not offer protection, instead, soldiers were disturbing the local county. Viceroy of Hebei Yulu is to conduct a strict investigation, investigators are to be sent, any officials who do not enforce strict conduct on foot soldiers, will be dealt with military law, no leniency applied. ”

“ I (Guangxu Emperor) and Empress Dowager, insisting on capturing the leaders and disbanding this bandit group, gave Ganyi a special Imperial Court order to pronounce a ban, yet with no result. Instead, tens of thousands of rebels, daring to wear red scarfs and carrying knives, roamed the capital, burned and looted churches, besieged and attacked foreign embassies. ”