The original text of Empress Dowager Cixi’s declaration of war

The original text of Empress Dowager Cixi's "Edict of War on All Nations":

Our dynasty has been so benevolent and benevolent for more than two hundred years that our ancestors will not treat anyone from afar who comes to China. Huairou. During the Daoguang and Xianfeng years, I allowed them to trade with each other and begged to preach in our country. The imperial court used it to persuade people to do good and agreed to the request. At first, it was within my scope and obeyed my restrictions. In the past thirty years, relying on the benevolence of our country and insisting on following the path, they have become increasingly aggressive, bullying our country, occupying our land, ravaging my people, and extorting my property. Even if the imperial court gives in a little, they bear the brunt of their ferocity, which becomes worse day by day, and they are everywhere. In small cases, it bullies the common people, but in large cases, it insults the sacred. Our country is pure and full of hatred and resentment, and everyone wants to get it but is willing to do so. This is also the origin of this righteous courage to burn down churches and massacre parishioners. The imperial court still refuses to provoke, as the former protector may hurt our people's ears. Therefore, he repeatedly issued edicts to apply for bans, protect the embassy, ??and provide additional support to the religious people. Therefore, the edict issued the day before yesterday, "All boxers and religious people are my innocent sons," was originally a folk religion to explain long-standing suspicions. The imperial court is gentle and submissive to those who are far away, it is over! However, they were not grateful and started threatening me. Yesterday, I received a note from She Shilan, who ordered me to withdraw from the Dagukou Fort and return it to his custody, otherwise I would be attacked by force. Dangerous words and intimidation are intended to cause rampage and shock Jifu.

I have never been rude to them in the way of dealing with neighbors in daily life. They claim to be a country of enlightenment, but they are rude and rampant. They specialize in military supervision and weapons, and they bring about divisions on their own. I have been a royal general for thirty years, and I have treated the people like their descendants, and the people have treated me like the Emperor of Heaven. Kuang Cisheng revitalizes the universe, and is endowed with kindness and virtue. Everyone is loyal and angry, and there is nothing in the world. I am weeping now to tell the ancestors of the temple, and to show my resistance to the master and disciples. Instead of trying to survive, which will cause shame for eternity, who can go out to attack the Tartars and fight it out. He summoned ministers and workers of all sizes for several days to ask for advice. Volunteer soldiers from Kinki, Shandong and other provinces gathered unexpectedly on the same day, numbering no less than hundreds of thousands. A boy as small as five feet tall can also hold a sword to defend the country.

He relies on deceit and conspiracy, but I rely on the laws of heaven; he relies on force, and I rely on the human heart. Regardless of whether our country is loyal and trustworthy, its armor, its etiquette, and its oars, everyone dares to die. Even if our country has more than 20 provinces and more than 400 people, how can it be difficult to reduce the fierce flames and show the prestige of our country? Some of them shared the same hatred with the enemy, so they charged into battle, or they donated money to help Xianxiang. The court did not hesitate to give special rewards to reward loyalty. If Gou is born from outside, retreats in the face of battle, is willing to be disobedient, and turns out to be a traitor, I will punish him immediately and severely without mercy. I have high hopes for all the ministers and ministers in heaven, who each have a loyal heart and want to vent the anger of gods and men!