The Historical Significance of Rehe

For the Qing Dynasty, the city of Rehe (modern-day Chengde) was far more than a summer retreat. Established as a secondary capital by the Kangxi Emperor in 1703, the Chengde Mountain Resort served as both a strategic military outpost and a diplomatic hub. Nestled near the Mongolian frontier, it allowed emperors to oversee relations with Mongol tribes, exemplified by Kangxi’s three campaigns against the Dzungar leader Galdan. The annual “Mulan Hunts” under Kangxi and Qianlong were not mere displays of martial prowess but carefully choreographed demonstrations of Qing authority over nomadic allies.

Yet in 1860, Emperor Xianfeng’s journey to Rehe bore no resemblance to these proud traditions. Fleeing the Anglo-French forces during the Second Opium War, his retreat marked the first time a Qing ruler abandoned the capital under duress—a humiliating breach of imperial precedent.

The Panicked Flight from Beijing

Xianfeng’s departure on September 22, 1860, was a far cry from the grandeur of past imperial processions. Historical accounts describe a chaotic exodus:

– Improvised Transport: The emperor secured only a single decrepit palace cart, likely meant for hauling water. Consorts, including the future Empress Dowager Cixi (then Noble Consort Yi), were forced to hire rickety civilian wagons pulled by emaciated mules.
– Harsh Conditions: The 230-kilometer journey, typically a 10-day affair for imperial retinues, became a grueling ordeal. Noble Consort Yi and her son (the future Tongzhi Emperor) endured bone-jarring rides in a vehicle with no suspension, while Empress Dowager Ci’an received marginally better accommodations.
– Deliberate Humiliation: The emperor’s chief advisor, Sushun, exploited the crisis to undermine Noble Consort Yi. Three times she begged for better transport; three times Sushun refused, even taunting her with comparisons to the empress: “In these dire times, you’re lucky to have any cart at all!”

This calculated cruelty planted lasting enmity. Witnessing Sushun’s lavish meals while the court subsisted on meager rations, Yi began weaving alliances that would reshape Qing politics.

The Power Struggle at Rehe

The Rehe exile (1860–1861) became a crucible for factional conflict:

### Sushun’s Overreach
As de facto regent, Sushun imposed austerity—except for himself and allies like Princes Yi and Zheng. He slashed the imperial household budget, cutting even the empress’s daily allowance of 15 kg of fresh vegetables and 9 kg of pork while dining extravagantly with the emperor.

### Noble Consort Yi’s Counterplay
The future Cixi leveraged these slights masterfully:
1. Food as a Weapon: By revealing Sushun’s secret feasts, she turned Empress Ci’an against him.
2. Symbolic Protests: She orchestrated Ci’an’s plea to abolish the wasteful “display table” ritual—knowing Sushun would reject it, further alienating the empress.
3. Building Alliances: She bonded with Ci’an over shared hardships, laying groundwork for their later co-regency.

Legacy: From Humiliation to Revolution

The Rehe exile’s consequences rippled through history:
– The Xinyou Coup (1861): After Xianfeng’s death, Cixi and Ci’an allied with Prince Gong to execute Sushun, establishing the first Qing regency led by women.
– Modernization Paradox: While Cixi’s rise began here, her later conservatism arguably delayed reforms that might have saved the dynasty.
– Psychological Scarring: The Tongzhi Emperor’s traumatic childhood flight may have contributed to his erratic reign.

Archaeologists still study the Chengde Resort’s “Pine and Crane Hall,” where Xianfeng spent his final days drafting edicts. The contrast between its tranquil gardens and the political storms within encapsulates the Qing’s paradox: a dynasty that could build breathtaking monuments yet failed to adapt to a changing world.

The 1860 retreat thus stands not merely as an escape, but as the moment when Qing leadership’s fragility became undeniable—and when a 25-year-old concubine began her improbable ascent to becoming China’s most powerful woman.