The Crisis of the Qing Dynasty

The mid-19th century was a period of turmoil for China’s Qing Dynasty. The Second Opium War (1856–1860) had brought foreign powers to Beijing’s gates, culminating in the devastating sacking of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) by Anglo-French forces in 1860. The Xianfeng Emperor, overwhelmed by military defeats and humiliated by foreign occupation, fled Beijing with his court, seeking refuge in the imperial retreat at Chengde.

This retreat was not merely a temporary escape—it became a political battleground. While the emperor and his inner circle remained in Chengde, his half-brother, Prince Gong (Yixin), negotiated with the foreign powers in Beijing, ultimately signing the Convention of Peking (1860). This treaty ended hostilities but deepened the divide between the emperor’s exiled court and the political realities in the capital.

The Power Struggle Behind the Exile

At the heart of the crisis was a struggle for control between two factions:

1. Prince Gong and the Reformists – Advocating for a return to Beijing to stabilize the government and engage with foreign powers diplomatically.
2. The Eight Regent Ministers, Led by Sushun – Determined to keep the emperor in Chengde, where they could monopolize power under the guise of protecting him.

Sushun and his allies repeatedly blocked petitions from Prince Gong and other officials urging the emperor’s return. On September 29, 1860, they dismissed Prince Gong’s request, declaring it “too early” to consider a return. Subsequent appeals in October were met with outright refusal, with Sushun even issuing an imperial edict (purportedly from the emperor) forbidding further discussion.

The Psychological and Political Barriers

Why did Xianfeng resist returning? Several factors played a role:

– Fear of Foreigners – The destruction of the Old Summer Palace left the emperor deeply traumatized. Rumors spread that he had nightmares of being caught in the flames.
– Distrust of Prince Gong – Old rivalries from their youth, exacerbated by court intrigues, made Xianfeng wary of his brother’s influence.
– Manipulation by Sushun – The regents stoked the emperor’s fears, convincing him that Beijing was unsafe and that Prince Gong’s negotiations were a betrayal.

A revealing moment came in June 1861, when Prince Gong, hearing of Xianfeng’s worsening health, rushed to Chengde without permission. The emperor privately warned him: “Your presence here is dangerous. They mean you harm—leave secretly.” This clandestine exchange exposed the emperor’s powerlessness against Sushun’s faction.

The Desperate Plan to Return

By late 1861, Xianfeng’s health was failing, and his consorts—Empress Dowager Ci’an (25) and Empress Dowager Cixi (27)—realized their survival depended on returning to Beijing. But how?

### The Secret “Feather Letter”

Cut off from Prince Gong, the empresses devised a covert plan to summon him. Historical accounts differ on how the message was delivered:

1. The Sister’s Messenger – Cixi’s younger sister, married to Prince Chun (Yixuan), may have smuggled word to Beijing.
2. The Loyal Guard – Ci’an reportedly entrusted a secret letter to her guard, Hengqi, who raced to the capital.
3. The Eunuch’s Ruse – The most dramatic version involves Cixi’s eunuch, An Dehai, who was publicly beaten and expelled as part of an elaborate ruse to carry the message undetected.

Whatever the method, Prince Gong received the summons. Recognizing his chance to break Sushun’s grip, he prepared for a decisive move.

The Coup of 1861 and Its Aftermath

When Xianfeng died in August 1861, the regents attempted to rule in the name of his young son, the Tongzhi Emperor. But Prince Gong, now allied with the empresses, struck back. In the Xinyou Coup, Sushun and his allies were arrested, with Sushun himself executed. The empresses assumed regency, and Prince Gong became a key reformer in the Tongzhi Restoration.

Legacy: A Turning Point in Qing History

This episode marked a critical shift:

– The Rise of Cixi – Her political acumen during the crisis set the stage for her decades-long dominance.
– The Failure of Isolation – The court’s initial refusal to engage with foreign powers weakened China’s position, a lesson hard-learned.
– The Power of Factionalism – The struggle between Chengde and Beijing foreshadowed later conflicts between conservatives and reformers.

The Xianfeng Emperor’s exile was more than a retreat—it was a captivity, one that reshaped the Qing Dynasty’s trajectory. The daring plot to escape Chengde’s isolation reveals the desperation and ingenuity of those who sought to steer China’s future.