Cixi had done nothing to stop the…
September 1898 CE
The Guangxu Emperor becomes aware of such a plan, so he asks Kang Youwei and his reformist allies to plan his rescue.
They decided to use the help of Yuan Shikai, who has a modernized army, albeit only six thousand strong.
Cixi relies on Ronglu's army in Tianjin.
Ronglu also has an ally, General Dong Fuxiang, who commands ten thousand Muslim Kansu Braves, including generals such as Ma Fuxiang and Ma Fulu, stationed in the Beijing metropolitan area.
Arm with more advanced firearms and artillery, they side with Cixi's conservative faction during the coup.