The Guangxu Emperor was the penultimate emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and his reign was full of domestic troubles and foreign invasions. Historically, the strong intervention and control of the Dowager Empress Cixi was an important characteristic of Guangxu's reign. This leads people to ponder whether Guangxu could have been a wise emperor without the intervention of Cixi. Based on historical materials, this article will explore this issue.

I. Political Aspirations of the Guangxu Emperor

According to historical records, at the beginning of his reign, the Guangxu Emperor demonstrated certain political aspirations and reform intentions. He held an open attitude towards Western science and culture and attempted to revive the declining Qing Dynasty through self-strengthening reforms. This indicates that the Guangxu Emperor possessed a certain political foresight and reform consciousness.

II. The Influence of Dowager Empress Cixi

However, as the person who actually held the power of the court, Dowager Empress Cixi had a profound impact on the reign of the Guangxu Emperor. She obstructed his reform plans on many critical occasions, and the failure of the Wuxu Reform is a typical example. Cixi's conservatism and intervention limited the political action space of the Guangxu Emperor, making it difficult for him to implement effective reforms.

III. The Possibility of No Cixi

If there had been no intervention by Dowager Empress Cixi in history, the Guangxu Emperor might have had more opportunities to implement his political ideals and reform plans. In such a scenario, whether the Guangxu Emperor would have become a wise emperor requires consideration of other factors, such as his political wisdom, decision-making ability, and the ability to respond to external pressures.

IV. Conclusion

Although we cannot know for certain whether the Guangxu Emperor would have been a wise emperor without Cixi's intervention, it can be speculated that without Cixi's strong intervention, the Guangxu Emperor would have had greater autonomy to implement reforms. However, to be a wise emperor requires not only political freedom but also sufficient political wisdom and tactics, as well as effective responses to internal and external challenges. Therefore, whether the Guangxu Emperor could have become a wise emperor requires a comprehensive consideration of his personal abilities and the historical environment of the time. Regardless, the relationship between the Guangxu Emperor and Dowager Empress Cixi is a microcosm of the complex political struggles at the end of China's feudal dynasty, worthy of deep consideration by future generations.

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