guilt and to send Us at once a report. They shall be punished with the greatest severity.
"Respect this!"
ANNEX NO. 6
IMPERIAL EDICT of the 21st February, 1901
[TRANSLATION]
Edict published and sent telegraphically the 3rd day of the 1st moon (21 February 1901), and received on the 4th by the Grand Chancellery.
By a former Edict We had already severely punished, according to the several cases, all the high officials, the principal authors of the present misfortunes. But We received some time ago a telegraphic report from Yi-K'uang and Li Hung-chang telling Us that, according to an official despatch from the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the various Powers, new and severer punishments were necessary, and begging Us to take action.
Besides Tsai-Hsün, who has been ordered to commit suicide, and Yü-hsien, against whom has been pronounced the penalty of immediate decapitation, and for each of whom deputies have been ordered to go see that (the sentences have been carried out), We decide that the penalty to be inflicted on Tsai-yi (Prince Tuan) and Tsai-lan (Duke Lan) is decapitation with reprieve; nevertheless, in view of the relationship in which they stand to Us, We show them the special act of grace of sending them to the frontier of the Empire, in Turkestan, where they shall be imprisoned for life. A deputy to take them under escort shall be designated, and shall leave at once.
As to Kang-yi, whose crimes were greater, the penalty should have been immediate decapitation, but as he has already died of disease, as an act of grace, he shall be spared further inquiry into his case.
As regards Ying-nien and Chao Shu-chiao, whose punishments, according to Our former decisions, were to have been decapitation with reprieve, We command that they be requested to commit suicide, and We direct Ch'en Ch'un-huan, Governor of Shan-si, to go and verify (their deaths).
As to Ch'i-Hsiu and Hsü Cheng-yu, whom the Powers designate as the most ardent protectors of the Boxer bandits, and as having most particularly done harm to foreigners, We had previously ordered their degradation; We (now) order Yi-K'uang and Li Hung-chang to ask the Powers, by despatch, for their surrender, and to have them executed at once. One of the Presidents of the Board of Punishments shall be directed to verify (their execution).
As to Hsü Tung, who compromised the great general interests by putting his confidence in the Boxers, and Li Ping-heng, whose bragging ways directly brought about these misfortunes, the punishment which should have been theirs was decapitation with reprieve; but taking into consideration the fact
