What three requirements did Cixi put forward for the first time by train, which made her a laughing stock?

As the ruler in the late Qing Dynasty, Cixi had a great influence on the development of modern China. In that era of endless new things, Cixi was very pedantic and refused to accept the introduction of new things into China. Many of her wonderful works are even more ridiculous. How stubborn is Cixi's concept of treating new things?

Let's just say that we can see many photos left by Cixi at that time, but that was when photography technology was just introduced into China, which was just the right time. Yu Xunling, who studied abroad in her early years, was recommended by her sister to take pictures of Cixi. Cixi said that this thing can capture people's hearts when she sees the camera taking pictures. Cixi, who later loved dressing-up shows, resolutely refused to take pictures, or reluctantly agreed to take pictures after repeated explanations from Xunling. Later, she found that this thing could leave her beauty to future generations to appreciate, and then she fell in love with taking pictures.

Just a small photo made Cixi have a contradiction. Now, when the railways of cities in China were just introduced to China, Li Hongzhang told Empress Dowager Cixi that he wanted to build a railway in the northeast. Cixi said that this would ruin my Long Mai in the Qing Dynasty, damage the reputation of my ancestors, and trap her in injustice. Li Hongzhang is simply in distress situation. He told Empress Dowager Cixi whether it was good or bad, and finally Empress Dowager Cixi reluctantly agreed.

The railway was repaired, the train was in place, and everything was ready. Cixi was invited to take part in the ribbon-cutting activities of the train trip and experience it for herself. As soon as Cixi saw the train, she was dumbfounded. In front of her, the train was a monster, smoking black smoke and making a huge noise. This frightened Cixi, who regarded the train as an unknown thing and demanded that the locomotive be replaced by Malala. The ministers around had to be patient and explain it again. It's hard for these ministers.

To put it mildly, Cixi agreed to take the train, but she also made three ridiculous demands.

First, Cixi did not allow anyone to get on the bus before. Because China pays attention to propriety, justice and integrity, she is the queen mother and has a prominent position, and no one is allowed in front of her. Although the driver didn't get on the bus first, why was it the Queen Mother? There were more than 10 thousand people at that time, but none of them. This requirement is still easy to meet, so I will do it.

Second, the train must be full of eunuchs or maids-in-waiting, and no normal men can appear. Perhaps Cixi thinks she is the empress dowager, and it is not appropriate for a normal man to drive by himself. It's easy for ladies-in-waiting, just replace all the waiters in the car, but it's difficult to be full of eunuchs. If it's a eunuch, what about the driver? Let the eunuch drive the train, and you will die. Turn the driver into a eunuch? If I were a driver, I would quit my job immediately to drive a train. I would have no children or daughters. I don't have to drive this train to survive. Finally, someone suggested a way for everyone to put on the clothes of eunuchs and pretend to be eunuchs instead of really becoming eunuchs.

Third, no one can be equal to her. She can stand, can't sit or even squat. I know all the seats on the train are the same height. Where will someone specially repair your high seat? But in ancient China, where could a master and a slave sit together? Isn't this rebellion? Everybody stand up.

But this train is not the high-speed rail now. It will arrive soon, but it will take three days and three nights to reach the destination. The ladies-in-waiting and eunuchs are fine, and they are tired of standing. I lie on the ground for a while, and when I am sleepy, I lie directly on the ground. This floor is much lower than your seat. You can't say I'm equal to you.

Your maid-in-waiting eunuch has come to solve this problem. What about my driver? Do you drive a train standing? I'm afraid not. I have to sit down. Cixi has a solution, but she won't let you be my equal. If you can't stand up, kneel down. If I were a driver, I would cry. Are these three orders directed at drivers? One is harder than the other. What did the driver do wrong to be treated like this? I can't help it. You are the Queen Mother. You have the final say. Let the driver drive the train on his knees. Even if he doesn't want to, he has to kneel again. This kneeling is half a day, and the two blood stains on the knee can't run away.

These three rules of Empress Dowager Cixi are more inhuman than one, and they simply don't treat others as human beings, especially drivers. Alas, this story tells us that it is not easy to be a driver, and it is even more difficult to be a driver of Cixi.