ABSTRACT
The Boxers had been heading toward Beijing since April 1900, but most of their activities were scattered and disorganized, devoid of violence and other unlawful acts. The purpose of General Nie to retire to Lutai deployment was therefore seen to be preparation for a different war, now that the suppression campaign against the Boxers seemed to be officially over. As the Boxers converged on the Chinese City in Tianjin, various groups of foreign refugees also fled to the foreign concessions. The regular army was perhaps in its strongest shape since the Sino-Japanese War of 1895. But these units were deployed over a wide area, making it difficult for the Court to organize a general resistance against the foreign invaders. On June 11, the Zongli Yamen made an extraordinary effort to persuade the foreign ministers to stop Seymour's march on Beijing. Unfortunately, the Seymour Expedition continued to fail to appear. The Legations were left to worry day after day.
