Cixi ruled the country for 47 years, and this point, even if it was The Empress Lü of Han and the Empress Wu of Tang, was far inferior to her, and she was able to control the Qing Dynasty for such a long time in the storm, and her wrist could not be described as powerful.
However, in the 47 years that she had been in the kingdom, almost none of her mother's family members were well known, let alone formed the so-called "Zhuye" to steal the temple like the Han Zhulu and the Tang Zhizhu Wu, which had to make people wonder, where did her mother's family go after she took power?
Cixi had a younger sister and three younger brothers, and her younger sister Wanzhen was Fujin the Prince of Alcohol, Yizhen, and was also the biological mother of the Guangxu Emperor; the three younger brothers were Zhaoxiang, Guixiang, and Fuxiang, who died early, and Fuxiang also died early, so after Cixi took power, she was left with only her sister Wanzhen and her second brother Guixiang.
But is Gui Xiang really poor? Did Cixi really not help her brother Gui Xiang? This is obviously not possible.
On August 22, 1861, the Xianfeng Emperor, who was frightened by foreigners and did not dare to return to Beijing, could only use the "cold weather" as an excuse to continue hiding in Rehe, and died of illness in The Rehe Palace.
Subsequently, Cixi joined forces with Yi Chen, Yi Zhen and others to launch the "Xin You Coup", destroying all the backhands left by the Xianfeng Emperor before his death, and snatching the Qing Army and Government into his own hands.
After Cixi actually controlled the qing dynasty, it was convenient for him to posthumously honor his father Hui Zheng as the Third Rank Cheng'en Duke the following year. In addition, as early as after the death of the Xianfeng Emperor, because Cixi was the biological mother of the Tongzhi Emperor Zaichun, Cixi was honored as the empress dowager, so in order to raise Cixi's value, he raised the Yehenara family from the blue flag to the yellow flag in the three banners.
In 1888, at the age of 39, Gui Xiang inherited the title of Duke of Cheng'en of the Third Rank, and was also the deputy governor with the yellow flag, so what was the poverty and destitution?
In 1890, Cixi also promoted her younger brother Gui Xiang to be the Right Attendant of the Ministry of Works and in charge of the affairs of QianFatang, not to mention the Right Attendant of the Ministry of Works from Erpin, what is this Qianfatang? Qianfatang is a coinage institution, equivalent to today's currency printing and distribution institutions, although the coins minted by the Ministry of Works Qianfatang can only be used for the project funds on hand by the Ministry of Works, but there is no need to think about it to know that the oil and water are enough!
In addition, Gui Xiang's three daughters were also married to dignitaries, especially his second daughter, who was married to the Guangxu Emperor, Empress Longyu, through Cixi.
The emperor's father-in-law, where can he go in poverty?
Therefore, since Cixi was in charge, her brother had never been poor.
Although Cixi did not help and help his younger brother Gui Xiang, Gui Xiang has never become a powerful courtier who can make trouble in the court, which may also be the reason why he is considered poor and destitute, even if he can't dominate the court like Zhu Lü Zhuwu, he should always be mighty for a while, right? But he really didn't.
Then, why didn't Gui Xiang become a powerful courtier who could stir up wind and rain above the court?
In fact, this is related to Gui Xiang's own ability, which can only be said to be in Taipingping, cixi put him in the Ministry of Works, put him in the Qianfa Hall, but he also could not achieve anything.
Later, Cixi thought to herself that this little brother can't play politics, and it's always okay to play with the military, right? So she transferred him to the army again and let him go through the experience in the army, but Gui Xiang still couldn't mix his head, and could only obediently eat and wait for death.
In addition to his mediocre ability, the reason why Gui Xiang did not become a powerful vassal of Wei He for a while may also have two "possibilities", one is that Gui Xiang deliberately did it, and the other is that Cixi deliberately did it.
Gui Xiang was born in 1849 and died in 1913, his life has not experienced any ups and downs, and his life is plain and stable, and it can be regarded as a good death.
The reason for this may be because he knows that he has no ability, so he simply chooses Mingzhe to protect himself, not to be a domineering foreign relative.
For Cixi, the so-called "deliberate action" may also be because she knows that her brother Guixiang is too average, and if he is forcibly placed on a high position, he may not be able to withstand the pressure of this position, resulting in unpredictable consequences.
In addition, Cixi did not let GuiXiang become a "crab" in the court, both to protect him, but also to protect the Yehenara clan, the end of the Han Zhulu and Tang Zhizhu Wu was too tragic, although Cixi did not read the book seriously, but she would not be unfamiliar with the deeds of Lü Hou and Wu Hou.
Why did the Xianfeng Emperor take pains to lay out the layout before his death? It is precisely to prevent Cixi from doing lü and wu stories!
Therefore, Cixi's younger brother GuiXiang only had no political achievements or reputation, but he was by no means the so-called poor and destitute.