What caused Cixi to order the slaughter of six gentlemen in the Reform Movement of 1898, and it was necessary to use a blunt knife?

In order to avenge herself and warn the revolutionaries such as Guangxu, Cixi directly ordered the presentation of the dullest "general saber" in the history of the Qing Dynasty. This general's saber is inherently blunt. It has no blade at all, almost a piece of iron, just like a saw. Besides, it has been rusty since it was not used for many years. For death row inmates, he is undoubtedly a "bloodthirsty madman".

Cixi deliberately let Tan Sitong see others being tortured by blunt knives, and finally cut off his head after more than a dozen knives. He was specially scheduled for the fifth execution. Cixi thought that Tan Sitong was scared, even regretted it, even scared to death.

Tan sitong cheered in the face of the death of his companions and ignorant people, but he was not timid. He shouted very calmly: I want to stop thinking about James Zhang and wait for Dugan; My smile goes from the horizontal knife to the sky and stays in the liver and gallbladder.

Extended data:

1898 coup (1June, 898 to February1September, 2008) took place within the ruling clique of the Qing government, and the conservative forces headed by Empress Dowager Cixi launched a bloody coup against the reformist forces headed by Emperor Guangxu.

As a result of the coup, the Reform Movement of 1898, which lasted for more than a hundred days, failed, six gentlemen of the Reform Movement were killed, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao fled abroad, Emperor Guangxu lost his personal freedom, and the conservative forces headed by Empress Dowager Cixi regained power.

1898 coup was the third palace coup staged by Empress Dowager Cixi in her life. The first time was 186 1 in June, and the second time was1in April, 884, when Shen Jiayi was replaced by Prince Chun.