How far could the Boxer movement have gone if Cixi tried to suppress rather than surf this wave?

raharris1973

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Was their popular support/momentum such that they would have overcome regular Qing forces and been able to besiege foreign legations?

Or could they have been suppressed, preventing the worst anti foreign outbreaks and subsequent retaliations by the eight-nation alliance?
 
If Cixi really tries to put down the Boxers, the powers are likely to give her aid and avoid landing themselves. Protecting the legations would be easy for the Qing. The power struggle within the Manchus is the only thing that gives the Boxers hope. Otherwise, a long drawn out rebellion that eventually gets put down with Western help
 
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