WI Cixi does not turn against the Boxers

Reading a bit about late imperial Chinese history recently has got me paticularly interested in the Boxer rebellion. The Boxers aimed to removed foreign (more specifically western) influence from China. As far as I understand, Cixi supported the Boxers at first as a way to strengthen Chinas independence, but turned on them as it appeared that their cause was lost.

But what if instead of turning against them, she continued to support them with the Chinese army? Would they have a chance of defeating the international force sent to Beijing? And what would the western reaction be to the defeat of their "peacekeeping" force?
 
Most likely, if she upped the ante, the colonial powers would follow suit and topple her. Considering her shrewd palace politicking, I think she could fend off attempted coups, necessitating a military defeat, which although it might prove surprisingly costly would have been all but inevitable. So probably a Republic a dozen wears prior to OTL. That said, I think the Empress was predominately concerned with retaining power and so was unlikely to back the Boxers to the hilt in any event.
Perhaps ironically, I think her reign/rule justifies feminism-an Emperor Cixi would likely be lionized as effective if Machiavellian ruler who preserved China territorially intact from Western colonialism.
 
Top