When Eight-Nation Alliance captured the capital, Empress Dowager Cixi was forced to flee in the direction of Jehol. Because of the emergency, Empress Dowager Cixi didn't bring much money at that time. Only two days or so after she fled to the west, she found that all her money had been used up. At that time, Empress Dowager Cixi was so hungry that she had to stay in Shanxi to find food sources.
In order to make a living, Empress Dowager Cixi began to borrow money from two wealthy businessmen in Shanxi. After hearing that Empress Dowager Cixi came to Shanxi, Qiao Family Courtyard immediately lent Empress Dowager Cixi 65,438+20,000 silver. In order to thank him, Empress Dowager Cixi specially set up a plaque for the Qiao Family Courtyard.
To know that the life of Empress Dowager Cixi in the palace is extremely luxurious, it is impossible for this 65,438+12,000 silver to pay the daily expenses of Empress Dowager Cixi. Empress Dowager Cixi borrowed money from Cao Family Courtyard. At that time, the Cao family compound had a lot of assets. Although the Cao Family Courtyard declined at that time, they were able to provide 65,438+2 million taels of silver for Empress Dowager Cixi. After the Empress Dowager Cixi accepted the gift from Cao Family Courtyard, she exchanged the gold locomotive clock for 65,438+12,000 silver.
At that time, it seemed normal for people in the Cao family courtyard to receive a small object from Empress Dowager Cixi, but when she opened it, she found it was a golden motorcycle clock, because it shocked the whole Cao family courtyard. This gold locomotive clock can be said to be a national treasure, which is valuable. This is a tribute from the French to Emperor Qianlong during the Qianlong period, and its value is far from 65,438+2 million taels of silver. Therefore, when Empress Dowager Cixi exchanged the gold motorcycle clock for the Cao family courtyard, everyone in the Cao family courtyard greatly praised it.