The southeast governor's "southeast mutual insurance" humiliated Cixi. Although Cixi was angry, she also gave in. Mutual protection in the southeast laid the foundation for the warlord regime, and the localities no longer obeyed the central authorities, but fought on their own. Although Cixi is unwilling, she can only hold her nose and swallow this tone. Even if she is unwilling, there is nothing she can do. If she loses the support of the local people, Cixi will really be useless. The governors who participated in the mutual insurance in Southeast China were not blamed after Eight-Nation Alliance's invasion of China, but were promoted one by one, which was recognized by Cixi. These titles given to them by Cixi, if studied closely, can only be regarded as titles and official positions in name only.

Zhang Zhidong, Liu Kunyi and others sang "Mutual Protection in Southeast China" at the critical moment when Cixi declared war on foreigners. One reason is that they don't think the Qing government can beat foreigners. Second, they were always hostile to the boxers, and they always disagreed with Cixi's policy of "appealing to the boxers". Third, they want to protect their interests in the southeast, which is also the most essential point.

Since the Westernization Movement was launched in the Qing Dynasty, the southeast area has become the base of industry, and industry is the official supervision and commercial office. To put it bluntly, the bureaucrats are in the lead and the money has also entered the pockets of bureaucrats. Therefore, although the so-called "mutual insurance in the southeast" has indeed played a role in protecting the environment and the people, it has also protected the industries in the southeast, but in the final analysis, bureaucrats are also aiming at protecting their own interests.

The reason why the governors in the southeast dared to reject Cixi outright after she issued the declaration of war has clearly told people that the Qing government's control over the local area is very weak, and the Qing government's control over the local area is just barely maintained. After the Qing government made peace with foreigners, Cixi returned to Beijing but did not dare to lay hands on these southeast governors who participated in the "Southeast Mutual Insurance". Instead, she had to coax them and reuse them. Because, Cixi still has to rely on them to continue to maintain her rule and keep her power.