The modernized army directly under the control of Governor General of Zhili lost against the allied nations and received great damages during the Boxer Rebellion, but the army of Yuan Shikai only suppressed the Boxers and did not directly participate in the war against the powerful nations, and so suffered very little damage.
義和団の乱において直隷総督配下の近代化軍隊は連合軍に敗れて大きな打撃を受けたが、袁世凱の軍だけは義和団をたたくのみで、直接列強との戦争に参加しなかったためほとんど無傷であった。