Instalment 7 (1894)
Scene 1: At Cixi’s palace
In sharp contrast to the last scene depicting the fasting Japanese Tennô, a pompous meal is served to Cixi: 118 dishes. But it is still too little for her. The chief eunuch Li Lianying attempts a careful comparison to Li Hongzhang, remarking that at Li Hongzhang’s residence there is much less waste of food. But Cixi responds very angrily to this indirect criticism. Li Lianying, therefore, throws him-self onto the floor and slaps his face in self-castigation. His subordinate eunuch Xiao Dezi who is portrayed as an unpleasant and selfish person, relishes the sight.
Scene 2: Japan, Tokyo
The Japanese Tennô officially proclaims that he will only eat one meal a day. He even wishes to donate part of his private wealth to strengthen the country and particularly the navy so that it may become stronger than the Chinese Beiyang Navy. He thus turns himself into an idol of the people who immediately gather around the donation boxes to contribute money for the navy, especially for the purchase of the fastest and best warship on the market called the “Yoshino”. This ship was being built in England and was originally commissioned by the Chinese who, however, did not yet pay the bill!
Scene 3: Japan; training of the navy
Exemplary drill and obedience are shown. Overall, the Japanese navy impresses as being very Western, modern and advanced.
The daughter of the innkeeper, Junko, also wants to donate for the warship „Yoshino“. She thinks that not only her father should do so by hard work.
The cadets are refusing to eat because they wish to follow the example of their Tennô. Asahiko Jûgorô, Junko’s betrothed, is the spiritual leader of this patriotic demonstration. But he ends up being slapped by his superior who accuses him of insubordination for refusing to eat, though ordered to do so.
The “Budget Report on the increase of military expenditure and the purchase of battleships” is adjudicated. The representatives present are all wearing very Western and modern black suits (in contrast to China). The foreign minister Mutsu Munemitsu and ambassador Komura who has just arrived from Beijing are talking about the personal reward which has been promised to them in return for their efforts: women.
Junko wants to quickly earn money. The money is supposed to serve two purposes: to help her fiancé Asahiko fulfil his dream of becoming a commander on board the “Yoshino”, and to help her country achieve power and victory. Thus, she sells herself as a virgin (which is regarded as extremely precious and is therefore extremely expensive) to Komura in a brothel! (However, the scene seems more like a rape). Then she goes to donate the money to the navy, thinking only of her fiancé.
Premier Itô Hirobumi, Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu, Naval Minister Sai-gô Tsugumichi and the representative of the ministry of war, Admiral Itô Yûkô, are inspecting the navy. The strength of the navy and the new grand war ship “Yoshino” are being presented. Asahiko, wearing a white navy uniform, stands on the deck of the ship. He has a very stern face. (Maybe he has come to realise that everyone has to make sacrifices, or he is slowly coming to hate the ship and the war because his fiancée gave her virginity for it). The result of the inspection is the conclusion that a war against Qing China is possible.
The emperor is seated on the dragon throne. Li Hongzhang and the Minister of Revenue Weng Tonghe are kneeling in the centre of the room. Li Hongzhang requires funds for his Beiyang Navy – 600,000 Liang silver in total. The Guang-xu emperor orders Weng Tonghe to hand out the sum, but Weng claims that he cannot (read: does not wish to) give any money since there is none left.
Following the death of the Chun Prince Yihuan, Qing Prince Yikuang has been put in charge of the construction of the Summer Palace. He comes into the pawn shop to pay off a sum he received when he left his official decorations – a chain – as a pawn. But the shop owner refuses to take the money since Yikuang is now in charge of the Summer Palace and might rise to be the most important figure in the country after the emperor and the Empress Dowager.
The eunuch Xiao Dezi and the Southeast-Asian merchant Li Guangzhao are talking about the construction of the Summer Palace: the building works require wood from Southeast Asia. In return for the agency of the eunuch in conferring the commission, Li offers him a courtyard house.
Prince Yikuang accepts Xiao Dezi’s offer to have Li Guangzhao import the wood from Southeast Asia. He meets with Li Guangzhao, controls the quality of the wood and arbitrarily appoints him to be the supervisor of construction works at the Summer Palace.
Li Lianying uncovers the corrupt dealings of Li Guangzhao and Xiao Dezi. Since he is superior in rank to Xiao Dezi, Li Lianying manages to profit as well from the transaction (100,000 Liang silver). The eunuchs talk about Prince Yikuang’s hunger for money and Weng Tonghe’s strive for recognition and fame.
Weng Tonghe claims to be unable to pay Li Hongzhang the 600,000 Liang silver because, for the last five years (which is the amount of time that the Beiyang Navy has been without governmental financial aid), all funds have been swallowed by the construction of the Summer Palace. This results in an argument between the two.
Li Guangzhao skilfully manages to bring Weng Tonghe onto his side for handing out the money for the purchase and transport of wood, by showing him an edition he has prepared. The volume is solely composed of Weng Tonghe’s and Weng’s father’s calligraphic works. Thus, the flattered Weng hands Li Guangzhao the 600,000 Liang silver, which – according to the emperor – had been intended for the Beiyang Navy!
Sheng Xuanhuai (盛宣怀) informs Li Hongzhang that Weng Tonghe has handed 600,000 Liang silver to the merchant Li Guangzhao for the purchase of wood from Southeast Asia.
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