Instalment 8 (1894)
Scene 1: Tianjin; Li Hongzhang’s office building
The wood, which Li Guangzhao was to import from Southeast Asia for the construction of the Summer Palace, is confiscated by the customs authorities (who are headed by Sheng Xuanhuai). Li Hongzhang has Li Guangzhao personally arrested and finally comes to reconstruct the entire story. Weng Tonghe had given Li Guangzhao the 600.000 Liang silver, which were crucially needed for the Beiyang Navy, and ordered him to purchase building materials. However, only 100.00 Liang of these funds were actually spent on materials and their transportation. The remaining funds ended in the pockets of several officials. Once Li Hongzhang has uncovered these ongoings and has heard that Weng Tonghe himself is also involved in the deal, he decides to inform the emperor (and at the same time have his revenge on Weng).
Scene 2: At the Palace
Once the Guangxu emperor has read Li Hongzhang’s memorial, he is extremely angry and accuses Weng Tonghe of having lost his sensibility and rationality. The emperor tells him that the source of all evil lies in his thirst for glory and vanity (and in his obsessive rivalry with Li Hongzhang).
Scene 3: At Li Hongzhang’s residence
Because Li Hongzhang has not received any governmental funds for the Bei-yang Navy in more than five years, he decides to open up a bank in joint venture with an American merchant. Initially, the American is unsure about the future prospects of such an undertaking and refers to earlier similar projects which all failed. But Li Hongzhang reassures him that success or failure ultimately depends on those involved. Although this matter was to remain secret, it is accidentally divulged by one of Li’s servants. As a result, the European powers protest sharply. The British ambassador pressurises the Qing Prince Yikuang, who is responsible for the dealings with foreign powers, saying: “Remember: If you close a deal with America, it automatically denotes a break in your relations to the British Empire!”
At home, Weng Tonghe is consoled by his student Zhang Jian who tells him: “A man is not a saint. Who can be without fault?“ Moreover, Zhang informs Weng about Li Hongzhang’s secret plans for the joint bank project. After a short period of consideration, Weng requests an audience with the Qing Prince Yikuang. Weng points out to him the problems such a joint bank could bear: “Next to one’s own body, who would like to have some foreigner in bed?“
Cixi is talking to the Qing Prince and believes that Li Hongzhang is not completely in the wrong with his idea of a joint bank. His projects, most importantly the Beiyang Navy and the railroad construction, require money. Opening a joint bank with the Americans could be an optional solution. The Qing Prince replies quoting Weng: “The profit of such an enterprise will go abroad, the losses will remain here.” He adds that Li Hongzhang holds military power as well as political power, both on national as well as international level. Now, he contends, Li is even trying to gain financial power. Thus, Li’s intentions must be carefully scanned. Cixi rebukes the prince and advises him to learn from Li instead of continually following Weng Tonghe. She believes that Li is unusually capable of dealing with foreigners because he follows the principle: “I do not fear you, nor do I betray you.” She also reminds the prince that there is a common saying among the people: “The people fear the officials; the officials fear the foreigners. In the Qing Empire there is only one official who does not fear foreigners and that is Li Hongzhang.”
The emperor praises Li Hongzhang as an able pragmatist. Li’s accomplishments, he says, are far from easy to attain. However, he also requires that Li has to report to Cixi and ask her for permission for his bank project.
After Li has neither received funds from the court nor Cixi’s permission to continue his bank project for the time being, he makes his way to the Jietai Temple, residence of the old Gong Prince. The Gong Prince is the most farsighted man at court and thus Li seeks his advice. The prince believes that Li is stuck between two fronts – Cixi on the one side and the emperor on the other. Thus, the prince contends, Li has to realise that he cannot do anything at present. Li is also advised to keep an eye on Japan since the prince believes that Japan’s current silence is merely a silence before the storm breaks loose.
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