Instalment 14 (1895)
Scene 1: During the palace examinations
At the examinations, the emperor is present. The examinees are asking why there are no prepared questions. He replies that they are to write whatever they wish to write about because he does not want them to write something they think he would love to read. After the examination, the emperor and Weng Tonghe discuss the essays. Weng uses the opportunity to recommend two texts to the emperor that he thinks are superior to all the essays which have been handed in: “The political reforms of Peter the Great“ (Sheng Bide bianzheng ji) and “Japan’s political reforms” (Riben bianzheng kao). Weng explains that they were both composed by a certain Kang Nanhai (Kang Youwei from Nanhai). The emperor has not heard of Kang, and Weng reports that Kang performed well at the previous spring examinations and that he is now an official in the Ministry of Works. The emperor requests that Weng meet with Kang to judge his character and abilities.
Scene 2: At the Hanlin Academy
The Grand Secretary Xu Tong is waiting for his pupils to arrive for his lesson. Xu Tong wants to teach his students who are all members of the State Council themselves, about the characters: “zuo huai bu luan” 坐怀不乱 (taken from the Classics) to stress that men and women should behave properly even when sitting down. (This characterises Xu Tong as a man who is solely concerned with Confucian ethics and thus far removed from reality.)
Scene 3: In Li Hongzhang’s gardens and bed chambers
Li Hongzhang meanwhile spends most of his time at home with his little concubine Hong’er. On this day, the high official and general Ronglu from Xi’an has come to call on Li. The two have not seen each other for over twenty years. They talk about the political situation, Kang Youwei and Ronglu’s newly assigned task to train the army.
After Li Hongzhang’s dismissal, Weng Tonghe has also been entrusted with the handling of foreign affairs. Through an interpreter, Weng is negotiating with foreigners about a loan, but Weng’s room is separated by a veil from the foreigners and the interpreter has to run from one side to the other. Weng emphasises that China insists on deciding freely from whom to loan money; no country should be allowed to interfere. In return, however, he offers no securities except “good faith”. He declines any further discussion of the matter and thus the foreigners have to depart without a final decision. Weng feels assured that – contrary to popular opinion – dealing with foreigners is easy. For him, the results do not count. All that counts is that China’s dignity is preserved.
After the defeat in Korea, Yuan Shikai is looking for a new occupation. He visits Ronglu who is now the leading military official and who praises Yuan for his treatise on the military (which has in fact been written by Xu Shichang). They also come to speak of Li Hongzhang’s dismissal. Yuan realises that Ronglu continues to support Li, and that Cixi, too, is still very convinced of Li’s military analytical expertise.
Yuan Shikai thereupon calls again on Li Hongzhang to ask him for punishment and final forgiveness for his errors and his interim opportunistic allegiance to Weng Tonghe. Yuan even starts to cry. Finally Li accepts and hands to Yuan his golden pistol, which Li always used to carry with him, in commemoration of his long association to Yuan’s family. He says that he still values Yuan’s talents despite all. But in foresight, Li also warns Yuan that he may turn a traitor one day. He therefore admonishes him to have the courage to take on responsibility, be brave and decisive but also patient in coping with difficulties (in the same way as Li has just pardoned him for the sake of a higher cause). Despite Yuan’s “betrayal”, Li offers to recommend him as a suitable candidate for the position as head of the Beiyang garrison at Xiaozhan (near Tianjin). Ma Sanjun, Li’s follower, is to accompany Yuan in case of Yuan’s promotion to help him instruct the troops, even though Ma is not happy at all to have to stay with the opportunist Yuan.
In the middle of the night, Cixi summons the emperor to an audience. She wishes to discuss a new book with him which has caused a stir at court: Yan Fu’s translation of T. H. Huxley’s Evolution and Ethics which carries the Chinese title “Tianyanlun". Over the course of the conversation, Cixi emphasises that she wishes to yield all political power to the emperor. He should decide as he deems correct and she assures him of her full support. Both are deeply moved and cry. Cixi even strokes the emperor’s hand lovingly.
In Kang Youwei’s “Qiangxuehui”, money is donated for the movement to strengthen the nation. Weng Tonghe donates 300 Liang silver for the Hanlin Academy in disguise, using the his pupil’s name Wen Tingshi; Yuan Shikai donates 500 Liang silver. Li Hongzhang wants to donate 3000 Liang, but his donation is rejected by Kang Youwei. Kang states that although his society is in need for money, it does not require the money of a traitor to the nation!
The emperor asks Weng Tonghe if he has already met with Kang Youwei, but Weng replies he has not. Xu Tong warns against the meeting, claiming that although Kang is an official, he does not attend to his occupation properly. Moreover, Xu reports that Kang has founded the “Qiangxuehui” in Beijing. (To found private societies was prohibited by Qing laws). Weng, who plays a double faced game, hastens to support Xu Tong. But the emperor is interested in this society and asks Weng to finally summon Kang.
Zhang Zhidong meets with Liang Qichao, a student of Kang Youwei, and introduces also his advisor Gu Hongming. Zhang asks Liang about the basic ideas of Kang’s society and Liang names the „reform for the reorganisation of the system”. Kang, he explains, wishes to publish a gratuitous newspaper in Beijing and in Shanghai in order to promote his reform ideas. Gu, however, starts complaining about Kang and his writings. He accuses him of being thirsty for glory, of taking too many risks and of destroying everything traditional. Gu himself has mastered Western knowledge and thought, but he still wishes to hold on to traditions. In the end, however, Zhang Zhidong gives Liang Qichao 500 Liang silver as a donation to the society.
Sun Yatsen and his followers are drawing up plans for a revolt for the next day in Guangzhou. An associate who is to contact some secret societies to help, asks Sun who will turn president after the revolt succeeds. Sun, who tries to be accommodating, simply responds: “Of course it will be you”! [1]
[1] In relation to the TV drama, the script offered more elaborate discussions of the term “president” and its explanations. It also contained the comment that apart from Sun Yatsen, there is really nobody else fit to be president.
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