Instalment 27 (1901)
Scene 1: In Tianjin
By orders of Yuan Shikai, Yang Shiqi has the local officials donate money. When all the officials claim that they have none, the clever Yang says that the director of the bank must then be committing fraud for he informed Yang that the officials had paid great sums of money into his bank. But Yang goes on to say that he has figured out the truth anyhow. Namely, that all the officials are in fact innocent and not corrupt, and have not paid money into the bank. After all, the money must have been paid in under false names and therefore it may be easily confiscated!
Scene 2: At Yuan Shikai’s residence
It is the first anniversary of Yuan’s ninth son (a son from the relationship with his favourite concubine Yingzi). Prince Yinchang, who – as all the others from the Imperial Court – has been provided with accomodation in Tianjin by Yuan, gives him a precious piece of jade. During the birthday banquet, Xiao Dezi enters with an edict issued by Cixi: Yuan is to serve as the Governor General of Zhili take on the defence of Tianjin, and then proceed to Baoding to meet the Empress Dowager who is now permitted to return to Beijing since the peace negotiations have been concluded. In order to finance appropriate welcoming celebrations for Cixi, Yuan donates all his son’s birthday presents and even one of Yingzi’s bracelets.
Scene 3: At Yuan Shikai’s residence
According to the Boxer-(Xinchou) Protocol, only foreign troops are permitted to be stationed within a twenty miles radius of Tianjin. Chinese troops are not permitted to do so. Yuan collects two million Liang silver, of which one million is reserved for welcoming Cixi. He then sends a telegram to the Chinese embassy in Great Britain to gather information about the local police security systems in order to copy them for his purposes.
Shortly before the handover ceremony of the Tianjin defence affairs, the foreign officials hold that they would still be able to administer these indirectly. They therefore ridicule Yuan Shikai as the new Governor General of the province. When Yuan arrives, one of the foreigners hands him the official seal of the city of Tianjin and a receipt for the mere 5000 Liang silver on the official account which the foreigners were “able to save”. Yuan, though, puts the receipt into his boot as a symbol of contempt, and the foreigners feel embarrassed. After the handover ceremony has been concluded, imposing Chinese soldiers enter. They are wearing police uniforms and carry police clubs. The foreign officials are shocked and remark that according to the Boxer Protocol, Chinese troops are not permitted to be stationed in Tianjin. The clever Yuan, however, answers that these are not army soldiers but policemen! Grudgingly, the foreigners have to admit that Yuan has played them a clever trick.
The Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu emperor arrive in Baoding. The train for continuing their travel to Beijing has already been prepared by Yuan; one of the compartments has been refurbished to fit imperial tastes. Cixi is very pleased with this special treatment. Cen Chunxuan has also prepared a residence for Cixi, but she prefers to remain in her elegant train compartment.
Cixi wishes to remain in Baoding for three days and then return to Beijing. Talking to Ronglu, she states that during the two years of bitter experiences, her attitude and ways of thinking have changed somewhat. Formerly, when she read the story of King Goujian (ca. 6th century BC) who also had to flee – but who turned out victorious after a long period of privation –, she never felt any sympathy for him. But now, she is very sympathetic of the story. From now on, she intends to always remember her bitter experiences and also admits that there are able people among the followers of the Kang faction. Thus, Cixi plans to pardon all reformers but for Kang himself and Liang Qichao. As a token of goodwill, an official examination is held at the train station. The only essay question is on how one should best proceed now that the nation has been shattered. Thus, Cixi hopes to select and recruit the most able men – and thereby modernise the examination system.
Yuan is waiting for the Chief Eunuch Li Lianying from whom he wishes to receive information about Cixi. Li tells Yuan that the train ought to be scheduled to arrive at exactly 14 o’clock on the day after next. This time of the day is said to be very auspicious and Cixi believes in such auspiciousness. Yuan times his watch with that of Li Lianying and then gives Li a considerable sum of silver to reward him for revealing Cixi’s particular ways of thought.
In the compartment, Cixi and Ronglu are reading the examination essays. Cixi chooses Qu Hongji, as the most able examination candidate – the same candidate Ronglu was about to recommend as well.
When Yuan learns that Qu Hongji is to be appointed Grand Secretary, he remarks that “hatred chains enemies together”. Twenty years ago, Qu was the chief responsible for the provincial examinations in Henan province. The prefect of Guide heaped flattery onto Qu, but he was not treated with equal respect in Chenzhou. Thus, the best candidates of each township in the vicinity of Chenzhou were not selected by Qu. Yuan had been the best candidate of the little town of Xiangcheng near Chenzhou and thus failed the provincial examinations. Therefore, Yuan is convinced that Qu must be a very obstinate man despite his excellent education.
Qu Hongji is called to Cixi. She asks him about his views on the most fundamental reason for the decay of the Qing dynasty. Qu replies that the internal structure of the Qing government has already fallen apart. He contends that the system governing officials therefore has to be restructured and redirected.
Yuan Shikai tells the foreign train conductor that it is vital that the train should arrive at precisely 14 o’clock. One second earlier or later is impermissible. If the train arrives on time, Yuan promises him he will be rewarded 10,000 Liang silver.
On this day, Cixi is to return to Beijing. In the morning, after getting up, she spots her birthday gown which Yuan had been able to save from the Palace during the allied occupation. She is delighted and tries it on immediately. But it does not fit as well anymore because she has lost a great deal of weight (which may also imply that she does not fit into her role as well as before). While Cixi inspects her officials on the platform accompanied by music played by a military band, a telegram from Li Hongzhang reaches her: it is his last will in which he recommends Yuan Shikai! Cixi is deeply shaken by the loss of Li.
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