Instalment 38 (1907)

Scene 1: On a battlefield

One sees the revolutionaries’ battle at the Zhennan pass and hears a voice which recounts how many upsurges Sun Yatsen already instigated and how many men have already lost their lives. Sun approaches the front lines. When one of the soldiers asks him to leave the battlefield, Sun tells him that he has not been to the motherland for more than ten years and that it is a good feeling to be back. Thereupon, Sun personally recharges cannonballs.

Scene 2: At the port

Sun Yatsen (whose latest uprising again was a failure) has been banished by the Japanese government and is now standing at the port. Charly Song and his little daughter Song Qingling (later to become Sun’s secretary and wife) arrive. Song talks to Sun and tells him that they have already been informed of the fact that the Japanese government has banished him. Song remarks that Sun has not returned to his home country for more than ten years, and Sun adds that he is not even permitted to stay in China. When he asks Charly Song whether the girl is Ailing, his eldest daughter, the girl answers that she is Ailing’s younger sister, Qingling. Sun then asks her if she knows who he is and tells her that he will reward her if she makes a correct guess. But when Sun wants to give her a fountain pen as a reward, she says that she does not want to receive anything from him. She has heard that he is very poor and thus constantly asks her father for money! But finally, she does accept the pen. Charly Song then hands more money to Sun and Sun jokingly says to Qingling that he has now taken even more money from her father. Then they go to the ship.

Scene 3: On the street

Qu Hongji and his disciple Wu Yuding are sitting in a carriage. Suddenly, they hear of a fight. When Qu asks Wu what is going on, Wu tells him that this is the new censor Zhao Qilin, who tends to accuse every high official. The higher the official title, Wu continues, the more Zhao attacks them. Moreover, his memoranda are constantly rejected. Qu remarks that Zhao probably does not approach the right people and that he wishes to meet Zhao. But Wu replies that this will be hard to arrange since Zhao is not easy to convince and does not like to talk to high officials who wish to meet him. Moreover, Wu says that one can easily do without someone like Zhao. Qu, however, does not agree with Wu. (He believes he can make use of Zhao.)

Zhao Qilin comes home drunk. His mother slaps him and complains that her son is useless since his memoranda are never accepted. Zhao replies that it is not very easy to accuse the Qing Prince. But his mother cites the example of the righteous censor Hai Rui of the Ming dynasty (this alludes to the very current topic of corruption and has an additional special ring, since Hai Rui is also associated with the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution); [1] he stepped in front of the emperor to accuse corrupt officials while carrying with him his own coffin to show his readiness to die for the truth. But Zhao replies that he does not even have enough money to purchase a coffin. His mother replies that a coffin can also be made out of the wood of their beds! (This shows how poor the family is.) Zhao, however, asks, if it were not better to sell one of his father’s memoranda. But this is absolutely impossible in the eyes of his mother because the father had copied one memorandum after another from different dynasties; all these memoranda entailed accusations against corrupt officials. Zhao’s father even died of exhaustion over this work. Thus, these copies are family’s treasures which have to be handed down from generation to generation. In view of his mother’s reproaches, Zhao finally starts to write again himself.

Qu Hongji tells his student Wu Yuding about an anecdote which narrates the story of a man who lived during the time of the Three Kingdoms and who had two wives. When a womanizer tried to approach the man’s principal wife, she scolded the womanizer. But the second wife gave in to him. When the husband died at a later point, the womanizer married one of the two women. Qu has Wu guess whom the womanizer married. Wu of course answers that he married the second wife. But he has guessed wrongly because the womanizer ended up marrying the principal wife for her ability to scold well. Thus, Wu understands why Qu wants to meet with Zhao Qilin and assures Qu that he will bring Zhao to him as soon as possible.

The Qing Prince is restlessly walking up and down. Qu Hongji tells him to take a rest since there is nothing to do today. The Qing Prince Yikuan, however, replies that he simply wants to train himself by walking to and fro. But he still clearly seems disquieted. (It appears that he is disquieted by the memorandum which Zhao Qilin composed.)

Wu Yuding informs Qu Hongji that Zhao Qilin often sleeps under the Zhenyang Gate, a fact which greatly surprises Qu. But Wu tells Qu that Zhao does this every time he has written an important memorandum. This is the case now as well, since he has written a memorandum accusing the Qing Prince. But this memorandum has now been retained by Qu.

Qu Hongji tells Cixi that Cen Chunxuan has fallen ill. Cen had been transferred to Southwestern China after his attempts to discredit the Qing Prince. Cixi feels indebted to Cen since he helped them on their escape from the Allied Forces during the Boxer Rebellion. But for the moment she only says to Qu he should tell Cen to rest well. Qu, though, argues that it is too humid in the border areas and that this humidity will not help Cen recover from his illness. Cixi then offers to transfer Cen to Sichuan, since Sichuan has exactly the right climate, and the post of the Governor General is also vacant. (Thus, Qu has finally managed to rescue his “comrade-in-arms” Cen from “remoteness”).

Coughing, Qu Hongji enters the room in which Zhao Qilin is already waiting for him. Qu hands a newspaper to Zhao in which it says that Zaizhen has brought a concubine (an opera singer and lover of a Han official) to Beijing. The article also claims that Yuan Shikai’s reach of power now extends all the way to Manchuria. When Zhao reads this he is very upset and says that he wants to indict both men. But Qu tells him that he is reacting too hastily. In future, Qu tells him, he has to act more prudential. Then he introduces the completely healthy Cen Chunxuan to Wu and Zhao, who are both very surprised to see him in the capital.

Cen Chunxuan has been granted an audience with Cixi and complains that the system is going down because the Qing Prince is too corrupt and appoints the wrong people. He believes that it is therefore important to restructure the system. Cixi is very angry because she did not want to speak of politics. Rather, she had been hoping to just have a simple chat with Cen. But Cen insists and asks how politics are doing. Cixi replies that there are quite a few deficiencies and that they are therefore working on introducing a constitution. Cen thereupon asks if their efforts to establish a constitution are real or merely a pretext. Cixi admonishes him to be more vigilant in his choice of expressions. But Cen goes on to accuse Yuan Shikai because Yuan has not carried out the tasks of his new duties. After seven years of “New Learning”, there are still no school books, and the other projects are not even in planning.

Xiao Dezi is holding a set of keys and walking back and forth. Li Lianying enters and asks him what is going on. Xiao Dezi reports that Li’s “precious parts” have gone missing. Li is shocked and breaks down. When he recovers from his shock, he has Xiao Dezi carefully search all corners with no avail. Li is very upset and repeatedly asks who may be trying to harm him. (In traditional China, one used to believe that one could not be reborn if the body was incomplete. Thus, a eunuch is always buried with his “precious parts” next to him.)

Cixi tells Cen Chunxuan that there is nobody that has done more for the new system of the so-called “new politics” (xin zheng) than herself. But Cen replies that the new system is even more corrupt than the old system when all official posts could be purchased! He believes therefore that the strive for a constitution is totally wrong.

Li Lianying prays to the Bodhisattva Guanyin to be merciful and return his “precious parts” to him. Xiao Dezi is praying with him. Then Li suddenly realises that Xiao Dezi himself may have stolen his “precious parts”. But Xiao Dezi vows that he is innocent. Li believes him and continues to mumble to himself trying to figure out who may be trying to harm him.

Meanwhile, Cen Chunxuan is kneeling in front of Cixi. Cixi mentions that Cen had accused the Qing Prince in eight of his ten memoranda. Even if Cen is her “favourite”, she nevertheless contends that he has to provide evidence when accusing Qing Prince Yikuan. After all, Yikuan is the State Council Minister. When Cen cites his evidence, Cixi tries to protect Yikuan by saying that he is just very simple-minded, falls for the tricks of others and is easily misused. But Cen replies that the person who leads the country is very important and that it should not be permitted that this person is misused by others. Cixi replies that she is aware of this fact, but contends that there is nobody in the Imperial Family who could replace Yikuan. Then she asks Cen to come up with someone else. But he refuses to do so by saying that only Cixi can make such an important decision. Moreover, Cen claims that he really does not wish to part from Cixi, but since he has been assigned to his new appointment in Sichuan the following day, he has to depart. Cixi is very moved and tells him that she considers him to be like a relative of hers. She therefore appointed him to positions which she felt no one else could take up. But Cen cites an example that highlights that he actually wishes to remain in Beijing. Cixi gives her consent and finally appoints him Minister of Postal Affairs.

Wu Yuding believes that the time has come to attack. But Qu Hongji thinks that they should still wait until the enemy is weak enough to collapse at first blow.

Cen Chenxuan arrives at the Ministry of Postal Affairs and is greeted by Zhu Baokui. When Zhu introduces himself, Cen immediately calls him a traitor and agrily walks away. (Zhu used to work for Sheng Xuanhuai, but stole Sheng’s bank-books by orders of Zaizhen. As a reward, he was then appointed to the Ministry of Postal Affairs.)

Cen Chunxuan asks Cixi to have Zhu Baokui dismissed from his current post as Vice Minister of Postal Affairs. Cixi, who is just playing cards with Li Lianying, Xiao Dezi and a concubine, asks for the concrete reasons and evidence that lead Cen to ask for Zhu’s dismissal. But Cen merely replies that it is his personal wish. Cixi then contends that it has never happened before that a Minister accuses his Vice Minister. Meanwhile, Xiao Dezi is peaking into Cixi’s cards to see which cards he has to play in order to let Cixi win. (He is trying to please Cixi and distance himself from Li). Delighted by her success at the game, Cixi grants Cen his wish. Li, who has been absent-minded all the time, had two crucial playing cards but did not play them. Cixi is therefore greatly annoyed by his behaviour.

Zhu Baogui complains to Yuan Shikai that one has to please Cen Chunxuan if one wants to keep one’s position or rise on the ladder. His own dismissal, he contends, was merely a warning for all the other officials. Yuan does not say a word, but seems very angry.

Qu Hongji believes that the time has come to indict Yuan Shikai and the Qing Prince. He tells Zhao Qilin to attack now.

Qu Hongji reports to Cixi that the censor Zhao Qilin wishes to be recieved. Cixi asks if this is another one of his accusations against Yikuan and if he has more evidence this time. The newspaper with the articles on Yuan Shikai and Zaizhen are shown to her. After she has read the headings, she is very annoyed and asks for Zhao Qilin. He is supposed to say the truth, otherwise he will be decapitated! Zhao reports the crimes of the Qing Prince and those of his son Zaizhen (corruption and that the latter took an opera singer as his concubine). Cixi is very upset and says that she does not intend to spare anyone this time. In the end, she commissions Zaifeng to make inquiries into the matters.

A eunuch reads out an edict which says that Zhao Qilin has reported that Duan Zhigui has given Zaizhen an opera singer as a present in return for his post of Provincial Governor of Heilongjiang in Manchuria. Moreover, Yuan Shikai is accused of having bribed the Qing Prince. Zaifeng is commissioned to inquire into the charges made and is supposed to report back to Cixi. After the edict has been read out, Zaifeng asks Yuan whether he has understood everything. Yuan says he has and they go into the office building. Zaifeng asks Yuan for his opinion but Yuan merely answers that Zaifeng will certainly do his duty correctly. When Zaifeng treats Yuan as a defendant and asks him to explain the circumstances once again, Yuan asks back who the prosecutor is.
After he has learnt that this is a public indictment, Yuan has signs set up which read “defendant”, “prosecutor”, “judge” etc. Zaifeng, who does not understand the signs, asks what Yuan is doing. Yuan explains that Cixi has given orders that trials in the Zhili Province are supposed to be conducted according to the Western model. But Zaifeng argues that cases coming from the centre cannot be changed to accommodate local customs. Yuan, however, asserts that these are Cixi’s orders. Zaifeng then orders to have the “culprit” brought in. But Yuan’s lawyer, Cao Rulin, contends that there are no “culprits” taking part in the trial, only “witnesses”. Zaifeng impatiently responds that they should then call the “witnesses”. Yang Cuixi, whose face is apparently disfigured, enters and has to swear an oath that she will only state the truth.

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