Instalment 60 (1917)
Scene 1: At Li Yuanhong’s residence
Luo Wen has convinced the hesitative President Li Yuanhong to dismiss Duan Qirui from office. In the end, Li does it because Duan is his most threatening opponent.
Scene 2: At Zhang Xun’s residence in Xuzhou
Zhang Xun has gathered all the Beiyang generals, who are now Governors of thirteen provinces. He has received two telegrams: one sent by Duan Qiruai, and one sent by Li Yuanhong. Both telegrams request that he act as a mediator and help solve the conflict between the President and the Prime Minister. Zhang manages to win the support of all the thirteen Generals; they acknowledge him as their leader. Then he tells them not to help both Duan and Li, but to work towards a restoration of the Puyi emperor instead!
Scene 3: Shanghai; at Sun Yatsen and Song Qingling’s new home
Sun Yatsen and Song Qingling are decorating their new home. They talk about the possibility of visiting Song’s parents. But Sun wants to wait until Qingling’s parents have given their consent to the marriage, since they vehemently opposed it earlier. Moreover, he has something important to do: next to decorating their home, he wants to help the parliament draft the regular constitution. At this moment, Huang Xing’s son, Huang Yiou, comes in. He brings sad news: At the age of only 42, Huang Xing has passed away. Once again, Sun mourns for a comrade and close friend.
In the dark, Kang Youwei suddenly appears at Liang Qichao’s door. Liang does not even recognise his teacher immediately. Kang has received a letter from Zhang Xun who wants Kang to help him realise the restoration. Now, Kang has come to call on Liang, hoping that Liang will join forces with them. But Liang says that this would be against the course of history – a comment which annoys Kang. Kang criticises the Republic and counts the numerous problems the Republic faced in the past year: Yuan Shikai’s attempt to crown himself emperor, a Parliament that cannot represent the people, and a constitution that is no more worth than a board game. The Republic, Kang contends, was a big mistake. But Liang nevertheless does not want to help him. He has stopped believing in a monarchy and thinks that the Republic simply has to be improved. Disappointed and sad, Kang leaves his former disciple.
Zhang Xun visits Duan Qirui in Tianjin and tells him that the best solution for the problems between the President and the Prime Minister would be to simply eradicate the entire Republic. Zhang believes the Republic to be the cause of all evil in China. Suprisingly, Duan agrees with him. Liang Qichao, who is now Duan’s advisor, is puzzled and concerned. Afterwards, Duan explains Liang why he agreed with Zhang: The Republic needs to be destroyed so that he, Duan, may establish himself as the hero who saved the Republic of China! Then he has Liang compose a draft for an indictment against the restoration attempt.
Zhang Xun and Kang Youwei come to pay a visit to the former emperor. The two want to convince the new Empress Dowager Jin (obviously, Longyu had passed away in the meantime) and the Chun Prince Zaifeng, to reinstall the emperor on the throne. Initially, both Zaifeng and the Empress Dowager hesitate. They fear the possible consequences if Zhang’s plans should fail, holding that the restoration must be successful at all costs. Otherwise, they would lose all their property and all the privileges which the Republic granted them so far. Zhang believes that all they need in order to be successful are three people: a Zhang Fei as their military aid (Zhang Fei is considered the military genius of Chinese history), i.e. Zhang Xun himself; and a Zhuge Liang (who, in Chinese history, is the epitome of a good advisor), i.e. Kang Youwei. Therefore, Zhang assures the Empress Dowager and Zaifeng, they are sure to be victorious. Upon this, the Empress Dowager and Zaifeng agree and Zaifeng even “appoints” Kang Youwei to be the new teacher of the emperor. Kang thanks him enthusiastically. Zhang, in turn, is “appointed” governor of Zhili, a post which he had been asking for.
Sun Yatsen has a suit jacket tailored after a design he created himself. The tailor thinks it is a very odd jacket: four front pockets, one pocket inside the jacket, and three buttons on every arm. His critical comments have annoyed Sun. At that moment, Luo Wen and his fiancée, Tian Mo, come in. Both are worried because of Zhang Xun’s attempts to restore the emperor. They believe that Sun has to react to this threat. But Sun initially evades their questions and comments, asking Tian instead to name his new jacket. She calls it the “Sun-Yatsen-Suit” since Sun himself has designed the jacket.
The young Puyi is sitting on the Imperial Throne. Many former Qing court officials dress in their former official attire and kneel in front of the emperor.
In the background of this scene of restoration and of other scenes which recall the history of the way towards the Republic, Sun Yatsen holds a speech in Shanghai. His speech is a summary of the situation since the founding of the Republic and a view to its future.
In the beginning, Sun asks why the Republic has witnessed a ceaseless upsurge of feudalist and autocratic tendencies. As long as these problems are not solved, restoration attempts will be unavoidable. And unless they are fought, the Republic is no more than a bubble, an illusion at grand.
Six years after the founding of the Republic, the masses are still being enslaved and suppressed. They have no liberty, no equality and no fraternity. Liberty is only granted to those who have power. The larger their power, the more they have liberty. The Executive, he continues, has continually interfered with the Legislative in the past years. Judicial matters are not transparent and there are no systems of control governing the administration. Although the Republic has been in state for more than six years, there is still no regular constitution which might provide the basis for action. The provisional constitution has continually been raped by those in power. Nevertheless, one should not give up hope that a real Republic may be established one day. “Republic”, Sun contends, is neither just a simple name, nor is it an unrealistic concept. If the dream of a Republic is abandoned, then all that will be left are autocracy and eternal slavery. If the Republic really is the wrong way, then one must also ask whether the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity are wrong as well.
At this point in his speech, Sun comes to speak of his oddly designed jacket. He explains that the jacket is a symbol for the Republican idea and for the division of power according to his five powers system. The three buttons on the left arm symbolise liberty, equality, and fraternity. The three buttons on the right arm symbolise the idea of the Three People’s Principles, namely, nationalism (minzu), democracy (minquan), and social welfare (minsheng). The four front pockets represent the Legislative (lifaquan), the Executive (xingzhengquan), the Judicative (sifaquan), and the citizen’s right to participation in examinations for recruiting civil servants (kaoshiquan). Finally, the inside pocket symbolises the right to control (the state) (jianduquan). This last right is the most important and the most valuable weapon of the masses; a weapon with which the people can rid themselves of disagreeable power holders. Thus, this last pocket has been placed at a safe and invisible spot.
At the close of his speech, Sun Yatsen says that he hopes that the word “republic” will not live on as a mere term only. He is convinced that China will achieve the real Republic one day …
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