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Thread: Empress dowager cixi

  1. #391
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    When they entered Hebei Province, they were transferred to a special train at a small town and reached the capital in the train. It was the second time for West Empress Dowager to ride in the train. The first time the train she had ridden was a sample train in the imperial West Garden before the Purple-Light Pavilion. A foreign businessman wanted to build railroads in China. Many Chinese people opposed it, including some conservative courtiers. To gain support from West Empress dowager, the foreign businessman offered a sample mini-train as a gift to West Empress Dowager. The rails only covered a short distance with a couple of train cars on them. For safety, West Empress Dowager wouldn't allow the locomotive to draw the mini-train. Instead she ordered eunuchs to push and pull the carriage she sat in. The experience was told as a joke among the foreigners.
    When West Empress Dowager got off the train, she saw the foreign envoys coming to welcome her. She waved to them. Then she was carried in a palanquin into the Forbidden City. When West Empress Dowager returned to her chamber, those remaining in the Forbidden City, the royal household, the maids and eunuchs, all came to pay their respects to her. Except one. Royal Concubine Yu who was the concubine of the late emperor Tongzhi, the biological son of West Empress Dowager, not of the present emperor Guangxu. In the absence of West Empress Dowager, she took charge of all the things in the Forbidden City.
    The buried treasures are still there. She informed when she was summoned to see West Empress Dowager later, alone. “Now I must return these to the rightful persons.” She continued, pointing to a tray carried by a eunuch kneeling a little behind her. On the tray stood three imperial seals wrapped in yellow brocade. One belonged to West Empress Dowager, which was made of white jade. One was the emperor's, which was carved from an emerald of the best quality. The third was the queen's, which was cast in gold. What if these seals were stolen? No one could answer this question. Concubine Yu really deserved a reward, which was only a praise of words. “I always know you are a good thoughtful lady.” said West Empress Dowager, who very seldom praised people like that.

  2. #392
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    It was said that West Empress Dowager had often dreamed of Concubine Zhen after she had ordered her drowned in the well. The image of Concubine Zhen in her dream was ghastly. It was said that maids and eunuchs often encountered something like a shadow floating and moving in the air around where Concubine Zhen had lived when alive.
    “I don't know how to report to Old Buddha . . .” Concubine Yu didn't finish the sentence.
    “You can say whatever you want. I won't be offended.” West Empress Dowager promised.
    “I often dreamed Concubine Zhen. She asked to be buried somewhere. She doesn't like to lie in the well. It's too cold there.”
    “That's what I am always thinking.” West Empress Dowager gave an order that Concubine Zhen's corpse should be lifted from the well and buried with a proper ceremony as befitting her status as a royal concubine.
    “Your slave have something else to report to Old Buddha.” Royal Concubine Yu went on, “Your slave dreamt Concubine Zhen many times. Concubine Zhen said to your slave in the dream that Concubine Zhen need a memorial tablet (a small wooden tablet on which the name of the deceased was engraved. The tablet was often put on a table with incense and candles before it for people to pay their respects to the deceased.) so that her ghost can sit behind it, won't float in the air.”
    “Where did she say that she wants to keep her memorial tablet?” West Empress Dowager asked.
    “In the empty room just beside the well Concubine Zhen died in.” West Empress Dowager agreed to the arrangement. West Empress Dowager knew that she must be nice to the emperor now as the circumstances had changed, though she still wanted to control the emperor. When the emperor had been confined on the island, he had been treated like a prisoner. Just enough food, enough clothes. Sometimes even no fire to warm the room. Now he was treated as an emperor, just like before the reform. It was because the emperor would interview the foreign envoys according to the international practice. If the emperor said something about his maltreatment, it would give the foreign governments an excuse to request the return of power to the emperor. This was the least West Empress Dowager wanted.

  3. #393
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    It was said that West Empress Dowager had often dreamed of Concubine Zhen after she had ordered her drowned in the well. The image of Concubine Zhen in her dream was ghastly. It was said that maids and eunuchs often encountered something like a shadow floating and moving in the air around where Concubine Zhen had lived when alive.
    “I don't know how to report to Old Buddha . . .” Concubine Yu didn't finish the sentence.
    “You can say whatever you want. I won't be offended.” West Empress Dowager promised.
    “I often dreamed Concubine Zhen. She asked to be buried somewhere. She doesn't like to lie in the well. It's too cold there.”
    “That's what I am always thinking.” West Empress Dowager gave an order that Concubine Zhen's corpse should be lifted from the well and buried with a proper ceremony as befitting her status as a royal concubine.
    “Your slave have something else to report to Old Buddha.” Royal Concubine Yu went on, “Your slave dreamt Concubine Zhen many times. Concubine Zhen said to your slave in the dream that Concubine Zhen need a memorial tablet (a small wooden tablet on which the name of the deceased was engraved. The tablet was often put on a table with incense and candles before it for people to pay their respects to the deceased.) so that her ghost can sit behind it, won't float in the air.”
    “Where did she say that she wants to keep her memorial tablet?” West Empress Dowager asked.
    “In the empty room just beside the well Concubine Zhen died in.” West Empress Dowager agreed to the arrangement. West Empress Dowager knew that she must be nice to the emperor now as the circumstances had changed, though she still wanted to control the emperor. When the emperor had been confined on the island, he had been treated like a prisoner. Just enough food, enough clothes. Sometimes even no fire to warm the room. Now he was treated as an emperor, just like before the reform. It was because the emperor would interview the foreign envoys according to the international practice. If the emperor said something about his maltreatment, it would give the foreign governments an excuse to request the return of power to the emperor. This was the least West Empress Dowager wanted.

  4. #394
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    The reform launched by the emperor had impressed the foreign governments. They had sympathized with him when it had failed. They had been concerned for his safety when the emperor had been confined. If the emperor complained to any of the envoys, it would bring her international troubles.
    “You'd better go to Concubine Zhen's funeral.” West Empress Dowager advised the emperor to show that she had never disapproved them to love each other. “She will be buried as a royal concubine.”
    Her head eunuch Li was sent to see the emperor when he returned to his study. West Empress Dowager didn't really want the emperor to see the misshaped corpse of Concubine Zhen. It would certainly remind him of how she had died.
    But head eunuch Li didn't know how to dissuade the emperor from attending the funeral.
    “Can you get something for me?” the emperor asked eunuch Li, “Something Concubine Zhen had used or worn, by which I can remember her.”
    “Your slave will do the best and see what can be got.” Eunuch Li replied. But he was not sure where he could turn to look for the something the emperor so wistfully desired.
    Suddenly an idea occurred to him. Very probably, Concubine Jin kept something of her sister's as a memento. He went to see Concubine Jin and conveyed the emperor's wish. She rummaged in a trunk and finally produced a small gold box, which she gave to him, which he presented to the emperor, adding, “Concubine Jin said that it's better Emperor won't go to the funeral. It's so cold outside. If Emperor falls sick, Concubine Zhen will be uneasy in her afterlife.”
    “I will take her advice.” Said the emperor, caressing the box as if it were a pet. “You can leave now.” Head eunuch Li went back to report to West Empress Dowager.

  5. #395
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    The reform launched by the emperor had impressed the foreign governments. They had sympathized with him when it had failed. They had been concerned for his safety when the emperor had been confined. If the emperor complained to any of the envoys, it would bring her international troubles.
    “You'd better go to Concubine Zhen's funeral.” West Empress Dowager advised the emperor to show that she had never disapproved them to love each other. “She will be buried as a royal concubine.”
    Her head eunuch Li was sent to see the emperor when he returned to his study. West Empress Dowager didn't really want the emperor to see the misshaped corpse of Concubine Zhen. It would certainly remind him of how she had died.
    But head eunuch Li didn't know how to dissuade the emperor from attending the funeral.
    “Can you get something for me?” the emperor asked eunuch Li, “Something Concubine Zhen had used or worn, by which I can remember her.”
    “Your slave will do the best and see what can be got.” Eunuch Li replied. But he was not sure where he could turn to look for the something the emperor so wistfully desired.
    Suddenly an idea occurred to him. Very probably, Concubine Jin kept something of her sister's as a memento. He went to see Concubine Jin and conveyed the emperor's wish. She rummaged in a trunk and finally produced a small gold box, which she gave to him, which he presented to the emperor, adding, “Concubine Jin said that it's better Emperor won't go to the funeral. It's so cold outside. If Emperor falls sick, Concubine Zhen will be uneasy in her afterlife.”
    “I will take her advice.” Said the emperor, caressing the box as if it were a pet. “You can leave now.” Head eunuch Li went back to report to West Empress Dowager.

  6. #396
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    Since the German envoy had been killed in the riot of Yihetuan, the German king insisted that Qing government should send a prince to Germany to apologize. West Empress Dowager sent Prince Zaifeng, the step-brother of the present emperor, to Germany. As the emperor had made a good impression on the foreign governments, the German king received his step-brother in a cordial manner and encouraged him to take part in more political activities. When Prince Zaifeng returned and reported to West Empress Dowager, she suspected that the foreign governments might support Prince Zaifeng to be the emperor if anything happened to the present emperor. She knew that Prince Zaifeng was not a man of ability and had no ambition whatsoever. But what if he was goaded towards that direction?
    In old China, when the son of a family might go astray, the parents always found him a wife who could lead him on the right path in life, given that the wife was demure and decent in moral and behavior, and had the talent to turn the husband round her little finger. So West Empress Dowager began to look for such a girl to be the wife of Prince Zaifeng.
    Ronglu had a son and a daughter. The son had died young from some kind of disease. The daughter was about the same age as Prince Zaifeng, but was known very shrewd and eloquent. Head eunuch Li suggested that she was the right girl for Prince Zaifeng. However, Prince Zaifeng had already been engaged to another girl from a Mongolian family. West Empress Dowager ordered the engagement to be broken. Normally, if the boy's family wanted to break the engagement, it would be deemed that they had found some demerits or misconduct with the girl and it was a disgrace to the girl. Although it was different in this case, the girl still thought it as a disgrace to her. She thereby made her suicide by drinking some poison.

  7. #397
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    Since the German envoy had been killed in the riot of Yihetuan, the German king insisted that Qing government should send a prince to Germany to apologize. West Empress Dowager sent Prince Zaifeng, the step-brother of the present emperor, to Germany. As the emperor had made a good impression on the foreign governments, the German king received his step-brother in a cordial manner and encouraged him to take part in more political activities. When Prince Zaifeng returned and reported to West Empress Dowager, she suspected that the foreign governments might support Prince Zaifeng to be the emperor if anything happened to the present emperor. She knew that Prince Zaifeng was not a man of ability and had no ambition whatsoever. But what if he was goaded towards that direction?
    In old China, when the son of a family might go astray, the parents always found him a wife who could lead him on the right path in life, given that the wife was demure and decent in moral and behavior, and had the talent to turn the husband round her little finger. So West Empress Dowager began to look for such a girl to be the wife of Prince Zaifeng.
    Ronglu had a son and a daughter. The son had died young from some kind of disease. The daughter was about the same age as Prince Zaifeng, but was known very shrewd and eloquent. Head eunuch Li suggested that she was the right girl for Prince Zaifeng. However, Prince Zaifeng had already been engaged to another girl from a Mongolian family. West Empress Dowager ordered the engagement to be broken. Normally, if the boy's family wanted to break the engagement, it would be deemed that they had found some demerits or misconduct with the girl and it was a disgrace to the girl. Although it was different in this case, the girl still thought it as a disgrace to her. She thereby made her suicide by drinking some poison.

  8. #398
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    Prince Zaifeng and Ronglu's daughter, Funiu, were soon engaged to be married. West Empress Dowager often summoned the daughter Funiu into the Forbidden City. She was a clever girl and knew how to talk sweet. Before the wedding day when she was in the Forbidden City, West Empress Dowager said to her, “I think you have everything. I don't know what you could lack. But I still want to give you something as a wedding gift.” She gesticulated to her head eunuch Li to take out her jewelry box, which was in her bedroom. Eunuch Li got two eunuchs to carry out the jewelry box. When the box was opened, glistening colorful gems and gold met the eye of the peepers. West Empress Dowager beckoned Funiu forward and told her to pick six items, whatever she loved. This really was a special favor. She would soon be her niece-in-law.
    There were four compartments in the box. All sorts of pearls were in the first compartment, some as big as a playing marble. The second compartment contained colorful precious stones. Jade of all the different shapes and sizes were stored in the third compartment and miscellaneous pieces were put in the fourth compartment. “You can choose from the miscellaneous compartment first.” West Empress Dowager advised her. There was a diamond ring. The diamond was as big as the core of an apricot. She was about to pick the ring when she heard someone coughed. She looked up at Big Princess, who was moving her head a bit from left to right. So she took up a diamond bracelet instead. “It is a nice piece. You can try it on.” West Empress Dowager instructed. She put it on her wrist and showed it to West Empress Dowager. “It looks pretty on you.” West Empress Dowager commented. So Big princess said, “You can keep it on.” Then she was told to select six pieces. It meant that the bracelet was the extra gift. She got six more.
    Ronglu was seriously sick at the time, but the wedding was still held. Superstitious people at that time thought that a big event like a wedding would drive away the demons of sickness. But demons of sickness didn't fear such things like a wedding and took Ronglu away with them not long after the wedding. The news of the death of Ronglu hit West Empress Dowager really hard and she wept sincere tears.

  9. #399
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    Prince Zaifeng and Ronglu's daughter, Funiu, were soon engaged to be married. West Empress Dowager often summoned the daughter Funiu into the Forbidden City. She was a clever girl and knew how to talk sweet. Before the wedding day when she was in the Forbidden City, West Empress Dowager said to her, “I think you have everything. I don't know what you could lack. But I still want to give you something as a wedding gift.” She gesticulated to her head eunuch Li to take out her jewelry box, which was in her bedroom. Eunuch Li got two eunuchs to carry out the jewelry box. When the box was opened, glistening colorful gems and gold met the eye of the peepers. West Empress Dowager beckoned Funiu forward and told her to pick six items, whatever she loved. This really was a special favor. She would soon be her niece-in-law.
    There were four compartments in the box. All sorts of pearls were in the first compartment, some as big as a playing marble. The second compartment contained colorful precious stones. Jade of all the different shapes and sizes were stored in the third compartment and miscellaneous pieces were put in the fourth compartment. “You can choose from the miscellaneous compartment first.” West Empress Dowager advised her. There was a diamond ring. The diamond was as big as the core of an apricot. She was about to pick the ring when she heard someone coughed. She looked up at Big Princess, who was moving her head a bit from left to right. So she took up a diamond bracelet instead. “It is a nice piece. You can try it on.” West Empress Dowager instructed. She put it on her wrist and showed it to West Empress Dowager. “It looks pretty on you.” West Empress Dowager commented. So Big princess said, “You can keep it on.” Then she was told to select six pieces. It meant that the bracelet was the extra gift. She got six more.
    Ronglu was seriously sick at the time, but the wedding was still held. Superstitious people at that time thought that a big event like a wedding would drive away the demons of sickness. But demons of sickness didn't fear such things like a wedding and took Ronglu away with them not long after the wedding. The news of the death of Ronglu hit West Empress Dowager really hard and she wept sincere tears.

  10. #400
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    Chapter 46

    Although the reform started by the emperor had failed, people all over the country still required it. They blamed West Empress Dowager for the failure. It was all on the newspapers.
    West Empress Dowager hereby made a public declaration that she wanted reform, too, but step by step. First, she wanted to denounce the examination system for the selection of government officials and to establish new western-style schools. But some conservative courtiers argued, “If this system was denounced, how can the government officials be chosen when needed?” Other courtiers supporting the reform refuted, “We can choose from the students at schools.”
    West Empress Dowager also agreed to send a group of young students overseas to study in America. China needed a lot of people with special skills and knowledge of special technology like people who knew foreign languages to deal with the foreign countries, like people who could set up and operate telegram system and build railroads and steamboats, particularly warships, and could dig up ores for the newly developed industries.
    But many students having been sent to study in America picked up western life-style and habits, which was considered to betray the Chinese traditions. Some courtiers suggested that all the students should return to China or their minds would be further contaminated. After plenty of debates, West Empress Dowager consented to let the students return. The newspapers called it a waste of money, but some of the students had really learned something and became earliest engineers in the building of railroads and ships, etc.

  11. #401
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    Chapter 46

    Although the reform started by the emperor had failed, people all over the country still required it. They blamed West Empress Dowager for the failure. It was all on the newspapers.
    West Empress Dowager hereby made a public declaration that she wanted reform, too, but step by step. First, she wanted to denounce the examination system for the selection of government officials and to establish new western-style schools. But some conservative courtiers argued, “If this system was denounced, how can the government officials be chosen when needed?” Other courtiers supporting the reform refuted, “We can choose from the students at schools.”
    West Empress Dowager also agreed to send a group of young students overseas to study in America. China needed a lot of people with special skills and knowledge of special technology like people who knew foreign languages to deal with the foreign countries, like people who could set up and operate telegram system and build railroads and steamboats, particularly warships, and could dig up ores for the newly developed industries.
    But many students having been sent to study in America picked up western life-style and habits, which was considered to betray the Chinese traditions. Some courtiers suggested that all the students should return to China or their minds would be further contaminated. After plenty of debates, West Empress Dowager consented to let the students return. The newspapers called it a waste of money, but some of the students had really learned something and became earliest engineers in the building of railroads and ships, etc.

  12. #402
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    In order to make political reform like Japan, West Empress Dowager sent five courtiers abroad to learn from Japan and other foreign countries. On the day they were to leave, the five courtiers arrived at the railway station one by one. Just before the train started, a middle-aged man dressed like a servant wanted to board the carriage in which the courtiers were seated. The guards at the carriage door stopped him, but the next moment, Bang! a bomb exploded. The man and the guards died. Two courtiers were injured, though not seriously, and the carriage was destroyed. One of the courtiers was so dreadful that he resigned from this assignment, of which everyone envied.
    It was said that the man carrying the bomb was a member of the revolutionary party in Canton City, whose aim was to overthrow the reign of the Mandarin Clan. They declared that Qing government was cheating people by sending some courtiers to learn from the foreign countries how to organize the election of the house representatives to form the congress of China. Whether it was cheating or not, West Empress Dowager promised to realize it after nine years. A few months later some other courtiers got aboard a ship in Shanghai and sailed to Japan. Some of the Chinese scholars had escaped to live in Japan after the reform of the emperor had failed. They were studying how the reform had been made in Japan. One of the courtiers that came to Japan knew one of the scholars there. He told other courtiers to have a good time and fun. He would take care of the report, which must send in to West Empress Dowager when they returned to China. He let the scholar write a report for them about the reform in Japan and paid him one thousand taels of silver. Therefore, when the five courtiers returned from Japan, they handed in a report, stating how to organize a cabinet and to form a congress, etc.
    The part of the reform that met with the strongest challenge was the change of the system of officialdom, because many officials were afraid to lose jobs. But this time, since West Empress Dowager supported the reform, all oppositions were futile. No one was really out of job. Some old ministries changed names only. Some new ministries were set up. And many officials were only moved from this ministry to another ministry. For those who didn't have new assignments yet, they still got paid with the same salary and were put on a waiting list. The newly established ministries were those: Foreign Affairs Ministry to replace Foreign Affairs Yamen, Civil Ministry, Military Ministry, Agriculture & Industry & Commerce Ministry, Communications & Transportation Ministry. The old ministries had two ministers in equal charge, one was from the Mandarin Clan and the other from the Han Clan, while the new ministries had only one minister, who was either from the Mandarin Clan or from the Han Clan. But the fact was that more ministers came from the Mandarin Clan. The courtiers of the Han Clan complained about it on the sly.

  13. #403
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    In order to make political reform like Japan, West Empress Dowager sent five courtiers abroad to learn from Japan and other foreign countries. On the day they were to leave, the five courtiers arrived at the railway station one by one. Just before the train started, a middle-aged man dressed like a servant wanted to board the carriage in which the courtiers were seated. The guards at the carriage door stopped him, but the next moment, Bang! a bomb exploded. The man and the guards died. Two courtiers were injured, though not seriously, and the carriage was destroyed. One of the courtiers was so dreadful that he resigned from this assignment, of which everyone envied.
    It was said that the man carrying the bomb was a member of the revolutionary party in Canton City, whose aim was to overthrow the reign of the Mandarin Clan. They declared that Qing government was cheating people by sending some courtiers to learn from the foreign countries how to organize the election of the house representatives to form the congress of China. Whether it was cheating or not, West Empress Dowager promised to realize it after nine years. A few months later some other courtiers got aboard a ship in Shanghai and sailed to Japan. Some of the Chinese scholars had escaped to live in Japan after the reform of the emperor had failed. They were studying how the reform had been made in Japan. One of the courtiers that came to Japan knew one of the scholars there. He told other courtiers to have a good time and fun. He would take care of the report, which must send in to West Empress Dowager when they returned to China. He let the scholar write a report for them about the reform in Japan and paid him one thousand taels of silver. Therefore, when the five courtiers returned from Japan, they handed in a report, stating how to organize a cabinet and to form a congress, etc.
    The part of the reform that met with the strongest challenge was the change of the system of officialdom, because many officials were afraid to lose jobs. But this time, since West Empress Dowager supported the reform, all oppositions were futile. No one was really out of job. Some old ministries changed names only. Some new ministries were set up. And many officials were only moved from this ministry to another ministry. For those who didn't have new assignments yet, they still got paid with the same salary and were put on a waiting list. The newly established ministries were those: Foreign Affairs Ministry to replace Foreign Affairs Yamen, Civil Ministry, Military Ministry, Agriculture & Industry & Commerce Ministry, Communications & Transportation Ministry. The old ministries had two ministers in equal charge, one was from the Mandarin Clan and the other from the Han Clan, while the new ministries had only one minister, who was either from the Mandarin Clan or from the Han Clan. But the fact was that more ministers came from the Mandarin Clan. The courtiers of the Han Clan complained about it on the sly.

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    After the death of Ronglu, Prince Yikuang was the head of the Secretarial Bureau. He was an avaricious man. He had six hundred thousand taels of silver that he wanted to deposit in a foreign bank. His son knew the manager of a British bank and they deposited the money in that bank. The manager and the son were both fond of women and often went to the brothels. The manager was generous with money and so was more welcomed by the whores than the son. The son was jealous of the manager and once he told his bodyguards to beat the manager.
    The manager wanted to avenge. He went to see a friend, whose title was a critique official. Next day, a report showed up before West Empress Dowager, stating that Prince Yikuang had six hundred thousand taels of silver deposited in a British bank and then asking why Prince Yikuang didn't deposit it in one of the money shops run by the government. West Empress Dowager thought that it was right and asked Prince Yikuang the reason why he didn't put the money in the money shops. Prince Yikuang had to disown that he had such an amount of money in a British bank, because it was all ill-gotten money that he didn't dare to let West Empress Dowager know. He begged West Empress Dowager to send someone to investigate, adding that if the investigation proved that he had the money, he was willing to donate it to the government. Of course West Empress Dowager sent a secretary of state to do the job. But the secretary could not surmount the obstacle of the private policy of the bank and he had to report the outcome to West Empress Dowager.
    Prince Yikuang wanted to withdraw the money out of the British bank and deposit it into another foreign bank lest the secret should be uncovered by West Empress Dowager. He sent for the manager, who said that he didn't need to transfer the money and a change of the name for the account was the right thing to do. So Prince Yikuang gave the manager the account book and his personal seal. Next day, the manager came bringing him a new account book and another seal with a new name on it. After six months when he needed some money and sent his butler to make a withdrawal, he was told that all his money was gone and the manager disappeared.
    The manager had used the account book and his personal seal to withdraw all his money and put into his own account and then he had given Prince Yikuang a new account book with no money in it. He had given the critique official one-third of the money he had promised. He had fled to Shanghai. When the son was told the bad news, he knew that it was the revenge for the beating he had given him. The beating cost six hundred thousand taels of silver, very expensive.

  15. #405
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    After the death of Ronglu, Prince Yikuang was the head of the Secretarial Bureau. He was an avaricious man. He had six hundred thousand taels of silver that he wanted to deposit in a foreign bank. His son knew the manager of a British bank and they deposited the money in that bank. The manager and the son were both fond of women and often went to the brothels. The manager was generous with money and so was more welcomed by the whores than the son. The son was jealous of the manager and once he told his bodyguards to beat the manager.
    The manager wanted to avenge. He went to see a friend, whose title was a critique official. Next day, a report showed up before West Empress Dowager, stating that Prince Yikuang had six hundred thousand taels of silver deposited in a British bank and then asking why Prince Yikuang didn't deposit it in one of the money shops run by the government. West Empress Dowager thought that it was right and asked Prince Yikuang the reason why he didn't put the money in the money shops. Prince Yikuang had to disown that he had such an amount of money in a British bank, because it was all ill-gotten money that he didn't dare to let West Empress Dowager know. He begged West Empress Dowager to send someone to investigate, adding that if the investigation proved that he had the money, he was willing to donate it to the government. Of course West Empress Dowager sent a secretary of state to do the job. But the secretary could not surmount the obstacle of the private policy of the bank and he had to report the outcome to West Empress Dowager.
    Prince Yikuang wanted to withdraw the money out of the British bank and deposit it into another foreign bank lest the secret should be uncovered by West Empress Dowager. He sent for the manager, who said that he didn't need to transfer the money and a change of the name for the account was the right thing to do. So Prince Yikuang gave the manager the account book and his personal seal. Next day, the manager came bringing him a new account book and another seal with a new name on it. After six months when he needed some money and sent his butler to make a withdrawal, he was told that all his money was gone and the manager disappeared.
    The manager had used the account book and his personal seal to withdraw all his money and put into his own account and then he had given Prince Yikuang a new account book with no money in it. He had given the critique official one-third of the money he had promised. He had fled to Shanghai. When the son was told the bad news, he knew that it was the revenge for the beating he had given him. The beating cost six hundred thousand taels of silver, very expensive.

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