The Last Empress - Anchee Min [94]
29
Reform has been on my mind," Emperor Guang-hsu confessed. "It is the only way to save China." Over breakfast in the Forbidden City he told me he had found a "like-mind," a man whom he much admired. "But the court has rejected my meeting with him."
This was the first time I heard the name Kang Yu-wei, a scholar and self-proclaimed reformer from Canton. I found out that the reason for the court's rejection was that Kang Yu-wei had neither a government position nor any rank. In fact, he had failed the national civil service examination three times.
"Kang Yu-wei is an extraordinary talent, a political genius!" Guang-hsu insisted.
I asked how the Emperor had learned about this man.
"Pearl introduced his writings to me."
"I hope Pearl is aware that she could be punished for smuggling books," I said.
"She is, Mother. But she was right to bring me his books, for I have learned a way to set China on the right path."
Pearl's daring reminded me of my own when I was her age. I also remembered how I was hated by the entire court, especially Grand Councilor Su Shun, who had set his mind on destroying me.
"Pearl believes that I have the power to protect her."
"Do you, Guang-hsu?"
My son got up from his chair and went to sit in another. His foot nervously tapped the floor. "I guess I wouldn't be here if I did."
"You are willing to protect her, aren't you?" I asked. "Yes..." He seemed to hesitate.
"I want to make sure you mean what you say, so I know where I stand."
"I love Pearl."
"Does that mean you are willing to give up your throne for love?"
Guang-hsu looked at me. "You are trying to scare me, Mother."
"One thing I can see clearly. You may be forced to sign Pearl's death sentence if she is found to be involved in the Emperor's business. It doesn't matter if the invitation was from you. You know the rules."
"I am sorry for encouraging Pearl," Guang-hsu said. "But she deserves nothing but praise. She is brilliant and brave."
"I shall judge Pearl myself," I said.
"I am prepared to go ahead with or without the court's support," the Emperor said to me a few days later. His usually pale skin was flushed. "I have studied the reform models of Russia's Peter the Great and Japan's Hideyoshi. Both helped me clarify what I am setting out to do. Reform will make China strong and prosperous in ten years. Within twenty years China will be powerful enough to recover her lost territories and avenge her humiliations."
"Is this Kang Yu-wei's prediction?" I asked.
Guang-hsu straightened his posture and nodded. "Pearl has met with Kang Yu-wei on my behalf at Tutor Weng's."
"Are you sure Kang Yu-wei didn't approach Pearl first?"
"In fact, he approached Tutor Weng first. He asked him to pass a message to me."
"I assume he was refused."
"Yes, but Kang persisted. Pearl saw him at Tutor Weng's door, passing out pamphlets to anyone who was interested."
My son showed me a few of them. They were self-published and poorly made, but the titles caught my eye: Study of the Reforms in Japan, Confucius as a Reformer and Essays on China's Reconstruction.
"After I finished reading Kang Yu-wei," Guang-hsu said, "I ordered copies to be sent to the key viceroys and governors."
"You believe that Kang Yu-wei has a cure for China?"
"Absolutely." Guang-hsu was excited. "His writings are revolutionary. They speak my mind. No wonder the court and the Ironhats consider him dangerous."
I told Guang-hsu that the court had informed me of the scholar's background. "Do you know about Kang's failure to pass the civil service exams?"
"The court misjudges him!"
"Tell me, what is it about Kang Yu-wei that impresses you?"
"His insistence that drastic steps must be taken if reform is to succeed."
"Don't you think Li Hung-chang and Yung Lu are already making great progress?" I asked.
"They are not effective enough. The old ways must be abandoned completely."
If I were a portrait painter, I would have painted my son at that moment. He stood by the window as sunlight played on his shoulders.