The 10th year of Hsien Feng, 1860 A.D.
On 9-10, the British-French troops stayed in Beijing...
On 9-10, the 11th year of Hsien Feng,
a coronation was held for Emp. Tung Chih.
Though the sovereign was only six,
it was as magnificent as any others.
Thus the 6-year old emperor took the reins,
and entered Yang Hsien Palace.
You may ask: Can he be the sovereign of a country with billions of people
plagued by internal and external troubles?
In fact, he is only a puppet on the throne.
The real person in regency is behind a silken curtain.
This is the so-called Prince Kung in rule and Queen-Mother in regency.
No. 1 arise!
The story started when she was 16.
Who could ever predict the 2nd daughter of the Huis
later brought such a great disaster to the Republic of China?
Why is Dragon always put above Phoenix?
Dragon is Emperor and Phoenix is Empress,
so the former should be above the latter.
If I were the Empress,
I'd put Phoenix above.
If you were the Empress,
you would turn the world upside down.
I'll do this free for you.
Are you serious?
Yes!
- What's your last name? - Hui.
Hui? You must be a Manchu.
I belong to the Manchu blue Banner.
All Manchus have surnames. What's yours?
Yi-He-Na-La!
Yi...
What's the matter?
Nothing, nothing!
Yu-Ian.
60 years later,
there was indeed a carving of Phoenix above Dragon.
She even complained
it was not lively enough.
Obviously, she wants to see Phoenix in wings
and Dragon whirling in the clouds.
An edict unfolds before her eyes.
It's transparent, with Phoenix and Dragon on it.
On the pillar is also Phoenix above Dragon.
On the frame is Dragon behind Phoenix.
It differs from the normal Royal carving.
Her lust for power is still burning like flames even when she's dying.
She is Empress Tzu Hsi of the Ching empire.
She had been a regent for 48 years.
Her solemn looks still leave vestiges of youthful.
Her grandfather is named Yeh-He-Na-La.
The original meaning of Na-La is Sun.
Yeh-Ha means the riverside.
The ancestor of this family Pu Yang-ku had
a bloody duel with Ching's founder Hsi-Ni-Ha-Su.
Before he was killed,
he swore before Heaven that
he would take vengeance even on
the only girl of the family that survives.
The great enmity between the two persons
has now vanished with the storm and stress of history.
This is the portrait of 74-year-old Tzu His.
She looks angry, holding a "peonia" fan,
as if gazing at the kowtowing officials and
the magnificent territories in her palms,
murmuring:
I've eventually risen above the Dragon.
Who says the Emperor is only ruled by Heaven?
The Royal beauty contest was held every 3 years.
Not the daughter of every official could enter.
Only the daughter of an official with three grades was eligible.
They were only allowed to marry after undergoing the contest.
The Emperor has priority in everything.
Do you know how old the Emperor is?
Didn't your father tell you already?
He's twenty, 4 years older than you.
I know, I thought you forgot it.
Last night I dreamed of the Emperor.
You did!
Indeed, I saw him in my dream.
What did... he say in the dream?
He asked how long my pa has been a candidate?
I said probably 7-8 years.
It's exactly nine and a half years.
He asked why he has not been been appointed?
I said there's nothing strange about that.
Some people waited for life without getting a post!
What did the Emperor say then?
He said: Impossible. In less than two months,
he'll be appointed Tao Tai.
That was really a dream.
Then...
he whispered to me.
Whispered? What did he say?
He said... I won't tell you.
I know already.
He said: Are you named Erh-niu?
You're ugly, don't put on airs!
No!
He asked me in which year I was born?
I said, the Year of the Elephant.
Nonsense,
there's no Elephant in the horoscope!
He said the same thing, I insisted that...
the last year is Elephant.
What did he say then?
He was mischievous.
He asked me what an elephant is afraid of?
As I didn't answer,
he told me it's afraid of mice,
and he was born in the Year of the Mouse.
Nonsense!
Such a tall palace wall, what a deep palace yard.
Some of the girls are worried.
Some are excited and dismayed.
Any luck to be elected?
What then, if they are elected?
The Palace is deep as the sea.
A disgraced concubine is like a fallen petal.
She may not see the Emperor once in a year.
Only she... a little girl in his heart is elated and looks around.
Where am I?
The Royal garden,
with different kinds of plants and flowers.
The splendorous pavilions, terraces and towers.
The ground is made of patterned tiles.
The palaces are as beautiful as jade.
Jade balustrade, red bricks, yellow tiles.
Dragon again!
Always dragon. How disgusting!
I'm a phoenix in this dragon-palace,
flying amid the dragons.
I must change the design for the world.
Stop!
Stand back, stand back!
Greetings to Your Majesty!
Arise.
Yu-Ian?
- Thank you, Your Majesty - Arise.
Hui-ching's daughter? Your former surname?
Yi-He-Na-La
Because her grandfather was Yeh-He-Na-La.
She was deprived of the chance to become Queen.
The Queen is Nu-Ming-Lu, not her.
Though she rose from a noble to Lady Yi,
the liege soon forgot her.
Yu-Ian who folded rats with a handkerchief.
The Emperor never summoned her from among
so many of his beautiful palace maids.
She sadly looks at other girls in brocade bedsheets
taken by the eunuchs into the royal bedroom.
She becomes heartbroken with envy.
Others' happy time is my solitary one.
Her years pass away like rolling rivers.
No! She is not content with solitary life.
Would she be reconciled to fate?
Would she pine away the lapse of her youth?
Congratulations, Your Majesty!
This morning Li was blessed with a child...
- A boy? - No, it's a princess.
Sire, fruits grow after flowers blossom.
Li Kuei looks like a lady of many children.
This fountain was jointly designed by
Italian painter Castiglione
and French Father Benoist.
It is in exquisite design and workmanship.
So foreigners consider it a palace miracle
which compares well with the Versailles
and the fountains at the Church of St. Cloud.
Bright sunny sky...
Who's talking there?
If you alarm His Majesty, you'll be in trouble.
Bright sunny sky, bright sunny sky.
Peach blossoms like fire, willows like mist.
Spring wallows fly in pairs.
Tears trickle from my eyes.
I am young, 18 to be exact.
But alone do I greet fine spring.
Where is my companion?
My greetings to Your Majesty.
Yu-Ian!
I didn't expect your presence.
Please punish me for my rudeness.
We're not in the palace. Sit down.
- I dare not - Never mind.
Your grandfather was secretary,
your father...
My father is Dao Yuan with first-grade record.
Have you any brothers and sisters?
Three brothers and three sisters.
Have you ever studied?
I read a little.
There's a 2nd part to your song.
Sing it.
I don't sing well.
Sing, when there are no others around.
Bright sunny sky, bright sunny sky
The lake landscape's picturesque
Spring tints pervade Yuan Ming Garden
A girl weeps.
I'm now in the prime of youth
The whole world is one family
Where is my companion?
It seems that the liege is not going out.
He's sharing the joy with the people.
In November, the 4th year of Hsien Feng.
I congratulate you, Your Majesty.
Is it a boy or a girl?
A Prince.
In the 6th year of Hsien Feng.
You either write "I have known".
Understood, I know.
Or deliver it to the board for discussion.
- Submit it to ministry for consultation. - Right.
Sire, an urgent message from 800-Li.
What is it all about?
The British-French troops are attacking Canton.
No-war, no-peace, no-defense,
no-die, no-surrender, no-escape,
are rare from time immemorial.
Scholar Kuei Liang has signed a treaty with Britain
whereby China pays a total indemnity of
4 million taels and grants religious freedom.
What about France?
We signed a 42-article treaty,
which incurs half of the above indemnity.
That means 2 million taels.
And with the United States too.
The United States?
Right. The U.S. Made the treaties.
The treaty signed with her stipulates that
the U.S. Shares the same interests
granted to other powers.
They even said...
50% for each meeting.
Absurd!
Russia followed their examples and
forced us to sign a treaty
that opens Dairen for trade and allows Russian warships to moor there.
These clauses...
are not only humiliating but unequal!
I think...
their lusts are insatiable.
We retreat an inch, and they ask for a yard!
There's no end to ceding.
The best thing is to send Prince Ke to step up the defense in Ta Ku Hou.
Right!
A weak man is likely to be bullied.
Teach them a lesson, or they'll take us for toothless tigers.
Ministers of the Grand Council are waiting.
These foreigners are really avaricious.
The reparation is now increased to 8 million.
Besides Canton, Fukien, Amoy, Shanghai, Ningpo,
Niochow, Dengchow, Taiwan, Chingchow, etc,
and Tientsin too. How arrogant they are!
The fall of Tientsin makes Beijing vulnerable.
We'd better send for Prince Kung and consult him.
He's after all our brother.
Good. Summon Yi Shing now.
Summon Yi Shing,
and Deer Blood.
How surprising! Why are they summoning No. 6?
This must be Lady Yi's idea.
She intends to follow Empress Wu.
As a regent? Does she know regency?
Summoning Prince Kung's really a new idea.
It seems the liege is now at peace with him.
Brothers fight shoulder to shoulder.
Well, arise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
They're sending an envoy to Beijing.
To exchange pacts? How ridiculous!
They'll come with or without your permission.
What if we forbid them to?
They'll send troops.
On 2/25, 9th year of Hsien Feng, when
Kuei Liang negotiated with foreigners,
I told him their entry to Beijing
shouldn't be permitted,
except on the understanding that:
1. they enter Beijing thru a prearranged port,
2. their number shouldn't exceed 10,
3. no arms should be allowed.
They must abide by law there and take no sedans.
They must leave after mission's over.
I made that clear.
What's the matter with you?
After winning the war in Tientsin,
they're continuing their attacks,
and are insisting on bringing arms
to Beijing and sitting on sedans there.
Tell them all to come in.
Go ahead...
I think flight is now the best policy.
Where to?
Follow the ancestral customs and flee to
the Jehol summer resort in the name of hunting.
No,
the foreigners have captured Tientsin,
and are moving towards Beijing.
The absence of a Head of State will alarm the people and the troops.
Besides, uprising is rife in Kiangnan,
and there's riots in Hupeh and Honan.
This could lead to a great upheaval.
His Majesty is the head of the country.
Should the head of the country flee
when foreign invaders are pressing on us?
Autumn hunting is different from flight!
It means taking shelter in a summer resort.
Shelter is "flight"
and "flight" is "shelter".
It amounts to the same thing.
Lady Yi.
This... is sheer absurd. A military affair...
Right! I intended to ask you why!
The sovereign is a rock the people look up to.
It shouldn't be shaken by landslide.
How can he make any venture?
Don't place him in a dilemma.
What? What dilemma?
Let alone the head of a State,
even a General shouldn't flee from the front!
Autumn hunting is not flight!
Hunting is desirable in peaceful days!
But with foreign troops on our territory
and the people in deep water,
his Majesty should concern himself with
State affairs before any worldly pleasures.
What is your intention by provoking
the liege to flee without regard to the people?
- Well... - Lady Yi is perfectly right.
But the foreigners have evil designs.
The opium incident-Lin's burning of opium
forfeited our territories, and now...
This is only because we were too lenient,
and our negotiators betrayed us.
We should have put our trust in Lin.
What do you suggest then?
We must hope for the best
and prepare for the worst.
On your knees! You know no propriety.
On your knees!
Well,
what is the best policy?
Foreigners invade us only for gains.
This is not the root of the evil.
This is merely a superficial evil.
But the rebels in Kiangnan and Hupeh and bandits in Honan
can shake our empire.
This is the root of the evil.
Foreigners have insatiable lusts.
With the opening of a rising number of ports
and the increase in war reparations,
they could even swallow up our country.
But internal strife should be pacified first.
It's better to give concessions to foreigners.
Right, right you are.
Foreigners attempted to collude with the Kiangnan rebels and gave up only
because Hung prohibited the sale of opium.
Concessions could change their mind.
The admission of invaders could be disastrous.
Wait a moment!
Let her continue.
What is the worst you have in mind?
Formerly war, defense and peace were jointly used.
The former two accelerate peace.
When talks fail, make war.
The best spot of negotiations is Tungchow.
Because it's stationed with 39,000 men.
39,000 men? Are you sure?
Counting the 20,000 Mongol cavalry men,
9,000 horsemen led by Scholar Shui,
there should be 30,000 men.
What about Sheng-pao's 10,000 men?
Sheng Pao?
Frankly, we can bluff to foreigners that we had 100,000 troops.
If talks break down, we'll entangle them for one year or two till
they starve for lack of provisions.
So it's imperative the liege should
return to the palace to pacify the people.
This will boost the morale of the whole country.
Lady Yi is as good as State affairs
as she is at regency.
Don't attempt to adulate me!
Every citizen has a duty towards his country.
Regency can follow ancestral rules.
Lady Yi is obviously aware that
'Only the one in throne should rule'.
Well, withdraw.
Your Majesty...
Look...
Only a woman's viewpoint
Her theory is logical. Prepare an edict
for Prince Tai and scholar Kuei to
negotiate peace with foreigners in Tungchow.
Deploy some troops in Beijing.
I'll return to the palace tomorrow.
Your Majesty!
- Withdraw, all of you - Yes.
Lady Yi ventured into the royal conference,
and eventually entered the palace to meddle in Court affairs.
A dream she had yearned for for years.
Frankly, the terms have been fixed.
There's no point in negotiating.
We came here only to tell you that
each of our countries is sending
2,000 men to Beijing to present a credential.
You're unfit to negotiate.
You must observe our state protocol.
Any of our officials from Prince to lower levels
must kowtow to His Majesty.
I'm not a Chinese subject, why should I?
In the Chien Lung reign,
an envoy from your country had to do this
after one month's refusal.
You have a saying about change of circumstances.
Moreover, our legs are a bit rheumatic.
During our last peace talks in Tientsin,
we agreed that when visiting our sovereign,
you were to bring 10 men only without arms,
and were not to sit on sedans.
Why are you bringing 2,000 men now?
Well, I forgot to ask you why you're stationing troops at Changs Bay
while we are negotiating peace?
We have to be on our guard against
the spread of the rebellion in the South.
You lie, you Chinese always lie.
That Mongol was beaten by us while defending Ta Ku Kou.
How can you be sincere in the talks?
Sir, please be polite in your speech.
As one of your Chinese saying:
'A beaten general can't claim bravery'
I'm not afraid of being impolite.
Order please. Don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive.
Your Highness,
please excuse his rashness.
Of course, because we have another saying:
'Never kill a hostile country's envoy'
Otherwise,
I would have sent you off to eternity.
You're not in a position to.
Your Highness... Mr. Pa-Hsia-Li,
I've weathered much storm.
Hitting on the table won't scare me.
Frankly, killing you means killing a bug.
Don't despise me.
Sure, you've weathered much storm.
You lost 2993 out of 3000 cavalry men.
You're an excellent executioner.
Halt!
Please withdraw with your entourage.
I intend to fight with him.
Please!
Your Highness, don't...!
I intend to fight with you now.
If you strike me down,
you can bring in... up to 20,000 men.
If you can't, you're no longer Pa,
and I'll peel off your skin.
You...
Come on, give him a vest.
Don't let him accuse us of bullying him.
You... you'll be held responsible.
Watch out for your bottom.
Damn it!
- Stop! Your Highness... - Let me go...
Your Highness... Don't...!
Let me go...
Well, I'll let you go.
Since they intend to present a credential,
I'll let you go.
- Come on! - Yes.
Escort this and all his entourage
to Beijing.
Yellow Face, let me go...
Get in... Hurry up...
You barbarous bandits Goddamn fools, let me go...
You're invading our country, and you call us goddamn fools. Bastard!
Bastard,
I'll set fire to you.
Preposterous, really preposterous.
We can't fail in our promise.
I'm only acting on orders.
The edict of 29-7 stipulates:
'The barbarians should be imprisoned to avoid future consequences. '
It must be Su's idea.
He really is arrogant.
Pa-Hsia-Li is also overbearing.
He'll despise us if we don't teach him a lesson.
You've fallen into their trap.
All these years they've been trying to find pretexts against us.
They won't give up this chance now.
Kill...
You'd better take shelter in the summer resort.
Leave everything here to Prince Kung.
He's your brother, and a good diplomat with his high-ranking post,
he's the best candidate to stay in Beijing.
Well, there's no other alternative now.
I'll make the necessary arrangements.
Guard Yuan Ming closely while he's hunting.
Yes, please set your mind at ease.
My greeting to you, Chung-tang.
Wen Yui? So tall now.
Depart, tell them to depart.
Capital in danger, the ruler out hunting.
All offices were shocked.
He was a disgrace to ancestors,
a disgrace to the troops, the people,
to his Royal concubines, guards and maids.
He put the people's lives at the hands of the savage enemy troops.
What place is this?
Must be either Hai Ting or Shih Chuang.
Go and have a look.
Help! Rubbing!
Help...! No...!
Get out! Let me do!
Help...! No...!
Capture him! Capture this beast!
Son of a bitch!
Stop!
Let me kill him!
Killing him is too good for him.
Aunt...
Wan Tsing, don't tug at her...
Let her die once and for all.
Hang this beast!
Thank you, Your Highness.
Good luck.
Say goodbye to Uncle.
Uncle, good luck.
Good luck.
It's dropped.
You must resort to emergency,
if you negotiate with foreigners.
"Guard against Su, Shu and Tai. "
The imperial flag wavered, as the battle was on.
Such a situation was common.
Peace and prosperity is the monarch's prerogative.
Only war and disasters are reserved for the people.
Use artillery fire.
Foreigners are making incursions again.
Where?
Go and help the evacuation of the countrymen.
Yes.
- Father. - Wan Tsing?
Father, Mr. Wen is here.
- Wen Shui. - Mr. Feng.
Why are you here?
There's no other hiding place.
Come and hide with me in Yuan Ming at once.
Make haste...
Halt! Halt! Don't go in.
Halt! Who are you?
Halt! Halt!
This is the Royal Garden-a forbidden ground.
No one without an imperial order shall enter.
We're seeking killer Feng Wan-tsing
Feng Wan-tsing? Who's she?
A hunter of the Shihs' Mansion.
Nonsense. There's no villagers here.
I'll hold you responsible if we find they've been here.
You...
Let's go, search every inch of the palace.
I've never seen so many priceless antiques in my entire life.
Please convey Lord Elgin's message to Prince Kung for transmission,
to the Emperor of the Ching empire.
I intend to set fire to their palace
and the world-famous Yuan Ming Garden.
Listen, The bandits' excuse for arson
is the master won't allow them to plunder.
This is sheer absurd!
They even brazenly made an open announcement!
Why?
Why are they so arrogant?
Because China has a vast expanse of land and a big treasure,
while they have ambitions,
arms and ammunition!
On 18th October, 1860,
history inscribed Elgin's name forever
on the debris of Yuan Ming for exhibition.
This English Lord issued...
a sensational decree:
Using 3,500 men to set fire to
the most gigantic and beautiful garden
with the largest number of gems.
It was the price of skilled workers.
The garden dreamed by Emp. Chien Lung
shattered in the country's wilderness.
17-10, the Commander of British-French troops
ordered their troops to snatch the pearls
and gems displayed in the Garden
lawfully, freely and in a civil manner.
An unprecedented savage plunder ensued.
Row over the split of the loot led to an auction in public.
This is the invaders' so-called civilization.
Start with a fabulous Chinese vase.
Please start with your bid.
10 shillings.
10 shillings I heard.
Twelve shillings...
Thirteen...
Fourteen I heard.
- Seventeen... - Seventeen, thank you.
- Seventeen... - Seventeen again.
One ten.
Two and half pounds.
- Three pounds. - Thank you.
Five pounds.
And five pounds, sold.
They said this is the earliest Chinese painting.
We start with only one pound.
This is not fair. Could we see it?
One pound...
Do I heard one pound?
One pound...
One pound
One pound, sold to you, sir.
After the plunder,
they used the fire of three days and nights to cover up their atrocities,
which caused a world sensation.
Fire sears shame into every Chinese face,
and stamps profound hatred on every Chinese heart.
Fire destroys the imperial palace,
but awakes countless people from their dreams.
For the peoples of the Yellow and Long Rivers,
all they can do is to watch this beautiful Garden burning into ashes
with grasped fists and tearful eyes.
This Garden, built in the 28th years of Kang Hsi,
Emp. Chien Lung, Ka Hing, Dao Kwong etc...
was redecorated several times in the course of five different reigns.
It was 151 years old in Hsien Feng 10th year.
Crystallizing money, wisdom and labor,
it goes to rack and ruin in a twinkle.
It not only marks a disaster for Chinese art,
but for civilization as well.
Even the Garden keeper was killed.
The liege and his entourage are
still enjoying the mountains and lakes in the summer resort.
The debris of the Garden remains.
Year after year it lies dormant.
But who can hear its angry cries before Heaven?
Ripped by: SkyFury