Chapter 6
Convergence
(continued)
May 5th, 1936. Imperial Palace, Changchun…
Pu Yi had just returned from Li Shao-keng’s demonstration of the new census tabulating machine. Shao-keng had waxed eloquent on what this new marvel was going to do in speeding up research projects. He had gone on to discuss the next step in the evolution of this machine, something called a computer. It had all left Pu Yi with a tremendous headache. At least they were finally moving on to the agricultural projects that Pu Yi wanted to get started, that he could understand.
When Pu Yi entered his chambers, his personal secretary was waiting with a message from General Hsing. Pu Yi glanced at the message and frowned. General Hsing was claiming some urgency in the matter he wanted to discuss. Pu Yi turned to the secretary.
“Inform the General that I will receive him in two hours.”
The secretary bowed, “Yes, your Majesty. I will have the General informed of your wishes. Will there be anything else?”
Pu Yi pondered for a moment, “Yes, have some food brought, and send for my physician. That will be all.”
“At once your Majesty”, said the secretary as he bowed himself out of the chamber.
Pu Yi turned, and as he did he caught his reflection in a mirror. He stood starring at himself for a moment. He was wearing his uniform festooned with ribbons and medals. With all that, he still did not look very martial. By the nine judges of hell, he did not feel very martial. Except for the Imperial Guard, he had no army, no navy, and no air force.
With a feeling of disgust, he ripped at the tunic jacket as he called for his majordomo.
The majordomo arrived just as Pu Yi was hurling the jacket across the room. His eyes wide, “Yes your Majesty?”
“Bring me one of my suits. Something comfortable but suitable for meeting with General Hsing”, said Pu Yi as he went to work on the trousers.
The majordomo scurried to comply. At that moment there was a knock on the chamber door. A number of servants entered bearing trays with various dishes on them, along with one tray bearing some liquid refreshments. They all bowed to Pu Yi, and he waved them towards a sidebar where they proceeded to lay out the food.
“Leave it!” Pu Yi barked. The servants fled the chamber in some haste. The majordomo returned carrying the suit on a hanger along with a box that contained shoes. “Put it on the chair and leave me. When my physician gets here, show him in.”
The majordomo laid the suit over a chair, set down the box of shoes, bowed to Pu Yi and backed out of the room, closing the doors behind him. Pu Yi moved to the sidebar, put some fruit on a plate, poured himself some tea, and then sat down at small table in the corner of the room. He sighed heavily as he put his elbows on the table and lowered his head into his hands so that he might rub his temples. He sat like this for some time.
There was another knock on the doors and the majordomo entered ushering in a distinguished looking gentleman. Pu Yi started to rise.
“Please your Majesty, do not stand on my account. I understand you might not be feeling well today”, said the gentleman.
Pu Yi waved this away. “It is just a headache doctor, and I have other meetings today. I need to be at my best.”
The doctor set his bag down on the chair opposite Pu Yi and stroked his chin. “I believe that I can take care of that”, he said, starting to open his bag.
“No laudanum!” snapped Pu Yi.
“Of course not your Majesty. I know how you feel about opiates. No, I have a powder here that will suit your purposes”, the doctor said as he fished a small jar from his bag. The doctor went to the sidebar, poured some water into a glass and then mixed some powder from the jar into the water. He came back to the table. “Here your Majesty. Drink this”, he said handing the glass to Pu Yi.
Pu Yi eyed the glass for a moment, holding it up to peer at the contents. He looked at the doctor and then drained the glass.
“It will take about twenty minutes for that to start working. In that time, please relax and let the medicine do its work. If you continue to exert yourself the medicine will not work as well. Once the headache is gone, you may continue your day as normal”, the doctor said, placing the jar back in his bag. “Will there be anything else your Majesty?”
Pu Yi looked at the doctor for a moment and then lowered his eyes. In a quiet voice he asked, “Have you checked in on Gobulo lately?”
Gobulo Wan Rong was Pu Yi’s wife and Empress of Manchukuo.
The doctor looked down at Pu Yi. “I saw her just the other day your Majesty. She seems to be doing well. I am afraid though, that if you do not figure out a way to keep her from the opium that I don’t know how much longer I will be able to say that”, the doctor said with genuine concern.
Pu Yi did not look up. “Yes doctor. Thank you for all you have done. You may go.”
The doctor stared at Pu Yi for a moment, bowed, and then left the chamber. When Pu Yi heard the doors close, he sighed again. He picked up his tea and sipped at it while playing with the fruit on his plate. He forced himself to eat some of it, even though he was not feeling hungary.
After forcing some more fruit down, Pu Yi got up and dressed himself. He looked in the mirror at his appearance. He was not entirely happy, but it would have to do. Pu Yi called for his secretary. When the man arrived Pu Yi told him, “When the General arrives please bring him to my private office. Have some tea brought.”
“Of course your Majesty”, said the secretary.
Pu Yi picked up his cup of tea and headed towards his office.
A half an hour later there was a knock on his office door. “Enter”, said Pu Yi.
The secretary came, “General Hsing your Majesty.”
The General walked in followed by a servant carrying a tea service. “That will be all. Leave us”, said Pu Yi. After the servant and secretary left, Pu Yi turned to the General. “Please General, sit. Have some tea.”
The General poured himself some tea and sat down. “So my old friend, what brings you here today. Your message hinted at some urgency in this matter.”
Hsing sipped his tea and then placed the cup on a table beside his chair. “I hardly know where to begin”, said Hsing.
Pu Yi waited patiently for the General to get his bearings.
The General took a deep breath. “A few days ago an acquaintance of mine dropped by to see me at my office. He was there to arrange a meeting between me and his superior. After listening to what the man had to say, I agreed to the meeting. The next day I met with my friend’s superior. He proceeded to lay out some very disturbing news. He had documentation to back up his claims. Now, he wants to meet with you and present his findings. If what he has is true, I think you should agree to meet with him.” Hsing stopped, looking at Pu Yi.
Pu Yi looked at the General. “And this friend?”
“A former officer of mine”, replied Hsing.
“And his superior?”
Hsing clasped his hands together on his lap. “Major Wang Li of Imperial Security.”
Pu Yi’s eyes widened a bit at the name. “Chin’s chief investigator?”
“Yes your Majesty. The same”, replied Hsing.
Pu Yi mulled this over for a moment. “And this disturbing news?”
“I think you should read it for yourself before you hear my opinion”, said Hsing.
Pu Yi thought again. “Have you considered that this may be Chin trying to infiltrate us?”
“Yes your Majesty, I have. But, I don’t think so. For one, I trust the officer that set up the meeting. Second, Major Li seems very interested in keeping Chin out of this, and considering the information and who it implicates, I can understand why. No your Majesty, I do not think this is a ploy by Chin. Besides, that would be far too subtle for Chin, and Chin doesn’t do subtle”, Hsing finished.
Pu Yi was silent as he thought about this. “Who does it implicate?”
Hsing was hesitant. “Your Majesty, I will give you a little more of what I have, but I implore you to read it for yourself. It implicates the Kempetai, therefore, by loose association, Chin. I really do understand why Li is nervous about what he has. I told him that if he had not heard from me, indicating you had not agreed to meet, that he should burn the information he has. Otherwise, there are going to be a lot of dead Imperial Security around”
Pu Yi ran his hand across the top of his desk, letting the feel of the wood grain soothe him as he contemplated his decision. His hand stopped and he looked as Hsing. “I agree in principle to the meeting. I will get back with you as to time and place. Can he get around unnoticed?”
Hsing laughed. “Yes your Majesty. I think if you wanted him to come as a Jesuit nun that he could probably pull it off.”