Episode 6
Scene 1: Beijing, Imperial palace: Kangxi’s study
Kangxi, standing in front of a map of China, discusses with Laita, Li Guangdi and other officials the unsatisfactory course of the negotiations with the Zheng regime. While Li Guangdi favors a strong and unrelenting position towards the Zheng regime Laita wants to give in to their conditions. The latter is however reprimanded by Kangxi. Laita then tries to play down the significance of Taiwan and describes the island as virtually inhospitable. But he is again reprimanded by the emperor, especially since he has to admit that he never actually visited Taiwan.
Scene 2: Beijing, Imperial Palace: Garden
The emperor asks his eunuch Li Fuquan and his bodyguard Wu Qijue to tell him about the ocean. Wu Qijue, who has already seen it, describes it in a very colorful manner. When Li Fuquan realizes that the emperor’s sudden interest in the ocean stands in close relation to the Taiwan issue he tries to convince Kangxi of the island’s insignificance. But since the Dutch still show a big interest in it, too, Kangxi suspects it to be of some importance after all. He gives Wu Qijue the order to find a map of Taiwan and then makes for his study after being informed by Li Fuquan that Li Guangdi is already waiting for him there.
Kangxi puts forward his viewpoint on the Taiwan issue to Li Guangdi. For the sake of peace, he would agree to make far-reaching concessions to the Zheng regime including leaving their political system and tax autonomy intact under the condition that: first, the Zheng regime declares its formal submission to the Qing empire, and second, if they retreat from Jinmen and Xiamen and agree never again to attack the mainland coast. After being skeptical at first, Li Guangdi praises the emperor’s plan, especially since it means avoiding the suffering of warfare without risking that Taiwan will become estranged from the mainland. Kangxi wants to spare his people unnecessary misery as he considers this to be his imperial duty. But before telling negotiator Minzhu about these plans he wants to attend the ministerial conference since this is the standard procedure.
Liu Guoxuan meets Feng Xifan. Feng Xifan is very optimistic and praises the Zheng troops but Liu Guoxuan points out that if Shi Lang came back, they would be of little use. In light of the Qing troops’ superiority he proposes to accept Kangxi’s modified conditions but Feng Xifan rejects this arrogantly.
Aman enters the room, and finds Shi Lang writing calligraphy there. They talk about his writing style as Aman remarks that one could immediately perceive it as the writing of a military leader. Then she asks about the Xijing Zaji which Shi Lang recently purchased. Since he shows little interest in it she suspects him to have something else in mind for it. Shi Lang gets the feeling that she sees through his plans. After a while they talk about Shi Lang’s passion for the Taiwan issue.
Li Guangdi arrives at Shi Lang’s residence. When Shi Lang is informed about his guest’s arrival, he calls for tea, but on second thought he instead orders a basin filled with water to wash his feet. His son Shi Shilun is shocked at this insult to an honorable guest, but Aman once again shows great understanding for Shi Lang’s plan, explaining Shi Shilun that to earn the respect of the arrogant Li Guangdi, one might have to give the impression of being arrogant oneself.
When Li Guangdi enters the room where Shi Lang is washing his feet he feels insulted indeed. After reading the calligraphy that Shi Lang has just written he tries to provoke him by asking why Shi Lang still wants to conquer Taiwan although he has already failed three times. But Shi Lang stays calm and compares himself to a peasant who even after a bad harvest cannot give up sowing. Then he cunningly turns the conversation to Li Guangdi’s hometown in the south where the situation is so chaotic that Li Guangdi has not been able to visit it for quite some time, thus trying to win his approval for fighting Taiwan. Li Guangdi inquires about the Xijing Zaji and asks Shi Lang to show it to him. Embarrassing him once more, Shi Lang rejects him at first, but when Li Guangdi is about to leave, he finally apologizes and lets him examine the book. Through these short displays of arrogant behavior Shi Lang indeed seems to slowly gain Li Guangdi’s respect. Li is very enthusiastic about the book and is jealous after Shi Lang claims that it was a present by a friend who has no interest in such things. But then Li Guangdi claims the book to be a forgery and that he himself would possess an original. To prove this he starts to recite the beginning by heart. Finally, Shi Lang joins in reading and they both start laughing. Shi Shilun und Aman are eavesdropping on the conversation in the room. Aman is suspecting Li Guangdi to be lying about the original he claims to possess.
Haikui persuades Dong Taifei not to reveal her identity to her mother. Her grandmother tries to calm her down and repeatedly tells her that her mother Tang Fei is not responsible for her abduction as a small child. However, she agrees to keep Haikui’s secret.
Scene 9: Jinmen, at the coast
Yao Yun and Haikui are at the beach and talk about the failed negotiations. Haikui inquires if Yao Yun will be going back to Fuzhou with Mu Tianyan. She declines and tells her that she still has some business to attend; she needs to get in contact with Shi Shizong, Shi Langs son, and asks Haikui to assist her.
Scene 10: Beijing, Shi Lang’s residence
Three men from the pawnshop enter Shi Lang’s house. They look around and ask for Shi Lang. His wife tells him that he is not there and asks what business they have with him. They tell her that he has mortgaged his house for 3000 silver taels and they have come to inspect it. Shi Lang’s wife is devastated.
Feng Xifan receives the Dutch Captain Cook at the coast of Taiwan, who has brought many gifts for him. Feng Xifan grants his request to establish a trade zone in Taiwan. In return the Dutch will provide them with military arms and support.
Haikui saves Jin Hanchen who is being physically punished by his creditors who demand him to repay his gaming debt. Jin Hanchen is indebted to her and promises to be at her service henceforth.
Aman visits Li Guangdi in a teahouse to ask for forgiveness for her father and explain his intentions to him. Li Guangdi is impressed by her doing so and understands Shi Lang’s reasons to act the way he did. He forgives Shi Lang and decides to assist him with his enterprise.
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