Representations of History in Chinese Film and Television
 



 
 
 
 
Instalments
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36 37
 
 
 

Episode 7

Scene 1: Beijing, Li Guangdi’s residence

Shi Lang visits Li Guangdi at home and has come to give him the book Xijing Zaji as a present. Instead of accepting this valuable gift, Li Guangdi starts a dispute concerning Shi Lang’s motive for giving him such an expensive present. However, Shi Lang indignantly rejects any suspision of planning to bribe Li, since, being higher in rank than the latter, he is in no need to curry favor with him. In the end Li Guangdi agrees to accept it, and, in return, shows his gratitude by offering Shi Lang to borrow whatever he wishes to read from his library. Shi Lang accepts his generous offer and chooses a few items.

Scene 2: Beijing, Shi Lang’s residence

Shi Lang’s family is getting ready to move out of their home, because the purchase of the rare book Xijing Zaji has forced Shi Lang to mortgage their house. Once Shi Lang arrives home his already agitated wife starts a quarrel with him, accusing him that his obsession with the Taiwan issue has lead to this situation. Aman interrupts them both at the height of their quarrel, telling them that there is no need to move out, as the title deed should still be inside the house. After having discovered the title deed, they all wonder who has paid off their debts and redeemed the house.

Scene 3: Jinmen, Royal Palace of the Zheng clan

Haikui and Yao Yun are taking a bath. During their conversation Yao Yun explains that Shi Shizong can’t be found and that she should therefore be leaving. But Haikui wants Yao Yun to stay and reminds her of her two intentions; the one being to help Haikui attain the position of a princess and the other being to achieve her secret plan.

Scene 4: Jinmen, Royal Palace of the Zheng clan: garden

Tang Fei and Haikui meet each other in the palace’s garden for the very first time. Believing that Haikui is merely a servant girl and feeling insulted by her inappropriate behaviour she has her arrested and tied up to a tree. Haikui refuses to reveal where she comes from and insults Tang Fei, who consequently orders to have her whipped to death. Dong Taifei arrives just on time and has Haikui released and sent away to see a doctor attend to any possible injuries. Tang Fei is stunned and starts crying. Dong Taifei leaves her behind.

Scene 5: Jinmen, Royal Palace of the Zheng clan: grand reception room of Dong Taifei

Tang Fei finds out that Haikui is her own daughter, who she thought to be dead. Haikui, who refuses to accept her as her mother. She runs out of the room crying leaving behind a distressed Tang Fei. Dong Taifei and Yao Yun are also present during this emotional “reunion”.

Scene 6: Beijing, pawnshop

Shi Lang arrives at the pawnshop and urges the proprietor to tell him who paid off his debts and redeemed his house. The answer is that it was Li Guangdi.

Scene 7: Beijing, Shi Lang’s residence

It is evening. While having tea and peanuts, Shi Lang and Aman are musing about Li Guangdi’s reason for paying off their debts.

Scene 8: Beijing, Shi Lang’s residence: study

Li Guangdi and Shi Lang converse in the latter’s study, where a map of the defence system of Penghu and Taiwan is hanging in the background. The main content of their discussion regards the question of how to proceed with the insurgents along the coast and the Zheng separatist forces. Shi Lang pursues the idea of forcibly capturing Taiwan, as he is of the opinion that the Zheng separatist forces will never be compelled to agree to the consolatory offer of the Qing, surrender their profitable territory and pledge allegiance. He points out that now is an opportune moment to quickly put Pescadores Island and Taiwan under occupation, as the pirates along the coast are already a spent force and will only temporarily be able to occupy Jinmen and Xiamen.
As Shi Lang is in a haste to enthuse the emperor for his strategy, Li Guangdi repeatedly advises him to be patient and wait to do so until he can convince the emperor of his capabilities while accompanying him on his trip to the sea in a few days time. He calls on Shi Lang to be cautious reminding him that even though the emperor is interested in Taiwan, he won’t necessarily approve of his warlike tactics. Furthermore Li Guangdi explains that he, as well as the emperor and the pacifist fraction at the imperial court, share the opinion that Taiwan could be caused to surrender without them resorting to force. Referring to the utter desolation that was caused by the usage of force in the past years, Li Guangdi points out, the emperor feels deeply about avoiding a punitive campaign in order to rebuild the country. Li Guangdi informs Shi Lang that the emperor already sent a special envoy to Jinmen to offer amnesty and enlistment to rebels. Even though Shi Lang doesn’t agree very much with what Li Guangdi has said he consents to be patient. In the end Li Guangdi also informs Shi Lang about having been recommended to be the commander-in-chief of the naval forces of Fujian by Li Guangdi himself and Yao Qisheng.

Scene 9: Jinmen, Jinmen, negotiation venue

A new round of negotiations between the Mu Tianyan and the Zheng official Feng Xifan (together with Hong Xun, Fu Weilin, together with the Ming prince Zhu Shugui) takes place. During their negotiations, Mu Tianyan explains that the emperor will sanction the demand of the Zheng regime that Qing troops refrain from going ashore and allow them to maintain their status quo, if they leave the coastal line at peace. He furthermore clarifies that the emperor is a perspicacious man and will only allow them to control Taiwan, if they comply with the rule of the Qing. In response to this statement, Feng Xifan elucidates that, even though they regard Taiwan as being a part of China, it is the Ming dynasty who is in fact the legitimate ruler of China, and only the Zheng clan in Taiwan is the true representative of the Ming since many Ming princes, including Zhu Shugui, are part of this regime. Zhu Shugui adds that the Manchus have ripped China out of the hands of the true descendants of Yandi and Huangdi [Yan Emperor and Yellow Emperor – mythological emperors and forefathers of the Han Chinese] and that they will not surrender and lose Taiwan as well. He also stresses that if the Qing don’t consent to their conditions they will at all times refuse to surrender and insist on being treated as a foreign country. Mu Tianyan replies that the change of dynastic rule has been the will of heaven and fall of the Ming was caused only by their bad government. Mu ends the meeting by pointing out that this was their last offer.

CK

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© 2008 Elisabeth Kaske