Episode 22
Scene 1: Beijing, Imperial Palace, Yingtai Pavillon in the Nanhai Garden
Farewell dinner given by the emperor for Shi Lang and Aman. The scene begins in a friendly atmosphere, music is played in a soft tone, court ladies are dancing for the Emperor’s and his guests’ delight. Emperor Kangxi Kangxi toasts to his guests. Shi Lang expresses his appreciation towards his host in a very formal manner. Kangxi asks whether Shi Lang doesn’t think that it is too inhumane to make him leave his family just days before the Mid Autumn Festival. Shi Lang is deeply moved and holds a speech expressing his devotedness and deep gratitude towards his emperor for appointing him commander-in-chief of the Fujian navy. Kangxi tries to relax the situation by bringing out another toast. Then he reveals that he had found it difficult to trust Shi Lang, because he was aware that Shi Lang’s son is still in Taiwan. Only the fact that Yao Qisheng guaranteed Shi’s loyalty with the lives of all of his 120 family members removed his last doubts (chapter 20). Suddenly, Kangxi throws the list of Yao’s family members out of the window to emphasize that he now beliefs in the loyalty of Shi Lang and does not need to keep the document as a guarantee. Shi Lang and Aman prostrate before the emperor and Shi Lang thanks in his own as well as in Yao Qisheng’s name. Afterwards Kangxi asks Shi Lang for any special demands concerning his planned expedition.
Scene 2: Beijing, Imperial Palace, Nanhai Garden
Kangxi and Shi Lang leave the Yingtai Pavillon and go for a walk in the garden of the Forbidden City. Shi Lang starts to talk about the different positions, ranks and scope of duties of the Qing officials entrusted with leading the upcoming campaign against the Zheng regime. He expresses his concerns that the system constitutes a high degree of bureaucracy and that the cooperation of so many officials in the war might slow down decision making and thus in fact obstruct military success. While the party is stopping on a terrace in front of the Pavillon, Kangxi tells him not to worry regarding this issue and requests him to just inform him about the quantity of financial support and ulterior backing required for his expedition. Furthermore he grants Shi Lang 400 bodyguards to boast his prestige. Wu Qijue admonishes Shi Lang to thank the emperpor for his generosity, but after kneeling down before the emperor, Shi Lang still asks for another favour. He begs to take the Kangxi’s own bodyguard Wu Qijue, having served the emperor for many years, with him. At first Kangxi rejects Shi Lang’s request and asks him to name another person to accompany him instead of Wu Qijue. In the end he grants him this favour, but without altering Wu Qijue’s rank and position.
Shi Lang, Wu Qijue and Emperor Kangxi (followed by Li Fuquan) leave the terrace to continue their walk. Shi Lang has worked out a five
measures to prevent the separist forces under Feng Xifan from creating an independent state:
Measure no. 1: Create a common sense for a reunited China in the people’s minds before conquering. In order to boost the morals of the troops and frighten the Taiwan separatists, the Qing dynasty’s
leadership has to give an impressive performance and make clear their iron will for a military conquest of Taiwan and Penghu.
Measure no. 2: Opening the sea borders. Shi Lang proposes to reopen the port cities of Xinghua, Hui‘an, Jinjiang, Haicheng and Zhenhai to allow the fisherman to go out to the open sea for fishing.
By this measure they could train their sea-faring skills for becoming seamen for the navy.
Measure no. 3: Sending a diplomatic note. Having reached Fujian, Shi Lang will send a mission to Taiwan to notify the people of Taiwan that the military action of the Qing is only directed against the separatist forces but not to menace the Taiwanese patriots and the population of Taiwan. Moreover, the note will also promis that all military actions will
be stopped immediately if the separatists give up their plan to establish an independent state.
Measure no. 4: Keeping the Taiwanese busy with military encounters. Having reached Fujian, Shi Lang plans to continuously attack the Penghu Isles (Pescadores) and the ships of the Taiwanese navy on the open see. This will clear the way for the later occupation forces and keep both navies in continuous contact. At the same time, it will make the clouds of war constantly
surrounding Taiwan which strengthens the war faction [Liu Guoxuan] and weakens the separatists under Feng Xifan.
Measure no. 5: Applying sophisticated warfare. Shi Lang plans to invade the Penghu Isles the following year between the 5th and 6th month of the Chinese calendar, using an excellently prepared tactics of warfare and giving the pirates a hard time.
Kangxi is comfortable with the Shi Lang’s plans and expresses his full support.
Wu Qijue is wandering a bamboo forest right in front the Buddhist convent when he bumps into Aman, who was sitting and waiting for him. Wu Qijue is surprised, so Aman tells him not to feel ashamed. She tells him that if he wishes to meet his former wife Chang Gui’e, he should wait patiently since she might be moved by his commitment. Wu Qijue replies that he tries to accept his wife’s decision, but still feels guilty, for having abandoned her, and obliged, because she requested emperor to let him marry Aman. Aman explains to Wu Qijue, that Chang Gui’e really prefers the life in the convent nonwithstanding its austerity. Wu Qijue is slightly shocked about this confession and as he turns around he discovers his former wife – wearing Buddhist dress with a cap on her shaved head – standing not far away behind him and gazing out of the temple’s door. As he catches her sight, she closes the door right away.
Feng Xifan is very angry and verbally slanders Hong Xu. He has found out that Shi Lang has been appointed commander-in-chief of the navy and is heading towards Fuzhou which makes him desperate and hard-pushed. Feng Xifan orders Hong Xu to immediately summon a meeting with all the high officials.
Scene 6: Beijing to Fuzhou
Mounted messengers leave the Forbidden City on the 11th day of the 8th months of Kangxi’s 20th year [September 22, 1681] to convey Kangxi’s edict about the redeployment of the military command structure at the coast of Fuzhou and to announce Shi Lang’s arrival. They arrived at the 20th day of the 9th month [October 30, 1681] at Fuzhou announcing that Shi Lang will arrive at the city to assume office on the 25th day of the 9th month [November 4]. The governor-general of Fujian Yao Qisheng is very delighted and plans to arrange a welcome ceremony when Shi Lang enters the city with Lahada, governor Wu Xingzuo and Wan Zhengse attending the ceremony. Yao Qisheng also personally informs the prefects of the five cities Funing, Fuzhou, Xinghua, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou and the navy commanders stationed at Xiamen, Jinmen, Zhongshan and Haicheng to come to Fuzhou for Shi Lang’s welcome. Upon order of the governor-general, the whole of Fuzhou prepares for a splendid welcome ceremony in order to make Shi Lang’s arrival into an exciting public event.
Scene 7: Fuzhou
On the 25th, a messenger from Lahada arrives at Yao Qisheng’s residence to ask whether Shi Lang’s welcome ceremony should be postponed since Shi Lang has not yet been seen. Yao Qisheng replies that there is no need to change anything, since he supposes Shi Lang will arrive at any moment.
Shi Lang, Wu Qijue and Aman are walking along the beach carrying instruments and other equipment with them in order to finish off the surveying of the coastline Shi Lang started when he was sent down into exile. Suddenly, they get surrounded by a group of Yamen guards, erroneously taking them for spies. Shi Lang stays calm and treats the head of the guards in a nice manner, proving his identity by showing the guard a document. The guard is deeply dismayed and ashamed, but Shi Lang shows a mild attitude. He only advises the guard not to tell anyone about Shi Lang’s arrival as he plans to arrive unexpectedly.
Having reached the Fuzhou Hostel, Shi Lang orders his head servant Shi Xiang to take a look whether there are rooms available. As Shi Xiang enters to ask for a room he first meets an unfriendly refusal by Zhong Bao (in fact a lowly official in the governor-general’s office who has been commissioned to house Shi Lang), but when Zhong Bao realizes that Shi Xiang’s master is Shi Lang, he rushes outside to welcome Shi Lang personally.
Yao Qisheng is angry that Shi Lang has not yet been seen and just starts telling his servant that the welcome ceremony has to be postponed when Zhong Bao hurries in to announce Shi Lang’s incognito arrival. Yao Qisheng is relieved, but also upset, because the incognito arrival thwarts all his elaborate preparations for a welcome ceremony. He is up to leave to welcome Shi lang personally.
Ming military officers in their uniform, Ming banners are waving in the wind. Feng Xifan has turned his gaze towards the sea; the atmosphere is tense. Feng Xifan orders Hong Xu to introduce him to the current situation at Fuzhou. Hong Xu informs him about Shi Lang’s arrival at Fuzhou, which has caused a furore in the town. Hong Xu also tells about battle calls promising to attack and subdue Taiwan. Furthermore he informs his master about Shi Lang’s arrival in Xiamen the following day to take over his position as commander-in-chief of the navy. A second officer confirms that the Qing army is up to engage Taiwan. He adds that this is alarming, because if this news spreads, everybody in Taiwan will panic and therefore plunge the land into chaos. Another officer warns Feng Xifan that if these circumstances occur, Taiwan will be destroyed, and proposes that peace negotiations might still be the best option. Hong Xu holds a different view: If chaos breaks out within Taiwan, this will not necessarily be a disadvantage for Ming government. He brings forward the argument that Taiwan’s fate has changed and the desperation of the people might even support the separatist movement. The first officer agrees with Hong Xu’s opinion that chaos might be helpful for Feng Xifan’s aims. He does not believe in Shi Lang’s ability to capture Taiwan at will. However, the second officer warns about being too enthusiastic to be able to resist Shi Langs’s power. Moreover with regard to the fact that they still have to get rid of Liu Guoxuan who is faithful to Dong Taifei’s order that everyone who opts for an independent state should be killed. But Feng Xifan shares the opinion of the previous speakers. He is absolutely determined that the menace caused by the Qing army under Shi Lang is no reason to fear, after all a war will destroy all hopes for “peace talks” with the Qing. Dong Taifei’s order is already out of date, since the tide has turned in favour of the establishment of a separate state. He encourages his subordinates to not be desperate but full of fighting spirit.
Shi Lang in full armament, gazing into the horizon with Yao Qisheng. Both state that they have not seen each other for three years. Yao Qisheng feels sorry about an incident which happened at the time when he met Shi Lang’s son Shi Shizong and his nephew Shi Mingliang for the first time. He tells the story about their arrest and abduction by members of the enemy army. He feels weighed down with sorrow because of the disgrace Shi Lang had to face during that time of hardship. Shi Lang bolsters Yao Qisheng by telling him not to reproach himself. Shi Lang shows him his respect for being a loyal subject. He emphasizes that both men must look ahead now and focus on rendering the best service for the Qing imperial court. The scene closes with an emotional handshake.
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