Episode 25
Scene 1 Fujian, navy base at the coast
Shi Lang, Yao Qisheng, Lahada, Wu Qique and Aman are on board of a navy vessel that is about to depart for a navigation exercise. Lahada warns that the wind is so heavy that the ships could get in danger but Shi Lang tells him that stormy weather is the best opportunity to practice. Yao Qisheng tells us that five months have passed since Shi Lang took over the command of the navy and he is relieved and astonished at the same time that the restructuring process has been successfully concluded without any big problems. Overjoyed, Yao Qisheng transfers the command over the army into Shi Lang’s hands too. The ships are ordered to set sail. Lan Li reports windy weather but no storm. Shi Lang comforts Yao Qisheng who apears a bit axious, but assures Shi that he is not afraid.
Scene 2: Fuzhou, Shi Lang’s residence
Wu Qijue, Aman and Shi Lang are discussing whether Shi Lang should write a memorial to Kangxi in order to ask for the sole military command (zhuanzheng) in the conquest of Taiwan. In this way, he hopes to conquer Taiwan in a fast and straightforward way. Wu Qijue thinks that the emperor would not approve of Shi Lang’s demand, because the court officials will pretent that Shi Lang is only looking for power and fame. Aman tells the story of the three monks (meaning “too many cooks spoil the broth”) and compares them to the four officers Yao Qisheng, Wu Xingzuo, Lahada and Wan Zhengse who share power in the current military command structure. The result will only be that Shi Lang’s military plans cannot be realized. In Wu Qijue’s opinion Kangxi uses the complicated command structure on purpose in order to let the powerful military leaders control each other. Now Shi Lang is confused whether his decision to write the memorial is right, but Wu tells him that Kangxi likes the unusual and often makes decisions that astonish his contemporaries. Moreover, he pays a lot of attention to his dignity as an emperor and is concerned about his own image in history. For example he secretly reads the Imperial Diaries which are written daily by the court historians to note down the daily activities and words of the Emperor, even though this is strictly prohibited by the regulations of the ancestors in order to preserve the historical truth. Shi Lang is encouraged by the unusal behaviour of Kangxi and decides to send him his memorial requesting the sole military command in the conquest of Taiwan. Aman points out that his action might insult Yao Qisheng which Shi Lang understands. He will apologize in the case that Yao Qisheng feels insulted. Wu Qijue encourages Shi Lang to make a compromise by sharing the military command only with Yao Qisheng (instead with four officials). Shi Lang does not agree with his suggestion because Kangxi might ask why he only accepts a compromise with Yao Qisheng and not with the other officers. In this case, Wu Qijue agrees, Kangxi might become suspicious and think that the Han Chinese are excluding the Manchus. Finally, Shi Lang is absolutely convinced to request the sole military command even if he insults Yao Qisheng. Aman suggests to let Yao Qisheng see the letter first before sending it, but Shi Lang thinks that Yao Qisheng will try to work against his plans. Aman is angry, saying that nothing can keep a secret at court and runs away.
Shi Shizong is together with Haikui painting the picture of the seaside scenery. While they go out for a walk at the coast, Yao Yun creeps into Haikui’s room, steals the nautical chart from the chest, and deposits a fake duplicate of it in there. Coming home Haikui notices some changes at the chest. She examines it but does not make out that the nautical chart is a duplicate. Yao Yun hands over the stolen chart to Shi Shizong who at first is afraid of somebody possibly suspecting Yao Yun to be the thief. But she calms him down when she tells him of the duplicate she put into Haikui’s chest. Shi Shizong wants to arrange for Yao Yun to return to Fujian as soon as possible. She is sad that he, her love, is not leaving, but he promises that they will be together again soon.
Tang Taifei and Haikui show the officials the landscape picture which Shi Shizong painted to save himselve from the suspicion of having drawn a map of the Penghu defense installations. Tang Taifei orders everybody to leave except Feng Xifan who claims that Shi Shizong will cause danger to Taiwan. But Tang Taifei knows of her daughter’s feelings towards Shi Shizong, and Haikui’s wellbeing is her priority. She orders Feng Xifan not to do anything without her permission. Haikui has overheard the whole conservation and comes out to beg for the support of her mother. Tang Taifei promises to arrange for Haikui’s and Shi Shizong’s marriage.
Haikui tells Yao Yun and Shi Shizong of the satisfactory result of her deception promises that nobody will be able to harm them from now on. Yao Yun discloses her request to go back to Fujian and asks Haikui for a ship bringing her home. Haikui wants her to stay until her marriage is over. Yao Yun points out that her mother is very ill and she has to leave as soon as possible. Haikui becomes angry at Shi Shizong not encouraging Yao Yun to stay. He acts as if not knowing what she is talking about. Haikui gets furious and leaves the room. Yao Yun complains about Shi Shizong’s behavior, because by estranging Haikui her chances to go back to Fujian are jeopardized. Shi Shizong declares to not play this game with Haikui any longer. Yao Yun accuses Shi Shizong of destroying their plan and asks him why he did not simply play the game. He confronts her with how serious this plan has become and that he does not want to marry Haikui.
Scene 6: Taiwan, Feng Xifan’s residence
Feng Xifan and Hong Xu talk about Shi Shizong’s picture. They suspect that the seaside scenery was a fake made to deceive Tang Taifei. In their opinion, Shi Shizong certainly is a spy, but as long as they do not have any evidence and Haikui protects him, they cannot do anything about it. But as Hong Xu suggests to put him into jail and make him confess under torture, Feng Xifan disagrees, because of the ongoing marriage arrangements. Feng Xifan instructs Hong Xu to order Jin Hanchen to find the real map. With the map they will able to put Shi Shizong and Yao Yun into jail. Hong Xu thinks that the nautical chart has already been destroyed. Feng Xifan does not think so, because if Shi Shizong and Yao Yun are spys they need the map to gain merits in the eyes of the Qing. However when Hong Xu points out that Haikui might destroy the chart this sounds reasonable to Feng Xifan. On the other hand, Haikui would not let him go away with the the chart, because of her feelings for Shi Shizong. Feng Xifan sends out Hong Xu to assign Jin Hanchen to find the evidence.
Scene 7: Taiwan, Fu Weilin’s residence
Fu Weilin is not pleased by the visit of Yao Yun because he has told her to contact him only in case of emergencies. Fu Weilin tells her of the alarmed situation at the Zheng administration and that Feng Xifan has already had two officals executed. Yao Yun asks him to help her get back to Fujian. Fu Weilin makes clear that crossing the ocean is strictly prohibited and that he cannot promis her anything, but says that he will try. He also asks her whether she has heard of the defense chart which she denies. Fu Weilin wants her to memorize an oral message to Yao Qisheng before leaving. He believes her to able to do so.
While Haikui stands on a cliff of the beach, Jin Hanchen creeps into her room and steals the duplicate of the defense chart out of her chest.
Kangxi has Li Guangdi read Shi Lang’s memorial and asks him whether this is not an impudence. Li Guangdi says that under normal circumstances it would be an impudence. Kangxi asks for another point of view. Li Guangdi explains the general public’s point of view is that Shi Lang normaly has to be content with his high position. But even in this high position Shi Lang is not satisfied, which makes him seem arrogant. Li Guangdi thinks that Shi Lang does not act inconsiderate. He will have his reasons for his actions. Kangxi should not have to worry about Shi Lang’s fidelity. He quotes the five reasons from Shi Lang’s memorial, explaining that Shi Lang is the right person for the recapture of Taiwan. Li Guangdi agrees with Shi Lang’s point of view in that Lahada and Yao Qisheng are unqualified for this job, because they grew up in the north of China and do not know the sea well. Kangxi recognizes that Shi Lang’s goal is not easy to accomplish when there are too many officals. Politely, Li Guangdi praises Kangxi’s former decision to apppoint a joint command, because in this way the abilities of all multiple officials could be used and at the same time these officials could control each other. However, by now the command structure has to be streamlined. Li Guangdi adds that Yao Qisheng and Shi Lang have a very different strategy concerning the capture of Taiwan. Any decision about the military command will also be a decision about strategy. But the selection of personnel can not escape the traditions of the Qing administrative system and expectations of the court officials. Even though choosing Yao Qisheng as supreme commander would please the officals, it is doubtful whether Shi Lang’s abilities could be duly employed and whether Yao Qisheng was able to achieve victory. On the other hand, choosing Shi Lang would contradict the rules of the forefathers of the priority of the civil over the military and would face rejection by the court officials. To solve the dilemma, Li Guangdi draws the emperor’s attention to Wu Qijues letter who writes about the chaos in the army because the soldiers did not receive their salary in time, contradictive to Shi Lang’s memorial, which claims the situation to be normal. Kangxi points out that the letter of Wu tells the truth and that Shi Lang does not want Yao Qisheng to get in trouble.
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