Episode 26
Scene 1: Fujian, Navy camp at the coast
Lan Li is angry about the inactivity of the soldiers. The soldiers complain of hunger and that their families have nothing to eat as well because they have not been paid for three months. Some soldiers even ran away.
Scene 2: Taiwan, Feng Xifan’s residence
Feng Xifan and Hong Xu are examining the nautical chart which Jin Hanchen had stolen from Haikui’s room and realize that it is a fake, because the contents is nonsense and would be useless in the hands of the enemy. In their opinion, the real nautical chart which could prove that Shi Shizong and Yao Yun are spys must be still in their hands. Hong Xu is ordered to take care that no ship leaves the coast and Jin Hanchen is commanded to continue spying on Shi Shizong and Yao Yun.
Shi Lang apologizes to the soldiers for not having payed them for three months. He tells them that he will put his one year’s salary into the war chest and that the soldiers who fulfill great achievements in the war will get that money. He also promises they will receive their salary the next month and that it will be increased by one tael of silver as well.
Shi Lang’s wife is indignant over his decision to increase the salary of the soldiers and asks him how he will manage that. Shi Lang defends his arrangements and points out his responibility for the well-being of the soldiers. Aman speculates that the governor of Fujian Wu Xingzuo purposely delayed the provisions because his memorial to the throne requesting sole military command offended the provincial authorities. Shi Lang even proposes that his wife and Aman sell their jewelery to raise money. In the end, he sends Aman to Beijing to bring the rest of the family to Fujian and sell his Beijing residence.
Yao Yun memorizes the nautical chart and the military bases. Shi Shizong asks her whether she was able to arrange for a ship, which she negates. She thinks that Haikui is the only chance she has to leave Taiwan and wants Shi Shizong to reconcile with Haikui.
Scene 6: Fujian, at the coast
Shi Lang sits with his soldiers and asks them whether they are tired from the training. One soldier asks when the war will finally start and they can attack Taiwan. Shi Lang responds that his aim is not to attack Taiwan but to coerce Taiwan into submission. After Shi Lang verifies that most of the soldiers have relatives on Taiwan he argues that he does not want to make them fight against their own people. The people of Taiwan and the Qing state belong to one family, they are all Chinese and shall be reunited. Only those who try to create an independet state on Taiwan will be smashed.
Scene 7: Fujian, Yao Qisheng’s residence
Yao Qisheng reads Shi Lang’s memorial to the throne which advises the emperor that Yao Qisheng, who grew up in the north of China and is not used to the sea, should stay in Xiamen and organize the logistics rather than take command in battle. Lahada calls Shi Lang an ungrateful person because he had sent the memorial to Kangxi without informing Yao Qisheng. Yao Qisheng answers that Shi Lang will have good reasons for demanding the sole command of the navy however he is visibly upset.
Lan Li introduces Shi Lang to Chen Ang, a former navy soldier known for his ability to predict wind and waves. Shi Land wants to employ Chen as a maritime specialist and brings him some food as a present.
Yao Yun tries to persuade a fisherman to bring her to Fujian for five tael of silver. The fisherman accepts her offer despite the danger of being killed for violating the sea-faring ban. Jin Hanchen witnesses this incident secretely.
Scene 10: Taiwan, “White House”
Shi Shizong is annoyed at Haikui’s refusal to help Yao Yun return to Fujian as soon as possible. Haikui reproaches that Yao Yun only wants to leave Taiwan in order to bring the nautical chart to Shi Lang to help him conquer Taiwan. Shi Shizong reduces her suspicion by arguing the nautical chart would be still in her chest. Haikui does not want the nautical chart to fall into Shi Lang’s hands.
Scene 11: Beijing, Imperial Palace
Wu Qijue tells Kangxi that Shi Lang sold his house to pay the soldiers. Kangxi is surprised by this information because Shi Lang never mentioned it in his memorials. He asks Wu Qijue whether he knew about Shi Lang’s demand to be given sole military command. He reads to him Yao Qisheng’s reply stating that Yao Qisheng would prefer to die on the sea rather than staying behind on the mainland during battle. Both Kangxi and Wu Qijue think about a solution for this conflict. As a friend, Wu Qijue thinks that Yao Qisheng’s feelings should be respected but with regard to military success Shi Lang should receive the sole military command. Kangxi considers a shared command for Yao Qisheng and Shi Lang.
Jin Hanchen tracks down Haikui and tells her of the plan of Shi Shizong and Yao Yun and that Yao Yun has even arranged for a boat.
Aman and the Emperor debate about Shi Lang’s decision to ask for sole military command. Aman brings up the three monks’ story [too many cooks spoil the broth]. Kangxi’s opinion is to insist on having both Shi Lang and Yao Qisheng as commanders. Aman is sure that Shi Lang will not give up his pursuit for sole commandership even if this would arouse the emperor’s anger.
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