Episode 27
Scene 1: Taiwan, “White House”
At night, Haikui is sitting alone in the garden. Shi Shizong and Yao Yun, standing arm in arm, watch her from the window. While their talk moves to Yao Yun’s plan to leave the island the next day, Haikui has entered the house again and overhears their conversation. At the same time Jin Hanchen, the subordinate of Feng Xifan, is hiding in the bushes spying on their every movement.
Scene 2: Taiwan, at the coast
In the crack of dawn, Shi Shizong and Yao Yun leave the palace to meet the fishing boat, which is waiting in a bay. Haikui and some armed men stop them in the woods near the coast. Haikui asks where they were heading to, and they answer that Yao Yun was on her way back to her family in Fujian. Not only Haikui is waiting for them to move, but also Hong Xu’s men, who are hiding in the bushes to catch the traitors. Shi Shizong sends Yao Yun away while he keeps Haikui busy.
Shi Lang and the specialist for wind and weather, Chen Ang, are talking about the naval weather conditions. Chen tells him about the experience that he gained over the years on the sea and that there are seasons with heavy storms and seasons where the wind is quite calm. He has them all noted in a booklet which he gives to Shi Lang called Fengxin Cezi 风信册子. Shi Lang asks the wind specialist which tactics would be best to attack Taiwan. They discuss whether they should attack the thirty-six Penghu-Islands with the northern or with the southern winds. Shi Lang mentions that Yao Qisheng was told by his advisors to attack with the northern winds in winter. However, Chen Ang advices to attack with the southern winds blowing in the sixth month, about twenty days before and after the summer solstice, because these winds are calm and the warships can anchor everywhere. On the other hand, he warns Shi Lang that a saying exists in Penghu saying calm conditions on the sea never last longer than five days, and the possibility of stormy weather is also very high.
Fu Weilin tells Shi Shizong that Yao Yun has never arrived at the fishing boat which should have brought her home and that she was arrested by Hong Xu’s men. Fu also tells him that she threw the plans of the coastal defence into the sea before they could catch her.
Shi Lang discusses the strategic advantages of taking the southern Penghu-Islands with Yao Qisheng. Yao Qisheng advocates to use the northern winds in winter and divide the forces into two squadrons attacking Penghu and Danshui, which is situated in the north of Taiwan, at the same time. However, Shi Lang thinks that only an attack on Penghu will open the door to Taiwan. Moreover the fleet should remain united and attack from the south in summer. After a passionate discussion no one can convince the other of his own strategy culminating in Yao Qisheng’s suggestion to let the emperor decide.
Scene 6: Fuzhou, Shi Lang’s study
Shi Lang is writing a memorial to the emperor. His wife enters the room. They discuss Shi Lang’s relationship with Yao Qisheng. Shi Lang’s wife admonishes that if he writes to the emperor Yao Qisheng may be offended. However, for the sake of liberating Taiwan, Shi Lang wouldn’t even mind offending the emperor. He hopes that one day Yao Qisheng will understand him.
Scene 7: Fuzhou, residence of governor-general Yao Qisheng, audience hall
Yao Qisheng and the provincial governor Wu Xingzuo are talking about the Navy. Yao Qisheng tells Wu Xingzuo that the navy soldier’s pay has been delayed for three months and that the soldiers were only deterred from rebellion because Shi Lang sold his house and paid their rations himself. At the same time, in his memorials to the throne he always praised the Fujian provincial authorities for their outstanding efforts in provisioning military supplies, which shows his outstanding noble character and sterling integrity. Wu Xingzuo appears abashed upon hearing this. Yao Qisheng reminds him that the provisions of military rations is his responsibility as governor. It is true that he and the governor cannot understand why Shi Lang relentlessly tries to win the emperor over to his side to get the sole military command over the military project “Taiwan”. However, to endanger the project by delaying supplies may rather be dangerous for themselves when found out by the emperor. Governor Wu Xingzuo admits that he has purposely delayed supplies upon order of Lahada, but promises to repay his debts to Shi Lang’s troops.
Fu Weilin meets Haikui and announces that he has important news for her, but does not want to talk in public. Haikui invites him to the “White House”.
In a prison, Feng Xifan is interrogating Yao Yun about the maps that she threw into the sea. Because she resists answering his questions they apply torture to extract the information.
Scene10: Taiwan, “White House”
Fu Weilin meets Haikui to tell her that Yao Yun was caught and sent to prison. Haikui denies any relation with Yao Yun and, obviously disgruntled, tells Fu to leave the house.
Scene 11: Fujian, Xiamen navy base
Shi Lang, Wu Qijue and Aman are proudly watching the training that is taking place on the beach. Wu Qijue presents the amount of ships and soldiers: 70 big Zhejiang type black ships (wuchuan 乌船), 103 Fujian-type three-masted ships (ganzeng chuan 赶缯船), 65 double-masted ships (shuangfan chuan 双帆船) and 23,000 seamen. The fleet is prepared and ready to enter the war. Shi Lang announces that he waits for the right time and for good weather conditions to attack the Penghu-Islands. However, Wu Qijue points out that it might not be possible to depart during the summer solstice, because Yao Qisheng seems to pursue a delay tactics. Without informing Shi Lang, he has summoned the commanders of the various squadrons to hold separate consultations.
Haikui and Yao Yun meet in the prison. Because Haikui betrayed her, Yao Yun condemns her. She asks whether she can still sleep without regret, having sold her friends and her conscience. Even though she only has several days left to live, Yao Yun has no regrets about her doings. She would die a martyr’s death without hesitation.
Gathering of the major-generals of the army and navy under Yao Qisheng. Yao Qisheng asks his officers what they think of Shi Lang’s plans to attack the Penghu Islands with the summer monsoon during the summer solstice. Zhu Tiangui and other officers support Yao Qisheng’s northern monsoon strategy. They fear that during an attack from the south, the ships would not find enough save harbours. Moreover, should the Qing navy take Penghu first, the troops would have to stay there for more than five months before they could move further. During this time, supply routes would be in constant danger. Yao Qisheng, who is confirmed by his men that his strategy of attacking Taiwan is the best, states that he will write a memorial to the emperor.
Liu Guoxuan and Zhu Lin are discussing possible strategies Shi Lang might use to attack them from the south. Although Liu Guoxuan doubts that Shi Lang’s plan to attack during the taiphoon season is too risky an enterprise, however, he comes to the conclusion that Taiwan should not underestimate Shi Lang and he orders preparation for possible attacks from the south.
Feng Xifan and Hong Xu are planning to kill Shi Shizong, who is still under royal protection. The other topic they talk about is the stubborn Yao Yun, who does not want to speak, not even fearing death. Hong Xu has the idea to threaten her with humiliation instead of death. For this reason, Jin Hanchen is supposed to humiliate her by taking off her clothes in front of spectators and see whether she still resists speaking.
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