Episode 30
Scene 1: Taiwan, Prison
Yao Yun, in prison on Taiwan, is visited by Fu Weilin. Yao Yun declares her imprisonment to be unlawful. She wishes to see the Prince of Yanping, Zheng Keshuang. Fu Weilin does not think this is possible, but tells her that peace talks are pending and urges her to write a letter to her parents. She refuses at first, demanding that she and Shi Shizong be released. But as Fu Weilin mentions that Shi Shizong had told him about Yao Yun’s nearly eidetic memory, she understands that, in fact, he wishes her to draw a defence-map of the Penghu Islands. While they are talking, Hong Xu, ordered to do so by Feng Xifan, listens outside the prison.
Scene 2: Beijing, Imperial Palace, Qianqing Gate throne hall
Morning audience of the Kangxi emperor (yumen tingzheng). First, the emperor delivers a long introductory speech, in which he reminds his officials to speak freely without fear. Next, the emperor listens to the ministers’ opinions about Shi Lang’s actions, especially concerning the question of whether he should have the sole military command (“zhuanzheng”, special military powers which allows Shi Lang to take actions without co-ordinating with the other military authorities of Fujian province). The opinions brought forward are in fact impeachments. Three officials appear before the throne, each of them accusing Shi Lang of different errors. The first official, Sun Hui, accuses Shi Lang of a poor strategy, calling his actions rash and unwise. He recounts that after having moved the fleet from Xiamen to Tongshan, Shi Lang was forced to return to Xiamen by a typhoon. In Sun’s eyes, the latest setback caused is proof that Shi Lang could not shoulder this responsibility. He asks for an investigation. The next minister Liang Qingbiao is no less hostile to Shi Lang; he calls Shi Lang arrogant and accuses him of disrespecting the Fujian governor general Yao Qisheng and almost everybody else, including the legal system. At last, he even pleads to punish Shi Lang and stop the military campaign. The third official Xu Yuanwen explains that the portents foretell peace and to ignore these means to violate the will of heaven. Thus, since Shi Lang has moved the navy against the will of heaven, he was punished in turn by heaven. After the officials have spoken, it is the emperors turn to defend Shi Lang. He orders Mingzhu to read out a joint report by the Manchu general Lahada and the official in the Board of War Wu Nuchun which describes their impression of the destructive force of the typhoon which they gained when they visited Tongshan on the 15th of the 5th month [July 5, 1683]. The report also criticizes Shi Lang’s strategy. Nevertheless, the emperor does not agree with the strong opposition against Shi Lang. In order to rebuff the critics, he exposes that Sun Hui has been bribed to speak against Shi Lang and orders his insignia of office to be removed. Sun Hui is taken away to the Board of Punishments. In fact, Sun Hui has been bribed by Yao Qisheng, but Yao’s involvement is not exposed.
Li Guangdi, only recently back from Fujian, is summoned by Kangxi to his study. He wants to hear his opinion of the ministers’ reports. Li Guangdi also experienced the typhoon, in which actually none of Shi Langs warships or troops were lost, only a few masts broken, but excitement and panic broke out within the troops. Kangxi is furious, demanding to know how his ministers could call this a defeat, when no battle has ensued yet. Li Guangdi observes that the emperor apparently has decided that giving Shi Lang the sole command was right; otherwise it would be quite difficult to rectify the current situation. Li Guangdi also reports on how he fared with Yao Qisheng and how he “cured” his sickness [see episode 29]. He advises Kangxi to be mild and not to punish Yao Qisheng for bribing Sun Hui since he has served the empire well and to punish him would first of all hurt Shi Lang. When Kangxi expresses doubts about Shi Lang’s strategy concerning the use of the monsoon winds, Li Guangdi reasserts Shi Lang’s preference for the southern monsoon. Asked for the unpredictability of typhoons, Shi Lang thinks that it is possible to grasp a basic regularity in the occurrence of typhoons, because after one typhoon there will not be another one for the next three to five days. This should be sufficient to win the decisive battle for the Penghu archipelago. Even if a typhoon would hit the fleet in the midst of a battle, this will not necessarily destroy the whole fleet. Moreover, in such a case both war parties are equally fighting for survival and none has the upper hand. Convinced, a triumphant Kangxi orders Li to explain this at the next audience to the other ministers.
Zheng Keshuang and Liu Guoxuan arrive at Luermen harbour, where Fu Weilin is about to embark to Fujian for the peace talks. He is praised by both the prince and Liu Guoxuan. While they are about to board the ship, they hear loud shouts, urging them to stop. Feng Xifan and Hong Xu have arrived. Feng Xifan claims that Fu Weilin is a spy for the Qing government. Liu Guoxuan, the upright man, will not believe this. He only thinks it to be possible that Fu Weilin has been framed. But then Hong Xu takes the map of the Penghu defences out of Fu Weilin’s chest and gives it to Feng Xifan. Fu Weilin claims this to be a trick. Zheng Keshuang also wants to see the map, but his feeble attempt is cut short by Feng Xifan, who simply pushes him aside. Even though he is a prince and a ruler in theory, obviously it is not Zheng Keshuang who makes the decisions. When Liu Guoxuan sees the map, he believes Feng Xifan and leaves angrily, not willing to hear Fu Weilin’s explanations. Fu nevertheless explains his reasons to Feng Xifan and Zheng Keshuang. He asks how many of them were born in Fujian and declares that the people from the mainland and Taiwan both share the same roots and have the same ancestors. He goes on calling everybody who believes that Taiwan will stay independent a dreamer, adding that people like Feng Xifan will rather give Taiwan over to the foreigners than to the Qing government. Feng Xifan orders Fu Weilin to be beheaded on the spot. His deputies are sent to the mainland to carry on with the negotiations.
Haikui lies in bed, refusing to eat or take medicine. She wishes to die. Her mother Tang Taifei comes to see her, trying to reconcile with her daughter. Under tears, she even kneels before her daughter’s bed, begging for her forgiveness. But Haikui’s sole wish is to be reunited with Shi Shizong, even if it should be in death. Tang Taifei is willing to pardon Shi Shizong for her daughters sake and allow her to marry him, but reminds her that Shi Shizong loves another woman. Finally she agrees to arrange a meeting between them. If Shi Shizong chooses Haikui, she will set him free, taking this as her individual responsibility.
Scene 6: Fujian, naval headquarters
The peace talks are being resumed. Yao Qisheng and Shi Lang are talking to the new emissaries Cai Youxiong and Huang Xue. They firmly assure them that their children, Yao Yun and Shi Shizong are fine, receiving the friendship of Taiwan. But when Yao Qisheng inquires why they are not free yet, the Ming-ambassadors are just using excuses, e.g. that their children are busy or that Shi Shizong, after having served the Ming, is afraid to meet his father. Neither Yao Qisheng nor Shi Lang believe them. Shi Lang is enraged that two minor officials, who lack the power to represent the Prince of Yanping have come to negotiate with them. He accuses them of just trying to buy time. They claim that originally Fu Weilin was to accompany them as chief negotiator, but he has fallen ill. However, Yao Qisheng and Shi Lang already know that Fu Weilin has been beheaded. Next, actual negotiations start. The Ming state their terms. They wish to exist as a vassal state to the Qing, that their people do not need to shave their head and that no Qing-troops will land on Taiwan. They will pay tribute to the Qing-court and wish to retain a free trading port. Yao Qisheng does not think that the terms are too harsh, but he still cannot agree to transform Taiwan into a vassal state. Shi Lang asks the ambassadors where their homes are and is not surprised to hear that none of them is a native Taiwan. He says that the residents of Taiwan are either Fujianese or Hakka. Both groups have migrated to Taiwan from the mainland. This means that the Taiwanese people are not part of a nationality different from the Chinese, thus Taiwan cannot be a vassal state. As the ambassadors see that Yao Qisheng and Shi Lang will not consent to their terms, they ask them to inform the emperor of their decision, but Shi Lang refuses. He says that, as their proposals cannot pass him, a much less important man than the emperor, it is inappropriate to pass it on to Kangxi. The Ming-ambassadors have been especially instructed not to give way in the matter of the vassal state, so no agreement can be reached. Shi Lang resorts to threaten them with the Qing military force, which the Zheng government knows they can not beat. They are to quickly inform the prince and relay back his answer, as the Qing will soon strike. Also, next time the Qing wish to talk to ambassadors with more authority. One of the ambassadors asks the Qing one last time to give a little way, as this is the only sensible solution when meeting in a narrow road. Still, Shi Lang objects by saying that the solution is not to give way but to courageously win (by war). The ambassadors’ last argument is their hostages, Yao Qisheng’s and Shi Lang’s children, but of course Shi Lang will not be threatened. He has not given in before, even if his son was in grave danger, so he will not give in now. Shi Lang’s last words are that the prince, Zheng Keshuang, should not miscalculate the military balance.
Scene 7: Fujian, naval base, coastal artillery position
Shi Lang and Wu Qijue are riding on horseback. They pass groups of Qing soldiers making military drills. Next to the male soldiers, Aman’s battalion of female soldiers is also being trained. Wu Qijue informs Shi Lang that the emperor agrees to his view that the situation in Taiwan could not be compared to that of a vassal state and that a peaceful capitulation would not be appropriate. He adds that even Yao Qisheng could not cling to this illusion any longer. Yao Qisheng had already nominated Huang Chaoyong as new chief-negotiator for the Qing side, but had hesitated to send him to Taiwan immediately. Shi Lang assumes that Yao wants to see whether he can conquer the Penghu Islands, before making his next move.
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