Episode 33
Scene 1: Fujian, Shi Lang’s residence at the navy base
Five of Shi Lang’s sons exercise with swords in the presence of their father. All of them wear military uniforms looking like little soldiers. Shi Lang asks his sons whether they are afraid of participating in the battle. They reply bravely that they are not afraid of battle. Shi Lang urges them to keep their planned participation in the imminent sea battle secret and orders them to hide their uniforms so that their mother does not find out. Suddenly, Shi Lang’s wife enters the room and immediately realizes the situation. She is angry and starts to argue fiercely with Shi Lang. He tells his wife that this time he is determined to capture Taiwan successfully. One of the reasons to take his sons with him is to encourage his soldiers. Shi Lang is willing to sacrifice everything to secure his ambitious objective. His wife starts to cry but is not able to change his mind.
Scene 2: Fujian, Tongshan navy base
The next morning Shi Lang meets with Yao Qisheng at the navy headquarters near Tongshan. He is happy that Yao Qisheng has come to visit him and his troops before the sea battle takes place.
Shi Lang talks to Yao Qisheng about their previous efforts to survey the defense situation of the Penghu Archipelago. So far their efforts have not been particularly successful. They only have some information about the defense installations on the island Niangmagong but they need to know more. So far they have not received the defense map. Haikui is brought to the tent by Aman who announces that this woman was cought at the coast and thought to be a Taiwanese spy. Yao Qisheng immediately recognizes Haikui and explains her story to Shi Lang. Haikui delivers two letters from Shi Shizong to Shi Lang concealed in the shafts of brushes. One of these letters proves that Shi Shizong’s capitulation has been simulated. The other letter contains the defense map of Taiwan. Haikui tells Shi Lang that Shi Shizong and Yao Yun might be dead already. Shi Lang and Yao Qisheng are deeply disturbed by the news.
Yao Yun and Shi Shizong are together in prison. Yao Yun is wondering why they have not been killed so far. Shi Shizong assumes that the Zheng administration want to use them as a pawn, keeping the opportunity in hand of returning to the negotiation table if necessary. Yao Yun is happy that she can stay with Shi Shizong together.
In a strategy meeting Shi Lang informs the other military leaders about his plan to attack Penghu first because these islands are the key of capturing Taiwan. As soon as Penghu is taken Taiwan is without defense. His adversary on the Taiwan side is General Liu Guoxuan who is responsible for the defense of Penghu. Shi Lang claims that the sea breeze in the 6th month is favorable for his troops since the southern monsoon will enable his troops to advance fast towards the islands. If they should be confronted with resistance, this resistance must be severely broken but if the Taiwanese surrender they shall be treated well.
Scene 6: Fujian, Tongshan navy base, Shi Lang’s tent
After the commanders have left, Shi Lang’s five sons take leave of their mother in order to join Shi Lang in battle. Shi Lang’s wife is unable to say anything but cries. Shi Lang promises her to take good care of the boys. He wants to encourage his soldiers by the presence of his sons and is willing to show that he is determined to sacrifice his family for the greater good.
Scene 7: Fujian, Tongshan navy base
It is the 14th day of the 6th month of the 22nd year of emperor Kangxi’s reign [July 8, 1683, according to the Western calendar]. The fleet is ready for departure. Shi Lang conducts a ceremony asking the goddess Mazu to protect his soldiers. On the occasion of a swearing-in-ceremony he proclaims three major issues. The first is the declaration that his troops are entitled to go to war because they fight for the unification of the Chinese territory. Shi Lang and the Qing dynasty execute a punitive expedition and want to crush the rebellion in Taiwan. The independence party in Taiwan is responsible for his war. Secondly he thanks Yao Qisheng for his support of the campaign with money and provisions for the soldiers. And finally he declares that he is willing to sacrifice himself and his sons for his fatherland. Now the battle can begin.
Scene 8: Fujian, Tongshan navy base
The soldiers have boarded the ships. The fleet puts out to sea. There are hundreds of ships on the ocean now. The battle begins. Shi Lang gives Lan Li the order to advance as fast as possible.
Scene 9: On the battle ship of Lan Li
Lan Li shows the island Bazhaoyu to Shi Shilun and tells him that this island has to be taken first in order to gain a secure harbor for the fleet. He gives the order to sail as fast as possible and to attack the island.
Yao Qisheng remains at the Fujian coast. He wishes that Shi Lang and his five sons will get successfully and save through the battle.
Lan Li has ordered an officer to tell Shi Lang that he has taken the islands Maoyu and Bazhaoyu without much resistance. Shi Lang has given order to Lan Li to attack the island Jiangjun’ao to the east of Bazhaoyu.
Now a big naval battle has started with hard fighting, canon shooting and ships in flames.
Scene 13: Penghu Islands, Liu Guoxuan’s headquarters
A soldier arrives at the military office of Liu Guoxuan and reports that Shi Lang has taken Baozhaoyu, Jiangjun’ao and Nandayu. Zhu Lin has not been able to defend the islands. The officers are afraid that Shi Lang will soon have taken all Penghu islands but Liu Guoxuan is still confident that he can win this war. In the 6th month there is always a strong sea breeze and a high probability of typhoons which may play an important role in the course of a war on sea. In his opinion, Shi Lang has made a mistake to wage this war in the 6th month. The islands Shi Lang has taken are of minor importance because they will be flooded as soon as a typhoon comes.
Shi Lang’s body guard Hu Ganjiang asks Shi Lang why he has attacked these islands which do not yield any advantage to Shi Lang’s troops. Shi Lang answers that there might be islands which are easier to attack. But on these islands are too many schools and Mazu temples which he doesn’t want to damage in a battle in order not to loose the hearts and minds of the Taiwan people. Hu Ganjiang is impressed.
Scene 15: Pengu Islands, Liu Guoxuan’s headquarters
Zhu Lin arrives and tells Liu Guoxuan that two of his officers have lost two more islands to Shi Lang. Therefore, the major force has to retreat to Niangmagong. Some other high officers accuse Zhu Lin of being unwilling to fight against Shi Lang accusing him of loosing the battle intentionally. Liu Guoxuan shouts at his officers and prohibits them to quarrel. He is still convinced that Shi Lang is doomed because there will certainly be heavy wind at this time of the year.
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