Episode 36

Scene 1: Taiwan, Royal Palace, Tang Taifei’s chambers

Haikui arrives at the palace but is stopped by the guards who are afraid to trouble Tang Taifei. Nonetheless, Haikui finds a way to sneak into the residence while the guards are sleeping. She has a sword in her hand and enters Tang Taifei’s room. Tang Taifei wakes up and gets scared. They start talking. Tang Taifei says that she worried about Haikui and feared she might be dead. Haikui answers that it is too early for her to die because she has to take revenge. She has returned because she has heard that Shi Shizong and Yao Yun are still alive. She wants to find and help them. Tang Taifei says that she does not know their whereabouts but will help Haikui the next day. Haikui reports about the strength of the Qing army in Penghu and that in her opinion there is no chance to defeat them.

Scene 2: On Shi Lang's ship

Shi Lang receives Liu Guoxuan on his ship. Liu Guoxuan is depressed because he is a defeated general but Shi Lang treats him very respectfully. He tries to convince him that Taiwan does not have the resources to win this war. He says that the people from Taiwan are his relatives too and that he doesn’t want to hurt them. When Liu Guoxuan asks him why he attacked Taiwan, Shi Lang replies that he did it for the peoples’ sake. War must be waged for enforcing peace. And those who want independence shall not prevail. He asks Liu Guoxuan to return to Taiwan and try to persuade Zheng Keshuang to surrender. Liu Guoxuan is surprised that Shi Lang trusts him. Shi Lang returns his sword to him.

Aman complains that her father was too generous by setting the prisoners free. She is afraid that the released prisoners of war will rejoin their army to fight against the Qing troops again. But Wu Qijue contradicts her. He says that this is psychological warfare which is sometimes more effective than fighting. He is convinced that those soldiers will not turn enemies again because they have received such preferential treatment. In contrary they will speak for the Qing administration and help lead to a breakdown of morale and fighting spirit within the Taiwanese army.

Zhu Lin comes to Shi Lang and shows him respect. He is one of the first from the Taiwan side to change sides. Shi Lang welcomes him respectfully and expresses his conviction that the time of unification is not far.

Shi Shizong and Yao Yun are looking over the ocean. They are talking about their prospects. Shi is sure that Haikui has delivered the defense map to Shi Lang and that the Qing army will make progress now. Yao Yun hopes that they will be freed soon now that the Qing army is going to win the war. Shi Shizong used to say that with the growing chances for the Qing army of winning the war their chance of getting released will grow, too. But now he has a foreboding of death. If the independence party gains superiority they might decide to kill them so that the unification party has no chance to reconcile with the Qing administration any more.

Scene 6: Taiwan, Royal Palace

The young Prince Zheng Keshuang, Liu Guoxuan and Feng Xifan discuss what steps shall be taken now after the defeat at Penghu. Liu Guoxuan advocates negotiations with the Qing administration because they have no forces any more. Feng Xifan wants to declare independence and fight with the support of the Dutch. Liu Guoxun and Feng Xifan blame each other as traitors. Zheng Keshuang does not want to discuss who is guilty for the present situation but to find a solution now. He is helpless but does not want to declare independence and ally with the foreigners. In the end, Feng Xifan and Liu Guoxuan almost take up arms against each other and no decision is made.
The discussion shows the main arguments of the independence party and the reunification party. Therefore the most important part of the discussion is presented here in full.
Prince: We are faced with a formidable foe. We all have to work together with one heart.... Victory and defeat are part of a war. The Marquis of Wuping has done valuable services. He must go on protecting Taiwan! Taiwan is not to be lost again! Where else shall we go?
Feng Xifan: I say we have to declare independence immediately! If Shi Lang attacks again, it will be a war between two separate countries.
Prince: This not the time for declaring independence. The faster we declare independence the faster we will be defeated. The Qing emperor has said this before. The people in Taiwan are Fujian-people and not foreigners like in ordinary vassal states. Therefore he doesn’t tolerate independence. It is better to leave this matter inexplicit.
Feng Xifan: I also know that the Qing emperor doesn’t agree with our independence. But if we are independent, we can better negotiate with foreign countries! In our current state they cannot help us even if they wish to do so. It is like the quarrel of two brothers. How can people from outside interfere? But if we declare independence, then it will be different! When we are humiliated, we are then fully justified to ask a third country to mediate or even to dispatch troops to support us to defeat the aggressor!
Some officials: This idea is not bad!
Prince: Suppose they help us but stay and don’t leave any more? I am afraid it is easier to invite a god than to send him away again [a saying]! This is what Tai Fei is afraid of too.
Liu Guoxuan: This means treason! This is a way to ruin our Taiwan! The old Prince of Yanping led us under many hardships to the recapture Taiwan from the Dutch. The foreigners want to possess Taiwan all the time. How can we obediently leave it to them? I won’t do such a crime!
Prince: Marquis of Wuping [honorific title of Liu Guoxuan], if neither option is adequate, what shall we do then?
Liu Guoxuan: Taiwan is still in our hands. This is our capital! We still have means to negotiate with the Qing court. To ask for amnesty is the best thing to do. If we commit the fault to miss the opportunity and they take Taiwan by force, then we have no way to sue for peace any more. This logic is obvious.

Scene 7: Penghu, Shi Lang's headquarter

Wu Qijue reports to Shi Lang about the effect of his policy towards the prisoners of war. They were very delighted to be released because they had expected to be killed. Shi Lang once again makes a statement about the necessity of unification with Taiwan. One argument is that the provinces in the south-east need Taiwan as protective screen. Then they discuss the further steps that are to be taken. Shi Lang plans to attack Taiwan in the 9th or 10th month. He reports that Yao Qisheng wrote in a letter that he is afraid that to postpone the attack will give the enemy the chance to regain strength. Aman reports that Yao Qisheng has send new troops and armament so that they are now well enough equipped to continue the conquest. But Shi Lang favors to wait until his men have recovered and a new order arrives from the emperor. He says that his goal was to use war only in order to enforce peace, therefore it is better to wait now and to send an envoy to offer amnesty if the Zheng regime surrenders. Aman volunteers for that because she knows Liu Guoxuan already.

Scene 8: Beijing, Imperial Palace

Kangxi talks with Li Guangdi and Giyesu about Shi Lang’s success. He is very delighted with Shi Lang’s occupation of the Penghu Islands. Kangxi presents them a decree in which he praises Shi Lang’s extraordinary success and agrees with all the measures Shi Lang has taken. He asks Li Guangdi about the honorific title that should be bestowed to Shi Lang. Li replies that Shi Lang already holds the title of an earl and should now be bestowed with the higher rank of a marquis and given the title of general. Kangxi agrees to award Shi Lang with the title of General and Marquis who Pacified the Sea. They finally discuss the dispute between Yao Qisheng and Shi Lang concerning the correct strategy. While Shi Lang prepares for invasion in the 10th month and still wants to negotiate, Yao Qisheng advocates immediate attack. Kangxi tells them not to listen to Yao Qisheng and to follow Shi Lang. He is now fully convinced of Shi Lang’s strategy to enforce peace by military power.

Scene 9: Taiwan, Royal Palace

Zheng Keshuang and Tang Taifei criticize Feng Xifan, Hong Xu and their supporters for their plan to ally with the Dutch in Batavia in order to defend Taiwan. Feng Xifan is even willing to sail to Batavia and to flee to the Dutch seeking their support if this is the only way to resist the Qing army. Zheng Keshuang and Tang Taifei distrust the Dutch. A dispute evolves which way is the best to be loyal to the old Prince of Yanping [Zheng Chenggong]. Feng Xifan argues that loosing Taiwan to the Qing means disloyalty to the Prince, while Tang Taifei holds that leaving the land to the old enemy (the Dutch) is the real disloyalty towards the Prince and will never be accepted by the people. When Liu Guoxuan is asked he introduces another criterion that needs to be considered. In his opinion the recent events prove that Shi Lang has the mandate of heaven on his side and the Taiwanside has lost hers. Therefore they should negotiate and accept surrender. He says that they should now negotiate with the Qing administration as long as they still have Taiwan and are in the position to negotiate. Tang Taifei agrees with these arguments.

Shi Lang receives the Taiwan delegates Zhen Yinping and Lin Weirong. The delegates present their conditions for surrender and hand over a letter by their Prince. The envoy says: “We only ask for the right to sacrifice to our ancestors, to take care of our properties and business by ourselves, not to be forced to shave our hair and that (the Qing army) will not occupy Taiwan, that’s all.” Shi Lang is enraged. He says that these conditions could have been adequate before they took Penghu but now he cannot agree with these terms. He tears the letter appart and sends the envoy away. They shall tell their Prince to lower the conditions in order to show his good will.

Scene 11: Taiwan, Royal Palace

Following the failed negotiations, Hong Xu and Feng Xifan are deeply agitated. Feng Xifan argues once more for alliance with the Dutch. Tang Taifei refuses this with the argument that the Ming Royals would never agree with relying on foreigners. She adds that it is valuable that Shi Shizong has not been killed because this gives them a pledge for the negotiations. Hong Xu replies that the best strategy would be to kill Shi Shizong and sent the head to his father, because this would end all negotiations and would force the Zheng regime to make a last fight to win or dies. Tang Taifei contradicts and makes clear that this is no option for her.

Scene 12: Taiwan, prison island

Shi Shizong and Yao Yun are in a small hut on their prison island. They see Hong Xu and a group of soldiers running towards them and expect to be executed any minute. They decide to jump from a high cliff into the sea so that the soldiers cannot catch them alive and behead them. Shi Shizong says to Yao Yun that their end is even more tragic because Shi Lang will soon capture Taiwan and they will not have the ooportunity to see their relatives before they die. They run towards the sea and jump. Hong Xu is terrified and worried on how to explain this event to Feng Xifan.

Aman dresses herself in men’s clothes. Her younger brothers mock her for her new attire. It is a scene of happy family life. Shi Lang just enters the room with the youngest son on his arms when Wu Qijue storms into the room, terrified, and asks Shi Lang to come with him. He leads him into another room with two boxes. The others follow them. It turns out that in these boxes are the heads of Yao Yun and Shi Shizong. The whole family is terrified and deeply shocked. Shi Lang suspects the independence party in Taiwan behind this to make him angry so that peace negotiations are out of question. Aman and a group of soldiers demand from Shi Lang to revenge Shi Shizong and immediately attack the Zheng regime. But Shi Lang replies: ”If Taiwan is really willing to ask for peace and to surrender, to give up resistance and to follow the will of the people then they will accept the surrender. The emperor has awarded me, Shi Lang, for serving the country and neglecting private matters.” Disregarding the newly arisen danger Shi Lang insists on sending Aman as envoy to Taiwan. He sobbingly asks Wu Qijue to bury Shi Shizong and Yao Yun’s heads together and to erect a tombstone for them. He will write a letter to Yao Qisheng to tell him about Yao Yun’s death.

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