Battle of China, The (1944)

[bunniefuu]

1664, Ming Dynasty was overthrowned

On May 2nd the same year

The Manchurian captured Beijing

Norhtern China was occupied by Qing Dynasty

On October first

Emperor Shunzi was crowned at Forbidden City

He ordered all Chinese to shave their scalps

to show their loyalty to the Qing Emperor

The Qings continued to inv*de the Southern Ming

Do the next one!

Our skin and hair are gifts from our parents!

Shaving one's head shows disrespect to ancestors!

I refuse to shave it!

You can't shave my head!

They don't come in peace

Halt!

You can only pass with a shaved head

Either head or hair goes!

Nonsense

Stop!

Don't you see the army?

Who are you?

I am Lin Kun

the Ming's Vice-Commander of Fujian Province

I am Li Wei, m*llitary Governor

Li Wei, don't k*ll him

My father is...

The Commanding General

of the Ming Dynasty's Fujian Province

Don't forget...

We will never allow our heads shaved!

My son

I'm glad to see you've finally come back

I know the road was difficult

Father

On the road from Nanjing, Li Wai, Lin Kun and

I saw the Qing Army

beheading all wearing the Ming uniform

And the roads were flooded

with the troops of the Qing

They will att*ck Fujian within the next few days

Mountains surround Fujian...

Creating a natural barrier

I have in my command

a quarter of a million men

And the emperor is by my side

I am not worried about the Manchus

from the north temporarily

what distresses me is

not only Qing Army but also Taiwan

Fujian and Taiwan have always been united

Now Holland has taken possession of Taiwan

for 21 years

I face Qing army's att*ck from the North

I also fight against the Dutch fleet in sea

The Ming Dynasty would be finished soon

But the Ming Emperor

does not understand the situation

He still issue an edict to ask me to vanguish

the Qing Army directly

I have braved the rough seas for many years

and now Zheng family is well known

The honor to the Zheng family

would be kept by you later

My teach told me that

country is more important than family

My teacher, the great scholar Qianqian Yishi

Instructed me...

That high officials...

Must have loyalty

for the emperor and the country

He said...

Only loyalty to the emperor and country

can guarantee national peace

Therefore, since the emperor has issued

An edict to vanquish the Qing

and reinstate the Ming Dynasty

The situation of Zheng family

should not be consider in first priority

I ask that

you dispatch me to command the front line

I promise to wipe out the enemy

to revenge the Ming

Talk about it later

Father

My son

The emperor often speaks of you

He intends to summon you

The emperor?

He wishes...

To make a conferral upon you

My son

I also want to tell you...

Your mother will come from Japan soon

My mother?

Mistress, someone is drowning

Rescue them quickly

Hurry!

My girl, where are you trying to go?

I want to go home

I want to go home

Mother

I finally see my son once again

You must be my daughter-in-law

Mother, her name is Dong Yougu

I'm honored to meet you

My husband

You arrive from Hirado at last

Are your parents well?

They are fine. They miss you

We shall meet the Emperor later

Don't say anything

Let's go

We are forever indebted to you

Fuzhou

The Southern Ming Emperor Longwu's Palace

Presenting Fujian Province's

Commanding General

Zheng Zhilong

I, Zheng Zhilong

along with wife and son Zheng Sen

Have come to pay our respects to the Emperor

Please rise

Let me see

So you are Zheng Sen

Yes

I heard of you long ago

When you were eleven

You expressed your loyalty to the country...

By expounding upon the virtues...

Of the rulers of former dynasties

It is no wonder that within one year

at the imperial academy

The entire city of Nanjing all knew

The greatness of Zheng Sen

Thank you your majesty

The Ming dynasty Emperor Longwu

confers upon Zheng Sen...

The emperor's surname Zhu

the first name Chenggong...

And the title Earl of Loyalty

Zheng Chenggong, the Imperial Namekeeper!

Your father is already the Commanding General

of Fujian Province

I appoint you in charge of m*llitary governors...

Commanding the lmperial Army

We kowtow to our benevolent majesty!

On your feet

Zheng Zhilong...

I have seen today's report from Shaanxi Province

The Qing troops have taken the cities Nanking...

As well as Zhengjiang Shaoxing and Hangzhou

Now

They're encamped at the border

between Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces

w*r is now at our doorstep

Your majesty

dispatching Li Wai to strengthen the front line

My imperial army is at your command...

Why do you only hold recuse

but not att*ck Qing Army?

Your majesty

The Qing Army comes from the north

In Fujian, mountains surround us on three sides...

The ocean surrounds the fourth side

Fujian is difficult to att*ck and easy to defend

Fujian's prosperity depends entirely

on maritime trade with the world

During the reign of Emperor Chongzhen...

According to the imperial ban on maritime trade

Only Fujian was permitted

to continue trading with the world

I believe...

Our most urgent task

is to protect our home province

guarantee the continuation of maritime trade

Father

Zheng Zhilong...

I could not have become emperor

without your support...

Now, most of China is not under my rule

Why should you remain in my service?

I promise to hold secure Fujian Province

Are you only concerned about Fujian?

We can only reclaim Taiwan if Fujian is secured

And by reclaiming Taiwan

we will strengthen our maritime trade

Only when our court is prosperous...

Can we have sufficient power

to drive the Qing out of China

You don't know the m*llitary affairs

Reporting from frontline

m*llitary Governor Gan Hui!

Two Dutch warships

fired upon Fujian's trading vessels

They engaged in battle all the way

from the Taiwan Straits to Mazu

I have a treaty with

the Dutch Viceroy Kuye in Taiwan

They are not permitted to interfere

with the Fujian trading vessels

How could he break the treaty! We must retaliate

Inform the batteries to fire the canons!

Yes, sir!

My highness

Please don't watch what my father says

Fire!

Over there

Father

My son, never forget...

You must always protect Fujian Province

and our home

Yes, sir

att*ck!

Bravo!

Nice job

Have some tea

Mother, please go ahead

Mother

Forget the sadness arising

from your argument about

Father's mauner of anti-Qing

Father selected this dish

Buddha jumping the wall. Just for you

The story is that. This dish is so fragrant...

Even when monks catch whiff of it...

They jump over the monestary wall

just to steal a few bites

That is why this dish is called

Buddha jumping the wall

I can already smell its wonderful fragrance

Mother

Mother, this is hibiscus and swallow nest soup

The tide of a thousand years;

the tears of ten thousand people

Form this bitter ocean water

The wind blows south; the clouds move north

But neither can carry my grief away

Searching for one's home on horizon far away

Reuniting with parents only in dreams

My wish always pushes me on!

I ask the plum blossom in the old courtyard:

When can I return?

Pipa is my voice but fails to relieve my worries

Who understands the feelings of these strings...

And the meaning of this song

My lady

I would like to express my gratitude again

for saving my life

You're the girl who was drowning at sea

Your song expresses heartfelt sorrow

My son says your singing expresses

longing for your parents

Can you tell me why?

My lady

I am from Taiwan

During Emperor Tianqi's rule

The Taiwanese revolted against the Dutch...

But unexpectedly, it did not succeed

My parents were both k*lled

Many of us fled to Fuzhou

Please, my girl

Come with me

I shall be your mother

lmperial Namekeeper!

lmperial Namekeeper!

lmperial Namekeeper!

My respected elders

Zheng Chenggong is at your service...

And await your instructions

I see two people down below

Lower the drawbridge!

It is Officer Zhang

from the Commanding General's headquarters...

But I don't recognize the others

Officer Zhang, who are those among you?

These three are here

to see the Commanding General

Lower the bridge

Adpted sister, you are looking about your home

Please return, otherwise mother will be worried

The gracious commander Zheng!

Why the long journey?

What is it that you want?

The Qing Emperor has sent this imperial decree

He offers you the post of Viceroy of Fujian

and Guangdong Provinces

Viceroy of Fujian and Guangdong Province?

Yes, in addition to Fujian Province...

Guangdong Province

will also be under your command

This is a very important decision

Please allow me to think it over

The Qing Emperor

is also very concerned about Taiwan

If Dutch is defeated

and Taiwan is returned to China

According to the rule established by the Ming...

Taiwan will also be placed under your command

Thank you lmperial Namekeeper!

lmperial Namekeeper!

Your father has instructed...

Not to allow anyone to enter

What affairs can be so confidential

as to be kept a secret from me

I don't know

Your father has ordered the area cordoned off

As you can see...

Guards are positioned throughout the compound

Your majesty. Please rise

Only you can be Anasted

I have received the latest intelligence report

Not only are there traitors

among the Ming troops at Xianxia Pass...

But

they are also colluding

with the Dutch imperialists

This is very serious

You must go to Xianxia Pass

and supervise the m*llitary

Obtain the general's seal and take over command

Yes, your majesty

If necessary, behead the general

Yes, your majesty

You are a loyalist

This is strictly confidential. Be on guard!

That's right, look straight ahead

You still haven't hit the bull's eye

Try again

Let's see about this time

Excuse us miss

Please let us pass

It seems like there is trouble

Something is certainly up...

Otherwise the palace eunuch...

Would not be so frantic

What has happened?

The Emperor dispatched Chenggong

to the m*llitary front

As commander of the imperial army...

Of course, he must obey the emperor's orders

You don't understand

He has only taken twenty men with him

This is very serious

Not even you have been informed

The imperial army

only obeys the emperor's orders

But you are the Commanding General

Aren't the daily movements of the imperial army

Also reported to you?

Don't make wild guesses about the army

Of course the army is not any concern of mine...

But Sen'er, my son, means the world to me

I beg you to have him return home safely

General

The imperial guards

have cordoned off the compound

The Emperor is a fool. How dare he watch me?

Xueliang, you are the only one

who can sneak into town

Remember...

After leaving the city gate, follow the shoal

Hurry along the footpath and catch up to Sen'er

I know

I took all the footpaths before

when I was homeless

Xuelaing, when you see Sen'er...

Tell him that his father and mother

want him to come back immediately

He must not go to Xianxia Pass

Do you understand?

I know

What if Sen'er refused to come back...

And insists on going to Xianxia Pass?

Xueliang

Li Wei fights with a sword

in both his left and right hands

Sen'er is aware of this

If he insists on going to Xianxia Pass...

You must have him put on

this leather armor vest

before he can go

If Li Wei behaves recklessly

then he must be k*lled

Is that a scout?

Let's seize him and find out

Isn't this Xueliang?

Xueliang

lmperial Namekeeper

Why are you here?

lmperial Namekeeper

your father sent me to tell you...

You must immediately return to Fuzhou

This mission is top secret

How does my father know?

Tell my father...

I must go to Xianxia Pass

You mustn't!

You mother insists you return to Fuzhou

I must obey the emperor

In that case, your father said if you must go...

I should give you this

What is going on?

I don't know

Your father said...

I must give this to you

My father wore this armored vest for thirty years

More years than I have been alive

My father must be sending a message

Your father said...

If Li Wei behaves recklessly...

You must k*ll him

I will have someone escort you back to Fuzhou

I want to go with you to Xianxia Pass

This is a very dangerous mission

You're a girl, you can't go

You father also mentioned...

Li Wei is a master swordsman...

And very cunning

Wait, it's Zheng Chenggong

Why has he come?

I must report to General Li by a faster footpath

Remember, you must keep your queues

hidden from view

Yes, sir

General, Zheng Chenggong is coming

Stop! Don't shave him. Clean this up!

Hurry! Conceal your queues!

Quickly put on your helmets! Hurry!

Zheng Chenggong is coming! Hurry!

Put on your helmets! Tuck in your queues!

Attention all officers...

Zheng Chenggong is coming. Hurry!

Keep calm!

General Li

please excuse this sudden interruption

Taiwan's Viceroy Kuiyi

would like to present these gifts to General Li

What is this?

General Li, please also accept...

This bank check for 3,000 pounds of silver

We know General Li is a brave warrior

Viceroy Kuiyi holds you in high esteem

I'm still not used to

wearing a queue upon my head

Right, tell me why you have come?

We would like to ask you...

To serve as a mediator...

Between the Dutch East India Company

in Taiwan and Zheng Zhilong

Regardless of whether you are

under the Ming or Qing Emperor...

We request the right

to freely enter Fujian Province...

And enter China's interior

I will certainly pass this on to General Zheng

Missus, please this way

Let's eat and drink

Everyone let's drink

Hurry

This drink will warm us up

Let's take off our caps

Wanli, you also take of your caps

lmperial Namekeeper

only the Emperor has the authority...

To patrol the m*llitary front

How can you say this!

The Qing has 150,000 soldiers

in the Fujian-Zhejiang border region

You must know this

The Qing Army is divided into eight divisions

Each banner is its own division

Their flags flutter all around us...

And we see their armor shining in the sunlight

With such few men

We will not be able to defend Fujian Province

When I was seven...

I recall reading in our teacher's garden

At that time, we were fellow students

The class bullies frequently picked on me

You were always willing to fight back...

Coming to my rescue

You...

You are a hero in my heart

Li Wei

That is only fourteen years ago

Are you no longer that same Li Wei?

Things are different today

When I went to Nanjing to meet you...

I passed through the cities...

Zhengjiang, Shaoxing, Hangzhou, and Yuhua

The Ming troops faced defeat everywhere

How could this not raise doubts?

We have both received the Ming emperor's favor

We must loyally serve him!

The emperor's favor?

How have you served your country?

The Ming emperor has given you a name...

To have you risk your life for his sake

You are doing just as told

Li Wei!

The Ming court...

Has fled in defeat all the way

from Beijing to Fujian

After Fujian is lost in battle

where will the court go next?

What use is there in defending Fujian?

Li Wei, watch what you say!

Your life is at stake!

I will say what I want!

What are you doing!

Sit down!

Sit back down!

I've had too much of this strong drink

Bring more!

lmperial namekeeper

Please forgive me

Who is that playing?

Xue Liang, my adopted sister

What noisy racket!

It is the masterpiece Ambush

Guards!

Yes, sir!

What are you doing?

I want to invite your adopted sister to join us

Such a masterpiece...

Should be better appreciated

Let me go!

lmperial Namekeeper, you are surrounded!

Look out for the arrows!

Xueliang!

Stop!

Step back!

Take them off

Zheng Chenggong...

I recall our past friendship as schoolmates

I must reveal the truth to you

At midnight, my troops will surrender to the Qing

According the the Qing imperial decree...

Ming officials are to keep their titles

under the Qing

If you come with me...

You will also keep your title

The Ming imperial army...

Will not so easily surrender!

Even if you k*ll me...

You can not escape

My troops surround you

I will fight to the end for my country!

To live for loyalty

Even if it means my death...

I will never shave my head

and surrender to the Qing

Bringing scorn upon myself!

We from Fujian will never...

Surrender to the Qing!

lmperial Namekeeper

lmperial Namekeeper!

Li Wei, I will take your life!

It is better than becoming a traitor!

Wait, wait!

I am not the one. It is your father!

Shut up!

Viceroy of Fujian and Guangdong...

Have you made up your mind?

lmperial Namekeeper!

Throughout my life

I have always detested traitors

Although Li Wei is my friend

He had to come to this end

From today

All officers will be under

the command of Wan Li

I shall let the past be past

The devoted will be rewarded!

Xueliang

will remain with you while she recovers

You must give her your best care

Please rest assured

Go, go

Mr. Zhang

My husband

Mr. Zhang, where are they going?

Master...

Your father is going to Beijing

Father, mother

My son, you have come back

Father, I have k*lled Li Wei

What!

Li Wei told me...

You had given him the order

Of course, he is under my command

To surrender?

I am not surrendering

But Li Wei's troops

have already shaved their heads

Perhaps you have not yet heard

Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces

have all been taken by the Qing troops

Even your teacher Qian Xianyi

now pays allegiance to the Qing

No, he could never have surrendered to the Qing

There must be a mistake

How could there be a mistake...

In informing me...

About such an important matter?

My son

I know you don't want to think it possible...

But the Ming dynasty is coming to an end

In China's 2,700 year history...

From the Zhou dynasty until the present...

Only during the rule of the Ming...

Has Taiwan come under the rule of foreigners

There is no use in serving a court...

Which has decayed to this point

Father

the emperor has given me the imperial surname

And the first name Chenggong (Victory)

It is my duty to restrengthen the Ming

and reclaim Taiwan

Since times ancient

fathers have always taught their sons to be loyal

I have never heard of a father

teaching his son to be a traitor

How dare you declare yourself a traitor...

In front of your son and wife?

Insolence!

My son

Your father is not surrendering

The Qing Emperor has appointed me

Viceroy of Fujian and Guangdong

Only Hero understands and handles the situation

It is an either for hero

It is hopness for Ming frighting against Qing

Every emperior only devotes to internal struggle

even he is being destroyed

You can keep your loyalty

For the goodness of Zheng family

Separtion is our best choice

Master, everything is set to go

Father

if you go, you will be in grave danger

You can never return

I must express my appreciation to the emperor

Father!

Sen'er!

Father!

No

Father!

Take care of your mother

You really must leave us?

Father

Be careful!

If anything happens to you...

I will be filled with grief and take revenge!

Zheng's Father never again returned to Fujian

Qing Emperor finally decapitated him in 1662

att*ck!

lmperial Namekeeper, are you hurt?

lmperial Namekeeper

the western part of the city has been taken

att*ck!

Yun'er

Mother

Mother

Protect the lifeline of the Zheng family

Take the child!

Hope of Millions!

In August, 1946

Qing Dynasty captured Fuzhou's lmperial Court

Zheng's mother d*ed in the battle

Ming's last Emperor was captured

and Passed away in prison at Fuzhou

Mommy

Come here.

My son

It's an eagle

It's flying so high!

In the next 14 years

Zheng kept fighting Qing Dynasty

After defeated in Nanjing

He retreated to Xiaman in Fuijian Province

He faced The Netherlands Sea force's invasion

Holland's att*ck take away these tables

Quickly make room for the injured!

The sea is becoming more and more perilous

It's best for you

to move into the official residence

and live with us

I am only an adopted daughter...

And my mother

who adopted me is no longer with us

It's not appropriate for me

to stay in the official residence

In addition, while you look after the canons...

I see to the teahouse

This way we can help each other

Chenggong is still attending the canons

Please deliver this food to him

I known you take care lmperial Namekeeper

Chengong's arrow wound from the past become

even more painful by the wind and cold

I am busy

take this medicine to him as well

We would like to give you this medicine

You are worried about the situation today

Today

Many of my fellow soldiers...

Have been buried at sea

Xueliang

The first time I saw you...

Your music brought tears to my mother's eyes

I swear this even after ten years

To bring you back to your home in Taiwan

Everytime I set eyes upon the Hope of Millions

I am overcome with grief

Protection of Xiamen is not forever

If we plan to fight against Dutch

we have to take care Qing Army's attrack

We have to face enemies

I hesitate what to do next

lmperial Namekeeper has good planning

If you can defeat Dutch...

Taiwan is good for m*llitary traning

anti-Qing and reinstate the Ming Dynasty

And we would not be suppressed by the Dutch

Taiwan!

General, Chengong has arrived

lmperial Namekeeper

Wanli, how many canons can fit...

On the newly built vessel?

Thirty-six canons

Thirty-six! That many?

That's right. Even in your father's prime...

The w*r vessels he built...

Could hold only twelve canons

The Dutch canons may be more powerful

Quickly build more small warship

to defeat them

Mistress

Get yourself ready to enter the official residence

Xuelian

Xuelian, please come in

Chengong is preparing to wage w*r

He has put this Hope of Millions...

On the wall of his bedroom

From the morning bells to the evening drums...

He pledges to serve his country against

all hardships. He has decided to reclaim Taiwan

This is the reason why I invited you today

Xuelian, after you

When my father was at sea...

He had sent a man by the name of He Bin...

To go to Taiwan as a liaison with the Dutch

Xuelian, please sit

Chenggong says the first step

in reclaimingTaiwan is to find He Bin

This is strictly confidential

I have decided to go to Taiwan

The one thing...

Holding me back is Chenggong

These ten years

his body has become covered with wounds

Both his body and spirit...

Are much weaker than in the past

After going to Taiwan this time

most likely I will not return

I will entrust my husband in your care

You must take the best care of him

Agree?

Chenggong

I have made arrangements for the household

Make sure you take care of your health...

After I have left

lmperial Namekeeper

I beg you to let me go to Taiwan

in your wife's place

Xueliang

You can't do this! Get up quickly

You have been protected within the compounds

for many years

You are different from us commoners

I grew up in Taiwan...

I am the right person to go

But Xueliang...

Xueliang

Have you forgotten about yesterday?

Didn't you agree?

Xueliang!

Xueliang!

Please get up

More than ten years ago...

Your mother saved me

from drowning in the ocean

My life belongs to the Zheng family

Only until after you defent the Dutch and

recapture Taiwan...

Will I not feel as if my body is torn in pieces...

And be of no regrets

Xueliang

This is a m*llitary...

Xueliang!

lmperial Namekeeper!

Take this with you

This was given to my father

by the Ming emperor

Thank you, lmperial Namekeeper

Chikan Castle Taiwan

The East India Company insignias...

On the top of your staffs...

Indicate that we have granted you

the authority to collect tax

During this meeting of the Taiwan village elders

We shall punish...

The following village elders...

For their unsatisfactory tax collection

We punish the Sumer tribe of Taibei's Danshui

Taizhong's Fawolan tribe...

Taidong's Xibiyin tribe

and Langqiao's Shiba tribe

Go ahead

Colonel, they are the village elders

Let's continue

Do not be frightened

What are you doing! This is for my uncle

Give it back to me!

It's for my uncle!

Where are you from?

Fujian

What are you doing here?

I'm looking for my uncle

He is here as a liaison

His name is He Bin. Give it back to me!

What is his name?

He Bin

He Bin, come here

Do you recognize her?

No

Take her away

Colonel, wait

I recognize this sword

Sword?

Yes

This is my brother's sword

It was given to my brother by the Ming emperor

Your brother? The emperor?

Who is your brother?

He is a high-ranking officer

But you don't recognize her?

Colonel, I have been away from my home

for nearly thirty years

That is enough time for a woman to grow up

and give birth to a child

This sword indicates this girl is my niece

Uncle

My child, let's go

Your brother is gravely ill

You may return immediately

When you come back...

Bring your wife

and child with you

Thank you

I will come back as quickly as possible

You will be let out when your uncle returns

You are?

I'm Zheng Chenggong. He Bin?

At your service, lmperial Namekeeper

Please get up. Sit here

What about Xueliang?

Why didn't she come back with you?

She has been taken hostage by the Dutch

Excuse me, please

A map of the sea!

lmperial Namekeeper

The waterways in Taiwan

are complexly interconnected

Departing from Jinmen...

There is only one route...

In which large vessels can enter Taiwan's interior

Namely, Anpingkou

The Dutch are aware of this

Heavy a*tillery guards this location

And they have blocked off overland routes

I presumed this as well

I have been studying the island's geography

since my arrival

I discovered Lu'ermen

Lu'ermen?

Lu'ermen is located betwen the Lu'er archipelago

And the Beixianwei Island

From here

it is possible to reach the city of Chikan

I have investigated these islands

There are many coral reefs

and the waterways are windy

The water is also too shallow for large vessels

But every year Lu'ermen

experiences two high tides...

And this is when the route

is passable for large vessels

Can you guarantee this?

Yes

There are only two high tides each year

When is the first high tide?

The first of April

The first of April

Lu'ermen

lmperial Namekeeper, look!

The hightide has come

Defet Dutch and Reclaim Taiwan...

And you will be rewarded!

Order the vessels to raise their sails!

My god!

We are being att*cked!

att*ck!

Captain

the Ming troops are attacking the fortress

Turn the ship around and prepare for battle

Yes, sir

lmperial Namekeeper

the Dutch vessels are coming from behind

lmperial Namekeeper what can we do?

The Dutch cannons are more powerful than us

Use the warship to sink it!

He Bin, come back!

He Bin!

Stay back!

He Bin!

lmperial Namekeeper!

General, I beg you to let the girl go

She is innocent

Take me instead

He Bin!

General

He Bin! lmperial Namekeeper!

Get the canons! Bring up the canons!

lmperial Namekeeper!

Xueliang!

Fire

In 23 December, 1661

The Dutch Viceroy in Taiwan

decided to surrending

and return to Batavia

After Zheng liberated Taiwan

he established the township in Taiwan

Anping, Tianxing and Wanpian

I have finally proven my loyalty Zheng said

In 1662

Zheng d*ed of illness at the age of 39 at Anping

In 1683

Zheng's grandson surrendered to Qing Dynasty

Taiwan returned to his Motherland again