Silent Tides Episode 23 Recap
> Silent Tides Recaps
General Yazaki Kanju summoned Sawa Eisaku for a severe reprimand regarding his recent series of failures. He revealed that the Japanese high command, in an effort to stabilize trade relations with Portugal, had ordered the immediate and unconditional return of all goods seized from Portuguese merchants. When Sawa protested about losing control over trade, Yazaki told him to stop living in a fantasy world.
He ordered Sawa to recognize reality and find a way to compete without losing further ground to the Chinese merchants. At the Bachongtian Club, Qiao Yinwan performed a violin solo of "Safe Journey" for the guests. During the performance, Lok Pak took the opportunity to offer a sincere apology to He Xian, reflecting on his past lack of principles and the complexities of his identity as a Chinese child raised by Portuguese parents.
He shared how he had often felt like an outsider to both cultures, leading him to be overly diplomatic. Now, however, he had resolved to resist Japanese pressure and ensure cooperation with the Chinese community. He Xian, moved by his honesty, promised that the Chinese merchants would stand united with the government. Lok Pak then subtly inquired about He Xian’s feelings for Qiao Yinwan.
He Xian clarified that while he cared for her, they were strictly friends, asking Lok Pak to ensure her safety at the club. To address the massive capital demands of the newly opened trade routes, He Xian convened a meeting at the Chengxin Company. He anticipated an exponential growth in trade that would strain Macau’s existing financial resources. To solve this, he formally presented a plan to Ma Wanqi to establish a Joint Reserve Fund for the Banking Association.
The proposal aimed to mobilize quality assets—including gold, silver, overseas deposits, and international stocks—into a single pool. Based on this, the association would issue commercial notes to serve as cash alternatives for merchants, effectively expanding Macau’s liquidity. The Japanese recognized that the Chairman of the Banking Association would hold the power to review all commercial notes, effectively controlling Macau’s trade secrets.
Sawa decided that instead of blocking the fund, they would ensure their own proxy won the upcoming election for the next Chairman. Ke Zhengping soon gathered his associates to analyze the situation, noting that the chairmanship was now the focal point of the struggle between Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese interests. The candidates were Suzuki Ichiro, Rodrigues, and He Xian. He Xian’s candidacy was particularly strong, backed by the unanimous endorsement of thirty-five Chinese member banks.
Desperate to stop He Xian, Sawa discovered that He Xian frequently ordered desserts from the Shuncheng Dairy Company for his children. Sawa decided to use this routine by planting a homemade explosive in a delivery box. Meanwhile, at the Bachongtian Club, Qiao Yinwan noticed the Japanese Special Operations Team ordering a large quantity of the same sweet soup. She became suspicious when she saw Yamaguchi Hisami personally carrying a box away with extreme caution.
She alerted Lok Pak to the strange behavior and later called He Xian’s home. He Xian arrived home and encountered the deliveryman at his gate. Thinking the family had ordered the treats, he carried the package inside. As He Xian's father, He Chengxi, prepared to open the box for the children, the phone rang. It was Qiao Yinwan, urgently warning him that the Japanese were meddling with the Shuncheng deliveries.
He Xian realized the trap and screamed for his father to get away, but he was a second too late. The homemade bomb detonated in his father’s hands. The blast injured the elderly man and left young Zai Zai with minor cuts. Fortunately, the injuries were not life-threatening. In the hospital, Dr. Ke Lin stabilized He Chengxi’s condition. Rodrigues called He Xian to offer his sympathies and ask if he still intended to attend the election.
Sawa, meanwhile, faced the wrath of Consul Fukue for his sloppy execution, though Sawa insisted the bomb served as a warning. However, the intimidation failed. He Xian met with Ke Lin, Yang Chang, and Ma Wanqi, declaring that he would not let his father and son’s suffering be in vain. He made a solemn request for them to care for his family should he fall the next day.
On the morning of the election, Huang Gongjie and his men lay in wait near the He residence. However, He Xian slipped out through a back exit arranged by Ke Lin. He was met by the Tai Ho Brotherhood and a formal escort from the Macau Police Department. The police informed He Xian that the Governor had personally authorized armed protection for him and the establishment of permanent security posts around his community.
Realizing the assassination attempt had failed, Sawa sent Consul Fukue to offer Rodrigues the twenty Japanese bloc votes on the condition that Rodrigues would cancel the Joint Reserve Fund proposal once re-elected. Rodrigues listened but remained skeptical of Japanese promises. At the election hall, presided over by Lok Pak and overseen by Chairman Gao, the tension was palpable. As the voting began, the Japanese representatives followed through on their deal, casting their votes for Rodrigues. However, the room was stunned when Rodrigues, casting the first vote on behalf of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino, bypassed his own candidacy and cast his ballot for He Xian.
