Silent Tides Episode 24 Recap
> Silent Tides Recaps
Following the pivotal vote at the Banking Association, Rodrigues took the lead by casting the first ballot for He Xian. Other banks followed suit, resulting in He Xian being elected as the Chairman of the Banking Association by a significant margin. Upon taking his new position, He Xian immediately moved to pass the Joint Reserve Fund proposal, effectively neutralizing the Japanese attempt to seize control of Macau’s financial sector.
Meanwhile, Yang Chang formally took over as the head of the British Army Aid Group’s Macau station. With the support of He Xian—who managed to "borrow" a spare telegraph machine from the bank’s inventory despite the Japanese ban on communication equipment—Yang Chang was finally able to establish a working signal and continue the legacy of the late Mary Jones. In 1943, Ma Wanqi finally recovered from tuberculosis under the dedicated care of Dr. Ke Lin.
He and Luo Baixin held a modest wedding in Macau, serving only tea to their guests. The fifty thousand silver dollars saved by foregoing a lavish banquet were donated entirely to the Guangdong Wartime Children’s Home to support orphans. A year and a half later, the global tide of war shifted as the Soviet Red Army launched a successful counteroffensive, and Allied forces pushed toward Paris.
Japanese Commander Tanaka Hisakazu convened a meeting with Sawa Eisaku and Matsui Shinji to assess the deteriorating situation. Yazaki Kanjuro pointed out that the Wugui Mountain Guerrilla Unit was the linchpin of the underground supply line between Zhongshan and Macau, leading to a resolute decision to encircle and annihilate the resistance fighters. By the summer of 1944, the Japanese military mobilized heavy forces for a four-pronged assault on the Wugui Mountain base.
The guerrillas suffered heavy casualties, and dozens of wounded men were left in desperate need of medical attention, with several requiring urgent surgery that could not be performed in Zhongshan. Upon hearing the news while meeting with the Tai Ho Brotherhood, Ke Lin immediately mobilized the staff at Kiang Wu Hospital to sign a petition to the Governor, requesting a special permit for Chinese doctors to perform surgeries—a right currently restricted to Portuguese surgeons by the Health Bureau.
At the Tai Ho Brotherhood warehouse, Water Ghost attempted to break into a cabinet to steal penicillin, but he quickly retreated when he heard footsteps. Liang Zhong entered and, unaware of the attempted theft, expressed concern for Water Ghost’s well-being. He gave the man some money to help his family, sternly warning him to stay away from opium.
However, Water Ghost’s addiction proved stronger than his gratitude; he soon stole two boxes of penicillin and took them to a tea house to trade for drugs, only to be caught red-handed by Huang Gongjie. Sawa Eisaku remained obsessed with seizing the tungsten controlled by the Tai Ho Brotherhood. Simultaneously, Fukae Yasumitsu delivered an urgent diplomatic note to the Portuguese Macau government demanding a joint anti-smuggling crackdown.
This forced a total suspension of merchant shipping and required all businesses to declare their inventories. British Consul Reeves was outraged when he realized this would stall a massive shipment of diesel fuel intended for Allied service groups in Shaoguan, Guilin, and Huizhou. He harshly criticized Governor De Solaire for his constant concessions to the Japanese, forcing the Governor to promise that the diesel would be moved as soon as possible.
Lok Pak and Rodrigues approached He Xian to discuss a plan to use the Steamship Sai On to smuggle the diesel under the guise of purchasing essential food supplies from Zhongshan. He Xian considered the plan extremely risky and questioned why the surgical permits for Kiang Wu Hospital were still being delayed. Gonçalves, fearing that treating "anti-Japanese rebels" would give the Japanese leverage against Macau’s neutrality, advised the Governor to use stalling tactics.
He assured He Xian the permits were being processed while privately intending to wait until the diesel was safely gone. He Xian offered a condition for his cooperation: he would act as the sole guarantor for the ship rental, taking the entire risk upon himself to protect the Portuguese merchants and the government from a complete disaster if the plot were discovered. However, Gonçalves and the Governor decided to prioritize the diesel over the lives of the wounded guerrillas.
The Health Bureau officially rejected the hospital’s petition, citing that Chinese doctors lacked the proper qualifications. Enraged by this blatant discrimination, the entire medical staff at Kiang Wu Hospital resigned in protest. When He Xian learned of the rejection, he confronted De Solaire at the Government House.
He pointed to the recent Shimen Massacre in Zhongshan, where forty-one villagers were killed by the Japanese because the guerrillas lacked the resources to move their wounded, and blamed the Governor’s delay for contributing to such tragedies. Realizing that De Solaire and Gonçalves had gone back on their word, He Xian’s disappointment turned to fury.
He refused to sign the guarantee for the Steamship Sai On and declared that the Chinese merchants would no longer cooperate with the government on any future matters. Though Lok Pak was troubled by the Governor's duplicity, Rodrigues eventually stepped forward to sign the guarantee himself to ensure the diesel shipment proceeded. While working at the docks, Water Ghost intentionally injured his hand, prompting Liang Zhong to send him away to rest.
He Xian and Ma Wanqi, feeling completely betrayed by the Portuguese authorities, decided to distance themselves from the government. Ke Lin urged them to maintain their composure for the sake of the bigger picture, noting that personal grievances were small compared to the war effort. That night, however, Water Ghost proved his true colors by leading Japanese agents to the Tai Ho Brotherhood’s pier. He ambushed Liang Zhong, while Huang Gongjie and his men slipped into the area and slaughtered the guards stationed at the docks.
