Twilight of a Nation

Kept under the eyes of YIP LING, SUI CHUEN pretends to-be seriously ill, and sends for KWAI FOOK, who is instructed to send a secret message to SUI SHING for the toppling of YIP LING. On learning that CHIU SHAO is killed by SUI SHING, YIP LING charges SUI SHING of treason. SUI CHUEN exposes her conspiracy, and kills her. KWOK FANG sends Xiang and Hui soldiers to attack An Wag. The morale of the Taipings, however, is boosted by SUI CHUEN's comeback. KWCK FANG sends MIU PUI LAM, a former Taiping, to collect information. When attacking Chengdu, SUEN KIU and TAK HOI receive news that the capital needs help, and commence on a return trip. On the way, they get into a .quarrel with the Mius, and, are trapped there. HUNG CHEUNG attacks SUEN KIU. A massive battlefront emerges; finally SUEN KIU and TAK HOI die on the battlefront.

On his death bed, HAM FUNG names the eldest brother TAI SHUN to succeed him. He also picks the incumbents for assisting the court. The queen takes over .after HAM FUNG is dead. She orders KWOK FANG to attack the Heavenly Kingdom immediately. CHEUNG FAT conspires with YIP LING while SUI CHUEN is confined to his sick bed. They manipulate their positions and rule the people harshly. TAK HOT tries to let SUI CHUEN know about CHEUNG FAI's misdeed before it's too late but is stopped by YIP LING. YIP LING persuades SUI CHUEN to cut back TAK HOI's authority. SUEN KIU tries to kill CHEUNG FAT on her own but fails. She follows TAK HOT and they flee to Szechuen. YIP LING agrees to give CHEUNG FAT the highest army position, while secretly sending CHIU SHAG to murder CHEUNG FAT and his wife.

SUI CHING also decorates his followers and orders a monument built to increase his credential and popularity. HAM FLING falls sick as his government is under foreign attack as well as challenged by internal revolts. The queen seizes power when the British army charges into the capital. The palace is on fire and HAM FLING escapes. The Peking Treaty is signed and the Kowloon Peninsula comes under British colonial rule. CHEUNG FAI follows SUEN KIU to Tin King and finds out that SO FLING is mulliated by SUI CHING. He is enraged and vows to avenge on SUI CHING. SUI CHUEN pretends to invite YAT KONG to follow him. Y.AT KONG refuses but the setup succeeds to arouse SUI CHING's suspicion. YAT KONG is not able to meet the deadline for the monument. SIN CHEUNG asks SUI CHING to give more time for YAT KONG. SUI CHING begins to suspect the two having an affair.… ...

Losing favor with SUI CHING, CHEUNG FAI tergiversates to YIP LING's camp. Resented, SUI CHING imprisons CHEUNG FAI who finally escapes. The conflict between SUI CHING and YIP CHING is mounting. Each has his own power position and each uses every opportunity to attack the other. SUI CHING again pretends as the Heavenly Father and asks SUI CHUEN for more power. SUI CHUEN doesn't want his people to lose trust in the heavenly father and is unwilling to expose SUI CHING's intrigues. YIP LING persuades SUI CHUEN to call up his generals and forces SUI CHING to surrender his authority. However, SUI CHING has already bribed the generals and keeps' SUI CHUEN and YIP LING under captivity. CHEUNG FAI gets away to TAK HOI's camp and talks of SUI CHING's revolt. SUEN KIU and YUK SHING break away from the Chings and return to Nanking.… ...

SUI CHUEN decides to publish a book to spread the truth of the Heavenly Father. Out of jealousy and in order to compete for popularity, SUI CHING also commissions a book. YIP LING learns of his intention and puts a stop to the printing. This is YIP LING's first step to get her involved in politics. However, YIP LING fails to earn herself the Queen's title inspite of her various intrigues and SHUK KUEN's dismissal from the palace. Angry with YIP LING, SUI CHING pretends that he is sent b' YIP LING to kill SHUK KUEN and her father. He saves the father and daughter and at the same time sets fire to the place. He spreads rumor that YIP LING is responsible. As YIP LING has plans to kill them, she is overjoyed, thinking that her plan has been realized.

KWOK FANG decides to send his army to fight against the Taipings KWOK CHUEN tries to persuade SHUK KUEN to leave and follow him as the Chings are approaching. SUI CHUEN mistakenly thinks that the two have an affair and orders the imprisonment of KWOK CHUEN. YIP LING releases KWOK CHUEN from the prison and makes SUI CHUEN to believe that it's SHUK KUEN's intrigue. SHUK KUEN is dismissed from the palace. YIP LING offers to take care of KWAI FOOK, and SUI CHUEN finally takes YIP LING as his wife. After his escape, KWOK CHUEN dwells among the common people and finds that the Taipings have been treating people badly. He decides to rush back and helps KWOK FANG to destroy SUI CHUEN. KWOK FANG's soldiers are marching near Nanking on SUI CHUEN'S wedding day. SUI CHING takes control and orders YAT KONG and SUI SHING to lead the army. Ching loses the war completely and CHUNG YUEN commits suicide.

The British and American convoys are after the selling of opium in the Taiping Kingdom. SUI CHUEN opposes it, which results in mutual antagonism. In order to plant more supporters in the Kingdom, SUI CHINE suggests the convening of civil examinations for both men and women, but rigs the results so as to enable SIN CHEUNG to get the top marks. PO YING is suspicious that someone has rigged the results, and complains to YUK SHINE. YUK SHINE interrogates SUI CHINE, which ends up infuriating him. YUK SHINE is imprisoned. Fearful that YUK SHINE will be killed, PO YING asks SUI CHUEN for help. SUI CHUEN orders an investigation, but SUI CHINE destroys the evidence, and insists on the results. SUI CHUEN is furious. YIP LINE and KWAI FOOK find themselves in the wake of an earthquake during an outing. YIP LINE protects KWAI FOOK, leaving him unhurt. SUI CHUEN and wife invite YIP LINE to stay with them.… ...

When SUI CHUEN and the others arrive at Yick Yeung to meet with the Taipings, they discover that HAM FLING has ordered the arrest of members of the Eighth Flags. Ching soldiers, however, loot along their ways, thus enabling the Taipings to recruit new followers. SUI CHINE discovers that they lack food supplies. Some of his men start looting in Fa Kiu town, which greatly grieves SIN CHEUNG. SUI CHINE realizes the disadvantages of staying in the hills, and decides to rejoin SUI CHUEN. Fearful that Ching soldiers will find out that his ancestors have worked for the Eighth Flags, MASTER CHEUNG orders LEE CHIU SHAO to destroy related documents. CHIU SHAO complies, but finds a map depicting the secret locations of foreign-made cannons. The Ching soldiers arrive and kill the CHEUNGs. CHIU SHAO masquerades as a Ching soldier and escapes. He bumps into SUI CHINE, and joins his camp. SUI CHINE follows the map, and finds the firearms.… ...

On passing Hua Qiu town, SUI CHING and SUI SHING lodge at the Fu's, who are being extorted by bandits. SUI CHING defeats the bandits easily, and group them under the Taiping banner. SIN CHEUNG, Fu's daughter, adores SUI CHING, but is advised by her father, who is good in reading faces, that SUI CHING will not have an easy death,' and that he is not a good match for her. SIN CHEUNG, however, disregards his advice. Fu is kidnapped by the bandits for turning to outside help, but is saved by SUI GHING. SUI CHING becomes aware of SIN CHEUNG' feelings, and delays his departure in order for SIN CHEUNG to marry him. SUI CHUEN and SUEN KIU spend all their money on the reads, and seek help from MASTER SEE, who has very different political opinions, and they end up quarreling. Feeling humiliated, SEE seeks help from local county officials, who pursue SUI CHUEN.… ...

Blaming himself for the failure of the attack, CHIU KWAI Offers his position to SUI CHING, this pleases the latter. Having set back the Taipings several times, CHUNG YUEN is decorated by HAM FLING. HAM FLING sends HONG WING to help, and with cannons, the two take over Chu Lam city. YAT KONG brings back TAK HOI on his mission. TAK HOI realizes that staying at Guilin means destruction for the Taipings, and recommends SUI CHUEN to move to Yick Yeung, and collaborate with TAK YAN and son there. When they are ready to leave, CHUNG YUEN arrives with his army. Amidst the fighting, SUEN KIU goes into labor, and CHIU KWAI is seriously wounded for defending her. . LAI CHUNG volunteers to venture out of the city to find herbal medicine for CHIU KWAI, but is captured by Ching soldiers and sent to KWOK CHUEN. LAI CHUNG begs KWOK CHUEN to help the Taipings; KWOK CHUEN agrees, and pretends to be threatened by LAIC CHUNG.… ...

SUI, CHINO sends his army to pursue the Chings, but is trapped by CHUNG YUEN, and loses the battle. YING and PANG also cause the Taipings substantial loss by setting fire to their grain. SUI CHING is suspicious of YING and PANG, and sends CHEUNG FAI to test them. CHEUNG Fai finds out their true identities, but SUI CHING keeps the secret to himself, seeking an opportunity to make use of them. KWOK CHUEN finds out that CHUNG YUEN has killed all the prisoners of war and intends to stage a massacre on entering Guilin. KWOK CHUEN is displeased. WAN SHAN and LAI CHUNG meet KWOK CHUEN, who inform them of CHUNG YUEN's plan and advises them to flee as soon as possible. The two inform SUI CHUEN. SUI CHING accuses KWOK CHUEN of tricking the Taipings to abandon the city, and recommends defending the city.… ...

On arrival, LAI CHUNG and daughter go inside the city walls to collect intelligence, but are uncovered and pursued by the enemy. Luckily, LEE SUI SHING saves them. SUI SHING's father was summoned by the courts to manufacture. bullets and cannons. Having turned it down, Lee's father is put into prison without a formal charge, and died there. SUI SHING has therefore only hatred for the Ching, and agrees to join the Taiping after learning about LAI CHUNG's identity. From SUI SHING, SUI CHUEN learns that the Ching soldiers lack military supplies, and stages a quick, successful attack. SUI SHING is decorated as a general by SUI CHUEN, but is enlisted by SUI CHING. On learning that HONG WING's attempts fall through, HAM FLING asks KWOK FANG to assemble troops to fight the Taipings.… ...

Realizing that SUI CHING is enlisting support for his camp, WAN SHAN advises SUI CHUEN to cut back his military power. SUI CHUEN declines, fearful that this will demoralize the army. Knowing that the aim of the Taipings is to restore order in the court and the country, KWOK CHUEN advises KWOK FANG to make SUI CHUEN surrender rather than exterminating him. KWOK FANG decides against it because of his allegiance to HAM FUNG. The Taiping army launches a surprise attack on HONG WING when he is attacking Kam Tin village. HONG WING fails, and escapes. Without consulting anyone; SUI CHING distributes grain to the .villagers, and enlists prisoners-of-war into his army in order to build his power and name. TAK HOI advises SUI CHUEN to show off his authority during a sermon. SUI CHING is dissatisfied, and purposefully cuts grain supply.… ...

Realizing that this is an opportunity, SUI CHING gives a sermon to win followers over, and plans to seize power from SUI CHUEN, The latter, encouraged by the Holy Father, is exuberant with confidence during the meeting, to the dismay of SUI CHING. SUI CHUEN gets married to SHUK KUEN, as the latter has taken good care of him. Knowing that HONG WING has wiped out some of his followers, SUI CHUEN puts TAK HOI, WAN SHAN, and SUI CHING in charge of a battalion each, and sets down strict military codes for fighting the Manchus. Unable to usurp SUI CHUEN's position, SUI CHING wants to entice CHID KWAI into his camp. The latter, however, remains loyal to SUI CHUEN, to the disappointment of SUI CHING. TIN FONG and CHEUNG CHID break the military code by peeping at SO FUNG, and are severely punished. They decide to leave. SUEN KIU decides to enlist women soldiers to strengthen her battalion, which turns out to be a great success.

On learning that LAM is taking over, SUI CHUEN actively strengthens army discipline, and collaborates with the Heaven and Earth Society. . TAI KONG suggests making peace with CHEK CHUI. Everyone agrees except SUI CHING, who wants to demonstrate his power, and to become the leader of the Heavenly Father Society. SUI CHING assassinates CHEK CHUI, who is seriously injured. TAK HOI and TAI KONG arrive in time to stop SUI CHING, and take CHEUK CHUI back with them. CHIU KWAI attends to CHEUK CHUI's wounds and tries to convince him into joining them. CHEK CHIU declines, and is imprisoned. TAI KONG sets him free in secret. Disgruntled, SUI CHING pretends to be possessed by the Heavenly Father, and blames SUI CHUEN for setting CHEK CHUI free. The latter is convinced, but not SUEN KIU and TAK HOI. SUI CHING also forces TAI KONG to leave.

SUI CHUEN meets SHEK TAK HOI, a gifted man with a wish to save the country, and invites him to join the Society. TAK HOI agrees. Being well versed in the art of SUEN ZHE, TAK HOI asks SUI CHUEN to cast better weapons. KAY PING forces CHO SUM to show results. Fearful of SUI CHUEN, CHO SUM sends his troops to attack Kam Tin, captures some old men and disguises them as SUI CHUEN's followers in order to appease the court. CHUNG TONG uncovers his trick, and is dismissed. SUEN KIU meets SHUK KUEN, the daughter of LAI CHUNG, a weapon maker.… ...

In order to escape from the officials, SUI CHUEN continues his way to Guangxi. Having no better alternative, CHEUNG FAI follows. With a tight deadline for arresting SUI CHUEN, ZONE NING begin,; a series of execution to force SUI CHUEN to surface. SUI CHUEN is unmoved. In order to please SUEN KIU, SUI CHING undertakes to assassinate ZONE NING alone, but is trapped instead. SUEN KIU and CHIU KWAI save him, but SUEN KIU falls over a cliff. Luckily, she is saved by the Heaven and Earth society. SUI CHUEN plans a prison raid. Seeing how risky it is, WAI CHING decides to risk her life for SUEN KIU's freedom. ZONE NING ignores the father-daughter relationship, and plans to be commended by turning her in to the court. WAI CHING refuses to yield to torture. ZONE NING announces that SUEN KIU and WAI CHING will be beheaded in Guangzhou.… ...

On learning that KAY YING is sending loads of opium to Quangdong, the Heaven and Earth Society sets fire to it. Infuriated, KAY YING sends ZONE NING to eradicate the Society. Worried about TAI KONG, WAI CHING looks for him, and finally finds him. Having discovered that WAI CHING has turned to another religion, TAI KONG is furious, and forces her to go to Taiwan to continue fighting the Chings. Realizing that WAI CHING is in love with SUI CHUEN, SUEN KLU arranges for their marriage. TAI KONG agrees reluctantly. On their wedding night, official TANG organizes an attack, and as a result WAN SHAN is captured, and is tortured. WAN SHAN refuses to supply any intelligence. Saved by PANG CHOI, a mine worker, he gradually recovers. CHUK SUN plans -to kill WAN SHAN on the seventh day of his son's death; WAN SHAN sends PANG CHOI to seek help, and is finally saved by CHIU KWAI and others.

Episode 8 CHUK SUN sets up a small fighting unit, led by SIU CHID KWAI, and plans to attack the Heavenly Father Society. CHUK SUN plans to punish an adulterer and an adulteress the traditional way. The two seek help from SUI CHUEN, who pleads for them. CHUK SUN refuses to listen, and orders CHIU KWAI to stop SUI CHUEN from interfering. WAN SHAN is injured, but SUEN KIU arrives in time to fight CHIU KWAI. She is defeated, but CHIU KWAI is taken by her good looks. SUI CHUEN flees and takes refuge at a follower's. Feeling that his followers have increased and the need for establishing a society to fight the enemies, SUI CHUEN formally sets up the Heavenly Father Society. CHIU KWAI is sent to capture SUI CHUEN, but bumps into SUEN KIU, who convinces shim to join the Society.… ...

SUI CHUEN turns into a religious fanatic, and plans to advocate his ideas. Since WAN SHAN has different opinions, SUI CHUEN leaves him in order to preach on his own. Pursued, WAN SHAN hides himself in a church, and is offered shelter by a priest. Moved, WAN SHAN decides to preach with SUI CHUEN. SUI CHUEN baptizes WAN SHAN. Missing her mother and SUI CHUEN, WAI CHING feels miserable. TAI KONG advises her to channel her grief into doing something productive. Trapped in a cave by Ching soldiers, members of the Society face food supply problems. Since many members are killed, they plan to move back to Taiwan in order to recuperate. ZONE NING tracks them down and attacks them. TAI KONQ manages to break out of the sabotage, but WAI CHING is encircled, and faints. She is saved by two villagers. When preaching, SUI CHUEN and WAN SHAN convert a temple into a church, and burn down the Buddas and offerings.… ...

Back to the motel, WAI CHING discovers that her mother is killed. She is grievous, and decides to avenge on ZONE NING. WAN SHAN and SUI CHUEN fail the examinations again. Nonetheless, SUI CHUEN decides to try again. At home, CHUEN's father is arranging SUEN KIU's marriage to CHAN KING CHO. SUEN KIU discovers that KING CHO 4 in love with an attendant, and arranges for them to elope. Looked down upon by his family, SUI CHUEN is very upset, and becomes uncontrollable at the ancestor's shrine. At the same time, MASTER CHAN learns of the elopement, and thinks it is all a trick of the HUNG's. He demands the dowry back. Feeling he has no decent place to go, SUI CHUEN plans to leave his hometown, but falls sick on the way. He meets WAN SHAN again, who takes him to the Society. Realizing the corruptness of the court, WAN SHAN decides to join the Society. SUI

On the way to the court, SUI CHUEN is beaten up when he refuses to be extorted. A passerby, FUNG WAN SHAN pleads for him, but is beaten up as well. The two, however, are saved by the missionary, who preaches to them. Taught in Confucian and Meng Zhe traditions, the two are unmoved. The missionary leaves behind two copies of his books, but the two have no regard for it. In the middle of the night, SUI CHUEN overhears TAI KONG and WAI CHING's plan to kill KAY YING. Fearing that he will spread the news, the Society keeps SUI CHUEN captive. WAN SHAN finds that SUI CHUEN is missing, and while' inquiring, is trapped by WAI CHING and kept together with SUI CHUEN. In a reception dinner for KAY YING, the Society plans an assassination, but fails. TAI KONG is injured, but escapes successfully. Pursued by soldiers, WAI CHING admits to her mother that she belongs to the Society.… ...