Episode Summary
He Xian successfully hides the supplies, but the cost is incredibly high. Huang Sanhe acts as a decoy at sea and dies under Japanese fire. Rodrigues stays behind to burn the warehouse and is killed by Huang Gongjie. Gongjie retreats to the International Hotel, creating a tense hostage crisis that threatens to give the Japanese an excuse for a full military takeover.
Spoiler Alert
Silent Tides Episode 28 Recap
A Risky Gamble
Things are looking bad for the supply lines. He Xian decides to play a dangerous game. He hides the materials inside the Lianchang Company warehouse. It is a classic "hiding in plain sight" move. He meets with He Hongshen to set it up.
Meanwhile, the new Japanese consul, Imai Keiichi, lands in Macau. Sawa Eisaku wastes no time. He tells Imai that the Macau-Portuguese government is behind the Fukue assassination. He wants the Japanese military to take over the investigation. He claims he wants to protect Imai. It is a power grab.
The Decoy
Work continues at the Rodrigues company warehouse. The workers are rushing to move goods. But bad news arrives. Sawa has control of the case. Huang Gongjie is on his way with troops. Panic sets in. Rodrigues tells He Xian to leave. He wants to burn everything down right then. He Xian stops him. The supplies are too important to destroy yet.
Huang Sanhe steps up. He sends Huang Zixia away. He has a different plan. He will take a boat out to sea. He wants the Japanese to think the cargo is on board. This buys time for the real transfer. Before he leaves, Sanhe gathers his Dahao Gang brothers. He gives them a final lesson on loyalty. He tells them to stay true to their land and their people. He leaves a message for Zixia. Do not be impulsive. Keep the gang alive.
Death on the Water
Huang Gongjie sees the boat leave. He tells Sawa. Sawa orders a full pursuit. Imai asks why they are chasing a boat. Sawa lies. He says it is linked to the assassination and smuggling. Imai is suspicious. He demands full reports in the future.
Out on the water, Sanhe leads the Japanese fleet in circles. The navy opens fire. Gongjie’s men shoot up the deck. The Dahao Gang members fall one by one. Only Sanhe remains. He is shot multiple times. Blood soaks his clothes. He drags himself to the wheel. He grabs the ropes. He ties his own body to the mast. He pulls the cables tight. He refuses to let the sail fall.
Gongjie boards the boat. He shoots Sanhe two more times. He checks the hold. It is empty. Gongjie is furious. Sanhe coughs up blood and laughs. He mocks Gongjie one last time. He dies staring him down.
The Last Toast
Sawa realizes he fell for a trick. He screams at Gongjie to get back to the Rodrigues warehouse. Rodrigues is there alone. He pours gasoline over the few remaining supplies. He soaks the courtyard. He opens a bottle of wine. He looks out toward the sea. He raises a glass to Huang Sanhe. He drinks it in one go.
Gongjie kicks the door in. He tells Rodrigues to surrender. Rodrigues refuses. He says there are no Portuguese or Chinese people right now. There is only "Rodrigues of Macau." And Macau people do not kneel. He Xian, Ma Wanqi, and Guanye arrive just in time to watch. Rodrigues strikes a match. The courtyard explodes into flames. Gongjie shoots him. Rodrigues falls back into the fire.
The Standoff
Guanye leads the police to chase Gongjie. Gongjie calls Sawa for help. Sawa tells him to retreat to the International Hotel. He wants to make a huge scene. Qiao Yinwan arrives at the hotel just as Gongjie bursts in. His men take over the roof and the exits. They lock the doors. No one can leave.
The Macau police surround the building. It is a standoff. Huang Zixia wants to storm the place. He wants revenge for his brother. Ke Lin holds him back. He explains the trap. If they attack, the Japanese have an excuse to invade Macau with military force. Sanhe and Rodrigues would have died for nothing.
Inside the Japanese command, Imai yells at Sawa. He says this will ruin everything in Macau. Sawa ignores him. He claims he is just fighting anti-Japanese forces.
