Important Moments in History - Taiwan Chapter ④/1683: Shi Lang's Conquest of Taiwan and Zheng Keshuang's Surrender to the Qing D

In July 1683, Shi Lang, the Admiral of Fujian, led over 20,000 sailors and more than 200 warships, departing from Tongshan (present-day Dongshan) and heading straight for Penghu. Liu Guoxuan, the main commander of the Zheng forces, deployed his main strength in Penghu, believing that frequent typhoons in June would deter the Qing forces from crossing. Unexpectedly, Shi Lang chose this very time to launch his expedition, catching them by surprise. In the Battle of Penghu, the Zheng army was routed, and Liu Guoxuan escaped back to Taiwan in a small boat. After the fall of Penghu, Taiwan's gateway was wide open, and the defeat of the Zheng regime was sealed. Shi Lang did not rush to advance into Taiwan island. Instead, he treated the surrendered captives well, sent people to rescue Zheng soldiers who had fallen into the water, and advised the imperial court to pardon and appease the Zheng family. The Kangxi Emperor agreed to the pacification. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Zheng Keshuang and Liu Guoxuan sent envoys to request surrender. In August of the same year, Shi Lang led his troops to Taiwan, where Zheng Keshuang shaved his head and welcomed them, handing over the seal of the King of Yanping. The Ming Zheng regime thus came to an end, and Taiwan was officially incorporated into the Qing territory. However, after taking Taiwan, there was a debate within the Qing court about whether to 'abandon Taiwan'. Some officials argued that Taiwan was isolated overseas and costly to govern, advocating for the relocation of its people to the mainland and the abandonment of the island. Shi Lang strongly opposed these views, submitting a memorial arguing for Taiwan's strategic and economic value: Taiwan was a barrier for the four provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, and if abandoned, the Dutch colonists might return. The Kangxi Emperor eventually adopted his proposal, establishing Taiwan Prefecture in 1684, which governed Taiwan, Fengshan, and Zhuluo counties, under the jurisdiction of Fujian Province. The impact of Taiwan's incorporation into the Qing territory was profound and complex. On one hand, Taiwan's administrative system was officially integrated with the mainland, Han Chinese immigrants continued to pour in, land reclamation and agricultural output significantly increased, and Taiwanese rice and sugar were exported in large quantities to the mainland. On the other hand, the Qing court imposed strict controls on Taiwan, very