Taiwan Strait

Author: Beicun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-07-01
Features: Most of Beicun's novels are centered around themes of life and love, possessing a unique artistic charm. In particular, middle-aged and young readers are especially fond of his works. Some say that Beicun's novels hold guiding significance for those who are in love, while resonating deeply with those who have already experienced both the sweetness and bitterness of love. In recent years, his works have not only been beloved by ordinary readers but have also won the admiration of prominent filmmakers. Many of his novels, such as Wu Zetian (Empress Wu), Urban Hunter, Zhou Yu's Train, and Taiwan Strait, have been adapted into films and TV dramas by directors such as Zhang Yimou, Wu Ziniu, Sun Zhou, and Zhang Shaolin. Another novel, Violated, has also been licensed for adaptation by director Jiang Wen.
During the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan was shrouded in a mood of disappointment and helplessness. The three brothers of the Zhong family yearned for the mainland of China. The second brother, Haoran, was forcibly conscripted into the Japanese army and sent to fight on the mainland. His father, unable to bear the humiliation, took his own life. Filled with rage, Haodong killed the commander of the Japanese Kwantung Army and, along with his younger brother Haohuan, his lover, and classmates, boldly crossed into the mainland to join the resistance. On the battlefield, Haohuan met a Kuomintang soldier named Li Ziqi. The two were ambushed by the surviving Japanese forces and made a brotherhood of life and death, vowing never to shoot each other if they met on the battlefield again.
After the Kuomintang's defeat, they retreated from Xiamen to Taiwan. To replenish their ranks, more than 4,000 young men and women were forcibly conscripted overnight, turning the village into a widow's town. During the retreat, Li Ziqi became separated from his newly wed wife, leaving her behind on the mainland. Later, his wife developed a sincere love for Haohuan. This is a story that is both steeped in historical facts and filled with poignant, emotional depth.