Narrator: 228 A.D.
IT WAS A TIME WHEN CHINA WAS DIVIDED
AMONG THREE KINGDOMS--
WEI, WU AND SHU.
THE COUNTRY WAS PLAGUED BY CONSTANT WAR
WHILE ITS PEOPLE SUFFERED FROM HARDSHIP AND FAMINE.
IT WAS FROM THIS TURMOIL THAT A HERO WOULD ARISE.
HIS NAME WAS ZILONG OF SHU KINGDOM.
I VOW TO GUARD PHOENIX HEIGHTS.
AND I SHALL DO SO WITH MY LIFE.
IT IS MY VOW
TO CAPTURE ZHAO ZILONG.
(women sobbing)
Luo Ping-An's voice: WE ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
I, PING-AN, HAVE ALWAYS DREAMED BIG
AND ASPIRED TO PRODUCE SUCCESS.
JUST AS A DOG NEEDS TO FIND A GOOD MASTER,
SO HAD I CHOSEN TO JOIN LIU'S FORCES.
IT WAS AT LIU'S CAMP
WHERE I FIRST MET ZILONG.
- WHERE ARE YOU FROM? - CHANGSHAN.
- YOUR NAME? - ZHAO ZILONG.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AWAY FROM HOME?
WELL, NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW.
WHY ARE YOU JOINING LIU?
TO END THE WAR,
AND GET MARRIED, IF ALL GOES WELL.
DO YOU THINK THERE'LL BE PEACE?
WE CREATE OUR--
OUR OWN DESTINY.
HERE YOU GO, ZHAO ZILONG.
Ping-An: THIS IS THE FRONT LINE OF LIU'S ARMY.
CAO'S ARMY IS MUCH STRONGER
AND QUITE DETERMINED TO ELIMINATE LIU.
THEREFORE, LIU HAS ORDERED US TO INTENSIFY
THE FORTIFICATION OF THE FORTRESS
WHILE WE WAIT FOR BACKUP FORCES.
Man: COME ON, UP HERE.
PUT IT DOWN. HELP ME.
THERE IT IS. THAT'S GOOD.
RIGHT NOW I'M HERE.
SO CHANGSHAN
MUST BE HERE.
(chuckles) CHANGSHAN IS MILES FROM THERE.
YOU FOOL, DON'T YOU EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE FROM?
LOOK.
CHANGSHAN IS OVER HERE.
MMM, TASTELESS.
I'M FROM CHANGSHAN.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
IF WE FIGHT FOR LORD LIU
AND SURROUND THIS ENTIRE TERRITORY,
THEN WE'LL FINALLY HAVE PEACE.
AND WE CAN RETURN AS HEROES TO CHANGSHAN.
DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT--
THAT WE CAN SUCCEED?
LISTEN, YOU JUST DO AS I SAY
AND WE'LL TAKE THIS TERRITORY.
HOW LONG...
HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?
FIVE YEARS.
DO YOU MISS HOME?
WHO WOULDN'T?
BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN BACK SINCE THEN.
ONE MUST ALWAYS DREAM...
AND ASPIRE TO PRODUCE GREAT SUCCESS.
WHEN I RETURN
IT'LL BE WITH GLORY.
BROTHER.
IT'S YOURS.
- FOR ME? - MMM.
THE REAL MAP IS IN MY HEART.
PSST.
Man: WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
Man #2: "WHEN THE FORTRESS FALLS,
ANNIHILATION WILL FOLLOW." WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
- Man #3: IT JUST APPEARED. - Man #4: I DON'T LIKE THE LOOK OF IT.
Man #5: I WANT TO SEE. GET OUT OF MY WAY.
Man #6: DON'T GET TOO CLOSE.
(slurping)
- WHAT'S GOING ON? - SOMETHING STRANGE.
OUTSIDE THE FRONT GATE
SOMEONE LEFT THAT BOX ON A TABLE.
ALSO, AN EMISSARY SENT BY LORD LIU.
- REINFORCEMENTS? - DOES HE LOOK LIKE ONE?
HOW MANY OTHER MEN?
CAME ALONE.
- ALONE? - MM-HMM.
CAO'S ARMY WILL ATTACK,
I'M WARNING YOU, IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THEY WON'T WAIT LONG.
IN FACT, MOST LIKELY TOMORROW.
(clamoring)
(men gasp)
Man: I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM.
WHO PUT THEM THERE?
THERE ARE PROBABLY 4,000 SOLDIERS.
8,000 MORE LIKELY.
YOU'RE PRETTY CERTAIN, AREN'T YOU?
ACTUALLY, THERE ARE ABOUT, SAY...
10 MEN PER STOVE IN THE CAMP.
AND THERE ARE 1,000 STOVES.
10,000 MEN?
I DIDN'T WANT THE NUMBERS TO SCARE ANYONE.
- THEN NOTHING CAN SAVE US. - WE HAVE NO CHANCE.
- ALL IS LOST. - WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!
- IT'S OVER. - WE'RE ALL DOOMED.
CAO IS A MASTER IN THE ART OF WAR.
BUT HE'S ALSO A BIT
OVERLY CAUTIOUS.
EACH DAY THEY COULD HAVE MOVED 25 MILES.
INSTEAD, THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN DOING ABOUT EIGHT.
IT'S CLEAR HE HAS CONCERNS.
CONCERNS? CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT?
ABOUT SOMEONE IN OUR ARMY.
- WHO'S THAT? - LIU'S ADVISOR.
ZHUGE.
(chuckles)
A BATTLE IS LIKE CHESS.
INSTEAD OF STANDING PAT,
PLAYING DEFENSIVELY...
YOU MUST SACRIFICE A ROOK TO TAKE A KING.
SO TO WIN WE RETREAT.
BUT CAN WE WIN?
OF COURSE.
WHY WOULD I BE HERE?
AS IN CHESS, IT'S BETTER TO LOSE THE ROOK
THAN BE DEFEATED.
WE'LL MAKE PLANS TO ATTACK.
A SURPRISE ATTACK. WE GO TONIGHT.
WE ONLY HAVE 1,000 MEN.
DOESN'T MATTER.
WE ATTACK TONIGHT.
I'M PREDICTING THAT TONIGHT,
JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT,
THERE WILL BE A THUNDERSTORM.
IT'S A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.
BUT DO YOU POSSESS THE BRAVERY TO ACT ON IT?
WE'RE CHANGSHAN SOLDIERS. WE ARE COURAGEOUS.
AND IF THERE'S NO STORM TONIGHT?
IF THE RAIN DOESN'T COME TONIGHT,
I SHALL BE BEHEADED.
ZHUGE, IT'S YOU!
(men cheering)
Zhuge: IT'S ALMOST MIDNIGHT.
YOU MUST GET TO CAO'S CAMP BEFORE IT RAINS.
WE'LL DIVIDE INTO TWO UNITS OF 490 TROOPS.
THE DRAGON UNIT WILL WAIT
AND AMBUSH THE LEFT FLANK OF THE CAMP.
AT THE SAME TIME,
THE MEMBERS OF THE TIGER UNIT
SHALL AMBUSH FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.
THE LAST 20 SOLDIERS
WILL BE THE COMMANDO UNIT.
WHEN THE ENEMY IS IN DISARRAY BECAUSE OF THE STORM
AND CHAOS RUNS THROUGH THEIR RANKS...
WE WILL CUT DOWN THE ENEMY GENERAL'S FLAG
AND DRAIN THEIR FIGHTING SPIRIT.
THEY OUTNUMBER US, IT'S TRUE.
BUT NEVERTHELESS,
WE SHALL HAVE OUR VICTORY.
(thunder rumbling)
(cheering)
JUST AS IN CHESS,
VICTORY TAKES A SINGLE MOVE.
THE FIGHT IS WON.
MY WORK IS NEEDED ELSEWHERE.
ATTACK!
(shouting)
(gasps)
(whinnies)
ATTACK!
BROTHER, TAKE DOWN THE ENEMY'S FLAG.
I WILL KILL THE VANGUARD LEADER.
BROTHER!
(whinnies)
(grunting)
BROTHER, I'LL HELP YOU!
(men screaming)
BROTHER.
HYAA!
(grunts)
(groaning)
(gasping)
(screams)
WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!
NOW WE SHALL END THIS. HYA!
Ping-An: ZILONG NEVER TOLD ANYONE ABOUT HELPING ME.
AND I RECEIVED ALL THE CREDIT.
(crying)
THE DEFEAT OF CAO'S FORCES ENRAGED CAO.
HE DECIDED TO PERSONALLY LEAD A MASSIVE ARMY.
AS CAO'S ARMY WAS DRAWING NEAR,
LIU WAS CHASED TO PHOENIX HEIGHTS
WITH HIS PEOPLE.
LIU'S BLOOD BROTHERS,
GENERAL GUAN YU
AND GENERAL ZHANG FEI,
WERE SENT TO LEAD THE PEOPLE'S RETREAT.
IT'S BECAUSE OF ME MY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE?
I'M SORRY, MY LORD.
MY DIVINATION WOULD BE OF NO USE.
Ping-An: OUR SUCCESS IN KILLING CAO'S VANGUARD
EARNED ME THE TRUST OF ADVISOR ZHUGE.
AND THE IMPORTANT DUTY OF PROTECTING LIU'S FAMILY
WAS ASSIGNED TO ME.
FINALLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE MY WORTHINESS HAD COME.
AS FOR ZILONG,
I SENT HIM TO ASSIST THE REFUGEES.
BROTHER, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
- WHICH DIRECTION SHOULD WE GO? - GO THIS WAY.
BROTHER, ARE YOU SURE? WE NEED TO SHOW CAUTION.
I SAID GO THIS WAY. DON'T QUESTION ME.
YES, BROTHER.
(gasps)
THEY'RE HERE.
A CAO CAO ARMY UNIT COMING AFTER US. I'M AFRAID.
MY LORD, CAO'S FORCES SHALL BE HERE IN NO TIME.
WE MUST CLOSE THE FRONT GATE AT ONCE.
WE MUST WAIT.
YOUR WIVES AND CHILD AREN'T HERE YET.
- PROTECT THE PEOPLE. - BUT, SIR!
FOLLOW MY ORDERS. CLOSE THE GATE.
HURRY UP, WE'RE CLOSING THE GATE!
CAO'S ARMY IS APPROACHING!
SAVE YOURSELF. HURRY!
ZILONG!
- BROTHER! - ZILONG.
ARE YOU HURT?
WE WERE AMBUSHED.
WHERE ARE THE TWO LADIES AND YOUNG LORD?
THEY'RE GONE.
ZHANG FEI!
(shouts)
YOU DEFY ME?
YOU WANT TO KILL, START HERE.
(shouts)
ZHANG FEI!
FOOL.
YOUR SKILLS ARE QUITE REFINED.
ALL RIGHT, BROTHERS,
YOU MUST LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS.
THIS IS MY DOING.
I BROUGHT ON ALL THIS SUFFERING,
AS WELL AS THE LOSS OF MY SON AND WIVES.
I'LL SEARCH FOR THEM, MY LORD.
AND I'LL FIND THEM.
SEE THAT HE HAS ALL THAT HE NEEDS.
LISTEN, BROTHER.
YOU NEED NOT FEAR.
- WE WILL CLEAR THE WAY FOR YOU. - THAT'S RIGHT.
GO AHEAD, EAT WELL.
YOU MUST FIGHT ON A FULL STOMACH.
Man: COME ON, GET THAT SET UP.
Man #2: THIS ONE IS PRETTY HEAVY.
Man: WE'RE ALL PACKED.
PUT THAT OVER HERE. GOOD. GOOD.
MMM.
BROTHER, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
I HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.
WHEN I CAME HERE I HAD NOTHING.
AND I SHALL LEAVE WITH NOTHING.
LISTEN, BROTHER, I WANT--
I WANT YOU TO COMPLETE THE CIRCLE WITHOUT ME.
YOU HAVE TO SWEAR TO ME THAT YOU'LL FINISH IT, ALL RIGHT?
DON'T BE FOOLISH.
WE'LL COMPLETE IT TOGETHER.
NOW LOOK,
YOU--
YOU BE CAREFUL
AND RIDE SWIFTLY
AND BRING BACK WITH YOU
THE YOUNG LORD.
MMM.
Ping-An: I BELIEVE THAT MAN CAN PREVAIL
OVER DESTINY.
GO NOW AND BRING BACK THE ROYAL FAMILY.
WILL WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN?
WHEN OUR MISSIONS ARE OVER,
- WE SHALL MEET AGAIN. - MMM.
HYA!
(shouting)
I AM THE GREAT GENERAL ZHANG.
WHO DARES TO CHALLENGE ME TO A DUEL?
(baby crying)
MY DEAR CAO YING,
ONE DAY YOU SHALL LEAD THIS.
YOU NEED TO LEARN THE ART OF WAR.
- BROTHER! - ZHANG FEI.
LET'S GO.
MY LORD, OUR ADVANCE FORCES
WERE ATTACKED AND HAD TO PULL BACK.
THEY KILLED LIU'S WIVES BUT FAILED TO FIND HIS SON.
(birds screeching)
COUNTING ON YOU. HYA! HYA!
(whinnies)
- CAPTURE HIM. - YES, MY LORD.
(shouting)
Man: GET HIM!
- HERE HE COMES! - KILL HIM!
BEHIND YOU!
(whinnies)
- THERE'S AN OPENING! - HE'S DOWN!
SLICE HIM IN HALF!
(crying)
(whinnies)
COME ON, LET'S GO!
(baby crying)
(grunts)
PLEASE SPARE PING-AN ANY PUNISHMENT
REGARDLESS IF I COME BACK.
(shouting)
HE'S MINE!
KILL HIM! CUT HIM OPEN!
HE'S DOWN!
THERE'S NO ESCAPE.
CAO YING, THERE IS NO MERCY IN WAR.
ALL OF THIS
IS JUST LIKE A CHESS GAME.
I'D RATHER FAIL EVERYONE
THAN TO HAVE ANYONE FAIL ME.
DEPLOY THE WAR CHARIOTS.
(whinnies)
THERE HE IS! GO!
COME ON, DON'T LET HIM GET THROUGH.
HURRY! HURRY!
GRANDDAD!
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
DIE, YOU PIG!
MY ORDERS WERE TO CAPTURE HIM.
(fussing)
(laughing)
I WANT TO KNOW YOUR NAME.
IT IS ZHAO ZILONG.
ZHAO ZILONG,
THE DAY WILL COME WHEN I CAPTURE YOU.
(laughing)
IF YOU MAKE IT THAT LONG. HYA!
Ping-An's voice: ZILONG MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF.
WITH THE RESCUE OF THE YOUNG LORD,
I ENVIED HIM.
FINALLY CHANGSHAN HAD ITS HERO.
ZILONG WAS INVITED BACK BY HIS TOWNSMEN.
HE RETURNED TO CHANGSHAN WITH GLORY.
HE ASKED ME TO RETURN WITH HIM.
I DIDN'T.
(singing)
ZHAO ZILONG, OUR HERO.
- WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU. - THAT'S RIGHT.
- WE'LL SHOW YOU. - (crowd cheering)
THIS WAY.
(drums beating)
(music playing)
(musicians shouting)
(crowd cheering)
(applause)
(crowd cheering)
Man: WATCH OUT!
- HEY! - (crowd groans)
HOW COULD YOU DROP OUR GREAT HERO ZILONG?
APOLOGIZE.
(chuckles) IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYBODY. SHE DIDN'T MEAN IT.
ZHAO ZILONG CAN'T BE BEAT.
YOU CAME BACK HERE. IT BETTER BE A GOOD SHOW.
WHERE'S THE MUSIC?
(chuckles)
(music playing)
(crowd gasps)
(exhales)
(both chuckle)
(slurping)
HOW COME YOU DON'T EAT?
I WAS JUST WONDERING
WHEN I'LL COOK FOR YOU AGAIN.
LORD LIU SAID OUR COUNTRY
WILL UNITE SOON.
MY WORK WILL BE DONE THEN. I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU.
AND WE'LL BE TOGETHER ALWAYS.
(laughs)
I'LL WAIT THEN.
MMM.
LET'S EAT.
Zilong: "EAST, WEST, SOUTH, NORTH.
MAY WE MEET AND NEVER PART AGAIN."
I MADE IT. IT'S FOR YOU TO KEEP.
MMM.
IT MEANS WHEREVER YOU GO
YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND YOUR WAY BACK TO ME
NO MATTER HOW FAR.
Ping-An: ZILONG WAS BOTH BRAVE AND WISE
AND NEVER LOST A BATTLE AGAINST CAO'S ARMY.
ULTIMATELY HE BECAME ONE OF THE FIVE TIGER GENERALS
AND EARNED GREAT RESPECT AND PRAISE
FROM HIS PEOPLE.
THE EMPIRE LONG DIVIDED MUST UNITE.
LONG UNITED MUST DIVIDE.
ALL THREE WARLORDS WISHED TO BECOME THE EMPEROR
OF A UNIFIED CHINA.
LIU BECAME THE EMPEROR
OF HIS NEWLY-FOUND SHU KINGDOM.
THE COUNTRY HAD BECOME MORE CHAOTIC THAN EVER.
THE TITLE FORWARD GENERAL
IS CONFERRED UPON GUAN YU.
HE IS TO LEAD 100,000 SOLDIERS.
HE IS TO GUARD AGAINST SUN
OF THE EASTERN KINGDOM OF WU.
GUAN YU, YOUR SERVANT.
Zhuge: THE TITLE RIGHT GENERAL
IS CONFERRED UPON ZHANG FEI.
HE WILL LEAD 100,000 TROOPS TO THE NORTHERN KINGDOM
TO GUARD AGAINST CAO CAO.
THE TITLE LEFT GENERAL
IS CONFERRED UPON MA.
HE IS TO LEAD 50,000 TROOPS TO GUARD SICHUAN.
THE TITLE GUARD GENERAL IS CONFERRED UPON HUANG.
HE IS TO LEAD 50,000 TROOPS TO GUARD DINGJUN.
FINALLY, THE TITLE OF FLYING GENERAL
IS HEREBY CONFERRED UPON ZILONG.
HE IS TO LEAD THE REST OF THE ARMY
ON THE NORTH EXPEDITION AGAINST CAO.
I FURTHER BESTOW UPON GENERAL ZILONG
THE TITLE CHIEF VANGUARD.
HE AND HIS TROOPS WILL SET OFF
FOR THE NORTHERN EXPEDITION AGAINST CAO.
ZHAO ZILONG AT YOUR SERVICE.
AS IS PING-AN, YOUR MAJESTY.
(shouting)
Ping-An: THE FIVE TIGER GENERALS WENT OFF IN SERVICE
OF LIU AND HIS PEOPLE
AND FOUGHT VALIANTLY OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS,
ONLY TO FALL ONE BY ONE.
FIRST THE BRAVE GUAN YU.
NEXT THE STRONG ZHANG FEI.
THEY FOUGHT VALIANTLY AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF PEACE.
SOON THERE WAS ONLY ONE FIVE TIGER GENERAL LEFT STANDING.
IT WAS ZHAO ZILONG.
OUR LATE EMPEROR LIU
HAS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN TO CONTINUE HIS GREAT AGENDA.
I HAVE LAUNCHED NUMEROUS NORTHERN EXPEDITIONS
BUT ALL IN VAIN.
FIVE TIGER GENERALS HUANG,
ZHANG FEI, MA CHAO,
GUAN YU
HAVE ALL PASSED AWAY.
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO DEATH.
HOWEVER,
I WILL ASSIST OUR YOUNG EMPEROR
TO FOLLOW THE PLANS LAID OUT
BY HIS LATE FATHER
TO CONTINUE ON IN THE NORTH
IN AN EFFORT TO FINALLY BRING PEACE TO OUR COUNTRY
AS WAS LORD LIU'S WISH.
FIRST A DECREE.
THE TITLE DRAGON GENERAL
IS CONFERRED UPON GUAN XING,
THE SON OF GUAN YU.
THE TITLE TIGER GENERAL
IS CONFERRED UPON ZHANG BAO,
SON OF ZHANG FEI.
THEY SHALL LEAVE TODAY
TO TAKE ON CAO.
JUST A MINUTE.
MY FATHER WAS THE GREAT GUAN YU.
THE GENERAL'S SEAL SHOULD BE MINE.
YES, WELL, I AM OLDER AND A BETTER FIGHTER.
THE SEAL BELONGS TO ME. IT'S ONLY FITTING AFTER ALL.
A STRONGER FIGHTER? (laughs)
SHALL WE FIND OUT?
FINE.
WE SHALL FIGHT TO DETERMINE THE WINNER
AND HE GETS THE SEAL.
Zilong: STOP!
Both: UNCLE.
IS THIS HOW LEADERS ACT?
I HAVE FOUGHT HUNDREDS OF BATTLES
UNDER THE LATE LORD LIU
AND NEVER BEEN DEFEATED.
NOW I'M CAST ASIDE
LIKE AN ANCIENT WARRIOR.
GENERAL,
THE LAST OF THE FIVE TIGER GENERALS.
NO LONGER A YOUNG SOLDIER.
SHOULD SOMETHING GO WRONG
YOU MIGHT TARNISH YOUR STELLAR REPUTATION.
AND OUR TROOPS WOULD ALSO BE DEMORALIZED.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF FIGHTING
AND OUR COUNTRY
RIGHT ON THE VERGE OF SUCCESS
IN UNIFICATION...
I NEED TO DO THIS.
ZILONG, YOU KNOW MEN OF OUR AGE
LIVE BY THE GREAT MEMORIES OF OUR PAST.
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO RISK LOSING THEM ALL
BY GOING ON THIS EXPEDITION?
Zilong: AFTER YEARS OF BATTLE,
MY MEMORIES OF THE PAST HAVE LONG FADED.
I WANT TO RECOVER THOSE ONCE AGAIN.
I'LL DO THAT
AT THE LOCATION WHERE THEY WERE LOST.
PRIME MINISTER,
THIS IS THE LAST BATTLE THAT I WILL WAGE.
I VOW TO UNITE THE COUNTRY FOR LIU'S KINGDOM.
ZHAO ZILONG AT YOUR SERVICE.
(sighs)
ALL RIGHT, GENERAL. IF YOU INSIST.
YOU SHALL HAVE THE SONS OF GUAN AND ZHANG WITH YOU
TO ASSIST YOU.
ZILONG, I HAVE TWO POUCHES FOR YOU.
WHEN YOU COME ACROSS THE INITIAL FORK IN THE ROAD,
OPEN THE FIRST POUCH.
AND WHEN YOU RUN INTO EXTREME DIFFICULTIES,
OPEN THE SECOND POUCH.
ZHAO ZILONG TO SERVE HIS MAJESTY.
(chuckles)
AS IS OLD PING-AN AS WELL.
Ping-An's voice: WE NEVER SERVED TOGETHER IN THE SAME UNIT
AFTER ZILONG BECAME ONE OF THE FIVE TIGER GENERALS,
BUT I HAVE ALWAYS WATCHED HIM FROM A DISTANCE
WONDERING WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
(door creaks)
Ping-An: THIS MEMORIAL TABLET IS RESERVED FOR YOU.
I'VE TIDIED IT UP A LITTLE,
AS I KNEW YOU WOULD COME.
OUR PATHS RARELY CROSSED.
LET'S HOPE THIS IS NOT WHERE THEY CROSS NEXT.
BROTHER...
SHOULD I FAIL TO RETURN,
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT
THIS IS MY ARMOR'S RESTING PLACE.
ALREADY LOOKING TOWARD ENDING YOUR CAREER, ARE YOU?
(laughs)
MINE HAS BARELY STARTED.
(laughs)
BROTHER, HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN IN THE ARMY?
20 YEARS SINCE YOU MADE GENERAL.
AND 32 YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS
SINCE WE LAST LEFT CHANGSHAN.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU ASKED ME WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE ARMY?
I ASKED
WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR DOING IT.
YOU SAID TO ACHIEVE PEACE AND START A FAMILY.
YES, BUT TO THIS DAY...
I HAVE NEITHER.
I WAS ALWAYS
THE ONE THOUGHT TO HAVE ACHIEVED THE LEAST.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CRUSADE.
THEN WOULD YOU...
ALLOW ME TO GO ON IT WITH YOU?
MAY I?
(drums beating)
Deng Zhi: HE SAID THE FIRST POUCH SHOULD BE OPENED
- WHEN WE COME TO A FORK IN THE ROAD. - (drums cease)
HERE'S WHAT IT SAYS.
WE ARE INSTRUCTED TO SPLIT THE UNITS
OF THE TWO YOUNG GENERALS AND GENERAL ZILONG.
THEY ARE TO GO SEPARATE WAYS.
ALL TROOPS SHALL PROCEED TOGETHER
TO CAPTURE ALL SIX OF CAO'S COUNTIES.
HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SPLIT?
IDEAS, GENTLEMEN?
THE LARGE ROAD LOOKS LIKE AN AMBUSH.
I THINK I SHOULD TAKE THAT ROAD.
IT'D BE BEST IF YOU TAKE THE OTHER.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
I THINK YOU'RE TOO SLOW FOR THAT.
YOU MIGHT BE CAPTURED. IT'S BEST IF IT'S MY UNIT.
ALL RIGHT, DULY NOTED.
(drums resume beating)
FAR ENOUGH THERE.
YOU HAVE FORGED ACROSS OUR BORDERS.
WHO ARE YOU?
GENERAL ZILONG OF LIU'S FIVE TIGER GENERALS.
YOU'RE BETTER TO SURRENDER.
FIVE TIGER GENERALS?
HA, A RELIC WHOSE DAYS ARE GONE.
ZHAO ZILONG, HEAR MY WORDS.
UNLESS YOU'RE EAGER TO DIE,
I SUGGEST YOU GO HOME.
POLISH YOUR DECORATIONS FROM PAST VICTORIES.
GO, SON.
(shouts)
- LET'S GO! - STOP. I'LL GO.
(grunts)
YOUR BROTHER NEEDS YOU. GO ON.
NO!
ZILONG, WATCH OUT!
(groans)
- MY SONS! - GENERAL HAN,
WE HAVE ORDERS THAT WE CANNOT ALTER.
DID YOU LURE GENERAL ZILONG INTO OUR TRAP AS I ORDERED?
YES, COMMANDER.
(cawing)
HOLD IT. STOP.
FIRE!
(screaming)
- DENG, FIND ANOTHER ROUTE. - YES, GENERAL.
HYA!
THE WAR CHARIOT.
FIRE! FIRE!
WE'VE BEEN SURROUNDED. THE ONLY WAY IS TO THE WEST.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS?
WE HAVE A TRAITOR.
THAT'S ABSURD.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S TO OUR WEST.
- WELL? - PHOENIX HEIGHTS.
WITHDRAW TO PHOENIX HEIGHTS.
- YES, GENERAL. - YES, GENERAL.
Zhuge: I ASSUME BY NOW
YOU HAVE ALREADY DIVERTED CAO YING'S ATTENTION.
THIS IS IMPERATIVE TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR MISSION.
I'VE ORDERED GUAN AND ZHANG
TO PROCEED IN CAPTURING CAO'S SIX COUNTIES WITHOUT YOU.
PLEASE REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE UNTIL REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE.
ONCE GUAN AND ZHANG HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THEIR MISSIONS,
THEIR TROOPS WILL COME TO YOUR AID.
AS YOU HAVE WITNESSED,
CAO YING HAS MASTERED HER GRANDFATHER'S STRATEGY.
SHE IS JUST AS CONNIVING AND DEVIOUS
AS HER GRANDFATHER WAS.
SO BEWARE
AND GOOD LUCK.
MY GENERAL.
HOW COULD HE TREAT YOU LIKE THIS?
GENERAL. GENERAL!
HOW COULD HE DO THAT TO YOU?
(door creaking)
WHY DO I GET TREATED THIS WAY?
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS HIS REASONS.
BROTHER,
WE FOUGHT ALL THESE YEARS.
FOR WHAT?
(drums beating)
THEY'RE COMING.
ZILONG HAS CHOSEN TO HOLD UP AT PHOENIX HEIGHTS.
GENERAL HAN,
GIVE OUR FORCES IN THE SIX COUNTIES THE FOLLOWING ORDERS:
THEY ARE TO ADOPT A DEFENSIVE STRATEGY AND NOT ATTACK.
THIS WAY THEY CANNOT SPARE TIME
TO RESCUE THEIR BELOVED GENERAL ZILONG.
TO TRIUMPH OVER LIU'S ARMY,
WE NEED TO BREAK THEIR SPIRIT.
WHAT BETTER WAY IS THERE
THAN TO DEFEAT THEIR INVINCIBLE GENERAL?
ONCE WE CAPTURE GENERAL ZILONG,
WE SHALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VICTORY.
QUITE IMPRESSIVE STRATEGY.
I AM AT YOUR SERVICE.
DISPATCH THE CAVALRY AND LAUNCH AN ATTACK AT ONCE.
AS YOU WISH.
(strums)
(shouting)
(grunts)
(gongs)
RETREAT!
I SEE.
WE HAVE UNDERESTIMATED GENERAL ZILONG.
COMMANDER, IT COULD BE THAT
HE WAS NOT WOUNDED AFTER ALL.
HE IS QUITE SHREWD.
YOU SEE, BY HIDING
HE DOESN'T REVEAL IF HE'S BEEN INJURED.
HE'LL WAIT FOR A WHILE.
HOWEVER, EITHER WAY,
WE WILL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH.
I WON'T LET THE DEATH OF YOUR SONS BE FOR NOTHING.
MY...
S-SONS.
YOUR GREAT FAMILY HAS SACRIFICED A GREAT DEAL
FOR THE KINGDOM OF CAO.
I SHALL REQUEST THAT HIS MAJESTY
BESTOW AN HONORABLE TITLE ON YOU.
MY GENERAL, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
YOU'VE LOST FOUR SONS TODAY,
THOUGH YOU'VE GAINED A DAUGHTER.
PLEASE TAKE ME AS YOUR DAUGHTER.
YOU'RE TOO KIND, MY LADY.
MY FATHER.
THIS IS GREAT KINDNESS.
I CAN'T POSSIBLY REPAY THIS TRUE HONOR.
WAR IS CRUEL.
BUT THE SOLDIERS, THEY ARE INNOCENT.
AS ARE ZILONG'S SOLDIERS.
THE BODIES OF THOSE SOLDIERS
ARE TO BE RETURNED TO ZILONG.
(playing)
SHE'S SINISTER.
SHE'S TAKEN OUR SPIRIT AND WEAKENED IT.
(sighs)
SHE'S JUST LIKE HER GRANDFATHER.
NOT ONLY HER METHODS,
BUT HER TRICKERY TOO.
BROTHER.
ZILONG.
I HAVE A GIFT FOR HER.
A GIFT FOR YOUR ACT OF KINDNESS.
GENERAL ZILONG SAYS THAT MANY YEARS AGO
HE TOOK AWAY THAT SWORD FROM YOUR GRANDFATHER.
TODAY GENERAL ZILONG DECIDED
THAT IT'S YOURS FOR YOUR SHOW OF KINDNESS.
HE WANTS YOU TO LEARN FROM THE PAST
AND NOT LOSE THIS SWORD TO HIM AGAIN.
(laughing)
- TAKE HIM. - (all shout)
ENVOYS SHOULDN'T BE AT RISK.
Ying's voice: AS POISED AS A MOUNTAIN
AND UNPREDICTABLE LIKE THE YIN AND YANG,
GENERAL ZILONG IS TRULY A GREAT OPPONENT.
(thunder rumbling)
COMMANDER.
I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU. IT IS GOOD NEWS.
THE COMMANDER HAS REQUESTED
TO HAVE A DUEL WITH GENERAL ZILONG.
GET MY STEED.
GENERAL.
WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
THE PRIME MINISTER
HAD NO IDEA WE'D FACE THIS MANY.
LET'S HOPE THAT WE CAN STALL THEM LONG ENOUGH.
I KNOW YOU'RE WAITING FOR YOUR GENERALS
GUAN AND ZHANG TO COME TO YOUR SUPPORT.
I HAVE A SMALL GIFT TO GIVE YOU.
I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS FITTING TO GIVE YOU THAT.
I HAD HOPED TO RETURN THE REMAINS
OF GUAN AND ZHANG TO YOU.
BUT WHAT WAS LEFT OF THEM WERE BITS AND PIECES
FAR BEYOND RECOGNITION.
I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOUR GRANDFATHER
WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE.
THAT WAS MY MISTAKE.
HE ALWAYS SAID HE REGRETTED
THAT HE'D NEVER CAPTURED YOU AS WELL.
SO TODAY I'LL SUCCEED WHERE HE DIDN'T.
(laughs)
(horse neighing)
(screams)
GO.
GENERAL!
HOLD ON, BROTHER!
COMMANDER.
YOUR SKILLS ARE LACKING.
YOU NEED PRACTICE.
YOU COME BACK THEN.
YOUR LIEGE.
YOUR--
- (grunts) - GENERAL!
HOLD ONTO HIM.
- ZILONG. - GENERAL.
GO QUICKLY AND CHECK ON CAO YING.
GO NOW.
ALLOW ME TO ASSIST--
REMOVE THE ARROW.
MY ARMOR
ALWAYS STAYS ON.
IF IT'S NOT,
MY TROOPS WILL KNOW
AND THEY WILL LOSE THEIR SPIRIT.
DO NOT LET CAO YING KNOW.
NOW GO AND CHECK.
THAT'S THE MAP THAT'S IN YOUR HEART.
WE'VE COME QUITE FAR.
(chuckles)
DO YOU RECALL
YOU SAID THAT...
YOU WOULD MAKE YOURSELF LIVE
IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE?
YOU ALSO SAID THAT--
THAT ONCE WE CONCLUDED
OUR JOURNEY AROUND THE CIRCLE,
WE WOULD HAVE PEACE.
BUT AFTER YEARS OF BATTLE
WE NOW FIND OURSELVES BACK AT PHOENIX HEIGHTS.
DO WE NOW HAVE PEACE, PING-AN?
FATHER, WILL YOU CARRY OUT MY COMMAND?
I WILL DO ANYTHING MY LADY REQUESTS.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR.
FINE.
THEN TAKE 100 OF OUR BEST MEN.
I WILL NOT STOP TILL THE ENEMY IS DEFEATED.
ZILONG, WILL YOU SURRENDER?
HOW CAN I?
GENERAL, GENERAL, GENERAL!
GENERAL, THEY'RE PREPARING.
THEY'RE READYING FOR THE NEXT ATTACK.
GENERAL, WE'RE SORRY THAT WE CAN'T SERVE YOU
AS LONG AS WE WOULD HAVE WISHED.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS TAUGHT US
THAT IT'S AN HONOR TO DIE
FIGHTING.
I WILL NOT FORGET THAT.
WE SHALL MEET THE ENEMY HEAD ON.
WE'LL TAKE DOWN CAO YING.
WE HAVE LIVED AS YOUR SOLDIERS,
AND THAT'S HOW WE'LL DIE.
GENERAL,
WE WAIT FOR YOUR
COMMAND.
MY BROTHERS,
IF I CANNOT LEAD YOU TO VICTORY...
THEN
I SHALL NOT LET YOU DIE WITHOUT HONOR.
THEREFORE,
GO AND FIGHT
FOR OUR GREAT KINGDOM OF SHU.
I SHALL FOLLOW ALONG SHORTLY.
GO!
(yelling)
Man: SLICE THEM IN HALF.
ARCHERS!
QUICKLY!
Man: WATER! WATER!
(explosions)
- Man: WATCH OUT! - Man #2: THE FIRE FROM THE SKY!
COMMANDER.
I WOULD RATHER FAIL EVERYONE
THAN TO HAVE ANYONE
FAIL ME.
LONG LIVE THE KINGDOM
OF CAO!
LONG LIVE LIU!
I VOW TO GUARD PHOENIX HEIGHTS.
AND I SHALL DO SO WITH MY LIFE.
IT WAS I WHO INFORMED CAO YING
AND HELPED TO LEAD YOU TO PHOENIX HEIGHTS.
THEY PROMISED THEY WOULD MAKE ME
A GENERAL IN CAO'S ARMY.
I AM SORRY
I STABBED YOU IN THE BACK.
YOU BETRAYED ME.
THEN WHY DID YOU SAVE ME
WHILE I WAS FIGHTING CAO YING?
TELL ME THAT.
YOU CALL ME BROTHER,
YET I HAVE GAINED NOTHING.
YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A GREAT GENERAL.
DON'T YOU SEE?
I AM GETTING NOWHERE.
I'VE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING ALL THESE YEARS OF BATTLE--
NOTHING AT ALL.
YOU ASK WHY WE ARE FIGHTING.
I'LL TELL YOU.
I FIGHT FOR MYSELF.
WHAT I WANT IS
WHEN I GO HOME,
THE PEOPLE THAT THINK OF ZILONG,
THEY ALSO THINK OF PING-AN!
YOU WANT TO BE A HERO?
THE TRUTH IS
THAT WE BOTH HAVE JUST BEEN GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES.
FATE IS WHAT WE ALL LIVE BY IN THE END.
THEREFORE ALL VICTORIES
AND ALL DEFEATS
NO LONGER MATTER.
WHAT IS VICTORY?
THERE IS NO VICTORY
WITHOUT DEFEAT TO SOMEONE.
NOW THEN,
I WANT ONE LAST THING.
TAKE MY ARMOR, BROTHER.
(grunting)
I NEED TO GO
ON MY LAST MISSION.
ZILONG,
I'M THE ONE WHO DID THIS TO YOU. BLAME ME.
NO.
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE MY BELOVED BROTHER.
COME.
WITH BLESSINGS FROM BUDDHA,
IT'S MY VOW
TO CAPTURE ZHAO ZILONG.
YOU TELL THEM
THAT MY MEMORIES HAVE RETURNED
OF THE LONG-LOST PAST.
AND TELL THE PEOPLE OF CHANGSHAN
THAT I'VE COMPLETED THE CIRCLE.
BROTHER...
SOUND THE DRUM FOR ME.
Guan Yu's voice: WHEN OUR MISSIONS ARE OVER,
WE SHALL MEET AGAIN.
(horse neighs)
(yells)
ZHAO ZILONG!
(yelling)
(laughing)
(yells)
Ping-An's voice: THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW ZILONG.
YEARS LATER THE THREE KINGDOMS
WERE FINALLY UNITED--
NOT BY WEI NOR SHU NOR WU,
BUT UNDER A NEW QIN DYNASTY.
(laughs)
HOW MANY THINGS BEFORE AND AFTER
ALL MELT INTO GOSSIP AND LAUGHTER.
(instrumental music playing)