Episode 2
The Liao are attacking us, but you're here stealing from travelers. Aren't you embarassed?
I've been fighting on these plains for a long time
and can be considered a man. If you want to kill me, go ahead, why speak more?
Heh!
Fine. I'll fulfill your request.
Aren't you a man? What man pees his pants?
You...
Stop committing crimes now and go home.
Sir Han, I was right wasn't I?
As long a Brother Yue is here, not just 30, even 300 would be no problem.
Wow.
Your royal highness, when you enter the palace, you must speak and act cautiously。
Countless eyes are watching you.
Why are you even more nervous that I am?
Of course!
The emperor suddenly summoned you
for the first time.
I've been so nervous, I haven't slept all night.
Actually, I find it very sudden as well.
If the crown prince hadn't caught a cold,
why would I have a puppet part in this matter?
You mustn't say it that way.
You practice swordmanship and literature every day.
The emperor is finally looking at you favorably.
The emperor has seen your hardwork.
Therefore, you should value this opportunity and perform well.
My queen mother is not favored.
It's okay if I'm ostracized,
but you're the pitiful one, suffering with me.
I do not care whether I live luxuriously or not.
As long as I can be with you, I am satisfied.
Okay. I promise you.
I will let you happily be princess.
Your majesty,
You came just on time. Look at this.
Another alabaster rock is here.
The lines and curves on this rock
are really fascinating beyond words.
Your majesty, the 9th prince is here.
Let him come here.
Your son pays his respects to Imperial Father
- Rise. - Thank You, Imperial Father
That...That...Who is it...
Your Highness,
it's the 9th prince Zhao Gao.
Gou er (term of endearment), the Jin ambassador will arrive soon.
Try your best to fulfil their wishes
Your son understands.
However, I worry that if we are too conceding to the Jin,
they will take advantage of us.
Regardless, you must be courteous and yield.
Yes, Imperial Father.
Come, come, come. Have a look.
This rock is even more unique.
Why are there so many people? What happened here?
I don't know.
Excuse me, what happened here?
Oh, the Jin ambassador is entering the city. You will have to wait a while.
Okay.
They really are strong and powerful.
Yeah. If they weren't so powerful,
Emperor Tianzuo would not so easily be stranded on Mt. Jia.
They are here to discuss the surrender matter with you.
Not just that,
our Yanyun 16 provinces have been occupied by the Jin.
They are also here to acquire payment in silver and gold.
Fattening the appetite of the Jin is not a good thing.
You are right.
Back then, when Emperor Taizu created this country,
he urged his subjects to not waste money.
Soon we had money surplus at the end of every year.
So we established Fenzhuangku,
to save money to reclaim the 16 Yanyun provinces.
Who would have known that our current emperor will be extravagant and wasteful.
Our treasury is empty.
Where would we have money to give to these Jin people.
If we don't have money, just don't give it to them. Won't that be easier?
Then we won't be far from declaring war against the Jin.
Can we beat these Jin people?
Even if we cannot, we still must fight.
Look over there! Isn't it beautiful?
Okay. Let's enter the city.
Go ahead.
Let's go.
Yes, sir.
Everyone believes that
this Bianjing city is amazing place of jade and lotus,
but unfortunately,
it will soon become a mirage.
How are the flowers carved up there.
Song carvers are really the best.
The Song are pathetic at war.
It seems they spend all their energy on stuff like this.
You hear? There are bird sounds too. How beautiful!
Please.
Marshal Zhan Han and General Tuo Ba,
You are all our precious guests from far away.
The emperor is not feeling very well lately.
That Is why I will be serving you today.
The Jin and Song have always been close like brothers.
We've successfully defeated the Liao due to the cooperation between the two nations.
For the goodwill between us,
I will drink a meager wine first to pay my requests.
This wine isn't bad.
It's our pleasure that you like it.
How about you take a few jars with you?
Okay! Then I won't be modest.
It doesn't need to be too many. How about 1,000 jars?
This is Heniangong wine.
Only 200 jars are manufactured every year.
We, the Jin, used many troops to reclaim the Yanyun 16 provinces.
You won't even give us some jars of wine.
What will we give to reward our warriors?
Since everyone likes it,
Gong gong (way to adress a eunuch), please prepare the wine quickly.
Yes.
Sir Han,
You two need not wait here.
Why don't you go with Ms. Xiao E to find her relatives?
Housekeeper? Yes.
Use this as your spending money.
Just come back before sunset.
Thank you Sir Han.
Yes.
Sir Han.
welcome.
Your royal highness,
Sir Wang,
Your subject, Han Xiaozhou, pays his respects.
Sir you've had a long journey.
Come pay your respects to the Marshal.
Please.
Okay.
I, Han Xiaozhou, pay my respects to Marshal Zhan Han.
Sir Han, please sit.
Please your royal highness.
We invited all of you generals and Sir Han here to day
to discuss how to persuade Emperor Tian Zuo to surrender.
Everyone,
this is also the one I recommended to Prime Minister Cai Jing.
as the best choice to go to Mt. Jia.
You go tell him,
even 800,000 troops were defeated by us.
With just a couple thousand people in the mountains, how long could they last?
Rather than making us eat them alive,
it would be much better for them to just put down their swords and spears
and kneel down before us.
Yes yes yes.
This an excellent way to show your loyalty.
Sir Han, you musn't miss this opportunity.
Sir Han, when do you plan on departing?
For all matters, we must look at the bigger picture.
My old diseases have returned recently,
and on the road from Xiangzhou to Bianjing,
I've also been startled and alarmed many times.
Thanks to my companions watching over me,
I was able to smoothly arrive here.
Before I even saw Emperor Tianzuo,
I would probably collapse,
let alone discuss surrender.
Fan Lou?
Brother, it was a long journey to arrive to Bian Province's Fan Lou.
If we don't eat a hearty meal, won't we have come here for nothing?
Brother
Let's go!
Sirs, you haven't paid yet.
Sirs. Sirs.
Sirs, you haven't paid yet.
You haven't paid.
Let's go.
Drinking wine and paying the price is the natural way of the world.
Have you Northern barbarians eaten and drank for free the whole time in Shengjing?
You're looking for death
to offend us.
My wine! Please don't smash it! It's very expensive!
Didn't you hear the waiter?
It would be such a waste to smash such expensive wine.
You just wait!
Nice hero. You're pretty strong.
Good skills. Thanks for helping me.
Oh, and where are you from?
We are under Hebei Liu General, who is on a ministerial mission. I am Yuefei,
and I am Wang Gui.
I'm Niu Gao!
Brother Niu, you have some nice martial art skills, why don't you join the army and do some great work?
Actually I've always wanted to do that.
After I go home and settle my mother's affairs,
I'll go find you guys.
Okay. It's agreed. See you soon.
See you soon! See you!
I thought you guys would have some great plan,
but it turns out you put all your money
on this sick old man.
Are you making fun of us?
We agreed to create an alliance and send troops together,
but now, you not only haven't occupied a single city,
but you also make excuses left and right when we tell you
to persuade Emperor Tianzuo to surrender.
Then, what is the point of such an alliance?
In my opinion, we need to rewrite this alliance!
Marshal!
Marshal! Please stay!
These are all gifts from the Song Emperor.
Please receive them.
Wow! Such beautiful jewels!
So beautiful!
This is nothing.
The really good stuff all lies within their palace walls.
Really?
One day, all the stuff here
will be ours!
Carry all these things away!
Yes!
Marshal! I will definitely take care
of this surrender matter. Please do not worry!
Sir, Yue Fei has been waiting for a long time.
Why is Ms. Xiao E still here?
Sir Han, her relatives have left Bianjing for many years.
No one knows where they have gone.
Sir Han, I have no relatives to turn to now.
Ms. Xiao E, don't be sad.
I worked alongside your father in the government for many years and we have a deep relationship.
Why don't you return with me?
Thank you, Sir Han.
I don't care who is.
I must get revenge regardless!
That's right! We must get revenge!
What revenge? I've already seen him.
His spear technique is unbelievably accurate.
Every blow maims but does not kill.
And his foundation is extraordinary.
I know someone who can help us.
I just knew you had connections.
Who is it? Bring me to meet him.
Bringing you to meet him isn't a big deal.
But this mountain road is so steep and long.
Recently, my Beriberi symptoms are appearing again.
You have Beriberi?
It's itchy. Extremely itchy.
Bring ingot here.
Both feet.
Stop nagging! I'll prepare enough silver.
Fine. Prepare the silver, and we will leave immediately.
Keep on practicing!
Big brother!
It's been a long time, brother!
That's why we've come to see you!
You're such a clever prick. What do you want? Tell me.
Really I can't hide anything from you.
Introduce yourself.
This is my brother Zhang Chao.
He needs your help on a matter.
Brother. I have long heard of your great name.
Here's the thing.
Few days ago, the prefect Han Xianzhou passed my territory.
I meant to rob him for the money
but a naive young man come from nowhere
he hurt my men and my arm
I've checked all these brothers' wound
either their arm tendon's or their hanstrings have been cut.
That man is skilled with a spear,
he hurt the people without endangering their life
Yes, and he fights all alone,
defeating tens of us brothers
I know there are lots of good fighters here
Come on
Everyone,
if anyone can get revenge for me, Zhang Chao,
this box of gold is his to keep!
Brothers, you hear what he said, who wants this job?
move
is this man really as good as what you said?
extremely skilled with a spear
How hard is that?
catch it
ten boxes of gold,
ten boxes of silver 3 thousand cattles and horses
5 thousand rolls of silk,
3 thousand boxes of chinas
one dragon statue inlaid with emerald heads
50 pairs of ivory,
50 pairs of rhino horns
that's enough,
It's always the same stuff.
Emperor, though the Song presented us lots of treasures
but all this stuff
is just a drop in the bucket for them
Emperor, that old man Zhao Ji is fond of stones
Just the plants and marbles transported from Suzhou and Hangzhou
had already cost thousands of workers' life
wasted a countless amount of money
the goat won't milk unless we squeeze it
we need to squeeze the Song
to make them milk more,
so that we can be fed
my second brother, what do you think
second one, I know there're plots in your head again
just speak them out
big brother, don't lose your mind, just because we eliminated the Liao
doesn't mean we can eliminate the Song as well
we Nuzhen have small population and infertile land
we've already lost much in the last battle
though the Song is full of problems
but since Han and Tang dynasty, they've governed there for years with their effort,
and the culture of the Song has accumulated for years,
it can't be underestimated
In the early days, Liao's emperor went fight with them and although he conquered the capital,
but didn't he die on their land soon after?
adequate grass for certain goats
it's a simple question
even a 3-year-old kid know the answer for it
second brother, are you saying that i'm incapable now?
how many goats do I own? when I was conquering outside
didn't you count goats outside my tent, huh?
Okay. Stop arguing.
We, the Nuzhen, were able to take over Liao territory
because we were united.
Otherwise,
regardless of whether it is the Liao or the Song,
eating all of our sheep (defeating us completely)
would not be a problem.
I will think about what you have said some more.
Let's discuss another day.
We discussed military matters today.
So why don't I see Wuzhu? Where did he go?
Zhan Han,
find Wuzhu for me.
And I'll listen to what he has to say.
Yes.
I pay my respects to your majesty.
Rise.
Your subject has killed a deer today, and I have cut off the head to honor your majesty.
The fourth prince (you) are very thoughtful.
Why did your majesty wish to see me?
After defeating the Liao, the next step would be the Song.
However, Yan Han and Wo Libu can not agree on the matter.
I want to hear what you think.
Song now has tyrannical emperor and a pathetic government. What are we waiting for?
I fear that if we lose in battle,
will not not devour the Song, but instead be eaten by them.
Your majesty, don't worry. Based on what I know about the Song,
if they can reclaim the Yanyun 16 provinces, they will be very satisfied.
We can find an excuse to fight them once and see their reaction.
Xiao E,
if you don't mind, then you can just think of here as your home from now on.
I am childless,
and you can be my daughter.
I will definitely treat you like my blood-related daughter.
What do you think?
Thank you Sir Han.
Why do you still call me Sir?
Thank you father.
That's right!
Congratulations Sir.
Why don't you take her out to settle down.
Of course.
Miss, please follow me.
Go ahead.
Why did they return?
Weird. Wasn't he going back to the army?
Housekeeper, bring the food and wine immediately, and prepare the silver.
Yes Sir.
Anything you have to say we can discuss after drinking.
Sir Han, we don't need the silver or the food.
We still need to report back.
How could I? It was thanks to your watching over me this entire trip,
or else I would be dead by now.
Zhang Chao and Yang Zaixing are coming to raid the estate!
Wang Gui, you return first,
and ask Sir Liu to send us some soldiers.
I will stay and prepare some defenses.
Okay.
In my lifetime, I hate these kind of kidnappers the most.
Can I ask your name?
You don't need to thank me.
It's dark and windy. You should hurry on your journey.
Thank you!
Yuefei. Wanggui. Zhang Yong. Yue Xia.
Although we have different family names. We now pledge ourselves as brothers, and we will work together
to help those in distress and serve the country.
Stop! Who are you?
I am soldier Wanggui. I have urgent matters and must meet General Liu.
Wang Gui! We just met at the capital! You were with Brother Yue.
You came to serve the army too!
Yes yes.
I came on behalf of Brother Yue, and I have urgent matters to discuss with General Liu.
Really? Oh! He's one of us. Lower the weapons.
Get out of the way!
Robbing from government officials and committing other crimes
these thieves dare to be this arrogant!
Right now, Yue Brother is at Zhou Jintang defending against the enemies.
Please send troops immediately General.
I think Yue Brother has strong martial arts skills, and he's not a coward that would run away to save his life.
That Zhang Chao is just a little thief, and that Yang Zaixing just offers some support.
You must underestimate the enemy.
This Yang Zaixing is not an unknown little criminal.
General, you have heard of him?
Do you know who Yang Zaixing is?
He was a strong warrior under Cao Cheng
with quite some capability.
Back in the day when Cao Cheng commanded 100,000 troops to plunder Lingnan,
Yang Zaixing was the leading vanguard and rode into the enemy territory alone.
With a zhangba spear, he fought his way through,
and after many days, he acquired the Dao Province and the He Province
and became legendary.
This guy has some skills. I want to go fight him.
Niu Gao. Wang Gui
Yes!
Bring 2000 men and go with me to defeat the threats against Zhou Jintang.
We accept your order.
Han Xiaozhou, if you're smart, then open the door.
Give him to me, and I shall reward you with 1,000 pieces of silver.
And I, Zhang Chao, will let you go, and we will be even.
Otherwise,
then I, Zhang Chao, shall wash Zhou Jintang with blood.
How should we fight this battle!?
Okay okay! Stop shouting!
Everyone don't be afraid. If we all work together, we can definitely defeat the bandits.
They have a thousand some people outside. With just these people, how could we defeat them?
That's right! (everyone agrees loudly)
Sister, if they won't fight, I will go with you to fight.
Even if you went, you would just die for nothing.
Shut your mouth!
You guys have all seen it.
Even my daughter and her maidservant have taken up weapons to fight the enemies,
yet you people, as strong men,
what right do you all have to be saying such words!
Why don't you leave these matters to us men.
Zhou Jintang is the number one estate in Xiang Province.
We cannot let Zhou Jintang be ruined.
I will go fight them alone. That will suffice.
This wouldn't be very appropriate.
Don't worry. I have a plan to delay them.
You all must not come outside.
When General Liu's troops arrive,
the threat will automatically disappear.
Yue Brother, those are all moralless bandits. You musn't go.
Don't worry.
Yang Brother. That's him!
I heard your spear techniques are pretty amazing.
Today, let's see if your spear or my lance is faster.
Today, as long as you beat me,
I promise your safety.
If I lose,
I am willing to give my life in exchange for Zhou Jintang.
Go!
Come!
Go!
What should we do?