Episode 44
I'm interested but have no ability.
Alright, since Brother Liu has the interest,
I will lend you some soldiers.
To be fair,
I will despatch 3,000 soldiers and horses.
The three of us shall start the invasion on the same day. We shall see who's the first to enter Xian Yang!
Liu Bang thanks you for your generosity, General.
I shall not decline.
Come.
We shall make a vow today.
That's a deal. Bottoms up.
How is it? I heard that the war report is in.
How's the situation?
Wife, look.
Your army is moving so slowly and so behind them.
How can you become Guan King?
Wife, what's the point in rushing? Rushing is pointless.
Qin may be in chaos now but their army is still strong.
Li You is in Yong Qiu and Zhang Han is in Ju Lu.
It's heavily guarded.
Even if I overtake Xiao Chuan and Xiang Yu...
If I meet both Li and Zhang, chances of winning are still slim.
Moreover, we are still a long way from Xiang Yang.
I shall hide behind them for now.
and let them remove the enemy in front.
Then I can conserve my energy and wait for my chance.
I understand. You want them to fight each other and you will benefit from that.
It seems that you have planned well.
That's not too bad. It shows some wisdom.
Thanks for your praises, my wife.
But, I'm still a bit worried.
When the war is over,
if Xiao Chuan manages to get to Xiang Yang first,
we still cannot overtake them.
Don't worry.
I've a plan already. Look here.
If we took this route it may take up to a month.
but along the way there's no heavy guards by the Qin.
Xiao Chuan and Xiang Yu will fight with Li You and Zhang Han.
To win, they need months.
When they cannot withdraw from the fight,
I will quietly attack from here.
Good strategy!
But there's a number of provinces along the way.
I'm afraid its going to take more effort.
Have you forgotten? Do you think our benevolent ways [good deeds] along the way were useless?
The officers along the route are no longer in fear of me. Instead they are siding with me.
I have arranged for someone to talk to them, promising them future office posts.
They are in no mind to fight.
Now, they are waiting to see whether Li You and Zhang Han will win or lose.
If Li & Zhang win, it's useless for us to go to Xiang Yang.
If they are defeated, we can pass through like a breeze.
I know what you meant when you talked about an alternative way. You meant...
...to conquer human minds.
Xiao Chuan and Xiang Yu are still young and arrogant.
How could they know that one can conquer the world without shedding a drop of blood?
I'm different from Xiao Chuan and Xiang Yu.
I'm a commoner and understand the people.
I've been a junior officer.
I know their thoughts.
After this war, the people will be looking forward to a peaceful time.
If I rule,
I will reduce the tax and rule the country with humanity and benevolence
and gather my people's support.
From now on, I want everyone to know.
I, Lord Pei, Liu Bang, place humanity and benevolence first.
In the future, I'll also be a humane and benevolent emperor.
That way, everyone will naturally help me.
Are you...
You're thinking to become the Emperor?
Why not?
My God!
I, Lu Zhi, may be ambitious, but I only wanted you to be a duke.
As for the Emperor's throne...
Everyone knows an Emperor is the Son of Heaven, with a high status.
They have always been royalty.
But we are only commoners.
I think we should forget about it.
But if you can make me Lady Guan of the Guan King, I am already very satisfied.
Who says that commoners cannot be the Emperor?
I want to create history and be the first to do that.
Heaven, please bless Brother Xiang and Xiao Chuan to return safely.
Missy! Missy! Missy, they won!
General Xiang has won again! He can come home today!
Really?
Thank you, Heaven! Thank you, Heaven!
Brother Xiang.
Uncle...
Uncle died on the battlefield.
Cry... cry out. You will feel better.
No.
I won't make a sound.
I will not let my enemy feel happy.
I want to take revenge for my Uncle.
I want to use their fresh blood
to offer on my uncle's altar.
Wait! Wait!
I won't let you go.
In my heart right now, I am really scared.
I'm scared if you just go,
you will never come back again.
Please.
I hope that after we drink this cup of wine, we will no longer be enemies.
After finishing this cup of wine, we will no longer be enemies.
You've finally thought it through.
I've thought it through.
If I die today, we will no longer be enemies.
Great Qin is doomed!
Is it worthwhile for you to risk your life?
Even if you don't think for yourself,
you should think about your brothers.
Should you just let them sacrifice themselves like this?
You don't have to surrender today.
I will have people protect you as you leave.
You can go anywhere.
Li Yu belongs to Qin when alive,
and a ghost of Qin in death.
Now, Qin is about to perish.
What's the point for me to survive alone?
Why are you so stodgy?
Don't think so lightly of your own life!
Don't try to convince me anymore.
To a real man, there's something more important than life and death.
I have something to beg of you.
Help me take care of her.
Come. Let us have another drink.
Let's say goodbye here.
Since the day I joined the army, I handed my life over to Great Qin.
This is my duty as a soldier.
Where is that invincible General Yi?
Come, drink up!
All fellow soldiers, Li Yu is defeated today.
I don't want all of you to die with me.
Now, I've one last order.
Put down your weapons and leave this place.
Yi soldiers will take care of you.
General.
I want to thank you for saving me.
Giving me the chance to live once again
and to be with Brother Xiang.
From now on, I really treasure every bit of my bliss.
Li You, have a nice journey.
Xiao Chuan.
When can I be released from my torture?
Da Chuan's clothes.
I was wondering why my brother had that much money in his account.
He took bribes.
See.
The last saving debit record...
How come I didn't know?
It's Da Chuan who repaid this for him.
Da Chuan.
Why did you do so much for me,
yet you never told me?
You are like an archeological object that can't be judged by the surface.
I'll investigate for longer and find even more secrets.
You write the male version and I'll write the female.
We'll author this together.
But, my name has to go first.
Good Bye Tu An
It's time for both of you to perform.
Think about it. Don't be impatient.
Reporting to the Lord: Our spy has reported that Xiang Yu has moved north
to seek revenge for Xiang Liang and fight Zhang Han at Ju Lu.
Yi Xiao Chuan killed Li You at Yong Qiu and has returned to camp.
Alright, you may go.
Yes.
It's within my prediction.
It's time for me to make my move.
Xian Yang, Liu Bang is coming.
Xian Yang, Liu Bang came.
Xiang Yu is giving his best.
He defeated Zhang Han's 30,000 army in three days.
But still a little late.
I'm here at Xian Yang City outskirts first.
Husband, you have planned well all the way.
It's an eye opener for me, and I admire you from the bottom of my heart.
Here, your wife, will offer a drink to you.
To offer you a drink, I must bow properly.
My respect to Guan King.
My wife, you have spoken in haste.
Wait until I take over Xian Yang and meet the dukes.
Then the title of Guan King will be confirmed.
What do you mean by too early?
Xian Yang City is just a wall away. It's almost at hand.
As for the title of Guan King...
Xiao Chuan and Xiang Yu, between you brothers, there's a deal that everyone knew (about).
Do they dare to flout the rules?
And, I also heard that the palace of Xian Yang is splendidly glamourous.
There's treasures and fine silks and everything else you want.
Oh right. There's tens of thousands of palace maids to serve you.
I always wanted such kingly style.
It's what I dreamt of.
I cannot wait to stay in this Xian Yang palace.
Wife, do you still remember our rules before marriage?
You wanted my status, land, and wealth to exceed Xiao Chuan's.
I want to be better than everyone in this world.
Wife, you have been reminding me of this for years.
Actually, I have been keeping that in my heart,
not to mention about these rules.
I am also ambitious and have aspirations.
I not only want to be better than Xiao Chuan.
I want to be better than everyone in this world.
General, a woman called Xiao Yue wants to see you.
Quickly, please.
General, I'm here for my brother's matter.
I heard that Liu Bang is already at the outskirts of Xian Yang City.
I could not wait for Brother Xiang and rushed all the way here.
General, you know over these past few years, my Older Brother has done a lot of bad things.
Liu Bang is one of them.
I'm afraid if Xian Yang is conquered,
Brother will be...
That is his own fault.
I can't save your brother.
I know you have many grudges with my brother
and I can't blame you for saying that.
But in these years, he has taken care of me like his real sister.
I already treat him as if he is my real brother.
Now that he is in trouble, I can't stand and watch.
You know, besides our personal grudges,
even if Xiang Yu is here now...
We couldn't save him.
Why is that?
Come here and see.
This is Hangu Pass. Liu Bang has stationed many soldier here.
It's dangerous terrain. Good for defence, hard to attack.
Even if we outnumbered them, it's still useless.
This is the only route to Xian Yang City.
If we needed to detour and skip Hangu Pass, the quickest would need a few months.
How do I save my brother in Xian Yang?
I also want to reach Xian Yang earlier.
General, a group of Qin army is here to surrender.
They claim to be your old subordinates and wanted to see you.
Come.
Seeing you two today, makes me really happy.
Since that day at the Sand Dune battle, I haven't had any news of Meng's Army.
How are the rest of the brothers?
General, it's a long story and we have deep grudges.
That Zhao Gao worried that the Meng Army will harm him and disbanded it.
Zhao Gao killed General Meng Tian and destroyed the Meng Army.
We hate him to the core and can't wait to kill him.
We heard that you were killed in the Sand Dune battle.
We have no leader, so we haven't made any moves.
After we knew that you were still alive and raised a revolt against Zhao Gao,
all of us decided to join you.
When we heard that you are here at Hangu Pass,
we gathered the Flying Tiger Army
to lend you a hand.
Flying Tiger Army is also here?
That's great!
I'm still troubled that I can't break through at Hangu Pass.
Now, with the Flying Tiger Army, I'm confident we can succeed.
What about you all?
What else can you all do?
10,000 soldiers have been fighting Xian Yang City without success, only loses.
Do you want the other dukes to jeer at me?
In the future, how can they respect me?
Luckily, I dispatched some soldiers at Hangu City.
Otherwise...
Report!
Lord, Hangu Pass has lost!
- What? - What's the situation?
Last night, Yi Xiao Chuan sneaked a night attack at Hangu Pass
and will reach here soon.
All of you go back and think of a solution!
Yes.
Oh no, I'm right.
If Xiao Chuan is here, will Xian Yang City belong to him?
The title of Lady Guan
is a dream again. It's a dream again!
- My wife, please wait. - What?
I have important things to discuss.
Don't tell me that you want to borrow soldiers from Xiao Chuan.
Nope.
Wife, just now as I walked in, I suddenly thought of the reason why we can't conquer Xian Yang.
That's because inside the city is your enemy Zhao Gao.
If he did not want to kill you,
you wouldn't have become a bandit for so many years.
Liu Bang, we must take this revenge.
Correct. He must be thinking in that way too.
If the city is conquered, he would die.
That why he is fighting hard.
I want you to tell him
if he gives up Xian Yang City,
I will not take revenge on him.
Lord, you have a visitor.
Not meeting.
I think you should see this visitor, My Lord.
Lord Zhao, why are you so agitated?
Are you troubled?
Who are you?
I am the wife of Lord Pei, Lu Zhi.
Liu Bang and I are like water and fire,
and we're at war.
You dare to come here? Aren't you afraid that you will become my hostage?
If Lord Pei was worried that you would take me as a hostage,
he wouldn't have sent me.
He sent you here?
What trick is he trying to pull this time?
He asked me to transfer a message to you.
He hopes you open the city and surrender soon.
Then he can wipe the slate clean,
and a high officer post and great rewards await you.
Do you feel that I, Zhao Gao, will be stupid to the extent to listen to Liu Bang?
It's precisely because you are a smart person that he sent me.
From what I know,
Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, and Yi Xiao Chuan pledged a deal.
Whoever comes in Xian Yang first can be Guan King.
From what I see, it's because Liu Bang knows
there's no way he'll be the first to conquer the city,
and is afraid that Yi Xiao Chuan will conquer Xian Yang first and snatch the city.
Lord Zhao is indeed an intelligent person.
Not a word was wrong.
Since that is the case,
why should I surrender to him?
Because this matter concerns your life and death.
Everyone knows that Yi Xiao Chuan, Xiang Yu...
Their grudges with you
exceeded your's with Lord Pei.
Try thinking.
If Yi Xiao Chuan or Xiang Yu enter the city first,
will they let you off?
That why, Lord Pei is your only way out.
Lord Pei is your only way out,
and only by letting Lord Pei take over can your life be spared.
Of course, there will still be status and wealth.
How can I believe what Lord Pei says?
Lord Zhao does not have to worry about this.
Everyone knows about Lord Pei's humanity and benevolence.
Besides, if you can't believe Lord Pei at this hour,
who else can you believe?
Of course, the main intention of Lord Pei sending me,
is to show our sincerity.
Lord Zhao, please think about this carefully before making your decision.
Zhao Gao pays his respect to the Lord.
Zhao Gao, rise.
You have done a great service and will be rewarded greatly.
But this name, Zhao Gao, doesn't make my heart feel too good.
Revert back to Gao Yao.
In this way, the previous Zhao Gao would be dead.
How's that?
Thank you, My Lord.
Gao Yao, first give me a tour of the famous Xian Yang Palace.
My Lord, Madam, this is Xian Yang Palace's main hall.
Wife, I feel that I own the whole world.
But isn't it?
I feel as if I've gained everything.
Why do you only say feel? I thought we own all these now?
Yes, My Lady. Whatever you see now belongs to the both of us.
That's great.
Gao Yao, what is this?
Madam, these are musical bells and those are drums.
Musicians will play music for His Majesty.
My Lady, take a look.
I've specially prepared a few trinkets for you.
My god! Do these all belong to me?
My Lady, are you happy?
Yes! Very good!
Husband!
Look at him.
What are you doing? Why are you stoning?
Wake Up!
Hey!
Why daydream now? Go take a look!
In the past, when I hid in the hills,
I only asked for a full meal.
Even if I had big aspirations, I was jeered by others about my dream.
Even My Lady didn't believe in me.
Today I'm standing in the main hall.
I can finally let off a big sigh of relief.
Husband, I acknowledge my mistake.
I looked down on you in the past. Here I'll show my respect.
Don't. I was born lazy.
If not for your advice, I'm afraid I'd have accomplished nothing.
Now, I should thank my wife for your teachings.
Husband, please dispense with that.
Gao Yao, where is the Qin Emperor's throne?
- How does it feel? - It's feels exceptionally well.
Like being the Son of Heaven.
But...
Why do I feel as if something is lacking?
Indeed.
Gao Yao.
No, my beloved subject Gao, how did you usally address the Qin Emperor?
Please show my wife and I.
Hasten!
Kneel!
Shout!
Long live the King!
I never expected the Liu flag to be hung so quickly.
This scoundrel Liu Bang!
The Xiang Yang City and position of Guan King should be yours!
How can he take this advantage?
Assistant General Pang is right.
We have to question Liu Bang clearly and ask him why he stopped us at Hangu Pass.
I do have lots of questions to ask him.