We may have been given a respite.
But Sui may launch a surprise attack anytime.
We must make sure we have ample supplies.
That's being fully prepared.
As long as we have General Luo, we're not afraid of Sui's assaults.
Guys, look,
since Brother Cheng broke the Snake Formation,
Yingying only has eyes for him.
He's great with this and that.
Why don't you just marry him?
It's not your business.
Heaven bless us.
Brother Cheng really is a good choice.
He's good looking with a good character.
Yingying, if you two really care for each other,
let me be your matchmaker,
and work on your betrothal.
Yingying, what do you think?
So annoying!
Yingying...
Right, Heaven bless us,
I'm still single.
When I was young,
I too cut a dashing figure.
Why don't you take a good look at me,
see when I'll find my other half?
Really? Yes.
You sure? Sure.
That's it?
What does that mean?
How many wives will I have?
Evil Taoist!
H is Majesty's decree.
By the grace of heaven, here's my order.
Shanxi Jinyang Viceroy Li Yuan is ordered to build me a villa in Jinyang,
as an abode for my visit.
He is given a month to complete it.
May it be carried out.
Who's setting me up? Who wants me dead?
Li Yuan, here's your decree.
lam honored.
How wicked!
It's a wicked setup.
The Li family is done for.
Father, I think we have a foe in court, this is a trick to get rid of us.
You're right.
We're doomed whether the villa can be completed or not.
If we fail to complete it, we're doomed.
Even if we manage to complete it,
some will say that we managed to complete it in a month,
because we must have started construction before the order,
which is evidence we harbor rebellion intent
So we're still doomed.
How can we get out of the plight?
You three go back and gather the household. Arrange for them to flee or hide,
let me bear the blame alone.
Father, instead of resigning to our doom,
why can't we stand up to it?
There are rebellions everywhere,
why can't the Li family do the same?
You be emperor,
we'll raise our standard here in Jinyang.
Father, Brother Jiancheng is right.
No.
Sui still has a solid foundation, it can't be overthrown yet.
Those rebellions are flashes in the pan.
We're Sui officials,
if we turn against Sui,
Sire will raise heaven and earth to crush us.
We'll tackle them ahead on, what's the big deal?
Still, Jinyang is ill-prepared.
When Sui strikes back,
Jinyang will be totally destroyed
Then what should we do?
Father, we have to build the villa.
But we only have a month, how can it be done?
It can be done.
Shimin, even if it goes your way,
and the villa is completed in a month,
what if people say we started the construction as our own palace?
I have a way.
Brother Shimin, you said the construction can be completed in a month,
it's what you claim,
can you guarantee it?
In black and white.
The villa can be completed in a month.
We await the good news.
Good, I'll assign it to you.
Jiancheng, Yuanji, you both assist him.
Yes.
I've checked it out as you ordered.
Tianlei Temple can be converted into a villa.
Recently two extraordinary roamers have taken residence here,
maybe they can give us a hand.
Extraordinary roamers?
They're both Buddhism cultivators.
One is named Li Jing.
I heard he's well versed in statesmanship and the art of war.
The other is Red Duster.
She was once a courtesan in Yang Su's household.
She met Li Jing in an attempt to kill Yang Su.
They fell in love as a result.
They're currently taking residence here.
We have such extraordinary characters here in Jinyang,
I must pay them a visit.
What sword play! What musical accomplishment!
How wonderful.
They are Li Jing and Red Duster.
Amitabha.
Greetings. Greetings.
Master Shimin, it has been sometime,
how's your family?
Thank you for your concern, they're fine.
Li Jing and Red Duster are my guests.
They have been doing their cultivation here for quite some time.
If you'd like to meet them,
let me introduce you to them.
Thank you indeed.
Master Shimin, after you.
After you.
Master Shimin.
Master Shimin, this is Li Jing.
This is Red Duster.
Greetings.
He is Li Shimin, second son of Jinyang Viceroy.
Greetings. Greetings.
I've heard about your chivalrous stories,
you have my admiration.
We too have heard that Master Shimin is a knight-errant and benevolent to the people.
It's our pleasure that we can meet today.
Besides paying you two a visit, I'm here
to talk to the reverend.
You mean about the temple conversion?
How did you know about that?
That really is my purpose for coming here.
I noticed you eyeing the beam with a heavy heart,
so I thought that's what's on your mind.
Brother Li is observant indeed.
Reverend, don't worry,
let me tell you the truth.
Sire has ordered my father to build him a villa in Jinyang within a month.
Our household may lose our lives if we fail to meet the deadline.
Villa construction usually takes a year, not a month.
That's why I'm here to ask you for a favor
Please allow me to convert the temple to meet the deadline.
I promise you it'll be restored later...
Well...amitabha...
Reverend, please help us.
Reverend, lives come first,
let them do it.
Amitabha...
Saving lives is the greatest virtue.
Since the Li family is at stake,
you can borrow the temple for your use.
Leave everything else for later.
I thank you on my father's behalf.
Master Shimin, a month is a tight schedule, even for a conversion.
I know something about construction,
Red Duster is an adept on mounting.
We have no time to lose,
Let us work on the conversion draft and start work as early as possible.
Thank you for your offer of help.
This Dragonfly Routine can be summed up in a word, speed.
It's easy to say but hard to execute.
Deputy...
Deputy-
How come you're here?
So Father has...
I was asked to deliver a letter to you.
It seems Uncle really has got mad this time
Cousin, maybe you should go back without delay.
Right, I should take brother home for a reunion.
But is this the right time for it? Will he...
Brother, don't worry.
I know Father all too well.
He has a fiery temper,
but if you'll smooth his ruffled feathers,
then everything will be fine.
Right, go back and ask for his forgiveness.
I don't think he'll blame you.
Alright, let me go back and clear things up with him.
Yuanba, what you're practicing is the Xiang Routine used by Conqueror Xiang Yu.
He had extraordinary prowess, he could raise a vessel,
his mastery of the spear was unsurpassed.
Mentor, I love your stories about conquerors
But how come their weapons are so light in weight?
Yuanba, your spear is the heaviest available,
ten catties heavier than Conqueror Xiang Yu's.
It is still too light.
It's as if I'm": holding nothing-.
I prefer a heavier one.
How heavy?
You just mentioned raising a vessel.
Let me try.
What nonsense, you want to raise a vessel?
Let me get you a weapon that's handy and easy to use.
Great!
When can I get it?
Within 100 days.
Is tomorrow within 100 days?
What?
All present?
Commander, all present.
Good.
Pei Yuanqing. Yes.
Here's your order.
Take 5,000 men to wipe out Wagang.
Pull out all the stops and kill their head.
Yes.
Pei Yuanqing, do you know about the the 54th section of military rule 17?
Yes.
If you win the battle,
I'll report it to Sire and you will be handsomely rewarded.
Thank you, Commander.
If you lose, you will have broken the rule,
your head will roll.
Now go.
Commander, you either win or lose a battle.
It's not reasonable that a head has to roll after a defeat.
I have been in countless battles,
I have never heard of such a rule.
Father, it's alright,
it's just a bunch of bandits, they're no match for us.
Don't worry about it.
Good, we have our Vanguard's word.
Guys, did you hear that? Yes.
I take your leave.
Oh yes, Commander,
if you're free, go pack and get ready for our return trip.
It'll be a mess if you don't have enough time.
Deputy Hu. Your Honor.
Gather 5,000 and prepare for the assault of Wagang.
Should we inform General Pei Renji?
No.
It's just Wagang Fortress, I can handle it on my own.
Let's go. Yes.
Bandits of Wagang Fortress, listen up.
I am the vanguard of the court's expedition force, Pei Yuanqing.
Tell your Demon King to come out to his death.
Report.
Sire, Generalissimo, Counselor,
Sui vanguard Pei Yuanqing is outside demanding a fight.
Go gather more details. Yes.
Brother Sire, we just had a few days off,
we're back to fighting again?
Is this man the fiery tiger in Reverend Xu's oracle?
Fiery tiger? Yes.
Reverend Xu divined a fiery tiger in his oracle,
then comes this Pei Yuanqing.
Be he tiger or cat,
just chase him away.
Brother Ji...Counselor, what should we do?
Court Attendant. Yes.
Hang up the truce plaque. Yes.
Brother Ji, a truce before we even fight?
Won't that be demoralizing?
Counselor, why a truce?
Sire, guys, do you know who this Pei Yuanqing is?
I seem to have heard about a valiant Pei in the Pei family,
I wonder if this is him.
This Pei Yuanqing is the third son of Shanma Pass Commander Pei Renji.
His weapon of choice is a pair of silver octagon hammers.
He's a man of immense prowess, he can lift a thousand-catty vessel.
He tamed a fierce lion from Yuanning in court not so long along.
He's no ordinary challenger.
Brother Ji, what does his martial artistry have to do with us?
As the saying goes, win over your opponent instead of killing him.
I aim to win Pei and his sons over to be Wagang men.
Brother Ji, are you awake or not?
Why would he surrender to us?
Sire, don't worry, I know what to do.
Pei Yuanqing is here,
he's ambitious and eager to fight.
We'll hang the truce plaque to thwart his spirit and numb his will.
Then it'll be the right time for us to fight
Demon King, I agree with Reverend Xu,
we should go along with what he said.
If you think so too, it's so decided.
But just in case,
Brother Bodang, you man the wall with archers, nothing can go wrong.
Yes.
General, they asked for a truce.
They asked for a truce before fighting us?
So the name Pei Yuanqing has cowered them
and they dare not fight us.
Then what should we do?
Find some men with loud voices, toss them insults, the worse the better.
Until they can't stand it anymore and they come out to fight.
Yes.
You two. Yes.
Motley crew of Wagang Fortress,
your bane is right outside.
Open the gate and invite us in.
Those inside Wagang Fortress are all chickens,
or dogs with tails between their legs.
They dare not come out and face us.
You can't fight or what?
Cowards of Wagang Fortress,
Stop bluffing.
Demon King? Virtuous Emperor?
I say he's a dumb bumpkin and utter fool.
Well said! Carry on.
Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, come out and fight!
Otherwise, once we fight our way in,
we'll chop your heads down for chamber pots.
Right? Yes.
You heard them, even if you can, I can't take it anymore.
They insulted Sire and Brother Qiong,
what nerve!
Even if I could take it, can you?
Counselor said we can't go out to fight.
They think we're scared of them.
He...
He stopped it. Good.
Get my bow.
Well, it looks like you two are a match.
No big deal.
Let me show you what Nine in One means.
Guoyuan...
Stand aside.
Brother Bodang, you're injured, come on
Come on...you're injured...
They dare not come out tonight.
Withdraw.
Back to our camp.
Commander, Pei Yuanqing reporting back.
Get up. Thank you.
Pei Yuanqing, what's the outcome of the fight?
I pushed the wall defender back.
You won?
Did you capture any standards or weapons?
No.
Did you capture any bandits or their leaders?
No.
You captured neither weapons nor bandits?
Pei Yuanqing, what did I say when you set out?
That I should pull out all stops and wipe out Wagang.
So why did you lie to me?
You said you won.
It's misrepresentation.
Come. Yes.
Take him out and execute him.
Yes...
This is abuse of...
Commander, my son has not captured anything,
but he did force the wall defender to retreat.
Commander, please stick to the book and pardon my son.
Pei Renji, you mean I'm being partial?
That's not what I mean.
Since I'm impartial,
then he should be executed as stated in the book.
Commander, please spare him...
Wagang Fortress is weak, it's defeat is a done deal.
I have to put the Pei's in their place,
so they'll dare not disobey me.
Everything is within my grasp.
Guys, you really want to plead for Pei Yuanqing?
Yes...
Commander, please forgive my son.
Whatever his shortcomings,
please put him on notice,
let him redeem himself in the fight against Wagang.
Since Wagang is still intact,
it's inauspicious to behead one of us before the fight.
It's bad omen.
Alright.
Thank you, Commander.
Pei Yuanqing, your had no regard for my order, you deserve to be beheaded.
Since others pleaded for you, you are spared this time.
If you do it again, you'll be punished for two offences without leniency.
You understand?
Thank you, Commander.
Qing, you alright? Have a bite.
Father, I'm fine, I'm not hungry.
It smells good.
Have a bite, or you won't have the strength to wipe out Wagang tomorrow.
He's never suffered such humiliation.
This Yuwen Chenglong has an axe to grind.
I think it's Yuwen Huaji that old fox's idea.
In this expedition
even if Wagang men can't kill us,
Yuwen Chenglong will do us in.
No way, Father.
That Yuwen Chenglong is just a monkey.
He doesn't have the intellect for it.
Don't you agree?
Sister is right.
Father, take it easy.
Let me lead the assault tomorrow,
let's pull out all the stops and wipe out Wagang.
Whatever tricks Yuwen Chenglong has up his sleeves,
there's nothing he can do to us.
Buddy...
Brother Yaojin, Brother Qiong, Brother Ji, How come you're here?
How's your injury?
It's no big deal. I'm much better now.
Sit...
Please sit... I'm so ashamed.
I failed you guys.
Buddy, it seems your Nine in One is awesome.
Teach me how when you have time.
Teach you? Can you pick it up?
Brother He, I am Sire.
Brothers, I have to say,
that Pei Yuanqing really is something.
My shot was powerful, but he managed to stop it.
We wouldn't have gone to this length if he were not a talent.
If he were to join us, he'd greatly boost our strength.
I've got intel,
there's a feud between Pei Yuanqing and the Sui commander Yuwen Chenglong.
I have a way.
Good.
Brother Ji is no ordinary man.
It seems they will fight today.
Good!
Everyone here? Bring it on!
Heaven bless us.
Are you Pei Yuanqing?
I am General Pei Yuanqing.
Judging from your looks,
you're the evil Taoist Xu Maogong?
Heaven bless us, that's right.
General Pei, why aren't you in your Shanma Pass,
but here in Wagang instead?
Evil Taoist, you know very well
I'm here on Sire's order,
to wipe out you rebellious bandits.
We're indeed rebels, but we're not bandits.
Xu Maogong, you say you're not bandits?
Look, your demon king was a plough hawker and pirate salt seller,
your generalissimo used to be a constable,
You, the counselor, were a fortune-teller.
Look at those men behind you,
they were bandits and highwaymen.
Your motley crew dares to raise your standard and rebel against the court?
Get off your horse and surrender.
Sui Emperor is kindhearted,
he may spare you your lives.
If you refuse to see the light, you'll regret it.
General Pei, as you said,
we're lowly born, we're not good enough to rebel.
Let me ask you,
Emperor Gao of Han was a minor official,
he called for rebellion at Mount Mangdang.
After battles and wars, he founded Han, which lasted four hundred years.
As for heroes of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei started out as a mat weaver,
Guan Yunchang a date seller, and Zhang Yide a butcher.
They were all lowly born.
It shows heroes are self-made, not born.
We heroes of Wagang, though lowly born,
we are chivalrous and help the poor and needy.
Unlike that wicked emperor Yang Guang,
he killed his father, molested his mother and sister, he's a monster.
He believes in the wicked and persecutes the loyal,
he kills the innocent and tramples on the people.
What nonsense!
Master Pei, what about yourself?
The evil Yuwen Huaji and his son set you up.
You'll be killed if you suffer defeat,
If you win they won't let you go.
You won yesterday,
but why were you almost executed?
Master Pei, it's about time you woke up.
Evil Taoist, stop trying to alienate us.
I said it for your own sake.
You pledged your loyalty to Yang Guang,
but you're darned if you win or lose.
Why don't you join Wagang and overthrow Yang Guang instead?
You will have fame and fortune, and make your ancestors proud.
General, think about it.
Evil Taoist, you think you can talk me into surrendering?
Dream on.
Truth is a harsh mistress.
Don't regret it afterwards.
Enough, evil Taoist.
Alright.
General Pei, bring it on.
Brother Qiong, watch me beat him.
Pei Yuanqing, take this.
You see mine? Mother of all hammers.
Let me beat you into pulp.
His hammers look like they weigh hundreds of catties.
My silver ones can't take them head on.
They'll hit mine off.
I should use wit instead.
Scared?
Then get off and kowtow to me.
You don't believe me?
Then let's go for a round.
General Pei...
For shame! That's below the belt!
Withdraw...
It's called by hook or by crook.
I picked it up from Yuwen Chengdu in Chang'an.
Report.
Commander, bandits threw lime at Pei Yuanqing, his eyes are injured.
He lost the round.
He's on his way back.
What should we do?
He lost? How come?
It's not a bad outcome.
I can execute him and go back to the capital.
Then my brother and I can lead an expedition to wipe out the bandits.
Sister, help...
Yuanqing, what happened?
Yuanqing...
Wagang men are all rascals.
They threw lime at me.
Let me wash it out for you.
Then you'll be fine. Hurry...
Yuanqing, hang on.
Come on...
Sister, it hurts.
Hang on, once it's washed, you'll be fine.
Yuanqing, are you OK?
Sister, it hurts, my eyes hurt
Cuiyun. Father...
Is it lime that did it?
Yes.
You can't wash lime with water,
it'll hurt like fire.
Then...
What do I do? Let me get a physician.
It can't wait.
Get me dry cloth, we'll wipe it away.
Hang on.
It hurts... Cloth.
What nerve!
That Cheng Yaojin is a rascal.
Don't let me see him.
If I see him, he's toast.
Are you OK?
Are you OK? Does it still hurt?
Sister, it's much better now.
But it still hurts.
Hang on, I'll get you a physician.
No, I have to report to the commander.
How can you go in this condition?
Father, Yuwen Chenglong can't stand me.
He makes it difficult for me all the time.
Now that I've lost the battle,
he'll penalize me.
If I don't report to him, we'll have our backs to the wall.
Let me go with you.
Cuiyu, listen to me, don't go.
You wait here, don't complicate things.
Come give a hand...
Come on...
Greetings, Commander.
General Pei, did you win this time?
Your Honor, I was careless,
I fell into the enemy's trap.
I lost.
Lost?
What did I say when I gave you the order?
Victory and no defeat. Wipe out Wagang in three days.
So why have you come back a loser?
It's my fault.
Sire made you Guardian General
and appointed the vanguard,
but you came back a loser.
You've hurt Sui's reputation.
You have the nerve to come to see me?
Come. Yes.
Take him out for execution. Yes
Commander, spare him...
Pei Renji, you and your sons keep going against me
Your son has failed his order time and again
He made a grave mistake again, he deserves execution.
What else do you have to say?
Commander, he lost because he fell into the enemy's trap,
not because he pulled punches.
In the battlefield, you either win or lose.
Commander, please spare his life.
Let him redeem himself.