Episode 62
Three Kingdoms
Little Ma boy!
You are descended from a famed Han general. Why do you/rebel against the imperial court?
Cao Cao, traitor!
You have the cheek to mention the imperial court?
You show disrespect to the emperor
and killed my father and brother!
I swear I shall capture you alive,
then I shall feast on your flesh and sleep on your hide!
Why are there so many people who desire to eat my flesh and skin me?
Little Ma boy!
and that's why they died in dreamland.
Your father and brother plotted to kill me.
Cao Cao, traitor!
Your life is mine! Charge!
Who can capture the little Ma whelp?
Don't get carried away! Yu Jin is here!
Hmm... this young colt is a indeed fine steed.
It's a pity he can't be mine.
You're too arrogant, little whelp!
Here comes Zhang He, your nemesis!
Charge now and kill Cao Cao!
Charge!
Ignore the others! Go straight for Cao Cao!
Protect His Excellency!
The man in the red cloak is the villain Cao Cao! Go kill him!
The man with a long beard is the villain Cao Cao! Co kill him!
The man with a long beard is Cao Cao!
The man with a short beard is the villain Cao Cao! Co kill him!
The man with a short beard is Cao Cao!
Kill the villain Cao Cao! Don't let him escape!
Kill him!
Death to those in my way!
Don't run villain Cao Cao!
Your Excellency!
Your Excellency.
His Excellency has returned.
Your Excellency. His Excellency has returned.
Your Excellency.
Your Excellency, are you all right?
I've underestimated... I've underestimated the enemy.
This defeat... is all my fault.
Your Excellency, are you hurt?
I was this close...
What a close call.
Cao Hong was right.
The Xiliang army is indeed formidable.
Hurry... help His Excellency into the tent.
If not for Xu Chu, I would have died today.
In the past,
I've heard rumors saying that Ma Chao is as brave as Lu Bu,
and I witnessed that with my own eyes today.
This will not be an easy battle.
Your Excellency, the Xiliang army has skilled riders and strong horses.
I'm afraid our horsemen cannot compare.
But since they rely oh the spear. we can counter them using archers.
Your Excellency, the Xiliang army relies solely on their cavalry.
If we want to win, we should use the hooked spear to counter their horses.
Miaocai, you said to use archers to fight the enemy.
But don't you know that Xiliang army are good archers too?
Zilian, you suggested to use the hooked spear to impede the speed of the enemy's horses.
It's a good suggestion, but how can we make enough hooked spears in such a short period of time?
Your Excellency,
I suggest that we send out a light cavalry to go around to the western bank and block the enemy's route.
Ma Chao will be iri/grave danger if he faces enemies from both sides.
Only Congming's idea follows military principles.
However, a lone contingent approaching the enemy from the back
must be led by a brave and knowledgeable general.
Your Excellency, I'm willing to go.
I wish to avenge my humiliating defeat at Tong Pass.
Good! How many men do you need?
Only 3,000 elite horsemen.
I'll give you 6,000.
Your orders are to lead the army to cross the river in stealth,
go around to the western bank, and, two days later at noon, attack Ma Chao's rear camps.
Gongming.
Yes.
If you lose again, don't bother coming back.
Yes, sir!
Report!
Your Excellency, the scouts report that the Xiliang army has increased in numbers.
Hou Xuan and Cheng Yin came with reinforcements from Chang'an.
How many men?
Thirty thousand.
Excellent.
Excellent!
That saves us the trouble of going all the way to Xiliang to exterminate them!
Great... His Excellency is right...
Gentlemen.
You are to lead your units
across the Wei River overnight.
Set camp on the north bank and prepare for battle.
Your Excellency, why don't we take back Tong Pass first?
It is a very vital pass.
If we take down Tong Pass, the Xiliang army's supply route will be cut.
Of course I know that.
However, Tong Pass is a strategic pass.
It can be easily defended with just 5,000 soldiers.
If I split our forces now to attack Tong Pass,
Ma Chao will be able to crash through our vanguard.
Ma Chao must have brought his entire force with him in this expedition.
He has 200,000 soldiers, which is more than twice the size of our army.
Ma^Chao must be assuming that I dare not attack. But I will!
Your Excellency, our army will face vast plains after we cross the river.
It will be difficult to set up fortifications in the open.
If the Xiliang army charges at us full-force, we will not be able to withstand them!
Before crossing the river,
send soldiers to prepare lumber.
As soon,as we cross the river, we will set up camp.
News! Your Excellency,
Han Sui has arrived with 50,000 Xiliang soldiers. He has joined forces with Ma Chao.
What took him so long?
Very good. Very good that he's here.
This time, we can root them out once and for all.
We will subjugate Xiliang right here at the Wei River.
There will be no need to journey far to destroy them.
Generals, I've decided. We shall advance north to engage the enemy.
Yes, sir.
Uncle, I was this close to killing that villain Cao Cao today.
Had a black-faced general not sprung out suddenly, that villain would have died under my spear!
I know the black-faced general to whom you're referring.
He is Cao Cao's Tiger Guard General.
His name is Xu Chu and he is very valiant.
Cao Cao calls him the "Tiger Lord".
So that was him? A ferocious warrior indeed.
How many soldiers did Cao Cao bring him this time?
According to the scouts, they have around 10,000 men, all picked men.
Cao Cao is giving his all in this battle.
It seems that he intends to fight to the death with us here.
General. Elder Brother.
Cao Cao's army has crossed the Wei River.
They are now transporting timber from the ships and are preparing to encamp.
Mengqi,
we must not let Cao Cao's army set up camp.
Once they have a foothold, the battle will be drawn out indefinitely.
We are constrained by food supplies,
and cannot fight a long war.
That's right.
We shall take this chance to raid their army in the night before they secure their foothold.
Bad news, Your Excellency.
The Xiliang army raided the ferry crossing last night and burnt up all our timber supplies.
Your Excellency, how are we going to build fortifications without timber?
Without fortifications, the Xiliang army will tear us up like wolves devouring camels.
They will chew up our very last flesh!
Co immediately,
and split all the men' into three contingents.
The first contingent shall defend against enemy raids.
The other two will work day and night to construct a wall of earth.for our defenses.
Yes, sir.
Your Excellency, there is only sand here.
Thirty thousand of our men toiled through the night to build a wall of dirt.
But when we went to take a look this morning, it had collapsed.
Your Excellency, I feel that we have only one option left.
Speak.
Position a decoy here while the main army retreats back to the south of the Wei River.
That won't work.
The Xiliang;army has burnt most of our ferries.
How can our 100,000 soldiers cross the river?
We can look for a shallow point to ford the river.
If we retreat, the army will be in disorder. Disorder will lead to defeat.
Ma Chao's army is no more than 20 miles away from ours.
If they attack us midway in our crossing, our entire army will be demolished.
But we're vulnerable to attacks from all directions here.
We cannot hold the ground
Your Excellency, the Xiliang army sounded the drums for battle.
Cao Ren.
Cao Ren, we are at a critical juncture.
First, we must engage the enemy.
Second, we must win.
Third, we must strike the enemy as hard as possible within the shortest period of time.
Otherwise, Ma Chao will know that we do not have a firm defense,
and he will lead all his troops to attack us.
Is that clear?
Understood!
Xu Chu! Stay here and protect His Excellency!
Everyone else, follow me!
Yes, sir!
Sound the drums!
Does Heaven really desire to destroy me here?
Your Excellency, let's go back to the tent.
It's too cold out here. Even the water is frozen now.
What did you just say?
I said... even the water is frozen now.
Cheng Yu
you've just given me a brilliant idea!
At once,
have everyone in the camps take all available pails and water tanks and go fetch water at the river.
Your Excellency, what do you mean?
Look, the sky is clouded over.
When the north wind blows tonight, it will be freezing cold.
At midnight,
have the soldiers pour water to the wall they are constructing.
By dawn tomorrow.
an ice fortress will appear before us.
Brilliant plan, isn't it?
Heaven is on our side!
Fire!
Cao Cao! Villain! Rogue! Traitor!
Little Ma boy!
You hoped that I'd fail to construct a fort, didn't you?
Take a look. Just last night,
Heaven bestowed a sturdy fort on me.
Thus, we can see that you're not fit to be my match.
It would be better to surrender now.
Surrendering to me .means adhering to heaven's will.
Moreover, I love talented men and cannot bear to kill you.
Cao Cao, villain! You only ever know how to fight with words,
but do you dare to do combat against me?
Little Ma boy! Do you know who I am?
I'm Xu Chu from Qiaojun.
You are the Tiger Lord?
That's right! The vicious tiger shall devour the horse.
I'm going to come down and get you
Charge!
Mengqi! Be careful
Come again. Ma boy!
Your Excellency!
How many bouts now?
Exactly 150 bouts.
And it's still a draw?
Yes, it is.
Still can't tell who's stronger?
They're equally strong.
My eyes are fatigued from watching them, but their arms are still not tired?
Don't run, Ma boy!
Xu Chu! I'm not afraid of you, of course!
return to1 camp and get fresh horses.
It's just that my horse is exhausted. Let's
We shall fight another 300 bouts after that. Do you dare to do so?
Why not? Go!
Go!
Go! Prepare a good steed for Xu Chu.
Yes, sir.
Your Excellency! Please lend me your Black Dragon.
Uncle, please lend me your horse.
Very well.
Nephew, Xu Chu is valiant. You must be very/careful.
Please rest assured, Uncle.
Remove my armor.
The horse!
The Ma boy is valiant. Be careful; Tiger Lord!
Don't worry, my lord. Watch me take his head.
Bring me my blade.
Here, General.
If the Ma boy doesn't die, I will not have peaceful days.
Your Excellency! Some flags are waving behind the enemy.
Xu Huang must have arrived at their rear.
Cao Ren, open the gates for battle.
Yes, sir!
Open the gates!
That crafty Cao Cao!
He led his army to lure me here.
but ordered Xu Huang to attack us from the back.
We have lost 20,000 men.
Moreover, our supplies are running low.
Attacked from both sides, our men are demoralized.
is twice the size*of <Cao Cao's.
What's there to worry about? Our army
I'll challenge him to battle again.
Pang De, bring some men to attack Xu Huang.
Aye!
Cao Cao refuses to come out to do battle. What should we do?
Mengqi.
It's not to our advantage to prolong the battle.
The two contingents from the Qiang tribe have left without a word.
Uncle, so your idea is...
Lets withdraw for the time being and cede territory for a truce.
We shall cede our land within the Passes, and Cao Cao shall pull out of the western bank.
We will both withdraw.
After winter has passed and spring comes.
we shall plan our next move again.
Brother, our army's main base is far away at Xiliang.
If the enemy cuts our return route,
it will be dangerous.
What a shame!
Father's death is not yet avenged.
Mengqi,
a true man can bide his time for vengeance.
Cao Cao is a great villain of our time.
You must not be impatient when you fight with him.
Very well then, Uncle 'You make the call.
Elder Brother.
Your Excellency, here is a letter from Han Sui.
He's proposing to cede land for a truce.
Han Sui knows what's good for him.
That's great! After this defeat, Ma Chao will not dare to invade us again for the next five years.
Your Excellency, please agree to their proposal.
Xiahou Yuan.
Yes, sir.
Send them a reply saying that,
I wish to meet Han Sui in front of the fort tomorrow.
Yes, sir.
His Excellency invites General Han Sui for a parley
How do you do, Your Excellency?
How do you do, General?
Your Excellency, since you have already agreed to the truce.
when will you order General Xu Huang to withdraw from the western bank?
In three days.
I shall command Xu Huang to withdraw by then.
Good.
Our army shall also withdraw from the Passes at the same time.
Please do not go back on your words.
I shall take my leave.
Stay a while, Wenyue.
Your father and I were appointed to office together.
I respected him like my own uncle.
Come to think of it, we are connected.
Since we're here today, let's catch up a bit, shall we?
What do you wish to discuss, Your Excellency?
General, why are they chatting for so long?
When Han Sui returns we should ask him
what they were chatting about.
What if he doesn't tell me?
What a delightful chat we had today!
Your Excellency, our agreement for the truce has been delivered to you.
When will you deliver your agreement to us?
When do you wish to have it?
Tomorrow.
Then tomorrow it shall be.
Ill have someone deliver it to your camp.
Very well then. I shall take my leave.
Farewell.
Have a good day.
What a happy chat you had with Cao Cao in front of the armies today, Uncle.
Cao Cao claimed to be acquainted with my father,
and he chatted about the past.
I hope you two were only catching up on the past.
Done?
Your Excellency, take a look.
You re smashing the ink stick, not grinding it. The ink is too thick.
I'll... add some water.
No need. Thick ink is useful too.
Your Excellency, why are you doing this?
Why are you blotching the document?
Brother, you may be peerless in handling swords and spears,
but you don't understand that...
sometimes,
killing by the brush
is much less cumbersome than killing with the blade.
Doesn't this document look impossible to read?
Yes.
Good!
Send someone to deliver it to the Xiliang camp gate immediately
and hand it to the sentries.
Yes, sir!
Arrows at the ready!
Who are you? Stay where you are!
Otherwise, we'll shoot!
Do not shoot.
I have a letter here from Prime Minister Cao
for General Han Sui.
Take the letter.
Yes, Sir!
Uncle,
I heard that Cao Cao sent someone to deliver the truce agreement.
Mengqi,
here it is.
Hmm? Why are there so many things blotted out on the document?
The document was delivered in this condition. I have no idea why it's like that.
Perhaps Cao Cao sent the draft to us by mistake?
Cao Cao is famous for being meticulous.
He would not make such a mistake.
Unless there is something in this document that you do not wish me to see, Uncle?
Is that why you've blotted the words?
Mengqi, what... what do you mean by that?
My late father was your firm friend.
His death has not yet been avenged
and you're already betraying him?
Mengqi, your suspicions are unfounded!
Your father and I were like brothers.
Why would I commit such a heinous act?
Then was then and now is now.
Since we're unable to defeat Cao Cao,
you're trying to associate yourself with him!
Mengqi!
You...
Very well, if you do not believe me,
I shall call Cao Cao out tomorrow and talk to him.
You will then charge from the back and kill him at that instant.
Very well. If you can do that,
I shall believe in your sincerity.
Goodbye!
General Han requests His Excellency to come forth to speak.
General Han,
an imperial envoy from Xuchang.
His Excellency is currently entertaining
He's unable to meet you now.
However, he instructed me to tell you, General,
that we have received the letter.
His Excellency understands your intentions, General.
His Excellency said he will act according to the plan.
Please do not mess up on your end, General.,
Wait!
I do not understand a word of what you said.
Han Sui!
You double-crossing traitor!
Mengqi, what are you talking about?
You're in league with Cao Cao against me!
I would never think of betraying you.
My dear nephew, please do not fall for Cao Cao's ploy.
Don't try to fool me! Prepare yourself!
Stay your hand! Please stop, Young General!
Villain Han Sui! You dare to order your men to surround me?
Very well, I'm not afraid even if you all attack me together!
Come!