Episode 69
Three Kingdoms
A law-breaking father,
a law-breaking son.
Completely scandalous!
Sir Xun!
What will you have me do then?
I will ask you to turn around and go back!
Ding Yi!
Here!
Charge!
Aye!
Father.
Your Highness.
Who is on duty at the White Horse Gate?
Your Highness, it is I.
Xu Chu.
Here.
Drag him away and behead him.
Yes sir.
Have mercy, Your Highness!
Please spare my life. Your Highness!
please spare my life, your Highness.
Your Excellency,
It is "Your Highness".
Your Excellency,
it was your son who broke the rules.
Why do you execute the guard instead?
If the guard didn't open the gate, how could my son have broken the rule?
That is my rule.
If the guard deserves death for opening the White Horse Gate,
then what about those court officials who 4 opened the gate for your investiture?
Don't they deserve death as well?
Xun Yu... Xun Yu...
You have served me for 30 years.
I would not have imagined you could be so insubordinate.
Men!
Here!
Do you intend to kill me. Your Excellency?
Please don't worry.
I, Cao Cao, have never killed anyone who has rendered great service to me.
Xu Chu,
dismantle the White Horse Gate immediately.
Yes, sir.
Xun Yu,
I want you to see.
In a while, the gate will be no more.
The road will extend to the skies and everyone can walk-on it freely.
Where will the rules that you mentioned be then?
White Horse Gate
Sir Xun!
Sir Xun...
Who are you?
I'm the Minister Steward Geng Ji.
Geng Ji?
Servants of the Han have not died out yet, I see...
Your Highness.
Has the White Horse Gate been dismantled?
It was completely demolished.
Did Xun Yu come to make a scene?
Ever since that day,
he has been ill.
He has not eaten for three days.
It wouldn't do to not eat anything.
I have some fruit here.
Take them with you...
go to his residence and visit him on my behalf.
Yes, sir.
Sir.
Wenruo...
Are you feeling better?
You have come.
Did he order you to come?
His Highness keeps thinking of you.
He ordered me to visit you.
His Highness even had me bring you a box of fruit.
You can leave now.
Table of Xun Yu
Wenruo...
rest in peace.
Do you know?
I miss the old times we spent together.
Without you, Xun Wenruo,
how would I have accomplished what I have today.
In the first year of Xingping,
when I was fighting Tao Qian,
you remained behind to defend Yanzhou.
You devoted your energies to ensuring that I had no shortage of supplies.
When Zhang Miao rebelled,
every county rose in support for him.
Again, it was you...
who led the army in defense,
and ensured that my main camp did not fall.
In the fifth year of Jian'an, during the battle of Guandu,
my army ran out of food
and the soldiers' morale was in turmoil.
All the generals wanted me to withdraw.
but you alone advised me to defend and wait for the right opportunity.
You delivered food and equipment to me overnight.
With that, I was able to seize victory with a surprise attack,
and utterly defeated Yuan Shao.
Oh Wenruo,
you were my Zhang Liang, Zhang Zifang.
You were like my own arms.
You were my brother.
It's a pity that...
you did not share my ideals.
Pi, my son...
I am very aggrieved.
Yes... I understand.
Father,
you had to kill an old friend who you had no choice but to kill.
Moreover, this old friend...
was a confidant of yours.
Did you hear that, Wenruo?
My son Pi is right.
#unrecognized text#
You... were an old friend and confidant of mine.
But you...
like the rest of the world...
judged me wrongly.
Just wait and see.
Time will tell.
Your decision to leave me was wrong.
It could not have been more wrong.
Whereas I...
I am right.
Cao Cao is a traitor.
forced Sir Xun to die. He acts as if he's the emperor.
He forced the emperor make him Prince of Wei. He
traitor and restore the imperial court.
We, as servants of the Han, should kill the
Kill the traitor and restore the imperial court!
We shall do that even at the expense of death!
Very well.
My brothers, listen carefully to me.
Cao Cao is staying at Wufeng Tower tonight.
The tower is defended by the imperial guard.
I have enlisted the help of some among the imperial guard.
At midnight, they will set fire to the stables.
This will draw the sentries away to put out the fire.
Then we shall lead our men to attack Wufeng Tower
and kill Cao Cao.
Then, we will have His Majesty ascend the tower,
summon all ministers and command them to destroy the traitors. Then offer an amnesty to the imperial guard.
With that, our mission will be a success. We shall become meritorious servants of the Han!
Fire! Someone put out the fire!
Faster! Faster!
Fetch water to put out the fire!
Quick! Quick! Over here! Quick!
Faster! Faster!
Brothers! Follow me!
Let's take down Wufeng Tower! Charge!
Quickly, take down Wufeng Tower!
We shall kill the traitor Cao Cao! Charge!
Xu Chu!
Your Highness!
What's going on?
Your Highness.
A fire broke out in the imperial guards' camp. There seems to be rebels.
Your Highness,,please mount your horse. I will escort you out.
Don't panic.
Listen,
you can hear shouting everywhere.
How can you tell which route is clear?
You only have to protect Wufeng Tower.
If any rebels dare to approach, kill without mercy.
Yes, sir.
Oh no, Young Master!
Young Master! This is bad! Young Master!
Young Master! Bad news! The palace is on fire. The sound of fighting is everywhere,
and everyone in the city is shouting...
Shouting what?
Kill... kill the treacherous Cao clan... restore power to Han...
Where is father?
At Wufeng Tower.
It's going to catch on fire soon
Wake up everyone and follow me to Wufeng Tower!
Yes, sir!
Third Brother, where are you going?
Rebels have set fire to the camps to cause trouble.
I'm going to kill them.
That's their ploy.
Father is at Wufeng Tower. We'll go protect him.
if Xuchang is razed to the ground!
As long as he's safe, it doesn't matter
Fine! I'll go with you!
Quick!
Your Highness. The instigator, Geng Ji, has been arrested.
Geng ]i, why did you rebel?
Cao Cao, the rebel is not I, but you! I'm killing the rebel for the sake of the Han!
What arrogance.
Do you know that I'm going to exterminate your entire clan?
I will still kill you even if you destroy my clan!
Cut off the traitor's tongue!
No,
let him continue.
Let him scold me to his heart's content.
I've not been scolded by anyone for a long time.
Minister Steward Geng,
please enlighten me on one thing.
After the demise of Emperor Ling,
the imperial court became weakened and corrupted.
Emperors sold posts for money.
Court officials extorted taxes ruthlessly.
Warlords sprang up all over the land and created unrest.
The entire Han court...
was like the rubble under my feet.
It was only because I gave my all to rebuild this empire,
that the commoners finally had enough to eat.
I wiped out all venues for those corrupted officials to commit evil.
I personally believe that
I have somewhat contributed to the empire.
So why do you people hate me so much?
Or even want to kill me?
Do you people want to turn the Han empire
into a pile of debris again?
Loyalty is the first of all virtues.
In life I read the writings of sages. In death, I remain true to their teachings!
If the teachings of the sages worked, the sages themselves would have ruled the world long ago!
Do you know?
This is called blind devotion.
Corrupted officials are despicable,
fatuous rulers are despicable,
but even more despicable are those of blind devotion, like you
Cao Ahman...
Even if I cannot kill you when I'm alive. my ghost shall haunt you to death
Really?
Then you better look carefully.
Remember my face well.
Don't you forget how I look on your way to hell!
You are not my match in life,
and you think you can defeat me after death?
Take him away.
Cao Ahman! I swear I'll haunt you to death!
I swear I'll haunt you to death
Young Master!
Sir!
Sir, are you all right?
Are you all right?
I'm so worried for you.
This is other people's. Not mine.
#unrecognized text#
Sir, father was trapped in Wufeng Tower yesterday.
I was the first to lead my servants to charge into the camps.
You went to Wufeng Tower?
That's right.
Did Cao Zhi go?
He didn't.
He was reveling with his poet friends yesterday,
and he got drunk.
This time,
you and Cao Zhang lost, and Cao Zhi won.
Why did you say that, sir?
His Excellency has a keen mind.
He will be wondering.
So many people were attacking, and so many people were defending.
Geng Ji had confederates even in the imperial guard.
Who knows if there were traitors among the rescuers?
But... I...
Especially you two.
Were you killing or helping the traitors?
His Excellency would even suspect that the two of you planned this rebellion.
Cao Zhi did not go.
His Excellency cannot judge his loyalty,
but at least he would know that he had no intention to rebel!
Your Highness,
the rebels have been captured and killed.
Besides Geng Ji,
there was Major Wei Huang,
Ji Miao and Ji Mu, the sons of the imperial doctor Ji Ping,
and the sons of powerful clans such as Jin Wei, amounting to fifty persons.
These are the people who were arrested.
What about the rest?
We need to investigate this matter more deeply.
We must root out the remaining rebels.
Yes, sir.
Why did I not see Cao Zhi around?
When Your Highness was in danger,
the Fourth Young Master did not come to your rescue.
He is ill at ease because of that,
hence he dared not appear in front of Your Highness.
Convey my orders.
Cao Zhi shall take command of the imperial guard,
and defend Ye.
Yes, sir.
Your Highness, all of the officials have been brought here on your orders.
Geng Ji, Wei Huang and others have revolted.
They attempted to burn Wufeng Tower.
There were some among you who tried to put out the fire and kill the rebels.
There were also others who shut themselves in their homes.
shall stand under the red flag here.
Those who were present that night
Those who remained at home are to stand under the white4flag.
You will each be awarded 20 taels of gold. Return to your respective posts.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Arrest them all.
Aye!
Spare us, Your Highness! Spare us, Your Highness!
We went to put out the fire, what have we done wrong?
We're innocent, Your Highness!
Do you think I know nothing?
Civil officials like you are too weak to even hold a sword properly.
How can you possibly put out the fire or kill the rebels?
The real purpose of you scrambling to Wufeng Tower
was to assist the rebels.
Take them to the River Zhang,
and execute them all.
Aye!
Spare our lives, Your Highness!
Spare our lives,-Your Highness!
Pi, come with me.
Pi, why are you so uneasy?
Father, you just executed over three hundred officials.
Your overwhelming majesty makes me tremble to the core.
Do you know why I killed them?
Most of those who stood under the red flag were palace attendants.
Their motives for going to Wufeng Tower were devious.
If you knew,
then why did you go to Wufeng Tower?
Father,
I'd rather be suspected by you
than let the rebels harm you!
I witnessed everything you did last night.
You are not a fighter by nature. Your swordsmanship is horrible.
But in the battle of life and death with the rebels, you resembled a lunatic.
You fought with no regard to your own life.
I shall appoint you as my heir-apparent.
Today, I shall order Dong Zhao to announce my decision to the lands.
Father...
Move into the Prime Minister's Office immediately.
If I'm not in Xuchang in the future.
all military affairs in the city, all officials and the entire army,
inclusive of palace matters.
shall be governed by you.
I shall obey.
Call Sima Yi here.
Zhongda, I've appointed Cao Pi as my heir.
I saw Young Master Pi's face covered with tears.
You're as talented as Kongming and Zhou Yu.
I look forward to you serving Cao Pi with utmost loyalty in the future.
I obey your command.
Your Highness!
Your Highness,
Cao Hong sent an urgent message from Hanzhong saying,
Huang Zhong, with 20,000 soldiers, took three of our camps, and overcame our main defenses.
Our army suffered heavy casualties.
Hanzhong's pass had been breached.
General Cao requests Your Highness to send reinforcements urgently.
It was less than a year since Liu Bei obtained the Riverlands,
and already he wants to annex Hanzhong.
If Hanzhong is lost,
Liu Bei will gain a very strategic position,
where he can lead an army to attack the Central Plains the way Liu Bang did.
He will attack Xuchang and fight for supremacy with me.
Your Highness, Hanzhong must not be lost.
Please send reinforcements to Cao Hong immediately.
What do you say?
Liu Bei can no longer hold back his imperial ambitions.
He now occupies the Riverlands and Jing.
He must have over one million soldiers,
and a thousand generals under his command.
His food and equipment reserves are^inexhaustible.
Right now, Liu Bei's army is at the peak of their morale.
Your Excellency need not fight him head on.
Are you telling me to abandon Hanzhong?
I feel that
there is another place more crucial than Hanzhong.
That place is Jing, the heart of the realm.
Your Excellency can order Cao Ren to lead 100,000 troops
to create a decoy at Hanzhong,
while you personally command 300,000 men
to attack Jing in the south.
In this way, Liu Bei will be confounded.
The danger at Hanzhong will thus be removed.
A good strategy.
But I'd like to amend it a bit.
Have Cao Ren to lead 100,000 men to the south.
He shall move into Fancheng and wait for the right opportunity to attack Jing.
I shall personally lead 300,000 men to Hanzhong,
and meet Liu Bei in battle.
You shall follow me to war.
Yes, sir.
Your Excellency,
if you really wish to fight a decisive battle with Liu Bei,
I have one more suggestion to make.
Speak.
Send a letter to Sun Quan.
Ask him to send troops across the river Nd join us in the attack on Jing.
Afterwards, we shall split the land with him.
Sun Quan has been defeated by us several times at Hefei.
Will he still ally with me?
Most definitely.
Why?
Firstly,
Sun Quan yearns to occupy Jing even in his dreams.
Secondly,
his thoughts right now are the same as yours.
He does not wish to see Liu Bei conquer the realm either.
Very well.
Gentlemen,
we have two pieces of happy news today.
Firstly,
Huang Zhong and Yan Yan, with just a detachment,
conquered a critical pass for us with ease.
This has opened the gateway to Hanzhong for us.
Secondly,
Cao Cao recently proclaimed himself as prince in Xuchang.
It led to a revolt that nearly killed him.
Elder brother,
I think we should seize this opportunity to lead our entire army to conquer Hanzhong.
Hanzhong is a strategic location that many military powers fought for in the past.
If we occupy Hanzhong,
we will be strategically positioned to put pressure on the Central Plains.
If we let Cao Cao take it,
he will be able to attack the Riverlands any time.
That's right! We must conquer Hanzhong!
Conquer Hanzhorig! Conquer Hanzhong!
Kongming,
what is your opinion?
My lord, I have some concerns.
If we mobilize our entire army,
how can we react if something happens to Jing?
Master,
you are great in every way,
except that you're overly cautious.
Think about it.
If we mobilize our entire army to attack Hanzhong,
do you think Cao Cao has any resources left to attack south?
Besides Cao Cao, there's also Sun Quan.
How can those Southland cowards be a match for Yunchang?
I'm still worried.
My mind is made up.
We shall attack Hanzhong full force.
We shall fight for supremacy with Cao Cao.
Yes, sir.
Kongming,
we must not let this chance escape us. Once lost, it will not come back.
The faster we conquer Hanzhong, the safer it is for Jing.
My lord,
that was where late Lord Sun Jian laid his sword.
The Green Dragon Gate.
Truly as a coiled dragon, a crouching tiger. A place of awe-inspiring aura!
My lord, Cao Cao sent us a letter.
He wants you to attack Jing.
Liu Bei sent us a letter as well, requesting that we attack Cao Cao.
Both of them are putting on a humble act,
trying to beg a favor from you.
It's an excellent opportunity for Wu.
What is your decision, my lord?
Do you think
I should agree to Cao Cao's request
or Liu Bei's request?
I humbly suggest that,
we should agree to both.sides.
However, we will not mobilize our army for either.
Currently,
Cao Cao and Liu Bei are pitting their strengths at Hanzhong.
My lord can observe the situation,
and see who emerges as the victor.
After that, we can decide whether to attack Cao Cao or Liu Bei.
As for Jing,
I cannot run away even if we leave it alone.
If Cao Cao wins, Jing will naturally be yours.
If Liu Bei wins...
Even if we subjugate Jing now,
that will only cause Liu Bei to attack ,us in the future.
That's a good plan, i
I shall agree to both parties, but will not mobilize my troops for either of them.
However, I'd like to go one step further.
Send a letter to Cao Cao at,once.
Ask him for 100,000 bushels of grain for our attack oh Liu Bei.
Then ask Liu Bei for 100,000 bushels of grain for our attack on Cao Cao.
What do you think?
My lord is brilliant.
Given the current situation,
they will definitely provide us with whatever we demand from them.
However,
I'm pondering another thin too.
If the party fighting at Hanzhong now is neither Cab Cao nor Liu Bei,
but us,
do you think we can win?
I'm afraid not.
Why?
A war on flat terrains
relies mainly on the power of cavalry and heavy infantry.
While the Southland navy is unchallenged,
our infantry and cavalry cannot match Caio Cao's or Liu Bei's.
This is one-of the reasons why we have controlled the Southland for many years but could,!not expand.
My lord,
we have ample means to defend ourselves,
but to conquer the realm
we need to have a well-equipped cavalry force.
Lu Xun,
do you know why I asked you to come?
I do.
My lord wants me to...
grasp this chance to train our cavalry forces.
That's right.
I appoint you as the Vice Grand Commander of Wu.
Recruit able men,
and/make me a force of 10,000 cavalry and 10,000 heavy infantry
in preparation for the future.
Yes, sir.
The 200,000 bushels of grain that I will obtain from Cao Cao and Liu Bei
shall be yours to use.
Thank you.
Retreat is forbidden. Hold your defenses!
Take the enemy down!
In one hour's time, we shall go all out and attack.
None shall stay behind. Anyone who does not advance boldly shall be killed on the spot!
After the fort is taken, we shall behead Xiahou Yuan.
He is Cao Cao's commanding general.
Once he's dead, the morale of Cao Cao's entire force will be shaken.
Yes, sir!