Episode 70
Three Kingdoms
Listen.
Take 200 riders and march from the rear camp.
Give this letter to the Prince of Wei and ask him to send reinforcements.
Tell him that if they are not sent,
Mt. Dingjun's forces will be annihilated!
Yes, sir!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
General Xiahou seeks aid. Mt. Dingjun is in danger!
There are over 30,000 troops surrounding our fort.
We have lost half our men. General Xiahou was shot once and stabbed twice, but he's still fighting!
If reinforcements don't arrive soon, Mt. Dingjun will fall!
Your Highness, please send reinforcements!
Xiahou Yuan is valiant. A true cousin of mine!
All right. Get a little bit of rest first.
Later, I will send 500 elite riders to escort you back.
Tell Xiahou Yuan
that I will send Xu Huang and Xu Chu soon
to bring 30,000 men to aid him.
Tell him to hold out one more day.
Once the reinforcements arrive, attack from both sides and crush Huang Zhong.
Thank you, Your Highness!
You are all dismissed.
Yes, sir!
Yes, sir.
Counting the first pass Liu Bei conquered...
how many battles have we lost at this point?
Four.
I've spent my life on the battlefield.
But never have I lost four battles in a row.
Your Highness really wants to reinforce Mt. Dingjun?
Why not?
Did you think that was all talk?
Then you should have sent troops the day before yesterday.
Why did you wait for the situation to worsen?
They'll have to force-march for a day and a half now.
Even then, by the time the men arrive,
Mt. Dingjun will likely be lost already...
and the reinforcement troops will be exhausted.
I can't hide it from you.
This is exactly what I'm frustrated about.
When I told the messenger I'd send help,
I was really just saying it.
Mt. Dingjun has treacherous terrain.
Huang Zhong has already taken the surrounding hills.
I cannot save it now.
It doesn't matter how many troops I send.
So what you mean is...
since defeat at Mt. Dingjun is inevitable,
this defeat should count for something.
We should give the soldiers there a ray of hope,
and fight until the end...
so that they inflict more casualties on Liu Bei.
That's right.
Once Liu Bei gains Mt. Dingjun,
he will be filled with pride and look down on me.
This will be beneficial to our future wars with him.
Your Highness.
Xiahou Yuan is one of our top commanders.
He has performed so many deeds.
He is also a relative of yours, sir.
If he dies in combat, our force's morale will be shaken.
Do you feel bad about it?
My heart is rent with pain.
So is mine!
So what?
All I can do is ensure that the one who suffers the most at the end is not me...
but Liu Bei!
Kongming.
I've set a formation
in preparation for Cao Cao reinforcing Mt. Dingjun.
Why hasn't he come yet?
Does he really want to see Xiahou Yuan annihilated?
Cao Cao's military methods can be unpredictable.
My lord!
My lord! Mt. Dingjun has been taken!
The enemy troops all died or surrendered. and I cut off Xiahou Yuan's head myself!
Congratulations, General Huang!
Your valor is unprecedented
You have my utmost respect!
You flatter me, you flatter me.
Hansheng.
My lord.
Old age has not limited you. You are truly Lian Po's rival.
I hereby name you General who Conquers the East,
and will petition the Emperor for a noble rank for you.
Thank you, my lord!
Heed my orders.
Aye!
After losing Mount Dingjun, Cao Cao's situation is hopeless.
All units will move to Hanzhong and fight a decisive battle with him.
Yes, sir!
Mount Dingjun was lost.
All 20,000 of our men perished.
General Xiahou...
Stop.
I know what happened.
Miaocai is my brother.
He would not be taken.captive.
Your Highness, give us the order to kill the rebels
and avenge General Xiahou!
Your Highness, please let us avenge him!
Give us the order. Your Highness!
Order it, Your Highness! Give us the order, Your Highness!
Your Highness, Liu Bei sent a letter issuing a challenge.
Dear Mengde
Allow me to borrow your words.
Please prepare yourself
and join me in a hunt at Hanzhong.
Liu Bei! What insufferable arrogance!
How he insults me!
Calm down, Your Highness.
Liu Bei is trying to lure us into battle.
How far have Liu Bei's men progressed?
Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong led the>van across the Wei.
Liu Bei and his host of 350,000 are close behind.
Where is Xu Huang?
General Xu has already built floating bridges and led his men across the river.
They are now encamped on the west shore.
General Xu is imitating Han Xin's strategy of fighting from a position of certain death.
Xu Huang read the military manuals, but never digested them!
Didn't it occur to him that Han Xin set his camp by a river since his opponent was a fool.
whereas this opponent is Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang?
Where is Cao Zhang now?
Young Master Zhang, on your orders, rushed here with 50,000 elite cavalry.
He waits at Xie Valley now.
My little tiger is here. Everything will be fine, then.
You may leave. Allow me time to think.
Yes, sir.
You leave, too.
Enjoy your meal, sir.
Sir, the officer on duty asks what the watchword is for tonight.
Chicken tendon.
Aye. Chicken tendon.
Listen up! Tonight's watchword is "chicken tendon."
All sentries must be doubly vigilant in case of a sneak attack!
Aye!
Pack up at once and prepare to leave.
Yes, sir.
Master Yang!
We are preparing for battle. Why did you tell the supplies officer to pack?
Ah. From the watchword His Highness chose, I inferred his intention.
Chicken tendons
are too bland to eat, but a waste to toss out.
From this, it's clear that we will withdraw.
By packing^riow, we can avoid a last-minute panic.
All right, hurry up.
Co pack. Be quick!
Yes, sir!
Look lively now. Pack it all up!
Come on, over here!
Count all the items! Hurry, hurry!
Your Highness.
What's going on?
Why are they packing?
Your Highness, Secretary Yang Xiu said you would give the order to retreat.
Why did he say that?
When he heard tonight's watchword, he said,
Chicken tendons are too bland to eat, but a waste to toss out.
From this, it's clear that we will withdraw."
Yang Xiu, the cretin! From this, it's clear that we will withdraw.
He dares make assumptions like that?
Men!
Yes!
Arrest him at once and behead him before all!
Yes, sir!
Tell all the generals to gather at the main tent and await orders.
Aye.
Congratulations.
Why... why?
Your head is still attached to your neck.
As a commander.
how could you ignore the Prince and listen to Yang Xiu?
Your head is safe, but not very useful.
Liu Bei won five battles in a row.
His men are arrogant now. An arrogant army will fall!
This battle shall be my last battle with Liu Bei!
If we win, Liu Bei will be pounded to dust!
If we lose, I will become another Yuan Shao.
Prepare breakfast at the fifth watch tomorrow and set off at dawn.
and prepare to meet Liu Bei in battle!
All units will advance to Mount Wujie
Yes, sir!
And who are you?
Descendant of the Han royal house,
Liu Bei, styled Xuande.
How forgetful, brother Mengde.
So it is my good brother, Xuande.
Can there be anyone more forgetful than you?
Back in the campaign against Dong Zhuo,
who helped you join the 18 lords?
And, when Lu Bu sent you scurrying away,
who was it that took you in?
Every man knows to repay his benefactor.
But you are an ingrate,
defying the throne, bringing turmoil to the realm.
Cao Cao.
usurped the Han authority.
You disregarded propriety, made yourself a Prince,
You imprisoned the emperor, murdered the empress, slew loyal men.
There is no one in the empire
who does not want to eat your flesh and sleep on your skin.
By the Emperor's edict written in blood, I shall kill you today for the sake of the empire.
Flesh-eating and skin-sleeping again.
Can't you think of something more original?
Xuande.
Behind me is an army of 400,000.
If you do not surrender,
today shall be the day you die.
Cao Mengde.
For 18 years...
I have pined and yearned for this battle.
On this day next year...
I will pay my respects at your grave.
You really dare to fight me?
Did you think I was bluffing?
Good!
Heed my orders!
Kill the traitors! Destroy them
Charge!
Forward!
Your Highness.
It is the third day of the bloodbath.
Some 700,000 men on both sides have been locked in a stalemate.
By my estimate, before nightfall today,
victory will be decided.
Which enemy generals have not appeared yet?
Your Highness,
Ma Chao and Wei Yan have yet to appear on the field.
Your Highness! Ma Chao and 20,000 broke through our left flank to the Wei River.
They have taken our floating bridges.
Just as we were saying.
Tell Xu Huang to take 20,000 cavalry and engage Ma Chao.
Yes, sir!
Report!
Your Highness! Wei Yan, with several thousand cavalry, took our supplies camp.
Why panic?
That's an empty camp.
My son Cao Zhang is waiting there for him.
What's on your mind?
Your Highness.
There is another general who hasn't appeared yet.
Who?
Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun?
Shouldn't he be by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's side?
Indeed so.
However, I worry...
Worry about what?
What I'm worried about is this.
You sent all your generals to fight on the field.
Why did Zhuge Liang leave Zhao Yun out?
In other words, if Zhao Yun hasn't been seen yet,
could he suddenly make an appearance at our weakest spot?
Our weakest spot?
Where?
Report!
Zhao Yun's mounted force is heading here!
Your Highness, please mount your horse!
Zhao Yun is coming for me?
Your Highness! Go!
Hurry and get on your horse!
Leave now, Your Highness!
Your Highness?
I'm getting a headache.
My skull is splitting with pain!
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Tell Sima Yi to come!
Sir!
Lord Cao orders Sima Yi to ride-in his carriage!
The battle?
We have lost between 250,000 and 300,000 men.
All our supplies were lost.
Liu Bei took Hanzhong and the vicinity.
While you were unconscious, the situation became urgent.
Zhang, Xu Huang, and the others...
So, after speaking with Cheng Yu, Cao
I ordered a retreat on your behalf.
We are on the way back to Xuchang.
I overstepped my authority. I await my punishment.
You've acted well!
Who is holding the rear?
Young Master Cao Zhang took 30,000 troops
to set an ambush in Xie Valley.
He fought valiantly in the battle, and was Zhao Yun's equal.
Liu Bei will not dare to pursue.
I should have listened to you.
and avoid battle with Liu Bei.
Feign a military operation in Hanzhong
Then strike southward and conquer Jing.
What do you think Liu Bei's next move will be?
After conquering Hanzhong,
Liu Bei will follow the Supreme Ancestor, Liu Bang,
and attack the Central Plains from his favorable position.
He will first take Xuchang and Luoyang,
and then continue to conquer the realm.
Oh, Zhongda.
Do you think I'm going to become another Yuan Shao?
You won't.
Tell me the truth.
I did.
Why?
Even though Liu Bei won a great victory.
his supply lines are drawn out for a thousand miles.
Transporting provisions from the Riverlands takes a month.
Also,
Liu Bei suffered many casualties in this war and needs to recuperate.
I think, for the next three to six months, there will be no conflicts.
Furthermore,
although Your Highness lost this war,
you still have 300,000 veteran troops spread out in the central lands.
In addition, Cao Ren's Fancheng and Xiangyang
still have 100,000 elite troops.
Then what's your advice?
Your Highness, relax. We'll discuss this later.
Tell me. Right now.
I am dim and have no remarkable advice.
But if you insist, I will repeat what I said before.
Write Sun Quan and invite him to invade Jing together.
But last time, when I lent him all those supplies,
he failed to keep his word, and did not mobilize.
Last time, it was still not clear who would win.
Sun Quan wanted to wait and see which way the wind blew.
But it's different now.
You were defeated. Liu Bei saw victory.
To Sun Quan...
the greatest enemy is no longer you.
It's Liu Bei.
Generals, you performed well.
I make a toast to you.
Thank you, my lord!
The villain suffered a crushing defeat this*time!
His army of 400,000 crumbled so easily!
Even his main banner was seized in the battle!
I pursued them all the way to Xie Valley!
If it weren't for that little whelp of his, Cao Zhang) holding me off,
I would have taken Cao Cao's filthy head, too!
Cao Cao's army is completely demoralized!
A captive said that
Cao Cao was hit by an arrow and almost died!
Report!
My lord.
Generals Liu Feng, Meng Da, and Wang Ping took Shangyong.
All of Hanzhong is yours now!
Excellent!
Elder Brother,
you are now in control of half the world!
Congratulations, my lord! Congratulations, my lord!
It was due to your efforts.
However, Cao Cao is still alive, and Xuchang is not yet taken.
We must continue to press on against him.
Here, let's all toast to our lord together!
Right! Right! Here's to you, my lord!
My lord, your virtue is known throughout the realm.
and you are of royal blood.
You rule the Riverlands and Jing Province,
and lead a million soldiers and a thousand captains.
The way things are going, the world will be yours soon.
I propose that you become Prince of Hanzhong, rally us to destroy Cao Cao,
and reunify the realm!
Well spoken!
Xiaozhi, you must not speak in such a manner.
The Emperor is still imprisoned in Xuchang.
If I neglect my duty to rescue him,
and make that declaration,
I would be no better than Cao Cao.
I cannot overstep my authority and do that.
Speak not of the matter again.
My lord, please!
We will not let you refuse!
My lord, please assume the title!
My lord, claim the title!
His Lordship has always abided by the principle of propriety.
Without an imperial edict,
he will never declare himself prince.
But in my opinion,
you also cannot let down your subordinates.
My lord, please assume the title of Prince of Hanzhong.
Gentlemen, I am very moved by your petition for me to become Prince of Hanzhong.
However, without a decree from the emperor...
doing so would be a breach of protocol.
My lord,
The Supreme Ancestor decreed that
if an outsider becomes prince,
the realm must destroy him.
Cao Cao is a traitor and not a Liu! If he became a prince,
what's wrong with you, a proper descendent of the Han, becoming the Prince of Hanzhong?
Well said!
Forget becoming a prince.
Even if you declared yourself emperor. it would be accepted
My lord must act according to the situation.
Become the Prince of Hanzhong.
It will be fine to inform His Majesty afterward.
Then...
I'll do as you say. Director General.
Your servant, Fa Zheng, pays his respects to the Prince of Hanzhong!
We honor the Prince of Hanzhong!
I haven't heard you play that tune in a long time, Master.
You're right.
I'm out of practice.
Master, is there something on your mind?
Youchang.
Just yesterday, someone had already urged Lord Liu to ascend the throne.
I feel that not only the officers feel this way.
Even Lord Liu is considering it.
Do not say such things.
I have misspoken.
What I meant to say is.
with such a great victory, many officers are getting carried away.
Yes.
In not one of the defeats we suffered in the past
did I ever feel fear.
But this victory today
made me more anxious than I've ever felt.
Master, what is concerning you is exactly what I am thinking about now.
Listen to that joyous racket.
The annals of history tell us
that danger always strikes at the height of revelry.
And what makes me worried is that
I don't know where this danger would come from.
Jlngzhou
Our lord took Hanzhong,
and has declared himself Prince of Hanzhong.
Great! Great! That's wonderful news!
For his next move,
he should lead a host of a million troops eastward
and take Luoyang and Xuchang in one go.
Cao Cao's time is over.
Within-the year,.the realm will be united once again.
Father, what should we do now?
Strike north and attack Fancheng.
Then, our lord and I will approach Xuchang from the north and south
and meet before the gates of Xuchang.
Your Lordship, Fancheng is a solid, fortified city.
In addition, the redoubtable Cao Ren is stationed there with 100,000 troops.
The terrain there is difficult, and the city is easy to defend.
Cao Ren is resourceful and brave,
and experienced in fighting tough battles.
Five years ago,
even with the odds against him.
he still managed to nearly kill Zhou Yu.
What is that supposed to mean?
Before the Director General went to the Riverlands, he urged us
to defend Jing and not be reckless.
Furthermore, Lord Liu has not even ordered us to attack Fancheng.
Is Zhuge Liang the only man you obey?
Although Lord Liu did not explicitly order me to attack Fancheng,
a move when the opportunity arises.
he did tell me to hold Jing and make
Fancheng is Cao Cao's main stronghold in the Central Plains.
It has kept us from moving north.
We must conquer it.
On top of that,
Yide and Zilong have already earned merits at Hanzhong.
Generals, would you settle for sitting here in Jingzhou
while others battle and earn glory?
We'll attack Fancheng, and meet our lord at Xuchang!
Right! I volunteer to take the van
Attack Fancheng! Attack Fancheng!
Fu Shiren, Mi Fang, your orders.
Yes!
I order you to lead the van with 20,000 elite troops. Depart tomorrow.
First, conquer Xiangyang,
and when my main regiment arrives, we will take Fancheng together.
Yes, sir!
Fire! Fire!
Put out the fire! Put out the fire!
Sir, Generals Fu and Mi were drinking and set their tent on fire by accident.
Half our camp is ablaze now.
They are supposed to march tomorrow, and they drank tonight?
Have the troops put it out!
Your son already led 5,000 men to put it out.
Call a meeting! Arrest Fu Shiren and Mi Fang!
Aye!
The fire started in your tent, did it not?
We were careless...
Careless?
I ordered you to lead the van.
Even before you departed, this happens.
How you've messed things up!
What use do I have for you now?
Drag them out,of here and execute them.
Aye I Drag them out of here and execute them.
Have mercy, General! Have mercy, General!
Have mercy! We won't do it again
Your Lordship, our army has not mobilized yet.
Killing the vanguard leaders now will bring bad luck.
On account of their former merits, grant them a reprieve,
and allow them to redeem themselves through service on the field.
Please spare us, General!
We are willing to redeem ourselves!
How can you lead the van if you make such mistakes?
If it weren't for Jichang's supplications...
I would never spare you.
Heed my orders.
Give them each 40 strokes, and demote them by three ranks.
Mi Fang will go guard Nanjun.
Fu Shiren will go guard Gong'an.
If you mess up again, I will punish you for both violations!
Thank you for sparing us! Thank you for sparing us!
Thank you for sparing us...
Your Lordship.
Nanjun and Gong'an are both strategic locations.
If you are unwilling to let them serve on the front lines.
you should not let them defend those strategic locations either,
lest something else goes wrong.
Jichang, our army is about to strike north.
We need every able-bodied man.
Though those two are a bit careless, they are fairly valiant in battle,
and are more than able to deal with those Southland rats.
would still ask you to reconsider.
Worry no more. So it shall be.
Guan Ping, Liao Hua, your orders!
Sir!
You two will lead the vanguard. Move out first thing tomorrow.
Do not make any mistakes, on the penalty of death!
Yes, sir!
Yesterday, we received news
that Guan Yu made a sudden move north, and has already taken Xiangyang.
It is urgent. Fancheng is besieged.
Cao Ren asked for help.
Fancheng is my main stronghold in the Central Plains.
It cannot be lost.
Generals, who among you is willing to lead a force
to engage Guan Yu in battle and lift the siege of Fancheng?
It looks like, after our defeat at Hanzhong...
no one is willing to fight now.
Very well, then. I shall pick someone.
Here.
#unrecognized text#
The other generals just returned from Hanzhong. All have suffered casualties.
You're one of my top generals, but you haven't fought in years.
How about you take this task?
Your Highness.
After Xiliang,
I have been managing farm colonies, and have not fought at all.
I worry that I cannot accomplish this task.
What kind of talk is that?
If a general can only run farms, can he still be called a general?
Haven't you also fought many battles
and earned much glory?
That was all under your leadership.
Now,
our enemy is the great Guan Yu, renowned across the land.
I fear I will not be able to match him.
You should think about the other side.
If you kill Guan Yu,
you will be the one who is renowned across the land.
Yes, sir.
Your Highness, please appoint a general to lead the van
and follow me to fight Guan Yu.
Who is willing to be the vanguard?
It seems, after a few minor defeats at Hanzhong,
you are all unwilling to go into battle anymore.
You are all afraid, aren't you?
Fine, then.
Let's have me, a feeble old man,
go serve as General Yu Jin's vanguard leader.
When I go,
I will fight to my death with Guan Yu.
Gentlemen, just sit back and enjoy the show.
Your Highness!
I volunteer to take the van!
I vow to capture Guan Yu and bring him to you
Pang De?
Very good
Looks like I still have someone in my ranks who has not been scared silly by Guan Yu.
Pang De, answer me this.
Guan Yu's name is held in awe everywhere.
He has not had a rival in years.
Do you not fear him?
Guan Yu is a man, and I am a man.
Guan Yu has a blade, and so do I!
Why do I need to fear him?
Your Highness, why don't you ask Guan Yu if he fears me instead?
Excellent!
Pang De!
For your dauntless spirit alone.
I shall promote you two ranks!
I order you to take the vanguard.
With Yu Jin, you shall lead a force of 80,000
to Fancheng and engage Guan Yu in battle.
I will personally lead a host of 200,000 to support you.
Yes, sir!
Come! Confer onto Yu Jin the seal of the Chief General,
and onto Pang De the seal of the Lieutenant General.
You are dismissed.
Tomorrow, I will hold a sending-off banquet for the two of you.
Yu Jin, is there anything else you would like to say?
Your Highness.
Pang De used to be Ma Chao's lieutenant.
He was forced to submit to you at the time.
Now, his former lord serves Liu Bei as one of his Five Tiger Generals.
His brother, Pang Rou, is a Riverlands governor.
To have him lead the van, I fear,
is like using a bucket of oil to put out a fire.
Please reconsider, Your Highness, and appoint someone else.
I actually forgot about that.
Hurry. Summon Pang De back.
Yes, sir.
Your Highness.
Take Pang De's seal of office.
Your... Your Highness, why are you doing this?
Pang De, it's not that I don't trust you.
But your former lord, Ma Chao, is serving under Liu Bei,
and your elder brother also works in the Riverlands.
If I send you, the generals may grumble about the choice,
and morale may be affected.
Therefore, I think you should just return to your former post.
Your Highness!
When I was injured and captured,
not only did you not kill me,
but you treated me with great kindness.
I am greatly in debt to your benevolence.
Even if I die a thousand deaths, I cannot repay this debt.
I volunteered to take the van to show my gratitude by destroying the enemy.
How could I dare consider betraying you?
Your Highness, please do not doubt me!
Though you say that, I am still uneasy about putting an army under your control.
A general on the field can ignore even his lords commands.
Once you are on the front lines,
with a military tally in your hands. no one can dispute you.
If Your Highness insists on taking back my seal...
I will kowtow to my death right here!
Pang De!
If you take the troops and defect to your old lord,
it will prove you are loyal to him.
If you take them and give battle to Guan Yu
it will prove you are loyal to me.
Either way, you are indeed a loyal man.
Come.
I was wrong to do what I did to you.
I apologize to you.
Come!
Accept the seal of the Lieutenant General.