Three Kingdoms
Episode 73
Lu Xun presents his respects.
Lu Xun,
Lu Meng overworked himself and fell ill,
and died in the prime of his life.
Wu has lost another talented man.
I am also deep in sorrow.
At this juncture, we can only accept Heaven's will.
Tell me, who can succeed Lu Meng's position and become the next Grand Commander?
The Grand Commander
is the highest wartime ranking officer of Wu.
It is currently a relatively peaceful time now.
My lord may temporarily suspend the position of Grand Commander,
and instead reorganize the army, and stockpile provisions and weapons.
When war breaks but again, we can choose someone for the position then.
Very well.
I will do as you said.
I have one more request.
Speak.
Since you decided to suspend the position of Grand Commander,
my position as the Vice Grand Commander should also be eliminated.
Why?
I was a mere scholar originally.
I lack the talent to be a commander.
May my lord be kind and grant me permission
to return to my hometown
and pursue my studies at home.
Approved.
Farewell, my lord.
Zibu,
I have held this position for over ten years.
but I have always been restrained by the Grand Commanders.
Only now am I truly the master of my own house.
Chengdu
Second Brother!
Why are you here?
Yunchang, you should be defending Jingzhou.
Why have you returned here?
Elder Brother,
I'm here to bid you farewell.
I have to go.
Where are you going?
To my resting place.
Elder Brother,
don't forget to avenge my death.
Yunchang, what are you saying?
Yunchang, where are you going?
Stay!
Yunchang!
Who's out there?
Is that you, Kongming?
It's me.
My lord.
A messenger has just arrived from Shangyong.
Jingzhou has fallen.
He was afraid to tell you,
so he came to see me instead.
Have him come in.
My lord, no matter what you hear,
please stay calm.
Tell him to come in.
My lord.
While General Guan was engaged in battle with Cao Cao's troops at Fancheng,
Lii Meng from Wu launched a surprise attack on Jingzhou.
General Guan was attacked from both sides.
His camp was breached by Cao's troops.
Wounded, he retreated to Maicheng.
Unexpectedly, Lu Meng surrounded him, and he... he...
What happened to him?
He... was killed in action.
Impossible!
How could Yunchang be killed in battle?
Impossible...
My Second Brother... he...
My lord,
General Guan really did pass away!
His head was taken by a Wu commander.
Guan Ping and Zhou Cang were also killed in battle.
Throw him out.
That's impossible.
My Second Brother is invincible.
Everyone is at his mercy on the battlefield.
How could he be killed by an enemy? Tell him to get out.
I just saw him earlier. This is impossible.
My lord.
Xuchang
Your Highness.
Zhongde,
what is wrong?
Sun Quan sent someone here
to deliver a birthday present
to celebrate your sixty-fifth birthday.
Sun Quan sent me a birthday present?
He wants me dead even in his dreams.
Why would he send me a birthday present?
What is it?
What?
Guan... Guan Yu's head.
Your Highness,
a letter is enclosed.
Read it.
Sun Quan sends his highest regards to the Prince of Wei.
Upon your orders, we coordinated with you in a joint attack on Liu Bei's army.
The credit of the victory of Jingzhou should go to Your Highness.
On this occasion of your sixty-fifth birthday.
I humbly present to you...
the head of Guan Yu as a celebratory gift.
Sun Quan...
captured Jingzhou...
and killed Guan Yu.
In addition to reaping the benefits, he wants to put the blame on me.
He knew Liu, Guan, and Zhang
pledged brotherhood in the peach garden and swore to die for one another.
And so he used me as the excuse for his taking Jingzhou,
so that Liu Bei will direct his anger toward me.
So that, instead of Wu, he will attack us!
Your Highness, what should we do?
Memorialize to the emperor.
Grant Guan Yu the posthumous title of Prince of Jing.
Fit his head with a body carved of fragrant wood.
Bury him with full honors outside the South Gate of Luoyang.
I will do that right away.
Order officials of all ranks to attend the burial.
Yes, sir.
When a man is getting on in years,
he tends to be nostalgic.
In these past few days,
I have been reminiscing about past events.
The time when you cut down Hua Xiong before the wine cooled.
When you cut down Yan Liang and Wen Chou.
When you left behind your seal and riches.
When you slew the six commanders at the five passes.
What tremendous skill you had with your blade!
But why did you have to die at the hands of those cowards?
That's because you lacked a good master.
If you had followed me,
you would still be alive.
Liu Bei
is a sanctimonious hypocrite.
I!m the only ruler with true talent and vision.
And you...
you lacked nothing.
except for the right master.
However, on the other hand,
if you had switched your allegiance to me back then
and did not go seek your former master.
you would have lost my respect.
Why is that?
That's because I admire people who are loyal and righteous too.
But, ideally, loyal to me.
Farewell!
Until we meet again in the next life..
Yunchang,
rest in peace.
Old acquaintances are withering away, one after another,
like fallen leaves blowing in the wind.
Father!
Your Highness!
Father!
Your Highness!
Father, what's wrong?
Your Highness.
My head hurts like it is being stabbed with a sword.
Hurry! Let's go back! Hurry! Hurry!
Hurry! Help him to the carriage.
Young master, I'd like to have a word with you.
His Highness, after all, is no longer a young man.
He is exhausted from years of overwork, and caught the chills yesterday.
His old illness has a sudden relapse.
Hurry and treat him!
Please forgive me.
His Highness's headache disease has been a chronic illness.
I am incapable. I failed to cure him after all these years.
Now...
His Highness's condition returned so abruptly.
His health absolutely cannot falter.
The Prince carries the nation on his shoulders.
Think of something.
There is someone who might be able to...
Who?
His name is Hua Tuo.
His art of healing is otherworldly. He is many times superior to me.
Where is he now?
I know. He's the legendary miracle-worker.
I heard he is in Minjun.
That's 200 miles from here.
Hurry!
Send someone to Minjun. Bring Hua Tuo back here.
Yes, sir.
This way.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, this is the legendary physician, Hua Tuo.
How is it?
The Princes headaches
are due to the accumulation of malignant humor.
he root of the illness is in the brain.
He has had this illness for over twenty-five years.
Us it curable?
There's one treatment Is it curable?
but the Prince might not agree to undergo it.
Lets hear it.
First, I will administer general anesthesia,
then I will use a sharp blade to open up his skull.
the illness will be eliminated at its roots.
and remove the excess humor. That way
You're using an ax to split open my skull?
Are you trying to kill me?
The cause of your illness stems from inside your skull.
Simply drinking medicine will not have an effect anymore.
Surgery is the only solution.
In the past/Guan Yu's left arm was injured by a poison arrow.
I Was the one who cut open his arm with a sharp knife and scraped away the poison.
And thus he was cured.
It's possible to cut open an arm,
but how can you cut open a man's head?
You must be a friend of Guan Yu's,
and want to take advantage of my illness and kill me.
Guards.
Here!
Arrest him.
Yes!
Your Highness, I only ever heal people.
I would never inflict harm!
Yes, sir.
Your Highness, the Marquis of Wu submitted a memorial.
What is it about?
He encourages your ascension to the imperial throne.
Sun Quan...
is becoming more clever by the day.
According to his letter,
he has long recognized that the Mandate of Heaven belongs to you.
And as destiny must not be opposed, he pleads you to assume the throne soon,
and to destroy Liu Bei and conquer the Riverlands.
At that time, he will lead all the people in Wu to give up the land and surrender.
At that time...
that time...
and when will that be?
Five years?
Ten years?
Will I still be alive then?
Clever... very clever indeed.
For one who is fast approaching death,
what is the purpose in becoming emperor?
Your Highness, all officers, including myself, agree that
and your virtue is known to the whole world.
your achievements are unparalleled in history,
Though you are not an emperor in name, you have been an emperor in reality.
You should follow Heaven's will. Assume the throne and have your name be praised in history!
Come over!
Take a look, Your Highness.
This is a new imperial cap,
and an endorsement list from all the officials.
Beautiful.
How beautiful.
Such a beautiful thing.
never knew of it before?
Your Highness, please get dressed. The ministers are all waiting for you outside.
Tell them all to leave.
Your Highness, have you changed your mind?
No!
I have never wanted to become emperor.
Your Highness,
the House of Han is feeble and hopeless, and exists only in name.
But you have towering achievements,
and all living souls look up to you.
Even Sun Quan has petitioned for your ascension.
Sun Quan...
Do you think he's sincere?
Why would he endorse me?
He is just trying to roast me on the fire.
Even though I have some merits,
as I have been made prince, I have already reached the highest rank.
I am content.
Cao Pi.
Hurry and fetch Cao Pi.
Yes.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, please open the door.
Xu Chu?
Your Highness.
What's the matter?
The Prince of Wei summons you to the palace immediately.
General Xu,
why did you bring so many soldiers?
It is but of concern for your safety.
Please.
Your humble son pays his respect.
Xu Chu.
Yes.
Take this heartless and disloyal beast out and execute him.
Father,
why do you want to kill me?
How did your younger brother Cao Chong die?
He was killed by venomous rats.
There were no such rats.
Someone let loose a venomous snake to kill him.
Oh, really?
Father, who... who could have possibly been so cruel?
You were the one who let loose the snake.
Father, I'm innocent.
Innocent? Father, I'm innocent. I...
Four days before the burial,
I had five cats put in each of your houses.
All the cats were in their prime.
They were restless and meowing for the entire night. Why?
Because there weren't any rats for them to hunt.
Also,
on the night I had you keep vigil at Chong's wake,
at around the fourth watch,
Cao Zhi and Cao Zhang couldn't stay awake and dozed off.
You alone were restless and couldn't sleep all night. Why was it?
Because of your guilty conscience.
Son,
I'm about to die.
But before I pass on,
I want to hear the truth from you.
Father.
Speak up.
Every word I said in the past was the honest truth.
Chong was not killed by me!
Father, if you want to kill me, go right ahead.
Xu Chu.
Here.
You may leave.
Yes.
Incredible.
Huh?
Incredible.
You're not going to kill me anymore?
Not only will I spare you,
but I will pass everything on to you.
Only with you as a ruler
and Sima Yi as your adviser,
can the great undertaking of our family
continue to flourish.
Let me tell you,
Sima Yi is an exceptional talent.
You have to utilize his talent.
Without his assistance.
you are no match for Zhuge Liang.
But, bear in mind,
you must be wary of him always.
I will remember it well.
Always keep that firmly in mind.
I will keep that firmly in mind.
From this day on,
you will be the head of the family,
and the ruler of the court.
Treat all your siblings with kindness.
I swear by Heaven.
I will remember your words forever, Father.
Forever.
Tell everyone to come in.
His Highness orders everyone to come in.
I have campaigned throughout the realm for over thirty years.
All the warlords have been vanquished,
but Sun Quan of the Southland
and Liu Bei of the Riverlands have yet to be subjugated.
Now I am gravely ill,
and will not be able to remain with you much longer.
I shall entrust my house to you.
My eldest son, Cao Ang,
unfortunately died young at Wancheng.
Cao Chong, born of Lady Huan,
was exceptionally bright,
but he also died young.
Of my other four sons by Lady Bian
Pi, Zhang, Zhi, and Xiong
I love Zhi dearly.
However, he is showy and not substantial.
and is overindulgent in wine. Thus I cannot have him as my heir.
Cao Zhang is bold but lacks finesse.
Cao Xiong is in poor health and may not last long.
Only Cao Pi
is upright, respectful, and capable to succeed my position.
May you all give him your support.
We will obey your command.
I have killed many in my life.
After my death,
you must go to the outskirts of Wucheng at Dezhang district
and erect seventy-two decoy tombs.
No one must know my precise burial place.
Also...
If any of my widows wish to leave, let her leave.
If any wishes to remarry, let her remarry.
Death is not to be feared.
Death is a cool summer's night,
where one may rest without worries.
People have decided wrongly about me in the past.
Today they misjudge me too,
and may continue to do so in the future.
However, I remain myself.
I have never cared about others misjudging me.
Your Highness.
Father.
Your Highness, Your Highness.
Father.
Father!
In the first month of the 25th year of the Jian'an reign,
Cao Cao left the world with his dream unfulfilled.
He was 66 years old.
Cao Cao was a brilliant politician, military expert, and writer,
and was also an extraordinary strategist.
His efforts
laid the foundation for the reunification of the realm after the period of the three kingdoms.
Father,
Father.
Your Highness, the Emperor has arrived.
My lord, you need not go welcome the Emperor.
But when the Emperor arrives, all subjects are expected to go welcome him!
Everyone can go, but not His Highness.
In the past, when the Emperor granted the title to the Prince,
he granted Him the right to wear the 12-tasseled cap.
to be escorted by the imperial procession,Nand to have roads cleared before him?
He may wear his shoes and his sword in the palace.
According to this imperial decnee,
the same rites apply to the Prince of Wei as they do to the emperor.
Hence, it is not necessary for my lord to welcome the Emperor.
My dear minister,
the Prince of Wei has made great contributions in his life. Now that he has passed away,
I am devastated beyond words.
Your Majesty is mistaken.
The one who passed away was the late Prince.
What?
The late Prince's last will
designated his son Cao Pi to inherit his position as the Prince of Wei.
I...
I did not issue such a decree!
As Your Majesty understands, the late Prince's last will is the will of the Throne.
Does Your Majesty still have any questions?
No...
No.
I..
I think that's all very appropriate.
The late Prince passed away.
Your Majesty should perform the kowtowing rite,
in order to not disappoint the citizens of the realm!
Hua Xin,
I am the Emperor.
For an emperor to pay respects at a subject's funeral is already beyond the prescribed rites.
How could I kneel before him?
Without the late Prince's protection and assistance.
the court would have collapsed.
Your Majesty would not have survived to this day.
You've always respected the late Prince as your own father.
Now/that he's gone,
shouldn't you, as one younger than him, perform the kowtow ritual?