These ministers... are vulgar and mean.
None are trustworthy, none are honest.
There are no good fish in a filthy pond.
Now I understand...
what the late emperor had to suffer.
You're right, Your Highness.
Not in a thousand years will there be a man greater than the late emperor.
When it comes to an emperor’s statecraft...
I’m no match for Fusu.
As far as intelligence goes...
you may not quite be his match.
But there are countless talented people in this world,
and few of them ever go anywhere.
You’ve ascended the throne.
That’s destiny.
No. I owe that to you, Grand Tutor.
I believe I still have much to learn from you.
I’m overwhelmed by your favor, Your Highness.
Grand Tutor, I need you to tell me
how to win respect as an emperor.
I shall do my best.
All ministers are present.
Your Highness, from the Huns in northern China,
I’ve found you a fine steed.
I shall now present it to you.
Okay. Bring it over.
Bring it here.
Yes, Premier.
Bring it here!
Premier Zhao, it... it's obviously a stag.
Gentlemen, look closely.
Is this a stag...
or is it a horse?
How about this.
If you think it's a horse, stand on my left.
If you think it's a stag, stand on my right. What do you say?
In your opinion, is it a stag or a horse, Premier?
Personally, I see that it's a horse.
But you’re welcome to disagree.
-This is indeed a stag! -Are you still not able see it clearly?
Why not take a closer look?
-Well, let’s have a closer look. -Come on. Hurry.
This is definitely a stag. A stag.
But the premier said it's a horse.
The premier did say it's a horse.
Then it's a horse. A horse.
Yes, it’s a horse.
I think it’s a horse. Right. Hurry.
-Hurry, tell the premier. -We can’t say it's a stag.
This is ridiculous.
It’s really quite a fine horse, isn’t it?
It’s a fine horse.
Its forehead is very high, and it has very strong hooves.
An excellent horse. That horse will gallop swiftly on snowy roads.
It’s a fine horse indeed!
Well, what color hair does it have?
What do you think, Premier?
White. It's always a white horse.
How could its hair possibly be red?
White, white! Even its tail is white!
Wrong! It's the auburn tail that makes it such a rare breed.
It's uncommon to see such colors, which makes it a precious breed.
How could its tail be any other color?
Yes, indeed, it’s brown. Brown and white, brown and white.
It’s fantastic. Fantastic! Yes!
Ridiculous! Imbeciles!
You are appointed by the Imperial Court,
yet you can’t distinguish a stag from a horse?
-These two are quite unreasonable. -It's ridiculous!
You're the ones who can’t recognize a horse.
Perhaps you didn’t see it clearly.
I’m afraid you may have seen it with your eyes,
but not with your mind.
Guards! Put them in the cage. That'll give them time to work out
whether it’s a stag or a horse. Please, take your time.
Is it a stag or a horse, Your Highness?
Hey, hey, hey... Grand Tutor, is it a horse or a stag?
It’s a horse, Your Highness.
It’s a horse.
Your Highness, it's a stag!
-Zhao Gao, you'll destroy our mighty Qin! -Your Highness!
Our emperor is a fool! A fool!
A fatuous ruler! You've destroyed our great Qin!
Grand Tutor, during the court session just now,
why did so many officials call a stag a horse?
Your Highness, it’s rather simple.
Because they value their lives, and they want their lives to improve.
But I don’t understand. You’re teaching me how to be an emperor.
What's the point of calling a stag a horse?
Your Highness, just about anybody...
could distinguish a stag from a horse with ease, right?
Yes.
Since so many people can distinguish a stag from a horse,
how can we determine who we should choose to serve us?
Please tell me.
It’s nothing new to call a stag a stag and a horse a horse.
Nothing strange there. But those who call a stag a horse are useful to us.
Why?
It’s a custom. And a prerequisite.
If a man dares not call a stag a horse, then he's of no use to us.
The more he dares to differ, the more dangerous he becomes.
We must do away with such men.
If I have to call a stag a horse,
then it's not easy to be an emperor.
In this world, nothing is as simple as eating and wearing clothes.
Not everybody is so willing to call a stag a horse.
It’s hard for officials, let alone for an emperor.
And the level of their willingness also differs.
Still, regarding that, even if Fusu was still alive,
he could never measure against the late emperor.
In the end, he wouldn't be able to be a good emperor either.
If Fusu wasn’t qualified,
then how can I ever be?
It’s not easy to call a stag a horse,
but I think you can help me do it, Grand Tutor.
Your Highness, there are many different ways to be an emperor.
The late emperor had his way.
And you, Your Highness, will have your way.
Regardless, as long as
you follow your instinct, that will make you a good emperor.
As an emperor, I can do whatever I want.
I just don’t know what it is that I want.
All you need to do in future is obey me.
After this incident,
the imperial officials of all ranks were fearful of Zhao Gao.
Certainly, no one dared speak the truth to the second emperor of Qin.
Meanwhile, the emperor, Hu Hai, was fed up with imperial affairs
and doubted his own judgment.
He treasured the elixirs left behind by the late emperor.
He moved into Shanglin Park and shifted his focus onto prolonging his own life.
If he did want to talk to officials, Zhao Gao called it ominous and forbade it.
Thus, he became increasingly secluded,
became yet another regal isolationist controlled by Zhao Gao.
In the Imperial Court, Zhao Gao allowed nobody to contradict him.
He had a say in everything, thereby assuming the role of de facto emperor.
Hey, look! It’s Xiang Ji. We haven’t seen him for days.
Let’s call him over to drink together.
Just ignore him. His uncle is our leader now.
But he’s still Xiang Ji.
Xiang Ji. Xiang Ji. Xiang Ji!
Screw him. Just a few days ago, he still regarded us as his brothers.
He joined the uprisings with his uncle not long ago. Just a low-rank soldier.
-How can he be so rude to us? -He didn’t hear us.
-Xiang Ji. Xiang Ji! Xiang Ji! -Take this...
Over here! Over here!
-Look. -Just go.
Are you looking for me?
Yes, we want to invite you to drink with us tonight.
Xiang Ji, don’t you know the rule of the military? Shouldn't you dismount now?
I will not, so what can you do?
Do you want to fight again like in the bazaar?
-You... -That’s enough.
Get off that horse!
Unsheathe your sword!
I don’t need it.
Good... Go!
Xiang Yu, beat him.
Yeah! Good. Harder! Harder!
Xiang Yu, be careful.
Don’t worry. He can’t knock Xiang Yu down.
Good. Harder!
Harder, Xiang Yu!
Nice! Harder! Nice...
Great.
-Xiang Yu, you’re the man! -Stop! Yu’er!
Yu’er!
Fighting? Have you no regard for military rules?
What is the meaning of this?
We’re in the middle of a war. I'll put on record what happened today.
If it happens again, you'll answer to the military rules.
Now, disperse!
Ziqi!
Yu Ji... Yu Ji...
who did this? Where’s Ziqi?
What happened?
Father. Father. Father.
Father!
Father! Father!
Father... please open your eyes. Please open your eyes.
Father! Father!
Father...
Chu troops, you are now my sworn enemy.
You killed my father. You will pay with your blood.
Yu Ji.
Please take care of yourself.
Don’t worry. I won't cry anymore.
From this point on, there's only hatred in my heart.
Hatred is not a good thing to endure in your heart.
-Yu Ji... -Don’t pretend to care for me!
-Goodbye. -Yu Ji!
You’ve suffered such misfortune.
Your father is dead, your brother's gone. How could I possibly leave you now?
Just kill me then. Or get out of the way.
You, too, are a murderer.
I arrived late. If you really want someone to blame,
blame me for turning up late.
But there’s nothing I can do about it now.
The only thing I can do now
is use my life
to help you shoulder the weight of your burdens.
Shoulder them?
Can my burdens fit on those shoulders?
You must pay with your life. How about that?
Get out of my way!
Never. You must come with me.
-What if I don’t? -You have no choice.
I promised to take good care of you, at least for the time being.
Heaven has brought us together again.
But I'd never have guessed
it would be in this manner.
But no matter what,
I've made a vow
to take care of you till the end.
I’ll help you find your enemies.
I’ll help you find Ziqi.
Believe me.
Put me down! Put me down!
Who killed Yu Ji’s family?
Find out more and report back to me.
Yes, sir!
Yu Ji, you should eat something.
Put it away. I don’t want to eat.
What’s your name?
Miss, please give me a name.
"Green is the upper robe, green with a yellow lining,
the sorrow of my heart, how can it cease?"
Miss? What are you talking about?
"Oh, green robe, oh, green robe,
beneath the green robe is the yellow lining,
oh, the sorrow of my heart, oh, the sorrow of my heart,
when indeed will the sorrow end?"
Since you're often attired in green,
I’ll call you Lu Yi, after your green robe.
Lu Yi? Well, it’s easy enough to remember.
It’s just that it's typically used to express sorrow.
Every time you call for me, you'll feel sad.
Where are you from?
I’m also a girl with no one to depend on in these war-torn times.
All my relatives fled far away.
My younger brother was captured by warriors of Qin.
General Xiang’s men saved my life.
You could say I’ve been given another chance to live.
I also have a brother.
But... he’s nowhere to be found.
Miss, we are of similar age.
I’ll serve you well, and you can talk to me.
That might help us put away our troubles.
I’m afraid I can’t stay with you
for long.
Hurry! Qin warriors are going to capture our men!
-Warriors of Qin are here! -Hurry, hurry, move!
-Qin warriors are here! -Run! Run!
Please let him go! Let him go, please!
-Oh, God. Let him go, please! -Hurry!
-Oh, God. Let him go, please. -It’s getting worse.
Warriors of Qin are here! Run!
Here you are.
Young man, listen to me.
I've finished my work here. From tomorrow, I won't come here anymore.
What I mean is, you’ll have to fend for yourself, understand?
Granny,
when I finally make a name for myself, I’ll repay your kindness.
Repay me?
When did I ask to be repaid for giving you food?
You're young. You should be down to earth.
You shouldn't brag.
I felt sorry for you, a grown man but starving.
Therefore, I offered you a steamed bun.
I never expected anything in return.
Everyone expects to have his day.
But if you never follow up empty promises with concrete actions,
young man, you won’t get anywhere.
That’s going to hurt! Oh, God.
-It’s totally worth it. Just a scratch. -Next.
No big deal. The pain will subside in a moment.
Your turn now.
-Me. -Your turn. Go in.
Your turn.
What’s going on?
It’s for that...
For what?
Haven’t you received the draft order?
Sure.
From the government or from the other side?
You mean there are different sides?
Duke Xiang Liang sent us a draft order too. He needs soldiers everywhere.
Then why are they breaking their arms?
They’ll break two fingers for three coppers.
Then you can’t pull a bow and the military won’t take you.
For five coppers... see? They’ll break your arm.
It heals within three months. Won't hold you up much in daily life.
Bear with it!
Come on. Next one.
Me.
Ready? Just once.
Hold it tightly.
So, what about you?
Are you next?
What are you waiting for?
Why are you staring into space? Do you want to get it done?
-Hey! -I want to chop you up.
You’re all cowards.
He's sick! He must be insane!
Are you next?
Who's next?
It’s rumored that another war will soon begin.
There are men in every family.
In war, many men will be killed.
Why do they have to fight?
What if the war comes here? What will you do?
I don't even have someone to discuss with. What plans can I make?
But, I think, whoever becomes emperor will still need someone to make clothes.
So I’ll just go on with my work.
Ji Tao, look. Quick! There's someone here for you to discuss with.
Come out for a moment. I’d like to have a word with you.
Can’t we talk here?
I’ve decided to leave.
You want to leave?
But everywhere else is being overrun by war.
No one can predict what will happen tomorrow.
Since there's no longer stability anywhere,
it’s a chance for me to make a difference.
I’m young and strong. I don't want to waste this righteousness.
Then... then when will you leave?
Tomorrow.
So you’ve already made up your mind!
Then why did you bother to come and tell me?
Ji Tao!
I came to say goodbye.
Must you leave?
Yes.
Will you return?
I don't know.
I’ve never seen you use that sword.
Can you protect yourself?
I want to achieve more than just protecting myself.
Well, then, it seems that I needn’t worry about you.
Your ambition won’t be sated until you conquer the whole world.
And what about me?
Wait for me.
Brother... Brother...
-Who’s there? -Brother.
-Who are you? -Sister-in-law, It’s me, Han Xin.
Oh. It’s late. Is it urgent?
I have something important to talk about with my brother.
Is my brother in?
Well... He’s already asleep. What brings you here?
Telling me is the same as telling him. Speak.
Sister-in-law, I’ve enlisted and I'll be leaving tomorrow.
I came tonight to say goodbye.
You're being ridiculous!
Everyone else is fleeing from here and you’re running to join the army?
I say, you really are an odd duck!
I'd like to thank you both for your help.
Take care.
This town connects the eastern county with Yingchuan,
and plays a major role in transportation around the northern Yangtze.
These uprisings are happening everywhere. Chen Sheng has entered Sanchuan.
Qin’s warriors can do nothing. Defenses are weak in the eastern county.
If we can gain control of the town swiftly,
we can unite with Chen Sheng when we advance.
We can also use the southern Yangtze as a stronghold when we retreat.
The Qin troops will not be able to attack.
Thus we can secure an invincible position.
-Ji Bu. -Sir.
-Zhongli Mei. -Sir.
Tomorrow morning, we’ll strike at the camp and conquer this town first.
Yes, sir!
This is our first battle after recruitment. It will affect morale.
Who among you will lead the charge?
I will.
It's better to use someone with more battle experience.
My Lord, please grant me 800 men and horses.
Within a day, I will conquer the town and kill its leader.
Give me 300 warriors and horses,
and within half a day, I’ll conquer the town and kill the leader.
My Lord! Please grant me 100 warriors. Within half a day,
I’ll conquer the town and kill the leader.
I'll take ten men.
Within two hours, I’ll conquer the town and kill the leader.
Xiang Ji!
You're insulting me again!
You think I wouldn’t dare to kill you?
Gentlemen, please.
-Enough! -Your high morale is commendable.
But you should know that joking remarks will not be tolerated in the military.
Yu'er, contain yourself.
Ji Bu, I've heard that a thousand taels of gold
are nothing compared to your word.
If that's true, then the two of you
can clasp your hands in oath right now. Whoever takes the town earns the honor.
Whoever dares stir up trouble again will be executed.
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
My brothers, we’ll attack Huling tomorrow.
Our adversary is the great army of Qin.
Can we take them?
Yes, we can take them.
That doesn’t sound like confidence to me. Can we take them?
Yes!
Excellent. Before we go, I declare
that my assistant general will be Yong Chi.
Yes.
To disobey him is to disobey me.
-Cao Can. -Yes!
-Xiahou Ying. -Yes!
-Cao Wushang. -Yes.
Starting tomorrow, each of you take 300 men and drill them.
Be strict!
In three days' time...
we’ll attack Huling.
I’ll ask one more time.
Can we take them?
Yes!
-Thrust. -Kill!
Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Can’t you see we’re drilling soldiers?
Back. Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Didn’t you hear me? Back.
Are you paying for the show? Thrust.
Go over there to play. Go make trouble somewhere else!
Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Back.
-Thrust. -Kill!
Wake up, people.
You’re like exhausted horses. You should be like galloping horses!
Stand up straight!
Today, we'll practice how to thrust and kill with our spears.
After you master the skill, you can teach it to the soldiers ranked below you.
Come here.
Watch me.
Kill! Kill! Kill!
Kill!
-Give me that. -What are you doing?
Take this. Stab me. Thrust it at me.
Thrust! I’m not worried, why are you?
Thrust. Step back.
Hey, what happened?
I’ve told you over and over. You must hold it tightly.
It’s not like your mother's loose waistband.
It’s your weapon for fighting the war!
Yong Chi, you've gone too far. We've just started practicing.
You should address me as assistant general, not by my name!
Ji appointed you assistant general to make you feel better. Why the arrogance?
Go and stand with the troops. You need practice.
If you can't convince your men, how can you lead them?
A fine assistant general indeed!
What did you say?
I said, what a fine assistant general.
I can repeat it as many times as you wish.
-Do you dare say it again? -I said, a fine assistant general indeed!
-My Lord! My Lord! -My Lord!
My Lord! My Lord.
-What happened? -This is bad!
-Our people are fighting among themselves. -Who’s fighting?
Yong Chi and Lu Wan.
My Lord?
Leave them be. I hope they get it out of their systems.
-My Lord? -When they’re done, bring them to me.
-Hurry. -All right.
Yeah! Good! Fight him!
Stop fighting!
-Don't try to stop me! -Stop fighting!
-Don't try to stop me! -Stop!
-Leave me alone! -Stop!
My Lord.
Had a good fight?
Why are you fighting?
He didn’t obey my order. He undermined my authority!
Your order? Who the hell are you?
Well, who are you?
Do you fight bravely? Do you charge and break through enemy lines?
What are you good at? What are you good at?
-I despise you! -You despise me?
I don’t like your arrogant attitude. I despise you the most!
Yong Chi...
you hate Lu Wan and want him to die, right?
Damn right!
-What about you, Lu Wan? -I’d kill him!
I’ll kill you!
Okay, well, go for it then.
Pick up the sword and kill him.
Pick up the sword! Just kill him!