Your Highness, please return to Xianyang with me.
You, did you hear it?
Your Highness, the world is in chaos now. Qin is in great danger.
How can you sit there and do nothing?
If you’ve forgotten
how your father, your mother, your brother were murdered by Zhao Gao,
and if you’ve forgotten how the late emperor treated your father...
all right, you may stay here and pretend to be crazy.
If you can’t hear the bean stem, I’ll not hear your voice!
Your Highness, even if you can’t go as the nephew of the emperor,
you should pay a visit to Huhai.
He suffers greatly, Your Highness.
You really can’t hear it?
While the stem is growing,
the stem will shout “I know... I know?”
I heard it. I heard it.
Now I can hear your voice.
Why? I know you lied to me.
Give it back to me.
-Give it back to me, and I’ll follow you. -You promise?
I promise. I promise!
Your Highness, please put this on.
I’ll go to grow crops in Xianyang. I’ll go to grow crops in Xianyang.
Sure. You can grow crops.
But you should at least try to take back all you have lost.
I’ll go to grow crops in Xianyang. I’ll go to grow crops in Xianyang.
In the past few weeks,
you helped our king take territories. We’ve held you up for quite some time,
and I’d like to show our thanks.
But I think the most urgent thing for you now is to march onward toward the west.
Wrong.
The most urgent thing for me is to persuade you to join us.
Will you? Huh? Will you join my army?
Thanks for your kindness. But--
What is your concern?
Mr. Zhang, you know that my men and I are only good at planting crops.
We don’t know any war strategies.
If you can join us, we’ll be unstoppable!
No one will stand in our way!
But I’m still a counselor at the service of my king. I--
Don’t worry about your king. I can persuade him.
Tomorrow I’ll do that.
I want to make sure if the king of Han agrees,
will you join me?
I’d like to.
Great. If your king agrees, you can join me.
If he doesn’t, you can follow him.
What do you say?
All right.
Please. King, please.
-Please sit here. Please. -I can’t. I don’t deserve your seat.
Please.
You’re too kind. Great. I’ll humbly accept your kindness.
Please.
Bring it here!
King, what is this?
Liu Ji, you did a great job.
I didn’t expect that your men were so brave.
You’ve won us back more than ten cities in such a short time.
So today I prepared some gifts for you to show my thanks.
Sire...
on behalf of my men, I’d show our gratitude to you.
But I’m sure you’re aware
that our men are on battlefield.
It’s not convenient to take gifts…
and they’re not useful in a fight. I can’t accept these.
Take it easy. I also prepared something else you might like.
What?
Beauties.
Beauties of our state.
No hurry. I’ve also prepared you some wine.
Great!
Can you take that?
Yes. Yes. I’ll take that.
Sire, since you’re so kind,
I also prepared you a gift.
What sort of gift?
I’ll give you Yangdi, how’s that sound?
I know you’ve always wanted to take back the capital of old Han.
I want to conquer Yangdi and give it back to you. How about it?
Are you serious?
I’m serious.
Liu Ji, if you can truly take Yangdi…
and bring it back to me, you’ll have done a great service to my state.
But I have one condition.
Liu Ji, just tell me what it is.
I want to borrow one of your men.
My men? Not only one, I can lend you as many as you want.
-That’s good. -Who?
Zhang Liang.
Are you serious?
Is that all you want?
I’ll return him as soon as we’re done.
No need. No need to return him. I’ll give him to you.
That’s great. Thank you.
Zhang Liang.
You can accompany Liu Ji to the west.
You make sure to be loyal to him.
Yes, sire.
The king of Han is too arrogant.
Why did Liu Ji show such a kindness to him?
I wonder what he’s up to.
Liu Ji is no longer the man who once peed into a scholar’s hat.
What? What do you mean?
Liu Ji didn’t want to waste time with the king.
We can now send the king to Yangdi.
He’ll stay in Yangdi living the Han dream.
Our goal is the palace in Xianyang.
That’s the royal palace.
With Yangdi, we get Zhang Liang.
It’s a most worthwhile bargain.
Zhang Liang sent batches of warriors from Kaifeng to the south.
Their strategic fighting style…
helped them win the cities of old Han in a short time.
But,
grudges appeared against Zhang Liang among Liu Ji’s generals.
They think Zhang Liang’s strategy was a waste of time.
If they're competing with Xiang Yu to be the first to reach Xianyang,
they shouldn't waste any time fighting other battles.
And after months of fighting,
Xianyang was still out of their reach.
Finally, a dispute boiled to the surface.
How many boats have you prepared?
Sir, we’ve almost got enough.
How many have you not prepared?
20 percent.
20 percent?
I'm warning you. I'll give you six hours.
You must prepare them. Or you will be punished severely.
Yes.
Mr. Xiao.
You come to urge us?
Don’t worry. Within six hours, we’ll prepare all the boats.
You’re so earnest!
What do you mean?
I came to tell you that we aren’t crossing the river today.
-We’re not crossing the river? -Right.
Great. If we can cross the river tomorrow, that will give us more time.
Tomorrow, we are not crossing the river either.
Where do we go?
Zhang Liang’s orders, rush to the northeast.
To the northeast? What’s up there?
I don’t know. Neither does anyone else.
He’s directing on the fly, he keeps changing his mind.
Who knows what he's thinking.
Mr. Xiao! Mr. Xiao, hurry. I don’t know how to deal with it.
-What’s wrong? -Fan Kuai's in a rage.
-Xiahou Ying's men are restraining him. -Because of Zhang Liang?
Exactly. We can't fight a war like this. Please tell us what to do.
Zhang Liang is totally incompetent.
You shouldn’t speak like that!
Liu Ji trusted Zhang Liang’s talent.
I'd say the same words to Liu Ji.
Mr. Xiao, please tell Liu Ji not let Zhang Liang leads the army.
-Our warriors will lose confidence in us. -Definitely.
It is Zhang Liang’s responsibility to lead you in battles.
Your responsibility is fighting in the battle.
I’m responsible for war horses, chariots, food and fodder.
Listen to me.
Go and tell Liu Ji what you are thinking about.
I think he’ll give you a reasonable reply.
Though generals had grudges against Zhang Liang,
they conquered Baimacheng under Zhang Liang’s direction.
When we see him, you tell him, you tell him. Got it?
Why not you?
Go ahead. Don’t stop.
Don’t talk in whispers. Come in. Come in.
-My lord. -My lord.
What’s wrong?
Take your seat. Sit down.
Seriously!
What’s wrong? Just tell me.
My lord, we have something we need to talk with you about.
It's regarding Zhang Liang.
Zhang Liang? Tell me.
My Lord, we have followed you for many years.
We’ve fought a lot of wars.
We’re no cravens, correct?
But under his command...
we can barely ever figure out what he’s thinking, it’s taking its toll!
As he’s the general, we have to listen to him.
We don’t know what we should do now.
Grudges are growing!
Zhou Bo, tell me your view.
I think Zhang Liang is a good adviser,
but he's not a good general.
Take Mr. Xiao as an example.
Mr. Xiao is more than qualified for his job.
Yet even he’s also at a loss.
Tell me the details.
I’m enduring.
If I don't endure it, I'll start cursing!
Curse!
You can curse. You can curse if you wish.
-I'm going to say it then. -Say it.
He’s always changing his mind.
While we’re attacking here and about to win,
he’ll order us to pull out and turn there.
Fine. When we almost conquer there,
he’ll order us to attack here again.
He’s torturing us!
We’re almost exhausted.
I know he’s using a strategy of deceiving enemy. I get that.
But such a strategy can easily leave us all confused!
Did you tell Mr. Xiao about this?
What was he thinking?
Mr. Xiao said…
Zhang Liang!
You guys go ahead.
Yes, sir! Yes, sir! Yes, sir!
Zhang Liang, come in, Please.
-Liu Ji. -Now...
we’ve got Baimacheng.
We’re a little closer to Xianyang.
It’s a big victory.
-Right. -Here. Sit down.
Liu Ji, we’ve conquered the city. Mr. Xiao should be very happy now.
I think he’ll not blame me now.
He can’t be happy.
He’s torturing himself with provisions.
He’s trying to get provisions from wherever he can.
We won the war.
I have something I’ve been meaning to say.
Go on.
Liu Ji, I don’t want to be a general.
You want to resign?
Where is this coming from?
Liu Ji, listen to me.
As an adviser, I can have the situation well in my hand.
I have many strategies about wars.
But as a general...
I truly feel incompetent.
Perhaps, you’ve already heard some complaints.
So, in the name of future success, I’d better return the general’s seal.
I want to be your counselor. I’ll try my best to advise you.
So you’re decided about all this?
I’ve thought about it for a while.
You’ve decided?
Yes.
All right. We’ll talk about that more later.
Thank you.
So if you are my counselor...
what do you think we should do next?
Liu Ji, I think we should march toward the south to attack Nanyang.
-To the south? -Yes.
Shouldn't we march to the west? Why should we go south?
That'll make Xiang Yu, arrive at the capital earlier than us.
Liu Ji, time is not the problem.
Do you know what we need the most right now?
In Nangyang, we can get adequate food. Next we should acquire food.
I can follow this proposal of yours, sure.
But I still don’t understand.
This fishpond is as nice as E Pang Palace. It’s a great fishpond.
Premier, it’s said that a pond in the courtyard
will bring you more fortune.
I hope I have built such a pond for you.
Based on what you said...
I think if you’re not by my side,
I will be lonely.
Premier, I’d like to serve you for the rest of my life!
I’ve got a fish. I’ve got it. Got it.
I’ve got a fish. I’ve got it!
Premier, it’s quite a big fish.
Premier, premier,
premier, forgive my clumsiness!
-Premier, please forgive my clumsiness! -It is nothing. Rise.
Thank you, premier. Thank you.
Chongxin.
Premier.
I promised you that...
once you complete the fishpond, I would grant you a request.
Now you have completed it...
and it’s better than I could’ve imagined.
I almost forgot my promise.
I'm getting old. I’m good-for-nothing now.
No, you’re not.
It’s good that I remembered now.
Chongxin, tell me your wish.
Premier, I’ve no request. Not even the tiniest of requests!
Even if I had to die for you, I would not raise any request.
But any man of this world should have some request.
Premier, I truly have no request at all.
I only have something to tell you.
Premier, remember that you told me to watch over Princess Chenxi.
Go on.
Yes, premier.
Since we sent our warriors to attack rebels...
constant suspicions have racked the palace.
Many officials accused you of lying and hiding the truth...
when they showed great concern about our warfare.
Now that Zhang Han wiped out Xiang Liang of Chu...
I think these suspicions should be silenced.
Or else, it will be a great offence to your authority.
Premier, why don't we...
call Zhang Han back to the palace.
We will hold a banquet for him.
At the time, we can also hold a wedding ceremony for Princess Chenxi and him.
But that’s only a show for others.
Our main purpose is to appease officials in case they have any suspects.
Thus they’ll not suspect us…
and we can finally shut them up once and for all!
Premier, if you help Zhang Han and the princess,
they’ll show great gratitude to you.
When the war ends, we can do whatever we want.
Premier, I'm just saying. If anything offends you, please forgive me.
I think it’s a good idea.
But as for Zhang Han, would he come back for that?
Premier...
if you order him in the name of the emperor,
how can he disobey it?
Premier, as far as Zhang Han coming back to join the banquet,
the most important thing is that
Zhang Han and his warriors will bear great gratitude,
toward you afterwards.
That'd be great help to improve your influence.
I do hope my analysis is correct.
It’s great that you’re so loyal to me.
Premier, your opinion?
Make arrangements as you said.
This barrel of fish, you can have it.
It will be my reward to you.
Thank you, premier.
Go to grow crops in Xianyang. Grow crops.
These days I come to hear the melody every evening.
It’s almost in my heart now.
Is he really a lunatic?
Or is he trying to fool me like Huhai?
Go to grow crops in Xianyang.
There are too many lunatics around here.
It’s becoming more and more difficult to know who’s a lunatic or not.
Watch him closely. Stay close to him.
Report to me of anything unusual.
I’ve got it.
Princess, General Zhang will come back soon.
Aren’t you happy?
Does he know that...
he has to assassinate Zhao Gao and overthrow the emperor?
Yes.
It seems that you didn’t tell him in the letter.
Why didn’t you forge a letter for him?
I came to talk it over with you.
I’ve thought it over quite carefully.
Princess, please listen to me.
If General Zhang doesn't come back and fulfill his role,
I’m afraid there's no other way you and him can stay alive.
Therefore, I think you’ll not show any disagreement.
Instead, you’ll give him advice and suggestions.
You’ll encourage him to prepare well.
But I didn’t think that you--
You know perfectly well the nature of Zhang Han’s character.
He’s very loyal to the emperor. If you ask him to betray the emperor...
that would do greater harm to him than anything Zhao Gao might do.
Princess.
If Zhang Han told me those words, I would understand.
But why don’t you follow the plan?
Don’t you realize,
that once we’re dead nothing will be left?
And what’s more if Zhao Gao means to kill Zhang Han,
he’ll find an excuse, understand?
Zhang Han, would die disgracefully.
There’s no other way.
To be frank,
it’s the saddest thing if a loyal general has to rebel.
But that’s the very case of current Qin, isn’t it?
Princess, Zhang Han, I, and others, none of us has any other choice.
Therefore, princess, I, Chongxin, do promise,
so long as we can succeed in killing Zhao Gao...
and I become emperor,
I’ll try my best to make our state better.
I dare not compare with others. But I’m sure I’ll be better than Huhai!
But you’re a eunuch!
You may think that if a eunuch wants to be an emperor, he must be insane.
But, princess, in this world,
whether a man is known or unknown, wealthy or poor, of or not of noble birth,
he will want to be an emperor, right?
Princess, even if you can’t accept the change,
for the sake of the empire of Qin,
for the sake of my lifetime of arduous loyalty to Qin,
please tell Zhang Han to assassinate Zhao Gao, will you?
Princess, we’ve tried every effort to save Zhang Han, you know.
Seeing how things have turned out, I’m afraid we have no other recourse.
All right.
I accept your proposal.
Princess.
I’ll write the letter to Zhang Han.
Thank you, princess.
Princess, you?
Princess.
Forgive me, princess.
Princess, I have to say,
that even if it has nothing to do with me,
you should risk your life to do it.
If I were killed...
it would only do good to Zhao Gao, but not Zhang Han at all.
Princess,
I hope you can understand what I'm telling you! Princess!
All right.
Princess, you’re brilliant.
Sima Xin.
Zhang Han, please retreat. Maintain a distance of 100 feet.
Sima Xin.
General.
Why don’t you stay in the military camp?
I had my men following you.
As of the moment my men are stationed 5 kilometers away from here.
What do you mean?
You dare not violate the emperor, but I certainly do.
General, when I originally left Xianyang,
I was only thinking how to protect myself and return.
Now I must rebel, even if I’m risking the lives of my family.
I do it for you, princess and our state.
General Zhang, I’m serious.
Before I came here, I had already stolen your military seal.
I’m determined to do it.
How dare you? You want to rebel?
Yet, I feel no regret.
I’m not doing it for myself.
General, I’ve convicted a serious military crime.
If you don’t agree with me
and don’t wish to assassinate Zhao Gao,
you can punish or even behead me now. Here’s a sword.
I don’t care who will rule the world later.
What I care about now is doing something meaningful.
Please, general.
Sima Xin...
I’m only a warrior.
But I think I’m not foolish.
I can tell who is loyal to our state.
General, I’ll lead the main force and station outside Xianyang.
When you succeed in the palace, I’ll come to join you.
My greetings, premier.
Zhang Han, the emperor is not feeling well today.
He ordered me to meet you. You made a great contribution to our state.
Thank you, general. It’s my greatest honor.
General, for our state, you’ve suffered a lot in the battlefield.
Yet all the while in Xianyang, I’ve been leading the good life,
I’m concerned with you deeply.
This time you killed the biggest traitor, Xiang Liang. That’s a major victory.
I’ll suggest to the emperor to celebrate your victory.
And also organize a wedding ceremony for you.
This is what I want to do for you.
Thank you for your kindness, premier.
All right. All right.
We’ve not seen each other for long.
Please hurry to the palace with me.
-Yes. -Yes.
Why do you bring so few warriors with you?
Premier, the warfare was very tough,
most of the warriors are still in the military camp.
I’ve got it. I’ve got it.
As you’ve concerns over the warfare,
I’ll hold your wedding ceremony tomorrow…
so that you can return to the battlefield soon.
Premier.
Princess.
General.
Now our state is still in turmoil. The celebration will be very simple.
I’ll not bother you two much longer.
I’m off.
Farewell, premier.
Princess, I think last night it rained in Xianyang.
Right.
It rained for long.
I heard the sound of the rain for the whole night.
I’m honored that you’ve waiting for my return. Thank you, princess.
It’s been far too hard. Luckily, you’re back.
My bet. My bet. Bet.
Look at how I win!
Premier! Premier!
Drag them out. Beat them.
-Yes. Move. Rise. Move. -Forgive us, premier.
-Move. Hurry. Move. -Forgive us, premier.
Move.
Gao, you’re my brother. What are you doing?
You... today I’m very lucky…
You dog!
I gave you the chance to stay in the palace so that you could help me.
But what you’re doing is nothing but drinking, gambling.
You bastard!
Did you do what I told you?
I'm not staying here for nothing.
At such a critical moment, only I can do what you need.
No nonsense. Tell me.
What Chongxin is doing is clear to me now.
He plans to assassinate you at the banquet tomorrow.
How can you protect my safety and kill him?
Don’t worry. I’ve made careful arrangements.
In Xianyang, we have 500 loyal warriors to protect us.
And General Yan Lena, will also be on call.
Chongxin, is the most unforgivable traitor.
It’s a pity that he believes I don’t know what he’s doing.
Did he really think he could usurp the throne that easily?
Chongxin, is good for nothing.
How dare he betray you?
You’re far more intelligent.
Good timing. You can stay here and play this with me.
I've played this for years in the palace.
You’re not my match.
Indeed. Indeed.
Tomorrow, at the banquet, I...
Princess, at the banquet tomorrow...
you should be happy.
It’s our wedding ceremony.
We must be cautious.
That we have discussed today, on the same page?
And...
have your weapons handy. Don’t panic.
Don’t worry. I’ve planned everything carefully.
Even the guards at that yellow gate are on our side.
When they check us, they’ll let us pass through
and give us no problems.
My men, there are five of us.
It means we have five chances to assassinate Zhao Gao.
Once we succeed, Zhang Han will come to help us.
His warriors outside the city gate will come to the palace.
At that time...
we’ll deal with Zhao Gao thoroughly.
Please remember our signal.
We act when Zhao Gao begins to present wine to Zhang Han.
-Yes. -Yes.
Once he drinks it, we can kill him.
If we miss our chance and are captured, we’ll commit suicide immediately.
May the heavens smile upon us.
Subtitle translation by Loretta Kok