That’s not Xiang Yu’s purpose.
That’s exactly his purpose!
Xiang Yu trusts Sima Xin--
He doesn’t trust him or any other Qin rascals!
You misunderstood Xiang Yu!
See? Even Mr. Fan has nothing to say.
Xiang Yu is right.
We must investigate all those Qin rats!
Xiang Zhuang, what are you actually saying?
Xiang Zhuang, stop talking nonsense.
Rather let’s remember our ruler is Xiang Yu.
He knows what he should do and how to do it.
He knows best.
As his officials,
we should follow his orders, obey them and implement them!
Finished?
Not yet.
General Xiang Yu can’t wait
to read your confession.
He asked me to list all I can remember.
If I list them all, I still need some days to finish.
You should know his real intention for asking you to do that.
I needn't spell it all out for you.
I’m lowly-educated. You can spell it out for me.
You should tell us how you colluded with Liu Ji,
and who are your accomplices.
Then Xiang Yu may spare your life.
Is that why he asked me to write this?
He disdains telling you this.
If I were you, I would have jumped down a well back in Xin'an.
Then you would not live such a distressed life.
Living like this is meaningless.
General sent these for you.
He doesn’t trust me.
If I wanted to betray you, why would I have waited till now?
Xiang Yu never forgets the feud between Chu and Qin.
Poor ivory sticks...
am I right?
Oh, you can’t speak. You can’t speak.
No... you can.
You spoke before.
That year I saved Xiang Liang.
You told me that I was right.
You said they were heroes.
That year you told me to persuade...
to persuade Zhang Han...
to surrender.
You said that would save our warriors.
But...
On that night in Xin’an,
you were dumbfounded.
You couldn't speak anymore.
What a cruel man Xiang Yu is!
And I once told you the cruel man could build a peaceful world.
But see what happened now?
Sima Xin. Sima Xin...
you are the most stupid man in the world.
You never know him well.
He wants to kill all from Qin. Only when we all die, he’ll be happy.
My poor ivory sticks, you’ve been with me for years.
General, I think Mr. Fan is fooled.
I have ascertained that Sima Xin’s men spread the rumor.
You can leave.
Yes.
Mr. Fan, I read grudges and grievances in his confession.
Mr. Fan, how about now? Do you still speak for him?
I believe Sima Xin’s men spread those rumors.
It’s impossible.
It's impossible!
Impossible!
I’ll never believe it.
Never!
General, look.
I didn’t suspect him in the beginning.
But now I think I was wrong.
As you ordered, I investigated the camp.
Some said Sima Xin’s death is well played.
He can’t disclose his accomplices.
Go on.
I got these from our loyal warriors.
Many names are listed.
All of them are Qin warriors among us.
What are you getting at?
I want to know whether
we’ll carry on with the investigation.
If we stop here,
just burn these slips.
If we go on the investigation, many of our warriors will die.
But they are all our enemies. How is that bad?
I see. I’ll do it right away.
Wait.
Let Xiang Zhuang take care of this one.
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Come on. Next.
If the investigation continues like this,
all men in the camp will be badly shaken.
That’s what Xiang Yu wants.
Several hundreds of men.
To investigate them all?
If they all are colluding with Liu Ji,
this will push them to mutiny.
A mutiny is just what Xiang Yu expected.
We must stop it.
I’ll go to stop Xiang Zhuang.
Xiang Yu has ordered,
only with Xiang Zhuang’s permission can we enter the camp.
-You want to get yourself in trouble? -This is more important than stupid rules.
You want to be killed?
To be hanged like a traitor?
Is it worth it?
Then what do we do?
Giving the name of an accomplice is like pleading guilty.
But what if we can’t find the name of his accomplice?
Or what if there was no accomplice?
We make one up? Frame someone? Harm others?
If one doesn't plead guilty… Qin's punishment pales in comparison!
Look! To keep their own lives,
all of them turned into dogs.
They begin to wrong others and others repeat the same action.
Is that what Xiang Yu wants to see? What good is it for us?
I’m thinking... if one day you’re ordered to investigate me,
what would you do?
I’m Long Ju. I’m not a rascal.
Behead him.
Ziqi,
most of them were tortured to confess.
Even if they didn’t confess the names of accomplices, they'd be beaten to death.
I’m afraid soon we’ll lose control of the situation.
Xiang Zhuang, we have no choice but to control it.
The rumors have to be stopped. This is our general’s order.
Do you get it?
-I see. But-- -But what?
This was your idea.
You shouldn’t complain.
You’ve no choice.
Execute them.
Yes.
Ready!
Don’t kill them!
-Zhongli Mei. -Zhongli Mei.
-You can’t kill them! -Zhongli Mei.
Zhongli Mei. Listen to me.
You shouldn’t kill them. You shouldn’t kill them.
Zhongli Mei. Good timing.
Xiang Yu ordered me to tell you
that from tomorrow on, you should join Xiang Zhuang to execute criminals.
I can’t do it.
I can’t kill my own companions. I can’t.
Ziqi, our enemy is Liu Ji, right in front of us!
Liu Ji!
Not our own warriors and compatriots!
Zhongli Mei, I know what you mean.
Calm down.
But I think,
we’d better not get in the way.
Carry on.
Ready…
Execute.
General.
Mr. Fan, nice to see you.
You... how are you doing?
Quite good. Mr. Fan, sit down.
No. Can you be quite good tomorrow?
Tomorrow? Only Fate can decide that.
Tell me. Do you mean to kill them all
until they say I’m a traitor?
Mr. Fan, what do you mean?
You know what I mean.
We’re on the cusp.
How can you kill our own men?
How can you indulge this bloodlust?!
Liu Ji has mended the paved road already.
Why don’t you lead an attack?
Oh, Mr. Fan, you come to talk strategy with me?
What I’m talking about is your career!
Mr. Fan, what I’m doing has nothing to do with you.
Nor with my career.
Why don’t you go back to your tent and have a good rest?
You are old.
You shouldn’t get involved in these things.
Tell me what crime Zhongli Mei committed.
You don’t know?
Tell me.
Someone disclosed that he intends to betray me.
Do you believe that?
Who’d believe such nonsense?
Zhongli Mei is loyal and devoted to you.
He’d rather die for you.
How could he betray you?
Sima Xin once risked his life to save me.
Then what?
Go ask yourself.
It seems that Xiang Yu also suspects me.
How can he suspect you?
He secretly sent some men to Liu Ji’s camp.
He concealed it from me.
Now Liu Ji is leading us by the nose.
I think Liu Ji isn’t clever enough to do this.
Tomorrow we’ll conquer Xingyang and catch him.
Then find out more about this.
I can’t wait for something to happen.
This is a mess. I can’t tolerate this life much longer.
Tomorrow, when we talk about military affairs,
I'll suggest that we conquer Xingyang.
I see.
Here. Let me fill it up.
Good.
You’re really a great man.
Without using a single soldier,
many Qin generals have been killed.
My congratulations!
Congratulate what?
I used many insidious tricks to do it.
I think I may be severely punished by Heaven.
But for our victory,
I should do it. I should go on doing it.
Come on. Drink.
Wait.
Our Lord told me to propose this wine to you.
My thanks to him!
-Drink. -Please.
If I can be any help, just tell me.
Here is a list of names. Please look it over.
They were all once Qin generals.
Right. Now they are serving Xiang Yu. Please send assassins
to kill them secretly.
Make it look like they committed suicide.
It’ll cause an even greater wave of chaos.
I see.
I think those are their waist tags.
You visit me at such a late hour? What if they suspect you?
Will they not suspect me if I don’t visit you?
I found something strange.
Yesterday,
I found some of my lower-rank generals
were acting odd. I think they are doubtful.
Is it true?
I see.
Now even you begin to suspect others.
Fantastic.
I actually trust them.
But now... I don’t know how to explain it.
I feel like behind everyone,
there’s a pair of eyes watching,
gazing at you, from the dark. It’s appalling.
And today,
we found some of our generals dead in their tents.
Xiang Yu said that like Sima Xin,
they committed suicide for fear of punishment.
Did you see their bodies?
The warriors that found the corpses disappeared.
Some are mad. They are raving.
I think one man is not suspected in the whole camp.
He’s Ji Bu in Pengcheng.
Xiang Yu told me to investigate Ji Bu this morning.
Now all of our warriors are suspecting one another.
The elimination has spread beyond the Qin generals.
Now even Xiang Bo and Xiang Zhuang
are accused.
I worry that
they’ll also investigate our most important strategist...
Mr. Fan.
Uncle, today we should discuss military affairs.
Why can’t we see Mr. Fan nor Xiang Yu?
No more talk. Just wait.
General, Xiang Bo and Xiang Zhuang are waiting.
We should set off now.
Did you see Mr. Fan?
Haven’t seen him yet.
I’ll go invite him myself.
Not necessary.
Tell them to just come here to my tent.
We’ll discuss the war right here.
Yes, sir. Then... What about Mr. Fan?
Don’t tell him. Just pretend you don’t know.
General, I should like to say something, forgive me if it’s out of place.
I think we should trust Mr. Fan.
I know what you mean.
It’s not that I don’t trust him.
It’s just… he’s old. And he’s ill-tempered.
I think we can just meet without him.
He can focus on resting up.
I see. Then I’ll go get the others.
Okay.
Shouldn’t we discuss military affairs?
It’s already late. Why can’t I see anyone here?
Mr. Fan, they are meeting in Xiang Yu’s tent.
And nobody even tried to tell me.
While we stopped our attack,
Liu Ji mended the paved road
and is ready to transport provisions.
We should attack when they least expect it!
Excellent.
The paved road is temporary.
We need to adapt strategy according to the situation.
Mr. Fan, what are you doing here?
You’re not in top shape. You should take it easy.
You’re discussing warfare.
As your strategist, if I’m ill, I should be here even if I have to crawl.
I only heard about this meeting from a soldier.
So I hobbled over.
Why do this to yourself?
We’re only talking some daily defense tasks.
Look, you’ve worked yourself thin, I didn’t want to bother you.
Alright, I’ll just sit in the corner.
You can go on. I sit here and listen.
Alright. Let’s go on.
General, you mean, we should block off provisions.
This way we can thoroughly cut off Liu Ji’s incoming supplies.
Liu Ji and his men will be bottled up in Xingyang.
General, I think it’s a great strategy!
Give me 5,000 warriors. I’ll attack Liu Ji’s supply route right away.
Why do you laugh, Mr. Fan?
It’s so ridiculous I can’t keep it in.
Listening to these talkings,
childish talking.
Sounds reasonable and yet it isn't.
I’m afraid you're too old.
Your ears are blunt, you can’t hear.
Xiang Zhuang, stop it!
You mean my ears are blunt?
I tell you I know every word you said behind my back.
Then I congratulate your ears.
To hell with congratulations!
A bunch of fools! If you go on this way, you’ll lose this war.
You!
Sorry can’t hear you!
Mr. Fan, my nephew Xiang Zhuang is rude.
Please forgive him.
I’d like to know, as a strategist, in your opinion,
what should we do next to conquer Liu Ji?
Attack Liu Ji head on. Gather all forces to squash them.
Don’t dither around with supply routes.
What happens if we attack that road?
If we cut off it, they just mend it again.
Xiang Bo, you are a fool.
You-- How can you--
Mr. Fan, don’t forget
it was your idea to cut off their supplies
Plans adapt to the situation!
As a general-in-chief, you should know that.
I am general-in-chief, and I do know what to do.
But what about you?
Of course, I know.
Otherwise why do I sit here?
I don’t want you fools to go
further and further down the wrong path.
Alright.
Then Mr. Fan, tell us your master plan.
Xingyang at this point is weak and can’t withstand our attack.
If we keep besieging it, our morale will just continue to drop.
I recommend Zhongli Mei leads the vanguard to attack Xingyang.
Mr. Fan, your age has clouded your mind.
You have no place in this conversation.
When I began this war with Xiang Yu,
you were an old fool fishing by the river!
Say that again you little prick!
You little-- You--
Mr. Fan.
Fine! Let go. I’ll go fishing.
Let go, let go! Let go!
Mr. Fan!
Xiang Zhuang! How can you be so rude?
Attack that supply route!
This is awful. The battle begins in our own camp
before we even set off to attack them.
Liu Ji will laugh at us again.
I don’t care.
I can’t stand Mr. Fan’s arrogance.
If he were not an old man,
-I might-- -Stop.
Listen to me. The less you say the better.
Conflict between a general and a strategist is a military taboo
and now this is just such an awkward situation.
Now what worries me most is how we attack our enemy.
Who do we listen to?
We haven’t even killed all the spies, how can we launch an attack?
-Don’t even-- -Xiang Bo. Xiang Zhuang.
-Zi Qi. -Zi Qi.
What’s your idea?
To be frank, I don’t completely agree with Mr. Fan’s strategy.
Why didn’t you tell Xiang Yu just now?
Xiang Zhuang, it’s not my place.
I don’t think we should interfere
with military decisions.
Please! Don’t you know his intention?
He’s helping Long Ju and Zhongli Mei.
Zhongli Mei is not cleared of suspicion.
I think they’re all conspiring.
Xiang Zhuang, shut your mouth.
I don’t want to hear that ever again.
Especially not to Ziqi. Got it?
To be frank, I don’t doubt Mr. Fan.
I just hope that Xiang Yu and he can work together.
Then we can
win control for our family.
But people are always changing.
I’m not sure what they will become.
You? Me? Who knows?
Don’t worry.
We should trust Xiang Yu. He’ll figure this all out.
Right. I agree. Let’s go.
Today, I heard your argument.
What happened?
Nothing serious. It’ll just bore you.
I heard that Mr. Fan hit a man in anger.
Xiang Zhuang is too rude. He provoked him.
You are back. Don’t keep a straight face.
You should smile.
I’ll make you smile.
C’mon, smile! C’mon!
Hey.
You are really my medicine.
The moment I see you,
I’ll forget all my troubles.
That’s what I wish for.
General, since we’ve known each other,
even in battle,
I am always with you.
I know almost everything about you
and I understand you.
But just now I saw something strange
in your eye.
I feel a little worried.
Don’t worry. I’m at your side.
I’ll always protect you.
It was a kind of apathy, a kind of fear.
What are you talking about?
Are you ill?
General, in fact, today,
I know what happened between you and Mr. Fan.
I feel worried for you.
Nothing to be worried about.
Mr. Fan and I are getting on well.
You intend to fool me but you can’t.
Mr. Fan! Mr. Fan!
Why is everyone always bringing him up?
You’re no exception!
But, General, you should know you both will influence our military morale.
I know that.
But some rumors
made me suspect him.
Can such clumsy rumor shake your determination?
General, you shouldn’t become such a man.
Then what do you think I should do?
Mr. Fan treats me with indifference and disdain.
But I’ve never hated him.
Because I know he’s only loyal to you.
But now you begin to suspect him
because of a rumor and even exclude him.
Your attitude may put you all in great danger.
Yu Ji, don’t speak for him.
Do you know
how many spies he has planted around me?
He knows better than I
about what I’m doing each day.
I-- I didn’t know that.
He controls almost all of my camp.
He knows everything that happens.
How can a strategist take notice of his general-in-chief’s every movement?
Tell me, do you know his purpose?
Drink, sir.
I think Xiang Yu’s camp has retreated all the way back
to the farthest wall of Xianyang.
He retreated as planned.
He’s really an idiot.
Among his family members, no one is smart.
Since Xiang Bo returned from Liu Ji’s camp, everything changed.
He-- He thought that he was wise enough.
But he was fooled by such a clumsy rouse.
I think he believes the rouse.
From his behavior, I know he’ll not trust me anymore.
Now I’m only a strategist in name.
I can be of no more use.
You can’t say that!
For our warriors’ safety, you have to talk with Xiang Yu!
If he treats me like that, what I discuss with him?
If you two refuse to talk...
we’re in great trouble.
I’ll go try again to talk with him.
Mr. Fan, Xiang Yu said take it easy.
If you have something to discuss, you can come tomorrow.
He did it on purpose.
He thinks I should meet him whenever the hell he wants.
Doesn’t he know I’m his general-in-chief?
He’s an old man. You should give him precedence.
I have given him enough.
Look! Now he’s on my damn doorstep!
It’s cold outside. It’s snowy, too.
Mr. Fan is not strong. I worry about him.
What are you doing? Rise.
Please, sir, allow him to meet you.
If you refuse, I’ll go on kneeling here.
Mr. Fan, the general doesn’t want to meet you?
I’ll go to call him out.
Come back.
Mr. Fan.
I only want to tell him, whether he listens is up to him,
whether I speak is up to me. Don’t worry about it.
But, Mr. Fan, it’s so cold, will you be okay?
Ding Gong, this time I come for the same reason as last time.
We’ve almost used up the money you gave us.
That’s not a problem. I can give you another 10,000 taels of gold.
Where have you got all those taels of gold?
I asked you to help me. You earn your money.
As for how I get the money, Don’t worry about it.
All right.
What you want me to do?
This time we’ll make that old rascal Fan Zeng
to disappear from the Chu camp for good!
Subtitle translation by Min Wei Wong