Fan Zeng?
Right.
In the Chu camp, the most important men are Xiang Yu and Mr. Fan.
You want Fan Zeng to disappear?
Yes.
You want me to do it or Liu Ji wants me to do it?
I don’t care if it’s Xiang Yu or Liu Ji who wants it.
When I was in Chu camp, it was Fan Zeng
that almost got me killed.
This time, I will make him disappear.
Where’s Mr. Fan?
I sent our men to invite him. Why hasn’t he come yet?
General, Mr. Fan caught cold last night. I’m afraid he’ll not come.
Without him, we’ll not continue.
Send men for him.
I’ll wait for him here.
General, but...
Mr. Fan, this stalemate does no good to solve the problem.
It doesn’t do anything for us, rather, it just helps Liu Ji!
I see your logic. You can tell Xiang Yu that.
Oh, I forgot, he won’t see you either.
It doesn’t matter whether he agrees to meet me.
But if he refuses you, we’ll be in great trouble.
We all know his temper well.
But we have to remind him this is not the right way.
All conflicts can be solved.
But first we have to forget these unreasonable suspicions!
I think if we attack Xingyang and capture Liu Ji,
it will put an end to all the gossip.
It’s not that simple.
What do you mean?
Soon we’ll have Xingyang.
And if I’m not mistaken, very soon, we’ll destroy Han
and Liu Ji, will die in despair.
Then it’s the reign of Xiang,
and the Xiang family will become kings and marquis.
They’ll reap the victory.
When that time comes, the generals who once fought
on all these battlefields will feel entitled to their piece,
and will become new obstacles.
So then they’ll cook the hound once the hares have been run down?
Doesn’t matter much to me.
So long as the Chu banner is flying over the Central Plains,
I shall not regret my death.
Mr. Fan, I truly admire your foresight and dedication.
I don’t deserve that.
I don’t care what’s on Xiang Yu’s mind.
My life’s aim is to help him...
conquer Han...
and kill Liu Ji.
Let’s stop here.
Mr. Fan, come on. Sit down.
Mr. Fan, please.
Sit down.
All right. Now that Mr. Fan is here,
let’s begin our discussion.
Xingyang, is just another egg in the basket.
Conquering it isn’t the issue.
But really our main goal is to capture Liu Ji alive.
Mr. Fan,
Mr. Fan, am I right?
Right.
But why did I order to retreat further?
Because I found that our encampment was in the lowlands.
It was susceptible to surprise attack.
So I retreated our camp to the upland.
Mr. Fan, am I right?
If you want defend well, that’s right.
We’ve cut off the Han paved road.
Soon, they’ll have no food.
Mr. Fan,
strategist my plan to cut the supply route, good or bad?
Are you satisfied with that plan?
I didn’t come to hear your war report.
That’s history already. No need to mention it again.
Then Liu Ji will have neither provisions nor relief warriors.
After a few days,
Xingyang will collapse without being attacked.
You should attack with speed and force.
You’ve always been skilled in offensive battles, why hold back now?
You always advise me to win with assurance.
But why all of sudden do you say attack with speed and force?
I see.
you invited me here to provoke me! You want to provoke me.
How can I provoke you?
My strategist should take care of himself.
I only want to hear your thoughts.
Anyhow,
we need your advice
for everything.
No matter how small we need your advice.
We’ll have to trouble you to manage these as well.
What are you saying?
Last night, we lost 15 battle steeds from the right-wing tent.
You should decide how to
punish the steed keeper.
And Xiang Zhuang’s soldiers had a quarrel after drinking wine.
Three soldiers and two dogs were hurt.
Please find a way to punish them.
Enough!
Mr. Fan, you keep track of everything that happens here, big or small,
You know how everyone’s sleeping, if they’re snoring!
You know every little thing.
So I think this arrangement is fitting for you, no?
Your insulting request to manage these mundane tasks…
Do not-- Do not ask me again.
-Farewell, Mr. Fan. -Mr. Fan.
-Farewell, Mr. Fan. -Good evening, Mr. Fan.
Bye bye!
But...
Yu Ji, where is Xiang Yu?
He left not long ago. Anything wrong?
What a mess. You’re a smart girl,
even if I didn’t tell you,
you’d figure it out.
Do you mean, he argued with Mr. Fan again?
If they had argued, they would be good.
But it’s much worse.
Thankfully he’s not here, so I can tell you what happened.
He’ll listen to nobody but you on this.
Try to make him understand.
It won’t work. I know him too well.
Sometimes, he's like a big child.
Nobody can persuade him.
Actually he is not stupid,
but he’s too stubborn.
I think only time can calm him down.
But there is no time.
Our camp is falling into chaos.
We don’t know whose order we should listen to.
Hey, Ziqi, why are you here?
-Did want to have a drink? -No, General.
I have something to talk to you about.
Why didn’t you say anything just now in the meeting?
It wasn’t appropriate.
Then best not to say it.
-General, Mr. Fan is… -I know what you want to say.
I have some different ideas from Mr. Fan.
But it seems everyone thinks
there’s a conflict between us.
That’s not a fact. Don’t worry.
So, I’ll leave you two to talk.
It seems that Xiang Yu and Mr. Fan can’t be reconciled.
What makes you think so?
I spared no expense to foment conflict between them.
I made them complain about other.
You don’t know their relationship.
Just looking into Mr. Fan’s eyes
you can see his rage.
Xiang Yu practically forgot Mr. Fan’s contribution,
and almost kicked him out.
You mean Fan Zeng is still in the Chu camp?
Yes, of course.
Then, then we’re not done yet!
Isn’t that a waste of my money?
You should be patient.
We’ve spent a lot of effort
to stir up all this trouble.
Ding Gong, how can I be patient?
Remember who Fan Zeng is! Once he see our plot,
he’ll have you arrested
and all our efforts will have been in vain!
Reporting! General Ding requests an audience.
General.
What are you doing?
We must kill Mr. Fan. Otherwise, our warriors will be in great danger.
Kill Mr. Fan? How dare you?
Who do you think you are?
General, I’d already decided to risk my life before I came.
For the success of our mission, even if I die,
it’s worth it.
What made you hate him so?
There is no feud between Mr. Fan and me.
But he betrayed us
and he betrayed you.
Shouldn’t I hate him?
It may be just a rumor.
But this rumor may ruin our camp.
Your worries are not without merit.
Our warriors are wondering
what kind of rumor is the same everywhere you hear it.
I’m afraid it only means the rumor is true.
Do you know why other generals don’t talk about Mr. Fan
in front of you?
It’s because they respect you and your authority.
You think so highly of Mr. Fan.
How can you tolerate his collusion with Liu Ji?
How can you tolerate such treason?
You mustn’t hesitate any longer, sir. You shouldn’t tolerate him anymore!
Get out. Get out of here.
Mr. Fan! Sir!
Mr. Fan!
Mr. Fan! Mr. Fan!
You can’t leave!
Chu needs your help. Xiang Yu needs your help!
You’re wrong. They don’t need me.
Xiang Yu doesn’t need me, either.
Mr. Fan.
Mr. Fan. You shouldn’t leave.
Without you, no one can save us.
No one can save Chu.
It won’t make any difference.
I know Liu Ji’s strategy,
but I don’t know what to do.
We’ve fallen into the abyss. Don’t you see?
Our greatest enemy is not another but ourselves?
I admit defeat. Xiang Yu may also share my feeling.
I expected that the rest of my life would be
spent helping him set the foundation for generations of rulers.
I once expected to help him build a great dynasty.
But look at me now.
I can only be a clown in the scrolls of history. Be the butt of jokes.
No. No. We’re the butt of jokes,
but you are absolutely not.
The real clown
never admits what he is.
But I know I am.
Mr. Fan!
Let’s go.
Mr. Fan, sir!
Mr. Fan told me to give you his seal.
General, if Mr. Fan has really left,
you will regret it.
-I think Mr. Fan is-- -Actually,
Mr. Fan is an open book.
He never hid his thoughts from you.
If you could calm down and have a peaceful talk with him,
you’d find how silly you are to suspect him.
At this very moment, your enemy might be holding a celebration.
General, you shouldn’t give your enemy the chance to laugh at you.
Don’t do what you’ll regret.
Go ahead.
Mr. Fan, who’ll look after you if I leave?
Just leave me. Someone is waiting for me up ahead.
But I can’t leave you alone.
Don’t worry. Just go ahead.
But…
this...
Take it. Live well.
Oh, come on. Rise. Rise. Rise.
This is where I should be.
Oh, Fan Zeng,
you’re not destined to die in battle.
The plains are your final resting place.
It’s Heaven’s will.
Fate has decreed that I, Fan Zeng,
lay myself down.
What’d your worry?
Mr. Fan left the camp, didn’t he?
You needn’t persuade me.
Here’s what you gave me.
I didn’t use any of it.
Take it and go.
I hope we never see each other again.
But...
What else do you want?
Leave!
Tell you the truth. Xiang Yu is going mad.
Do you understand? He’s gone mad!
He sent Yu Ziqi to run after Mr. Fan
and prepared a banquet for him.
Take your money...
and leave.
Otherwise they’ll come to kill us. Don’t you know that?
Why do you stop me?
Xiang Yu has sent me on important business.
If there's any delay,
you’ll be killed.
Your exit permit?
Here.
You can leave now. Go.
Mr. Fan.
Mr. Fan!
Mr. Chen.
Mr. Chen. Ding Gong sent me here.
Mr. Chen.
What’s wrong?
Ding Gong sent you a message. They found Mr. Fan.
I knew it.
Then did you know he died?
You’re positive?
Yes. All our warriors know already.
Fan Zeng is dead?
Xiang Yu’s crack warriors attacked us.
Their focus was on our paved road
to block our provisions from Aocang.
The attack consumed large numbers of our men.
But once the paved road is cut off,
Xingyang will be isolated.
Reporting! My Lord, Chen Ping requests an audience.
Chen Ping? Bring him right away!
Yes, sir.
The worst thing’s that we are losing men!
We’re practically just sitting ducks.
My Lord! My Lord! Success! We’ve succeeded!
Come here. Sit down.
-Mr. Chen. -Mr. Zhang.
-Sit down. -My Lord.
My Lord. Mr. Fan is dead!
What?
Really?
Absolutely true!
Now Chu warriors are in mourning for him.
Fan Zeng, that old rascal,
just hopped the twig!
Mr. Zhang, looks like we were right
to give Chen Ping that money.
My Lord. You gave me 40,000 taels of gold.
I used 28,000 of them.
And I brought back the money I didn’t use.
Look. He didn’t use it all.
-Chen Ping. -Yes.
I don’t care how you used that money
or how much.
I told you that I bet that gold
against your life.
so I’ll not take the money you didn’t use.
And I shall reward you highly.
I dare not take that much.
I’ve told you I’d rather admit my defeat.
Thank you, My Lord.
Mr. Zhang, with Fan Zeng's dead and gone,
now Xiang Yu will be valiant but stupid.
But, sire, Chu warriors are now mustering as we speak.
Mustering?
I see.
Xiang Yu must be deeply angered.
All he wants is to attack us.
I think, Mr. Zhang,
we’re in great danger.
Young man,
why can’t you handle a horse?
What do you mean, sir?
I have a strategy to help you unify the world.
I have few days left in the world.
I can help you to restore Chu and make you a great man.
And you’ll be the emperor.
That’s what I’ll do.
Listen to me.
Whether at present or in future, Liu Ji will be your biggest enemy.
I know some of you had a bone to pick with Mr. Fan.
And I...
was misguided by rumor and wronged Mr. Fan.
Now he’ passed. He’s our greatest strategist.
He was our backbone, and he is gone.
Listen up.
Mr. Fan urged me to attack Xingyang many times.
Though he can’t witness our victory,
with our determination to conquer Xingyang,
we’ll show him our respect with our roars
as we rush toward Xingyang!
Understand?
Yes, sir!
Advance at once. Prepare to attack.
Within three days, we must conquer Xingyang.
I’ll use Liu Ji’s head to hold a memorial for Mr. Fan!
Yes, sir!
It only proves that he can’t arrive on time.
When he arrives, it'll be too late.
I don’t trust him.
You always speak for him.
I once followed him and I know him. I know he has his reason.
What reason?
What is more important than the safety of our lord.
-Yes. -I should have killed him earlier.
Don’t talk that nonsense again. Otherwise our morale will be affected.
What are you arguing about?
-My Lord. -My Lord, My Lord
How can you complain before our enemy even gets here?
I called you here for a meeting.
You sent Han Xin two letters but he didn’t give any reply.
He once promised
if we were in trouble, he’d come to help us.
I know. I know. I know!
Han Xin must explain to me...
why he can’t come help.
Let’s get down to business.
Hey, who is he?
Don’t you know him? He’s only parasite in our camp.
I think Liu Ji is sick in his mind.
Otherwise, he’ll not hire such a man.
That man always brags. He only uses his mouth to attack our enemy.
And he bragged that he’s the best counsellor in the world.
You.
How dare you scoff at me?
Sir, I didn’t say anything.
I heard it.
Who’s a parasite?
Sir, I said the number one counsellor in the world is a parasite.
What’s wrong, sir? Are you number one?
Nah, I don’t think so.
Aren’t you an eloquent imp.
If I were eloquent enough, I’d be a general already.
I think Chen Ping is the most eloquent.
You know once he opens his mouth Mr. Fan dies.
And then he opens his mouth again, he gets chests of gold!
And he opens his mouth again, Xiang Yu’s forces come attack us!
Don’t you know who he was?
That was Chen Ping!
He’s Chen Ping?
You are in trouble.
Even if Liu Ji were here, I wouldn’t care.
You’re in trouble. No one can save you.
-What’s wrong outside? -Come in.
Yes. Please. Let’s go.
My Lord.
The city is a mess, correct?
Our warriors are trying to put things in order.
Many rumors?
Yes.
This time, Xiang Yu is determined to kill us.
Guys, should we leave the city or hold the city?
My Lord, I think we should hold it.
Yes. We should hold it.
All right. One at a time. Mr. Zhang, please.
My Lord, in the current situation, we’re at a disadvantage,
but if we leave, all our warriors will be destroyed.
I totally disagree with what Mr. Zhang says.
Now Xingyang is suffering attack from all sides.
Our provision road is cut off.
If we go on holding the city,
I’m afraid Xiang Yu may finally slaughter the city!
You all know Xiang Yu’s temper.
When he conquers our city, not only our warriors,
but all commoners in the city will be killed.
And that’s exactly what none of us ever wants to see.
Sir, even if every last soldier packs up and leaves the city,
will Xiang Yu spare the commoners?
They’ll be killed just like everyone else.
Mr. Zhang, you mean we should bet the lives of all commoners to guard the city?
Listen to me, maybe some of our warriors
can fight their bloody way through enemy lines,
but outside Xingyang, we’ll find no place to hide, no shelter.
And those who fought through the line
can only become fodder for the bloodlust of Xiang Yu’s crack soldiers.
That’ll be better than being bottled up by Xiang Yu!
Enough.
I see. If we leave, the commoners have a chance.
Dispense my order.
Get ready to leave.
Our Lord urged me to attack Chu warriors.
Should I listen to him?
Since you asked, I’ll tell you.
Most important is to train our men.
And if we traveled far to attack...
we’d have to have enough provisions.
Otherwise, we’ll lose before we get there.
And what if we had enough provisions?
Considering our forces, I agree with your idea.
I know our lord needs our help,
but even if we can arrive at Xingyang in time,
we can’t be Xiang Yu’s match. With too few soldiers, it’s a sure defeat.
But if we don’t go he’ll doubt our loyalty,
and he’ll think we can’t be trusted.
If we have to go to help,
we have options.
We can move our defensive line toward the south further
and set off right now.
But, General-in-chief, was that your strategy?
-Xiahou Ying, please. -Please.
Xiahou Ying,
today I asked you here, because I need your help.
I think, it’s good for our lord.
But you should not ask me about the details.
Just go ahead.
Can you find a warrior who looks like our lord?
Our lord has the appearance of an emperor.
Who could look like him?
Why do you ask me such a question?
I’ve said you shouldn’t
ask me about the details.
Xiahou Ying, once I heard,
a group of soldiers who were complaining.
Among them, I saw a rather tall man.
In particular his beard looked like Liu Ji’s.
Do you know who he is?
The beard looks like our lord’s? That’s probably... Ji Xin.
Is he reliable?
Reliable. He followed us here from Pei County.
He’s been in our camp for a long time.
If he’s been here that long, then why is he still a common soldier?
He’s hasn’t been granted an official title
because he’s a huge gossip.
So, why do you ask about him?
Xiahou Ying, I want to see him.
What do you want of him?
He insulted me.
How dare he insult you?
I’ll tie him up for you.
Xiahou Ying, whether you bring him here in ropes or invite him as a guest,
I’d like to see him.
I promise to bring him to you.
Great. Thank you.
Please.
Come on, guys. Drink. Drink.
-Drink. -Sit still. Don’t move.
Who is Ji Xin?
Ji Xin, stand up.
Are you Ji Xin?
Sir, what do you want of me?
I’m asking the questions.
Right, I’m Ji Xin.
-Tie him up. -Move. Faster. Move.
Kneel down.
Xiahou Ying, thank you.
Don’t mention it.
Isn’t this Zhou Ke?
Subtitle translation by Min Wei Wong