Take it easy. Easy. Easy.
You’ve suffered much from hunger.
I’m okay.
I ate some elm tree leaves and taro roots.
But I heard many of our men were ill from starvation.
My Lord, you need to find a way to get food.
Thank you for caring about us.
I’ll think of something. I’ll solve the problem.
I don’t know what I can do.
I can only pray to the heavens.
I hope your warriors can get through this.
Let me see.
You’re still doing menial labor?
That’s about all I can do.
You were anyway once a king’s wife.
Listen, if you’d like...
just stay at my side to serve me. How’s that strike you?
Thank you, My Lord.
Rise.
-Premier. -Yes?
This is already the third letter we have received from our lord.
Yes.
Will you reply this time?
The provisions are not in order yet.
It is pointless to reply.
But our lord is suffering on the frontiers.
You didn’t write to him to show your concern for him,
but he showed you concern instead. If he doesn’t receive your reply soon,
he may suspect something’s wrong.
What do you mean?
Our lord will doubt your loyalty. He’ll suspect you may betray him.
Me betraying him?
If I intended to betray him,
why didn’t I do it when we were in Mt. Mangdang?
Why didn’t I betray him when we were in Pei County?
Why didn’t I betray him when we lost the war in Xingyang?
Mr. Xiao, things are different now. People change.
But my loyalty to him will never change.
But will he trust you as before?
Will he? How can I allay his suspicions of me?
I’ve got an idea.
Go on.
Before that, you should answer this question,
how important is our lord in your heart, Mr. Xiao?
Nothing is more important than him.
More important than inexhaustible money?
Of course.
More important than supreme power?
Yes.
Than your family?
Not only that.
For me, he’s more important than my own life.
If that’s the case...
if you send your sons or nephews to stay in Liu Ji’s camp...
that’ll dispel his doubts of your loyalty.
Father, don’t trouble yourself to see us off. We can go by ourselves.
You are the good sons of our Xiao family.
Do your best, to be of help for our state.
Yes.
These provisions are of vital importance to our soldiers.
You should be careful and be watchful.
Father, I understand. Don’t worry.
When you arrive at Liu Ji’s camp,
-Less talk, observe more. Focus on study. -Yes.
-Got it? -Father, I got it. Don’t worry.
Good.
Father, you should take care of yourself too.
That’s right. Do take care of yourself, sir.
I know.
All right, you can leave now.
Go on.
Set off.
How much longer before we reach there?
We'll be there shortly.
Now we can see the banners of our camp already.
We came under the pretext of escorting provisions.
But everyone could see...
that we’re coming here as hostages.
The first Qin emperor had a terrible childhood life as a hostage.
By right, I should be comforting you.
But I feel uneasy myself as well.
I don’t know how Liu Ji will treat us.
My father invested all he has to get those provisions, My Lord.
The only wish the Xianyang civilians have is that
you can defeat Xiang Yu and return to Xianyang as soon as possible.
We owe them too much.
I know this too well.
Go back and tell Mr. Xiao...
that so long as we defeat Xiang Yu...
we’ll pay back what we owe to the people of Xianyang.
Thank you, My Lord.
My uncle told us to join you.
We’re not to return home. He told us to stay by your side.
He told you to stay in my camp?
Yes, My Lord.
Did he really tell you such words?
-Yes. -Yes.
-All right. That’s great! Xiahou Ying. -Yes.
Get them settled in. Treat them well!
-Yes. -Thank you, My Lord.
I think Mr. Xiao fears that I don’t trust him
so he ordered them to stay at my side.
Mr. Xiao has given much thought to this matter.
It’s not a good way for us to be always in hiding.
But we have neither enough provisions nor enough warriors...
if we go to fight Xiang Yu head-on, we’ll definitely perish.
My Lord, why don’t we turn to Qi for help?
The state of Qi?
Right. I think the king of Qi is clear we share a common fate.
After Xiang Yu conquered us, he would turn to conquer Qi.
So it’s a good chance
for us to talk Qi into an alliance with us.
We should ally to attack our common enemy, Xiang Yu.
That’s really not a bad idea. Can you persuade their king?
The premier of Qi is Tian Heng. He’s a believer of Confucian doctrine.
He’ll not refuse my visit.
Then I’ll use non-military topics to convince with him.
I’ll persuade him with my glib tongue.
That really is a good idea. It’s better if we can ally with Qi.
But I’ve ordered Han Xin to conquer Qi.
Han Xin has only 2,000 warriors right now.
Qi is not a small state.
Two thousand warriors are not enough to threaten Qi.
There are over 70 cities in Qi.
Even if we had 300,000 warriors,
it would take us at least a year to conquer them all.
That is true.
All right. We need to have a plan.
Okay.
Mr. Zhang, I think
this Li Yiji is very insightful.
Who could’ve thought that a vagabond once
will now hold aspirations of conquering the world?
Nobody but him.
Indeed. I’ve heard that he’ll give unsolicited advice.
Yes. But it’s a good thing that he has offered advice.
I’ll let the world
know that I’m open to advice.
Even if the advice is silly,
as long as it is for the good of Han,
I should consider it. Even if it’s wrong advice.
My Lord, but I have to remind you...
that Han Xin is ready to attack Qi.
If we send Li Yiji to Qi, he’ll be in danger.
It’s not that I sent him there.
He insisted on that.
Whether he’ll come back safely...
will be decided by Heaven.
You seem very happy, sir.
Yes, indeed I am. Confucius was born in the city of Zou
while Mencius was born in Zou.
Now we’ll go to these places that nurtured sages and virtuous people.
How could I not be happy?
When Tian Guang heard that you’re the emissary...
he ordered to give you the pass to walk freely in Qi.
He said you’re the most respected emissary...
all weapons should be dropped when they see your chariot and let you pass.
Great! No wonder, Qi is a state for sages.
I bet you can easily persuade Qi to ally with us.
I hope so. I’ve come prepared.
I believe we’ll achieve success. We’ll not fail Liu Ji’s expectation.
QI
What-- What’s going on?
You’re Liu Ji’s emissary.
Don’t you know what’s happening?
We all know that Han Xin will attack us.
We must be ready in battle formation.
Of course, I know about that news.
But that’s not the latest news.
Not the latest? I think not.
We got the message 15 days ago.
Han Xin is leading his warriors toward us.
That’s why you wait in formation?
Yes, that’s right.
The people of Qi are all prepared.
If Han Xin dares to attack us, we’ll annihilate his entire army.
I’m Liu Ji’s emissary. I am the sole agent sent by Liu Ji.
I’m bringing peace to Qi.
Peace?
Right.
Sir, please.
Liu Ji sent me to negotiate.
The analects stated that any emissary shouldn’t disgrace his lord.
I think you’re among the few entrusted with such a glorious mission.
Even rummaging history books would not find you, one such example.
Premier, I’m flattered.
I’m nobody but a scholar.
The purpose of my visit is to discuss about our common issues.
In my opinion, our states are not bound by self interest
but by moral authority.
Hmm.
If we can focus on morals, We’ll turn hostility into friendship.
I’ll use this mission as a means to realize the Confucian ideals.
I agree with you, sir.
Very much so. Great. I’ll take you to the guesthouse.
-This way. -This way.
Please.
-Please. -Thank you. Please.
Oh my, this is too beautiful to be a guesthouse.
Whether the construction style
or the ornaments in the room,
they are almost the same as that of a palace.
You’ve travelled a long way. You can have a good rest here...
and get a change of clothes.
In the evening, we’ll hold a banquet in honor of your visit.
Thank you very much.
-Have a good rest. -See you then.
Though Li Yiji hadn’t yet...
seen the king of Qi...
all-important officials...
greeted him...
as well as his entourage.
And every minister who called upon him,
also arrived in accordance
with their official titles.
The banquet continued...
for three straight days.
The next day, Li Yiji arranged to meet the king of Qi.
My most respected king...
though your state is powerful and prosperous.
But only if you know who’ll become emperor...
can your state sustain.
Otherwise, even with millions of elite warriors...
your state will not be safe.
Sir, then in your opinion, who exactly will become the emperor over us all?
The king of Han of course!
Sir, please take a seat.
Thank you.
For the benefit of my state...
can you elaborate on the underlying reasons?
Yes, sir.
Judging current situation, Liu Ji is weak and Xiang Yu is strong.
We can then already predict based on this. The world’s destiny is already sealed.
Given current developments, to say Liu Ji will win is pure sophistry.
Though our state remains neutral,
we are frequently attacked by Xiang Yu.
Xiang Yu even led his warriors himself to attack us...
we were not his match at all.
Such terrible sights,
everyone in Qi has frightful experiences of the attacks of Xiang Yu’s army.
With such a powerful enemy,
why would you think that in Han will overcome Chu in the end?
Firstly, Xiang Yu is a narrow-minded man.
He can’t win support from intelligent men.
Secondly, he’s far too cruel. He’s killed countless innocent men.
Especially after he killed King Huai...
he has lost support from the commoners.
In comparison, Liu Ji values loyalty.
He’s a broad-minded and is open to virtuous and able men.
So the world has a different expectation on Liu Ji from Xiang Yu.
What’s more, as far as military provisions are concerned,
Liu Ji has an absolute advantage.
All the granaries of the late Qin are under his control.
That's right.
On the contrary,
provisions-wise,
Chu warriors are in a dead-end alley.
Xiang Yu sent young men to the battlefield,
and left all the elderly to carry provisions in a single-line
to the frontline all the way from the far south.
And Xiang Yu himself,
has never been involved in the provisions.
He once attacked the famous Qin granary, Aocang.
But what happened after that?
He left it to an army consisting of criminals to guard it.
And as a result, Liu Ji easily conquered the granary!
Your analysis is penetrating.
I need to discuss it with my lord.
All right. I’ll wait for your king’s reply.
A nice dance!
Drink! Enjoy. Please. Drink.
Sir, what do you think of Qi’s dances?
Great!
We'll rely on you for our diplomatic ties with your state.
-A toast to you. -Please.
Good. Enjoy
Sir, to express our sincerity,
I’ve ordered to remove our guards from the border.
I’ve sent large batches of warriors home.
Soon they’ll set off.
-Please. -Please.
-Enjoy. -Thank you.
What a beautiful dance, eh?
Drink. Drink.
At such a late hour, what brings you here?
I received a secret message from Qi.
It can’t wait till morning.
So I’ve come right away to report.
Go ahead.
General, do you still remember Li Yiji, the scholar?
Didn’t our messenger say that he went to Linzi?
Now we confirmed that Liu Ji sent him to negotiate peace.
Negotiating peace? Then why did Liu Ji order me to attack Qi?
Is it some kind of stalling tactic? Is he trying to win us time?
That’s what I thought.
But the messenger said Li Yiji has already reached an agreement with Qi
and now Qi has allied with us.
Are you absolutely positive?
Yes.
You don’t want to stay in Zhao, do you? General?
General?
Ah?
Did you read those 81 articles that I gave you?
I read some. There were so many?
General, your intelligence and talent in warfare
are definitely supreme.
But I’ve doubts on your ability to deal with political power.
I suspect you’ve absolutely no knowledge about political tricks.
You always stress the way of survival.
I am weary of listening to the same preaching.
All in all, Li Yiji is nobody but a scholar.
Yes, he persuaded Tian Guang with his glib tongue.
But if his contribution is exaggerated...
your military contributions will be devalued, right?
If your achievements can’t measure against a glib tongue,
then there’s no way to save Han.
If you set off to attack Qi, you might save Han.
If we don’t attack Qi,
a hidden danger will continue to fester and grow.
Does this actually have anything to do with political tricks?
You know nothing about political tactics.
It can’t be explained in a few words.
Liu Ji left the decision to you.
If you choose wisely, you’ll be safe.
But if you make a poor choice...
you may get yourself killed.
What the hell are you talking about?
Now, there’s only one choice for you.
That is to attack Qi.
Liu Ji has yet to take back the order to attack.
Shoot.
Advance.
My Lord!
Han Xin sent warriors to attack Qi.
I know!
I’m dealing with my anger now.
Now Li Yiji is negotiating peace with Qi.
How can he send warriors to attack Qi?
He's putting me, Liu Ji, in a bad light.
What does he mean?
You shouldn’t blame Han Xin. You ordered him to attack Qi.
But I recalled my order.
Too late, I’m afraid.
It doesn’t matter. I know Qi is a capricious state.
They’ll not take the alliance seriously.
But Li Yiji might be killed.
My Lord, what if Han Xin fails?
Fails?
Kill him.
Hurry! Move!
What are you looking at? It’s for you. Let’s go.
Go.
Your Majesty! Your Majesty! What’s wrong?
Your Majesty, what happened?
-Your Majesty! -Kneel down.
Your Majesty, what happened?
Han Xin’s warriors have arrived to attack us.
You came to fool me. Didn’t you?
That’s impossible! I was sent by Liu Ji himself.
How could such a thing happen?
And I’m a scholar. I value Confucian morality to the utmost!
How could I come fool you?
Han Xin’s army is crossing the Yellow River from the west.
And he conquered some of our unguarded areas.
-What? -Li County has fallen within half a day.
-No! It-- -Next,
Han Xin’s army will march...
toward Linzi like tidewater!
What Confucian morals are you preaching?
You’re talking about justice and morality but you have the heart of a wolf!
I-- I need not vindicate myself.
Since you don’t trust me...
there’s nothing I can say.
I think you all schemed this plot from the get-go.
Liu Ji sent you to distract me and once I relaxed my vigilance,
Han Xin came to attack us.
You damned emissary from Han.
Look what you’ve done!
Premier Tian, you’re not a fool.
You should know that if I colluded with Han Xin,
why would I stay here?
I should escape before he came to attack!
Why would I stay and be killed?
You damned liar.
I’m not a liar! I’ve been sold out.
All my efforts were destroyed by Han Xin, that shameless coward!
If you’re not a liar,
you should stop Han Xin from going any farther.
Otherwise, you’ll be boiled alive in that pot out there!
Han Xin has already arrived, there’s nothing I can do.
I’d rather die than be disgraced.
I’m prepared to die!
But before my death, I must tell you...
that every single thing I told you was the truth!
I’m a dignified scholar.
Just boil me!
Drag him out and boil him!
Yes. Rise.
Drag him out.
-Move. -Move.
-Boil me. I’m a dignified scholar! -Hurry! Hurry!
My Lord, before us is Honggou.
Liu Ji’s men keep digging that trench.
Now the fight is in a stalemate.
Encamp and prepare for a decisive battle
I can’t wait to destroy Liu Ji.
If we encamp here indefinitely...
how can we get provisions?
Just encamp here. We’ll not withdraw a single step.
If we run out of food, we'll just bring some here.
If we need relief warriors, just bring some here.
Liu Ji is really a weenie. If we chase, he runs.
If we stop, he stops.
We just poked his shell but the turtle hides his head again.
My Lord, Liu Ji’s family members are in our camp.
We might as well--
Zhongli Mei, to catch our enemy’s family as hostages
is already a shameless act.
General, don’t be impulsive.
Ji Bu, what do you think?
Liu Ji’s more shameless than any man alive!
But I don’t agree with Zhongli Mei.
I know we can’t kill them.
But to drag on like this, will certainly be a disadvantage to us.
Do you know why I choose you to serve our general?
Because I’m smart and considerate.
Right.
And because you are from an impoverished Qi noble family.
I don’t understand.
In Qi, many parents want to
marry their daughters to Han Xin.
But I can’t choose among them.
Why can’t you choose among them?
I worried if I chose among them, all other Qi nobles will envy her.
So you chose me?
Since you know what I mean, you should take good care of our general.
Yes.
You’re awake.
I’ve prepared your meal. You can eat now.
Please enjoy your meal.
Come here.
Who are you?
I’m E Mei. Ji Gong is my father.
I come to serve you, king of Qi.
What did you call me?
King of Qi.
I’m not a king.
In my heart, only Liu Ji is king.
But in Qi, all of us greet you as king.
Is that all right?
You should not greet me that way.
Kuai Che sent you here, right?
Kuai Che!
Kuai Che! Kuai Che!
Only weak remnants of our enemy remain. You need not attack them yourself.
Don’t treat them lightly. Otherwise they’ll give us trouble in the future.
How about your situation?
I’ve driven Tian Ji all the way to Jiaodong!
I heard Guan Ying won a big victory.
He has driven the premier and the king of Qi to a corner.
It’s said Qi warriors are unconquerable.
But only I can conquer them.
General-in-chief...
General, truth be told you are now the ruler of Linzi.
Really?
I want to tell you something.
Go ahead.
It’s my honor to stay in the same camp with you.
I’d rather fight battles with you all my life.
I still have some things to take care of. I have to go now.
What are you worrying about?
Tian Heng will surrender to Xiang Yu
and ally with him. Then we’ll be in real trouble.
The king of Qi and Xiang Yu hate each other deeply.
How can they ally?
They will certainly ally against us,
because only an alliance can save them.
Besides, due to this attack, Liu Ji will lose commoners’ support here in Qi.
In their eyes, Qi was defeated,
because our lord reneged on his agreement.
He negotiated for peace first and then attacked them.
Of course, It can’t be absolved from blame.
Conquering Qi was necessary.
I think time will absolve their complaints.
But opportunity will not wait for us. We must grasp ahold!
-I need to talk to our lord. -Let's go.
-Yes. We must talk to our lord. -Let’s go.
My Lord.
With such despicable means, Liu Ji cheated and attacked our state.
We shouldn’t tolerate the disgrace, My Lord!
My Lord, you should bury the hatchet
with Xiang Yu and ally with him to attack Liu Ji.
I’d like to be the emissary to Chu.
Stop!
You’re all cowards.
I, Tian Guang, no matter what, will never ally with Xiang Yu for anything.
We’ll never reconcile!
Was it you who said, you wanted to be an emissary?
Guards! Behead him!
Calm down, My Lord. Calm down.
Our situation is urgent.
We’re all anxious.
He doesn’t know what to do, so he spoke rashly.
If any of you dares to ally with Chu, I’ll behead you!
What were you thinking? You’re all too bold.
How can you offend our lord this way?
Thank you, Premier.
Now, we’ve lost Linzi.
Apart from fighting to the death...
do we have any other options?
We’ll have one way out.
You also want to persuade me to ally with Xiang Yu?
Though a little rash, those nobles to some extent have a point.
We all want to save our state.
To ally or not will decide our fate of survival.
My Lord, you have to consider that.
Subtitle translation by Hwee Lin Wong