Episode 74
Three Kingdoms
Liu Xie humbly informs his honorable ancestors:
Cao Cao has died.
That spawn of pure evil, the traitor Cao, is truly dead.
of pure evil, the traitor Cao, is
Today I was forced to kneel before that traitor.
and not one of the court officials said a word against it!
Oh, Ancestors, I am so useless!
This is how four centuries of Han rule will end—in my hands!
I hate Cao Cao! And how I hate Cao Pi!
How dare he...
how dare he not wait for my decree before proclaiming himself Prince!
Quietly, Your Majesty.
So what?
When Cao Cao was alive, I dared not curse him. Now he is dead, and I still cant vent my anger?
Your Majesty is right in cursing him,
but your servant fears that... well...
What are you afraid of?
Even though Cao Cao was hateful,
he did not, after all, dare to abolish the Imperial Court.
He did not dare to remove the emperor.
His monthly tribute was never lacking.
But the Prince of Wei is Cao Pi now.
Will he be like Cao Cao and honor Your Majesty?
He dares to usurp the throne?
Your servant has heard that the court officials have prepared a throne for Cao Pi,
in preparation for his coronation ceremony.
This throne is even bigger than your Dragon Throne!
Your Majesty,
Cao Pi is even more treacherous and fearsome than his father!
Oh Ancestors!
Did you hear that?
Evildoers in the court are gaining power with each passing day!
Please manifest yourselves. Ancestors!
Please cleanse this world of evil!
Sima Yi!
I am here, sir.
Today is the third day since Father passed away.
My third and fourth brothers neither returned home for the funeral,
nor did they send their memorandums of grief.
Can they... can they be thinking of sedition?
If Your Highness is referring to them eying the throne,
it's natural for both of them to have such intentions.
But I feel that,
since the late Prince only died recently. now is not the time to cause a conflict.
Right...
Right.
Cao Zhi is a libertine who cares only/about wine and/poetry.
I'm not worried about him.
I'm more concerned about Cao Zhang.
He's an intrepid warrior and is well-respected in the military.
He has 200,000 soldiers under his command.
He is stationed at the former capital, Chang'an.
If he makes a hostile move, we will be in serious trouble.
Your Highness, after His Majesty left the mourning hall, he went to the Imperial Temple.
What was he doing there?
He offered sacrifices and wept before his ancestors in the Temple.
He even....even denounced the late Prince as a traitor.
No harm in that.
He likely did the same in his heart ten thousand times over already.
He even said that the four centuries of Han rule will collapse in his hands.
He is not stupid.
Take good care of him.
Inform me immediately if anything occurs in the Palace.
Yes, sir.
Your Highness, the Marquis of Yanling, Cao Zhang, has led 100,000 men from Chang'an to attend the funeral.
He has made camp on a hillside 30 miles from the southern gate.
He's come to contest my power.
He's come to contest my power!
Well?
Please don't panic. Your Highness.
I'm willing to go forth to greet the army.
Cao Zhang has a fiery temper.
One wrong word, and he'll draw steel on you.
What will you prepare to bring with you to greet him?
Only some words of persuasion.
If... if you fail to convince him,
your life will be endangered.
If I fail to convince him, I shall resign myself to my fate.
I will die without regrets.
Thank you.
Sima Yi humbly pays his respects to Your Lordship.
Who is holding my father's seal of power now?
A family is headed by the eldest son, and a state by its ruler.
Is it appropriate for you to inquire into the seal?
But since you broached the subject, I will tell you the truth.
The late Prince's dying request was that
Cao Pi should succeed his position.
Hence, the seal of power naturally is in the hands of the current Prince of Wei.
I see.
Cao Pi ordered you here to condemn me!
I am here to persuade you to repent!
Sima Yi!
I have 100,000 elite soldiers!
Xuchang's garrison has merely 10,000!
A word from me, and the city will be breached within two days!
You're right.
As expected of a son of the late Prince. You do not beat around the bush.
Given your prowess, you do not even need two days to breach Xuchang.
I daresay you need only half a day.
Because the present Prince of Wei is reluctant to see brother fighting brother.
or that, when the body of the late Prince is still warm, blood should cover the walls of the palace!
Do you think that taking Xuchang will give you the right to rule?
On the contrary!
The current Prince of Wei needs only proclaim the will of the late Prince to the lands,
and Cao Ren in Fancheng, Xu Huang in Luoyang, Zhang Liao in Hefei,
as well as Tiger General Xu Chu,
will all respond to his call!
Will they obey you or the late Prince?
Will they wish for internal strife, or do they desire for late Prince's state to grow stronger by the day?
Please reconsider, Your Lordship.
Though you are extremely courageous,
each of those generals are veterans of many wars.
Can you really defeat any one among them?
It is Heavens will that decides who should inherit the power.
Challenge anyone you like, but not the will of Heaven.
Liu Bei in the west
and Sun Quan in the east
are both ready to pounce.
Once you make a wrong move, they will take the opportunity and strike us.
Not only will the late Prince's legacy be lost...
but even you
Even you will perish by the sword as well!
Your Lordship, by staging a coup,
you are helping our most formidable enemies!
Ma... Master Sima...
It was just the spur of the moment... the spur of the moment...
His Highness knows you were acting on impulse, so he will not hold it against you.
But I still have 100,000 troops. How can he spare me?
Simply surrender those 100,000 soldiers.
Wouldn't that save you from danger?
What? Surrender my military authority?
If Cao Pi wants my blood next time, how can I defend myself?
His Highness is cleverer than you.
After you surrender your military authority, you'll be like a tiger without claws and teeth.
You will be of no threat to him anymore.
Why does he need to drive you to the edge, and have the world scorn him for his injustice?
You have to know that Cao Pi has already secured the princedom.
What he desires most is the loyalty of his people.
Very well, Master Sima,
Ill listen to you and hand over my authority.
I will enter the city alone.
I will beg Second Brother to forgive my crime.
His Highness will personally welcome you at the gate.
And now, you will live out the rest of your days in honor and riches!
Sir, your words surpass the might of 100,000 troops!
It was your power that granted me success.
Things merely followed their natural course.
Your Highness would have known very well that
Cao Zhang has an ardent personality, and acted on impulse.
Such people are easy to deal with.
But there's still Cao Zhi.
He is very learned and highly renowned everywhere,
and has great prestige in scholarly circles.
He could be even more popular than me.
He does not command soldiers.
All he has in hand is a writing brush and ink.
Sometimes a brush is mightier than a sword.
Have you sent someone to inform him about Cao Zhang's apology?
Have him to come and pay his respects again.
If he doesn't come,
Your Highness will have good cause to arrest him.
Good...
you've been devoted to me for years.
You have helped me escape dangers several times.
I must reward you generously.
Now tell me, sir what you truly desire.
Which official post do you want?
I'm contented with serving Your Highness.
I dare not ask for more.
Grand Commandant?
Never!
The Grand Commandant is one of the Three Excellencies. How dare I assume such a title?
Chancellor?
Though I've reached my middle age,
officially speaking,
my experience is little and shallow.
No court officials will acknowledge me if I dare to assume such a position.
Sir, then what post do you desire?
I'm contented to be the prince's secretary.
In this way, I can be at Your Highness' side.
But that's just a meaningless position, whose job is to write edicts!
You deserve better than that, sir!
No! Not at all!
The late Prince is my role model.
The wise man attends to reality, while the fool scrambles after empty glory.
Very well.
Very well then.
As you wish.
But sir, if I do not give you something,
I cannot express my heartfelt gratitude to you.
After much thought, I've decided that I can't
worry about what others might think.
Jingshu!
My humble respects, sir.
Hmm!
This girl is called Jingshu.
Not only does she have a pretty face,
but she can sing and dance well too.
Her grandfather was He Jin, Commander-in-Chief of the former reign.
After He Jin died, his family fell on hard times.
She was forced to live on the streets, but I found her eventually.
The day she moved in,
she caught the eyes of everyone in Xuchang.
A whole street was crowded with onlookers!
Your Highness!
She is a peerless beauty who surpasses even Diaochan!
She should be kept by your side.
Sir, to be frank with you,
I had decided to give her to my late father.
Unfortunately...
Sir, to be honest,
in my heart, you're like my second father!
Second Father
Your Highness!
Sir, you won't let me lose face by refusing, will you?
Your Highness, not even with ten thousand deaths can I repay your generosity.
Sir, why are you staring at me this way?
His Highness is right. You're indeed a peerless beauty.
You're making fun of me, sir.
What beautiful hands you have...
they are like carved jade!
Father...
Have some tea, Father.
Zhao, my son,
A sage once said.
Gluttony and lust are human nature.It's natural for a man to appreciate beauty.
There is only one man in this world who can suppress his human desires when faced with beautiful women.
the current Prince of Wei.
That he would bestow such a peerless beauty upon me,
and even call me his second father!
Second father?
Father, that scares me a bit.
What are you afraid of?
Wasn't Dong Zhuo second father to Lu Bu?
And he died under Lu Bu's halberd.
Hold your tongue.
I have misspoken.
The Emperor decrees.
Lord Cao Pi shall succeed the position of Prince of Wei.
The reign title may be changed
The 25th year of Jian'an shall be renamed the first year of Yankang.
We appoint Jia Xu as Grand Commandant,
Hua Xin as Chancellor,
and Wang Lang as Grand Imperial Clerk.
The late Prince Cao Cao shall be posthumously honored as Martial Emperor,
and buried at Gaoling in Ye Commandery.
An altar and temple shall be erected
to honor him for eternity.
Long live Your Majesty!
Rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Court dismissed.
Your Highness,
today is the day you succeeded your princedom.
Even Sun Quan has sent an envoy to offer his well wishes.
However, Cao Zhi, the Marquis of Linzi, who resides close by,
neither paid his last respects to the late Prince,
nor did he come to pay homage to you.
His behavior is unpardonably mutinous.
According to the law, he should be punished for treason.
I'm the elder sibling while Cao Zhi is younger one.
I can forgive him for disrespecting me.
but to be so unfilial towards the late Prince—that
I certainly cannot overlook.
You all saw for yourselves.
During the funeral of the late Prince, even His Majesty came to bow and show his respects,
but Cao Zhi did not even turn up.
The late Prince in the hereafter cannot condone his actions.
It is as Your Highness says.
Here, Sir.
Bring the Marquis of Linzi to be judged.
Yes, sir.
Court dismissed.
Get out! What's going on? What are you doing? Get out!
What's going on?
You vermin, do you know what this place is?
The Marquis of Linzi's residence!
Who are you?
The late Prince conferred on me the title of Tiger Marquis. I'm General Xu Chu.
You're just a thug!
See if you can even lay a scratch on me, if you dare!
Come on!
If you don't have the nerve, then get out of my sight.
There. A scratch.
Yes, Sir. Take him.
Let's drink another cup!
Come, come, come...
A man cannot be drunk for ten centuries,
but a poem's fragrance lingers forever...
What good lines! What good lines indeed
Xu Chu...
Have you also smelled the aroma of fine wine in my residence?
Very well, I shall grant you a cup also.
Come, taste it.
Such good wine...
Spilt!
What a waste.
What a pity!
Xu Chu! I order you to stab me through the heart! Now!
Come on!
I'm the son of the late Prince,
either you kill me, or you shall kneel before me!
If you have anything to say to me, kneel before you speak!
Xu Chu pays his humble respects.
Please make your way to Xuchang immediately.
I understand.
I shall go.
Young Master... Young Master...
Get up!
You cannot go! You must not go!
I will live for eternity through my poetry and essays.
I have no regrets in this life!
When one is born into this world, an extra day of life is not so great a boon,
and to live a day less is no great loss.
Most importantly, one should enjoy his life to the last.
Young Master.
Let's go.
Young Master! Young Master!
Young Master! You must not go!
Young Master! Young Master!
My dear friends...
for over ten years now,
we have been gathering under this old pavilion everyday to compose and recite poetry.
It is now imbued with poetic beauty!
If I do not return alive,
I beseech you all to dismantle this pavilion.
and use the wood to build me a coffin.
Young Master! Young Master! Young Master!
Mother.
You still acknowledge me as your mother?
Mother, what do you mean?
What have I done wrong?
Of your brothers, Cao Chong is already dead.
Cao Zhang was stripped of his military command at your order.
who amuses himself with brush and ink.
Your fourth brother Cao Zhi is a mere scholar
And you're not sparing even him?
Mother.
When Father... Father passed away.
Fourth Brother did not even turn up for the funeral.
He is unfilial and immoral.
Even Father could not forgive him.
If he did any wrong, as elder brother you could scold him, and that would be enough.
How can you actually kill him?
All of you are born from the same mother.
When I see my children fighting one another,
my heart bleeds from grief everyday!
Mother! Mother, that's just rumors.
You can't-believe such rumors, Mother!
Stop lying to me!
I have not gone deaf.
Zihuan, oh, Zihuan,
you have already succeeded your father.
Whether as a prince or as the elder brother,
you should be more generous of heart.
Let me tell you,
if you kill Zhi,
I shall follow your father to his grave.
Who says I'm going to kill Zijian?
Who says I'm going to kill Zijian?! I...
I value his talent greatly. How can I bear to harm him?
If you don't believe me, ask Sima Yi.
Are you telling the truth?
Even if I disobey everyone else,
I will never dare to disobey you, Mother.
Mother...
Then I shall believe you once more.
Believe me, Mother.
Please believe me.
Very well. I shall go now.
I shall see you out, Mother.
No need. I shall see you out. Mother.
You're the Prince of Wei. You can stay.
If you put it that way, then all the more I must see you out.
Take care, Mother. I shall go pay my respects to you tomorrow.
Who's the loose tongue?
In Xuchang, whether outside the palace or in it,
there are many people who adore Cao Zhi's poetry.
Hence, nobody can be kept in the dark about this.
Your Highness,
are you really going to follow the Princess Dowager's words?
My mother had a hard life.
The late Prince favored Lady Huan for many years.
Mother was greatly neglected.
When I was feeling down. Mother would come and talk with me once every few days.
This mother of mine never begged for anything in her life.
This is a rare occasion when she asked for a favor. How could I reject her?
Your Highness,
there's a common saying, "A ruler has no mercy".
The Marquis of Linzi has talent and ambition, and he has many supporters in the court.
In my opinion, he will not suffer to be confined.
If you do not get rid of him soon, he will pose a future threat to you.
What do you propose?
Your Highness, how about this?
Many claim that Cao Zijian is a gifted poet.
Tomorrow, in court, you may...
test his ability.
If he does not pass your test, have him killed on the spot.
If he passes, demote him.
In this way, the scholars will be silenced.
Your servant, Cao Zhi, the Marquis of Linzi,
pays his respects to the Prince of Wei.
Zijian, you and I are brothers at home.
But at court, I am lord and you are my vassal.
When the late Prince passed away.
you dared to absent yourself from paying the last respects.
Such disobedience cannot be tolerated.
I acknowledge my crime and accept my punishment willingly.
When the late Prince was alive.
you showed off your poetry and essays to many.
You claim to be able to compose a poem in seven steps.
Many court officials suspected that you were boasting.
Today, I command you to take only seven steps in this hall.
within which you shall compose a poem.
If you can do that, I shall spare your life.
If you fail, you shall be punished for disobedience and lese majesty.
There will be no leniency.
Please state the topic, Your Highness.
You and I are brothers.
The topic shall be "brothers" then.
But remember this: your poem must not include the word "brothers".
Yes, sir.
Begin.
First step
Second step!
Third step!
Fourth step!
Fifth step!
Sixth step!
To boil beans the stalks are burned.
In the kettle, they sobbing yearned.
We two from one same root did grow
why the rush to fry me so?'
Good poetry! Excellent, such good poetry! Good poetry!
We two from one same root did grow
why the rush to fry me so?'
We two from one same root did grow
why the rush to fry me so?1
Good poetry,.excellent indeed.
Your servant and brother cannot help but tremble in the mighty presence of Your Highness.
I was merely lucky to compose this.
Zijian,
though you managed to redeem yourself with a poem,
your crimes cannot go unpunished.
Let's see...
Your salary shall be cut by five hundred bushels,
and you shall be demoted as Marquis of Anxiang.
You shall proceed to your new fief within three days.
Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness.
As per your instructions, I have drafted this list of presents to reciprocate Sun Quan's favor.
Please review it. Your Highness.
Zhongda,
Sun Quan sent me such extravagant gifts.
He even sent me his heirloom luminescent pearl as a gift.
Don't you think your list of presents is...
just a little bit too stingy?
I too feel that the list is inadequate.
Unless...
Unless what?
Unless Your Highness...
gives Sun Quan the thing he desires most.
The thing he desires most?
And what would that be?
Prince of Wu".
Prince of Wu?
Now that you're the Prince of Wei,
and Liu Bei had also proclaimed himself as Prince of Hanzhong.
How do you think Sun Quan would feel?
If you can proclaim him as Prince of Wu,
Sun Quan will align his interests with ours.
And join us to fight Liu Bei.
Zhongda,
only the emperor can bestow princedom on others.
I am well-versed in the laws and court rituals.
Are you hinting to me...
to force the Han Emperor to abdicate... and declare a new dynasty?