Episode 75
Three Kingdoms
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 Han Emperor to abdicate... and declare a new dynasty?
The Han dynasty has ruled for four hundred years.
It is approaching its demise. Its legitimacy is superficial.
The people have long lost faith in the Han.
Your Highness should go with the wishes of Heaven and the people.
Zhongda,
in your opinion, how do my strategic ability and reputation compare with my father's?
Although you are a mighty lord,
your reputation is not as great as the late Prince's.
Then how do my administrative and military talent compare with my father's?
The late Prince was the founder of a state. He went through countless wars and hardships.
His deeds outshine the moon and the sun, and he will be remembered by posterity.
Your Highness cannot compare with him.
Even Father dared not abolish the Han rule and proclaim himself emperor.
so how can I do so?
It is precisely because you cannot compare to him
that you should assume the throne and declare yourself emperor.
Why?
Your Highness.
It wasn't that the late Prince was afraid to abolish the Han. He didn't need to.
With his abilities, wisdom, and power,
he could have been emperor long ago if he had wanted.
He did not want to be emperor
because he understood very well that it is better not to be an emperor.
He was not the emperor but he was able to keep one
in the palm of his hand, to carry out his will.
But your situation is exactly the opposite.
You succeeded this position not long ago, and have not secured the people's loyalty.
Veteran generals such as Cao Ren, Xu Huang, and Zhang Liao...
and veteran officials such as Cheng Yu, Jia Xu, and Wang Lang...
rose in ranks due to the late Prince's favor.
But are there any generals or officials promoted by you?
Have you demonstrated any benevolence or power?
Only by proclaiming yourself as emperor and starting a new dynasty
can you promote your generals and officials,
increase your own power.
and establish your benevolence and prestige.
I am certain that these individuals
desire for you to be the emperor more than you do.
Your advice, sir,
fills me with enlightenment.
Zhongda!
Do it.
If we really do it, how will Your Highness respond?
I know.
I will decline the position not once,
nor twice...
but thrice.
Your Highness is wise.
Father. Dinner is ready. Please go eat.
Give me a moment. Let me finish calculating.
What are you calculating. Father?
I'm drawing up a business deal for the Prince.
I want to sell something to him.
What can you sell him?
The House of Han.
Did you persuade him to ascend the throne?
He has harbored such intentions long ago.
I merely spelled out the words he wished to say but could not.
This is good indeed.
Han has long existed in name only.
If you perform this meritorious deed for the Prince, he is sure to reward you handsomely.
When the new dynasty is established, you will be ranked among the Three Excellencies.
You may even become the first prime minister.
I don't care to be the first prime minister,
and neither do I wish to be any of the founders of the new dynasty.
I'd rather let someone else have this honor.
Why?
Zhao, my son,
how can you be so shallow?
Do you want posterity to desecrate the graves of our ancestors?
No.
We, the Simas, have been a great clan who served the Han for generations.
We can't afford to be careless with our ancestors' reputation and virtue.
I'd rather let someone else take the honor as the founding minister instead.
You're right, Father.
Then... who do you want to carry out this task?
Hua Xin.
He's always zealous about performing meritorious deeds for his lord.
His Majesty arrives!
Your Majesty, I have a petition to make.
Please speak.
Your Majesty,
all court officials are in the opinion that,
after four centuries of rule, the Han's prosperity has declined, and its glory has withered.
At present, its allotted time is drawing to a close.
The two Princes of Wei, father and son, have shown virtue and benevolence to all.
Their accomplishments outshine even those of the ancient sages.
Your Majesty, why don't you consider following what Yao did for Shun,
and give over the empire to the Prince of Wei?
In this way, you will abide by the wishes of Heaven and the people.
Moreover, you will be able to enjoy a peaceful and comfortable retirement.
All of us have come to an agreement on this.
Your Majesty, please approve this petition.
You want to...
you want to depose me?
Abdicate.
Yao's abdication in favor of Shun proved his wisdom.
King Wen abdicated in favor of King Wu, and it showed his virtue and merit as a ruler.
Even though Your Majesty is far from being a sage-king,
wouldn't you wish to emulate your superior predecessors?
Do all of you share his opinion?
Please consider the loyal words of Minister Hua, Your Majesty.
Loyal words?
Such loyal words are the advice of parricides and regicides!
Don't be silly, Sire.
The universe is ever-changing and nature always renews itself.
This is the way of Heaven.
Such changes cannot be held back by a single, mediocre ruler such as you.
My dear subjects,
I know I possess little talent or virtue and I am no fit lord for this realm.
But the Supreme Ancestor, after slaying the White Serpent and leading an uprising,
destroyed the tyrannical Qin and the powerful Chu, only then could he establish the Great Han.
Your families, for generations, have all benefited from Han's favor and wealth!
How can all of you be so ungrateful?
I—If I lose my ancestors' empire,
how can I bring myself to face them in the hereafter?
You can bring this book of prophecy with you to meet your ancestors.
and then you can be at ease in the hereafter.
Please abide by the will of Heaven, Your Majesty.
Such superstitions and prophecies are mere fabrication
I cannot abide by them.
Your Majesty,
since antiquity, dynasties rise and fall.
They have times of glory and times of decline.
There has been no dynasty that has not eventually fallen.
The house of Han has ruled for over four hundred years,
by the time it was passed to your hands. its allotted days were nearly over.
Hence, it would be wise to abdicate soon, and not to tarry.
Your Majesty, forgive this old man for saying a word of warning.
if you act too late, things may take a turn for the worse.
Abdication is a serious matter.
I need to go to the Imperial Temple and consult the ancestors...
before I can make a decision.
Oh Ancestors!
Did you see that?
Those traitorous ministers are going to seize our ancestral lands.
My feebleness alone has dishonored you.
I'm ashamed to face all of you, Ancestors.
I'm better off dead...
Your Majesty.
Get out.
Don't stand there!
My ancestors do not wish to see any members of the Cao family!
Your Majesty, though my surname is Cao,
I belong to the Liu family.
It's Your Majesty who proclaimed me as your empress.
Get lost!
My empress... my empress...
You aren't hurt, are you?
Your Majesty, you called me "empress"?*
My empress, I should not have struck you.
My mind is in a mess... I...
I'm no longer myself.
It's all my brother's fault.
He made Your Majesty angry.
I'm unhurt.
If slapping me can make you feel better,
I'm willing to let you hit me every day.
Your Majesty, how dare you hit the empress?
A man can hit his wife.
so why can't the emperor hit his empress?
Indeed a man can hit his wife. The emperor too can hit his empress and concubines.
But you can't!
Don't forget that she's the daughter of the late Prince of Wei.
Cao Hong, Cao Xiu
What are you doing here?
Your Majesties,
we are here to urge the Emperor to hurry.
Let me tell you this.
Not only am I His Majesty's empress,
I'm also his subject.
If he wants to hit me today, or even kill me,
he has every right to do so.
In the same way,
both of you are not only members of the Cao clan,
but also the subjects of His Majesty.
If you insist on abetting the wicked,
he has every right to kill you right here as well!
My empress...
Really?
Here's my sword.
If Your Majesty wishes to kill me,
please draw the sword.
Cao Hong!
How dare you!
Your Majesty, though we bear the same blood of the Cao clan,
I dare not let my family ties get in the way of official duties.
Your Majesty, let's go.
The entire court is waiting for you outside.
Please proceed to the court.
Cao Hong, Cao Xiu,
my father's merits and reputation were renowned throughout the empire, yet he did not covet the sacred throne.
And you two dare help Cao Pi commit treason?
If you do this.
Heaven will surely smite you with its judgment!
Your Majesty, let's hurry up and leave.
Otherwise, we shall have to haul you out.
Your Majesty, ignore these wicked henchmen.
You're the Emperor!
They won't dare to do anything to you!
Emperor?
A puppet of an emperor!
What can I do, when I'm forced by such mean men?
Is Your Majesty finished praying to the ancestors?
Can you make a decision now?
All of you have long received of the Han's bounty,
distinguished officials of the Great Han.
and many among you are descended from
Can you...
can you really bring yourselves to commit such a treasonous act?
Your Majesty, we are persuading you to abdicate
out of loyalty to our empire and our lands.
Quite frankly, when the late Prince was alive,
we already had the intention to persuade him to proclaim himself emperor.
It's a pity that the late Prince passed away before our wish came to fruition.
The new prince has now come to power Nd he too refused to do the same.
But we will push His Highness onto the throne. even if it means our heads!
If Your Majesty insists on not abdicating,
internal strife may ensue.
Who dares to kill me?
Everyone knows that Your Majesty is but a useless ruler.
Though you stand in this court, you do not have even a shred of lordly prestige.
If it were not for the Prince of Wei at your side,
who knows how many people would want to murder you!
Prince of Wei, what is your opinion given this situation?
I shall return to my residence and await your decree.
Will you do it or not? Hurry up and make a decision, Sire!
The Great Han has ruled for over four hundred years.
and yet, on this day, there is not a single loyal man who will speak!
This... is all my fault!
Oh well. Oh well. Oh well.
Your servant is here. Where is the Bearer of the Imperial Seal?
Hand it over to them.
No.
The Seal of the Emperor is bestowed by Heaven.
How could it be handed to traitors?
I will rather lose my head than to hand over the seal.
Zu Bi!
You want to die for a lost cause?
In the Spring and Autumn period there was one Lord Dong Hu.
I am willing to follow his example.
You traitors may usurp the Han throne.
but you will never overturn the truth of history!
You shall leave an evil name in history and be cursed by posterity forever!
That is what you will come to!
Excellent...
A lowly Bearer of the Imperial Seal
is more worthy than an entire courtful of sycophants!
Issue the edict now!
Otherwise, your blood too shall be spilled in this very court.
Please issue the edict, Your Majesty.
Men, draft my edict.
Elder Sister.
You're the empress. Please don't do this.
Please don't do this.
Your Highness,
do you still consider me an empress?
Do you still consider me as your sister?
Of course.
We are born of the same mother, siblings for eternity.
In that case,
can you allow me to say a few words to you?
By all means, Elder Sister!
Your Highness,
you were crowned as prince for a mere few days.
yet you're already coveting the imperial throne!
Are you not...
afraid of the spirit of our late father cursing you from Heaven?
No, I'm not.
I'm not afraid. On the contrary,
if Father's spirit is witnessing my deeds, he will be happy for me.
Then... then what about the people in the lands?
There is less reason to fear them.
As long as my people have ample food and a roof over their heads.
and receive rewards and punishments appropriately.
they will all proclaim me as a sage lord.
A sage lord?
Cao Pi,
you are utterly shameless.
Do you know what I'm going to do?
What I'm doing today is far more noble than you imagine!
Elder Sister, let me give you a word of advice too.
You're a descendant of the Cao clan,
and the blood of our family flows in your veins.
It's Father who let you become the empress.
Do you know why Father did that years back?
He wanted the Emperor
to become a son-in-law of our Cao family!
If you betray the ancestors of the Cao family,
the spirit of Father in Heaven
will curse you for sure.
Return to your palace.
Younger Brother.
Are you really going to abolish the Han and make yourself emperor?
I am merely abiding by Heaven's wishes.
Very well...
Then I shall take you with me to hell
Let her go!
Elder Sister,
this armor that I'm wearing now.
was bequeathed to me by Father.
Please don't rebel against Heaven's will anymore.
Go back to the palace.
I will assure you wealth and riches for the rest of your life.
During the thirty-two years of Our rule,
time and again the world was thrown into turmoil.
Only by the power of the Royal Ancestors
were We able to survive the chaos.
However, as We observed the signs of Heaven and the hearts of people.
We recognized that the allotted time of this dynasty was approaching its end.
Fortune now lies with the Cao family,
as may be seen from the mighty martial deeds of the Late Prince,
and the great virtue of the current Prince.
They are destined to begin the new era.
The direction of history is already manifest; all may know it clearly.
As it has been said, Where the Way prevails, the realm belongs to all.
King Yao was remembered in eternal glory for not favoring his own son to succeed him."
We presume to follow his example and emulate what Yao did,
and hereby abdicate the Throne in favor of the Prince of Wei.
Let the Prince not decline. Thus We have decreed.
Hua Xin,
What do you think of this abdication edict?
The tone is passably sincere.
It seems more mournful than sincere to me.
It sounds more like
the Prince of Wei forced him to abdicate with a sword pointing at his throat.
What do you propose, Your Highness?
Decline it.
Write a memorial on my behalf.
Say that I cannot accept his great favor as this%t may cause petty individuals to slander.
Yes, sir.
Your Majesty, here is the declination memorial from the Prince of Wei.
The Prince of Wei is too humble.
What should I do now?
Your Majesty, who wrote this abdication edict?
It's...it's me.
Such words mislead others into thinking that His Highness has no virtue!
And you dared write them down?
What's your motive behind this?
Drag him out and behead him!
Yes, sir!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Save me, Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, please issue another edict.
I... shall issue another then.
Bring the scroll.
Yes, sir.
Hua Xin, why don't you write the edict on my behalf this time?
You cannot say that, Your Majesty.
I dare not arrogate.
Do you intend for me to write the edict myself?
By doing so, you can display your utmost sincerity.
I've finished writing.
Please apply the Imperial Seal.
Your Majesty, you may call the court.
You will have to personally grant this edict to the Prince of Wei.
His Majesty arrives!
This is the second edict.
That's right, that's right.
Where is the Prince of Wei?
As Your Majesty has not given the instructions to approach, he is waiting outside the court now.
Summon the Prince of Wei to enter.
His Majesty summons the Prince of Wei to enter.
Summon the Prince of Wei.
Your Majesty.
We live in an age of turmoil,
where the lands are divided and wars erupt endlessly.
We are indebted to the Prince of Wei,
it was through his favor that the Han Dynasty continued to survive.
As We observed the signs of Heaven and the hearts of people,
We recognized that the fortunes of the Han have exhausted.
Heaven and Man now favor the Prince of Wei.
Therefore, We are willing to abide by the wishes of Heaven and the people,
in emulating the example of the ancient sage, King Yao,
and abdicating in favor of the Prince of Wei.
Your Majesty, I have little virtue.
How dare I assume this highest of positions?
I implore Your Majesty to find a more virtuous person to succeed the Throne.
I only desire to serve you with utmost loyalty and nothing more.
His Highness has declined well. Well said.
I have twice issued the edict to abdicate.
but the Prince refused to accept.
What would you have me do?
Your Majesty, when the emperor abdicates,
the beneficiary should decline not once, nor twice, but thrice.
This is a display of great virtue.
Do you not understand, Your Majesty?
What do you want me to do?
Please issue the third edict.
This will display your sincerity.
Oh, Heavens!
You have murdered me twice already. Will you kill me for the third time?
You're back. Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, did they make things difficult for you?
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Please don't do this. I beg you
My empress,
I am not afraid of death.
but pain.
Moreover,
is a living corpse like me
fit to use the sword of my ancestors?
Your Majesty, let them have the throne.
Your Majesty, I'm willing to be at your side forever.
I will not leave you until death takes me.
Master Sima, this way please.
Your servant Sima Yi pays his respects to Your Majesty.
Sima Yi,
it has been a long time since anyone did obeisance to me.
Why do such an unnecessary thing?
Many generations of my family had been Han subjects.
For as long as Your Majesty is the emperor,
I shall follow the proper rites of a subject.
How remarkable.
To think that there's someone who remembers the proper rites of a subject.
Please rise.
Thank you. Sire.
It's quite late. What brings you here?
Sir Hua Xin has, according to Your Majesty's wishes,
erected an altar outside the city for the abdication ceremony.
I gave no such orders.
Then Your Majesty must have forgotten.
Sir Hua Xin wouldn't make such a mistake.
Am I right, Your Majesty?