Episode 77
Three Kingdoms
Forgive me for being blunt.
My lord, you have not come solely to have tea
I have come to seek your opinion on the future direction of the Riverlands.
I earnestly implore you, my lord, to assume the throne,
and continue the legacy of the Han.
Thank you, my lord.
Zhengfang.
Many have urged me to take on the,responsibility of restoring the great Han empire.
But I have few talents and meager virtue.
To add to this, I have not been in Shu long,
and I have not been able to do anything for the people of Shu.
If I take the throne now.
is that not akin to expecting the dew of gratitude without offering the rain of kindness?
On the contrary.
It is because my lord has not been here long.
and has not yet showered his grace on the people,
that he should ascend the throne as soon as possible.
How so?
Only by becoming emperor can you bestow upon your people the highest benefits and privileges.
If my lord remains a prince.
the most Shu's officers can hope for
are positions like general or secretary.
Only when my lord takes the throne
can they be granted high and noble ranks.
As a prince, you are a well of virtue.
But as emperor, you will become a deeper well of virtue.
Who among your subjects would not wish to gather around you
and partake of your boundless benevolence?
Your words have been very enlightening to me.
Good.
Hearing what you have said to me lightens the burden in my heart.
Although this is somewhat against my wishes,
I am bound by duty.
Li Yan, here are your orders.
My lord.
I appoint you as Governor of Shujun.
You will assist Kongming with running the affairs of the Riverlands.
Thank you, my lord.
On the 43rd day of the cycle. in the fourth month of the 26th year of Jian'an,
Emperor Liu Bei solemnly proclaims thus to Heaven and Earth.
The Han's possession of the subcelestial realm must continue for all time.
However, the treasonous Cao Pi usurped the throne, murdered his sovereign,.
arid seized the royal instruments for himself.
Liu Bei, a scion of the imperial house,
humbly informs his royal forebears.
The Mandate of Heaven must be obeyed,
the imperial legacy must not be discontinued.
and the realm must,not be without a sovereign.
Thus, in accordance with the Will of Heaven and the desires of the people.
he accepts the seal and cord of the emperor,
and assumes authority over all in the realm.
May the gods shower their blessings on the House of Han,
so that all may bow before the Hans majesty!
In the fourth month of the 26th year of Jian'an,
Liu Bei declared a new rule, ascended the throne, and officially established the Shu empire.
Long live our Emperor!
Today!
The first decree from the throne shall be this!
An auspicious date shall be chosen for the conquest of Wu!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
Zilong, you're here to dissuade me, aren't you?
I am.
Then speak.
Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness,
but the enemy of the state is Cao Pi, not Sun Quan.
If Your Majesty insists on attacking Wu instead of Wei,
Cao Pi will take advantage of us once we go to war.
Sun Quan murdered my brother Yunchang...
and stole Jing Province.
He is my mortal enemy.
I vow not to share this space under Heaven with him.
My lord.
Our enmity with Cao Pi is a public affair.
The loss of a brother is a private grievance.
Now that you have ascended the throne,
you must place the interests of the empire first.
Zilong, let me speak honestly with you now.
It is true that I have assumed the throne.
However, if I cannot even avenge my own brother's death.
what use to me is the respect and honor of the entire world?
I have already made my decision. The edict has been issued as well.
Not only does the entire military knows about this.
but news of it will spread throughout the realm.
Would you have me take back my own words?
It is true tha^a sovereign must honor his word,
but he should be patient.
I fully agree with General Zilong.
I beseech Your Majesty to delay the attack on Wu.
My lord,
I have four points I urge you to consider.
First,
Wei, not Wu, remains Shu-Hans primary enemy.
Second,
if we still owned Jing, we would be in the ideal position to attack or defend.
But it is now in Sun Quan's hands.
Wu holds the heart of the land, the entrance to the Central Plains.
The advantage lies with Sun Quan.
it is a 2,000 mile march from here to Wu,
with mountains, rivers, cliffs, and lakes along the way.
Transporting grain and equipment will be difficult.
Fourth,
once we go to war with Wu,
Cao Pi will surely send an army to Fancheng and wait for an opportunity.
If Shu is victorious, Cao Pi will head south to take the Southland.
If Wu is victorious, Cao Pi will venture west to take Hanzhong.
Your Majesty, if Shu goes to war with Wu,
it is Cao Pi who will benefit the most.
The Prime Minister is the head of the civil offices.
Zilong Is the head of the military staff.
Since both of you are advising against it...
we will postpone the campaign against Wu.
Your Majesty is wise.
Postponement does not mean retraction.
We shall stockpile food and equipment
and make chariots and boats so that we may strike when the Tim is ripe.
My lord.
Ziyu, what is the matter?
Our scouts bring news that Liu Bei assumed the throne in Chengdu.
And his first edict as Emperor was.
to muster an army to attack Wu.
Send word.
Tomorrow at the fifth hour, all officers will convene at the Grand Hall for a meeting.
Aye.
What shall we do?
What are we to do? What shall we do?
My lord, military news from the Riverlands.
What is it?
Liu Bei left the Riverlands?
No. Our spy reports that
Prime Minister Kongming successfully dissuaded Liu Bei from attacking.
Your brother Is looking at the big picture.
The way I see it,
the Wu and Shu alliance will be restored soon enough.
Then all is well.
Yes, all is well.
Sir.
What is going on here?
Lately, General Zhang's temper has-been worse than ever.
Any minor infraction incurs the punishment
of keeping vigil over Guan Yu's bier for ten days.
Where is General Zhang?
He is in the tent.
My brother has been emperor for over a month now.
Here I am, waiting every day to attack Wu.
Why hasn't he issued the edict for the campaign?
His Majesty is planning to postpone it.
Postpone it?
Why postpone it?
Many high officials have advised
that the true enemy of the State right now is Wei, not Wu.
They recommend that His Majesty destroy Wei
before waging war against Wu.
What kind of talk is that?
The three of us brothers/
that we would share life and death together.
pledged in the Peach Garden
Second Brother was murdered before our task,could be accomplished.
How can we not avenge him?
You!
Tell me the truth!
Who is the person behind this?
Talk!
It is the Prime Minister who dissents.
It's him meddling around again.
I will go to Chengdu myself and see my brother in person
Come in.
Here.
Your Majesty, what is your command?
I hear footsteps in the halls.
That is just the wind. Nobody is inside.
There is.
Listen.
It's my Third Brother.
It's the sound of his footsteps.
His tread is heavier than that of the average person.
Yide! Third Brother, is it you?
Elder Brother.
Elder Brother!
Elder Brother...
Elder Brother!
Third Brother.
I thought you were overseeing the armies in Langzhong.
Why have you come to Chengdu?
Elder Brother.
Each day I spend in Langzhong feels like a year.
Every morning, every night, I yearn
for the day I can lead my troops into battle.
My eyeballs have almost popped from waiting so long!
But your edict to wage war against Wu never came.
Elder Brother, now that you have become Emperor,
have you forgotten our promise in the Peach Garden?
Third Brother.
How could I possibly forget about avenging our brother Yunchang?
Look.
Yunchang is still here with me.
He is with me during my meals and in my sleep.
Second Brother!
Second Brother...
Oh, Second Brother.
After Heaven claimed General Guan,
His Majesty had this portrait painted.
This humble slave hears His Majesty speaking to the portrait every night.
If this is so...
why haven't you issued the order to attack Wu?
Brother, do not be upset.
As soon as I received news of Yunchang's death...
I decided to declare war on Wu.
However, we had recently suffered the loss at Jingzhou,
so everyone advised me...
advised me to give our troops a chance to rest and recuperate.
I can only swallow my bitterness.
After my ascension...
I issued an imperial edict declaring war against Wu.
But...
that wretched Meng Da surrendered to Wei.
Our food supplies at Shangyong were lost.
Without those supplies, we have no choice but to postpone our attack.
Elder Brother.
That is not your true reason for delaying this war!
Then what do you think it is?
You worry that Kongming and his people are against it.
I always saw you as a bit of an ignorant man.
I never thought that you could be so perceptive.
Third Brother?
to stake the entire state's military on this is no small matter.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly advised against it.
I cannot help but ponder ft carefully.
You are the emperor. He is your subject!
Should you listen to him, or must he listen to you?
The only reason he opposes attacking.Wu
is because that damn brother of is, Zhuge Jin, is working for Sun Quan!
Nonsense!
The Prime Minister has been at my side all these years.
Without his assistance,
we would not be where we are today.
You're saying that without him,
you can't achieve your dreams?
You cannot lead an army to war?
You cannot conquer the realm?
If you ask me,
without your recognition. Zhuge Liang would not be where he is today!
Yide!
You only notice that Zhuge Liang has assisted you.
Why not say that you provided him with the chance to excel?
This isn't like you.
Tell me. Who did you hear this from?
When Second Brother was still alive,
we discussed it in private.
This ends right here.
No more talk like this.
Yide.
Rest for a few days here.
Then you should probably return to your post in Langzhong.
No matter what,
our morale must not wane.
Our spirit must not falter.
What about avenging Second Brother?
Third Brother, you have to give me some time to make preparations for that.
Wait.
It's windy outside. Put this on.
Elder Brother.
Third Brother.
There is one more thing.
Yunchangs personality was not entirely blameless for his downfall.
You must learn to restrain that fiery temper of yours a bit.
Promise me you won't beat your soldiers anymore, all right?
Brother...
I should go.
Your servant Li Yan pays his respects to Your Majesty.
Zhengfang.
Have a seat.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Zhengfang.
In the blink of an eye, I have watched 60 years of my life go by.
I do not know if I will live to see the day that the Han Empire is restored.
Nor do I know if I will ever be able to avenge the death of my brother Yunchang.
Your Majesty need not be so sorrowful.
In my humble opinion, you are just reaching your prime,
and your ambition is at its height.
Under your command are a thousand able captains and a million troops.
Who in the world can compete with you in terms of the power that you wield?
Zhengfang, Sun Quan of Wu and Cao Pi of Xuchang
are both formidable enemies.
To be honest,
the Prime Minister and Zilong continue to dissuade me from invading Wu.
I understand why they are concerned.
They worry that fighting such a war with so many natural obstacles on the way
will interfere with the flow of our supplies.
However, in my opinion...
when comparing our enemies, Wu is the weaker of the two.
To be ultimately successful. we must first destroy Wu, and then conquer Cao Pi.
After our recent victory at Hanzhong, our troops are in very high spirits.
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Sun Quan's men are mostly old and decrepit.
Their land forces, in addition, are no match for ours.
If we were to strike south like a bolt of lightning,
we could easily crush Wu before Wei has a chance to mobilize.
Besides, Cao Pi recently took the throne, and has not yet got a firm footing.
He does not have much battle experience.
If I invade Wu,
all he will do is wait on the sidelines, watching, not risking a move.
The faster I manage to strike. the less he will dare to take any reckless ventures.
Zhengfang, you are knowledgeable of military principles.
Tell me if my opinion of this plan of action is correct.
Your Majesty's comprehensive outlook and penetrating insight inspire immense admiration on my part.
I've been mulling it over.
Supplies and equipment are still our main concern.
Since I last asked you and Huang Quan to discuss this, what ideas have you come up with?
Grand Tutor Xu Jing, General of the Right Huang Quan, and myself have discussed the matter at length.
Our conclusion was to implement, in all of our commanderies and counties.
the policy of levying a tax of four-tenths. and drafting one out of every three men.
Then, after autumn of this year,
we will receive an increase of 15 million bushels of grain
and approximately 250,000 new conscripts through this policy.
Is that so?
Indeed it is.
I'll!
I'll
Good.
After hearing these comments from you,
I have nothing to worry about.
My heart is at ease now.
However, Your Majesty...
it appears the Prime Minister does not agree
with the four-tenths tax levy and the one-in-three draft.
He feels this way because it would place a heavy burden on the people of Shu.
Extreme times call for extreme measures.
I will confer upon you my hand-written edict,
granting permission to you and Huang Quan
to increase the grain levy to 15 million bushels this year,
and to recruit 250,000 conscripts.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If I fail, I will submit myself to military law.
Zhengfang.
I don't think I've been in such high spirits in a long time.
Come, let us have a drink.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
The Li Residence
Father.
Did you just tell His Majesty that you agree on attacking Wu?
Yes.
But... but you told me before that you did not agree with it.
His Majesty had already made up his mind.
Feng, my child, we must never forgot our place.
We are his new officials.
whereas Kongming and Zilong have been serving His Majesty for many years.
When discussing matters, they are able to freely speak their minds.
Not so for us.
We must relent to the will of His Majesty.
Especially at a time like this, when His Majesty's opinion differs from Kongming's,
we must align even more firmly with His Majesty's opinion.
into this thousand-mile expedition east.
We are tossing out all of our country's resources
How will we ever recover if we do not succeed?
What are you saying?
If Wei and Wu join forces, it will be a two-on-one fight.
Why a two-on-one fight?
His Majesty could vanquish Sun Quan with one strike. before Wei has a chance to get involved.
After seeing that, Wei would not dare to make any moves against us.
It's too risky.
Feng, my child.
Heed this.
Don't even consider saying such irresolute things ever again.
Your Excellency.
His Majesty approved Li Yan and Huang Quan's proposal
of an increased grain tax and a conscription.
I have already heard about this.
Your Excellency, why not advise against it?
I have done so twice now.
But now that the decree has been issued
to levy taxes and conscript recruits,
it is clear His Majesty is resolved to invade Wu.
I can no longer deter him.
As with all things, a second attempt is admirable, but a third is excessive.
Then what shall we do, Your Excellency?
At this point, we have no other choice than to give His Majesty our fullest support.
Your Excellency.
There is one thing. I don't know if I should say it.
Then you should not say it.
Yes.
Ma Su
you meant to tell me that my lord has passed me over
in favor of the River lands elite.
Bring me wine! Bring me wine!
Sir, you've had two jugs already.
You must stop drinking.
You dare to stop me?
I'm begging you.
You want me to smash your tiny head into pulp?
Bring me wine, now!
Yes, sir.
Such good wine.
General!
Ah, there you are, Fan Jiang and Zhang Da.
I told you to prepare 30,000 sets of white banners and white armor within five days.
How many days has it been now?
It's day five.
Well, are they ready?
Sir, please forgive us. The time was too short.
Five days is truly not enough time to make 30,000 sets of banners and armor.
What?
My brother's edict to invade Wu will arrive any moment now.
I cannot wait to fight my way across the river!
How dare you sabotage my military command?
But sir!
There were not enough [raw materials.
We honestly could not produce all the banners and armor.
Rubbish!
Guards!
Yes!
Take them away! Two hundred lashes each!
Yes!
General! General!
General! General! General!
Second Brother...
Here.
A drink to you.
General, the flogging exceeded 100 lashes.
Generals Fan and Zhang can no longer stand.
I beg you, sir. Please spare them.
They cant take a few lashes, can they?
How can they lead troops into battle?
Two hundred. And not one lash fewer!
Yes.,
Well, then. Are you sorry now?
We... we... we!re sorry... we're very sorry.
You have three more days.
In three days' time...
have the 30,000 sets of white banners and white armor ready for me.
Yes...
That's more like it.
Come inside. Lets drink together.
General, please forgive me.
I honestly cannot move a single inch.
Go to your camps.
Remember. Three days!
General Zhang. How are you faring?
My skin is ripped to shreds.
I can't turn over.
General Zhang's temper is downright tyrannical.
I think, if not in war, we will die by his hand soon enough.
Soon enough?
It'll be off with our heads in three days.
Why?
Is three days enough time to turn out 30,000 sets of banners and armor?
If not...
you and I...
are doomed to die.
Brother Zhang, any ideas?
Instead of letting him kill us, why don't we...
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, Wu Ban from Langzhong
has barged through the palace gates and pleads to see you.
Your Majesty.
Speak.
Fan Jiang and Zhang Da
murdered General Zhang in his sleep.
They took his head and fled to Sun Quan's land.
I rode as fast as I could, but failed to catch them.
Third... Third Brother...
Third Brother!
This is it...
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Zhang Fei hated you, Marquis Wu, and craved the order to invade.
After capturing Your Highness, he wanted to skin you and eat your flesh.
We could not bear it, and risked our lives to slay him.
Now we seek shelter here, and wish to serve the Lord of Wu.
I am curious about
what this man who would eat my flesh looks like.
The Fierce Zhang Fei indeed.
A pity. You could not avenge Yunchang's death.
Now, your head too has been brought before me.
Fan Jiang, Zhang Da, you've done a fine deed.
Thank you. Your Highness.
But, after having killed Zhang Fei,
why choose to come to me instead of Cao Pi?
We have long admired you,
and so risked our lives to come here.
You wretched seeds of disaster!
Yunchang's death made Liu Bei hate me through and through Zhang Fei isn't going to make things better!
Guards!
Throw these two in the dungeon and keep watch over them!
Lord Wu, spare us! Oh Lord Wu, spare us!
Lord Wu! Lord Wu, spare us! Lord Wu, spare us!
Send more scouts to gather what information they can from the Chengdu area.
His Majesty arrives!
Your Majesty.
Stand aside.
Do you think I can't stand on my own two feet without your support?