Episode 89
Three Kingdoms
The Grand Commander has arrived!
Our respects, Grand Commander!
Guo Huai.
Yes, sir.
You are the Vice Commander.
Yes.
When Cao Zhen returned to Yong-Liang to recover from his wound.
you took charge as the Grand Commander until I assumed the position, correct?
But on my way here, I captured nine deserters.
After interrogating them. I discovered that the troops were in disarray.
Each day, more soldiers were deserting.
How were you maintaining military discipline?
Grand Commander, there were too many deserters.
I couldn't control them.
In that case, why didn't you execute them?
If I executed all the deserters, who would be left to fight Shu?
Can deserters fight?
One deserter can demoralize an entire army.
Men.
Yes, sir!
Arrest Guo Huai and execute him publicly.
Yes, sir!
Grand Commander, Cao Zhen is responsible for the disarray of the troops!
Though General Guo was remiss in disciplining the troops, he dealt with the enemy during Cao Zhen's absence.
Otherwise, Zhuge Liang would have broken through
That's right. Grand Commander! Please spare him!
Grand Commander!
We promise there wont be any more deserters. You may execute us along with General Guo if there are!
Please spare General Guo Huai!
Please have mercy!
Please be merciful, Grand Commander!
Listen.
Without discipline, the army will crumble before the battle even begins.
From now on, execute every deserter.
If a soldier deserts, execute the sergeant.
If a sergeant deserts, execute the major.
If a major deserts, execute the colonel.
If a colonel deserts.
execute the general.
If a general deserts, I will behead myself as punishment.
Yes, sir!
Grand Commander.
Forty lashes.
Yes, sir!
Now we can talk about military plans.
Generals, here are my orders.
My first order is...
to replace this desk.
Forge a bronze desk immediately and place it here.
Yes, sir.
Men!
Sir!
Take that out.
Yes, sir!
My second order is...
to declare a two-day holiday.
Bring out all the meat and wine in the camp,
and let the troops have their fill for two days.
Yes, sir!
Grand Commander.
If... if our men are all drunk. how will they defend against the enemy?
Not a problem.
Erect my banners along the hill.
Once the Shu troops see them, even if they don't cower in fear,
they will probably retreat 30 miles.
Aye!
My third order is
to bring over the scroll of merit for the recent battles.
Those who killed two Shu soldiers shall be promoted one grade and awarded 500 cash.
Those who killed four shall be promoted two grades and awarded 1,000 cash,
so on and so forth, including all the generals.
Yes, sir!
I'm not done yet.
Those who didn't kill any Shu soldiers.
whether they are generals, colonels, sergeants, or soldiers.
are to be executed immediately.
Y... yes, sir.
Louder!
Yes, sir!
The camps remain,the same,
and the soldiers are unchanged.
But with one glance,
I can tell there is a new Grand Commander.
We already have Chencang In our hands.
With the supply lines open, what can Sima Yi do?
You mustn't think like that.
Sima Yi knows the art of war well and is a master of strategy.
He is my arch-nemesis.
Your Excellency, pardon me for my poor understanding,
I but I really can't tell how Sima Yi is a master of strategy.
In the last northern campaign. your "empty city ruse" scared the wits out of him!
Let me tell you about Sima Yi's mastery of strategy.
Sima Yi does not excel in attacking, but in defending.
He is the best defense strategist in the realm.
And for us.
we detest their deep ditches, tall ramparts.
and their other defensive tactics,
because time is not on our side, but on theirs.
Sima Yi hopes that we will attack each and every city by force.
At this rate, we won't arrive at Luoyang for another 50 years.
Now, you should, understand that defense is Sima Yi's strategy.
Though it may seem like a foolish move, it's actually quite wise.
I understand now.
Your Excellency, what is your plan?
If we can't get rid of Sima Yi, we will never take the Central Plains.
We need to lure Sima Yi out and engage him in a decisive battle.
Jiang Wei.
How is the enemy's defense in the cities of Longxi?
I have investigated that among the 15 cities of Longxi,
Wudu and Yinping's defenses are the weakest.
Wei Yan.
Can you take down Wudu and Yinping?
Your Excellency, there's no difficulty in capturing two small cities.
Good.
However, it's not as simple as just attacking the cities.
You know what to do, right?
I do.
First besiege without attacking. then attack without occupying the city.
Wait until Wei's reinforcements come.
Have you investigated the camp thoroughly?
Does Shu really only have 3,000 men?
I have seen them very clearly.
Shu's troops are very few indeed.
They might not even amount to 3,000.
Have you investigated the area surrounding the city?
The mountains surrounding the city have been investigated, there are no hidden enemy troops.
You may leave.
Yes, sir.
Since I have just assumed command,
I am eager to report victory to the court.
Generals.
Who among you is willing to bring me honor
by destroying the Shu army at Wudu?
I will go.
Good, Sun Li.
You are truly a courageous general.
I will give you 3,000 men.
Here are the conditions
if you seize Wudu, you will be granted riches and a noble rank.
If you do not, don't return.
Yes, sir!
All of you may leave, except Guo Huai.
How are your wounds?
Grand Commander, they were lenient with me
Guo Huai.
Do this task for me,
but do not let the other generals know.
Prepare 3,000 coffins.
Sun Li will not be returning.
I don't want their corpses exposed in the wild.
Why?
Wudu is at the flank of our camp.
How would Shu dare to attack the city with only 3,000 troops?
Zhuge Liang is trying to lure me out for an ambush.
If you already knew that Sun Li wouldn't succeed.
why did you let him go?
I have no choice.
If I don't send reinforcements and Wudu falls,
the troops in the other cities will think I won't save them when they are besieged.
They will falter before the battle even begins.
and thus all the neighboring cities will fall.
If that comes to be, how will the main camp survive?
Sun Li is loyal and brave.
Just as I mentioned send in reinforcements to Wudu,
he eagerly volunteered.
Though I could not have explained things openly,
the thought that such a courageous general should not return, I...
my heart is racked with pain.
Grand Commander, please give me another 3,000 men.
I'll go and support Sun Li's troops. I'm sure I can save him.
Guo Huai, do you really dare to brave this danger?
At worst, it'll just be another 3,000 coffins.
As a general, I don't fear death.
Allow me to thank you.
Go with peace of mind. I wont let you die.
Thank you. Grand Commander.
General!
Wudu is just 10 miles ahead.
Shu troops are attacking the city.
Scout again!
Yes, sir!
Brothers!
The time has come for us.to demonstrate our loyalty and our might!
Follow me!
Listen up!
I am General Wei Yan.
The Prime Minister has instructed me to wait here for you.
You petty scoundrels are not my match.
Dismount and surrender now!
Wei Yan'
I, Sun Li, specialize in beheading generals!
Your life is mine!
Shoot them.
Charge!
General Sun Li!
The Grand Commander has sent me to save you! Hurry! Follow me!
Brothers!
The enemy has sent reinforcements!
Do not let the enemy generals flee!
Charge!
Brothers, our reinforcements have arrived!
Our reinforcements-are here!
General Sun, I'll bring up the rear!
General Guo, you came just in time! Fight your way out with me!
Well fight our way out!
Charge!
Your Excellency.
The Wei troops have been routed.
How many enemy troops did you kill?
The Wei general. Sun Li, led 3,000 men to rescue Wudu
I killed more than 2,'000 of them.
I was about to kill Sun Li,
but unexpectedly. Vice Commander Guo Huai broke through and rescued him.
I didn't expect there to be another regiment behind the reinforcements.
Sima Yi guessed my intentions.
Your Excellency, why do you say that?
I had you besiege Wudu and Yinping in order to attack the reinforcements.
A rookie general would have seen right through such a simple ruse.
How would Sima Yi be unable to guess my intentions?
If he had chosen to abandon the cities,
the Wei troops in the neighboring cities
would lose all hope when we attack them.
They might even surrender the cities to us.
However, Sima Yi didn't abandon them. He sent men to their rescue.
He sent that boor, Sun Li, to rescue Wudu,
and then sent the Vice Commander to rescue Sun Li.
The first rescue was clearly a ruse,
a show for the Wei troops defending the cities.
The second one was the real rescue.
But Sima Yi would never lead the reinforcements personally.
That cunning fox, Sima Yi...
We cant lure him out without an attractive bait.
Your Excellency, who should we send as bait?
Me.
What?
Sima Yi dreams of taking my head.
Wei Yan.
Yes, sir.
Return to camp and prepare the troops for battle.
Jiang Wei.
Tomorrow morning,
send 5,000 men with me to go reassure the people of Wudu.
Your Excellency, it's too dangerous.
Your Excellency, if Sima Yi sends all his troops against us, I will not be able to rescue you in time.
I understand.
Life and death are matters of fate.
Return to camp and get ready.
Yes, sir.
Grand Commander, Zhuge Liang is leading his troops towards Wudu.
Men.
Yes, sir!
Drag this man away and execute him.
Grand Commander, why do you want to kill me? Yes, sir!
Because you have reported false information.
I truly despise liars.
Grand Commander, I am not lying!
I saw Zhuge Liang with my own eyes!
Really?
How tall is Zhuge Liang?
What was he wearing?
Was he riding a horse or in a cart?
Who were his guards?
How many troops were with him?
No hesitating. Reply at once.
Zhuge Liang had a feathered fan and silk cap. He sat in a four-wheeled cart, so I couldn't tell his height.
He was guarded by Jiang Wei, who is just over six spans tall. They had around 5,000 men with them.
I followed them for more than 20 miles and I saw Zhuge Liang enter the city.
Indeed, you're not a liar.
On the contrary, you are bold and meticulous.
Listen.
I promote you to colonel and reward you with 3,000 cash.
Thank you, Grand Commander!
Thank you. Grand Commander! Thank you, sir!
Lift your head.
You may go.
Grand Commander, can this be true?
Zhuge Liang left his main camp for Wudu?
I've studied Zhuge Liang for several years.
This man has a habit.
He has personally inspected every city or commandery Shu has captured,
in order to comfort the officials and the people.
That's right.
I also have heard that Zhuge Liang prefers to handle these matters personally.
Grand Commander, this is an excellent opportunity to kill Zhuge Liang.
Wudu is a small city that's easy to attack but difficult to defend.
I'll lead 20,000 elite troops there at once.
By dawn, I should arrive at Wudu.
Before the end of the day, I will have either killed or captured Zhuge Liang.
Though Wudu is a small city,
it is surrounded by mountains.
Even if tens of thousands of soldiers were to hide there. they would be undetectable.
Don't forget,
Wei Yan set an ambush there in the past.
Grand Commander, you are absolutely correct.
Last time, Zhuge Liang used Wudu as bait.
This time, he himself is the bait.
Zhuge Liang is so bold.
How impressive. How very impressive.
If I don't take his bait.
then Zhuge Liang will be like the man who picks up a rock to crush his own foot
Overly brilliant men are often victims of their own cleverness.
Understood.
Instead of going after Zhuge Liang, we will attack them from behind
Attack the Shu camps directly!
General, your experience in the battlefield shows.
You see what truly matters right away.
Their supplies and provisions are in the main camp.
That is their lifeline.
If we use this opportunity to attack and burn the main camp,
Zhuge Liang's army will crumble before us.
Grand Commander, it is my turn to lead this attack.
I volunteer to lead 20,000 elite troops to attack the Shu camp.
General, you have served Wei for three generations.
Your fame is well-known already.
Let someone younger lead this battle.
I haven't gone to battle for a long time.
My sword is rattling with battlelust in its case,
and my entire body is itching for a fight.
I must be part of this battle!
Please supervise this battle then.
You don't need to kill the enemies personally.
Attack the camp!
Charge!
#unrecognized text#
Halt!
We've been tricked! Hurry!
We've been tricked! Retreat quickly!
Charge! Exterminate the enemy!
Charge!
Listen! Do not let their commanding general escape!
Brothers, we'll fight our way out!
Let's go
I am General Zhang Bao! You are surrounded! Dismount and surrender!
Coward!
Don't you know that I am Zhang He?
Not even your father, Zhang Fei, was a match for me!
Come!
Who is fighting against Zhang Bao?
Zhang He.
That explains it.
Even 20 years ago, he was already one of Cao Cao's top commanders.
His bravery today is no less than it was then.
General Zhang!
General!
Take the general away! Quickly!
General!
General, there are too many enemies! We can't break through!
Charge that way! Hurry!
If that man is not killed, he'll be a thorn in our flesh.
Let me capture him.
Wait.
The road towards Jiange is just ahead,
and is flanked by steep cliffs.
Take 2,000 archers and set up an ambush.
I'll have Wei Yan leave an opening and lure Zhang He towards Jiange.
Remember, do not let him get out alive.
Aye!
What place is this? Its so gloomy.
Zhang He!
Considering you old age.
I will ask you this.
Will you surrender or not?
Shoot them
General! General!
I've spent so many years of my life fishing
that I consider myself an angling master.
Yet, I've taken Zhuge Liang's bait.
But who in the world would set a hook like this?
The bait is at Wudu,
but the hook is in their camp!
Grand Commander.
There were 37 arrows found in the body of General Zhang He!
Why are you crying?
Though General Zhang He fell in battle.
the morale of our troops has been resurrected.
Did you know?
Of the 20,000 elite troops led by General Zhang He,
not one fled from the enemy.
This is our victory!
With such strong resolve in our ranks,
the Shu army will certainly be defeated!
Sima Zhao!
Slaughter my horse
and use its hide to wrap General Zhang He's body!
I will personally lead the whole army to send him off one last time!
Yes, sir.
Your Excellency!
Your Excellency.
I've returned from inspecting the camps.
How was the situation?
The Wei camps have tight defenses. There is no trace of them retreating at all.
Sima Yi is indeed unlike Cao Zhen.
When Cao Zhen lost a battle, every one of his soldiers was demoralized.
But when Sima Yi loses, there is no sign of disarray.
Your Excellency.
General, once I write this prescription,
I will need to present a copy to His Majesty.
May I ask, General,
should I write this according to your illness or...?
How would you write a prescription for my illness?
For your Illness, sir? No prescription is needed.
No.
Don't say that... Ow ow ow...
You'd better write the prescription quickly.
Just make-it seem like*a*serious*illriess
so that you can take it to His Majesty in Luoyang.
I don't think I can do that.
If His Majesty finds out it is false, I will be in danger.
Nobody knows about my illness except you, friend.
How would His Majesty ever find out?
Come!
This is...
Thank you. General.
If His Majesty sees the prescription hell grant you another half-year leave.
Half a year?
Thank you.
Please take a look, General.
Never mind.
Shuang, son, see Master Liu out.
Report!
General, a report has come from Longxi.
Father, good news!
What has happened to make you so happy?
Sima Yi was taken in by Zhuge Liang's ruse.
He was sorely defeated and lost more than 20,000 troops.
In addition,
General Zhang He died in the battle because of Sima Yi's error.
Zhang He was killed by Sima Yi?
Father, you often say Sima Yi is a brilliant strategist.
I don't think he is.
In this battle, his losses were even worse than yours? right?
Sima Yi killed Zhang He, and lost more than 20,000 troops?
He's lost more than 20,000 troops!
Father, your shoes.
Get lost!
Sima Yi! Zhongda
You're nothing but a defeated general too!
Shuang, my son.
I'll write a memorial now. Ride posthaste to Luoyang and present it to His Majesty.
You want to impeach Sima Yi?
Not only do I want to impeach him,
I also want to take back the position of Grand Commander.
Stop the physician.
Take the prescription back! Hurry!
Master Liu! Master Liu!
Sima Yi.
Ever since Sima Yi took charge of the army, he's been avoiding battle.
It's been three months and he's fought only two battles.
First, he lost Wudu and the surrounding cities. Second, he lost more than 20,000 elite soldiers.
Even the veteran general Zhang He died because of Sima Yi's error.
i the old general was shot by 37 arrows!
What does Cao Zhen think?
My father has recovered from his physical wound. but the hurt in his heart has not been healed.
He worries constantly about the security of the empire.
He requested that I ask you to allow him to go to war again,
so that he can redeem himself for Chencang, and to prove his loyalty.
What if he is defeated by Zhuge Liang again?
My father said if he is defeated by Zhuge Liang again.
he will not wait for orders from the court but have himself executed before the army.
Good.
Listen.
I will restore Cao Zhen to his original position. as the Grand Commander of the Western Expedition.
He is to go to Longxi to take control of the troops.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, what about Sima Yi?
What would you suggest?
Your Majesty, Sima Yi fears the enemy and avoids battle,
and he has lost many soldiers.
The court should make an example out of him.
When your father was defeated. did the court make an example out of him?
Hear my edict.
I appoint Sima Yi as Vice Commander to assist Cao Zhen.
They must forget their past enmities and work together to repel the enemy
"Thus We have decreed."
I accept the edict.
After much effort, I managed to stabilize the morale of the troops
and secure the safety of Wei.
Yet I am still unable to secure the court's trust in me.
Father.
If you become Cao Zhen's Vice Commander, then...
that would be a great humiliation!
As well, Cao Zhen will surely ruin you.
I've been ruined already.
What else can he do to me?
Zhuge Liang will fight you openly on the battlefield.
but Cao Zhen will harm you from behind.
So, in your opinion, what should I do?
Change positions with Cao Zhen.
Since Cao Zhen is leaving 'Yong-Liang to lead the army,.
you should leave this camp for Yong-Liang.
I predict he'll be defeated again in two months.
and he'll be recalled by His Majesty.
Grand Commander, please don't go!
Grand Commander! Please don't go!
I'm 'no longer the Grand Commander.
Brother Zhongda, the hearts of our men lie wit you.
Only you can stop Zhuge Liang.
If you leave, our morale will suffer!
Regardless of how the court treats you, to us, you are the only Grand Commander.
We will forever obey your military orders!
Thank you, generals.
Thank you.
I won't go, I won't.
Even if I don't go. we still need to welcome Grand Commander Cao Zhen.
Halt!
The Vice Commander, Sima Yi, welcomes the Grand Commander.
Zhongda, it's been a longtime.
How have you been?
Not bad, not bad.
They say that you're one who would rather be out of office than to be subordinated another.
Why are you willing to accept this position this time, then?
Grand Commander, if I don't accept,
someone will send a memorial to the court
and I will surely lose my head.
Then, let's keep your head on your neck for now.
But if you don't follow my orders,
Ill take your head myself.
I shall obey your orders!
I shall completely obey the Grand Commander.
Really?
Definitely.
This will, become apparent to you soon enough, sir.
Enter the camp.
Wonderful.
Simply wonderful.
This commander's desk is so grand and stylish.
It's even bigger than His Majesty's desk.
Generals.
I have orders to command the army.
His Majesty has great expectations of every one of you.
But in the past few months,
our troops have been hiding in the camp and avoiding battle.
If this goes on, how will we destroy the enemy?
When can we bring consolation to His Majesty?
This is not waging war.
This is called leaving the enemy at large to make yourself look more important!
Heed my orders!
I shall lay out a four-stage strategy!
In half a month, we will defeat Zhuge Liang!