Episode 22
This green-eyed man is trying to get me into trouble.
How did you reply him?
What?
You agreed with him?
I told Sun Quan that...
our king is destined to be...
another ruler like King Wen of Zhou.
You're right.
Every generation has its own undertaking.
I was a Han official. I don't want to be criticised...
was a traitor of Han in history.
I'll leave certain things to the future generation.
If this is my destiny...
I shall be the next King Wen of Zhou.
My lord, your magnanimity is unparalleled.
You're flattering me.
Guess how many times I thought of killing you.
My bold guess is...
6 times.
It looks like you have been trying to read my mind as well.
You are wrong. Including today...
there were 7 times in total.
My lord, I just went to Eastern Wu...
to persuade Sun Quan to attack Guan Yu with us.
If you add this one...
you should deduct one too.
No. It's because...
I recalled a dream today.
I saw three horses and one manger.
Three horses ate from the same manger.
When I woke up, I was puzzled and restless.
I thought of asking Registrar Wang.
Unfortunately, he's gone.
You are as intelligent and knowledgeable as Yang Xiu.
Why don't you try and interpret it for me?
My lord, is that a dream? -Yes, a dream.
I did study the "Rites of Zhou".
However, I do not understand it so well.
I'm not good at interpreting dreams.
Come. Stand up.
It's just interpreting a dream.
Even uneducated farmers can come up with some explanations.
Just tell me your opinion.
Who do you think the three horses represent?
I shall make some bold guesses then.
If I get it wrong, please forgive me.
Dreams are born from one's inner thoughts.
The manger...
represents the legacy of Wei.
My lord, you are currently at war with Guan Yu.
The three sworn brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei...
are the three horses.
Nonsense. Liu, Guan and Zhang have nothing to do with horses.
Horses (ma).
Ma Family of Western Liang. They have Ma Teng, Ma Chao...
and Ma Dai. That makes three horses.
But, you have exterminated Ma Family.
Ma Chao and Ma Dai are just ignorant fighters.
This dream is nothing to worry about.
Ma Teng, Ma Chao and Ma Dai. Their family name is "Ma".
"Sima" is "ma" as well.
My lord.
"Sima" is my compound surname.
If you insist that my surname means "horse"...
this is not a proper horse. Moreover...
I am a lone horse.
In your army of ten-thousands of horses...
I am willing to sacrifice my life...
and serve you like a horse.
Please make a sound judgement.
You're good at evading the subject at hand.
One who is good at hiding...
will not have his mind read.
One good at reading minds...
will not let others hide their thoughts.
In this world, the only person who...
"survives even though...
I thought of killing him 7 times is you.
My lord, I am truly loyal.
Hopefully, this is your last time feeling this way.
Is it because my life is coming to an end soon?
My lord, I dare not! I've never thought so!
Your reign is endless!
Endless, my lord!
There is no endless life in this world.
Come over.
You're a clever person.
You're so clever that I can't kill you off.
You're so clever that Zi Huan can't go on without you.
But, clever people are mostly good at defending themselves...
but not good at advancing.
They can deal with dangerous situations.
But, they are not good at ruling in peace.
The world is divided now.
It boils down to the armies and internal affairs.
Wei has the strongest army.
But, we also have the messiest internal affairs.
I want you to help Zi Huan.
Help Zi Huan to realise his ambition.
So, you must possess the spirit and courage...
to advance.
Even if I cannot live long enough to accomplish it...
Wei must be the one to unify the lands of China.
I understand.
Young Master Zi Huan understands as well.
Where is Zi Huan?
Where is Zi Huan? Zi Huan.
Where is Zi Huan?
My son. My son, Zi Huan, has come.
He's my crown prince.
MY lord!
Help!
Where's my father? -Zi Huan. He's in the tent.
Brother Yi.
You look so cool. -It's been hard on you.
How's it going at home? - Everything is alright.
But, Shi Er and Zhao Er miss you all too much.
Father is worried as well.
Tonight will be the night we succeed.
It's me, Cao Pi.
Greetings, father. Long live my lord.
I read your memorial.
Wei Feng rebelled. -Yes.
Wei Feng colluded with his old peers in Jingzhou...
in attempt to rebel and aid Guan Yu.
I've executed all these people.
Yecheng is very safe now. Please rest assured.
What about Wang Can's two sons?
I remember that...
Wang Can was a good friend of yours.
It's my duty to guard Yecheng.
I dare not practice favouritism.
If I was there, I probably couldn't...
bring myself to kill Wang Can's sons.
Please punish me if I made a wrong decision.
Why should I punish you? You did the right thing.
One must be decisive in guarding one's country.
I was too strict and harsh towards you.
I frightened you.
I've been rude. Please forgive me.
It's just that it's your first time...
"complimenting me over the recent 20 years.
Come closer.
Where did I place it again?
I should have passed this to you 3 years ago.
Father, I will not disappoint you.
Go back to Yecheng quickly. Protect Yecheng properly.
I will be waiting for your triumphant return at Yecheng.
Yang Xiu said that Yecheng...
is not a strategic centre of authority.
He's right. I'll head to Luoyang first...
to eliminate Guan Yu and build a palace for you.
I'll leave the relocation of the capital to you.
I'll wait for you in Luoyang. If god is kind to us...
we will get to meet in Luoyang.
Father, you will live and rule long.
I'm willing to fight alongside you again...
and conquer the world with you.
There is no immortal in this world.
There is no country that will never fall. Enough.
You have a great responsibility. You cannot be away for too long.
Go back. Go back quickly.
Father.
You must take care.
Please take care.
There's one more thing.
I'll leave you Sima Yi.
He'll be useful to you.
But, keep this in mind. From now on...
he is not your friend, but your subject.
Do not be swayed by emotions anymore.
Kings are known for being lonely.
I will keep that in mind.
How did it go?
In winter of the 24th year of Jian'an Reign...
Guan Yu was defeated at Maicheng...
and killed by Sun Quan.
Is Guan Yu really dead?
Yes, my lord.
Our king sent me to present Guan Yu's head...
to prove it. -Guan Yu's head?
Guan Yu is dead?
The huge threat to our country has been eliminated.
Escort the envoy to the inn.
My lord, our king wants me to discuss with you about...
the division of Jingzhou. -You may retire!
This way.
Yun Chang.
Brother Yun Chang.
The most righteous man in the world...
died because of me.
Sima Yi. -Yes, my lord.
Instruct the craftsmen...
to sculpt Guan Yu's body using fragrant wood...
and bury it with his head...
according to the funeral rites for a nobleman.
All officials of Luoyang...
shall pay their respect to him. -Yes, my lord.
Brother Yun Chang.
The life of a hero has come to an end. How regretful.
Don't go back to the palace. Exit the east gate from here.
I'd like to look around. -Yes, my lord.
Do you know why I made you come with me today?
My lord, it might be because I caused Guan Yu's death.
It's also because Eastern Wu's envoy...
passed me a message from Sun Quan.
Sun Quan said...
"Sima Yi is a genius."
"He will now become famous."
I'm too flattered.
I did the same thing before.
When I retreated from the Red Cliffs...
I sent a letter to Sun Quan as well.
I wrote, "I am willing to be Zhou Gong Jin's stepping stone".
My lord, you are a wise man.
Zhou Gong Jin was only 36 years old back then.
I thought he would be my rival in life.
To my surprise, he left ahead of me.
Life is unpredictable.
Over the years...
so many friends and foes have left me one after another.
Liu Bei, Kong Ming and Sun Quan.
I'll leave enemies like them...
to you and Zi Huan.
Back then, this place was covered in green wheat seedlings.
I would often go on excursions with Yuan Shao.
In one assailment...
the famous capital that stood for 400 years...
was destroyed overnight.
"At fifteen I joined the army."
"Only at eighty did I finally return."
"On the way I met a villager."
"Who is left in my home?"
"See there in the distance is your home."
"Among the pine, cypress and graves piled high."
"Rabbits enter through the dog hole."
"Pheasants fly from the rafters."
"In the parlour grows wild grains."
"Upon the well grows wild vegetables."
What song is this?
My lord, the child is singing a folk song of Luoyang.
I know the lyrics. Should I recite it for you?
Sure.
"At fifteen I joined the army."
"Only at eighty did I finally return."
"On the way I met a villager."
"Who is left in my home?"
"See there in the distance is your home."
"Among the pine, cypress and graves piled high."
"In the parlour grows wild grains."
"Upon the well grows wild vegetables."
"I grind the grains for a meal."
"I pick the vegetables for the broth."
"My meal and broth are ready in an instant."
"But I know not whom to serve."
“As I step out and look east...
falling tears soak my clothes."
My lord, this folk song...
is about an old soldier who left home at a young age.
He went home and cooked.
But, he did not know who to serve the food to.
Everyone in his family died.
For decades, the war goes on in the Central Plain.
Ten out of nine houses...
are empty.
I keep you alive...
because I want you to assist Zi Huan...
to rebuild a peaceful and wealthy country.
Peace is something...
I will never get to see.
I'll leave it for you all.
We'll let the people and country take a rest.
The people...
are too unfortunate.
My lord, you have unparalleled magnanimity.
May your reign be endless.
New Year is around the corner...
and our army has just returned triumphant.
As usual...
we will organise...
a banquet in Luoyang...
and celebrate with feast and entertainment.
My lord, Luoyang is very cold this year.
Should we forget about holding a New Year banquet?
I'm not even afraid of massive armies.
Would I be afraid of the cold?
Are you all afraid of the cold? -No, my lord.
Since I have returned to Luoyang...
this banquet must be...
even grander than...
those in the past.
We will plan for it at once. -Yes, my lord.
Long live the king!
Who in this world can live long...
and attain great achievements at the same time?
Today's banquet...
is so similar to that banquet I organised...
12 years ago before the Battle of Guandu.
Over the past 20 years...
I defeated the Yellow Turban rebels...
conquered Hebei...
attacked the Wuhuan and acquired Jingzhou.
I acquired six of the Nine Provinces...
and finally unified the Central Plain.
Of all heroes in this world...
who is superior to me?
Do I deserve...
this cup of congratulatory wine today?
Our king is worthy!
I should not...
drink this cup of wine.
This is because I have yet to unify all lands...
and put an end to the war.
The people are homeless...
and farmlands are abandoned.
Along the journey...
you all have seen...
how Luoyang is in ruins.
This cup of wine...
should be used to pay our respect to Dian Wei...
Guo Feng Xiao...
Xun Yu...
Pang De...
Xiahou Yuan...
my son and nephew...
Cao Ang and Cao An Min...
was well as Guan Yun Chang.
We shall pay our respect to...
all heroes who shed blood...
over the past 20 years...
to restore peace for the people!
Long live the king!