Episode 27
What are you doing? I'm warning you.
This bucket isn't full yet.
Fill it up with the grains in your sack quickly.
Yes, sir. -No.
Deng Ai! What are you doing?
What are you doing? How can you...
Do you want to die?
Enough. Don't hit him. Get up quickly. Calm down.
Deng Ai, what's wrong with you? Are you stupid or something?
Every scoop of grains can be used to buy our wine.
This is from the civilians to the government.
You still don't give up? Beat him!
How can you all beat him?
Who do you think you are? Don't act holy!
Just take all my grains. Please stop.
Brother Yi, I'll go and check. -No.
A man who dares to anger many must be strong enough himself.
But, these people are clearly abusing their authority...
and oppressing the people. They even bully their coworker.
You can't go. Don't you know that...
this is General Cao Hong's farmland?
If this is the case in places near the capital...
it must be worse at farther places.
Stop! -Stop!
If you do this again, I'll report to the king!
Father, even a small officer has such sense of responsibility.
I'm going back. -You can't go back.
You... Zhong Da. Zhong...
Father, I'm going back as well. I'll help Brother Yi.
Stop right there. I'm taking you two back home...
to hide from the troubles in the court
Do I have a reason to go back if the two of you don't go back?
I need to watch over the two of you.
Turn around. Go back.
Turn around
Move!
Knock the door.
Who is it?
General Cao. -I'd like to...
invite Sima Yi to hunt with me.
Tell him to come out. -General Cao.
You picked the wrong time.
Young Master Yi went back to our hometown with our master.
I don't know when he'll come back.
We just drank the royal wine in the palace together yesterday.
But, he's gone today. Don't tell me he's hiding inside.
No. They really went back to our hometown.
Sir, I dare not lie to you.
Mr. Sima can do great things with his brush.
Would he be afraid of holding a bow?
General Cao.
Since battling is your forte, it is your job to lead the army.
Our young master is good at administration. Of course...
he should assist the king in the court But, I believe that...
neither is superior to the other.
Besides, I've heard that...
our young master respects you a lot.
Isn't it inappropriate for you to say this...
in front of our residence?
Who do you think you are?
Even the king doesn't speak to me like this.
Since you master failed to educate you well...
I'll educate you for him.
Guards! Shoot!
What are you all doing?
What are you all doing? -Shoot!
Stop.
Mrs. Sima. We have too many men here today.
You don't have to serve food.
General Cao, do you intend to run away...
after being rude? - What do you want then?
This is the capital where the king dwells.
Yet, you brought your soldiers...
and left behind this masterpiece at my home.
May I know if this is your idea or the king's idea?
Does that matter?
If this is the king's idea, we will kowtow and thank the king.
We will gladly accept it. But, if it isn't the king's idea...
My hand slipped.
I must demand for an explanation from the king.
You are being uncivilised.
Don't you feel ashamed to be a noble?
You... You shrew!
Stop!
Zhong Da.
General Cao, why are you starting a fight at my home?
I thought you left. Why are you back?
I still have a role to play in the court
Don't think you can fool us. -I've never lied.
What do you mean by that?
Just because you defeated Yang Xiu...
you think you can go against us. In this era of war...
weapons and soldiers are what we rely on.
General Cao, you fought alongside the late king.
Of course you needed weapons and soldiers. But now...
the king wants peace and rehabilitation.
Yet, you let your soldiers shoot arrows...
onto the door of the same nation's official.
Isn't this no different from telling the world...
in the emperor's face that it is not peaceful in Wei?
This is the offense of failing the emperor.
Don't forget that "Cao" is my surname.
Even if I slay you, the king can't kill his uncle.
General Cao, I don't know if a member of Cao Family...
will kill another member of Cao Family.
But, Liu Che, Emperor Wu of Han...
killed Liu An, his unruly uncle.
Please think twice.
You'd better remember this. Next time, they won't just...
shoot at your door.
I gladly accept your arrows.
Return!
You forgot something!
Hou Ji. -Yes.
Use the arrows as firewood. -Yes.
My dear, you're so cool. Are you alright?
My lord, Sima Yi...
is sowing discord in the royal family.
He's starting to expand his influence.
He's up to no good. -Up to no good?
I haven't even read his proposal.
But, you seem to know a lot about it.
My lord.
Sima Yi presented the proposal again and again.
I was worried. So, I investigated it.
You're over-thinking.
He's just trying to please the scholar-officials...
to curry favour for the nation.
After all, those scholars are the ones...
who record the history.
Sowing discord in the royal family?
Sima Yi will never have the guts to do that.
My lord, if we really implement the new policies...
are you really going to...
entrust Sima Yi with the authority to select officials?
Did I say to implement those new policies?
You're also the nation's pillar of support
Why do you feel threatened by a scholar?
My lord, for more than 20 years, I'm always ready to...
"sacrifice my life to ensure your safety.
Our uncles are the same. They've fought alongside...
the late king for more than 30 years, my lord.
They just want me to get an honest answer from you.
Will you implement the new policies...
or not? Please tell me honestly.
Zi Dan, get up. -Please tell me honestly.
I'll hate to see that even you demand for recognition.
Have I mistreated my own family members...
after succeeding to the throne?
My lord, you misunderstood. I'm not demanding for recognition.
I'm showing you my head.
I don't mind being treated unfairly...
if it's for you. But, I'm worried about...
and afraid of getting set up by an outsider!
Please think twice! -My lord.
General Cao.
Cao Hong led his soldiers to shoot Sima Family's door.
How dare he!
Brother Yi, are you really going to...
go against the nobles of Cao Family?
The king wants me to use the new policies...
to suppress the noble generals.
Why is he doing this to his own family members?
If we look back in history, Early Ham's feudal system...
caused the Rebellion of the Seven States.
If we look at a closer example, the king was treated unfairly...
for 20 years because of Cao Zi Jian.
There was also the rebellion of Cao Zhang at Luoyang.
Because of the continuous war...
Wei's military authority has fallen into the hands of...
the noble generals from Cao Family and Xiahou Family.
When the late king was alive...
the noble generals feared and respected the late king.
But today, the king is their younger brother...
and even their nephew. Don't you think...
this is a problem to the king?
And he sends you to suppress his relatives?
They have military power. How do you deal with them?
The king will get you killed.
I have the new policies. -New policies?
The king doesn't even bother to take a look.
The king is just putting up an act before his relatives.
Brother Yi, you can't do this.
You mentioned the Rebellion of the Seven States.
It started because Chao Cuo tried to weaken the vassal states.
He angered the seven states that used the excuse of...
ridding the emperor of an evil minister like Chao Cuo.
Do you want to be the second Chao Cuo?
I won't be Chao Cuo.
But, what if the king is Emperor Wen or Emperor Jing?
Ai Ai, you're back. -Er Ye.
Brother Ai, you're back.
Zi Ye.
Thank you. I... I troubled you again.
You got bullied again?
Look at how dusty you are.
I'm fine. -What's wrong with your leg?
Be careful.
I'm fine. -Come.
Brother Ai, don't argue with them anymore.
You never win. You will just be bullied for nothing.
He... -Brother Ai.
Calm down. Talk slowly.
I don't mind if they bully me.
But, they...
can't bully the civilians.
Those people have it much tougher than me.
Brother Ai, can your books be sold for money?
They aren't worth a lot. - Why do you read books then?
You've to scrimp and save. - When I read a book...
my head can talk to the book...
and I'll forget that...
I'm inarticulate.
Someone asked my father for my hand in marriage.
Eat some too.
All you know is eat.
There's porridge in the pot.
Eat it before it's reduced to paste.
But, why must you do that?
He sowed discord in Cao Family.
Have I not done enough to protect Cao Family?
You shot the door of an impoflant official.
Do you have any respect for our laws?
Zi Huan, are you really going to punish me?
Your father never punished me.
My lord, it was his soldiers who committed the misdeed...
and Zi Lian is guilty of failing to discipline his men.
I will surely... I will surely punish him.
Why don't you forgive him?
It's not good to have a conflict within the family...
at a time like this.
Uncle, we can't have a conflict within the family.
But, that's even more the case for this country.
Why can't my uncles and brothers in Cao Family...
be considerate of me?
Those soldiers of yours...
will be executed in public. General Cao Hong...
will forfeit 3 months' salary.
You...
He really punished me. Brother, you...
Enough! Stop being selfish at a time like this!
My brother, Zi Huan has to manage a huge state like this.
He's under a lot of pressure. -But, I...
We must not let Sima Yi succeed.
Now, we must quickly make the king the emperor.
Once the king becomes the emperor, we'll be sovereigns.
No one can harm us. I'll go to Chen Qun now.
I'll ask him to gather the officials to persuade the king.
We must make Zi Huan the emperor at all cost.
I, Chief Commander Xiahou Dun, hereby request that the king...
honour the will of heaven and the people...
and ascend the throne of the supreme ruler.
I, Cao Hong, General of the Cavalry...
second the motion.
I, General Cao Xiu, second the motion.
I, Cao Zhen, General of the West, second the motion.
I, Xiahou Shang, Commandant of the Central Army, second the motion.
I, Zhang Liao, General of the Van...
second the motion.
I, Cao Ren, General of Cavalry and Chariots...
second the motion.
I, Zhang He, General of the Left, second the motion.
I, Xu Huang, General of the Right, second the motion.
"Literary works are supreme achievements...
and a splendor that does not decay."
You still keep it. -Of course.
This is the most precious thing to me.
I'm going to keep it forever.
This work of mine has been republished.
The new ones has been sent to all schools.
Don't keep the old one.
Sometimes, you need to let bygones be bygones.
That won't do. I wrote this personally.
My lord.
Lady Guo.
Mr. Chen Qun came with 93 officials.
They are waiting outside. - Are they here to persuade me?
Yes. -How many times already?
This is the 17th time. My lord, will you meet them?
Alright. I'll inform them.
Come.
Your brother-in-law...
is really patient.
My dear, you should go to bed. I'll sleep after I finish writing.
I'll keep you company. I can't sleep well without you.
Mr. Chang Wen, please let me inform our young master first.
I've no time for that.
Zhong Da. Sister Chun Hua is here too.
Brother Chang Wen, is there something urgent?
Cao Zhen visited me again. He said that tomorrow morning...
they will submit another memorial...
to persuade the king.
You should write yours quickly. Else...
you'll offend even the king. - Brother Chang Wen, actually...
there's no hurry.
Zhong Da, we must persuade the king first.
As for the new policies, we can wait until the king...
"declares himself emperor.
Brother Chang Wen, you are the one...
who came up with the Nine-Rank System.
How can the king ascend the throne...
without the support of scholar-officials?
I know this is risky. But, you are facing a greater risk.
When there are many people in the same boat...
it is assuring even if it is a risky voyage.
How many people in this world...
are brave enough to put their lives at stake?
Thank you for coming at late night to say this to me.
You are truly...
sincere towards me. - Alright. I need to go back.
Stop being stubborn. Zhong Da, write your memorial of persuasion.
Good bye.
Brother Chang Wen, I can't see you off. I need to...
Write it quickly. - Goodbye, Mr. Chang Wen.
Hou Ji. -Yes!
Young Master Yi, how may I help you?
Tell Shu Da, Shi Er and Zhao Er to come.
Now? Yes.
My dear, I'm afraid I've to burn the midnight oil.
I'll be your company.
Sure. My dear, do you want to practise calligraphy?
Sure. It's been a while since I last practised.
My lord, it's time for the court meeting.
Forget it.
It's not easy to be an emperor.
But, you can't avoid the topic forever.
Let them wait. -Wait for what?
You need to go to the court meeting.
The harder it is...
the more anxious they will get.
Let them wait.
My lord.
Ah Weng. -Lady Guo.
My lord, Sima Yi came to present some memorials.
Tell him to leave.
My lord, Sima Yi came with a can of memorials.
A can of memorials?
Sima Yi, you never fail to amaze me. Ah Weng.
Reign. Beauties. Grapes.
All are in my hands.
I refused to attend the court meeting.
Mr. Sima, the king said that...
you should return if there is nothing impoflant.
Don't waste your time and effort
Yes. I shall excuse myself.
Mr. Sima, the cow. Your cow.
Thank you.
Eunuch Shi, I'll take the cow back.
I'll leave the memorials here.
The king can decide what to do with them.
What if the king doesn't want them?
Use them as firewood and return the can to me.
I'll inform the king.
In my opinion, the new policies...
pinpointed the current problems...
and can fix the flaws in today's system. Think about it.
Over the past century, eunuchs and relatives of...
imperial consorts have been domineering.
Take Liang Ji's family for example.
7 of them were enfeoffed and as many as 57 of them...
occupied impoflant positions in the government.
When Liang Ji was defeated, dozens of...
impoflant officials such as prefects, commandants...
and governors were killed and implicated.
The court become empty overnight.
The eunuchs occupied impoflant positions...
and employed their relatives.
Their aides and relatives became senior officials...
the Nine Chamberlains...
and even the Three Ducal Ministers!
Even Cao Family relied on eunuchs...
Please watch your words. -The system of recommendation...
considers the reputation of the scholar...
and in order to obtain authority...
"scholars had to build their reputation.
As such, it became a trend for scholars in Han Dynasty to...
build their reputation by evaluating works and socialising.
Even the king relied on the Monthly Review to find talents.
Yet, the government has no system of election.
Isn't it strange? -Yes. But, what can we do?
In my opinion, there is another benefit.
Han Dynasty's system of recommendation...
"operated on a basis of local selection.
But, after 100 years of war...
so many scholars are wandering outside.
Without their household register...
they cannot take pad.
The new policy supports recommendation by local residents.
Rectification officers will then put the candidates through a test.
Won't this be a huge convenience for...
students studying outside like us?
I think this new policy...
doesn't just restrain the powerful and influential.
It's also restraining King of Wei and the emperor.
Restraining the emperor?
Emperor Ling openly sold government positions.
From Marquis Within The Pass to General of Palace Gentlemen...
he named the prices of all positions clearly.
He ordered his aides to sell the positions of chamberlains.
10 million for senior position and 5 million for junior position.
The late King of Wei issued 3 decrees to recruit talents.
However, he mostly employed based on personal preference.
The new policy hands the authority of election...
to the Secretariat and systemise the election.
The Rectification Bureau filters the recommendations.
The Secretariat will test and judge.
This multi-level supervision...
has way more integrity than the system of recommendation.
Shi Ji, I think you're the gutsiest one.
I'm not the gutsiest one.
The gutsiest one is the guy who devised the new policy.
Dear all, despite all the benefits...
this might be a pointless discussion.
We don't know if this new policy will be implemented.
Moreover, will the powerful and influential give in to this?
No, they won't. -They definitely won't.
I think...
they definitely will.
Greetings, my lord. -Rise at once.
Thank you, my lord.
Zi Dan, I like your idea of dispatching our armies...
under the pretext of homecoming.
But, the nation is still mourning for the late king.
It's inappropriate to hold a celebration.
I think we can use the excuse of attacking Sun Quan...
to drop by Qiao County. -My lord.
Have you decided to replace Han Dynasty?
I'm talking about conquering the south.
Yes, it's my mistake.
My lord, you're a genius. I volunteer to lead the army.
Alright. This time, I'll leave it to you and Cao Xiu.
Yes, my lord.
These grapes are sweet.
Thank you, my lord.
I shall excuse myself.
Enough.
My old lord, do you know?
Zi Huan is finally going to become the emperor.
This empire is ours now.
Ours! -Ours!
Zi Dan, I'll let you take some of my men.
Bring your own servants as well.
But, don't bring Sima Yi. -Not just Sima Yi.
I won't take Chen Qun or Zhong Yao either.
If they go with me, who will manage Yecheng?
Let's drink! -Drink!
Let's drink!
We must drink to our heart's content today!
Pay your respect to the decree of the king!
From today onwards, the king declares war...
against Sun Quan of Eastern Wu...
to eliminate the rebels...
and restore the late king's legacy.
This shall be a feat of the era.
Officials of all levels shall remain dutiful...
in anticipation of the king's triumphant return...
as the king strives to strengthen Wei.
You're still sleeping?
Are you going to sleep here...
until you finish writing the new policies?
Did you sleep well?
What time is it?
It's 7 a.m. -Why didn't you wake me earlier?
Why should I wake you so early?
You're not joining the king's inspection today.
Where are you going? -I'm going to present my memorial.
What memorial? -Where are my bamboo slips?
Are you going to leave in those clothes?
I'll get changed.
The king has arrived!
Rise!
Is everyone present?
My lord, all soldiers have gathered outside the city.
Say the word and we will depart immediately.
My lord, it's time. Let's depart
My lord, let's depart
Depart
Depart!
I have come to present a proposal!
Stop!
I am Sima Yi, the Vice Censor-in-Chief.
I have come to present a proposal.
Is it still about the new policy? - My lord, please hear me out.
Speak.
Appreciating and utilising talents...
will benefit the country.
It is crucial to test the officials.
"However...
What? Give it to me!
Look, my lord. Sima Yi writes so well.
I can't even see a word. Dear all, please look at this.
Do you see a word?
There's not a single word. -Right.
There's not even a word on it!
Mr. Sima Yi, what's the meaning of this?
Are you saying that the king doesn't listen?
My lord, Sima Yi tricked you and he deserves punishment.
My lord, he deserves punishment.
Mr. Chen. -Yes, my lord.
According to law, how should he be punished?
It's not stated in law. -Is that so?
What should I do with him? -My lord.
This has never happened before. There is no example to refer to.
In this case, this will be the example.
I'll leave this matter to the Secretariat.
Do as you see fit. -Yes.
Depart. -Depart!
My lord, are you sure you're not punishing Sima Yi?
He knows his place.
Zhong Da, you must have done this for a good reason.
What good reason? My wife gave me the wrong one.
Give it to me. I'll make her pay for it later.
Wait. What should we do now? - The king put you in charge.
Come to my place first? -Yes.
Sima Yi came to the Chamberlain for Law Enforcement...
and claimed to be guilty of a crime.
He insists to go to jail. But, he's an impoflant official.
We don't dare to imprison him.
Sima Yi is a guy...
who will choose the prison I am in charge of.
Give him a cell.
Prepare brush, ink, clean water and dishrag for him.
Dishrag? -Go.
Yes.
Father!
Father, I heard Sima Yi got thrown into jail.
It's none of your business. - My classmates are so agitated.
Everyone wants to plead with the king to save Sima Yi.
Sure. Tell them not to write separately.
The king has no time to read all. Just write one...
and let everyone sign it.
So, Sima Yi is fine?
Look. I even need to deliver food to him.
Father, I'll go with you. -Why should you go?
Stay home. Let's go.
I...
You know what you are doing.
Uncle.
Uncle, why do I get such good food in prison?
Don't tell me the king wants to kill me...
and sends you to see me off.