Chief.
I am a little exhausted. Take a drink and rest for a bit.
This wine... is both Zhang Xiaojing's and my favorite.
It's the yellow wine from Fuyuan Tavern.
Has Zhang Xiaojing ever run away at the last moment?
Never.
The Heng sword he uses is three inches shorter than the one that others use.
It's the blade of humiliation given by Prince Xin An.
That sword is named "Useless."
That is a long story.
Zhang Xiaojing... joined the army on the 17th year of the old calendar.
He was in the first batch of recruits.
In the 23rd year of the old calendar,
before he was transferred to Bohuan City in Anxi,
he was already an Assistant Commander in Prince Xin An's troops.
At that time, Prince Xin An was planning an attack
on the Stone Fortress.
Zhang Xiaojing refused Prince Xin An's command directly in the meeting.
He refused to deploy the troops.
He was lucky that Wen Wuji was there to plead for him.
His life was spared.
Therefore, the two of them were transferred to Anxi.
All of their ranks were stripped.
They became privates once again.
Before they left, Prince Xin An gave him a short sword.
It bears the meaning of... cowardice and uselessness.
A soldier that refuses to go in a battle?
What was his reason?
The Stone Fortress... is a fortress formed by nature.
Its defense is impregnable.
There may only be dozens of bandits living up there.
But to seize that fortress,
thousands of Tang's soldiers would lose their lives.
Most importantly, it's not a stronghold that must be taken for the nation.
All of the previous generals... wished to seize it...
simply because it has a reputation of being the strongest defense.
Whoever takes down the Stone Fortress...
will be seen as a great general in the emperor's eyes.
All those who attended the meeting... understood this very reason.
But no one would dare to voice their thoughts.
Only Zhang Xiaojing was brave enough.
He said that Prince Xin An is trading the soldiers' lives for mere glory;
that Prince Xin An was despicable.
He cherishes human lives.
He wasn't wrong.
But he held onto his own code and disobeyed his superior,
that is a fact as well.
On the outside,
he seems to have a proper life.
But the truth is, his life is full of pain.
When we hold onto our own code,
there is a price to be paid.
This price...
not everyone can afford.
[The Longest Day in Chang'an]
[Episode 17]
Segments and Subtitles are provided by the wonderful Chang'An Warriors Team@Viki
The case is closed. Get back to your prison.
We have brought back the clothes you wore as per regulations.
Please get changed, Commander Zhang.
The Peacekeeper Corps did a great job on this case
by eliminating the Wolven Squad.
The people of Chang'an are saved from a disaster.
Chief Li Bi of the Peacekeeper Corps shall close the case now.
Li Bi will follow the crown prince
and attend the celebration at the Xingqing Palace Grand Auditorium tonight;
a feast to celebrate their feats.
All the personnel temporarily relocated by the Corps–
What about our credits?
All the personnel temporarily relocated by the Corps
shall return to their original posts immediately. This order must be obeyed.
No merits and no promotion?
Investigating the case was your duty.
Those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Great Tang
just died in vain?
- They died in vain for this? - Cui Qi!
Work done for the sake of merits is not a display of loyalty!
Did my brother... die for nothing?
Fifty men of the Wolven Squad came.
They planned this for over six months.
If they are using the Flaming Demon,
they can't just be using fifteen crates of the Crouching Fire.
We found a huge amount of human remains on Changming Street.
Those are the remains of over twenty people, who are they?
The lost map of Chang'an is yet to be found either.
Who has it now?
There is a man that goes by the name Long Bo.
He rented a manor for the Wolven Squad on Xiuzheng Street.
Who exactly is that man?
The emperor said the case is closed,
so it is now closed.
- Uncle Guo. - It's General Guo.
General Guo, there are still answers to be found.
Chang'an could still be in danger.
Why would the emperor order us to close the case?
Tell me something.
Where is the official seal of the corps now?
- It's in the archive. - No.
I have been busy with investigation today, I haven't used the seal.
The seal is with He Zhizheng.
My teacher is not feeling well today.
He went back to Paradise Height to get some rest.
After the commotion in the Western District,
Li Shizhi, the Left Counselor, led four high-ranking officers to meet the emperor
and pleaded for the corps and the crown prince to be credited.
The documents regarding the case from the corps
was brought to the emperor at the same time.
It was sent in your name.
"The Wolven Squad is eliminated, the people of Chang'an are saved."
On top of that document was the seal of the Peacekeeper Corps.
Are you saying that someone faked the seal?
Uncle Guo, if Chang'an faces any kind of trouble again today,
the crown prince will be blamed.
Why is Director He in such a hurry to close the case?
This old man is rather interesting.
I have known him for over 30 years.
We started off having a pleasant time.
Our conversation was even rather sentimental.
But somehow our friendship...
was not that close.
I wonder how you feel about him?
Since he wants you to stop investigating,
even if he is bed-ridden,
he will have his way to stop your work.
As for Zhang Xiaojing, send him back to death row at once.
Uncle Guo!
General Guo, I wrote to have him transferred for 24 hours.
His time is not up yet.
You are still trying to use him for your investigation?
Do you know why the emperor doesn't reward the other personnel of the corps?
You may have eliminated the Wolven Squad,
but a convict on death row caused so much trouble.
Letting you go without punishment...
is more than enough tolerance for the crown prince.
But there are so many questions left.
I am still worried.
If you disobey this order, not only will you be killed,
think about the officers that pleaded and supported you.
Think about the crown prince.
What about the people of Chang'an?
If the eagle soars above the clouds,
the vermin on the ground means nothing to it.
If you wish to stay innocent for the rest of your life,
you might as well resign...
and keep meditating in your monastery.
Chief Li, do you need the watchtower to send out the message
that the Flaming Demon case is now closed?
Send out the words.
The case is closed as ordered by the royal decree.
All officers may now return to their respective departments.
Commander Zhang... will be sent back to Chang'an Prison as well.
Yes.
Director He, what did he even say to those people?
They praised the crown prince in front of the emperor?
The emperor's servants said it was...
Li Shizhi, the Left Counselor;
Wei Jian, the Vice Censor-in-Chief;
Pei Kuan, the Minister of Treasury;
Han Chaozong of the Ministry of Capital,
and the master of Remonstrance, Yang Shenjin.
Doesn't that make him worry...
that the emperor will suspect the crown prince
for conspiring with the officers?
He risked so much just to make the corps
stop investigating this case?
Something is not right.
Director He... is probably trying to cover something up.
Ever since he got wind of me taking over the rule,
he just couldn't wait to eat me alive.
Rest assured, My Lord. That death row convict that worked for the corps,
once drew a map of this manor for the Wolven Squad.
We can use this charge to send him to the Right Cavalry for interrogation.
Not only will your safety be insured,
we can even get information to charge against the crown prince.
All the rewards and credits for the crown prince will be retracted.
Get it done now.
The order to transfer the convict has already been sent.
Now, we wait for Zhang Xiaojing to be sent to the Right Cavalry.
From now on, the Royal Escort will be under the command of Gan Shoucheng from the Right Cavalry.
Chief Li always thinks in the whole of the Peacekeeper Corps, only Zhang Xiaojing...
is actually capable of something.
Only when you get the promotion will you and your brother's dream come true.
Young Master,
allow me to escort... Zhang Xiaojing back to the prison.
I must have let you down as well.
Not at all.
Whatever rank one holds, under the emperor's rule, all are nothing.
You can't possibly go against the royal decree.
Give this to Zhang Xiaojing.
Do not let anyone see you.
- The death row convict escaped, we couldn't stop him. -Yes.
After he gets away from the prison, tell him to meet me in Daji Tavern in Huaiyuan Street.
I still have a job for him.
There are a lot of people in Huaiyuan Street,
the soldiers won't come in.
Xu Bin also told me that... the shopkeeper is trustworthy.
He can keep our secret.
As you wish.
Watch your back.
Chief ordered me to remind you that...
this place is only four streets away from the prison.
There will be crowds on the street.
While we are transferring you there,
Commander Zhang, I hope you won't run away.
There is a better place than the Peacekeeper Corps for us.
Guarding the royal palace means we are closer to the emperor.
Only officers of high ranks and nobles will be there.
Do you want to come with me?
I want to go.
Those who will follow me, come.
They only need a small favor from us.
It will be easy.
Arrest a man on my order.
If he resists, kill on sight.
I am not running away. I wouldn't dare.
Where is Commander Zhang?
He said he lost a relative.
He needs to go out and find her.
Take him down.
I don't want to hurt you.
Take him down.
Not even a god can stop me.
Kill me and you will still be hunted down.
Today won't be the first time
that you killed one of your own.
Young Master, Zhang Xiaojing was taken by Captain Cui to the Right Cavalry.
They said it was an order from General Gan Shoucheng to have Zhang Xiaojing arrested.
I never saw any warrant for this arrest!
It was Captain Cui that took this order directly from General Gan.
After them now!
Where is the Royal Escort?
They all followed Captain Cui and left.
Only the guards at the main hall and entrance remain.
The corps doesn't even have a troop now.
- Chief. - Chief.
As per the order of the emperor, we are getting off work to go home.
Chief, we hope you have a wonderful Lantern Festival.
Please, stay with me.
Help me with the investigations.
Chief, please don't make it difficult for us low-ranking officers.
Professor Pang, you may go home now as well.
I, Pang Ling, am the professor of time.
My shift lasts for 24 hours.
The shift only ends at 10:00 tomorrow morning.
The shift is not over; I cannot leave.
Where is Chamberlain Xu?
He went missing after 5:00 today.
It's been over an hour.
Chamberlain Xu?
Bad news!
It's not just... not just fifteen crates of Crouching Fire.
There are three hundred crates.
There are three hundred crates of Crouching Fire in Chang'an!
There is a mole in the Corps.
He was trying to kill me just now.
Who is the mole?
It was Lu San, the messenger.
Chamberlain Xu!
- Who is it? - Lu San.
You are back.
Lord Long is in the house.
Lord Long, Lu San is reporting back.
Who is Lord Long? I am Long Bo.
Lord Long, you are the healer that came to cure Great Tang of its sickness.
Why did you come back so early?
The corps closed the case and ceased investigating.
So you came back?
Someone in the Peacekeeper Corps found out about the real inventory list of Su Transport.
I had no choice but to kill him.
I might already be compromised.
I cannot stay in their headquarters until 2:00 the next morning.
I had to disobey your order and come back here.
It's been four months since you went to the corps.
How was it?
Getting paid by the Imperial Court and having a decent life,
do you like it?
Yes.
The Peacekeeper Corps is the latest among all government offices.
It was all about the authority of the higher-ups
and the fight for power among the lower ranks.
I like it when they do that.
Each passing day has shown me that I follow the right man.
Today, I can be here with you
and do something so great that it will shake Heaven.
It is my greatest honor.
Get up.
Go and change out of this uniform.
Your brothers are waiting for you.
Yes.
San'er!
Change your shoes. I prepared a new pair for you.
You have been running around all day.
You've worked hard.
You even remember these small details.
We are leaving.
We need good shoes for that.
What's wrong?
We are out of time.
I want to see your face a bit more.
They know about the existence of the three hundred crates of Crouching Fire.
Is this manor even safe now?
Fear not.
No one will dare to go up against the owner of this manor who has our backs.
Don't worry about it.
Where is Wen Ran?
She left on her own.
She said I wouldn't dare to stop her.
Those who truly swear loyalty to you...
will stay by your side at all times.
She won't come back.
I don't know why either.
You liar.
Why do you always let her do as she pleases?
Because she is my family!
Or you can say...
what we are doing today... is for her.
Are you sure you can trust her?
Yu Chang, I need to see it through her eyes
to see the justice in what we are doing.
Then, we need to use her mouth to tell it to the whole world
that... we did the right things.
Tell me.
Where is Wen Ran?
I will look for her.
I am taking you out from this secret passage.
If you want to see Zhang Xiaojing,
bear this in mind.
Unless I ask a question,
do not make any noise.
Why are you helping me?
For the merits.
The information you hold, just casually saying one or two of them could bring me a great reward.
Handing me over to the Imperial Court right now will bring you reward immediately.
Little girl, you know nothing.
The Imperial Court is huge.
I need to know who will have the last laugh
before I decide who I should hand you over to.
You vermin!
This is how it works in Chang'an.
I am considered the honest bunch.
Where exactly is Zhang Xiaojing?
[Royal Palace, Headquarters of the Right Cavalry]
Stop! State your business here!
An order from General Gan Shoucheng.
We are bringing in Zhang Xiaojing to the Right Cavalry for interrogation.
Let them through.
Reports say there are three hundred crates of Crouching Fire in the city; locations unknown.
The corps is in disarray.
The Royal Escort betrayed them.
The death row convict is now inside the prison.
He is inside the headquarters of the Right Cavalry.
He cannot escape no matter how hard he tries.
Li Bi has no man to follow him. He can't investigate further.
Send a man to investigate without using my name.
It must be someone from the Court of Judicature.
The Court of Judicature?
Yuan Zai? Yes.
Appraiser Yuan of the Court has been aiming for a promotion for such a long time.
Get it done quickly.
I want him to relocate all the case files and evidence the corps has.
I want to know where the three hundred crates of Crouching Fire are going to attack.
Yes.
It's a holiday.
The work here just keeps coming.
This is an important suspect.
Where are you going to keep him?
Do you really think it's easy to watch over the south side gates of the royal palace?
Because of this Lantern Festival, we haven't had any good sleep in weeks.
And now we have to work the whole night.
I just returned from Guangde Street and want to take a break,
but the corps just won't get it.
Here comes more trouble.
- It was the order of General Gan.- Don't you dare bring up his name!
What was your name again?
I am Captain Cui of the Royal Escort.
Do you know what makes a guy smart?
Talk if you know how to flatter, and shut it when you don't.
That is how to be smart.
Zhang Xiaojing is fierce and has killed dozens of men.
You need to keep him watched at all time.
Sure, General Cui.
No, I am just a mere captain.
I am no general.
Soon enough.
Is that so?
Have you heard any news?
Lock him in the cellar.
Yes.
Cellar?
The Right Cavalry are standing guard in the royal palace.
There are riders on duty all the time.
I can lock him in a toilet and he still couldn't get out.
Come on! Let's get the transfer paperwork done.
Chief.
I am Appraiser Yuan Zai of the Court of Judicature.
I was ordered to come by the Peacekeeper Corps
to acquire all the case files, evidence, and witnesses from today.
Especially the Wolven Squad Alpha, Cao Poyan.
What rights do you have to take the criminal we caught?
The Peacekeeper Corps does play by the rules.
Tan Qi, you're dismissed.
My young master knows his manners,
that doesn't mean he can be picked on.
Chief Li, there are still questions about the mastermind of the Wolven Squad.
Since the corps has closed the case,
it's only natural to hand over the criminals to the Court of Judicature.
So, it truly is the court that is investigating?
I am only an appraiser of the eighth rank.
I wouldn't be here without any orders.
What if I refuse to hand them over?
Chief Li, the emperor has known you since you were seven years old.
You joined the Crown Prince in the Royal Academy at the age of twelve.
Everyone was envious of you.
I am sure you know the laws very well.
The punishment of obstructing the court's investigation
is something you should be aware of.
Please don't joke around with me.
Come over here.
I wish to have a word with you.
Do you think I would resort to violence?
In order to save me, Appraiser Yuan killed off a dozen bandits himself.
Even if you resort to violence, that won't scare him either.
Gentlemen never use violence.
Fine.
I will take you to him.
Officer! Officer!
Do you have food? Can you spare me some food?
Li Bi!
If you mess with me, you will pay for it!
Let us out now!
Track down Lu San.
Find out who sent him here.
Much obliged, Chief.
Tan Qi, come with me.
Chief, you're really locking an officer of the court?
We cannot let anyone else know about this.
Yuan Zai didn't bring any document with him.
There is no way he is here for official business.
Also, the Court of Judicature is just a bunch of vultures.
They prey on the weak.
Unless the case is solved, they wouldn't dare to take over.
Besides, this fallout we had must be made known to the world.
Send a man to spread the word.
I want the officers to know...
that no law can bind me down and I see no one as an ally.
If anyone tries to take over the Peacekeeper Corps,
lock them up.
Yes.
Can I have some of it?
Food?
If it wasn't because of you, all of us would have been with our families by now for the holiday.
Well, you should probably go home soon.
Otherwise... you will be in grave danger.
Danger?
Here?
You want to escape?
You want to go against me?
That means you are going against Sir Cui as well.
Say it.
I brought you here because it was an order.
I am a soldier.
A soldier must obey his orders.
I didn't do anything wrong.
Cui Qi... You conspired with Zhang Xiaojing to escape and threaten the safety of the royal palace.
I can... execute you without any trial.
- Tie him up! - Yes!
Tie him up properly!
Do you want to be general?
You must first learn to betray your comrades
without feeling any guilt.
Are you happy now?
I brought him here for interrogation.
He just saved the city.
Someone is trying to escape from our headquarters,
that could be humiliating.
Can't you hit harder? (T/N: lit. did you not eat enough?)
Are you happy now?
He is not happy. Keep hitting.
I am happy! I am happy!
I am happy! Happy!
I envy him for getting the higher-up's attention!
I will be even happier if you beat him to death!
I want you to listen closely.
If Zhang Xiaojing really gets away from our Right Cavalry,
there will be no room for us in the royal palace.
Without your uniforms... your families will starve to death.
When they are harassed by those thugs,
remember today,
how you failed.
Get back to your patrol.
- Yes. - Yes.
Get back to your patrol if you can move.
We don't hire useless people here.
Or just beat it and go back to where you came from.
Chief Li.
Can he speak now?
He is still unconscious.
Let me know when he wakes up.
Yes.
If Lu San is the mole,
the enemies will know all of our watchtower codes.
We can't send any message from the watchtower anymore.
If there is anything I can do, I will gladly help.
The city is in danger.
We can't afford any error.
Also...
As long as you give me the order,
I will find a way to complete it.
Also, you must not say you are working for the corps.
Young Master, do you have a plan to turn the tide?
If we don't get to the bottom of this,
not only will the people of Chang'an be in danger,
all the neighboring nations... will think that our defense is weak.
Great Tang will lose its authority.
Our enemies, vessel states, and commissioners at the borders will follow suit, too.
Chang'an will never know peace again.
There is only one man who can save us all.
The Right Cavalry are wrong... to arrest him at this moment.
Very well.
I shall bring Zhang Xiaojing back.
Their headquarters is in the royal palace.
It won't be easy to get in.
Young Master, don't you know I am an expert in lying?
If I get caught,
I will tell them... I planned this prison break out of personal feeling.
It has nothing to do with the corps.
I can't care so much today.
I hope you understand.
Your wish is my command.
Wait.
Let Yao Runeng go with you.
Tell him it's my order.
He may be a smooth-talker,
but he does have a brave heart.
When the time calls for it, we can trust him.
Yes.
The two of you will go to the Right Cavalry's headquarters.
Stand by first and wait for my order.
At 7:00, if you still don't get my message from the watchtower,
commence your mission.
Where are you going?
Paradise Height.
Director He's villa?
Young Master, are you suspecting him as well?
If he is willing to help me rescue Zhang Xiaojing,
I won't suspect him.
Segments and Subtitles are provided by the wonderful Chang'An Warriors Team@Viki