Episode 39
Jiang Ji.
I swear to the Luo River.
We don't rise to overthrow the emperor...
...or kill indiscriminately or harm the royal relatives.
We do this only for the state.
If Cao Shuang would come back...
...we'll only remove his military power, not his noble rank.
I'll guarantee a luxury life for him.
The heaven and earth shall testify this.
I won't break my promise.
If so, I'd guarantee Cao Shuang's surrender...
...with my life.
Prince consort and madam couldn't escape. They're seized by Sima Yi.
This old man!
I should've killed him for good!
Leave! -Yes!
I want to kill him!
Kill him! - General-in-Chief!
Ding Mi, how can we kill him?
Stay calm, General-in-Chief.
Sima Yi has gained the upper hand when we came out...
...but no matter what, he has no military power.
Even with 2,000-3,000 private soldiers...
...they're nothing to our army...
...and they'll perish at once.
Yet, he has the palace guards.
That's because you weren't there...
...to lead them, so they lost defence.
First, you need to settle down.
We'll go back to Xuchang and announce an imperial edict...
...to charge Sima Yi with the coup.
Then, surround Luoyang with Xuchang army.
Palace guards in Luoyang will surrender for sure...
...leaving no way for Sima Yi to escape.
Good, you're right! I'll kill him!
Can we really defeat him?
Tell me, Ding Mi.
Say something.
Prince Consort He.
Sorry for the of fence.
You're a rebel.
You'll soon be dead.
I've no intention to kill anyone.
There's no need to die for your master so soon.
You endured for so many years before you launch a sudden attack.
I bet you don't do this to make even with General-in-Chief.
That's unnecessary.
He's a royal and an offspring of Grand Marshal Cao Zhen.
Why not he stays as a Prince?
Please write a letter...
...to express my sincerity and persuade him to come back.
Sima Yi, even if you think you're smart...
...don't treat others like a fool.
I know you dare not kill me when General-in-Chief isn't around.
We'll die for sure if he shows up.
Why would I want to urge for my death?
Sima Zhao. -Yes.
Kill him.
Father, I'm close with him. Let me persuade him.
Have you received the edict? -Yes.
I give you two hours. His life doesn't matter.
Yes.
Mother.
What are you trying to do?
Don't worry, madam. I dare not offend you.
Bring us to see General-in-Chief.
You can surely reunite if you'd make him come back.
You'll kill him...
...if he comes back.
He's a royal relative and descendant of a great minister.
We dare not do him any harm.
He'd stay as a Prince if he'd come back.
Who are you? Why should I believe you?
I'm Master of Writing Sima Fu and younger brother of Grand Tutor.
I'd guarantee with Sima family's prestige and my own life.
Your family will be safe...
...if General-in-Chief would come back.
I won't write to General-in-Chief.
Does it hurt?
I knew you were lying to me all these years.
And you too, but I believed you.
We both knew fairly well. No one could deceive each other.
However, wouldn't you want to make our conversation true?
What's it about?
I'll be the bird while you'll be the wings.
I'm the loser.
Is this a kind of insult?
Yes or no...
...but I hope it isn't.
I still remember...
...you're the first person who points out the desire in my head.
I've gained the courage to face myself.
I'd return your favour.
I'll secure your life and an official position...
...from Cao Shuang's case.
What do you think?
Please move to Xuchang. We've army and armoury.
It's just that we might not have sufficient forage.
Let go of me!
I'm the Governor! No one should touch me! Let go!
Let me go!
That's him! Take him out and execute him!
Wait!
How dare you come to see me, traitor?
Governor Jiang Ji comes with Her Highness' imperial edict.
Grand Tutor sends me here to see General-in-Chief.
Although you go beyond your duty as a Regent...
...and disobey the state law...
...you're anyhow a royal relative...
...and descendant of a great minister.
Only your military power will be removed while others remain.
If you'd go back to the capital...
...you'll stay as a Prince...
...and the remaining officers won't be questioned.
He's trying to deceive you! Stop him from confusing us!
Take him out and execute him! -Wait!
Is my family safe? Where's Prince Consort He?
Don't worry, Grand Tutor is guarding your mansion.
They'll only stay at the door, but not entering.
Prince Consort He is in the Grand Tutor's camp.
His letter will be arriving here soon.
General-in-Chief, don't you want to reunite with your wife and son?
General-in-Chief, he's going to affect the morale in our army.
We should kill him at once!
Come to me. -Yes.
Seize and contain him. -Wait.
Please also be rest assured, General-in-Chief.
I won't simply run away since I'm here to persuade you.
Besides, Grand Tutor has sworn to the Luo River at my presence.
He won't harm you at all.
Are you not going to believe when I guarantee it with my life?
Take him away.
General-in-Chief, he must be killed.
Today is the longest day in my life.
I'm a bit frightened when I come to think of it.
What's frightening you?
That Cao Shuang won't come back?
Do you think I've done something only a mad man will do?
I'm just surprised...
...you'd have the moment of disregarding the consequence.
Father.
Father, mother, Minister of Finance Huan Fan escaped at night.
Several minor officers, too. -Huan Fan.
He's commonly known as a wise man...
...and he's indebted to Cao Shuang.
He'll notify Cao Shuang for sure.
He'll notify Cao Shuang that our city is empty.
I've failed my task, but I've sent our men to pursue them.
We can't blame you as we're shorthanded.
We can only rely on the adaptability of Governor Jiang.
They aren't convinced.
Huan Fan and tens of other ministers escaped from...
...the capital to notify us.
Luoyang occupied by Sima Yi...
...is merely an empty city guarded by 3,000 men.
Yet, there are the empress dowager and armoury.
They can command the world by just occupying the capital.
Emperor Wu once threatened all Marquises with the emperor.
Moreover, you're a regent.
You've high status and power in the past ten years.
We also have the emperor to dispatch army.
Sima Yi is defending only an empty.
We're doomed if we go back and fall into his trap.
Sima Yi won't spare our lives.
He said to me in the letter.
He said...
...“Gazing to the east.“ He won't hurt us.
This is the critical time.
Grand Tutor has promised not to question us.
You...
Brother, Sima Yi said he'll only remove...
...your military power. You're still a Prince.
We'll die for sure once we lose in the battle.
Sima Yi is a strategist. We're no match for him.
What should we do with my family in the city?
Yes, General-in-Chief. We'll die for sure...
...if we lose in the battle. Please think twice.
You only care about yourselves. Do you want to kill General?
My wife and son are in Luoyang, too.
His Majesty has arrived!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
I want to go back. I want my mother.
General-in-Chief, they said Grand Tutor...
...forbids us from returning, is it true?
Sima Yi's a rebel. Please announce an imperial edict to suppress him!
I don't want a battle. I want to go home.
Brother, Governor is sewing as a guarantor. Let's go back.
Enough, stop talking.
Let me think.
Report!
General-in-Chief, there're letters from Prince Consort He and madam.
Hurry and give them to me! -Yes.
Don't worry, Your Majesty. We'll come up with a plan.
Father, Uncle Ji has come.
I've come to bid you farewell.
Brother Ji, we shared the same path in our lives...
...and we shared living and death.
Why are you leaving me today?
After 40 years of hazardous life...
...I should go back to where I belong.
You refuse to stay...
"because you don't agree with me, right?
I'm just a man of prowess...
...but I know, up to this stage...
...one must stop Cao Shuang from ruining the state.
We're aged by years.
You lay your heart in the temple, but I lay mine in the forest.
This is where we'd pad.
Father, some leave, but someone stay.
How'd the later generations regard us?
Can we still own the sun tomorrow?
Sunrise and sunset.
Time develops, but human life is shod.
Thus, we don't own the spring...
...the summer...
...the autumn...
..Or..
...the winter.
General-in-Chief.
-Don't hesitate anymore. -Let's depart to the south.
Let's not.
Sima Yi only aims to seize my military power.
I'm still wealthy...
...without an official position.
Victory is unpredictable. Go back. Let's go back.
You mustn't, General-in-Chief. - Let's go back.
Families of our warriors are all in the city.
They don't want to fight.
What if someone wants to kill me for a reward?
Go back. Go back, all right?
Your father, Cao Zhen was a great hero.
His son is however foolish and timid!
I serve my loyalty to you...
...but it perishes my family.
The heaven is going to perish Cao family and the Great Wei!
Grand Tutor.
Cao Shuang.
Get up.
Thank you, Grand Tutor.
I'm sorry, Grand Tutor.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Long live Your Majesty.
What do you want to do?
Don't worry, I've led army to rescue Your Majesty.
You may rise.
Everything is done by Cao Shuang.
I've no idea at all.
I understand, Your Majesty.
The uprising is against my will.
It's to save Your Majesty and the state.
Heaven and earth will testify my loyalty towards the Great Wei.
I know Cao Shuang has been acting arbitrarily...
...but he's anyhow my uncle...
...and the regent appointed by my father.
I beg you to spare his life, all right?
Your Majesty! -No, Your Majesty!
You mustn't do this, Your Majesty! -No, Your Majesty!
You mustn't do this, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
A discussion will be held in the imperial court.
I dare not make the decision by myself.
Send Cao Shuang...
I mean, send the General-in-Chief back to his mansion.
Yes.
Come to me!
Send General-in-Chief back! -Yes!
Grand Tutor, you've promised to reunite my family.
You've promised me, Grand Tutor.
Grand Tutor.
Don't worry, Cao Shuang.
Your wife and son have been sent back to the mansion.
Thank you, Grand Tutor.
Grand Tutor.
I've another favour to ask.
It's about Sir Ding.
Ding Mi! That's him.
Could he come to my mansion when he has time to spare?
Cao Shuang.
It's better to let each other...
...go back to where they belonged.
Grand Tutor, Ding Mi...
It's unnecessary, General. -Grand Tutor.
Since I'm back to claim my death, I want it with dignity.
Don't say this, Ding Mi! Grand Tutor is lenient.
You'd deceive His Majesty and General-in-Chief, but not me.
Sima Yi, Luo River is right behind you.
Your family will stay as the usurper...
...even if Luo River turns dry!
You'll only be condemned by the later generations!
Ding Mi! Grand Tutor is too old for provocation!
Come with me, General-in-Chief.
Your Majesty.
There's an end no matter how long...
...the Luo River flows.
I'll stop anyone from perishing the Great Wei while I'm around.
Please rise, Grand Tutor.
I'll see Your Majesty off.
Thank you, Grand Tutor.
Step back.
Yes. -Yes.
Zhong Hui. -Yes.
You excel in keeping records and laws.
From now on, you'll be appointed as the attendant...
...of Master of Writing...
...and solve Cao Shuang's case.
Yes, I know what I should do.
Deng N.
Yes. -You've been travelling...
...and you're familiar with military affairs.
Go to Chang'an to avoid Jiang Wei from taking an advantage.
Yes.
Shi and Zhao.
Reclaim military power of Cao Shuang's...
mbrothers.
Yes.
By the way...
...recall Xiahou Xuan.
Father, Xiahou Xuan is loyal and upright.
He isn't involved in Cao Shuang's case. Is it possible...
I'm done with it.
I'll leave...
...the rest to you all.
Be careful.
Yes.
Father. -Master.
Master. -Father.
Master. -Master.
Father.
Father. -He's fast asleep.
Congratulations, Master Zhao.
All thanks to my father.
We both know that military power...
...is like the wind to fly you up.
You can finally strive for your aspiration.
Aren't you the same, Brother Hui?
I should call you Sir Zhong from now on.
Stop teasing me. You know this is just the beginning to me.
I want to remove all threats to my master.
Only by eliminating the remnants of Cao Shuang...
...we can achieve our ambition.
However, master is being too lenient.
My father has spent all his energy in the battle.
He's turn soft-headed and timid.
There are things we should do for him instead.