Original subtitles

♫ Raising the wine cup, I toast to the boundless sky ♫

♫ In talks and laughters are vast mountains and rivers. ♫

♫ Love and hate, debt and feuds, have all dissolved. ♫

♫ Where's my soul's hometown and my kindred spirits? ♫

♫ Seasons rolling by, we dream for harvest. ♫

♫ Warriors and warhorses howl across the sky. ♫

♫ If only I could turn into the wind, ♫

♫ to blow away all the pain in mortal coil. ♫

♫ I toast to the blue sky, to courage in solitude, ♫

♫ to migrating gooses, to boats heading home. ♫

♫ With even three thousand days and nights, ♫

♫ Will it be enough to drain this cup I toast to peace? ♫

[Swords into Plowshares]

[Episode 5]

To Qian Hongzuo, the Kingdom of Wuyue:

Your family has established and govern the state here.

You have been contributing your strength to the empire.

Thus this decree is issued to manifest exceptional grace.

By imperial grace, you are hereby appointed King of Wuyue.

Do strive to live up to the expectations.

Let related authority implements this.

Qian Hongzuo, humbly receives the decree with thanks.

We humbly receive the decree with thanks.

Your subject,

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan,

respectfully congratulates the Great King.

We congratulate the Great King.

This joy I share with you all.

You all may rise.

With the coronation ceremony held, we request to open the treasury, show leniency in punishment,

reward the generals and soilders, and proclaim a general amnesty.

How is the condition of the treasury of the Ministry of Revenue?

In reply to the Great King,

last year, the three rivers flooded.

King Wenmu, out of compassion for the people, exempted the autumn tax for that year.

The treasuries of various regions were already stretched thin.

Now the summer flood season is approaching.

All must prepare for potential disasters.

It is not advisable to use them.

We can wait until this year's autumn tax is collected before proceeding with the rewards.

This year's autumn tax shall be exempted following last year

As to the reward for the armies, I...

I pay them myself.

Your benevolence bestows grace upon everyone.

We respectfully obey the instruction.

So much for today.

Lord Shuiqiu, wait a minute.

Others may leave.

We take our leave.

We take our leave.

Rewarding the three armies and exempting taxes are benevolent policies.

But regarding the amnesty, especially for the Eldest Prince,

he did not even mention it.

He did not mention it, so you all did not mention it either,

then for what we need ministers in this state?

Academician Yuan,

Academician Yuan.

Now that Shuiqiu has also returned, and the Great King has ascended,

all the ministers are satisfied.

Do you still remember your words before?

Five Lords.

Do you intend to save,

or to kill?

What do you mean by that?

When the words are the same,

we'd better have another one to say.

Dai Yun

had no rebellious intent.

He was innocent but executed.

This marks the beginning of discord.

The commoner Sun Ben had not been involved in usurpation, either.

Du Zhaoda and hid kind were indeed arrogant and corrupt.

Punishing them according to the law was not harsh.

The Eldest Prince, Hongjun, made few mistakes in commanding troops and managing affairs .

Yet now

he is unjustly imprisoned.

Ministers are indignant, and people are worried.

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan.

It's very bold of you.

My family has been connected to the royal family for generations and shares the fate of the state.

If Wuyue exists,

then I exist.

If Wuyue perishes,

then I perish.

Thus, I must bare my heart and soul to speak frankly.

Why didn't say that before dispatching to Bianliang?

At that time you were just the Regent of two armies.

Within the palace,

all affairs, and all decisions made, shall follow the principle of being expedients.

But now

the situation is entirely different.

The decree from the capital has arrived.

Having received the Emperor's investiture,

you are now the rightful ruler of Wuyue.

A king governs the entire states and should employ policies

that are not resort to expedient and compromising schemes.

No one has ever

told me that before.

This is the fault of this chancellor.

Please rise.

I have succeeded to the two armies for nearly a year now.

When ministers talking about the affairs,

they only say what without explaining why.

Deep in my heart, I know

they regard me as a junior who cannot understand reason behind.

and they can only coax me all day long.

But the more they do that,

the more anxious and fearful I become.

Among my many brothers and the ministers,

I truly do not know

who should I trust and rely upon.

Nor has anyone been like you who would risk his life,

to tell me the truth.

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan.

Yes.

Will you assist me?

I would not refuse even at the cost of my life.

The,

tell me.

Since I have already made so many mistakes, what should I do

to correct them?

Governing a great state is like cooking a small fish.

The past is in the past.

To stabilize the nation now matters.

I beseech you to issue an edict to the court,

proclaiming a general amnesty to show the subject's leniency and fairness.

Release Shen Wenqi from the inner office.

Let the Eldest Prince, Hongjun, to return home to reflect on himself.

So that the imperial clan members will turn back.

Father.

It's so good to see you out.

Let's go.

Let's go home.

With the ministers and academicians

stabilizing the court and governing the populace,

the people can be pacified, and the state can be stabilized.

[Kaifeng Prefecture, the capital] Your Majesty has newly ascended,

the foundation not yet firm.

If we rashly launch a northern expedition and suffer defeat, the state would be unstable.

I have been waiting for this day for seven years since the third year of Qingtai.

I prepared for seven years.

Minister Sang, what do you still want to solidify the foundation?

I'm afraid the threat is not from outside,

but from within.

[Shi Chonggui] I want the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan-Yun back.

Why do you insist on stopping me?

It is not the right time, not the right situation,

and not the right person.

Not the right person.

Minister Sang, you still regards me as a child.

I am not that kind of ignorant youngsters raised by ignorant women's hands like those in of the old Tang.

I have been in the army since I was twelve.

I fought on the battlefield, completed missions, and have never retreated.

Otherwise, how could the late Emperor pass the crown to me?

Your Majesty, a national war is quite a different thing.

It does not require mere fervor, nor individual reckless bravery.

Sang Weihan,

whose minister are you?

I

am the Emperor!

If you still don't remove your bride's fan, I will do it myself.

Alright.

Why are you standing there still?

Come here and help me.

Alright.

This crown of yours is indeed quite heavy.

Don't you have anything to say to your humble wife?

I'm afraid what I have to say might not be something pleasant.

I am listening.

In a few days,

I will set off with the army.

I know.

My father and elder brother are going.

You're going together?

Yes.

W shouldn't speak of such war matters on the joyful wedding day.

But I'm worried that if I don't tell you today...

I understand.

You are telling me the truth.

You are about to reclaim Yan-Yun.

Father is always worried, but elder brother is pleased.

You should be pleased too, right?

The humiliation of losing Yan and Yun is carved into our bones.

Who would not be filled with indignation?

Do you know what is most crucial in the campaign

to reclaim Yan-Yun?

Certainly, provisions, supplies, and troops.

We must advance from Hedong and Hebei in two routes,

preventing the Khitan armies to support each.

The first crucial matter.

is that you return alive

In such an era

we women have absolutely no reason to remain faithful to a dead husband,

and observe widowhood.

Therefore,

if you don't wish

that I take my dowry and remarry

shortly after marrying you,

you'd better return alive to see me.

This second important matter

is what mother said.

What are my mother-in-law's instructions?

Mother says since

you and your uncle need some days more to prepare for the journey,

you should using these days ensure the Zhao family has an heir.

In the year 942 AD, after Shi Chonggui ascended the throne,

he refused to submit to the Khitan,

which triggered three major wars with the Khitan.

In the year 946 AD,

during the third war, the Chief Commander Du Zhongwei colluded with the Khitan

and betrayed his side with two hundred thousand troops,

Jin losing its main forces.

Khitan took advantage of the situation to capture Kaifeng,

the Later Jin's reign severely threatened.

[Western Court, Hangzhou] Chaos is about to descend.

Southern Tang, Western Shu, Southern Han, Southern Chu, all these states

have sent envoys to the capital to spy abd rally ministers,

waiting for events to come.

If the imperial army fails to stop the enemy in Hebei,

and the Northern cavalry captured the river,

I'm afraid the disaster of the Sixteen Kingdoms will fall again.

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan.

Yes.

Has any military events happened in the border?

The armies of Southern Tang is as usual.

The armies of Southern Han and Southern Chu show signs of moving northward.

How is the treasury of the Ministry of Revenue?

Last year to this year are bumper harvest years.

The treasury is full.

No need to worry about preparations for military.

Minister Yuan, as winter approaches,

it is time to send envoys to offer New Year's congratulations to the emperor, right?

Exactly.

Given the situation,

I shall make another trip to the capital.

Then appoint the Vice Director of the State Affairs, Deputy Military Governor of Hedong,

Commander of Cavalry and Infantry Forces, Judge of the Chief Commander Office of All Forces,

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan, as the New Year's Greeting Envoy,

to the capital.

One more thing.

Appoint the Acting Minister of Works, Commander of the Inner Guard Forces,

Secretariat Director of the Marshal's Office, Qian Hongchu,

[Qian Hongchu, Commander of the Inner Guards] as the Deputy Envoy.

Great King,

the situation is dangerous,

and the Later Jin court is likely to be struggling for its life.

The situation is dangerous, and the court is likely to be struggling.

If it truly collapses like fifty years ago,

I,

must also struggle for my life.

Lord Shuiqiu, heading north at this time, takes the even greater risk of his life.

Which one of the Qian family of Wuyue, can stand aloof?

Hongchu,

I'll tell you frankly:

This journey is unpredictable;

you'll risk your life.

You dare to go?

Your Majesty,

it's such a great calamity,

I am timid, and dares not go.

However,

I have long heard of the capital's prosperity.

It's said that in capital, the food, goods,

are all the epitome of luxury and wealth,

far beyond Wuyue, the remote land's imagination.

I have long admired and coveted it.

I'm willing to travel to the capital with Lord Shuiqiu,

to satisfy a lifelong desire.

Do you know why I'm sending you there?

Father and son, elder and younger brothers shall fight together.

Those words are what grandfather taught father and uncles

when he was a hostage in central Wu region.

Grandfather had thirty-eight sons in total.

When the state faced calamity, the only one who stepped forward and share his burden

was our father.

When grandfather uttered those words back then,

he wasn't meaning to praise father.

He meant to scold others.

Sixth Brother, I never knew this.

How dare I scold my elder brothers?

Playing dumb.

I actually understand.

You are the ruler of the state, so obviously you can't go.

Seventh Brother has now joined the Chancellor.

He is now your right-hand man, so he cannot go either.

Then I, Idle folks fishing and playing all day, am the only one left.

Whether I live or I die,

brings little influence to family or country.

Then of course I am the most suitable one.

Having been studying for years, you should have made some progress.

If Father back then had not stepped forward to shoulder the great responsibility,

how could Grandfather entrusting the state to him with relief?

Sixth Brother, you must be joking.

On this journey to the capital,

do not act on your own in every matter.

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan is an important minister

and a renowned gentleman.

Just follow his arrangements in various affairs.

Rest assured.

Though I've been frivolous, I dare not act recklessly in state affairs.

The capital is perilous.

In Hangzhou, you are from the royal family.

But in the capital, no one will yield to you.

Always put your life first.

Do not be too willful.

Rest assured.

I will

keep your words in mind.

The war situation in the north is unclear.

I'm afraid the road after

landing at Deng-Lai will be difficult.

Prince, you may have to endure some hardship.

Envoy.

Prince.

Seems that something happened.

Look,

the warships of the Huanglong House.

[Sun Taizhen, Lady Yu's daughter]It's my elder brother.

Elder brother!

Elder brother!

Third Brother!

[Sun Ben, Lady Yu's eldest son]

Although the imperial court has many troops, the most reliable forces are only two.

One is Liu Zhiyuan's army in Jinyang,

the other is Du Zhongwei's in Yexia.

Du Zhongwei has surrendered.

Liu Zhiyuan alone cannot hold the line.

He can protect himself, but it's hard to advance.

The situation in the court instead is most troublesome.

The current Emperor is not as good as the late Emperor.

Although the late Emperor was mocked as Son Emperor,

he was after all a hero of his time.

Commanding troops, handling affairs, appointing generals and officers...

His prestige in those aspects was immense.

Taizhen, sit down and eat with us.

No.

I don't understand a single word of what you are saying.

It's boring sitting here.

True. Look, you two haven't seen each other for so many years,

but as you meet you talk about boring politics.

Aren't you tired of it?

Hongchu is still so playful as before.

Now that you have entered the court, I'm afraid you can't avoid learning these military and state affairs.

My family's ancestral teaching tells me how to face big matters.

However formidable the Khitan cavalry is,

they can't ride directly here across the Yangtze River, right?

However chaotic the Central Plains are in,

having thirty regimes and eighty emperors replacing the former ones,

they have nothing to do with our Wuyue, right?

You have been in the peaceful Wuyue for too long,

not konwing how danger it can be when the empire collapse.

In the capital, whoever the emperor is,

we all equally submit, present memorials, and offer tribute.

What does the collapse of the empire have to do with us?

Third Brother, try this.

Hongchu is after all too young.

He has some small clever ideas, but he lacks worldly experience and insight.

Why Hongzuo sends him?

He should send Hongzong instead.

No one can stay childish forever.

One must learn what he should learn,

and must bear what

he must bear.

In this world,

there is no real Elysium

Look.

[Ye County, Laizhou Prefecture]

Something's unsual.

What's unusal?

The northern army is moving south, and the battlefield should be southwest of Ye.

Even the cavalry detours,

they should pass through Yanzhou and Jizhou to the west.

There's no reason to detour hundreds of miles to the East Sea coast as a preliminary move.

You means this place is not the front line of the battle?

If the Khitan cavalry really had such magical power,

why would they bypass the capital and instead take a long detour here,

to burn Laizhou to ashes?

Because

it wasn't them who burned it.

Go.

Riding a horse requires your legs' strength to grip the horse's belly.

Holding onto the saddle rings is useless.

Shut up.

You'd better not ride yourself and get on my horse.

I'll take you with me.

I said shut up.

Are you hurt?

You see,

It's not a big deal falling down.

It's fine.

Get on my horse, I'll take you with me.

No.

Don't be stubborn.

Get on my horse, I'll take you.

I can make it myself.

You can?

There's a long way ahead.

Let's go.

I'll take you.

You see?

you can't control a horse with your hands.

You have to use your feet.

Horses are smart.

With just a light touch, it knows what to do.

What you need to do is to sit steadily on the horse's back.

Try it.

Clamp your legs tight.

Tight already?

How is it?

Steady now?

These

are all human bones.

What is that person doing?

He is too hungry.

Prince，

you'd better have some.

Winter approaching,

the further we go, the colder it gets.

Your body can't make it without something warm in your belly.

Have some more.

After this trip, I'll never use bones to make soup again.

Those bones lying along the road...

The local officials, do not care at all?

Here is the Pinglu Army's place.

Since Huang Chao's rebellion, it's been sixty or seventy years, right?

Because of Wars,

and disease,

people here dying all around every year.

The post stations in the Central Plains have long been abandoned.

This place doesn't belong to a prefecure.

Who would care them?

The bones you saw were cleared to the roadside so that they won't

block the road and hinder troop movements.

So many corpses can cause a great epidemic.

These people from the north really lack awareness.

Of course, they have been accustomed to it.

Disease is indeed terrifying.

But compared to dying in wars, or being captured and stewed to make soup,

dying from illness already means good fortune.

Prince,

you sure you don't want some?

May be intruders.

Stay alert.

Go.

Envoy, Prince, everything alright here?

What happened?

Reporting to Envoy and Prince, some men in official army uniforms came.

They seemed to be chasing someone who is fleeing.

Seeing the firelight here, they barged in.

Anyone injured?

Luckily we have a big number of soldiers well prepared.

No one died, and twelve were wounded,

four seriously,

What about those men?

They had horses and we couldn't capture them all. Eleven escaped.

Anyone alive?

Two injured, their horses' legs were cut.

They suicided finding impossible to fleet.

Of the three fleeing faster, two died. The other one was hit by three arrows,

slashed once on the back, but he's alive.

Should we save his life?

Hedong Army.

Where are their bodies?

In the woods.

Take us there.

This way.

They are wearing standard military uniforms.

Clearly, they are not from Khitan.

Envoy,

I found this from an officer's body.

Commander of the imperial guards of Weibo?

Clerk of Cavalry and Infantry...

This is something used in Hedong Jinyang Army,

having been used since Li Keyong occupied Taiyuan.

They are actually the Shatuo people's personal guards.

This Clerk position,

I don't know what it is for.

Pack up luggages and set off now.

We cannot stay here for long.

What about that one?

He was too severely hurt to move.

Once he catches a cold, he will die at once.

The conflicts between the northern governors

are not something we remote Wuyue can interfere with.

This is nothing

we can handle.

So we just leave him here?

Can't we carry him on a horse?

Prince, we have only a few horses.

To carry four injured people, four commanders will have to march on foot.

Those are our own commanders.

We don't know who he is.

To have a commander to give a horse to him, our men might have some complaints.

Who asked for your horses?

Bring my horse.

Use my horse to carry him.

I will march on foot.

Enough.

Let's move out since luggages are packed.

Prince,

just use my horse.

We haven't seen many living people since we disembarked.

What about the last time you came?

Three years ago, this place was desolate indeed,

but around the city, there were residents.

Prince, Commander.

His fever has gone and he should be in safe condition now.

When will he wake up?

I don't know.

When we reach the capital, find him a better physician to treat him.

Understood.

Just keep lying there, you.

Watch over him.

Yang Guangyi, Attendant of the Imperial Guard, pays respects to the Ambassador.

Why is it you who came?

Please rise.

No need for formalities, Attendant.

[Yang Guangyi, Attendant of Imperial Guard]

We are here to welcome you and escort you into the capital by the order of the Minister.

What is the current situation in the capital?

Not good

The troops from Yexia have occupied Fengqiu, vanguard reaching Chenqiao Post.

In the east, outside Dongming Town, Zhaopi and Tongwaxiang strongholds are being attacked by scouts.

Who is the commander leading them?

It is Zhang Yanze, the Marshal of the Zhangguo Army.

His tactics have always been known for being ferocious.

Pressing Fengqiu in the north and Dongming in the east,

They must be flanking maneuver Ato cut off the southern route to the capital.

How many troops are in Dongming? Who's defending there?

Although Dongming has two strongholds, there aren't many troops stationed there.

If a battle breaks out it, would be over in a day.

Once Dongming falls, Chenliu will certainly be the next.

I passed by Chenliu this morning. The magistrate of Chenliu has fled and the city is in chaos.

We didn't enter the city. We came around it.

Who is in charge of the capital's defense?

It's a hard topic. The Marshals and the generals have been evading responsibility for over a month.

The ministers also have no clear plan.

What about Lord Feng?

He returned to the capital more than ten days ago.

Marshals have been lining up, offering gold and paintings to see him, but none met him.

He merely attends court, handing all military affairs to the Bureau of Military Affairs without even asking.

And the Emperor?

In reply to your noble question, my status is low.

Palace affairs are beyond my knowledge.

I heard that a few days ago, several eunuchs stole some gold and items

trying to flee from the city.

Lord Feng issued a strict order to behead them.

We must seize the chance to get through now that Chenliu has not yet been sealed off.

The era of complete chaos is coming.

In the dust and dirt of battlefield,

nobody will know what kinds of beasts are hiding.

When in Wuyue, I always thought Sixth Brother was heartless.

But experiencing so much on the journey, I understand his difficulties.

He is far better than this new Emperors in the Central Plains.

What's wrong?

Not feeling well？

Nonsense!

Then what is it?

You must have meals even you're not feeling well, don't you?

I specially got you some vegetable soup.

I just feel that

things are not quite as I imagined.

Indeed, they are not quite the same.

Tell me,

why wouldn't Wuyue be like this?

Probably because

the people are different.

Everyone has a head on their shoulders.

What is different?

Wuyue has no military unrest,

and it's not this cold.

Actually, Wuyue is not entirely peaceful either.

Uncle Dai, so loyal and upright, yet was unjustly convicted and lost his life.

And my elder brother.

If Mother had not cut off the Qiantang River, perhaps he would have been...

Ministers each have their own wish.

Within the imperial clan, family affairs can be troublesome.

But these have nothing to do with the common people.

Farmers in the fields and fishermen on the water are unaffected.

Every day,

related officials will care for the hydraulic engineering.

There are no refugees or disorderly soldiers,

nor many white bones by the road.

What you speak of are all extremely ordinary things.

Yet here they cannot be seen.

You are right.

They are extremely ordinary.

Yet in the Central Plains, they are all absent.

Yang Guangyi.

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles strech towering mountains. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles run surging rivers. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles cry warhorses. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles there are emotions unspoken. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, flowers are blooming along the road. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, gooses are returning to the north. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, we stand through storms. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, we hope for a safe return. ♫

♫ Tens of thousands of miles is not enough, ♫

♫ for a lifetime's sorrows and joys. ♫

♫ Tens of thousands of miles is not enough, ♫

♫ for the endless seas and rivers. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ love will overcome all barriers. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ we are together in life and death. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ the moon shines in the boundless world. ♫

♫ My heart has its hometown to return. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ who is the one crossing the waves with me, ♫

♫ with our hearts unrepentant, through countless lifetimes. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ oceans and lands witness that♫

♫ the world will be safe and sound. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ my heart is unchanging. ♫