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 18]

[Liaoqian Third Company Garrison, by the Taihu Lake]

You've worked hard.

Have a good meal and rest.

Here.

You've worked hard.

[Shen Wenqi] Have a good rest.

Have a good rest.

Here.

Have a good rest.

Here.

Have a good rest.

Thank you, Mr. Shen.

It's done.

Here.

Thank you, Mr. Shen.

Thank you, Mr. Shen.

You've worked hard.

You've worked hard.

Here.

Thank you, Mr. Shen.

Here.

Have a good meal and rest.

Here.

Thank you, Mr. Shen.

I, Shen Wenqi, pay respects to Seventh Prince.

A renowned scholar of the court comes to dredge lake silt. It must be difficult for you, Mr. Shen.

Taihu Lake has silted up high, causing disasters.

Three generations of Liaoqian Company soldiers are digging silt, toiling like this day after day.

It's nothing difficult.

It's a gentleman's morality to be as virtuous as jade.

No wonder Eldest Brother valued you so highly back then.

Is the Eldest Prince well?

By the king's command, he is reading in his mansion.

He hasn't been put to labor recent years.

No illness, no calamity. He's even gained over ten catties.

His lives certainly much more comfortably than you.

If that is so,

please convey my regards to him.

Not forgetting your former lord is the integrity of a gentleman.

However, you yourself are still in under suspicion, your guilt not yet pardoned.

It's better to be a little more careful.

Someone with ill intent might submit a report against you to the Great King,

even if he is wise, and wouldn't cast you aside because of it, it would still cause unnecessary trouble.

Has the Seventh Prince come specifically for me?

The Great King has an edict.

Shen Wenqi, kneel and listen.

I humbly receives the King's instruction.

Shen Wenqi of the Liaoqian Company is a man of profound knowledge,

praised during the reign of the previous king.

Appoint him Right Remonstrant and Inner Attendant, and oversee affairs in Wenzhou.

You shall respect and obey, and further dedicate yourself to loyal service with greater sincerity!

I, Shen Wenqi, pay respects to the Great King.

You must have suffered quite a bit these years by the Taihu Lake.

I rise with the sun, rest at dusk,

build dikes and dig lake mud.

I have a bowl of coarse rice per meal,

and can get an extra fish as a civil official.

There's no burdens of government affairs or official documents.

Every day, I write letters home for the children and teach them to read and write.

Even the life in Tao Yuanming's Poems

is not a more idyllic life than this.

Are you complaining about me for leaving you idle?

I do not resent the Great King.

Is it that you don't,

or that you dare not?

I entered officialdom to serve.

In Hangzhou, I worked.

At Taihu Lake, I also worked.

In the Inner Cavalry Guards, I worked.

In the Liaoqian Company, I also worked.

As long as there is work to be done,

I am content.

No need to resent.

You truly have the demeanor of a renowned man.

It is me,

who seems somewhat petty.

No matter big or small, all rewards are the sovereign’s grace.

How much do you know about the case in Wenzhou?

Ouyang Kuan was greedy and contemptible, incapable of letting go of matters,

narrow-minded and intolerant of others.

We could utilize his talents while avoiding his flaws when he was in the capital.

As a local governor dealing directly with the people,

he would inevitably undermine state governance and bring disaster.

The Ninth Prince executed him with swift and decisive action, fearing no ridicule, avoiding no suspicion.

He already learned from the style of the Eldest Prince before.

You say the Ninth Prince avoids no suspicion.

Yet you, so boldly,

in my presence,

mention my eldest brother.

Shouldn't you also avoid a little suspicion?

I served in his place for years and know deeply that he harbored no improper ambitions.

The events then had their reasons. The situation is constrained.

You had no choice but to do that.

Restoring order is a must.

You know that in your heart.

I

also know that in my heart.

So what suspicion is there to avoid?

People say Lord Shuiqiu and you are the two gentlemen of the state.

These words do make sense.

Lord Shuiqiu is a royal relative and pillar of the state.

I dare not be mentioned alongside him.

You should assist my younger brother with all your strength in Wenzhou this time.

I will devote myself entirely and fulfill my duties diligently.

I was reckless. Please forgive the offense.

It is nothing.

The Seventh Prince is investigating the Imperial Guard.

Regarding the shortfall from Wenzhou, I am striving to remedy it.

But it will require some more time.

Since the war in Fuzhou began,

even the price of rice from Srivijaya has tripled or quadrupled. [Srivijaya: an ancient country in Southeast Asia]

What could be done with one bolt of silk before,

now even three bolts of silk may not suffice.

Shanyue House currently lacks sufficient cash on its accounts.

I still need to transfer funds from other sources.

Still, you can rest assured.

Before next year's January, I will certainly handle it.

You are wronged this time.

The war is of utmost importance.

The Ninth Prince oversees the army's provisions. He also has his own constraints.

I entrust you with making secret arrangements for this matter.

Outsiders, unaware of the full details, will inevitably harbor some misunderstandings.

I know you are wronged.

I am well aware of the difficulties you face.

Do not let doubts or rifts take root in your heart.

I dare not.

When I pledged allegiance to the Great King, I stated beforehand:

The Great King treats me as a man of state.

I will certainly serve with my life to repay.

Now,

not to mention some money or grievances, even this life of mine,

if you have any use for it, take it as you will.

I dare not harbor the slightest resentment.

Good.

You actually have such sincere devotion. I will absolutely not let you come to a bad end.

Go now.

Just do it in your own way.

Yes.

Listen.

How much sincerity does this man truly have?

Nice words are easy to say.

If he had no ulterior motives, why would he, within the Imperial Guard, cultivate so many connections?

On the night of the Lichun Courtyard fire, someone saw him in the palace.

There's one more.

I, Deputy Commissioner of Transport Office, Wenzhou Prefect, Shen Wenqi, pay respects to the Ninth Prince.

Wenqi!

I've been guessing for so many days,

I never would have thought Sixth Brother would have you take charge of Wenzhou.

Renji, this is Mr. Shen, Shen Wenqi, known as one of the two gentlemen of our Kingdom of Wuyue.

His articles and talents were praised even by the late Minister Pi.

I'm Cui Renji. I pay respects to you, Lord Wenqi.

Greetings, Mr.Cui.

Dingsheng cakes!

Mr.Cui, please do not listen to the Ninth Prince's honeyed words.

Back in Hangzhou, among the late King's sons,

it was Ninth Prince that was most skilled at sweet-talking.

Let's see if the hometown pastries I brought have you stop talking.

These past days have truly been hard for me.

Immense responsibility concerning tens of thousands of troops pressed down on me, this fisherman,

and also the livelihood of the six prefectures behind.

This burden is too heavy.

But now it's good.

With you here, I can finally take a good rest.

Prince, that's impossible.

Do you still think you are that reckless imperial boy five years ago?

Since you have already taken on this immense responsibility, to think of resting now is already too late.

Even when the war ends and the army withdrew,

you will receive new assignments.

To wish to be carefree as in the past is likely impossible now.

Sir, what harm could it do to allow me a moment of joy?

To be so blunt is truly inconsiderate.

Furthermore, among these local officials and clerks,

not a single one that can put your mind at ease.

Relax a little,

and they can create a huge mess of trouble.

Sir, you know I have never been a diligent person.

But during this period, I haven't even dared to take a deep breath.

I truly don't know how my brother managed to endure these years.

Each family has its own difficulties, and each person has his own way of doing things.

The Great King is wise, perceptive, firm, and principled. Wicked and petty people cannot deceive him.

As the saying goes, too much purity leaves no fish; too much scrutiny leaves no followers.

Seeing things too clearly, he would manage everything personally.

Over time, this is bound to harm his health.

Who says the wicked cannot deceive him?

That Cheng Zhaoyue is clearly a wicked person.

Not only did he harm Eldest Brother, but he also tried to kill you, Sir.

And now, isn't he still serving as Commander of the Imperial Guards?

He took up official office, yet still engaged in trade.

He cornered the entire grain supply of the prefecture, and ruined the governance.

And yet, Sixth Brother continues to trust him all the same.

Where are wisdom and integrity?

You killed Ouyang Kuan and the central court is in chaos.

Within a single day over a dozen censors from the Censorate submitted successive impeachment memorials

accusing you of arrogance and unauthorized killing, of tyranny and willfulness.

Great King, Seventh Prince along with the various ministers in the central court have suppressed it.

But you yourself,

why won't you even submit a single memorial in self-defense?

Please take a look, Sir.

What is this?

The confessions of Commissioner of Taxes,

Commissioner of Land Office, Prefects of four counties,

and thirty-one other officials of various ranks.

Since the evidence is conclusive, why not submit a memorial?

For one thing, the war is not yet over.

Government affairs still need someone to handle.

Beheading a prefect is one thing.

But if all these thirty-odd people are executed,

the court can't fill so many vacancies immediately.

Holding these things in hand ensures they will work diligently and prevents them from

daring to act recklessly or continue their corrupt practices.

As the saying goes, it is better to use those with faults than those with merits.

For another thing,

in all this evidence,

every single case involves Cheng Zhaoyue.

If I submit it now while I'm not in Hangzhou,

perhaps that scoundrel will need only a few words to deceive Sixth Brother.

Wouldn't that render all my efforts in vain?

When the war is over and I return to the capital,

I will present the evidence directly to my brother, in front of all the officials.

Perhaps we can topple this traitor in one fell swoop.

Sir, you think it's unwise?

Your plans are indeed good,

but when handling things, it's sometimes far more enough to just putting others into the plan.

You must also put yourself in.

Myself?

Your current appointment is Military Inspector and Transport Commissioner,

in charge of provisions, armor, weapons, and supplies.

Matters concerning the Shanyue House fall under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Revenue and the Trading Office.

Cheng Zhaoyue is Commander of the Imperial Guards, under the Cavalry Commander, under Lord Hu's jurisdiction.

Bypassing Lord Hu, the Ministry of Revenue and the Trading Office to handle these matters,

have you reported and requested permission from the Great King?

I am the Great King's own brother, Commander of the Inner Cavalry and Infantry!

Prince, do you impeach Cheng Zhaoyue for personal matters or state affairs?

Of course for state affairs.

You can say brothers in personal matters, but not state affairs.

Cheng Zhaoyue is merely a minor ailment.

The battle of Fuzhou truly concerns the rise and fall of the nation's.

You are of the royal clan,

a son of the previous king.

You should know that the welfare of the state is above personal grudges.

Your words are really wise. I respectfully take it to heart.

After the great victory at Baixiapu,

The Wuyue army continued to attacked the Southern Tang troops with the defenders in the city.

The Tang troops fled in defeat and Li Renda submitted.

Fuzhou came under Wuyue's control.

Great Victory at Fuzhou!

Great King, great Victory at Fuzhou!

The Tang army retreated to Jianzhou.

Fuzhou's defending general, Li Renda, requested to submit.

Our army eight hundred miles away, proclaims the victory.

We congratulate the Great King.

Long live your victories!

This is a feat of expanding territory.

We congratulate the Great King.

Long live your victories!

We congratulate the Great King.

Long live your victories!

When a state is prosperous with people living in peace, there are always virtuous ministers sent outside for local governance.

History has proved the importance of capable officials in military and political affairs.

Chief Commander of the Southeastern Field Command, Yang Renquan, is appointed

Military Governor of the Ningguo Army, Commander of the Inner Cavalry and Infantry Guards,

participating in major governance, and is entitled as Duke of Xuan.

I kowtow in gratitude for your grace.

Supervisor of the Southeastern Field Command,

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan, is appointed Palace Attendant, Military Governor of Xuande Army,

Commander of the Inner Cavalry and Infantry Guards,

Governor of Huzhou, and is entitled as Duke of Wuxing.

I kowtow in gratitude for your grace.

Deputy Commander of the Southeastern Field Command, Zhang Jun,

is appointed Minister of War, Chief Commander of the Inner Cavalry Guards,

Governor of Xuanzhou, and is entitled as Marquis of Xuancheng.

I kowtow in gratitude for your grace.

Deputy Chief Inspector of the Southeastern Field Command, Zhao Chengtai,

is appointed Deputy Minister of War, Chief Commander of the Inner Infantry Guards,

Governor of Muzhou, and is entitled as Marquis of Shouchang.

I kowtow in gratitude for your grace.

Bestow rewards upon loyal ministers, to make imperial grace shine.

You shall assist in affairs of the grand state.

Let the responsible authorities carry this out.

Great King, it is unjust.

In this battle, Marshal Yang directed the armies and fought at the front line.

This merit belongs to him.

Lord Shuiqiu supervised the army and generals.

This merit belongs to him.

Ninth Prince guarded Wenzhou, oversaw the transportation of the army’s supplies,

and ensured the front line soldiers suffered no hunger or cold.

This merit belongs to him.

Now, everyone has been rewarded, yet only Ninth Prince has been omitted.

This is unjustifiable!

Minister Wu,

Ninth Prince is from the royal clan, the king's own brother.

He should not compete for merit with the generals.

Seventh Prince, you are mistaken here.

Though the Central Plains is in turmoil, we still have our laws.

If a prince breaks the law, he is punished the same as a commoner.

If the punishment is the same, then achievements should also be rewarded equally.

Previously, the Eighth Prince, with few merits, was appointed the Pacification Commissioner.

Now, the Ninth Prince's achievements far surpass those of the Eighth Prince.

Yet he neither governs a commandery nor receives any reward.

As brothers of the same clan, it seems not appropriate to favor one over the other.

Could it be because,

the Ninth Prince, along the way,

has impeached too many people and offended Lord Guo, making too many enemies,

that he needs to be restrained?

Sit for a while.

Father.

Father, you need not be so angry.

Shuiqiu, that Governor of Huzhou,

is merely an honorary one.

In the past, the King promised you the actual governorship of Huzhou.

That was an actual one.

It's different.

Our little King, young in age but shrewd in mind,

is using this empty title of Governor of Huzhou to admonish me.

Regarding Du Hao's case,

I have not yet submitted a memorial of apology.

He is holding a grudge in his heart.

Clearly knowing that the title of Governor is currently mine,

he deliberately pretends not to know and casually gives it to Shuiqiu.

This is purely meant to provoke.

Could you possibly go and argue with the Great King?

How would I argue?

His own brother has achieved merit,

but received no reward.

I am just an old man who idles away his time.

At most, he has only taken away my nominal title of Huzhou Governor.

How could I have the face

to go and argue with him?

[Huanglong Island, the East Sea]

What does this little fellow mean?

Is he trying to burn the bridge after crossing the river?

Mother, please be patient a little longer.

The Sixth Brother may not be able to delay until the New Year.

You're quite good at favoring outsiders.

Don't just think that they are your brothers.

Taizhen is also your own younger sister.

I have traveled to Japan twice this month, and to Goryeo once,

all to prepare the dowry for Taizhen.

You mean you're not favoring them?

Only thinking about giving money away.

What about the betrothal gifts from their side?

You youngsters always run around without a plan.

If we let you run things,

we'd surely end up in utter poverty.

No need.

It's fine if you don't come back for months.

I can understand that.

But if you come back and still ignore me, then why come back?

I'm...

Don't be silly.

When have I ever been silly with you?

I have serious business.

Alright.

It's always your business that's serious, while mine never are.

What I'm calculating is your business.

What does that have to do with me?

I'm calculating,

how much dowry to ask your mother for.

Hongchu's matter shouldn't be delayed for long.

Minister Wu is easy to deal with,

but the in-laws from Huanglong Island aren't known for their good temper.

Regarding the Taizhou matter, Hongchu has done a great job.

Not to mention appointing him as a substantive governor, even if the rewards were more generous,

outsiders can't say anything.

After all, he's my own brother,

I want to wait a bit longer,

until Cheng Zhaoyue gathers those 500,000 hu of grain.

So that when Hongchu takes office, he won't be burdened by that mess.

That makes sense.

This Cheng Zhaoyue doing so much, isn't it just because he wants to be appointed as a substantive governor?

Well actually, it's not so excessive.

Official ranks are state instruments.

They are not for buying and selling.

An empty title like Commander of the Imperial Guards is one thing,

but a local official who governs the people represents the court.

We cannot allow such merchants to meddle.

How is the matter I asked you to investigate?

Almost done.

In case he might get alerted, we haven't moved against He Chengxun yet.

Don't alert him.

Wait until he finishes this assignment, then arrest him and He Chengxun together.

Get out.

Go down.

All of you, go!

I'm not even anxious.

Why are you so anxious?

Lately,

my eyelids,

have been twitching nonstop.

Every time I close my eyes,

all I see is Dai Yun's bloody, mangled face.

What's the big deal about this?

If you're really uneasy,

I, Cheng, have a plan that can ease the worries of all the generals.

Lean in.

Turn me in,

in exchange for a lifetime of wealth.

What are you talking about?

After doing so many things, can I still run away?

Do you really think the Qians,

do you really think the Qians,

are Bodhisattvas reincarnated?

They are nothing but man-eating sea monsters!

What exactly is your plan?

Explain it to me carefully,

so I can know what ought to be done and what ought not.

The time is not yet ripe.

When the time is ripe,

you will know.

"So boil a sheep, butcher an ox, make merry for a while,

and when you sit yourself to drink, always down three hundred cups."

Master Cen, Danqiu, the kindred spirits,

where are they now?

This boy has become suspicious.

He is neither essential nor indispensable.

With such planning,

[Li Yuanqing] Are you to seize power, or to seek wealth?

Neither.

Just can't accept it.

If it were you,

those Qian brothers, treating you like a pig being raised,

now that the New Year is approaching,

if you don't fight to the death, are you just waiting to be slaughtered?

You’re playing with fire.

Better safe than sorry.

In this Wuyue Qian family,

not a single one is a fool.

That little Ninth Prince, for example.

In Bianliang, he was also a prominent figure, not someone easy to deal with.

They thought themselves clever, using official titles to lure me.

But I am a businessman, so I can use money to lure them.

Without obtaining the 500,000 hu of grain, they dare not act against me.

So now,

when to act,

is up to me.

What mischief are you up to now?

Not sleeping at midnight, what are you doing here?

Seventh Brother, you and Sixth Brother are planning to deal with Cheng Zhaoyue, right?

What nonsense are you talking?

Sixth Brother probably calculates that once he gathers those five hundred thousand hu of grain,

he will deal with him.

Is that so?

I came to ask you

to relay to Sixth Brother that if that truly is his plan, there is no need to wait any longer.

The Shanyue House is a trading house, neither hoarding land nor farming.

Those 500,000 hu of grain, in the end, must come from people who produce it.

I,

have a better method.

What method?

So you are planning against him!

Hongchu, you...

Report!

Prince, Commander of the First Unit of the Imperial Guards, He Chengxun requests an audience.

Seventh Prince,

Ninth Prince,

I,

have a great secret matter to report.

I,

wish to report the Commander of the Imperial Guards,

Cheng Zhaoyue.

What nonsense are you saying?

A mere unit chief, framing a state minister?

You are mad?

I deserve death ten thousand times over,

but only hope that you will listen to my words.

Since that is the case, then speak.

You charge Commander Cheng for what?

I denounce Cheng Zhaoyue for burning down the inner treasury,

plotting to harm the previous king, and slaughtering the royal clan.

Three major crimes!

He Chengxun is indeed a petty man, nut after all,

he commands an Imperial Guards unit guarding the imperial city.

His position is crucial, and he knows many secrets.

Why did you

force him to rebel?

Since he is a petty man, he would rebel sooner or later.

Why bother?

That may be so, but if you hadn't hesitated and delayed before, missing the perfect opportunity,

how could he have developed a heart of betrayal?

Two months ago, the war in Fuzhou was intense,

with continuous heavy rain, roads were destroyed, the royal city was empty.

If you had acted decisively then, things would have been accomplished by now.

Why would he have betrayed you and left?

Yes.

If you had acted decisively then, you,

Yuanqing, would now be holding military authority in Hangzhou.

Why would you now be sitting here,

drinking sorrowful wine with a merchant like me,

who reeks of the stench of money?

The one who hesitated and delayed was not me.

It was the Tang Emperor sitting in Jinling City.

Colluding with Southern Tang, intending to rebel?

That's what He said.

This doesn't make sense.

He colluded with nobles and officials, and offer bribes.

To cover his tracks, he even set fire to the inner treasury overnight,

causing the late King's death.

For such a heinous crime, once exposed,

not to say a mere merchant without background,

even the most entrenched noble clans shall be exterminated.

Precisely because he is a mere merchant instead of any noble family member, this doesn't make sense.

When the Taizhou case broke out, I promised him the position of Land Commissioner of Zhedong.

Its power and prestige rival that of a chancellor.

The economic benefits are even more incalculable.

To a merchant's, money is more important than life.

What exactly,

did Jinling authority promise him?

Cheng,

you and I are merely merchants.

Why, are merchants ranked last among the four types of commoners?

Cheng,

no matter how much King Qian values you,

he only gave you an empty title of Commander of the Imperial Guards.

He neither lets you command troops nor gives you with money.

He's raising you like a pig.

But Southern Tang Emperor, insightful,

promised you the substantive position of Militia Commander in Runzhou,

where our dynasty’s Prince of Yan, currently holds his headquarters.

The city walls are impregnable, the city prosperous.

Granted such immense grace,

you are still not satisfied—

yet you brazenly demand the post of Military Governor of Zhendong.

In the Jinling court, how many meritorious ministers and important generals

have served two generations of emperors for decades and still haven't attained such a high post?

How can you expect His Majesty to grant it to you?

Military Governor of Zhendong...

Military Governor of Zhendong...

That's it.

Military Governor of Zhendong.

That was already the price two months ago.

Yuanqing,

this is gambling.

It's about betting on the outcome.

In the Fuzhou war,

if the Tang army had won, and the morale in Wuyue collapsed.

By then, not to mention a Runzhou Militia Commander,

even a lower-ranking Defense Commissioner

would have made me weep with gratitude and kowtow in thanks for the imperial favor.

Unfortunately,

you weren't up to the task.

A major defeat at the gates of Fuzhou, damaged the prestige of the Jinling Emperor.

The situation in Wuyue is stable.

The Qian brothers' prestige is at its peak.

For me, to act against the tide at this time, merely being the Military Governor of Zhendong Army,

is naturally far from sufficient.

What do you want then?

Not much.

Military Governor of both Zhenhai and Zhendong Armies,

Participant in Government Affairs,

stationed in Hangzhou, and entitled as King of Wu.

"With a dance with the sword, the whole world was stirred.”

Yuanqing,

your opinion?

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles stretch 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. ♫