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 25]

Head of the Ninghai Lei Clan,

Lei Yonglian, where are you?

I am Lei Yonglian.

At your command, Prince.

On the sixth day of the third month last year, guaranteed by the Taizhou Land Office,

grain was loaned:

two thousand one hundred and sixty-seven hu, and thirty-six dou,

to the six villages of Haiyou Town, Ninghai County:

Changning, Shangdong, Xiaoyugua,

Chenwu, Fengyuan, Pingbo,

comprising five hundred and sixteen households.

The loan term was one year, with an annual interest of six percent and six-tenths.

Is this correct?

I am guilty.

I should not have listened to the words of the former county prefect, Prefect Gao.

Thinking to take advantage of the famine year

to acquire some land and property for the younger members of the clan,

I was thus blinded by greed, harboring the despicable intention of seizing others' land.

I signed this grain loan contract.

I beg you, Prince, considering that my Ninghai Lei Clan

has always abided by the law and dared not act recklessly,

to punish me alone for my crime and spare the other members of the clan.

According to the guarantee contract, the total principal and interest in grain

is three thousand six hundred and thirteen hu, and thirty-three dou and three sheng.

Take the loan contract

to this county's new magistrate, Prefect Qin,

as proof for settlement,

to have it voided.

Then you can lead your people to Zhang'an Port and transport that grain back home.

What?

You didn't bring manpower or carts?

Old Master Lei, please rise.

It's all right.

Come, please rise.

The patrolmen and laborers from the county office are all here. The grain won't grow legs and run away.

You can just send your servants back to call for men and hire carts.

Old Master Lei,

come with me to make the settlement.

Come.

Lei Yonglian.

I am here.

This is a permit stamped by the Ministry of Revenue and the Taizhou Trading Office.

From today onward,

the Ninghai Lei family is granted the qualification

to sail and trade in the coastal prefectures and counties of Wuyue.

The Lei family lent grain during the famine,

alleviating the court's hardship and aiding the people in distress.

They contributed the most grain and effort.

Therefore, the court grants them this special reward:

the Lei family,

shall enjoy maritime profits for generations.

For ships under ten dan,

three years tax-free.

For ships over ten dan and under one hundred dan,

a tax of one in twenty.

For ships over one hundred dan, a tax of one in ten.

Gentlemen,

have you seen clearly?

On this permit

is my personal signature.

With this permit,

the Lei family is now a registered merchant household under the Ministry of Revenue of Wuyue.

Thank you, Prince.

May I ask, Prince, is this only for the Lei family,

or does every household that lent grain receive one?

Which family are you from?

I'm Gan Yue from the Gan family of Songmen Mountain.

I beg your pardon for my rudeness, Prince.

The Gan family of Songmen,

lent grain:

one thousand five hundred seventy-two hu and eighty-one dou.

The repayment due is two thousand six hundred twenty-one hu and thirty-five dou.

That's correct.

This is your family's permit.

Stamped by the Ministry of Revenue, with my personal signature,

specially authorized by the Taizhou Trading Office.

On behalf of the Gan clan,

I thank you for your great kindness, Prince.

Our contract is here.

We are willing to sign and settle.

Heaven above, thank you for your great virtue, Prince.

You are truly the savior of our Taizhou people, our reborn parents!

For all those present here today,

you may bring your loan contracts

to this place to settle and receive grain, presenting the permit for verification.

My action here is authorized by the King's command.

It will be settled on the spot, fair to all, young and old.

As for those who are not present today,

the borrowed grain will only be returned according to the original amount.

Permits and annual interest are absolutely out of the question.

What the Prince says is most fair and proper.

What the Prince says is most fair and proper!

What exactly is it?

Tell me the truth.

The King is excessively fatigued, his vitality weak.

His immunity are not firm, wind-heat has invaded his lungs, steaming fluids into phlegm, damaging the lung meridians.

Speak plainly!

Looking at his symptoms,

it seems like...

Seems like what?

A lung abscess.

A lung abscess?

Prince, the King's heart fire is usually too strong, phlegm-heat accumulates abundantly, steaming and scorching the lungs.

Over time, this leads to blood stasis.

When blood stasis persists, the flesh rots and forms pus, thus becoming an abscess.

Just tell me if this illness can be treated!

Allow me to explain, Prince.

For a lung abscess, prescribing a formula is not difficult.

For those with strong and vigorous vitality, as long as the stagnant blood within the lungs is resolved,

and both the phlegm and pus are expelled, the high fever will cease.

With careful recuperation for three to five months, they will recover.

Yes, yes, yes.

Amitabha.

If that's the case,

both of you, follow me to the outer hall to write the prescription.

What nonsense are you two talking?

What do you mean 'for those with strong vitality'?

You just need to speak the truth.

Given the King's condition, can this illness be cured?

Speak truthfully!

I guarantee you both will not be accused.

But if there is another half-word of falsehood, we will speak in the inner prison.

The King...

eats little yet his affairs are many.

I fear...

Go and write the prescription.

Mind your own tongues.

Do not jeopardize the lives of your entire clans, dozens of people.

Yes, yes, yes.

The Ninth Prince is now Prefect of Taizhou!

An edict is issued to all households, let the farmers know:

Loans with official settlement and permits, and all grain debts, are hereby cancelled.

Land deeds are to be returned today.

After verification is clear and settled, each may return peacefully to their villages.

Do not miss this year's spring season.

Elders, please rest assured.

These debts have been repaid by the Ninth Prince on behalf of each household.

Interest have also been settled clearly.

There will not be any further discrepancies.

The grain used to repay the debts was from the dowry of the Ninth Prince's wife.

In the future, if anyone dares to seize your fields again,

it would be like seizing the dowry of the Prince's wife.

May the Ninth Prince enjoy long life and fortune,

his grace benefiting ten thousand generations.

We wish to see the Ninth Prince!

We have important matters.

Enough. Stop the noise.

The Prince is deliberating...

Outrageous!

on this matter.

There will likely be a result for about a quarter of an hour

If you delay the matter, can you bear the responsibility?

Deputy Prefect Shen,

those are all the local gentry families of Taizhou.

Many of them also hold honorary court ranks.

To block them all outside the public hall like this, not only does it harm local relations and sentiments,

but it also reflects poorly on the court and the Ninth Prince's reputation.

So your opinion, Commissioner Xie?

How should we handle this?

If hundreds of people all come in, it would be too crowded.

We should have them elect ten representatives to come into the public hall and present their case to you, Deputy Prefect.

Since that's the case,

I'll trouble you to discuss this with the gentlemen outside the hall.

Yes.

Deputy Prefect Shen sent a dispatch from the prefectural office.

You may go.

Yes.

Something has happened in the prefectural city?

When we summoned them before, each one made excuses, refusing to come.

Now,

seeing that they've suffered losses,

they're all in a panic.

To think, these are families with histories of hundreds or even a thousand years.

They've studied the classics since childhood, yet for these petty gains,

they abandon their status, their reputation, even their dignity is cast aside.

Petty gains?

You speak too lightly.

Do you know?

A single seagoing ship of over a hundred dan, whether to Japan or Goryeo,

on one trading voyage, can yield two to three thousand in silver and silk.

That amount, at the foot of Phoenix Mountain by West Lake, could buy a mansion like the Zizhu Hall.

In Ninghai,

it could also purchase over ten qing of land.

These people...

In their ancestral halls, they worship Confucius,

but in their hearts, they covet only wealth.

They control nearly thirty percent of Taizhou's population,

nearly seventy percent of its farmland, and nearly ninety percent of its wealth.

If you truly cast them aside,

in the future, nothing substantial can be accomplished.

Tell me, how much betrothal gift would appease my future mother-in-law?

Before the banner was stolen, a hundred thousand taels of silver and silk would have been enough.

Now...

What is it now?

As for now,

the crown of Wuyue would be sufficient.

There are some things I absolutely will not do.

Look how scared you are.

I have no desire to be any princess consort.

This cumbersome thing is truly difficult to handle.

Today's attendees are all distinguished figures from the prefecture.

Within each clan, there are hundreds to thousands of members.

The court has opened a port in Taizhou, establishing a Trading Office.

We are willing to serve with utmost sincerity and assist in this endeavor.

The grain loans issued last year were originally intended

to alleviate the court's difficulties and relieve the people's hardships.

No family ever expected to profit from that small amount of principal and interest.

[Gu Yancheng, Gu family's patriarch] Whether interest or principal,

it can be considered a donation and contribution to the King and the Ninth Prince.

Here today are two hundred and ninety-four like-minded households,

totaling two thousand three hundred and sixty-six loan contracts.

They are in boxes outside the public hall.

With just a clear word from the Deputy Prefect,

they can be brought in and examined at will.

I understand your meaning, gentlemen.

As long as you can participate in the Trading Office's affairs, the grain loans from last year

not only will you request no interest, but the principal will also be waived.

Is that the meaning?

Exactly.

This is the sincere and earnest intention of all in Taizhou toward the King and the Ninth Prince.

As for the interest,

the Ninth Prince stated beforehand.

You gentlemen did not attend the Ninghai meeting on the Lantern Festival,

so there is no interest to begin with.

As for the principal,

the court has integrity and will never arbitrarily exploit the people's wealth.

Gentlemen, please rest assured.

Not a single liter of grain will be shortchanged to you.

The Trading Office...

Gentlemen...

you are truly late.

When the Ninth Prince took office in Taizhou, the Ministry of Revenue only gave him one hundred stamped permits.

On the Lantern Festival, they were all issued.

All issued?

If you gentlemen have further requests,

I'm afraid you'll have to go to the Western Capital, seek the Ministry of Revenue, and speak with the King.

Are you joking?

How can we possibly speak with the King?

Well then?

Today,

these two thousand three hundred and sixty-six loan contracts,

I, this official, probably won't be seeing them, will I?

This is all of it？

Yes.

Two thousand three hundred sixty-six loan contracts.

Amounting to grain, three hundred eighty-six thousand six hundred seventy-two hu,

and another eighty-two dou and three sheng.

All are here.

What a grand gesture.

Truly a grand gesture.

The Gu clan of Taizhou, is a branch of the Gu clan of Wu Commandery.

An eminent clan of eight hundred years.

With these ten households acting as guarantors,

the wealthy local families of Taizhou have to give them enough respect.

This move is indeed good-looking.

Lowering their posture, acting humble and submissive.

I, the newly appointed Prefect of Taizhou,

have gained both dignity and substance.

If I were to still respond coldly, talking of arrest and execution, it would be somewhat unreasonable.

A clan that has lasted a thousand years until today has its own ways of survival.

Its depth is not something newly risen families can compare to.

So, these are the ten families?

Yes.

To shoot the rider, shoot the horse first. To catch bandits, capture their leader first.

As long as we pacify these ten families, the remaining two hundred plus families are of little concern.

With these ten families acting as intermediaries, maneuvering among them,

even if someone wants to make trouble, it won't become a major issue.

Then I shall give them this face.

The licenses for these ten families, issue them.

Treat them equally with the eighty-six licenses issued on Lantern Festival.

But,

they cannot be issued for free.

You know me well.

Of course they cannot be free.

The other two hundred plus families, from this year onward,

their autumn taxes for the next ten years will be covered by these ten families.

Tax farming?

Yes.

Tax farming.

Prince, please reconsider! Tax farming has always been a major malpractice in local administration.

Those capable of tax farming are all powerful local families.

Granting them the authority to collect state taxes is equivalent to giving them

the power to govern the land and its people.

Among them, the unscrupulous ones, might, at best, exploit the villagers,

and at worst, inflict great suffering upon the people.

If any among them harbor treacherous ambitions

and plot rebellion, hoarding grain and supplies, training private troops,

then advancing, they could covet the throne, or retreating, establish local separatist regimes.

The disaster of the Eastern Han's collapse might be repeated in our land of Wuyue!

Renji.

Tax farming by powerful families is indeed a flawed policy.

Then what about 'collect first, measure later'?

At least we need not worry that local clerks will rebel and secede.

Local clerks lack the capability to rebel and establish separatist regimes.

Taizhou is remote and backward. It may not produce warlords.

However, harsh governance is dread.

It might very well give rise to smugglers and displaced refugees.

Do not forget the Huang Chao Rebellion was only a matter of decades ago.

It won't come to that.

Even with 'collect first, measure later',

can those county and prefecture clerks really bypass these powerful families and act on their own?

In private,

we'd still have to subcontract to them.

By that time, they take the benefits,

but the resentment of the people falls entirely on the government.

It would be better

to put everything out in the open.

Set a fixed quota.

During autumn tax collection, just demand it from these ten families.

No increase in good years, no reduction in disaster years.

Even if these ten families all have black hearts,

the exploitation will only affect those two hundred or so local big families.

Whether they hate or resent,

they bear it themselves.

If something really happens, with the governments in place,

wouldn't the victims come to complain on their own?

Punishment or penalty all follow the laws of the court.

If even under these circumstances they can still create domains that split the land,

then I truly admire their ability.

This is a strategy of mutual restraint between large and small.

As long as the court handles it properly, within ten years, no major chaos will arise.

Father.

You're back.

Did everything go smoothly?

Yes, fairly smoothly.

Li Gu personally escorted the grain.

On the way, he also passed through Baima County. The accounts and losses were not too far off.

Li Gu personally handed over to you?

Yes.

He was full of complaints along the way.

About Uncle Shi and Mr. Li, he didn't have many good words.

Is there any pepper or dogwood left?

All eaten up.

Make do with what we have.

Alright.

I, Zhao Kuangyin, request an audience.

Kuangyin.

Come in.

Greetings, Chief.

Greetings, General.

Kuangyin.

This is a letter for Lord Feng. Return to the capital on my behalf.

Take the opportunity to see your parents and wife.

Yes.

Have you eaten?

At least have a bite.

The weather is cold. With food in your belly, you won't feel anxious in your heart.

Yes.

Have some.

On this trip back to the capital, just stay at home for a few days.

No need to rush back.

If you have spare time, go to the Chief's residence and let my wife know I'm safe.

Do you have any message to bring to her?

After visiting the Chancellor's Office, on behalf of Father,

go to the Left Guard General's residence to relay a few words.

Go see him?

This is the Chief's intention?

After all, he is the heir apparent.

Father, as the Deputy Privy Councillor, a senior state minister, cannot openly associate with the imperial heir.

Consider it as going on my behalf.

But if he asks about confidential military matters here, how should I respond?

Whatever he asks you,

you answer.

Just answer truthfully.

Thank you, Rong, for your consideration.

Do you like it?

You embroider this?

Well, whose fault is it that I end up marrying a clumsy wife?

One wedding dress, you embroidered from the start of the year to the end, and it’s still not finished.

If I didn't take matters into my own hands, I'm afraid in this lifetime, I'd never get married.

What's wrong?

Let me see.

It's nothing.

Why are you hiding?

Really, it's nothing.

Nothing.

You silly boy.

Does it hurt?

It doesn't.

You're lying.

I am here under the King's order to request the Duke of Wuxing's presence in the palace.

What has happened there?

Lord Shuiqiu.

The King,

is unwell.

I am under the command of the Chancellor, the Seventh Prince,

to invite you into the palace to be entrusted with important matters.

Prepare the horses, quickly!

Yes.

Who else has the Seventh Prince summoned to the palace?

He also invited Minister Yuan.

No one else?

Who else has the Seventh Prince summoned?

Besides you, Minister, only the Duke of Wuxing.

Grand Marshal Lord Hu is the head of the court administration.

When the state faces important matters, how can he not be informed?

That is not for this old servant to know.

I beg you, Minister Yuan, for the sake of your affection with two generations of Kings,

to follow me into the palace.

The King and the Seventh Prince are currently waiting for you in the Xianning Hall.

Father!

Father!

Shuiqiu Zhaoquan has left his residence.

And Huang Wei, three quarters of an hour ago, left the inner city for Yuan Dezhao's residence.

Sit down!

What are you panicking about?

He Chengxun and Huang Wei left the palace,

summoned Shuiqiu and Minister Yuan, but did not summon you, Father.

This matter,

is highly unusual.

It's just a change of King,

what's there to be so alarmed about?

It's not like it hasn't happened before.

Lord Shuiqiu,

Minister Yuan.

Where is the King?

Prince, you have not handled this properly.

It's still not too late to remedy.

I beg you to issue an order to summon the Fifth Lord and the Grand Marshal into the palace.

Go and invite the Fifth Lord and Lord Hu into the palace.

Prince, the Fifth Lord and the Eldest Prince are father and son.

One is the head of the royal clan,

the other once commanded the inner guards for many years and enjoys considerable prestige.

As for Lord Hu, he is a founding commander who followed the old King in the early years, a senior general.

His former subordinates are spread throughout the army.

Now that the King is unwell and the succession is undecided, friend and foe are unclear.

If we summon the two lords into the palace now, incidents may occur.

For your sake, I suggest that at this moment, staying still is better than taking action.

Prince,

the King has awakened.

Brother!

I had intended

to hold on a little longer,

to get the court affairs,

in order,

so that,

I could save you some effort.

Who knew,

it would be impossible.

Brother, please rest assured and recuperate.

Regarding court affairs, with the imperial relatives, ministers and here,

no major incidents will occur.

Since the Hongzong trusts and values you,

Uncle Shuiqiu, Minister Yuan,

I shall entrust Hongzong,

to you two gentlemen.

I...

My family has received the state's grace for generations.

How dare I not be utterly loyal, even to death,

to repay the King.

My son...

In the end,

in the end, I have failed you two.

My King...

Your sister-in-law,

is a woman of bitter fate.

Our son,

also has little fortune.

From now on,

everything will be your responsibility.

Brother, rest assured.

I will support and care for Sister-in-law and Nephew, and ensure they lack for nothing in clothing and food.

Uncle,

Minister,

I,

still have some private words,

to discuss with Hongzong.

I

take my leave.

You, mother and son,

also wait outside.

You...

Do you intend to kill Hu Jinsi?

Father.

Should we not send word to Shen Chengli?

You have never served in the army, that's why you ask such a question.

Draw it.

Huh? I...

If you dare not draw the blade,

then even if Shen Chengli and the others come with all their men,

they will only add to the pile of corpses.

But if you yourself,

can draw your blade,

then even if Shen Chengli and his men do not come at all,

neither the Sixth Prince nor the Seventh will be able to touch you.

In life,

feast with five tripods;

in death, boiled in five tripods.

A true man should be like this.

If you

still wish to rely on Hu Jinsi,

then today's matter

should not have excluded him,

acting on your own.

If you no longer wish to use him,

then today you should have taken the military tally

and mobilized the troops of the Personal Guard to kill him.

Now,

among the ministers entrusted,

there is Shuiqiu,

there is Yuan Dezhao,

but not him.

Between him and you,

there is no bond of support and enthronement.

And among the ministers,

distinctions of closeness and distance have already formed.

How can you sit securely

on this throne in the future?

Lord Hu has shown signs of arrogance,

but not of rebellion.

The world has been in chaos for a hundred years.

Sons killing fathers, ministers assassinating rulers—

it is indeed enough to warrant caution and fear.

But Grandfather, Father, and you, Brother, have guarded the southeast for decades,

protecting the borders and pacifying the people.

Was it not precisely to restore order and rectify wrongs?

Our Wuyue,

is not the Central Plains.

There is none Elysiums.

You...

You are so

hesitant and impractical,

vacillating and inconsistent.

How can I feel at ease

entrusting the foundation our ancestors built to your hands?

Brother! Brother!

Get up! Brother!

Get up! Brother! Brother!

Get up!

Brother!

Get up!

Brother! Brother!

Listen!

From today on,

you are no longer

the Seventh Prince before.

On your shoulders rests

an army and thirteen prefectures, millions of soldiers and civilians.

You are the master of the southeast land,

the King of Wuyue.

There are three things,

you must remember well.

I am listening respectfully.

First, regarding court affairs, entrust them to Yuan Dezhao.

He is a cautious man,

and absolutely will not cause major chaos.

Second, concerning Hu Jinsi.

Since you do not want him to control the army

and cannot bear to kill him,

then you must shower him with favor.

Yes.

Appoint him as a Chancellor,

and list his name

above Yuan Dezhao's.

Grant him the privilege of not hastening his steps at court

and of wearing his sword and shoes in the palace.

Yes.

Matters of diginity

must be fully addressed.

Third, reinstate our Eldest Brother

as the Commander-in-Chief,

in charge of the inner palace guard authority.

As to the defense of the capital,

entrust it to Shuiqiu.

Let them check and balance each other,

without one commanding the other.

Yes.

Also, prepare a generous dowry

for Hongchu.

Let him hold the wedding

with great splendor.

In this lifetime of mine,

the grace between father and son,

the affection between brothers,

the righteousness between husband and wife,

the virtue between ruler and subject...

I have been

betrayed them all.

Hongzong...

Do not...

Brother!

Brother!

Brother! Brother!

♫ 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. ♫