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 33]

You two uncles stayed up all night, but at least your wives and children are still alive.

Guo Rong!

What do you mean by that?

Why waste words on him?

Just barge in and drag him out!

Please come in, uncles.

Lord, now is the time to enter the palace with me and go to Empress Dowager for the seal and edict.

Lord Feng

has already obtained the seal and edict.

He left the city before dawn.

By now, he should have already passed beyond Kaifeng Prefecture.

You fool!

Not worth standing with!

Wei,

are your eyes useless,

or your heart is?

This treacherous rebel,

all our comrades have already followed you in being it.

Now you turn around and want to play the good man.

Then what about all our comrades?

The burden of this empire,

is too heavy.

In such a time, in such an era,

who does not understand?

To be Emperor in such an era requires the ruthlessness and resolve to stake the lives of one's entire family.

My family has already lost one hundred and sixty-eight lives. Only Lady Dong, Rong and I remain, clinging to each other.

It is devastated to this extent.

Moreover I'm old enough.

I truly cannot afford to gamble.

I ask you two to understand and be considerate.

If that is the case,

then let us each go home, gather our families,

and together with you, wait for death.

Farewell!

The camp has strict orders.

Without my written order,

no one,

may leave the camp even a step.

Wei!

What do you mean by this?

It's fine you yourself do not want to be Emperor.

But why forcibly detaining us?

Wait until we reach Chanzhou.

Whether to go or stay will be up to you two.

This...

Chanzhou?

The Empress Dowager has issued an edict. The Yellow River is thawing. The ice flood is imminent.

The Empress Dowager orders me to lead the army east to Chanzhou to manage the river.

The army

will set off today.

Gentlemen.

Orders are as firm as mountains.

Yes.

Lord Guo has ordered:

Prepare to set up camp.

Lord Guo has ordered:

Prepare to set up camp.

Lord Guo has ordered:

Prepare to set up camp.

Wei intends to keep everyone under monitoring.

Before that old scoundrel Feng Dao is back with the new Emperor,

he will not let anyone leave the army.

It shows that Wei is dead set on not becoming this Emperor.

Whether to become Emperor or not is not a matter for him alone.

Naturally, it cannot be decided by him alone.

You make it sound easy.

Now the military power is in his hands.

In this army, isn't it just him who has the final say?

We were mistaken before,

always thinking about rites and rules, those old traditions,

wanting to handle things as gracefully as possible.

Even with Liu Yun,

we wanted to handle things as thoroughly as possible.

What exactly are you trying to say?

Actually, the key to this matter,

is not with the Empress Dowager,

nor with Liu Yun.

The key to this matter

lies right now,

right here,

within the army.

There is a saying that goes well:

He who has the strongest army,

becomes the Emperor.

What are you doing here?

Have some.

No.

You don't want to drink,

but I want to.

You won't be Emperor, so be it.

But can we not even remain brothers?

Drink some.

Back then,

the Jin ruler sold the Yan and Yun Prefectures.

The Late Emperor directly denounced the Shi family, saying they would be condemned for eternity.

The ruler and his ministers were at odds, and he was driven to Hedong.

Only Minister Su and I were by his side.

We crossed the river from Hezhong Prefecture.

You and Third Brother then caught up.

The Late Emperor asked,

"Why have you followed me here?"

You said,

"We came to share life and death."

Back then, we shared life and death.

Today, we still share life and death.

But the words "life and death" are hard to speak of.

Of all the comrades from Taiyuan in the past,

Yang Bin,

Shi Hongzhao,

Wang Zhang, and others, they have all died one by one.

My family, of one hundred and sixty-eight people, were also all killed.

Only Rong and I remain,

solely surviving in this world.

Do you think,

we can truly end up

ignoring all matters and just die like that?

Uncle Yin, are you planning a military coup?

This is a blood oath from the army officers and soldiers,

jointly petitioning for your father to become the Emperor.

The blank space in the middle

is left for you to sign.

If I don't sign,

are you going to kill me, Uncle?

This is a matter of life and death.

If you don't submit your pledge of allegiance, who dares to spare your life?

Then I'll trouble you.

Guards!

Take his sword.

Watch him closely.

If he insists on trying to leave, tie him up.

Just don't harm his life.

Yes.

Halt!

Don't come any closer!

We request the Lord to come out of the tent!

Where is the Lord?

We request an audience with the Lord!

Step back!

This is the main commander's tent of the central army. Those who trespass will be killed.

Yes.

I,Wang Yin, request Lord Guo to come out of the tent to face the assembled troops

and hear our grievances and pleas.

Please, Lord Guo, come out of the tent.

Lord.

The Emperor lacks virtue; the sacred vessel has no master.

The Duke of Xiangyin has no merit for the realm,

and knows nothing of the hardships and toil of the soldiers in the army.

If we wish for peace in the realm and tranquility throughout the land,

if Lord Guo does not step forward,

what hope is there for the common people?

Today, we hereby support Lord Guo as the Emperor.

We, your subjects, beseech the Lord to consider the altars of state and the common people,

to promptly assume the great succession, and ascend the imperial throne.

We beseech the Lord to promptly assume the great succession, and ascend the imperial throne.

My son, Rong,

where is he?

The young master is unwell

and is resting in his tent.

Lord,

Lord, you cannot.

If my son is unharmed,

today I will grant your request.

If my son is injured,

today

I will take my own life before you all to atone to the world.

Where is Rong?

Please, young master, come out of the tent. The Lord hopes to meet you.

Father.

Father.

I, Guo, have words

to say to you all.

I propose three agreements.

First,

no indiscriminate killing.

Second,

no plundering.

Third,

treat the former ruler's clan and relatives well.

If you all grant me these three things,

then I will, for you all,

shoulder the burden of this realm.

We receive the decree.

Long live Your Majesty!

We, your subjects, receive the decree! Long live Your Majesty!

Jun.

I'm here.

I appoint you as envoy.

Return to Bianliang and have an audience with the Empress Dowager.

Inform her of the current situation and request the title of Regent.

I obey the decree.

Wang Yin.

I'm here.

From this moment, all armies are under your command.

Maintain strict discipline, enforce military law.

If there is any lawlessness or disorder in the camp, regardless of closeness, rank, or status, execute them all.

I obey the decree.

All generals must abide by their duties and not act without authorization.

Yes.

There is one matter,

only you can handle.

Xuzhou?

It's too far.

You must travel day and night to Songzhou.

Lord Feng will be escorting the Duke of Xiangyin back, and will definitely pass through Songzhou.

Intercept him,

and inform him of the incidents at Chanzhou and the capital.

Regarding the Duke of Xiangyin,

how to handle him?

How the Duke of Xiangyin should be dealt with

is entirely up to Lord Feng to decide and act upon.

I got it.

Since the day Wei entered the palace,

the edict for the Regent had already been prepared.

It was he who firmly declined to accept it, that it was not proclaimed to the world.

This is good.

The lives of my son and I, from this moment,

are finally safe.

Take it.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

Lord!

Save me, Lord!

Duke of Xiangyin,

[Shiwang Mansion, Songzhou]

rise and speak.

Lord,

I am the adopted son of the late Emperor, in Xuzhou for many years,

always fulfilling my duties

[Liu Yun, Duke of Xiangyin] and following the rules.

[Liu Yun, Duke of Xiangyin] I have never harbored ambitions for the throne.

[Liu Yun, Duke of Xiangyin] Previously, I suddenly received the edict

[Liu Yun, Duke of Xiangyin] ordering me to enter the capital to succeed the throne.

I know my own lack of talent and virtue. I was filled with trepidation, yet I dared not disobey.

I hastily set off,

but now we are halfway through the journey,

and a new emperor has ascended the throne, with the dynasty changing hands.

Lord,

what should I do now to protect myself?

Please give me clear instructions, Lord.

Lord!

Save me, Lord!

Duke of Xiangyin,

if you wish to avoid disaster,

listen to my advice.

Do not go to the capital, nor return to Xuzhou,

and do not go to Taiyuan to seek refuge with your father.

Stay quietly in Songzhou,

shut your doors, and read books.

Do not see anyone,

and do not inquire about any affairs.

Shut the doors and read.

Good.

Liu Yun, will respectfully follow your esteemed command, Lord.

[Kaifeng Prefecture, Bianliang City]

Long live Your Majesty!

I, your subject, Feng Dao,

pay respects to Your Majesty.

Please rise, Lord.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Lord,

please sit.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

That day, you said

some things are unavoidable.

I did not take it seriously.

Only today do I understand what the general trend of the world means,

and how one is swept along by it.

Your Majesty,

these things are no longer important.

Then what is important?

With Your Majesty establishing a new dynasty,

first is the legitimacy of the calendar,

second is the Emperor,

and third is the foundation of the state.

What is the legitimacy of the calendar?

Establishing the dynastic name and changing the reign era.

Regarding the dynastic name, the Imperial Bureau of Riteshas not yet finalized it.

It cannot be delayed.

At this moment, people's hearts are fearful and unsettled.

If the dynastic name is not fixed and the legitimacy unclear,

the world will be unstable, and both inside and outside the court will be restless.

I am willing to listen to your instruction, Lord.

Your Majesty has rightfully assumed the throne,

and the Guo clan is now the imperial family.

Guo...

Guo the surname, descends from the Ji surname.

It is originally a remnant lineage of the royal Ji family, descendants of King Wen and King Wu of Zhou dynasty.

The state name Zhou,

is legitimate and proper.

Then as you say,

the state name shall be Great Zhou.

From this day forth, I grant you the privilege of wearing swords and shoes in court,

referred to by title in decrees, and not required to hasten when entering court.

I kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's heavenly grace.

Lord.

As the chief minister of the court,

could you lead the memorial requesting the establishment of the Crown Prince?

That Guo Wei has become Emperor, [Duting Station]

but it's too reserved. [Duting Station]

Our brothers and comrades' hard work, in the end, wasn't it all for him to sit on the throne?

Now it's good.

The first thing after becoming Emperor is to drive me, this old brother out of the court.

Actually, it's for your own good.

Nonsense!

He is also forty-seven years old.

He only has Rong, such an adopted son.

I'm afraid in these few days, he will appoint the Crown Prince.

Guo Rong?

Thinking for his son's plans,

he is also afraid that

we will get involved in this top-level state affair, ruining the brotherly bond.

Actually, it's also a kind heart.

Guo Rong cannot be the Crown Prince.

Correct.

Exactly this.

Since his entire family died, Rong's temperament has greatly changed.

He became narrow-minded, unclear about priorities,

and cannot listen to others' words.

Such a person is not suitable to rule the world.

If Your Majesty proposes this matter in court,

I will definitely oppose it.

He is already the Emperor.

The Crown Prince is the foundation of the state. It is a state matter, not a family matter.

Although he has become the Emperor,

yet this world Nor is it solely the Guo family's affair.

Your Majesty,

The heir in the Eastern Palace is the foundation of the state.

When the foundation is solid, the country is at peace.

With internal and external stability, the world is settled.

I, Feng Dao, Secretariat Director,

risk my life to petition that Your Majesty appoint a Crown Prince.

Lord Feng's words are gravely mistaken.

Your Majesty has no sons.

How can there be a Crown Prince to appoint?

Jun,

what do you mean by that?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty's own sons

all perished in the Qianyou Disturbance.

The General of the Left Gate Guard, originally from the Chai family,

is not Your Majesty's own offspring.

Lord Feng,

is Minister Wang,

correct?

Minister Wang,

according to the rites and institutions,

an adopted son can become the heir.

His position is above that of all legitimate sons,

and he is regarded as the eldest legitimate son.

What Minister Wang says

is contrary to the rites.

The Lord is old and confused.

Since the late Tang,

when have rites and institutions ever been followed?

If we followed the sages' rites,

Your Majesty would not be the Emperor,

and how could you and I be chancellors?

Guo Rong.

Yes.

Come here.

I dare not.

Come here!

Stand by your father's side.

Today,

I have a few words to make clear to all my ministers and officials.

Guo Rong,

is my son.

I have raised him as a son for decades.

He has been filial to me, this father, for decades.

Who becomes Crown Prince, who becomes the heir,

this matter may be discussed separately.

But if anyone says again,

that Guo Rong,

is not my son,

do not blame me

for ignoring past loyalties to him and his sons.

I have spoken out of turn.

I beg Your Majesty to punish me.

Enough.

Today, regarding what Jun said in court,

you need not take them to heart.

Actually, Father, I do not mind

what Uncle Jun said.

I am only angry

that he dared, in open court, to contradict you, Father.

Whether I am your son or not,

no one else's opinion matters.

Only you, Father, have the final say.

Recently, you've been

staying in the military camp and refusing to return to the residence. What Happened?

Father.

You seem not to know your limits,

Zongyi.

Mother, save me!

Mother, save me!

Do not cry.

Father,

I do not wish to be the Crown Prince.

If you do not wish to,

as long as I, your father, live for one day,

no one in this world dares force you to become one.

If you wish to be,

I, your father, will fight with this old life of mine to make you one.

If you wish to command troops,

you can go to the Imperial Guard.

If you wish to handle affairs, go to the Secretariat-Chancellery and learn some governance from Lord Feng.

I wish to go to Chanzhou,

to tame the river.

[Huanglong Island, the East Sea]

I, your son-in-law, Qian Hongchu, pay respects to Mother-in-law and Uncle.

We wish you peace.

Your daughter is unfilial, causing worry and sadness to Mother and Uncle.

I bring my husband to apologize to Mother and Uncle.

How could I have such fortune to raise a princess daughter and get a Great King son-in-law?

I, fine, am merely an ordinary woman, clinging to life on this island,

catching a few fish, gathering some shrimp and shellfish, living off the sea, that is all.

You are all important figures now.

How could you possibly have this poor mother in your heart?

Bring it up.

Mother-in-law, please discern it.

I'm deeply aware that I have wronged your family greatly.

Therefore, following the precedent of Wuyue presenting tribute to the court,

I have prepared some silver, silk, and utensils to make up for the betrothal gifts during the wedding.

This old woman cannot accept it.

You should take it back.

Is it too little?

It's fine.

There's more outside.

Two hundred thousand each.

How much?

Silver, two hundred thousand taels.

Silk, two hundred thousand bolts.

My good son-in-law,

the floor is cold.

Kneeling for too long will catch a cold. Hurry and rise.

Thank you for your grace, Mother-in-law.

Mother, what do those words mean?

How come,

the son-in-law is good,

but the daughter is bad?

At least this son-in-law can let me see some return on investment.

Raising a daughter only loses money. What else can she do?

Sooner or later, you'll even manage to give this island away to subsidize your husband's family.

Mother, aren't you ashamed to say that?

Do you really think your daughter doesn't know?

Nowadays, the flags of Huanglong Island are issued to Fuzhou.

Mother only sold one daughter,

but gained the business of one army, thirteen prefectures, eighty-six counties.

Since that, why still make things difficult for your daughter?

Alright, why talk about these things?

Are you thirsty?

Quick, bring tea.

Elder Sister,

come.

Great King,

Go quickly and see what's wrong.

[Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao, Wang Zhang and others were killed.]

[Wang yin, Wang Jun and Guo Wei's families were wiped out.]

[Guo Wei and his son Rong raised an Army from Daming.]

The capital is in trouble?

The capital of Central Plains.

A major incident has occurred.

The capital is in turmoil.

First, the Emperor killed Yang Bin, Shi Hongzhao and other important ministers at the palace gate.

Then slaughtered the entire family of Tianxiong Army Military Governor Guo Wei.

What about Guo Rong?

Guo Rong was by Guo Wei's side, and escaped disaster.

But his wife and children did not escape.

Guo Wei and Guo Rong, father and son, rose in arms at Daming.

In the battle of Qilipo, the Emperor died in the chaotic army.

The civil and military officials, led by Lord Feng in submitting a memorial,

supported Guo Wei as Emperor of the Central Plains.

The state name is changed to Zhou.

The new Emperor has ascended the throne.

Has he established a Crown Prince?

There is no news of a Crown Prince being established.

But it is heard that Guo Rong requested to stationed in Chanzhou,

to repair the river works as Military Governor of Zhenning Army.

The New Year's Day is approaching.

It's time to send an envoy to the capital again.

I have discussed with Lord Hu.

This year's New Year's Day congratulatory envoy

will still be the Administrator of the Supreme Command of Military Forces, Shen Wenqi.

In the autumn of 951 AD,

old subordinates of Liu Yun in Xuzhou rebelled.

Guo Wei sent Wang Yin to suppress them.

Xuzhou fell.

In January of the next year,

Guo Wei led the main forces to personally campaign against Yanzhou.

Taining Army Military Governor Murong Yanchao jumped into a well to his death.

Yanzhou fell.

Provisions were sent from Yingzhou and Chenzhou.

Over hundreds of li of supply lines, for every ten jin transported, only three jin are usable.

Lord,

this is an urgent dispatch from Yanzhou.

Please open it personally, Lord.

His Majesty has not returned to the capital.

Instead, he is heading east all the way.

The imperial carriage is going to Qufu.

After waiting through four dynasties,

who would have thought Guo Wei,

is actually,

the true,

sovereign.

In the year 952 AD,

the second year of Guangshun,

Guo Wei visited the Confucius Temple in Qufu.

The Confucius Temple is built at Confucius's former residence,

is also known

[Kong Renyu, the 43rd generation descendant of Confucius] as the QueLi Supreme Sage Temple.

[Kong Renyu, the 43rd generation descendant of Confucius] Its specifications

follow the ritual system of the Zhou Dynasty.

It has received honor and grants in various dynasties.

Sacrifices are offered continuously in all four seasons.

Your Majesty!

The Confucius Temple is a sacred site of Confucian worship.

During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, many heroes of the world believed in

"Is the Emperor born special?" "The one with strong soldiers and sturdy horses becomes him."

Guo Wei's visit to the Confucian Temple demonstrates his reverence for Confucianism

and his governing philosophy of educating the people.

He also uses this to proclaim to the world

that he will rule with benevolence, bringing peace and prosperity to the people.

Your Majesty,

the journey to Qufu

is a blessing for Great Zhou and a blessing for all the people under heaven.

Lord,

I have a question.

Lord,

could you resolve it for me?

Your Majesty,

I wonder

what Your Majesty's question is.

What is Confucianism?

Confucianism,

is what people need.

It concerns life and death, clothing and food, joy and sorrow.

What one person needs is the Confucianism for that one person.

What the multitude needs is the Confucianism for the world.

For the court,

Confucianism,

is the hearts and support of the people.

If I govern with Confucianism,

can I ensure eternal peace?

Your Majesty,

not even immortals can guarantee eternal peace.

Can a thousand years of peace be guaranteed?

A thousand years of peace...

Not even sages can guarantee it.

A hundred years of peace, can be guaranteed.

But one must do something,

to know for sure.

To show his resolve, Guo Rong volunteered to go to Chanzhou

to repair the Chanzhou river dike.

For over a year,

Guo Rong worked day and night.

Regardless of the season, undaunted by wind and frost,

he ate, slept, and labored alongside the soldiers and laborers, working together.

They dredged the wide river channel and reinforced the thick embankments.

After the dike was repaired, it eliminated the perennial flooding of the Yellow River,

bringing blessings to the local populace.

Your Majesty,

Now on the great river in Chanzhou,

the Golden Dike is nearing completion.

The Marquis of Taiyuan, Guo Rong,

has rendered great service to the state.

He has benefited the people.

He should be summoned back to court,

to shoulder great responsibilities.

♫ 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. ♫