Original subtitles

[Legend of the Magnate]

[Episode 2]

Gods, deities,

I prey for good luck.

Let me win this game.

Bring me a fortune.

You'll all lose!

Seven.

Seven?

The Player takes the first tile, and the Banker the third.

Can't see it.

Do you see it now?

Were you just

tricked by that man?

Yes.

He's a notorious bully in the local area.

You lost.

I got two same tiles.

What does it matter?

Look carefully.

This is 10,

and this is 11.

You're the one who lost.

That's not fair!

-That's not the rule! -Just admit defeat!

The money...

The higher score wins,

and the lower one loses.

No other restrictions, right?

Who dares to refute it?

Mister,

is this

how you play it beyond the pass?

I've never heard of such rules.

Rules?

There is only one rule beyond the pass.

That is, the locals always win!

You'd better get your hands off.

Otherwise,

I'll break your fingers!

Look.

It's a real gun, isn't it?

According to the rules beyond the pass,

would you say my bullets

can crush your cranium?

What now?

I'm fearless.

Shoot me, I dare you.

Pull the trigger!

That's a real gun!

Guess if I dare to shoot.

Fancy a bet?

I-I bet you wouldn't dare!

You wouldn't dare!

Guys,

are you on the Banker's side or the Player's?

Place your bets

before I pull the trigger.

The Player!

All in!

Shoot! Shoot him!

Do it now!

One.

Two.

Don't move!

Mr. Li,

I've been waiting for you.

They told me you were here.

Yes. I'm here.

Move!

Get a move on!

Commander Xu,

we couldn't find anything.

You mean to keep

that large sum of money to yourselves,

right?

Everything beyond the pass

belongs to the Emperor.

You want to steal?

That severe crime

gives enough grounds

to execute both of you.

Where is the money?

Mom!

I don't know.

I've never seen any!

Commander Xu, Commander Xu!

Her husband was just buried.

Please show some mercy...

You're against me too?

Do you want to die or what?

Listen up!

This whole settlement will suffer

if you don't hand in the money!

I have many ways to make

a living person tell the truth.

Tie them up and take them away.

A long interrogation awaits them.

Hands off!

Hu!

Hu!

Dig in the ground the house is on.

Dig up Su's grave too.

See if anything is hidden there.

-Yes! -Yes!

Ms. Su,

let me know if there's anything

I can help with.

Please meet my good friend,

Mr. Gu.

As a local, he is very familiar

with Ningguta.

I bought 300 horses

from a local horse ranch.

I need to transport them to the Central Plains.

Mr. Gu, do you have any good suggestions?

Why did you

buy horses here?

When it comes to stamina, horses from Sichuan and Yunnan

are much better.

Did you buy these horses

for warfare?

I wonder who you are.

Are you sure

you want to know?

Well...

You can hire a large ship

and transport them by sea.

The horses will be brought to the south.

A sea journey will send them

to the opposite direction, won't it?

You're sending horses to the south...

Are you...

What?

Mr. Gu, you can leave now if you feel scared.

You're a rebel.

I'm an exile.

I'm not afraid of anything.

Mr. Gu,

don't you want to help that mother and child?

You and that child

could take the same route as Ms. Su.

Helping Ms. Su is helping yourself.

Ms. Su, where exactly

are you sending

these horses?

Your job is to get them out of the city.

The rest is none of your business.

Fine.

Well,

I'll come up with something.

Hold on.

Thank you so much, Mr. Gu.

Ms. Su,

aren't you worried that he may leak the secret?

He would've been riddled with bullets

if I hadn't opened the door for him.

This man

is very intelligent.

[Commander Xu's Mansion]

I extend my best regards to you, Commander Xu.

I'm humbly

kowtowing to you.

It's freezing cold.

What are you doing here?

At a friend's request,

I need to transport some sea salt.

Where are you from?

Commander Xu,

I'm from Pingyao, Shanxi Province.

I've heard that Shanxi is the wealthiest province

in the country.

People there

are filthy rich.

If this "gift"

were presented by others, I'd gladly accept it.

But you...

Gu Pingyuan has been away for a long time.

Is he back yet?

He just came back.

Then why didn't you tell me?

Get him here now!

Yes!

Commander Xu,

I shall take my leave.

Sir...

Where were you running off to?

I wouldn't dare to run off.

I threw Su's wife

and her kid

into the dungeon.

I even had Su's dead body

dug up

and searched several times.

Where on earth did he hide the money?

I want you

to dispose of this matter.

I'll talk to Su's widow.

However,

she has lost her husband for good.

How much shall we take

from the money to be retrieved?

Before the New Year, I need to make a trip to Jilin

to pay tribute to the brass.

I need a lot of money.

Solve this problem in 3 days.

If you can't, next year,

I'll send you to the mountain

to catch wild bears.

Yes.

About that Shanxi man who just talked to me,

go to his place and trick a few hundred

more silver taels out of his pocket.

Otherwise, I won't let him

take a single grain of sea salt away.

Got it.

Father.

Make me some tea.

I'll get that.

Patriarch.

It's getting colder and colder.

We've been stuck here

for a couple of days.

Seems like a waste of time.

You think I'm not anxious?

Commander Xu

is very greedy

for money.

Mr. Gu told me

200 to 300 taels of silver would do.

To get Commander Xu's approval sooner,

I added an extra hundred taels.

Unexpectedly, he declined my offer.

What does he want then?

Shall we

give him another hundred?

No.

We can't keep giving him more

like adding oil to a lamp.

Raising the amount

again and again

will only encourage him to keep us here longer.

I made

a hasty move on this matter.

We'll have to wait.

When Mr. Gu comes here,

I'll ask him for advice.

Father,

didn't we already meet

Mr. Gu once,

when we entered

the city?

How come I didn't know that?

He looked imposing.

Last time he was here,

he taught me how to heat up a brick stove.

His image just popped up in my head.

Oh,

you just have a great memory, don't you?

But you should reflect on your behavior.

you're a young lady.

Talking to strangers eagerly

is not exactly good manners.

I'll go check on the horses.

It's too cold now.

They might need more food.

I'm going to bed, Father.

Refill my cup before you leave!

I wouldn't dare

to do so without your order.

I'd hate to appear ill-mannered,

disrespectful, and annoying.

My precious daughter,

do you know

what this place is?

Ningguta.

Who would stay here other than exiles?

We must never drop our guard.

Let's

just finish our business

and go home for the New Year.

Why so nosy?

Father.

Tell me...

Is Mr. Gu

a bandit

who kills without mercy and eats human organs?

Like a gang leader?

You've been listening to too many stories.

Why don't you ask around for an answer?

I'm having trouble dealing

with an urgent matter.

How do I have time

to ask others about such trivial stuff?

Go to bed.

Mr. Gu.

Hu,

hurry.

Mrs. Su,

I've got Su's body

back

and buried it.

Don't worry.

When spring comes,

I'll have his grave fixed,

and hire a stonemason

to carve a proper stele for him.

Thank you for your kindness.

Mr. Gu,

Commander Xu promised me

that if I told the truth,

he would give my son

a job as a soldier,

and buy me a house in the city.

Did you agree to it?

If a tiger told you

it'd only eat your arms

and leave your legs intact,

would you believe it?

Commander Xu wishes

he could eat us

alive.

You're insightful, Mrs. Su.

He has set a deadline.

How many days till then?

Three.

I'll get you out as soon as possible.

You must hang in there.

Mr. Gu,

I'm begging you—just this once.

Please take my child with you.

-I'm begging you. Please. -Mom!

Please!

Please!

I'm not going anywhere.

Quiet down.

I just want to stay by your side!

I just want to stay by your side!

I'm begging you.

I'll kowtow to you, Mr. Gu!

I only...

I only ask for this one thing—

please take my child with you.

Mr. Chang!

Mr. Gu,

thank heavens you're finally here.

Come, come.

Please come in!

Were you exiled to Ningguta

because you were a notorious bandit

or because you were a scholar who rebelled?

Stop talking nonsense.

Pour the tea and step outside.

Mr. Gu.

Mr. Chang, how much did you offer Commander Xu

as a "gift" when you visited him last time?

Since I was desperate to get home,

I offered him 400 taels.

But Commander Xu insisted

Shanxi is the wealthiest province in the country,

and that amount just wouldn't cut it.

The more you give, the worse it gets.

It'll only make him think you're drowning in silver.

Please level with me.

How much will it cost

to have your help with this issue?

Pardon me for being blunt.

How about this?

In 3 days,

I'll have

the salt license stamped with the city's defense seal

delivered to you.

As for the payment...

Money is of no use to me

in Ningguta.

But I do need a favor

from you, Mr. Chang.

I'll let you know in a few days.

Mr. Gu,

if you can help me

through this rough patch,

then

whatever you ask of me in the future,

I'll give it everything I've got.

Mr. Gu.

What is it?

Is there a message from Mr. Chang?

Mr. Chang has nothing more to say,

but I do.

May I ask you a question?

Ask away.

How long have you been exiled?

This coming New Year

will make it 5 full years.

I've heard this place

is full of outlaws and rebels,

but you don't really seem like one.

I am an outlaw and a rebel.

I killed many people in the past.

Wherever I reached,

no creatures would be left alive.

I didn't just kill them,

I tore out their sinews

and drank their blood.

You must be lying.

You look like a scholar.

I wish I had been a bandit

or a rebel.

Then I would've been executed by now,

instead of

being stuck here in misery.

A scholar is good for nothing.

If possible,

never come to this dreadful place again.

You think I'm afraid?

I went with my father to deliver medicinal herbs to the western Mongolia.

It was spring when we got there.

Wolves were everywhere.

We had to light torches

and circle ourselves with fire to sleep,

but I wasn't afraid.

Sure, beasts are vicious,

but still better than most people by a long shot.

The cruelest thing under the sky

is the human heart.

Young though you are,

you talk like some old man.

Do I?

What crime did you commit to end up here?

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

It's fine to tell you.

Back when I took the imperial exam...

You mean the exam for the top scholar?

Yes,

the exam for the top scholar.

Back when I was taking the imperial exam,

someone outside the examination hall shouted for me,

saying my mother was seriously ill at home.

How could I possibly concentrate

after hearing that?

I turned in my paper in a rush

and got ready to leave.

But there were strict rules in the examination hall.

I got into an argument with the officials.

They then accused me

of disrupting the examination hall,

arrested me,

and exiled me here.

So

you were framed?

I even asked around afterward.

My mother was perfectly fine in Anhui.

It's obvious that someone

set me up during the examination hall.

These past five years,

I've thought about it day and night,

but I still haven't figured it out.

You're a good man.

May heaven bless you.

You'll get to the bottom of this.

You won't stay wrongly accused

your whole life without answers.

Girl,

where did you run off to?

I'm coming!

Let me ask you again:

you must've suffered a lot

these five years, right?

Compared to others, I've had it okay.

That first year,

I worked in the salt fields by the sea—

almost went blind.

Later, I met someone who knew medicine

and helped nurse me back

to health.

Is there anything else

you want to ask?

I...

I... I have no more questions.

My father was right.

I'm terrible with words.

Whatever I say seems to hit a nerve.

Please don't be angry.

I...

When will you be back in the Central Plains?

Come find us in Shanxi.

[Military Horse Camp, Ningguta]

These Russians

really know how to make weapons.

If we could bring them over to the Great Qing

to build guns and cannons for us,

we'd make a fortune.

The southern war is intense right now.

It's hard enough to buy weapons,

let alone manufacture them.

After all,

your Li family are still merchants.

You're not afraid to follow the rebels?

Of course I'm scared.

Good thing my dad told me

who you were before I came.

Otherwise, I'd never have guessed

someone as stunning as you

would be part of the rebellion.

There's another thing I'm puzzled about.

My father's the type

who'd panic

if a leaf fell on his head.

How on earth did he end up knowing someone like Ms. Su?

That's because

Your family's chain of businesses

spans the entire Yangtze River, from north to south,

and it's all thanks to my protection.

Maybe your family does business

south of the Yangtze River,

but you think he's timid?

When it comes to money,

even the most cautious merchants grow bolder than the sky.

I...

Your friend should be here by now.

Is Ms. Su here?

Gu!

Come in!

Come in, come in.

Have a seat.

Do you have a plan?

I do have a plan.

However,

we need to settle something first.

Go ahead.

I'll agree to what I can.

Getting out of Ningguta might be possible,

but after leaving the city,

what's your plan for getting away?

I certainly have a way.

That won't do.

You need to point me

to a reliable path.

With these 300 warhorses of yours,

it won't be easy

to get past any checkpoint once we leave the city.

Besides,

I'm traveling with a child.

I can't just recklessly

risk my life, can I?

Gu,

I think you're just afraid.

I risked my life to come to Ningguta.

I'm not afraid of death.

It's just that

I still have an elderly mother and brothers at home.

I can't drag them into trouble

because of my association with you.

You need to make me trust you.

Give it to him.

The defender of Liaoyang Fortress

is ours.

He has already prepared

the official passes for us.

We will pass through Shanhai Pass, enter Zhili,

proceed to Shandong,

and then take a ship back to the south.

Good.

That's fine then.

Mr. Gu, it would be much better for you

to return south with me

than to stay in the Central Plains.

I won't be...

Rebel?

Is the word "rebel" that scary?

You'd rather stay here as a servant

than serve me.

Everyone has their own ambitions.

Gu,

you're now an exile.

Who would dare take you in

or offer you protection?

You want to study for the imperial exams, but you're ineligible.

You want to go into business,

but you don't even have a registered household.

Do you dare go home in your current state?

Though the world is vast,

there's nowhere for you to settle.

If you're being honest with yourself,

is it worth

living in the Central Plains

like a fugitive, constantly in fear?

To be honest,

my elderly mother is weak and ill.

If I stay here any longer,

I may never get the chance

to see her one last time.

I was humiliated at the examination hall back then.

My grievance

must also be investigated.

How can a real man grow old here in vain?

If Ms. Su can help this time,

I, Gu Pingyuan,

will certainly repay you with eternal gratitude.

Alright.

I'll hold you to that, Mr. Gu.

A small gift for our meeting.

Keep it for self-defense.

Young Master Li Qin,

you're not married yet, are you?

Of course not.

That's good then.

The girls in our Ningguta

are quite something.

It would be a pity

if you didn't find a wife.

What nonsense are you talking?

What a brilliant plan!

-Come on. -Great!

Follow me into the city,

and I'll pick the best one for you.

Wait,

why does it have to be me?

Who else could carry

such a grand spectacle but you,

Young Master Li Qin of the Five Provinces Association?

Wait,

does it really have to be me?

Ladies!

Ladies, come quickly!

Gorgeous Yang Guifei, Beau Xi Shi, Zhaojun Jr.

Come quickly!

They're coming!

Coming, coming!

He's so handsome!

He's so handsome!

He's so handsome!

Ladies, please calm down.

Listen to me,

this is

Young Master Li Qin,

the heir of the Five Provinces Association in the capital.

Last night, he had a dream

and insisted on choosing one of you

to be his wife,

and even wants to take her back to the capital

to be the young mistress.

Pick me!

Calm down!

Calm down! Well...

And me!

Pick me!

I, I, I... pick...

Pick me!

Pick me!

Choose me! He's chosen!

Great, this early in the morning,

a good man is rushing in.

You really have no taste!

Why didn't you choose me?

Just go away.

Go.

Go!

Miss, could you please get down first?

I won't get down.

Zhaojun,

why don't you go back

and freshen up?

I'll be taking you to the capital tomorrow.

I'm not getting down.

I...

That's more like it.

Let me tell you,

you're really lucky.

When I leave,

half the men in Ningguta

will be

crying their eyes out.

I suppose so.

Mr. Li,

I'll go prepare the bridal chamber.

Excuse me.

See you later.

I'll return the contract of indenture to her.

Goodbye.

Thank you both.

Please get up.

I might as well die.

Ah, a paradise of tenderness.

It seems you're reluctant to leave.

Get lost!

[Happiness]

Congratulations!

Here comes the bride!

Here comes the bride!

The bride is here!

Congratulations!

Let the newlyweds enter the bridal chamber.

Enter the chamber.

Good!

-Come. -Please.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Let me tell you some news.

The young master of the Five Provinces Association in the capital

is getting married in a brothel.

And half the city's people

are going to join in the fun.

Anyone who goes

gets silver as a reward.

It's a banquet

with four plates and eight bowls,

all-you-can-drink.

I just came back.

I'm going in now

to have a drink with him.

You know,

he lies down when he drinks too much.

So, do you need...

Sir.

I think you're tired of

your own life.

No need to wait until next spring.

I'll throw you into the mountains right now

to feed the bears.

Please calm down, Sir.

Why are you so angry?

I assigned you two tasks.

Have you completed them?

Speak.

Sir,

I've completed

the two tasks you assigned me.

Where's the money?

I've spoken with the mother and son.

They said

They said you're very merciful

for asking only 50,000 taels.

They even said that

if they could be returned to the Central Plains,

they'd be willing to

dutifully hand over 10,000.

Did you promise

to actually set them free?

How many years remain

on your sentence?

Ten more years.

Get me the silver notes,

and I'll reduce it by five.

Really?

You'll send me back to the Central Plains,

just like that mother and son?

You'll return alive.

I understand.

Sir,

please enjoy your drink.

Before you finish this pot of wine,

I'll bring you the silver notes.

He trusts you.

You must accept the child's respect.

Every last one of us in Ningguta

is greedy.

We covet wealth,

but more than that, we covet life itself.

Every one of us dreams of escaping this place.

It's pathetic, and laughable.

Gu,

what about you?

How did you end up here?

Do you want to go back?

[Happiness]

Move again and I'll shoot you dead.

I'm determined to save them.

Xu,

I've been patient for five years

just for this day.

I was framed in the imperial examination.

I must find out the truth.

What's wrong?

Are you going to cry?

Do you have something to say?

Alright,

don't shout.

My life is worthless.

At worst, we'll die together.

Gu,

let them go.

I don't want the money anymore.

You've made more than enough over the years.

You've driven so many people to their deaths.

If you're planning to settle scores

over what happened today,

come after me alone.

Remember that?

Gu,

fine.

In over 200 years in Ningguta,

I've never seen a convict dare to tie up an official.

You won't escape.

The next time we meet,

I'll skin you alive!

Come on.

Heizi,

tell the others to hurry up!

Hurry up!

Hurry up!

Hurry up!

Hurry up!

Here, there's one more package.

Father,

[Ningyuan Salt Merchant]

I've checked all the salt.

Good.

Alright.

Get ready to go home.

Tie it up; we're going home!

Mount up.

Hurry up!

[A Tranquil Nation, A Contented People.]

Congratulations on your marriage.

Congratulations.

You said you'd only take two people.

I have to take both the mother and child.

Whoever stays behind won't survive.

[Ningguta]

Someone!

Someone!

Someone!

I'm going to kill him!

I'll chop him into pieces!

I'm going to kill him!

Kill him!

From here,

if you keep going,

you'll reach Liaoyang.

This is where we part.

You're not coming with us?

Yesterday I gave that bastard Xu

a real beating;

he's not going to let it slide.

If we stick together,

none of us will make it out in the end.

Gu.

Mr. Li.

If we manage to

survive this by some stroke of luck,

I'll see you in the Central Plains.

Mr. Li.

I'll leave

Mrs. Su and her child in your care.

Don't worry.

I've arranged everything.

I'll place the mother and child

in a pharmacy in the capital.

I'll buy them identities

and let the child be an apprentice.

The Li family has tens of thousands of workers

across the north and south.

What's two more people to worry about?

Gu,

I promise you.

Don't go.

Say something, will you?

If Commander Xu catches up,

you can protect him.

If he goes off on his own now, he'll be killed.

A debt repaid is a debt cleared.

I'm taking these two with me—

that settles what I owe.

If you want to protect him,

then come with me to the South.

I'll be on my way.

Ms. Su.

Mr. Gu, wait a moment.

When I first arrived in Ningguta,

I couldn't help but wonder—

how could so many exiled prisoners

be living out in the open

with no one watching over them?

Later, I figured it out.

For hundreds of miles around,

there's not a sign of human habitation.

There's no way to escape.

Where else could you possibly run to?

Let fate decide.

But if you agree to come South with me,

I have a way to keep you safe and sound.

If I stay in Ningguta,

I still have a chance to go back.

But if I become a rebel,

then there's really no chance

at all.

Ms. Su, I appreciate

the kindness, truly.

Our debt is settled.

Report!

General,

General, someone saw that Gu.

He ran towards Shuangjia Mountain.

Still trying to run?

He's just a scholar; he won't get far.

Everyone pick up the pace!

I'm going to grind that bastard

into the dirt.

Search carefully!

How far can he run with an arrow in him?

Keep searching!

Everyone search carefully!

There's blood.

Nobody move!