Original subtitles

[Legend of the Magnate]

[Episode 6]

Your Highness.

The Junior Khan of western Mongolia is here.

Let him in.

[The Junior Khan of western Mongolia]

Your Highness.

My Lady.

You used guns

to kill so many of my brothers.

How dare you still come here?

Your Highness.

You are the master of Horqin land.

My father

owns half of the grasslands in western Mongolia.

He sent me to talk with you,

hoping we can resolve this issue

without bloodshed.

What do you want?

The Qing emperor is finished.

They can barely help themselves.

This is a good opportunity.

Someone is willing to help us

break away from the Qing Empire.

When we marched, my father said

if you agree, Your Highness,

we will cease fire immediately.

In the days of Genghis Khan,

brothers never

spilled each other's blood.

Nor did they conspire with outsiders

to attack their own kin.

Back then, at the meeting at Dolon Nor,

your father and I

swore an oath to the Eternal Heaven

that those within and beyond the pass

would be as one family

and never betray the imperial court.

I…

will not go with you!

Uncle Jelme.

How about this?

I will give you

half of my guns.

We march west together

to seize more grasslands

and reclaim all the tribes there.

It is a good deal.

I want nothing from you.

I won't kill you.

Leave now!

Your Highness.

It seems...

you truly know nothing

about guns.

Guns

come in all sizes.

When I came in just now,

your men searched me

thoroughly.

But they have

never seen a real gun.

Your Highness.

Is this your idea of benevolence?

I hope

you will be wise.

Your Highness,

don't agree to his terms.

Don't be afraid.

Of course.

If I agreed,

even the lambs on the grasslands

would curse my name.

If I agreed,

the Eternal Heaven

would reject my soul!

Shoot!

Your Highness.

What's so great about the Qing Empire?

If you remain this stubborn,

don't blame me for what happens next.

You two could die here today,

and no one would know.

Someone knows.

Good girl.

Kill him!

Little girl,

this knife

is fine for cutting cheese.

But if you can't kill me with one cut,

you'll be the one who suffers.

Listen to me.

In the pocket of my leather coat,

there is a pouch of fine gems.

I swear to the Eternal Heaven,

every one of them is worth a fortune.

Take them.

Leave this place.

Whatever happens here

has nothing to do with you.

Bastard!

Your Highness.

Eat up. Go on.

It tastes great.

You think you deserve to eat?

Heizi.

Sing us a song to kill the boredom.

Alright!

Eat up.

Eat up.

The red sun lights up the dam.

Wind and sand lift the red bridal veil.

I'd feed the dog before I feed you!

My girl sways in the sedan chair.

Here, eat.

I raise my head from below the chair.

Take a bite.

-I mean it this time. -Wine scent fills the room as I look back.

-The wind blows the candle out again. -You want meat?

Do you even have any meat?

When I see my girl,

I just wave my hand.

Send it out.

Look at your hand.

Lower it down.

Turn around.

Yes, just like that.

Press down lower.

Look at it.

Be graceful.

Good.

Walk.

Thank you.

Thank you for saving me, madam.

I need to go to Horqin,

where the battle is.

You're already there.

This girl

is my daughter now.

Do you want to marry her?

His Highness said

we'll withdraw our troops today

and hold the wedding ceremony.

I...

Just heal up nicely.

Watch your neck.

What is going on here?

His Highness is back!

His Highness…

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

His Highness is back!

The princess and her consort have returned.

Which one of you is Mr. Chang?

What are you saying?

The princess and her consort have returned.

Which one of you is Mr. Chang?

At one year old, it is tethered.

At two years old, it gallops freely.

In a gathering as vast as the sea,

it takes first place time and again.

It comes from a fertile homeland.

It drinks from the western springs.

The herd rushes like white waves.

Mares give birth to new foals.

Mr. Chang.

Stop staring. Drink up.

Mr. Gu,

how did my daughter

become a princess?

What on earth happened?

Don't ask me.

I'm confused too.

It drinks from the western springs.

The herd rushes like white waves.

Mares give birth to foals.

At one year old, it was tethered.

At two years old, it galloped freely.

It repeatedly won first place in races.

This time,

the enemy retreated without a fight.

We're drinking this cup

not because we won.

From Ujimqin to the Great Wall,

we are all one family.

Fighting between brothers

is nothing serious.

But now,

some people have charged in with guns.

The grasslands will no longer be peaceful.

The world will fall into chaos.

I have resolved

never to bow to the enemy.

If you stand with me,

drink this wine!

Cheers!

From this day on, the Horqin tribe

has a new princess.

Princess!

Princess!

Princess! Princess!

You have all seen the princess.

But you haven't met her consort.

I'll have him come out

to drink with everyone.

Yes! Yes!

Consort!

Consort!

Consort!

Consort!

Consort!

Consort!

Your Highness.

The princess's consort

has brought us

the medicine we desperately needed.

That bastard Hanlong

nearly ruined everything.

This young man here has done a great service.

So I am happy

to marry the princess to him.

Consort.

What reward do you desire?

Land?

Herdsmen?

Or to be a great general

and lead troops into battle?

Your Highness.

I have a request.

Those captured with me,

the herdsmen and captives—

they are Mongols too.

I heard that after capture,

they would be made into slaves

and live worse than livestock.

I want to ask you to give the order

to set them all free.

Then,

I gift them all to you as slaves.

-Great! -Great!

Slaves!

Slaves!

I have been a slave myself.

I know the feeling.

It is unbearable.

So I do not want anyone

to be my slave.

What I mean is...

Please, Your Highness, give them their freedom.

Are you

trying to change my rules?

As you said yourself,

the world is in chaos.

There is no peace anywhere.

Why can't those old rules

be changed?

If Your Highness can

show kindness to the herdsmen from other tribes,

in the future,

when resisting foreign enemies,

you may find more allies.

Please consider it carefully.

Without captives as slaves,

how shall I reward those

who distinguish themselves?

Who do you think you are

to dare break my rules?

Open the door!

By order of the Horqin Consort,

all prisoners shall be released!

Those with homes may return.

Those with nowhere to go

may stay in the tribe.

You will be given weapons,

cattle, sheep,

and tents.

You may go.

Everyone says

my consort

is as merciful as a god.

He released so many

captives and slaves.

You really should go out and see.

However,

I never expected you to say that

back there.

Even Her Highness said

it was the first time she had seen

someone contradict His Highness like that.

You're really something.

I just spoke my mind.

So what?

Worst case, he'd chop off my head

and find you a new consort.

Who wants that?

His Highness said

if you stay here,

he will keep you safe.

I...

I can stay too.

If not for you, Chang Yu'er,

I'd be dead ten times over.

If I were a free man,

I would stay here on the grassland,

spending my days riding horses

and herding sheep.

That would be nice.

But I'm not.

What's the big deal?

First time seeing you like this.

You're not even afraid of death,

yet you're beating around the bush.

It's just exile, isn't it?

The imperial court hasn't caught you.

Let's say...

Let's say...

I caught you.

You, the princess,

are a real princess.

But I, the consort,

am a fake.

I am engaged back home.

You…

You never mentioned that.

Before,

I told you about my father.

Back then, my family was too poor

to afford schooling.

The village schoolteacher,

Mr. Bai,

took pity on me

and taught me to read for free.

He had a daughter

named Bai Yimei.

Before I went to the capital for exams,

we exchanged betrothal gifts

and were officially engaged.

I planned that after the exams,

I'd go back and marry her.

So...

so where is she now?

Now?

I don't know.

I have no idea.

Anyway,

I think

since we have

faced death together,

I owe you the truth.

I am an exile,

and I am engaged.

I'm not worthy of you.

I think...

I've really had too much to drink.

Wearing this outfit...

made me forget reality.

This whole thing about the princess and her consort...

was just play-acting.

Your Highness.

Don't walk further.

Alright.

Get up, sweetie.

Your Highness.

I am so fond of this girl.

You don't care for gold or jewels,

so I'm giving you this jade pendant.

If one day

you are in trouble,

send someone

to bring this pendant to me.

No matter how far,

Horqin warriors will come

to solve your problems.

Especially the problem next to you.

I can see that this guy

doesn't truly want to marry you.

I don't want him anyway.

You really won't stay?

No matter what mistake you made,

I'd protect you.

Thank you for your great kindness.

But I miss my home dearly.

My elderly mother is there.

I cannot travel far.

The matter with Hanlong

has been taken care of.

You suffered a great injustice

during your visit this time.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Thank you for your hospitality.

We shall meet again.

Okay.

Until we meet again.

Please.

Take care.

Take care, sweetie.

Take care, sweetie.

Let's depart.

[Li Wantang's Mansion in the capital]

Here are the land deeds

and the reserve funds.

Keep the silver cash on you.

You'll manage the Pingyao draft bank yourself.

Don't worry about that.

The banking business

relies on financial strength.

Surely the Li family's wealth

can match theirs.

It'd be ridiculous otherwise.

You can't say that.

In business,

unity is the most important thing.

I hear the Shanxi merchants

are extremely united.

That's crucial.

Master.

There is something

I don't know if I should say.

Go ahead.

Some in the family say

investing so much

to open a draft bank in Shanxi

might not be worth the risk.

Is it written that

only Shanxi people

are allowed to run draft banks?

That is exactly what I told them.

I'm just worried that you are

getting too close to the southerners.

Is it too risky?

I have my plans.

Father.

I've packed everything.

Good.

Before you go,

I have a few words for you.

I'm all ears.

This is our first time

entering the lion's den in Shanxi

to compete for our share.

Who knows how many people

are waiting to see us fail.

Do not be careless.

Yes. I certainly won't

disgrace the Li family name.

What name do we have?

Business is like war.

You just have to fight a few battles.

Don't be arrogant because of our wealth.

And don't secretly look down on others.

That's a land full of rich merchants.

Learn and ask questions when you get there.

Sure.

Pawnshops and banks

run on a cycle of inflow and outflow.

Money shouldn't flow too fast,

nor too slow.

The stakes involved...

Enough.

When you do it yourself there,

you will understand.

I'm telling you now.

You are the vanguard this time.

If you fail, I will step in.

But don't blame me then

if I show you no mercy.

Understood!

[Shanxi]

You have to leave after all.

I'm a fugitive.

I have no right to say such things.

Don't overthink it.

Go back and take care of your father.

Will...

Will you...

w-will you come see me?

I mean...

after you marry Miss Bai.

I hope so.

I have an elderly mother

and a younger brother at home.

Often in my dreams,

I think of them.

I've burdened them all these years.

If my family

suffers any more misfortune,

I don't know if Heaven

will ever forgive me.

You haven't wronged anyone.

Take care.

Fugitive Gu Pingyuan!

Dismount and surrender!

Chang Si is to be arrested as well.

Harboring a fugitive

carries the same penalty!

Fugitive Gu Pingyuan!

Dismount and surrender!

Chang Si is to be arrested as well.

Harboring a fugitive

carries the same penalty!

Master,

the county magistrate is here.

Let me ask you something.

These pawnshop accounts...

How were they kept?

Who kept them?

They rushed to finish them before the Spring Festival.

The head and second managers have reviewed them.

So small?

So thin?

The pawnshop accounts for the past five years

are getting increasingly simplified.

Do they

have no respect for me?

The two managers are getting old.

They lack energy.

Is it a lack of energy?

I think they just

don't respect me!

Isn't it just because

I have no son?

Because I have no heir?

[Magistrate of Pingyao]

[Auspicious Clouds]

I've been waiting for you for ages.

Your Worship, you're here.

Forgive me for not greeting you sooner.

What happened

with Chang Si caused quite a stir.

I can't suppress it anymore.

I can't explain it to my superiors.

Who do you need to explain it to?

The prefecture has its governor; the circuit has its intendant.

A lowly seventh-rank official like me

has to report to them.

Besides,

the convict with Chang Si

is an exile

who escaped from Ningguta.

Handing him over

would earn us major credit.

They've even sent a guerrilla general

with troops to catch him.

You want me to cover this up now,

but I don't have that kind of power.

I can't do it.

You have to show me a way out.

I heard that convict

is quite capable.

When Chang Si went beyond the pass to buy salt,

it was because of

his help

that the deal succeeded.

And on the Horqin Grasslands,

this guy helped him again.

Surrounded by troops,

he charged straight into the prince's tent.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Soon

it will be time

for officials' performance reviews.

I want to move up the ladder.

I need achievements.

We've been looking out for each other these years.

Do me a favor

and give me this credit, will you?

I've been looking out for you.

Not the other way around.

You spent six years awaiting appointment as the magistrate.

Who paid for

this official's hat of yours?

With such meager achievements,

you think you'll get promoted?

Dream on!

I'll help you one more time.

You

go tell the governor

that man isn't an exile.

That you made a mistake

and the case is under investigation.

I'll go see that guerrilla general

and bribe him.

He won't give you any trouble.

Thank you.

I really don't understand.

Who did this despicable thing?

It was Wang Tiangui.

He won't rest until you're dead.

You think it was him?

You paid him back,

so his plan failed.

He's been holding a grudge.

He needed to vent his anger.

This is my fault.

I didn't think ahead.

I dragged you into this, Mr. Gu.

Mr. Chang,

don't say that.

We're friends through thick and thin.

I'm the one who's caused you trouble.

It's just a house.

Even if you gave it to him,

what difference would it make?

With people like him,

the more you give in,

the more they take.

Since we've already offended him,

let's just see what happens.

Come out for interrogation!

You're something else, brat.

Wearing fifty catties of shackles,

and not a scratch.

You're a seasoned convict?

You could say that.

I wore shackles just as heavy back then

and walked all the way to Ningguta.

If I hadn't learned

how to wrap my ankles from the old-timers,

I probably couldn't even walk now.

The imperial court has sentenced you to immediate execution.

Brat,

you won't suffer much longer.

Harboring a criminal

is also a capital offense.

It's fine if you die,

but you've dragged someone else down with you.

I think before autumn comes,

I'll be congratulating you.

Convict,

are you asleep?

Cut the crap.

Someone like you

wouldn't look like a prince even in royal robes.

Trying to play the magistrate?

Go study for a few more years.

Shut your mouth!

I'm the one

living comfortably here.

You are the one about to die!

Do you still think

you're a scholar?

Your title has been stripped.

I'm basically

looking at a dead man now.

Then why waste breath on a dead man?

Speak.

Apart from Mr. Chang's house,

what else do you want?

What do you want?

Can I trust you?

You

don't know me very well.

We businessmen

value credibility above all.

Although business

involves many schemes,

the worst thing

is breaking one's word.

Fine.

I want Mr. Chang

and his family safe.

Name your terms.

I heard

that in Ningguta

and on the Horqin Grasslands,

you made that old fool

a lot of money.

Can you help me too?

Do you know the pawn business?

[Taiyufeng Pawnshop]

My ancestors left me a pawnshop

that I've expanded considerably.

Anhui people are the best

at running pawnshops.

Anhui merchants are hardworking

and have a sharp eye.

Record this!

One bright red wedding dress,

collar worn,

moth-eaten, and rat-chewed.

Stained all over, no accessories.

Pawn value: four maces of silver.

Head Manager, please take a look.

[Head Manager of Taiyufeng]

The head manager

appraises antiques and jewelry.

[Second Manager of Taiyufeng]

The second manager appraises woodwork and ornaments.

[Third Manager of Taiyufeng]

The third manager

appraises rough furniture

and daily items.

This business is legal robbery.

When you go to a pawnshop,

even the finest goods

fetch nothing but

dirt-cheap prices.

[Taiyufeng]

But with interest added to those prices,

you won't ever be able to redeem your items.

[Taiyufeng Record]

The desperate pawn things for good.

Those with hope pawn them to get them back.

Money comes and goes.

People die,

but money lives on.

Pawnshops bring money in.

Draft banks send money out.

If skinning people and eating their flesh

isn't enough for you,

there are draft banks.

They chew up the bones.

Draft banks take deposits

and issue loans.

With just a few slips of paper,

you can do business anywhere.

[Taiyufeng]

The silver, actually,

never moves from the vault.

This is the greatest business

in the world.

Do you understand?

How am I supposed to understand

from just a few words?

I want to make a deal with you.

Whatever is on your mind,

you can tell me

straight.

A convict is a convict,

but business is business.

All these years,

my pawnshop business

has grown larger and larger.

My subordinates think

it's all their credit,

as if everything

came from their hard work.

So why should the lion's share

go to the master?

Of course,

that is human nature.

But they are wrong.

The master is the master.

I cannot simply

get rid of them overnight.

That place is a stagnant pool.

I need a shark like you

to swim into that stagnant water,

stir things up,

and win back my control.

Can you

do that for me?

When do I start?

[Shixing Pawnshop]

[Yixiu Shop]

We're here.

Guys!

[Yixiu Shop]

Set up the flags.

Unload the silver carts.

We are setting up our shop

right here in Pingyao.

-Yes. -Yes.

[Yixiu Shop]

Patriarch!

Where is the patriarch?

Wang Tiangui is holding him.

Wang Tiangui

wants me to work in his pawnshop.

Only if I do well

will he release Mr. Chang.

What do you mean?

Anyway, for now,

I'll sleep and eat at the pawnshop.

When you have time,

go look after him.

Did I say you could leave?

Gu Pingyuan.

Mr. Gu.

What about the patriarch?

You know

he is getting old.

He can't survive

the damp and cold of the prison.

The house...

w-we don't want it.

Okay?

We'll give all the money to Wang Tiangui.

Is that enough?

If money could solve this,

it would be easy.

Under the Law of the Qing Empire,

harboring an exile shares the exile's guilt.

It's all your fault!

Heizi!

Heizi, what are you doing?

Let go!

Gu.

What do we do now?

We have to agree to his terms.

Within a month,

I must bring

the head and second managers under control.

They are

wily old foxes.

How is a month enough?

Gu.