Original subtitles

[Legend of the Magnate]

[Episode 11]

In the world of business,

goodwill is everything.

Who would

truly drive someone to ruin? Right?

My apologies.

We'll give you some time

to bow out gracefully.

Alright.

Post the notices.

Let's prepare to return to the capital.

Before we leave, collect all our outstanding debts in Pingyao.

By the way,

the Eight Families have asked me to check,

for the 6 million taels of silver,

would you prefer it to be transported physically by cart,

or provided as banknotes?

My father said

to leave it here

as a gesture of goodwill.

No wonder.

No wonder what?

No wonder your father's business grew so vast.

That was a remarkably

gracious thing to say.

Are you praising him,

or making a dig at me?

But there's one thing

I genuinely don't understand.

Where exactly did I go wrong?

Enlighten me.

You overestimate me.

I'll need to reflect on this properly.

When you leave for the capital,

I'll give you the answer in person.

Chief Manager.

Greetings, Madam.

Greetings, Mr. Li and Mr. Sun.

-Greetings, Chief Manager. -Greetings, Chief Manager.

Well,

today I brought just 100 grams

of the finest Da Hong Pao tea

from the mother trees in Fujian.

Let's have it before we start drinking.

Great.

Mr. Gu might be hungry.

Let's have the meal first and enjoy the tea later.

Alright.

I can't speak for his hunger,

but I've been craving

this tea for ages.

At my age, how could I get so hooked on—

No, no.

I mean, it's all thanks to the Chief Manager.

The Chief Manager has arrived.

Sir,

I'm like a monkey dressed in royal robes— utterly unworthy of such honor.

Please, no more jokes at my expense.

You flatter me beyond measure.

After you.

If he can string four words together,

consider it a grand gesture.

My whole life,

I've only heard him speak in two-word grunts.

Right, Cripple?

Piss off.

See what I mean?

Mr. Gu,

sorry, I mean Chief Manager Gu.

I will ask you a series of questions,

and I expect an answer to each one.

Don't worry about offending us with your answers—

if you dislike the questions themselves,

just say so.

Very well.

Do you truly wish to join the Eight Families?

I don't.

To be honest with everyone here,

I'm an exile

who escaped from Ningguta.

The benefactor who saved me

was captured by Wang Tiangui.

He used that to threaten me

and force me into running his business.

His obsession

with joining the Eight Families

stems from his desire

to uncover King Li's Treasure,

which was also the reason

for our previous trip to Jinyang Villa.

This is unexpected.

Now you know

I'm a man without

even a legal identity.

How could I possibly be worthy

of serving as your chief manager?

I've long admired

the Eight Families of Hedong,

and meeting you

only deepens my respect.

The privilege of knowing you

is fortunate enough—

I dare not

hope for more.

Please deliberate among yourselves.

I will...

take my leave.

So what if you're an exile?

Even Emperor Taizu of Ming

was once a beggar.

A true hero should be judged by his deeds, not his origins.

No,

the matters you need to discuss

are confidential.

My staying

would only pose a risk to all of you.

It's better this way.

Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu.

By entrusting us with your truth,

you've proven your sincerity.

If we still couldn't take you

into our confidence,

then what would that make the Eight Families of Hedong?

Villains?

Forget

about Wang Tiangui—

I have the deepest respect

for your character

and your judgment.

I accept you.

I am willing to take you into my confidence.

As am I.

These past months,

our draft banks

have prospered enormously.

Young man—

no,

I mean Chief Manager,

if Wang Tiangui releases you,

I will personally drive you

to my estate.

Must you ramble so?

Wencai, what's your stance?

Chief Manager.

In that case,

Mr. Gu is now one of the Eight Families.

Where are you going?

I purchased this military map

from the Governor of Shandong.

The Prince's troops have

advanced to this location—

the border between Shandong and Henan,

at Caozhou.

You're trying to borrow a knife to kill someone?

The Prince's cavalry

is invincible,

battle-hardened and triumphant.

How could those unarmed Resistance Army

possibly handle them?

Those poor souls

wouldn't risk their necks rebelling

if they hadn't been

dispossessed of their land

and left homeless.

Throwing them

against seasoned troops—

what if the blade backfires

and gets them slaughtered?

Haven't we funded the Resistance Army before?

Multiple times, in fact.

Money is the whetstone—

it determines how sharp the blade becomes.

To clarify for our chief manager:

our trade operations

require dealing

with all local factions.

We maintain relations

with commanders of the Resistance Army as well.

"Money is the whetstone"—

well said.

What's your plan?

I've had our Hebei branches

acquire 2,000 horses from the grasslands,

shipping them via the Grand Canal

to Shandong.

The plan is to use the horse caravan

to unite all Resistance Army units

across Shandong

and launch a coordinated siege.

I know nothing of military strategy,

but I gave them one clear order:

Don't let that Prince leave alive.

Stop running, you Qing lackeys!

Stop running, you Qing lackeys!

Freeze!

Qing lackeys!

Sir!

Qing lackeys!

Freeze!

Stop right there!

Stop running, you Qing lackeys!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Are you alright, Your Highness?

Stop!

Freeze!

[Caozhou, Shandong]

Where are the rear guard units?

Why is there no one in sight?

Have you all gone mute?

Answer me!

Your Highness,

Ling San... that bastard

has turned traitor!

Impossible!

I raised that boy myself.

During the charge,

victory was within our grasp

when Ling San

led his cavalry to strike our flank.

In the chaos,

we couldn't distinguish friend from foe.

That's how

the rebels gained the upper hand.

How could he betray me?

Your Highness,

the rebels outmatch us

in both firearms and cavalry.

Someone must be

backing Ling San.

Let us escort you to safety now.

We've bribed

the Prince's trusted general,

Ling San.

The man was drowning in 3 million in gambling debts—

we cleared them for him.

He's promised

to turn coat at the critical moment.

When that happens,

the Prince will be trapped between external threats and internal betrayal.

His defeat is guaranteed

before the battle even begins.

Fall back!

All units fall back!

Fall back! Don't run!

Cowards!

[Taiping Bank]

Make sure everything's tied down securely!

Tighten those ropes properly!

[Taiping Bank]

Double-check all the fastenings!

Tighten those ropes properly!

Young Master,

the wind is picking up.

You should get in the carriage.

[Taiping Bank]

[Wanyuandang]

What about this?

We'll...

we'll break it into pieces

and take it with us.

When we

erected this here,

[Wanyuandang]

we vowed

it would stand for centuries.

Now barely months later,

we're smashing it to rubble.

Young Master,

victory and defeat are both part of warfare.

Then break it!

Why the hesitation?

Are you waiting for me to board first?

I thought the sight might distress you.

What is there

to be distressed about?

I'll smash it myself!

Once everything's shattered, I can leave with peace of mind.

[Taiping Bank]

[Wanyuandang]

[Taiping Bank]

Why are you all standing around?

Smash it now!

Break it apart so we can take it with us.

Hurry up and smash it! Quickly!

Yes, exactly. Catch the rope!

Good, adjust it slightly.

Now get this part down.

Mr. Gu,

now you're Manager Gu—

the rising star of Shanxi's banking world.

[Greeting the Zephyr]

What envy you inspire.

I'm merely playing a role in this opera,

none of it is real.

Beyond these fine clothes,

I don't even have a legal identity.

You lack a legal identity,

while I have nothing

but my status.

This time we served different masters.

Don't hold it against me.

I don't.

If I did, I wouldn't be here.

Truthfully, I hoped you'd defeat my father.

He clings too closely to officials,

bullying others with borrowed power—

that's no proper way.

You truly think so?

Yet I'm torn.

[Greeting the Zephyr]

I just want to be a proper merchant,

conducting honest business.

But with men like my father around,

I feel I can never truly succeed.

I'm glad to hear

you think that way.

But which path

is the right one?

You're asking the blind to lead the blind.

How can I call myself a true merchant?

If you're not a merchant, then what are you?

Those old foxes of the Eight Families

didn't make you chief manager for nothing.

It wouldn't be right

between friends to hold back now.

Very well.

Do you recall our earlier discussion

about the "Dao of the Heart"?

Among all trades—

scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—

there are exceptional individuals.

Some achieve immortality through their crafts,

not just through scholarship.

[Greeting the Zephyr]

The recluse Tao Qian,

the artisan Lu Ban,

the merchants

Bai Gui and Fan Li—

their monumental achievements

align with

what Confucius called

"approaching the Dao."

So what exactly

is this Dao?

A principle?

A path?

A treasure

encompassing

all existence?

I often lie awake

pondering this mystery.

I never took Manager Gu

for a truth-seeker.

The exiled convict Gu Pingyuan,

the scholar Gu Pingyuan,

the merchant Mr. Gu—

which is real, which is false?

Are they all true,

all false?

No more riddles.

Since entering commerce,

I've sought the Great Way

in commerce and business.

The ancients said the Great Way is supremely simple—

so it must be

fundamental principles.

Ultimately,

it boils down to trust and integrity.

Sincerity begets trust,

and benevolence begets righteousness.

Thus merchants

must defend credibility and loyalty

as their very lives.

It sounds pedantic,

but pursued to its zenith—

as demonstrated today—

[Greeting the Zephyr]

the Eight Families

settle accounts with credit notes,

making their capital deployment ever more agile.

Silver from across the land

floods in because

of their trustworthiness and convenience.

This proves integrity's power

in this world.

Some truths

seem simple,

but without practice,

we never glimpse

their profundity.

After all these years,

you still have that bookish pedantry

about you.

You asked for my thoughts—

don't mock me now.

I'm returning home.

When I next visit Shanxi,

I'll seek you out.

I drift like duckweed—

who knows

where I'll land?

Once

amnesty grants me

freedom,

I'll come find you.

You're leaving again?

Every opera

must end.

I remain here for now—

there are still people I need to save.

Farewell.

[Greeting the Zephyr]

But Mr. Gu,

people will remember

how we shook Pingyao to its core

with gatehouse pawning,

door-to-door pawning,

and temple pawning—

forcing every

draft bank and pawnshop in Pingyao to kneel!

What glorious madness!

They'll remember indeed.

[Greeting the Zephyr]

Everyone, a toast!

To our chief manager,

Mr. Gu,

and to the Eight Families

for gaining such a talent!

Bottoms up!

Bottoms up! Bottoms up! Bottoms up!

Bottoms up!

Enjoy. Enjoy.

-Enjoy. -Enjoy.

Help yourselves.

Chief Manager,

you seem preoccupied.

I was thinking...

the Prince had such a formidable reputation.

Yet he was brought down just like that?

You

still don't fully grasp

the power of money.

Mr. Gu,

would you like to know

what King Li's Treasure is?

[Pingding Temple]

The so-called King Li's Treasure

is hidden deep within mountain strongholds,

behind high walls

and intricate mechanisms.

No one but the Eight Families

[Universal Radiance of Buddha]

can access it.

Some claim

the King Li's Treasure

was simply abandoned by the fleeing King Li

in a valley,

stumbled upon by our ancestors,

and used to build their fortune.

That's pure nonsense.

If fortune were that easy,

the Eight Families would have torn each other apart

fighting over it long ago.

Don't you agree, Mr. Gu?

Indeed.

A leader like King Li—

seasoned in battle, a visionary—

fought his way out of encirclement

with just eighteen riders.

How could such a hero

fail to protect

his army's funds?

The truth is,

he already knew then

that Heaven's Mandate

had slipped from his grasp.

Unwilling to let his empire fall entirely into others' hands,

he entrusted

eight of his most loyal commanders

with the wealth

[In Memory of the Valiant General, Ma Shiyao, Great Shun Dynasty]

accumulated over decades—

including treasures

[In Memory of the Valiant General, Liu Tichun, Great Shun Dynasty]

taken from Emperor Chongzhen

and confiscated

from corrupt officials.

This fortune

was meant to be the foundation of the Great Shun Dynasty's restoration—

the means

to reclaim our Han Chinese homeland.

The Eight Families were ordered to remain here,

using commerce as our cover.

Thus, this fortune

remains with the Eight Families.

And the responsibility rests on our shoulders.

Our ancestors

have waited generations

for the right moment—

and we may wait generations more,

right?

That is who we, the Eight Families, are.

This hall

is one of the vaults holding the King Li's Treasure.

These Buddha statues and arhat figures

are all crafted from solid gold.

In all the 200-plus years of the Qing Empire

besides the leaders

of the Eight Families,

you are the only soul to learn this secret.

So the King Li's Treasure

was never just a legend.

But these items are so heavy—

how could they have carried them during military campaigns?

My brother,

no one alive can answer that.

The men around you now

are only in their thirties or forties.

These artifacts

belong to events from over two centuries ago—

five generations past.

In their time, Mr. Gu Tinglin

and Mr. Fu Qingzhu

established a rule:

each year, the Eight Families

must melt down 10%

of their profits

into gold and silver objects,

stored here.

Grain by grain, the silo fills.

You may call it

the King Li's Treasure,

or you may see it

as the crystallized effort

of every merchant west of the Yellow River.

Should the nation ever face peril

and need financial rescue,

every last piece here

must be dispersed without reserve.

This was our forefathers' vision—

a heart dedicated to saving the world.

By showing you this today,

we pass on

the Great Way of commerce:

to serve the people and aid the world.

Wealth, in truth, belongs to no one—

it should be held in trust for all living beings.

I, Gu Pingyuan, accept this teaching with humility.

I captured Chang Si

and forced you to work for me.

Do you hate me for it?

I wouldn't call it hate.

More like resignation.

Resignation?

No—you had nowhere else to go.

True enough.

Listen, young man.

I'll show you a real path forward.

Look up.

Look at these account books.

You were

never really a scholar—

you are a true merchant,

through and through.

In just a few months,

you've made more for Taiyufeng

than a decade of its usual

banking operations.

You've got talent.

And now you're even

the chief manager of the Eight Families.

So tell me—

how should I reward you?

I own nothing of value.

To me, money is just a burden.

Don't talk like that.

It's always those

without money

who claim money is evil.

Money itself

is neither good nor evil.

With money,

you can accomplish anything.

How could that be bad?

The rich buy carriages

to travel faster.

But as you said—

I have nowhere to go.

What use is speed

to me?

Do you believe

I could send you back

to Ningguta right now?

Do you know

how many people there

want you dead?

I believe it.

But I won't.

If you

could make money for Chang Si,

why not

for me?

Listen, young man,

your showing up here—

that's heaven's will.

It means

you and I are meant to walk the same road.

Look at this room—

all these ledgers,

all this wealth. It's mine.

I…

Do you understand?

Understand what?

Say it plainly.

Become my son

and take the Wang surname...

From that day,

Gu Pingyuan will be dead.

The past will be erased.

Everything starts anew.

You're holding a winning hand.

All the wealth in this room

will be yours.

You'll guard it for me.

When I die,

I'll be buried right here—

watching over it for you.

Chang Si is nothing but a brute—

a mere mortal.

You've already repaid your debt of conscience.

What more do you need a conscience for?

[Prison]

We have an announcement for you.

Gentlemen.

What is this...

We're here to inform you

that you're going to meet your maker.

It was Mr. Wang Tiangui

who paid for your death.

You're a true hero—

when you reach the underworld,

seek your vengeance on him.

Don't blame the two of us.

I'll confront him!

This is an injustice!

Restrain him!

Hold him down!

Let me go!

Restrain him!

Let me go!

As for Chang Si,

leave it to me.

The lives of that man and his daughter

are in my hands now.

I will see them dead.

I acted alone—

even if I must walk through fire,

it has nothing to do with you.

You just

guard the money for me.

Let me be clear:

I've already taken the girl.

I will claim her life

around this midnight.

I've made sure

they'll say the killer was Wang Tiangui—

not you, Gu Pingyuan.

You just want me

on my knees,

like a dog serving his master.

That, I cannot do.

Fine. Refuse,

and I won't protect your life either.

Father!

Hurry!

You

can reunite with Chang Si and others

in the underworld.

Let's make a deal.

You? What could you possibly offer?

You think you're in any position to negotiate?

The King Li's Treasure.

Interested?

Stay still!

King Li's Treasure?

That's nothing but a legend.

For centuries,

no one has uncovered

its secret.

Besides, I've looked into it—

the Eight Families

built their fortune year by year,

through dyes and tea.

Do you really think such a prize

would just fall into my lap?

Let me tell you something.

I've just been there.

Where is it?

Hold on.

Mr. Wang says

we can let them go.

[Pingding Temple]

[Pingding Temple]

[Pingding Temple]

They say King Li

eventually became a monk.

I doubt it.

With a temperament like his,

how could he have lived out his days

in quiet contemplation?

Come.

Master,

my family wishes to commission a Buddhist service.

Would you assist us?

Amitabha.

This way, please.

You, Gu—

walk ahead.

All these dead souls

guarding such

a massive treasure,

yet they can't enjoy a single coin.

What a waste.

If you understand that,

why come here

to guard it alongside them?

I don't like

his way of talking.

Silence him for me later on.

-Yes! -Yes!

Step aside!

This is mine!

This is mine!

It's all mine!

The treasures here are so immense,

even the Qing Empire's wealth

accumulated over centuries

may not compare!

Master,

are you satisfied?

Master?

It's all mine!

All mine!

All mine!

Let go!

-Let go! -It's mine.

Stop grabbing!

This is mine!

This is the "Dragon-breaking Stone"—

built by the craftsmen who constructed the imperial tombs.

Once it drops,

no one gets out alive.

Open the door!

Get it open!

Open the door!

[Prison]

[Hall of Divine Blessing]

Where is the master?

Gone to guard King Li's gate.

Did you really think a man like Wang Tiangui

would share his wealth with you?

The moment you learned the truth,

you were marked for death.

His bodyguards

have already dug your grave.

Flee Shanxi now.

The farther, the better.

Heavens!

I, Wang Tiangui,

am richer than you now!

Heaven has made us talents; we're not made in vain.

[In the 11th year of the Xianfeng era, the Xianfeng Emperor passed away.]

The Emperor has passed away!

The entire nation is in mourning.

A new reign is upon us.

The new Emperor will issue a general pardon—

by then,

you'll be a free man.

I'll go buy a horse

and walk through the streets.

The decree should arrive any moment now.

Don't act rashly.

Wait a little longer.

Let me check outside first.

Father,

let him buy the horse.

The young Emperor's pardon has been announced—

the magistrate's men

were just shouting about it in the streets.

Well,

Mr. Gu,

why not

stay a few more days?

We haven't had

enough time together.

Can't you see Gu's heart

is already racing home?

If he had a horse now,

I doubt he'd even

spare us another word.

Mr. Chang.

Once the south

is pacified

and Anhui restored,

you may come—

start a tea trade

with us,

and ship it to the north.

Good.

When that time comes,

I'll seek you out, Mr. Gu.

My family owns half a tea mountain.

We grow Silver Bud

and Hou Kui—

both fine teas.

They should sell well

in the capital.

I've heard

even the Emperor can't get fresh tea—

is that true?

When I was young,

the tea masters said

the reigning Emperor

prefered Golden Thread and Pu'er.

What does he know about fine green tea?

By the time our green tea

reaches the north,

it's almost stale.

Then they scent it with jasmine—

the aroma is there,

but the original flavor is lost.

I've had that jasmine-scented tea

in the capital—

so that's how it's made.

I'll await your esteemed presence in Anhui.

Once you've recovered your health,

let's try

to reunite in Anhui.

The moment I stepped out of that prison,

my legs started itching for the road.

Over this past year,

I've come to realize—

I'm only truly alive when I'm traveling.

Mr. Gu,

take care

on your journey.

-Your Highness. -Your Highness.

This southern expedition must be executed flawlessly.

-Yes! -Yes!

Wait for us at the foot of the mountain.

-Let's go. -Let's go!