Original subtitles

Please

Lu Su has often mentioned your talents

It's a great pleasure to meet you And I'd like to your instruction

I'm neither clever nor learned I'm sorry to hear such words

You've been at Xinye these day

And you helped Liu Bei fight against Cao Cao there

You must know exactly his military strength

Could you tell me how many men has he in all

Horse and foot, land and marine He has one million or more troops

Is there any falsehood?

No, Cao Cao had originally 200, 000 Qingzhou army

He gained 500, 000 or 600, 000 when Yuan Shao fell

He has 300, 000 or 400, 000 nearly recruited in the capital

Recently he has got 200, 000 or 300, 000 Jingzhou

So if these be reckoned up the total is above 1. 5 million

I said ore million for I was afraid of frightening you

Lu Su

Then how many generals in his army

His administrators and advisors capable and veteran generals

are more than oneortwothousand

What will be his next move since he has overcome Jingzhou and Chu

He's camped along the Yangtye River and is collecting warships

So it's quite obvious his intention is to invade yor territory

Since that's his intention

It's a case of fight or peace I wish you would decide that for me

Civil wars lasted for a long time and many heroes have emerged

Now Cao Cao has won for himself great and wide fame and renown

Liu Bei tried to fight against him but he's repeatedly been defeated

So I wish to measure your forces

If you can ventur to meet him with your troops

Better break the ties with him

If the force is weak

You have to yield and turn your face to the north and serve Cao Cao

I had a talk with those advisors in Jiangdong this morning

I found all of your advisors would like to submit to Cao Cao

In this case, why don't you follow will of Heaven and desire of people

To seek momentary ease

If what you've said is true why doesn't Liu Bei submit

Well you know Tian Heng of the state of Qi

He retreated to an island with 500 men and refused to submit

All of them finally died

Liu Bei is also an offspring of the imperial family and

uncle of the emperor

He's a man of great renown and every man looks up to him

But his army is small and strength is weak, so he's defeated

He'd rather follow Tian Heng to die

than submit to the national traitor

You've gone too far

I've repeatedly warned you but you just refused to take my advice

Fortunately my lord is too largeminded

to blame you in front of you

you spoke to him most contemptuously

What a sensitive man he is

I know how to destroy Cao Cao army

But he never asks me so I said nothing

If you do have good plan to destroy Cao Cao, I'll beg my lord to ask you

In my eyes, Cao Cao's great army

is merely a swarm of ants

I've but to life my hand and they'll be crushed

Just a moment I'll go and tell my lord

Zhuge Liang has insulted me too deeply

I've blamed him so

But he laughed and said you were too sensitive

It seems he has the plan to destroy Cao Cao

He won't say it by himself why don't you ask for his advice

So he has a ready plan His words were meant to provoke me

I did despise him for a moment and it has really held thing up

Well, let's go

Master Zhuge Liang

Please forgive me for my offending you

Attendant

Yes

Get a banquet at the rear chamber in honor of Master Zhuge Liang

Yes

Master, please

After you

Are you also fond of music?

Master Zhuge Liang has an excellent knowledge of classic music

When he was in the retirement at Longzhong,"The Song of Liang Fu"

No, I only like it

Come on Master

The pity is Zhou Yu is absent

Otherwise you'll have another music loer here

I know well Zhou Yu is elegand

The children's rhyme in the south of the river has it

Anything goes wrong with the music Zhou Yu is the one to ask

But I don't know where he's now

I've sent him to drill the navel force at the Lake Poyang

Master, please

Years ago, heroes rose up local lords of different areas

Now, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao

and others are gone

Only Liu Bei and I remain

I'll never allow lord of Wu to be controlled by someone else

But Liu Bei has been defeated lately

What can he do now against Cao Cao's force?

Though defeated, Liu Bei still Has Guan Yu lead 10, 000 crack troops

Liu Qi has another 10, 000 troops in Jiangxia

Besides, Cao Cao's army is far from home and the men are worn out

They made a cast effort to come up with my master

And the light horses marched three hundred Li in one day and night

This was the final kick of crossbow spring and the arrow was not swift

enough to penetrate even the silk The army can do no more

Besides, they're from the north unskilled on water warfare

Men of Jingzhou are unwilling to help Cao Cao

If you and my master will fight with one heat against Cao Cao

He'll certainly be defeated

Then he'll retreat northwards

So your country and Jingzhou will be strong

And firmly established

Success or failure hinges on battle make the decision quickly

Your words have opened up the road clearly

I've decided and have no further doubts

Come on, have some more drinks

To tell you frankly, I haven't drunk so mush lately

Lord

You've fallen into the trap set by Zhuge Liang

If you're going to attack Cao Cao compare yourself with Yuan Shao?

In those day, when Cao's army is weak

Yet he can overcome Yuan Shao at one stroke

Now he's commanding one million Troops, how can you take it lightly

If you listen to Zhuge Liang's advice and engage in a war

That's like carrying fuel to a fire

Liu Bei was defeated, intending to borrow our troops against the enemy

Why should you be made use of by him?

Lord...

Lord. your wise decision should not be shaken by those who wish to

secure the safety of their families I hope you'll refuse their advice

If you hesitate, you'll be misled by them

Please leave me alone I must think it over carefully

Yes

Lord, here is Dowager Lady Wu

Mother

Mother, I'm quite well, don't worry

I hear recently you can neither eat nor sleep

What's worring you so much

Cao Cao's army is threatening to annex Dongwu

Officials have different opinions on fight or surrender

If we fight, we might fail

If we surrender Cao Cao might reject it

So I can't make the decision now

Have you forgot the last words of my sister

For internal affairs consult Zhang zhao

For external affairs Zhou Yu, why don't you ask advice from Zhou Yu?

Thank you for reminding me I've nearly forgot it as I'm busy

You must take care of yourself no matter how important it is

If anything should go wrong

How can I be worthy of my dead sister

Mother, you rest assured

I'll send for zhou yu immediately

Zhou Yu

My dear

The lord has just sent for a person to go to Panyang

He wants you to be back soon

And you're back now

Cao Cao's army is pressing on us and the is hesitating

I'm really worrying about it

My dear, you must be tired

My good wife, I've hurried back and was missing you all on my way here

You just pay lip services

I know every inch of you you're so occupied

with the sate and military affairs as to forget food and sleep

How should you have time to be immersed in love?

Here's his Excellency Zhang Zhao

You're just back, why not leave us in peace for a moment?

Well, tell them to go back

I won't see anyone tonight as I'll be with my wife

Well you may go

Chief commander

Well, please

Chief commander, please

Please

Chief commander

Zhang Zhao, if anything to say please go ahead

Have you beard of our terrible danger?

I've heard nothing

Cao Cao's armies are encamped along the Yangze River

He sent a letter yesterday to ask lord to hunt with him in jiangxia

He may intend to annex this country details of scheme are till a secret

So we advised the lord to submit

for the time being to avoid the calamites of war

But Lu Su brought here Zhuge Liang

and Liu Bei's military counselor form jiangxia

He wants to avenge himself for recent defeat, inciting lord for war

Lu Su, persist in supporting him we hope final decision be made

Are you all fro that opinion?

Yes, perfectly

I've also wanted to submit for a long time

You may retire now

We'll see our lord tomorrow I'll make up his mind for him

Please

The civil officials are for war or submission?

What's your idea?

Our lord has been here in Jiangdong for three generations

To the north, there is the river and to the south a vast land

We've both worthy lord and wellknown generals

How can we submit to the Han's traitor?

General Cheng Pu and other generals are here

Chief commander

General Huang

General Cheng

Please...

Do you know our country is about to be ruled over by someone else?

I've heard nothing

Chief commander

We helped General Sun to establish his authority here

We fought many battles before we gained six prefectures in Jiangdong

The civil officials have gone so far as to advise lord submit to Cao Cao

It's really shameful and pitiful of course

We'd rather die than surrender

We hope you'll advise the lord to fight

And you may depend on our struggling to the last man

Are you unanimous, generals

None of us is willing to surrender

They may take our heads but we'll never surrender

Fine

I want to fight out with Cao Cao How could we think of submission?

You may retire now

We'll see the lord tomorrow and I'll settle his doubts

Please

Chief commander, goodbye

Chief commander

My brother Zhegu Liang has come from Jiangxia

He said Liu Bei wants to ally with our lord against Cao Cao

The civil and military officials hold different opinions

As my brother is an emissary I dare not say much on either side

Were awaiting your decision

What do you think about it?

Submission is an easy way to safety result of war is hard to foretell

I'll make up my mind, we'll meet at the lords residence tomorrow

Well, officials and generals

I've made the decision

We'll see the lord tomorrow and the matter will be fully debated

See you tomorrow

My dear

Well, I've seen them off the officials and officers

Nobody will come to disturb us

Not sure

Lu Su is coming

You see?

The country is in danger You two are so pleased here

Say no more, please invite Zhuge Liang to come in

Good, I'll let you two enjoy yourselves for a moment

I haven't played the Qin and Zheng for a long time

Sorry to have troubled you

Master Zhuge Liang has been waiting for quite a long time

Please

Chief commander

Cao Cao is now encamped along the river

The lord can't make the decision

What's your opinion?

Cao Cao is ordering the lording about in the name of the emperor

And he's quite stron now We'll incur risks if attack him

Opposition means defeat and submission means peace

I've made the determination to

to advise the lord to surrender

Master Zhuge Liang, please

Please

You're wrong

This country has been under the same rule for there generations

and can't be suddenly given up to someone else

We depend on you to defend the country

How can you adopt the view of those weakling?

There're many people in the six prefectures of Jiangdong

If I bring the calamities of war upon them

Are the people there going to blame me?

With your bravery, wisdom and the strength of our country

I don't think Cao Cao is certain to realize his desire

Why are you laughing,master?

I'm laughing at Lu Su who knows nothing of the affairs of the day

Master, what do you mean?

Well, the intention to submit is perfectly reasonable

Cao Cao is an excellent commander He's so good that nobody is his peer

Those have tried but have all been exterminated

Liu Bei is an exception, didn't know the situation, and against him

Result is he has to flee to Jiangxia nobody knowing what'll happen

Your decision to surrender to Cao Cao

While safety of wives and children ensured, and riches and honor

Dignity of country is left to chance and fate, it's not worth considering

Are you going to make our lord kneel before such a rebel?

Don't be annoyed Lu Su, I've got a plan

You don't have to yield territory or surrender official seals

Cao Cao's one million troops will retreat

What's your good idea?

You just send a messenger and a little boat

to ferry the two persons across the river

As soon as Cao Cao gets these two persons under his hand

His army would drop their weapons furl their banners and retreat

These two persons mean nothing to Jiangdong

Like a leaf from a tree or a grain of millet from a granary

Who are these two persons?

When I was living at Longzhong

They told me Cao Cao built a pavilion by the River Zhang

It was named the Bronze Bird Pavilion, which was magnificent

He sought throughout country for most beautiful women to put them in

Cao Cao is intrinsically a lecher

Hearing there are two famous beauties in the Qiao family

The elder is Big Oiao and the younger is Little Qiao

They're so beautiful that birds would alight and fishes drown

Flowers blush for shame at the sight of them

Cao Cao has sworn he only wants two things in his world

The first is the imperial throne

And the second is the sight of the two women in Bronze Bird Pavilion

for his hater years, with these two things he could die without regret

Cao Cao is now threatening south of Yangtze River with his huge army

His real intention is to get these two beauties

Why don't you buy them from their father for any large sum of money

to present them over to Cao Cao?

When he has these two women he's certainly satisfied

and will withdraw his army

How do you know he wants these two women?

Cao Cao's younger son Cao Zhi

is very clever and an able writer

Cao Cao asked him to write a poem

an ode to the Bronze Bird Pavilion

Theme of this poem is his family would have imperial throne

And he pledged to possess these two women

Can you recite the poem,master?

I remember the poem as I admire it greatly

Can you try to recite it now?

I'll try to recite it

Let me follow in the footsteps of enlightened ruler I may rejoice

I may gladden my heart by ascending the storied terrace

On the banks of the rolling River Zhang

Whence ample fresh fruits could be beholden in the garden beyond

Established are two towers On either flank they arise

One named Jade Dragon And the other Golden Phoenix

He would seize the two Qiao's beautiful ladies of the southeast

Morning and evening Rejoice with them thus he might

Look down, there is the grand beauty of an imperial city

And the rolling vapors remain floating beneath

What fortune, what beauty bounded only by the universe

Wide and spacious as the Heaven and the earth

Bright as the glory of the sun and moon

Ever honorable and ever enduring

The rulers shall live to the age of the eastern emperor

My desire is that endure forever these towers

And that joy shall never cease through all the ages

You old rebel, you've gone too far as to insult me

In the past emperor of Han even married his princess to Hun

You certainly won't grudge two women from among the people

You don't know

The elder Qiao is widow of General Sun Ce and the younger is

The younger Qiao is our chief commander's wife

Indeed I didn't know that

It's a slip of tongue a deadly fault

Chief commander

I swear one of us two has to die either the old rebel or I

It's really annoying But it needs a lot of thought

I hold a sacred trust from my late Lord Sun Ce

And I shoulder a heavy responsibility for state affairs

How can I submit to Cao Cao?

What I said just now was to see how you stand

I left lake Poyang with the intention of attacking Cao Cao

Nothing can change my decision even the sword or the axe

I hope you'll help me and we'll smash Cao Cao's army together

If you value me

I would be at your service at any time

Well

I'm going go see my lord tomorrow to discuss the matter

My dear

I've heard what Master Zhuge Liang said just now

Though old rebel Cao Cao's going to attack, not for us two sisters

Once the south of the River is occupied

Our children and myself will fall into the rebel's hands

Don't worry, I'll advise the lord to fight against Cao Cao

Have the children gone to bed?

Yes

As a senior general how you so immersed in love?

As a true man how can I have no human feelings?

I'm dignified when giving orders and I'm peerless in bravery

If I can repay the sacred trust from the lord

Giving honor to wife and children my life desires shall be fulfilled

I've high respect for your talents

Hope you'll obtain high merits and great achievements

Our children and I will be also greatly honored

With his outstanding ability and wisdom

Zhuge Liang skillfully changed the original meaning

of "the Two Qiao's" in the poem "Ode to the Bronze Bird Pavilion"

to ally Liu Bei with Wu against Cao Cao, he irritated Zhou Yu

which caused Zhou Yu to reveal his in tention to fight out with Cao Cao