Original subtitles

A military mystery that has lasted for 2000 years

Twelve years after Gaozu of Han's death,

the grand tutor Liu X uan took his students

to the site of the Hongmen Banquet

to look at the place where Gaozu outwitted Xiang Yu.

Emperor Gaozu had a great reputation and authority

His civil officials were all very talented

His military officials were all heroes

Look! Why are there are no characters on these tablets?

That's odd

Start preparing for the memorial ceremony

Don't worry about those tablets. Let's go

Gaozu cornered Xiang Yu with a clever plan

He mobilized his forces to Xianyang which was unparalleled in the world

by ambushing Xiang Yu on all sides in the end

Gaozu thoroughly beat Xiang Yu

and forced him to commit suicide by the Wujiang River...

Tutor? Whose memorial tablets are these?

How dare you raise such a impertinent question while I'm talking!

Hurry up! Are the sacrificial offerings for the ceremony ready yet?

Yes, sir

Tutor, where should Emperor Gaozu sit?

This is the result of not paying attention in my class

The monarch should face south

Xiang Yu used to call himself the monarch back in the day

So he surely faces south

Then Gaozu could only face north,

since it was impossible to sit next to Xiang Yu

Come here now and prepare to bow down. Hurry up

Your majesty Gaozu, we are here to salute you

A ghost!

I don't mean to meddle

It's just that I saw you paying tribute to the wrong direction

So I feel I have to...

Oh, you're a human being

Who are you? You don't think Gaozu should face north?

This is the memorial tablet for Gaozu

Sir! Then whose memorial tablets are those behind Gaozu's?

They are the most important people in Gaozu's life

Then why are there no names on the tablets?

Right

If possible, Emperor Gaozu would love to inscribe their names on them

- Whose tablet is that, opposite? - No one other than Xiang Yu

Why did Gaozu make a tablet for the biggest enemy in his life?

That's nonsense!

The story of Liu and Xiang should begin with the first time they met

The first Qin Emperor planned to conduct the imperial court that day

Since he gained independence through violence,

and since people were angry with his tyranny,

the troops guarding him were extraordinarily vigilant

Xiang Yu and his people pretended to be Qin officials

and were prepared to assassinate the Qin Emperor

Let's act

My lord...

Who are they?

There's no time to lose now

Who are these others?

Protect his majesty!

- Who is he? - Take the assassins!

Fire!

Your Majesty!

Retreat!

Even though the assassination attempt had failed,

Liu and Xiang formed an insurgent army together

If King Huai of Chu hadn't sown discord between them,

they might never have become enemies

King Huai of Chu was just a temporary king

How could he manipulate Liu and Xiang?

As head of the insurgent army,

King Huai knew that Liu and Xiang were quite ambitious

Once Qin was defeated,

he would be useless and be eliminated by them

So he quickly sought help from the three goddesses of war

Goddess, please advise me how best to save my country

Even though Xiang and Liu are fighting against Qin together now,

their powers have been fully developed

They will both surely covet the Qin imperial seal

I offer a stratagem that benefits us in both situations

You could issue a decree:

"Whoever takes the Qin capital Xianyang will be Lord of Qin"

They will compete for that position so you may benefit from their infighting

Three days after issuing the decree, Xiang and Liu jointly defeat the Qin army

General Xiang Bo is here!

Jin Hu has already taken 100,000 reinforcements to outflank us

They have set off and will be here within three hours

If we're outflanked at the front and back, we will definitely lose

We have to take Chengyang before they come. Otherwise...

General Liu Bang will be here any minute

Long Ju, pass my orders to him

Xiang Yu has thousands of soldiers. Why are we the spearhead?

Fan Kuai, we are allies and there's no difference between us

Xiao He, why do we have to obey Xiang Yu?

Xiahou Ying, he is the leader of our army

He must have a reason to make us the spearhead

You don't need to go if you are afraid

My Lord, I'm not afraid at all

But I don't know about this one on my right!

Fan Kuai, you've nearly died many times anyway

What is the oath of our insurgent army, brothers?

Defeat the tyrannical Qin, save the people!

Where shall we go after the war?

Back to our hometown!

- What will we do when we return home? - Drink our local brew!

Fire!

- Xiang Zhuang, do it for me - Yes

Surround them!

Liu Bang is seeking death by coming here

Why hasn't Xiang Yu sent any reinforcements?

Obviously, Xiang Yu wants us to die

- Why don't you send out troops? - I'm waiting for one person

He may control the order, but we control the war. Retreat!

Retreat!

They're trying to escape!

General Jin Hu is here!

The person I'm waiting for is finally here

Check the rear

Damn it! It's a trap!

We're ambushed!

General, look!

- Lord Xiang - Go back!

Have you heard of King of Huai's decree?

Whoever enters Xianyang first will be Lord of Qin?

I've heard about it

Zhang Han leads the last troop of Qin's army

He's preparing to travel overnight to Xianyang to provide assistance

Therefore I sent out my troops immediately to prevent this

Once we beat them, Xianyang will surrender

And it would be simple to obtain the imperial seal

The forces are enormous, and this battle will be dangerous

So I need someone to take Yuji home

Who do you trust to do this?

You

Peng City Two years previously

Madam?

Yuji, we are running late! Hurry up!

Flowers blossom in the misty rain

A spring breeze blows through the little building

My home is another world

There's always an umbrella waiting for you

These are all scenes of my hometown

- A wild wind comes - Stop!

- Sir... - How dare you!

Singing a Chu song in front of Qin officials!

Sir...

Yuji...

Sir, Chu has been defeated by Qin

And Chu's people have become people of Qin

Why shouldn't a song of Chu become a song of Qin?

Flowers blossom in the misty rain

A spring breeze blows through the little building

My home is another world

You sing this song very well

I'm also from Chu

Well... if you say you are a civilian of Qin,

I demand that you take your clothes off

Then we will know whether you are a Qin or a Chu

or whether you only have Chu in your heart

If you don't take off your clothes, I will kill this man!

- Strip! - Take off your clothes quickly!

Carry on! Strip!

Why?

I don't want you to get involved

Do you like me?

Take your clothes off now, or I will kill him!

Do you want to be with me?

Yes, I do

You're playing with fire!

Hero, it's me!

Why don't we become sworn brothers today?

Take care of your sister-in-law for me!

What is it?

Why are you so quiet?

Someone has angered you?

My lord, Xiang Yu asked you to send Yuji home

It's clear that Xiang Yu plans to stop you from contending for Xianyang

Xiang Yu is the leader of our army

He should be Lord Qin

This is a world affair! Why does he have to be the lord?

My lord, a true man living in a time of great changes

should make prompt decisions

It is King Huai of Chu's decree

It will be too late to regret when the opportunity passes

Xiao He, how could you be on their side?

I thought you knew me

- My lord, I know you the best - What do you know about me?

You...

You have changed

When I followed you and left home, I told you once,

that no matter what you said I would believe in you

You promised to overthrow Qin and save the people

Have you forgotten your promise?

If you have truly forgotten the promise, please kill me now!

My lord, you are underestimating yourself

The country expects your benevolence and clemency

If people are suffering because of Xiang Yu,

would you sit and do nothing about it?

The soldiers have followed you for many years

All they want is power and influence, and to leave their names in history

If they knew that you don't aspire to win the throne,

the soldiers may lose morale and our years of effort would be wasted

Brothers, it's my fault

I promise to win Xianyang and fight for justice

I will bring peace to the common people

Great, my lord!

Yuji, do you know how to ride a horse?

Ride a horse?

Why are we changing directions?

This route is much safer

Have you ever thought why Lord Xiang asked me to send you home?

He wants you to keep me safe

I will never leave the woman that I love,

as I know I could take the best care of her

It's a blessing to be able to trust others

But sometimes things do change and you can't control it

Yuji...

Leave her alone!

It's Liu Bang. Take whatever you want. There are some horses...

This is in revenge for all the dead Qin soldiers!

- My lute - Don't give chase

We'll soon be there. Hurry!

Brothers, we have arrived in Xianyang!

We are in Xianyang! We are in Xianyang!

Xianyang!

My lord, our army will enter Xianyang soon!

My lord!

Liu Bang and his followers, in order to send Yuji home,

have taken the city of Xianyang!

He has only several thousand soldiers. How could he take the city?

Your majesty

I assume you do not understand my reason for asking you to surrender

That's because I respect you,

and I admire your majesty's love for the people

Unfortunately, your days are over

Our army, lead by Xiang Yu, is so huge and the soldiers are so fierce,

that there's nothing they cannot conquer

We have conquered most of the country

Xianyang is the only city left in your Qin Empire

You're still protecting this city against us

Do you want to further deepen the First Qin Emperor's sins?

Traitor! How dare you consider our Emperor a coward!

Our reinforcements will soon arrive! Take down these traitors!

General Yin, stop!

General Yin, if reinforcements were going to arrive,

would you be talking to us now?

They've already been annihilated by Xiang Yu

You can't hide this significant information from his Majesty

Your majesty, I've completed my task

Lord Xiang will be here any moment

I'll return to report to him now

General, wait!

Where's Yuji?

She's... with Liu Bang

Long Ju, inform Yafu immediately

He is to meet me on the way to Xianyang,

and help me take Xianyang back

Yes, my lord

Liu Bang...

Liu Bang, do you want to be the Emperor?

Who wouldn't want to?

Do you think I can become the Emperor?

Ladies and gentlemen, come and have a look

We have prepared the Weiqi boards

Place yours bets now. My master alone will play against ten people

Of course, if we lose, we'll pay ten to one!

If you've got the guts, come and bet now!

The best Weiqi player is Fan Zeng, Xiang Yu's military adviser

But this person is also brilliant. He can control ten games at once

It's amazing!

Don't miss your chance, place your bets!

Folks, it's rather easy to beat them all

I just plan to make them lose at the same time

Right, the first five games to go eight and nine

Yes, Master

You lose again. Thanks

How is that possible? It is obvious we'll win. Let's go

The other five games, flat seven and eight

Oh! My god!

Master, we've won a lot

Sir, I'm Xiao He. May I know your name?

I've heard so much about you

My name is Zhang Liang

Zhang, you are the descendant of Han State's eminent family

I am so lucky to have you to assist me

Thank you so much

Did I ever say that I would assist you?

Right! It is my fault, I made such rash arrangements

I don't know how to treat intellectuals correctly

I apologise on behalf of my lord

If you want my assistance,

I need to know General Liu's ambition

My only wish is to save the country and help its people

ls General Liu treating me like some three-year-old child?

Taking Xianyang city would never save the country and help its people

Maybe the opposite...

The decree stating the first to enter Xianyang would be the Lord of Qin

was King Huai's ruse to take advantage of you and Xiang Yu

You have already put the people of Xianyang in danger of massacre

But how dare Xiang Yu disobey King Huai's order?

King Huai is only the puppet king of Xiang's family

But aren't all eight vassals serving King Huai?

None of them would offend Xiang Yu for General Liu

I can close the gates of Xianyang

There's no way we'll lose to Xiang Yu!

Fighting against his 400,000 soldiers is like throwing eggs against rocks!

Liu Bang's only wish is to advocate justice

and to save the common people from danger

Please tell me the way to save them for the sake of the people

I do have a solution,

but I don't know if you will embrace it or ignore it

I will do whatever you say to save the people

You must leave here immediately

If you return this city to Xiang Yu,

Xiang may be happy and spare the people's lives

- Xiang Yu's lackey! - Stop

Yes, my lord

Brothers...

Don't you think Zhang is right?

Whoever wants to prove he's wrong, I'll kill him immediately

Do we have any other ideas how to save Xianyang?

Xiao He and Fan Kuai, return the seal to Xiang tomorrow

- I'll will then leave Xianyang - My lord, please reconsider!

Anyone violating this order will be executed!

You deserve your reputation

You have the benevolence of sages and the magnanimity of emperors

What I said just now was to test you

It's about people's lives. I had no choice but to do this

Aren't you one of the men sent by Xiang Yu?

Xiang Yu is replacing Qin's tyranny with his own

If he becomes emperor, the people will suffer a great deal

Xiang Yu is about to surround and attack Xianyang

Do you have any solution?

Put all the treasures away

Post a royal decree to let the world know

that you're only taking Xianyang temporarily

And Xiang Yu will soon come to slaughter the people of the city

Xiang Yu will massacre the people of this city!

- Massacre? - He'll kill everyone in the city

- What shall we do? - Let's protect our city to the death!

Then we gather the common people,

and together with a military force we can protect Xianyang

The common people?

This is a tactic to buy time

Xiang Yu's military adviser Fan Zeng is a master of the art of war

If he sees the people guarding the city, he will stop Xiang Yu from attacking

I have a trusted friend working for Xiang Yu

who will send me information

I also have six great warriors

Let me introduce them to you

Stop!

Yafu!

Yu, I have found out

that Liu Bang has invited the people to guard Xianyang

If we attack the city,

he will gain the people's support by fighting against the Chu

But if we do not attack,

Liu Bang will have Xianyang's geographical advantage

This is a very good tactic

It's devised by Zhang Liang

Liu has also issued a decree

that all the Qin's treasure will be given to the people

There's only one reason for him to keep his hands off the treasure

He has a greater ambition. He wants to be the emperor

You have grown up, my son

Now that Liu Bang claims he's taking Xianyang temporarily,

we can set up a trap

We can invite him to a banquet in Xianyang,

and then ask him to hand over the seal of Qin

We can assassinate him on the spot. It'll be a good strategy

If we kill Liu Bang,

how do we explain it to King Huai of Chu?

I haven't considered that...

We could send somebody to assassinate King Huai of Chu first,

and claim it was Liu who murdered him because he wants to be emperor

Then we can justify our attack as revenge for King Huai

You said you hadn't considered this?

I still recall the delicious braised fish in Xianyang

I should eat more before losing all my teeth! This is the best plan!

- Assassin! - Protect his majesty!

Xiahou Ying!

Drink?

Fan Kuai!

Xiahou Ying!

- You're both quite skilful - Stop!

Who is Zhang Liang?

Fan Zeng has deployed an army

Three days later, no one can escape from Xianyang

Xiang Yu will set a meeting with General Liu

The place still remains a secret, so you cannot be prepared

Clearly, he wants to kill his lord

On the day of Xiang's arrival at Xianyang,

your friend will meet you at Zhanshen

You should know the place when Xiang Yu meets with Liu Bang

I found out that King Huai will rehearse the throne ceremony

And Fan Zeng has already sent someone to assassinate him,

and then blame General Liu for it

Since they want to kill King Huai of Chu,

we could rescue him and ask for a medallion to spare our lives

Han Xin, as you already know Xiang Yu's assassination plan,

I'll entrust you to accomplish this important task

I used to serve Xiang Yu, but he doesn't appreciate me

This time I will help you

But I deserve something after this

We have a deal

- How can you guarantee your promise? - How dare you!

The destiny of all people will be decided

at the meeting between myself and Xiang Yu

But the result lies in the hands of three persons

The first person is my adviser Zhang Liang

Second is Xiang Yu's Fan Zeng

And the third one is you, General Han

If I were to betray you, it would mean betrayal of all my generals,

betrayal of my soldiers, and of the whole world, General Han

Do you still need my guarantee?

We have great military strength. Why not attack the city right now?

Yu, I've told you many times,

you must see the essence of everything

What you need to take is not the city alone,

but the support of its people

The one you must defeat is not Liu Bang alone,

but also yourself

Yafu, you have been with me since I was young,

you have always advised me in solving any difficulties

I'm not worried so long as you are with me

It seems that I have spoiled you

Does it mean that I have to retire so you can really grow up?

Did General Liu say why he wants to see me?

No, my lady

- What a pity! - Why?

Although these lutes are valuable,

it makes me miss my old lute more

Yes!

My lute! How did you find it?

Thank you!

I heard that Lord Xiang is coming to Xianyang

Xiang Yu and I have set up a meeting

Do you know the cost of the banquet?

Thank you, Xiang Bo, for helping me

You don't need to thank your sworn friend

My only wish is that, after conquering the violent Qin,

both Xiang Yu and Liu Bang may survive

They complement each other, for the good of the people

Have you found out the place for tomorrow's meeting yet?

It's at the Hongmen Palace

They'll be in charge of hiding weapons in the Hongmen Palace

Time is running out. Please go back and help General Liu

Oh, no...

Counsellor, the flag fell for no reason!

It's Kun Gua on the upper sixth section. It is an ill omen

Somebody will assassinate us tonight

Warriors reside in Qian while intellectuals reside in Kun

The assassin is coming after me

Fan's wisdom is better than mine

If we can eliminate him, we can defeat Xiang Yu without a fight

We should focus and take the initiative to attack

I really want to meet this Zhang Liang

Send out my order that there's no need for a guard tonight,

so as not to alert the assassins

I will stay here and meet the visitor myself

I've just cooked some noodles. You've eaten nothing all night, my lord

You must eat something, sir

Lord, the bearded man hasn't returned yet

Something bad must've occurred

We've heard nothing about Han Xin's rescue of King Huai

What should we do?

My lord...

You must endure humiliation to secure the bigger prize

The more advantages Xiang Yu owns,

the more likely he will be consumed with pride

We should take this opportunity to tempt him to make a mistake

My lord!

Lord Xiang's envoy asks Lord Liu to attend the banquet now

All your military forces must stay in the city and await orders

- Xiao He... - My Lord

The result of this meeting is uncertain

You should take my seal... if anything bad happens

Make yourself the lord, and start the undertaking again

My lord!

All soldiers, kneel!

My lord, you're blessed by the gods

And I will guard Xianyang till my last breath

- I would rather die than surrender! - Never surrender!

Xiao He, thank you

Very good

Great!

Protect his majesty!

- The killers were sent from Xiang Yu! - Liu Bang sent me to rescue you

- Who are you? - I'm Han Xin

Wait!

All guests at the Hongmen Banquet are required to surrender their weapons

Liu Bang is here to meet Lord Xiang

Why do you betray me?

I dare not betray you

"Whoever enters Xianyang first will be the Lord Qin"

That is King Huai's decree

We have been in wars for many years

Who doesn't want to settle down and lead a peaceful life?

If you do not agree, we will return the city to you

Where is the royal seal of Qin?

And where's Yuji?

She is important to Your Highness,

so I dare not treat her carelessly

My men are taking good care of her

Liu Bang...

Who is the ruler over today's world?

Of course it's you, sir

Do you know the mistake you've made?

Yes, I do

Since Liu Bang knows his mistake,

he should, according to military protocol, offer his blood,

and worship heaven, earth and man to apologise

Yes, my lord

Your health, my lord

Please be seated, General Liu. We'll talk later

Thank you, your highness

Which one of you is Zhang Liang?

I am Zhang Liang. It's an honour to meet you

Please be seated

Zhang has been assisting General Liu these last few days

Your attack and defence are good, your advance and retreat are correct

Since we have the same vision,

I have some thoughts to share with you

It has been 26 years since Qin beat Chu

However, the nature has its own order and everything is repeated

Now, Qin is beaten by Chu again

We should also observe and implement the will of the gods

Since Zhang is so diligent and clever,

why do you have to go through this trouble,

and act against the will of the gods?

Thank you for your advice

Yi said, "There are good and bad times

"Sometimes we act, sometimes we don't

"The winner may lose, good things may turn bad"

Thus, the ways of heaven are a mystery,

and life is like playing a game of chess

At today's Hongmen banquet,

both sides seek to restore harmonious relations

I've heard you are an excellent player of Weiqi

Would you mind playing a Weiqi game against me?

Then we can learn whether heaven's will is certain or uncertain?

If Zhang Liang loses, I will send Yuji back myself,

and I will apologise to you, lord

Zhang Liang...

I have to ask you again...

Do we seriously have to play against each other?

I'd be honoured to play against you

Very well

I lost my eyesight four years ago

If you wish to play, you must do so with your eyes blindfolded

There are 361 pieces in Weiqi

How can one memorize them all by heart?

Today, I have finally met a worthy opponent

Let us play several rounds!

Only our bravest warriors can place the Weiqi pieces for you two

Long Ju, tell Zhang your achievements

Let's see if you are qualified to serve for Zhang

I haven't made any great achievements yet

But over the past four years, in fifty-six battles, I won them all

In the Battle of Chengyang,

I killed and buried 200,000 Qin soldiers in just one night

During the four years serving my lord,

I won all forty-two battles,

and persuaded 200,000 Qin soldiers to surrender

We conquered the capital of Qin without killing anyone

Very good. Zhang Liang, you are a young hero

While I am old and blind

Therefore, I deserve the first move

You are a master of Weiqi, so I should make the first move

It is you who suggested playing today, so you are the host

As the guest, I should take the first move

Today the host of the Hongmen Banquet is Lord Xiang

My lord and I are all guests

We should therefore make the first move

He who makes the first move takes the advantage

We can't miss this opportunity

May I make a bold suggestion? Long Ju, we can make a wager first

If you can guess correctly how many fingers I have,

your side can take the first move. Do you dare to bet?

Ten!

You lose, Fan Kuai

Liu Bang, now that our followers are competing,

as their leaders, we should make a wager too

Though I don't know who instigated it,

this man actually dared to assassin Counsellor Fan

As we are hosting the Hongmen Banquet in Qin territory today,

I will bet the five punishments of Qin with you

According to the five punishments of Qin,

it includes cutting off the face, cutting off the ears,

cutting off the fingers, cutting off the head

and lastly... cutting the prisoner into mince

If Zhang Liang loses one round, I will carry out one punishment

Now the world is in great chaos and people's lives are miserable

As you have said, we should observe and implement the will of heaven

For the first round, I will go four into four...

creating a dangerous situation,

then I will go flat-four in the second round

For the third round, I will go three-five

And up six-five for the fourth round

This is karma. I hope peace will come to the world

I'll go up eight-four for the fifth round

Wars and killing are inevitable and acceptable in a world of chaos

I'll go up four-three for the first round

If we love the people, we should attack

Then four-four for the second round

Wars are applicable to end wars

Up four-three for the third round

Flat four-four for the fourth round

No one likes wars

We use war to win obedience

I will keep beating you until you are convinced

The fifth round, same as the fourth: flat four-four

Fan Zeng's skill is profound

Zhang Liang's game is full of killing motives

I used four different strategies in each round

He noticed them all at once

I'm still thinking how he will play the fifth round

Hopefully, Han Xin will arrive soon

I can beat him once I know his plan

This round I will go up five-six

Two into two

Flat eight-three

Zhang Liang is buying time

Flat eight-six

Go up four-three

Into eight-four

Go up seven-two

Flat six-three

Into five-eight

Flat two-two for the second round

Troops are valued for their qualities not for how long they can last

I'll use flat eight-six to win your first round

Commanding troops should be fast as wind, strong as fire

I'll go down eight-ten to win the second round

Into eight-eight

Xiang Zhuang...

Let me perform a sword dance to spice up the Hongmen Banquet

It's not interesting alone. Let me perform it with you

Go up three-four

Xiang Zhuang, your sword skills have improved

Get away!

Zhang Liang, I have beaten you in the third round by up nine-four

You've also been cornered in the fourth round

Let's fight!

My lord!

Yu, kill Liu Bang now!

Watch out, lord!

I said earlier... there is only one winner on the battlefield

Today, the gods brought us together,

which means only one of us can survive

Don't blame me, Liu Bang

My lord

Stop!

King Huai of Chu's decree!

His majesty spares Liu Bang's life

Liu Bang must leave Xianyang and return to Hanzhong

King Huai has invited eight vassals to Xianyang

to celebrate Lord Xiang becoming ruler of Xianyang

Yafu!

Zhang Liang sent people to kill my counsellor

You must kill him

Then we can call it even, and I'll let you go

- I can't do that! - Today, I win. You lose

Xiang Zhuang

My lord! Please, don't!

Act

My lord...

You are making a grave mistake

Liu Bang, you do know how to survive

We have lost our counsellor. What should we do?

Counsellor said that we have to tempt Xiang Yu

to a big mistake in order to win

I thought we'd already lost to Xiang Yu

The game is not over yet

The real Hongmen Banquet has finally begun

Do you know the reason why Liu Bang kept you beside him?

He was using you as a bargaining chip

I always choose to believe in others

Just like you said you liked me when we first met

Even though Liu Bang overstepped his authority,

he brought me my lute back

I was thinking I could sing Chu songs to you again

If you still have trust in me

Sir...

Yu, Zhang has recovered his wounds

Do you think it's appropriate for him to attend our meeting?

I could leave if it's inconvenient

Wait!

Zhang has chosen the right lord to serve

I sincerely appreciate your help

Now the war is over and your highness is the owner of Qin Palace,

it is only you to blame if this opportunity is missed

You should take the supremacy now. What are you waiting for?

The world has just settled down,

and we don't have a good reason to claim the throne

Besides, the eight vassals would refuse to obey

We still need to wait for the right timing

If the vassals disobey, why can't I send troops to fight against them?

Liu Bang has become Lord of Hanzhong. His next moves are uncertain

If he strikes us by surprise while our army is away,

we can't fight on two fronts, and we'll lose

Based on Lord Xiang's military force, we can divide the troops

Since Zhang is so knowledgeable,

how could one conquer the world on his own?

Why do you give us such an incomplete plan?

I do have a plan

Since Liu Bang has conceded his allegiance to you,

you could order him to invade the vassals

Then you could use the vassal's help to kill Liu Bang,

and become the Emperor

Do you still think this is an incomplete plan?

Welcome to the messenger from Chu

Since Lord Xiang asks us to send the army,

how can we disobey him?

Xiao He, it's not easy for me to be here

Please stay at Hanzhong. We'll be a good host

- Present the feast! - Yes, sir!

He's the messenger sent by Lord Xiang

- Treat him well - Yes, General!

Serve the dishes now

Fan Kuai! Why are you serving the best food?

He's Lord Xiang's envoy, we should serve the best

If he'd been sent by Fan Zeng, of course it would be all right

He has saved my lord in numerous situations

However this envoy is sent by Lord Xiang

There's no need to waste our best food. Put it away

We couldn't fully trust the envoy

What does Zhang think?

We should test Fan Zeng again so as not to blame the wrong man

Counsellor...

Our scout has reported that Liu Bang is preparing his army

I think we should make a pre-emptive attack to spare future troubles

After all, Liu Bang has a special amnesty from King Huai

We need to find an excuse to kill Liu Bang

King Huai of Chu is always trouble

- Why don't we kill him first? - Kill King Huai?

Didn't you ask me to kill King Huai during the Hongmen Banquet?

Ll

Times have changed

Times have indeed changed

Counsellor!

Has your loyalty to the Xiang family changed too?

You are making a grave error

Lord Xiang wants to see you, sir

My lord

You and your family have always treated me with utmost respect

And you have listened to my opinions

That's all a counsellor could ask for

The fact that you want to see me today

means that you still hold dear our relationship

That's enough for me

That's enough

All good things in life...

must come to an end

I want to give you some advice before I take my leave

If you experience danger,

or if you think of me in the future,

open this and look inside

Yafu!

Sir...

Zhang Liang, you are here

I knew you'd come

I don't have much time

MY apologies

I have pushed too far this time

Zhang Liang

You have made a brilliant move this time

I recognised that you had special qualities,

when we met during the Hongmen Banquet

I can tell you now...

you are just like the me when I was young

Don't feel bad for me

I've been waiting for an opponent like you my whole life

Enemies are like the two sides of a mirror

Just like Xiang Yu and Liu Bang,

Or just like you and me

Don't waste any more time

Let's finish the fifth game of Weiqi

Sir... Sir?

Sir...

Zhang Liang, there's a kind of chess game...

"May /, Zhang Liang, a survivor of Han, present to my Lord

"that the general should be able to distinguish people's qualities

"before he /earns the an' of war

"Counsellor Fan Zeng has served three generations of the Xiang family,

"but he was discarded like a homeless dog

"We all feel bitterly disappointed by this

"Good birds choose the best trees to rest

I! / will return to Liu Bang's camp

"/ trust you will make your decisions with care, so as not to die alone ”

Get the army and horses ready. Let's act now!

Yes, my lord!

My lord... Liu Bang is presently at Hanzhong

But even if he has Zhang Liang to assist him,

he won't be a threat to us if we don't act rashly

Xiang Bo!

I know you are kind

If I don't eliminate Liu today, he will eventually kill me one day

It was all meant to happen at the Hongmen Banquet

Only one could survive between Liu Bang and me

What if King Huai stops us again?

General Han...

My lord

Xiang Yu has killed King Huai of Chu

All the people despise him

The eight vassals would like to help me suppress him. General Han...

How many soldiers can my lord muster at most?

Less than 100,000

Then how can you control the eight vassals?

How about you?

For me, the more the merrier

Upon completion of the mission, I demand what I deserve

It seems like I have underestimated Liu Bang

I know I can't stop you from fighting

But I'll accompany you when you go to war

Don't pursue him!

The eight vassals have arrived

It'll be too late if you don't leave now!

How dare you try to stop me!

Please don't go, my lord!

What's this place before us?

It's the Wu River. And there's Wu City

My lord...

Your ladyship

This is Liu Bang's secret order

He has ordered the allies to attack tomorrow

He has persuaded me not to make this unnecessary sacrifice

You've surrendered to Liu Bang?

I just want peace in the world and between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang

There's nothing I can do now

It's meaningless to stay in this war

Success or failure all depends on attitude

There's only you, Yuji, who can persuade Xiang Yu to leave

I deeply regret...

that I haven't held your hand like this more often

We could start again

Yuji

We have reached the end

Look at this land

It will be full of Liu Bang's army very soon

I have asked Xiang Bo to take you to a place of safety

A place where no one can find you, not even me

But you promised I could stay with you

I think...

you should have a second chance to choose

They are here

Prepare to fight!

This song could destroy the morale of Xiang Yu's army

Hopefully we can win the battle without taking any more lives

- What are you doing? - I want to go home

If you do that, you will have failed Lord Xiang

Don't leave! This is the moment when Lord Xiang need us most!

- I want to go home - Go home! Go home!

Anyone who tries to escape now... will be executed!

Stop!

You've followed me for many years

Even though I'm your lord...

you are all like brothers to me

Today, we are surrounded by enemies

None of you owe me

It is I that owe you

Please remember...

you will always be my brothers

Take care

I bid you all... farewell

Yafu, you have been with me since / was young

You have always guided me,

helped me with difficult decisions

Xiang Yu, does this mean I have to retire,

so you can really grow up?

No one can enter

I had a dream on the way here

I dreamt of a white-haired couple sitting close to each other

I envied them and so I walked closer to find out who they were

Then I realised I knew them

It was you and me

I want us to spend our lives together

I don't want to drag you into this...

Just like when we first met

I didn't want you to get involved

Liu Bang must send his envoy to persuade us to surrender

Wait until they are at ease. Then we shall start fighting

Liu Bang!

Xiang Yu, I've been waiting to tell you myself...

You are right. Only one of us can be allowed to survive

I will survive

Not you

Both the world and the nation will be mine

Xiang Yu, we used to be sworn brothers

If you admit defeat today,

I shall let you return to Jiangdong

- Kill them! - Xiang Zhuang...

Xiang Zhuang!

My lord!

Please lend me your sword

I am the only one who can kill him and let him rest in peace

I lied to him

- Yuji! - We'll never be separated again

Do you want to be with me?

I do

My lord, we found this in the camp

I've persuaded Han Xin to surrender

it is hoped that my lord will last for a while

Wait until for Han Xin S reinforcements to arrive and save us

After winning the battle,

I have promised to Han Xin, Zhang Liang and others

that they will divide the hat/on and share its wealth

/ await your orders and hope that you will take my ad vice

Xiang Yu, this is the only way I could play the game

Congratulations to Lord Qi on taking the seal!

Xiao He!

There's a game where both sides suffer losses

Get away! General Fan cannot proceed

Where were you all when I fought with your majesty?

Stop!

- My lord, I... - I know what you want to ask

They plan to kill me

If I don't kill them, they'll kill me

I have to do this

I...l still want... to say it

I haven't seen you for a long time

I know something is wrong and I am concerned for you

Therefore I have come to see you

When I left home with you to fight in the war,

I said that I would believe in whatever you said

But... I'm not a well-educated man

What you've said and done today...

it has really confused me!

I am the emperor now

I can give you whatever you want

You are the emperor? Can you remove your imperial robe?

- Can you do this for me? - Stop!

We promised to help you in achieving this goal

Now... Now I'm not useful to you anymore

Now I'm not useful to you anymore

You promised us that we could have drinks at home after the war

Do you still remember?

My lord, Fan Kuai has to...

take his leave!

Sir, could you tell us exactly who you are?

I'm just someone who likes to play Weiqi

Once I had a close friend

He hired me to play against another Weiqi master

Then / realised my real opponent was my close fr/end

/ won '1' see my physician again

I thought you were dead

I'm alive because I needed to see you

I want to ask you...

is that the result you were expecting?

All these years, I've been scared each and every day

I feel everything they say is a plot against me

All the food they give me is poisoned

Your majesty, after your death,

which prince will succeed you?

/ remember Yuji asked me a quest/on once

Do you know the cost of the banquet?

I know that going to the Hongmen Banquet

means I need my wits about me in trying to trick the other side

Whoever violates the order will be executed

The cost is that you'll lose the capacity to trust anyone

In Hongmen Palace,

I have already built monuments devoid of written characters

in memory of those who died because of me

Zhang Liang...

I have no one to trust now

Zhang Liang...

Will you do me one last favour?

Now that everything is preordained,

it is unnecessary to be stubborn and obdurate

Things are hard to predict, but you can't confuse right and wrong

Today, I must do one last thing for Yuji

- Yuji! - My lord

Thank you for listening

The Hongmen Banquet is finally over

I shall leave now

Sir, where are you going?

I'll need to find another master with whom to play Weiqi

And see if a win-win situation is possible

Zhang Liang!

I must ask you once again

Do we seriously have to play against each other?