Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Destined]

[Episode 26]

[Liang]

[Be Fully Prepared]

Liang that bandit is approaching.

War is coming.

Today,

I'll leave for the Eastern Capital to call for reinforcements.

Therefore,

I'll leave the Youzhou Army

in Gu Jiusi's charge.

Every soldier

will be at Gu Jiusi's command.

Hold Wangdu.

No mistake is allowed.

No matter how capable Magistrate Gu is,

he's just an outsider.

Young General, how can you make him

our commander?

It's inappropriate.

Please reconsider!

As you all know,

Youzhou

has always been poor.

But why do we

have abundant supplies at this time

to travel to the Eastern Capital

and bring down Lord Liang?

Why is it

that we could afford

to build new hospitals,

schools,

and charity halls?

When the country is torn apart,

why have the food prices in Youzhou

stayed stable instead of rising

and our people lived in peace?

Do you know the answer

to those questions?

The answer

is the guy you called an outsider,

Gu Jiusi.

He?

No way.

The Gu family

was once the richest family in Yangzhou.

To protect the people of Youzhou

from the flames of war,

he and his wife donated all their family fortune.

He's not an outsider.

He's our family.

He's Youzhou's hero.

He deserves

our absolute trust!

I've been wanting

to say this for a long time.

Today,

I'd like to say on behalf of the people

and soldiers of Youzhou,

thank you, Magistrate Gu.

Thank you, Magistrate Gu.

Zhou,

please rise.

Gu Jiusi, here is my order.

From today onwards,

you'll be in charge of the Youzhou Army.

Take the sword.

Jiusi,

hold Youzhou.

Jiusi

won't let you down.

We answer to you now, General Gu.

We're at your service.

We're at your service.

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

Hold Youzhou!

[Youzhou]

Jiusi.

Yuru.

Hold Youzhou.

Wait for me.

Let's go.

Let's go.

[Youzhou]

Magistrate Gu.

I've finished counting.

Here in Wangdu,

we have 63,000 arrows left

and about one thousand

sabers, spears, and other weapons.

They've all been distributed.

But there's a severe shortage of heavy weapons

like catapults and logs.

So far,

we haven't run out of food.

But being under siege for long

will result in

wood and oil shortages.

We have to take precautions.

Shops and residences near the wall

must be relocated

before Lord Liang's army

arrives.

I need to see the people's

household registers.

Magistrate Gu.

Household registration

is not the garrison's work,

so the registers are not in our hands.

In the past,

Wang Bocao and Yang Cangsi in Internal Affairs

were in charge of that.

Where are they two?

This morning,

I didn't see them come to work.

[Ancestral Hall]

It's all our fault.

It's all our fault.

[The deceased will always be remembered.]

Stop crying!

It's all our fault.

Say something!

Magistrate Gu,

I let the commissioner down.

We failed to protect Wangdu

from those rebels.

Our only option now

is to emulate Boyi and Shuqi.

We'll stop eating

until we die for honor.

It's the only way

to defend our good name as scholars.

The war hasn't started yet.

Stop the quitter talk!

Get up.

Get up!

Young Master Ye.

In Yangzhou, the Ye family

was the head of scholars.

and respected by the whole world.

But you chose to live

and stained your family name.

I'm so grieved for your family.

Now,

you should join us

and die for the city.

That's nonsense.

Only such a grand gesture

can make the Ye family

go down the history.

No one

would laugh at the Ye family again.

Ye Shi'an.

Ignore that nonsense.

Ye Shi'an!

Ye Shi'an!

[Ancestral Tablets]

Useless!

All of you are useless!

You guys

are well-educated

but put on airs and graces

as if you're the most honorable people.

You keep talking about the people's well-being,

loyalty, and benevolence.

But can't you see where we are now?

Wangdu is in crisis.

300,000 people are counting on

you guys to survive.

Instead of thinking about how to defend the city

and protect the people,

you try to kill yourselves

to avoid responsibility

and save

your stupid reputation!

You cowards

deserve to die.

How dare you talk about honor with me?

Get up.

All of you, get up!

Let me ask you.

As men of honor,

shouldn't we spill our blood

on the battlefield?

Young Master Ye, you're right.

So if we're to die,

we should

die for our people, shouldn't we?

Yes. That's right.

You're right, Young Master Ye.

We were

out of our minds.

We were out of our minds.

We were out of our minds.

What?

Are you surprised?

Since young,

you've only seen me

follow the rules

and keep a straight face.

I'm surprised,

but it made sense.

I'm glad you said that.

Young Master.

Young Master.

Young Master.

Lord Liang's army arrived.

So soon?

[Liang]

How do you feel?

Are you scared?

Facing such an intimidating army,

anyone will be scared.

When you lashed out just now,

I thought

you were not afraid of anything.

This is different.

I meant every word

I said just now.

My family had a good reputation for generations.

Even my sister

values her reputation

more than her life.

In the past,

I was just like them.

But you straightened me out.

You were right.

It's easy to die for empty fame,

but much harder

to take responsibility

and strive to stay alive.

What are you going to do?

Now that they're at our door,

we have to face them head-on.

Don't panic.

Go clean the wing for the homeless to move in.

Yes.

Wait.

Go to the Ye Mansion

to bring Miss Ye here.

If she refuses again,

bring her here by force. Go.

Yes.

Go to Huarong

to see if there are girls

who can't find shelter.

Bring them back.

Yes.

[Youzhou]

[Youzhou]

[Youzhou]

Lord Liang, the traitor,

you're finally here.

Who are you?

I'm your distant grandfather.

You despicable rat

don't deserve to know my name!

You young lout!

Guard your tongue!

Open your eyes!

His Highness has 100,000 men

at his command.

Leveling Wangdu

will be a walkover.

If you open the gate

and surrender,

we may spare your life.

If I offer you a big pancake,

will you take it?

You're just a bunch of low-life weasels

who fled here after losing the war.

Who are you to threaten me?

Find a mirror and take a look

at your wicked

and unfaithful face!

Take my word.

Drop your weapons

and abandon madness for reason,

so that when you get hit by lightning,

you can look to a quick death.

You're audacious!

I am audacious. So what?

Hit me if you can.

I dare you to try!

Attack!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Run!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Open the gate!

Yes.

Open the gate!

Open the gate!

Draw!

Secretary Ye,

they're very close to the gate.

If we don't shoot them now…

Not yet.

Stick to Jiusi's plan.

Secretary Ye,

they're getting closer!

Wait until they reach the wall.

If we wait until they reach the wall,

it'll be too late.

Halt.

Retreat!

♫It's a time of unrest♫

♫Memories of the good old days flood back at times♫

♫He writes order in chaos♫

♫Dark hair turns grey and escapes from the hairpin♫

♫Mountains crumble, and the beacon fires fade♫

♫I miss playing chess and drinking wine with you♫

Close the gate!

Close the gate!

♫It was autumn when we parted ways♫

♫We sang songs about a brighter future♫

♫Riding alongside you, I see the world unfold♫

♫Fighting alongside you, I no longer fear the unknown♫

♫In the dust stirred up by the wind, we write our own fates♫

[Liang]

[Liang]

Gu.

They camped as you expected.

Lord Liang's army

was defeated by the Youzhou Army.

After traveling thousands of miles

with frayed nerves,

his soldiers are all exhausted.

Unless they're confident of victory,

they won't attack.

Besides, Lord Liang

is paranoid.

The more fearless we appear,

the more

uncertain he becomes.

The first attack is usually the fiercest.

The following attacks only wear the soldiers' spirits out.

They've missed

the best chance to attack.

After we reinforce the gate,

it'll be hard for them

to attack us again.

Reinforce the wall and gate tonight.

We'll hold our position

and wait for reinforcements.

[Youzhou]

Should we attack or not?

It's so tough a decision.

Report!

Your Highness,

no troop came out of the gate.

Again…

Tell the soldiers in the front camps to rest.

The back camps will keep watch.

Yes.

Your Highness,

this is the third time this night

that our enemies sounded the war drum

without commencing the attack.

Seems that Wangdu

is just doing that

to disconcert our soldiers.

It's almost dawn.

Soldiers in the back camps

have been up all night.

I don't need you to tell me that.

But the Youzhou Army

has guarded Darong's border for decades

and won countless battles.

We can't underestimate them.

You're right, Your Highness.

The guy leading the troops in the day,

I wonder

what his name is.

His way of doing things

is completely different from

Fan Xuan and Zhou Gaolang.

I can't see through him.

I've sent someone to look into him.

We know nothing about

the manpower and military supplies in Wangdu.

I…

I'm not sure

whether we should take a chance.

I understand.

Your Highness,

this is

our last chance.

We have

an army of 100,000.

If we don't take down Wangdu,

won't you regret it?

Your Highness.

They're doing it again.

Your Highness, please give the order.

Your Highness, please give the order.

-Your Highness. Your Highness. -Please give the order.

Pass my order on.

The soldiers in the back camps can rest too.

Have a good sleep

before dawn.

Tomorrow,

we'll commence the attack.

Yes.

Gu.

It's almost dawn.

It's time.

I gathered you here today

to tell you

that the enemies

are right outside the wall.

We're all able-bodied people.

We can't stand by and watch our soldiers

bleed and fight on the front line.

We have to do something.

The soldiers will fight on the front line.

We'll support them from behind.

Let's join forces

and guard Wangdu!

Guard Wangdu!

Guard Wangdu!

Guard Wangdu!

Guard Wangdu!

Guard Wangdu!

Guard Wangdu!

Guard Wangdu!

[Liang]

The enemies are attacking!

The enemies are attacking!

Run! The enemies are attacking!

The enemies are attacking!

Stop shouting!

Can't a man sleep?

The enemies are attacking!

The enemies are attacking!

Your Highness!

Your Highness! Bad news!

The enemies are attacking!

Your Highness, be careful!

Jiusi, be careful, they're surrounding us.

Retreat!

Go after them!

Hurry!

After them!

Your Highness!

Hurry!

Hurry!

Your Highness, are you alright?

Report!

Your Highness.

We've investigated it.

The general guarding the city

is Gu Jiusi,

the previous county magistrate of Wangdu.

Who?

Gu Jiusi.

Do you mean

the nephew of my legitimate wife,

the eldest son of the Gu family of Yangzhou?

Is that the Gu Jiusi you were talking about?

Yes.

Good on you.

Good on you, Gu Jiusi.

Lord Liang sent a message

inviting you out of the city for a chat.

Looks like my uncle

finally found out about our relationship.

Very well.

I'll meet him.

Are you really going?

But there are so many of them.

If anything goes wrong...

If he were confident,

why would he talk to me?

He would be attacking.

Right now,

the more fearless we are,

the more they will be unsure

about our situation.

In this situation,

we can only gamble

that he doesn't actually dare to attack the city.

That is the only way

for Wangdu to have any chances of survival.

I'll go with you.

Just in case.

Brother Fan,

the attendants sent to intercept the Crown Prince's return

from his southern inspection tour to take over affairs in the capital

only brought back a body.

The Crown Prince is dead?

The Crown Prince died of poisoning.

There were no wounds on his body.

It couldn't have been faked.

It must have been that bandit, Liang.

What a cruel traitor!

Now, Liang's son

is still leading the remnants of their forces

and standing guard outside the gate to the Eastern Capital.

They're fighting like cornered wild beasts.

Inside the city,

only the Empress Dowager and the orphan are left,

trying desperately to hold out.

If news gets out,

the officials in the capital

will be restless

and panic.

Brother Fan.

At this point,

we can only bear down on the Eastern Capital with the full force of our army

and wipe out the remnants of the rebels

in order to stop the decline of our dynasty

and stabilize the hearts of the people.

If so,

we won't be able to return to Wangdu in time.

Brother Fan.

Need I elaborate on the saying,

"Mercy does not an army command"?

This time, that bandit Liang

split his forces and escaped to Youzhou.

Why?

Their tactic is "surrounding Wei to save Zhao."

They want to force the Youzhou Army

to divide our troops in order to send reinforcements.

If we do as he wishes

and put ourselves at a disadvantage,

it will curtail our play from here on out.

Brother Fan.

Youzhou

is our home.

I know you can't bear it.

Neither can I.

But now,

the Eastern Capital is in chaos.

If the Imperial City is completely destroyed,

every provincial commissioner

will begin to harbor excessive ambition.

All of the commoners

will suffer.

Moreover,

it's a long way to the Eastern Capital from here.

There are only

about 10,000 soldiers guarding Wangdu.

I'm afraid they're already...

Don't forget.

Gu Jiusi

is in Wangdu.

That brat?

He deceived the Gu family.

He's also blood relations with the bandit, Liang.

I have yet to settle those scores with him.

I will recognize his merit

in collecting grain this time.

It’s fine

if he dies in the line of duty.

If he turns out to be a coward

and surrenders to Liang,

I will take his life personally.

Brother.

Even if you don't trust Ye's judgement,

you should trust mine.

I'll play

the bad guy.

Brother Fan.

You

will be a benevolent emperor.

Open the city gate!

General Zhou is back!

Open the city gate!

General.

Commissioner.

General.

Young Master Zhou

brought Young Master Fan here.

Yesterday, I was wondering

where Fan Xuan had found

such a clever young man.

It looks like

you take after Nianming.

Don't hold it against me for not recognizing you.

I remember

the last time I saw you,

you were only five years old.

The life of a soldier is tough.

I have nothing

to offer you.

This is the Lüyangchun

that Yangzhou sent to the palace this year

as tribute.

It can't compare

to what you used to drink,

but

it is passable.

In the past, whenever tea leaves were harvested in Jiangnan,

your mother would personally choose

the best batch

to gift to your aunt.

As for me,

I got to enjoy some

thanks to your aunt.

Now,

everything has changed.

When I was young,

I was indeed ridiculous and frivolous.

But now that I see the suffering of the world,

I no longer want to seek pleasure

in things like this anymore.

Your Highness.

Just get to the point.

There's no need to beat around the bush.

Jiusi.

You are my nephew.

Don't be so distant.

If you hadn't started a war and caused chaos,

of course I'd be happy

to call you "Uncle-in-law."

But now,

things have indeed changed.

Jiusi.

If I told you

that at first,

I didn't want to become the emperor,

would you believe me?

It doesn't matter

whether I believe you or not.

I don't know

if you want to be the emperor.

I only know that you started a rebellion,

dragged the kingdom into a war,

and caused people to suffer.

If you really want to ask,

why don't you ask

the commoners

whose lives are in peril,

who can't eat three meals a day,

and even have to sell their children for food?

Go and ask the bodies on the battlefield

if they believe

you don't want to be the emperor.

Jiusi.

You are still

a vigorous young man.

When I was your age,

I was passionate like you.

But at my age,

having seen the ways of the world,

I know that

only having passion

is not enough.

Even if you defend Wangdu to the death for Fan Xuan,

what good would it do?

You say you want to help the people,

but you know very well

you are outnumbered.

The city will be destroyed sooner or later.

The longer it takes, the more people will die.

How do you know

we are outnumbered?

Jiusi.

You're still too young.

It's no use

trying to trick me.

You despise me,

but you think Fan Xuan

is a wise ruler.

He managed to become

a commissioner.

I really don't see

how he could be better than me.

I advise you not to

judge other people

with your own mean measure.

Since we can't reach an agreement,

let's not waste our time.

Jiusi.

You can't change the way the world works.

It'll be the same

no matter who takes the throne.

Remember,

you and I are related.

If I win,

you will become a royal relative.

There is a life of wealth and nobility waiting for you.

Fan Xuan needs you now,

so he treats you well.

But once this has all ended,

you'll be a relative of the rebel.

By then,

it'll be too late for you to regret it.

You can't give up your life and prospects

for the sake of

a moment's passion for the so-called commoners.

Jiusi.

It's not worth it.

So in your eyes,

at the end of the day,

the lives of the nobility

are more important

than the lives of commoners?

This is the way it has been since ancient times!

But in my eyes,

the lives of the people of Wangdu

are as valuable as my own life.

The kingdom is made up of its people.

You don't understand

such a simple principle,

yet you want to be emperor?

You think of the people as weeds,

but in my eyes,

you're less than a weed.

Gu Jiusi.

I tried to give you the easy way out.

Listen up.

You are outside the city now.

If we really start fighting,

the reinforcements from the city

won't come as quickly as mine.

Since I dared to come,

how could I not have a backup plan?

If you really think

there are only old and weak soldiers

left in Wangdu,

why don't you attack us?

Believe it or not,

I can kill you right now!

Your Highness,

when two armies are at war,

they do not kill envoys.

He's merely

a pawn.

I'm afraid there are countless formidable generals

left in the city.

If we kill him,

it will only stoke the righteous fury

of the people in the city

and make them see you as the enemy.

Even if one day,

we conquer Wangdu,

I'm afraid we won't be able to win back their hearts.

Let him go.

Yes.

Let him go.

Gu Jiusi.

After you walk out of this pavilion,

my nephew

will really be dead.

Old Mo,

am I eating so early today?

Master Zhao,

I'm here to set you free.

Gu Jiusi taught you that?

Tell me.

What trick are you playing today?

I don't lie.

I don't lie.

I didn't know you

before I was imprisoned.

Who are you to save me?

Master Zhao, you've never met me,

but I've always remembered

your kindness.

If it weren't for you,

dispensing aid money

to us veterans

every month,

I wouldn't have lived to this age.

Master Zhao.

Go, quickly.

Change into the common clothes I prepared for you.

Now,

Lord Liang is attacking Wangdu.

The city is in chaos.

That's how I found a chance to set you free.

If you wait any longer,

I'm afraid Magistrate Gu will find out.

Then...

What about your family?

They're all gone.

My wife died early.

My two sons...

My two sons

joined the Youzhou Army.

They died in the battles

against the Northern Liang's invasions.

I'm the only one left.

There's no one who will get into trouble with me.

Master Zhao.

Reselling grain

is a capital crime.

Magistrate Gu isn't wrong

for sentencing you.

After you escape,

let it go.

Settle down somewhere else

and live a peaceful life.

Old Mo.

You said I was wrong.

Let me ask you.

The people in your family

worked to the death for Youzhou.

In other words,

you're all heroes.

But in the end,

all you got in return in your old age

is living on the aid rations

sent by a profiteer like me.

Is this right?

This...

Do you know

where the money you got from me

came from?

Where does the

peaceful life I want to lead

come from?

Youzhou owes me.

Youzhou owes all of us.

No...

I didn't do anything wrong.

Even if

I am beheaded

and go to hell,

when I see King Yama,

I'll still say the same thing.

I did nothing wrong!

[Zhou]

For me, my wish

is for the people

to have enough food and clothing,

to not freeze to death

or starve to death,

and to live well,

to live with dignity.

Father.

Is he still kneeling?

Since Father gave the order,

for six hours,

he has been kneeling there.

Ignore him.

He's kneeling today.

Tomorrow, someone else will kneel.

Who will lead the troops?

Military orders must be obeyed.

He doesn't even understand

such a simple thing.

To think he is my son!

Brother.

Get up.

Don't make Father angry.

Is Father giving up on Wangdu?

Father and Uncle Fan

are more farsighted than we are.

They're prioritizing the people.

Is Father giving up on Wangdu?

Is Father giving up on Wangdu?

Is Father giving up on Wangdu?

Zhou Ye.

Is Father giving up on Wangdu?