Original subtitles

The Book of History says King Zhou attacked his enemy

with 300 armed wagons, and 3,000 tiger warriors.

Tiger Warrior has become the top honor for soldiers of later generations.

Li River is clear and Yuan is long.

Changde is an ideal place to live.

The rice wine from Tao yuan and osmanthus candies from Zoushi;

Osmanthus candies from Zoushi;

The twisted cruller from Hefu is long;

The tofu from Shuixi is cubical.

At Deshan I look back,

fumbling in my pocket,

I only found two pawn tickets.

Unable to go back to my hometown,

and visit my dear parents,

instantly I am all tears.

Wanging!

It's so urgent!

Go pack up now!

General!

Feng!

Wanging's silk string is really good.

Getting married, why didn't you say it?

It was scheduled two days later.

But the Japanese are coming,

we have to forget it.

You must have the ceremony.

After the Japanese are kicked out,

I'll hold a big wedding party for you.

This jade tiger is from my wife,

now take it as a wedding gift from me.

No, sir!

It's your talisman from your wife.

Take it!

General Yu,

then I'll keep it for you for the time being.

OK.

Please leave the place.

We Tigers will take care of it.

Rest assured.

It was a false alarm in May.

I won't flee again.

I'll stay here with Baohua.

General!

General, they attacked Tujiahu.

To Deshan!

The Theater HQs believed

Yokoyama's army is pressing on us

along the Yangtze River

just to wipe out our elite forces

in East China

to avenge their loss in May.

They didn't mean to target Changde.

Chief of staff!

It's too bad, Chief of staff!

Sir!

You?

Colonel,

we can't retreat.

We can't be deserters.

We're here to save the 57th Division,

only to be put on the front line.

We the 188th Regiment will die first

while they get the fame.

Nonsense! We just can't!

We just can't!

Tie him up!

Retreat!

Let me go!

General!

Bastard!

I'll kill you!

A man mustn't have soft knees.

Get up!

Get up!

I'll spare you this time,

so that you can bring us honor.

Thanks for not killing me!

Deshan is a shelter for Changde.

If Deshan is lost,

Changde will be totally open.

I'm counting on you all!

Sister, sister!

Sister!

Erhu.

Do the sewing for me.

Come on in!

Sister, just run away.

The Japanese will be here in no time.

I promised Wei to tend his house.

But not now!

They're all gone.

This pay might cost your life.

It's OK.

In just half a month at most.

I'll earn enough to get married.

Sister!

Hold still!

Just run!

Erhu!

Be sure to keep me informed.

Yes, sir!

Sir!

This is not for you to play with.

It's mine!

It's mine!

Let me go!

It's mine!

It's mine!

It's mine!

Sir!

Sir!

Please, sir!

Please take me in.

A Miao kid like you...

I'm not a kid!

I'm a Tiger Warrior.

I'm Huang Erhu.

I'll fight the devils with you!

So bluffing!

Do you know what it means?

Of course I do.

Tiger Warriors,

it means when fighting

you must be a warrior like the tiger.

That's right.

You want to fight the devils,

but did you shoot?

Try this one.

OK.

You can join us.

Really?

Isamu Yokoyama

was born in Fukushima, Japan in 1886.

He commanded the 11th Corps about one year.

His first war with us was in May.

He was totally defeated.

Now he wants to avenge himself.

That's all you know??

Yes, sir.

Yu Chengwan, 41,

was born in Taishan, Guangdong.

One of the first students from Huangpu.

As a major general at 33,

he got promoted to Lieut. Gen. last month.

He graduated from Sun Yat-sen University

and then entered the Military College.

Very talented.

Commander,

Should our 3rd and 13th Divisions attack Changde?

We'll take the town in no time

and go further northwest to Chongqing.

But so far...

our strategy remains hidden.

The Chinese thought we'd attack western Hubei.

Sir, you're summoned.

My ox!

My ox! My ox!

My ox!

Rice, just taste it.

Changde is a bountiful land

and a base for Chinese armies.

Yokoyama is really cunning.

And likes unexpected assaults.

But he is too cautious.

He might waste chances.

You can prevent that.

Yes, sir?

Drawings again?

Yes, sir

Ito,

after the war is finished,

you can hold an exhibition in Tokyo.

Sir.

It's so beautiful here.

The famous Peach Blossom Creek is here.

A real Shangri-La.

It must be even more gorgeous.

Taking Changde,

we'll tour the Creek together.

Yes, sir.

Time to go.

Your pack?

I won't go.

I'll stay with Baohua.

You'd better follow us.

Don't worry. I've arranged it.

You'd better leave now.

Just go!

Go! Go!

Take care, Wanging.

It seems they are challenging us.

They will not attack Changde.

But if he changes his mind,

it'll be 8,000 vs. 30,000.

What else can we do then?

General,

it's the HQs' judgment.

There should be no problem.

Should be?

Still, go tell them to guard Deshan.

Sir!

Sir!

Here I am!

Sir!

Sir, Regiment Chief Deng...

What happened to him?

He fled with his men

The bastard!

Let's go!

Buddy!

Buddy!

Yu Chengwan speaking.

General!

The Japanese have got to Deshan.

What?

Over 100 of us are still here

fighting the devils now.

General Yu,

General Yu,

We didn't disgrace you, did we?

The 100 of us didn't disgrace the Chinese.

Chief Zhao,

you did it right.

You're all heroes!

Be patient.

Aim before you fire.

Lie down! Lie down!

Lie down! Lie down!

Ready?

Take them.

Throw!

The saber guy!

Nurse! Nurse!

Coming!

Doctor!

Doctor!

My leg! My hand! Doctor!

Sorry, sorry!

They need you inside.

My leg!

Wanging, come and help me.

I don't want to live!

My leg!

How am I supposed to live?

Put my leg back.

With no leg,

who'll look after my old mother?

Wanging, grab his hand!

Our regiment chief is gone!

Our regiment and company chiefs are all dead!

Our battalion and platoon chiefs

are also dead.

Zou, Li, Yang, they're all dead.

Why am I supposed to live?

My leg! My hand!

Anyone alive?

Get up! Get up!

Get ready to fight!

Anyone alive?

Check your ammo for fight.

Anyone alive?

Here!

From now on,

a battalion chief will be replaced

by direct lower ranking officers

if they get killed one after another.

Are you clear?

Yes, sir!

Get ready!

Get ready!

Stay scattered!

Get up!

Doctor! Doctor!

Do you know of Feng Baohua?

Are you with the 171st Regiment?

Anyone coming from Hefushan?

Tell me! Tell me now!

At first, I was with Chief Feng.

It was such a chaos.

Terrible! Most of us were killed!

We were all fooled!

Yokoyama pretended to attack elsewhere

when he actually targeted Changde!

Report the HQs now.

We are surrounded. Ask for reinforcements.

Yes, sir!

Wait, Li.

Add something.

Send in reinforcements right now!

Yes, sir!

Thirty thousand Japanese are attacking the town.

They're all elite forces.

We're also prepared.

In 10 days,

reinforcements will come.

There should be no problem.

Take him away.

Chief.

When will they get here?

What's the hurry?

Why? Scared?

You're not, I'm not!

Gas!

Gas!

They released gas!

Gas!

Stop yelling!

Just a smoke shell!

Erhu!

Erhu!

Erhu!

What's wrong?

Two years ago,

my mom and my dad

were killed by the plague

and the gas the devils released.

Be alert, everyone!

They've got tricks after the smoke.

Bayonet now!

Sir!

Order from Generalissimo Jiang.

For the Campaign,

only victory is accepted.

But we lost Deshan.

So we can't lose Hefushan also.

We must guard Hefushan at any cost.

Without Hefushan

we can't guard Changde in any way.

Hold your fire!

Save your ammo.

Fire when you see the devils.

General!

The 58th Division is being checked.

Division chief Zhang asked you to keep waiting.

General!

The 150th Division was fiercely checked.

They were all dead.

Division chief Xu was killed.

Two battalion chiefs died too.

In 1st Battalion, all officers were killed.

Get the remained

back in town here.

No, we can't!

We need them there.

Without surrounding troops,

this town will stand isolated.

How many more officers do I have?

But they were all killed.

The Generalissimo, in Cairo

for the Summit meeting

sent a telegraph

ordering us to guard Changde.

Live or die with the town.

You all should know

what exactly it means!

So your trick worked!

Changde is now isolated.

Commander,

you can telegraph the HQs now

that we are at the town gate.

It'll be seized in just a few days.

Changde rice cakes taste so good!

Commander!

Sorry to keep you waiting.

It's cold here at night.

To the seizure of Changde soon, cheers!

Cheers!

Sir,

we intercepted their telegraph.

Read it!

Yes, sir!

Chiang Kai-shek said

your defense of Changde

compares to the defense of Stalingrad.

It's an honor for the nation!

Reinforcements will arrive shortly.

You must hold on till the victory day.

Sister! Sister!

I'm Erhu!

Sister!

Erhu!

Sister, you're still here.

The Japanese are evil.

You've got to take care.

I've avenged our mom and dad.

I killed quite a few devils!

But bullets have no eyes.

Once you're finished out there,

just come back and hide here.

No way!

I'm a Tiger warrior now.

I'll charge like a tiger.

Sister,

I've got a real gun.

You can keep this one.

It's useless for me.

But it belonged to our dad.

I'll keep it for you then.

Sister.

I'm guarding the East Gate.

Got to go now.

Go back now.

You take care!

What are you doing?

You can't take the door!

Wait!

Things will get stolen here.

Erhu!

Here, over here!

Quick!

Sister, I need you here.

Coming.

Hurry!

Let's go!

Doctor!

Doctor!

Doctor!

Be careful doctor!

Leave him here.

Leave him right here.

Dr. Zhang, hurry!

Come.

He's yours now.

OK.

Sis Wanqing!

You are...

I'm Erhu.

She's my sister.

I'm with Chief Feng.

Chief Feng?

How is he now?

He's fine. Don't worry.

Erhu!

Erhu!

Erhu, please wait.

Can I trouble you

to give this to Chief Feng?

Tell him that this will bless him.

Chief.

Here.

Chief,

you must promise me one thing.

Right.

We're running out of ammo.

Save it for the best.

Remember,

only aim at high officers.

Chief,

you must promise me,

when we're finished, you talk to your boss

to give me a real one.

OK, just count on me!

Lie down!

Telegraph General Sun

for reinforcements' time of arrival.

Whoever comes to our aid,

we'll be saved.

General,

the third Division was checked.

The 58th Division was broken up

now retreating to Qijiahe.

The other divisions

were all checked on the outskirts,

engaging desperate fights.

But we are more desperate.

So no one cares about us.

General!

General!

Our casualties are too heavy.

Shells are finished.

Ammo is running out.

We've only got light weapons.

We can't stop them.

Telegraph!

The 10th Division arrived at Deshan on 26th.

Follow me.

General!

You stay!

Go!

Buddies, hold on!

You! You!

And you, follow me!

Hurry up!

General!

Reinforcements are here.

Be sure to hold on.

Brothers, fight back!

General,

this is their 8th charge!

Excellent! Well done!

How about our casualties?

Out of one regiment,

only less than 100 are left.

Please don't worry.

We'll all hold on

till our last breath.

Here.

Commander,

the Chinese army men are outrageous.

We can use poison gas.

Wait!

You've seen our casualties.

You're the commander.

You hold responsibility for the Emperor.

For the Empire,

and for all the officers and soldiers.

Using gas is nothing to be proud of.

You have no faith in our ability?

I have no faith in you alone!

How would you face those fallen heroes?

Suicide Squad!

I'll have Japan's Bushido spirits

to crush the morale of Huangpu.

And Chinese troops.

From now on,

this company

will charge to our enemies.

We will be loyal to the Emperor.

Your lives will belong to me.

You've chosen to give them up.

Charge!

Charge!

Fire!

Charge!

Charge!

General.

How is it?

The 3rd Division has made it to the south end

but was fiercely checked

and can't come in.

We can't get in touch with them.

Damned!

The tobacco tastes worse and worse!

Not the right flavor!

Doctor, doctor! Hurry!

Buddy,

do you know of Chief Feng?

Buddy,

do you know of Chief Feng?

Gauze'!

Do you know of Chief Feng?

Feng Baohua, is he alive?

I just saw him.

He and Erhu are at East Gate.

He is still alive.

Alive!

Tao'er.

I got it.

Erhu and Chief are at East Gate, still alive.

Thank god!

Still alive!

Don't worry.

Brothers,

reinforcements are approaching Changde.

We must hold on.

We have to hold on.

Our bitter days

will soon be over.

We must hold on.

We must...

It's urine.

Water is long gone.

We can do without food or drinks.

But this thing can't.

It'll be good for nothing.

General, this way.

Be careful.

Go!

Put it on.

Where's Wanqing?

She asked me to come.

You can ask them.

Did you see Chen Wanqing?

You must be Chief Feng.

She asked you to meet her at home.

Thanks.

Later,

if I's a boy,

just call him

Feng Side,

missing Changde.

If it's a girl,

call her Feng Sihua,

as her dad is called Baohua.

In case,

just in case,

Promise me,

you'll come back alive.

How many do we have here?

Count off!

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

Five!

Six!

Seven!

Eight!

We've suffered too many casualties.

Commander!

Please use poison gas

to send the Chinese army to hell.

We must conquer the enemy with our bravery.

I will crush their will,

not kill them with gas.

Thirty thousand troops can't even take a tiny city.

Commander,

is that an honor to the Imperial Army?

Sir!

Chinese armies in Lixian, Shimen, Cili, Huangshi and Tao yuan

are attacking us.

We're right in the middle.

What are you afraid of?

Commander!

If we miss this chance,

you and me will surely court-martialed.

Sir!

The Emperor's order,

Lieut. Gen. Isamu Yokoyama of the 11th Corps

must capture Changde within 2 days

or all must commit suicide!

Get positioned

and get ready!

Erhu!

Chief!

I'm OK. Hurry!

It's poison gas!

Quick!

Peel

Telegraph!

Tell Theater Commander,

friendly troops are watching,

reinforcements are on the way,

but the Japanese have broken in,

and we are organizing counter offensive.

Yes, sir!

How many are left?

Less than 300 in total.

Commander,

arrange for reporters to make films

to let Tokyo and the whole world know

the Imperial Army has occupied Changde.

Where is Yu Chengwan?

Chinese troops are still resisting.

No one has surrendered.

Yu Chengwan hasn't acknowledged defeat.

Don't panic.

I've told you

we've got our own ways.

We're good at street fighting.

Yes, sir!

We've got no reinforcements.

Sir!

The 19th Division is attacking Hefushan.

The 3rd Division is doing Deshan.

There's only a river in between,

but no one came to our aid.

Don't be disappointed.

Sir!

You're the faith of this division.

In this campaign,

how many troops were put in?

Sixteen army corps,

over 40 divisions.

Two hundred and ten thousand in total.

Over 40 divisions,

but none of them came to help the 57th.

I would ask the Generalissimo why.

Maybe it's out of strategic arrangements.

No matter what

we've formed counter encirclement to the Japanese.

We've always been treated as a nail

to pin down Yokoyama in Changde.

Even it's true,

eight thousand Tiger Warriors

have held our ground for over 10 days.

We've fulfilled our duties.

Some are still alive at Siyanijing.

Chief!

Sis Wanqing,

I'll go.

You'd stay with Chief.

Erhu, take care of him. I'm going.

The Japanese got to Siyanjing?!

Chief, take care of yourself.

I'll go there.

Be careful.

Sis!

Sis!

Sis!

Sis!

Sis!

Sis!

Sis!

Baohua!

Erhu!

Over here!

Wait!

Chief!

Chief!

Chief!

Anyone alive here?

Anyone?

Anyone alive here?

A company chief will be replaced

by lower ranking officers.

Now you should follow my orders.

Get your ammo and ready to fight!

Defending officers, soldiers and all citizens in Changde,

please stop your meaningless resistance.

You must surrender within 3 days,

and work with the Imperial Army

and serve the Japanese Emperor,

or Changde will be burned down

and you will face death.

Being educated in Huangpu,

I only know to conquer or to die.

I'm sure we all believe so.

Tell all our men now!

Yes, sir!

I'm inviting you to witness

the glorious moment of our capturing Changde.

Devils!

Wait!

Son of bitch!

Devils!

Hell!

Dismissed!

If we stay here one more day,

the Japanese are not occupying Changde.

Yokoyama will not achieve anything.

Not only him,

but the Japanese army will be disgraced.

Yu Chengwan wants to pin us down in Changde.

I'm a glutinous candy.

I will glue to Yokoyama

so that he won't be able to escape!

So he intends to have us counter-encircled.

Commander!

The Chinese 18th Army Corps have crossed Yang River

and have broken into our 39th Division's defense line.

Shishou is in danger!

Our retreat route will soon be cut.

Got it.

Yes, sir!

Tell Yu Chengwan.

He doesn't have to surrender,

but he must take all his men out of town

by midday tomorrow.

Yes, sir!

How can you do that?

Don't you want to revenge?

We are losing our last chance

and are becoming their target.

Don't you understand?

Just follow my orders.

General!

This is a good chance.

We can break back in with reinforcements.

More lives will be saved.

If you do that,

we will all be defamed.

General!

We've pinned the Japanese down in Chengde.

We'd completed our mission.

Besides,

what's wrong with breaking out?

The Generalissimo ordered us to guard the city.

You'll be executed if you go against the order.

General!

Staying here while waiting for reinforcements

will maintain your reputation, but...

General!

My darling,

no ammo, no reinforcements

and the town was broken in.

I've resolved to die for the country

and annihilate the enemies.

Please don't feel grieved.

An ancient poem says

"every one will die,

but note my death with loyalty at heart"

Bidding you farewell,

I changed the second line to

"but shine upon Changde with my soul".

How do you like it?

I'll never leave Changde alive

unless all the Japanese are wiped out.

If I die,

just bury me in the town.

Don't be grieved,

I'll have died a worthy death.

A farewell letter, from Chengwan.

Dec. 2, 1943, Changde was lost.

Dec. 8, 1943, Yu Chengwan regained Changde.

In 1944, he was court-martialed to death for losing Changde

and then to two years in prison after generals and folks pleaded for him.

The Changde Campaign was often referred as

the Great Battles of Stalingrad in China.

General Yu foiled Japan's plans to contain Chinese forces in Burma.

Japanese casualties were 4,251.

Out of 8,315 Chinese troops, only 83 survived.