Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West]

[Episode 17]

During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, floods were rampant.

The river surface was at least three times wider

than during the Six Dynasties period.

The depth was immeasurable.

Especially that whirlpool in the center of the river.

Fishing boats from nearby villages

or those privately owned boats

secretly operating ferry services

were often buried in it.

If you want to die,

[Old Boat Officer]

just go find a private boat.

May I ask

about the whirlpool?

The whirlpool is right in the middle of the river.

Some say it's caused by the rapid currents and high winds,

while others say

it's because there are ferocious beasts lurking below.

Regardless of whether it's due to rapid currents and high winds

or ferocious beasts,

let me ask you.

Why are the official boats

safer then?

This...

I don't know

The ferocious beasts you mentioned.

Has anyone actually seen them?

I haven't seen them.

Just take it as my nonsense.

If you don't believe it,

then go ahead

and find a private boat to cross the river.

If you wait here for the official boat,

you'll need to sell your horses

and livestock.

Why is that?

Yeah.

why?

Official boats ferry people, not horses.

As for other livestock,

they are banned.

Banned?

My donkey runs

no slower than a horse.

And it was even gifted by the magistrate of Shen County.

How can you

look down on it?

If ferrying people,

the ferocious beasts may not attack.

But if there are horses

or livestock on board,

then there's no escape.

Ferocious beasts love to eat livestock.

So according to what you're saying,

incidents of ferocious beasts attacking ferries

have indeed happened before.

Among the fishing boat families nearby,

which household doesn't have a grave for the drowned?

Which month doesn't see a few boats sinking?

Oh right,

just last month,

a border-patrolling censor was in a hurry

and didn't wait for the official boat.

As a result, he caused

the boatman and himself

to be eaten by the ferocious beasts.

Alright, alright.

We'll wait then.

[Qiandu Tavern]

There's a wine seller right over there.

Before buying wine, go sell your horses first.

Otherwise, the official boat won't wait when it arrives.

Horses are not allowed to cross the river.

Is this an old rule?

It's an old rule.

It's at least twenty years old.

What

You don't want to sell the horses?

I'm offering a good price.

So after we cross the river and reach the other side,

then...

Is it easy to buy horses there?

Yes, it's easy.

They sell horses right at the dock.

It won't delay your journey.

Boss!

Boss, there is a donkey here.

It can probably yield

several catties of good meat.

Great.

You're buying my donkey

just to slaughter it for meat?

Well, since it's sold,

how it's handled

is none of your business.

Well, well...

Otherwise, you can ride it yourself

to the ferry crossing

30 miles away where they ferry livestock.

Go.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Here, serve a few jars of good wine.

What are you doing

What are you shouting about?

There's no wine.

Soup noodles are three coins a bowl.

One coin for extra soup.

Why do you hang a wine sign if you don't have wine?

Do you want soup noodles or not?

If not, I'll put out the fire.

Buddy.

In your tavern,

why is there no wine?

We're just sold out.

The owner went to restock

and won't be back until tomorrow.

-See? -Fed.

Bear with your cravings for now.

Let's fill our stomachs first.

Five bowls of soup noodles.

Five bowls of soup noodles!

The river before was

not as wide as it is now.

These steep and strange rocks

must have all sunk to the bottom of the river by now.

If that's the case,

this Qianchong Dock

is truly extraordinary.

Why does that person

look so familiar to me?

Fed,

Take a look.

[Osmanthus Wine and Pepper Milk]

It's really you, Yu Di!

Well,

even if we asked for directions

and got delayed selling the horses,

you couldn't have been ahead of us.

The distance was more than 7 miles.

You walked here?

Could it be that you really travel 250 miles a day?

I just

happened to take a shortcut, that's all.

Are you all crossing the river too?

Yes

Over there?

The flat pancakes are all baked for you.

Is this enough for you?

Enough.

Pack them up for me.

Thank you.

This stuff,

is it tasty?

Have a piece and try it.

Oh, how can I accept this?

Well then, thank you very much.

Try it.

This pancake is quite tasty.

Delicious.

Shopkeeper.

Bring me some wine.

We don't have any.

[Investigating Censor, Xie Nianzu]

I am an Investigating Censor.

I'm here to buy your wine.

How dare you say you don't have any?

We really don't have any.

Soup noodles are three coins a bowl.

One coin for extra soup.

If you're not buying,

I'll put out the fire.

Then give me a bowl of soup noodles.

Hurry up.

Supervising Censor

Don't tell me it's another fake one.

What did you say?

Who are you trying to scare?

I saw

your nose is bruised and your face is swollen,

and you're without any attendants.

He doesn't look like a

Investigating Censor.

There was a snow pit on the road ahead.

The snow was thick and the road was slippery.

My attendant accidentally fell into the valley

and died

I was injured too

That's all

Could it be

that you also went to that Mo's Inn?

Exactly.

That remote inn

is very suspicious

I was in a hurry

and had no time to investigate thoroughly.

Waiter.

Bring me some water.

Waiter

Bring me a bowl of water too.

What kind of water is this?

It's bitter and astringent.

The water from the great river tastes just like this.

If you don't like drinking it,

you don't have to

Ridiculous!

There's no use getting angry.

This is the only kind of water we have here.

However,

the taste of the noodle soup

is a bit better.

That's why

we charge extra for more soup.

You

This water tastes so bad,

You actually...

I think it's fine.

Come back.

What are you doing

You have wine but you won't sell it?

This is a jar of aged wine.

Aged wine?

The owner keeps it for himself.

He doesn't allow it to be sold.

Well...

Why were you stealing a sip?

-Uncle Fed. -Give it to me.

No.

Uncle Fed.

You go back and sit down first.

You go back and sit down first.

Brother

You

What did you call me?

Brother.

Since I walked in just now,

I felt that

you looked just like my brother at home.

Are you serious?

Yingtao.

You're really something.

Waiter.

Clean up the table.

Alright.

Waiter,

what's going on here?

This is the only jar of old wine left in our shop,

and it has already been bought

by these guests.

If you want to drink it,

you'll have to get them to invite you.

Didn't you say there was no more wine?

What, are you going to hit me again?

Good wine!

Gentlemen.

Please take a look at

the horsewhip I'm holding.

If you think it can be considered

a treasure,

then share a bowl of wine with me.

Is that alright?

How can a horsewhip be considered a treasure?

That depends on whose horsewhip it is.

My ancestor

once led 80,000 Northern Army soldiers

in the Battle of Fei River,

and annihilated

Fu Jian's army of 900,000.

This horsewhip

was once held by Fu Jian,

but was eventually confiscated by my ancestor.

Is Fu Jian's horsewhip

considered a treasure?

Are you a descendant of General Xie Xuan?

That's right.

I'm Xie Nianzu from Chen County.

Under the orders of the imperial court,

I am patrolling the Western Regions border

and passing by here.

May I take a look at your horsewhip?

Donghai Yonggu?

Fu Jian's courtesy name was Yonggu,

and he was conferred the title of King of Donghai.

The engraved characters do match up.

Just because the characters match,

doesn't mean it's an artifact from the Six Dynasties.

I don't believe it.

You...

You commoner.

You ordinary civilian.

You've provoked me again and again.

What is your intention?

Recalling the spirit of the Six Dynasties scholars

and the magnanimous air of Jiangzuo,

I will not haggle with you.

I will only drink with you at the same table.

I won't argue.

No arguing.

Oh, enough of that.

I do know about

the aristocratic families living in Wuyi Lane,

like the Wang and Xie clans,

but that was during the Six Dynasties.

Nowadays,

who still recognizes

these former noble families?

That's right.

According to current customs,

my men of the Wuyi lane

are not recognized by the public.

But,

people of the four surnames, Cui, Lu, Li, and Zheng,

are mostly mediocre.

They enter officialdom relying on their family status,

get promoted without military achievements,

yet they act arrogantly.

They don't intermarry with other surnames,

and even if they occasionally do,

they often demand a high dowry.

How can these people

be considered worthy

in the eyes of us old nobles of the Wei and Jin dynasties?

You can tolerate this?

An Imperial Censor, right?

This bowl of wine

is dedicated to your ancestor,

Xie Xuan, the Cavalry General Xie.

He made his name in the Battle of Fei River.

He turned the tide when all seemed lost.

Otherwise, we would have

all become slaves of the foreign tribes.

A toast to my ancestor.

Thank you.

What you have just said

is not entirely without reason.

But among the four noble clans,

there are also pillars of the state

who step up in times of crisis.

It is perhaps inappropriate for you to

generalize them like this.

That's right.

We have one right here.

Are you from one of these four clans?

You look familiar to me.

We must have met in Chang'an before.

You are indeed mistaken.

This bowl of wine of mine

is dedicated to Xie An, the Grand Tutor Xie.

He not only established immortal achievements

but also maintained the demeanor of a celebrated scholar.

A life as perfect as this,

in the entire history of the nation,

he is the only one.

Yes.

A toast to him.

I dedicate this bowl of wine to the Xie clan of Chen County.

Specifically, a toast to the poetry talent,

Xie Daoyun.

Thinking back to the lady in her prime,

her expression was bright and elegant, graceful and unrestrained.

She truly had the air of the Bamboo Grove.

Indeed.

Indeed.

So please, Imperial Censor, on behalf of the lady,

drink everything in this bowl.

Well...

You take pride in your ancestors,

which shows that deep down,

you have a strong sense of honor.

Your journey to the Western Regions

has been arduous.

Your attendant unfortunately lost his life,

yet you have been able to press on without stopping.

I believe once you reach the Western Regions,

you will surely forget your fatigue

and diligently

conduct a thorough investigation

of the local officials and generals.

This will demonstrate the divine prestige

of our Tang Dynasty's Imperial Censors and their discerning eyes.

Who would have thought that here at Qianchong Dock,

I would meet a kindred spirit.

Thank you.

Good wine.

It warms the heart,

not because of the sweetness of this aged brew,

but because of the young lady's well wishes.

Waiter!

I'm here.

I will pay

for all these food and drinks.

That wouldn't be appropriate.

Do you look down on me, my friend?

It's just a few bowls of noodles

and a jar of wine, that's all.

It's not worth much money.

Well...

Although the Wang and Xie clans have declined,

their noble character still remains.

Quite impressive.

You really need not treat us.

Waiter!

Here's your payment.

[Qianchong Dock]

Although the official boat has returned,

but it's too late

Why don't we leave tomorrow instead?

That won't do. I have an important mission to do.

I can't delay.

The whirlpool in the middle of the river is treacherous.

What if...

Since the day I entered officialdom,

I have been ready to put my life on the line.

You old ferryman, say no more.

Alright then.

If you insist on crossing the river at night

don't blame me if anything happens.

Please

What is this for?

Every day, people who board the boat

need to be registered

and kept on file.

You just need to write down your name,

official position,

and occupation.

So troublesome.

Lift it up, lift it up.

Lift it up, lift it up.

Alright.

Come on.

Put it in the lower cabin.

Ladies and gentlemen.

I’m Wu Ping.

[Wu Ping]

I am in charge of this official boat.

The wind is strong at night.

Please go inside the cabin to rest.

We have prepared clean water on the boat.

Unlike the bitter water at the dock,

it's completely different.

There's water to drink?

There is indeed a flying loft.

What are you going up there for?

The bumps and turbulence

might throw you into the river.

I'm not afraid.

I like the cool breeze.

Besides, I have a lot of things

and I'm afraid of disturbing you distinguished guests.

What a coincidence

I also like the cool breeze.

It's truly a great boat.

It's actually similar to the description in the book

to some extent.

Book?

Which book are you talking about?

The moon is bright and stars are few tonight.

The weather is nice too.

Look,

how bright the moon is.

The last time I went there

was five hundred years ago.

Where have you been to?

The moon?

That's all in the past now.

Alright,

tell me,

what exactly is on the moon?

Don't tell me

it's Wu Gang chopping the tree.

The moon

is composed of seven treasures.

Some parts are extremely bright,

that's because the sunlight shines on

the protruding parts.

It's just that the moon also needs maintenance.

At least eighty thousand people work there

every year.

You must be talking nonsense.

Sir, just take it

as if I'm talking nonsense.

Alright, alright.

I'd better go down.

Staying with you

gives me the creeps.

Disembark!

Indeed it's sweet.

Though it's not as good as wine,

But it tastes much better

than the water at the dock.

Everyone,

I am an impatient man.

As soon as I get off the boat, I will buy a horse

and head west overnight.

So I bid you all farewell here.

Young lady, you mentioned

the discerning eyes of our Dynasty's Imperial Censors.

As an Investigating Censor,

I will keep it in mind.

Censor Xie, you're too kind.

What a pity there's no wine.

Bidding farewell with a toast

is the way to go.

Why not let water stand in for wine?

To have met on this great river

is also fate.

Come,

let's drink this cup together.

Well said.

Cheers!

Me too, me too!

Come on!

The whirlpool is approaching soon.

Everyone

please sit tight and hold on.

I want to see what this whirlpool

is really like.

This water...

This water should be harmless.

I have tested it with Yong'an Pill.

What's going on?

How come I am also...

The wine!

Xijun didn't drink the wine.

It should be the wine's problem.

Wine

Boat Officer.

that poor guy didn't drink

Trap him in a net.

In a net?

Take that Investigating Censor out.

[Junior Boat Officer]

What are you doing?

Don't worry,

we won't kill you for now.

I like this one.

Beauty.

Let me marry you.

I'll be your big brother for life.

Don't be in a hurry.

You just be honest

and have some sleep.

This sober one

will be yours later

-Thank you, Young Boat Officer. -Thank you, Young Boat Officer.

Looking at his size,

at most, it can produce 30 to 50 catty of good meat.

It's not even enough for my fish

to have a good meal.

Stop it!

What's going on here?

Impossible!

Such a thing has never happened before.

You used the name of the official ship

to do such things as plotting for money and harming lives.

Plotting for money?

I, Young Master Shao, don't care about money

I must slaughter you all today!

Don't blame me, blame him!

It's his luck that he's the Investigating Censor.

But

But why were you

not knocked out by my drug?

Xijun...

Come.

Sobering Pill?

Save

Lu Lingfeng first...

I, Lu,

am the newly appointed sheriff of Yunding County.

Surrender now, or else.

It seems today

we can only slaughter him to feed the fish first.

He's more sturdy

and can produce a few more catties of good meat.

Kill him!

Still not surrendering?

Surrender?

That word

doesn't exist in my dictionary!

The whirlpool is right ahead!

Just wait for your death!

Let's go!

Sheriff Lu.

Hurry, hurry, and let me out!

Bro.

Where...

Are we?

On the great river.

What happened?

Why am I

in such a disheveled state of dress?

I was the one who helped you put them on.

The official tablet is still here.

Tell me what happened.

How did I fall asleep?

Fall asleep?

Someone drugged you!

Everyone be careful!

The whirlpool!

Chen County. Xie Nianzu.

Investigating Censor.

Patrolling the Western Regions.

Jade Emperor. Returning to the Heavenly Palace.

Why is there another...

Father!

Son,

what's going on?

A lone boat sails at night, with strong winds and high waves,

and encounters a whirlpool in the middle of the river.

The mortal world is more treacherous

than the Heavenly Palace.

What are you talking about?

The boatmen have all fled.

At this rate

I'm afraid we'll be buried in this great river!

Tie it up!

You've got some skills!

I used to be a fisherman.

If you all trust me,

follow me to the bottom cabin and row with all your might.

We will surely escape danger!

Alright!

All back?

Yes

Father, all here.

Then what's there to be afraid of?

Even if the whirlpool

doesn't get them, they will

become fish food anyway.

Father,

they have some skills.

My drug

failed to knock them out.

In this vast world,

there are quite a few people with some skills.

However,

they all have to die eventually.

When the wind and waves calm down,

we'll find their boat

we'll find a boat and leave

By the way.

There's a madman on that boat

who calls himself the Jade Emperor.

[Jade Emperor. Returns to Heaven]

Brother.

You are still seriously injured.

Why don't you take a rest first?

My wound hurts.

Yingtao,

you have just recovered from your injury too.

Take a break if you can't go on.

I have a thick skin,

I'm fine

Su Wuming.

Don't push yourself.

Go and have a rest.

The boat seems to have stabilized.

Have we

already sailed away from the whirlpool?

The direction is just right now.

The long journey

has already begun.

A long journey?

Since we have already sailed away from the whirlpool,

reaching the opposite shore

shouldn't take more than two hours, right?

What are you still standing here for?

Hurry up and go

adjust the direction of the sail

and get to shore quickly.

I still have a long way to go.

What's the rush?

You and I

were not acquainted before,

but now we are crossing the river together on the same boat,

this scene

feels more and more familiar to me.

Don't you think it's strange

To ask such a question,

how ignorant.

My name is Yu Di.

Yu as in 'depressed',

Di as in 'younger brother'.

I go by this name

just to keep a low profile.

In my previous life,

I was the Jade Emperor,

the ruler of Heaven!

Oh no

He's gone mad, totally mad.

When he first boarded the ship,

he claimed that he had been to the moon.

That year

a white sparrow went missing from Heaven.

It was a divine bird

and an auspicious omen.

Whoever possessed it could accomplish great things.

I ordered a thorough investigation

only to find out that the white sparrow had descended to the mortal world

and had fallen into the hands of Zhang Jian, a commoner from Yuyang.

So I rode my dragon chariot down to the mortal world

to capture the white sparrow.

But unexpectedly, Zhang Jian was full of tricks.

He pretended to be a warm and hospitable host.

Together with the white sparrow, they got me drunk.

They stole my dragon chariot

and flew straight up to Heaven.

He impersonated me

and replaced all the celestial officials.

From then on, that Zhang Jian

became the new Jade Emperor

while I

could only wander the mortal world.

Yu Di,

you...

Well...

He got us out of this predicament.

He couldn't be a madman, could he?

Listen,

Yu Di.

From what you've said,

that white sparrow

seems quite suspicious.

You think so too

The story you just told

has two loopholes.

Firstly,

you lost your dragon chariot

and couldn't return to Heaven.

This shows that you, as the Jade Emperor,

don't have much power.

Secondly,

after Zhang Jian ascended to Heaven,

he easily replaced all the celestial officials.

That suggests the officials

had never seen your true face as the Jade Emperor.

Exactly.

These two loopholes

how do you explain them

Those are all matters of the past.

How could I remember them so clearly?

Stop talking nonsense

Hurry up and think of a way

to get the boat to the other shore as soon as possible,

okay?

You hot-tempered

Investigating Censor

should lose consciousness soon.

I

You guys, too.

This big boat

is finally mine!

I shall ride this boat

and sail downstream

straight into the sea.

Hoist the sails and voyage far

to reach the Heavenly River!

The Milky Way

is connected with the sea.

In recent times, a person was living on a sea islet.

Every August, a floating raft would come and go,

never missing its schedule.

That ambitious person

built a flying loft on the raft.

He brought ample provisions

and set off on the raft.

This is an excerpt from Zhang Hua's

Encyclopedia during the Six Dynasties

It seems you are

also very familiar

with this book.

You

If we weren't pretending

to be knocked out by your incense,

we wouldn't have known

that you were delusionally trying to seize the boat

and sail to the Heavenly River.

You lunatic!

But the incense I used

was taught by my old master.

It's very effective!

That old master of yours

must also be a lunatic

cultivating in the mountains.

Compared to me, this old miracle doctor,

how can he compare?

I used to be a fisherman.

If you all trust me,

follow me to the bottom cabin and row with all your might.

We will surely escape danger!

Alright!

Censor, wait a moment.

This person is somewhat strange.

We must be on guard.

I implore you.

Please help me, Su Wuming,

get to the bottom of this.

You are Su Wuming?

He is Lu Lingfeng?

No wonder when I first met you,

I felt you two looked familiar.

When I was at Sky-scraping Tower,

I saw you two before.

I was standing far away at that time.

Enough!

Stop with the pleasantries!

Okay!

I'll follow your lead.

Fed!

Got it!

You were using knock-out powder, weren't you?

Let me tell you.

I have been hanging around Chang'an Ghost Market

for several decades.

If I didn't have some

ways to counter the drug,

how could I have survived till today?

You led us out of the whirlpool

and saved our lives.

I was originally grateful to you.

But you

You've gone astray.

Do you really think

you can sail the boat into the sea

and go straight into the Heavenly River?

That is my wish.

But the matter of returning to Heaven

has been ruined by you all.

It is indeed recorded in the Encyclopedia

that the sea is connected to the Heavenly River.

But that's just a book of strange tales.

What's recorded is nothing but

myths and legends.

What

You actually believe it?

Of course, it's true!

You haven't tested it,

how do you know it's fake?

Then let me ask you.

Why do you have to board the boat

at Qianchong Dock?

Qianchong Dock?

That name was only changed in the Sui Dynasty.

This dock was originally called the Immortal Dock.

The book says if you want to go out to the sea and straight to the Heavenly River,

you must board the boat here!

Well then,

the books you've read

are even more diverse than mine.

It's just that

How did you know I wanted to seize the boat?

That bloodletting technique of yours

is obviously a wicked art.

But those flat pancakes

were indeed good stuff.

They can last a hundred days without spoiling.

But on this journey,

there are both official stage stations

and private inns.

Why does a traveler like you

need to buy so many flat pancakes?

I have to admit

you do have some skills.

The dock is at least more than 7 miles

away from where we met.

We were on horseback while you ran,

yet you arrived first

and even pre-ordered the flat pancakes

and finished a bowl of soup noodles.

You ran really fast.

What gave you away in the end

was actually

what you said when you boarded the boat.

There is indeed a flying loft.

He built a flying loft on the raft

and brought plenty of food.

This boat happens to have a loft.

You thought

it was the will of Heaven helping you seize the ship and sail out to sea.

I don't believe in this legend

but the story of sailing a boat into the clouds

is bizarre and beautiful.

Yes

It's very beautiful.

What a pity

that you guys messed it up.

I didn't want to kill anyone originally.

But I won't let my attempt to return to the Heavenly Palace

be in vain!

Mortals who stand in the Jade Emperor's way

must die!