01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

[Episode 3]

He must've k*lled many,
even more than these warriors.

Since when did the General
become so formidable?

These moves are so unfamiliar.

I've never seen him use them.

How strange.

This is absolutely bizarre.

Xiao Xiao, the General
wouldn't have noticed us, right?

He wouldn't.

What is going on?

Commandant Wu,
you think the nobles from Nandu

are just idling their days away.

The gap between those two is too wide.

Judging from his experience...

- But I'm not one of them.
- He could never have such skills.

I know you've never respected me.

Back on the b*ttlefield,
you never made things hard for me.

Where did he learn that?

But now, we face a formidable foe.

You understand the stakes here.

You were displeased with my strict discipline

because you care for your men
and thought I was being too harsh.

But Commandant Wu, you know the gap
between the foe and us.

Without strict discipline,

they'll only die faster.

A win is a win.

Cut the nonsense.

I am outmatched.

I accept my defeat.

You can promote whoever you want.

Commandant Xia,

thank Commandant Wu
and Captain Han for their blessing.

Thank you, Commandant Wu, Captain Han.

Alright.

If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave.

Please wait.

[Strict Enforcement]

We are all here today.

Gentlemen, will you share this drink with me,

so we may retake Yuzhou one day?

Yuzhou?



Heaven is ruthless;
the Guanhe River is frozen.

The North Chong Army marched south,
burning and pillaging,

taking both Yuzhou and Liangzhou.

Though we've retaken Liangzhou,

the people of Yuzhou and the north
still suffer under their cruel rule,

struggling to survive.

Commandant Wu, will you join me...

to save the people from this misery?

Is this the real reason you called me here?

If I hadn't spread the rumor
about the promotion,

would you fight by my side
with your high standards?

Alright.

Then let's prove it on the b*ttlefield.

Xiao Xiao, why am I getting so excited?

Then I should send you to become a general.

Really?

Never mind.

Why?

Because I want to always stay with you.

Xu, your martial arts...

It's just a past encounter.

[Grace Upon the Masses]

Strange.

Seed shells are falling from the sky?

[Liangzhou Government Office]

[Liang]

Captain Meng.

What is it?

I didn't know the General
would promote me beforehand.

I thought he valued you more.

Is a Great Liang Commandant so weak?

You see? This is the real Xia Qing Sheng.

And the true Commandant Xia.

But you were hurt saving me before.

That was a personal matter.

I can't beat you in battle.
That's official business.

Personal and official matters must not mix.

But you'd better be careful.

I'll catch up to you soon.

After all, you're the only one
I don't dislike other than Xu.

[7th day of the 11th month]

[Liang]

A true man bears his blade
to defend this land until he dies!

A true man bears his blade
to defend this land until he dies!

The General is truly bold

to send 70% of the troops to attack Yuzhou.

[Guanhe River]

By now, they should've crossed the river.

Once they cross the Guanhe River,
does it mean we have won?

Who told you crossing the river
means victory?

One day, I want to be just like the General,

so I can fight on the b*ttlefield,
protect our country,

and avenge my father.

Do you want to follow Duan Xu?

I've looked around the city.

Everyone is struggling.

There aren't any families
worth entrusting you to.

Duan Xu isn't a bad choice.

I helped him read the wind.

I can ask him to take you in.

His family is prominent.

If you follow him, you'll never go hungry.

You might even earn an official title.

Xiao Xiao, are you abandoning me?

I just want to stay with you.
I can eat less.

I don't need any fruits or snacks.

That won't do.

As I told you from the start,
I'll only take care of you for a while.

We walk different paths.

You can't follow a spirit forever.

Besides, do you think
you can follow Duan Xu just like that?

He might just die in Shuozhou
and never come back.

Xiao Xiao, the General is a good man.

Please don't let him die.

You just reminded me.

This time, Duan Xu will surely die.

Then I can get the Deliverance.

I have always been fair.

So, I won't take it for nothing.

Xiao Xiao, you're so powerful
and can do magic tricks.

Please save the General. Please?

Save him?

Alright.

I'll use the highest standard in my hometown
to save him.

When we spoke with the neighbors
the other day,

they said the only musician here
had passed away.

His widow... is named...

What was her name again?

Ms. Song.

Yes, invite her over for melon seeds
and ask her to bring their Ruan.

Go then.

Enemies!

Light the signal fire!

Spirit Aura, ascend.

Go.

Foxy,

since you're the rare Deliverance master
in 300 years,

I'll grant you a tune.

Feng Yi, what is it?

I'm reporting the situation to you,
of course.

Duan Xu deserves to be
the Deliverance master.

He's been renowned for his talent.
He has an eidetic memory.

At the age of 12,
he was sent to serve his grandmother.

During that time,
his essays were often circulated

and were famous in Daizhou.

But compared to that,
I found something unusual.

When he was 19,
on his way back to Nandu from Daizhou,

he encountered bandits.

His attendants and servants were all k*lled.

He alone survived.

And he trekked all the way to Nandu.

Since then, he's settled down in Nandu.

Coincidentally,
shortly after he returned to Nandu,

his grandmother passed away.

So, all the people he knew over
the seven years in Daizhou are all gone?

Yes, interesting, isn't it?

For a 19-year-old scholar like him,

how could he single-handedly
fight off a g*ng of bandits?

Perhaps the real Duan Xu died
alongside his servants at the age of 19.

From 12 to 19 years old is when
a mortal child changes the most.

During this time,
even if he was replaced by someone else,

no one would necessarily notice.

I found you,

Duan Xu.

You are a spent force.

Just a dying struggle.

I don't even need to strike you myself.

Let me play a dirge for you.

A cornered beast still fights.

Interesting.

Let me see how long you can hold out.

- General!
- Xu!

You asked me to read the wind.

Are you planning to cross the river
to attack Shuozhou?

Must you go?

Only by seeking peace through battle

can Great Liang and North Chong
lay down their arms and embrace peace.

This is my deepest wish.

If possible, please help me achieve it.

In four days, on the 8th of the 11th month,

there will be east wind at the You hour.

[Liang]

Red birds are to burn all living beings.

Red birds are to burn all living beings.

Attack!

Fire arrows!

Fire arrows!

Attack!

Reinforcements are here!

Our reinforcements are here!

Reinforcements are here!

Attack!

- Attack!
- Attack!

Attack!

Attack! Attack!

Attack! Attack!

Red birds are to burn all living beings.

Red birds are to burn all living beings.

Authentic Chong language.

Red birds are to burn all living beings.

He's surely not the old Duan Xu.

Born into a family of civil officials,
you possess superb martial arts.

Aiming to be a Chief Councillor,
you speak fluent Chong language.

You claim to be Duan Xu,

but those who could prove your identity
are long dead.

How many secrets are you hiding?

The battle is won.

It seems I'll have to wait a little longer
to play the dirge for Foxy.

Red birds are to burn all living beings.

Red birds are to burn all living beings.

Red birds are to burn...

Things are getting interesting.

Perhaps letting you live in this world
would be more entertaining.

Great victory in Shuozhou!

The Tabai Army crosses the Guanhe River

for the first time in 30 years!

Great victory in Shuozhou!

The Tabai Army crosses the Guanhe River
for the first time in 30 years!

We crossed the Guanhe River!

The Great Liang Army won!

We won! We won!

[Honor the Worthy]
Xiao Xiao!

The General won!

We've taken Shuozhou City!

Xiao Xiao!

Xiao Xiao! Xiao Xiao!

The General won!

Xiao Xiao!

Xiao Xiao!

Xiao Xiao!

The General won!

We've taken Shuozhou City!

- Xiao Xiao!
- Alright, I get it.

Also, Xiao Xiao,
the General sent someone to pick us up!

Let's go now.

Captain Han Ling Qiu of the Tabai Army
requests to see Miss He.

[Liangzhou Government Office]

Miss He, the General has a message for you.

Shuozhou has fallen.

Your insight regarding the wind
contributed greatly.

Thus,

he humbly asks you to keep reading
the wind for us and head to Shuozhou.

The General knows you are delicate,

and averse to bloodshed and worldly affairs.

He promises to spare you from hardship,
and ensure your safety.

He won't force you.

What do you think?

Foxy, you're quite clever
to know my likes and dislikes.

Since the General invited me,
I'd be honored to accept.

I'll go pack our bags.

Since you want to play, I'm happy to oblige.

[Shuozhou City]

- Be quick.
- Yes, General.

The supplies the enemy left
have all been confiscated.

Inventory and add them to the armory.

And set aside a portion for the citizens.

The c*ptive citizens of Great Liang
must be registered

and properly settled.

Yes.

Slow down.

Xu, by now,
Captain Han should've reached Liangzhou

and picked up Miss He.

They should've met by now.

Captain Han is acting suspiciously.

If he really is a spy,
wouldn't Miss He be in danger?

Xiao Xiao, it seems we've reached
North Chong's occupied territory.

Xiao Xiao, what is that pattern?

Flame pattern.

The symbol of North Chong.

What's wrong?

Feeling unwell?

Xiao Xiao,

my grandfather said
our ancestral home was in Shuozhou.

When he was still alive,
North Chong attacked us.

He took our whole family
and fled south to Liangzhou.

At that time, we had no home or food.

My grandfather said that in his lifetime,

and even in mine,
we might never return to Shuozhou.

But today, I've returned.

I want to travel even further.

How pitiful of mortals.

The journey of their entire lifetime
is but a mere few steps.

Mr. Lin, thanks for letting me stay here
these past few days.

No need to be so polite.

We, the people of Shuozhou, have longed for
Great Liang's army for 30 years.

We hope to be Great Liang citizens again.
[Lin Jun, Shuozhou merchant]

- General Duan.
- General Duan.

These two gentlemen are members
of the Shuozhou guild.

They came today to represent the guild

and the people of the city
to ask you a question.

Please speak freely.

Then, I'll be completely frank.

You took over Shuozhou this time
through a surprise attack.

Now, you're surrounded by enemies.

If the citizens welcome you now
and become sl*ves to North Chong again,

they'll surely be slaughtered out of anger.

Liangzhou's tragedy will repeat itself.

So, I want to ask you.

How long do you plan to stay this time?

How long will you protect its people?

Rest assured, everyone.

For 30 years,
Great Liang never forgot Shuozhou's people.

The Tabai Army has crossed the river,

and we won't take a single step back.

We'll live and die with Shuozhou's people.

We know defending the city is hard.

Since you've decided
to protect the people of this city,

we will certainly do our utmost
without any hesitation.

We, too, will do our utmost
without any hesitation.

It has been 30 years.

We finally crossed the river again.

North Chong held Shuozhou for 30 years.

We took it suddenly,
so they won't just let it go.

Their Fenglai Force is watching from Yuzhou
in the south.

Awo Erqi is leading 200,000 soldiers
right toward us.

Our troops are now exhausted;
we are short on rations.

The city's people refuse to cooperate.

Can we still hold the city?

We must.

For 30 years,
the people of Great Liang were enslaved

and slaughtered by North Chong.

It's not that they reject our rescue.

They are just terrified.

They fear this slim hope is just fleeting.

So, we must protect this hope for them.

Ambush! Ambush!

On guard!

Hold them off!

Xiao Xiao!

- Are we there yet?
- It's an ambush by North Chong!

They have at least 200 men.

We only have a few dozen.

We're doomed this time.

Will the General come save us?

We're still far from Shuozhou.

He's too far away to help.

If we're caught,
I'll just read the wind for them.

I'm reading it anyway,
no matter who it's for.

Right?

You're helping them?

They drove my grandfather
from Shuozhou to Liangzhou,

and k*lled my father in Liangzhou.

Why is it always them bullying us?

And you're still helping them?

I'd rather die than help them!

A remote path like this
shouldn't have so many ambushers.

Foxy,

I knew getting on your carriage
would mean trouble.

Miss He! It's dangerous! Please go inside!

On guard!

On guard!