Original subtitles

In the 7th year of Jian'an peirod 202AD

Cao Cao sent another expedition against Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao fell seriously ill and soon died, before dying

Yuan Shang, his younger son was made successor replacing elder Yuan Tan

That aroused serious fighting between the two brothers

Yuan Tan was besieged by Yuan Shang's troops

Yuan Tan had to send an emissary Xin Pi to Cao Cao for help

finally surrendered to Cao Cao

Xin Pi

I'd like to send troops to help Yuan Tan

But I want to make sure whether he's sincere or not

Not quite so

Then he's not sincere

Not quite false

You don't need to ask whether he's sincere or not

You could judge by yourself from his dilemma

His father, Yuan Shao suffered a number of defeats

and his resourceful advisors were put to death

by him one after another, with fighting, jealousy and hatred

between the brothers, the kingdom has been divided into two

Natural and hunger disasters are overwhelming the kingdom

God has offered us this opportunity to eliminate the the Yuans

You could send troops to attack Jizhou, Yuan Shang's capital

If he ignores it He'll lose his place of refuge

If he returns to rescue his capital

He's sure to be attacked by Yuan Tan in the rear

In this case, it'll be mighty easy

for you to crush the wornout enemy

No threat is bigger than Hebei

With Hebei in your hands your hegemony would be completed

I wish you... Bring wine

I regret didn't meet you earlier

No threat is bigger than Hebei

With hebei in my hands my hegemony would be completed

Good

I don't care whether Yuan Tan's sincere or not

As you're the emissary

I accept his surrender

Xin Pi

Yuan Tan, a surrendered general

Pays his respects to you

Cao Cao

Who are those two persons behind you?

Lu Kuang and Lu Xiang pay their respects to you

Are you kin brothers?

Yes

I know both you served under Yuan Shang

Why surrender to Yuan Tan? As soon as Yuan Shang was informed

That you sent troops to come to my rescue

He hurried back to Jizhou

Two generals brought up the rear

I approached and asked them

Why they were serving my brother instead of me

And I was kind to them when my father was alive

So the two generals changed their minds and turned to me

I also told them they could surrender to the Prime minister

instead of to me

That's why they have come here with me

During Yuan Shao's lifetime though weak and ill

He never bowed to me

You two brothers faithful to the Yuan's family

Can't bear to see the Yuan's brothers fighting each other

I now grant you title of nobles You'll stay in my army

Thank you

Stand up please

Prime Minister

May I ask you more

When to send expedition against Yuan Shang in Jizhou?

We're short of provisions now

You may stay in the central plain my troops will remain in Liyang

The expedition will begin when the provisions are ready

From today on you two are Cao Cao's subordinates

You don't have to remain here, get away

Report Yuan Shang has ordered Yin Kai

to defend Maocheng and open up the route of provisions

His vanguard troops have been encamped

Report

Yuan Shang has ordered Ju Han to defend Handan

Shen Pei and Chen Lin to defend Jizhou

They have launched the offensive againstcentral plain in the night

So Yuan Shang is determined to attack Yuan Tan first

and me second

Report

Yuan Shang's troops are approaching the central plain

Yuan Tan is asking for emergency help

He moves very fast

Now...

Report, Xu you has come from Xuchang

Xu You

Prime Minister, Yuan Shang has launched an fierce attack on Yuan Tan

Yet you remain here quietly

Aren't you waiting for the thunders to strike the two Yuan's to death?

It's within my expectation

Cao Hong

Yes

You'll lead the troops to set out first you must attack Jizhou first

I'll load troops to attack Maocheng first and then Handan

Let's join our forces at Jizhou

Yes

Attention, general

Yes

Have meal at midnight and set off before dawn

Be sure to take Jizhou

Yes

It's a true thunder

Cao Cao gave Yuan Shang a crushing defeat

Yuan Shang had to surrender and send Yin Kui

governor of Yuzhou to Cao Cao

Prime Minister

Yuan Shang was completely defeated and retreated 25km

He's now sent Yin Kui governor of Yuzhou

to come for surrender on behalf of Yuna Shang

Last time, the elder brother's emissary to asked for surrender

This time, the younger brother came to ask for surrender

Well, I permit the surrender

Zhang Liao, Xu Huang

Yes

Yuan Shang knows I would stop Attacking, I've permitted surrender

I order you two to loot his camp tonight

Don't let him have the slightest moment of rest

Yes

No matter whether Yuan Shang is alive or dead

I am going to his camp to accept the surrender tomorrow morning

Yes

I accept the surrender

Prime Minister

While we were attacking Yuan Shang's camp at night

He throws away all the army and fled to the mountains

Let him go

General

Yes

Come with me to attack Ji Zhou

Shen Pei

Your chief Yuan Shang has run off to Zhongshan

Ji Zhou is now in danger and doomed

Why not surrender immediately?

Should you wait for the Zhang River

to flood off the whole city

Uncle, you've stood here for two days and nights

Better take a rest down in the tower

In our late masters lifetime how strong we were in Hebe

Now he was dead and Yuan Tan surrendered

Yuan Shang came to our rescue

But instead he ran off Zhang Shan

even without coming into the city

Your Excellency

I've brought here all the members of Xin Pi's family

all of them

Ask them to come up here, be quick

Yes

Bring them here

Jizhou is in danger and doomsday in nearing

Why not surrender?

Those who follow Shen Pei are bound to meet their death

Whoever kills Shen Pei and surrenders the city

will be the savior of the people in distress

And he'll be rewarded by Prime Minister Cao

Uncle

Whoever kills Shen pei and surrenders the city

will be the savior of the people in distress

And he'll be rewarded by Prime Minister Cao

Stop shouting

Father

Mother

Breaking into city, be sure not to harm any of the yuan family

Army men of civilians will not be put to death if they surrender

Mother!... ah, grandfather

Uncle

Uncle, if you don't have faith in me

I could ask His Excellency Chen to take your place

You can't keep on standing here army longer

You've been here for three days

Uncle

Get out of the way

Look, Prime Minister, general Xu has caught Shen Pei alive

and is coming to us

General Xu, hold it please

Shen Pei, so you deserve it

Shen Pei...

Shen Pei...

Take him to the Prime Minister so you deserve it

Shen Pei

Do you know who opened the city gate for us?

Your nephew, Shen Rong

My nephew is determined to be together with the city

and he died a martyr, sacrificing his life for the country

The day before yesterday when I came near to the city

Why were there so many arrows flying down?

I wish there could have been more

I know you're loyal to the Yuans and you have to do that

Now are you willing to surrender?

Never

Prime Minister

80 or so fo my my family were slain by this traitor

No heavier punishment

could wipe out my heart's hatred

In life or in death I'm subject of the Yuans

I never follow those guys like you who know only flattery

Kill me at once

All right, do you have anything to say?

My master is here, don't kill me while I'm facing the south

Bury him in the north of the city

Thanks

Your brother Xin Ping died

of grief and indignation

When he heard you surrendered to Cao Cao

At his death bed, he told me to kill all the members of his family

as a token of loyalty

So many highminded men in Hebei

It was s pity that the Yuans didin't make good use of them

If so, how dare I contend with

him on this place of land

Generals! Come with me...

Aren't you Chen Lin and Chen Kongzhang?

You're the man who wrote the official denunciation against me

When Yuan Shao went on a punitive expedition against me

In this official denunciatio, you listen my wrong doing and crimes

But why should you insult my father and grandfather as well?

As the arrow is fitted to the bowstring, it must be released

What an arrow is fitted to the bowstring, it must be released

Tomorrow, bring the official denunciation with you

Follow me to the Yuan's tomb for the memorial ceremony

Get into the city

Who dares disobey my orders

and went into the Yuan's house?

Prime Minister

Your son is in the house

How dare you?Come out

Cao Pi Father

Do you know my orders?

Yes

How dare you!

I'm sorry, but may I ask you to meet a person

Who?

Who is that lady?

She's Yuan Xi's wife, lady Zhen

Take care of her, don't harm her

Zhen Shi

Yes

Prime Minister

No one else but Cao Pei could save my whole family

I'd like to offer Lady Zhen to be his wife

No one else but Cao Pei could save your whole family

Yes

Who are you?

You even dare say so

I'm Yuan Shao's wife

Why do you dress up like this

This

Since she's Yuan Shao's wife give her some money and food

Prime Minister

Anything

I would ask a favor of you

Speak it

Please grant me death

You're really my good daughterinlaw

How are you, general Xu?

Without my assistance How could you enter the city?

We took it after bloody fighting on the battlefield

Don't talk

You're only a warrior of reckless courage and nothing remarkable

Prime Minister, Zu You is reckless and I killed him

He was my old friend How could you kill him?

General Xu

Bury him properly

Yes

Not long ago when Yuan Shao and I worked together in military matters

He asked me

If this disturbance continues What district should be hold?

I asked him What's you idea?

He said, to the south I would hold the river

He said, to the south I would hold the river

and guard against the enemy from the north

I'll go southward trying for empire do you think I might succeed?

I replied, I depend on the wisdom

and force of the world

directed by morality and justice then everything would be possible

These words seem as spoken

only yesterday, now he is gone

Thinking over it I can't retrain from tears

Xu Zhu

People in Hebei have greatly suffered from constant wars

They'll be exempted from taxation this year

Yes

Put the memorial tablets of Ju Shou

Shen Pei, Xin Pi and others on the table

Yes

Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi

are unworthy descendants of the Yuan family

who only killed one another among themselves

Though they are still alive their days are numbered

Cao Hong, put their memorial tablets on the table too

to memorialize their forefathers

Chen Lin

Yes

Take out your official denunciation

Chen Lin Read it

Cao Cao, whose father is Cao Xi

Together with other eunuchs were prodigies of wickedness

His father Cao Song begged and adopted a son

By bribery and embezzlement

Thus Cao is devoid of all virtue in himself

ferocious and cunning delighting in disorder calamity

Stop him reading

Prime Minister

Go on

Why not?

At that time, when this denunciation reached the capital

I was lying in bed with a severe headache

It sent chills up my spine to read the denunciation

I was in a cold sweat at once my headache was gone instead

It helped me to gather an army of 200, 000 men

to attack Liyang and wage

a decisive fight against Yuan Shao

The denunciatiaon is like an arrow

Once it was released

So many brave warriors sacificed

their lives, piled on battlefield

I had to rise to challenge

I couldn't let them rest, aren't their lives spent in vain?

The stars are high above the

mountain, glittering as the words

If you don't read the denunciation

How could I console the souls of the dead

Mu Fu may destroy the evil opponents of government

I grasped my sword and beat drums to restore order in the east

I assembled warriors selected the best for my service

I came into relations with Cao conferred with him to further scheme

I gave him command of a subordinate force

But Cao availed himself of the opportunity to overstep all bounds

The inhabitants of the metropolis groaned and murmured in anger

Reading all the names through record of ministers

For greed, cruelty and lust Cao is the most outstanding

He who gets head of Cao Cao shall be rewarded 5 thousand households

and 50 million in terms of money

Make it public to the people

You may realize that the Dynasty is in real danger

After Cao Cao had taken Jizhou

The Yuan brothers kept on fighting one another

While Yuan Shang was defeated by Yuan Tan and turned to Yuan Xi

Yuan Tan was trying to recapture Jizhou

Cao Cao flew into a rage, and sent an expedition against YuanTan

Yuan Tan intended to surrender again but was refused

He was finally killed by Cao Hong on the battlefield

Soon after, Cao Cao sent troops northwards

to take Youzhou and Bingzhou

Then went westwards to attack Wu Huan, Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi

Cao Cao launched a final attack to pacify the whole northern area

Guo Jia

Prime Minister

You're tired and fell ill in the

battle to pacify this desert area

I really feel uneasy

Prime Minister

Prime Minister

Even my death couldn't repay you for your kind gratitude

I find this area rugged and rough

Shall we return?

No, speed is precious in war

Better to send crack troops

for the surprise attack

thus we can move fast

to attack the enemy all of a sudden

Good idea

So I'll command personally the crack troops

The rest of army returns to Yizhou with the impedimenta awaiting

Guo Jia

You better go back to Yizhou with them for recuperating

See you again in Yizhou

Prime Minister

Prime Minister

In the desert area you need a guide to lead the way

At Bailangshan, Cao Cao encountered allied forces of Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi

Ta Dun with dozens of thousands of cavalrymen

Ta Dun was killed in a surprise attack

The Yuan Brothers had to run off to Liaodong

When Cao Cao returned to Yizhou

He found Guo Jia died several

Who had been in the army for 11 years days before at the ago of 38

Prime Minister

Prime Minister don't be in deep grief all day long

We wouldn't bear to see

Now that the Yuan brothers have run off to Liaodong

Why couldn't we go back to the capital?

I'm afraid Liu Biao would doubt if we stay here too long

Generals, be more patient

I won't go back until the Yuan's heads are brought to me

Prime Minister

Prime Minister

Prime Minister

Gongsun Kang has sent someone here from Liaodong with the heads

of Yuan Shang and Yuan XI

It is within Guo Jia's expectation

This is Guo Jia's letter to the prime minister

I heard Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have run off to Liao Dong

I advise you not to attack them

Gongsun Kang is afraid of Yuan's

annexation of them, he will suspect

If you attack them, the Yuan's and

Gongsun kang would join forces

If aid them, Gongsun Kang and

the Yuan's will kill each other

Thus being the situation

As soon as I return to Yizhou

Guo Jia's men gave me letter written by him at his death bed

It said if you follow

the advice in the letter

Liaodong will be yours

You're all about my age

But Guo Jia was the youngest

I intended to make him my successor

What a pity he died at his middle age

A heavy blow from.. Heaven to me

To the east is the peak of Jie Shi I'm watching the boundless sea

Limpid waters encircle the isle. One after another stretch mountain and hill

The trees form a deep forest And grasses are fresh on the ground

Chelly are the autumnal winds Ever contending are waves and billows

The sun and moon are running on and on They seem to emerge from the sea among

Twinkling and bright is the star As if comes out from waters afar

The ethereal view being such I write this song for the age