Original subtitles

While commoners stand idle by

Nation's foe makes its appearance indefinite

Good intention is lost when thoughts diminish

Grasping the sword I fix my eyes towards southwest

With my thoughts flying toward Tai Mountain

Prince Wei,this new poem sent from young prince

Has his Lordship mentioned the nomination of heir recently?

I venture to ask what is your vision

for a new dynasty after you succeed the throne

I would make efforts worthy of my name to achieve eternal

merit the interest of the nation and its people

I admire you profound talents and high aspiration

I hope you will realize your wishes someday

What worries me is not poetry essays,rhetoric pose or verse

But the political and military matters my father intends to test

I've paid no attention to these matters

I'm afraid it would be hard for me to answer him

My young prince

You can answer him correctly based on this

Really?

These are to help answer political military and other questions

What do you think about it Prince?

It is his officials who know their ruler better than anyone else

No one knows my father better than you do

I offer you another toast

Thanks

I'm told people like extravagant burial I'd like to put an end to it

Yes

Ding Yi

Yes

Please draft a decree about it

Yes

Your Lordship,the decree for seeking able people has been done

Ding Yi

Well written,brief,comprehensive fluently and scholarly

Excellent

Wu Zhi

Ding Yi

Jia Xu

The decree forbidding extravagant burial is written

You're so quick in writing

Alright Will you go over it

I wonder whether you already had some idea about it in your mind

How could I have it as you just mentioned at me?

You can write it in such a short time

Yet I can't change a single word That's sheer genius work

Prince

In comparing with Prince Cao Zhi in talent

I'm only a sparrow standing beside an eagle

He is intelligent talented,able if writing exquisite literary essays

His talents surpassed that of any of hhis contemporaries

Young and old all would like to follow him

This is Heaven's blessing on our Wei

I also love him profoundly

Your words comply with the will of Heaven and wishes of the people

It is great fortune to the people and the court

What do the rest of you think about that?

I dare not say wildly a word about my Lord's family affairs

But if this is related to fate of dynasty,I venture to speak up

I'd like to heat your opinion

In history,many cases of making younger son the heir

And the brothers would contend for each other

Thus caused contentions,disasters and upheavals among the brothers

Furthermore,our eldest prince is by nature filial and benevolent

He is learnt and beloved by all,I expect my Lord to make a decision

Hope you could could judge wisely

Let me think it over You may retire now

Yes

What's this?

A box of pastry

For you to taste

Who sent it?

Prince Cao Pi asked a top class cook to make the pastry

in Mongolian style especially for you

The prince is not only thoughtful for Your Lordship

but is caring for our attendants

He's in every way a real successor of Your Lordship

and an honest man of integrity

Your Highness

Your Highness

His Lordship tasted pastry and seemed agreeable

I think...

How's the Marquis of Linzi getting along?

Principal Secretary Yang Xiu has put down some written replies

Specially for Cao Zhi the third prince

Cao Pi

Special written replies?

They often talk late into the night

Keep an eye on them

Yes

Jade turtle

You may take that

Thank you

Yes?

Is this for His Lordship?

Yes

Why is it there?

His Lordship cane to taste it yesterday evening

He enjoyed it very much and then left it in the hall

I don't know if he would come here to taste it again?

Well,you may go away

Come on

This pastry tastes good Come to try it

How can we take this without Father's permission?

How do you like it?

Delicious

You should also try it

Come on

How can I?No,no

Yang Xiu is the principle secretary most appreciated by my father

If he has the courage to eat we should have no fear.Why not eat?

Eat please

Wine placed in the hall tastes mellow

To entertain friends and pals that fellow.Chief cooks lamb for a

feast and slaughters stout calves to show the host who is so generous

While musical instrument play tones that sound so harmonious

With the Dance of Qin Qi of Yang E Able people appear in Luoyang

Over three vellels of wine they are able to drink

Come on,please

Farther Lordship

Who did it?

I was being greedy

This has nothing to do with the prince

Actually we followed your instruction to eat

What do you mean by that?

You wrote the instruction didn't you?

What if I did?

Here's your written instruction Each man a mouthful

We couldn't disobey your orders

Your wonderful talents

One can hardly believe

Thank you for your compliments

You two can withdraw now if you have nothing else to do here

Yes

Don't have too close relations with these two people

Yes

Your Highness

His Lordship has sent for you

What's for?

He'll test you two on political and military affairs

Cao Zhi,in literary works, Cao Pi is no match for you

But today I'll test you two on political and military affair

I'm afraid you won't be able to get the upper hand

Father,it was so in the past but it may not be true today

Well,don't you boast! Listen to my questions?

Yes?

According to the imperial decree

I'm allowed to wear the sword and shoes when I go into the court

But people think I should take away shoes when I enter ancestral temple

Now my question is

if I should enter ancestral temple I would go with shoes or without?

Father should go with shoes on

Why?

If you take away shoes,

it means that you follow ancestral rules,but disobey imperial orders

It also means you show respects for the ancestors but neglect emperor

Confucius said

I will obey the monarchy even though I go against my people

I don't know whether I'm right or not.Father

It is said the son who know his father better than anyone else

But even I myself couldn't be your equal

Cao Pi,knowledge of political and Military affairs used to be your

advantage but you are not a match of your brother today

Now you have lost it.You should work harder from now on

father's instruction is perfectly right

My talent is not equal to my younger brother

I've been negligent in learning and I must work harder to catch up

You may go now

thanks

Please,elder brother

Younger brother,please

After you,brother

Younger brother,you should go before me as you won the game

Please

I didn't expect that my younger brother got the upper hand in test

Judging from Father's appearance

he may make the younger son the heir instead of the elder son

What's to be done?

I've put forward my reasonable suggestion to His Lordship at the

risk of my own life. Unfortunately he let me down

Because of my poor knowledge I've failed to persuade His Lordship

Fulfill your entrusted mission

What can we do now?

I find Assistant Minister Jia Xu is reserved

But in fact he is for you

This man is shrewd and cautious and so far is appreciated by the lord

If you can get him to say a few good words before the lord

things may change for the better

Jia Xu

Today I'm a guest of honor,yet tomorrow I was a prisoner in jail

I'm not a former subordinate of the Prince

Nevertheless.I'm now a close advisor to him

My opinion and suggestion well attended

So I've won special favor of the Prince.May be I have caused grudge

Even disaster if I'm not careful

My literary talent attracts many friends under the sun

I'm leading a solitary life and decide not to contact those nobles

Merely for keeping my off-springs away from any possible misfortune

Grandfather

Master,there is a visitor

Who is it?

Prince Cao Pi

Grandfather,I'll tell him that you've just gone to bed

What you may withdraw and let me change clothes to meet him

Minister Jia

Please sit down,Prince

You've come at this time of the night.Anything I can do?

Help me Minister Jia

Please stand up

This is too much for me

Please tell me if I can do anything for you

The other day you taught me to be attentive to father

Trying to culture affection between father and son,I'm grateful

But recently my father shows signs of making

The younger son the heir instead of the elder son

As I fear that might happen,so I asked Wu Zhi to come to my place

for discussion,to keep off any suspicion

I arranged to secretly bring him into my residence today,but...

What's happened?

The whole thing was disclosed and my father became furious about it

He ordered officer of tiger Guards to impose patrol in my residence

I'm afraid the whole thing would add to his bad feeling toward me

and consequently confirm his choice of my younger brother as the heir

I hope you'll help me out of the bad situation

I'll reward you fully when I fulfill my wishes

Please stand up

Can you tell me who reported to His Lordship?

Principle Secretary Yang Xiu

Please tell me how Wu Zhi was able to get into your residence

He was in a basket covered with silk and was carried in carriage

If that is the case

You may order someone to send in an other carriage of silk bolts

Stop!What is in the case?

Silk,that belongs to Prince Cao Pi

Let's search

Master

You can't search it as belongs to prince Cao Pi

Report!There is nothing but silk in the case

The report from Hanzhong says

Liu Bei has sent Zhang Fei and Ma Chao to station troops at Xiabian

In an attempt to invade Hanzhong

I've put Cao Hong in command of fifty thousand troops

To help Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He withstand the enemy

In the past,what you have done has been writting of essays and poetry

How can you succeed without a fine knowledge of military affairs?

Now I appoint you as the military supervisor

You'll go to Hanzhong with Cao Hong won't you?

I'm willing to go

You must be careful and cautious at work

stop excessive drinking and bungle the change of winning a battle

At home we're father and son but at work we're ruler and subject

Keep in mind the military law knows no mercy

I'll do as you say

before you set off go the inner court to bid farewell to mother

Please allow me to bid farewell to you here now

My Lordship

My Lordship

I was instructed to patrol in front of Prince Cao Pi's residence

Anything discovered?

Nothing special.Only one carriage went into the residence

Did you give it a thorough search?

Yes,there was only silk loaded in the carriage.

The escort said two cart-loads had been sent in recently

There will be one more cart-load

Withdraw the patrolling officers

Yes

Cao Zhi and Cao PI are both my sons

You've been favoring Cao Zhi all the time

today you just made up a story but you made a big error,didn't you!

Your Lordship,This..

Jia Xu is really brilliant and wise

Yang Xiu was blamed by His Lordship and left in disgrace

How about the Marquis of Linzi

Lordship order Marquis of Linzi be commander

He's going to Hanzhong with Cao Hong early tomorrow

I'd like to invite him

to a farewell banquet in his honor this evening

Yes

This is a gift for you

Your journey is long and it's hard to predict the day of your return

when shall we brothers meet again?

Let me propose a toast to you first

Please

My brother is talented,I'm far behind to catch you

I congratulate you on your immediate success

On the day of your triumphant return

I'll ask father to make you the heir to succeed his career

Please,my brother

People say you're jealous of my talent

Today I've come to realize your sincerity

I'll never forget your kindness

Brother

one more cup

Brother,please

Alright,my elder brother please

Please have something to eat my brother

My Lord!It's time to set off

but I don't know where the marquis of Linzi is

Attendant

Yes,My lordship

Go to the inner court at once and bring Marquis of Linzi here to me

Yes

I told him yesterday time and again but he's still holding things up

Marquis Linzi

My lordship

My lord,Marquis Linzi...

Is he brought in?

The Marquis got drunk last night

And is still in bed asleep I couldn't wake him up

Go away

Yes

If things are urgent,then there should be no delay in that case

you may start off with the army first go a head

Yes

The boy is gifted by natural endowments

But unfortunately he is too careless to do any serious work

I came across a thing that seems unusual

I've brought it to you to have a look

Cao Zhi

Cao Zhi

Father,my brother is too younger to understand such things

Father,please forgive him

It shows the ill-intention of Yang Xiu who is cheating you

Yang Xiu

Cao Pi you may leave now

Yes

Minister Jia

Prince

My Lordship

I'm summoned here,any instruction?

Jia Xu

Cao Pi and Cao Zhi are the highest chance by my post

Which prince should I make the heir to succeed the great cause?

Why don't you answer me?

Forgive me,My Lordship I was thinkging of something

and that's why I didn't answer you

What were you thinking of?

I was thinking of Yuan Shao and Liu Biao had made their younger sons heir

And the consequent contention between them

You're a man of far-sight and deep thinking

In the 22nd year of Jian'an Period (217 A D)

Cao Pi triumphed over Cao Zhi and was made the heir of Prince of Wei

Wakou Pass was the key position for taking Hanzhong

It was the provision supply center for Cao's army led by Xiahou yuan too

Zhang Fei under Liu Bei's orders had stationed his troops at Baxi

As a first step for occupation of Hanzhong

The fall of Wakou Pass

Would mean the loss of Hanzhong for Cao's army

What you're said is quite right

Lord,Military Counselor

Senior General Zhang He of Cao's army has led fifteen thousand troops

To attack Baxi

Well,I know,You can go now

Yes

Zhang He is Cao Cao's favorite general,both brave and resourceful

Zhang Fei's only ten thousand troops or so

How can he match Zhang He?

Zhuge Liang

My lord,don't worry about that!

General Zhang Fei is not what he used to be

I'm sure he knows how to deal with him

Liu bei

In order to get a key place as foothhold in Hanzhong

Cap Cap send General Zhang He to fight with General Zhang Fei

Zhang Fei

Zhang He

Come to get killed

Zhang Fei,you little chicken See how I'll smash you

Report!General

Zhang Fei is scolding the mountain

Zhang Fei is especially cursing you as cowards

Let him scold

Store as many logs and stones as possible defend our position well

No matter how he's scolds us No one is allowed to go to fight

keep scolding all scold him

scold him

Zhang He be careful I want to kill you

Zhang Fei,you villain

No matter how you shout I won't come down the mountain

keep scolding all scold him

Zhang He is a coward,scold him

Zhang Fei will hold things up by drinking too much everyday

There mustn't have good wine in the army,Chengdu is famous for good wine

Send decades jars of wine to the General Zhang to drink

My brother has all along been causing trouble because drinking much

Why should you send wine to him?

You and zhang Fei has been brother fo so many years

How don't you know him very well?

Zhang Fei is firm and staunch by nature

During the journey into Sichuan.He gave up drinking and set free Yan Yan

That is something any of rough warriors wouldn't do and couldn't do

Now,when Zhang He refused to come into the battle

Zhang Fei takes to drinking without restriction

That doesn't show his greed for wine But his strategy to tempt Zhang He

General zhang

General Zhang,you must be tried

Ordered from Lord,we send fifty jars of wine to you

General,look

Elder brother and the military counselor don't force me to give up

drinking this time,instead of inducing me to drink

But it's the first time

General,we have got drum and gong ready

Well,what for

Didn't you order that we play music this time everyday

To add to the fun for Zhang Fei while he is drinking

Yes No need.

Select one capable person to put on Zhang Fei's army uniform

Yes Go.

It's unusual to have such good wine in the army

Let's drink to our heats content

Zhang He already frightened and terror-stricken

His men are all good-for-nothing How dare they leave the pass?

Drink!Drink!Let's drink

You two general each command an army as left and right flank

When you see the red-flag

You'll each attack the enemy both flanks

Yes

General,Liu Bei has sent good wine to Zhang Fei's camp

Zhang Fei has given orders that soldiers can drink freely for 3 days

They've dropped their guard

Have you made close observation?

Zhang Fei passed the orders himself

Therefore soldiers and generals have indulged themselves in drinking

And have lost interest in fighting