Original subtitles

During the Ching dynasty, the Russian Emperor sent

his ambassador for the birthday of the Chinese Emperor in Peking.

His real mission was to plan an invasion of China...

Russia is a barbarous country,

who has no diplomatic contacts with us.

The Czar's gesture of friendship is unexpected and suspicious.

The Chancellor wishes to confer with you.

Russia is situated in the ice north.

All the ports are frozen over in the winter.

They've tried to expand to the East for ice-free ports.

The Envoy to His Majesty's birthday party must have connectified.

A courier from Mukden asked to see you.

- Show him in! - Yes.

Your Majesty, the Russian Envoy is now in Mukden.

Well.

He will be in Peking soon. Whatever may be his interest,

we'd better give him a warm reception.

He must be treat properly.

Yes, l do agree.

Please.

Please be seated!

To your health, Colonel Tolstoy!

The Magistrate of Ching Yuen County is honoured.

Our Envoy Prince Salyesky is on the way here.

We're ordered to wait here.

l'm grateful to be hospitality encountered.

To your health!

To the king!

Manchuria is the birthplace of our dynasty.

No foreigner shall establish any connection here.

We must be very cautious.

And we have to espy the intention of the Russian visitor.

l agree. We presume that they are not friendly.

Also, they have some Chinese in their pay. We must find out who they are.

Such treason calls for death penalty.

They must all be wiped down. lt's very serious.

And l don't wish to see the innocent get involved.

We must have solid proof...

before we take the slightest action.

Well...

l'll report to His Majesty that the Russian Envoy has arrived.

We better keep an eye on Colonel Tolstoy and his men.

l'll send my man to investigate.

Yes, Sir.

Coming, coming!

Upstairs, please!

l'm starving!

Coming, your wine and your dishes.

Foreign guests, come in please!

Come in, please!

Follow me, please!

Foreign guests, please this way!

Excuse me!

Foreign guests, what would you like to have?

Give us the best wine and the best food!

The best wine and the best food!

You talk like chewing beans...

l don't understand a word!

Stupid! Stupid!

Give us the best wine! Give us the best food!

You mean the best wine and the best food!

Here you are, the best we have!

Wish you like it.

What's this? What's this?

Am l supposed to eat this?

Stupid!

What's going on there?

l can't afford to pay for the dishes you're ruining.

This is for dog, not for me!

Damn, this is ridiculous!

Give them a whole piece of meat and a whole pot of wine.

Yes, thank you, Sir!

Take it easy!

You must excuse me, Sir!

What's this?

Look, what a match!

Suggest the meaning here!

Come on, drink!

l cannot drink! Please excuse me!

Come on, drink!

Damn!

Old Russ! This is too much!

We are great! We are great, comrade!

We are great! Let's go!

Preposterous! Ridiculous!

Do you men know what you are supposed to be doing here?

What the hell are you doing fighting...

letting everybody know that we are here.

General, don't be angry,

they've already made the mistake. Forget it.

Whose idea was it? Speak up!

- General, let me explain... - Shut up!

Wait! l'm an court investigator, sent by the Chancellor.

That's why you must die!

Shoot!

Chang had exposed himself, and was killed.

We must act quick!

lt's outrageous to murder a court investigator!

The situation in Ching Yuen County is obvious.

Colonel Tolstoy is up to something there.

My Lord, are you trying to say...

We must hunt down the murderers of Tse-ma Chang.

l dare say, they are not too far...

Well, l'll ask the Department of Justice to investigate.

And at the same time send for another secret agent.

Traitors must die!

l didn't expect a secret agent from the chancellor.

lt was my duty to kill him, l'm fully responsible for that.

When an officer is killed, it's a serious matter...

But now we know,

that the magistrate suspects us.

Tolstoy was too careless. We must be more careful...

My humble suggestion is...

that Colonel Tolstoy gets a map of the Coastal Defence System as soon as possible.

Right, l'll arrange everything.

Note him, ask him to be prepared!

Yes, General!

Meanwhile... detain all official documents!

And check for strangers in the area.

l'd rather kill a hundred innocent...

than let one secret agent go!

Tolstoy has a pistol like this.

ls it powerful?

lt kills within a hundred paces.

l'll risk my life to make the mission successful.

Fine.

Find out who they are,

as well as what they want.

They must be eliminated.

l'll do my best.

No message can be sent via Ching Yuen County.

Also...

A man with this jade piece is a man of my trust.

l'm thinking of someone.

- A hand? - Yes.

l give him a post in the court, if he can read.

Thank you, Sir! lt's good to have him around in trouble.

l like him, but he's a gambler.

Hwa! You make fun of me!

Damn!

Chao-doz, let's get a drink.

Sit down, please!

What would you like to have?

A quarter of meat, head portion!

- And two bottles of wine! - Yes, two bottles of wine!

- You are rich today? - Let me pay for this!

l won't suggest that.

Fatso, are you still interested?

No, not you again!

Well?

l can't believe that your hand is quicker than my knife...

Don't get mad, the rack is full of salted meat.

l just can't believe it, come and get it!

l'll chop off your fingers!

Well, let's go!

Wait, it's too easy!

Easy?

The salt elbow is much heavier, he gets less chance...

Well, try your luck the with the salt pork elbow.

lt makes no difference, l'll take it anyway.

- Now! - Ok!

Come!

The salt meat is on the house!

l just take this! Thanks!

l tell you for sure, in my business my hand is always faster!

- Right? - Right!

Damn it, this is unthinkable!

Hwa!

Hwa!

Hwa!

Let's share it!

You should know the rule of our trade, one shall share.

You mean this? Come and get it!

How about this?

Oh! Don't overplay it!

Are you alright?

Catch it!

Bye!

Hwa, my father has sent people to seek you.

He'll beat you to death!

l'd rather die in his hands than leave you!

My father says that you cheat in his place.

Me cheat?

He is the one who cheats the people.

l'm an honest gambler!

l wasn't doing anything illegal.

For me, please let him win for a while.

Let everybody be happy!

Not me, l am not cheap!

l can't do that.

l never mix business up with pleasure!

You dare ruin my place in daytime,

and date my daughter at night. You never stop bugging me!

Mr. Wong, it's quite another story.

She and I, we love each other...

while in the Casino, it's fair play.

Well...

You ask for it.

Beat him!

Get out! You're smashing my furniture!

The lady says out...

Shao-doz?

You must be getting tired of living!

Go quick!

Well, that's all for today. Bye!

Follow him!

We are locked in!

One for all!

Ain't l smart?

Well done! See you!

Alright...

lt's you, Shao-tin!

Don't you enjoy the life in Peking?

You never forget what you've learnt.

You're not here just to try my dishes...

l need you for investigating the Russian Envoy.

Russian?

l don't speak Russian!

Doesn't matter, as long as you know how to throw a dagger.

Throwing daggers?

- Have you been practising? - Sure, what about it?

The Russian has pistol, which kills within a hundred paces!

My daggers against pistol?

You can if you shall!

But you can get dozens of Kung-fu masters in Peking...

Something is wrong here!

Alright, make your bet!

Show it!

Three ones!

The Banker wins all!

You're lying and you'd better be careful!

There's something wrong around here!

You Chinese are cheating us!

The Goddess of Fortune will smile to you...

Make your bet!

No more!

One, two, three! Six points!

Liars! Bunch of cheaters!

Cheaters! We'll teach you to cheat!

Stop!

Dad!

Dad, are you alright?

You barbarians!

Let go!

Come on!

Hwa, quick!

lt's Miss Wong...

Shao-doz, take your breath.

There are two foreigners fighting in the casino.

They're beating everyone and taking advantage of Miss Wong!

Does one of them has a pistol?

No.

Let's go, quick!

Let go of my daughter!

Look!

Watch out!

Foreign Lord! Officer!

Old man, how dare you fight with foreigners?

Don't you know who they are?

Officer, they lost their temper!

lt's a misunderstanding, please accept my apologies!

They are guests of the Magistrate.

You got your foot in big trouble, l can't help you...

lt's all my fault, Sir! Please explain it to him!

l will do whatever you wish!

Alright, but if the Magistrate finds out, it'll be the end of all of us.

Close the place, arrest these men!

- No, let them go! - Wait!

lt's your lucky day!

He has given you a chance, show him that you're grateful!

Yes...

Sir, l appreciate your kindness very much!

l'll arrange a Lion Dance to apologize!

Shao-doz, don't miss!

Don't worry!

Look!

- Me, too! - Good, let's go!

That's strange... l wonder where could l put it.

General, don't worry! lt must have been stolen, we can report to the police!

Don't call me General!

And we are not going to the police!

Yes, yes...

lt is missing alright, l can search this Chinese.

- That thing is invaluable! - l know it is...

The Lion! Shit!

lt must be him!

l'm going to pawn this, wait for me.

Stolen?

l grabbed it from someone's pocket, just a little thing.

From whom?

l got the powder horn from the foreigner.

Shao-doz got this, which is well kept.

l think it must be valuable...

The foreigner?

He doesn't suppose to have this snuff bottle.

This is the connection identification. Unless the other one isn't...

exactly like this, you shall not deliver the secret map!

Keep it in your mind!

Yes, Sir!

lt's strange...

Tolstoy had this?

He might have bought it, or received it as a gift.

l'm sure he didn't stole it.

He is not in your trade.

Shao-tin, does the snuff bottle mean something special?

West Lake Jade, there's another one.

Few years ago, His Majesty made bestowal of the snuff bottles,

and gave them to court officials. This is one of them.

How could the Russian possess a royal bestowal?

That's exactly the point! Why has he got one?

lt might be presented to Tolstoy by one of the court officials.

lf so, it should be given by pair, not single.

lt's simple, another one kept the other Jade.

- Unless it's for identification! - Yeah, connection identification!

l'll spy the Russians.

l'll report to Chancellor Fu through Ching Yuen County.

- We are getting on something. - Good, let's go!

Excellency, we received gifts and preserved fruits from the General.

- Put them in the living room. - Yes, Sir.

General, he's here!

Do you have it with you?

Yes.

l was instructed...

Never mind, they're my men, give it to me.

l was instructed to examine the identification.

Not that l don't trust you, but l have my orders.

No delivery without the presence of identification.

Wait!

Let him go. l still haven't got it yet.

Who are you? Why do you follow me?

Who are you? Why do you run away?

Don't make yourself a fool, my friend!

Shao-tin, you're back so soon.

The Magistrate was out, so l rushed back.

lt seems to be well arranged!

Does that mean anything to you?

From the way they ambushed and how they fought...

They were very well trained experts, especially their leader.

Where is he?

He was wounded and escaped.

l go to the Magistrate again, you go home first.

Please!

You have come a long way, what can l do for you?

lt's a matter of state!

You can trust me.

lt's confidential. Make sure it gets through to Chancellor Fu immediately!

- lt must be urgent? - Yes!

Since it happens in my county...

may l appreciate the situation?

Otherwise, l'll be in the cold.

lt concerns the Russians here, but...

l take orders directly from Chancellor Fu.

l cannot reveal the case to anyone, you must understand.

Certainly, l understand it.

l will be silent on this and send your letter to the Chancellor.

Thank you!

- Goodbye! - Goodbye...

Shao-tin, how dangerous are these men?

You should know, you had a fight with them.

The Magistrate knows that his wound was seen by me.

l urged him to send the secret message.

l'm sure it will never arrive.

Will he take action?

Yes, he'll try to kill us.

Yet, we play the sitting ducks?

- Yes, exactly. - Why?

lf he was the one who visit the Russians, he was only a messenger.

We have to find out who send him to the Russians.

That person is the head of this connection.

Tao-kwan, come warm up.

Yes, Sir!

The Snake-Hawk is quite powerful,

come practise with me.

l'm not good enough, Sir!

Apex Cordis!

Cerebellum!

Temple!

lnguen!

Your lron Fan hits precisely.

l'd never have a chance, if you fight seriously against me!

Here's the confidential report he asked me to see it to the Chancellor.

Shu Shao-tin already suspected us...

He is clever, get rid of him.

Get rid of him quick!

We tried, but he's too tough!

Use pistol!

Follow him!

General!

Why did you show the Snake-Hawk Kung-fu stance?

l want to get away.

You can never get away.

You've exposed yourself, that's the end of you!

l...

- Kill him! - Yes!

General! Brother! I...

l kill for money, you know...

Come!

Brother!

l'll kill you within three hits!

The second!

The third!

This is a Snake hit!

And this is a Hawk hit!

They are two schools of boxing art!

Wait a moment!

The Snake-Hawk Kung-fu?

What is that?

Look carefully!

l recognise it, but it was kept within only a few families.

lt was not learnt by many, although it's very old.

There are not much families left, only the Yu's practise it in Mukden.

You mean the Grand Master Yu?

- Yes, but he has retired. - That's a vital clue!

We're going on to his house quickly and check it out!

Master Yu?

No, we're too late!

The Snake Finger mark.

Look!

Tao-kwan?

He's in the General of Mukden's service.

They silenced the Yu's.

l get a picture.

Tao-kwan is the General's man.

Would he possess such a snuff-bottle?

No, but his master might own it!

Shan-tung, Lord of Wai-yuen, General of Mukden.

He was on the list of Royal bestowals.

He has a huge collection of Jade items. He may know where the other one is.

- You want to visit him? - l will!

You must excuse me not knowing...

that Chancellor Fu has sent his man to my place,

- Sit down, please. - Thank you!

How do you find life here?

As a soldier,

life is always the same.

Wai-yuen is a small place, what business brings you out here?

Big business for a small place.

Tell me, what sort of big business...

has opened in a small place like Ching Yuen?

l got a rare antique of jade, a snuff bottle.

Would you like to have a look at it?

l'm surprised you should find something valuable.

As a great collector, do you know where is the other one?

l truly collect rare antiques of great value.

But l never touch small items...

like snuff-bottles.

Even small items are important, if it concerns the national security.

Hold on!

Tao-kwan, see him out!

This way, please.

The General's residence is well guarded by numerous fighters.

We use to take it as a rumor and now l know it is not. Goodbye!

General, why don't we kill him here?

lt's only too easy, you'll see!

- Shao-doz, what happened? - There...!

Tell me!

An ambush! Be careful!

Get him!

Hwa!

Throwing daggers? Smash his hand!

Hwa!

Hwa!

Hwa!

Shao-tin! Shao-tin!

Shao-doz, what happened?

Stop!

l won't spare you!

We can't stay here any longer!

Shao-tin! Shao-tin, I...

Hwa is suffering from fever.

l'll fetch him some good medicine, take care of him.

Leave him to me.

Hwa! Run!

Shao-doz!

Shao-doz!

Shao-doz!

Shao-doz!

Shao-doz! Shao-doz!

Shao-tin... l'm sorry...

Shao-doz...

You did well, we are grateful!

Hwa, I...

Here... take... this...

Shao-doz...

Shao-doz...!

Don't cry, we want revenge!

Corporal, go and tell Tolstoy to meet me at noon!

Tomorrow in the garden east of Ching Yuen.

Go quick and return immediately!

Yes, Sir!

There is someone!

Stop!

Tomorrow at noon, in the garden east of Ching Yuen.

They will meet there? Your name, please!

l'm in a hurry, we can't talk, goodbye!

The time has come!

Corporal, l know you've double-crossed me.

And now you just prove yourself useful.

l fed you false information and Chu Shao-tin will soon be dead!

l've laid an ambush for him!

You traitor!

Be careful!

l've been expecting you, you're on time!

Damn it, it's an ambush!

Don't be trapped, get away quick!

Use your daggers!

Let's get Shan-tung!

Ridge of Eagle's Dare, noon!

We've finally made it!

l must return to the Czar immediately.

We need your help in future military operations!

l'll be at the Czar's command!

The Crown of Manchuria will be yours!

Thank you, General!

Traitor!

Shan-tung, you are accused of High-treason!

You, what can you do to me?

Confess! Or l will execute you right here!

Execute me? You don't know what you are talking about!

Hwa!

Hwa!

Shao-tin, am l fit?

Yes...

You are fit for an officer!