Original subtitles

Water Mui, be my woman!

It's not possible between us.

Everyone knows that the Crown Prince is gravely ill.

No one dares to bring it up or talk about it

because it's a touchy subject to Sire.

What comes next will be a return to the treacherous Kangxi days

when the nine princes vied for the throne.

Highness, we lost, not because Cheung Po-tsai was formidable.

But now he's so full of himself. He's gloating and he's so cocky.

The cockier the better.

When he thinks taking the naval barracks is as easy as a walk in the park,

it is the beginning of his end.

Highness, do you mean to stop them with these old cannons?

I've told you before, their shooting range is a mere hundred feet.

They can't protect our strait,

nor can they stop the pirates from coming in.

Have you heard of Western cannons?

(Naval Barracks)

Highness, I got it!

The Maritime Customs Service deals with affairs with Westerners.

Honourable Sheung is supervisor here.

Good! Let's go to see him.

Ha Sim!

The decoction is very bitter.

Finish it!

I think Physician Chan hates me.

Just a minor wound and he prescribed me this decoction for days.

I order you to finish it.

So bitter!

Really?

Not as bitter as those you fed me when I was ill.

You kept saying you wronged me.

Finish it and we are even.

Alright...

Done!

And more, you have to have a good rest today.

I've had meals prepared for you.

No! I am just a maid.

With stewed pork.

(Maritime Customs Service)

Highness, Customs Supervisor Sheung Tak at your service.

Spare me the etiquette.

I am here to ask for your advice.

You see too highly of me.

Do you speak the Western language?

The Western language?

I want to buy cannons from them.

I handle affairs with Westerners and trading with the Thirteen Hongs

but I don't speak their languages.

I find communication with them difficult.

I have failed you. Please punish me.

How come you all find me a difficult person?

There's nothing I hate more than chastising people.

You are ready to admit what you don't know. You are at least honest and forthright.

Thank you for your understanding.

I'll tell you what I know.

If you know no Western languages, how do you interact with the Westerners?

Through interpreters.

Interpreters?

They are Chinese who have been overseas for trade.

They picked up the languages in the process.

When I have to interact with the Westerners, I rely on them as middlemen.

Who is the most capable among them?

'Will's 'rat-rm.

Maybe he can help you acquire cannons.

Miss Ha Sim, you have a visitor.

(Titled Merchant, Wong Yat-hin)

How come you knew I was here?

Ha Sim, I never thought you would be back in Guangdong.

And you are doing very well.

I sent you to the Pure Water Nunnery when you were small.

I never thought you would come to this.

Nor did I.

You are here, it's for...

I am here to ask you to save me.

Highness, from what Honourable Sheung said,

that Wong Yat-hin seems to be a capable man who is also a hard nut to crack.

I just know he is my key to getting Western cannons.

No! This is not my money!

It's just a loan. Take it easy.

Go away!

Put it down!

Put it down now!

Don't get in my way...

Or talk to my fist!

How dare you assault His Highness!

Do you have a death wish?

Highness?

Stop it...he's my uncle.

Uncle?

Siu-fu!

I'll let you off this time for Ha Sim's sake

Don't let me catch you stealing military funds again!

Get lost!

Highness, don't you think small of me!

That bit of money means nothing to me.

But I'll be forever grateful for the meal.

Ha Sim, some uncle you have.

It had been some time since I last saw him.

My parents died when I was six.

He's the only kin I have.

So he raised you up.

On the contrary, I supported him.

You are so small, yet you put food on the table with your embroidery.

Poor you! You deserve more.

Thank you...

Keep the money in a safe place.

I know.

Take care!

Ha Sim!

Where's the money you earned? Hand it to me.

I haven't got paid yet.

He did have my admiration in one aspect.

He seemed to have telepathy with money.

I don't know it's through his eyes or nose,

no matter where I hid my money, he would find it in the end.

Uncle, are you abandoning me?

I am not. I still love you very much... in my heart.

Then why are you taking me here?

I am now into big business.

It's not convenient to have you tagging along.

I did ask you whether...

Not the brothel!

See how much I love you.

I let you choose.

Be a good girl in the Pure Water Nunnery.

(Pure Water Nunnery)

Uncle...goodbye...

Uncle...goodbye...

Your uncle was so proud.

I thought he's a tough guy who had fallen into hard times.

But from what you said, he's an unscrupulous man.

I have seen my share of people, I have never been wrong.

Highness, you are right about him.

I've counted the gold ingots.

He stole three of them.

He really is one of a kind!

Ha Sim, I'm sure he'll meet a tragic end, as a beggar and die on the street probably.

From what I indirectly heard later,

he had run a coalmine in Shanxi,

owned a casino in Sichuan and then a money shop in Hangzhou.

Some ups and downs.

(Yat Hin Money Shop)

Well, with his character,

he would make it big if Heaven happened to have an oversight.

It's said he then went on a merchant ship and did business with the Westerners.

(Brocade Silk Shop)

Mr Robertson, you don't need to worry.

I am sure all the goods you gave to me for shipping will arrive in Penang safely.

(English Businessman, Robertson)

You are going on the ship with me.

So why should I be worried?

How come none of the coolies come back down?

They aren't coolies. They are human cargoes

I've had correspondence with rubber plantation owners there.

They are in need of indentured workers.

I see...

He never came back after they set off.

They said there was a shipwreck and there were no survivors.

I thought the sea had claimed him and we'd never meet again.

I couldn't believe he managed to survive and we'd meet again in Guangdong!

Thank Heaven for that.

Hold it.

Your uncle was so mean to you.

I thought you would hate the guts of him.

It's hard to put it in words.

With his sweet tongue he could make you very happy.

If he cared to help you out, you would see him as your saviour.

But if he meant to set you up, you could never get away.

You just can't hate him for long.

Hold it.

You said your uncle had worked on merchant ships and he speaks English.

What's his name?

Wong Yat-hin.

Highness, according to Honourable Sheung,

Wong Yat-hin has heard about your plans to buy cannons.

However, he seems to be rather lukewarm about it.

We did have a misunderstanding.

Still, you don't have to go to him yourself.

Silence is golden.

Keep quiet and don't get him offended.

Yes, Highness.

Pay back... Come out...

Wong Yat-hin, come out!

You can’t hide forever! Pay us back...

Friends indeed! You prey on your friends!

He lured us into hoarding those spices, claiming it's a lucrative business.

He took our money, but we have yet to get any dividends!

Highness, he seems to be a con man by any counts.

Do you still want him?

What did I say? Silence is golden.

Why firecrackers?

We won! We won big!

You bet on the right side. We have struck gold.

The English fleet has crushed the Spanish fleet.

Wong Yat-hin, are you making it up?

Right, don't lie to us.

I got a letter from my English officer friend.

The English cannons have sunk every ship in the Spanish fleet.

Of course we must light firecrackers for celebration.

Do you mean the spices we hoarded are now worth a fortune?

I now regret it very much. I should have done it alone.

I knew the English Fleet would never lose.

Now that the English has won,

the spice route from Penang under Spanish control is cut off.

The spices Brother Yat-hin told us to hoard will bring us huge profit.

We are rich...

That's why I now regret it very much.

I was short of capital, I had to let you guys take a cut.

Come on...don't be so mean...

Highness, that seems an interesting story. How much of it is true, do you think?

None.

But he does know about Western military affairs.

Now that we have made a huge profit, it is about time we got our dividends.

Right...

Right, I know you can’t wait for those.

Highness, does he really mean it?

I am an honest man.

We chipped in for our investment.

We deserve our dividends.

Whoever is in need of money is welcome to take his share.

Highness, our three gold ingots.

But let me make it clear.

If you take your dividends now, you're out of our reinvestment plans.

Brother Yat-hin, do you think spice prices will still go up?

Don't be so greedy.

Be contented with what you've made. Just take it.

Brother Yat-hin, how cunning of you.

You want to shut us out from the reinvestment

so that you can profit from it alone?

We aren't that stupid.

Right, we won't withdraw our money.

You say the prices will still go up,

that means more money to be made.

Our money with you means more money in return,

why should we take it back?

We won't withdraw our money.

So now we shouldn't bother Brother Yat-hin.

Goodbye... Let's go...

Highness, here we meet again.

Mr Wong, you are a man who thinks big.

I am sure you have no time for minor grudges.

As I've heard, you want to buy some Western cannons.

And as I've heard, you have some English officer friends, is that true?

I have no friends, but some capabilities.

Your Highness are so forgiving

and even took the trouble to come to me.

Others would be overwhelmed.

But I am a proud man.

Highness, I still owe you a meal.

How dare you be so rude to His Highness!

Siu-fu, what did I just say?

Yes, Highness.

You have not forgotten the meal.

What about the all too obvious bluffing that just took place?

What about thanking me for keeping my mouth shut?

Brother Yat-hin, you still bear me a grudge

But friendship is for the long term.

You'll soon find out whether I make a worthy friend.

I mean to host you a dinner in the Admiral's Residence tomorrow.

What about doing me the honour?

I'll be there.

Highness...

Highness, Wong Yat-hin has given you his word.

Why come to pick him up yourself?

He says he's a proud man,

but actually he's a vain man.

Make him feel good and he'll talk.

Siu-fu... Yes...

Keep smiling.

That's why you commandeered Fok Yee-tai's grand sedan chair as well.

It is to boost his ego.

I have to rely on him for getting Western cannons.

Not to say boosting his ego,

I am ready to bend over backwards for him.

No, leave the bending over backwards for me

Honourable Wong, we have commandeered the admiral's sedan chair for your personal use.

Please...

Highness, you are too kind.

Honourable Wong!

I am no stranger to a first rank official's sedan chair.

I am more interested in trying a princes sedan chair.

If you are interested...

Please!

Good!

Proceed!

Halt!

Siu-fu. Highness.

Why did you stop without my order?

Honourable Wong wants to buy a watch.

Highness, you are too kind.

You scratch my back, I scratch yours.

Halt!

What now?

He wants to buy a hat.

Again?

What nerve!

Siu-fu! Smile!

Highness, thank you.

You scratch my back, I scratch yours.

Halt!

What does he want to buy this time?

He says...some Western stick.

What nerve!

Highness...smile...

Highness, how kind of you. Thank you.

You scratch my back, I scratch yours.

But it has been you scratching mine. I am not worthy.

Let's go for dinner. Sure...

Smile...

Proceed!

(Admiral's Residence)

Cheers...

Those are not all I had seen on a merchant ship.

The most amazing adventure I had...

Another iceberg or another big white shark?

Those mean nothing.

I saw a mermaid!

Mermaid?

A pretty half naked blonde girl with a fish tail as her lower body.

Isn't that incredible?

Yes!

Not as incredible as us sitting here listening to your tall tales.

You don't believe it?

It's that time with the Penang shipwreck that I saw her.

A fellow survivor saw her too.

Please excuse me.

I don't discuss military affairs with an idiot...

Sit down!

Do I have to make it an order?

Ha Sim, fill your uncle's cup.

Yes.

Brother Yat-hin, let's go into business.

I know you have some English officer friends.

They have beaten the Spanish fleet.

Could you get some cannons from them?

The English fleet lost.

That's why I lost big in hoarding the spices

You mean...

I mean it offers you a chance to get Western cannons.

The English fleet was crushed and the troops dispersed.

Their ships and cannons were abandoned.

The cannon left in the ship in Macau has fallen into my officer friend's hands.

It's simple.

Let me contact him as Admiral of the Guangdong Navy.

You are here as a filler guest, not a lecturer.

Ha Sim, fill the cups.

Yes.

Brother Yat-hin, please go on.

This officer friend's name is Robertson.

Arms dealing is a risky business.

I don't think he'll entertain strangers.

But if I ask him, the chance is fifty-fifty.

Uncle, do you really know him well?

We two were left on a barren island for seven days after the shipwreck,

with no food or fresh water.

So you caught the mermaid for food!

Highness, it's entertaining to have a naive subordinate.

Silence is golden!

Seven days without food won't kill us,

but we can’t survive without water.

Robertson and I shared a common lot.

I drank his urine and he drank mine.

Or we couldn't have made it.

Highness, does that make us fast friends?

Good! Since you are honest with me, I should be honest with you too.

Or it won't make us friends.

The cannons are for wiping out pirates.

My success or failure, life or death is now in your hands.

Good! I am a businessman.

I have only this in my eyes: profit.

Name your terms.

It's a risky deal. I can only do it on my own.

As said in military teachings,

"The officer on the field can decide whether to act on order".

I'll turn a blind eye even if you cross the line.

I won’t take much with me, just 300,000 taels.

300,000?

Alright! It'll be taken from the navy's expenses.

It means half of our annual expenditure!

Once it's done...

I'll recommend that you be made a fourth rank official.

I'd prefer an easy life.

Being a fourth rank official would be too hard for me.

However, I don't mind living in a first rank official's residence such as this one.

Hey! You've gone too far.

How dare you covet my admiral's residence!

If you could get me the cannons,

I'll ask Sire to grant it to you.

Alright! I'll wait and see!

When you finally get the cannon back,

Cheung Po-tsai would have turned Guangzhou upside down.

Ha Sim, fill our cups. Yes.

A toast to our friendship.

Now you own my life and everything.

It's beneath me to betray friends.

I'll go to Macau to get you the cannon.

Good!

Cheers...

Please sit...

Ha Sim, fill our cups.

Uncle, how much of what you just said was true?

Even I can't tell myself.

But you are quite certain you can get the cannon, right?

No. I don't believe in certainty.

For that means every step is mapped out.

For it to work, I'll have to play by ear.

I can't tell the truth from the lies.

I have to fool myself first before I can fool others.

That's the way to succeed.

I don't think I get it.

But I know you are a smart man.

Or His Highness wouldn't have counted on you.

Uncle, you have to help His Highness.

He's a good man.

Don't worry.

I made such outrageous demands because I knew if I failed,

the only outcome for me would be death in Macau.

Granny Yiu!

Hey! Our well water is not for you.

Master Po loves you so much.

But he has wasted his love on you!

What are you thinking?

I hurt Po-tsai.

I can't blame them.

Get lost! You heartless woman!

Western women are so ungrateful!

She doesn't know what she's missed.

Hey, please be reasonable!

Save it!

How outrageous!

Give it back! I am not done yet!

Master Po, you've been drinking for days.

It'll kill you.

Give it back.

Master Po, you are only out of love!

That's no big deal.

Who's out of love? Who's mad?

Give it to me.

Hey, what now?

Packing is done for you.

Things here will remain the same but we may not meet again.

So farewell!

You and Po-tsai are in this state.

It'd be embarrassing for all of us if you stayed here. Please leave.

I have always seen Po-tsai as my son

It breaks my heart to see him drowning himself with wine.

It breaks my heart too.

It's not what I expected.

Don't blame it on his rashness. You flirted with him.

He asked you to leave in Guangzhou, but you chose to come back.

You declared your love for him in Double Happiness.

You said you would drown yourself if you couldn't marry him.

You said it yourself.

I know I've made a mistake, but...

Whatever, it's in the past. Now take your things and go.

I am not leaving.

Please, let me beg you.

If you don't love Po-tsai, just go. Don't break his heart again, alright?

You don't get it. I have to stay here. Otherwise, I can't go back to...

Just go back to where you came.

Are you listening?

Why are you throwing her out? She has done nothing wrong.

It's my own fault.

It's not a crime to love a person.

It's not a crime not to love a person.

Po-tsai, I am sorry.

If you insist on throwing her out, let me do it.

Go away!

No!

I said "go away"!

No!

I said "go away"! Go away!

I said "no"!

I mean what I say.

I said no and I am not going away!

How shameless of you.

Why won't you go?

Then you stay here...

If you won't go, you have to join us. You have to become a pirate!

You chose to become a pirate. I didn't make you.

It's either becoming a pirate or marrying you.

It's either marrying you or getting thrown out

You didn't make me?

Either you shut up or pack your things and go.

I said it. I am not going!

OK, I'll be a pirate.

But I swear I'll be the most benevolent pirate that has ever lived.

No raping, no kidnapping, no robbing,

no bullying, and of course, no killing.

Po-tsai, are we then asking for trouble?

If there are so many things she won't do, is she a pirate at all?

Will this friend of righteousness become our burden?

Sis Kiu, I know what to do.

But...

Don't worry. Master Po has had everything prepared.

A pirate's three treasures.

What three treasures?

Grappling hook, dagger and the pledge.

Grappling hook? This I understand.

Dagger, I hope I won't have to use it.

You said there're three. What's the last one?

It's the pledge.

You have to get it yourself.

Master Po, the things you wanted.

Where's the letter?

It's a bit rushed, not very well written.

But all the points are there.

(Princeling)

Hold it, what's your operation? Pillaging a merchant ship or a village?

It's your first operation, we aim big.

It's a night attack of the naval barracks for the Imperial yellow jacket.

Why? How come?

The Zhe and Chao camps are virtually deserted.

Everyone has played truant. Where have they gone?

Highness, you turned over the provisions money to Wong Yat-hin for cannons.

Fok Yee-tai used that as an excuse to incite discontent.

Some are playing truant and some have asked for sick leave.

Half of my own Jing camp troops are out on sea patrol.

The barracks are virtually deserted.

What if the pirates picked this time for an attack?

Fok Yee-tai is hurting the troop's morale.

It's about time he got his due punishment.

Highness.

I asked for an Imperial yellow jacket.

It's for taking drastic measures.

This is the occasion for it.

(Princeling)

I routed you in our last fight.

You had to burn your own ship for your escape.

You became a defanged tiger.

It's said your old man gave you an Imperial yellow jacket.

My outhouse could use a foot cloth.

I will come at midnight to get it.

You'd better fake asleep.

Or I may have to take your head along with it.

How outrageous!

(Naval Barracks)

A pirate's three treasures.

Grappling hook...you passed.

Now you look like a pirate.

Scholars are such weaklings!

(Northern Gate)

A pirate's three treasures!

No!

Shut up! Stab him with the dagger!

I said I wouldn't kill.

We are all here. The Imperial yellow jacket

Highness!

The Imperial yellow jacket was granted by Sire.

If the pirates got it, we are all doomed.

Ho Fei, get it from my room and flee with it on horseback.

Take the path on the mountain slope!

But...

This is an order!

Keep the Imperial yellow jacket at all costs!

Yes!

Ha Sim?

Brother Ho Fei, how's His Highness?

He ordered me to flee with the Imperial yellow jacket from the mountain path.

Are the pirates really here?

There's no time to lose.

His Highness bid you to protect yourself.

Cheung Po-tsai, you don't call the shots here in the barracks.

Pirates like to call the shots.

You want the Imperial yellow jacket?

Over my dead body!

Alright.

What? A kick is what it takes?

Indeed.

Master Po, bravo!

Water Mui, your first day as a pirate.

You take the credit.

You have to pry it from my cold dead hands!

Brother Ho Fei, are you alright?

You are all cold-hearted!

Such bullies, you!

I call myself a female warrior.

Yet I had never seen one so thin and had trouble holding her saber.

Female warrior, I'll count to three.

Put down your weapon or...

Rape and kill.

Don't you come near...

Drop dead...

One...

I mean it...I'll chop you into two halves.

Two...

I am not kidding! I mean it...

Three...

Stop laughing...

You bullies!

Water Mui, you've got your match.

Time for the dagger.

Showtime.

I am just following the orders.

Don't make it difficult for me.

Don't come near me.

Relax, OK?

I mean to clear this with minimum force.

I killed her...I killed a human being...

Killing is the pledge.

Now you are one of us.

It's the normal reaction for the first time.

In time, it's like killing a chicken.

It's how I reacted the first time I killed a chicken.

Congratulations!

You are now a bona fide pirate!

How come?

I said I would be the most benevolent pirate. How could this be?

Your pants off!

Now I'm so poor I'm only left with money!