Original subtitles

[ Ming Dynasty ] EP34

The posthumous decree is fake.

Fake?

Impossible.

How could this happen?

How?

This time we fought outside the Pass.

The late emperor died in the barrack.

My barrack is only dozens of miles away from the late emperor's.

But I didn't see the late emperor's corpse.

How did the emperor die?

Why am I not the first one to know?

It's true.

If you don't believe me, you can go ask the soldiers and generals of the Sanqian battalion.

We tried to visit the emperor in his barrack.

But he...

The crown prince.

The crown prince surrounded us, took our weapons, and arrested us to Beijing.

At that time, they have already sent the emperor's coffin.

Today, here, all of us are from family Zhu.

The emperor can't die so.

We need the explanation.

Now you give us the fake posthumous decree.

You are deceiving the world.

All of you have heard.

The emperor mentioned about two things in the decree.

First one is.

My eldest brother will be the emperor.

Second is

Pardon the orphans of the campaign of Jingnan.

Some of you went to the battlefield with the late emperor.

Some of you know the emperor well.

A late emperor is a man of his word.

Let me tell you why.

Just because the crown prince's concubine is

one of the orphans of the campaign of Jingnan.

So outrageous.

You collude with Jianwen's adherents.

Even try to usurp the country.

You are born into our family.

All the people should crusade against you.

The late emperor told prime minister Yang Shiqi decree before he died.

The emperor never said he would abolish the crown prince.

In all the countries, the eldest one is the successor.

My uncles have no chance.

The late emperor is afraid you will disrupt the country with your military force.

Yang Shiqi can bear witness.

Shut up.

Stop talking.

Well said.

I knew you would get Yang Shiqi involved.

But you forgot.

I and your second uncle have ears.

Brothers.

I think we can talk about it after the funeral.

No need.

We two don't want to live to tell the story.

Today you can kill or torture us as you like in front of the late emperor.

Well.

No.

We two will wait for the sentence back home.

Crown prince.

We have been to prince Zhao's mansion.

He also...

What?

He is gone.

We have checked the capital's nine gates.

They have run away.

I ordered them to close the gates.

Who opened for him?

As I know, they have run away for a long time.

They left with the official seal.

So the soldiers had to open the gate for them.

Official seal.

Where did they get the official seal?

What are you waiting for?

Chase them.

Yes.

The soldiers don't know what's going on with the official seal.

We have sent men to chase them.

But they escaped in the daytime.

I'm afraid we can't catch up with them.

As I know, all these years, you are looking after Lady Hu.

I think you are so unpopular to take care of her.

People all know she is grumpy, and no one wants to draw near her.

I am young.

So I can't nitpick the work.

And Lady Hu is not as grumpy as they said.

We need ti hide when we drink.

She won't punish us as long as we make no mistakes.

Did she punish you?

Yes.

With what?

Rattan.

And then?

Knelt down at the bedside with the teacup on the head.

Who sent you in the palace?

My cousin.

She worked in the palace before.

After she dies of alcoholism, one fellow villager let me take her place.

Well, you are so smart and sensible.

You can work for me.

Thank you, crown princess.

Thank you.

Your Majesty.

Wish you a good health.

Queen is in thought. Don't startle her.

Today is New Year's Eve.

I have told them to prepare some delicious meals.

After the emperor and crown prince come back, we will have dinner together.

All because of you.

You still want to fight in person.

We are family, how can we kill one another?

You think it's not enough?

It's because of me?

Father, it's snowing.

How long have I been sitting here?

It's dark now.

It's about 4 hours.

You are sitting here all along after you finish lunch.

From today, all yamens won't open the door until the lantern festival.

At this time the emperor won't assign work.

Rebels still need to celebrate the new year.

I don't know if they will celebrate the new year.

I only care if I can have a happy new year.

How are they doing today?

Did the crown prince tell you the situation on the battlefield?

Recently he comes back late.

Sometimes Yang Shiqi took him away early in the morning.

I told Houtai to negotiate with my brothers.

But you keep saying no.

So you insist on fighting a war, right?

When your grandfather was alive, he often

couldn't fall into sleep for a whole night.

But he still couldn't help you find a way to win.

Now you are fully winged.

No.

Remember what second uncle said.

He wants to hold the culprit to account.

What does he want?

Just hand me over.

All of you think I am the culprit anyway.

You are back.

Today's all yamens close the door.

You are back so late.

Those who are eager for the reunion dinner will blame you.

The crown princess and I want to have

a reunion dinner together for your sake.

Eat...

I don't know if we can have another reunion dinner next year.

Don't say like that.

You will sabotage the whole year.

Tomorrow morning everything is fresh again.

Today the queen wants to set the rules.

Our family should drink wine with pleasure.

Don't say ominous words.

Otherwise, you will drink wine for punishment.

I am the overseer.

Don't drink it up.

You want to know why we are late, right?

I told Houtai to negotiate with my brothers in Shandong.

He just came back in the snow.

Come, brother.

Prince Han.

Prince Zhao.

Come.

Why did my brother send you here?

Are all the officials gone?

Why Yang Shiqi or Yang Rong is not here?

Your Highness.

The emperor said, this is not a negotiation.

It's just the misunderstanding among brothers.

People will see this as the laughing stock.

Not the imperial decree.

I am here to send the apology.

The emperor invites you back to celebrate the new year.

He is still stingy.

He wants to coax us back.

I don't buy it.

We tried so hard to build up the army.

So we can be even after his lobbying?

The emperor said.

We just ended the expedition.

The country didn't fully recover yet.

If you...

Country?

Be practical.

The emperor said, if you don't want to go back,

it's ok.

You can go to your fiefs.

You can name your price as long as he can afford it.

You can choose the place as you like.

Well, you form up the army to clear up whose around the emperor.

I don't think it's a good idea.

Ok, tell him.

We can go to the fiefs.

We can choose the place right?

I like Beijing.

He should move the place for me.

Come.

In the campaign of Jingnan, there would be no today without our blood fight.

Houtai.

Eat all the words that I am telling you now.

Go back and tell my brother.

Yes...

It means I can take the world by storm.

Tell my brother.

I will go on negotiating with him after he sends sycophantic courtiers' heads.

Yes.

As I know, those who treat us with hearts are not sycophantic courtiers.

Those led by Yang Shiqi.

No.

The wolf cub.

He needs to explain how the emperor died.

He is the culprit.

Correct.

Tell him this too.

Yes.

What exactly do they mean?

He needs my son's life?

I don't mind.

They will stop after I die?

They won't.

They will kill all the way into Beijing.

But now we can't defeat them or end the negotiation.

How do you know they can't be defeated?

Your Majesty, let me help you.

You so like talking back to your father.

You are such a troublemaker.

Your Majesty.

Calm down.

Why are you so furious?

We are a family, we should have a nice talk.

We prepare dinner to make everyone happy.

Now things go athwart.

Your Majesty.

Today each of us should say one more sentence.

Calmly.

It doesn't matter what we say.

It's a new year.

We should have a happy reunion dinner.

I know my brothers Habor evil ideas.

People can't have a great cause with conspiracy.

To be the emperor, you need to focus on your people.

Even if you can defeat them, you need to negotiate with them again and again.

You can only send troops till the last moment.

What have you learned from the books?

Power is the public instrument.

What is public instrument?

It's not for your private use.

You need to show the sincerity of solving the problem.

This is the right way.

If the country is not on the right track, no one will support you.

If you don't show favor to the people, no one will respect and support you.

It's easy to make a show of authority.

You need to learn about tolerance and forgiveness.

This is the most difficult.

I have said all I should. I don't know if you like it or not.

I have a clear conscience throughout my life.

Even if I need to be the emperor of one month or one day,

I want to let the world know,

The one who sits on that throne values people's life more than himself.

I know...

You have ambition.

You have your dream.

Then you should do it better than your grandfather and me.

All my bad today.

I'm sorry.

I accept the punishment.

Father, mother.

I drank the alcohol.

I beg your leave.

I am the civilian in Huaixi.

Since childhood, I followed the first and the second emperors

defeat the enemy and save the people out of wars.

I have been to the Bashu, sea, and Minyue.

Emperor Yongle died in khailas-ausu.

The villains fake the imperial decree and steal the throne.

My eldest brother becomes the emperor.

They killed my loyal soldiers and generals in an uproar.

I feel so worried.

So I want to clear up those around the emperor to save the world.

I have no reason to fail emperor Yongle.

I have no other purposes.

Those who support us can work for my dynasty forever.

Those who betray me will go outside the Pass.

That's all.

What's your opinion?

Let me speak for them.

No big problem.

Only one sentence.

My eldest brother becomes the emperor.

The emperor didn't abolish the crown prince.

I don't think it's ambivalent.

People will think we want to take the throne by force.

Easy.

They can forge the decree, we can do it too.

We should make a decree to abolish the crown prince.

And.

Since are we going to clear up those around the emperor,

who we are going to clear up?

He needs an accusation.

A witness.

So bloody obvious.

Zhu Zhanji wants to kill us.

Is this not enough?

And.

Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu mobilized the army privately.

Enough, right?

Include this one.

Yu Qian killed emperor Yongle by colluding with Mahamud.

A traitor.

Many people know this.

We can find the evidence.

Include this.

Yes.

And release the orphans of the campaign of Jingnan.

We have the conclusive evidence.

Go.

Even if you don't add these charges, those seigniors won't object.

When the father was alive, he removed all the seigniors' military force.

What I am worried about now are those led by Yang Shiqi.

They have followed the emperor for many years.

We can't underestimate them.

They also have some prestige in the army.

Eldest brother is hesitant now.

We can't waste the time.

I think we should send troops after the festival.

Capture Jinan first.

We can control Huai River in south.

Capture the north and south of the Yangtze River.

They are the land of wealth.

Negotiate with eldest brother,

and contain seven provinces in south of the Yangtze River.

In the future, we just need a general to

lead the army across the Yellow River to Beijing.

Then they have to surrender.

We can spend some money to instigate Oirat to attack Zhili from Hetao.

All the troubles will surround them.

You are overreacting.

He is wet behind the ears.

In my opinion, we don't need to capture Jinan.

We should go straight to Beijing.

We can spend the dragon boat festival in the palace.

Great.

Second brother.

You are a military expert.

Well, we should send troops to Jinan first for good luck.

Give them some pressure, and we need to warm-up.

Ok.

Tomorrow morning, half of the army will go to Jinan city.

I need the victory only.

We need a good beginning.

Just like my brother said.

Yes...

Urgent intelligence is away from 600 miles. Lower down the drawbridge.

I just fell asleep.

We lost the battle.

I don't want to wake you up.

Do we need to tell the emperor right away?

The emperor doesn't agree to have the battle.

He will think I want to quarrel with him.

Jiangsu agreed to attack the rebel army from the side.

What are they waiting for?

Now we don't know prince Han and prince Zhao's march route.

They also want to protect themselves.

I will find yesterday's memorials for you.

No need.

What route can they have?

Cross the Yellow River and go to Zhili.

Go sraight into Beijing.

If the emperor still trusts the negotiation when they reach the city gate,

then we should await our doom.

If they come to Beijing, it couldn't be better.

Guanning cavalry in the Liaodong area is the most elite.

Quite tough.

We can have a good fight.

But I'm afraid...

They take Xuzhou and stop the upstream of the Yangtze River and go to Anhui.

We will lose seven southern provinces.

It was emperor Yongle's marching route.

Prince Han reveres emperor Yongle throughout his life.

He followed all his father's strategies in military affairs.

If he does so, it will be tough.

If the emperor is still so hesitant, we will be passive.

All the seigniors covet the court.

The court has been tolerating them all the time.

All of them seek self-prevention.

As I know, many lords and seigniors prepare two kinds of gifts for the new year.

One gift for the court.

The other one for prince Han.

All the traitors.

Jack of both sides, I can understand.

We don't need to blame them.

But the court's attitude can't be so ambiguous, right?

Right?

Let me in...

I want to see the crown prince.

Let me in. -No.

Let me in.

Let him in.

You don't even wear official clothes.

No wonder they stop you.

What are you shouting at?

I need you to be the witness.

All the censors prepare the memorials.

They report me as a traitor.

They say I sell the intelligence to Mahamud.

The emperor removed me from office.

You know the truth.

It's ok that I am removed and go back home.

But I don't accept the charge.

How could this happen?

In prince Han and prince Zhao's official call to arms,

Yu Qian colludes with Mahamud.

All the censors are in high spirits.

Yu Qian is angry that he submits the resignation letter.

No one speaks for me.

The emperor means

we can't clear everything so soon.

So he needs to take some rest for a while.

What?

Rest?

We can clear everything up.

That's because I demanded to fight all the time.

The emperor asked me to stand back.

Stop playing dirty with me.

Why don't you protect me while you can?

I don't even know this.

How can I protect you?

You liar.

Enough

I need the memorial approved by the emperor.

We can clear this.

Just because you insist on fighting.

Just like me.

You are so lucky to be removed from office for defying against the emperor.

From today on, you will work for me.

You can't damage your health so.

We are defeated in Jinan.

You need to see the emperor if you have the time.

He fell asleep several times when checking the memorials.

Every time he woke up, he asked me if you came.

He refuses to see me after the reunion dinner.

I just knew this.

Yu Qian was removed from office.

Forget it.

It's useless talking about this.

I don't want to make you worry.

No.

Just tell me.

I'd like to hear it.

Sleep.

I hope you have no military intelligence tonight.

Sleep.

What happened?

Your old friend, you don't remember?

Hasizhuzi.

Why are you here?

When did you come?

I have been in Ming for 20 years.

What's wrong?

I can't come here?

So you want to report me? to

I will not report you.

I don't want to see you either.

Go.

I'll forget you are here.

I don't drink your wine.

Afraid of being poisoned?

Not in the mood.

You need the poison if you want to kill me?

Why the long face?

I have no friendship with you.

Go.

You try to be a clean and loyal official.

What about others?

If you follow me, you can survive.

Tonight, imperial guards will come to arrest you.

The court is sure that you are the traitor.

Now the dynasty is at stake.

What's the use of staying here?

Listen to me.

Go now.

Prince Han and prince Zhao gave me the money.

They asked me to attack Beijing with them.

They can cede the land outside Shanhai Pass.

Till then, the court will be in danger.

The loyal official like you will stink in the jail.

What's the point of your being loyal?

Open the door...

Open the door.

Hurry, open the door.

Open the door.

Let's go.

You still have the time to escape now.

Open the door.

Go without me.

Close the door for me.

Open the door.

Hurry, open the door.

Open the door.

Open the door.

The traitor, Yu Qian, surrender yourself.

Come out.

Come back with me.

Did the emperor promise to let me out?

You will go to intercede with me.

Forget it.

You will have conflicts with the emperor again.

Even if I can go out now, I can't fight or do anything.

I still have the charges.

I think I'd better stay here.

Go.

I didn't expect someone else would like to stay

in the imperial prison except me.

Mahamud came last night.

He wants to give you a bright future?

Probably.

He told me he would cooperate with prince Han

and prince Zhao to attack Beijing.

Want to stall Guanning cavalry in Shanhai Pass.

Worse than that.

They want to attack Zhili from Hetao.

Terrific!

I don't think Mahamud is so stupid.

You should write a memorial to the emperor.

This is not campaign of Jingnan.

It's bloody usurpation.

Ridiculous.

If we don't send troops now,

how can we see the late emperor in the underground?

Do you need anything?

I bought some books at Liulichang.

I am short of cash lately.

Creditors often come to my home.

Please pay the money for me.

Don't forget to pay the money.

Please give the kid a name, your Majesty.

At that time, my father told Yao Guangxiao to write a genealogy.

Behind Zhan is Qi.

Yu is great.

His name is Qi Yu.

Qi Yu.

Thank you, your Majesty.

Rise...