Original subtitles

The ancient sages said, do not despise the snake for having no horns, for who

is to say it will not become a dragon?

So may one just man become an army.

Nearly a thousand years ago in ancient China, at the time of the Song Dynasty,

there was a cruel and corrupt government.

These men riding are outlaws, heroes who have been driven to live in the water

margins of Liangshanbo, far to the south of the capital city.

Each fights tyranny with a price on his head, in a world very different from our

own.

The story starts in legend even then.

For our heroes, it was said, were perhaps the souls reborn of other,

earlier knights.

Through cruel taxation, the wicked Cao Qiu raised a fortune, which he intended

to use to bribe his way to becoming prime minister of all China.

Yang Qi, the blue face, took all precautions to move it safely to the

capital.

Nevertheless, Lin Zhong, with outlaws from Liang Shanbo and the noble squire,

Cao Cai VII, intercepted it and won the treasure.

Convinced Cao Cai was trustworthy, Lin Zhong left him to return it to the

people. But evil Cao Qiu was mindful that while bandits who steal are

executed, those who steal kingdoms become princes.

Head of Police, you have failed me again.

Your failure led to this disaster.

I listen to none of your pitiful excuses.

You're right, Supreme Commander.

Head of Police.

Sir. Are you saying seven thieves can just disappear?

Of course not, sir.

I can only say, Excellencies, my very best detectives were sent. They are

working day and night, but so far without exactly... You must go there

yourself. Go, sir. Go there and find it.

In all China, nothing has greater priority.

You've got ten days to recover my treasure.

Sir. Or even as I raised you, so shall I cast you down should you ever fail me

again.

I'll... I'll get it.

Have you beaten him? Yes, sir. But he know nothing. Nothing.

Oh, that'll make you remember!

You were sent for, good Judge Sung Chiang, to discuss this report.

So we agree that the treasure is hidden somewhere.

Or we'd have report of it being moved.

Liang Shanpo's hidden it locally.

And Lin Xiong is reported to have joined Liang Shanpo.

Hmm.

What's this about Wang Long?

Their chief once sat for the civil service entrance examination.

That does seem to be the case, yes.

However, there was a scandal involving him and a loose woman, Ying Bo-shi.

Consequently, he was not appointed.

That's good to know.

I'll keep these papers here.

Your high thought of Song Xiang.

I have a suggestion.

Yes? As you know, my guards are always looking for men of achievement and

talent such as you undoubtedly possess.

Now then, should you apply for appointment to the Imperial Guard, I

guarantee your success.

I am extremely grateful to your Excellency, but I shall decline this

offer if you don't mind.

Such as they are, my talents have their best employment in the service of the

government. I am offering you riches.

Well? Should you ever change your mind?

Now, quite unofficially, I want you to make a guess as to where this treasure

might be.

Unofficially? You have seen all the relevant papers.

I would like to hear any ideas that may be in your head. There's only rumor and

guesswork, but no solid evidence.

No one has identified the thieves.

Commander, the head of the police.

Excellency, at last I have found a clue.

What clue?

You. In here.

Excellency, after a beating, this fellow confessed.

He says he saw the outlaws on the day of the robbery. You saw them, fellow?

Speak out. Yes, I did.

I would have said it without their hitting me.

I'm an honest peddler, my lord.

There were seven of them with heavy boxes on carts. This is useless unless

he knows who they were.

Sir, he did, or at least he knew one of the men. Speak out, you knew one. Come

on. There were seven of them together, and I knew one, just one I recognized.

It was, it was, it was Chokai, squire of Tongchi village.

But Chow Kai has a good reputation as a nobleman. Yes, that may have been, sir.

But lately, however, he seems changed, complaining about official authority,

talking loosely, everything.

No matter.

Arrest him and beat him till he talks.

He just could be guilty.

A funny thing, Hu Sanyang, do you know?

I never thought to see the day I'd look at such a treasure disinterestedly.

It was exciting getting it, but now everything seems so flat, dull and

unreal.

So it does.

But Luta and Kungsun Sheng as well.

You miss them, don't you?

Now they've both caught the taste for adventure.

Perhaps you caught it too.

Yes. There's a lot of truth in that.

But we now have the difficult task of turning this treasure into rice again.

Yes.

Squire Chow Kai. Sung Chang, the honest judge.

You've heard? I've heard.

I want you to say that it's not true.

Your peddler told the truth.

Sen Si Chu, I will surrender.

It wasn't for myself.

There has to be someone to oppose Kao.

All right.

You must do your duty.

I can easily guess why you stole it.

I have not come to arrest you.

Not to arrest me? I came to help a good village squire. You took that treasure

only to return it. I know that.

Kao chose evil and thinks you took it for yourself.

His new chief of police is on his way here at present and his orders to place

you under arrest.

But why should you risk so much?

Good men are not so very common.

I do not intend to see you executed for opposing wickedness.

I am indebted.

But this treasure, though, I can't consider escaping until it's safely

stored away somewhere.

Now I'm sure I acted rightly.

It would help neither of us if I were found here, so I must go, and quickly.

I'll never forget.

My eternal thanks to you.

Sir, we are appointed to assist you.

We greet our chief.

We are only local officers, but we will do our best.

Very well.

Local knowledge is what I'll have the most need of. One can't expect too much

away from the capital.

I do not intend to talk here on the street.

Where can we go?

Oh, to headquarters, sir. Yes, sir.

Good. Let's go.

All of himself?

Silence!

Cao Cai is just a simple village squire, though he may be popular, as you say.

Only he's a robber, and Cao Chu's treasure was stolen by him.

Any opposition will receive no quarter.

As you'd expect.

The squire did it very smoothly, anyhow.

That's enough!

Well, as local policemen, we know where our duty lies, don't we?

Right. You do?

Well, now, that's better.

Are you ready?

Just a thought, sir.

You don't have all that many men here. It might be easier to wait. Ah, yes,

that's true.

We could go tomorrow, after we'd had time to plan.

Otherwise, he's a big, strong man, and he just might beat us all.

Enough, enough, enough, enough, enough!

Don't forget who's a chief of police.

I'll show this country's choir how we do things in the city.

Hurry now.

Quick.

Just the treasure now.

Don't bother with my ornaments.

Hurry.

Chowkai, the police are in the village already.

It's taken us just a little too long.

Well, all the treasure's gone now.

We'll fight it if we must, and we'll beat the lot of them. Of course.

However, it's very dark outside tonight.

There's a chance we won't have to fight at all.

and we'll meet at the house of the three brothers.

The fisherman, yes.

Now, chief, it's a well-known fact about thieves.

They always do their best to escape.

So we'll stay here in front, while my colleague here goes around the back, we

attack yelling, and they run into his arms.

Good. My plan, exactly.

Well, then, do it right.

I will.

Come on, and keep it quiet.

Go in the halt.

Listen, it's no matter that Cho Kai is such an honorable, fine, and generous

individual, or that he always entertains us. You see, he has to be caught. He's a

rogue. Now, he won't come out if we look alert.

So you'll pretend...

Cleverly pretend that you're all asleep.

Pretend like the good officers you are.

All right, Chowkai, give yourself up.

You're a wanted man.

You can't escape, so surrender or it'll be the worst for you.

At the front! They've gone to the front gate!

So watch out!

Charge!

Hey, officer, what's happening?

The side gate.

We've completely forgotten that there's a third gate.

Don't let them get away.

Don't let them get away.

Kill anyone who resists.

Make a noise.

Here they are.

Back in here.

Ten men out of the window and Chow Kai with them. We'll get them at the front.

Front!

Follow me! Chow!

Oh,

Chow Kai, it's almost fun. There they go.

To the front gate!

To the front gate!

Everybody to the front gate!

I'm grateful to you.

You're a good man.

It's nothing. Just a debt I owe you. Now, you must go quickly.

Ah, good. There you are.

The chief's getting suspicious.

All right. You call everybody to the back now. And I'll lead these two to the

front. All right.

Squire Chalcott, good luck.

At the back! Now then, come on! They're storming the back gate!

Help! Help! At the back gate!

They're coming!

They're coming!

They're at the back!

There's nobody here!

Go to the front!

Which side?

Which side are you?

Chief, wait!

I'm here!

Sir, they're not in the house. But a lot of barrels. Earlier, heavy red barrels

were taken out of the house. What? Where to?

To the house of the Huan Shuo brothers.

What? Karl Chu has ordered his arrest?

And as you might expect, Shao Kai escaped.

And reports have it that... that he is now heading in this direction.

I know why.

He will come to the Yuan Shao brothers.

If so, to the very borders of Liang Shan Po.

And the police will be following him.

Now, Lin Chong, Liang Shan Po is involved.

Chao Kai and the others cannot be abandoned to their destiny.

He's a fine man.

And as you have so often said, it is our business to aid the virtuous.

Lin Chong, perhaps there you made an error of judgment.

Chao Kai, however brave, was placed in danger when you left the treasure with

him.

Your motives were the highest, I'm sure, but now I want you to go and ensure

their safety.

Bring them back here, all of them.

I shall do that, and I will leave here at once.

Wang Lun can still surprise us. He's beginning to take chances.

It's not Chao Kai he wants to rescue.

It's more the treasure.

All right, charge!

Charge!

How can they have gone?

Chief, we've seen them. Seen them? Where?

Escaping in a boat way up the river.

Oh, oops, there they are.

Come on in, the water's lovely.

Oh, how funny.

Fell on his plate. Honey, all will be gone.

And we've got the treasure!

After them! Forward!

The boots!

Into those boots!

Hurry! Hurry!

Charge!

May I serve you along the bank?

Go job yourselves!

I'll be chaaaaa-

never was a criminal.

I've become someone now for whom there's no safety anywhere in China. There's

safety here for you.

I'm here to invite you to join Lian Shan Po now, every one of you.

Oh, that's a good idea.

And yet I have heard that Wang Long doesn't welcome readily new mouths to

feed. That does not apply to you, Chao Kai.

He considers you a very special man, and he feels that Lian Shan Po... Needs the

kind of man that you are.

Needs your wisdom and chivalry. Those are fine words that I don't merit.

But there's nowhere else to go.

Other than to Yang Jianbo. I know it's not so simple. Each of us has had

doubts. Chao Kai cannot likely become a hunted outlaw.

Even though it is here that justice resides.

Will you join us? I will, surely.

The Huan Chao brothers, anyway.

The three Huan Chao boys, yeah. Now we're bandits.

What about you?

I'd love it. My dream come true.

But I don't think I'm included.

Yes, you are included.

You're a special case.

But I think you'd better disguise yourself as a man.

Man?

It's a rather more serious decision than that. You'll be the only girl. Are you

quite sure you want to accept?

I'm sure.

Yes, I'm very gladly.

I speak sincerely on Liang Shanpo's behalf when I say your company is an

honor and a great pleasure for us all.

Such a welcome is really most heartwarming and leaves me without words

to answer you.

The others I know feel similarly.

Our thanks to each and every one of you.

It is hardly a life of luxury here, you understand.

Such as we have, however...

We are delighted to share with Chowkai.

We are deeply grateful, sir. Enough.

One advantage of simplicity is that we don't need to be very formal. We have

prepared a feast for you.

Let's begin.

Did you hear that?

I'm a thirsty throat that needs a barrel.

Incidentally, those barrels, while you're with us,

they are so valuable that they had best be kept in my private storeroom.

Except that it's not our treasure, and we must find a way to return it.

Therefore, my thanks for your thoughtfulness, but we'd prefer really

to keep it near to us.

Ah, yes.

Naturally.

Excellency, the woman for whom you sent.

Now, seeing you, I understand.

Please.

I know no one of your rags. You've known many men, haven't you?

Yang Shanpo has a certain leader who ruined himself for love of Yan Pochi.

Because of that, you're here.

I can't be blamed for that.

So I am guilty of nothing.

I did absolutely nothing to encourage Wang Lun. Your beauty was enough.

Your beauty alone.

You'd punish me for my attractiveness?

No fear of that.

A cold heart and a cool head for what we have in mind.

We want to ask a favor of you.

Of a little singer?

What could I ever do?

What could you do?

You're a woman Wang Lun loves.

Succeed in this and you'll be rewarded.

Yes.

I'd sell you...

Anyone never feel like that.

You will instruct her in all that she should do.

Police chief!

Succeed this time or I have your head off!

Yes, sir. I thought as much.

You wanted the money.

That's the only reason you asked them to join us here. I don't deny that Liang

Shanpo has need of this precious treasure.

And had you acted sensibly, it would have been ours.

But you gave it to Chagai.

The treasure was given to no one.

Chow Kai will give it back to the people.

Outlaws can't eat ideals.

I could just appropriate this treasure, though I don't say it would be right and

proper to go that far.

Still, doesn't it seem to you Chow Kai would know with all that money he should

pay for his stay here?

I clearly understood that he had done so out of his private funds.

Lin Chong, I am not talking about mere pennies now.

This treasure could be our means of survival for many of the years to come.

If you don't care for our rules, you can go away with Chowkai.

While those who stay here should hand over to me what is my just due.

You, our chief, want paying like any one of... any one of Cao Chu's hired dogs?

Liang Shanpo is shamed to stay. Enough!

Either you will obey your chief or I'll have you exiled from here or worse.

Obey me or die.

Lin Chun, hey, going for a walk?

Come on in.

Now, what's the matter with him?

Maybe he's just as fed up as we are.

Ah, stuck in this place with nothing to do is bound to get you down.

It's not easy for Lin Chun either.

Because we're here, he's in a difficult position.

What's he got to do with us? We were not invited to stay because we were wanted

here.

It's that treasure they want.

Well, and if that's true, they might kill us.

We can't just wait to be killed, can we? Of course we can't just wait.

We have to act first. We'll go to see Wang Lung and we'll stab him dead. Wait

now.

We'll do nothing foolish.

Anything like that would destroy everything the Yangshan Pole stands for.

For now, Lin Chong must be left to work it out for the best.

Yes.

Only if you're restless.

There's one thing that needs to be done.

Something to do?

We owe our lives to the good judge, His Honour Sung Chiang.

I want one of you to go to the capital and sneak in past the guards.

Go with a letter of thanks and a prison for him as well, perhaps.

That's a very good plan.

Right. I'll go now. Not so quick.

Listen, who cares which?

We're all restless. We all three of us go. Right? Right.

Lin Chong?

Yes? What is it?

Nothing. I just saw you passing.

Lin Chong, I've seen you walking all alone.

You should not dwell in the past like this.

This is where Shaolan...

You are choosing, Lim Chung, to die instead of you.

Lim Chung, live.

I do not forget.

It was thanks to you I could hold her while she died.

Lim Chung.

And you still cannot forget her?

I never shall.

Shaolan died so that I could live.

Yes, you were going to say something?

Lingchong, perhaps one day...

Is all romantic love just illusion?

No more real than a conjurer's tricks?

Heaven, it is written, is the absence of all self-seeking desire.

Yet there was one who knew desire and would risk all for it.

Wong Lun.

But others were in the capital.

My dear.

You've not changed at all.

You're a real man now.

A proper man.

A man, and I'll prove it.

Oh, yes.

A boy you were.

Now a man, a real one.

All those long years.

Such an eternity.

Just the thought of you gave me strength.

Oh, Wang Lung.

Very thoughtful.

I appreciate it. And even more knowing the risk you took.

Zhao Kai has some very good friends.

That's true. Oh, now then, we beg you to accept this.

Take it. Thank you, but... You can't refuse.

If it's too heavy, we'll carry it for you.

No, no.

I've no need of any money. Aha!

Just set your mind at rest. It's clean.

And you know what was said about the man who refused the bandit's food. Empty

mind, empty belly. I know, but I really don't need it.

Then we're in trouble, brother.

Oh, yes.

If we take this back again, I think Chow Kai will never forgive us. You're right.

Sung Chang, how would it be if we gave it away for you?

To some charity? You choose. One moment. Just wait.

It occurs to me, at Liang Xiang Po, you're going to have need of this money

yourselves.

Take care on the return journey.

Oh, yes, please. No, you must take the truck. Yes, and please tell Chao Kai I

look forward to seeing him once again, though not for quite a while.

But please give my compliments to him.

Would you believe a man so honest that he refuses money?

You'll never guess what I've seen. Where were you?

You missed the most important part of it. I just saw Wang Lun here with a

lady. With his mother, probably.

Except, you big fool, he's at Langshan Paul now. No, he's here.

And the woman.

Oh, all sweetness and honey.

He's gone raving mad.

No, I'm not. It's the truth.

Well,

come and see for yourselves.

Jewels for me?

And the gold as well?

That's right.

Just a few poor trinkets.

To a man as rich as me, it's nothing at all.

And to think if I had become an official, I'd have been poor.

Instead, I now have you.

And I you.

I always knew in my heart that you'd become a really great man.

The leader of the outlaws.

I like the wild man better than the official, my bandit lover.

If there's a ransom, I'd like to pay.

Is there?

I'll pay very well.

Yes, I'll make you pay.

We are still lovers.

I'll take you a moment, because it's the last kiss you'll enjoy.

Tell me, who are you?

You know me?

I don't.

Who are you?

How could you read young Shan Po without knowing me?

You do know Ka Chu?

Ka Chu?

This was a trick.

So what will you do with me? A silly question.

What should a soldier of the Imperial Guard do with young Champolle?

He'll be tortured and executed.

You're dead, Wan Lu.

Yet there is a way if you want to live.

I said, do you want to live?

A coward, but frank, anyway.

She gave you the desire to live.

All right, I'll tell you what to do.

Not merely live, but become rich governor of an entire province.

Me, governor?

How? Tell me how.

Liang Shanpo must fall.

With you, I'll take it.

And I'll have to betray my own men?

Exactly. Liang Shanpo's whole defense system.

You'll devise a plan to lead my soldiers in.

You'll show me how to defeat your men.

You'll do this within three days.

I swear to you, I'll give you a province.

And this woman will be yours, too.

Oh, my lord.

If you succeed.

If you refuse, then I'll have you beheaded.

Well, you can make your choice.

I would agree, but... I'd agree, but...

Kalchur, how may I... May I really trust you?

Why not?

I'm to trust you, a mere bandit.

I trust you because I pay generously.

How's that for a piece of news?

We must get to Lingchun immediately.

I'm Hoang Nguyen.

Stand aside.

All right, Hoang Nguyen.

Three days from today.

The third day.

Now, you go, quickly.

Lin Chung!

That one there, who is he? Now, you look here.

It's none of your business how I care to come and go.

Move! Out of the way!

No.

No one can question me.

Your men will question you now.

They await you in the general meeting hall.

Section leaders and officers.

They want explanations.

Arrest that boatman.

Lin Chong, what are the charges against me?

I have done no wrong.

You'll die for this.

How can a man be so shameless?

You've tried to betray us.

Liang Shanpo outlaws risk their lives, outlaws in the course of justice,

needing the leadership of a man of honor, and you betrayed them.

No, no, I deny it. Let me see your evidence, Lin Chong.

He has no proof. We have.

We've proof of treachery. This man has betrayed us to that dog, Cao Chu.

Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guard.

He's agreed to burn the fortress.

And he's drawn a map of everything around Luan Shan Po.

Showing all the defenses.

This evidence is on him. And now, look at this man.

He's evidence.

He's the police chief. That's who he is. In the capital.

All the world knows Cao Chu's dog.

One long hereby appointed governor of a province, Kao Chu.

Traitor! What can you possibly say to this paper?

A traitor should be killed.

That's your own law.

I will not execute you since you were our chief.

Defend yourself.

Tora, take it.

We'll send it to Kao Chu.

I won't kill you yet.

Though the world would be better without you, I want you to go on an errand.

Give this head to Kao Chu and show him that his plots against Lian Shan Po have

failed. Now go!

Son of a dog!

Off you go! And don't for a time!

On second thoughts, come back again and don't be away too long. And we'll have

your head!

Chok Hai.

I regret I had to do this, but there was no other way open to me.

From now on, Liang Shan Po's clean and honesty and decency have returned to us

once again.

It was well done.

From this day, you're Liang Shan Po's leader.

Bandits become invincible when the people help.

People will only...

Help the just.

You are just, Lim Chong.

You'll be our leader. I disagree.

Were I to become your leader, the people would think I'd maneuvered for it,

killed Wan Long in order to be leader.

Zhao Kai, there's only one answer, that you should lead us. That's impossible.

I'm only a recent arrival, a newcomer to Liangshanbo.

And the others would certainly not agree.

outlaws. You see, Cao Cai, who should be Lian Shan Po's new leader, he took Cao's

treasure with only seven men.

And no blood was shed, something which neither I nor anyone at Lian Shan Po

could have done.

Which of us but would follow such a great chief?

Virtuous and honest, a good man, I believe, should lead us. Who will accept

him?

You have to accept this charge.

I know only you can lead Lianchangpo as we should be led.

Lin Chong.

You are truly the noblest man that I have ever met.

Thus did Liang Shanbo find its new leader, and from evil came good.

For it is truly written, evil must have good to feed upon, and then destroys

itself.

Good Judge Sung Chiang has not yet accepted that justice is now outside the

law. Did noble Chaokai speak true in saying they must have the people's

support? That in rebellion, the people will only support a just idea, but that

with justice?

Bandits become invincible.

If this is so, then legendary Liang Shanbo, led now with honor, is only at

the beginning of its rich history and glory.

It's not tomorrow.