Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Palace of Devotion]

[This drama is based on historical data and legends]

[The story and characters portrayed are fictitious]

[Episode 16]

Come over here.

Zhang Dan and Zhang Li She. These two men

are the generals of Deqing in Northern Song.

They reinforced Daming Province.

Our army caught them in the crossfire.

General Zhang,

you and your son reinforced Daming.

You've fulfilled your obligations.

I'm impressed with that.

Everyone in the world knows that

I like to recruit talents.

If General Zhang and your son are willing to surrender to Liao,

you'll earn my rewards.

Both of us will serve the Song Dynasty till death.

We'll never kneel before our enemy.

Kneel down!

Kneel!

General Zhang,

don't you want to

let your son live?

Liao's Prime Minister Han,

General Yelu Xianzhong are people from Song.

They all surrendered to Liao

and had been given a great honour.

Zhang's ancestors are loyal.

My father, brother went on the Northern Expedition with the late emperor thrice.

They established brilliant achievements in war.

How could enemy generals who strayed

from the nest be equated with us?

Yelu Xianzhong,

get rid of the Zhang duo

since they are not willing to surrender.

Your Majesty,

I'm afraid I can't do that.

You should work for me as you're getting official pay.

Are you going to resist my order?

Your Majesty, please reconsider it.

Yelu Xianzhong,

you already surrendered to Liao.

You should be loyal to Liao.

If you dare to resist and disrespect my order,

I'll behead you

together with the Zhang father and son.

Your Majesty.

The imperial court thought Lord Wang died of serving the country.

The Emperor even issued an edict,

posthumously promoting Lord Wang who died in the war

to Regional Commander of Da Tong Army.

He was buried with a cenotaph

and pension was given to his family.

Yet

Lord Wang is doing fine in Liao.

Even his name has changed.

Such a flunkey.

Yelu Xianzhong?

It's a nice name.

Just follow the order.

Today, both of us

will give you one more chance to show your loyalty to Liao.

The historian will write a book about you.

Song's future generations will know your acts of treason.

Xian Zhong,

execute them.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Li Yong went to Liao's camp to negotiate,

but no letter was sent back.

There's no news about the

current situation of the Northern war

nor the location of the Emperor.

I'm really worried.

Master,

someone went to the post house today to check for the letter.

We might have one soon.

Master.

-Here comes the letter. -Hurry up.

A letter from his lordship in the north.

[Father, please report the details to the Emperor immediately.]

Darn thing!

It's lawlessness!

Cao Wei's father, Cao Bin, was a Commissioner of the Privy Council.

He actually made several contributions,

that's why he dares to act bossy and rude.

Cao Wei discretionally sent Li Yong to jail.

This shows his disrespect to the Cao

and Guo families.

Not only that,

Li Yong went to Liao to negotiate by

the order of the Emperor.

Even so, he dared to block him.

Isn't that the act of disrespecting the emperor?

We should write a letter jointly

and send it to the emperor right away

to punish Cao Wei.

Grand Tutor, follow me.

I have the same idea too.

We didn't conquer Yingzhou and Dingzhou,

and didn't capture Daming either.

How are we supposed to fight this war?

Your Majesty,

we didn't capture these three cities

but our riders in Liao

have crippled Song's army.

I think

our army should keep marching south

to join with 100,000-strong reinforcement

and gather at Chanyuan for a final battle.

Then we'll head for Kaifeng after we succeed.

Chanyuan is the gateway to Kaifeng.

It's different from Dingzhou and Yingzhou.

Zhao Heng won't let that happen.

He will come here for sure.

Your Majesty.

Our army have a long battle line.

Forces are widely dispersed.

We will be going into Song territory wherever we go.

Wang Chao has 200,000 men.

He is eyeing us up from the back.

According to our spy,

Zhao Heng led a large number of reinforcements

to head north to Chanyuan.

If Wang Chao move south,

we won't able to provide provender,

and there're Zhao Heng's army forces in the North.

It's hard for us to win.

General, what do you think?

Your Majesty, rest assured.

As I said before,

Wang Chao is conservative in using his army.

He won't attack rashly.

But speed is the army's asset.

As long as our army reach there before Zhao Heng,

we'll totally take Chanyuan for sure.

Okay. General Xiao, make sure to march at full speed.

Capture Yingzhou before Zhao Heng reaches there.

-Yes. -Your Majesty.

As Zhao Heng is leading the army personally,

he must have made up his mind

to start the final battle with us.

This can't be taken lightly.

Prime Minister,

it's true that we can't take that lightly,

but why would you boost their ambitions

and wipe out our panache?

General Xiao...

Prime Minister, don't worry about it.

Heading south,

Chanyuan will decide the outcome of this war.

General, send the army now.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

How should we process the negotiation with Zhao Heng?

We certainly can't stop the negotiation.

Get Yelu Xianzhong to write Zhao Heng a letter

and urge the Song envoy to come over to negotiate.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Daming Province, Tian Xiong Army]

Good.

We defended Daming Province.

Yes.

Good.

Xiao Chuo must have suffered heavy losses after this failure.

I think this makes her need

of negotiation increasingly urgent.

Yes.

Your Majesty,

it's been days since Lord Cao Li Yong embarked on

the mission to Liao's camp.

He should be there by now.

Why haven't we received any reply

from Empress Dowager Xiao?

Right.

It's Xiao Chuo who took the initiative to make peace.

I've sent the envoy as well.

Supposedly, she should have responded.

Reporting!

Report to Your Majesty, a letter from Liao.

Stand down.

Wang Ji Zhong sent us a letter again.

He said Cao Li Yong hasn't reached Liao's Camp.

Lord Cao hasn't reached Liao's Camp?

Did something happen on the way?

Did he get intercepted?

Who would have the guts

to take my envoy?

Reporting!

Your Majesty,

a letter from Grand Tutor Cao in the capital.

Give it to me.

Stand down.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

[Cao Li Yong was ordered to head to Liao. But when he reached Daming Province...]

That Cao Wei!

He is really bold!

Cao Wei has locked Cao Li Yong up in Daming!

So that's what happened.

No wonder Empress Dowager Xiao hasn't met Lord Cao.

Ping Zhong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Write a letter for me now.

Send it to Daming fast and hard.

Order Cao Wei to let Cao Li Yong go right now.

End him if he resists the order.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

In my opinion,

Empress Dowager Xiao wants peace but unleashes her troops at the same time.

Obviously, she wants to fight for peace

and pressure Your Majesty.

Your Majesty should be cautious.

You're right.

Xiao Chuo has unleashed her troops

and is determined to capture Yingzhou and Mozhou.

If I could make peace with her with goods and

have her withdraw the forces,

I'll do it even if I have to sacrifice myself

to reassure the people.

If Xiao Chuo is persistent

to unleash her troops

and then attempt to make peace

after capturing Yingzhou and Mozhou,

I will never compromise either.

I would never

give an inch of Ying and Mo Prefectures.

Your Majesty has a wise judgement.

But I think

Empress Dowager Xiao will start the final battle at Chanyuan

as she didn't take down Daming.

Your Majesty, I think our army

should rush to Chanyuan before the Liao Army.

Or your personally leading the army would be in vain

and we'll lose the combat opportunities.

Reporting!

Your Majesty.

The main army of General of Liao, Xiao Ta Lin,

is fifty miles away from Chanyuan.

Your Majesty, please issue an edict immediately to dispatch our army.

Pass my order.

Soldiers, sailors and airmen, go forth without delay.

Rush to Chanyuan at full speed.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Open the door.

You may leave the prison.

We release both of you

by the order of the emperor.

Lord Cao, please get going.

Cao Wei.

You do whatever you want to me.

You resist and disrespect the decree,

the negotiation was almost delayed.

Aren't you sorry about that?

Nonsense!

We've lost countless men of Daming

in order to protect the gate to the province.

But the task of negotiating went to mere citizens like you?

If it wasn't the order from the emperor,

I would have beheaded all of you.

Come,

behead me right now.

I...

Captain Cao, calm down.

The enemies are right before us. We should think of the big picture.

Things have already happened.

Let's not relive it.

Let's not relive it.

This is a treacherous ground.

Hurry up and depart to Liao's Camp.

Fast and hard.

There was Zhang Yi in Qin Dynasty who shifted alignments.

Now that we have sent Lord Cao on a mission,

hopefully the negotiation goes well.

I hope Song and Liao could bury the hatchet,

and establish an amiable relationship.

I will do my best to live up to the expectations of

the Emperor and Lord Wang.

When the negotiation succeeds,

I'll welcome your dazzling return.

I hope so.

Your Majesty,

the envoy of Song, Cao Li Yong,

is about to arrive at the camp.

Good.

Seem like Zhao Heng would rather make peace than fight.

After the envoy reaches,

serve him well.

You don't have to take him to me.

I understand.

You wish to lower Zhao Heng's guard with negotiation

in order to buy some time for the general to head south.

You're never wrong

when guessing what's on my mind.

Sister.

Have you met Ji'er?

Did he wear the cloak that I sent?

They still don't allow me to see Ji'er.

But you don't have to worry.

The lady-in-waiting said that

Empress Dowager Xiao prepared the best fur coat.

Ji'er won't suffer from the cold.

Empress Dowager Xiao has no hostility towards Ji'er.

I can see that she likes Ji'er as well.

Moreover, Ji'er is well-behaved and sensible.

I'm not worried

about his daily life with the Empress Dowager around.

Instead, what worries me

is her ultimate intention.

I feel uneasy whenever I think about it.

Right, Sister.

There's one more thing.

I passed by Liao's camp on the way back just now.

I heard the Liao Army said,

they're not going to fight this war.

They're happily waiting to go home.

The fight's over?

Why is that?

I heard them said,

Song sent an envoy to negotiate.

He's already on his way here and will soon arrive.

If what the Liao Army said was true,

could you meet Empress Dowager Xiao

and ask her to give Ji'er back to us?

I'm afraid that won't work like the Liao Army wanted.

If Empress Dowager Xiao was willing to negotiate,

she didn't have to make a scene at first,

sending forces to march south

and leading 200,000 men to attack from afar.

Moreover, they have lost lots of people.

How could they make peace easily?

Since Song has sent the envoy over,

then why would they want to continue this war?

This is a fierce war.

They won't give up easily.

They have to continue fighting,

Song must win this war.

Only then will there be a chance to negotiate.

We can't underestimate Empress Dowager Xiao.

Now, we can only hope the Emperor could rush to Chanyuan sooner.

If Chanyuan is captured,

the outcome of this war would be unthinkable.

Song will have to face a greater crisis.

Stop the carriage.

Eunuch Zhang.

-Eunuch Zhang. -Lady.

Lady.

Lady, what's wrong?

Lady, is it because of the weary journey

has affected the baby?

This is not my first time to have a long march.

I'm not supposed to be this squeamish.

But...

But I have a severe stomachache.

This...

Hurry up!

Get some warm water.

Physician, come over.

Yes, sir.

Take a look at the Noble Lady.

Lady, where do you feel uncomfortable?

My stomach is hurting.

Come, let me take a look.

Don't worry, Lady.

It might because of the weary journey.

Jia Ling.

Is she fine?

Your Majesty,

The Noble Lady only has a twinge.

Please don't worry.

Just let her take a short rest in the sedan chair.

Jia Ling is pregnant.

It's tough for her to march along.

Keep the baby safe.

Jing Zong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Is there any place nearby where Noble Lady could rest?

Your Majesty, we'll reach Wei City just a little further.

Okay, quickly send someone

to find a place for Noble Lady to rest.

Yes.

If I'd known,

I wouldn't have let you tag along.

As long as I'm with Your Majesty,

I'm willing to suffer.

Alright, are you okay?

Good.

-Jing Zong. -Yes, Your Majesty.

Continue marching.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Continue marching!

Continue marching!

Continue marching!

Drop the sedan chair.

Lower the sedan chair.

Your Highness, please have a look.

Greetings to Duke Ji.

Father-in-law, who are they?

These loyalists were under Duke Chu.

I gathered them up.

Once Wang Chao rises an army,

we can use these men to capture the palace.

They're merely a dozen men.

It's really hard for them to compete

with the Imperial Guards.

Your Highness,

we still have 5000 loyalists on the outskirts,

willing to work under Your Highness.

We're willing to work under Your Highness.

5000 men?

Why didn't you discuss with me first?

If these men got caught,

we'll be charged with the crime of treason.

Your Highness, please rest assured.

These 5000 men

are spread across the countryside.

The imperial court would never notice.

Moreover, the emperor is not in Dongjing now.

Who would convict Your Highness?

Although the Prime Minister is watching,

we still have our army.

We already have the advantage.

Father-in-law,

now that Li Ji He is dead

and Wang Chao is unpredictable.

It might be premature

if you start the revolution now.

Your Highness, everything is still uncertain.

How could you be this discouraged?

These loyalists dare to die for Your Highness.

And Your Highness doesn't have the courage?

Can Si Qi and I

still rely on Your Highness?

Father-in-law.

We're willing to work under Your Highness.

[Da Qing Hall]

Dashi's imperial censor requests an audience.

Bound.

Five bottles of rose fragrance,

forty bolts of Camel Velvet Brocade,

eight cups of Calamus Draco.

Gaoli's imperial censor requests an audience.

[Lei Yun Gong, Eunuch]

Fifty pieces red ginseng,

ten ounce of Pearl balm,

twenty bolts of Hong satin.

I want this Camel Velvet Brocade.

Your Highness, can you give it to me?

Si Qi, calm down.

I'll get it for you.

Your Majesty,

in this Da Qing Hall,

I can see the luxurious things around the world.

I think Empress is well-informed,

that's why you're unimpressed.

Your Highness,

the Emperor is moving North to fight.

Song is holding the Liao Army off.

And Your Highness still has the state of mind to collect tribute.

Are you treating Da Qing Hall that

the late emperor and the emperor honoured

as a recreational area?

Your Majesty is right.

His Majesty entrusted the palace to me.

I have to be comprehensive to pull it off.

I hope you won't get the wrong idea.

It's cold in the winter.

This Camel Velvet Brocade is suitable for making gowns.

Later, I'll let the clothing workshop

to make a few pieces for Empress Dowager, Empress and princesses.

What do you think, Your Majesty?

The palace is no match for the battlefield.

In the bone-chilling north, food and clothes are lacking.

We should let the clothing workshop

make a few sets and send them to the Emperor as soon as possible.

What Your Majesty said is right.

The palace's tribute

are supposed to be distributed by the Empress.

And she

snatched the Camel Velvet Brocade.

Even though she is His Highness's concubine,

Your Majesty shouldn't indulge her.

Cao Si Qi is the daughter of Grand Tutor

and she is Duke Ji's favourite.

If I punished her just because of a few bolts of fabric,

I'd be picking on Grand Tutor and Duke Ji.

Empress is noble.

Of course you won't care about that few bolts of fabric.

But I heard that

Cao Si Qi has shadow plays with the servants in private.

She said that Noble Consort is pregnant,

that's why she fenced herself in.

Before the Emperor headed north,

didn't he already ask the imperial physician

to prescribe medication to Noble Consort for contraception?

How can she be pregnant?

Your Highness,

this birth is an uncertainty.

How can we use this thing again?

The abortion last time has alerted the Imperial Harem.

I'm supposed to be recuperating.

If I get caught,

both of us will be charged with capital crime.

Quickly wrap it tight.

Yes.

The Empress has arrived.

Why is the Empress here?

The Empress hardly comes to my chamber.

I think she is suspicious.

Yue'er,

quickly help me get changed into a loose robe.

Later, no matter what,

we must not expose ourselves.

Yes, I understand.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

My blessings to you.

Sister, don't be so formal.

I haven't seen you

at the tea parties for a while.

Are you feeling unwell?

I appreciate your concern, Your Majesty.

I'm fine.

Just that the physician told me not to get colds after the abortion.

That's why I always stay in the house.

Right.

The north wind is getting stronger

and it's getting colder.

It must be tough for you in this winter.

I got some rare tribute today.

I specifically kept a few nice things for you.

This is the rose fragrance from Dashi.

It's really precious.

Five bottles in total.

I saved two for you.

This is red ginseng and pearl balm from Gaoli.

They are good for skin-care.

Moreover,

I specially ask the imperial physician to prepare anti-abortifacient.

I'll give them to you.

-Yue'er. -Yes.

Follow me.

Thanks for the affection, Your Majesty.

I'm grateful for that.

It's just that I don't need

the anti-abortifacient for now.

Maybe you could give it to Si Qi.

Cao Si Qi has spread the news of your pregnancy

throughout the entire Imperial Harem.

How long do you want to hide from me?

I wouldn't dare to deceive you, Your Majesty!

Please conscientiously grant me a fair trial.

You even dared to deceive the Emperor?

Empress, please forgive me.

I'm not here to humiliate you.

But Yu Shu,

you have to tell His Majesty about this,

persuade him to come back sooner.

In this way,

you can give birth to this child safely.

Yue'er.

Your Highness?

What can I do for you?

Listen!

Do you hear any noise?

Yes.

Your Highness, your womb just became visible.

You're still at the early stage.

I can't hear anything just yet.

I don't know if it's a boy or a girl.

I suffer from fear and anxiety everyday.

I'm afraid of His Majesty's return.

I'm afraid he doesn't make it back.

I'm afraid he'd be disappointed.

I'm afraid that he wouldn't want me anymore.

Your Highness,

don't be sad.

Your Highness,

you will certainly give birth to a

healthy prince this time.

Your Highness, rest assured.

I'm going to prepare the anti-abortifacient that the Empress gave.

The Liao Army is going to attack Chanyuan.

If the Emperor doesn't make it back,

you and me

would become widows.

By that time, both the Pans and Guos

will become prisoners for sure.

You must let the Emperor know

the prince is more important than Chanyuan,

Dongjing is more important than Chanyuan.

[You need to persuade him to hurry back.]

[Brother Cao Jian]

Your Highness,

Wang Chao started a mutiny.

The Liao Army keeps marching south. The Emperor is in danger.

Your Highness should advise His Majesty to hurry back to court.

Wang Chao has 200,000 men. We're outnumbered.

The Emperor is in danger.

He needs to return immediately.

Duke Ji, please write a letter to persuade the emperor to return.

You are loyal, my lords.

I'll write a letter right away and

send a fast rider to give it to His Majesty.

Good. Here.

Jia Ling.

This place is primitive

but Jing Zong and the physician are here with you.

Get some rest, okay?

Are you going to leave me here alone

and go to Chanyuan on your own?

The Liao Army insists to attack Chanyuan.

How could I put you and our child in danger?

I promised that

I'll die with Your Majesty.

The battlefield is full of danger.

If something goes wrong,

how could I live without you?

You don't have to worry.

I'll win for sure.

After achieving victory, I'll return

to welcome you and the little prince, okay?

With you here,

I won't let the Liao Army set foot in Chanyuan.

Get some rest here.

This is an order.

Your Majesty.

Ping Zhong.

Why are you here in this late night?

Your Majesty, why did the army stop here?

We have to move north immediately.

If Xiao Ta Lin crosses the Yellow River tomorrow,

we'll lose Chanzhou.

Our effort would be wasted.

Didn't I just tell you?

What now?

Can't I spend a little more time with Jia Ling?

Your Majesty,

Zhang Jing Zong and the court physician are there for Noble Lady.

Chanzhou is our priority right now.

We have to hurry there without stopping.

We only have half a day.

I understand.

Stand down.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, General Pan is here to see you.

Let him in.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

I received an urgent report from Li Ji Long.

Xiao Ta Lin's army has reached the Yellow River.

Chanyuan is at risk.

Your Majesty,

news came from our spy in the North that

Wang Chao is suddenly leading 200,000 men

and are heading to Daming Province.

He stayed put in Dingzhou at the time when

Yingzhou and Daming Province were at risk.

Now that Xiao Ta Lin moves south to attack Chanyuan,

he discretely leads the army to Daming Province.

What is he up to?

Your Majesty,

the rebellion of Wang Chao

and the Liao Army is at our gates.

This will be a fierce war.

If we lose Chanyuan,

the safety of Your Majesty during the war

would be unpredictable.

Everyone in the world knows that I'm leading the charge.

How could I quit now?

Moreover, Consort Liu and Ji'er are in Liao's camp.

How could I return?

Your Majesty,

Noble Consort just sent you a letter.

It said

Her Highness is pregnant with Your Majesty's prince.

What did you say?

Her Highness is afraid of distracting Your Majesty.

That's why she kept it secret.

Yu Shu just had an abortion.

How could she be pregnant?

I clearly asked her to take contraceptive pills.

She's deceiving the Emperor.

Doesn't Your Majesty want the child?

Noble Consort is willing to sacrifice her life

for Your Majesty's posterity. Isn't that why she did it?

The imperial physician has checked Her Highness's pulse.

He said it must be a prince.

Since she's already pregnant,

just stay in the palace

and rest.

Why do I need to go back?

Your Majesty,

Duke Ji is guarding the capital.

He might take the opportunity to rebel.

In my opinion,

Your Majesty should return to the capital immediately.

Stabilize the capital

could save Your Majesty as well.

If there's chaos in the capital,

it's useless to protect Chanyuan.

[...or the court will be in danger]

Greetings to Your Highness.

Stand down.

Your Highness,

this kind of fragrance has the function

to heal, refresh the mind

and nourish the heart and lung.

But it's better for Your Highness to use less of it.

Do you think

the Emperor will come back?

If the Emperor comes back,

Your Highness could send assassins to kill him on his way back.

It's too dangerous.

If we failed,

we'll certainly get exposed and that would be the end of us.

Your Highness, you don't have to worry.

I'll get it done.

It's fail-proof for sure.

Do I really have to give the order

to kill my own brother

just for this throne?

In this palace,

brothers are enemies.

It has always been this way.

If Your Highness didn't make an early plan,

sooner or later, the Emperor would get rid of you.

In battle array!

[Song]

Spears!

Arrows!

Release!

In battle array!

Spears!

Arrows!

Release!

General,

why are the bows used

different from before?

The Liao Army is strong and their horses are fast.

We can't win them in close battle.

But with these crossbows,

we could suppress them.

Just that these crossbows

have a higher level of impact than normal bows,

but the firing range is too short.

When we fought with the Liao Army,

I discovered a type of arcuballista.

Its firing range could reach 150 feet.

150 feet?

Yes.

But it's not far enough.

I already ordered the craftsmen to upgrade it.

After the completion,

the firing range of the new arcuballista will be longer

and it'll be more powerful.

Then let Xiao Ta Lin

come and experience the General's Arcuballista.

After the mutiny of Wang Chao,

the ministers suggested that I return

to the capital immediately.

Ping Zhong, what do you think?

Your Majesty, Wang Chao is meticulous.

If he wants to rebel,

he will place troops in the North for sure.

He won't recklessly move south.

Now that he went to Daming Province,

it must be a trap.

He won't recklessly rise an army.

If Wang Chao really wants to rebel,

the forces of Daming Province could never stop him.

If Wang Chao joined Xiao Chuo,

forget Daming Province.

It would be hard to even protect Chanyuan.

But now Wang Chao hasn't set foot in Daming Province.

Our forces are yet to fight with Xiao Ta Lin.

His Majesty has almost reached Chanyuan.

But why are you being indecisive

and anxious now?

Have Lord Kou forgotten?

Li Ji Long is Empress Li's brother.

The Li family have always hated the royal family.

Once Wang Chao captures Daming Province,

who knows if Li Ji Long

would deflect over?

We can't put His Majesty

in danger just to win.

Pass my message.

Order the soldiers, sailors, airmen,

to stop moving north at any time.

-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!

It's not advisable!

The frontliners are waiting for

Your Majesty to lead them to repulse Liao Army.

Now that you give the order to fall back,

that will break the army's spirit.

How about the chaos in the capital?

Kou Zhun, how would you fix it?

Pan Liang is being demagogic and is trying to befuddle Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, as long as you lead our army to repulse Liao army,

no one would dare to make a move in the capital.

Your Majesty.

If you insists on returning to the capital,

I request not to go with Your Majesty.

I'm willing to go to Chanyuan,

to contribute my part in protecting Chanyuan.

Yi Jian,

are you telling me that

I'm afraid of Xiao Chuo and Wang Chao?

I don't dare to!

Just that I still remember Consort Liu's entrustment back then.

I stay to help Your Majesty

because I believe that Your Majesty cares deeply about the country

and is able to become a wise emperor.

If Your Majesty gives order to fall back only

because of fearing Wang Chao,

that's giving him too much credit.

Wang Chao has been a powerful minister

since the age of the late emperor.

An army of 200,000 are under his command.

He trained them himself.

They are extremely loyal to Wang Chao.

I'm not giving him too much credit

nor am I underestimating him.

[End of Episode 16]