Original subtitles

♫ Nowhere to escape. ♫

♫ No bough to alight. ♫

♫ Retrograde with smile. ♫

♫ Never give in. ♫

♫ Forget about the youth. ♫

♫ I’ve never been afraid of loneliness. ♫

♫ I also shed the tears of regret. ♫

♫ But my heart is still fiery-hot. ♫

♫ To the distance. ♫

♫ The miserable past is like a dagger. ♫

♫ Though my wings are broken, ♫

♫ I will keep flying. ♫

♫ Following the light, ♫

♫ I’ll forget you. ♫

♫ The memory shaped my stubbornness. ♫

♫ By virtue of the light in the dark night, ♫

♫ I’ll return it with a long ballad. ♫

♫ The river of life is under my feet. ♫

♫ I don’t regret my craziness. ♫

The Long Ballad

Episode 14

Assemble the Bear Division now!

Quickly!

But Mu Jin found me.

This is from him.

You can leave.

Yes.

[Anyone who takes reckless actions would be killed. By Great Khan]

How dare he command me by the order of Great Khan!

But Tegin!

If it was really from Great Khan,

our dispatch would mess up Great Khan’s plan.

I’m afraid of...

Of what?

If you don’t march now,

we will be despised by the Eagle Division forever!

Dispatch now! Assemble Bear Division!

Tegin.

What are you laughing at?

Are you done with your life?

I’m laughing that the famous Tegin of Bear Division is actually a coward!

Really?

Tegin!

You are killing him!

That’s what I want to do!

Calm down, Tegin!

If you kill me,

then you would lose the last chance to defeat Eagle Division.

You’d better understand the situation.

If you want to say anything, say it now.

Don’t waste Tegin’s time!

Commandant Li, the one who is protecting the city, is my brother.

I’m the best chip for you to negotiate with him.

How much are you worth?

At least I am worth a half of Shuozhou in my brother’s eyes.

You’re not lying, are you?

If I’m not worth it,

you can kill me anytime you want.

Stop!

Didn’t we arrange to meet under the city.

I just received the message.

Tu Kashe and Ibukan was heading to Shuozhou with a man from Central Plains.

We have to be quick.

We have to arrive before they take reckless moves.

Or all our plans would be destroyed.

Bring the disguise to Tegin!

Yes!

Commandant Li, Bear Division has arrived.

How dare they come again?

Just a few of them.

But strangely,

a man from Central Plains is with them.

[Auspicious as Far as the Eye Can See]

Go!

Go!

[Shuozhou]

[Auspicious as Far as the Eye Can See]

Li!

Look who he is.

[Shuozhou]

A’Dou!

A’Dou...

[Shuozhou]

Speak, ask them to open the gate!

I told you to speak!

Ask them to open the gate!

I said talk!

Ask them to open the gate!

If you beat him once again,

I’ll break your bones.

Commandant Li!

As long as you open your gate,

and come to negotiate with us,

I will let go of him.

Or,

I will beat him to death in front of you.

Commandant Li!

- Leave me alone! - Commandant Li!

Leave me alone!

They are too close to our gate!

Even if we just open a little,

they can rush in immediately!

The consequences would be unthinkable.

Yes! Commandant Li!

You’re a monster!

You’re even beating a kid!

[Auspicious as Far as the Eye Can See]

[Shuozhou]

I...

am going to be a general.

A’Dou!

No!

Wait! I’m saving you now!

Commandant Li!

Commandant Li!

No!

Leave me alone!

You can’t!

Commandant!

Commandant Li!

Set me free!

You can’t put the whole Shuozhou in danger just for him!

[Auspicious as Far as the Eye Can See]

[Shouzhou]

[Shouzhou]

I...

am going to be a general.

I think A’Dou is saying something.

I am going to be...

going to be a general!

A’Dou isn’t kneeling

because he’s begging us to open the gate to save him.

He is saying...

[Auspicious as Far as the Eye Can See]

♪ We drifted apart ♪

♪ The sand between your fingers ♪

♪ The moment I clench ♪

♪ I’ve lost them ♪

♪ Those years are gone ♪

Don’t be silly!

A’Dou!

♪ The promise we made together ♪

♪ Forget about it, forget about it ♪

♪ I’m the only one left ♪

Don’t be silly, A’Dou!

Stand up!

You stand up!

Stand up, A’Dou!

Master.

I...

Finally I can be a general!

I finally become your subordinate!

A’Dou! You will be a general when you grow up.

I will take you away from here.

You can’t die here, A’Dou!

I take you away from here!

Master.

♪ For the rest of the road ♪

I can do it.

I can do it.

No, you can’t!

A’Dou, you can’t!

A’Dou! Stand up!

♪ And turned to a grain of sand ♪

Daizhou is lost, no reinforcements!

You little liar!

I will kill you!

A’Dou!

He said no reinforcement!

Who are they?

They are from Ashile Tribe who are in the disguise of reinforcements.

Send a signal with the flag! Dispatch 10,000 soldiers!

These people from Ashile Tribe cannot approach Shuozhou!

Commandant Li, Commandant Li!

Send a signal with the flag! Quickly!

Be quick!

Reinforce Commandant Li!

Hurry up!

Tegin!

Ashile Sun’s plan has been ruined by that boy.

What can we do?

Why not lead the attack?

The best hostage was killed by you.

You sure arranged this well.

Lead the attack?

With such a few soldiers?

Let’s step back first.

Wait until they arrive.

Yes.

Retreat!

Stop!

Kill them!

Bear Division! Retreat!

Retreat!

Retreat!

Retreat!

Tu Kashe is such a bastard!

He escaped!

Sun, they’re determined to fight to the death.

At this rate, things won’t look good for us.

This stab...

is for A’Dou.

Don’t... don’t kill me.

This kick...

is for the people of Shuozhou.

The oppressed will rise to win.

Tu Kashe made us lose our chance.

Let’s go.

Go.

This last slash...

is for the warriors who died in battle.

None of my business.

No, don’t kill me.

[The Tomb of General Dou]

[The Tomb of General Dou]

Though I don’t know who you are,

you can’t be an ordinary person.

I, A’Dou, live a poor life.

Even if I died someday, I’m afraid that no one would realize it.

If I can follow you and do something great,

it would be worth even if I’d die.

Master, you are my future.

I will be with you no matter life or death.

Since you take me as your master, we must have a formal ceremony.

From now on, you are my apprentice.

We will never betray each other.

After I make contributions,

you will call me General Dou!

I am going be a general!

[The Tomb of General Dou]

Congratulations on General Dou’s triumph!

Congratulations on General Dou’s triumph!

Congratulations on General Dou’s triumph!

[The Tomb of General Dou]

[Governor Manor]

Hand this letter to Ashile Sun.

[To Tegin Sun]

Master, we are fighting with each other now.

Ashile Sun is their Tegin.

Why would you write this?

What?

Are you afraid of me colluding with the enemy?

I don’t dare.

I was only joking.

You have been with me for so many years.

Have I ever done anything with no assurance?

I have thought about all the possible consequences.

Everything is under control.

You just need to make sure

to hand this letter to him.

Yes.

Governor.

Governor, I have a plan.

Go ahead.

Governor.

When the weather turns cold in September, the north wind will rise.

We can pretend to retreat,

and give up Shuozhou to the Eagle Division.

We can set up potassium nitrate and dry wood in the city.

As soon as Ashile Sun’s division comes,

we’ll start a fire.

Take advantage of the north wind,

we’ll surely burn every single one of them.

If their division continues to besiege the city,

the provisions in the city can only feed our people for three days.

According to your plan, both the evil and the innocent will be destroyed together.

All the people in Shuozhou will become refugees.

Commandant Li.

Between these two difficult choices,

do you think the price we have to pay for the latter...

is more worthwhile?

I...

So in your opinion,

why do I want to defend Shuozhou?

What I’m defending is not just a fortress,

but the people here and their good life.

If not,

I wouldn’t have surrendered to Tang Dynasty right after Li Yuan’s revolt.

Now I think,

battle or surrender are just strategies.

People live a stable life without being suffered from battles.

That’s the most important.

These are also the principles I’ve been holding onto it in my heart.

Governor.

Are you thinking of surrendering to Ashile Tribe?

Did A’Dou and those dead soldiers die in vain?

Commandant Li.

Calm down.

I was just drawing an analogy.

Sorry for being rude.

Fine, Commandant Li.

It’s late now.

As for the strategy, I already have made a plan.

We can discuss tomorrow.

Yes.

Tegin really came here alone.

I admire your courage.

I’m very pleased to meet you, Governor of Shuozhou, Gongsun Heng.

Since you invited me here,

you wouldn’t set any traps.

Besides,

aren’t you the same?

What do you want to discuss with me?

You can just cut to the chase.

If Shuozhou surrenders to you,

would you guarantee never harming the people here?

If I take advantage of the north wind to burn the city,

though I won’t expect Eagle Division to die with me,

all you get would be ashes of Shuozhou at that time.

I think, Tegin won’t be satisfied with this, right?

If you wanted to do that, you wouldn’t have waited till today.

Nor would you threaten me like this.

This is not a threat.

It’s just a request.

I’m really curious why you would ask me this.

We have been in battles for so long,

the casualties of Shouzhou Army are heavy.

Am I a softhearted man in your eyes?

When you Eagle Division burnt the granary,

you could have burnt the surrounding houses together.

I could only save people first.

But you didn’t do that.

You spared their lives,

and informed me so that I could come in time.

That meant you didn’t want to kill innocent people.

These years, you led Eagle Division fighting in many battlefields.

I have already heard about some of your styles.

I believe that you have the ability,

and the aspiration to save their lives.

But,

these years I have fought with Ashile Tribe for so many times.

Ashile Tribe hates me and Shuozhou so much.

Now, since I am going to give Shuozhou to you,

then I have to be sincere.

I will give you...

a gift that will satisfy,

relieve, and appease...

all of the soldiers in the Ashile Tribe.

I won’t put you in a difficult position, Tegin.

Have you thought it through?

Is it really worth it to give everything up like this?

When it comes to certain things, there’s no turning back.

It’s just a gift.

Comparing to the safety of people in Shuozhou,

it’s nothing.

I...

have no regrets.

I finally know

how you got the name “the protector of the people”.

No worries, Governor.

I agree with your proposal.

I will surely keep my promise.

Okay.

Then I will say thank you for all my people in Shuozhou here.

[Governor Manor]

These days we are in so many battles,

we have defended for so many days.

It’s been hard for everyone.

It’s not that serious, Governor.

You’ve done your best for the people here,

It’s much harder for you.

Yes.

Master is like our backbone.

As long as Master is here,

people of Shuozhou won’t be afraid of the enemy

and will unite together to defend the city.

This time we lost too much.

For all the casualties,

we have to do well in comfort and compensation.

As soon as we get our chance,

we have to send someone to Chang’an to report our situation.

And ask for support.

These years, Shuozhou’s harvest has been not good enough.

Now our granary got burnt and the fields got damaged,

one disaster after another.

How can we get through this spring season?

What about the livelihood next year?

You have to consider these things carefully.

In the future, there will be a lot to take care of in Shuozhou.

I hope all of you will do your best.

I hereby

thank everyone in advance

on behalf of the army and the people in Shuozhou.

There’s no need for that, Governor.

These are our duties.

No need to say thanks.

I am thanking you

for your deep kindness

on behalf of the army and people.

Commandant Li,

it’s hard to turn down the warm-hearted offer of the Governor.

Just accept it and drink this cup of wine.

Here.

It’s millet wine made by Madam.

It’s so sweet and mellow!

It’s hard for you to have rest.

Drink more if you like.

Today is our family feast.

Make yourself at home.

Yuan’er.

Put that wooden sword down.

Can you play after lunch?

Okay.

Yuan’er just got this wooden sword today.

She refuses to put it down.

I asked her why.

She said that she wants to be like Brother Li, Brother Dou and her father,

to defend people and help the weak.

Then Yuan’er has to grow up faster.

As soon as you grow up,

you can punish the evils with your Brother Li.

That would be so good!

Yuan Niang,

say thanks to Brother Li.

If Yuan Niang really likes this,

practices some martial arts.

If one day Father cannot be with you,

you can protect yourself,

and won’t be bullied by bad people.

Why can’t Father be with me?

Silly girl.

Won’t you get married in this life?

Do you want to stay with me,

and be an old maid?

Madam, a toast to you too.

These years, I’ve focused on my job.

Thanks for your hard work at home,

taking care of the wounded,

taking care of the logistics,

as well as comforting bereaved families.

You’ve been working hard.

Even our Yuan’er,

has been looked after and educated by you.

I really don’t know how to pay back for all these you have done for me.

We have the same goal,

we share the same feeling.

No need to say thanks.

You have your principles.

This is also my choice.

I said you could do anything you want.

Although I am just a woman at home,

but I will keep my pace with you,

and walk on the same path with you.

Madam,

you have to take care of yourself.

Now autumn comes,

take good care of yourself.

Or when it comes to winter,

your hands and feet would be cold again,

and also suffer from insomnia.

Don’t worry about me.

Winter is hard,

but the spring will come.

The spring will come.

Come on.

We need another drink.

This one is for Shuozhou.

After experiencing this calamity, I hope Shuozhou will be blessed

with good weather, have good harvests, just like things used to be.

With you here, it will definitely happen.

Come on.

[Protect the Country and Pacify the People]

Governor, did you ask me to stay behind

because you have other orders?

Commandant Li, please sit down.

Please.

This is the defense map of Shuozhou.

All the inventory material, grain depots and treasury are indicated here.

And this token,

you can deploy all the defending troops of Shuozhou with this,

as well as all the people in my manor.

Why are you handing me these?

All the troops of Shuozhou listen to your orders.

Why are you handing me this token?

Shuozhou’s defending troops only listened to my orders

because I’ve always been here.

Governor,

what do you mean?

I’ve made up my mind.

Tomorrow, we’ll open the city gates and surrender.

Ashile Sun has also already promised me

that he would keep my people safe.

The cost...

What’s the cost?

Cost...

The cost is...

my head.

Governor!

Please give me some more time.

I’ll definitely come up with a foolproof plan.

This is already the best option we have.

Governor!

For these years,

Ashile Tribe never occupied Shuozhou once.

So to the troops of Shuozhou,

as long as I am here,

they would never surrender even if they’re down to their last stand.

But to Ashile Tribe, I have defended the border for so many years,

their Great Khan has lost countless battles against me.

He hates me to the core.

Now only by giving him my head,

can I dispel his doubts and resentment.

This is also the only way

to get the people in the city a chance of survival.

No! I don’t agree.

We must have other choices.

Being able to entrust the lives of the people in Shuozhou

to a Tang Princess...

and commit an act of benevolence

is considered a happy ending for me.

Princess Yongning is very smart.

You still have a lot to do in the future,

and a long journey ahead of you.

You can’t die now.

You know who I am, Governor?

The guy who chased you called you Princess Yongning.

Princess Yongning,

any last words?

I fought with him before.

From his martial arts,

I knew he must be an imperial guard from the court.

He traveled so far to Shuozhou just to kill you.

But he didn’t have an official arrest warrant on him.

Apart from the former crown prince’s subordinate,

who else would you be?

Actually to me,

it’s not important who you are.

From the first time when we met,

you saved my wife and Yuan’er with a trick,

I knew that you are not an ordinary person.

No matter what you wanted from me from the beginning,

I was sure that you had no bad intention towards me and Shuozhou.

So I would like to keep you beside me.

But,

I can’t wait till the day you achieve your goal.

Governor, my name is Li Changge.

I’m the daughter of Prince Li Jiancheng.

I have not been Princess Yongning for a long time now.

Now I just want to fight by your side.

Please recall your order!

Changge will spare no effort to defend Shuozhou!

Princess!

Princess! No.

Princess!

I’ve been loyal and righteous all my life.

At this moment,

I cannot overstep my bounds.

I’m the one who should be on my knees right now.

Princess,

you have such a deep affection towards the people in Shuozhou,

please receive my bow.

Governor!

Please stand up, Governor.

How can I receive this?

Stand up please.

Please.

Princess,

I still have something to ask of you.

At this point,

this is the only thing I can’t let go of.

My Yuan’er

is still a little girl.

I know,

after I die,

my wife would not marry anyone else.

So please, Princess.

Try your best to take care of them.

I will say thanks for them here.

Governor,

you should watch Yuan’er growing up.

Governor!

Recall your order!

Recall your order! Governor!

I will bless them to be safe and sound from Heaven.

Senior Qin.

Take Princess down so she can rest.

Governor!

Governor!

Governor!

♫ The heart gradually responds, ♫

♫ gradually revives, ♫

♫ gradually swims towards you. ♫

♫ Before bidding farewell, ♫

♫ we expect an encounter. ♫

♫ Entwist your figure, ♫

♫ and lock it into my tender dream. ♫

♫ Before the daybreak, ♫

♫ through the obsession of love, ♫

♫ the longing flows. ♫

♫ There’s always a moment ♫

♫ which burns down the wastelands in my heart. ♫

♫ There’s always solicitude ♫

♫ which freezes everything between you and me. ♫

♫ Meet each other in different time. ♫

♫ Encourage each other in different worlds. ♫

♫ My longings become a cocoon, ♫

♫ layer after layer. ♫

♫ It turns into eternity. ♫

♫ The cocoon in the dark night. ♫

♫ There’s always a moment ♫

♫ which burns down the wastelands in my heart. ♫

♫ There’s always solicitude ♫

♫ which freezes everything between you and me. ♫

♫ Meet each other in different time. ♫

♫ Encourage each other in different worlds. ♫

♫ My longings become a cocoon, ♫

♫ layer after layer. ♫

♫ It turns into eternity. ♫

♫ The cocoon in the dark night. ♫

♫ It is sleepless. ♫

The Long Ballad