Original subtitles

If I remember correctly,

this gentleman is Mr. Peng from Huaiyang, right?

Have I done something wrong?

Li Si has many spies in town.

With us all gathered here, I'm sure Li Si knows what we're up to.

So what if he does?

General Xiang, we all know what's on your mind.

The six states are finished, and we can't rebuild them.

Sooner or later, these gatherings will be outlawed.

-Will they? -Yes.

Since Ying Zheng's unifications, people have lived in peace.

As for ex-officials like us, he promised good treatment.

And what good treatment it is!

We have clothes to wear, food to eat,

and no corvée service. We're all still alive.

General Xiang Bo, aren't these the most important things?

Those who choose this life merely help the Qin.

Where is your honor? And what would your ancestors think?

Would your Chu ancestors...

-approve of your futile quest? -You!

Mr. Peng, speak with caution here.

Winners are kings, losers are dogs.

General Xiang Yan was a brave hero. But he is dead, as are his dreams.

It's time for us to give up. We're no match for Ying Zheng!

He's right.

Mr. Peng, are you content to serve the Qin invaders?

Mr. Xiang, we know you want to take revenge for your state and clan,

but who sitting in this room doesn't share your pain?

We have no power, no weapons,

we don't even have a shovel we could use to fight with.

Every hoe in the kingdom is registered.

Even kitchen knives are rationed and accounted for.

No one can stand against Qin armies.

To fight them,

we would need soldiers and horses at the very least.

But when it comes to horses, they also have to be registered.

Even a foal has to be registered.

-That's true. -That's true.

Your virtue is renowned, so I think I can speak my mind to you.

We all risk our lives to come here, so that we can drink among friends.

We're no match for the might of Qin.

Generals, don't worry. I will not denounce you.

Stay where you are! It has nothing to do with you.

Mr. Peng deserved what he got!

Now listen to my brother!

He spoke so highly of the state of Qin.

I didn't kill him because he disagreed with me.

How dare he swear not to denounce us?

This concerns all of us, and the empire.

He'll stay quiet...

Is that the kindness we sons of conquered kingdoms deserve?

Would you please sit down? There is more at stake than our comfort.

-Mr. Xiang, let's discuss it another day. -Another day!

-Right, another day. -Another day...

Hey! Gentlemen, please...

Yu'er...

just let them go!

Let's go, let's go!

Hurry! Now, hurry! Goodbye.

What was the cause of death?

Just a quarrel gone wrong.

Who is he?

He's my neighbor in Xianyang. We are merchants from Chu.

Where did you get the liquor?

-Black market. -Your business?

Funerals.

Since you have come to turn yourself in, your sentence will be light.

But you will be punished.

I beg your mercy.

The laws of Qin are strict. Who am I to abrogate them?

Leave now.

You will be jailed and tattooed.

I'd rather die.

We prepared gold.

Now, sir...

Sir...

Sir, these are gold ingots.

We brought them for you. we hope you'll accept them.

Merchants from Chu?

But sir! Why...

Let go.

My Lord, you knew of us. Why not stop us?

Let go.

Our state is dead,

but our honor is not.

We people of Chu will not bear humiliation.

General Xiang Yan must be proud...

to have such fine descendants.

Indeed. Indeed.

Yu'er. Yu'er?

I see you as valiant warriors,

but you take me as a greedy fool.

Our state is dead,

and we should have died along with it,

but instead we hope to rebuild it.

The reason I cling to life is to see Chu live again.

I don't know if the emperor is just.

But I have witnessed the people suffer.

I dare not express my anger to him.

You are different. You have my respect.

I'm sorry for my nephew's brashness.

-Forgive him, My Lord. -I do.

Sir, your horse is ready.

-You may leave. -Yes.

I think it's time for you to go.

When day breaks, I'll order your arrest.

The road is long. Take care.

Thank you, My Lord.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We won't forget this.

Please.

Goodbye.

Lord Sima is a righteous man.

Why don't we ask him to join us in our fight against Qin?

All men have their fate. He has found his.

Yes, dynasties rise and fall, and end as naught but bones and dust.

Ying Zheng is a mortal man,

but he dreams of ruling for ten thousand generations.

Since Duke Mu's time, the Qin have lusted for power,

and they unified the states after much bloodshed.

But they are wrong.

Very wrong.

What the people need is safety and peace,

a chance to live with dignity.

This new law is an insult,

and is doomed for failure.

The day will come...

when I return to this place!

-Yu'er! -Yu'er! Yu'er?

Duke Xiang, Yu'er is ambitious. There is hope for Chu yet.

A valiant boy.

My friend,

you already owe me six coppers. Do you really want another go at this?

Yes, sir.

Wow, that's a lot of money!

Any idea what happens when you're in debt?

-I know. -Then what?

You take fingers.

Right.

If you lose one more time, you will owe me ten coppers.

Our rule is that we take a finger for each copper owed.

Do you understand the risk?

-Go home! Hey! -I've decided.

-Back out. -Liu Ji, leave me alone! I'll win soon.

Okay, go!

Go! Go! Kill it! Peck at its eyes!

Go! Go!

Again!

Liu Ji!

Liu Ji!

Liu Ji!

Hey, hey! Buddy, please calm down.

Buddy, he's my brother. We were born in the same year, same month, same day.

You are good for nothing!

He's immature. Consider him an idiot. Let him go.

Who are you?

Beat him!

Buddy! Buddy!

Stop! Stop beating him!

Listen! Listen!

I'll pay. I'll pay for him, all right?

But could you come with me to collect the money? All right?

Come on, come on, let's go, let's go.

Sir, this way. Here.

In here, come inside.

If you see anything valuable in this house and yard, it's yours.

Money! Go get it.

What money? Where would I get money? I'm broke.

But, sir, you said you wanted his ten fingers. What good are they to you?

Instead, whatever's valuable in the yard, in the house, you can take it.

That's much better.

-Go! -Okay. Let's go!

-Let's go. -Move.

Come on.

What are you doing?

-Who are you? What do you want? -Liu Ji!

Who are these people in my house?

Your son owes a gambling debt.

He can't pay it off, but debts have to be paid.

-You beast! Causing more trouble for me! -Father, teach him a lesson!

Father, for my sake, be gentle!

-Not this time! -Father!

You heartless beast! I have had it with you! Don't you run.

Don't do this!

-You have to pay debts. -How dare you?

That's something you taught me, you have to pay debts!

-Isn't it? -You...

Especially gambling debts!

Don't you dare move! I'll beat some sense into you!

I'm the constable! Please leave me some dignity.

Boss, there's nothing valuable in the house.

Take the cow, and that sheep too. Take those away!

-Okay -Let's go!

Stop it! Don't take the cow! Don't!

-Let them take it! -Father, no!

Don't stop them! There's a price to pay for losing.

The Lius have never owed gambling debts.

Just take anything valuable in my house, as long as it can pay off the debt.

Ignore her. Take it.

And, Mister, Mister, visit us again.

Get out of here! What are you looking at? All of you!

Now you're embarrassed?

Okay, I'll get down and take my punishment, as per house rules.

-Here, hit me right here. -Wow, another beating!

Go! Go away! Get lost!

No, stay here!

You can see how I punish my son today!

I'll... I'll beat you to death!

How dare you gamble?

-Beat him hard! -This is what happens to gamblers!

-I think I'm dying! -Teach him a lesson, Father!

How dare you gamble?

Maybe one day you'll stake a bet on my life too!

-I can't believe... -Ouch!

Mr. Xiao, Mr. Xiao.

-Liu Ji. -Mr. Xiao, you asked for me?

The increase in corvée duties. They're asking for too much.

I'll go to the prefecture tomorrow

to ask them if we can give fewer. I need you to go with me.

-You need me? -Right.

Okay, but what can I do?

You can help by stating the facts.

Me? Why would they listen to a constable?

You are the Chief of Patrols, so your word on our situation is seen as credible.

Fine. Sure.

Get ready. We'll set off in the morning.

-Okay. -See you then.

Out of the way! Out of the way!

Back inside!

Why won't they let us leave our houses? How much longer must we wait?

There's nothing we can do.

The emperor is coming. We're in his way.

Hey! That's him!

He's coming! Look!

-Where? -There, there!

This side, this side!

Be serious!

Mr. Xiao,

I don't think I was any help. The corvée wasn't reduced.

And I'm telling you, I can't find that many men.

There's nothing we can do.

The law states that able-bodied young men must do corvée service.

Neither of us can change that. We have to go back and find men.

Looking at all these soldiers.

Reminds me of Sima Ling.

Do you think he'll come back?

That is none of your business.

Inside!

Stop peeking out of the window.

Have some water.

Power befitting a man.

What did you say?

That's how a true man behaves.

Fusu, where are we?

Father, we're in Pei County, a place between Qi and Chu.

Pei County?

There are rich water resources here.

What of the people here?

This area is richly endowed by nature.

The lands bear much fruit, and people live easy lives,

and bear many sons.

But there are many idlers here.

The peasants are not the real threat here.

The real threat here is...

are the Confucian and Taoist scholars.

They enjoy discussing politics.

I agree.

Wizards say a king will be born in the southeast.

Do you think so?

I think it's absolute nonsense.

Chu is broken, yet Qin will be smited!

The inspection tour seemed aimless,

with no delight at all for the ministers.

But the emperor took the inspection seriously.

As he grew old,

he found less and less to enjoy in Xianyang.

Now, near the former state of Chu,

he felt anxiety creeping up on him.

He thought of the words,

"Chu is broken, yet Qin will be smited!"

The first time he heard these words, he dismissed them with a laugh.

But now, they seem like a spell that haunts him,

a curse that follows him.

-Come on! Let's keep drinking. -Come on!

Drink more!

-Drink up! -Come on.

Yeah! Don't stop.

It's your turn!

-Drink. -Let's play the finger-guessing game.

-Six... Five... -Eight... Five...

I'll drink it.

No, you can't!

Welcome, Officers. Welcome, Chief.

-Bring us some food. -Yes. Come in, please.

Hey! What's in the package?

Officer, this is an old family painting.

-Open it! -But... But...

-You'd better not see it. -What?

-You'd better not see it. -I command you to open it!

Hurry up!

Yu'er, let's leave.

That's a fine horse.

Yu'er, you...

Yu'er.

What a sturdy horse!

Excuse me, miss!

What's the horse's name?

Yu'er,

you are being far too impetuous right now.

We don't have time. We should leave now.

Uncle, did you see the horse? I've never seen such a fine horse.

I've always dreamed of owning a horse like that.

Yu'er, I have told you many times...

that in everything, one must be prudent.

If you act so impulsively, how can you carry the Xiang mantle?

Xiang Bo, we can't afford to stay here.

Let's go our separate ways.

You're absolutely right.

Where should our next meeting place be?

I'll take Yu'er to Wuyue. In three years, we'll meet in Jiangdong.

Okay.

Yu'er...

Uncle...

While you're in Wuyue,

no matter what happens,

you must never forget the duties that rest upon your shoulders.

I know that.

Destroy the Qin, and restore the glory of Chu!

I won't forget even for a moment.

-Good. I'll leave now. -Uncle...

We'll meet again, won't we?

Of course.

Let's go.

Go!

Make way!

Make way!

-Make way! -Make way!

Make way! Make way! Make way!

The emperor's procession.

Someday it'll be mine.

-It's past the hour. -Yeah.

-Why... -It's past the hour.

-Yeah. -Exactly.

-Will they start? -Why hasn't the music started?

We should start!

Mr. Xiao.

Where is the band?

You stay here. I'll check it out.

-Why haven't you started? -We had a deal.

-You changed your mind. -Didn't you see my gesture?

-What's wrong? You're causing a scene! -What was our deal?

Start the music now!

-I'll start once we've settle this. -I'll check it out.

I already paid!

-What's with you? -How much did you pay?

How dare you cause trouble for me? Start the music now!

Let go! Did you hear me? Let go!

-Play it now. -What are you doing?

-Let go! -Why won't you play?

Five and a half coppers for five days,

but you only paid me three! How am I supposed to explain this?

You're insane. Why would Mr. Xiao do this?

I only got three coppers!

Okay, buddy. I'll give you two coppers.

Who are you? Keep your money.

Never mind that. I am Liu Ji.

If you want to make a friend, take it. Just do me a favor.

You're a good man. Thanks.

All those complaints over two coppers!

Boys, let's start.

You...

Listen, we'll have dinner here tonight.

He only paid me three!

We can't. Not enough food.

What do you mean?

-You're saying I took the coppers myself? -What do you mean?

He only paid me three! Why would I steal them?

Looks like there's enough.

Don't you dare start accusing me!

-It's true! -He only paid three!

I'm not eating anymore.

You listen here, you damned dog butcher, don't you try to defraud people!

-Who defrauded you? -You!

Who defrauded who? You got your five!

Talk like that again and I'll kill you!

-That's libel! I'll kill you! -Fan Kuai!

When he was talking money with Mr. Xiao, were you there?

I was there! And I heard him say he'd pay five. In the end...

-he only paid three. -That is libel!

-You slanderer! -Did you see Mr. Xiao pay?

I didn't.

Lu Wan,

did Mr. Xiao only pay you three coppers?

That's right, only three.

I trust you.

-No, Liu Ji, listen, just listen to me-- -I trust him!

Lu Wan, you bastard. You'd better let me search you.

-Try it! Try to search me! Try it... -Let me search...

Stop it!

Fan Kuai, I know you don't believe him.

You can beat him or even kill him, but you can't humiliate him.

-Not that. Liu Ji, I-- -Go.

-Listen to me-- -Now!

-He-- -Go!

You win!

Liu Ji...

Sit down, Lu Wan.

-My brother. -Liu Ji...

Did you really only get three coppers?

Only three.

Subtitle translation by Min Wei Wong