[Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin]
[Episode 40]
Yuanqi has completed his marriage ceremony? When was it?
It should be a few days ago, about the same time you arrive here.
Which families maiden did he marry?
A maiden from the Xun family.
Our- no
This is such a big thing. How can you not tell me?
If no one asks about it, Langya Court will not talk about it.
I have answered many of your questions today. I'm not charging you extra for them.
I'm already very generous.
- Man. - Man.
- Citizen. - Citizen.
- God. - God.
- Of. - Of.
- Ruler. - Ruler.
- Too. - Too.
- Correct. - Correct.
- As. - As.
- Sage. - Sage.
- King. - King.
- Be. - Be.
Be what?
Be a citizen first and then be devoted to the gods.
Senior Disciple, you are here. Do your greeting.
- Uncle, how are you? - Ce'er, good boy.
Ce'er is so young and yet he's studying the classics?
Ce'er is just learning to recognise the words. He doesn't know the meaning.
I didn't know what to teach him.
So I took the list of books which Pingzhang has learnt when he was studying in the imperial school.
-Hurry and sit. -Sure.
When Pingzhang passed away, he didn't know about Ce'er.
We always avoided the question about children.
So he never told me about what kind of child he wanted.
Or what he wanted the child to learn.
Or whether he hopes his child would become like him.
Sometimes when I think about it, I become scared.
I'm afraid I'm not teaching Ce'er according to what he wants.
No, Xiao Xue, you have been teaching him well.
Ce'er is such an obedient child.
Pingzhang would be very happy.
Ce'er, come. Come over to Uncle.
When you grow up,
you would surely become a strong pillar of Great Liang.
Ce'er.
Your teacher is good at everything,
but when she was younger she didn't like to read. How about this,
I will become your teacher? Are you willing to?
Ce'er, ask Uncle what can he teach you?
Uncle, are you going to teach me the literary or martial arts?
I'm well-versed in both the literary and marital arts. I can teach you everything.
Are you willing to? Are you willing to?
Ce'er, let me tell you.
When your Uncle was younger he wasn't as good as me.
Let's not learn from him.
[Prince of Laiyang Manor]
When I was conferred the title, I didn't mention it to you.
You knew about it from the Empress Dowager. Do you blame me for this?
You earn the title because you led the army and protected the country.
For the sake of being cautious, it's understandable that you didn't inform me.
Why would I be unhappy?
I never thought that you have this kind of personality.
Greetings to you, Prince.
How is it going? You must feeling good being appointed as the Commander of Capital Patrol?
It's all thanks to you, Prince.
It's fortunate that Xun Baishui has never place much emphasis on the Capital Patrol.
It's rather smooth going in getting you to this position.
But I'm afraid it's not that easy to bring Yulin Army to our side.
Didn't you already make a plan?
I can only intensify and aggravate the situation in the dark. As to the end result,
We still need luck.
Even if we don't succeed this time, we can always succeed next time.
Xiao Yuanshi is getting older by the year.
If I'm not be satisfied with the number of pearls bestowed to me, then the amount of time I have for me to strategise and plan
is really not much.
You have finished reading?
How is it?
Older brother and I grow up reading military reports and war manuals. In a battle,
if there are complete reports about the battle for us to analyse,
we would be able to see the intention of both parties,
battle strategies, the end result and how it would progress.
But the battle of Donghai, the more I analyse, the more confused I am.
Your Majesty, what Senior Grand Secretary said is very true.
The battle at the easter border supposedly endangered the ten prefectures.
It's all because the army used their lives to defend and hence there's the situation we have now.
If the Imperial Court gives reward and praises promptly,
it shows forth your generosity and grace, and the soldiers at the frontline can be encouraged.
So as to prepare for future battle to retrieve the seized prefectures.
It's the best of both worlds.
So I see. I understand.
Since this is a joint decision made by the cabinet and Ministry of War regarding the military achievements,
I have no objections. Carry it out accordingly.
Yes.
Yue Yinchuan and Di Ming.
Both of them are ranked top in the military achievement record. Why haven't I heard of them before?
These two generals are stationed far in the border. They have never been summoned before you.
Therefore, Your Majesty have no impression of them.
Pingjing.
- Brother Jiu. - Mr Jiu.
I just received news from Jinling city. Marquis of Laiyang, Xiao Yuanqi was just conferred Prince of the second rank.
Your cousin is now Prince Consort.
So fast?
Let's not talk about this first. You were saying the first part of the battle is within reason.
What do you mean by that? Continue.
Before the battle begins, Donghai seized all ten prefectures at one go. It sounds incredible
but in fact, their attack was strategic.
They have made most use of their knowledge of the eastern border army.
Donghai's army is clearly very well-prepared.
Their westbound army is much stronger than we think. However, Donghai's army is still limited.
They wouldn't have the ability to swallow all ten prefectures at one go.
So Marquis Mozi kept advancing, plunder and kill, his main aim was to rob money and goods.
His original intention wasn't to seize and hold on to the prefectures at all.
The more you say, the more confused I am.
What he meant is that the seven prefectures which Great Liang has taken back,
Donghai has no intention of guarding them.
Up till this step, I still can see and understand it clearly.
Qianzhou, which was seized back after it was beseiged, the battle was won victoriously.
The general who led the battle is
Yue Yinchuan.
This general, Yue Yinchuan, is five-rank lieutenant general of Huaizhuo Camp.
He is stationed in Qianzhou. After the main commander died in battle, he led the rest of the army.
After the eastern border was under attack, the entire frontline was besieged, the only victory
was led by General Yue.
I have some impression of it. Was he the one whom you told me...
That's right. He not only guarded his frontier well,
he led an army and broke through one of the main camp of the enemy.
Attack!
[Huaidong Military Defense Map]
[Map of Huaidong]
Military defence maps?
How did Donghai have our local military defence maps?
- Tan Heng. - Present.
Gather all of them.
Yes.
The Ministry War of wishes to give the major credit to General Yue. The reason is not only
that he won that battle. The more important reason is
he discovered that military matters were leaked out from the capital.
If it isn't so, we wouldn't have discovered the spy
and make amendments.
Your Majesty. When we fight the enemy in the frontline, we are most afraid of arrows shot at us from the back.
My battle was smooth. It's all due to General Yue.
No one else can compare to this achievement of his.
He should really be greatly commended.
Is he entering the capital in the twelfth month of the lunar year, according to arrangement made by Ministry of Rites?
Yes.
Good. I will see him personally when he comes.
I obey your decree.
[Yue Yinchuan: Staff General of Qianzhou of Great Liang]
Before Minister of War left, he said that you merits this time was quite big.
The government will surely heavily reward you.
That is a good news no matter how you look at it.
How come you are not happy?
Of course, I am happy to receive commendation from the government.
It's just that I have questions in my heart that I can't find the answer about.
Recalling it makes me depressed. It's like...
Like what?
Nothing. This is something that one should not casually make guesses about.
The motive of Marquis Mozi is very clear.
He does not really want these 7 areas from the start.
What then must he do when the government reinforcements and supplies arrive?
Withdraw.
That is right. He should have left just a few men to delay the chasing army.
Bring all the loots he got from his victories in each region and quickly withdraw
until he really has the strength to fight with the reinforcements.
In reality, did he not do that?
In reality, Donghai engaged the reinforcement army of Great Liang
in the major cities.
Looking at the exterior, he withdrew step by step back to Huaishui.
Has the different military reports that I want from the different regions arrive already?
I know that general is rushing to have them. I asked this morning but there is still none.
These are military reports that is open to the public. I have the right to have them transferred here, read and copy them.
It's been so long. Not one has arrived?
Who told us to have be of lower military rank?
When general has become the main commander of the eastern borders,
let us see who among them will still dare to delay things?
But going back to it, what do those military reports that you want to read
have to do with us?
After the government took Qianzhou back, we followed Marquis Laiyang
and moved east for a short distance then reconquered 3 cities.
But did you not find anything wrong about it?
Nothing...
Although our attacks in each city was different, the Donghai army all got defeated with just one attack.
The longest one withdrew in less than 2 days.
It was like they were handing us the cities.
The momentum of Donghai was quite strong initially. It cannot be helped for the government to wrongly assess the situation.
In reality, their military power is not enough to guard 10 regions. Hence, when our army started to press on them,
they of course cannot win against us and can only escape.
That is right. Initially, we did not know the real military strength of Donghai.
But they clearly knew it.
Since they knew that they will be defeated by us, and the money and valuables in the cities have already been transported out,
why then must Donghai leave these armies to battle with us?
General, every time you think about things,
your aspect is always different from others.
I never heard other superior officers asking me such a question.
Were all seven cities reconquered the same way?
On the outside, there were differences. But in reality, they were all the same.
If a person is not as sensitive as him,
it will be hard to notice the mysterious connections between them.
Xiao Yuanqi was the commander of the reinforcement army.
He actually did not notice it? That should not be...
If General Mu Yong did not notice it, I will find that strange.
But Yuanqi has not went through many battles yet.
Maybe in his eyes,
he reconquered these 7 regions in a difficult manner one by one.
But right now, it is not just in his eyes.
Everyone is seeing the same thing.
Is it really everyone? I hope not.
Say, could it be that Marquis Mozi...
Yuanqi? Impossible.
Impossible.
There is an officer from the Ministry of Personnel that has been waiting outside the city.
It looks as if some important person will be entering the capital today.
Really?
Then I being called into the palace must be to discuss the same thing.
Same thing? What thing?
The newly appointed commander of the Donghu Yulin Army.
I know that Prince is aiming for Donghu. But don't the Imperial Family Yulin Army
only listens to the imperial decree?
You think that words 'listening only to the imperial decree'
can be done by just establishing rules and saying them?
The Jin Guards are too obvious and cannot be touched.
A Donghu Yulin Army that has been established just a few years ago
is actually my only chance.
May I ask if you are General Di Ming?
I am indeed. May I ask, you are... [Di Ming: Staff General of the Great Liang Eastern Border Army]
I am an official of the Ministry of Personnel and was ordered by Senior Grand Secretary
to welcome General Di here.
Senior Grand Secretary Xun is being too courteous. I am overwhelmed by this honor.
General Di, please.
Donghu Yulin?
Your Majesty, the previous high commander of Donghu
is the stepbrother of Qi Xun, the mastermind of the connivance with Donghai.
It is just natural that he gets punished by virtue of blood relationship and has already been exiled to the borders.
The Imperial Family Yulin Army is an elite army that protects the capital.
Their duty is huge. That is why, we cannot just casually assign a high commander.
That time, the battle with Donghai was still at a tensed moment. Hence--
I remember. That time, we have decided to wait for the Donghai battle to end
and then choose a meritorious general to come to the capital and receive this duty.
Yes.
That is why the person that Prince Laiyang guarantees will be able to bear this heavy duty
is this General Di Ming?
Indeed. General Di was born here in the capital and was assigned to Quanzhou.
He is currently a fourth level assistant commander and was deployed by the government
to reinforce the defeated southern lines of the eastern border.
General Di would always fight in front of his army.
He previously insisted to defend a city without any rations.
And he has suffered multiple arrow injuries but still refused to retreat.
It shows that he is a loyal subject to the government and to Your Majesty.
With such a fierce general, he surely will be able to bear this important responsibility.
Prince Laiyang was the main commander of reinforcement army.
What is your opinion about this General Di Ming?
Replying to Your Majesty. General Di Ming was deployed in Quanzhou.
He has been defending the southeastern flank of the reinforcement army.
Although I have long heard of his valiant name,
I have never really seen him personally.
But for my main army to be able to reconquer ten cities successively,
the stability of my southeastern flank was really a big help.
Talking from this point, this General Di Ming
has achieved mighty military merits.
Miss, give me one bowl.
Okay. Wait a minute.
Sir, I know the path to the inn.
I will not trouble you to accompany me anymore.
General is from the capital to begin with.
You have your main house here, so why must you stay in an inn?
My parents have died early.
A few years ago, my relatives, wife, and son also died from illness.
There have been no one in my old house for quite a long time. It still needs to be cleaned, hence, I can only stay in an inn for now.
General, there is something that you do not know.
Senior Grand Secretary ordered me to look at the records of the Ministry of Personnel
and I've already known about your old house being deserted for a long time, hence, ordered it to be prepared beforehand.
I have personally supervised its cleaning and repair and also prepared daily basic needs.
General and your men can stay there by today.
I really am very grateful to receive such kind of care.
General, please.
Thank you.
[Prince of Laiyang Manor] These crabs are a tribute. Such big ones can't be found outside.
Her Highness Empress Dowager specially bestowed to us. Please try them.
You can have them.
Don't you like them?
Min'er, take them away.
No need.
These are good. Don't keep taking care of me. You have some too.
I was just making some comments.
I wasn't deliberately saying that they are a gift from the palace.
Mother loved eating crabs.
Just that the palace didn't bestow them.
I didn't know.
You don't have to be sad for me.
Though we didn't eat crabs which are tribute to the palace,
the proportions allocated to us in accordance to the rules were not cut off.
Just that they aren't that big.
If we want to, we can have them everyday when the crabs are in season.
You must miss Mother very much, right?
Anru, I don't wish for you to think too much, that's why I'm explaining this to you.
But if there are outsiders around, especially in the palace, you must not mention of this.
I know this.
Let's eat.
Prince is here.
Prince Consort, you don't have to get up.
Pretty.
Thank you.
Do we still have the crabs bestowed by the palace?
Those are live ones. We can't keep them for long. If you want-
It's not me who have a craving for it. Tomorrow is the 15th day of the 10th lunar month.
I want you to prepare a gift for General Di Ming who just arrived at the capital.
It doesn't have to be too grand. This tribute food is the most suitable.
So I just ask you.
You are much better at arranging these things than me.
You select those you deem appropriate, and do as you deem fit.
I know. I'll let you have a look at the gift list.
You should be the one to decide on such normal customs.
After you finish preparing it, pass it to the outer mansion.
For ordinary gifts for festivities, I can send it to the inner chamber,
why do I have to get outer mansion to send?
You don't know. There aren't any family members
in General Di's mansion to receive gifts.
There isn't anyone.
The 3 prefectures in Huaidong aren't taken back yet. Not only His Majesty is worried,
it's a burden on the hearts of all court ministers.
But you are right.
If we act rashly, we surely will not get what we want.
We might put the eastern border in more trouble.
But...waiting for the right time for too long
is also not appropriate.
That is why, we should start planning on how to regain them.
Why did Minister Xun think of instructing these matters to me? These should be the job of the Ministry of War.
This is indeed a matter that must be handled by the Ministry of War.
But as the main commander of the reinforcement army of the battle with Donghai,
His Majesty will surely ask for your opinion.
That is why, during your idle time,
you should also start thinking of it.
I also do not have much work to handle. During normal days, I am very idle.
What is bad about being an idle nobility?
You are different with the usual subjects.
In the future, when His Majesty gives title to the royal clan, you surely will get a top rank.
The royal pearl in this head of yours will increase little by little.
All those will logically happen.
No need to be like me who must be busy all day.
Minister Xun, you really know how to joke. His Majesty still has two little brothers.
When he gives titles to the royal clan, how can I be the top in the list?
You can be at ease about that.
His Majesty and Her Lady Majesty Empress Dowager know it very well.
There is no need to give too much graces to two younger brothers who are still children.
They will never surpass you.
I have to trouble Minister Xun to put good words for me by then.
Prince, the guest is here.
Hurry and let him in.
Greetings, Prince.
General Di, hurry and get up.
I just prepared a good tea earlier. General, please have a taste.
Prince clearly knows that I came tonight not to drink tea.
General Di, the past is already far away..
You got called back to the capital and has limitless future ahead of you.
Why must you...still open a scarred wound?
Does Prince know how many people died in my family during that epidemic?
I more or less know that General's wife and children
- died from it. - 17.
The whole family of my second and third uncles, my wife, two...
two sons, my little sister, and twin younger brothers.
After one epidemic, the Di family manor was left with no one.
Prince sent me a letter saying that the epidemic in Jinling has another hidden truth.
It was not created by the heaven but is man-made. How then would I not come?
How then would I not ask?!
Informing Prince's Consort, the outer courtyard sent words that Prince is still in the study.
They are not sure what time he will be back. May Consort rest early and not wait anymore.
What time is it already and he still is in the study? No matter how busy he is, he must take care of his health.
But the messenger did not say what he is doing there. How about I ask again?
What can you get from asking them? It is better that I personally go and look.
Yes.
General, I am sure that you have already investigated the secret files and documents of the government upon returning to the capital. Am I right?
Of course.
Were you able to find anything?
There are not much difference with the official documents I got before
saying that the epidemic was not made by nature and by a group of Yeqing people seeking revenge.
The criminals were not able to escape afterwards and have all been executed.
I really did not find anything wrong with it.
For the other truth that Prince said, I can only ask you to personally tell it to me.
The reason you were unable to see anything wrong with them
is because all those written there were not lies.
The capital's epidemic indeed started from the revenge of the Yeqing people.
It is also true that all were the crimes of Puyang Ying.
Since that is the case--
General, do not rush. Let me finish.
Puyang Ying's crimes are undeniable.
But he is not the only who should answer for the crime.
Who else?
Who else?!
Let me urge General again,
it is better that you let it go now and do not ask anymore.
Who else?
General, it is better that you look at it yourself.
Prince's Consort.
Prince's Consort, be careful.
Prince's Consort.
What Prince is busying about must be official matters. I suddenly felt that if I disturb him like this,
it might be inappropriate.
But is there anything inappropriate with Prince's Consort being concerned about Prince's health?
It is better to just urge him next time. Let us go back.
Yes.
May Prince's Consort forgive me!
I did not see things clearly earlier and mistook the guard outside Prince's room
to be some ghost. I then got scared.
You scared me.
Pei'er.
Prince's Consort, please forgive her this time.
Quickly get up. It is not some big matter.
Thank you, Prince's Consort.
That guy is not a guard of the manor. He is an old subordinate of Prince.
He recently just got promoted.
How come the commander of the Patrol Guards
be guarding outside the study of Prince?
What did you say?
Nothing. Let us quickly go back.
Yes.
The Empress' decree?
With a truth like that,
what can General do even if you knew it?
The Empress then is now the supreme Empress Dowager.
And the person that caused her to do all these is now the Emperor of the kingdom.
Who else can give you the truth?
Who else can give you justice?
Who else can give you the chance to mention this old case?
Then Senior Grand Secretary Xun...
Does he know about this?
If Senior Grand Secretary knew about this beforehand,
I am sure he would not have let an absurd matter happen.
I also thought about this matter too simply.
After I got these evidences from Puyang Ying,
I actually followed proper process and submitted them to the cabinet first.
The past emperor was still alive then.
Xun Baishui was afraid that Empress will get punished so he covered up for her, am I right?
Yes.
I also spent a lot of means and methods
before being able to preserve these two important evidences.
Could it be that in their hearts,
there is no justice?
Justice?
General, how old are you and you still believe in justice?
Your records in the Ministry of Personnel
were personally checked by Xun Baishui before you got recalled.
But when he read that your wife and children died from illness,
he never even connected it to the plague years ago,
because he has long forgotten it.
For them, all those people who died
were just part of a past epidemic.
They are not worthy to be remembered.
General still expect that a person like that
can give you justice?!
Traitors and scoundrels...
Traitors and scoundrels!
General!
General Di, what are you planning to do?
- Let go of me! - General Di!
- Prince! - Leave!
General Di, do not forget.
You are a subject of Great Liang.
What you are doing now is rebelling!
What Prince said is right.
What can I do if I know it?
As a subject of Great Liang, how can I not follow my master?
Yes. If General can think that way, you might feel better.
What other way can I think?
May I ask General, are you loyal to Great Liang, to the royal clan,
or only to the person sitting on that royal throne?
What is the difference?
Does General know why I invited you to come during the night?
Was it not just to tell me the truth?
I told General the truth to make you be firm in your will
and help me achieve my goal.
Achieve what goal?
I want to ask General to help me
take away Xiao Yuanshi's imperial throne.
No way. That is a treacherous act.
Definitely no way.
I initially was like General.
I only thought of just accepting the circumstances in good will and doing my duties as a subject.
But after everything that has happened these past years,
each one making one's heart disappointed and cold.
Does General know
that when I put on my armor and set out for the eastern border expedition,
what I was thinking
was already not to loyally serve that person in the top of the golden steps.
Could it be that there are other things?
General, what do you think was the reason that the House of Chang Lin was forced to leave the capital?
The Assistant Minister Qi that connived with Donghai
was who's trusted aide before?
I fought the enemy bravely and resisted Donghai,
not for merits nor to serve a puppet emperor.
I did it
to not disappoint the royal blood in my veins,
to not bring disgrace to my royal grandfather,
a generation of brilliance of past Emperor Jing.
But His Majesty himself did not commit any mistake.
His Majesty indeed did not do anything wrong.
But he has already fallen under the control of a mediocre subject and a woman.
I am sure that he will not be able to emulate the past greatness of the former emperor.
No matter how disappointed you are,
General Di still must believe
that the god-given fate of Great Liang is surely not like this.
Timing & Subtitles brought to you by Gone with the Shirt Team @ Viki.com
♫ The long, slow song rises like wind flowing through the corridors reaching the imposing, opulent and bright Imperial Hall ♫
♫ Memories of that certain year, when far-away borders blazed with fires of war, in vast fields of ice and snow ♫
♫ From this world, the many slanders pass through the vermilion gates, over the palace walls ♫
♫ Beneath iron armor, together with silken skirts and silver spears, hair grows hoary as though with early frost ♫
♫ Luminous cherry trees, deep-rooted with long and slender frames, still sport magnificent flowers ♫
♫ Unexpected torrential rain and heavy wind, what does it matter? ♫
♫ Between the trees, the moon brightly guards peak after jagged peak ♫
♫ Fiery liquor consumed at the end of the world, at the limits of exhaustion, is a feast! ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Good bows hoarded; likewise, so as not to injure, sigh against the way of heaven when stored indefinitely ♫
♫ Clouds of fear calm shameful waves, the night air stops their bickering by starlight ♫
♫ There is little intention to return the real men to the war in the north, though willing, they are not given free rein ♫
♫ Discussions about their heroism led them to be questioned, and suffer dismal complaints around them, unable to clear their names ♫
♫ Hoping for the whole world to remain at peace, quench the fires of war ♫