The Wind Blows From Longxi (Feng Qi Long Xi / 风起陇西 )

Clerk Li,

hope you won't mind.

The room is a little shabby.

Here's some great tea. Try some.

Don't bother.

I don't drink tea.

Today, I came here privately

because I want to speak my mind

to you, Chief Yin.

Chief Yin, I've been working in Siwencao for over a month now,

but

I haven't accomplished anything yet.

General Li

didn't dispatch me to Siwencao

so that I can idle away.

Chief Yin,

do you know what General Li's intention is?

I'm slow-witted.

Clerk Li, please enlighten me.

Our nation's power

remains weak.

And the wars are still ongoing.

Yet the Prime Minister

insists on conquering Wei

at a high cost that weakens our state.

I've always been an order taker,

never a leader.

I'm very insensitive about the state affairs.

The court officials all keep silent for fear

of the Prime Minister's power.

General Li Yan is the only one who dares step forward

and speak the truth fearlessly.

Taking over Siwencao is only the first step

of General Li Yan's big plan.

Clerk Li,

what you are talking about is a matter of grave importance.

With my low position,

I think you…

But Feng Ying

has absolute control over Siwencao.

Without some solid proof,

how could we possibly take down Yang Yi

for good?

I know you are Feng Ying's confidant.

If we can join hands,

there's nothing we can't accomplish.

Clerk Li, you overestimated me.

I'm just an insignificant Chief.

But the things you've done were not insignificant at all.

Over the years, you faked instructions

and used the intelligence network of the Operations Department

to smuggle things to the Wu and Wei States

for your own interest.

Every deal you made

is clearly recorded here.

See for yourself.

And regarding the Jieting's false intelligence case,

someone also used Gu Zheng's intelligence network

to deliver our top military secrets to the Wei State.

What are the odds?

I deserve to die.

I do.

It's true that I got greedy for money,

but I swear that I'm not a traitor!

Is this how you're planning to defend yourself in front of General Li Yan?

Chief Yin, you don't have

the guts to do it, do you?

Let me offer you a way out.

You want to combine the Jieting case

and the Zhulong case.

You still have doubts about Baidi's treachery?

Yes.

There's another possible explanation

for the Jieting's false intelligence case.

Baidi's intelligence was right when he sent it out.

But it was swapped by Zhulong

when it got to Mount Qi base camp.

This person's got to be at the front line

and familiar with our operation plan.

And he had access to the Jieting intelligence

and Baidi's code-cracking plates.

Looks like I meet all the things

you just mentioned.

Clerk Feng, if you worked for Wei,

Baidi would've long been exposed.

So you suspect Sun Ling?

That's ridiculous.

Is Baidi's case not?

You've been telling me

since I started working here

that no evidence, no case.

That's right.

So where's your evidence?

Chen Gong was your brother-in-law.

I understand you want to vindicate him.

But I have to tell you

that what's done

can't be undone.

Even if we later

find out that Baidi is innocent,

he's already dead after all.

We must close the Jieting case as soon as possible.

This is for the bigger picture.

And it has nothing to do with investigating Zhulong.

Don't think that I'm saying this because I'm trying

to protect Sun Ling.

Think about it.

What will happen if you investigate him?

Everybody will link him to me in the end.

I don't want you

to get involved in political strife.

Do you understand?

Clerk Feng, I'll think

about what you said.

Siwencao

is a powerful weapon for our state.

I can't let it become a political tool.

Li Miao has an ulterior motive.

You got to know that.

I know.

I'm glad you do.

I'm Mi Chong, Chancellor of the Tianshui Military Intelligence Agency.

Nice to meet you, Sect Leader Huang.

Envoy, you traveled a long way here.

Fellow Elders,

let's welcome the Envoy of Wei.

Envoy of Wei, welcome!

Huang Yu, accept the edict.

According to His Majesty's edict,

Huang Yu,

the Leader of Wuxian Sect, is hereby appointed

as General Who Pacifies the South, and Vanguard Chief of the Hanzhong Region.

Please accept the edict.

Long live the Emperor.

Thank you, Envoy.

Gods are now with us.

Offer the three animals as sacrifices.

Envoy,

this is the Saint Lady of our sect.

Chief Xun,

you are still here.

Feng Ying talked to me this afternoon.

He said

Siwencao is a powerful weapon to our state,

and he can't let it become a political tool.

He sure made it sound nice.

[Pei Xu, Clerk of Internal Affairs Department, Siwencao Intelligence, the Shu State]

He wants to close the case as soon as possible.

Apparently he's also using Siwencao as a card.

And he's shown his hand.

He doesn't allow me to investigate Sun Ling.

He also told me

that Li Miao must have an ulterior motive

working here in Siwencao.

If Clerk Feng doesn't agree,

it'll be difficult for you to proceed with the investigation.

Even so,

you are still going to investigate Sun Ling?

Yes.

I will.

Chief Xun.

Chief Sun.

Guys, how are you doing?

Sir, this way, please.

Sorry to have kept you waiting.

How dare you be late for Clerk Feng's treat?

If we waited any longer,

we'd both starve to death.

In times of crisis like this,

the ones who still dare show up for the dinner

are all my best friends.

Clerk Feng, I'm flattered.

I know

what I'm doing,

otherwise I wouldn't invite you out for dinner like this.

Today's case analysis meeting

was like a challenge.

What do you think about it?

I think Clerk Li

wants to settle old scores.

Investigating Zhulong

is just a front

for seizing the real power.

He wants to take me down.

When it comes to the Clerk position,

you are the only one

who's worthy of the title in our hearts.

We'll follow

your lead only.

You two

are both veterans in Siwencao.

You must have your own judgment.

Clerk Li is new here, so it makes sense

that he wants to make a name for himself.

It's not that simple.

Let me be straight with you,

Chengdu is going through a difficult situation.

The aftereffect of the failure of the Prime Minister's Northern Expedition

is getting more and more severe.

General Li Yan went to meet His Majesty in Chengdu