Secrets of Three Kingdoms (三国机密 / San Guo Ji Mi)

The Xianbei Tribe has so many soldiers.

There must be thousands of them.

When will they attack the city?

It's a matter of days.

More of them are gathering here. Look!

Their tents are pitched all over the hill.

Will they be using that trebuchet to take down our walls?

Although their trebuchet is powerful, it can't defeat us in one feat.

Moreover, we have the advantage of being high up on the walls.

It's still possible for us to destroy their machines.

Young Master Liu.

Are you also a military strategist?

Where is Libationer Guo?

Why didn't he go on a patrol?

Exactly.

Libationer Guo is down with a slight cold.

He's recuperating.

I'll be relaying his orders.

We all hope that Libationer Guo's amazing strategies can fend the enemies off.

Yesterday, someone said that Libationer Guo passed away.

I gave him a sound scolding.

I told him that's impossible.

Libationer Guo wouldn't abandon us.

Young Master Liu, am I right?

Exactly!

It's good to just have Libationer Guo walk around.

Exactly!

All right.

I'll relay your messages to him.

Are we really going to die here?

When I left, my wife was already five months pregnant.

I want to see my son.

If I can't make it back home, my old mother will starve to death!

Empress? What are you doing here?

I knew that you went to patrol, so I came to get you.

How is the army's morale?

They are already suspecting that Guo Jia might be dead.

We won't be able to keep that from them for long.

Besides, Cao Zhi alone might not be able to boost their morale.

Although the soldiers are now gripped with fear

they also understand that should they back down

the Central Plain will be invaded.

They won't try to run away.

Moreover, the Xianbei Tribe is soon launching war upon us.

We'll have two tough battles to fight.

Lulong still has a chance as long as we can hold out

until the reinforcements arrive from the capital.

These two battles will be tough.

I never got around to asking why you knew so well

about the Xianbei Tribe's military situation.

Before...

when the late emperor was grounded in the capital

he was concerned about the nation.

He told me a lot about the invasions at the frontier.

I never thought that such knowledge would come in handy one day.

The gods must have sent you to help me.

I have the courage, and you have the knowledge.

Why should we fear a few soldiers from the Xianbei Tribe?

Come.

We'll take a look at General Cao and see how his army morale is.

I'm worried about another matter.

What is it?

Xun Yu doesn't have the tiger tally.

He wouldn't.

Cao Cao is the king of suspicion.

Anyone with authority would know this.

"Fish should be left in deep waters."

"The sharp weapons of the state should be left where no one can see them."

If Xun Yu knows Cao Cao well enough, I'm afraid...

he will all the more be scared to deploy Cao Cao's army.

But there are thousands of lives here in this city.

The burden of such a responsibility can change the minds of many people.

For instance, General Pan Yang and I reconciled to be friends.

We could fight alongside the son of Cao Cao.

Xun Yu couldn't forsake this city just to ensure his own safety.

Besides, there are those in the capital whom I trust.

Sima Yi?

He's just a commoner.

He won't be able to do anything.

Do you remember back then when we were in Ye City?

I was also just a commoner then.

Didn't we also manage to accomplish quite a lot?

Sometimes, a person's influence doesn't lie in his position or authority.

Even at this moment, thousands of miles away

Your Majesty will still show off Sima Yi whenever you can?

My empress actually gets jealous so easily?

Your Majesty is behaving more and more disrespectfully.

How am I jealous?

But I remember that when we were in Ye City

the two of you appreciated each other and even reproached me together.

When I now think about those days in Ye City

it feels as if it were yesterday.

Since Your Majesty entered the palace

I realized that we're always either caught in matters of life-and-death

or on the run because of some imminent disaster.

But I've been lucky.

I managed to escape unscathed every time.

And I even get to hold your hand in mine.

Those are fond memories.

Instead of acting all prim and proper as the emperor and empress

that was much more interesting, wasn't it?

Yes.

If we can stay hand in hand

I don't mind being on the run with Your Majesty at all times.

But...

I'm scared that once we stop running, a crowd will then have us separated.

Don't you worry.

This time, we'll stay hand in hand until the very end.

We've gathered all the arrows and rocks in the city.

We're also constructing defensive measures.

However, we fall way short of arrows.

It's impossible to keep defending for a long time.

There isn't any bamboo in Lulong.

Even if there is any, we won't have time to make them.

We just need enough for one field combat.

Young Master, are you going to take the enemies head on?

Generals, please leave us.

Young Master Liu and I will need to discuss this further.

- Yes! - Yes!

Your Majesty.

What is the matter?

You'd like to take the initiative?

Your Majesty.

I've checked the number of weapons in the city.

It's impossible to keep defending the city.

We don't need to defend it for long.

We only need to hold the fort until the reinforcements arrive.

Your Majesty, have you overheard what the soldiers are discussing?

Libationer Guo.

Indeed.

I overheard them as well.

There's already speculation of Libationer Guo's death.

Moreover, after Kebineng showed off their military powers

everyone in the city flew into a panic.

Should this continue, they will lose confidence.

Therefore, we'll have to strike Kebineng's clan unexpectedly

before they strike us.

How do you intend to do so?

I'm Minister Cao's son.

I'm also the commander of the army.

If I ride out to the battlefield

their main forces will definitely target me.

Your Majesty can then lead the cavalry to break out from the side

and inform my father.

With Your Majesty's orders

my father will surely send in his reinforcements to us.

Haven't I already turned down this suggestion once?

Your Majesty!

The situation has changed completely.

We're already running short of soldiers and weapons in the city!

The reinforcements have yet to come.

It's impossible to defend Lulong.

Therefore, I have to escort Your Majesty and the empress out of here

while there's still a chance.

What about you?

Since you've decided to be the bait

you must be prepared to sacrifice yourself, aren't you?

My life matters not.

Foolhardiness.

It's so easy to seek death.

Why don't you wield your sword at the enemies right at the gates

and then recite a few lines of a poem before you die?

What a delight that must be!

You'll be dead and I'll escape.

Are we just going to abandon Lulong?

We can do as we please.

But once the city is taken

the soldiers and civilians in the city

won't be able to die in a dignified manner

even if they want to.

You're not even afraid to die.

Why would you be scared to defend this city with me?

Your Majesty wishes to protect me out of goodwill.

You've encouraged me with a noble cause.

However, I know my priorities.

If Your Majesty returns with the reinforcements

we can still take back Lulong from the enemies.

But Great Han is doomed should the emperor be killed!

I've already made up my mind.

I'll head out tomorrow to set a time for a battle.

Your Majesty can decide whether to stay or leave.

If Your Majesty would have me die in vain...

I could only accept it.

Nonsense!

If you were my brother...

I'd give you a sound beating right now.

In the past few days, absentmindedly

I've regarded Your Majesty as my own older brother.

Therefore, Your Majesty, you must return here alive.

Perhaps... I might still be alive to be reprimanded.

Fourth Young Master.

Fourth Young Master!

What are you doing, Jie?

Empress!

Empress, do you think that I look like a female general?

Such a valiant and heroic bearing.

You're indeed the daughter of a general.

However, aren't His Majesty and Fourth Young Master defending us?

We just have to help out with the supplies and rations.

War is more than just wielding a sword and taking lives.