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

Toward the end of the Eastern Han dynasty

the imperial sovereignty began to crumble

and territories were divided among the warlords.

Cao Cao coerced the emperor and controlled the feudal lords.

He made Xu Chang the de facto capital of Han.

After defeating Lü Bu

Cao Cao fought off Yuan Shao in the north and fended off Sun Ce in the south.

He became the most powerful feudal lord of the Central Plain.

However, Cao Cao was autocratic and domineering.

The conflict between the emperor of the Han dynasty and Cao Cao aggravated.

Inside and outside of the capital, there was an surging undercurrent.

A storm was about to hit...

[Fourth year of the Jian An Reign, Wen County]

My child!

Let go of me!

My child!

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

How dare you act so wantonly on the territory of the the Sima family!

No one is to be spared!

My child!

Thank you! Thank you, Young Master!

Thank you, Young Master!

Young Master!

Young Master, spare me!

Young Master!

Young Master, spare me!

Young Master!

Spare me!

It's just too cold out here.

I'm starving.

I didn't hurt anyone!

Yi He!

Zhong Da!

Go and earn an honest living.

If you break the law again, we surely won't spare you.

Young Master, thank you for sparing my life!

You're even so kind to marauders and thieves.

You saw him as well.

He's wounded.

Besides, he didn't harm anyone.

He didn't have to die, did he?

Asinine benevolence, just like Duke Xiang of Song.

Although we're punishing evildoers

we don't really have to kill them all, do we?

Listen up.

Since we're out on this mission, no effort must be made in vain.

Don't discredit your teacher.

Second Young Master, thank you for saving us!

If you hadn't arrived in time, we would have...

We would have...

- Get up. - Thank you!

Don't worry.

The Sima family will keep you safe.

Thank you, Second Young Master!

Thank you! Thank you!

Second Young Master!

Heaven and Earth are impartial. All creations are but hay offerings.

But you would even save a lamb.

Even King Hui of Liang has compassion.

He couldn't bear to see cows shiver.

If I bring this lamb home, it might get well.

Why shouldn't I save it?

Look at how the world is now.

Yet you're still so gentle.

You wish to be merciful like Duke Xiang of Song.

Answer me.

What became of Duke Xiang of Song?

I'm not like you.

You have great ambitions, but I don't.

I'm at most good enough to be a magistrate.

I'd be content to be a county magistrate and help the people.

Look at you.

You're so useless.

It's no wonder that your father left you with the Sima family

and never asked after you.

So?

I'm going to spend my entire life with the Sima family!

Look at those horses.

They don't seem to be from the Central Plain.

They are soldiers from Western Liang.

They must be the remaining forces of Dong Zhuo.

You wish to withdraw from the world

but the army of Western Liang is now on a rampage in the Central Plain.

Henei Commandery is the battlefront.

Yuan Shao, Zhang Xiu, Cao Cao, and Lü Bu.

Which of those feudal lords don't have their eyes on our turf?

You wish to stand aloof of it all

but I'm afraid just as a tree wishes to remain still, the wind won't cease.

From now on, I'll follow you.

You'll be defending our lands and resisting the invasion.

As for me, I'll pacify the people.

In troubled times, we should all the more remain resolute, but compassionate.

Now that we're in such troubled times

there are marauders and thieves everywhere.

Those marauders we just ran into could have been defeated soldiers.

Am I to vie for territories against those greedy feudal lords?

They aren't even up to my standard!

Since you wish neither to be a recluse nor a government official

I think there's only one position in this world that suits you.

Tell me about it.

Emperor.

Whose horse carriage is this?

- Lang. - Lang.

- You've returned. - What is it?

- Yi He. - What's so urgent?

We have a visitor.

Yi He's father, Uncle Yang, is here.

- My father is here? - Yes.

Don't run so fast!

It's slippery on snow!

Lang, Uncle Yang hasn't visited in three years.

He didn't even inform us in advance this time.

What could be so urgent?

We'll know soon.

Father told us to deliver a letter to the county magistrate now.

Deliver a letter?

Why me?

It's so corrupt at the magistrate's.

I'm not going.

Father wants us to visit the magistrate often.

Understand?

But I haven't greeted Uncle Yang yet.

Father will host a banquet tonight.

You can greet him then.

Get going. Come on!

Uncle Sima.

Father.

Brother Sima, since my son is here, we'll take our leave now.

Father... we're leaving right now?

Ping.

Your father has been recruited by the Minister of Works, Cao Cao

as his administrative official.

He's heading to the capital now to take up his post.

He purposely took a detour here to fetch you.

It's been 12 years.

Brother Sima, thank you for looking after Ping.

The imperial court's carriage is already waiting outside.

We have to set out right away.

I'll have your belongings sent from Sima Manor to the capital.

We should get going.

Father!

Zhang Da hasn't returned.

Can we wait a while longer?

If the city gates close, we will be stuck here until tomorrow.

It will delay our journey.

If I leave without a word of farewell, Zhong Da will be very angry--

Listen.

We must leave now.

Obey your father.

Ping, you've been raised in my home for 12 years.

I regard you as my own son.

Should you encounter any problem in the capital, Xu Chang

go to the Zhang’s Maize Store on Copper Camel Street.

Just keep that in mind.

Ping, get into the carriage quickly.

Yang Ping!

If you leave now, I'll never let you into Sima Manor again!

I want to go home!

I want my father!

Your father left on a horse.

Can you catch up with him?

- Do you know where your house is? - Father!

There's a raging war and great turmoil.

Your father couldn't protect you, so he sent you here.

My father said that from now on, you're my younger brother.

While your father is away, your older brother will take his place.

My words are as good as your father's orders.

This is your home!

Do you understand?

Get back in here!

Brother Ping!

Brother Ping, you left your medical book behind.

Thank you.

Ping, you're studying medicine?

Zhong Da gave this to me.

I only study it from time to time.

Brother Ping we can't bear to let you leave.

I can't bear to leave you either.

Remember to let Zhong Da know that I've said goodbye.

There's a lamb in the courtyard.

It's wounded.

I was going to treat it, but there's no time to do so now.

Find a good vet for it on my behalf.

- Yes. - Yes.

We should get going now.

Father, why would Minister Cao recruit you so urgently?

Don't question it.

You'll know once you get to the capital.

Father, this doesn't seem quite right.

Master Yang, they might be bandits!

Father, what did you do that for?

Ping, we have important matters to handle.

Uncle, I've done what we agreed on.

Father?

Father... explain this to me.

Father...

Father...

Listen!

Get into the carriage quickly.