General and I (A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to Be Appreciated / 孤芳不自赏)

[Four major states: Yan, Northern Liang, Bai Lan, Jin.]

[Warlords compete for the lands of Central Plains.]

[Yan State have been at war with Jin State for 100 days.]

[Yan State is suffering through a drought of the century.]

[General of Jin State, Chu Bei Jie leads a long-range raid with 100,000 men.]

[Yan State's Young Prince of Jing An is entrusted to defend the state.]

[The decisive battle of both armies took place in the fortress]

[Jin State's army of 100,000 men presses on the border]

[Yan State's Young Prince of Jing An, He Xia]

Pu River has completely dried up.

Nothing can keep my 100,000 soldiers away.

In a split second, our army would be right at Puban City.

What a pity.

The old Prince of Jing An isn't here.

Only the young prince.

Like father, like son.

He Xia is already renowned at a young age.

He has long rendered great military services to Yan State.

We are not to let our guard down.

Yes.

Your Highness.

Miss Bai is here.

Sister Ping Ting.

Ping Ting, has reinforcement arrived?

Our 100,000 men will soon arrive.

Young Master.

Could I have a word with you in private?

Sure, come with me.

Ping Ting.

The reinforcements aren't coming, right?

The King's oral decree is to safeguard Puban City.

How?

The garrison troop only consists of 8,000 men.

Our enemy claims to have 100,000 men.

This is to pit a few against many.

How could we fight this battle?

Young Master, fret not.

I have a plan.

All men, obey my orders! Get ready for battle!

Chu Bei Jie!

Do you dare to take me on alone?

What is it? Are you terrified?

You don't even dare to take me on single-handedly.

How can you command an army?

Your Highness.

He's just trying to provoke you.

It's to lure you out.

He Xia is very cunning.

We must be careful.

There's always deception in war.

Young Master, I'd prompt you with the playing of my zither.

I've observed the astronomical signs. Heavy rain is to fall at 11:45 a.m.

You need only lure Chu Bei Jie into the barren river.

and the enemies will be defeated without any effort.

Attack!

Your Highness, watch out!

The music of the zither is played at a bizarre rhythm.

Young Master, I'll prompt you with the playing of my zither.

Lure Chu Bei Jie into the river swiftly.

Our enemies will be defeated without any effort.

Chu Bei Jie!

Break into the city if you can!

Attack!

- Attack! Charge! - Attack!

Attack!

Stop!

Retreat!

Quickly!

Retreat!

It's too early to tell who will win this battle.

Mo Ran!

Present!

Take the army and make camp ten miles from here.

Once you've settled them there meet me alone in Changzi City.

Mo Ran obeys the command.

The Jin army finally retreated.

With the aid of rainfall, the river rushed in.

It's just perfect timing

Ping Ting.

You really did calculate well.

His Majesty suddenly sent you to fight this battle.

What is he really up to?

Stop thinking about that.

Don't I have you here to come up with strategies for me?

Jin Army already retreated anyway.

Our external crisis is resolved.

No.

He retreated too easily this time.

Young Master.

Don't you know what Chu Bei Jie is like?

I know.

Even when my father was in his prime

he only stood half the chance to defeat him.

Exactly.

Although the flooding strategy worked, it was more of a coincidence.

How could the legendary God of War Chu Bei Jie retreat immediately

just because of a strategy that came up by chance?

Jin State's main armed forces are unharmed.

Whereas, we are without reinforcement.

Chu Bei Jie needs only to regroup his army

and wait for the flooding to tide over

before he devours us in no more than three days.

Why would he retreat so easily?

It's just highly suspicious that we won so easily.

Young Master, I'm still really worried.

Please don't head back to the imperial court yet.

It's fine, don't over analyze everything.

Young Master, do you understand everything I just told you?

I do.

However, what would my parents do if I don't report back to the court?

The new king just took the throne.

He's always been wary of my mother's position

as Supreme Princess in the court.

The new king couldn't wish more than anything to have me die in the battle.

Then he can take back the military power and seize my parents.

Jing An Manor didn't have to fight this battle in the first place.

but our state is at risk.

We had no choice but to send our troops.

Ping Ting.

I'm already caught between two fires

but I can only keep going forward.

The war can only be won, not lost.

Fortunately, we won this time.

When we return in victory

I believe King of Yan won't dare to lay a finger on me.

Reporting to Your Majesty.

Great General led 100,000 men to Puban City at the border of Yan State

to take on the 8,000 men of Yan Army.

He was to attack all the way to

Yan State's capital, Changzi City.

However, an unpredicted rainstorm caused severe landslides

that came rushing down the dried city moat (defensive ditch)

toward our soldiers in a split second.

Great General was concerned that the battle could be against gods' will

so he gave orders to retreat.

The army is now resting and reorganizing outside Puban City.

100,000 men against 8,000 and yet he changed his mind

at the last minute to retreat without even taking them to war?

Chu Bei Jie is too bold!

Your Majesty, please appease your anger.

Great General is a meticulous man and skilled in military strategies.

He has led the army to war for years and has lost none of his battles.

He is by no means a reckless man.

He must have other plans in mind.

Please do give him some time.

- Perhaps, there is a change in plans? - Changes?

It was but a rainstorm.

Yet it was enough to make our 100,000 men suffer defeat

at the hands of a mere 8,000-man army.

If he wasn't Chu Bei Jie, I would have had his head chopped off by now!

Not just rainstorms and floods

he'd have to attack them even if it were raining knives from the sky

and venom flowing in a mudslide!

Grand Marshal Xie!

Convey my decree.

Sent out a messenger to pass on an urgent military report to Chu Bei Jie.

Whatever he has in mind, he needs to make his countermeasure right away.

Attack right into Changzi City and take down Yan State in one feat!

Should he fail again he will be punished according to military law!

Yes!.

Your Majesty, after Great General instructed the army to retreat

and camp ten miles away from the city

he has already sneaked into Changzi City alone.

What is he doing there?

Great General didn't leave any orders.

All alone?

Your Majesty, how have you been?

Isn't this too grand an occasion to host?

It's just a prince by marriage.

Your Majesty.

What does he think he is?

Chu Bei Jie.

I've already sent out He Xia to war according to

the agreement I made with the emperor of Jin State.

However, your 100,000 men are actually no match for his 8,000 men?

This is ridiculous.

I must have overestimated you.

Your Majesty must be even more upset than me that He Xia won this battle?

Prince of Jing An's Manor is now credited with another military merit.

Everyone in the entire Changzi City is in high praise of this victory.

The people only praise Supreme Princess and Prince of Jing An

but not Your Majesty.

Prince of Jing An's family now wins the heart of the people.

Your Majesty, are you sitting on your new throne with ease?

Young Prince of Jing An! Superb!

Greetings to Young Prince of Jing An!

Young Prince of Jing An!

Greetings to Young Prince of Jing An!

Congratulations, Young Prince of Jing An!

His Majesty is here to welcome you.

Please remove your gear to greet him immediately.

He Xia greets Your Majesty.

Young Prince of Jing An is valiant and ferocious in war.

You do take after your father.

Do rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

You did very well at the battle of Puban City.

I have to reward you handsomely before the entire city and my people.

Anyone there?

Bestow Young Prince of Jing An a cup of good wine and a well-crafted sword!