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

You've returned.

Where did they take you? Are you all right?

I'm fine. Everything went well.

It's good that Brother Liu is safe.

- Release them. - Yes.

Thank you, General.

I'm Wei Wen.

Hold on.

What my wife means is that although he's young

he's from the prestigious Wei family.

You had him knocked out.

This is all you're going to do?

We take strong measures first and then act courteous.

I'll send the medical officer to check him out.

I've also prepared some wine and food to calm your nerves.

Escort Madam to get changed.

- Yes. - It's not necessary.

Even though we're in the army, etiquette isn't to be overlooked.

It's all right.

It's not the right etiquette if I meet Duke Yuan in this outfit.

You even brought your wife along to the battlefield.

You're somewhat similar to Duke Yuan.

In war, life and death are determined in an instant.

I definitely have to keep my loved one by my side.

Good! Well said!

Duke Yuan will surely like you when he meets you.

Madam, this way, please.

Thank you, General.

I've prepared some food and wine.

Gentlemen, you can have your meal.

Later, I also have a gift to present to you.

- Thank you. - After you.

Thank you.

Brother Liu, after you.

Hey! Is anyone there?

I'm hungry!

- Is there any breakfast? - Zhong Da!

Zhong Da!

- Zhong Da! - Carefully.

I'll keep you company, Zhong Da!

Zhong Da! You've suffered.

Young Master.

You have yet to recover from your injury.

How can you come to such a dirty place?

It's really quite dirty.

But I can't be bothered.

My father is coming to interrogate you, so I have to protect you.

Otherwise, he'll have you beaten to death.

Thank you, Young Master.

Brother Liu.

Do they really believe us?

It's best to be cautious.

Don't talk unnecessarily.

Yes.

I...

What would you like to ask?

Ask away.

Brother Liu, you know this is a dangerous place.

If you wanted to contact Yuan Shao, you could have just sent an envoy.

Why would you take the risk?

Could you really have intended to surrender to Yuan Shao?

If I had truly wanted to surrender to him

I would have presented my imperial seal and exposed my identity.

Why would I bother with this disguise?

I truly wish to help your father.

Don't you believe me, Young Master?

Of course I do.

Brother Liu, why don't we eat first?

What are those?

These ones?

These are grapes.

You just eat it like this.

These are grapes from the Western Regions?

Although our trade route to the Western Region is cut off

we do plant a small batch here in the Central Plain.

I like them a lot.

Your Majesty, haven't you had any?

Since I took the throne

there was the chaos in Luoyang and then the escape from Chang'an.

During the worst times

I had to watch my officials starve to death in barns

while soldiers robbed the people and even ate them.

If it weren't for your father, I'd have starved to death then.

How could I have tasted such a rare fruit?

Your Majesty has suffered a lot.

In the future, I'll be sure to open up the route to the Western Regions again

and Your Majesty can have as many grapes as you wish then.

Deal?

Deal.

Secret Commissioner.

The gift I've prepared for you is outside.

Please come out.

Is this the gift that you've prepared for us, General?

We've caught a few of Cao Cao's spies.

You came from the capital so you know Cao Cao's army well.

Are there any that you know?

Lift your heads up!

Is this Yang Ping?

Exactly.

Are there any that you recognized?

Yes.

Which one?

This man is the colonel of Cao Cao's Tiger Leopard Cavalry.

He's an enemy of Wei family.

Please lend me your sword.

I hope to avenge my family.

Stop!

So... you're not actually on the same team?

This young comrade of mine acted on an impulse.

He's worried Cao Cao's subordinate might find out that we're here.

He didn't expect that as a colonel of the Tiger Leopard Cavalry

Deng Zhan actually managed to survive after being captured so long ago.

He must have surrendered.

I, Liu Ping, believe that General Chunyu can keep our secret.

Sure!

Let him speak!

Do you recognize them?

Yes.

Who are they?

Secret Commissioner of the imperial family.

The imperial family have been too careless.

He even knows of your identity.

Brother Deng Zhan, you've had a hard time.

Do get up. As for the rest, drag them out to be killed.

Don't worry.

Deng Zhan now serves Duke Yuan.

He'd never reveal your whereabouts.

Thank you... Brother Liu.

It's been one night.

We should be fine now.

I didn't expect Deng Zhan to be alive.

He's even here in Chunyu Qiong's camp.

Moreover...

you actually didn't blame me for stopping Cao Pi from killing him.

Because you were right to do so.

That was obviously a test.

Chunyu Qiong won't let us kill him.

Won't it make us seem guilty if we try to kill him?

What is the matter?

I don't know.

I just think that you seem different.

However... Deng Zhan has seen your true portrait.

He knows who Yang Ping is.

Although you stopped Cao Pi from killing him today

we mustn't allow him to return to Guo Jia.

But I find it weird.

How did he know that we're here as secret commissioners?

Who exactly has he been keeping in contact with?

How did he manage to survive in Yuan Shao's army?

However, I'm certain that since he didn't expose my identity

there's still hope for us.

You shouldn't forget that he serves the Cao family.

He might not rat you out to Chunyu Qiong but he'll surely inform Cao Pi.

I'm sorry.

I thought that by taking you away from the palace

you'd be more carefree.

Who knew that I'd bring you into yet another tiger's den?

Aren't we here to challenge the tiger?

Rong.

What are you doing here instead of recuperating at home?

- Go home now. - I won't.

I'm going to stay and protect Zhong Da!

Stop fooling around!

If Duke Shen doubts me

you can interrogate me before the young master.

He can also get to understand what sort of a person I am.

All right.

Young Master Sima, you've come to Ye City.

What exactly are you after?

You'd better confess quickly to avoid getting hurt.

Duke Shen, I've come here as Duke Yuan summoned the scholars over.

Your son has also seen the command to summon scholars.

I am but a scholar.

I'm weak and powerless.

What could I possibly contrive?

If you were but a scholar

why would Guo Jia's secret agents stalk you all the way here?

Rong said that Cao Cao harmed your brother.

Sima Fang has eight sons.

All of them are alive and well.

Which brother did Cao Cao harm?

Father, you shouldn't say that.

Zhong Da called him a brother but he didn't say it's a biological brother!

The Sima family is huge.

It could be one of his cousins or a kin in the clan.

Or even a sworn godbrother.

Besides, this is what Zhong Da is like.

He'd put his life at risk for friends!

- If not, why would he have saved me? - Shut up!

If Cao Cao harmed your brother, why would he offer you an official post?

Young Master Shen, thank you for speaking up for me.

Duke Shen is so shrewd that I can only be honest with you.

Speak.

I'll be honest with you.

I did serve as an official in the capital.

However, Cao Cao held a grudge against my father for recommending him

to serve as the Commandant of the North District in Luoyang.

Therefore, I was shunned by the others in the capital.

In no time, I gave up the post and returned home.

Even so, Guo Jia's secret agent wouldn't have stalked and monitored you.