Red Cliff (2008) - full transcript

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Yesterday, I proposed a decree

for war against Liu
Bei and Sun Quan.

Has Your Majesty
approved the decree?

The Prime Minister has just
beaten back the Northern Wu Wan.

Our troops and
people need respite.

The insurgents Sun and Liu

are ruling their own
regimes down South.

They plot against
Your Majesty's Court.

If they are not
eliminated in time,

Your Majesty's Han Court
might well be theirs.



Prime Minister,

please let me consider
this further.

How much further must
Your Majesty consider?

I have waged wars across the land.

Tens of thousands of soldiers have
perished on the battlefields,

all for the sake of
the Great Han Empire.

Does Your Majesty still
remember your exile?

Which, if any, among your
Royal relatives rescued You?

I wonder, to this day,

if I had not eliminated
the traitors,

how many more would claim
the throne for themselves?

I hereby decree that.

Prime Minister Cao Cao

be commissioned as the
Commander of the Imperial Army



and go forth to pacify the South.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Senator Kong Rong wishes to speak.

Liu Bei is Your Majesty's uncle,

and Sun Quan is the
third-generation

heir to the Dukedom of Wu.

They have no intent to rebel.

Whereas you, Prime
Minister, not only

seize all the powers of the state,

but also intend to
mobilise the entire army.

There is no justifiable
reason for your war.

Though you have solemnly
vowed yourself.

Loyal to His Majesty's Court,

you will not be able
to convince everyone.

The next one to put
down a rebellion,

may not be you, Prime Minister,

but Liu Bei

and Sun Quan.

He is the first sacrifice

I thank the Prime
Minister for this wine.

Begin.

Form up.

Watch it.

My Lord.

Zilong. My Lord.

You have returned.

Our men made all possible
efforts to hold our ground

until the last minute
before abandoning the town.

Luckily, most of the
peasants have already fled

through the valley.

My Lord.

The two ladies and
the Young Master

are still trapped in the village.

My ladies, please be careful.

Don't cry.

General Zhang.

Chief Strategist, how
does the situation look?

Cao Cao's pursuing forces are
greater than anticipated.

The cavalry vanguard will
arrive at any moment.

The Cao cavalry will use

a wedge formation to attack.

We will reflect the light into
their eyes to hold them off.

Remember, the refugees need

at least an hour to retreat.

We need a thousand more soldiers

for the second line of defence.

Leave it to me.

Alright.

Forward.

My Lord.

Zhu-Ge Liang,

the peasants are moving slowly.

It looks like they will need
at least another four hours.

We urgently need a thousand
soldiers from here.

Go aid General Zhang.

That way Cao Cao
cannot chase them.

The peasants can be
left to themselves.

Cao Cao intends to
make us surrender.

He will not kill them.

No. As you can see,

the elderly, the women, and the
children all need our help.

My Lord,

these peasants are
dragging us down.

To succeed, you have to set
aside these trivial matters.

These are Han people.

They follow us only to escape
from Cao Cao's regime.

If we cannot offer
protection to the civilians

then what is the
meaning of this war?

I will find Guan Yu.

Go and help my Lord.

Sister.

Quickly. Bring the
horse for My Lady.

That looks like Liu Bei's family.

Go get the baby.

My Lady.

General Zhao,

he is my Lord's only
flesh and blood.

He must not fall
into enemy's hands.

Rest assured, My Lady

I will take you and the
young Master to my Lord.

Let's go. Get on the horse.

My Lady, quickly.

My Lady.

My Lady.

General.

My Lady.

Step apart.

Flip the shields.

Attack.

Let's go.

Bailong.

Chief Strategist,

where are our reinforcements?

Who is that man?

Zhao Zilong of Changshan.

Why is there no such a brave
warrior under my command?

General Zhao.

Zilong.

Retreat.

We can still fight.

Why are we giving up so easily?

We are greatly outnumbered
by the enemy.

If we can't protect the refugees,
our losses will be worse.

Attention.

Protect the refugees.

It's an order.

Brother, go quickly.

Leave. Protect the refugees.

Zilong, take the Young Master.

Retreat.

Attention, Third
Battalion. Hold the line.

Protect the retreating refugees.

Quick.

Charge.

Second battalion, go.

Third battalion, get ready.

My lord

I brought the Young Master back

but the two ladies already...

Zilong, get up...

Prime Minister.

Liu Bei is vulnerable.

Look, the cowards have all fled.

Dead bodies lie everywhere.

The rest ran for their lives.

There is only one
man still fighting.

Surrender, and your
life will be spared.

Kneel down...

Do not be so rude.

General Guan Yu,

a wise man chooses
his Lord carefully.

Why do you continue
to serve Liu Bei?

You still won't kneel.

Protect the Prime
Minster. Kill him.

Nobody move.

Prime Minister, why?

If he wanted to kill me,
he already would have.

Guan Yu would not stab
a man from behind.

Liu Bei has lost many battles,

yet so many talented men
remain loyal to him.

One day, they will all
serve under my command

I have suffered a
lifetime of failures.

This isn't the worst one.

Cao Cao thinks he holds the
Dynasty's fate in his hands.

So long as I live and breathe,

I will fight to end his crimes

against the Han Court.

My Lord, I will go to the
state of Wu tonight,

to ask for Sun Quan's support.

Sun Quan?

Against Cao Cao? I wonder
if he is strong enough

to fight an enemy as
fierce as Cao Cao.

Though Sun Quan is young,

he bears great ambitions within.

For generations, the Sun
Clan has ruled the South.

They have the wealth and
strength to fight Cao Cao.

Wu needs us just as
much as we need Wu.

If our alliance succeeds,
and we defeat Cao Cao,

then Cao Cao will definitely
retreat back North.

We can then go West and
rebuild our forces.

Once we are in
control of the West,

Cao Cao will control the North,
and Sun Quan, the South.

We will form a power triangle.

This division of power is the
only way to stop Cao Cao.

My Lord, please rest assured.

Are you confident you
can convince him?

Eat some more.

The road to Wu is long,
and you will need energy.

Prime Minister, the
surrendered generals,

Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, are here.

These two men are untrustworthy.

Please be cautious

I trust those who
are of use to me.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Rise.

How many ships and men
have you brought with you?

We have with us three hundred
thousand naval troops

and more than two thousand

battleships and boats
of various sizes.

Great.

Now we can be

tigers that swim.

Your Highness, here is
our letter of surrender.

General Cai,

I see many grammatical errors here

I hope your military strategies

are not as poor as your
command of literature

I hear you have frequent exchanges

with the State of Wu.

Your Highness,

I have declared war
on Wu many times.

These so called exchanges
are limited to only this.

No need to explain.

What is this?

This is a map of Wu that I drew

taking great pains to be precise.

General Cai,

you took great pains indeed.

Your Highness,

Liu Bei has fled to
Xiakou in defeat.

If he eventually joins forces

with Sun Quan's Wu clan,
then I fear that...

Then isn't that in
our best interest?

If Sun Quan forms an
alliance with Liu Bei,

then he is harbouring a traitor

and rebelling against
the Royal Court,

which justifies our war.

Liu Bei, a shoe
weaving Royal uncle,

his whole life is a failure.

Sun Quan

is a young upstart
with no achievements.

When a loser join
forces with a coward,

what can they accomplish?

Though my Lord is young,

he shows wisdom beyond his years.

Speak frankly and don't hold back.

The senior advisors will
be your biggest obstacle.

You say we can fight
this war? We can't.

Hopefully,

he has some good strategies
to use against Cao Cao.

This time around, Cao Cao
is determined to fight.

We are gravely outnumbered.

How could we ever hope
to fight this war?

We cannot fight.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Mr Zhu-Ge, I hear that Cao Cao

beat Liu Bei into
the mud at Xinye?

The defeat at Xinye was due
to my Lord's noble heart.

He did not abandon the
thousands of refugees

who followed our troops and
slowed down our retreat.

How large is Cao Cao's army?

A ruthless army of
eight hundred thousand

is invading from
both land and water.

Cao Cao's real target is
not to defeat Liu Bei

but to conquer Wu.

Your Highness governs
the vast Southland,

and has many extraordinary
gentlemen in your court.

If you are determined to
oppose Cao Cao's invasion,

then please prepare for war.

My Lord. Do not fight.

When the late Duke
was still alive,

he always told me

that nothing is more important

than the peace of Wu's people.

We cannot fight, my Lord.

That's right. To
surrender is not so bad.

For the cowardly, in fact,
the earlier the better.

That way everyone
can stop worrying.

If that is the case,

then why didn't Liu Bei surrender?

Confucius spoke of giving
oneself to justice, and

Mencius spoke of sacrificing
for righteousness.

Surrendering is not a matter
of victory or defeat,

but rather one of virtue.

Cao Cao, the self-proclaimed
Prime Minister,

controls the Han Emperor, and
fabricates His Majesty's commands.

If he conquers the Southland, he
will surely usurp the throne.

If we surrender to Cao Cao, then
we would be aiding a tyrant.

Lord Mayor Liu Bei is of His
Majesty's Royal Family.

His wisdom is known to the world
and respected by the people.

If a noble man, who has been loyal
to the Han court all his life,

fails to succeed,
then that is fate.

But, how could he
surrender to Cao Cao?

That would be an unbearable shame.

However, it is fine for
Your Highness to surrender.

At least, you will be able to
keep your life and possessions.

At Cao Cao's mercy,

he may let you remain as the
ruler of the Southland.

So why not?

You are saying I am nothing
compared to Liu Bei?

No, Your Highness shows
an outstanding brilliance

greater than that of most and
akin to that of Lord Liu.

Your Highness is capable of
ruling the vast Southland.

This alone, is a major
advantage over Lord Liu.

My Lord, Mister Zhu-Ge
has come before you

with a plan for fighting Cao Cao.

It would not hurt to hear him out.

Though my Lord suffered
a recent defeat,

we still have Guan Yu,
Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun,

as well as the Navy
that they command

with at least ten thousand men.

If we join forces with the elite
generals and troops of Wu,

the alliance will
strengthen us both.

Although Cao Cao's
military outnumbers ours,

more than half of his troops
only just surrendered to him

and are not entirely trustworthy.

They have travelled over one
hundred miles every day.

They are exhausted.

As the saying goes, a worn spear

cannot even penetrate
a thin cloth.

Moreover, Northerners are not
used to the Southern terrain,

and they have no naval experience.

Their abrupt invasion is
destined to result in failure.

You make well reasoned points.

My Lord,

please do not fall
into Zhu-ge's traps.

We cannot justify fighting

against Prime Minister
Cao, My Lord.

Our alliance with Liu Bei

will only justify Cao Cao's war.

It is better to take
Liu Bei captive

and turn him over as
a gift to Cao Cao.

No. We shall first
fight, then surrender.

So that we leave Cao Cao
with a bitter taste.

One hundred thousand against
eight hundred thousand.

What kind of a war is this?

Cowards.

All of you are shameless cowards.

How dare you.

We cannot fight.

Your Highness,

I know you have been
concealing your abilities.

The sword had been hidden
away for too long.

Now is the time to draw the blade.

My Lord, this Zhu-Ge Liang

is determined to drag
us into trouble.

Don't. My Lord.

Speak no more.

I have heard this
far too many times.

Let me think it through.

Let me think...

How beautiful.

This really is heaven on earth.

Unfortunately, with the
arrival of Cao's regime,

all of this beauty
will soon turn to ash.

Your words had almost
persuaded his Lordship.

For the alliance to happen,

I only need to persuade
one other person.

Zhou Yu. Viceroy Zhou.

Exactly.

The Duke regards him as
his own older brother.

The Late Duke had also said,

for internal affairs,
seek Zhang Zhao.

For foreign affairs, seek Zhou Yu.

He is now encamping at Red Cliff.

He is the right one to seek.

Stop.

Give it to me.

Are you not capable
of holding a spear?

There must be power
within every stroke.

One more time.

Stab.

Slash.

Strike.

Swing.

Stab.

Slash.

Strike.

Swing.

Mister Zhu-Ge, the
Viceroy is over there.

Form up.

One other wing.

The Goose Formation.

Not bad.

A pity that it is outdated.

Give it to me.

Your Honour.

You try.

Thank you.

Your Honour.

My family's water buffalo

was stolen from the
fields near the barracks.

Some people saw...

Your Honour, this
is Mr Zhu-Ge Liang.

Greetings, Viceroy Zhou.

Greetings.

Why carry a fan on a
cold day like this?

It helps me remain calm.

It's the one old habit
I cannot give up.

You do not look like
an anxious person.

This way.

What are you laughing at?

I am not laughing,
but appreciating

I am appreciating
that these soldiers

know not only how to fight, but
also how to appreciate music.

You are knowledgeable
in the art of war.

Just a little.

Yet you say my
formations are outdated.

No man but you

can hear me from that far away

I have sharp hearing.

This way.

General Gan, Mister Zhu-Ge said

that your formation is outdated.

Are you aware that a bad
formation can kill our brothers?

I have never thought of
killing my own brothers.

The power of the formations
comes from the heart.

There is no such a
thing as outdated.

This is?

This is General Gan Xing.

Pardon me, General Gan.

General Gan and his army,

used to be the most notorious
pirates in the South.

You cannot joke around with him.

No problem

I am impressed by everyone's
performance today.

But this elderly gentleman
had his buffalo stolen

in the rice fields
near the barracks.

Was this done by one
of my brothers?

He who did it gave all
our brothers a bad name.

Find him.

Who did this despicable thing?

Lu Su, tell me,

what is the penalty
according to law?

By law, the penalty is death.

Step forward. Reveal yourselves.

Who did this? Step forward

I have a way to find them.

Since the buffalo was
stolen in the rice fields,

then there must be mud on
the shoes of the looters.

Am I correct? Yes.

Attention, Gan Xing Company.

Everyone, run to that tree,

around and back.

Go. Yes.

Quickly. Follow up.

I did not drag those
people out today

because I want to give
them a second chance.

The Wu army does not
tolerate looting.

What we really need

is to stick together

I have failed

to train my soldiers

I beg your forgiveness

I dare not.

I dare not.

These soldiers are
difficult to train.

Yet, these soldiers,
have great potential.

Things like this happen because
of our shortage of supplies.

You gave us half of your wealth
to help build this army.

Now, supplies are short again.

So how about giving
up the other half?

Whatever you say is fine by me.

Then it's settled.

Your Honour.

Bad news.

I told you

this friend is difficult
to deal with.

It's a breech birth.

Hold this.

Luoyue,

hang in there.

My Lady. The pony still hasn't...

Be quiet.

She can't give birth
with you being so loud.

It's coming.

Xiao Qiao, what's happening?

A breech birth It
will come out soon.

Your Honour, for horses...

Be quiet. Breech
births are very rare.

The pony has not come
out for two days.

What is happening?

Why is there only one leg?

He can't come out.

What should we do?

The other leg is stuck.

Simply dragging it
out will not work.

He is?

He is Zhu...

He is Zhu-Ge Liang,
a friend of mine.

Step back a little.

You are knowledgeable in this too?

A little. I helped
cows give birth.

Horses should be much the same.

Excuse me, let me try.

The two front hooves need
to come out together

for a natural birth.

The pony does not have a name yet.

He was born in the Southland,

so he should have a Southern name.

How about Meng Meng?

Meng Meng?

Meng Meng, stand up.

He can't stand up.

Stand up.

Come on.

Stand up.

I hope we can watch
him grow each day

I want you to promise me,

when he is grown,

not to make him a warhorse.

Viceroy,

Xiao Qiao looks like

she's the proud new
mother herself.

Viceroy, time is of the essence.

War or surrender?

Lu Su,

today we are celebrating. Let's
not discuss affairs of state.

Alright,

Since Mr Zhu-Ge is
learned in music,

why don't we play a tune together?

I know only... a little.

You know a great deal.

You are only hiding it.

If you two gentlemen
can work together,

then that will be a perfect match.

Please.

Thank you, madam.

Thank you, Mr Zhu-Ge.

My husband has not played
his qin for a long time.

I, too, have not been so
enervated for a long time.

We still haven't
discussed the war.

How can we leave?

His answer is within his music.

He will fight this war

I think you two can
be great partners.

His music tells me,

that he needs friends.

Your music tells me

that you need to fight this war.

Prime Minister,

desire and obsession

can also cause of headaches.

Have you not heard that
desire makes one young.

This painting must
be by Your Highness.

Her name is Xiao Qiao.

When I was young,

her father thought
very highly of me

I saw her only once.

Now, she is the most
beautiful woman in the world

and married to Zhou Yu.

After I pacify Wu,

she will be mine.

Gentlemen, you are all here.

Yes, Your Highness.

General Cai, your
ships are well built.

Thank you, Your Highness

I have guarded Jingzhou
for many years.

With the strength and power
of our current navy,

we will surely defeat Wu.

Great. What?

The two generals are saying,

that our ground troops
are just for show?

General Xia-hou, while we

Northerners are
great on horseback,

the Southerners are
experts on the water.

To destroy Wu,

we will need the hard work
of General Cai and his navy.

Thank you, Your Highness.

General Cai,

What...

is the best food in the South?

River fish is the best food
in the South, Your Highness.

Then...

what is the worst thing
about the South?

The weather is the worst.

This is the windy season.

The wind can often
be unpredictable.

Victory.

Six dragons lead my chariot

I will ride the wind
with the greatest speed,

with all of the feudal
lords under my command,

to rule the world with one name.

On land and sea, with forces
numbering eight hundred thousand,

I wish to meet Your Highness
at the hunt for Wu.

This Cao Cao

really has some nerve.

What does he mean
by a hunt for Wu?

Brother, Smile.

We will get through this.

They all want you to smile too.

When father was nineteen,

he was known as the
Tiger of the Southland.

When my late brother
was twenty-six,

he conquered the Southland

I am now twenty-six,

yet I have done nothing.

It seems that my achievements

will never be able to
be compared to theirs.

No matter how hard I try,

those old advisors
call me worthless.

Brother?

You came at the right time...

He will not listen or even smile.

My Lord,

What is it?

Cao Cao requests our
surrender. See for yourself.

You have not used
this for a long time.

Let's go.

He is cunning.

Do you see him?

This beast is watching us.

He is sinister, playing
with his prey.

Is he not like Cao Cao?

Though Cao Cao is Prime Minister,
he is the real traitor,

always ambushing
from the darkness.

In the entire world, not
one person likes him.

Brother, what are you afraid of?

There.

To be honest,

I was prepared for war with
Cao Cao three years ago.

Cao Cao claims to have an army
of eight hundred thousand,

yet many are surrendered
troops he cannot trust.

He can actually use only one
hundred thousand of them at most.

Our troops have high morale.

We have knowledge of the Yangtze
River and greater naval expertise.

Moreover, Cao Cao has no
justifiable reason for his war.

But those senior advisors.

They are only concerned about
protecting themselves.

You need not listen to them.

Your late brother once told you

that you are a better
administrator,

but that he is a better Commander.

That made you lose confidence.

But he only said that to make
you strive to surpass him.

Tiger.

Help them.

Go quickly.

Get out of here.

Can you walk?

Are you alright?

The beast is over there.

Go.

Do not hesitate any more.

My decision to fight
Cao Cao is final.

If anyone dares mention surrender,

he will end up like this table.

Zhou Yu.

Cheng Pu.

Lu Su.

Ay.

I hereby appoint.

Zhou Yu as the Viceroy in Chief,

Cheng Pu the Lieutenant Viceroy,

and Lu Su as the
Consulting Commander.

We will form an
alliance with Liu Bei,

to stop Cao Cao's invasion.

Understood.

It seems that war is inevitable.

We cannot stop Cao Cao's invasion.

But maybe this one will
prevent future wars.

Just as long as there
are no more wars.

Isn't this one just like yours?

You sure know how to
replicate my handwriting.

Do you know why I wrote
so many 'Ping Ans?

Ping An' means peace.

So... why so many peaces?

'Ping An' is

a name...

Come,

what do you hear?

Listen carefully

I have heard rumours

that all the families
are leaving Red Cliff.

When...

When will I leave?

I won't let you leave

I want you to remain by my side.

One more time. Hurry.

General Zhao.

Chief Strategist, you are back.

This is Wu's Viceroy
in Chief, Zhou Yu.

Guan. Guan. The ospreys cried

from the sandy river side.

Lovely maiden, modest and fair,

makes a fine match
for the gentleman.

We have no food, what
good is reading a book?

When you grow up,
you will find out

that reading now will
give you food later.

Well, let us read one more time.

Great Calligraphy.

Damn.

What do you think you are doing.

I have always admired General
Zhang's famous roar.

To defeat Cao Cao, we need
men with your temper.

This way please, Viceroy.

My Lord, they are here.

Your journey has been hard.

This is Viceroy Zhou Yu,

Lieutenant Viceroy Cheng Pu,

Consulting Commander Lu Su,

and Veteran General Huang Gai.

Greetings, Lord Mayor Liu.

Gentlemen,

the Duke has helped all of
us by sending these troops

I am sincerely thankful.

An alliance is a friendship.

Friends, need not be so formal.

Dare I ask, Your Honour,

how many soldiers do you
have under your command?

Thirty-thousand.

Thirty-thousand...

thirty-thousand men, are too few.

Our men are too few?

Your army was defeated
by just one blow.

What battles have you won?

Speak up. I only worry we might
laugh ourselves to death.

So what?

What's worse than a defeated army?

What is wrong with defeat?

Better to be a loser
than a coward.

What are you saying?

I dare you.

Brother, stop.

Brother.

We are not building an alliance.

We are making enemies.

Viceroy Zhou, what
is your opinion?

At this time of crisis,

you can still weave straw sandals?

This has been a habit
of mine for years.

We have walked a long way
wearing these shoes.

Whenever our shoes are worn out,

Big Brother weaves new
ones with his own hands.

Exactly.

It really is strong

I am surprised that such
weak strands of grass,

can become so strong after
you weaved them together.

You have a noble Lord,
and brave generals.

Generals Guan, Zhang and Zhao

are all invincible warriors
on the battlefield.

An army high in spirits can fight
an enemy ten times its size.

We sons of Wu, must
protect our homeland.

We will also do our best

I have only one dream.

A dream for all;

that is for all of us to unite.

United, no one can pull us apart.

I'm here.

Why are you here?

To go to war.

War?

War is no joking matter.

You think that I'm
here to joke around?

A woman should share
the responsibility

for the rise and
fall of the Kingdom.

So should a horse.

Don't go. Come back.

Don't be like my brother.

Talk to me.

She is?

Our Princess, Sun Shang Xiang

Princess, have you
ever been to war?

There is a first
time for everything.

After I fought my first war,

I never wished for a second

I think, if she encounters
any Cao troops,

her hands will tremble with
fear, as if she were waving

Princess,

I see you better off at home,
making your flower weavings.

She seem a very
ambitious young lady.

She is a tomboy. She
likes fighting.

Her maids are all fully armed.

Who would dare marry her?

What are you doing?

What did you say to my horse.

I told him that his rider

is a scoundrel.

Get up.

Don't pull so hard.

Hey.

Hey.

Turn towards me.

Prime Minister.

Prime Minister,

a messenger from Wu has arrived.

Bring him forth. Yes sir.

This way please.

Did Sun Quan receive my letter?

He did.

What is his reply?

This page is blank. What
is the meaning of this?

They intend to fight,

so they did not bother
to write a reply.

Have him, beheaded.

Prime Minister,

Liu Bei must have already
formed an alliance with Wu,

brazenly opposing the empire.

Who will command their alliance?

Prime Minister, I guess
it will be Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu is known not
for his military

abilities, but his musical talent.

How can such a man lead an army?

Prime Minister, for years,

Zhou Yu has remained
our toughest opponent.

Indeed, he is a skilled musician,

but he is an even
better naval Commander.

We have suffered considerable
losses against him.

Please do not underestimate him.

You sure do

give him a lot of credit.

Prime Minister,

there is one other man
we cannot underestimate.

Who is it? That is.

Zhu-Ge Liang.

To the first hero who
sacrificed his life for Wu.

In the battle of Guandu,

Cao Cao cut off the noses of
a thousand prisoners of war.

He boxed and returned those noses,

instantly crushing his
opponent's morale.

Today, he beheaded a man of Wu

to crush our morale.

But, we men of Wu are not cowards,

and we are not afraid

I have been waiting for this day.

I'm here.

What a commotion.

I won't miss tomorrow's battle.

Zilong,

have there been any problems
with the allied training?

The two armies have
different codes of conduct,

so at the start, there were
a few minor conflicts.

But, rest assured, I
am training them well.

Zhou Yu likes naval battles?

Generals Cai Mao and Zhang Yun,

I know you cannot wait any longer.

Very well,

you two are to command our
navy to set sail down south.

Cai Mao leads a strong navy.

The water current and wind
are all to their advantage.

So, we can launch
our naval invasion.

Prime Minister, when
shall we set out?

Tomorrow, before dawn.

He cannot wait. He will
launch the attack tonight.

No,

make it tonight.

Would he take action so hastily?

There is only one word to describe
his military tactics. Speed.

In the battle of Xinye,
Cao Cao's elite cavalries

rushed one hundred and fifty
miles in just three days.

We had no chance to prepare.

He places surrendered
troops on the front-line,

while his own trusted
army remains in the back.

Cao Hong, Zhang Liao.

You are to lead the naval
forces on the second front.

Xia-hou Jun and Wei Ben,

you are to lead the cavalry west

to provide cover for the navy.

If the navy is so powerful,

why would they need us for cover?

Where will their main target be?

Right here.

That is the reason why
you camped in Red Cliff.

You have foreseen this.

Yet someone said that my
formations are outdated

I have an even more outdated one.

Bagua formation.

It is indeed outdated.

But when used appropriately,
it will be very effective.

What are you all talking about?

How can this Bagua formation
be used on water?

Once you drop, it sinks.

If they think I will use the navy,

then Zhou Yu and Zhu-Ge
Liang really are stupid.

General Cai, your navy
is only a diversion.

Understood.

Xia-hou Jun and Wei Ben,

take two thousand
cavalries by land

and catch them off-guard.

The majority of the Cao
force is land infantry.

Would Cao Cao attack by water?

What are you thinking of?

Cao Cao never speaks of
his true intentions,

even to his own followers.

Truth and illusion are often
disguised as each other.

Cao Cao likes to play this game,

both with friends and with foes.

What are you doing? Putting
that land tortoise in water?

Halt.

Reporting.

No signs of the Wu army, within
eight miles of the rear hill.

Nor any trace of civilians.

All have fled, except for
a tortoise in its shell.

Charge.

There may be an ambush.

Am I afraid of a few young girls?

Shoot.

The enemy has entered the trap.

This Bagua formation is
not at all outdated.

Form up.

It's a trap.

I predicted this ambush.

Damn. Now the advantage is theirs.

Kill them.

Get back in formation.

Break through the shields
and attack the enemy.

Charge.

Signal the cavalry. Break
through their encirclement.

I will kill Zhou Yu for this.

Turn.

Charge.

Attack. Kill them.

Get back in formation.

Hang in there.

Hang in there.

Viceroy.

Come on.

Attack.

Great. This is great.

Get out.

Reporting.

Your Honour, Cao Cao's fleet
is sailing towards Red Cliff.

Prime Minister, our
army was defeated.

Our cavalries have
never lost a battle.

It is only a slight
setback. No need to panic.

They managed to
outfox this old fox.

Look,

even though we came a
long way on water,

not one allied ship was
there to counter-attack.

Instead, they ambushed
our ground forces.

They were ready for us.

The war against these rebels

shall not be underestimated.

Prime Minister, since they do not
have an adequate naval defence,

let's send out our navy
to destroy the allies.

I would rather spend more time

preparing my troops
for the naval battle.

Sooner or later, we will
get across the river

I am still waiting to carve
my poetry onto that cliff.

Right there. Make camp,

right across from Red Cliff.

Victory. Victory.

So many ships.

If we used them as firewood,

it would take a hundred
years to burn them all.

How can we beat them?

Cao Cao claimed to have an army
of eight hundred thousand.

It looks like he really does.

So what if he has eight
hundred thousand troops?

With only one tortoise,
we stalled his army.

Exactly.

The delay has taken
away their momentum.

What do you think?

Rather than attacking
directly with his navy,

Cao Cao tried a rear sneak
attack with his cavalry.

He made a mistake.

Now, he will change his tactics

and begin using his navy.

Cao Cao used only two thousand
troops, to discover our strengths.

But we know nothing of our enemy.

We can only wait for
their next attack.

How is your arrow wound?

Fine. It's only a slight wound

I owe you this one.

Take it easy.

Victory. Victory.

They are cheering for
victory too early.

With such a good morale,
what is there to fear?

We need good spirits
to win this war.

Your Honour.

This medicine will cure
the wound very quickly.

Please bear with the pain.

Let me do this.

Let me do something for
a wounded soldier.

How does my bandage look?

You wrapped me up
like a rice dumpling.

It seems that Cao Cao isn't
as fierce as he seems.

He is indeed fierce.

He is a seasoned
military Commander.

He will do anything within
his power to gain victory.

He knows how to command an army,

but he has no friends.

Cao Cao is unlike you.

This toast is for Viceroy Zhou.

To Viceroy Zhou.

Me too. For Viceroy Zhou.

I hope he can recover soon.

Toast.

We joined forces under pressure

but were successful beyond
our wildest dreams.

Our brilliant victory
shocked Cao Cao.

Duke,

I have a difficult
favour to ask for you.

One hundred thousand refugees

followed us from Xinye City

I have no land on
which to settle them.

After defeating Cao Cao,

I would like you to let me use
Jingzhou to settle the people.

Jingzhou is the heartland
of the Yangtze

and a most valuable
strategic location.

How could you?

Only a righteous leader

owns his land.

Indeed, a righteous leader

may only need a small
piece of land.

The Kingdom is vast,

vast enough to shelter
all refugees.

But I am only afraid that

once soldiers settle in,
they will never leave.

Those in arms are all our own men.

If a Lord is righteous, then all
the Kingdom's men are his to lead.

Come, let's drink up.

Toast.

The princess is a true heroine.

Lord Liu,

my younger sister,

has always admired
great gentlemen.

But since she is so fierce,

I have always worried
about her marriage,

as it is difficult to seek a
suitable gentleman for her.

Brother,

what are you talking about?

If the Liu and Sun
families become relatives,

Then it wouldn't matter how we

divided the land
and men, would it?

The war has just begun.

I...

have never thought of re-marrying,

but...

Brother,

you must be drunk.

What do you take me for?

I have found you a fine match.

What's wrong with that?

Fine.

Then, I will have

a hundred of my armed maids

guarding my door,

and I dare you to step in...

and...

Oh, no.

Big Brother.

Big Brother.

How rude.

Brother.

You have never learned
to respect me.

That's strange. What
did I do wrong?

Big Brother's acupuncture
points are locked.

Brother. Wake up.

Whatever you do, don't
kill my pigeons.

Their acupuncture points are
different from those of men

I hope I didn't hurt your Lord.

He wouldn't blame you,
even if you hurt him.

Was I outrageously rude?

I think you are unique.

It is the unique ones who
are the most misunderstood

I hate those arranged marriages.

Women are pushed around

like chess pieces.

You are feeding them too much.

They won't be able
to fly any more.

If only I was like them.

You want to... fly?

I have been living in
the palace all my life.

It is such a bore.

Your talents exceed
those of others,

yet you hide them.

Only you can see them

I used to go hunting with my
brother across the shore.

Back then, the field was full
of people dancing and praying.

Now, it has all become
dark and mysterious.

Everything has changed now
that Cao Cao has come.

Before they come here,

I will go over there

to take a peek

and stir up some trouble.

Take care. The weather
has turned cold

I have served the Prime Minister

for three days already.

Yet, Your Highness still
does not know my name.

My name is... Can you serve tea?

I can Do so.

Prime Minister,

we can start the therapy today.

Doctor, what's the matter?

Tea, Your Highness.

Incorrect,

try again.

Tea, Your Highness.

That's the way.

Xiao Qiao,

I have always admired
the way you serve tea.

He started this war

all because of a woman?

What are you doing?

I just gave them a bath

and am drying them off.

What if they catch a cold?

How is your wound?

It's fine

I heard last night was
quite entertaining.

Last night's celebration
made me realise

that we may becomes
enemies tomorrow.

When that day comes,

you and I

will each serve our own sides

I cannot stand the thought

of a stand-off with you

I hope it never will happen.

You are a brilliant Commander.

Fortunately, you are
not on Cao Cao's side.

Otherwise, you will
be a big trouble.

You've been looking across
the shore for two days now.

What do you see?

I must remain calm.

How about you?

I also need to remain calm.

Cao Cao has no experience
in naval affairs.

To cross the river,

he must rely on Cai
Mao and Zhang Yun.

They are both Southerners.

They know all the rocks and
currents in the river.

If we can eliminate them,

half of the Cao navy
will be paralysed.

That... would be rather difficult.

Cao Cao is always very
wary of assassins,

just as his followers are
wary of his deadly temper.

They have interesting
fleet formations.

Every formation has its weakness.

It's only up to us to find it.

That shouldn't be too difficult.

Great.

I never imagined that our
soldiers are also great athletes.

This is what I call interesting.

Over all these years we've
been on the battlefields,

we were never once defeated.

But like a game of Cuju,

it cannot be exciting when
one side always wins.

For the battle of Red Cliff,

we are ready

I want to see how
those rebels react

once we throw out the ball.

Shaking the earth, waves
hand in hand flow.

No earthly wine can
rival the moon's glow.

A smile knows what
no words can know.

A passing glance and
all is white snow.

Let the mind, not the
hands, defend and fight.

Walls of iron cannot
stop our might.

This life, not in
vain, not in spite.

From every crucible, a
phoenix takes flight.

Wipe not our tears. Let
them dry on the air.

This war is one our
hearts declare.

Victory won with beauty and flair.

Rise together. Even
a loss we can bear.

No fear of this long
night we share.

Let the cries of war be our song.

No comrade-in-arms shall
our memories wrong.

White waves of the
Yangtze so long.

Seething, as before, in
our hearts so strong.

Why not let the cries
of war be our song?

Waves that crack the
cliffs shall not be wrong.

Brief voices speak out,
from the heart they flow.

No earthly wine can
rival the moon's glow.

A smile knows what
no words can know.

A passing glance and
all is white snow.

Let the mind, not the
hands, defend and fight.

Walls of iron cannot
stop our might.

This life, not in
vain, not in spite.

From every crucible, a
phoenix takes flight.

Minds in battle will
clash and collide

in this war that
our hearts decide.

Let war bring peace
to the world so wide.

Rise up together and
battle with pride.

Let no man fear the
long night outside.

Let the cries of war be our song.

No comrade-in-arms shall
our memories wrong.

White waves of the
Yangtze so long.

Seething, as before, in
our hearts so strong.

Why not let the cries
of war be our song?

Waves that crack the
cliffs shall not be wrong.

A moment so fast,
where did it fly?

A wine so sweet, let
me drink it dry.

A wound meant for my ally

is a medal I hold high.

Every joy, every sigh

our laugh does belie.

The moon lights the sky.

Let us drink our glasses dry