"China, Ming Dynasty, the 8th year of Jing Tai, the year 1 457 at that time, Eunuchs controlled both the government and the power, and the two most important agencies were "East Agency" and "Imperial Guards"" "These are the Imperial Guards" "These are the East Agencies special agents, called "Fan Zi"" "They are very cruel individuals." "The people are terrified of their notoriousness" "This is their second in command, Mao Zong Xian" "This is their first in command, Pi Shao Tang" "Highly trained in the skill of martial arts, they dare to commit any ruthless act." "Their chief officer is "Zhao Shao Qin"" "He is powerful and a highly skilled swordsman." "His martial arts have reached their peak" "He rules his Government officials with fear." "Minister of Defense leader, Yu Qian has made him chief of all executions" "But he was framed by these dirty beasts and is due to be executed for treason." "His children will be exiled to the far away frontier outpost of "Dragon Gate"" "Look, Yu's spirit will not die easily." "Send his children to the outposts;" "it's not safe for us." "Your Excellency, you are so foreseeing" "Cut off the grass and rip out the roots, never let it grow again!" "They are coming!" "You guys go first." "Stop!" "Hold it!" "Step aside!" "Move move!" "Beat it!" "Officer, hurry up!" "Go with them." "Run!" "What do you mean?" "Be quick!" "OK" "Your Excellency..." "What's the matter..." "Oh?" "Someone's sneaking upon on us" "They can't move fast or get too far;" "we can catch up with them..." "No, go wait for them at the Dragon Gate" "Look..." "What it is?" "Don't you see?" "Oh..." "Call the boss..." "Boss!" "Boss!" "What's wrong with you!" "Guests are here" "Really?" "Where?" "Look... over there!" "Hurry up, help with the luggage" "You are leaving now?" "Thank you." "Do come back again please" "That's strange." "How come there are guests traveling in this season" "How do you do sir, let us carry them for you." "Welcome everyone." "Please come in." "This way..." "Hurry, get some water, and make some tea" "Come in please." "Take a seat, sit down, please" "Would you prefer the room upstairs" "Hello sir" "The boss is out of town, I will be at your service" "What's your position here?" "I'm in charge of accounting" "How many people are staying here now?" "None!" "Who wants to come here at this season..." "Good, we will reserve the whole inn!" "The whole inn?" "We will stay here for about 5 to 10 days!" "No other guests are allowed!" "Understand?" "Yes, understand sir, but..." "Settle the rooms for the others" "OK" "Excuse me sir, could you kindly tip us for carrying the luggage" "You!" "Wait over there." "I will make you another pot of tea." "Boy" "Bring me a glass of water" "OK" "Workers!" "How much?" "Whatever sir, we've carried them for miles..." "OK" "How many soldiers are there at the post?" "I'm not very sure" "Talk!" "About 12 men" "Hey you, take care of it." "We will use this place to settle some official business" "Any guests and you have to ask for my permission before you accept them, understand?" "Yes yes, I understand" "Hold a funeral for these guys" "And bring me some tea!" "I will flush them out, you wait on the road, I will meet you downhill" "OK" "Keep some guards at the lnn too..." "Sir sorry but we are full." "I am not looking for a room" "Then what is it you require sir?" "Where is your boss, Mr. Wu?" "Oh, the boss is out of town on a business trip I see... and when will he be back?" "I am not sure sir lt would be better for you to come back some other time" "No, I shall wait here until he returns I think you better leave..." "Oh... why?" "Because err..." "Because umm..." "Well sir... its not safe around here due to the Tartars" "The Tartar soldiers will attack us?" "Yes, yes" "Don't worry." "They don't scare me" "Hey, you guys, keep playing" "But our rooms are full, you'd better..." "You told me already..." "this place is just fine..." "Bring me a bowl of lamb noodle soup and some wine" "You..." "Bring some..." "lamb noodle soup and wine..." "Hey boy..." "Bring me the same as what he is having" "Wait, I want the one on that gentleman's table" "What?" "That one there... I will bring you another fresh plate" "Stop!" "I want that one, is that clear?" "Er err... sure I understand, but..." "Here..." "let him eat first" "Oh thank you sir..." "Take it!" "Please..." "Hey boy, go and check if my wine is ready..." "Take it to him" "Go!" "Sir... your wine..." "What?" "Your wine..." "No no no" "What?" "The wine..." "what about the wine?" "I dropped it" "I am sorry sir" "What's wrong?" "What's the matter with you!" "Sit down" "Find me a rope quickly" "Get him out of here" "Move!" "I said step aside!" "You dare to try and poison me" "No no..." "I didn't" "Oh you didn't eh?" "Then drink it!" "No no I don't drink!" "You will drink!" "Step aside!" "You blind dogs!" "How dare you!" "We are known very well around here" "Boy, bring a clean pot of wine." "What's your purpose here" "May I borrow this towel." "Hey, I'm talking to you!" "Pick up this stuff first" "Why are you guys standing there!" "Bring the wine here." "What happened?" "Run..." "Hold it!" "Here." "Don't forget your professional sword!" "Don't move, otherwise you will die for sure." "This is bad sir!" "Boy, cook me another bowl of noodles" "You still have an appetite after this?" "Don't talk so much." "Go cook the food" "Sir, you made a big mistake." "Why?" "They have about a dozen men" "They'll be back soon." "Never mind." "They don't dare fool with me" "I will go check" "Wait a sec, watch this guy, be careful." "You killed this man?" "Yes!" "Why?" "He didn't tell you?" "Yes he did..." "Then you don't need to ask me." "That's his version, I want to hear yours" "Are you related?" "I'm his friend" "OK, since you are his friend, I will tell you..." "He put poison in my wine!" "Oh, so you killed him!" "Do you have any proof it was him who poisoned your wine?" "My word is proof!" "A case involving human life is very serious!" "...so what do you plan on doing?" "What's on your mind?" "You have killed so you must pay with your life!" "OK then, you can report me to the officials I don't have time for officials I doubt they could handle me" "You will also have to explain about the deaths of those workers" "Theres no need to bring that up!" "I think we should forget that this ever happened" "Forget this!" "?" "Its not that easy" "And why not?" "You're an unreasonable man!" "So!" "?" "Move!" "I told you guys many times, don't fool around!" "You're just like dogs you can't help eating shit!" "Bring some water for washing, quick!" "Admirable!" "So admirable!" "You're so kind" "Forget it, forget it." "Your name is..." "How should I call you?" "Xiao Shao Zi" "Oh, Brother Xiao." "What do you do for living?" "I'm a lazy guy!" "If someone feeds me, I stay and help out for a while, but not for too long." "Forgive my rudeness but what's the purpose of your trip?" "Oh, the boss here, Mr. Wu is my friend." "What do you do?" "I'm working for the Justice Department." "I fool around all day with these monkeys!" "So you come here on some case... right?" "No choice, I take the money, so I must do the job!" "Maybe in the future I will need your help" "You're too kind." "So what case are you working on now?" "Brother Xiao, please don't take it personally, but my profession doesn't allow me to speak too much." "I understand" "We came from the capital under secret Imperial Order." "The commander told us to keep people away from the crime scene I understand, you mean I should leave now." "No I can't let you do that, but if you help me out I will every grateful" "Heh, no need for that." "I can pay for your traveling expenses." "Don't mention it" "But if Mr Wu comes back I will visit again" "Sure, sure!" "Thanks." "Boss, boss... yes" "How much?" "Forget it, just forget it" "Sir, I can... I appreciate it" "See you then." "Yes... see you." "Please give this to that guy." "Bye." "Bye." "Send two guys to follow him." "Big Brother" "Shao Zi!" "You are here finally." "L've been to your place already." "Why didn't you wait for me?" "There's a Royal Officer with a special assignment... or so he says." "He told me I should leave." "What?" "I don't believe him." "Also, his followers have no uniforms." "Wait a moment." "Who do you think they are?" "They seem to be cruel, and they know how to fight." "Why did you ask me to come?" "Let's go back to the inn." "Sir, Xiao is coming back." "Hide it." "Careful how you talk to me." "We're not from the Agency, but the Justice Department." "Go tell the others, and hurry!" "Go tell the guard!" "Yes, Sir." "Oh, what a pleasant surprise!" "Xiao, you're back so soon?" "As soon as I left, I met Brother Wu outside." "This is the Officer from the Justice Department." "Wu Ming." "Innkeeper Wu Ming!" "Please excuse me if my men didn't serve you well enough." "No, no, it was all very good." "Mr. Wu." "I am Mao Zong Xian;" "we have some business to attend here." "You just serve us here, with all we need, nothing else please." "Until we have finished our job, nobody is allowed to leave here." "Is that clear?" "And no new guests without our approval!" "Yes..." "Stop there!" "What do you want?" "Run!" "Wait, Big Brother." "Let's follow them quietly." "See?" "Let's go to the inn." "What is it?" "We want a room." "Open up!" "Open the door!" "No vacant rooms, sorry." "Who's the boss here?" "It's me." "I called several times." "Why don't you open the door?" "My men have no manners, but we're full indeed." "Then we'll sleep on the floor!" "You can't do that!" "Stop!" "Why use violence?" "So what?" "I am asking you." "None of your business..." "The hard way, eh?" "Stop it, Big Brother!" "We will sleep here!" "No need to sleep on the floor." "You can have my room." "No way we can accept that." "We have to help each other." "And who is that?" "A businessman." "Boss, let's eat now!" "Have a good meal." "Now tell us... why are you in this desert area?" "We want to get to Gansu Province to meet some relatives." "And what is your business here?" "Justice Department sent us to catch two escaped criminals." "Yes, it's a hard job indeed." "To your health!" "Have you seen a group escorting convicts?" "A man, a woman and a kid." "We've seen a few escorts." "Maybe you know their names and destination?" "Their name is Xiang, they are distant relatives of us." "No idea... and you?" "L've seen nothing." "Cheers!" "The wine is no good." "Go see if you can get some of the good wine." "The wine is poisoned" "Let me be excused for my behavior I toast a wine to you." "Good, let's forget what happened." "Cheers!" "Thank you." "[Wine is poisoned]" "Hot wine." "To our health!" "Cheers!" "Look out!" "You drank too much!" "Me?" "Big Brother, you're drunk." "No worries, who spills wine gets new one!" "To your health!" "Brother..." "You oughta stop drinking." "Better eat something, or else you will starve to death... I won't starve!" "Mother told me to look after you not to drink too much!" "Wine is very strong;" "it has deaf muck inside!" "I am not allowed to drink, sorry!" "Why don't you drink then with us?" "Sure!" "You spilled too much, let me." "Here, take my cup." "Mine is spilled too;" "give me your cup, please." "Why do you want mine?" "It doesn't matter at all." "It does matter to me!" "What's the matter with you!" "Pour again." "I want your cup!" "What's so special with my cup?" "If you keep talking like that, you will have trouble!" "You be still!" "Enough." "Give him your cup." "You stay out of it, Brother." "That's no way to drink wine." "Stop it!" "Sorry, but my man is drunk." "Officer Mao, he almost got me killed!" "Stop it!" "We know your skills already!" "I think they have something to do with the beheaded Yu Qian." "I think Xiao is the most dangerous." "He told the two the wine is poisoned." "When?" "When he cheered the wine to you." "How did he do it?" "No idea, but all four are connected somehow." "Four?" "The innkeeper too." "Then they must all die." "Xiao is a dangerous guy." "We will play a trick on them." "I don't like this Xiao." "If not for him we would be dead by now." "Why should he save us?" "You sleep over there tonight." "On the floor?" "You got some trick again, eh?" "We should start." " Yes." "Let me tell you what happened!" "Don't act rashly!" "A woman!" "What's the matter?" "Officer Mao, did you hear some noise?" "No." "Come to my room." " Yes." "Who is it?" "The innkeeper." "Oh, it's you." "What happened here?" "No idea." "I have an idea." "Boss, if you have to say something, just do it!" "How dare you talk to me like that?" "Only talking crap and fighting." "Without your sister you would be long dead." "But you will learn some day." " You!" " Stop it!" " How dare you..." "Wanna fight again?" "He is a bit tempered." "He was tampered as a child." "Hasn't changed a bit till today." "You know my brother?" "Yes." "No wonder he doesn't recognize me." "Last time he saw me he was a kid." "Who are you?" "Wu Ming." "You're the officer from Yu Qian's troupe?" "Your father and I were in the same unit." "Uncle Wu!" "Years have flown by..." "Stand up." "Come to my room later." "Brother Wu, how did you know they're from the Agency?" "I know these people." "They're here because of Yu's family, I'm sure." "Uncle Wu, what shall we do now?" "Wait till they are asleep, then kill them all." "Yu's family will be here tomorrow." "At dawn we go and look for them outside." "After we got them, we kill the agents." "They may look for them too..." "We have to risk it." "We will search in different directions." "Gotta vanish very quietly from here." "Search him." "It's the East Agency." ""Kill the Yu family"" "If something happens, send someone after me." "When they get us, I will..." "Be careful." " Sure." "Lao San, they're here!" "Watch it!" "Go tell the others now." "Any vacant rooms for us?" " Rooms?" " Yes." " Yes, we have some." "Get us something to eat." "Bring some water and tea, and get the food." "Hurry." "Sit down." "Here, some water." "How long will you stay?" "We will leave tomorrow morning." "That's good." "Go." "They seem to be here." "Go back and save them now." "If it's too late, take them to the grain storage." "I will find Xiao." "Hey, this way!" "We must leave now!" "What's going on?" "Quickly, we must leave." "Attack!" "To the grain storage!" "You can't get away!" "Get them." "Go to the grain storage." "And you attack from front." "Make room." "Just forget it." "OK, if you let Yu's family go." "Oh." "Well, OK." "You go inside." "Bring Yu here." "I will take care of this man here." "Miss Yu!" "Get to the grain storage and try to get inside from behind it." "And you?" "I will hold them here." "Brother Xiao!" " Yes?" "Mr. Xiao." "Who is it?" "Pi Shao Tang." "Would you step outside?" "Why are you calling for me?" "Xiao, look there." "You called me to show me this?" "I don't think my men deserved this." "You think so?" "They should have learned their lessons now." "You're no Yu relative." "Why do you fight so hard?" "I have no choice." "I get paid too, after all." "If that's the case, money's no issue." "Once I took a side, there is no turning back." "But why?" "You can change sides." "Sorry, but that is impossible." "Why?" "It's not about honor and money." "It's about the family of a great man." "And also... don't be angry..." "Your agents don't have the best popularity." "Don't try to flatter me." "I know this all myself." "But we pay our men very well." "What does "well" mean?" "It depends on the service done to us." "I believe you saw what service I can provide." "Then you may accept an offer?" "Maybe..." "We usually pay 100 taels." "I offer double." "That's not enough." "Xiao, name a price!" "200 pieces of gold!" "OK, I will pay 200 in gold." "Payment right now." "Now you're going too far!" "What is this?" "Do you want to steal from me?" "Hold him." "Get aside." "If you keep disturbing me I'll get angry!" "Get them away from here!" "You need some rest." "Wasting medicine for him." "Be quiet!" "He'll be alright." "Let him go." "You may leave now." "Don't let them go!" "Be still now." "They'll be back for us!" "Shut up!" "Just leave now." "Go on." "Thank you." "But what can we say..." "Don't drink too much water." "Leave now!" "They're unconscious." "Mr. Wu, may I talk to you?" "Don't listen to him!" "Enough now." "Go on." "Mr. Wu" "We don't want to go back." "And why is that?" "If you don't mind... we want to follow you." "You won't have a bright future with us." "If we go back, we won't have one either." "Doing evil deeds every day, killing innocent people." "Sooner or later, we'll regret it anyway." "What's your name?" "Duo La." "What?" "My name's Duo La." "We're Tartars." "He's my brother." "We always admired Chinese culture when we were home." "I always wanted to go to China." "When I was 18, General Yu assembled new troops." "And so me marched all the way to China." "Who would have thought..." "So you know me." "Who doesn't know Lt. Wu from General Yu's Army?" "How come you work for the Agency?" "Just shortly before General Yu was convicted... I was transferred to the Royal Guard." "After the execution l honored Yu's grave." "Zhao heard of this and transferred us to East Agency." "We had no choice." "And so you became agents." "Can you tell them to leave for a moment?" "Zhao Shao Shin had me and my brother... castrated... I assume they won't be here these 2 days." "You said Zhao had his fighting skills heightened." "What do you mean by that?" "I don't know." "They just say, his skill is unmatched..." "He has asthma and mustn't overdo it." "Xiao, let's get him." "You think that's enough?" "He's even faster than us two." "Really?" "Then show us your skill." "They're coming!" "Open up!" "Who is it?" "Wu Ming, it's Gui Yu Xiang!" "Lt. Gui, be welcome!" "Hello." "You can come out." "He's a friend." "Go on." "Where are my 12 guards?" "The agency men killed them." "So?" "And why did they do it?" "They wanted to kill Yu's children, and your men were in the way." "Wu Ming, we're friends... but don't act so rashly!" " Arrest him!" " Lt. Lui!" " We'll talk later." "Out of the way!" "You want to resist?" "Drop your weapon!" "I bow to your Excellency." "You're to blame for all this." "I have failed, but Xiao's too good a fighter." "Weakling!" "Just look at yourself." "Straighten up!" "Yes." "Stop!" "I heard that the innkeeper's name is Wu." "Yes." "Is it Wu Ming?" "The children of Yu must die." "Everyone helping them will be killed too." "He must be around here." "Damn eunuch. I will talk to him." "You're to watch the border." "This is not your business." "Just stay out of it or you'll be in trouble." "This is my territory." "East Agency eunuchs don't have to interfere here!" "How dare you!" "A low-ranking officer like you speaking like that to me?" "You're dismissed!" "Good." "Show me the Royal Order." "Bring me the order and show it to him." "Your Excellency, look at this" "Step aside!" "I can't see you now." "Take care of your health." "Wu Ming." "They're good for our escape." "Let me." "Stay here!" "Duo La!" "Cover me." "Go back and tell Your Excellency we've got them." "He's wounded." "Let's finish him." "Traitors!" "You cover our backs, we go up front!" "They got us surrounded." "There's no way out." "Zhao and his men have superior numbers." "We must fight now." "What about the others?" "You stay here." "We will try to get to Zhao." "L'll go with you, help may be needed in the fight." "No, you better watch them." "You know you'll be in great danger." "If I'm not back by dawn, try to get away with the others." "Tell me where Zhao is and you'll live." "Where is Zhao?" "Talk!" "Talk!" "He is... there!" "You will go to Zhao and tell him I want to speak to him." "Go!" "Is that so?" "And where are they now?" "Out there." "Tell them to come in." "Yes, Sir." "On order of Your Excellence Zhao, Xiao shall enter the house!" "On order of Your Excellence Zhao, Xiao shall enter the house!" "No stupid formalities!" "Tell him to come out now!" "His Excellence." "Who is Xiao?" "That's me." "You're very impudent." "I have to be." "I heard you're a good fighter." "It's enough." "You don't look a bit like it." "You don't look like an eunuch, either." "How dare you!" "Don't try to scare me." "I'm not one of your agents!" "L'll make you an offer." "Just leave the kids here... then you may leave freely from here." "If you follow me, I'll give you the post of an officer." "What if not?" "Then you will suffer." "Old man, you're good!" "This technique is learned from childhood on." "And never to taste the senses of joy!" "But that's no problem for you;" "you never had senses to enjoy" "Am I right?" "Take a few men and search for the kids." "Now that was close!" "So close I nearly became the same as you!" "Get back!" "Eunuch Zhao, as you don't have anything below, take better care of the upper half!" "You're too old for such stuff!"