"The events in this film are adapted from Records of the Grand History"
"195 BC, China"
My nightmare.
My name is Liu.
Iam61.
I was born in a small place called Pei County.
I am the emperor.
I have had two mortal enemies in my life.
Go away!
They haunted my dreams my entire life.
One was Lord Yu.
The other was General Xin.
"Concubine Qi"
Your Majesty.
Your Highness.
You may go, Concubine Qi.
"Empress Liu"
It is done.
What's done?
"Minister Xiao"
Your Majesty.
I have brought General Xin.
General Xin.
General Xin claims he first saw me in Xue Town.
I don't remember seeing him.
I only remember Lord Yu.
Lord Yu is back!
Welcome back, Lord Yu!
Lord Yu was 24 years old when I first saw him.
I was 48.
He had everything.
Nobility
a handsome face
courage and strength
the most powerful army.
And of course
the most beautiful wife.
He was leading the rebellion against the Qin.
A living legend.
Xin and I
were just street rats.
Our lifelong dream
was to join Lord Yu's army.
Give him a royal burial.
Liu, from Pei County.
"14 Years Ago"
"General Xin"
"Lord Yu's Camp"
"Zeng"
I've never heard of you before.
Some say you're a Dragon's Son
that the clouds follow you
that thunder roars in your wake.
My wife made that up.
"Boll
"Lord Yu"
You see this rain?
It'll stop. It'll stop soon.
A rainmaker!
He's got the gift.
My Lord
to tell you the truth
I'm here to ask for troops
to rescue my wife and my men.
If you don't trust me
I will leave immediately.
If we let him go, he'll become a threat.
My Lord, have mercy on me!
Seize him.
Seize him!
Stay away from him!
These are my men from my hometown.
They're from the country
and don't have any manners.
If you must, kill me and let them go.
Back off.
I'm warning you, I'm a killer.
Back off, all of you.
I'm a killer, do you hear me?
I suppose
we could lend him some troops.
This man should not be killed.
I'll give you 5,000 men.
Go and free your town.
After saving your wife
come and join us.
Yes, My Lord.
Who are you?
Your Majesty, I am a scribe.
I record your words and deeds.
For whom?
For my wife?
Your Majesty, the records are kept for posterity.
Write good things about me.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will do as I am told.
"Lord Yu's Wife"
You should join Lord Yu.
I never dreamt that one day,
I would fight alongside Lord Yu.
I had only a single goal at the time.
Down with the Qin Empire!
Where is Liu's wife?
Madam?
Where are you?
Madam.
"Liu's Wife"
Your Dragon's Son rumor
almost got me killed.
How dare they!
Kill them all!
Soldiers, officers, all of them!
Kill them all!
Slaughter them!
Nice armor.
A gift from Lord Yu.
You had a bastard son with a widow.
Is it true?
I've devoted myself to one thing.
Overthrowing the Qin Empire.
Doesn't seem to stop your womanizing.
Maybe not.
Father.
Sit down.
That's him.
Liu Fei.
Ever seen him?
His mother died.
I've taken him in.
As long as he's yours
I'll take care of him.
I was drunk.
Men like me face death every day.
It just happened.
I'm sorry.
So be it.
I will always remember, as I left
the lonely figure that watched me from the hill.
My wife.
Over the years
Lord Yu and I went from sworn brothers
to mortal enemies.
Meanwhile
he held my wife hostage.
Years later
when she finally returned to my life
I didn't know what to say to her.
I had taken another woman
and we had a son.
Minister Xiao and the others are waiting for you.
Come closer.
There are my chambers
not the court.
Come closer, all of you!
Lately, I've been plagued by nightmares
and can't sleep.
Me neither, Your Majesty.
Did I ask you?
"Minister Fan"
You've fought alongside me all these years
and earned your credit
but only I get the empire.
Can you accept that?
Your Majesty
We have sworn loyalty to you.
What about General Xin?
He's still locked up.
Locked up?
For the last six years, Your Majesty.
The great General Xin.
How is it that I caught you?
Your Majesty, you're a Dragon's Son.
I'm just an ordinary man.
I'll kill you.
Some say you're plotting a rebellion.
Against whom?
How dare you plot against me!
If I were, why would I have waited this long?
Set him free.
Watch him closely.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Does His Majesty mean to exile him from his own land?
"Minister Zhang"
What do you think?
He can stay with me.
"General Xin"
Minds alert!
Backs firm!
Easy does it!
All together!
Watch your step!
Minister Xiao, why this ostentation?
The bell tower was commissioned by Her Highness.
You are the Emperor.
A little extravagance is expected.
The honor of living here
is enough for me. Keep it simple.
Get rid of it.
This was the Qin Emperor's palace.
Do you remember?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Who would have thought
that commoners like us could topple an empire
and live here?
"207 BC Outskirts of the Qin capital"
"The Qin Emperor surrendered and welcomed Liu into the city."
"Qin Emperor Ziying"
"The Qin Palace"
"imperial Archives"
Here lie all of the Qin registers
its legal documents
and historical records.
Liu.
Liu, from Pei County.
Family name Liu, given name Ji.
Native of Feng Town, Pei County.
Born in the 51st year of the reign of Yingji.
Father, Liu Tuan.
Eldest brother, Liu Bo. Second eldest, Liu Zhong.
Youngest brother, Liu Jiao.
Wife, Lu Zhi, who bore him two children.
Former administrator of Sishui outpost.
Kings are made, not born.
Kings are made, not born!
Block off the Hangu Pass.
Seal all paths to the capital.
Absolutely not!
Lord Yu's army is almost here.
Whoever takes the capital first will be its lord.
Lord Yu and I had a deal.
Is there a problem?
These royal pigs
why do they get to spoil themselves here all day?
I should have died a long time ago.
The Qin Empire may fall
but its dream of uniting the world lives on!
I beg you, Liu
keep the dream alive!
Take him away.
I beg you, Liu!
Find a comfortable place in the city
settle him there.
From today onwards
this place is mine!
Brother Liu!
What's wrong with your legs?
I tested an immortality pill for you
and lost all feeling in them.
The pills can wait.
How is General Xin behaving?
Far less proud.
Locking himself up night and day
chewing on his own mistakes.
You, General Xin, Minister Xiao
without you, the empire would not be mine.
Then General Xin was disloyal and I put him away.
Now you're ill.
You've been ill for a long time.
Is something troubling you?
Your Majesty!
Minister Zhang, all these years
whenever I listened to you, victory was mine
if I ignored you, disaster would come upon me.
Xiao!
Take everything!
Leave nothing!
Xiao!
Who authorized this?
Are you out of your mind?
Where is Liu?
"The Qin Palace"
Out of my Way!
I can't let you in.
If you don't
Liu will be dead by sunrise.
Who's there?
What do you want?
It's me.
Zhang.
I'm almost done.
This may be the last time I'll see you.
What do you mean?
It's Lord Yu.
His army of 400,000
has broken through the Hangu Pass
and will attack us by morning.
And my troops?
Some fled.
Some surrendered.
They're all gone.
"Liu's Camp"
How long must I wait?
Brother Bo.
I'm not here for you.
I'm here for Zhang.
Bo has advised me to flee
Brother Bo
I've always been loyal to Lord Yu.
I heard you've moved into the palace.
Absolutely not!
Liu's been living at the camp.
He hasn't set foot in the palace.
Brother Bo
Zhang is right.
I never touched anything in the palace.
Stop.
Let's suppose I believe you.
What about Lord Yu?
What about the others?
Brother Bo
Liu couldn't have been more wronged.
If you can't save him
I'll die defending him.
Please do something.
Brother Bo...
Tomorrow morning
Lord Yu's troops will be upon you.
What can I do at this hour?
Help me, Brother Bo.
But...
I've done no wrong.
Brother Bo
you have a son
I have a daughter.
Let us join families.
I've always been loyal.
Now you see my true heart.
Perhaps
I could hurry back tonight
and talk to Lord Yu.
Thank you, Brother Bo.
But tomorrow at first light
you must see Lord Yu yourself.
Liu
I'll go with you.
I should be going.
Goodbye.
Minister Bo
Minister Bo, you're here.
At your royal summons, Your Majesty.
And today
I've brought something for you, Your Majesty.
Come.
All right.
Leave us.
Minister B0
you are here today so I can ask you
why General Xin deserted Lord Yu
and came to me.
I haven't a clue, Your Majesty.
You were with Lord Yu.
You were Lord Yu's uncle
his closest kin.
Weren't you?
Are you writing this?
Yes, Your Majesty.
General Xin left him after the banquet
when the Qin were crushed
and Lord Yu was at the height of his power.
Why would General Xin desert him at that moment?
His record is questionable.
Your Majesty sees all.
Some truths are never told
such as why General Xin left Lord Yu and came to me.
Nonetheless,
I never thought about killing General Xin
or I would not have kept him prisoner for six years.
My ministers revealed General Xin's threat.
They lit a raging fire inside me.
Has General Xin been at court recently?
It seems so.
Nonsense!
He has been at court only once!
Only once!
You think I don't know?
Minister Zhang told me that General Xin...
You and Minister Zhang
the two of you are always covering for him.
I don't go to court
but I know everything that happens there.
That little bastard
was only at court once
wearing his phony funeral face.
Whose death is he waiting for?
Tell me. It's mine, isn't it?
Your Majesty, who's telling you all this?
I'll never tell you.
I'm asking you, is it true?
Stay away!
Get off!
I'm telling you, I Will kill him!
Your Majesty, don't.
I beg you, Your Majesty.
Were it not for General Xin
we wouldn't be here today.
It was he who defeated Lord Yu
and conquered two-thirds of our territory.
What would the people think if we killed him?
I'm sick and tired of this!
We all fought together.
Everyone played his part.
Everyone earned his credit.
Why should he get all the glory?
Get back!
Your Majesty.
Send for my wife.
I'm here, Your Majesty.
My wife.
Yes, it's me.
Liu, from Pei County.
My nightmare.
"Lord Yu's Camp, site of the Hongmen Banquet"
My nightmare.
The people are predators,
I am their prey.
Whenever danger strikes
I feel transported back eleven years
to Lord Yu's banquet.
To Lord Yu's camp,
where death lurked around every corner.
It was my last meeting with Lord Yu.
The Qin imperial seal.
For you, My Lord.
It was also the darkest, most frightening moment of my life.
Who dares touch my Brother Liu!
What are you waiting for?
Kill him!
Wait.
What for?
Do it now!
On your knees!
Did you or didn't you enter the Qin palace?
I didn't enter the palace.
Of course
you entered the palace.
Speak!
I never entered the Qin palace.
At Lord Yu's banquet
I pretended to be drunk and fled.
I ran and ran.
One day
you will all be his servants!
I ran for my life.
But I knew in my heart it was Lord Yu who had let me go.
He knew the Qin palace was like a key
that unlocks a man's ambition.
I am sure General Xin's ambition was unlocked as he entered.
Halt!
My Lord.
It's General Xin.
What are you doing here, General Xin?
Please forgive me, My Lord.
There's something you should see.
They're all fake.
He did enter the palace.
That liar!
We should have killed him at the banquet.
That bastard should have been killed!
Of course he entered the palace.
I knew it.
Don't you know no one is to enter the palace alone?
You want to be like Liu.
Tell me the truth.
Was Liu ever here?
If you don't tell me, I'll kill you.
So be it.
I now realize why
The Qin Emperor brought me to his palace.
To plant a seed of ambition in my heart.
When that seed sprouts
I will become the sword of revenge.
Down with the Qin Empire!
Long live
the Qin Empire.
The Qin Empire has fallen!
This was the Qin Emperor's palace.
Many people have suggested that I live here.
Never
I will destroy it
to remove the temptation
of becoming another Qin Emperor.
We didn't overthrow the Qin Empire
to follow in their footsteps.
The Qin Emperor unified the world
decreeing that all must wear the same color
ride the same carriages
speak the same language
Most people
need a lifetime to see themselves clearly.
As for me
during my days in my hometown
my life was like
water at the bottom of a well.
Modest and unstirred.
But after I entered the Qin Palace
a door was unlocked.
And I saw that deep within my heart
ambition raged like an ocean.
I've divided the empire into 19 kingdoms
to share with you, my brothers
who fought alongside me.
Return to your kingdoms.
Speak your own languages.
Write your own history.
Liu, of Pei County
first to conquer the capital
captured the Qin Emperor
for which he is to be praised.
You are hereby made King of Han
to govern the lands of Ba, Shu and Hanzhong.
Nanzheng will be your capital.
I don't know why Lord Yu spared me.
Or why he spared General Xin.
He let General Xin live.
Such is the nobleman
who sees his own glory
but is blind to the ambitions of others.
That day, General Xin, an ordinary soldier
left Lord Yu
and joined my army.
On Xiao's recommendation,
he became my chief general.
Five years later
General Xin and I showed Lord Yu
that he had made a fatal mistake.
"203 BC Gaixia battlefield"
"General Xin defeated Lord Yu with an army of 300,000."
Spare yourself the labor.
Leave it to the servants.
I'm used to it.
You can go.
As you wish.
Stop it, Your Majesty.
You are not recovered yet.
It's getting late.
You should get some rest.
Liu, from Pei County.
Your Majesty?
What's wrong, Your Majesty?
Do you hear that?
Someone's trying to kill me.
You already killed Lord Yu.
Don't worry.
Get some rest.
I am not the man
who killed Lord Yu.
That man is still alive.
Get out.
There is trouble.
What happened?
The rumors are growing.
What do they say?
They say you are dying.
Impossible.
The ministers in court are paying respect to General Xin
I never should have trusted those cowards.
I will go.
I'll grace their court.
I'm not dead yet
Send for General Xin.
Bring that bastard to me.
The last person Minister Chen
met with before leaving
was General Xin.
He went to Minister Zhang's home
met with him and General Xin
returned home and revolted.
Minister Zhang would never.
Minister Zhang wouldn't do that.
I know he met with Minister Zhang.
Minister Zhang's servant reports to me.
The ministers fear for their life.
Pay Minister Zhang a visit.
As long as he and Minister Xiao are on my side
all Will be Well.
Take my sedan.
My humblest regards, Your Highness.
His Majesty told me you've been living modestly.
He asked me to have the mansion refurbished.
A gift.
My humblest gratitude.
General Xin has been loyal.
Why would His Majesty want to kill him?
Does His Majesty need a reason to kill anyone?
But he is General Xin.
If there's no reason
how do we know we won't be next?
General Xin was with Lord Yu
then defected to us
then defeated Lord Yu on our service.
A man like him might be with us today
and rebel tomorrow.
Not General Xin.
If he wanted to rebel
he'd have already done it.
Back then, he ruled 72 cities.
His armies exceeded Lord Yu and His Majesty's combined.
I convinced him to join us.
To finish Lord Yu.
And now you want me to kill him?
I can't do it.
Your Highness, I beg you.
Give him one more chance.
His Majesty has always held you in high regard.
But he has some concerns.
When you asked him to make you King of Shandong
it made him upset.
I conquered half the country for him
and crushed Lord Yu.
Was King of Shandong too much to ask?
You commit yourself to potions these days.
Not because your heart is weak
but to convince His Majesty
that you are old
that you are ill
that you are free of ambition
and no longer a threat to him.
You can't fool me.
You are too sharp.
But if a blade is too sharp
it not only cuts others
it cuts you as well.
Do you know why I'm different from His Majesty?
Do you know how I differ from you all?
The way I see it
the world belongs to all people under heaven.
Do you still remember
the battle cry of the people
when we rose against the Qin Empire?
Kings are made, not born!
Stop!
Stop, I beg you!
Brother Xin
never utter these words again.
Times have changed.
Kings are made, not born.
His Majesty held General Xin prisoner for 6 years
hoping his heart might change.
Has he changed?
No, he hasn't.
His Majesty's days are numbered.
The rest of us are getting old.
General Xin's only in his thirties.
The elderly struggle to preserve the status quo
while the youth long for change.
It's human nature.
No one can stop it.
Lord Yu was the noblest man I've ever known.
He had many chances to kill His Majesty
and to kill me.
But he didn't.
He let me go.
He let His Majesty go.
As a result
his body lies in the ground.
A voice from the dust
crying out from the grave.
Don't make the same mistake!
Don't throw your life away in vain!
You'd best reconsider.
Your Highness!
Among General Xin's men
thirteen are still in command.
Send them northwest to quell the rebels.
General Xin's strategist has served him for years.
Cunning, eloquent.
A snake in the grass.
Had General Xin listened to me
none of this would be happening!
Minister Xiao is the key.
He's closest to General Xin.
He has the ear of the court.
What's to be done?
I'm thinking.
Your Highness!
Your Highness
His Majesty once promised my son a marriage.
Is it still to be?
Let me think about it.
It's over.
I've reviewed the record of Lord Yu's banquet.
It doesn't make any sense.
The founding of the Han Dynasty is written for posterity.
Not a single mistake is allowed.
Understand?
Minister, for every new record
we speak with those who witnessed the event.
For Lord Yu's banquet, we spoke with Minister Fan.
No wonder His Majesty's rescue is credited to him.
Is credited to him.
300 fully armed guards outside the tent
and 28 bodyguards inside the tent.
How could he have possibly stormed in alone?
If he were that cunning
we could have defeated Lord Yu years ago!
According to the record
Ministers Fan and Zhang, with 100 men
accompanied His Majesty to the banquet.
Upon entering the camp
they surrendered their weapons.
Yet, when Minister Fan stormed in
he had a shield in his hand.
Who dares touch my Brother Liu!
Where did the shield come from?
During the banquet
The swordsman tried to kill His Majesty.
Minister Zhang ran outside for help
striding through 300 guards
with Minister Fan
without being stopped.
How is it possible?
The swordsman tried to kill His Majesty.
He had a sword.
No doubt about it.
Then Minister Bo defended His Majesty also with a sword
which I really don't understand.
This was supposed to be a banquet.
No one was supposed to be armed.
So where did Minister Bo's sword come from?
As scribes, you must respect history.
Or posterity
will receive fiction instead of facts!
Get up.
All of you!
At Lord Yu's banquet
someone was secretly protecting His Majesty.
Lord Yu knew many of his men wanted to kill His Majesty.
So he sent someone
to protect him during the banquet.
Zhang.
Step aside!
Who dares touch my Brother Liu!
This man
was Lord Yu's bodyguard
General Xin.
Have you all written
everything I've said?
Why haven't you written a single word?
How dare you!
Minister Xiao.
Your Highness.
Minister Xiao
I've heard everything.
You're trying to save General Xin, aren't you?
But General Xin's history has already been written.
I don't see that any revision is necessary.
Already written?
Come.
General Xin.
Read it.
In the 11th spring of the Han Dynasty
General Xin, along with convicts and slaves
plotted an attack on Her Highness and the prince...
Wait.
Plotted an attack with convicts and slaves?
Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!
...And was executed by Her Highness in the bell tower
at the age of 35, along with his family.
What have you done?
Your Highness
Ministers Zhang and Bo are on their way.
They can prove
that General Xin never plotted any treachery.
That he saved His Majesty at Lord Yu's banquet!
Listen to me, all of you!
As soon as they get here
take down their every word.
Present it to His Majesty.
I will present it to His Majesty.
Minister Xiao
Minister Zhang is suffering from leg pain.
I'm afraid he won't make it.
I'm afraid Minister Bo won't be coming, either
Why not?
Read.
In the 11th spring of the Han Dynasty
Minister Bo was granted a royal audience.
In light of his age and loyal service
His Majesty granted him the royal surname Liu.
On his way back, he was stabbed.
No!
Impossible!
Minister B0 is on his way here now.
Minister Xiao
not everything written in books comes to pass.
Indeed.
That's true.
Your Highness
Minister Xiao
Minister B0
was indeed stabbed today at noon.
I saw it with my own eyes.
It seems that books do tell the truth.
Your Highness
have you also
written my history?
I've discussed this matter with His Majesty.
Your history
is to be written by you.
I need to see His Majesty.
His Majesty is not well.
I need to see His Majesty!
His Majesty is not well.
Minister Xiao
Her Highness says the banquet will begin soon.
Please send for General Xin.
So be it.
Her Highness is hosting a banquet tonight
and has asked me to invite you.
Brother Xin!
General Xin
I cannot go any further.
Please inform His Majesty.
General Xin has plotted treason
with Minister Chen and other traitors
against Her Highness and the prince.
An unpardonable offense.
His Majesty's will be done.
Given his notable service
let him die intact.
Remember
how your Dragon's Son rumor
almost got me killed?
I'm here, Your Majesty.
I have brought General Xin.
What did he say?
"Spring 195 BC. Emperor Liu died at the Han Palace."
My name is Liu.
I am the first Emperor of the Han Dynasty.
When I was 61
my story came to an end.
A commoner
became Emperor.
I never could have known
that upon my death
my wife would kill all my concubines' sons.
Nor could I have known
that 2000 years later
the Han would be the largest race in the land.
People say my fate changed
after escaping from Lord Yu's banquet.
They're wrong.
The truth is
I never escaped from anything.
But finally
it is at an end.