Three Kingdoms RPG

Cheeky rascal SZEMA SHUN lingers around game centers day and night. With the renowned strategist CHUGOT LEUNG as the main striker, SHUN, also nicknamed "Universe Win God", has never been defeated in the online game "Three Kingdoms". SHUN's parents SZEMA BIU and FONG YUK-PING have been running a small restaurant in the neighborhood. BIU is not happy with SHUN's attitude and always sees him as too lazy and careless. SHUN and his mates NOZZLE and FAI CHA are planning to purchase a game shop for $200,000, but SHUN is just too broke to afford the deal. SHUN's little sister SZEMA KUEN is very interested in supernatural mysteries while his younger brother SZEMA MING is known to be a fervent book lover. SHUN and MING are not very close and have not been on speaking terms for quite a while. Now that BIU has refused to provide financial support, SHUN decides to take part in the online game competition, hoping that he can win the award of $200,000 in the end. SHUN manages to reach the finals. While moonlighting in the film production studio, SHUN happens to discover a bag of illegal drugs in upper-class dandy CHI-YIN's vehicle, which has later got him in great trouble. The police have come to Lung Kwu Tan to look for SHUN, but SHUN, who is working as a film extra on the beach, manages to flee the scene in the nick of time. A super typhoon is about to hit Hong Kong. Having noticed the nimbus clouds in the sky, SHUN realizes that a heavy downpour is just impending, so he rushes into a cave at once to seek shelter. SHUN slips inside the cave and falls into a dark tunnel all of a sudden. When he sees the light again, he is shocked to find himself right at the cliff edge. He manages to crawl back to the hilltop and even saves a lad called FAN GAN later on. SHUN mistakes GAN for an extra due to his weird outfit. Before long, SHUN gets attacked by a Yellow Turban rebel but is rescued by a general just in time. Knowing that he is currently in Jingzhou, SHUN comes to realize that he has traveled back in time to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.

SHUN would like to return to Hong Kong through the dark tunnel but the tunnel has disappeared without a trace. Left with no alternatives, SHUN decides to head for Or Lung Village along with GAN. SHUN takes out his mobile phone in the middle of the night and looks through his photos, during which he is so surprised to discover an unread SMS from KUEN. LAU CHUNG, the second son of Governor of Jingzhou LAU BIU, would like to have his army stationed in Or Lung Village. The villagers have all become worried that they will be forced to contribute their limited food resources to CHUNG sooner or later. Luckily with the help of CHUGOT LEUNG, also known as Mr OR-LUNG, the problem is finally solved. SHUN is shocked to hear that the man before him is the long admired and respected CHUGOT LEUNG. He is so thrilled by the encounter with LEUNG and his behavior has in fact scared the man off a bit. SHUN gets another SMS from KUEN. Knowing that he can communicate with KUEN through the mobile phone, SHUN asks her to consult Prof TSO TAI-WAI about how to return to the modern world. SHUN has caught a glimpse of LEUNG's fianc_e WONG YUET-YING accidentally. Deeply disappointed by YING's appearance, SHUN insists that the girl is way too plain to be LEUNG's wife. On LEUNG's wedding day, SHUN who has got a little drunk criticizes YING again. Despite SHUN's harsh comments, LEUNG is appreciative of YING's inner beauty.

Knowing that LAU BEI and his mates are looking for LEUNG, SHUN offers to bring them to the grass hut. But to their great disappointment, LEUNG is not around. Not long after, SHUN runs into BEI again. BEI reveals that he has made a second visit to the grass hut but is still unable to meet LEUNG. SHUN understands that it is all a plot by Counselor HON LEUNG. With the help of SHUN, BEI finally gets to meet LEUNG in person. LEUNG is moved by BEI's sincerity and promises to join his cabinet. SHUN receives an SMS from KUEN advising that the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival will be his next best chance to travel back to the modern world as quoted from Prof TSO. SHUN is enraged to hear that he is not on LEUNG's list of advisors. To vent his anger, he keeps cursing LEUNG while drinking at the bar. Having realized SHUN's grudge against LEUNG, HON LEUNG decides to take SHUN on as his advisor, with whom he hopes he can keep his nemesis LEUNG under his control somehow. BEI has a meeting with his cabinet, during which he points out that TSO CHO is reportedly busy training a clump of marines in the city of Ye and is highly likely to invade the Southern states in the near future. KWAN YUE and CHEUNG FEI share deep reservations about LEUNG's ability while BEI still has complete confidence in him. A Ching soldier is believed to have infiltrated in BEI's army, and LEUNG has managed to locate eight prime suspects.

Inspired by the modern TV drama 'Every Move You Make', SHUN manages to find out the Ching solider by applying micro-expression interpretations, which has then earned him heaps of praise from BEI. CHUNG and Madam CHOI, wife of LAU BIU, have come to see BEI. Madam CHOI has called for a tax increase, and HON LEUNG believes that she is actually trying to force BEI out of Xinye. HON LEUNG urges SHUN to provide a solution as soon as possible. SHUN has no choice but to ask KUEN to help research Madam CHOI's background. LEUNG discovers that Madam CHOI has been deploying extra troops in secret. Not wanting her conspiracy to be uncovered, Madam CHOI finally gives in. HON LEUNG has a pint with FEI, during which he means to speak ill of LEUNG. FEI and YUE go to see BEI in a bid to speak up for HON LEUNG, but BEI is so distressed by the dispute between his two wives that he can barely concentrate on affairs of state. BEI's first wife, Madam KAM needs housemaid SONG YAU to look after her baby son AH TAU while BEI's second wife, Madam MEI insists on keeping YAU as her personal handmaiden. With the help of SHUN, the dispute between the two ladies is finally settled.

CHO has a meeting with his cabinet, during which he vows to unify China as Qin Shi Huang did. BEI asks for LEUNG's comments on their military arrangements, and LEUNG suggests forming a new army of 3,000. BEI discusses the matter with FEI and YUE, and the three of them have expressed grave reservations about LEUNG's proposal. BEI ends up promising to recruit 1,000 new soldiers while at the same time increasing the supply of arms. CHO decides to send General HAHAU DUN and an army of 100,000 to subdue Bowang City in order to pave the way for the invasion of Xinye. BEI tries to enlist military support from LAU BIU, but his request is indirectly rejected by Madam CHOI. HON LEUNG offers to lead the war against CHO while LEUNG insists on taking on the job himself. After serious consideration, BEI decides to appoint LEUNG as the Commander-in-chief. SHUN teaches YAU to make hamburgers with buns and preserved meat, which are to be served as the food for the army during the war. YING has fallen ill all of a sudden. Not wanting to cause LEUNG any extra burden, she decides to put up at an inn temporarily. To make an excuse for her sudden move, she claims to be returning to her maiden home for a short break. Deputy General SUEN KWAN is doubtful about LEUNG's decision, thus seriously affecting the soldiers' morale.

LEUNG and his troops have finally won the war against TSO. BEI continues to hold LEUNG in high regard, which makes HON LEUNG incredibly jealous. LEUNG is shocked to discover that YING has been severely ill for quite some time. He feels extremely guilty when he finally learns the truth from HAU-LIN. LEUNG urges Administrator WONG to arrange for the Chief Doctor to come and visit YING. But HON LEUNG forbids him to do so claiming that it is completely unlawful. As a solution, BEI decides to amend the rules so that YING is entitled to be treated by the Chief Doctor. LEUNG thanks YAU for preparing the hamburgers for his troops, but YAU reveals that it is in fact someone else who has invented the food. YAU and SHUN have a serious talk about marriage, during which SHUN points out that every adult in his hometown, Hong Kong, has the right to choose their own partner. Lady KAM and Lady MEI have found YAU a fianc_, who is a young gentleman called CHI-HIM, also the son of the Minister of External Affairs. SHUN offers to help research HIM's background for YAU. After a painstaking probe, SHUN opines that HIM is a good knowledgeable man without any bad habits. Believing that the man is an ideal choice for YAU, SHUN urges her to accept the engagement as soon as possible.

YAU asks to call off the engagement claiming that she is all the more reluctant to leave BEI and his two wives. Her request is rejected by BEI right away, though. Knowing that it is he himself who has inspired YAU and in turn caused her rejection of the arranged marriage, SHUN feels a little guilty and decides to lend the girl a hand. But contrary to his expectations, he ends ups giving YAU a lot of trouble instead of help. Not wanting to make YAU a scapegoat, SHUN decides to reveal the truth to BEI but refuses to be punished for what he has done. More than that, he points out BEI's mistakes and gives him a good telling-off. LEUNG praises SHUN for his quick wit and candour, from which he can find some kind of inspiration. BEI receives intelligence that General YING SUEN of TSO's camp has disguised himself as a private and is being detained as a prisoner of war. FEI holds a serious grudge against SUEN and is resolved to kill him. YUE, on the other hand, owes SUEN a debt of gratitude and is going to risk everything to save the man. FEI and YUE have a heated debate over SUEN, which finally causes them to fall out with each other. BEI suggests taking a vote among the troops to decide how to handle SUEN. As a result, the majority of the soldiers support the execution of the man. Now that he is unable to save SUEN, YUE decides to hand in his resignation and goes to bid farewell to the man in the prison. During their farewell meeting, YUE is suddenly held hostage by SUEN.

General WONG CHO of LAU BIU's camp is shot dead by Ng's army. Not long after, LAU BIU invites BEI to a meeting at Xiangyang, during which he asks to have BEI stationed at Jiangxia so that he can keep an eye on SUEN KUEN. In the meantime, LAU KEI has come to see BEI. Fearing that he will be persecuted to death by Lady CHOI sooner or later, KEI asks to join BEI's camp, which has caused quite a headache for BEI. LEUNG suggests that KEI should go and be stationed at Jiangxia, and by doing so, both BEI and KEI could possibly get out of their own dilemmas. Having caught LEUNG sneaking out in the middle of the night, SHUN decides to stalk him right away. LEUNG is found to have a secret meeting with Lady CHOI, during which he is offered the post of Counselor of Jingzhou. SHUN goes on an outing with GAN, where he encounters BEI's niece MEI YUK and gets totally mesmerized by her beauty. YAU and her mates go to the garden for a walk, where they run into SHUN. SHUN teaches the girls the 'Ten Invincible Moves of Chicks' to help them attract the opposite sex, with which they all get unexpectedly engrossed. SHUN suggests to BEI that LEUNG should consider taking YUK as his concubine. LIN learns from YUK's handmaiden that LEUNG is going to have a concubine. Shocked and worried, LIN relays the news to YING at once.

LEUNG goes to YING's maiden home to look for her, but in vain. Later he returns to his hut, and finally gets reunited with YING. Realizing BEI's lack of confidence in him, LEUNG offers his resignation citing YING's health problems as the excuse. BEI is filled with remorse and explains that all the bad ideas are proposed by SHUN. Having got a terrible telling-off from LEUNG, SHUN sinks into a real bad mood and means to drink himself into oblivion. Not long after, he receives an SMS from KUEN reminding him that there are still 10 more days to go until the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is understood to be his last chance to travel back to Hong Kong. Knowing that BEI and his mates have taken a trip to Mount Xiaoyao, SHUN decides to skive off work and enjoy life to the full during his final days in the Three Kingdoms period. SHUN meets a multi-talented beauty called YEE-NEI at the Six Arts Association. Completely captivated by her glamour, SHUN claims himself to be a musician from the newly established Music Department, and invites her to the Lantern Carnival to be held soon. But to his great disappointment, NEI cannot make it due to some urgent family matters. GAN suggests that SHUN may date someone else from the General's Residence. YAU who happens to pass by has soon become SHUN's target. SHUN goes to the Lantern Carnival with YAU, during which he seeks every possible opportunity to flirt with YAU, making her believe that she is being wooed by him. HON LEUNG asks SHUN to help copy the documents, but the documents end up being filled with his cursing words instead.

Before he sets off for his return to Hong Kong, SHUN sneaks into BEI's private bathroom and treats himself to a relaxing bath. He enjoys the bath so much that he falls asleep midway through, but is shocked to find himself trapped in a fire later when he wakes up. SHUN arrives at the Ching Fung Cliff but is unable to get into the time tunnel. KUEN explains in her reply that Prof TSO has made a small mistake in calculation and that the time tunnel will not be open until 200 years after. Administrator WONG reports the fire to BEI, revealing that SHUN is caught sneaking out of the bathroom half-naked and seems to have vanished without a trace ever since. HON LEUNG reveals how SHUN has spoiled the documents, and even imputes the theft at the General's Residence to him. BEI is consumed with anger and orders the arrest of SHUN at once. GAN gets a letter from SHUN asking for help. GAN and YAU go to meet SHUN in secret without knowing that they are being stalked by HON LEUNG. HON LEUNG manages to locate SHUN and sends him back to the General's Residence straight away. SHUN ends up being demoted to the post of Domestic Servant. While loafing around, SHUN happens to discover HON LEUNG and MA KAU meeting in secret. Eaten up with jealousy, HON LEUNG is going to kill LEUNG while making SHUN the scapegoat.

SHUN goes to see HON LEUNG, claiming that he has come up with a perfect way to defeat LEUNG. LEUNG has gone missing for three days. HON LEUNG and KAU follow SHUN to a shabby hut, where they discover the tied-up LEUNG. BEI asks all his cabinet members to attend a meeting, during which they have a discussion about the search for LEUNG. HON LEUNG is well aware of LEUNG's whereabouts but refuses to reveal anything. To make his lie even more convincing, he pretends to be very worried about LEUNG. HON LEUNG hires an assassin to kill SHUN, who however gets rescued by General CHIU CHI-LUNG. LEUNG is so impressed by SHUN's wit and courage that he asks him to be his advisor. SHUN sends KUEN an SMS, expressing his determination to succeed and etch his name in history now that he is unable to go back to the modern world. SHUN and YAU go out for a walk together, during which SHUN suggests giving each other more time alone. Having read the letter from NEI, SHUN decides to leave YAU behind and rushes to the Six Arts Association at once. Lady CHOI reveals to BEI that LAU BIU has been critically ill. Knowing that his husband is dying very soon, Lady CHOI tries to enlist BEI's support for CHUNG's accession to the throne. BEI, however, considers KEI to be a much more suitable candidate. A messenger has come to see BEI inviting him to a secret meeting with LAU BIU to be held in Jingzhou. LAU BIU is in fact planning on yielding up Jingzhou to BEI.

BEI is confused about whether to accept LAU BIU's offer. FEI and YUE urge him to give it a try, but he refuses, believing that this will make him an object of ridicule for sure. BEI has pledged his full support for KEI in his rule of Jingzhou. Fearing that Lady CHOI will stir up trouble sooner or later, SHUN reminds everyone to stay alert and take all the necessary precautions. Taken aback by SHUN's indifference, YAU expresses her deep admiration for the intimacy between YING and LEUNG. Considering YING to be a great example to learn from, YAU even consults her about how to handle relationships. LAU BIU has passed away. Lady CHOI announces CHUNG's accession to the throne as stipulated in LAU BIU's will. BEI is suspicious of such an arrangement and asks two senior generals to help check the validity of the will. Recalling all the numerous disputes over wills and inheritance taking place in Hong Kong, SHUN suspects that LAU BIU was not in the right state of mind while signing the will. SHUN finally manages to prove the invalidity of the will, thus confirming KEI's status as the only heir to the throne. YAU offers to tidy up SHUN's bedroom for him, for which SHUN is not grateful at all. Lady CHOI refuses to accept KEI as the new ruler of Jingzhou, and she even threatens to go to war.

GAN who volunteers to be a sentinel for Jingzhou apologizes to SHUN for his decision. Having learnt from the jailers that BEI will be starting a war against Lady CHOI and her troops, HON LEUNG incites the rest of the prisoners to make a great escape all together. YING prays for sunshine for the upcoming war. Inspired by YING and her prayer, LEUNG anticipates that, if the rain continues, TSO will have an ideal excuse to send thousands of troops to Jingzhou from Ng to pave the way for another round of invasion. BEI looks to LEUNG for a solution, but LEUNG points out that it is hard to calculate the chance of victory whichever approach is selected. SHUN suggests ganging up with the rebel troops in Xiangyang in their fight against TSO while LEUNG is also supportive of the idea of collaborating with Lady CHOI. While TSO believes that victory is already close at hand, the news suddenly arrives that his troops are losing the war in the west. HON LEUNG asks for an audience with TSO, during which he proposes sowing discord between BEI and Lady CHOI, through which the coalition forces will soon be dissolved. HON LEUNG goes to lobby Lady CHOI as TSO's secret envoy. BEI and LEUNG plead with Lady CHOI to send her troops back to the west, but are rejected. TSO has decided to attack Xinye with the best military efforts.

YUE gets injured in the war against DUN. TSUI SU comes to see BEI as another special envoy of TSO. SU is to lobby BEI to surrender, but ends up persuading him to make an escape. BEI has a meeting with his cabinet, during which YUE and FEI insist on staying in Xinye while SHUN agrees that they should flee the city as soon as possible. LEUNG blames himself for sparing HON LEUNG, and YING is thoughtful enough to offer him a few words of consolation. LEUNG reveals to YING that he has decided to leave Xinye temporarily until BEI and his troops are all ready for another fight against TSO. BEI posts a notice in the street notifying the public of his plan to withdraw from Xinye, and offers an apology to his people right afterwards. SHUN YUK suggests dividing the army into several elite squads of soldiers so as to facilitate the pursuit of BEI and his men. Lady MEI gets discovered by TSO's army. Desperate to save Lady MEI, YAU asks Lady KAM to hide herself behind the bushes first, following which she heads off alone to look for LUNG in order to seek help from him. BEI and his men are finally reunited in Jiangxia, although the death tolls of soldiers and civilians have passed 1,000 and 10,000 respectively. To everyone's surprise, LEUNG's advisor KWONG-YUEN has fled away midway through the escape.

BEI manages to flee out of Xinye, which infuriates TSO no end. As arranged by KEI, BEI and his people begin to settle down in Jiangxia, which is nothing more than a barren land in FEI's eyes. BEI blames himself for bringing his people to Jiangxia and causing them so much suffering. LEUNG suggests naming their new settlement 'Xinye Village' so as to foster a sense of belonging among their fellow countrymen. Lady CHOI has unveiled her political ambition, which has evoked jealousy in TSO and causes him to kill her later on. Knowing that Lady CHOI and her son have been killed, KEI is going to surrender to TSO. The Chief Doctor reports that hundreds of villagers have come down with an unknown disease while YUE is also feeling unwell, both of which seem to be the early signs of a widespread epidemic. SHUN manages to track the source of the epidemic and brings it under control soon afterwards. The flood begins to recede while TSO has also sent his troops back to the border of Ng. The threat to BEI has thus lessened a bit. LEUNG suggests collaborating with Ng to form an allied force against TSO. He also mentions that SUEN KUEN has a great counsellor CHOU YUE, who is known to have strong political aspirations. Upon hearing the name, SHUN is quick to recall the fictional rivalry between LEUNG and CHOU YUE.

LEUNG and SHUN visit Ng's Minister of External Affairs at Chaisang asking to make an appointment with SUEN KUEN, but are given the cold shoulder in the end. LEUNG suggests KEI hold a 100-day memorial service for the late LAU BIU. The memorial service is held as planned, and has unexpectedly attracted SUEN KUEN's counsellor LO SUK. SUK supports the idea of forming an allied force against TSO, and recommends LEUNG to SUEN KUEN for further discussion of the plan. SUEN KUEN is a laid-back type and spends most of his time in Chaisang fooling around. SHUN teaches SUEN KUEN to play the card game 'Big Two', through which he tries to explain all the advantages of forming an alliance. LEUNG and SHUN believe that SUEN KUEN is likely to take their side, but to their great disappointment, SUK points out that SUEN KUEN has no such plan at all. SHUN infers that SUEN KUEN who has been living under his elder brother's shadow is afraid of failure and dare not make any great changes. SHUN suggests engaging SUEN KUEN in a war game, through which his wisdom and bravery will be clearly demonstrated. LEUNG manages to convince more than half of SUEN KUEN's cabinet members to seek alliance, but SUEN KUEN emphasizes that he will have to wait until CHOU YUE has expressed his views. While playing 'Big Two' together, LEUNG comes to realize that CHOU YUE is a very narrow-minded guy.

CHOU YUE follows LEUNG and SHUN to Jiangxia to have a look at how BEI's government has been running, during which he discovers that the vast majority of the citizens there have never heard of his name while showing deep admiration for LEUNG. CHOU YUE's wife SIU KIU goes to Jiangxia to help distribute food to the needy families. SHUN praises KIU for her beauty, and the compliment has come as a great thrill to CHOU YUE. KIU who has lost her bracelet suspects that it is stolen by YAU. SHUN gives YAU a few words of consolation, during which he points out that KIU is obviously not a patch on YING in every aspect. CHOU YUE who has overheard their conversation is deeply enraged. SUK indicates that CHOU YUE hates to be compared to LEUNG, which makes it almost impossible for the two camps to seek alliance. LEUNG tricks CHOU YUE into proposing that SUEN KUEN should fight against TSO alone. TSO is going to attack BEI and his camp, and SHUN YUK suggests that he may try to get SUEN KUEN to surrender first and put the invasion of Ng on hold until BEI's government collapses. SHUN YUK goes to lobby SUEN KUEN in person. Having heard what SHUN YUK said, SUEN KUEN reluctantly decides to collaborate with TSO. BEI has a meeting with his cabinet, during which SHUN mentions the Game theory and gets some inspiration from it. BEI finally manages to convince SUEN KUEN to accept the alliance. SUEN KUEN needs CHOU YUE to lobby the various ministers, which has come as a huge shock to all his cabinet members.

BEI goes to Ng for the alliance ceremony. Dowager NG expresses deep gratitude to LEUNG, which has made CHOU YUE even more jealous. During a military meeting, CHOU YUE suggests attacking Mount Jutie and grabbing the rations from TSO's troops, with he himself as the chief commander and BEI's camp as the back-up troops. Ng's troops have caught a spy from TSO, who however manages to grab SHUN and holds him hostage in a split second. CHOU YUE orders his troops to shoot the spy. As a result, both SHUN and the spy get injured and fall off the cliffs. SHUN is happy to discover that he is still alive. But not long after, he goes into a coma again. Not wanting SHUN's body to be left unattended in the wilderness, YAU decides to go and look for the corpse, which is strongly opposed by GAN. GAN offers to do the job for YAU and manages to locate the surviving SHUN in TSO's military camp. GAN reveals to SHUN how YAU had decided to live the rest of her life as his widow earlier on. Feeling much sympathy for YAU, GAN urges SHUN to stop cheating her. YAU gets dressed up for a date with SHUN. TSAU-SIM guesses that SHUN is going to propose to YAU.

YAU goes to see SHUN, during which SHUN reveals that she has never been his cup of tea. YAU breaks down crying in her bedroom, and YING is kind enough to give her a few words of consolation. SHUN has dropped some confidential documents in the garden, which are accidentally picked up by a domestic servant later on. BEI gives SHUN a good telling-off for his negligence, and SHUN explains that he has become so perplexed by his relationship with YAU lately that he simply cannot focus on his work. TSO's troops are not skillful at naval battles. SHUN YUK recommends CHOI MO for the post of navy trainer but HON LEUNG has deep reservations about the man. LEUNG writes a letter to SUEN KUEN advising him to purchase all the medications that TSO's troops have been looking for in the north. By doing so, the supply will be cut off and TSO will not be able to provide his sick soldiers with the necessary medications. SHUN YUK suggests inviting CHOU YUE to join TSO's camp, and would like to have TSEUNG KON, an advisor of TSO and a former classmate of CHOU YUE, to do the lobbying. CHOU YUE manages to weed out two generals of TSO by stratagem, of which he is very proud. LEUNG seems a little distracted while playing chess with YING. YING understands that he is not happy about CHOU YUE's dishonorable tactics. YING asks LEUNG how he would react if he was placed in the same situation, and LEUNG replies determinedly that he will never betray his friends.

LEUNG and SHUN go to see CHOU YUE to discuss the forthcoming military arrangements. Surprisingly, CHOU YUE does not show up and gets his assistant to pass a list of tasks to LEUNG and SHUN. Despite his despicable attitude, BEI and LEUNG urge everyone to put up with CHOU YUE. Madam KAM comes back from the temple without the company of YAU. Knowing that YAU is still recovering from being abandoned by him, SHUN feels so guilty and is looking to make it up to her. SHUN offers to go to Yizhou for the purchase of timber, so that YAU can come back to the General's Residence without having to confront him. LEUNG realizes that SHUN has become far more thoughtful than before. CHOU YUE needs LEUNG to finish making 100,000 arrows within a month. Inspired by the Yizhou inhabitants, SHUN recalls the well-known story of 'Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats'. Immediately he sends a message to LEUNG by pigeon post. Unfortunately, the note gets wet in the rain and SHUN's writing has become totally illegible. BEI and his cabinet have an audience with SUEN KUEN, during which LEUNG is showered with compliments for his wisdom and insight. This has once again stirred up jealousy in CHOU YUE. At a military meeting with BEI and his cabinet, SUEN KUEN announces his decision to fight back against TSO, with the Red Cliffs confirmed to be the main battlefield.

LEUNG blames CHOU YUE for taking revenge on SHUN in such a dishonorable way. Desperate to end the quarrel between LEUNG and CHOU YUE, SUEN KUEN tries to switch the topic to the military arrangements. LEUNG suggests attacking TSO with fire and flames, and the idea is supported by SUEN KUEN. SHUN is caught by HON LEUNG's henchmen while putting up at an inn. HON LEUNG asks SHUN to join TSO's camp but is rejected. He keeps threatening SHUN with death and finally manages to make him give in. TSO asks SHUN YUK if SHUN is reliable, and SHUN YUK suggests that they may try to cultivate SHUN's loyalty by making use of the people he cherishes. Speaking of SHUN's beloved, HON LEUNG opines that YAU would be the pick of the best. SUEN KUEN points out that SHUN and YAU are both in TSO's camp. CHOU YUE puts all the blame on LEUNG, and claims that they may need to revise the strategy for the Battle of Red Cliffs now that SHUN has betrayed them. HON LEUNG sees SZEMA YEE as his greatest rival, and would like SHUN to help weed him out. SHUN comes to see LEUNG as TSO's secret envoy, during which he asks LEUNG to lobby SUEN KUEN to cease fire for a year. SHUN proceeds to point out that the world will be divided into three kingdoms and that history is going to be rewritten with BEI succeeding in unifying the land if the Battle of Red Cliffs can be avoided.