General and I Episode 26 Recap
> General and I Recap
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He Xia surveyed the wreckage of the ship, noting the severe damage made it impossible to find any clues. His subordinate reported that fourteen bodies were found, twelve confirmed as the infamous Hexi Water Ghosts, known for their ruthlessness. The fishermen described a strong wind the day the ship caught fire, which quickly engulfed it, followed by shouts and an eventual explosion that destroyed the entire vessel.
He Xia still believed Chu Beijie and Bai Pingting must be alive, stating it would be better if Bai Pingting were dead than in Chu Beijie's embrace. Shortly after, a messenger arrived, informing He Xia that Princess Yaotian would arrive in Huarong in two days and stay at Prime Minister Gui’s private residence.
He Xia expressed his concern, deeming Prime Minister Gui arrogant for allowing the Princess to travel through Jin State, given the current tense situation and disregard for her safety. Meanwhile, at his private residence, General Gui Yan hosted He Dapao, the wealthiest weapon dealer in Great Yan. The banquet featured good food, wine, and beauties. After several drinks, Gui Yan presented He Dapao with two large chests of gold.
Gui Yan then got straight to the point, asserting that since Bailan paid significant protection money to Yan through He Dapao for military supplies, Yan should not stand by while Bailan faced trouble. He Dapao assured Gui Yan that the King of Yan would indeed care for Bailan's affairs but warned him against being indecisive and looking elsewhere once he had chosen a side, especially with Jin State in chaos and Sima Hong’s fate uncertain.
He Dapao then informed Gui Yan that the passes Bailan had opened for Jin would now be controlled by Great Yan. He Xia and Dong Zhuo had been observing the meeting, and Dong Zhuo finally understood that Prime Minister Gui Changqing's reluctance to go to war stemmed from using the vast sums spent on weapons as protection money paid to the King of Yan through He Dapao.
He Xia realized the depth of the Gui family's corruption and decided to use the two days before Princess Yaotian’s arrival in Huarong to investigate Prime Minister Gui Changqing thoroughly. At their hiding place, Zui Ju and Chu Moran were bickering about Chu Beijie and Bai Pingting's safety and Sima Hong's declining mental state, when the disguised Chu Beijie and Bai Pingting arrived.
Zui Ju explained that the "golden pills" Sima Hong was taking were not medicinal but contained a poisonous stone ingredient. A small dosage could temporarily make one feel robust but was highly addictive. The poison would accumulate in the internal organs, eventually harming muscles and vessels, confusing the mind, and depleting vital essence, leading to death. Zui Ju added that an antidote's effectiveness depended on the degree of poisoning, and the detoxification process would be unbearable for most.
Bai Pingting insisted they must try to save Sima Hong regardless of the pain. In Jin, the King of Yan had orchestrated rebellions across the Jin territory, spreading discontent in the name of Prince Zhenbei, Chu Beijie. These uprisings gained momentum, attracting commoners and some Jin military officers, growing into a significant force.
The plan was for these rebels to rendezvous with Yan forces fifty miles outside Jiankang City in three days, and once Chancellor Zhang's troops arrived, they would attack the city. The King of Yan relished the thought of reclaiming what Sima Hong had taken from him. Meanwhile, Sima Hong was confined to his inner palace, attended only by a young maid named Shuang'er. Feeling increasingly unwell and isolated, Sima Hong tried to summon other attendants but realized he was imprisoned.
Shuang'er attempted to send a distress letter to the Grand Marshal’s manor through her mother, who worked in the laundry bureau. However, Chancellor Zhang intercepted the letter, and Shuang'er's mother was brutally beaten to death. Isolated and desperate, Sima Hong, in a moment of delusional clarity, decreed Shuang'er to be his queen with the title "Jingshu," in recognition of her unwavering loyalty. Shuang'er, weeping, accepted the title, silently apologizing for implicating her mother.
Late that night, Chu Beijie, still disguised, secretly entered the Grand Marshal’s manor to assess the imperial court’s situation. The Grand Marshal, relieved to see Chu Beijie alive, described the chaos: officials hadn't seen Sima Hong in over a month, rumors of Sima Hong’s tyranny and Chu Beijie’s rebellion were rampant, and generals who sought the truth had been imprisoned.
Chu Beijie assured the Grand Marshal of his loyalty to Jin and his determination to thwart those harming Sima Hong and the state. He then inquired about the rebel armies gathering outside the city. The Grand Marshal promised his full support, sending homing pigeons to mobilize the Dragon Tiger Camp and Black Panther Camp, two armies garrisoned outside the city, and entrusting Chu Beijie with his command token. Chu Beijie, Bai Pingting, and Chu Moran infiltrated the rebel camp.
Bai Pingting observed several familiar Yan soldiers among the insurgents, confirming the King of Yan’s direct involvement. She immediately advised Chu Beijie to dispatch forces to Sanfen Yanzi Cliff, a strategically vital and defensible location, to ambush the Yan Army, which she predicted would arrive by sunset.
She reasoned that the King of Yan wouldn't commit his main force, and the 5,000 soldiers from the Dragon Tiger Camp should be sufficient to repel them, with an additional 1,000 elite troops from the Black Panther Camp ready for an ambush outside the city gates if needed. Chu Beijie swiftly ordered Chu Moran to mobilize the forces accordingly. The King of Yan, meanwhile, had found an individual with a similar physique and voice to Chu Beijie.
He ordered this imposter to lead the rebel army in attacking Jiankang City and installing a new ruler for Jin. The fake Prince Zhenbei addressed the enthusiastic rebel camp, who revered him. Recruiters exaggerated his disfigurement at Sima Hong's hands, rallying the troops against the "tyrant king" and promising rich rewards, including gold and noble titles, for those who participated, and the title of Prince Four-Direction for whoever killed Sima Hong.
Concurrently, Chancellor Zhang reassured an unnamed woman (implied to be the Queen, based on his later mention of her becoming Regent Queen Mother) that their plan was proceeding perfectly. He explained that the King of Yan's forces had safely entered Jin territory, and all news was being suppressed.
He emphasized that the fake Chu Beijie would lead the rebellion, bear the responsibility, and eventually "die of illness" after the "new king" was born, allowing her to become the Regent Queen Mother and him to be the most loyal minister. Despite the meticulous plan, the woman expressed lingering unease, to which Chancellor Zhang responded that they had passed the point of no return.
Separately, Chancellor Zhang visited the imperial prison, falsely claiming to act against the tyrant to release the imprisoned generals, urging them that their only salvation lay in supporting the removal of the old king and the enthronement of a new one.
