General and I Episode 31 Recap
> General and I Recap
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On his journey to the outer territories, Chu Beijie was met by Noble Consort Zhang, who had brought along children orphaned by the Jin-Liang war. She claimed to be fostering them, teaching them to read and write, and to conduct themselves properly in society, all to accumulate blessings for her unborn child. She tearfully appealed to Chu Beijie, stating that He Xia was ambitious, the Emperor was gravely ill, and only Chu Beijie could manage the dire situation.
She knelt with the children, begging him to stay for the sake of Great Jin and its people, asserting that her personal grievances were insignificant compared to the nation's survival. Bai Pingting, understanding her husband's deep care for Great Jin, intervened by feigning discomfort, saying the winter was cold and the Tian Mountain snow had not melted, suggesting they delay their departure.
She then added that she could not bear for him to turn a blind eye to the suffering people of Great Jin. Noble Consort Zhang, seeing her plan succeed, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Emperor and the common people, then dispatched a messenger to report Chu Beijie's return to the palace. Pingting then made a solemn agreement with Chu Beijie, marking a one-month deadline by his upcoming birthday, promising a grand gift upon his victorious return.
As they prepared to part, Chu Beijie entrusted his Divine Might Sword to Chu Moran, instructing him that in an emergency, he should take the sword to the Dragon Tiger Camp, twenty miles to the south, and seek help from General Chen Mou. Later, Noble Consort Zhang confided in Imperial Physician Li, who worried about the increasing danger of her collaboration with He Xia, especially with He Xia's rise as Bailan's Prince Consort. The doctor questioned He Xia's trustworthiness.
Noble Consort Zhang dismissed his concerns, stating that while He Xia was no man of honor, they shared a common enemy, and her only desire was the death of Chu Beijie and Bai Pingting. Meanwhile, He Xia received a message from Jin State, confirming that Chu Beijie had returned to the palace and Noble Consort Zhang was attempting to delay him.
The message also stated that Bai Pingting was on the verge of death and her demise should be used to break Chu Beijie's spirit. He Xia, pleased with the news, immediately ordered 800 elite soldiers to encircle and annihilate the country house on East Mountain, instructing them to kill everyone except Bai Pingting, whom he wanted brought to him, dead or alive.
Back at the East Mountain country house, Bai Pingting enjoyed a peaceful life under the diligent care of Zui Ju and Chu Moran. One morning, Zui Ju and Moran were in a panic when they couldn’t find Pingting. She soon returned, having gone to pick plums. Zui Ju playfully teased Pingting, suggesting her craving for sour plums meant she was pregnant, a sign of carrying a son. Pingting confirmed her pregnancy, much to the joy of Zui Ju and Moran.
She then made them promise not to tell Chu Beijie, as she wished to deliver the news herself. She instructed Moran to procure aged Huatiao wine so she could prepare a special plum wine, "Suxiangbanyun," for Chu Beijie's return. They planned a celebration of roasted meat and wine. Back in the capital, Chu Beijie met with Emperor Sima Hong, who, despite his frail health, confirmed his plan to transfer military command to Chu Beijie by noon in two days' time.
Chu Beijie reassured the Emperor. Shortly after, Noble Consort Zhang sought out Chu Beijie, accusing him of avoiding her. She then dramatically knelt, nine months pregnant, and pleaded with him to delay his departure for a few days, citing a terrifying nightmare about an assassination attempt on the young prince. She stressed the prince was the Emperor’s only heir and claimed she had no one else to rely on.
Chu Beijie, however, sternly refused, stating that military orders were absolute and could not be delayed by a baseless dream, especially with the enemy poised to attack. He dismissed her plea and left, leaving her seething with anger at his unwavering resolve. Later, while Pingting, Zui Ju, and Moran gathered around a fire, roasting meat, Pingting retrieved her plum juice and stumbled.
As Zui Ju caught her, she recalled feeling Noble Consort Zhang’s pulse previously and realizing it was not that of a pregnant woman, despite her visibly large belly. Before they could ponder this revelation further, a flock of birds suddenly scattered from the nearby bamboo forest, indicating the presence of intruders. Moran confirmed that startled birds often signaled an enemy’s stealthy approach during wartime. He immediately sent trusted men to investigate, urging caution.
Pingting, however, calmly stated that she had set up the Five Phases and Eight Trigrams formation in the bamboo forest, making it difficult for the enemy to easily breach the country house. Noble Consort Zhang, having failed to delay Chu Beijie with her nightmare ploy, executed a more sinister plan. She feigned a difficult childbirth and had a maid urgently summon Chu Beijie, who was the closest. Recalling her earlier "nightmare," Chu Beijie rushed to Fangqin Palace.
Inside, he heard cries of "The baby is born!" followed by screams of "Assassins!" and "Help!" He entered the chaotic scene and pursued an assassin, but the attacker escaped. Returning to the palace hall, he found numerous palace maids dead. Emperor Sima Hong arrived amidst the carnage and immediately accused Chu Beijie of attempting to assassinate the prince, pointing to a bloody sword in Chu Beijie’s hand.
Chu Beijie desperately tried to explain he was framed, denying he killed anyone and explaining he was summoned because of the difficult birth and chaos. Sima Hong dismissed his pleas as ridiculous. Noble Consort Zhang, feigning weakness, further implicated Chu Beijie. The maid who had summoned Chu Beijie was nowhere to be found, leaving him with no proof. Sima Hong, seeing no evidence to support Chu Beijie's claims, ordered him arrested for attempted regicide and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison.
The Queen later expressed her doubts to Sima Hong, suggesting Chu Beijie might have been framed, but Sima Hong remained firm in his decision, vowing to eliminate anyone who threatened his children. Back at the East Mountain country house, Moran reported that all ten of his trusted men sent to investigate the bamboo forest had vanished, confirming that the villa was no longer safe. Pingting asked how many carrier pigeons they had, and Moran replied, "Fifteen."
She instructed him to release them in all directions, but Moran soon returned with grim news: all fifteen pigeons had been shot down with arrows shortly after release, confirming they were surrounded. Moran suggested he fight his way out with Chu Beijie’s sword to seek help from General Chen Mou at the Dragon Tiger Camp. Pingting, however, calmly countered that such an attempt would be futile and would leave the elderly, women, and children in the villa even more vulnerable.
She decided their safest option was to remain within the villa and await Chu Beijie’s return. She then instructed Moran to strategically deploy soldiers at the four main gates (Sheng, Xiu, Du, Jing) and archers at Jin and Si, utilizing the Five Phases and Eight Trigrams formation. She explained that this strategy, coupled with their geographical advantage, would help them wear down the enemy until they could seize an opportunity.
She also requested detailed information on their remaining soldiers, supplies, and local hunter knowledge to plan their defense. News soon reached He Xia and Dong Zhuo that Chu Beijie had been imprisoned for attempting to murder the imperial heir and was scheduled for execution in three days. Dong Zhuo was overjoyed, believing this meant Bai Pingting would be spared.
He Xia, too, was pleased, but then received a report that his 800 elite soldiers sent to East Mountain were trapped in the Five Phases and Eight Trigrams formation. Realizing Pingting's formidable strategic mind was at play, He Xia immediately concluded that she must be alive and decided to personally lead troops to East Mountain to confront her.
