Legend of the Magnate Episode 20 Recap
> Legend of the Magnate Recap
Following Empress Dowager Cixi's praise and bestowal of the "Top Tea Under Heaven" plaque upon Gu Pingyuan, tea merchants flocked to the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association, eager to purchase Orchid Snow tea and host Gu Pingyuan. However, Gu Pingyuan had already been drugged by Hou Er, who had offered him tea in a carriage as an apology. Both men passed out. The next morning, Prince Gong arrived at the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association looking for Gu Pingyuan.
Gu Pingwen expressed his concern, noting how strange Gu Pingyuan's disappearance was. He suggested that Old Master Hu, the head of the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association, held a grudge against Gu Pingyuan. Old Master Hu, however, vehemently denied this, stating that Gu Pingyuan had brought immense honor to their association. He added that all the Anhui tea merchants in the capital were actively searching for Gu Pingyuan.
Prince Gong, needing an explanation for the Empress Dowager, placed the responsibility of finding Gu Pingyuan on Gu Pingwen. He also instructed Gu Pingwen to prepare two baskets of Orchid Snow tea for Cixi and requested Gu Pingyuan to visit his mansion once found. Old Master Hu then intervened, telling Gu Pingwen to prioritize preparing the Empress Dowager's tea and assured him that he would personally handle the search for Gu Pingyuan.
Gu Pingwen, still upset, accused Old Master Hu of causing his brother's predicament through constant bullying. Old Master Hu dismissed his concerns, reiterating the importance of the Empress Dowager's tea. Later, Old Master Hu angrily confronted Hou Er, who was already kneeling in punishment, for the trouble he had caused, ordering him to remain there despite Hou Er's attempts to explain that he had no idea the tea was drugged.
Meanwhile, Gu Pingyuan, blindfolded, woke up in the dark, realizing he had been kidnapped. That same day, Qiao Song, the Governor of Anhui, sought an audience with Empress Dowager Cixi. He requested permission to purchase foreign firearms and cannons to suppress rebellions in the Northwest, lamenting their scarcity. Cixi, however, was in no mood to deal with foreigners, expressing her fury over past dealings.
She recounted how the Qing Empire, through Customs Tax Commissioner Hart, had purchased a warship from a British merchant named Ti Mo Li Tai, only for the foreign crew to refuse Qing soldiers access. Despite Hart's efforts to negotiate with German captains for a refund, Cixi felt that the money's return was useless as they still had no warship. She blamed the Office of General Management for their inefficiency and vowed never to let untrustworthy foreigners exploit the Qing Empire.
Prince Gong, kneeling, apologized for his ineffective handling of affairs. Cixi then ordered both Prince Gong and Qiao Song to meet with Hart to procure firearms and to also approach other merchants who dealt with foreigners for assistance. Prince Gong and Qiao Song later met with Hart. Hart, surprised to see Prince Gong outside the government office, mentioned the widespread popularity of Orchid Snow tea and his desire to try it.
Prince Gong promised to secure some for him, even if it meant setting aside a small portion from the tea destined for the Empress Dowager. Qiao Song then explained his urgent need for firearms and ammunition for the Northwest campaign, requesting Hart's help in ordering a batch from Germany. Hart showed them a lengthy list of existing orders, including a massive request from the capital's Tiger Spirit Battalion for 1,000 guns and 20 breech-loading howitzers.
He explained that Qiao Song would first need to submit his request to the Office of General Management. Qiao Song pleaded for just 200 guns, arguing that the capital's forces wouldn't need so many immediately, but Hart remained firm on the "first-come, first-served" principle. Hart further explained that the Krupp foundry, a German manufacturer, did not heed the Empress Dowager's orders, and the earliest shipment of firearms would not arrive until the following spring, requiring pickup in Qingdao.
Hart advised Qiao Song to seek help from the "God of Wealth," suggesting that businessmen were often more effective than the imperial court in such matters. Qiao Song sighed, noting that he had already tried to enlist Gu Pingyuan's help with arms purchases, but now Gu Pingyuan was missing. Outside the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association, Hou Er remained kneeling, continuously calling out Gu Pingyuan's name and expressing his desire to find him.
Chang Yu'er, passing by, overheard him and inquired about Gu Pingyuan, confirming he was the tall young man from Anhui. She pressed Hou Er for information, but quickly realized he didn't know anything more. Just then, Li Qin arrived, also looking for Gu Pingyuan. Old Master Hu, exasperated by the commotion caused by Hou Er's mistake, was annoyed by the constant inquiries about Gu Pingyuan. Meanwhile, Gu Pingyuan, still blindfolded, was dragged deep into a snow-covered forest.
Despite his blindfold, he recognized the harsh, cold environment and correctly identified his location as Ningguta. He was then brought before Commander Xu, who, overjoyed, remarked on having finally captured him. Later, Chang Yu'er informed Chang Si about Gu Pingyuan's disappearance. She recounted that Gu Pingwen had said Hou Er hired a carriage from the Thirteen Great Guardians to pick up Gu Pingyuan, but after they drank tea, both men collapsed.
Upon waking, Hou Er found Gu Pingyuan and the carriage gone. Chang Yu'er was determined to find Gu Pingyuan, but Chang Si advised caution, pointing out that even the Tea Merchants' Association's offer of tens of thousands of silver as a reward had yielded no results. He suggested they inquire at the capital's major escort agencies, hoping their extensive travels might provide some clues.
Commander Xu subjected Gu Pingyuan to cruel torture, repeatedly moving him between the warmth of the indoors and the bitter cold outside, to inflict maximum suffering without letting him die quickly. Gu Pingyuan, famished and barely conscious, pleaded for food, and was eventually thrown a bone. Later, having given Gu Pingyuan some wine, Commander Xu taunted him about his "dreamlike life" after escaping Ningguta finally coming to an end.
Gu Pingyuan, however, asserted that his experiences were "absolutely worth it," claiming to have visited places far grander than Fengtian, places Xu could never imagine. He recounted his journey: from the vast grasslands where herdsmen battled for territory, to Shanxi where he witnessed opulent golden Buddha statues adorned with precious gems, then to Jiangnan known for its beautiful women, and finally to Beijing where he met Empress Dowager Cixi, who personally tasted his Orchid Snow tea.
Commander Xu scoffed, dismissing Gu Pingyuan's tales as mere bragging. Gu Pingyuan, denying any exaggeration, then inquired about Xu's own life over the past two years. Xu revealed his misery, attributing his current plight to Gu Pingyuan: managing a horse camp in a region with nine months of winter, living like a rat and feeding on frozen horse meat. Gu Pingyuan noted Xu's deteriorating health, but Xu defiantly claimed he would outlive Gu Pingyuan.
Gu Pingyuan then attempted to buy Xu's forgiveness with money, offering compensation for his suffering. Xu rejected the offer, deeming money useless in such a desolate place, and once again tried to drag Gu Pingyuan into the snow. Gu Pingyuan desperately called out, noticing Xu's "foreign, breech-loading gun." He correctly guessed it was of Russian origin and proposed a business partnership, arguing that Xu, currently just a battalion commander, could rise to become a guerrilla leader or even a general.
Xu, despite his anger, listened as Gu Pingyuan explained the imperial court's urgent need for foreign firearms for the Northwest campaign. Gu Pingyuan offered his money if Xu could provide the connections, claiming he had plenty. Xu, revealing he had traded four wolf pelts for his own gun, asked how many guns would make him a general. Gu Pingyuan enthusiastically replied, "hundreds, the more the better," reiterating his financial backing.
Still conflicted, Xu ultimately defiantly threw Gu Pingyuan into the snow, abandoning him to the lurking wolves. Gu Pingyuan, terrified as the pack closed in, feigned death by lying motionless on the ground. Just as the wolves lunged, Commander Xu unexpectedly reappeared, firing his gun and killing the attacking wolves, saving Gu Pingyuan from certain death. Xu then sarcastically mocked Gu Pingyuan, saying he too deserved to experience such terror.
That night, Li Qin arrived at Su Zixuan's residence, suspecting her involvement in Gu Pingyuan's disappearance. Despite the guards' attempts to stop him, Su Zixuan allowed him entry. Li Qin directly accused her of kidnapping Gu Pingyuan and revealed that he knew her true identity. Su Zixuan defiantly asked him to elaborate. Li Qin pressed her, pointing out that Gu Pingyuan had humiliated her in Pingyao, making him an enemy.
He expressed his worry for Gu Pingyuan, even if he didn't fully understand why. Su Zixuan cautioned Li Qin to worry about himself and his father, reminding him that their wealth and power could vanish overnight. She then offered to tell him Gu Pingyuan's whereabouts if he could answer three questions after hearing her out. She stated that Gu Pingyuan had ruined "the big plan of your father and me."
She revealed that she had prepared poisoned tea for Empress Dowager Cixi at the Grand Tea Competition, knowing Cixi would attend, but Gu Pingyuan had foiled her "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Su Zixuan warned Li Qin that by saving Gu Pingyuan, he would become her enemy and an accomplice in a plot of high treason, risking the lives of his entire clan. Despite the severe threats, Li Qin declared, "I must save him."
Su Zixuan then painted a picture of a world where Cixi was dead: Prince Gong would become regent, promoting commerce and diplomacy, and Li Wantang, Li Qin's father, would rise to become the head of all merchants. She warned that saving Gu Pingyuan would obstruct his father's path to power. Li Qin dismissed these grand political schemes, stating that he only cared about saving Gu Pingyuan, his only friend.
Su Zixuan, in a final attempt to dissuade him, emphasized Gu Pingyuan's superior intellect and cunning, branding him a formidable rival. She challenged Li Qin, asking if he truly wanted to allow such a superior enemy to live. After being saved from the wolves, Gu Pingyuan showed Commander Xu the banknotes he had mentioned earlier, finally convincing him to cooperate.
He reiterated that the imperial court was eager to purchase large quantities of foreign firearms like the one Xu possessed, and that this partnership would allow Xu to gain both wealth and official rank, potentially becoming a general. Commander Xu, after some deliberation, finally agreed to help Gu Pingyuan acquire more guns and ammunition. Meanwhile, Chang Yu'er approached Li Qin, recognizing him from a previous encounter. She urgently asked for help in locating Gu Pingyuan.
Li Qin initially tried to deny knowing anything, but Chang Yu'er reminded him of Gu Pingyuan's selflessness in saving her father's life. He then admitted he didn't know his exact whereabouts and wondered if he might be dead. Chang Yu'er, however, confidently stated that if Gu Pingyuan had died, he would have surely bid her farewell, as she had no such premonition. Convinced by her sincerity, Li Qin finally disclosed that Gu Pingyuan was in Ningguta.
With their alliance forged, Commander Xu and Gu Pingyuan set off to purchase military supplies from the Russians. Before their departure, Xu placed a piece of poisoned meat at the gate, hoping to eliminate the wolves that had tormented him, declaring his intent to show them he was becoming a general. They traveled across the Argun River to the Cossack cavalry's trading post. There, they entered a lively bar.
Gu Pingyuan was immediately swarmed by Russian women, who, noticing he was from the Qing Empire, invited him to dance. Feeling overwhelmed, Gu Pingyuan struggled to break free. A commotion ensued, and Commander Xu fired a warning shot, creating a diversion. In the ensuing chaos, Gu Pingyuan managed to escape, and they quickly rode away.
As they fled through the night, Xu chided Gu Pingyuan for his reckless behavior in the bar, emphasizing that without his intervention, Gu Pingyuan would have been "eaten alive." Commander Xu and Gu Pingyuan rode day and night, enduring the harsh elements, until they were eventually surrounded and captured by a group of Cossack cavalry. The Cossack leader searched Gu Pingyuan and found his banknotes. Finding no money on Commander Xu, the leader ordered his execution.
Gu Pingyuan, however, frantically intervened, explaining in broken Russian that they were merchants doing business together and pleaded for Xu's life. Xu was then released. Gu Pingyuan further explained their purpose: to "buy guns" and ammunition. The Cossack leader initially struggled to understand, but through a combination of explanations and frantic gesturing, he finally grasped that they were there to purchase firearms. The leader then invited them to a feast of meat and wine.
During the celebratory meal, Gu Pingyuan told Commander Xu that this was an incredible bargain, as the Governor of Anhui, Qiao Song, bought guns at sixteen taels of silver each, while they only needed to pay three. Xu expressed concern about transporting over a hundred guns back, but Gu Pingyuan suggested buying a large cart and horses.
He assured Xu that the imperial court's need for guns was legitimate, citing his imperial permit, and promised Xu both an official position and wealth. With their deal secured, Gu Pingyuan declared that their past grievances were now "even."
