Legend of the Magnate Episode 22 Recap
> Legend of the Magnate Recap
Gu Pingyuan, setting aside past grievances, chose to offer an apology to the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association. He declared that the "Top Tea Under Heaven" plaque, bestowed upon him by the Empress Dowager, rightfully belonged to the entire Anhui tea industry and should be displayed at the association's hall.
As a further gesture, he freely presented Old Master Hu with the secret recipe for his Orchid Snow tea, urging him to copy and distribute it to all tea merchants throughout Anhui. Gu Pingyuan explained that his small family tea garden could not possibly meet the widespread demand alone, and without broader production, the market would inevitably be flooded with shoddy counterfeits, which would ultimately ruin the tea's reputation and harm the livelihoods of all Anhui tea farmers.
Old Master Hu, deeply moved by Gu Pingyuan's generosity, pledged that the Anhui Tea Merchants' Association would follow his directives in promoting Orchid Snow tea. Gu Pingyuan, however, politely declined any leadership position, stating his preference for a tranquil life, but he expressed his sincere hope that the tea would bring prosperity to the struggling tea farmers of Anhui, who had endured immense hardship during these tumultuous times.
The villagers of Shanjian Village celebrated Gu Pingyuan's contributions by erecting a memorial arch, "Benefiting the Local Community," in honor of him and his brother, Gu Pingwen, whom they now affectionately addressed as "Second Master Gu." Meanwhile, Qiao Song, the Governor of Anhui, escorted Gu Pingyuan to the Hefei front line. Qiao Song, full of ambition, eagerly anticipated the glory and military merits that would come with capturing Hefei.
Gu Pingyuan, however, was primarily concerned with protecting the city's innocent civilians from the ravages of war. Later, Gu Pingyuan was surprised to find Su Zixuan in his room. Before he could call for his guards, she revealed that her own men had already surrounded the residence. Gu Pingyuan urged her to convince Li Cheng to surrender Hefei to spare the innocent, but Su Zixuan replied that Li Cheng had no viable retreat.
Gu Pingyuan then proposed a "business deal," offering to help Li Cheng find a safe escape route. Su Zixuan, after a moment of bristling, left without a clear answer. Upon their arrival at the Qing army camp, Qiao Song and his subordinate, Bao Qing, hosted a banquet for Gu Pingyuan. Despite Gu Pingyuan's attempts to deflect, Bao Qing insisted on showing formal deference to the Pacification Commissioner.
They lavished praise on Gu Pingyuan and even presented him with pre-made "banners and umbrellas of gratitude," supposedly from the grateful populace—a deception Gu Pingyuan immediately saw through. He then questioned Bao Qing about the planned assault on Hefei, expressing deep concern that the city's inhabitants were starving. Bao Qing revealed his strategy was to prolong the siege until the rebel soldiers were too weak to fight, ensuring an effortless victory.
Gu Pingyuan sharply countered that this approach would lead to the starvation of countless innocent civilians. He reminded them of the Empress Dowager’s benevolent policies, stating that such a strategy would tarnish her virtue and undermine his role as Pacification Commissioner. Qiao Song quickly agreed that an attack was overdue. Gu Pingyuan then announced his intention to go home briefly before personally entering Hefei to negotiate a surrender.
Bao Qing initially opposed this, fearing for Gu Pingyuan's safety, but Qiao Song, reminding him of their orders to obey the Pacification Commissioner, permitted it. After Gu Pingyuan's departure, Qiao Song and Bao Qing privately discussed the situation. Qiao Song explained that the Empress Dowager had appointed Gu Pingyuan, a nominal but symbolically powerful figure, due to her increasing dissatisfaction with Prince Gong, their shared superior.
He instructed Bao Qing to ensure Gu Pingyuan remained at the camp, not just to share in any potential glory, but also to make him a convenient scapegoat if the surrender negotiations failed. Returning home late, Gu Pingyuan found his brother, Gu Pingwen, eagerly awaiting him. Pingwen was visibly disappointed that his brother still wore plain clothes, having imagined him returning in imposing official attire. Gu Pingyuan, however, expressed his weariness of official duties.
He then went to pay his respects to his mother. He shared the encouraging news that Prince Gong had agreed to enlist the Nine Gates Infantry Commander's Office in the search for their father, cautioning her, however, not to be overly despondent if their efforts proved fruitless. His mother, clinging to hope, urged him to continue the search, even if only to find a grave to mourn at. Gu Pingyuan promised to remain by her side throughout the night.
The next morning, Gu Pingyuan rode alone to the gates of Hefei, announcing himself as the Pacification Commissioner of Anhui and requesting to see General Li Cheng. He was allowed entry but was immediately seized, blindfolded, and taken to the Prince's Mansion. There, Bai Yimei met him, and Gu Pingyuan implored her to persuade Li Cheng to withdraw, warning that continued resistance would lead to the starvation of the entire city.
Bai Yimei, however, stated that she was powerless to make such a decision. Li Cheng then entered, offering Gu Pingyuan peanuts, which he admitted were their primary sustenance. He sent Bai Yimei to fetch their last bottle of wine so they could share a drink.
Gu Pingyuan urged him to retreat, but Li Cheng explained his desperate predicament: withdrawing would mean certain death, either through infighting among his own forces in Jinling, being cornered by court armies, or facing an uncertain welcome from other rebel leaders. He grimly concluded that his end was imminent. Bai Yimei returned with the wine.
Li Cheng, after a toast, agreed to open the city gates the following morning to allow civilians to leave unharmed, but declared that he and Bai Yimei would remain to die within the city walls. Bai Yimei pledged to die alongside him, toasting Gu Pingyuan for his unwavering kindness and promising to repay his generosity in their next life. Gu Pingyuan, however, challenged them, asking if they had considered the fate of their soldiers.
He suggested that many of them might not wish to die with Li Cheng and boldly urged Li Cheng to ask them directly, offering to lead out those who wished to leave. Enraged, Li Cheng ordered his guards to prepare for a public address to his soldiers. Before his assembled troops, Li Cheng delivered a passionate speech, reminiscing about the profound injustices that had driven them to rebel. He declared that he would not compel anyone to remain.
Those willing to stay would share their last provisions and continue their brotherhood in the afterlife. However, he announced that those unwilling to stay could leave with Gu Pingyuan and the civilians the next morning, as the Qing forces would temporarily withdraw to ensure safe passage. He vowed that his soldiers' blades would never be turned against their own brothers.
The next day, as the city's civilians and some of the rebel soldiers, who had laid down their weapons, streamed out of Hefei, Gu Pingyuan and Li Cheng watched from the city wall. Qiao Song and Bao Qing were at the gates to "welcome" the surrendering soldiers. They ordered the disarmed soldiers to gather at the North Camp, claiming it was for their recovery, a shave to remove their rebel appearance, and new clothes.
The soldiers protested, insisting they merely wanted to go home. Qing soldiers raised their weapons, but Gu Pingyuan quickly intervened. Gu Pingyuan sensed something was gravely amiss but was promptly pulled away by Qiao Song and Bao Qing for a celebratory drink. Back on the city wall, Bai Yimei expressed her concern to Li Cheng that Gu Pingyuan was being manipulated.
Li Cheng revealed the cynical plot of Qiao Song and Bao Qing: they had deliberately prolonged the siege of Hefei to continuously demand more men and money from the imperial court, enriching themselves in the process. He surmised that Gu Pingyuan's mission to persuade surrender was a dangerous ploy by these officials, an attempt to use Li Cheng's hand to have him killed. Li Cheng observed that Gu Pingyuan's greatest weakness was his inherent kind-heartedness.
Later, as Qiao Song and Bao Qing plied Gu Pingyuan with drinks, getting him thoroughly intoxicated, Gu Pingyuan, in his drunken state, directly confronted them. He accused them of never having intended for him to return alive from Hefei, catching both officials completely off guard and leaving them speechless.
