Resumo do episódio 19 de The Heiress
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Urgent reports flooded into the capital, revealing a dual invasion: the State of Wei and the Xiyi people were simultaneously attacking the borders of the State of Chen. An official expressed concern that these attacks were coordinated and long-planned, urging the Emperor to dispatch troops and supplies immediately.
In response, the Emperor appointed Chen Yanyi as the Great General guarding the west, granting him the commander's tally and authority to mobilize forces from Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces to quickly defeat the Xiyi people and then provide support to the northern territory. Simultaneously, Duke Han, guarding the northern territory, dispatched an urgent message to his daughter, Han Shiyi, to return and assist him.
As Han Shiyi prepared to depart for the northern territory, Wang Zhongyu came to bid her farewell. He expressed concern for her safety on the battlefield, reminding her of her resilient nature, and promised to treat her to a drink upon her safe return, to which she agreed. Soon after, Chen Yanyi met with Han Shiyi. He showed her a small bracelet she had made for him in childhood, reassuring her that despite the distance separating them, their connection remained.
He asked her to call him Yanyi and vowed that after achieving military success in the west, he would petition the Emperor to restore her identity as a woman and make her his lawful wife. Han Shiyi, deeply moved, promised to wait for his return, and they both pledged to come back safely. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wang approached the Second Prince, Chen Yanhao, suggesting that the current crisis presented an opportunity for them.
Chen Yanhao, weary of the political struggles and recently chastised by the Emperor, expressed a desire to withdraw from contention and live as an idle prince. However, Prime Minister Wang asserted that Chen Yanyi, known for his ruthless and resolute character, would never spare them, especially given the unresolved matter of his mother's death and the potential fate of the Empress.
Realizing he had no alternative, Chen Yanhao resigned himself to continued struggle, with Prime Minister Wang promising to handle all the necessary arrangements. Elsewhere, Zhou Xuezhang asked Shen Chengjun to join him on the battlefield to assist Han Shiyi.
Shen Chengjun, however, revealed his plans to head to the western territory to train under the Fifth Prince (Chen Yanyi), explaining that his family's ties to the Han family made his presence in the northern territory politically risky due to the Emperor's suspicions. He agreed to take Zhou Xuezhang with him if his mother permitted. Upon her return to the northern territory, Han Shiyi met with her father, Duke Han, to discuss the war.
Duke Han detailed the Wei army's formidable strength, estimating over 200,000 soldiers, split to attack both Xia Pass and Langya Gateway. He cautioned against underestimating Tuoba Xun, the Wei commander, who was well-versed in Chen military tactics and had replaced his uncle, Tuoba Yuan, after previous defeats. Tuoba Xun’s leadership had transformed the Wei forces into a relentless "tiger and wolf" army, inflicting heavy casualties on the Han Army.
Han Shiyi, recalling Chen Yanyi's insights, expressed confidence, stating that Tuoba Xun, as a fellow disciple of the Xuanji Sect, shared a similar strategic mind with Chen Yanyi, whose thinking she understood well. She also mentioned having learned about the Copper and Horse Formations from Chen Yanyi, believing she could counter them.
Duke Han then laid out their strategy: Li Quan would lead the vanguard, feigning defeat and retreating through the West Valley, while Han Shiyi would intercept the retreating Wei forces at Mao'er Mountain. After twelve engagements, Han Shiyi noted that the Wei army had suffered surprisingly few losses, leading her to suspect they were deliberately conserving strength and waiting for a specific moment to strike.
Duke Han discussed the imperial inspector sent by the Emperor, acknowledging his influence but also recalling Chen Yanyi’s prior warning against him. He knew the Emperor, while relying on the Han Army, also harbored deep suspicions and used the inspector as an "eye and ear." Duke Han gave Han Shiyi discretion to deal with any individual who threatened the military efforts, assuring her he would take responsibility should the Emperor question her actions.
Han Shiyi, seeing her father's graying hair, lamented her inability to fully shoulder his burdens. Duke Han affectionately told her he was proud of her, comparing her intelligence to her mother's and her stubbornness to his own. In the western territory, Chen Yanyi’s advisors pointed out that the Xiyi people, though fully engaged, lacked the might of the Wei forces and primarily served to distract Chen's western army, buying time for the Wei.
They suggested Chen Yanyi capitalize on this to consolidate his prestige. However, Chen Yanyi firmly rejected this, prioritizing national security over personal glory. He recalled that Xiyi generals and Chen Yanyi were old acquaintances, and he had a way to persuade the Xiyi to retreat. He declared his intention to swiftly defeat the Xiyi and then reinforce the northern territory, emphasizing the critical situation there.
While he trusted Duke Han's competence, he warned against Tuoba Xun, his cunning fellow disciple from the Xuanji Sect, who had meticulously planned his rise to power for a decade. Chen Yanyi also voiced concern that the imperial court, fearing the Han Army's growing influence, might send officials to impede their efforts.
His plan was to quickly neutralize the main Xiyi threat, and then entrusting the remaining mop-up operations to his subordinates, he would head north, hoping the Emperor would eventually allow him to intervene in the greater national interest. Tragedy soon struck the northern front. Reports reached the Emperor that after a month-long stalemate, the Han Army had suffered three consecutive defeats in seven days, losing over 30,000 soldiers.
The Langya Gateway had fallen, its defenders annihilated, and Tuoba Xun’s army now encircled Xia Pass. The Han Army was in dire peril. Duke Han quickly uncovered the cause of the disaster: the imperial inspector had been a spy, who, under the guise of his official duties, stole the army's deployment maps and secretly delivered them to the Wei.
With irrefutable evidence, Duke Han ordered the immediate execution of the traitor, rallying his remaining generals to fight to the last for the State of Chen. With the Han Army cut off from support and encircled, the only hope lay in reinforcements from an external force to launch a pincer attack. Believing imperial reinforcements would arrive too late, Duke Han revealed the existence of a nearby garrison in Lintangzhou, commanded by Jin Shangwu.
However, his generals were skeptical, pointing out that Duke Han lacked the authority to command these troops, and Jin Shangwu might refuse to act without direct imperial orders, fearing severe punishment for any misstep. Despite the risks, Duke Han trusted Jin Shangwu and entrusted Han Shiyi with a letter pleading for aid, impressing upon her that the fate of the remaining 60,000 Han Army soldiers and the common people of Chen rested on her shoulders.
Han Shiyi, accepting the heavy responsibility, pledged to fulfill her mission. Han Shiyi, accompanied by her loyal attendant Jinzi and a general, broke through the Wei encirclement under the cover of night, fighting their way to Lintangzhou. Upon arrival, Han Shiyi desperately pleaded with Jin Shangwu to open the city gates and dispatch troops.
However, Jin Shangwu, citing his duty to protect Lintangzhou and his lack of an imperial transfer order, repeatedly refused, offering empty excuses and advising Han Shiyi to return to the northern territory. He even refused to let Han Shiyi and her companions enter the city to rest, fearing a surprise Wei attack. Han Shiyi's companion then handed her a backup letter from Duke Han.
This letter, written in anticipation of Jin Shangwu's refusal, ordered Han Shiyi to proceed directly to the capital to inform the Emperor of the true situation and the traitor's crimes, explicitly forbidding her return to the northern territory. Overwhelmed by grief and a fierce sense of loyalty, Han Shiyi refused to abandon her father and the Han Army, declaring she could not live if they were wiped out.
Jinzi, equally determined, insisted on accompanying her to the battlefield, reminding Han Shiyi of their promise to protect her and her own identity as a member of the Han Army. Han Shiyi initially agreed but then, to protect Jinzi from certain death, knocked her unconscious, instructing her to stay alive. While Han Shiyi was away, the battle raged on in Xia Pass. Yinzi, one of Han Shiyi's trusted female bodyguards, bravely fell during the defense of Duke Han.
Severely wounded and outnumbered, Duke Han fought valiantly until his last breath, ultimately sacrificing himself for the state. Han Shiyi rushed back to find the battlefield littered with the bodies of Han Army soldiers. She was met with the devastating news of her father's martyrdom. Grief-stricken, she swore vengeance against Tuoba Xun and refused to retreat. As she fought, Tuoba Xun appeared, offering her mercy if she surrendered.
Han Shiyi, fueled by rage, shot him from his horse with an arrow. Though surprised, Tuoba Xun immediately ordered his men to capture her alive. Having received news of the northern territory's collapse, Chen Yanyi, in the western territory, immediately ordered his troops to march north to reinforce the Han Army, leaving the western front in the charge of General Chu. Han Shiyi, now alone and gravely wounded, continued to fight against overwhelming odds, rising repeatedly even after falling.
Tuoba Xun, attempting to break her spirit, revealed that the mastermind behind the betrayal did not wish her dead but sought to prevent the Han Army from monopolizing the northern territory after his ascension. He implied Chen Yanyi was this mastermind, but Han Shiyi vehemently refused to believe him. Cornered and facing capture, Han Shiyi defiantly leaped from a cliff, choosing death over surrender or a life without honor.
