Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 29 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
Facing Yuan Shao's order for his execution, Liu Ping calmly requested that Pan Yang carry it out. Pan Yang, unable to bear it any longer, revealed Liu Ping's true identity as the Emperor of Great Han. Yuan Shao, disbelieving, accused Liu Ping of impersonation. Liu Ping recounted their past encounter at Luoyang Palace when Dong Zhuo intended to depose his elder brother, reminding Yuan Shao of his elegant demeanor from twelve years ago.
Wang Yue corroborated Liu Ping's identity, confirming he was indeed the Emperor. Faced with undeniable proof, Yuan Shao and his men knelt in homage, with Yuan Shao apologizing for his offense. Liu Ping then requested to see Princess Consort Tang, a request Yuan Shao dared not refuse. Meanwhile, Fei and Xu You discussed the Emperor's unexpected presence in Yuan Shao's camp, noting that the Emperor was not to be underestimated.
Tang Ying was surprised to see Liu Ping in the camp. She expressed concern for his safety and asked why he had come alone and exposed his identity. Liu Ping explained he did it for self-preservation and that Sima Yi had safely escorted Cao Pi back to Cao Cao's camp due to Cao Pi's life debt to Sima Yi. Liu Ping revealed his disappointment with Yuan Shao, finding him too arrogant and his subordinates similar, confirming Guo Jia's earlier assessment.
Tang Ying agreed, noting that the late Emperor never sought refuge with Yuan Shao for this very reason. Liu Ping now understood the immense difficulty his brother faced in balancing the powers of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao. Tang Ying encouraged Liu Ping to forge his own path, to which he responded that he had already chosen his way, which extended beyond merely eliminating Cao Cao.
Tang Ying, while proud of his growth, warned that Yuan Shao might hold him hostage and take him to the battlefield, but Liu Ping confidently stated that Yuan Shao lacked the capability for such an act. Yuan Shao was troubled by Liu Ping's presence, fearing it would undermine his authority. During a council, Xu You advised him that the Emperor's arrival was an opportunity to rally feudal lords under the imperial banner.
Yuan Shao, however, contrasted himself with Cao Cao, arguing that while Cao Cao, being a descendant of a eunuch, needed the Emperor, the prestigious Yuan family did not. He agonized over whether to obey the Emperor or use him as a hostage on the front lines to threaten Cao Cao. Xu You cautioned against the latter, suggesting that an enraged Emperor might publicly denounce Yuan Shao, inadvertently aiding Cao Cao. Fei intervened, reassuring Yuan Shao that the Emperor was valuable.
He proposed using the Emperor to provoke Cao Cao into action. Fei then outlined a plan for Xu You to feign defection to Cao Cao. Xu You was to inform Cao Cao that Yuan Shao's main military provisions were stored at Wuchao and to confirm the Emperor's presence in Yuan Shao's camp, ensuring the news spread widely. Fei also inquired about Liu Ping's attempt to contact Xu You in Yecheng.
Xu You claimed ignorance, stating he only received a message from an attendant and never met Liu Ping directly, subtly concealing Cao Pi's visit. Fei then instructed Xu You to subtly investigate the Emperor's true intentions. As Liu Ping had anticipated, Xu You soon came to see him.
Liu Ping warned Xu You that his mission to Cao Cao's camp would be perilous, as Cao Cao was inherently suspicious, and Guo Jia's intelligence was unmatched, making any attempt to deliver false information tantamount to suicide. Xu You, however, believed that Cao Cao's desperate shortage of military provisions would compel him to trust even dubious information. Liu Ping countered by explaining that Fei was solely focused on his rivalry with Guo Jia and indifferent to Xu You's life.
He then subtly attempted to win Xu You over, implying a chance to alter the course of the war. Xu You acknowledged Liu Ping's disillusionment with Yuan Shao but remained non-committal. Liu Ping, understanding, did not press further, instead offering their conversation as Xu You's safeguard when facing Cao Cao, and entrusting him with a personal letter to Cao Cao.
When Xu You inquired about Liu Ping's earlier attempt to contact him in Yecheng, Liu Ping explained he had initially sought a list of defected officials but now deemed Xu You alone sufficient for his cause. Pan Yang prepared for his mission to assassinate Cao Cao. Before leaving, he gave Tang Ying the sword manual left by their master, Dongfang Chun, urging her to practice its final, untaught move to preserve their master's legacy.
Tang Ying, disheartened by Yuan Shao and resigned to her fate, questioned the inability to change one's destiny, seeing all life's paths as cages. After Pan Yang's departure, she burned the manual, believing she no longer needed martial arts, and despairingly hoped for Sima Yi's swift return, fearing she might not be alive to see him otherwise. Meanwhile, when Liu Ping attempted to leave his tent, General Gao Lan, acting on Yuan Shao's orders, stopped him.
Cui Yan intervened, offering to guide Liu Ping through the camp himself. As they walked, they unexpectedly saw Fu Shou arriving at the military camp. Yuan Shao inquired about Liu Ping's conversation with Cui Yan. Liu Ping, intending to sow discord, claimed he had promised Cui Yan a Grand Minister position if they defeated Cao Cao. Yuan Shao later privately warned Cui Yan to be cautious of Liu Ping.
Fu Shou, unaware of Liu Ping's true intentions, initially believed he was allying with Yuan Shao to defeat Cao Cao. Liu Ping then revealed his plan: Yuan Shao would lose this battle because he had instructed Xu You, under the pretense of defection, to disclose the true location of Yuan Shao's grain stores to Cao Cao. Fu Shou was furious, accusing Liu Ping of betraying their shared goal of eliminating Cao Cao and forgetting his past atrocities.
Liu Ping explained that compared to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao possessed greater ambition and capability, which he believed would ultimately benefit the Central Plains and the Han Dynasty more. Fu Shou was distressed by Liu Ping's apparent shift in allegiance, nearly collapsing in despair.
Liu Ping embraced her, explaining that Yuan Shao's actions in the past few days had convinced him to side with Cao Cao, and reassured her that he had not forgotten his original aspirations or broken his promises, asking her to trust him. Convinced, Fu Shou agreed to help Liu Ping aid Cao Cao in achieving victory. Xu You defected to Guo Jia, who initially doubted his sincerity. Xu You then revealed Liu Ping's instructions, convincing Guo Jia.
Yang Xiu informed Sima Yi about Xu You's defection. Sima Yi told Yang Xiu it was Liu Ping's strategy and that Cao Cao might not return from this mission. He then went to see Cao Pi, who still harbored resentment over Sima Yi's previous advice that landed him in trouble.
Sima Yi acknowledged his past recklessness and offered to help Cao Pi avenge his elder brother's death, though it would require Cao Pi to endure some hardship and play a part in Sima Yi's scheme. Meanwhile, Cui Yan sent men to arrange for Liu Ping and Fu Shou's escape. However, Fu Shou refused to leave without Tang Ying.
She instructed the escorts to wait for them at a designated meeting point and then went to see Yuan Shao to secure Tang Ying’s release. In the Cao camp, Sima Yi approached an old man (Cao Cao in disguise) to inquire about the war. The man revealed they were going to conduct forced requisitions, as military rations were scarce. Sima Yi advised against participating, predicting that Cao Cao would execute the soldiers involved to maintain his image of integrity.
Sima Yi characterized Cao Cao as a master of theatrical acts to win public support, far surpassing Yuan Shao. The "Sir" retorted that discerning between acting and sincerity in politics was difficult and that if Cao Cao's acting was so transparent, he would indeed only be fit to be a County Commandant, echoing a private comment Sima Yi’s father once made to Cao Cao.
After the man left, Sima Yi realized he was Cao Cao himself and understood that Liu Ping's true intention was not to kill Cao Cao, but to help him. Fu Shou confronted Yuan Shao, inquiring how he could be certain that Xu You would not genuinely betray them. Yuan Shao, confidently claiming that all of Cao Cao's actions were within his control, offered to show Fu Shou his intelligence sources but then changed his mind.
Yuan Shao then asked for Fu Shou's opinion on Tang Ying. Fu Shou asserted that regardless of Tang Ying's past, she was the Princess Consort of the Han Dynasty and her sister, and the imperial family would not cooperate with anyone who humiliated her. Yuan Shao accused Tang Ying of betraying him for the Emperor. He eventually conceded to Fu Shou's demand to release Tang Ying, asking what leverage the Han Imperial Family had.
Fu Shou cryptically implied that they had made preparations. Yuan Shao then arranged for Fu Shou to meet Tang Ying, where Fu Shou immediately ordered Tang Ying's chains to be removed, intending to escape with her.
