Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 39 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
Cao Cao surveyed the military situation from the mountains with his son, Cao Pi. He expressed his confidence, stating that following Guo Jia's ingenious plan would lead to the swift capture of Liu City. Cao Pi, however, urged his father to strike quickly, warning that their enemies would be prepared. Cao Cao calmly dismissed his son's anxiety, revealing a pouch given to him by Guo Jia, which he was instructed to open only after seizing Pinggang.
Suddenly, Pan Yang emerged, intent on avenging the thousands of innocent lives lost in Xu Province by killing Cao Cao. Cao Pi quickly intervened, blocking Pan Yang's attack. Pan Yang recognized the distinctive Wang Yue sword technique used by Cao Pi and, realizing he was outmatched, fled.
Cao Cao questioned Cao Pi about the sword technique, and Cao Pi claimed he had secretly learned a few stances from Wang Yue during their previous encounters, denying any knowledge of Wang Yue's assassination plot. Cao Cao, however, remained wary, commenting that Cao Pi's mind was even more inscrutable than the sword technique itself. Cao Pi reiterated that he had only learned the technique to protect his father and had no other intentions.
Following Guo Jia's death, he was buried alongside Ren Hongchang and others without even his name inscribed on the gravestone, a measure taken to stabilize army morale. Liu Ping and Fu Shou observed the unmarked graves, reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and vowing to cherish their time together. Their solemn moment was interrupted by a report that Xianbei forces had encircled Lulong. Liu Ping immediately sought out Cao Zhi to discuss countermeasures.
Meanwhile, Pan Yang, witnessing the Xianbei army slaughtering civilians outside the city, bravely rescued a young girl. He then encountered Liu Ping and his group, who invited him to take refuge within Lulong. Once inside, Liu Ping arranged for soldiers to attempt to break through the siege and send messages for help. He then deliberated with the others about the Hu army's sudden arrival, suspecting that someone had leaked information about the city's depleted defenses to the Xianbei tribe.
Cao Jie, seeming unfazed by the siege, produced a pouch given to her by Guo Jia. Upon opening it, she discovered a message instructing Cao Cao not to return and reinforce Lulong. The realization dawned on everyone that no aid would come from Cao Cao's main army, leaving them no choice but to defend Lulong until Cao Cao returned victorious from his campaign against Wuhuan.
Cao Zhi proposed arranging for Liu Ping and Fu Shou to leave, but Liu Ping firmly refused, asserting his duty to stay and protect the citizens. From the city walls, Liu Ping surveyed the enemy. He initially believed that the Xianbei were unskilled in siege warfare and could be repelled by holding the city's defenses. Fu Shou, however, expressed concern, fearing that the Xianbei might deploy troops skilled in assaulting fortified cities.
Her fears were soon confirmed as catapults appeared below. Cao Jie inquired about the specific Xianbei tribe, and Fu Shou informed her that it was Kebineng's tribe, known for adapting Han military strategies and weapons. The Xianbei army then captured the messengers Liu Ping had dispatched earlier. In a brutal display of psychological warfare, they publicly threw the captives from the city walls using catapults, hoping to incite terror and despair among the populace.
Cao Jie was horrified by the cruelty, but Fu Shou soberly explained that such ruthlessness was characteristic of their enemies. Liu Ping understood the enemy's message: they possessed the capability to breach the city, and Lulong had no means of escape. As more soldiers were used as human shields, one familiar to Liu Ping was thrown down, crying out for help.
Unable to bear his prolonged agony, Liu Ping drew his bow and shot the soldier, granting him a swift end. Overwhelmed with guilt for having personally taken a life, Liu Ping was comforted by Fu Shou, who held him close, acknowledging his pain. Far away, news of Lulong's siege reached Cao Cao.
His generals were divided on whether to send reinforcements, with some arguing to press on with the Liu City campaign and others to return to Lulong, where Cao Zhi and Cao Jie were. At that moment, Cao Cao received a final letter from Guo Jia, sent before his death. Realizing that Guo Jia would never have allowed Xianbei to besiege Lulong if he were alive, Cao Cao was consumed by grief.
He declared his intention to turn back and reinforce Lulong. However, Cao Pi rationally advised against abandoning the attack on Liu City, reminding his father of Guo Jia's dying wish to pacify the north in one stroke. Cao Pi emphasized the strategic importance of capturing Liu City and how retreating would nullify all their efforts, causing regret even in Guo Jia's spirit.
Looking intently at Cao Pi, Cao Cao declared that among all his sons, Cao Pi was the one most like him. Below the city walls, a Xianbei general taunted the defenders, demanding their surrender. Inside, Cao Zhi entrusted Liu Ping with the command of Lulong's troops, pleading with him to help defend the city.
Liu Ping accepted the responsibility, resolute in his decision to protect the people, and immediately dispatched new messengers to deliver an urgent plea for help to both Cao Cao and Xudu. Later, when an officer reported that a mounted enemy was shouting provocations from below, Liu Ping, hearing the detail about the horse, conceived a daring plan. He ordered Pan Yang to assassinate the enemy messenger, seize his horse, and ride to Xudu for aid.
Pan Yang successfully carried out the mission, making his way to Xudu and meeting with Xun Yu. Pan Yang explained Lulong's dire situation, presenting an imperial decree from Liu Ping. However, Xun Yu hesitated, noting the absence of Cao Cao's official military command letter and tiger seal, which were necessary to mobilize a large army. He expressed caution, deeming the deployment of thousands of troops a significant matter that required time for preparation and verification.
Realizing that relying solely on Xun Yu's caution might be too slow, Pan Yang then sought out Sima Yi with Tang Ying's help. Sima Yi explained that the closest available troops were in Yecheng, but without Cao Cao's tiger seal, Xun Yu lacked the authority to move them. He stressed that waiting for the tiger seal from Cao Cao, who was hundreds of miles away, would mean Lulong's fall.
Pan Yang, frustrated by the perceived inaction, mocked Sima Yi's apparent cowardice and incompetence, likening him to Yuan Shao's self-serving subjects. In response, Sima Yi rose from his seated position, declaring, "Who told you that I am a subject of Cao Cao?" He decided that if the world was worthy of him standing up, he would personally persuade Xun Yu to deploy the army, dismissing concerns about potential repercussions from Cao Cao as future problems he could deal with later.
Back in Lulong, Liu Ping inquired about the city's available forces and weapons. Cao Zhi informed him that most of the elite troops and armaments had been taken by Cao Cao, leaving behind only around a thousand soldiers, mostly footmen, and horses that were inferior to those of the Xianbei. The city's defenses were also severely lacking, having received no fortification in two decades.
An officer mentioned an old storage room containing ancient war chariots of unknown age, which Cao Zhi acknowledged were likely useless in modern warfare. Cao Zhi suggested gathering large rocks from the citizens and collecting oil and frying pans for temporary defense. However, he warned that these measures would only offer short-term protection, anticipating a fierce close-quarters battle on the city walls.
