Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 40 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
Liu Ping patrolled the city walls at night, finding the soldiers in a state of anxiety. He actively showed himself to comfort them, as many feared the city would not hold and urged Liu Ping to have Guo Jia appear to boost morale. Liu Ping downplayed the enemy's strength, noting their advantageous position, and promised to relay their messages, though he kept Guo Jia's death a secret. Later, Fu Shou came to find Liu Ping, inquiring about the soldiers' morale.
Liu Ping revealed that the news of Guo Jia’s death was slowly spreading, and Cao Zhi’s presence alone might not be enough to quell the fear. He predicted Lulong would face one or two fierce battles but believed they could hold out until reinforcements from Xudu arrived. Liu Ping then asked Fu Shou how she was so knowledgeable about the Xianbei army. She explained that the Former Emperor, concerned about the kingdom’s frontier problems, had shared much with her.
Fu Shou, however, expressed a deeper concern: Xun Yu lacked a tiger seal, and knowing Cao Cao's suspicious nature, she feared he would not dare mobilize troops. Liu Ping countered, stating that the immense responsibility for Lulong's 100,000 citizens could change people, and he was confident Xun Yu would not abandon the city for self-preservation. He also mentioned having a trusted person in Xudu.
When Fu Shou identified Sima Yi, dismissing him as a mere civilian, Liu Ping reminded her of their past in Yecheng, where he, too, was a civilian yet achieved great things. He then playfully observed Fu Shou's jealousy towards Sima Yi. Reflecting on their journey since entering the palace, Liu Ping found solace in their shared experiences of narrowly escaping danger by holding hands.
He took Fu Shou's hand, promising, "When I hold your hands this time, we will definitely be able to go till the end." Meanwhile, Cao Zhi discussed the city's defenses with his generals, who reported a severe shortage of arrows and resources, making a prolonged defense impossible. Cao Zhi announced his intention to lead a sortie, drawing the enemy's main force, so Liu Ping and Fu Shou could escape to seek aid from Cao Cao.
Liu Ping, upon entering, immediately rejected this plan, arguing they should stand together and defend the city. Cao Zhi stood firm, asserting that a lost city could be regained, but the Han Dynasty could not afford to lose its Emperor. He declared his decision to provoke the enemy the next day and left the choice of whether to leave to Liu Ping.
Frustrated, Liu Ping wished he could punch Cao Zhi, who in turn expressed his hope that Liu Ping would return alive so he could still be lectured. Fu Shou later found Cao Jie dressed as a general, ready to guard the city. Fu Shou praised her but suggested her role was to manage logistics and maintain civilian morale. Cao Jie then revealed Cao Zhi's plan to sacrifice himself and expressed her certainty that Liu Ping had refused.
She recounted an incident from their childhood where Cao Zhi stubbornly defied Cao Cao to defend an innocent soldier, proving his unyielding determination. Cao Jie declared that if Cao Zhi died in battle, she would defend Lulong as the last remaining Cao child. Fu Shou reassured her that such a day would not come and enlisted Cao Jie's help in preparing some unique stone decorations, the purpose of which she would reveal later.
In Xudu, Cui Yan urged Xun Yu to send reinforcements to Lulong, emphasizing the Emperor and Empress's peril. Xun Yu lamented his inability to mobilize troops without a tiger seal or Cao Cao's direct order. At that moment, Pan Yang and Sima Yi entered. Sima Yi, despite a leg injury, presented a fabricated tiger seal, urging Xun Yu to act.
He sternly warned Xun Yu of the catastrophic consequences of inaction, including the unjust deaths of the Emperor, Empress, Cao Zhi, and Cao Jie, and the vulnerability of Xudu to Xianbei invasion. Convinced, Xun Yu agreed to act, but Sima Yi advised against waiting for distant generals, proposing instead to immediately gather Xudu troops, combine them with the Yecheng army, and rush the cavalry to Lulong.
Cui Yan offered to write letters to his contacts among the Yecheng generals to ensure their cooperation. Sima Yi volunteered to lead the army himself, taking full responsibility for using the fake tiger seal, declaring his loyalty to be "different" from Xun Yu's.
Still concerned about a shortage of warhorses, Xun Yu was relieved when Jia Xu appeared and offered the Xiliang Army's horses and armor, pragmatically stating he was helping the Emperor, Cao Cao, and himself to avoid being condemned by history. Back in Lulong, Fu Shou presented Liu Ping with an emperor's headdress she and Cao Jie had painstakingly made. She told him it was time to reveal his identity to rally the disheartened populace.
As Cao Zhi was discussing his detailed battle plan to lead 1,000 cavalry in a breakthrough with his generals, who voiced concerns about troop shortages for his proposed wedge formation, Liu Ping, now dressed in imperial robes, appeared on the city walls, addressing the soldiers. He explained his previous secrecy, apologized for his absence, and declared his presence in Lulong, assuring them he had not abandoned them or the city.
He impassionedly spoke of Lulong's critical importance as the "first barrier" and urged them to fight for the Central Plains, their families, and to avoid becoming "sinners" in history. His speech invigorated the soldiers, who pledged to fight to the death. Outside the city, the Xianbei generals, hearing of the Emperor's presence, were excited and vowed to capture him. Cao Zhi then gifted Liu Ping an armor, crafted by Cao Cao but never worn by Cao Zhi himself.
He expressed his honor at fighting alongside Liu Ping, acknowledging the Emperor's past contributions to Cao Cao's victories at Guandu. Liu Ping accepted, suggesting they share the same armor, emphasizing that no one should be sacrificed if there was any chance of survival. In Xudu, Tang Ying bid a worried farewell to Sima Yi, who was now clad in battle armor. He reassured her, promising to return and marry her, and to bring Liu Ping back safely.
Cui Yan arrived, wishing to join the expedition, but Sima Yi advised him to remain, citing the need to preserve their hidden forces and Cui Yan's strategic importance for the Emperor's future. When Cui Yan pressed about the nature of his relationship with the Emperor, Sima Yi playfully responded it might be a debt from a past life. Yang Xiu appeared, mocking Sima Yi's "foolish loyalty" and sudden recovery, questioning how he would explain it to Cao Cao.
Sima Yi ignored the taunts, reiterating his resolve to return with Liu Ping and looking forward to Yang Xiu's literary praise. Sima Yi then addressed the assembled troops—a mix of garrison guards and private armies—acknowledging their inexperience but galvanizing them with promises of victory and a "different future." He spoke of coordinating with the Emperor and Guo Jia in Lulong.
Tang Ying, as Princess Consort of Hongnong, publicly presented a large chest of jewels as rewards for the soldiers and dispatched Pan Yang to accompany Sima Yi as a guide. Sima Yi thanked her, reaffirming his promise of victory. Later that evening in Lulong, Liu Ping returned late, having secretly prepared a special dinner for Fu Shou, even acquiring a pot of wine from Cao Zhi.
He expressed his fear that this might be their last chance to enjoy a normal meal together. Fu Shou acknowledged his apprehension, reminiscing about a question she had once posed on her wedding night with the Former Emperor. Liu Ping solemnly declared his commitment to fulfill his duties as both Emperor and husband, even if he couldn't protect her until the very end.
Fu Shou, calling him "husband," expressed her heartfelt desire to truly be with him that night, not wanting to wait any longer. They shared a cup of wine and kissed, while outside, Cao Jie witnessed their intimate moment before sadly walking away. The next morning, Liu Ping joked with Fu Shou about preserving his energy, to which she retorted, calling his answer "glib."
