Secret of Three Kingdoms Episode 41 Recap
> Secret of Three Kingdoms Recap
The battle for Lulong intensified as the city's defenders valiantly held their ground against relentless enemy attacks. Casualties mounted among Lulong's soldiers, but Empress Fu Shou stood on the city wall, vigorously beating a drum to bolster their spirits. Just as Liu Ping's forces were on the verge of collapsing, Sima Yi arrived with vital reinforcements. Everyone was greatly relieved and excited.
Liu Ping proposed a counterattack on the enemy's left flank, instructing Cao Zhi to defend the city and await further assistance. Fu Shou, seeing Liu Ping's determination, did not object and continued to drum with even greater fervor. Liu Ping led his soldiers into direct combat, facing perilous odds. From the city walls, Cao Zhi and others watched as Liu Ping became surrounded by enemy forces, yearning to rush to his aid.
However, Fu Shou stopped them, emphasizing the greater importance of safeguarding the city. In a critical moment, Sima Yi finally reached Liu Ping, saving him from the enemy encirclement, and the two brothers fought side by side. Liu Ping urged Sima Yi to capture the enemy leader, Kebineng, alive. Sima Yi confidently assured him that with Pan Yang's forces positioned at the rear, Kebineng had no chance of escape.
On the city walls, Fu Shou observed the tide of battle turning and, realizing the most dangerous period had passed, she shed tears of relief. As Cao Pi returned from battle, he observed Pan Yang's valiant fighting and was reminded of their previous duel. He deduced that Pan Yang's connection to Wang Yue would inevitably be exposed, leading him to decide Pan Yang must die.
Cao Pi then dispatched his subordinates to ambush and kill Pan Yang, staging the scene to appear as if Pan Yang had fallen during an enemy attack. Later, Sima Yi found Pan Yang's body while inspecting the troops and questioned the soldiers about his death. Cao Pi interjected, falsely claiming that if he had been present, he would have saved Pan Yang, regardless of his past deeds, as they were fighting together.
Sima Yi did not believe Cao Pi's words and cast a knowing, meaningful glance at him. Liu Ping interrogated a captured Xianbei general. Sima Yi pointed out that the attack on Lulong must have been orchestrated with an insider's help, pressing the general to reveal the informant's identity. The general admitted that the messenger was an old subordinate of Yuan Shao, who claimed a high official of the Han Dynasty had informed them that Lulong's defenses were vulnerable.
Liu Ping, showing great magnanimity, released the captured general and offered a full pardon to the Xianbei tribe if they genuinely surrendered. He promised to send the general back and even enthrone Kebineng's younger brother as the new Chanyu, providing seeds and silk cocoons if they maintained an amicable relationship with the Han Dynasty. The general, deeply moved by Liu Ping's benevolence, pledged his tribe's sincere allegiance to the Han Dynasty.
Cao Pi, witnessing this, gave Liu Ping a look of resentment, realizing that Liu Ping had seized all the credit for defending Lulong. Sima Yi expressed his pride in Liu Ping's growth, telling him that the world's battlefield was too vast for him to protect Liu Ping indefinitely. The profound bond between Liu Ping and Sima Yi deeply stung Cao Pi, further fueling his hatred for the Emperor.
Liu Ping then led Sima Yi to Guo Jia's tomb to pay their respects. Liu Ping shared his plan to ally with Cao Cao to pacify the Central Plains, believing that Cao Cao was old and that Cao Pi's seemingly deep affection for them might offer a peaceful resolution. Sima Yi scoffed at the idea, disbelieving Cao Pi's affection.
He pointed out that when Liu Ping was surrounded by an army of tens of thousands, Cao Pi only brought five thousand men for reinforcement, suggesting a deliberate reluctance to save him. Liu Ping, with his inherent good nature, defended Cao Pi, arguing that Cao Pi did not know Sima Yi would come and was prepared to die himself. However, Sima Yi disagreed, reminding Liu Ping that human hearts are far more treacherous than any battlefield.
He meticulously analyzed the suspicious events since Liu Ping's arrival in Lulong—Wang Yue's assassination attempt, the sudden Xianbei attack, and Pan Yang's peculiar death. Sima Yi concluded that the greatest beneficiary of Liu Ping's death would be Cao Cao's successor, and among Yang Xiu, Cao Zhi, and Cao Pi, he suspected Cao Pi was the mastermind.
Sima Yi secretly met with Fu Shou, revealing a grand plan he was orchestrating with General Gao Lan to resolve the Han Dynasty's crisis once and for all. He explained that their combined forces, totaling twenty thousand men, could cut off Cao Cao's retreat route. By eliminating Cao's forces within the city, they could seize control of Lulong. Fu Shou, however, was not happy.
She had grown close to Cao Zhi and Cao Jie during their time together and could not bring herself to harm them. Sima Yi urged her to make a firm decision, emphasizing that such an opportunity to revitalize the Han Dynasty might never come again. He instructed her to lead Liu Ping away from the scene when the time came, sparing him from witnessing the bloodshed.
After Sima Yi departed, Fu Shou was plunged into deep contemplation, torn by the difficult choice and certain that Liu Ping would never agree to such a plan if he knew the truth. Liu Ping, unaware of the brewing conspiracy, joyfully convened a celebration feast. During the banquet, Fu Shou, burdened by her secret, poured wine for Liu Ping while Sima Yi watched her intently.
Cao Pi spontaneously performed a sword dance, enchanting Liu Ping, who remained oblivious to Fu Shou's troubled demeanor. After much hesitation, Fu Shou found an excuse to ask Liu Ping to accompany her outside. Meanwhile, Cao Pi approached Sima Yi, confronting him about his unauthorized mobilization of troops to Lulong, warning him that Cao Cao would not overlook such a transgression. Cao Pi, still trying to win Sima Yi over, claimed he had always wanted to save him.
Sima Yi retorted sharply, stating he had no desire to meet the same fate as Zhang Xiu, subtly implying Cao Pi's suspected involvement in Zhang Xiu's death. Cao Pi attempted to persuade Sima Yi to join him in building a new legacy, arguing that Cao Cao would soon pacify the Central Plains and unify the realm. But Sima Yi adamantly refused to discuss official matters that day, leaving Cao Pi visibly disappointed.
As Sima Yi observed the Cao siblings, now heavily intoxicated, he subtly smashed his wine cup—the pre-arranged signal for their coup to begin. Yet, to his surprise, no one stormed in. Just then, Liu Ping entered, feigning drunkenness to cover Sima Yi's signaling act. Sima Yi realized Liu Ping had foiled his plan and, furious, accused him of being too soft-hearted and squandering a golden opportunity.
Liu Ping then revealed that it was he who had ordered Gao Lan to withdraw his forces. Enraged, Sima Yi struck Liu Ping. He asserted that after Cao Cao's actions against the Sima family, he had no other recourse, but Liu Ping maintained his refusal to harm innocent people. Unable to sway Liu Ping, Sima Yi stormed off in anger, their differing principles causing a significant rift in their brotherhood.
Outside, Fu Shou sat, consumed by guilt for defying the late Emperor's will. Upon Cao Cao's triumphant return, he expressed his satisfaction with Cao Zhi and his siblings for successfully defending Lulong. Cao Jie, however, promptly credited Liu Ping for their success. Cao Cao's expression instantly darkened. Liu Ping, seizing the opportunity, humbly stated he had done little, attributing the victory to Sima Yi's decisive action in using a tiger tally, ostensibly given by Cao Cao, to bring reinforcements.
Cao Cao immediately understood that Sima Yi had forged the tiger tally. However, with Liu Ping having publicly declared that Cao Cao had dispatched forces to aid the Emperor, Cao Cao was in no position to openly contradict him and had to suppress his anger. Liu Ping further cemented Cao Cao's predicament by referencing the late Guo Jia's purported belief in Cao Cao's righteousness and understanding of the current situation, implying Cao Cao's loyalty to the Han.
