COLLECTION · Series · 1998

虯髯客與紅拂女

Original title

During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Qiu Ranke (Jin Chaoqun), a "barbarian" wanderer of Silla descent who harbored the ambition of contending for the Central Plains on behalf of his father, led a band of Silla warriors in disguise to the Central Plains to see for himself how matters stood. Li Jing (Xing Minshan), a man of great ambition who had intended to serve the imperial court, witnessed its corruption and, in his disillusionment, met the Red Whisk Girl (Pan Yingzi); the two fell in love. When Qiu Ranke arrived in the Central Plains, he happened to rescue the Red Whisk Girl, and his own feelings for her were stirred. Thus a love triangle arose among Qiu Ranke, the Red Whisk Girl and Li Jing, and throughout the entire drama, their tangled passions and shifting affections drive the story forward. Meanwhile, the Silla chancellor Ling Chengru (Fan Hongxuan) summoned warriors from various places to protect Qiu Ranke in the Central Plains. These brave men who came one after another to take up the mission were unfailingly loyal and ready to die for honor; their stirring and valiant sacrifices were meant to ensure their lord could fulfill his ambition of contending for the Central Plains. Later, one of these warriors, an old monk named Yuankong, remonstrated with Qiu Ranke at the cost of his own life, pleading with him to go in person to Taiyuan to meet the true ruler Li Yuan. Qiu Ranke and Li Jing agreed that if Li Yuan truly proved to be a wise sovereign, Silla would not send troops; the two went and saw Li Yuan's second son, Li Shimin (Jiao Enjun), whose outstanding talent and strategic brilliance, together with his respect for the worthy and humble treatment of scholars, so impressed Qiu Ranke that he resolved to return to Silla. Li Jing, accompanied by the Red Whisk Girl, entered Li Yuan's service and became a founding general of the Great Tang.