Three Kingdoms 2012, Episode 5

This episode saw Hon taking back his staying quarters  which he has given to Z before. This is supposed to be a humiliation to Z. Z is concern abt CaoCao, he advised Lau Bei the need  to strengthen their army, by recruiting 3000 strong young men for new training by Z himself! He was faced with opposition on this from everyone but finally Lau Bei gave in & Z got what he wanted.  Now he needs to think of a way to train these men. Yuet Ying display her intelligence & capability here as she’s very knowledgeable abt other forms of war formation.  Besides advising Z she translates all kinds of foregin books for him.  Z trains the men using the new formation.

Meanwhile they receive news that  Cao Cao is advancing towards one of their cities with 100,000 strong men led by general Har Hau Dun.  Hon quickly blame Z for causing this aggression with the training of the 3000 men!  But to fight back, they need to  borrow army from Lau Biu which means they have to go through Lady Choi.  But the very sick Lau Biu refuses to help Lau Bei. So they are on their own now. Both Hon & Z wanted to be the  strategist. Again everyone is oppose to Z again!

Both Cheung Fei and Guan Yu were against but in the end promises  to Lau Bei they will follow Z’s lead with no questions!!! Hon on the other hand decides not to sabotage but adopted a  hands off & observe stance-  believing strongly that Z will fail miserably as he’s inexperienced . Plus the terrains  is very harsh-  the army will have difficulty in transporting food.  And no one can fight if there’s no food!  Shun is worry for his idol! He decides to help secretly. He taught Song Yau how to make a mantau hamburger. She was to let Lau Bei 2^nd wife know as her brother is in charge of the army supplies. Meanwhile  Yuet Ying fell very sick, but did not tell Z for fear of distracting him.  She in fact moves with the pretense of seeing her parents . When the whole army left,  she wants to return So that she can get first hand news of her husband.

 Z’s plan is to send 200 men as sacrificial to lure CaoCao’s  30,000 men to the narrow valley  to trap them, whereby their own men will surprise attack from the top. Once this is done, this will weaken & disturbed the military mindset of the other side. Someone disagree  and insists on sending at least 1000 strong men , but Z reason that since there is  no chance of return  for these men, why sent more? They all finally followed Z’s orders! They won of course & sealed Z’s reputation to Hon’s dismay!

Thoughts:    I like Kenneth Ma but his character is not written that well. And I don’t understand his hair, shouldn’t by now he has to take off his fake hair piece & start going around in his short HK hair? Wouldn’t that be more accurate. To think that no one notice abt this bit is just plain careless.  Raymond’s Zhuge L is too subdue for my liking, again they should have someone else more prominent play opposite him as Yuet Ying- maybe Tavia. Song Yau’s role here is almost like a supporting role so could be given to someone else rather than Tavia. Come on, Tavia is after all TVB no 1 or 2 fadan now.