Jiang-1 Shan-1 Wei-2 Zhong-4

Alternative Titles : The Killing Machine, Nation First

Year of Production : 2001

Production: Zhejiang Great Wall Production and Haining Government

No of Episodes : 31

Producer :  Zhao Rui-Yong

Screenplay: Zhao Rui-Yong, Zhou Su

Director : Jin Quan
Cast : Liu Guan Xiong, Wei Zhong Wan, Xu Huai Shan, Wu Jing, Fan Bing Bing, Fu Chong

Plot Synopsis:

Emperor Kangxi is getting on his years but has yet to appoint his successor since deposing the previous crown prince. All the other princes are coveting the throne. Among them, Fourth Prince Yinzheng, Eighth Prince and Fourteenth Prince stand the best chances. Yinzheng, being more far-sighted, understands that Kangxi looks not just at the capability of his sons but also his grandsons to determine his heir. So when Yinzheng's fourth newborn child turns out to be a girl, he swaps it with Minister Chen Yuan Long's son, since his other sons fail to impress Kangxi. The wise, old Minister Chen, who was told to keep the switch a secret, retires to his hometown, Haining. He is filled with a mixed feelings of awe and respect for Fourth Prince, sadness that his son was taken away, and hidden happiness and excitement that his son shall one day be the ruler.

The swapped son is named Hongli and a few years later, he impresses Kangxi greatly with his intelligence, bravery and kindness. Kangxi dotes on Hongli and often talks to him about the art of ruling a country, about putting the affairs of the nation above everything else. Hongli tends to challenge Kangxi words whenever he does not agree with him, like why can't a ruler be a gentleman, be pure and upright as a lotus.

So when Kangxi is on his deathbed, he appoints Yinzheng as the next king and orders him to make Hongli the crown prince on his ascension. Yinzheng subsequently succeeds the throne as Emperor Yongzheng. He governs the nation with utmost diligence and an iron-hand.

While Hongli is bright, Yongzheng feels guilty about handing over the Manchu Empire to someone who is of Han origin. He prays to his ancestors, saying that he would send Hongli on an inspection tour to the Southern Region and have a bunch of assassins after his life. He says to his ancestors that should Hongli come back unscathed, it's the will of Heaven that he should be the next king. So Hongli journeys fourth to the Southern Region with his trusted bodyguard, Zhao Hui. Hongli, who has been hearing rumours surrounding his birth, takes this opportunity to visit his natural parents in Haining to find out the truth. However, Chen Yuan Long cleverly evades his questions and advises him to concentrate of the welfare of the nation. When Madam Chen sees him, her heart aches and would have acknowledged him had not Chen Yuan Long  stopped her...

 

Picture Courtesy of Lucy, Wu Jing Sina Fan Club

     Script Highlights

      Authors: Zhao Rui-Yong, Zhou Su

      Submitted by Bihailan, in Chinese

      Source: Wu Jing Sina Fan Club

         Part (i) Kangxi's Favourite

         Part (ii) Naming The (Real) Heir

         Part (iii) Preparing for the Inspection Tour

         Part (iv) Double Identity, Double Agenda

         Part (v) The Older the Ginger, the Spicier it Becomes

Featured News:

Spanning Three Generations of Manchurian Empire and Gathering of Major Stars
The Empire is of More Importance Drama Serial About to be Released

Qianjiang Daily, 4 Jan 2002
Feng Feng

The Empire is of More Importance, a joint production between Government of Haining and Zhejiang Great Wall Film Company, was shot on location in Hebei, Suzhou, Haining, Hangzhou and eventually wrapped up in Hengdian. Taking three months in production, this series gathers many talented cast and showcases the tribulations of three Manchurian emperors: Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong.

The Empire is of More Importance is a heavy weight and highly viewable production about palace intrigues and the feuds of the laymen. With unofficially recorded historical events that took place three hundred years ago as backdrop and blending them with folk legends, it centers on the mystery surrounding Qianlong's birth: Yongzheng's ascension of the throne and his iron-fist rule; Lu Liu Liang's daughter, Lu Siniang, who attempted to seek revenge on Yongzheng due to Literature Hell that led to the massacre of the entire Lu clan; The great elder, Chen Yuan Long's painful uphold of justice, how he spoke and stood up for the laymen; Qianlong's difficulty in ascending the throne and the treacherous palace intrigues...

This is also Zhejiang Great Wall Film Studio's fourth drama. Being founded  less than two years ago, it has produced Dreams of Red Mansion, Yanzhi Hong, Crowning of Little Cobbler and numerous documentaries. In particular, Dreams of Red Mansion won several awards from Zhong Xuan Bu, China TV Sky Flying Awards, Golden Eagle Awards, etc.

To ensure quality and to make it a classic, Zhejiang Great Wall Film Studio has invested heavily in human and finance resources. It gathered an elite production team and shot it in various locations day and night, realistically showing the the uniqueness of the characters and events of different environment.

Starring in the serial are Wu Jing, Fan Bing Bing, Fu Zhong, Wei Zong-Wan, Xu Huai-Shan and Liu Guan-Jou. Even when this serial was in production, lots of drama companies from within China and overseas had already expressed keen interests in it, placing orders for its distribution and broadcasting rights.
 

An Emperor who is Well Versed in Both Literature and Martial Arts

Hengdian Yingshi Tour 28 Nov 2001, Issue 27

Han Feng
 

An adorable baby face, a pair of eyes peculiar to Manchurians, a youth who is dignified and charming, full of wisdom and experience - this is Wu Jing, who is also Emperor Qianlong of the Empire is of More Importance, who is equally well versed in martial arts and academics.

Wu Jing said that he took up the offer for The Empire is of More Importance on the account of the script. The script offers him ample room to develop and hone his skills. This is what an actor who has always been associated with action roles yearns for. Wu Jing also said that the script is redolent of scholarly touches. This caused this writer, who doesn't know Wu Jing very well, to be taken aback: Since 1995, when Wu Jing was discovered by Cheung Sing Yim, who is of exceptional perspicacity in recognizing talents, his career took off inexorably to new heights. From Taichi 2 to Legend of Zu, apart from his incredibly martial arts, Wu Jing's acting skills have improved tremendously. Wu Jing has also become very popular in Mainland and overseas -  just his Fan Club in Sina already has thousands of fans.

On the other hand, these productions have set Wu Jing a fixed status: He is an excellent martial arts actor. Most people are inclined to think that martial arts actors relies on their martial arts abilities, use their fists to compete for jobs, usually lack intelligence and are weak academically.

Wu Jing's major hobby is reading: from fiction, philosophies, history, science magazines to Hollywood films. All these can be proven in his knowledge and exclusive views on Manchurian history. The Empire is of More Importance is an action-dramatic production that involves lots of devious machinations and features outstanding fight sequences. In governing Yellow River, Qiantang and in fostering the closer ties among the Chinese of different ethnics, it depicts the colourful life of an emperor. He is handsome and suave, is artful and narcissistic, yet does not lack a loving heart and is a lovable person.

He said that he wanted to act as an emperor who is wise, fathomless, filled with pride, yet full of helplessness, possesses an inscrutable face that ordinary people cannot read. To portray well the role of Qianlong requires not just skills but also knowledge and experience.

In this production, apart from Qianlong, Wu Jing is also acting as his commoner brother, Chen Bang Guo. The script calls for him to fight against himself, and the nature of the two characters are different as chalk from cheese. That this is something Wu Jing has never done before, paves the way for diversification his acting career.
 

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