Legend of the Struggle for Supremacy

This film (drama)Also known as争霸传奇，is aMainland China, Hong KongProducerbeauty live，At2006Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese, Cantonese，Current Douban rating8.1(For reference only)。

King Gou Jian of Yue fought against King Fu Chai of Wu. To avenge his grudges, Fu Chai accumulated strength, vowing to take Yue. The minister Fan Li advised Gou Jian not to engage in warfare with Fu Chai, but he did not heed the counsel. Gou Jian faced Fu Chai in battle, where Fu Chai achieved victory again and again, leading to Gou Jian and his five thousand remaining troops being besieged at Kuaiji. Desperate, King Gou Jian was filled with regrets. Fan Li strongly advocated for Gou Jian to surrender to Fu Chai, advising that Wen Zhong should remain in Yue to motivate the people to work while secretly rebuilding the military, while he himself would accompany Gou Jian to Wu as a servant to Fu Chai. A few of Gou Jian's court officials arrived at the Wu capital to meet Fu Chai, where they presented beautiful women and treasures, humbly flattering him with great efforts; with the help of Bo Yu, they barely managed to gain Fu Chai's understanding. Fu Chai had a stone chamber constructed next to the tomb of He Lu where he confined Gou Jian and his wife, as well as his ministers, forcing them to change into clothes of a defeated prisoner and to engage in menial tasks like tending to horses, appearing dirty and disheveled. Whenever Fu Chai went out in his carriage, Gou Jian was made to walk beside it holding the horse whip. As they passed through busy markets, the people of Wu pointed and said, "That’s the defeated King of Yue, come and look!" Mockery was ceaseless. Gou Jian was in immense pain and despair; yet in Fan Li's eyes, a place that seemed chaotic and hopeless was filled with vitality and hope! He continued to serve Gou Jian, willingly enduring humiliation, merely waiting for an opportunity to turn the tables. For three years, Fan Li accompanied Gou Jian and endured many humiliations; how many times did Gou Jian want to give up, but was stopped by Fan Li! Fan Li's infinite wisdom and deep loyalty became Gou Jian's source of survival! Everyone knew Gou Jian was willing to submit to Wu with the intent to seek revenge. Wu Zixu repeatedly urged Fu Chai to destroy Yue; however, the arrogant and confident Fu Chai deliberately wanted to keep Gou Jian close. He believed that to have Gou Jian at his side to toy with was more satisfying than killing him! Before the battle of Kuaiji, Fan Li had clashed with Fu Chai several times, with wins on both sides. Fu Chai and Fan Li respected each other, viewing one another as ultimate adversaries – a mixed relationship of both enmity and friendship thus unfolded. Fu Chai softened towards Gou Jian mainly due to his admiration for Fan Li. He often considered releasing the two back to their homeland, but was opposed by Wu Zixu. The turning point came in the third year of Gou Jian's stay in Wu; when Fu Chai fell ill, Fan Li knew it was a common sickness and that he would recover soon. He devised a strategy: he had Gou Jian perform an act of tasting excrement as a divination ritual to please Fu Chai! Indeed, Fu Chai was touched by Gou Jian and immediately had him and his wife move out of the stone chamber to reside in nearby civilian housing, still tending to horses. Not long after, when Fu Chai recovered from his illness as Fan Li had anticipated, he decided to release Gou Jian to return home. He ordered a banquet to be prepared on Wen Tai to formally send Gou Jian back to Yue. Wu Zixu was furious, telling Fu Chai: "Gou Jian tasting the King's excrement is to eat the King's heart." Fu Chai did not listen and released Gou Jian as planned. Gou Jian did not forget the humiliations of those three years; upon returning home, he lay on the bed of fire and tasted bitterness, vowing to revive the Yue state. Having learned his lesson, Gou Jian obeyed Fan Li's words. Fan Li advocated treating smaller nations with respect, while outwardly displaying a compliant attitude towards stronger ones, but on the inside, one should not yield. As for Wu, he aimed to accelerate its decline, waiting for the right moment to strike. As if fated, Fu Chai and Fan Li became emotionally entangled. Fu Chai unexpectedly encountered a stunning beauty named Xi Shi at Huaxi, later finding out she was actually Fan Li's fiancée. Fu Chai pursued her recklessly, but Xi Shi remained unmoved. However, after Gou Jian and Fan Li became slaves in Wu, Xi Shi unexpectedly fell into Fu Chai's embrace. Fu Chai was not a kind man and always suspected Xi Shi's schemes. Yet, he could not resist her beauty and gentleness, showering her with affection. This was exactly what Xi Shi desired, as she was the "finest weapon" that Fan Li had painstakingly trained to deal with Fu Chai. The exceptionally intelligent Fan Li calculated every move, playing mind games with Fu Chai through Xi Shi. Xi Shi used her beauty and delicacy to conquer Fu Chai, and although Wu appeared to be a powerful nation, it was indeed laying down the foundation for its decline. Fan Li and Fu Chai schemed against each other, but human variables often come as surprises! Although Fan Li and Xi Shi willingly sacrificed their personal feelings, jealousy is a natural human emotion; watching the one he loves turn to his enemy brought Fan Li immense torment. But was Xi Shi any happier? The more she was adored by Fu Chai, the more she suffered! Yet she had to pretend to be joyful! Her pain was nothing she could share with outsiders! Fan Li transformed his grief and anger into strength, continuously presenting Gou Jian with solutions to counter Fu Chai. They vowed to make Yue powerful again, waiting for the opportunity to strike down Wu. Xi Shi cooperated with Fan Li from within; as Fu Chai's favored concubine, she constantly sowed discord between Wu Zixu and Fu Chai. Wu Zixu was discontent and the relationship between him and Fu Chai grew increasingly tense. Wu was already facing enmity from other lords due to Fu Chai's arrogance, with crisis looming. Wu Zixu opposed Fu Chai's attack on Qi, insisting he should destroy Yue and fall out with Fu Chai; Fu Chai gifted him with a treasured sword, commanding him to commit suicide. At the last moment before his death, Wu Zixu demanded his eyes be gouged out: "Since the King did not heed my counsel, I want to see it myself – within three years, Wu will inevitably be attacked by Yue!" Wu Zixu’s words came true; everything fell within Fan Li's expectations! In the end, Fan Li devised a brilliant plan to cut off Wu’s food supply; then, while Wu was plagued with internal and external troubles, he sent troops to attack, delivering a decisive blow! Eventually, Fu Chai committed suicide, and Wu was destroyed by Yue. Yue became stronger than ever. In those twenty-two years, the people of Yue, especially King Gou Jian, Fan Li, and Xi Shi, lived through a burdensome life of humiliation! In the end, they succeeded! After more than twenty years of rivalry between Fu Chai and Fan Li, the ultimate victor was Fan Li! Fan Li brought Xi Shi back to Yue and married her, expressing his gratitude and affection. Fan Li was appointed by Gou Jian as the General, enjoying unmatched honors and achieving great success. After Fu Chai's death, Fan Li seemed to lose interest in life. In a moment of glory, he quietly departed, leading his family and vagrants, navigating a small boat across the East Sea, drifting aimlessly, and disappearing into the rivers and lakes.