Fate Takes A Hand (1987)

The story begins with a heavily wounded Tu Hsien-wu recalling the past after protecting Dr Sun Yat-sen dedicated to a revolutionary cause in Hong. Kong from the pursuit of the Ching troops.. A rich and powerful man in Tientsin, Tu Yu-wen seeks the help of geomancer Fang Yi-ting to find a suitable grave, hoping that his son. Hsien-wu will someday be blessed with honor. On the other hand, sensing the corruption of the Ching regime and the threats posed by the French troops, Hsien-wu, endowed with civil and military virtues, devotes himself to achieving unity and building China into a power. One day, a recluse Lu Hang-erh extorts with a coffin a large donation from the Tus for replenishing arms against French invasion. Impressed by his patriotism, Hsien-wu offers to duel with him and wins easily.… ...

Hsien-wu is rescued by Kuo Feng and each is deeply impressed by the other's patriotism. While Yu-wen and his wife are worrying over their son, they get information that he has been honored by Queen-Mother Tzu Hsi for credit rendered to the country through the recommendation of the General. Hearing of this, the villagers give color to the story and publicize him as the model of a Nationalist hero, making him the butt of a satire. Fast Sword Liu, who lost his job as a high officer responsible for operating on eunuchs due to failure in an operation, becomes an opium addict. Dawdling away his life, he forces his nephews Fu-hai and Hsiu-hai to become rickshaw men to support him. Eunuch Tung Cheng, a baron of Tzu Hsi, deserts is palace post to run roughshod in Tientsin. In a bid to woo Cheng, Yu Wen leads his son Hsien-wu to attend a party arranged by the French Ambassador.… ...

Yi-tung's daughter Chieh rescues. Hsien-wu whom, hung by the jealous Tung Cheng on the tree, is attacked by his followers. While presenting Hsien-wu the plaque of honour, Tung Cheng insults him before the on lookers buts in turn made fun of by the witty Hsien-wu. To fulfill his wish in finding the three graves of luck, Yi-tung goes all the way to Tientsin. Told by Yi-tung that one of the graves, the 'Lying Calabash', is blocked by the tomb of Fu-hails ancestor, Yu-wen, by threat as well as bribery, demolishes the Lius' tomb. Breaking the Tus' grave in revenge, Fu-hai and Hsiu-hai are chased after by the officers whom Yu-wen has bribed. To escape, the two brothers seek help from Tung Cheng whom Fast Sword Liu has once helped. To consolidate his status in the palace, Tung Cheng promises to bring them back to the palace as eunuchs after Liu has operated on them but Liu rejects.

Convincing his father to forgive the Lius, Hsien-wu hurriedly looks for them but Hsiu-hai, to protect his brother from being punished, has operated himself. TungCheng betrays his promise and refuses Fast Sword Liu to bring Hsiu-Lai back to the palace. The desperate Hsiu-hai finally hangs himself. Exhausted after finding the graves, Yi-ting entrusts Chieh to Yu-wen's care and dies. To revenge, Tung Cheng kidnaps Chieh. Failing to seek pardon, Hsien- wu decides to use force but is defeated. Kuo saves Hsien-wu who is suspicious of why Tung Cheng releases him in Kuo's favor. Tung Cheng plots to arrest Hsien-wu with good reason if he tries to rescue Chieh. Worrying about Hsien-wu's safety, Chieh sends someone to warn him.

Hsien-wu attacks Tung Cheng who openly molests Chieh. Assisted by Fu-hai, Hsien-wu finally brings TungCheng to the court. Insulted at the court by the arrogant Tung Cheng who intends to escape, the province director Chen Ying sues Tung Cheng for deserting his palace post. Hsien-wu, in appreciation of Fu-hai's help, finally convinces Fu-hai to work for his family instead of leaving for Beijing. Chieh gives Hsien-wu her family's jade pendant as a token of love but is disappointed at Hsien-Wu's indifference. To collect evidence to prove, Tung Cheng corrupt, Chen Ying, orders the search of his mansion but is threatened by Tung's guards armed with guns. When surrounding Tung Cheng's mansion with Chen. Ying's followers, Hsien-wu discovers that Kuo, plotting to overthrow the Ching dynasty, buys weapons from Tung Cheng.… ...

To force Chen Ying to release Tung Cheng, Tung's followers break into Chen's mansion. Furious, Hsien-wu kills Tung Cheng. While people are worrying about Hsien-wu, Tzu Hsi's decree to behead Tung Cheng suddenly arrives. Chen Ying reports on Hsien-wu's merit in getting rid of the corrupt Tung Cheng and as a result Hsien-wu is honored by Tzu Hsi. Believing that Hsien-wu is blessed by fengshui and that he will succeed in the Imperial Examination after marriage, Yu-wen urges Hsien-wu to marry Chieh.… ...

At the wedding ceremony, Yu-wen uses a cock to replace Hsien-wu. Feeling humiliated, Chieh chases after Hsien-wu and rebukes him. Knowing from Hsien-wu that he does not love her, Chieh beats him up and threatens to take revenge. In Beijing, Hsien-wu gets to know a rich young man Nung Hsiu-fu. The two talented men are regarded as the most likely candidates in the Imperial Examination. Fu-hai, angry at the jealous Hsiu-fu who opposes Hsien-wu, insults the Nung family and Flsiu-fu's uncle Yun-tien. Chieh follows Hsien-wu to Beijing and admits before him that she will always be his wife. Hsien-wu's persuasion is in vain. Coming across each other in Beijing, Hsien-wu and Lu Hang-erh drink and talk. Lu persuades. Hsien-wu to rise against the Ching government but Hsien-wu just laughs it off.

After 3 day's examination, Hsien-wu and Hsiu-fu are about the same. Hsien-wu finally wins pleasing Tzu Hsi by his remarkable view on training the army. Hsiu-fu buries his disappointment by drinking and decides to take revenge. Hsien-wu accidentally discovers that Lu, to avoid people from working for the corrupt Ching Government, assassinates the newly-recruited officers. Feeling that their political views contradict, Lu duels with Hsien-wu. Hsien-wu releases the defeated Lu who has a relapse of epilepsy. To overthrow the Ching rule, Kuo hides in the mountain fortress to practice martial arts.

The good fighter Yun-tien, because of having a mentally-ill vson, is harsh about Hsiu-fu, hoping that he will succeed, Yun-tien likes to make friends with the remarkable men and is very impressed by Hsien-wu who evolves his 'Natural Feat' from the good point of various feats. Knowing that Kuo is a patriotic Han, Yun-tieh, though robbed by Kuo, releases her. Hearing that the Army General appoints Hsien-wu to up root the bandits, Yun-tien bribes the General. To send Hsiu-fualso, hoping that Hsiu-fu can get merits To ask for a peaceful settlement, Hsien-wu sends a letter to Leader. Chu who, not only ignoring the request, even orders the bandits to attack the Ching army. Knowing that Hsien-wu is the leader of the army, Kuo prevents Leader .Chu to take action and secretly meets Hsien-wu.

Kuo persuades Hsien-wu to retreat but Hsien-wu insists on obeying the Ching and uprooting the bandits. Kuo's opponent in the fortress, the Red Head, charges her for being a traitor but Leader Chu trusts Kuo. Displeased at working under Hsien-wu's supervision, Hsiu-fu drowns his anger by drinking and neglects his duty in guarding the food store. Seeing through this lopphole, Kuo and the bandits destroy the store. Hsien-wu's punishment on Hsiu-fu antagonizes him. Short of food supply, the soldiers escape and Fu-hai wants to leave, too. Yun-tien's provision of food finally calms down the army. Poor and helpless, Fast Sword Liu asks Fu-hai to go to assist him. To get money, Fu-hai convinces Yun-tien's son Yin to recruit him as teacher. His trick being discovered, Fu-hai unintentionally kills Yin and joins the mountain fortress.

To get rid of Hsien-wu, Leader Chu forces Fu-hai to assassinate Hsien-wuas a token of his faith for the bandits. Injured, Hsien-wu advises Fu-hai to return to his army but is refused. Yun-tien rebukes Yu-wen in his son's funeral, Chieh, neglected by Hsien-wu who concentrates on work, moves from his mansion and comes across Yun-tien. Sympathizing each other, Yuen-tien and Chieh become foster father and daughter. Unwilling to work under Hsien-wu's supervision and eager to win merits, Hsiu-fu bribes the high officer Ma to seize Hsien-wu's authority and orders the attack on the mountain fortress. Attacked, Leader Chu wants to leave the fortress but is convinced by Kuo to unite with other bandits in overthrowing Ching. On his way to visit other fortresses, Leader Chu is captured by Hsiu-fu. To save Leader Chu, Kuo sneaks into the Ching's camp to meet with Hsien-wu.… ...

Jealous of Hsien-wu's merit in uprooting the fortress, Hsiu-fu kills Leader Chu and imposes the blame on Hsien-wu. To revenge, Kuo decides to re-unite the bandits and is selected the new leader. Hsiu-fu and Ma complain to the Army General that Hsien-wu sides with the bandits without fulfilling his duty. Hsien-wu, as a result, is degraded and transferred to station at the Yellow Sea. Knowing that Hsien-wu is degraded, Hsiu-fu mocks at him but is embarrassed by Hsien-wu who advises him to serve the government whole-heartedly. Believing that Hsien-wu's failure is due to his refusal to marry Chieh, Yu-wen pretends to be paralyzed and succeeds to convince Hsien-wu to get married. Yu-wen is furious. Knowing that Hsien-wu refuses to sleep with Chieh. Chieh behaves calmly understanding that Hsien-wu loves another girl.

Kuo saves Lu who, while attacking the Ching officers, has a relapse of his old illness. Admiring each other, they decide to assassinate Tzu Hsi together. In the Yellow Sea, Hsien-wu is loved by the army He and Teng Shi Chang resist Japan's invasion and is confident of serving his government after repeated victory. Because of Lu`s assassination, Tzu Hsi orders Hsien-wu to protect her in the palace and sends Hsiu-fu to take his post. Fu-hai admits his love but is rejected by Kuo. Later, the Red Head intends to overthrow Kuo and kidnaps Fu-hai. After, Kuo has saved Fu-hai, the two become intimate. While mourning over the death of Teng who is killed in a war with the Japanese army, Hsien-wu discovers that his death is caused by Hsiu-fu's cowardness. In the party celebrating Hsiu-fu's merit, Hsien-wu rebukes Hsien-fu for his contemptible behaviour.

Hsien-wu feels depressed being appointed to handle the trivial in the palace. In opposing the officer' idea of ceding the Liao Tung. Peninsula, Hsiu-wu's comment displeases Tzu His and gets dismissed. To overthrow the corrupt Ching, Kuo unites with other bands and buys weapons. Ma threatens to expose Hsiu-fu’s cowardness and his false news of victory unless Hsiu-fu gives him a large sum of money. Yun Tien agrees to pay. But instead Hsiu-fu shows Ma the evidence of his own corruption. Learning of Hsier-wu's failure, Fu-hai and Kuo persuade e him to join them but are refused. Ma and Hsiu-fu secretly store the army's guns and bombs in Yun-tien's mansion, preparing to make money by selling them to the anti-ching rebels. The bombs being exploded accidentally, Ma charges Yun. Tien for smuggling weapons and puts him in jail.

Fearing that Yun-tien will expose their crime, Ma forces Hsiu-fu to kill him but Hsiu-fu, grateful for Yun-tien’s kindness, sets him free. While escaping, Yun-tien is pushed down the cliff by Ma's followers Frustrated in his work, Hsien-wu plans to open a training school to educate people so that they can better serve the nation. Yu-wen, impressed by Hsien-wu’s enthusiasm, encourages him though worrying that this will antagonize the government. On the opening day of the training school, Kuo persuades Hsien-wu to lead the mass in overthrowing the government but Hsien-wu insists to serve the Ching dynasty. After Yun-tien’s death, the helpless Chieh is hurt by the bandits but luckily is brought by Kuo to the fortress. Finding that the bandits, losing confidence in overthrowing Ching, prefer to rob, Kuo sends her followers to mix into the Ching army to convince them to rise against Ching.

To find chances in assassinating Tzu Hsi, Kuo Fang proposes to Hsiu-fu that she will disperse the bandits if the court appoints Fu-hai the director of Tientsin. Dreaming of merits, Hsiu-fu agrees. The arrogant Hsiu-fu mocks at Hsien-wu in the training school but is embarrassed by Hsien-wu who shows him real feats. Lu asks Kuo to help him assassinate Tzu-Hsi while she is holding a banquet in her Tientsin palace. To attend the banquet, Kuo Feng forces Fu-hai to marry her and brings her with him. Worrying that Fu-hai who shows off his richness before the bandits will betray them, Kuo forces him to make a vow of faith. Hsien-wu is sad learning of the marriage between Kuo and Fu-hai but pretends to be indifferent. Rebuked by Chieh for wooing money for fame. Kuo Fang finds no way to explain. To escape, Yun-tien has been hiding in Hsien-wu’s training school.… ...

Fu-hai stops Kuo Fang from helping Lu. Missing Kuo Feng, Lu assassinates Tzu His by himself and is hurt by. Hsiu-fu. Saved by Hsien-wu, Lu, before his death, advises Hsien-wu to change his mind. Kuo Feng blames herself for causing Lu's death and is angry at Fu-hai who gets promoted because of saving Tzu Hsi. Believing at Hsiu-fu's complaint that Hsien-wu gangs up with Lu Tsu His orders to arrest Hsien-wu. Totally disillusioned, Hsien-wu escapes. Chased after by Hsiu-fu and Fu-hai, Hsien-wu is hurt. Sun Yat-sen saves Hsien-wu and hides him in his manion.

To force Hsien-wu to appear, Hsiu-fu orders to behead his parents. Hsien-wu kidnaps Ma to exchange for his parents. Hsiu-fu betrays his promise and in an explosion kills Hsien-wu's parents and Yun-tien. Experiencing such a great disaster, Hsien-wu is convinced by Sun to help him in overthrowing Ching and re-establish the Hen's nation Feeling humiliated by being kidnapped, Ma orders Hsiu-fu to arrest Hsien-wu within three days. To fulfill his duty and to revenge, Hsiu-fu sends a large number of soldiers to search for Hsien-wu. Sensing the danger, Hsien-wu asks Kuo and Chieh to retreat but Chieh staying behind to protect him, is killed. In great angry, how will Hsien-wu bring to conclusion his conflict with Hsiu-fu? What will happen between Kuo Feng and Fu-hai? Don't miss the ending of 'Fate Takes A Hand'.