Di Renjie: Shen du long wang

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CHINA, 665AD

The mighty Tang Dynasty...

The motherland whose security is my deepest concern

Luoyang...

My soul, my dreams are rooted here

In the year when I turned thirty...

I left my hometown and travelled more than 1,000 li to Luoyang

At that time, the court...

... was ruled by the emperor under the supervision of Empress Wu

They were know as "The Two Saints"

Empress Wu completely controlled the emperor

The nobles considered her power an affront

They often admonished the emperor

Then...

... when the Fuyu Kingdom challenged our border...

... as a precaution, Empress Wu...

... despatched a huge naval force from the capital...

... to counter the enemy

Her first thought was

to wrong-foot those against in court

Little did she know...

... that a weird crime...

... would have its origin here

Admiral! Moving our troops by night...

... may disturb the spirits

We have better placate them with prayers

Prayers when a great battle is looming?

No more of this effeminate superstition!

Yes, Sir!

Report! On the sea...

... a half-li away, there are movements

Alert the main warship! Yes, Sir!

Alert the main warship!

Our patrol ship...

... has sent us a warning

All ships on full alert!

Order all our sentinels

... to scan the sea for movements

On guard and full alert! All sentinels!

Watch for movements on the sea!

Report all sightings immediately!

It seems the enemy is out there...

And getting closer!

The ship is about to capsize!

Quick, grab it!

Steer away from the ship to starboard!

Quick!

Quick, grab it!

On our right side, our Horse Ship is being attacked!

Call for reinforcemens! Yes, Sir!

Call for reinforcemens!

Yes, Sir!

Rescue them from the water!

Guard against further attacks!

Yes, Sir!

Quick!

Order all ships afloat...

... to rescue the admiral!

Yes, Sir!

It's coming towards us!

Young Detective Dee

Rise of the Sea Dragon

The attack on the navy...

... was blamed on a "Sea Dragon"...

... supposedly disturbed by the warships

This rumor...

... made the city's anxious common people...

... panic even more

They pay handsomely for prayer rituals

The commoners put their own lives first

They don't care who else lives or dies

To placate the "Sea Dragon"...

... they've chosen a young woman for the rites

The streets are thronged with onlookers

The roads are blocked

I, Dee...

... have just come to...

... this strange and turbulent city of the gods

I must report for duty at the Da Lisi

They're not only blocking my way...

... but also that of an official from the Da Lisi

It looks as if he's on his way to investigate something

This young man in court robes of the Third Rank...

... will become my adversary

Both foe and friend

Notify Lord Yang...

Her Majesty will visit the dock...

... to investigate what happened

We must not make the slightest mistake

Our heads are at risk!

You go to the Naval Department...

Commandeer five metal ships

And 200 naval ratings

Deploy them before dusk. Search for clues on the spot!

Yes, Sir!

Come over here!

As you can see...

This is Luoyang, city of the gods

The place has no security

It'll be easy to kidnap the girl

But don't harm a hair on her head!

When we re-sell her...

... we'll get the best price

What does that fellow want?

Should we get rid of him?

Don't complicate things

Move!

Reporting to Your Majesty

The facts are these

Commoners dedicate rites to the Sea Dragon...

... because the city's merchants call for them

They wish to make quick money from selling joss sticks

So they urge the people to perform rites

do you know whose idea it was...

... to organize this kind of rite?

Yes, the Ritual Department follows...

... the "turtle divination"...

to choose a courtesan...

... to be disciplined in the Sea Dragon Temple for 3 years

A courtesan?

This girl has been chosen as the "Courtesan of Luoyang"

She's Yin Ruiji

It's said that Yin Ruiji refused...

... all clients after being chosen

This has offended many officials and wealthy patrons

She was chosen to be sent to the temple

... because those men wanted to teach her a lesson

Absurd!

One courtesan causes so much commotion in the city!

You are the Chief Minister at the Da Lisi

Why haven't you intervened?

Your Majesty

The Da Lisi is charged with investigations and arrests

Controlling such rites is not one of my duties

A poor excuse!

Then tell me...

... what you've discovered...

... about the sunken battleships?

These two ships were less damaged, they've been hauled back to dock

The other ships couldn't be saved and are lost

Don't tell me what I know already!

I am still investigating

And what's your line of enquiry?

If there really is a Sea Dragon...

... our Tang Dynasty may as well give up the fight

Yuchi

Your Da Lisi is famous for quick results

This case is extremely urgent

We cannot allow villains to unleash such chaos

Tell me, how many days do you need?

The country is in peril

So I will set you a deadline

Ten days

If you can't solve the case in ten days...

... I'll have your head

Yes, your Majesty

Using a 'flower girl' to stir things up...

These old court nobles...

... must be up to something

Sir

I've come from Bing County, reporting for duty at Da Lisi

DA LISI (JUSTICE DEPARTMENT)

Dee

You were a bailiff in Bing County

And you've been...

... in jail as well

Yes, Sir

Official Yan recommends you and sent you here on your release from jail

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