The Assassins (2012 film)

The Assassins, previously known as Bronze Sparrow Terrace or Bronze Sparrow Platform, is a Chinese historical drama film directed by Zhao Linshan, starring Chow Yunfat as Cao Cao, a prominent warlord who became the de facto head of the central government in China towards the end of the Han dynasty. The film, released in October 2012, focuses on Cao Caos life in his later years and depicts two assassination attempts on the warlord. The supporting cast includes Liu Yifei, Hiroshi Tamaki, Alec Su, Annie Yi, Qiu Xinzhi, Yao Lu and Ni Dahong. The films Chinese title is a reference to the Bronze Sparrow Platform , a terrace constructed in 210 by Cao Cao in the ancient city of Ye in presentday Handan, Hebei.

Lingju is the orphaned daughter of L Bu and Diaochan. She, like many other orphaned children of Cao Caos enemies, was recruited in her childhood by Cao Caos rivals to be trained as assassins to kill Cao. She meets Mu Shun, who protects her while she is in training and falls in love with him. Mu Shun is castrated and Lingju and Mu Shun eventually find their way into court life Lingju is taken by Cao Cao as one of his mistresses while Mu Shun becomes a palace eunuch.There are two major attempts on Cao Caos life. The first is masterminded by Empress Fu Shou and her father Fu Wan. This plan fails and Cao Cao has the conspirators including the empress executed in front of Emperor Xian. The second is a revolt led by the imperial physician Ji Ben and his supporters, but the rebellion is swiftly crushed. Cao Cao suspects that his son, Cao Pi, is involved in the assassination plots. ........

Source: Wikipedia