Subs By:robster38
Father, are you all right? It`s me Dan.
Yes.
Where are we going?
We`re almost there.
You`ll be resting at the guest quarters tonight.
Wait. I can walk alone.
My boy...
Mother,
Mother.
General Dae had a bit too much to drink. I`m taking him to his room.
Is there something wrong? You look upset.
Are you all right, Mother?
Go ahead.
Take the general to his room.
Dae joyoung just went to his room.
Who is with him?
Mimosa is gone, and Dae Joyoung`s young son is watching him alone.
His men in the rear garden?
They`re all passed from drinking.
Get rid of him tonight and don`t slip up.
He`s out cold. We can`t possibly slip up.
Father. Father!
Wake up, Father.
Father! Wake up!
The General?
We got them before they could get into his room.
Uncle!
Everything`s all right now. You can relax. ~Gulsabiwu~
-Thank goodness for your warning. -Thank goodness we didn`t drink.
Joyoung could`ve been killed! ~Heuk Sudol~
Keep the dead bodies together in one place. ~Mimosa~
-We will leave the palace as soon as the general wakes up. -Yes, sir.
You should stay here, Dan.
I will be right back.
You failed?
How could you fail?
We thought his men had passed out from drinking, but they were there staking out the palace.
Mimosa...
He must`ve known that we were coming.
My men were killed in there.
Come daylight the whole world will know about this. What do we do?
His Majesty will kill us all if he finds out that we`re behind this.
Maybe we should tell General Li Kaigu about this.
He will be able to protect us.
Rally the troops right now.
What are you going to do?
We will eliminate Dae Joyoung and his sworn brothers.
Sir Shin!
A massacre in the royal palace?
It`s treason if we fail and patriotic if we succeed.
I`ll take care of the consequences, so round upp your best men right now.
Yes, sir.
We will trust and follow your order. Let`s go!
What are you doing still up?
I feel better now.
you had quite a few drinks with the King.
Yes, I haven`t been that drunk in a long time.
What are you doing here anyways?
There was a disturbance while you were resting.
A disturbance?
Sir Shin, it`s Dae Joyoung.
What brings you here with armed guards at this time of the night?
I have important business here.
It`s late.
Come back in the morning.
I`m still the commander-in-chief of this country`s army. Put your weapons and return to your posts at once!
I`m afraid we can`t do that. What are you waiting for? Now!
Stop!
What is this commotion?
What is this about? Who are these armed men,
and what are you doing here?
Someone sent a group of assassins, and made an attempt on General Dae`s life tonight.
That is why I am here with armed guards to conduct an investigation.
Where are these assassins?
Their bodys are being kept inside.
Assassins in the palace?
This is a very serious matter.
I will conduct the investigation. Go get some rest, Sir Shin.
Well then, I shall leave.
Return to you posts!
What did you say?
Assassins?
Who dare make an attempt on General Dae Joyoung`s life?
We don`t know yet.
If this happened inside the palace, it`s blantant treaason!
I will get to the bottm of this!
-Father, -Attendant! Attendant!
-Father -Your Majesty, are you all right?
My chest... I feel pain in my chest...
-Call the physician at once. -Yes.
Call your uncle.
Father.
I will assign Sun Wnarong to this matter.
The army will prevent the palace from falling.
They`re Xue Jitou`s men in the Royal Guards.
Tell me everything you know.
I don`t know anything about this, sir.
What were you thinking?
-I had nothing to do with this. -Look Sir Shin,
Group of faithful warriors concerned about Dae Joyoung`s rising power did this on their own. ~Shin Hong~
That`s all you have to tell them to wrap this up.
This isn`t like you, to do something so reckless. ~Li Kaigu~
without cosidering the consequences.
It`s not too late, general.
You must get rid of Dae Joyoung and his men.
Sir Shin!
You`ve seen what they can do in this war.
Dae Joyoung is a dangerous character, and so is Mimosa and all of his men.
You must make a bold decision for you own future and the future of this state.
I understand your concern.
But I can`t kill them without justifiable cause.
This is not the time to be concerned about justifications.
How can you get what you want without seeking it?
This incident has revealed their true intent beyond any doubt.
They will try to kil us all sooner or later.
Let us take the refugees and leave Yingzhou now.
What`s the progress on the relocation preparation?
Relocating tens of thousands of refugees isn`t a simple task.
What`s more,
we have injure soldiers that need medical attention, so it will be a while before we can leave.
Tht`s exactly what I`m concerened about. It may be three months or more
before we can take all of our people and get out.
And if our relationship with the Khitans is damaged during that time, we would be putting the refugees lives in danger not to mention our own lives.
But they trued to kill you. ~Gaepilsamun~ ~Tungso~
General, we`re not afraid.
Why don`t we just wipe the out and take control of Yingzhou?
Silence!
Watch your tongue.
Fortunately we have the trust and support of the Khitan King.
We will not stray from righteousness until the moment we leave Yingzhou.
Remember at all times that our goal here is to take back our people.
-Yes, sir. -General!
General, something`s going on in the palace.`
What do you mean? Explain in detail.
What the heck!
Who are you? Who`s your superior officer?
Let go of me, bastards!
What is this?
Get your hands off of me!
Let go of me! Do you know who I am?
-Who sent you? -General Sun Wanrong,sir.
Let`s go!
Release Tactician Shin Hong and my men immediately.
His Majesty is infuriated.
They are important leaders of Khitan.
It make no sense to kill them on account of Dae Joyoung.
It`s the King`s command. My hands are tied. ~Sun Wanrong~
I won`t let this get up any further than Xue Jitou and Doyeop.
I will not let you harm any one of my men!
You`d challenge the King?
I see no reason not to challenge him if what he`s doing is wrong.
General Li Kaigu!
The attempt on General Dae Joyoung`s life was not for personal reasons.
You know that as well as I do.
If His Majesty insist on punishing them,
I will have no choice but to kill Dae Joyoung myself.
My man, watch your tongue!
And we shall see if His Majesty can punish me as well.
-if it comes to that! -Wait.
General Li!
General!
Dae Joyoung just went into see the king.
He is certain to plead with the King to punish those who tried to kill him.
Declare a military alert!
General!
We may be called to action tonight contingent on the king`s command.
I will wipe out all of Dae Joyoung`s men in the city!
What are you waiting for? Relay my order!
Yes, sir!
I know that you are ill but this matter couldn`t wait.
-Please forgive me. -No,no.
It was my iontent to see you because of the regrettable event.
That is my reason for wanting to see you as well.
I have a pretty good idea who did this and why. ~Li Jinzhong~
Don`t worry.
I will make sure those responsible are punished to the harshes extent.
I must ask you not to.
What do you mean?
Stop the investigation and don`t punish them, Your Majesty.
You saved our country.
But tried to pay that gratitude by taking your life.
Why are you pleading with me for mercy toward them?
They tried to kill me because they don`t want to lose the refugees.
Not for personal gain but because they care about the future of Khitan.
That`s not an acceptable argument for your appeal for mercy.
Many will turn against you if you punish them.
That will lead to confusion and divison in the court, and the people will be made to suffer the most.
So your concern here is...
The people of Khitan because there are Goguryeoan refugees among them.
-The people... -Your Majesty,
Please release those arrested for the attempt on my life.
What the people need is not oppression and tyranny but harmony and compassion.
You must do this for me and for Khitan.
harmony and compassion?
-Government for the people? -Yes, Your Majesty.
That is the key to creating a strong nation.
You have enlightened me once again.
Dae Joyoung you have tought me another lesson.
I`m humbled, Your Majesty...
I owe you an apology, general.
I was inwardly discontent when you spoke of forgiving the assassins.
But I`m embarrassed by your insight to look past personal injustices and consider the bigger picture.
This mission of taking back the Goguryeoan refugees will be more dangerous and nerve-racking than any war we have fought.
If we succeed all of our dreams will come true, but everything will crumble if we fail.
Don`t forget that we are on Khitan soil.
We can`t get what we came for by acquiring enemies.
We will keep that in mind, sir.
-Open the cell. -Yes, sir.
Are we being released?
What happened?
His Majesty ordered your exonaration and release.
Exonaration and release?
Does that mean we`re free.?
Thak you, general.
We knew you`d come through for us.
I did nothing.
Then was it General Sun Wanrong?
It was General Dae Joyoung.
General Dae Joyoung pleaded with His Majesty for your release. ~Li Geom~
Is this true?
Yes.
-We`re back. -I heard what happened.
-You could have been killed. -I`m sorry to have worried you.
Any problem getting the refugees?
Khitan will release them as promised.
How about the preparations on our side?
It`s going to have to be after the fall harvest for all of the refugees to set out on a long trip.
For that and other reasons, we`re looking at early next year.
We must make sure that we don`t interfere with their government affairs while we are here.
I think it might be a good idea to put our soldiers to public service.
Yes, so do I. ~Dae Jungsang~
All Khitans treat us like enemies with exception to the King.
We must act with caution while we are here.
Yes, father.
I`m concened about Mt.Dongmo.
We`ve been away for so long.
You`re right to be concerned.
I am nervous having left Mu Yeom to protect the settlement alone.
I`ll make a short trip to Mt.Dongmo.
I`ll fill them in on the situation here and strengthen the defense.
That`s a good idea.
Thank you uncle.
Your Majesty, give us death! ~Chang`an, Tang~
Give us death, Your Majesty!!!
Your Majesty,
General Xue Rengui and his men have been out there for two days.
I`ve ordered them to leave.
They are warriors who returned from fighting a war.
It is the law of this land to have the Emperor`s audience and report the outcome. ~Wu Sansi~
They have lost a war they couldn`t lose. ~Emperor Wu~
I will not hear their report.
Your Majesty, they represent this country`s armed forces.
Such display of disrespect will only weaken our military.
Tell them to disband.
Your Majesty, grant them mercy just this once.
You musn`t turn them away.
Do you take my order for a joke?
Your Majesty...
You`re not a pretty sight either so leave!
Leave at once!
Her Majesty doesn`t wish to see you men.
You should disband for now, and come back when she has softend up a little.
We must see her even if she punishes us with death.
You`re only exacerbating her anger.
Get up now.
-Come on. -Get up now.
-Come back another day. -Let`s go.
General, please get up now.
I will not take one step from here..
General!
You`re exhausted from the long travel,sir. Please get up now.
-Let go of me. -General!
The Turks and the Khitans...
And Dae Joyoung....
No, I can`t have this.
I worked too hard to get here, and I will not be threathen by lowly barbarians in the frontier,
There is no time.
I must bring at least one of them down as quickly as possible.
Only then will I have some breathing room.
Escort Yeon, Your Majesty.
Enter.
What is it?
General Xue Rengui is still on his knees at the palace courtyard.
What are you talking about?
Did they not disband this after noon?
General Xue Rengui insists he must see you...
What shall I do, Your Majesty?
Send him in.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Um, General. I`m hungry, ~Hongpei~
and my knees are about to snap.
Perhaps we shpould leave now.
Her majesty will see you now.
General!
-General! -No, I`m all right.
My legs are asleep from lack of circulation, that`s all.
I, Xue Rengui,
bid you hmble greetings, Your Majesty.
What have you got to say?
Your Majesty, I may have come back defeated at war but I know the enemy`s weakness. ~Xue Rengui~
And?
Destroying Khitan is very simple.
Divide and conquer.
Divide and conquer?
Divide Dae Joyoung and Li Kaigu?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Li Kaigu and Dae Joyoung have been life-long enemies.
They have made a temporary alliance, but their alliance is as fragile as a sheet of ice.
I`ve considered that approach as well.
But I just don`t know how to divide them.
Do you know how, General Xue?
Yes, Your Majesty.
How?
Dae Joyoung is trying to bring the scattered Goguryeoan refugees throughout Yingzhou together.
He is doing this to creat a new state that succeeds Goguryeo.
Of course.
What an audacious and outrageous dream it is!
Your Majesty, acknowledge their state and give them your approval first.
What do you mean?
It`s exasperating as it is dealing with the Khitans.
Your Majesty, Dae jungsang and Dae Joyoung are in Yingzhou right now.
If you bestow Dae Jungsang a sovereign seat, Yingzhou will have two Kings.
And a secret strife will begin between Li Kaigu and Dae Joyoung.
Give Dae Jungsang the cepter of state?
Yes, Your Majesty.
And he will become your imperial subject.
Not only will you be creating division between Dae Joyoung and Li Kaigu,
but you will show the world that Dae Jungsang is under your feet.
You are a brilliant man.
You gave me an answer to the problem I couldn`t solve. I`m impressed, General Xue.
Your grace is infinite, Your Majesty.
Very good.
It`s a brilliant plan.
Divide and conquer....!
Come on!
Not only is he involved in road widening and housing reoair poject, he is helping those in need of medical assistance as well.
All citizens of Khitan are praising General Dae Joyoung`s virtue regardless of their origin.
If only I had a man like him working under me....
-I`m learning a lot from him as well. -And you should.
If there is something to be learned humble yourself to learn.
-If you want to become a great man, that is. -I will grandfather.
What is their progress with the refugee relocation?
I think they`re on scheduale.
I made a promise so I must let the refugees go, but I hate to let Dae Joyoung leave us like this.
He`s been a great stregth to us.
We must protect and stregthen this alliance if only for the future of Khitan.
Yes, of course.
We must maintain our relationship with Dae Joyoung.
It`s a shame...
It`s a shame he must leave us...
-General! -Sir Shin!
Are you aware of the activities that Dae Joyoung is involved with recently?
Yes, I get a daily report.
He`s living among the people in the heart of the city.
He hasn`t set foot inside the palace in a long time.
He`s trying hard not to getin our way.
Yes.
Dae Joyoung know much too well what is good for him and what is not.
But there is a problem.
A problem?
Dae Joyoung gains much too much for this to be simply an act of good will.
Not only the Goguryeoans refugees but even the Khitans now support and follow Dae Joyoung.
He is gaining public favor.
He will soon be taking the refugees and leaving Yingzhou.
It will do him no purpose to gain public favor of Khitan.
His Majesty may have different plans for him.
Different plans?
His Majesty is watching Dae Joyoung very carefully as well.
What are you saying?
His Majesty is ailing.
The time is coming for him to choose his successor.
And?
Are you afraid His Majesty might bequeath the sovereign right of Khitan to Dae Joyoung?
Who know what His Majesty might be thinking?
Dae Joyoung is more than capable of capturing the King`s heart.
General, no one knows who will succeed to the throne of Khitan.
In a precarious time such as this public favor is leaning towards Dae Joyoung.
Don`t tell me you don`t feel the threat.
General, you don`t always need swords and spears to steal a regime.
Dae Joyoung must be kept under close watch at all times.
Welcome, general.
How is His Majesty`s condition?
Fortunately, it hasn`t gotten any worse.
You must take care of him. He`s the pillar of Khitan.
Yes.
Please come inside.
-Stay here. -Yes, general.
I wish I were well so I could have a glass of wine with you.
-Wine, Your Majesty? I wouldn`t think of it. -Milk nurtures babies and wine nurtures men.
An important guest like you must be welcomed with wine.
I`m humbled.
I called you over to ask you for a piece of advice.
Advice?
I`m old and ailing and I must choose my successor.
I`m sure there is a Khitan tradition to follow when it comesto choosing a royal successor.
Traditionlly,
leaders of each tribe make recommendations, and the King makes the final decision.
The tribel leaders will no doubt recommend my brother-in-law Sun Wanrong.
And you, Your Majesty?
Li Kaigu is my choice.
Judging from his ability and his role in the founding of the state, there is no one better suited for the throne.
But if I bring my son-in-law Li Kaigu forward, I will face fierce opposition for bypassing the proper line of succession.
That`s my dilemma.
If my guess is right,
you have someone else in mind and it`s not Li Kaigu or Sun Wanrong.
Oh? Do you think so?
It`s Lady Chulin.
If you put her on the throne, you get Li Kaigu and everything he has to offer.
And the tribel leaders have no cause to oppose.
You`re right.
Chulin is the one I have in mind.
Lady Chulin will make a fine leader.
If my daughter Chulin succeeds my throne and becomes the ruler of this state,
would you help her?
Would you remain our faithfull ally?
Of course, Your Majesty.
That`s what I was hoping to hear when I called you today.
I feel light as if all of my maladies have been lifted thanks to you!
-Did you listen to His Majesty`s conversation with Dae Joyoung? -Yes, sir.
What? Chulin as his successor?
Dae Joyoung agreed to help.
Who says I will let him?
I am next in the line of succession! I will not take this lying down!
State you identity!
We are imperial envoys from Tang!
Open the gate!
Envoys?
Emperor Wu Zetian sent her envoys?
Yes, father.
They just entered the city gate.
So soon after the war...?
They`ve must have come to admit defeat and acknowledge Khitan as an autonomous state
Call all of the civil and military officials to the palace.
And prepare my formal attire.
-I can`t let them see that I`m ailing. -Your Majesty!
A report, YourMajesty.
-The Tang envoys have turned back. -What do you mean?
You mean they returned to Tang?
No, sir.
They headed toward the Goguryeoan village.
What?
What nonsense is this? His Majesty is here at the palace.
Why would they go to the Goguryeoan village?
What are you waiting for? Speak up!
They`re not here to see the King.
They say they here to see General Dae Jungsang.
He is but a warrior of a fallen state.
What possible bussiness could the imperial envoy have with Dae Jungsang?
But that`s what I heard, sir.
An Imperial command?
Your Emperor issued an imperial command to me?
That`s right.
This is preposterous.
We have no reason to take orders from you emperor. Leave at once!
You may have made an alliance with our enemy, but Her Majesty thinks very highly of your talents.
-What? -Well...
General Dae Jungsang, receive the Imperial command!
Subs By:robster38