Subs By:robster38
We`re back, Granfather.
-Is it true tha Tang envoys are at the Goguryeoan village? -Yes, Mother.
They`re at the village leaders home.
Your Majesty, this is unheard of.
Diplomatic envoys ignoring the king and meeting with Dae Jungsang?
If they are not here for official business with the state, we have no reason to regard them as envoys.
Assemble the guards at once. I will go and arrest them personally.
Yes, Father. Let`s go!
Tang is an enemy state we just fought a war with.
Why did your Emperor send envoys to me?
Speak.
What is Emperor Wu Zetian`s message?
Her Majesty has granted General Dae Jungsang a title of distinction.
A title of distinction? She assigned him a government post?
I could not dare call it a post.
What`s that supposed to mean?
A title of distinction that is not a government post?
How could you dare call a title of sovereign ruler a government post?
What do you mean?
The Tang Emperor has bestowed a scepter of state to General Dae Jungsang?
That`s right.
General Dae Jungsang has won sole recognition of Tang Emperor among all ethnic groups in China.
Many tribes beyond the Great Wall have been zealous to erect their own state.
Li Jinzhong of Khitan has already declared a new state calling himself the Supreme Khan,
and Turkic leader Muchuo is audaciously flaunting his strength in the north calling himself the beast of the North,
But uniting a few tribes doesn`t make a man a King.
One is not worthy of the scepter without Heaven`s recognition.
I give recognition,
only to the former general of fallen Goguryeo Dae Jungsang and I hereby dub him the Lord of Jin State,
Lord of Jin.
It is stated in chapter 219 of the New History of Tang that Tang appointed DaeJungsang the Lord of Jin immediately.
After the Khitan revolt in Yingzhou in the year 696.
The existence of the state that Tang called Jin remins in dispute,
but their is no denying that
Dae joyoung and Dae Jungsang`s old Goguryeoan forces were a powerful force in an era of competing warlords.
Lord of Jin....
Our future is not for your Emperor to decide.
The ruler of our land is not for Tang Emperor to choose but for the people of this land to bring foward!
I did my job delivering the imperial command.
Wheter you accept or reject is not my concern.
General!
Khitan guards are coming.
How dare you stand in our way!
-You`ll have to wait a while. -Silence!
Get out of our way before I cut your head off!
What`s the commotion?
Turn over the Tang envoys to us.
We were about to take them to see the King.
Come clean.
What kind of ploy were you plotting in there with those bastards?
A ploy?
Watch your tongue!
What? I`m not talking to you!
Blasted bastards!
Don`t make wild presumptions!
What are you waiting for? Get the envoys!
Yess, General. Let`s go!
Their statement alone could lead to misunderstanding.
I will go with you to the palace and explain this to the King.
That won`t be necessary.
If the envoys are not here to see the Khitan King, they will be killedn on the spot.
If you are Tang envoys,
I am the man you should seek first. ~Li Jinzhong~
Why did you go to the Goguryeoan village?
Her Majesty the Emperor of Tang has bestowd the scepter of state to General Dae Jungsang.
Scepter of state?
The Supreme Khan before you is the man that rules Yingzhou!
The Tang army was defeated not by the Khitan forces but by the old Goguryeo forces of Dae Jungsang and Joyoung.
Though they may be enemies,
Her Majesty the Emperor has recognized their courage and talent and acknowledged General Dae Jungsang as the sove reign of Yingzhou
Zetian!
That wench has gone completely mad!
Yingzhou is Khitan territory and I am it`s King!
It is not yours to give away to anyone!
That`s absurd!
Her Majesty the Emperor is the one and only master of China!
You have a death wish!
Lock these men up at once!
Yes, Your Majesty!
-Take them away! -Yes!
Your Majesty, this is not a matter to be overlooked.
How did Wu Zetian reac when we declared a new state? She mocked you be renaming you Li jinmei and vowed to destroy you. ~Shin Hong~
And now she has bestowed the scepter of state to Dae Jungsang.
That`s right.
You are the soverign ruler of this land, Your Majesty. ~Sun Wanrong~
For Dae Jungsang to covet the throne is completely preposterous.
Summon Dae Jugnsang and Dae Joyoung at once!
Your Majesty, ~Li Kaigu~
you will only be giving them a chance to make excuses if you see them now.
I advise you to interrogate the envoys first before you call them.
I agree with General Li Kaigu.
Thisis impossible unless there was some kind of understanding between the Tang court and Dae Joyoung in advance.
An understanding? Never!
-Dae Joyoung could not be a part of this! -It`s a possiblity, Khan.
And if that is true, this is an unforgivable betrayal.
That`s enough!
Dae Joyoung would never betray us.
This is Tang trying to divide us.
I forbide you to distrust Dae Joyoung!
Your Majesty.
I want to trust Dae Joyoung as well.
But the scepter of state was bestowed not to you but to Dae Jungsang.
why didn`t you say anything?
This is a shocking move by Tang.
But if we drag the man that saved our country through the mud for this, ~Li Geom~
we will become a mockery of our people.
Talk to father.
You`re the only one who can change his mind, mother.
Whose interest are you looking out for? Dae Joyoung or Khitan? ~Chulin~
If we lose Dae Joyoung we will be losing our most dependable ally.
Mother...!
I`ll never forget what General Dae Joyoung has done for us.
But I can`t defy your father for him no matter how large our debt of gratitude.
But mother,
General Dae fought for the Goguryeoan people.
And your father is fighting for Khitan.
So you have to obey your father no matter what.
Do you understand?
I get teary each time I see what a dine young man Geom has become....
Stop.
I can only imagine the pain you feel when I frrl this way.....
I said stop.
I told you to ferget about the past that concerns Geom.
You`re doing me great disservice with these tears.
Yes, Your Highness.
I got a little emotional for a moment. Forgive me.
How could I let an Imperial envoy sleep on a cold jail cell floor?
Drink this warm wine and rest here tonight.
I can give you a warm bed and wine.
But I can`t guarantee that you will live through tomorrow.
All you have to do is tell me one thing and you could be on your way back to Tang as early as tomorrow.
I`ve already said everything there is to say. What more do you want to know?
Dae Jungsang must`ve made some kind of deal for the scepter of state.
That`s what I need to know.
What is the secret agreement Tang court and the Goguryeoans have? That`s all you have to tell me.
The secret agreement?
There is no such a thing.
Then make it up.
And I`ll see to it that you get out of here alive. Do we have an understanding?
Speak, General Dae Joyoung.
Explain this title"Lord of Jin" that the Tang envoys brought to your father.
Your Majesty, if neither you nor I can make sense of this, it is clearly an artifice to divide us.
-An artifice? -Yes, Your Majesty.
The Tang court is trying to destroy the alliance between Khitans and the Goguryeoans. ~Mimosa~
What do you think of this, men?
I believe it is an artifice as well.
General Dae led our war against Tang to victory and saved Khitan.
Tang court will resort to all means to break up our alliance.
Yes, that`s exactly what this is.
Dae Joyoung would never betray us.
But Your Majesty,
Tang court had a secret agreement with Dae Joyoung.
A secret agreement?
To break their alliance with us and establish a new alliance with Tang.
What?
This is nonsense!
The Tang envoy told us everything. It`s no use denying it.
You`re unbelievable.
What kind of dirty trink did you set up overnight?
I`m only telling the truth.
Send him in!
Tell us what you told me last night about the secret agreement between the Tang court and the Goguryeoans.
Your Majesty,
whatever come out of that man`s mouth is a lie! Don`t be fooled.
Go on. Speak!
Her Majesty the Emperor feels indebted to General Dae Jungsang
because he spared General Xue Rengui`s life in the last war.
I will not let you utter this absurdity! Spare Xue Rengui`s life?
Ask General Dae Jungsang.
He sent back our Superior General. How can she ignor this huge debt?
Shut your trap, you blasted bastard!
This is a ploy.
-You must not be swayed by this man`s testimony! -No, Your Majesty.
Only a handfull of men escaped the final battle of the war.
The warriors still wonder how Xue Rengui escaped alive.
It would have been impossible without someone`s help. And that someone was Dae Jungsang.
Is this true?
General Dae Jungsang,
is it true that you spared Xue Rengui`s life?
Father!
....It is true.
I couldn`t get myself to kill the man tha had been reduced to nothing, ~Dae Jungsang~
so I let him go.
Your Majesty, they have acqiured the scepter of state in return for this.
What is this but a secret agreement to give Yingzhou to the Goguryeoans?
That`s absurd. A secret agreement? This is slander!
Silence!
The proof is evident and you try to deny it?
Your Majesty, this is subversion.
You must arrest these men immediately!
Subversion?
Dae Joyoung has betrayed us?
Your Majesty, this is a ploy. You mustn`t be fooled!
You`d forske us and join handswith Tang?
You...
I trusted you like my own brother!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
What are you waiting for? Call the physician at once!
Call the physician!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
-Where is Dae Joyoung? -They went back to the Goguryeoan village.
We don`t know what they will do next. Lay siege to their village and watch them closely.
Yes, sir. Let`s go.
I don`t think His Majesty will be up anytime soon.
Someone`s got to govern the state on his behalf while he is indisposed.
General Sun Wanrong will stand in as the first in the line of succession.
You should step up, general.
If His Majesty doesn`t recover, naturally you will rise to the throne.
The throne is not mine to take.
It is yours to take.
Who made Khitana sovereign state?
And who`s going to be responsible for it`s future?
General Sun Wanrong? I doubt that.
For the people of Yingzhou and preservation of order, it is fitting that you succeed the throne.
His Majesty is right inside. Don`t speak in haste!
General!
just promise me this.
I will prepare everything and do all the work.
-Just tell me that you will accept your fate. -Sir Shin!
Just accept the seat of power when it come to you.
You haven`t asked me why I let Xue Rengui go.
You`ve been a warrior all of your life.
You`re more stoic and clear eyed on the battlefield than any other warrior I know.
Don`t worry about it. It isn`t anyone`s fault.
I`ve always put my duty first before my personal feelings.
I have even killed my beloved best friend for betraying the country.
That`s the kind of man I am....
a warrior of Goguryeo driven only by loyalty, patriotism and victory.
But I couldn`t get myself to kill Xue Rengui
because he spared my son`s life moments
before execution.
As I swung my sword to strike down upon him, I heard my son`s heart beat from his heart.
I saw my son`s tears from his eyes.
How can a father kill a man that saved his child`s life?
Father...
Geumlan.
Tactician Mimosa would like to see you.
Why are you gathered at this time of the night?
The warriors have come to an agreement.
Emperor Wu has us right where she want us.
And frankly, we`re more disgusted by Khitans who are trying to abuse Tang`s artifice to break their agreement with us.
We refuse to be victimized this way. ~Heuk Sudol~ ~Gulsabiwu~
-Let us capture Yingzhou. -Our troops are already in the city.
just give the word and we will capture the palace.
Are you out of your minds?
You won the heart of the people of Yingzhou long ago. But things have changed.
Now that Emperor Wu has acknowledged General Dae Jungsang as the ruler of the state we have justifiable cause for this action.
The warriors are prepared to fight to the death.
We`re the proud warriors that destroyed the massive Tang army.
I can`t permit this.
-General! -Joyoung!
Don`t you know who will suffer the most if we rise up right now?
It the people..
not the Khitans but the Goguryeoans will suffer most!
But they will destroy us unless we act first.
We must consider the pain our people will be made to suffer!
General!
General, the Khitan guard have the village surrounded!
Now do you see?
We are at thier mercy as long as our people are here!
the tribal advisers just got out of the meeting.
Sun Wanrong has been appointed to administer the state affairs while His Majesty is ill.
Let us go to the Imperial Hall the general meeting is about to start.
I have been called to administer the state affairs for the time being.
This state is faced with many trials and tribulations right now.
I must ask all of you for your dedicated support.
We must get through this crisis together!
Yes, general!
How is he?
The worse is over.
But full recovery may take time.
How long?
How long will he have to be bedridden like this?
That is heaven`s will. Wekk then...
So, how long do you think you can keep the King in bed?
Ten days at the most, even if I increase the dosage of the herbs to a maximum.
Does that mean he will be unconscious for ten days?
No I mean he will be unconscious for longer than ten days, he can wake up anytime sooner.
So everything in your power to keep him unconscious as long as you can.
There`re too many problems to be resolved before he awakes.
-But... -Don`t worry.
No one will ever know if you and I don`t talk.
I will make this worth your while.
you got that?
What is this?
Your access outside this village is restricted until you`re told otherwise.
What?
Are you treating us like criminals?
Get out of the way, or I`ll skin you and make a saddle out of you!
Shut your mouth!
How dare you threatens us!
Ignorant bastards! You`re asking for it!
Stop!
I heard General Sun Wanrong is administering the state affairs.
Clear the way so I may have a word with him.
This is a direct order from General Sun!
Go back and be quiet if you know what`s best for you.
When will His Majesty be awake?
I`m terribly concerned...
This may be a blessing in disguise.
How can you say this? ~Sun Wanrong~
His Majesty is unconscious and you call this a blessing?
Dae Joyoung will take the Goguryeoans out of Yingzhou unless he is stopped.
This is our chance to destroy Dae Joyoung while His Majesty can`t protect him. ~Shin Hong~
First you must disarm his army.
Then declare that the Goguryeoan refugees will not be released.
How is that going to destroy Dae Joyoung?
He will no doubt resist us when that happens and attempt military action in retaliation.
-Set up a trao and wait? -Yes.
The we will charge him with treason and execute them all.
But what are you going to do when His Majesty wakes up and finds out what we`ve done?
What can His Majesty do whem we punished him for treason?
We cant let this opportunity slip, or there will be eternal regrets.
Dae Joyoung...
Eliminate Dae Joyoung....
~Chang`an, Tang~
Li Jinzhong is in bed unconscious? ~Emperor Wu~
General Xue Rengui, it looks like you plan is working.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Chances are they will break the alliance between Khitan and Dae Joyoung.
Yes, Your Majesty. ~Xue Rengui~
And when the Khitans learn that Dae Joyoung is hiding an army 100,000 thousan in Mt.Dongmo.
they will grow even more nervous.
We can`t stop there.
We must create a war between Dae joyoung and the Khitans.
And while they are destroying each other, I will go after the Turks.
Your Majesty, the economy is suffering terrible decline.
This is inopportune time to launch another war.
The Turks continue to provoke us this time with the Sigdians!
They are trying to suffocate me and you want me to leave them alone?
-Your Majesty, we advice appeasement with the Turks. -There will be no appeasement.
-Your Majesty...! -There will be no appeasement!
I will destroy the Turks as soon as time allows and go after Dae joyoung and Khitans as well.
Your Majesty, continuing wars will destroy the country`s economy.
I beg you to stop for now, and....
The regime come first before the people!
Your Majesty...
Be quiet all of you!
We`re going after the Turks and that`s final.
Anyone who attemprs to fight my decision will punished.
General Xue,
assemble a punitive expedition big enough to destroy the Turks in a single strike.
....Yes, Your Majesty.
I can`t abide by Her Majesty`s decision on this.
General!
-Will you defy the Imperial command? -People come first before theregime.
I have to stop this war for Her Majesty`s sake.
-But you could lose your life. -Hongpei, I`ve lived long enough.
I can`t defy the great duty to extend my life.
All things eventually come to an end except problems of the state....
General!
-A report from our informants in Tang, sir. -Go on.
Tang Chinese are preparing a punitive expedition to destroy us.
What? A punitive expedition?
It seems Zetian stilll hasn`tlearned her lesson ~Mushuo~
after the massive defeat in Yingzhou.
Khan, this is farming season. ~Inel~
They can`t assemble an army large enough to threaten us.
That`s right, Khan.
We`re strong enough to defeat their punitive force. ~Tonyukuk~
Yes...
Come Wu Zetian`s blackguards!
I will put an end to Tang`s bombastic history!
I`m concerned about Khitan and Dae Joyoung.
If they remain united, they will become our biggest abstacle.
I`m concerned about that as well.
Any news from Yingzhou?
The informants should arrive soon.
Dae Joyoung is always the variable factor. Dae Joyoung....
The dominion is changing according to his moves....
~Mt.Dongmo Goguryeoan Settlement~
-Make sure we didn`t leave anything out. -Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness!
General Dolbal is here.
We were waiting for you
Mu Yeom filled me in on what happened.
You`ve accomplished an impressive task.
I merely did mmy job.
How is the situation in Yingzhou?
Not good.
Tang gave Jungsang the scepter of state in a ploy to divide us and the Khitans.
There is no telling what`s going to happen next.
What are you packing?
I`m sending some supplies to Yingzhou.
This trip is taking much longer than planned.
I prepared a few things that may have run out. ~Sukyoung~
That is a good idea.
With all the complications it may take more months to get the refugees out of Yingzhou.
Your Highnes, perhaps you should go to Yingzhou insted of sending just the supplies.
I can`t.
I must stay here and protect the settlement.
The settlement must be protected, but if the Chinese attack and you are taken hostage,
that would be nothing worse for us.
Your Highness, I think you should go to Yingzhou.
Yes,
That`s the main reason why I`ve come back.
All right.
I will do as you ask.
~Yingzhou, Khitan~
General Dae Joyoung, Your Highness.
What can I do for you?
You must leave Yingzhou at once.
I will do everything I can, so please....
I will not leave without my people.
There is no way you can take the Goguryeoan refugees with you.
Then you must help me.
-General! -We`re almost there.
Once the harvest is done, I will take my people and go back to our homeland.
-So please... -Don`t you understand?
Please be reasonable.
This is not the right time. You must seek another chance another time.
Being reasonable is what got us here to this point. It`s now or never.
Reguardless of the thruth, His Majesty has fallen.
If charges are brought against you, no one can save you.
I appreciate your concern. But i can`t leave Yingzhou without my people.
I don`t know what to say....
You don`t need to feel bad.
What can you do when we are on different sides of the court?
Pleas.. don`t hate me.
I don`t want the man I respect and admire to resent me.
I have a lot on my plate.
I don`t have the energy to spend hating anyone.
Be a keen observer.
And if you feel wrong has been done, don`t repeat it when you become a leader.
Why did you want to see us?
I`ve been thinking very hard for the last few days. There is no one here in Yingzhou who can help us.
So we are going to help ourselves.
Help ourselves? What are you getting at?
We have about a thousand soldiers in the city of Yingzhou and ten thousand of soldiers camped outside the city wall. ~Geumlan~
It is no doubt a wiser chouce to rise up and take Yingzhou asopposed to doing nothing like sitting ducks.
You`re right.
but General Dae Joyoung would never allow it.
We have to leave the general out and do this ourselves.
Are you telling us to defy General Dae Joyoung`s order?
I will assume responsibility for this alone.
Trust me and follow my lead.
Never!
Defy Joyoung`s order?
-Not even when I`m sic feet under! -I`m with Mimosa on this!
We saved the Khitans and look how they`re treating us.
-We might as well take Yingzhou for ourselves! -I agree!
We have absolutely no reason to fear them!
Silence!
Have you forgotten who we answer to?
I will not tolerate insubordination!
Be warned.
What are you men talking about? Insubordination? Who?
Mimosa, explain.
Is this about whatwe discussed the other day?
About taking Yingzhou by force?
Is that what you were discussing?
-Joyoung.... -I am speaking to the tactician!
You`ve already disapproved of the idea.
I assure you no one will defy your order. If I should defy your order.
I will surrender my head.
Now do you believe me? Insubordination? Never.
Subs By:robster38