What happened to Dae Joyoung`s envoy?
The Khan has yet to make his dicision.
What do you mean by that?
He will make his dicision after the debate between the two state reoresentatives.
A debate? I am to have a debate with Geom?
The Khan is waiting. You must come with us.
General, this is an unaticipated situation.
It`s no problem.
How do you mean?
What could the fledgling state have to offer? This is a god given opportunity to get rid of Geom.
and establish an alliance with the Turks.
~Li Wen~
So you`re seeking an alliance?
That`s right.
Alliances are made between states of equal strength.
It is utterly audacious of a fledgling state Balhae to come seeking an alliance with the supreme power of the north.
Evidently, Dea Joyoung has no respect for Muchuo Khan.
You have a point. ~Muchuo:Turkic Khan~
It is fitting tha Dae Joyoung come bowing to me personally and seek to become our tributary state.
Is this an act of irreverence towards me?
Why don`t you answer?
Does Dae Joyoung thinks he is above me?
His Majesty the King of Balhae does not think neither the Turks nor the Tang Chinese are above him. ~Li Geom~
Did you hear this? Their arrogance will pierce the sky!
We`ve recaptured our territory along the central and western China and build a powerful force.
If Dae Joyoung does not think we are above him, he is insane! ~Inel:Muchuo`s son~
If a war should break out between the Turks and Balhae, we are confident victory will be ours.
Silence!
You are free to dream, but you speak of breaking a rock with an egg.
No one thought that we would win when the massive Tang army came after us.
But we wiped them out on Chunmunryeong and won a sweeping victory.
We did break a rock with an egg.
Balhae may be small right now, but we`re harder than rock.
But Tang, on the other hand is but a giant egg.
What? A giant egg?
You`ve become so weak that you can`t even defend your own boundaries.
And you want to forge an alliance with the Turks as if they are your equal?
It`s Tang that should bow and declare itself tributary state.
You bastard!
I`ll pluck out your tongue right here right now!
Stop!
Settle down.
Deliberate carefully.
If you should join hands with Tang instead of Balhae, glory of the Turkic tribes could crumble overnight.
You speak correctly.
It is Tang that should kneel before us and seek to become our tributary state.
Khan!
A tributary state?
Muchuo, that man knows no bounds!
This is all because of that bastard Li Geom.
I should have put an end to him on Chunmunryeong!
General, what do we do now?
What choice we have? We can`t stoop to the barbarians. Prepare to return to Chang`an.
We have to get back quickly and find another solution.
Sir, we might have to go to Yingzhou first.
Yingzhou?
We have a message that General Xue Rengui is in critical condition
What? General Xue?
It`s past the time Muchuo was supposed to give us an answer.
The delay is making me nerous.
If we fail to forge an alliance, we won`t make it out of here alive.
Perhaps we should slip out tonight. We can`t die here in vain.
If we fail to forge an alliance, we might as well die.
General....
If I should fail...
I`ll kill Muchuo with my own hands and serve the country.
Thank you for waiting.
You will have our best breeding horses tomorrow.
Take them back to Balhae.
Tang has already betrayed us more than once. But I know Dae Joyoung.
He will never break the alliance first.
This is my handwritten letter.
My sincere congratulations on founding of a new state.
I will deliver your message, Khan.
Come on in, wife.
What is all this?
A new state needs new laws.
I`m going through some ancient records studying the laws of different Kingdoms.
Laws are important, but safety and welfare comes first. ~Sukyoung:Queen of Balhae~
I`ve sent an envoy to the Turks, so we will hear somethiang soon.
I hope and pary Geom succeeds, but what will you do if he fails?
If the Turks should refuse us and join hands with Tang...
If we can`t stop a war with reason we will stop it with force.
-This country is in no condition to fight a war. -Wars always break out when things are at its worst.
-But Your Majesty... -Have patience.
I sent Geom on this mission because I have faith in him.
Not because you want to make him a Crown Prince?
I`ve never defied you in all of our years together. But I will not stay quiet about the successor issue.
Geom cannot be allowed to carry on the royal line of this state.
Wife!
Stability and unity is the main concern of this state right now.
The Crown Prince must come from the royal line of Goguryeo not from Khitan if only to serve this cause.
You made your point, so lets stop now.
I will observe the public sentiment and gather consensus of the court before making my decision about the successor.
So please do not bring this up again.
Verry well.
We cannot put our minds at ease and attend to the pressing state
affairs until this diplomatic issue with the Turks is settled.
I hope Geom returns soon. This waiting is nerve racking...
Sir, General Li Wen is here. Open your eyes.
-Li Wen is here? -General, how are you?
Speak. What happened?
I came straight from Liaobei to deliver the good news to you first. ~Li Wen~
Did you succeed? ~Xue Rengui~
Yes, general.
Soon Muchuo will form a grand army and attack Balhae.
Muchuo and Dae Joyoung at war.
Balhae doesn`t have the resorces to fight a war right now. It`s finally over for Dae Joyoung.
You won, general.
You are the true victor. ~Hongpei~
Victor?
I am the final victor?
Yes.
You are the true here that surpasses both Dae Joyoung and Li Kaigu.
A hero.....
I`ve worked so hard for so long to acquire that title...
A hero....
Xue Rengui is the true hero.....
I was born a nobody and became a great general of an empire
At last I became a here and I leave behind two faithful subordinates that will mourn my death.
What more could a man ask for?
General....
Li Wen, thank you.
My body grew older but my heart never grew faint of Dae Joyoung because I had you.
You showed this humble man how to live my life, general.
And you Hongpei.
Yes, general.
You`ve been through hell and back for me.
No, sir. I was always causing you trouble.
No, no.
You never left my side even when I was at my lowest.
You followed me wherever I went even into burning flames.
General...
Li Wen, go back to Chang`an now.
General...
You must deliver the news to the Emperor.
Go now. GO.
Yes, General.
But when I come back, I will bring Dae Joyoung`s head back with me.
Yes, I`ll be anxiously waiting for your victory report from here.
Li Wen, be careful.
Forgive me, general...
All I can do to comfort you in your final hours is to tell you a lie...
Please forgive me, general.....
I can`t we believe we faild to make an alliance with the Turks!
Failed, general?
I can tell Li Wen was lying just by looking at his face.
But I`m going to let him believe he fooled me.
It`s the last I can do in my parting
for a subordinate who`d go to this length to comfort me...
General...
Hongpei, my eyes feel so heavy.... I can`t close my eyes yet.
I`ve got to see Dae Joyoung fall with my own two eyes.
Your Majesty!
Look at what is happening!
They will be obliterated before Li Jing gets here!
There`s an openning! Assist s the prince! This way!
Take off your mask.
What is your name?
My name is Xue Rengui.
How do you wish to be rewarded for your feat?
Your Majesty, I wish to be made a general.
What? A general?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I wish to be made a general if only for a day, Your Majesty.
Xue Rengui`s courage has perserved the fighting spirit of my soldiers.
I hear by appoint Xue Rengui as the assult force general.
Prove yourself worthy and set example for the rest of them.
Speak. How do you plan to hold Yeom Gaesomun back?
If I may... permit me to take your imperial robe.
Why do you want my robe?
I will put on your robe and pretend to be you.
I will deceive them and hold them back from here so Your Majesty may escape safetly.
I joined the army for no other reason but the regular meals.
A lowly derelict has received underserved love of the Emperor.
With what could I possibly return the imperial favor?
I will die for the Emperor who gave me a chance and made my life worth living if only for a short while.
Give me your permission, Your Majesty.
It is the order of the Emperor. Come back to me alive.
Your Majesty....
We must destroy Goguryeo and realize the grand enterprise of unification together.
Forgive me, Your Majesty....
This incompetent man has failed to stop the revival of Goguryeo...
I have allowed Dae Joyoung to get the best of me, Your Majesty.
Take me now, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
-General.... -Your Majesty...
Your Majesty, I have returned upon completion of the mission.
Good work.
This is the letter written by the Turkic Khan Muchuo.
This is a great victory against Tang in a diplomatic war.
Your Majesty.
Threat of foreign invasion has been completely eliminated now that the we`ve established friendly relations with the Tuks.
What`s more, breeding horses have been brought back from, the Superior Turkic cavalry. ~Gulsabiwu~
-This is an impressive accomplishment. -It is indeed.
Ministers of the court let us remember General Geom`s faithful service.
All is the glory of Balhae and the imperial grace of the King.
Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty!
Now we must attend to the important state affairs we`ve been putting off one by one.
Yes.
The Turks have accepted our alliance but no one can predict the future.
In order to truly protect this state we need independet strength that does not rely on foreign aid.
Accordingly, I will declare the next ten years a national growth period
and build a platform for advancement in all areas of the government.
Tactician Mimosa will oversee this important endeavor.
To strengthen the state, first we must enrich the lives oof our people.
Thus in seeking growth and balance advancement in agriculture, trade, and stock-farming.
Prime Minister Jang Sanhae is called to serve. ~Mimosa~
Your Majesty, I will lay down my life on your service.
In urban planning and development General Dolbal is called to serve.
Your Majesty, I will put forth my best effort.
In the task of horse breeding on the pastures of Songhwa River, General Tungso and Mu Yeom are called to serve.
Your Grace is infinite, Your Majesty.
General Gulsabiwu and Geom I task you focus your efforts on strengthening our military by bringing the scattered tribal armies together.
and recruiting and training new soldiers.
We will not let you down, Your Majesty.
From here we go foward.
Remember that the people and the government must work together as one to bring back the glory of the old Goguryeo.
Yes, Your Majesty!
You don`t look very happy.
Is there something you wish to tell me?
Don`t hold back if you have something in mind.
I feel the eyes of the ministers since I have been back. ~Li Geom~
They look at me with wariness and fear.
And? What do you intend to do
What are you trying to tell me?
I just don`t want to cause you any problems.
If that is your concern, forget about it.
I have a new job for you starting tomorrow.
We`ve done a lot of work establish a foundation since the state was declared.
But there is one thing left to do to lay down the root of the administration and that is to establish fundamental laws to govern the state by.
I`ve been doing my homework researching historic doctrines, but I need to know the will of the people.
The will of the people?
The people are lost without the country and the country does not exist without the people.
The laws of the state must reflect the will of its public.
I want you to investigate that for me.
Travel in disguise among the people and listen to what they have to say.
That is the only way to get real and untainted information,
Do you understand?
I will abide by your wish and do my best, Your Majesty.
Here, let us drink.
Today I will announce the supreme law of this land that embrace the will of our founding ancestors
Ministers will use this canon as a guide to establish laws and policies for all generations to follow.
I will call this law Cheontong Canon after the era name.
Balhae is a successor state of Goguryeo built by Goguryeoans on the old Goguryeoan territory.
Our ancestors are Dangun Wanggum, Haerubu King Geumwa and King Dongmyeong,
hence all born on their land are people of Balhae regardless of their origin,
What is the use of distinguishing nobility from peasantry when
one is below the Earth and no one is above the Heavens?
Good will be rewarded and evil will be punished
and those who try to hide their crimes will face greater punishment.
My people, respect the Earth and revere the Heaven.
Ministers must respect the people like the Earth and revere the law like the Heaven.
The King must respect and revere all things,
so his seat is the most important and the humblest of all.
Farmers will treasure every last grain of his harvest the soldier will not allow his weapon to rust.
And no animal or livestock on this land will be slaughtered in haste.
Here I institute these laws wealth and safety of this state and its people
so let there be equality to all and injustices to none.
Tactician Mimosa is here.
-Send him in. -Yes, Your Highness.
What is your opinion about His Majesty`s canon?
It`s very well written and tremendously inspiring. ~Mimosa~
It contains his implicit intent about the installation of the Crown Prince ~Sukyoung:Queen of Balhae~
You`re very observant.
His Majesty is going to....
Your Highness, I completely agree with you on this issue.
But I realized listening to His Majesty`s canon that we cannot change his mind with our will.
His Majesty has intalled Cheontong Canon to creat a government centered around its people with equal opportunity for all.
How could we defy this noble will over the successor issue?
Then what do we do?
We must trust that His Majesty and never doubt his decision.
The master we serve will never make the wrong decision.
Yes, I will trust that to be so.
I`ve never doubted him in all of our years together and I shouldn`t doubt him now.
Thank you for understanding, Your Highness.
The ministers` complaints about the successor issue have been completely silenced.
No one will oppose now regardless of whom you bring foward to succeed you.
I did not write the canon to resolve the successor issue.
But it`s clearly reflective of your noble will ~Gulsabiwu~
What I wanted to say through the canon is not who should be the King but how King should be.
It isn`t important who rises to the throne.
What is important is the work he does for the people and the state.
Then who do you have in mind?
I haven`t made any decisions yet.
Nothing`s more important than strengthening the state right now.
So I want you to focus on your griven task as well.
Your wisdom and forseight never ceases to amaze me, Your Highness.
~Chang`an, Tang~
Speak.
What have the spies learned about Balhae?
How is Dae Joyoung running his regime? ~Wu Zetian~
They report that the nation strenght of Balhae is quite difficult to accept as true.
Explain.
What did they manage to do in such a short time?
According to our agents, they are reviving the glorious culture of the
old Goguryeo on its fertile soil from the magnificent palace to citadels.
What? Revive the culture of the old Goguryeo?
That`s not all.
The generals that led the old Goguryeo military have transferred ~Di Renjie~
the iron will and spirit of the Goguryeoan army right on to the Balhae aemy.
Iron will and spirit pf the Goguryeoan army?
Their cavarly is exceptionally strong armed with Puyo horses that are
crossbred with superior Turkish horses.
They have absorbed the strength of Shilla Baekje as well as the Mohe.
Turkic and Khitan tribes, so their speed of growth is utterly amazing.
Enough! I heard enough!
This is exactly why I tried so desperately to stop Dae Joyoung.
Because once the rein loosens, it`s difficult to get a hold of it again.
Remember Goguryeo? It had tormented us.
And now that it has been risen again how am I to face the departed Emperor?
Your Majesty....!
This humiliation and disgrace is more painful then death.
What now? What am I to do?
Give us death, Your Majesty...
An urgen report from the northwestn region, Your Majesty.
The Turks have crossed the Great Wall and invaded our boundries.
What? Muchuo has attacked us again?
Turkic envoys bid humble greetings to the King of Balhae. ~Inel~ ~ Kol Tigin~
We bid you greetings.
You traveled a long way. What brings you?
Muchuo Khan has crossed the Great Wall and declared a war aginst Tang.
We are here to request military aid according to our agreement of alliance.
Military aid?
The Turkic tribes and Balhae are brother states. If the younger brother ignores the old brother`s fight how could that be a brotherhood.
Silence? Who is the younger brother and who is the older brother?
The state that send tributary goods is the younger brother, of course.
-What did you say? -Settle down.
This does not appear to be a matter to be decided in haste.Please rest at the guest palace while we consider.
Yes, Your Majesty.
-Show the envoys our warmest hospitality. -Yes, Your Majesty.
Balhae has made amazing progress.
This is a frightening place... Balhae....
It`s not Balhae but their King Dae Joyoung who is to be feard.
Muchuo Khan is somewhat intimidated by Dae Joyoung as well.
They may be an ally now, but we must never let our guard down.
I agree completely.
Your Majesty, it is the Turks that enabled us to establish our foundation so quickly.
If we turn down their request, we will be making an enemy of Muchuo.
It may not be a bad idea to join forces with the Turks and break the spirit of the Tang Chinese.
Yes, Your Majesty.
This is our chance to turn the world around.
I oppose the deployment.
Speak.
Our alliance is that of master and servant as they say.
If we help the Turks subjugate Tang right now, the Turks will claim mastery.
I agree with General Gulsabiwu.
We would have only wasted our precious military strength that we`ve worked hard to build up.
But we can`t break the alliance first either.
They counsider Balhae their tributary state. If this alliance has to be broken this may be the time.
Stop. Settle down.
What is your opinion Mimosa?
If we gain one thing, we will lose another.
We must calculate our gain and losses throughly and make a careful decision.
-Your Majesty, it`s Mimosa. -Enter.
What is the will of the cabinet?
We can`t seem to come to an agreement.
I think this is your call, Your Majesty.
This may be a god given opportunity for us
How do you mean?
It will take all of Balhae military resources combined
Are we to support the Turks?
The Turks will get a small army as gesture of appreciation.
Then why?
We will define the boundaries of this state.
We`ve build a state around Mt.Dongmo.
but there is still Tang military presence throughout Liaodong.
Several different power are gaining ground in the west and north as well.,
This is our chance while the Turks and the Tang Chinese are at war.
We are launching a conquest.
Your Majesty!
We will reclaim all of the old Goguryeo territory!
Subs By:robster38