King's Dream
To unite the divided sentiments of the royal family and court,
settle public sentiments and secure the fate of this nation,
I am appointing the crown prince as the regent.
It is for the cause of unifying the Three Kingdoms and
saving the people of the Three Kingdoms.
It is to eliminate discord between the pro-Tang and anti-Tang factions.
I'm sure you will all abide by my decision.
The crown prince will have to do everything in his power for harmony
between the royal family, court and citizens.
I will achieve the cause of unification of the Three Kingdoms and
do my best to honor your reign.
Father, did you want to see me?
I heard you were taking care of the national affairs well.
I am only doing my best not to disgrace you until
you recover and take over again.
Take a good look.
This is the throne you will be sitting on.
Do you see the bloodstains?
Many members of the royal family and many servants shed blood
to take the throne or to guard it once it was taken.
They say blood has to be shed to guard the throne,
but it is the greed and ambition of the ruler who calls for that blood.
If a ruler doesn't fear the heavens and doesn't care for the people,
he can't guard the throne.
You must not be a mediocre ruler.
I will remember that.
Beopmin, what do you think of your uncle?
He is the most loyal servant in the world. I would trust him with my life.
That's right.
If you could have a loyal servant like him and achieve a great cause,
it will be a blessing.
But if you can't embrace his heart,
you will begin to doubt him and that doubt will turn into hostility.
That throne will end up with your uncle's blood.
I was like that.
You regained your trust for the crown prince and Yusin.
I'm so glad to see that all the troubles are gone.
It makes me want to cry.
I will never doubt the crown prince and Yusin's loyalty again.
You have nothing to worry about.
I am very grateful.
You gave me life and a cause to unify the Three Kingdoms.
You were generous enough to forgive my disloyalty and embrace me.
I will never stray from your will again.
Yusin, it seems like we swore the oath to unify the Three Kingdoms just yesterday.
But the crown prince has grown old enough to pass on the cause to his sons.
Time sure passed quickly.
The unification of the Three Kingdoms will happen in your time.
But the cause to save the people of the Three Kingdoms
will have to be passed on for generations.
Me and my descendants will do our best to complete that cause.
If the people of the Three Kingdoms could be free of battle,
our oath will not go to waste.
Let's have another drink.
Let's drink.
Goguryeo palace
I heard the Tang emperor is sending Su Dingfang to Pyeongyang by water.
Is there a way to stop the Tang army?
Even if they surround Pyeongyang with tens of thousands of soldiers,
if we move the people away and burn all the fields nearby,
they will run out of rations and won't be able to endure long.
What is the movement in Silla?
If Kim Chunchu and Kim Yusin reconciled,
and the crown prince was appointed as regent to unite the court,
the Silla army could be dispatched to help the Tang army.
According to our spies in Seorabeol,
it doesn't look like Kim Chunchu is going to go to Goguryeo until
the Baekje rebels are suppressed.
I will work with Baekje's revival army to stop the Silla army, so don't worry.
Sabiseong
The king of Silla ordered that the Baekje rebels be annihilated
before going to Goguryeo so that public sentiments stabilize.
The Tang army should cooperate in suppressing the Baekje rebels.
The emperor ordered us to go to Pyeongyang to help Su Dingfang.
You know well that the Tang army can't even defend against the Baekje rebels.
Why are you recklessly trying to go to Pyeongyang?
Let the emperor know about this situation.
It would be wise to help the Silla army suppress the Baekje rebels.
You dare to resist an imperial order?
If the king of Silla didn't send soldiers and rations to protect the Tang army,
you would have been isolated here.
You would have been annihilated or you would have starved to death.
I will not stop you if you want to go to Goguryeo.
But Silla will not provide soldiers or military rations.
What?
Are you threatening us?
It is not a threat. I am merely urging a wise decision.
The king of Silla will send prince Inmun to Tang.
He will explain why we couldn't go to Goguryeo,
so the emperor will not reprimand you.
If the king of Silla can convince our emperor, we will do as you wish.
I'll get it.
Your Majesty, are you alright?
I'm fine.
Jeongmyeong, you've grown enough to beat your grandfather.
You should get some rest.
Let's just stay a bit longer.
When will I play with my grandson again?
Jeongmyeong, you are going to have to follow in your grandfather and father's
footsteps to achieve the cause of saving the people of the Three Kingdoms.
I will remember that.
Good.
Your Majesty, you should go inside.
I think I should.
Your Majesty, lean on me.
Okay, let's go.
Your Majesty!
Was your dream to unify the Three Kingdoms
involving the Tang army and making the Three Kingdoms go to battle?
Why are you twisting my cause to save the people of the Three Kingdoms?
The Tang emperor united the Central Plain and has his eyes on the Three Kingdoms.
You know that the only way to unify the Three Kingdoms and prevent them
from becoming colonies of Tang was to form an alliance with Tang.
You will not be cleared of the stigma that you tried to serve up
the Three Kingdoms to the emperor of Tang because of your ambitions.
I can endure any humiliation if it will wipe the tears from the people.
The people who lived as citizens of Three Kingdoms will be proud.
I do not regret my decision.
Do you really believe such a world will come?
If I can't achieve it, my son and my grandson will do so.
I am sure they will unify the Three Kingdoms.
Your great cause and resolution will achieve peace for the Three Kingdoms
and become a foundation that binds the people of the Three Kingdoms together.
You will be recorded as a great ruler and be revered.
Your Majesty, what's wrong?
Your Majesty, open your eyes.
Call the doctor.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Majesty! Open your eyes.
Beopmin...
I'm sorry to leave you with such a heavy burden of unifying the Three Kingdoms.
Don't be so weak.
Get up and conquer Goguryeo.
I lived the life the heavens gave me. What more could I want?
If you don't fear the heavens and don't care for the people,
you will not be able to guard the throne.
Be sure to accomplish the cause of unifying the Three Kingdoms.
I will be sure to do that.
I give you my word.
I am going to trust you.
Where is Yusin?
We sent word to Sabiseong. He should be here soon.
Your Majesty, what happened?
I was able to take the throne because of you.
I was also able to dream of unifying the Three Kingdoms because I had you.
When I wavered, you reprimanded me and you encouraged me.
You were my friend and my teacher.
You are the pride of Silla.
Don't try to talk so much.
It was an honor to have a hero like you as my friend.
It was an honor for us to serve a ruler like you.
I am returning to the heavens without achieving the great cause,
but I'm glad you're here to do that.
Please guide the crown prince so that he may achieve the cause.
Your Majesty.
Citizens of the Three Kingdoms!
I, Kim Chunchu, will unify the Three Kingdoms and
save you from battle and starvation.
I will end battles in the Three Kingdoms and stand up to the emperor of Tang.
I will establish a royal family with great pride of the Three Kingdoms.
I will respect the heavens and make the people the owners of the Three Kingdoms.
Hurray for His Majesty!
Hurray!
- Hurray! - Hurray!
Your Majesty!
- Grandfather... - Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
Father...
In lunar June, 661, the 29th king of Silla, Kim Chunchu, died at the age of fifty-nine.
Get out of the way!
He was the grandson of king Jinji who was dethroned.
He showed the qualities of a ruler who would embrace the Three Kingdoms
since he was a young boy.
He joined forces with his lifetime friend and loyal servant, Kim Yusin,
and became the first man of jingol status to become the king.
During a time of turmoil when the emperor of Tang united the Central Plain,
he had an ambition to unify the Three Kingdoms.
With great diplomatic skills, he formed an alliance with Tang and
conquered Baekje to establish a foundation for unifying the Three Kingdoms.
Kim Chunchu was the first person in Korean history to establish a unified dynasty.
He tied our people into one with homogeneity.
After Kim Chunchu died, Kim Beopmin became the 30th king of Silla.
Unlike his father who was pro-Tang, Beopmin had tense relations with Tang.
The Tang court and Goguryeo became sensitive to
the new political changes that would take place in Silla.
As the leader of the court, I offer you my congratulations.
Congratulations.
The officials of Silla swear
our loyalty to you so that
you may achieve the cause of unifying the three Kingdoms.
You have our full loyalty.
With your loyalty, I will achieve the cause the former king pursued.
I will make Silla the center of the world.
If I forget the will of the heavens,
I will hope that you advise and reprimand me as loyal servants.
- We are honored. - We are honored.
Tang palace
You have the condolences of me and my people.
I know you are in national mourning,
but I ask that you uphold the cause of the alliance and head to Goguryeo
to take Pyeongyang and achieve the cause of the former king.
Your Majesty, Su Dingfang already headed to Pyeongyang with 100,000 soldiers.
You should send an army to Goguryeo.
Uncle, what do you think?
No matter how weak a country is,
if it isn't in chaos and public sentiments are strong, it can't be conquered easily.
But Goguryeo is not a weak country.
It defended itself against attacks from the Central Plain for a thousand years.
The people of Goguryeo are one under the rule of the royal family and mangniji.
Su Dingfang will not be able to take Pyeongyang so easily.
I agree with you.
But we can't turn down his request because of the alliance.
Order an army to Goguryeo,
but attack the fortresses occupied by the Baekje rebels on the way.
I will do that.
Order the army to go to battle.
The king of Silla is headed to Namchenoji with Kim Yusin in command of the army.
Boksin, what will you do?
You wanted to form friendly relations with Silla.
They are aiming their swords at us.
I will lead my soldiers. I will cut off the head of the king of Silla.
Bu Yeopung and Boksin seem to be in disagreement.
If we use that,
we should be able to annihilate them before reinforcements arrive from Wae.
The soldiers from Wae must not cross the ocean.
Protect His Majesty!
It's an ambush. Battle formations!
Attack!
Kill the king of Silla!
That is Boksin, the leader of the Baekje rebels.
Shoot arrows!
Retreat.
Retreat!
That will dampen their spirits.
We should advance to Ongsanseong and take the fortress.
Advance to Ongsanseong!
You didn't kill the king of Silla and
we lost Ongsanseong because you were defeated.
How am I to trust you with an army?
I was careless.
Please give me one more chance and I will kill the king of Silla.
Leave and reflect on the matter.
I will leave you.
He is like chicken ribs.
There's too little to eat, but I don't want to throw it away.
~ Tang camp near Pyeongyangseong ~ Help me.
The soldiers are low in morale.
How are we to defeat the elite soldiers of Goguryeo and take Pyeongyang?
It's been ten days since we ran out of military rations.
Soon, the soldiers will try to eat the corpses.
We have to come up with measures.
Help me.
Su Dingfang led an army to Goguryeo.
He camped out at Maheupsan and surrounded Pyeongyang for a month.
His army crossed the west sea and advanced to Pyeongyang quickly.
But Yeongae Somun moved all the people and burnt all the villages in the vicinity.
He made sure the Tang army couldn't get help from the people of Goguryeo
and made sure they couldn't find any food.
The Tang army couldn't do anything about the Goguryeo soldiers
who attacked them by surprise whenever they let their guard down.
They ran out of rations and had to suffer from starvation.
Su Dingfang's army surrounded Pyeongyang,
but it was isolated on Goguryeo territory and was about to be annihilated.
It seems like Su Dingfang is desperate. What should we do?
You should at least send military rations so the soldiers don't starve.
You should do that to maintain the cause of the alliance.
I will have to send at least 20,000 sacks to feed all those soldiers.
How can we send all those rations without being spotted by Goguryeo?
The soldiers trying to transport rations will be annihilated.
If the two of you want to go to Goguryeo to save Su Dingfang,
I will give you rations.
Your Majesty, I will go to Goguryeo and deliver the rations.
Why do you want to put yourself in danger?
I am only trying to respect the former king's wishes to honor the alliance,
so please consider my loyalty.
I will not forget your loyalty and trust.
I will approve.
I would like to go with him. Please give me your approval.
Good. Be sure he returns safely.
Father, why did you volunteer to deliver the military rations?
I feel you're jumping into a fire holding a stack of hay.
If someone has to do it, I should.
That would lessen His Majesty's burden.
Commander.
Did you want to see me?
It's going to take me 15 days to Pyeongyang and 3 days to return.
I would like you to assign soldiers to the border when I return,
so the Goguryeo army can't pursue us.
This is a military order, so it must be obeyed without fault.
I will do that.
What?
Kim Yusin crossed the border to deliver rations to Su Dingfang?
He is transporting 2,000 carts.
Block off all roads to Pyeongyang and kill Kim Yusin.
Su Dingfang must not receive a single grain of rice.
The Goguryeo army probably cut off all roads to Pyeongyang.
We will have to take a rough path over the mountain.
As soon as we deliver the rations, we will return to Silla right away.
We have to load quickly and go.
Tang palace
Do you think Kim Yusin will be able to penetrate the Goguryeo army and
bring the rations safely?
Kim Yusin might be an enemy, but if I had to choose one general to trust,
I wouldn't hesitate to choose him.
I am certain he will bring the military rations.
Supreme commander.
The Silla army sent 28,000 sacks of rice.
Kim Yusin didn't disappoint me.
Where is he?
I will praise him.
The Silla army unloaded the rations at Maheupsan and left.
They probably returned to Silla to avoid an attack by the Goguryeo army.
Order the soldiers to move the rations.
We can retreat thanks to Yusin.
The soldiers are exhausted.
Father, we should take a break.
The Goguryeo soldiers are going to pursue us soon.
We have to cross the border quickly.
Commander, look!
Battle formations!
How did they get here so soon?
Where are the soldiers the byeongburyeong was supposed to send?
Yusin!
Don't worry. We came to help you.
Do not let a single soldier live!
The commander isn't going to be happy about us not sending soldiers.
Don't worry.
They've probably been annihilated by the Goguryeo army by now.
Kim Yusin has to disappear for the pro-Tang factions to gain power.
If His Majesty finds out what we told the Goguryeo army the retreat path,
we will be in great trouble.
How is His Majesty going to find out?
Byeongburyeong!
The commander ordered that you be arrested.
What?
We should go to the Tang camp in Sabiseong.
You pro-Tang traitors!
Where are you trying to go?
Did you try to sell me out to the Goguryeo army?
Byeongburyeong! Is that true?
It was the only way to drive you out of court for the cause of the alliance.
Kill the pro-Tang factions for deceiving His Majesty and the court!
I heard you are doing your best for the revival of Baekje
despite attacks from the Silla-Tang army.
The royal family and court of Wae show our respect.
I am going to accept the requests of the people of Baekje.
I will prepare battleships and weapons with their offerings.
I will send 27,000 soldiers to Baekje.
I am sending them, but they are loyal soldiers of the king of Baekje.
I hope you use their loyalty to revive Baekje.
Wae is sending 27,000 soldiers.
We can finally recover Sabiseong and drive out the Silla-Tang army from Baekje.
Your Majesty, Boksin could commit treason before reinforcements arrive.
You should eliminate him.
Killing the seed of any future trouble would be the right thing to do.
His Majesty was in Wae for 30 years.
It's understandable he doesn't know the situation of the Three Kingdoms.
Unless we get rid of treacherous subjects like Chungseung,
Baekje's revival won't happen.
I will kill him and his followers before reinforcements arrive from Wae.
Watch every move they make.
Yes, sir.
Your Majesty.
I heard your wound was deep. I came to check on you.
I am honored.
Your Majesty, why...
What should I do with this traitor?
If you let him live, he will collude with Goguryeo to commit treason.
Chungseung, I regret not being able to kill a treacherous subject like you.
Your Majesty, please think clearly.
If we fight amongst ourselves now, there will be no hope for Baekje.
Don't you know that you are the cause of trouble?
I will kill him as a sacrifice for our victory.
Take him away.
Your Majesty, this isn't fair.
Your Majesty!
Prepare to greet the soldiers coming from Wae.
Byeongburyeong! What are you talking about?
Wae sent a large army to help the Baekje rebels?
1,000 battleships are headed to Baekje with 27,000 soldiers.
Did you say 1,000 battleships?
I think the time has come for a final battle against the Baekje rebels.
I will go to battle myself.
I will defeat them and conquer Baekje once and for all.