The Iron Empress
Episode 23
All units have crossed the river except a part of the quartermaster unit, Sir.
Very well.
We will advance into Goryeo immediately.
Yes, Sir.
The course, Sir?
What's the report from the scouts?
[Won Tom Nanja Goon (Khitan's advance scouts)]
Yes, Sir.
The east route is clear through Guiju.
How about the west?
The scouts that went west haven't returned yet.
Still?
It's possible they were captured by the Goryeoans.
[Xiao Sunning (Khitan's Chief General)]
Then we will take the east route.
But General, the west route is more suitable to transport an army.
Yelu Dilie
The rough east route is unsuitable for the quartermaster carriages.
Idiot.
The quartermaster unit is delayed anyway.
And if the enemy thinks we're taking the west route, it's better to surprise them.
We will move swiftly on the east route to Northern Protectorate
wiping out Guiju and Taeju on the way.
And soon Seogyeong will be within arm's reach.
Get ready!
Yes, Sir!
The east and west route of the North:
The Northwest region of Goryeo in modern
day North Pyeongan Province is referred to here as the North.
The west route was the wide pathway from Boju to Anju by way of Heunghwajin, Tongju
and Gwakju that was used as the main attack route in Sui invasion of Goguryeo as well
as in the Mongol invasion of Goryeo and the second Manchu invasion of Joseon.
The east route connected Boju and Anju through Heunghwajin, Guiju, Taeju and Bakju.
And was a mountainous path that provided diminished mobility for a large army.
Gang Gamchan would later achieve the "Great Victory of Guijui" on this path.
Muster your strength!
The fate of Goryeo is in your hands!
Let's get this done! Our lives depend on it!
To the left!
General, we're close to completion!
We must build a strong base camp and be thoroughly prepared.
Yes, Sir.
Commander! Commander!
The Khitan army is making their advance to Bongsan!
You'll see, Commander.
Yun Seoan
I will destroy the Khitan in our first battle.
All you have to do is sit back and relax.
Your job is to hold the enemy back until the main camp is built.
Sir Yun,
[Gang Gamchan (Minister of Interior)]
you must not take the enemy lightly.
Don't worry.
My advance guards are the strongest cavalry of Goryeo.
We will drive the enemy out of Goryeo.
Delay the enemy, Sir Yun.
You are not to engage in a frontal battle.
This is an order.
[Seo Hui (Middle Commander)]
There will be punishment if you defy this order.
Yes, Sir.
General!
Halt!
General, Goryeoan advance guards are headed this way.
Oh?
How many are there?
At least four to five thousand, Sir.
We can wipe them out in a flash!
Yelu Chu
General, give us your order.
No...
lure them here first.
Pardon?
But Sir, there are only five thousand of them.
Yelu Wuji
We should fight the enemy out here on the open field where they can't hide.
That's right.
If they get scared and run, the battle could take longer than necessary.
Send out the advance party and lure them to the field.
Yes, Sir.
General!
It's the Khitan!
Yes, I see them.
It looks like an advance party judging by the size.
We must attack first and seize the initiative.
Chase them to their camp and wipe them out!
But we don't even know how large their main army is, Sir.
And Commander Seo told us to avoid direct confrontation.
I am in command of this operation, not Commander Seo!
Commander Seo is a civil minister. What does he know about fighting a war?
I will make the decisions, so just follow my orders.
Yes, General.
Pay attention!
What we are dealing with is a mob of boorish barbarians.
Remember that you are Goryeo's most elite cavalry.
You have no reason to fear the enemy.
Now we will go after the enemy and annihilate them!
Charge!
Stop!
We're trapped, General! We're trapped!
Do not panic! Stay in position!
Attack!
Annihilated?
Yes, Commander.
What about General Yun?
I don't know, Sir. I don't know.
How many of them were there?
Impossible to count.
Bears clawed at us, arrows came down like rain and everyone died.
They all died!
Bears?
I've heard of the Khitan using beasts like bears and tigers
when they fought against Song.
Kind of like the old war tactics of using bulls with their tails on fire as vanguards.
After my repeated orders not to engage in frontal attack...
Commander, we must act quickly.
By tomorrow morning, the enemy will be upon us.
But nothing is ready. What do we do?
Perhaps we can request aid from the Northern Protectorate.
No.
There is no guarantee that all of them are coming on the east route.
We can't leave the west route exposed.
The Northern Protectorate is our last stronghold.
Sir Gang is right.
Live or die, we're on our own.
And we must stop them in their tracks!
I can't believe my eyes. How is this possible?
Is anyone alive?
Anyone?
Cheon Hyang Bi
Answer me if you're alive?
Forget it.
Gang Jo
They're all dead.
You are to blame.
Your bad judgment is to blame for this.
I was certain they would take the eastern route.
Kim Chi Yang
I never dreamed such massively huge army would come this way.
That's why I said we should set up an ambush and wait.
But you hurried us to the wrong place.
That was to alert the King's army as soon possible.
And look at the result!
You said you know the Jurchen territory like the back of your hand,
[Lady Sungdeok Hwangbo Su (future Empress Cheonchu)]
then led us to the wrong place, allowing all of these men to die.
What are you trying to say? That I intentionally steered you wrong?
Stop yourselves. What's done is done.
Sa Illa
The battle is only an hour or two ago. The blood is still fresh.
Is there a shortcut south?
What happened?
He must've dozed off on the horse.
My Lady, perhaps we should stop and rest.
Both the soldiers and the horses are exhausted.
But we must catch up to the enemy.
My Lady, it's gotten too dark to find our way.
Let us rest a while, My Lady. We rode all day without anything to eat.
We wouldn't have the strength to fight even if we found the enemy.
Very well. Rest.
Take a break!
Dismount, grab some food and find a place to sleep.
Yes, Sir.
You can have this one too.
My Lady, you must eat as well.
I don't have much of an appetite.
Over here.
What did you want to see me about?
Master, must we carry on like this?
What do you mean?
We're up against a massive army.
My brother said this battle was a lost cause before he went back to the tribe.
I'm afraid we've gotten wrapped up in something we shouldn't have.
You've seen the decisions the Lady has been making.
She's taking too many risks with no regard for the size and strength of the enemy.
She'll end up getting us all killed.
Then?
Give up on Lady Sungdeok and get of this war, Master.
This war has nothing to do with us.
It might in fact help us if Goryeo falls in this war.
It could provide a perfect backdrop for you to erect a new state.
That's wrong.
If Goryeo is defeated, countless people will die.
And those people are not just Goryeoans but my people in the future.
But Master.
This is not a plan that was designed overnight.
We cannot abort just because of an unforeseen variable.
We must protect Lady Sungdeok and earn her trust.
But...
You're putting your life in jeopardy. Without you, everything is over.
Everything will be over if Lady Sungdeok dies as well.
Heaven will keep me alive if I am meant to live.
My job right now is to protect that reckless lady through this war.
Wait here.
All right.
Have you fared well, Your Grace?
It's good to see you, Princess.
Queen Munhwa
Have you been well?
Yes.
How is Hwangju in this time of war?
There must be panic and fear, being so close to the North.
There is no such trouble because Lady Sungdeok is there.
[Sun (future Queen Sunjeong)]
I see.
That's good to hear.
Grain prices have soared and things are unstable here.
How is Lady Sungdeok? Is she well?
Court Lady Yun
Yes.
She is well but
very concerned about the war.
So...
What brings you to the palace?
Court Lady Jo
I stopped by to see Prince Gaeryeong after a memorial visit to my mother's grave.
Is there a problem with that?
No, I'm glad you stopped by.
Prince Gaeryeong will be delighted to see his beloved cousin.
You're not delivering Lady Sungdeok's letter to him, are you?
Watch your tongue, Attendant Jo.
The Princess would never do anything the King has forbidden.
Yes, the two of you were always very close.
Yes.
Cousin, it's been so long since we've seen each other.
[Prince Gaeryeong-Wang Song (future King Mukjong)]
Yes, Your Highness.
"Your Highness"? Why are you talking to me like that?
You just seem so much older now.
Have you fared well, Your Highness?
There you go again.
It's not like you. Don't do that.
Give it to him quickly, Princess.
I came to give you this.
It's a letter from the Lady. Read it quickly and destroy it.
Song, my son, are you well?
My heart is as heavy as can be, leaving without having seen you.
I am leaving for the North.
The Royal court won't believe me, so I have no choice.
But I really don't want to leave.
I'm afraid I may never get to see you again if I leave now.
Song, I pray this won't happen, but if something should happen to me,
don't let sadness overwhelm you and remember my cherished wish.
You must overcome every trial and tribulation that stand in your way.
And never give up the great dream of King Taejo I told you about in the fields of Hwangju.
That is my hope and my light.
What is she talking about? Where in the north did my mother go?
I don't know.
Why is she getting involved in something so dangerous?
The Lady feared you would be sent as a hostage, if we lose this war.
She's doing this because of me?
But she will be back. I know it.
She's a strong woman, so she will be fine.
My Lady, you must get some sleep.
I don't feel sleepy.
But you have to think about tomorrow.
Drillmaster Gang...
Yes, My Lady.
Do you think we can make it back alive?
Of course.
My Lady, don't worry.
I will protect you and bring you back safely.
I don't know why fate dealt me this hand.
I wish I had never learned to ride horses and shoot arrows...
I wish I were just an ordinary woman.
Will I make it out of this alive?
Will I survive this war I somehow got involved in,
and live to build a glorious new kingdom?
Spirits of the departed, watch over me.
Let me live to realize your cherished dream.
(Prince Gyeongjuwon- Wang Ook)
My Lord.
My Lord, the child is here from Gaegyeong. Your son is here!
What?
[Wang Sun- Prince Daeryang (future King Hyeonjong)]
Are you Sun?
Are you really my child Sun?
Yes. I see it.
Your eyes, your mouth...
You look just like your mother.
This is not a dream.
Sun...
My son!
My Lord, we've delivered the Prince safely, so we will be leaving now.
Yes.
Thank you for coming all this way for me.
Please convey my deepest gratitude to the King.
We will.
By the way, did Sir Gang Gamchan not come with you?
He was supposed to return with the child.
I guess you haven't heard.
Khitans invaded our borders, so he was reinstated and dispatched to the north.
Khitans invaded our borders?
Surrender?
We cannot crack and surrender,
Just because we lost the first battle.
[Yi Ji Baek (Vice Minister in charge of government building)]
If we don't surrender, all of us will die.
[Choi Seom (Inspector of the Legislative Council)]
Yun Seoan 's cavalry was the strongest army we had.
If five thousand of our best soldiers were massacred, this is a lost cause.
But we still have Commander Seo Hui in Taeju and...
And Commander Park Yang Yu's men are still in Anju.
[Yi Gyeomui (Minister of Defense)]
I can't believe you're talking about surrendering after one single defeat.
Your Highness...
We cannot surrender.
[Seongjong (the 6th King of Goryeo)]
Both Minister Park Yang Yu and Lord Seo Hui are not military men.
If elite warrior Yun Seoan can't handle the enemy, what more is there see?
[Yi Yang (Minister of Public Information)]
That's right, Your Highness.
We must surrender before they advance further south.
[Seol Shinyu (Minister of Attorney General)]
Your Highness, if this war continues,
it's only a matter of time before both Seogyeong and Gaegyeong are destroyed.
Kim Shimon
You must make a decision, if only to protect yourself and this Royal court.
But the King cannot surrender to the enemy directly.
Han Ungong
We must find another way.
Yes.
Let us seek ways to negotiate peace instead of a direct surrender.
Han Ingyeong
Chief Commander Park, what is your opinion?
I also believe surrender would be premature.
[Park Yang Yu (Chief General)]
If we surrender in hate now when Taeju hasn't even fallen,
military morale will collapse.
It's so frustrating listening to you men!
[Kim Won Soong (Minister of Revenue)]
Who will assume responsibility if we're all killed?
This is like trying to break a rock with an egg.
What if the whole country is slaughtered?
How about this, Your Highness?
[Choi Ryang (Chief Advisor)]
Send a Royal envoy and find out what they want.
Request a truce if what they request is agreeable,
and if it isn't, we can buy time to better prepare for this war.
An envoy?
My Lord, I heard Yun Seoan's army was completely destroyed.
Yes! This so insane!
Jo Du Ju Sun
All they have to do is surrender.
It's so simple, but they're going on and on about fighting back and sending an envoy.
There's so much talk!
What do we have to do, Sir? Shouldn't we send our men to fight, too?
Are you crazy?
Goryeo's most elite army just got completely wiped out.
Do you want to get all of our men killed?
- Foreman Jo. - Yes, Sir.
Go back to Gaegyeong and trade all of our merchandise for gold.
This defeat has not been made public yet,
So things will sell quickly if we cut the prices a little.
And...
Go to the Queen and secretly inform her the situation.
Tell her to be prepared to leave the country if worst comes to worst.
Yes, Sir.
I'll stay here and observe the developments, so prepare for the worst and wait.
Understand?
Yes, Sir.
You still don't have his location?
No.
The last I heard from them, they were on the west route from Boju.
But they never made it Dongju.
Sa Gamun
Do you mean they disappeared somewhere in between?
It's the Goryeoan's defeat at Bongsan that worries me.
If Khitans advance any further,
we will be embroiled in this war whether we like it or not.
Let us be patient. What's most important is Master's safety.
I just hope he is all right.
According to the scouts, The Goryeoans aren't finished securing their defense line.
They probably didn't have the time with their advance guards crumbling.
I have a feeling this is going to be too easy.
But we mustn't forget that we're on their territory.
The longer we stay, the greater our disadvantage.
We must destroy them in one blow.
Yes.
We will be drinking their blood very soon.
Prepare to attack!
Yes, General!
Commander!
Commander, it's the Khitan. The Khitan are coming!
Let's go.
Be calm. Do not panic!
Take your positions! Do not be afraid!
Take the left flank barricade.
Yes, Sir!
Sir Gang, put the archers in position.
Make sure no one gets out of position.
Yes, Sir.
Load your arrows!
Archers, forward! Do not be afraid!
Look at your target and shoot! Do it!
Yes.
You got it!
Be calm. Do not panic!
Shoot! Shoot them down!
This is too easy!
Congratulations, Sir. I think the outcome is obvious.
General, let me wrap this up.
Why waste your strength when you don't have to?
That's right. This will be over in the morning.
You can spearhead the next battle so save your strength.
My Lady, it looks like we got here too late.
We have to get down there and help or they will be wiped out!
It's useless.
We're much too inferior in number to make any difference.
We don't know that until we try.
A war is not a game of numbers that businessmen play.
But we can't just dive in without a plan.
Do you have a plan?
We can't fight them head on...
so why don't we go after their quartermaster depot?
You mean their military provisions?
If we can burn and destroy their food supply, it will throw them into a panic
and we'll blunt their attack.
Is this true?
Yes, General. You were followed from Bongsan.
They should be here by now.
You must be mistaken.
We wiped out the advance guards in Bongsan.
It looked like a civilian army, not the King's army.
A civilian army? How large?
About sixty men.
Sixty? They must have a death wish!
Could they be after our supplies?
No problem.
I doubled the guards at the quartermaster depot before we left.
You don't have to worry about some annoying civilian army.
This is not a matter to take lightly.
General, permit me going back and checking the quartermaster depot.
One can never be too cautious. Go ahead.
Yes, Sir.
How is it?
It's swarming with guards.
they probably tightened their defense after our attack at the *Opsu camp.
[*Opsu (modern day Yalu River)]
What should we do?
Would it possible to burn the grain shed from here using fire arrows?
It'll be easy to put out the fire if there're enough guards guarding it.
Then I guess...
we have to use the remaining *fierce fire oil.
[*Fierce fire oil: Petroleum]
Yes, fire fuel is not easy to put out.
That means we have to lure the guards away from the grain shed first.
I will do it. I'll get in there and create a diversion.
It's not that simple.
In this war, their primary job is to protect the supplies.
They won't leave the shed unattended.
Do you have another idea?
Did you see horses in the depot?
Yes, I saw a stable full of horses.
My Lady, cavalry is their main strength.
Horses are their most important instrument in waging a war.
Horses! The horses are loose!
Get the horses! Get the horses!
Sneaky bastards! How dare you sneak in here?!
Hold your ground! Seogyeong will be in danger if we give way!
We brought 800,000 men with us.
Goryeo is about to disappear from the face of this earth!
Empty the palace at once and evacuate the city.
You can take my life, but you can't give up the land!
She's locked up?
Get on your horses. We're going into Seogyeong Fort!
We cannot surrender our land, Your Highness!