[Fortress in the mountains of South Korea]
About January 30th, King Injo's 15th day in hiding
Let's go!
Come down!
Come down and walk!
He says for you to come down and walk.
How dare you!
Save yourself, Your Highness!
Put down your weapons.
Let me down.
-Your Highness! -Your Highness!
Strip him!
[Injo (Joseon's 16th King)]
Let there not be anymore deaths because of me.
I...
am not a person worthy of such.
Episode 1
Your Highness!
Stand back!
[Sam Jun Do- present day Songpa, Seoul]
[Crown Prince (So Hyun, Injo's first-born son)
[- Prince In Pyung (Injo's third son) - Prince Bong Rim (future King, Injo's second son)]
- Your Highness! - Your Highness!
To travel such a great distance on foot with a great victory ahead
shows you were risking your life and walked through hell.
To do such a thing means you are ready to fight to your death.
If Your Highness will fight to your death
who in this land will not be willing to do the same?
Your Highness! You must fight with us to the end!
How can we surrender to the barbarians?
You must not your Highness!
Your Highness!
- Father! - Your Highness!
[Hong Taiji- Emperor of the Qing Dynasty)
[Dorgon]
May all of Joseon hear this.
How can one lie when
he was warned and requested to
to find peace within and follow our requests?
We will place aside all wrongdoings of the past
and ask you to come forth honestly once again.
If you acknowledge your mistakes and agree
to surrender to our nation
an attonement for the men we have lost.
You will give up your power and
Write in our language that you will
Give us your two oldest sons.
Men with sons will send their sons
and those sons will be wedded to a woman without a husband.
You will not violate the terms of the agreement
and you will prepare your own swords and arrows
and share your food when the armies return to the land.
Following the First Manchu Invasion of Korea
Hong Taiji declared war on the Qing Dynasty and
invaded Hanseong with an army of 120,000 men.
After 45 days of being trapped in Hanseong
Injo finally surrendered.
Because it was an attack made by an enemy they'd considered a barbarian
the humiliation dug through the bones
and embedded itself deep within.
Joseon's King shall bow to the King
and accept the treaty.
Why is the Joseon King hesitating?
You shall begin bowing immediately!
What have you done?
We did not think it would come to this...
[Kim Ryu- Prime Minister of the Joseon Dynasty]
Your Highness! You must not!
You must not Your Highness!
You cannot Your Highness!
[Yong Gohl Dae]
Please rethink this Your Highness!
- You cannot Your Highness! - You must not Your Highness!
What Hong Taiji wanted from King Injo was
for him to do a full bow three times
and then bow nine more times while kneeling.
As the leader of a country
there was nothing more humiliating.
Your Highness!
Don't cry
and remember this moment clearly.
What happened to our father today
we must engrave deep within our hearts.
[Lee Hyung Ik- acupuncturist]
Get away from me! Go away!
Go away!
[Crown Princess Kang]
Stop!
The village has been attacked
and they are making their way to the palace!
What should we do Prime Minister?
Why don't we first rest here
and enter once things have calmed down a bit?
It's our only choice.
What do you mean?
His Highness must enter for things to die down.
And what if he is injured?
He must be prepared for such a thing.
Those barbarians would not dare enter the palace.
Did you not hear them say they are headed that way!
Are you not a man of the palace?
Or do you lead with your fears?
What if they bear arms and attack with fire?
Let us go to the palace!
You must not!
The blood of innocent villagers are being shed
all because they have a worthless king!
Your Highness!
What are you doing?
I said let's go!
Your Highness.
Please rethink this.
Why aren't you doing anything Prime Minister?
You must stop him!
What can we do?
His Highness would like to go.
Let's go!
How is the baby?
Well so you do not need to worry.
Please hang in there just a bit longer.
We will arrive at the palace very soon.
Do not leave your father's side.
You should not worry about the child more than your father.
[Hwanhaedo, Hwangju near the mountain fortress]
My Lord! We have a situation!
My Lord! My Lord!
Are you inside sir?
What is it?
They say His Highness has surrendered to Hong Taiji!
What?
Repeat what you just said.
Did you say His Highness has surrendered?
His Highness left the fortress to go to Samjeondo
and kneeled before Hong Taiji.
No way.
How dare he surrender when I, Kim Ja Jeom, am still alive.
Let's go.
We have to go and stop him.
Kim Ja Jeom has 30,000 soldiers. How can he surrender.
His Highness must have lost his mind.
The Prime Minister has sent a letter.
Lay your body close to the ground
and hide yourself.
Who else did you tell that His Highness has surrendered?
Only you my Lord.
Good job.
Don't open the door!
It's me! The acupuncturist!
Okay. Go go!
Hurry! Pack your belongings!
The barbarians are ransacking all the homes!
Oh my! What do we do?
Hurry before they come charging in here!
You guys all run away too!
If you're caught by the barbarians your lives are ruined
and you may also get taken away! Hurry!
Hurry!
Just get what's important!
We have to make it out alive for now!
Why aren't you packing?
You're so thoughtless mother.
Where are you going to run away to in all this?
Anywhere away from them!
Get up! Now!
I'd rather get taken away.
Who knows? I could marry into a royal family of the Qing Dynasty and become rich.
Hurry and come out!
What are you doing? Hurry and get up!
You're such a worrywart!
Who will take an old woman like you?
Oh my! They must be here!
Oh no!
Oh no! We have to go!
How can you try to escape alone you fool?
You said let's go together!
Let me go first!
Do you know who I am you fool?
My husband is a Lord you imbecile!
You bitch
I'll kill you!
[King Injo- Joseon's 16th king]
Try this father.
The royal kitchen was empty
so we had to get the chicken from the village at the last minute.
The last time you've had a meal has already been...
Forget it.
[- Crown Prince So Hyun - Prince Bong Rim - Prince In Pyung]
Your Highness
you must restore your health
in order to protect the nation.
How can I face the nation?
I should have died in that fortress in the mountains!
That's right! I should have died there!
My Lord!
Where is His Highness?
Right now is not a good time to see His Highness.
You will have to take full responsibility for everything!
Right now is not the time for such things!
We must gather our soldiers
and face the barbarians head on!
Your Highness!
- Your Highness! - My Lord!
Where are you?
Your Highness
please think of our poor nation.
You must eat.
Your Highness!
Please take back your decision to surrender!
Even if every man in our nation dies
we must fight the barbarians!
Why are you doing this?
Right now is not a good time!
We still have an army of 30,000 men left!
If Your Highness gives us the order
I will put my life on the line
to push those barbarians out of our land!
That fool!
Your Highness!
Has Your Highness forgotten the
promise he had made?
While Your Highness protects this nation
I was to train the armies--
That's enough you fool!
Your Highness...
You had a large army of men yet
you did not come to save me!
So I had to bow before those barbarians today
and on top of that
I hit my head to the ground nine times
for a promise to save myself and my nation!
Yes you still call yourself one of my men?
Your Highness! I--
Shut your mouth!
- Your Highness! - Why you!
Was your life that precious to you?
Your Highness!
How could I--
You still have something to say?
You hid yourself and your men!
You're worth less than those barbarians!
Let go! Let go of me I tell you!
I will kill this imbecile tonight!
Your Highness!
Let go of me! Let go!
- Your Highness! - Let go of me!
Let go of me! Get out of the way!
Was your life that precious to you?
Die! Die!
Die! Die you fool!
You wanted to live that much?
Is your life that important to you?
You imbecile!
Take him away immediately and behead him!
Yes Your Highness!
[Yam Jun- future royal concubine]
There's no one out there.
How did this happen.
What if someone sees?
Let's just bury him out back.
Stop fretting and help me pick him up.
Mother!
His feet are sticking out!
If it wasn't for me, this would be you right now!
My goodness... I cannot do this... I can't!
Mother!
Hyuk.
Hyuk wake up! Don't act like you can't hear me!
Who's there?
Hyuk--
[Nam Hyuk]
What?
I killed a barbarian and I have nowhere to bury him.
If it wasn't for me my mother--
My mother would have died...
You killed him?
Help me.
Hyuk!
He's so ruthless!
It's for the better.
The world has turned upside down because of the barbarians!
Our family's honor could be restored!
The enemies could become our friends
and our friends could become the enemies!
Why is the moon so bright tonight?
Do you truly wish to kill Kim Ja Jeom?
He did not come to save his King when he was in danger
so that will only be made right if he is killed.
However--
He is making this my problem!
If anything he should be begging for forgiveness!
It won't be easy going against the ones who believe we should fight the Qing.
If they start blabbing that Your Highness pushed
the blame of our surrender to Lord Kim
then Your Highness will be in a much worse situation.
What is that? Yesterday you advised me to surrender
and now you're saying otherwise?
Right now you must endure all humiliation.
If you fail to fight it and
push the blame of our loss onto someone else
The nation will only resent you.
Tears, rather than anger, is the answer Your Highness.
[Kim In- royal court official]
[Kim Ja Jeom- Joseon Army Commander-in-Chief]
I barely convinced His Highness
to exile you from our nation rather killing you.
We need to keep you alive for now.
The reason I did not come to His defense is--
You're so clueless.
Do you think His Highness said to kill you
because you did not come to his defense?
Then!
Then is this because of what happened
with those barbarians?
He was thoroughly humiliated
so he is upset beyond words.
How is he going to rule a nation like that!
His Highness most definitely made a promise with me!
He said to not bring the army
until he sends word to do so!
Exile is a nice term for it.
Survival will be difficult.
To be in a place all alone with no other humans
how can you survive?
If it becomes absolutely unbearable
use that.
This is not right!
If it wasn't for me, all our men would have died!
Get off!
Jump off!
Listen here!
You must at least give me clothes to wear!
I'll freeze to death before I starve to death!
Let the Prime Minister know!
Next ship he sends, send some warm underwear!
Turn the ship around!
Turn the ship!
The effects of the Second Manchu Invasion on Joseon
was incomparable to any other casualties.
Tens of thousands of prisoners were taken
There was an estimated 60,000 Joseon civilians
who were sold into slavery in China.
However, the humiliation King Injo endured
at the feet of Hong Taiji was a larger problem.
When the Qing invaded and attacked
Joseon he fought to the end for victory.
Despite that, at the end of a 2-month battle
the nation fell to a group
they had considered a group of barbarians.
The psychological effects of the defeat was indescribable.
Your Highness!
Please take back the royal command
to send the prince to China!
Your Highness!
What should I do about all this?
Your Highness, if you do not send the Crown Prince So Hyun
and Prince Bong Rim as promised
they will turn their armies around and
retaliate against our nation once again!
There is no fact behind that statement!
Your Highness! We cannot send the Crown Prince captive!
What do you mean captive?
Those are strong words you use!
If it is not captive, then what is it?
To describe it as a peace treaty--
It is not a peace treaty, but a symbol of victory!
What if something happens to His Highness?
How can we send the Crown Prince to the barbarians' land?
What do you mean something will happen to His Highness?
How can you say such a thing!
That's enough!
I will go as hostage in place of the Crown Prince!
Your Highness!
Is that not what you're trying to say?
How can I consider myself a King
when I bowed down before the barbarians?
Though we've surrendered to the barbarians
I meant that we cannot further the humiliation
by letting them take the Crown Prince captive.
Please watch what you say!
Did His Highness surrender for his own survival?
In order to save the nation and the people
he had no other choice!
Is not even putting up a fight before surrendering
what's right for the nation and the people?
We did all we could!
What were we supposed to do when our defense was lacking?
We should have given up our lives!
If we are all dead
what use is this land to those barbarians?
You can talk all you want about what's right.
But why is such a righteous person still alive?
I wanted to wash the nation of the disgrace!
Please withdraw your command Your Highness!
Please withdraw Your Highness!
Your Highness, Advisor Kim is right.
What use is it to regret and lament over what's already passed?
If we are to wash the nation of the disgrace as he said
then wouldn't it be right to promise the nation a future?
Do not twist my words Prime Minister.
Then what is it that you want?
Are you suggesting we all die?
If so who will avenge the humiliation
His Highness has had to face?
Let's look to the future.
Let's gather all our powers
and give back the humiliation His Highness endured.
What happened?
We cannot send the Crown Prince hostage!
How can you just leave?
Ask the advisors.
Is he not the one that recommended His Highness surrender?
How can you say such an irresponsible thing!
The Prime Minister of a nation!
I will take responsibility.
If what you gentlemen want is a scapegoat
then speak to me I say.
You are not a scapegoat
but a traitor who sold out our country!
Dirty man.
What are you doing?
Go and bring the Crown Prince.
The royal court officials are standing in our way and will not budge.
[Yong Gohl Dae- Enemy's commander]
You cannot enter!
Kill me first!
Get them all!
Take them out!
Hand over the Crown Prince as written in the treaty.
He is asking for the Crown Prince.
You can at least give some time to say goodbye.
He is asking for a little time.
Tell him anymore delays and we will drag the prince away from here.
He says okay.
Your Highness, you will have to hurry.
Yong Gohl Dae is right outside your doors.
Father
It has been over a year since mother passed.
Leaving the palace without a Queen
has me leaving for the long journey with a heavy heart.
Please accept a new queen now.
Prince!
Come back alive.
You must return alive no matter what.
Yes father.
I will make sure to come back alive
and help you to repay the humiliation
they have given us today.
Protect the Crown Prince.
If he is in danger
you must risk your life
and stand by his side.
Yes. Father.
What's the princess doing?
We have no time. Bring her immediately!
Yes Your Highness.
Your Majesty, it is I, Court Lady Kim.
His Highness is prepared to leave--
Wait just a bit.
I apologize Your Majesty
but I will enter your room.
This child has never been breast fed.
From the moment he was born
he grew up on his nanny's breast milk.
That is the rules of the Court.
Please hand over His Highness to me now.
Once I leave today
I do not know when I will return.
He's a sad child, who will grow up
not knowing what his mother looks like.
This child who can barely keep his eyes open
must have caught on or something.
He will not let go of me.
He is holding on to his mother's breast with so much strength.
Do you like your mother so much?
Please send the nanny inside.
What are you doing?
I said there is no time to waste!
I apologize Your Highness.
Bring him here.
My child!
Your grandfather will protect you.
How can I... How can I call myself a King after all this...
Your Highness!
How can I... How can I call myself a King after all this...
Your Highness!
Is your mother home?
You just enter as if it's your own home
without even asking permission to enter.
You're so cold!
Who will watch over this family if not me?
The lady of the house will be so happy to hear that!
Yam Jun...
Why didn't the barbarians cut off that hand of yours?
You'll regret belittling me like this later on.
I won't be needing acupuncture
so don't you worry!
Who knows!
There is no one in this village that I do not know!
There are maybe 3 or 4 homes I have not stepped foot in.
I know very clearly down to how much rice is left in each home.
Oh my! Is that so?
Yam Jun, if you want to even be a lord's concubine
you have to be nice to me is what I'm saying.
I'd rather become a geisha
than to become a concubine.
You must have lost your sanity due to hunger
so you should at least eat this.
Just because I let things slide...
My Lady!
My Lady! My Lady!
You ran off on your own!
I grind my teeth just at the thought of it!
Did I escape just so I could survive on my own?
Those barbaric fools were coming after me
so I acted like I was running away.
You have a way with words!
The persimmons look so good!
You brat!
Did I not tell you to never come near my home again?
For a woman who was the Lady of a wealthy family
you have quite a way with words.
How dare a concubine's daughter come here!
A concubine's daughter is no different than a traitor's child.
Go away!
You don't have a single servant here
yet you act so high and mighty!
Don't you even dare come here again!
What a petulant child!
I pray. I pray.
Even though he's a barbarian
he's paid his dues so please absolve him of his sins.
He's buried in a stanger's backyard without a grave.
How pitiful is that.
Go away!
Don't become a spirit and wander around!
Subtitles by DramaFever
Where is the end?
I'd rather bite my tongue and die than to become a concubine!
Go and ask your mother!
How to properly become a concubine!
It doesn't matter to me!
The world doesn't forgive!
There is no other time!
I will just become the king!
Let's first kick out the palace's residents.
You must take responsibility!
Standing is difficult.
Even breathing is torturous.
I'm asking you to melt my body.
Get me a girl.
What will you do with her?
A girl who can defeat even a cast iron.
My puppet.
I will make everyone kneel before me!