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Episode 73
I just received a report that the Khitan are marching upon us.
It's a massive army of 400,000.
[Hyeonjong (8th Ruler of Goryeo)]
What should you suggest we do?
Your Majesty, it is a fearsome force we cannot dare go up against.
There has to be something they want from us.
It would be wisest to dispatch an emissary and negotiate peace.
[Kim Shimon (Vice Minister of Supreme Council)]
No, you're wrong.
The fact that they brought an army of this size
means they came prepared to destroy us.
Appeasement will not make them turn around.
Your Majesty, they will not turn back
until we surrender the country whole or you declare yourself a servant of Liao.
[Gang Gamchan (Vice Minister of Rites)]
Your Majesty, we must get our soldiers out there and fight to the death.
Do you seriously think we
have a chance against them?
[Choi Suk (Minister of Personnel)]
It's foolish to engage in a fight you can't win.
That's right.
Doing damage to their army would
provoke an even more aggressive action.
[Choi Wonshin (Minister of Rites)]
It's best to approach this peacefully, Your Majesty.
I agree. This is not the same
war we fought 20 years ago.
[Hwangbo Yui (Supreme Council Secretary)]
If we wish to save our people we must submit to their demands
be it a partial or complete surrender.
What's wrong with you people?
Why don't you go kneel and surrender first
and see what happens?
I will not beg for my life like a coward!
Who is begging for whose life?
Undersecretary Hwangbo is simply saying let sleeping dogs lie.
Don't be belligerent and take a hard look at the situation.
[Chae Choongsun (Minister of Finance)]
It's an army of four hundred thousand. Four hundred thousand!
Yes, but our army is no less strong.
[Dae Dosu]
Your Majesty, from the armies that Dowager Cheonchu built and nurtured for the past decade,
we have 50,000 troops in the central army, and 200,000 in the regional armies.
It is worth a shot.
Still our numbers don't match. We can't fight a war we are certain to lose.
Your Majesty, numbers don't always dictate the outcome of war.
We must fight, Your Majesty.
If we are to fight,
who would be best qualified to be the chief commander in this war?
Your Majesty, we cannot fight this war.
I am speaking! Do not interrupt, Minister Kim!
Your Majesty, call back the former northwest army commander, General Gang Jo.
General Gang Jo?
Yes, Your Majesty.
His bravery is unmatched, and only he can seize command of the entire northwest army.
You must call Gang Jo back, Your Majesty.
No, Your Majesty.
Gang Jo is not the right man.
[Mun In Wui (Minister of Works)]
How can we put the fate of the empire in the hands of a criminal of high treason?
Watch your tongue! You were once Kim Chi Yang's henchman!
Who are you calling a criminal of high treason!?
You have no room to pass judgment on General Gang!
Your Majesty, the fate of the nation is at stake.
[Choi Hang (Royal archivist)]
If war is unavoidable, he must be called back to get us through this crisis.
I beg you to heed this counsel.
I object, Your Majesty!
I object to this war however
I object even more strongly to using this war as an excuse to bring Gang Jo back.
Please reconsider, Your Majesty.
What now, General Gang?
The Khitan are determined to bring Goryeo down!
We need the Empress Dowager now more than ever.
[Gang Jo]
Why now of all times?
What are you doing?
I must see the Emperor right now.
What are you going to do?
What do you think?
I'll ask to be sent to the front to destroy the Khitan.
I don't think so. You can't leave this place, General.
I'm leaving.
Step aside.
Please, General.
[Yu Bang]
The council is in session right now, so something will be done soon.
You want me to trust those scum bags and sit around and wait?
The country will be in ruins while those self-protective bastards are yapping and arguing
about whether or not to surrender.
So get out of my way.
I must see the Emperor at once.
By no means... will you ever leave here.
Try to stop me and you die.
Are you trying to defy the Imperial command?
I said get out of my way!
General Gang!
It's the Imperial command.
You've been reinstated as high general and you are to come to the palace at once!
So he's...
he's dead?
[Lady Yunheung]
Yes.
We tried to poison him first, but he resisted
[Ahn Pae] [Yi Hyunoon]
and we were forced to take a sword to him.
The problem is Empress Dowager Cheonchu witnessed the murder.
We told her it was General Gang Jo's order,
but if the truth should come out...
You don't have to worry about that.
The dowager will soon kill herself as well.
I don't think she is the type that would commit suicide.
You'll see.
Her son's tragic suicide will drive her to end her life as well.
Then in the letter you sent to Lady Choongju...
Quiet yourself!
Now listen well.
You must never, ever, tell anyone about what you've done.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Grace.
You may go.
Your Grace, the Minister of Punishment promised us a promotion for this job.
May I ask when?
Not now.
What do you mean? A promise is a promise.
I did not say I would break the promise.
It's certain to cause suspicion if you were promoted right now. Be patient.
- But Your Grace, a promise is... - Your Grace...
Your Grace...
we have a problem.
What is it, General Jo?
The Khitan have invaded the country.
What did you say?
I'm told it's a massive army even larger than in the previous invasion.
You mean there's a war?
What should we do, Your Grace?
[Jo Sun]
Get back to the palace and join the Imperial Guards!
And remember... you must never tell anyone about Mokjong.
You hear?
You!
Where were you two all this time?
Where the heck have you been?!
Hey, you're just a captain now.
Watch how you talk to us!
We've been through hell since they let us out of confinement!
Don't lie to us!
You'd better tell us right now
what you've been doing since they let you out!
[Choi Ghi] [Kim Hoon]
It's the truth!
They beat us and tortured us, trying to make us incriminate General Gang Jo, but we didn't buckle.
We stayed faithful to the end, and they just let us go right now.
Is that true?
Yes!
Believe us.
How come you don't have a scratch on your face if you were tortured?
Well, it was more of an emotional torture than physical torture...
By the way, I heard General Gang was reinstated.
Is it true that there is a war?
As you already know,
a Khitan army has invaded our border.
I want you to command the Goryeoan army against them and drive them away.
I will give my life in service of Goryeo.
When we heard the report, they were already crossing Liaodong.
Isn't it too late to cut them off?
We could still intercept them if we leave now.
I'm sure General Yang Kyu will hold them back until we get there.
Do you have an idea which route of advance the enemy will take?
In 993, they advanced south by way of east route of the northwestern region.
It's likely they will take the west route this time,
to avoid the rugged mountains if there are 400,000 of them.
The east route should be safeguarded nonetheless.
Your Majesty, General Choi and I will take our troops and secure the eastern route.
- You? - Yes.
[Tak Sajeong (Minister of the Military)] [Choi Sawui (Minister of Punishment)]
Your Majesty, we will protect the eastern route from the enemy.
Very well.
Then I will take my men
and proceed to Dongju immediately.
General Dae, I'd like you to defend Seogyeong.
[Seogyeong: Present day Pyongyang]
General Gang, we have had unpleasant interactions
but let us come together as one
and save the empire from this peril.
The civil ministers and I will pray for each and everyone of you and for your victory.
Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.
Colonel Ha is back from Jurchen territory.
What happened?
We heard about the Khitan invasion on our way to find Prince Hwangju and came back.
I'm glad you did.
[Yang Kyu]
I wasn't sure if we could hold the enemy back without you.
But our orders were to capture Prince Hwangju.
[Ha Gongjin] [Won Jongseok]
May we ignore that order?
Stopping the enemy is our priority.
[Kim Sukheung]
We can deal with Prince Hwangju later.
So what do we do?
[Yu Jong]
General Jo Sun said General Gang Jo was incarcerated.
Can we fight this war without him?
Whether we can or not, we have no choice.
Second in Command Won and Colonel Ji, I want you to take your men and go to Guiju.
Divide the troops?
[Ji Chaemun]
We don't have enough men as it is, sir.
The enemy could cross the upper Yalu and proceed south,
so we must secure the eastern route as well.
If we fall here, this war is over.
We must hold back the enemy until reinforcements are deployed.
Let us remember that our sacrifice will save our families and our friends,
and keep the enemy from advancing.
You mean this is Kim Chi Yang and Dowager Cheonchu's child?
And your son died in his place?
Yes, Prime Minister.
Your life is quite a story as well.
I don't know what to do.
[Duyan]
My husband and my child are dead,
and I have no home to go back to.
I came back to my country but
I'm not welcome here.
I'm partly at fault for what's happened to you.
[Han Derang (Khitan Prime Minister)]
Did you say you were with the Jurchen?
Yes.
Go back there.
But I don't know anyone there.
It's your husband's home.
You have nowhere else to go. Go back there and start over.
No, I'd like to stay here and cast my lot with you.
Both you and your son will not survive if you cast your lot with me.
I won't last long.
Empress Dowager may have passed away,
but His Majesty wouldn't have you killed.
It's not the Emperor. I am bound to fall without the Empress Dowager.
Without her, I'm a fish in dry pond.
Go to the Jurchen. Don't dwell in despair.
Go back to the strong warrior you were before and raise the child well.
Who knows?
[Prince Hwangju Kim Jin]
This child might grow to
be a leader who unites the Jurchen.
It could be in his blood.
Be that as it may, he won't become anything without a supporting force.
You don't know that.
This empire had its beginning in a small village of nomads
who plundered for a living.
They were no different from the Jurchen.
Go...
Go and make a new life for yourself.
What can we do for you, Prime Minister?
Give this girl a horse and let her leave the palace.
I'm afraid I can't, sir.
His Majesty has ordered her locked up with you.
His Majesty is in Goryeo. Please, I'm asking you for a favor.
But...
My man, we are comrades of war.
I will assume responsibility when the Emperor returns.
I will never ask you for anything else again.
Step back, men.
Prime Minister...
I apologize for all the sacrifices I forced upon you over the years.
You're free now, so find your own way.
Then...
Farewell...
Prime Minister.
As he had predicted, Han Derang's health rapidly deteriorated
and he passed away one year later.
Upon his death, Shengzhong of Liao Yelu Longxu honored him with a
national mourning and buried him next to Empress Dowager Xiao.
He unified the weights and measures of Liao and instituted agricultural policies
to transform the nomadic Khitan into farmers,
and was the only Han Chinese to be buried in the Royal Tomb of Liao.
Please.
It's my job to attend to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
[Yu Chungjeong]
Just get back to your quarters!
Then please just let me see them from afar.
One more word out of you, and your neck will come off!
What's the commotion?
The man is pestering us to let him see the Empress Dowager.
Sir, what have I done wrong to be kept away from the masters I serve?
I'm just concerned about the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
Please let me see them.
- Let him through. - But sir,
Lady Choonju ordered us to keep a close eye on them.
He's not going anywhere.
[Kim Jonghyun (keeper of Choongju Palace)]
He just wants to see his mistress.
Let him through.
They have you confined too?
Yes, and Court Lady Kim as well.
I never dreamed they would keep you confined.
Why do they have us all locked up?
[Empress Sunjeong]
They're up to something.
Yes.
[Empress Dowager Cheonchu]
If this were simply about revulsion for me,
they wouldn't have locked up the whole staff.
I'm afraid Lady Choonju may have been involved in the Emperor's death.
What do we do now, Your Highness?
- Attendant Yu. - Yes, Your Highness.
I want you to slip out of here somehow and find General Gang.
General Gang Jo?
Yes. General Gang could never hurt me or my son.
So go to General Gang and tell what has happened here.
He will arrest Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae,
and find out who is behind the Emperor's murder.
I wouldn't worry if I could just go to General Gang,
but they're watching us like hawks. Getting out of here won't be easy.
At this very moment, Khitan are marching upon us with an army of 400,000.
But we will go to Dongju right now and stop them.
We will thoroughly obliterate them and none of them will be able to go back home.
This is what the Empress Dowager formed the Two Armies and Six Guards and prepared us for.
Pay attention.
Once we set out for this war, we may never return home.
But we are protecting our country, our children and their children.
So fight with all of your might and let history honor your bravery!
What brings you to the palace, Mother?
I heard about the war and became concerned.
I see.
What does the Emperor say?
Should we prepare to evacuate the capital?
I don't know, Mother.
[Empress Wonjeong]
I don't know what's happening,
and I don't have a clue what His Majesty has in mind.
But you're the Empress.
How could you not know what His Majesty has in mind?
I don't understand.
It's just as I said, Mother.
I don't know.
I...
I haven't seen His Majesty for so long...
that I've forgotten his face.
Your Highness, please calm down.
[Court Lady Jo]
Calm down and tell us what's wrong
so we can figure out what to do.
No, there's nothing anyone can do.
Tell us exactly what happened Your Highness.
I have a right to know as your mother.
The last time I saw the Emperor was...
the night of the wedding.
He hasn't been here since.
Vice Minister Gang, and Master...
I'm very sorry.
Your Majesty, you are the Emperor and we are your lowly servants.
I'm overwhelmed by your display of humility.
No, Master.
I have failed to protect you and Minister Gang.
I am indebted to both of you,
but I've put you through anguish.
And now the Khitan have invaded...
My lack of virtue is to blame for it all.
Don't let it dishearten you, Your Majesty.
Wind only makes the tree stronger.
Forget about everything and focus only on protecting the country against Liao.
That's what your people want from you.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If we can get through this,
we will have an opportunity to renew this government.
So please do not let what happened to us weigh on your mind.
[Heunghwajin Fort]
General Yang...
the Khitan have crossed the Yalu River.
Their size?
Inestimable.
The Khitan Emperor is personally commanding the army.
The Emperor himself?
He must be determined to see the end of Goryeo.
Very well.
If we're going to fight, why not fight the Emperor himself?
Place the soldiers in a defensive position around the city immediately.
Yes, General.
An army of 400,000 personally led by the Emperor...
We've divided the troops into four divisions and cut off the route
to Yongju and Dongju at Guijuwon.
Give us your command and we will launch the first battle at Heunghwajin.
[Xiao Baiya (Viceroy of Eastern Capital)]
First the cavalry will surrender the fort, bombard them with arrows,
then send in the climbers to breach the wall.
[Shengzhong of Liao (6th Ruler of Khitan)]
Our strategy is
to advance south as quickly as possible and
conquer Gaeryeong by avoiding conflict as much as possible along the way.
We must be swift and forceful. Is that understood?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Listen up!
Our mission is
to protect this fort
and delay the Khitan army's advance.
Do not be intimidated by the enemy's size.
We have 30,000 elite soldiers
and an impenetrable fort on our side.
With your sacrifice,
the Khitan will suffer their first defeat here in Heunghwajin!
Fight to the death to protect the fort!
General, the Khitan are approaching!
Move into battle position!
Battle positions!
The Khitan are coming!
Archers, take position.
Archers forward!
Climbers forward!
They are rats in a trap
[Yelu Dilie]
Go and bring back their heads!
Charge!
Fire!
Block them!
Fire!
Cover all four sides!
Stop them.
Stop them!
Fire!
Attack those who are attacking Heunghwajin!
Do not let them set foot in the fort!
Defend the walls!
Defend the city to the death!
Protect the fort!
Assault the castle!
General!
A part of the city wall has come down!
The Khitan are swarming toward the opening!
- Cover this gate! - Aye!
Quickly move the soldiers into position and repair and seal the opening!
- Quickly! - Yes.
The fort is still standing? It's 400,000 troops against 30,000!
They're offering heavy resistance.
Perhaps it's time to send an envoy.
What?!
We must seize the fort and proceed south to Gaegyeong!
No, they should be running out of arrows by now.
But as the saying goes, a cornered rat will bite the cat.
They might be depleted of strength and weapons but
if they continue fighting with determination,
there will be needless deaths and our advance will be delayed.
It would wiser to send an envoy and urge them to surrender.
General, it's a Khitan envoy.
I am an envoy of Great Liao!
Goryeoans of Heunghwajin, I speak to you on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of Great Liao!
We, the mighty army of Liao
have come to deliver punishment for Goryeo's betrayal.
Lay down your arms and surrender!
Those who seek mercy will be granted mercy,
so do not waste your lives in vain!
Listen and listen well, envoy of Liao!
We will defend this fort to the end
and protect the honor of Goryeo!
And...
I speak to the Emperor of Liao on behalf of the Emperor of Goryeo.
If you care about your people,
withdraw your troops at once
and send them back home to their families!
But if you choose to fight,
we will gladly fight you!
Your head is next!
Go back
and deliver my message word for word.
Don't be a fool!
[Yelu Chu]
I know you're running out of weapons!
Surrender while you have the chance!
No, thanks to you fools,
we're stock full of arrows!
There is no reasoning with them.
Order a second attack, Your Majesty.
We will bring the fort down and blast the gates wide open!
They're still not ready to give up, huh?
They've got guts.
Fine.
If they want death, we'll give them death.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Do not panic!
Fire!
Put out the fire!
Capture the fort tonight!
And a glorious new dawn will be upon us!
Kill them!
Wipe them out!
Hang in there. Don't die!
Your Highness, what's wrong? Please calm down.
Let go of me.
I can't take this anymore. I'm going back to Gaegyeong!
What's wrong with you? Get back inside.
I want to see Lady Choongju.
Where is she?
Get back inside!
Your Highness!
What's wrong, Empress Dowager?
That's right.
I'm the Empress Dowager of Goryeo.
How could you treat me this way?
Call your mistress. Call Lady Choonju at once or I'll kill this man!
Please calm down and put down that sword. You mustn't do this.
I said call your mistress!
Has anyone seen Lady Choongju?
She was in the back garden earlier. Is there something wrong, sir?
Call all the guards together right now.
Pardon? What's happening, sir?
The dowager is holding one of our men hostage and demanding to see the lady.
She's armed, so arm the guards as well. Go!
Yes.
Put down that sword, Lady Sungdeok.
Not until I see Lady Choongju. Call her this instant!
What is the meaning of this?
What is this repulsive behavior? Drop that sword at once!
Archers, take aim.
They will shoot if you don't drop that sword before the count of three.
[Lady Choongju]
One...
Two...
Your Highness...
Three!
Seize them this instant!
Being a witch that ruined this country, do you really think you're in a position to do something like this?
I swear you will not be forgiven, if you do this again!
Take them away!
Yes.
Do not give them a drop of water until I tell you to.
My Lady, that's excessively cruel.
If the Imperial Court should find out...
You!
How dare you attempt to lecture me?!
Just do as you're told!
Your Majesty, the Goryeoans are still offering heavy resistance.
We've already wasted seven days here.
Then hit them harder! I will not be defeated in the first battle!
The fort will eventually fall if we persist,
but we would be giving the Goryeoans more time to prepare for us in the south.
More importantly, our casualties are increasing.
Then are you suggesting we give up Heunghwajin?
Conquering this fort is not our objective.
We must advance south as quickly as possible and capture Gaegyeong.
But if we leave this for unconquered, it poses a threat from the rear.
We can't fight with the enemy on both sides?
We could leave 200.000 troops in Murodae about 23 miles from here
to keep the Goryeoans in Heunghwajin in check.
Divide the troops and continue a southward advance?
Yes, Your Majesty.
We will proceed to Gaegyeong with 200,000 troops.
This is infuriating!
How could we fail to bring down a tiny fort with a massive army of 400,000 men?
That's the retreat signal! Retreat!
Retreat!
Damn! How will I face the Emperor?
Retreat! Retreat!
Bastards... We'll get you next time.
Damn!
The Khitan are retreating!
We protected the fort against an army of 400,000.
We did it, General Yang!
It's too soon to celebrate.
They could attack again.
General Yang, I have good news.
What is it?
It's a report from Tongju.
General Gang Jo was reinstated, appointed Supreme Commander and sent to Tongju!
Really? That's wonderful!
If General Gang Jo is back, we can win this war!
Colonel Ha.
Yes, sir.
Go to Tongju and deliver the news of our victory to General Gang.
Tell him that the enemy might give up Heunghwajin and proceed to Tongju,
so he should be prepared.
Yes, sir.
We will leave a small detachment army behind and proceed to Tongju.
But there is a threat of rear attack,
so I want a commando brigade sent to the east route.
The east route?
It's a distraction tactic.
Yelu Dilie and Yelu Wuji, you will each take 10,000 men and proceed to Guiju.
Crush any enemy force you may encounter and quickly join us in Tongju.
Yes, General.
[Tongju Fort]
Open the gate!
I am Colonel Ha Gongjin from Heunghwajin!
I have a message for General Gang Jo!
You defended the fort against the mighty Khitan army?
I'm very proud of General Yang Kyu and the soldiers of Heunghwajin.
The Khitan gave up on Heunghwajin after a full week of aggression,
and now they are taking a detour heading in this direction.
We will handle them from here.
I will alert the troops and prepare the fort for defense.
No, we will not be fighting the Khitan in the fort.
How then?
We will take position outside the wall at Samsuchae.
General, the Khitan army is mostly cavalry.
We might have greater advantage fighting them from the fort than in an open field.
We can certainly defend the city if we fight them from here,
but we cannot defeat the Khitan.
We must destroy their main force cavalry on the field
and stop them from advancing to Seogyeong.
Get the troops ready for Samsuchae.
Yes, General.
Colonel Ha, I want you to go to Gaegyeong and report the news to the Emperor.
Yes, General.
How much further?
Not far.
We will reach Guiju soon.
Move it, men!
The Khitan have invaded Goryeo?
Yes, Chief.
Which side do we take?
Neither. This is between Liao and Goryeo.
We will not get involved and sacrifice our men for their cause.
[Mobula (East Jurchen Tribal Leader)]
In fact, the more they hurt each other,
the better it will be for us.
Chief!
That woman is back!
That woman?
The woman that claimed she was Sa Gamun's wife and disappeared.
- Tie her up. - Yes, sir.
Why are you doing this?
The attendant has disappeared?
Yes, my Lady.
Where were the guards that were watching him?
When did he disappear?
He must've slipped out when the Empress Dowager was causing the commotion.
What?
Then...
That was...
a set up?
Get Lady Sungdeok and her daughter-in-law out here this instant!
What do you intend to do?
Get them out here!
Where did you send him?
Send whom?
You dare to trick me?
Your servant, Attendant Yu, has disappeared.
Where did you send him?
I don't know what you're talking about.
Very well.
Kill the wenches!
My Lady, they are the mother and wife our previous ruler.
They must not be harmed.
Are you going to defy my order? I said kill them!
This is an order!
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Translation by KBS World Spot Translator: munchinghippo
Special thanks to KaKak
Transcriber: upikepik Timer: casajuve
Editor/QC: melica Coordinators: mily2, ay_link
Yang Kyu defended the fort?
It's worth a shot.
General Gang will prevail.
The battle in Tongju will decide the outcome of this war.
We must deliver a crushing blow to the enemy and seize the initiative!
The attendant that was in Choongju escaped and showed up here?
My guess is he has gone to Gang Jo in Tongju.
Get Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae to find him and kill him before he gets there!
What is the meaning of this? Give the child back!
Whose child is this?
Prince Hwangju.
Kim Chi Yang�s son?
Emperor Mokjong is dead.
I beg you to deliver justice.
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