General Kim.
I'm unscathed.
I thought I wouldn't be able to see you for a long time.
A ceasefire is in effect due to the rain.
Why didn't you flee?
The city is virtually empty.
I came thinking you might not be here.
Should I go?
Yes, you had better go.
The Mongolians have taken the capital.
I don't think we can hold out much longer.
Take refuge out of the city gates with your brother Man-woo.
I'll see you there.
When will I be able to hear you play the kayatgo again?
Why are all of you scrambling?
What's inside that bundle of yours?
Nothing, sir.
I said what's in there?
It's nothing, sir.
Aren't you a spy?
Grandmother!
Are you all right?
Rice balls.
Why'd she clench them as if her life depended on it?
You louse!
Even animals do not assault the weak and hungry.
You may be a brutish and savage Mongolian,
but aren't you afraid of divine restitution?
How dare you!
Cease at once!
Let me go, you ruffian!
Let go of me!
- Let me go! - What is it?
What's going on?
General, I found an interesting specimen, a Koryo maiden.
I was on my to present her to you.
Is that so?
I don't know if she's interesting,
but she's causing quite a racket.
Yes, she's quite spiteful.
Are you the captain of the Mongolian army?
Fools elect the most foolish one among them as their leader.
You must no doubt be the most bestial among them.
How dare you!
You're right, maiden.
How amusing.
Go. Koryo had a fervent patriot yet.
I'm letting you go today, but if I spot you again,
you won't be as lucky.
Let's go.
What are you thinking of, General?
That Koryo maiden who spit at me.
You're still dwelling on her?
Yes. I can't take my mind off her.
Perhaps because I've never been so mortified in my life.
She was quite insolent.
Yes, she was.
They must have triumphed in today's battle.
Yes.
But I wonder if she's safe.
Cities across the nation have been defeated at the front.
What a disgrace.
First, we must reclaim Kaekyung, the capital.
Battles waged in other provinces will just weaken our strength.
But how, General?
The Mongolians rode horses since they were toddlers.
They are remarkably elusive.
There is no way for us to ward off their snipers.
General, why don't we send
an agent to survey the situation inside the capital?
If only we obtained prior knowledge of their strategy,
we can ambush them.
Yes, if only that were possible.
But, who would we send?
We will entertain the suggestion.
The thugs!
What's the matter?
The Mongolians demand that we provide wine and courtesans
for their celebration banquet tonight.
The scoundrels!
Wait!
What great news.
General, the gods have not forsaken Koryo yet.
What?
Listen, General Kim!
That's pure nonsense!
Why not, General?
Think about it.
She still hasn't gotten over
the harassment inflicted on her by the Mongolian leader.
How will she gain access to their strategy
when she has never even aimed an arrow?
How will she sever the head of their leader
when all she ever did was play the kayatgo?
General, our citizens have put
their lives on the line against the Mongolians.
Among them are women
and children not yet old enough to read.
She is no exception.
Let us explore more options.
General, that sounds like a wise plan.
Yes, his suggestion is foolproof,
a divine opportunity.
I agree, General.
General.
ls there some other reason you are wavering?
What do you mean another reason?
I will go.
- I volunteer. - Come hither.
I will behead the enemy captain's head.
Please allow me.
No, you can't go.
This is insane no matter how much I ponder.
How will you sever the enemy's head?
You have never even cut off a chicken's head.
Ja Woon-young, if you've
taken it upon yourself to go because of me, please withdraw.
Don't be concerned about me.
I can pretend that it never...
I've a favor to ask you in exchange.
A favor?
Honestly, it is daunting,
but I will return with his head.
Please free me from serfdom in return.
I've already crossed the river of no return,
but I want my brother Man-woo and his children to live undeterred by caste.
Will you give me your word?
What a beauty.
How lamentable.
If you are unable to penetrate his heart with this blade,
then you may use it on yourself.
What are you intimating...
Next.
Well, what do we have here.
So you're a courtesan.
And you feigned such loftiness?
Be gentle with it!
You rogues!
Huh? What's this?
What is it?
Pour me a glass!
No wonder Koryo is acclaimed
for its mountains, sea, and its maidens.
Pour!
Koryo is as good is ours, isn't it?
Don't mention it.
It is superior to all the rest!
Here, have a drink.
Here, you have a drink, too.
What a singular beauty you are.
Here, have a drink.
What impudence!
Please allow me to pour you one.
Out of the way!
How dare you level such effrontery at me!
I didn't come to attend to mere underlings like you!
Take your filthy hands off of me!
You insolent upstart!
Didn't you come to sell yourself?
Sitting there sullen won't get you anywhere.
What's that? Is it yours?
Let's hear what it sounds like.
How did you guess, General?
Her singing and kayatgo playing is second to none in Kaekyung.
Here, why don't you play a tune for us? Now.
General!
General, we received news that Ja Woon-young has
safely infiltrated the capital and is attending the banquet.
Is that true?
Yes. What great news.
It must be divine intervention.
Let us resume in a moment.
Shouldn't you be wary?
Of what?
That Koryo maiden.
I don't think your encountering her again is mere coincidence.
Then are you suggesting that she's a spy?
She's certainly capable of far more than that.
Yes.
You're absolutely right.
Do you not like the clothes?
Why would I wear your clothes?
What do they call you?
I've lost my country.
What good is a name?
What is your name?
Ja Woon-young.
Ja Woon-young...
Do I scare you?
No, I despise you.
Don't be afraid.
I will not force myself on you.
Is that what Mongolians do?
Plunder and trample?
When I first met you,
you were hoisting a man's head at the tip of your spear.
You reek of the blood of my brethren!
This is it. You don't want to cross the line.
Understand?
I'm not a gracious person.
Get some rest.
What are you doing still up?
I couldn't fall asleep.
Why are you still awake, General?
I thought you were going to
spend the night with that Koryo maiden.
Go and sleep.
Koryo troops are converging again piecemeal.
Their mercenaries are not to be taken lightly.
Those rats.
We must quash them before their power solidifies.
Let's rein them in beginning with Dongju and Kohyang.
Very well. Kill all captives on sight.
General, why don't we keep
those who surrender to supplement our numbers?
No, behead those who surrender first.
We have no use for men who forsake their country.
We will set out in two days.
What is it?
I was just passing through.
Why are you standing there?
Did I startle you barging in on you without word?
I'll be leaving for the front the day after tomorrow.
But l'm sure you could care less.
Speak.
I have a favor to ask you.
A favor?
I have two brothers.
l'd like to go and find out what's become of them tomorrow.
Why should I trust you?
What if you summon your brother to sever my throat?
Never mind.
I didn't expect you allow it.
Are you sure he's your older brother and not your sugar daddy?
Even the Buddha looks like a pig to pigs!
Forget it. Please leave.
All right. I was just teasing.
Are all Koryo maidens as volatile as you? How scary.
And being a courtesan, didn't they teach you how to sweet-talk men?
I shall accompany you in exchange.
You haven't seen her for a along time.
I saw her at the banquet.
She doing well, isn't she?
I'm worried because she's too inflexible.
Her character is not suited to be a courtesan.
But it's a boon for you.
What are you suggesting?
Madam.
She must be here.
Ja Woon-young.
Didn't you say your younger brother was coming, as well?
He fell ill from food poisoning.
How unfortunate.
The tea is sweet.
Koryo seems replete with auspicious resources,
tasty tea, beautiful music, and attractive women.
It may be enjoyable to you,
but I am imploding as I behold you sitting next to my sister.
You are really brother and sister.
You're exactly alike. How amusing.
You're perpetually mired in self-pity,
that is why you are under constant attack.
I believe the way to protect my land is invading others,
not merely defending my own.
How characteristic of you.
Mark my words, General.
We have lost a few battles, but we have not yet lost the war.
We should leave now.
You are heading out for the front early in the morning.
Brother, take care of yourself and Man-woo.
I'm worried about you.
Are you all right?
I am.
Please wipe yourself with this.
Yes.
See you again.
According to Woon-young's letter,
the enemy will invade tomorrow morning.
I am informing you in writing
as General Kasare will be accompanying me.
His army will head to the capital tomorrow morning
to stage an attack on our troops.
Please flee with your men.
And I haven't been able to accomplish my ultimate task
as I still haven't slept with him, but I will eye for a chance
as early as tonight.
Man-woo's well, isn't he?
General.
We are ready to depart.
Let's go.
I am curious about something.
How did you come empty-handed?
If I were you, I wouldn't have been able to resist severing
the head of the enemy sitting within a hair's breadth.
I didn't bring a sword as I wasn't
aware that Kasare would accompany her, thus...
You couldn't kill him because you didn't have a knife.
She couldn't kill him because she hasn't slept with him yet.
Do you really think she hasn't?
Let's go.
Were you pleased to see your brother?
You're docile tonight.
I've waited this long.
I can wait a little longer.
I won't be back for a few days.
Who knows?
You may even miss me in the interim.
Let me listen to you play. It's been a while.
That sounds pretty good.
What is it?
Where did they hide, forcing us to return empty-handed?
I heard you met with her brother the night before we set out.
Was it uneventful?
Nothing escapes you.
Be careful.
We may have won the war, but he's still the enemy.
He says we haven't won the war yet.
I'm sorry?
I'll heed your caveat.
General Kasare, what was it like
holding a Koryo maiden in your arms?
Is her skin redolent of sweet Koryo tea?
Watch your mouth.
Something's awry. I think there's been a security lapse.
You did well, Ja Woon-young.
Thanks to you, our men fled in time
with the exception of those stationed at the Kohyang front.
However, I cannot face Man-woo
for having salvaged my life with your life as collateral.
What are you doing?
I must look pathetic.
Are you all right?
Thank to you.
What were you thinking at that moment?
I was heedless.
Hold out for a little while longer.
We continue to consolidate power.
Woon-young, I know it will be difficult,
but I ask that you come see me again in five days.
General Kim Jun is...
How have you been?
Are you hurt?
It happened when I almost arrived at camp.
You've lost a lot of blood.
Come. I have medicine at my quarters.
It is beyond me how he acted so arbitrarily.
He's not here.
He's probably being treated in his quarters.
Are you hurt?
Who felled the mighty Kasare?
That is what I am ruminating now as well.
It is done.
Thank you.
What did you do while I was gone?
Didn't you miss me?
Luckily such misfortune did not come to pass.
I'm glad.
Wasn't it suffocating to stay indoors all day?
When you've lost your country,
where can you not feel suffocated?
Do you like the wind?
Who do you think you are, Ja Woon-young?
Who do you think you are?
You don't know how much...
You have no idea how much...
Were you scared?
No, I'm enlivened.
I knew you would be.
The towns are all deserted.
Everyone has fled.
Look, do you see the house with multiple lanterns hanging?
That's where I received my training as a courtesan.
We were there together last time.
Yes, you're right.
We went together.
Do you see the house with the blue-tile roof?
That's where I was born.
That house?
That's your house? lt's nice.
No, that's not my house.
It's just where I was born.
The house where my mother, father, and my brother were born,
where their mothers and fathers were born.
Our family has been serfs of that household for generations.
Courtesans belong to the peasant caste.
Girls born into serfdom with a pretty face who can sing
are sent to be trained as courtesans.
And they're offered as presents to the enemy like you.
I wish my brother and his children can live happily
in a world devoid of caste.
That is my only wish.
Your wish has been realized.
That is the Mongolian way of greeting,
blessing others.
I am certain that your wish will come true.