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Episode 24

- The horses are loose! - Get them!

The horses are loose! The horses are loose!

The horses are loose! The horses are loose!

After them! Get the horses!

Bastards!

Yayul Jukleul

How dare you sneak in here?!

You're all dead.

Slit their throats!

Put out the fire! The grains are burning!

Put out the fire!

Water! Fetch water and put out the fire!

After them. Don't let them get away!

Drillmaster Gang!

My Lady, get on!

Let's get out of here.

Soldier, look at me. Soldier!

Brave soldiers of Goryeo,

we will bury our bones here,

[Seo Hui (Middle Commander)]

to save our Country!

Stand your ground!

Commander!

[Gang Gamchan (Minister of Interior)]

Seogyeong will be in danger if we give way!

Stand your ground!

[Xiao Sunning (Khitan's Chief General)]

General!

What's the progress?

Sir, they're resisting much harder than we anticipated!

Yelu Chu

What do you mean? Didn't you say we had them?

These men are not like the advance guards from the last battle.

The casualties on our side keep growing!

I'll take care of them, Sir!

Yelu Wuji

General! General!

General.

What happened to you?

Our horse hay and the bulk of our food supply have been destroyed by the civilian army.

Wh-wh-what?!

You mean they destroyed the quartermaster depot?

[Quartermaster depot: Khitan's supply depot unit]

General, we must get them back for this.

Never mind.

Sound the horns for withdrawal.

But Sir!

Didn't you hear the order?

Commander, the enemy is retreating!

We did it, Commander!

We drove off the enemy.

Stay alert; it's too soon to relax.

Commander!

There's another group advancing from the flank!

Pick up your weapons!

Take your positions! Archers forwards!

Stop!

Stop!

We aren't the enemy! We are Goryeoans!

Wait!

Who are you?

We are a civilian army from the Myeongbok Palace of Hwangju!

Hold fire!

Myeongbok Palace! Come closer!

Drillmaster Gang, it's you!

Sir Gang.

Gang Jo

My man, what are you doing here?

The Lady is here as well.

My Lady!

[Sungdeok- Hwangbo Su (future Empress Cheonchu)]

It's good to see you both,

Minister Seo and Sir Gang.

What a relief.

What happened? What are you doing here, My Lady?

General, do we prepare for second attack?

No, we're erecting a camp here.

Pardon? Why, Sir?

It's a minor setback. There's no reason for us to set up camp.

General, give me another chance. I will obliterate them this time.

Be quiet. You have no room to talk.

Sure we can win, but not without significant losses.

We are not dealing with the same bungling fools from the first battle.

Besides, we lost our food supply and horse feed.

Then what is your plan, Sir?

Use your head instead of just swinging your fists!

Blockheads!

We will first try sending a messenger.

A messenger?

You mean you've been harassing the enemy from Opsu?

[Opsu : modern day Yalu river]

Yes.

Then you attacked the enemy from the rear.

It was Foreman Kim's idea.

The *fierce fire oil we got from his tribe really came in handy.

[*fierce fire oil: petroleum]

Amazing.

It looks like we owe our lives to you and your men, My Lady.

It's been a very difficult few days. But it's such a relief to see you.

Have you been reinstated to service, Vice-Director Gang?

He's not a vice-director anymore.

He's been promoted as my vice-minister and is dispatched to Taeju with me.

Is that right? That's fortunate.

I never dreamed I would see you here, My Lady.

It's good to see you men, too. And good work.

(Kim Chi Yang) (Gang Jo)

Thank you.

How many men do you have here?

Not quite 20,000 because of the huge defeat we suffered in the first battle.

You mean the entire Goryeoan army is only 20,000 strong?

No, we have about 50,000 men in all,

but they are protecting the Northern Protectorate.

Do you know the size of the enemy army?

We don't have an accurate number, but..

Commander, the Khitan have sent a messenger.

Who are you?

I am a warrior of Great Liao, Yalu Chu. Are you the leader here?

Yes, state your business.

I have a message and a letter to your people from the Khitan Army Chief Commander.

"We, the Great Liao Army, have come to subjugate Goryeo because Goryeo has,

continued to invade the Old Goryeoan Territory that we've taken possession of."

"So now I hereby command you to surrender immediately."

What is the meaning of this?

That letter is to be delivered to your King!

Let your King demonstrate due respect if he wants to communicate with our King.

This is Goryeoan territory that the Khitan have no claim over.

Go back and deliver this message to your leader.

Leave now or we will paint our mountains and rivers red with your blood.

You will regret this. Let's go!

Yes, Sir.

What did the letter say?

That they've unified the world and they'll wipe us out if we don't surrender.

It would only cause confusion in the Royal court if we delivered it to the King.

I agree. You did the right thing.

It looks like we're heading into another battle soon.

I better go and cheer up the tired soldiers.

- Let's go. - Yes, Sir!

Your Highness,

Goh Hyun

please retire to your bedchamber.

It's almost morning.

[King Seongjong (The 6th King of Goryeo)]

I don't want to sleep.

I can't sleep.

Why is this happening in my tenure?

Five thousand young men with parents, wives and children have lost their lives...

Your Highness...

I can endure the shame of defeat.

But how long will it take to rebuild the shattered lives of the Goryeoan people once this war is over?

I pray that we reach a truce.

I pray.

He eats well and doesn't fuss at all. It's a joy watching him grow.

Thank you.

Prince Gyeongjuwon- Wang Ook

I feel bad coming to you day and night.

Please don't mention it. We're glad we're able to help.

By the way, do you know what is happening with the war?

No, I have not heard any detailed news.

Do you think the enemy might advance as far as where we are?

I doubt that.

The war won't reach this far if we are defeated and forced to surrender.

At any rate, thank you very much.

Sulhwa! Sulhwa!

What is it now, Father?

Is it true that our troops suffered a huge defeat at Bongsan?

Yi Sulwha

(Court Lady Yun) (Yi Jujeong)

Yes, we were just talking about that.

Oh no! Oh my! Oh no!

Do you think the Khitan will get Hwangju?

Shouldn't we be packing our bags right now?

Please calm down.

How can I calm down?

You don't know how savage and barbaric the Khitan are!

We still haven't heard from our Lady who is at the frontline of this war,

and all you can think about is running away.

Are you sure you're a man?

I-I was talking about a strategic retreat.

You know, two steps forward, one step back.

Never mind. Forget it.

Drillmaster Yi, then you don't have any idea where our Lady is?

No, not at the moment. I just hope she is all right.

Try not to worry so much.

[Sun (Future Queen Sunjeong)]

No news is good news.

I'm sure everyone is fine. So let's just pray for their victory.

Our Princess is cool as cucumber, just like Lady Sungdeok.

Chief, we've made contact.

Do we have Master's location?

Yes, he is in Taeju with Lady Sungdeok and her men.

Sa Gamun

Taeju?

Isn't that close to Bongsan where the Goryeoan advance army was defeated?

Yes.

Why did they head in that direction?

I don't know the reason, but it seems like Master is all right.

Sa Illa is supposed to keep us up to date, so we will just have to see.

An envoy is here from Seogyeong?

Yes, he says His Highness sent him. It's Yi Meong Jun, the chief envoy.

My Lady, I think you should stay.

Why?

It won't help for the King to know that you are here at the front.

You're right.

I'll stay here.

Welcome.

[Yi Meong Jun (Chief Envoy)]

Minister Seo, I am Yi Meong Jun.

His Highness sent you?

Yes.

It must have been a fierce battle. So many are dead and injured...

We've done some damage to the enemy as well.

Come inside. Let me fill you in.

No, Commander, I am not here for a status report.

I've come to appeal for a truce with the enemy.

But don't you want to know about the current situation.

I have no time. My orders are to act quickly.

I must meet the enemy leader as soon as possible.

A Goryeoan envoy is coming.

Yes, Sir.

I guess they did get scared despite their bravado last night.

Then let us be ready.

Yes, Sir.

Sound the horns!

Hoist the flags!

Sound the drums!

You're from the Royal Court of Goryeo?

Ye-yes.

What do you want?

My people are puzzled as to your reason for this invasion.

He ordered me to clean up any misunderstandings and appeal for peace.

My Emperor said Goryeo is falling apart due to your King's failure to attend to his people.

That is untrue.

His Highness is a benevolent King, equal to none.

This is divine punishment, so if he wants to make peace,

your King and all of his men must come before me and surrender.

Surrender?

I've come to discuss it and find a way to end this war that benefits both sides.

Then never mind.

If this is not about a surrender, then don't waste my time.

We are an army of 800,000.

Everyone will die if you don't surrender, including your King and his men.

There will be rivers of blood, hills of dead bodies,

and Goryeo will disappear from the face of this earth.

But the merciful Emperor has given you another way,

to avoid extinction without surrender.

What would that be?

Eight hundred thousand?

Yes.

That's more than enough to kill us all!

I must alert Seogyeong at once and stop this war.

Sir Yi, it's too soon to jump to conclusions.

I saw them with my own eyes. What do you mean jump to conclusions?!

We've gone into battle with them, 800,000 is ridiculous.

I must alert Seogyeong about this no matter what you two men say.

Wait until tomorrow. My scouts will be back by tomorrow.

No.

The fate of the country is at stake. There is not a moment to waste.

Besides, it's the King's order.

I am leaving right now.

Wait!

The envoy is gone?

I'm told he was trembling in fear when he left.

He must've been scared out of his wits by the exaggeration.

It's a ridiculous lie.

If they really had 800,000 men, they would cover all of Taeju and Bongsan.

I estimate 100,000 or less.

But the King won't believe that.

He detests war to begin with.

I have a bad feeling about this.

I have to go to Seogyeong myself.

To see the King?

I'm going to have to.

But will he see you?

He won't even let you enter the palace.

Then I'll fight my way in.

He has to be told about the real situation.

But My Lady, this could backfire.

His Highness deeply loathes you.

Wouldn't it be more effective if Commander Seo went?

He has to stay here at the front.

We know the enemy best.

We have to go.

Queen Munwha

What do you mean?

Prepare to leave the palace?

It's Lord Kim's message.

Our troops are at a great disadvantage after the advance guards' devastating defeat.

The enemy could march into Gaegyeong very soon, so you must flee to Song.

Jo Sun

Be prepared, Your Grace.

That's absurd. I can't do that.

My Queen.

Yes, I am the Queen of Goryeo.

I will not flee to save my own life when my King is at the front.

Abandon my people to run away to Song?

I would rather die.

Your Grace, there is no time.

If they march to the city,

Court Lady Jo

you are the first person they will come after.

You must save yourself first. Running away is the only answer.

That's right, Your Grace.

Jo Du

[Sunju: Present day Goomi City in northern Gyung San Providence]

If you don't feel comfortable going to Song,

how about your homestead in Sunju?

Enough of this!

I am not going anywhere and that is final.

His Highness gave me his word he would return triumphant.

But the war is in the enemy's favor.

I do not care.

You can run if you are so frightened.

But I would sooner take my own life than run, so leave at once.

I said leave!

[Prince Gaeryeong- Wang Song (Future King Mokjong)]

Mother, where are you?

Are you safe?

What are you saying? Lady Sungdeok is gone?

I didn't see her leave but I think she's gone to Seogyeong.

Seogyeong?

Yes.

I think she's taken the matter into her own hands out of

fear the envoy's erroneous report might steer the King wrong.

But Lady Sungdeok is the last person the King will believe.

She could make matters worse.

Commander.

The scouts are back.

What did they find?

Vice-Minister Gang was right.

Give me the full details.

The scouts say that the front of the camp is packed with soldiers and bustling with activities,

but it's empty toward the rear.

They just have their flags up.

Are you certain this is accurate?

Yes, Sir. They were positive, Sir.

They were bluffing just as we thought!

Then we must report this to the King so he can make an informed decision.

I will go myself.

Personally, Sir?

That's the only way the King will be convinced.

He will never believe Lady Sungdeok.

But what about the front, Sir?

You will command the front in my absence.

But what if they attack before you return?

They won't. Xiao Sunning won't attack again in haste.

He would not have bluffed if that were his plan.

And I have confidence in Sir Gang. He'll handle any situation that arises.

Won't you?

I will do my best, Sir.

Eight hundred thousand?

The enemy army is eight hundred thousand strong?!

Yes, Your Highness.

I could not go anywhere in Taeju where the Khitan flag was not in sight,

and the whinnying of horses was heard everywhere.

It was a truly massive army!

What did the enemy leader want from us?

The Viceroy of the Liao Eastern Capital, Xiao Sunning, said you must come before him,

and surrender or relinquish the territory of Old Goguryeo to Liao.

Surrender or relinquish the territory of Goguryeo?

Yes, Your Highness.

What do you think? I want to hear your opinion.

You are the leaders of this country's army!

Tell me what to do!

Your Highness, Xiao's request is...

[Choi Ryang (Chief Advisor)]

but we may have to comply to some degree if indeed his army is 800,000 strong.

His Highness the King cannot kneel before those primitive barbarians.

It might be wiser to give them a portion of our land instead.

How much do you have in mind?

Tang Chinese had once established a protectorate here in Seogyeong

after they conquered Goguryeo.

Perhaps we can give them Seogyeong and establish a new border along Hwangju.

Give up Seogyeong?

Commander Park, what is your opinion?

Your Highness...

[Park Yang Yu (Chief General)]

It is most regrettable to have to give up

the land so cherished by King Taejo, but that might be the only way to protect

the Royal house and the people.

Are you sure?

Are you really sure?

An army of 800,000...

The number of men Xiao Sunning claimed he had was undoubtedly an exaggeration.

Given that the second Khitan invasion into Goryeo led by Emperor Shengzong himself

was 400,000 strong, it is highly unlikely that a viceroy had rallied a larger army.

What's more, at the time the Khitan military system placed a limit on the size of

an army to 60,000 unless it was led by a specially appointed Commander-in-Chief.

So it is clear Xiao Sunning was trying to intimidate the

Goryeoan government into surrendering with a lie.

They're barbarians! Savage beast that use bears to attack humans!

So are you suggesting that we surrender our land and retreat from Seogyeong?

Do we have any other choice?

That's unthinkable!

His Majesty Taejo instructed us in his founding edict to cherish

and protect Seogyeong.

Are we to defy this command?

His Majesty Taejo will wail with rage from up above!

Look here, Minister Yi,

[Kim Won Soong (Minister of Revenue)]

for the last time, don't use the words "His Majesty!"

This is the problem!

We're in this predicament

because His Highness the King abolished

[Yi Ji Baek (Vice Minister in charge of government building)]

Palguanhwe and showed submissiveness

to Song China out of his admiration for their arts!

What does that have anything to do with this?

His Majesty is too wrapped up in governmental morality

[Yi Gyeomui (Vice-Minister in charge of the armory)]

and that's the root cause of this calamity!

We advised him repeatedly to take precautionary measures

but you men blinded him!

[Choi Seom (Inspector of the Legislative Council)]

How dare you?!

How dare you criticize the King?!

These men are using the war to commit high treason!

What did you say?!

Watch your tongue!

You watch your tongue!

What?

How dare you glare at an elder statesman, you punk!

Punk? You speak before the King, Sir!

Ministers!

I have made my decision.

I'm going back to Gaegyeong.

Empty the palace at once and evacuate the city.

Send a messenger to the North and withdraw the troops.

[*Pae Gang: Present day Dae Dong river in Pyeongyang]

Give away all stored grains in the palace to the people and

dispose of any remainder in the *Pae River.

The enemy may break their word and press on further south,

so clear all the fields and cities to prevent future evil.

Toss it further!

Stop!

What are you waiting for? Keep working!

Move it!

Hustle!

I ordered you to stop. What is going on here?

Who do you think you are? Get out of the way!

This is Lady Sungdeok, the dowager of the late King.

Bow!

Forgive me, Your Grace. I failed to recognize you.

I asked you what's going on here.

It is the King's order to dispose of all grain.

What?

Your Grace...

Announce me.

Now is not a good time. His Highness is very upset right now.

My Lady!

What is the meaning of this boorish behavior?

I'll make it short. Withdraw your order, Your Highness.

Did I not tell you to stay quietly in Hwangju?

And what is that armor?

Does it not embarrass you to be seen by the ministers?

Please keep your dignity.

You should be the one feeling embarrassed, not I.

Your men are giving up their lives to stop the enemy in the North,

and you wish to give up your land and run away.

Did you take the throne to be such King?

Stop.

I am tired of arguing with you.

I'm not here to argue with you either.

Withdraw the order at once.

If you're afraid to fight, go ahead and run.

But don't tell your soldiers to stop.

How many times do I have to tell you? I am the ruler of this state!

Do not tell me what to do.

We would be better off without a King who gives away his people's land to barbarians.

What?

But then, you're probably used to being a coward.

What do I expect from the King who took a country that predecessors built with

their blood, tears and sweat, and voluntarily reduced it to a subordinate state?

Why don't you just hand the country over to the barbarians instead?

Silence!

Why are you so afraid of the foreign enemy when you had the cold heart

to abolish national Buddhist ceremonies,

tear your family apart and cause your own sister's death?!

Watch your tongue!

Shut your mouth.

You should watch your tongue. I am a dowager to your predecessor.

You are my younger sister first!

How much more for you want the people to suffer?

If you love wars so much, find your own enemy and fight.

I won't see another one of my people die on my land.

My people are more important to me than my land.

Don't use your people to mask your cowardice.

Without the land, you have no people to protect!

The world will mock you.

That you're not a King but a Khitan sycophant!

How much more of these blatant slurs do you think I will let you utter to my face?

Attendant!

Take this woman at once. Take her away and lock her up!

Let go of me!

Your Majesty, you can kill me but you can't give up this land!

Your Majesty.

I beg of you.

Please withdraw the order.

I beg you as your sister.

Brother, this country is not yours alone!

What are you waiting for? Take her away!

Brother, remember the founding edict of Taejo!

This land is the heart of this country!

Brother!

Brother! Brother!

My Lady!

Commander Seo!

What happened? What is the meaning of this?

The King has ordered her imprisoned.

What?

Commander, you must stop the King. He is not in his right mind.

This way, My Lady.

Please, Commander.

You must stop him from surrendering our land!

Let go of me!

What are you talking about?

The Lady has been imprisoned?

Yes, I heard it straight from a royal guard in the palace.

Unbelievable!

She's put in jail for risking her life fighting the enemy?

Get back on your horses! We're going to Seogyeong!

What do you mean? What are you going to do?

What do you think I'm going to do? We're going to get the Lady out.

Don't be ridiculous. You want to fight the King's army?

You'd let the Lady sit in jail?

I can't do that.

Please calm down and be rational.

Taking armed soldiers into the city without permission is high treason.

I don't care if it's high treason.

You can stay behind if you're scared.

But get out of my way.

No, I can't let you do this.

If you must go, you'll have to kill me first.

You don't think I will?

Jo!

Brother, don't do this!

Get out of the way.

The Queen Dowager is locked up.

I will strike down anyone that tries to hurt her.

Even if it's the King!

Get out of my way.

Foreman Kim is right. Don't make hasty decisions.

Commander Seo has gone into the palace.

Your Highness.

Commander Seo is here from Taeju.

Send him in.

Yes.

Minister Seo, thank heavens you're safe.

Your Highness, did you order the grain disposed of and

our land to be turned over to the enemy?

I have no choice. They are too strong.

Their claim of having 800,000 troops is a ridiculous exaggeration.

Exaggeration? But the envoy saw this army for himself.

No, Your Highness.

My men have just checked them.

If they are 800,000 strong,

how could an army of 20,000 possibly be alive right now holding them back?

My scouts have confirmed this fact, and it is absolutely an exaggeration.

But there could be more troops coming.

Even if that is so, numbers alone do not decide a war.

Did Uljimondeok of Goguryeo defeat

the Sui army of one million because he had a larger army?

When Yan Mancheon defeated Taizong of Tang, they were outnumbered by far.

How can you cower so easily and order your men to retreat?

It is unthinkable, Your Highness!

I...

I would rather have them take away my land, than see my people suffer.

If I can restore peace by giving up land north of Seogyeong, that's what I want.

Your Highness, what the enemy wants is all of Old Goguryeo territory.

They won't be satisfied with your offer.

Land north of Mt. Samgak in Gaegyeong is also Old Goguryeo territory.

Would you give them the Royal Palace as well if they ask?

If you give them an inch, they will take a mile,

and if you take one step back, you'll have to run a thousand miles away.

Then... what do I do?

Give me a chance to fight.

We cannot give up our land this easily, Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Brought to you by WITH S2 Written In The Heavens Subbing Squad

Main Translator: KBS WORLD Spot Translator: plegend2007

Special thanks to KaKaK

Transcriber: schizoar Timer: selvaspeedy

Editor/QC: melica Coordinators: mily2, ay_link

Please do NOT hardsub and/or stream this episode using our English subtitles.

They sent a detachment this way?

The Khitan are coming here.

We must get the Goryeoans out of the Northern Protectorate.

If this fort is not what they're really after, we must not light the signal fire!

If we survive after this humiliation, I will drive my brother and

his incompetent ministers out of the Royal Palace.

I'll defy divine will if I have to in order to rectify this country!

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