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Where did you send him?

Send whom?

You think you can fool me?

Your servant, Attendant Yu, has disappeared.

Where did you send him?

I don't know what you're talking about.

You had your chance.

[Lady Choongju]

Kill them!

My Lady, they are the mother and wife of our previous ruler.

[Kim Jonghyun]

They must not be harmed.

Are you going to defy my order? I said kill them!

This is an order!

My Lady! My Lady!

What is it?

There's a war, my Lady.

A war?

You mean the Khitan have invaded Goryeo?

Yes, I'm told the Khitan are marching upon us with a massive army!

I don't care if there is a war. I want these women killed at once.

No, my Lady.

What?

The Empress Dowager is the one who led our last war to victory and built our current army.

The country needs her.

No, these women are a disgrace to Goryeo.

She ruined the government running around with a man,

and her son was deposed for sodomy.

Kill them this instant!

Are you sure that's the real reason why you want me dead?

[Empress Dowager Cheonchu]

If it was simply about revulsion for me, why did you lock up the others?

You locked up everyone that came with us,

and now you're scared to death to find out that Attendant Yu escaped.

What are you talking about?

You were in on the Emperor's death.

And you want me and the Empress dead to tie up loose ends!

Silence! Kill the wench!

I gave you an order!

What are you waiting for? Kill them this instant!

Do not make a move until I give you an order.

Steward Kim, are you going to betray me over this wench?

Forgive me, my Lady.

But I can't let the Empress Dowager die like this.

Kill this one along with the others.

I said kill them!

Listen to me, men. I admit my mistakes.

That is why I left my position of power of my own accord and came here.

If we did not have a war on our hands, I could accept my son's undeserved death,

and let you take my life.

But the country is at war.

We need every able man we have to protect the country against the Khitan.

So I ask you,

do not rally to destroy me, rally to destroy the enemy instead.

What are you doing?

I gave you an order. Kill them!

Escort the lady inside.

No! Take your hands off of me!

Do you think you can betray me and still survive?

Let go of me!

What is the meaning of this?

[Duyan]

Give me back the child!

[Mobula (East Jurchen Tribal Leader)]

Answer my question truthfully, or you will never see this child again.

Whose child is he?

I told you. He is Sa Gamun's son.

Stop! If you touch him, I'll kill all of you and kill myself.

I was trying to protect you, but you killed one of my men and fled.

And Goryeoans would not send an army after Sa Gamun�s son.

Speak the truth.

This child will die if you lie again no matter what you do.

This is...

Prince Hwangju.

Kim Chi Yang's son?

Yes.

My son...

died in his place.

And you're risking your life for this child?

Aren't you angry about your son's death?

Yes, I am angry! I'm mad as hell, and that's why...

That's why I'm raising this child.

For my husband who died for Kim Chi Yang...

For Sa Illa who leaped to her death with my son to save this child...

I must protect him so that their deaths will not be in vain.

And I will protect him with my life!

Why do you want me dead?

Didn't I say it was because you are a witch who tried to ruin the country by bringing in bandits?

I want to hear the truth not your flimsy lies.

What kind of communication did you exchange with those who killed my son?

What are you talking about? Didn't he kill himself?

What kind of scheme are you plotting this time to have your attendant escape?

Do not insult my loyalty to Goryeo.

I will be back to settle this debt when I find out who is behind my son's death.

Thank you, Steward Kim.

You saved our lives.

I am simply doing my duty.

Where will you go from here?

I plan to go back to Gaegyeong to help defeat the Khitan.

If I get through the war alive, I will return this debt of gratitude.

Your Highness, allow me and my men to follow you.

It's dangerous where I'm going.

We are citizens of Goryeo.

If we died fighting for this country, there would not be a greater honor.

Take us with you, Your Highness.

Take us with you, Your Highness!

Stop!

It's the enemy! Defensive positions!

Don't shoot! We're Goryeoans!

Stand down!

Aren't you General Yang Kyu's men?

[Eastern Region: Present day Hamgyeong Province]

Yes, we are en route to Guiju to defend the Eastern Region.

I see. It's good to run into you.

I am Minister of Punishment, Choi Sawui

[Choi Sawui (Minister of Punishment)]

and this is the Minister of Military.

Sir, why do you have your torches lit so brightly?

[Won Jongseok]

Because it's dark. Why else?

[Tak Sajeong (Minister of the Military)]

[Ji Chaemun]

But you're making yourself a target for the Khitan.

Nonsense!

There are no Khitan here in these rugged hills.

Let us continue on; lead the way.

[Yelu Dilie]

Fire!

Fire!

Stay calm!

Do not panic! Move into defense positions!

Defense positions!

Retreat! Retreat!

No, Minister Choi. It's not a large army judging by the number of arrows.

We must stay and fight!

Retreat! Retreat!

Sir, we must break through the enemy and fight them from Guiju Fort!

We cannot flee the other way!

Silence! Get out of my way!

Retreat! Retreat!

Attack! Wipe them out!

Attack!

Attack!

Do not retreat!

Fight to the end!

A sweeping victory!

Yes, Your Majesty.

They started running scared after only a few rounds of arrows.

And according to the prisoners we've taken,

this army was led by Goryeo's Minister of Military and Minister of Punishment.

An army led by two of Goryeo's top military leaders has crumbled like sand.

[Su No]

It looks like the Goryeoan army is completely powerless.

We should've pressed forward on the east route, all the way to Seogyeong!

Yes, we made a mistake. We should've advanced straight to Seogyeong!

I couldn't be happier about this victory,

but we must not let our guards down.

[Xiao Baiya (Viceroy of Eastern Capital)]

You've seen what the Goryeoans can do in Heunghwajin.

[Shengzhong of Liao (6th Ruler of Khitan)]

Don't let this go to your heads and focus on how you are going to bring down Tongju?

The Goryeoan army's place of convergence!

That's right.

[Yelu Dilu]

Don't let this go to your heads

We will be up against Goryeo's most fearsome warrior, Gang Jo.

[Yelu Pennu]

Yes, I know him well.

He is not to be taken lightly.

The battle in Tongju will decide the outcome of this war.

I need all of you to be at your very best!

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Imperial Palace - Gaegyeong]

[Yu Chungjeong]

I am Yu Chungjeong, an attendant in service of Empress Dowager Cheonchu.

I've come to see General Gang Jo on extremely urgent business.

What's the urgent business?

Forgive me, but I'm only at liberty to discuss the matter with General Gang.

General Gang is not here. He's gone to Tongju to stop the enemy invasion.

Then what about Minister Gang Gamchan?

He should be at the council hall.

Wait here.

Trust no one except General Gang Jo and Minister Gang Gamchan.

The palace may have been overtaken by evil forces.

Who?

Attendant Yu Chungjeong in the service of Empress Dowager Cheonchu.

He is looking for Minister Gang Gamchan.

[Jo Sun]

Seize him.

Get the guards right now!

What's wrong, sir?

Just do as I say!

Yes, sir.

Where is he?

He got back on his horse and left.

What?

General Yang Kyu routed the enemy?

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Ha Gongjin]

We defended the fort 30,000 against 400,000.

I couldn't be more proud!

Where is the enemy headed now?

I believe they've taken a detour around Heunghwajin to Tongju.

[Choi Hang (Royal archivist)]

They will come face to face with General Gang Jo.

Yes, sir. And General Gang Jo is preparing for the encounter.

[Gang Gamchan (Vice Minister of Rites)]

It's worth a shot, Your Majesty.

If they left 200,000 troops at Heunghwajin, they're now equal in size to General Gang's army.

The fate of the empire will be decided by this battle.

Yes.

[Hyeonjong (8th Ruler of Goryeo)]

General Gang will come through for us.

An attendant escaped from Choongju and showed up here?

Yes, Your Grace. Men were sent after him but he slipped away.

My guess is he has gone to Gang Jo in Tongju.

[Lady Yunheung]

This is a big problem.

If Gang finds out that Mokjong was murdered,

[Kim Shimon (Vice Minister of Supreme Council)]

he might turn back and come after us.

[Mun In Wui (Minister of Works)]

He wouldn't do that.

He's at the front to fight a war.

He is capable of anything if he gets angry enough.

Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae will confess to everything if threatened.

What now?

General Jo, you'll have go to Tongju.

Get there before this attendant does and have Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae to kill him once he arrives.

If he gets to Gang Jo, it's over for us.

Yes, sir. I will leave at once.

Perhaps we should've wiped out the entire entourage when we killed the Emperor.

No, that would've been too risky.

Don't worry. Empress Cheonchu will die soon enough.

She might already be dead.

Yes, the war and confusion will provide the perfect opportunity.

I'm sure Lady Choongju will take care of her for us.

At last the day has come!

The enemy army is at best 200,000 in number, equal to our force.

What's more, they suffered substantial damage in Heunghwajin

and their morale has no doubt eroded.

So we will go outside the walls of the city

[Gang Jo]

and deliver a crushing blow to the enemy!

We will divide the army into Left Guards, Right Guards and Center Guards

and suppress the enemy cavalry each equipped with 3,000 spear carts.

using the river as their defense to thwart the enemy advance.

The Right Guards will take position 5 miles west of Tongju Fort!

I will establish a command post at Samsuchae midway between

Heunghwajin and Tongju and lead the Center Guards.

Left and Right Guards will be prepared at all times to aid each other when it comes

to the crunch and act as a single unit against the enemy.

Lastly, the remaining troops will stay behind and defend Tongju Fort.

Fight with your all from your given posts and crush the invaders.

And display the authority of Great Goryeo to the world!

Hail Great Goryeo! Hail the Emperor!

Hail Great Goryeo! Hail the Emperor!

The reconnaissance report?

[Yelu Wuji]

Gang Jo and his army of 200,000 are protecting Tongju Fort and the surrounding area.

What? 200,000?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Then we're equally matched.

Perhaps we should call back the troops we have placed in Heunghwajin.

The good thing is those fools have placed the troops outside the fortress

instead of defending the fort from within.

Is this true?

Yes, sir.

Your Majesty, then it's worth a shot.

A siege might be a challenge with our size as it stands,

but they don't stand a chance against our mighty cavalry in a frontal assault.

That's right. We have a distinct advantage fighting in an open field.

Give us your order, Your Majesty.

I will take the cavalry and wipe them out in one sweep.

Very well. I want the Goryeoans subjugated without fail.

Defeat will not be tolerated again. Is that clear?

We will not let you down, Your Majesty.

It's the enemy! The Khitan are coming!

Move into defense positions!

Defense positions!

Hustle!

Charge!

- Charge! - Charge!

Spear carts forward!

Stop them!

Attack!

Reinforcements are coming! Hold them back!

Attack!

Fight to the death! Do not fall back!

It's the reinforcements! Charge!

Attack!

General!

Stay in formation! Do not disburse!

Stay calm and in position!

Do not disburse! Fight!

Retreat. Retreat!

Retreat!

Retreat!

Retreat!

You fools!

You were so cocksure you could win yet you came back defeated again?!

We had them until thousands of spear carts came charging at us from both flanks.

Your Majesty, give us another chance.

We know now that frontal attack is futile,

so we will surprise the three enemy camps individually from the flanks and wipe them out.

Your Majesty, the Goryeoans are probably high on victory right now.

If we use this chance to surprise them with a night raid, we can defeat them.

Silence! You have no room to talk!

Your Majesty, please cast aside your rage.

I'm afraid this will not be a simple fight.

A tightly locked gate is best opened from the locked side,

so instead of engaging hasty attacks, we need to devise a surefire strategy.

State your identity.

We are the warriors of Choongju Palace. We've escorted the Empress Dowager.

I've come to see the Emperor. It's urgent, so announce me at once.

Your Majesty, it's an urgent matter.

What is it?

[Jang Myeongil] [Yi Bakdol]

The Empress Dowager has returned from Choongju.

The Empress Dowager?

Your Majesty, have you fared well?

Yes, Empress Dowager. What brings you?

Your Majesty, I know that the country is at war,

but I've come 120 miles to inform you regarding a matter that must be exposed.

What is this matter?

Your predecessor...

His Majesty the Emperor Mokjong is dead.

What do you mean His Majesty is dead?

He was murdered by men named Ahn Pae and Yi Hyunoon on the road to Choongju.

Murdered? Is this true?

Yes, it is. He was brutally murdered before my very eyes.

Why did these men kill him? For what purpose?

I do not know.

I don't understand.

Why would they show up and kill the previous emperor for no reason?

I find this hard to believe.

So do I.

According to them, the killing was ordered by General Gang Jo.

General Gang Jo?

Your Majesty, that is a preposterous lie. General Gang Jo has no reason to do this!

But Ahn Pae and Yi Hyunoon are General Gang's men.

[Chae Chungsoon (Minister of Finance)]

Soldiers live and die for their superior's orders.

I think it's a possibility.

No. You all know that General Gang has been incarcerated.

Come to think of it, those two men were taken away from the cell by the guards.

That must be when they were put up to this!

[Choi Suk (Minister of Personnel)]

You don't know that.

It could have been General Gang who ordered the killing.

How? He was sitting in jail!

[Choi Wonshin (Minister of Rites)]

Perhaps before he was arrested, or secretly somehow while they were in jail.

Think about this logically.

General Gang put his life on the line to reinstate the Empress Dowager.

Why would he want the former emperor dead? There is no motive!

Motive? One might say that he does have a motive.

General Gang might have blamed the former emperor for all of the scandalous events that occurred.

[Hwangbo Yui (Supreme Council Secretary)]

Why he even made a public display of his disapproval for former emperor

right here in the council hall once.

That's not all. He has even threatened our incumbent emperor with his spear.

If Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae named Gang Jo, it has to be true.

That is preposterous!

General Gang Jo is the last person who would want the former emperor dead!

He was a thousand times more loyal to the emperor than any of you!

Your Majesty, I beg you. Please redress this atrocity!

Where are Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae right now?

They are in Tongju under General Gang Jo's command.

Send the Imperial Guards and arrest them at once!

How dare they murder the emperor?!

I will expose the truth and deliver just punishment to anyone who is even remotely involved!

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's them.

Those who are incriminating General Gang, they killed the Emperor.

That's my suspicion as well, but there is no proof.

The truth will be revealed once the two men are arrested and brought back.

That will prove to be difficult task as long as they are in control of the court.

There has to be some other way.

More importantly, I can only imagine how you must feel, Your Highness.

It's hard to believe His Majesty is gone...

Lady Yunheung, what are you doing here in the palace?

How about you, Lady Sungdeok? What are you doing here?

[Court Lady Jo]

She is here to see the Empress.

What business do you have left in the palace?

The Empress? What are you talking about?

Lady Yunheung's daughter has become the Empress.

What?

You mean the Emperor married Princess Jeong?

Yes.

How could this have happened?

Well then, I have important business with the Emperor.

Step aside.

Mother, please don't do this.

This will only take a moment, Empress.

What brings you?

Your Majesty, I've come to confirm something with you.

The Empress tells me that you have been using separate rooms, although you are married.

Is this true?

This is not a matter to be discussed in the council hall, so please leave.

Your Majesty, state affairs are important indeed.

But the most important duty of an emperor is procreation.

And children have always been rare in this Imperial House.

Why are you keeping the Empress at a distance?

The country is at war; I will not listen to this now.

The country maybe at war, but heirs must be produced to preserve the empire.

Isn't preservation of the empire what this war is about as well?

[Empress Wonjeong]

Please stop, Mother. Let us leave now.

Your Majesty, please retire to the Emperor's bedchambers from now on.

So that the Imperial House may thrive, and...

Enough!

Our soldiers are dying under the swords of the enemy at this very moment!

What's the use producing heirs?

Are you telling me to play house with the Empress when the fate of the country hangs in the balance?

I will hear no more of this, so leave at once!

Your Majesty, how could you speak to me this way?

I am offering you counsel out of concern for you and the empire.

Counsel?

I shall be frank with you. I am not exactly fond of the Empress.

I did not want this marriage to begin with.

I was pressured and threatened into it by the ministers.

So do not try to control me and leave the council hall now.

[Left Guards Military Camp - Tongju]

State your identity.

I am General Jo of the Imperial Guards of Gaegyeong.

Lead me to Colonel Yi Hyunoon and Colonel Ahn Pae at once.

He escaped from Choongju?

Yes, has he shown up here?

[Ahn Pae]

I don't think so.

If he had, General Gang would have called us in.

Good. If he shows up here, you must kill him before he gets to Gang Jo.

General Jo, he should've been bound and shackled in Choongju or silenced altogether to begin with.

[Yi Hyunoon]

How can you tell us to get rid of him now?

How are we supposed to monitor who enters the Center Guards' Camp from where we are?

We can't leave this camp.

Shut your mouth and just kill him if you want to live.

Your lives are over the moment that eunuch gets to Gang Jo.

[Empress Sunjeong]

We will know the truth once the two men are arrested, won't we?

It won't be that easy.

The ministers will do everything in their power to place blame on General Gang.

What then?

I should go to Tongju and see General Gang myself.

I must find my armor.

Won't you wait a while, Your Highness?

Attendant Yu left ahead of us, so General Gang may already know everything.

Besides, the Emperor said he would dispatch the Imperial Guards.

But I can't just wait here.

I want justice for the murder, but I can't sit idly by when there is a war.

Empress, you should stay here until I return.

Empress Dowager, what does this mean?

I am going to Tongju. You men may stay here in my absence.

No, we cannot let you walk into danger alone.

We will accompany you.

I'm going to the battlefield. You may not come back alive.

We left our master to serve you, Your Highness.

From now on, we will live and die with you.

Your Highness, permit us to fight for the country with you.

Permit us, Your Highness.

[Seogyeong (Present day Pyongyang)]

You were defeated and you fled?

It's all because these fools led us through the wrong route.

We regret that, but that was the quickest route.

You had the torches lit like daylight.

[Yu Jong]

The enemy couldn't possibly miss us.

How dare you try to lay blame on me?! It's your fault for taking us that way!

Please settle down! Now is no time to lay blame.

This means the enemy could make their advance through the west route as well.

It's a distinct possibility. We have to be prepared.

But most of the troops have been sent to Tongju with General Gang Jo.

How are we to contend with the enemy ourselves?

[Gang Mincheom]

General Yang Kyu defended Heunghwajin with only fraction of the troops.

And we can defeat them too, if we fight to the death!

Are you saying that we were defeated because we didn't fight hard enough?

General, who is this arrogant fellow?

This is Garrison Captain of Haesujin, Gang Mincheom.

I see. A country bumpkin who doesn't know any better.

[Dae Dosu]

General Gang is right, Minister Choi.

If the east route is open, there is a good chance the enemy will advance directly to Seogyeong.

So we must come together and protect the city even if we are outmanned.

[Kim Sukheung]

Leave the fort and strike the enemy from the rear?

Yes.

But a formidable army is still camped on the other side of the Yalu River.

Be that as it may, we can't just sit here and wait for the enemy to leave.

[Yang Kyu]

We will divide the troops to protect the fort and harass the enemy's rear.

This is the only way we can help General Gang Jo in Tongju.

What now, Colonel?

I think we've just been exploited and dispossessed.

Say what? Speak in plain language. I'm frustrated as it is.

You're so ignorant.

I mean they made us do their dirty work and now they're ignoring us.

They promised us a promotion, but they sent us to die on a battlefield.

Those bastards!

We should just expose them!

But it's our word against theirs. If they deny it, we're dead.

Then what should we do?

I've been thinking and...

How do you feel about defecting to Liao?

To Liao?

We will be executed if we stay here. So we might as well...

What is it?

Two Goryeoan soldiers have come to the camp and surrendered.

What? Is that true?

They are right outside.

Bring them in.

Send them in.

This is the Emperor; get on your knees.

Your Majesty, I am Yi Hyunoon, a colonel in General Gang Jo's army.

I am Colonel Ahn Pae.

So you've come to surrender. Is this true?

Yes, Your Majesty.

And what is your reason?

Well... um...

Not only is serving Gang Jo intolerably difficult,

but there is little doubt in our mind that this war will end in Great Liao's victory.

So we've decided to become servants of Great Liao.

If you accept us, we will vow loyalty to Your Majesty and Great Liao.

You expect us to trust traitors who betrayed their own country?

Wait, you must be Gang Jo's spies.

No, I swear to you we're not!

Wait, that's the bastard that played with my beard and insulted me!

Your Majesty, low rankers such as these men will not be of any use to us.

They will only waste our food, so I urge you to slay them at once.

No, please!

We're here because we really want to serve Liao. Please do not kill us!

Your Majesty, please believe us.

If you accept us, we will tell you how you can crush Gang Jo.

You will?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Hey!

Where the heck have you been?

[Yu Bang]

The enemy could be plotting a night raid. I told you to keep a tight watch!

It's trouble, General Yu! The Center Guards are under enemy attack!

What? I didn't receive such report.

I was just there! It's a direct order from General Gang.

We must take reinforcements and help them right now!

Are you sure about this?

Yes! Why would I lie about something like this?

Colonel Ahn has gone to the Right Guards' Camp to request aid as well.

Colonel Ahn?

Yes, we must hurry!

Hurry, sir!

[Center Guards' Camp- Tongju]

State your identity.

I am Attendant Yu Chungjeong from Choongju.

I must see General Gang Jo on an urgent matter.

What's the urgent matter?

I will tell him directly.

I'm afraid I can't let anyone enter the camp.

But I must see him. It's urgent!

I said no.

Please just tell General Gang that Empress Dowager's attendant is here.

Then he will know.

Please!

What? His Majesty was murdered?

Yes, General.

Not only that, they told the Empress Dowager that you ordered the killing.

What? How dare they?!

Lieutenant!

Yes, sir.

Go to the Left Guards Camp right now and bring back Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae.

Pardon, sir?

Grab both their legs and bring them here!

Yes, sir.

General!

General Yu Bang of the Left Guards is here, sir.

General Yu?

General!

General, thank goodness you're all right.

What brings you here? Who is commanding your camp?

We heard you were under attack and in grave danger, so we came to help.

Have the Khitan already been routed?

The Khitan? Who told you this?

Colonel Yi Hyunoon said it was extremely urgent...

What? Yi Hyunoon?

It's the Khitan! They're charging at us!

Put the spear carts in formation at once and take your positions!

Spear carts! Move into defensive position!

Soldiers! What happened?

The Khitan raided us...

The Left Guards have been wiped out...

Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae...

General!

More Khitan are approaching us from the Left Guards' Camp, sir!

What?

I think I've been tricked.

It's a flank-and-frontal attack.

Quickly divide the troops and defend both sides at once.

And request aid from the Right Guards immediately.

Go!

Yes, sir!

You bastards!

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Translation by KBS World Spot translator: munchinghippo

Transcriber: upikepik Timer: julier

Editor/QC: melica Coordinators: mily2, ay_link

Special thanks to KaKaK

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