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Final Episode

Sneaky bastards!

How dare you sneak in here!

[Xiao Baiya (Viceroy of Eastern Capital)] [Yelu Dilie]

Wipe them out!

It's the enemy leaders! Kill them!

General, Yang Kyu has gone after the Emperor!

What?

Damn it!

Dilie, the camp is yours.

I have got it covered.

Their leader is down!

[Kim Sukheung]

The Emperor is next! Fight!

I, Yang Kyu of Goryeo,

[Yang Kyu]

have come for the Khitan Emperor's head!

Audacious fool!

[Yelu Dilu]

I will take your head!

Your Highness...

He's killed my guardian warrior.

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

I want that bastard killed!

You lowly Goryeoan, how dare you threaten my life?! Get away from me!

Die like an emperor.

I said get away! Get away!

I will take your head and show the world what fool you are for invading Goryeo.

Protect the Emperor!

Your Majesty!

The Emperor is alive! Do not let the Goryeoans get away!

What are you waiting for? Finish them off!

Stop being a coward and fight us yourself!

Step back!

Archers forward!

I guess this it, my friend.

Yes, it's been an honor serving with you.

Fire!

The five-month long war came to an end after Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung

delivered a final blow to the retreating enemy, giving up their own lives.

The Khitan had captured Gaegyeong, destroyed the Imperial Palace, and

forced the Emperor to flee to Naju, but the conquest ended in failure because

they had advanced too far south and their retreat route was cut off by Yang Kyu.

Hyeonjong returned to Gaegyeong

in the February of the following year after the Khitan retreated.

Make way! Make way for His Majesty the Emperor!

[Hyeonjong (8th ruler of Goryeo)]

Stop.

Your Majesty!

You mustn't do this! Please rise, Your Majesty!

My failures have caused the blameless people to suffer a violent war.

It's only fitting that I seek their forgiveness.

Please forgive me.

I will do my all to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.

And thank you.

Thank you all for getting through this alive.

Your Majesty.

Let us be on our way now.

[Gang Gamchan (Vice Minister of Rites)]

The Imperial Palace has been destroyed by fire,

but Suchang Palace is intact.

Please rise.

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!

[Suchang Palace]

We are very fortunate to be alive.

Countless soldiers and civilians have been injured and killed in this war.

Generals Yang Kyu, Kim Sukheung, Dae Dosu and Gang Jo

we've lost so many good men that I can't even name them all.

I intend to grant posthumous appointments to honor those who lost their lives in this war.

What is your opinion?

Your Majesty, Generals Yang Kyu and Kim Sukheung indeed deserve a posthumous award,

but Gang Jo must be excluded.

Excluded? On what grounds?

Must I explain?

Gang Jo is responsible for the fall of Tongju,

[Kim Shimon (Vice Minister of Supreme Council)]

and His Majesty was forced to flee.

That's ridiculous! General Gang is a true warrior, who fought the enemy to the end.

Even when he was captured, he did not submit to the enemy and died a heroic death,

fighting alone against one hundred enemy warriors.

And he is not responsible for the fall of Gaegyeong.

It's not important how many men he killed.

[Hwangbo Yui (Supreme Council Secretary)]

What's important is that he failed

to stop the enemy with an equally

matched army of 200,000. And the whole country suffered as a result!

He became bigheaded and

fought the enemy outside the fort at Samsuchae

[Chae Chungsoon (Minister of Finance)]

instead of defending Tongju from the fort.

That's what caused our trouble.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Tak Sajeong (Minister of the Military)]

It is this critical error that caused

our extreme difficulties in this war.

I agree, Your Majesty.

A defeated warrior who allowed the

[Choi Sawui (Minister of Punishments)]

enemy to take him prisoner cannot

be awarded for his failures.

No, Your Majesty.

General Gang was captured because of Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae's betrayal,

not because of error in judgment.

A warrior is responsible

[Choi Wonshin (Minister of Rites)]

for his subordinate's actions.

What's more, Gang Jo is the one who

ordered Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae

to murder Emperor Mokjong!

No, you're wrong!

General Gang had no reason to want the late Emperor dead.

Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae turned to the Khitan because they knew that

the truth would come out. This is proof that there was someone else behind them.

Do you have proof of someone else's involvement?

[Mun In Wui (Minister of Works)]

You'll need their confession to prove your theory, but it's impossible since

they've surrendered to the Khitan.

Your Majesty, Gang Jo cannot be granted a posthumous award. Please reconsider.

Please reconsider, Your Majesty.

I don't believe you men!

General Gang lived and died fighting for Goryeo.

And even in death, he would still be aiming his spear at the Khitan!

Don't you realize that you are alive right now because of his sacrifice?

If you have any decency, think about it!

How can you criticize him when you abandoned the Emperor

and ran to save your own lives?

Your Majesty, before awards are bestowed,

punishment must be rendered

[Choi Hang (Royal archivist)]

to those who abandoned their posts and ignored their duty during this war.

That's absurd!

[Empress Dowager Cheonchu]

General Gang is a national hero

no matter what anyone says.

And they're trying to frame

him for Mokjong's murder?

How could they be so shameless?

They are the ones.

Those who vilify General Gang are somehow involved in the murder.

But there is nothing we can do right now without any evidence.

Ahn Pae and Yi Hyunoon are the only ones who can tell us everything.

It'll be difficult to prove anything since they're gone.

It's my fault.

I should not have killed Lady Choongju.

She was connected to the murder somehow. I just know it.

But I shot her down in haste.

Don't fault yourself, Empress Dowager. I will continue the investigation.

Yi and Ahn had other soldiers with them who I'm certain witnessed the murder,

so we will get to the truth.

Yes, we must.

What's more, the yellow-bellied cowards who had abandoned their duty during the

war must be tried and punished in order to restore order and discipline in the court.

Your Highness, I could be wrong,

but I have a feeling His Majesty feels differently about that.

Differently?

Your Majesty, Lady Yunheung is here to see you.

You may leave us.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What brings you?

Your Majesty, I was told you were to

[Lady Yunheung]

receive a second consort. Is this true?

I'm sure Attendant Jang has already answered your questions.

You can't. This is unthinkable.

The Empress is alive and well; you cannot take on another consort.

Weren't you the one who told me that children are rare in this Imperial House

and that procreation is one of my most important duties?

That doesn't mean I want you to have multiple wives

while the Empress spends her nights alone.

This is unacceptable, so call it off immediately.

Lady Yunheung, who do you think you are? The Emperor?

It is my decision whether or not I take on a second consort!

Your Majesty, I am the woman who raised you.

I'm so hurt that you'd do this without discussing with me first.

Oh?

Then let me be frank. You are not exactly my favorite person.

You deserted me when we were on the road seeking refuge, afraid for your safety.

If Empress Dowager Cheonchu came to me

and asked me to rethink this issue, I gladly would.

But not you, Lady Yunheung.

Your Majesty, Dowager Cheonchu is a whore who ruined this country.

How could you compare me to that wench?

Because she, who saved my life, is more important to me

than you, a selfish woman, could ever be. Now do you understand?

I do not care if you are the Empress's mother.

If you barge in here and try to bully me again, you will not be forgiven.

Your Majesty...!

Attendant Jang!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Get this woman out of my chambers at once.

And never let her enter without permission again!

Yes, Your Majesty. My Lady...

How could you treat me this way? You can't do this to me, Your Majesty!

Let go of me! Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Are you all right, my Lady?

He can't do this to me. He can't treat me this way!

My Lady! My Lady!

Why are you here this time?

You did this, didn't you?

Pardon?

You coaxed the Emperor to marry another consort to get my daughter deposed!

Admit it. You are behind this!

Are you laughing at me?

You dare laugh at me?!

Go home and take a good look at yourself.

You've become a hideous monster.

You wench! How dare you?!

You are a whore who ruined Goryeo!

You just watch. You can't touch my daughter!

I will replace the emperor if I have to, but my daughter will...

Your Grace, what's wrong? Wake up, Your Grace!

Whatever do you mean? Forgive them?

Just as they deserted me and fled, I also deserted my people and fled.

And if I struck them all down, they will not stop fighting me,

and this country will be engulfed in political turmoil again.

I want to end the era of political wars and dissension, and bring unity to the country.

That's nonsense.

To make the country strong, the dastardly and the guileful must be struck down.

If you forgive them, they will have no fear of you,

and they will bring harm to the country.

Empress Dowager, I should also tell you...

I am not going to follow your

sharecropping policy either.

I beg your pardon?

I fully understand why you want this reform.

But it's too radical.

The country must first have unity, but this could easily provoke dissension.

But there is no other way to maintain our military.

And the military must be maintained in order to defeat the Khitan in the future

and reclaim the old Balhae and Goguryeo territory.

Please reconsider, Your Majesty.

I have reservations about the northern conquest as well.

It requires the sacrifice of too many lives.

Our priority right now is defense and domestic stability.

It would be wonderful to expand our territory, but I would choose stability

over expansion if countless lives have to be lost for it.

I'm sorry, Empress Dowager.

Seek Prince Hwangju, Your Highness?

Yes.

But it's a dangerous territory.

[Ji Chaemun]

I know, but I must go.

I'm going to bring my child back.

[Gang Mincheom]

Forgive me, Your Highness, but you can't.

Prince Hwangju is Kim Chi Yang's son.

If he is brought back to Goryeo, he could be charged with treason and killed.

I will protect him with my life. Goryeo needs him.

Is this your final decision, Your Highness?

[Kim Jonghyun]

[Suchang Palace]

First, General Yang Kyu will be posthumously honored as the Minister of Works,

General Kim Sukheung will be awarded title of High General,

and General Dae Dosu will be restored to his previous post as Minister of Defense.

As for General Gang Jo, you have expressed split opinion on his merits,

so I will postpone my decision until the truth is revealed about Mokjong's murder.

General Choi Sawui will be dismissed from service for his defeat in Guiju,

and General Tak Sajeong who betrayed General Dae Dosu and fled from Hogyeong

will be sentenced to exile.

For the successful defense of Tongju, Yu Bang is hereby awarded position of Minister of Military,

and Choi Gil and Kim Hoon are elevated to the rank of High General.

For protecting me and serving me to the end, I am granting position of Supreme Council Undersecretary to Ji Chaemun,

Regional Military Commissioner to Kim Jonghyun,

and rank of High General to Gang Mincheom.

And for demonstrating their unfailing loyalty,

Gang Gamchan is appointed Chief Commissioner Minister of Supreme Council,

and Choi Hang is appointed Minister of Personnel.

Kim Shimon will be demoted to his previous position of Minister of Rites,

along with Choi Suk,

Choi Wonshin,

Hwangbo Yui,

Chae Choongsun,

and Mun In Wui who will also be downgraded for their incompetence and cowardice.

Lastly, for his display of exceptional loyalty, I am appointing Governor of Gongju,

Kim Eunbu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Punishment.

Are there any objections to these appointments and dismissals?

Minister of Rites.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Do you know why I am allowing you to remain in service of the court instead

of punishing you?

Your Majesty, I am just grateful.

Don't be grateful to me, be grateful to the people.

And spend your life paying them back that debt of gratitude.

Your Majesty...!

I am an unworthy man who has committed unforgivable crimes.

My genuine loyalty will be yours until the day I die.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, I beg you to be calm.

How can I be calm?!

I am so angry I can't eat and I can't sleep!

We failed to conquer that tiny little country.

We lost all of those countless warriors and barely got out alive!

Prime Minister Han was right.

If I had waited three, no, just one more year...

Your Majesty, I know this is disappointing, but it's not over.

It may take some time, but we will conquer Goryeo.

I swear to you we will realize your dream.

What happened to Ha Gongjin? Is he still refusing to serve the empire?

Yi Hyunoon and Ahn Pae are working on him, but he is not very responsive.

I want him.

He has more knowledge about the Goryeoan Army than any other prisoner.

I don't care what you have to do. Make him kneel before me!

It's been a while.

What did you come all the way here for me?

[Duyan]

I've come for my son, Prince Hwangju.

Someone has led you to the wrong place.

[Mobula (East Jurchen Tribal Leader)]

This is a small tribal village of Jurchen.

If a prince of Goryeo was here, the Goryeoan court would've been notified.

Are you the chief of the tribe?

Yes, Your Highness. I am Mobula.

I am not here to lay blame on you.

I just want to see my son. Show me your courtesy and allow me a visit.

We do not have your son. I must ask you to leave now.

I will not leave. I will not turn back until I see my son.

If you slight us and refuse to comply, we will be forced to make you comply.

Escort the Empress Dowager of Goryeo away from the village!

I've already lost one son.

Please help me so I can see the only son I have left.

You must know how I feel having lost a son yourself.

Mother...

Jin.

Jin, I am your mother. Don't you recognize me?

No, this is my mother.

As you can see, this is my son, Jin Joon.

What are you talking about? Give me back my son at once!

Prince Hwangju Kim Jin died with Sa Illa at the cliff.

Please, give me back my son. He is an Imperial Prince of Goryeo.

He can't be allowed to grow up ignorant in this remote Jurchen village.

He is not your child. But even if he were, I couldn't let you take him back to Goryeo.

I am his mother! You have no right to keep him away from me!

If you care about him, you wouldn't allow him to be raised here.

If he goes back to Goryeo with me, he could become the next Emperor.

No, I will make him the next Emperor and we will create a grand empire together.

I don't think so.

If he returned to Goryeo, he would be killed by your political enemies.

Besides, he is not your son.

He is my son, Jin Joon.

Think about it...

Would I let him live if he were your son, when you killed my husband?

Jin...

Jin! Jin!

Leave now.

I will be forced to take drastic action if you refuse.

You're telling me to give up my son!

Please, we don't want to hurt you and become an enemy of Goryeo.

This is the best thing you can do for Jin Joon.

I beg you, please leave now.

This child will indeed build a great empire someday.

But that empire will not be built in Goryeo. It'll be built here on Jurchen soil.

That's his destiny.

Watch him from afar as he builds an empire from ground up.

Really?

You really think Ha Gongjin

[Yi Hyunoon]

is going to surrender?

[Yu Chungjeong]

He didn't give me a definite answer,

but he's almost there.

How did you manage to

[Ahn Pae]

persuade that stubborn goat?

It's not definite yet, so I need your help.

He always looks at us like he's ready to kill us. What can we possible do to help?

I've invited him to my house tonight.

We're going to have a few drinks, so just come over and mingle.

Is that really necessary?

Don't you know that the Emperor is putting extra effort to win him over?

This is an Imperial Command.

Imperial Command?

Please understand.

We don't completely trust you yet, and this man is capable of anything.

No problem, I understand.

[Ha Gongjin]

Now let's have a drink.

How about you, Captain Ha?

Captain Ha is still recovering from torture so he can't drink.

Oh, that's too bad.

Now, shall we?

Wait.

You drink first.

Why? Are you afraid I might have poisoned the wine?

Better safe than sorry.

Sure.

Ah, that's good!

It sure is. I'm sorry for not trusting you.

So what made you change your mind?

A man can't live in confinement forever.

That's right. What's life anyway? Life is here for us to enjoy!

Yes. Besides, Khitan treat us better than we were ever treated in Goryeo!

Women are beautiful, and they even gave me a house to live in.

And what I like best is that I have no one breathing down my neck!

Exactly. Exactly!

Buddy!

What have you done?

This is revenge for Emperor Mokjong and General Gang.

At least I'll have company on my way to hell...

How could you?

Attendant Yu.

Your Majesty... Empress Dowager...

I have completed my mission.

Get a hold of yourself, Attendant Yu. Attendant Yu!

General Gang...

Untie him.

If you swear loyalty to me, I will grant you a life of fame and fortune

and absolve you of this crime.

I would rather die a thousand times over than become a servant of Liao.

I will not ask you again. Will you be my servant?

You will be put to death if you refuse again.

So be it.

Then I will die an honorable death, as a proud Goryeoan.

Get that despicable Goryeoan out of here and kill him!

Take aim!

How I wish I could see the skies of Goryeo again!

Fire!

I guess that means we will never find the Emperor's true killer.

I am sorry, Your Highness.

Were you able to find Prince Hwangju?

What is your plan?

Minister Gang, if I bring him back and seek to put him on the throne...

would you support me?

Your Highness, I beg you not to speak such blaspheme.

The throne? Are you thinking about an overthrow?

Then we would become enemies, wouldn't we?

Please don't, Your Highness.

We're trying to restore peace and stability but you speak of chaos and confusion.

What's more, Prince Hwangju is Kim Chi Yang�s son.

But I've worked too hard.

I've worked too hard to give up on our northern conquest...

My son has lost his life in my pursuit of this cause and General Gang's

good name has been desecrated.

I know I made a mistake trusting Kim Chi Yang, but it's unfair to have

my righteous intentions and hard work be buried and forgotten.

It's unfair...

Your Highness, your patriotism has never been in doubt.

But if you truly love this country, you must set your emotions aside.

I'm sure every nameless soldier who died in this war has a tragic story of his own.

I know you can't erase your sorrow,

but you must keep it buried deeply in your heart for Goryeo.

It is your final duty.

But what about my son? Can you protect Prince Hwangju?

Yes, I promise you I will protect him.

I will speak to the Emperor and make sure no one will be allowed to hurt him.

No, Prince Hwangju is already dead.

So don't try to turn back the clock.

Your Highness, weren't these your last words to General Gang?

[Yalu River]

Drillmaster Gang, I was able to give my dream free rein because I had you.

You were always behind me protecting me,

but I don't think I can even protect your good name.

General Gang, history might remember you as a traitor,

but don't feel alone.

If disgrace is brought upon you, that disgrace... it will be mine as well.

Eight years later, 100,000 Khitan soldiers under the command of General Xiao Baiya

attacked Goryeo again.

They pressed on south to Gaegyeong with a crushing force, despite an initial defeat

at Smagyocheon, but a massive retaliation near Gaegyeong forced them to recoil.

And what awaited them on the field of Guiju was Gang Gamchan and his army of 200,000.

Men! The Khitan army is marching towards us, right now, as we speak.

Eight years ago, our Imperial City was captured by the Khitan

and we lost a thousand of our brothers!

Today is the day that we pay them back and display the mighty power of Goryeo!

This is your calling, so wipe out the enemy!

Attack!

Attack!

Fire!

Follow me!

This battle in February 1019 is described in Goryeosa as the most devastating defeat suffered by Liao.

The fields were covered with dead Khitan soldiers, countless more were captured alive,

and heaps of weapons and countless horses were recovered.

Out of 100,000 Khitan soldiers, barely a few thousand survived the bitter defeat.

It's trouble sir.

The enemy is behind us as well!

We must get out of here, sir!

But how? We're trapped! There is no way out!

Along with Uljimundeok's Battle of Salsu and Yi Sunshin's battle of Hansando,

Battle of Guiju is known as one of the Three Great Victories in Korean History.

With this defeat, Khitan was never able to invade Goryeo again.

Long live Goryeo! Long live the Emperor!

Hyeonjong personally went out to welcome the triumphant return of Gang Gamchan

who was 71 years old at the time.

Later he was appointed Prime Minister of Goryeo

and was also honored with the esteemed title of merit subject.

Mother, where did you go?

I went out for some air. Is there something wrong?

You have a visitor.

A visitor?

Who might you be?

Jin?

Is that you?

Are you my son, Jin?

[Prince Hwangju Kim Jin]

No, my name is Jin Joon.

My mother told me about my background,

and I wanted to meet you... before it was too late.

What a fine young man you've become!

You are my son no matter what.

Jin...

Yes, you are the woman who brought me into this world, Empress Dowager.

But it is the wind of the grassland and the courage of the tribesmen that raised me.

Jin...

I know about the great dream you dreamed with my father.

You have lost your son, but your dream is not lost.

I...

I will realize your great dream on the grassland.

If I can't in my lifetime, my children will in the next generation.

This is what I've come to tell you.

Forgive me.

I will not be back to see you again.

Mother...

Yes.

If you can't live on this land, follow your heart.

But do not become an enemy of Goryeo.

This is all I ask of you.

An excerpt can be found in "The Condensed History of Goryeo"

that a man named Jin Joon fled Pyeongju of Goryeo to Jurchen Ajige Village

and that he is the founder of the Jin Dynasty.

It is also recorded in "The History of Jin" and in "Songmojiewn", a historical memo

on missions to Jin, that the founder of Jin is a man of Goryeoan or Shillan origin.

Prime Minister, Dowager Cheonchu is here.

Empress Dowager, what brings you all the way here?

I heard the Emperor was on the plowing field.

What is he doing?

The rice plants were knocked down by the storm a few days ago, so he is binding them.

I offered to help, but he says I'm too old and insists that I just watch.

I see.

Empress Dowager, when did you get here?

I was bored in Hwangju so I came for a visit,

and they told me at the palace that you were out here on the field.

Well I'm glad you've come.

I've been meaning to pay you a visit.

Oh, whatever for? You're a busy man.

By the way, you look great in a farmer's get-up.

Yes. Actually, I enjoy being a farmer much more than being an emperor.

Let me help you with that delightful activity.

You're good at that.

Thank you.

Is your back sore?

Emperor.

Yes, Your Highness.

Back in my days, there was lots of wind and rain.

Flood disasters always threatened us,

and sometimes drought had us hauling water to the fields.

But now that we've weathered the storm, grains are flourishing.

I guess the time of peace is really here.

Now the country needs more farmers than soldiers.

It's an era when people like me are of no use.

Nonsense.

If you had not gotten us through the era of war, we would not have this peace today.

No. I am but muddy water soaked up by this land.

My time has passed, so continue your good work and reap abundance.

That's all I want now.

In 1029, Empress Dowager Cheonchu

died a peaceful death in Myeongbok Palace of Hwangju.

Hyeonjong passed away two years later, Shengzhong of Liao died two months thereafter,

and Gang Gamchan also passed away only a month after that.

As Empress Dowager Cheonchu had wished,

Goryeo enjoyed 150 years of peace, and prosperity after her death.

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

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Main Translator: KBS World

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Transcriber: upikepik

Timer: chuchaiz

Editor/QC: melica

Coordinators: mily2, ay_link

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