Original subtitles

More than 10 thousand Swedish captives

were sent to Siberia after the defeat of

Charles XII's army at the Battle of Poltava.

Meantime in the East, Dzungar Khanate

defeats the Chinese army.

Now, China needs an ally more than ever.

Many attempts of drawing Russia

into war against Dzungars failed.

This bar of gold is called "Paiza".

It is granted only to the heads of states.

The ruler who's taken the Paiza

has to enter the war on the side of China.

THE CONQUEST OF SIBERIA

EPISODE 2

Tobolsk. Summer of 1714.

Look.

Here.

And here. It's no good.

That's right, Johan.

Mitya, son of a dog.

Where, the hell, you're putting the hay to?

Have you become completely squint-eyed?

I'll sack you from the building site!

So you'll measure your wife's hips! If you have a rope long enough, of course.

- Greetings, Semyon. - Welcome back, Knyaz Matvey.

How's it going? Aren't the Swedes misbehaving?

Why would they? They're hardworking and meticulous people.

Many of ours could learn a bit.

Hey you, help that clumsy one.

I've come with an expedition.

They'll be looking for gold.

In Yarkant.

Where's it?

It's a borderland town.

The trip to is 14 weeks.

- It's farther than Moscow. - Of course it is.

It's 4 weeks to our border fortress Tara.

You spend winter in there.

And then, it's severe Kalmyk Steppe

for 8 weeks.

- But do they have gold in there? - Rumors say they do.

But no one has seen Yarkant gold here.

They're lying.

Maybe they are.

I guess, your expedition is in vain.

That's not of your concern.

It's the Tsar's order.

We must execute it.

Stop from working.

Here you are.

What is this?

This is a porridge.

I hate this Russian muck.

We're captives, Michael.

We eat what is given.

You're a lazy woman, Brigitta.

We've spent all on your liquor.

You're an alcoholic.

Whore! I want to quit, but I can't.

I didn't mean to.

I love you, Brigitta.

I have nothing left to do

in this damn country.

When you really love someone,

everything is possible.

Vanya, and you were sad you wouldn't meet Swedes.

Look. No need to fight them. They're captives already.

Hi, Swedes!

Oh, you've killed me.

What did he say?

He said I'm a jester.

Repeat that, clown!

I'm an officer.

If I had a weapon you'd pay for this.

Wanna fight?

Great!

Hold this.

I'll give you a weapon.

Vanya!

Take it. You're an officer, right?

Come on.

Good boy. Ozharovsky, your rapier.

Stay still.

Back up.

Mister Swede, give the rapier back.

Calm down.

Give back the weapon and go on eating. You're a captive.

You made the Swede flee, huh?

Totally.

Please, accept this scroll, Knyaz.

The list of what we need for the campaign.

Let's see.

A hundred cannons...

I guess, we gather it all over the winter.

You start the next spring.

Remember my words. It's the truth.

So I'll die in a severe fight?

Well,

we'll place recruits and ammunition here.

You Colonel, I invite living in my place.

The officers will be living at good citizens'.

Thank you, Governor. We'll settle all down.

This way, please.

This is Vasily Cheredov, the Colonel of Tobolsk Dragoons.

Good health to you.

My health is fine.

Vasily,

you need to share some room.

From now on, Colonel Bukhgoltz's men

will be at your place.

They can find another place.

Siberia Army resides here.

Listen carefully, Vasily.

You pack your belongings

and leave the place.

And take your men with you.

My men will be here. Is the order clear?

You know, I've seen a lot of curly ones, like you.

Soon, they were all running away crying.

Captain, help the Colonel leave the place.

Yes, sir.

By noon you must be gone.

Oh no, no.

Are you making new order, Matvey?

What?

Can I use it, officer?

- Huh? - The drum?

- What's your name? - Pyotr Remezov.

Yes, you can, Pyotr Remezov.

A year earlier.

Tobolsk. Semyon Remezov's house.

Summer of 1713.

Is it possible to travel by the Irtysh

to China?

The Ob is used for traveling to China now.

To Maykovsky burg,

then to Anisey,

to Selenginsk and then to Albazino.

What about the Irtysh?

To the river mouth through Lake Zaysan.

But merchants don't go there because of Dzungars.

Is there a guidance for the Zaysan route?

A Greek Mikola Spathari

described the route about 30 years ago.

Thanks.

Don't be afraid.

No one will offend such a pretty girl.

Do you have the book?

I couldn't find it.

- Come over sometime. - This is beautiful.

Put it back to be on the safe side.

- See you. - Bye.

Gregory, could you look for Spathari's work

in the church library?

OK. I'll ask Father Felafey.

- Girl, wait. What's your name? - Aykony.

It's a gift.

You're very pretty.

Bibikov told me you're the best architect in Tobolsk.

- I am. - Tell me what you think of our city.

The first thing to do is to finish the merchant court.

As soon as you remove the whole trade there you'll enrich the treasury.

- A wise one. - Look here.

There I want to build a church.

A pavilion like.

A tiered tower surrounded by pillars. What a beauty!

As for the Spasskaya tower,

we need to stone it.

And surround it all with battlement wall.

And we'll get a kremlin.

The capital of Siberia - Tobolsk.

And you will be sitting there

on a chair,

like a tsar.

Yeah, like a tsar.

Well, Semyon, you don't know the way

cities are built these days.

Saint Petersburg, for example.

Everything is flat,

along the line.

The city is not for the defence, but for lords' walks.

Here's Siberia!

We need the good old Slavic way.

So it would knock you down!

- Why are you shouting? - What's wrong?

I don't mind at all.

Of course the kremlin is better than the vista.

So, we're building the kremlin.

You'll be the architect.

"We're building the kremlin" he says.

Give me money.

I will, calm down.

We'll start with the tower and...

the church on the hill. So start designing.

You're the architect, so design.

Skill demands practice.

- Are you ready, Mr Junker? - I am, Captain.

Position. On guard.

Shall we continue? Or you're too tired?

Touché. On guard.

Killed.

You're making progress.

I've brought.

What have you brought?

What's this?

Good!

Why have you brought it to me?

You're a knyaz.

Strong,

handsome,

you win.

Tell me, Ay...

Tell me, Aykony.

Have you seen these signs in your country?

- Our ancient signs. - Voilà.

Just as expected.

This is for you.

Food.

And now, thank you,

and...

good bye.

This is mine.

Good bye.

Exotique.

The one who breaks the hair

will be mine.

Come in!

Grigory, what's wrong with you?

I don't know. Everything went dark

and hurt in the chest.

Master Felafey gave me Spathari's book

that you asked for.

Thanks.

Are you alright?

Yeah, I'm alright.

Aykony? What are you doing here?

How did you get here?

I've come to you.

Come here.

Aykony.

You're a knyaz.

You fed me with the sweet bread.

You gave money.

You're a husband.

I'm a wife.

You broke the hair.

Take me.

Aykony, sweetheart.

No, Aykony.

It's not possible.

You're a slave.

And your master Remezov will come for you.

Let's run away together. Build a house.

It's good along the Ob.

No one will find us. I can do everything.

Aykony,

I need to read this Remezov's book

about your country, first.

Then I can go with you.

Why? I'll tell you everything.

Well, I believe you, but...

I need to read it with my eyes.

Bring it to me.

It's a bad thing. It's his book.

I'll do it quick.

I'll give back. Just bring.

And we'll run away

to the forest.

Okay.

I'll do anything my knyaz wants.

Your Gods don't really exist.

You're wrong. Our Gods give us prey.

The Ob old man makes fish in water.

But Christ, our God, makes souls immortal.

Your God promises things that can't be checked.

Neither God, nor you need faith against will.

I'll be back.

We'll see what happens.

Thank you.

Shut the door.

Brigitta.

Isn't it what you want?

- Yeah. - Shut the door.

Come here.

Have you figured out an escape plan?

I will do this for sure.

You're sons of Islam now.

We've praised your God.

Can we go now?

Yes, you can. Goods and merchants are waiting for you.

Ostyak settlement Pevlor.

They know nothing about the faith.

They've pronounced The Shahada for three times.

That's enough.

Examine them better.

We need only good ones.

Like this one.

From now on, you are Muslims.

And we have the right to trade with you,

as we share our religion now.

For Russians, everything is written here.

You have to put your Tamgas here.

Leave it for me.

After this, you can take what you've paid for.

Men, let's put our signs.

The merchants' God is better than the Russians' one, who has two lives.

He is the morning Sun.

We need to bow down before him.

Say the magic words this man taught us.

Then the God will hear us

and make our wishes come true.

No need in idols and shamans.

- What's your name, pretty girl? - Homany.

Homany.

A gift for you from me.

Now your daughter is a wealthy bride.

Russians take away,

but the merchants give gifts.

I know whose God is kinder.

What should we do when the Russians come back?

Protect your new faith.

If Felafey baptize you,

we won't come back.

I know what to do.

I'll send them away!

I've brought the book.

Where are you going, Father?

I'll have a walk in the woods while the boat is being repaired.

- We'll come with you. - No need, brethren.

I want to be by myself.

Kill them!

Why are torturing the old man? He hasn't done anything wrong.

He's a strong shaman.

It's not easy to kill him. We'll burn him.

Then, we'll crush the coals

and throw them to the Ob. He'll be dead forever, then.

No strong shaman, no Russians.

Father Felafey,

we've repaired the boat.

We can sail further.

Oh, God!

Lord, have mercy!

Ahuta, you're not the Knyaz of Pevlor. Why you make decisions?

I killed those two bears in winter, not you, Pantila.

I sold their fur-skins

and called the merchants with their kind God here.

I'm the knyaz now, not you.

Gather wood.

Why have you come back? We got the religion of the merchants.

Their God is kinder, gives us gifts.

Gifts? I had gifts for you too.

I was going to release you from tribute for 3 years ahead.

But I'm late.

The merchants' God cheated yours, then.

Their God is more cunning.

Cunning is the weapon of the weak.

The Russian Tsar owns Siberia, not the merchants.

Will a tsar pray to a weak God?

But your God won't save you.

Ahuta wants to burn you.

I'll be dead now.

But later, my God

will bring me back to life.

Hey, you!

Where's the Father Felafey?

Tobolsk.

Give me your hand.

Come on. Women!

Get off, quick!

Get off.

Gather!

She's dead!

- She's dead? - Who's dead?

Help!

Get back! Stand still!

Who's dead?

Get back, you all!

Who's dead I'm asking?

Alert, commander!

Elena is running away!

Stop!

Be on your guard!

Russians! Come here!

Your old man is dying! Here!

- What? - Your old man is dying!

Go! Quick!

Thank you, Pantila.

It means

it's not my time yet.

The God is there.

I know now.

The God is there!

Senya!

Where's the running woman?

Over there.

Don't run.

Got you!

Let me help you.

Here's you new God, Pantila.

Two our men are killed,

six of yours.

It's Ahuta's fault.

But he ran away.

Pantila, who's that girl standing on the end?

She's Homany.

Ahuta's daughter. She's waiting for him.

Is your name...

Homany?

I know a girl in Tobolsk.

She has the same face.

Her name is Aykony.

My sister Aykony?

Do you know her?

How is she?

She is good.

This is an ulama. Give it to her and tell

that Homany misses her very much.

I will.

What will you men do to Pevlor?

Will they burn our houses and rob us?

No, they won't. We'll just leave.

We'll have to come back to Tobolsk.

Hello there, Levonty.

Pyotr.

Hi, Grigory. Do you need something?

I've come to Aykony.

A gift for you, beauty.

Your sister sends her regards.

Look, boys.

It's from my sister Homany.

Is it nice?

It's from my sister, Homany.

It's not just a shawl.

It's an ulama.

I have a gift from me.

- Nice. - It is.

It's not mine.

You need to be baptized.

I don't need to. You're a stranger.

You are not my Knyaz.

Look, Knyaz.

Isn't it great?

Yeah, what a beauty!

But things are not great.

I'm not sure how to tell you.

Only don't call the Tsar names. I don't want to imprison you.

The Tsar's order is

to stop all the stone works and send all the masters

under Menshikov's command to Saint Petersburg.

Do we just have to leave all this?

Looks like that.

Make roofs to protect it all from rain.

And wait until the Tsar replaces rage with mercy.

It's good we finished the church at least.

Wait Knyaz, I can't understand.

We've made enough bricks and lime

but can't build?

We won't get any money. It's all over the country now.

We need to coax Tsar Peter somehow.

There's a little left to be done.

But how? Demidov casts cannons.

But what do we make?

We'll see. I've send him golden stuff

from the mounds for the museum.

We'll see what happens.

And if he doesn't like it

it's the end of the building, I see.

You are a toxic man, Remezov.

OK, how can we build without the masters?

We'll use the Swedes, dissidents.

I'll take my sons, I'll work myself.

We'll cope with it.

You'll get me into noose.

Don't Tsar Peter understand

that kremlin is the Tsar's power and glory.

It's like a lesson for the people.

You can't do without it.

Remezov, you really should be a senator

in Saint Petersburg. You'd be priceless.

Okay. Go.

Where to?

Get new crew.

Bless me, dear God.

How's your health, Father.

The healer says...

it's good I bled a lot.

God saved me from the fever.

I can't walk yet. I'm still too weak.

I told you I was too old for this.

OK, I'll rest a bit

and come back to the Ob.

Tell me, who and where attacked you.

Knyaz Matvey, don't do it.

I forgave them.

I don't want to preach, but it's not good.

They didn't just attack an old man,

they attacked ex-metropolitan of Siberia.

And you didn't come to pick up berries, you were executing the Tsar's order.

- We can't let that go! - But they are children like.

Maybe they are in faith.

But they knew they couldn't kill people.

They knew what they were doing.

BASED ON ALEKSEY IVANOV'S NOVEL "THE TOBOL"