(This drama is based on historical events, )
(but some details may be different from historical facts.)
(Production guidelines were strictly followed when filming with animals.)
Set off the battle.
Set off the battle!
(Episode 10)
I have returned.
There is no need to head to battle.
Seogyeong has surrendered.
The Deputy Mayor of Seogyeong sent this letter to His Majesty.
How come you came alone?
Where are the other envoys?
They are getting ready to welcome His Majesty at Seogyeong Fortress.
So?
You came here all by yourself without a single guard?
Why should I have guards escort me? I have no reason to be afraid of.
Goryeo has already put down its weapons,
and I now consider myself one of Khitan's vassals.
I have no reason to be afraid of coming here all by myself.
(Yelu Pennu)
(Yelu Dilu)
Please let me through...
so that I can deliver this letter to His Majesty.
It is a letter from the Deputy Mayor of Seogyeong.
He will obey Your Majesty's wishes and surrender.
The Khitan officials in Seogyeong...
are arranging Your Majesty's accommodation at the moment.
I suggest you go to Seogyeong Fortress as soon as the sun comes up.
Why should I do that?
You have been staying in this barren field for a while,
so you should now stay in a place that is more comfortable.
And when the King of Goryeo visits Your Majesty to pay homage,
it would look better if you were in Seogyeong to accept his homage...
than here.
Is that so?
I will think about it.
Thank you for your hard work.
Go and get some rest.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Tell the soldiers to go back to sleep.
- Your Majesty. - Do it now!
Had he arrived even a moment later,
we would have made a grave mistake because of you.
I would have been seen as a petty emperor...
attacking a country that had already surrendered.
- However, the circumstances tell me... - That is enough!
Who would dare to deceive the Emperor of the Great Khitan Empire?
Who, in the world, has the guts to deceive me?
Commander, listen to me carefully.
Everything that happens in this war...
will be recorded in detail and go down in history.
Please...
do not make a single mistake.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Keep sending scouts.
We need to know exactly what is happening in Seogyeong right now.
We must find out.
Yes, Commander.
Promise me...
that you will be sure...
to return.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You have my word that I will return no matter what.
Hey.
Look at the sky.
My, were there always so many stars in the sky?
Now that the sun has set and the moon has risen,
(Jang Yeon Woo, Field Deputy Commander)
this is paradise.
Over the mountains in Sukju,
they are cutting off the heads of the dead Goryeo soldiers,
but here I am in the woods, mesmerized by the Milky Way.
This is no time to be writing a poem.
Where should we go now?
I am not sure.
We should go to Seogyeong.
It is our last remaining fortress.
If I go there,
and if Seogyeong also falls because of me, then what do I do?
- Pardon? - When I was...
in Samsuchae,
Goryeo's 300,000 soldiers were defeated.
When I went to Yeongju, Yeongju Fortress fell.
Then I went to Sukju, and Sukju Fortress fell into the enemy's hands too.
I bet Seogyeong Fortress will also fall if I go to Seogyeong.
Then where will you go now?
That is enough. Get up already.
We must go to Seogyeong.
All we have done is run away.
Should we not fight properly for once?
Are you scared?
You... Do not insult me.
I told you it was to save Seogyeong.
Then you can remain here alone.
Get up. We are going to Seogyeong.
- Get up. - All right.
- Be ashamed of yourself. - We are to go to Seogyeong.
I am sincerely worried about Seogyeong, all right?
Are you fine with Seogyeong falling down? Are you?
Out of all the Goryeo people, as many as the stars,
who will acknowledge my sincerity?
I, a lone loyal subject,
look up at the sky.
- Are you really not coming? - I am on my way.
Good grief.
Those are Goryeo soldiers. They are heading to Seogyeong.
Let us go at once!
Deputy General!
The main army is finally coming.
(Ji Chae Moon, Deputy General)
Welcome, Temporary Government Officer.
Why are you out here?
You were ordered to prepare for battle inside the fortress.
The fortress gates will not open.
That Deputy Mayor of Seogyeong...
surrendered to the Khitan.
- What? - Let us go first.
(The Khitan army camp)
We will attack the moment any suspicious movements...
are detected in Seogyeong.
Keep that in mind and prepare for it.
- Yes, Commander. - Yes, Commander.
Commander. It is the Goryeo soldiers.
Thousands of Goryeo soldiers have arrived at Seogyeong Fortress.
See? I knew that would happen.
Advance on Seogyeong at once. Go.
- Yes, Commander. - Yes, Commander.
It is empty.
Find him at once.
You must bring him back alive.
Understood.
Where are you headed to?
The emperor has ordered me to return to Gaegyeong.
But why are none of the eunuchs seeing you off?
I do not know. It could be they are all busy.
Wait here. Let us confirm it first.
Catch that man!
Follow him!
Do not shoot! We must arrest him!
Deputy Minister Kang.
How did this happen?
Why are you here?
(Seogyeong Fortress)
What now?
Do we just return to the northeast?
"Return?"
- We cannot do that. - He is right.
His Majesty has ordered us to protect Seogyeong.
That is true. But the fortress gates are not opening, are they?
- Order us to launch an attack. - What?
If that will open the gates, we must do it.
We are out of time.
We ran into the Khitan scouts everywhere throughout the night.
The Khitan camp would have received this news by now.
At this rate, we could get surrounded by the Khitans...
even before entering the gates.
Even so, we cannot have the Goryeo soldiers fight each other.
Let us say that we do fight.
Taking over a fortress is far from easy.
Then what do we do?
Lord Cho. I beg you. Please open the fortress gates.
Enough.
What do you expect from that traitor?
Lord Cho. Please.
I am begging you on my knees.
Are you not different from Deputy Mayor Won?
You are still a subject of Goryeo,
not a dog of the Khitan!
You are Goryeo's subject!
Lord Cho!
The Khitan army will soon arrive.
And when they come, all the soldiers...
from the northeast will be wiped out.
For daring to disobey Emperor of the Great Khitan Empire,
every one of them will be killed and beheaded.
I really do hope the Khitan emperor...
acknowledges our loyalty.
Do not worry.
The emperor will think highly of our service...
and reward us generously.
You, too, will be given a higher position.
You have contributed greatly.
Officer. The Khitan soldiers are coming.
Those Khitans...
This will not do. Let us hide for now.
Where can we hide?
We must fight here.
- What? - He is right.
We came to protect Seogyeong, no?
So, where are we to go and not fight the incoming enemy?
Do not be foolish.
We came to save Seogyeong, not die here.
All men, turn around.
Prepare for battle!
Deputy General!
Get in formation!
Formation!
- Yes. - Yes.
Get inside the fortress! Hurry!
What in the world is this?
Who opened the fortress gates?
Stop him at once! Stop him!
Deputy Mayor.
The Goryeo soldiers have reached Seogyeong.
And the envoy from Goryeo has run away.
Is that...
- all true? - Yes, Your Majesty.
They have deceived Your Majesty.
Your Majesty?
Advance on Seogyeong right this instant.
Make sure to burn...
every one of them.
Understood, Your Majesty.
(Traitors)
The soldiers of the northeast will lead the battle.
Never again speak of surrendering.
Soldiers, get ready to fight at once.
- Understood. - Understood.
Supervising Officer.
Station them along the fortress walls.
Yes, Officer.
- Follow me! - Yes, sir!
Lord Cho.
Thank you.
Giddyup.
My lord, have you checked?
Yes, it has all gone well.
I am relieved to hear that.
I must head to Gaegyeong immediately and see His Majesty.
What will you do now?
I will go to Seogyeong, of course.
Seogyeong is the last fortress standing.
I may not be much help, but I shall add to their efforts.
If you head to Seogyeong now, you will come face to face with the enemy.
Come to Gaegyeong.
- Gaegyeong? - Yes, I will head there first.
Giddyup.
Do not think of going to Gaegyeong.
Why do you say that?
And what if Gaegyeong falls? Will you take responsibility?
Come now, man. Do not worry.
As long as Seogyeong is standing, Gaegyeong will never fall.
I will now keep His Majesty safe by his side.
Let us get going.
Let us go.
Deputy Minister Kang.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I have returned.
Yes.
You have returned.
Yes, Your Majesty.
What happened to Seogyeong?
The troops from the northeast have arrived.
They are ready to do battle with the enemy.
That is a relief to hear.
It is a great relief.
Deputy Minister Kang.
What on earth are you talking about?
We requested to pay homage in person after deciding to surrender already.
How come you speak of going to battle?
And what do you mean by the troops of the northeast moving to Seogyeong?
Deputy Minister Kang!
Goryeo has not surrendered.
We have only requested to pay homage.
What do you mean?
Requesting to pay homage...
means that we will surrender.
The emperor of Khitan also thought so and stopped his troops from advancing.
However, nowhere in the diplomatic letter does it mention surrendering.
What?
Goryeo will not surrender.
And His Majesty...
will never pay homage.
Then, do you mean...
you have returned from deceiving the emperor of Khitan?
Yes, that is right.
My goodness.
Your Majesty, did you allow...
all of these things beforehand?
- That is right. - Your Majesty.
It was an urgent matter,
so I could not discuss it with all of you.
For that,
I would like to apologize.
However,
no matter how I think of this,
it is not right to surrender to Khitan now.
Once you bow down to the enemy,
you can never become their equal again.
You can never take back what you give up as you surrender either.
You say that I must maintain this nation even if that is what it takes,
But our descendants who are born into a nation barely carrying on its name...
will undoubtedly...
resent us.
Right now, we are waging this war on behalf of our descendants.
The land that we are thinking of handing over to the enemy...
is the land which our descendants will build houses and farm on.
The annual tributes we are thinking of paying the enemy...
is a debt that our descendants must pay by shedding blood and sweat.
Please be sure to keep that in mind.
We have...
no right to surrender.
How could you do this to me, Lord Kang?
I am sorry.
You made all of the chancellors seem useless.
You not only deceived the emperor of Khitan but all of us.
All we have before us now is death.
Even if we want to surrender, they will not allow us.
How will you take responsibility for that?
Even if it is for that reason, we must only think about winning.
Lord Kang!
That is how the nation of Balhae was ruined.
We were trying to stop such devastation.
Even if we have to continue existing in a pitiful state after surrendering,
existing and disappearing are two very different outcomes.
Do you seriously not know that?
Do you think we planned on giving them everything they asked for?
No.
We were going to risk our lives and negotiate like Yeom Yoon.
We were going to minimize Goryeo's losses...
and protect our nation's interests in any way.
But you, Lord Kang,
took that chance away from us.
And you have pushed us to the edge of a precipice in this war.
I am not sure who our descendants will resent.
I will resign.
Left Senior Executive.
Please allow me to do so.
I am sorry about this.
Please forgive me...
if I have upset you.
Your Majesty.
I do not say this because I am swayed by my emotions.
I can see how you could have made such a decision in an urgent situation.
Also, what you said makes sense as well.
However,
my thoughts remain the same.
Since my thoughts are different from Your Majesty's,
it is only right that I step aside...
and open up your path as you walk forward.
- Left Senior Executive. - Your Majesty.
If you have already decided to fight back,
you should fill the court with officials who share the same opinion...
and reduce exhaustive arguments.
The court must work together in perfect order...
to be able to achieve anything.
This is my request as your old vassal.
Please...
accept my resignation.
So, what did you decide?
In the end, I allowed it.
I could not think of any words to convince him not to.
It is difficult.
While trying to protect Seogyeong,
I lost my chancellors.
Once you gain something,
you must lose something too.
He will soon return to court again.
The Left Senior Executive is a vassal who cares for Goryeo more than anyone.
Please give him some time.
Yes, I will do so.
Now,
there really is no other way but to win the war.
Yes, that is right.
Never let yourself waver.
Then, you will lose everything, not just one.
Right.
I will keep that in mind.
And...
thank you...
for returning safely.
Thank you for your boundless generosity.
I am back.
Is there any food? I am famished.
Did those Khitan jerks not even give you anything to eat?
Of course, they did.
They treated me very well for I went there as Goryeo's envoy.
Then you should have stayed there to enjoy being treated well.
Why did you return?
Nothing tastes better than your home-cooked meals.
Oh, boy. I raised a bull.
That is what cattle do.
Even if you leave them in a faraway place,
they somehow come back and find their barn.
For this. To eat their fodder.
Goodness. Dear me.
My gosh.
This is where you can see...
Seogyeong Fortress clearly, as you have asked.
That is Seogyeong Fortress.
The Spearhead Commander is attacking the north gate now.
We will open the gates and go to battle.
We should launch our counterattack before we are completely surrounded.
That will not work.
The enemy brought countless soldiers.
If we do nothing but hide in the fortress,
we will be completely besieged in no time.
We must go to battle before we are totally trapped in here.
Yes, I agree.
Entrust him with it.
He is the brave general, Ji Chae Moon.
Officer Tak.
Open the gates!
Attack!
(Seogyeong Fortress)
(Heunghwajin)
(Jung Sung, Commander of Heunghwajin)
I do not see a single Khitan soldier.
(Yang Kyu, Northwest Temporary Government Officer)
Let us keep going.
- I think they saw us. - Raise your bow.
They are Goryeo soldiers. Put down your bows.
Kim Sook Heung.
(Kim Sook Heung, Seventh Rank Officer of Kwiju)
Officer Yang.
Why are you acting like a thief cat?
Are you on your way to steal some fish or something?
It looked like the siege was lifted,
so we were patrolling the area outside the fortress.
Where are Khitan's main forces at the moment?
They have all gone south.
South? Toward Samsuchae?
No.
Samsuchae has already fallen.
I heard the commander at Samsuchae was captured...
and killed by the Khitans.
What?
The commander died?
Yes.
Commander...
Then what about Tongju Fortress?
Thankfully, they are still holding out.
However,
Gwakju, Yeongju, and Sukju have all fallen.
Now, Seogyeong Fortress is...
the only fortress standing on the way to Gaegyeong.
The Khitan army is utilizing all their military manpower...
to seize Seogyeong.
What is the situation like at the fortresses that have fallen?
As for Yeongju and Sukju,
the Khitan scoundrels burned down the fortresses.
As for Gwakju, 6,000 Khitan soldiers are stationed there now.
About 7,000 Goryeo prisoners are also held captive there.
Can Seogyeong continue to hold out? I am concerned.
You know from experience...
how ruthless and brutal...
those Khitan scoundrels are.
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
- Hurrah for our victorious army!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
Well done.
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
Hurrah!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
Hurrah!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
Our troops in Seogyeong are on a winning streak.
Deputy General Ji Chae Moon and General Dae Do Soo...
are taking turns to defeat Khitan's troops.
Monk Beopeon...
also joined them with the warrior monks in the Northwest...
and had won a few battles already.
Is that all true?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Officer Tak in the Northeast said...
that we would soon be able to...
drive them out to the north of the Chongchon River.
See?
Our army did it.
All we did was give them the opportunity to fight,
and they are delighting us with this news of victory.
The brave general of the Northeast is wiping out Khitan's mounted troops...
while the descendent of Balhae is avenging his motherland.
Even monks at the temples...
have picked up swords and spears...
to save the innocent people of Goryeo.
Had we surrendered,
all of them would have wailed while beating their chests.
Never utter the word, "surrender," again.
Khitan...
can never conquer Goryeo.
Goryeo...
will win this war, no matter what.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
I plan to reclaim Gwakju.
- Pardon me? - Right now, Gwakju is...
the only foothold that the Khitan army has.
So once we recapture Gwakju,
the Khitan army will have no shelter left where they can regroup...
in the worst-case scenario.
They will also lose the only place where they can safely store...
their military provisions and supplies.
- Officer Yang. - The Khitan army...
has pushed too deep into our territory.
If they lose their only foothold in their current situation,
they will be completely trapped in our territory.
They will have to withdraw their troops to avoid annihilation.
We will leave behind the minimum number of soldiers needed.
Get ready to advance on Gwakju right away.
I cannot do that.
General Jung.
Officer Yang.
We have done enough.
We defended the fortress against 400,000 Khitan soldiers for 7 days.
While we were doing that,
over half of the soldiers at Heunghwajin died.
I know. Of course, I know that too.
However, this is our chance to end the war.
That is only if we succeed.
You know very well how hard it is to take over a fortress.
An army of 400,000 lost against 4,000. That is siege warfare.
But to reclaim Gwakju?
I do not want to kill...
Heunghwajin soldiers with such a reckless attack.
This is an order. Obey it.
Then take my head.
I am the Commander of Heunghwajin.
Before you take my head,
none of my soldiers will take part in it.
Then I will go alone.
I cannot kill another Goryeo person with my hands.
Officer Yang.
I will gather the scattered troops if I must...
and take back Gwakju.
I leave Heunghwajin in your care until then.
Officer Yang!
Take 700 soldiers with you.
But nothing more than that.
Reinforce the rest from Tongju Fortress.
They will be able to spare a few.
- Thank you. - Officer Yang.
Please reconsider it.
We are not the only Goryeo soldiers.
But we are probably the only ones thinking of reclaiming Gwakju.
Be careful.
Be safe.
Let us go.
- Do not worry. - Go back.
- Goodbye, Mother. - My dear.
Come back safely.
- Father. - My son.
Your Majesty. What brings you all the way here?
I came to ask how you were doing.
I am much obliged.
However, do not bother yourself with such a thing during the war.
Please devote yourself to the country's affairs.
This, too, is a country's affair.
- Excuse me? - Have you heard the Goryeo army...
is winning battle after battle?
Yes, I have.
It is a great relief.
Indeed. It is a relief and grateful news.
I received a message from the northwest temporary government officer today...
for the first time in a while.
Do you mean from Heunghwajin?
Yes.
He will gather soldiers from Heunghwajin and Tongju Fortress...
to attack the Khitan's rear.
The generals on the battlefield will keep fighting hard,
so he wants us not to waver.
What...
What a truly pleasant message.
That is why I am here.
Please...
return to the court.
Your Majesty.
I am a very greedy man.
Neither do I want to lose my subject...
nor lose our victory.
Come to the court.
You have devoted your whole life to the court.
When the moment comes when we win this battle,
you must...
be there.
Please.
Satisfy my greed.
Save us, merciful Buddha.
All Goryeo men are cunning.
You...
are a kind I must not show mercy to.
I will burn the whole of Goryeo.
I will show the entire world what happens...
when you anger me.
Your Majesty!
Why is the battle making such slow progress?
When will Seogyeong be brought down?
Wipe out all those wild Goryeo soldiers.
Do it at once!
Yes, Your Majesty.
Giddyap!
- Giddyap! - Run!
Stop, Deputy General.
We have come too far.
Kill every one of them!
Good grief. And so?
What happened to the Deputy General?
After losing his soldiers and being chased by the Khitans,
he ran away to the south.
Understood.
Darn it. How could this happen?
How could Ji Chae Moon lose?
(Goryeo)
Ji Chae Moon...
Officer Tak.
Allow me to head out and rescue the Deputy General.
- Do not leave the fortress. - Officer Tak!
I am telling you not to leave!
Closely guard the fortress gates.
No one is to launch an attack from now on.
Until the Khitan soldiers fall back,
we will only protect Seogyeong Fortress.
Understood?
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
What now?
(Tongju, Gwakju, Seogyeong)
(Tongju Fortress)
We cannot spare much.
The most...
I can give you is 1,000.
The rest have to guard the fortress for any possibilities.
Over 6,000 Khitan soldiers are in Gwakju Fortress alone.
The battle will be a long shot with only 1,700 soldiers.
When did we only fight battles we could win?
Well, that is true.
We must reclaim Gwakju no matter what.
Only then can we end this war.
Does the Temporary Government Officer truly need you?
Yes. He asked me for my support in person.
Allow me to go.
Having someone like me only causes you headaches, doesn't it?
Run faster!
Hurry!
Temporary Government Officer!
Good grief, that little...
Officer Tak.
Are you all right?
Yes.
My apologies, General.
Earlier, I was too rash.
Do not worry.
You trusted the Deputy General very much, did you not?
Honestly, I did.
I still cannot believe it.
He has fought against the Jurchen for years...
but has never lost one battle.
Anyway...
Where are the Khitan soldiers?
They will soon swarm in.
They will come all at once...
and besiege us on all four sides.
Then,
we will all die now.
Officer Tak.
Why not just attack first instead?
- What? - The emperor of Khitan...
is staying in a secluded temple.
We just have to get rid of him, do we not?
Well, then...
That is right. Let us finish this war ourselves.
You should attack through the eastern gates.
Then, I will attack through the western gates.
Let us attack from both sides and take down the emperor of Khitan.
- What do you say? - Yes.
That is what I have been hoping for.
If only I could kill the emperor of Khitan with my own hands,
I will do whatever it takes.
- Then let us go. - Yes, Officer Tak.
General Dae Do Soo has just left through the eastern gates.
Open the gates!
Follow me!
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
Wait, but why is he heading that way?
I know.
The emperor of Khitan is in the opposite direction.
Officer Tak.
What do you mean?
Tell me again.
The temporary government officer of the northeast...
has abandoned Seogyeong Fortress and has run away.
No...
Then, who is keeping Seogyeong safe?
There is no one.
Deputy General Ji Chae Moon is being chased by Khitan troops.
And General Dae Do Soo was taken captive...
while attacking the emperor of Khitan.
Your Majesty, you must evacuate immediately.
Seogyeong will fall soon.
(Korea-Khitan War)
Give up. It is an imprudent fight.
If we endure just a little while longer, we can win.
How are we to buy more time?
You must flee the palace.
We have lost.
The Khitan army will soon arrive in Gaegyeong.
I will remain in Gaegyeong.