(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.)
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.
This is what we are facing, after all?
We have tried so hard to prevent this.
Seogyeong Fortress will fall into the enemy's hands too, after all?
Your Majesty.
It has not fallen yet.
If everyone remaining in Seogyeong joins forces...
Forget it.
If they could guard the fortress on their own,
why did they ask for reinforcements from the Northeast?
And why did you have to go into the enemy's camp to buy time?
Any fortress is bound to fall once its commander in chief runs away.
That is exactly what happened in Yeongju and Gwakju.
The skies are abandoning Goryeo...
and our innocent people...
to stand...
with those cruel invaders.
(Seogyeong Fortress)
Wait, excuse me. What will happen to us now?
I have no idea either.
You have no idea? You cannot say that!
- What can I do? I truly do not know. - What?
General Dae Do Soo and Deputy General Ji Chae Moon are not here.
I do not know whose orders I should await.
- What? Then what are we to do? - Wait!
(Seonhwamun, Seonhwadang)
Here is the list of military officials.
All the seventh rank officers are already deceased.
At the moment, only seven ninth rank officers...
and 13 junior 9th rank officers are remaining.
(Gyowi: 9th rank officer, first lieutenant level)
(Daejeong: Junior 9th rank officer, second lieutenant level)
What should we do now?
We are now the highest-ranking officials in Seogyeong.
Then...
you should lead Seogyeong.
Me? How dare I?
I am a mere seventh rank officer.
We are in the middle of a war.
In the absence of the Supervising Commander,
the Supervising Officer should lead the army.
The soldiers will obey your commands, no one else's.
No, I do not have the confidence to do it.
I cannot lead such a big army to guard this fortress.
We will help you.
Right now, we just need someone to step up and lead the army.
The Khitan army is coming!
What should we do?
Tell us what to do!
What are you waiting for?
Hurry up and tell us what to do!
Lord Cho.
Yes.
Fight.
Climb the fortress walls with your soldiers.
Now, we must guard Seogyeong on our own.
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
We have completely besieged Seogyeong Fortress.
The commander of Goryeo's army in Seogyeong...
has abandoned the fortress and run away.
The fortress will fall soon.
Pick up the pace.
(Yelu Longxu, 6th Emperor of the Khitan)
I am still enraged.
Let us quickly advance to Gaegyeong.
I want to face those who have deceived me.
Yes, Your Majesty. We will make haste.
Pass this on to the Spearhead Commander.
Tell him to mobilize all the soldiers...
and take over Seogyeong soon.
Understood, Commander.
Your Majesty. A decision must be made.
We should surrender.
(Chae Chung Soon, Privy Council Officer)
This is our last chance to surrender.
Your Majesty. Surrender now,
and we can make the Khitans return...
with only the north land of Seogyeong.
However, if Seogyeong falls,
we will have to give up the whole.
Please take this into consideration.
Your Majesty. We cannot let even the Gaegyeong people...
get trampled over by the Khitans' horses.
Please decide to surrender.
We must not surrender.
Seogyeong has not gone down yet.
Even if it does,
we must not surrender at any cost.
Then what are we to do?
There are only 1,000 soldiers left...
in Gaegyeong.
How can we stop the Khitan's large army with such a small number?
Your Majesty. I, too, do not have a good idea.
However, I am sure of this.
We must not give up the battle.
All possible means must be used to win this war.
Only then...
can we repay the sacrifices...
of the Goryeo soldiers and people until now...
and prevent the soldiers...
who have survived from suffering the ravages of war again.
Enough!
You cannot go on about victory when you have no plan whatsoever.
Do you truly not realize...
that your stubbornness is killing the subjects?
Had it not been for you, this war would have been long over.
Due to your scheme,
we lost the chance to surrender.
If that had not happened, our enemy would not have attacked Seogyeong.
The one who has driven the Seogyeong people to death...
is you!
Your words from your mouth...
are killing the people of Seogyeong!
Your Majesty. We will bear...
the criticism of our descendants.
We will also put up with the disgrace of being called traitors...
for giving a part of our land to the enemy.
And we will accept the title...
of treacherous subjects...
for humiliating the King by surrendering.
So, please...
allow us to surrender.
- Do not do it! - Deputy Minister Kang!
The war situation right before us is simply unfavorable.
It is that we do not have a plan right now.
But it does not mean that the war is over.
I beg of you. Please stop!
We must buy time one way or another...
and gradually find a way to win.
How are we to buy more time?
When we receive news that the Khitans are rushing in,
Your Majesty is to abandon Gaegyeong.
What did you just suggest?
You must flee the palace.
If you stay here and get captured by the enemy,
that will end the war.
So you should take shelter first,
then think of a way to turn the tables.
That is ridiculous.
You were the one who told me to stay with the Gaegyeong people.
And with that, I stopped the people from leaving.
But now,
you are telling me to abandon those people and flee?
If that will lead us to victory,
you must do it.
- Deputy Minister Kang! - Time is on our side.
The enemy is too deep inside Goryeo.
And on the enemy's road back to the Khitan...
are Goryeo's fortresses that are still standing.
With time, it is the enemy that will be at a disadvantage.
If we endure just a little while longer,
we can win.
Then...
what will happen to the Gaegyeong people?
Then...
what will happen to the people in the south?
Answer me.
If I flee to the south,
the Khitan will also advance to the south.
Then, those lands will become a battlefield,
and the people will shed blood and die.
What are we to do about that?
Your Majesty.
Sacrifices are inevitable in victory.
When the enemy reaches Gaegyeong,
we will fight with the Chungju people.
And if the enemy reaches Chungju,
we will fight with the Naju people.
That is what we must do to win the war.
- Enough! - Your Majesty.
You are truly crazy.
All you think about is winning and nothing more.
- Your Majesty. - Stop at once!
All of you, listen carefully.
From now on, do as I order without any questions.
Anyone who defies me...
will be considered a traitor.
We will not surrender.
Nor will I run away.
I...
will remain in Gaegyeong.
No matter what happens, I will protect Gaegyeong...
and stop the enemy from advancing south.
With that, I will create an opportunity...
for the northwest soldiers to destroy the enemy.
Understood?
- Left Senior Executive. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Pardon all the generals exiled for committing sins.
Have them go to the battlefield at once and support the army.
Understood, Your Majesty.
Deputy Commander.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Come up with a strategy to protect Gaegyeong.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Deputy Minister Kang.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Issue a royal message to the people.
Tell them to protect...
Gaegyeong together with me.
Do it at once.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Keep this in mind.
We have...
no place to hide now.
It is time for us to fight.
Listen, people!
The Khitan has penetrated Gaegyeong! The country is at stake!
As such, our emperor has issued a royal message.
This is from I, the emperor.
Due to my incompetence, the war is in a critical state.
However, I will never surrender to the enemy.
No matter what happens,
Gaegyeong will be defended.
Let us fight together!
- Together! - Together!
Let us fight together!
- Together! - Together!
Let us fight for the emperor!
- The emperor! - The emperor!
Let us fight for the emperor!
- The emperor! - The emperor!
My subjects, protect Goryeo...
together with me.
Those who know how to wield weapons come to the Ministry of Defense.
- Render distinguished military service, - Thank you for coming.
and you will be rewarded greatly.
Slaves will be raised to commoners.
Summon your courage and fight.
We, Goryeo, will certainly win.
Find Deputy General Ji Chae Moon.
I will leave Gaegyeong's defense to him.
Understood, Your Majesty.
I thought it would be different this time.
I expected you to handle...
the matter wisely just this once, Lord Kang.
Why do you keep insisting on fighting?
How much longer do you want this war to go on?
- My lord. - Those in charge of political affairs...
have duties to fulfill.
Even if our descendants point fingers at us,
you are to look at reality objectively...
and come to the best judgment.
However,
you are instigating the enraged emperor...
and making the war worse.
Craving an ovation from the later generation,
you are killing off all the men of the current reign!
- My lord. - Lord Kang.
You are the traitor and most disloyal subject!
Do you get that?
I regret bringing you...
into the Royal Court so much that I wish to die vomiting blood.
My goodness.
How could he make such a rash decision?
Why did you not do anything?
You should have persuaded His Majesty to surrender!
Was it not your belief that we should surrender as soon as possible?
Yes, it was.
That is why...
I once left the Royal Court.
However, I failed to resist His Majesty's plea...
and I returned.
As of that moment,
I became...
one of his subjects who is unable to disobey him.
Left Senior Executive.
His Majesty...
has never been this firm and resolute.
Not just me but no one in court...
was able to dissuade him.
Gaegyeong does not even have a fortress.
Apart from this small ruined castle, it is exposed on all sides.
We cannot take on the Khitan army there.
Then where must we fight?
Jeollyeong.
For the enemy to enter Gaegyeong,
they must come through this narrow pass.
To take on a large army with a small one,
this is the only way.
How many men do we have?
We have 1,000 men who guarded the palace,
and about 1,500 commoners and monks volunteered.
Now I finally die.
I fled Samsuchae,
and then I fled Yeongju and Sukju Fortress.
Now I die at Jeollyeong.
Where are you going?
I go to die.
I will tell His Majesty we must fight at Jeollyeong,
then I will head there with the vanguard.
You are to follow me tomorrow with the remaining men.
Be sure to come. Do not think of running away.
Is this it?
Out of our 1,000 men, only 50 are left.
Deputy General!
Here you are.
Who are you?
I am Palace Royal Secretary Yang Hyub.
I bring the King's command.
Deputy General Ji Chae Moon said...
he must also fight at Jeollyeong,
and then he left straight to Jeollyeong.
Your Majesty, do you not feel well?
You do not look well.
I am fine.
Eunuch Yang.
I did my best to hold Seogyeong.
I set aside my pride as emperor...
and lied to the Khitan emperor.
An old subject full of loyalty,
I willingly sent him to his death.
Despite all I did, Seogyeong is falling.
Why is this happening?
Why can good not triumph over evil?
Say something.
So many Goryeo men have given their lives already.
And still we have not stopped the raiding invaders.
How must we fight now?
If injustice tramples over the just,
and dedication is crushed by greed,
with what must we fight them now?
What must I...
do now?
Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen wishes to see you.
Give up.
It is a reckless fight.
Wars tend to be reckless.
- Your Majesty. - We do not fight just to win.
We fight because we must.
That is what the men...
at Heunghwajin and Tongju did.
Your Majesty.
Why are you doing this?
Why are you courting death?
What will happen to the imperial court?
Your Majesty.
You did the best you could.
You came to the throne amid political upheaval,
and then you faced a sudden war.
And yet you bravely led the Royal Court.
Despite there being no elder to go to for advice,
you stayed strong and led the people.
You did your duty as an emperor.
So now, please,
do what you can to preserve the imperial court.
Your Majesty.
Your queen begs of you.
Please surrender.
Then at least flee.
If you refuse,
I will leave.
Empress.
I will flee and protect the life of the baby I carry.
I will do that if I must to preserve the imperial family.
Then do that.
Your Majesty.
Please do that.
Your Majesty!
(Tongju Fortress)
How could the temporary government officer of the northeast do this?
He left Seogyeong and fled?
Is that what a commander does?
What is done is done.
We have no time to discuss that now.
We must recover Gwakju Fortress.
Once we get it back,
the Khitan can no longer advance at ease.
Recovering Gwakju Fortress is how we save Seogyeong...
as well as Gaegyeong.
I know that,
but we have zero chance with just 1,700 men.
That is right.
To take back a fortress guarded by 6,000 men,
we need at least ten times that many.
We must find a way somehow.
We cannot take Gwakju Fortress with standard tactics.
We must get inside in some other way.
(Kim Sook Heung, Seventh Rank Officer of Kwiju)
What on earth could that be?
(Gwakju Fortress)
The gate never opens.
No one seems to leave the fortress.
There are many guards on top as well.
A raid will not work.
Goryeo soldiers!
Get them!
There they are! Get them!
Officer.
Do not get distracted. Just come back safe.
Oh, dear...
I wish you safety and luck.
(Tongdeokmun)
(Army)
Your Majesty.
Her Majesty the Queen is ready to leave.
Have the generals' families in Gaegyeong...
leave with her as well.
Inform the officials' families...
that they should leave with them too.
Yes, Your Majesty.
And tell the people in Gaegyeong...
to leave at once as well.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
You should leave first.
What do you mean?
Why are you telling me to leave first?
You are the one who should take shelter at once.
You are carrying the Emperor's child in your womb.
Do not worry. Just do as I say.
I will leave shortly too.
Will you truly leave the palace and follow me?
Be honest with me.
Do you think you can fight off the enemy here?
We must.
We ought to carry out His Majesty's order.
That was not what I was asking. Tell me the truth.
How likely are we to win?
I believe we can hold out for about half a day,
but no more than that, I am afraid.
Understood.
I wish you victory.
- Deputy General. - Yes.
Survive, no matter what.
There is something else that you must do.
What do you mean?
You will find out soon.
Be safe and survive no matter what.
I must get going.
Goodness. Does that mean he does not care if I die?
- Pardon me? - It is nothing.
Did you tie them well?
Goodness.
Your Majesty, you must leave.
Even the Deputy General could not guarantee that we would win.
Your Majesty!
Did the people leave safely?
Yes, some have left.
However, those who chose to stay outnumber those who have left.
Why did they not leave?
Your Majesty chose to remain. That is why.
Their emperor is still in Gaegyeong,
so they cannot leave.
Your Majesty said we should fight together,
so they are staying to obey your orders.
Your Majesty, please leave.
Only then will the people leave too.
Your Majesty!
(Seogyeong Fortress)
Shoot them down!
Keep the enemy off the fortress walls!
- Officer Choi! - What is the matter?
Have the other military officials take charge here.
You should go to the East Gate.
Officer Park has died. There is not a single officer at the East Gate.
I am the only one still standing here too.
Then you stay here.
I will go to the East Gate!
Got it. Hurry!
Keep on shooting!
Shoot!
Shoot them down!
We need more officers in charge.
I suggest we put some experienced soldiers in charge.
Agreed. I trust that you can pick the best of the bunch.
Yes, sir!
Get moving, lads. Hurry!
Their generals are all gone.
Under whose command are they still fighting?
They will fight without a single commander telling them what to do.
You barbarians invaded us.
You should not be let off unscathed.
Here is another one asking to get killed.
However, I will not take your life now.
I will let you live so that you can see the collapse of Goryeo.
Just like your mother country,
Balhae.
Take him.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Let me go!
Let go!
I wanted to have a candid conversation with you...
on behalf of all the ministers.
That is why I am here.
Yes. Go ahead and speak.
The war is being drawn out.
What is the reason?
Commander.
We underestimated the enemy.
We defeated Goryeo's main forces at Samsuchae...
and captured their chief commander.
Had it been any other country,
the war would have ended there.
However, Goryeo's army did not collapse.
The chief commander of Seogyeong has run away,
but Seogyeong Fortress has not fallen yet.
Goryeo is much more...
resilient than we thought.
Then what is your plan now?
Starting tomorrow,
I will go to the front line and attack Seogyeong myself...
instead of leaving it to the Spearhead Commander.
I will make Seogyeong fall in a few days,
no matter what.
Seogyeong is Goryeo's most important strategic point.
Once Seogyeong falls,
the remaining citadels in the Northwest...
will be nothing but small, isolated fortresses.
That is when we will besiege Gaegyeong.
Then Goryeo will have no choice but to surrender.
Commander, His Majesty...
has issued an order to get ready to advance on Gaegyeong.
What?
Your Majesty.
Obey my orders.
We have no reason to waste time here.
We will advance on Gaegyeong tomorrow.
We cannot advance on Gaegyeong when Seogyeong is still standing.
We will be trapped if we enter deeper...
into the enemy's territory without a proper foothold.
I am advising you against it for your own safety, Your Majesty.
We have Gwakju as our foothold, and that is enough.
- Advance on Gaegyeong. - Your Majesty.
Do as I say.
You are to advance on Gaegyeong at sunrise...
and capture the King of Goryeo as quickly as possible.
Then...
this war will be over.
Spearhead Commander.
Did you suggest to His Majesty that we advance on Gaegyeong now?
This war will be over the moment we capture the enemy's king.
I simply reminded His Majesty of that fact.
Do you think it will be that easy?
Do you still think that Goryeo is an easy country to beat?
Once again,
you are ruining this war.
Again.
Why did you not leave?
I do not know...
why I am still here.
I know that there are more than a hundred reasons I should leave,
but I simply could not leave.
I am terrified.
What will happen to our child?
What will happen to us?
I am sorry.
Do not cry.
Perhaps, we still have hope.
Seogyeong Fortress is still standing.
It seems the Seogyeong people are fighting hard.
Is that true?
Yes. Before the Khitan destroys Seogyeong,
they cannot advance to Gaegyeong.
Possibly,
we could turn the tables and advance from Seogyeong Fortress.
Your Majesty.
The deity has not abandoned Goryeo.
Just like...
how you will not abandon me.
Your Majesty.
(Gwakju Fortress Prisoner Labor House)
- What? - What?
Does that mean we were captured on purpose?
You should have given us a hint.
If I had, would you have followed me?
So when is the date?
Tomorrow.
- Let us go. - Understood.
Charge forth!
Return safely!
Officer.
I wish you luck.
(Tongju)
(Gwakju)
(Yang Kyu's Death Legion, Chongchon River)
(Seogyeong, Jeollyeong, Gaegyeong)
(The Khitan's Army of 200,000)
More are incoming!
Darn it!
Giddyap!
The Khitan is coming.
The whole of Khitan is rushing to Gaegyeong.
The battle has already started in Jeollyeong.
Does that mean Seogyeong has fallen?
No, Your Majesty. The Khitan has given up on Seogyeong...
and is coming to Gaegyeong.
Your Majesty. The enemy is aiming for you.
You must flee at once.
Your Majesty.
Guards are ready to guide you away.
Please go now.
Your Majesty.
We will not talk about surrendering anymore.
So please take shelter.
Your Majesty!
Inform the people to flee once again.
- Your Majesty? - And leave the Royal Court.
Your Majesty!
I told you to leave.
Leave at once.
Do it now!
I see.
So am I the one you want?
Are you trying to trap me...
and make Goryeo yield?
No.
What you wish for will not come true.
No, never.
(Seungpyeongmun)
We have lost.
Deputy General Ji Chae Moon is being chased to Gaegyeong.
Please flee right away.
The Khitan army will soon arrive in Gaegyeong.
Get His Majesty at once.
If he refuses to come,
bring him even if you must step out of line.
Move!
- Follow me. - Understood.
What is that?
It is His Majesty's royal message and the imperial seal.
And His Majesty?
He is in Jungjeon.
After asking me to bring a short knife,
he closed Jungjeon from the inside.
As this is the last order from I, the emperor,
all of you are to obey it faithfully.
If I flee to the south,
the enemy will move with me...
and harm the people in the south.
If I become their prisoner,
the enemy will use me as a hostage...
to make Goryeo yield.
I will die...
for Goryeo now.
I will leave so as not to become a burden to the people.
- Your Majesty! - So,
- do not grieve. Run away at once. - Your Majesty!
- And continue to fight.
- Time is on our side. - Your Majesty!
- Goryeo will certainly win. - Your Majesty!
And after the enemy retreats,
have my descendant ascend to the throne.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty. Do not think of anything foolish.
We cannot win without you.
People who have lost their emperor cannot fight!
Why can you not understand that?
Your Majesty.
What are you scared of to do this, Your Majesty?
Are you that scared of the people's resentment?
Are you that scared of the people pointing fingers at you...
for bringing about disaster?
An emperor must overcome those!
But where are you trying to run away to?
The people are at war.
And yet, where are you trying to hide all alone?
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty...
Your Majesty.
You must live, Your Majesty.
Goryeo needs you.
Goryeo needs an emperor...
who is willing to take his life for his people!
Your Majesty...
I, too, need an emperor.
I need an emperor who even accepts me,
this old and stubborn subject.
I need an emperor...
who I can willingly give my life to.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty...
I could not do it yet.
I could not die.
Your Majesty.
I, too, thought it was foolish.
But there was no other choice.
There was...
no other choice other than this.
Your Majesty.
I wanted to run away as well.
This throne was too burdensome.
I no longer had the confidence to carry out my duties.
I believed...
whoever became the next emperor would be better than me.
That is not true.
Your Majesty has done great until now.
I have always been proud of you.
Deputy Minister Kang.
Engrave today's mistake...
into your heart.
And...
become stronger.
Your Majesty is an emperor.
My...
last emperor.
(Tongdeokmun)
Attack the heart of Goryeo right away.
Move now.
Charge!
(Tongdeokmun)
Where is Deputy Minister Kang?
Deputy Minister Kang!
(Korea-Khitan War)
Does that mean he remained in Gaegyeong on purpose?
It is you again, Kang Gam Chan.
Catch him at any cost.
If you fail to bring the King of Goryeo,
we will advance to the south.
Let us begin.
Charge!
Do not miss any of them.
Annihilate them no matter what.
(Subtitles are provided by KOCOWA.)