(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.)
(Episode 25)
Will you follow me?
- Yes, General! - Yes, General!
Very well. Thank you.
You are to keep a close watch over every move the imperial court might make.
If they do anything...
to trample on our pride even in the slightest manner,
we will rise up in revolt right away.
All of you must not forget...
the discrimination and contempt we have suffered to this day.
From now on,
we absolutely will not tolerate such embarrassment.
- Yes, General! - Yes, General!
Very well. You are now dismissed.
Everything about this meeting must be kept confidential, no matter what.
If even one word gets out,
we are all dead meat.
- Yes, General! - Yes, General!
Is it okay that we are discussing this?
This is treason.
Treason, you say?
I am simply trying to protect our country, Goryeo.
I wish to build a stronger nation by making sure...
that military officials like us receive the treatment they deserve.
Then what about His Majesty?
Do not be concerned.
I do not intend to harm His Majesty.
That would be treason.
His Majesty will be safe,
and he will continue to reign over Goryeo.
However, he must learn to pay more attention...
to the military officials' opinions.
General Kim.
Stop hesitating.
We are trying to do the right thing.
If we do not take action now,
the military officials in Goryeo will continue to live...
as if they are the civil officials' slaves.
General Kim!
Fine. Let us do this.
Yes, General Kim.
Pardon?
Me?
That is right. We would like you to take charge.
What about you, my lords?
I have to devote myself to compiling the annals.
His Majesty has ordered...
Lord Choi and I to focus on reforming...
the local government system.
This country's financial affairs are at high risk.
There is not enough stipend for all the government offices.
Please think of an excellent solution that will resolve...
this crisis.
All right. I will.
- Did you ask for me? - Yes, I did.
Wait. Look at you.
You have become more handsome after getting promoted.
(Hwangbo Yu Eui, Officer of the Privy Council)
It was you who got promoted.
Congratulations.
You have now become a chancellor.
It is all thanks to you.
Well, that is true. I did help a bit.
I was joking. How is it thanks to you?
It is all thanks to my competence.
That includes my loyalty and uprightness.
Those are what have helped me come this far.
Why did you ask for me?
I had you come to give you a task.
It is a trivial task that does not require much effort.
"A trivial task?"
The country is in an extreme financial crisis.
At this rate,
there will not be enough stipends for the officials.
Do find a plan to solve that problem.
You call this a trivial task?
Do not leave this room until you find a solution.
My lord.
Right, thank you.
I leave it to you.
My lord.
My lord!
Were you the one who rebuilt this place?
Yes, Your Majesty.
So I have come to ask...
if there is anything Your Majesty needs.
I am happy with everything.
Well done.
I am much obliged.
Are those peony blossoms?
Yes, Your Majesty.
It represents the empress's nobleness.
Why did you place a Buddhist statue in my room?
It is for Your Majesty to gain peace of mind.
Pray sincerely,
and Buddha will certainly make one wish come true.
- "Wish?" - Yes, Your Majesty.
Buddha will indeed make Your Majesty's wish come true.
Pray for it, and Your Majesty will be able to kick...
Deputy Minister Kim's daughter out of this palace for good.
Who are you?
I am the regional chief of a county in Chungju.
Your Majesty might not know of this,
but I have come to Gaegyeong under orders...
from many influential regional lords...
in order to help you, Your Majesty.
Soon, Your Majesty's world will begin.
What do you mean by that?
I cannot tell you everything right now.
However, I can promise you this.
From now on,
everything will proceed as Your Majesty wants.
Then I will visit Your Majesty again.
It has been a while. Where are you returning from?
I visited Her Majesty the Empress.
I asked if the new place...
was to Her Majesty's liking.
Well then.
Stop right there.
I have always wanted to ask you this.
You were a regional chief who was against His Majesty.
So, for what reason...
are you even using your private property to rebuild Gaegyeong?
It is to honor my dead children.
By contributing...
to rebuilding Gaegyeong by using all my fortune,
the court...
might grant my small request.
What request?
I plan...
to ask for permission to build...
a small stone pagoda in Gaegyeong.
And on that stone pagoda,
I will engrave my dead children's names.
It is so that...
this very Goryeo will never forget their names.
Have I...
answered your question?
I shall take my leave now.
What brings you here, my lord?
I would like the list of military officers,
including those who have died at war.
Why would you need it?
I need to look into something.
Very well. Understood.
By the way,
what is that in your hand?
It is the list of lands...
given to military officers I got from the Ministry of Revenue.
And why did you ask for it?
I simply want to read through it.
(Army Register)
(Privy Council)
Goodness. You sure are working hard.
I thought you had left for the day.
I am a loyal man.
How could I leave alone?
Now then, have some drinks as you work.
You did not have to.
By the way,
is that the only solution?
Yes.
No matter how much I read through these, that is the only solution.
But that is a bit...
The military officers' lands must be collected back.
The officials' stipends will have to be made up with them.
Great. You have done well.
I will report so to His Majesty tomorrow. And...
I will clearly tell His Majesty this idea was from you.
Just tell His Majesty it was from you.
- You were going to anyway, right? - I really appreciate it.
I shall leave for the day now.
Listen.
You are a truly nice...
How mean of him.
I was being sincere for once.
Are you sure?
Yes. I clearly heard it with my two ears.
Privy Councilor Jang Yeon Woo...
and Officer Hwangbo Yu Eui are taking the lead.
Those two will soon report such a solution to His Majesty.
I see. Great work.
- You may leave now. - Yes, my lord.
Confiscate the military officers' lands...
and use that money to pay the court officials' wages?
The justification is being created earlier than I thought.
Will this be enough of a justification?
The chancellors in court will have their own plans too.
They will not just take it away without a reason.
I am sure they will come up with another supplementary plan.
That does not matter.
Whatever plan they come up with later,
it will not make any difference.
What is important is that they will take what belongs to the military officers now.
Bring the two heads of the central army.
We should prepare for the uprising now.
Yes, Father.
Just you wait, Your Majesty.
I will present to you the fiery pit.
What are you writing?
I am writing down the daily log for the sewing room.
I am recording the inventory of fabrics,
and I am also writing about the new court ladies.
You seem busier than I am.
Do not tease me.
I might be as busy as you are,
but I also have my duties to perform.
Have you looked over all of the reports?
Yes.
I have read them all.
Then, now,
you should get to bed.
I should.
If you want,
you can stay here.
Get some rest. I will be going now.
Sleep well.
Should I just keep waiting?
Do I...
have hope as well?
(Office of Inspector General)
Park Jin of the Office of Civil Engineering?
Do you mean the Chief of Chungju?
Yes. You also know very well what kind of man he is.
He is most suspicious.
I hope the Office of Inspector General can keep an eye on him.
Yes, my lord. We will do so.
Also, look into the people he is close with...
in Gaegyeong.
If that is what you want to know, there is no need to look into it.
They are Generals Kim Hoon and Choi Jil.
Kim Hoon and Choi Jil?
Yes.
Officer Park has been sending food and drinks...
to the soldiers serving under the generals quite often.
They are very close with each other.
It has not been long since I arrived in Gaegyeong,
but I have seen such a scene several times already.
Then, do you mean the chief with a grudge against His Majesty...
and the two with the most complaints among the military officers...
have joined forces?
Yes, that is about right.
Starting tomorrow, watch those three every minute of the day.
Got it?
- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.
Then,
they will take away the land of the military officers...
to pay the civil officials' wages?
Is that it?
Yes, that is pretty much right.
Why, these fellows...
I cannot stand it any longer!
General Kim. Let us express our discontent right away.
Not right now.
It is only the Privy Councilor's thoughts for now.
It has not been revealed to the world yet.
Then, when must we rise up?
Wait until the morning assembly.
When the Privy Councilor brings up this method to His Majesty,
march right out of the Jungjeon that instant.
And let this be known to all of the military officers...
across the nation.
Then, everyone will be infuriated.
You will rise up with that fury on your side.
I understand.
But, what if...
the warriors of the northeast and northwest do not join us?
What should we do then?
If they bring their elite soldiers and charge on Gaegyeong,
we will not be able to defeat them.
I will take care of that.
How do you mean?
There is someone who will stop them.
Sister.
I think he is a dangerous man.
Do not keep him close to you.
It does not matter.
If only I can kick out the daughter of the Deputy Minister of Punishments,
I will join hands with whoever it may be.
No matter what he wants in return,
I can give him everything.
Sister.
Exactly how many Khitan soldiers invaded us this time?
According to the Field Legislator,
there were 60,000 soldiers.
Their military power has dwindled quite a bit.
Yes.
They have suffered quite a lot of damage in the second invasion.
Also, they have experienced endless uprisings in Khitan...
over the past three years.
First were the Jobuk tribe of the northwest.
Next, it was the Tangut tribe.
And after that, the tribes in the northeast...
rose up in revolt.
They spent a lot of their national power...
quelling the revolts.
It is as I expected.
Anyway, it is a relief.
We have driven away the enemy once again.
It is not enough to simply drive them away.
We must completely annihilate the enemy...
and damage Khitan to a point where they cannot recover.
Only then will they consider never attacking Goryeo again.
Will that be possible?
If the cavalry of Goryeo...
becomes just a little stronger, it will be possible.
If we can just train about 10,000 armored cavalrymen,
it will be more than enough.
If we can match the Khitan's mobility,
we will be able to surround the enemy and annihilate them.
Look at this.
This time, when the Goryeo and Khitan armies were facing off,
General Jung Sin Yong attacked the enemy from behind...
and brought home a great victory.
If we had had a large cavalry force in this situation,
we would have closed off the enemy's retreat route...
and wiped them all out.
We must train up the armored cavalrymen as fast as we can.
The fight against Khitan...
is a fight against speed.
(Imperial Palace of Khitan)
We have failed again.
We have attacked them three times already,
(Yelu Longxu, 6th Emperor of the Khitan)
but we have not been able to take over Goryeo.
I am sorry, Your Majesty.
It is not your fault.
You did not even go to battle yourself. How could it be your fault?
This time, we did not have enough soldiers.
We must conquer Goryeo soon.
We must do so...
in order to attack the Song.
Our people...
can only survive by constantly running on the vast plains.
We must conquer new land...
and bring in new people...
to thrive as a nation.
Prepare for another attack.
Your Majesty.
Within three months,
attack Goryeo once again.
They will never imagine...
that we will reinvade them...
so soon.
Take them by surprise...
and bring home the victory.
Do not stop the horses from running.
Our people fall...
the moment we stop running.
Yes, Your Majesty.
One, two!
Harder! You must use more force!
Three!
One!
Two!
- From now on, - Three!
every military official must prepare for combat...
- and be on standby. - Five!
Even those who are off-duty should not go home.
We need everyone to remain in the campground.
Three!
- Four! - What is going on?
- You will find out soon. - One!
- Two! - Let us go.
Three!
Four!
Are you suggesting we confiscate the land owned by the Central Army...
and use it to pay the court officials' wages?
Yes, Your Majesty. That is correct.
I...
I mean,
Officer Hwangbo Yu Eui stayed up all night to figure out this solution.
Then how will the military officials support themselves?
Do you want all of us to starve to death?
Why are you getting angry when I am not even done talking yet?
Your Majesty, this is unacceptable.
This is like telling us, the military officials of Goryeo,
to just go and drop dead.
Calm down.
You know that nothing has been decided yet.
We are just trying to have a discussion.
Discussing a suggestion like this is like...
an act of trampling on our honor in and of itself.
We refuse to partake in this discussion.
General Kim.
General Kim! What do you think you are doing?
Get back at once!
- Let us begin. - Yes, General Kim.
(Lee Hyun, Deputy General)
Your Majesty.
They must be severely punished at once.
We must never let this go unpunished!
I am angry too.
However,
I can also understand why they are upset.
Your Majesty!
Anyway, we can discuss that later.
First, let us discuss the idea that has been brought to our attention.
Privy Councilor, tell us more.
Yes, Your Majesty.
As you are aware, ownership...
over such plots of land must be returned...
to the country when the officials retire.
But in so many cases, they break this rule...
and pass it down to their children instead.
It has become a customary practice,
and military officials take it for granted now.
Hence, we should confiscate all the land that has been passed down illegally...
and use it...
to pay the court officials' wages.
Then what about the families of the generals who died during the wars?
How will they support themselves?
That land is their only means of livelihood.
Even if we must come up with a separate solution for that issue,
we should stick to the rules and confiscate the land first.
We ought to offer a solution before we confiscate the land.
How do we plan to afford...
to guarantee the livelihoods of all those people?
The years-long famine...
surely played a part in draining our finances.
Thankfully, we had a good harvest this year,
so we should be able to collect more taxes.
We can use that to take care of the families...
of the generals who died in the wars.
Also, please issue an edict that every temple in the country...
must send rice to help the families of the soldiers who died in the wars.
They will be happy to help.
Yes, I will do so.
If that is not enough, we will have to cut our expenses in the court.
Reduce our expenses?
Correct.
Those generals lost their lives while fighting for Goryeo.
No matter what happens,
the country ought to take care of their families.
It is Goryeo's duty as a nation.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
How could this happen?
- Is it true? - Yes.
They will confiscate all of our land!
Then how are we supposed to put food on the table?
My point, exactly!
My goodness.
Then what will happen to the families of the generals...
who died in the wars?
Exactly.
How could His Majesty do this to us?
- How will we support ourselves? - Let us not jump to conclusions.
We do not yet know exactly what it entails.
Yes, His Majesty would never do such a thing to us.
Why would he discuss the idea if he were not interested in pursuing it?
Now that the Khitan rats are gone,
does he think that he no longer needs his military officials?
How could His Majesty be so cruel to us?
- What are we going to do? - My goodness.
Then they want to confiscate our land...
and use it to pay the civil officials' wages?
Yes, that is their plan.
Who is the one that came up with such an idea?
I will go and behead him at once.
That fool is not the problem. The real problem is His Majesty!
How could His Majesty do this to us?
General Choi, I cannot take this any longer.
I await your command!
General Choi!
General Choi, His Majesty is asking for you.
Please go to the main hall now with General Kim Hoon.
- His Majesty asked for me? - Yes, General Choi.
I was planning to pay him a visit anyway.
Assemble all soldiers immediately.
We will advance toward the palace!
- Yes, General Choi! - Yes, General Choi!
Let us go.
What is taking the two generals so long?
Your Majesty, it is a coup.
What? A coup?
All the soldiers in the Central Army in Gaegyeong are being assembled.
Under General Choi Jil's leadership,
they are trying to launch an attack on the palace.
Your Majesty, I will subdue them at once with the Eungyang Guards...
and the Yongho Guards.
Wait, please be quiet.
A coup?
That cannot be.
Your Majesty, it is true.
You must prepare for what is coming.
Your Majesty, I will assemble all the remaining soldiers...
and tighten security around the palace.
Please allow me to do this.
Your Majesty.
Yes, you may do so.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Identify yourselves!
What will you do?
Please join us.
We are the Yongho Guards.
Together with the Eungyang Guards, we protect His Majesty.
We are not trying to harm His Majesty.
We are trying to protect the military officers' honor.
General.
Both the soldiers of the Eungyang Guards...
and the Yongho Guards are infuriated.
This is indeed an act of trampling over all of Goryeo's armies.
Even if I join you,
General Ji will not.
General Ji...
has already been subdued.
How did...
Do not tell me you killed such a valuable general.
Do not worry.
I have no intention of harming a soldier.
Are you willing to join us now?
I will be the one...
to draw the sword.
Please. Just do not get in my way.
Your Majesty.
General Ji should have returned a while ago.
It seems even the Yongho Guards and the Eungyang Guards...
are taking part in the revolt.
That is impossible.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty should take shelter.
The soldiers guarding the palace are leaving.
The Head of the Guards...
must have ordered them to return to the camp.
Your Majesty. Please take shelter.
It is dangerous for you to stay here.
Your Majesty. Make haste and take shelter.
I will go and bring...
the soldiers of the northeast and northwest.
- How come? - Your Majesty.
They are the only soldiers...
who can stop this revolt.
He is right, Your Majesty.
The revolt must be subdued first.
Please issue a tally at once.
Bring me the tally.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will take my leave now.
- Giddyap. - Giddyap.
Go. Seize the palace!
March forward!
- March forward! - March forward!
March forward!
- March forward! - March forward!
- Giddyap. - Giddyap.
Move it!
(To Your Majesty)
What is going on outside?
Who are you?
How dare you come in here?
What are you doing? Let go of me!
Is this what you mentioned?
Yes, that is right.
This is treason!
His Majesty...
What happened to His Majesty?
His Majesty is safe.
He is with his subjects in Jungjeon.
- What? - Your Majesty.
Deputy Minister Kim's daughter is outside, on her knees.
Do as you please now.
Order me to kill her, and I will do so.
Order me to turn her into a Buddhist nun, and I will do so.
The army...
will now take Your Majesty's order.
The world has become Your Majesty's.
Shut your mouth at once!
Your Majesty.
What did you see me as?
Even if I do despise her,
did you think...
I would betray His Majesty because of that?
Take the traitors and leave the palace this instant.
Do it now!
This is treason!
Your Majesty.
If Your Majesty keeps this up,
His Majesty's life will be at stake.
If Your Majesty does not cooperate,
those soldiers will turn into real traitors.
They will kill the emperor,
burn the palace down,
and run wild.
Do you wish for that?
If not,
cooperate obediently.
You...
How dare you!
Where are you taking me?
You will know once we arrive.
Head of the Central Army. What do you think you are doing?
We should ask that question to you, Your Majesty!
What was that?
General Choi!
Do not cross the line.
Draw back your weapons.
Our deepest apologies, Your Majesty.
However,
the civil officials here keep trampling on the military officers' pride.
That is why we could not stand it anymore and rose up in revolt.
"Trampled on the military officers' pride?"
What do you mean?
Are you perhaps...
talking about your land?
Do you truly think that I will take that away for certain?
Do you think that I will abandon the warriors of Goryeo like that?
That is not the only reason.
The complaints we have kept down until now have finally burst out today.
The rage of the military officers that has been piling up...
are finally bursting forth.
So, what is it that you want?
What is it you plan to do by starting a rebellion like this?
First,
hand over the Privy Councilor and Officer Hwangbo to us.
And please command that those two be exiled.
What? "Exiled?"
Yes, Your Majesty. And...
please give us a royal message that you will allow our uprising.
Also, from now on,
please promise us that you will handle all affairs of the nation...
with us, your military officers.
I cannot do as you ask.
Not only will I not allow this act of treason,
but I will also not let you have my innocent vassals.
- Your Majesty. - General Kim.
There is no reason to dawdle anymore.
All we have to do is kill these men and drag them out.
These punks have sided with the civil officials.
They deserve to die.
Stop it!
General!
They are military officers too.
We will escort you to the Jungjeon for now.
We will give you time to think.
However,
please make up your mind by tonight.
We cannot delay things like this.
There is no need to be in a rush.
Anyway, His Majesty is right there.
I do not see Kang Gam Chan and the Officers of Inspector General.
I am sure they have gone to ask the northeast and northwest for backup.
What will you do about that?
I told you Her Majesty would stop them.
But what if things go wrong?
General Kim. Let us kill those men right now...
and take His Majesty hostage.
If we point a blade at his throat, he will do as we say.
I have given him time.
Wait until then.
General.
Hurry up and take the brush.
Write a message to the warriors...
of the northeast and northwest.
Your Majesty.
Those two warriors were determined to see blood from the start.
However, I dissuaded them from doing so.
I said that it is only with your cooperation...
that they can take power without any bloodshed.
Your Majesty, if soldiers from the northeast and northwest come charging,
those two warriors will be backed into a corner.
Then, they will eventually hold a sword to His Majesty's throat...
and hold out until the end.
Make haste and save His Majesty.
You are the only person who can resolve this matter...
in an amicable way.
Your Majesty.
(The camp of the northeast)
- You have worked hard. - It is nothing, sir.
You have worked hard too, Defense Commander.
(Lee Ja Rim, Defense Commander of Hwaju)
Defense Commander. Deputy General.
Field Commander.
(Balbyung: To raise an army)
It is His Majesty's command.
Get the troops ready this instant.
We must hurry and go save His Majesty.
Then, will the Goryeo army be fighting against each other?
We must keep His Majesty safe even by doing so.
Right now, Goryeo needs His Majesty.
We can never win the war if we lose His Majesty.
Yes, I understand.
Deputy General.
Yes, we will set off right away.
We will go and wipe out all of the traitors.
Traitors have invaded the palace!
Now, we will march on Gaegyeong...
and punish them all!
Right! Let us go to war!
- Let us go to war! - Let us go to war!
Your Majesty. The time is up!
Make haste and exile those two men!
If not, all of the soldiers here will die!
Your Majesty!
Look here.
Hey.
Your Majesty.
Please exile me.
Please do as they want.
I cannot do so.
Your Majesty.
If you hold out any longer, those traitors will only get more violent.
Still, I will not back down.
- Your Majesty! - I cannot...
become a puppet emperor once again.
I am not doing this because I cannot give up the power I hold in my hands.
For Goryeo, this moment is...
a precious time.
In order to lead the war against Khitan to victory,
we cannot let a single day go to waste.
So, I cannot let...
those traitors make such precious time come to a stop.
I will hold out.
I will hold out and defeat all of the traitors.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Please do so.
But still, please send us out.
That is enough.
Your Majesty. Hand us over and buy yourself some time.
Then, the troops from the northeast and northwest will arrive soon.
Then, the traitors...
will be so surprised that they will scatter without a fight.
I told you to stop.
Yes, you should stop.
You do not know what those men might do if you go outside now.
I am determined to face them.
Your Majesty.
For once, I would also like to...
confidently do my part as your vassal.
Privy Councilor.
Please...
be healthy, Your Majesty.
Privy Councilor. Stop. Come back!
Do not go!
Attack.
- Attack! - Stop!
Generals! We are here!
I am sorry.
Do not be sorry, Councilor Jang.
Councilor Jang!
I will not forgive them,
ever.
Make haste.
Hurry.
Pick up the pace. We must hurry!
(Field Commander of the Northeast)
Move it!
We must save His Majesty!
Come on.
(Korea-Khitan War)
The Queen sent this letter...
to the Field Legislator of the Northwest.
When will the soldiers arrive?
It appears that they will not come.
Does that mean they support this coup?
General, I suggest we just force our way through.
We must capture His Majesty as soon as we can.
If you are confident, go ahead and kill me.
If you are confident that you will be spared even after killing the Emperor,
go ahead and do it.
(Subtitles are provided by KOCOWA.)