(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 30)
Commander.
The Khitan army has arrived across the Yalu River.
Get ready for the battle.
Yes, Commander.
Get moving. Hurry!
Move it!
Hurry up and hop on your horse!
We are setting off to fight!
(Kim Jong Hyun, Assistant Field Legislator)
- Giddyap! - Go!
- Giddyap! - Giddyap!
We only have one goal.
It is to wipe out the enemy...
as quickly as we can in the far north.
Now, we will head to Heunghwajin.
As soon as we cross the Yalu River,
we will annihilate them!
(Cho Won, Deputy Minister of Defense)
(Kang Min Cheom, Head General)
Very well.
Set off the battle!
- Set off the battle! - Set off the battle!
(Geomdong Island, the Khitan army camp)
We will cross the river in three days.
Until then, make sure the soldiers get as much rest as they can.
Once we set foot on Goryeo's soil,
we will not get a moment's rest.
Yes, Commander.
Once we start crossing the river,
we must advance southward at full speed.
Does that mean you do not plan to attack Heunghwajin?
We will not attack any fortress on the way.
Keep marching south, no matter what.
Yes, Commander.
Have you entered Goryeo's territory before?
No, this is my first time.
Goryeo is...
like a swamp.
If you stop your horse even just once,
the bottomless swamp...
will start sucking you in.
Never stop your horse.
We will not stop to light a fire or to cook.
We will eat nothing but jerky...
and keep on marching.
Yes, Commander.
Save us, merciful Buddha.
My lady.
I hear your husband has been appointed to an important position.
Yes.
That is why I visited the temple to pray.
I am so worried...
that I cannot sit still.
I cannot even eat.
I was like that too.
"Will he come back alive? What if we lose?"
I had hundreds of thoughts running through my head every day.
How did you manage to hold out?
I just...
endured it.
I had to, for it was my duty.
Just like you, I believed that Buddha would keep him safe...
as I got through each day.
Stay strong.
He will fight well and return safely.
The Supreme Commander will also settle...
my husband's resentment.
The Khitans have all gathered before the Yalu River.
They will cross the Yalu River in a few days.
And the Supreme Commander?
Leading the Goryeo army, he left Yeongju Fortress...
and started to move north.
As soon as the Khitans cross the Yalu River,
a pitched battle will be waged.
I see.
Pass on my prayer for success in war...
to the Supreme Commander and the generals.
Yes, Your Majesty. I will pass it on to them.
Everything depends on this war.
My fate,
Goryeo's fate,
and even this boy's fate.
Are you frightened?
I do not know.
I am not sure what this feeling is.
But it is surely different from the fear I have felt until now.
It is as if...
I am standing at the end of the world.
We will win.
The deity will protect Goryeo.
What do you think, my lord?
Will we win?
Honestly, I feel uneasy.
To fight against the Khitan in an all-pitched battle?
It is not too late to change the military operation.
His Majesty has already approved it. Nothing can be done now.
Either way,
this will be our last war,
regardless of whether Goryeo wins or loses.
Ever since my hair started to gray,
it has been one war after another.
It is time to end it.
But there is a reason to end it with a victory.
Get defeated, and it will not end there.
A new humiliation will begin.
Let us put our faith in the Supreme Commander.
That is what we must do now.
We will soon arrive in Heunghwajin.
Set up our camp in the east of Heunghwajin.
Does that mean we are to block the road from Tongju Fortress?
That is right.
Is there no possibility they would head to Kwiju?
They will not go to Kwiju.
Especially if it is Xiao Paiya.
Kwiju is surrounded by rugged mountains on all four sides.
For our mounted troops, it is a dangerous place.
We will detour to Heunghwajin...
and advance toward Tongju Fortress.
Goryeo's main army...
will probably be waiting for us in front of Tongju Fortress.
How can you be sure of it?
Goryeo's main army has always constructed...
a line of defense with Tongju Fortress at its center.
As they must defend Seogyeong,
they cannot travel further north than that.
If we face Goryeo's main army near Tongju,
the first army is to fight them.
The rest will make a detour to Gaegyeong.
Bear this in mind.
We are not here to undergo battle with the Goryeo army.
We are here to capture the Goryeo King and end the war.
- Understood, Commander. - Understood, Commander.
Commander!
Goryeo's main army has arrived.
Do you mean they advanced all the way to the Yalu River?
Yes. Camps are being set up near Heunghwajin.
They must be preparing for a pitched battle.
Darn it.
Commander.
It seems we must undergo battle.
That is the only path to Tongju.
Like you said, we cannot head toward Kwiju, can we?
Commander. If it is a pitched battle,
we have the advantage.
Let us crush Goryeo's main army,
then go to Gaegyeong.
Commander.
Start building a bridge.
Cross the Yalu River and get in line.
- Prepare to fight. - Yes, Commander.
Kang Gam Chan.
You have struck...
a heavy blow on me.
Did you ask for me, Your Majesty?
Gather 10,000 monks and hold a Buddhist prayer...
for our victory.
Yes, Your Majesty. We will do so.
Pour your heart into it.
My subjects and I will attend as well.
Understood, Your Majesty. We will do our utmost best.
With Buddha's energy, Khitan will surely win.
Of course. Then I will leave it to you.
Yes, Your Majesty.
(Temple Naeje)
Please help us.
Let Goryeo...
find peace now.
Please allow him to return alive.
I pray to you.
Save us, merciful Buddha.
I beg you.
I beg you, dear Buddha.
Please take good care of my son,
who was killed by the Khitan.
Allow him to be reincarnated in paradise.
Please let Goryeo win.
Help my father come back alive.
(Goryeo's military camp near Heunghwajin)
The battle will soon begin.
The Khitan army has been building bridges since daytime.
They will likely take advantage of the cloak of night...
and launch their first attack tonight.
They will try to figure out how sturdy Goryeo's camp is...
and what our weaknesses are.
On the battlefront will be the first sword wagon army.
The 2nd sword wagon army will be 300 steps behind it.
When the situation becomes unfavorable to the first sword wagon army,
they are to break up the line...
and switch to a square position.
The enemies penetrating the square position...
will be blocked by the second sword wagon army as it advances.
At that moment, the cataphracts will attack the enemy from the rear.
All the sword wagons are to line up again...
and construct a semicircular formation.
Using the fish scale formation when there are more enemies than allies...
and the semicircular formation...
when there are more allies than enemies are the basics of military strategy.
Goryeo has double the number of soldiers than Khitan.
And thus, the semicircular formation.
By enclosing the enemy with the sword wagons...
and blocking the rear with the mounted troops,
we are to wipe them out completely.
Understood?
- Yes, Supreme Commander. - Yes, Supreme Commander.
From now on, look over the camp,
encourage the troops,
and check if there are any loose ends.
- Yes, Commander! - Yes, Commander!
You stay behind for a while.
- What is it? - You should take the men...
and wait in ambush on the right flank of the main camp.
Wait in ambush?
Khitan might launch a surprise attack from the rear.
The Goryeo army that was at Samsuchae...
also fell to that kind of surprise attack.
Yes, Commander.
- What are you doing? - This is from my mother.
Hey.
Commander.
What are you doing here?
I thought my spear had gotten a bit dull, so I was sharpening it.
Where are you from?
Go ahead.
I am from Naju, sir.
And you?
I am from Tongju, sir.
I see.
Do you all have experience fighting against the Khitan army?
- Yes, we do! - Yes, we do!
How was it to fight against them?
Well, I thought we were up for the fight.
At first, we were shaking with fright from the rumors we had heard,
but once we actually went up against them, it was not that bad.
Now, the Khitan soldiers will be afraid of the Goryeo army.
No matter how many times they pound on us, we do not break down.
I am sure they will be calling us dogged jerks.
Good.
You guys should lead other men who do not have experience.
- Yes, Commander! - Yes, Commander!
However,
will we really be able to annihilate the enemy this time?
Yes, we definitely will.
You all and I...
will end this war.
The sword wagons and cataphracts of Goryeo...
will crush the enemy.
Like this.
Commander!
- What is it? - The Khitan army is here.
Everyone, prepare for battle.
- Yes, Commander! - Yes, Commander!
(Field Commander of the Northwest)
Here they come.
Go!
The enemy is here. Retreat.
Retreat!
Attack!
Cataphracts.
To battle.
Cataphracts, to battle!
To battle!
Giddyap!
- Giddyap! - Giddyap!
Giddyap!
- Giddyap! - Giddyap!
(Field Commander of the Northwest)
Commander.
The cataphracts are wiping out the Khitan army.
- Stand your ground! - Fight!
The first right imperial guards have been annihilated.
The surprise attack failed as well.
The Goryeo army was waiting in ambush.
It is a great victory.
We have wiped out the enemy.
Do not get overexcited.
It is only our first victory.
Also, we have only wiped out part of the enemy's forces.
We do not know how much longer this will go on.
We do not know...
whether we will fight for another 3 days or 10.
Never let your guards down. Understand?
- Yes, Commander! - Yes, Commander!
Have the soldiers take turns to rest.
We do not know when the enemy might strike again.
- Yes, Commander! - Yes, Commander!
Still, should we not send word to His Majesty about our victory?
The battle is not yet over.
Even still, we cannot stay silent.
I am sure His Majesty will be waiting for some news.
How come we have not heard a single word from them?
The first battle must have taken place by now.
(Goryeo)
Your Majesty.
Yes. What happened?
It is a great victory!
The Supreme Commander has led the first battle to victory.
However, the battle is still not over.
The Supreme Commander asked to tell you that.
Until he delivered the final news of victory,
he asked you to wait just a little longer.
All right. Tell him that I will be waiting patiently.
Even if they lose a couple of battles, I will remain patient and wait.
Please ask him to deliver news of victory in the end.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will relay your message.
(Goryeo)
Excuse me.
What happened?
I am sorry.
The Supreme Commander only told me to deliver the message to His Majesty.
Do not be like that. Please give me a bit of news.
It is just that I am so worried.
I am sorry.
Right. I understand.
Madam.
He fought well.
Just be aware of that.
Yes. Thank you.
Thank you so much.
However, it is odd.
The Khitan army has not made a single move since the first attack.
What about the scouts?
I have sent them out. They will be back soon.
Commander, the Khitan army has disappeared.
What do you mean, disappeared?
I went to spy on the Khitan army,
but they were all gone, not even leaving a single tent behind.
What do you mean?
Do you mean the Khitan army has just gone back across the Yalu River?
I do not think that is the case.
The guards along the Yalu River said they did not see the Khitan troops.
What?
It is Kwiju.
They are taking a detour and are headed to Kwiju.
Are we headed to Kwiju, then?
Correct.
Did you not say it was a dangerous place?
Yes, it is a very dangerous place.
We will march through such a dangerous place...
and capture the King of Goryeo.
The moment we capture him, we will win this war.
That makes no sense.
This is the main camp.
They must beat us to win this war.
They want to strike Gaegyeong.
They are after His Majesty.
You and the Assistant Field Legislator should chase them with the cavalry units.
I will follow you with the main forces.
- Yes. - Yes, Commander.
Take 5,000 soldiers from the Jwau Army and head to Tongju.
Go to Matan and wait for the enemy.
Yes, Commander.
Dismantle the tents at once. We will all get moving!
- Yes, Commander! - Yes, Commander!
(Yalu River, Heunghwajin, Samgyocheon)
(The Khitan army headed to Gaegyeong, Kwiju)
(Goryeo's main forces, Tongju)
(Goryeo's army headed to Matan)
Goryeo's troops that have been chasing us are attacking the units at the tail end.
We should send help.
- Leave them be. - Commander.
There are Goryeo's troops in front of us too.
Take 3,000 soldiers and stop them.
Fight them and stall them...
just until we pass by.
Understood, Commander.
To battle.
We shall continue our way to Gaegyeong!
- Yes, Commander! - Yes, Commander!
The Head General defeated the enemy troops in Jaju.
They defeated the vanguard troops in Matan as well.
Does that mean we have managed to stop the enemy?
No, the main forces are still marching south.
Every time we launch an attack, they throw a unit at us...
and keep on marching toward Gaegyeong.
Gaegyeong.
Relay my words to the Assistant Field Legislator at once.
He is to rush to Gaegyeong with all the cataphracts.
Tell him that he must hurry to save His Majesty.
Yes, Commander!
Pick up the pace!
- Yes, Commander! - Giddyap!
Have the soldiers lie in ambush.
Stop those who are chasing us.
Yes, Commander.
Shoot!
It is an ambush!
Retreat! We are pulling out!
Retreat!
- Retreat! - Retreat!
Retreat!
(Gwakju, Kwiju, Yeonju)
(Jaju)
(Seogyeong, Matan)
(Goryeo's army chasing the Khitan army advancing southward)
(Gaegyeong)
What do you mean?
Are you saying the Khitan army is marching toward Gaegyeong now?
Yes, that is correct.
The Khitan army is avoiding a head-to-head battle with our army...
and keeps on advancing south toward Gaegyeong.
Here is a letter from the Supreme Commander.
Your Majesty, I apologize for delivering this bad news.
The Khitan army is after Your Majesty. They are headed to Gaegyeong now.
It was due to my incompetence...
that I failed to see through the enemy's intentions.
Your Majesty must find shelter at once.
You have to leave Gaegyeong at this instant.
Then I will do whatever it takes to chase down the enemy...
and thoroughly annihilate all the Khitan troops.
Your Majesty must leave at once and take shelter.
As the Supreme Commander wrote,
the Khitan scoundrels are after Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, we only have 500 soldiers remaining in Gaegyeong at the moment.
We cannot protect Gaegyeong with just 500 soldiers.
Please take shelter at once.
Your Majesty, you must be in a safe place...
for the Supreme Commander to focus on defeating the Khitan army.
Hence, you should leave and take shelter as quickly as you can.
Your Majesty, please do not worry about the people.
We will make sure they flee right away to get away from the Khitan army.
Your Majesty.
Then what will happen to this war?
If my people and I abandon Gaegyeong and leave,
Gaegyeong will fall into the hands of the Khitan army.
The Naseong Wall, which we worked so hard to build,
will protect the enemy instead of us.
With such a mighty fortress right at the center of Goryeo's territory,
the Khitan army now has nothing to fear.
Whenever it is necessary, they will leave the fortress...
and loot the villages on the outskirts to fill their stomachs.
Just like that, they will trample all over our soil once again...
and withdraw their troops one day as if nothing ever happened.
Your Majesty, the Supreme Commander will be sure to block the enemy...
and wipe them out!
How?
The enemy keeps on avoiding a head-to-head battle.
How will he get them?
Even now, he cannot keep up with them.
We must end this war here once and for all.
This is our first and last chance.
Goryeo must not let this chance slip by.
I...
will stay and fight to protect Gaegyeong.
Your Majesty.
The Supreme Commander is on his way to Gaegyeong with the main forces.
If we manage to protect Gaegyeong just until he arrives,
the enemy will have no choice but to go up against our main forces...
in a barren field where there is nowhere to hide.
With their exhausted horses and soldiers,
they have to fight against our troops that outnumber them by over twofold.
That is exactly what we have to do now.
We will create an opportunity...
for the Supreme Commander to wipe out the enemy troops.
Your Majesty, you are absolutely right.
However, we barely have any soldiers left in Gaegyeong.
Right. But instead,
we have countless people.
The one that launches the attack...
on a citadel is always put at a disadvantage in siege warfare.
With my people's help,
I am certain that I can protect Gaegyeong from the enemy.
(Lee Ja Rim, Junior Executive Assistant of Department of Ministries)
If we manage to protect Gaegyeong even for a few days,
we can win this war.
Your Majesty.
Do not depend on the people.
They are tired from the long-lasting war.
What is more, they are filled with fear of the Khitans.
The people will not easily summon their courage.
He is right, Your Majesty.
If they hear that the Khitan army is advancing here,
the people will fight to leave Gaegyeong first.
No.
If...
their only interest were to save themselves,
they would not have wailed...
at the news I was to pay homage.
They got in my way...
despite knowing it was an opportunity to stop the war because...
the people did not simply want to survive.
They, too, surely yearn for victory.
Opposite to their fear is their raging fury.
Beneath their wish to run away,
they have the spirit to fight and defeat the Khitans.
They have a strong desire to break free...
from the shadows of the war that has been suffocating them...
for over 20 years...
and live...
with hope and peace for even just a day.
I...
will give them a chance.
A chance to wipe out the enemy with their own hands...
and obtain peace.
I will give it to them.
Prepare for battle.
Together with my people,
I will fight.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
- Listen... - Listen, the people of Gaegyeong.
Being chased by the Goryeo army, the enemy is rushing to Gaegyeong.
However, if we work together to protect Gaegyeong,
the courageous Goryeo army...
will certainly annihilate the enemy.
This is an earnest order.
Fight with me and obtain victory.
The people outside of the fortress are to scorch the fields.
Lead your family into the fortress and provide support.
Without your help, Gaegyeong cannot be defended.
Without your courage,
this war cannot end.
Thus, take my hand and fight with me.
I, the Emperor, ask with my knees on the ground.
Wait. Then...
what will happen to our village?
Everything and anything useful to the enemy will be burned down.
What? Hold on.
How are we supposed to make ends meet from now on?
What will be left for us?
Good grief. I will lose my house.
Will His Majesty stay in Gaegyeong?
Will he not flee again like last time?
The palace door will remain open.
Come and check...
if His Majesty is in the palace anytime you wish.
Excuse me. If we fight, will we win?
Are we not simply risking our lives?
Nobody...
can predict the result.
However, His Majesty will fight until the end.
Those willing to fight together...
should go to the Ministry of Defense at once...
and receive their weapons.
Your Majesty.
What do you think will happen?
I do not know, either.
Will rage defeat fear?
Will the desire for victory...
suppress the desire to live?
I am not sure.
Even so, if the people follow your wish,
it must be because they trust Your Majesty.
And because your path until now...
has been a light that brightened the war's darkness...
for the people.
My lady.
I will fight. Hand me a stone, at the very least.
Return, my lady.
Taking part in this will not solve anything.
Hand one to me.
Let me fight.
I will stay at the fortress wall until the Supreme Commander returns.
We, too, will fight.
We know how to use the bow.
Give us bows.
Then we three...
can take charge of each fortress gate.
And?
Were those three everyone?
No.
Soon after,
the people came in crowds.
- Good. - Come on.
- Over here. - Take one.
- We are here. - Come inside.
Give me a spear.
Only pack what you need.
- Here. - Hurry up.
Move that way.
- Hurry. - Make haste.
Come now. Hurry.
- Only take what is necessary. - Oh, no.
Hurry!
Make haste!
Come now.
- Hurry! - Where are we going?
- Good grief. - I know.
All the people outside of the fortress are also...
scorching the fields.
Those who received their weapons should head to the training ground.
Those from outside of the fortress should come here.
We will prepare places to sleep.
Your Majesty!
Thank you.
I truly appreciate it.
Your Majesty.
Do not cry.
We will surely win.
Goryeo...
will win.
Hurray for His Majesty!
- Hurray! - Hurray!
Hurray for His Majesty!
- Hurray! - Hurray!
Supreme Commander, hear me.
The people have decided to help me protect Gaegyeong.
You should hurry back and wipe out the Khitan army.
The fortress walls of Gaegyeong...
will keep the Khitan army at bay until then.
Your Majesty.
What was it about?
His Majesty has decided...
to defend Gaegyeong.
That is too difficult to do.
Let us hurry!
His Majesty is in danger!
Make haste! Quick march!
We are nearly there.
We will be at Gaegyeong soon.
Set up camp.
We will rest here tonight.
Yes, Field Commander.
Set up camp!
This map was made based on information from the envoys who have been to Goryeo.
As you can see, there is a fortress that surrounds Gaegyeong.
In order to capture the King of Goryeo, we must go over these fortress walls.
As soon as dawn breaks tomorrow,
take 300 cavalrymen and go to Gaegyeong.
Go and reconnoiter the surrounding fortress of Gaegyeong...
from every direction in a thorough manner.
Right now, Gaegyeong is probably...
completely empty with all the soldiers...
off at the battlegrounds.
As soon as we confirm that,
we will attack right away.
Yes, Field Commander.
Then, everyone should rest up tonight.
When the reconnaissance is over tomorrow afternoon,
we will launch the attack at night.
- Yes, Field Commander! - Yes, Field Commander!
Kang Gam Chan.
This time, you lose.
Your Majesty!
(Korea-Khitan War)
The advance group of the enemy's cavalry is approaching Gaegyeong.
Look over the surrounding fortress of Gaegyeong thoroughly.
Field Commander, it is a trick by the Goryeo army!
We must retreat. It is the Goryeo army!
Shoot!
Charge!
The chance to annihilate the enemy has finally arrived.
Now, we will chase the enemy into a corner...
and end this war.
(Subtitles are provided by KOCOWA.)