(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.)
I may not be able to come back.
I am glad to hear that.
You will die anyway,
so at least make a meaningful contribution before you die.
Only then will you receive...
the chancellor title even if it happens after you die.
Hurry up and get going. Why are you standing there like that?
I will get going, then.
(Hyeonjong, Goryeo's 8th emperor)
Your Majesty.
Yes. Have you dispatched the messenger yet?
He has left for the Northeast just now.
Deputy Minister of Rites.
I wish you victory.
(Seogyeong Fortress)
You fools.
I understand you were flustered,
but how could you leave your weapons behind and run away?
Go to the armory at once.
Go now and grab your weapons again!
- Yes, sir. - Get moving!
Goodness. These clumsy fools.
Most of the soldiers we brought to Seogyeong...
are untrained.
On top of that, they have lost the will to fight.
I am not sure...
if we can manage to win the battle with them.
(Choi Sa We, Supervising Commander)
We should ask those in the Northeast to send us reinforcements.
It is already too late.
Too late? What do you mean?
Sukju Fortress is about to fall.
They probably will not make it through the night.
Then the Khitan army will besiege Seogyeong Fortress by tomorrow,
which means...
we have to guard Seogyeong on our own.
We must do whatever it takes...
to motivate those terrified soldiers...
so that we can guard this fortress.
At the moment,
we have no other option.
It is a fight that we cannot win.
If Sukju falls tonight,
Seogyeong will be the only fortress standing.
Seogyeong Fortress...
cannot withstand the Khitan army on its own.
Even so, we should do our best to fight them off.
Once Seogyeong falls,
it will only be a matter of time before Gaegyeong falls too.
Between Seogyeong and Gaegyeong,
there is not a single strategic foothold that can stop the enemy.
That is precisely why I am saying we will never win.
Knowing its strategic importance,
the enemy will want to capture the fortress at all costs.
Then Seogyeong Fortress will burn down,
and innocent people will lose their lives.
Then what do you suggest that we do?
Lord Won, the Deputy Minister of Rites is here from Gaegyeong.
The Deputy Minister of Rites?
He is on his way to Khitan's camp as an envoy.
As an envoy?
Why send an envoy in this situation?
(Seonhwamun, Seonhwadang)
Are you saying you plan to deceive Khitan Emperor?
(Kang Gam Chan, Deputy Minister of Rites)
Yes, that is correct.
The soldiers in the Northeast will depart for Seogyeong shortly.
We are trying to buy time until they arrive.
His Majesty...
wishes to guard Seogyeong...
at all costs.
It is a risky plan.
What will you do if Khitan suspects the intentions behind your visit?
If they send an envoy to Seogyeong to find out...
if Goryeo truly plans to surrender, then what do we do?
I trust you would handle it well if that were to happen.
If Khitan...
actually sends an envoy to find out what is going on in Seogyeong,
please handle them tactfully.
Treat them well and encourage them to stay for as long as possible.
If needed, go ahead and tell them...
that you have already been ordered to prepare to surrender.
I believe the Supervising Commander...
should be put in charge of this, not I.
He is the highest-ranking commander in Seogyeong at the moment.
The Supervising Commander will now go to Gaegyeong.
Gaegyeong?
Yes, it is His Majesty's order.
His Majesty said he had a different task for you.
Is that so? Okay.
I trust that you will all do a good job.
I will now leave for Khitan's camp.
Be careful.
Please return safe and sound.
I will.
(Goryeo army's camp in the Northeast)
It is His Majesty's order.
You are to go to Seogyeong at once with your soldiers...
and stop Khitan's troops from advancing south.
His Majesty said...
you must guard Seogyeong at all costs.
Understood. You may leave.
Yes, sir.
Officer Tak.
(Tak Sa Jung, Northeast Temporary Government Officer)
This is happening, at last.
We do not have time. I await your command, sir.
(Dae Do Soo, General in the Northeast)
You are to leave for Seogyeong Fortress at once...
with the advanced mounted troops.
Yes, sir.
General, take the remaining soldiers and prepare to go to war.
Since you will be taking the infantry unit too, it will take...
at least three days to get to Seogyeong.
Please hurry.
Yes, sir.
Is that Sukju Fortress?
Yes, it is Sukju Fortress.
It looks like Sukju has fallen.
Soon, the Khitan army will advance into Seogyeong.
We must hurry.
Giddyap.
Deputy Minister, what should we do?
You must hold back.
We must not step in now.
It is the Goryeo army!
Wait!
I see a white flag.
Bring it to me.
Who are you?
An envoy from Goryeo.
I am on my way to meet the Khitan emperor.
Sukju Fortress has been destroyed.
(Yelu Longxu, 6th Emperor of the Khitan)
Great work.
As soon as dawn breaks,
we will advance to Seogyeong.
Do so.
Do not give the enemy time to catch their breath.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty. An envoy from Goryeo has come.
An envoy?
- Bring him in. - Yes, Your Majesty.
There is no more booze!
- Enough. - Good grief.
Commander Kang.
Go inside.
What is your name?
I am Kang Gam Chan, Goryeo Royal Court's Deputy Minister of Rites.
Is what is written in the diplomatic letter true?
Yes, Your Majesty. It is true.
My emperor wishes to pay homage to Your Majesty and your empire.
(Chinjo: a sovereign of a tributary nation paying homage at a higher state's court, )
If Your Majesty allows my emperor to pay homage,
my emperor will soon visit Your Majesty.
And as Your Majesty's subject,
my emperor will go down on his knees before Your Majesty.
Please have mercy as the emperor of the great Khitan...
and allow my emperor to pay homage to Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Goryeo has finally succumbed to Your Majesty.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty has won.
- Hurrah for His Majesty the Emperor! - Hurrah for His Majesty the Emperor!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
Not yet.
Here is a question for you, Goryeo's envoy.
Why is he surrendering...
when he has fought against us until now?
Why did he not honor my wish from the beginning?
Why will he go on his knees now?
It was all...
because of the traitor Kang Jo.
As the traitor Kang Jo threatened Goryeo's young emperor...
with a pointed knife,
our emperor could not obey Your Majesty's wish.
However, Your Majesty led a large army...
and punished the traitor Kang Jo.
As such, our emperor...
can honor Your Majesty's wish without worries now.
Is that really true?
Your Majesty.
Ever since our emperor ascended the throne,
he has waited for Your Majesty to proclaim him.
As Your Majesty already knows,
being proclaimed by Your Majesty...
means Your Majesty promises to protect Goryeo.
Had our emperor received...
the great Khitan emperor's promise to protect,
he would not have been afraid of the traitor Kang Jo.
However, as our emperor could not receive Your Majesty's proclamation,
he could not summon his courage...
and had to hold his breath...
under the shadow of the traitor Kang Jo.
Your Majesty.
(Xiao Paiya)
Your Majesty must not believe his words.
Goryeo is not a trustworthy country.
Goryeo's armies are still stationed in many places.
And yet, his emperor is willing to surrender.
It is hard to understand.
There must be a hidden intention.
Those soldiers...
were summoned to fight by the traitor Kang Jo.
They are innocent.
If you allow our emperor to pay homage to Your Majesty,
those soldiers will be sent home at any time.
Your Majesty.
Goryeo has simply requested to pay homage.
The Goryeo emperor...
has yet to go down on his knees before Your Majesty.
Until the Goryeo emperor pays a visit,
we must keep advancing.
Your Majesty. Paying homage to Your Majesty...
is getting down on the knees...
and asking for Your Majesty's mercy.
If you continue to advance and kill the Goryeo soldiers,
no country will ever again kneel before Your Majesty.
All the subjects of the countries Your Majesty will conquer...
will risk their lives...
to fight against Your Majesty until the very end.
Your Majesty came to the land of Goryeo...
to punish the traitor Kang Jo.
And Your Majesty has finally punished that traitor.
So, for what reason...
will Your Majesty keep advancing?
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty is the emperor of a great country.
Your Majesty is a good and wise king...
who has accomplished a great cause by punishing the traitor Kang Jo.
So, please show mercy to the poor young emperor of Goryeo.
All of Goryeo's subjects will...
forever live with Your Majesty's kindness in their hearts.
And the kings and people of all empires will, too,
praise Your Majesty's generosity...
and respect Your Majesty much more than now.
Please grant the request of this old envoy from Goryeo.
All right.
I am the emperor of the great Khitan.
To those who beg for mercy,
I will show generosity.
Your Majesty.
Go and tell your King.
I will accept his homage,
so have him come at once.
I will stop advancing and wait here.
Your Majesty.
Please stop plundering the Goryeo people.
They, too, are Your Majesty's subjects now.
Fine. I will do that.
All pillages will be banned from now on.
The prisoners will be fed warm food as well.
Thank you for Your Majesty's grace.
Then I shall return...
and deliver this great news to our emperor at once.
All right. Go ahead.
Your Majesty.
It seems like a bad idea.
What is it this time, Commander?
This envoy came with the Goryeo king's will to pay homage.
Having rendered a distinguished service by delivering the news of our victory,
let him stay here for a few days...
and give him warm hospitality.
I believe it is a better choice.
You may be right.
It is not necessary, Your Majesty.
I am grateful for the kindness,
but our emperor is waiting eagerly for this news.
The news...
can be delivered by a messenger.
Yes. Do that.
I, too, would like to recognize your hard work.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Then I will do as ordered.
All of you, enjoy to your heart's content.
We, the Khitan,
have won.
- Hurrah for His Majesty the Emperor! - Hurrah for His Majesty the Emperor!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
- Hurrah for His Majesty the Emperor! - Hurrah for His Majesty the Emperor!
- Hurrah! - Hurrah!
I am not wrong.
He is trying to buy time for the northeast soldiers...
to move to Seogyeong.
Send scouts to every corner in the path...
from the northeast to Seogyeong.
Yes, Commander.
Hurry back and get this news to the court.
Would it really be okay for us to return on our own?
Yes, get going.
All right, then.
Here, have some.
By the way, I am sure there are plenty of vassals in Goryeo.
Why did an old vassal like yourself...
come here as an envoy?
I am sure there are plenty of warriors in Khitan.
Why did an old general like yourself...
come all the way to Goryeo?
I sure cannot win in a battle of words against you.
My brother, Xiao Xunning,
came to Goryeo about ten years ago.
And he made negotiations with a man named Seo Hui.
Yes, I am aware.
Back then, my brother...
told me something.
"All of the court officials of Goryeo are cunning men."
"Do not believe..."
"a word they say."
Tomorrow,
you should go to Seogyeong with the Khitan envoys.
Go and get Seogyeong to surrender.
What do you mean by that?
Since you are requesting to pay homage in person,
you have already decided to surrender.
Then, Seogyeong will not have any reason to continue fighting either.
The sovereign has already decided to surrender.
Why should they keep holding out?
They ought to surrender, of course.
I understand very well what you mean,
but there is a procedure to everything.
Mere procedures...
will not be much of an issue.
As long as Goryeo's intent to surrender...
is sincere, that is.
Right.
Have Seogyeong surrender by tomorrow night...
and have the gates to the fortress wide open.
If not, the Khitan army...
will charge on Seogyeong, no matter what.
(Seogyeong Fortress)
The Deputy Minister of Rites has taken on an immense task.
Yes.
He must deceive the emperor of Khitan right to his face.
If things go wrong in the slightest, he will not be able to come back alive.
Let go!
Get inside.
Branch Censor. What on earth are you doing?
I am sorry. I am under orders from the deputy mayor.
Branch Censor!
As you ordered, we have locked up those working for the Supervising Commander.
Can we do this?
- What if things go wrong... - It will not go wrong.
Goryeo has already lost.
However, the Deputy Minister of Rites...
Do not even mention that.
Falsely surrender?
And what if the emperor of Khitan becomes angry?
Who do you think will have to face all of that anger?
Then, what is it that you plan to do?
We must surrender right away tomorrow.
Seogyeong Fortress will really surrender.
However, the troops from the northeast are headed this way.
That is why we must hurry.
We must let the Khitan army inside this fortress...
before they arrive.
If things go well, we could become officials of Khitan...
and continue to...
rule Seogyeong.
Excuse me.
I have brought the brazier.
It gets cold at night.
Yes. Thank you.
Goodnight.
What is your name?
My name is Deok.
Deok.
Could I ask you one thing?
Yes.
I hear Goryeo has surrendered.
Is that true?
The Khitan soldiers were cheering.
That...
Is it really true?
Yes.
We have surrendered.
What did he say?
Did we really surrender?
Yes. He said that we have surrendered.
- Gosh. - My goodness.
Will they drag us all the way to Khitan now?
My goodness.
Oh, dear.
Your Majesty.
Empress.
You should head to your chambers soon.
You might be here all night at this rate.
I cannot fall asleep.
I wonder if the Deputy Minister of Rites will be all right...
and if Seogyeong will be all right.
I am constantly anxious.
It is such a shame.
Some vassals put their lives on the line and run into enemy territory,
while others...
bring up surrendering in such a hurry.
They are all vassals of Goryeo.
How can they be so different?
Your Majesty.
Vassals who are loyal and those who are not...
are all just vassals who will pass by.
You need not feel so much heartache or disappointment over each one of them.
For now, you must only think about the safety of the imperial court.
What do you mean by that?
If Seogyeong were to fall,
you should surrender as the chancellors want.
Even if it means giving them a piece of our land,
you must keep the imperial court safe.
Empress.
If the nation's fortune takes a turn for the better...
and the nation's power becomes strong,
we can get the land back then.
But first, you must keep the imperial court safe.
Right now, that is of the utmost importance.
The people are risking their lives to keep the fortress safe.
But must I only keep the imperial court safe?
An emperor must exist in order for his people to exist as well.
That is enough.
Why do you keep drifting away from me?
Why is it that you refuse to understand...
the path that I intend to take?
- Your Majesty. - You should head to bed now.
(Gongju)
(Lady Kim, the future Empress Wonseong)
Brother.
Hey, there.
- It has been a while. - Yes, indeed.
I was not sure, but it truly is you.
What do you mean?
I assumed you joined the army and went to war too,
so I am surprised to see you in the village.
I could not join the army for I was unwell.
But you look perfectly healthy.
I may not look it, but I am seriously ill.
My physician advised me against it, so I decided to follow his advice.
What kind of illness do you have...
that you were granted an exemption from the draft?
It was done with the provincial governor's permission.
Stop interrogating me, and just be on your way.
All the other men put their lives on the line to go to war.
How could he slyly get an exemption just because he is a chief's son?
Father, did you truly not know that he was feigning illness?
Did you let him get away with it because you did not know?
Father.
I knew.
Then why did you turn a blind eye to it?
You should have punished him severely for disobeying the military order.
Had I shown such a hostile attitude toward the chiefs,
I would not even have been able to send ten soldiers.
Because I turned a blind eye...
to a few exemptions granted to the chiefs' sons,
I was able to gather 1,500 soldiers.
It had to be done...
to go to war.
This is not Gaegyeong.
Here, the regional lords are like emperors and chancellors.
What can we do? That is our reality.
I am so appalled that I do not even know what to say.
Are you saying you have been their puppet all this time?
You are the provincial governor,
yet you have been bending over backward for those chiefs?
That is enough.
It is not like I wanted to do it.
Do you think I wanted to turn a blind eye to it?
Father!
We received some news from the battlefield.
Our army lost.
- Pardon me? - Goryeo's 300,000 soldiers were defeated,
and a number of fortresses...
have fallen into the enemy's hands.
I feel like...
it is all my fault, and that thought terrifies me.
"Had I managed to send even just one more soldier,"
"maybe the outcome could have been different."
That thought...
sends chills down my spine.
Father.
Hurry home.
Do not leave home for the time being.
Khitan is pushing southward, and we do not know how far they will come.
(Chungju)
Where are they going in such a hurry?
Ever since all the soldiers left to join the battle,
thieves have been showing up everywhere.
So they have been running around like that every single day,
but they have not caught a single thief.
The Emperor in Gaegyeong cannot even catch a few thieves,
yet he dragged all our sons to the battlefield.
They take our sons when a war breaks out.
When they want to build a new palace, they take all the villagers.
They collect taxes every year on top of that.
The Emperor in Gaegyeong just takes and takes...
when he does nothing for us.
The biggest thief in Goryeo is none other than...
the Emperor himself.
- My lord. - You are...
Yes, I am the one who escorted Young Master to the battlefield.
Why are you back already?
Is the war already over?
My son, Seok.
Where is Seok now?
Answer me.
My goodness.
What do we do? My gosh.
Oh, dear.
Seok.
The body...
was not kept intact.
The Khitan scoundrels took his head.
The Khitan army...
would beat old people to death and throw babies into a well alive.
The Khitan army invaded us with 400,000 soldiers.
So, how can we beat them?
If we decide to fight them,
we will all be burned to death along with this fortress.
Those of you who still wish to fight shall come forward now.
We will open the gates for you right away...
so that you can go out there and fight bravely.
Seogyeong...
will surrender.
From now on, I will cut off the heads of everyone...
who speaks of fighting against them.
Do you understand?
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Lord Won, Khitan's envoy has arrived.
Great. Good timing.
- Let us go. - Yes, sir.
His Majesty suggested that you surrender.
The King of Goryeo has already offered homage...
and expressed his wish to surrender.
Hence...
(Han Ki, Khitan's Fifth Rank Officer of the Office of Ceremonies)
I suggest you surrender at once.
Yes, we will surrender.
I will write a proclamation of our surrender as soon as possible.
Please give me a moment.
But before that, I have a request as well.
What might that be?
First, send a messenger to Khitan's camp.
A messenger? Why?
Please bring Khitan's soldiers here right away, and make sure...
they are stationed at this fortress.
What are you talking about?
We ought to follow the proper procedure to surrender.
We should wait until everything is finalized...
before we put in a request for His Majesty's troops to be sent here.
We do not have time.
Goryeo's troops from the Northeast...
are on their way here now.
What? Come again?
Lord Won, what on earth are you talking about?
Is it not obvious?
Those of us in Seogyeong...
wish to prove our loyalty to His Majesty, the Khitan Emperor.
Unlike those in Gaegyeong, we will not deceive Khitan Emperor.
We ought to prove our loyalty.
- Lord Won! - You dug your own grave.
It is your own fault for thinking that...
you could deceive the Khitan Emperor with such a lousy trick.
What on earth are you two talking about right now?
The King's decision to pay homage...
was fake.
What did you say?
This man here deceived the Khitan Emperor.
He came by yesterday and clearly said so.
Lord Won!
What are you waiting for?
Drag him out at once!
Lord Won! What are you doing?
How could you do this?
How can you give up Seogyeong?
I am saving it, not giving up.
Why must we innocent people die...
because of the sin committed by Gaegyeong?
Lord Won!
Take him away.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
That impudent man.
Deputy Minister Kang!
Are you all right?
Wait. Are you not...
Yes.
We, too, have been locked up in here.
Deputy Mayor Won is practically handing Seogyeong Fortress...
over to the Khitan rats.
Your Majesty...
Your Majesty!
Even if the northeast soldiers safely reach Seogyeong,
the battle against the Khitan will not be easy.
Yes, Your Majesty.
The Khitans have an outstanding number of soldiers.
And Seogyeong is a fortress on flatland.
Unlike Heunghwajin, a mountain fortress,
warding off the enemies will be much more difficult.
So, I have given it some thought.
We should gather more soldiers and send help to Seogyeong.
Head to the south...
and gather more soldiers in person.
Such a task...
can be done by the chancellors of the court.
Those men...
are already suggesting to surrender.
Pardon?
Deputy Minister Kang and I...
are the only ones against that.
That was why I asked for you.
Your Majesty.
Leave now.
Only when we protect Seogyeong...
can we win this battle.
Understood, Your Majesty. I will leave at once.
The soldiers who escorted Deputy Minister Kang...
brought back the Khitan emperor's reply.
The emperor...
has accepted Your Majesty's request to pay homage to him.
How come Deputy Minister Kang did not return?
He is staying at the Khitan's camp...
and receiving warm hospitality.
Your Majesty.
We must now prepare to negotiate with them.
How are we to prepare for it?
We have to listen to their demands first.
However, they will not step back easily.
We might have to offer a large tribute annually...
or give a partial amount of the northwest land.
What will happen to the people who are being kept as prisoners?
Unfortunately, there is no way to save them.
They will probably be dragged to Khitan...
and sold off as slaves.
Once we negotiate with the Khitan's government officials,
Your Majesty must present yourself to the Khitan emperor.
And...
Your Majesty must exercise due courtesy as his subject.
How?
I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,
but you must go down on your knees before the Khitan emperor.
Then what will we gain by surrendering?
My humiliation will be in history for eternity.
And the people will become nothing but slaves...
collecting annual tributes for the Khitan. What will we have?
Even if we must surrender and suffer hardship,
Goryeo must be saved first.
Only then...
will we not get destroyed like Balhae.
My apologies.
It took much longer due to my lack of writing skills.
Good.
We will make sure to deliver it to our emperor.
Yes. We leave it to you.
We will take Deputy Minister Kang.
Our emperor will punish him himself.
My apologies.
I am only fulfilling my order.
Is that so?
Then, will you die if the Deputy Mayor orders you to die?
It was your decision in the end.
You, yourself, are taking part in treason.
It is a hopeless battle, is it not?
There is no battle with a set outcome.
Only those...
who find excuses like you say such a thing.
Overcome this moment, and we can win.
Buy us one day, and we can protect Seogyeong.
But...
people like you are blowing off that chance.
You are driving the sword,
given to kill the enemy, into the very core of Goryeo.
If you had seen the faces of the prisoners...
held captive in the Khitan's camp even just once...
If you had seen their desperate eyes even just once...
You would never do this.
Never.
Giddyap.
How dare you try to deceive the great Khitan.
Our emperor will not forgive you.
Do you know how Kang Jo died?
With His Majesty's order, he died as his arms and legs were cut off.
You will meet a gruesome death while experiencing much more pain...
than him.
Are you all right?
Are you soldiers from the northeast?
Yes. I am Deputy General Ji Chae Moon.
Who are you, my lord?
I cannot understand.
To go to the Khitan's camp again?
You barely broke free from the enemy.
Why would you step into the enemy's camp again?
The emperor ordered to bring Seogyeong's submission by tonight.
If nobody returns,
the Khitans will advance to Seogyeong at once.
Then, the Khitan soldiers will reach Seogyeong first...
before the northeast's army arrives.
I will return with the diplomatic letter...
and buy us a few more possible hours.
I get your point. But if something goes wrong, you will...
die.
No. I will not die.
I promised His Majesty to return alive.
- Excuse me? - Hurry.
Go and seize Seogyeong Fortress one way or another.
Only then can the main army enter the fortress when they arrive.
- My lord. - We do not have much time.
Now go.
If the war situation worsens, the soldiers of the northeast...
are to rescue Seogyeong.
The advance army must have arrived by now.
And the main army will reach by tomorrow.
The envoy sent to Seogyeong has yet to return.
We have lost contact with the scouts as well.
I am sure the Goryeo soldiers...
must be making a move near Seogyeong.
Unbelievable.
Did that old envoy...
truly deceive me in my face?
Did that young emperor of Goryeo...
truly make a fool of me?
Your Majesty. Give us an order to advance.
Your Majesty.
We are going to battle!
Move it! Hurry!
What are you waiting for?
We are advancing to Seogyeong!
We are going to battle! Hurry!
Get in line at once!
Advance on Seogyeong.
Open the fortress gates this instant!
Hurry up!
We have rushed here without resting for a sip of water to save you!
So, who says you can surrender?
Are you not ashamed to face the skies?
Are you not ashamed to face your wife and kids?
Open the fortress gates!
Right now!
Set off the battle.
Set off the battle!
I have returned.
There is no need to head to battle.
Seogyeong has surrendered.
(Korea-Khitan War)
Prepare for battle!
It is not right to surrender to Khitan now.
We have no right to surrender.
Those cunning Goryeo men.
Advance on Seogyeong right this instant.
Right now, Gwakju is the only foothold that the Khitan army has.
I will be sure to reclaim Gwakju with my own two hands.