All language subtitles for Soldier.E25.120512.HDTV.H264.720p-HANrel

Say that again.
What now?

What did you say?

Speak up.

Persecuting the Emperor,
continuing this war...

all will be blamed on your
military dictatorship.

Military dictatorship?

You think you have free rein to
say what you like?

Where do you think you are?

With you, sir.

You're calling me a military dictator?

You said to speak frankly.

You seem to think you have a few
lives to spare.

The fate of Koryo hangs in the balance.

Would I dare speak if I were concerned
only for myself?

You're a tricky devil.

You can read my mind now,
is that it?

Not at all. Everyone in Koryo
knows how things are.

We've already made peace
with the Mongols.

Not peace, surrender.

- Peace.
- Surrender.

Semantics can't change reality.

We must fight, or...

Or...what?

Or be enslaved.

Those are our only options.

You're right. It's already begun.

The Mongols demand the children of
the nobles and the royal house.

What will we do then?

We'll be at their mercy,
just as you say.

The want gold, silver, herbs, grains.

Thousands of horses.

This isn't peace. It's total surrender,
just as you said.

But I won't say it's either.

Not peace, not surrender.

This war goes on.
This is merely a respite.

Wouldn't you agree?

Just so, sir.

You said we have one option other
than enslavement to the Mongols.

We must fight.
And I must take the blame.

How do you mean?

Tell me. If we must fight,
we need a strategy.

Talk is one thing, action another.

How would you get out of this impasse?

I've already granted permission to
speak candidly, for today at least.

Tell me.

What's your assessment of the Mongols?

The late Overlord used to play quite
a bit of chess with Lord Yi Kyubo.

That's true.

In chess, there's a move
called face-off.

The generals face
each other unobstructed.

One general moves, the other
matches it, until it's a draw.

Go on.

In other words, go somewhere
the enemy can't reach.

They are a desert people.
The sea scares them.

So?

But Koryo is surrounded by
water on three sides.

With hundreds, thousands of islands.

If we locate a stronghold on one
of them, what can the Mongols do?

A stronghold...

You suggest moving the
capital to an island?

It will require sacrifice and hardship.

It will be a protracted war,
one that means abandonment...

and death for our people.

Their land pillaged,
their lives trampled underfoot.

And with each cry, each death...

they will curse your name.

Because this war could last 10 years,
20 or 30 years, 40, even 100 years.

30? 40? 100?

Couldn't it?
The capital must survive.

To keep the spirit of Koryo alive.

Kim Jun.

Yes, Overlord.

Have you mentioned this to anyone?

No one.

For men, the looser the talk,
the greater the danger.

Keep such thoughts to yourself.

Yi Kyubo and Jong Ahn
are on their way.

Alert the kitchen that
I'll have company.

You're dismissed.

Overlord.

A stronghold.

Stronghold...

Like a bloom on a barren tree.

Hello, Venerable.

Where are you off to?

The Director General's home.

May I ask why?

Her Grace had two bodhisattvas made.

I'll be dedicating them
to open their eyes.

So I heard. No doubt many
people will attend.

I don't think so.
Just the immediate family.

A family shrine is, by definition,
a family affair.

Of course. Excuse us, Venerable.
We're off to see the Overlord.

- After you.
- Thank you.

What are you doing?
The Venerable is nearly here.

Beans, come on, chop-chop.
You took your time about it.

What does it mean
to open their eyes?

Dotting of the eyes to open their eyes.

To fill the wood with the
spirit of Buddha.

A vehicle of the cosmos.

Ah. I see.

Everything must be spotless.

Not a speck of dust anywhere.

Not to worry.

Well? Polish the faces,
wipe the walls, the floors.

A lot of monks are coming.

The head abbot and the musicians.

Set tables outside the shrine,
loaded with delicacies.

Your Grace.

Gyo Jing Do Gam Governmental Branch

Regional reports, sir.

How do you assess the new reports?

Violence by the Mongol resident
commissioners is on the rise.

The south, the Eastern and
Western Capitals, the north...

Everywhere people ask who
is running Koryo.

We have to put up with them.
They're official Mongol representatives.

What can we do?

Dotan here in the capital is
a real piece of work.

Slapping people around,
breaking things, a nasty drunk.

I've heard the same.

The commissioners are courting trouble.

There's talk every day of
evening the score.

It's bad.

Next?

The Mongols are insisting on their
full measure of tribute.

We can't possibly provide
all their demands.

Send our envoys again.
Tell them it's just too much.

And this is from the Cholla provinces.

About the two young lords.

Manjung and Manjon?

It's absurd.

Cholla has enough problems,
with drought and famine.

Now these two lend at usurious rates
and when people can't pay...

they beat them and enslave
their children.

Scum.

Don't include this in the
Overlord's reports.

Doesn't he need to know?

They're still his sons.
We have to shield him if we can.

But he'll find out sometime.

All the same, they're my in-laws.

How can I turn them in?

Next.

Sir. The dedication of the shrine
is this evening.

The head abbot and his
entourage are coming.

Yes, I know.

The ceremony to open the
eyes of the bodhisattvas.

It's quite elaborate.

Is that so?

Now, about the Overlord's quarters.

Has Kim Jun quit for the day?

I believe so.

Then you're dismissed for the day.

I promised to have a drink with Kim Jun
ten years ago and still haven't done it.

Today is as good an excuse as any.

Yes, sir.

A mountain monk thought to capture
the moon in a jar of water.

He realized that to tilt the jar
he must spill the moon.

Good old Three Vices. Come have a drink.

Sir.

It's been too long since we've
heard your verse.

It's as though we're sipping tea
on the mountain...

and we can see the look on that
monk's face.

Can you? High praise indeed.
Thank you.

It speaks to the peace and
contentment of the monk's life.

Exactly.

I wonder if I'll ever find it?

You have to find it within.

Take a break from affairs of
state and let yourself relax.

Who has time to relax?

At least we old men can get together
now and then.

Just the thought of politics
is so stifling.

It's said that the older one gets,
the more one leaves behind.

Unburden your cares.

And place them on whom exactly?

The Guard Corps looks to me, His
Majesty looks to me for what he needs.

The court, the chancellors,
they all look to me.

What kind of life is that?

My meals are a blur,
I can't close my eyes at night.

And I still have so far to go.

My father was drinking
and issuing commands...

to the day he died.

I'm weak, lonely, the joy
has gone out of life.

It's natural.
Life itself can be exhausting.

As we said before, you need a wife.

Listen to you.
This from my own brother-in-law?

He's right. It won't do for the
Overlord not to have a spouse.

Nevermind being lonely,
it's a question of dignity.

You can't be alone.

Is that right?

I'm over sixty...

but I still feel like a kid.

Actually, Lord Jusuk has been
looking for a wife for you.

- Ju Suk?
- Yes.

Talk about a waste of time.

Lord Jusuk.

Haven't we been faithful servants
to the Overlord?

Of course.

And people make mistakes in war.

So I made some mistakes.
The Overlord is over-reacting.

Like a cat that pretends
it's sorry for the rat.

- Now, now.
- No, it's true.

You were at the banquet
for the Mongols.

The way the Overlord looked at me,
it gave the she shivers.

Not to mention dressing me down
at the Privy Council.

I know, I know.

It has me worried.

We're very close, after all.

I know, exactly right.

So if you could say something...

You know the Overlord as well as I do.

He'll keep looking for faults.

Not now, perhaps, but sometime.

Then things will just get worse.

My point exactly.
That's what has me so upset.

There is something you can do.

What?

It's good for you, good
for the Guard Corps...

and good for the Overlord.

What is it? Well?

- Listen, Dae Jipsong.
- Go on.

Listen.

It's been over a year since
Her Grace passed.

The Royal House can't go
a day without an empress.

Neither should the Guard Corps.

Your daughter lost her
husband in the war?

That's true.

Then she's alone?

I'm not sure I follow.

I swear. She's alone, he's alone.

Huh? Wait.

- My daughter?
- Exactly.

Marrying again is an accepted custom.

The Overlord is the most
powerful man in Koryo.

Well? How would you like
to be his father-in-law?

Me? The Overlord's father-in-law?

Yes.

But her husband hasn't
been dead long.

And she has a child.

We have to act.

Your daughter is one of
Koryo's great beauties.

Jong Ahn has already mentioned it.
So has Yi Kyubo.

Is that so?

Oh, yes.

The Overlord's father-in-law? Me?

Oh, my...

This talk of age reminds of
the late Kim Dokmyong.

Now I know how he managed to
stay in my father's good graces.

How's that?

As you grow older you need
someone to talk with.

To while away the time.

A man like Dokmyong
was perfect for that.

That's true.

And I recall how he loved
playing chess with you.

Yes, so he did.

Speaking of which...

I understand that there's no way
out of a face-off?

The generals face
each other unobstructed.

From a stronghold, back and forth,
a draw.

No matter how they move...

It's not of much use, Overlord.

Ah-ha,
so you've heard of it?

Of course, but the stalemate tactic
makes for a dull game.

Not to the strong side, no, but to the
weak side, it's heaven sent.

It's not a win,
but it's not a loss, either.

A draw is a win in a way,
to the weaker side.

- We should play chess now and then.
- Sir.

- Show me this face-off play.
- Sir.

Another drink.

- Here, another.
- Sir.

- Kim Jun.
- Yes, Overlord.

Overlord, at your service.

Have the kitchen bring
some more refreshments.

- It's late. Be on your way.
- Overlord.

More refreshments for the Overlord.

Well, now, Field Marshal.

Pak Sungson, remember?

Of course. May I help you?

- When do you get off?
- Just now, actually.

Kim Yakson's shrine?
But why me?

The Director General wanted to make
up for the drink from 10 years ago.

I see, but the shrine is
for family members only.

Where is it written
that it's only family?

It's a place for friends, as well.

- Come along.
- Sir.

It's not just you.
Pak Sonbi will be there.

Come in. The hymn will be over soon.
Have a seat.

Sir.

The dotting of the eyes is a ceremony
of enlightenment.

The eyes are opened and so,
too, the heart.

What was made of wood comes
to symbolize the soul...

and wisdom of Buddha.

Similar carvings were made
in the days of Old Silla.

Two bodhisattvas.

Built by Queen Jinsong in the hope that
she might be with Commander Wihong.

Yet she did not have them carved
simply out of earthly desire.

She came to understand the
greater truths of next life.

Yet scandal-mongers have spread
the tale far and wide,

showing their own ignorance.

Buddha does not grant any
wish for the asking.

To pray for one's selfish desires is not to
earn blessings, but to incur his wrath.

To call down disaster, so it is written.

In the end selfish desires burn you
and others, so it is written.

If such desires exist, they must be
repented, right now, this second.

Do you see?

Do you?

Venerable, you spoke of selfish
desires in your sermon.

Of whom were you speaking?

It is the nature of all things to wish
for what should not be.

Thus the three vices.

Ignorance, greed, both of which
lead to hate...and destruction.

Those who can understand,
will understand.

Yes, Venerable.

Well, he's a spry old bird.
The Venerable, I mean.

Yes, sir.

He was right.
Selfish desires bring disaster.

- Isn't that so, Songi?
- Quite so.

It was a real eye-opener.

In the end selfish desires
burn yourself and others.

Kim Jun, what are your thoughts?

The Venerable is very wise.

Oh, you lived the monk's life.
At Chuknyong Temple or some such?

Yes, sir.

How things change.

From the hero of the arena to a
field marshal, a field marshal.

Ah, the mallet you used in the arena.
The silver one.

Lent to you by my father-in-law.
My wife's idea, I understand.

Today is a good day. A day for sharing
a drink with friends we've missed.

Sir.

Well, darling? Pour our guest
Kim Jun a drink.

Me?

These men are close to you.
Especially the Field Marshal here.

Like the bodhisattvas.

How do you mean?

The bodhisattvas?

Of course, since she was such
a help to you back then.

Right, right. So, pour him a drink.

It's not fitting for the lady of the
director's house to serve a slave.

With respect, sir.

Even if I insist?

We must observe the proprieties,
even with one small drink.

I respectfully decline.

Take it.

What proprieties do you mean?

My lord insists.

It would be improper to decline.

Take it.

I cannot.

Is that an insult?

Go on. Please, for me.

Sir, it isn't fitting. Please.

You, too, General Pak?

Who in the Guard Corps sees the
Field Marshal as a slave anymore?

Allow me to make a prediction.

Soon enough, Kim Jun will be given
commoner status.

Then he will ride to even
greater heights.

After which, he will he will have more
influence over the Guard Corps...

the Directorate General itself.

The lady has offered you a drink
and you respectfully decline.

All right, I'll pour. Here.

Oh, I'm curious about something.

Yes, sir.

Koryo has made peace
with the Mongols.

We surrendered.

Yes, well, have it your way.

But the Overlord seems uneasy.

He wants to go on fighting.

Is that an old man's folly?

Or a Koryo warrior's pride?

Sir.

Neither.

Then what?

To prevent Koryo becoming
enslaved like me.

If we don't fight,
we must fly the white flag.

If so, there will be no emperor, no
guard corps, no directorate general.

Just slaves.

Just like me.

You know as well as I do...

Koryo, the Guard Corps, we don't stand
a chance against the Mongols.

East to West, the desert, the continent,
the Mongol flag flies everywhere.

Fight?

Perhaps the Overlord asked your opinion?

About what Koryo should do.

Perhaps we should stop here.

It's getting late, sir.

You've heard enough, is that it?

All right, no politics over drinks.

Anything else on your mind, Kim Jun?

Pardon my saying so, but we must fight.

If we don't, Koryo will cease to exist.
Nothing will be left.

The Mongol resident commissioners
are already taking over.

The commissioner here in the capital is
demanding to live in the Imperial Palace.

Did you hear? Did you?

The men of Koryo...

do not run from a fight.

Is that so?

To insult me is to insult my emperor.

Take that!

How long has it been, huh?
I represent the Mongol emperor.

My residence must be
in your royal palace.

Right? Right? Right?

Lord. Please.

You can't treat the liaison like this.

Can't? I can't, huh?

Can't this! And that!

My emperor has commanded it.

I, Resident Commissioner Dotan,
will reside in Koryo's royal palace.

Got that?

Yes, sir.

Sir, wake up. Sir!

Call for a doctor.

Do Bang Kye Kyung

We got to talking about chess
and had too much to drink.

You know what's in these reports.

I instructed you to deal with them.

Yes, Overlord. But there are some
things that require your attention.

Let me guess, the Mongol tribute?

Yes, Overlord.

Wait, what's this?

What are they up to now?
Filthy Mongols.

They want our navy to help in their war
against the Jin? And 3,000 troops?

Yes, Overlord.

This isn't tribute, it's extortion.
3,000 men?

And thirty ships?

Scum. Tell them no.

Forgive me, but I doubt
they'll budge on this.

The Mongols fear the deep.

Which is why they need
us so desperately.

Filthy scum.

What else have we got?

The circuit governors' reports and
intelligence on the local gentry.

From Cholla, I see.

Maybe my boys have finally
learned their lesson.

Not a word about them.

Fine, fine, do as you see fit.

Go on, dismissed.

Yes, Overlord.

- Kim Jun?
- Yes, Overlord.

Kim Jun.

Yes, Overlord.

That face-off ploy you were
telling me about.

I've been thinking it over.

I know just the place.

Sir?

You were right.
Now the Mongols want our navy.

They're afraid of the sea.

It's beyond their power.

There was a place to which we used
to banish traitors and the like.

Deposed emperors, at times,
as well as nobles in exile.

It's quite close.

Why did we send them there?

To Kanghwa, you mean?

The island is quite large, separated
from the mainland by two channels.

The current is fierce and the
west is protected by sea.

Our Koryo sailors can navigate the
channel and the sea by boat.

Go to Kanghwa.

You'll see for yourself. It will save
my having to explain.

That's our stronghold.

Yes, Overlord.

I'll have some work for you
when you get back.

Take what men you need.

Dismissed.

Yes, Overlord.

So begins the Hundred Years War.
One hundred years.

What's that? The Mongols want
3,000 sailors and thirty ships?

Yes. Immediately, they said.

Like we have that kind of navy?
Immediately?

What will we do for a navy
if we send all our men?

This is serious.

We should confer with
the Ministry of War.

What will happen if we don't comply?

Serious, yes, and frightening.

The more we give, the more they ask.
Who knows what they'll demand next?

Immediately this, immediately that,
this demand, that demand.

Lord Yi, write them another petition.

I'm not much good for anything
but drinking anymore.

But there's nothing for it. I'll try.

There's something else. The Cholla
circuit governor has petitioned the court.

I saw it. The Overlord's sons are
getting out of hand.

A petition to the Guard Corps didn't work,
so he sent it to the court.

I've heard the same.

What, now it's usury?

The Overlord's own sons
exploiting their people?

Well said.

Koryo is best by war and famine.

The young lords use that to exploit
and beat the people?

If it's true, it can't be allowed.

We have enough trouble with the Mongols.

If they're exploiting the commoners,
it must be dealt with.

And right away.

We can't have them hurting the morale
of this great nation.

It's not just commoners.

These kids, they kick the local officials
around like dogs.

You can't tell who's the magistrate
and who's the citizen.

The local magistrates, too? I swear.

- The liaison is dead.
- He's what?

- Our liaison is dead?
- What?

Mongol Resident Commissioner Dotan
beat him mercilessly until he spit blood.

He beat him to death.

Mongols! Mongols!

Beating a man to death?

- Scum!
- Poor man.

What? The resident commissioner
killed our liaison?

When was this?

Yesterday, Overlord.

He thinks he can do as he pleases?

He drinks every day and
beats anyone he pleases.

It can't be allowed.

Are we a joke, he beats
our people to death?

I won't have it. I won't.

Our family reunion was long overdue.

That's true, brother. You have a lot
to deal with these days.

If what I hear is right, the Overlord
is pretty upset.

Over the Mongol resident
commissioners' abuses.

Don't get me started.
We just got another report.

The capital commissioner
beat our liaison to death.

It's infuriating.

They're scum.
How could that happen here?

But we have to appease them.
They're Mongol representatives.

We can't give them an excuse.

As disgusting and frustrating as it is.

That's not the Overlord's way.

I served him for years.

Don't say that in front of him.

Chances are he'll explode.

Oh?

Rant and rave with him.
A much wiser approach.

Ranting never solved anything.

Only patience and restraint
will get us through this.

How are things with Lady Songi?

What things?

I know you two aren't well-suited.
Having any problems?

I never wanted this marriage.
It was the Overlord's orders.

I'm trying to be a good husband
and father. Everything's fine.

It doesn't look fine.

You've had a chance to
talk with Kim Jun?

Yes , a bright man.

- There are rumors--
- Forget the rumors.

Rumor, fact, fiction,
there's nothing I can do about it.

But you're married.

Put a stop to it, correct
what needs correction.

There was a time she was
called the heroine of Koryo.

I'm the gentleman scholar.

These days I'm scared just
talking to the Overlord.

I'm not disagreeing with you.

I want to scream to the Overlord that
we should fight till our fists bleed.

But that won't help the people that look
to the emperor and the Guard Corps.

We need vision and clear heads for them.

You can't be weak.

But it's their children that
die on the battlefield.

The food we eat is from
their blood, their sweat.

What would Koryo be without its people?

They mean to move the palace here?

Perhaps so.

Why? Out of fear of the Mongols?

The opposite.

To build a fortress on Kanghwa
for a prolonged war.

The Overlord said that?

Kanghwa is a formidable stronghold.

There are no easy approaches,
not for Mongols.

They fear water like little children.

Really?

The fields are big enough
to support the fort.

Ships can reach the western
shore without difficulty.

Or interference from the Mongols.

They don't have any boats.

Very interesting.

We need to look closer.

We need room for the palace
and the Guard Corps.

Not to mention housing for nobles,
room for a market, peasants.

And the people from the temples
and surrounding areas.

The palace, the Corps, the capital.

Will Kanghwa fit all those people?

It will.

Now Kanghwa Island will be named
Kangdo, the seat of Koryo's government.

You and I...will probably die here.

Oh?

You seem to know a lot.

Why did you drag me along?

We're old comrades.
The arena changed our lives.

This will be good.

Good?

Yes. We will live lives of meaning.

A new day is calling to us.

A new world that will sweep
away the Mongols.

What are you talking about?

A world that needs...champions.

Overlord, Dae Jipsong made
some mistakes.

He deeply regrets his errors.

As well he should.
His incompetence lost us the war.

For which he has paid dearly.
Now he begs you to meet with him.

Meet?

He serves a fine wine and begged
me to invite you to his home.

It's been years since we called on him.

Shall we, sir?

Listen to you.

I'll think about it.

You recall our discussion about chess?

Yes.

How a stronghold and a face-off
leads to a draw?

Just so.

You must know what I'm thinking.

Yes, Overlord.

I sent Kim Jun to look over
Kanghwa Island.

I haven't been myself.
So I had him check its suitability.

I intend to move the palace there.

Overlord, you mean to move the capital?

Exactly. Koryo's last stronghold.

The emperor and his subjects
will hold out to the death.

Perfect. A perfect sunset.

Yes. Perfect.

I like Kanghwa.
A good place to end our days.

End our days?

Yes. Warriors need their swords
and a place to fight to the death.

We're warriors.

We never yet found a place to die.

True.

The center of Koryo will
come to Kanghwa.

And with it, the start of a new era.

And for us, the dawn of a new day.

Yangbaek, do you know why
I brought you here?

I wanted you to be the first to
see the future of Koryo.

Because it holds our futures, too.

Not as slaves, but as soldiers,
as warriors.

We will be reborn.

Just as history will be written here,
we will write our histories.

Our histories.

Our histories!

Yangbaek!
We write our histories here!