Original subtitles

(This drama merged facts with fiction and plots may differ from records.)

(Children and animals were filmed with the aid of guardians and experts.)

(Some scenes were made using generative AI.)

As long as I live,

no one shall ever...

invade Goguryeo!

It is a rebellion!

Protect His Majesty!

Oh, my!

How dare you!

Where are you going?

Gae So Mun, you bastard!

Your Majesty, you must leave immediately.

Think only...

of Goguryeo.

Dismiss Kim Chun Chu and behead him.

- Behead Kim Chun Chu. - Behead Kim Chun Chu.

- Behead Kim Chun Chu. - Behead Kim Chun Chu.

- Behead Kim Chun Chu. - Behead Kim Chun Chu.

(Kim Beop Min, eldest son of Kim Chun Chu)

General Kim Yu Sin has arrived.

(Bi Dam, minister of Silla, a Jingol)

(Kim Yu Sin, Supreme General of Silla)

(Kim Jin Ju, minister of Silla, a Jingol)

Your Majesty.

Those who disobey their monarch and cause a rift...

are not worthy to have Silla blood.

Behead those who go against you, uphold law and order within,

and prepare to fight Baekje.

Your Majesty.

Your disloyal servant is returning in three years.

General.

As if leaving your post on the Goguryeo border was not bad enough,

you have now abandoned the front to bring your troops to Seorabeol.

Who sent you word to leave the border?

Know your place!

I am a general who serves the command of Her Majesty.

Your Majesty, I left my main army at the Goguryeo border...

and traveled here with six men.

And it is because I foresaw this very situation.

The Minister of Military Affairs' duty is to execute those who retreat.

Baek Ryong had come to relay important information.

If we cannot behead Baek Ryong, who left his fortress and caused a rift,

what of the soldiers outside?

Anyone who defends Baek Ryong is an accomplice.

Silla's greatest threat does not come from the outside,

but from the division within.

While my men give their lives to hold the border,

the Jingol nobles in the capital...

sat idly and refused to send their own troops to war!

If anyone serves their own interests above Silla's...

and causes internal division,

do they not deserve to be beheaded?

Your Majesty.

If you believe Silla's future depends on eliminating those of Gaya descent,

I ask that you kill me and my men first.

Though these men scorn me for my Gaya blood,

I have risked my life in battle to prove my loyalty to Silla.

My men outside...

have Gaya blood in their veins...

but have fought for Silla for over ten years.

They were not even aware of their heritage!

If we must die to save Silla,

then we will willingly give our lives here.

This is my command as Ruler of Silla.

Kim Chun Chu will remain Minister of Military Affairs...

and guard Daeyaseong Fortress.

As for you, General Kim Yu Sin,

take 3,000 cavalry from Seorabeol...

and take up position outside the capital.

(Episode 2: A Fortress of Madmen)

(Taiji Palace, Chang'an, Tang Dynasty)

Li Shiji, Commander of the Shuozhou Expeditionary Army,

has returned after conquering Xueyantuo.

Your Majesty's territory...

now stretches 3,735km from east to west,

and 4,288km from north to south.

- We hail the conqueror of the world. - We hail the conqueror of the world.

(Li Shimin, Emperor of Tang)

(Goguryeo)

The map shows there are other nations.

So how can I say that I have conquered the world?

Your Majesty.

If you were to give me 30,000 men,

I will take Liaodong and Pyongyangseong...

and bring you the head of Goguryeo's king.

Your Majesty.

(Zhangsun Wuji, Tang's minister)

Goguryeo is cold and barren,

and the people are known to be fierce and violent.

They are not worth the effort of conquering.

Is there ever an exception to conquering?

Emperor Yang of Sui lost a million men in Goguryeo...

and brought about his dynasty's fall.

Do not underestimate Ko Geon Mu, who defeated Emperor Yang.

On top of that, there are too many strong fortresses.

(Sui)

Because Emperor Yang failed,

you believe I will fail also?

You think I cannot beat Ko Geon Mu?

That is preposterous!

You united the realm and subjugated nations without suffering a defeat.

I would not dare compare you to the ruler of a fallen dynasty.

I merely mean...

that Goguryeo is cold and useless...

Zhangsun Wuji!

Your Majesty, Grand Preceptor Wei Zheng is entering.

(Wei Zheng, Tang's Grand Preceptor)

Your Majesty.

I miss the days...

when you and I,

with Li Shinji and Zhangsun Wuji,

raided and conquered the Western Regions...

and the northern lands.

We can still share more victories.

Ko Geon Mu of Goguryeo...

fears you, Your Majesty.

He voluntarily destroyed the monuments at the border...

and strives to preserve peace with us.

Therefore, Goguryeo is as good as yours now.

Your Majesty.

Many men from Shandong Province were conscripted for war,

so the region still suffers.

If you attack Goguryeo when it has already submitted,

you may obtain more land...

but risk the resentment of an exhausted people.

However, if you were to find cause to conquer Goguryeo...

after our people had time to recover,

your people and your ministers...

will willingly give their lives for you.

I am aware...

that I do not have long to live.

But when the time comes to mobilize,

I will assist you...

in your endeavors...

from the afterlife.

I know the depth of your loyalty.

I will bide my time.

- We thank you, Your Majesty. - We thank you, Your Majesty.

Zhangsun Wuji.

Follow Wei Zheng's counsel and focus on the people's recovery.

Meanwhile,

all commanders, including Li Shiji,

are to train and prepare for a future war.

- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.

(Goguryeo)

(Ko Yeon Mu, Goguryeo's general)

(Ko Geon Mu, 27th ruler of Goguryeo)

Has Pyongyangseong...

finally fallen?

We cannot be certain...

from this distance.

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty.

Are you all that remain?

(Seondo Hae, Goguryeo minister)

Your Majesty, retreat to Liaodong and bide your time.

Ko Jeong Eui's Central Army lies in ambush near Sasu.

I will join them.

But Ko Jeong Eui and the Central Army...

(Ko Jung San, Goguryeo's general)

They have sided with Yeon Gae So Mun.

What?

Ko Jeong Eui...

betrayed me?

Please head to Liaodong.

Our fortresses there still stand strong.

There, you can escape Yeon Gae So Mun.

I will go to Pyongyangseong.

My men are there.

Not even Yeon Gae So Mun...

could have taken Pyongyangseong.

You must go to Liaodong.

Pyongyangseong...

is where I will go.

Welcome, Your Majesty.

(Ko Juk Ri, Western Commander)

Give His Majesty a warm welcome!

Make way!

I will clear the path.

- Surrender. - Release me!

Let me go, you traitors!

Release me!

(Geom Mo Jam, Goguryeo's general)

Your Majesty!

Do you think...

this will make the world yours?

Escort the King.

(Ah Jin Ham, Kim Yu Sin's loyal servant)

Daeyaseong is not far from here.

- Will you be going to Tang, In Mun? - Yes.

That is good news.

You must see a bigger world.

I never thought we would be drinking together here in Seorabeol.

How is the tea?

I had it prepared specially for you.

If you had not appeared when you did,

our father would have been in great trouble.

Thank you, Uncle.

How do you think I knew to come?

Pardon?

"Things are brewing on the Baekje border."

"Bi Dam and his cohorts will most definitely plot something."

Your father warned me in advance.

Father.

They will not be able to use our Gaya ancestry...

against us for a while.

Beop Min.

What is your ultimate goal?

It is time you wielded a sword...

for your country.

(Baekje, the enemy)

This place belonged to Gaya, then to Baekje.

And now it belongs to Silla.

These people merely lived their lives on this land.

Once, they were Gaya people.

Yesterday, they were Baekje people.

Today, they are the people of Silla.

Officials think they will betray Silla easily,

so they leave these terrifying warnings.

Was this General Kim Pum Seok's doing?

Any general of Silla would do the same.

If Baekje were to take over again,

its people would do so as well.

If there is a living hell,

this would be it.

Father.

- You sensed it too? - Yes.

- Which direction? - Behind us to the right.

There are not many of them.

Watch your back.

Who goes there?

Show yourself!

I am Kim Chun Chu, Silla's Minister of Military Affairs.

I am on the way to see Kim Pum Seok, the lord of Daeyaseong.

If you do not wish to fight us,

show yourselves.

You are going to see Kim Pum Seok?

Yes.

We are not the enemy.

We are Silla men, the same as you.

You are going to Kim Pum Seok, yet claim you are not the enemy?

If you stand with him,

you are murderers as well.

Father.

If you were wronged, I will avenge you.

If Kim Pum Seok is guilty of something, I will uncover the truth.

Show yourselves!

I swear it on my name.

Will you please hear our plight?

Lord Kim Pum Seok...

called my mother a spy just because she was of Baekje descent.

Look at her now.

I, Kim Pum Seok, just saved your life.

Welcome, sir.

Hello, Beop Min.

Welcome to Daeyaseong, the front line of Silla.

(Sabiseong, Baekje)

Still no news from Daeyaseong?

We have taken 40 fortresses in Daeya Province.

(King Uija, 31st ruler of Baekje)

Why have we not heard any good news yet?

It is the strongest fortress in all of Silla.

We know so little of the situation within its walls.

First, you blamed our shortage of men.

Then, you blamed Kim Yu Sin.

Now you blame a lack of intelligence?

Do you plan to leave Daeyaseong...

and make a detour to Seorabeol?

It has been 100 years.

King Seong lost his life...

to those Silla barbarians 100 years ago!

It has been a whole century.

The dogs...

broke our alliance,

betrayed King Seong,

and took his head as a trophy of war.

They still control our Dangseong and Daeyaseong.

I have yet to avenge my ancestor.

How am I to bear...

this humiliation?

I will bleed the people of Silla dry...

and paint Wolseong Palace red with their blood.

I will scatter their bones...

across the kingdom.

Until I do that, I do not think I can say...

I have done my duty.

With my own hands,

I will tear out that queen's heart.

Only then will I sleep in peace.

My dear ministers.

As usual,

you are silent.

Then I will go...

topple Daeyaseong myself.

Your Majesty!

I will stake my life upon...

destroying Daeyaseong within three days!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

I will go!

Please send me!

Your Majesty.

(Baekje)

(Silla)

(Daeyaseong, Silla)

(Kim Go Ta So, Kim Pum Seok's wife, Kim Chun Chu's daughter)

Grandpa!

My dear child.

You have grown a great deal.

The baby looks just like you, Go Ta So.

Yes.

The Baekje army was nearby. Were you in any danger?

Not at all.

We got here safely, as you can see.

Is that true, Beop Min?

I did not see any Baekje soldiers.

Then I am glad.

Welcome.

Come on!

Let us go inside.

You could have sent me...

to Seorabeol instead of Kim Yu Sin.

You are the governor of Daeya Province.

You are at the front lines...

and hold the most important duty of defending us from Baekje.

True.

I know very well that I must defend Seorabeol.

But I am sick and tired of all that defending.

It has been four years.

Staying behind the walls to defend a province?

My wife would be better at it.

Well...

As you know, my husband led the Battle of Okmungok to victory.

He is a warrior at heart.

I am still washing the blood from that battle from my hands.

Yes.

If it were not for you, Bi Dam would be dead.

I saved Bi Dam at Okmungok...

and almost died at the hands of a Baekje soldier.

So why...

does this fortress I risked my life for...

seem so insignificant?

My dear father-in-law,

why did you save me...

by exchanging prisoners of war?

I am tired, so I will retire for the night.

Only you two can put me in a good mood.

- Spare me! - Please!

- Help! - Please spare me!

- Free me! - Let us go!

- Please! - Spare me!

Spare my life.

Please do not kill me.

Speak up or die!

Save us, General.

- Please! - Save us!

General, please save us.

Kill me.

Execute the Silla men.

General! Save us!

Save us, General.

They just want to know the way to Seorabeol.

The road that only you know!

Tell them...

so we can live!

Help us, General!

You wench. You are a Baekje spy.

You must be here to hand me over to them.

General!

How dare you?

Do you have a death wish?

No, General.

You have a Baekje wife.

Did you throw her out?

(Geom Il, Silla's official)

Yes, sir.

I did as you commanded.

Your wife...

was a great beauty.

What a waste.

Her misfortune...

was being from Baekje.

Help us.

Help us. Get us out of here.

- Please. - Save us.

Save us.

- Please help. - Get us out of here!

- Help me. - Save my life.

My family will starve without me!

My lord! Will you please save me?

Kim Pum Seok will kill us tomorrow!

We do not have long to live!

Please...

What is all this?

Not bad.

I thought you could not even hold a sword.

Is that why you attacked me from behind?

Why do you lock up and kill the innocent?

Do you believe what they say?

Those Baekje wretches lie with every breath.

They will shoot us in the back the moment they are free!

Are you so afraid of Baekje?

Only a weakling would say that.

Then release them beyond the gates.

If you keep seeking revenge,

they will seek vengeance in return.

What do you know of war?

I know the reasons we lose.

A fortress built on hatred...

is bound to fall.

A fortress of hatred?

I see now.

Did your father...

send you to test me?

My father is not like you!

Take your father...

back to Seorabeol soon.

The reason I did not tell my father of your true nature is...

that Go Ta So asked me not to.

I held my tongue because this fortress will stand...

even with a fool like you in charge.

However, if you continue with this tyranny,

you will lose this position as well.

(Pyongyangseong, Goguryeo)

Please sit.

Your Majesty.

Is this truly what you want?

Thirty years ago,

Emperor Yang of Sui attacked Goguryeo with a million men.

His commander, Lai Hu'er, led an army of 40,000,

yet you beat him with just 500 men and saved Pyongyangseong.

The great Ko Geon Mu!

Then how...

have you become a king who breaks his people's hearts...

by humiliating yourself,

destroying war monuments, and sending your son as a pledge of peace?

That is your throne.

Apologize to your people and announce your alliance with me.

Then I will let you sit there again.

You fool!

Li Shimin and his empire are nothing like the Sui Empire.

Your reckless behavior...

will bring unrest to Goguryeo,

and the people's resentment will tear you to shreds.

You are wrong!

Hiding like a timid rat for fear of war...

only invites invasion and brings war to our doorstep.

That is how you will condemn our people to death.

Why must our people hide behind fortress walls?

If we lack land,

I will take land that belongs to others.

If anyone is starving,

I will steal food to feed them.

You have managed to manipulate and entice...

the nobles and commoners with your wicked schemes.

Years ago,

your ancestor, King Yangwon,

reached far north during his reign.

Now that I think about it,

the descendants of those traitors are all gathered here.

Our people shed their blood...

while the traitors' descendants...

lived in luxury for generations.

The common people's blood and tears are what defended Goguryeo,

yet these men act like they alone protected this kingdom from Sui.

That is what you...

and these fools have done.

I see.

You are consumed by your insecurities.

Do you covet the throne of the man who defeated Sui?

If you defeated Sui,

then I, Yeon Gae So Mun, will crush the arrogant Tang!

I cannot let a delusional fool like you...

bring Goguryeo to ruin.

Is that so?

Give him a sword.

All of you, leave!

Stay and watch.

I will strike anyone...

who averts their eyes.

He is a valuable servant of Goguryeo!

More like a useless stray dog.

How dare you!

You bastard!

Such loyalty.

Must I hand Goguryeo over...

to this madman?

Do you not fear heaven's judgment?

Gae So Mun.

Wielding a sword does not make you powerful.

A truly powerful man...

waits for the right time to fight.

He holds back.

He knows how to be patient.

A man who protects his people...

is a true hero.

Do not sacrifice Goguryeo...

for the sake of your ambition.

Protect Goguryeo...

and its people...

to the very end.

In the name...

of the young hero...

who prevailed over Sui.

With my sword,

I will awaken...

the spirit of Goguryeo!

(Daeyaseong, Silla)

Sir, it is Geom Il.

Enter.

The minister wishes to see you.

My wife?

The wife...

you said you had thrown out dared to remain within the fortress.

You dared to lie to my face...

and hide a Baekje woman in my domain?

You are mistaken, sir.

- I meant... - General.

I am at fault.

I could not bear to send her away.

Every night within these walls,

I am driven mad by nightmares of Baekje and its people.

And you dare do this?

All of this...

is my fault.

So you are weary of this place?

Have you come to finally strip me of my position?

Would I have come just to do that, Governor Kim Pum Seok?

Silla is facing a critical moment in its history.

Losing this fortress will threaten...

not only our Queen, but all of Seorabeol.

This fortress will never fall.

Not a single Baekje arrow has breached these walls!

You should have defended the province with this confidence.

You lost 40 fortresses!

Why did rumors of collusion between Baekje and the Gaya people...

start in the land you govern when they are the people you hate most?

That is nonsense!

Do you think I do not know what you did?

Do you think I cannot see...

how your twisted hatred for Baekje is hurting the people?

Did you refuse...

to send Baek Ryong reinforcements because you hated him?

"Refuse Baek Ryong"?

The beacon was not lit,

and by the time I heard, Sokhamseong had already fallen!

You suffered from Bi Dam's rumors.

How could you say that to me?

Daeyaseong might also have fallen if I had gone to help!

You fail to see what is actually important.

What?

You cannot defeat Baekje with old tactics created by incompetent Jingol generals!

This fortress...

has been ready for a long time.

If Baekje invades, I will eradicate the threat...

by killing every Baekje descendant within the fortress.

We can last a whole year without Seorabeol's help!

So...

you can leave without worry.

Pum Seok.

You mentioned Bi Dam.

He said...

his leg was injured because I did not help him in a battle.

All that man does is blame others and scheme!

The thing is,

I deliberately did not help him.

I hoped he had died that day.

What?

I only care about Silla's future.

I am still deciding whether you are worth saving.

I came here to see...

whether you were still useful...

or if Baekje returned a useless shell of a man.

Listen carefully.

Do you know why I have spoken so harshly to you today?

Any Silla commander...

would have done what you did, even me.

Hatred for Baekje...

can make anyone lose their mind.

It is not too late.

(Kim Pum Seok, Silla's general)

This is why...

I have kept your victory banner.

The Kim Pum Seok I know...

once rivaled Kim Yu Sin.

I still believe...

you can become that man again.

(Sabiseong, Baekje)

I, General Yun Chung,

am ready to go to war.

Give me the order to attack Daeyaseong.

- Give the order, Your Majesty. - Give the order, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

(Goguryeo)

Goguryeo has a new ruler.

Yeon Gae So Mun has seized control through a rebellion.

Minister Seong Chung just sent word.

Ko Geon Mu is dead?

Heaven...

has given me...

a chance to destroy Silla.

You want us to join forces and attack Silla?

Goguryeo's involvement alone would cause great confusion in Silla.

If Silla were to fall,

you would benefit a great deal as well.

What is it that you want?

If you could lend us your men...

What would you give me...

in return for my army?

(Great Goguryeo)

- March out. - Yes, Supreme Commander.

March out!

- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!

Yes, you are right.

Look at you, child.

You look more like your mother every day.

(Sword & Silence)

(Thanks to Cho Seong Ha for his special appearance.)

Do you not hear it?

It is the sound of war.

What? Goguryeo is participating?

Father, it is Daeyaseong.

Daeyaseong is of great value,

but Silla is even greater.

We must go to Dangseong.

My sister is all I want to protect.

Even if it means seizing blood-stained power,

we must set Silla right!

Just say you wish to be king!