Original subtitles

Episode 28

I wouldn't have such regrets if

I listened to Lee Inim.

Goryeo would have fallen if

we didn't withdraw.

Quiet!

Your traitorous mind is what ruined Goryeo!

Don't be stubborn!

Seonggye.'

Give the general a sword, too.

I said give him a sword!

General.

Commander.

Here.

General.

You could have killed me.

Don't humiliate me anymore.

General.

What are you doing? Take me away!

Kneel.

This tragedy is the result of your

arbitrary decision and misjudgment.

I swear I withdrew the army to save

the weak soldiers and the people.

If that's a traitor, fine.

I will be a traitor.

General Lee.

A general speaks with his actions.

If that is how you sincerely feel,

show it with your actions.

I will be watching from the next world.

General...

Let's go.

Show him the proper respect.

Is this truly a world people live in?

Since when was Goryeo a world

people lived in?

It's not your fault.

Don't be in too much pain.

No.

It's all my fault.

I did this.

It is Goryeo's fault for being rotten.

It is the king's fault for being wicked.

It is the court's fault for being weak

and unable to stop a delusional man.

It is not your fault.

Sambong.

You did your best.

I am a witness of that.

Seonggye!

Come outside for a moment.

Bangwon and your wife are coming here.

Father.

What happened?

Iran into a slight problem.

It's just a light contusion, so don't worry.

Are you sure everything is alright?

Yes, mother and my brothers are alright.

Honey.

You must have suffered.

It was nothing compared to your suffering.

Honey.

I heard the battle was fierce.

I am relieved to see that you are alright.

General Choi Yeong is in prison.

I put him there.

Honey.

I don't know if I can make up for this sin.

Don't blame yourself.

Your decision saved the country.

It isn't a sin.

I have never been this happy or proud

to be your wife.

Hang in there.

Honey.

Honey.

Master,

you're calling her mother well now.

lam?

Would you like some water?

So you can wash your mouth?

Let's just go for a drink.

A drink?

This is a happy day-

Come on.

To war!

Choi Yeong's plan to conquer Yodong

ended in a tragedy of fratricidal war.

Not long after, Choi Yeong was taken

for an intense national interrogation.

He was exiled to Gobonghyeon

and then to Happo.

Ming changed its attitude the following year.

Cheollyeong Commandery was

moved to Bongjiphyeon.

Goryeo politics fall into confusion

because of the withdrawal that went against a royal order.

Your Majesty,

we withdrew without receiving your approval,

but it was only to punish Choi Yeong

for putting the country in a crisis.

It wasn't out of any sense of disloyalty.

Please believe in our loyalty and

he generous about our actions.

You didn't do anything wrong.

It was my fault for believing a traitor

and misjudging the situation.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you.

Let the Supreme Council settle this.

Dissolve the army and have the soldiers

return to their homes as soon as possible.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Did you see His Majesty's expression?

Yes, he looked at us like we were enemies.

I can understand.

He probably wanted to kill all of us.

I will dissolve the army and

return military authority to His Majesty.

We can't dissolve the army

until the generals who withdrew are

guaranteed their lives.

If we return military authority and disarm,

His Majesty will retaliate.

That does make sense.

How can we have our lives guaranteed?

We will have to have

His Majesty step down from the throne.

You want a new king?

Yes.

We can't do that.

I'll forget I heard that.

Let's find someone virtuous among the royal relatives and

make him king.

I said no.

Why are you getting angry?

Don't just say no and

listen to the other ministers' opinions.

I agree with general Jo.

We can't return military authority

without taking any measures.

General Byeon is right.

I agree.

Me, too.

What is wrong with all of you?

That will only make our withdrawal treason.

His Majesty said withdrawal is treason.

As long as he is on the throne,

we don't know when we'll become traitors.

You want to change the king, so we can live?

That is treason.

We're not saying one of us should be the king.

We are all in agreement.

Don't disregard our opinions.

Fine, I will think about it.

But whatever decision I make,

you must abide by it.

Commander!

You can leave now.

Jo Minsu is really something.

How can he speak of abdication so easily?

He has guts.

If you were Lee Seonggye,

what would you do in this situation?

As long as His Majesty is on the throne,

he will tie Lee Seonggye down.

He has to be abdicated and

a new king has to be put on the throne.

I don't think

Lee Seonggye will change his mind.

I'm worried he will return military authority

without any measures.

Are you preparing for a lecture?

There is a lecture on the 'Book of Documents'.

The 'Book of Documents'...

When it comes to the 'Book of Documents',

"Muilpyeon' is the best.

They are teachings a king shouldn't forget.

King Gongmin had it added to a painting

and read it in the morning and evening.

Dongjeong-

Except for general Lee Seonggye,

most of the generals who withdrew

are suggesting abdication.

Is that so?

What do you think?

His Majesty has to be replaced.

A king who is hooked on alcohol and women and lacks the qualities of a ruler

should step down.

But if I make a move,

people will think that Lee Seonggye was behind it.

Help me.

You want me to create the atmosphere.

You have to fan for wood to burn.

I will do it.

I thought

you were a fool who begged for a position.

Were you a traitor?

You must be since you turned pale.

Who are you?

Mae.

What brings you to the capital?

I heard there was a commotion.

I stopped by to see you.

Come on in.

Is it your first time meeting the daesaseong?

We just met.

Goodbye then.

Oh...

Forgive me if I went overboard.

I'm Jo Jun.

So he was Jo jun.

Return military authority to His Majesty.

I will as soon as matters are settled.

That is the Supreme Council's responsibility.

Public sentiments aren't good and

the entire country is unstable.

How will you handle the consequences

if we dissolve the army?

Public sentiments are bad

because there is an army of 50,000 in the capital.

We should have the soldiers return home

to their livelihoods.

Leave that matter to us.

Don't tell us what to do.

Why are you so greedy about military authority?

Did you just say greedy?

What do you mean by that?

If you don't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstanding,

make a decision soon.

Unnecessary misunderstanding?

What are you saying?

General.

Is there something you can't tell me?

Poeun.

It's not even worth thinking about.

Abdication is treason.

I agree.

But I can understand that

the generals are nervous.

I can't reject it just like that.

Their concerns are groundless.

When the council appoints positions,

they will be given important ones.

Why are they worried?

You need to make a decision.

It's mountain after mountain.

Just wait and see.

I'll slaughter them all

when the army is dissolved.

This is no time to be thinking about that.

They are hesitating to dissolve

because they are afraid you will retaliate.

They can't stay forever.

There aren't military rations and

the soldiers want to go home.

Your Majesty!

What is it?

Some of the generals who withdrew

are talking about your abdication.

Did you just say abdication?

Yes.

Your Majesty!

Abdication? How dare they?

This is no time for this.

You have to make them feel safe and

have them return military authority.

I hear you are close with Lee Seonggye.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The two of you have to help me.

Tell Lee Seonggye my intentions.

I can't tell him myself.

Go ahead.

I didn't recognize his loyalty

because I was foolish.

I persecuted him a lot.

I realized a lot during this incident.

I am reflecting on that.

If he is mad or upset with me,

tell him to forgive me with generosity.

Your Majesty,

did you just ask for his forgiveness?

Even a king should ask for forgiveness

if he did something wrong.

I wish he would realize that and

dissolve the army and return to council.

Tell him that.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Daesaseong, you, too.

I will reward you greatly for this.

Just tell me what you want.

Please help me.

I'm asking you.

Can I ask a favor?

Of course, Your Majesty.

You and the other scholars will be

the core of this country's politics some day.

Can you protect my son?

What is this?

It is a gift by the young gentry

who support the army's withdrawal.

Thank you.

'Book of Han'?

The 'Book of Han' has many volumes.

This is the volume about Huo Guang,

a great servant of emperor Wu.

Are you telling me

to become a great servant like Huo Guang?

It's probably not just that.

After emperor Wu's son died,

the prince of Changyi became the emperor.

However, he acted inappropriately and

neglected state affairs,

so Huo Guang had him deposed.

Deposed?

Dongjeong-

Why did you give him the volume about Huo Guang?

It's as the general said earlier.

I only meant for him to become a great servant like Huo Guang.

Don't read too much into it.

We will leave you then.

Let's be positive about it.

Have a seat.

We just met with His Majesty.

I think he heard about being abdicated.

He must be nervous.

He said he didn't have

any hostile feelings toward you.

You are going to have to dissolve the army.

Hundreds of people died in Wihwado

and thousands died in Gaegyeong.

After all that bloodshed,

if you can't remove a king

who is hooked on alcohol and women out of fear of becoming a traitor,

how can all those souls close their eyes in comfort?

Watch what you say!

When you became the vice-chancellor,

you said you would seek reform.

Install a ruler who can achieve

the proper reform.

Let me ask you a question.

What kind of a ruler can achieve

the proper reform?

A ruler the people can trust.

A ruler that trusts his servants.

It is a ruler who can be trusted.

Understood. I will make my decision today.

You can go now.

How can you say such a thing

without even blinking an eye?

Are you the same person I used to know?

What are you getting so mad about?

You suggested replacing the king.

Nonsense.

I only said we should replace a thief.

I wanted to suggest killing him,

but I didn't because I remembered his father.

A thief?

His Majesty might be into debauchery and ignorant about political affairs,

but as a Confucian scholar and my friend,

how can you say he is a thief?

Did you forget what Mencius said?

Is a person a king just because he sits on the throne?

A king has to be benevolent and righteous.

If not, he isn't a king. He is a thief.

Why is it a crime to remove a thief

from the throne?

It is only a teaching to watch for a king's self-indulgence.

Excessive faith in that teaching will

lead to a mistake of justifying usurpation.

It might be a mistake to you,

but it is the truth to me.

What? Is usurpation truth to you?

Tell me.

Are you admitting to a traitorous mind?

It's not that.

You should go.

I don't feel so good today.

Can you protect my son?

I will be sure to protect him.

I will trust you, jeong Dojeon.

What?

Yun Sojong and the gentry

gave Lee Seonggye the volume on Huo Guang?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Isn't Huo Guang the person who

deposed the prince of Changyi?

They're being so obvious.

They're all conspiring together.

Your Majesty, Lee Seonggye is here.

Show him in.

When will you return military authority?

I'm sorry I have to ask,

but just give me one more day.

What?

What is the reason?

Do I have to tell you?

Commander!

I will be honest.

Most of the generals are afraid that

you will punish them.

Is that so?

It is true that some of them said things

they shouldn't have.

Like what?

I'm sorry for saying this,

but I'm sure you know.

They spoke of abdication.

Look here.

How dare you say such a thing?

I am trying to convince them.

Please give me one more day.

Is one day enough to convince them?

Yes. It won't do any good for anyone

if it lasts any longer.

I will convince them

even if it takes all night.

Can you really convince them?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Please trust me.

If you trust me,

I will repay you for doing so.

Fine, go ahead.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

He is impertinent.

How dare he speak of abdication?

He is a country man from the border area.

Wait.

It means I could bhe abdicated

if he can't convince them.

In one day.

Commander.

Did you make a decision?

Wait a little while.

One more guest will be coming.

Who?

I'm worried about the volume on Huo Guang.

As soon as he received that, he is meeting with the generals.

There is a good chance they will decide on abdication.

We don't know what will happen.

You should strengthen security.

Kang, come in.

You called, Your Majesty?

Gather all the eunuchs of Naesibu.

Why are you suddenly calling them?

I can't leave my life to them.

I will decide myself.

Bring me my armor!

Your Majesty.

Armor? You can't do that.

They wouldn't imagine

I would make a surprise attack.

They won't have their guards up.

But, if anything goes wrong,

who knows what will happen?

Nothing's going to stop me.

I will show them a king should be feared.

Your Majesty.

I don't see general Lee jiran.

Is he the guest we are waiting for?

No.

I sent him somewhere else.

Let's go.

There is already a rumor that

we are thinking about abdication.

It is the only way now.

Face the reality.

I will. just wait a little while.

I will tell you my decision.

I can't believe this.

What is all this commotion?

It sounds like a raid.

A raid?

Kill them!

Kill them all!

Your Majesty.

It was a trap.

Your Majesty.

Lower your weapons.

You wretches!

He said lower your weapons!

Lee Seonggye, you dare to deceive me?

Please lower your sword.

Quiet!

Who are you ordering around?

I asked you to lower your sword.

Why didn't you trust me?

I told you I would repay you

if you trusted me.

I know what happened to everyone who trusted you.

How was I supposed to trust you?

I know what happened to

Gwangpyeonggun and Choi Yeong.

What makes me different?

Your Majesty.

Go ahead and do what you want.

Cut off my head or my arms and legs.

Do what you want!

Isn't this what you wanted?

King Wu failed to kill Lee Seonggye, Jo Minsu and the other generals.

He was deposed and taken to

the detached palace in Ganghwado.

Because of political burdens,

he was treated as a former king, but in actuality, it was an abdication.

There is another period of turmoil

over who was to inherit the throne.

The crown prince can't take over the throne.

He saw his father removed from the throne.

He will want revenge when he grows up.

Who would be appropriate?

Leave it to me.

I will try to find someone with virtue

among the royal relatives.

Okay.)'-

I don't want to be involved in that.

I will leave it all up to you.

Understood.

It would be nice if Poeun helped you.

A new king will be decided soon.

You need to clarify your position.

What is there to clarify? We have a crown prince.

The military faction doesn't seem to want to install him to the throne.

It's not a matter for them to decide.

It is the queen dowager's authority.

She will only formalize their decision with the royal seal.

Who do they have in mind?

They're still looking.

I think jeongchanggun Wang Yo

would be good.

Jeongchanggun?

He is the older brother of Bangbeon's father-in-law.

Father will have no reason to oppose.

Will Jo Minsu agree to someone

who is related to Lee Seonggye?

He might not like it,

but he won't he able to oppose.

I will talk to him.

General.

How are you?

Fine, thank you.

Are you here to see general Jo?

Yes. Is he out?

I don't know. I haven't seen him all day.

That's why I stopped by.

I see.

I'm sorry I didn't visit sooner.

I'm your second cousin, but I was too inattentive.

Please be understanding.

You had a lot going on

with the attack on Yodong and the withdrawal of the army.

Removing the king, too.

It's going to be a headache

trying to decide the successor.

The crown prince will want to retaliate

and there isn't enough of a justification to install someone from another family.

Right?

You haven't rusted.

How long are you going to stay in

Lee Seonggye's shade?

I am the Left Army commander.

My position is higher than his.

There are only two ranks in politics.

Real power and false power.

I will make you the person with the most real power in Goryeo.

How?

I found the right person.

Who?

Jeongchanggun Wang Yo.

Jeongchanggun Wang Yo?

Insist on crown prince Wang Chang

as the new king.