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[Cheongju Fortress]

[Lee In Jwa (Namin)]

How?

How could Cheongju Fortress fall this easily?

Cheongju's General Lee Bong Seong was friends with the rebel leader Lee In Jwa.

While he lowered his guard out of friendship, they were suddenly ambushed.

[King Yeongjo]

Look! The general who was resisting was beheaded.

Oh my!

Like this, whoever stands for injustice will die

and whoever stands for the great cause will live in glory.

Wow!

The current king is not a rightful heir.

A low-born water maid gave birth to him.

That seed, whose roots we do not know, murdered the preceding king

and is pretending to be this nation's owner.

Therefore, we must remove the pretender

and enthrone the real one.

Now all of this nation's people will follow our wise king,

His Highness Prince Milpoong, who is the direct bloodline of Crown Prince Sohyeon.

Your Majesty the King.

Your Majesty the King.

Your Majesty the King.

Your Majesty the King.

[Prince Milpoong Lee Tan]

Your Majesty.

King.

My people, listen!

I will save you who are tired of being exploited.

I will save this nation that has fallen into distress.

It's not just in Cheongju.

Gyeongsang, Jeolla, Hamgyong, all of this nation

will stand together to remove the false king

and greet the true owner!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

What about the other locations? How is the situation in other regions right now?

The rebel army is approaching. Quickly raise the beacon of fire!

It's not just in Cheongju, Your Majesty.

In Gyeongsang and Jeolla, and Hamgyong and Pyongan,

rebels have risen up at the same time.

Not only Gyeongsang and Jeolla but Hamgyong and Pyongan as well?

Now all of this nation is swept by the rebel fire.

Lee In Jwa, in the end, he had to...

To this nation...

[Chapter 21: Chaos in the nation]

- It's a rebellion! A rebellion! - Hurry, we need to go!

- Out of my way! - I need to go!

A rebellion has started! Chaos has broken out!

Everyone, go home! Quickly!

This way. Secure the area thoroughly.

Increase security inside and outside of the palace.

Gather all government officials and soldiers immediately.

Yes!

This is the report from the Commander of the Supreme Military Headquarters.

In the rebel post, they found a gun that was supplied to Cheongju Government Office.

Fortunately, there weren't that many guns. [Jo Hyeon Myeong (Commander of the Five Supreme Military Headquarters, Soron)]

It will be problematic going forward.

Gyeongsang was sent more guns in preparation for possible Japanese attacks.

Yes, Your Majesty.

How is it in Gyeongsang Province?

A messenger dispatched to the Gyeongsang region found that

the rebellion headcount is anywhere between 10 to 30 thousand,

and it is continuously increasing.

Why? How is that possible?

They are probably incited.

Gyeongsang region has long been abandoned by the royal court. [Jo Tae Goo (Right State Councilor, Soron)]

They have the highest mistrust for the central government,

so it would have been easy to win them over.

Right State Councilor, send all of the military officers of the Five Divisional Garrisons to Gyeongsang Province.

However, Your Majesty, then the capital will be—

As much as the capital, Gyeongsang is important.

That region is also part of Joseon, isn't it?

Minister of Defense, plan a defensive strategy for the capital in response to this.

Lee In Jwa's army will head straight to the capital.

At this rate, it might be as quick as three, four days.

Within that time, the rebels may arrive at the capital.

Your Majesty.

Do you know...

that this rebellion is the largest one

of the Joseon Dynasty?

In addition, it's the first one

that is targeting a king.

Your Majesty, but it's not solely due to mistrust in you.

That's right.

It's also that the rebellion triggered the explosion of the people's built-up anger from all their hardships, Your Majesty.

However the current king is me.

Then whatever people say, that responsibility

is mine.

Your Majesty.

Already there are thousands of casualties.

How many more will shed blood?

It's probably because of my disloyalty.

By not being able to trust you,

the one who encouraged disloyalty and resentment was me.

I'm not sure how I can wash away this crime.

Right State Councillor.

Your Majesty, last night

we were able to track down the rebels who were acting secretly inside the palace and the capital.

That alone would have affected them greatly.

Therefore, please postpone self-blame and lamentation.

Right now, we need to overcome this rebellion.

I and the other Norons will go beyond the faction lines

and give our best to overcome this rebellion.

Thank you, Left State Councillor.

Thank you, Right State Councillor.

They say Cheongju Fortress fell.

It's just a matter of time before they get to the capital.

Are we going to all die at this rate?

- What do we do? - I don't want to die.

What do you mean what to do?

If you are afraid of death, then you can fight.

What do you mean? How would we be able to fight?

Then, should I quickly teach you how to hold a sword?

That will be better than being terrified like this.

She is right.

[Queen Dowager]

How can we just hide behind and lament because we are women?

The ones suffering under the rebels' swords are innocent soldiers and subjects.

And how dare you allow yourselves to be terrified first?

Henceforth, nobody shall wear fearful expressions.

You must not show your fear just because you are women.

Yes, Your Highness.

The military will be deployed soon, right?

This is an emergency.

At this rate, the main rebel armies in Cheongju will come charging at the capital right away.

Please send me to the battlegrounds, too, Your Excellency.

You?

You might not think it, but I have trained in martial arts.

I have wielded the sword quite a lot working in Saheonbu, too.

Before anyone else, I will take on the rebels and stop them.

I won't allow even one to set foot in the capital.

Thank you.

Everyone, take money and rice.

From now on, all of you will be able to stuff yourselves and live it up.

Thank you, sir.

In the country run by me, there are no class differences and no taxes,

and everyone will be able to live in mammoth mansions with gold, silver, and precious gems galore in their storages.

Your grace is immeasurable!

Thank you, Your Majesty. Your grace is immeasurable.

Look me in the eye.

Do you think I am telling you a lie?

No, Your Majesty.

Thank you!

Now praise him.

Long live the king!

Prince Milpoong!

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

Your Highness Prince Milpoong!

Yoon Yeong...

Thank you.

How could you keep that among yourselves?

Am I a fool and a human bullet shield?

What do you think you are doing?!

Get away from me! Why is the king still alive?

What on earth does it mean that our organizations in the capital have been wiped out?

Take him and go now.

- But, General— - Now!

Yes.

If we cannot gain the palace, this rebellion might as well be over.

Everyone can be killed like dogs—

You dare to touch my men?

Everyone is treating me like a king.

My subjects are calling me "Your Majesty."

Here. This is the whole of our property that I guarded with my life.

As expected, I knew you would get it done.

However, you cannot give it away easily.

This is your last stronghold...

You want to slay me?

Wait.

Just try doing it.

Slay me!

I put my life on the line anyway.

Rather than suffering the humiliation of defeat—

Shut up!

You risked your life?

Humiliation?

All this time, you abandoned your Namin brothers

and lived in the lap of luxury as a pet dog of the powerful.

Do you even know what those words mean?

I'm asking if you think it's okay for the likes of you

to mouth such words at this point just because you got your feet wet a bit in the rebellion?

We gained the Cheongju Fortress here.

Also, we are already prevailing in Gyeongsang and Jeolla.

Just because you are called General,

do you really think you are somebody?

This mere Cheongju Fortress... So what?

Lee In Jwa, just what do you know?

If we can't replace the king, we are mere traitors.

The king has been replaced already.

What do you mean treason, Deputy Inspector General Wi?

Put down the sword.

How can there be a fight between two commendable loyal ministers?

It is a royal command.

Lower it.

Okay, I know how you two feel better than anyone else.

Because of being Namin, you probably had to live a life of humiliation and insult.

I, too, had to live that life.

Despite being the real owner of this country,

I was abandoned by the Norons

and even had my throne stolen by a low-born's offspring.

The unfairness of struggling endlessly without being able to achieve the goal...

How that stings and hurts...

I know that better than anyone else.

However, the torturous times are over.

I am going to go to the palace and sit on the throne, on my seat.

At that time, you two shall guard me by my side.

That will

open that path for us.

[Property deed]

Buy the people's hearts with that and open the way to the palace.

We will proceed without delay and enter the capital.

What are you doing? It is your entire fortune!

- Even if to prepare for the future...- There is no such thing as future.

To live as king or to die.

Those are the only remaining options.

Isn't that why you came searching for me again as well?

To stand by the king's side.

To become the highest woman in Joseon.

To become the queen.

Are you all ready?

Yes, Hyung-nim.

You are headed to battlefields where you have to risk your lives.

Even if you don't come forward—

You are not telling us to keep out of it like cowards, right?

It is a duty to protect His Majesty and this country.

If not us, who'd take it on?

We will never change our hearts.

Okay.

- Let's make haste. - Yes!

Let's move it.

- My Lord! - My Lord!

Ah Bong, Jang Dal.

My Lord, we have volunteered to join the army too.

We will assist you by your side till the end.

What?

For Ah Bong, that may be okay,

but, Jang Dal, do you know how old you are?

Fifty this year. I'm still a young boy.

We are ghost-busting* assistant investigators, after all.(*pun on how modern-day Korean marine corps are called fearless ghostbusters)

When rebels have their eye on the capital if we don't catch them, who would?

Ah Bong.

Jang Dal, you guys...

My Lord, you are not the only pledged brother of His Majesty.

We, too, are the people of this country and His Majesty.

Lord Moon Soo, Ah Bong, Uncle Jang Dal!

Hey, Yeo Ji! Hey.

How long has it been?

Why did you volunteer when you are a scaredy-cat?

Hey, still I am a man, punk.

Uncle and Lord, please take good care of Ah Bong.

Don't worry. I will tell him to hide well behind me.

Lord, you too. Because of that temper of yours, you shouldn't just charge on, head first.

Hey, when did I...

Kid, don't worry. I will grab on to the back of his pants tightly.

- Let's go. Hurry. - We better go.

- We must go now. See you again. - Ah Bong...

Why are you acting like this? Like you'll never see each other again.

Yeo Ji, don't worry. We will come back alive no matter what.

Yes.

We are leaving.

- Let's go. - Let's go.

See you later.

Come quickly.

I'll be on my way too.

Take good care of yourself.

I should come with you, but I am tied down like this at the palace.

Hey, dude, what are you saying?

Do you know how relieved I feel about that?

Because you will be fine.

Pardon?

For the first time, I thought it was a good thing that you became a palace maid.

If not, you would definitely have tagged along to the battlefields.

Aigoo, just thinking about it makes me feel annoyed and bothered.

Lord!

Don't worry. I'll return alive.

Please take good care of His Majesty, Yeo Ji.

Here comes His Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your humble subjects District Governor (temporary provincial military head at times of war, rebellion, etc.) Lee Gwang Jwa and your military

have finished our battle preparations.

Please send us off, Your Majesty.

Listen.

You who are standing here are all my friends,

my soldiers, and my people.

When I ought to protect you,

for the sake of this kingdom, I have no choice but to send you off to battlefields.

Please forgive me.

However, we will surely emerge triumphantly

from this grievous rebellion.

We will guard this land

and the lives of innocent people

from the frontline.

Moreover, I trust

that all of you

will come back alive.

This is the king's command!

None of you must ever

fall at the hands of those dishonorable rebels.

I and your military will carry out your solemn biddings.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty!

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty!

At the send-off ceremony,

you must have had the same thought.

The ones who've been ruining this country for the longest time are us,

practicing court politics and wielding power.

In particular, including myself

and Noron.

Yes...

But the ones who go into battle are those

who've never even once enjoyed that power

and the people.

The people...

What can I do now, Ja Dong?

My friends...

After sending my people off to a place of death,

what can I now

do in this palace?

You must do the king's job, Your Majesty.

When the people have put their lives on the line to guard the king,

a proper king must

find a way to save the country, must he not?

You must know why this rebellion was triggered, Your Majesty,

because even an ignoramus like me knows.

There must be things that you can do.

There must be things that you ought to do.