Original subtitles

It's another winter again...

Lives and seasons come and go without fail...

Are the subjects gathering today?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Then I must prepare to enter the Assembly Hall.

It was on a could winter day like this when I first entered

Chulwon many years ago.

Is that right, Your Majesty?

It was quite a spectacle. Countless citizens of the

Three Kingdoms flocked to see me, the Maitreya Buddha.

And here I am again this time as the Emperor...

People of Chulwon are in suffering great distress, I hear.

This lowly eunuch knows nothing, Your Majesty.

They suffer because they have no hope.

Joy would be theirs even in hunger and cold

if they only followed me with faith.

Attendant,

Yes, Your Majesty.

Do you believe in me?

I do not understand.

Do you believe that I am Maitreya Buddha?

With my whole heart.

You are the eternal Maitreya.

Yes, I am.

But it seems the foolish subjects have doubts.

That is why I've summoned them.

To look into their hearts.

It will be a while before they arrive.

Let us continue to walk the gardens.

Yes, Your Majesty. Escorts!

Yes.

shikryum, what is the reason for this unexpected meeting?

I do not know. But I must go nonettheless.

Could this be about another distressful occurence?

I don't know.

This meeting was quickly arranged at his

Majesty's direct command.

Be cautious at all times.

The court is in a precious state.

Rest assured.

We are safe as long as our mouths and ears closed.

Good.

Chang, escort the young lord.

Yes, Madam.

Doyoung, what could've prompted this meeting?

My heart begins to pound every time His Majesty is mentioned...

Don't worry, Sister.

Our husband is at the front.

Be thankful that he is away from the court in times such as this.

The city's condition is worsening, I'm tld.

Yes... What are we to do, Sister?

Only thing we can do is sit tight.

This sudden assembly is making me nervous.

Why?

The Grand Mass was to preced our meeting, but

His Majesty has unexpectedly summoned us all.

I may hold a high position in the court,

but I'm afraid I cannot tell you anything.

I haven't the slight idea why this meeting was called.

What could've prompted this untimely assembly?

Supreme Councilor,

Minister of Construction, it is good to see you.

It has been awhile. How have you fared, Lord Park?

I have fared decently. You've been busy, I'm told.

Yes. His Majesty frequently asks for me.

Let us proceed.

Have you called, Your Highness?

Attendant Jin, why has His Majesty suddenly called in

the subjects?

It is not my place to speculate, but...

Go on.

I believe it is to chastise the subjects for the delay

of the Grand Mass.

How did you acquire this information?

As you are so greatly concerned about His

Majesty's surroundings,

I have placed an agent for observation.

The Advisor and Ahitae were severely chastised in

His Majesty's chamber last night.

Because of the Grand Mass?

Yes. This meeting was ordered immediately thereafter.

Is His Majesty still suffering restless nights?

Yes. I'm told he wakes up several times a night and

consumes strong wine.

Strong wine?

Yes, Your Highness.

It appears he is withholding a lot of pain.

Where is the physician? He was hiding something

from me, and now he is nowhere to be found.

Do you not find this odd, Attendant Jin?

Your Highness, Madam Kang seeks your audience.

See her in.

I've come with your father on his way to the assembly.

How have you fared, Your Highness?

I've fared well.

It appears things are finally settling down.

His Majesty has convened an assembly at last.

Well...

I certainly hope so.

Distress is everywhere you turn...

The Assembly Hall is nearly full.

Perhaps you should proceed now, Advisor.

Yes. Take a look at these reports.

These are cries of distress from all across the kingdom.

What long and cold winter this is...

This is not recent news.

Number of deaths from hunger and cold are

increasing all across th kingdom.

The Grand Mass is not our priority.

We should be discussing ways to bring relief to our people.

Where is His Majesty now?

I'm told he has headed to the Assembly Hall.

Then we must go as well.

Hear me, subjects.

Yes

I have looked into your hearts.

As you've seen before,

I have the power to read your mind.

But I cannot discern whetter you are leaders of this state

or bunch or foul animal droppings!

Your heads are filled with filth!

I, Maitreya, am going forward,

but you filthy animal droppings are not following me.

Do you understand?

I have taught you the mantra of truth and showed you the

way to eternal life.

I've built you a place of worship,

and ordered a Buddhist Mass, but I have not heard a peep!

Supreme Councilor,

Yes, Your Majesty.

You are the highest of all subjects.

Tell me why my command has not been executed.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

I've been encouraging expeditious proceedings, but...

Encourage? Did you say encourage?

Forgive me, Your Majesty...

I am Maitreya of Salvation.

I have come to this world to lead you to paradise.

But you foolish men do not seem to understand that.

You are the cause for the distress in this kingdom.

The mass is to bless this kingdom and

deliver you from hell.

Why do you delay? Why?

Forgive me, Your majesty.

Foolish subjects did not know your profound intent.

We did not realize the importance of this mass.

Please allow us another chance.

That is it.

Growth begins with admission of fault.

Why can't you all be as honest as he? Why?

I shall weed out corruption from this government.

I shall see who among you is useless filth.

Who was that?

Who coughed?

Who coughed, I asked!

...It was I, Your Majesty.

Wretched fellow, how dare you cough

when Maitreya is in meditation?

Forgive me, YYour Majesty. I beg you.

I see your head is filled with evil.

Guards,

Yes.

There is a devil in that man's head. Kill the devil.

Your Majesty...!

What are you waiting for, Commander Yum?

Strike him!

Your Majesty...!

I gave you an order!

That man is a devil! Kill him!

Kill him, Commander Geum!

Yes, Your Majesty.

It is His Majesty's order. Close your eyes.

Please spare my life, Your Majesty!

I beg you for mercy!

You have been forewarned.

Remember the iron ball flail.

Remove the body.

Yes, Your Majesty. Remove the body!

Yes.

It is all about being alert.

About being alert and devoted to your duty.

Supreme Councilor,

Yes, Your Majesty.

Assist the Advisor and prepare the mass as

quickly as possible

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Do you understand, Advisor?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Do you understand, Lord Park?

Yes, Your Majesty.

How about you, Minister of Military?

I understand, Your Majesty.

Have I made myself clear to everyone?

Yes, Your Majesty. Your grace is immeasurable.

My words are laws.

If you do not heed my words, you violate the law.

Do not expose yourself to my mind readind.

Your life depends on it. Is that clear?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Value your life.

Your Majesty...!

This Grand Mass will not be held in the Worship Hall.

It will be an outdoor service beyond the palace walls.

Your majesty...!

This meeting is adjourned!

Clear the hall!

Your Majesty...!

His Majestyt is not the same man.

He was like the gatekeeper of hell eager to take human lives.

I don't believe he is mentally sound.

You are right. He is not normal.

I don't know if he is doing this with a purpose or

if he is acting on his whim.

Toward the end of the meeting, he appeared to be suffering pain.

Then we were rushed out.

There must be something we don't know about.

I agree. We must practice extreme caution,

or we could fall victim to that absurd mind reading.

You mean His Majesty has killed a subject

in the Assembly Hall? Good God!

How could His Majesty be so brutal?

I have a feeling this butchery will continue.

We must be extremely cautious to preserve our heads.

Yes, sire.

I'm afraid this kingdom is falling into deeper disarray.

You are the head of this clan in General Wang's absence.

Do not to fall out of His Majesty's favor.

Yes, sire.

I stress this because your actions could affect General

Wang who is at the front.

You are right. This is an convenient setting for men

like the Advisor to plot against him again.

Yes. Please be cautious and alert.

These are truly frightful and precarious times.

Events of this morning makes me break out in a cold sweat.

We must be careful. Be very careful...

It was an unthinkable act. How could he in cold blood...?

It is truly frightening. He didn't even blink.

What do you think about this, sire?

This is an illness.

His Majesty is suffering from a severe illness.

Is that right?

Everyone saw and felt today how vulnerable their lives are.

His Majesty has raised his sword.

And only I know which way that sword will strike.

Only I...

The mass has become your responsibility, Advisor.

Perhaps the Royal Guards should enforce more forceful measures.

How?

We will order the chieftains to command over the temples

in their region and deliver the high monks by force.

Such orders are already in place without success.

But considerable number of monks have come to Chulwon.

They are not the high monks that His Majesty requires.

Our problem is not the mass. It is His Majesty's illness.

Yes. Even the cast of his eye looked different.

He isn't the same man.

The cruelty he showed today is the manifestation of his illness.

We must cure him of this disease.

How? The Royal Physician had said that it is incurable.

We must find a way. He must be cured,

or worse things will happen.

That is what I am afraid of.

Scholar Park,

Yes, Advisor.

You must help me locate the master healer of

Mt. Geumkang once more.

Well...

He will be able to help His Majesty.

Please do what you can, Scholar Park.

He is a free spirit of nature who conforms to no rules.

I am unsure he will help.

Please go to him in person, Scholar Park.

I will.

Fellow!

Isn't that the fallen monk Sukchong I see?

Well, well, if it isn't old man Huhwal!

What are you doing here in this old weather?

I was waiting for you.

How did you know I would be coming?

The head monk at your temple sent me a word on account of

an uneasy feeling he had when you left.

He shouldn't have! The monk lacks faith.

What is to fuss about comings and goings?

Where are you headed?

I was actually on my way to see you before I head

to the lower parts for sightseeing.

You must be on your way to die. Am I right?

My dear friend, life is an endless cycle!

I would be a happy man if only I could be liberated

from rebirth!

How about having a drink with me?

Fine. And I'll come along on your trip as well.

Wonderful!

I could use some company.

Brother, each squadron will reach their destinations

in two days.

And we must move our main force while they simultaneously

create distraction in various locations.

There is no room for error.

No, but we have no other option.

General Gonk-jik is in command of Choryung, and

General Bang in Jukryung. Where will we strike first?

We will use the same tactic Bekjae used on us.

We will let them think our target is Choryung,

but we will hit Jukryung.

That is an excellent plan.

While General Geum's men are harassing the enemy's rear,

our main force will fake and attack on Choryung,

and strike Jukryung. Is that right?

Yes. This must be done in lightening speed.

Fortunately, we still have Gochang County near

Jukryung, so this is worth a challenge.

We have two days left. I will leave a fraction

of my force here and move the rest to Jukryung.

Enemy troops are patrolling the area.

You must move the troops clandestinely at night.

You're right. They wouldn' dream of us moving our troopst

across the rugged mountains on an icy winter night.

The succes of this operation will depend on how well we

can mislead the enemy. All is going well thus far.

General, Lord Yu has arranged for you to spend a restful

night at Choongju Hot Springs.

Yes, I've heard. But I couldn't indulge in

such luxury when my men are shivering in the cold.

Your rest is not for indulgence, but for better service tomorrow.

Please go. It is Lord Yu's special request.

Yes, Master. Perhaps Lord Yu has other matters to discuss.

Yes, General.

Oh, goodness...

This natural spring discharges hot water year round.

Enjoy a light drink and relax tonight, General.

I've traveled far and wide, but never to a hot spring until now.

But you've been stationed in Choongju for a long time now.

Yes, but I have never had the chance.

That tells me that you're not a man of self-indulgence.

It is quite commendable.

Thank you for the kind remark.

Let us drink.

General,

Yes, my lord.

General Geum tells me taht you are prepared to launch

an attack on Bekjae.

You've made this possible.

His Majesty will reward you generously for your service.

Rewards are useless to me.

Pardon?

I gave you my total support because you secure

the future of Choongju and my clan.

I don't understand...

Suin.

Yes, Father.

Pour the general a drink.

But...

Go ahead, Suin.

Yes, Father.

General Wang.

Yes, my lord.

We live in precarius times.

Who is the true master that will ultimately unite the

three kingdoms? No one knows.

What do you mean? It is His Majesty the

Great Maitreya who will unite the three kingdoms.

Is that yor true belief?

Pardon?

He has led his people to hunger and death.

The Imperial Palace is an object of public resentment.

How could we trust that such a leader would prevail?

I have observed you for a long time, General.

I know your character and accomplishments.

My only reason for helping you is to entrust you with my clan.

I don't understand.

I have a request. Take my daughter.

What do you mean? I already have two wives.

This is not a simple proposal of union between two people.

It is an earnest plea for survival.

For a vow to protect each other.

My lord, I must decline your proposal.

I am indebted to you, and I will never forget that, but...

I can only interpret your unwilling as a refusal of

our courtesy.

Are you giving up the operation in progress?

My lord..!

Many more will try to secure their future through wedlock

with you n the future. We are just one of them.

I ask you to consider.

My lord...

Suin, what are you waiting for?

General is your husband to be.

Pour him another drin k.

Yes, Father.

My lady...

What am I to do...?

General Geum's men are in position at the enemy's rear.

It's time to prepare our troops.

We've initiated our move.

While our troops are causing distraction in Choryung, General

Geum's men and our coalition force will strike Jukryung.

Make any duplicates of General Wang's flag.

Why?

Sign of General Wang's presence in both places

will add to the enemy's confusion.

It is a good idea.

Yes. Prepare your troops before Brother Guhn returns.

Yes.

It's odd. General Wang is back at the front,

yet his troops are showing no signs of any movement.

They must be waiting for a better time since Bekjae's

defense force is too strong right now.

But it's too quiet

I'm sure they are up to something.

The rugged mountain pass is covered in ice and sow.

It will be March before they're able to move the troops.

You are probably right.

It's impossible to move thousands of troops over

the icy mountain pass.

It's going to be a nice quiet winter.

General Gong-jik treats me like a child!

"Be cautious, be cautious," that's all he ever says to me!

General Gong-jik is an experienced elder general.

I'm sure it is out of concern for you.

But I am also a general in command of an army!

Think about it!

Who would dare cross that icy mountain pass?

Here, here! Let us drink!

We'll drin k and be jolly all throgh the winter!

The subjects are urging an attack on Geumsung, you say?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Yes. It is about time.

I've been quite frustrated after we lost Geumsung.

It has cut off our cultural exchange with Wuyue.

Yes, it has.

And I must restore my sworn brother Sudal's honor.

It pains me to see how his failure to defend Geumsung

has demoralized him.

We shall move to reclaim Geumsung.

Discuss this with the subjects and initiate

operation, Vice Prime Minister.

As you wish, Your Majesty.

The cultural exgange that Kyun-hwon mentions is

worth taking notice.

Soon after Kyun-hwon erected his kingdom, he established

diplomatic relations with Kingdom of Wuyue in China

and gained recognition for himself and his empire.

This was not unlike how Shilla had put it self on the map

through diplomatic relations with Tang.

From this, we could conclude that Kyun-hwon was awakened

to diplomatic intercourse ahead of Goongyae.

I'm leaving you in charge of the operation.

Geumsung must be reclaimed.

Yes, Your majesty.

And advise Generals Gong-jik and Bang to be on alert.

They are not underestimate enemy commander General

Wang under any circumstances.

Yes, Your Majesty.

General Wang is a dangerous man we must all beware of.

Yes. I hate to admit it, but it's true.

It is well into the night. Have another drink.

Thank you.

Soon I will submit a report of the conditions of Choongju

to His Majesty. Also, I will acquire

His Majesty's approval for you marriage.

I'm afraid I cannot give you an answer to that request.

It is His Majesty's answer I seek since you are in an

uncomfortable position.

Yes. I am truly flustered. How could I ask my wives

in Chulwon to allow this, and what will my peers say?

Polygamy is not reproachable for a true warrior.

Leave everything up to me, general.

I am quite at a loss...

There's no need to feel overwhelmed.

Suin, pour another drink. And prepare a bath for him.

Yes, Father.

I know he is here.

Allow me to see him. This is an important matter.

I've asked you to leave!

What is the disturbance?

Master Sukchong and Master Huhwal!

What brings you here at this late hour?

What brings us here, you ask?

Yes. What brings you?

I've come to see the Maitreya.

Not the phony Maitreya, but the true Maitreya.

The true Maitreya!