Original subtitles

Sukchong was the highest monk of the Maitreya Sect Buddhism.

And he said that a new Maitreya has already begun preparing for

the world of tomorrow.

Your Majesty, you created a kingdom from wasteland and

proved to the world that you are the one and only maitreya.

Yes, I did.

It is an unattainable feat without Heaven's will.

Do you believe so?

I believe so wholeheartedly.

Yet Sukchong left those hideous last words.

It leaves me ill at ease...

Your Majesty, you treat me as your brother.

Yes, you are my brother. I haven't one kinfolk in

this world, but you are my one and only brother.

Then may I saw a few words?

Sure, go ahead.

Unlike the past, your subjects and people have come to fear you.

That is their fault. There is no sincerity.

They are deceitful and wicked. That is why they are afraid.

If they were honest and their conscience was clear,

why would they fear anyone?

You are wrong, Your Majesty.

I am wrong, you say?

Yes, Your Majesty. Look upon them with compassion.

You appear to me like someone being chased.

What is that supposed to mean?

What is making you so anxious? Why are you in such a hurry?

The world recognizes you as Maitreya.

Northward conquest is not your priority, and your position is

not being threatened. Yet you are anxious.

What are you trying to say, Brother?

It was wrong to kill Master Sukchong. And I still cannot

believe that you've buried his followers alive.

These are unspeakable deeds to the His majesty I know.

My people made me this way! They've changed me!

I see all things with my mind reading.

But they are still trying to deceive me!

Your Majesty,

no one can deceive you. Please trust that.

That's right. They can't. Those who try are dying by my hands.

There is no time.

The sun is setting, but they refuse to go forward!

You do not understand.

Your Majesty, another sun will come up tomorrow.

Please go back to wise and compassionate Maitreya you

once were.

My compassion is done.

Your majesty,

we've suffered years of continuous drought, and

citizens are dying of illness and hunger.

Nobles are complaining about excessive levies and people

are exhausted by hunger and relentless forced labor.

Who will take care of them if you won't?

Are you saying that I do not take care of them?

Come back, Your Majesty.

Unification is our priority, not the northward conquest.

You are wrong. We are at the end of the peninsula.

Unification is useless. There is nothing but

the ocean to the south.

We must go noth, and we must begin that preparation now.

It is for the eternal peace and prosperity of my people.

Your Majesty....

Parhae is faltering. Our ancestors founded that kingdom.

To its north is Tang, which is also torn pieces.

But we are sitting on this tiny land wasting our precious time.

Do you understand?

Suffering will be short. I am fighting for a better future.

Immediate is in dire need of attention.

Please behold the reality. Do not be misled by cunning

of the treacherous subjects. Please pay heed to the people.

How dare you lecture me! How dare you!

How dare you...

Your Majesty!

Those are view of petty thinkers.

I called you because I thought you were different.

What are you saying to me?

Are you in pain, Your Majesty?

Yes.

My heart is in pain...

I thought you of all people would see it my way....

My heartaches...

My heart...

Your Majesty?

His Majesty is still in company of General Wang?

They must still be drinking.

His Majesty has been drinking since the morning.

It is his ailment.

He drinks to endure the pain as we saw the other night.

I am terribly worried. His condition is worsening...

Yes. everyone has caught on about his sickness.

And wabg Guhn will also know by the end of the night.

You've seen the grand welcoming he received

upon his triumphant return. Eveyone was in awe of him.

It made my heart sank. I became terribly afraid.

Advisor, but why?

They were merely praising him for his achievements.

It was more than that.

The hearts of the people have already left the Royal house.

What are we to do about His Majesty's ailment?

Is there anyone who can help him?

General Wang is drinking with His Majesty, you say?

Yes, Your Highness. They haven't stopped since early evening.

General Wang must've detected His Majesty's condition by now.

Perhaps you should seek the general's advice about this.

You've mentioned that once before, but he may be just

as helpless as the others.

I am truly concerned for the future...

Brother Guhn,

Yes, Your Majesty.

A man is not a man without ambition.

I want you to command my northern conquest army.

Your majesty, our hands are full as it is against Shill and Bekjae.

I beg you to defer the conquest.

Haven't you heard what I said?

Since when have you become so fainthearted?

Choi Ung,

Yes, Your Majesty.

Bring me the document I requested from the justice department.

Yes, Your Majesty.

This lists the methods of execution emperors of China

have used to rule their kingdoms.

Another words, these are law enforcement methods.

Punishment must be severe for order to exist.

This tells about death by submersion into boiling oil

and this by live burial.

There is death by mutilation of the nose,

and even by searing the forehead with a brazing iron.

Killing has variety of methods.

Your Majesty, laws are enforced by justice,

not punishment. I beg you to rule with mercy.

You have changed, Brother.

This is not the way you used to talk to me.

perhaps I should use my mind reading on you to

see if you have ulterior motives.

No, no.

I could not do that to my brother.

I want you to think it over.

See the world from a grander perspective.

You must partake in my conquest for the north. Do you understand?

...Yes, Your Majesty.

A man is not a man without a dream.

We will go the north together.

And let us tour the naval base at Yaesung River together soon.

Your cousin is overseeing the training of the naval force.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I must see the completion of the great empire in my lifetime.

You and I will do it together. We must.

What has you so pensive, Scholar Ahjitae?

I was thinking about the grand reception General Wang received.

Yes. It was as if His Majesty was returning from a war.

That's right.

It is well deserved. He manages to turn the

tide of war each time in the most difficult circumstances.

Yes.

But such grand ovation can impair His Majesty's dignity.

Yes. The authority of the royal house is weakened

when subject is treated equal reverence of the king.

And more so in this political situation.

You are right. That is what concerns me.

Public resentment toward the king is increasing.

Things will get worse as his disease progresses.

The future is troubling.

How much longer will he last is the question now.

We need a new leader.

Wang Guhn would be the perfect candidate.

But he is too cautious and indecisive.

How about you, Scholar Ahjitae?

Me?

Perhaps someday, but our foundation is still too

weak in many ways.

There're are many facets to politics.

You must have public and military support.

Then perhaps you should have a talk with General Wang.

Yes, I think it is about time that I did.

How His Majesty has changed...

Something irreparable and irreversible has happened to him.

It is an ailment. He is terribly ill...

His Majesty wishes to inspect the naval force in training.

As he should. He inspected our cavalry and infantry in the

cold, dark night. I'm sure he is anxious to see the progress

of the naval force as well.

But the naval force may not be as well prepared.

They are not well prepared at all.

Though we've managed to acquire many ships, soldiers are a few

and training is poor.

We have no choice but to show them as they are.

But that may arouse His Majesty's anger.

Yes, that is a concern. His Majesty has become very stern.

We must all be cautious. he is very much in ill temper lately.

What are you so afraid of?

His Majesty sees all things.

If we do our best, he will see that as well.

And we deserve to be punished if we do not.

Your fear comes from lack loyalty. Loyalty!

You're right. His Majesty wouldn't punish us for no

reason unless he's gone completely insane.

Watch your tongue!

Such crudeness and ignorance!

...Pardon...

What a wonderful day!

It has been years since we left Song-ak.

We should arrive there in two days.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Empress,

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's been too long since the last time we traveled with

General Wang.

Yes, Your Majesty.

He has been quite busy defending our kingdom at the front.

About your commanders that are behind us,

Yes, Your Majesty.

I've been informed of their meritorious achievements at

the battle in Choongju. I must reward them appropriately.

They have Your Majesty's grace. What more could they need?

Already, they've been elevated to generals.

Very good.

I was told that you've gained a new military adviser.

Yes. He is an educated scholar and a brilliant

strategist named Tepyoung.

It is a blessing to you and a blessing to this country.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Clear the road!

Clear the road!

Protect the Emperor!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Take him to safety!

Take His Majesty to safety and call the physician!

Capture the goons that threw the rocks!

Capture every single man and woman regardless of age!

The village chief is responsible for this.

Who threw the rocks?

We could not distinguish the culprit, so we've

captured everyone in sight.

Who threw the rocks?

We do not know. We did not see anything.

It appears the culprits have fled, Your Majesty.

Ha! I've been attacked by Bekjae's spies, but never

by my own people. What fools!

This is the ignorance of the people!

Superior Councilor,

Yes, Your Majesty.

You are the highest of all subjects.

Is this how you've taught the public?

...Forgive me, Your Majesty.

These are uneducated common folks...

Sick trees must be cut down.

It contaminates the healthy tress if left to live.

General Eunby,

Yes, Your Majesty.

Lock these pitiable souls into a barn and burn them alive.

Your Majesty!

Burn down the entire village.

And take their livestock to be slaughtered and fed to my army.

Yes!

Take these men and women! Torch the village!

Spare our lives Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, you are their father and the

emperor of this kingdom.

Please forgive your crude and foolish children, Your Majesty.

No. They have forsaken me, and I cannot forgive them.

These hopeless people are better off dead.

Carry out the order!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Have mercy, Your Majesty!

Have mercy!

These are your newly built battleships, Your majesty.

Yes, I see them. Excellent. And those are my soldiers.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your cousin is an impressive sea warrior, General Wang.

Your grace is immeasurable.

This is truly impressive, Your Majesty.

The Minister of Military was quite concerned that

the naval force may not yet be presentable.

But the naval force requires alanding force wich is not

yet fully prepared.

I understand. Military training takes patience and hard work.

Commander Wang,

Yes, Your Majesty.

I'd like to see the landing drill now.

Yes, Your Majesty. This way.

It appears there was a slight mistake.

It is acceptable. This is why they need training.

We've incorporated a number of war prisoners of Shilla

into our force, but their skills are poor.

Shilla? Did you just say Shilla?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Shilla? Minister of Military,

Yes, Your Majesty.

Have I not ordered you to remove the soldiers from Shilla?

Yes, but we suffer shortage of men....

This is unthinkable!

Those diseaded men cannot possibly fight for us.

They are not our people.

Why do you think is the cause for Shilla's decline?

It is their corrupted minds!

Commander Wang,

How many of Shilla's men are among them?

There're roughly one hundred men in this drill.

Is that right?

I cannot allow this. Take them out.

Take them out and eliminate them!

What are you waiting for?

Get rid of the trash from nation of the damned!

Your Majesty, there're over one hundred of them!

It is an order!

Ship them out and throw them into the ocean!

It is an imperial command!

Remove the prisoners from Shilla!

Yes!

Chronicles of Koryo volume I writes about Goongyae's

acts of savagery like this: "Goongyae had all of Shilla's

surrendered soldiers killed, and grew increasingly violent.

Under groundless charges of treason, he ruthlessly killed

nearly 100 men a day, many of them his warriors and officials.

He claimed to possess the power to read people's mind, and

warned that those caught with treasonous thoughts would be

severely punished." Albeit this record may be somewhat

exaggerated, there is no doubt that Goongyae was changing and

becoming dissolute. While brutal tyranny continued in Majin,

Kyun-hwon was near the city of Geumsung, which was called

Naju in Majin.

Haejae and Aphae County border against Majin.

The coast and Youngsan River are only a few miles

away with Muan County situated in between.

We have secured 3 000 cavalry, 2 000 infantry, and another

2 000 reserve troops.

The victory is sure to be ours.

That covers the seaside line. How does the rear area look?

We will established Muan as the service area for the rear

guards and their training will be conducted in Hampoong and Daki.

The tactical operation center will be in Mujinju.

Very good. it was a god decision to place an

installation between Mujinju and the foremost front.

Where do you plan to position the naval force?

In all probability, Wang Guhn will lead his fleet down the

coast, pass through the islands, then try to nter Mokpo through

Yasung River.

They must be stopped here at Yumhae in Aphae Country.

That was my thought exactly.

This is more a battle on land than on water.

What do you think about luring them ashore and

obliterating them?

That is an excellent strategy.

Your active participation in this battle has them nervous.

I'm sure Wang Guhn will come and many warships will be deployed.

Yes. And the winter northwest wind will make their passage

difficult and give us the advantage.

We have an overall advantage this time with superior

military power and infallible strategy.

I think we should launch an attack wthout delay.

His Majesty is fully aware of our readiness.

But he waits to maximize the impact of this battle.

Maximize the impact? What do you mean?

In other words, he is waiting for Wang Guhn to bring his

large naval force so that we could destroy them completely

and prevent them from ever coming back.

That's right. That is exactly what I'm waiting for.

My goal is to stop Majin from ever coming back to Geumsung.

You must all remember that.

This war must be fought with your life.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Also, we must not neglect the other lines of defense.

Prime Minister,

Yes, Your Majesty.

and Son-in-law,

Yes, Your Majesty.

The two of you will return to the capital.

It is unwise to leave the capital unattended.

But my services is required here...

Heed my command.

And Fenerals Chu, Kim, Ji, and Choi will go to the

Nakdong River defense line and observe the enemy's movements.

Yes, Your majesty.

General Sudal will be the Superior Commander for this

operation. generals Gong-jik and Bag,

Yes, Your Majesty.

Restore the honor that you lost here in Geumsung.

Your grace is immeasurable.

It's about honor!

A man's honor is more important than his life.

Tht is what you must get back.

Yes, Your Majesty. Your grace is immeasurable.

Heaven is on our side. Let us wait for Wang Guhn.

Then we will let the world know that Bekjae come before majin.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Governor, situation at the border is becoming intense.

King Kyun-hwon is near the border himself.

I'm afraid they are determined and well prepared this time.

The strech of coast approaching Young san River is covered with

countless enemy battle ships. what must we do?

Greater part of our naval force is in Song-ak right

now under provision that they return in case of war.

We must call them back.

But would that be possible? The country is in a mess.

They are absorbed in preparations for that senseless conquest of

the north. Will they pay attention to us?

We've sent numerous distress messages.

Let us wait with patience. They've worked much too

hard to acquire this territory to abandon it.

Distress messages have been received from Naju.

Yes, I've heard.

King Kyun-hwon is at the front himself encouraging his warriors.

Countermeasure must be devised soon...

What is there to contemplate? We must send them a defense force.

Our entire military force is engaged in preparation for the

northward conquest. We have no men to send to Naju.

It is truly frustrating.

How could we contemplate conquest of the north when Shilla and

Bekjae have their swords pressed against our throats?

Yes.. I fear for our future.

You've all heard about what His Majesty has done in Song-ak.

Please restrain yourself. You only have one life.

Ears are everywhere.

Yes, I know. But...

This cannot go on. It has to be stopped.

Suli,

Yes, Your Highness.

Where is Attendant Jin? Why haven't I seen him?

I believe he is looking into the matter you mentioned.

What matter?

About a private meeting with General Wang.

My goodness! What does she mean?

Do you seek to meet General Wang?

Yes, Mother. Everyone will die including us unless

something is done. Don't you see that?

But what will you do if His Majesty finds out about your

private meeting with General Wang?

I won't sit here helplessly and wait for my death.

The imperial house will fall if I let this go on.

His Majesty is not sane.

That is why I've repeatedly cautioned you and Father.

But...

Something has to be done. The time calls for it, Mother.

Master, you should not stay in Chulwon much longer.

His Majesty has long lost his sanity.

He is more a madman than he is a tyrant.

He has changed so much...

You must leave the city to preserve your life.

I was told Naju is in danger of enemy invasion.

Volunteer your services. You must leave the city.

I do not know what to do...

Chulwon has changed so much.. Everything seems foreign to me.

Here! Here!

Is General Wang at home? Ahjitae seeks his audience!

Is General Wang inside?

Yes. Good evening, Scholar Ahjitae.

I've come to enjoy a cup of tea with General Wang.

There he is.

Greetings, Scholar Ahjitae.

Greetings, Madam. I have come to see the distinguished general.

Me?

For what reason?

A man has come to see another man.

Must you chase me away with such remarks?

Please let me inside.

I have asked you why you were here.

It is too grave a matter to discuss here.

Why don't we go inside and play a game of checkers?

I will ask you once more.

Will you let me inside, or should I turn around?