Original subtitles

Subtitles by DramaFever

[Episode 42] Yes, that's right.

They will arrive here within half an hour!

They went past Kaesong and are now in Paju?

How is that possible?

So you have to go to Ganghwa quickly.

Right now, ma'am!

But the boat we were going to use to cross the river is gone.

If you go to Yangwol Dock, you'll find my boat there.

You should go there right now!

Grand Prince!

So please leave now, ma'am.

There is no time to waste!

[Namhan Fortress]

All soldiers, raise the level of security!

Close all the gates of Namhan Fortress!

- Prepare for a battle! - Yes, sir!

What did you say? How far have they come?

Your Majesty...

Prime Minister! Does it make any sense?

We received the message today, but they're already in Paju?

How on earth is this possible?

Your Majesty! Your Highness!

It looks like we should abandon Namhan Fortress, sire!

We should hurry up and flee to Ganghwa!

What are you saying? Abandon Namhan Fortress?

Sire!

Is it true that Qing's army is right in front of the city, Teacher?

Are they really headed to Ganghwa and the capital city at the same time?

That's right, sire.

They already knew that Joseon would focus on the defense from Ganghwa.

They knew our plan from the beginning?

So, Qing's army is arriving safely?

Yes, sir.

We have to secure the path to the palace first.

We must put employ the elite troops and guard the path, no matter what.

Yes, sire.

No, sire. You cannot leave the palace now.

There is no exit path.

Their army is already in Tancheon

right below Namhan Fortress, sire!

What?

Already in Tancheon...

[Qing General Ma Fuxiang]

All soldiers, advance!

Make sure the King of Joseon can't enter Ganghwa!

Block the retreat route from Tancheon!

What about Ganghwa?

We're attacking both places at the same time, Your Majesty!

[Qing Emperor Huang Taiji]

We're here, ma'am.

It's Ganghwa Castle.

[Ganghwa Castle]

Ma'am!

Ma'am!

Then, you mean...

we can't even go to Ganghwa now?

Sire!

- Father! - Your Majesty!

Escort His Majesty inside! Now!

Did you just say that they're isolated?

His Majesty's group won't be able to get away from Namhan Fortress?

That's right. Tancheon is already...

seized by the Qing army.

No... Your Majesty! Crown Prince!

Even at this point, would you still trust Lord Kang Joo Seon, Grand Prince?

If the Qing army knew everything about Joseon...

If that's why they're heading straight through to the capital city and Ganghwa...

Of course, Grand Prince!

How could they have possibly known that?

Ma'am...

We'll employ all the arms and gunpowder of the Special Armory.

Everyone, protect this Namhan Fortress with your life!

Yes, sir!

In Woo!

Take care of this place, Joo Won.

I will leave the city and gather the royal soldiers.

You can't! The Qing army has already arrived in Tancheon

so how will you get out?

But if all of us stay here, we won't even have hope.

If I don't gather more soldiers, we can't last in this castle.

Please stop. If you take the lead now, you could die!

Whatever it takes...

I have to do something to wash away my father's sin.

I should at least get that chance.

In Woo...

I'll definitely make it out alive.

And I will return with soldiers.

So please...

hold on until then.

Please.

Move it! Quickly!

The Qing army is headed to the north gate of Namhan Fortress!

Hurry up!

Fight with your life! Hurry!

What are you doing? Fire the cannons!

Bring all the cannons in Ganghwa, and fire them!

Mother, what do we do now?

Mother, I'm scared! I'm scared!

All right, it's fine.

Man Yong, Man Young...

Nothing will happen, so don't be afraid.

But what about Father?

Mother, will Father be able to return safely?

It's fine.

Ma'am...

Sire!

Sire, you have to leave! You can't be here!

But... how...

How... could this happen, Teacher?

Until the country was reduced like this again...

I... the royal court and the government, and the officials of this country...

What on earth... have we been doing?

Sire...

Grand Prince.

I was foolish, ma'am.

Yes, I was. I really was.

Grand Prince!

What will happen to this country now, ma'am?

What about His Majesty and the Crown Prince locked in Namhan Fortress?

What about the people of this country who are being murdered by Qing's army?

Mom!

Mom...

My goodness, wake up!

Did you say that the Qing army base is in the Magistrate Office of Gwangju?

Yes, sir.

Let's go.

This meaningless battle should end now.

Come on!

Hey!

Hey! Now...

Come on! Come on...

Jang...

He wanted to live to the end...

Just like my son who died in the war of 1627

this young one also wanted to live to the end...

Look, Bong Soo...

Mom...

What sin did that young one commit?

Complete defeat?

All the battles last night...

were lost?

That's right, sire.

We already have 3,000 dead, and countless injured.

The military force at Namhan Fortress is down to half now.

How is the situation in the city? How bad is the damage to the people?

According to the report

areas near Hyanggyo-dong and Gwangtong Bridge were completely burnt down.

I hear that no trace can be found.

The number of people who are dead or who are taken away...

can't be even estimated at the moment.

Ma'am!

Ma'am!

Ma'am!

Sir!

I'm fine! I'm fine!

I'm fine... I'm fine!

Pour more wine! More wine!

But I wonder if we should be doing this...

I said not to worry!

This Ganghwa Island is a natural fortress!

The barbarians can never make it here!

Here, pour me wine!

Commander!

Who the heck is it?

- Your Highness. - Ma'am.

Wine...

Wine?

It's just that... We were relieving tension...

The Qing army is right below Ganghwa!

At Namhan Fortress where His Majesty is

there is a horrible battle every day!

So, what are you doing, Commander?

All of you soldiers here as well!

Lord Grand Prince.

But the General of Hwanghae Province Kim Ja Jeom...

why didn't he notify us that the Qing army crossed the border?

General!

And now, he's arrived in Miwon with soldiers from the northwestern region.

So why isn't he entering the capital city?

[Qing's Base, Gwangju Magistrate Office]

Welcome, Lord Kang Joo Seon!

And, Kang Joo Seon...

I will never forgive them.

The one who started the war today was Qing.

But the ones who were handing over the country

were the officials who plotted with them!

Yes, I swear...

that I will not forgive them!

Ma'am, it's me!

Come in! Hurry up!

So, how is the situation going?

When will this tiring war be over?

I hear that the officials are still divided

between the ones for making peace with Qing

and the ones for fighting until the end.

And the battle is still going on at the north gate.

If I knew this would happen, I'd have gone to Ganghwa Island, too.

Why did I have to show any loyalty and follow His Majesty?

We should still try to make peace with Qing, sire.

Even the food ran out, so we can't hang on anymore.

The situation is more dire than the war in 1627.

Even Huang Taiji of Qing came to Joseon...

They won't leave until they get our surrender, sire!

Are you saying that we should get on our knees now?

Like you said, if it's more dire than in 1627

they will make more humiliating requests from us.

But what could we do?

We have to accept it.

We have to save ourselves and the people first

to be able to endure the hardships!

We can't do that, sire!

Huang Taiji will continue to stay furious anyway.

All of us are ready to die!

Please make your decision to fight to the end!

That can't happen, sire! Fighting any longer is meaningless!

If the war is over after everyone dies

what's the use?

Sire.

Sire! Sire!

Sire, please come outside now!

As the delegation from Qing...

Lord Kang Joo Seon has arrived.

What?

Who is here?

Lord Kang!

I came here to see His Majesty, sire.

To deliver a message from the Qing Emperor.

The Emperor's message?

How dare you, Kang Joo Seon!

Do you think I don't know what you did?

Do you expect to survive after handing over this country?

Sire, please calm down.

We have to endure even this right now.

I also feel very saddened and hurt.

That we couldn't stop this war.

And that we can't appease the Qing Emperor's anger anymore.

'Appease the Qing Emperor's anger'?

Kang Joo Seon...

How dare you, right in front of me!

However, sire...

there is still a way to preserve this country.

You will have to pay attention to the words I'm about to deliver.

What's that?

How dare you!

How dare you, Kang Joo Seon!

Taking a hostage?

How dare they request the Crown Prince as a hostage in negotiations?

No, that can't happen!

We will never send His Highness to their base!

But if it's the only way...

we have to accept it.

Sir!

Do you understand?

If that's what it takes for them to say yes to negotiations

even His Majesty should take his place.

But what if something goes wrong?

What if this is another sly trick of Kang Joo Seon?

What if something happens to His Highness?

No... I'm not going to do it.

We don't know what other sly tricks are hidden.

I can't send you, the Crown Prince, to such a place!

I will go, Father.

Crown Prince...

There are no more soldiers or food left in Namhan Fortress anymore.

This must also be the case in Ganghwa.

If even one of the two castles falls apart

Joseon will have to surrender to Qing with humiliation that can't be withdrawn.

Still, are you telling me to hand you over to them?

As a pathetic king...

am I supposed to also be a pathetic father now?

But if we lose this opportunity

any room for negotiation with them will disappear.

So, no matter what awaits me...

I have to be the one who does this.

So, please... allow me, Father.

Ganghwa is in this situation, so I don't know how it is in Namhan Fortress.

I believe there is no more food left there.

Ma'am! Your Highness!

Ma'am, did you hear the news?

What can we do about this?

What's going on, Crown Princess?

What on earth is it about?

So, the Crown Prince in Namhan Fortress

is going to the Qing army base to negotiate now?

Yes, that's right, ma'am.

According to the message that just arrived, it was...

That's why the battle with Qing has been halted for now.

But Kang Joo Seon was the delegate?

Ma'am, this can't happen!

We can't send His Highness there!

Would they accept your suggestion?

They will.

There is no other way now.

Even more so for the Crown Prince, even if it's the path to death.

And I will be able to get what I want after we wrap up this war.

How dare you, Kang Joo Seon!

Do you think I don't know what you did?

Do you expect to survive on this land after handing over this country?

That's right, sire.

I wouldn't be able to live after handing over the country.

That's why I need to make my plans now.

Yes, it is the Crown Prince.

The way is to push you out.

No! If Kang Joo Seon took the lead, some other plot must be hidden.

Ma'am, we have a message...

from Lord Hong in Namhan Fotress!

What? From my husband?

Sire!

Please... step aside, Teacher.

No, I cannot do that.

Knowing what this path means...

Without knowing what's coming ahead, we cannot hand you over to them.

Teacher!

So, please Your Highness!

Please listen to my words.

Please give me a chance to protect Your Highness

the remaining future of this country!

Ma'am!

The royal soldiers are coming, Grand Prince!

The last hope to turn this crisis around!

So, we'll use this chance at negotiation with them

and get ready to attack them full-scale.

That's the message from Namhan Fortress.

But what about the Crown Prince, ma'am?

What happens to him as the hostage of this negotiation?

Really?

The Crown Prince and the officials came to negotiate?

Yes, General.

So, this is what you are saying.

Suggest a negotiation, and ask for the Crown Prince?

But they'll say that Joseon will never accept the master-retainer relationship.

So kill the Crown Prince who delivers that message.

General, the Emperor wants to finish this war as soon as possible

and have Joseon in his hands.

To do that, you have to show a scary example

to the royal court and the government officials who are still holding out.

What the Qing's will is, and what the Qing Emperor's power is.

Then they will lose the will to fight.

And they'll have no choice but to surrender?

Welcome, Crown Prince of Joseon!

Let's start our conversation now.

- Ma'am! - Ma'am!

You came!

What about weapons and gunpowder?

While their guard was down, we carried them here safely!

And they are placed in Ganghwa Castle now.

Pardon? Prepare for what?

Did you say, 'full-scale attack,' Lord Grand Prince?

That's right. While the Qing's army has its guard down during negotiations

we'll attack them first.

What do you mean by that?

I did not receive such an order...

No!

This is a royal command!

Pardon?

Do you understand?

So, if you want to live after the war is over

try your hardest to do your duty as the Commander!

Your Majesty, why did you allow this?

This can't be done! Please withdraw the command now!

If the Qing army finds out about this...

they will definitely not overlook this!

- Sire, please... - Stop!

Shut up.

Shut your mouth!

Your Majesty...

Yes, I know this is risky.

But... still, if it can be our last way out...

If it's a way to avoid humiliating surrender...

I have to do this. This is also my job as the King!

Sir, how are things going?

We're complete with our preparation.

What we have left is to wait for the soldiers.

If they arrive in time...

then we may have a fighting chance.

Your Highness.

Did you come here to say you still can't have the master-retainer relationship?

We're asking you to reconsider only on that point.

We will accept everything else to make peace with Qing...

Do you mean to toy with our Emperor, Crown Prince?

Do you think you can return safely after this?

It's taking too long.

I believe I have no reason to wait like this.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Take out the Crown Prince of Joseon, and the officials, and execute them now!

With the Emperor's command, we'll show Joseon our Qing's determination!

Yes, sir!

What are you doing, sir?

This is the Crown Prince of Joseon!

Joseon will never...

What's going on, General Ma?

The Crown Prince of Joseon mocked us! We will kill them...

Wait. Hold on a minute, General Ma.

Who... are you?

You're not the Crown Prince of Joseon.

I definitely know his face!

Sire, now their full-scale attack will start.

Assemble all soldiers now!

Advance to Ganghwa Castle and Namhan Fortress now!

General! We're in big trouble!

Joseon's royal soldiers are heading to the capital!

A battle has already begun in Namhan Fortress.

They fooled us with the pretense of negotiation!

Do not give up!

We have to protect Ganghwa!

We cannot hand over Ganghwa to the enemy!

How did the preparation go at the castle gates?

I placed the Ganghwa soldiers at the north and the south gates.

And I placed the rifles and cannons at the west and the east gates.

All of them are determined to die guarding the gates, ma'am.

- How much more is left? - Two or three.

Good.

The enemy is coming! Hurry up! Hurry!

My lord!

They fooled me this time.

Me!

What happens if the Joseon army wins?

My lord, then we will...

No! That will never... happen.

Sir!

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

I heard the Qing's army headed to Ganghwa is fighting with the royal soldiers.

How is the battle going?

It looks like the fight is almost over!

It looks like we can advance to Ganghwa Castle!

Sir, we're in big trouble!

The Qing soldiers are running over here!

- What? - Sir!

What happened to the royal soldiers stationed in Miwon (current Yangpyeong)?

Why haven't they arrived yet?

We have 20,000 royal soldiers stationed in Miwon alone.

Sir, shouldn't we send them to Ganghwa right away?

You're foolish. Would that really change anything?

Sir!

Did you see the sky?

It looks like it will rain soon.

The outcome was determined from the beginning.

If we can't change that

we should stand with the winning side.

Ma'am, please be strong.

We have to get through this time, no matter what.

Princess.

Ma'am!

We're in big trouble!

Outside...

Hurry up! Now!

This is...

It's raining, ma'am!

The rifle and cannon divisions won't be able to fight!

Hurry up! Look here!

Sire! Sire!

How...

How could this happen, Crown Prince?

Father...

Is it my sin?

Because of my sin as the King...

did Heaven abandon this land, too?

Father!

Even the royal soldiers who headed to Ganghwa

were defeated because they couldn't get backup.

So it seems there is no more way to save Ganghwa Island.

Ma'am!

Your Majesty!

Crown Prince!

Your Majesty...

Crown Prince...

We will never give this letter of surrender to them!

We cannot...

allow ourselves a humiliating surrender to the barbarians!

Then what will you do?

Will you let the Crown Princess and the royal son be killed?

And we will lose the Crown Prince and His Highness...

Only after we kill all the people on this land

can we finally end this?

Minister!

Yes... you tore this apart...

but of course, I will put this back together

and bring it to them.

This country is also ripped apart...

Someday... it will be able to rise again!

- Sire! - Sire!

Please... take our lives!

Take our lives, sire!

Your Majesty!

Let's go.

To Samjeondo.

The last duty I can do as the King...

is this.

Your Majesty!

You definitely haven't won yet, Neungyang.

You will bring on the most painful defeat to this land some day.

You will push this country to the darkest time!

That day, you and everyone here...

will experience more pain and humiliation than this moment.

[Samjeondo]

Now, The Great Qing and Joseon

make a pledge to be the master and the retainer.

The King of Joseon will kneel before the Emperor of Qing

and proceed with 'Three Prostration and Nine Bows'!

Father.

Father!

First bow!

Your Majesty.

Second bow!

Keep your head up, Bongrim!

Your Highness!

And... never forget...

today, this moment!

Third bow!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty...

Please come in, sir. He is waiting for you.

Welcome, Lord Kim Ja Jeom.

You've gone through a lot of hardships in the border area.

You can't call it 'hardships'. Thanks to you, I avoided the storm.

You are smart, and able to see reality

so I knew we would see each other again somehow.

Your Highness...

Crown Prince.

We weren't able to get rid of the Crown Prince

but he will be taken to Shenyang in Qing with the Grand Prince.

So we can be at ease now.

So, once you come back from a short exile

you will be able to get your old place back.

Yes, after the exile.

That's how things go in life.

Everything will be forgotten quickly...

and it will be the weak and soft Joseon again.

Lord Kim!

I will return safely. Please take care of His Majesty and this country until then.

Please don't worry, sire.

No one will forget today.

Grand Prince.

Yes, I won't forget it either.

Every moment, I will remember this pledge of today.

Let's go, Grand Prince.

So that we can return.

Yes, that's how it will be, Yeo Jung.

Our last battle is beginning now.

Yes, that's how it will be.

Bongrim and I will definitely return

and I will right these wrongs

and change this land.

That's right. In order to return, we will head out on this path.

And, if that day comes...

If that day comes some day...

[Eight Years Later]

Ma'am!

- Ma'am. - Is Her Highness inside?

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Are you feeling all right?

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, what's wrong?

I can't... I can't breathe.

Your Majesty!

Head Servant, are you there?

Bring the royal physician! Now! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, try to breathe.

Your Majesty...

The King suddenly fell into critical condition.

How did this happen?

He hasn't been doing well for a long time.

It was going to come some day.

Look, it's no time to say it so casually.

Don't you know what today is? Today is the day!

So, they are on their way back? The Crown Prince and Grand Prince Bongrim?

Finally... back to this land...

Ma'am!

Subtitles by DramaFever