Original subtitles

Your Majesty.

- Please withdraw the order of abdication. - Please withdraw the order of abdication.

- Please, Your Majesty. - Please, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

- Please withdraw the order of abdication. - Please withdraw the order of abdication.

- Please, Your Majesty. - Please, Your Majesty.

They are the treacherous subjects.

They are the disloyal subjects.

Your Majesty.

Do you know what they are thinking?

(Grand Prince Chungnyeong, Later King Sejong the Great)

The sly king is putting us to the test again.

The evil king is searching for the next one to be beheaded.

Your Majesty.

The man is a monster.

The man beheaded his brothers to become the king.

He pulled a sword on his father and usurped the throne.

And that wasn't enough.

The man slaughtered his wife's family.

Your Majesty, please don't.

How can such a man decide to abdicate the throne?

He can't. That can't be true.

I say that is...

what the beastly flock really thinks.

And you, too?

You, my son, dare join the party and prostrate yourself before me!

Why do you join the treacherous subjects?

Your Majesty.

Why do you disdain my sincerity?

Tell me.

What do I have to do to make you believe?

Will you believe me if I do this?

This?

And this?

Will you believe me if I do this?

Tell me.

What do I have to do to make you believe?

Will you believe me if I die right here?

Your Majesty.

Please compose yourself.

I was wrong.

I believe you.

I believe your sincerity.

Do you believe?

Yes, Your Majesty.

How can you?

Am I not a monster in your eyes?

No, you are not.

Tell me why.

Why am I not a monster?

That's...

Look.

These are what I have shattered.

They are the pieces of broken loyalty and filial piety.

I intimidated a king to crush loyalty.

I pulled a sword on my father to smash filial piety.

I threw away my devoted son to trample upon faith!

And yet, am I not a monster?

Your Majesty.

Did you forget about your mother?

She could never overcome the rage and rancor I had caused...

and wailed night after night.

She crawled on the palace floor, hair disheveled, vomiting blood.

You saw your mother and still want to vindicate me?

Your Majesty.

Look.

Look at my misdeeds.

Will you still defend me?

Who am I?

Am I a monster?

Am I human?

Tell me. Tell me now!

Who am I?

Who am I?

Who on earth am I?

I...

I don't know who I am anymore.

It is your turn now.

Crown Prince.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Be a great king.

If you can become a great king, I can become human.

If you cannot, I will remain a monster.

From now on, it is your turn.

This is the end for me.

(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)

(Episode One)

Bang Gwa.

No, Bang Gwa.

Father.

Father.

Father!

Father.

Bang Won.

Father!

Father!

My Lord.

Did you have a nightmare again?

Again, I saved no one.

Neither Father nor my big brothers.

(Lady Min, Lee Bang Won's wife)

It is just a dream.

Please do not worry.

Everyone will be safe.

No.

They won't be.

My Lord.

How can everyone be safe when my family is scattered like this?

One of my family must...

My Lord.

Please do not say dismal things.

Words have power.

Please be strong.

Don't be afraid and think about how to survive.

You are right.

I'm sorry.

Once again, I was foolish.

Everyone will be safe.

We will all meet again, safe and sound.

I believe so.

A.D.1388 was the 14th year of reign by King Woo of Goryeo.

General Lee Seong Gye marched north to invade the Liaodong Peninsula,

but he halted the army and requested retreat.

Among the people of Gaegyeong,

a rumor spread fast that Lee would soon rise in revolt.

General Lee Seong Gye was accompanied by his sons, Bang Ui and Bang Gan.

Lee's first and second sons had been taken hostages by King Woo.

Father, the commanders are all there.

My sons.

- Yes, Father. - Yes, Father.

Have you seen your older brothers before you parted?

Yes.

We even called Bang Won, and the five of us met.

We ate and said farewell.

Good.

But why do you ask?

Never mind.

Father, the rain stopped.

(Seogyeong, the ancient name for Pyongyang)

(King Woo the 32nd king of Goryeo)

(Choi Yeong, Regional Military Commander of Eight Provinces)

I'm worried about their movement.

Please dispatch me to Wihwado.

I will command the army myself.

Then, Lee Seong Gye will not have treacherous ideas.

Stop it.

I told you to stay by my side, General.

They will march again soon.

Look.

The rain stopped.

They cannot use the rainy season as an excuse anymore.

But Your Majesty...

Quiet.

Enough.

If they should not advance,

I will not tolerate it.

Your Majesty.

If they dare disobey my order this time,

I will bring Lee Seong Gye's sons...

and decapitate them.

Like this!

Your Majesty.

Why should you kill the innocent eunuch?

They killed my father.

These eunuchs did.

They assassinated my father, the king.

Your Majesty.

That was a long time ago.

A long time ago?

In my heart,

that happened today.

On this day!

Your Majesty.

General.

Stay by my side.

Stay by my side...

and protect me.

Do not go away as you have done at the time.

(Seogyeong, hostage's abode)

Must we be detained like this?

We can't help it.

The royal court does it when there is a big war,

detaining the family of important generals.

So, we are hostages.

Look.

That's not what I meant.

To think that we should be here until the war ends,

I feel frustrated.

Don't you get it?

I'm sorry.

But don't be frustrated.

It will end soon.

What?

Father will never advance to the Liaodong Peninsula.

What do you mean?

Then, where will he go?

Brother.

You don't say...

That's right.

Father has asked for retreat twice.

A general halted the army to turn back against the king's order.

That only is enough to make him guilty of disloyalty and treason.

You mean...

there is no turning back?

No.

Father only has one way left.

(Jo Min Su, Regional Military Commander of the Left Flank)

Then, you will all follow me.

Listen.

We will go back to Gaegyeong.

It is sheer madness to wage war against Ming.

It will torture the people suffering from hunger and the Japanese raiders.

If we do not set things right,

who will say that we are Goryeo's subjects?

Who will say that we are Goryeo's generals?

We shall carry out the retreat,

punish the wicked warmongers,

and keep the nation and the people safe immediately.

- Do you understand? - Yes!

Wake up the soldiers now.

We will start upon sunrise.

- Yes, General. - Yes, General.

Hurry.

Move.

Move quickly.

Come!

Commander.

Yes.

Here he is.

He is the fastest among my men.

Go to Gaegyeong immediately and tell Bang Won to flee.

Yes, General.

You deliver the news to Dongbukmyeon and head straight to Pocheon.

And protect the plantation.

Do you understand?

Yes.

I will protect the two ladies upon my life.

Farewell.

Then, what about our brothers, taken hostage in Seogyeong?

They will face death if we leave them there.

It is out of my reach.

Father.

I'm sorry.

As for your brothers' lives,

let's leave them to heaven.

Then, must we die here?

Retreat is the only answer to save the people from the ravages of war.

Father cannot give it up just because of us.

Brother.

I understand Father.

He raised me to have a wife and children.

I feel nothing but gratitude.

But

Father will suffer dishonor of being a traitor despite his intention,

and I feel sorry for him.

Tell Bang Won in Gaegyeong.

Tell him that I carried out the retreat and he should flee immediately.

He should never be caught by Choi Yeong's soldiers.

A fool.

He just ran ahead without noticing the chase.

It's Lee Seong Gye's man.

He must be Lee's messenger to his family in Gaegyeong.

Hurry.

We must report His Majesty about Lee Seong Gye's treason.

(Lee Bang Won's home in Gaegyeong)

Your father is going to work. Pay your respects.

- Goodbye, Father. - Goodbye, Father.

Right.

Be nice to each other.

- I will. - I will.

- Nanny. - Yes.

Let us go in.

By the way,

why is the house so quiet?

The servants are all gone.

They all ran away, feeling anxious about the rumor.

Their lives will be in danger if the master is branded a traitor.

My Lady.

Take the children and go to your family home.

I am fine.

You should ignore it.

I shouldn't.

Do as I tell you.

I feel that something is imminent.

I see.

What about you, my Lord?

Won't you flee with us?

Everyone in Gaegyeong is watching me.

If I hide now,

I will admit the rumor of Father's treason as truth.

Don't worry about me.

You should leave for your parents' home now.

I will go to work.

Wait.

Take the horse today.

Please be careful.

You, too.

Forward!

(Royal villa in Gaegyeong)

Say that again.

What happened?

Lee Seong Gye has revolted.

Regional Military Commander of the Left Flank Jo Min Su followed him.

All the troops to the Liaodong Peninsula are returning to Gaegyeong.

They will soon arrive at Seogyeong.

Your Majesty.

You must return to Gaegyeong.

Lee Seong Gye.

Your Majesty.

Bring his sons. Now!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Let's go.

They are dead.

The brothers died.

What?

Who died?

General Lee Seong Gye's sons, they killed themselves.

- They're there. - They're inside.

Brother!

Bang Gwa!

How about that?

Isn't it a better way?

Why do you have to play by the book and die?

We must stay alive and be good to our parents.

Let's go.

Let's go now.

What happened?

Is that how you watch hostages?

Your Majesty, I deserve to die.

Bring in all the flesh and blood of Lee Seong Gye, now!

Should you fail, you will not stay alive.

Do you get it?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

You must go quickly, Your Majesty.

Go?

Is there any brilliant way out if I go to Gaegyeong?

What do I have to fight back against an army of 50,000?

If we prepare the remaining soldiers...

and draft men from the Gyeonggi area, we can fight back.

Please leave it to me, Your Majesty.

None of the traitors will set a foot in the castle, I assure you.

All right.

Let us go.

Escort His Majesty.

Prepare to leave immediately!

He is the messenger to Bang Won.

We have to send another.

It's too late.

The king and Choi Yeong must have left for Gaegyeong now.

Will Bang Won die?

We can't, Father.

We can't let Bang Won die when we have already lost two brothers.

We lost too much time.

Mount your horses now.

Father.

Now!

What is the matter?

Nothing.

Please don't bother.

Let's go.

Out of the way!

(Jeollisa, Goryeo government office for the appointment of civil servants)

Does Lee Seong Gye really have treason in mind?

It is highly likely.

He will soon turn back to Gaegyeong.

What do we do now?

What do we do?

We watch.

Whoever may take power,

we couldn't care less, being one of the powerful nobility.

Yes, the king may change, and the influential subjects may change,

but we never change.

Let us go home.

What is your business?

I need your approval before you go home.

What is it?

Let me do it tomorrow.

We can't delay it for a day.

We must replace the dead officials to prevent any vacuum in government.

Haven't you heard me?

I will do it tomorrow.

They helped the military suppress the Japanese raiders.

We need replacements...

so that there is no vacuum in our fight against the Japanese.

I will do it tomorrow.

Please approve it today.

Lord Lee!

The Japanese raiders kill infants and cut their bellies open.

They fill the bellies with rice and perform a rite to pray for victory.

And you, sir,

do you postpone it to tomorrow?

What?

Your father seeks treason, and you don't have proper respect.

That is true.

Like father, like son.

If my father seeks treason, I shall gladly take part in it.

If I could behead the likes of you,

I'm willing to be a traitor.

What?

Lee Bang Won.

Find Lee Bang Won.

He is the son of Lee Seong Gye, the traitor.

Yes, sir!

Here he is.

This is Lee Bang Won.

Get him!

Bang Won.

Out of the way!

Out of the way!

Stop.

Chase him!

No.

It is not important to go to Father now.

Right.

They lost me and will go there.

I must go there.

Be thorough and search the whole house.

What are you doing?

Move!

Yes, sir!

Look below the floor.

You should stop now.

You have ransacked the house enough.

Don't you know where you are?

It's the home of the Minister of Protocol.

Be quiet.

It's the royal command.

We can't find him.

Don't you know his whereabouts?

He just told me to go to my parents' home in the morning.

What is it?

If necessary, do take me.

I may be a daughter-in-law, but I belong to the Jeonju Lee clan.

Why do you just leave?

Shouldn't we at least take this family?

Shut up.

Do you think it will satisfy His Majesty?

Then, where should we go?

To Pocheon.

Lee Seong Gye's family lives there.

It is pitiful.

I am chased by a flock of traitors...

and run away under the night dew.

Your Majesty.

Please be strong.

Don't worry.

I am more wide-awake than ever.

From the bottom of my heart, I feel anger rising, burning me.

When they bring in Lee Seong Gye's flesh and blood,

I will hang them at the castle gate.

I will hang the local wife at the Seouimun Gate,

the noble wife at the Sunginmun Gate,

his sons at Hoibinmun Gate, and his daughters at Tanhyeonmun Gate.

Thus, I will put a dagger to Lee Seong Gye's heart.

I will grant him a nightmare he can never forget until he dies.

Brother, we have marched 50km today.

If we go at this pace, we can besiege Gaegyeong in ten days.

Do not slow down.

We shouldn't give Choi Yeong time to regroup soldiers for battle.

Don't worry.

Brother.

Aren't you worried about the family?

(Lee Ji Ran, Backup Force General, a sworn brother of Lee Seong Gye)

I am worried.

The king took hostage of Hwa Sang, and I keep seeing my son's face.

I'm sorry.

I dragged you into this.

No.

That's not what I meant.

I was prepared for this when I decided to follow you.

I don't resent anyone.

Men are bad beasts.

We talk about causes and duties, driving our flesh and blood to death row.

I wish my son would not resent me if he should die.

They say rancor will hinder reincarnation, don't they?

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.

No, you are right.

No matter how important a cause is,

the sin of deserting your family can never be washed away.

Someday, I shall pay for the sin.

Then,

why do you have to retreat, knowing there can be sacrifices?

Why?

Is it really about driving out the terrible warmonger, Choi Yeong?

You are doing this at the expense of your children's lives.

And that's all?

Father.

You...

- Father. - Father.

Son.

- Father. - Father.

Father!

You are here!

We used our swords, killed the guards, and escaped.

It's Bang Gwa.

Bang Gwa's plan worked.

You did a good job.

Find Bang Ui and Bang Gan,

and have your weapons and armors issued.

- Yes, Father. - Yes, Father.

Brother.

Your children escaped death, and won't you give them a huge?

You do that for me.

He is hopeless.

Aren't you hurt?

No.

I see some scratches on your face.

I always had them.

Really?

You must have been starving. Your face looks swollen.

Father.

My son.

- Chop it. - I'll be serious.

Right.

- Chop it. - I'll be serious.

Good.

Bang Won, be safe.

It's fine now.

Please stay here.

I will bring back the horses I have hidden.

No.

I think it will be more dangerous to go on the main road on horseback.

Let's take the mountain path.

It will take days to go to Dongbukmyeon

At least we won't get caught.

Let's do it.

Yes, Mother.

Bang Seok, ride on my back.

No.

It's too hard on you.

I will take care of him.

It's fine.

Take care of Bang Beon, Mother.

Thank you.

Let's go.

Let's go.

(Lady Han's mansion in Pocheon)

Damn.

The plantation in Cheolwon is empty, too.

What?

I think Lee Bang Won did it.

He must have taken both his mother and stepmother.

They will go to Dongbukmyeon.

We must catch them before the go to Dongbukmyeon.

Hurry.

Let's go.

Yes, sir!

They couldn't have gone far.

Search everywhere!

Yes, sir!

I find it hard to believe.

Did your father really disobey His Majesty's command?

Bang Won, tell me now.

Has your father become a traitor?

Yes.

I believe he has become one.

I depend on the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion to guide me.

What about your brothers?

What about Bang Woo and Bang Gwa, taken hostage by His Majesty?

They will be safe.

Bang Woo is clever, and Bang Gwa is courageous.

They must have found a way to survive.

It's easier said than done.

You say so casually because they are not your sons.

Mother.

Please trust me.

If the king still has Bang Woo and Bang Gwa,

why would soldiers come to get us?

The two must have got away,

and they needed other hostages.

Are you sure they are safe?

Yes.

I am confident.

But I still...

I cannot believe it.

Heavens, a traitor?

How can we survive now?

Mother.

We have already become traitors.

There is only one way to survive.

We shall become traitors much stronger and bigger.

We shall become traitors much more cruel and terrifying.

And then,

we shall not allow anyone to call us traitors.

Bang Won.

Brace yourself, Mother.

Everyone in our family is...

a traitor.

I depend on the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion to guide me.

I depend on the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion to guide me.

The Bodhisattva of Great Compassion...

(Gaegyeong, the ancient name for Gaesong)

General Choi Yeong returned to Gaegyeong with His Majesty.

He has locked the castle gate and is preparing to fight back.

(Min Je, Minister of Protocol, Lee Bang Won's father-in-law)

Stay home and be cautious.

Yes, Father.

We must empty our grain warehouse and hide all the weapons just in case.

What do you mean?

The royal court will soon confiscate military provisions and weapons.

We must not give them anything.

If we do, I will help Choi Yeong and betray my father-in-law.

I know how you feel.

But inside the castle, it still belongs to His Majesty.

We should pretend to cooperate...

for caution's sake.

We can't.

Dear.

Father, no matter how we cooperate with His Majesty,

our family cannot survive if General Lee Seong Gye should lose.

The moment I got married,

the Yeoheung Min clan and the Jeonju Lee clan got on the same boat.

She is right.

The only way our family can survive is General Lee Seong Gye's victory.

Yes.

I understand.

I will do as you say.

Empty the grain warehouse and hide all the weapons.

We will.

But where is your husband?

I'm worried about his safety.

Please don't worry.

He must be fine.

How do you know?

No news is good news.

If something bad had happened, the news would have spread already.

Oh, dear.

Be careful.

It must be hard for you.

He is small, but it must be hard to carry a little boy on your back.

I'm fine.

Don't worry.

Thank you.

I will never forget it.

Don't say that.

They are all my siblings.

True.

And it's also true that they are your half siblings.

Mother.

You have opened up to us first,

and I will think of you as my son.

Mother.

Let's go, Bang Won.

We have rested too long.

Bring more carts.

You can cut down anyone if they protest against requisition.

Hurry.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

Choi Yeong is formidable.

He drafted so many soldiers to prepare for the fight in a few days.

He is, indeed.

Without the fame of General Choi Yeong,

there won't be that many soldiers.

They would have run away, and the castle would have been empty.

Sister, let's go back home.

The battle may start at any moment.

Yes, let us go.

General Lee.

We are close to Gaegyeong.

Yes, we are.

The Left Army will attack south, the Seonuimun Gate.

Why don't you attack east, the Sunginmun Gate?

I will.

I wish you luck.

Same to you.

Left Army, follow me!

Right Army, follow me!

(Outside the castle, Gaegyeong)

Prepare the attack!

Prepare the attack!

We are ready.

We are ready to attack.

General.

What are you doing here?

I told you to protect the plantation in Pocheon.

I'm sorry, General.

I failed to see the two ladies.

I went to Dongbukmyeon and headed to Pocheon right away,

but it was too late.

The mansion was empty except for chaotic hoof prints.

Father.

Choi Yeong's soldiers must have taken them.

We shouldn't attack now.

They must be held hostage inside the castle.

Prepare the attack.

- Father. - Father!

Get ready.

We got you in the end.

Give in.

What can you do alone?

Surrender and follow me.

If I surrender, where will you take us?

To Gaegyeong, of course.

Will you?

And what if my father is there?

What?

What if General Lee Seong Gye has already occupied Gaegyeong?

Think.

Do you think Choi Yeong's army can stop General Lee Seong Gye's army?

Yes.

Once or twice, perhaps.

But they will fall.

Don't you see the soldiers?

They are someone's flesh and blood.

Still, they risked their lives when I ordered them to retreat.

Don't make me ashamed in front of them.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Go.

Go and fight.

- Yes. - Yes.

Attack!

Think hard.

What would General Lee do to you?

If you drive his wives and children to death,

what will happen to you?

Answer me.

What will happen to you?

Shut up!

(The King of Tears, Lee Bang Won)

What will happen now?

General Lee Seong Gye, will you become the king?

Heaven will decide that.

If we have power and there is any source of trouble,

we must get rid of it in advance.

Don't make your father a traitor.

Father had no choice but to retreat to prevent the ravages of war.

You shall slaughter all the traitors and die as heroes today.

What brings you here at this hour, Your Majesty?

What is this royal visit for?