Original subtitles

Your Majesty...

Your Majesty...

I am terribly ashamed, Brother...

I've let everyone down again...Again...

No, Your Majesty. I thank God that you are alive.

No, I have never been so ashamed to be alive.

How pathetic is this?

I've failed in Mt. Gong, and again here in Samnyun Fort...

The local lords are to be blamed. We should not have trusted them.

We can't let them get away with this.

How dare they betray you and side with the enemy!

They will not be forgiven. Never.

How could I fail so miserably? I am dumbfounded...

Your Majesty, we must first leave this area.

This is enemy territory.

The royal advisor is right. You must refresh your royal

vesture and quickly leave this area.

Yes, Your Majesty. Bekjae army is nearby.

Then let us leave.

Where are we to go, Your Majesty?

The fort is dangerous. It is surrounded by the enemy.

We cannot contend with them with the remaining troops.

Then perhaps we should abandon the fort and head to

Choongju where General Park Sulhee is.

Let us do that. We need not go to the fort that is dangerous.

We will go to Choongju and study the situation in sangju.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Prepare the troops! We are turning our course!

Prepare the troops!

Ascend, Your majesty.

We will provide you with fresh vesture on the way.

Your Majesty, please do not be aggrieved.

Consider it ill luck. You look terribly despondent.

I am in disbelief...All of my soldiers have been killed.

Everything is my fault...

We can't will all the time , Your Majesty.

There is always next time.

Is there?

Next time... Next time...

Supreme Commander!

Aren't you one the scouts from the fort?

Yes, Supreme Commander.

We've beein waiting to strike Yu Geumpil's army.

Are they still at the fort?

Koryo army has retreated, Syupreme Commander.

What? Retreated? Are you saying they are gone?

Yes, Sir. They are confirmed heading out toward Choongju.

Your Highness, you've destroyed more than half of their army,

and all of the local lords have surrendered to us. They are in

no position to hold on to Samnyun Fort, so they have abandoned it.

That's right. Their goal was to conquer Samnyun Fort and

proceed to Sangju, but that has become unfeasible.

So in fact, you have won this battle, Your Highness.

Yes, Brother. You have won this battle.

That's right. King Wang Guhn has slipped away, but you have won.

Silence! You have no room to speak!

This battle is neither won nor lost.

We've destroyed Wang Guhn's army , but we've lost the fort!

Forgive me, Your Highness. We lost the fort due to army

imprudence. I deserve to be punished.

No, General. I aml just surprised that a warrior of your caliber

was shaken by Yu Geumpil. Let us focus on our gain

since they've abandoned the fort and retreated.

Why am I so unlucky? King Wang Guhn was so close...

I would have done myself proud if I had gone to Sangju instead!

Geum-kang has subjugted that huge territory without shedding

a drop of blood! I should have gone to Sangju instead. Darn it!

Brother Shin-guhm was engaged in a fierce at Samnyun,

but he let the king of Koryo slip away.

That is a great shame. Isn't it, Brother-in-law?

Capturing a king of one kingdom could not be an easy task.

It says he was barely able to retrieve Samnyun only because

the enemy deserted the fort.

It looks like Yang-guhm and Yong-guhm was severely chastised.

This message should have reached His Majesty as well by now.

Yes. In any case, you will receive the hightest praise

for this operation in Sangju. The local lords of Koryo have

all surrendered their forts to you.

Not only that, Park Sulhee's army has retreated helplessky.

And although the king of Koryo got away, His Majesty will ne

very pleased that his army was annihilated.

He will be indeed.

Father is right. This is the era of Bekjae.

Realization of the grand enterprise is near.

Oh, dear, I do feel sorry for the king of Koryo.

He escaped Shin-guhm's pursuit by the skin of his teeth, it says.

My Shin-guhm's pursuit!

It is good to hear you praising your son, Your Majesty.

I will give praise where praise is due.

I feel wonderful. We've scared Wang Guhn out of his withs again.

This is a repeat of battle of Mt. Gong!

Yes, Your Majesty.

It is an inspiring event that thoroughly display Prince

Shin-guhm's exceptional generalship.

Yes. I am truly impressed!

He has humilied the king of Koryo.

What is wrong, Your Majesty?

Shin-guhm has worked hard but he could've done better.

His objective was to capture the king of Koryo.

He sent Geum-kang to Sangju and went to SAmnyun against my orders.

Why? To acquire greater merit than his brother Geum-kang!

Your Majesty -

Just listen, then tell me if I an wrong!

He defied my order and went to Samnyun to satisty his ambition.

But he lost the fort to the enemy and got it back only because

it was abandoned. What is so inspiring and impressive?

Where is the exceptional generalship in this?

Geum-kang would not have let King Wang guhn slip away.

He would have captured him without fail.

I cannot bear to listen to this, Your Majesty.

How could your son stand proud with your outra geous favoritism?

He has wiped out King Wang Guhn's army. Doesn't that merit anything?

What has he done so wrong that you always put him down?

It is a comment, a comment!

It isn't right for these men to exaggerate Shin-guhm's merit!

To hear this is truly torturous.

Fine. Be how you will! Continue to favor Geum-kang!

The temper of that woman...

She defends Shin-guhm without reason.

But the fact is fact. Look at what Geum-kang has done.

That young child has managed to acquire Sangju without a

drop of blood. How could I not praise him, Madam Kobe?

You are too kind. But I beg you to refrain from such comments

in the presence of the Empress. I feel ill at ease.

Nonsense. I must give praise when praise is due.

This was overall a successful battle.

A storm is brewing, Your Majesty. We better speed up the march.

Yes...

Your Majesty, we've been sent by General Park Sulhee.

He informs you in advance that he is coming this way.

General Park? But he is supposed defend Sangju.

The local lords around Sangju have sided with Bekjae and cut

off his path.

What? Cut off this path?

Do you mean that they, too, have betrayed us?

Yes, General.

General Parl Sulhee, Your Majesty.

We heard about the great difficulty you've suffered.

I share your pain.

Shame is all I have left...

I, Too , have failed to defend Sangju and shamefully turned

our course. We could not dare attempt to enter Sangju because

the local lords have all turned against us. Forgive me...

Forgive you? That is for me to say.

At least you have preserved your troops. I've lost my entire army.

The circumstances were grace, Your Majesty.

Circumstances are not do be blamed. It is my lack of virtue.

My poor judgement had led to this.

No, Your Majesty. Everyone fails once.

It is not once. I can't count how many times I've failed.

Once in Jomul Fort... again in Mt Gong...

and again here in Samnyun Fort...

My poor judgement has killed countless soldiers.

I've lost Advisor Tepyoung, Brother Shin Seungkyum...

General Kim Lak, Kim Uhn, Chun Yigap...all of them.

And...and...

And look how pathetic I am running away again to save

my life here in Samnyun Fort...

When will I ever avenge my brothers' death?

Father!

Your Majesty!

Brother!

Your Majesty! Wake up, Your Majesty!

Men, fetch a carriage! Find a carriage at once!

Father!

3261 Tangun Era, 928 AD., on the 11th year of his reign, Wang Guhn

would taste the third biggest defeat of this life.

Only a year after the battle of Mt. Gong, Wang Guhn found himself

frantically running for his life once again. Had Yu Geumpil not

come to his aid, he could have easily been killed.

Weakened and demoralized, Whang Guhn returned to his

capital of Gaekung.

His Majesty has been confined to his bed for two days.

What do we do? He won't let anyone enter his chambers.

I know... I heard that he had spewed blood...

Imagine the magnitude of his agony to show such symptoms...

I'm told that the tragedy of Mt. Gong was repeated in Samnyun.

His pain must be indescribable.

Misfortune has continued for him for the last few years.

I feel his frustration... Superior Escort,

Yes, Your Highness.

Are the subjects still in the assembly chamber?

Yes, Your Highness.

Perhaps Escort Kim could inquire about His Majesty's conditions.

Fine.

Escort Kim, inquire the imperial attendants about His Majesty's

conditions.

Yes, Your Grace.

Your Majesty...

What is going on, Brother Seungkyum?

Why are you in my armor?

And General Chun, why are you in General Bok's armor?

Your Majesty, we contrived this plan because there was

no other way out.

Please escape safely.

What are you going? What is going on?

Your Majesty, please escape from this danger

and preserve the regime.

Forgive us, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, please return safely.

Preserve the kingdom, Your Majesty.

You have deceived me. All of you have deceived me!

Are you telling me to run away while you die in my disguise?

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

To sacrifice my life for you is the greatest honor.

Please realize the grand enterprise, Your Majesty.

Realize the unification, Your Majesty.

I cannot do this.

I cannot let you get killed to save my own neck!

I will not go!

What are you waiting for? Restrain the Emperor!

Forgive us, Your majesty.

Let go of me! I will not go! I will not go!

You must go, Your Majesty.

The fate of Koryo Empire rest on your shoulders.

Please don't let our deaths be in vain.

Be safe, and fulfill your grand enterprise.

No! You cannot do this!

No! You cannot do this!

No, Seungkyum! No!

Return safely, my brother.

No! No!

Brother Seungkyum!

No!

They died so I could preserve the regime and realize the

grand enterprise...

But look at me. Look how pathetically I have failed...

Your Majesty, the physician brings you herbal potion.

The royal physician, Your Majesty.

See him in.

What is this?

It is your medicine, Your Majesty.

I've ordered no medicine. Why do you continue to pester me?

Your Majesty, your pulse reveals high level of harmful energy of

rage. It will turn into an illness if left untreated.

Take it away. And do not bring this again. Do you understand?

No, you must take it. Rage has reached your internal organs.

You must control it before it causes irreparable damage.

Take it away, I said! Medicine will not remedy this rage!

Leave me! Leave at once!

Yes, Your majesty...

I wish my insides would burn up and kill me instead...

My brothers and the warriors must be mocking this pathetic

fool in the Hades...

I cannot... I cannot forgive them...

The local lords caused this defeat.

I will not condone their betrayal.

Those bastards caused this. Those bastards...

Attendant!

Yes, Your Majesty.

At your service.

Relay this to the officials of the Justice Agency and

the RoyalGuards.

They are to apprehended every single kinsman of the warriors

and lords who turned against their country at Ogok Fort and

Sangju and execute them at the market square!

Yes, Your Majesty. I will do as you command.

No, no. Assemble all civil and military officials in

the capital. I will conduct an inspection.

Summmon the empress and all royal concubines as well.

I will execute the families of traitors in their presence.

Is that clear? The execution will take place in two days.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Those treacherous bastards!

His Majesty must be gravely distressed.

He has refused the physician's medicine time and time again.

He is enraged and disgruntled.

But he mustn't dwell on anger. There is a lot to be done.

The subjects should offer him words of comfort.

He does this not to receive our condolence.

Repeated defeats have him heartbroken.

I agree. He has suffered yet another devastating setback

only a year after returning from Mt. Gong.

Yes. The last few years have been truly unlucky.

Who would've thoght those lords would betray us? Right, Minister?

Yes...The fact is it was inevitable.

Failure to recognize it sooner has caused this result.

His Majesty was blinded by desire for revenge. It is a shame...

What? A military inspection?

Yes, General. He has summoned all military and civil officials and

the royal concubines as well.

Is that right? Why?

The kinsmen of all lords and warriors who surrendered to

Bekjae are to be executed.

What? Execute the kinsmen of the betrayers?

My goodness! Is this truly His Majesty's command?

I understand his rage, but this is most unexpected.

It is indeed. I can't believe he wishes to kill all those people.

They've betrayed their country, but killing their families will not

help us get popular support.

Should we not dissuade him, Minister of Military?

Minister of Military

His Majesty's decision is not for the subjects to challenge.

How can you say this?

The very purpose of keeping the families of the deployed

warriors in the capital is to ensure their loyalty. But they

have betrayed their country to save their own necks.

Consequences of betrayal must be demonstrated.

We should respect His majesty's decision.

But the families of the betrayers have done no crime.

This is most regretful.

I never expected this from our compassionate emperor.

The commander of the Royal guard, Your Majesty.

See him in.

Have you relayed my orders?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I've informed the officials about the military inspection in two

days and the execution that is to take place at the event.

Have you clearly advised them of the date?

Then begin apprehending the criminals for prompt execution

in two days.

Yes, the Justice Agency has dispatched their officers to

bring them in.

Good...They must lean the consequences of betrayal.

Yes, they must... They must...

We've been ordered to attend the military inspection tomorrow.

The criminals are to be executed at the event.

As they should be. Their betrayal has killed countless lives.

They must be killed to set an example. Right, Brother?

Why are you silent?

His Majesty's anger must be extreme.

The wife and children of those betrayers are innocent.

That's my opinion as well...

They are helpless women or elderly. Killing them could

turn the public away. His Majesty has alway been a

compassionate king. This could change their opinion.

But the law is the law.

How can you govern a kingdom without enforcing the law?

They vowed loyalty when they left their family at the capital.

There must be consequences for breaking faith.

Well...

Well? What is that lukewarm response?

His Majesty went to this battle to avenge the death of those

who died in Mt. Gong. And on the personal level,

to avenge the death of Brother Seungkyum.

But those bastards turned against us!

Are we to let them get away? No, we must make them pay!

Where are the sinners when all subjects are gathered?

Send in the sinners!

Yes! Send in the sinners!

Hear me, all subjects.

Yes...

I execute these criminals today in your presence to chastise

the wicked selfishness of traitorous subjects.

Some might say that these women, children and elderly

are innocent.

But I have no choice. It is not I that kill them;

it is the warriors and lords who selfishly turned against

their country to save their own necks.

This atrocity will continue if left unpunished.

How is a kingdom to last? Do you or do you not agree?

Your Majesty speaks the truth.

By this one punishment I seek to guard against

a hundred future transgressions.

Recognize my intend and behave with humility.

Yes, Your Majesty. Your grace is immeasurable.

The justice guards will proceed with the execution.

Proceed with the execution!

Do not use the swords!

They are families of villains who betrayed their country.

Use the iron ball flails!

Execution by the sword preserves the body in decent form.

There will be no such mercy for the traitors!

Use the iron ball flails!

What are you waiting for? Use the iron ball flails!

This is deja vu.

The iron ball flail was the deposed king's weapon of choice.

I know.

Proceed! Proceed at once!

Please don't kill me! Spare my life!

What are you waiting for? Strike the criminal!

Take them out and leave the dead for the ravens to scavenge.

Remove the bodies!

The gentle king Wang Guhn's rage...

Out of all records about Wang Guhn, this is the only account

of cruelty. The chronicles record this incident like this:

"When Later Bekjae invaded Koryo's Ogok Fort and killed

1000 soldiers, six generals including General Yangji and

Myungshik surrendered to Bekjae. Upon hearing this,

Wang Guhn assembled his soldiers and executed their families."

It illustrates Wang Guhns frustration and struggle

through years of continuing defeat.

Hear me, subjects.

Yes...

In the past, I had privately condemn the deposed king

Goongyae for his merciless executions.

But now I know how he must have felt.

This reverse has taught me that it is the subject that makes

the master gentle or harsh.

Do not repeat this mistake. Think only of your country.

Give your life defending it! Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

The grand enterprise of unification is for you,

your family and your kingdom!

Don't let your eyes wander for a second!

Death is the only punishment! Death!

Do not forget this. It is your emperor's warning.