Original subtitles

Strange...Why do I feel so nervous anxious?

Yang-guhm and Yong-guhm are already gone, and soon Shim-

guhm will leave. hen I'll simply place Geum-kang on the

throne and my work will be done. So why am I so anxious?

I should not put this off.

My health is deteriorating, and Koryo's Wang Guhn is watching

me closely. He might already know all about the dilemma in

our court. I can't hesitate.

But Vice Prime Minister is urging me to take it slow.

How could I when I'm running out of time?

Win over my subjects by gentle persuasion?

No, then they will grow more defiant.

I cannot heed his advice.

I must do this quickly. Yes, very quicky.

Attendant!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Summon the military general Park Young-kyu and my son

Geum-kang at once.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I must get this over with, and I must be thorough.

I must secure Geum-kang's position while I am still in fair health.

Your Highness, I'm afraid we took over the military in haste.

Why do you say this, Brother-in-law?

The command structure of the military must be distinct,

but I'm afraid it is not. General Shin Duk was in

charge of the military prior to appointment.

Important posts throughout the city are still covered by his men.

They are not loyal to us.

But you are the supreme commander.

His Majesty gave you unmitigated control of the military.

Who would dare defy you? Defiance is insubordination and mutiny.

It is high treason.

Yes, but it is troubling that we do not have a groupe we can trust.

The whole world trembles at His Majesty's command.

Do not worry, Brother-in-law.

I suppose you are right...

My question is why father still has not sent Shin-guhm away.

We can't have order in the city until he is gone.

I am certain His Majesty knows what he is doing.

General, a messenger from the palace.

You may let him in.

What brings you?

His majesty orders the two lords to the palace at once.

At once?

Yes, General.

He must have something to tell us. Let us get ready.

Yes, Your Highness. What could it be?

Perhaps it is in regards to Prince Shin-guhm.

Prime Minister told us about your refusal. Why, Your Highness?

His Majesty has summoned General park and Prince

Geum-kang to his chambers.

Is that right?

Yes, Prime Minister. He has begun his work.

He has sent away your brothers and shifted the military control

His next step is sending you away.

That's right, Your Highness. Please reconsider.

This is a pressing matter.

Prerogative of supreme power has shifted to General park,

but the troops are still under my command.

Accept our loyalty, Your Highness. There is no time.

I know. This is critical, foreboding and treacherous.

But who will obey a king that dethrones his own father?

Who dethrones whom? We only want to provide our ailing

king with much needed rest. This is a revolution.

No, this is an overthrow.

The world will not see it as a revolution.

Your Highness, it is up to us to make this a revolution.

We do not do this for our own glory.

Bekjae cannot endure if we let this go on.

Koryo will unify the Three Kingdoms, and Bekjae will

crumble and disappear without a trace.

That is why we have wagered our lives for this cause.

It is for the preservation of the kingdom.

The troops are ready, Your Highness.

Give us your resolve. Lead this revolution.

No. I cannot give you an answer.

This is not what I wanted. What will this entail?

I will have to betray my father and kill my own brother.

It is true I have thought about this a thousand times.

But it is not right. It is not the straight and narrow path.

Your majesty -

How could one stay on the straight path at all times?

There are bends and valleys, and sometimes we veer off course

to avoid pitfalls. But what's important is the destination.

We've seen our destination. Give us your consent.

We're running out of time, Your Highness.

But its true. If we only had justifiable cause...

Are the military officers cooperating?

But of course. They wouldn't dare disobey the emperor's command.

Are there any difficulties?

No, Your majesty. But...

But what?

It may take some time to secure complete control,

as most troops are under General Shin's command.

What? General Shin? Nonsense.

Highest authority is held by the supreme commander.

But yes, General Shin has always supported Shin-guhm.

I will see what I can do. Get a firm grip on them!

A single command should be all it takes to move the military.

Be forceful. Teach them discipline and restore their morale.

Yes, Your Highness.

Don't be concerned. Who'd dare defy us when you are behind us?

That's right.

I summoned you today because I cannot put off what I must do

any longer. I will be forthright. The Vice prime Minister and I

have talked about my successor many times.

I have sent your brothers away to bequeath the throne to you.

I know, Father.

Once Shin-guhm is sent away, I will begin the formal procedure.

Your grace is immeasurable.

That is why I gave you control of the military and sent your

brother away.

But Geum-kang,

Yes, Father.

There must be no strife between siblings.

You mustn't harm your brothers when you ascend to my throne.

Can you promise me this?

Answer me. Can you be good to your brothers?

Yes, Father. I will try my best.

There's more.

I chose you for your superior leadership not because you are

my favorite son.

I want to unify the Three Kingdoms through you.

Are you capable?

Yes, Father.

My determination is strong. I will not let you down.

Good, good.

I have given up everything and risked everything on you.

I've sent away your brothers and suppressed my subjects' protest.

Even the vice prime minister has grown distant.

Yes, father.

But it is best to act quickly once mind is made up.

Shin-guhm will leave the city in two or three days.

And all of those who object to your ascension will be expelled.

Do you understand?

Yes, Father.

- Son-in-law, - Yes, Your Majesty.

Once Shin-guhm is gone, I will declare a state of alert.

And I will expel those who need to go and undergo an

overhaul in the administration. Vice Prime Minister has lost

interest in this task. So it is up to us to see this through.

I will issue an official edict to the military agency, so get

a firm grip on the military and back me up aggressively.

Yes, Your Majesty.

That will be all.

This country's throne is yours.

Geum-kang, act with prudence at all times.

Yes, Father. Your grace is immeasurable.

There's no time to waste. We must quickly wrap up

this ordeal and establish a new revolutionary order.

After three days, I will declare a state of emergency and you will

ascend to my throne. Is that clear?

Yes, Your Majesty.

This is truly frustrating.

The troops are ready and the subjects are united.

Why does he so adamantly refuse?

The fact that His Majesty had called General Park and Prince

Geum-kang means peril is drawling near.

There is not time to hesitate.

Prince Shin-guhm does have a point.

Justifiable cause... That is what we need.

It is true. that is why the two elder statesmen

have gone to the palace.

To the palace?

Yes, they are trying to get the empress's permission.

That would justify our move to some degree.

Everyone knows that His Majesty is making a mistake.

What more reason do we need?

That's right. It is misconduct to bypass normal line of

succession and expel his innocent sons.

All of the high generals are in accord.

There is no other option. It's a revolution.

This can't wait. There is no time.

That's right. We're running out of time.

Let us be patient. The elder statesmen will find a way.

Revolution is unavoidable.

We will be killed for treason if we do not act first.

The question now is identifying our friend and foe.

What are we to do with the vice prime minister?

The vice prime minister...

The evil was orchestred by him and His Majesty.

And by no means was he on Prince Shin-guhm's side at

Yaesung River battle. He must be killed.

Kill him...?

What choice do we have?

We could provide His Majesty with refuge since he is already ill,

but there is no other option for him and Prince Geum-kang.

I agree. Once those two are gone, everything will be set.

How about General Park?

He reluctantly holds command of the military,

but it was not his will.

It would be wrong to kill him. Let us give it more thought.

My lord, why are you discarding your writings?

Why?

It's a terrible shame...

A man cannot die in peace if he leaves behind regrets.

What do you mean?

I just want some peace.

Here, this hanging scroll is for you.

Huh?

Take it.

Thank you...

But why are you organizing everything?

One might think that you were moving.

Moving?

Yes, changing residence from this world to the

next is moving as well.

Yes, I am preparing to move. It won't be long.

I estimate I will be moving in two or three days.

To where?

Where?

There is no address where I am going...

My lord...

Don't ask me anymore questions. I just want to lighten my load.

It's best to leave nothing behind.

I want to travel light.

My son Shin-guhm requires a justifiable cause, you say?

Yes, Your Highness.You are the highest personage second

to His Majesty. Old age has rendered His Majesty incompetent.

We appeal for your sanction.

You appeal for my sanction?

Your Highness, His Majesty is my brother and you are

my sister-in-law. This kingdom is in danger of ruin.

A revolution is necessary.

What do you need me to do?

Give us a letter stating that you support Prince Shin-ghum's

revolution.We are running out of time.

I am well aware of His Majesty's senility.

And I have known all along that you would rise up.

Yes, you are right. The emperor's folly is severe.

Revolution is only fitting.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Highness.

I will write you a letter at once.

If you would please, give us a handwritten letter stamped

with your royal seal.

What happens if you don't succeed?

Your Highness, Prince Shin- guhm and all of us subjects

will not escape death.

Thank you.

How could I refuse when you do this at the risk of your life?

Escort Lee,

Yes, Your Highness.

Bring me some paper, an ink stone and a writhing brush

along with my roayl seal.

Yes, Your Highness.

I will glady write a letter. It's for my son's survival and

the survival of the kingdom. Of course I approve.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Highness.

The scribe will take this down word for word.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I order Prince Shin-guhm to leave the imperial capital

in two days for a tour of the countryside.

Did you get that?

Yes, Your Majesty.

He will take three years for this tour and I forbit

him to return any sooner. Write it down.

Are you done?

Yes, Your Majesty.

General Park Young-kyu will apprehended all treasonous

retainers and banish them.

First, Prime Minister Neungwan will be removed from office and

banished to an island 250 from the capital.

Write it down!

Yes, Your Majesty.

High official Youngsoon and General Neungyae will also be

exiled and detained in a location 250 miles away.

Prince Yang-guhm and Yong-guhm will be removed from duty of

governor in Muju and Kangju, and they, too, will be forbidden

from returning to the capital for three years.

Did you get that?

Yes, Your Majesty.

General Shin Duk will be arrested and executed for

insubordination, and his comrades will be apprehended

for official inquiry. Write it down!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Seal the letter with the emperor's seal and send it

to the military agency.

They are to open it on the morning day after tomorrow,

then promptly announce my orders and carry them out.

Yes, Your Majesty.

- Then you're dismissed. - Yes, Your Majesty.

The imperial attendant will relay a summons for Shin-guhn

to visit me tomorrow.

Yes, Your Majesty.

This will wrap up everything promptly and thoroughly.

Geum-kang is the one.

I will open up a new world for Geum-kang, and have him

go up against Wang Guhn.

I will have him rebuild the Three Kingdoms under

the name of Bekjae.

Envoy,

Yes, Your Majesty.

Is this indeed a letter from the king of Shilla?

Yes, Your Majesty.

It says he wishes to surrender his state. Is this true?

Your Majesty, that letter was brought to us by commissioner

Kim Bong Hyu of Shilla. There would be no lies.

Your Majesty, Shilla's time is already done.

How could we call it a nation when we can't sustain a living

from day to day? I bring you my king's most sincere words.

Please accept our surrender.

Accept them, Your Majesty.

They have no means to govern their state.

Yes, Your Majesty. I believe it is an earnest request.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The time has come. Shilla has existed under our aid and

protection for many years. Do not turn away their last request.

Accept them, Your Majesty.

Accept them.

Accept them.

No. I am well aware of Shilla's hardship.

But surrender the state? No, that isn't right.

Shilla has endured a thousand years.

I urge your king patience and perseverance.

Shilla is at its last breath. Please accept my king's request.

No, that is would not be right.

This is a matter of a state's dissolution.

Relay my message to your king. I cannot accept.

Goodness gracious! Your Majesty, how could

you refuse when they offer their state on their own accord?

That's enough.

A man of repute cannot exploit his neighbor's weakness and take

what is not his.

Go to your king. And encourage him to revive his state.

Your grace is immeasurable. will deliver your words.

Your benevolence shines all over the world.

We are neighbors. Let us help each other and prosper together.

Ships are convenient indeed.

It would be a ten-day trip by land, but only two by sea.

Yes.

Master Kyungbo...

I am told he is a high priest of great virtue.

That's right.

He and His Majesty are fellow disciples of Great Master Dosun.

You can imagine his repute to have been named national

priest of Bekjae.

He is a national priest in name, but I've heard that he has never

set foot outside his temple.

So have I. We shall soon meet him.

I have a good feeling about this trip.

He said he was staying in Mt. Bekgae because there would be

work for him to do. Let us find out what that is.

The rumor has it there is fierce infighting in the royal house.

The king's health is deteriorating, and his

sons are fighting for the throne.

The two of the princes ended up being driven out to the

countryside, and the eldest son is about to be sent away as well.

Yes, the time has come after many changes...

Master's words are becoming a reality.

Master Dosun's predictions?

Yes.

Then what is to happen to Bekjae now?

A small leak will sink a great ship.

He that cannot rule his home cannot rule a kingdom.

Merciful Buddha...

Does this mean Bekjae will fall?

You mention the Secret Script of Dosun?

It took me decades to understand that book.

It is a book that explains the way of nature.

You may leave now.

Yes, Master.

The day is drawing near...

It appears this old hermit will finally have a job to

do after all... Merciful Buddha...

I've taken all necessary steps.

One day has passed and another day remains.

What I am about to do will shock the world.

The leading officials will be exiled and the warriors will

be executed. And the new regime will be born.

Goodness. The vice prime minister must've decided to

be stay home permanently. First he urged me to kill

my sons, then he urged me to gently appease the subjects.

He's never been so irresolute... I suppose it is old age.

Yes...I will speak to Shin-guhm tonight and wrap everything up

by tomorrow.

It is the empress's official decree, Your Highness.

She calls for you toascend to the throne and allow His Majesty

to rest, as ilness has rendered him unfit to administer the state.

Please read it, Your Highness.

Yes...

It's the justification you need. Formalities are now in place.

The throne cannot be left bare for a moment.

Swiftly allow your ailing father to rest and take over the affairs

of the state. It is the order of the Empress.

Heed her advice.

This decree was exacted by solicitation.

The public will not accept this.

What is this?

There is no time to consider the eyes of the public.

It is a secret note from the imperial attendant

summarizing the contents of His Majesty's edict.

He intends to banish us and execute General Shin and

his men for insubordination.

This edict is to be sent to the military agency and carried out

after he speaks to you today.

Your Highness, it is time. Declare a revolution.

His Majesty will soon be summoning you.

And by tomorrow morning, the world will be a different place.

You must make a decision now.

Your warriors will be beheaded, the officials will be ousted

and so will you!

And Prince Geum-kang's enthronement will take place.

What will it be? What will it be?

Did you say that Madam Kobe is preparing to move of the

remodeled villa?

Yes, Your Highness. She takes it as fact that Prince Geum-kang

would ascend to the throne and calls herself the Empress Dowager.

Ha! Her life is in danger and she calls herself the Empress Dowager?

I guess they don't know yet that such day will never come.

That's a shame...

But then how could that dim-witted child know what's going on?

Give us your answer, Your Highness.

Your soldiers wait for your command, and the Empress has

issued a decree.

We've also decided to send word to Muju and Kangju.

General Shin Duk should have all of the groundwork done by now.

We do not have time.

Your Highness, the imperial attendant has arrived.

His Majesty summons you to his chambers at once.

His Majesty is calling you. He is taking his last step.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Prime Minister and General Neungyae are trying to

persuade Prince Shin-guhm.

I heard that the imperial attendant has secretly

inform them about His Majesty's decree.

Yes. It was an order to kill or banish all of us.

Doesn't that mean we must act tonight?

Yes. We cannot conceal our plan luch longer either.

The troops are fully prepared.

I am in charge of the palace.

Give me your order, General. Will it be tonight or tomorrow?

Let us be patient. We have one more day left.

Our messengers should be nearing Muju and Kangju

It will be an easy operation if Princes Yang-guhm and Yong-

guhm's armies siege the city and our troops march into the palace.

Generals Padal, Sangui, and I will lead the troops, and

General Sangae will communicate with us from the palace.

Yes, General.

Prime Minister will acquire Prince Shin-guhm's consent

tonight no matter what it takes.

Now we must decide exactly who will be eliminated.

Yes. As we said, Vice Prime Minister is too close to His

Majesty, so he will have to be killed, and Prince Geum-kang

and his men cannot be allowed to live either.

His Majesty will be removed to a separate estate, and

General Park and his men will be imprisoned and dealt with

accordingly.

How about Madam Kobe?

Death is fitting, but we will keep her confined with

His Majesty to nurse him.

Good.

Prepare the troops to move on command since timing is critical.

We are cready. General Park's military agency is just an

empty shell. The field troops answer to me.

Everything is happening too fast.

His Majesty is taking a huge risk.

Must he go to this length to put Prince Geum-kang on the throne?

Execute the military officials and banish the elder statesmen?

Will it be possible?

They are united and strong. Will it be possible?

I am moving soon. A villa in the intimate part of the rear

garden is under renovation. The mother of the emperor

should have a home befitting of her position. Don't you agree?

Yes, Mother. The day is almost here.

Father has announced his will, and he is backing

me up all the way. When the morning comes, His Majesty's

decree will change the world.

Yes, it will indeed

What do you intend to do with your brothers once you ascend

to the throne?

That will comes after I become the emperor.

I should display mercy when the world comes into my possession.

Mercy? But they coveted your throne!

You must kill them. You must!

They will become roots of evil if you let them live.

Kill them immediately upon your ascension.

They will harm you if you don't. Do you understand?

They must be killed.

It's dark, Your Highness.

Hours have passed since the imperial attendant was here.

What will it be, Your Highness?

The night is deep.

Yes..The night is deep, and His Majesty awaits me.

And when the day breaks, many innocent lives will be lost.

Yes...I want to live...

Your Highness!

I am alive and I want to keep on living.

I will accept your request.

I will obey my mother's command.

Let us rise up. It's a revolution

Father...

Why must you make me turn against you?

Why, Father?