Korea-Khitan War (고려거란전쟁)

(This drama is based on historical events,)

(but some details may be different from historical facts.)

(Production guidelines were strictly followed when filming with animals.)

- Get up. - Your Majesty.

Now.

What do you think you are doing now?

Without a ruling stating that it should be done,

you shall not kill anyone, even a nameless slave.

That is Goryeo's law.

What right do you have to take this man's life?

Tell me.

What is the reason you were going to behead him?

And why are you gathered here?

What brings Your Majesty here?

I came here for this man.

The pacification commissioners I had dispatched came back covered in blood,

so I wanted to consult him to devise a solution together.

It seemed like some of the influential regional lord families' doing,

so I came here seeking his advice...

on what to do with them.

But I happened to arrive...

at such an opportune moment when all those families were gathered here.

Was it your doing?

The commoners did it.

"The commoners?"

Why would they reject the commissioners when they have nothing to lose?

What could the commoners gain by driving them away?

This is a fight between me and you regional lords.

Stop manipulating the people who did nothing wrong.

Tell me directly.

What is it that you want?

We want peace.

Peace, you say?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Do not take any more rights away from us.

Stop encroaching on our territory.

Then,

we can be at peace again.

Do not take away from you?

What have you let me take away from you?

Have I seized your land...

or any of your servants?

You are trying to take our people away from us.

They are ours to govern,

but you tried to keep them right below your feet, Your Majesty.

They are Goryeo's people.

They do not belong to you, regional lords.

They belong to me, the Emperor.

That is what you think, Your Majesty.

Since even before the founding of Goryeo,

we have been governing them.

We gave them rice in bad harvest years...

and gave out wine when we had a great harvest.

We took care of them.

You lent them rice and made them...

pay you back tenfold. Is that what you did for them?

When they got on your nerves, you whipped them.

Is that how you took care of them?

We never did such a thing.

Then why did the people...

hurl stones at pacification commissioners?

They know that they will not be spared if they disobey you, regional lords.

That is why they dared to hurl stones at the Emperor's vassals,

for they fear you more than the Emperor who resides in a faraway palace.

I will state this simply.

Even if you keep driving them away,

I will dispatch them again and again.

It is not your job to take care of the people.

The people of Goryeo all belong to me, the Emperor.

No matter what happens, I will be sure...

to take care of my people with my own hands.

If you still wish to stop me,

you may behead me.

- Your Majesty. - Beheading me...

will be the only way to stop me.

You are a brave man.

Do you think we cannot do it?

You only brought along a dozen soldiers.

Did you think you would be able to scare us away?

If you are not scared, go ahead and behead me.

Stop trying to use innocent people to plot treason.

Go ahead and behead me now.

Do it. Now.

Now!

Step back, Academician Kang.

- Your Majesty. - You too, General Ji.

- Your Majesty... - Do it now!

It is the emperor's order!

Do it.

Behead me.

After that, rule Goryeo yourselves.

Become the emperor and honor the deity's wishes.

Lead the court as the king of this country.

Take care of all the people like your parents.

Repel the foreign enemies who cross the border.

If you can do that,

I will willingly...

offer my life.

Go ahead.

Do it at once!

Now then,

obey me.

Let us go, Academician Kang.

Thank you for being alive.

Your Majesty.

Do not leave my side again.

I need you.

Let us make haste.

Why did you all shake your heads?

We cannot...

thoughtlessly kill His Majesty.

He is right. Even if we do, we must have a countermeasure first.

A rash treason is only asking for trouble.

What is more, we have all been exposed. No?

Then...

what should we do from now on?

We should obey him for now.

While lowering ourselves, we are to wait for the right time.

The right time until the emperor becomes weak.

Does that mean His Majesty has gone to the regional lord's house?

Yes.

Why did you not stop His Majesty?

You know very well how agitated the regional lords are.

Even the pacification commissioners got kicked out covered in blood.

But to go to their house...

with only about ten mounted troops in this situation?

I did stop him, but he did not listen.

He rushed to bring back Academician Kang...

as soon as possible.

I have bad news, Sister.

His Majesty has gone to Geumju.

"Geumju?"

Was Geumju...

not the gathering place of the regional lords?

Yes, that is correct.

His Majesty went to that very Kang family's house.

And with only about ten mounted troops at that.

Good grief.

Sister. What are we to do?

There are hundreds of soldiers in Geumju.

There is surely a possibility His Majesty might fall into danger.

- Your Majesty. - Empress.

Are you all right?

It is a great relief.

You cannot imagine how worried I was.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Did you think I would wish for you to face danger...

simply because I am against your will?

Without you, Your Majesty,

the imperial court cannot exist.

Why did you only take a few mounted troops...

when visiting the regional lord's house?

What if something had happened?

I believed in your words, Empress.

Remember what you told me a while ago?

You said inside an emperor's title...

are hundreds of hidden soldiers.

Your Majesty...

Were you already aware that the regional lords were gathering...

at the Kang family's house?

- Yes. - Then,

were you also aware the pacification commissioners...

were going to be chased back?

Yes.

I assumed that would happen.

Your Majesty.

Even though we are rowing in different directions,

we are in the same boat.

Despite getting in each other's ways...

and going through a rough time,

when this period ends,

we will surely face and progress in the same direction.

Well...

I am not too sure about that.

I cannot understand why you cannot stay...

in the same direction.

- Your Majesty. - You may go now.

I am tired and wish to rest.

Understood. Please rest.

Is he really all right?

Did he not get hurt?

No. I heard His Majesty arrived without any trouble.

If you are worried, please pay him a visit.

There is no reason you cannot do it, my lady.

My lady?

You may leave.

Yes, my lady.

The place has become very dusty in the meantime.

I am sorry...

to make you worry again.

Do not apologize.

That will not change anything, will it?

Let us go our separate ways now.

I can no longer live in fear.

Not only were you on the verge of death in Gaegyeong, but also in Geumju.

I have had enough now.

Let us split up.

Give this house to me.

I cannot do that.

What was that?