God of War (Soldier / Military Official / Moo shin / 무신)

Soldier

Make way! Clear the way! Make way!

Make way! Clear the way!

Make way!

Sire!

Sire!

Sire, Sire!

- Sire! - Your Majesty!

Sire!

Your Highness, Grand Marshal Kim Jun.

We heard His Majesty has passed away.

Lord Kim.

Welcome. We were just about to make the announcement.

Mourning is important, but the throne cannot remain empty for even a second.

We're here to escort His Highness.

The grandson?

Yes. With the Crown Prince absent, his son must assume temporary leadership.

Yes, of course, quite so.

To that end, His Majesty left a final bequest before he died.

A bequest?

Yes.

He decreed that the prince should assume command in the Crown Prince's absence.

The Crown Prince will be instated when he returns.

Ah, is that so?

He left Yi with this task. Lord Yi is on his way now.

Did he indeed? I had no idea.

It's his final bequest, a posthumous edict.

It's not me, it's His Majesty.

Your arrival couldn't be better timed.

Please protect the throne.

Your Highness, you must hurry.

You must go to the palace. Please come out.

Affairs of state can't wait.

Please come to the palace and assume the throne.

How can I take the throne with my father absent?

You are already handling state affairs, so I'll just leave it to you.

It is the throne of Koryo. It can't be left vacant.

You must attend to matters of state.

Our nation is in crisis.

His Majesty died while the Crown Prince is away.

But we cannot neglect our duty.

The people of the north are rebelling and turning to the Mongols.

The enemy is clearing land and repairing the western capital fortress.

They have established a command post and are controlling our people from there.

Our country is divided.

We can't afford to do nothing, especially with the rightful heir away.

Don't you agree?

Starting today the military will initiate certain reforms.

We will take the following emergency measures.

We will not return to Kaegyeong, no matter what.

Anyone discussing such a move will be tried for treason.

Also, we will recover all the land lost to the Mongols.

To that end, the Three Patrols will march to the north.

And return the people to their farms.

If war arises, they will deploy for battle.

We will draft the men we need. Any objections?

Reforms are good and all, but you're talking about preparing for another war!

Not war, just being prepared.

If we don't return to Kaegyeong, they'll invade again.

We can't win, even if we draft the whole nation.

The head of the military is the acting regent.

His word is law.

Lord Choe On, it's just as Lord Kim Yunhu said.

It's a problem of a willingness to fight.

We can stop them. We can win!

Reforms are fine, but the Crown Prince is seeking peace with the Mongols.

If we prepare for war, what will happen then?

Seeking peace?

Seeking to be Mongol lap dogs, you mean.

That's not peace. It's slavery.

A diplomatic solution is not surrender.

Fighting isn't the only way to survive, Lord Kim.

The Crown Prince is paying obeisance to the Mongol court.

He's doing that to prevent war.

We can't antagonize them.

His Majesty is gone, and his grandson sits on the throne.

We can't afford internal dissent.

Internal dissent is one thing.

Dividing public opinion is another.

The more we give in, the more the Mongols will take.

In the end we'll all be licking the barbarians' filthy feet.

Do any of you want that?

If you do, it's high treason, a crime that will cost you the lives of your clan.

Welcome, sir.

Sir, about Kim Jun.

Did he discuss it with you? These reforms, I mean.

Acting as regent, dictating policy to the court.

Kim Jun isn't wrong, but his methods are. Don't you think so?

Just drink. He meant to put the chancellors in their places.

I was surprised too. He's usually so calm and reserved.

But he's becoming more rash and violent.

Perhaps that was needed.

But we shouldn't antagonize our supporters at court.

It's even worse than in your reports?

Yes, Father. They're not our people anymore.

We should consider the people from the western capital to the border as Mongols.

They all bow to the Mongol troops.

They helped the Mongols in the last invasion.

They went so far as to guide them to Chungcheong Province. Our people did!

Those scum!

What are our own troops doing?

We trained them and sent them from Kangdo, and now what?

They're wearing Mongol uniforms now?

It's serious. We must find a way to help our people.

What do you mean?

Kim Jun already announced some reforms in the palace.

He's drafting soldiers and sending the Three Patrols to take back the land we lost.

That sounds good, but it's not so easy to do.

Perhaps not, but it has to be done.

The chancellors and the Crown Prince are weakening.

They'll make a joke of this country.

Still, our people are turning to the Mongols. That's the problem.

We have to find a way.

Or coming to Kanghwa and 30 years of war were all for nothing.

But, sir, His Majesty made a final bequest without informing you.

I don't understand that.

Exactly. I'm sure Lords Yu and Yi are going behind your back.

How else can you explain this unexpected posthumous edict?

I swear.

They clearly intended to deceive you.

Look how they all mouthed off during the meeting, especially Choe On.

Kill him.

He's right. Make an example out of him.

That should shut up the whiners.

Just you wait. If you let them be, they'll be whining about Kaegyeong again.

It's true. Who knows what they'll accuse you of to the Crown Prince.

Time to come down hard on them.

It takes twenty days to reach the mountains?

Yes, Your Highness.

It's huge. There's no end to their lands.

Where are we again?

Near the Liu-pan Mountains, Your Highness.

Are you the Koryo crown prince?

Yes.

We received word that you were coming.

You wish to see the Great Khan?

Yes.

The Great Khan passed away a few days ago.

What? Your emperor is dead?

Yes. But his brother Kublai is waiting to receive you.

Come with us.

Is that so? Thank you.

Let's go.

Yes, Your Highness.

Kublai's camp - Liu-pan Mountains

Crown Prince Chon of Koryo at your service.

You came a long way. You crossed the desert, eh?

Yes. But no distance is too far to pay respects to the Great Khan.

At your service.

Nicely said indeed.

Crown prince, eh?

My counselors tell me your father is getting on in years.

You'll be emperor someday?

Yes, Sire.

Ah, I'm not khan yet.

We haven't had a coronation since my brother died.

But I will rule all of the Mongol Empire.

Yes, Sire.

I've heard a lot about Koryo.

Just a speck of sand compared to the rest of our empire.

But you've fought us for 30 years without surrendering?

Remarkable, remarkable.

You honor us.

Well, the Tang Dynasty had the same problem with Koguryo back in the day.

You're descendants of Koguryo, are you not?

We are, Sire.

You are a proud people, I'll give you that.

Across our empire, no one has stood up to us like you.

But now the crown prince of Koryo comes all this way

to pay his obeisance to me.

A good sign.

Your coming is a good sign, indeed.

An omen.

Not at all. We only hope Your Majesty will be fair and generous to us.

Need you ask? When the future king himself comes to pay his respects?

Tell me your wish.

Withdraw your troops.

This war has ravaged our lands.

Heaven shudders at the sound of our people's cries.

Be gracious in victory, Sire.

Kublai. The fifth great khan and founder of the Yuan Dynasty.

At the time he was in a succession war with his younger brother, Ariq Boke.

But the Crown Prince bowed to him as the Mongol emperor.

This pleased Kublai. He saw it as a sign.

The recalcitrant Koryo's crown prince sought him out as emperor.

Thus the future emperor of Koryo's goodwill policy dealt Kim Jun a fatal political blow.

Not to worry. We will withdraw. I'll hear all your requests.

You're the future ruler of Koryo. Not to worry, I'll look after you.

The Western Capital - Jalairtai's Fortress

Kublai received the Koryo crown prince and ordered us to withdraw?

Yes, sir. We have our orders.

But Koryo can't be trusted.

The crown prince may bow and scrape, but he doesn't rule Koryo.

Yes, sir. A full withdrawal is a mistake.

What can we do? He'll be our next Great Khan.

The crown prince is on his way. His ministers will come here to meet him.

We'll see just how obedient they really are. Send a messenger.

The Crown Prince is returning?

Yes, sir. He crossed the Yalu and is heading to the western capital.

Judging from his Mongol escort, the trip was successful.