Post by ajk on May 27, 2009 12:45:53 GMT -5
(Note: This episode ran suspiciously short time-wise; barely an hour, with commercials. I didn't catch any glaring holes in the storyline, but past episode lengths suggest that there could be scenes missing here.)
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The troops led by Seo Hui and Gang Gamchan are digging in. They receive a report that the Khitans are moving in their direction.
Yun Seoan, who commands several thousand elite advance guards, is assigned by Seo Hui the job of holding back the enemy until the Goryean position is secure. Seoan is supremely confident and vows to destroy the Khitans completely. But Seo cautions him that their job is to delay them, not launch an all-out frontal attack. And you'd better not defy this order, he warns. Hmmm....
Bongsangun, an area of broad plain: A Khitan scout reports to Xiao Sunning that several thousand Goryean soldiers are on their way. Xiao decides that the Khitans will stay right there where they are now, on the plain, and fight the Goryeans where they can't run and hide. He orders his subordinates to lure the Goryeans here.
The Goryean advance guards come north and see Khitan advance guards for the first time. Yun Seoan orders his troops to attack the Khitan guard, and pursue it back to the main camp, and wipe out the main camp. "Commander Seo is a civil minister," he tells a dumbfounded subordinate. "What does he know about fighting a war?" So they all follow his order and go charging at the Khitan unit, which flees back to the main camp, and in no time the Goryeans are sitting ducks. And then we once again see the battle scene from Episode 1, the one with the bears. It ends with the Goryeans getting squashed and Yun taken prisoner. (I didn't mention it the first time, but credit some typically great stunt work--guys taking falls off horses and taking spears to the chest.)
A shaken survivor of the rout makes it back to Seo Hui and delivers the bad news. Gamchan isn't surprised by the bears; apparently the Khitans are known for using animals. We need to act now, Gamchan says; they'll be on top of us by tomorrow. Seo realizes that the other Goryean units cannot help them; they have to dig in and fight.
Hunae's group reaches Bongsangun, now deserted except for the dead Goryeans lying there. Gang Jo is furious and accuses Chiyang of giving bad advice and leading their group to a location where they'd be of no help. Hunae doesn't want to hear this. They decide to head south and try to catch up to the enemy.
Nighttime, and the group has been riding all day without a break, not even for food. Soldiers and horses are exhausted and need rest. Hunae wants to press on but realizes that overexertion would be dangerous, and okays a rest period. Later, Hunae gives her food ration to one of her soldiers, in what's supposed to be a touching gesture to get us to like her. (But I can't help but remember the scene in GKS where King Taejong counsels his son that the king must put his feelings aside and take proper care of himself, like it or not. A lot of wisdom in that scene.)
Later that night: Sa Illa and Chiyang talk in secret. She wants them to leave what she sees as a lost cause. Hunae is taking foolish risks, she thinks. "Give up on her and get out of this war, master. This war has nothing to do with us." In fact, Goryeo's defeat "could provide you with the perfect backdrop to launch a new state." No, Chiyang says, too many people will die. And we shouldn't abandon our plan so prematurely. Not only that, he says Hunae's life is critical to their plan and they must protect her. (So apparently the big plan involves starting a new state. Now we know that much, at least. But states are already bumping into each other all over the place; where's he going to put another one?)
Princess Sun has been escorted to the capital by Sulhwa. Queen Munhwa receives her warmly. Sun tells the queen she visited her mom's grave and now has come to see her friend and cousin Prince Gaeryeong. (Wonder why she didn't tell her the truth?) Then Escort Jo smarmily asks her, You're not delivering letters to Gaeryeong, are you? The queen shushes her. She really is a snotty one.
Sun goes to see Gaeryeong. And guess what, she did bring a letter from Hunae after all. Read it and destroy it immediately, the prince is told. Hunae's letter tells him she's going north and if anything happens to her, for him to be strong. He's understandably worried about his mother. Then he learns that he could become a hostage if Goryeo loses, and now he feels guilt: "She's doing this because of me?" He's almost in tears.
A sleepless Hunae laments her fate as Gang Jo listens. I wish I were just an ordinary woman, etc. etc. Nearby, Chiyang wonders to himself if he'll survive this to build a new kingdom.
Sasu: We see Prince Gyeongjuwon staring out to sea, looking melancholy. Then he gets the news: his son is here! He runs home and meets his boy Sun, a/k/a Prince Daeryang, for the first time. It moves him to tears; how could it not. Gyeongjuwon asks the soldiers who brought the baby to "convey my deepest gratitude to the king."
State meeting: News of Seoan's defeat has arrived. The Shillan ministers are in a panic, and are practically begging the king to surrender after just one defeat. It's almost embarrassing; what a bunch of wimps. Park Yangyu advises the king that an early surrender will crush morale. Han Ungong and Han Ingeong suggest finding something less direct than a formal surrender. More whining from the Shillans; now it's Wonsoong in a tizzy. Choe Ryang advises the king to send an envoy to the Khitans, to find out what they want. If nothing else, maybe it will buy time for the army.
Later, Wonsoong complains to his two subordinates about the unwillingness to surrender. The military defeat isn't public knowledge yet, so he instructs Jo Sun to convert all of their merchandise into gold, and to cut their prices a bit to help move the merchandise. (Insider trading?) And tell my daughter the queen, he says, to be ready to flee.
We see Sa Gamun and his tribal chief. They're concerned that their tribe may become trapped in the war, like it or not. And they're concerned for Chiyang's safety too.
Hunae's group is headed south. But a Khitan scout is watching them.
Xiao Sunning's subordinates report that the Goryean defense line isn't ready yet. Now is the time to strike, they say. Xiao agrees: "We will be drinking their blood very soon." (What a sweetie.) They head out.
Seo Hui and his subordinates are planning strategy. Then we hear the battle horn. The Khitans have been spotted. Seo and Gamchan urge calm and position their troops for combat. They don't look to be in a very good location defense-wise, to put it mildly; they're on open ground and exposed on all sides. But that's beside the point now, because the Khitans arrive and face them head on. Then with a calm wave from Xiao, their archers on horseback charge forward--and to our surprise, suddenly break off. Pretty soon the whole group is riding merry-go-round style in a circle around the Goryean position. It's a startling tactic, but it seems to be effective. It's depriving the Goryean archers of an easy target, and while it's a tough shot for the Khitans, too, at least they're always shooting inwards. And gradually it seems to be working, slowly thinning the ranks of the Goryean archers. After a while of this, a frontal attack begins, with other cavalry brandishing spears. Surveying from a distance, Xiao Sunning is very pleased: "This is a piece of cake!"
From a high ground overlooking the battle, Hunae's group can see this all unfolding. (Now wait just a darned minute: Why didn't Seo's troops set up on the high ground? This is very, very silly. Two words: natural selection!) What can their small group possibly do to help? Chiyang suggests going after their supplies; destroying them will cause an uproar, no doubt.
Nighttime: Xiao is told that he was followed by Goryeans back to his camp. How many of them? About sixty, he's told. The Khitans laugh like crazy at that: "They must have a death wish!" But then they realize that this might be an attempt on their supply stores. Yelu Wuji informs Xiao that he's already doubled the guard on the supplies, and doesn't seem worried about it, but Yelu Dilie says this could be a serious and isn't to be taken lightly. Xiao agrees.
Still nighttime, outside the supply camp: The Goryeans are in a field, crouching in the high grasses, wondering what to do. They still have some petroleum left; that would burn the food stocks real nice, but there are enough guards present to be able to put the fires out before significant damage is done. How to get them away from the scene? Hmmm, there's a stable full of cavalry horses in the camp....
Several of the Goryeans sneak into the supply camp, quietly ambush and kill the guards who are by the stable, rile up the horses and then chase them all out of the camp. And it works; the rest of the guards go chasing after the horses. Then the rest of the Goryeans run into the camp and quickly scatter the petroleum liquid around. But just as they prepare to light it, Khitan reinforcements show up. Lots of them. Suddenly the Goryeans are in big, big trouble.
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The troops led by Seo Hui and Gang Gamchan are digging in. They receive a report that the Khitans are moving in their direction.
Yun Seoan, who commands several thousand elite advance guards, is assigned by Seo Hui the job of holding back the enemy until the Goryean position is secure. Seoan is supremely confident and vows to destroy the Khitans completely. But Seo cautions him that their job is to delay them, not launch an all-out frontal attack. And you'd better not defy this order, he warns. Hmmm....
Bongsangun, an area of broad plain: A Khitan scout reports to Xiao Sunning that several thousand Goryean soldiers are on their way. Xiao decides that the Khitans will stay right there where they are now, on the plain, and fight the Goryeans where they can't run and hide. He orders his subordinates to lure the Goryeans here.
The Goryean advance guards come north and see Khitan advance guards for the first time. Yun Seoan orders his troops to attack the Khitan guard, and pursue it back to the main camp, and wipe out the main camp. "Commander Seo is a civil minister," he tells a dumbfounded subordinate. "What does he know about fighting a war?" So they all follow his order and go charging at the Khitan unit, which flees back to the main camp, and in no time the Goryeans are sitting ducks. And then we once again see the battle scene from Episode 1, the one with the bears. It ends with the Goryeans getting squashed and Yun taken prisoner. (I didn't mention it the first time, but credit some typically great stunt work--guys taking falls off horses and taking spears to the chest.)
A shaken survivor of the rout makes it back to Seo Hui and delivers the bad news. Gamchan isn't surprised by the bears; apparently the Khitans are known for using animals. We need to act now, Gamchan says; they'll be on top of us by tomorrow. Seo realizes that the other Goryean units cannot help them; they have to dig in and fight.
Hunae's group reaches Bongsangun, now deserted except for the dead Goryeans lying there. Gang Jo is furious and accuses Chiyang of giving bad advice and leading their group to a location where they'd be of no help. Hunae doesn't want to hear this. They decide to head south and try to catch up to the enemy.
Nighttime, and the group has been riding all day without a break, not even for food. Soldiers and horses are exhausted and need rest. Hunae wants to press on but realizes that overexertion would be dangerous, and okays a rest period. Later, Hunae gives her food ration to one of her soldiers, in what's supposed to be a touching gesture to get us to like her. (But I can't help but remember the scene in GKS where King Taejong counsels his son that the king must put his feelings aside and take proper care of himself, like it or not. A lot of wisdom in that scene.)
Later that night: Sa Illa and Chiyang talk in secret. She wants them to leave what she sees as a lost cause. Hunae is taking foolish risks, she thinks. "Give up on her and get out of this war, master. This war has nothing to do with us." In fact, Goryeo's defeat "could provide you with the perfect backdrop to launch a new state." No, Chiyang says, too many people will die. And we shouldn't abandon our plan so prematurely. Not only that, he says Hunae's life is critical to their plan and they must protect her. (So apparently the big plan involves starting a new state. Now we know that much, at least. But states are already bumping into each other all over the place; where's he going to put another one?)
Princess Sun has been escorted to the capital by Sulhwa. Queen Munhwa receives her warmly. Sun tells the queen she visited her mom's grave and now has come to see her friend and cousin Prince Gaeryeong. (Wonder why she didn't tell her the truth?) Then Escort Jo smarmily asks her, You're not delivering letters to Gaeryeong, are you? The queen shushes her. She really is a snotty one.
Sun goes to see Gaeryeong. And guess what, she did bring a letter from Hunae after all. Read it and destroy it immediately, the prince is told. Hunae's letter tells him she's going north and if anything happens to her, for him to be strong. He's understandably worried about his mother. Then he learns that he could become a hostage if Goryeo loses, and now he feels guilt: "She's doing this because of me?" He's almost in tears.
A sleepless Hunae laments her fate as Gang Jo listens. I wish I were just an ordinary woman, etc. etc. Nearby, Chiyang wonders to himself if he'll survive this to build a new kingdom.
Sasu: We see Prince Gyeongjuwon staring out to sea, looking melancholy. Then he gets the news: his son is here! He runs home and meets his boy Sun, a/k/a Prince Daeryang, for the first time. It moves him to tears; how could it not. Gyeongjuwon asks the soldiers who brought the baby to "convey my deepest gratitude to the king."
State meeting: News of Seoan's defeat has arrived. The Shillan ministers are in a panic, and are practically begging the king to surrender after just one defeat. It's almost embarrassing; what a bunch of wimps. Park Yangyu advises the king that an early surrender will crush morale. Han Ungong and Han Ingeong suggest finding something less direct than a formal surrender. More whining from the Shillans; now it's Wonsoong in a tizzy. Choe Ryang advises the king to send an envoy to the Khitans, to find out what they want. If nothing else, maybe it will buy time for the army.
Later, Wonsoong complains to his two subordinates about the unwillingness to surrender. The military defeat isn't public knowledge yet, so he instructs Jo Sun to convert all of their merchandise into gold, and to cut their prices a bit to help move the merchandise. (Insider trading?) And tell my daughter the queen, he says, to be ready to flee.
We see Sa Gamun and his tribal chief. They're concerned that their tribe may become trapped in the war, like it or not. And they're concerned for Chiyang's safety too.
Hunae's group is headed south. But a Khitan scout is watching them.
Xiao Sunning's subordinates report that the Goryean defense line isn't ready yet. Now is the time to strike, they say. Xiao agrees: "We will be drinking their blood very soon." (What a sweetie.) They head out.
Seo Hui and his subordinates are planning strategy. Then we hear the battle horn. The Khitans have been spotted. Seo and Gamchan urge calm and position their troops for combat. They don't look to be in a very good location defense-wise, to put it mildly; they're on open ground and exposed on all sides. But that's beside the point now, because the Khitans arrive and face them head on. Then with a calm wave from Xiao, their archers on horseback charge forward--and to our surprise, suddenly break off. Pretty soon the whole group is riding merry-go-round style in a circle around the Goryean position. It's a startling tactic, but it seems to be effective. It's depriving the Goryean archers of an easy target, and while it's a tough shot for the Khitans, too, at least they're always shooting inwards. And gradually it seems to be working, slowly thinning the ranks of the Goryean archers. After a while of this, a frontal attack begins, with other cavalry brandishing spears. Surveying from a distance, Xiao Sunning is very pleased: "This is a piece of cake!"
From a high ground overlooking the battle, Hunae's group can see this all unfolding. (Now wait just a darned minute: Why didn't Seo's troops set up on the high ground? This is very, very silly. Two words: natural selection!) What can their small group possibly do to help? Chiyang suggests going after their supplies; destroying them will cause an uproar, no doubt.
Nighttime: Xiao is told that he was followed by Goryeans back to his camp. How many of them? About sixty, he's told. The Khitans laugh like crazy at that: "They must have a death wish!" But then they realize that this might be an attempt on their supply stores. Yelu Wuji informs Xiao that he's already doubled the guard on the supplies, and doesn't seem worried about it, but Yelu Dilie says this could be a serious and isn't to be taken lightly. Xiao agrees.
Still nighttime, outside the supply camp: The Goryeans are in a field, crouching in the high grasses, wondering what to do. They still have some petroleum left; that would burn the food stocks real nice, but there are enough guards present to be able to put the fires out before significant damage is done. How to get them away from the scene? Hmmm, there's a stable full of cavalry horses in the camp....
Several of the Goryeans sneak into the supply camp, quietly ambush and kill the guards who are by the stable, rile up the horses and then chase them all out of the camp. And it works; the rest of the guards go chasing after the horses. Then the rest of the Goryeans run into the camp and quickly scatter the petroleum liquid around. But just as they prepare to light it, Khitan reinforcements show up. Lots of them. Suddenly the Goryeans are in big, big trouble.