Post by ajk on Jun 2, 2009 12:14:52 GMT -5
(Note: Several scenes in this episode are repeated from Episode 1. They're prefaced with an "R:" in the summary.)
--------------------------------------------
"Bastards! How dare you sneak in here!" Yelu Dilie orders the troops forward and the battle is on. The numbers are so one-sided that the Goryeans ought to be dead meat, but they're the superior fighters and are holding their own (and besides, it's only Episode 24, right?). The problem is, they can't get themselves free to light the oil they've scattered all over the Khitan stores. Finally, the Goryeans who led the Khitan horses out of camp return; from a distance they shoot some flaming arrows into the stores, which does the trick nicely, and then they ride in on horses and manage to get the rest of the group out of the camp. And then in the middle of it, there's Seo Hui and Gang Gamchan! And their regular army troops. Hadn't we just seen them surrounded by Khitan cavalry that afternoon? And now they're fighting the Khitans in the Khitans' own supply camp? What gives?
Outside the camp, the Khitan leaders are getting disturbing reports. Then Dilie arrives and owns up to the bad news. General Xiao overrides his subordinates' desire for revenge and orders the withdrawal horn sounded.
Back in the camp, the battle continues. Gamchan is certainly handling himself well; deserves special mention. Then the horn sounds and the Khitans retreat. The Goryean soldiers cheer--and then nearly fire upon Hunae's army, returning to the scene and briefly mistaken for a Khitan flank attack. But cooler heads prevail and there are smiles all around.
Xiao is assessing the situation: "We are not dealing with the same bungling fools from the first battle." (The advance guards, that is.) No, we won't attack again; we'll first try sending a messenger.
We learn what happened: The supply-camp attack by Hunae's group struck at the rear of the main Khitan force that had surrounded Seo Hui's army, and caused just enough disruption to allow the army to get free. Very lucky. (A pretty flimsy story, but that's it.) Just then, a Khitan messenger arrives.
Yelu Chu is the messenger; he brings a message for the Goryean king. We've come to take the old Goguryean territory, he says; we demand its immediate surrender to Khitan. And he has that in writing, too; a letter that says Khitan has "unified the world" and will wipe Goryeo out if they don't surrender. The letter is to be delivered to Sungjong. Seo carefully inspects the letter...and then calmly lights it on fire! "Let your king demonstrate due respect if he wants to communicate with our king. This is Goryean territory that Khitans have no claim over." Seo is cool as a cucumber but means business: "Leave now or we will paint our mountains and rivers red with your blood!" Seething with anger, the messenger leaves. Seo tells Gamchan that the letter would have only agitated the court if it found its way there, which is why he burned it.
A worried King Sungjong can't sleep. He wonders, What will happen to my people when the war is over? How long will it take for them to rebuild their lives? He wishes for a quick truce.
We briefly see Prince Gyeongjuwon; he's getting some help from a local couple with his baby. It sounds like the woman is nursing the baby. The baby is doing well and the prince is happy.
Myeongbok Palace: Those left behind are talking about the advance guards’ defeat at Bongsangun. Yi Jujeong is overreacting, as usual, and getting all panicky, to the point where Escort Yun has to ask him "Are you sure you're a man?" (My thoughts exactly; the guy is a real drama queen. A very annoying character.) It's Princess Sun who calms them all down; It was just one defeat, she says, and we've heard nothing else, and no news is good news. She shows a lot of poise and maturity for a girl her age.
Somewhere in Jurchen territory: Sa Gamun tells his tribal chief that Chiyang is in the line of fire, but is safe for now. They're both very concerned about his whereabouts, speaking of him like he's irreplaceably valuable.
Yi Mongjeon has arrived at Seo Hui's army camp. He's a minister sent by the king, come to seek a truce with the Khitans. And to do it as quickly as possible.
Xiao is told of the envoy's imminent arrival. Looks like we've scared them after all, he realizes with satisfaction.
Heading north, Mongjeon gets a look from a distance at quite a spectacle. The Khitans are waving flags and banging drums, and we see in their camp that they're stirring up the ground to make dust clouds rise (which is a sure sign of a ruse). It's a big posturing show for the envoy. Mongjeon arrives and enters the middle of all this, looking completely intimidated (you just know this isn't going to go well). Xiao receives him, and Mongjeon awkwardly asks what the reason is for the army's presence. Xiao snidely answers, "My emperor said Goryeo is falling apart due to the king's failure to attend to the people...This is his divine punishment. If he wants peace, he and all of his men must come to me and surrender." That's not why I'm here, Mongjeon says incredulously; I'm here for peace. Then don't waste my time, Xiao snaps back; we're 800,000 strong and if you don't surrender you'll all die "and Goryeo will disappear from the face of the earth." He waits a bit, for that to sink into the visibly devastated Mongjeon, and then casually adds, But there happens to be another way out for you. Mongjeon is all ears. (Great scene. I hope we see plenty more of Xiao. Gotta love a general who can mess with people and talk trash like he does.)
Mongjeon is back at Seo Hui's army camp, almost shaking with fear and in a hurry to get back to the capital and warn the king. But 800,000 troops? Seo doesn't buy that for a minute: "We've been in battles with them. 800,000 is ridiculous." At least wait until tomorrow to leave, Seo says; my scouts will return with their reports. No, Mongjeon says; not a moment to lose; I'm leaving right now.
Hunae and her people also agree that the 800,000 figure is ridiculous. If there were that many of them they'd be bumping into each other over the whole northern territory. Chiyang estimates no more than 100,000, almost certainly less. But Hunae knows that the reality won't matter; the king despises war and will assuredly be scared by the envoy's report. I have to go to Seogyeong and see the king myself, she says, and tell him the truth. (She should know by know that this won't do any good.)
Jo Sun has come to Queen Munhwa to deliver Wonsoong's message to prepare to evacuate. "That's absurd," the queen says. "I can't do that. I will not flee to save my own life when my king is at the front. Abandon my people and run away to Song? I'd rather die." (Once again she steps up and shows unusual strength of heart and good character.) Escort Jo and Jo Du try to convince her otherwise, but no deal. "You can run if you are so frightened. But I would sooner take my own life than run."
We see a sad-looking prince Gaeryeong, worried about his mother.
Hunae's group sneaks out of camp without telling Seo Hui and heads for Seogyeong. Later, Seo realizes they've left. She's the last person the king will listen to, he says; this is just going to make things worse. Just then the scouts return. The scoop: The front of the Khitan camp is bustling and full of energy, but the rear is empty. So yes, it's all a bluff. The king needs to know about this, Seo realizes. He'll go himself to tell the king; that's the only way to convince him. He leaves Gamchan in charge temporarily while he's away. Don't worry, he tells his staff, nothing will happen while I'm gone; Xiao won't attack in haste, not after showing a bluff like that. (Why do we think otherwise?)
The envoy returns and of course scares the king with his exaggerations and whining. "It was truly a massive army!" He tells the king of the demand for the old Gogyryeo territory. The king looks like he's about to vomit. What do I do?, he asks Choe Ryang and Park Yangyu. Choe says that if the army is really so large, we might have to comply and surrender a portion of the territory. He suggests ceding Seogyeong and establishing a new border at Hwangju. Park agrees; it would be regrettable but it might be the only option.
Narration explains that a vice leader like Xiao wouldn't have led more than 60,000 or so troops. Clearly Khitan was trying to intimidate Goryeo with a lie.
R: State meeting: Terrible arguing and blame-trading among the ministers in the wake of the bad news about the first defeat. Sungjong shushes them and announces his decision: give up the Goguryeo land. He orders all surplus grains in the territory given away or destroyed, and all of the fields and cities in the territory destroyed lest they become productive Khitan assets for a further advance southward.
R: The order is carried out; we see civilians evacuating the territory.
R: By the Daedong River: A military unit is dumping surplus hay into the river. Hunae's group, on horseback, comes upon the scene. Hunae learns of the king's order and is furious.
R: Having reached the northern capital, Hunae barges in on the king unannounced and goes off on him, accusing him of cowardice. She's so obnoxious and disrespectful, even calling him a "Khitan sycophant," that he has her hauled off and thrown in jail. As she's taken away she manages to fall to her knees and beg him to rescind his order, although she's shrieking so wildly, it can hardly be called begging. She does make one good last point, urging the king to remember Taejo's legacy and his intentions towards the northern territory.
As guards are hauling Hunae to jail, Seo Hui encounters her in a hallway. Please, she begs as she's dragged away, "you must stop him from surrendering our land!"
R: Somewhere near the palace: Hunae's group learns of her imprisonment. Gang and Kim Chiyang argue heatedly because Gang wants to go into the capital and try to free her, even if it means a treasonous fight against the king's army. Swords are drawn; then Hyangbi intervenes and calms Gang down, informing him that Seo Hui has gone to speak to the king on the queen's behalf.
Seo Hui is announced and enters the throne room. Sungjong is relieved to see him unhurt, but Seo gets right to business: "Did you order the grains disposed and the land turned over?" Not waiting for an answer, he goes on: "Their claim of having 800,000 troops is a ridiculous exaggeration. My men have them checked right now. How could my army of 20,000 be strong enough to hold them back?" And my scouts have confirmed their deception. The king finally explains, "I would rather have them take away my land than see my people suffer." But they won't be satisfied with your offer of some of the territory, Seo says; they'll want all of it. And then what after that? Will you give them anything they ask for? "If you take one step back, you'll have to run a thousand miles away." "Then...what do I do?" Seo kneels, almost overcome with emotion. "Give me a chance to fight. We cannot give up our land this easily!"
--------------------------------------------
"Bastards! How dare you sneak in here!" Yelu Dilie orders the troops forward and the battle is on. The numbers are so one-sided that the Goryeans ought to be dead meat, but they're the superior fighters and are holding their own (and besides, it's only Episode 24, right?). The problem is, they can't get themselves free to light the oil they've scattered all over the Khitan stores. Finally, the Goryeans who led the Khitan horses out of camp return; from a distance they shoot some flaming arrows into the stores, which does the trick nicely, and then they ride in on horses and manage to get the rest of the group out of the camp. And then in the middle of it, there's Seo Hui and Gang Gamchan! And their regular army troops. Hadn't we just seen them surrounded by Khitan cavalry that afternoon? And now they're fighting the Khitans in the Khitans' own supply camp? What gives?
Outside the camp, the Khitan leaders are getting disturbing reports. Then Dilie arrives and owns up to the bad news. General Xiao overrides his subordinates' desire for revenge and orders the withdrawal horn sounded.
Back in the camp, the battle continues. Gamchan is certainly handling himself well; deserves special mention. Then the horn sounds and the Khitans retreat. The Goryean soldiers cheer--and then nearly fire upon Hunae's army, returning to the scene and briefly mistaken for a Khitan flank attack. But cooler heads prevail and there are smiles all around.
Xiao is assessing the situation: "We are not dealing with the same bungling fools from the first battle." (The advance guards, that is.) No, we won't attack again; we'll first try sending a messenger.
We learn what happened: The supply-camp attack by Hunae's group struck at the rear of the main Khitan force that had surrounded Seo Hui's army, and caused just enough disruption to allow the army to get free. Very lucky. (A pretty flimsy story, but that's it.) Just then, a Khitan messenger arrives.
Yelu Chu is the messenger; he brings a message for the Goryean king. We've come to take the old Goguryean territory, he says; we demand its immediate surrender to Khitan. And he has that in writing, too; a letter that says Khitan has "unified the world" and will wipe Goryeo out if they don't surrender. The letter is to be delivered to Sungjong. Seo carefully inspects the letter...and then calmly lights it on fire! "Let your king demonstrate due respect if he wants to communicate with our king. This is Goryean territory that Khitans have no claim over." Seo is cool as a cucumber but means business: "Leave now or we will paint our mountains and rivers red with your blood!" Seething with anger, the messenger leaves. Seo tells Gamchan that the letter would have only agitated the court if it found its way there, which is why he burned it.
A worried King Sungjong can't sleep. He wonders, What will happen to my people when the war is over? How long will it take for them to rebuild their lives? He wishes for a quick truce.
We briefly see Prince Gyeongjuwon; he's getting some help from a local couple with his baby. It sounds like the woman is nursing the baby. The baby is doing well and the prince is happy.
Myeongbok Palace: Those left behind are talking about the advance guards’ defeat at Bongsangun. Yi Jujeong is overreacting, as usual, and getting all panicky, to the point where Escort Yun has to ask him "Are you sure you're a man?" (My thoughts exactly; the guy is a real drama queen. A very annoying character.) It's Princess Sun who calms them all down; It was just one defeat, she says, and we've heard nothing else, and no news is good news. She shows a lot of poise and maturity for a girl her age.
Somewhere in Jurchen territory: Sa Gamun tells his tribal chief that Chiyang is in the line of fire, but is safe for now. They're both very concerned about his whereabouts, speaking of him like he's irreplaceably valuable.
Yi Mongjeon has arrived at Seo Hui's army camp. He's a minister sent by the king, come to seek a truce with the Khitans. And to do it as quickly as possible.
Xiao is told of the envoy's imminent arrival. Looks like we've scared them after all, he realizes with satisfaction.
Heading north, Mongjeon gets a look from a distance at quite a spectacle. The Khitans are waving flags and banging drums, and we see in their camp that they're stirring up the ground to make dust clouds rise (which is a sure sign of a ruse). It's a big posturing show for the envoy. Mongjeon arrives and enters the middle of all this, looking completely intimidated (you just know this isn't going to go well). Xiao receives him, and Mongjeon awkwardly asks what the reason is for the army's presence. Xiao snidely answers, "My emperor said Goryeo is falling apart due to the king's failure to attend to the people...This is his divine punishment. If he wants peace, he and all of his men must come to me and surrender." That's not why I'm here, Mongjeon says incredulously; I'm here for peace. Then don't waste my time, Xiao snaps back; we're 800,000 strong and if you don't surrender you'll all die "and Goryeo will disappear from the face of the earth." He waits a bit, for that to sink into the visibly devastated Mongjeon, and then casually adds, But there happens to be another way out for you. Mongjeon is all ears. (Great scene. I hope we see plenty more of Xiao. Gotta love a general who can mess with people and talk trash like he does.)
Mongjeon is back at Seo Hui's army camp, almost shaking with fear and in a hurry to get back to the capital and warn the king. But 800,000 troops? Seo doesn't buy that for a minute: "We've been in battles with them. 800,000 is ridiculous." At least wait until tomorrow to leave, Seo says; my scouts will return with their reports. No, Mongjeon says; not a moment to lose; I'm leaving right now.
Hunae and her people also agree that the 800,000 figure is ridiculous. If there were that many of them they'd be bumping into each other over the whole northern territory. Chiyang estimates no more than 100,000, almost certainly less. But Hunae knows that the reality won't matter; the king despises war and will assuredly be scared by the envoy's report. I have to go to Seogyeong and see the king myself, she says, and tell him the truth. (She should know by know that this won't do any good.)
Jo Sun has come to Queen Munhwa to deliver Wonsoong's message to prepare to evacuate. "That's absurd," the queen says. "I can't do that. I will not flee to save my own life when my king is at the front. Abandon my people and run away to Song? I'd rather die." (Once again she steps up and shows unusual strength of heart and good character.) Escort Jo and Jo Du try to convince her otherwise, but no deal. "You can run if you are so frightened. But I would sooner take my own life than run."
We see a sad-looking prince Gaeryeong, worried about his mother.
Hunae's group sneaks out of camp without telling Seo Hui and heads for Seogyeong. Later, Seo realizes they've left. She's the last person the king will listen to, he says; this is just going to make things worse. Just then the scouts return. The scoop: The front of the Khitan camp is bustling and full of energy, but the rear is empty. So yes, it's all a bluff. The king needs to know about this, Seo realizes. He'll go himself to tell the king; that's the only way to convince him. He leaves Gamchan in charge temporarily while he's away. Don't worry, he tells his staff, nothing will happen while I'm gone; Xiao won't attack in haste, not after showing a bluff like that. (Why do we think otherwise?)
The envoy returns and of course scares the king with his exaggerations and whining. "It was truly a massive army!" He tells the king of the demand for the old Gogyryeo territory. The king looks like he's about to vomit. What do I do?, he asks Choe Ryang and Park Yangyu. Choe says that if the army is really so large, we might have to comply and surrender a portion of the territory. He suggests ceding Seogyeong and establishing a new border at Hwangju. Park agrees; it would be regrettable but it might be the only option.
Narration explains that a vice leader like Xiao wouldn't have led more than 60,000 or so troops. Clearly Khitan was trying to intimidate Goryeo with a lie.
R: State meeting: Terrible arguing and blame-trading among the ministers in the wake of the bad news about the first defeat. Sungjong shushes them and announces his decision: give up the Goguryeo land. He orders all surplus grains in the territory given away or destroyed, and all of the fields and cities in the territory destroyed lest they become productive Khitan assets for a further advance southward.
R: The order is carried out; we see civilians evacuating the territory.
R: By the Daedong River: A military unit is dumping surplus hay into the river. Hunae's group, on horseback, comes upon the scene. Hunae learns of the king's order and is furious.
R: Having reached the northern capital, Hunae barges in on the king unannounced and goes off on him, accusing him of cowardice. She's so obnoxious and disrespectful, even calling him a "Khitan sycophant," that he has her hauled off and thrown in jail. As she's taken away she manages to fall to her knees and beg him to rescind his order, although she's shrieking so wildly, it can hardly be called begging. She does make one good last point, urging the king to remember Taejo's legacy and his intentions towards the northern territory.
As guards are hauling Hunae to jail, Seo Hui encounters her in a hallway. Please, she begs as she's dragged away, "you must stop him from surrendering our land!"
R: Somewhere near the palace: Hunae's group learns of her imprisonment. Gang and Kim Chiyang argue heatedly because Gang wants to go into the capital and try to free her, even if it means a treasonous fight against the king's army. Swords are drawn; then Hyangbi intervenes and calms Gang down, informing him that Seo Hui has gone to speak to the king on the queen's behalf.
Seo Hui is announced and enters the throne room. Sungjong is relieved to see him unhurt, but Seo gets right to business: "Did you order the grains disposed and the land turned over?" Not waiting for an answer, he goes on: "Their claim of having 800,000 troops is a ridiculous exaggeration. My men have them checked right now. How could my army of 20,000 be strong enough to hold them back?" And my scouts have confirmed their deception. The king finally explains, "I would rather have them take away my land than see my people suffer." But they won't be satisfied with your offer of some of the territory, Seo says; they'll want all of it. And then what after that? Will you give them anything they ask for? "If you take one step back, you'll have to run a thousand miles away." "Then...what do I do?" Seo kneels, almost overcome with emotion. "Give me a chance to fight. We cannot give up our land this easily!"