Post by ajk on Feb 7, 2014 23:33:30 GMT -5
"Do we really need to go that far? I can just have them captured." King Gongmin has just been blindsided by his wife's plan to use her father's memorial service as the opportunity to kill Gi Cheol. But both Noguk and Pyeonjo are certain that simply trying to go out and get him would never work, at least not without a huge, bloody battle breaking out--one that could turn into civil war. No, he's going to have to do it their way, and simultaneously move against all of Gi's collaborators. Then Pyeonjo hands him a list that further emphasizes the need for action. It's a list of all of the capital and provincial officials, with dots next to the names of those who "have some sort of connection with the Yuan or the collaborators." Yikes, from what we can see there are quite a few dots. "These people," Pyeonjo believes, "are studying Gi Cheol and Your Majesty's moves." Testing the waters, as he puts it. If you dispense with Gi Cheol, they'll line up behind you. If not, they'll line up against you and make things impossible for you. Because, as Pyeonjo explains, "What they really wish for is not Goryeo's independence;" they're just concerned about "the possibility of losing all the fame and riches they gained" thanks to the Yuan and their collaborators. It's a sobering assessment for Gongmin, especially his seeing so few names on that list that don't have a dot. "You must emerge victorious at all costs," Pyeonjo urges. And not only that..."Deploy the army, and invade the Ssangseong Commandery." WHAT? It used to be our territory, he argues, and "That is your just cause." Do they really have the troop strength to pull that off? That certainly isn't the impression we've gotten, is it...but Pyeonjo is absolutely sure of it. And obviously Gongmin is too, because he says he'll do it.
In the council hall, eunuchs begin preparing for the memorial service. Lee Je Hyeon sees this and is shocked to learn of the service...
...and goes straight to Gongmin. The King of Wei was a Mongol, after all; is this proper? But Gongmin assures him it won't be anything extravagant or elaborate; just a simple ceremony.
Surprising that Commissioner Park didn't go back home yet. Here he is visiting Noguk again. Begrudgingly, she extends her gratitude for bringing her father's ashes. He tells her (I guess that's why he's here) about Empress Gi's letter to her brother Gi Cheol, warning him not to interfere in Goryean affairs any more. With that he says goodbye to her and leaves, looking content enough that he apparently thinks he's defused the situation adequately. Guess again, pal...but once he's gone, Noguk's thoughts turn to the child she's carrying. "Will Heaven confer its blessing on this child?", she wonders out loud to Lady Kim, because it does have Mongol blood.
"You wasted your time." Wow, how about this one...As Park is leaving, he runs into Princess Deoknyeong, who gives him some uncomfortable straight talk. "Even if you bring her the King of Wei's remains, you think that would expunge her grief?" Boy she's staring him down like she really means business. And she does. "Convey my words to Her Majesty: not to interfere in Goryeo's matters any longer, and to worry about the Yuan instead. If the Yuan empire collapses, I will have nowhere to go back to." This isn't like her at all. She must really be angry.
On his way home, Park visits the Gi estate. Look at the party--is this the same party still going on? Or another one? Whichever, the place is still brimming with confidence. At least everybody out in the yard is...
...but inside, Gi Cheol is brooding and bitter. He just will not let go of his Gongmin grudge...Commissioner Park pays him one last visit. Tells him, Be patient and wait until Ayushiridara becomes emperor; then he'll either put Deokheung on the throne, or maybe even you! And encourages him to go to the memorial service and make peace with Gongmin for now. But Gi won't have any of it.
An amazed Won Hyeon is walking around inside the palace complex for the first time ever. He's Jihyo's guest; apparently Jihyo is assisting Master Bou now that Bou is the royal preceptor. He's all excited and starts getting a little bit manic, going on about this and that. Calm down, dude.
"They'll just have a ceremony? What is that supposed to mean?" Ugh, the queen dowager is complaining to Master Bou about the type of memorial service that her son and daughter-in-law have chosen. She's not familiar with the Buddhist practice of cremation so it all seems foreign to her...and she's not exactly the most open-minded person, is she. But eventually she does accept the idea that it's more in keeping with the situation to not hold an extravagant funeral when the cremation has already been done.
I guess this is the wake before the ceremony. In the council hall. Really just the ministers standing there and kneeling and offering silent prayers in turn. But then Kim Yong steps forward and starts wailing and moaning and making a spectacle of himself. The rest of them, you can tell they're all a little uncomfortable at the simple, spartan way that this important man's death is being observed.
"Who knows about this?" Lee In Bok is before Gongmin; Pyeonjo is off to the side. Just you and Pyeonjo, Gongmin answers. A tense discussion about how and when to try to kill Gi Cheol, and what to do about all of the troops who are loyal to him. There are a whole lot of troops who are loyal to Gi, at least right now. Lee and Pyeonjo don't see eye to eye about how to do it, and things get a little tense. But Gongmin urges them to cooperate, not bicker. And he's already got a plan ready to go, which is why he sent for Lee in the first place.
As they leave the king, Lee gives a snide warning to Pyeonjo about trying to gain power for himself. Lee has been very tolerant towards Pyeonjo so far but his tolerance is apparently being stretched now.
All of Gi Cheol's closest associates are urging him to go reconcile with Gongmin so everybody can live in peace. Gi doesn't want to go. "What if they use those street vendors to ambush us?!" But everyone pooh-poohs that idea; arguing that the royal family would never order swords lifted against anyone who shows up to offer condolences. And besides, as Kwon Gyeom puts it, "What would the people say, if you don't extend your condolences? They'd start laughing behind your back, saying the mighty Lord Deokseong is too afraid to face Her Majesty!" Well THAT hits home. He still doesn't want to, but he decides to go.
He goes to tell his mother, and even she agrees with the decision. Wow, for once she's not hounding him.
At the Gi estate: Time to head for the ceremony. Gi Ryun is addressing a group of maybe 50 guards, warning them to guard Gi Cheol constantly and meet any suspicious movements towards him with immediate use of force. Gi sits down in his carried-chair; it's lifted up (twelve bearers--sweet ride!) and the whole group heads for the palace.
Just for a moment, a silent, powerful image of Gongmin praying intently before the King of Wei's ancestral tablet. Praying for success, no doubt.
Word arrives at Choseon's estate that the Gi party is arriving at the palace. Her former-soldier merchantmen scramble to get ready for them! So...
...okay, Pyeonjo has already talked Choseon through it. Obviously his part of Gongmin's plan was to go outside the palace and discreetly gather an anti-Gi force. "Your efforts shall be lauded," he tells her, while warning that there will be casualties. She's prepared for that. (Yeah, easy for her to say.) And then she even admits to Pyeonjo that she trusts the king! Wow this is a first for her.
"Do you remember any king who treated us like people?" Choseon's head subordinate addresses the men. "His Majesty is allowing us to die for this country's sake, so you shall not long for survival." And they all answer with gusto. Wow, these guys are committed to it.
The Gi party reaches the palace complex gate. The head guard tells them flatly, "My apologies, but come again tomorrow." Seriously?! "We received word they will no longer accept condolences for today." Wow, that's a brave soldier right there. Obviously that does NOT go over well with Gi Cheol. Kwon Gyeom orders the gates opened immediately. The head guard gives in, (which you have to think is the whole idea), and the gates are opened. They even let Gi Cheol ride in on his chair, which apparently is unusual...but wait, suddenly a standoff. "Nobody can enter the mortuary armed." So this large group of private soldier in armor and brandishing swords, they have to wait outside. Is Gi Cheol really going to go along with that? Turns out, yeah, he is. It's that chair thing. Letting him ride in, apparently that's a big gesture of respect and it swells Gi's head enough that it interferes with his thinking and he believes nothing will happen. With only Kwon Gyeom on a horse leading him, he enters and the gate closes.
He arrives at the royal palace and is escorted in; Kwon Gyeom is left outside as the courtyard door bangs shut in his face. With a smile and words of welcome from Lee In Bok, Gi heads right up to the council hall and strolls in.
"Think of all the tears our people have shed." No ceremony here; only Gongmin on the wide throne, staring down on Gi. "I shall atone for their grief with your blood." Well we've seen this same scenario once before. But Gi is caught off guard. First he challenges Gongmin, reminding him about what the Yuan will do if he's killed. Then he gets on his knees and begs and whines. We've seen this before too. But then Gi suddenly gets up and charges the throne! THAT'S a new one. Fortunately Jung Se Woon is next to the throne and bats him away like a fly. And then Gi finds himself face-to-face with Kim Yong, of all people, who slashes him and draws blood. He staggers, shouting at the king about "hiding under the Queen's skirt" and what a shameful dirty trick this is. Another slash drops him to the ground and reduces him to begging again. Gongmin watches impassively as the threats come back again, but then finally he speaks. "Behead him!" And Kim Yong complies. And in the next moment, how about this, there's Gi's head bouncing around on the floor in front of us. Boingy, boingy.
All the while, Noguk has been sitting in silent prayer before her father's shrine, wearing her white garment. She knows what's going on. Give her credit for not trying to do it herself!
Gongmin glares angrily at Gi's remains. I'd have done anything to kill you, no matter how treacherous, he growls.
"Kill him!" Lee In Bok opens the courtyard door and orders the soldiers there to kill Kwon Gyeom. And in moments a sword-battle breaks out right by the palace gate, between the soldiers and Gi Cheol's twelve chair-bearers, who conveniently produce swords from beneath the chair-timbers. It doesn't last long, though, and Jung Se Woon corners and skewers Kwon...
...who staggers backwards and dies as the palace gate opens behind him and soldiers come streaming out to attack Gi's guards. And atop the walls, archers emerge and rain arrows down on the guards...so you have to think this will wrap up pretty quickly.
And now at the headquarters of the Eastern Expedition army--which is what Gi Cheol was put in command of by the Yuan--we see merchant-soldiers and monks and even regular people storming in to kill collaborators. So now we have a larger movement that's been launched against Gi Cheol's allies.
Now we're at No Chaek's residence. He's another of Gi's close friends. No apparently got the word about what's happening and is trying to flee...but too late; here come dozens of locals with wooden clubs. Angry words shouted back and forth, and then, well, you can pretty much guess....
And now the same at Gi Cheol's residence. Looks like government soldiers attacking here. Considering this is where Gi's best troops would be, that would be the right move. This one, wow it turns into a big nasty battle...both sides suffering casualties...soon, though, Gi's forces seem to get the upper hand and Gi Ryun (who made it back home safely) shouts to head for the palace. Uh-oh; has Gongmin underestimated the strength of Gi's private army?
Evening. Gongmin is pacing nervously. Suddenly he hears shouting in the distance...
...and in her palace, the stress of this is wearing on Noguk as she sits with Deoknyeong. She's in pain again. Pregnancy pain, that is. She had some pain when she was praying earlier, but now it's worse. Partly the stress of the situation, no doubt, but she sure is having a hard time with the pregnancy.
Gongmin stares out into the darkness, still pacing. Lee In Bok arrives with an update: "With the darkness, it's hard to distinguish between parties, so the melee continues." Then, suddenly, flames in the distance! Something not too far away is on fire.
Now some serious firepower from the Gi side has reached the palace gate. A whole lot of well-organized soldiers, even bringing forth ladders to climb the walls of the palace complex. But government troops are waiting for them, and flaming arrows rain down as the attack begins.
Now Jung Se Woon takes his troops from inside the palace to meet the attack. But that leaves the interior unguarded, though...yikes....
And here are Lee Je Hyeon and Yeom Je Shin. Worried about having to sneak the king out of the palace...but also miffed that they weren't informed of the king's plan. Sheesh.
Lee In Bok is headed down a side path and runs into Kim Yong. Who's alone--and here rather than where the fight is! "Something must be wrong with me," he quickly says; "I keep heaving." And then tries to force a heave. But it's obvious he's just hiding from the combat.
A wild, ugly battle at the palace gate...
"Go find Pyeonjo." Now? Gongmin barks to his eunuchs. "I said go find Pyeonjo right now!"
At the balcony atop the royal temple, Wolseon, Deokun, Pyeonjo and Won can see the collaborators' houses burning all over the city. Pyeonjo and Won beg the master to be given leave to go help the government. Wolseon simply tells Deokun they're packing up and heading back home now...so the others can do as they please. Then Won begs Jihyo to help too. "The world is turning upside down. Are you going to waste time here chanting sutras?" He grabs Jihyo's arm and drags him away. Doesn't look like Jihyo is happy about it at all.
Now we see Won going crazy, beating a collaborator with a wooden club. Really, really insane with rage. Jihyo just looks scared and is trying to tend to someone injured.
Pyeonjo? He didn't go with them; he's still at the temple and is bidding Wolseon farewell. "A new chapter in Goryeo's history is beginning," he tells them proudly. But Wolseon is worried. "All the pain and suffering you've endured so far can't even compare with what you are about to endure." And that seems to be why he wants to leave now. He can't bear to watch what he thinks is going to happen in the future. Pyeonjo is dumbfounded. "His Majesty will get rid of all the collaborators, and repossess all the land the Yuan stole from us. How could you call that suffering?" But Wolseon won't explain any further. He and Deokun leave the temple and head wordlessly into the darkness.
A disturbing image, of Deokun carrying Wolseon piggy-back and trying to navigate a chaotic street with a collaborator's house under attack and fires burning around them.
The next day: Yippee! It's all over and Gongmin won. Gi Cheol's forces were defeated and the palace is safe. The council hall is full of happy councilors and officials. Most of them, anyway. Lee Je Hyeon is more relieved than anything; the unexpected strength of the Gi forces rattled him badly. Then Lee In Bok tells him quietly of Gongmin's plan to retake the former Goryean territories up north. Lee Je Hyeon is shocked. "Are we in a position to do that?" He's doubtful, and frankly Lee In Bok isn't sold on it either. Well, whatever, how Gongmin strides in and sits on the wide throne. He surveys his kneeling subordinates and it's his show now. "Our founder Taejo established Goryeo, built a dynasty, and created laws where everyone regardless of status protects each other. But Gi Cheol, Kwon Gyeom, No Chaek and their followers established ties with the Yuan and ignored our laws. They belittled their king, and degraded commoners to mere slaves. Hence, I punished them with utmost resolve. From now on, I shall give back Goryeo its past luster, by eradicating all those problems at the root." Meaning, what? "First, all the land and manpower those collaborators stole shall be returned to our people, who lamented in grief for much too long." Inspector Kim doesn't like that; shoots the king an angry glare (but doesn't let him see it). "And, from now on, I shall no longer use the Yuan-appointed reign title of King, and shall establish a new one for our country." (A declaration of independence of sorts.) He explains to the officials why he didn't share his plan with them: "because discipline among you has been in tatters." Ouch! "Yesterday," he continues, "we began our offensive to punish Gi Cheol, but remnants of his adherents were so numerous and strong, it took us until dawn to barely fulfill our goals. Could it be their strength alone which caused all this?" OR... "Wouldn't it be because, among you, there are still people with the bad habit of fearing the collaborators' influence, and treating the Yuan as our mother nation?" Ouch again! Then he announces the plan to retake the northern territories, and starts naming military commanders and specific assignments. And concludes, "We shall not postpone these issues a single day!" And with that, he steps down from the throne and strides back out of the hall. What a performance.
Later, with his wife, he's calmer and happy. Now let's give your father that ceremony he deserves, he offers. And with a smile he turns to Lady Kim. "By the way, you shall take good care of the Queen. If anything happens to her child, you shall be held responsible." Yikes, there's some pressure! But he says it with a chuckle; he's just in a good mood about everything.
He leaves his wife's palace and finds Pyeonjo and Choseon waiting for him. With a laugh he tells Pyeonjo about how nervous he was last night. Pyeonjo confesses to the same. Okay, well, Choseon is here to see the queen, so she heads inside and Pyeonjo follows the king back to his palace.
"I shall grant you a gift." Certainly Pyeonjo deserves one; he did good work yesterday in getting all of that force coordinated against the collaborators all over the place. Gongmin tells him about the declaration he just made in the council hall, to return the land taken by the collaborators to the people, and for the former commoners to be reinstated and freed from slavery." Which Pyeonjo is thrilled to hear, of course...but that's going to take a lot of work, to get that all sorted through. "Pyeonjo, "I'm thinking of entrusting you that job."
Noguk is in pain again, as Choseon sits before her. And having cold sweats, the pain is so bad. She's really in agony this time.
"Don't you want to? Wasn't this what you wished for?" Pyeonjo looks stunned, like somebody punched him. "Will you really entrust such responsibility to me?" Yes, Gongmin answers, it's your job.
In the council hall, eunuchs begin preparing for the memorial service. Lee Je Hyeon sees this and is shocked to learn of the service...
...and goes straight to Gongmin. The King of Wei was a Mongol, after all; is this proper? But Gongmin assures him it won't be anything extravagant or elaborate; just a simple ceremony.
Surprising that Commissioner Park didn't go back home yet. Here he is visiting Noguk again. Begrudgingly, she extends her gratitude for bringing her father's ashes. He tells her (I guess that's why he's here) about Empress Gi's letter to her brother Gi Cheol, warning him not to interfere in Goryean affairs any more. With that he says goodbye to her and leaves, looking content enough that he apparently thinks he's defused the situation adequately. Guess again, pal...but once he's gone, Noguk's thoughts turn to the child she's carrying. "Will Heaven confer its blessing on this child?", she wonders out loud to Lady Kim, because it does have Mongol blood.
"You wasted your time." Wow, how about this one...As Park is leaving, he runs into Princess Deoknyeong, who gives him some uncomfortable straight talk. "Even if you bring her the King of Wei's remains, you think that would expunge her grief?" Boy she's staring him down like she really means business. And she does. "Convey my words to Her Majesty: not to interfere in Goryeo's matters any longer, and to worry about the Yuan instead. If the Yuan empire collapses, I will have nowhere to go back to." This isn't like her at all. She must really be angry.
On his way home, Park visits the Gi estate. Look at the party--is this the same party still going on? Or another one? Whichever, the place is still brimming with confidence. At least everybody out in the yard is...
...but inside, Gi Cheol is brooding and bitter. He just will not let go of his Gongmin grudge...Commissioner Park pays him one last visit. Tells him, Be patient and wait until Ayushiridara becomes emperor; then he'll either put Deokheung on the throne, or maybe even you! And encourages him to go to the memorial service and make peace with Gongmin for now. But Gi won't have any of it.
An amazed Won Hyeon is walking around inside the palace complex for the first time ever. He's Jihyo's guest; apparently Jihyo is assisting Master Bou now that Bou is the royal preceptor. He's all excited and starts getting a little bit manic, going on about this and that. Calm down, dude.
"They'll just have a ceremony? What is that supposed to mean?" Ugh, the queen dowager is complaining to Master Bou about the type of memorial service that her son and daughter-in-law have chosen. She's not familiar with the Buddhist practice of cremation so it all seems foreign to her...and she's not exactly the most open-minded person, is she. But eventually she does accept the idea that it's more in keeping with the situation to not hold an extravagant funeral when the cremation has already been done.
I guess this is the wake before the ceremony. In the council hall. Really just the ministers standing there and kneeling and offering silent prayers in turn. But then Kim Yong steps forward and starts wailing and moaning and making a spectacle of himself. The rest of them, you can tell they're all a little uncomfortable at the simple, spartan way that this important man's death is being observed.
"Who knows about this?" Lee In Bok is before Gongmin; Pyeonjo is off to the side. Just you and Pyeonjo, Gongmin answers. A tense discussion about how and when to try to kill Gi Cheol, and what to do about all of the troops who are loyal to him. There are a whole lot of troops who are loyal to Gi, at least right now. Lee and Pyeonjo don't see eye to eye about how to do it, and things get a little tense. But Gongmin urges them to cooperate, not bicker. And he's already got a plan ready to go, which is why he sent for Lee in the first place.
As they leave the king, Lee gives a snide warning to Pyeonjo about trying to gain power for himself. Lee has been very tolerant towards Pyeonjo so far but his tolerance is apparently being stretched now.
All of Gi Cheol's closest associates are urging him to go reconcile with Gongmin so everybody can live in peace. Gi doesn't want to go. "What if they use those street vendors to ambush us?!" But everyone pooh-poohs that idea; arguing that the royal family would never order swords lifted against anyone who shows up to offer condolences. And besides, as Kwon Gyeom puts it, "What would the people say, if you don't extend your condolences? They'd start laughing behind your back, saying the mighty Lord Deokseong is too afraid to face Her Majesty!" Well THAT hits home. He still doesn't want to, but he decides to go.
He goes to tell his mother, and even she agrees with the decision. Wow, for once she's not hounding him.
At the Gi estate: Time to head for the ceremony. Gi Ryun is addressing a group of maybe 50 guards, warning them to guard Gi Cheol constantly and meet any suspicious movements towards him with immediate use of force. Gi sits down in his carried-chair; it's lifted up (twelve bearers--sweet ride!) and the whole group heads for the palace.
Just for a moment, a silent, powerful image of Gongmin praying intently before the King of Wei's ancestral tablet. Praying for success, no doubt.
Word arrives at Choseon's estate that the Gi party is arriving at the palace. Her former-soldier merchantmen scramble to get ready for them! So...
...okay, Pyeonjo has already talked Choseon through it. Obviously his part of Gongmin's plan was to go outside the palace and discreetly gather an anti-Gi force. "Your efforts shall be lauded," he tells her, while warning that there will be casualties. She's prepared for that. (Yeah, easy for her to say.) And then she even admits to Pyeonjo that she trusts the king! Wow this is a first for her.
"Do you remember any king who treated us like people?" Choseon's head subordinate addresses the men. "His Majesty is allowing us to die for this country's sake, so you shall not long for survival." And they all answer with gusto. Wow, these guys are committed to it.
The Gi party reaches the palace complex gate. The head guard tells them flatly, "My apologies, but come again tomorrow." Seriously?! "We received word they will no longer accept condolences for today." Wow, that's a brave soldier right there. Obviously that does NOT go over well with Gi Cheol. Kwon Gyeom orders the gates opened immediately. The head guard gives in, (which you have to think is the whole idea), and the gates are opened. They even let Gi Cheol ride in on his chair, which apparently is unusual...but wait, suddenly a standoff. "Nobody can enter the mortuary armed." So this large group of private soldier in armor and brandishing swords, they have to wait outside. Is Gi Cheol really going to go along with that? Turns out, yeah, he is. It's that chair thing. Letting him ride in, apparently that's a big gesture of respect and it swells Gi's head enough that it interferes with his thinking and he believes nothing will happen. With only Kwon Gyeom on a horse leading him, he enters and the gate closes.
He arrives at the royal palace and is escorted in; Kwon Gyeom is left outside as the courtyard door bangs shut in his face. With a smile and words of welcome from Lee In Bok, Gi heads right up to the council hall and strolls in.
"Think of all the tears our people have shed." No ceremony here; only Gongmin on the wide throne, staring down on Gi. "I shall atone for their grief with your blood." Well we've seen this same scenario once before. But Gi is caught off guard. First he challenges Gongmin, reminding him about what the Yuan will do if he's killed. Then he gets on his knees and begs and whines. We've seen this before too. But then Gi suddenly gets up and charges the throne! THAT'S a new one. Fortunately Jung Se Woon is next to the throne and bats him away like a fly. And then Gi finds himself face-to-face with Kim Yong, of all people, who slashes him and draws blood. He staggers, shouting at the king about "hiding under the Queen's skirt" and what a shameful dirty trick this is. Another slash drops him to the ground and reduces him to begging again. Gongmin watches impassively as the threats come back again, but then finally he speaks. "Behead him!" And Kim Yong complies. And in the next moment, how about this, there's Gi's head bouncing around on the floor in front of us. Boingy, boingy.
All the while, Noguk has been sitting in silent prayer before her father's shrine, wearing her white garment. She knows what's going on. Give her credit for not trying to do it herself!
Gongmin glares angrily at Gi's remains. I'd have done anything to kill you, no matter how treacherous, he growls.
"Kill him!" Lee In Bok opens the courtyard door and orders the soldiers there to kill Kwon Gyeom. And in moments a sword-battle breaks out right by the palace gate, between the soldiers and Gi Cheol's twelve chair-bearers, who conveniently produce swords from beneath the chair-timbers. It doesn't last long, though, and Jung Se Woon corners and skewers Kwon...
...who staggers backwards and dies as the palace gate opens behind him and soldiers come streaming out to attack Gi's guards. And atop the walls, archers emerge and rain arrows down on the guards...so you have to think this will wrap up pretty quickly.
And now at the headquarters of the Eastern Expedition army--which is what Gi Cheol was put in command of by the Yuan--we see merchant-soldiers and monks and even regular people storming in to kill collaborators. So now we have a larger movement that's been launched against Gi Cheol's allies.
Now we're at No Chaek's residence. He's another of Gi's close friends. No apparently got the word about what's happening and is trying to flee...but too late; here come dozens of locals with wooden clubs. Angry words shouted back and forth, and then, well, you can pretty much guess....
And now the same at Gi Cheol's residence. Looks like government soldiers attacking here. Considering this is where Gi's best troops would be, that would be the right move. This one, wow it turns into a big nasty battle...both sides suffering casualties...soon, though, Gi's forces seem to get the upper hand and Gi Ryun (who made it back home safely) shouts to head for the palace. Uh-oh; has Gongmin underestimated the strength of Gi's private army?
Evening. Gongmin is pacing nervously. Suddenly he hears shouting in the distance...
...and in her palace, the stress of this is wearing on Noguk as she sits with Deoknyeong. She's in pain again. Pregnancy pain, that is. She had some pain when she was praying earlier, but now it's worse. Partly the stress of the situation, no doubt, but she sure is having a hard time with the pregnancy.
Gongmin stares out into the darkness, still pacing. Lee In Bok arrives with an update: "With the darkness, it's hard to distinguish between parties, so the melee continues." Then, suddenly, flames in the distance! Something not too far away is on fire.
Now some serious firepower from the Gi side has reached the palace gate. A whole lot of well-organized soldiers, even bringing forth ladders to climb the walls of the palace complex. But government troops are waiting for them, and flaming arrows rain down as the attack begins.
Now Jung Se Woon takes his troops from inside the palace to meet the attack. But that leaves the interior unguarded, though...yikes....
And here are Lee Je Hyeon and Yeom Je Shin. Worried about having to sneak the king out of the palace...but also miffed that they weren't informed of the king's plan. Sheesh.
Lee In Bok is headed down a side path and runs into Kim Yong. Who's alone--and here rather than where the fight is! "Something must be wrong with me," he quickly says; "I keep heaving." And then tries to force a heave. But it's obvious he's just hiding from the combat.
A wild, ugly battle at the palace gate...
"Go find Pyeonjo." Now? Gongmin barks to his eunuchs. "I said go find Pyeonjo right now!"
At the balcony atop the royal temple, Wolseon, Deokun, Pyeonjo and Won can see the collaborators' houses burning all over the city. Pyeonjo and Won beg the master to be given leave to go help the government. Wolseon simply tells Deokun they're packing up and heading back home now...so the others can do as they please. Then Won begs Jihyo to help too. "The world is turning upside down. Are you going to waste time here chanting sutras?" He grabs Jihyo's arm and drags him away. Doesn't look like Jihyo is happy about it at all.
Now we see Won going crazy, beating a collaborator with a wooden club. Really, really insane with rage. Jihyo just looks scared and is trying to tend to someone injured.
Pyeonjo? He didn't go with them; he's still at the temple and is bidding Wolseon farewell. "A new chapter in Goryeo's history is beginning," he tells them proudly. But Wolseon is worried. "All the pain and suffering you've endured so far can't even compare with what you are about to endure." And that seems to be why he wants to leave now. He can't bear to watch what he thinks is going to happen in the future. Pyeonjo is dumbfounded. "His Majesty will get rid of all the collaborators, and repossess all the land the Yuan stole from us. How could you call that suffering?" But Wolseon won't explain any further. He and Deokun leave the temple and head wordlessly into the darkness.
A disturbing image, of Deokun carrying Wolseon piggy-back and trying to navigate a chaotic street with a collaborator's house under attack and fires burning around them.
The next day: Yippee! It's all over and Gongmin won. Gi Cheol's forces were defeated and the palace is safe. The council hall is full of happy councilors and officials. Most of them, anyway. Lee Je Hyeon is more relieved than anything; the unexpected strength of the Gi forces rattled him badly. Then Lee In Bok tells him quietly of Gongmin's plan to retake the former Goryean territories up north. Lee Je Hyeon is shocked. "Are we in a position to do that?" He's doubtful, and frankly Lee In Bok isn't sold on it either. Well, whatever, how Gongmin strides in and sits on the wide throne. He surveys his kneeling subordinates and it's his show now. "Our founder Taejo established Goryeo, built a dynasty, and created laws where everyone regardless of status protects each other. But Gi Cheol, Kwon Gyeom, No Chaek and their followers established ties with the Yuan and ignored our laws. They belittled their king, and degraded commoners to mere slaves. Hence, I punished them with utmost resolve. From now on, I shall give back Goryeo its past luster, by eradicating all those problems at the root." Meaning, what? "First, all the land and manpower those collaborators stole shall be returned to our people, who lamented in grief for much too long." Inspector Kim doesn't like that; shoots the king an angry glare (but doesn't let him see it). "And, from now on, I shall no longer use the Yuan-appointed reign title of King, and shall establish a new one for our country." (A declaration of independence of sorts.) He explains to the officials why he didn't share his plan with them: "because discipline among you has been in tatters." Ouch! "Yesterday," he continues, "we began our offensive to punish Gi Cheol, but remnants of his adherents were so numerous and strong, it took us until dawn to barely fulfill our goals. Could it be their strength alone which caused all this?" OR... "Wouldn't it be because, among you, there are still people with the bad habit of fearing the collaborators' influence, and treating the Yuan as our mother nation?" Ouch again! Then he announces the plan to retake the northern territories, and starts naming military commanders and specific assignments. And concludes, "We shall not postpone these issues a single day!" And with that, he steps down from the throne and strides back out of the hall. What a performance.
Later, with his wife, he's calmer and happy. Now let's give your father that ceremony he deserves, he offers. And with a smile he turns to Lady Kim. "By the way, you shall take good care of the Queen. If anything happens to her child, you shall be held responsible." Yikes, there's some pressure! But he says it with a chuckle; he's just in a good mood about everything.
He leaves his wife's palace and finds Pyeonjo and Choseon waiting for him. With a laugh he tells Pyeonjo about how nervous he was last night. Pyeonjo confesses to the same. Okay, well, Choseon is here to see the queen, so she heads inside and Pyeonjo follows the king back to his palace.
"I shall grant you a gift." Certainly Pyeonjo deserves one; he did good work yesterday in getting all of that force coordinated against the collaborators all over the place. Gongmin tells him about the declaration he just made in the council hall, to return the land taken by the collaborators to the people, and for the former commoners to be reinstated and freed from slavery." Which Pyeonjo is thrilled to hear, of course...but that's going to take a lot of work, to get that all sorted through. "Pyeonjo, "I'm thinking of entrusting you that job."
Noguk is in pain again, as Choseon sits before her. And having cold sweats, the pain is so bad. She's really in agony this time.
"Don't you want to? Wasn't this what you wished for?" Pyeonjo looks stunned, like somebody punched him. "Will you really entrust such responsibility to me?" Yes, Gongmin answers, it's your job.