Post by ajk on Jun 4, 2009 13:47:37 GMT -5
We weren't shown the first portion of Episode 25 on Tuesday night. Fortunately, much what we didn't see consists of scenes shown previously in Episode 1. I've copied the previous summaries of those scenes and inserted them here. And I've filled in the remainder based on a set of online fansubs that I reviewed. My thanks to member ducky for directing me to the fansubs.
Content already seen in Episode 1 is prefaced with "R:" as was done in the previous summary.
-----------------------------------------------------------
R: Seo Hui enters the jail; Hunae is released. The king has withdrawn the grain-disposal order and is going to send another envoy to the Khitans to ask them to leave Goryeo alone. If that fails, Seo tells her, then we'll have to strike the Khitans first, even if it means defying the king. Hunae loves that idea and intends to participate. Seo tries to get her to stay out of it, but she wants in and resists him. (Continuing, no R:) He suggests that she can go to Anyoongjin Fort if she must continue fighting. She doesn't like this, because she thinks Anyoongjin will be too far from the action. She feels Seo is trying to keep her out of harm's way—-which he is, of course; he feels responsible for her safety as royalty. She refuses and says she's following him to Taeju, but he tells her that defending Anyoongjin is important too, and he gently insists that she comply, putting it as a military order. (The king may or may not have been responsible for this; I couldn't tell.)
R: At the Khitan camp: Xiao Sunning is told that battle preparations are complete; that the Khitan commando unit has been deployed as a diversion; that the Goryeans are unaware of the real Khitan plans; and that less than 1000 Goryeans are defending Anyoongjin Fort--the real Khitan target. A quick victory is crucial, he tells his subordinates, because the fort is the key to capturing the entire Northern Protectorate territory.
Gang Gamchan, in temporary command of the middle army, is given a scouting report that a detachment of Khitan troops has left their main camp and is moving east. But there are only 1000 or 2000 troops in the detachment, hardly enough to do damage against the main Goryeo army in Taeju. Plus, why send them out in broad daylight when they can be easily seen? This seems fishy. But they could head back north to Yunju Fort and attack there; that would be odd strategy but the Goryeans have very few troops there and the Khitans might be able to take it and establish a dangerous foothold. Gamchan decides to take a detachment of Goryean troops and head to Yunju himself.
?R: Nighttime: Chiyang sends Sa Illa to their Jurchen territory. He will go with the citizen army, which will head for Anyoongjin Fort tomorrow, but he tells her, "Do not rally the troops no matter what happens to me. We have our own path to follow. Do you understand?"
Gamchan's unit reaches Yunju; there aren't any troops at all guarding it. What gives?
General Xiao is informed that the plan is underway and that a Goryean detachment has moved to respond to the Khitan deployment. We learn the intent of this: it's a distraction to try to lure the main Goryean central army out of its position. If it works, Xiao believes that the Khitan army will be able to march straight ahead unimpeded and conquer Goryeo. And we learn the Khitan army's size: only 60,000! Hence the need for deception.
Hunae's army heads north. Jang Yeong, the envoy, is traveling with them for part of the way, until their paths diverge. We're shown a flashback of the apparition scene in Ep2: Emperor Wang Guhn appearing to the young Hunae (Hwangbo Su) and telling her of her difficult destiny in life. Flashback ending, Jang must head off in another direction now, and he departs.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sa Illa reaches Jurchen territory and gives Sa Gamun and their tribal chief an update on the Khitan army. And a strange discussion: Because the Goryean king and court are acting so cowardly, the war will undoubtedly be lost, and this could well lead to a revolt that would topple and replace the king. Strange, because they talk like they want this to happen!
A state meeting, in the northern capital of Seogyeong: The king intends to leave Seogyeong permanently, and cede the northern land to the Khitans. But he's sent Minister Jang Yeong and Seo Hui to attempt another negotiation, so he's going to wait to see what happens. More arguing from ministers about whether or not to accept the Khitan demands. Wonsoong is particularly whiny and wants to surrender. Most of the ministers call out for the king to relinquish the land and return to Gaegyeong.
Later, the king second-guesses himself for sending a second envoy and not simply giving up the land. But it's too late now, he realizes, so we might as well wait until he returns.
Queen Munhwa tells Prince Gaeryeong that she's scheduled a Buddhist service. She's seeking comfort during this time of war. (But this could stir up a lot of trouble, couldn't it? Trouble with all of those Shillan Confucianists running around, and with the king too.)
We see the service being held at a temple. Monks are conducting it and the queen and Gaeryeong are attending.
R: Anyoongjin Fort: Hunae's citizen army shows up and demands entry.
Inside the fort: We see the fort's commander general Yi Hyunoon. He's drinking and being entertained by several women, and if that isn't bad enough, he's wearing pastel-colored robe over his uniform, and it's not at all appropriate for military wear, to say the least. He's informed of the citizen army's arrival. At first he's annoyed by the very idea of it, but then he learns that Seo Hui sent them.
R (parts): Hunae's group wonders around inside the fort, not sure why Seo sent them here. This isn't where the war is, they believe. Commander Yi comes out to receive them; Gang Jo presents a letter from Seo Hui as their credential. Why are you here?, he asks; are you related to Seo? No, Gang says, Seo sent us because we performed valuable service for the country. At that, Yi starts insulting and belittling them, now that he thinks they have no special status or clout. He doesn't want them in the fort; instead he sends them down to the riverfront defense line to assist there.
R: At the riverbank: A defense line is being prepared under the supervision of Colonel Dae Dosu, whose father was the last crown prince of Balhae. Hunae's army is brought to him; he receives them cordially, but says they're not really needed here. Then he asks the fort officers if commander Yi has been drinking again. We learn that Yi got his job through nepotism and isn't qualified for it. Dae is far more qualified but has no power, since his country is dead.
We see Prince Gyeongjuwon peacefully walking with his baby along the seashore. He soon comes across a group of agitated villagers, including the couple who's helping with his baby. They've heard a rumor that Khitans will be landing here by sea. They're so upset by it that the local fisherman are too scared to launch their boats. Don't worry, Gyeongjuwon says; Khitans won't invade by sea; I know for a fact that Khitans rely on cavalry, not sea power, and besides, this territory is too far from where they'd want to go. The villagers know who Gyeongjuwon is, and his words reassure them immensely.
Outside of Myeongbok Palace: refugees from Seogyeong are streaming into Hwangju. Lots of them. It's putting a terrible strain on the community, we learn. Inside the palace, Yi Sulhwa, Escort Yun, Yi Jujeong and Princess Sun prepare to start giving aid to the refugees. Hunae had left instructions to do so if refugees should arrive. We then see them serving food to the refugees shortly thereafter.
Gang Jo meets Dae Dosu and introduces himself as a fellow Balhaean. They wonder why the Balhae emperor ever surrendered to the Khitans. There's a lot of unspoken pain and frustration from that past history, we can tell.
Hunae is staring out into the countryside. Chiyang comes up near her and they begin to talk. We learn that King Sungjong had disbanded the Goryean army and given them farming tools. Idiot. Then Chiyang starts sucking up to her, telling her how brave a fighter she is and what a great ruler she'd make. And "You really are beautiful," too. Hunae can't even fathom someone calling her beautiful, and he has to repeat the compliment to get her to even comprehend it. But she smiles to herself; we can see she's flattered. (Heyyy, those hair care products are really paying dividends!)
A drunken Yi Huunoon, still wearing his robe and with two of his women at his side, arrives at the training ground and interrupts a training session. He decides to give the troops a demonstration, and picks up a wooden training sword. He's making a drunken fool of himself as he charges from soldier to soldier, but they're apparently afraid to call him on it because each soldier dutifully falls to the ground after taking one weak blow. Laughing with his women, Yi drops the stick and they leave, with the troops grumbling in his wake.
Jo Sun and Jo Du are running a trading stall, and making a mint. It appears that they're extracting premiums in trades with desperate villagers. This is all Wonsoong's idea. The times are turbulent, Jo Sun says, but turbulent times "are times of opportunity for the 'haves' to expand their wealth." Isn't that nice.
We see a Khitan army division on the move along a dirt road. Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are watching from a distance. Elsewhere, so is a Goryean army scout. After the division passes, we see the army scout go to the road, bend down and inspect the dirt. What's he doing?
Yunju Fort: The scout reports to Gamchan and gives his information on the Khitan unit. And he tells Gamchan that their wagon tracks were shallow. Meaning, empty wagons! What a smart guy. (Seriously, that's a darned clever piece of detective work.) So obviously this is no fully equipped attack force; the Khitans are up to something.
Evening: Yelu Chu is leading the Khitan division. They're near Gamchan's fort. He instructs his troops to not fight too hard, just enough to scare them into calling for reinforcements. From hearing the Khitan strategy earlier, this must be the diversionary force.
Nighttime: Inside the fort, Gamchan is trying to calm the agitated citizens. They want him to send up a signal flare to call for reinforcements. They're practically begging him to do it, they're so nervous. But he won't, and stands his ground. He's absolutely positive that the Khitan force that's outside the fort is insufficient to overpower it. He isn't entirely sure what they're up to but he isn't going to pull Goryean troops away from other locations for a battle that he's sure he won't need them for. So he stands firm. And he exhorts the citizens and soldiers in the fort to be brave. "The Khitans are a weak race," he shouts, and will buckle if we fight them hard. "We can win!" They're subdued at first but he gets them going and pretty soon they're in high spirits. Good thing, and just in time, because the Khitan force charges the fort and the battle is on.
Hunae, again staring out into the countryside is with Gang Jo and Chiyang. She tells them that if the war is lost, she's going to overthrow the government herself, topple her own brother the king, and clean house!
Content already seen in Episode 1 is prefaced with "R:" as was done in the previous summary.
-----------------------------------------------------------
R: Seo Hui enters the jail; Hunae is released. The king has withdrawn the grain-disposal order and is going to send another envoy to the Khitans to ask them to leave Goryeo alone. If that fails, Seo tells her, then we'll have to strike the Khitans first, even if it means defying the king. Hunae loves that idea and intends to participate. Seo tries to get her to stay out of it, but she wants in and resists him. (Continuing, no R:) He suggests that she can go to Anyoongjin Fort if she must continue fighting. She doesn't like this, because she thinks Anyoongjin will be too far from the action. She feels Seo is trying to keep her out of harm's way—-which he is, of course; he feels responsible for her safety as royalty. She refuses and says she's following him to Taeju, but he tells her that defending Anyoongjin is important too, and he gently insists that she comply, putting it as a military order. (The king may or may not have been responsible for this; I couldn't tell.)
R: At the Khitan camp: Xiao Sunning is told that battle preparations are complete; that the Khitan commando unit has been deployed as a diversion; that the Goryeans are unaware of the real Khitan plans; and that less than 1000 Goryeans are defending Anyoongjin Fort--the real Khitan target. A quick victory is crucial, he tells his subordinates, because the fort is the key to capturing the entire Northern Protectorate territory.
Gang Gamchan, in temporary command of the middle army, is given a scouting report that a detachment of Khitan troops has left their main camp and is moving east. But there are only 1000 or 2000 troops in the detachment, hardly enough to do damage against the main Goryeo army in Taeju. Plus, why send them out in broad daylight when they can be easily seen? This seems fishy. But they could head back north to Yunju Fort and attack there; that would be odd strategy but the Goryeans have very few troops there and the Khitans might be able to take it and establish a dangerous foothold. Gamchan decides to take a detachment of Goryean troops and head to Yunju himself.
?R: Nighttime: Chiyang sends Sa Illa to their Jurchen territory. He will go with the citizen army, which will head for Anyoongjin Fort tomorrow, but he tells her, "Do not rally the troops no matter what happens to me. We have our own path to follow. Do you understand?"
Gamchan's unit reaches Yunju; there aren't any troops at all guarding it. What gives?
General Xiao is informed that the plan is underway and that a Goryean detachment has moved to respond to the Khitan deployment. We learn the intent of this: it's a distraction to try to lure the main Goryean central army out of its position. If it works, Xiao believes that the Khitan army will be able to march straight ahead unimpeded and conquer Goryeo. And we learn the Khitan army's size: only 60,000! Hence the need for deception.
Hunae's army heads north. Jang Yeong, the envoy, is traveling with them for part of the way, until their paths diverge. We're shown a flashback of the apparition scene in Ep2: Emperor Wang Guhn appearing to the young Hunae (Hwangbo Su) and telling her of her difficult destiny in life. Flashback ending, Jang must head off in another direction now, and he departs.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sa Illa reaches Jurchen territory and gives Sa Gamun and their tribal chief an update on the Khitan army. And a strange discussion: Because the Goryean king and court are acting so cowardly, the war will undoubtedly be lost, and this could well lead to a revolt that would topple and replace the king. Strange, because they talk like they want this to happen!
A state meeting, in the northern capital of Seogyeong: The king intends to leave Seogyeong permanently, and cede the northern land to the Khitans. But he's sent Minister Jang Yeong and Seo Hui to attempt another negotiation, so he's going to wait to see what happens. More arguing from ministers about whether or not to accept the Khitan demands. Wonsoong is particularly whiny and wants to surrender. Most of the ministers call out for the king to relinquish the land and return to Gaegyeong.
Later, the king second-guesses himself for sending a second envoy and not simply giving up the land. But it's too late now, he realizes, so we might as well wait until he returns.
Queen Munhwa tells Prince Gaeryeong that she's scheduled a Buddhist service. She's seeking comfort during this time of war. (But this could stir up a lot of trouble, couldn't it? Trouble with all of those Shillan Confucianists running around, and with the king too.)
We see the service being held at a temple. Monks are conducting it and the queen and Gaeryeong are attending.
R: Anyoongjin Fort: Hunae's citizen army shows up and demands entry.
Inside the fort: We see the fort's commander general Yi Hyunoon. He's drinking and being entertained by several women, and if that isn't bad enough, he's wearing pastel-colored robe over his uniform, and it's not at all appropriate for military wear, to say the least. He's informed of the citizen army's arrival. At first he's annoyed by the very idea of it, but then he learns that Seo Hui sent them.
R (parts): Hunae's group wonders around inside the fort, not sure why Seo sent them here. This isn't where the war is, they believe. Commander Yi comes out to receive them; Gang Jo presents a letter from Seo Hui as their credential. Why are you here?, he asks; are you related to Seo? No, Gang says, Seo sent us because we performed valuable service for the country. At that, Yi starts insulting and belittling them, now that he thinks they have no special status or clout. He doesn't want them in the fort; instead he sends them down to the riverfront defense line to assist there.
R: At the riverbank: A defense line is being prepared under the supervision of Colonel Dae Dosu, whose father was the last crown prince of Balhae. Hunae's army is brought to him; he receives them cordially, but says they're not really needed here. Then he asks the fort officers if commander Yi has been drinking again. We learn that Yi got his job through nepotism and isn't qualified for it. Dae is far more qualified but has no power, since his country is dead.
We see Prince Gyeongjuwon peacefully walking with his baby along the seashore. He soon comes across a group of agitated villagers, including the couple who's helping with his baby. They've heard a rumor that Khitans will be landing here by sea. They're so upset by it that the local fisherman are too scared to launch their boats. Don't worry, Gyeongjuwon says; Khitans won't invade by sea; I know for a fact that Khitans rely on cavalry, not sea power, and besides, this territory is too far from where they'd want to go. The villagers know who Gyeongjuwon is, and his words reassure them immensely.
Outside of Myeongbok Palace: refugees from Seogyeong are streaming into Hwangju. Lots of them. It's putting a terrible strain on the community, we learn. Inside the palace, Yi Sulhwa, Escort Yun, Yi Jujeong and Princess Sun prepare to start giving aid to the refugees. Hunae had left instructions to do so if refugees should arrive. We then see them serving food to the refugees shortly thereafter.
Gang Jo meets Dae Dosu and introduces himself as a fellow Balhaean. They wonder why the Balhae emperor ever surrendered to the Khitans. There's a lot of unspoken pain and frustration from that past history, we can tell.
Hunae is staring out into the countryside. Chiyang comes up near her and they begin to talk. We learn that King Sungjong had disbanded the Goryean army and given them farming tools. Idiot. Then Chiyang starts sucking up to her, telling her how brave a fighter she is and what a great ruler she'd make. And "You really are beautiful," too. Hunae can't even fathom someone calling her beautiful, and he has to repeat the compliment to get her to even comprehend it. But she smiles to herself; we can see she's flattered. (Heyyy, those hair care products are really paying dividends!)
A drunken Yi Huunoon, still wearing his robe and with two of his women at his side, arrives at the training ground and interrupts a training session. He decides to give the troops a demonstration, and picks up a wooden training sword. He's making a drunken fool of himself as he charges from soldier to soldier, but they're apparently afraid to call him on it because each soldier dutifully falls to the ground after taking one weak blow. Laughing with his women, Yi drops the stick and they leave, with the troops grumbling in his wake.
Jo Sun and Jo Du are running a trading stall, and making a mint. It appears that they're extracting premiums in trades with desperate villagers. This is all Wonsoong's idea. The times are turbulent, Jo Sun says, but turbulent times "are times of opportunity for the 'haves' to expand their wealth." Isn't that nice.
We see a Khitan army division on the move along a dirt road. Sa Gamun and Sa Illa are watching from a distance. Elsewhere, so is a Goryean army scout. After the division passes, we see the army scout go to the road, bend down and inspect the dirt. What's he doing?
Yunju Fort: The scout reports to Gamchan and gives his information on the Khitan unit. And he tells Gamchan that their wagon tracks were shallow. Meaning, empty wagons! What a smart guy. (Seriously, that's a darned clever piece of detective work.) So obviously this is no fully equipped attack force; the Khitans are up to something.
Evening: Yelu Chu is leading the Khitan division. They're near Gamchan's fort. He instructs his troops to not fight too hard, just enough to scare them into calling for reinforcements. From hearing the Khitan strategy earlier, this must be the diversionary force.
Nighttime: Inside the fort, Gamchan is trying to calm the agitated citizens. They want him to send up a signal flare to call for reinforcements. They're practically begging him to do it, they're so nervous. But he won't, and stands his ground. He's absolutely positive that the Khitan force that's outside the fort is insufficient to overpower it. He isn't entirely sure what they're up to but he isn't going to pull Goryean troops away from other locations for a battle that he's sure he won't need them for. So he stands firm. And he exhorts the citizens and soldiers in the fort to be brave. "The Khitans are a weak race," he shouts, and will buckle if we fight them hard. "We can win!" They're subdued at first but he gets them going and pretty soon they're in high spirits. Good thing, and just in time, because the Khitan force charges the fort and the battle is on.
Hunae, again staring out into the countryside is with Gang Jo and Chiyang. She tells them that if the war is lost, she's going to overthrow the government herself, topple her own brother the king, and clean house!
