Post by ajk on May 25, 2012 21:31:12 GMT -5
The Dragon Flower corps comes in from another run. Except for Jukbang and Godo, the DFers are a little older now and show us that time has passed. Deokman finished last in the run, once again. They all gather together and talk good-naturedly. Mostly good-naturedly, at least; a little bit of grumbling about Deokman, Jukbang and Godo holding the group back and hurting its credibility. They still think Deokman is male, by the way (so the subtitling in the previous episode was incorrect). Then Yushin emerges from the building--an older Yushin by ten or fifteen years (HOORAY!)--and tells them all to get back to work. And makes sure Deokman puts on the penalty sandbags for finishing last.
Evening: still training. Earlier we saw a dozen or so Hwarang; now there look to be around twice that many. Yushin drills them on circular battle formations. Their feet are tied to one another's, to ensure uniformity of movement. Any mistake--and we see one--and everybody goes tumbling. Tough drill but they're working hard on it.
Much later at night, Yushin finds Deokman alone, practicing archery. Tells her she isn't getting enough sleep and it's hurting her performance, so get to bed now. But Deokman is tired of the other corps of Hwarang disrespecting them and wants to participate in the next beejae (some sort of skills competition). And I can at least participate in the archery part--"I am good at archery," she argues, and the target she's shooting at supports her statement. Yushin says nothing and walks away.
So Deokman retires for the evening...but even while the other Hwarang sleep, she's reading an archery manual by candlelight. She wants to get very good at this...we see a flashback of another ugly taunting episode, this one very recent, with elite Hwarang pushing Deokman around and mocking the Dragon Flower Corps, particularly for not competing in the beejae...This, we can see, is what's motivating Deokman to master archery. (In the flashback, we see an older group of elite Hwarang (HOORAY!) including an older Seokpum, an older Bojong, and another of Seorabeol's ten elite Hwarang named Archeon.
In the royal palace: King Jinpyeong (he hasn't aged) has just gotten some very bad news from Yeo Gilchan, a newly introduced military leader. Sok Ham Fortress has been captured by Baekje. Hajong (hasn't aged) berates him for failure; says he can take troops himself and handle the situation. Mishil (hasn't aged!! hah!) urges retaliation. The king wants to let Kim Seohyeon deal with it, but that sparks a big debate. Then Mishil simply takes over: "Alright then. Following everyone's advice, it'd be best if we leave this matter to Hajong." The king just sits there and accepts it. (?)
Later, Mishil's cabal is grumbling about Kim Seohyeon. Don't know why, because Mishil got Hajong put in charge of the matter; what's their problem? Mishil seems worried, though, and tells Hajong, "You must win this battle." Hajong laughs; the Baekje commander's name is Goo Pae, and Pae means "to lose" in Korean, so Hajong mockingly laughs and says it's in the bag.
We see Cheonmyeong; she's aged, like her sister. She's looking over a scroll presented by Ho Jae, who's identified as a Hwarang advisor. The scroll is a list of the Hwarang corps enrolled in the upcoming beejae competition. The Dragon Flower Corps isn't on it.
The DFers are complaining to Kim Yushin about once again not being a part of the beejae. They want to compete but Yushin says they're still not ready. Deokman challenges him: "Losing is less embarrassing than just running away," and says a real Hwarang has to have been in a beejae. She's angry and storms outside...just as some of the elite Hwarang are passing by. One of them, introduced as Duk Choong, is with a young woman and asks Deokman, "How come you're prettier than this girl?" (Hey, somebody's noticing!) Seokpum is there too and joins in the mocking, and so does another new face, Bock Eui (like Duk Choong, one of Seorabeol's ten elite Hwarang). "Perhaps you are a girl?" he asks mockingly. But suddenly they're grabbing Deokman and throwing her around, trying to get her clothes off. Fortunately a couple of the other DFers stroll outside and see this happening, and soon the rest of them run out there and a big brawl breaks out. (Pretty sorry-looking fighting. These Hwarang are older now, but not by much and they still don't exactly look like intimidating fighters, to put it mildly.)
Ho Jae is leading a Hwarang council meeting to sort out the incident. Yushin argues that his corps was insulted and wasn't the instigator. Ho Jae says that a "jinsong beejae," that is, a winner-take-all skills competition, settles these kinds of disputes when a corps feels they've been insulted. So, does Yushin want to protect their honor? Are you in or out? The other Hwarang stare at him, waiting for an answer....
Later, Yushin stands before the DFers. He calls Deokman forward. "You know what you did wrong, right?" Without a word, she kneels. (She knows...do we? Not a darned thing, as far as I can tell.) And he starts beating her on the rear end with a hard pole! Over and over again. Hard, painful blows. The other DFers wince at the sight of it, until the eighth blow is too much for one of them. "Please, stop it! I'm not very fond of Deokman, but what did he do wrong?! They insulted him first. They tried to take his clothes off in front of everyone!" Yushin explains that they'd have to participate in a jinsong beejae to regain their honor--and he turned it down. So for the next month, they'll be doing the laundry of the corps that started the brawl. "We must wait and gain strength," he explains, but that doesn't go over well. They're tired of waiting and tired of the disrespect, and they want to at least enter a beejae. But Yushin argues that such competition would even put their lives at risk, and it's still too dangerous for them. Deokman hesitates, then says, "You're right. This is because of me. So, it's my problem."
Later, the DFers talk amongst themselves about the beejae. Their skills are better than they used to be, no question, but Jukbang reminds them that they're still not at the level of the other corps and that these competitions are serious business: "What if we take them on once and die?" Enough already, he says.
In an isolated spot, Deokman is talking to Cheonmyeong, who's dressed in her hooded monk's robe. We can tell that this isn't their first conversation like this, but we're not sure what happened previously. "You always show up," Deokman says with irritation, "saying Munno will appear so wait a little longer. [But] He isn't coming back." And then, "You must be a headache to your group." (As in, group of monks.) Cheonmyeong smiles. "You must have been punished by Yushin, right?" Deokman grumbles about him being "really mean." Anyway, Cheonmyeong has been looking into things for Deokman. Munno and Chilsuk vanished at around the same time, she reports, and no one really knows whatever happened to Chilsuk or what he was doing.
Later in the evening, we see one of the DFers (can't tell who) sneaking up on a building in the darkness, and eyeing the flag in front of it.
The next morning: That was the flag of the "Cheonmyeong clan,", the Hwarang corps that started the fracas with the DFers. They show up at the DFers' building in a foul mood, because the flag was soiled and they think the DFers are responsible. And they have evidence: a DF headband, left at the scene. Deokman denies responsibility, and all of the DFers we see are wearing their headbands. (Plus, this is such an obvious clue that it has to be a plant; didn't this occur to anybody? Ugh.) But the other corps feels dishonored and demands the jinsong beejae. Ho Jae is with them and tells Yushin that it's their right to ask for it and "you cannot deny their request." So like it or not, they're in one now. Tomorrow morning!
Jo Hae informs Cheonmyeong and Mishil, who are sitting together(!), of what's happened. Then Misaeng comes running in, urging Mishil to go to the assembly hall.
At a council meeting, the king is getting a new round of bad news from Kim Yongchun. Baekje has moved on from Sok Ham Fortress and is now attacking Yeong Nam Fortress. And "General Hajong" only retreated to regroup. The king is furious: "Didn't General Hajong take 10,000 men with him?" But Baekje's king Buyeo Jang is himself leading the operation and the Baekje troops appeared very strong. Eulje urges action because of Yeong Nam's strategic location near important port cities. Mishil enters; the king asks her advice. "Seolwon needs to take an army and join this battle," she advises. "If Buyeo Jang is leading his army, Hajong is no match for him." Give Seolwon an army, she urges. Sejong reacts with visible surprise at the lack of confidence in their son.
Yushin informs a worried Cheonmyeong that the DFers have no choice but to accept the beejae challenge. He suspects Deokman of causing this--"the other night, Deokman was missing and he had been insulted before." It wasn't Deokman, she assures him, but when asked how she knows this, she ducks the question. Cheonmyeong wants to use her authority to call the whole thing off, but Yushin argues that doing so would humiliate them beyond redemption.
Jukbang apparently has seen a jinsong beejae before; he's explaining the rules to the DFers. Starts with a single one-on-one combat; the loser is replaced by another from the same corps; another combat; and so on until all of one corps is eliminated. Pretty simple. (Like WWE Survivor Series, if that helps.) And the losing corps? "They all die." Wow, that's pretty simple too! And not good news. Some grumbling at Deokman, who they know disappeared for a while last night (with Cheonmyeong) and who they think is the culprit. It deteriorates into pushing and shoving, which breaks up when Yushin shows up. He's resigned to the beejae and has been thinking strategy. He gives individual advice to each person. To one he emphasizes moving speedily; to another, a quick strike; to another, remain calm; and so on. And he reminds them all of an old saying: "You must give of your flesh in order to break their bone." They think we're weak, he says, so "attack when their defense relaxes." The old rope-a-dope strategy. He turns to leave...but Deokman wants to know how she should fight. Just stand behind me, Yushin answers; "No matter what you do, you cannot win." Which infuriates her. "You want me to stand in the very back, to watch my comrades die in front of me? I don't want to. I'll be the first to die." Yushin doesn't want to hear that and angrily insists, "No one is going to die!"
Later, Deokman is talking to the hooded-robe-wearing Cheonmyeong again. The princess urges her to just run away from this. But it's become personal for Deokman, so no way.
Godo can't sleep, and wakes up Jukbang. Jukbang tells him, tomorrow we're getting up early and running away. "The time for us to leave has come." Godo goes to sleep with a smile on his face.
The next morning: everybody's dressed and ready to go. Jukbang and Godo too. They overslept their run-away time! No backing out now. Into the courtyard they all go. Lots of other Hwarang there too, of course, including their opponents...but what's going on? Looks like a battle flag flying, and important people are there, and now a royal proclamation is being read! Read to the Hwarang. "Our nation has been trampled upon by Baekje," it starts. "And now, they have pointed their sword at Seorabeol. The situation has become dangerous. Thus, this nation has ordered all Hwarang into battle." Needless to say, none of the Hwarang look too happy about this. But at least the DFers dodge their bullet for the time being.
The king is told that Baekje's army is gathering around Sok Ham Fortress and has added additional troops. They have a clear shot at Seorabeol if the Shillan army can't hold them off. At Mishil's urging, the king directs Seolwon to take an army into battle. Cheonmyeong is to assemble the Hwarang to follow behind the army.
Just like the other Hwarang, the DFers aren't too thrilled to be going to war. But they do realize that their lives were in danger at the jinsong beejae anyway.
Cheonmyeong is reading a scroll that assigns various groups of Hwarang to one of the ten elite "clans" heading off for battle. The DFers are assigned to the Bi Cheonji clan. She gives Yushin a particular caution: "Whatever problems you may have with Bi Cheonji clan, you must follow his orders no matter what." Problems?
Outside, the Bi Cheonji leader warns Yushin, "[our] clan has never retreated nor ever made any mistakes. I'm hoping we don't have any unfortunate accidents due to your clan." Yushin has to put up with this sass and even genuflect to the leader.
Later, Cheonmyeong speaks privately with Yushin, urging him to survive and come back stronger, to give her strength in the future. And she urges him to take care of Deokman. "That child conquers his fear. Even when he can't win, he will never give up. Also, his will pass on his resolve on to others. He may appear unworthy and lacking, but, in battle, that child will be strong." Yushin leaves her. She's holding a jade medallion; her aide asks her, "Weren't you suppose to put that on Lord Yushin, so that he'd certainly return alive?" Yes, she was, but she pinned one of those on her husband too, and she remembers how that turned out.
Deokman is complaining about the disrespect of the other Hwarang, and Yushin's constant badgering them about how weak and vulnerable they are. But this battle, it's an opportunity of sorts. "Let's show them all this time. Let's show it too Lord Yushin and the ten elite Hwarang clans." Her comrades like the sound of that. Yushin has been listening to all this, including a bit of mocking of him, and too late they spot him. They stand at attention, fearful of his reaction, but he simply tells them, "Just do it like we do during training. Then we will all live." He leaves, and they mock him some more. Good for morale to mock the boss.
Mishil finds Seolwon studying the topography of the potential battle zone. Difficult, treacherous hills, or else a longer route that stretches supply lines. "This will be a difficult war," he tells her. "In the end," she replies, "war is all about people. If a leader wavers, then the troops waver. In turn, won't that make the nation waver as well?" Doesn't sound like the most helpful advice, but Seolwon responds well to it.
Another evening conversation between the robed Cheonmyeong and Deokman. The princess senses Deokman isn't taking this war seriously enough, but Deokman tells her, "Do you think Baekje soldiers would let me live because I'm grim?" And Yushin's nagging has made me tougher, Deokman says...which triggers a new thought, because he doesn't nag anybody else: "Wait...By chance, does he like me?" Cheonmyeong answers, "That doesn't make any sense. Yushin is not a woman but a man, so how could he like you?" Deokman slipped for a moment, but gets back into character. "Ahh... You're right. I am a man...But, I kinda look like a girl." Cheonmyeong laughs at the notion of Deokman being a girl. But then smiles as says, "Make sure you come back."
Mishil and Cheonmyeong see the Hwarang off to battle. Mishil gives a short pep talk. Cheonmyeong is wearing her veiled hat again. (Why always do this before the Hwarang? Is this tied in with her Hwarang responsibilities, or is it just dragging out the Deokman-can't-know-who-she-is thing?)
We see the Shillan army's base camp, as the DFers arrive. It's not a pretty sight. Lots of dead and injured lie in rows on the ground.
Scouts report to Seolwon. Tough situation: ambushes are set up along every road; the enemy troops apparently number 20,000 (based on the observation of 2,000 cooking pots, and a ten-to-one ratio). But not a lot of movement from the enemy, at least not yet.
At a war council meeting, Seolwon spells out the battle plan for the attack on Sok Ham Fortress. It's a coordinated attack on the west, south and east gates. The south gate will use fire arrows because the fortress is on a mountain and the conditions will likely be windy. He warns them all that the attack "we will put your lives at risk, and it will be bloody." But "No matter what, we must seize the fortress." Kim Seohyeon is at the meeting, in charge of his own army; what about them? No involvement. Stay here and guard the camp, Seolwon orders. They want to fight and aren't happy about being left out; they suffered a previous defeat (I'm not clear on what that was) and lost half their unit, and want to regain their honor. But Seolwon wants no part of them. Except, he asks Seohyeon, where's your son?
The DFers arrive at a rest tent for Hwarang and go inside. Other Hwarang are there and aren't exactly cordial to them. They heard about the flag incident and are convinced that the DFers are responsible. Words lead to pushing and shoving and a brawl quickly breaks out. (As brawls go, it's about as weak and pathetic as you can get; some of it was basically a pillow fight.) The other group's leaders arrive and put a quick stop to it: "Why are you fighting in here when the enemy is out front of you?" Then Yushin shows up and tries to sort it out...but now here comes Seolwon so no more of any of that. He's there for Yushin...and Yushin only. "Only you will be participating with me in the attack on Sok Ham Fortress."
Evening: still training. Earlier we saw a dozen or so Hwarang; now there look to be around twice that many. Yushin drills them on circular battle formations. Their feet are tied to one another's, to ensure uniformity of movement. Any mistake--and we see one--and everybody goes tumbling. Tough drill but they're working hard on it.
Much later at night, Yushin finds Deokman alone, practicing archery. Tells her she isn't getting enough sleep and it's hurting her performance, so get to bed now. But Deokman is tired of the other corps of Hwarang disrespecting them and wants to participate in the next beejae (some sort of skills competition). And I can at least participate in the archery part--"I am good at archery," she argues, and the target she's shooting at supports her statement. Yushin says nothing and walks away.
So Deokman retires for the evening...but even while the other Hwarang sleep, she's reading an archery manual by candlelight. She wants to get very good at this...we see a flashback of another ugly taunting episode, this one very recent, with elite Hwarang pushing Deokman around and mocking the Dragon Flower Corps, particularly for not competing in the beejae...This, we can see, is what's motivating Deokman to master archery. (In the flashback, we see an older group of elite Hwarang (HOORAY!) including an older Seokpum, an older Bojong, and another of Seorabeol's ten elite Hwarang named Archeon.
In the royal palace: King Jinpyeong (he hasn't aged) has just gotten some very bad news from Yeo Gilchan, a newly introduced military leader. Sok Ham Fortress has been captured by Baekje. Hajong (hasn't aged) berates him for failure; says he can take troops himself and handle the situation. Mishil (hasn't aged!! hah!) urges retaliation. The king wants to let Kim Seohyeon deal with it, but that sparks a big debate. Then Mishil simply takes over: "Alright then. Following everyone's advice, it'd be best if we leave this matter to Hajong." The king just sits there and accepts it. (?)
Later, Mishil's cabal is grumbling about Kim Seohyeon. Don't know why, because Mishil got Hajong put in charge of the matter; what's their problem? Mishil seems worried, though, and tells Hajong, "You must win this battle." Hajong laughs; the Baekje commander's name is Goo Pae, and Pae means "to lose" in Korean, so Hajong mockingly laughs and says it's in the bag.
We see Cheonmyeong; she's aged, like her sister. She's looking over a scroll presented by Ho Jae, who's identified as a Hwarang advisor. The scroll is a list of the Hwarang corps enrolled in the upcoming beejae competition. The Dragon Flower Corps isn't on it.
The DFers are complaining to Kim Yushin about once again not being a part of the beejae. They want to compete but Yushin says they're still not ready. Deokman challenges him: "Losing is less embarrassing than just running away," and says a real Hwarang has to have been in a beejae. She's angry and storms outside...just as some of the elite Hwarang are passing by. One of them, introduced as Duk Choong, is with a young woman and asks Deokman, "How come you're prettier than this girl?" (Hey, somebody's noticing!) Seokpum is there too and joins in the mocking, and so does another new face, Bock Eui (like Duk Choong, one of Seorabeol's ten elite Hwarang). "Perhaps you are a girl?" he asks mockingly. But suddenly they're grabbing Deokman and throwing her around, trying to get her clothes off. Fortunately a couple of the other DFers stroll outside and see this happening, and soon the rest of them run out there and a big brawl breaks out. (Pretty sorry-looking fighting. These Hwarang are older now, but not by much and they still don't exactly look like intimidating fighters, to put it mildly.)
Ho Jae is leading a Hwarang council meeting to sort out the incident. Yushin argues that his corps was insulted and wasn't the instigator. Ho Jae says that a "jinsong beejae," that is, a winner-take-all skills competition, settles these kinds of disputes when a corps feels they've been insulted. So, does Yushin want to protect their honor? Are you in or out? The other Hwarang stare at him, waiting for an answer....
Later, Yushin stands before the DFers. He calls Deokman forward. "You know what you did wrong, right?" Without a word, she kneels. (She knows...do we? Not a darned thing, as far as I can tell.) And he starts beating her on the rear end with a hard pole! Over and over again. Hard, painful blows. The other DFers wince at the sight of it, until the eighth blow is too much for one of them. "Please, stop it! I'm not very fond of Deokman, but what did he do wrong?! They insulted him first. They tried to take his clothes off in front of everyone!" Yushin explains that they'd have to participate in a jinsong beejae to regain their honor--and he turned it down. So for the next month, they'll be doing the laundry of the corps that started the brawl. "We must wait and gain strength," he explains, but that doesn't go over well. They're tired of waiting and tired of the disrespect, and they want to at least enter a beejae. But Yushin argues that such competition would even put their lives at risk, and it's still too dangerous for them. Deokman hesitates, then says, "You're right. This is because of me. So, it's my problem."
Later, the DFers talk amongst themselves about the beejae. Their skills are better than they used to be, no question, but Jukbang reminds them that they're still not at the level of the other corps and that these competitions are serious business: "What if we take them on once and die?" Enough already, he says.
In an isolated spot, Deokman is talking to Cheonmyeong, who's dressed in her hooded monk's robe. We can tell that this isn't their first conversation like this, but we're not sure what happened previously. "You always show up," Deokman says with irritation, "saying Munno will appear so wait a little longer. [But] He isn't coming back." And then, "You must be a headache to your group." (As in, group of monks.) Cheonmyeong smiles. "You must have been punished by Yushin, right?" Deokman grumbles about him being "really mean." Anyway, Cheonmyeong has been looking into things for Deokman. Munno and Chilsuk vanished at around the same time, she reports, and no one really knows whatever happened to Chilsuk or what he was doing.
Later in the evening, we see one of the DFers (can't tell who) sneaking up on a building in the darkness, and eyeing the flag in front of it.
The next morning: That was the flag of the "Cheonmyeong clan,", the Hwarang corps that started the fracas with the DFers. They show up at the DFers' building in a foul mood, because the flag was soiled and they think the DFers are responsible. And they have evidence: a DF headband, left at the scene. Deokman denies responsibility, and all of the DFers we see are wearing their headbands. (Plus, this is such an obvious clue that it has to be a plant; didn't this occur to anybody? Ugh.) But the other corps feels dishonored and demands the jinsong beejae. Ho Jae is with them and tells Yushin that it's their right to ask for it and "you cannot deny their request." So like it or not, they're in one now. Tomorrow morning!
Jo Hae informs Cheonmyeong and Mishil, who are sitting together(!), of what's happened. Then Misaeng comes running in, urging Mishil to go to the assembly hall.
At a council meeting, the king is getting a new round of bad news from Kim Yongchun. Baekje has moved on from Sok Ham Fortress and is now attacking Yeong Nam Fortress. And "General Hajong" only retreated to regroup. The king is furious: "Didn't General Hajong take 10,000 men with him?" But Baekje's king Buyeo Jang is himself leading the operation and the Baekje troops appeared very strong. Eulje urges action because of Yeong Nam's strategic location near important port cities. Mishil enters; the king asks her advice. "Seolwon needs to take an army and join this battle," she advises. "If Buyeo Jang is leading his army, Hajong is no match for him." Give Seolwon an army, she urges. Sejong reacts with visible surprise at the lack of confidence in their son.
Yushin informs a worried Cheonmyeong that the DFers have no choice but to accept the beejae challenge. He suspects Deokman of causing this--"the other night, Deokman was missing and he had been insulted before." It wasn't Deokman, she assures him, but when asked how she knows this, she ducks the question. Cheonmyeong wants to use her authority to call the whole thing off, but Yushin argues that doing so would humiliate them beyond redemption.
Jukbang apparently has seen a jinsong beejae before; he's explaining the rules to the DFers. Starts with a single one-on-one combat; the loser is replaced by another from the same corps; another combat; and so on until all of one corps is eliminated. Pretty simple. (Like WWE Survivor Series, if that helps.) And the losing corps? "They all die." Wow, that's pretty simple too! And not good news. Some grumbling at Deokman, who they know disappeared for a while last night (with Cheonmyeong) and who they think is the culprit. It deteriorates into pushing and shoving, which breaks up when Yushin shows up. He's resigned to the beejae and has been thinking strategy. He gives individual advice to each person. To one he emphasizes moving speedily; to another, a quick strike; to another, remain calm; and so on. And he reminds them all of an old saying: "You must give of your flesh in order to break their bone." They think we're weak, he says, so "attack when their defense relaxes." The old rope-a-dope strategy. He turns to leave...but Deokman wants to know how she should fight. Just stand behind me, Yushin answers; "No matter what you do, you cannot win." Which infuriates her. "You want me to stand in the very back, to watch my comrades die in front of me? I don't want to. I'll be the first to die." Yushin doesn't want to hear that and angrily insists, "No one is going to die!"
Later, Deokman is talking to the hooded-robe-wearing Cheonmyeong again. The princess urges her to just run away from this. But it's become personal for Deokman, so no way.
Godo can't sleep, and wakes up Jukbang. Jukbang tells him, tomorrow we're getting up early and running away. "The time for us to leave has come." Godo goes to sleep with a smile on his face.
The next morning: everybody's dressed and ready to go. Jukbang and Godo too. They overslept their run-away time! No backing out now. Into the courtyard they all go. Lots of other Hwarang there too, of course, including their opponents...but what's going on? Looks like a battle flag flying, and important people are there, and now a royal proclamation is being read! Read to the Hwarang. "Our nation has been trampled upon by Baekje," it starts. "And now, they have pointed their sword at Seorabeol. The situation has become dangerous. Thus, this nation has ordered all Hwarang into battle." Needless to say, none of the Hwarang look too happy about this. But at least the DFers dodge their bullet for the time being.
The king is told that Baekje's army is gathering around Sok Ham Fortress and has added additional troops. They have a clear shot at Seorabeol if the Shillan army can't hold them off. At Mishil's urging, the king directs Seolwon to take an army into battle. Cheonmyeong is to assemble the Hwarang to follow behind the army.
Just like the other Hwarang, the DFers aren't too thrilled to be going to war. But they do realize that their lives were in danger at the jinsong beejae anyway.
Cheonmyeong is reading a scroll that assigns various groups of Hwarang to one of the ten elite "clans" heading off for battle. The DFers are assigned to the Bi Cheonji clan. She gives Yushin a particular caution: "Whatever problems you may have with Bi Cheonji clan, you must follow his orders no matter what." Problems?
Outside, the Bi Cheonji leader warns Yushin, "[our] clan has never retreated nor ever made any mistakes. I'm hoping we don't have any unfortunate accidents due to your clan." Yushin has to put up with this sass and even genuflect to the leader.
Later, Cheonmyeong speaks privately with Yushin, urging him to survive and come back stronger, to give her strength in the future. And she urges him to take care of Deokman. "That child conquers his fear. Even when he can't win, he will never give up. Also, his will pass on his resolve on to others. He may appear unworthy and lacking, but, in battle, that child will be strong." Yushin leaves her. She's holding a jade medallion; her aide asks her, "Weren't you suppose to put that on Lord Yushin, so that he'd certainly return alive?" Yes, she was, but she pinned one of those on her husband too, and she remembers how that turned out.
Deokman is complaining about the disrespect of the other Hwarang, and Yushin's constant badgering them about how weak and vulnerable they are. But this battle, it's an opportunity of sorts. "Let's show them all this time. Let's show it too Lord Yushin and the ten elite Hwarang clans." Her comrades like the sound of that. Yushin has been listening to all this, including a bit of mocking of him, and too late they spot him. They stand at attention, fearful of his reaction, but he simply tells them, "Just do it like we do during training. Then we will all live." He leaves, and they mock him some more. Good for morale to mock the boss.
Mishil finds Seolwon studying the topography of the potential battle zone. Difficult, treacherous hills, or else a longer route that stretches supply lines. "This will be a difficult war," he tells her. "In the end," she replies, "war is all about people. If a leader wavers, then the troops waver. In turn, won't that make the nation waver as well?" Doesn't sound like the most helpful advice, but Seolwon responds well to it.
Another evening conversation between the robed Cheonmyeong and Deokman. The princess senses Deokman isn't taking this war seriously enough, but Deokman tells her, "Do you think Baekje soldiers would let me live because I'm grim?" And Yushin's nagging has made me tougher, Deokman says...which triggers a new thought, because he doesn't nag anybody else: "Wait...By chance, does he like me?" Cheonmyeong answers, "That doesn't make any sense. Yushin is not a woman but a man, so how could he like you?" Deokman slipped for a moment, but gets back into character. "Ahh... You're right. I am a man...But, I kinda look like a girl." Cheonmyeong laughs at the notion of Deokman being a girl. But then smiles as says, "Make sure you come back."
Mishil and Cheonmyeong see the Hwarang off to battle. Mishil gives a short pep talk. Cheonmyeong is wearing her veiled hat again. (Why always do this before the Hwarang? Is this tied in with her Hwarang responsibilities, or is it just dragging out the Deokman-can't-know-who-she-is thing?)
We see the Shillan army's base camp, as the DFers arrive. It's not a pretty sight. Lots of dead and injured lie in rows on the ground.
Scouts report to Seolwon. Tough situation: ambushes are set up along every road; the enemy troops apparently number 20,000 (based on the observation of 2,000 cooking pots, and a ten-to-one ratio). But not a lot of movement from the enemy, at least not yet.
At a war council meeting, Seolwon spells out the battle plan for the attack on Sok Ham Fortress. It's a coordinated attack on the west, south and east gates. The south gate will use fire arrows because the fortress is on a mountain and the conditions will likely be windy. He warns them all that the attack "we will put your lives at risk, and it will be bloody." But "No matter what, we must seize the fortress." Kim Seohyeon is at the meeting, in charge of his own army; what about them? No involvement. Stay here and guard the camp, Seolwon orders. They want to fight and aren't happy about being left out; they suffered a previous defeat (I'm not clear on what that was) and lost half their unit, and want to regain their honor. But Seolwon wants no part of them. Except, he asks Seohyeon, where's your son?
The DFers arrive at a rest tent for Hwarang and go inside. Other Hwarang are there and aren't exactly cordial to them. They heard about the flag incident and are convinced that the DFers are responsible. Words lead to pushing and shoving and a brawl quickly breaks out. (As brawls go, it's about as weak and pathetic as you can get; some of it was basically a pillow fight.) The other group's leaders arrive and put a quick stop to it: "Why are you fighting in here when the enemy is out front of you?" Then Yushin shows up and tries to sort it out...but now here comes Seolwon so no more of any of that. He's there for Yushin...and Yushin only. "Only you will be participating with me in the attack on Sok Ham Fortress."