Post by ajk on Mar 9, 2013 0:45:15 GMT -5
Doink! Hajong and Misaeng are reduced to babbling incoherently. Mishil has just told them the truth about Bidam.
"There is no relationship whatsoever." Well, mother told the truth but son didn't. Bidam lies to Deokman's face. Deokman deadpans, "Is that so?" Very funny. She says she believes him...but does she?
"Why did he deceive me?" No, she doesn't believe him. We see her alone, thinking to herself and knowing that he's hiding something.
Daeya Fortress: Sejong, Seolwon and Chilsuk are talking strategy. They're in good shape defense-wise...but Mishil seems oddly unengaged in any of it. So unengaged that all three of the men notice it.
Hey you dumbbells, get a bigger table! Deokman, Chunchu, Seohyeon, Yongchun, Yushin, Alcheon and Wolya are all sitting around one side of a tiny round table. They realize they're facing a civil war and are trying to figure out what to do. The conversation quickly turns to the troops guarding the Baekje border. Without them, an offensive against Daeya Fortress would be unlikely to succeed--the numbers just aren't there--but you can't take them away and expose the border, can you? Seohyeon brings up a good point--"Mishil might use those troops herself"--but Deokman says she won't. Really? What does she know about it?
Plenty, apparently: "We shall never remove those troops from the front." Mishil says it would be national suicide, and to her credit she won't risk destroying the nation for her personal gain (not yet, anyway). Sejong and Hajong press her on it anyway, but she nearly bites their heads off and tells them it's not even to be considered. And adds one of her "Is that clear?"s, which we know by now means it darned well better be clear, and shut up and go away.
Next day: Deokman is sitting alone, troubled about the possible civil war. Bidam shows up and helps talk her through it...or at least starts to, but now they're interrupted by Jukbang and Godo. Awkwardly, the two tell her, "We thought about this matter." Oh, this will be good--what great insight have the two Einsteins brought her? "When the Qin attacked the Wei, they burst the reservoirs, completely inundating Daliang (the Wei capital city). Wow, good for them--yes, that did happen between two warring Chinese states in the third century BC. "So we thought we could do the same with the Hwang River." Particularly because all of Shilla is upriver of Daeya; in fact, most of the Three Kingdoms rivers flow east to west, and Daeya Fortress is west of them. Who'd have thought it--that actually is a darned good piece of advice. Bidam shoots it down immediately, because it's the dry season and the water levels are too low...but wait, that east-to-west business has given him an idea.
An idea that he pitches to Deokman and Yushin. Don't flood Daeya--do the opposite. Divert the water and dry it out. And all of those little rivulets and tributaries we see that meander around Daeya on the map we're looking at? Bidam says, poison them. Really? He says Daeya would be out of water in two weeks. (I don't know, that seems unlikely.) But Yushin points out that draining all that land area of its water, and dumping poison all through it, it would have a terrible impact on those lands. Deokman agrees, saying that "I myself have no intention of acting as Bidam suggested." Okay...but can she bluff it?
Now Jukbang is surrounded by other Hwarang, and is taking credit for inspiring Bidam's idea. But not knowing what the idea is.
Yes, she's going to bluff. Yushin has already thought it through anyway--make them think it's coming and they'll crack even without attempting it.
Now Deokman has a letter to give to Mishil. Some sort of settlement proposal, apparently, or maybe the threat of the river plan. She hands it to Bidam and tells her to deliver it to her. Why me?, he asks. She doesn't answer; only tells him to hand it to her personally.
So now he's on horseback, bearing a messenger's white flag, and is let into the Daeya gate.
And now he's alone with Mishil. Hands her the letter. She snatches it from his hand, slightly annoyed, and reads it. It's a simple request, for a one-on-one meeting. Not gonna happen. "Unless it is to surrender, I have no reason to meet her." Bidam tries the schoolkid tactic: Are you too scared? Mishil smirks that one right off. Now Seolwon enters and asks for a word with Mishil. Hmmm, interrupting like this, it must be very important...
...and it is. Seolwon's gotten a message, apparently sent by Deokman's side, about the river plan. And he knows it can work, simply because Daeya was designed to fight off enemies from the east (Baekje) and north (Goguryeo) but wasn't constructed to deal with problems from the rear. And sharp guy that he is, he assumes that the message was sent to stir up a panic. And assumes that everybody else inside Daeya would have heard by now as well. Mishil laughs. "Deokman has no intention of fighting," she tells a surprised Seolwon. Without another word, she leaves him...
...and goes back to Bidam--and throws Deokman's letter in his face! This plan, she says, "You think it will make me fear Deokman?" So Bidam does the schoolkid thing again--If you're not scared, meet her. Well, now she's sort of backed into a corner, isn't she.
"I will try to reconcile with her, and join forces." Yushin, Alcheon, Wolya, Chunchu, they're all aghast at what Deokman just said. It's for the greater good of the country, she tells them. "If a conflict is what she wants, she will get one. But purging Mishil's followers will take years. And bringing the government back to normal might take entire decades." This is quite a big step for Deokman; a real show of pragmatism that a good leader needs...
...but the king in his sickbed has gotten wind of it and he's just as aghast as the others. (You're still the king, you can put a stop to it!)
Evening: Yushin quietly approaches Deokman, who's alone on her balcony. Reminds her he's loyal to her and is working hard on her behalf..."But I'm not sure about this." She reminds him of what she told him earlier, about needing competent people to run the government and not having enough of them. Mishil has plenty of them...and she's certainly competent herself, to say the least.
Next day: An open grassland somewhere, presumably midway between Seorabeol and Daeya. A gazebo has been set up, with a table and two chairs. Deokman arrives. Obviously this is where she offered the meeting. And hey look, here comes a gama being carried over a hillside. As it approaches, Deokman has a stern look on her face, like she's about to do something big. Chilsuk is leading the gama. Mishil gets out; she and Deokman exchange slight bows. They go sit down together.
Deokman pitches the alliance. "Your talents are much too valuable to be wasted," she tells Mishil, and I need talented people. "Yes, I do boast quite the remarkable retinue," Mishil agrees. But Deokman isn't asking about Seolwon, or Misaeng, or Chilsuk...it's Mishil herself she wants. "Will you agree to serve my cause?" Probably not the best way to describe an alliance; a poor choice of words. "You have no chance of winning this conflict," Deokman adds; another poor choice of words. So take the best offer you can get, she says, and this is it. Tells her to think about it this way: "You will foster your successor. If you cannot gain possession of this country, how about helping the successor who will rule it?" Deokman is calm and smiling...but of all those poorly chosen words, it's the word "rule" that seems to have poked the sleeping bear. "So I will never rule this land, you're saying?" "There is no way." Deokman lets the words sink in. But Mishil is thinking back now, to the places on all of Shilla's borders where she fought as a young Hwarang; where soldiers and Hwarang died--"not even granted an honorable burial. That is Shilla! The frontier land of this great nation King Jinheung and I conquered! What would you know about that?" Mishil is near tears now. "I cherished this nation with all my heart. So fervently I cherished it, I wanted to possess it." Deokman is deer-in-the-headlights stunned by this, completely unprepared for the intense emotion Mishil is pouring out. "Deokman, could you share your devotion with anyone else?" Maybe so, maybe not...but without another word, Mishil stands up and walks away. There's your answer, princess. Among everyone watching from a distance, Bidam sees the meeting break up and senses it didn't end well. He begs Deokman for a chance to talk to Mishil himself.
Chance granted, obviously...Bidam goes running and blocks the gama's path, which gets Mishil's attention.
Now the two of them walk a little ways away from her retinue and they talk alone. "Do you still believe you can defeat her?" It's over, he insists. And maybe she agrees with him, who knows...but even if it is over, she tells him, I'll resist fiercely to the end. Bidam is dumbfounded by her stubbornness; can't understand why it has to end like this. Her answer? "Because there is no reason why it should not." Lousy answer. It impels him to reach into his jacket, and pull out the red envelope. Mishil sees it, and to our surprise, thinks to herself, "In the end, it found its keeper." Huh? Deokman had it, he tells her, and I stole it from her. She's surprised to see it, of course--"If you made it public, this all would be over already"--but remains remarkably calm and shows no reaction. Which frustrates the heck out of him. "Stop pretending to be strong!" Uh, she's not pretending...Still insisting that more and more people will join her cause as time passes, she presses him: "Why steal it? What is the reason?" "Because it is all too cruel..." And then struggling for the next word..."mother"--and that hits home, we can see it in her eyes--"...to you. This entire life of yours was drenched in injustice. You should have perished long ago." Mishil is practically beaming--is she actually touched by her son's concern for her? It looks like it nearly overcomes her. Take Deokman's offer, he says, filled with emotion and fighting to get the words out; "If you don't, I might reveal this to everyone." At that, she steps right up to him and reaches for his head, to hug him!...and then freezes...and then brushes a blade of grass off his shoulder, restraining herself from what her emotion nearly made her do on impulse. She puts her hand on his shoulder, looks deeply into his eyes...and then turns and walks away without another word. Nearing her gama, she stops momentarily; is there more? No. She walks on. Bidam is left standing alone, a single tear on his face, looking around in seeming despair for something, anything that might bring Mishil to her senses.
No deal, Deokman tells her people, visibly downcast. So now we prepare for war. Or at least, for a siege. Block the waterways, she orders; infiltrate the fortress and spread fear; take positions in the surrounding area.
Seolwon is telling Sejong, Hajong and Misaeng about the alliance proposal. Hajong thinks it's some sort of trick--of course he does--but Seolwon tells him No, Mishil said Deokman "seemed sincere. Enough that she wouldn't kill us." And now look at this--all three of them have strange looks on their faces. Like they're thinking, Why not take that deal? Seolwon senses this and tells them not to worry: "A strong army is backing us." But particularly Misaeng, this news does not sit well with him at all, we can see. And then Bojong enters with some awful news: one of the nobles' battalions that was backing them has switched sides, and rumors of poisoned waterways are causing desertions within the fortress.
Mishil is sitting alone. Looking so very downcast. Alone and lost in thought.
Oh no, it's Santak the Annoying Hwarang! He and some of the other Hwarang are by one of the fortress wells, unsure if they can even drink the water because they fear it might be poisoned. Seokpum comes walking up, which quiets them down; he reaches for some water and they panic and try to stop him. He laughs: "You know how much poison it would take to poison every waterway headed here?" Good for him; he's keeping a cool head and he's right, of course. He drinks, as the other Hwarang watch...and nothing happens. Santak tells him about the desertion problem; Seokpum smirks and tells the group to do the same if they're scared. Just "don't ever let me catch you" doing it. Otherwise be willing to protect Mishil to the end.
Again Mishil, sitting alone and looking downcast as time passes, seemingly resigned to the inevitable.
The next morning: Deokman gives orders for the siege and for a first offensive against the fortress. So soon? Even if this first offensive fails, she says, "We must disrupt our foes' will to fight." Still, seems a little quick.
Santak and three of his men are deserting! They're sneaking around, trying to find a way out of the fortress. But as they head out, Santak changes his mind. Says "I will at least protect my honor" if I die fighting here rather than deserting. Wow--what an un-annoying thing to do.
Now Seolwon is with Mishil, who doesn't look like she's slept or moved all night. Asks her what's on her mind? "How to end this." What?! Wait just a minute, Hajong comes running in, ecstatic with news that General Yeo Gilchan is headed this way with the entire army of Sok Ham Fortress to come to Mishil's aid. Must be a huge army, the way Hajong is carrying on. But it doesn't lift Mishil's sprits one bit. The fire has gone out of her.
Now we see Yeo Gilchan addressing his army. "If we do not protect Her Highness," he tells them, "How could we call ourselves warriors? Let us march, for Daeya Fortress! Let us go, and protect Her Highness!" Wild cheering, and the army moves out.
Deokman and her people get the news. It's not good news at all: Yeo commands 20,000 elite troops, and they'll be here in two days. In a panic, Deokman orders reconnaissance of Baekje army movements, since Sok Ham is on the Baekje border. Wolya and Seolji don't like it--"That is not our most urgent concern!"--and Deokman doesn't look like she has any other ideas in the face of this scary news. But actually it might be exactly the right thing to do...depending on how closely the Baekje army is paying attention.
"Did not his clan benefit from your benevolence for generations?" Hajong's continued giddy babbling tells us why Yeo is coming to help Mishil. But Seolwon can see the bigger picture and then some: Deokman might call additional troops from other border areas to counteract all this. And while he doesn't say it, undoubtedly he knows that the nation's very existence could be put at risk. He presses Mishil for direction, and she orders the same reconnaissance that Deokman ordered. "The Baekje army stationed west of Sok Ham Fortress," she says, "is made of Yoon Chung's elite troops." Hajong doesn't see how this matters--of course he doesn't--but Mishil knows.
Back at Deokman's camp, lots of activity preparing for what might be a huge, nasty, costly fight. Bidam advises Deokman, "We must either retreat or prepare for a full offensive." But Deokman is hoping that the Sok Ham troops might have to give up the offensive. And she's also remembering what Mishil told her earlier about those border regions she fought at, and how passionately she spoke of them as being such an important part of Shilla. As in, will Mishil really risk the nation's losing them?
Now we'll find out, because Bojong runs in to tell Mishil the news that Deokman will be hoping for: the Baekje army started to head eastward as soon as the Shillan troops left Sok Ham. Hajong STILL doesn't get it--of course he doesn't--and Seolwon says they'd better get here quickly so they can take care of business and return quickly. But Mishil says no. Send the fastest messenger to Yeo, she orders, and tell him to turn around immediately. Hajong goes totally bonkers, and now even Seolwon insists that the explain herself. Looking down at the floor, she answers them. "It's time to stop."
Deokman tells Bidam in so many words that Mishil is "a true ruler" and won't destroy the nation for her own sake.
Time to stop what? Suddenly, Mishil looks completely at peace. She utters a single word. "Everything." And calmly gets up and leaves the room.
A shocked Yeo Gilchan reads Mishil's written order as the Daeya messenger kneels before him. "And according to Her Highness," the messenger adds, "this is her very last order." Gilchan looks distraught over the plight of his ally.
Mishil goes to her quarters and sits by herself. Seolwon enters and gently presses her for an explanation. "Should we lose the frontier by my hands," she explains, "I would lose everything to Deokman." And she won't let that happen. Tells Seolwon not to be sad. "Remember that song from our days as fellow Hwarang?" He does, and they take turns recalling the lyrics:
Deokman's side gets the news about Yeo's retreat. Wolya, Seolji and Chunchu can't figure it, even wondering if it's a trick, but Deokman knows it's for real because she can understand the reason for it. And Bidam has thought it through better than Deokman has, because suddenly he bolts. Runs away so fast he drops his sword and doesn't bother to pick it up.
Mishil tells Seolwon to order all of the nobles headed her way with their troops to stand down and head back home.
Bidam runs to one of the Daeya gates, and is shocked to see a white flag raised. Surrender.
Chilsuk and Seokpum, nearby with a large army, receive an order from Mishil. "Withdraw?!" Seokpum doesn't understand it, but Chilsuk does: "Her Highness is putting an end to this."
Chunchu raises a good point: If Yeo is retreating, we need to go back to our siege plan immediately. But then Wolya runs in with news about something happening at Daeya...
Now as Deokman, Yushin, Chunchu and all of the elite Hwarang approach the Daeya gate on horseback (Hey look, Chunchu's riding!), followed by a detachment of their troops and Hwarang, they find all activity in front of the gate ceased, the area completely vacated, and dozens of white flags flying. It's a bizarre scene, as though the place were completely vacated. Then the silence is broken by the rough scraping of the gate's metal doors opening. As several soldiers line the doorway, Seolwon steps out. He's dressed in white. He approaches Deokman...and kneels. "I kneel before you, without conditions." With that, the soldiers behind him also kneel. We've disarmed ourselves, he tells her. And where's Mishil? "She's waiting for you."
Bidam gets to her first. Finds her still sitting there in her room. In front of her on the floor are four small vials, tipped over. Empty. Uh-oh. Good heavens, she really did it. Bidam realizes what she's done--and starts yelling at her. "So this is it? Then why? Why!?" Mishil calmly shushes him. So he quiets down, but his hostility doesn't. Wants to know if she'll apologize for abandoning him, or admit that she cherished him. Completely selfish and inappropriate for the moment. "I need not apologize for anything," she tells him. "And...cherish you?! What do you think love is? Love means taking without reserve or regret. If you truly love Deokman, that is what you must do. Devotion... Just cause...and this Shilla of ours. None of them can be shared with anyone else. Not with Yushin, nor with Chunchu, nor anyone else." As though she wants him to follow the same single-minded quest for power that's been her life's work. And she has more advice, telling him that the path he's chosen--Deokman's--is a dangerous one, in the sense of trying "to gain people's hearts. Dangerous because the people are too "feeble and fragile" in their devotion. Calls it "a most innocent dream you are aspiring for." As in, foolishly naive. To the end, she has little regard for the people. Her advice-giving over, she asks for Deokman.
Deokman enters the room. Too late. Mishil is sitting in the chair, but her eyes are closed. She's dead. Wide-eyed, Deokman looks at her. "Were it not for you," we hear her say to herself, "I might have not made anything out of myself." A tear falls down her cheek. "I salute Mishil, and her legacy."
"There is no relationship whatsoever." Well, mother told the truth but son didn't. Bidam lies to Deokman's face. Deokman deadpans, "Is that so?" Very funny. She says she believes him...but does she?
"Why did he deceive me?" No, she doesn't believe him. We see her alone, thinking to herself and knowing that he's hiding something.
Daeya Fortress: Sejong, Seolwon and Chilsuk are talking strategy. They're in good shape defense-wise...but Mishil seems oddly unengaged in any of it. So unengaged that all three of the men notice it.
Hey you dumbbells, get a bigger table! Deokman, Chunchu, Seohyeon, Yongchun, Yushin, Alcheon and Wolya are all sitting around one side of a tiny round table. They realize they're facing a civil war and are trying to figure out what to do. The conversation quickly turns to the troops guarding the Baekje border. Without them, an offensive against Daeya Fortress would be unlikely to succeed--the numbers just aren't there--but you can't take them away and expose the border, can you? Seohyeon brings up a good point--"Mishil might use those troops herself"--but Deokman says she won't. Really? What does she know about it?
Plenty, apparently: "We shall never remove those troops from the front." Mishil says it would be national suicide, and to her credit she won't risk destroying the nation for her personal gain (not yet, anyway). Sejong and Hajong press her on it anyway, but she nearly bites their heads off and tells them it's not even to be considered. And adds one of her "Is that clear?"s, which we know by now means it darned well better be clear, and shut up and go away.
Next day: Deokman is sitting alone, troubled about the possible civil war. Bidam shows up and helps talk her through it...or at least starts to, but now they're interrupted by Jukbang and Godo. Awkwardly, the two tell her, "We thought about this matter." Oh, this will be good--what great insight have the two Einsteins brought her? "When the Qin attacked the Wei, they burst the reservoirs, completely inundating Daliang (the Wei capital city). Wow, good for them--yes, that did happen between two warring Chinese states in the third century BC. "So we thought we could do the same with the Hwang River." Particularly because all of Shilla is upriver of Daeya; in fact, most of the Three Kingdoms rivers flow east to west, and Daeya Fortress is west of them. Who'd have thought it--that actually is a darned good piece of advice. Bidam shoots it down immediately, because it's the dry season and the water levels are too low...but wait, that east-to-west business has given him an idea.
An idea that he pitches to Deokman and Yushin. Don't flood Daeya--do the opposite. Divert the water and dry it out. And all of those little rivulets and tributaries we see that meander around Daeya on the map we're looking at? Bidam says, poison them. Really? He says Daeya would be out of water in two weeks. (I don't know, that seems unlikely.) But Yushin points out that draining all that land area of its water, and dumping poison all through it, it would have a terrible impact on those lands. Deokman agrees, saying that "I myself have no intention of acting as Bidam suggested." Okay...but can she bluff it?
Now Jukbang is surrounded by other Hwarang, and is taking credit for inspiring Bidam's idea. But not knowing what the idea is.
Yes, she's going to bluff. Yushin has already thought it through anyway--make them think it's coming and they'll crack even without attempting it.
Now Deokman has a letter to give to Mishil. Some sort of settlement proposal, apparently, or maybe the threat of the river plan. She hands it to Bidam and tells her to deliver it to her. Why me?, he asks. She doesn't answer; only tells him to hand it to her personally.
So now he's on horseback, bearing a messenger's white flag, and is let into the Daeya gate.
And now he's alone with Mishil. Hands her the letter. She snatches it from his hand, slightly annoyed, and reads it. It's a simple request, for a one-on-one meeting. Not gonna happen. "Unless it is to surrender, I have no reason to meet her." Bidam tries the schoolkid tactic: Are you too scared? Mishil smirks that one right off. Now Seolwon enters and asks for a word with Mishil. Hmmm, interrupting like this, it must be very important...
...and it is. Seolwon's gotten a message, apparently sent by Deokman's side, about the river plan. And he knows it can work, simply because Daeya was designed to fight off enemies from the east (Baekje) and north (Goguryeo) but wasn't constructed to deal with problems from the rear. And sharp guy that he is, he assumes that the message was sent to stir up a panic. And assumes that everybody else inside Daeya would have heard by now as well. Mishil laughs. "Deokman has no intention of fighting," she tells a surprised Seolwon. Without another word, she leaves him...
...and goes back to Bidam--and throws Deokman's letter in his face! This plan, she says, "You think it will make me fear Deokman?" So Bidam does the schoolkid thing again--If you're not scared, meet her. Well, now she's sort of backed into a corner, isn't she.
"I will try to reconcile with her, and join forces." Yushin, Alcheon, Wolya, Chunchu, they're all aghast at what Deokman just said. It's for the greater good of the country, she tells them. "If a conflict is what she wants, she will get one. But purging Mishil's followers will take years. And bringing the government back to normal might take entire decades." This is quite a big step for Deokman; a real show of pragmatism that a good leader needs...
...but the king in his sickbed has gotten wind of it and he's just as aghast as the others. (You're still the king, you can put a stop to it!)
Evening: Yushin quietly approaches Deokman, who's alone on her balcony. Reminds her he's loyal to her and is working hard on her behalf..."But I'm not sure about this." She reminds him of what she told him earlier, about needing competent people to run the government and not having enough of them. Mishil has plenty of them...and she's certainly competent herself, to say the least.
Next day: An open grassland somewhere, presumably midway between Seorabeol and Daeya. A gazebo has been set up, with a table and two chairs. Deokman arrives. Obviously this is where she offered the meeting. And hey look, here comes a gama being carried over a hillside. As it approaches, Deokman has a stern look on her face, like she's about to do something big. Chilsuk is leading the gama. Mishil gets out; she and Deokman exchange slight bows. They go sit down together.
Deokman pitches the alliance. "Your talents are much too valuable to be wasted," she tells Mishil, and I need talented people. "Yes, I do boast quite the remarkable retinue," Mishil agrees. But Deokman isn't asking about Seolwon, or Misaeng, or Chilsuk...it's Mishil herself she wants. "Will you agree to serve my cause?" Probably not the best way to describe an alliance; a poor choice of words. "You have no chance of winning this conflict," Deokman adds; another poor choice of words. So take the best offer you can get, she says, and this is it. Tells her to think about it this way: "You will foster your successor. If you cannot gain possession of this country, how about helping the successor who will rule it?" Deokman is calm and smiling...but of all those poorly chosen words, it's the word "rule" that seems to have poked the sleeping bear. "So I will never rule this land, you're saying?" "There is no way." Deokman lets the words sink in. But Mishil is thinking back now, to the places on all of Shilla's borders where she fought as a young Hwarang; where soldiers and Hwarang died--"not even granted an honorable burial. That is Shilla! The frontier land of this great nation King Jinheung and I conquered! What would you know about that?" Mishil is near tears now. "I cherished this nation with all my heart. So fervently I cherished it, I wanted to possess it." Deokman is deer-in-the-headlights stunned by this, completely unprepared for the intense emotion Mishil is pouring out. "Deokman, could you share your devotion with anyone else?" Maybe so, maybe not...but without another word, Mishil stands up and walks away. There's your answer, princess. Among everyone watching from a distance, Bidam sees the meeting break up and senses it didn't end well. He begs Deokman for a chance to talk to Mishil himself.
Chance granted, obviously...Bidam goes running and blocks the gama's path, which gets Mishil's attention.
Now the two of them walk a little ways away from her retinue and they talk alone. "Do you still believe you can defeat her?" It's over, he insists. And maybe she agrees with him, who knows...but even if it is over, she tells him, I'll resist fiercely to the end. Bidam is dumbfounded by her stubbornness; can't understand why it has to end like this. Her answer? "Because there is no reason why it should not." Lousy answer. It impels him to reach into his jacket, and pull out the red envelope. Mishil sees it, and to our surprise, thinks to herself, "In the end, it found its keeper." Huh? Deokman had it, he tells her, and I stole it from her. She's surprised to see it, of course--"If you made it public, this all would be over already"--but remains remarkably calm and shows no reaction. Which frustrates the heck out of him. "Stop pretending to be strong!" Uh, she's not pretending...Still insisting that more and more people will join her cause as time passes, she presses him: "Why steal it? What is the reason?" "Because it is all too cruel..." And then struggling for the next word..."mother"--and that hits home, we can see it in her eyes--"...to you. This entire life of yours was drenched in injustice. You should have perished long ago." Mishil is practically beaming--is she actually touched by her son's concern for her? It looks like it nearly overcomes her. Take Deokman's offer, he says, filled with emotion and fighting to get the words out; "If you don't, I might reveal this to everyone." At that, she steps right up to him and reaches for his head, to hug him!...and then freezes...and then brushes a blade of grass off his shoulder, restraining herself from what her emotion nearly made her do on impulse. She puts her hand on his shoulder, looks deeply into his eyes...and then turns and walks away without another word. Nearing her gama, she stops momentarily; is there more? No. She walks on. Bidam is left standing alone, a single tear on his face, looking around in seeming despair for something, anything that might bring Mishil to her senses.
No deal, Deokman tells her people, visibly downcast. So now we prepare for war. Or at least, for a siege. Block the waterways, she orders; infiltrate the fortress and spread fear; take positions in the surrounding area.
Seolwon is telling Sejong, Hajong and Misaeng about the alliance proposal. Hajong thinks it's some sort of trick--of course he does--but Seolwon tells him No, Mishil said Deokman "seemed sincere. Enough that she wouldn't kill us." And now look at this--all three of them have strange looks on their faces. Like they're thinking, Why not take that deal? Seolwon senses this and tells them not to worry: "A strong army is backing us." But particularly Misaeng, this news does not sit well with him at all, we can see. And then Bojong enters with some awful news: one of the nobles' battalions that was backing them has switched sides, and rumors of poisoned waterways are causing desertions within the fortress.
Mishil is sitting alone. Looking so very downcast. Alone and lost in thought.
Oh no, it's Santak the Annoying Hwarang! He and some of the other Hwarang are by one of the fortress wells, unsure if they can even drink the water because they fear it might be poisoned. Seokpum comes walking up, which quiets them down; he reaches for some water and they panic and try to stop him. He laughs: "You know how much poison it would take to poison every waterway headed here?" Good for him; he's keeping a cool head and he's right, of course. He drinks, as the other Hwarang watch...and nothing happens. Santak tells him about the desertion problem; Seokpum smirks and tells the group to do the same if they're scared. Just "don't ever let me catch you" doing it. Otherwise be willing to protect Mishil to the end.
Again Mishil, sitting alone and looking downcast as time passes, seemingly resigned to the inevitable.
The next morning: Deokman gives orders for the siege and for a first offensive against the fortress. So soon? Even if this first offensive fails, she says, "We must disrupt our foes' will to fight." Still, seems a little quick.
Santak and three of his men are deserting! They're sneaking around, trying to find a way out of the fortress. But as they head out, Santak changes his mind. Says "I will at least protect my honor" if I die fighting here rather than deserting. Wow--what an un-annoying thing to do.
Now Seolwon is with Mishil, who doesn't look like she's slept or moved all night. Asks her what's on her mind? "How to end this." What?! Wait just a minute, Hajong comes running in, ecstatic with news that General Yeo Gilchan is headed this way with the entire army of Sok Ham Fortress to come to Mishil's aid. Must be a huge army, the way Hajong is carrying on. But it doesn't lift Mishil's sprits one bit. The fire has gone out of her.
Now we see Yeo Gilchan addressing his army. "If we do not protect Her Highness," he tells them, "How could we call ourselves warriors? Let us march, for Daeya Fortress! Let us go, and protect Her Highness!" Wild cheering, and the army moves out.
Deokman and her people get the news. It's not good news at all: Yeo commands 20,000 elite troops, and they'll be here in two days. In a panic, Deokman orders reconnaissance of Baekje army movements, since Sok Ham is on the Baekje border. Wolya and Seolji don't like it--"That is not our most urgent concern!"--and Deokman doesn't look like she has any other ideas in the face of this scary news. But actually it might be exactly the right thing to do...depending on how closely the Baekje army is paying attention.
"Did not his clan benefit from your benevolence for generations?" Hajong's continued giddy babbling tells us why Yeo is coming to help Mishil. But Seolwon can see the bigger picture and then some: Deokman might call additional troops from other border areas to counteract all this. And while he doesn't say it, undoubtedly he knows that the nation's very existence could be put at risk. He presses Mishil for direction, and she orders the same reconnaissance that Deokman ordered. "The Baekje army stationed west of Sok Ham Fortress," she says, "is made of Yoon Chung's elite troops." Hajong doesn't see how this matters--of course he doesn't--but Mishil knows.
Back at Deokman's camp, lots of activity preparing for what might be a huge, nasty, costly fight. Bidam advises Deokman, "We must either retreat or prepare for a full offensive." But Deokman is hoping that the Sok Ham troops might have to give up the offensive. And she's also remembering what Mishil told her earlier about those border regions she fought at, and how passionately she spoke of them as being such an important part of Shilla. As in, will Mishil really risk the nation's losing them?
Now we'll find out, because Bojong runs in to tell Mishil the news that Deokman will be hoping for: the Baekje army started to head eastward as soon as the Shillan troops left Sok Ham. Hajong STILL doesn't get it--of course he doesn't--and Seolwon says they'd better get here quickly so they can take care of business and return quickly. But Mishil says no. Send the fastest messenger to Yeo, she orders, and tell him to turn around immediately. Hajong goes totally bonkers, and now even Seolwon insists that the explain herself. Looking down at the floor, she answers them. "It's time to stop."
Deokman tells Bidam in so many words that Mishil is "a true ruler" and won't destroy the nation for her own sake.
Time to stop what? Suddenly, Mishil looks completely at peace. She utters a single word. "Everything." And calmly gets up and leaves the room.
A shocked Yeo Gilchan reads Mishil's written order as the Daeya messenger kneels before him. "And according to Her Highness," the messenger adds, "this is her very last order." Gilchan looks distraught over the plight of his ally.
Mishil goes to her quarters and sits by herself. Seolwon enters and gently presses her for an explanation. "Should we lose the frontier by my hands," she explains, "I would lose everything to Deokman." And she won't let that happen. Tells Seolwon not to be sad. "Remember that song from our days as fellow Hwarang?" He does, and they take turns recalling the lyrics:
While you still can fight, fighting is all you need to do. And when you no longer can, you must protect. When you can no longer protect, retreat is necessary. And when retreat is not an option, surrender is your next best decision. Should even surrender prove impossible...On that day, death shall be your best friend.Mishil quoted that last line, and she calmly adds, "Today is that day." She looks at Seolwon and tells him, "I leave the rest to you." Well he's certainly not going to kill her...and in fact he tells her, "We will do it together." But she doesn't want that; she wants him to look after her followers and supporters. He wonders why she's showing such weakness at this moment, but she tells him it's not weakness; it's just another chapter among all of the chapters of strategy she's written. "And this is merely the final one." From inside her sleeve she hands Seolwon a piece of paper, on which she's apparently written some final instructions. Could this really happen? It seems almost surreal....With a sad smile she tells Seolwon, "Accept my apologies."
Deokman's side gets the news about Yeo's retreat. Wolya, Seolji and Chunchu can't figure it, even wondering if it's a trick, but Deokman knows it's for real because she can understand the reason for it. And Bidam has thought it through better than Deokman has, because suddenly he bolts. Runs away so fast he drops his sword and doesn't bother to pick it up.
Mishil tells Seolwon to order all of the nobles headed her way with their troops to stand down and head back home.
Bidam runs to one of the Daeya gates, and is shocked to see a white flag raised. Surrender.
Chilsuk and Seokpum, nearby with a large army, receive an order from Mishil. "Withdraw?!" Seokpum doesn't understand it, but Chilsuk does: "Her Highness is putting an end to this."
Chunchu raises a good point: If Yeo is retreating, we need to go back to our siege plan immediately. But then Wolya runs in with news about something happening at Daeya...
Now as Deokman, Yushin, Chunchu and all of the elite Hwarang approach the Daeya gate on horseback (Hey look, Chunchu's riding!), followed by a detachment of their troops and Hwarang, they find all activity in front of the gate ceased, the area completely vacated, and dozens of white flags flying. It's a bizarre scene, as though the place were completely vacated. Then the silence is broken by the rough scraping of the gate's metal doors opening. As several soldiers line the doorway, Seolwon steps out. He's dressed in white. He approaches Deokman...and kneels. "I kneel before you, without conditions." With that, the soldiers behind him also kneel. We've disarmed ourselves, he tells her. And where's Mishil? "She's waiting for you."
Bidam gets to her first. Finds her still sitting there in her room. In front of her on the floor are four small vials, tipped over. Empty. Uh-oh. Good heavens, she really did it. Bidam realizes what she's done--and starts yelling at her. "So this is it? Then why? Why!?" Mishil calmly shushes him. So he quiets down, but his hostility doesn't. Wants to know if she'll apologize for abandoning him, or admit that she cherished him. Completely selfish and inappropriate for the moment. "I need not apologize for anything," she tells him. "And...cherish you?! What do you think love is? Love means taking without reserve or regret. If you truly love Deokman, that is what you must do. Devotion... Just cause...and this Shilla of ours. None of them can be shared with anyone else. Not with Yushin, nor with Chunchu, nor anyone else." As though she wants him to follow the same single-minded quest for power that's been her life's work. And she has more advice, telling him that the path he's chosen--Deokman's--is a dangerous one, in the sense of trying "to gain people's hearts. Dangerous because the people are too "feeble and fragile" in their devotion. Calls it "a most innocent dream you are aspiring for." As in, foolishly naive. To the end, she has little regard for the people. Her advice-giving over, she asks for Deokman.
Deokman enters the room. Too late. Mishil is sitting in the chair, but her eyes are closed. She's dead. Wide-eyed, Deokman looks at her. "Were it not for you," we hear her say to herself, "I might have not made anything out of myself." A tear falls down her cheek. "I salute Mishil, and her legacy."
Without her having to admit to any sort of wrong-doing? No calling to account? Where's the justice? She never had to pay for her crimes, never suffered for them. But all her followers - where does this leave them? She doesn't have to face the music, but they do. Seems awfully cowardly to me.
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