Post by ajk on May 3, 2013 23:51:38 GMT -5
You'd think the Baekje army would be better prepared to fight, ambush notwithstanding, since they're walking right into the enemy's camp. You'd think. Nope. They do manage to retreat, but not until after they take some serious casualties from the Shillans. Great plan by Yushin, so far...they retreat into a nearby valley, but guess what, now it's the Gayans waiting for them. Crossbows and footbows firing flaming arrows--from a range beyond what the Baekjeans thought possible. More casualties...and now here comes Yushin and the entire Shillan army charging at them in one huge mass. So Gyebaek orders a countercharge, and now all hell breaks loose as the two fronts collide.
Meanwhile, Bidam is walking around the capital this evening, holding a couple of scrolls and smiling. Tough life, isn't it.
A visually endless mass of hand-to-hand combat out there under the moonlight. And as usual, the Shillans are dominating. We catch glimpses of Wolya, Yushin, Godo, even Daepoong, all kicking butt. The only Baekjean really dominating is Gyebaek...or is it the other guy behind the red mask he's wearing? Whoever it is, Yushin gets agitated enough at seeing Shillan after Shillan fall to the guy that he calls out, "Try to face me instead!" They charge at each other, and here comes the epic contest we're anticipating...and then, clank. One swipe and both their swords break into pieces. Yushin turns back and watches his opponent remove his helmet--yeah, it's Gyebaek. They glare at each other, and Yushin charges forward....
QSD is looking at the two scrolls Bidam brought her. "Covenants I personally wrote," he tells her. One copy for each of them. What do they say? They're his promise that if she dies before he does, he'll leave the government. He thinks this will make her less distrustful of his motives. (But why should she believe he'll always honor them, even if his intentions are good now?)
Now they've resorted to punching and kicking each other. Right in the chest armor. Uhhh, guys? Not gonna do much good. And hurts like the dickens, obviously. But Gyebaek is physically bigger and Yushin seems to be getting pushed around a little harder.
"I shall stake my life to fulfill this pledge of mine. And it's all for your sake." Bidam sounds sincere--but he's sounded sincere before without meaning it.
Yushin pulls himself up off the ground and shouts, "For our great nation!"
Bidam looks at Deokman and says, "For Your Majesty, and our great nation." A lot easier to say when somebody isn't kicking you in the chest.
Okay, they've managed to re-arm themselves; Gyebaek got his hands on another sword and Yushin grabbed a spear. They swing at each other repeatedly, and now they're locked up test-of-strength style...but before we see the winner, Godo happens to spot a huge plume of black smoke barely visible against the night sky. Obviously it was what the Shillans expected. "Lord Jujin has succeeded!" Yushin tells Gyebaek that It's your military supplies burning up. Which is VERY bad news because the routes for the Baekjeans' supply chain are tenuous and difficult to maintain...The two trade some predictable words about how dangerous the other one is and how they want to kill each other...and then they start fighting again.
Baekje command center: Commander Yoon Chung gets bad news. And not the bad news we've been watching; the bad news about Jujin getting into his army's camp.
Couple of nice moves as Gyebaek knocks Yushin down and then Yushin returns the favor. Look, we know neither of these guys is going to die here...just then, we hear horns sounding and a Baekje soldier shouts to Gyebaek that it's the retreat signal. Other Baekje soldiers step in front of Gyebaek to shield him from Yushin, and Gyebaek reluctantly gives the withdraw order. Yushin starts to order a pursuit of the fleeing enemy, but amazingly, Godo cuts him off and wisely advises him that it might leave their own encampment vulnerable. How about that--Godo has turned into a real asset, hasn't he...so the Shillans stand there and watch the Baekjeans run away into the darkness, Gyebaek among the last to leave. And again, not one Shillan with a bow and arrow. (Although shooting somebody in the back, maybe not the most honorable thing.)
QSD is meeting with Bidam, who's reviewing his relocate-the-government plan, and Yongchun, Seohyeon and, of all people, Misaeng. There's a surprise, but he is a bright guy, and a councilor. Seohyeon says he's going to head to Goguryeo to ask for reinforcements. But hang on with all that, because Alcheon comes running in with news that Yushin has triumphed and "reclaimed the counties of Iseo and Chuhwa." Hasn't taken Daeya Fortress back just yet, but the Shillans are advancing on it. A huge sigh of relief from everyone at the table, including Misaeng. Sounds like the worst is over; certainly the evacuation plan isn't necessary for now.
Here's a treat: we get a look at the backup palace at Yulpo Prefecture. Great location on the seaside. Chunchu and Jukbang are there and have just heard the good news.
Here comes the victorious army back from the front, to the cheers of the citizens lining the streets. A lot of the soldiers are just too worn out and beat up to smile or acknowledge the cheers. But they're glad to be back.
Yushin enters a state council meeting where the queen and everyone else is waiting for him. The queen gives Yushin a land grant as a reward for his service; and gives Wolya a government post--which is VERY nice of her, all things considered. And then surprises us by owning up to having neglected military affairs in favor of the land-ownership projects that she thought would make the country stronger. "I therefore admit my responsibility in creating this conflict." She still believes that her projects will invest the people in their country more and that will pay off in wartime. But we can and should strengthen our military, she now realizes, and can soon become much stronger than Baekje. "From here on in," she says, adhering to the unify-the-kingdoms goal, "Shilla is on war footing." And the extra effort that's been put into making farming implements, that's to switch back to weapons production where it came from. Kind of a surprise to hear this from her, but it's well-reasoned and a good sign leadership-wise. And here's an even bigger surprise: all of those troops belonging to various nobles that she had given Bidam control over? They'll be reassigned as special forces under the regular military. Doink! That shocks everybody there. They all start questioning her about why do this now during the middle of a war. But Bidam steps forward and cuts them all off. "Seorabeol," he says sternly, "is facing a grave emergency as we speak." Huh? What's this about? He tells the queen he'll comply and help reorganize the troops. Okay, guess it's a done deal. Surprises over? Oh, hardly--that was nothing. The queen has one more thing to announce. Her upcoming "royal nuptials." Silence. Naaah, we didn't hear that correctly; what did she say? Everybody turns and looks at her. Yongchun, at least, heard what we thought we heard--he asks "With whom?" "Lord Bidam." Okay, what's going on here? This can't be the Deokman we know, can it? As we can see, even Bidam didn't know this was coming. This is a huge bomb that stuns everyone present. Yushin stays remarkably calm; not sure if he saw it coming or if it's just not that big a deal to him anymore. Wow.
"I saw in her the firm conviction of making both Yushin and Bidam into her people." Seohyeon tells his wife and Yongchun why he thinks the queen is doing this. Manmyeong is worried about the succession implications may turn out to be. Yongchun, he just looks like he wants to vomit. Can you blame him?
Jukbang looks like he just ate a lemon. "Of all people, Lord Bidam?" He's with Chunchu, who looks thoroughly disgusted. And Chunchu admits to being concerned about whatever it is she thinks she's going to accomplish by doing this. (Of course, as the presumed successor this could have a big impact on him.)
Now the cabal is trying to make sense of it. Not really succeeding, except assuming that it will give Bidam more influence than Yushin has. I don't think that's a given, though....
Evening: And now the conversation we want to hear. Yushin goes to see the queen, who's by herself, staring into a reflecting pool. Yushin offers his congratulations. She answers, "It did not dishearten you, did it?" His response: "It did." (Why? Because he wanted it to be him, or just because he thinks she's making a mistake? Not clear.) He admits that Bidam's influence is a concern of his...still, he says, You're entitled to have that one area of comfort in your life. "It is something I could not do for you," he adds. Presumably it's because he's married now, but whatever the reason, he ends up asking the queen for her forgiveness. Very odd.
Yushin leaves her, and happens to run into Bidam by the next building. Awkward silence. Bidam offers, "Her Majesty has still more confidence in you." Yushin answers, You are the only one who can console and bring her solace. Give your all for her, then. Your devotion must never become suffering for her. Is that clear?" And then adds, as he leaves, "Congratulations." We can see by Bidam's face that he remembers the earlier days when Deokman pined for Yushin.
Now it's a foggy morning out in some outlying village. This is probably Yeom Jong's estate. Bidam has come here to retrieve the Geographical Survey of the Three Kingdoms books. (Or is this the temple where we saw the books previously? Not sure.) Lots of memories come flooding back. But why did Bidam come here for them.
Chunchu is getting a first look at the covenant that Bidam wrote. QSD is showing it to him, and he's satisfied that it's sincere and legitimate. "Still," he says as tactfully as he can, "People change." Bidam is influential now whether or not he wants to be. So what if he changes his mind and decides to break the covenant? Good for you, kid; very smart analysis. The queen says nothing. What can she say, really....
Now Yeom Jong is in the room where we just saw Bidam. A subordinate had tailed him there and saw him leave with something. Yeom Jong wonders what Bidam took from here. Wonders, wonders...Doink! His eyes get big. The books! "Why did he suddenly...He wouldn't..."
Now the queen hands Chunchu an envelope. Inside is her own covenant with Chunchu that she's drawn up. "Should he fail to live up to his covenant," it basically says, "you must slay Bidam." Chunchu is shocked at the thought of it (and possibly also at the queen's abject stupidity for forgetting how successful the order was to slay Bidam's mother!). She tells him it's to guard against her changing her own mind about all this. Please understand, she asks him; I simply want him by my side.
Not at all what we would have expected: Bidam has brought the books to Yushin! This is a major shocker. Yushin wonders why? "Call it a bribe," Bidam answers a little uncomfortably. "To ensure I can count on you in the future." For what? Something this significant, well, Yushin says he doesn't care why he's getting it; he's just glad to have it and tells Bidam he's very grateful. Amazing gesture on Bidam's part because of the importance of these books and because, as we learned earlier (episodes 36 and 37), Munno had decided Yushin was more worthy of the books than Bidam was, and that hurt Bidam terribly. So either Bidam is playing a very high-stakes game here, or else he's really that sincere about proving to QSD his lack of selfish motives.
A screaming, seething Yeom Jong stomps into Bidam's office and finds it empty. He starts looking for the books; no luck...but he does find Bidam's copy of his covenant with Deokman. It makes him even angrier.
Someone is outside yelling for Misaeng's attention. Misaeng is asleep. Or at least was. The screaming person wakes him up and then runs into his bedroom. Oh no, it's Santak the Annoying chief guard! This has to be a nightmare! No such luck, dude. What's so important?
Now here's a roomful of very sleepy people. Misaeng, Hajong, Bojong, Jujin, Ho Jae, Sueulbu and Wang Yun, all still in their jammies. Yeom Jong has called them together for an emergency meeting. And tells them about the "secret covenant."
Jukbang tells Chunchu this nuptial business nothing to worry about, and in fact it's quite smart because it brings control of all of those supplemental military forces to the throne. But Chunchu doesn't seem to think this is good for the kingdom; that it will somehow become an issue with the populace. "This is a perilous relationship."
The covenant, everybody in the meeting is furious about it. Okay, NOW we get it--these are the guys who will lose their private troops to the throne, and they think Bidam sold them out to make goody-goody with QSD. They're all agitated and pounding the table and ready to confront Bidam. But Yeom Jong cuts them off. We can't do that, he argues, because obviously we're not important enough to him for him to listen to us. Yeom Jong ominously says, "we must take matters into our hands." And Misaeng already has an idea of how to do that.
Same evening: QSD is in her own jammies, doing some late-night studying. Bidam is allowed in to see her. He takes her hand and gently pulls her away from the desk, and insists she get her rest. She confesses that sleep has been difficult lately, but she's not sure why. Feels "as if I did something wrong...and my heart throbs." Hmmm...but he sits by her bedside and they talk calmly, and soon she's zonked out.
Next morning: Guess what, there's a Tang delegation arriving soon. They're at Danghang Fortress today, so they're in Shilla already.
And now we're there. Misaeng has met the Tang envoy, told him about the situation with Bidam, and says that If you'll help us, "you will gain what you want." Uh-oh, don't know the specifics yet but all kinds of trouble lurking here...Put it in writing, the envoy says, and Misaeng readily agrees. Waiting outside, Yeom Jong tells Misaeng he expected a request for a written confirmation. He's even brought a fan made out of raven feathers--a big fluffy-looking thing--that he says is "perfect for secret covenants or exchanging discreet diplomatic messages." My men use it, he says, and "It has never been detected before." Not sure what this is talking about.
Now Misaeng and Yeom Jong are escorting the envoy through the capital city gates.
Su Jiyan--that's the envoy's name, we learn--enters a state council meeting and conveys his official greeting. He and QSD trade pleasantries, and he presents a gift from the Tang emperor: ginseng herbs and Tang horse leather, as a thank-you for a gift she had sent him previously. More pleasantries about friendship between the countries. She can sling it, give her credit--showing more diplomatic savvy than we would have expected from her. But then the envoy detours. What's this? The emperor sent us "to prove our fellowship," he says. Uh-oh, this must be whatever Misaeng arranged..."he reason why Shilla is so often invaded by foreign powers might very well be because a woman is on its throne, leading neighbors to belittle it." So, he says, the emperor "wonders what you'd think about sending a relative of his to Shilla, proclaiming him as the king, and sending troops along to protect your country." As an insult, it's pretty weak ("so often invaded" under QSD...as in, once?), but it sets the whole room buzzing, of course. Without missing a beat, the queen stands up, calls for Alcheon, and orders the entire Tang delegation locked up in confinement! And tells Chunchu to send "Chancellor of the Board of Rites Lord Jowi to Tang to verify whether the Tang emperor said so, or it was concocted by them." Well how about that--good for her! The envoy bluffs a good game, insisting he's on the level, but she fires back that if this is legitimate, she's stopping all trade with Tang, and if it's not, "you shall be beheaded for treason." This may be her finest moment of the series. Very impressive.
So the delegation is taken away, all of them whining and protesting. Alcheon couldn't care less. They're taken to their guest quarters, the doors are locked, and orders are given that nobody is allowed in or out.
Now a smaller state meeting: QSD, Chunchu, Yongchun, Yushin, Bidam, Jujin, Sueulbu and Misaeng. Misaeng is already trying to weasel the envoy out of trouble. Jujin and Sueulbu add that envoys pull this kind of thing often...and besides that, Shilla was about to request some military reinforcements from Tang to protect their mutual trade route and this may well complicate that. The queen isn't fazed. In fact, she knew that the envoy was coming here to request Shillan troops to assist in Tang's pending war with Goguryeo. "One of the basic principles of negotiating," she explains, "is reacting to threats with detachment. Also, refuting their claims right away would only mean playing their game. You can never win any dispute when the confrontation itself is orchestrated by your opponent." And then too, the envoy is going to start doubting himself and wonder if he messed up, even if he was on the level. "When it comes to diplomacy, you must never say anything more than what you need to convey. But he belittled and insulted me before the entire court." Wow, where did THIS come from? How'd she get so smart about this stuff? "There must be something significant they want from us," she adds; "So what I'm trying to learn is their intent."
Now the cabal is meeting, and Misaeng is groaning. He knows the queen sniffed out something unseemly right away. They really need to get to the envoy and talk to him, but they know it's not gonna happen. Not with Alcheon calling the shots; he can't be bribed.
"Accept their bribes?!" Alcheon is getting maybe his strangest order ever from the queen. If anybody tries to bribe your troops, she says, just accept them and bring the bribes to me. She thinks that Tang merchants here in Shilla might be approached to get involved with this. But she's convinced the envoy will crack soon anyway. Within three days, she says.
As we learn listening to the envoy and his assistant, yes, the emperor sent them to ask for Shillan reinforcements. That's the least of their problems now. So what to do? The envoy says we wait it out for now.
Nighttime: Wow is the guest building every crawling with guards. They're practically bumping into each other. Yeom Jong surreptitiously looks the scene over...
...then goes back to the waiting cabal and shakes his head no. No way to talk to him.
Now the envoy is getting nervous. Real nervous. So much so, he gives a guard a bribe, then hands him the big raven-feather fan and tells him to take it to Bidam.
Next morning: Now the cabal realizes they're going to have to talk to Bidam after all. No other option left to them.
Yes, there have been three attempts by Tang to contact outside parties through bribes. Including the feather fan from the envoy, which the queen is now holding. Good job by Alcheon's men. Chunchu is there and, seeing the fan, something occurs to him like he knows what it might be for. he starts to examine it....
Well finally the idiots have sat down to talk it out with Bidam like they should have done in the first place. Idiots, idiots, idiots. Of course, Bidam is furious, but when he hears that they know about the secret covenant, well, he goes silent.
Now Chunchu is holding the fan feathers over boiling water. He's heard a story about a coded message that a spy once wrote on a raven feather...and now he's pressing the moist, steamed feathers onto a sheet of paper. And look at that, now writing is starting to appear on the paper.
They're really letting Bidam have it about that covenant. Cornered, Bidam tries to accuse the group of writing the covenant to frame him! Doubtful he'll get any traction with that.
Look at that--an entire message has shown up on the paper. Nice work, Chunchu. What does it say?
Now the idiots are telling Bidam the whole story. Not only was it to get him back on their side, they explain, but as Misaeng says, "to oust Her Majesty from power." Bidam's eyes widen as he realizes what hot water he could be in. Jujin asks, "Was not your intent that of becoming King?" Yeom Jong adds, "We crossed a bridge of no return already, Lord Bidam."
Her hands shaking, the queen is holding the piece of paper, staring at the revealed message and muttering Bidam's name, over and over.
Meanwhile, Bidam is walking around the capital this evening, holding a couple of scrolls and smiling. Tough life, isn't it.
A visually endless mass of hand-to-hand combat out there under the moonlight. And as usual, the Shillans are dominating. We catch glimpses of Wolya, Yushin, Godo, even Daepoong, all kicking butt. The only Baekjean really dominating is Gyebaek...or is it the other guy behind the red mask he's wearing? Whoever it is, Yushin gets agitated enough at seeing Shillan after Shillan fall to the guy that he calls out, "Try to face me instead!" They charge at each other, and here comes the epic contest we're anticipating...and then, clank. One swipe and both their swords break into pieces. Yushin turns back and watches his opponent remove his helmet--yeah, it's Gyebaek. They glare at each other, and Yushin charges forward....
QSD is looking at the two scrolls Bidam brought her. "Covenants I personally wrote," he tells her. One copy for each of them. What do they say? They're his promise that if she dies before he does, he'll leave the government. He thinks this will make her less distrustful of his motives. (But why should she believe he'll always honor them, even if his intentions are good now?)
Now they've resorted to punching and kicking each other. Right in the chest armor. Uhhh, guys? Not gonna do much good. And hurts like the dickens, obviously. But Gyebaek is physically bigger and Yushin seems to be getting pushed around a little harder.
"I shall stake my life to fulfill this pledge of mine. And it's all for your sake." Bidam sounds sincere--but he's sounded sincere before without meaning it.
Yushin pulls himself up off the ground and shouts, "For our great nation!"
Bidam looks at Deokman and says, "For Your Majesty, and our great nation." A lot easier to say when somebody isn't kicking you in the chest.
Okay, they've managed to re-arm themselves; Gyebaek got his hands on another sword and Yushin grabbed a spear. They swing at each other repeatedly, and now they're locked up test-of-strength style...but before we see the winner, Godo happens to spot a huge plume of black smoke barely visible against the night sky. Obviously it was what the Shillans expected. "Lord Jujin has succeeded!" Yushin tells Gyebaek that It's your military supplies burning up. Which is VERY bad news because the routes for the Baekjeans' supply chain are tenuous and difficult to maintain...The two trade some predictable words about how dangerous the other one is and how they want to kill each other...and then they start fighting again.
Baekje command center: Commander Yoon Chung gets bad news. And not the bad news we've been watching; the bad news about Jujin getting into his army's camp.
Couple of nice moves as Gyebaek knocks Yushin down and then Yushin returns the favor. Look, we know neither of these guys is going to die here...just then, we hear horns sounding and a Baekje soldier shouts to Gyebaek that it's the retreat signal. Other Baekje soldiers step in front of Gyebaek to shield him from Yushin, and Gyebaek reluctantly gives the withdraw order. Yushin starts to order a pursuit of the fleeing enemy, but amazingly, Godo cuts him off and wisely advises him that it might leave their own encampment vulnerable. How about that--Godo has turned into a real asset, hasn't he...so the Shillans stand there and watch the Baekjeans run away into the darkness, Gyebaek among the last to leave. And again, not one Shillan with a bow and arrow. (Although shooting somebody in the back, maybe not the most honorable thing.)
QSD is meeting with Bidam, who's reviewing his relocate-the-government plan, and Yongchun, Seohyeon and, of all people, Misaeng. There's a surprise, but he is a bright guy, and a councilor. Seohyeon says he's going to head to Goguryeo to ask for reinforcements. But hang on with all that, because Alcheon comes running in with news that Yushin has triumphed and "reclaimed the counties of Iseo and Chuhwa." Hasn't taken Daeya Fortress back just yet, but the Shillans are advancing on it. A huge sigh of relief from everyone at the table, including Misaeng. Sounds like the worst is over; certainly the evacuation plan isn't necessary for now.
Here's a treat: we get a look at the backup palace at Yulpo Prefecture. Great location on the seaside. Chunchu and Jukbang are there and have just heard the good news.
Here comes the victorious army back from the front, to the cheers of the citizens lining the streets. A lot of the soldiers are just too worn out and beat up to smile or acknowledge the cheers. But they're glad to be back.
Yushin enters a state council meeting where the queen and everyone else is waiting for him. The queen gives Yushin a land grant as a reward for his service; and gives Wolya a government post--which is VERY nice of her, all things considered. And then surprises us by owning up to having neglected military affairs in favor of the land-ownership projects that she thought would make the country stronger. "I therefore admit my responsibility in creating this conflict." She still believes that her projects will invest the people in their country more and that will pay off in wartime. But we can and should strengthen our military, she now realizes, and can soon become much stronger than Baekje. "From here on in," she says, adhering to the unify-the-kingdoms goal, "Shilla is on war footing." And the extra effort that's been put into making farming implements, that's to switch back to weapons production where it came from. Kind of a surprise to hear this from her, but it's well-reasoned and a good sign leadership-wise. And here's an even bigger surprise: all of those troops belonging to various nobles that she had given Bidam control over? They'll be reassigned as special forces under the regular military. Doink! That shocks everybody there. They all start questioning her about why do this now during the middle of a war. But Bidam steps forward and cuts them all off. "Seorabeol," he says sternly, "is facing a grave emergency as we speak." Huh? What's this about? He tells the queen he'll comply and help reorganize the troops. Okay, guess it's a done deal. Surprises over? Oh, hardly--that was nothing. The queen has one more thing to announce. Her upcoming "royal nuptials." Silence. Naaah, we didn't hear that correctly; what did she say? Everybody turns and looks at her. Yongchun, at least, heard what we thought we heard--he asks "With whom?" "Lord Bidam." Okay, what's going on here? This can't be the Deokman we know, can it? As we can see, even Bidam didn't know this was coming. This is a huge bomb that stuns everyone present. Yushin stays remarkably calm; not sure if he saw it coming or if it's just not that big a deal to him anymore. Wow.
"I saw in her the firm conviction of making both Yushin and Bidam into her people." Seohyeon tells his wife and Yongchun why he thinks the queen is doing this. Manmyeong is worried about the succession implications may turn out to be. Yongchun, he just looks like he wants to vomit. Can you blame him?
Jukbang looks like he just ate a lemon. "Of all people, Lord Bidam?" He's with Chunchu, who looks thoroughly disgusted. And Chunchu admits to being concerned about whatever it is she thinks she's going to accomplish by doing this. (Of course, as the presumed successor this could have a big impact on him.)
Now the cabal is trying to make sense of it. Not really succeeding, except assuming that it will give Bidam more influence than Yushin has. I don't think that's a given, though....
Evening: And now the conversation we want to hear. Yushin goes to see the queen, who's by herself, staring into a reflecting pool. Yushin offers his congratulations. She answers, "It did not dishearten you, did it?" His response: "It did." (Why? Because he wanted it to be him, or just because he thinks she's making a mistake? Not clear.) He admits that Bidam's influence is a concern of his...still, he says, You're entitled to have that one area of comfort in your life. "It is something I could not do for you," he adds. Presumably it's because he's married now, but whatever the reason, he ends up asking the queen for her forgiveness. Very odd.
Yushin leaves her, and happens to run into Bidam by the next building. Awkward silence. Bidam offers, "Her Majesty has still more confidence in you." Yushin answers, You are the only one who can console and bring her solace. Give your all for her, then. Your devotion must never become suffering for her. Is that clear?" And then adds, as he leaves, "Congratulations." We can see by Bidam's face that he remembers the earlier days when Deokman pined for Yushin.
Now it's a foggy morning out in some outlying village. This is probably Yeom Jong's estate. Bidam has come here to retrieve the Geographical Survey of the Three Kingdoms books. (Or is this the temple where we saw the books previously? Not sure.) Lots of memories come flooding back. But why did Bidam come here for them.
Chunchu is getting a first look at the covenant that Bidam wrote. QSD is showing it to him, and he's satisfied that it's sincere and legitimate. "Still," he says as tactfully as he can, "People change." Bidam is influential now whether or not he wants to be. So what if he changes his mind and decides to break the covenant? Good for you, kid; very smart analysis. The queen says nothing. What can she say, really....
Now Yeom Jong is in the room where we just saw Bidam. A subordinate had tailed him there and saw him leave with something. Yeom Jong wonders what Bidam took from here. Wonders, wonders...Doink! His eyes get big. The books! "Why did he suddenly...He wouldn't..."
Now the queen hands Chunchu an envelope. Inside is her own covenant with Chunchu that she's drawn up. "Should he fail to live up to his covenant," it basically says, "you must slay Bidam." Chunchu is shocked at the thought of it (and possibly also at the queen's abject stupidity for forgetting how successful the order was to slay Bidam's mother!). She tells him it's to guard against her changing her own mind about all this. Please understand, she asks him; I simply want him by my side.
Not at all what we would have expected: Bidam has brought the books to Yushin! This is a major shocker. Yushin wonders why? "Call it a bribe," Bidam answers a little uncomfortably. "To ensure I can count on you in the future." For what? Something this significant, well, Yushin says he doesn't care why he's getting it; he's just glad to have it and tells Bidam he's very grateful. Amazing gesture on Bidam's part because of the importance of these books and because, as we learned earlier (episodes 36 and 37), Munno had decided Yushin was more worthy of the books than Bidam was, and that hurt Bidam terribly. So either Bidam is playing a very high-stakes game here, or else he's really that sincere about proving to QSD his lack of selfish motives.
A screaming, seething Yeom Jong stomps into Bidam's office and finds it empty. He starts looking for the books; no luck...but he does find Bidam's copy of his covenant with Deokman. It makes him even angrier.
Someone is outside yelling for Misaeng's attention. Misaeng is asleep. Or at least was. The screaming person wakes him up and then runs into his bedroom. Oh no, it's Santak the Annoying chief guard! This has to be a nightmare! No such luck, dude. What's so important?
Now here's a roomful of very sleepy people. Misaeng, Hajong, Bojong, Jujin, Ho Jae, Sueulbu and Wang Yun, all still in their jammies. Yeom Jong has called them together for an emergency meeting. And tells them about the "secret covenant."
Jukbang tells Chunchu this nuptial business nothing to worry about, and in fact it's quite smart because it brings control of all of those supplemental military forces to the throne. But Chunchu doesn't seem to think this is good for the kingdom; that it will somehow become an issue with the populace. "This is a perilous relationship."
The covenant, everybody in the meeting is furious about it. Okay, NOW we get it--these are the guys who will lose their private troops to the throne, and they think Bidam sold them out to make goody-goody with QSD. They're all agitated and pounding the table and ready to confront Bidam. But Yeom Jong cuts them off. We can't do that, he argues, because obviously we're not important enough to him for him to listen to us. Yeom Jong ominously says, "we must take matters into our hands." And Misaeng already has an idea of how to do that.
Same evening: QSD is in her own jammies, doing some late-night studying. Bidam is allowed in to see her. He takes her hand and gently pulls her away from the desk, and insists she get her rest. She confesses that sleep has been difficult lately, but she's not sure why. Feels "as if I did something wrong...and my heart throbs." Hmmm...but he sits by her bedside and they talk calmly, and soon she's zonked out.
Next morning: Guess what, there's a Tang delegation arriving soon. They're at Danghang Fortress today, so they're in Shilla already.
And now we're there. Misaeng has met the Tang envoy, told him about the situation with Bidam, and says that If you'll help us, "you will gain what you want." Uh-oh, don't know the specifics yet but all kinds of trouble lurking here...Put it in writing, the envoy says, and Misaeng readily agrees. Waiting outside, Yeom Jong tells Misaeng he expected a request for a written confirmation. He's even brought a fan made out of raven feathers--a big fluffy-looking thing--that he says is "perfect for secret covenants or exchanging discreet diplomatic messages." My men use it, he says, and "It has never been detected before." Not sure what this is talking about.
Now Misaeng and Yeom Jong are escorting the envoy through the capital city gates.
Su Jiyan--that's the envoy's name, we learn--enters a state council meeting and conveys his official greeting. He and QSD trade pleasantries, and he presents a gift from the Tang emperor: ginseng herbs and Tang horse leather, as a thank-you for a gift she had sent him previously. More pleasantries about friendship between the countries. She can sling it, give her credit--showing more diplomatic savvy than we would have expected from her. But then the envoy detours. What's this? The emperor sent us "to prove our fellowship," he says. Uh-oh, this must be whatever Misaeng arranged..."he reason why Shilla is so often invaded by foreign powers might very well be because a woman is on its throne, leading neighbors to belittle it." So, he says, the emperor "wonders what you'd think about sending a relative of his to Shilla, proclaiming him as the king, and sending troops along to protect your country." As an insult, it's pretty weak ("so often invaded" under QSD...as in, once?), but it sets the whole room buzzing, of course. Without missing a beat, the queen stands up, calls for Alcheon, and orders the entire Tang delegation locked up in confinement! And tells Chunchu to send "Chancellor of the Board of Rites Lord Jowi to Tang to verify whether the Tang emperor said so, or it was concocted by them." Well how about that--good for her! The envoy bluffs a good game, insisting he's on the level, but she fires back that if this is legitimate, she's stopping all trade with Tang, and if it's not, "you shall be beheaded for treason." This may be her finest moment of the series. Very impressive.
So the delegation is taken away, all of them whining and protesting. Alcheon couldn't care less. They're taken to their guest quarters, the doors are locked, and orders are given that nobody is allowed in or out.
Now a smaller state meeting: QSD, Chunchu, Yongchun, Yushin, Bidam, Jujin, Sueulbu and Misaeng. Misaeng is already trying to weasel the envoy out of trouble. Jujin and Sueulbu add that envoys pull this kind of thing often...and besides that, Shilla was about to request some military reinforcements from Tang to protect their mutual trade route and this may well complicate that. The queen isn't fazed. In fact, she knew that the envoy was coming here to request Shillan troops to assist in Tang's pending war with Goguryeo. "One of the basic principles of negotiating," she explains, "is reacting to threats with detachment. Also, refuting their claims right away would only mean playing their game. You can never win any dispute when the confrontation itself is orchestrated by your opponent." And then too, the envoy is going to start doubting himself and wonder if he messed up, even if he was on the level. "When it comes to diplomacy, you must never say anything more than what you need to convey. But he belittled and insulted me before the entire court." Wow, where did THIS come from? How'd she get so smart about this stuff? "There must be something significant they want from us," she adds; "So what I'm trying to learn is their intent."
Now the cabal is meeting, and Misaeng is groaning. He knows the queen sniffed out something unseemly right away. They really need to get to the envoy and talk to him, but they know it's not gonna happen. Not with Alcheon calling the shots; he can't be bribed.
"Accept their bribes?!" Alcheon is getting maybe his strangest order ever from the queen. If anybody tries to bribe your troops, she says, just accept them and bring the bribes to me. She thinks that Tang merchants here in Shilla might be approached to get involved with this. But she's convinced the envoy will crack soon anyway. Within three days, she says.
As we learn listening to the envoy and his assistant, yes, the emperor sent them to ask for Shillan reinforcements. That's the least of their problems now. So what to do? The envoy says we wait it out for now.
Nighttime: Wow is the guest building every crawling with guards. They're practically bumping into each other. Yeom Jong surreptitiously looks the scene over...
...then goes back to the waiting cabal and shakes his head no. No way to talk to him.
Now the envoy is getting nervous. Real nervous. So much so, he gives a guard a bribe, then hands him the big raven-feather fan and tells him to take it to Bidam.
Next morning: Now the cabal realizes they're going to have to talk to Bidam after all. No other option left to them.
Yes, there have been three attempts by Tang to contact outside parties through bribes. Including the feather fan from the envoy, which the queen is now holding. Good job by Alcheon's men. Chunchu is there and, seeing the fan, something occurs to him like he knows what it might be for. he starts to examine it....
Well finally the idiots have sat down to talk it out with Bidam like they should have done in the first place. Idiots, idiots, idiots. Of course, Bidam is furious, but when he hears that they know about the secret covenant, well, he goes silent.
Now Chunchu is holding the fan feathers over boiling water. He's heard a story about a coded message that a spy once wrote on a raven feather...and now he's pressing the moist, steamed feathers onto a sheet of paper. And look at that, now writing is starting to appear on the paper.
They're really letting Bidam have it about that covenant. Cornered, Bidam tries to accuse the group of writing the covenant to frame him! Doubtful he'll get any traction with that.
Look at that--an entire message has shown up on the paper. Nice work, Chunchu. What does it say?
The Tang envoys will advocate for the impossibility of a female on the throne to the court. We will make our return home, and as the Tang requested, thirty thousand troops will be sent in support of our Goguryeo campaign.It's signed by the Tang envoy. And also--by Bidam! Well, no, obviously Yeom Jong signed Bidam's name to it. But QSD doesn't know that.
Now the idiots are telling Bidam the whole story. Not only was it to get him back on their side, they explain, but as Misaeng says, "to oust Her Majesty from power." Bidam's eyes widen as he realizes what hot water he could be in. Jujin asks, "Was not your intent that of becoming King?" Yeom Jong adds, "We crossed a bridge of no return already, Lord Bidam."
Her hands shaking, the queen is holding the piece of paper, staring at the revealed message and muttering Bidam's name, over and over.