Post by ajk on Mar 11, 2014 20:45:51 GMT -5
They get the old man to safety, temporarily...but not everybody is as lucky and the pirates run in and start killing some people and taking others for slaves (with no apparent rhyme or reason to it). Cheonbok is grabbed and hauled away. Jeong Dojeon and Yangji manage to run into a nearby wood, and JD creates a diversion to keep their pursuers from capturing her. Unfortunately he runs into a dead end--high cliff--but just as he's about to be carved up, arrows come flying in. Look who it is: Lee Seonggye and Lee Jiran with some of their men. (Yeah, that's what you had to figure was coming.) Just in time. JD runs back to where Yangji was hiding, but she's not there any more. He returns to a devastated village and finds the old man Hwang Yeon lying there in the center. The arrow wound took his life after all.
Gaegyeong: Good heavens, the queen dowager is on her deathbed. Where did this come from? High officials are visiting her. She tells Lee In Im she's going to let go of her anger towards him. Then the king comes running in; he's a teenager now, so obviously some time has passed. She feels bad about not treating him better early in his life, having been convinced by the rumors that he wasn't her real grandson. Says she's sorry for that...and then she dies. Narration tells us that soon after this, PM Gyeong was impeached for neglecting his duties and abusing alcohol. He was exiled and died. And after that, the royal family became virtually powerless.
Six years have passed, we learn. The exiled scholars have returned and apparently are behaving themselves much more to Lee In Im's liking. We learn that JD was moved to Yeongju after the massacre in Sojaedong. The scholars would like to present an appeal to get JD's exile lifted, at least enough that he can go back to his farm and work to support his family. But Lee won't even consider it; he considers JD an enemy now.
Council meeting: King Wu’s first son has just been born. Time for a public gesture of celebration to mark the event. The king says there isn't any surplus rice to distribute. Lee In Im suggests an alternative: an amnesty for non-violent prisoners. Oh boy does Jeong Mongju jump on that one--speaks right up and asks that those exiled should be allowed to return and join their families. But then, shockingly Yeom Heungbang jumps in and says that those with political crimes should be excluded! This was their chance to get JD back, and one of the scholars derailed it? Even more surprisingly, one of the scholars who was exiled because of Lee In Im? The other scholars angrily confront him, but it’s no use because Yeom has joined Lee’s faction. (Why?)
Another Japanese pirate invasion: 500 ships! Jinpo, on the west coast. The biggest invasion ever. There could be 20,000 pirates out there. Choi Yeong says he'll send the navy; it’s only 100 ships but he wants to try arming them with cannons. Never been tried before, but Choi is confident. Lee In Im agrees with him: "It's time to gamble." But he tells Choi, "If you are defeated, you will have to take responsibility."
And as we learn when Lee speaks privately to the king later, nine generals led by Bae Geukryeom are fighting the pirates on land. But the king wonders, "Can we call Lee Seonggye?" Doink! But then he takes it back and says he'll trust Lee's judgment.
Lee is on assignment, this time in a southern Jeolla village called Dongbukmyeon. We see him rush to the capital upon getting word that his wife is seriously ill...but she isn't; she lied to get him here. She’s still unhappy with their situation and wants him here so he can grab an opportunity to fight the pirates if it should arise. May not be any opportunity, though, because soon afterwards the report comes back from Jinpo: a huge naval victory; all 500 pirate ships destroyed.
But now the surviving pirates are trapped on land. We see a huge battle scene with Bae Geukryeom leading the Goryeans against a huge pirate force led by a leader named Akibatsu. Akibatsu is very, very good; sets up an ambush that forces the Goryeans to have to retreat. Turns out they have probably 10,000 men there including 3,000 cavalry that nobody realized. Now they’re firmly established in Jeolla and Akibatsu sends a threatening message to the capital. This is a big, big problem for Goryeo now. Luckily, the nation’s best pirate-fighter is in the capital! Lee In Im’s allies bitterly oppose even the suggestion of sending Lee Seonggye to the scene...but to our surprise, Lee In Im is more willing to consider it. Privately, he expresses concern to Choi Yeong about Lee’s loyalty, being only a naturalized citizen. Worries that he might commit treason! But Choi has absolute confidence in him and convinces Lee to okay it. Later we see Lee Seonggye being read an order by the king, promoting him in rank and sending him south to Namwon to fight the pirates. (Of course this makes his wife very happy.)
But Lee In Im decides to send an official to keep watch on Lee Seonggye. He sends Jeong Mongju, of all people. Figures that Seonggye won't try anything treasonous with Mongju at his side. When Mongju finds out, he goes to lee and tells him he's totally unfit for such an assignment, but he'll do it on one condition: release JD!. Tells him to simply prohibit JD from being in the capital, if Lee is worried about JD making political trouble. Lee agrees! But when Mongju goes to tell JD's wife, she's just gotten horrible news: the pirates have invaded Yeongju and JD is nowhere to be found. Uh-oh.
Now we see Akibatsu and the pirates attacking a fortress, trying to take it over. But guess what, reinforcements are coming. Lee Seonggye's reinforcements. Akibatsu tries to retreat and lead the Goryeans into a valley where they'll be dead meat, but Lee is way too smart for that and sees right through it. Even when the pirates execute some hostages in plain sight, Lee maintains his cool and holds his ground. Later Lee and Bae go to a high ground and scout the enemy camp. Tough location; not easy to get to them without being ambushed. But Lee sees a possibility and develops a strategy on the spot.
Later in the Goryean camp, we see some refugees being led in. They had been caught trying to steal some of the army's food so they're being worked to pay it off. One of them is JD!
Gaegyeong: Good heavens, the queen dowager is on her deathbed. Where did this come from? High officials are visiting her. She tells Lee In Im she's going to let go of her anger towards him. Then the king comes running in; he's a teenager now, so obviously some time has passed. She feels bad about not treating him better early in his life, having been convinced by the rumors that he wasn't her real grandson. Says she's sorry for that...and then she dies. Narration tells us that soon after this, PM Gyeong was impeached for neglecting his duties and abusing alcohol. He was exiled and died. And after that, the royal family became virtually powerless.
Six years have passed, we learn. The exiled scholars have returned and apparently are behaving themselves much more to Lee In Im's liking. We learn that JD was moved to Yeongju after the massacre in Sojaedong. The scholars would like to present an appeal to get JD's exile lifted, at least enough that he can go back to his farm and work to support his family. But Lee won't even consider it; he considers JD an enemy now.
Council meeting: King Wu’s first son has just been born. Time for a public gesture of celebration to mark the event. The king says there isn't any surplus rice to distribute. Lee In Im suggests an alternative: an amnesty for non-violent prisoners. Oh boy does Jeong Mongju jump on that one--speaks right up and asks that those exiled should be allowed to return and join their families. But then, shockingly Yeom Heungbang jumps in and says that those with political crimes should be excluded! This was their chance to get JD back, and one of the scholars derailed it? Even more surprisingly, one of the scholars who was exiled because of Lee In Im? The other scholars angrily confront him, but it’s no use because Yeom has joined Lee’s faction. (Why?)
Another Japanese pirate invasion: 500 ships! Jinpo, on the west coast. The biggest invasion ever. There could be 20,000 pirates out there. Choi Yeong says he'll send the navy; it’s only 100 ships but he wants to try arming them with cannons. Never been tried before, but Choi is confident. Lee In Im agrees with him: "It's time to gamble." But he tells Choi, "If you are defeated, you will have to take responsibility."
And as we learn when Lee speaks privately to the king later, nine generals led by Bae Geukryeom are fighting the pirates on land. But the king wonders, "Can we call Lee Seonggye?" Doink! But then he takes it back and says he'll trust Lee's judgment.
Lee is on assignment, this time in a southern Jeolla village called Dongbukmyeon. We see him rush to the capital upon getting word that his wife is seriously ill...but she isn't; she lied to get him here. She’s still unhappy with their situation and wants him here so he can grab an opportunity to fight the pirates if it should arise. May not be any opportunity, though, because soon afterwards the report comes back from Jinpo: a huge naval victory; all 500 pirate ships destroyed.
But now the surviving pirates are trapped on land. We see a huge battle scene with Bae Geukryeom leading the Goryeans against a huge pirate force led by a leader named Akibatsu. Akibatsu is very, very good; sets up an ambush that forces the Goryeans to have to retreat. Turns out they have probably 10,000 men there including 3,000 cavalry that nobody realized. Now they’re firmly established in Jeolla and Akibatsu sends a threatening message to the capital. This is a big, big problem for Goryeo now. Luckily, the nation’s best pirate-fighter is in the capital! Lee In Im’s allies bitterly oppose even the suggestion of sending Lee Seonggye to the scene...but to our surprise, Lee In Im is more willing to consider it. Privately, he expresses concern to Choi Yeong about Lee’s loyalty, being only a naturalized citizen. Worries that he might commit treason! But Choi has absolute confidence in him and convinces Lee to okay it. Later we see Lee Seonggye being read an order by the king, promoting him in rank and sending him south to Namwon to fight the pirates. (Of course this makes his wife very happy.)
But Lee In Im decides to send an official to keep watch on Lee Seonggye. He sends Jeong Mongju, of all people. Figures that Seonggye won't try anything treasonous with Mongju at his side. When Mongju finds out, he goes to lee and tells him he's totally unfit for such an assignment, but he'll do it on one condition: release JD!. Tells him to simply prohibit JD from being in the capital, if Lee is worried about JD making political trouble. Lee agrees! But when Mongju goes to tell JD's wife, she's just gotten horrible news: the pirates have invaded Yeongju and JD is nowhere to be found. Uh-oh.
Now we see Akibatsu and the pirates attacking a fortress, trying to take it over. But guess what, reinforcements are coming. Lee Seonggye's reinforcements. Akibatsu tries to retreat and lead the Goryeans into a valley where they'll be dead meat, but Lee is way too smart for that and sees right through it. Even when the pirates execute some hostages in plain sight, Lee maintains his cool and holds his ground. Later Lee and Bae go to a high ground and scout the enemy camp. Tough location; not easy to get to them without being ambushed. But Lee sees a possibility and develops a strategy on the spot.
Later in the Goryean camp, we see some refugees being led in. They had been caught trying to steal some of the army's food so they're being worked to pay it off. One of them is JD!
