Post by ajk on Apr 16, 2014 17:17:50 GMT -5
Choi and Mongju argue bitterly in front of the king while the rest of them just sit there (kneel there actually), mortified at Choi’s overaggressive attitude. Seonggye counsels patience, but Choi is in such a rush to attack Ming territory that he even gets annoyed when the king says he wants to think about it. He wants to send a message to Ming right now so they don’t think they can keep getting away with land-grabbing, and do it before they can prepare defensively. But after the meeting Seonggye warns him that Ming isn’t the “setting sun” that the Yuan were and that eventually they’d mobilize a huge army. We need to be patient and try sending an envoy, he urges.
Later, Choi surprises everyone by backing off. Says he’ll beef up troops and defenses at the border area for now, and send an envoy. But he won’t send Mongju, who volunteered and seems very well suited; he’s sending Park Uijung, who we’ve never met but who the councilors don’t think is as good a choice. At least he compromised, though, and you can feel the relief wash over everyone in the room.
Privately, however, Choi goes to see the king and urges the attack. "That was only to make Ming feel safe," he says of sending the envoy. When the king continues to hesitate, Choi gets angry. "How can you call yourself King Gongmin's son?", he barks. "We are about to lose what he accomplished." The king gets so rattled by Choi’s temper that he ends up going to Jeongbi and his wife to complain and vent and also to wonder what Gongmin would have done. He downs plenty of alcohol while he’s with them. Eventually the alcohol emboldens him...and he goes out into the night--all alone...
...to Choi’s house. Choi is surprised to see him, understandably. The king reminisces about his first day on the throne as a little boy, when Choi scared him so badly he wet his pants. In the next moment he’s reliving memories of nasty rumors that he’s not really Gongmin’s son. Choi assures him that "you have the former king’s blood" and that he can tell because he worked with Gongmin for 20-plus years. The answer so lifts the king that he makes up his mind then and there. "Let's do it. Attack Yodong."
This is odd: JD’s servant has to leave for a while. He's been drafted to help do repair work on civil defenses. There aren’t enough military resources to do the job, we learn. How did this come about? We learn that Choi gave the order...and we also learn that all of the royal gamas are being prepared for something. JD suspects the royal family is making preparations to take refuge.
A concerned Seonggye manages to track Choi down at a nearby military ground. He’s reviewing troops with the king. Tells Seonggye this was all kept quiet because he didn’t want Ming to learn of it. Baloney. Seonggye again tries to convince him not to attack, but the king won’t hear of this and gets angry with Seonggye.
Word of Choi’s actions reaches the scholars, who immediately confront him and hold back none of their anger. He has no patience for them, and Lee Sungin in particular irritates him so much that he orders Lee hauled away and imprisoned! Afterwards we learn that Choi also ordered the beating of someone named Lee Jwaseong who was protesting at Choi’s house. So the scholars go to Seonggye, who surprises them by saying he’s ambivalent about it all. "Ming is strong and we are weak so it makes sense not to fight. "But Ming is acting like a thief. I really don’t know."
Choi is before the king, who’s heard about the arrests. "Good,” the king says; “we shouldn't allow any opposition." Tells him that it felt good to scold Seonggye at the military ground because Seonggye intimidates him. But it’s not just Seonggye; "I'm afraid of everyone" now that Lee In Im is gone. "I will protect you," Choi says, channeling In Im; "just trust me." Which touches the king so much that he offers to marry Choi’s daughter. "Become my father-in-law." Choi flat-out refuses, says it would be a terrible conflict of interest. His refusal angers the king: “Can't you even honor one small wish that I have? Do as I ask." Boy he's steamed. Now Choi's in a tough spot.
So he pays a visit to Seonggye. Refuses his request to release the prisoners—yes it's excessive but otherwise there will be more opposition; "They will have to sacrifice for a greater cause"--and explains his aggressiveness, saying that as an old man, "this is my last chance" to help Goryeo rise and "get rid of defeatism." Then gets around to telling Seonggye about the marriage. Seonggye’s eyes widen..."Congratulations!" Not what we expected, is it. "I sincerely congratulate you." And he does look genuinely happy for Choi. And Choi is immensely relieved by that.
Next day: the scholars learn that Lee Sungin is being exiled! Choi trumped up a charge of Sungin being in Lee In Im’s party, and got a forced confession under torture. And the other prisoner—he died from torture. They go back to Choi and confront him again. Choi resents their arguments; says their passivity is what’s emboldening Ming. That infuriates Mongju. Our policy has nothing to do with it, he fires back; this is all because of Ming’s greed. The argument gets worse and worse and Choi is about to throw them out...but then word arrives that Choi needs to get to the council hall ASAP.
Look who’s there before the king. Jo Minsu and generals Bae and Byeon with their senior subordinates. Telling the king they're concerned about trying to attack such a powerful country without at least waiting to see what the envoy accomplishes. The king isn't sympathetic...and then Choi shows up, to the king's great relief. But the sight of Choi’s own military supporters opposing him, it’s a big slap in the face. And apparently it works, because later we learn that the attack is on hold.
But uh-oh, surprise, now Ming envoys have shown up. Wang Deming, centurion of Yodong and the head envoy. informs King Wu and the council that "Cheollyeong Commandery is being established" on the disputed land. Later we learn that they've set up 70 guard posts in the territory already. Well that pretty much shuts the door to diplomacy, doesn’t it. Even Seonggye says "There is no other way now."
A border skirmish, in a village near the Amnok River. Ming soldiers putting up posters announcing the takeover are attacked by Goryean soldiers, and 21 of them are killed.
Seonggye, without telling anyone where he’s going, heads up north and looks over the territory and the civilian fortification work that’s being done. He’s doing his own reconnaissance and mulling the situation over...
Choi tells the king that preparations are being made to raise an army of 50,000 to 100,000 drafted soldiers. Which greatly pleases the king. But then Seonggye arrives. The king tells him very clearly, “Support the chancellor well. Is that understood?" No answer. The silence makes the king angry...but then Seonggye answers. "I dare to say this. We cannot attack Yodong. Please reconsider." The king and Choi are both furious at him, but he remains firm. "We cannot. Attack. Yodong."
Later, Choi surprises everyone by backing off. Says he’ll beef up troops and defenses at the border area for now, and send an envoy. But he won’t send Mongju, who volunteered and seems very well suited; he’s sending Park Uijung, who we’ve never met but who the councilors don’t think is as good a choice. At least he compromised, though, and you can feel the relief wash over everyone in the room.
Privately, however, Choi goes to see the king and urges the attack. "That was only to make Ming feel safe," he says of sending the envoy. When the king continues to hesitate, Choi gets angry. "How can you call yourself King Gongmin's son?", he barks. "We are about to lose what he accomplished." The king gets so rattled by Choi’s temper that he ends up going to Jeongbi and his wife to complain and vent and also to wonder what Gongmin would have done. He downs plenty of alcohol while he’s with them. Eventually the alcohol emboldens him...and he goes out into the night--all alone...
...to Choi’s house. Choi is surprised to see him, understandably. The king reminisces about his first day on the throne as a little boy, when Choi scared him so badly he wet his pants. In the next moment he’s reliving memories of nasty rumors that he’s not really Gongmin’s son. Choi assures him that "you have the former king’s blood" and that he can tell because he worked with Gongmin for 20-plus years. The answer so lifts the king that he makes up his mind then and there. "Let's do it. Attack Yodong."
This is odd: JD’s servant has to leave for a while. He's been drafted to help do repair work on civil defenses. There aren’t enough military resources to do the job, we learn. How did this come about? We learn that Choi gave the order...and we also learn that all of the royal gamas are being prepared for something. JD suspects the royal family is making preparations to take refuge.
A concerned Seonggye manages to track Choi down at a nearby military ground. He’s reviewing troops with the king. Tells Seonggye this was all kept quiet because he didn’t want Ming to learn of it. Baloney. Seonggye again tries to convince him not to attack, but the king won’t hear of this and gets angry with Seonggye.
Word of Choi’s actions reaches the scholars, who immediately confront him and hold back none of their anger. He has no patience for them, and Lee Sungin in particular irritates him so much that he orders Lee hauled away and imprisoned! Afterwards we learn that Choi also ordered the beating of someone named Lee Jwaseong who was protesting at Choi’s house. So the scholars go to Seonggye, who surprises them by saying he’s ambivalent about it all. "Ming is strong and we are weak so it makes sense not to fight. "But Ming is acting like a thief. I really don’t know."
Choi is before the king, who’s heard about the arrests. "Good,” the king says; “we shouldn't allow any opposition." Tells him that it felt good to scold Seonggye at the military ground because Seonggye intimidates him. But it’s not just Seonggye; "I'm afraid of everyone" now that Lee In Im is gone. "I will protect you," Choi says, channeling In Im; "just trust me." Which touches the king so much that he offers to marry Choi’s daughter. "Become my father-in-law." Choi flat-out refuses, says it would be a terrible conflict of interest. His refusal angers the king: “Can't you even honor one small wish that I have? Do as I ask." Boy he's steamed. Now Choi's in a tough spot.
So he pays a visit to Seonggye. Refuses his request to release the prisoners—yes it's excessive but otherwise there will be more opposition; "They will have to sacrifice for a greater cause"--and explains his aggressiveness, saying that as an old man, "this is my last chance" to help Goryeo rise and "get rid of defeatism." Then gets around to telling Seonggye about the marriage. Seonggye’s eyes widen..."Congratulations!" Not what we expected, is it. "I sincerely congratulate you." And he does look genuinely happy for Choi. And Choi is immensely relieved by that.
Next day: the scholars learn that Lee Sungin is being exiled! Choi trumped up a charge of Sungin being in Lee In Im’s party, and got a forced confession under torture. And the other prisoner—he died from torture. They go back to Choi and confront him again. Choi resents their arguments; says their passivity is what’s emboldening Ming. That infuriates Mongju. Our policy has nothing to do with it, he fires back; this is all because of Ming’s greed. The argument gets worse and worse and Choi is about to throw them out...but then word arrives that Choi needs to get to the council hall ASAP.
Look who’s there before the king. Jo Minsu and generals Bae and Byeon with their senior subordinates. Telling the king they're concerned about trying to attack such a powerful country without at least waiting to see what the envoy accomplishes. The king isn't sympathetic...and then Choi shows up, to the king's great relief. But the sight of Choi’s own military supporters opposing him, it’s a big slap in the face. And apparently it works, because later we learn that the attack is on hold.
But uh-oh, surprise, now Ming envoys have shown up. Wang Deming, centurion of Yodong and the head envoy. informs King Wu and the council that "Cheollyeong Commandery is being established" on the disputed land. Later we learn that they've set up 70 guard posts in the territory already. Well that pretty much shuts the door to diplomacy, doesn’t it. Even Seonggye says "There is no other way now."
A border skirmish, in a village near the Amnok River. Ming soldiers putting up posters announcing the takeover are attacked by Goryean soldiers, and 21 of them are killed.
Seonggye, without telling anyone where he’s going, heads up north and looks over the territory and the civilian fortification work that’s being done. He’s doing his own reconnaissance and mulling the situation over...
Choi tells the king that preparations are being made to raise an army of 50,000 to 100,000 drafted soldiers. Which greatly pleases the king. But then Seonggye arrives. The king tells him very clearly, “Support the chancellor well. Is that understood?" No answer. The silence makes the king angry...but then Seonggye answers. "I dare to say this. We cannot attack Yodong. Please reconsider." The king and Choi are both furious at him, but he remains firm. "We cannot. Attack. Yodong."
