"Brought to you by WITH S2 Written In The Heavens Subbing Squad" "Please do NOT hardsub and/or stream this episode using our English subtitles." "Episode 21" "What are you thinking about?" "Just..." "It's been over half a year since we left the capital." "That means you haven't seen Lady Yeon in half a year." "News of you touring the border line is spreading, and the generals are maintaining discipline by themselves, intensifying training." "So, it is time you return to Gungnae Fortress." "No, they will be waiting for me." "They must be eager to show me how different things are, so I must go and see it first hand." "What is the matter?" "The Buyeo army has begun deployment." "The army led by Sagu has left the capital." "The war has begun." "His Majesty is waiting for you." "Let us head to his quarters." "Go get Lady Yeon." "Yes." "The first battalion shall move here to the Hwacheon plains, while second and third will move to our strongholds in Mt." "Baek and Mt." "Sumak." "To engage in such a prolonged campaign, we must deploy all military supplies with scrupulous zeal." "Yes!" "Your Majesty." "His Highness Prince Muhyul has arrived." "Bring him in." "I laud your efforts." "Are you unscathed?" "Yes." "As you predicted, Buyeo deployed its troops." "The wintry spells shall soon swelter the plains, so seeing him begin this expedition now is a clear sign of... how circumspectly he prepared for this campaign." "But, Your Majesty." "His Highness carefully remoulded discipline amongst our border defense line, so the Buyeo troops shall not easily trespass our borders." "If we are to contend with Buyeo's might, we must respond by engagement." "Respond by engagement?" "We shall not wait for the enemy, and instead launch a preemptive offensive." "Buyeo will use onrush routes in Sangji, Baekseong and finally Daean." "If we engage the enemy there and stop their advance, we could vanquish them." "We indited both conformation and tactics for all three areas." "A very congenial effort, in such little time." "Your Highness." "Lady Yeon is not inside the palace." "Let's get moving!" "Hurry up!" "You!" "Run, run!" "Run!" "I said run!" "Master!" "Master Jongcheon has just returned from Yangmaek." "Ahh... is that so?" "And the supplies?" "*Seok/Seom - literally a sack's worth (weight unit originating in Tang dynasty)" "He purchased 500 seok*'s worth." "Things are going my way!" "Ahhh... really!" "We're on the verge of war." "How can you enjoy all this so much?" "You paltry fool." "It's the perfect chance to see some activity in these dormant trade routes." "How could I feel otherwise?" "Master Mahwang." "Where is Lady Yeon?" "Do you realize how much suffering Lady Yeon went through, while you were away at the border?" "!" "Suffering?" "!" "What are you saying?" "Why did the Empress capture Lady Yeon?" "I can't say with certainty, but she must be fomenting suspicion about Yeon's identity." "Asked what her relationship with you was, she endured all sorts of cruciation!" "Where is she now?" "She's at the Biryu clan Sangga's residence." "What else could I do?" "You weren't here in the capital, and we needed to save Yeon." "So I couldn't help but request the Sangga's assistance." "Thankfully, Yeon had treated him once, so he took a liking to her." "Where are you headed, Your Highness?" "I shall bring her back!" "Your Highness." "We're on the verge of war." "If your relationship with Yeon is exposed, would the chieftains keep quiet about all this?" "If you let this all out in the open, not only Your Highness, but even Yeon will be in peril." "If you truly want to help her, just let her work for the Sangga." "He still doesn't know about you two, so he will take good care of Yeon." "If you take her back to the palace, and then leave for the battlefield, then what will happen to her?" "Should the Empress see her, Yeon will risk her life!" "Yeon." "King Daeso finally started hostilities." "Troops in the tens of thousands led by the Chief Retainer are headed this way." "I will soon go back to Buyeo." "Join me and let's go back together." "Yeon." "I will not go back." "This war will end with Buyeo victorious." "If you don't come back now, your life will be in peril." "Orabeoni." "I'm not daunted by the prospect of demise." "When I left Buyeo, when I was sold at the slave market," "I walked through the gates of dissolution more than once." "Mere survival has no meaning to me." "Protecting everything I cherish, that is how I want to live." "Who are you people?" "!" "Are you responsible for this, Your Highness?" "What is this affront about?" "!" "Forgive my impudence." "His Majesty wishes to meet you, Sangganim." "Go and convey this to him!" "If it is yours truly he wishes to meet, to follow a more congruous conduct!" "Then, I will be forced to escort you there against your wishes." "The Chief Retainer started deployment with the advance guard, and the entire capital is on war footing." "You engaged in secret agreements with King Daeso, so shouldn't you assist Buyeo in this campaign?" "I guess I should." "But I shan't just extend them my helping hand out in the open." "You shall head to Buyeo, and convey my wishes to King Daeso." "Yes." "What is the matter?" "You, leave us!" "Was this Your Excellency's doing?" "The Sangga is unaccounted for." "What?" "!" "What is that supposed to mean?" "You really don't know anything about this?" "What?" "!" "No matter how much our views diverge," "I would never do something like that!" "I escorted him." "As we speak, the Buyeo army... is building their encampment on the Jangryeong plains, a five day walk from our borders." "We can no longer avoid confrontation with Buyeo." "I shall at last ride the steeds of victory against Buyeo, and extirpate the brazen hardihood which engulfed these Northern plains!" "I wish for your serious deliberation on this matter, and that you chieftains of the Council will actively join our war efforts." "The Buyeo army camped at the Jangryeong plains... will trespass our borders after they complete setting up battle lines." "But... the enemy shall not by any means cross our borders." "We will not wait for them on Goguryeo soil, but we must set up camp at the Hwacheon plains." "Then, are you implying we will enter Buyeo territory and begin our offensive there?" "That is right." "It is from there we shall launch a preemptive offensive." "Your Majesty." "I acknowledge how confrontation is something we can no longer avoid, but how could you concoct such feckless strategies?" "What is so feckless about them?" "The Hwacheon plains are a most cardinal stronghold." "It is also the perfect place for a pincer offensive." "If our withdrawal routes are blocked, we might be annihilated." "You must be aware of my efforts to improve cooperation amongst... all our neighboring nations, in recent years." "The Xin army is moving to Buyeo territory as we speak, and both Yangmaek and Hwangnyong sent messages pledging... their active support for our offensive." "Gisan troops completed preparations to join our allied forces... under Princess Seryu's watch." "Do you still consider all this an adventuresome endeavor?" "!" "But, shouldn't you allow the Council enough time to ponder... on the strategies you conceived, Sire?" "The Buyeo army is marching towards our soil, and you're asking me to squander time on such wanton convenance?" "!" "Your Majesty!" "Before we heed your command as your subjects, the chieftains are in charge of our tribespeople's welfare." "You must allow us time to deliberate on the matter." "Sangga." "Yes, Your Majesty." "I shall ask you, as the Council's leader." "I will begin hostilities even without the Council's approval." "Will you still preen your rights in my face, or support your king?" "!" "The Council shall grant Your Majesty troops and war funds." "How can you support them this way?" "!" "Are you really going to participate in this campaign?" "Do we have any alternative?" "Don't make me listen to such capricious utterance!" "If we had bought time and continued to encumber King Yuri's plans, we could at least have gained what we wanted." "You wretched halfwit." " Sangganim!" " You still don't realize what's happening?" "!" "We can't ignore all the support Yuri has gained with our neighbors, ever since Haemyeong's demise." "If the Xin and our other neighbors will give Yuri their support," "Buyeo has no chance to succeed in this war." "Isn't that an even better reason to show restraint?" "!" "Should Yuri vanquish Buyeo, his authority will only grow stronger." "How are you going to deal with the repercussions?" "Even without the help of our Council!" "Yuri has a chance to come out victorious." "Then how would you deal with such developments?" " But, that..." " No matter what you say!" "My intent of aiding Yuri's war efforts shall not change." "This is my command, as the leader of this Biryu clan!" "Did Baegeuk send you?" "Yes." "Baegeuk said he will muster consent among the Council, and refuse to cooperate with King Yuri." "Is that all?" "Baegeuk cannot become a faithful servant of Your Majesty." "His wish is for both Goguryeo and Buyeo to vanish in the ashes of war, so that he will build a new country led by the Biryu clan." "I can derive such desirous intents on my own." "That will suffice, encumbering Yuri's resolve." "I must importune you with a request, Sire." "Speak to me." "Allow your humble servant... to participate in this offensive." "Your intents are indeed praiseworthy, but important tasks are still waiting for you in Goguryeo." "It is not the time to expose your identity." "You needn't worry about that." "I shall make sure my identity is not exposed, so allow me to participate." "According to our reports, the Buyeo advance guard is now passing through Daeryeong." "They reached Daeryeong in only three days?" "Yes." "If they maintain this speed, they will reach the border in five days." "Seeing the speed of their deployment, quartermaster corps were left behind." "They must be following from behind, so send patrol troops to locate them." "Yes." "What did you find?" "*Current Jilin province, Northeast China" "The supply bases are in Changmu and Nongan* Fortress." "They must have thought that supplies would run out soon, so they erected their supply bases half a day's walk away from their camp." "We must find out more." "Isn't finding where supply lines are enough?" "We must also ascertain the reinforcements' location." "His Majesty and Prince Muhyul will soon move to the front, so we must find that out before they leave." "From this day onwards," "I shall no longer fear what my fate brings me." "If I can protect the people I love and my country, then I shall gleefully sacrifice the blood boiling in my veins for their sake." "Your Majesty." "Allow me to join the campaign." "Protecting the capital is an important duty." "Make sure our people's spirits don't fall into bedlam, and offer them solace." "Yes." "You must return unscathed." "I leave these kingly walls to your care." "Yes, Sire." "Did the Lieutenant Commander notify you?" "Yes." "We set up camp at the Hwacheon plains, and both second and third battalion joined them." "Let us move." "What an arduous trip brought you here!" "I am grateful for your earnest welcome." "I was taken aback when I received word of your participation from His Majesty." "Your Highness joining us would pose a great complement to our efforts, but wouldn't that create discomfiture in your other endeavors in Goguryeo?" "You shall not fret about that." "I have a request, Chief Retainer." "You may speak." "I shall join the offensive on our advance guard's frontline." "It will surely be an ensanguined affray." "Will you really join our frontline offensive?" "I shall garnish our offensive with the cries of victory." "Very well." "You may join the advance guard." "Then, I shall now begin our strategic meeting, so summon the commanders." "Yes." "It shall not be long before His Deceased Majesty's long-harbored animus... is finally laid to rest." "This is an arrow whistle." "I showed Haemyeong how to use this, on the day of his first battle." "I... already have an arrow whistle." "I received this from Haemyeong." "He told me you gave him this, in his first battle." "He gave it to me on the day before we set off for Buyeo, and told me he would teach me how to use it, if we came back alive." "But, in the end," "I couldn't learn it from him." "Fine." "I shall teach you now." "According to the sound of my arrow whistle, our offensive can begin, and I can direct them anywhere I want." "Depending on how you use it, this whistle can be the sound that brings us victory," "or announce our defeat to all creation." "How about enemy movements?" "The main infantry force is made up of over 30,000 men, while their cavalry musters over five thousand." "But... we saw a few dozen peculiar coaches at their encampment." "We don't know what those were." "Coaches?" "!" "We're trying to ascertain how they're going to use them, so we will soon receive a more detailed report." "If we keep buying time, it will not only give a chance... to the Buyeo army to find some respite after such a long journey, but the chieftains here might start scheming against us." "We shall begin our offensive the moment all allied forces join us, so make all preparations." "Yes, Your Majesty." "I have something to tell you, Sire." "What is it?" "Buyeo is aware that our allied forces are joining us." "Should they attack our allies, we might face unnumbered casualties even before the first battle." "If you give me a brigade," "I shall swoop over their supply lines, and move their attention away from our allies." "Maro." "You!" "Give us a sign!" "How can I do that in the enemy camp?" "The Supervisor?" "Follow me." "How does it look?" "The number of troops protecting the supply lines is larger than expected." "Balso." "Who's there?" "!" "We're Black Shadows, here on the Chief Retainer's behalf." "Black Shadows?" "!" "I haven't received any report saying you would come today." "Doubt us again, and your neck will be the next thing these darts pierce!" "Wh..." "What brings you here?" "We received word the supply line will be ambushed." "We will now accompany the convoy." "The Gisan troops will surely use this mountain pass." "Hence, you will be entrusted with stopping them from joining the Goguryeo troops." "Yes!" "Understood." "How about the Xin troops?" "You shan't worry about them." "What's going on?" "It's a grave matter, Commander!" "The supply battalion was annihilated, and all supplies disappeared." "It's surely those Goguryeo troops' doing!" "If we don't retaliate right now, this will hurt our troops' morale significantly!" "Give us consent to dispatch the troops!" "If we let our feelings get the better of us, we might fall for our enemies' trap." "It would be wise to secure supply lines, for starters." "Your Majesty!" "Gisan and Hwangnyong reinforcements reached our camp." "Gisan elite troops have joined our war efforts, Your Majesty." "Have you enjoyed a fine fettle, Sire?" "!" "I bid you welcome." "I laud you for going through such a demanding task." "Daebo, alert the entire army of their arrival." "Yes, Your Majesty!" "When the Xin reinforcements arrive, we shall unleash our might upon Buyeo." "I'm proud of your efforts, Seryu." "Yeojin has matured splendidly, Nunim." "Didn't I tell you?" "You should have sent Yeojin to the battlefront at all costs." "Then, what if anything happened to him?" "!" "Isn't it because you keep hiding him under your skirt, that Yeojin acts like that?" "How would you ever understand a mother's quandaries?" "!" "Ehhh ehh... really." "How vexatious." "The more I think about it, resentment blinds me further." "His Majesty is sure we will win this battle, but if Muhyul shows any meritorious achievement..." "Then, well, Muhyul will be proclaimed Crown Prince." "You really!" "Don't you worry, Nunim." "He will not get any chance to do so." "Or, should he even do that, he will not make it back here alive to tell the story." "Muhyul and I will take to the center, and when the Xin troops arrive, they will join the Gisan troops, and turn the enemy's flank." "Your Majesty!" "What is the matter?" "I asked you what's the matter!" "The Xin troops are withdrawing!" "What are you talking about?" "Withdrawing?" "!" "What is even more shocking, the Xin forged an alliance with Buyeo." "Then, wouldn't those retreating Xin troops reinforce Buyeo's line?" "What is happening?" "What do you think?" "It will spell defeat whether we fight or not." "We must stop the hostilities right now." "Your Majesty." "The chieftains seek audience with you." "I will tell them to go back." "No." "Bring them in." "Yes." "Your Majesty!" "What is going on here?" "The Xin joined Buyeo's side?" "!" "Didn't you guarantee the Xin would support us?" "We came all the way here, believing your words." "But, how do you explain all this?" "We shall begin to dispatch our troops, so make all preparations." "How can we start a war with no chances of success?" "It was a war we should have never begun, Your Majesty." "Thinking we could contend with Buyeo, with the meager support of our allies, was wrong to begin with." "Shut that gob of yours." "It's still not too late." "Let us sign an armistice, and grant King Daeso whatever he wishes." "Are you telling me to hand him this country?" "Can you still call yourself a subject of Goguryeo, after such utterance?" "!" "It is because I am, that I tell you this." "Our people risk to be pierced by Buyeo's punitive blades, simply because of your misjudgment." "This is the battlefield!" "I shall by no means condone any insubordination!" "We shall rather die, than follow such misguided solecism!" "Your Highness said... you wished to gain the Council's acknowledgment." "This is exactly the right time." "King Daeso will demand we give him Prince Muhyul." "He pierced his heart with a treacherous arrow, so he must bear the responsibility for starting this war!" "If you don't abide by our requests, the Council shall withdraw all its troops immediately." "It is finally time!" "Issue dispatch commands to all battalions!" "Yes!" "Your Majesty." "Buyeo has begun their offensive." "We will be helpless, unless we find a solution." "I will go to the frontline." "Your Majesty." "Allow me to, instead." "The future of Goguryeo depends upon this battle." "I understand your wishes, but it is not the time to act for you." "I'm not proposing to go to the front to gain the Council's approval." "I want to learn firsthand if I have what it takes to be a prince." "It is a chance to strip myself off the claws of my nefarious fate, and to find confidence in myself." "May you allow me to go to battle." "I can't guarantee this battle will bring you back alive." "I shall no longer let the claws of death engulf my children!" "Then, are you telling me..." "I should just sit and stare as you fight against demise?" "May you heed my request." "Maro, the Chamgun, and I will take the front, while Chubalso and the Supervisor will take the rear." " Yes." " Yes." "The center guard led by the Chamgun will spearhead the attack, and the left and right guard led by Maro and me... will surround the enemy sides as they battle with the central guard." "Bear in mind the central guard will decide the outcome of this battle." "Should the central guard falter, we will bear innumerable casualties." "Yes, Your Highness." "We shall return victors, Sire." "We wish you success on the battlefield, Your Highness." "Charge forward!" "Charge forward!" "What are those?" "!" "Charge forward!" "Your Highness!" "We must retreat!" "They will annihilate us if this keeps up!" "Your Highness!" "It's the retreat signal!" "Escort the Supervisor!" "We will not withdraw." "Supervisor!" "We must buy time, so that His Highness can retreat safely." "I shall punish anyone breaking ranks!" "Your Majesty!" "We received a message from the battlefield." "What happened?" "We were soundly defeated." "Direfully vanquished, Sire." "Did they..." "Did they really lose the battle?" "His Highness prepared for this with meticulous zeal!" "But they still failed?" "!" "They were mercilessly vanquished by King Daeso's secret chariots." "They've been overtaken by King Daeso." "Your Majesty." "What happened to Muhyul?" "Is he unscathed?" "His Highness is safe." "But he refuses to retreat from the battlefront." "We can't allow him, Sire." "It would be foolish to continue hostilities with the survivors alone." "We must issue them orders to retreat." "His Highness is bearing the grunt of this all by himself!" "Your Majesty." "Don't you know what kind of man Muhyul is?" "He will never come back in defeat." "If we leave him there, his life could be in peril." "You must order Muhyul to retreat." "Your Excellency." "We finally can control this situation." "What are you talking about?" "Muhyul was vanquished." "What happened to him?" "Did he perish in battle?" "He made it alive, but doesn't this spell the end for him?" "He suffered a sound defeat like this, so it's over for Muhyul now." "His demise will not spell the end of our quandaries." "If we combine infantry and cavalry, survivors don't even reach 300 men." "And more than half of the survivors are injured." "The Supervisor and Chubalso?" "We still can't confirm their whereabouts." "Maro!" "Supervisor!" "Balso!" "Are you unscathed?" "Yes." "And you?" "I'm fine." "You don't know how concerned we were about you." "What happened?" "Trying to inveigle the troops after us was a nightmare." "Thankfully, we shook them off, but enemy troops trying to find you are all over the place." "You must leave this place." "May you leave for our rearward post." "I can't leave this way." "We shall reassemble lines and attack again." "Your Highness!" "A Goguryeo prince like me left a trail of corpses behind... to save his own life." "I betrayed the trust of my soldiers!" "We shall pay them back for this affront, and take care of our fallen soldiers." "Only then I will leave this place." "We were defeated unexpectedly by their chariots." "If we return to the battlefield without any sound strategy, don't you know what misfortune could befall us?" "It is time we take a step backwards." "If we lose the opportunity to retreat, all the survivors will perish." "Knowing when to retreat is something a leader should learn." "We must retreat now." "How can you triumph like this, without giving me a chance to act?" "!" "Prince Dojin's meritorious efforts should be praised even more." "We prepared a gift for Your Highness, in celebration of our triumph." "Bring him in." "Mobaek!" "Your Highness!" "You were alive!" "This man is a servant of Your Highness now, so let him stay by your side." "My gratitude." "I shan't forget your benevolence." "I am relieved I could bring you happiness." "Escort him to his quarters." "Yes." "Who was that?" "His name is Mobaek." "He was amongst my troops." "He was a servant of His Highness, before his family fell into ruins." "Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves?" "What do you mean?" "It is still early to act this way with Prince Dojin." "It is true his efforts were meritorious, but he still remains the son of a traitor." "Doesn't that all depend on you, Chief Retainer?" "Should he inherit His Majesty's throne, he would have no authority, so wouldn't this become your world?" "You surely must be misinterpreting something." "I merely follow His Majesty's command." "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Muhyul has returned." "Survivors?" "Out of a thousand troops, not even three hundred." "Among them, over half are made up of injured men... who will not be able to return to battle." "Your Majesty." "I deserve your punishment." "The reason we faced such direful defeat... was because I couldn't learn of their chariots beforehand." "The blame for this defeat lies solely on my shoulders, so may you punish me for my misdeeds." "Brought to you by WITH S2 Written In The Heavens Subbing Squad" "Please do NOT hardsub and/or stream this episode using our English subtitles." "Main Translator  Timer:" "MisterX" "Timing QC: julier" "Editor/QC: thunderbolt" "Coordinators: mily2, ay_link" "We shall launch a full offensive, so make all preparations." "Yes!" "Your Majesty!" "The Council's troops are going against His Majesty." " What are you saying?" " They're rising in revolt!" "When this battle is over, they will ask for your life." "If my demise can solve all these problems, I shall fulfill their wish." "I must stay by his side." "I will join you." " Yeon!" " We will all die if you don't go!" " You must go!" " How can I leave you here?" "Your Majesty!" "It was a triumphant victory!" "My wrath for Goguryeo is still burning inside me." "Dojin." "Bring me back Muhyul's head." " What brings you here?" " Take him!" "You dare create internal strife, with the enemy at the gates?" " My apologies." " Did Baegeuk scheme this?" "!" "When you receive orders, detain King Yuri and Prince Muhyul immediately." "You can slay them if needed." "Don't utter such imprudent trifle!" "How are you going to contend with those chariots?" "!" "I'm Goguryeo's prince, Muhyul." "The only way to contend with those chariots... is to fight for our lives."