Edge of the Empire

Without co-operation, everyone loses

We may fight to win,

but we will always lose

But if we fight together

we will win together

From a royal speech given by

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

HIS MAJESTY KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ

ROYAL SPEECH:

HOOBKRAPONG AGRICULTURAL

CO-OPERATIVE SATURDAY, 27TH MAY, 1978

BASED ON THE BEST-SELLING NOVEL

WINNER - JOHN F KENNEDY AWARD

FOR LITERATURE, 1973

This is the story of an ethnic group

that lived in 757 AD.

The rulers of the country regarded them

as mere uncivilized barbarians

They were exploited and persecuted

and driven from their homes,

until their only choice

was to flee the country.

They sought a new homeland

where they could live in peace and freedom.

The people of Ler,

Khanu, Yuro, Dtai, and Thanai

were united in their quest for freedom

Many died from disease

or from the many perils they faced.

But they met each challenge

with determination and courage,

and vowed to maintain their bond forever.

ADAPTED BY NIRATTISAI KALJARUEK

AND PINYO KRONGTHONG

The problems began when

the Qin Dynasty came to rule.

The mighty Han army

exercised its power ruthlessly.

It conquered new territory and expanded

into areas occupied by free ethnic tribes.

The people of these areas

were forced to take up arms

to defend their land.

It was the land where they were born

and where their ancestors were buried.

Gumpawa!

Mother!

Run away now!

Or the Han will make you a slave.

Mother!

When the Han army had taken the land,

it was stained

with the blood and tears of its people.

Tai child!

Come with me!

Burn it all!

The Han army was enormous,

and its military strength was unstoppable.

The people of the Cheung Dao valley

were either killed or

forced to flee in different directions.

THE EDGE OF THE EMPIRE

FOR THE LAND - A FINAL STAND!

20 years later

the children who had survive

were now grown up.

They lived in six separate regions.

But they awaited the day

when they could be reunited,

a day when their nation could be reborn

a day when they could be united in peace

under the name Thai,

a word meaning "free".

They dreamed of a day when

they could be free in their own land.

And free from the oppression of the Han.

Now, Ler City.

Stop the carriage!

Next up...

Lamphun!

From Ler City.

Come on! Quickly! It's your turn.

Come on! Quickly! It's your turn.

Never mind that! Come on!

Get them, Lamphun!

Next up...

Jotan!

I see you allow them to fight with weapons.

Don't you think that's unwise, Tiewliang?

It can only encourage insubordination.

These people come together

from six different regions.

They openly display their skills and weapons.

It's surely better than letting them

hide their skills

and weapons from us. Right, Libong?

Is there anyone else who wants to take on

Lamphun from Ler City?

Is there anyone?

How about you

Not me! It's much too scary! No way!

If there are no more challengers,

then you get the prize!

Give it back!

If you meant it,

you have to fight my brother first!

If you want the prize so badly...

come and get it from me!

My name is Libong.

I'm Tiewliang's new military adviser.

I am here under orders of Emperor Qin,

ruler of this land.

I want all you peasants to know who I am.

Peasants, eh?

I see we have a peasant here

who thinks he's a fighter, right?

Soldiers!

Get him!

Stop!

Hurry up, Buakham.

Do you want to play with Guchin? Let's go!

Prepare the carriage.

Are you ever going

to stop making those swords?

You've already got

the sharpest swords around.

I need them to be sharp,

and I need to keep making them.

I have to make many more.

But why do you need so many?

What about you?

Why do you keep spinning thread

from the Uethong flowers?

Haven't you got enough clothes?

It's not just me who needs clothes.

You wear them too!

You don't want the people to be cold.

I don't want our people

to be bullied by the Han.

My swords.

...will one day taste their blood.

Buakham, run!

Let me go!

You keep out of this!

I won't let you treat a Thai woman like that!

She's just a peasant!

She's only here to serve the Han.

I can do anything I want to her.

You should know better.

I do not allow disrespect

for the Thai people.

You not only acted offensively

to a Thai woman,

but you also tried to kill Fesian,

who is a Han soldier.

- But I...

- No excuses!

If you say you didn't attack Fesian,

how did your sword end up in my hand?

Give me back my sword!

Who said you could get up?

You have broken Tiewliang's rules.

Tiewliang's rules!

You can have a choice.

Stay here and spend the next twelve months

cleaning the city walls.

?

Or take your sword and everything else

and answer to your father

back in Loyang City.

Tiewliang tried to humiliate me, Father!

What did I do that was so bad

I should be sent home?

I was just teasing a Thai girl.

What's the big deal?

I was just teasing a Thai girl.

What's the big deal?

Twenty years ago,

we fought these savages at Lad Kwan field.

Our soldiers who died

were the sons and husbands of Han women.

Our women suffered

because of the barbarism of the Thai.

Isn't it only right that their women

should know what it's like to suffer too?

Tell me, Father,

what did I do that was so wrong?

Get Litongjia!

Lord Litongjia,

Lord Liboon wants to see you right now!

Tiewliang has ordered

my son back to Loyang.

He has ignored my demands

time and time again.

I ordered him to increase taxes

to make the Thai people more productive.

But look at this.

That is his response.

"I understand that your lordship

has never visited the Thai region"

"So you may be under the impression

that the Thai climate

is more fruitful

than our own Han climate."

"But, in fact,

Thai and Han are under the same sky."

"Our rainy seasons are the same."

"Since the amount of rain cannot

be increased, neither can the harvest."

"The taxes are already paid for

with much sweat."

"Don't make them pay in tears as well."

He's so sympathetic,

it's almost as if his own mother was Thai.

A hopeless leader!

He thinks that the Thais are doing

some kindness by giving us their land,

when in fact the Han soldiers

bought it with their own blood.

We purchased it with blood,

and we shall rule with blood

Correct, my son.

Any ruler who does not know

how to use his sword

doesn't deserve to be called a ruler.

Emperor Qin has issued orders

to remove Tiewliang from office

and to return him to Loyang.

He faces charges of corruption

and embezzlement of Ler taxes.

Silence! I said silence.

Don't!

I bear the gold seal of Emperor Qin

and the jade seal of Lord Liboon.

Why do you still not kneel?

Soldiers! Take him away.

Tiewliang... Tiewliang is our protector.

Yes, Tiewliang is our protector.

Quiet! Tiewliang shall protect you

no longer.

He will be sent to work on a farm.

Or would you rather clean the city wall,

Tiewliang?

You will meet your new chief.

His name is Litongjia. Welcome him!

I was ordered by Emperor Qin

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