The Fortress Page #3

back to their country.

Our fortress is isolated,

and the danger could not be graver.

Your Majesty is perched

in the most precarious place.

Armies of the southern provinces

must come to our aid immediately.

Loyal subjects of the King,

hurry along!

Deliver this Ietter and return

with the southern armies.

I will execute your order

with all my Iife!

Soldiers of the fortress, Iisten.

Those that distinguish themselves

in the battle against the barbarians

will be handsomely rewarded

when we return to the capital!

The fate of the country

is in your hands.

The enemy camp Iies dead ahead.

Spears at the ready!

Riflemen, pack your gunpowder.

Pack your gunpowder.

Pack your gunpowder.

A barbarian's head is worth

30 pieces of silver.

If we return with a head

in each hand, we'II be rich.

Dead men cannot be rich.

Don't get too excited.

Just stay behind me.

You worry too much.

I don't plan on dying

before I marry.

It's an ambush!

Take cover! Return fire!

Chil-bok!

Chil-bok!

Chil-bok!

Retreat!

Retreat!

Run, Chil-bok!

Can you fix this?

The rifle's bent,

so its sights are off.

There are many other weapons

that do not work well.

The barbarians charged

with their swords drawn,

while our crooked weapons

missed all their targets.

Why are you telling me this

and not your superior officers?

I have talked to them

about this repeatedly, sir,

but nobody Iistens.

We are invisible to them.

What's worse, we were beaten,

and they claimed

we tried to escape the battle.

What makes you think

I'II Iisten to you?

It was you who got us

the straw bags, was it not?

It was the King's mercy.

Then please,

tell this to the King as well.

Get into Iine!

Hurry up!

Move quickly,

if you wish to Iive.

That's Namhan Fortress down below.

What do they mean to do,

hiding within those walls?

They must have some kind of plan.

They would probably try to summon

an army from the provinces.

An army?

I haven't seen a single Joseon soldier

since we crossed the Yalu river.

They await their forces

from the south.

How foolish.

Hurry!

We have to finish

before the Khan arrives!

Any news from the southern armies?

It seems all paths to the fortress

are blocked by the enemy.

Do we sit and wait for them

to break down our walls then?

There is a rumor the court seeks

an accord with the barbarians.

I'm afraid the southern armies are

hesitant to fight.

But we dispatched a manifesto

ordering them to rescue the court!

The messenger has been sent.

We'II have word soon.

Can we hold out

until we hear from them?

Supplies officer, speak frankly.

My apologies for this report,

but there are many women

and elderly in the fortress.

If we reduce their food rations,

our soldiers will Iast Ionger.

What does Minister Choi think?

Minister Choi is not here today.

The demands for his execution

have persisted day and night.

Surely, he's gone to Ingguldai

to beg for his Iife.

There are requests for

your execution as well, Prime Minister.

Your Majesty,

the food supply is the worrisome,

but dull blades and worn-out armor

are also concerning.

Is the Minister of Defense

aware of this?

Prime Minister, say something.

Are you not the

army's commanding general?

Your Majesty...

Among the soldiers in the fortress,

there's a blacksmith.

Perhaps we can ask him

to repair the weapons?

We have such a man in the army?

Yes, Your Majesty.

PIease exempt the blacksmith

from his sentry duty

so that he can repair

the weapons.

One can serve the country

wherever possible.

Have him fix

the weapons immediately.

Charge!

Victory!

Can these words be true?

Yes, Your Majesty.

The barbarians were intimidated

by our soldiers.

They threw down their

weapons and fled.

This is wonderful news.

Which general Ied the battle?

Fortress Commander Lee Shi-baek

Ied the soldiers.

His bravery and

Ioyalty must be hailed.

Your Majesty,

Iet the news of our first victory

be spread far and wide

so the southern armies

will come running.

Yes, it should be so.

Send praise on my behalf to soldiers

returning from this victorious battle.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

the fortress commander brought

a small child with him upon his return.

A small child?

A young girl was Ieft alone

outside the North Gate.

Isn't the enemy camped

outside the North Gate?

It's heavily fortified.

Not even our best men have made it through.

But the child managed to slip past

the enemy and into the fortress.

It is an auspicious sign.

Indeed.

Bring me the child.

Your Majesty,

you would bring a peasant's child

into the royal court?

Let her in.

She came on a victorious day.

It must be a good sign.

Why did you Ieave your home?

You were asked a question.

Answer.

I came in search of

my grandfather.

Was your grandfather taken

by the Qing soldiers?

Her grandfather is the boatman

who Ied Your Majesty across

the frozen river.

He Ieft home the next day

and never returned.

It's the granddaughter of

that boatman...

This is such a good karma,

is it not?

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is your name?

My name is Naru.

You were named after

the pier where you were born?

What a pretty name.

Prime Minister, send word to Iook for

this child's grandfather.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Minister Kim, can you arrange a place

for this child to stay in the meantime?

Why do you not answer?

I've heard you

take excellent care of children.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Is anyone home?

Yes, sir!

My Iord?

This child will stay here for now.

Wash her and give her food.

Sir...

Are you really going to find

my grandfather?

Do as I've said.

Yes, sir.

Come with me.

Where'd you find Iiquor

in this camp?

It's a gift from His Majesty.

I have for a friend the fortress commander

who strikes terror into the Khan.

I'm so Iucky to drink this

in a time of war.

You don't seem

that happy about the victory.

That's not true.

I am merely afraid our swords will

cut off the possibility for peace.

My sword cuts only enemies.

Can we truly protect the fortress

by cutting off a few enemy heads?

A rumor that your adversaries

are begging for your head

has reached the fortress walls.

That rumor reached me as well.

Do you think my head

would suffice?

If so, you are welcome to cut it off

and use it to save the fortress.

I don't think it's worth enough.

I can neither open the fortress gate

nor protect it with my useless head.

Useless as it may be,

I suggest you keep it

so we can have a drink together

from time to time.

Whose side are you on, Commander?

Neither side.

I am merely a sentry defending

against the enemy.

Had I known this,

I would have

become a military man Iike you.

We risk our Iives for this war,

and this is what they feed us?

To hell with them.

Stop complaining and eat.

Half the people

in this fortress are starving.

Those poor creatures.

Poor, my ass!

They're all better fed

than we are.

Your Majesty, our horses are

starving to death as we speak.

Can we not find grass

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