The Fortress Page #6

don't you think?

Why are you asking him instead of

the noblemen to risk his Iife?

Absolutely not!

If I do this, will the war end?

Nal-soe!

Yes.

If you deliver the Ietter,

the southern armies will come.

The village people will return

to their way of Iife

only after the

royal court has Ieft.

Way of Iife?

Everyone is already dead.

What Iife do you speak of?

Chil-bok...

During the first invasion,

the barbarians attacked

our village,

killed all our men

and raped all the women.

That's enough.

Nal-soe Iost his wife and

newborn daughter right before his eyes.

But the King and his noblemen

escaped to Ganghwa Island.

Where were you then, Minister?

I said that's enough!

I was never able to find

my parents' bodies.

Did you have breakfast?

Yes, sir.

I had a Iot to eat in the kitchen.

I am fine.

You eat it.

But if you don't eat

rice cake soup,

you will not properly age

another year.

I've aged plenty already.

Must I age more?

But you should eat...

I'm full.

This is food given by the King.

I can't just throw the rest away.

Would you finish it for me?

Do you really want me

to empty this bowl?

If this soup is not eaten,

I'm afraid the King will punish me.

PIease don't worry.

I will finish it for you.

What is that I see?

The Joseon King is performing

a New Year's Day ritual

in honor of the

Ming Emperor in Peking.

What?

In honor of the

Ming Emperor in Peking?

Your Majesty, this is entirely my fault.

Grant me permission to fire upon them.

Ready the cannons!

Ready the cannons!

Hold your fire.

Hold your fire!

It is inauspicious to smell

gunpowder on New Year's Day.

I cannot bear to witness

such irreverence.

Leave them be.

They're merely doing

what they've always done.

Fourth bow!

Your Majesty,

in my opinion,

the reason the Khan has come

is not to destroy the fortress

from the outside,

but to open it from within.

I beseech you, send him a Ietter

in accordance with proper protocol.

This is different from your having sent

Ingguldai New Year's gift.

Protocol demands two kings to face each other

from a distance with the border between them.

If one king visits another with

no official announcement,

then it is beyond

any discussion of proper protocol.

Your Majesty,

the Khan is at war with Ming China.

He can scarcely afford to

remain here Iong.

We must open the gate

while the Khan is still here.

No. That is precisely why

we must not open the gates.

Since the Khan will not remain

much Ionger,

they'II topple the fortress walls

if we don't open the gates now.

If we dispatch the Ietter now,

the Khan will call himself Emperor

and you will become his subject.

Enough!

Is Your Majesty willing to become

the Khan's subject?

Your Majesty,

it pains me to say this,

there is no path

not worth exploring...

Minister Choi would send you straight

into the jaws of the enemy.

The path to survival may very well

run through the mouth of enemy!

There may be a place

worthy enough to die upon.

But how could that be

the jaws of the enemy?

I said enough!

Your Majesty, how can we bow

before such ruthless barbarians?

This should not and cannot happen.

We cannot serve two emperors

under the same sun.

Have you forgotten how the Ming came to

our rescue when the Japanese invaded?

It's true, Your Majesty!

This cannot happen!

If you will not stop, I will.

Your Majesty!

What is the purpose of

the dignity and morale they speak of?

Mustn't we first survive

in order to honor these values?

If you insist on going,

take me with you.

The enemy is everywhere.

Two men will be easily spotted.

You stay and care for

the blacksmith's until I return.

If you Ieave, I will be forced

back up to the ramparts.

If I succeed,

everyone in the fortress can Iive.

But if something happens to you...

Don't talk nonsense.

I won't die,

not before I see you married.

You better make it back...

The King will reward you greatly

upon your successful return.

If I succeed,

it won't be for the King's sake.

It matters not to me whether the King

is on the side of the Qing or the Ming.

I merely dream of a world where

we can sow in the spring,

harvest in the autumn,

and eat through the winter.

This winter has been

so Iong and cruel.

It is mid-winter now.

Spring is not far off.

Only those who survive

the harsh winter

get to see the spring.

Minister Choi...

the King's Ietter

has Ieft the fortress.

He can't have gotten far.

Search for him.

Yes, sir!

Your Majesty,

if we divide our soldiers and

attack from every direction,

we can breach the fortress

in a single night.

The generals await your order.

Do you truly not understand

the difference

between my presence here

and my absence?

Do you think that

I would send soldiers

to acquire such

a small fortress?

The Joseon King must come to me

on his own.

That will establish

my dignity far and wide.

My apologies for speaking

so rashly.

Bring me a scribe.

I will send a Ietter

to the Joseon King.

You insist on making

yourself an enemy

by opposing my will

only to bring misfortune upon yourself.

But I am to blame

for your lack of respect.

It was I who determined to lead

a long expedition,

and I who crossed many rivers

to meet Joseon 's insolent people.

If you wish to live,

open the fortress gates

and come to me.

I will hear your wishes.

Have no fear,

for you can talk to me.

If you wish to die,

then remain hidden

behind your walls.

If you wish to fight,

then under the full moon,

I will breach your fortress walls

and acquaint you

with the mandate of destiny.

He wants me to Ieave the fortress.

If I go... what will happen?

Your Majesty, you are

the ruler of this country.

Now is not the time

to seek our opinion.

What do you suppose I do?

Make clear your sacred intention

and we will accept it.

I want to Iive.

That is my intention.

Your Majesty,

if you wish to Iive, then reply to

this Ietter and open a Iine of dialogue.

The wish to Iive is noble.

If you have truly set your mind on Iife,

please, send no reply at all.

What happened to the

messenger you sent?

The moon is nearly full.

When will the southern

armies arrive?

Your Majesty, please remain strong.

Hold out just a Iittle while Ionger.

The Khan has vowed to destroy the walls

before the next full moon!

It's my Iife they seek!

There is still time

before the next full moon.

The southern armies

will Iight the signal fires.

Your Majesty,

what signal fires?

What are you talking of?

How could you make such important plans

without consulting us?

Minister Kim

has no military experience.

How could you entrust him

with the fate of the country?

So I should rely on you,

Prime Minister?

You can save me?

We find ourselves in this position

because of Minister Kim,

who rejected

any overtures of peace.

Let Minister Kim write

our reply to the Khan

and tell the Khan of Your Majesty's

wish to Iive.

AII right.

Minister Kim,

send a reply to the Khan.

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