Warriors of the Dawn

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1

The practice of the rich hiring the poor

to serve their compulsory military duties

is prevalent but impossible to stop.

Near the northern border,

some men pursue these military

substitute jobs as a profession.

These men became known as proxy soldiers.

- From Sejong Chronicles

1592

CHINA-KOREA BORDER

Give it all you've got,

and try not to die.

He's frozen with terror.

Are you afraid of death?

Yes, sir...

You've gotta be terribly

scared to kill another man.

Courage comes after the fact.

Do you understand?

What you should really be scared of

is dying before completing proxy

service like your father did.

Then, one of your dumb brothers will be

dragged out here to suffer the same fate.

Yes, sir.

Here.

Jurchen's blood.

Drink it and they can't kill you.

Drink up.

Don't worry too much.

Even the angel of death can't be so

heartless to take both father and son.

If you run, I'll kill you.

Let's go.

Cross that border and

it's our territory.

We'll celebrate big tonight.

Charge!

Charge!

Stab him!

Wait! Stop!

- You?

- I was just like you.

Wood for the king's fireplace.

I'm Korean!

In the Jurchen world, you're ranked

by your skills not your class.

You should join us too.

I can't stand that hairstyle.

Gather up the dead.

All of them.

Go to a good place.

What's the head count?

24 in total.

We'll be stationed back

to Seoul by next year.

For sure.

Disgusting scavengers.

You bastard!

Hwanggae got killed because of you.

I'm sorry but I just couldn't...

Stab him.

Do it!

If you don't do it, they'll cut off

his head while he's still alive.

This is mercy on the battlefield.

The man you just killed is yourself.

So, forget about who you were before.

Everything, even your name.

Do you hear those f***ers?

They didn't shed a drop of

blood, and they're celebrating.

Yeah, thanks for offering...

Gather up, proxies!

Proxy for citizen Park of Onji Village!

Here.

Jung Du-yi of Sukcheon!

Who's the proxy for Jung Du-yi?

Who is it?

- That's you, stupid.

- It's me!

I've done this sh*t a dozen times, but

I cannot remember this guy's name.

Move.

Nam Tae Dong of Pyongdal Village.

Did he run?

Who's the proxy for Nam?

He's dead!

Tell his family to send

a replacement ASAP,

or return the money.

Show some respect for the dead.

Who said anything about being dead?

According to this book,

Nam is perfectly fine.

None of you are dead or alive

until you complete your terms!

How can you expect anyone

to stake their lives for so little,

and be treated like sh*t?

How dare you!

Then find your replacement and quit!

There are people lining up

to be where we are.

Don't forget who's

feeding your families,

you ungrateful bastards...

That barbarian will serve

his remaining term.

- That barbarian?

- But he can't be trusted.

If you don't complete your term, even

the underworld won't take you in.

So, try not to die.

WARRIORS OF THE DAWN

In 15592, the Japanese invade

Korea with 200,000 troops.

The King of Korea flees the

capital and heads to Ming China

after hastily installing 18-year-old

Gwanghae as the Crown Prince.

YONGBYON:

PYONGAN PROVINCE

Who are you?

We're soldiers traveling

from the northern border.

The Japanese have taken Pyongyang.

Wait here for further instructions.

Our priority is His Majesty's safety.

There is no nation or

people without the King!

In what book does it say that?

Hear, hear.

People are what make a nation.

If you abandon the people...

I will not die in the

hands of the Japanese,

if I must, I'll do it in China, the

only place fit for a king to die.

I'll ask the Ming Emperor

for reinforcements.

Your Majesty, we must at least

pretend to fight the Japanese

before we request reinforcements...

How dare you!

Are you saying we're running away?

No, the vice minister has a point.

Someone must stay behind.

We can't all go to Ming.

I shall divide the court

to the Crown Prince.

What's taking you? Make haste.

Your Highness, how is your nausea?

You should take more medicine.

Nothing is going to help.

Unless it's poison.

Don't say such a ghastly thing.

Your Highness!

Crown Prince Gwanghae

is intelligent and humble.

He has set a good example by

serving his parents and brothers

which makes him an agreeable

choice for the throne.

He shall carry a responsibility

parallel to the king,

to lead and protect his people...

Take heed, Your Majesty!

This is completely unreasonable.

Go to Ganggye and give this

command to General Shin.

He will serve you like a king.

You will join forces with him to gather

scattered troops and recruit civilians

in order to form a voluntary army.

But father!

It's preposterous that I'm

appointed the Crown Prince,

how can I take on this colossal task?

What's going to happen to us if

Gwanghae actually becomes king?

We opposed his appointment

to become Crown Prince.

He'll first have to complete

his task, and come back alive.

But anything can happen to

him in the chaos of war.

From now,

you're the King of this country.

- Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty!

Don't look at them.

Take heed, Your Majesty!

If you leave, we'll all die.

Keep your promise, Your Majesty!

No, Your Majesty!

Don't leave us!

The governor has already fled the city.

Do we have sufficient forces

to protect the Crown Prince?

Is this really happening?

Those that call

themselves loyal servants

are encouraging the King to run.

They'll be held accountable

when the time comes.

Come on, escort the carriage.

Who are those men?

Men from the northern region.

They're not regular army.

The King is going to China

to ask for reinforcements.

The Crown Prince will be

in charge of the branch court.

A branch court?

What in heaven's name is that?

How can you split

the court in two?

Hurry up and clear the way!

Move out of the way.

Don't push!

No swords!

Stand back.

Get out of the way!

How can the King do this?

Stand back.

Get them out of the way!

Please, do not abandon us!

I thought I'd already seen Hell

but nothing like what happened here.

This isn't what we signed up for.

Let's get outta here.

Proxies that abandon their

posts are punishable by death.

What do you think, Tow?

Is it even possible to

make it to Ganggye?

Soedol.

Yes, sir.

When things are clear,

go back to the village.

Gather all our families

and evacuate them.

Where should they go?

Follow the King's group. That's

the only way they'll survive.

We'll catch up with them

when all of this is over.

Yes, sir.

Take care.

The country's falling apart!

Who gives a damn about service time?

Even if the country falls,

our fate stays the same.

A branch court?

This bunch is ramshackle.

Listen carefully.

You've been given the serious role

of escorting the Crown Prince.

If you hurt a hair on his

head or if you try to run,

you will be killed

immediately, understood?

We will fulfill our duties but

only until our proxy

term expires in a month.

Then we return and

look after our families.

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