under their poor treatment in comparison to the soldiers of the upper-class. They have little confidence in their young general, and prefer taking orders from their veteran sergeant, Dae-Jung. The princess has difficulty adjusting to the rough necessities of her position on the run. Choi-Jung and Yeo-sol become nemeses, competing for the affections of the princess and exchanging blows on several occasions. When the group finally reaches the fortress, they are disappointed to see that it is nothing more than abandoned ruins. At the same time, the Mongols have caught up with them and have set up a camp outside the fortress. As the Koreans prepare to make a last stand, the princess attempts to give herself up to the Mongols in exchange for peace, but Yeo-sol and Choi-Jung stop her. A fight breaks out between the two men and the Mongols, resulting in Yeo-sol being captured. Rambulwha, who is impressed with Yeo-sol's skill, offers to let the latter join his army but Yeo-sol refuses and returns to the fortress to help his fellows. In the final battle, the defenders' gunpowder traps backfire when the Mongols launch a fire attack and stage a raid on the fortress. Yeo-sol sacrifices himself to save the princess while Choi-Jung and Rambulwha kill each other. All the Koreans perish along with their Mongol enemies, except for Dae-Jung. The princess stays with the peasants at the fortress and promises to tell her father of the Koreans' sacrifice while Dae-Jung builds a makeshift raft and sails back to Goryeo. Cast Jung Woo-sung as Yeo-sol, a hot-headed but loyal former slave who is skilled in using pole weapons. Joo Jin-mo as Choi-Jung, the inexperienced general of the mission. Ahn Sung-ki as Dae-Jung, a veteran archer and sergeant of the lower-class soldiers. Zhang Ziyi as Princess Bu-yong (Princess Furong), a kidnapped Chinese princess. Yu Rongguang as Rambulwha, the honourable but cruel Mongol general. Park Jung-hak as Ga-nam, the experienced lieutenant of the upper-class soldiers. Park Yong-woo as Ju-myeong, a cowardly interpreter. Lee Doo-il as Ji-san, a burly Buddhist monk. Yoo Hae-jin as Du-chung, an axe-wielding soldier who loses an eye. Han Young-mok as Dan-saeng, a very young soldier. Jung Suk-yong as Ha-il Historical context The film presents a fictionalised account of a real Korean diplomatic mission sent to China in 1375. Chun-Yong Son was to present a herd of horses as gifts to the Hongwu Emperor but he