Original subtitles

[Jang Yeong Sil]

Stop!

You can go now.

Episode 21

I said, you can go now.

Why are you letting me live?

Even if I don't kill you,

those virtuous ones who are concerned about Joseon's future...

will not let you get away.

You have...

betrayed Joseon and the members of the nobility,

so you will die a horrific death in broad daylight.

You could be killed any day,

so you will have to spend the rest of your life...

living in utter fear.

Someone could take my life.

(Jang Hee Je)

I'd be lying if I say that I'm not scared.

However, my fear...

is nothing at all compared to...

the extreme fear that you are feeling.

(Cho Kwang, Master Chung Bo)

Science is changing this world,

and you are extremely scared of the change.

Those pathetic nobles who have experienced the power of science...

are probably feeling the change taking place in this world.

They haven't had a chance...

to fully enjoy having power and authority.

"If the King encourages science,"

"we, the members of the nobility, could lose our power."

"A world where craftsmen have power over us might arrive."

I'm sure they are very anxious at the moment.

You are truly foolish.

You fool.

You must be out of your mind...

because you're lured by science.

Tell me.

Why did you study the classics and scriptures?

The members of the nobility...

study those books...

in order to become sage...

according to the teachings in them.

However,

science lacks those teachings.

Because it does not have the wise teachings,

science will only make this world rot and deteriorate.

As members of the nobility, we would be...

neglecting our duty if we let the world rot because of science.

In other words,

we are against science because we must fulfil our duty...

as the sage and enlightened.

So you are saying that science makes the world rot,

while the teachings lead the world to the right path.

The King, who must serve as a role model for the nobility,

is lost, wandering in his ridiculous maze.

Remember this though. Even if scientists gain power...

and ruin Joseon,

we, the nobility, will devote our souls to protect this kingdom.

In order to do so,

we must abolish science...

from its roots.

Go ahead.

How could I stop you if that is the duty of the nobility?

However, when you think that you have abolished everything science,

the moment you start relaxing thinking you succeeded,

another root,

a new root, will appear.

It is because...

we dream.

Scientists dream.

I am not talking about...

the false dream of yours, wanting to become an enlightened person.

We just dream of tomorrow...

that is a little better than today.

It is nothing grand.

We just want to know more about how things and nature operate.

The sprouts from this root, which is our dream,

can never be destroyed.

People can die,

but their dreams...

never change.

So?

Just because the times of today's eclipse were predicted accurately,

are you thinking that the dream of yours and the King's have come true?

You are wrong.

The ceremony...

seemed like a success today.

But it will bring on a catastrophe.

A catastrophe...

so destructive and cruel...

that it will make the King and all of you never dream of...

pursuing science again.

When the dream brings such calamity,

could it be still called a dream?

Stop right there!

What are you talking about? You said you'd buy it!

You jerk! What do you want from me?

My lord!

Where were you?

I looked for you all day long.

Why did you do such a foolish thing?

I'm not a kid.

I know where I live, so you had nothing to worry about.

Gosh.

Were you in a life-threatening situation?

I am so grateful that you could return alive like this.

Yeong Sil.

On my way home,

I got to observe the people's lives for the first time in my life.

For the first time?

Happiness, anger, love and joy.

I couldn't help thinking that their lives resemble the sky.

They feel passionate and turn cold quickly.

They feel sunny and bright...

only to feel gloomy and dark again.

When I was making the Haedong Water Clock,

I wanted to make the sun and the stars appear over the clock...

like "The Heaven's Clock".

Observing the people today...

made me want to depict...

the people's lives as the dolls in "The Heaven's Clock".

Gosh.

Why are you so surprised?

This is truly fascinating, my lord.

How could you come up with the exact same idea as me?

What?

You thought the exact same thing?

My lord!

There is something I really want to show you.

Please come in.

We really had the same idea.

Yes.

What are these drawings for?

Yeong Sil, by any chance,

did you want to depict the sun?

That is correct.

I want to make a mountain over the water clock...

and depict the sun's movement from sunrise to sunset.

That's the clock I want to make.

Yeong Sil, you can't make it.

I can't make it either.

But we will be able to make it if we work on it together.

Pardon me?

You are right.

We will certainly be able to make it if we work on it together.

Promise me, okay?

If we can succeed,

it will be the greatest masterpiece that only consists of cogwheels.

Yes, I promise.

You have to keep the promise, okay?

- Yeong Sil. - Yes, my lord.

I had always hated you since we were kids.

I did many mean things to you.

Even after I became an adult, I spent every moment of my life...

hating you with all of my strength.

It's...

all your fault.

Pardon me?

I have never hated anyone else besides you.

So I think it is safe to assume that it is your fault, not mine.

Gosh, I can't believe this.

Is that your way of apologising?

You can just say, "I'm sorry about everything I've done."

"I will never do anything like that again."

My lord. Please apologise to me again.

It sounds like you understood me, so it's all good.

I asked you to apologise again. Where are you going?

I shall go to the front yard...

and take the cogwheels and gears off the Haedong Water Clock.

Sorry?

Why?

Joseon doesn't need the Haedong Water Clock.

I shall disassemble it and use the parts for "The Heaven's Clock".

Right now?

My lord, it's heavy. I'll do it.

Don't worry. I'll carry this.

Just focus on what you've been doing.

Yeong Sil! Come here.

Yes?

Gaksu is visible today.

It's the first mansion of the Azure Dragon of the East...

as well as the dragon's horn.

I always wanted to become the Azure Dragon.

This means that spring is just around the corner.

Indeed.

Please excuse us.

We are here to meet Officer Jang of the Office of Astrology.

I am Jang Hee Je.

You're walking into someone's house at this late hour.

What brings you here?

Lured by science,

you betrayed the nobility and humiliated us, you lunatic.

My lord.

It's getting late. Just work on it tomorrow.

My lord!

Gosh, my lord!

You scums!

My lord!

Are you okay? Gosh.

My lord. Let's go and see the doctor now, okay?

- Yeong Sil. - Gosh...

It's okay.

My lord. Please don't say anything, okay?

You can't fall asleep. Please!

Don't fall asleep!

I will not let those jerks get away with this. Never!

Look underneath my desk in the chamber.

You will find a letter...

for you.

No!

My lord! My lord!

I really wanted to make it with you.

Yeong Sil,

you have to make it by yourself now.

"The Heaven's Clock" with the people.

It is my dream...

My lord!

My lord!

My lord, wake up. Please!

You cannot die like this.

You cannot die like this, my lord!

My lord! My lord! You cannot die now.

Open your eyes, please!

Please open your eyes, my lord!

My lord!

My lord!

Gosh, my lord. Please open your eyes!

My lord!

My lord...

Gosh, my lord...

My lord, please wake up.

Please open your eyes, my lord!

Please, my lord...

Yeong Sil.

Yeong Sil!

We have to hold a funeral for Officer Jang.

It has already been two days.

(Lee Chun: Deputy Minister of Public Works)

Your Highness.

(Princess So Hyun)

Yeong Sil.

Princess So Hyun is here.

How... How did this happen?

Why did Officer Jang...

I got in touch with you...

because I thought that he would want to see you.

I must tell the King.

Who committed this atrocious deed...

Officer Jang left this letter.

He wanted to...

take responsibility for everything by himself.

Scholar Park from Woonhyeon-dong?

I am surprised.

That scholar is one fine gentleman. What made him decide to do it?

I know.

It happened sooner than we expected.

Jang Hee Je's death, I mean.

You let him walk out of here in one piece,

but he could only survive a few days after that.

It shows the depth of understanding younger nobles have...

about the dangers science could bring.

It means they feel threatened.

By the time you read this,

I will be dead.

Yeong Sil.

Fulfil this dead man's wish,

and listen to what I have to say.

I may be dead,

but you must stay clear-headed.

It would be disloyal...

not to inform the King of his subject's death.

But I wish you to keep it from him.

He will be furious when he finds out.

Trying to find out who had me killed...

is a waste of time,

and it will not contribute to the advance of science.

They found the perfect man to kill.

I swapped sides between King Taejong and Yu Taek Sang,

and then our King and Ha Yeon.

My lord.

I said it was in the name of Joseon.

Would you not say my death suits me well?

By accurately predicting the solar eclipse,

you proved that the eclipses are not a disaster,

and that...

with science,

we can explain all natural phenomena.

History tells us that...

for a great change to happen,

and for people to accept it,

some had to shed blood.

Yeong Sil.

Jang Hee Je...

died trying to preserve science.

I consider this an honour.

Those who killed me...

might target you next...

in order to delay the progress of science.

Yeong Sil.

Consider that threat...

a sign that you do not have much time.

Focus only on science.

I now realise...

what a fool I was.

First, I saw the genius in you.

I was envious,

so I tormented you.

After a while,

I realised I was only tormenting myself,

and I lived in disdain.

But...

I'm one of...

the few nobles who believed science...

would change the world.

I hope that many other nobles...

will realise that...

you can help Joseon become a better nation.

Yeong Sil.

When I made the Haedong Water Clock,

I hoped to make a "Heaven's Clock"...

with a sun and stars to show night and day.

With you, Yeong Sil.

I hope...

we can talk about this before I die.

Did we?

This is my last request.

Yeong Sil.

Even though I'm dead,

make a "Heaven's Clock" that...

the people can call their own.

It is not the time to view Jagyeokru yet.

How dare you trespass.

Who are you?

Are you Jang Yeong Sil?

Yes.

When people said that Jagyeokru...

is mysterious and probably the work of spirits,

I thought that was an exaggeration.

Now that I saw it,

I realise that it's something...

I have never seen before.

It is indeed mysterious.

You're lying.

Your eyes.

They are not those of an impressed man.

You're just an intruder.

Are you...

the person...

who killed Officer Jang?

Are you here...

to kill me, too?

I did not decide...

when Officer Jang would die.

But...

I do wonder when you will finally...

meet your demise.

Everything that led to Officer Jang's inevitable death,

none other than you put into motion.

It is because you made Jagyeokru...

with the will and hope of giving it to the people.

There is an even bigger problem.

Did you ever stop to consider that...

the clock you created...

could be used by any ruler to oppress the people?

What are you trying to say?

The King could...

give an order like this.

"Now that..."

"you can all tell the time,"

"I shall tell you..."

"how to spend every hour of the day."

"You shall obey me."

Life would become harder.

Do you not think...

the people would blame and hate you...

for making them a public clock in the first place?

That is not all.

The nobles and commoners,

the masters and servants,

and in the end,

even those in the same social class...

will interfere and exploit how others spend their time.

Time will become just one more thing to fight over.

Yes.

If that happens,

the people would blame me.

Now, do you understand?

That means...

you should stop this.

No.

Their anger for me will not last.

But their anger...

against the rulers and oppressors...

will make the people rise against them.

I think that...

after they smash my clocks out of hatred for me,

they will turn against the King and nobles like you.

And invade the Palace.

Then...

does that not mean that your clocks and time...

are dangerous things?

Time is nature.

Just like the fact that one day, close-minded nobles...

like you will perish.

That is treason.

Who are you?

Officer Jang said he was a pioneer, one of the few nobles...

who believed that science would change the world.

What noble are you?

I see.

You must be a narrow-minded one...

who is against any kind of change that this world is bound to face.

I am...

a pure spirit...

who wishes to protect Joseon.

I am Joseon.

That makes you a traitor, too.

No one but the King can say he is Joseon.

Officer Jang's death had softened me.

You just woke me right up.

I have to make things that will shock foolish men like you...

into realisation of what is real.

Please leave.

I see that...

you know very well what results your clocks will bring.

I thought you were naive.

No.

You just made me realise that.

I made it for the people.

You are one of them.

Is that so?

Am I one of the people?

Wake up, everybody.

Wake up. Dan Go.

- What? - Yul, Pil Gyo.

Kang Chun, Soon Ae, wake up.

- Get up, everyone. - What's the occasion?

You were crying for days.

Yeong Sil, you're back at last.

When did I leave?

Let's get to work.

We have to make "The Heaven's Clock"...

for none other than the people.

These will lock in like this.

The power won't move upwards.

The cogwheels have to be a firmer, tighter fit.

That way the sun and stars will move simultaneously.

They should be at a right angle.

Not too deeply set.

Just enough for a grip.

King Sejong...

announced Jagyeokru, a self-striking clock,

the national clock of Joseon...

on the first day of July, 1434, of the lunar calendar.

Jagyeokru's time...

became even more accurate when another clock was invented...

to measure the length of day and night.

Another of King Sejong's creations that must be mentioned...

is Gabinja, the Gabin Type made with copper.

In 1434,

Lee Chun and Kim Don, Kim Bin,

Jang Yeong Sil, Lee Se Hyeong,

Jeong Cho and Lee Sun Ji,

all of the sharpest minds of their time gathered...

to develop Gabin Type.

Gabin Type consisted of around 200,000 pieces,

a mix of large and small,

which were easy to use.

Compared to Kyeongja Type, which was in use until then,

Gabin Type required only half the time...

and were assembled with bamboo plates...

instead of Kyeongja Type's heavy lead plates.

The pieces were much harder and lasted longer.

Now knowledge could be spread much faster,

and more topics could be studied in a shorter time.

Look at the time.

The Annals of King Sejong state that in October of 1434,

sundials were placed in Hyejeonggyo and Jongno,

two of the busiest places in the Capital.

The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac...

were drawn so even the illiterate could tell the time.

It also says that the people could learn how to make...

their own sundials for personal reference.

The "Angbu Ilgu" was Joseon's first public clock.

The King gave us, his people, a clock to use to work with.

Isn't that great?

It is the King who ordered that this be placed here.

But the person who made this is Jang Yeong Sil.

The great Jang Yeong Sil.

I helped.

You look like a servant.

- Did you help? - Yes.

I helped Yeong Sil.

Then one day,

you might become just like him.

Don't give the young man hope.

Not anyone with skill will be acknowledged.

Yeong Sil became famous because he's a personal friend of the King.

You are not.

So don't get your hopes up.

- Let's go. - Sure.

Misters.

I can be like him.

Yeong Sil said so.

The people are most important.

That's why the sundial looks upward. It faces the sky and the people.

When the world realises that the people are most important,

even those who don't know the King...

can become a commoner acknowledged for one's skill.

So can you!

What is he talking about?

I guess I upset him.

Let's go.

(Choi Man Ri)

(1437)

In 1436, Lee Chun became...

Pyongan Province's governor.

Over the next four years, he built a wall around Yeoyeon...

and Ganggye Districts, the first two of the Four Districts,

to fortify the northern border.

You finally decided to move up north.

That uniform suits you very well.

I guess my destiny is to defend borders...

and build castles until the day I die.

Did you go to Byeokrando?

Yes, my lord.

It was a bustling port in Goryeo times,

but not so much now.

It's only natural because Joseon looks down on trade.

I made a vow there.

I will revive trade to what it used to be.

Yeong Sil is rubbing off on you.

You have grown up.

What exactly will you trade to do that?

Right now...

Look.

I'm giving one of Yeong Sil's smaller clocks...

to all the merchants I meet on my route.

To find out if he's right about reviving trade with clocks?

Yes. He also said something like...

if there were a clock...

that moved on its own without water,

then it would bring upon many great changes.

Without water?

That means it has no power source.

How could that be possible?

Yeong Sil said...

people will need it to tell the time at night.

It's hard to tell the time just by looking at the stars.

He thinks that if people could tell the time at night...

with very little effort, that would change how we live.

He's right.

People don't work at night.

If they were able to tell the time even at night,

they would meet people and become more active.

Tell him it's a bad idea.

If the Jurchens were able to tell the time at night and attack,

that would make my life much harder.

It would.

(Hieut)

(King Sejong)

Hieut.

It's right here.

- Here. - Yes, Your Majesty.

- Is that it? - Yes, Your Majesty.

I think it is perfect.

What about you, Suk Joo?

Hieut, Giyuk, Shiot.

The more I say their names, the more I am amazed.

How did you manage to come up with all this?

There's a long way to go.

I wonder how...

"The Heaven's Clock" is coming on.

I heard he never rests.

He knows you expect much of him,

so he never stops working on the clock.

You and Grand Master Jang...

are very much alike.

Are we?

(Jang Yeong Sil)

Yeong Sil.

The tower is complete.

They placed...

your simplified armilla on it.

I heard the tower is as tall as Ming's.

Yeong Sil.

(Yoon Bong's house, Beijing)

How about...

returning to Joseon with me?

You fell from the Emperor's grace long ago.

I'm concerned that...

you'll die here.

Jang Yeong Sil is doing very well for himself.

That might upset you greatly.

The people can't stop singing their praise for him.

I'm sick of hearing that, too.

Joong Bu.

(Yoon Bong)

Soon enough,

the King will have to send him far away.

That is impossible.

The two are so close, nothing can tear them apart.

That is what makes life so interesting.

No king...

can put up with a subject more popular than him.

Sejong...

is only human.

I'm not even sure if our King has a jealous bone in his body.

I highly doubt it.

- Do you? - Yes.

But then...

he has these to deal with.

These are the petitions...

the Joseon nobles sent to the Emperor.

They say the King and Jang Yeong Sil...

are up to no good.

This is madness.

Exactly.

This could be the death of me.

I am holding on to all the petitions for now.

When the new Emperor finds out...

just how advanced Joseon's science is,

he will kill Ju Tae Kang for letting it happen,

and me as well.

Bong.

I'll keep them for now...

until they'll be of use.

These petitions...

could kill me.

But then they could...

save me as well.

Joong Bu.

Why are there...

so many mad nobles in Joseon?

Joseon is changing.

Not for the good.

But for the bad.

A man who was once a servant...

now has the title of Grand Master.

Are you jealous because he holds a title that is...

higher than yours?

I am not.

This "Heaven's Clock" he is making.

No one knows...

exactly what it can do.

Yes.

You are right.

How much more must we spend...

on a project that has yielded nothing in years?

Has it yielded nothing?

I am aware that...

"The Heaven's Clock" incorporates all the known principles of nature,

so it takes that much longer to complete.

Why don't you...

tell Grand Master Jang to write a report on...

how much he has spent?

That is the problem.

I told him to do so long ago.

I haven't heard from him.

That is why I'm telling you this.

All this happened...

because a foolish servant...

earned the King's favour and became a Grand Master.

(Hwang Hui)

You discuss menial issues...

because you don't see the real problem.

A servant having a title,

or him spending a fortune on science?

I do not think that is a problem.

Have you forgotten?

Ever since he accurately predicted the solar eclipse,

we have been threatened.

How so?

Now everyone believes...

numbers can be used to control everything.

In a world controlled by numbers,

there is no room for the lessons the classic scriptures teach us.

Joseon...

was built on spirit.

We must train our minds and souls.

We must see the true nature of the world and...

not be swayed by what we see.

How can someone so young be so narrow-minded?

I am aware that...

you are a frugal and honest man...

who tries so very hard to follow Confucian teachings.

But saying that science tarnishes the mind...

is self-righteousness.

You and the Prime Minister once worked together...

to put pressure on a governor...

to cause trouble in a certain district.

We must live a life in which...

we do what we preach.

That is what we must do...

to ensure that Joseon lasts for centuries.

That is how we shall become true scholars.

You are going too far.

Honouring the classic scriptures...

does not mean you can slander others.

Old age has gotten to you.

You are too soft and naive.

We must focus on our minds.

We must study to become great men.

We must always be alert.

Grand Master Jang's work...

should have ended...

with the Jagyeokru and the clock that measures night and day.

I will not accept the clock he says he has been...

working on for years.

I say this for Joseon.

I think it could work.

The sun's altitude changes with each season.

If this ring could move up and down...

and this ball could move...

around the ring like the sun,

that would make it...

a clock that no one has ever seen.

It's just so hard to figure out a way.

If we find a way to do that, we could apply that principle...

to other things to make a great development.

I plan to use these cogwheels to make things that...

people never imagined could exist.

If Officer Jang were here,

he could help us complete it sooner.

I miss him a lot.

Shall we go to see him?

Shall we?

My lord.

Bear with us.

"The Heaven's Clock".

We'll finish it soon.

You were...

working with him already.

Yes.

Why did you two...

want to complete "The Heaven's Clock" for the people?

Those stars and the sun. All things in the universe.

The four seasons we have and the people on this land.

I wish to show how all these things are connected...

through "The Heaven's Clock".

It's because you don't want people to get hurt any more, isn't it?

"The Heaven's Clock" will make...

everyone realise that people and the skies are connected.

People will learn to cherish others just as they honour the sky.

You probably trust that...

they will stop hurting others who have different opinions.

Correct.

Your Highness. I don't have any power.

However, I can make "The Heaven's Clock" better than anyone else.

My belief may seem unrealistic,

but I really want to make "The Heaven's Clock".

Officer Jang!

Please help Grand Master Jang so that he can make this clock.

And Officer Jang.

I hope you rest in peace with those stars in the sky.

Rest in peace.

(Jang Yeong Sil)

Their servant status got cancelled and they obtained government posts?

He probably asked the King to do so.

Your Majesty.

I committed disloyal deeds to you and the kingdom.

Please punish me first.

Right now in Hanyang, Grand Master Jang's...

"Heaven's Clock" is the talk of the town.

Yeong Sil!

I heard about your new amazing clock.