Original subtitles

Hamju barracks (today's Hamheung, Hamgyeongnam-do)

Episode 16

He has his guard up against me.

He's a prudent man.

I am very touched to be sitting with

the hero of the Hwangsan battle.

Many of my subordinates died.

I'm not a hero. I'm a criminal.

Why did you want to see me?

I'm an unworthy person.

I'm fortunate to have Poeun Jeong Mongju as my friend.

He told me many times that you are

a man of virtue.

Did he?

It seems like his heart is closed.

He must want me to try to open it.

What do you want to say to me?

Please accept this first.

I wrote something with the hope that

it might help with defense in Dongbukmyeon

and with the safety of the people.

I named it "Anbyeonchaek' since

it's a strategy to maintain peace in the border area.

Why aren't you submitting it to the court?

Because it concerns Dongbukmyeon.

You practically own Dongbukmyeon.

If you came to ask for a position,

you should just leave.

I don't stretch my legs unless there is room.

You don't have the power to give me a position.

Am I wrong?

You're right.

What do you want to say?

I came to see you because

I think your life is at risk.

I'm sure you know about Han Xin of Han.

He was a hero who defeated Xiang Yu.

But he was killed by emperor Liu Bang.

Listen.

That is the fate of a general.

If there is an enemy to conquer, he lives,

but if there isn't an enemy, he dies.

That's how it is.

You suppressed Nagachu, the Red Turbans,

Japanese pirates, Hobatu and the Jurchens.

The drums that announce a victory will

soon be playing a funeral song.

Look here.

If you don't listen to me carefully,

you will lose your life soon.

Lee Inim will take your life.

I know a way for you to survive.

Are you interested in hearing it?

Before that.

If it isn't a position you expect,

why are you doing this?

Why should it matter to you whether

I live or die?

I won't accept a favor for no reason.

Tell me why first.

The reason you want to save me.

What is it?

You're more mischievous than I expected.

You're making me say it.

If you save your life because of me,

give me a high position then.

Did Lee Inim send you?

I might be in Dongbukmyeon,

but I hear all the rumors in the capital.

I heard that a man named Sambong

kneeled to Lee Inim and asked him for a high position.

General.

If you're not a spy sent by Lee Inim,

give me a clear reason why

I should listen to you.

I had high expectations,

but I guess we can't talk.

Fine.

I'll see you off since you came a long way.

Let's go.

The soldiers are high in morale.

They have order. You have a great army.

With such a army under your control,

there can't be anything you can't do.

What do you mean by that?

I mean you could drive out the Japanese

pirates in the southeast area.

Be careful on your way.

I'm leaving today, but we will meet again.

Goodbye.

1383 AD.

Jeong Dojeon met Lee Seonggye for

the first time at the Hamju barracks.

He was moved and he wrote a poem on

an old pine tree.

A pine tree appeared after a long time in history.

It has grown to be a giant pine.

When will we meet again?

I leave my traces.

Do you know him?

He looks familiar.

Do I look like someone who would be

scared by a bluff from a kid like you?

Let's go.

He just gave you that and left?

Yes.

He came all the way from Samgaksan.

He didn't say anything else?

I think he had other intentions,

but he didn't say anything.

I'm sure that wretch is a spy sent by Lee Inim.

Don't meet him again.

He just hinted at things.

He doesn't seem like a spy.

That man who left earlier wrote this?

What do you think?

I can't believe he's not from Dongbukmyeon.

He knows the situation here well.

He has a great plan to drive out

the Japanese pirates and also to rule the people in the border area.

He's a friend of Poeun's.

He must be a learned man.

How about sending this to Gaegyeong?

You want me to send an appeal?

Lee Inim is trying to get you back

to the capital no matter what.

That's why he sent the inspector of

five provinces for an inspection.

This strategy is a good way for you

to stay in Hamju.

Right. You should tell them

you won't return until you do

what it says in this plan.

Let's do as Bangwon says.

I'm telling you he never siphoned military rations.

The people were starving, so general

Lee Seonggye gave them some rations.

Can't a province commander do that much?

Are we to believe that without any proof?

Jeong Mongju and I witnessed it

with our own eyes.

What more proof do you need?

Your testimony isn't very trustworthy.

I'm sure it won't be true,

but you could have been accomplices.

What?

Accomplices? How can you say that?

I said it wouldn't be true.

If they can't provide other proof,

general Lee Seonggye will have to

come and explain.

No, that's excessive.

A battleground is a hectic place.

It's not that easy to keep precise records

of military rations.

That is right.

Lee Seonggye has a lot of work to do there.

He's playing hide and seek with

a few Japanese pirates.

What work does he have to do?

You!

This was sent by Lee Seonggye.

What is it?

An appeal called Anbyeonchaek.

Anbyeonchaek?

I read it over yesterday.

It is a great plan for defense and peace

in the border area.

It will take a while to carry out this plan,

so I cannot agree to calling him back.

General Lee caught a break

thanks to your help.

Thank you.

I should take care of him.

There's no need for any praise.

You're really amazing.

You must have been busy helping him.

When did you come up with such a plan?

Plan?

Anbyeonchaek.

Didn't you write it?

Why do you think I wrote it?

It's obvious.

You're the only person near him

who could write so well.

I see.

Lee Seonggye.

He has power, but he's not arrogant.

He's blunt, but he has virtue.

He is the best man to achieve the cause.

I have to meet him again no matter what.

Why are you burning everything you wrote?

It's all in my head.

There's no need to carry it around.

Is your mind set now?

Yes. It's even stronger.

Sambong.

Sir.

Poeun.

I heard you returned from your last trip.

How did you know that?

I asked him to come.

I want him to see if you're really

going to settle back down.

Come on in.

Sure.

How was it to travel around the nation?

It wasn't very impressive.

All I could see were corpses.

All I did was sigh.

Never mind that.

I heard you went to see general Choi Yeong.

What happened?

I thought I'd ask for a room at his place,

but I don't think he's someone

I can rely on, so I went to see

general Lee Seonggye.

General Lee?

Why are you so surprised?

What happened?

I just introduced myself.

He seems to be picky about who he associates with.

If you were going to see him,

you should have told me.

I can't ask your help for everything.

Just let it go.

I wrote something for him.

If he thinks it's good, he'll call again.

So, you wrote Anbyeonchaek.

How do you know about that?

General Lee sent an appeal.

What?

Why are you so surprised?

If you're worried people will find out

you met him, don't worry about that.

General Choi Yeong thinks I wrote it.

I'm sure other people will think so, too.

The writing is superb.

I agree.

Lee Seonggye didn't write this.

One of his sons passed

the state examination recently.

He's not that experienced yet.

I'm sure Poeun wrote this.

It was written by a top scholar in Goryeo.

I'm sure Poeun wrote it.

What if he didn't?

It means Lee Seonggye has a strategist

who is a top scholar.

Did you want to see me?

Have a seat.

I'm going to send you to Dongbukmyeon.

Reward Lee Seonggye for suppressing

Hobatu and coming up with Anbyeonchaek.

Is there anything else you'd like me to do?

Find out who wrote

Anbyeonchaek.

Didn't Poeun write it?

Find out.

Yes, sir.

Say hello to mother when you go to Gaegyeong.

Check in on Bangbeon and Bangseok, too.

Okay?

Yes, father.

Take care of your health until we return.

Let's go.

Father.

What are you going to do about Sambong?

I should repay him through Poeun.

He is a talented man.

Call him and keep him by your side.

It's not your concern.

Let's go.

You need talented masons to stack a tower.

What are you talking about?

You said you could bring a tower down,

but you didn't know how to stack it again.

Stop.

You need to gather talented people.

You should lead them and

they will stack a tower for you.

They're not soldiers.

How can I lead scholars?

Don't talk about that anymore. Let's go.

According to ,

a wise king can recognize right people.

If a king recognizes a person,

that person will give everything

he learns and knows.

Bangwon.

You can do it.

It doesn't show when people are around,

but it shows when they're gone.

We'll be lonely for a few days.

Jiran.

Yes.

Go to Hwaryeong and fine me a book.

Why do you suddenly want a book?

It's called .

Yes.

Let's end today's class here.

Thank you.

Seeing you studying so hard,

it seems like I'm seeing the former king.

I'm very touched.

You can go now.

Your Majesty, let me tell you about the next class.

You want to do this again?

You must.

What will you teach next time?

.

You can't do that.

Why not?

His Majesty is too young for that.

Look for another book.

Lee Inim was against it.

is a book on moral culture of a king.

He's not going to look idly upon

His Majesty learning and

nurturing himself to be a fine king.

There's no need to be anxious.

If you try to force it,

Lee Inim might cancel the classes.

That wouldn't be good.

It's frustrating.

A king should learn the ways of a king.

A wise king can recognize right people.

Seonggye, come out for a moment.

What is it?

Yeom Heungbang is here.

It's been a long time, chanseongsa.

What brings you here?

Since the person I wanted to see

didn't come, I had to come.

I came on behalf of the Supreme Council

to reward you on your victory and

for Anbyeonchaek which was superb.

They asked who would go to Dongbukmyeon

and I volunteered right away.

They're always fighting on the council.

It's nice to be in such a quiet and

vast place outdoors.

I'm grateful that the council has

such interest in me.

No, no.

You deserve to be praised.

You suppressed Hobatu.

You also came up with Anbyeonchaek.

I never saw such a great appeal.

Thank you.

How long will you be staying?

I came on a trip. There's no set time.

I'm going to visit some places.

Just pretend I'm not here.

Shouldn't you get some sleep?

Is it already that late?

It will be a bit uncomfortable to sleep.

It's alright. Anywhere I lie down

will be paradise.

I'll check on your bed.

I can do that.

It's alright. He came from far.

You don't have to do that.

He has a portrait of Buddha.

No wonder he's a sainted general.

What's wrong?

Nothing. It's nothing.

You came from far. Have a drink.

Seonggye.

Is Yeom Heungbang awake?

He left early in the morning.

Where did he go?

The officials said he was taking

a trip for a few days.

I'm concerned that His Majesty has been

going to Jeongbi's quarters often lately.

Jeongbi is like his mother.

She is the oldest in the royal family.

What is there to be concerned about?

Sir.

Your Highness.

Did you find out who wrote Anbyeonchaek?

That's not the problem right now.

This was in his barracks.

.

Your Majesty, it's late.

You should go to bed.

I'd like to stay with you

a little while longer.

There are customs in the palace.

If you're lonely, go to Geumbi's quarters

or to the quarters of the other queens.

What's the use of having a lot of queens?

What's the use of having hundreds of court ladies?

Nobody is as beautiful as you are.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, the yeongmunhabusa is here.

Okay.

I was just kidding because I had a drink.

You want a written order?

Lee Seonggye must be brought

back to the capital.

Give an order for him to stop everything

and return to the capital.

Honey.

What is it?

Lee Seonggye's son is here.

What brings such nobility to this humble...

You're general Lee Seonggye's son?

Don't be so rude. Use a respectful tone.

I'm Lee Bangwon, Lee Seonggye's fifth son.

Lee Bangwon.

Even an ill-fated relationship is a relationship.

We meet again.

It's not because of ties.

It's just that the world is small.

What is this?

My father avoided difficulty

because of what you wrote.

It is to express my gratitude.

I'll accept it as payment for my writing.

What did the general say?

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like

he is very interested in you.

I came on my own today.

Go on.

I was impressed with Anbyeonchaek.

If you wish, I would like to create

a place by his side for you.

What position do you think I want?

Don't you want to be his strategist?

Do you see me as someone who would

just be your father's strategist?

I could be a partner in achieving a cause,

but I'm not interested in being a schemer,

so just leave.

Excessive audacity can be bluffing.

This somehow seems like a bluff.

Reflect on yourself.

You barge into my house and

act as if your father's power is yours.

That is what bluffing is.

Why did you come to see my father in the first place?

He was going to be killed by Lee Inim.

I went to save him.

You will save my father?

I'm the only person in Goryeo who knows

how to save your father.

I think I misjudged you.

Were you such a hollow person?

Just leave.

He must be crazy.

Let's go.

What are you doing?

One volume is missing.

That can't be.

I checked all the volumes.

One is missing.

Did some fool use it to start a fire?

General.

Poeun.

What brings you here?

General.

Did something happen while I was gone?

Like what?

I came with a royal order.

A royal order?

You are to return to the capital

and see His Majesty.

What is the reason?

I don't know.

The Supreme Council didn't ask His Majesty for approval.

He gave the order himself.

It's a plan that would even impress Zhuge Liang.

You sent Jeong Mongju with the royal order.

That was a brilliant move.

Lee Seonggye won't be able to refuse the royal order.

Even if he tries to start a rebellion,

Jeong Mongju won't let him.

It's a double check.

Lee Seonggye is going to find out

why we are calling him back.

He might make a drastic choice,

so be prepared.

I'll gather all the soldiers I can.

There's something more urgent.

What is it?

An enemy's vital spot is my vital spot.

What is Lee Seonggye's vital spot?

His wife and children in Gaegyeong.

Go for his vital spot.

Right now.

Yes, sir.

How is your father doing?

He is fine.

I heard the battle against Hobatu was fierce.

Fortunately, he wasn't injured.

Buddha must have watched over him.

Thank you, Buddha.

Bangwon isn't coming?

He must have business to take care of.

Ma'am, ma'am!

What is it?

We're in trouble.

Come out and see.

What are you doing?

How dare you barge in like this?

Your family has been prohibited from

Leaving the house.

What?

Who gave such an order?

It's a royal order.

A royal order?

I thought you wouldn't go.

Why did you change your mind?

If that woman tells father,

it will be more of a pain for me.

They should be done talking about now.

I'll just make a quick appearance.

Gee...

The others aren't like that.

Why do you hate her so much?

Hold on.

Something must be wrong.

Something must have happened to father.

Who's there?

He's family. Get him.

Yes, sir!

You have to go.

Is it true that a royal order was given

ordering Lee Seonggye to return?

Yes.

Is it also true that the family in Gaegyeong

has been confined to their home?

Yes.

Why did you make such an arbitrary decision?

Arbitrary?

You got His Majesty to give a royal order

without discussing it with the council.

The yeongmunhabusa has the authority to

do that in an urgent situation.

Don't you know that?

What on earth did Lee Seonggye do?

Take a look.

He had this.

?

He's not a Confucian scholar.

He was reading this in his barracks.

It is literature for a king.

What do you think this means?

He has a traitorous mind.

That's absurd.

You can't say he has a traitorous mind

just because he had this.

What about this?

It's about a king's conduct.

He wrote it himself.

It must be a misunderstanding.

We'll see about that after we hold

a national interrogation.

National interrogation?

Let me make this clear.

Stay out of this.

Yeongmunhabusa!

I told you several times.

Lee Seonggye can't be trusted.

.

That shows his heart.

A king.

Yeom Heungbang was here and

a volume disappeared.

This is why the royal order was given.

What's so wrong about reading a book?

General.

I'm sure you are being accused of

having a traitorous mind.

A traitorous mind?

Is there

a way out?

I'm the only person in Goryeo who knows

how to save your father.

Sambong. Sambong.

Sambong!

Aren't you Lee Seonggye's son?

I'm sorry for coming at such a late hour.

I have to see Sambong.

He's not home right now.

I have to see him.

Please tell me where he is.

I don't know.

Poeun Jeong Mongju came a few days ago

and took him.

I brought Sambong just in case.

You should talk to him.

He came here again?

Sambong.

Seonggye.

Poeun, I'd like to talk to the general.

Can you leave us?

Sure.

Have a seat.

I believed we'd meet again.

I'm moved this became a reality.

You said there is a way for me to survive.

Is there still a way?

Yes.

Should I tell you?

Tell me why you want to save me.

You don't have to be proud in front of me.

You should escape this crisis first.

No. Tell me first.

I'd like to see if you can be trusted.

Fine. I'll tell you.

There is a great cause I'm seeking.

A great cause?

It will only be possible with you.

That is why I'm trying to save you.

General.

Won't you end these troubled times

and created a new world with me?

A new world?

The work you have to do in the new world

is in this book.

A country ruled by a king with a different last name.

I'd like you to be the king of a new country.

You wretch.

You wretch.