Original subtitles

Don't be afraid! Do not turn your back or I will kill you first!

Fire! Continue firing!

Wipe out the barbarians!

Fire! Fire!

Aim for the horses! Aim for the horses!

Good job!

Yes, yes, that's it! Let's wipe out the barbarians?

Fire! Fire at anything that moves!

Ready.

On a count of three! One, two, three!

That fool!

Retreat!

We must retreat!

Retreat?!

It's the chief's order! We must obey!

Retreat! Retreat!

Barbarians are running away!

What happened?

Look! The enemy is retreating?

Them running away!

Did you see that?

The enemy may be larger in number, but they're powerless!

If we fight to the death we will live!

Hang in there just a while longer.

The captain promised us that he would bring the backup troops?

Let's hang in there until then. All right?

We did it Soonim!

The barbarians are charging toward us again!

Everyone get ready!

This is the real thing. Show them what you got!

Yes, sir!

I can't hear you!

Yes, sir!

Protect the barricade!

It's all over if they break through the barricade! Protect the barricade!

Look what they're doing! Let's grab our spears!

Getdong, what's happening?

Get out of here! Soonim, take him and get out of here!

Break through the barricade and this battle will be over!

Please, please hold on just a little bit longer!

Dupal!

Gapchul!

Father! Father!

I'm taking you with me to hell!

Captain! Captain!

I got you covered. You must retreat!

The chief is dead! Delay will only cause more casualties!

Retreat! Retreat!

Wake up, Commander Yim! You can't die like this!

Commander Yim, wake up!

Punish me by death, Captain...

I have failed... to protect the camp...

Commander Yim!

Captain, please protect... protect...

"Eleven naval officers deceased including Commander Oh Hyung and

Garrison Manager Yim Kyung-bun." This is how the battle of Nok-dune

stand in 1587 is described in the chronicles of Chosun.

Given that closure of Nok-dune military farm was discussed after

this battle it is clear that this battle was fierce and intense.

Accordingly, one can only guess how many civilian lives must

have been destroyed. However, history was sparing in

remembering them.

Total number of military and civilian taken was 160. Of those only 50

were rescued by Captain Yi Soon-shin and Constable Yi Kyung-lok.

There are no records of what happened to the remaining

hostages but it is likely that they were either tailed or forced to

a life of slavery.

Nok-dune Island, the land that Yi Soon-shin and his men, and

nameless heroes fought to protect to the end...

It became Russian territory through the Peking Treaty of 1860, and its

title remains in dispute to this day.

North Base, Ham-kyung Province

Defeated captain Yi Soon-shin, you are to accept responsibility

for your failure and take your own life!

Take your own life! It is an order!

Very well. I will die willingly.

But not now.

You dare attempt to preserve your pathetic life?

You abandoned your camp and caused the death of countless

soldiers and civilians!

I assume full responsibility for the outcome of the battle,

and I do not fear death. But I cannot die now.

If I do not reveal the truth about why this tragedy occurred

and record the facts, the atrocity of Nok-dune will be repeated

again and again and many more will die an avoidable death!

If you dare resist, I will kill you myself!

Go ahead if you must.

What?

Why do you deprive me of a chance to reveal the truth?

What are you trying to cover up?

How dare you!

I am His Majesty warrior before I am your subordinate.

And to go a step further, I am a warrior of Chosun!

Give me a chance to bear the truth.

And I will accept my punishment as His Majesty sees fit.

Take him away. Throw him in confinement!

Yes, sir!

Why didn't you kill him? Captain Yi will argue that your refusal to send

backup is the cause for the devastation.

Yes...

Then why?

I've decided to set up a trap instead of drawing my sword.

Commander Sun, this world is not as simple as you think it is.

Truth is not so easy to prove.

The only truth we know for a fact is that Captain Yi Soon-shin was not

at his post when the battle was in progress.

And his men fought the battle alone after their frightened captain

abandoned them. How could we possibly expect a headless army

to win a battle?

That's the only truth that the royal court will know.

But there are those that must be convinced of this truth first.

What do you mean Nok-dune Island is in ruins?

Where was Captain Yi Soon-shin at the time of the battle?

How could he leave the fort when barbarian attack was imminent?

What is his explanation?

Isn't it obvious? He abandoned his men anticipating an enemy attack.

He was running away to save himself.

He got nearly all of his men killed, and I'm told he is still refusing to

accept responsibility.

It's unbelievable?

A warrior's honor is more valuable than his life.

He should accept responsibility for his defeat and seek atonement by

taking his life before punishment is delivered.

A warrior who isn't prepared for this is not worthy of his sword!

I thought he was an honorable man. Was I wrong about him?

Did you have a bad dream?

Captain Yi, don't give up.

Oh no! You're burning up!

Captain Yi, why didn't you say something?

Don't you know how toxic led is?

You could die if this is not treated!

Guard! Come quick! Guard!

Call a physician!

What are you waiting for?

But if the Chief Commander found out that we called a physician...

What did you say?! Call a physician at once!

Constable.

Don't bother.

How could a defeated general who killed all of his men be attended

by a physician?

I can't.

Captain Yi!

Could you get me a brazier and some filtered rice wine?

Captain Yi! Captain Yi! Wake up?

- Lieutenant Woo. - Yes, sir.

I'm sure you've been punished with a branding iron a few times in your life.

Yes, of course.

Have you ever taken a branding iron to yourself?

Well...

I haven't. And I imagine it is not an easy thing to do.

It may even be harder than taking a sword to one's throat.

What is Captain Yi trying to achieve going through this length to stay alive?

Commander Oh Hyung, he was an excellent spearman and

a competent leader.

Commander Yim Kyung-bun, he took good care of weapons and supplies,

and had the courage to give candid counsel to his superior.

Chun Getdong, he was a fine archer.

Yi Dupal, a fine archer, he loved and cared for his fellow soldiers dearly.

Chung Jin-bok, he was a fine spearman and a cheerful soul.

The fort was always alive because of him.

Yim Bek-sum, he was an excellent archer and a kind and gentle man.

But I killed him.

I killed all of them.

But I intend to stay alive for a while despite my crime,

so that their death does not end in vain...

Burn them together. Matniungae will need slaves on his long journey.

What do you mean? You want to go south?

I can't stand this cold.

Let us go to Dong-lae. It's nice and warm there.

And didn't you say you've done business with the Japanese before?

That's a good idea. Let's get the heck out of here now, Chun-su.

I can't stand this anxiety a day longer.

This is our last deal. We risked our lives to get those arrows.

Let's do this one last time, and we'll get out of here rich.

Don't worry about the quality.

These arrows cause instant death. I'm sure I don't have to tell you.

We'll take fifty sheets of sable.

You'll be paid.

Thank you.

But first there is something I'd like to do for you.

Sassonga, Matniungae received a wonderful treatment in Chosun territory,

and we must return the favor.

Wow, really?

That's unnecessary, but it would be rude to refuse. Right, Hong?

Where are we? Let go of me!

Hey, what is going on! You call this a treat?

Open this door at once! Open it!

Get the chief out here! We are his guests!

I must see Matniungae! This is a mistake!

How dare you call the chief by his name!

Do you think we care about respect right now? Where's the chief?

He's dead! Your people killed him!

I've called this meeting to inquire into the cause of defeat at the battle

of Nok-dune at the request of the accused for a chance to defend

their charges.

You mean a chance to make excuses.

Defeated generals defending their charges? That's unheard of!

He abandoned his men and ran a way anticipating a battle.

There is no way to avoid punishment.

Captain Yi did not run away.

He left his fort to attend a meeting at Kyung-heung.

That's a perfect excuse.

How could he attend a meeting when the enemy is about to attack?

Do you fight your battles behind a desk?

Minister of Military!

I see you're hard at work, Commander Yi.

Just doing my job, sir. Please sit down.

I heard you were visiting the Ham-kyung headquarters, but what brings

you all the way here?

I'd like to know exactly what happened in Nok-dune Island.

Who did this? Who brought the Minister of Military into this?

He is visiting the headquarters, so...

He was not notified. How could he show up at the exact time

of the meeting?

Do you think this a coincidence?

Could it be him...?

I hope I did not cause you to much trouble, sir.

Of course not, Constable Won. It was imperative that I come.

If I hadn't come, Commander Yi Il's report would've only told me about

the outcome of Nok-dune battle without the cause and details.

You're more political than I thought.

Why? Why did you get the Minister of Military involved in this?

Who are you after anyway?

Are you trying to push me out and take my place?

You were the one who wanted to give him a chance to defend himself.

Remember? Then give him a fair chance.

Did he beg you for his life?

Isn't he the lucky one for having a friend like you.

Your dandy friendship is going to save his life.

Do you think so?

Almost identical event took place back in 1583 in Kyung-won.

Barbarian attack destroyed Kyung-won, and Constable Kim Su

was executed for his failures.

Do you think Yi Soon-shin's fate is different?

I don't. He will not be able to escape his responsibility.

If he is going to have a chance to defend himself,

it should be fair chance.

Only then Yi Soon-shin will accept the outcome.

This is also my last courtesy to an old friend like you said.

Well then..

How dare he threaten me citing the example of Kim Su of Kyung-won!

He brought the Minister of Military into this to show that I, too, am

responsible for Nok-dune!

But I will not take this tying down.

Go to the capital at once and deliver my message to Minister Yoon Du-su!

Yes, sir!

Your Majesty...

It is a missive from the Chief Commander of North Base Yi Il.

Is it true that such tragedy took place in Nok-dune Island?

Execute him? North Base Commander Yi Il tried to execute Yi Soon-shin?

But the battle was lost because he failed to provide necessary backup.

How could he?

Punishment is often based on the result and not the cause.

The fact is Nok-dune was in imminent danger of attack and Captain Yi was

not there.

That's sufficient cause for an execution.

Remember what happened to Kim Su of Kyung-won in 1583?

Sung-ryong.

But this is different.

There is an official request from Captain Yi to Commander Yi Il for aid.

In it he describes the enemy's movements in detail and proposes

numerous defensive measures.

If Yi Il has ignored this request, he is the one to be blamed.

The North Base Commander Yi Il willing to become a Westerner?

His Majesty has great trust for Yi Il.

His Majesty is said to have sent him numerous personal letters of

encouragement.

But the Ministry of Military is making a move to bring charges against him.

Yi Soon-shin is Yu Sung-ryong's man. That means he is also an Easterner,

and you can't blame Yu for protecting his own and going after Yi Il.

Give him a hand.

And we will have a competent general trusted by the King.

I'm not interested in North Base Commander Yi Il.

Whether he has the trust of the King or not, I don't really care.

Brother...

What I do care is the fact that Chosan Fort garrison captain Yi Soon Shin is

Yu Song-ryong's man.

That's enough reason to give North Base Commander Yi Il a hand.

Yi Soon-shin abandoned his men and fled from the battlefield?

I remember this man vividly.

Changing a few leaders will not change the world.

His Majesty has raised the banner of reform, but if he stops at replacing

a few officials, the world will not truly change.

Remember. For as long as people are being persecuted and exploited,

for as long as the ruler and his ministers ignore them,

the world will not change.

If a man who once possessed such a spirit abandoned his men on the

battlefield, what could he have learned from time?

Virtue and magnanimity or arrogance and obstinacy?

My guess is arrogance and obstinacy.

Then what would Yu Sung-ryong who accused me of having become

arrogant and obstinate have me do about this man?

Send a messenger to Yu's home.

He is to attend the assembly of high officials tomorrow.

As you wish, Your Majesty.

My lord,

what is it? What is bothering you so much?

Do you have a friend?

What do you look for in a friend?

I have no one that I can call a true friend, but if I were so fortunate,

I would hope for a friendship like that of Bega and Jongjagi.

Jium (one who hears the same resonance), someone who

understands me. Someone who will stand by me even if the world should

turn against me. That is the kind of friend I'd like to have.

Jium...

Then do you recommend a death sentence for Captain Yi Soon-shin?

Yes, Your Majesty. The six camps have been securely defended since the

barbarians were suppressed in 1583. But the fact that only Nok-dune Island

has sustained this great damage is evidence of his incompetence.

No, Your Majesty.

Captain Yi Soon-shin has numerously warned the North Base Commander

Yi Il about the great strength and size of the enemy and there are official

documents to prove it.

He made copies of the official documents?

He truly is a faint-hearted man!

What do you mean?

If he requested aid and left evidence of it he covered his back in case of

defeat.

The conclusion of my personal inspection is that the barbarians

are in fact growing in strength. Without supplementary military power

in the six camps, the entire region will soon be in great danger.

Your Majesty, this is what Captain Yi Soon-shin tried to tell us.

And to sentence him to death is an outrages.

Nok-dune Island is the only place that was destroyed.

That's right, Your Majesty. If the barbarian army is so large,

why aren't the other forts destroyed as well?

These are findings of the Minister of Military after thorough inspection

of all three northern provinces. No other opinion could be more accurate.

North Base Commander Yi Il is a man who is prepared to bury his bones in

the north. I'd estimate his judgment to be more accurate than the Minister

if Minister who took a short tour of the north.

Think about the magnitude of destruction in Nok-dune Island.

The size of the enemy army is plain to see.

Are you citing size as the cause of defeat?

The largest army will fall with an incompetent leader.

In this case, the leader abandoned his men all together.

Your Majesty, how could we let this irresponsible leader live when other

defeated generals are punished by death for simple incompetence?

Garrison Captain Yi Soon-shin of Chosan can never be Your Majesty's

warrior so let his failure serve as an example to all!

What do you think?

What do you suggest I do with Captain Yi Soon-shin?

Your Majesty, punish Captain Yi Soon-shin by death.

Defeated warrior Yi Soon-shin must be executed for his crime.