Original subtitles

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

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

Do you speak sincerely? I know that he is a dear friend of yours.

Do you sincerely recommend a death sentence?

Yes, Your Majesty.

You do now the punishment for trifling with the King, I'm sure.

How is your wound, Captain?

It's fine. Don't worry.

When will you be coming back? Everyone is waiting for you.

You will have him back soon. So go back and wait for him.

Really, sir?

The Minister of Military was here. His Majesty will know the truth

about what happened here, so he will send Captain Yi back to Chosan

Fort and take the necessary measures to defend the six camps.

So trust that all will be well and go back to your camp.

Soon-shin, politics know no mercy.

I am forced to gamble with your life...

Garrison Captain of Chosan Yi Soon-shin and Constable of Kyung-heung

Yi Kyung-lok, receive your sentence!

Hear me, criminal Yi Soon-shin! As a warrior of Chosun, your duty

is to fight to he death and protect the country against the enemy.

You have failed to render your duty thus committing a crime against the state.

You have failed to maintain discipline among your men and neglected your

defenses against the enemy.

By abandoning your subordinates and and civilians on the battlefield

you have caused devastating defeat.

How could your punishment be anything less than death?

But you made a brief effort saving a number of lives, and for this I

spare you from death.

You are to serve the military without official rank and redeem your crime

with devoted service.

A demotion, a discharge, and now he is to serve as a common soldier.

Yi Soon-shin, that fellow, has all kinds of trophies!

A captain abandons his men and runs away from the battle,

and he is allowed to live. What is this country coming to?

- Lt. Yi. - Yes, sir

You have an important duty.

From this moment on, you are in charge of Chosan Fort.

Don't even think about giving Yi Soon-shin special treatment just

because he was the former captain.

Go out there and show them who is in charge.

Let them know what happens to those who desert their men and betray their

comrades and discipline will be tightened without extra effort.

Ca... captain...!

Captain...!

What is the meaning of this?

Captain, what happened?

Who are you calling captain?

At ease!

You are not to stand in attention before a common soldier?

What do you mean a common soldier?

This man is now a common soldier just like the rest of you.

Do not address him as sir or you will be punished!

That's absurd! How could the captain become a common soldier?

A captain is always a captain? Who has ever heard of that?

Don't you dare talk back to me!

Do you have a problem, soldier? Are you going to defy your superior?

You little...!

What's this? Are you going to defy your superior as well?

You don't still consider yourself the captain, do you?

You two, take this man outside and strap him on a torture rack!

I will teach him a lesson for defying a superior!

I am Lt. Yi Unryong! I will be in charge of Chosan Fort until a new

caption is appointed! Remember, this man is no longer your captain!

If any of you are caught calling this man sir, all of you will be punished!

Take him away!

Captain you have to stop this! Please, sir!

Didn't you hear my order?

Pathetic imbecile!

Mother!

What are you doing here, Myun?

A letter was delivered. It's from the capital city.

The capital city?

Sister-in-law, what is it?

Good news, I hope?

Yes, of course.

Yun-hwa.

Yes, Mother.

Let's sit down.

Are you going somewhere?

Yes. I'm going home, um, a cousin of mine is getting married, so...

It's rough traveling to the north.

Mother...!

Judging by the hurry you are in, it must not be good news.

It's a long and rough road.

Not an easy road for a woman to travel alone.

I'm afraid he is all alone...

You want us to go back to Nok-dune Island?

Not one hundred and fifty but with just fifteen of us?

Do you know how many barbarians are out there across the river?

If you're curious, go see for your self, Lieutenant.

It's an order! You know what happens if you defy an order.

Why don't you just kill us yourself right here? We're dead either way!

You! Carry out your order now!

If you want to kill me, go ahead!

Say something! You know this is insane, Cap...!

Darn, I think he's going to go.

Sir!

For you, sir.

I can't figure it out.

Yi Soon-shin is a defeated captain who abandoned his men on the battlefield.

That means those men were abandoned as well.

I thought his men would want to kill him the moment he returned here as a

common soldier, but... I just don't understand...

That's all right. I got it.

Sir...

Yi Soon-shin has accepted his sentence.

Would you if you were in his shoes?

I couldn't.

How could I serve as a common soldier under the subordinates that used to

serve me? I'd rather kill myself. How about you, sir?

Neither could I. It is an indignity worse than death.

I'm sure it is for Captain Yi as well.

Then...?

I spent my childhood with Yi Soon-shin.

And we trained in martial arts under the same master.

Yi Soon-shin I know is a man of extraordinary will.

He would think nothing of giving up his life to preserve his will.

But he is enduring the shame of serving as a common soldier.

It can't be simply for survival. There has to be another reason.

The King and the royal court has ignored those that died in battle,

and now they are giving up on the survivors as well.

But I am helpless to protect them...

The only thing I can do is to be with them.

To die with them is all that I can do now...

Break up the tribal alliance? What do you mean?

We are going back!

We fought together as an alliance but we have failed to conquer an

inch of land!

This is an embarrassment!

We have not failed at anything. It is by choice.

What in heavens name do you mean?

Do you care to explain the reason?

The reason?

Ilsu! Ilsu!

Over, over...

What's over? Calm down! What's over?

Over there!

Ilsu!

The barbarians! The barbarians are coming!

Attack!

Fire!

Stop! The enemy is before us!

Huh? That's...!

That's Yi Soon-shin, sir.

Don't be hasty, Sassonga.

But sir!

We can't kill the greatest warrior of Chosun like this.

So you're the one named Yi Soon-shin!

I had hoped for a chance to meet you.

No, I should say that I had hoped for a chance to fight you

since among the countless warriors of Chosun, you are the most prudent and

alert leader I have ever seen.

How would you like to work for me?

I'll make you my right-hand man.

Chosun has forsaken you, but I am willing to take you in.

But if you refuse, I will have no choice but to take your life.

It's most fortunate that Chosun has forsaken you.

If you were still in a position of power, I would have a tough fight

ahead of me.

That will do for today.

But the next time I will take your life together with this island.

Let's go!

How do we stop them? Propose a solution!

Didn't you hear me? Say something! Anything!

You...!

You are the one in command of Chosan Fort now, Lieutenant.

You are the one who has to think for us.

Now do you understand? Nok-dune Island is as good as ours.

If all we wanted was Nok-dune, we would've conquered it long ago.

But we are after the entire six camps.

That is why we have to hide ourselves from the enemy for a while.

Yi Soon-shin has seen our strength and size, but it appears the rest of

Chosun does not believe him. They wouldn't have punished him if they did.

They still see us as petty thieves that raid their villages for food.

Then this may be the perfect time to attack.

The six camps are unlike Nok-dune Island. Think about Itangae.

He had rallied an army of 50.000, but it crumbled against Chosun army.

Remember, what we want now is war not random raids.

And this alliance is not large enough for a war.

We need time to consolidate all of the Jurchen tribes.

Meanwhile, we cannot allow Chosun to strengthen their defense.

That is the reason why we have not conquered Nok-dune Island.

Are these Yi Soon-shin's journals prior to the barbarian attack?

Yes, sir.

Not you too.

You left your camp unattended and rushed here at daybreak for this?

This is very important. I've seen the enemy with my own eyes.

And I've read Captain Yi's journals from cover to cover.

Isn't it possible that he was right and...

What are you trying to say?

Are you trying to say that Yi Soon-shin was right and I was wrong?

Is that what you're trying to say?

Sir!

What did Yi Soon-shin say to you? What did he say to frighten you that

you'd rush here at dawn and cause this commotion?

Don't be a coward and return to your post.

You just began your military career. You don't want to cut it short, do you?

Look what we have to go through all because of your friend Yi Soon-shin!

I know! Of all the Jurchen chiefs, why does it have to be Matniungae?

Chiefs are dime a dozen around here!

Shut up!

Are you sticking up for your friend?

You idiot! If they knew that we were Soon-shin's friends,

do you think they'd keep us alive?

Excuse me!

I'd like to see the chief.

What could you possibly want with the chief?

I'd like to make a deal with him.

With what? You've got nothing to offer him.

I've got plenty.

What do you want?

Chief...

What's your motive for trying to get close to me? Answer me.

Do you have a death wish?

Do whatever you wish.

Because unlike you, I am not afraid of death.

Me afraid of death?

I grew up on the battlefield. How could such a man fear death?

That's what I thought as well at first.

But I was wrong. I knew it the moment I set foot in here.

Why do you sleep here instead of your own sleeping quarters

surrounded by armed guards?

That's how I knew.

You have so many enemies that you can't even sleep in your own bed

among your own people.

You're truly a lonely man.

You've been sick all morning. Please rest today.

I know your wound is sore.

You can carry it yourself!

The captain is sick.

Who are you calling captain?

Did you tell him to carry this?

Are you ignoring your superior officer? Answer me!

Are you always this listless? No wonder you lost your men!

The captain didn't tell me to do anything! I...

Shut your mouth!

This man does not deserve to be called a captain!

If he is a captain he should acted like one.

A captain who sits on his thumb knowing that his men are going to be butchered,

knowing that his fort is going to be destroyed, doesn't deserve to be

called a captain.

You mean you're going to turn back without seeing him?

Yes.

I know that he is all right, so that's enough.

But...

I heard that he was injured and feared I may have to deliver

disturbing news to Mother.

I'm just thankful.

But if I may make a request...

Of course.

Please do not tell Soon-shin that I was here.

I don't think it would please him to know that I saw him.

Of course. Don't worry.

Commander, enclosed are the journals that contain detailed reconnaissance

reports of the enemy camp as observed by the former garrison captain Yi Soon-shin

throughout this past year.

I respectfully ask that you review them with an open mind.

I know that to die in battle is the greatest honor to a warrior,

but I send this to you to learn about the enemy and find a way to triumph

against them.

He was just here and now this letter...

Lt. Yi is a faint-hearted man.

Open it up.

Yes, sir.

My name is Yu Song-ryong.

I am Lt. Yi Unryong. Please sit down.

I am quite familiar with your illustrious name.

What brings you to these parts?

I've come to see the offender who serves this fort as a common soldier.

If you don��t mind me asking, how do you know the former

garrison captain Yi Soon-shin?

We are old friends.

Then...

could I ask you for a favor?

The hand that should be holding a sword is holding a bottle.

How could I call you a warrior?

Soon-shin, my man!

What are you doing here?

I've come to see if I did the right thing saving your life.

You should have let me die.

I had faith in you.

I thought that you'd easily overcome this shame and bounce right back.

There is nothing I can do. There is nothing I want to do.

Then why didn't you kill yourself? If you're going to desert your men,

your comrades and yourself, why not just end your life?

It will happen soon enough.

There are those coming for my head before I kill myself.

Then why did you bother to defend yourself?

If you were going to sit there and do nothing, why did you ask to be heard?

It is His Majesty and the royal court that are doing nothing!

What's the point of trying?

Superiors are more worried about their reputation, officials are busy

protecting their interests, and the sovereign just wants peace now

regardless of repercussion.

There is nothing to expect from this world. Nothing will ever change.

What do you expect me to do? Comfort and encourage my men?

What do I say to them? Give them hope when there is no hope?

Why do I have to do that?

Filling them with false hopes and pushing them into their death,

I've already done that.

Once is enough.

So that's it. You are afraid of being called a captain who killed his men.

It's no wonder you keep looking for excuses.

How many more men would you like me to lose?

You're pushing them into their death right now!

"I'll die with my men, so those who die next are not my responsibility!"

Then how are you different from your superiors, the officials or

the sovereign that you condemn? You do not care just as they don't!

I think coming here was a mistake.

How could I criticize you?

I am the one who turned my back against the world first.

I did not have the courage to watch the royal court rotting before my eyes

under the rule of the King who has lost his will and his men who fails

to put the people first.

No, perhaps I was afraid of turning corrupt just like them.

So everything I said tonight, I meant it for myself...

I never wanted to watch another subordinate die before my eyes.

I told myself that I would be content if I could just be buried here with you.

I wanted to find peace somehow if that is the only way.

But I don't know if you will forgive me.

I came here expecting an incompetent and irresponsible man

since you are a defeated captain sentenced to serve without rank.

Then I became suspicious.

It was the way your men looked at you. Their eyes were not of bitterness and

anger for the leader who had abandoned them.

Then was he in fact a good leader? Was he misunderstood?

Then lastly I became afraid.

If you ask me, you don't look like such a great leader right now.

All I see is a loser who can't stop blaming himself.

I don't have much battle experience.

I have no memory of defeat or memory of losing my men.

But if the pain of losing his men is what did this to a man who was

once a great leader, I am afraid.

I'm afraid of defeat.

I won't even be able to handle this much, Captain.

Help me. Please help me so I do not lose my men.

And even if I fail and lose my men, show me that a true warrior must

overcome his pain and go on.

Captain!

Tens of thousands?

Are you certain of that number?

That's not all, sir.

Many more barbarians were arriving from all direction as we watched.

Is it true that you saw Captain Yi Soon-shin of Chosan?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Why did you travel such a distance to see him?

Were you trifling with me when you advised me to execute him?

Punish me, Your Majesty.

I spoke to you insincerely out of desperation to save him.

How could I avoid punishment?

Why do you so desperately want to save this man?

Because he is your dear friend?

No, Your Majesty. The man I tried to save is your faithful warrior,

but now I know I made a mistake.

From what I have seen in the north, barbarian attacks have not ceased

throughout the six camps. But Yi Soon-shin is neglecting his duty

as your warrior and awaits death with his men.

How could I call him a faithful warrior?

Imperial Attendant summon the Minister of Military Chung Unshin immediately!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Hear me, Chief Commander of North Base Yi Il!

I am well aware of your negligence attributed to the cause of tragedy

in Nok-dune. If such lapse is repeated, I have no choice but to question your

loyalty and competence. Do not inflict me the pain of cutting my own flesh.

Sir!

I've spent half of my life as the King's warrior.

And half of that has been spent here in the six camps.

I came close to death many times and serve the King like a dog.

And what I got in return is this post!

The pain of cutting his own flesh? Ha! How convenient is the throne...

The King may swallow what is sweet and spit out what is bitter.

Is anyone out there?

Yes, sir!

Dispatch messengers to each of the six camps!

Consolidate all military power to the North Base!

I am going after the barbarians!

I will slaughter each and every one of them!

Did you check out the enemy camp?

Yes, sir.

Is it as we suspected?

Captain!

It's trouble!

Commander Yi Il is calling the troops together and launch an attack against

the barbarians?

Is this true?

Yes, sir.

He will get the entire six camps military force wiped out!