Original subtitles

Small... it's too small...

Japan is so small compared to Europe.

Don't you agree, Konishi?

Yes!

Are you still calling yourself a Christian?

Your Eminence!

No, of course not.

Do you know why I rejected the priests?

There are countless countries in Europe.

Portugal and Spain where your priests come from, England, Holland, Russia...

They are at war with each other as well.

The last one standing will be the Kampaku (Imperial Regent) of Europe.

Then the will come after Japan, Chosan, and the vast land of Ming

at which time the priests will become their guides.

I could not embrace treacherous men, Konishi.

And we cannot lose initiative either.

That is why subjugation of Chosun and Ming is so important.

In order to seize the world, the first thing we must do is to secure our route

over land. Isn't that right, Konishi?

Of course, Your Eminence!

Then why hasn't the King of Chosun come to me with his tribute?

It's been months since So left for Chosun!

Your Eminence...

Have the King of Chosun kneel before me and open the path to Ming!

I will question your loyalty otherwise. Do you understand?

Yes, sir!

About this time in Japan, Hideyoshi was calling himself "The Man of the World"

openly flaunting his ambition to conquer the world.

His first goal was to get the King of Chosun to acknowledge inferiority

and acquire free passage through the peninsula into China.

Konishi Yukinaga knew that this was impossible, thus he persistently

requested the reciprocal exchange of diplomatic envoy from Chosun

hoping that Hideyoshi, unfamiliar with diplomatic relations, would perceive

the goodwill mission as a rite of submission.

It was a noble attempt to avoid a war, however...

How long has it been since we came to Chosun?

It's been over four months since we presented them with our musket.

Why won't they respond?

The Imperial Regent thinks that we are bringing back the King of Chosun.

If we don't take back at least an envoy, what is to happen to my father-in-law

let alone you and I?

Komshi's envoys So Yoshitoshi, Genzo, and Dahirano Zoshin were held at arm's

length for months without a reply from the royal court of Chosun.

Your Majesty, this is a rifle called a Bird Gun, which, in fact,

is a very powerful weapon.

A bird gun... You say this is powerful?

Yes. It can kill not only birds but much larger animals.

Can it kill a man as well?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, how could a small bird gun harm a human being?

I am certain that it can only shoot down birds as its name suggests.

In Chosun, we have many different kinds of larger and more powerful cannons.

Yes, Your Majesty.

But Your Majesty, I advise you to at least test its power.

That won't be necessary. Why bother?

It is a gift nevertheless. Let it be preserved at the Royal Armory.

As you wish, Your Majesty.

We can't go back like this.

If we don't bring back an envoy, seppuku the only thing that awaits us.

It's time to settle this once and for all.

Which prince is the brightest in the royal house of Chosun?

Did you say that the Japanese envoy left this?

Yes, and they requested a chance to see you.

Silly men! How could a prince have a social visit with a foreign envoys?

Did they name a meeting place?

The master seeks the sun but the servant is at a loss,

as once the sun falls darkness will prevail...

The morning calm will never be again. How could one mourn not the loss?

Prince Kwang-hae!

Greetings, Minister Yu.

The morning calm refers to Chosun, does it not?

You must have received the same letter that I did.

Your Highness, allow me to bid you greetings. My name is So Yoshitoshi.

My name is Genzo.

State your business.

Your letter suggests this is not a social call.

This is a musket.

Would you like to test it?

Now pull the trigger.

This is Japan today.

Over two hundred thousand soldiers are armed with muskets.

We want you, Prince Kwang-hae, and the Chief Minister to be aware of this.

Why?

Your Highness...

The size of the army, secret weapons, these are matter of national security.

Why are you revealing these secrets?

To survive.

If there should be a war, the people of Tsushima Island located between the two

countries will burn in the crossfire.

We want to stop a war. Help us.

We are trying to save lives.

I don't know how much of what they say to believe.

What we do if all is true?

You must advise my father to send an envoy to Japan as they say.

But His Majesty considers Japan an uncivilized country.

And he has great antipathy for the man they call Kampaku.

Then are we to sit around and wait for them to attack?

Nothing that they have said has been confirmed.

We should be more prudent about this, Your Highness.

I know. That's why we must send an envoy!

To see it once is worth more than hearing it a hundred times.

Shouldn't we at least check them out?

It is my failure that His Majesty will not listen. I'm sorry...

That makes two of us.

I am a so-called Prince of this country, but there is nothing I can do...

I, too, am powerless to do anything in fear of upsetting my father.

Lieutenant...

A letter came for you from the capital city.

It's from Minister Yu.

In 1598, Yi Soon-shin had started his military career over as a staff officer

to Yi Kwang, Viceroy of Cholla Province.

About the time Yi's honor was restored for his meritorious service in Shijun Battle

after enduring the shame of demotion to a common soldier status,

the royal court was in search of a military talent willing to forgo

the proper course of ascent.

Aggressive recommendation of the Right and Left Ministers Chung Un-shin and

Yi San-hae got Yi Soon-shin in the top two Choices, but fierce resistance of the

opposing party delayed his appointment.

Finally, at the special request Cholla Viceroy Yi Kwang, Yi Soon-shin was

reinstated as a staff officer.

Yi was literally starting over from the bottom from the rank assigned to

those who had just passed the military service exam.

This was merely three years before the outbreak of Chosun-Japanese War.

Two hundred thousand?

Two hundred thousand men armed with convenient firearms...

If what they claim is true, chances of defeating them are slim even if

we bring the entire Chosun army together.

Do you believe them?

We should first confirm their claim.

Confirm their claim?

Let us review all materials and data we have about Japan.

Only then His Majesty will pay heed to your counsel.

Why don't we start with a map?

Oh no?

Forgive me, Master. I made you drop your rice...

That's all right.

What you gain and what you lose the will of the Buddha.

Will the Buddha seek to gain Chosun?

He will not stop there. Everything under the sky will be his if his

disciples bring their hearts together.

I'd like to do my part...

I'm sorry, Master. This is the limit of my talent...

No, the Buddha will be moved by your devotion.

How did it go?

I trust that no one saw you?

No, sir.

Make sure no one enters the room.

Yes, sir!

It's the Map of Integrated Borders and Terrain made during the reign of Taejo.

Then this is over two hundred years old. Is this the only map we have?

They're all about the same.

China is illustrated in relative detail but you can't even discern the size

of Japan from this map.

If Japan is really this small, they couldn't even mobilize 20.000 men.

Are there an other data?

The last time we sent an envoy to Japan was over a hundred years ago.

I'll try to find everything I can, but I don't know if anything will be useful.

Minister Yu, have you fared well?

Suk-bong, I wish you would have announced yourself before you came in.

I just got back from a year-long trip to Ming and I wanted to surprise you.

Besides do we have to fuss with the formalities?

And I didn't know you had company.

My name is Han Ho.

I am Yi Soon-shin.

How did it go in Ming? I hope you had no trouble.

I traveled at leisure seeing the sights. What could go wrongs?

By the way, what did you hide when I walked in?

A book of prophecy to turn this world upside down?

What were you two doing with this ancient artifact?

Don't tell me you were discussing affairs of the state.

You can't even get a piece of candy for this junk!

From ancient times, good poetry have come from deprived stomachs...

One word is worth fifty rolls of silk...

I asked you to recite one of your poems. Why do you recite Yuan Hung-tao's poem?

It's as the great poet said. Poetry comes from hungry stomachs, but I...

There must have a lot on your mind as well.

I suppose one can be deprived of many things...

Suk-bong, are you in?

You win, Master.

We had a bet about when you are coming.

Master Han said you'd be here before noon, and I said you would never

set aside your official duties to come here.

Is he here?

He's been waiting for hours.

Is this what you were looking for?

Merchants with frequent dealings with Japan drew this map.

Have we met before? You look familiar.

I have a very ordinary face. I am often told that.

This is a rare item, and I'd like to be compensated as such.

How much would suffice?

Money doesn't interest us.

My merchant group would like to accompany the next diplomatic mission.

A merchant should be a better judge of character.

Not all politicians are alike. This man does not sell favors.

I am not trying to buy favors. This is a business deal.

Listen to this fellow!

Come. I'll compensate you.

There you go!

Lord Chu of Ming will be very pleased!

Smell the sweet scent of ink!

You mean the sweet scent of money!

I am curious.

You told me to acquire it at any cost, so I did, and I wondered what I could

get for it but I never imagined you would give me your calligraphy.

They're worth a fortune and you never sell them although people line up from

Chosun to Ming for them.

Is that map that important?

I don't know. I just hope it's not too late...

Lt. Yi Dae-won, deceased, over one hundred naval officers missing.

If they were pirates, could they cause this kind of damaged a trained army?

Sir, I heard you were looking for me.

Record show that you are from Nok-do. Is that a fact?

Yes, sir.

Then did you witness the Japanese pirates that attacked in 1587?

Of course I did. They were vicious men.

Can you tell me about them? What were they wearing?

Were they wearing uniforms, or were they in different clothes?

They were like a bunch of dolls lined up wearing the same exact clothes and

peaked hats.

Soldier's uniforms...?

How about their weapons? Did they have anything other than swords and spears?

I didn't notice in the chaos.

But every time they went by there were loud noises.

I took my wife and kids and hid in the hills, but we heard a bunch of loud

bangs like popping beans or something.

Were they already using muskets?

Over twenty war vessels as large as our flat-roof crafts...

They disabled our navy in an instant and took four of our war vessels.

As for the missing soldiers, their fate remains unknown...

They are not pirates...

You want to patrol Nok-do, Heung-yang and Karipo area this time?

With your permission, sir.

No, permission is denied.

Sir!

You're no longer an officer of Cholla Province.

You've been appointed a royal bodyguard and messenger as of today.

Congratulations!

High treason? High treason, you say?

Chung Yuh-rip is to take up arms from the east and west and march

to the palace once the Han River freezes?

He is to encroach upon the palace, slay me, and seize my throne?

Your Majesty...

Call in the high ministers! I will interrogate the conspirators personally!

Did you conspire with Chung Yuh-rip and plot high treason against me?

Did you plot high treason?

What is high treason?

How can we answer when we don't know what it is?

How dare you play this game!

It's true. We don't know anything!

Then why were you arrested?

What do won mean arrested?

The officials told us to go to Seoul and say that we betrayed the country.

Betray the country?

Yes. They said we'd be paid good money...

And that we'd meet the King as well...

What is your occupation?

We rely on alms and live on the streets.

How dare you fabricate this lie!

Your Majesty, we must get the truth out of them even they die in the process.

Never mind.

Good men may be few, but Chung Yuh-rip wouldn't round up the homeless to

overthrow the King.

Your Majesty, Chung Yuh-rip is merely a scholar who likes to read books.

He is not one to plot treason.

I agree, Your Majesty.

The real perpetrators are those who made false reports accusing innocent

men and causing Your Majesty distress. They must be arrested and punished.

Very well.

I am appointing you as prosecutors to attend to this matter.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.

Imperial Attendant, have you ever tried to catch a butterfly?

I often did when I was a young boy.

They would always slip through my fingers and get me frustrated.

But there was one time when I had actually caught one.

But I regretted it immediately.

I must've been too rough.

It fluttered a few times and died in my hands.

Perhaps the throne is like that butterfly.

As a prince not from the direct line of descent the throne was like a

butterfly that I could not catch.

I wanted to be a good King.

There were so many things I wanted to change and so many things I wanted to

achieve...

Your Majesty, you are a benevolent King unique in history.

Do not doubt it, as both the heaven and earth know it.

Do my subjects, do my people hold me in same regard?

It may have come from inferior men, but the words "high treason" cannot

be ignored by the King.

Do they still think that I don't belong on the throne because I am

not from the proper line of descent?

Your Majesty...

Like the butterfly that wouldn't have died had I not caught it,

had I not risen to the throne. I would not be afraid of losing it...

You're not at the inquisition.

There is realty no one to interrogate.

This matter will be settled once Daebo arrives and explains himself.

Minister Yu, why do you look so concerned?

It's nothing...

I am just worried because mere allegation of high treason can

cause unforeseeable ripple effect. Take Master Cho Kwang-jo for example.

If Chung Yuh-rip really did plot an overthrow, who would stand to gain

the most right now?

You think too much.

How can you compare Chung Yuh-rip to Master Cho Kwang-jo?

He was an influential figure, and he had many enemies.

Chung Yuh-rip on the other hand, now spends his days buried in books

in the countryside.

Don't be overly concerned.

How could you be so nonchalant when treachery is rampant?

They dispatched a marshal.

Are you a fool? What good dispatching a marshal?

They'll make a few arrests, torture them a little and cover it up!

From the magistrate to the marshal they are all Easterners!

Chung Yuh-rip is an Easterner. Not just an Easterner, but a

convert who betrayed his master, Yul Gok, and got on a different boat.

If he can betray his master, who to say he can't betray his king?

And those who defend the treacherous are treacherous as well,

but His Majesty does not see this!

Then we must make him see. Isn't that our duty as his subject?

Don't you agree?

The Royal House Adviser Chung Chul requests a private meeting?

Your Majesty, you must arrest treacherous conspirator Chung Yuh-rip

and punish him for his crimes.

A marshal has been dispatched.

Chung Yuh-rip will not come peacefully.

He is a man who openly talks about bringing down the Yi Dynasty and

replacing it with a Chung Dynasty.

Moreover he has a strong army behind him.

He is neither a general nor a King. What purpose could an army possibly

serve for him?

His army may be marching to the capital as we speak.

I beseech you to secure the city and send an army to arrest him.

I wanted to change the world, but it seems it is not my time...

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, criminal of high treason Chung Yuh-rip has taken his own life!

What?!

He slipped through the cracks and fled to Juk-do, but when he found himself

surrounded, he struck Byun Seung-bok and his son who were with him and

took the sword to himself.

Your Majesty, his suicide is tantamount to admission of guilt.

You must find his conspirators and eradicate the source of evil.

Only then no one will dare attempt to steal your throne again.

Find and arrest every single one of Chung Yuh-rip's conspirators!

Things have taken an unexpected turn...

His Majesty is furious.

I hope innocent members of the Great East Brotherhood are not harmed...

It is bewildering... Why would Daebo kill himself?

In any case, I better go out to the inquisition and wrap up the

interrogation.

Quickly! Quickly!

I must interrogate the conspirators! Quickly!

Right Minister!

I am the prosecutor now.

What do you mean?

How could we let you investigate a crime that you are involved in?

Me? What in heaven's name...

What are you waiting for?

He conspired with Chung Yuh-rip to overthrow the King! Arrest him!

Yes, sir!

What is the meaning of this! Let go of me immediately?

Take him away! Now!

Law enforcement is not part of your duty as Royal Bodyguards,

but we are short handed. Being that this is a case of high treason.

It is not completely unrelated with His Majesty's safety.

Now let's get moving.

Who might you be?

I am a newly appointed member of the Royal Bodyguards Yi Soon-shin.

Is that so? Follow me.

1589 A.D., 22nd year of Sonjo's reign. Chung Yuh-rip's attempted overthrow

took an unexpected turn of events with Chung's suicide after a tip-off from

Viceroy of Hwang-hae and Magistrate of Anak.

Easterners who defended Chung, the members of Chung's Great East League,

and anyone who had any correspondence with Chung or his associates were

accused of high treason in a massive purging unprecedented in history of

Chosun which would come to be known as The Trials of 1589.

Will we be able to return home before the end of the year?

This is truly frustrating...

What are the King and his ministers thinking?

We have given them clear warnings, but instead of strengthening their

borders, they are only concerned about destroying political enemies.

I think Minister of Rites Yu Sung-ryong is on the list to be purge as well.

It seems the Heaven has forsaken Chosun.

Then why don't take back Akai's map to the Kampaku and advise him to conquer

Chosun?

I think I should resign.

Submission may be the best thing for now.

Minister Yi...

Yoon Du-su and Chung Chul are determined to crush us.

We've done nothing wrong.

Why should we have to lower ourselves and tiptoe around them?

Right Minister Chung Un-shin didn't do anything wrong, and look what

happened to him. The truth isn't important right now.

The Westerners are out to make all of us criminals of high treason,

and His Majesty believes them.

The world is not that simple. And truth does not always prevail.

What exactly are you afraid of anyway?

Have you forgotten about the Battle of Shijun already?

The only reason why we were able to get help from the central army was

because of strong Easterner support for Minister Chung Un-shin.

It was a result of crushing Minister Yoon Du-su and the Westerners who

opposed the deployment of troops!

Chief Commander!

They could call all of us Easterners if they wanted to.

And they will put us on trial as well.

I know that you are related to Minister Yoon.

Arranges meeting for me, so I could explain to him about Shijun Battle.

Explain? Explain what?

We risked our lives and the lives of our men on that battle,

and emerged victorious and proud.

You are too naive.

Are all battles fought on a battlefield? This, my friend, is a violent war.

You can't compare them to the barbarians.

If they provoke a fight, fight them.

They are nothing but power hungry bureaucrats.

If they insist on fighting, grab them and throw them to the barbarians!

That will teach them!

Sir...

I don't want to see it.

I don't want to see the North Base Commander's cowardice.

He is the highest military leader in the north.

Why would he stoop to to those inferior men?

Lt. Woo, a warrior must not stoop to anyone.

A warrior submits only to the commands of his King and his superior officers,

Is that understood?

Yes, sir...

Is the information trustworthy?

He's been to Japan dozens of times, I am told.

Then everything that the envoy said could be true.

I think the Japanese that attacked the southern coast in 1587 used

muskets as well.

If they have such a large army, we may not be able to stop them even if

we pull all of our resources together.

Isn't there a way to warn the King?

His Majesty is fixated on the trials.

It's not unreasonable since the throne may have been threatened.

But how could he believe that the Right Minister was involved?

It is completely absurd.

But what can we do? This is what we must deal with.

Minister...

He could indeed lose his throne if he fails to stop the thieves that are

after the country chasing the thieves that are after the throne.

Can't he see that?

Nothing is clearly visible.

So I cannot tell what is real and what is imagined.

I have been lost in the woods when we were up against the Jurchen tribes

at Tuman River. So have my men and so have my superiors at times.

Then could there have been a time when we our spears were thrown at

each other with the enemy right before us?

The entire country is in an extreme confusion.

There may be an enemy of unimaginable strength across the ocean.

But where are my King and his soldiers aiming their spears?

Are all of us lost?

There is a conspirator of treason...

And there are those who are trying to protect him.

Your Majesty...

What were Chung Yuh-rip and his accomplices after?

Where they truly after my throne?

And there are those using this opportunity to strengthen their

party's influence.

Then who are they?

Who is my true servant among them?

Exhume Chung Yuh-rip's body and hack him into pieces!

Assemble officials of all ranks and have them witness the hacking from

beginning to the end!

Send the severed limbs to each province in the country!

Show every man, woman and child of this country what happens to those

who betray the King!