Original subtitles

Speak!

Why did you conspire with Chung Yuh-rip and plot treason against me?

Why did you attempt to steal the country?

Why did you betray me?

Your Majesty...

Answer my question!

What are you waiting for?

Continue the torture until they confess to their crimes!

Oh, Minister Yu!

Why do you look so glum?

Your disenchanted look could be misinterpreted.

The entire city reeks of smell of blood of our scholars and countrymen.

It would not be appropriate to walk around with a smile either.

Weeds must be pulled out at the roots.

If you just cut off the stem, they will grow back.

If there's anyone that must go, it Minister of Rites Yu Sung-ryong.

Until then, we cant say that the job is done.

Leave it to me, Minister Yoon.

Four times... Could Japan really be four times larger than Chosun?

Minister of Military...

Are you on watch duty tonight?

No, sir. I just had some work left to do, sir.

It's the list of arrests for tomorrow.

Tell the others to review it in the morning.

Yes, sir.

I am on the list of suspects?

You may have to arrest me in the morning?

So why are you here?

Are you going to let them do this to you?

What do you suggest? That I get out of town away from the law?

You have to find a way to survive. You have to fight.

It's too late.

Sung-ryong!

I am already a criminal of high treason in His Majesty's eyes.

But he's wrong. Tell him. Tell him that he is wrong.

His Majesty is not interested in the truth.

He will hear only what he wants to hear and believe what he wants to believe.

What am I supposed to do?

If you can't reason with him, beg! Do whatever it takes!

Are you telling me to violate myself?

A scholar's dignity is more important than his life.

I will not trade my dignity to save my life.

I never have and I never will.

Is your dignity more important than the country?

What about the Japanese envoys who spoke as though there would

be a war any minute? If what they say is true, this country will be

completely wiped out! Will you die in peace then?

It is not my concern.

You'd sacrifice the country to preserve your dignity?

The Japanese will be very pleased.

The King has destroyed all of his faithful minsters and the last one

remaining seeks his own doom.

They will jump for joy!

Stop, stop this!

No, do whatever you want. Mock me, call me a coward!

Say whatever you want but I do not care.

I'm angry with the King who wants to repay 20 years of loyalty with death,

and I am afraid of dying!

But I'm trying very hard to keep my dignity to the end.

I've looked everywhere, but that's the only thing I can do!

And you want me to sacrifice my dignity as well?

Let us out, Sung-ryong. I'm here for you.

Vent your fear and anger.

I know you better than anyone.

I know what this country Chosun and His Majesty means to you.

And if you give up, His Majesty arid this country has no hope.

You mustn't give up.

The country may forsake you, but you mustn't forsake the country first!

Chung In-hong, Yi San-hae and even Minister of Rites Yu Sung-ryong?

Scholar of Cholla Chung Am-su and countless other Confucius scholars

are calling for their arrest.

Yu Sung-ryong?

There have been concerns in the past about Yu Sung-ryong for his previous

attempt of high treason with rebel Bek Yu-yang.

Previous attempt of high treason? Did Minister Yu confess to this?

Criminals seldom admit to their crimes.

But Yu Sung-ryong has expressed great disapproval for the trials in progress.

To condemn the prosecution of high treason is high treason itself.

High treason... Yu Sung-ryong plotting high treason...?

Very well!

Arrest Yu Sung-ryong! I will interrogate him myself!

It must've been about two years already...

You threw the table at a dinner gathering and yelled at us.

I'm sorry...

"If we put party interest first before the people, we will surely

be leading the King to his fall!"

I actually felt good that day.

How should I put it? Like a child who had been scared and anxious about

getting caught for doing something wrong, but actually feeling relief

after finally getting caught and being spanked for it...

Sir...!

We kept telling ourselves that we were doing the right things,

but we've done many wrongs.

We've indeed pursued our own interests in the name of the people and the King.

I consider this my punishment for those wrongs I have done.

And that puts me at peace.

Sir...

But someone must fix this.

And you, my man, are the only one to do it.

Minister Chung...

Take care of yourself. You of all men must survive this.

But sir...

I know.

I know you that you're frustrated and confused.

But remember. Your life is not yours alone.

You spared us the trouble of having to go after you, Minister Yu.

What are you waiting for? Put him into the cell!

What is it?

His Majesty summons the accused for direct questioning.

Very well. Take him.

The late Master Jung-am said there were lessons to be learned

even from humble shoemakers.

And I can see why working with those farmers.

Have you already fathomed the teachings of Master Jung-am?

I implore you to have confidence not rage.

The most important custom of the palace that a ruler must follow

is love for his people, and you already know that.

Do not give into pressure.

Your love for the people is above all laws and customs.

Untie him.

Your Majesty...

Untie him, I said.

Imperial Attendant.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Leave us.

Your Majesty...

Do you remember the first time we met?

We talked about Jung-am.

He was a traitor for the departed King Joong-Jong, but I, too, had admired

him more than the King.

How about now?

If I condemn you for your contempt and treachery against the King,

who will be admired by the people and history between you and me?

Is your silence mockery or remonstrance?

I trusted you and relied on you at times like a brother

and at times like a teacher.

But you never thought of me as a brother or a friend.

You never overstepped your boundaries as a faithful servant.

At a safe distance you calmed me, steered me

and at times tested me.

Is this what all kings must bear?

Are they doomed to live a lonely friendless life in constant fear

of being tested by his subjects?

Did you plot high treason against me with Chung Yuh-rip and Bek Yu-yang?

Did you want to seize my throne and rule the country by your will?

Did you think that you could steal my authority?

Answer me!

The high officials and Confucius scholars want you executed.

And if you indeed plotted treason against me, I must kill you first

before I kill anyone else.

If I asked you to spare my life because I want to live, would you?

If I told you that I have not for a single moment betrayed you,

and that I, too, have held you in my heart as a friend and a brother,

would you believe me?

If there is a way to survive, I want to survive.

I do not wish to die.

In the twenty years I've served you, never once have I held irreverent

thoughts. It is the truth, and you must believe me.

I do not wish to die. No, I cannot die.

There are too many things left for me to do.

This is not like you.

Why are you pleading for you life? In fear of what?

Your Majesty...

I hereby sentence Chung Yuh-rip's conspirator Chung Unshin to class

two banishment, and Chung Unji and Bek Yu-yang to class one banishment.

You are also instructed to arrest and punish Chung Am-su for slander of

Right Minister Yi San-hae and Minister of Rites Yu Sung-ryong.

I am shocked and appalled to find guileful subjects exploiting this

misfortune to destroy my faithful subjects.

I not only intend to punish slander, but also to expose those who have

tried to abuse this opportunity to destroy their political enemies.

Minister of Rites Yu Sung-ryong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I'm appointing you Ministers Personnel to restore order in

the aftermath of the trials.

Your Majesty, your grace is infinite.

Imperial Attendant.

Come close.

Drink.

How could a lowly attendant dare...! No, Your Majesty.

If Sung-ryong tried to test me again, I would not have left him alive.

I do not believe Minister Yu Sung-ryong is one to betray you.

No, he would never try to steal my throne.

He has no desire for power or wealth.

But for that reason I fear him more.

Why did he sacrifice his honor and dignity and beg for his life?

Does he see something I do not see?

If that's true, how does he see me?

Does he question my competence as a ruler?

Could I trust you to be there for me?

Unlike the ministers that put me on a scale and measure me from all sides,

would you bear with me whether I am weak or incompetent

and let me be who I am?

Your Majesty...

I thought this might be the best place to avoid being seen when you requested

a private meeting.

How can I serve you, Your Highness?

His Majesty has summoned me alone.

This is the first time without the other princes.

Could he possibly know about my meeting with the Japanese envoys?

Are you afraid?

I don't want to fall out of his favor either, but my bigger fear is closing

my eyes to the facts that have come to my attention.

Your Highness...

Isn't there a way to bring it to his attention?

Minister Yu, is a prince the King's son

or he is the King's subject?

Your Highness!

You are quite good with the bow and arrow.

Soon you will surpass me.

Thank you, Father.

There is no doubt you will surpass me in many things.

Kwang-hae.

Yes, Father.

What do you think it is like to be on the throne?

I would imagine the throne an extremely lonely place.

A lonely place?

A place from where no one can be trusted, yet the face must

be one of confidence and trust of a friend...

since distrust will beget impiety and impiety will beget disorder...

Then was it the face of a friend you showed four foreign guests?

Your Majesty, I am not the King.

Your Majesty, the Japanese envoys have been with us for over six

months requesting reciprocal exchanged diplomatic envoys.

I have clearly denied their request.

This is their third attempt to restore diplomatic relations.

I urge you to respond and display magnanimity of a superior kingdom.

How could you give such counsel?

Their Kampeku is a traitor who usurped power through violence.

Are you urging His Majesty establish friendly relations with a traitor?

How could you make such a recommendation?

They are the ones that turned Cholla Province into ashes in 1587!

We are beckoning another such foray by pushing them into a corner!

Then you should advise His Majesty to vanquish them instead!

Park Wui had once conquered Tsushima Island during Saejo's reign.

This is truly frustrating!

Why would you seek violence when we can stop them with diplomacy?

Your Majesty, if I may make a suggestion,

instruct the Japanese to turn over traitor Sahwadong.

Sahwadong?

He was acted as their guide in the incursion of Cholla in 1587.

If he is captured and punished, no one will betray the country again.

In addition there are over a hundred soldiers that were captured and taken

prisoner by the Japanese in 1578.

Request their safe return. They are Your Majesty's people.

Very well! Capture of Sahwadong and safe return of the prisoners;

if those two conditions are met, I will send a diplomatic envoy.

Your Majesty, why do you embrace this inferior brute?

The King is the father of his people and the soldiers being held prisoner

by the Japanese are my children. How could I ignore them?

Minister Yu, send a diplomat to the Japanese envoy's lodge and instruct

them to carry out my order without delay.

Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.

Is this true? His Majesty has agreed to dispatch an envoy?

But you must deliver Sahwadong and release the prisoners first.

Leave that to us.

We will make it happen no matter what it takes.

What in heavens is happening?

His Majesty continues to favor the Easterners!

He does not favor the Easterners; he is suppressing us Westerners.

He is displeased that the trials have left the court almost exclusively

occupied by Westerners.

I saw it coming when he appointed Yu Sung-ryong new Minister of Personnel.

So are we supposed to sit on our thumbs and do nothing?

Of course not.

We need to recruit a competent military leader into our faction.

A military leader?

Someone who will preserve peace in the country and render meritorious service.

Don't tell me that you think Yu Sung-ryong's judgment is correct.

Of course it is!

Is there anyone in this royal court with greater foresight?

Why are you defending Yu Sung-ryong?

We must thank our lucky stars that there is only one Yu Sung-ryong

among the Easterners!

Had there been another man like him, we the Westerners would not have

been able reclaim our authority.

Minister!

However,

he may have an eye for the problems ahead, but his method of dealing with

them are wrong.

Yu Sung-ryong will carefully observe the developments and insist on

approaching every problem diplomatically.

And that will quickly and surely irritate His Majesty.

What His Majesty wants is a strong nation full of pride,

not a feeble nation that befriends plundering pirates out of fear.

If we can recruit a competent military leader, it may not be so difficult to

deliver such a nation to His Majesty.

Competent military leaders?

I suppose we have General Shin Lip and North Base Commander Yi Il.

Yi Il?

Yes. His Majesty is quite pleased with him for his achievement in

Shijun Battle.

Yi Il...?

What is this tiny cup? I need a bigger cup!

Oh, General...

The heroes of the Six Camps have gathered together, and you're

teasing us with these tiny cups!

Why don't you just drink it out of the bottle?

Should I?

This is the best way to drink wine. Right out of the carafe!

Do you remember how we treated through the bank of Tuman River

after Nitanggae in 1583?

Are you itching to go to battle again?

Am I ever!

General, there is someone who'd like to see you.

Me? Who?

We came to listen to some music, but we heard General Shin's voice from

outside, so I asked to join you at the risk of being presumptuous.

Minister Yoon, what brings you...?

Have you fared well?

Please take my seat.

No, no, I am fine right here.

Had I known you were in company of so many...

I'm sure you are acquainted with all of them.

Constable Won is your relative, so he needs no introduction...

It's been a while.

I trust you've been well.

And this is..

Oh, the former North Base Commander Yi Il!

I see you know each other.

I owe this man a great deal. No, the country owes him a great deal.

Had you not taken the central army and stopped the barbarians, this country

may very well be in their hands right now.

Sir...

Now that you're back in the capital, you should rest and enjoy yourself.

Home is on the battlefield for us warriors.

Too much rest makes us rusty.

No, no. Commander Yi worked much too hard.

It's time that he stayed home and got some rest.

I don't believe that is your concern, sir.

His Majesty decides who rests and who is sent to defend the country.

You haven't changed a bit.

You are still so naive.

Isn't he, General Shin?

If you will excuse me. I must be leaving now.

Here, let us drink.

No, but thank you, I still have work to do in the office.

Perhaps next time.

What brings you if not to have a drink?

Minister Yu told me that you found a map for him.

Oh, that? Yes...

Did you come across any literature by chance?

I wondered if you have any books or literature about Japanese culture

of customs.

Why does that interest you?

You've checked every reference and literature in the Ministry of Military,

but you can't find any useful information about the Japanese?

You want to know whether they really have the means to attack and destroy

Chosun, but there's nothing to go on?

Why are you so surprised?

Those who are completely ignorant don't have anything to be curious

about either.

Can you find some literature?

Why are you trying so hard?

From the King to his high ministers and even the illustrious generals are

ignoring the warnings like it's someone else's problem?

Why should a petty official of lowest rank be so fretful?

Did Minister Yu promise you a higher position for your help since he

now the Minister of Personnel?

I asked you whether or not you had any literature, and if there was a

way to get some.

If you cannot help me, I shall go.

And I am asking you why you want them.

If you want my help, shouldn't you at least reveal your reason as a courtesy?

This country does not belong only to His Majesty and his high ministers.

Accordingly, their attitude is unimportant to me.

Very well. There is a place I can look.

I will let you know if I find anything.

Thank you. Well then...

Master, what did that man say for you to laugh so hard?

Yi Soon-shin...

Minister Yu has an eye for good men.

Please leave now.

I made a terrible mistake, sir! I will never defy you again.

Never defy me again? I am not your king to obey.

I know how powerful you are. Please give me one more chance.

I will never disappoint you again. I give you my word of honor.

Your word of honor?

Then, shall I give you another chance?

I'm sure that you are well aware of the fact that Yi Soon-shin is

Yu Sung-ryong's man.

Well, that's...

He was under your command, so I don't have to tell you about his

incompetence and negligence.

Do I?

No, sir.

Sung-ryong...

Are you going to spend the night here again?

Have you learned anything?

I've checked the records from Sampo Uprising invasion of 1555 and 1571,

but there's nothing conclusive.

We do know that the Japanese pirates that attacked in 1555 had a

fleet of over 70 ships each with a minimum crew of one hundred, so

that would have made them seven thousand strong.

And that was over 30 years ago, so they could've only gotten larger since.

I need to quickly get you back in the ranks and out to the South Sea

so that we can start taking precautionary measures.

I'm waiting for an opportune time. I'll do what ever it takes to get

you out there, so meantime, just keep doing what you are doing,

and try to acquire as much knowledge about the enemy as you can.

Regional Military Commander of Cholla? That's absurd?

That man Yi Il has caused us devastating set backs!

He betrayed us once, and he will betray us again.

Perhaps.

Then why?

Yu Sung-ryong is not stupid.

These are precarious times.

He will hook up with a warrior and prepare for the worst.

Yi Soon-shin?

We can get rid of the dog after the hunting is done.

The Easterners will try to bring Yi Soon-shin forward.

Yi Il will make a good hunting dog for us.

Congratulations, sir.

Thanks.

You just got back from the north and here you are leaving for Cholla again.

You barely got a chance to rest.

A warrior must answer his call of duty.

Leave him safely to his destination.

Yes, sir.

I must go.

Be safe.

Aren't you angry?

What does he have that you don't? Why does he always get...

Silence!

His Majesty makes the decisions about where we go and what we do.

All we have to do is to fight the enemy.

The man is too honest and simple for his own good...

You want me to go to the Japanese Trade Center?

You said you have dealings with many Japanese merchants.

Yes, but...

Bring back any literature about Japan you can find.

Finding Japanese books is not as easy as you think.

If you come through for me, I will talk to Minister Yu about sending

your merchant group on the next diplomatic mission.

When is the next diplomatic mission to Ming?

I was told there wouldn't be one for a while.

Not to Ming, to Japan.

Huh?

What can I do for you?

Is this the residence of the Minister of Military?

Yes, sir.

What are you waiting for? Unload the cart!

Yes, sir!

The former Constable of Chong-sung Won Kyun sent you?

Yes, sir. And he apologizes for his delayed greetings.

Greetings...?

General Won is rather standoffish.

But he is a good, honest man. All warriors in the six camps know it.

The fact is, they trust and respect General Won more than General Yi Il.

And from now on, he will show due respect to the high ministers as

well as you can see from my visit.

I don't doubt it.

Sir, you're incorrigible.

You should relax and enjoy until you are assigned to your new post.

Lt. Woo, let me tell you something about martial arts.

If you skip one day of training, your body knows, two days of training,

your friends know, and if you skip three days of training, your enemy knows.

Criminal Won Kyun, you are under arrest?

A criminal? Do you care to explain?

Do you deny offering a bribe to the Minister of Military?

A bribe? Never!

Tell that to the Minister of Military yourself.

What are you waiting for? Arrest him!