Original subtitles

Under legislation the Left Cholla Navy is supposed to have thirty battleships,

and according to the navy register at least 4.000 seaman recruits.

Where do we currently stand?

We have 1.550 recruits so far.

We're calling up whose who had sent proxies, but many are resisting.

I will not accept proxy recruits.

Supplement the soldiers as quickly as possible.

Yes, sir.

The outcome of a sea battle depends on the effectiveness of the artillery.

So as the man in charge of artillery training. Captain Chung has greater

responsibility than any of us.

Gunners must be accurate and efficient.

Reducing the loading time to a minimum will be the key to victory.

Keep in mind at all times that explosives are a danger not only

to the enemy but to the allies as well.

Begin.

Gunners, position!

Begin loading sequence!

Stop!

Step away from the guns!

Lt. Chung I want those who failed to finish the sequence on flogging racks!

How are you going to stop the enemy?

If you're this slow on land, imagine your speed on a moving ship!

Take it like a man!

Step aside!

If this were a real battle, the enemy would've seized the ship before one

projectile is launched!

And the ship would've been blown to bits with your sorry heads with it!

Lt. Chung!

Sir!

Start over from the beginning!

Yes, sir!

You saw what happened.

If you don't want to get whipped, be alert at all times! Understood?

Yes, sir!

These guns are your lives, do you understand?

Yes, sir!

Archers ready!

Fire!

It is just as important to produce skilled archers as it is to have an

an effective artillery.

Archers protect the artillery so they could carry out an effective attack,

and bows and arrows become the most powerful weapon when enemy vessels

attempt an approach.

Fire!

Archery requires highest level of mental focus, so it is not a skill

hat is quickly mastered.

Archers ready!

Give it all you've got! Fire!

To motivate the archers each garrison will form a team and compete against

other garrisons as a part of a routine training.

Those individuals and garrisons that excel in performance will be rewarded.

But those who neglect their training and perform poorly will be punished.

This is breaking my fingers...

And you're breaking my heart.

Look at the target!

Oarsmen are suffering the most due to shortage of men.

Our galleys lack speed compared to the Japanese warships, and the only

way to mitigate this problem is by supplementing manpower.

We need at least two and as many as four men to each oar.

That is the only way we will be able to move with adequate speed when we

are engaged in a battle.

Next! Keep the line straight!

Chang Ji-chun... Proceed.

Next!

Man-gil... Proceed.

Next!

We're in a situation where we must build both the Turtle Ship and our

galleys together at the same time.

I'd like to divide you into two teams in order to increase efficiency.

Su-chang will oversee the general operation of course, but I'd like

Lt. Na to manage the construction of the Turtle Ship.

I think that will increase our efficiency, don't you?

Just give me your order, sir.

I will work my hands to the bone to deliver a fine Turtle Ship!

Is there anything wrong?

Well, there is something that concerns me, sir...

Something that concerns you?

You don't have to speak.

Lt. Na!

Yes, sir?

You must've run around like a reckless child for the director to be concerned.

You're a loose cannon when you're focused on something, so his concern

is completely valid.

He doesn't think you can be trusted with his men.

I will be very careful, sir. I'm sorry, Director.

What other immediate problems must we resolve to commence the ship building?

We are seriously shorthanded.

Manpower... I guess we have no choice but to rally the recruits.

Are they the losers who failed to complete the loading sequence in time?

Yes, sir!

Put them to work until they get it! Pathetic fools!

How are you going to be gunners if you can't even load the guns?

You're not going to eat nor sleep until you get it right!

- You got that? - Yes, sir!

- I can't hear you! - Yes, sir!

Continue!

Ready!

Begin!

You idiot!

I told you not to waste gunpowder! Have you already forgotten?

No, sir!

Pick it up!

I don't want to see a speck of gunpowder left on the ground,

or I'll kill you right here right now!

Yes, sir!

Goodness, what are you so late?

I'm growing old waiting for you.

Waiting for me? Why?

Do we need a reason to see each other?

But I'm puzzled. You're acting strange lately. Do you know that?

I'm acting strange? How?

What's your real motive, Captain Chung?

Did you "Open your heart" to the high commander now?

Is that why you're working your men so hard, to impress the high commander,

to get on his good side?

Never! That's nonsense!

That's what I thought. The Captain Chung that I know would never stop

to a weak sister like the high commander.

So tell me the truth.

You're trying to get him into trouble, aren't you?

Commander Kim!

You're trying to prove that he's wrong about everything.

Isn't that why you're pushing your men so hard?

I guess I was right on!

The recruits will blame the high commanders

for the cruel and harsh training.

It's different for us commanders, but once the recruits

start to protest and resist, all hell will break loose.

You can't bring down a wall with one strike of an axe, but a flood

will wipe out the wall without a trace! Isn't that right?

You're a smart man, Commander Kim. You must be hungry too.

How about going for a drink at a local kibang?

They have a new courtesan, and they say she's a spring flower!

Oh, my arms, my legs, my shoulders, my fingers, and my toes...!

Jakbo, my good man, would you give me a shoulder rub?

I'm in so much pain. Your big brother is going to die a virgin!

I'm not exactly well myself...

You disrespectful little weasel!

Are you counting your wrinkles in front of an old man? Give me a rub!

Gee whiz! You're not even that much older than me! No!

Sang-nam, you'll give me a rub, won't you?

I can't! I can't even lift a finger!

You pathetic weaklings!

When I was your age, I used to carry twenty logs on my shoulder and run

laps around my village!

That's great, Dae-man. You're exactly the kind of men we need.

All of you are to report to the shipyard at first light from now on.

The high commander wants you to work at the shipyard until noon and then

report to your training.

Huh?!

Grueling military training, flogging, and now compulsory labor?

We need every hand we have to build the Turtle Ship and the battleships.

But...

I don't want to hear any complaints! It's the high commander's order!

They're trying to kill us!

I want each plank bent to a precise angle.

Number two, pull it toward you! Number three and four, push out!

That is it! That's better. I don't want any gaps!

Mama...

Empty?

Here.

I'm still hungry!

See you later.

Is it good?

- Dae-man... - Yeah?

It's good.

Dae-man!

Yeah? Let's share.

Stop! It's mine!

How could you?

My stomach is bigger than yours!

On your feet, soldiers! You must report to training!

On your feet!

You! Get up!

Now!

Do you know what time it is? It's an hour past noon!

Where have you been?

Find your positions! Hustle!

You idiot! You don't even know your own position?

Get a grip!

We will first place a layer wood planks over the hull,

then we will cover it with iron plates in a slight dome shape.

This will be the front, and that will be the rear.

Good work today.

Good night!

Are you guys done for the day?

You worked hard in the cold out there today.

Mama!

Hey, are you all right?

What happened? Is he hurt?

I've had it with this!

Are you boys all right?

I wish I had some food to feed you, but there's nothing left...

I feel awful! You're just beat, aren't you?

Lieutenant, look at these poor boys. They can't take much more of this.

Stop exaggerating and get up! Get up and go to your barracks!

Lieutenant!

Pardon me? Exaggerating?

Sir, I've always respected you, but this really hurts my feelings.

Does it look like we're faking this?

We've been working non-stop from the first light to midnight every

single day!

We're up building ships at dawn, then we're put to grueling military

training without a moment of rest. We're not made of iron!

We've going to die of exhaustion before the Japanese ever get here.

At least you're not going to be flogged to death.

We gunners don't know when Captain Chung is going to kill us.

Why not? Why can't we?

Between work and training the boys are busting their chops.

They're not going to last out there.

Can't you see this?

We're running out of food supply. We have to stretch it out.

If we increased their portions now, they will starve later.

Could you repeat that, Mama? You want to take the ship out?

That's why you called us out here?

Yeah, let's go right now.

You can't, Mama. That's insane!

What do you mean it's insane? Of course you can.

You can't take out a navy ship without authorization.

I'm not taking about that big one. I'm taking bout this little one.

Big or small, it's navy property.

I'll get in huge trouble with the high commander if I let you take this out.

Where is the high commander? Get him down here, and I'll...

What is going on here?

You wanted to see me? What can I do for you?

Forgive me... I made a terrible mistake, sir...

What can I do for you, I asked?

The soldiers are starving, so thought I'd take this little boat

out and catch some fish, but these boys won't let me.

The soldiers are starving?

But the grains are being distributed as usual.

That's not nearly enough food for them.

If we're running low on food supply, why not go out and catch some fish?

It is true. Our food supply is limited, but new recruits continue to come in.

That's not our only problem, sir.

We're building 15 flat-roof ships and the Turtle Ship at the same time.

That's costing us a lot of money as well.

We're seriously short of guns as well. And at the rate of our training,

we will soon need more gunpowder and saltpeter as well.

Aren't we getting aid from Cholla provincial government?

They have approved less than one tenth of what we requested.

We have to consider their position as well.

They have to be fair to the Cholla Army and the Right navy as well,

and they do not have a huge budget to begin with.

Forgive me, sir. I've tried to stretch the budget as far as I could, but...

No, I know how hard all of you are working.

Let us take care of the easiest problem first.

Really?

The high commander said we could go out fishing?

Yes!

Let's feast!

Did you really catch this?

Be careful! It's hot!

Hurry up! Keep it coming!

That's all right. Sit back down and continue your meal.

Sit down, sit down.

That's all right.

- Are you getting full yet? - Yes, sir.

We have plenty of soup, so make sure everyone gets a bowl.

Mama, can I have some more soup?

Of course!

Me too, Mama!

She's a woman of virtue. How long has she been in service here?

Nupchool is not a government servant.

I don't know her story, but she came to the camp one day and asked if she

could cook for the recruits.

Soon she became the head cook for her delicious food, and as you can see,

she's a kind and generous lady who is like a mother to us all.

Good evening, High Commander.

You went through a lot of trouble tonight.

Trouble? If was no trouble at all, sir.

I'm just happy to watch the boys eating well.

It's a cold night. Would you like a bowl of hot soup?

I used a lot of radish and it's soothing and refreshing.

Yes, I'd like that.

Sir.

Being a high commander... It's a cruel job...

The training drill is grueling it is, but I have to force them to

compulsory labor...

They are neither fed nor clothed decently...

The soldiers must resent me so much...

Leaders have no choice but to be cruel to his men at times.

In fact, they should be cruel.

Otherwise, he couldn't even protect himself let alone protect the people.

I'm sure the soldiers understand that.

Lord Yu, have you fared well?

It is fitting that I inquire about your wellbeing, but I suddenly feel awkward

having asked if you are well.

It may be an offense in a time of imminent war to ask each other

"How are you?" and "Are you well?"

Without hesitation I have sworn to keep the enemy away, to disallow the death

of one soldier, the death of one civilian...

And I still hope desperately to keep that vow.

But the Left Cholla Navy is simply too poor to effectively prepare

for the enemy attack.

I fear that I may lose my men to starvation and disease before they

can stand against the enemy.

Is Left Cholla Wavy alone in this?

If all military stations of Chosun are under similar situation,

how can we defeat the enemy?

You said you would fight the enemy with the pen.

If we can suppress the enemy without violence, I could not ask for more.

But if we cannot, we must draw our sword and draw it to win.

Unless the soldiers are fed, without the sinews of war, we cannot win.

The situation demands an immediate resolution.

An appeal to the King?

An appeal for him to advise the Emperor of Ming about the hostile

intent of the Japanese?

But he has dismissed the threat of war.

What makes you think that he will tell the Emperor of Ming about this?

We must persuade him so he will inform the Emperor of Ming.

Chosun can't get away with betraying our father country.

The Easterners are ignoring this fact.

We can't defy the will of Heaven, but we can turn the King around.

Your Majesty, I, the former Minister of Finance Yoon Du-su, deliver these

words after a hundred deep bows.

Your Majesty, if the Japanese bear hostile intent, it is certain that

the Great Ming is already aware.

If Chosun should acquire suspicion of our father country...

Your Majesty...

I've called you to inquire your opinion on a certain matter.

Please, Your Majesty.

Do you believe that the Japanese will go to war against us?

Why are you hesitant to answer? Do you feel ii is unnecessary to

answer since I am hashing up an old issue?

No, Your Majesty.

Then?

I cannot guarantee that there won't be a war.

You cannot guarantee?

No, Your Majesty.

Your party members maintain that there will not be a war.

But I guess you have a different opinion.

Are you indeed my only true servant?

A true servant who puts the future of the country before party interest.

Your grace is immeasurable.

But what a shame! I cannot trust your loyalty completely.

Your Majesty!

Why were you reticent then?

When this issue was fervently being debated in the royal court,

why didn't you speak?

Was there a certain political enemy you want destroyed?

Yoon Du-su has submitted an appeal.

He wants me to notify the court of Ming or give him death.

I cannot deny an ardent request of an old minister.

But Your Majesty, you must take extreme caution in bringing this matter to the

attention of Ming.

If you report this without being absolutely certain, we could be

asking for trouble.

Take a closer look at the situation for now.

Find out if the Japanese truly bear the ambition for conquest.

And if they do, let us seek ways to stop them through diplomacy.

Diplomacy? You want me to correspond with those crude hooligans again?

We can win without violence, Your Majesty.

You're trying to make me a cowardly king.

You'd have me associating with ruffians of Japan to avoid a fight

at the risk of earning suspicion of our father country?

Your Majesty...!

We have no choice. I will send an envoy to Ming at once and let the

arrogance of he Japanese be known.

Find a way to win without a fight, you say?

Sending an envoy to Ming will be the quickest way to achieve this.

Ming is our father country, and a father will come to his son's aid.

Kind Sonjo had previously declared that the threat of war did not exist

but the phrase "Open the path to Ming" contained in the royal edict of Japan,

had a dangerous implication depending on the interpretation. So whether or

not the threat was real, that the fact that they neglected to notify the Ming

court, weighed heavily on the minds of the officials and the King.

This was what Yoon Du-su had pointed out.

Accordingly, King Sonjo would come to dispatch envoy Kim Ung-nam to Ming.

But he could not have been ready for the response that he received.

Through information brought back by traders who had dealings with Japan,

the Ming court was already aware of the possibility of Japan invasion and the

fact that Japan had pressed Chosun to lead their campaign.

Why has Chosun not come to us with this?

Do they intend to join forces with Japan and strike us?

They couldn't...

But as the Chosun court's silence continued. Ming was carefully

weighing the odds of Chosun joining hands with Japan.

That suspicion is cleared when Chosun envoy Kim Ung-nam arrives.

However the Ming court would send an mind-boggling edict ordering Chosun to

attack Japan together with Thailand and Okinawa.

Their intent was to use Chosun as their shield to protect their own borders,

and these were the true colors of Ming, the father country that Chosun had

served with respect and obedience for 200 years.

I just don't understand.

A father would kiss his enemy's shoes to save his children.

The Japanese may be crude, but if he can stop a war

by establishing friendly relations with them, why would His Majesty refuse?

I suppose he is counting on Ming since it is our father country.

But Ming will not be able to help us even if it wanted to.

It's already corrupt from within.

My lord...

Since it has come to this, I hope this will push us to start preparing

for the imminent war.

Even if Ming comes to our aid, if is not exactly for us to welcome.

Who knows what they will demand from us after protecting us against Japan?

What brings you to this distant place, Lord Yoon?

My brother sent me, Constable Won.

You made a bold and difficult move coming to us, but we've become powerless.

He said you may be greatly disheartened, and asked me to comfort you.

Never mind. Tell him he need not be concerned.

I guess he was right. You are disheartened.

He also said your time is coming, and for you to be patient.

My time is coming?

You should cast all doubts aside and prepare yourself for the southern coast.

Hurry! Hurry up!

You still can't load the gun right?

Lt. Chung!

Yes, sir!

Take these men and them on flogging racks!

Take all those who missed the target as well!

Why are you waiting for? Didn't you hear me?

Yes, sir. Right away, sir.

Stop the floggings?

Yes, sir.

The recruits are being put to backbreaking training as it is.

They'll begin to complain if we continue to...

Complain? Who dare complain?

I want that soldier brought to me right this minute!

Sir...

Or take care of it from your level.

We are soldiers. Do I have to explain to you what soldiers

are and why training and discipline is so important?

You say they're complaining?

Do whatever it takes to suppress the complaints and get them to focus on

their training!

If they're not on their toes at all times. I'll have you flogged first!

Sir, Lt. Chung Man-su of Nok-do, sir.

I'd like to discuss something with you if I may regarding artillery training.

Regarding artillery training?

Shouldn't you talk to your direct superior Captain Chung about that?

It's Captain Chung that I'd like to talk about.

There are serious complaints about Captain Chung's training methods?

He is extremely hard on the recruits.

Perhaps you can have a word with him.

I will give it some thought.

If this were a real battle, the enemy would've seized the ship before one

projectile is launched!

And the ship would've been blown to bits with your sorry heads with it!

First he beat us because we couldn't remember the loading sequence, then

he beat us for not being quick enough, then for missing the target, and now

he is beating us for mishandling the fire.

Is he ever going to stop beating us?

I don't want to rub it in, but could you please do it right tomorrow?

Our team is always getting whipped because of you!

I know!

No, no way.

I'm not going to let you take a cannon and explosives! Are you insane?

Can't you make an exception just once?

If I don't get it right tomorrow, I'm a dead man.

Captain Chung will beat me to death.

I can't do it.

Here. I got something for you.

Try it. And I'll be done with my practice before you know it.

No! You'll get us in huge trouble!

Captain Chung.

Yes, sir.

Is the training going well?

Of course.

Very well. Keep up the good work.

Next!

Group two, forward!

Load guns!

What are you waiting for? Move it! Move it!

What the heck are you doing?

We're dead!

Don't move!

It's going to explode! Drop!

Chil-gu!