Original subtitles

I must... I must go to the Left Cholla Naval Station!

The Turtle ship, the Turtle Ship...

Yi Soon-shin is a meticulous man.

And Megura Bune is Chosun Navy's secret weapon.

Security will be airtight.

Approach by water and quickly capture and destroy the Turtle Ship!

You mean you already knew about this, sir?

Sir...

Report.

We've captured all fifty Japanese infiltrators.

I will return to my base, sir.

Lieutenant Yi,

did you say that you inspected the enemy camp alone?

I know that the Right Kyung-sang Navy is deeply loyal to this country.

And I will not forget that.

Sir...

Do you very best to assist High Commander Won.

And do not forget that the Left Cholla and the Right Kyung-sang navies

must come together as one and face the enemy again in the near future.

I will not forget it, sir.

High Commander, the woman that Lt. Yi brought us

has regained consciousness.

Wonderful!

That's all right. Don't get up.

No, High Commander.

Chung-hyang...

I'm glad to see you well.

Enemy general Wakizaka appeared to bear deep grudge against you.

He may be more interested in getting personal revenge than

in destroying the naval forces of Chosun, so I...

I'm just glad you are alive.

Wakizaka Yasuharu?

They have sent everyone south even Wakizaka Yasuharu...

He is the most illustrious leader of the Japanese Navy.

This man cannot be compared with anyone you have fought thus far.

He possesses both Dodo's brains and Gurujima's courage.

He is the Taiko's most fearsome secret weapon.

If he is commanding this battle, you're now fighting with the Taiko of Japan.

Grant honorable samurai title to the men who will give their lives

to throw Yi Soon-shin's naval base into confusion?

Distribute his portion of the fief to his men?

Wakizaka, that chap, is really something.

He knows how to keep his men loyal.

He is also the best assault team commander you have, Your Eminence.

The challenge of the battle is what interests him more than the reward

of victory. Don't you agree?

Wakizaka and Yi Soon-shin...

I shall give Wakizaka greater encouragement.

Deliver this to Wakizaka, Jotai.

This is the sword that you use when you personally command a battle!

I will make Wakizaka the chief commander of this campaign.

If he can't capture Yi Soon-shin alive, he is to kill him with this sword.

Yi Soon-shin's fall will be the fall of Chosun.

Aye!

The Taiko off Japan has challenged us to a battle.

This battle could be the final battle that ends this war.

We will not... no, we cannot back down.

High Commander...

Then we have to start by breaking the Taiko's spirit.

Send Wakizaka's men back to Pusan.

Show the Taiko of Japan how utterly powerless his trusted men are against

the Left Cholla Navy.

Did I hear you correctly?

You are going where? Is that the high commander's order?

You would be walking into certain death!

It was my idea. I told him I would go to the enemy camp.

Constable Kwon!

You may not make it back, Constable Kwon.

Darn it! Just how powerful are these bastards?

I know.

They come back stronger and stronger each time we knock them down!

But let us not forget that we, military forces of Chosun,

are stronger.

Constable Kwon...

The rage against the evil of their invasion, the will of the people to

drive them out-there is no weapon stronger than that.

Japanese Naval Base, Pusan

Yi Soon-shin?

Is he the one who brutally slaughtered my men?

It is the Left Cholla Navy, General.

You bastard...

Those who dare again to harass the Left Cholla Naval Station

will receive equal treatment.

I'll kill you!

I'll kill all of you and send your heads back to Yi Soon-shin!

Stop!

General!

Withdraw your swords. All of you!

General...

We are an elite Japanese navy. We are not some lawless pirates!

We cannot kill the enemy's messenger.

Now!

The leaders of Left Cholla Navy and the entire military force of Chosun

are extremely displeased by your country's invasion of Chosun.

But my superior High Commander Yi is a merciful man.

If you agree to disband and return to Japan without further ado,

we will stop our attacks against you.

Bestow mercy?

Mercy, my man, is not for just anyone to give.

It is privilege that only the powerful can bestow.

Go back to your base and tell Yi Soon-shin to surrender!

Then I will overtook what he has done to my men this time.

I assure you we will not surrender.

We will fight you anytime if you wish to fight.

And like the previous battles, those fights will end in pathetic defeat of

the Japanese Navy.

You win a couple of battles and you think you're invincible.

It's understandable. Memories of victory works wonders for morale.

I should know as a general who has never lost a single battle against

Chosun forces.

But the party is over. Do you understand?

Go back to your leader and deliver these words.

The only thing that is left for him is defeat!

I will cut off his head.

Are you confident you will not regret this decision?

Because neither you nor your men will survive.

The Chosun forces are fighting for peace.

But if you seek to break that peace, you will be avenged in

the name of the people!

As we had expected, Wakizaka was not an ordinary man.

He did not lose his calm before the sight of his men's decapitated heads.

An ordinary general cannot defeat 50.000 men with only 1.600.

I learned that it was his division that defeated the confederate army.

But his first covert operation in the south against us has failed miserably.

This will place his competence in doubt.

If we go head-to-head against a fleet of over 400, we do not stand a chance.

We must somehow break them up.

Dissension in the leadership, internal division...

those are the quickest ways to break up the enemy.

You should have been more thorough, General Wakizaka.

Yi Soon-shin is unlike any other warrior in Chosun.

He might be hiding other secret weapons

besides the Megura Bune and the cannons.

How else could he send a messenger and so boldly threaten us?

It's a bluff, General Gouki.

Your best men were butchered before they could even get close to the

Megura Bune.

How can you say this is a bluff?

We need an infallible plan to suppress the enemy.

We must request aid from Japan, or...

We will strengthen the existing forces!

What will happen to our reputation if we continue to request aid from home?

Besides, we have cannons now!

If you have time to sit around like this, go out there and train your men!

He is too impatient.

Wakizaka does not have what it takes to make it to the top.

One must study one's mistakes in order not to repeat them.

I couldn't agree more.

We cannot give the right of command to Wakizaka.

It is true that we've been defeated by Yi Soon-shin, but we know him

better than anyone because of those defeats.

How can we trust the entire

fleet to a man who ignores our valuable experience?

I just hope His Eminence is aware of this as well...

Your blood-soaked youth, your brave sacrifice so far from home...

they will never be forgotten.

Your name will be remembered by all of Japan

and celebrated by history as greatest samurais that ever existed!

Until the day that the enemy's blood is offered on this alter,

rest in peace, my proud soldiers!

Ogawa!

Aye!

Pay them our last respects.

Atten-hut!

Bow!

Chung-hyang... She must be the one who gave them the information.

Right, Kohei?

But how did she know we were going after the Megura Bune?

Wicked wench... She has ruined my reputation!

Gouki and Dodo, those pathetic losers are criticizing me.

But Wakizaka does not take these things like this lying down.

Load the cannons!

Chances are our cannons will be useless to the Japanese, sir.

Useless?

Their ships are made with Japanese cedar which is not very strong.

And they are built using nails which makes them weak to recoil.

The joinery will come apart.

General!

How could this be happening?

Chosunese cannons are too powerful for our ship to withstand the impact.

We will sink if we continue, sir.

Our analysis has revealed that the Japanese vessels cannot accommodate

the number of cannons that our galleys can. They can't hold up to the impact.

You mean they can't install the cannons at all?

No, it is possible to install up to two cannons at the head of the ship.

That means they can have up to 800 cannons since they have 400 ships.

That's right.

Then the advantage is ours.

Between the Left Cholla, Right Cholla, and the Right Kyung-sang navies,

we can have up to 1.000 cannons on our galleys.

Then we will be equal in strength as long as the 3 navies fight together.

Not exactly.

They will have 400 ships each fitted with two cannon.

Now imagine their crew.

Assuming that they can board 200 soldiers per ship,

that's 80.000... almost ten times our combined strength.

Can we stop 80.000 soldiers 400 ships with 50 galleys?

We must find a way to install more cannons.

We must quickly modify our ships to accommodate the cannons.

Do you really believe Yi Soon-shin will wait for us to modify our ships?

If we can put two cannons on each ship, we will have equal firepower.

But our fleet is almost ten times larger than theirs.

The Japanese Navy will be far superior in strength.

But those ships are useless without the crew and soldiers.

So far we only have 30.000 soldiers mobilized in Pusan Harbor.

Even if we only put 100 soldiers er ship, 100 ships will be left empty.

Manpower... Manpower is the problem...

Send him in.

Welcome, General.

General, this is a surprise. What brings you here?

I heard that you were here.

How could I stay away

when you are going after the man His Eminence want destroyed?

General, how many troops do you need?

We need at least 20.000.

Very well.

I will send you 10.000 to start, and I will join with

the rest of my men once the ground forces of Cholla are destroyed.

I will contact Tachibana for him to join us as well.

That will give you another 10.000, so you'll have 30.000 auxiliaries in all.

Thank you. We are grateful.

This is the lesson we have learned through numerous defeats against

Yi Soon-shin. The only thing that can guarantee victory against him

is unquestionable superior force of arms.

Did you receive the report?

Yes, sir.

How many Japanese soldiers are in Pusan?

Approximately 30.000, sir.

Thirty thousand...

But that number could double very soon.

The ground forces deployed to attack the Cholla Army will soon be joining

the navy to destroy our navy.

Oh no!

If our ground troops fail to hold them back, we will have to contend

with all 400 ships! Even if we form a strong fire net, we cannot stop a

fleet ten times our size.

If they should break through the line of fire and attack the headquarters...

Sir...

That may be the end for the Chosun Navy.

The Cholla Army has lost majority of their men in the last battle.

They won't be able to hold the enemy back.

Can we stop them on our own?

We are dealing with an army of 20.000, but the governor hasn't done anything

to be prepared. This is so frustrating...

The moment we give up will be the moment we will be defeated.

Have faith, Magistrate Hwang. We can beat them if we choose

our fighting grounds carefully and stage a series of ambush attacks.

These are fire carts. Are you ready?

Yes, sir.

Fire!

It's quite powerful. Weapons are just as important as military strategies.

Lord Yu...

Have the emissaries returned from the three lower states?

Yes.

I trust that they conducted a thorough investigation of the defeat of Yong-in.

Yes, they have.

Was incompetence of the leaders the cause of defeat as we suspected?

I'm afraid so.

Perhaps we should select competent men among the officials of military

background and send them to Cholla.

Do you think we have such competent men?

I was told that there was one commander in the battle of Yong-in

who got his men out safely without an casualties.

It's Constable of Kwang-ju Kwon Yul.

He is the man. He may be the one to lead the Cholla Army.

It is true that he is respected by his men and his peers, but he

comes from the scholar background.

According to the report, such complete defeat could've been

avoided had they followed his strategy.

Yes, but...

A leader does not necessarily have to be a trained warrior.

We've seen countless brave warriors abandoning the battlefields to save

their lives.

Zhuge Liang did not lead every battle to victory with his physical strength.

Keen judgment and resourcefulness is what is required to be a good

military leader.

And I believe Kwon Yul possesses both.

Yi Soon-shin and Kwon Yul... they are our only hope.

If they succeed in protecting Cholla, the enemy army of 100.000 will not

be able to advance north to Pyong-yang by sea.

And perhaps we can turn the tide of this war once and for all.

This is the King of Chosun.

The one with this mark is the King.

And a younger one with a similar mark will be the Crown Prince.

You don't need to be able to distinguish them.

They are both going to be dead.

You're right.

Attendant Yoon!

Father!

We must get you out of here, Your Majesty!

We must go, Your Majesty!

Failed?!

It looks like none of them survived.

Incompetent fools!

They're supposed to be the best samurais in Japan!

How could they fall so powerlessly against the Chosunese?

These Northern provinces are known for having men of violent nature.

If they assembled best of the best of this region, it is no surprise

that they are superior fighters.

Which side are you on?

How could you praise the Chosunese in front of me?

We must know our enemy. Only then we can find a way to defeat them.

It's too late! Konishi has already captured Pyong-yang!

It'll take him and his troops only three days to get to King in Uiju.

That means the King's head will be his!

Did you say we are not going to Uiju, sir?

May I ask why, sir?

There're frustrated and angry locals who are eager to guide us to Uiju to

get to the King who has abandoned them.

Uiju is only three days away, Father-in-law.

Yes, but it is hundreds of miles away from our main base in Pusan.

Father-in-law...

Lord So, let us not forget that our final destination is Ming... not Chosun.

We have advanced without rest from Pusan to Pyong-yang, an our troops

are very exhausted.

We've been restocking tour provisions with the food supply that Chosun

armies have left behind, but we are low on gunpowder and weapons.

And what if Ming sends military aid to Chosun?

How many men will they send?

Ming is a huge country. They will send an army many times our size.

Genzo is absolutely right.

We will stay here in Pyong-yang for now and wait for the campaign

in Cholla Province to succeed. Once they have captured Cholla,

100.000 troops will be quickly deployed to the north again.

That is when we will advance to Uiju where we will acquire the

King's admission of defeat and move on to Ming.

Leave the country, Your Majesty?

It is unthinkable, Your Majesty.

How could the King desert his land and his people?

No, Your Majesty! It must not be allowed to happen.

Then you'd have me captured and killed?

Security here could not be poorer, and the enemy general Konishi in

Pyong-yang continues to threaten my life.

Is it your intent to let them get to me?

What would happen to the dignity of Chosun then?

There is no greater shame for the country than to have the King desert it!

Nameless commoners are giving their lives to save the country!

How could Your Majesty leave?

Slay us instead!

We may die here, but we cannot lead the royal carriage to Ming!

Then you will have to slay me.

If you cannot lead me to Ming, kill me.

I would rather die in your hands than to allow the enemy to take my head.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, we implore you to see clearly.

Your Majesty!

You are now the King of Chosun...

Father...

Leading the officials, taking care of the people,

protecting the country...

It is all your job now...

Father...

I, my regime... has already crumbled.

I have no strength to rebuild...

Only thing that is left for me is a lonely death on foreign soil...

do not be like me.

One failed sovereign is enough.

Your Highness, Ming will have no choice but to send military aid.

Our loss is also their loss.

They know that the safety of Chosun is directly connected

to the safety of Ming.

Then how about if Father stayed in Ming until the aid comes

and the tide of the war has turned?

Your Highness, Ming aid will be able to slow down the Japanese,

but you're wrong if you think they could save the country for us.

We cannot rely on foreign power to protect us.

That would only lead to another vassalage, and our autonomy and

dignity will be severely damaged.

The people and the soldiery of Chosun must protect Chosun.

But if His Majesty goes to Ming, the people will think that the King has

deserted the country.

Who would protect a country that the King has deserted?

That is why must persuade His Majesty to stay in the country.

We must start by protecting Cholla, Your Majesty.

I assure you Yi Soon-shin and his navy will protect the waters of Cholla,

and the 100.000 Japanese reinforcements

will not set foot on our soil.

Also, there is an exceptional leader in Cholla Army named Kwon Yul.

Put him in command of the land forces of Cholla.

Yi Soon-shin and Kwon Yu will protect the region together,

and we will take back our country from Japan one region at a time.

Your Majesty, it is too soon to give up hope.

As long as you do not give up, the people will not hesitate to

bear arms to protect this country.

Who will lead and encourage them if not you?

Take your seats.

I am Minister of Military Yi Hang-bok.

Cholla is the only remaining region in Chosun that has not been trampled

by enemy. But now it is under threat of attack, and Cholla has become

Chosun's last line of defense.

I'm certain all of you understand the gravity of the situation.

But we are undermanned and depleted of resources.

We do not know what to do.

So you would allow the enemy to take Cholla?

You have done nothing since the

defeat in Yong-in to prepare for the enemy.

It is no wonder His Majesty has doubts about you.

I have no excuse...

Consequently, His Majesty has appointed Constable of Kwang-ju

Kwon Yul to command the Cholla Army.

High Commander of Left Cholla Navy Yi Soon-shin,

receive the royal command.

I hereby advance you to the first class second rank title of Jahon-debu,

and advance High Commander of Right Cholla Navy Yi Aukki and

High Commander of Right Kyung-sang Navy Won Kyun to the second class

second rank title of Gasuhn-debu for the meritorious devices in Sachun.

Constable of Kwang-ju Kwon Yul, you are appointed High Commander of

Cholla Army and assigned a vital task of defending the province from land.

Retrieve the kingdom from the hands of the treacherous enemy.

I have been driven out of my palace to the edge of Chosun.

I am standing on the edge of a precipice with the enemy behind me.

Spare me from any this treacherous indignity.

High Commander of Cholla Army Kwon Yul,

and High Commander of Left Cholla Navy Yi Soon-shin,

the fate of Chosun is in your hands.

Fight with all your might from land and sea and put an end to this war.

Deliver country from the hands of the Japanese enemy!