Original subtitles

Cannons ready!

Fire!

Aye!

What are you standing around for?

Load the cannons at once if you don't want to drown!

Aye!

Load the cannons!

Our ships can only accommodate two cannons!

How can we use them in battles if you can't hit the mark?

Cannons ready!

Fire!

This is a joke! Speed it up!

At this speed, we won't be able to

fire a single decent shot before the enemy ships approach!

Manabe!

Aye!

Throw all of those fools overboard!

We need o wake them up so they can do this right!

General...

What?

There may be room for improvement in accuracy but not in speed, sir.

The soldiers have been training day and night without rest.

We have to accept the fact that loading requires time.

Very well. Continue!

Aye!

Load the cannons!

Loading... Time required for loading...

That's it. That's it!

That's how we will beat them.

We can defeat them no matter how strong their fire power.

Yi Soon-shin... I have found your weakness at last.

I will win. I will wipe them out!

This is Yi Soon-shin's favorite formation... a line formation.

It's time. Form a line of battle! Line formation!

Line formation! Line formation!

Then the bombardment...

We will have to sacrifice a few ships, but then comes the important part...

It's the time that it takes for them to reload the cannons.

While they are busy reloading their cannons,

we will charge toward them at full speed.

If we can approach an board before they finish reloading...

... victory will be ours.

And taking Yi Soon-shin's head will not be a difficult task either.

If you exploit the enemy's weakness and maximize your strength,

you will never be defeated.

Do you understand?

Aye!

Your Eminence, must it be Gouki and not Wakizaka?

Yes, Jotai.

I've already sent a messenger to Chosun.

It's your move.

I don't understand, Your Eminence.

This is a huge battle between your entire fleet and Chosun Navy.

It is only fitting that an assertive general like Wakizaka...

It looks like he had a little scuffle

with Yi Soon-shin as soon as he got to the south. And he failed miserably.

Is this punishment for his defeat?

No, I don't care about his defeat. No one can win all the time after all.

Then?

The answer to your question is on this Go board.

Avoid conflict and seek peace when weak and alone.

That's right. Even if you are cornered and isolated,

there is always a way out if you remain calm an collected.

It appears Wakizaka has yet to learn that lesson.

He should've learned from his mistakes

as well as Gouki and Dodo's mistakes.

If he had the right attitude, he would have earned the trust of his peers.

But he made enemies of all of them as soon as he got there.

If he can't win the hearts of his peers

he is not qualified to be in command this battle.

We do not need anymore men.

And we will not be launching all 400 ships either.

I have a brilliant plan to beat Yi Soon-shin.

No, we will wait until the troops are more familiar with the cannons.

and until both Kobayakawa and Tachibana's divisions join us.

It's an order, General! Alert your men to prepare for battle!

Under what authority are you telling me what to do?

This is the sword sent to me by His Eminence the Taiko.

He appointed me the Chief Commander of this campaign.

Have you forgotten?

His Eminence can be a cruel man sometimes...

You never even had a chance to draw that sword out of its sheath.

Aye!

Are you saying that this is from His Eminence the Taiko?

Yes. General Gouki is the Chief Commander of this mission.

So you are the one who must follow his orders, General Wakizaka.

Going out for clay?

Yeah.

You can't find good clay around here. I guess you'll be going to Kimhae.

Yeah, that's exactly where I'm going.

All right. I will see you when you get back.

Excuse me.

What?

I must've had some bad food. It's my stomach...

Come right back.

Thank you.

Wakizaka Yasuharu has lost his right of command?

Gouki is no match for Wakizaka in strategy, tactics or any other aspect

of military arts. Wakizaka has a sixth sense when it comes to warfare.

I think you're right judging by how quickly he was able to figure out

our weakness in the artillery battle.

He never yields to anyone that he does not approve of.

Then internal division is almost a certainly.

Yes, sir.

I guess we cast the right bait.

But sir, will he take the bait if all three navies fight as an alliance?

A fleet of 400 vessels at sea and an army of 20.000 troops on land...

High Commander...

Even if it is an unavoidable fight, a truly superior warrior does not

draw his sword if he thinks he cannot win.

If Wakizaka is indeed as good as Shinichi says he is, he will not

act in haste just because he lost his right to command.

Until we give him conviction of victory, he will not fight.

Gonyang Government Facility

High Commander, we must celebrate your advancement.

Advancement?

We were humiliated by the Left Cholla Navy in the last battle.

But just because we were there, just because that battle ended in victory.

I've been made a Gasuhn-debu.

This is not honor. This is an insult. They are making a mockery of me!

There is no shame in having been rescued by the allies.

Shame is only in defeat, sir.

We may not have done as much as the Left Cholla Navy,

but we fought just as hard.

And the three navies will come together

and fight even harder from now on.

That's right, sir.

The Right Kyung-sang Navy will start protecting our honor right now.

We will search all the ports and bring back every last galley we can find.

Be strong, sir.

It's rather late. Are you still reading?

Please, don't get up.

About my recommendation to advance Won Kyun,

it wouldn't have upset me had you been against it.

I know that the title of Gasuhn-debu doesn't really suit him.

Sometimes we change to fit the title we're given.

The time requires unity. I figured you thought the carrot would be a

better medicine then the stick for Won Kyun.

I had no reason to oppose.

Minister Yu...

High Commander Yi, are you saying you're breaking up the alliance?

We're dealing with a fleet of 400 ships.

Have you forgotten?

And now they have cannons as well.

But if we leave our bases exposed to go to the front,

all three naval bases will be destroyed.

The enemy is planning a pincer attack from both land and sea.

We all know that close combat is heir strength.

Then where would they choose to fight between land and sea?

No doubt they will choose land. We cannot leave our bases exposed.

It won't be easy, but the Left Cholla Navy must fight this sea battle alone.

Please remain here and defend the Cholla Naval Base.

I'd like High Commander Won to stop the Japanese ground forces from

entering Cholla from Kyung-sang.

Well then...

Good luck, High Commander Yi.

About High Commander Yi Soon-shin, don't you think he's being brash?

I know he's won consecutive battles, but we're dealing with 400 ships.

How is he going to fight them with the Left Cholla Navy alone?

I hope he is not making a mistake to be a hero.

His Majesty is counting on this battle to turn the war around.

What if Yi fights and wins this battle alone?

I wouldn't be surprised if His Majesty tries to make him the Prime Minister.

We, the Right Kyung-san Navy, will be the ones to be hailed heroes.

Sir, perhaps we should've revealed

our strategy if only to the two high commanders.

To deceive the enemy completely,

sometimes we must deceive the allies as well.

I hope this is enough to make Wakizaka Yasuharu bite the bait...

Blinded by ambition, Yi Soon-shin is planning to fight us alone?

Aye!

Cocky bastard... How dare he underestimate us!

His men are full of fighting spirit.

It's to be expected.

They have won all eight battles they fought.

They've destroyed over a hundred of our warships.

Then it's time I throw some cold water on his confidence.

It's a duel. We, the Wakizaka division,

will contend with Yi Soon-shin's fleet alone!

And I will show them what a foolish decision it was

to take the right of command from me.

Is that understood?

Aye!

Constable of Kwang-ju?

Please come inside. They are waiting for you.

I'm surprised. I didn't expect to be called to a place like this.

I didn't think it would help us to have the enemy know about our meeting.

We must return to our bases soon,

so let me first respond to the request you sent.

You requested 2.000 of my sailors to be incorporated into your army,

but I'm afraid that wont be possible.

There are at least 20.000 Japanese ground troops marching to Cholla.

If we are defeated, there will be no navy... or Chosun for that matter.

There're three routes that the enemy can take from Kyung-sang to Cholla.

First is to go directly from San-chung and Ham-yang to Nam-won.

That is the quickest route from Kyung-sang to Cholla.

For the other two possible routes, they must first go to Choong-chung

then cross Ungchi Pass through Muju and Jin-an or

cross Ichi Pass through Geumsan and Jinsan.

Once they cross over either of these two passes,

they could get to Junju in a matter of hours and capture Cholla.

I have already placed my men at Ungchi and Ichi.

But that is about all I can do with the limited number of troops I have.

I intend to carry out a series of ambush attacks, but I do not know

how long we can hold back an army ten times our size.

The government troops are not the only troops you have.

Constable, meet the leader of the private militia assembled in Euiryong.

My name is Kwok Jae-woo.

Civilians are rising up like wildfire

taking up arms across Kyung-sang.

Why not try communicating with them and bringing them together?

My men and I will handle the roads that lead to Cholla from Euiryong.

We will stop the Japanese with our lives.

Thank you.

It's to protect my country. You do not need to thank me.

I will be counting on the two of you.

The outcome of this battle will be decided by how well the

ground forces can hold back the enemy on land.

General, His Eminence's order has arrived from Japan.

You will launch an attack on Cholla Province on June 20, 1592.

First you will attack and capture the enemy's center of operations,

then you will capture Yi Soon-shin's naval base.

Albeit Yi wins the sea battle, he must never be able to return to his base!

At last...! We are going to battle!

Jungamjin Euiryong, Kyung-sang Province

At last Kobayakawa's troops left Chang-won and headed to Jungamjin

signaling the onset of Hideyoshi's ambitious offensive on Cholla.

Are the rafts prepared for us to cross the river?

Of course.

According to reports, this area is full of swamps.

Send out the scouts and have them place

markers to guide us away from the swamps.

Aye!

The enemy will place markers on the fields to avoid the swamps.

Confuse them and lead them right into the swamps.

What in heaven's name?!

Attack!

That one! He is their leader! Kill him!

The Red Coat Warrior Kwok Jae-woo...

He was the first civilian to take up arms and form an army of justice

only ten days after the outbreak of war.

He fought every battle wearing a red coat, hence

he was dubbed the "Red Coat Warrior" by the people.

What are you waiting for? Kill off their leader!

He used a very colorful stratagem in Jungamjin Battle

and that was to put his officers in the same red coats.

The idea was to give an impression

of having a much larger force so to intimidate the enemy.

The civilian army led by Kwok would yield complete victory against the

elite Japanese army in a moment of emotional triumph that

confirmed the strength of the populace.

This battle was also significant in that it weakened the morale of

Hideyoshi's campaign to capture Cholla.

After being thwarted from the shortest route to Cholla

by Kwok Jae-woo's army, Kobayakawa's army of 15.000 took

a detour to Choong-chung Province and conquered Geumsan Fort where

they stood steps away from Ichi and Ungchi Pass

which led directly to Cholla.

Now the ground forces defensive mission that could turn the tide

of the war was in the hands of High Commander Kwon Yul of Cholla Army.

Meanwhile in Uiju, there was another important development.

Ming military aid led by Cho Seung-hoon

had finally arrived from across the Yalu River.

King Sonjo likely considered their arrival as a second lifeline,

along with the Cholla naval defense campaign, that could save Chosun.

But military deployment by Ming court

was by no means a move to protect Chosun.

It was a move which began with sole intent to keep the fighting in Chosun

soil should the Japanese cross Uiju and threaten the borders of Liaodong.

Later, successively deployed Ming allies behaved in a manner

of an occupation force exploiting the people of Chosun

more severely than the Japanese.

But this was the last thing Sonjo and his officials could have foreseen.

I don't know how to thank you for your hospitality.

It is only fitting. You've come to my country's aid without hesitation.

Your Majesty, I was told about a warrior named Yi Soon-shin.

How do you know about Yi soon-shin?

How could I miss the people's high praise about him?

They say he has not lost a single battle against the Japanese.

Yes, that is correct.

Oh, but here you are driven all the way to the edge of your country.

What a shame...

If only you had produced more competent warriors like Yi Soon-shin...

Then you wouldn't be suffering this awful indignity now.

Is this the fisherman who knows the waters of Cholla?

Yes, General.

I need to go to Left Cholla Navy headquarters in Yosu.

Where is the quickest route?

I asked you a question!

Do you want to lose a limb before you talk?

It's... it's Kyunneryang.

The Left Cholla Navy will focus our defense efforts on Kyunneryang.

Sealing off Kyunneryang is the only way to protect the southwest shores.

Is there no possibility that they will choose the open sea channel?

It is unlikely. The water becomes very rough and dangerous after June.

If they choose to go around the open sea, they will have to do battle with

the ocean first before they battle with us. I'm sure they know that.

Then I guess the issue is when they will choose to launch the battle.

Sir, if those ugly monsters decide to overwhelm us with speed,

won't they choose a day they can ride a swift current?

Yes, and they will chose the day that the current is fastest.

When would that be, Magistrate Uh?

The eighth of July, sir.

July 8th...

Very well.

On July 8th, we will launch our ships at full speed through Kyunneryang

and attack the headquarters of the Left Cholla Navy.

Ogawa!

We can't allow a Chosunese who knows our top military secrets to live.

Can we, Kohei?

Of course not, General.

You made quite an improvement on our writing.

Thank you... for being alive.

This may be very dangerous.

My father will be proud.

Soon-shin...

Would you go with me to Gasanpo when this war is all over?

That's where I met you, where I was taken,

and where my father's ashes were scattered.

Jang-pyoung...

That's where I would like to start over if I could...

Not as a Japanese artisan but as a Chosunese potter.

You have more information for me to deliver?

But look at all the clay I have.

Then I guess I have no choice.

Are you sure it's safe for you to go?

There is one more problem we must resolve

in order to destroy Yi Soon-shin.

It is his powerful line of battle.

Strong line formation is crucial in an artillery attack.

And if we can break that line formation, victory will be ours.

July 8th, in Kyunneryang...

All we need is for Yi Soon-shin to show up and form a line of battle...

... because before he gets there,

we will sail beyond Kyunneryang and set up an ambush right here.

It's Yi Soon-shin' turn to be ambushed.

But sir, how do we know that he will be there on the 8th?

I know a man who will fetch him for us.

Thank you, Kohei.

You are a hero who will lead my troops to victory on this battle.

You just cast Yi Soon-shin a bait.

Take him!

Wakizaka Yasuharu is coming through Kyunneryang

to attack us on the eighth of July...

The Left Cholla Navy will advance to Kyunneryang on July eighth

and battle the enemy!