Original subtitles

The Left Cholla Navy will advance to Kyunneryang

on the eighth of July and battle the enemy!

High Commander, we cannot sail to Kyunneryang on the eighth.

That's the day when the current will reach its quickest speed.

That means, coming from opposite direction,

we will be fighting the strongest resistance.

That means we will have to battle with the ocean before we battle the enemy.

And with the current so strong,

will we be able to keep our ships in position?

It's suicide, sir. Our entire fleet could be destroyed.

Must I remind you about Kyunneryang?

Magistrate Uh, please say something.

High Commander...

Kyunneryang is less than 400 yards wide.

How many ships do you think we can position across the channel?

On top of that, they will be riding a swift current.

Even if we have superior firepower,

we cannot handle their number and their speed.

Then we can form a line of battle outside the channel on the open sea

and wait for them to come out.

That's not the answer either.

We might be able to intercept and sink the vanguard ships, but they

will concentrate fire on the command ship at the center of the line.

And while we are scrambling to protect the command ship,

they will spread out beyond the reach of our artillery.

The bigger problem is the possibility of an ambush attack.

Look at this uneven coastline. It's screaming "Ambush"!

They would be a fool not to take advantage.

Sir, perhaps we should give up Kyunneryang and

contend with the enemy here at the headquarters.

Wakizaka Yasuharu is not interested in fighting us here

because if he does, he will lose all of the advantages you just pointed out.

He has chosen Kyunneryang as the battle ground.

If that's true, this is a bait, sir.

And we will take the bait.

High Commander!

This is the best condition for the enemy and worst condition for us.

Why would you do this?

Because this is exactly what we want the enemy to do.

The Chosun Navy cannot contend with the Japanese naval force

of 400 ships assembled in Pusan Harbor.

Given the circumstances, luring Wakizaka's fleet alone out into

the water is the best chance we have

even if we have to give them all of the advantages.

If indeed the information we received was planted...

I'm afraid Jang-pyoung might be hurt.

Did I ask too much of him?

Sir, then...

We mustn't do anything in haste.

If our strategy is exposed, we cannot defeat the enemy.

You've returned thirty years of my trust with betrayal.

Do you blame me for this?

Betrayal is the greatest dishonor for samurais. It is unrighteous.

You should know that having been a samurai for over twenty years.

But I guess you Chosunese will never learn.

Righteousness is not a word to be used in vain by wicked men like you.

You little runt!

You murder innocent people to fill your own bellies

and you speak of righteousness?

Shut up!

Kill me! That's the only way you're going to shut me up.

Oh no, I can't do that. Do you think I'd let you die such an easy death?

But there is someone I will kill.

Eunnu!

Pyoung...

What have they done to you?

I've known all along that the two are stool pigeons for Yi Soon-shin.

Kill him!

No! Don't! Kill me instead!

I just told you. I'm not going to let you die that easily.

No, kill me and let this man go!

Pyoung, it's all right.

You turned yourself around and came back to us,

and I have nothing more to ask for.

Eunnu...

No!

As for you, I'm going to keep you alive until the day Yi Soon-shin's

fleet is burned and destroyed, until Yi Soon-shin's head comes off.

Observe. This country Chosun and Yi Soon-shin

will crumble before my sword!

The answer to defeating the enemy lies within the enemy,

and answers to defeating me lies within me.

So from time to time I become the enemy.

I see my fleet with the eyes and mind of the enemy leader.

Through the last eight battles...

But those are...!

They have seen my fleet's fire power...

... as well as the unmistakable power of the line of battle.

The enemy will charge toward us at great speed

in order to break the line of battle.

What I need now is to become a new me that the enemy does not know.

A new strategy that will make us oar just when

the enemy thinks that we've been rendered powerless...

I need a new formation.

Reverse direction!

Yes, sir. Reverse direction!

Reverse direction!

Right oars forward! Left oars backward!

Reverse direction! Reverse direction!

When are we going to be done with this?

We've been coming out here day after day

doing the same drill over and over!

We're exhausted.

Be quiet and just follow the commands!

The High Commander has his reasons!

Those who are gathered here are best of the best of Cholla Navy!

We have called only the best archers, best gunners and best artillery men!

Of course were, Lieutenant! You don't have to waste your breath.

Starting today, you are the vanguards.

Vanguards? What's that?

You will be occupying a foremost position when we advance into battle.

Why did you round up the gunners and archers

when we have cannons to wipe them out with?

This is not a raid but a frontal assault.

And we're dealing with an enemy at least three times our size.

Cannons are not enough.

You're starting to scare me a little.

It's all right. We're undefeated!

But they're three times our size this time.

Until now, we were neck and neck.

Quiet down!

What does this mean? You mean we're bullet shields?

Kid... There's your old habit again. Are you getting scared?

Just jump them full of holes with arrows before they can fire at you!

That's right. That's exactly right.

As long as we have you, the Left Cholla Navy is the strongest under

the sky no matter how large the enemy fleet! You got that?

Did you say you needed a man to command the vanguards?

Yes.

The enemy will leave Pusan Harbor on the 7th to travel to Kyunneryang

for the battle on the 8th.

That means they will have no choice but to drop anchor

somewhere near the mouth of Kyunneryang.

That is our chance.

We must attack the ships that are at a halt and draw them

out into an area that gives us the advantage.

And to do that, we need a squadron that will lure them out.

It's 7.3 miles from the mouth of Kyunneryang to the open sea.

And the Japanese ships will be considerably faster than our galleys.

Therefore the vanguards must be prepared

to accept considerable casualties.

I will do it.

I will lead the vanguards.

What? That is absurd! You're an old man!

You can't even hold your sword up without your hands shaking.

Commander Kim!

I will do it. Let me lead the vanguards, sir.

No one's better at provoking the enemy and running away than I am.

No, Commander Kim.

I am the assault team commander off Left Cholla Navy.

Sir, I will lead the vanguards.

No one has better command of the men than I do. I will do it.

That's just the problem. You love your men like your sons.

How are you going to come down hard on them when you need to?

Can you remain calm and focused

when your men are dying before your eyes?

Commander Yi!

I will do it.

This job requires a man who can remain calm and rational

in the most perilous moments.

To accomplish this strategic deception requires knowledge

about the waters as well as leadership to command the battle.

We should select a captain who has both of these qualities.

That's right. Give me the assignment, sir.

I am the one with knowledge about

coastal geography and tidal movements.

Please, High Commander. I will not let you down.

I will be counting on you, Magistrate Uh.

But sir!

Commander Kim!

But he is an old man!

This is the only way we can defeat the enemy.

We must succeed no matter what,

or the naval force of Chosun will be completely destroyed.

Secrecy is the vital element of this strategy.

Is this possible... at sea?

This means Yi Soon-shin has been deceiving us all along.

Inexorable bastard...

He fooled not only the enemy but his own men as well.

I'm not even sure if this is a feasible plan.

Please don't be stubborn!

I'll take the assignment, all right? I will do it!

Would you stop?

Why are you arguing with me when the decision is already been made?

High Commander already gave his final word.

Why are you being so stubborn? Are you insane? Are you senile?

Do you know what you're getting into? You can get yourself killed!

And what's different with you? Do you have two lives?

Yes, I've got two lives, Magistrate Uh.

I've already lived a full life. I have no regrets if I died now.

No, no, please think this over...

But you and the others are different. You still have a lot of work to do.

Oh, you're incorrigible!

Father...

Commander Kim, what were you two talking about?

Jin, don't you worry about a thing. I'll take care of this.

Stubborn goat!

Sir, I have a request.

Kyunneryang is 400 yards wide.

It's high tide until the 4th and low tide after that.

I've been gliding across these waters on reconnaissance boats

for a year, six months and ten days to be exact.

I may not be able to see through the water like Magistrate Uh,

but I do know these waters like the back of my hands.

Commander Kim...

Let me go with him, sir.

I can't dissuade the stubborn old goat, so let me go with him.

He can't do it alone. I can't let him go out there alone.

All right. You have my permission.

Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.

Your injuries haven't healed yet. What are you doing out here?

I'm all right. Don't worry.

Are you ignoring the physician's orders?

Please let me help. I just want to be of help in anyway I can.

Wounds of the body will heal in time,

but what do you do with the wounds of the heart?

Lady Chung-hyang...

Jin cannot be the only daughter

who is afraid of losing her father to this war...

I wonder if the Taiko of Japan, the man responsible for this war,

knows the pain of a daughter who must

send her aging father to the battlefield...

the heartache of wives who must send their husbands to war,

the sacrifice of a woman who gives herself to a man she loathes

to stop greater slaughter...

How many more innocent lives must be lost

for the empty glory of the conqueror that he seeks?

It's already July.

Where are the reports of victory from Chosun?

Soon the waters will be too rough for our travel.

Gouki, Dodo, Kobayakawa, Wakizaka...

Can I trust these men to come through?

We must be in Chosun before August.

Only then will I be able to reach the Imperial Palace of Ming

in Yenching before the winter.

While Hidiyoshi was plotting secure command of the sea from

Yi Soon-shin and transport his army to Chosun for future invasion of Ming...

Crown Prince Kwang-hae formed a temporary royal council and busily

recruited soldiers in Ichun of Kangwon Province.

Yu Sung-ryong, Yi Won-ik and others went to Anju and Soonan

bringing the scattered troops together in an effort

to reclaim the Pyong-yang Fort.

However...

Why have you not begun to train your soldiers?

My men are strong. They do not need further training.

General Cho, there're over 20.000 Japanese troops in Pyong-yang.

They are too large to be defeated by a few thousand Ming troops.

Both Ming and Chosun forces must band together

and fight together in order to defeat them.

Strong soldiers do not make a strong army unless

they move together in an organized unified command.

Are you trying to lecture me?

I'm trying to emphasize the importance of training and

preparation for Chosun and Ming collaboration under your command.

There won't be a need for us to collaborate with the Chosun military.

The Japanese army may be 20.000 strong,

but they're just a disorderly mob against my elite army.

Just make sure there're ample

food and hay supply for my men and my horses.

We will advance to Pyong-yang when the time comes

and destroy the Japanese in one blow.

Lord Yu, how did it go with General Cho?

I hope we did not invite trouble.

They will stop Konishi from advancing further north, but that is all.

I don't think we can expect much more from them.

Has Yi Soon-shin indeed become a household name across the country?

Do people really praise him so highly?

Your Majesty...

As their respect and admiration for him grows,

their scorn and disapproval for me will grow just as much.

A man who has undivided admiration of the people above the King...

If he should achieve victory on this battle, what would happen then?

Perhaps the people forsake me...

No, Your Majesty.

This is your kingdom no matter what happens.

Who would dare seek to take it from you?

I should've never left the capital...

I should've died in the Imperial chambers fighting the Japanese

with my sword in my hands...

Then I wouldn't be suffering the indignity

of being compared to a common warrior...

What fool am I...

How could a King, the supreme ruler of a kingdom, be so small?

A faithful subject has placed his life in god's hands and preparing

for a battle that could very well decided the fate of the kingdom,

but I cannot that these ignoble thoughts out of my head...

I will bear it.

I will just hope and pray that he is victorious.

If Yi Soon-shin can protect this country and give me back my palace,

I will tolerate the people's praise for him just this once...

A message from the High Commander Yi?

Yes, sir.

The Left Cholla Navy will battle the enemy

on the 8th of July in Kyunneryang.

Until then, you must keep the Japanese troops in Ichi and Ungchi.

I am counting on you. Good luck.

Attack Ichi and Ungchi immediately.

The entire Cholla army is only 3.000 strong,

and they have assemble all of them at Ichi and Ungchi.

Once they are destroyed, the entire Cholla army will be destroyed.

And capturing the government and military headquarters

will be a walk in the park.

Tachibana will be joining soon.

Then I will send 15.000 troops to Pusan. When do we attack, General?

July 9th.

Then I guess I'll be seeing you on the 10th at the Left Cholla Naval Station.

Let us get together for a drink.

A few Chosunese gisangs would add pleasure.

I would like that.

There're two roads to Junju... Ichi and Ungchi.

But the enemy commander and his main force

is positioned here in Geumsan.

Ichi is closer to Geumsan, so they will choose Ichi in all likelihood.

We have 7.000 troops including the citizen army,

but the enemy is over twice that number.

For now, the government troops will take Ichi and Ungchi.

I'd like the citizen army to proceed to Junju Fort.

Junju Fort is the provincial government headquarters.

Remember that it is our last line of defense.

The chief commander of Cholla army is named Kwon Yul?

Aye!

And he is protecting Ichi...

Then we will send our main force to Ungchi.

We must aim for the enemy's weakness.

But we do not want him to know that our main force is going to Ungchi,

so I will remain here.

Ankokuchi!

Sir!

Take a detachment of 10.000 and proceed to Ungchi.

Break the defense line in one blow and press forward to Junju!

I will destroy the enemy at Ichi and follow right behind you.

You want to move your fleet to Angolpo?

Yes, General.

We are launching a battle very soon, Wakizaka.

That is preciously why I wish to go to Angolpo, sir.

Forgive me for my past insolence

and allow me to lead the assault, General.

I will be conducting maneuvering drills in Angolpo

and the artillery drills to improve the accuracy as well.

Then my fleet will join the main force in Angolpo for the battle.

If you vow not to defy my orders,

I have no reason not to place you at the front line.

Thank you, General.

It's action at last!

It is treason to act against

orders of chief commander appointed by the Taiko.

But it is greater treason to suffer defeat.

We cannot win with Gouki's strategy.

That is why we are defying his command to take this action.

We will first slay Yi Soon-shin, capture the Left Cholla Naval

Station and capture the entire province of Cholla!

Then the Taiko will recognize our loyalty.

And the entire province of Cholla will become Wakizaka clan's fief.

I intend to give this land to you, Ogawa and Manabe.

General...!

It is your reward for your trust and obedience.

On June 7, 1592, top Japanese naval general Wakizaka Yasurasu's fleet

set out for Kyunneryang for a fateful battle against Yi Soon-shin.

On the same day, Yi Soon-shin's fleet was assembled in Kyunneryang

for a high-stakes battle raising the curtain to a historic events

which would come to be known as the Great Victory of Hansan Island.

Meanwhile in Ungchi...

the first battle of the Cholla defense campaign had begun.

Some 2.000 soldiers of the government and citizen army

led by Commander Chung Dam of Kimjae were battling

Ankokuchi's 6th division army of 10.000 troops.

Chosun forces fought hard against a vastly larger enemy without retreat.

Kwon Yul's strategy of avoiding frontal attack, seizing higher ground

and applying guerrilla warfare tactics was working. However...

Do not retreat!

Sir, the second line of defense has fallen! We must retreat!

They will be no retreat! A true warrior does not seek to live.

He seeks to kill one more enemy before falling to his own death!

When the battle continued into the next day,

they would end up giving away Ungchi failing to overcome

the numerical inferiority despite their incredible efforts.

They have lost Ungchi?

The Japanese are marching to Junju as we speak.

Shouldn't we retreat and defend the

government headquarters in Junju Fort?

If we let them take Ichi, that will be the end of Cholla Army.

We must destroy the enemy that is positioned to fight us.

We will just have to hope and pray that the governor and the citizen

army will hold back the enemy in Junju until we can get there.

We must protect Ichi Pass first,

then save the province with our own hands.

The navy will not survive otherwise.

General!

Yi Soon-shin has formed a battle line at the mouth of Kyunneryang?

He took the bait!

Thank you, Kohei. I owe it all to you.

Once I have Yi Soon-shin's head, I'll let you die.

But you should be rewarded for your work,

so I'll send your body back to Japan.

And your headstone will read "A proud samurai of Japan who

brought the demise of Chosun Naval General Yi Soon-shin!"

Bastard!

He took the bait, so now I have to cast a net

since it might be wise to drain him of his energy.

Sir, I don't think they're coming out. The're sitting tight in the channel.

Raise the red flag.

Send in the advance guards and lure the enemy out.

Yes, sir!

Raise the red flag!

Advance!

Bang-dap division, Sado division, advance!

Jak-bo, Sang-nam, keep your eyes wide open!

Your mission is to lure the enemy, not to destroy them.

Keep the losses to a minimum,

and retreat as soon as they are on your tail.

Foolish fellow... You still have a lot of work to do, I said.

Did you think that I'd let you throw yourself into the line of fire alone?

You let me handle it. I'm the best there is at hit and run!

Fire!

Fire the cannons! Let's demolish them!

General...

Let us take care of those that swam into the net first.

Now, shall we begin?

Raise the assault flag! Full speed! Get us right next to the enemy!

Aye! Advance! Advance!

Look at their speed! We have to turn around now, sir!

Not yet. We will wait until their entire fleet is out of the channel.

Fire! Send them to the bottom!

Now! Reverse!

Reverse! Reserve!

After them! Do not let them get away!