Original subtitles

You can strike me, but that won't stop the Chosunese Navy

from fighting our enemy.

If you wish to stop us with that sword, you better be prepared

to strike the entire Chosunese Navy... no, the entire country of Chosun!

I don't need to soil my sword with your blood.

You're going to die in the hands of the Japanese anyway.

Fool...

You refuse to stop fighting the Japanese?

Go ahead and attack them if that's what you want.

But it will be a lonely fight

because the Ming army will withdraw all support.

I am pulling out my troops back to Liaodong this instant.

Do as you please, Commander.

The soldiers of Chosun are not interested in sharing our fate

with an army that tiptoes around the enemy with no desire to fight.

The Ming Army is pulling out to Liaodong!

Alert the officers at once!

Yes, sir!

And...

Deliver my message to Left Minister Yoon Du-su.

I want Yi Soon-shin punished,

or it is the Royal House of Chosun that will pay for his insolence!

Yes, sir!

Do you think that the admiral will come out of this unscathed?

If provoked, Yu Jung will pull his troops,

as did previous Ming general Li Ju-sung.

But he won't stop there. What do you think he will do next?

He will attempt to threaten King Sonjo's position with borrowed

authority of the Ming Emperor to avenge the insult on his honor.

If you know this, why did you let him go?

This could very well cost the admiral his life.

My father will surely arrest him an have him executed.

It is a possibility.

Constable Kwon!

Your Highness, the admiral did not start this fight without

considering all possibilities.

Admiral...

The offender will come forward and yield!

Pardon me?

Do you know who you're talking to?

This is the Supreme Naval Commander.

Back off and stay out of this.

Why don't you back off?

Salute the admiral and get out of the way before I cut you up!

How dare you!

Lt. Song! Withdraw your sword.

Sir...

Now.

Did the Left Minister send you?

That's right, Admiral. Many are watching.

If you do not resist, I will not put you in restraints

as a final gesture of respect.

Escort him!

Yes, sir!

Yi Soon-shin was taken by Chosunese soldiers?

And the Ming troops are preparing to move out?

Yes, General.

Chosun Navy loses Yi Soon-shin

and Chosun Army loses Ming reinforcements...

Launch an all-out offensive against the Chosunese Navy?

That's right.

Have you forgotten? His Eminence the Taiko seeks peace.

If we had not been forced to pull back,

he would not have even considered this peace nonsense.

General Wakizaka is right.

Have you thought about how His Eminence must have felt

when he was forced to make this decision?

Then let us send a message to Japan.

If His Eminence approves this attack...

This is an uncertain situation.

We do not know how things will change tomorrow.

We can report to Japan once we have a victory under our belt.

His Majesty will be delighted once we turn this war around,

and he will quickly move to send us reinforcements.

General Dodo, what is your opinion?

I agree with General Wakizaka.

If Yi Soon-shin is gone,

this is our chance to destroy the Chosunese Navy.

What is your motive, Admiral?

Why do you continue to provoke Ming Commander Yu Jung?

What do you have to gain?

I did was to remind him what my duties are

as a warrior fighting a war.

Admiral!

The man who consistently attempts to stop us from fighting our enemy

cannot be called Celestial Guard, and his men who steal from our

people and terrorize them cannot be called allies.

Do you think we have a chance in this war without the Ming Army?

If they continue to display this attitude,

the Ming Army will not help us at all in this war.

Instead they will be in our way.

The entire country will turn into a battlefield if the Ming Army pulls out.

You do know that, don't you?

Ming does not what that to happen as much as we don't.

Do you truly believe that Ming sent us military support simply

to protect its subordinate state?

Admiral!

If they did not feel that their own borders were threatened,

they would ever have entered this war.

So whether they pull their troops out or not will not be

decided by Chosun's attitude.

They will make heir decision

after carefully weighing their own interests.

So why should we let them dictate our actions?

What is this about the Japanese attacking the Chosunese?

They won't stop there.

They will go after the retreating Ming Army as well.

We will never reach a peace agreement if that happens.

I know.

Then tell them not to attack!

If Yi Soon-shin is released,

they will stop the aggression on their own accord.

That's impossible. Commander Yu Jung is infuriated!

Taking Yi Sooon-shin out of this war

is the biggest impediment in this peace process.

General!

He is the only opponent that our warriors fear.

We cannot hold them back without Yi Soon-shin.

Yi Soon-shin... He is even more dangerous than I thought.

He confronted the highest military leader of the mother country

face to face without breaking a sweat not because he is foolhardy

but because he reads us like an open book...

I'm surprised that you wanted to

talk to me here of all places, General Konishi.

Three years...

This is our third year in this war against Chosun.

This war is very interesting.

It's quite different from any other war that we fought back home.

Don't you think so?

I'd like to know why you wanted to see me.

And the biggest evidence of that is you, Dodo.

No other war has ever been able to

perturb your calm and meticulous nature.

I still remember.

After returning home from a bloody war you built a beautiful gazebo

where you sat contemplating life...

Do you remember what you said to me?

"It makes me happier to build thing than to destroy things."

Do you remember?

What are you trying to tell me, General Konishi?

Is it because of Yi Soon-shin?

Are you still angry because he defeated you?

Is that why you lost your shrewd judgment?

Genereal Konishi!

How much longer do you want this war to continue?

What do you think we can gain by letting it drag on?

I lost half of my men that I brought to Chosun.

Among them were my most faithful men that I cared deeply about.

Look around you. What does this half-empty warehouse indicate?

The Taiko is under tremendous pressure from his political rivals

so much so that he can't even send us ample supplies.

The Taiko has his political rivals hounding him,

and we have our men hounding us.

Then how will this end?

It's time to be realistic. Think with your head and not with your heart.

Let go of your rage.

Dodo, it's time to think about what we can gain from this war,

about how we can appease our men without falling out of Taiko's favor.

What do you think the answer is?

Truce is the only answer.

We must first snatch the four provinces of Chosun through this

peace agreement then find a way to keep them for ourselves.

That's the only way to keep the trust and respect of our men.

Be aware that their power can be

greater than the Taiko's power at times.

Do you follow?

Who are you?

The lamps! Light up the lamps!

Are you all right, Your Eminence?

Hideyori... Hideyori!

Hideyori! Find my son Hideyori! Now!

Your Eminence.

Hideyori!

He is indeed your son, Your Eminence.

The commotion has hot fazed him.

Was it you?

Did you take care of the assassins that broke into my bed chambers?

Yes, Your Eminence.

I owe you my life and my son's life.

No, Your Eminence.

I was only doing my duty.

You must pay more attention to your job, Master.

How can we keep His Majesty safe in Nagoya with such poor security?

Yes, Dainagon.

Chosun is not the only battle ground.

Three years of war has required

levy of tremendous manpower and resources in Japan.

More and more Daimyos are growing discontent.

His Eminence is aware of that.

Right, Your Eminence?

They committed a crime because they are too ignorant to appreciate the

grand ambition of Ming Conquest,

but people are naturally more inclined to react to today's

pain than they are to the promise of tomorrow.

Dainagon...

If the daimyos feel this way,

imagine how the general public might feel.

Your Eminence, you must find a way to deal with this.

By kindness or by force,

use whatever means necessary to suppress them.

Otherwise, their dagger of resentment will continue to visit your bed.

I will have to cut my own flesh...

That is the only way to show them that Hideyoshi is still strong.

Find out which of the daimyos bear resentment against me.

Pick those who are closest to me

and find irrefutable evidence against them.

Whether they are family or my dearest friends,

they are going to die...

Your Eminence...

And find a way to modify the Antakes.

Make them bigger and more powerful than

the Chosunese galleys of the Ming warships.

First we will annex the four provinces of Chosun, then we will

immediately march west and strike them while their guards are down.

I will not stop until I have conquered both Chosun and Ming.

But to do this, there is something we must have.

A strong navy...

Only a strong navy can achieve my purpose. Is that understood?

We may never see the Supreme Commander again.

How could he take this kind of a risk?

"Use one opponent to suppress another."

Ming and Japan are officially in the process of a peace-talk,

but as you know Japan has number of aggressive leaders.

And I'm sure they already know about the Admiral's impending

dismissal since the Ming ambassador is staying in the Japanese camp.

Now the Japanese hardliners who have been humiliated by our navy

will try to use this chance to get their revenge,

and the dominant moderates will try to stop them.

Ming has nothing to gain if the hardliners act up since they will

be forced to deploy more troops to Chosun if the peace talks break off.

Sir, the admiral left the command of the navy to you until he returns.

I have instructed Commander Kim and Magistrate Uh

double the reconnaissance.

There is no telling when the Japanese might attack.

But we shouldn't hastily move our fleet in the admiral's absences

until we are clear about the enemy's intentions.

High Commander Won may not feel that way.

Don't worry. I will do my best to hold him back.

Assemble a vanguard fleet and position them across Kyunneryang.

The headquarters will be protected as long as Kyunneryang is tightly

sealed if the enemy should make their move.

Yes, sir.

"Use one opponent to suppress another..."

Perform the reconnaissance with Magistrate Ki and his men?

Well, that's...

What's the problem? Do you object to our division's involvement?

No, sir.

It's just that I don't have the authority to make this decision...

Who's asking you to make decisions?

I'm giving you an order as our superior officer.

Since there is a chain of command, the Supreme Commander should...

The Supreme Commander is not here.

And we do not know when he will return if he returns at all.

Sir...

That is another reason why I want another team in reconnaissance.

If the enemy should find out about the Superior Commander's absence,

they will make a move immediately.

We have to be prepared. Don't you understand?

You got your order, so you may go.

Yes, sir.

Unbelievable! I just don't get it.

Does he just want to be the boss since the boss is not here?

What happened?

What did High Commander Won want with you?

He wants me to put Magistrate Ki in reconnaissance duties.

Put Magistrate Kim in reconnaissance duties?

Constable Kwon...

didn't he request to put Captain Woo as the vanguard fleet leader as well?

What is High Commander Won up to?

Something smells awfully funny...

Can I count on you to faithfully perform

the duties of the assault team leader?

The vanguard division made up of only

the best of the best from all three navies.

From crewmen to lieutenants, turn them all into your faithful followers.

I'm surprised, sir.

You amaze me every day, sir.

Why? Am I acting out of character?

Don't you know why?

Yi Soon-shin is a competent warrior.

And he has certain magnetism as a leader as well.

Perhaps that is why he has such a large following.

But I don't care about the numbers.

The problem is in most of those followers

would jump into the raging inferno for him.

That is why Yi Soon-shin can be so fearless before the enemy,

before the royal command, and even before the imperial decree.

But the King's orders are to be obeyed without question.

In that respect, Yi Soon-shin is a dangerous man.

He must be kept in check.

And to keep him in check requires influence. Don't you agree?

Boy, this is so frustrating!

Is it true that you have detained Naval Commander Yi Soon-shin?

Your Highness...

Release him immediately! Send him back to the headquarters!

Your Highness...

It is an order!

We cannot, Your Highness.

Left Minister...

We cannot release an offender who showed contempt for the Emperor.

My father ordered us to protect Yi Soon-shin.

Have you forgotten?

That was before he threatened the safety of the royal house.

Yi Soon-shin will be taken back to the capital.

It must be done in order to appease Yu Jung.

Your Highness, we must appease Yu Jung and keep his Ming army

in Chosun in order to save the country

and save the future of the royal house.

Jang-won...

Yes, Your Highness.

I am the Crown Prince of Chosun. Am I not?

Your Highness...

Hurry, hurry!

Yi Soon-shin will not be dismissed from service.

Instead I will relinquish my title. Convey my will to the Emperor.

He need not invest me as the Crown Prince of Chosun!

You do know what it means to

relinquish the title of Crown Prince. Don't you?

Of course.

I relinquish my claim to the throne

which comes with great power and authority.

If you know this, why would you make such a sacrifice?

I cannot sacrifice safety of Chosun for power and authority.

Do not touch Yi Soon-shin.

This country needs him more than anyone right now.

If you attempt to bring him down,

history of Chosun will remember upon you mercy.

Just this one, Your Highness, I will let you win.

I envy that man Yi Soon-shin.

He will be serving a wise and benevolent King in the future

who has the courage to sacrifice his own throne for his men.

Commander Yu Jung!

I will not withdraw my troops.

And I will not press the royal court of Chosun

to dismiss Yi Soon-shin either.

Commander!

Thank you, Commander Yu.

You are the one who asked me to put pressure on the Chosun court

and make an example out of Yi Soon-shin in the first place!

I made a mistake.

I did not expect the Japanese thugs to respond like this.

Be glad it wrapped up like this.

The Crown Prince came here personally to plead with you,

so your dignity was saved.

This is temporary.

We only have to keep Yi Soon-shin on his post

until the peace talk is finalized.

I will make the arrangements now so that the King of Chosun will

personally destroy Yi Soon-shin when this is over.

Would that satisfy you?

Yi Soon-shin... Where is his limit?

The enemy, the King, not even the Emperor...

He fears no one...

He knocks down unrivaled enemies effortlessly time and time again.

What is his magical power?

On top of that, he continues to gain a following

This time, he has turned the Crown Prince into one of his men...

a man that even his own father the King fears for his sagacity.

He crushes the enemies that the King fears again and again

and wins the heart of those who the King keeps in check with ease.

Then what kind of place will this man hold in Chosun's future?

Supreme Naval Commander Yi Soon-shin

is Chosun's single most outstanding treasure, Your Majesty.

His mere presence in Hansando Headquarters have the Japanese

paralyzed with fear.

Who else in Chosun possess such strength?

And how about the Crown Prince who recognizes his strength and

spares no effort to protect him?

His earnestness has moved Yu Jung and moved me as well.

I thank you for your high regard for my humble son and subject.

Humble? Your modesty is too much, Your Majesty.

The Crown Prince and Yi Soon-shin are giants,

too big even for the Emperor of Ming.

Isn't that why the people of Chosun trust and admire them?

I will now return to Yenching and present the Taiko's capitulation letter

to the Emperor and soon this war will end.

If the Crown Prince and Yi Soon-shin is brought forward to attend to

the postwar affairs, I am certain order will be restored in no time

since the hearts of the people are with them.

Soon-shin, my man...

In the 3 years that we've been at war with Japan, your victories

have always brought joy to me, to the royal court, to His Majesty

and to the people of Chosun.

But it is uncertain how they will be received in the future...

That's all we have for today, so go back home!

What? That's it?

Come back tomorrow.

But I stood in line yesterday and didn't get anything either.

Don't you have some more?

I can starve another day,

but my children, my children haven't seen food in days.

We don't have anymore to give out! Now leave!

No! We're not leaving!

Then bring out the King's food!

I'm sure the shameless king that ran away as soon as

the Japanese came is still eating three hot meals a day!

He's got some nerve! Right, folks?

How dare you!

Do you think you will live after condemning the King?

Then kill me, you bastard! Kill me!

Mama, I'm hungry! Mama!

Do you know about the riot outside the Relief Agency?

It has only been days since we got the shipment of grains from Hansando.

More than half of the shipment has been going to the Ming troop, sir.

Then there's the Privy, the Royal Guards...

and with so many palaces burned down, the rebuilding efforts are costly.

We have a very limited supply that we can release to the people.

The Relief Agency is not the only place where public outcry is heard.

Complaints are growing among the soldiers as well.

Advancement in the temples, emancipation from serfdom,

we made so many promises but delivered virtually none.

The royal carriage that returned to the capital finds itself

helpless to do anything... not even to resolve the people's hunger

and the King is rapidly losing public favor.

You had once scolded the King in his early years on the throne.

Sir Yi, don't you think this country has changed?

For as long as the people are abused and exploited,

for as long as the King and his ministers ignore their cries of pain,

this world will never truly change.

Well then, I shall leave now.

Sung-ryong, I will visit another day.

Soon-shin!

Wait...

I will never forget your good counsel.

Instead of punishing you,

the young King responded by taking your words to his heart.

But what about now?

I am unsure how the King feels

about you who is fighting to stop the cries of the people.

There lies the reason why I cannot fully celebrate your victories...

Yi Soon-shin and Kwang-hae...

They are the most valuable treasures of Chosun.

How could I leave them unguarded?

Watch over them closely but silently.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The Three Provinces Navy possess over 300 navel vessels at this point.

And 134 of them are large galleys.

This is three times the number that we had when this war began.

The command staff has not increased at all

in proportion to the growth of the fleet.

That is correct.

Our job now is to recruit competent mid-rank officers

to effectively command our vessels.

We need a plan to overcome this war crisis without foreign aid.

We are in the third year of this war,

but the enemy is still refusing to retreat.

This is a most deplorable situation.

The fundamental cause of this calamity lies in the failures

of the royal court to prevent and prepare for the invasion,

an we must all reflect on this.

It is also deplorable that we had to turn to Ming for help

and that we must abide by their requirements in carrying out

our military operations.

Now we must select competent men through military service exams

and provide our military with much needed leadership.

We must have them build up our soldiery

an spearhead the fight to drive out the enemy.

This is the quickest way to overcome this national crisis

without relying on foreign aid...

Carry out my orders without delay.

Yes, Your Highness...

Military Service Examination...

I guess this is my chance to trade in my commander's assistant uniform

for a lieutenant's uniform.

Expounding, Archery, jousting, polo, horseback riding...

There's a lot you have to prepare for. You must use your time wisely.

But we're busy as it is. We don't have any time.

What's wrong with taking a crack at it?

Dae-man, are you going to give it a shot?

Why not? Any law-abiding free man can take the exam, right?

Wake up and smell the flowers.

That's what the law says, but

they won't let peasants like us set foot into the testing facility.

Why not? If you're going to dream, you should dream big.

Right, sir?

Did I say something I shouldn't have?

Why do you have to rub salt into other people's wounds

when you're never going to take the exam anyway?

What do you mean?

Don't you know about Yong-gap's status?

What are you boys doing here?

It's almost time for the training drills.

Why bother training?

That's what I say.

What's the matter with you boys?

Aren't you angry?

Who works the hardest in this whole navy when we go out to battle?

The oarsmen!

That's right.

But oarsmen are lowly serfs

who can't even set foot in the testing facility.

Do you think every freeman can take those tests?

It's all pie in the sky.

But there's a difference between

not taking the exams and not being able to take the exams.

That's right.

Admiral, are you sure about this?

What is your motive, Admiral?

You got away with defying the King and the Emperor's order,

so now you don't even think twice about defying the Crown Prince?

Sir, we desperately need officers to command our ships.

I am well aware of that.

But I cannot send a single man from this base

to the testing facility in Jun-ju.

Admiral!