Original subtitles

Laughter as not stopped for days here in Nagoya.

Perhaps this is heaven on earth, Your Eminence.

But of course. The King of Chosun has eliminated Yi Soon-shin for us.

Now this war is as good as won.

It is only fitting that we celebrate.

Has my command been delivered to Chosun?

Yes, Your Eminence.

You're going to have to work harder on your leadership lessons, Hideyon.

Within the next two years, you will, have to begin ruling Chosun.

Brave warriors of Japan, you are the leaders of an indomitable

army that will bring the entire world under rule of Japan!

Transform the country in the next two years and let the

people of Chosun be reborn as faithful citizens of Japan!

Slay without hesitation those who resist,

and put to worthy service those who obey!

Choose Cholla Province as your first target of attack!

Capture every square inch of the region and let the conquest serve

as the cornerstone for victory in this war.

This time, without fail, let the flag of Great Japan

wave proudly across entire Chosun!

I trust all of you have been deeply inspired by the Taiko's order.

Failure is not an option this time.

It's all up to the navy.

Victory will not be guaranteed until the navy secures westward passage.

The Chosun Navy is but a paper tiger without Yi Soon-shin.

You can count on us!

We will send Yi Soon-shin's precious Chosunese armada

to the bottom of the sea.

I will finish up, Father.

I'm back, Father.

You've come a long way...

This is the beginning.

The times may have changed, but if good men do not rise up,

the world will plunge into chaos again.

Establish a righteous purpose and always look back at yourself.

I know that you will do great things...

Thirty odd years since that day...

and now I am as old as you were, Father.

What do you think about the life I've led?

I have neglected my family for many years

pressed with the affairs of the state.

The son who quietly keeps my side without a hint of resentment,

perhaps he's a shamed of the man who came home a condemned criminal.

But I want to believe that you, Father,

are not ashamed of my worn and tattered plain clothes.

Admiral, you must leave by tomorrow.

Your orders are to report to the High Commissioner's office without delay.

How could you utter these heartless words

to a man who can hardly stand?

The laws dictate...

Look...

It is the military law. I must obey it.

Father...

Must you go to the Admiral?

I may be an old woman ignorant about the world,

but I do know what they do to people at the inquiry.

He's probably battered inside and out...

Madam...

A mother's hand is a healing hand.

I have to be there if only to hold his hands.

My poor son has lived such a difficult life...

I want to be there if only to hold his hand.

That's mother's love.

Grandmother is coming to Ah-san?

What do you mean?

She's too weak and old to travel. What are her attendants thinking?

She insisted on nursing you herself,

and apparently they could not stop her.

Oh dear...

Oh dear...

Madam, is this too much for you?

No, I'm all right.

Madam...

How much further to Ah-san?

Madam! Madam!

Must you go?

Mother will not be pleased with the trouble you are taking.

It is my duty as a son.

Madam... Madam...

We can't do this.

Notify the captain and have him take us ashore.

Please! She can't take much more of this!

My boy Soon-shin... How big and strong our hands have become...

They used to be as small and fragile as your heart...

I'm not worried now.

With hands like these, you can

easily keep up your courage and spirit

as you always have.

You can be proud.

That's a good thing...

Whether in a uniform of an officer or a common soldier,

purpose is the only thing that's important.

Keep your faith and your spirit

and deliver justice for the wrong that has been done to this country.

I know that you can do it...

Mother... Mother... Mother...

I cry loudly, but I am powerless to reduce the distance between

this world and the world beyond,

and I am powerless to turn back the clock...

It is grief enough that I was not there at your final moment,

but can't even observe your mortuary rite let alone go into mourning...

How could I possibly ask you to forgive me?

I sought to be faithful to my country only to become a traitor,

and I sought to be dutiful to my mother, but she has left this world...

Oh, what shall I do?

Is there anyone else under heaven in such a pitiful plight as myself?

The sooner I die the better.

In the month and ten days that I was in confinement

there was one question that kept circling my mind:

Will the world be the same when I get out?

It's getting dark.

Perhaps we should find lodging for the night.

No, that's all right.

I'm a shameless man who fails to mourn his mother's death.

I do not deserve a comfortable sleeping place.

Admiral Yi...

I'm a common soldier now. Admiral is an undeserved title.

I heard you were in mourning.

You could have delayed the enlistment...

That would've put you in a difficult position.

Admiral...

Lieutenant, why aren't you at the front?

Admiral...

Yi Soon-shin is alive? How could this be?

Are you telling us that he was he cleared of the charges and

reinstated as a naval officer?

Not exactly.

He was stripped of his rank and ordered to serve as a common soldier.

Then we have nothing to worry about.

The impact a common soldier can make on the

operation of a navy is insignificant.

We mustn't jump to hasty conclusions, General Gouki.

An admiral or a petty recruit what's important is that Yi Soon-shin is alive.

And as a soldier at that.

Then why don't we hasten our attacks on Chosun Navy, General Wakizaka?

That is not a good idea.

They will still have the advantage

despite the size of our fleet if we attack Kyunneryang now.

It is possible that they will act first if we just hang tight for a while.

There is a man in Chosun Navy who might be feeling just as

uncomfortable about Yi Soon-shin's return as we are.

Since we threw him a convincing bait the other day...

with that so-called victory...

he should be puffed up with confidence.

When does Won Kyun intend to attack Pusan?

Is there no word?

Your Majesty, perhaps we should allow him a little more time.

If you would recall, he captured 3 enemy warships and

presented 47 enemy heads to the court in March.

He seems to be taking necessary caution studying the enemy.

We urge you to keep faith and grant him more time.

We cannot wait any longer. We will attack Pusan tomorrow.

Do you truly believe we can, Admiral?

It's too risky. Please approach this with great caution.

Must you fight everything we try to do, High Commander?

Constable Woo!

The enemy has taken up position around Angol and Gaduk.

And it's a matter of time before they have

Youngdeung-po and Jangmoen-po covered as well.

Well, if the enemy is everywhere,

perhaps it is unwise to make such a quick decision.

What if they're not everywhere?

Admiral...

Magistrate Ki...

Yes, Admiral.

Tell us what the reconnaissance has found in Gaduk and Angol.

There're thirty ships anchored at Angol Port.

But Gaduk Port is yet to be occupied by the Japanese.

Did you hear that? The enemy is yet to establish a battle line.

That means now is our chance.

It's a trick to lure us out.

There're countless place where they could drop anchor in Gaduk.

They are hiding out there waiting for us to...

How many times must we go through this?

This is the King's order.

Soldiers do not question their orders. They obey it.

How do you know it's impossible when you haven't even tried?

Admiral...

Magistrate Ki, Constable Woo, take 30 battleships including

Nam-hae and Soon-ehun vessels and attack Angol Port immediately.

Destroy every last enemy ship that is at anchor.

Is that understood?

Yes, sir.

Soldiers live and die by their orders.

Do not try to defy me again.

If you do, you will no longer be recognized as a

military officer no matter who you are.

Launch! Launch!

Why are you doing this to yourself?

You're in no condition to work after the torture they put you through.

Admiral...

Physical fatigue is easier to endure than mental fatigue.

What brings you?

Do I need a reason? I just wanted to see you.

I just wanted to make sure you are all right.

I'm relieved to see you holding up, sir.

Feeling at a loss? So am I...

Admiral...

Admiral...

You can go now.

Aren't you going to say anything, sir?

Don't you know why Commandant Kim was here?

Things are a complete mess at the headquarters right now.

Lt. Song...

It's the truth. Unless something is done, Commander Won will...

Do you know what made it possible for me to leave the headquarters?

My belief that we are all alike.

When it comes time to study the enemy and make crucial decisions,

all of us will draw the same conclusion that I drew and

make the same decision that I made.

Be patient and wait. Supreme Commander Won needs more time.

What? You retreated without having fire a single arrow?

Pathetic fools! You should've been prepared to die out there!

How could you run away without even attempting to fight?

We're lucky that we made it out

without casualties and serious damages to our ships, sir.

That's right, sir.

We were ambushed the moment we entered the straits.

They bombarded us with several hundred cannons from land.

This is too reckless, Admiral.

Attacking Pusan through the channel between Angol and Gaduk is suicide.

Then what's the alternative?

Talk! I want to hear some answers!

Admiral...

I beg your pardon, Admiral?

You want to attack Pusan by way of the open sea?

That's right. We will go around Gaduk and advance to Jolyong-do,

and land on Pusan by the rescue crafts.

That's insane, sir!

Sailing on open sea is two, three times harder than coastal sailing.

And if the tide and the wind don't cooperate, we will end up

at the bottom of the sea instead of Pusan.

Enough!

Admiral!

Magistrate Ki thinks it's possible. Why do you say it isn't?

Haven't you learned anything on all of those patrol runs?

Why is it impossible?

Wow, you've got to be kidding! How do I explain this?

Stop wasting your time and prepare for battle!

No, no, wait! Please, sir...

I made an exception and kept you here because

you have knowledge about the sea.

But if you continue to fight me, I must dismiss you as well.

I'm not fighting you, sir.

Aren't we going to send out a reconnaissance team one last time

before we launch the attack?

Magistrate Ki and I will sail out together

and thoroughly inspect the route that you have chosen.

They are in trouble! We must save the Nam-hae ship!

Row! Row faster!

We must get them out! We must get them out of there!

Don't panic! Assist the oarsmen?

Save the Nam-hae ship!

Get us ashore! Get this ship ashore now!

Row the ship! Row! Get us out of here!

They're going to be swept all the way to Tsushima!

We have to follow them. We have to try and save them!

You're insane!

Feel this wind? If we get caught in that vicious current,

we'll go down with them!

But we have to try!

Sir!

This navy can't afford to lose a single ship!

We went to hell and back together today. How about a drink?

It's aged perfectly. Let's drink.

Chances are this will be our farewell drink.

Commandant Kim...

So, what did you think, Magistrate Ki?

What did you learn from these last couple of days?

Do you think that we have a chance against the Japanese

attacking Pusan through the open sea?

I can't say that we do when we don't,

and the admiral is certain to send me packing...

Although we've had our differences, Left Cholla and Right Kyung-sang

navies have protected the seas of Chosun together for almost 6 years.

And we did a fine job, didn't we?

Commandant Yi...

Man to man, warrior to warrior, this is my last request.

Let's talk to the Supreme Commander together.

Our entire precious navy could end up at the bottom of the sea.

Impossible?

I will ask you again. Did you say it's impossible?

That's right, sir.

The shortest route along the coastline to Pusan

from Hansando takes a full day.

Can you guess how many days it will take us to go around Oapo,

Chunsungbo, and out into the open sea to Jolyong-do, sir?

If you don't have anything new to say, sit down and be quiet.

I won't do that, sir.

We cannot attack Pusan by way of the open sea.

The travel time is not the main concern.

The chances of our fleet making it across the open sea intact is...

Silence!

I sent you out to find solutions not excuses.

If you utter the word impossible one more time,

you will be discharged from this navy.

This is impossible, sir.

How dare you!

What can't be done just can't be done, sir.

I want you resignation on my desk!

Admiral, when will you start listening to

good counsel of your faithful men?

We've tried everything you asked.

We went out to battle only to be chased away, and we dodged death

countless times testing out the waters offshore. Isn't that enough?

This is the King's command.

Then he King is wrong.

Do you wish to die?

It's up to you to make it right, sir.

I taught you never to question the royal command. Have you forgotten?

The fate of Chosun Navy-no, the fate of this country-is at stake.

Explain it to the King.

How dare you try to patronize the King! Have you gone mad?

Sir..

I want your resignation as well. You are out of here!

I will leave, but the Assistant Defense Commandant must stay.

Next to the departed Magistrate Uh,

Commandant Kim is the best sailing master you have.

Magistrate Ki...

If it weren't for him, the Nam-hae patrol ship would've been destroyed.

My crew and I could have perished at sea.

He must stay.

You will not be able to engage in sea battles at all without him.

I don't want to hear it!

I can't support Commandant Kim's dismissal either, Admiral.

High Commander Yi!

A sailing master is indispensable in this navy.

If you must remove him, you will have to remove me first.

Impossible, impossible... Why is everything impossible?

What's wrong with you, Magistrate Ki?

How could you of all men do this to the Admiral?

I did my duty as a faithful subordinate officer.

Magistrate Ki!

Constable Woo, do you think we did the right thing by dismantling

the order that the former Supreme Commander had built?

My resignation, sir.

I will give you one more chance if you retract your disdainful

remark about the royal command and your argument about the strategy.

I stand firm my words, sir.

You must pay heed to the good counsel of your men.

Or victory will only be a dream.

Dismissed.

Magistrate Ki...

Please serve the Admiral well.

Admiral, the twenty ships that were attempting to go around the

open sea to Gaduk was reported missing then barely made it back.

What?

Do we really have no choice but to advance along the coast?

Admiral, we've attempted passage through the straits of Angol and

Gaduk, but they report that the entry is impossible.

Deserters are increasing as well.

Admiral, the enemy has captured Jangmoon-po and Youngdeung-po!

Give these keys to the Supreme Commander when you feel

he is ready to listen.

Admiral...

Am I wrong?

Is it really possible for this navy to attack Pusan?

Is it impossible for us to destroy the enemy?

If there is a way to defeat the enemy, would you follow it?

134 large galleys...

The best defense strategy is to seal off Kyunneryang and

use the crane-wing formation.

We are protected even if the enemy attacks from the open sea.

Their only route is through the channel north of Mirak-do,

so we can form a battle line between Hansando and Miruk-do.

The crane-wing formation is again the best battle formation.

Containment of Kyunneyang is the best feasible strategy,

but it is not the best strategy.

The best strategy to end this war is to attack the enemy at its heart.

And to make this possible, Chosun Navy needs 400 battleships.

Headquarters defense-120 ships.

Jangmoon, Youngdeung, and Ulpo-50 ships each.

Assemble a landing force of 3.000 to attack Angol and Gaduk.

Collaborate with the ground troops and eliminate land artillery.

Pusan assault vessels-130.

Maximum enemy vessel in Pusan-500.

Enemy's firepower-2.000 cannons.

Our maximum firepower 2.000 cannons.

Since the maneuverability of the enemy vessels

is considerably inferior, the advantage is ours.

Secure funds by expanded operation of military farms, salt trade...

Projected year of completion-1598.

An armada of 400 battleships... That is my greatest desire.

In that moment, we the Chosun Navy,

can strike the heart of the enemy and end this war,

This is not a dream. Only thing that we require is time.

For now, the best we can do is to seal off Kyunneryang.

We need 400 battleships. This is not a dream...

I am confident that we will triumph.

Only thing that we need is time...

Stop!

I am the Supreme Commander!

I, Won Kyun, am the Supreme Commander!

Yi Soon-shin, you bastard!