Original subtitles

Prove loyalty by death?

Untie them.

There's one thing I want to know.

Did the King put you up to this?

Are you being forced to do this to us against your will?

No, it was my decision.

How dare you!

What is the meaning of this?

What do you want us to prove

when you won't believe our loyalty and innocence anyway?

What made you want to kill us all of a sudden?

You swore you'd do anything for us if we were devoted to you.

The blood of oath we drank together is still warm.

Did that oath even mean anything to you?

Did it mean anything to you?

You deceived me.

Why were you holding concealed land in the lower three states?

You were going to give us land anyway.

We just switched the order, that is all.

Bequeathal and embezzlement are different.

It's not the same!

We took what is rightfully ours!

Who offers loyalty for nothing?

Revolution? Dynastic revolution?

Your father didn't do it alone.

Min clan was there from start to finish doing all the dirty work.

Don't you think we deserve a little something?

The entire three lower states would not be too much to ask.

You wanted to possess influence that could threaten the King.

It was for survival.

Because if we don't have any power, we could be killed like our older brothers

and so many merit subjects that the King got up one day and decided to kill.

Do you want to live?

We have no reason to die.

But we don't stand a chance, do we?

My good nephew has no intention to let us live.

He can't let us live even if he wanted to with his father standing over him.

That's why we're not going to go through with this suicide set up.

Killing ourselves would look like acknowledgment of guilt,

and I don't want to do that.

So if you want us dead, you'll have to kill us yourself.

Then at least you and your father will feel some shame.

Take them away!

They will be sent away and killed by poisoning.

Take them!

You're not any different from your father.

You killed us with your own hands,

so you're starting your reign from a bloodstained throne as well.

And now you will never be able to maintain your power

unless you suppress everyone around you with violence!

Let's go!

Death by poisoning after banishment?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Very well. You may go.

Would you wait for me at your chambers, Mother?

Kyoungnyeong,

perhaps you should leave him alone today.

Your Grace, you must stop him.

Let's go.

If you had any decency, any decency at all,

you would've stayed away from the palace today.

After what you and your mother did to my uncles...

Let me correct you, Your Highness.

Your uncles, your treasured loyal retainers, are dying not because

of me but because you failed to protect them.

But then, they weren't worth protecting anyway.

You should choose your men more carefully next time.

Do you want to die?

Why not?

Please Your Highness, there are eyes watching.

Why don't you take your hands off of me?

Your servant is begging you to maintain your dignity.

Be prepared. You're going to die soon.

Then be it.

I might as well be a dead man right now.

What I mean is that I don't have much to lose.

But you do.

Crown Prince kills his uncles then his younger brother...

You're going to break some sweat trying to calm the public outcry.

Get the hell out of here.

I can't, Your Highness.

The Queen is ill, and I must pay her a visit.

This bastard you want so much to kill happens to be her son, too, by law.

So I have to do my sonly duty.

Mother...

I don't know what to say...

Later.

I will call for you later.

Mother...

Forgive me, Crown Prince.

I...

I am not ready.

Let's go.

Your Highness!

Go ahead.

If that's going to vent your rage, you can destroy the entire building.

Let go of your rage, but retain the painful lesson you learned today.

Do not open your heart to your subjects in haste

and do not fancy yourself their friend.

It is not a luxury a King can afford.

A King is a man who stands alone and endures the pain of solitude.

Your Highness.

Let me speak to my brothers for a moment.

I must say my final goodbye.

Your Highness...

You look so pale...

You shouldn't have come in your condition.

Such cruel words...

This is the consequence of my foolish decisions...

Your Highness...

I should never have told you to

be angry after losing the other two brothers the same way.

The King is insurmountable...

He is a vicious and cruel man without an ounce of warm blood...

Why did I tell you to get angry,

take revenge and restore the clan's honor and prestige?

It's all in the past now, Your Highness.

Don't forgive.

Never forgive this awful sister that failed to protect her brothers.

Please take care of yourself, Your Highness.

Don't forgive...

Don't forgive...

Let's go.

Your Highness...

It's all my fault... It's all my fault...

My brothers...

So that's what happened...

How is Mother?

Would you beat me up?

That's why I came.

I wouldn't feel so bad taking punishment from you.

Even at the young age of thirteen, you weren't like me.

Why didn't you turn your uncles in?

I didn't want anyone else to lose their live because of me...

Strike him.

Kill him with your own hands and restore the command of the Royal House.

How was it possible?

How were you able to

put the perpetrator's life above your own pain and rage?

You were only thirteen years old.

Maybe it was possible because I was only thirteen.

It must've been hard for you.

It was until I decided to let it go.

When you live in the shadow for twenty years like I have,

you develop a need for retribution.

I thought I'd feel great once I got even, and that's why I went for it,

but I don't feel so great.

I'm worried about the Crown Prince.

Maybe, just maybe...

All this is harder for the Crown Prince than it is for us since he is the one

who was forced into the position to make decisions.

No, no, no! Is that the only word you know?

Your Highness...

Remove the law that restricts private land possession to Gyeonggi and

distribute the provincial land to the men on this list.

And make sure they understand that half of their harvest belongs to the state.

You should know better than this by now.

Haven't you learned anything after what happened to your uncles?

Yes, I have. I've learned a lot.

That's all the more reason why I am enforcing this.

I oppose.

Then you're fired.

Your Highness!

Remove him from his post at once!

And if anyone else opposes, remove them as well!

I'm going to fill the national treasury if this is what it takes to fill it.

But Your Highness,

those who seek to build their influence could abuse the law...

Your name is the first on the list.

So if you wish to build your power and challenge me, do it.

I'll just kill you, that's all.

I've learned one thing through this tragedy.

There're only two types of royal subjects those that obey and those that defy.

Those that obey are good and those that defy are villainous.

So just obey my command as I command them.

You've seen what I do with villainous officials.

What is this? A joke?

How much longer do we have to cater to this child?

What's this?

Can't you be a little more open-minded?

Is grumbling a part of your duty?

Do you wish to become a tyrant?

Did you say tyrant?

If you pay no need to good counsel of your men, you are a tyrant.

Do you want to see a real tyrant?

Your Highness.

Dismiss this man from his post for contempt against Crown Prince.

Go back to the conference hall.

Rescind your order to remove restrictions on private land possession

and reinstate the men you dismissed.

I thought I told you.

I issue the orders not you.

I am telling you to rescind them because they are poor orders!

Why do you always have to be so hard?

Why you too?

Your Highness...

You said you trust me and that you wagered everything on me,

but you never stand on my side.

Can't you support me without asking any questions if only just once?

Why did you want to come here?

What do you feel about talking a trip to Gyeongsung?

Me?

You want me to go to Gyeongsung?

And what would I do?

Should I tell him to have hope again and

get back to this world instead of wasting his life away?

And then what?

I can only do so much.

I'll stir him up and get him all keyed up and ignore him.

It's not this crazy world that I can't stand.

I'm tired and ashamed of the man I was who used to go around tooting my horn

trusting my not-so-smart mouth.

And I hate myself for turning a blind eye to the truth out of fear of the King

when young Prince Choongnyeong gave up everything to stand by it.

I can't forgive myself for that...

Your Highness.

Who is that?

It's the garrison commander of Gyeongsung.

And the others are...

Jurchens.

Why is a garrison commander playing kyukgu with the Jurchen barbarians?

He does things that are a lot worse than this.

He has secret meetings with the Jurchens, he takes from the people anytime he wants,

and he'll take a swing at you if you get on his nerves

whether you're a prince or an officer dispatched from headquarters.

He's a dangerous man if I've ever seen one.

Then why?

Why can't I feel any antipathy from you when you talk about him?

Choi Yundeok is playing Kyukgu with the barbarians?

I suppose he is studying the enemy.

Do you study the enemy by playing games with them?

Maybe that's Gyeongsung style.

We have our ways in the capital city,

and Gyeongsung has...

Be quiet!

If you don't make a clear distinction between friend and foe,

the soldiers will not know what to do in a combat situation.

I suppose that's possible...

Why is there no word from the capital city?

My secret report to the Crown Prince should've been received a long time ago.

You sent a secret report to the Crown Prince?

Did you think I would rely on Gang Sangin alone?

The land possession restriction cannot be abolished.

I thought I was administering the state affairs.

We cannot disorganize the land system.

If you change a law, it's a reform, and it's disorganizing if I do?

This has nothing to do with military affairs or foreign affairs.

Then the decision is mine. Isn't it?

The land system is at the very root of this country.

Changing it in haste could shake the very foundation of Joseon.

Progressive reform is necessary to secure quick source of taxation.

What are you after by going to this length to secure source of taxation?

Leave the land laws alone and focus on routine affairs.

What are routine affairs?

Jae.

I must not be very smart. Would you tell me what they are?

When will you stop fighting me on every issue?

Would you make

a list of those routine affairs item by item and send it to the East Palace?

Then I will become your obedient pawn and work like a horse.

Well then, I will go back and wait, Father.

Routine affairs...

Lead the way. I'm going to the vanguard headquarters.

Your Highness...

Why haven't we heard back from Yi Chun in Gyeongsung?

Did the barbarians beat him to death or something?

Why are you silent?

Well...

This arrived a while back, but...

But what?

There was the Min clan incident, and I didn't want His Majesty founding

out about you conducting Military affairs in secrecy, so...

So you decided with your witless brain not to report it to me?

Are you patronizing me?

Do you take me for a fool as well?

No, Your Highness.

My brother was just concerned about you...

Shut up!

Be quiet if you don't want to lose your job.

Be clear on this. I am the one who makes decisions.

All you do is follow orders. Is that clear?

Crystal clear, Your Highness.

Gang Sangin sent a report to the Ministry of Military and Yi Sookbun kept it from me?

At your service, Your Highness.

I came seeking tutelage of the Minister of Military.

Would you indulge me in a match?

It would be my pleasure.

Jongsu!

Fetch us some wooden swords!

Why don't we use a real sword?

Your Highness, that could be dangerous.

Yes, that's why I want to use real swords.

Let's fight until one of us is dead.

Your Highness!

This is your only chance.

Right now I'm giving you a chance to live,

but if you do what you did when I'm on the throne,

you'll have to stick your neck out over the execution rack.

Where is the report from Cyeongsung? One written by Chief Gang Sangin.

Oh, that...

What are you after?

Are you trying to measure my strength against

the King before you decide who to suck up to?

Your Highness, I would never...

Remember, Minister Yi.

I may not be the strongest, but I do have enough power to destroy you.

This is your last chance.

Dismiss Choi Yundeok immediately and back up Yi Chun.

I want the truth. Who are you?

What did you do before you met me?

What do you think I did?

Answer my question.

You ride much too well. Better than most men.

How would you know that it's not a lie when I answer your question?

Would you just trust my word?

I'm not interested in the truth.

What's important is that you're here with me now.

It's good.

I'm relieved to know that you can ride well.

Would you go with me?

Let's o to Liaodong when it becomes ours.

You won't have to wait long.

You'll be right beside me when we make our triumphant march into Liaodong.

Would you remember us?

Remember me and my comrades not for the rage that made us turn

into merciless killers but for the hope that made us revolutionaries

in pursuit of a better world...

Would you remember us?

If I could...

If I could remember you for your hope alone...

Perhaps I wouldn't have embraced him with rage.

But please forgive me, sire.

Without rage, I cannot remember you or our days past...

Do not fall back!

Attack! Charge!

Retreat! Retreat now!

Go after them and finish them off!

I ordered you not to install the cannons until we have a new commander!

I don't have to obey that order anymore.

What?

Garrison Commander Choi Yundeok, you are hereby dismissed from duty!

Oh, stop moaning! You're such a baby!

Stupid fools! Step aside!

Idiot. It's just an arrow.

You can't get it out yourself?

Suck it up, boy, suck it up!

What are you doing?

Didn't I tell you to take that uniform off?

I didn't have the time.

Then make the time and do it right now.

We have plenty of men to take care of the wounded.

Don't be so hard.

I won't insist on keeping my job,

so let me give these incompetent fools

a good scolding for letting the barbarians do this to them.

You have one day.

Turn in your uniform and leave the base before the end of the night.

What's going to happen here now?

What do you think?

Commander Choi is getting the boot, so it's going to turn into a war zone.

Then what about us?

Your Highness, should we alert the palace and move to a safer location?

Your Highness!

Ouch! What did I do this time?

Haven't learned anything about the Prince in all the years you've been with him?

What are you talking about?

Knowing the man, were lucky he's not jumping up to fight this.

You really think he's going to move to a safer place?

That's a long time ago.

No, no, I have a bad feeling about this.

I saw him earlier biting his lips and clenching his fist.

I didn't...

You'll see.

It's a matter of time before his old habits come back.

Why do you do this?

You do all this work and no one appreciates you.

You're always misunderstood, and problems are endless.

Are you content with this life?

The people appreciate me,

misunderstandings will clear up eventually, and problems,

I just have to deal with them.

Joseon has provoked us.

Now we will retaliate against the Joseon army with full force.

Provoke them?

General!

You don't need to fear them.

If they retaliate, we will just wipe them out.

Stop the crying, wimps!

How am I suppose to trust you to protect this place?

You'll never fight off the barbarians being this soft!

I've been watching this fellow, and he's quite talented.

He's my strongest secret weapon, sir.

It might be a good idea if you produced some fast arrows as well

instead of spending all of your time fiddling with cannons.

For the time being, that will be more helpful in combat against the barbarians.

I was under the impression you disliked combat.

How could I be a soldier disliking combat?

Battlefield is home to us military men.

Then...

But there is a right time for combat.

I guess I could talk about this forever and none of it would matter now...

Atten-hut!

Cut the crap. You never salute me.

General...

Keep yourselves alive.

I'm leaving.

What brings you to my place?

Won't you help him?

Is there anyway you could get Commander Choi reinstated?

He's already gone.

Commander Choi is not gone.

Hustle!

Good. Very good!

Everything will be just fine, so just do exactly what you just did.

No crying, no getting scared, you just think happy thoughts. Okay?

Okay!

Take turns and keep a close watch.

When the barbarians come down the mountain,

they'll set the village on fire first and axe everyone in sight.

Evacuate the women and children at the first sign of aggression.

- You got that? - Got it, sir.

Don't get scared now.

Now let's try the drill one more time!

Don't you have any pride?

What do you mean?

Your country, your peers have deserved you.

No one knows and no one cares about your loyalty.

Why do you live like this? Do you think you've above it all?

No one cares!

You're wasting time and making a fool of yourself!

Why do I live like this?

Because men like you won't do what they're supposed to do. That's why.

Now are you satisfied?

Are you satisfied?