Original subtitles

The Hall of Worthies...

It's a good name.

He spends most of his free time there.

Some nights he is there all night.

So, who are these worthy men the King has gathered?

Mostly young new officials and scholars of the Confucian Academy.

However, there is one misfit in the bunch.

A misfit?

Hall of Worthies

Left State Councilor Park Eun?

What exactly is the King trying to accomplish at this Hall of Worthies?

I heard you are gathering information about Tsushima Island.

That's right.

That will get the Hall of Worthies shut down.

Shut down?

Collecting data about Tsushima is a military affair.

It could be a foreign affair as well.

Majority is in favor of the conquest, Your Majesty.

Even if it is a military affair, it wouldn't hurt for me to know.

The abdicate King is attending to military affairs.

How do you define military affairs, Minister Park?

Like you said, this conquest is getting closer to reality every day.

That's why I'm forced to be a shameless King who extracts tax from the hungry

people to pay for a military campaign.

Tsushima Island...

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the enemy

so what we may find a way to minimize the burden on the people.

If you're calling this a military affair,

isn't this a military affair I should be involved in?

Your job here, Minister Park,

is to pass on your talent as an auditor to the others as quickly as possible

that uncanny talent you have of ferreting out those who acquired wealth unlawfully.

That might be the quickest way to avoid having to squeeze the public.

I wonder if it was a good idea to place Park Eun as the director.

His talent is not in doubt.

Your Majesty and the abdicated King...

When there are two suns in the sky, you must consider other things as well.

There's a good chance he'll distort

his reports about you to the abdicated King.

Yes, I know.

Then...

Without Park Eun, Hall of Worthies will be seen as nothing more than a group

of my closest aides.

A new King and a group of rising new young officials...

And it will become a target of the abdicated King and the high lords

who are more powerful than I am.

I do not want that.

You look tired.

It's not easy working with men half your age. Is it?

Maybe this was a bad idea.

I should've turned down the position.

Maintaining your power is never easy.

You've been chosen to be the leader of the new King's most ambitious project.

That doesn't sound like a compliment.

I just want to help you. That is all.

You need to plant a few of your men in the Hall of Worthies.

Right now the Hall of Worthies is full of young men

that were King's most faithful followers since his days as a prince.

You need to be able to keep them in check to be their effective leader

as well as maintain your level of authority.

And I guess it would be even better if these men

I plant were your men as well as mine.

You catch on quickly, Minister Park.

So who do you have to recommend?

You call yourself a government official?

Sir...

Do you think this is a love letter to your girlfriend?

This is an official diplomatic document

and it needs to have a proper seal!

Thank goodness I caught it before it was sent out.

You could've disgraced our country!

It slipped my mind...

Fine.

Pardon?

I said fine.

You're forgiven, so just do this one thing.

Put your resignation on my desk. Right now.

Sir...

Or get yourself into the jail house!

I can't recommend a man like that.

He's a bit clumsy but he's actually quite talented.

His exceptional knowledge in Confucian Classic had lecturers

going to him for advice in his academy days.

Forth level placement?

He barely made the cut at the civil service exam.

We could hardly give first place to a man who forgot

to put his name on the answer sheet.

Give greater weight to a man's talent than his faults.

The King would like that.

That's how he chose most of his men.

You need a man like him so that your real agent won't come under suspicion.

My real agent?

Enter.

Introduce yourself. This is the Left State Councilor.

My name is Gim Mun.

I guess you could say he's a complete opposite of Shin Jang with exception to

their equally good knowledge in Confucian Classics.

And he has plenty of his own reasons to be our faithful eyes and ears.

Isn't that right?

I will put your interest first before the King's if you so ask.

Is this all we have?

We're trying to conquer Tsushima

and we don't even have a decent map of the island?

The sad fact is we don't even have a thoroughly comprehensive map of Joseon.

He still hasn't opened his mouth?

We must learn how to use that thing in order to fight Joseon.

Talk! Tell us how to use the cannon!

Wait!

My lord!

I would've cut your head off if you had killed this man.

He's the only one we have right now with knowledge about the cannons.

But soon from Joseon...

There is no certainty in war.

We can kill him once we have the knowledge we need.

Find out if there's anyone

who knows how to handle gunpowder

we can bring to our side.

That's not going to be cheap.

Money is all I can offer you now,

but I'll guarantee you a government post once you return to Tsushima.

They're building all of these warships in six months?

I guess we better hit this place first.

What do you want?

Idiot. You're a dead man.

Not "What do you want?"

"Nanda!" Is that so hard?

That's not fair. You startled me!

Do you think the Japanese are going to announce themselves first?

Again!

Sir!

If any one of you makes another mistake, you'll be in the water all night! Go!

Darn it!

I told you to curse in Japanese, too!

Stupid... Just shut up.

Do you want to die?

Archery practice?

This really isn't what I expected, Your Majesty.

It's bad enough that you're involved in military affairs.

Are you planning to personally command this campaign now?

What do you mean?

You must stop training spies.

If the former King found out, your intent will be grossly misunderstood.

Do you know that we don't have a decent map of Tsushima Island?

I know military orders must come from one place for the country to have peace.

I am trying to gain information, not to issue military orders.

Why do you think I am thirsting for knowledge?

You of all men should know and understand why I'm going to this

length to acquire information.

All of the soldiers that will fight on this conquest are my citizens to protect.

My father is trying his own way to protect them

and I am trying my own way to protect them.

You can call this military affair if you'd like. But I will not be stopped.

Stop the spy training?

Do I have to explain why we need

information to you as well?

I'm trying to explain the complication involved.

It takes at least six months just to get them to speak the language.

To dispatch them immediately...

Continue the training even if you have to invest six years.

If we stop at the first obstacle, what would we do next time?

If there're complications,

let us try an official approach to collecting information.

I'd like to dispatch a special assessor to Tsushima

to investigate their overall situation.

That is not necessary. Your Majesty.

An emissary from Tsushima is at the former King's chambers as we speak.

Why did they dispatch an emissary?

His Eminence had summoned him, Your Majesty.

Bow!

Rise!

This is So Shun, the brother of the Lord of Lord of Tsushima.

Tsushima must be negligent in keeping itself informed about Joseon lately.

Or has it become exceedingly arrogant?

Why didn't you report this until now?

The order had been issued... prior to the new King's enthronement.

Dealing with a foreign emissary is a diplomatic affair regardless

of the time the order was issued, so the abdicated King is...

The abdicated King is overstepping his authority?

Isn't he?

This is a tough one...

Isn't it, Your Majesty?

Emissary was summoned in response

to Japanese pirate raids in the lower three states.

The former King sees this as a military affair.

How do you see this?

Why are you ignoring the pirate attacks on Joseon?

Perhaps this isn't negligence. Perhaps Tsushima is behind it.

No, Your Eminence.

For generations, Tsushima has served Joseon as our mother country...

I'll give you three months.

Capture the pirates that raided our land and send them to Joseon.

That's not a simple task, Your Eminence.

Did you call Joseon your "Mother country"?

Then demonstrate your filial devotion.

Don't let me bear the pain of having to strike my own child.

Your Eminence...!

If you fail to take care of this within three months,

the lord of Tsushima could lose his head.

Is this a declaration of war?

In a way.

We should give them a chance before

we proceed with the conquest since we are the superior power.

Have you considered a diplomatic approach to resolving this problem?

I asked you to let me handle Tsushima.

But Father...

Clarify your priorities.

There are other matters that require your attention.

Please sit back down. Let us explain.

There's nothing more to talk about.

You've completely ignored the procedure.

We haven't even delivered the investiture of the Crown Prince.

The man playing King in the palace right now is not even a Crown Prince.

Abdication could not be avoided.

We were forced to make this decision because the King is seriously ill.

We know how to gather information as well.

How is the former King conducting all of the military affairs if he is so ill?

That's...

We have no choice but to accept this as

intentional disdain against Great Ming and the Emperor.

The Ming envoys are furious?

We can't blame them.

The Ming envoys believe he exercises his suzerainty over neighboring states

through investiture decrees and we have ignored that process.

So what is happening right now?

Venerable Liu is an uncompromising man.

An uncompromising businessman from what I understand.

Still, respect is more important to him than wealth.

I guess there might be a resolution to this after all.

If the new King displays his respect both materialistically and expressively

this might get a little easier.

I will mention that your efforts must be rewarded as well.

Pay them off?

Are you suggesting that we recommend the King to bribe the envoy?

That's the only way to appease him.

His Majesty will not be making special trips to the Hall of

Great Peace under any circumstances.

Why not?

You're an official in the Ministry of Rites. Must I explain?

This is His Majesty's first diplomatic activity since his ascension.

Ming may be a state more powerful than ours,

but we cannot have the new King begin his reign in indignity.

Stop talking ideals and face the problem, Minister Shim.

This could be a simple matter if His Majesty bows down just once.

If we drag on, this could put a cloud over our relationship with Ming.

How you set the tone

in the beginning of the relationship is most important in foreign relations.

We must find a reasonable solution.

Minister Shim.

I hope this decision is not based on personal feelings.

This is a careful and objective decision based on years of

experience in diplomatic relations.

Why is he giving us such a hard time? Does he think we want to do this?

Don't fret it.

He's just trying to protect his son-in-law's prestige.

I had no idea being the King's father-in-law gave you so much power.

The King will be untouchable under his protection.

I wonder when he will stop treating the King like a child...

One more time. Watch closely.

Here, let me try.

You hold it like this...

Why do you look so glum?

His Majesty is spending much needed time with the children.

You should be happy.

What is bothering him? Is there a problem?

Problem?

Majesty and I have been together for over a decade, Father.

I've come to know him well in that time.

He has a bad habit of hiding his tears behind laughter.

Your Highness...

I just hope it isn't something terribly bad.

Did you feel the way that I do?

Did you want to protect me instinctively like I want to protect

my son Hyang, like all parents want to protect their children?

Were you afraid of your son-in-law might lose face?

I did indeed fear that your prestige might be compromised.

But it was not my son-in law's prestige but prestige of this

country's King that I feared for.

My investiture caused this problem.

That's all the more reason

why we cannot resort to bribery and undignified means.

You are the country and the country's pride.

We cannot buy that pride by bribing an emissary under the table.

More importantly, this is your first action in diplomatic relations as the new King.

If you give in to their shady requests,

you will have to take a submissive stance in all future negotiations.

But we can't fight them either.

I'm not saying we should fight them.

I'm saying we should find a dignified solution.

Don't appease the envoy but appease the Emperor of Ming through official means.

A personally written letter to the Emperor of Ming?

Yes.

Do you believe we can win the Emperor's heart with one letter?

I am not the most experienced politician, but I am not naive enough

to believe sincerity will resolve this situation.

Then?

But I do think we should clarify your position.

We may look upon Ming with great reverence, but I'd like to respectfully

remind the Emperor that it is within a sovereign's right to decide his

heir according to domestic situation and circumstances of the royal house.

It is not a bad idea, but you must appease the envoy first.

I will treat them with utmost respect as they are our guests,

but I will not appease them.

Actually, they are the ones who doesn't want to be appeased.

How could I discuss diplomatic affairs with men who thinks the

King is nothing more than an underhanded businessman?

Then...

I'd like to dispatch our envoy to Ming before Ming envoy goes back.

The Emperor may become even more furious when he finds out

that we ignored his envoy.

Eliminating such element of conflict is what diplomacy is all about, isn't it?

If we're looking for someone with such diplomatic skills,

there is no one better than Shim On.

He is a veteran diplomat and has good relations with Ming envoy

Huang Yan, so he may not be a bad choice.

He is the best choice.

Elevate his position to Prime Minister and send him to Ming without delay.

Prime... Minister?

We must show our devotion to win the Emperor's heart.

Shim On is the King's father-in-law and

the most powerful man among the Royal relatives.

If you make him the Prime Minister, the leader among the royal retainers,

the Emperor will know that Joseon is committed to winning his heart.

Why are you standing there?

The King has left for the main hall while ago.

May I ask why you recommended Shim On for Prime Minister?

Sending the King's father-in-law would

have been enough to show our commitment.

What brings you here at this late hour, Your Majesty?

I thought my father-in-law might offer me a drink.

Shim on as Prime Minister?

The King has not made his decision yet.

Is this a trap set by the former King?

I wouldn't know. I am the new King's chief secretary now.

You are a smart man.

You dodge difficult questions with such ease and grace.

I guess then it's up to this old man to speculate what's going on.

The former King who has morbid hatred for in-laws is putting the

new King's father-in-law on the very top of the tree.

Then now he will shake the tree and make him fall.

How interesting.

Who is next?

If it's Shim On this time, who is his next target?

You might know that better than I do.

If you know when His Eminence is going to fire his shot,

you can easily avoid the arrow.

What is bothering you?

Did it not go well at the abdicated King's hall?

He wants me to make you Prime Minister. Is that a good idea?

I don't want to doubt my father's intentions, but I can't help myself.

Stop that at once.

You know how he treated his own in-laws.

Must I take a whip to you?

Father-in-law...

I have watched you for many years.

Watching you in your princely days was very painful because

I was helpless to help a son live out his grand dream.

And when you became the Crown Prince and finally ascended to the throne,

I was extremely proud.

But right now I am angry.

Father-in-law.

I know how many political enemies the former King has killed.

But you must know that he didn't do to please himself.

He was forced to make most of those decisions

to put this country on solid ground.

You must understand his struggles and pain before you question his intentions.

More importantly, you must trust him.

He would not kill or destroy anyone without a reason.

If I abuse my power and try to shake the foundation of this country like his

in-laws did, you must strike me down, not the former King.

You must always remember how onerous being a King can be.

Resign from court?

Yes, Eminence.

Is this spite?

Your Eminence...!

Are you angry because the King wants to replace you after what you did to put

him on the throne?

No, Eminence.

You had appointed this humble servant Prime Minister to help you abdicate

your throne smoothly.

Now that you have accomplished that goal...

This abdication...

is not wrapped up yet.

Your Eminence...

So go back to the Royal Inspector's office and take your old job back.

The Royal Inspector's office?

Clean out the royal court.

Clear it of anyone and everyone who attempts to undermine

the new King and essentially undermine the country.

Ferret them out and get rid of them.

Until then I'm not done with this abdication.

Minister of Personnel Shim On, hear ye.

I hereby decree on this ninth month of 1418 that Minister of Personnel

Shim On assume the title and duty of Prime Minister...

What is this?

Um, I just came outside with you.

Isn't it obvious?

Escort Han, what are you waiting for?

Send those ladies back at once.

Yes, Your Highness.

Congratulate me?

Your father has become Prime Minister of this state.

It is to be expected.

From the highest ministers to the lowest clerks,

he can appoint and dismiss anyone he likes.

Those women are trying to make an impression on you.

I believe Minister Shim served in the Ministry of Personnel for years...

... so this is not new to him.

Judging by the crowd outside

I can imagine how he must have worked in the past.

I believe you are wrong, Mother. My father is...

Then did you allow yourself to be seen as someone who can be

bought to manipulate your father?

Mother...

One can never be too careful, so I'm just cautioning you.

It's best that both you and your father take care of yourself.

I'm sure you know what happens to those who attempt to abuse their

power exploiting their relations with the King.

It's from the abdicated King.

Isn't this his Royal horse?

He is my favorite horse.

He will make the Prime Minister's travel at his old age a little easier.

Father...

Tell him that I'm counting on him and

to remember that the fate of the King and this nation rests on his shoulders.

I don't know how to return this undeserved kindness.

Would you tell him that I will pay him back with loyalty when I return?

It's going to be a long and difficult trip.

Don't worry, Your Majesty. I'll do all I can to help him.

I'm going on this trip for books.

I'll search every bookstore in Ming if I have to and bring back all the books we need.

You can hardly speak their language. Just don't get lost, my man.

This isn't goodbye forever now. Let us be on our way.

You should hurry, sir, if you're going to get past Gaesung before sundown.

Have a safe trip, Father.

The power and authority of the King's father-in-law...

The tree wants to be still, but the world will not stop shaking him...

And soon His Eminence might want to chop the tree down.

The procession must have been quite grand.

Spectators gather at the site to send off

the Prime Minister/King's father in law leaving the city practically empty.

It must've looked like the King's procession.