Original subtitles

Japanese pirates attacked Bean County?

I declared war and ordered them to surrender,

and they launched a preemptive attack?

Assemble the warriors at once.

If the enemy we ordered to surrender

made a preemptive move, what's next?

No, call everyone The Supreme Council, Six Ministries, everyone.

I have an important announcement.

Are we to launch an immediate attack on Tsushima?

Perhaps Your Majesty should meet the man who requested your audience first.

Aren't you Sir Pyoung Dojeon?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Why did you request to see me?

We have a leak in the information.

How else could they have chosen Bean County where the warships are being built?

There's only one place this leak could be coming from,

and that's the Japanese village in Donglae.

We're going to do some vigorous groundwork

at home before we launch this conquest.

I want the Japanese Village completely evacuated

and every last Japanese arrested.

No, Your Eminence!

Commander Choi.

Spies must be found,

but we cannot evacuate the entire township.

I agree, Your Eminence.

Majority of the Japanese Village residents are Joseonese citizens.

They are working with the enemy.

Only the spies must be punished.

How will you stop vital information from getting into enemy's hands while

you're looking for these spies?

I'm appalled by these irresponsible outbursts!

We will be swift in ferreting out the spies.

Please withdraw the order of evacuation.

I will not retract my order.

We cannot abide.

We cannot turn our sword on the people we have sworn to protect.

Please withdraw your command, Your Majesty.

Don't you know the consequences of disobedience?

May we turn in our uniforms and lay our necks on the guillotines?

I will not retract my order.

So do as you wish!

I, too, am against forced evacuation of the Japanese Village.

So you're the one who put those men up to defy me.

I am not a child.

I'd have to be a child with a selfish purpose to put anyone up to anything.

Don't you have anything better to do with your time instead of sitting here

trying to play word games with me?

No. King would jest about the lives of his people, Father.

How many times must I tell you not to interfere with military affairs?

Violence against the people is not military affairs, Father.

I will kill off my in-laws and destroy my closest aides if you so demand.

And if you tell me to slay my political enemy with my own hands,

I will give that a thought as well.

But one thing... I can give up all of my governing principles,

but I can not give up the safety of my people.

Leave.

If there is a remote possibility that they can benefit the enemy,

they are not our people to protect.

I will not take life lightly not even life of an enemy.

Joseonus Tsushima's suzerain state. We must show munificence.

War is reality.

It is a treacherous fight with countless soldiers' lives at stake.

Then why don't you make an attempt to learn from the enemy?

They have the intelligence-gathering capability to scout our navy base in

advance and launch a preemptive attack,

but we haven't even made an attempt to study their movements.

I firmly believe diplomatic resolution is better than war,

but I will not oppose if war is unavoidable.

But I do oppose launching of conquest without any kind of reconnaissance.

This is because I am fully aware that a war is not a game

but a treacherous fight where lives are at stake.

Concession is advisable this time, Your Majesty.

You're the last person I expected to dance to the King's tune.

Choi Yundeok is worshipped by the soldiers,

Yi Chun and Choi Haesan are

each highest experts in modern weaponry and explosives.

Conquest is impossible without them.

Military talent can be poison in those who do not obey the Royal command.

The new King's orders are Royal commands as well, Your Eminence.

The man sitting in the audience hall is neither a prince nor an heir apparent.

He is the sovereign King of this state.

What are you trying to say?

That I should turn over the military

to the young King as well and retire to the back room completely?

Do you really think he can run this country?

I was merely trying to remind you. I did not intend to upset you, Eminence.

Allow the King to handle the Japanese Village and the intelligence gathering.

You must ease tension so you can discern these warriors' true disposition.

Their disposition?

If they harbor any intent to undermine your authority, you will need time

time to rally your own men to keep them in check.

Choi Yundeok is undeniably the most powerful man in the military right now.

You need time to quash them completely.

I'll put you in charge of that task. You're the new Minister of Military.

If you're so well-informed about the warriors and goings on of the military,

no one would be better suited for the position.

More importantly,

I think you're the only one capable of filling the military with good men

who will not dare defy me.

Is Jo Malseng's advancement to Minister of Military a good thing?

Congratulations on your advancement, Minister Jo.

Let us sit down.

Loyalty is the most important virtue in soldiers.

I'm sure I don't have to remind you who has the right of military command

where your orders come from.

Word has it he is re-staffing his office with politically biased generals.

This is preparatory positioning.

Perhaps to kill off your Majesty's warriors like he killed off Gang Sangin.

Congratulations on your advancement, Minister of Military.

I am not certain if I'm fit for the job in these critical times.

I'm sure you'll do an excellent job.

I think the best decision I made so far as the new King is putting you at the

heart of my inner-circle politics.

His Eminence acknowledges the importance of

intelligence gathering largely thanks to you.

I was merely doing my job as a servant of this state.

I ask you for your continued support, Minister Jo.

It gives me no pleasure to have to send you to such a dangerous place.

Secretary Yun.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I still haven't given up on finding a peaceful resolution with Tsushima.

War should be the last option we turn to only when all other options

have been exhausted.

I'm sure you know that better than I do.

I pray that you will bring back important information that will

enable us to negotiate with the enemy.

I will do my very best, Your Majesty.

I cannot trust you.

Because I am not Joseonese?

I did not know that you were not a Joseonese.

Your Majesty...

How dare you look upon this government with such contempt?

Do you think we are careless enough to give important government posts

and demand loyalty to a man who is not Joseonese?

What is in doubt here is your competence as a government agent

for failing to keep a classified military information.

But...

I am deeply grateful for your loyalty for turning in

your own son to protect the front.

Would you spare my son?

Izuhara, Tsushima Island

Stop!

Double-crosser must be executed.

Drop that sword.

It's his father that stopped our attack on Bean County.

He tipped him off!

Then he would've fled!

Drop that sword, Kumaju.

We can't lose an important agent like Mouko.

Are you all right?

Don't take it personally.

He's just angry.

I always thought my father was full of

hot air and I never took him seriously,

but I guess he was right about one thing.

That traitor has no home to go back to...

He was right.

You can get rid of the traitor label anytime by proving your loyalty.

I will lay down my life for this conquest.

So please let me live as a Joseonese when I return triumphant.

Your son would be safer if Joseon and Tsushima found a peaceful settlement.

What I want with Tsushima's a peace.

And to find a way to achieve that, there can be no more provocation.

Then what do you think is your job as a servant of Joseon?

Japanese Village, Donglae, Gyeongsang Province

The report?

Will this be enough?

Tsushima is quite upset by the failure at Bean County.

Then I guess they're going to be even more upset now.

Because they're not going to get those reports either.

You're...!

Long time no see, Yamada.

I knew it had to be you working for

the new lord So Sadamori.

Tahira Dozen, you bastard!

Where is Shimichi?

I am not a traitor like you, Tahira!

Arrest them!

1419, First Year of King Sejong's reign

21 Japanese spies arrested at Donglae, Gyeongsang Province

How did you know my associates would be arrested?

I have an acquaintance working in

Donglae Government Office.

It cost me a pretty penny to get that information.

So you came from Bean County?

Yes.

I owe you one.

You can thank me when we are safely back in Tsushima.

I report that the spies have been captured.

It's the list of 21 spies that were captured.

Have them publicly executed immediately.

I'd like to wait for the intelligence report from Tsushima.

There is a possibility they are holding Joseonese or Ming Chinese prisoners.

We could use them in hostage exchange.

Rescuing Hanlin Scholar Yehjin has to be made

one of your primary objective in this conquest.

What makes you certain he is being detained in Tsushima?

He is Ming's top explosives expert.

You mean they kidnapped him because of this?

I believe it is Joseon's job to investigate that.

I'm anxious to find out what kind of intelligence-gathering capacity you have.

Seizure of Ming merchant ship has been confirmed?

Izuhara, Tsushima Island

It's anchored at Ofunae, sir.

Then it's almost certain Hanlin Scholar Yehjin is on the island as well.

And only place they could be keeping him is here at Lord So's mansion.

What did you find at their military base? Are they working on gunpowder arms?

Youngsil?

What kind of special talent do you think he has?

I wonder what he likes to make.

Do you think his weapons are more advance than ours?

If they are, in what way?

Such expression of yearning on your face...

You look like you're aching to see your lover.

If you want to meet him so badly, why don't you get yourself captured?

Who knows? They might stick you in the same cell with Yehjin.

I asked you what you found at the military base.

Swords and arrows make up most of their weaponry.

There are no traces of cannons being developed.

That's a relief.

That's a huge relief for the King who is anxiously waiting for us hack home.

What are you waiting for? Come along.

Where are we going?

We're going to see where the nearest port is from here

so we can find a way to rescue your beloved scholar.

Hostage exchange...

I don't think it's a bad idea.

Unexpected things can always pop up in a war and it will do no harm to

hold a few different cards to play that is if he agrees to this war.

Is the King still trying to fight me on this?

There is a disturbing movement in the Hall of Worthies.

A disturbing movement?

According to our research, shortage of food supply has been the primary

impetus behind Japanese pirate raids on our soil dating back to Goryeo Dynasty.

So we might be able to negotiate if we offer economic assistance.

You're late, Director Park.

Do you realize how dangerous this is, Your Majesty?

Please sit down.

You're still talking about negotiating peace with the enemy.

Is it bad to look for a peaceful resolution?

As the director of Hall of Worthies, I cannot let you defy the abdicated King.

We're weighing our realistic loss gain that this conquest will produce, sir.

That in itself is a ridiculous notion.

Provide economic aid to negotiate peace? Do you think that's justified?

Absolutely.

If we conquer Tsushima, they are Joseonese from day one.

We have to provide for them.

Then wouldn't it be smarter not to waste money on war funds?

We calculated the budget for this conquest including food supply

and weapons cost, factored in the projected loss of farm goods

production due to loss of labor, and came up with the figure

that could feed everyone on the entire Island of Tsushima for three years.

More importantly, if we neglect to take care of Tsushima after the conquest

they will eventually turn into pirates again.

Only this time they will not be foreign pirates; they will be our own.

Are we wrong, Director?

I am inclined to agree with the scholars.

Minister Park, if you don't disagree with me completely,

I'd like you to examine this possibility more closely for me.

Pathetic...

1How dare he consort with those children and try to break my will!

Resign from the Supreme Council at once!

How long have you been serving the Royal Court?

How could you fall for those those children's argument?

They are right about the cost of this conquest and thereafter, Your Majesty.

How did they calculate this cost?

How did they calculate the amount of food that we will have to provide?

If they're basing it on military provisions, they're talking about

amount barely enough to sustain life.

No wonder they got three years.

What if Tsushima is not satisfied and they want more?

Are we going to give them everything they want and let them milk us dry?

And if they're still not satisfied, they will turn into pirates again. What then?

Go back to the Hall of Worthies.

And put the scholars back to their places.

Don't take his words lightly and resign from your post.

If you fail to suppress the Hall of Worthies, His Eminence will use you to destroy them.

Indeed power is sweet, but you don't want that on you. Do you?

I have no regrets about my past actions.

I made necessary political choices, that is all.

Then let this be a warning.

If you ever attempt to hurt the Royal House to protect yourself,

I will not be idle.

A resignation?

Isn't this what you want?

What makes you think I want your resignation?

I'm prepared to give up everything. Honesty will not offend me.

I know it isn't easy for Your Majesty to keep my close.

You are right.

I'm a human being. It's no easy having you.

It takes all of my energy to suppress my feelings every time I see you.

Is that why you're waiting for me to get bumped off next?

You'll get your comeuppance.

You killed my father-in-law and my trusted men,

so stick around and get what's coming to you.

Was that vengeful thought?

I can't think of any other reason why you wouldn't accept

my resignation from the Hall of Worthies.

His Eminence cannot hurt you

even if the Hall of Worthies defies and challenges him.

But he will need a scapegoat.

What is your opinion as the director of the Hall of Worthies?

Do you think myself and the scholars are reviewing diplomatic resolution

in order to defy and challenge my father?

What I think is unimportant.

Regardless of feasibility,

government policies are most often used as tools to win political battles.

I'm not asking you for a lesson in politics. I'm asking for your opinion.

Is the policy feasible?

Regretfully, it is not.

Looking at the numbers, at first I thought it was feasible, but there

is one factor you did not account for and that's the enemy's disposition.

As the director of Hall of Worthies, I cannot support this policy.

Now will you accept my resignation?

I might have if you didn't oppose.

Stay with us and continue to challenge our thoughts.

Policies will slacken without thorough review of opposing ideas.

Your objections will serve as an important keystone

in forging new policies.

Minister Park, won't you keep my side now not as my political enemy

but as a public servant who wants to dedicate his life for Joseon?

Isn't that the real reason why you became a public servant?

Your Highness, His Majesty the King is here...

It's very late.

What are you doing here?

His Majesty is scheduled to retire to the Lady's chambers tonight.

Why did you let me know about your denial of Park Eun's resignation?

I didn't want you to find out from someone else.

What am I expected to do now?

Understand the husband who treats my father's killer with high regard?

My Queen...

You have many loyal retainers other than Park Eun to serve you.

Does it bother you how cold you were to him?

It's a bad habit to assume things.

These are from the Queen's chambers, Your Majesty.

She is trying.

I wanted you to know that she is trying very hard in her own way

to understand you.

I wish these strokes had more strength...

Then I think I would feel less badly...

Izuhara, Tsushima Island

That man...!

Do you recognize someone?

He's a monk that often comes to us as emissary from Kuju.

Not only have they united the neighboring islands...

So Sadamori.

You wish to establish alliance with us to keep Joseon in check?

Would you accept my proposal, General?

I like the way you think!

They're attempting alliance with powerful men of the Bakufu...

They're much too smart to regarded as pirates...

Lord of Tsushima So Sadamori... He is more than a pirate leader!

Tsushima... Were not dealing with crude pirates!

Take this to the King at once.

The enemy is not crude pirates?

What did you say?

How could crude pirates even think about an alliance with the mainland?

I still haven't given up on finding a peaceful resolution with Tsushima.

War should be the last option we turn to only when all other

options have been exhausted.

Which of Sadamori's men might be open to reason?

If you're trying to bargain, So Shun is the man.

An special investigator from the Japanese

Village wants us to send one of our men?

Why is there a special investigator in Japanese Village?

Do we have an information leak as well?

You have nothing to fear now, my lord.

We have a massive reinforcement behind us now.

It's time for us to declare war, my lord!

Donglae City Hall

Declaration of war?

Joseon is preparing a conquest, so you could call it a defensive.

Our King wants peaceful resolution.

Turn Gyeongsang Province over to us with the Japanese Village in Donglae intact.

And perhaps we will consider.

Tsushima cannot defeat Joseon. Don't you know that?

We're ready to die fighting.

We could provide economic aid if you want. I will discuss it with the King.

We are neither pirates nor beggars. We will not kneel to Joseon anymore.

And if we need economic stability, we will earn it through war.

You can't mask thievery with dignity.

This meeting is over.

What is the meaning of this?

Who is the pirate now?

Put the swords down.

Messengers cannot be harmed.

Is there no other option?

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

What do you think the King will do?

I don't know...

He never gives up anything.

You mean he might continue to insist on a non-violent approach?

He was just as firm on finding a diplomatic resolution as

his father was on going to war.

King's can't easily give up what they set out to do as we can.

What will happen if we fail to make him give up?

There will be bloodshed at least here at the Hall of Worthies.

Your Majesty...

Am I wrong?

Am I an idealist being completely unrealistic

trying to find a peaceful resolution to this?

Do you still wish to find a peaceful resolution?

Can't I?

Tsushima has Kuju and the mainland behind it.

That means this could be an all- out-war between Joseon and Japan.

Are you afraid?

Yes, I am afraid.

How many young men will I have to call to the treacherous front,

and how many innocent lives will be lost?

That is my fear.

Fear is not for the Kings.

You must find a way to protect as many of your people as you can.

But I'm rather relieve to see you in fear.

Because I believe you will use that fear to find a way

to protect as many of those innocent lives as possible.

Do you still wish to proceed with this conquest even if it develop into

an all-out-war with Japan?

What do you wish to say, my King?

Do we have a chance?

Are you still looking for another reason to oppose this conquest?

I want to find a way to win.

Command this conquest, Father.

I will work with you. We will find a way to lead our troops to victory together.

Port Dumo, Han River

On this 18th day of May 1419, I hereby order conquest of Tsushima Island!

Fate of Joseon rests on your shoulders,

so fight without retreat and conquer the enemy,

and declare the greatness of Joseon to the world!

Conquest of Tsushima...

On May 18, 1419...

Joseon's first military expedition had begun.