Original subtitles

I will not give up the Jurchen open immigration policy!

You must!

Abolish the military farms and

turn them over to the people of the northern three states!

No!

I will push the tax reform forward,

and tighten regulations against the landed gentry.

No! No, Your Majesty!

The King is ruining this country.

It's time to clear your path to the throne.

Jo Malseng...

Are you the one that asked to see me?

What do I call you now that you're in such fancy clothes?

Just call me Uncle like you used to.

Oh boy, are those tears?

It's not easy with the local people hounding on you guys, is it?

No.

That's why I'm going to stop them now.

Who are these men?

These men work in this organization, do they not?

- Get them! - Yes, sir!

Let go! Let go of me!

Are you crazy?

Don't you know what will happen to Omakji if he turns them in?

I know.

What's this?

Let go.

Stop whatever it is your doing!

This kid deserves to be beaten.

If you knew what he's done...

I would've done the same thing if I were Omakji.

That's why I drew the sketches for him.

You did the right thing turning them in, but you're an accomplice as well.

I won't be able to protect you.

That's okay.

It's potassium nitrate alright.

Process the evidence and send them over to the Royal Investigator's Office.

But we don't know anything. We just did what the boss told us...

Where is Jang Wonman?

Arrest them!

Let go of me! Let go!

Jang Wonman and

Kim Doryeon, you're under arrest for possession of illegal weapons and arson.

Take them away!

I'm not the man you want! There's someone else behind those fires!

It's Jo Malseng! I'm innocent!

I'm innocent!

Just as I thought, you don't have what it takes to be the King.

I will not be your puppet anymore.

Secretary Yun.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Clear the yard.

But...

What is the meaning of this?

I'll go with you. Take me instead!

- Stop this. - Stay out of it!

Dami.

Then let me go with him.

Are you crazy?

Do you want to die?

Yeah, I do. So what?

Did you forget the promise?

What did we say when we lost our parents and became orphans on the same day?

"We live together and die together"!

That's why I'm doing this.

You bastard!

I can't make you and everyone else public enemies just so I can live.

I couldn't live like that.

Shut up!

I know how you feel, so let me go.

I'd rather live one day with dignity than a lifetime without it.

Let's go.

Let go! Let go of me!

Calm down!

Come back here, you jerk! You think you're tough?

Come back here...

You're the one acting tough.

Take care of her.

She acts strong, but she's got a really soft heart.

Don't go...

Don't go!

You're going to die, you idiot!

You'll have to die now.

Are you afraid?

Call off the troops at once.

Issue an order and stop the regional forces you were sending up o the capital!

What does this mean?

It means I'm going to let you live if you undo what you've done.

Is it because of Kyoungnyeong?

You're sparing me so you could save your half-brother?

You're an amazing man.

You have the nerve to banter at a time like this.

The fires have put enough fear into the public.

I do not wish to add sedition to their anxiety.

Now choose.

Will you undo what you've done or will you die?

Jo Malseng must die!

Arrest him and execute him right now.

Calm down.

I can't calm down.

Don't you know how many innocent people have died because of him?

Arson is not the only reason Jo Malseng should be put to death.

Did you find any other evidence?

They were keeping two sets of books.

Gim Doryeon handled all of the rebates paid to Jo Malseng.

This is a record of "gifts" Jo Malseng got selling government posts.

From land to silver, there's a wide variety of valuables.

These are files on merchants that mostly

deal in the northern region that Jo Malseng is getting paid to protect.

And it looks like these guys pay him more than anyone else.

Care to explain why?

He lets us take the Jurchen barbarians who

are captured crossing the border into Joseon and trade the as slaves.

Slave trading is the best business there is.

You can make a killing with little or nothing.

Jang Wonman, you fool!

He's amassed a whopping 780 guans of silver in this manner.

The standard for a death sentence in the Laws of the Great Ming is 80 guans...

So that's...

enough to seek ten death sentences.

In other words, he's a dead man with or without the arson charge.

What are we waiting for?

Can we take care of this before other military leaders find out?

Arrest Jo Malseng at once!

The Royal Inspector has issued a warrant for his arrest?

On account of the arsonists being captured...

But haven't they already confirmed this man is not behind the fires?

He's not being charged with arson, Your Majesty.

Jo Malseng is not at his home?

You mean he's fled?

Information has leaked again?

Now he might attempt to move his close aides in the military.

We must report this to the King.

I've already sent a confidential memo to the Royal Secretariat.

And you haven't heard back?

Shouldn't we declare martial law of something?

Don't be stupid.

Declaring martial law would only give the military more power.

The Right and the Central Army can join forces and suppress them.

Do you know what you are describing right now?

It's called a civil war.

What were you planning to do with so much money?

What are you?

How far were you going to go?

Those you sell government posts to become instrument of tyranny,

and the people suffer as a result!

Don't you know that?

Security, security, security!

You used security to threaten me over and over again.

But the man who puts national security above his own life has

tried to take the troops away from the northern borders.

You don't care what happens. Is that it?

You'll risk ruining the country to steal the throne and rise to power?

This is my country as well.

National security, especially the northern borders, is not at risk.

A rebellion is brewing in Ming.

Zhu Gaoxu, the Emperors uncle,

the late Emperor Yongle's brother, is the leader.

Jurchen leader Li Manzhu his joined hands with him,

so the Jurchen army will be heading to Ming, not to Joseon.

Do as you see fit.

If you take care of me, you will be the de facto leader of Liaodong.

I come in the name of the Emperor.

Kill me and get it over with!

I couldn't do that.

I am loyal to the Imperial House.

You need a stronger punishment for losing sight of who you are.

Treat him gently!

My lord!

My lord!

Loss of an uncle is too great for the Emperor

to deal with a petty barbarian like you.

Consider yourself lucky.

Jo Malseng, was it?

Joseon's Minister of Military?

Tell me about him.

Is he capable of giving absolute loyalty to Great Ming?

Your plate is full with domestic problems alone.

We can take our time and...

Small China.

The world calls Joseon "Small China".

Do you know that?

Perhaps it's because they accept everyone with open arms from Jurchens

to Ming Chinese who cross the border to escape our domestic situation.

Joseon is Small China.

Do you think this is a good thing?

You have to be able to see at least two moves ahead to be a Dongchang.

Include Jo Malseng in the next diplomatic mission.

It's a shame that I do not have your loyalty.

What do you think should happen to you now?

My wish is to be executed in front of my subordinates.

How about vowing loyalty to me and pleading for mercy?

I have no such desire.

Your Majesty's idea of Joseon is too far from my idea of Joseon.

Kill me before my men.

Punish me and teach them a lesson so they will not attempt to defy you.

This is the only way to prevent a civil war.

This is my last loyal act to my country.

Your wish will be granted.

Minister Jo will send word soon.

I will relay his order the moment I hear from him, so keep your troops on alert.

Is this a coup?

Naturally.

We are one with Minister Jo, so we will live and die together.

It's an order from the Minister of Military.

Your Majesty, a warrant must be issued for Jo Malseng's arrest.

Jo Malseng is under my protection.

Protection? What do you mean, Your Majesty?

Does it require an explanation?

He must not be protected, Your Majesty.

He must be arrested and put to death without delay.

I agree, Your Majesty.

I will not allow it.

He is the man behind the fires.

You have the facts wrong.

He's committed enough felonies to warrant ten death sentences!

He must be executed!

His assets will be confiscated and absorbed by the national treasury,

and Jo Malseng will be punished by exile.

No, Your Majesty!

I will exercise prerogative power to protect Jo Malseng if necessary,

so do not fight me on this.

Officials will oppose fiercely.

If you are doing this for me, you shouldn't.

You changed your mind at the last minute.

What does that mean?

It means you and I had built enough trust for one another to take a step

back and think about each other at least once before it's too late.

But what about Jo Malseng?

I was always busy guarding against him

to think about embracing him and reasoning with him.

Your Majesty...

"Love your men and they will return it with trust."

It's an old saying that I once said to Father.

It's time for me to put it to practice.

Return, good government!

Return, good government!

Get down here at once!

This government is descending once again.

We must dissuade the King who ignores laws and due process

and seeks to protect a criminal with irrefutable proof of crime.

This is the only way to revive this government.

Return, good government!

His Majesty sent this for you.

We brought you plenty of paper, too.

He was very pleased with your pictorial reports.

He wants you to keep them coming.

I wish he had sent them sooner.

Then he could've used them to draw this.

What's that?

It's a petition.

What's the complaint this time?

What is the meaning of this?

It means the Hall of Worthies will not contribute to the King's work anymore.

I don't agree with the King either, but burning books is no way to react!

For a tyrant, books are nothing but decorations on the wall.

Do you think you'll get away with this?

Of course not.

Choi Manli submitted a resignation?

Reason with him.

And process the resignation if it doesn't work.

Choi Manli is a talented man with a bright future.

I'm sure you will agree that Jo Malseng is a talented man as well.

I thought the scholars would support you if no one else.

Is there anything I can do to help?

This must be so distressful...

Don't be overly concerned.

I've come to pay you back for sparing my son's life.

Please tell me what I can do.

Please don't cry.

I feel like a bad son as it is for not taking better care of you since Father passed.

Did you say "son"?

My brother's mother is my mother as well.

You're two years younger than Kyoungnyeong,

so that makes you only twenty-eight this year.

It's an age still too young to bear the whole country,

but I made your load even heavier with my blind selfishness, Your Majesty...

Please don't cry.

Kyoungnyeong has a wonderful brother.

My tears will be yours until the day I die.

Tears of a mother who wishes safety and wellbeing of her son the King that

loves his people as he loves his brothers that is all I have to give you, Your Majesty.

Are you helping the fire victims now?

Perhaps it will reduce the public grievance against the King a little.

You look good.

Were you embittered?

Father loved

you more than he loved me or Choongnyeong when we were young.

I think he even said

once that you were King material if only you hadn't been born of a concubine.

If I had made it to the throne,

Jo Malseng would be the one holding the sword handle.

I would be holding the blade, trying not to get hurt, and killing

everyone that stood in his way as he swung the sword around.

That wouldn't have been good.

What was your reason?

Father had chosen you before he chose Choongnyeong.

Because I was not the wise one. I was too clean to be the wise one.

You're not the one.

You're not the wise one. You're too clean to be the wise one.

You don't have a scratch on you because you always take the safe path.

The wise one I know has to be a hundred times rougher.

One who isn't afraid to get hurt for his purpose-that's the wise one.

Life isn't easy for either of us.

Because those who distrust the King repeatedly bait us with the throne

for the sole reason that we are Royal Princes.

Don't forget who you are from now on.

Staying firmly behind the King and reaching out to places and people

that King's hands do not reach I think that is our role as princes.

How are you?

You became a regular farmer in the few days I haven't seen you.

If you're here to talk me into going back, you should leave.

We need you at the Hall of Worthies.

I'm not going back.

A tyrant does not tolerate opposition.

By sparing Jo Malseng, the King is showing me and everyone else who resist

his reform that no one will be killed no matter how strongly we oppose.

Please leave.

A King who protects his political enemy albeit at the cost of aide

the world calls him benevolent King.

Why don't you have a drink with me?

I don't drink when I'm working.

Working?

Pointing out the King's wrong doing is the most important work I will ever do.

If you don't want to drink, how about this?

It's from the northerners. I'd like you to see it.

They want a world where we can all laugh and live together in harmony.

The northern states are under constant threat of war.

And if a war breaks out, there is no laughter.

If a man has smallest amount of ability that could contribute to

preserving that laughter, I cannot give him up.

Can't we give him a little time?

If he does not repent and it becomes clear that he cannot be a true servant

of Joseon, I will give up on Jo Malseng then.

Why did you call off the troops, sir?

Just keep the country safe.

You look like a happy camper.

If you know what honor is, you would take your own life right now.

Do it.

If you don't have the guts, I'll do it for you.

A bird is a bird even if it has lost its wings.

You think you'll be able to fly again?

Someday I will, as long as I am alive.

You bastard!

Then smarten up and your job right, fool!

Because carelessness and stupidity of you Hall of Worthies scholars will

be the first reason for me to fix my wings and come back.

And if I do come back, I intend to crush you and the King to the bone.

Get him off!

You seemed saddened by the burned books, so I re-scribed them for you.

You mean you had these books memorized by heart?

Luckily, only the ones I had memorized were destroyed.

Or maybe you destroyed only the ones you memorized.

Are you back with us?

I'm not back because I think you're right.

I'm back because I'm confident I can fight you and win.

Then what shall we start with first?

How about the snags in the tax reform?

We need tax laws that both the nobles and the commoners can live with.

That will make it easier to send military funds to the northern border.

It's going to be hard work, but we can do it.

Of course we can. This is the Hall of Worthies!

Right, buddy?

Are we just going to stand around?

Shall we begin?

Prevailing opinion is that ten sacks per plot of land is a reasonable rate.

The soil fertility and productive differs by region, so same rate should not apply.

How about 7 sacks per plot in the northern three states?

Have you thought of a plan to deal with the resistance of the landed gentry?

I plan to deal with it head on.

I will ask the public directly about their own opinion.