Original subtitles

I want a country that Ming cannot dare take lightly.

This is your last chance, Wang Zhen.

Stop Joseon from encroaching on Liaodong!

Ming is a shield that will protect us from the Jurchens.

Autonomy within alliance is the most realistic choice for us.

An alliance without strength to back it up is submission, not autonomy.

Jurchens request for gunpowder is granted.

Joseon needs a new kind of weapon to stop the enemy.

I want to give the Crown Prince and the people the pride and strength

to protect this country.

What are the Joseonese up to?

Are they in a frenzy preparing for war?

No, sir.

It seems they're caught up with something else.

Something else?

What is the progress on the geographical survey?

It should be completed before the end of the year.

Is the distance recorder helpful in the survey?

AD 1432, 14th year of Sejong's reign, Najumok

What is this thing, sir?

It's called a girigocha.

Girigocha?

It's a distance measuring vehicle.

It tell us how far we've traveled by playing the drum and the gong every 1/3 mile.

What's the measurement of our village? Tell us?

You want to know?

Aye!

The measurement of Najumok happens to be...

Yes, sir!

It's nine miles wide between Nampyeong to the east and Muan to the west!

Wow!

And ten miles long between Youngnam to the south and Hampyeohg to the north!

Now, behold the ten miles field of Najumok!

Lush rice paddies stretch as far as you can see,

turning golden bringing us abundant harvest!

Now, let us move on to the next village!

AD 1432, 14th year of Sejong's reign,

Joseon was preparing to publish "The New Gazetteer of the Eight Provinces"

which the Book of Geography of the Annals of King Sejong was based upon.

The New Gazetteer of the Eight Provinces was Joseon's first

geographical directory with detailed records about dimensions of physical

features, social statistics as well as local culture, economy and military.

Why is Wusan left unmarked?

Bring me the records.

Wusan is uninhabited, so it was omitted from the survey.

Inhabited or not, it is Joseon territory!

I will not abandon one inch of our land.

So survey and record not only Wusan but its neighboring islands as well.

Wusan is modern day Ulengdo...

There is another island beyond it.

That must be Muleng.

And Muleng is modern day Dokdo.

Annals of King Sejong describe Uleng and Muleng as being located on the

ocean east of Samchuk prefecture, and that the two islands are close in

proximity and easily visible on a clear day.

So then Muleng, modern day Dokdo was confirmed as Joseonese territory

through an actual survey in the compilation process of the gazetteer,

and is later recorded clearly in the Annals of King Sejong.

He surveyed a tiny uninhabited island.

This man can't distinguish between what's important and what's not.

Perhaps we don't need to worry about Liaodong.

A tiger focuses all of his attention even on hunting a smallest rabbit.

He doesn't even overlook an uncharted island...

This, of all things we've seen, is proof of Sejong's ambition!

That's right.

The New Gazetteer of the Eight Provinces was Sejong's

declaration that all territories of Joseon are equally valuable

which was also aimed at reaffirming the boundaries of Joseon.

Establishing national defense line

along Tuman river and Amrok river from Yeoyeon and Gyeongwon

this was a meaningful feat in the process of actualizing his declaration.

Joseon Bureau of Weaponry Secret Weapons Development Department

What's the result?

We're preparing a test run.

I will confirm the success of failure myself.

What is this?

It's a report of

expense incurred by the Hall of Worthies under a special project ordered by the King.

We found many discrepancies.

Where is the money going?

It's called a Chuhwa (rocket launcher).

Gunpowder tube is fitted with an explosive device,

giving it self-propulsive force.

What's more, it explodes on contact,

so it will be very effective in destroying the enemy supply base.

Can it pierce through that brick wall?

Theoretically, yes.

Is the fate of the Joseonese people riding on this weapon?

Yeoyeon, Pyeongan Province

I see you're still good at catching rocks.

How is it going?

I'm alive, aren't I?

What are you doing back here anyway? Don't you have anything better to do?

I brought gifts from His Majesty the King.

It's not books again, is it?

What is all this stuff?

It's rice.

He said to distribute them among the folks who reaped poor harvest.

Close your mouth, kid. You'll get dust in your mouth.

Rice?

Enough to feed the entire Ulliangha tribe for a whole month, you say?

Yes, sir.

That rice will be ours!

It's a feast. Eat up.

You're not a picky city slicker. What's wrong?

The food not good enough for you? Well, too bad.

Don't you regret it?

You guys left a large farm back in Gyeongwon.

It's all forgotten.

Is it because of the Minister of Military?

You went to Gyeongwon with him and now he's gone, so...

We're just here to show the King our support.

We heard the nobles are calling this a wasteland and fighting the King to

push the border back, so we came here to prove the nobles wrong.

Making a barren soil fertile is not an easy thing to do.

A King kneeling before people like us is not an easy thing to do either.

We're going to make a great home here and show them.

"Any land our King rules is rich and secure!''

This is all we can do to help him.

At least we got the fort completed.

Do we have a report on Li Manzhu's movements?

He succeeded in developing explosive weapons and went into testing?

Have you sent the report?

It should reach the palace by today at the latest.

Li Manzhu has acquired explosive weapons?

Where is His Majesty?

My guess is majority of the missing funds went into weapons development.

That's a wild assumption.

You can't fool me, Minister Hwang.

We cannot tolerate anymore wasteful spending of the defense budget.

We may need to increase our defense budget even more.

I just got word that the enemy has finished testing their guns

and armed themselves for war.

We can pull back the border!

Preciously!

Who do you think is supplying the Jurchens with guns and gunpowder? It's Ming!

If we pull back the border, Ming will stop supplying the Jurchens.

What about the weapons they already have?

They already have enough to pulverize Yeoyeon.

We've got to focus on defense now whether it's new weapons or whatever

before the river freezes and they come marching down with their cannons.

How is the injury?

It won't affect my work.

Our current situation does not allow me the decency to tell you to rest.

I know, Your Majesty.

You must be more careful with your hands.

Always remember how valuable those hands are to this country.

You look tired, Master.

May I ask why you summoned my son?

I asked to see the Crown Prince.

He tells me that you have diabetes and a heart condition,

and physician has told you to rest.

Sukju, how could you?

You need rest.

Be quiet.

Master.

I must advice you to refrain from hasty actions as well, Your Highness.

I heard you joined the ranks of

Huh Jo and Choi Manli in opposing weapons development.

Is it bad to want peace?

It's bad to lie to yourself.

I'm... afraid, Master.

I want to avoid war if at all possible.

I don't want to be the one to decide anyone's death.

Do you think His Majesty enjoys this?

You know the answer.

You must take care of your body, Father!

We all rot when we die. What's the use of taking care of it?

Fool!

It's truly regretful that the new weapon has failed.

It's too soon to give up, General.

I will try to stop Ming from supplying gunpowder to the Jurchens.

We must find an import route as well at the same time.

We'll still having a hard time acquiring potassium nitrate.

First and foremost we must send reinforcements to Yeoyeon.

If we lose Yeoyeon, all of the defense lines could crumble.

We will attack Yeoyeon.

Breakthe spirit of the foolhardy Joseonese King who dare dreams

of territory expansion!

We move out tomorrow at dawn!

Draw a few happy faces so he'll know that we were happy about

the grains we sent us.

It could look like you're asking him to send more.

Butt out.

I want this drawing to says "Cheer up and be strong" to the King.

How do I say "be strong"?

You could draw him carrying a huge rock or something.

That might look like you want him to come here and build the walls himself.

This would be so much easier if you had just

learned to write when I offered to teach you.

I am learning to write.

Then why are you still insisting on illustrations?

How can I write a whole letter when I barely know three words?

No, this is a wonderful letter.

The uppermost edge of this land Yeoyeon, the sky of Joseon,

and the people who work its dry land and make a home without complaint

doesn't this mean that you will live as the King's good people?

I like your interpretation.

I'll deliver it to the King.

No, next time.

Teach me how to write next time you're here.

And I'll write the King a real letter.

Is the diversion set up?

Of course, sir.

Muchang, Pyeongan Province

What is it?

The Jurchens are attacking Muchang!

Yeoyeon Fort

Where are those bastards going?

The city hall, I think.

What?

You mean the attack on Muchang was a diversion?

It appears so, sir.

Call back the troops at once!

That's their leader!

Kill him!

Can't you hold your own?

Thanks.

It's too soon for thanks.

They can't be here just to show off their strength...

General!

Yeoyeon will soon be ours!

Retreat!

After them! Don't let them get away!

I'm so sorry.

For not teaching me how to read and write?

Shoot, talk about bad luck...

I really wanted to write a letter.

I'll teach you the best I can.

Give me a chance.

My brothers will learn instead of me now.

Please take care of them when I'm gone.

You're not going anywhere!

Hang in there.

You can't leave us. Got that?

Mother... and father...

I'm finally going to see my mother and father.

Sis...

Aren't you glad for me?

Dami.

Don't wake her.

Look how peaceful she looks.

She must already be with her mother and father.

The enemy has taken this child's life and the lives of my precious people?

I failed to protect them, Your Majesty.

Secretary Gim.

Yes, Your Majesty.

This is the last time I lose my people to the enemy.

December 1432, the King was infuriated.

Jurchen army led by Li Manzhu of the Ulliangha clan had attacked Yeoyeon

brutally killing more than 50 Joseonese and taking over 100 hostage.

I want swift and unmistakable retaliation on enemy headquarters.

I've come to this final decision to preserve the safety and welfare of my people,

so I command each of you to devote your all!

Jurchens have seized the initiative, so I'd like to break King Sejong's spirit.

Permission granted.

Secret Weapons Development Department

You found the problem?

The propellant casing was the problem.

It needed to be stronger.

The nozzle needed work as well.

While we were looking for a solution,

we also found a way to significantly increase propulsion.

We make a space in the middle of the casing in a shape of a cone.

Then we fill the tube with gunpowder.

When the gunpowder is ignited, added oxygen in the empty space

maximizes the thrust force.

When can you test the rockets again?

A prototype is at the last stage of assembly, so you will be able to

see its power first hand very soon.

I'm counting on you men.

Imperial envoy is here?

Why?

The Emperor demands tribute of ten thousand cattle immediately.

Economic restraint is their purpose, no doubt.

They want to stop us from expanding our defense budget by taking our cattle.

Can you handle this?

Joseon would like to offer ginseng instead of cattle.

Ginseng?

Please speak to the Emperor.

Ginseng has been known as a miracle medicine for

all illnesses since the Goryeo dynasty.

I refuse.

You can't refuse.

We know that Dongchang was involved in Minister of Military Yi Su's death.

Fascinating.

Take the ginseng back and take care of the tribute issue quietly.

And one more thing

you're going to have to lift the embargo you placed on gunpowder.

Do you really think I will comply?

You don't have a choice.

Send her in!

If you're going to send spies to Joseon, you shouldn't mark them.

Shall we go to the Emperor? I can show him even better proof!

If the intelligence agency under the Emperor's direct control is behind this,

that means the order came from the Emperor.

What do you think the Emperor will do to avoid this dishonor?

There is another card we need in order to strike the enemy.

I know exactly what that is.

It's been a long time.

I knew...

you'd come to see me someday.

The time has come, Minister.

A vow of loyalty?

We will never break our alliance again.

We are planning a massive military expedition against Joseon.

Will you cover our back?

Are we after Tongmingge?

You haven't lost your touch.

Would you deliver my message to his Majesty for me?

Tell him that he will not regret calling me back.

Jo Malseng will say yes.

After all, Joseon is his country, too.

I will escort you back.

What do you want?

I want to learn from you.

You protested to have me killed and now you want to learn from me?

I'll learn from the devil if that's what it takes to protect the northern states.

I have a reason to protect that land with my life.

Prepare to launch!

Launch!

Whoa! Your Majesty!

My people are my heaven, my earth and my universe

and I will not let one of them be lost!