Original subtitles

Condemn me for forsaking you.

I would have made the same decision.

Your sacrifice will not be in vain.

I will give my all to developing Joseon's own calendar and writing system.

Don't you want to serve a better King?

First I need assurance that Ming will refrain from excessive interference

in Joseonese domestic affairs.

He's a businessman.

You must remove Choi Manli.

No, you should give him the Hall of Worthies.

Watch the King carefully and

find evidence that he is working on developing a writing system!

"O", the center sound, that's the answer!

Initial, medial, final? These three sounds!

This is the sound of Joseon and the secret I've been looking for!

Now all I have to do is to come up with the symbols to express those sounds!

Now we will begin the meeting for national salvation.

I am Choi Manli, the Assistant Director of Hall of Worthies.

"O"!

"Go"!

"Gong"!

"Nong"!

"Ttong"!

Medial sound "O" is in the noun for poop "ttong" as well.

Is it true that the King is developing a writing system?

Are we to use the same writing that the peasants use?

We can't let that happen.

Is there a way to stop him?

We've gathered you regional lords and scholars to form a coalition

in our first effort to stop him.

Do we put pressure on the King?

My men are watching the King.

They must first acquire irrefutable proof of the King's scheme.

My "throat", my "coat", my stinky "toes".

Stinky?

I can smell it with my sensitive "nose".

- Moo? - "Cow"!

Ah, it's so good to be?

"Home".

With my girl with a heart of?

"Gold"!

Hey, not bad.

What are they doing?

Are they exchanging rhymes?

It's just meaningless repartee.

Spending the whole day with meaningless repartee?

What could be so dangerous about that old King that we have to watch him?

Surveillance must be their purpose.

It's highly likely.

There is no other explanation for the scholars going to Jingwan Temple

after having refused the Saga reading.

No.

Then...

We find a way to keep the young scholars away from the King.

Figure something out.

The writing development work is heard enough for His Majesty as it is.

He can't make progress having to worry about being watched.

Yes, Prime Minister.

Boom! An explosion?

- It's a "bomb"! - A "bomb"!

- Balls bounce. - Balls bounce.

- "Boing" "boing". - "Boing" "boing".

- Up and down. - Up and down.

Shall we continue?

It's endless.

It taking all day just to find words with "o" as the middle sound.

The finding the beginning and ending sound?

We have a long way to go.

If you're tired of the "o" sound, shall we try the "u" sound?

The "u" sound...

The pigeons cry?

"Coo"!

Sneak up and say peek a...

"Boo"!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Are you all right? What happened?

Father, the physician?

My, I'm seeing stars.

You little rascals,

you can be charged with lese majesty for laughing at the King.

One hundred lashes!

They committed lese majesty, so why don't you kill these little ones too?

Kill them all like you killed Youngsil!

Here we go gain.

He seems even drunker than the last time.

Doesn't he ever get tired?

I guess not. He's here almost every single day.

If I were him, I probably would have bombed this place.

The King doesn't deserve to be the ruler after

forsaking a faithful servant like Jang Youngsil.

Don't just stand there. Kill them!

Kill them all!

Send him home.

Let go. Let go, you bastards!

You don't deserve to rule this land!

Let's you and me both kill ourselves right here and get it over with. Huh?

Let's just end our miserable lives before another good man is sacrificed!

Let go of me!

Let go.

Bastards.

What the heck?

Get your hands off of me!

Get a hold of yourself!

Forget you!

Stop this and show up at the Bureau of Weaponry tomorrow.

May I take care of Choi Haesan?

I will send Gang Hui, and...

No.

But Your Majesty.

I don't want to hear this nonsense.

Royal Attendant.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Call the physician.

It was rather long today.

It'll become longer and longer.

And? What's the worse case scenario?

Answer me.

Will I lose my vision? Will I become blind?

I will accept death as punisiment for my failure.

Fix me.

Find a way to fix me.

There is nothing more I can do.

Then?

We can delay the inevitable with your effort.

What do I have to do?

Rest. Stay away from books and state affairs and rest.

That's not an option.

Loss of vision due to diabetes is untreatable.

Only thing we can do is to delay...

Shall I cut off my arms and legs?

If I could give up my arms and legs and keep my eyesight, I would.

Your Majesty...

I have work to do.

But it's impossible without eyesight.

If I fail to finish this work, I cannot rest in peace even in death.

Absolute rest is the only treatment I can prescribe.

Even that is not a cure, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

I'm going to the temple. Lead the way.

It's late, Your Majesty.

Rest at the Royal Chambers tonight, and...

Lead the way, I said!

I can't.

How dare you!

Kill me first if you must go.

I'm going to lose my vision.

Today or tomorrow, I don't know when it's going to be.

If I go to sleep tonight, I may wake up blind in the morning.

I must work.

I must work every moment I have and create a writing system before

my eyes stop working!

Please just for tonight...

Royal Attendant.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Speak about this to no one.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you why.

I got you!

Are you enjoying yourself, Your Majesty?

It's a game my mother and I used to play when I was a child.

May I show you a game that's even more enjoyable?

Yingzong of Ming

A military campaign?

Start with Mongolia, and if Joseon

continues to show insolence, press on and display the authority of Great Ming.

Didn't you say you'd show me a game?

War is a game, Your Majesty.

I would need powerful weapons that will ensure my safety

in order to enjoy war like a game.

Do you want new weapons?

Of course.

Soon a man will come offering the technology.

We've been seeing a lot of you lately.

Academic exchange schedule has been confirmed.

I've come to finalize the detailed itinerary.

I see.

Have you given it some thought?

I know it's not an easy decision.

I know how you feel.

Jang Youngsil was like a son to you.

It's hard for you to do this if only for his loyalty to the King.

You bastard!

Who do you think you're dealing with?

You think you can bribe me?

I just thought...

I might do it for Youngsil,

I might do it to punish the King that beat his most faithful servant to death,

but I will not be bought!

This isn't meant for you.

I heard Jang Youngsil's mother is still alive.

Money won't ease her heartache, but it might ease her living situation.

What's your motive?

If we give Ming our weapons technology, they could use it against us.

If we bring down the King and bring a new King to the throne,

they will only go after the Mongols.

Bring down the King?

Ming is angry with the King who continues to defy them with his

research and inventions in the name of autonomy.

And you and I are

angry with the King who stops at nothing to protect his delusional dream.

Is that that?

Now the King is our enemy, and Ming is the King's enemy.

An enemy's enemy is a friend.

Choi Haesan has finally made up his mind.

When can we get the secret weapons technology?

Sire.

You've been followed.

Don't look back.

Ming is attempting contact with Choi Haesan?

Royal Guards Office

Sure.

Academic exchange can't be real reason why Haishou is here.

Who did he meet with?

Can you do a sketch?

It was dark and his back was turned.

It's got to be one of our officials...

We can't delay action on Choi Haesan any longer, Your Majesty.

Where have you been?

Do you have personal business in Joseon?

I just went out for some air.

Air?

I hope it's a good night to go after the weapons technology tonight.

Are we meeting Choi Haesan tonight?

Who said anything about Choi Haesan?

I didn't say anything about Choi Haesan being our contact.

Who else would we go to if not the man with animosity for the King?

I wouldn't be Dongchang if I couldn't figure that out on my own.

You are always very smart.

Shall we go?

That won't be necessary.

I've already sent someone else to take care of it.

We have a Joseonese spy among us.

It has to be one of my closest men.

One that became my aide in the shortest amount of time...

Who might that be?

What is it?

Something's up. A suspicious movement has been detected!

Who are you bastards?

What do you mean you lost him?

Where are you headed in such a hurry?

You look frustrated like you just lost something important.

Why don't you buy me a drink?

What's this about, sir?

You got promoted.

Don't you think you should thank your peers?

Sure. I meant to get in touch with you.

Are you sure it's this way?

Yes, I'm sure.

Why would His Majesty be out here at this time of the night?

Let's find him first.

That's what I said.

Ah! Mommy!

It's a ghost!

What are you doing here, sir?

How about you fellows? Where are you going at this late hour?

Off to a saloon, perhaps?

No, sir. We're...

Why don't you tell us what you're doing here, sir?

The theme of this Saga Reading is Sima Guang and Wang Anshi.

I've always been interested in New Policies, so I thought I'd join you.

No thank you.

Why? Because you can't accept me as your leader?

Something like that.

Are you sure it's not because you're afraid?

Afraid?

You didn't come to Jingwansa for research.

You came for another purpose.

Sir?

You haven't had an time for research,

so how can you have a debate about the subject?

We will discuss Sima Guang.

You prefer gradual reform to radical reform?

There's much too much pain that comes along with radical reform.

Very well.

We can talk about his masterwork Zizhi Tongjian all night.

You were going to turn over the new weapons technology to Ming?

Don't you see me sticking out my neck? Go ahead and chop it off.

You deserve a greater punishment.

Incorruptible public servant Choi Manli coming to a place like this?

Is this a generation gap?

Allow me.

I heard you've been getting yourself hooked up with local gentry as well as regional lords.

You've been accepting quite a bit of grease money as well.

Is there something wrong with that?

I thought you detested my methods.

I do not take money for own my personal gain.

They are patriot funds to save the country from this distress.

Ends justify the means?

It's like looking at my self in the mirror twenty years ago.

It is the King who made me this way.

Writing system development? You know all about it, don't you?

Whatever do you mean?

Have you decided to support the King on anything and everything?

All I know is that the King is not out to ruin this country.

I don't think there's anything more we can talk about.

Don't take this too far.

I value your talent and hold you in high regard.

But if I determine that you have gone too far, I will be the one to bring you down.

You...!

What... what is happening? Is this a dream?

It's not a dream, sir.

Is this really you, Youngsil?

I'm...

Sorry...

What happened? How did this happen?

His Majesty...

Now he's locked you up in a cave to use you like an animal?

Crazy fool!

Idiot!

You brainless moron!

How could you be so stupid?

He almost killed you and you're still being loyal to him!

If you have any brains?

Father.

It's not because of the King but because of you?

The man I trusted and followed like a father all of my life.

Because there's so much we've accomplished together,

and because there is so much more we have to create and invent together.

That's why...

That's why I couldn't give it up.

If I am your father if you really think of me as your father,

why didn't you come to me?

You should've called me first before anyone else.

I wanted to wait until I was well.

I didn't want you to see me this way.

Look at you. Look at your legs.

Why do you care about other people's feelings after what's been done to you?

But isn't it fortunate that it wasn't my hands?

This is your seat, Father.

Why aren't we getting any distance?

Did you put the wooden stump?

Idiots...

How many times did I tell you to put the wooden stump after the gunpowder?

What are you doing here?

I came to make some cannons. Is there a problem with that?

What does this mean?

I don't think Youngsil's mother would accept this either.

Did you have a change of heart?

I came to my senses.

There is no other way to stop the King.

Try someone else.

Deputy Commissioner!

I spent my whole life developing dangerous weapons.

But I really hate that stuff. Do you know why?

Because they're used to kill people.

I don't even like my weapons being aimed at the enemy.

If there's any chance they could be aimed at my own people,

I won't let them have it.

I heard you've gone back to work at the Bureau of Weaponry.

Yes.

It makes no sense if you hate weapons so much.

I intend to churn out even more dangerous and powerful new weapons from now on.

Deputy Commander?

That alone will be enough to make Joseon an untouchable state.

But my hope is that those weapons will ultimately end up useless junks.

I suppose that will be your job.

Convince the Ming Chinese with your superior wit and diplomatic skills.

Make them believe that both the King and this state are

their friends, not their enemies.

Then my weapons will soon become scrap iron.

Keep an eye on Choi Haesan.

Find out why he's had a change of heart.

We'll find another way to bring him around.

I'm assigning you to this job.

You're our top agent, so I'm sure you won't let me down.

But if you do fail, there will be severe consequences.

Choi Haesan is not the man I need you to watch.

Catch my drift?

"Go"...

"Mo"...

"Bo"...

"No"?

They are all different!

Each sound has different characteristics and location!

Your Majesty?

Why are they different?

If I were to group the different sounds, what should I do?

One at a time, Your Majesty.

We should take it slow.

How can you laugh right now?

I'm sorry. I was just...

No, I'm sorry.

We're not making any progress and it's making me irritable.

Let's call it a day.

But...

I think that is a good idea. It's rather late.

There is something in that corner room.

Royal Attendant.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I must see Jang Youngsil.

But...

Lead the way.

Did we find the King's secret office?

Your Highness!

Will he be able to live this way?

Your Highness...

Will he lose his eyesight and be forced to live in complete darkness?

But there is so much left that he wants to do...

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Make me a clearer glass.

Your Majesty...

I need something better.

Something that will enable me to see the words clearly even if I go blind?

That's what I need you to make for me.

What is His Majesty saying?

What's wrong with him?

He's... going blind.

I can't go blind before we finish developing the writing system.

No, make me a glass that will allow me to see even when I'm blind.