We have already secured ox bezoars and Uhwa wine.
The rest will be ready in ten days.
- You have prepared a ship and crew? - Yes
The ship, navigator, and crew are ready.
We're preparing to leave for China in ten days
when all the merchandise is ready.
It's our first journey.
There will be many difficulties ahead.
I sent a message to Master Yi a month ago.
I explained that we'll be going as authorized merchants.
You needn't worry about anything.
There are many big merchant groups
that rival Master Yi's group in Yangzhou.
We can't rely solely on Master Yi.
Study other merchants in Yangzhou before we leave.
Yes.
Did you say it was unforgivable
to have kept me in your heart for all these years?
Please don't break your heart over me.
Tell yourself you've never met me.
That you've never had any affection for me.
I'll forget him now.
YANGZHOU
I'll forget him now.
If you can't overcome your fear over something like this,
you needn't bother going to a match.
If you show fear at a match, your life is already over.
There are six suits of armor on that mountain.
Use whatever means you have
to put on that armor and come back.
If you fail, you'll climb the cliff again.
What's keeping you?
Stop.
If we go back without armor we're as good as dead.
We might as well escape.
Would you rather die on a cliff?
Let's go. This is our chance.
- Goong-bok. - No.
It's the same whether we die in a match or in training.
Let's go.
Chun Du-man wouldn't have brought us here
if we could escape so easily.
Let's go.
Yon.
You two are always together and now you both have armor.
I guess I have to die when we go back.
My name is Goong-bok.
What's yours?
We could die any day.
What would you do with my name?
I'm going down first.
He's too fast. It's too late to go after him.
Out of the way.
If you think you can beat me, you can always come forward.
But if not, obey my orders.
I told you to use whatever means you have to come back with a suit of armor.
You disobeyed my order. Climb the cliff.
Go now!
Goong-bok!
At this rate, we'll die before we have a match.
If we were meant to die so easily, we'd be dead by now.
The more I feel fear... the more I feel pain...
I want to live.
I think I could live.
MUJINJU
Do you have to take them? Silver is prohibited.
Because it'll make the most profit.
I'm only taking a little. We'll be fine.
I thought you were going to live small.
Just shut up.
If you have any gold, silver or metal goods, confess now.
If you confess now, we won't hold you to it.
Search them.
Put your bundles down.
Raise your arms.
Higher!
Sir.
He is carrying prohibited gold and silver goods.
- Take him to the Mujinju Base now. - Please forgive me.
- Father. - Be quiet.
It's a secret letter from the governor to the Jie Du Shi.
He asked you to deliver it for him.
- It's me, Neung-chang. - Come in.
- We're ready to leave. - All right.
Here.
That's enough.
YANGZHOU
Take your things and go.
Hurry.
- Do you have it? - Here.
My nail clippings and a few strands of hair too.
This will get rid of our bad luck from Shilla.
What are you doing?
Are you sure this is going to work?
Don't jinx it.
I have never suffered so much. Are you all right?
I've been on a ship when I lived in Chunghae.
It's time to go ashore.
You must be tired from the trip.
It's been a long time.
It must've been a strenuous journey. Are you well?
It was bearable.
You'd have truly arrived in China, once you passed inspection.
Let us go. I've made arrangements.
There will be no trouble for your group.
Why do you think Madam Jami came to China herself?
She's been resorting to smuggling until now
because she had no trade authority,
but she's gotten the authority now.
She'll smuggle in less goods and expand trade with China.
If we could legally trade with Madam Jami's help,
we could make a big profit
importing bezoars and brassware from Shilla.
She could make our expansion much easier.
This is our chance to expand into Shilla.
Make no mistakes in hosting Madam Jami.
This is the list of goods we need to purchase.
We barely have enough time to buy all these.
Captain.
How much do we pay in tax annually?
Three hundred silver coins.
Do you know how much
the Sul Pyong Group pays in taxes every year?
I don't know.
Do you?
I heard he pays over ten thousand silver coins.
He makes such large sums
because he trades in this vast land of China.
Even if I dominate the markets in Shilla,
there is a limit to how much I could grow.
I plan to trade directly with China, and expand my business here.
But we're not prepared to trade with China.
Does anyone here speak Chinese?
I'll decide our future plans
after I look around the Yangzhou marketplace.
Be ready.
You may leave.
- Did you do my bidding? - I sent a messenger.
Master Yi must never find out. Be discreet.
Yes.
You must be tired.
No, you must be tired. The trip is taxing even for men.
Have a drink and get some rest.
Where did you get this?
I brought it from Mujinju just for you.
Thank you.
Why are you making the sound?
You do everything right.
- What about me? - You cry every time you drink.
Don't give him a single drop.
I can't have him crying in the streets of China.
Yes.
Here.
Hands off.
I hear the marketplace of Yangzhou is filled
with precious goods from the West.
Take Da-bok out and show her around.
Also buy her good food, powder, and trinkets too.
- I don't need those things. - Of course you do.
You'll be serving Lady Jung-hwa from now.
You'll need to look your best.
Times have changed since you tended to my store in Mujinju.
- Soon-jong. - Yes.
Lady Jung-hwa is looking for you.
Go on.
You asked for me?
- I have a favor to ask of you. - What is it?
I heard there is a slave market in Yangzhou.
Will you find out where the slaves end up?
You're looking for Goong-bok, aren't you?
Yes.
I was going to look for him anyway.
I'll locate his whereabouts during our stay here.
Don't worry.
I wish I could live like this forever,
if only I didn't have to fight to the death.
Where else could we live in luxury like this?
- It'll be our turn next, right? - Probably.
How many men do we have to kill to become the best fighter?
Ten?
Twenty?
A hundred?
Take those two to the Yangzhou marketplace
and show them around.
They'll be entered in a match soon.
They'll lose their focus if they're shown the outside world.
And if they lose focus, they won't perform well.
No, they'll want to live more if they see the outside world.
They wouldn't want to waste away in an arena
after seeing the lively outside world.
Feed them whatever they want and show them a good time.
Yes.
Where are we going?
Master told me to show you the marketplace.
If you get any funny ideas, you'll be killed on the spot.
This is red silk sold at a very high price in Shilla.
Ask him how much it is.
- How much? - Five silver coins.
He says five silver coins.
How much does it sell for in the Mujinju marketplace?
We pay 10 silver coins for it and sell it for 12.
I'd like to study the market further before going back.
All right.
This is the Yangzhou marketplace.
Take a look around.
If you become the best gladiator, you'll get your identification back,
and stride around the streets of Yangzhou.
What are you doing?
I said you'd be killed if you tried to escape.
There is something I have to do. I'm not trying to escape.
Go.
What is it?
It's nothing. Let's go.
What's wrong?
I saw Lady Jung-hwa.
What are you saying? She's in Mujinju now.
Are you seeing things now?
There is a girl?
You must win if you want to see her again.
We must go now.
All right.
I'm meeting with Master Sul. Will you lead the merchants?
Yes, madam.
This is Madam Jami.
Master is expecting you. Please come in.
This is Madam Jami.
It is an honor to meet you.
Your reputation has already reached Shilla.
And I have also heard of you.
This is my daughter.
Please be seated.
Please.
I have heard you're a fierce businesswoman.
I never expected you to be so beautiful.
You're too kind.
If Avalokiteshvara has 27 faces, a thousand eyes and arms,
then China I saw has a hundred faces and ten thousand eyes and hands.
I have never been outside of Shilla until now.
I'm just amazed at the vastness of this land.
I look forward to your teachings.
Do you mean to trade with me?
You wouldn't need me if you're satisfied with trading within China.
But if you wish to expand to Shilla, I could be of help to you.
Madam Jami is meeting with Master Sul.
She is a more ambitious woman than I had expected.
We must come up with a counter-plan if she makes an alliance with them.
It's very unlikely they'll work together.
Why do you say that?
You'll see.
This is the list of items Madam Jami requested.
She wants tin, agallochum, silk, gold and silver goods.
But tin, silver and gold are prohibited items.
She said she'll transport them to Shilla
if we can get them to her.
I think she means to smuggle them in.
I appreciate your offer,
but I can barely manage my business in Yangzhou alone.
You should look for another merchant.
All right.
There are many other merchants
just as big as Master Sul in Yangzhou.
I'll look for another one.
Master.
- What is it? - Madam Jami is here.
Show her in.
Please sit.
What brings you here?
I plan to expand my business in China.
Please handle all trades for us from now on.
It'll also be an excellent opportunity for us to expand.
In order to expand our business here,
we must be informed of everything that is going on here.
I plan to leave a chief behind.
Certainly.
Jung-hwa will stay behind. Please take good care of her.
Pay your respects.
My name is Jung-hwa.
How did you know that Master Sul and Madam Jami wouldn't work together?
They're both great traders, but they're like water and oil.
They don't mix.
Are you water or oil?
I'm water when I deal with water.
And I'm oil when I deal with oil.
Did you look into it?
I went to the slave market.
Slaves from Shilla are sold to all of China.
Some are even sold to Arabia or the West.
I couldn't locate the whereabouts of Goong-bok and Yon.
Jung-hwa.
I should leave now.
Is it true you'll stay behind as a chief?
Yes.
This means Madam Jami has complete trust in you.
This is wonderful.
I've become a captain with her help, and you've become a chief merchant.
We'll resurrect our family name in no time.
You must do a good job.
- How is he? - He's in good shape.
Next.
- Master. - What is it?
Master Hwang says he can't lend us any more money.
- How much do we have left? - Two hundred silver coins.
Master Jo wishes to see you.
I don't want to see his face.
- You meet him. - Yes.
- It's been a long time. - It has.
- Where is Master Yi? - He's out.
I hear you've become the chief merchant of Yangzhou.
Aren't you advancing too fast?
I'll need your support.
But what brings you here?
I need to borrow some money.
- How much? - Two thousand silver coins.
I can pay you back in fifteen days.
That is a large sum of money for us to manage.
Come on. Everyone knows Master Yi holds the most cash around here.
I have collateral.
It's a deed to my brewery.
If I can't pay you back in fifteen days,
my house and brewery will go to Master Yi.
What will you do with two thousand silver coins?
I have found myself a very good gladiator.
I can make lots of money if I enter him in a match.
I plan to wager a thousand silver coins on him.
- Isn't it too risky? - We'll see in a few days.
Will you lend me the money?
Fine.
Is he skilled enough for you to stake everything you have?
There will be a match in a few days. Come. It'll be very interesting.
What brings you here?
I have something important to discuss with you.
Please come in.
You got yourself a mistress now?
This is Madam Jami from Shilla.
Please excuse me.
I'm Jo Jang-gil, a merchant in Yangzhou.
Your reputation precedes you.
Nice to meet you.
I hear you're trading with Master Yi.
When the occasion permits, I'd like to trade with you as well.
Certainly, as long as we agree on the terms.
This way.
What did you wish to discuss?
It's a secret letter from the Mujinju governor to the Jie Du Shi.
- Arrange a meeting for me. - All right.
Master Wang, how are you?
I'm well, thanks to you.
What brings you here?
What else?
You'll end up losing money anyway.
Let's see who has the last laugh.
This is Madam Jami from Shilla.
You must be tired from your long journey.
It's a gift for you from her.
This is so precious... thank you.
Rise for the Jie Du Shi.
What is happening?
The Jie Du Shi regularly invites nobles and major merchants,
and holds these martial arts contests.
The contest will last for three days.
Warrior slaves will fight to their deaths.
You can wager on them as well. Would you like to make a wager?
Madam Jami must have decided to trade with Master Yi.
Do not regret our decision.
I can't forsake my lifelong principles for profit.
Tea is one of the bestsellers along with rice and salt.
The people of Yangzhou drink tea because water is bad.
Teas are divided into different categories
according to the way they're prepared.
There are also many grades of expensive teas that only nobles enjoy.
Merchants from the West are allowed to open shops here?
The Tang government gives them residence,
and allows them to trade if they pay taxes.
But merchants from the West are only allowed
to trade in Yangzhou and Mingzhou.
So merchants from all over China come here
to buy spices and jade offered by western merchants.
What is on your mind?
- I have a favor to ask you. - What is it?
There is a man named Goong-bok among the slaves
that Madam Jami sent to you.
Could you find out where he was sold to?
Why would you want to know the whereabouts of a slave?
He's been in my heart for many years.
Please at least find out whether he is alive or not.
I'll look into it.
The last match of the day will begin.
- Watch the next warrior carefully. - You mean Yu-pyo?
No, his opponent.
Bet five hundred silver coins on him.
This is the last match of the day.
Yu-pyo, the next warrior, is the best in Yangzhou.
You should make a wager on him.
Shall I?
Bet five hundred silver coins on him.
Yes.
It's to your disadvantage if you drag it out.
Finish him as soon as you can. Understand?
Yes.
He is quick-tempered.
Use it to your advantage and you could easily win.
Goong-bok, you saw me, right? I survived.
You have to survive too.
He can't fight Yu-pyo.
Jo Jang-gil won't enter a lost match.
It'll be an interesting match. Let's watch.
This couldn't be a fair fight
when the best warrior's opponent is so small.
I guess you are very lucky.
That's Goong-bok.