The Great Merchant
Episode 4
Granny!
No one's here! Please leave!
Captain,
didn't I tell you that the girl's not here.
Captain.
We've searched everywhere, but the girl isn't here.
I apologize for the trouble.
Let's go.
Hong!
Episode 4
Stay here and guard this house.
You two.
Post the sketch of the girl on all gates and ports,
and seal off Hanyang.
Yes.
The rest of you divide into groups and patrol the nearby docks.
The girl must be found in order to expose the man behind the smuggling operation.
Did you tell Officer Gang to have a boat ready?
Yes, he said he'd have a boat ready to go at Samgae Docks.
We'll take the market street to Seunglae Gate.
Everyone will see us, won't that be dangerous?
The state guards have just gone through there, so it'll be safer than the other routes.
Who's there?
Over there!
Why are we letting them get away!
Idiot.
Daebang said we can't let the state guards have them, remember?
We've to eliminate them ourselves.
Let's go.
It's so cold. I'm freezing to death.
Buddy, why don't you go to Donui Gate and post the sketch there?
We don't have to do this together.
Let's get this done quickly and go home.
That's a good idea.
I can't wait to get under a warm blanket.
See you later.
Mister! It's Hong.
We're late.
Madam, there's no time.
State guards are patrolling the gates and the docks right now,
so they'll be a Samgae Docks any minute.
We must hurry. Hurry!
[Samgae Docks, Hanyang]
Madam.
Madam, this is as far as I can take you.
I must get back before they notice I'm gone.
I won't forget this.
We'll meet again if fate allows.
Please take care.
You ungrateful bastard.
You and Gang Gaeman owe me for everything you have.
Hey, you!
What are you doing here?
It's trouble. A bunch of men showed up and...
What?
Say your goodbyes.
Granny...
You beast.
Stop!
He's alone. Get rid of him.
Over there!
Get them!
Stop!
You're Gang Gaeman's men.
Captain, they were acting suspicious,
so I followed him here from the marketplace.
What are you doing here?
I had some business to attend at the docks, sir.
Business to attend at the docks, what kind of business?
We've been robbed once, so we were patrolling the area for thieves.
Do you always carry a sword?
It's a rough world.
I carry it for self-defense.
That's a sharp sword to be a self-defense weapon.
Were you after someone in particular?
No.
We better go now.
Let's go.
Make way!
Who are you?
Have you fared well in Hanyang, Minister of Justice?
It's regretful that we should meet again.
If memory serves me right...
your name's Matron Kim.
If you remember my name from over a decade ago,
you must remember putting poison in the King's food as well.
I've come to ask you for a favor
at the risk of my life in consideration of our past history.
You wench, are you threatening me?
Since I also know about your dirty dealings with Gang Gaeman,
yes, it's a threat.
Do you have proof?
Even if you do,
no one will believe your work over mine.
How about Captain Kim Ungryeol of the Commerce Control Bureau?
Once he flips through my ledger and investigate whose pocket Gang Gaeman has been filling with all the taxes he evaded,
who knows?
Perhaps he'll find the true culprit who tried to poison the King as well.
Silence!
How dare you attempt to vilify me!
I'll have you cudgeled and teach you a lesson!
Go ahead. Do whatever you wish.
But if I don't go back tonight,
my children will go to the Commerce Control Bureau.
What's this?
Why did Granny tell us to take it to Captain Kim if she doesn't come back tonight?
I don't know.
Dong-ah, Granny will be okay, won't she?
Don't worry. She'll be back soon.
Please hold back the state guards and Gang Gaeman's men for us.
If you do,
I'll never return to Hanyang again.
How do I know that you'll keep your word?
I'm too old to sacrifice my dignity for my life.
I'm leaving Hanyang with my children tomorrow.
If I find anyone following us,
we'll go straight to the Bureau of Commerce Control's Kim Ungryeol.
Wench.
You would be getting rid of me.
This isn't a losing proposition.
And the incident which happened 13 years ago...
I'll keep my mouth sealed for as long as I live.
Give me the evidence first.
I'll destroy the evidence the moment we safely set foot outside Hanyang.
Keundol will follow the old woman.
Keundol, you...
locate the woman and inform Daebang Gang's men about her whereabouts.
I'm the Minister of Justice, I can't get directly involved.
Don't worry, sir.
Keundol has the quickest feet in the country.
I'll be going out, so get ready.
Yes, my lord.
Let them go as promised.
I heard everything.
Get back inside and study. This doesn't concern you.
How can I study when I've witnessed a depravity of the penal law?
Depravity of the penal law?
Joseonese law grants leniency to young children and elderly albeit guilty of a crime.
How could you violate the very law you're supposed to oversee?
Please let them go.
It's wrong to persecute an elderly and a helpless child.
Silence!
It's for our peace and peace for this country.
Does catching them really bring peace to this family and country?
Just concentrate on your study!
Madam. Madam, are you in?
Madam, it's been so many years.
She was the head matron when Granny was in the palace?
Yeah. I came here every year to deliver grains for Granny.
Granny said she owed her life to her.
You can relax now.
I don't think I can.
I don't think that was a good idea anyhow.
You've evidence that could expose him, won't he try to hurt you?
There was no other way for us to get out of Hanyang.
I figured he could clear the way for us if only just until we got out of the city.
Why didn't you go to the child's father Kim Ungryeol for help instead?
If his family found out about Hong, would they accept it?
Still, she's his daughter.
He would at least give her protection.
An offender got involved with a woman while he was in exile and fathered a child.
That's a crime punishable by death and extermination of the entire clan.
So to Captain Kim, Hong is evidence that he has deceived the King.
Evidence that he would want destroyed.
Convince Captain Kim to stop investigating the silk smuggling incident?
May I ask why, Minister of Justice?
Complains are pouring in from the business owners.
He's calling them in at all house of the day and conducting groundless searches.
How can they run their business?
If only to demonstrate the sternness of the King's prohibition of extravagance order,
we must eradicate the root of this crime.
Sternness of the King's order doesn't need validation.
We can't put the country in financial peril to prove what is already a given.
Decline in trading in the marketplace translates to reduced tax revenue.
I may even cause problems in procurement of tribute goods for Qing.
Stop the investigation,
and help to bring all Qing silk in the marketplace into Royal coffers.
Very well.
Sir, what was that you just said?
Like what I said... stop the investigation.
Don't you know why the Minister of Justice is doing this?
He's protecting Daebang Gang to hide his own evil doings.
Captain Kim,
the Minister of Justice isn't our target.
We're not after one merchant daebang either.
I don't understand.
Just watch.
The Minister of Justice won't cover Daebang Gang's back like he used to with us watching him.
And Daebang Gang...
will make bolder moves to establish even more power allies.
We must bide our time...
and stamp out corruption from the six licensed shops altogether.
That'll be your job.
Why did that old woman go to you, sir?
Because you're not doing your job, why else?
I'm sorry, sir.
But we would've succeeded if it weren't for the state guards getting in our way.
I don't need your excuses.
I'll search the entire Hanyang and find them.
That won't be necessary.
Keundol knows where they are.
That old woman knows too much about you and me.
Granny, I mended the hole.
Pease put it on.
The sun will rise in the west tomorrow.
Who would've thought my tomboy Hong would be sewing my clothes?
I'll be doing all of the sewing for us from now on.
Oh no!
What if the sun really does rise in the west?
- Hong, the truth is, your mother... - Yes?
Nothing.
Would you like to come with me to my hometown and live with me?
Where's your hometown?
It's far, far away, even further than Haenam.
Where's Haenam?
At the end of the land.
There's a place even further than the end of the land?
My home Jeju is an island far beyond the end of the land.
I want to go. Let's go, Granny.
Even if you can never come back?
What?
Well, that's...
Granny, they found us!
Didn't I tell you, no one's here?
We know they're here. Out of my way!
You're not going in there! You've to kill me first.
You wench!
Granny!
Granny...
This way!
The blood trial ends here.
They couldn't have gone far. Search the area!
Granny.
Granny!
You've to make it out of here. You've to save Granny.
What will you do?
I'll lure those men away.
I'll go.
Stay with Granny.
She needs you more than me.
Dong-ah!
This will keep you safe.
Keep Granny warm.
I caused this, Dong-ah. You and Granny are my family.
If anything happened to you because of me...
I'll be back to find you.
I swear I will.
But if we miss each other, we'll meet in Granny's hometown.
Over there!
Follow that girl!
Get her!
Survive... have to survive.
We lost Granny, but we got the girl.
How could dozens of young men let a scrawny woman get away!
You fools.
Get ready!
I'll see the girl myself.
Yes, sir.
Husband,
where are you off to suddenly?
Keep your eyes down, you saucy little wench!
Does this belong to the girl?
Yes, sir.
Open it.
What's wrong? This is mine!
Wench!
Back!
Do you want to get out of here?
I asked you if you want to get out of here.
Why don't you tell me where the old woman is?
You don't want to talk?
Tell me where's Granny. Hurry!
Granny adores the girl, so she will come on her own to save her.
How can you be so nonchalant?
Do you really think that wicked old hag will come to us on her own?
Find out where she is even if you've to torture the girl.
If she goes looking for Kim Ungryeol,
it's over for both of us.
I understand, sir.
Granny. Granny, what's wrong?
Granny!
Granny, you've to hang in there.
Granny!
Hurry, hurry!
She's lost a lot of blood. I don't know if I can save her.
Please, you can't let her die.
Clean the wound thoroughly and put this on it.
I'm going back to get some medicine.
Please don't tell anyone about Granny.
Don't worry.
I grew up at the training center as well.
Fire!
Fire! Help! Help me!
Fire! Help me! Help!
Fire!
Water!
- Fire! - Fire!
Fire!
- What are you waiting for? Put out the fire! - Yes, ma'am.
Water! Fetch some water!
Fire!
What's this?
- Fire! - Fire!
- You idiots! Go get water! - Yes!
Water!
The girl isn't here! Where has she gone?
Quickly search the house! Find the girl!
Yes.
Maksun.
How did you get in here?
No one else I can turn to.
You're the one here who can help me.
Maksun, I really have to get out of here.
I've to find Granny and Dong-ah.
Helping you...
who knows I might get myself killed.
Please.
I've to find Granny and Dong-ah...
and get out of Hanyang.
Okay?
You're leaving Hanyang?
You're really leaving Hanyang, right?
Yeah.
Have you seen Hong?
Have you?
- Hong... - Hong...
didn't come this way.
Young Master, what brings you?
I came to see Maksun.
Is that so? Well then.
Is she inside the room?
I'm talking about Hong.
We're all she's got now. We've to help her.
Granny! Dong-ah! Granny!
Hong.
I must be too late.
This is where they were.
I'm sure your friend took her somewhere else.
Don't worry.
I haven't done anything for her.
I've only caused her trouble.
And...
because of me...
she's hurt.
Fate will bring you back together.
So think only of yourself for now.
You've a dangerous road ahead of you.
Think only about keeping yourself safe.
After all, you've to be alive to find Granny and your friend,
Granny...
Please have mercy, master.
Don't kill me...
Young master...
left with a girl named Hong.
You're telling me this now?
Where did they go?
That I don't know, master.
My lord,
I'm sure the young master didn't plan on doing this.
It's unlikely they had set a destination.
He couldn't have gone far traveling with a girl.
My men have gone after them, so we'll hear something soon.
What happened? Did you find them?
It appears they've left the city.
We've a witness who saw the young master getting on a boat with a girl.
Find them.
I don't care what it takes, find Hongsu and the girl!
Stop!
That way!
Let's go.
Do you think Maksun will be alright alone at the market?
It'll be safer than if we were to go with her.
Young Master.
When Maksun gets back with the food...
let's eat together...
and part ways.
I can't put you or Maksun through more trouble than I already have.
So go back home now.
Hong.
Won't you go back with me?
No.
I've to find Granny and Dong-ah.
Because of me...
Granny got hurt...
and Dong-ah gave up everything he had.
Because of my greed...
I ruined everything.
So I've to find them.
You're really leaving Hanyang, right?
Promise me you'll go far away.
And...
that you'll never come back.
That's... for your own safety.
Yes.
Hong will be out of our lives, mine and the young master's.
That's good enough.
What's wrong?
You look pale.
I saw uncle at the market.
Hong's quite exhausted.
Let's let Hong sleep a little longer.
Thank you so much, Young Master.
This is all I've to give you.
Would you remember me?
Maksun.
Take care.
I'm alive because of you.
You saved me.
Thank you.
Have you seen her?
- Over there! - Get them!
Yes.
This way!
It's time to go home now, Young Master.
[Haenam Harbor, 3 months later]
Please let me hitch a ride. Please.
I told you, the answer is no.
Get this child out of here.
Yes, sir.
Sir, but I promised.
I've to get to Jeju Island!
I'll do anything if you just let me hitch a ride on the ship, sir!
Sir!
I've to get to Jeju!
Get out of here!
Did you have any luck today?
No.
You're a cook, not a merchant.
This isn't right for you.
You should give up now.
You're not cut out for this.
I can't, sir.
I put every dime I have into this business.
- Please give me another chance. - I've given you many chances.
Sir, please...
If you can sell everything you have by tomorrow,
I'll give it another thought.
Salted fish!
Salted belt fish!
Come get your salted fish here! Salted abalone guts fresh from Jeju!
Who are you?
Mister, do you want me to sell this for you?
If I sell everything and the jar's emptied,
put me in it and stow me away on the ship back to Jeju Island, okay?
What?
Don't waste my time and get out of here.
I'm serious.
It's not going to cost you anything. Just give me a chance.
- You can really sell all this? - Yes!
Step right up and have a taste!
25 year old secret recipe, Uncle Kedol's salted fish's here.
Fermented in an underground cave, it's the best tasting salted fish in the world!
Have a taste!
It's good.
Isn't it?
This is made with fresh abalone from Jeju Island.
Taste it.
Salted fish! Get your salted fish here!
You see? What did I tell you?
I'll buy you a bowl of rice and soup, so have some food and go home, kid.
- What? - The market is closing soon.
I don't know what your story is, but go home.
I wouldn't come all the way to Haenam if I was going to give up like this!
Please give me until sundown. I've to get to Jeju.
Step right up, folks!
Uncle Kedol's salted fish's here!
Fermented in an underground cave, it's Uncle Kedol's salted fish!
Poor kid... she's so young.
Little girl, here you are!
I put some of your salted fish in my soup and my customers love it. I'll take a jar.
Sure.
Isn't it delicious?
Thank you.
I'll take some too.
Thank you.
- Be generous. - Here you go.
- I'll take a bucket. - Me too.
- It's really delicious. Give me a little more. - Okay, here you go.
- Thank you! - Good luck!
Move it, folks.
Kedol, my man.
How did you manage to sell that whole jar?
I got lucky, sir.
You must be taking back something heavy in there.
You can hardly walk.
Come on.
Have some food, kid.
Slow down.
Which direction is Jeju Island?
Jeju?
Granny.
I made it.
I made it here to Jeju Island.
I'm going to get Hong out.
Will I be able to see you again?
Take the book I gave you and seek help from Captain Kim Ungryeol.
Tell me where the book is if you want to live!
There's an important book hidden in the backyard of the training center.
This is a log of bribes Daebang Gang paid off to high officials.
Release the boy.
I'll go to Jeju Island.
That's where Hong and I promised to meet if we should be separated.
We've to get on the boat tonight.
This is all we have.
If you're lying to us, I'll make you regret it.
Come to the port tonight.
You obviously violated the law.
Not only will you be killed for your crime and your friend will be killed as well.
Do you wish to save him?
Yes.
Then... be my foster daughter.