The Three Musketeers
1780, 4th year of reign of King Jeong Jo. Yeon Kyeong, the Qing Dynasty capital(modern Beijing)
Yeon Ahm Park Ji Won,
who visited Yeon Kyeong, the capital city of Qing,
as part of King Jeong Jo's envoys.
While browsing through a large library in the Forbidden City,
he accidentally discovers a book.
Park Dal Hyang's Memoirs.
If the last name is Park, is he a Joseon person?
You're still here?
Let's go now.
Perhaps, do you know General Park Dal Hyang?
- Park Dal Hyang? - Yes.
He even held the position of a provincial army general in King Seok Jong's time.
He was close to Crown Prince So Hyeon as well.
Provincial Army General Park Dal Hyang...
From this moment forward, these are the memoirs of Park Dal Hyang of Joseon,
written a hundred years ago.
Aren't you sleeping?
Are you still reading that?
Isn't that the book you borrowed earlier?
About Crown Prince So Hyeon,
the oldest son of King In Jo, and the older brother of King Hyo Jong...
What about Crown Prince So Hyeon?
If he had become King,
what might have happened to Joseon?
Don't you think that many things might have been different?
It's possible that one hundred years ago, Joseon would have overtaken the Qing Dynasty.
If, in those days, the one who was most ahead of his time had become king.
Why, suddenly, do you mention Crown Prince So Hyeon?
Is there something written in that book?
It's fiction.
They say Park Dal Hyang, who held the position of Provincial Army General, in King Seok Jong's time didn't exist.
It's fiction, fiction. Fiction full of hot air!
There is a lot of work tomorrow, so you should sleep now.
Of course, it could be fiction disguised as a memoir,
since he had never heard of these things happening in that era.
However,
his intuition told him that this was not fiction.
He was truly a general who held a Provincial Army General position.
However, since the contents were shocking,
to avoid confusion for future generations, he would have used a pseudonym, Park Dal Hyang.
Why the memoirs of a Joseon General
ended up in the Forbidden City of Qing is unknown.
But as Yeon Ahm felt great empathy for its content, being a Joseon person living in the future generation,
he decided to record this unbelievable story.
The story he tells, from now on, is the legendary tale of the brave warrior, Park Dal Hyang,
whose real name is unknown.
But he certainly existed, and was all over Joseon and the continent,
with his friends.
The First Meeting Episode 1
1636, 14th year of King In Jo's reign
Script: Song Jae Jung Director: Kim Byung Soo
It is precisely this man, the 22 year old Park Dal Hyang.
Farewell to you all!
I am now... leaving for Hanyang! [Hanyang, old name for Seoul, capital of Joseon]
His memoirs start here.
From the day the country boy, from Goseong, Gangwon province,
left his hometown to take the military service exam.
Oh, yes.
To his son that was leaving on a long journey, Dal Hyang's father,
instead of money, gave him just one letter.
Once you arrive in Hanyang, go see Sir Minister of Finance first.
If you just meet that person, everything will be settled.
The connection we have, you know about it as well.
Who am I?
You are, Minister of Finance Choi Myeong Gil's
maternal cousin's brother-in-law's uncle's nephew.
That's right, that's right.
Since we have such a deep connection,
do you think he would turn away from you?
Probably, when you deliver this letter,
he will run out shoeless to grab you.
So until you pass the exam, you can just stay in his house comfortably.
Do you really think that will happen?
Of course!
Thank you, Father.
Let's go.
Dal Hyang!
Yes, Mother?
Take this.
What is this money? I don't need it, Mother.
Take it.
On the long road to Hanyang, anything can happen.
Don't worry. If I race there, I'll arrive there in a month.
Then, as father said, I can stay at Sir Minister's house.
I don't need money from you.
How can you believe what your father says?
Then whose words should I believe?
Father's the only one from around here that's been to Hanyang.
It's bull s**t that he went there.
Excuse me?
It's nothing.
Put it away. You never know if you'll need it.
But I'm really fine.
Dal Hyang hasn't left yet?
I'm going! I'll be back, Father!
Mother, wait for news of my passing the exam with the top score.
I'll be back.
Let's go!
I don't know if that horse will last all the way to Hanyang.
Not just to Hanyang, it can go all the way to the Ming Dynasty!
Does that make sense?!
Do you even know how old that horse is?!
It was born the same year as Dal Hyang!
If a horse is 22 years old, it's lucky that it's still alive!
He can go to Ming?! What Ming?!
Aha, the weather sure is nice today!
Have you really been to Hanyang?!
You haven't, right?
You've never been to Hanyang, right?
He's never passed an exam even for a low position. What business would he have had to go to Hanyang?
With a horse that could have died the very next day, which won't have been a strange thing to happen,
and with just the letter to Minister Choi Myeong Gil, his relative three times removed,
Park Dal Hyung was on the road.
He believed his well-informed father's words, but the reality was completely different.
[Countdown of distance to Hanyang in li, 500 meters]
What's wrong?
Get up!
The horse that was the same age as he, collapsed four days after he left.
He spent ten days nursing the horse.
He stayed in Pyeongchang for 20 days due to the blockage of the road caused by the heavy rain.
Go back! You're not allowed to enter the mountain!
What's going on? I'm in a hurry and need to pass through right now.
A tiger appeared and four travelers were killed.
You can't pass through this mountain until we catch it.
Look, I'm on my way to Hanyang to take the government exam.
I'm going to be late unless I take a short cut because not many days are left.
Please let me pass.
Didn't you hear me well?
A tiger is going to appear!
If it ate four people, it's probably too full to come out for a few days.
What's wrong?
The horse is wiser than its owner.
Are you still going to go?
1 li (500m) The short cut nearest to Hanyang was blocked.
So he was delayed for another 5 days, in order to go around the mountain.
Two months after leaving his hometown, only on the night before the exam, did Dal Hyang arrived in Hanyang.
However . . .
Come here!
Is this the home of Minister Choi Myeong Gil?
Yes, it is.
I'm Park Dal Hyang, who's come from Goseong, Gangwon Province.
I have a letter to give to the Minister from my father.
Sir Minister is on an inspection tour, so he's not here.
Oh, then, when...
He will return after ten days.
Please come back after ten days, okay?
Wait!
For now, please let me in.
I have to take the exam tomorrow, so I would like to stay in the guest room.
You're here to take the government exam?
We don't have any rooms.
What do you mean you don't have any rooms?
There are so many people who came to take the government exam that all guest rooms are filled.
Are you really saying that there's not one room to stay in?
But this house is so big.
There isn't any! You should have come a little earlier!
Around exam time, scholars from all eight provinces swarm here. So,
finding a place to stay in Hanyang is like trying to pick stars from the sky.
Then.
Where is the merchant innkeeper?
Is there anywhere to stay for one day?
Where's a tavern?
Is there anywhere I can stay overnight?
This way, too, there's none?
Why are you doing this? Move aside, please!
One . . .
Two . . .
Okay, fine. Three.
Four...
Five. Hey there!
Hey, get in line!
There's going to be no room unless you line up!
Six.
Seven.
How much?
Ten nyangs.
Surely... for one night?
That's right. Surely, for one night.
What kind of excessive profiteering is this? As I understand, it's one nyang for a night.
Oh, really!
Do you know what time of year this is now?
You come here at exam season and want a room for one nyang?
Even if it is exam time, that's more than double.
- How many times more are you trying to get? - If you don't like it, then go.
Go, okay?
Didn't you see that line out front?
Since there are no rooms, you'll need to sleep on a straw mat.
Just leave. Leave. Leave.
But... can't you discount it a little bit?
This is all I have.
Then... could I have a bowl of soup and rice?
I haven't eaten a thing all day.
Soup and rice is two nyangs.
Shall I give it to you?
Well...
Here!
It's not a single room?
A single room?
For ten nyangs?
Then, just give me thirty nyang.
I'll give you a bright room all to yourself.
His father had never told him about these things.
Dal Hyang realized, at that moment,
that his father had never been to Hanyang.
This way.
However, the first night in Hanyang, which is known to be a place where you can lose your nose with eyes wide open,
this wasn't the end of it.
Oh Hyeon Mook.
Who is it?
Is there an Oh Hyeon Mook here, who came from Ahsan, in Chungcheong province?
That's me.
You are... Oh Hyeon Mook?
That's right. What is it?
He's beaten up so bad that he's dying. Call a doctor, hurry!
Over here! Quickly!
Someone paid them to do this.
What is that supposed to mean?
You didn't hear about it?
Rich noblemen, in advance, gets the list of people who are likely to pass the exam,
have them beaten up so they won't make it to the exam, in order to assure their own kids will pass.
I heard that this happened here and there last night as well.
Aigoo.
Stop right there!
Over here.
What is it?
I know we've just met. But may I, please, borrow your horse?
What?
I need to catch someone quickly.
Look! They're running away right now!
Ask someone else for assistance. We're in hurry.
Please.
I will explain later, so let me ride with you for now.
What are you doing?
Get off. Have you lost your mind?
They've been beating up students (of Confucianism) to prevent them from being able to take the state examination.
So, don't you think we should catch them?
What did you just say?
Someone paid them to get rid of the students with potential.
It's sad enough that the local students don't have money or personal support. Do they deserve this kind of treatment?
A person, with whom I was sharing the room, is barely alive right now!
It's not just a couple of them. They've been going around in a group and beating up people.
Who knows where they'll go next to terrorize people if we don't catch them now?
You don't have to help if you're scared. Let me just borrow a horse!
Where did they go to?
That way.
Go! Why are you standing still when everyone's going?
Who's next?
Kim Namsoo from Namwon. He's currently staying at Daemyunggwan.
Let's go.
Who are you?!
Under whose orders are you doing this?
We are part of the Royal Judicial Office. It'll be best if you answer us now.
Run!
Hurry!
Save me!
I asked whose orders you're following!
Are you okay?
I'm okay.
Are you hurt?
Are you, now, worrying about me?
Am I not supposed to worry?
How did it go?
There were four here. And, they've all been taken care of.
He took care of two of them.
The police will be here soon. Let's wait here for now.
Take them away!
I believe the man behind this is the Governor of Yeoju, Kim Won Seung.
Both of his sons are taking the military service exam this year.
They will be taken to the Royal Judicial Office tomorrow.
However . . .
How was everything handled so quickly?
Was I just lucky that the first people I met; to have been the police?
It's similar to that.
How is it similar?
Did you come here to take the military service exam as well?
Yes, I did.
You have nothing to worry about now. Just take care of your wounds
and do well on the exam tomorrow.
With your talent, you can easily pass that exam.
I, too,
have confidence.
I hope you place first in the exam.
Let's go.
Wait a minute.
Even though it was just a short period of time that we've spent time together, we haven't introduced ourselves yet.
I'm Park Dal Hyang from Goseong, Gangwon-do.
What are your names?
The Three Musketeers.
Excuse me?
Just put us together and call us The Three Musketeers.
Let's go.
However,
why are we the three musketeers?
I don't know, either.
What?
I was trying to be vague and that's what popped out of my mouth at the time. How would I know?
I like it, "The Three Musketeers".
I like that name.
And, that was their first encounter.
It seemed like a coincidence, yet it was inevitable.
Be careful on your way home.
You're going to come back, right?
Of course, I'll come back.
It'll be best if we go around the back, since there are so many people here.
This way.
What is this?
What are you doing?
Get off.
Have you lost your mind?
Is it his?
Letter of Marital Commitment
They're already here.
Have you been well?
As if!
He arrived early this morning.
He seems to have had trouble evading the Geum's (Manchurian) army at the border.
I don't have much time, so I want to hear about the war situation briefly.
General, please summarize the battlefield situation.
The Manchurians have control over a large navy and Dutch cannons.
The Mongolians were completely defeated too.
All the Ming Empire fortresses beyond the Great Wall,
except for eight, have fallen.
The Ming Empire Commanders are having trouble even saving themselves and are struggling for breath as though drowning.
Their defense system has been destroyed by their enemies long ago.
Reports of the battles, in the outer territories, were not timely nor directly given
to the central authorities at the Imperial Court.
The Ming Dynasty executive commanders recognize clearly, within their own minds...
that the Ming Empire is in danger of collapsing soon.
Oh, man.
Oh, over here!
- Keep watch here for a little while. - Where are you going?
Just for a minute, there... I'm just going to go watch.
But first, take a look at this.
What is it?
That . . . Park Dal Hyang dropped it earlier.
It's a letter, isn't it?
The problem is the content of the letter. Take a look.
There's a problem, right?
What's this?
This is quite shocking!
What should we do?
Where is this person staying again?
'The Three Musketeers'.
What is the meaning of the three musketeers?
Musketeers? ( ' Chong Sa ' sounds like "shooting a gun " )
Does it mean three persons who are good at shooting guns?
But... Hanyang really is big.
Seeing masters going around in a bunch.
What are you looking for?
A letter. Have you seen a letter in an envelope?
Isn't that the letter?
This is the one that my father is sending to the Minister. I'm talking about the other letter.
What is this, now?
We thought this is a kind of treason, so
I thought you needed to see this also.
You know that I feel the same as you, right?
I promise this. I will definitely never marry any other man.
If it's not you, then I will probably die an old maid while waiting.
Or, shave my head and become a Buddhist monk.
I'll wait for the day we meet again, after you pass the exam.
When you come to Hanyang, if you tell people my father's name, Gang Seok Gi,
someone will direct you to the house. From Yoon Seo.
Don't you think we need to investigate that person?
For some reason, you look excited.
No way, over this serious matter...
How could I be excited?
Right now, I'm really serious.
So... you mean to investigate this person?
We can't just let this go, right?
We can't just let this go.
That's right! We need to investigate thoroughly.
But... Where do we find this person?
He should be on his way here already, since I called for him.
What?
The one who finds this letter, come meet us at the courtesan house of Seryeong near port Mapo.
The Three Musketeers.
If this letter is important enough for him to come all the way here,
then we really need to thoroughly investigate. So I'm testing him.
You were here?
He's here! I told you, investigate thoroughly.
Please give me my letter! I dropped it by mistake earlier.
The two of you should talk, I'll stay out of it.
That... Did you read it?
- How can you read someone's personal letter without permission? - Please sit down.
No, thank you. I'll be leaving right away since I don't have time.
First, sit down.
I told you to sit.
Wh- What is it?
Why are you making a big deal of this matter?
It's fun, isn't it? Aren't you curious about what will happen?
Is this... something to have fun with?
I shouldn't have shown it to you.
A man, who's only generous, is also of no use.
Don't you want to see him dying of jealousy for once?
I really want to see it!
I can't just return this to you.
So I need to hear what you have to say.
What are you talking about?
You should've guessed from earlier. But we're affiliated with the Royal Judicial Office.
However, after reading this letter, I suspect treason.
So I need to investigate.
What do you mean, treason? What are you saying?
What does that letter have to do with treason?
Is the woman who wrote the letter, this Yoon Seo, someone you had promised marriage to?
But... But why do I need to answer that?
Isn't the person who wrote this letter, Foreign Minister Gang Seok Gi's daughter, Yoon Seo?
If it is that Yoon Seo,
just being in possession of this letter is enough to conclude it is treason.
So, what does all that mean?
- Why is that treason? - Answer me first.
Then I will give you the answer.
Have you met that woman since that time?
I mean, what is...
I haven't.
Not even once?
I got to know her five years ago, when she stayed in my hometown for about two months.
I received that letter when she left.
Anyway! This is my first time being in Hanyang, so
I haven't seen her in five years!
Why are you so obsessed with a letter from a lady whom you haven't seen even once in 5 years?
Just why do I have to give an answer to everything?
If you don't answer it here, you can be sent directly to the Royal Judicial Office and face interrogation there.
Answer me.
Tomorrow, after the exam is over,
I was planning to go find her.
Did you plan to formally and proudly ask to marry her, after passing the exam?
That's right, so what about that?
Just what does that have to do with treason?
My God!
You didn't know that Minister Gang Seok Gi's daughter, Yoon Seo, was already married?
What did you say?
She's already married, a few years ago.
Then...
You still don't get it?
Why this letter applies to treason?
You don't know what I'm talking about, right now?
I don't know.
That Yoon Seo has become the Crown Princess.
I'm saying that she married this nation's Crown Prince.
Now, do you understand?
Why having this letter is a crime of treason?
If I pass, come visit me when the King appoints me as an officer.
Family members can attend the inauguration ceremony, too. So, if I pass, you can come visit the palace.
So... When will I be able to go into the palace?
In 3 years?
No longer than five years? Five years is plenty.
You really didn't know?
There's actually a person who doesn't know whose daughter is the Crown Princess?
Since my hometown is...
so deep in the mountains.
Even coming here,
took a whole two months.
No one from my village...
would know.
Then, why?
Why did I work so hard?
Are you crying?
Why is it so quiet? Did something happen?
So... what did he say?
Order some drinks.
Drinks?
I'm in an awkward position.
In a situation where I'd like to punish him by twisting his legs,
but, it looks like I'll be buying a consolation drink.
Crown Princess, it's getting late. ( past 3 am )
Please get some rest now.
Has it gotten so late already?
I will prepare the bed.
Your Highness!
What is it?
The Crown Prince has come.
What brings him here at this hour?
Was there a message that he was coming?
No, he didn't say anything. Why is he suddenly...?
Where is he?
Your Highness.
Why are you here at such a late hour?
You weren't sleeping yet?
No, it became late while I was reading.
Are you coming back from somewhere?
I went out for a little bit.
At this late hour?
If you keep leaving the palace, people will talk.
- If His Majesty finds out... - Do you know Park Dal Hyang?
Pardon me?
What did you say?
Park Dal Hyang, who is a man from Goseong, in Gangwon province.
Since you remember, it looks like he's not lying.
Y-your Highness...
How does Your Highness know about that person?
Park Dal Hyang, who has been mastering martial arts every day for the past 5 years, has finally come to Hanyang.
In order to pass the military service examination, so that he can marry you.
Seeing his abilities, he could place first in the examination.
The problem is that he didn't know that you had become the Crown Princess.
Upon finding out, he is in despair, giving up on the examination and about to ruin his life.
Worried that I may lose a promising soldier, who's worthy of becoming a general,
I'm telling you this to relay his feelings.
Your Highness,
I don't know what you've heard about that person,
but don't misunderstand.
Right now, the memories are not clear, but...
Yes, probably, about 5-6 years ago, on our way to mother's hometown, mother became sick...
He is a person I had a connection with while we stopped in that village for a short time.
He was training hard in order to be loyal to the country. Since that was very praiseworthy,
For encouragement, I remember saying a few words to him.
Yes! It was for encouragement.
My mother told me to do that for him, also!
But...since it was when he was young,
he wasn't worldly...
Do you know your excuse is really clumsy?
Looking at the contents of the letter, you were more aggressive.
Excuse me?
I'm talking about the letter that you gave to Park Dal Hyang.
After shaking up an innocent boy's heart,
you shouldn't speak so hurtfully now.
That person has put his life on the line.
Now... are you s-suspicious of me?
I'm not suspecting you.
I just find Dal Hyang's sincerity admirable, so I'm just trying to relay his feelings.
This is real pure love. Something the nobles, in Hanyang, do not have.
Since I've given you the letter, I'll take my leave now.
Sleep well.
However,
what happened to the daring Yoon Seo from that letter?
Did you abandon your nature when you came into the palace?
You must have been quite afraid of me.
Letter of Marital Commitment
You know that I feel that same way as you, right?
I promise. I won't marry any other man.
If you don't come, I'll wait and either die an old maid or shave my head and become a Buddhist monk.
I'll wait for the day you pass the state examination, so we can meet each other again.
Did you also hear?
Yoon Seo...
Over there...
She lives in there.
Since she won't come out of the palace,
all my life,
I won't be able to see her face.
Place first place in the state examination and prove your innocence.
What?
I said to place first in the military service examination, in order to prove your innocence.
Don't plan on going back to the countryside.
We didn't dismiss our suspicion about treason. We're just delaying the judgment.
If you give up on the exam and return to the countryside like this,
we can only take it that you still have the Crown Princess in your heart.
What kind of absurd conclusion is that?
That's not it! How can I dare have the Crown Princess-
If you want to prove that you don't have a traitorous mind, pass the exam and find a way to be loyal to the country.
Until then, we'll keep an eye on you. Just know that.
Also,
since this letter is an important piece of corroborative evidence,
until you prove your own innocence, we'll keep it.
Does that make sense?
I can't place first just because I want to.
Earlier, you said you were confident about passing the exam.
Just because I'm confident doesn't mean that it can happen for sure.
If I want to place first, there must also be luck on my side...
If you keep giving us excuses, we have no choice, but to report it to the Prince.
You guys know, right?
The Crown Prince is not such a generous person.
Aiyoo, of course. The Crown Prince must never hear about this. It's dangerous.
The Crown Princess won't be safe, either.
Her household will be purged in no time.
The Prince is a violent person, with a lot of jealousy.
Violent?
Maybe not as far is 'violent.'
On top of being violent, he's a schemer of this era, who torments and makes good people suffer.
If I even think about the Crown Princess, my heart aches.
How did she end up with such a husband like that?
In any case, the important thing is that you must place first, in order for everyone to be safe.
You must keep that in mind.
First place.
I need to place first in order for Yoon Seo to be safe?
Does that make sense?
Isn't it a little strange?
That's right. I should believe in those words.
In Hanyang, the Three Musketeers were the only ones on my side.
Originally, Dal Hyang wanted to pass the exam, in order to marry Yoon Seo.
But now, he decided to pass the exam, in order to prevent Yoon Seo's happiness from shattering.
And he needed to place first.
- Fail! - Pass!
Next day,
along with the 250 students who passed the first round,
Dal Hyang took the Bokshi. [Bokshi: 2nd part of the military service exam, where 28 of 250 will move on to the next round]
Only 28 students will move on to the next round.
Bull's eye!
First place in Archery.
Fail!
Pass!
Second place in mounted spear throw.
[Second place in Mounted Spear Throw]
Pass!
First place in Iron Arrow Archery.
Pass!
First place in Mounted Archery.
Bull's eye!
Second place in Musketry.
[Second place in Musketry]
We will now announce the 28 who have passed the second round.
Han Jeong Moo, from Choongcheong.
Im Bak Soo, from Hanyang.
Min Jeong Ho, from Jeolla.
Choi Myeong Jin, from Hanyang.
Park Dal Hyang, from Gangwon.
Thanks.
On this day, out of the 250 students,
Dal Hyang was the only one who passed with honors.
At the same time, he gained the qualification [Junshi: 3rd part of the exam, where 1st & 2nd places are determined]
to move onto the last round, Junshi. [Junshi: 3rd part of the exam, where 1st & 2nd places are determined]
The King has arrived!
[In Jo (1595-1649): 16th King of Joseon]
From the second round (bokshi),
which part did they struggle in the most?
Overall, many failed to pass the mounted archery portion.
Then,
let's go with the mounted archery (as the last test).
*List of Test Categories
*the King marks a dot above 'Mounted Archery'.
The last round of the exam is on mounted archery.
Fail!
- Next! - Park Dal Hyang, from Gangwon!
Where in Gangwon is he from?
From Goseong.
He's the one who achieved mol gi [passed each section with honors] in bokshi.
Is that so?
[ Mol Gi: To ace every single military arts exam held in Joseon Period ]
Why did you arrive so late?
It's the Crown Prince!
Where?
It seems like His Royal Highness has arrived.
mouthing: " I apologize, Father. "
Who are you calling the Crown Prince?
Who do you mean "who"? We're talking about the young man in royal robes.
Look, the Crown Prince's bodyguards are standing next to him.
Park Dal Hyang, start!
Hurry and go. What are you doing?
The Three Musketeers.
Just put us together and call us "The Three Musketeers."
As you can see from earlier, we're affiliated with the Royal Judicial Office.
After reading this letter, I suspect treason. So, I need to look into this further.
Place first in the military service exam and prove your innocence.
Don't even think about returning to the countryside.
Protect the King!
On the third day that Dal Hyang and the three musketeers met,
this outrageous moment was even recorded in the annals of In Jo.
However,
compared to the events that'll occur with their every encounters,
this was a very minor beginning.
The Three Musketeers Preview
We cannot overlook this, even if it wasn't his intention!
I'll drop the honorifics since we're friends now.
About Park Dal Hyang's letter,
Are you two distant?
Kim Ja Jeom is in Hanyang?
Before the King appoints his heir and ends the war,
The amount sold...
It seems like they have another plan in mind.
How are you planning to insult me again?
Again, the barbarians are trying to...
You wanted the previously chosen lady, not me!
I saw Mi Ryeong a little while ago.
Mi Ryeong...