Admiral!
Are you all right?
It's just a scratch, sir.
They were Japanese.
Konishi... He's desperate.
It's truly regretful... Yu Jung had given us a golden opportunity.
If only we had captured Yi Soon-shin, I'd be on a ship back home by now.
Don't worry, sir. There're plenty of other ways we can get
Yi Soon-shin without getting his blood on our hands.
Send me back to Yu Jung once more.
You want to jump into a fire?
It takes a big fire to put out the little fire.
GEUMSAN FORT, SOON-CHUN MING MILITARY BASE
How dare you come here! Where do you think you are!
Isn't this the army base of Ming commander Yu Jung who had
a secret agreement with us?
A secret agreement? Is that why you killed thousands of our men?
You should be thankful that it end at that.
What?!
You are the one who broke the agreement first.
What are you talking about?
I told you that we are after Yi Soon-shin and Yi Soon-shin only.
The agreement was for you to stage a mock attack and get out of the way.
But the Ming navy came to the frontline and sabotaged our plan.
How dare you! Take this man and behead him at once!
Yes, sir!
What does Admiral Jin Lin say?
I'm sure he faulted you for your halfhearted effort in the joint
operation and held you responsible for the injury.
How do you plan to avoid your responsibilities?
That is not your concern.
There is a way to make up for yesterday's slip-up
and perhaps even get ahead.
How?
The King of Chosun is a distrustful and apprehensive man.
So?
If you exploit this, you can place blame for yesterday's
defeat on Yi Soon-shin and was your hands clean.
Yi Soon-shin?
Yes, Yi Soon-shin.
You must act quickly before he sends a report to the King first.
Put the blame on Yi Soon-shin...?
We launched an attack on the 3rd and sunk dozens of enemy vessels.
Innkeeper!
I don't know what to say...
That's all right.
The kid's not the only one who died in this war.
Don't let it bother you.
The allies have suffered some loss as well, but the soldiers
have bounced right back up on their feet and are working day
and night to destroy the enemy.
Don't run away from me!
We Ming soldiers have died fighting to protect Chosun!
Kindly offer your words of sympathy and encouragement
to the Ming allies who suffered a significant loss in this battle
so that we can work together to quickly bring an end to this war.
This is most urgent.
Quickly deliver the report to the King of Chosun!
Yes, sir!
One report claim that it is victory, as dozens of enemy
vessels were sunk, and the other claims it is defeat as dozens of
vessels and two thousand allies were lost.
Yi Soon-shin and Yu Jung? Whose report am I to believe?
Your Majesty, Commander Yu Jung is an ally sent by the Emperor.
You must give credence to his words and hold Yi Soon-shin
accountable for Ming army's great loss.
No, Your Majesty. Admiral Yi has defended this country against
the Japanese all this time without the help of Ming army.
I urge you to have Yi Soon-shin defeat the Japanese.
Follow Yi Soon-shin's opinion?
Your Majesty, Yi Soon-shin's arrogance knows no bounds!
He patronizes you by claiming victory after suffering such great loss!
That is absurd! Yi Soon-shin patronizing the King?
You must see Admiral Yi's loyalty!
Your Majesty, Yi Soon-shin is a criminal who committed impiety
against you! He was temporarily reinstated because of the war,
but he must be punished when this war is over
Your Majesty, we were losing battle after battle until he
entered the war. To punish him would be an outrage!
Your Majesty, I urge you to send an emissary and conduct
a thorough investigation.
An emissary?
No, Your Majesty! That will only demoralize the troops
who are risking their lives to fight this war!
Your Majesty, we cannot ignore Yu Jung's report.
Admiral Yi's report already describes the facts and details of the case!
How can we give credence to the report of a defeated general?
He's not a defeated general!
The Prime Minister is right.
There are no defeated generals in this country.
And I trust and rely on our troops more than I do Ming.
However, Lord Yoon has a point as well.
I will give this matter some more thought.
Yi Soon-shin has an army of twenty thousand under him.
And he is a hero among the people. If he should finish this war with
a bang and return to Hanyang triumphant...
What will happen to us if Yi bears ill-will against us?
It's frustrating now knowing what's on His Majesty's mind.
His Majesty wants only one thing.
Unshakable royal authority. Don't you, gentlemen?
... Is there a way?
Yes, there is. Enter!
I want you to go to the southern sea at once and watch and report
Yi Soon-shin's every move!
Yes, sir!
Those men are capable of anything.
... A net spread out wide may look flimsy but it cannot be escaped!
This is a trap! They are setting up a trap for Admiral Yi!
If an emissary is dispatched, he will be held responsible for
the Ming navy's loss.
Then Yu Jung will take command, and order Admiral Yi to stop
the battles and let the enemy retreat. Will he comply?
He wouldn't have engaged in the first place if this were a battle
he did not have to fight.
That means he will defy Yu Jung, and in so, defy the King!
We must stop them from dispatching an emissary
no matter what it takes!
Putting an end to this war is our first and foremost concern.
And there is no one who can do this except Yi Soon-shin.
Why can't they see that Chosun's safety is their safety?
This is a naval station! Civilians can go over yonder!
But we want o get closer to Admiral Yi!
Over yonder is pretty close to the Admiral too.
If you want to be any closer, you'll have to join the navy!
Here we are! Hurry!
Chil-bok, we made it!
This is where the great Admiral Yi Soon-shin is
the feared man that drives even the devils away!
We're safe now. No one will ever hurt us here!
Your embellishment is a bit much, old man.
Admiral Yi may be strong, but how could he beat the devils?
Am I hearing this right?
Are you trying to say you don't now the Admiral's powers?
I'm just saying don't exaggerate.
You despicable rascal!
Why are you hitting me? We can talk like grownups!
The Admiral is more powerful than the gods!
That's why the Japanese are shaking like a leaf!
If it weren't for the Admiral, his country would already be in their hands!
The Admiral didn't fight the war alone!
This man needs to be taught a lesson!
He will betray the country!
The refugees are a significant burden as well.
It is not just the food supply.
I'm afraid the royal court will see their admiration for you as
a threat to them and become wary of you.
You worry to much.
I hope you're right.
Your Majesty...
Enter.
Did it arrive?
Yes, Your Majesty.
"There are two rulers in the kingdom. One is the king by
the name of Yi and the other is a retainer of equal name."
"The former is a subject of public resentment,
and the latter is the people's hero!"
A hero...
Yes, of course he is the country's hero...
I'm sure he means more to the people than an incompetent king
who deserted them, fled the country and attempted to cast
his lot with Ming.
Your Majesty...
Tell me! Must the people be so brutally honest?
Your Majesty...
Answer me! Is it Yi Soon-shin that the people want?
Your Majesty...
I, too, have never forgotten my people. Not for one moment!
Would they believe me if I tell them?
Your Majesty...
Bring me pen and ink.
I shall send a letter to Yi Soon-shin.
Any news from Soh?
Well...
What is he doing when his father-in-law is in danger?!
Could he be hiding out in Daema-do?
He is your son-in-law before he is the lord of Daema-do.
I'm certain he is looking for a way to save you.
What is the status in Gosung and Sachun?
The enemy is on our path blocking our communication.
If only we could launch a messenger boat, we can
execute a joint attack. And we can get home safely...
But Yi Soon-shin would never let us through...
No, but I know someone that will.
My general sends two thousand heads.
How dare you! You were pointing your guns at us Ming soldiers
just the other day! What kind of trick is this?!
What you should've brought is a coffin to put your dead body in!
If you request my head, I will oblige.
But allow me to deliver my general's message before I die.
Don't waste your time, sir! Give me your order!
I will slice off his head!
So, what is the message?
Sir!
Speak up! What does Konishi want?
Silence!
Go and deliver my message to Konishi!
As long as I am here and Chosun Navy is here, you will not go home alive.
All we want is a safe passage home. Let us through.
Thousands of Chosun civilians and your subordinate in our care right now.
Your decision will kill them or save them.
I know and trust my men.
Soldiers of Chosun will not trade their dignity for their lives.
So you'd let your men die?
I will not negotiate!
Admiral!
Let us kill this bastard and go after Konishi!
Restrain yourself!
Admiral!
Return. I do not want to slay a messenger.
Commander...
Admiral...
Konishi seeks peace.
This war is over.
He is trying to buy time to regroup.
Admiral, they will turn over 2.000 heads if we accept their capitulation.
I will give you half.
Heads? Did you say heads?
Yes!
Do you think they will kill their own men and turn over
their heads to us?
No, they will kill our people!
We have won the war.
Let us regard it as price to end all violence.
Watch your words! How could a soldier sworn to protect the
land and trade the lives of his people for his own safety?
I will not clear the path for the enemy!
Clear the path. It is an order as the commander-in-chief of
the Cho-ming allied forces.
Never.
How dare you defy my command! My order is the Emperor's order!
I do not care if it Is the god's command!
I will not clear the path for the enemy!
Admiral,
let me go, sir.
I will go and get my men out!
My men are alive, he said!
Do you know whom you must stay way from on the battlefield?
A foolish commander who lost his men by executing a reckless strategy!
Is he a fool or he is a warrior of all warriors?
Yi Soon shin is truly hard to figure out...
He is a warrior of all warriors...
He insulted you and ignored the Emperor's command!
A warrior of all warriors?
Commander...
Accept the heads and open the path for Konishi.
This is not even our fight! Japanese is our enemy, but
I don't like the Chosun people either,
especially Yi Soon-shin! His arrogance makes my blood boil!
Why cause needless deaths?
We've done our part, so let us collect reward now, sir.
Isn't that why you did not send back the heads?
Is that what you think?
That I accepted Konishi's deal for those heads?
I want to help the Supreme Naval Commander Yi Soon-shin.
I do not want to see the demise of the extraordinary hero.
But this war will end with Chosun's victory once Konishi retreats.
Yi Soon-shin's life will not be threatened.
Chosun may win this war, but if the King and his subjects
doubt his loyalty, they will push him to a corner and try
to destroy him.
That's when I will come to his aid!
SOON-CHUN WEKYO FORT KONISHI'S POST
Ji Lin is refusing to clear the path?
Then how are we going to communicate with our troops?
General...
How? Tell me how!
Yi Soon-shin! Yi Soon-shin!
Bring me back his head!
I don't care what you have to do. Bring back his head!
Or I will take yours instead!
General...!
This guy's going to crush the enemy's skull!
This guy's going to go through the enemy's stomach!
This guy's going to poke Konishi's eye out!
This guy going to get the enemy right on the butt!
This guy...
Oh dear...!
Continue.
Why didn't you say anything?
You are the best as always, Pyung-san.
How are you doing with your studies, Woo-song?
Well, sir. I wrote a letter home myself the other day.
What's the use when the recipient can't read?
Write me a letter as well. I'd like to see your improvement.
Carry on.
Admiral...
What is it?
A messenger from the palace.
Supreme Naval Commander Yi Soon-shin, do you bear sincere intent
to destroy the enemy? You are responsible
for failing to collaborate successfully with Ming allies.
The contents of your report and the report of Ming Commander Yu Jung
tell a different story. Who am I to believe?
It is you I trust wholeheartedly and it is you I depend upon;
hence, you must see through the hearts of the Ming allies and
allow no lapse in defeating the enemy.
Do you wish to believe him?
No, can you believe him?
His Majesty is a man who once had you removed from duty
than sent you to battle without official rank?
Lieutenant Kwan...
He was always testing you and watching you with wary eyes.
Could this be His Majesty's sincere words?
I know this is wrong, but I can't help wondering where
His Majesty's thoughts are really headed.
Lieutenant Kwan, the enemy is before us.
From the King to the people, the entire country must be
one in destroying the enemy.
I want to believe that His Majesty shares my sentiment.
Who is it?
The silence means it is an unwelcome guest.
I will hold them back. Break away, sir.
They will not be held back.
Admiral...
These are not the same men. They are determined.
You can't contend with them alone.
State your identity!
Take off your face mask!
Are you all right, sir?
The guards at the door are all dead.
They were skilled hand-to-hand Japanese fighters.
Best of the best...
Who were the others? They came to your rescue.
They were using the native flying tiger style of sword fighting.
It is not widely known.
It's a style used by the warriors of the royal staff
that protects the King.
Then... from the palace?
They must be His Majesty's eyes.
Do you think they were sent to protect an important military
leader or to keep an eye on malefactor who committed impiety against the King?
Watch our tongue.
"Reprieve"
You've displayed contempt for the royal court, deceived and
defied your King, and deserve no less than death for your impiety.
However, in consideration of your past merits of war,
I grant you reprieve.
What?! You've failed again?!
Cleanse the shame of your failure with seppuku!
No, General. We still have a chance.
Commander Yu Jung is sending another letter to the King
suggesting that we wrap up this war now.
Just the mere fact that a Ming Commander has sent two letters
consecutively will put the pressure on the King.
You'll see Yi Soon-shin's hands will soon be tied.
He will be a clawless tiger.
And meanwhile, we will connect with the our forces in Sachun
and strike Yi Soon-shin...?
SACHUN JAPANESE MAIN ARMY HEADQUARTERS
What are we waiting for?
The others have withdrawn their troops and returned to Japan!
We must save my father-in-law in Wekyo and quickly move out!
Yi Soon-shin is there...
Then are we to leave without my father-in-law?
Let us go, General! We are an elite army
that wiped out 40.000 Ming forces just the other day!
Have you forgotten about last year at Myongliang?
That was because we were unprepared.
If we draw our forces together with Soon-chun and strike at once,
Yi Soon-shin will crumble!
That's right, General!
I will not make the same mistake twice!
I will get my revenge for Hansando and Myungliang!
Be prudent.
We are dealing with Yi Soon-shin, the Guardian of the sea.
We will wait until we hear from Konishi.
In the early winter of 1598, Yi Soon-shin's naval force had
Konishi Yukinaga isolated and under siege in Soon-chun, but
there another variabe to be considered?
Shimazu's army was in Sachun only four hours from Yi's fleet
preparing to retreat. Yi Soon-shin biggest concern was the
merger of Konishi Yukigawa and Shimazu Yoshihiro's two armies.
I am a messenger sent by Commander Yu Jung of Great Ming!
Do you want peace or do you want war?
Your Majesty...
Speak.
I desperately desire for peace on this land.
Is that why you want me to heed Yu Jung's counsel land
let the Japanese retreat?
If we can stop one more man from losing his life on the battlefield,
I believe it is the right decision.
What were you doing during the war?
Where were you when countless brave men were fighting against
the Japanese on the field of slaughter?
Your Majesty...
Have you not seen the atrocities of war?
Have you not seen the bodies of our innocent people beaten
to death by the Japanese?
Have you not seen the palace that had turned to ashes?
Yes, I have, Your Majesty. I've seen it clearly.
And you still want to let the Japanese retreat alive?
Do you not feel the angst and rage in your bones?
Your Majesty, I, too, am a citizen of Chosun.
How could I not feel rage?
But now you must prepare for what's to come after the war.
Your Majesty, who does this land belong to?
It belongs to you.
One must not dare covet the land for having rendered a
small merit during the war.
To fight a war, we need brave soldiers.
But when the war is over...
There've been countless cases in history where a
great hero who earned great trust of the people turned
into great villains.
Great villain...?
Read aloud.
Read, I said.
It is a letter from Commander Yu Jung.
It is questionable whether or not Admiral Yi Soon-shin sincerely
wants to defeat the Japanese. The Ming forces have suffered
a great loss in the last battle, and entire blame is to be placed
on Admiral Yi whose only concern is self-preservation...
Your Majesty, this is...
Continue.
... and I ask that you remove Yi Soon-shin from command,
Read on.
Your Majesty, this is conspiracy!
A conspiracy?
What is Yi Soon-shin saving the huge army of 20.000 for?
The King of Chosun must watch him very carefully.
Do you still think this is a conspiracy?
If Your Majesty does not trust your warrior, how are we to
defeat the Japanese, and how are we to defend ourselves
against the true intentions of Ming?
Your Majesty, you must not question Yi Soon-shin's loyalty!
You mean, don't be swayed by the Ming Commander's word and
make a fair judgment for myself?
Very well, I shall dispatch an emissary and investigate the truth!
Like His Majesty said, from this moment on you are his alter ego.
I trust that you understand His Majesty's intent better than anyone.
He want this country to be on a secure footing after the war.
Do you understand?
Yes, sir.
What? Is this a confirmed fact?
Yes, sir. We watched until he last of Yu Jung's men
retreated to Soon-chun.
That means a joint-attack is no longer an option!
Why is this happening!
This is truly frustrating...
Did we ever rely on the Ming army?
We don't need them! Let's do this ourselves!
Without the pressure of the ground troops, the enemy will
have more maneuverability. We must increase our defense.
Perhaps you should have a meeting with Jin Lin, sir.
Yu Jung has withdrawn, and if Jin Lin should turn his
back on us as well, our situation will worsen.
They are not much to look at compared to the strong war
vessels of Ming, but on the rugged coast of Chosun, these
flat-roof crafts are the best.
We just built these two. They are my gift to you.
What is your motive?
Why are you giving me these crafts?
I believe that you are a warrior who will not bring
shame on these crafts.
Sharing one's weapon on the battlefield is like sharing one's fate.
I'd like to share my fate with you.
Share your fate?
The fate of Chosun and Great Ming empire is in our hands.
Double the reconnaissance and issue an alert!
Get the weapons ready!
Put the training in high gear!
The spirit of the soldiers will decide the battle, so
do all that is possible to boost their morale!
Admiral...
Supreme Naval Commander of the Three Provinces Yi Soon-shin,
accept the royal command!