North Base, Ham-kyung Province
What is the meaning of this? Is this how you enter a superior's office?
Send a request to the royal court immediately!
You truly are persistent.
Send a request for military aid!
My answer hasn't changed.
I could lose all of my subordinates and the inhabitants without backup?
Don't exaggerate!
If you think I am exaggerating, check out the enemy camp yourself!
I don't care what you say. I cannot request aid.
Give up on the central army.
Send a request right now.
I cannot let your negligence kill my men!
How dare you!
Go ahead. Go ahead and strike!
I demand military aid.
You already have my answer!
Chief Commander!
What is the meaning of this? Withdraw your sword at once?
Withdraw your sword!
What are you waiting for?
You're dead whether you kill me or not.
No subordinate officer can get away with drawing a sword on his superior.
I wouldn't be here if I was not prepared for death.
I guess your men will lose their captain before you lose your men.
Let me remind you. They are your men as well.
Wait!
Let him go.
But sir!
Let him go!
Why did you let him go, sir?
He must be punished for insubordination.
He only spoke of the safety of his men. He said nothing else.
But sir!
Yi Soon-shin is clearly in error for overestimating the enemy.
But I regard him highly for thinking of his men.
Such virtue is directly felt by the subordinates,
and their loyalty will not waver.
Nok-dune is an island of military farms, so invasion is unavoidable.
Yi Soon-shin is the perfect man for now.
We will let him defend Nok-dune for now.
He'll face charges of insubordination later.
Nok-dune Island Kyung-heung, Ham-kyung Province
Hold it very tight.
Tug as hard as you can in one quick motion.
All right.
What is this contraption?
Ready... now!
It flew all the way to the river!
That's good.
Tie that up real tight!
You must be the luckiest man alive.
You're being discharged from duty just in time.
Here we are facing certain death, and you're...
Be quiet!
I'm not trying to say that we are all going to die. I'm just saying...
Stop it, jerk! None of us are going to die!
Ilsu...
You and your mouth.
Chief.
Matniungae?
Chosun's bows and arrows are truly desirable weapons.
They are very well constructed.
Would you like to try?
Why are you postponing the attack?
We are giving them time to strengthen their defense.
Perhaps.
Chief!
Any more delay and we will lose the advantage!
What are you so afraid of?
The fear that you just felt that's what I'm after.
Who do you think has the advantage, the aggressor or the defender?
The aggressor only has the enemy to deal with.
But the defender has to fight both the enemy and his own fear.
So in essence, they have two enemies to fight.
The longer we delay the more anxious and afraid they will become.
And our victory will be that much easier.
Be patient. It won't be long.
Dolsue! Dolsue!
What's wrong?
Dolsue! Dolsue! What's wrong with you?
What's going on?
Stay back!
Snap out of it, Dolsue!
Don't come close! Or I'm going to kill all of you!
How dare you!
How dare you cause this pathetic chaos?
I died...
I was struck by the barbarian's axe and I died! I died...!
Commander Oh!
Yes, captain.
Tie this man up at once!
Pardon?
Your comrade's misconduct is your misconduct, do you understand?
You are his senior officer! How could you let this him get out of control?
I'm sorry, Captain.
Why didn't you stop him?
Were you waiting for him to kill a few men first?
Stop! Please stop!
Beat me instead!
Stop hurting them!
Beat me up or kill me, but leave them alone?
Captain!
We are already dead.
Chosan garrison has been annihilated!
The enemy is strong.
Their army is incomparable in size and they're armed with
fast steeds and long spears.
But we have neither sufficient troops nor sufficient weapons.
And above all, there are no backup forces.
But that is not the cause for our annihilation.
The main cause of our destruction is fear that lives in your hearts!
No one forced us to sacrifice our lives.
We decided ourselves to stay here and protect this place!
It's not too late.
Those with fear, those without will to fight, leave this island now.
Remember. Those who fear for their lives will die,
and those willing to die for victory will live.
Is that understood?
Yes, sir.
Is that understood?
Yes, sir.
Is that understood?
Yes, sir!
Dupal.
What's this?
You wanted a battle of wine to take home, remember?
It's snake wine.
Youngbo put a hole in his shoes searching for that snake to put
in your wine.
Kiddo... Am I going to see you in a uniform when I come back for a visit?
Of course I am.
Have a safe trip back home.
Write me when you set the wedding date.
Say hello to the missus for me.
Go straight home even if you run into pretty barmaids on the way.
Kid...
Fall of 1587, at the time when Yi Soon-shin was protecting Nok-dune
Island, the foremost front of Chosun and a point of strategic importance.
Hideyoshi was on the threshold of achieving unification of Japan after
bringing Kyushu under his control.
And after having completed recon, of Chosun through the Invasion of 1585,
he would send a diplomatic envoy to Chosun through his faithful general
Konishi Yukinaga who would later spearhead the first attack against Chosun.
Have you sent an envoy to Chosun, Konishi?
Yes.
Then when will the King of Chosun pay me a visit?
Your eminence, that's...
Wakizaka.
Yes!
Chosun is the weakest of the weak countries whose borders crumble with
mere 18 of our war vessels, is it not?
I intend to embrace Chosun and its people with benevolence and generosity
if its king kneels before me. Then they will offer their sincere loyalty.
SennoRikyu: The Great Tea Master of Japan who serven both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi
Obeisance!
Rise!
The Japanese envoy dispatched at this time was named Tachibana Yasuhiro.
On his route from the port of Pusan where he landed all the way to the
palace in Seoul, he dropped hints about the imminent Japanese attack,
but no official paid heed to his warnings.
The King Sonjo was no exception.
It is my great honor to be before the King of Chosun.
Tahirano, deliver the scroll to His Majesty?
Yes, sir.
The Imperial Regent Hideyoshi of Japan sends you his words and his treasured sword.
"I have seized the world in my hands."?
Is this from the man you call the Imperial Regent?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Is the Imperial Regent your King?
No, Your Majesty.
Then how could this man claim to have the world in his hands?
He may not be the King, but he has the power of a King.
All feudal lords of Japan have sworn absolutely loyalty to him
and he has hundred of thousands of warriors that serve him.
That is the power with which he rules Japan,
and with which he believes he can rule the world.
One cannot rule the world with the sword!
Take it back.
I cannot accept a bloodstained sword that usurped authority!
Your Majesty...
Deliver my message to your Imperial Regent.
He is to control his pirates before he attempts to rule the world.
How could a man who has the world send out his people to neighboring lands to
become petty thieves?
Chosun has bestowed generosity and virtue upon Japan with contributions
of grains and other commodities. How could he claim to have seized
the world when he has returned kindness with evil?
It is a fair and reasonable command, Your Majesty.
If I may suggest sending an envoy to Japan and property convoy your sentiment...
Send my envoy to the hands that hold a sword? Never!
You are to deliver my sentiment yourself.
As you wish, Your Majesty.
Soon the name of this land will change from Chosun to Japan...
Hundreds of thousands of warriors, I said, but no one will bother to
explore the possibility.
Soon those warriors' swords will be aimed at Chosun...
Slaughter has continued for over a hundred years in Japan with vie for
power between the rival warlords.
Now that country has been unified
shouldn't we find a way to preserve this peace?
I'm afraid that is not going to be possible.
Countless Daimyos have gathered under the Imperial Regent, but there is not
enough land to present them in reward for their service.
They have to be satisfied somehow.
But suppressing by force a peaceful neighbor without being provoked is...
I've been acquainting myself with Chosunese culture for quite some
time through their books.
Chosun is a land of rich history and culture that calls itself
The Little China. It is in our best interest to strengthen our
diplomatic relations and absorb their culture.
But the Imperial Regent is firm on his resolve. A war is unavoidable.
And Chosun's defense is weak, so it will crumble easily.
Don't be so certain. Chosun has stood for over 200 years.
Above all, it has Ming behind it.
Once the envoy and Akai's spy returns, we'll have a better idea.
Those men are... Those men...
It looks like they sold the country's weapons to the enemy.
What awful people they are...
Chun-su!
What did I tell you? I told you no one would recognize us.
Let's skip this town anyway. We've sold enough bows and arrows.
Would you lower your voice?
I have nightmares every night!
No, not when the business is going so well.
Besides, we still haven't collected on the weapons deal.
I don't have a very good feeling about that chief.
Be patient. We won't have much business once the winter comes.
Let's do this one last time, and we'll take our profits and go to Ming.
All right.
Where is Hong? I haven't seen her all morning.
She's probably somewhere around town sketching again.
Kisangs of Chosun are truly beautiful!
And their dance is awe inspiring!
I must pay them back for this wonderful treat.
It's pepper.
You can't find this anywhere in Chosun!
Pepper? It's as valuable as gold!
Take it!
Chung-hyang!
What are you doing?
How dare you!
What is the meaning of this?
Stop this at once!
Where do you think you are?
I'm simply trying to express my gratitude, my lord.
Gratitude?
I believe, in grit giving, the thought and delivery behind the gift is what
carries real value.
But the Japanese envoy presents his gift in a manner similar to feeding a dog.
Accordingly, I must thank him in a corresponding manner.
How could a dog distinguish her cup from another dog's cup and use a
spoon to eat as civilized men do?
As I've seen the manner of an envoy who represents Japan, I need not
travel to see its culture and mores.
Lady Chung-hyang, please stop...
Burning wrath has charred my heart, but wine taste so sweet on my lips!
My lady...
You made it.
Looking for Master Suk-bong? My teacher?
He said he had an urgent matter to discuss.
It was I who sent the false message.
Would you have come if I had asked you to come?
You look drunk. You should stop now.
Born of a lowly kisang, I entered the school for kisangs at the age of seven.
My housemother was so mean and strict that I was beaten almost daily.
I was beaten for having an arrogant stare,
beaten for being outspoken,
beaten for refusing to be a concubine...
But she wasn't the only one who beat me.
That's how life is for a fancy woman...
Beaten by the lords who use me as a play toy, beaten by the world,
beaten and ripped open...
But never have I felt the kind of pain I felt today
watching those Japanese running wild with their insults and mockery...
Could anyone's life be more wretched?
Chung-hyang...
My lord, were their insults and disdain directed only toward me a lowly harlot?
I suspect they were directed toward the high ministers
in attendance, to His Majesty the King and to this country Chosun.
How do we tolerate this indignity?
What are the learned nobles, what are you doing about this?
You are a better man than I am...
You are a better man...
In making friends, you do not discriminate between the exalted and
the lowly, and you understand their pain better than anyone.
How could I compare you to any High minister of the royal court?
You tell me to go back to court service and give the abused and
abandoned their tomorrow back, but I am afraid...
Can an irresolute man like me keep the people in the center at all
times without wavering?
I'm not sure if I won't end up filling another chair for party interests.
We received a message from the HQ. There is a captain's meeting tomorrow.
Let them know that I cant make it.
They insist that you be there.
How could I leave the camp in this situation?
You must go, Captain.
This may be our last chance to get backup.
Give up on the hopes of getting backup troops. It won't happen.
Captain...
What's wrong with you? Are you feeling all right?
Captain treated me pretty harshly when he first came here.
Why are you bringing that up now?
I had confronted him once. I asked him why he was being so hard on you.
But to my surprise, he said he liked you better than anyone in Chosan Fort,
that he was hard on you because there was something he wanted you to learn.
What do you think he was trying to teach you?
Why are you studying that map? We're all going to die anyway.
I wonder if it isn't you who is trembling in fear, Captain.
Or did you throw away hope along with your fear?
Commander Yim...
You watch over the serfs, take care of us like your own children...
what is all that? Preparation for a group suicide?
I'm sure your conscience is clear since you didn't abandon anyone.
But if that's true, you are a tremble leader.
We're not fighting to die. We're fighting to survive.
You must go to Kyung-heung. And return with the backup troops.
It is the Chief Commander's order. You want me to persuade my direct
superior to defy the Chief Commander's order and move the troops?
Why not? Aren't the lives of the people and your men more important
than the trust of your peers and your superior's order?
I can't leave this camp no matter what you say.
Why not?
Commander Oh Hyung is a fine commander now.
He knows how to recognize individual talent and develop them.
And he has earned the trust of his men.
Isn't that what you wanted him to learn?
But when it comes right down to it, you don't trust us.
You think that the fort will fall without you and that we can't
protect it on our own!
Commander Yim!
Am I wrong?
If you don't trust us, our men won't trust us either!
We can do it. We will hold the fort until you get back.
So go and get help.
If there is even a hint of hope, you mustn't give up.
Who goes there?
Look at you drawing your spear at the slightest rustle!
I guess you're not a new kid anymore.
Dupal!
I know you're in the archery unit, but can't you hold your spear correctly?
What are you doing back? What happened?
This... this snake wine...
I couldn't drink it by myself.
I came back to share it with you.
Dupal...!
Dupal! Why did you...?
I couldn't get myself to leave.
After Beksu died, I've been filling his shoes keeping the archery unit in line.
I'll leave after barbarians have been wiped out. Would you accept me?
I will bring the backup troops no matter what it takes.
I won't be gone long.
It is your duty to protect this island until I get back.
Negligence will not be tolerated.
We won't let you down.
I'm counting on you.
We won't forget it, Captain.
Atten-hut!
Bow!
Yi Soon-shin has left the island?
- Matniungae. - Yes.
It's time.
Attack.
Help us. Give us aid.
Only your decision can save Nok-dune Island.
Captain Yi, but that's...
I know it's a difficult request. The chief commander will be quite enraged.
But what's more important?
What are you waiting for? Hurry up! Hurry!
What is it?
Over there! It's them?
It's the barbarians?
Move it! Move it!
Let's go!
What's the commotion? What's happening?
Send up a signal flare! Send it up high so that it
can be seen from Kyung-heung! Burn everything you can!
Aye!
Constable!
Very well. Let us go together, Captain Yi.
Thank you. Thank you, sir.
Constable!
Constable, Captain,
a signal flare just went up from Nok-dune!
Hang in there. Hang in there just a little while longer!