High Commander! High Commander!
I need your answer! Fight the enemy with us!
Answer the Right Kyung-sang Navy's call for aid!
If you refuse again, I will take my life!
Give me your answer!
He's here again.
Isn't he good handsome?
Why is the high commander so mean to him?
What are you doing here?
Hi.
Oh dear, is he here again? It's going to get loud in here again.
How many times has he been here?
Three times, I think.
I hope the high commander says no again.
Why is that?
Then he'll keep coming here until he says yes.
I live to see that handsome buck these days!
High Commander! The soldiers and the people are dying!
Give us aid!
Are you going to send him back again, sir?
Sir, there is a man from the Right Kyung-sang Station again.
Yes, I know.
When are we going to the front? This is no time for chess!
Would you like to play a game as well?
Sir, why are you doing this?
Would it please you to be marked a coward?
Yes, it's a bad idea to take the rook...
I'll take the pawn and wait until I can call out my knight.
Sir!
Good grief! This is so frustrating!
What do you think you're doing?
They're taking a short break after the battle formation training, sir.
The enemy is right in front of our nose!
You think you've got time for breaks?
Forgive me, sir.
Chess? You're playing chess?!
I'm sorry, Captain!
You mindless idiots!
Get outside? Get out to the training field! Now!
Oh, that temper of yours...
The chessboard you want to throw is in another room!
Your scratching your leg when the itch is on your back.
Thanks to your temper, the boys will get a good workout.
The enemy is right in front of our nose!
Stay ready and alert! Ready and alert!
Get up! You think you have time for chess games?
Get up! Stay alert! The moment you relax, you're dead!
It's good to have you back.
I trust that you've investigated the enemy's position thoroughly.
Check! Take that!
Who would've thought the tables would turn like this!
High Commander?
Commander Yi, let us finish this another time.
Yes, sir. We will return to our duty.
The intelligence report have arrived, sir.
The enemy's position?
It appears about half of the enemy fleet has returned to Japan.
Half... That means there're still more than 300 ships left.
Based on what we know so far, it doesn't look like they are after
the control of the sea. Their main force is infantry.
I need your answer, sir!
If you refuse again, I will take my life.
You'd end your life because you can't control your own emotion?
Sir...!
Your suicide can wait until we've defeated the enemy.
High Commander...!
Go to High Commander Won.
The two forces will rendezvous on the 5th of the month at Dang-po.
Yes, sir! I will deliver the message!
Lt. Yi Young-nam, was it?
The next time we meet it will be in battle.
What? Yi Soon-shin has finally agreed to fight?
Yes, sir.
That coward has finally coming around.
Captain Woo!
Don't try to defend him, sir. It's the truth.
How could I call him anything else when he's hiding in the safety of
his station while our troops are dying on the battlefield?
I agree. If I think about how he has slighted us, it makes my blood boil!
- Ignore him. - Sir!
Lt. Yi, my man.
Yes, sir.
There's no need to be upset. We'll show them. When the Left
Cholla Navy joins us, they'll see for themselves with their own eyes
how powerful and strong we are.
We just have to hang in there.
Generals Shin Lip and Yi Il have dispatched to the south.
The tide of the war will soon turn.
Shin Lip has died in battle?
And the Japanese has taken Chung-ju?
No, that can't be true!
Shin Lip is fiercest warrior in Chosun!
This can't be true! Who sent this ridiculous report?
Your Majesty...!
Your, Majesty...
Your Majesty, Her Highness the Queen to see you.
Your Majesty, Royal Concubine requests your audience as well.
Your Majesty...
What is his reply?
I beg you to return to your palace. He requests to be alone.
Your Majesty!
I need the King to concede defeat!
Has the messenger been dispatched?
Yes, General.
Choong-chung and Kyung-sang provinces have fallen into our hands.
Furthermore, Shin Lip was killed in battle and Il Yi was routed.
Chosun King has lost both of his wings.
He should know by now if he is not an idiot...
... that the only way to stop the carnage is to admit defeat and
surrender to His Highness the Taiko of Japan.
The enemy leader Konishi Yukjnaga has offered to negotiate peace?
Yes, Left Minister.
Negotiate? That's out of the question!
What do you mean? We must cooperate for now.
No! It's unforgivable that they have invaded our land!
How dare they order high ministers of Chosun to come and go from their
camp as they please!
We have no choice but to cooperate.
They've made their way to Choong-ju. We must stop their advance first.
Then we will look for a way to protect the capital.
They want Emissary Yi Duk-hyung! What if the negotiation breaks off?
Do you think they will leave him alive?
Thousands of soldiers and citizens have already lost their lives,
Prime Minister.
We shouldn't argue about this over my safety.
Hanum, my man...
I will go.
Left Minister is right. I'll go and try my best to delay their advance.
Meanwhile, find a way to protect the capital.
Duk-hyung...
I want to do this, Father-in-law.
Emissary...
Why won't you sell them?
You bought up every pair of straw sandals there is from An-sung to Han-yang!
We can't find straw sandals anywhere else.
We need good shoes to walk to safety away from the war.
Yes, of course.
Good grief!
Fine, I'll sell you my sandals. But it'll cost you 20 yangs a pair.
What?!
You thief!
You despicable scum!
My lord...
You want 20 yangs for 3 pun pair of straw sandals?
Which idiot is willing to pay you that much?
This is not your business, sir.
The high ministers of the royal court?
The Royal Concubine's repugnant brother Kim Gong-yang?
Or it is His Majesty?
You miserable bastard!
You don't have an ounce of decency!
Only thing you can smell is money when you smell the wretched stench
of this bloody war.
You couldn't be more right, my lord.
Merchants follow profits.
They are not alone at fault for the transformation of 3 pun to 20 yangs.
There're many others who can't smell the stench of blood when the country
is on the verge of being lost.
Fault the opportunistic officials who are stealing the sandals from
the people and putting twenty yangs in their pockets for them.
Leave the Royal Palace?!
That's absurd! You wish to run away without even trying to fight?
Incompetent warriors Shin Lip and Yi Il have let the enemy get within
an arm's length of the capital.
Who claimed that there was no threat of war and prevented the court from
taking defensive measures?
Prime Minister, you should be ashamed of yourself!
What?
Please calm down! The enemy is at the threshold o the city!
It is no time for arguments. We must devise a plan!
That is why I said we must leave the palace. Do we have any other options?
First we must assemble the troops in the city and defend the palace and
the city gates. And will send for reinforcements from government
installations in the neighboring Kyonggi region.
Are you advising me to run away?
It is for your safety.
Your Majesty, first you must appease the public. And you must seek refuge.
Chosun has the great Ming behind us.
Our father country Ming will not be idle knowing that we are in danger.
We can protect the regime as long as Your Majesty is safe.
Has my kingdom always been this weak...?
Is there no warrior who can protect the country?
This is Dang-po where we will combine our forces with the
Right Kyung-sang Navy.
There're two ways we can get to Dang-po: through the channel around Nam-hae Island
or directly from the open sea.
And Sa-chun, Gon-yang, Nam-hae Island
and Gokpo each have a deep bay.
Suitable locations for the enemy to set up an ambush attack.
Yes. Sir, we must conduct a careful search before we proceed.
How many reconnaissance missions have we had in the last 15 days?
And you want to conduct another search?
It's time to hustle and march to the front!
What if the enemy is waiting for us?
What if they trap us and attack from both sides?
Let's not get paranoid.
There's nothing wrong with being cautious.
Let us divide the fleet into two and conduct a thorough search
and rendezvous in Dang-po.
Yes, sir.
15 days! We're already 15 days into the war!
First he had us stuck here doing drills while the allies are crying
for help, and just when I thought he is finally going to step up,
he wants to do more surveillance!
The High Commander is a coward!
He just trying to avoid hostile engagement!
That man is a mystery I just can't figure out.
Why did he train us so hard and prepare us for war if he was going
to weasel out of fighting?
He crammed thirty years of military training into one yeah!
Go figure...
The enemy has taken up position not only in Pusan but Gaduk and
Koje as well.
Their main force may be infantry, but there're just too many of them.
Perhaps we should request aid from the Right Cholla Navy.
Why did we suppress our rage and hold ourselves back for 15 days?
If the enemy should turn west and invade the shores of Cholla,
the capital would crumble in an instant. That is why we've been holding back.
If there is still a remote possibility, we can't leave the shores of Cholla unguarded.
The Right Cholla Navy should stay here.
I have allowed a handful of Japanese to invade our land and terrorize my people,
and the country is in utter panic and chaos.
I cannot hold my head up to my royal ancestors...
Thereby, I declare Prince Kwang-hae Heir Apparent of Chosun and demonstrate
the stability of the Royal House so that the public may be reassured.
Let there be no objections.
Your grace is immeasurable, Your Majesty.
Your Highness, Left Minister Yu Sung-ryong to see you.
Leave us.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness...
This was not what I wanted.
I never doubted for a moment that you are the right man to succeed the throne.
But I did not want you to be invested without a proper ceremony, without
even having a committee to organize this important event...
Left Minister...
Do not forgive us incompetent servants for failing to place
this country on a secure footing.
I cannot hide my remorse and regret for all the burdens that will be
placed on your shoulders...
Don't worry, Left Ministers.
Your Highness...
When the country calls, it is the duty of every able man to answer
much less a prince.
I will look upon this as the will of Heaven
and do my best to fulfill my duty.
Your Highness...
Prince Kwang-hae is man of superior character born under auspicious stars
who will govern his people with love and strengthen the county.
Bow!
Prince Kwan-hae, Hon, was invested Heir Apparent of Chosun on the 29th
of April in 1592.
Investiture of Heir Apparent was a very important event in which the
King officially named his successor and publicly announced him to the country.
In peace times, a lavish and grand ceremony was organized by a special
committee established 20 days prior to the event. But Prince Kwan-hae's
investiture was decided and carried out in one day without due formality.
It was one of many regrettable misfortunes caused by the war.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, an urgent message from General Yi Il!
The enemy will reach the capital tomorrow if not today!
What?!
Forgive me, Your Majesty!
Father...!
Your Majesty...!
Is this how it ends?
Do I have no choice but to surrender the city?
Forgive me, Your Majesty, but as the matter stands...
I must advise that we move the Royal Carriage to Pyoung-yang.
At this point, there is no other option, Your Majesty.
But the Royal Shrines are here in capital city.
How can you advise him to leave them and go to Pyoung-yang?
We must defend the capital and wait for the reinforcements.
There are no reinforcements, Lord Chung.
We've dispatched majority of our military forces to the south, and
our request for reinforcements have been unanswered by the officials of
Kyounggi province.
Your Majesty, evacuate the capital. It is to save the future.
My lack of virtue... My lack of virtue is the cause for all this...
Your Majesty...
We will launch our fleet for Dang-po on the third of May.
Be alert and prepared!
Here you go. Take a soup too.
You boys must be so hungry. Fill up.
"You boys must be hungry. Fill up." How are we supposed to fill up on this?
Oh, be quiet. You're always complaining!
Mama, we're going to war. Can't you be a little more generous?
I have thousands of mouths to feed. I can't be generous to you alone?
Don't be so cold, Mama. This may be the last time you ever see us.
We don't know if we're going to live or die out there...
Oh, you gutless jellyfish! And you call yourselves soldiers?
Look at you all whimpering like a scared cat!
Why are you afraid after training so hard for over a year?
One glance of how strong and tough you are, the Japanese will run for
their lives! You've got nothing to be afraid of!
Now go and eat your food.
Hammer on another layer! Make it thicker!
We'll slam into those Japanese ships and crush them!
You saw how weak they were!
Their tiny ships are no match for our galleys!
All we need now is the Left Cholla Navy.
I will turn this war around with my hands.
And you will, sir.
They have been training all year, so they should be somewhat in shape.
I wouldn't bet on it, sir. You need courage and confidence to win a war.
But they're under a cowardly leader who can't even make a decision.
They are certain to be cowards as well.
Perhaps, but that is not a big concern.
I'll whip them into shape and turn them into a fearless army in an instant.
That's all that I have to do...
Quit the sappy act.
What's wrong with you!
You're holding a girl's hair ribbon and weeping like a child?
I wasn't weeping!
I'm just feeling a little weird now that we're really going to
the battlefield.
It's my mother's dream to have a grandchild.
Are you going to give her a grandchild if I die a single man?
Get hitched after you wipe out the Japanese. What's the problem?
To tell you the truth, I'm getting kind of excited.
Haven't you heard what those refugees said?
The Japanese are terrorizing our people!
I'm going to wipe them out with my own hands!
I'll crush them and drive them back to Japan.
Don't pretend like you're not scared. I know you have an infant son at home.
I know you're scared.
Hey, why did you have to bring that up?
Don't think so much! Just think about winning this war!
Those miserable Japanese!
Hey guys, should I leave my nail clippings or some hair?
What would my wife want if I die out there?
What? What did you say?
She wouldn't want either.
At ease, men.
She wouldn't want either your nails or your hair.
Your family will want you back home safely in one piece.
Sir...
Don't worry. Not one man in the Left Cholla Navy will be sending
their personal effects to their families with sad news.
Archers ready!
Fire!
Archers ready!
Fire!
I see you're still hard at work.
It's nothing, sir.
Jakbo, was it?
Yes, sir.
I'm surprised that you remembered my name sir.
You're the best archer we have. How could I forget your name?
We're going to fight right behind him.
Yes, we're not worried about anything.
Jakbo here will shoot them down right in the chest for us!
And what are you going to do, Sang-nam?
You don't get seasick anymore, so you must show us what you can do as well.
Well, I'll shoot them in the chest, too, and while I'm at it.
I'll get them right there where they'll never be a man again.
Sir, would you like to shoot a few? It's a stress reliever.
Why not! Let us shoot together.
We'd love to!
A bow and arrow!
Archers ready!
Fire!
Nineteen days since the Japanese invaded Chosun...
Park Hong of the Left Kyung-sang Navy, Chung Bal of Pusan Fort, Song sang-hyun
of Dongnae... They all suffered complete defeat in a matter of hours.
Now the country's capital is in danger with the unstoppable enemy
at its heels.
The fate of Chosun is on the hands of this navy.
How could I fear death?
Battle at last...
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
Your Highness, we have a long road ahead.
What's going on? What's this long procession?
Who could be sneaking out of the city like an alley cat at this
time of the night?
I can't believe that a coward who doesn't even have
the will to protect the country is the King.
Yes, it has to be the King! We better hustle now.
Yes, we have to get out of the city, or we'll end up dead!
We're not going anywhere, Mujik.
The door has finally open for us to become the richest people in Chosun!
It's the King! The King is running away!
Clear the road immediately!
How dare you block His Majesty's path?
No, Your Majesty! You can't leave us! You can't leave us like this!
Clear the road at once!
No! What kind of King leaves his people to save himself!
Kill me if you want, but I am not moving an inch!
Guards!
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
April 30, 1592, 25th year of Sonjo's reign...
Public rage reached its peak as the royal carriage left the palace and
fled the city.
On that same night,
Kyoung-bok Palace, Chang-duk Palace and Chang-kyung Palace as well as the
estates of the royal princes and high ministers were raided by the people.
The Royal Repository and the King's personal vault was looted,
and important documents and literature such as slave registers and records of
Chosun Dynasty were destroyed.
The riot culminated in a fire set by the people.
Han-yang, witch proudly displayed its grandeur as the capital of Chosun for
200 years crumbled before the enemy reached its gates.
It was a tragedy borne of grief of the people abandoned by their King.
Your Majesty! Your Majesty!
The palace is in flames!