I trust that the construction project is progressing smoothly.
Yes, sir. Ten large galleys have been built so far
and twenty more will be completed by February.
10.000 sacks of rice were secured during the course of our procession
up the western coast.
That's enough provisions to feed the 8,212 sailors we
recruited for one full year.
Let us begin.
After the battle in Myongryang, the enemy has moved south.
And as this map illustrates they have been busy,
building forts and holding them.
From Soon-chun to Sosangpo, there are as many as 18 Japanese forts
established along the southern coast.
And their fleet?
Each of these forts has a port
that houses anywhere from 100 to 200 ships.
We have no choice but to assume the offensive in order to
recapture the command of the sea.
Our first target is Konishi Yukinaga's division positioned in Soon-chun.
Konishi has over a hundred battleships, so...
We need at least as many ships in order to take them.
That means we need a fleet of one hundred or more.
Commander Yi, can we secure the budget?
Our budget is stretched as it is building 30 new ships, sir.
Even that was based on reduced rations of two cups of rice per meal.
Two cups? These boys are working without rest from dusk to dawn.
How can they live on four cups of rice a day? That's kind of...
They won't starve to death.
It's a thousand times better than losing the country and getting killed.
But still...
Situation will improve once we get the salt farm up and running
and the farms begin to yield crops.
Until then, we will just have to make the best what we have.
Talk to your men and make them understand.
Yes, Admiral.
Yi Soon-shin is rebuilding his navy.
Yes, General.
The man is unshakable.
He just lost his son, but he will not flinch!
We don't want to shake him. We want to take him down.
He is burning with resentment, so he will stop at nothing to destroy us.
But didn't you say that he has less than twenty ships?
He buried us with only 13 ships on the last battle, General Kato.
We can't take him lightly.
Who are you?
How dare you walk into this camp lone and
unarmed and cause this commotion?
I am the Prime Minister of Chosun Yu Sung-ryong.
I've come to talk to your leader Konishi Yukinaga.
Clear the path!
General, Prime Minister of Chosun Yu Sung-ryong requests to see you.
Prime Minister Yu Sung-ryong?
Dear, oh dear!
This is no way to treat the Prime Minister of Chosun!
Aye!
I don't know what to make of this.
The Prime Minister of Chosun has walked into the enemy camp alone.
Is this courage or recklessness?
You've traveled a long way.
Perhaps you'd like to join us for a drink.
That is not a bad idea.
I see you like to drink.
Yes, thanks to you.
The only thing I've gained in the 6 years of struggle with this war
is my capacity to hold liquor.
And judging by your moods, you are probably not much different.
But then how could I blame you when
your lines are crumbling everywhere after the dramatic turn of events?
What?
Shall we get down to business?
I'm sure you didn't come all the way here to find a drinking buddy.
I've come to give you an ultimatum.
An ultimatum?
Yes.
Lay down your arms and turn over all of your weapons to
the Chosunese military camps immediately.
Release and return every last war prisoner you have taken to Japan,
and advise your leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi to release a statement
of acknowledgement for instigating this war
and to dispatch an envoy for a formal apology to our government.
Do you believe that the Taiko would adhere to these requests?
He will have to if he doesn't want
to lose all of his men that he sent to Chosun.
You bastard!
How dare you patronize the Taiko of Great Japan and his Army?
Do you think you will walk out of here alive?
Did I come to the wrong place?
I thought I was talking to warriors not thugs!
What? I'll kill you right now!
Stop! Put that down, General Kato!
Have we become so desperate that we would slay an unarmed messenger?
What if we refuse?
Then the cold harsh winter of 1592 in Pyongyang
will be repeated once again.
Or shall I say that it's already begun?
I know that getting supplies from Japan
has been extremely difficult for you because of the rough water.
You have ten days.
If the Japanese government show clear intent to end hostilities,
not only will we assist you in your withdrawal,
but the Chosun government will spare no efforts to maintain
peaceful diplomatic relations with Japan.
Well then, I will return to the Chosunese camp
and await your wise decision, General.
The Prime Minister has gone to the Japanese camp alone?
General, but if the enemy should become hostile...
If he hadn't gone, I would have.
The tide of war has turned after he victory in Myongryang.
They are feeling the pressure.
If we can win this war without further conflict, we must.
Do you think they will accept the offer?
That remains to be seen.
We hope that they accept the offer, but if they don't,
we will make our final move.
All Japanese forts have a port and are connected by water,
and there are still over a hundred thousand Japanese troops left.
If they should rally together, it will not be an easy fight.
We will have to risk our lives.
But we do have a good chance if
the Ming forces don't turn their backs on us.
General...
It's my turn now, Admiral.
I will fight my hardest so
not to let your incredible achievements be for naught.
Are you suggesting that we persuade the Taiko?
General Konishi!
The Ming troops have moved south.
Now the alliance force is nearly a hundred thousand strong.
We're still just as strong.
Yes, but the problem is we can't bring that strength together.
The enemy is everywhere and we do not know where they will attack.
If we leave our forts hastily,
we could lose our camps, our provisions and our ships.
Don't you know the Taiko by now? There is no way he would accept this.
That is why we must convince him.
Let us go together. If you and I go together...
Never!
I will not support you on this. I'd rather die than surrender!
Is anyone outside?
Has there been any word from the Field Marshal's office?
No, sir.
Minister Yu!
Soon-shin!
Drink.
I'm so glad you are all right.
I'm just glad there are still some things left for me to do.
Minister Yu...
This war... it makes one remiss in his or her most basic duties...
A friend has buried his son,
but it will not allow me a moment to tend to his wound...
No, perhaps that's just an excuse.
I didn't have the courage to face you.
You have lived your entire life for this country,
but the Heaven and the King has been so unkind...
I cannot find the words to comfort you,
so I'm just trying to do all that I can to end this war,
to stop another father from losing his son in the violence,
hoping that will bring you some comfort.
The enemy has expressed unwillingness to yield.
It is time for the Chosun and Ming alliance to display our strength.
Our first target is Kato Kiyomasa's vanguard division occupying Ulsan.
Kiyomasa is the most aggressive of all Japanese generals, so bringing
him down will weaken the morale of the entire Japanese force.
And the Chosun-Ming alliance will bring
an end to this war once and for all.
It will not be an easy fight, but e all know that true warriors
fight to the death once they set foot on the battlefield.
Remember that the fate of Chosun and of Ming are in your hands.
We will fight to the death and destroy the enemy.
December 22th 1597, the Chosun-Ming alliance army of 60.000 led by
Kwon Yul and Ma Kuei laid siege to Ulsan Fort occupied by
Kato Kiyomasa's vanguard division and began an intensive attack.
General, there're 60.000 of them!
Chosun-Ming alliance force of 60.000 has surrounded the fort!
Don't be afraid. Ulsan is an impregnable fort.
They can't touch us no matter how big they are.
General..
General...
What? Ulsan Fort has come under attack of the Chosun-Ming alliance?
Yes, sir.
Wouldn't we go to their aid, sir?
Don't you know better?
If we leave our forts to go to their aid,
what do you think Yi Soon-shin will do?
Place the fleet in battle position at Jolido, sir?
That's the only way we the navy can help the army fighting in Ulsan.
If we pose a threat of attack,
the Japanese Navy will not be able to end aid to Ulsan.
And if they choose to ignore the threat and go to Ulsan,
we will be open to proceed to Shinsung-po and destroy their fleet.
Commander Hwang and Commander Yi,
I'd like Sado and Garipo divisions to head out first.
Yes, sir.
Off course.
And Commandant Kim...
Yes, sir.
Patrol the coastline more thoroughly
so that we can react immediately once we detect the enemy's move.
Got it, sir.
I finally understand why the Taiko put his samurai's honor
aside and tried so hard to get rid of Yi Soon-shin...
General Konishi...
The Taiko's biggest fears are becoming a reality.
Even after his victory in Myongryang, Yi Soon-shin is
calmly preparing for tomorrow without a moment of rest.
Every confident-filled step that he takes
is feeding hope into the hearts of the Chosunese soldiers.
Morale is the most powerful weapon,
and now they are arming themselves with morale.
Perhaps this is was the Taiko's biggest fear.
But Chosun is still very weak without the Ming allies.
Whether or not Yi Soon-shin's conviction will boost the
fighting spirit of the Ming soldiers remains to be seen.
Yes, that will be the deciding factor of this battle in Ulsan.
We cannot continue this battle if the Ming allies do not shape up!
This is the limit of their capacity...
covering our soldiers from behind the lines with cannons.
We knew they wouldn't risk their lives for this fight from the start.
Let go of your expectations.
But if this battle drags on,
the enemy will soon catch on and attack us from the rear.
Be patient, High Commissioner.
Minister Yu...
The chess pieces are in place and theories have become clear,
so it's time to make the decisive move.
Why are the wells dry?
How could all of the wells run dry overnight?
I, uh, no one can figure that out, sir.
Find the water vain and dig another well!
If there's anything more important than food, it's drinking water!
We've been trying for the last two days to find the water vein, but...
The enemy is exhausted! Do not be discouraged.
Continue fire!
The men?
We've lost over a hundred men already, sir.
Find a way to get drinking water.
Aye!
And do whatever it takes to break through the enemy and call for aid.
Yes, General.
How many days has it been since we cut off the water vein?
This is the fifth day.
They will open the gates tonight at the latest.
It's the enemy! Attack!
Wipe them out!
Attack!
Although the Chosun-Ming alliance were four times greater in size,
Ulsan Invasion which began on December 22, 1597
proved to be a very difficult battle.
In a clever move, the Chosun-Ming Alliance
would cut off the water source going into the city.
On the 27th, dehydrated Japanese troops opened the gates of the
city for water at the risk of their lives.
and the allied forces began to make headway.
We need aid! Do whatever it takes to get help!
But soon Kato's call for help
reached the other Japanese warriors in the vicinity of Pusan...
Issue an alert! We're moving out!
And they quickly began to rally around Ulsan.
Once again, the battle became a neck and neck race.
Ultimately, the alliance force was unsuccessful in conquering
Ulsan Fort and lifted the siege on January 4, 1598.
Although they fought hard, they had failed to capture the fort,
so the records describe Ulsan Battle as a defeated battle.
Take it, Kato!
It is the banner that led me in the battles that unified this country!
It is yours now, so fight with all your might, Kato.
Aye!
I will be counting the days for you to bring Chosun to me.
But over 6.000 Japanese troops were killed on this battle,
and Kato Kiyomasa was forced to abandon Ulsan and retreat
to Sosang-po on January 5th, so it is not unreasonable to say
that Ulsan Battle was a victory for the Chosun-Ming Alliance.
Let go...
General...
Let go, I said!
I am Kato Kiyomasa, the leader of the first vanguard division
of the Great Japanese Army!
General Kato!
I will cleanse my shame with death.
Then the Taiko will not denounce me.
So let go of me! Let go!
What would that accomplish?
Think about your men, your family and your people.
They mean nothing. They don't mean a thing!
No one blames you, General. You did the best you could.
The Taiko wanted too much to begin with.
This was a lost cause from the start.
Most importantly, the back to back defeats in Myongryang and
Ulsan had caused a sharp decline in Japanese morale.
It is said that Kato Kiyomasa could not bear the shame of defeat and
twice attempted to take his own life.
Pull out the troops?
Show their backs to the enemy?
My armor, bring me my armor and my sword!
Your Eminence!
I will go to Chosun at once!
All sails aloft! Set sail at once!
First I will slay the fools who speak of pulling out the troops!
Then I will command the battles myself!
Ming, Chosun, I will bring all of them under my knees!
Your Eminence, I implore you to go once your health has been restored.
Are you mocking me, Ieyasu? I am still strong?
I can command all of the battles myself!
But you are so pale...
Do you wish to die?
Your Eminence...
If anyone tries to stand in my way, I will slay him first whoever he is.
What are you waiting for? Sails aloft!
Your Eminence! Your Eminence!
Now that we have the advantage,
we need a stronger more powerful strategy to crush the enemy.
A more powerful strategy...
That's right.
What do you have in mind, Prime Minister?
A four way simultaneous offensive.
A four way simultaneous offensive?
As you can see, the Japanese have built forts along the coast and
spread out throughout the region.
Their leaders are Konishi Yukinaga in Soon-chun, Shimazu Yoshihiro
in Sachun and Kato Kiyomasa who retreated to Sosang-po.
We will divide the troops into West Route Division, Center Route Division
and East route Division and launch a simultaneous attack.
You said a four-way offensive. Then the forth route is...?
The forth route is by sea.
The last battle in Ulsan had taught us a painful lesson.
The alliance once was successful in thwarting the reinforcement troops
approaching from the rear by land, but we suffered considerable a loss
because we were unable to stop the troops that landed via Taehwa River.
If the navy intercepts the enemy at sea while the army is engaged
in siege warfare, we can keep the enemy dispersed,
thereby increasing our chances of success.
It's a good point. I believe this is an appropriate strategy.
General Yu Jong and Dong Il-won's army is in Uiju,
so I will instruct them to join us without delay.
Thank you, Emissary Yang.
That should take care of the East, the Center and the West
Route Division, but the problem is the Sea Route Division.
Admiral Yi, I'm well aware of your reputation,
but you could be up against the entire Japanese Navy.
Is your fleet up to the task?
As of now, February 1598, the Chosun Navy has 42 battleships.
And in the next three month, we will double that number.
Just a few months ago, you fought
against the enemy in Myongryang with just 12 ships.
Are you saying that you can build
a fleet of nearly one hundred in less than a year?
It doesn't seem possible.
Strength and determination of civilians an soldiers with great
love for their country can make the impossible possible now and then.
Even so, a fleet of 100 cannot stop the enemy in all three parts.
I will write to the Emperor and
request that the Ming Navy join this campaign.
The King, the court and the people of Chosun will be grateful.
They're here!
The Chosun Navy is coming! The Admiral is coming!
So this is Gogeumdo, the new navy headquarters that you built.
It is built on blood, sweat and prayers of the people.
Gogeumdo will be the advance base for the Chosun Navy that will bring
this long and treacherous seven year war to an end.
Hurray! Hurray for the Admiral!
Long Live the Chosun Navy! Hurray!
Seven years since the year of Yimjin...
These have been long and difficult years.
Will we finally be able to put an end to this war?
The only thing that worries me is the Ming allies.
They have provided indispensable manpower,
but they have always been passive on the battlefields.
But what can we do?
We have but ourselves to blame for being unprepared for an invasion.
But they couldn't be passive this time.
Countless Ming soldiers have been brought to Chosun, but
they have not won a single battle let alone win the war.
If they don't shape up and prove themselves this time,
their competence will be questioned.
They won't sacrifice themselves to save a foreign country, but
they will try to make a name for themselves with meritorious service.
The people built a naval station for Yi Soon-shin?
Yes, Your Majesty.
And a crowd of fifty thousand welcomed him?
Your Majesty...
He sits in a palatial naval base using my people like puppets and
rebuilding his power while the King still sits in this hole in
the wall drowning in misery and distress...
Seven years... This war has lasted too long...
Could Yi Soon-shin return to being royal subject when this war is over?
Royal Attendant, this is a surprise. I was not expecting your visit.
I m told over 100.000 Ming troops have been sent to the south, and
soon the Ming Navy will be joining us as well.
Yes, it appears so.
And they say it's alt thanks to Prime Minister Yu Sung-ryong and
Supreme Naval Commander Yi Soon- shin who persuaded the Ming allies.
His Majesty is very pleased with the two men.
They are his two most loyal subjects.
Once the war is over, they will be treated as heroes.
But what will that do to your Western faction's political standing?
Royal Attendant!
I'm not the only one who is worried.
His Majesty wants to give the Westerners a chance.
To the King, a service greater than saving the country is strengthening
the command of the royal house
and putting the sovereignty on a solid footing.
Royal Attendant...
Don't you agree, Minister Yoon?
Mobilize the navy for the war in Chosun?
Yes.
But the army alone can do the job. Why mobilize the navy?
It is necessary in order to carry out a four-way offensive.
Hasn't Yi Soon-shin been reinstated as the Supreme Naval Commander?
Then it is unnecessary for the Ming navy to enter this war.
I know a little bit about Yi Soon-shin.
He is an extraordinary man.
Ten of Ming's best naval leaders could not do what he can do alone.
Commander Yu, that's a rather offensive remark.
It's for your own good, Admiral Jin.
Yi Soon-shin is unlike some of us who has been repeatedly suspended
from service for unethical behavior on every mission he is assigned to.
What?
It won't do you any good to be compared to Yi Soon-shin.
Look, Commander Yu...
For some reason, that doesn't sound like sincere words of concern.
If you want to compare rap sheets on unethical behavior
I believe yours is longer than mine.
What?
I was told about the great time you had when you went to Chosun in 1592.
You brought back Chosun's most beautiful woman as your mistress,
so I can imagine the luxury you must have lived in while you were there.
What?!
What is the matter with you?
You're the Emperor's warriors, but you're bickering like children!
Yi Soon-shin may be a great leader,
but he cannot suppress the entire Japanese Navy alone.
What if he fails and the Japanese Navy
makes their way into Tianjin, Dengzhou and Laizhou?
The Emperor will be furious!
Our goal is to keep the war within the borders of Chosun.
You must keep that in mind at all times.
Yu Jung that bastard...
I get dismissed from service
and roam the countryside for a while and he openly insults me!
Admiral...
Yi Soon-shin...
Yi Soon-shin? Who is that, sir?
The best navy commander of Chosun Yi Soon-shin...
The word has it Yu Jung took a crushing blow from him.
Yu Jung... Just wait and see, you bastard.
I will bring Yi Soon-shin down on his knees and show the world
what the Great Ming Navy is made of.
Supreme Naval Commander Yi Soon-shin!
Where is Yi Soon-shin?
Come forth at fence and salute the Ming Admiral Jin Lin?
The Supreme Commander has momentarily left the headquarters.
The highest leader ot the navy left his post empty overnight?
Chosun Navy has no order and discipline!
Well, actually...
Who do you think you are talking back to the admiral?
I believe you are looking for me.
Enjoying your nights in the arms of fancy women, are you?
You couldn't be more wrong, sir.
He was out patrolling the sea since dawn, out of concern for your safety.
I hope you had a comfortable trip.
I will instruct my staff to prepare a reception immediately.
I am most pleased with the formation of the Chosun-Ming Allied Navy.
Please allow me to pour you a drink.
Let us share our drink as we will share our fate on the battlefield.