Episode 36
Merchant!
You're pretty impressive.
You emptied out all the tax rice from Yangpyeong.
Did you think we were all fooled?
Please have mercy!
Merchant Chun.
Do Seung-ji.
Tax rice is tax from the citizens.
There are tons of people outside of Dosung starving right now.
The tax rice isn't of my interest.
That's for Uncle and the Head Merchant to take care of.
Then...
why did you call me?
200,000 peddlers.
Are you saying you want to keep the peddlers at your feet?
The moment you become the leader, you will change the system
so that they are directly under my control.
Sorry.
What would a high official like you
do with us merchants by keeping us at your feet?
It's not going to be an easy decision.
Your life and the lives of those who took the tax rice with you.
All those lives depend on your decision.
So think about it carefully.
Think about it while I play a game of go.
Do Seung-ji took him.
If he somehow found out about the tax rice, Merchant Chun is dead.
Hurry! Go faster!
Yes, Mama.
Now.
Let's hear your answer now.
Lord Ambassador.
What is the reason you want to keep the peddlers near you?
What is the reason?
When Taejo found Joseon,
do you know how many soldiers he had?
50,000.
And do you know how many soldiers there are in Hanyang?
Around 190,000.
Then.
How many merchants have identification?
200,000 peddlers--
Yes.
People are power.
I must use you all for the sake of the nation.
How's that?
Will you work for me?
Will you become my left arm?
Lord Ambassador.
We peddlers continued 1,000 years of tradition.
If we get involved in government issues,
we won't be able to continue what we're doing.
Lord Ambassador.
I'll ask you one more time.
Will you work for me?
Lord Ambassador.
What is it?
Guksadang is here.
Tell her to come back tomorrow. I have special guests over.
What?
Honorable Mama.
3,000 bags of tax rice.
That's high treason.
Do I have to hand all of you over to the police?
You!
Why aren't you answering me?
I said to come back tomorrow because I'm taking care of important business.
Prayer for the prince begins tomorrow.
The Queen asked me to discuss the procedure with you.
What can be more urgent than this?
Sit down.
You saved your life thanks to Guksadang.
I'll give you a few days so think about it again.
What's your name?
Sun-dol.
Do you have something to say to me?
There are many people around Merchant Chun,
but if he had to choose one,
it has to be me.
Is that so?
Who will stop Do Seung-ji?
You?
Or the stable people?
Who?
Merchant Chun needs me, not you.
Let's go.
What's wrong?
Did Gae-ddong say something to you?
Why?
Did she tell you to stop me from taking the offer?
Or--
Did she say to go under Do Seung-ji?
You don't talk about your wife these days.
Because I feel bad.
I have no right to talk about her.
Before I ask Giil So-gae of his sin
and I can resolve the resentment for her,
I have no right to talk about her.
Are you sure it was Gil So-gae?
Who else would it be?
Alright.
I guess we'll find out when we find evidence.
What are you gonna do?
You're not the type to work under Do Seung-ji.
Shouldn't you let go of the peddlers?
I have to think about it.
It's not an easy answer.
Our 200,000 peddlers.
And going further, the lives of Joseon citizens depend on this.
Your Majesty!
Mama!
What's wrong?
Did you have a nightmare?
I went into the palace to see the Queen
and a cat as big as a cattle
was chasing after rats.
But those rats all of a sudden turned around and attacked the cat.
They eventually killed the cat.
Oh my gosh.
What kind of dream is that?
I don't feel good about this.
Something bad is going to happen.
Something bad.
This isn't for me to decide alone.
I'll ask all of you.
Decide for me.
If I become the leader,
all of us here and all the 200,000 peddlers
may have a very hard time.
It's urgent times.
We're all about to be ruined.
Merchant Chun.
Who will take us if it's not you?
Merchant!
What's up?
We're in trouble.
Dosung is in big trouble.
Did Japanese ships come in again?
Is it war?
Joseon military soldiers are holding a rebellion.
What?
Joseon military soldiers?
Remember that recently in the rice that military soldiers received,
more than half of it was mixed with dirt so there was a big fuss.
Is that why the soldiers are on a rebellion?
They say if soldiers revolt, the nation will crumble.
The ones who started the revolt got locked up in jail
so 300 soldiers rose up to support them in revolt.
And 10,000 citizens joined them.
Oh no.
The nation might just come crumbling down.
Merchant Chun.
Let's go to the stable.
Big Brother and Mak-bong are past soldiers too.
Gom-bae, too.
They're all upset.
I'm gonna go ahead first.
Mak-bong! Gom-bae!
Bong-Sam! What took you so long?
Where are Gom-bae and others?
They already took sticks and crossed the river.
A whole bunch of others went with them too.
Then let's go cross the river too.
Why are you jumping into fire when you should be escaping?
We have to go get Gom-bae, Mak-dong, and our people!
Come on, let's hurry!
It's a mess!
What mess?
Military soldiers took guns and went to the palace.
What's that?
A soldier who came here to pray was holding this.
They said they're going to kill everyone on this list.
Black list.
Min Kyeom-ho.
Min Young-ik.
Min Yeom-mok.
Kim Bo-hyeon.
Gil So-gae.
Let's go to the palace.
No, Mama.
You can't get involved in this chaos!
You must run away!
You're going to die!
Mama!
You have to run away!
The front door is open!
We're all going to die!
What about Seonhyecheong soldiers?
They're all getting attacked and killed!
If you don't want to die here, you have to escape!
What do we do?
Why did I have to come to Seonhyecheong today of all days?
What should we do? Say something!
Everyone, escape on your own.
They're going to slay whoever is in front of them.
Head Merchant! Take me!
Kim Bo-hyeon! He's still in Seonhyecheong!
What do I do?
This way!
We gotta survive somehow.
No thanks!
I have to keep my dignity.
They're walking around with the black list.
You and I are both on that list.
If we get caught, we die.
If we stick together like this, we both die!
What are you saying?
Are you saying you're gonna survive alone whether I live or die?
Find them and kill them!
Find Gil So-gae and kill him!
Don't leave me.
I'll do anything for you.
How long could the revolt last?
We must promise our future.
Kill Min Kyeom-ho!
Kill the Head Merchant Gil So-gae!
Go take care of that!
If you let me out of here safely, I'll repay the debt.
Go take care of them. Come on!
Min Kyeom-ho! Gil So-gae! Kim Bo-hyeon!
They have not escaped out of Seonhyecheong yet!
It's Min Kyeom-ho! I found him!
Over there! Government official!
It's Min Kyeom-ho!
Gil So-gae!
Gom-bae!
Mak-bong!
Bang-jae!
Gom-bae! Mak-bong!
Gom-bae and the kids?
People are running out from everywhere.
There's no way we can go through Jongno.
What do we do?
Where did Gom-bae and all of them go?
Seonhyecheong.
Seonhyecheong!
Sun-dol.
How could this happen to the mighty Lord of Seonhyecheong?
Bong-Sam!
Come look at this!
It's a black list!
Black list? People to kill?
This is getting out of hand.
Min Kyeom-ho.
Min Young-ik.
Min Young-mok.
Kim Bo-hyeon.
Gil So-gae.
Get them!
Hurry and find them!
Aunt, you must escape.
What do we do now?
All the soldiers of the palace all ran away too.
I'll lead you out.
Wouldn't it be better to wait in here?
Military soldiers are in the crowd too.
The prince is controlling them from the back.
If you stay here, your life is in danger.
Follow me out.
Your Majesty!
Guksadang.
Your Majesty.
You must be so shocked.
Everyone escape to save their lives.
But you risked your life to come in here and save me.
That's a given.
You must change.
You too.
Min Kyeom-ho was killed by the soldiers.
What?
My brother?
Uncle?
This is the only way to trick them.
You must hurry!
Hurry, Your Majesty!
Please! Save me!
Don't come in here! It's my spot.
If we stay together, we both die.
Get out!
Find the Queen!
The Queen escaped out of her room!
We must find her!
Guksadang.
I think it's all over.
Your Majesty.
Trust me.
We must part here.
Come to the east door.
Alright.
Please take care of her.
Go.
Follow me.
Who are you?
Come out here.
Find the Queen.
We have to find the Queen for this to end.
She hasn't escaped out of the palace yet.
I am the martial arts master Hong Jae-hee!
I came to look for my sister.
Sister?
Come on, get on my back.
Let's go home.
Hurry!
Even the King has abandoned the palace. What are you staying here for?
If you stay here, you die. Get on my back.
Wait.
Move out of the way!
I just need to take my sister out of here.
The Queen wouldn't get on a man's back like that.
Let them go.
You fool!
How dare you!
How dare you block us?
Move out of the way.
Let down the carriage and open the door.
If it's just Guksadang's Mama in there, I'll let you go.
Gat-nan, let down the carriage and open the door.
Honorable Mama.
Do you think we will win?
Long time, no see.
You're gonna do great things.
Let's go.
I came out of your skirt so I'm your son now, eh?
Then listen to your mommy now.
You're right.
I hope the Queen is safe.
I've helped the martial arts master's son heal before.
Don't worry.
He'll take the Queen to Choong-ju safely.
Let me go!
Bong-Sam! Merchant!
Merchant!
We don't know what's going to happen to my uncle!
We can't leave like this!
Let me go!
I have to kill all of them!
You little!
Brother.
Have you lost your minds?
Are you merchants?
Or are you gang members?
If you're merchants, you sell.
Let's go home.
Come, you fools.
How are things?
It's not time to move yet.
We're in trouble.
We might end up dying here.
Is there no way to survive out of this?
You aren't on the black list!
Merchant Maeng.
Save me.
Save me, Merchant Maeng.
Come on!
Head Merchant.
We can't die all together like this.
We have to separate and survive out on our own.
I'll lead you. Follow me.
Come on.
What are you doing?
Gil So-gae! Gil So-gae is here!
Gil So-gae is here!
It's Gil So-gae!
Yook-ei-jeon's Head Merchant Gil So-gae is here!
It's Gil So-gae!
Gil So-gae.
Gom-bae.
We have to at least repay for your wife.
I can't let go of a chance like this.
Gom-bae!
Catch him!
Lord Ambassador!
Lock the doors!
I saved your life.
Don't worry.
You'll be the next Head Merchant.
Gil So-gae will be dead anyways.
Just wait for the chaos to die down.
Who are you?
Where's Gae-ddong?
The soldiers are after me.
Where's Gae-ddong?
She's inside Guksadang.
Are you hungry?
I haven't eaten all day now that I think about it.
You can't move a single step out of here.
Until things die down outside.
Don't forget.
You're on their black list.
Is there anything to eat?
How are you going to stop them with that?
Open the door!
It's So-gae, open the door.
I know you're in here.
Open the door.
Gae-ddong!
The soldiers are after me.
Come on, open the door.
No!
What are you doing?
Do you think the soldiers will stay still?
They're going to search all over Guksadang!
Open the door!
Are you telling me to hand him over to them?
You have to choose one or the other.
Save me, or kill both me and the Head Merchant!
It's your house so you decide.
Gae-ddong!
Open the door, please.
Gae-ddong.
Open the door!
It's Gil So-gae!
He's the guy that sold off our rice to foreigners!
Get him!
Gae-ddong.
The place you decide to run away to is Guksadang?
Take him out!
Gae-ddong!
I am the Head Merchant of Yook-ei-jeon.
Yes.
You are the Head Merchant.
My mother starved to death because of you!
Merchant Chun.
Merchant Chun!
Bong-Sam!
Bong-Sam.
Bong-Sam, save me.
I'm So-gae.
What are those?
Are they a part of Yook-ei-jeon?
Bong, let's just go.
We can't get involved in it.
What are you?
Are you a part of Yook-ei-jeon too?
Do we look like Yook-ei-jeon people to you?
I am Song-pa's gang, Gom-bae!
Do you not even know Gom-bae?
I am Bang-bae.
Old soldier Bang-soo's younger brother.
Oh yeah?
I know Bang-soo well.
Pay your respect.
Who are you staring at?
This is Merchant Chun, the leader of the peddlers!
Sir Merchant, we're going to kill this guy.
Come on, pay your respect.
Seonhyecheong's Min Kyeom-ho and this guy
They took our rice and made money off of it.
Our family members starved to death because of this guy!
All of us have at least one who died.
We have to kill him!
Merchant.
Let's just go.
Before I am the Head Merchant, I am a friend of you peddlers.
Friend?
Look.
Look, Chun Bong-Sam.
This is my identification card. Gil So-gae.
Chun Bong-Sam.
Ah, leader.
If I have sin, put me in front of the peddlers.
Ask me of my sins in front of the peddlers.
I'll take what I deserve.
Look here.
Can you hand him over to us?
We can't do that.
We have to kill him.
We cannot!
No, we have to kill him ourselves!
He killed my father, my sister, and my teacher.
And--
He even killed my wife.
I want to put him in front of the peddlers
and make sure he pays for what he did.
Can you hand him over to us?
Peddlers must follow their rules.
Okay.
Thank you.
Take him.
Yes, sir.
Let's go.
The Head Merchant called you Gae-ddong.
Did you two know each other?
There are many stories in this world.
You can neither know all of them,
nor do you need to know all of them.
He must've been your man.
He was my brother and my only family.
My blood family threw me away because they were embarrassed of my spirituality
But he was the only one who accepted me as his family.
I'm sorry.
Because of me--
Mama.
What happened the Head Merchant?
Merchant Chun took him.
He's gonna make him stand in front of the peddlers.
Peddlers?
What is that?
If you're a peddler with an identification card,
it is their strict law to be asked of your sins in front of everyone.
You die when you die, but eat first.
Undo the rope for me.
No can do.
We don't know what you're gonna do.
I'll feed you. Open your mouth.
You're going to stand soon.
Gae-ddong.
Call Gae-ddong for me.
I want to see her once before I die.
Sun-dol.
I'm gonna need you to go to Guksadang with Choi-dol once.
Guksadang.
You have to grant the wish of someone who's about to die.
Let's go, Sun-dol. Come on.
Isn't it time to tell the truth now?
Yu-su's mom.
Why did you kill her?
It's Honorable Mama!
You really must be a good shaman.
We were just about to go to Guksadang to get you.
Head Merchant is here, right?
He wants to meet you too.
You must have a reason to see him too.
How dare you lock the doors of Guksadang
and hand me over to them?
Is this what you meant by ending your relationship with me?
Even if I opened the door, they would've searched the place and found you.
There was nowhere for you to hide.
No.
You wanted me to die in the hands of those soldiers.
Because if I die, Yu-su's mom will be covered.
Was there a desire like that in my heart?
Eat some.
Save me, Gae-ddong.
The reason I said I'll stand before the peddlers
was simply to gain some time.
Save me.
You can save me.
There are at least 200 peddlers outside.
How would I get you out of here?
That's for you to think of!
I can't die like this.
It hasn't been long since I became the Head Merchant.
I can't die like this.
Yes.
Yu-su's mom.
So-gae.
I didn't want to bring that up either.
You know what standing in front of peddlers means.
I might end up spilling about Yu-su's mom against my will.
Gae-ddong.
That you made me do it.
Are you threatening me right now?
Get me out of here.
Tell Bong-Sam to let me go.
I don't know if you've cut yourself from me
but there's still one thing between you and me.
Can you step outside for one second?
If you haven't eaten yet, join me.
Whether I live or die, I should eat.
This is too much for me to eat alone.
There's no way for you to survive out of here.
Is that so?
You must be holding onto Guksadang to save you,
but no.
Wasn't it Guksadang who put you up to this?
Guksadang asked you and you killed Chun's wife.
Am I wrong?
Do you want to know?
Who killed Yu-su's mom?
Many lives depend on your words.
Many lives tied up and twisted together.
Just reveal the truth now.
Was it Guksadang?
Answer me!
If you're curious, just let me stand in front of the peddlers.
You're holding a trial with the peddlers?
I know what you want to say.
Gil So-gae.
I know he's someone special to you, Gae-ddong.
Yes.
So-gae committed a lot of sins.
Gae-ddong.
No matter what you do, you can't save him.
Yu-su's mom...
and so many others were killed by him.
No.
Just make it not too painful.
So-gae.
Just make sure it's not too painful.
Think of the past days and his father.
If he can't survive out alive,
just make sure he goes peacefully.
That's all I want to say.
Don't let him go and watch him well.
There's nothing great for you to see there.
I'm not going just to watch.
You're only to tell the truth at the trial, right?
Yes.
They'll ask if he hurt my mistress
or if someone else was behind it, right?
Probably.
I'll be back.
Now!
We will begin the trial!
Bring Gil So-gae.
Take him out.
Why am I going?
You're the one who asked for this!
You didn't want to get killed by the soldiers, that's why!
No, something's wrong.
Go get Gae-ddong!
You will not stay safe.
You hurting our mistress will be revealed in front of all of these people.
You!
I told you to watch your mouth!
I'll wait and see if you can stay calm when your name comes out of his mouth.
I must repay the debt for my mistress.
You seem to have a different thought from Merchant Chun.
Did something happen between you and Min Young-ik?
It was Guksadang's Mama!
You think Merchant Chun will believe you?
Separate Merchant Chun and Sun-dol.
It took me so long to forget of that incident!
If you take us to the port, we'll give you a ship.
I will not split from Chun Bong-Sam.
Merchant Chang took merchants and crossed the river.
Something's wrong with Sun-dol.