Subtitles by DramaFever
Episode 44
Is this your vicious move?
Is it related to this?
Lee Bang Won.
Experience...
my vicious move.
Master Sambong.
How can the Hongwu Emperor...
find fault with something so ridiculous?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Master Sambong has nothing to do with the letter.
It's an illogical request...
to send Master Sambong to Ming.
How can this happen?
Ming has an impure motive.
Did you find out where Prince Jeongan go in Ming?
In Liaodong, Prince Jeongan...
ran into the King of Yan, who was going around the nation.
And he wrote a letter to the Hongwu Emperor.
Prince Jeongan...
must be an ally of Moo Myung, right?
I guess he has no reason to cut them off.
The Jurchens' assimilation policy...
has been annoying Ming,
and you have the control of the military.
So...
they targeted me.
I'm presuming that this is a collaborative work of...
Prince Jeongan, Ming and Moo Myung.
So, you shouldn't go there.
Your Majesty,
you cannot send...
Sambong to Ming.
My Queen,
do not mind the political affairs.
Just think about how you will get well.
Your Majesty,
promise me.
Never...
Never send Sambong to...
That will never happen.
Do not worry.
Before I leave for Ming,
I asked you to keep honey in your mouth and to hide a sword.
It's...
time to use that sword you hid.
Yes. You asked for the scholar Jo Mal Saeng,
and I placed him in Sungkyunkwan.
What hidden sword?
And who's Jo Mal Saeng?
Are these secret codes?
However, Your Highness,
I will take out my sword at a more crucial moment.
Sure.
Master Ha Ryun should...
take an active part in the royal palace this time.
I'll use my tongue again after a long time.
This time,
can I see the hidden sword...
you prepared?
After Jung Mong Joo,
he's been followed by the most number of scholars.
Bring him in.
You are...
I am a member of history committee Kwon Geun.
He's Master Lee Saek's man.
Isn't he a spy?
What brings you here, Master Kwon Geun?
Because of what happened...
with Master Jung Mong Joo, you must resent me.
Why are you trying to follow me?
There is no way I can find out why the heaven's will...
is different from what's in the books.
Also, for sure, you are not...
someone I would respect.
However,
the great cause is with you.
That's why I forced myself to come here.
The great cause.
What is my great cause?
First,
I'm against the system where the prime minister has complete control.
I believe we need a strong king...
in order for the country to be good.
Second,
if you can promise me the future,
clear Master Jung Mong Joo's name...
and please honour him.
I will do that,
Master Kwon Geun.
I will...
not send anyone...
to Ming.
I will no longer...
respond to Ming's request.
However, Your Majesty.
You can't do that, Your Majesty.
You must send...
Sambong to Ming.
What are you talking about?
Master Sambong has nothing to do with the letter.
Why should he be sent to Ming?
Yes. He has nothing to do with the letter.
The problem is not the letter.
The problem arose from...
a small understanding between two countries.
Misunderstanding?
What misunderstanding?
Ming has misunderstood us...
about managing our border in the north,
and they are anxious about it.
Or else, why would they ask Master Sambong...
to participate in Ming's politics when he's in charge of the military?
- So? - This was resulted by...
Ming's small misunderstanding.
So, if Master Sambong goes...
and explains it,
it can turn misfortune into blessing...
in both aspects of practical interest and rationale.
He's right, Your Majesty.
If we don't send anyone,
the two country's relationship will only get worse.
We can't do that, Your Majesty.
If Master Sambong goes to Ming,
there is a great chance that he will get detained.
That's right.
We cannot let him be taken as a hostage...
when he has the control of the military.
However,
if he doesn't leave,
the people will consider...
Master Sambong as a coward who put his personal safety...
before the national security.
We cannot give the military power to a man...
- considered as a coward. - What? A coward?
Stop.
We are in front of His Majesty.
How can you argue in front of him?
Then,
what is your opinion on this?
It is for sure that it is an unfair request.
However, it is also true that...
it's an important diplomatic matter that we cannot ignore.
What does that mean?
Does that mean it's neither good nor bad?
Your Highness.
Is what you said...
that night...
still valid?
I said that...
I wanted to be used by you.
Will you use me?
Yes.
But...
wait.
Today is another person's turn.
Your Majesty,
I will go to Ming.
If I don't take the responsibility as someone who corrected the letter,
I will fail my duty as your subject.
However,
you might get into trouble.
This is the obligation of a government official.
So, I will take...
Master Sambong and go to Ming.
I will support him with all my heart...
so that he can make a clear explanation.
Please give him an order, Your Majesty.
Master Sambong is getting driven into the corner.
Now...
he will lose his face if he doesn't go.
What will you do, Sambong?
Master Kwon Geun volunteered to go,
but Master Sambong continues to hesitate.
He's avoiding to give an answer.
Gosh...
He should be volunteering to go first.
But instead, he didn't even show his face.
I know.
Master Sambong has to take care of this.
Master Ha Ryun and Master Heo Eun were so excited.
It was my first time to see...
Ha Ryun talking so passionately.
He's famous for not talking...
in the palace, isn't he?
You have to endure it.
You should never say that you'll go to Ming.
Master, in front of the palace...
"With the spirit of a Confucian scholar,"
"Master Sambong must go to Ming..."
"and solve this problem."
- Send Sambong to Ming. - Send Sambong to Ming.
"Master Kwon Geun volunteered to go..."
"when he wasn't even asked."
"Why isn't Master Sambong..."
"saying a word?"
- Send Sambong to Ming. - Send Sambong to Ming.
Your Majesty, please send Sambong to Ming.
- How dare they! - Your Majesty, send Sambong...
Master Sambong, don't mind them. Let's go.
Your Majesty, please send Sambong to Ming.
Please give me the order.
I will go to Ming.
You can't do that.
Your Majesty.
I said you can't do that.
Your Majesty...
After all,
I guess you are just a human too, Sambong.
Why do you say that?
It's hard to endure, right?
It's hard to stand the blame that you're holding onto your life.
It must be extremely humiliating for a Confucian scholar.
You must want to give up everything.
So did I.
After Jung Mong Joo died,
what did you tell me?
You told me to endure it.
Despite the people's criticism,
you insisted on hanging up Jung Mong Joo's head...
and proclaiming that he is a traitor.
To be responsible,
you told me I should endure all criticism.
So you should endure this as well.
Even if you're criticised for being selfish,
endure it all.
Going to Ming...
is an easy way out.
But someone in your position...
shouldn't...
give in to such unfair criticism.
As a new kingdom, we have every reason...
to develop our power.
After all,
this is nothing more than a power struggle...
between Ming and Joseon.
Don't you agree?
You are right.
So endure it.
Aren't you going to answer me?
Your Majesty.
I am deeply moved.
I,
following your wish,
will endure it.
However,
this problem...
won't be solved by my enduring the situation.
Mal Saeng.
How have you been?
How have you been, Your Highness?
I'll see you at home.
I see.
Are you related to the matter in any way?
Do you mean that scholar?
Yes, I ordered him.
I'm talking about Ming accusing me...
of editing the letter.
How could I possibly influence Ming?
You're overestimating me.
You must be so desperate...
as to be totally deluded.
Please excuse me.
What makes you deny it so strongly?
I can see that you realise...
this is utterly unacceptable.
Am I wrong?
Right.
I do remember talking about an official...
who has total control over the kingdom...
with officials in Ming.
Your selfish desire for power...
You work for the public interest...
and I act on...
my selfish desires?
I was being diplomatic.
The tension between Ming and us...
was caused by you.
To stop wars and famine,
you established a new kingdom.
But you have been busy...
training the armies.
And it provoked Ming.
The relationship with Ming we establish now...
will last a hundred years.
Diplomacy...
is all about swords and wealth.
Sometimes, you need swords.
Sometimes, wealth.
Diplomacy is about setting such a pattern.
And you're disturbing the pattern.
You're doing this to protect your private armies...
in the disguise of diplomacy, aren't you?
Don't you have any selfish desires yourself?
Everyone has his own selfish desires...
and a great cause based on them.
In the end,
the winner's selfish desires will be looked upon as the great cause.
Then...
I lost this time.
What? He lost?
Your vicious move...
got me.
However,
my vicious move...
has yet to come.
Stop staring at me.
It bothers me.
Even if it bothers you, watching you...
is my job.
You were confident when you set fire to Dumoon-dong.
When you killed Jung Mong Joo as well.
But why not now?
I didn't want you to set fire to Dumoon-dong.
But I liked...
how you didn't doubt yourself...
a bit.
Fine. I'll get it over with.
A member of the history committee,
Kwon Geun, along with Jeong Tak...
and Noh In Do...
shall be sent to Geumneung.
What about Sambong?
It will evoke strong opposition.
Your Majesty.
Without the very person accused by Ming, Sambong,
our explanation won't be accepted.
He is right.
Your Majesty. Therefore,
from Minister of Human Affairs, Minister of Financial Affairs,
Chairman of the government agency and Prime Minister...
to Chief Officer of the Royal Guard,
allow me to resign from all my posts.
Once I give up on all my power,
there will be no further misunderstanding.
Please allow me.
You have my permission.
They must have discussed it beforehand.
He resigned?
Did Sambong resign from all his posts?
Yes.
He even gave up his control over the armies.
This...
doesn't feel right.
What could Sambong and His Majesty...
be thinking?
My vicious move...
has yet to come.
You should go to the palace right now.
My Queen.
Your Majesty.
My Queen,
please feel better.
Doctor,
do something.
Your Majesty, I will pay with my life.
Is Prince Jeongan...
Is Prince Jeongan not here yet?
Your Majesty,
please...
protect...
our Crown Prince.
Prince Jeongan.
Come closer.
Mother.
If I have offended you,
forgive me.
Why would I be offended by you?
Please...
(Queen Sindeok)
Please protect him well.
(Lee Bang Seok)
Please.
That's my last wish.
Mother.
Do not worry.
My Queen.
My...
- Your Highness. - Mother.
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
(Banchon)
Will there be customers later when everything is over?
Of course. By tomorrow, they'll stop mourning.
Moo Hyul.
Stop working for Prince Jeongan.
You're talking about that again?
I'm leaving.
Gosh!
I'm worried.
Prince Jeongan and Master Sambong are growing apart.
I think we are growing closer.
Stop it!
Eun Ho, take Myeong and go home first.
Okay, Auntie. Let's go.
Let's go.
Why did you come out from there?
By any chance, do you know...
whose warehouse this belongs to?
This is...
my grandmother's.
I see.
Why do you ask?
It's nothing.
You have an important responsibility.
While I am gone, please take good care of the government.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Do not worry,
and relax on your journey.
Stay healthy on your journey.
I will.
Where is Sambong?
I...
I haven't found out yet.
Where is he and what is he doing?
Why are you so nervous these days?
I don't know either...
why I am like this.
What are Moo Myung guys doing?
I told them to look for Sambong.
His Majesty left the palace,
and Master Sambong has gone missing.
You know where he is, don't you?
No. I don't know where he is.
It's already been too long since he resigned.
What is Master Sambong doing?
Why are you so worried about Sambong?
Sambong resigned from all his posts and left.
He doesn't own land or private armies.
Do you think...
he'll ever succeed in abolishing private armies?
It failed even when he had eight titles.
Sambong...
will find a more effective way.
What do you mean?
What could he do?
He'll figure something out.
If I were him,
I would have already...
No way.
- Spies? - Yes.
A dozen girls, assumed to be spies,
got on a boat headed to the Great Continent at Byeokrando.
In addition, another dozen spies...
were observed to cross Amnok River.
Unfortunately,
interrupted by Hwasadan and Lee Bang Ji,
we failed to locate Jeong Do Jeon any further.
Those spies...
must be controlled by Sambong.
It's been long since Yeon Hee was seen.
Leader.
We received a message from Shenyang.
What does it say?
What did you mean about Sambong figuring out a way?
Never mind. I didn't mean anything.
Sambong is...
different from me.
I...
take action even if I only have a 30 percent chance.
I know well.
That's why you could put the seal on An-byeon-chaek.
However,
both his personality and position force Sambong to take action...
only when he has more than a 70 percent chance.
So what do you guess?
I guess,
if I were him,
I would start a war...
to abolish private armies.
But Sambong would...
I need to check something.
By the way,
the lady who lives with Mr Ok...
never talks with other people and doesn't socialise with others.
But she seems to be friends with Moo Hyul.
Are you sure?
Leader. You have a guest.
Let me ask you about the red envelope...
you took from Master Sambong in Kanggye.
What about it?
Did you read it?
Did you read the content?
Did you?
Residents of Banchon cannot...
reveal any information related to politics.
I'm not asking you what it was about.
The leader should remain neutral.
I understand you can't tell me.
- Then... - I want to know if you read it.
You could tell me that much.
The envelope was sealed.
If I had opened it,
it would have shown.
I did not open it.
It wouldn't have been terribly difficult...
to reseal it.
Thank you.
Pardon?
We haven't changed.
I still thank you.
You still can't deceive me.
You...
read the document in the envelope.
(Boon Yi)
Thank whatever you want.
I did not read it.
Bang Won will be back.
I'm scared.
These...
can be dangerous weapons for both of you.
Boon Yi read it.
That's why she referred to it as a dangerous weapon.
If it had been about making peace with the Jurchens,
she wouldn't have said that.
The document...
must contain something more than that.
Could it be really...
I'm still not sure.
Moo Hyul, get the horse ready.
Yes, Your Highness.
Where are you headed?
To my father.
Do you know where he is?
Yes.
As my hidden sword is with His Majesty.
Lee Sook Bun is sending me messages.
What's the matter?
Master.
If Sambong...
is planning to attack Liaodong to abolish private armies...
Pardon?
Prince Jeongan visited our leader.
He enquired about a red envelope.
A red envelope?
(Jeong Do Gwang)
It's the secret agreement.
How can he...
Right.
If he attacks Liaodong,
abolishing private armies will be easy.
Anyone who goes against the orders to go to war...
will be accused of treason.
They'll have to send their private soldiers to war.
In addition, the Goryeo government...
couldn't afford to...
employ the private soldiers.
When a war ended,
they had to return the soldiers to individuals.
That's right.
However, this government...
is financially stable.
Instead of returning them,
they could absorb the soldiers.
However...
No.
That doesn't make sense.
Just to abolish private armies,
he would attack Liaodong?
Yes.
That's why I'm still not sure.
A war with Ming.
The chances are less than 30 percent.
Of course.
Sambong is not a reckless man.
By the way,
what would be the secret agreement with Moenpa about?
Exactly.
It's driving me crazy.
I need to see my father.
He must know what Sambong thinks.
Your Highness.
- It could be a trick. - What do you mean?
To abolish private armies,
Sambong might be playing a trick.
He might just pretend to attack Liaodong.
He must have made an agreement with Moenpa...
to hide his trick.
In Wihwado,
even though we never managed to cross Amnok River,
it still unified all armies.
If this is Sambong's vicious move,
we have no chance of getting out of this trap.
Your Highness.
How did you know His Majesty is here?
I was worried about him.
How is he?
His Majesty deals with public affairs in the day...
and prays at night.
Father, this is Prince Jeongan.
His Majesty does not want to see anyone.
Get out of my way.
We located Jeong Do Jeon.
Where is he?
He's not far away.
He's at Manwoldae in Gaegyeong.
What? At Manwoldae?
Ddang Sae.
It's been a long time.
It must have been hard for you.
It must have been hard for you to tend to Master.
What happened to your feet?
It's nothing.
I'm okay.
I walked a lot.
Where is Master Sambong?
He'll be here soon.
(Lee Bang Ji)
Do you like your job so much?
Well...
I can work with you.
I like it.
I completed the mission.
I just got back, Master.
It's been a long time.
How have you been?
You and the other spies...
have gone through a lot.
Now,
beyond Amnok River and Tumen River,
even up to Sanaegwan,
everything is ready.
Yes.
We checked the supply route and the march route.
We double-checked the agreement with the Jurchens as well.
All fortresses, armies...
and supplies...
are in great condition.
I see. This is the beginning.
Get out of my way.
Father.
Where is my father?
It's been a long time, Sambong.
Words cannot express...
how honoured I feel...
to see your face again, Your Majesty.
I'm...
happy to see you again.
Master Sambong.
General Lee Ji Ran.
You deceived me.
Tell me the truth.
Where is my father?
I am following...
the King's order.
Look.
I cannot tell you anything.
He must be with Sambong.
I'm sure.
He must be having a secret meeting with him.
Moo Hyul, let's go.
Sambong must be with my father.
Deceiving my father into believing his plan to attack Liaodong,
he'll talk about abolishing private armies.
Your Highness.
I had no idea.
Choon Gil planned the whole thing,
deceiving me as well.
I trust you.
Where is General Lee Ji Ran?
It seems like...
he accompanied His Majesty.
You can go back. I will send for you.
Yes, Your Highness.
Where would you like to go?
I'm not sure.
I don't know what to do.
Your Highness. Over there.
They want you right now.
You're from Moo Myung.
I wanted to see them as well.
What's the matter?
I have something to tell you as well.
(Teacher Yooksan)
Your Highness.
It's been a long time.
The palanquin.
The voice.
So...
have you located Sambong?
Yes. He is...
at Manwoldae with His Majesty.
I knew it.
Let me come back later.
I need to see them right now.
There's something more important.
Something more important?
What could that be?
Do you have any idea...
what's going on?
Can you guess what Sambong...
is up to?
Can you?
He is...
insisting on attacking Liaodong as a false plan...
in order to abolish private armies.
My brothers and I...
will lose all our soldiers...
and be left with nothing.
Are you sure there is something more important than this?
Yes, there is.
What is it?
It's about Sambong's false plans.
Yes.
Those plans are...
not false any longer.
Those plans are not false any longer?
That's right.
Attention.
Write down everything I say.
This moment will go down in history.
What are you talking about?
Do you mean...
we're attacking Liaodong for real?
Not just a bait for abolishing private armies...
but...
attacking them for real?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Sambong.
Don't you remember what happened in Wihwado?
Things are different now.
It's a different season...
and we have a lot more provisions.
After this training,
the armies will be much stronger than before.
That's not the only differences.
Liaodong now is...
much more closely related to Ming.
How could we attack them?
There is another change that is extremely important.
What is it?
Yeon Hee.
Report the information.
We have two new pieces of information.
Firstly,
our envoys to Ming,
Kim Yak Hang, Noh In Do and Jeong Chong,
were executed.
- What? - What?
That villain.
How can they do this?
Secondly...
Go on.
Yes, Your Majesty. Secondly,
we acquired this information this afternoon...
through our fastest channel.
It's news from Geumneung.
Geumneung.
What is going on?
The Hongwu Emperor hasn't got much to live.
The Hongwu Emperor...
is dying soon.
Yes.
If the Hongwu Emperor dies now,
what will happen to the Great Continent?
How critical is he?
Life is providential.
We can't make a hasty conclusion.
However,
he won't last more than half a year.
He could last for one month.
Or perhaps he might already be dead.
General, If...
If this is true...
Your Majesty, the Hongwu Emperor's grandson,
Zhu Yunwen will succeed.
He's 21 years old. He just became an adult.
The Hongwu Emperor's sons are spread out...
and building powers as the kings of provincial areas.
You mean there is going to be a civil war?
That is right.
The Great Continent won't be able to...
avoid a terrible...
disaster of war.
For the past few years,
I reformed the army,
repaired city walls and stored military provisions.
Yet I thought the chance of conquering Liaodong...
was less than 30 percent.
I'm sure you did.
We thought the Hongwu Emperor will...
get rid of everything that will...
pose threat to his grandson.
But...
the Hongwu Emperor is dying?
Yes, Your Majesty. The situation has changed.
Then what will happen to the King of Yan,
who is defending Liaodong?
What would the King of Yan, Zhu Di do?
When the Hongwu Emperor dies, Zhu Yunwen will succeed.
And he will hit Zhu Di.
And will he sit and go through it?
If Zhu Di drives his army...
to Nanjing to take back the Emperor's seat,
Sambong will have a plan to go to Liaodong right away.
(Nanjing)
If that happens,
abolishing the private army is not the problem.
The private armies will automatically disappear,
and each prince will be assigned to lead a section of the army...
and join the war.
If that happens, you will be...
put in a situation where your life is not guaranteed.
However, there must be...
Ming's spies in our country.
When they know that we are preparing for a war,
will they send an army to Nanjing so easily?
If it doesn't happen,
I will give up on everything regarding Liaodong.
However, Your Majesty. According to Hwasadan's prediction,
the probability of Zhu Di marching to Nanjing is...
more than 70 percent.
- 70 percent. - We think...
there is more than 70 percent chance.
No.
It's 80 percent.
No.
It will be more than 90 percent.
Zhu Di...
will move for sure.
He will move for sure?
Your Highness.
I don't know well,
but I've experienced that man for a long time.
That man was very sharp about...
gravity and size.
Between Zhongyuan and Liaodong,
his choice is obvious.
That's it.
Zhu Di will abandon Liaodong...
and head to Nanjing.
He will drive 20,000 men towards Nanjing.
Your Majesty, for the people...
who have been living in the Samhan for a long time,
this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will...
not come back in another thousand years.
The chance of success is higher than any other times.
Even if we succeed,
what comes next is the problem.
In the end, Zhu Di will take over the Great Continent,
and if that happens, will he let another country...
stay in Liaodong,
the strategic location?
When Zhu Di and Zhu Yunwen start the fight,
considering the geology and the military strength,
the fight won't end in short time.
We will take over Liaodong.
Then we will sign a peace treaty with Zhu Di...
and stabilise Liaodong.
Zhu Di will finish in short time,
and he will not be willing to sign a peace treaty with us.
Your Majesty,
we must get everything ready, so that we can march north...
just on time Zhu Di marches south to Nanjing.
This country will...
take over Liaodong.
Even if we take over Liaodong,
we will use everything we have while trying to protect that land,
and as a result, this country...
This land of the Samhan...
can be shattered.
Your Highness,
you should stop this war.
Your Majesty, you should support this war...
and stop the 1000-year-long submission.
It will be the new nation...
that doesn't torture its people...
and that doesn't submit to the stronger.
You must stop this war...
and save our land, Your Highness.
This was it.
This was the reason for my anxiety.