Scholars, government officials, and Sadaebu. We, who are here,
need to be this country's healthy and strong roots.
We are this land's Milbon (hidden roots).
Milbon: Hidden roots
Milbon?
Milbon has to be only and cannot ever be different from the following two things.
It's Minbon. The people are the foundation and roots.
Minbon. The people...
The people are the roots.
Moo Hyul!
Your Highness.
Episode 43
Liaodong field
I, Warrior Moo Hyul, accepted my lord's orders and lived a day as if it's a year.
Stand up.
You have changed.
You have also changed, Your Highness.
Let's go back to Gaegyeong.
It's not Gaegyeong now. It's Hanyang.
The capital has already been moved.
Right. Let's go to Hanyang.
To think that you came back alive, you have good luck.
Your Highness is the one who has good luck.
- Me?-Because I came back alive, I will be the good hand for you.
Did it all go well with the Nanjing issue?
It went well. His Majesty the emperor also liked Our Highness a lot.
Most people thought His Highness as the Crown Prince.
His Highness as the Crown Prince?
His Highness' appearance and way of speaking have always been good so they misunderstood.
Your Highness, about Moo Hyul.
Take him with you.
Why?
He doesn't dream of protecting this place. He's a crazy man.
I lost interest. Take him with you.
He's a bodyguard but his feelings are not directed to me so how can I keep him?
I will wish you the fortunes of war even from far away.
I will also wish you the fortunes of war.
Finally, Milbon has been formed.
Yes, Hyungnim.
Now that the Sadaebu's organization has been formed, the groundwork for system and talented people have been built.
Yes, yes.
Now no matter who becomes the King, they won't be able to change the country's system that easily.Shim Hyo Saeng (Crown Prince Lee Bang Seok's Father-in-law)
Now we have to put all our efforts in the military reform.
It's been delayed due to the movement of the capital, but we cannot push it back further anymore.
But you saw what happened during the first round of military reform.
The opposition from the influential subjects who have soldiers is something to be reckoned with.
They think of having their soldiers taken away as the same thing as dying.Jeong Do Gwang (Jeong Do Jeon's younger brother)
Yeon Hee, tell me about the information that came in today.
It's information that came from a Hwasadan spy I planted in Nanjing.
Prince Jeong An (Lee Bang Won) is on his way back.
Since he's already arrived at the Liaodong Fortress, he'll soon cross the border.
The military reform wasn't something that could be finished in a year or two anyway.
You've all worked hard so far, but all Milbon will have to strengthen their resolve.
Do you understand?
Yes.
Milbon has to be only and cannot ever be different than the following two things.
It's Minbon.
The people are the foundation and roots.
Minbon.
Boon Yi.
This is the one you're looking for, right?
Where did it come from?
A Banchon person saw it being hidden.
That's a relief.
Because of this, Nameless showed up again?
I don't know.
So those people still haven't given up.
If you want to protect Boon Yi's dream and the world she believes in, kill me now.
Then, Mom as well...
Mom is just another member of Nameless.
Bang Won is coming back.
When?
There was news that he arrived in Liaodong. He'll probably be here soon.
If I see him again, I bet I'd be happy and welcome him
but I'm a little scared.
Yes, I'm scared but
he's coming back alive.
Thank you.
What are you saying all of a sudden?
If it weren't for you that always believed in me and pressed onto matters
I probably wouldn't have gotten here. Thank you.
So I got a new dream.
What is it?
It's for you to not be involved in this work like Boon Yi and for you to find your life.
I don't like you sacrificing your whole life to this work.
I am also aware of Bang Ji's gazes towards you.
Right. Have you caught that person?
Yes.
That person is Nameless.
Nameless has reappeared.
You and Yeon Hee are Nameless' targets
so you must not go around without my protection.
Yes, Bon Won. You must have Bang Ji with you from here on.
Prince Jeong An is coming back and Nameless also resurfaced.
It's something that's already failed in Gaegyeong.
Yes. Are you saying you are going to do the battle formation training again when it already failed in Gaegyeong?
We have failed so we have to do it again.
The military of one country has different signals, drums and horns, flags, and knowledge.
Does that make sense?
But if we do a large scale reformation in this type of current situation...
Yes!
The public sentiments will worsen due to the anxiety towards war.
It's not anxiety towards war. It's preparing for it.
Right now, each soldier uses different formations and terminology.
If the military of a country cannot be standardized,
how can we establish a centralized system and strengthen national military power?
But why is Gabyeolcho called as such?(Gabyeolcho: Lee Seong Gye's private army)
If His Highness is not leading it, then it won't be Gabyeolcho.
The only one that fully knows the advantages of that army is His Highness.
That is why Goryeo has collapsed.
The Japanese pirates were becoming powerful on all sides, but there was no unified command system.
That is right.
Therefore the military reform has to be achieved no matter whta.
But!
Everyone, stop.
Bring it in!
Sam Bong, come closer.
Yes, Your Highness.
Sam Bong's thoughts and my thoughts are the same.
Since we cleansed away worn out spirits
and founded a new country,
all subjects
think of Sam Bong's orders as my own
and cooperate
with the training of the army.
Your grace is immeasurable, Your Highness!
Thank you for giving support for the military reform.
It's something that has to be done.
But you must not have ulterior motives.
What do you mean?
I have seen a lot of politicians start to harbor ulterior motives
after getting a hold of military power.
Of course, something like that won't happen to you, right?
First, we'll hold a ceremony for the flag.
-Then...-Right.
We'll discard the different military flags used by each army.
It's time to use the new Joseon's military flag.
Yes. I'll make preparations.
You must make sure no military officials or commanders are absent.
Do you understand?
-Yes.-Yes.
See me for a bit.
At the same time we proceed with the military flag ceremony,
make preparations to arrest the military officials right away.
Pardon? What are you saying?
We are going to burn all the old flags, so put them over here.
The preparations are complete.
I understand.
The generals and commanders including Lee Moo Minister of State Affairs and Lee Soo Won Great General
did not attend.
How can they do this?
General Lee Ji Ran and the princes didn't come.
We are going to proceed with the flag ceremony.
My Lord.
Light the fire.
Yes.
The old military system used by the previous dynasty Goryeo
will burn and disappear with these flags.
From now on, we will give impetus to the new military reform.
- Everything has been prepared, right?-Yes, my Lord.
-Then, start it.-Yes.
What are you doing?
The people under Your Highness's command, Chun Oh Jang,
Park Do Won, Lee Chan Sang and Jeong Choon Soo
are to be arrested for disobeying the military command
per the order of Chief Commander of Three Armies Jeong Do Jeon.
What?
You rascals. Do you think you'll be left unharmed after doing this?
Your Highness has also disobeyed the military command.
-What?-What are you doing?
-Arrest them!-Yes!
Does this make sense? All our guys were taken.
I told you to keep quiet and sit down.
Do you think I feel at ease?
My guys were all taken.
Isn't Father being too much?
What is the Gabyeolcho? Isn't it our soldiers?
How can he get rid of the soldiers?
He did it because he rose to the throne using private soldiers
Don't you know that?
Sook Jeong Gate
This is not a dream, right?
We didn't know how long it would take when we left
but we came back faster than we expected.
Sook Jeong Gate
Husband.
Wife, have you been well all this time?
Have you been well?
Have you been healthy, Father-in-law?
Nothing to worry about us. I'm worried about you who left for a faraway place.
But...
I'm sorry that I have to relay such a news as soon as you came back.
Did something happen?
Let's go.
You really came back alive.
His Highness has given me authority over this country's military power.
But the founding contributors that should be the role models,
have disobeyed His Majesty's command and military command.
Do you not know shame?
General Jo!
Your Highness.
Your Highness, have you been well?
Congratulations for coming back alive.
Yes.
You're busy like always.
General Jo, look at you.
Are you in a lot of pain?
My body is okay
but my heart aches.
The Ming Emperor listened to His Highness's explanation
and said to resolve the misunderstandings
and release the restriction of envoy passage.
It's this.
I'm proud.
Prince Jeong An has really accomplished a big thing regarding diplomacy.
Yes.
You're being very generous, Your Highness.
It was all done by the whole envoy group that went so it's only a small result.
Prince Jeong Ahn, you are being too humble.
That's right, Your Highness.
Because of Prince Jeong An's accomplishment, a foreign affair problem has been solved.
Noonim!
Moo Hyul!
Aigoo! Moo Hyul!
Aigoo, Moo Hyul. Moo Hyul!
Grandmother, accept my bow.
Aigoo!
Are you really Moo Hyul? Our Moo Hyul?
Our Noonim must not have missed me.
I missed you.
Aigoo, Moo Hyul. Have you been eating? Are you okay?
You're not hurt anywhere?
On top of being okay,
he has become better. His shoulders and legs are strong.
Nothing wrong happened, right?
Who do you think your grandmother is? Nothing's wrong.
I even settled here and took control of things.
It's a relief that you're looking good.
Aigoo. Oh my goodness.
Aigoo, my goodness.
Moo Hyul.
Military reform...
Yes. That could lead to dissolving the private army.
If that happens, it will really lead to something big that we can't be certain of.
So I've secretly hidden weapons and equipment.
Where?
In Banchon.
Banchon? Why in Banchon?
There's no place as safe as Banchon. The royal army can't go in and search.
Myo Sang said she wanted a tavern so I prepared it and used the house beside it as an underground storage.
Lord Jo Young Gyu is secretly managing it.
Banchon.
What are you writing that you're always earnestly doing it?
I hope that this will never be used.
But why?
After coming here, I think this place is really dangerous.
Because the royal army can't go in without royal command, the government officials and scholars do their secret meetings here.
And people like us unwillingly hear this and that while doing their chores.
You said to forget all of those but why are you writing it all down?
In preparation just in case. It can be our strength.
We left the dangerous work and came to Banchon because of the information left by Seon Dol.
Of course, I wish we wouldn't have to use this.
Let's go now. Everyone's gathered, right?
At that time, Moo Hyul went to the king like that.
I don't know about you being a king or whatever. The sword will still go in.
So we were all going, "Oh my! What are we going to do?"
but then His Highness said, "Okay. Translate what Moo hyul said."
Teacher Ho Jeong and I are thinking it shouldn't be translated
no it must not. But all of a sudden, the king came out.
"I understand."
He understood our language.
If you act up like that, I won't let you be.
But I really think that Orabi Moo Hyul has changed.
What?
Look! Look! Even his way of speaking is different. Same goes for his attitude.
That's right. Everyone changes when they age. They mature.
Of course, there are exceptions.
No one's listening.
You look good. I think you also became more dependable.
Is that so?
Hey.
I really can't get used to it.
Brother, I think we have to adapt fast.
I don't think he's acting all serious just for show.
I'll bring more food to eat.
Oh. Bring another bottle of liquor.
Yes.
It's here. Come in.
If you go in here, there will be another storage.
It's here.
Wow! How did you move all of this? Weapons can't be taken into Banchon.
During when the capital was being moved and Banchon was being reestablished, I put everything here without anyone knowing.
Makes sense. No other place is as safe as Banchon.
-Does Boon Yi know?-She doesn't.
If we tell her, Banchon will end and Boon Yi will be in danger.
This will be useful but if things go wrong,
we will also meet our end.
I heard you're doing well.
It was a hard earned opportunity.
I am really happy that you're back.
Happy? I bet you're thinking that something bothersome has appeared.
I'm not, Your Highness.
Okay.
Here.
It was made by a famous person in Nanjing.
Thank you.
♪ I recognized you a few times. Thanks to you, ♪
Give it here.♪ I am alive ♪
♪ I restlessly follow your voice. ♪
♪ Even if I push you a thousand times, I go to you ♪
♪ I am shining in your eyes. ♪
I heard Banchon is strictly neutral.
Yes.
Neutrality. If you want to protect that, you know that you need power, right?
If you don't have power, you will suffer from both sides.
If you die doing that, both sides won't even take care of your remains.
You know that, right?
I will keep it in mind.
I'm probably mistaken. There's no way she'd be here.
Master passed out from being drunk.
He's inside snoring. He's always said he doesn't get drunk...
What will happen to us now?
How would I know?
So have you bet everything on Prince Jeong An?
What about you?
Why do you want to protect Prince Jeong Ahn?
There's no why. Small connections built up and made a road.
You just follow that road.
Lee Bang Ji
Someday,
will we end up fighting each other too?
A warrior I met in Liaodong said this.
A person who lives with a sword is different than a person who lives with a ink brush.
The person who lives with a sword shouldn't try to see more than two moves into the future.
Just one move into the future. You only have to see one move into the future.
That's why I'm going to do that.
I will just look at what's in front of me right now.
But you never could see more than two moves into the future.
Bastard.
I was trying to make the mood after a while.
Hey.
Did I really change that much?
I missed you.
Good.
Translator Ha Ryun, accept your punishment!
Punishment? What crime did I commit?
You went to Ming's country and disturbed the nation's foundation and brought down the King's status.
When did I disturb the nation's foundation?
This person is doing it again.
I already got hit at the investigation office so what now? Want to hit me some more?
Did you forget to hit me somewhere yesterday or something?
We have no business with you.
Then, is it me?
What about him?
Receive the royal command to arrest the envoy group.
What are you doing? Arrest him!
Let's go.
Your Highness!
All of the people part of the envoy have been transferred to the Investigation Bureau.
Transferred? Why?
I don't know what's going on but I immediately came here in fear that something might happen to you too.
This is probably plotted by Lord Sam Bong again.
Just what happened? Why an arrest command all of a sudden?
Her Majesty met with Lord Lee Chan Soo from the envoy group.
Why would Lord Lee Chan Soo?
Ha Ryun
Why do we have to get interrogated?
Shouldn't you at least tell us the reason?
Is it true that His Highness the prince called himself the Crown Prince?
I don't know anything.
I really don't know.
No... About that...
Speak the truth!
Punish them!
No! It's all a misunderstanding!
How dare Prince Jeong An say that he's the Crown Prince in Ming?
This is high treason.
Queen Shin Duk (Lee Seong Gye's second wife. Bang Beon and Bang Seok's mother)
Your Majesty, you have to arrest Prince Jeong Ahn and question him.
But he just came back after achieving a great thing.
No matter how great the achievement it, you can't just cover up high treason.
As a struggle for power, the Mings even send you a written order for appointment of personnel.
We don't know what kind of problems the Mings will make out of this when Prince Ui Ahn rises to the throne in the future.
That is right.
If Prince Jeong An really lied about being the Crown Prince, something like this shouldn't happen.
Yes.
I will definitely investigate this and expose the truth.
Bon Won, we must not miss this chance.
He and I didn't even go to Nanjing.
I don't even know what happened in Nanjing.
It's true.
We didn't go to Nanjing. We were held at Liaodong.
Then,
didn't Lord Ha Ryun say something similar after coming back to Liaodong?
What are you doing? Rip him up.
W-wait! Wait!
The Ming ambassadors were mistaken that Prince Jeong Ahn was the Crown Prince.
He did say something like that in passing.
This person!
You are still going to act innocent?
Punish him.
Did you get a grasp of the situation?
From what they are saying, since Prince Jeong Ahn has a lot of knowledge in Neo-Confucianism, the Ming ambassadors called him the Crown Prince first.
Prince Jeong Ahn explained to them the truth, but they kept calling him the Crown Prince and treated him as such.
The Ming Emperor saw him personally twice.
How would we know whether he tried to explain the truth or lied about being the Crown Prince?
I will go out.
Bon Won, we must not miss it now.
Because of Prince Jeong Ahn's accomplishments in diplomatic matters with the Ming, the Sadaebu that are wanting to serve the Ming are being moved.
The more Prince Jeong Ahn's name is brought up, the Crown Prince's status will waver.
That's right.
Why are you so down?
There's so many things to do but as soon as Prince Jeong An came back, I have to do a political battle again.
It's exhausting.
Why do you only thing of the political battle?
If prince Jeong An really lied about being the Crown Prince, it's just right that he be punished.
And if that happens, a big obstacle towards military reformation will disappear.
Queen, are you okay?
Your Highness, when I die...
How can you say that?
What will happen to our Crown Prince?
Prince Jeong An makes me nervous.
Your Highness, please protect our Crown Prince.
I am here so why are you so worried?
Think of the Crown Prince in a country where we don't exist.
He's just a rabbit in front of the wolves.
I can't take this.
If I have to pass away, I will take Prince Jeong Ahn with me.
Queen!
If you leave Prince Jeong Ahn alone even after his traitorous thoughts have been revealed, what will happen to the Crown Prince's status?
Your Majesty, please understand me.
Prince Jeong Ahn seems to be in a difficult situation.
I heard on my way here.
Sam Bong will probably not just let this go.
More than anything, Her Majesty's wrath is shooting towards the sky.
Without letting this chance go, it seems that they will surely eliminate Prince Jeong An.
This is something that we didn't expect
but Sam Bong will be facing something unexpected soon.
Is it related to you coming back from Nanjing?
Yes. I met General So Ryun and asked him to help us with our work.
General So Ryun?
Even though the Ming ambassadors just misunderstood, such a terrible thing happened
and is spreading through out the town, so you can't just stay silent.
Then, what should we do?
Send Ha Ryun, who was responsible for the envoy group, to exile
and behead Gwon Taek Soo who spread this incidient after returning to Hanyang.
Also, it is right for Prince Jeong An to stay in the countryside.
But Your Highness, Prince Jeong An solved a long time problem with Ming.
If you punish Prince Jeong An for that crime,
we might also go into trouble with Ming again.
What are you saying Left Chief Minister?
Are you saying we should just turn a blind eye because we are afraid of angering the Mings?
You are people who are supposed to protect the Crown Prince.
How can you just let Prince Jeong An be?
Look here Queen. We are looking at the possible options right now.
Have you ever thought about what will happen to the Crown Prince when both His Highness and I are not here anymore?
It seems that the job at Nanjing has ended well.
Yes. She has already arrived back in Hanyang.
What are you talking about?
We can't just stay still right now.
You should go to Her Majesty right this instant...
Wife. You are right. I shouldn't just stay still like this.
What are you saying?
Prince Jeong An just went into the palace with Lord Jo Young Gyu
and it seems like Lord Jo is hiding something like a weapon.
No. It can't be.
How can he go into the palace while hiding a weapon?
Your Majesty, there could be a Court worker that's been bribed by Prince Jeong Ahn.
So? Where did they go?
To Donggoong Jeon.(Donggoong Jeon: Place where the Crown Prince stays at)
What?
Your Highness the Crown Prince!
Please punish me!
Because I was incapable and immoral, such a disaster happened.
How can it not be a heavy crime?
The Ming ambassadors misunderstood and called me such terrible thing.
But foolishly, I thought that might help with the diplomatic matters.
So it is true that I was a little hesitant to correct them.
Your Highness, please punish me heavily!
Hyungnim, how can you do this? Please don't do this.(Crown Prince: Lee Bang Seok)
No, Your Highness.
Please punish me.
I was the only one who did it so please forgive those people.
Your Highness, I will be loyal to you until the day I die.
Father!
Please forgive Prince Jeong An. He didn't do anything wrong.
Please also release Prince Jeong An's people.
Hyungnim, please stand up. Hurry.
Hurry and stand up, Hyungnim.
Stand up.
Crown Prince.
Did you lower yourself to the Crown Prince and pledge your loyalty to him?
Yes.
I am trying to repent on my past faults and live quietly like you and father have wanted.
As in playing Baduk (Go/Weiqi), are you trying to plan an unexpected move after throwing away your stone and surrendering?
Then, it will not be baduk anymore.
What are you saying?
Are you saying that you'll see it until the end?
Didn't I tell you?
I will only be loyal to the Crown Prince from now on.
Bang Won.
Because you called me that,
I feel like crying.
Do you want to ascend the throne? Why?
Did you dream of a country different from what I was making?
Did you have different thoughts regarding the country, ideals, and system that I have?
The fifth rule of the Five Rules of the King: the royal family must not participate in politics.
You were desperate and enraged because of it? But what are you going to do if you become the king?
Are you just going to let the royal family interfere with politics and practice their power?
The system where officials are only chosen from Civil Exams and where they check each other and correct the king of faults.
Do you not think of doing that if you become the king?
Or unlike what I'm trying to do, are you going to not reform the military
, give up the centralized command system and like in Goryeo, allow the princes and important figures to have their own private army?
None of this is true.
Even if you become the king, looking at your temperament,
you are going to try to take control of appointment of officials in each department,
and watch over them yourself. And like me, you'll say that it can't be helped because it's the early period of founding a country.
Only that much will be different.
Is it not?
Everything
is right, Teacher.
In the end, your ideals about the country is not different from mine.
Your self-interest, personal motive, personal reason, and personal dream
of doing it yourself,
that's all there is to it, is it not?
Can it not work if it's my personal dream?
This is a great cause of the public, so
How can that work?
If it's the same, then I can do it.
Does it really have to be Bang Seok?
The paths have already turned awry, has it not?
Yes.
It's gone awry, bent and broken.
So I will not care about the road
and just go to the direction of my dream.
You asked if I want a new country?
Do I have a different belief?
No. I don't.
Why do I have to have that?
Bang Won.
My strongest man
was you.
My dream
is to look after that beautiful country
that you will create.
So
I must have it.
You are really like Bidam.
You are most briliant
and have the tenacity and cleverness to take hold of people,
and have the sharp insight to look after the world,
but you can't control your mistaken desire,
so you make false causes.
Bidam was caught in his personal conspiracy
and you are helpless in your personal desire for power.
There's no helping it now.
One thing will be different
between Bidam and I.
Bidam was the loser.
That's right. Nobody can predict the future
but Bidam collapsed because of Kim Yushin's sword
and he probably didn't know it until the day he died in front of Deokman.
That he is the loser.
Yes. The game is not over yet!
You haven't gotten my doksu yet.(Doksu: a merciless and fatal move in baduk)
You can't do this.
Isn't it obvious that Prince Jeong An is lying?
Do you still believe him?
Prince Jeong An's tears
still makes me shiver.
-Queen.-Your Highness.
You must not just leave Prince Jeong An like this.
Queen! Queen!
Is there nobody there?
Gently.
Moo Hyul! Aigoo. Master Hong. Moo Hyul!
Are you okay? Did they release you?
Everyone was released but...
Moo Hyul, are you okay?
Hurry and lie down inside. I will call a doctor.
Grandmother, this is nothing.
No! Even if it looks okay now...
If you just let it all stack up, it will become a serious illness.
Go inside and I will call a doctor.
Gab Boon, hurry and take our Moo Hyul inside.
Noonim! It hurts so much that I can't speak.
Noonim, let's go togethere! Noonim!
Gab Boon.
Could there be... here in Banchon...
Eun Ho!
Myeong Ah!
Did you hide here again?
If you go in there just like that...
How could this be in Banchon?
Lady.
Warrior-nim, please pretend that you don't know.
I heard about the previous king.
I'm not even thinking of revenge.
Even in that cave, you didn't kill me.
So please pretend that you don't know this time as well.
Yes. I understand.
But
you have changed a lot.
Last morning, it passed the border.
It was faster than I expected.
"Now that Joseon is sending someone every traditional holiday,
"and sending greetings with a letter of worship, so you seem to be courteous,
"but the message is insincere and you have looked down upon me.
"So
"the envoys that you sent will be sent back.
"also, the writer, proofreader and
"the man responsible for it, Jeong Do Jeon..."
Jeong Do Jeon
Hurry and read it. What are you doing?
Read it.
"Transfer all of them
"to Ming."
You still haven't
gotten my merciless and fatal move.
Could be be that your merciless move is
related to this? Lee Bang Won.
My merciless and fatal move,
take it.
Teacher.
Six Flying Dragons
Please send Sam Bong Jeong Do Jeon.
Your Highness, please don't send Sam Bong to Ming.
It will be hard for Lord Sam Bong to endure.
I, Jeong Do Jeon, will resign from all my government posts.
Please protect the Crown Prince. It's my last request.
What about Sam Bong's whereabouts?
- Not yet.-Where are you and what are you doing?
Everything is set. This is the beginning.
I still haven't placed my merciless move yet.