To find out something?
[Episode 46] I wanted to see if I could do it.
I wanted to see their face and find out.
Moo Hyul.
Yes, Your Highness.
Bang Seok.
Jeong Do Jeon.
I shall take their lives.
Then he will make a decision.
You must follow it.
How will you do it?
You no longer have control over your private armies...
and you will be closely watched.
Young Gyoo paid his life to protect the armoury,
but it will be difficult to gather the troops. On top of that,
it will be nearly impossible to assemble without being noticed.
We must assemble.
As soon as we do, we'll be reported...
Young Gyoo...
prepared us for it.
Young Gyoo's...
funeral.
Young Gyoo's comrades,
fellow soldiers and our people who are spread in different areas.
Let them all know.
Tell them to gather at the occasion...
that Young Gyoo prepared for us.
Do you see...
these blood stains?
Can you bring a hammer?
(Lee Sin Jeok)
You are here.
It's the Goksan Method.
My hesitation...
My indecisiveness...
What's going to happen to us?
Where is Prince Jeongan?
That way.
From all the visitors who came, I have invited those you told me...
to a room inside.
All right.
By the way,
Master Lee Sin Jeok is here as well.
What shall I do?
Exclude him for now.
You two are here as well.
Yes, Your Highness.
I'm sorry, Bang Won.
Jo Young Gyoo...
(Min Da Gyung)
He lost his life because of what I asked him to do.
If you put it that way,
we shouldn't have been born in the first place.
You shouldn't apologise.
Let's go in.
Yes, Your Highness.
I can't believe Young Gyoo...
passed away.
Was it Master Sambong's men?
Nothing is certain yet.
(Prince Jeongan: Lee Bang Won)
The only certain thing is that he died trying to protect our armoury.
It's quite obvious. Who else could it be?
We fought with our lives...
for the King during several wars but he neglected us.
Sambong is taking all the credit for it.
Bang Won, are you just going to watch?
Let's turn it around.
We can't do anything right now.
We have reached the end of the road.
Young Gyoo told us to do...
whatever it takes to keep a few dozen soldiers tucked away.
We should at least give it a try.
I have...
gathered all of you here since you...
were all close with Young Gyoo.
From now on,
until the 49th day memorial ritual,
we will have seven separate rituals at Temple Hongji.
We'll attend all of them...
and use it as a place of our discussion.
We cannot waste the opportunity...
that Young Gyoo set for us.
Where is Ha Ryun?
I've sent him a messenger so he should be arriving soon.
Master Sambong is here.
The women's shoes would be Madame Min's.
Besides, there are 10 men.
He gathered all those who were against abolition of private armies.
Would I have to fight Bang Ji?
Would I...
lose?
What happened?
I think it was Chuk Sa Gwang.
What?
Apparently, a kid from the Wang family sneaked into Banchon.
He changed his name to Ok.
He was caught getting out of Banchon...
so they took him away.
He's probably dead now.
What a pity. He wasn't even 10 yet.
Your Highness.
He was more of a brother...
to you than any of your real brothers.
He was.
He was kind to people like us.
(Boon Yi)
How could this happen in Banchon?
How does she know he died in Banchon?
I saw the blood stains.
I saw the armoury as well.
No matter what happens,
never let me or Sambong influence you.
Even if I die,
even then...
you should be happy somewhere.
That's what I am going to believe.
I'm truly sorry.
I didn't want to get you involved.
Would something...
happen because of it?
It belongs to me.
The armoury belongs to me.
It was created when Banchon was being made.
I can't get rid of it now.
If it becomes necessary,
then I'll have to use them.
You can report it.
Even if you do so,
Banchon will take the fall as well.
Why do you say so?
When and if that day comes,
you must make a wise decision.
Try your best...
to save you and your people.
When...
would be that day?
I'm not sure.
I don't know if that day will come or not.
But I won't be able to refrain from...
using those weapons just to save you.
The Hongwu Emperor.
This is a message from Ming.
Master Jo Young Gyoo and you...
were good friends from childhood, like brothers.
More than anyone else, you must be...
devastated.
I am indeed.
Why did this happen?
I'm curious myself.
Why did this happen?
Master.
Is that her?
Master Sambong's lady.
You could say that.
Your Highness.
What?
Yes. It seems like the Hongwu Emperor is dead.
(The Hongwu Emperor: the first emperor of Ming)
There has been no official announcement.
But according to our spy, it seems to be the case.
The Hongwu Emperor is dead?
The Hongwu Emperor is already dead?
Yes, he is.
Your Highness, Master Ha Ryun is here.
I didn't know you knew...
Master Jo Young Gyoo so well that you'd come to his funeral.
It finally happened.
What happened?
Is it the Hongwu Emperor?
Tell Jo Joon, Shim Hyo Saeng and Nam Eun...
that I want to see them tomorrow morning.
Yes, Master.
We are in an urgent situation now.
Sambong will set out to dispatch the troops.
Let's get rid of Sambong.
We'll get rid of Jeong Do Jeon, Shim Hyo Saeng and Nam Eun,
take control of the police agency,
besiege the palace...
and ask for the Crown Prince.
Your Highness.
We do not have enough soldiers to take control of...
the Department of Defence and the palace.
Right.
Sook Bun and I could mobilise some regional armies,
but it'd be impossible for them to enter Hanyang.
If the troops travel during the day,
it could not go unnoticed.
If they travel at night,
the gates to Hanyang will be closed.
The only option left is a siege.
But in that case, signal fires will be lit immediately.
You're right.
So come up with another strategy.
Give me some time.
What? The Hongwu Emperor is dead?
Yes, Your Majesty. This is our chance.
Please grant us your decision.
This is not right, Your Majesty.
There are too many variables involved in attacking Liaodong.
If you take all variables into account,
you couldn't achieve anything.
Your Majesty. Battlefields are full of variables.
However, during the last seven years,
we have conducted military training...
and the ownership of private soldiers has been abolished.
We have enough food to feed the troops for three years.
This war will end the unequal relationship with Ming.
As a result, this kingdom will flourish...
and it will benefit our people, Your Majesty.
Summon the princes.
Your Majesty. Prince Jeongan is here.
I was summoned here by you, Father.
Bang Gwa.
Yes, Father.
You have fought in countless wars with me...
and accomplished many feats.
Thank you.
Bang Gan.
On behalf of me,
you successfully led the northeast area.
Thank you.
Please don't mention it.
Bang Won.
With your excellent intelligence,
you solved difficult diplomatic problems with Ming.
Bang Beon.
You should learn from your brothers.
Okay?
Yes, Father.
So...
once again,
I ask you...
for help.
I ask all of you...
to accompany me...
to Liaodong.
Jo Joon.
His Majesty is determined.
Please help.
I can neither understand nor accept it.
After taking our soldiers away, he's now taking us to war.
He must be hoping, while we're in Liaodong,
the Crown Prince will gain a foothold in Hanyang.
In addition to that, if we die in war,
Sambong will celebrate it.
Sambong, that jerk.
- How clever he was. - Here comes the Crown Prince.
I am very impressed by Father's deep trust in you.
I am much obliged for your kind words.
I wish you good luck.
(Crown Prince: Lee Bang Seok)
Things are proceeding too fast.
I need to come up with a way to break through.
This is a letter from Master Ha Ryun.
We have only one option.
You must be aware that the tomb of Her Highness is in Hanyang.
Officers in Gyeonggi Province take turns...
in guarding the tomb.
And Lee Sook Bun is one of them.
When it's his turn,
we can legitimately take 500 soldiers...
into Hanyang.
Moo Hyul.
Go to Lee Sook Bun in Ansan right now...
and find out when it's his turn to guard the tomb.
Okay.
Of the dispatch to Liaodong and Lee Sook Bun's duty,
which will come first?
The dispatch date has been determined.
Here are the lucky days picked out by the Office of Astrology.
Please report it to His Majesty.
Yes, Master.
Sambong.
With the help of all members of the Hidden Root,
I'll make sure the public opinion leans in favour of this war.
What?
Is there anything wrong?
What are you talking about?
That is not what the Hidden Root is for.
What do you mean?
The most important role of the Hidden Root...
is to prevent the corruption of members of the nobility.
With their power, members of the nobility are prone to corruption.
No matter how great the system is,
once they're corrupted, it's over.
That's why they need the Hidden Root to watch their desires...
and keep each other in check.
- However... - Of course, when the King...
or a party forgets that the people are the roots...
and tries to destroy the systems of Joseon,
we should fight back.
Even when all the systems are being destroyed,
we have to be hidden in order to survive.
That is why I made the organisation secret.
I can't believe you were trying to manipulate behind the scenes...
even when we have systems in place.
However...
Understood.
I will keep that in mind.
Tell Master Sambong.
I can't.
Why not?
What will happen to Myo Sang, who is the owner of the storage?
She'll be arrested and interrogated for helping Prince Jeongan.
The same goes for Moo Hyul.
We'll have to go through it too as we were at Prince Jeongan's house.
Plus, all of these weapons were kept in Banchon.
Will the police agency...
really think that we had nothing to do with it?
Then what should we do now?
When and if that day comes,
you must make a wise decision.
Try your best...
to save you and your people.
What do you mean you will go to the battlefield?
You absolutely should not.
Stop telling me what I shouldn't do.
Just treat my condition!
Your Majesty. Do not push yourself, please.
You won't even be able to ride a horse properly right now.
Your Majesty. You're not young any more.
Shut your mouth.
I will ride my horse and fight for at least another 20 years.
The First Vice Prime Minister, Jo Joon, is here.
Let him in.
I heard that you wanted to see me.
I do not think that...
you are wrong just because...
what you think is different from what Sambong believes in.
As you know,
I became the King after disobeying the former King's order...
to conquer Liaodong.
Your Majesty. However,
personal feelings are not...
That is not...
the only reason.
Master Jo. Please look after the Crown Prince.
Please...
mentor and guide the Crown Prince so that he could become...
an enlightened and sage king.
Then what about other princes?
Other princes...
will leave for Liaodong with me.
By now, Master Nam must have secretly informed them...
about when we will leave for the battlefield.
Please receive the King's order.
The date of dispatch must remain confidential.
Please burn it after reading it.
I will. I am aware.
Well, then.
(Assemble in front of Sookjeong Gate on August 20 at noon.)
So you'll leave on the 20th.
Yes. If Lee Sook Bun enters Hanyang...
before the 20th...
Moo Hyul left to find out about it, so we will hear from him soon.
I need to attend Young Gyoo's memorial ritual.
Please prepare it for me.
Sure.
Your Highness!
Did you find out the date?
It will be the day of Snake in August.
The day of Snake.
It's the 26th.
Bang Won.
The army will leave on the 20th,
but Lee Sook Bun will arrive on the 26th.
What a mess.
Is there any way I could change this situation?
Lee Sook Bun...
will arrive on the 26th.
It will be difficult to make our plan succeed...
without Master Lee Sook Bun's army.
What should we do?
We must leave for the battlefield on the 20th.
That is correct.
We have seven days before we must leave.
We ought to make a decision before that.
Should we wait for another time,
or should we risk our lives for something that may not be possible?
Young Gyoo, show me the way.
You're the one who brought this opportunity on us.
How did it go?
Tonight.
I will attack Sambong.
Then...
Our weapons in Banchon.
We must sneak them out in secret.
Your Highness. It's me, Jukryong.
Today is the day.
We will attack Sambong.
I've made up my mind.
Your Highness. The skies of this land are on your side.
Your Majesty.
Why didn't you tell us?
Do not worry.
This happens all the time.
I will recover soon.
I've been through this countless times.
Then how about we change the date of dispatch...
Problem solved.
The dispatch has been postponed by seven days.
It will be 7 days later. They will leave on August 27.
Lee Sook Bun's army from Ansan will...
enter Hanyang on the 26th.
I don't believe in the invisible forces, but this is fascinating.
That will be the big day for us.
(Gil Sun Mi)
What will we do if we fail, Leader?
We should forsake Prince Jeongan.
If we fail,
please prepare for the next step immediately.
Understood, Leader. What shall I prepare, exactly?
Burn all grain storages in Hanyang.
The dispatch will take place on the 27th.
Lee Sook Bun will enter Hanyang on the 26th.
We only have one day.
First.
Jeong Do Jeon, Nam Eun and Shim Hyo Saeng. The success of...
our plan depends on whether we can eliminate the three or not.
We must kill them...
in order to obtain control over the Department of Defence.
That is the only way...
we can make my father, Master Jo Joon...
and Uncle Ji Ran give up.
Your men at Temple Bigook...
must find out exactly where Jeong Do Jeon is that day.
You must also find out whereabouts of Hwasadan's spies...
and forestall them.
Please do not worry, Your Highness.
The second obstacle.
It's...
Lee Bang Ji.
We must remove him from the situation...
in order to increase our chance of succeeding.
Jo Mal Saeng.
Yes, Your Highness.
I will come up with a strategy.
Third.
We must sneak out the weapons we hid in Banchon.
Master Hong and I will take care of it.
Yes. We'll do it.
If we fail to take out those weapons,
we will be doomed before we could even start anything.
I am aware, Your Highness.
Please do not worry.
Now...
From this moment to the day before our big day,
don't do anything and just relax.
Just wait.
Wait quietly.
(6 days later, the day before dispatch, August 26, 1398)
Leader.
The dispatch is tomorrow.
Are you ready?
You didn't have to bring this.
It's dried cheonggukjang.
Pack this with Bang Ji's belongings.
This will be easy on the stomach and keep him full.
Here. My goodness.
Hello, you're here.
Hi.
Did you bring something again?
You brought so much beef jerky yesterday.
Moo Hyul was complaining he had too much to pack.
That's why I'm sharing it with others.
By any chance,
did Moo Hyul say anything?
About what?
It's nothing.
I should go spend some time with Moo Hyul.
If he hadn't said anything to her,
I guess nothing is happening.
- Are you worried? - I am.
As you said,
if Prince Jeongan, by any chance,
has been planning on something, it'll be today.
Then they'll need the weapons in the armoury...
and they might...
We should hope for the best.
The dispatch is tomorrow.
Yes.
Isn't that Woo Hak Joo?
Yes.
He returned to the position of librarian from exile.
A librarian at his age?
Uncle, please come back safely.
I will. Until I come back,
take care of yourself and study hard.
Okay, Uncle.
Good.
Go ahead and eat.
- Oh, Master. - Hello.
Bang Ji, you were here, too.
Why don't you eat with your sister?
I'll be there soon.
Okay.
Please take care of Moo Hyul.
And come back safely.
Don't worry too much.
They're not going to war directly.
I see.
Bang Ji, could I have a moment with you?
Come here.
It was made from a jujube tree hit by lightning.
It cost an arm and a leg.
If you carry this, no arrow will hit you.
I bought one for Moo Hyul...
and one for you.
Thank you.
I hope they will...
all come back safely.
They should. I'll do my best.
Banchon seems a lot more settled.
It must have been a lot of work.
You've done a great job.
That's not true.
It's thanks to Pal Bong, Sang Man...
and the ones who used to live in Banchon in Gaegyeong.
I don't think so.
You've been looking around the town everyday,
talking to everyone,
listening to their problems and setting conflicts.
You've done a great job.
I'm glad to hear that.
Thank you for allowing me this role.
After all, I failed to solve one problem.
- Pardon? - While designing this country,
I thought a lot about...
communication with the people.
But I haven't solved it.
Well...
Are the people really the roots?
I'm sorry.
I happened to be at Jungryunam.
In the hearts of politicians,
the people should be the roots.
But until the people become the roots and...
centre of the world,
it'll take a long time.
Why is that?
The people are in charge of production.
They don't have time.
They are too busy to enlighten themselves.
Some of them...
do learn to read and write.
But for most of them,
it is simply impossible.
If you keep thinking about it,
someday, you'll solve that problem as well.
Are they ready?
- Almost. - Okay. Let's go.
Wait. What about the gunpowder over there?
They didn't say anything about it. Just the weapons.
Okay.
Moo Hyul.
Moo Hyul. Where are you?
The dispatch is tomorrow. Moo Hyul.
Is he here?
Moo Hyul, are you here?
No?
Wait. What's that?
What is it?
- My back hurts. - Be careful.
What's going on?
Gosh, Myo Sang.
These...
These are swords.
Myo Sang.
- Grandma. - Myo Sang.
What's going on?
They're not allowed in Banchon.
We'll get into trouble.
Why are these here? What are you up to?
- Grandma. - Answer me.
Tonight,
Prince Jeongan will attack Sambong.
- What? - Myo Sang.
Then...
will you fight against Bang Ji?
No, we've planned to take Bang Ji away from there.
Moo Hyul. Forget it.
Don't go. It's pointless.
It's pointless.
I can't give up.
Myo Sang, he can't give up.
Why?
You told me to become successful.
Success means being responsible.
Young Gyoo died while taking responsibilities.
Prince Jeongan...
has supported our family so far.
This is my job...
and my responsibility.
Oh, my goodness.
Moo Hyul.
Once this is done, quit, okay?
Answer me.
Once this is done, you'll quit, right?
Right, Moo Hyul.
I hope you'll quit once this job is done.
Okay.
If this goes well,
I'll happily quit.
If this doesn't go well...
Even if that happens, I'll still quit.
Gosh. Okay. Goodness, then.
Promise me, okay? You must promise me.
Okay.
Grandma, you should promise me something, too.
If... If this doesn't go well,
don't worry about me.
Don't even turn around...
and run away, okay?
Promise me. Okay?
Okay. I will.
So you need to take these, right?
It'll be risky if the two of you move these. I should do it.
It will be safer that way.
Let me do it.
I'll be okay.
I'm going there as Master Sambong's bodyguard, not as a soldier.
And you know that...
I used to be Viper the Sniper.
Right. I used to worry about you a lot when we were young,
but I totally trust you now.
Thanks.
Just tonight.
If tonight can go by without any trouble...
Ddang Sae.
Can you stay here tonight?
Master Sambong is busy today.
Right, he must be busy now.
When will he be done?
After the curfew bell for 10pm is rung.
Around 11pm.
Even if it's late, I'd like you to come and sleep here.
I want to make breakfast for you. Okay?
Okay, thanks.
Gosh, what are all these?
We're on our way to the munitions warehouse.
You know the rice we saved for Sungkyunkwan, right?
We're taking it there.
So they're for the soldiers who are being dispatched, right?
Travel safely.
Myo Sang, we're here. We're almost at the entrance.
Where are you going?
- Goodness! - Gosh, you started us.
Why did you show up out of the blue?
What? Why are you getting angry at me?
- Well, sorry. - By the way,
what are all these?
Right. They're rice.
We're bringing them to the munitions warehouse for the soldiers.
I see. That's what they are for. That's good.
Why does this bag of rice...
feel so fluffy?
Well, you know that rice is...
Hang on a moment.
Oh, no.
This...
What's in this?
This is just...
- It's rice. - Yes, that's right!
- Gosh, stop him. - Hey, what are you doing?
Goodness!
Hey, listen.
What... What are you trying to do with this?
How could this sword have been brought into Banchon?
- Keep your voice down. - You'll be in huge trouble!
- Why are you doing this? - Listen. Well... Sir.
Please let it go this once. Please spare us our lives.
The entire village of Banchon could be destroyed because of this.
Right, so just pretend that you've seen nothing.
I'm sorry. We just need one day.
- Hurry up. - Yes... Okay.
That was totally unexpected.
This is what my spies in the Great Continent have informed me.
Zhu Di...
has returned to Beijing from Shenyang.
It looks like 20,000 soldiers...
from the troops that were stationed in Liaodong went with him.
Then does this mean that Zhu Di has made up his mind?
It's too early to conclude like that.
Judging from the differences between the strategies...
of Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Di, Zhu Di is at a disadvantage.
However, those around Zhu Yunwen, who will become the next Emperor,
will never let...
Zhu Di get away.
Moreover, Zhu Di will never...
put up with whatever they will do to him.
That is precisely where our flag of victory lies for our conquest plan.
Is it finished now?
No. The meeting is still going on.
I just reported the information to them.
I see.
The dispatch is tomorrow.
I didn't think that...
this day would really come.
Aren't you afraid?
I'm scared.
And I'm worried, too.
Take this.
You're the only one who doesn't have this.
When you're on the battlefield...
(Yeon Hee)
This will keep you safe.
That time.
After Yiseo-Gun's...
Night of Sevens festival...
Hurry up!
Why is he taking so long?
He's almost there.
Making that outfit for you...
was very difficult.
Go. I don't even want to see you.
Get lost.
So just accept it.
Don't say anything.
Well...
I want to give you this, too.
I want you to keep it.
This is... Myo Sang gave it to you...
as a good luck omen to help you return alive from the war.
I'm more worried about you. I won't be here to protect you.
Hanyang is filled with members of Moo Myung.
I'm lending it to you.
When I come back,
give it back to me.
When I come back...
When I do...
Will we be able to be together?
It's 10pm.
It is...
It is time, Da Gyung.
Bang Won.
No matter what happens,
I won't regret.
(Lee Bang Won's residence)
Ladies.
(Lee Bang Gan's residence)
- Where is Sambong? - He's at Nam Eun's residence.
- Let's go. - Yes, Sir.
Please.
May Moo Hyul come back safely.
- May Bang Ji come back safely. - Myo Sang.
Oh, gosh.
It's you.
Have you been praying?
Yes. I've been worried about the dispatch tomorrow.
I see.
By the way, have you seen Sang Man?
I haven't seen him in a while.
Well...
He was visited by his relative...
from his hometown.
He went out.
A relative?
He'll be back by tomorrow.
I see.
Okay.
Within 20 days from our crossing Amnok River,
from Jiuliancheng to Liaoyang,
it will be under our occupation.
The heart of Liaodong, Shenyang,
within 40 days,
will be ours.
Subtitles by DramaFever
I'm exhausted.
Bang Won.