Episode 38
Is this it?
Why ...?
Was your life just too pathetic and unbearable to lead only as a ___ merchant?
Did you stop to think that, this is your chance, when you came across the Head of the Royal Secretariat, Min? Huh?
Did you hold his hand for your dear life as that 'golden string' of opportunity?! Huh?
BONG SAM!
Min Hyeok...
Did he promise to restore your household's name and honor?
[My BFF] Cheon Bong Sam, how can you?! How can you say a such thing ...?!
How can you actually say that to me?!
[Right now], I'm not sure who you are...
Are you the gaekju peddler?
Aren't you my friend Sun Dol?
Or are you the most revered and a top notch aristocratic society's descendant?
Named: Young Master, Nam Seon Hyo. Huh ...?
Who on earth are you, exactly?
Who the 'heck' are YOU?!
Are you that clueless? I'm none other than your friend, Cheon Bong Sam.
Cheon Merchant's Jr. Merchant Leader...
Sun Dol ...!
Yes... you're right. I can never deny my past of being " Nam Seon."
Because that is also a part of me. However, that was for the sake of the Her Highness the Queen.
It was for the 'greater cause' only! I never thought about restoring my family's [noble] Surname!
Never, did I do that?!
Seon Dol, even if that wasn't your intention...
Nonetheless, if the Min Clan runs rampant,
your clan will arise again.
In which, your name will be restored as the "Young Master, Nam Seon."
You'll live under your previous name.
I'm referring to this.
This was hard earned paperwork
Sun Dol.
From the moment you took this and hid it...
Here deep inside your heart,
you just abandoned the idea of becoming my family member.
Bong Sam.
Bong Sam! Cheon Bong Sam!
How can you do this to me?!
Young Master Nam Seon Yoo, humble merchant means we are low.
More important than any important cause is the survival of my members
If the Min clan is rising again
Gom Bae, Mak Bong, and all those who joined the uprising
All of those would die.
Cheon Bong Sam!!
We should do straw mat lynching.
Straw mat lynching (put someone in straw mat, watering it as they hit him with sticks). Say something that makes sense!
What about Sun Dol's contribution to the peddlers?
Right. It may be wrong for him to disobey boss' order,
but Sun Dol has done everything for our peddlers after all.
But what if this gets back to the Regent's Palace?
We are all
as good as dead.
It would be better if we capture Sun Dol and send him to the Regent.
And interrogate him there.
It would be better for us that they find Min Myeong Ik
and the rest of the Min faction.
What in the world are you talking about?
Look here you young'un!!
Please stop it, now! Stop it!
Boss!
What are we doing here?
Didn't we gather to discuss properly Sun Dol's violation of the merchant's code?
Either the Min clan or the Regent, why do we care?
Shouldn't you set aside emotional arguments? Are you letting your feelings run wild?
Damn!
Let us take a break.
Everyone get out, please.
Hey boss, for those rough guys among peddlers
They ignore a generous and good person
because they know such person can't protect them.
The world of peddlers and world of guys are all the same, aren't they?
If you don't punish Sun Dol hard enough, they'll say you're easy on him since he's your friend.
They all won't trust you any more.
Then this peddler group will come to an end.
Bring him here!
Band Dae, you bring Sun Dol's ID tag to me.
Yes sir.
Sir, I'll take it from you.
What my ID tag for?
I'm telling you all.
Sun Dol's ID tag would be repossessed by us.
For the next 3 years, nobody would
be able to issue an ID tag for him.
You're going to kick me out?
Besides, your disobeying boss' order
and commited the crime of manipulating my group members
to follow you blindly...
and the crime of subjecting our members to death...
For all those crimes
flog him 30 times.
Flog him 30 times!
Oh no! Relationship between the boss and Sun Dol is being shattered.
We need to stop it. Boss!
It was a difficult decision!
If kindness prevails, how can you control peddlers?
What are you doing not carrying out his orders?
Yes.
This is the 17th hit.
It's the 18th.
Tough guy in Songpa stable business.
Mighty powerful Gom Bae.
You should do your share of work.
You think I can't do it?
This would be the 19th hit.
You fool! What do you think you're doing?!
How can you add emotion to punishment!
Your name is shameful, you bastard.
This is the 20th!
Hey, look!
What the hell is this!!!
Sun Dol. Sun Dol!!
Sun Dol! Sun Dol! Sun Dol!
Oh dear, this much!
Carry him on your back quickly.
Carefully! Carefully! Be careful!
Physician! Physician!
Physician!
Hey boss!
This way!
You, boss!
You really beat him badly and drew blood!
What brings you here?
Just because you're across the river, you may be too unaware what's going on.
The Ching dynasty brought troops and quelled the uprising.
They even have set up army barricade around the East gate.
Please step aside. We need to get to the doctor's quickly.
I'll take him.
Why it is to be you to take my friend?
Man you are piggybacking is not peddler Sun Dol.
He made big contribution on controlling rioters, Nam Seon Yoo.
Hurry and escort Nam Seon Yoo.
Yes. Escort him.
Yes sir.
You can't!
Don't you have to save his life first?
Hurry and take him.
Yes sir.
Careful, be careful! It hurts, he'll be hurting!
Sun Dol.
-Let's go. -Yes.
That Merchant Cheon is vicious.
He's a stickler for rules.
Well. It worked out better this way.
With this, it seems the relationship between Merchant Cheon and this friend here has ended.
Look at this, sir. Let go of me
Did Sun Dol really say to pack them all up?
Pack everything of her stuff up.
What do we do? What do we do? What do we do?
What's all this?
Sir Bong.
Are you going to let Sun Dol go like this?
I will go to the Chief Secretary's home, apologize to Sun Dol and bring him back.
It's all my fault. If that doesn't work, I'll do anything to bring him back.
Don't say stupid nonsense!
Ocean creature should stay in ocean, and river creatures in rivers.
After all, Sun Dol is your friend.
For you sir Bong, your inseparable life buddy.
He's like thread for needle, you know.
What do we need a noble like Nam Sun Yoo for our stable business?
Are you having him brush the cows' butts?
Sir Bong, why are you saying such heartless words?
Who cares how he's been called?
Stop saying anything about Sun Dol!!!
Now, Chinese army has entered.
How to save and protect the lives of our fellow citizens from trouble...
We need to do something.
Chun Bong Sam
Sun Dol
Hey Bong Sam, let's switch clothes.
Okay.
Peddlers exchanged clothing to confirm friendship.
Yeah!
Farewell, take care of yourself.
Go.
Bong Sam, farewell!
Ok.
Sun Dol. What am I supposed to do now?
My friend.
Sun Dol! Sun Dol!
It's me Bong Sam!
Sun Dol!
Sun Dol! It's me Bong Sam!
Sun Dol!
Let me get out, please.
If you step out that door!
Sun Dol!
You can't ever come back as Nam Seon Yoo.
Sun Dol!
Don't misunderstand. For you, it's either me or Merchant Cheon.
I'm not telling you to choose between the two.
Then what do you want?
Can you really abandon your family?
Our lives are not for ourselves but for our families.
If you leave now here for Merchant Cheon, following your emotional attachment,
whether you're Nam Seon Yoo or Sun Dol, you can't stay alive.
You will perish.
Since this is your room
I will leave it to you. Think carefully
Sun Dol. Sun...
You're here?
I'd like to take my friend Sun Dol now.
Do as you wish.
Sun Dol.
Oh, stuff is here.
Are you ok?
Gom Bae, Mak Bae and those, they're so sorry they don't know what to do.
You know their temper, they couldn't control themselves.
Let's go home.
Let's cook pig's feet and eat well together.
Gom Bae, Mak Bae, Hyung Man Chi and all those folks have been waiting a month for you.
Hurry. Get up quickly. Let's go.
My home is in Ae Ryung in Gyeongsang province.
My uncle who had high noble position was offered poison during the Catholic Persecution.
My father and mother
were beheaded.
They say my younger siblings who were less than 15 years of age could not be beheaded.
They were pushed off the edge of a water reservoir to be drowned.
I still haven't buried my parents properly.
I also couldn't save my siblings from drowning.
Ok. Let's go to Ae Ryung together.
So, you can set up your parents' grave properly
Let's do everything for your siblings as well, Sun Dol.
My name is Seon Yoo., Nam Seon Yu. You said it yourself.
My family will be restored and I'll live as Nam Seon Yoo.
Okay. Your name is Nam Seon Yoo.
And you're also my friend, Sun Dol.
I'm sorry. Ever since I became this boss and teacher
I forgot for a moment. I'm sorry my friend.
You can separate politics and business.
As I was going through troubles I came to learn. Your ideas are too different from mine.
We've been through many troubles.
Yes. There has been a difference in ideas between you and me.
However, you and I have done our best for our 200,000 fellows.
Please leave. From now on, I'll live as Nam Seon Yoo.
Sun Dol.
And Bong Sam
If you continue opposing the Min clan, your peddlers would be ruined.
Ok. Take care of yourself.
Head Merchant Cheon.
Your Songpa stable business folks,
Gom Bae, Mak Bae and their family who were involved in the uprising.
Let me ask the Chief Secretary to see if I can do something for them.
That's all I can do for you.
Cheon Bong Sam
Why did you come back alone?
Nam Seon Yoo is now one of us.
Thanks to this incident, you can now be at ease.
I am indebted to you Royal Secretary.
Well, it's not a big deal.
Now that the capital is stabilized. Please go to Guksa Shrine and escort Her Highness, the Queen.
Didn't I tell you that the master at Unhyun Palace [Regent Heungseon] is a setting sun?
Now that he's been captured and sent to Qing, he can no longer be a threat to you, Your Highness.
Your Highness, now is the time to return to the palace.
Each day that I spent here in this room, felt as long as a thousand years.
If it weren't for you Guksa Shrine Priestess, my heart would've grown cold and I would've been hung out to dry.
Guksa Shrine Priestess, this accomplishment sent out that you have done for me,
I won't forget.
Come closer.
Gwanghwamun
Gyeongbok Palace Queen's Quarters
His Highness, has bestowed upon you the title of 'gun'.
Gun, a title bestowed upon royal relatives and loyal subjects From today you will be called Jin-ryeonggun.
Jin-ryeonggun can use a palanquin when entering and leaving the palace [gyoja - a type of palaquin used by those of 1st rank or higher]
and you may be granted a royal audience with myself or the King whenever you please.
You shall be granted servants, land, a stipend, a residence in Bukchon, along with[Bukchon - a neighborhood exclusive to high-ranking officials]
honor; equivalent to those of the royal clan, and other honored officials.
Your grace is overflowing, Your Highness.
Make way, Jinryeonggun's train is coming.
Make way
Jinryeonggun's train is coming!
Make way! Look that way. It's the shrine priestess.
Jinryeonggun's train is coming!
Make way, Jinryeonggun's train is coming!
Make way! Jinryeonggun's train is coming!
Head Merchant...
What happened to our miss?
Why are you asking me that?
You said that you would reveal the Guksa Shrine Madam's wrongdoings.
Whatever deal you made with Sun Dol has nothing to do with me.
Merchant Head!
If it means so much to you then deal with it yourself.
Don't come back here to make a fuss I'm not part of the Songpa Stable Family.
Merchant Head,... how...
Wow. Woah.
I came to meet Madam Jinryeonggun.
Wow, this is quite impressiveMadam's not even going to give us a second glance anymore.
Stop talking nonsense, come with me.
Yes. Have a nice day.
I wanted to meet you.
The last 12 years, I Hae Joo
thanks to you two at Bakcheon, I have never forgotten your kindness, not even for a moment.
Father, Mother
You, madam, have reached the wrong person.
Though Hae Joo is the name of my daughter.
That child is long dead.
How is it that you're saying something so saddening and hurtful?
Let go!
How can a lowly shaman touch the hands of a noble!
Hae Joo's father...
Let's get up, geez.
Mother.
Mother!
Mother! Mother!
You can't leave live this.
I do not know Madam Jinryeonggun.
Don't do this, Mother.
It's me Hae Joo. Hae Joo.
Father. Now I can do whatever you want.
I can do anything you want me tol can set brother up for a government appointment...
YOU!
My goodness. What's going on?
You wench. Is being a shaman something to be proud of?
Even if you became something greater than Jinryeonggun, you're still no better than a shaman wench!
Let's just go. Let's just leave please.
No matter how much you rise up in the ranks,
You're still a shaman, and I'm the father of a shaman, who can't even be honored along with my ancestors!
Mother. Mother. Please don't go. Please.
Please don't go.
Please let's live together in this house.
Hae Joo. Don't ever show yourself to us again.
Mother. Mother! Mother! Don't go!
Don't leave me, Mother! Mother!! Mother...
Mother... Mother...
Gae Ddong. Gae Ddong! Gae Ddong! Gae Ddong!
Gae Ddong. Gae Ddong.
Mother!
Blankets, bring some blankets
Yes, Head Merchant.
Gae Ddong.
Where's the Head Merchant?
How many times do I need to tell you, he's at Madam Jinryeonggun's place.
Please watch over the young master.
Are you going to go there?
I have to see the Head Merchant.
Quite some time has passed since the ferries stopped running.
Hold on. Could it be? You like the Head Merchant?
It's not like that!
Woah, what attitude is that?
Mother, Mother...
Mother!!
You need to leave! You need to leave Bakchen before daybreak.
If you ever show up before your father or brother you'll die.
Mother..
Gae Ddong.
Have you come to your senses?
Don't think of anything, and just go to sleep.
How are you...
Why, why don't you get some sleep?
Guksa Shrine Priestess, or Her Highness, Jinryeonggun...
Those aren't the things I wanted
I just wanted to meet my mother again.
If you're by my side, my spiritual illness will be cured,
all I wanted to do was get married with you, and go back to my mother.
Was there never a time you showed me any love?
Is there still only Yu Su's mom in your heart?
Though you can look with those warm eyes, and smile,
you can 't give me your heart?
It's ok, It's alright Gae Ddong...
It's ok, it's okay.
The sun's sure great at rising.
I have to cook for the merchants and suppliers.
You, you didn't sleep at all?
Wol, what's wrong?
Please look after Yu Su for a bit.
Where's the Merchant Head [Bong Sam]?
What, what're you doing right now? I said you can't!
Where is he!
Come here.
You, didn't sleep?
You'd leave if you knew I was awake.
Pity or whatever, I'm just glad I can be together with you.
It's my only happiness.
Gae Ddong, with this coup d´état
the opening up of international trade at Jaemul Port will be hastened.
The markets will slowly decline,
and I might even become a bankrupt merchant.
You, in this palatial house, and the innumerable gold, silver, and valuables,
would you throw them all away, just to be by my side?
You, could you do that?
Uh..
I'll..I'll help you out a lot.
I'll raise cows, and feed the fodder. I'll follow you around where ever you peddle and help you.
I'll even raise Yu Su well.
Abandoned by your parents, forced out by your sibling,
bidding farewell to an invaluable person,
mute, with a cold-heart, and this chilling sigh.
Yeah, if you want to squeeze out a small bit of warmth.
Come to me.
I'm going.
So have you given it some thought? What it is you want, I mean.
I want to be the head merchant of Yukuijeon.
What? Head Merchant of the Yukuijeon.
You're telling me you want to be a mere merchant
Don't you want to return to Aeryeong successful and full of honor? The Queen would be willing to appoint you as the Provincial Governor of Jinju.
Whether I become the Provincial Governor of Jinju, or earn a position in government, that's a matter for later.
Business and politics are no different.
I want to test my skills at the Yukuijeon.
You will end up butting heads with Head Merchant Cheon.
Soon, the Merchant League will be gone.
Even Qing is overflowing with Japanese merchants.
With the Yukuijeon, and the Merchant League dividing up the market, how would it be possible to compete against them?
Big news, somethings up!
What... what happened?
Starting with Jang Merchant from Yangpyeong, 19 Head Merchants from the Gyeonggi area,
decided to join the Yukuijeon.
W-What did you say?
Sun Dol became the Head Merchant of the Yukuijeon.
W-what did? Sundol became the Head Merchant of the Yukuijeon?
Yes, Sundol became the Head Merchant of the Yukuijeon and
said that he was going to re-open the markets or schmarkets or something. Everyone seems to be crowding over there.
I mean... mean what does that mean?!
Let us in
These ♪♪♪bags say they want to meet with you, Head Merchant.
What's up?
This is an invitation sent by the Chief Head Merchant.
Today, the doors of Haedongsanghoe will be opened so even the Merchants League
should come to offer their congratulations.
Haedongsanghoe
One, two, three.
What are you doing right now? What is your intention
in dragging those Japanese merchants within the capital city
all the way to the Yukuijeon in Jongrotong?
When Wansang Port was opened, Ma Chi Soon spoke like this..
How can you block the incoming tide with your bare hands?
So is the reason you have taken the position at the Yukuijeon is to work with the Japanese merchants?
Are you collecting rice and beans and selling them? Are you selling leather?
Rice? I'll sell it if I must.
Beans? So what if I sell them? Right now Joseon can't sell anything else.
By any means possible we need to scrape together products.
Right now the Joseon treasury is empty and the Yukuijeon has hit rock bottom!
Son Dol.
If the raw goods are provided, I'm going to oppose the Japanese through producing merchandise from that.
Calico, soap, cosmetics, anything we need
That's not so! I know that you don't really feel that way.
You know, Head Merchant
while I was around you, I started feeling suffocated. I couldn't bear it.
Cheon Bong Sam, you have never been able to follow the flow of time.
The only thing you can do is just try to bail out the ocean water.
I was not wrong.
Then, am I in the wrong?
In conducting business, you have one big failure.
This country's citizens, these citizens' pain!
If you sell Japanese rice, then the people of this land will starve,
If you sell calico fabric to Japan, the people in Joseon who make clothing will lose their jobs.
When needed for the good of the majority, even if it is a sacrifice, there's nothing else you can do.
A sacrifice for the majority? When I think that and you think that and
when we are thinking that, Joseon's commerce is collapsing and
this country will wither and die from foreign capital exploitation.
We will be a ruined nation! Ruined!
When I was right here, that is something I said
to Great Head Merchant Shin Seok Joo.
If this Yukuijeon should collapse,
foreign merchants will pour in all the way to Jongrotong.
How will the peddlers selling or the rabble be able to stop them, these people?
We must find a way.
Do you know what that way will be?
So, did you find a way?
Yes, I did today. I found the way.
So what is it?
You will soon find out.
Imbang, Gyeongi-do
The opening of the part was wrong. Was I wrong to oppose it?
That's how the current is flowing now.
However, we 200,000 fellow peddlers
and the 250,000 Joseon merchants
must protect and fend them off.
The country's citizens' hunger!
However, we can't protect everything and defend against everything.
In reality, it's impossible.
Then what are we going to defend? Merchant Head Cheon?
We will protect the three necessities that are needed to live as a Joseon person:
rice, salt, and cotton!
Rice, salt, and cotton?
That's right. Rice, salt, and cotton.
If we make sure those three markets remain under domestic control,
we can prevent the bankruptcy of our markets,
We can prevent the starvation of our people!
This Merchant League, with the membership fee that you have all paid
will buy rice, salt, and cotton. These three things.
This land, Joseon's markets!
We must prevent their bankruptcy!
Head Merchant's sayings are correct!
Have a seat.
A lot of money is going to be needed, even if all 8 merchant organization participateBecause of the amount of goods.
It concerns preventing the collapse of the local markets in Joseon.
I have to do this even if it means risking my life.
If it can't be done with the strength of just this Merchant Leaguethen I will use the assets of the Songpa Stable.
If that's not enough, then I'll try to get an arrangement from the merchants that are in business with Duk Jang.
If we can get help, we should. We need to do everything we can.
I'll help as well.
What? Are you ignoring my contacts?
It's something I want to do before, stepping down from the position of 'Jinryeonggun.'
Thank you so much. I am indebted to you, once again.
Thank you.
Head Merchant Cheon is trying to corner the market in rice, salt, and cotton?
With what kind of capital?
There are 200,000 peddlers.
If all the registered merchants decide to join as one, that in of itself would be a force to reckon with.
The rumor that her highness, Jinryeonggun and Head Merchant Cheon are
getting married is circulating among the Songpa Stable Family.
How, how is it that the Guksa Priestess can get married?
Everyone in town has heard of itJinryeonggun would surely act on it.
The problem is that their marriage doesn't do us all any good.
Gosh, darn...
It's not something that I can say as a gentleman but
I think you should also be in the know too.
I know a secret of Jinryeonggun's.
Is it about Head Merchant Cheon's wife?
Yes. You're right. Let's tell him about it.
I have a request of you my Lord.
I need to dissolve the Merchant LeaguePlease obtain His Majesty the King's royal permission to do so.
Dissolve the Merchant League? The tightknit gathering of 200,000?
The Yukuijeon and the Merchant League
cannot separately compete against the Qing and Japanese merchants.
I will dissolve the merchant league and reabsorb it under the Yukuijeon.
Preview
30,000 sacks of rice. Who will take that on?
Focus on the rice, only on the rice!
The spring seems like it will fall into the hands of Head Merchant Cheon.
You abandoned Songpa and chose the Yukuijeon.
You and I know very well!
I can no longer serve Guksa Shrine.
You will not be forgiven.
Awaiting her punishment to be meted?
I have a debt to repay Wol.
Do you have any other hidden intentions?
We need to at least get rid of the Merchant League.
Nam Seon Yoo, you are nothing but a lowlife.
.