Hurry up and beat them to death!
Your Majesty, please have mercy.
Do you want to live?
Fine. Let me help you.
I will take you to the grim reaper. I will help you get there.
Your Majesty. Your Majesty.
I do not trust anyone.
I am someone who easily gets angry.
But now,
I cry of sadness rather than anger.
The tears of people who have lost their families and homes...
feel like they are the tears of Uh Ri Ni,
- Ga Ryung, - Master!
and So Bu Ri.
Gil Hyeon.
Why am I feeling this way?
I am a politician...
who believes that violence is the key...
to discipline.
I have realized long ago...
that humans can only be disciplined through violence.
Father.
What if I were not to be a general who receives the King's sword...
but were to become the person who bestows it?
What would you make of that?
(Hong)
(The Rebel)
(Episode 23)
The autumn
Love
Is beautiful
The number of musicians have greatly increased.
Some were already pregnant when they entered the palace.
They still sing wonderfully, do you think not?
However, I only need musicians.
I do not need their babies.
Separate the baby from its mother as soon as it is born.
Then...
bury it.
No!
- Move back! - Please!
Have you finished your duty?
Yes. We buried all the newborns.
You may leave.
Your Majesty...
Your Majesty, the prison has collapsed.
What happened?
A couple of men suddenly attacked the site at dawn.
I heard people saying that they saw those men disappearing afterwards.
I will catch those men with my own hands.
Go.
It is this way.
Ja Won.
You...
Hello.
Yi Yung.
How...
did you...
Are you going to kill me?
I do not know.
Your Majesty, go on and see for yourself.
Wait and see what happens to the King...
who have made his people suffer.
No.
No! No!
I will see you next time.
Hong Gil Dong.
How dare you?
Your Majesty, I have failed to protect you.
Please punish me!
Are you still keeping in touch with that thief, Hong Gil Dong?
Your Majesty!
If you cannot trust me,
I will show you my loyalty by killing myself with this knife.
Do you not know me?
I have...
spent my whole life...
as your loyal servant.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, did you get injured?
Your Majesty.
Ga Ryung.
I've missed you.
Do not worry about your wife.
You shall meet her when the time is right.
Your father...
asked what to do to make you live.
However, that was the wrong question.
I did not give an answer.
Then...
I shall ask you differently.
How...
must I die?
Now, you're asking the right question.
Bring me a large tree root.
A tree root.
Oh dear.
Goodness.
You are...
I have been waiting.
Is he the one you said would come today?
Yes.
This is the man I told you of.
The Mighty Child.
My goodness.
Are you really Hong Chum Ji?
- We all were. - Really?
- Welcome. - Good to see you.
I am handsome.
What a show. You really are strong.
- He is. - What fun.
We are so glad to see you.
This place...
is big enough to hide many people.
May I...
bring a few of my people here?
Your people?
Well...
Of course.
Your people should come here.
Do you mean that...
Hong Gil Dong broke the gates and got out?
However,
I remember seeing him limp.
He could barely stay upright.
How did he make a full recovery?
Could he...
really be the Mighty Child everyone speaks of?
Your Majesty.
Even if he is the Mighty One,
can he beat thousands or tens of thousands of men?
That is right.
I have tens of thousands of men.
Hong Gil Dong...
escaped, Your Majesty?
How could he?
He is nothing but a thief,
but you captured him once before.
Bring him back.
Yes, Your Majesty. I promise to...
However,
no one can hear that...
he escaped alive.
If the people hear he is alive,
they will start to say he is the Mighty Child.
So...
catch him in secret...
so that no one knows.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I will catch him and bring him to you.
Also,
I will spread rumors that Hong Gil Dong is dead,
so the people will not dare to speak of him freely.
Good.
Hong Gil Dong and his men paid for their sins with death.
This is to announce that...
peace will come to us all.
He is finally dead.
At last.
Congratulations, Your Highness.
He is dead at last.
Justice prevails.
Joseon is still...
a nation with upright values.
This is a good day.
It is a great day!
Your Majesty.
I believe it will be easy to capture him.
How so?
He did not escape alone.
He left with dozens of others who were also locked up.
Could that many men...
rise to the skies...
or disappear into the earth?
I brought them all.
I am glad you made the trip safely.
Thank you.
Is this place...
Yes. The soldiers and guards will .never find you here.
My goodness. We are safe at last.
- We are safe. - We are safe.
Come this way.
Master Hong, we are back.
Come on this way.
Eop San and I are back as well.
Hello, everyone.
- Welcome back. - Come in.
So were you really waiting for me?
Why?
You are the Mighty One.
I am just...
a little stronger than other men.
Do you think...
being the Mighty One is just about strength?
Your strength is just a mark that sets you apart.
That is not your essence.
Then...
You should not be asking me.
You shall show everyone yourself.
Gil Dong.
Now that we have found a safe place to stay,
we must go and get Ga Ryung.
Yes. I will get her.
Good.
Ga Ryung.
Who are you? Do you know the young lady?
Do you know Ga Ryung?
She packed up and left a while ago.
- Take them. - Yes, master.
Move on.
Was it you?
Ga Ryung...
My Ga Ryung...
Did you...
lose your wife?
Ga Ryung.
I believed you would always be there, waiting for me.
I never thought a day would come when I would...
have to wait for you.
I am such a terrible husband.
Ga Ryung.
Are you waiting for me?
Do you...
believe in me?
(Any criminal who sets foot beyond this mark...)
(will be arrested and taken in immediately.)
(Anyone who sets them free or hides them...)
(will be punished severely.)
Excuse me.
I heard the King comes to hunt here often.
Then...
can I see the King if I enter the hunting area?
Do you have a death wish?
The King beheads anyone who enters.
I thought they would escape and cause a riot.
Nothing has happened.
I bet...
they are hiding somewhere out of fear of my soldiers.
Nok Su.
You were right.
I should not fear a man who only happens to be strong.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I am sure they are all hiding out of fear of you.
So...
- why do you not... - I cannot let them stop...
what I have been wishing to do for years.
Did I not tell you?
Changing our customs completely...
will take me at least 10 years.
Mocking our values has become a custom.
We must correct this.
Controlling a disorderly nation...
requires severe punishments.
Severe punishments?
Anyone who punishes someone for adhering to our rules...
will be punished for a major offense.
I am trying to uphold and correct our customs.
Some are bound to show displeasure.
Have people report each other.
The criminal's sons are just 7 and 4 years old.
How shall I deal with them?
Other than suckling babies,
execute them all.
Officials shall not discuss the King's shortcomings.
You can report each other.
Prince Mu Ryeong is petty.
You had courtiers bring in the King's food on small tables.
The King's table comes first,
not the courtiers' welfare.
Did you not once object to the dismissal of one of...
your friends and ministers?
I did not.
Premier, were you not close to Lee Se Jwa...
at one time?
Watch what you say!
If children set foot in my land, whip them as a lesson...
and display the decapitated heads of their parents.
As per your order,
I brought in someone who complains about your hunts.
What shall I do?
Cut off his limbs.
Hang him on a stake and display after 17 days.
Confiscate his possessions also.
Also, write down his charge for display.
It shall say, "He complained about the hunts."
Make sure people see it.
The King's brutality and savagery reached its peak.
No one laughed, and everyone groaned or cried.
The people lamented that with the Mighty Child being dead,
no one would come to their rescue.
They shed tears of sorrow.
What must we do?
Have you abandoned us?
Have you really abandoned us?
Your Majesty!
Hello.
Yi Yung.
No.
No! No!
Your Majesty.
Congratulations on getting rid of all the thieves.
You are also disciplining those who disobey our values.
Congratulations.
Yes, Your Majesty. Congratulations.
Thank you.
Do you think we are getting somewhere?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Finally, those below us are beginning to fear us.
So...
I would like to give the officials a theme to write poems about.
- That is... - Then...
I suggest you have them write about how...
disloyal subjects were uprooted so the palace became clearer.
I like that.
It is very bittersweet.
Who recited the dethroned queen's letter, causing the King to cry?
You did.
Who captured all of Gil Dong's men?
My man, Mo Ri, did.
However, whenever we do something,
Master Song takes the credit.
- However... - I also...
led scholars and the public, and gathered a consensus.
What did I gain from all that?
Madam.
If this goes on,
your son...
might end up working for Master Song forever.
Officer Park.
You recently put up an announcement stating Hong Gil Dong is dead.
However,
have you seen his corpse?
What are you suspicious of?
I am asking if he could still be alive.
His Majesty publicly punished anyone who...
even disagreed with hunting.
However, Gil Dong has done much worse.
Why is he not being punished?
Is it not strange?
Shall I tell His Majesty about what you have just said?
Then His Majesty will think that...
you consider Gil Dong...
as the Mighty Child...
and think highly of him.
It is strange.
There must be something going on between Ha Sung and Gil Dong.
Should I follow him?
He will probably notice that he is being followed.
He is not that dull,
so it will not be very efficient.
But let us see anyway.
Also,
I want you to visit Ha Sung's home.
His grandfather was Park Won Il.
After what happened to King Sejo,
I heard that he went to Mount Youngju and lived there.
Search that whole mountain...
and find the house where that man used to live.
Hello.
Yi Yung.
My gosh.
Your Majesty, you are sweating so much.
You should take a rest.
Do you think...
I am not capable of shooting an arrow?
Your Majesty.
What is going on?
What is happening?
How can you sleep here
Without your blanket?
What is she doing here? Take her away.
My love
Let her go.
- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Why are you crying?
I knew I would die if I entered the hunting area.
I heard that you were coming out to hunt today.
I risked my life and came here...
to ask you to help me get my revenge.
Your Majesty.
Please help me get my revenge.
What happened?
When did you fix your hair?
Why are you in these white mourning clothes?
I guessed that you might be here.
But I cannot believe that I am seeing you here at the palace.
What happened?
Did your husband die?
My husband...
encountered a beast, and his body got torn into pieces.
My goodness.
You still should not have entered the hunting area.
Do you not know that His Majesty beheads anyone...
who enters the hunting area?
However,
this was the only way I could meet His Majesty.
I will go and tell His Majesty about everything.
So do not worry.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
My gosh.
Put your mind at ease.
Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask of you.
It turns out that the girl who entered the hunting area...
used to work for me in the past.
I was wondering if she...
She was neither wearing any makeup...
nor wearing anything fancy.
But how did she move my heart?
Was it because of her tears?
Or was it because she was singing a sad song?
Did she...
move your heart?
It was very wrong of her to enter the hunting area.
However, she is too young to die.
What do you think about making her stay as a wunpyeong?
(Wunpyeong: A musician sent to Seoul from other parts of the country)
Come in.
You look beautiful.
Sit down.
Ga Ryung.
Did you enter...
the hunting area...
to catch His Majesty's attention?
If your goal was to become a heungcheong,
all you had to do was ask someone at the kisaeng parlor.
I wonder why you risked your life and entered the hunting area.
It was probably because...
you wanted to leave a strong impression on His Majesty.
Are you going to kick me out?
If you promise to become loyal to me,
I may even help you.
It is impossible to have a man...
love you forever.
More so for a king...
who is surrounded by so many women.
If His Majesty...
needs another woman by his side,
I would rather have you there...
than anyone else.
- Excuse me. A bowl of soup, please. - Sure.
My brother.
Did you bleed a lot?
No.
I am sorry.
I am so sorry.
Enjoy.
Anyway, Gil Hyeon.
I saw Uh Ri Ni at the palace.
- What are you talking about? - Well...
She was...
among the musicians.
No man can enter this place.
- It will take only a second. - No.
Uh Ri Ni.
- You may not enter. - Uh Ri Ni.
Uh Ri Ni.
Uh Ri Ni did not recognize me.
How can she...
not recognize me?
Gil Dong, we should not just sit around.
Let us go and get her out of there.
No matter what it takes,
- I must get her out. - Gil Hyeon.
You said you received...
- the Hengrok from your teacher. - What?
Did you see a list of names on the back of the book?
Why are you asking this?
Among that list,
there was Uh Ri Ni's name.
(Uh Ri Ni)
Of course, she may be a different person with the same name.
But she was in the palace.
It may be dangerous if we approach her rashly.
We must find out what she does in the palace...
in order to get her out of there.
If things go wrong,
Uh Ri Ni...
and my people in hiding...
may all get hurt.
Teacher.
I have written down my great achievement of...
catching Thief Hong into the Hengrok.
"In the year 1504, Officer Park Ha Sung..."
"arrested the leader of Thief Hong who shook the world."
I am proud of you.
Does this make me...
- one with the Sugwidan? - Of course.
However,
among the list of Geoins,
you said there are...
those who pull carts for the Sugwidan.
So...
now that my name is also in the Hengrok,
may I make use of those Geoins?
You must make more contributions.
You will be able to use them very naturally.
A few days ago, a woman walked into the garden singing.
Apparently, His Majesty was smitten with her.
She is so obvious.
She definitely...
pulled out a plan to get to His Majesty.
Everyone, listen.
His Majesty will pick out a few of you...
as heungcheongs very soon.
You have practiced hard thus far.
Therefore, you must show off your talents without holding them back.
- Do you understand? - Yes.
Ok Ran, Sang Hwa.
- Yes. - Yes.
Take care of Ga Ryung.
She is new to this.
Yes.
This is where the heungcheongs stay.
No man can enter this place.
We, musicians, all have...
a name which was given by His Majesty.
The most talented musicians are called Heungcheongs,
and the one after that is called Gaheungcheong.
Those who are lacking like me are called Wunpyeongs.
I'll make sure I dance well in front of him to make it as a heungcheong.
Can you see His Majesty up close if you become a heungcheong?
A wunpyeong like me can only see him from afar.
But a heungcheong can serve him much closer than us.
I see.
That is Geunhoegak.
It's a place of repentance...
for a heungcheong or a wunpyeong who have sinned.
What kind of sins will take you up there?
You can...
experience it for yourself.
On an apricot tree's
Old and ragged
Tree stump
How dare you sing...
with such a dark face in front of your King?
Take her to Geunhoegak.
Your Majesty, let me sing it one more time.
Your Majesty, please give me another chance.
Your Majesty, I am so sorry!
Your Majesty, I was wrong!
I told you to dress yourself up when you appear before His Majesty.
Your Majesty. Your Majesty!
Gil Dong.
That is the King who has...
killed you.
Did you hear the news?
- Yes. - Yes.
He told people who live in Gyeonggi Province to give...
the offering every 2 days instead of every 15 days.
- My goodness. - That is impossible.
That is not all. He kicked out people from their own houses...
and gave them only 24kg of rice as compensation.
Unbelievable. What a jerk.
I heard Hong Chum Ji saved you from foreign intruders.
The King...
- even killed Hong Chum Ji. - Oh, no.
Everyone.
It is time...
for us to step up.
- You are right! - Yes!
(The previous kings never murdered even during troublesome times.)
Let us go.
"The previous kings..."
"never murdered even during troublesome times."
"What kind of a king do we have now..."
"that he would kill off his royal subjects like a fly?"
"When will he ever learn?"
Stop right there!
How on earth...
Those who were captured said...
that they follow the will of Hong Gil Dong...
How dare they?
What is this anonymous statement?
Those who call themselves the followers of Hong Chum Ji...
have been putting up statements all over Hanyang.
The followers of Hong Chum Ji?
The King was enraged and ordered their family and neighbors...
to receive harsh punishment.
My goodness.
Who made you put up that anonymous statement?
No one made me do it.
I did it because I wanted to.
Stop.
Wait.
Did you say these statements were hung in front of your front doors?
This means...
you all may have something to do with this.
Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
You must copy the anonymous statement as it is.
His Majesty will compare your handwritings to the original.
A bowl of soup, please.
Sure.
- Excuse me. - Coming.
Thank you.
- Enjoy. - Thank you.
People who call themselves the followers of Hong Chum Ji...
were imprisoned after posting anonymous statements.
It feels like my responsibility. I am upset.
Gil Hyeon.
I want to bring those people.
(Letter to Gil Dong)
However, Gil Dong,
I understand you have regained your strength,
but you and your men will not be enough.
Do you think people do not walk into the palace because of high walls?
No.
The walls in the people's hearts are even higher.
A wall in one's heart.
I heard the anonymous statement is still at large on the streets.
What have you been doing?
I will make sure I find whoever wrote that statement.
Therefore,
it will be better for you to find them soon.
If I find them first,
you will witness another bloodshed.
The King is in the palace.
And the King has an unreachable splendor.
That is why the people cannot jump over the palace walls.
Do you think the King is the only one...
who enjoys this splendor?
His Majesty is not a person.
His Majesty is Joseon's army, wealth, and rice.
Therefore,
to gain His Majesty is...
to gain Joseon's wealth, army, and food.
Yes.
His Majesty is Joseon's army, wealth, and rice.
Therefore, many hide behind him...
to get rice, army, and land.
They do not care even if the King rules with tyranny.
They will never make a move as long as their safety is assured.
If they do not move,
the King will be safe.
After reading what you have wrote, I now understand that...
the scariest matter on earth is the wall in people's hearts.
Hence,
I will not break in secretly to release those people at night.
Instead,
I will release them in the middle of the day.
If people hear about a crazy man...
who broke into the palace in broad daylight,
those high walls...
may be lowered.
If there is a huge snow or a hail,
our crops will be ruined.
But what can we do?
That is not something...
we can do with our own power.
However, the King is...
not a hailstorm from the sky...
or a big snow.
If we set our mind to it, we can change him whenever we want.
I heard the prison is so full...
that those imprisoned are sitting outside of the prison cells.
Let us...
go and get them.
Let us steal...
his people...
from the King.
I told you.
Soon,
you will show them what the Mighty One looks like.
It is not someone...
who is just strong.
It is someone who is rebellious in their hearts,
who is determined to become a king.
It looks like...
your bones and blood are...
carved with a rebellious spirit.
I will kill you off first...
to show what it is like to kill a rebel.
That is why...
the King is afraid of you.
(The Rebel)
Do you regret leaving...
Gil Dong?
He was the only person who sincerely cared for me.
His Majesty's loyal servants have set the date.
That is the day I will make my move.
Your Majesty, would you like to make anyone a heungcheong?
You should give it a try.
I am willing to die in this palace.
That scum, Hong Gil Dong...
Everyone, today is the day.
Let us go and show him.