----
[Episode 8] Here I am!
I am him!
The master of New Joseon is the strongest man from Jangpyung Gate.
I am Jung Do Jeon.
I am their leader, and I sent them to Hamju.
Bastard! Have you seen anyone crazy like this?
This is a restricted area where enemies are eyeing to attack all the time!
So explain why you sent spies and made them act in disguise?
That was the first reason.
To protect this place from Hobaldo
and strengthen General Yi Seong Gye's Hamju further.
So that the northeast region is completely stabilized away from foreign enemies.
That was the first reason.
You're just barking like a dog!
Hey, you made your spies sneak in and messed up military discipline...
And you flipped the camp upside down! You are just a dog blowing a horn!
You think you can survive by saying that?
Then how can I make it out alive?
What is the way to survive on this land?
What's that?
To survive...
That is the second reason these people and I snuck into Hamju.
All of the people here, and I, reached Hamju to find a way to survive.
General, you fought with gusto for many years, and saved many people.
But did you hear the migrants' stories
when they were going through the screening?
While you were fighting Japanese pirates
the officials were stealing from the towns nearby acting as Japanese pirates.
If 10 citizens were killed by actual Japanese pirates
100 citizens died from the officials' pretend Japanese pirates.
After that, these people asked me, "Where are we supposed to live?"
"What is the way for us to survive?"
So I answered them, "it's Hamju."
I'm sure General Yi Seong Gye knows our pain.
I'm sure General Yi Seong Gye has the same worries we do. That's what I said!
Am I wrong?
I'm asking if I'm wrong!
If I'm wrong...
my long-waited plan must be a failure, a crazy act in vain.
And we will die here for the crime of messing up the military discipline.
So please answer all of us!
Do we really have a way to survive without uprooting the lead trio?
Do you really not know that? Or are you the type who can pretend not to know?
I bet everything I have that you can't, and came here.
So, kill all of us here...
or spare us and use us to get rid of the lead trio!
[Lee Shin Jeok] My father...
He was ashamed of himself for submitting
to the tyranny of the three Dodang officials...
so he took his own life.
The only reason I didn't follow his footsteps was...
It was this!
General, please punish the three Dodang officials, and use us as the spearhead!
My child... died and went cold in my arms.
I will never forgive them.
Use me as your spearhead, General!
Please use me, General!
Dead Un Nyeon, Un Nyeon's father, Pal Bong... and Uncle Chil Seong...
It's not because of the dead people.
This is for my town's people who are still alive.
If they're fed properly...
they work hard and pay taxes. For those people...
I will become a spearhead.
- Please use me as a spearhead! - Please use me!
Use me as a spearhead!
He's the one who pulled out taffy at Jangpyung Gate, right?
Yes, it's the strongest man.
I see. Then he's the writer of the document on establishing a new country?
When everyone else was busy defecting, giving up, and compromising...
only Teacher Sambong was preparing.
"Give despair to dogs!"
Then why did he come to our General?
Because he will create a new country. He will become a king.
What? King?
King?
Then he'll need military power.
There is nothing better than Father's military power.
Father will be the first man under Teacher Sambong.
I see.
If the new country is created, will our General become the senior prime minister?
I hope Father makes the right decision.
Sambong!
General would like to see you.
Why me?
The Sadaebu (scholar officials) asked for your help in 1375, right?
The Sadaebu was happy to finally block the pact with Yuan...
but this is what I told them.
"Don't trust General Yi Seong Gye too much."
"He goes to war to become a good man"
"but he doesn't take responsibility."
And in reality, you were talked into going back by Lee In Gyeom.
Then... why did you come look for me now?
As you know, I was exiled after the Jangpyung Gate incident.
Since Japanese pirates attacked so often, of course I ran across them too.
I fled here and there when the enemies attacked us.
Then I saw that great battle in Woonbong where you took down Ajibaldo.
It was just like I heard it.
Rather than sending out soldiers first, you led the fight.
You paid attention to each and every soldier.
You didn't steal anything from the people of the battleground.
You always remained as a good man.
What is it that you want to say?
But you don't get involved in politics. Why?
Politics means responsibility
and the moment you are in politics, you can't be a good man to everyone.
What do you know about me to babble about my intentions like this?
Right... I didn't know about you back then.
After I saw that scene, I got to know about you a little.
That scene...
About the fake Japanese.
[Woonbong Town] Father!
Who are they? Are they remnants of Japanese?
They are not Japanese.
When we were fighting Ajibaldo's army in Woonbong
they disguised as Japanese and stole from their own townspeople.
Not another town! They did it to their own town!
They gave up on being human beings! You deserve to die!
They're traitors!
Why do you call us traitors?
When there was chaos in Woonbong...
those sons of bitches high up in the government
grabbed our grains and land with an excuse to protect us.
Why are those precious sons of bitches not called traitors?
Why am I, the powerless one, called a traitor?
- You have no trace of shame! - Shame?
I have none of it. No, I'm rather proud!
My child was starving to death.
Rather than being a father who doesn't do anything for his child
I am proud for being a father who saved his son by doing this!
Do I feel shame?
No, I'm proud.
I am proud.
So kill me now.
Hurry up and kill me!
I'm going to die proudly!
Aren't you embarrassed?
Aren't you ashamed?
Isn't it hard to look at your son?
Isn't that why... you want to be killed?
Okay.
Then this is what you said to him.
"Death is too light of a punishment for your shame."
"Live the rest of your life in punishment."
"Become a leader of my troops in fighting the Japanese pirates..."
"and pay back even a little bit to your child and your townspeople."
That's what you said.
That's when I realized I was wrong.
To you, war was an atonement for something.
Protecting Goryeo and helping the people of Goryeo live well...
seemed to be your only hope that allowed you to forgive yourself.
Am I wrong?
If I wasn't wrong...
As long as the three Dodang officials are in the government
your wish can't be realized.
Let's take down the three Dodang officials...
and create a new country!
It has to be a new country. Goryeo won't work!
It won't work. Of course it won't work.
And for the king of the new country that I'm going to create...
I...
I chose you.
What?
What did you say? Who is whose son?
Young Master Bang Won's father is General Yi Seong Gye!
What are you doing?
So that means...
I saved General Yi Seong Gye's son twice! Not once, twice!
His life! Not anything else! His life! I saved his life!
That's what it means!
Depending on how you think about it, that's a possibility.
Grandma, I did it!
That sword!
- Come here! This... - Wait...
This is Young Master's!
I won't deny it.
- But I saved him twice-- - Twice my butt! What twice?
This is such a rare sword.
Can you put a good word in for me
and ask him to let me borrow it for a little longer?
I'm supposed to be a swordsman!
Punk, go away! How annoying!
Not my father...
My father is not someone who can become the ruler of a new country.
The teacher who feeds taffy to the envoy of Yuan...
The one who sets fire to appease the anger of dead Un Nyeon...
The one who can embrace those boiling hearts...
He's not someone like that.
Father is too weak.
- I'm sorry. - Who kidnapped you?
They seemed to be monks from Biguk Temple.
They were among the ones who kidnapped me.
They seemed to have followed me.
But why from Biguk Temple...
It must be Hong In Bang. He must be looking for me.
By the way, did you have a good talk with General Yi?
Heaven will decide.
I will wait.
I have a plan. I have a way!
I can make Hamju as a base for the new country!
So, stamp your seal on the Border Stabilization Plan and give it to me.
I'll make sure to pass it in the government.
For the new country that I'm going to create, I chose you.
You must've had quite a surprise because of me, Father.
Where have you learned to eavesdrop on other people's conversation?
Did you know?
I tried to hide myself.
- Go back to Gaegyeong. - Yes, I should.
But...
Will you do it? You will, right?
You will be with him--
It is none of your business.
How can I not take interest in this?
You're my father.
What will you do?
Do you think I'll be stirred up by some passing scholar's words?
I'm going to proceed with punishment for the organization tomorrow morning.
No! He is a great man!
Teacher Poeun also admitted it too!
He is very well respected in Sungkyunkwan too!
He is trustworthy.
Sure, "Let's go together" right away is also a bit awkward.
But stamp the Border Stabilization Plan!
It'll be good to fight off Hobaldo right now.
- You have nothing to lose. - Nothing to lose?
You'll gain suspicion from the government...
but once you try it...
He definitely has a plan, that's why he gave it to you!
I won't do it.
I will not do it.
I will not do anything.
Go to bed now.
You shouldn't have killed Jo So Saeng.
You should've locked the gate on the fortress
you should've fought with Jo So Saeng to the end, and died bravely!
But...
you killed Jo So Saeng.
Since you killed him...
Now you've done it...
Agony? Self-blame?
Loyalty? You should've given them to the dogs!
"A dog who bit its master!"
If Jo So Saeng mocks our family
we can use it as our family motto!
You...
How did you find out?
I...
I was there that day.
When I was ten, at Dohwa Mansion...
I ended up seeing everything.
To a child at that age...
you know what Father means, right?
It's the whole world.
I'm sure it's the same for ordinary fathers...
But you...
You were General Yi Seong Gye!
But his son...
His son saw Great General Yi Seong Gye getting squashed by evil Lee In Gyeom!
From my hands, my legs, my knees...
even from the words I spoke, all my energy seemed to be leaving me.
It was hard to stand...
It was hard to speak...
It was hard to chew...
- At the time, I-- - The three Dodang officials...
You know very well what they are doing.
You know very well how bad they are!
Are you a worse sinner than them?
You are not. You know better than me!
So why do you say that you can't do it?
For me...
I haven't seen anyone more qualified than you to become a king of Goryeo!
Powerful, righteous...
You care about people, and more than anything else...
For what the people said earlier...
one who truly feels pain for their stories...
One who feels more pain than anyone... Is there anyone else in Goryeo?
There isn't anyone, is there?
So why do you still consider yourself a sinner, and say you won't do it? Why?
The reason you think I'm qualified to be a king...
and the reason Jung Do Jeon thinks I'm qualified to be a king is...
because I know pain, and I know how to feel ashamed.
But if I step up...
I become someone who doesn't know shame.
So how can I step up?
I... Your father...
That's who he is.
That's why I won't do it.
Fool... Idiot!
Why did I bring it up?
Stupid.
Damn it.
What a crappy breeze.
Why... is he here?
If Father doesn't start, he can't start either.
Who are you?
What are you doing?
Let go!
I'm sorry.
What brought you here?
Father sent this to Teacher Sambong.
And this is the message.
"I cannot answer your question right now."
"So take this with you and prove yourself."
Also, he told him to leave Hamju tonight.
He said he didn't know if he'd change his mind when tomorrow comes.
I delivered all my father's words.
I will excuse myself.
As he made the decision...
he had a very tough time.
As Father said...
I believe it's better for him to move fast.
I did it.
There is no going back now.
General Yi Seong Gye... is my father.
Everyone says General Yi Seong Gye is powerful, righteous, and great.
That's what you also think, right?
That's how I was too, until that day.
Gaegyeong...
It was my first day there...
Gaegyeong!
It was a really scary place.
Corpses were lined up on the streets of the market...
Beggars stole clothes...
Noble bastards...
Just to eat good pork
they kidnapped new mothers who just gave birth
and made them feed baby pigs...
And those women's babies died.
What's this?
Gap Boon's mother... Is this why she was taken here?
Still, I wasn't scared of Gaegyeong at all.
Because once my father came
he would get rid of those evil people right away!
Just wait.
When I tell my father
this place will be crushed with one attack!
But that day...
there was a moment when the son realized his father was also a weak human being.
That's what happened.
Instead, I grew up so fast to be an adult at such a young age.
What all of you are trying to do...
What Teacher Sambong is trying to do...
It is awesome.
It's a perfect plan.
But there is only one thing wrong.
Relying on Yi Seong Gye to act as a human being.
My father...
He's not strong.
He is too tormented...
He's too anguished, too afflicted, too...
Life is just once, and the world is just one game!
That's why...
I really hope that Teacher Sambong's plan comes to life more than anyone else.
Push out the government officials and flip the whole thing upside down!
Proudly! With strength in my gut, and proudly!
I wish I lived like that.
You too.
My father, too.
And me too.
That's why I stamped the seal on the Border Stabilization Plan.
If I start...
If it's already happened
Father will make a move.
I... hope you're on my side. You have to be on my side.
Even when you first bit me...
When you set the fire...
And when you ran away after tying me down in the forest...
I was on your side.
You won't scream, will you?
You won't bite me, either?
I didn't bite you.
If any problem occurs, you have to take responsibility for it.
You said you became an adult quickly.
Being an adult means... taking responsibility.
Thank you.
If I met you again... I really wanted to tell you that.
You saved me three times.
Three times?
It was twice.
By the way, she keeps talking down to me!
My father...
I thought he was the strongest man...
But he wasn't!
Your name is Boon Yi?
Hey!
Hey! You! Hey!
He left to Gaegyeong right away.
There must be Teacher Sambong's people in Gaegyeong, too.
He has been forbidden to enter Gaegyeong since his exile.
How could there be Teacher's people in Gaegyeong?
Then how... would he get the plan passed?
- Ask me if you have any questions. - What is it that you want?
In order to take our responsibility, we should have authority that fits the job.
"Give one, then gain one. Gain one, then give one."
You've always said so.
If you tell us to lower the tax rate that we raised
shouldn't you give us something?
If I can't?
You will.
You have no alternative to us.
If there is war, who will offer that many soldiers?
Who will offer so many supplies to manage the government?
I believe in your wisdom.
Is that... the only way?
[Formalhaut: Yi Seong Gye's zodiac sign] Formalhaut...
- Then our coalition is over! - General!
You said you can't correct the tax rate!
Yes, that's the case right now.
Then what will you do? Do you want to let them run amok?
- Of course not. - Then what?
Give me a little more time.
- What? - Are you sure you got it right?
Lord Lee plans to bring General Yi Seong Gye into the government.
If it is General Yi Seong Gye...
he could be an alternative to people here.
See? I said we shouldn't do that!
Seriously...
Our Lord Lee is such a scary man...
What will you do now?
If Yi Seong Gye enters the government and stands on his side...
[Han Goo Young] this is no ordinary matter!
Combine General Yi Seong Gye's military power and Lord Lee's wealth...
and the government will run even without us.
Yi Seong Gye...
It's Yi Seong Gye.
I'll bring Yi Seong Gye in to the government
and keep the people of Hong In Bang and Baek Yoon in check.
What are you talking about!
Excuse me?
No matter how much I find Hong In Bang and Gil Tae Mi despicable...
do you think I would agree to it
even at the risk of bringing chaos to the border and its region?
When Hobaldo is looking for a chance to attack us...
you're bringing the most talented general in the border area to the government?
Even the spy Mishil of Silla
when soldiers who came to help her were summoned back
she told the soldiers to protect the border and sent them back.
So, what do you take me for?
So... you're against it?
Of course.
It should never happen.
Stupid wench... There is a path in Formalhaut?
Go get that wench right now!
Yes, sir.
Where have you been, sir?
We will lower the tax rate.
How come?
I kept convincing them... that we shouldn't do this.
I know very well how much you hate Yi Seong Gye.
But I heard you made the decision because of us...
Yes, we are all one.
Yi Seong Gye? Please reconsider.
We will follow your wishes, both for the tax rate and state affairs.
Look at this...
She said that there is a path in Formalhaut...
That path must be this.
Does it mean that it's not time yet?
Can I not reach them yet?
He is Hong In Bang.
He doesn't have a face that shows a long life.
Yi Seong Gye! Lee In Gyeom!
Is an astrologer girl from a western country staying here?
Open it.
I had my fortune read without paying the fee last time...
so consider this as your payment.
I will take just this one.
I'm afraid that my eyes for God will be blurry from accepting an excessive fee.
Eyes for God?
You have eyes for God?
How would I dare to tell the fortune of people without eyes for God?
Then... will you come anytime?
How could I decline your order?
A girl who came today read a fortune that there is a path in the north
implying Yi Seong Gye to Lord Lee.
Such nonsense...
He saw a fortune teller?
I also thought it was absurd.
But he was against Yi Seong Gye's entry to the government more than anyone.
Who is that girl?
I heard she is an astrologer from a western country...
but I found her to be a little suspicious.
Would you like to see her?
Bring her to me.
You're an astrologer from a western country?
If you mistreat someone who communicates with Heaven
you will be punished by God!
Is that right?
Then how can you not know about your own fate like this?
My guardian star is Gemini in the south. Neptune on Gemini--
Gemini is a star of twins. And not in the south, it's in the north.
Who ordered you to offer a false astrology reading to Lord Lee
to bring in Yi Seong Gye?
If I make the other side of your face match this one...
would you open your mouth?
You laugh?
Fine.
I'm in a performance troupe.
Some scholar came with 10 nyangs of gold and ordered me to do the job.
How much... will you pay?
We can have a real talk.
How about 50 nyangs of gold?
I'll give it to you right away.
Who is the scholar that gave you the job?
Fine.
The servant next to him...
called him, "Sambong."
It's Jung Do Jeon?
How could he plot something like this?
Jung Do Jeon! Sambong, you!
Whatever the goal is...
the important thing is it's blocking your path!
What are you planning to do?
By any chance... will you punish me for defection?
Shouldn't we find him first?
Of course.
But there has been no connecting ties for the past eight years...
The job requires a lot of time and effort...
Would Hong In Bang not pay you the price?
Would I not have money?
Find him.
Wait.
Why is he taking it out on me?
I have to hold back.
He is not a human being.
He is just where I store my wealth.
I will visit you with good news soon.
Are you all right? Were you hurt?
I'm sorry, sir. That thing broke suddenly...
Spare me, sir! I'm so sorry!
Spare me! Spare me!
Sir.
Lord Hong In Bang!
Hong In Bang!
It's been a long time, Brother.
It's truly been a long time, Sambong.
I was wondering about you, so I asked around here and there.
But I had no way of finding you.
- You looked for me? - Of course.
Everyone who has been exiled eventually comes back...
but you didn't.
Of course I would be worried about you.
Your heart that worries about me remains the same...
but why are the rumors about you full of horrible things?
Why did you defect?
"Defect"...
How about this?
I played with a rattle when I was little. You must have too.
Where is that rattle now? You wouldn't know. Of course not.
It became useless as you grew up.
I didn't need it anymore.
Things like big goals, humanity, and justice!
Forget everything else. Why on earth did you do that?
Do what?
Why did you order a clown girl
to try to bring in Yi Seong Gye and block my path?
Are you surprised? You didn't think this Hong In Bang would know about it?
How about this?
You're in the same organization with Lee Eun Chang.
What are you trying to do? Are you planning to assassinate someone?
Anyway, it'll be easy to talk to you since you know that much.
But I don't know about Lee Eun Chang or the organization.
Since we parted at Jungpyung Gate, I don't know if he's dead or alive.
It's true that I paid the girl in the performance troupe. Why, you ask?
I wanted to let you know your situation.
And I'd like to help you, too.
My situation? You'll help me?
Yes.
You're a lowly scholar and beggar who can't even enter Gaegyeong.
And I am one of three authorities of this country.
You speak of my situation and how you'll help me?
Your life shined briefly in front of Jangpyung Gate.
Brazen bastard.
We stood up as scholars... but we were horribly broken in 1375.
All of us were tortured severely
and were exiled as criminals overnight.
I also couldn't even remember my beliefs and goals from before.
How about during the exile?
"When will I be released from this exile?"
"Will I be forgotten like this? Is this the end for me?"
As I spent many sleepless nights that were connected with despair and fear
many of the scholars were forgotten.
But I could not forget one thing.
I'm sure it was the same for you.
Are you saying the likes of you were the same as me?
Yes, it must've been the same for you.
What was the same? For the likes of you to say such a thing!
Lee In Gyeom! Choi Young!
I won't let them be! I will take them down!
Am I wrong?
Just what are you saying?
I, Jung Do Jeon, also threw out the rattle.
I don't even know where I left it. I couldn't even remember it.
I just thought, "I will gain power. I will definitely have authority"!
That's all.
In order to do that, I need you. And you need me, too!
Why would I need you?
You will never be able to defeat Lee In Gyeom.
I will raise you above Lee In Gyeom.
You? You will lose the duty of a Confucius scholar and hold my hand?
You'll become like me? Who do you think you're fooling!
Of course I wouldn't become like you.
I couldn't become a son of a bitch that the whole world talks about.
But I may be able to accompany you for a short while
since we're headed in the same direction.
Until we take down Lee In Gyeom and Choi Young.
Let's go together up to that point, Brother.
After that?
If we're going together...
Then what's next?
After that...
If you and I have a match of a lifetime with Goryeo as a prize...
wouldn't it be real interesting in a man's life?
[Jungryoonam]
Sir.
You look like one.
I feel awkward since I've never worn this before.
Did the preparation go well?
I looked at astrology books for about four hours last night--
You don't need to know too deeply.
Since Jukryong is knowledgeable in astrology
you should have some loopholes.
It's about time that Lee In Gyeom looks for you...
- Have you not heard yet? - I'm sure the message will come.
Is the astrologer girl from a western country staying here?
I guess it came.
Everything worked out as you predicted.
Did you know that it would turn out this way?
Although General Choi Young favors General Yi Seong Gye...
he wouldn't take out a general from the border with urgency.
That's why I did this.
Then do you not have a plan to bring in General Yi Seong Gye to Gaegyeong?
That's the second plan.
The first one is the Border Stabilization Plan.
Hong In Bang will determine the success of the Border Stabilization Plan after all.
Yeon Hee... for me...
I'm about to hold the hands of those bastards who killed Eun Chang.
Without even finding his body... with this shabby table in front of me...
from this Jungryoonam where Eun Chang and I strengthened our resolution...
We're living in the most turbulent of turbulent times.
Please don't torture your heart, and don't look back.
Eun Chang... this is the beginning.
Please watch me to the end.
----
[Six Flying Dragons]
The Border Stabilization Plan!
Do you have any better plan than this?
You submitted the Border Stabilization Plan to the government?
- You got caught. - What now?
You stamped the seal behind his back.
How dare you, Bang Won!
I heard you were looking for a story teller.
I thought I'd see you some day if you were alive.
Yeon Hee!
We have to send it now!
He'll come to me again. I will let him hold a sword in that rushed hand.
Why, Yi Seong Gye...
- What brought you here? - Pass the plan tomorrow.
We'll trade after that.