Captain Jang!
Please don't kill him.
My lady.
You shouldn't kill him.
Slay me.
When you were attacked with poisoned throwing stars,
it was Head Chief Yum Moon who saved your life.
Please spare his life. You must not kill him.
You mustn't.
Go.
Kill me now!
I said to slay me!
Kill me now!
Unhand me!
Let go of me!
What is the meaning of this?
I was demoted to lieutenant, but I was once your superior.
How could you do this to me?
- You! - Back off.
I know you've been colluding with Madam Jami.
What are you saying? That is not true.
It wasn't enough that you took my position?
Now you're even trying to frame me?
Shut up!
The Yi Do-hyung Group knew our every move on the trip
to Tibet because you've been colluding with Madam Jami.
You got a shop in exchange for your service.
Tell me I'm wrong if you can!
I'll kill you and avenge the unfair deaths of our men.
Withdraw your sword.
- Goong-bok. - Yon!
Why did you do it?
I heard you were once a slave just as I was,
before the master saved you.
Why did you betray Master?
Tell me.
I wanted to kill you.
No matter how hard I tried,
I couldn't win the master's trust.
But you earned it overnight,
and took my position.
I despised you.
Forgive me.
I won't tell the master of your betrayal.
Leave here right now.
Captain, dozens of men have been killed.
We can't let him live.
- You must slay him now. - Back off.
I'm sorry. Please forgive me.
Ask for forgiveness from the souls who met unfair deaths.
Leave right now.
Leave before my fury gets the better of me and I slay you.
I'll stay here and do whatever you tell me.
Please let me stay and atone for my sins.
If you must stay and atone for your sins,
you must be punished.
I'll punish him myself.
The beating I'm about to give you is for the men
who lost their lives and for the fury of our officers.
You asked for this punishment.
Don't blame anyone, if you die from this beating.
We'll never mention his betrayal again.
If anyone does,
I won't forgive you.
When he wakes up,
you'll respect and obey him as your lieutenant.
Yes, sir.
Get a doctor and tend to his wounds.
Yes.
Where are you taking me?
If we were going to tell you, we wouldn't have blindfolded you.
Just shut up and follow.
You sure talk a lot for a doctor.
Hurry up.
Chief, we found a doctor.
Follow me.
Hurry up.
A doctor is here.
Save him.
If you can't save his life, you'll lose yours.
How is he?
He didn't tend to his arrow wound in time.
The pus has seeped all the way into his bones.
And he suffered a deep cut from a sword.
It's a miracle he's still alive.
- Can he live? - I've done all I can.
Will he die or live?
The next three days are very critical.
My lady.
It's gotten late. You should retire now.
I have more work to do. You can retire first.
Yes.
Chief.
Where is Lady Jung-hwa?
She said she had more work to do.
Really?
She's been working late a lot recently.
How would she survive
if she didn't keep herself busy with work?
What are you talking about?
You're so clueless.
This is why you couldn't even get yourself a widow.
You brat!
Imagine how she must be in despair
when her love is right there, and yet she can do nothing about it.
She's just keeping her lonely heart busy with work.
Whom? Are you talking about Goong-bok?
Then you think it was Yum Moon?
I feel so sorry for Goong-bok too.
He can't do anything since Madam Jami
and Master Chang-gyun are by her side at all times.
Stop that nonsense.
Tell Goong-bok to come to his senses.
We're in China, but that doesn't change who he is.
How dare he even think about Lady Jung-hwa?
It'll never happen in a million years.
That's when he was a slave.
Goong-bok is now a captain of the Sul Pyong Group.
They're equal now.
Listen to me carefully.
Come here.
What would you say if I had feelings for Madam Jami?
Can't believe it, can you?
Goong-bok having feelings for Lady Jung-hwa is
no different from me having feelings for Madam Jami.
Got that?
My lady.
I had to wait until everyone left.
I'm sorry I'm late.
It was but a moment,
compared to the years I've waited for you.
But that moment seemed to last longer
than the years our paths have crossed.
I hope meeting like this isn't a burden for you.
When I came to China and found out you were alive,
I thought I'd have no regrets or wishes anymore.
I was afraid you'd be in more danger because of me,
and I tried to sever our ties, but I couldn't.
When I heard you were killed on your trip to Tibet,
I agreed to marry Chief Yum Moon,
as if choosing death itself.
I so wanted to get out from under Madam Jami's shadow,
even if I had to resort to that.
But it seems even death can't sever our fate.
I am afraid of nothing now.
I won't try to hide my feelings for fear of danger.
Instead of trying so hard to get away from Madam Jami,
I'll live more ambitiously than Madam Jami.
My lady.
Our priority is rebuilding our group.
We must recruit merchants and security officers
to replace those who died on the trip to Tibet.
Captain Jang, recruit new security officers.
Yes, Master.
Chae-ryung and Chief Yoo.
Buy as much silk as you can from Yangzhou and Chuzhou.
With our cash flow problems, why must we buy silk?
The Tang government is facing a possible war.
Yi Sa-do from the Shandong Fanzhen has blockaded
the Grand Canal, and is threatening Chang'an.
A war could break out any day.
In such a crisis, the prices of expensive merchandise like silk
are bound to fall.
We'll buy silk at a low price and sell it
somewhere unaffected by the war.
That is the only way we can survive now.
We'll hire selected men from today's martial arts contest.
Security officers must risk their lives.
We have lost dozens of security officers
on our trip to Tibet and He'dong.
You may leave now if you have entered this contest
without such knowledge.
The contest will now begin!
How is Lieutenant Jang doing?
He's recovered enough to move about.
I couldn't understand why you forgave him at first,
but now I think you've done the right thing.
There were many men who were jealous of us before.
But now they sincerely respect us.
And the men are getting along better.
Is the silk purchase going well?
We're buying silk from Yangzhou and Chuzhou,
as Father ordered.
- How is the price? - Master was right.
We're buying it at a lower price than expected.
We'll be leaving soon on a trade trip.
Train the new officers in preparation for the trip.
Yes, my lady.
They're recruiting more security officers,
and buying up silk from Yangzhou and Chuzhou.
- Silk? - Yes.
Why do you think they're buying silk now?
Trade to Chang'an was ceased
when Yi Sa-do blockaded the Grand Canal,
and the price of silk has been falling.
He is buying silk now to sell it later
when the price of silk soars again.
It'd be reckless to buy silk to sell later
when he's having a cash flow problem.
Master Sul can't be that reckless.
I must meet with Jang Sung-pil
and find out what's going on.
- Arrange a meeting. - Yes.
- Captain Jang. - What is it?
Madam Jami wants to see me.
She must be up to something again.
What are you going to do?
We bribed a lieutenant of the Sul Pyong Group,
and he'll be here soon.
As the chief of our main operation,
you must be aware of the Sul Pyong Group's every move.
- Ask him anything. - Yes.
- He's late. - He'll be here soon.
Captain.
We're not here to fight. Withdraw your sword.
What brings you here?
I'm here in place of Jang Sung-pil, whom you bribed.
Bribed? Who bribed whom?
You bribed Lieutenant Jang Sung-pil with a shop.
That is the deed to the shop you gave him.
I knew you used any and every method in your business,
but I never thought you'd resort to such childish antics.
How dare you insult the madam?
Withdraw your sword.
Yes, I bribed him.
A battle is much easier to win if you know your enemy.
You still have a long way to go
if your thinking is that childish.
How would you destroy my wealth when you're so naive?
I've heard there are righteous and cunning merchants.
Eusang and Gansang
Instead of a cunning merchant like you,
I'll become a righteous merchant,
and bring you down.
If you ever bribe our man again,
I'll never let it go so easily.
- Il-man. - Yes, Chief.
Look at the state of this place.
How can we be the best shop in the marketplace?
We'll make improvements.
Which one of Madam Jami's shops makes the most profit?
That would be the silk shop managed by your father.
We'll catch up to their revenue in a month's time.
If you can't do it, you're all canned.
- Got that? - Yes, sir.
Well, get to work.
Wow.
You saw that?
Not bad.
That wasn't much.
What brings you here?
Give this to Madam Jami.
She's to attend the meeting of the head chiefs.
- I have to go now. - Yon! Wait.
Here.
- What is this? - It's for you.
What would I do with this?
- I know you have a use for it. - What use?
Don't play dumb. Put it to a good use.
You called for me?
- Yes. - What is it?
Do I need a reason to see you?
Here.
What is this?
Look.
I'm a security officer.
I have no occasion to wear trinkets.
Then throw it away!
There will be a meeting of head chiefs soon.
Be on alert.
An emergency meeting was called today
because Grand Chief Sul has a few suggestions.
Please speak.
As everyone knows, the Shandong Fanzhen is under
threat of war since Yi Sa-do blockaded the Grand Canal.
Many Shilla people from the area are migrating
to Jiangsu Province to escape war.
The Shilla merchants in the Yangzhou area have
always aided Shilla people in need.
It is now time to help our Shilla people again.
Every merchant is having financial problems,
due to lack of trade to Chang'an, just as you must be.
Master Heum is right.
We wish to help, but in our current situation...
I'll donate a thousand silver coins.
Can you afford such an amount in your situation?
I can afford that much.
Then I'll donate five hundred silver coins.
Come on, everyone, cough up.
I'll give three hundred coins.
I'll give one hundred.
I'll...
donate five thousand.
Aren't you going overboard?
No, I'm not.
It seems the uprising in Mujinju will be quelled soon.
As you must know, I have the right to trade with China.
I'll make big profits once I start trading with Shilla.
It's the least I could do.
If any of you wish to trade with Shilla,
come see me anytime.
Five thousand?
Yes.
She has some motive.
Why do you think she gladly gave that kind of money?
She has taken over the Yi Do-hyung Group's shops
in Yangzhou, but her influence in China is nonexistent.
She means to increase her influence over the chiefs
and the Shilla people in China by showing off her wealth.
You're right.
If she has her way, she'll earn far more profit than
the five thousand silver coins she donated.
Business is about moving people's hearts.
Madam Jami knows that.
You should never underestimate her.
Yes.
Here you go, sir.
Did you go brew it yourself?
It took you forever to get a bottle of wine.
But the master has banned drinking. What choice do I have?
What?
What right does he have to ban drinking?
He's always saying,
"We have survived on smelly fish for years.
We'll attack Chunghae soon."
The least he could do is let us drink a little.
It's delicious. Have a sip.
It's all right. I don't want any.
Drink!
- Chun-tae. - Yes, sir.
What do you think lies in our future?
How could I know?
I just do as the master tells me.
You fool. Don't you have any ambition?
That's why your life ended up this way.
I wasn't following the master all these years
to end up this way.
I can just see what's ahead of us.
We'll end up pirating again someplace.
I can't live like that again.
What? Then...
- I'm leaving here. - What?
Where will you go?
I have an idea.
Will you come with me or not?
Forget it if you don't want to.
I'll go anywhere you go.
Fine. We can't leave empty-handed.
I should be compensated for
all the beatings I took from Yum Moon.
Did you know that the master's storage cabin is
filled with gold bullion and silver coins?
How are you feeling?
I'm doing better.
Good.
Yum Moon.
Yes.
While you were fighting for your life,
I've been pondering ways to revive our merchant group.
What are your thoughts?
What are we to do?
Is there a way to wipe away this indignity,
and revive our merchant group?
I'll obey your orders.
I asked for your thoughts.
Tell me.
Yi Sa-do of the Shandong Fanzhen has
blockaded the Grand Canal, and is risking a war
with the Tang government.
I believe the fate of our group lies with this war.
If we become military merchants,
and supply Yi Sa-do's troops with provisions, horses, and weapons,
I believe we could revive our merchant group.
What if Yi Sa-do should lose the war?
We won't be able to escape death.
Our fate depends on this.
We can't achieve our goals if we don't risk our lives.
Will they accept us as their military merchant?
Yi Sa-do is a descendant of Yi Jung-ki,
a Koguryo man, so we're of the same race.
Yi Jung-ki became the Jie Du Shi of Ping Lu Zi Qing,
as a reward for suppressing the rebellion of An and Shi.
During the reign of De Zong, Yi Nap, the son of Yi Jung-ki,
proclaimed himself emperor of his own kingdom.
Yi Sa-do is the son of Yi Nap.
How do you know all this?
When Yi Sa-do blockaded the Grand Canal,
I studied up on his character and ambition.
Head Chief.
What is it?
Joong-dal and Chun-tae have run away.
They took silver coins from the storage cabin as well.
How much?
They took two thousand silver coins.
Send men after them.
Tell them to bring them back alive.
Yes.
I have discussed the future plans
of our group with the master.
- Call a meeting of chiefs. - Yes.
We'll become Yi Sa-do's military merchant.
Military merchant?
We'll supply munitions to Yi Sa-do's camp.
Then we'll be in the middle of a war.
It's too dangerous.
We've lost our base of operations,
and become wanderers.
We can't revive our group without taking risks.
We'll take arrowheads to Yi Sa-do's camp.
Find a suitable blacksmith.
Yes.
They're the new merchants.
I'll give each of you a sack of salt.
You have a month to sell it.
If you make big profits, we'll hire you.
You must return in a month.
Yes.
- Give them salt. - Yes, Master.
Master, I have a question.
What is it?
Why do you give expensive salt to new recruits?
I didn't give them salt. I have sown seeds in a field.
The men are fields and the salt is the seeds.
I have to wait and see
if the seeds will blossom with profit.
Do they all return?
Six out of ten men usually return,
and four disappear.
Then we'll incur a big loss.
The six who return will have made
enough profit to make up for the loss.
It is Father's way of judging their character.
You must use good seeds to bring in more crop.
You can't run a business alone.
You must have good business acumen,
and trustworthy men to build a big business.
The six who will return are good merchants you can trust.
It is the latest book on navigation.
- It wasn't easy to find. - Good work.
They're books on navigation
and business textbooks handed down by Huizhou merchants.
If you're to fulfill your duty as a captain
who oversees our shops, you must learn the trade.
Master these books as soon as you can.
Yes.
Lieutenant, you must study them as well.
But...
Yon, just fulfill your duty as a security officer.
Yes, Master.
Understanding the books with just your head isn't enough.
I'll give you a month's time.
Master these books,
and find three items that will bring in profit.
Yes, Master.
What's keeping Goong-bok so busy?
He's busy studying business.
- Business? - Yes.
The master is teaching Goong-bok about business.
Master Sul has chosen Goong-bok to lead his group.
With his character and guts,
he'll be a merchant equal to Master Sul.
Wait...
Maybe Sul Pyong means to make him his son-in-law.
- No way. - Why not?
Well... It just can't be.
Why...
Aren't you studying?
No, it's too much trouble. I'm not interested.
Then again, you were never one to use your brain.
Did you come up with three items?
Yes.
What can we buy now to make money?
I would buy Western goods.
Don't you know that expensive Western goods won't
be in demand if a war breaks out?
Why did you choose Western goods?
Just as you said, we can't sell them in Yangzhou.
If we can't sell them in Yangzhou,
do you mean to go to Chang'an?
We can't go to Chang'an,
since Yi Sa-do's troops have blockaded the Grand Canal.
I'll take a merchant group to Japan.
- Japan? - Yes.
But Master Song of Mingzhou is dominating the trade with Japan.
It'll be difficult for our group to trade with Japan.
We have better navigators,
and a staysail to sail with a headwind.
There is no reason why we can't do it.
I'll carry this trade to success if you'll let me.
Fine.
Well done.
Who are you?
We're military merchants.
We seek the audience of His Majesty Yi Sa-do,
the commander of the Ping Lu Zi Qing troops.
They could be spies. Take them away.
What are you doing with arrowheads?
We are military merchants.
Recent spies from Chang'an disguised themselves
as merchants as well.
I don't trust you.
Allow us an audience with his majesty.
Silence.
They must be spies. Slay them.
Stop!
I am Yi Do-hyung of the Yangzhou merchant group.
I am Yum Moon.
Why do you seek my audience?
I am also of Koguryo descent.
I wish to aid you, Your Majesty.
Aid me?
A merchant wouldn't be a merchant
if he weren't in it for profit.
What are your terms?
You have read my mind, Your Majesty.
I'll be frank with you.
I wish to be the military merchant
who supplies your troops.
I'll supply you with provisions, horses and weapons.
To prove my loyalty,
I'll offer you twenty thousand arrowheads.
You said your name was Yum Moon?
Yes.
You have shown excellent martial arts skills.
If you pass my test,
I'll hire you as my military merchant.
What is that?
Mu Won-hyung, the prime minister of Tang,
will soon visit Yangzhou.
It is your task to kill him.
Can you do it?
Why can't you answer me? Can you do it?
I will do it.
Then leave for Yangzhou right now.
It's too dangerous to go back to Yangzhou now.
Posters of you could still be
plastered on the streets of Yangzhou.
And the prime minister's security is equal
to that of the emperor. You can't kill him.
- Can you really do it? - I can.
- Trust me. - Head Chief.
It's like walking into a fire with a bundle of dry tinder.
Hurry up.
Chun-tae.
Yes, Master.
Let's hurry and get some drinks, okay?
Yes, Master.
Hurry up.
Master!
What are you doing here?
Because you lost the base in Yangzhou,
I have risked my life and come to the middle of
this battlefield to make money for you.
You...
You have turned your backs on your group in a crisis.
You call that an excuse?
I speak the truth. Please don't kill me.
Master! We must slay him right now!
Let him go.
Thank you, Master.
You have become a master yourself.
Well... I needed a title to do business...
I see. What business are you in?
I supply them with provisions.
I see.
He had the idea to become a military merchant before I did.
He is extraordinary.
We'd need a man like him to do business on the battlefield.
Do not kill him.
Punish him for running away, but spare his life.
Yes.
Master, thank you! Thank you.
- Get up. - Yes, Head Chief.
Punish them according to the rule.
Yes.
Chun-tae.
- Chun-tae... - But we're still alive.
You can't call this being alive.
Welcome back. How are things in Mujinju?
The uprising has been suppressed.
Then we can resume trade with Shilla?
There shouldn't be any problem.
How are things in the imperial city?
The supply of Chinese goods has been halted because of
the uprising, and goods are scarce in the imperial city.
If we take Chinese goods now, we'll make big profits.
Let's go.
What is going on?
Mu Won-hyung hasn't arrived in Yangzhou yet.
The security at the harbor and in the streets is tight,
just as we expected.
Master.
What is it?
The prime minister of Tang has arrived in Yangzhou.
The prime minister of Tang is here?
Yes.
He's the most powerful man in the government.
What is he doing here?
He is here to select a military merchant
who will deliver rice and salt to Chang'an.
Then it's a great chance to become
the biggest merchant in China.
We're already making big profits from our operations
in Yangzhou and trade rights with China.
We'll make big profits by becoming a military merchant,
but we don't need to take the risk.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Even if we trade expensive silk and Western goods,
there is a limit to the money we can make.
But if I can lead the emperor's war to victory...
You can't put a price on that profit.
The Tang government has been
pushed into a corner now by Yi Sa-do.
If I can protect the emperor by becoming his merchant,
I'll have the power to put the world at my feet.
What is it?
The prime minister is headed for the Sul Pyong Group.
What?
I saw Yum Moon.
When the prime minister's procession arrived...
I saw Yum Moon.
The prime minister will leave Yangzhou in three days.
Our plan will be ruined if we don't kill him before he leaves.
There is no way for me to get out of Yangzhou.
I have faith in you. Do not fail me.