Take Consul Jang to the imperial city!
Yes, sir.
Stand back!
What are you doing? Take him away!
Stand back!
Withdraw your swords.
You have no reason to answer the summons,
when you have done nothing wrong.
I will drive them out of Chunghae.
If we respond with force,
we can defeat you right now.
But I won't do that.
Give me a little time.
He must be harboring a grudge against you for the recent incident.
He means to harm you by luring you to the imperial city.
But he can't punish Consul Jang when he's done nothing wrong.
Kim Myung has become the regent.
With his power, taking a man's life is a simple matter.
You shouldn't answer his summons. There is no telling what he'll do.
Consul Jang must go to the imperial city.
You are telling him to walk willingly into his own grave?
If he disobeys the regent's summons,
it will be interpreted as a challenge to the imperial court.
We will gain nothing by confronting Kim Myung.
Consul Jang was appointed by His Majesty.
Kim Myung can't do anything to harm him.
Since I am familiar with the ins and outs of the imperial city,
I will escort Consul Jang.
- I will answer the summons. - Escort him.
Please take care of our operation while I'm gone.
Do not worry about a thing.
Should anything happen to Consul Jang, send word to us.
I will lead our troops to the imperial city.
Nothing will happen. Do not worry.
What do you say now?
I have been proven right in choosing Kim Myung.
I will soon repay Jang Bogo
for all the humiliation he put me through.
His Majesty trusts Jang Bogo deeply.
How could he protect Jang Bogo when he could die any day?
But
Lord Kim Kyun-jung, the father of Kim Woo-jing,
has become the chancellor.
Even if Kim Woo-jing has stepped down from his post,
he remains powerful.
Kim Myung will get rid of Kim Kyun-jung and Kim Woo-jing
in order to ascend the throne.
Just wait and see.
You called for me?
Lord Kim Woo-jing was replaced by Kim Myung as the regent.
Then Lord Kim Kyun-jung has become the chancellor?
How did you know?
If Kim Myung replaced Lord Woo-jing as the regent,
Lord Kim Choong-gong must have passed away,
and Lord Kim Kyun-jung was made chancellor.
Since a father and son can't take the posts of chancellor and regent,
Lord Kim Woo-jing must have resigned.
You are right.
The political war has been ignited.
What shall we do now?
If you are ahead, you will defeat your enemies,
but if you are behind, you will be defeated.
I do not believe you should remain in Mujinju now.
You must stand in the center of the storm in the imperial city
in order to realize your grand cause.
You should resign from your post, and go to the imperial city.
Chief Yang said he'd lend you the money to pay off your debt?
That wretch won't lend me the money.
So what's got you in such good spirits?
There is a way out of everything. I'm holding a great hand now.
- You were gambling again? - Why, you!
That's not it.
Are you sure it was Head Chief Yum Moon?
I even saw Chief Jang and Baek-kyung with him.
But he was supposed to live as a slave for the rest of his life.
Yum Moon must have escaped.
Since I know those thugs under his command,
it'd be easy to catch him.
What would Yum Moon plan to do after his escape?
He will either go after Jang Bogo or Madam Jami.
Then we must let Madam Jami know right away.
Wait.
I still have to think about who will bring me more money.
Resign?
I can only realize my goals when I go to the imperial city
and defeat my enemies.
I understand what you mean,
but your situation is not like that of other nobles.
The nobles still haven't forgotten Lord Kim Heon-chang.
Their opinions of you are still tainted with prejudice.
I know.
But I can't be bound by my past forever.
Now is the time to stake everything.
If I lose this opportunity, I will regret it for life.
I will be resigning from my post.
- Chief. - What?
Will you really go see Jang Bogo?
Yes, that's the only way I can survive now.
But shouldn't you let Madam Jami know first?
You idiot, we're both on Madam Jami's payroll.
How can we ask her for money for this information?
What can you ever accomplish with that brain?
I will go meet with Jang Bogo. Take them and carry out the trade.
- Got that? - Yes.
Why won't you let me in?
I'm here to meet Consul Jang.
What business do you have with him?
You shouldn't mistreat Madam Jami's chief merchant,
who also happens to be her right-hand man.
- Take him away! - Yes, sir.
- Let me go. - What's going on?
He is demanding to meet with the consul.
Long time, no see.
Consul Jang has gone to the imperial city.
- The imperial city? - Go away.
I have something important to tell you.
It concerns Consul Jang's safety.
What is it?
You see, I came here behind Madam Jami's back,
concerned only with Consul Jang's safety.
So if you'd show a little appreciation for my trouble,
it will help open my mouth.
What is it you have to say?
Do you know where Yum Moon is?
Have you seen Yum Moon?
Yes.
Where did you see him?
Boy, I'm feeling so thirsty.
I'm so thirsty, my lips have dried shut.
Where did you see him?
You see, I'm not sure if it was a dream or not...
Where is he? Say it now.
This is no way to conduct a trade.
Give me five hundred silver coins.
Then I will tell you where Yum Moon is.
What are you doing?
You rat, how dare you try to trick me?
You'd better beat it right now!
This is crazy.
This is no trick. I know where Yum Moon is.
Where is he?
He is in Mujinju.
Where in Mujinju?
I can't tell you that. Give me five hundred coins.
You still haven't...
I've searched every corner of Mujinju to find Yum Moon.
If he were in Mujinju, I'd have found him by now.
I'll make sure you never speak a word of nonsense again.
You wretch.
Chief! What happened to you?
Who did this to you?
Keep your mouth shut.
- Are you finished? - Yes.
Then, let's get out of here.
- You'd better watch your mouth. - Yes, sir.
- Take them away. - Yes, sir.
What are you doing?
We know you embezzled money to gamble.
You took five hundred coins. You have some nerve.
Tae-bong, please look the other way just this once.
I will put the money back in a few days.
Take them away!
- Yes, sir. - Tae-bong!
Captain, please forgive us.
Embezzling can't be forgiven under any circumstances.
The thing is... I only gambled...
...to dig up very important information.
You call that an excuse?
It's true. I know where Yum Moon is.
Yum Moon is living as a slave now.
No, he is not. Yum Moon is in Mujinju now.
Yum Moon is really the leader of thugs in Mujinju?
Yes, I saw him with my own eyes.
If you are lying,
you will lose your life.
You can slit my throat if I'm lying.
Madam wishes to meet with you.
He's coming.
It's been a long time.
I was planning to find a way
to get you out, once things had quieted down.
I'm relieved to see you are well.
How were you released?
I escaped.
Then you should have come to see me.
Why are you suffering so?
Why did you wish to see me?
You must know how highly I have always thought of you.
I need you.
Come under my command.
I appreciate your offer,
but I am satisfied with my situation.
Jang Bogo is living a life of success as the consul of Chunghae,
but you would waste your life as a leader of thugs?
I will
take my leave now.
Captain.
Yes.
Something is odd.
Find out everything about Yum Moon.
Yes, madam.
I thought you were attending the meeting of the nobles.
Kim Myung has summoned
Consul Jang to the imperial city.
Why?
I don't know why, but he must mean to harm Consul Jang.
I must find a way to save him.
This is not the imperial palace.
Where are you taking us?
Just keep quiet and follow us.
I had expected you to defy my summons.
Why did you summon me?
Since we had a match in Chunghae, your home territory,
we must also have a match in my mine.
I don't take defeat well. What do you say?
Will you challenge me in a match again?
Everyone is trying to win my favor,
but you are the only one who'd look at me with eyes like those.
Have a drink.
I thought highly of your backbone and talent,
and used the summons as an excuse to bring you to the imperial city.
Everyone knows you humiliated me in Chunghae,
so I must do something to recover my pride.
I have learned that I must forget a lot of things, now that I'm the regent.
I have forgotten our encounter in Chunghae.
I wish to keep you near me. What do you say?
I do not wish to participate in the politics of the imperial city.
You can't say that when I already know the relationship
between you and the former regent.
I am only carrying out my duty as the consul of Chunghae Base.
I have rendered no service to Lord Kim Woo-jing.
And I believe that diligently carrying out my duties
as the consul of Chunghae is the only way I can serve Shilla.
Serving me, the regent, is serving Shilla.
I will ask you again. Will you follow me?
I will not involve myself in the politics of the imperial city.
I will work hard to make Chunghae prosper,
and to make the economy of Shilla flourish.
If you are sincerely concerned with the welfare of the people of Shilla,
I'm certain you will understand.
Please excuse me.
Please calm down.
Kim Myung will not let this go quietly.
We must come up with a plan.
I won't stand for it if he provokes me.
I never expected to see you here.
You seemed to be above the temptation of power,
but you have come to seek the regent's audience?
It seems the new regent and I do not see eye to eye.
But I believe you will get along famously. Please go inside.
It has been a long time.
I have heard that you went to Chunghae.
I don't know how much longer the tree you chose will prosper,
but good luck to you nonetheless.
Madam Jami has long been supporting
Lord Kim Choong-gong, the father of Kim Myung.
She played a big role in putting Lord Kim Choong-gong
in the position of chancellor.
If she supports Kim Myung,
he will prove to be a formidable foe for Lord Kim Woo-jing.
Congratulations, my lord.
Madam Jami has brought precious jewels for you.
Thank you.
Please sit down.
Jang Bogo must have been here to see you.
Do you need another ally besides me?
That's not true.
He is only a lowly slave whose arrogance knows no limits.
I will pay him back for the humiliation I suffered.
It would be only too easy to get rid of him once you ascend the throne.
You must replace Kim Kyun-jung as the chancellor soon.
But it is not easy to win over the nobles,
when Kim Woo-jing and his father are so powerful.
Why would you bother persuading the nobles?
Without Kim Woo-jing, Kim Kyun-jung is just a puppet.
I heard you have been summoned by the new regent.
I am relieved to see you are safe.
Kim Myung brought Consul Jang to win his friendship.
I came to pay my respects to the regent, before I return to Chunghae.
Please come in.
Madam Jami is supporting Kim Myung?
Yes, the inspector general and the minister of the military
are also his followers.
You must have a plan.
I was already aware of it. Do not worry.
I heard you are working with Consul Jang.
Do you find the work satisfying?
Yes.
We must have a drink to celebrate our reunion.
You should stay the night here.
No, I must get back to my work in Chunghae.
But you can't leave just like that.
You should stay here tonight.
Did you know Consul Jang was married?
Yes.
You should meet a nice man and get married soon too.
I'm sorry I couldn't take better care of you.
Who are you?
- Stay with Lady Jung-hwa. - Yes.
Are you all right?
I managed to avoid great danger, thanks to you.
- Are you all right? - Yes.
Do you have any idea who could be behind this?
Who would benefit from my death?
Kim Myung is the only one
who would send assassins after me.
Please return to Chunghae with me.
I will protect you.
You should go with him.
I can't.
Kim Myung will make an attempt on your life again.
There is no way to avoid political war if you stay in the imperial city.
Why do you think Kim Myung tried to kill me?
He covets the throne.
If he ascends the throne,
all His Majesty's hard work will have been in vain.
I can't let Kim Myung have the throne.
- My lord. - I understand your concerns,
but I can't back down like this.
I will
confront Kim Myung.
- How did it go? - They failed.
Jang Bogo saved Kim Woo-jing's life.
We have only provoked Kim Woo-jing.
Sit down.
I have heard that you released Yum Jang.
What were you trying to accomplish by setting a criminal free?
You already have a sword called Jang Bogo now,
but I believed that if you held a sword called Yum Jang in your other hand,
he would be a great asset in realizing your grand cause.
What brings you to the imperial city?
I have resigned from my post as governor of Mujinju.
I know you don't have a favorable opinion of me.
I will give my life to you. Please take me in.
You have no reason to give your life for me.
As long as Kim Myung remains the regent,
a bloody political struggle is unavoidable.
I will be your sword.
Give me the order, and I'll bring you Kim Myung's head.
Leave me.
What happened?
We must get rid of Kim Myung as planned.
Should you act in such haste,
when you haven't learned Lord Kim Woo-jing's intentions?
He won't chastise me for killing Kim Myung.
Get ready.
Yes.
Be careful.
Careful.
- Yong-soo. - Yes.
Where are those sacks of rice from?
It is top-grade rice from Keumgwankyung.
- We don't have to check? - No.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
I can't trust my own son, but I trust you.
Yong-soo, where is that ship from?
Judging by the flags, it must be from Yangzhou.
- Yangzhou? - Yes.
- Yong-soo, they are all money. - Money...
I wonder how many merchants will stay with us.
Yon!
Yon. What happened?
- Have you been well? - I've been well.
I was sad to hear you had gone to Yangzhou.
Moo-chang told me it would be a while before you came back.
What happened? Are you over your grief now?
Who are these children?
They are mine.
- Say hello. - Hello.
Children?
I adopted orphans that had been abandoned in the Shilla community.
Yes... you did the right thing.
I'm so glad to see you back on your feet again.
You poor things.
Come with me. I will get you something to eat. Let's go.
- Yon. - Consul.
Have you been well?
All of Chunghae Base seemed empty without you.
Who are these children?
They are mine.
You certainly have a lot of surprises up your sleeve.
Ha-jin...
I missed you so much...
I returned early.
I feared
you'd still be here... worried about me.
I adopted a girl who looks just like you,
and a few boys.
The girl is
already willing to learn fencing.
She's very stubborn, just like you.
Ha-jin.
I...
I will give life a chance.
Until I die and see you again...
I will live my life to the fullest...
So don't worry about me now...
...and rest in peace.
Ha-jin...
The imperial city is in chaos, caught in the middle of political strife.
Many influential nobles from the imperial city have
tried to make my alliance in order to use Chunghae Base to their advantage.
But I firmly turned them down.
And I will continue to stand firm.
Chunghae Base will
continue to grow as the center of commerce,
regardless of politics in the imperial city,
and the wealth we amass through trading will be used
for the welfare of people of Chunghae and Shilla.
How much is this?
It's eight coins for a roll of silk.
I plan to teach them Japanese and Arabic as well as Chinese.
I will train them to be the pillar of our business operation when they grow up.
This is Consul Jang Bogo.
They are from all over Shilla.
They all came here seeking work.
Some of them were slaves, and some are noblemen.
I welcome you all.
You were bound by your social status, unable to fully develop your skills.
No one at Chunghae Base will make an issue of your status.
You will be given work according to your competence, and if you are able,
you will be given important tasks.
You are the owners of Chunghae Base.
Work diligently.
Please teach us the craft of shipbuilding.
They wish to learn the craft of shipbuilding.
That's absurd.
Tell them no!
Tell them we will send a shipbuilder to Japan
to teach them shipbuilding skills.
Consul, if we teach them shipbuilding skills,
they will go directly to China to trade.
It's out of the question.
That's not true.
They have a hard time even traveling to Chunghae
because of the poor condition of their ships.
If we teach them the skills to build strong ships,
our trade with Japan will flourish even more, and we will make more profit.
Tell them.
He said he will teach you the shipbuilding skills.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
I said no.
Come on, give me a break. I know you can make it happen.
You know the consul's temper.
But imagine how desperate I must be to beg you like this.
I need to prove myself to my father and Lady Jung-hwa too.
You go talk to the consul yourself.
What is going on?
What is it?
Well...
He's asking to be allotted more Western goods.
Since we are on the subject,
the consul and I are old friends.
Shouldn't you give your old friend preferential treatment?
Western goods bring the most profit.
Why can't you allot us more goods than the other merchants?
Why do you only allot us the same amount as the others?
Isn't that too harsh?
All right.
We will assign you more goods from the next shipment.
No, we can't.
Distribute them equally to each merchant group.
Once a rule is bent, there will be disorder in the marketplace,
and we will lose the trust of the other merchants.
We can't have any favoritism.
See, I told you it wouldn't work.
You must be disappointed. But we have no other choice.
There are hundreds of merchants and troops under our control.
In order to carry out that heavy responsibility,
one must put aside personal feelings.
Please try to understand Consul Jang.
What brings you here at this late hour?
The king is in critical condition.
If His Majesty passes away now, all our efforts will have been in vain.
We don't have the time to win Lord Kim Woo-jing's trust.
We must get rid of Kim Myung now.
But he is heavily guarded. It won't be easy.
We must get rid of him no matter what.
Is the king really in such critical condition?
His physician has said he won't survive another month.
If His Majesty passes away,
Chancellor Kim Kyun-jung will ascend the throne
with the approval of the nobles.
We must do something before that happens.
A meeting of the Hwarang Corps is scheduled for tomorrow.
What will you do?
This is no time for a meeting. Postpone it.
The meeting must go on as scheduled, my lord.
I will find a way to get rid of Kim Kyun-jung and Kim Woo-jing.
You must have the support of Hwarang Corp.
You can't have control over the military without their support.
Head Chief.
A meeting of the Hwarang Corps is taking place
at Kim Myung's residence tomorrow.
How is the security around his house?
Extremely tight.
Must you attend the meeting? It is too dangerous.
It is the only way to get near Kim Myung.
You'll be risking your life.
If we lose this chance,
we will lose the chance to win Kim Woo-jing's trust.
I have an important guest to introduce to you.
This is Madam Jami from Mujinju.
Madam Jami has been helping me bring prosperity to the imperial household.
You will also benefit from her acquaintance.
Please say a word.
My lord. Take him to safety.
My lord!
- My lord. - What is it?
Lord Kim Myung was killed by an assassin
at the meeting of the Hwarang Corps.
You can't avoid a bloody political war while Kim Myung remains the regent.
I will be your sword.
Give me the order, and I will bring Kim Myung's head to you.
My lord, the chancellor is here.
Have you heard?
Kim Myung was killed by an assassin.
I have heard.
Who could have done such a thing?
I have a hunch.
Who is it?
It is Kim Yang.
What?
Good work. Drink.
The rumor of Kim Myung's death has spread throughout the imperial city.
The only thing left to do is to wipe out his followers.
Will you get involved in that matter also?
Someone else will take care of that.
When this matter comes to a close,
and Lord Kim Kyun-jung ascends the throne,
you will be able to bury your past and gain great power.
There is a messenger from Lord Kim Woo-jing.
Show him in.
Has he asked for me?
Yes.
Did you kill Kim Myung?
Yes.
You wretch!
I spared your life because of my friendship with your grandfather,
and I opened up a career in politics for you.
How dare you do something so despicable?
I only wished to repay your kindness.
What?
If I hadn't killed Kim Myung,
he would have harmed Lord Kim Woo-jing and you.
Father,
now that it has come to this, we must wipe out Kim Myung's followers,
and re-establish the authority of the imperial household.
I will wipe out Kim Myung's followers.
What happened?
Lord Kim Myung's followers, including the inspector general
and the minister of the military, are being taken away one by one.
You must leave the imperial city as soon as possible.
Did you find out who is behind Yum Moon?
It is Kim Yang.
What?
How is he?
It seems unlikely he will survive.
Save him.
You must save him. You must save him, no matter what!