Dae Wang Sejong (2008): Season 1, Episode 41 - Episode #1.41 - full transcript
The Hall of Worthies...
It's a good name.
He spends most of his free time there.
Some nights he is there all night.
So, who are these worthy
men the King has gathered?
Mostly young new officials and
scholars of the Confucian Academy.
However, there is one misfit in the bunch.
A misfit?
Hall of Worthies
Left State Councilor Park Eun?
What exactly is the King trying to
accomplish at this Hall of Worthies?
I heard you are gathering information
about Tsushima Island.
That's right.
That will get the Hall of
Worthies shut down.
Shut down?
Collecting data about
Tsushima is a military affair.
It could be a foreign affair as well.
Majority is in favor of the
conquest, Your Majesty.
Even if it is a military affair,
it wouldn't hurt for me to know.
The abdicate King is
attending to military affairs.
How do you define military
affairs, Minister Park?
Like you said, this conquest is
getting closer to reality every day.
That's why I'm forced to be a shameless
King who extracts tax from the hungry
people to pay for a military campaign.
Tsushima Island...
I'm trying to learn as much as
I can about the enemy
so what we may find a way to
minimize the burden on the people.
If you're calling this a military affair,
isn't this a military affair
I should be involved in?
Your job here, Minister Park,
is to pass on your talent as an auditor
to the others as quickly as possible
that uncanny talent you have of ferreting
out those who acquired wealth unlawfully.
That might be the quickest way to
avoid having to squeeze the public.
I wonder if it was a good idea to
place Park Eun as the director.
His talent is not in doubt.
Your Majesty and the abdicated King...
When there are two suns in the sky,
you must consider other things as well.
There's a good chance he'll distort
his reports about you
to the abdicated King.
Yes, I know.
Then...
Without Park Eun, Hall of Worthies will
be seen as nothing more than a group
of my closest aides.
A new King and a group of
rising new young officials...
And it will become a target of the
abdicated King and the high lords
who are more powerful than I am.
I do not want that.
You look tired.
It's not easy working with
men half your age. Is it?
Maybe this was a bad idea.
I should've turned down the position.
Maintaining your power is never easy.
You've been chosen to be the leader of
the new King's most ambitious project.
That doesn't sound like a compliment.
I just want to help you.
That is all.
You need to plant a few of your
men in the Hall of Worthies.
Right now the Hall of Worthies
is full of young men
that were King's most faithful followers
since his days as a prince.
You need to be able to keep them
in check to be their effective leader
as well as maintain
your level of authority.
And I guess it would be
even better if these men
I plant were your men as well as mine.
You catch on quickly, Minister Park.
So who do you have to recommend?
You call yourself a government official?
Sir...
Do you think this is a love
letter to your girlfriend?
This is an official diplomatic document
and it needs to have a proper seal!
Thank goodness I caught
it before it was sent out.
You could've disgraced our country!
It slipped my mind...
Fine.
Pardon?
I said fine.
You're forgiven, so just do this one thing.
Put your resignation on my desk.
Right now.
Sir...
Or get yourself into the jail house!
I can't recommend a man like that.
He's a bit clumsy but he's
actually quite talented.
His exceptional knowledge in
Confucian Classic had lecturers
going to him for advice
in his academy days.
Forth level placement?
He barely made the cut
at the civil service exam.
We could hardly give first
place to a man who forgot
to put his name on the answer sheet.
Give greater weight to a
man's talent than his faults.
The King would like that.
That's how he chose most of his men.
You need a man like him so that your
real agent won't come under suspicion.
My real agent?
Enter.
Introduce yourself.
This is the Left State Councilor.
My name is Gim Mun.
I guess you could say he's a complete
opposite of Shin Jang with exception to
their equally good knowledge
in Confucian Classics.
And he has plenty of his own reasons
to be our faithful eyes and ears.
Isn't that right?
I will put your interest first before
the King's if you so ask.
Is this all we have?
We're trying to conquer Tsushima
and we don't even have a
decent map of the island?
The sad fact is we don't even have a
thoroughly comprehensive map of Joseon.
He still hasn't opened his mouth?
We must learn how to use that
thing in order to fight Joseon.
Talk! Tell us how to use the cannon!
Wait!
My lord!
I would've cut your head off
if you had killed this man.
He's the only one we have right now
with knowledge about the cannons.
But soon from Joseon...
There is no certainty in war.
We can kill him once we
have the knowledge we need.
Find out if there's anyone
who knows how to handle gunpowder
we can bring to our side.
That's not going to be cheap.
Money is all I can offer you now,
but I'll guarantee you a government
post once you return to Tsushima.
They're building all of these
warships in six months?
I guess we better hit this place first.
What do you want?
Idiot.
You're a dead man.
Not "What do you want?"
"Nanda!" Is that so hard?
That's not fair.
You startled me!
Do you think the Japanese are
going to announce themselves first?
Again!
Sir!
If any one of you makes another mistake,
you'll be in the water all night! Go!
Darn it!
I told you to curse in Japanese, too!
Stupid... Just shut up.
Do you want to die?
Archery practice?
This really isn't what I expected,
Your Majesty.
It's bad enough that you're
involved in military affairs.
Are you planning to personally
command this campaign now?
What do you mean?
You must stop training spies.
If the former King found out, your
intent will be grossly misunderstood.
Do you know that we don't have
a decent map of Tsushima Island?
I know military orders must come from
one place for the country to have peace.
I am trying to gain information,
not to issue military orders.
Why do you think I am
thirsting for knowledge?
You of all men should know and
understand why I'm going to this
length to acquire information.
All of the soldiers that will fight on
this conquest are my citizens to protect.
My father is trying his own
way to protect them
and I am trying my own
way to protect them.
You can call this military affair if
you'd like. But I will not be stopped.
Stop the spy training?
Do I have to explain
why we need
information to you
as well?
I'm trying to explain
the complication involved.
It takes at least six months just
to get them to speak the language.
To dispatch them immediately...
Continue the training even
if you have to invest six years.
If we stop at the first obstacle,
what would we do next time?
If there're complications,
let us try an official approach
to collecting information.
I'd like to dispatch a special
assessor to Tsushima
to investigate their overall situation.
That is not necessary. Your Majesty.
An emissary from Tsushima is at the
former King's chambers as we speak.
Why did they dispatch an emissary?
His Eminence had summoned him,
Your Majesty.
Bow!
Rise!
This is So Shun, the brother of
the Lord of Lord of Tsushima.
Tsushima must be negligent in keeping
itself informed about Joseon lately.
Or has it become exceedingly arrogant?
Why didn't you report this until now?
The order had been issued... prior
to the new King's enthronement.
Dealing with a foreign emissary
is a diplomatic affair regardless
of the time the order was issued,
so the abdicated King is...
The abdicated King is
overstepping his authority?
Isn't he?
This is a tough one...
Isn't it, Your Majesty?
Emissary was summoned in response
to Japanese pirate raids
in the lower three states.
The former King sees
this as a military affair.
How do you see this?
Why are you ignoring the
pirate attacks on Joseon?
Perhaps this isn't negligence.
Perhaps Tsushima is behind it.
No, Your Eminence.
For generations, Tsushima has served
Joseon as our mother country...
I'll give you three months.
Capture the pirates that raided our
land and send them to Joseon.
That's not a simple task, Your Eminence.
Did you call Joseon your
"Mother country"?
Then demonstrate your filial devotion.
Don't let me bear the pain of
having to strike my own child.
Your Eminence...!
If you fail to take care of
this within three months,
the lord of Tsushima could lose his head.
Is this a declaration of war?
In a way.
We should give them a chance before
we proceed with the conquest since
we are the superior power.
Have you considered a diplomatic
approach to resolving this problem?
I asked you to let me handle Tsushima.
But Father...
Clarify your priorities.
There are other matters
that require your attention.
Please sit back down. Let us explain.
There's nothing more to talk about.
You've completely ignored the procedure.
We haven't even delivered
the investiture of the Crown Prince.
The man playing King in the palace
right now is not even a Crown Prince.
Abdication could not be avoided.
We were forced to make this decision
because the King is seriously ill.
We know how to gather
information as well.
How is the former King conducting
all of the military affairs if he is so ill?
That's...
We have no choice but to accept this as
intentional disdain against
Great Ming and the Emperor.
The Ming envoys are furious?
We can't blame them.
The Ming envoys believe he exercises
his suzerainty over neighboring states
through investiture decrees and
we have ignored that process.
So what is happening right now?
Venerable Liu is an uncompromising man.
An uncompromising businessman
from what I understand.
Still, respect is more important
to him than wealth.
I guess there might be a
resolution to this after all.
If the new King displays his respect
both materialistically and expressively
this might get a little easier.
I will mention that your efforts
must be rewarded as well.
Pay them off?
Are you suggesting that we recommend
the King to bribe the envoy?
That's the only way to appease him.
His Majesty will not be making
special trips to the Hall of
Great Peace under any circumstances.
Why not?
You're an official in the Ministry of Rites.
Must I explain?
This is His Majesty's first diplomatic
activity since his ascension.
Ming may be a state more
powerful than ours,
but we cannot have the new
King begin his reign in indignity.
Stop talking ideals and face
the problem, Minister Shim.
This could be a simple matter if
His Majesty bows down just once.
If we drag on, this could put a cloud
over our relationship with Ming.
How you set the tone
in the beginning of the relationship
is most important in foreign relations.
We must find a reasonable solution.
Minister Shim.
I hope this decision is not
based on personal feelings.
This is a careful and objective
decision based on years of
experience in diplomatic relations.
Why is he giving us such a hard time?
Does he think we want to do this?
Don't fret it.
He's just trying to protect
his son-in-law's prestige.
I had no idea being the King's
father-in-law gave you so much power.
The King will be untouchable
under his protection.
I wonder when he will stop
treating the King like a child...
One more time.
Watch closely.
Here, let me try.
You hold it like this...
Why do you look so glum?
His Majesty is spending much
needed time with the children.
You should be happy.
What is bothering him?
Is there a problem?
Problem?
Majesty and I have been
together for over a decade, Father.
I've come to know him well in that time.
He has a bad habit of hiding
his tears behind laughter.
Your Highness...
I just hope it isn't something terribly bad.
Did you feel the way that I do?
Did you want to protect me
instinctively like I want to protect
my son Hyang, like all parents
want to protect their children?
Were you afraid of your
son-in-law might lose face?
I did indeed fear that your
prestige might be compromised.
But it was not my son-in law's
prestige but prestige of this
country's King that I feared for.
My investiture caused this problem.
That's all the more reason
why we cannot resort to bribery
and undignified means.
You are the country
and the country's pride.
We cannot buy that pride by bribing
an emissary under the table.
More importantly, this is your first action
in diplomatic relations as the new King.
If you give in to their shady requests,
you will have to take a submissive
stance in all future negotiations.
But we can't fight them either.
I'm not saying we should fight them.
I'm saying we should
find a dignified solution.
Don't appease the envoy but appease the
Emperor of Ming through official means.
A personally written letter
to the Emperor of Ming?
Yes.
Do you believe we can win the
Emperor's heart with one letter?
I am not the most experienced
politician, but I am not naive enough
to believe sincerity will
resolve this situation.
Then?
But I do think we should
clarify your position.
We may look upon Ming with great
reverence, but I'd like to respectfully
remind the Emperor that it is within
a sovereign's right to decide his
heir according to domestic situation
and circumstances of the royal house.
It is not a bad idea, but you
must appease the envoy first.
I will treat them with utmost
respect as they are our guests,
but I will not appease them.
Actually, they are the ones who
doesn't want to be appeased.
How could I discuss diplomatic
affairs with men who thinks the
King is nothing more than an
underhanded businessman?
Then...
I'd like to dispatch our envoy to
Ming before Ming envoy goes back.
The Emperor may become even
more furious when he finds out
that we ignored his envoy.
Eliminating such element of conflict is
what diplomacy is all about, isn't it?
If we're looking for someone
with such diplomatic skills,
there is no one better than Shim On.
He is a veteran diplomat and has
good relations with Ming envoy
Huang Yan, so he may not be a bad choice.
He is the best choice.
Elevate his position to Prime Minister
and send him to Ming without delay.
Prime... Minister?
We must show our devotion
to win the Emperor's heart.
Shim On is the King's father-in-law and
the most powerful man
among the Royal relatives.
If you make him the Prime Minister,
the leader among the royal retainers,
the Emperor will know that Joseon
is committed to winning his heart.
Why are you standing there?
The King has left for
the main hall while ago.
May I ask why you recommended
Shim On for Prime Minister?
Sending the King's father-in-law would
have been enough to
show our commitment.
What brings you here at
this late hour, Your Majesty?
I thought my father-in-law
might offer me a drink.
Shim on as Prime Minister?
The King has not made his decision yet.
Is this a trap set by the former King?
I wouldn't know.
I am the new King's chief secretary now.
You are a smart man.
You dodge difficult questions
with such ease and grace.
I guess then it's up to this old man
to speculate what's going on.
The former King who has morbid
hatred for in-laws is putting the
new King's father-in-law
on the very top of the tree.
Then now he will shake the
tree and make him fall.
How interesting.
Who is next?
If it's Shim On this time,
who is his next target?
You might know that better than I do.
If you know when His Eminence
is going to fire his shot,
you can easily avoid the arrow.
What is bothering you?
Did it not go well at the
abdicated King's hall?
He wants me to make you Prime Minister.
Is that a good idea?
I don't want to doubt my father's
intentions, but I can't help myself.
Stop that at once.
You know how he treated his own in-laws.
Must I take a whip to you?
Father-in-law...
I have watched you for many years.
Watching you in your princely
days was very painful because
I was helpless to help a son
live out his grand dream.
And when you became the Crown Prince
and finally ascended to the throne,
I was extremely proud.
But right now I am angry.
Father-in-law.
I know how many political enemies
the former King has killed.
But you must know that he
didn't do to please himself.
He was forced to make
most of those decisions
to put this country on solid ground.
You must understand his struggles and
pain before you question his intentions.
More importantly, you must trust him.
He would not kill or destroy
anyone without a reason.
If I abuse my power and try to shake the
foundation of this country like his
in-laws did, you must strike me down,
not the former King.
You must always remember how
onerous being a King can be.
Resign from court?
Yes, Eminence.
Is this spite?
Your Eminence...!
Are you angry because the King wants
to replace you after what you did to put
him on the throne?
No, Eminence.
You had appointed this humble servant
Prime Minister to help you abdicate
your throne smoothly.
Now that you have
accomplished that goal...
This abdication...
is not wrapped up yet.
Your Eminence...
So go back to the Royal Inspector's
office and take your old job back.
The Royal Inspector's office?
Clean out the royal court.
Clear it of anyone and everyone
who attempts to undermine
the new King and essentially
undermine the country.
Ferret them out and get rid of them.
Until then I'm not done
with this abdication.
Minister of Personnel Shim On, hear ye.
I hereby decree on this ninth month
of 1418 that Minister of Personnel
Shim On assume the title
and duty of Prime Minister...
What is this?
Um, I just came outside with you.
Isn't it obvious?
Escort Han, what are you waiting for?
Send those ladies back at once.
Yes, Your Highness.
Congratulate me?
Your father has become
Prime Minister of this state.
It is to be expected.
From the highest ministers
to the lowest clerks,
he can appoint and
dismiss anyone he likes.
Those women are trying to
make an impression on you.
I believe Minister Shim served in
the Ministry of Personnel for years...
... so this is not new to him.
Judging by the crowd outside
I can imagine how he must
have worked in the past.
I believe you are wrong, Mother.
My father is...
Then did you allow yourself
to be seen as someone who can be
bought to manipulate your father?
Mother...
One can never be too careful,
so I'm just cautioning you.
It's best that both you and your
father take care of yourself.
I'm sure you know what happens
to those who attempt to abuse their
power exploiting their
relations with the King.
It's from the abdicated King.
Isn't this his Royal horse?
He is my favorite horse.
He will make the Prime Minister's
travel at his old age a little easier.
Father...
Tell him that I'm counting on him and
to remember that the fate of the King
and this nation rests on his shoulders.
I don't know how to return
this undeserved kindness.
Would you tell him that I will pay him
back with loyalty when I return?
It's going to be a long and difficult trip.
Don't worry, Your Majesty.
I'll do all I can to help him.
I'm going on this trip for books.
I'll search every bookstore in Ming if I have
to and bring back all the books we need.
You can hardly speak their language.
Just don't get lost, my man.
This isn't goodbye forever now.
Let us be on our way.
You should hurry, sir, if you're going
to get past Gaesung before sundown.
Have a safe trip, Father.
The power and authority of
the King's father-in-law...
The tree wants to be still, but the
world will not stop shaking him...
And soon His Eminence might
want to chop the tree down.
The procession must
have been quite grand.
Spectators gather at the site to send off
the Prime Minister/King's father in law
leaving the city practically empty.
It must've looked like
the King's procession.
It's a good name.
He spends most of his free time there.
Some nights he is there all night.
So, who are these worthy
men the King has gathered?
Mostly young new officials and
scholars of the Confucian Academy.
However, there is one misfit in the bunch.
A misfit?
Hall of Worthies
Left State Councilor Park Eun?
What exactly is the King trying to
accomplish at this Hall of Worthies?
I heard you are gathering information
about Tsushima Island.
That's right.
That will get the Hall of
Worthies shut down.
Shut down?
Collecting data about
Tsushima is a military affair.
It could be a foreign affair as well.
Majority is in favor of the
conquest, Your Majesty.
Even if it is a military affair,
it wouldn't hurt for me to know.
The abdicate King is
attending to military affairs.
How do you define military
affairs, Minister Park?
Like you said, this conquest is
getting closer to reality every day.
That's why I'm forced to be a shameless
King who extracts tax from the hungry
people to pay for a military campaign.
Tsushima Island...
I'm trying to learn as much as
I can about the enemy
so what we may find a way to
minimize the burden on the people.
If you're calling this a military affair,
isn't this a military affair
I should be involved in?
Your job here, Minister Park,
is to pass on your talent as an auditor
to the others as quickly as possible
that uncanny talent you have of ferreting
out those who acquired wealth unlawfully.
That might be the quickest way to
avoid having to squeeze the public.
I wonder if it was a good idea to
place Park Eun as the director.
His talent is not in doubt.
Your Majesty and the abdicated King...
When there are two suns in the sky,
you must consider other things as well.
There's a good chance he'll distort
his reports about you
to the abdicated King.
Yes, I know.
Then...
Without Park Eun, Hall of Worthies will
be seen as nothing more than a group
of my closest aides.
A new King and a group of
rising new young officials...
And it will become a target of the
abdicated King and the high lords
who are more powerful than I am.
I do not want that.
You look tired.
It's not easy working with
men half your age. Is it?
Maybe this was a bad idea.
I should've turned down the position.
Maintaining your power is never easy.
You've been chosen to be the leader of
the new King's most ambitious project.
That doesn't sound like a compliment.
I just want to help you.
That is all.
You need to plant a few of your
men in the Hall of Worthies.
Right now the Hall of Worthies
is full of young men
that were King's most faithful followers
since his days as a prince.
You need to be able to keep them
in check to be their effective leader
as well as maintain
your level of authority.
And I guess it would be
even better if these men
I plant were your men as well as mine.
You catch on quickly, Minister Park.
So who do you have to recommend?
You call yourself a government official?
Sir...
Do you think this is a love
letter to your girlfriend?
This is an official diplomatic document
and it needs to have a proper seal!
Thank goodness I caught
it before it was sent out.
You could've disgraced our country!
It slipped my mind...
Fine.
Pardon?
I said fine.
You're forgiven, so just do this one thing.
Put your resignation on my desk.
Right now.
Sir...
Or get yourself into the jail house!
I can't recommend a man like that.
He's a bit clumsy but he's
actually quite talented.
His exceptional knowledge in
Confucian Classic had lecturers
going to him for advice
in his academy days.
Forth level placement?
He barely made the cut
at the civil service exam.
We could hardly give first
place to a man who forgot
to put his name on the answer sheet.
Give greater weight to a
man's talent than his faults.
The King would like that.
That's how he chose most of his men.
You need a man like him so that your
real agent won't come under suspicion.
My real agent?
Enter.
Introduce yourself.
This is the Left State Councilor.
My name is Gim Mun.
I guess you could say he's a complete
opposite of Shin Jang with exception to
their equally good knowledge
in Confucian Classics.
And he has plenty of his own reasons
to be our faithful eyes and ears.
Isn't that right?
I will put your interest first before
the King's if you so ask.
Is this all we have?
We're trying to conquer Tsushima
and we don't even have a
decent map of the island?
The sad fact is we don't even have a
thoroughly comprehensive map of Joseon.
He still hasn't opened his mouth?
We must learn how to use that
thing in order to fight Joseon.
Talk! Tell us how to use the cannon!
Wait!
My lord!
I would've cut your head off
if you had killed this man.
He's the only one we have right now
with knowledge about the cannons.
But soon from Joseon...
There is no certainty in war.
We can kill him once we
have the knowledge we need.
Find out if there's anyone
who knows how to handle gunpowder
we can bring to our side.
That's not going to be cheap.
Money is all I can offer you now,
but I'll guarantee you a government
post once you return to Tsushima.
They're building all of these
warships in six months?
I guess we better hit this place first.
What do you want?
Idiot.
You're a dead man.
Not "What do you want?"
"Nanda!" Is that so hard?
That's not fair.
You startled me!
Do you think the Japanese are
going to announce themselves first?
Again!
Sir!
If any one of you makes another mistake,
you'll be in the water all night! Go!
Darn it!
I told you to curse in Japanese, too!
Stupid... Just shut up.
Do you want to die?
Archery practice?
This really isn't what I expected,
Your Majesty.
It's bad enough that you're
involved in military affairs.
Are you planning to personally
command this campaign now?
What do you mean?
You must stop training spies.
If the former King found out, your
intent will be grossly misunderstood.
Do you know that we don't have
a decent map of Tsushima Island?
I know military orders must come from
one place for the country to have peace.
I am trying to gain information,
not to issue military orders.
Why do you think I am
thirsting for knowledge?
You of all men should know and
understand why I'm going to this
length to acquire information.
All of the soldiers that will fight on
this conquest are my citizens to protect.
My father is trying his own
way to protect them
and I am trying my own
way to protect them.
You can call this military affair if
you'd like. But I will not be stopped.
Stop the spy training?
Do I have to explain
why we need
information to you
as well?
I'm trying to explain
the complication involved.
It takes at least six months just
to get them to speak the language.
To dispatch them immediately...
Continue the training even
if you have to invest six years.
If we stop at the first obstacle,
what would we do next time?
If there're complications,
let us try an official approach
to collecting information.
I'd like to dispatch a special
assessor to Tsushima
to investigate their overall situation.
That is not necessary. Your Majesty.
An emissary from Tsushima is at the
former King's chambers as we speak.
Why did they dispatch an emissary?
His Eminence had summoned him,
Your Majesty.
Bow!
Rise!
This is So Shun, the brother of
the Lord of Lord of Tsushima.
Tsushima must be negligent in keeping
itself informed about Joseon lately.
Or has it become exceedingly arrogant?
Why didn't you report this until now?
The order had been issued... prior
to the new King's enthronement.
Dealing with a foreign emissary
is a diplomatic affair regardless
of the time the order was issued,
so the abdicated King is...
The abdicated King is
overstepping his authority?
Isn't he?
This is a tough one...
Isn't it, Your Majesty?
Emissary was summoned in response
to Japanese pirate raids
in the lower three states.
The former King sees
this as a military affair.
How do you see this?
Why are you ignoring the
pirate attacks on Joseon?
Perhaps this isn't negligence.
Perhaps Tsushima is behind it.
No, Your Eminence.
For generations, Tsushima has served
Joseon as our mother country...
I'll give you three months.
Capture the pirates that raided our
land and send them to Joseon.
That's not a simple task, Your Eminence.
Did you call Joseon your
"Mother country"?
Then demonstrate your filial devotion.
Don't let me bear the pain of
having to strike my own child.
Your Eminence...!
If you fail to take care of
this within three months,
the lord of Tsushima could lose his head.
Is this a declaration of war?
In a way.
We should give them a chance before
we proceed with the conquest since
we are the superior power.
Have you considered a diplomatic
approach to resolving this problem?
I asked you to let me handle Tsushima.
But Father...
Clarify your priorities.
There are other matters
that require your attention.
Please sit back down. Let us explain.
There's nothing more to talk about.
You've completely ignored the procedure.
We haven't even delivered
the investiture of the Crown Prince.
The man playing King in the palace
right now is not even a Crown Prince.
Abdication could not be avoided.
We were forced to make this decision
because the King is seriously ill.
We know how to gather
information as well.
How is the former King conducting
all of the military affairs if he is so ill?
That's...
We have no choice but to accept this as
intentional disdain against
Great Ming and the Emperor.
The Ming envoys are furious?
We can't blame them.
The Ming envoys believe he exercises
his suzerainty over neighboring states
through investiture decrees and
we have ignored that process.
So what is happening right now?
Venerable Liu is an uncompromising man.
An uncompromising businessman
from what I understand.
Still, respect is more important
to him than wealth.
I guess there might be a
resolution to this after all.
If the new King displays his respect
both materialistically and expressively
this might get a little easier.
I will mention that your efforts
must be rewarded as well.
Pay them off?
Are you suggesting that we recommend
the King to bribe the envoy?
That's the only way to appease him.
His Majesty will not be making
special trips to the Hall of
Great Peace under any circumstances.
Why not?
You're an official in the Ministry of Rites.
Must I explain?
This is His Majesty's first diplomatic
activity since his ascension.
Ming may be a state more
powerful than ours,
but we cannot have the new
King begin his reign in indignity.
Stop talking ideals and face
the problem, Minister Shim.
This could be a simple matter if
His Majesty bows down just once.
If we drag on, this could put a cloud
over our relationship with Ming.
How you set the tone
in the beginning of the relationship
is most important in foreign relations.
We must find a reasonable solution.
Minister Shim.
I hope this decision is not
based on personal feelings.
This is a careful and objective
decision based on years of
experience in diplomatic relations.
Why is he giving us such a hard time?
Does he think we want to do this?
Don't fret it.
He's just trying to protect
his son-in-law's prestige.
I had no idea being the King's
father-in-law gave you so much power.
The King will be untouchable
under his protection.
I wonder when he will stop
treating the King like a child...
One more time.
Watch closely.
Here, let me try.
You hold it like this...
Why do you look so glum?
His Majesty is spending much
needed time with the children.
You should be happy.
What is bothering him?
Is there a problem?
Problem?
Majesty and I have been
together for over a decade, Father.
I've come to know him well in that time.
He has a bad habit of hiding
his tears behind laughter.
Your Highness...
I just hope it isn't something terribly bad.
Did you feel the way that I do?
Did you want to protect me
instinctively like I want to protect
my son Hyang, like all parents
want to protect their children?
Were you afraid of your
son-in-law might lose face?
I did indeed fear that your
prestige might be compromised.
But it was not my son-in law's
prestige but prestige of this
country's King that I feared for.
My investiture caused this problem.
That's all the more reason
why we cannot resort to bribery
and undignified means.
You are the country
and the country's pride.
We cannot buy that pride by bribing
an emissary under the table.
More importantly, this is your first action
in diplomatic relations as the new King.
If you give in to their shady requests,
you will have to take a submissive
stance in all future negotiations.
But we can't fight them either.
I'm not saying we should fight them.
I'm saying we should
find a dignified solution.
Don't appease the envoy but appease the
Emperor of Ming through official means.
A personally written letter
to the Emperor of Ming?
Yes.
Do you believe we can win the
Emperor's heart with one letter?
I am not the most experienced
politician, but I am not naive enough
to believe sincerity will
resolve this situation.
Then?
But I do think we should
clarify your position.
We may look upon Ming with great
reverence, but I'd like to respectfully
remind the Emperor that it is within
a sovereign's right to decide his
heir according to domestic situation
and circumstances of the royal house.
It is not a bad idea, but you
must appease the envoy first.
I will treat them with utmost
respect as they are our guests,
but I will not appease them.
Actually, they are the ones who
doesn't want to be appeased.
How could I discuss diplomatic
affairs with men who thinks the
King is nothing more than an
underhanded businessman?
Then...
I'd like to dispatch our envoy to
Ming before Ming envoy goes back.
The Emperor may become even
more furious when he finds out
that we ignored his envoy.
Eliminating such element of conflict is
what diplomacy is all about, isn't it?
If we're looking for someone
with such diplomatic skills,
there is no one better than Shim On.
He is a veteran diplomat and has
good relations with Ming envoy
Huang Yan, so he may not be a bad choice.
He is the best choice.
Elevate his position to Prime Minister
and send him to Ming without delay.
Prime... Minister?
We must show our devotion
to win the Emperor's heart.
Shim On is the King's father-in-law and
the most powerful man
among the Royal relatives.
If you make him the Prime Minister,
the leader among the royal retainers,
the Emperor will know that Joseon
is committed to winning his heart.
Why are you standing there?
The King has left for
the main hall while ago.
May I ask why you recommended
Shim On for Prime Minister?
Sending the King's father-in-law would
have been enough to
show our commitment.
What brings you here at
this late hour, Your Majesty?
I thought my father-in-law
might offer me a drink.
Shim on as Prime Minister?
The King has not made his decision yet.
Is this a trap set by the former King?
I wouldn't know.
I am the new King's chief secretary now.
You are a smart man.
You dodge difficult questions
with such ease and grace.
I guess then it's up to this old man
to speculate what's going on.
The former King who has morbid
hatred for in-laws is putting the
new King's father-in-law
on the very top of the tree.
Then now he will shake the
tree and make him fall.
How interesting.
Who is next?
If it's Shim On this time,
who is his next target?
You might know that better than I do.
If you know when His Eminence
is going to fire his shot,
you can easily avoid the arrow.
What is bothering you?
Did it not go well at the
abdicated King's hall?
He wants me to make you Prime Minister.
Is that a good idea?
I don't want to doubt my father's
intentions, but I can't help myself.
Stop that at once.
You know how he treated his own in-laws.
Must I take a whip to you?
Father-in-law...
I have watched you for many years.
Watching you in your princely
days was very painful because
I was helpless to help a son
live out his grand dream.
And when you became the Crown Prince
and finally ascended to the throne,
I was extremely proud.
But right now I am angry.
Father-in-law.
I know how many political enemies
the former King has killed.
But you must know that he
didn't do to please himself.
He was forced to make
most of those decisions
to put this country on solid ground.
You must understand his struggles and
pain before you question his intentions.
More importantly, you must trust him.
He would not kill or destroy
anyone without a reason.
If I abuse my power and try to shake the
foundation of this country like his
in-laws did, you must strike me down,
not the former King.
You must always remember how
onerous being a King can be.
Resign from court?
Yes, Eminence.
Is this spite?
Your Eminence...!
Are you angry because the King wants
to replace you after what you did to put
him on the throne?
No, Eminence.
You had appointed this humble servant
Prime Minister to help you abdicate
your throne smoothly.
Now that you have
accomplished that goal...
This abdication...
is not wrapped up yet.
Your Eminence...
So go back to the Royal Inspector's
office and take your old job back.
The Royal Inspector's office?
Clean out the royal court.
Clear it of anyone and everyone
who attempts to undermine
the new King and essentially
undermine the country.
Ferret them out and get rid of them.
Until then I'm not done
with this abdication.
Minister of Personnel Shim On, hear ye.
I hereby decree on this ninth month
of 1418 that Minister of Personnel
Shim On assume the title
and duty of Prime Minister...
What is this?
Um, I just came outside with you.
Isn't it obvious?
Escort Han, what are you waiting for?
Send those ladies back at once.
Yes, Your Highness.
Congratulate me?
Your father has become
Prime Minister of this state.
It is to be expected.
From the highest ministers
to the lowest clerks,
he can appoint and
dismiss anyone he likes.
Those women are trying to
make an impression on you.
I believe Minister Shim served in
the Ministry of Personnel for years...
... so this is not new to him.
Judging by the crowd outside
I can imagine how he must
have worked in the past.
I believe you are wrong, Mother.
My father is...
Then did you allow yourself
to be seen as someone who can be
bought to manipulate your father?
Mother...
One can never be too careful,
so I'm just cautioning you.
It's best that both you and your
father take care of yourself.
I'm sure you know what happens
to those who attempt to abuse their
power exploiting their
relations with the King.
It's from the abdicated King.
Isn't this his Royal horse?
He is my favorite horse.
He will make the Prime Minister's
travel at his old age a little easier.
Father...
Tell him that I'm counting on him and
to remember that the fate of the King
and this nation rests on his shoulders.
I don't know how to return
this undeserved kindness.
Would you tell him that I will pay him
back with loyalty when I return?
It's going to be a long and difficult trip.
Don't worry, Your Majesty.
I'll do all I can to help him.
I'm going on this trip for books.
I'll search every bookstore in Ming if I have
to and bring back all the books we need.
You can hardly speak their language.
Just don't get lost, my man.
This isn't goodbye forever now.
Let us be on our way.
You should hurry, sir, if you're going
to get past Gaesung before sundown.
Have a safe trip, Father.
The power and authority of
the King's father-in-law...
The tree wants to be still, but the
world will not stop shaking him...
And soon His Eminence might
want to chop the tree down.
The procession must
have been quite grand.
Spectators gather at the site to send off
the Prime Minister/King's father in law
leaving the city practically empty.
It must've looked like
the King's procession.