Dae Wang Sejong (2008): Season 1, Episode 66 - Episode #1.66 - full transcript
I will not give up the Jurchen
open immigration policy!
You must!
Abolish the military farms and
turn them over to the people
of the northern three states!
No!
I will push the tax reform forward,
and tighten regulations
against the landed gentry.
No!
No, Your Majesty!
The King is ruining this country.
It's time to clear your
path to the throne.
Jo Malseng...
Are you the one that asked to see me?
What do I call you now that
you're in such fancy clothes?
Just call me Uncle like you used to.
Oh boy, are those tears?
It's not easy with the local people
hounding on you guys, is it?
No.
That's why I'm going to stop them now.
Who are these men?
These men work in this organization,
do they not?
- Get them!
- Yes, sir!
Let go!
Let go of me!
Are you crazy?
Don't you know what will
happen to Omakji if he turns them in?
I know.
What's this?
Let go.
Stop whatever it is your doing!
This kid deserves to be beaten.
If you knew what he's done...
I would've done the same thing
if I were Omakji.
That's why I drew the sketches for him.
You did the right thing turning them in,
but you're an accomplice as well.
I won't be able to protect you.
That's okay.
It's potassium nitrate alright.
Process the evidence and send
them over to the Royal Investigator's Office.
But we don't know anything.
We just did what the boss told us...
Where is Jang Wonman?
Arrest them!
Let go of me!
Let go!
Jang Wonman and
Kim Doryeon, you're under arrest for
possession of illegal weapons and arson.
Take them away!
I'm not the man you want!
There's someone else behind those fires!
It's Jo Malseng!
I'm innocent!
I'm innocent!
Just as I thought,
you don't have what it takes to be the King.
I will not be your puppet anymore.
Secretary Yun.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Clear the yard.
But...
What is the meaning of this?
I'll go with you.
Take me instead!
- Stop this.
- Stay out of it!
Dami.
Then let me go with him.
Are you crazy?
Do you want to die?
Yeah, I do.
So what?
Did you forget the promise?
What did we say when we lost our parents
and became orphans on the same day?
"We live together and die together"!
That's why I'm doing this.
You bastard!
I can't make you and everyone else
public enemies just so I can live.
I couldn't live like that.
Shut up!
I know how you feel, so let me go.
I'd rather live one day with
dignity than a lifetime without it.
Let's go.
Let go! Let go of me!
Calm down!
Come back here, you jerk!
You think you're tough?
Come back here...
You're the one acting tough.
Take care of her.
She acts strong, but she's
got a really soft heart.
Don't go...
Don't go!
You're going to die, you idiot!
You'll have to die now.
Are you afraid?
Call off the troops at once.
Issue an order and stop the regional
forces you were sending up o the capital!
What does this mean?
It means I'm going to let you live
if you undo what you've done.
Is it because of Kyoungnyeong?
You're sparing me so you
could save your half-brother?
You're an amazing man.
You have the nerve to
banter at a time like this.
The fires have put enough
fear into the public.
I do not wish to add
sedition to their anxiety.
Now choose.
Will you undo what you've
done or will you die?
Jo Malseng must die!
Arrest him and execute him right now.
Calm down.
I can't calm down.
Don't you know how many innocent
people have died because of him?
Arson is not the only reason
Jo Malseng should be put to death.
Did you find any other evidence?
They were keeping two sets of books.
Gim Doryeon handled all of
the rebates paid to Jo Malseng.
This is a record of "gifts" Jo Malseng
got selling government posts.
From land to silver, there's
a wide variety of valuables.
These are files on merchants that mostly
deal in the northern region that
Jo Malseng is getting paid to protect.
And it looks like these guys
pay him more than anyone else.
Care to explain why?
He lets us take the Jurchen barbarians who
are captured crossing the border
into Joseon and trade the as slaves.
Slave trading is the best business there is.
You can make a killing
with little or nothing.
Jang Wonman, you fool!
He's amassed a whopping 780 guans
of silver in this manner.
The standard for a death sentence in
the Laws of the Great Ming is 80 guans...
So that's...
enough to seek ten death sentences.
In other words, he's a dead man
with or without the arson charge.
What are we waiting for?
Can we take care of this before
other military leaders find out?
Arrest Jo Malseng at once!
The Royal Inspector has issued
a warrant for his arrest?
On account of
the arsonists being captured...
But haven't they already confirmed
this man is not behind the fires?
He's not being charged
with arson, Your Majesty.
Jo Malseng is not at his home?
You mean he's fled?
Information has leaked again?
Now he might attempt to move
his close aides in the military.
We must report this to the King.
I've already sent a confidential memo to
the Royal Secretariat.
And you haven't heard back?
Shouldn't we
declare martial law of something?
Don't be stupid.
Declaring martial law would only
give the military more power.
The Right and the Central Army
can join forces and suppress them.
Do you know what you
are describing right now?
It's called a civil war.
What were you planning to
do with so much money?
What are you?
How far were you going to go?
Those you sell government posts
to become instrument of tyranny,
and the people suffer as a result!
Don't you know that?
Security, security, security!
You used security to threaten
me over and over again.
But the man who puts national
security above his own life has
tried to take the troops away
from the northern borders.
You don't care what happens.
Is that it?
You'll risk ruining the country to
steal the throne and rise to power?
This is my country as well.
National security, especially the
northern borders, is not at risk.
A rebellion is brewing in Ming.
Zhu Gaoxu, the Emperors uncle,
the late Emperor Yongle's
brother, is the leader.
Jurchen leader Li Manzhu
his joined hands with him,
so the Jurchen army will be
heading to Ming, not to Joseon.
Do as you see fit.
If you take care of me, you will
be the de facto leader of Liaodong.
I come in the name of the Emperor.
Kill me and get it over with!
I couldn't do that.
I am loyal to the Imperial House.
You need a stronger punishment
for losing sight of who you are.
Treat him gently!
My lord!
My lord!
Loss of an uncle is too great for the Emperor
to deal with a petty barbarian like you.
Consider yourself lucky.
Jo Malseng, was it?
Joseon's Minister of Military?
Tell me about him.
Is he capable of giving absolute
loyalty to Great Ming?
Your plate is full with
domestic problems alone.
We can take our time and...
Small China.
The world calls Joseon "Small China".
Do you know that?
Perhaps it's because they accept everyone
with open arms from Jurchens
to Ming Chinese who cross the border
to escape our domestic situation.
Joseon is Small China.
Do you think this is a good thing?
You have to be able to see at least
two moves ahead to be a Dongchang.
Include Jo Malseng in the
next diplomatic mission.
It's a shame that I do
not have your loyalty.
What do you think should
happen to you now?
My wish is to be executed
in front of my subordinates.
How about vowing loyalty to
me and pleading for mercy?
I have no such desire.
Your Majesty's idea of Joseon is
too far from my idea of Joseon.
Kill me before my men.
Punish me and teach them a lesson
so they will not attempt to defy you.
This is the only way to prevent a civil war.
This is my last loyal act to my country.
Your wish will be granted.
Minister Jo will send word soon.
I will relay his order the moment I hear
from him, so keep your troops on alert.
Is this a coup?
Naturally.
We are one with Minister Jo,
so we will live and die together.
It's an order from the Minister of Military.
Your Majesty, a warrant must be
issued for Jo Malseng's arrest.
Jo Malseng is under my protection.
Protection?
What do you mean, Your Majesty?
Does it require an explanation?
He must not be protected, Your Majesty.
He must be arrested
and put to death without delay.
I agree, Your Majesty.
I will not allow it.
He is the man behind the fires.
You have the facts wrong.
He's committed enough felonies
to warrant ten death sentences!
He must be executed!
His assets will be confiscated and
absorbed by the national treasury,
and Jo Malseng will be punished by exile.
No, Your Majesty!
I will exercise prerogative power
to protect Jo Malseng if necessary,
so do not fight me on this.
Officials will oppose fiercely.
If you are doing this for me,
you shouldn't.
You changed your mind at the last minute.
What does that mean?
It means you and I had built enough
trust for one another to take a step
back and think about each other
at least once before it's too late.
But what about Jo Malseng?
I was always busy guarding against him
to think about embracing him
and reasoning with him.
Your Majesty...
"Love your men and they
will return it with trust."
It's an old saying that
I once said to Father.
It's time for me to put it to practice.
Return, good government!
Return, good government!
Get down here at once!
This government is descending once again.
We must dissuade the King who
ignores laws and due process
and seeks to protect a criminal
with irrefutable proof of crime.
This is the only way to revive
this government.
Return, good government!
His Majesty sent this for you.
We brought you plenty of paper, too.
He was very pleased with
your pictorial reports.
He wants you to keep them coming.
I wish he had sent them sooner.
Then he could've used them to draw this.
What's that?
It's a petition.
What's the complaint this time?
What is the meaning of this?
It means the Hall of Worthies will not
contribute to the King's work anymore.
I don't agree with the King either,
but burning books is no way to react!
For a tyrant, books are nothing
but decorations on the wall.
Do you think you'll get away with this?
Of course not.
Choi Manli submitted a resignation?
Reason with him.
And process the resignation
if it doesn't work.
Choi Manli is a talented
man with a bright future.
I'm sure you will agree that
Jo Malseng is a talented man as well.
I thought the scholars would
support you if no one else.
Is there anything I can do to help?
This must be so distressful...
Don't be overly concerned.
I've come to pay you back
for sparing my son's life.
Please tell me what I can do.
Please don't cry.
I feel like a bad son as it is for not taking
better care of you since Father passed.
Did you say "son"?
My brother's mother is my mother as well.
You're two years younger
than Kyoungnyeong,
so that makes you only
twenty-eight this year.
It's an age still too young
to bear the whole country,
but I made your load even heavier with
my blind selfishness, Your Majesty...
Please don't cry.
Kyoungnyeong has a wonderful brother.
My tears will be yours until the day I die.
Tears of a mother who wishes safety
and wellbeing of her son the King that
loves his people as he loves his brothers
that is all I have to give you, Your Majesty.
Are you helping the fire victims now?
Perhaps it will reduce the public
grievance against the King a little.
You look good.
Were you embittered?
Father loved
you more than he loved me or
Choongnyeong when we were young.
I think he even said
once that you were King material if only
you hadn't been born of a concubine.
If I had made it to the throne,
Jo Malseng would be the one
holding the sword handle.
I would be holding the blade,
trying not to get hurt, and killing
everyone that stood in his way
as he swung the sword around.
That wouldn't have been good.
What was your reason?
Father had chosen you before
he chose Choongnyeong.
Because I was not the wise one.
I was too clean to be the wise one.
You're not the one.
You're not the wise one.
You're too clean to be the wise one.
You don't have a scratch on you
because you always take the safe path.
The wise one I know has to
be a hundred times rougher.
One who isn't afraid to get hurt for
his purpose-that's the wise one.
Life isn't easy for either of us.
Because those who distrust the King
repeatedly bait us with the throne
for the sole reason that
we are Royal Princes.
Don't forget who you are from now on.
Staying firmly behind the King and
reaching out to places and people
that King's hands do not reach
I think that is our role as princes.
How are you?
You became a regular farmer in
the few days I haven't seen you.
If you're here to talk me into
going back, you should leave.
We need you at the Hall of Worthies.
I'm not going back.
A tyrant does not tolerate opposition.
By sparing Jo Malseng, the King is
showing me and everyone else who resist
his reform that no one will be killed
no matter how strongly we oppose.
Please leave.
A King who protects his political
enemy albeit at the cost of aide
the world calls him benevolent King.
Why don't you have a drink with me?
I don't drink when I'm working.
Working?
Pointing out the King's wrong doing is
the most important work I will ever do.
If you don't want to drink,
how about this?
It's from the northerners.
I'd like you to see it.
They want a world where we can all
laugh and live together in harmony.
The northern states are
under constant threat of war.
And if a war breaks out,
there is no laughter.
If a man has smallest amount
of ability that could contribute to
preserving that laughter,
I cannot give him up.
Can't we give him a little time?
If he does not repent and it becomes
clear that he cannot be a true servant
of Joseon, I will give up
on Jo Malseng then.
Why did you call off the troops, sir?
Just keep the country safe.
You look like a happy camper.
If you know what honor is,
you would take your own life right now.
Do it.
If you don't have the guts,
I'll do it for you.
A bird is a bird even if it has lost its wings.
You think you'll be able to fly again?
Someday I will, as long as I am alive.
You bastard!
Then smarten up and your job right, fool!
Because carelessness and stupidity
of you Hall of Worthies scholars will
be the first reason for me to
fix my wings and come back.
And if I do come back, I intend to
crush you and the King to the bone.
Get him off!
You seemed saddened by the burned
books, so I re-scribed them for you.
You mean you had these
books memorized by heart?
Luckily, only the ones I had
memorized were destroyed.
Or maybe you destroyed only
the ones you memorized.
Are you back with us?
I'm not back because I think you're right.
I'm back because I'm confident
I can fight you and win.
Then what shall we start with first?
How about the snags in the tax reform?
We need tax laws that both the nobles
and the commoners can live with.
That will make it easier to send
military funds to the northern border.
It's going to be hard work,
but we can do it.
Of course we can.
This is the Hall of Worthies!
Right, buddy?
Are we just going to stand around?
Shall we begin?
Prevailing opinion is that ten sacks
per plot of land is a reasonable rate.
The soil fertility and productive differs by
region, so same rate should not apply.
How about 7 sacks per plot
in the northern three states?
Have you thought of a plan to deal with
the resistance of the landed gentry?
I plan to deal with it head on.
I will ask the public directly
about their own opinion.
open immigration policy!
You must!
Abolish the military farms and
turn them over to the people
of the northern three states!
No!
I will push the tax reform forward,
and tighten regulations
against the landed gentry.
No!
No, Your Majesty!
The King is ruining this country.
It's time to clear your
path to the throne.
Jo Malseng...
Are you the one that asked to see me?
What do I call you now that
you're in such fancy clothes?
Just call me Uncle like you used to.
Oh boy, are those tears?
It's not easy with the local people
hounding on you guys, is it?
No.
That's why I'm going to stop them now.
Who are these men?
These men work in this organization,
do they not?
- Get them!
- Yes, sir!
Let go!
Let go of me!
Are you crazy?
Don't you know what will
happen to Omakji if he turns them in?
I know.
What's this?
Let go.
Stop whatever it is your doing!
This kid deserves to be beaten.
If you knew what he's done...
I would've done the same thing
if I were Omakji.
That's why I drew the sketches for him.
You did the right thing turning them in,
but you're an accomplice as well.
I won't be able to protect you.
That's okay.
It's potassium nitrate alright.
Process the evidence and send
them over to the Royal Investigator's Office.
But we don't know anything.
We just did what the boss told us...
Where is Jang Wonman?
Arrest them!
Let go of me!
Let go!
Jang Wonman and
Kim Doryeon, you're under arrest for
possession of illegal weapons and arson.
Take them away!
I'm not the man you want!
There's someone else behind those fires!
It's Jo Malseng!
I'm innocent!
I'm innocent!
Just as I thought,
you don't have what it takes to be the King.
I will not be your puppet anymore.
Secretary Yun.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Clear the yard.
But...
What is the meaning of this?
I'll go with you.
Take me instead!
- Stop this.
- Stay out of it!
Dami.
Then let me go with him.
Are you crazy?
Do you want to die?
Yeah, I do.
So what?
Did you forget the promise?
What did we say when we lost our parents
and became orphans on the same day?
"We live together and die together"!
That's why I'm doing this.
You bastard!
I can't make you and everyone else
public enemies just so I can live.
I couldn't live like that.
Shut up!
I know how you feel, so let me go.
I'd rather live one day with
dignity than a lifetime without it.
Let's go.
Let go! Let go of me!
Calm down!
Come back here, you jerk!
You think you're tough?
Come back here...
You're the one acting tough.
Take care of her.
She acts strong, but she's
got a really soft heart.
Don't go...
Don't go!
You're going to die, you idiot!
You'll have to die now.
Are you afraid?
Call off the troops at once.
Issue an order and stop the regional
forces you were sending up o the capital!
What does this mean?
It means I'm going to let you live
if you undo what you've done.
Is it because of Kyoungnyeong?
You're sparing me so you
could save your half-brother?
You're an amazing man.
You have the nerve to
banter at a time like this.
The fires have put enough
fear into the public.
I do not wish to add
sedition to their anxiety.
Now choose.
Will you undo what you've
done or will you die?
Jo Malseng must die!
Arrest him and execute him right now.
Calm down.
I can't calm down.
Don't you know how many innocent
people have died because of him?
Arson is not the only reason
Jo Malseng should be put to death.
Did you find any other evidence?
They were keeping two sets of books.
Gim Doryeon handled all of
the rebates paid to Jo Malseng.
This is a record of "gifts" Jo Malseng
got selling government posts.
From land to silver, there's
a wide variety of valuables.
These are files on merchants that mostly
deal in the northern region that
Jo Malseng is getting paid to protect.
And it looks like these guys
pay him more than anyone else.
Care to explain why?
He lets us take the Jurchen barbarians who
are captured crossing the border
into Joseon and trade the as slaves.
Slave trading is the best business there is.
You can make a killing
with little or nothing.
Jang Wonman, you fool!
He's amassed a whopping 780 guans
of silver in this manner.
The standard for a death sentence in
the Laws of the Great Ming is 80 guans...
So that's...
enough to seek ten death sentences.
In other words, he's a dead man
with or without the arson charge.
What are we waiting for?
Can we take care of this before
other military leaders find out?
Arrest Jo Malseng at once!
The Royal Inspector has issued
a warrant for his arrest?
On account of
the arsonists being captured...
But haven't they already confirmed
this man is not behind the fires?
He's not being charged
with arson, Your Majesty.
Jo Malseng is not at his home?
You mean he's fled?
Information has leaked again?
Now he might attempt to move
his close aides in the military.
We must report this to the King.
I've already sent a confidential memo to
the Royal Secretariat.
And you haven't heard back?
Shouldn't we
declare martial law of something?
Don't be stupid.
Declaring martial law would only
give the military more power.
The Right and the Central Army
can join forces and suppress them.
Do you know what you
are describing right now?
It's called a civil war.
What were you planning to
do with so much money?
What are you?
How far were you going to go?
Those you sell government posts
to become instrument of tyranny,
and the people suffer as a result!
Don't you know that?
Security, security, security!
You used security to threaten
me over and over again.
But the man who puts national
security above his own life has
tried to take the troops away
from the northern borders.
You don't care what happens.
Is that it?
You'll risk ruining the country to
steal the throne and rise to power?
This is my country as well.
National security, especially the
northern borders, is not at risk.
A rebellion is brewing in Ming.
Zhu Gaoxu, the Emperors uncle,
the late Emperor Yongle's
brother, is the leader.
Jurchen leader Li Manzhu
his joined hands with him,
so the Jurchen army will be
heading to Ming, not to Joseon.
Do as you see fit.
If you take care of me, you will
be the de facto leader of Liaodong.
I come in the name of the Emperor.
Kill me and get it over with!
I couldn't do that.
I am loyal to the Imperial House.
You need a stronger punishment
for losing sight of who you are.
Treat him gently!
My lord!
My lord!
Loss of an uncle is too great for the Emperor
to deal with a petty barbarian like you.
Consider yourself lucky.
Jo Malseng, was it?
Joseon's Minister of Military?
Tell me about him.
Is he capable of giving absolute
loyalty to Great Ming?
Your plate is full with
domestic problems alone.
We can take our time and...
Small China.
The world calls Joseon "Small China".
Do you know that?
Perhaps it's because they accept everyone
with open arms from Jurchens
to Ming Chinese who cross the border
to escape our domestic situation.
Joseon is Small China.
Do you think this is a good thing?
You have to be able to see at least
two moves ahead to be a Dongchang.
Include Jo Malseng in the
next diplomatic mission.
It's a shame that I do
not have your loyalty.
What do you think should
happen to you now?
My wish is to be executed
in front of my subordinates.
How about vowing loyalty to
me and pleading for mercy?
I have no such desire.
Your Majesty's idea of Joseon is
too far from my idea of Joseon.
Kill me before my men.
Punish me and teach them a lesson
so they will not attempt to defy you.
This is the only way to prevent a civil war.
This is my last loyal act to my country.
Your wish will be granted.
Minister Jo will send word soon.
I will relay his order the moment I hear
from him, so keep your troops on alert.
Is this a coup?
Naturally.
We are one with Minister Jo,
so we will live and die together.
It's an order from the Minister of Military.
Your Majesty, a warrant must be
issued for Jo Malseng's arrest.
Jo Malseng is under my protection.
Protection?
What do you mean, Your Majesty?
Does it require an explanation?
He must not be protected, Your Majesty.
He must be arrested
and put to death without delay.
I agree, Your Majesty.
I will not allow it.
He is the man behind the fires.
You have the facts wrong.
He's committed enough felonies
to warrant ten death sentences!
He must be executed!
His assets will be confiscated and
absorbed by the national treasury,
and Jo Malseng will be punished by exile.
No, Your Majesty!
I will exercise prerogative power
to protect Jo Malseng if necessary,
so do not fight me on this.
Officials will oppose fiercely.
If you are doing this for me,
you shouldn't.
You changed your mind at the last minute.
What does that mean?
It means you and I had built enough
trust for one another to take a step
back and think about each other
at least once before it's too late.
But what about Jo Malseng?
I was always busy guarding against him
to think about embracing him
and reasoning with him.
Your Majesty...
"Love your men and they
will return it with trust."
It's an old saying that
I once said to Father.
It's time for me to put it to practice.
Return, good government!
Return, good government!
Get down here at once!
This government is descending once again.
We must dissuade the King who
ignores laws and due process
and seeks to protect a criminal
with irrefutable proof of crime.
This is the only way to revive
this government.
Return, good government!
His Majesty sent this for you.
We brought you plenty of paper, too.
He was very pleased with
your pictorial reports.
He wants you to keep them coming.
I wish he had sent them sooner.
Then he could've used them to draw this.
What's that?
It's a petition.
What's the complaint this time?
What is the meaning of this?
It means the Hall of Worthies will not
contribute to the King's work anymore.
I don't agree with the King either,
but burning books is no way to react!
For a tyrant, books are nothing
but decorations on the wall.
Do you think you'll get away with this?
Of course not.
Choi Manli submitted a resignation?
Reason with him.
And process the resignation
if it doesn't work.
Choi Manli is a talented
man with a bright future.
I'm sure you will agree that
Jo Malseng is a talented man as well.
I thought the scholars would
support you if no one else.
Is there anything I can do to help?
This must be so distressful...
Don't be overly concerned.
I've come to pay you back
for sparing my son's life.
Please tell me what I can do.
Please don't cry.
I feel like a bad son as it is for not taking
better care of you since Father passed.
Did you say "son"?
My brother's mother is my mother as well.
You're two years younger
than Kyoungnyeong,
so that makes you only
twenty-eight this year.
It's an age still too young
to bear the whole country,
but I made your load even heavier with
my blind selfishness, Your Majesty...
Please don't cry.
Kyoungnyeong has a wonderful brother.
My tears will be yours until the day I die.
Tears of a mother who wishes safety
and wellbeing of her son the King that
loves his people as he loves his brothers
that is all I have to give you, Your Majesty.
Are you helping the fire victims now?
Perhaps it will reduce the public
grievance against the King a little.
You look good.
Were you embittered?
Father loved
you more than he loved me or
Choongnyeong when we were young.
I think he even said
once that you were King material if only
you hadn't been born of a concubine.
If I had made it to the throne,
Jo Malseng would be the one
holding the sword handle.
I would be holding the blade,
trying not to get hurt, and killing
everyone that stood in his way
as he swung the sword around.
That wouldn't have been good.
What was your reason?
Father had chosen you before
he chose Choongnyeong.
Because I was not the wise one.
I was too clean to be the wise one.
You're not the one.
You're not the wise one.
You're too clean to be the wise one.
You don't have a scratch on you
because you always take the safe path.
The wise one I know has to
be a hundred times rougher.
One who isn't afraid to get hurt for
his purpose-that's the wise one.
Life isn't easy for either of us.
Because those who distrust the King
repeatedly bait us with the throne
for the sole reason that
we are Royal Princes.
Don't forget who you are from now on.
Staying firmly behind the King and
reaching out to places and people
that King's hands do not reach
I think that is our role as princes.
How are you?
You became a regular farmer in
the few days I haven't seen you.
If you're here to talk me into
going back, you should leave.
We need you at the Hall of Worthies.
I'm not going back.
A tyrant does not tolerate opposition.
By sparing Jo Malseng, the King is
showing me and everyone else who resist
his reform that no one will be killed
no matter how strongly we oppose.
Please leave.
A King who protects his political
enemy albeit at the cost of aide
the world calls him benevolent King.
Why don't you have a drink with me?
I don't drink when I'm working.
Working?
Pointing out the King's wrong doing is
the most important work I will ever do.
If you don't want to drink,
how about this?
It's from the northerners.
I'd like you to see it.
They want a world where we can all
laugh and live together in harmony.
The northern states are
under constant threat of war.
And if a war breaks out,
there is no laughter.
If a man has smallest amount
of ability that could contribute to
preserving that laughter,
I cannot give him up.
Can't we give him a little time?
If he does not repent and it becomes
clear that he cannot be a true servant
of Joseon, I will give up
on Jo Malseng then.
Why did you call off the troops, sir?
Just keep the country safe.
You look like a happy camper.
If you know what honor is,
you would take your own life right now.
Do it.
If you don't have the guts,
I'll do it for you.
A bird is a bird even if it has lost its wings.
You think you'll be able to fly again?
Someday I will, as long as I am alive.
You bastard!
Then smarten up and your job right, fool!
Because carelessness and stupidity
of you Hall of Worthies scholars will
be the first reason for me to
fix my wings and come back.
And if I do come back, I intend to
crush you and the King to the bone.
Get him off!
You seemed saddened by the burned
books, so I re-scribed them for you.
You mean you had these
books memorized by heart?
Luckily, only the ones I had
memorized were destroyed.
Or maybe you destroyed only
the ones you memorized.
Are you back with us?
I'm not back because I think you're right.
I'm back because I'm confident
I can fight you and win.
Then what shall we start with first?
How about the snags in the tax reform?
We need tax laws that both the nobles
and the commoners can live with.
That will make it easier to send
military funds to the northern border.
It's going to be hard work,
but we can do it.
Of course we can.
This is the Hall of Worthies!
Right, buddy?
Are we just going to stand around?
Shall we begin?
Prevailing opinion is that ten sacks
per plot of land is a reasonable rate.
The soil fertility and productive differs by
region, so same rate should not apply.
How about 7 sacks per plot
in the northern three states?
Have you thought of a plan to deal with
the resistance of the landed gentry?
I plan to deal with it head on.
I will ask the public directly
about their own opinion.