Original subtitles

We are not completely without funds to acquire medicines.

Sir, you're not thinking about using the offerings...

Admiral...

You'd lay your hands on the offerings set aside for the King?

We could lose thousands of soldiers unless something is done.

Who will protect Chosun if not them?

You can't do this, Admiral.

We can't let you do this, sir.

You must reconsider, sir.

Then you'd let the Chosun Navy lose its entire soldiery?

I will not let that happen!

Find a way to save the soldiers!

We must gather every resource available and save them first!

But we cannot touch the government tax revenue.

High Commander...

The grains that we send to the court are taxes that

every citizen of Chosun is obligated to pay.

It is not some noble gesture of generosity

you have been making to the King personally.

Taxes are be used to protect the safety and welfare of this country.

The safety of the soldiers is the safety of Chosun.

Then the taxes should be...

What I am trying to tell you is

that you don't have the authority to make that decision.

Only His Majesty the King gets to decide how taxes are used.

How about my father?

And the others, how about the others?

They may not make it even with proper medicine, but without it...

What do we do now?

Doctor...

What do you mean by that?

Soldier...

Answer me!

Are they saying that there is no medicine for us?

Are they just going to let us die?

You must calm down. We'll figure out a way somehow.

Let go of me!

What are you doing?

It's all useless! Why are you drawing a map for?

What's wrong? Did something happen?

It's bad enough that we have this deadly disease, but now

they're saying they don't have any medicine for us!

The commanders don't give a hoot about us!

So why should you bother doing all this? What's the use?

Stop. Stop that crying, kid.

You're going to be exhausted if you keep crying.

I can't die like this... I don't want to do die!

There's so much I haven't done, so much I want to...

If it were the enemy that threatened their lives,

I wouldn't feel so helpless...

Did I push them too hard?

Is that why they are falling so helplessly now?

Admiral...

There's not one life that isn't valuable.

All of them are like my own sons and brothers.

How could I possibly sit on my hands and watch them die?

No matter how you look at this, the Admiral is right.

We have to save the soldiers first whatever it takes!

I don't disagree, but the offerings must be delivered.

Then His Majesty will take care of the soldiers.

Take care of them?

Do you really believe that His Majesty will send it back to us

to acquire the medicine we need?

Not in a million years!

You must watch your tongue. Such tone of impiety is not tolerable.

What do you really want to say, Commander Kim?

You're not saying that His Majesty's love for the people

is less than the Admiral's love. Are you?

The soldiers of this camp are

His Majesty's subjects before they are the Admiral's men.

Let's get that straight.

If he loves his people so much,

why did he flee the capital city the moment that the war broke out?

Commander Kim! Is this what you learned from your superior?

You think nothing of patronizing the King!

There is nothing but truth to every word I said!

You bastard!

If you don't watch your tongue, you will answer to my sword!

Go ahead! I'm not afraid of you!

What is wrong with you two?

Were here to find solutions to this problem.

When will you stop arguing?

I didn't start this, Constable Hwang.

How can you discuss anything when you can't communicate?

Admiral, we found him.

He is the best physician in the country.

My man, please don't exaggerate.

How do you know if I'm not a charlatan

when I haven't even seen the patients?

My name is Choi Joong-hwa.

I'm told you've exhausted your medicine supply.

I may be able to help.

Arrowroots, lotus roots, balloon flower roots

and mock strawberries all reduce fever.

And toads are effective in healing the lesions.

Toads, as in toad frogs?

That's okay. I can do it.

You just rest and concentrate on getting better.

Just take care of yourself, sir.

I'm sorry about the other day...

It's all right. I understand your frustration.

I came here to kill the Japanese. I didn't come here to die.

I dodged their bullets and swords again and again.

How could I fall so helplessly to this disease?

Chun Dolsue, was it?

Yes...

We're not going to die, are we? We're going to live, right?

No, we are going to die.

All of us in the infirmary, all of us in this camp,

all of us will die someday.

Sir...

The only difference is that some will die sooner than others.

The moment that man is born, he begins to die.

So dying is not important.

What's important is that you are alive right now.

Think only about making the most of today.

Those that do will have a valuable tomorrow.

Sir...

When will I be able to leave this temporary facility

and return to the royal palace?

This mansion was once occupied by the Japanese,

and there is not one part of the grounds untouched by them.

I cannot reside here indefinitely.

Your Majesty, the country is ailing with famine and disease.

It is my humble opinion that we must stop the reconstruction

of the palace for now and focus on public relief.

You must think beyond the immediate.

Restoration of royal command is just as important as public relief.

The command of the royal house is the command of Chosun,

and the palace is the symbol of sovereign power.

We must press on with the reconstruction.

Left Minister, do you think that our budget allows this?

Then we will have to make the budget.

It is a burden that the people of this country must share.

The fact that we not have a decent palace

is an embarrassment to the country.

And it does nothing for the morale of the people.

I'm not against the public relief efforts.

I'm saying that we must continue our efforts to

restore the honor of the country concurrently.

Your Majesty, we ask for your patience.

We will soon build a grand palace and escort the royal carriage to it.

I do understand the suffering of the people,

and I do not desire a grand palace.

All I want is to be where the hands of the Japanese have not touched

may it be a thatched-roof hut on the west side of the old palace grounds.

Your tolerance is beyond measure, Your Majesty...

A thatched-roof hut...

The King wishes to quickly return to the palace.

What royal subjects would build him a thatched-roof hut?

I'm sure my father is aware that

this is no time to be spending our resources on the palace.

But he mentioned it anyway...

... to test his minister's loyalty when their loyalty would come

naturally if they saw him working hard to rule this land wisely...

How frustrating this is...

Take it easy. Please don't work so hard.

It's much easier with this chap helping me.

Father...

Drink up.

You won't stop working even when you're ill...

You are going to be uncontrollable when you're well again.

Let's continue.

Dolsue...

Chun Dolsue...

Dolsue, wake up! Wake up, kid!

Yes, there you go. You have to wake up.

I feel so weak...

I... I don't think I can help you finish the map.

Forgive me... I have let you down...

No, no. You were the most courageous man that ever served me.

Hey, Chun Dolsue...

You fool... Open your eyes! Open your eyes, I said!

Lieutenant, please calm down.

Let go! Let go of me!

Lieutenant!

How can I send him off?

He had such a hard life and never get to do what he wanted.

How can I send this poor kid off like this?

But what choice do we have?

Let's send him off with a good thought.

At least there is no war where he is going...

Wait!

I know you have to go, but try this one for size.

What's the death toll so far?

Almost one thousand, sir...

Shouldn't we find a way to make up for the lost men, sir?

Do I issue orders for call-up throughout the three provinces?

Admiral...

Powerless... I am powerless!

I've thrust my men into hunger and disease,

and all I can do is to watch them suffer.

How could I call myself their highest leader?

Find another way. Perhaps you can use different kind of herbs.

Physician Choi...

There are too many in critical condition.

What's going to happen to us now?

Do you know who is suffering the most right now?

The oarsmen.

This goes for the others too, but the oarsmen are not made overnight.

It takes time and experience to become a good oarsmen.

That's why I was wondering,

can't we use the grains that we have in the warehouse?

You know, he goods that are going to the capital city.

Silence! Don't even dream about touching the offerings to the King!

Find another way. There must be something else you can do.

We will do whatever we can to help.

Physician Choi?

Proper treatment with proper medicine is the only way.

This disease will not be contained otherwise.

Oh dear...

There was only one solution from the start.

There is no other way.

Admiral...

Don't try to stop me.

Did you want to see me?

Stop right there.

Don't come close, Magistrate Shin.

I might need to go to the infirmary from here.

Commander Yi, you're not...

Not you too...

I have a favor to ask of you.

You must not let the Admiral make a radical decision.

You have to protect him even if

this disease causes massive death among our men.

I'm sure you know how important Admiral Yi is to this navy.

I'm counting on you to see to it that these offerings

go to the Royal Court no matter what happens.

That's the only way to protect the Admiral.

What do you mean the cargo ship has already left for the capital?

It had to be sent, Admiral.

How many more men do you want me to lose?

Commander Yi has been infected as well!

If the offerings do not reach the King.

we could... no, we will... lose you, Admiral.

None of us want that to happen including Commander Yi and

Magistrate Uh because they know that losing you could

have results far worse than losing our soldiery.

Lieutenant Song...

Yes, sir.

Never mind.

Sir?

I don't think this ship is going to make it to the capital.

What do you mean, sir?

I have a difficult request. Would you grant it?

Make sure they finish even if you have to force feed them.

I told you we were okay.

You're a patient too, sir. You need complete bed rest.

I can still move about.

You said yourself that my symptoms were not severe.

Yes, but that can change any time.

I'll rest when it does.

Doctor, over there...

Magistrate Shin!

What is all this?

Did you say that you needed ginseng, thorowax roots, and Gang-whal?

Magistrate Shin, what have you done?

I hope I got everything from the apothecary.

Doctor...

Thank you, Magistrate Shin. Thank you...

I should be thanking you, Doctor.

You're working so hard to save our men.

Sir...

What? The offering to the King turned into herbs?

It looks like Magistrate Shin took the liberty...

He doesn't have the guts! Supreme Commander put him up to this.

We shouldn't jump to conclusions.

We should first find out exactly what happened.

What's there to find out? Admiral Yi put him up to it!

Is that so important? Does it really matter who did this?

What would you have done, sir?

Your men are dying. The Chosun navy is shrinking day by day.

What would you have done differently if you were the Supreme Commander?

How many times must I repeat myself?

There are things that the Supreme Commander can and cannot decide.

To be honest, I cannot trust the royal court.

I do not think that they would have chosen wisely for this navy,

for this country, if the offerings were sent up.

We have received zero support from the royal court since this war began.

Everything we have accomplished, we accomplished with our own resources.

And the Supreme Commander bore that burden all alone.

Without him, this navy would never have come this far.

Without him, the control of the sea would belong to Japan right now.

Lieutenant Yi!

And there is not one man in the camp who does not know that.

The capital city is far away, and the King and his ministers could

easily misread and misjudge what happens here.

Then isn't it your job, sir, as Supreme Commander's subordinate officer

to explain the situation and make them see the truth?

You're right, Lieutenant Yi.

The capital city is far away.

That's why I will help them so they could make the right decision.

High Commander...

Hold the Supreme Commander responsible? That's absurd.

I acted alone.

He declared before everyone that he would use the offerings.

Do you expect us to believe you?

Right, High Commander Yi?

I acted alone.

It violated both the martial and the civil law, but I did it

because it did not violate the moral law.

We'll see if the royal envoy believes your lies.

I'm reporting this to the court.

Misuse use of tax revenue is crime, so His Majesty will dispatch a

royal envoy as soon as the report is received.

That won't be necessary.

Stay out of it!

How dare you interject in a high commander's meeting?

The Royal Court is already aware of this.

What?

Magistrate Shin wouldn't listen no matter how I tried to stop him,

so I took the necessary steps.

Necessary steps? What do you mean?

Magistrate of Nak-an Shin Ho intercepted the offerings bound

for the capital city and traded them for herbal medicines?

Is this the truth?

Your Majesty...

He learned from the best.

First Yi Soon-shin and now his men will show contempt for the King!

No, Your Majesty.

Pestilence is sweeping through the three southern provinces.

It was for the people, it was the last resort to save the soldiers,

so I should understand and be merciful.

Is that what you are going to say?

Your Majesty...

And if I refuse to forgive him,

you will write one appeal after another calling me intolerant!

Your Majesty...

But it is my decision!

Whether the taxes are used to bring relief to the hungry or to cure the sick,

it is a decision only the King can make!

It is not for a petty county magistrate to decide!

Sir...

I have so many small items.

But then I've lived in military camps for over five years,

so I guess it's normal.

Why are you packing so soon?

It's best that I leave on my own accord.

I intend to resign first and wait for my punishment.

I don't want to cause the Admiral any harm.

Sir, I shouldn't have done it no matter how much you wanted me to...

You've done too much in your lifetime to end your career so dishonorably...

I have failed to gain honor, but I have gained my men's trust.

Lt. Song, when I gave you an order,

you obeyed me faithfully without a question.

I thought it was because of your

deep trust for me as a superior officer. Was I wrong?

Sir...

That is the greatest honor a warrior can achieve.

That is my belief.

Admiral...

It was done to save the soldiers in this base.

It is only proper that I assume the responsibility.

Please don't refuse this weak old man's last act of loyalty, Admiral.

Magistrate Shin...

If I did not do this, I'm sure you would have.

You'd hold back on the King's meals and pull out the cornerstone

from the Royal palace in order to save your men.

But what then? Chosun Navy needs you.

Only you can lead this war to victory.

Don't be swayed by personal feelings.

A leader must know when to let go of his men as well.

Magistrate Shin...

I feel terribly embarrassed and ashamed for taking the easy way

out and leaving you and the others to bear the heavy burden.

Please be strong and well, Admiral.

Sir...

The past four years that I have served you

were the most valuable years of my life. Thank you.

We fought the enemy in so many different places...

The sea of Chosun is very clear...

No maiden's blue dress could match its beauty...

But this war has stained it wretched red with blood...

It is most heartbreaking...

I have lived a long life and I have no regrets,

but I don't know how I will

face your mother and father when I'm dead...

They will be very upset with me for leaving you behind

without finding you a match.

No, they'll thank you.

You took a daughter of a lowly fisherman

and molded her into a physician.

Jin, what wrong? Is your father all right?

What's wrong? Say something!

My father asked me to take this to you, Commander Kim.

He said you would need it

and that he hoped it will help guide you on the sea...

What is this? What is it?

That stubborn old man!

Is this what he's been doing in the infirmary?

Has he been hastening his own death in there working on this?

Jin...

Don't scold him, Commander Kim.

He wanted to complete his duty

as an officer of the Chosun Navy to his final moment.

I'm proud of my father for that.

That stupid old man...

Admiral, are you really going to send him off like this?

Are you sure you won't regret letting him die in there alone

without even saying goodbye?

Commander, it's not the Admiral fault.

It's my father who does not wish to see him.

Just once, Father. The Admiral is begging you.

Father...

I can't make the Admiral violate the rules.

Father...

Bring me my uniform.

Why are you so sad for a foolish subordinate who causes you harm

because he failed to take care of his own body?

You never had a day of rest

because of the heavy burden I placed upon you.

How will I ever make up for my offense?

Your offense? No, Admiral.

Magistrate Uh...

I will be up there exploring the waterways.

I am sure it is a place without war, so perhaps in the future when you

join me, we can go fishing and catch up on old times.

Father!

Father!

April, 1592...

Magistrate ot Kwang-yang Uh Young-dam left us...

Captain of Nok-do Chung Oon and Magistrate of Nak-an Shin-ho are

gone as well, so I have lost three of my most cherished men.

No, they were not the only ones that I had cherished.

All 1.900 men that famine and disease has taken were all equally valuable.

The number of men that I lost in battle since this war broke out

in 1592 is one hundred fifty...

My fearless sword before the enemy was powerless before the plague.

I did no know how I could save my men from death.

They who've become cold cadaver are still asking me the same question.

"What will you do to stop this outrageous war

that arose from a reckless conqueror's madness?"