What brings you to Mujinju?
We came seeking your permission.
What is it?
Our merchant ship was attacked by pirates in Shilla waters.
So I came to suppress the pirates myself.
Give us permission to suppress the pirates.
You mean there are more of you?
Ships carrying over a hundred security officers are
standing by in the waters near Dukjin Harbor.
As you probably know,
the security officers of the Yangzhou merchant groups are
martial arts experts.
And Master Sul will fully support this mission.
What do you want in return?
Nothing.
Nothing?
You'd risk your lives for nothing in return?
Yes.
I can't give you my permission.
Why not?
Even the Mujinju army can't suppress pirates.
We are willing to risk our lives to do it for you.
Why would you stop us?
No matter what the reason is,
granting armed forces access to Shilla territory is
not a simple matter.
Have you forgotten that your father was killed by pirates?
You have led a miserable life because of that.
Countless people are killed and sold as slaves by pirates.
Why would you turn a blind eye to the reality?
Please give us your permission.
I repeat.
I can't allow armed forces to land in Shilla territory.
I'll discuss it with the minister of the military
in the imperial city.
- Did you find out? - Yes.
Why did he come to Mujinju?
He said he's here to suppress pirates.
Ships carrying more than a hundred security officers
are docked at Dukjin Harbor.
They must know it was Master Yi and Yum Moon
who attacked Master Sul's merchant ship.
That's not possible.
- Give it to me. - It's all right.
Honey!
We should... have a second child soon.
- Don't do that. - What did I do?
Do you have to do that in front of your widowed father?
You shouldn't be jealous.
What kind of father is jealous of his own son and wife?
What? Jealous?
That's what it is.
I can't do anything because of you.
Just when we're getting in the mood you say,
"What are you doing?"
Keep that up, and you'll never see another grandchild.
Why you!
What am I doing? Soon-jong!
- I need to go to the shop. - Goong-bok is here.
- What did you just say? - Captain Jang is in Mujinju.
Am I dreaming now? To see you like this in Mujinju...
It seems like only yesterday that you ran away from
the horse ranch and joined Madam Jami's private army.
The time sure flew by.
I hear you are married.
Yes, I even had a son a month ago.
Life is good to you.
How are things in Mujinju?
You could say this is Madam Jami's world.
She made Master Chang-gyum the governor of Mujinju.
But people are saying the governor of Mujinju is
Madam Jami, not Master Chang-gyum.
There is nothing Madam Jami can't do.
Nothing has changed.
Are you really here to wipe out pirates?
Yes.
Even the Yeogap navy were defeated by pirates recently.
No merchant would dare take his merchant group by sea these days.
I hope you're not getting yourself into trouble.
Don't worry.
By the way, I saw Joong-dal.
Where?
Where else? Right here in Mujinju.
Wasn't he a trader for the Yi Do-hyung merchant group?
Yes.
If he's in Mujinju, then Master Yi must be in Shilla also.
I don't know about that, but Joong-dal met with Madam Jami.
If Soon-jong is right,
Master Yi and Madam Jami must have formed an alliance.
We should find out where Master Yi is,
and what he's up to.
I'll meet with Madam Jami.
You'll meet with her?
I will ask for her support in suppressing the pirates.
Will she accept your request?
I do not expect her support.
I understand what your intention is,
but I'm worried you might lose your composure.
Being back in Mujinju reminds me of my men
who lost their lives to Madam Jami.
It makes my blood boil to think about their poor souls.
Should those old memories make you lose control,
no good will come of meeting Madam Jami.
If we're to conduct business in Shilla,
we'll have to face her countless times.
If I let Madam Jami cloud my judgment,
I can't win.
Madam.
What is it?
Jang Bogo is here to see you.
- Bring him in. - Yes.
Sit.
What is the purpose of this visit?
I came here to seek your help.
You're seeking my help?
I returned to Shilla to suppress pirates.
So I've heard.
I need your help to suppress the pirates.
The security officers I brought to suppress the pirates are
still standing by at sea, unable to land.
I understand you need to secure a safe sea route
for your merchant ships sailing to the imperial city.
Please persuade the governor to grant us permission to land.
I'd have nothing to lose if you'd suppress the pirates.
I'll discuss it with the governor.
How did it go?
She said she'd persuade the governor.
Can we trust her?
She'll also benefit if we wipe out the pirates.
We'll have to wait and see.
Will you really persuade the governor?
I will persuade him, but I won't let him get his way.
- What is it? - Jang Bogo is in Mujinju.
He brought his security officers to wipe out pirates.
We'd have gone to China to defeat him someday.
But he's walked right into our midst.
But we must not let our guards down.
His security officers were the vanguard of the Wu Ning Jun.
Don't forget, we could repeat the failure again
if we're not thoroughly prepared.
There were a dozen bands of pirates on the southwestern shore,
but recently they have been reduced to two groups.
One based here on Bisan Island and another in Jinwol.
The pirates from Bisan are led by a man named Kwak Do-chool.
He has about a hundred and fifty men.
I've known him since I was an officer in the Mujinju army.
He fled the navy after killing a fellow soldier.
He was known for his cruel temper.
But he is a great navigator.
I hear he often lures military ships to rocks and sinks them.
We'll attack the Bisan pirates first,
as soon as the governor gives us permission.
Lieutenant Jang, go with Ha-jin to Bisan,
and survey their every move.
Yes, sir.
We need a few more months to repair the ships damaged in
our recent attack on the Yeogap navy.
Hire more shipbuilders
to finish the repairs as quickly as possible.
Yes, sir.
Kwak Do-chool's gang has infested the sea route
from Dukjin Harbor to the imperial city.
Unlike other pirates,
they have dozens of large ships that can sail the open seas.
We must attack and bring them under our control
before we attack Jang Bogo.
If we can bring Kwak Do-chool under our control,
we can easily dominate the smaller pirate gangs.
This is Kwak Do-chool.
Kneel!
Do you have a death wish? How dare you glare at him?
Stand back.
I'm Yi Do-hyung.
If you're willing to come under my command,
I'll spare the lives of you and your men.
- Will you do it? - I won't.
You might as well slay me.
You're thick-headed, just as you look.
Grant his wish.
If you wish to follow your boss in death, stand up.
Then I'll acknowledge you as my men.
If you follow me, you'll be fed well and live in comfort.
You are no longer pirates who pillage and plunder.
You're my soldiers, who someday will march to the imperial city
and conquer it.
What will you do about Jang Bogo?
I'll report the situation to the minister of the military,
and if he permits it, I'll have him suppress the pirates.
That's not necessary.
Do you think he'll retreat willingly
once he suppresses the pirates?
He'll come after our necks with the same sword
he used to suppress the pirates.
His men are standing by on ships near Dukjin Harbor.
Drag it out as long as you can, and at the last minute,
tell him you can't approve of their landing.
And then...
I'll take care of the rest.
I understand.
Madam, there is something I must tell you.
What is it?
We failed to purchase salt from Youngam.
What do you mean?
The relative of the imperial family who manages the salt mine
decided to supply salt to another merchant group.
But he's not one to turn his back on us suddenly.
- There must be a mistake. - There isn't.
Then who would best our group to secure a supply of salt?
It is a rapidly growing merchant group from Hanju.
Han-joo: Current Seoul and Kyoung-gi regions
They have recently made inroads into the herb market
that we dominated in Myungju.
That we dominated in Myungju. Myoung-joo: Current Kang-reung
And they're taking over our market share in Woongju.
Woong-joo: Current Gong-joo
And you have yet to find out who runs this merchant group?
It seems they're deliberately moving in on our market.
Someone must be watching their backs
if they're able to expand so rapidly.
Find out who the owner is.
Yes, madam.
What happened?
We have bested Madam Jami's group,
and secured a supply of salt, as you instructed.
I have updated the account book.
The revenues of the general store and silk shop have increased.
We have expanded our business freely
unbeknownst to Madam Jami until now,
but things will get difficult.
You must keep that in mind.
Yes.
Our group has already established itself in the imperial city,
Hanju, and Woongju.
We need not compete with Madam Jami for the Mujinju market.
If we do not win the Mujinju market,
we can't win trade rights with China.
I plan to take the trade rights away from Madam Jami.
I'm afraid it will bring harm to you.
You need not worry.
We have tried but failed to learn
who's behind the merchant group.
They have already taken over marketplaces
in Hanju and Woongju, and they are now expanding into Mujinju.
Yet, you have failed to find out who's behind them?
A man named Han Man-jung is in charge of the Mujinju marketplace,
but that's all we could find out.
We must know our enemy in order to fight him.
We can't take this sitting down.
Do whatever it takes to find out who they are.
- Good work. - Well done.
- Did you find out? - Yes.
The pirates based in Bisan were dominated
by the pirates in Jinwol.
Kwak Do-chool, the leader of the Bisan pirates was killed.
Then the Jinwol pirates have practically consolidated
all the pirates of the southwestern shore.
If we don't suppress them, their power will grow far stronger.
We must obtain the governor's permission,
and bring our security officers ashore.
The Jinwol pirates are consolidating the smaller pirates,
and growing in power.
We must suppress them before they grow stronger.
I haven't received a reply from the minister of the military yet.
How much longer must we wait?
We'll suppress the pirates first.
I can't allow armed forces to land
without permission from the imperial city.
You must wait.
If you should land without our permission,
I'll deploy Mujinju troops to stop you.
Do what you will if you're willing to go to battle with us.
We shouldn't have sought their permission.
We should have wiped out the pirates first.
I would have done so if that was our only goal.
But we must establish our base in Shilla to open trade
between China and Japan.
We can't do business here if we ruffle their feathers.
They couldn't drag this out for so long unless it were a ploy.
- This must be hard on you. - When do we land?
It's been over a month since we left Yangzhou.
Everyone is getting tired of living on the ship.
The governor has not given us permission to land yet.
We must wait a little longer.
Why must we wait for their permission?
Let us attack the pirates now.
We'll fight any enemy, if you'll just give us your command.
Let us go to battle with the pirates now.
I know how you feel.
But the situation doesn't permit us to act freely.
You must be tired from living on the ship, but persevere.
Lieutenant Jang, go ashore
and bring back meat and wine for the men.
Yes, sir.
Captain, Lady Chae-ryung asked that we send a message back
to Yangzhou as soon as we arrive in Shilla.
I have already sent a message
with a merchant ship sailing to Yangzhou. Do not worry.
Yagzhou, CHINA
Which division do you belong to?
You should pay your respects to your superior.
You, you're a Shilla man, aren't you?
You rat! You're only a Shilla man...
How dare you glare at me? You have a death wish?
I was just waiting for someone to give me a reason.
Yes, I'm a Shilla man,
one of those who were used and tossed out by you Chinese pigs.
Let this rat teach you a lesson!
What happened to Captain Jang?
The security officers haven't even landed in Shilla yet.
What do you mean? They left over a month ago.
As armed security officers,
they need the Mujinju governor's permission to land.
But the governor hasn't given them permission yet.
Why wouldn't he permit them to come ashore
when they're willing to suppress pirates for the Mujinju army?
Something is wrong.
Father, I must go to Shilla.
We don't know what will happen to Captain Jang and his men.
It'll be too dangerous for you to travel to Shilla.
I would have no reason to go if there were no problem.
Captain Jang and his men must be discouraged.
It'll lift their spirits
if I could bring them your encouragement.
Please let me go.
- Did you hear? - What do you mean?
Jung Yon got into some trouble and was thrown into jail.
Trouble? What trouble?
He assaulted his superior and injured him.
He won't be able to escape punishment,
since he attacked his superior in the military.
I have asked the general for leniency, but I'm not sure.
Yon, is that you?
What happened to you?
I have left the Wu Ning Jun.
You were discharged because of that incident?
- I quit. - Why?
You said you'd make general someday.
Why did you quit?
I couldn't even make commander, let alone general.
I couldn't stand the discrimination any longer.
You have suffered so much, only to be used.
I'm sorry, but will you get Captain Jang for me?
I can't bring myself to face Master and Lady Chae-ryung.
Captain Jang and Moo-chang went to Shilla.
- You didn't know? - What?
Why? When?
They took security officers to wipe out pirates.
Chae-ryung will leave for Shilla in four days.
You can go with her.
MUJINJU, PRESENT DAY GWANGJU
They have lots of pretty girls there.
- They're that pretty? - That's right.
Let's hurry.
Where do you think you're going?
Long time no see.
- Why are you following me? - Well...
- Why are you following me? - Just because...
Just because?
Get up. I'm not finished with you yet.
I would've been so vexed if you weren't there.
I get beat up left and right everywhere I go.
Thanks for letting me beat you up.
Father!
They have another ship docked near Youngam Harbor.
Together, they have over a hundred men.
What would Master Yi be doing if he were in Shilla?
Business?
If he were in business, I'd have known by now.
My work takes me all over Mujinju and the imperial city.
But I haven't seen a trace of Master Yi in the marketplaces.
Then what else?
Pirating.
That's all they know to do. What else would they do?
The strongest pirate group was the Bisan pirates.
But it was the Jinwol pirates who wiped them out.
It's been about...
two years since the Jinwol pirates started to appear.
Two years...
- What do you think? - It is possible.
It is, isn't it?
The governor will soon deny them landing permission.
They must be tired from living on board for so long.
If you attack them on their way back to Yangzhou,
you'll easily defeat them.
Since you have served them up on a silver platter,
we need only to feast on them.
I heard that you have taken
the Bisan pirates under your command.
Is there no pirate group who can stand up to you?
You could say that.
Inform me of your plans,
now that you have realized your goal.
What is it you want?
I had once accumulated great wealth as a merchant.
But I have painfully learned that a merchant is
like a candle in the wind in the face of power.
If you build your house on sand, it'll collapse.
Then where do you wish to build your house?
With your support,
I could build it in none other than the imperial city.
I know your ambition does not differ from mine.
If we join our forces,
what is there we can't do in this small land of Shilla?
I'll take my leave.
It seems Yi Sa-do has instilled fantastic ideas in him.
- Captain. - Yes, madam.
What is your opinion of Master Yi?
It would be a wild ambition if he were alone,
but he has Yum Moon.
Yes...
He has something I do not have.
I wouldn't envy Master Yi as much
if Jang Bogo and I hadn't had such an cursed fate.
It is a shame I must kill him with my own hands.
Captain.
Governor, what brings you here?
I've been informed
that the former regent is coming to Mujinju.
The former regent...
- You mean Lord Kim Woo-jing? - Yes.
He doesn't know anyone in Mujinju.
What brings him here?
I haven't learned the purpose of his visit yet.
I'm Kim Chang-gyum, the governor of Mujinju.
What brings you here, Governor?
I've come to greet you
after hearing you'd be visiting Mujinju.
I'm merely stopping by Mujinju on my way to Chunghae.
I do not wish to take you away from your official business.
Please take your leave.
But I have already learned of your visit.
My lord, please do not deprive me of this honor to serve you.
Who is Lord Kim Woo-jing?
The former regent is a grandson of King Wonsung,
and a relative of King Heungduk by marriage.
Since King Heungduk has no heir, he is royalty,
and could ascend the throne someday.
If I could make his acquaintance...
If I could help him ascend the throne...
I could rule the world.
I can't afford to miss this opportunity.
If you'll allow me, I'd like to introduce someone to you.
Who is it?
She is of Jingol noble descent,
the biggest merchant in Mujinju, Madam Jami.
Yes, I have heard of her.
- Let me meet her. - Yes.
Show Madam Jami in.
Yes.
It is a great honor, my lord.
Please sit.
I have heard of your fame.
You're as beautiful as they say.
You are too kind.
I have seen how all the nobles
who have made your acquaintance never failed to succeed.
What is your secret?
You will learn once you make my acquaintance.
You'd allow that to a man who is royalty in name only?
If you'll give me the opportunity, I'll serve you sincerely.
I do not let just anyone make my acquaintance.
May I inquire whom you do allow to make your acquaintance?
Only those who are free from power and wealth.
What about you?
Who in this world is free from power and wealth?
You're right.
I had lived for many years blinded and deafened by power.
But I plan to keep my eyes and ears open now.
Therefore, I have no wish to make your acquaintance,
you who covet power and wealth.
The regent has arrived.
You haven't informed me of your visit.
Have you been well?
So is business going well?
Yes.
I'll go to Chunghae just as you have told me to.
I have prepared a place for you.
I'll visit you once I open a shop in Mujinju.
In all the time I've known you,
I have never seen you more cheerful than now.
Are you that happy to be doing business?
I'm happy not because I'm doing business,
but because I'm living my life freely.
I have let you live as you wished,
but I still can't fathom your intentions.
I have never suffered a more humiliating insult.
I'll make him pay for this insult someday.
I still can't understand why he is going to Chunghae.
- Governor. - What is it?
Jang Bogo is here to see you.
Tell him you can't give him permission to land.
Did you hear? Inform him so.
Yes.
The governor denied your request to land.
Let me meet with the governor.
You can't.
What is the reason for his refusal?
I don't know. Leave.
The governor denied landing permission to Jang Bogo.
- Get ready for battle. - Yes, sir.
You must be tired from the journey.
Where is Captain Jang?
He went to meet with the governor.
Everyone must be working hard.
Have you been well?
- What happened? - I quit.
- Why? - Why else?
It just happened.
- I'm glad you did. - Didn't you miss me?
- Tell me. - I haven't had the time.
I...
I came here to avenge my parents' deaths.
I came to take revenge on the pirates
who sold me to China as a slave.
I didn't have time to miss you.
The captain is back.
What? What do you mean we can't land?
What will you do now?
We can't return like this.
We will land.
Then you will fight the Mujinju army?
If I must, then I will.
Please calm down.
We're trying to suppress pirates so we can trade.
We can't do that if we make an enemy of the Mujinju government.
My lady.
There is more a urgent reason than business
why I must suppress the pirates.
Yon, Ha-jin, and I have all lost our parents to pirates,
and lived as slaves.
To me, pirates are not just obstacles to our business,
but enemies who have changed the course of my life.
I can't back off like this.
We'll land at Dukjin Harbor. Get ready!
Governor! There is trouble!
Governor!
- Governor. - What is it?
Jang Bogo has landed at Dukjin Harbor with his security officers.
What?
Mobilize the troops now. We're marching to Dukjin Harbor.
Madam.
What is going on?
Jang Bogo has landed at Dukjin Harbor.
- Find out what's going on. - Yes, sir.
What is the meaning of this?
I have denied you permission to land.
Take your men and leave the harbor at once!
I must learn why you refuse to allow us to land.
Shilla will only benefit if we suppress the pirates.
Why do you stop us from doing so?
How could you do this,
unless you were colluding with the pirates?
Silence! You dare accuse me of colluding with pirates?
I have refused you permission to land on orders
from the imperial city not to allow any armed forces
on Shilla soil under any circumstances.
Retreat before sunset.
Fail to do so,
and you will face an all-out battle with the Mujinju army.
Let's go.
- Did you find out? - Yes.
Why was the Mujinju army dispatched?
An armed force from China has come ashore in Dukjin Harbor.
They were dispatched to stop them.
An armed force?
Are they Chinese troops?
They're security officers of the Yangzhou merchant groups.
Security officers of the Yangzhou merchant groups?
Yes.
Why did merchant security officers come to Shilla armed?
I haven't learned as much.
I must go to the harbor myself.
- Lead the way. - Yes, sir.
Head Chief.
Have they left Dukjin Harbor yet?
The governor has denied them permission to land,
but Jang Bogo landed with his security officers.
They're face to face with the Mujinju army now.
Governor!
- Did they retreat? - They are still at the harbor.
Listen.
We'll commence an attack if they fail to retreat before sunset.
- Be prepared. - Yes, sir.
Regent, what brings you here?
I heard that an armed force from China has landed at Dukjin Harbor.
What is going on?
You need not worry.
I'll bring them under control. Please return your way.
I have left a government post and the imperial city,
but I can't turn a blind eye to a threat to Shilla.
I'll meet them myself.
Pay your respects to the regent.
I am Jang Bogo, a captain of the Yangzhou Sul Pyong Group.
What is the reason for merchant security officers of China
coming to Shilla armed?
We have come to Shilla to suppress pirates.
That is a task of the Shilla and Mujinju military.
Why must you get involved?
Pirates infesting the southwestern shores are
attacking merchant ships from Shilla and China,
causing much damage.
We must wipe out the pirates in order to continue our trade,
but the power of the pirates grows stronger
and they have even defeated the Mujinju navy.
Thus, we came to suppress them ourselves,
but the governor has denied us permission to land.
What we do with pirates is an internal affair of Shilla.
It is of no consequence to you. Leave at once!
My lord.
Do you know what this is?
It is a slave mark.
Many of the security officers here were
sold to China as slaves and have the same mark.
My lord.
We carry memories in our hearts more painful than this mark.
Do you know what they are?
That no one was there to save and protect us
when we lost our parents and were taken from our difficult lives
to China as slaves by pirates.
Those frightful and devastating memories still
remain as scars more painful than these slave marks.
My lord, nothing has changed.
Hundreds of slaves are sold to China in pirate attacks,
but the imperial court and the government provide no protection.
What the imperial court failed to do...
What the military failed to do...
We, who must wear this painful mark all our lives,
are willing to take on that task.
So why do you stop us?
We must wipe out the pirates and open sea routes in order
to save the people of Shilla from poverty and oppression.
My lord, we can't retreat like this.
Please allow us to suppress the pirates,
and realize our goal.
Governor.
Yes, my lord.
Give them permission to land,
and give them full support so they can suppress the pirates.
My lord.
I'll take full responsibility
and bring you permission from the imperial court.
Go realize your goal.
My lord...
What was Kim Woo-jing doing there?
If he realizes his plans, I'll suffer the consequences.
We must get rid of him.
If necessary, we could wipe out Chunghae.
But as of this moment,
I'll erase all fond memories of you.
I'll never forgive you.
Dangsa Base was attacked.
I'll strike before he does.
Assassins?