(This drama was picked and sponsored...)
(by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and KOCCA.)
Who is the ogre?
What is wrong?
The runaway soldiers committed a forced marriage in Gobu.
The woman was Myung Sim, the younger sister of Seok Ju.
They got into a fight with furious aristocrats.
A large number of people were injured and killed.
In the end,
Baek Yi Hyun shot the runaway soldiers to death...
and disappeared.
Yi Hyun...
did what?
Tell me the truth.
(Civilized Joseon)
The leader of Tenyukyo...
should not use a Joseon name.
I shall give you a Japanese name.
I have decided one for myself already.
That is right.
Yi Hyun is...
Oni.
the ogre.
You fool.
I am very sorry.
You will come to the headquarter of Jipgangso and stand trial.
Okay.
General, if you hold a trial, everybody will find out.
Think about all that he has done until now...
and turn a blind eye just this once.
Do you think the others will also turn a blind eye on this?
If that was the case, I would not even have asked about the ogre.
I will do what you say.
The ogre was your younger brother?
I am sorry.
You darn punk.
You were our boss.
How could you lie to your men like this?
Was I supposed to tell the truth then?
That my brother is the ogre and that we should kill him?
What did you say?
Hold your anger.
Darn it.
I understand since he was your younger brother.
But you are no longer my boss.
You should have stopped him from becoming a Jipgang.
(Jipgang: Head of Jipgangso)
You and your brother...
killed Beon Gae twice. Do you know that?
Yes.
This is the true nature of the people...
of the Baek family.
- This is ridiculous! - How could it be?
- This is nonsense. - What should we do? Goodness.
You are guilty for having helped Official Baek Yi Hyun,
the man who killed many of our soldiers including Kim Hak Soo.
You are guilty for staying quiet when he became the Jipgang of Gobu.
And thus, you are also guilty for having caused...
the bloodshed in Gobu.
Those are the things that Baek Yi Kang is guilty of.
Do you plead guilty?
Do not worry.
I am going somewhere nice.
Yes, I do.
- How could you do that? - My gosh.
- You are unbelievable. - This is crazy.
How could you do such a thing?
Be quiet, everyone! Silence!
Please begin the discussion.
- General. - Have they come to a decision?
Everyone utterly hates the ogre.
What did they decide on?
They decided on the expulsion of him from the Donghak army.
(Expulsion: An act of disqualifying and kicking out a member)
This is way too harsh.
He did make a mistake.
But it was his younger brother.
You should at least cut him some slack.
That is exactly why we are expelling him.
That is the worst punishment a Donghak follower can get.
How can you be so quiet about this?
Are you really going to cut ties with him like this?
I want you to hold a retrial unless you wish to see me go crazy.
Hold a retrial!
That is enough.
Commander Son.
The headquarter of Jipgangso has reached a verdict.
You need to abide by it.
I will...
accept the verdict.
I am sorry for causing trouble.
Do not be so distressed.
Go back to Gobu and stay out of trouble.
I will not go to Gobu.
Please let me serve in the war as a commoner.
(Serve in a war as a commoner: Enlisting as a common soldier)
What are you talking about?
The King has ordered you to take arms...
and form a loyal army again.
I will serve you from afar and head to Hanyang.
We will not be raising an army.
Kyeong Sun, I want you to dismiss...
all the men who have volunteered and gathered here to fight.
- Yes, General. - What are you talking about?
Japan is about to take over Joseon.
But you are not going to raise an army?
- General. - The prerequisite...
of the peace treaty was to dismiss the Donghak soldiers.
What do you think will happen if we raise an army?
The treaty will get canceled, and the Reform Bill and Jipgangso...
will all become completely useless.
You can show the secret letter to Minister Kim Hak Jin.
If we tell them that we got orders from the King,
he will not be able to cancel the treaty.
The district magistrates and aristocrats...
who are against the Reform Bill...
will use this as an opportunity...
to get rid of the Jigpangso in their districts.
Will we have to show the secret letter to every single one of them?
So you are not going to raise an army...
just so you can protect the treaty?
Yes.
General.
Our country is about to get destroyed.
Which is more important? Our country or the Jipgangso?
The treaty is only one problem.
It will be hard to gather soldiers...
because the harvest season is coming up.
And by the looks of what the Japanese are doing,
it is very unlikely that we will win the war against them.
My goodness.
You guys suddenly have so many excuses.
I guess you never really wanted to fight.
- What did you say? - Enough.
You should go now.
Since when...
did it matter so much for you to think about what is reasonable?
I know I am in no position to say this to you.
But I am very...
I am very disappointed in you.
That darn punk.
(Daeil Store)
How dare you?
I am the secretary who serves Joseon's king.
That is why we are here.
You are...
a Joseon person?
I am a civilized man.
Secretary Lee Geon Hyung has been away.
Do you know where he is?
No one at the Secretariat knows either.
That blows.
But we cannot question the King.
I have a feeling he was sent as a secret emissary.
Where to?
To someone who can fight Japan.
Jeon Bong Jun in Jeolla Province is Joseon's only hope.
Your king is not that bold a man.
When close to someone who is bold,
even a coward can become bold.
Heungseon Daewongun.
I must see the legation officer.
Oh, right.
I have news that will please you.
The National Military Administration...
was established to carry out Joseon's reform.
They confirmed the first reform plan.
(National Military Administration: Founded in 1894 by Japan's force)
The civil service exam will be scrapped...
and a Japanese bureaucracy will take its place.
Is there anything more powerful?
The caste system will be abolished.
That is...
powerful.
It is a reform.
The Gabo Reform.
(Gabo Reform: Joseon government's reform of 1894)
"In the year of the horse,"
"instead of the Qing's era name,"
"Joseon will count its years starting from the foundation year."
"The National Military Administration announces this."
"Taxes will be paid not in goods but in cash."
"Measurements will be unified,"
"and a monetary system based on silver will be implemented."
"Hanyang will have a Police Office, and provinces will have policemen,"
"so security will be separated from administration."
"Widows can remarry,"
"child marriages are forbidden,"
"and guilt-by-association is outlawed."
(Guilt-by-association: Punishing the relatives of a criminal)
"The central court will be..."
"divided into two offices,"
"and the defense offices..."
"will be divided into six subcategories..."
"and stationed under Uijeongbu."
(Uijeongbu: The highest administration office of Joseon)
If the Uijeongbu takes over the operation of our defense,
they will be in control.
Not at all.
The man who controls Uijeongbu will have all the power.
Who is that?
The man who took over from Otori Keisuke a few days ago.
The ex-Home Affairs Minister Inoue Kaoru.
I heard he is a fearsome man.
Not even Ito Hirobumi can control him.
If they sent him as a legation officer,
it means they are determined to take us down.
(Gwanmungak, Gyeongbokgung Palace)
Our Emperor is greatly satisfied...
by first reform issued...
by the National Military Administration.
The first reform issued...
by the National Military Administration...
greatly satisfied the Emperor.
Thank you.
Tell him that I would appreciate much advice.
(Legation Officer Inoue Kaoru)
You must be busy fighting Qing.
What brings you here?
The public sentiment in Hanyang...
and the politics nationwide...
has settled due to the National Military Administration's work.
But?
I believe it is time to decide what to do with Lord Daewon.
(Geunjeongjeon Palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace)
A treaty?
Japan wishes to partner with us.
They have practically gained control of Chungcheong Province.
What more do they want?
They are far from their homeland and struggling with supplies.
- Supplies? - They want us...
to supply labor and supplies.
- Refuse. - My lord.
That could bring upon something worse than them invading the palace.
Make up whatever excuse to refuse.
If they have supply issues, do you not see they could lose?
Who are you?
You are the Joseon man who was with Takeda.
Officer Takeda is preoccupied,
so I was sent to escort you instead.
- What? - Come along.
What do you think you are doing?
The King told Officer Inoue...
that he no longer requires a regent.
(Regent: Governing a country on behalf of the king)
If you wish, I could get you a document...
with the King's seal.
Would you choose to be humiliated in public...
or step aside quietly...
blaming a chronic illness?
My lord.
I guess our country is really going downhill.
[VIU Ver] SBS E33 'The Nokdu Flower' "Yi Kang Gets Expelled from the Donghak Army" -♥ Ruo Xi ♥-
- Master. - Master.
(National Peddlers' Inn, Hanyang)
Let us sit.
I am Song Ja In, standing in...
for Jeolla Province's Chief Peddler Song.
Take a seat.
Bong Gil is gravely ill, I heard.
Not enough to cause grave concern though.
Why did you ask to see all the chief peddlers?
I heard administrative changes...
will be made regarding the peddlers this year.
They will not cancel our monopoly, will they?
We must keep it.
Monopoly means our life.
I would like to say something if I may.
The right to monopoly might fill our bellies for now,
but it will not solve the problems we have.
The culture and merchants from the West will outdo us,
and we will weaken each day.
Is that not our current state?
That happened...
because we relied on our right to monopoly and ignored competition.
What do you propose we do?
How about we peddlers change our system?
First, our peddler offices...
should be turned into companies that work for profit...
- like in Western... - You are talking nonsense.
Not only do you belittle the importance of monopoly,
but you want to change our ways?
You could be punished for this.
Calm down and hear me out first.
There is no need to.
Do not talk about companies ever again.
- Who are you? - My gosh.
- Who are they? - Oh, dear.
- That is... - Watch yourselves.
They are the Tenyukyo.
They are ronin protected by the legation office.
I heard of your gathering...
and decided to intrude.
I am Oni, the Tenyukyo's representative.
Take a seat.
I will speak openly.
Joseon and Japan will sign a pact.
Even a marriage requires time to be organized.
Even more so for a pact between two nations.
Japan is already at war with Qing.
There are some difficulties.
What do you require from us?
We would like the peddlers to transport our army supplies.
What?
Things will change after the pact,
but until then, you will be paid...
the market price in Japanese bills.
Regardless of the pay,
this is not an issue that we can decide on our own.
If you are reluctant, you can refuse.
This is only a favor.
This is a favor...
of Legation Officer Inoue Kaoru.
What has happened to the boy who used to be a Jipgang?
When I encountered him at Daeil store,
I sensed that something was wrong.
I had no idea he would become a ronin.
Goodness.
His brother is striving to save this country.
What is the use of spending so much money on your kid...
if your kid is rotten to begin with?
You were here.
(National Peddlers' Inn)
Wait outside.
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
This is ridiculous.
Did you not say that we should not see each other?
I came to relay a message from Takeda.
Since you are the temporary chief peddler,
he wants you to gather all the peddlers...
and send them to Chungcheong Province.
He said he is looking forward to the friendship you two have.
Do you think it is reasonable to make our peddlers fight...
for someone else's country?
If you have any complaints, you can talk to him.
I am asking you.
Since the war has already begun,
is it not best for it to end quickly for the sake of Joseon?
It just means that Japan will take over Qing's place.
Is that helpful to our nation?
A civilized country is better than a barbaric one.
I have witnessed the invasion of the palace.
A civilized country made no difference.
I heard that you will be sending rice to the Japanese army.
Am I still the one in the wrong?
I am merely a merchant who loves money.
However, as someone who knew you for some time,
I am greatly disappointed in you.
You must be talking about that man who was preparing for the exam.
I heard that he massacred the people of Gobu...
and vanished into thin air.
During the fight at Jeonju Castle, he was called Ogre...
by the Donghak members.
Young Master Baek...
I am pretty content with who I am now.
So from now on, please address me as Oni.
(Gwanghwamun Gate, Gyeongbokgung Palace)
I am Lee Doo Hwang, Head of Jangwuiyeong.
I am Officer Lee Gyu Tae.
You will be in charge of this palace's security.
So I do hope you will do your best to guard His Majesty.
I will do so.
Let us move out.
They are quite the gentlemen.
They moved out so easily.
They have already conquered the core.
There is no need for them to bother us anymore.
They want to requisition the peddlers?
He said it was a favor, but it was clearly coercion.
The National Military Administration must stop them.
The Japanese are surrounding that administration.
There is nothing they can do for us.
You need to show your loyalty to this country.
Tell the chief peddler of the National Peddlers' Inn...
to refuse the favor.
I will relay your message, Your Highness.
However, the chief peddler's loyalty alone...
will not subdue their coercion.
Please let His Majesty know how grave the situation is.
I will not hear any more.
He spends every night crying in front...
of the ancestral tablets.
I cannot distract His Majesty for such a petty matter.
Tell the others...
that I will watch how the peddlers prove their loyalty to this nation.
How dare you?
Move aside.
What has this nation come to?
What are you doing?
Move aside!
That Man will escort...
the King's secret emissary to Jeon Bong Jun.
Lady Song.
The chief peddlers have already dispersed.
They were afraid that the Japanese army would attack them.
They ran away without having lunch.
What will you do? Will you listen to Yi Hyun?
Are you sure that the man Yi Kang escorted...
is the King's secret emissary?
Yes, I am.
But why?
What do you think the King told Jeon Bong Jun?
Is it not obvious?
He probably wanted Jeon Bong Jun...
to bring his men...
and save him.
Tell the others...
that I will watch how the peddlers prove their loyalty to this nation.
Let us go.
Where?
To Jeonju.
(Gobu Government Office)
What are those?
These are the appeals from Confucian scholars,
asking for the withdrawal of the Gabo Reform...
and the disbandment of the National Military Administration.
"Appeals"?
The Gaehwa members who are carrying...
the Japanese on their backs are about to bring this nation down.
Please send this to the Jeolla Provincial Office...
so that the King may read them.
Goodness.
Master!
What is it?
Something is going to happen at the Jipgangso.
What is it this time?
The loan sharks are gathered there.
My goodness.
- We need to get paid... - What are you talking about?
Who are you to order us to write off debts?
I am the manager of this Jipgangso who reforms the bill.
Are you sure you are not a thief?
My, you must have never seen a real thief before.
You lent us trivial amounts of barely...
at the farm hardship period...
and took much more during harvest. Are you not the thieves?
How dare this wench say such a thing?
Watch what you say.
Where is your dignity as an aristocrat?
I will not converse with someone lowly,
so bring out the Jipgang.
Because of all the chaos,
no one is willing to take that position.
I had no choice but to substitute for that position,
so you can talk with me.
Since you are all here today,
you might as well stamp the documents.
How dare you?
You are just as wicked as the rumor says you are.
Is that the only rumor about me?
Are there no rumors about how ill-tempered I am?
They say that you are scum.
You are a piece of scum who enticed your master...
whom you served in order to live a better life.
How could you talk so recklessly about something you do not know of?
Do not get involved!
As the chief of hyangcheong, let me warn you.
You must stop provoking the aristocrats.
Let us leave.
Yoo Wol.
Are you okay?
I am.
Are you really okay?
Yes.
I came to relay a message from the headquarters of Jipgangso.
I am looking for Yoo Wol, the manager.
It is me.
That Man was expelled?
Yes.
He is no longer the boss of the detached force.
My goodness, he deserved that.
It feels great to hear that.
This gruel already tastes so much better.
I thought he was Jeon Bong Jun's favorite.
What happened?
They found out that he hid the fact...
that Young Master Baek was the ogre.
This gruel is too cold and not tasty.
Hey.
Please bring Yoo Wol.
I heard about Yi Kang.
It is for the best.
With the Gabo Reform and everything,
this nation is falling apart.
He would not have been able to maintain his position for long.
Finally, he has found some room to breathe.
Tell me why you called me here.
Please empty the servants' quarters.
Every time I see the Jipgangso,
I get enraged because it reminds me of Yi Hyun.
I am afraid I cannot do that.
(Episode 34 will air shortly.)
I am afraid I cannot do that.
Do as I say.
You must do so for Yi Kang's future.
Yi Kang fought with his life for that Jipgangso.
And Young Master Baek got it up and running.
I will not leave over my dead body.
My gosh.
You got all big and strong.
Do not treat me like a servant.
The class system was thrown out long ago.
Just because you have a title, have you lost all reason?
Watch how you address the manager of a Jipgangso.
How did you end up like this?
Are you crazy, Yoo Wol?
You should be relieved that I am utterly sane.
Once I lose my mind, you will have a stake through your belly...
and smell the incense at your funeral.
(Episode 34)
Yi Kang.
Mother.
Are you a Donghak member?
Why would you call me that?
I am a loyal soldier. A Donghak soldier.
What?
My goodness.
Do not cry.
Hooray!
Now the good times will come.
You fool.
Why did you start something you could not handle?
You idiot.
Darn you.
(Namwon Government Office)
Listen.
Just because you lot are nobles,
if you act all haughty, I will put bombs in your mouths.
- Do you understand? - Yes.
Kim Ga.
- Yi Kang. - It has been a while.
Fight back.
I plan to collect my dues.
Is Commander Kim in?
I heard the news.
Why are you here?
To ask what you are thinking.
About what?
You heard what happened to me.
Then you must know what is going on in Joseon.
And?
Will you fight the Japanese?
If you will, I would like to help you.
I may have been expelled,
but my heart is still that of the detached force boss.
If you are here,
that means Nokdu does not want to fight.
All he cares about is the Jipgangso.
If you will make up your mind,
then the general will too.
Even if I decide to fight the Japanese,
you cannot.
Pardon?
The ogre killed five of my men.
I will let you go today for old time's sake.
Do not come here again.
(Headquarters of Jipgangso, Jeonju)
Yi Kang is not in Gobu.
He must be traveling.
He did nothing but fight. He will have a lot to think about.
I hope he does not cause trouble somewhere with his temper.
He is not the old Yi Kang. He has grown up.
Do you not think you should have...
told him about the plans?
What plans?
Mustering an army.
(Mustering an army: To rise in arms)
Japanese spies are everywhere.
We will rise as soon as possible,
but until then, we will deceive others.
Tell the King that.
I will.
I thought he was smart enough to catch on.
Not that he would believe me.
Come on.
Do you not know he would believe you...
even if you told a blatant lie?
(Hanyang marketplace)
- Goodness. - Wait a second.
Buy this top.
- Hey. - Goodness.
Secretary Lee Geon Hyung is back.
We lost him,
but he looked like he had been on a long trip.
I guess he met Jeon Bong Jun.
I will find him as soon as possible.
Do not bother.
Jeon Bong Jun...
convinced the men who had gathered to fight...
and sent them home.
Whatever the King says,
he does not want to fight Japan.
This is unexpected.
A sane man...
would not want to take on Japan's great army.
I had a bad feeling...
as if someone was lurking in the shadows.
Now I can relax.
Excuse me.
Who are you?
Master Takeda. I am Lee Doo Hwang, Head of Jangwuiyeong.
I have respected you all along...
and brought you a small gift of...
You are...
Do you know my junior?
Your junior?
Darn it.
I have never seen a man who hates bribes.
Do you have something left to say?
Do you want a promotion that bad?
How dare you talk to me like that?
Just answer.
Do you want a promotion?
I do.
Right. Before that,
let me pay you back for the Jeonju Castle battle.
Instead of getting a promotion,
you will get in trouble for bribing a diplomat unless you do as I say.
Tell me what I need to do.
Find out Secretary Lee's whereabouts.
All right.
Your debts will be written off soon, so do not worry too much.
Thank you, Manager.
Oh, my. You do not have to call me that.
I will leave you alone now.
Thank you so much.
Bye.
I can do this alone now.
All I do these days is make straw shoes.
I should, of course, keep you company.
You seem more excited than I am.
You think so?
Maybe I am.
Which house are we visiting next?
The one down this street.
What is going on? Who are you?
Yi Kang.
You scum!
Mother!
Mother.
Are you okay?
Mother.
You brat.
What took you so long?
Mother. Let me see.
My goodness.
Are you okay?
Mother.
Do you have any idea who they were?
I am not sure.
There are many people who are unhappy with Jipgangso.
Do not get any stupid ideas.
What?
If you get in more trouble after getting expelled,
I will not be able to face the general again.
I will be more careful.
Just let it go.
What a lovely scene this is.
Well...
I came to get some medicine.
What for?
Yoo Wol got badly injured.
What happened?
A masked gang appeared and beat her up.
Had Yi Kang not saved her, she would have died.
Yi Hwa, go check the cabinet in Yi Hyun's room.
What are you talking about?
She almost died.
Who cares?
I have to finish twisting these straw ropes.
My goodness. Do as I say before I twist your neck.
Gosh.
Thank you.
You are here.
Have you been well?
I heard that you were expelled from the Donghak army...
because of Yi Hyun.
I will be leaving now that I saw you.
Do you have any news...
on Yi Hyun?
Do not talk about him...
in front of me again.
(Jeonju Hostel)
It tastes good.
- You are back. - You are back.
Have you all been well?
- Yes. - Yes.
And my father?
What? Did something happen?
You are back.
Father.
You do not look so well.
Do not make a fuss.
It is no surprise at my age.
What did the doctor say?
What else? He told me to eat and sleep well.
Father.
You managed to start a temporary Peddlers' Inn amidst the chaos.
Yes.
I did all you asked me to do.
I see.
You did a good job.
[VIU Ver] SBS E34 'The Nokdu Flower' "Ja In's Offer to Bong Jun" -♥ Ruo Xi ♥-
Boss!
You look good with your new position.
- Congratulations. - Boss.
- Hey. - Yes?
I need you to have some odd-job workers look for a person.
A person?
He got stabbed in the leg.
Search every clinic and pharmacy...
in Gobu.
Sure. But what is the matter?
I knew this would happen to Lady Yoo Wol one day.
She is only a manager. Why did this happen to her?
She used to be a slave.
The aristocrats think she is a nuisance.
Have they not burned the slave documents yet in Gobu?
They were all burned...
when Young Master Baek was the Jipgang.
He put Lady Yoo Wol's documents...
in her hand...
and told her to burn them herself.
The aristocrats swarmed in and caused a ruckus,
but Young Master Baek told them slaves are people, not property.
He pushed ahead with such determination.
Without him, the slave documents would not have been burned.
Boss.
Could it be those rats?
Who?
There were some loan sharks...
who called Lady Yoo Wol scum...
and made a scene.
- "Scum"? - Yes.
Gosh, who calls who scum?
They accused her...
of seducing her master to get a better life.
Boss.
You should calm down.
My goodness. I should not have told you.
Darn it.
Find the stabbed man.
I will.
Well...
My goodness.
Sleep some more.
I slept enough.
Is that hand...
Do not be surprised.
This is nothing.
Serving deity, I am transformed to follow the divine will.
Eternally not forgetting, I become aware of all.
Serving deity, I am transformed to follow the divine will.
Eternally not forgetting, I become aware of all.
By the way, Mother...
Yes?
How about you step down from your position...
as the manager?
The Jipgangso looks pretty stable now.
What do you mean?
What is wrong with it?
That is not what I mean.
Stop looking for trouble.
Let us go...
to the mountains and do farming there.
I know how to use a hoe now.
I know that you are upset.
But still, you should not say such a thing.
Why not?
- Do you really not know? - No, I do not.
Who helped us...
to be treated like human beings?
It is all thanks to the general and the loyal army.
So stop talking nonsense.
But Mother, I...
You see...
I have done more than enough.
I truly have.
Goodness.
It is only a matter of time until the Japanese take over.
All the ones I had trusted did nothing but watch.
Now,
I just want to live happily with you.
So why are you saying that? Gosh.
You brat.
I know...
that you will not be able to do that even if I pushed you.
I know you well.
It has been a long time.
Why are you here?
I am here to see Lord Hwang.
Is he in?
Did Jeon Bong Jun send you?
Did he tell you to return to Gobu and coerce the aristocrats?
I am no longer a part of Donghak.
I was expelled.
You have been disposed of.
(Dispose of: To use for one's benefit and then get rid of)
The Donghak followers are different from the aristocrats.
I got expelled because I did something wrong.
Tell me why you are here.
Tell the aristocrats...
to get along with the Jipgangso.
If you need to help them, do so.
I thought you were no longer a Donghak member.
My mother is involved in it.
They say that converts are the most zealous.
How about you try...
to dissuade her instead?
Tell her to quit doing meaningless work...
and to focus on finding a way to survive.
Is the Jipgangso meaningless?
That is right.
Thanks to the Reform Bill, the people have become...
deities themselves.
You better not say such a thing.
I did give you a warning.
You must know well.
Were the people truly deities?
That is nothing short of a delusion.
If there is the sky, then there is the ground.
If there is a high-class individual, there is also one of a low class.
There are those who are precious and those who are not.
If there is superiority,
there is also inferiority.
Do you think the skies alone make up this world?
Of course not.
Then the ground is just as precious as the skies.
So those who are of a low class are...
just as precious as those who are not.
Those who are of a low class are just as precious.
Those who are not successful...
are just as precious as those who are.
Everyone is precious.
That is why we are all deities.
I have a question.
I am planning to hold a ritual...
for those who have died in Yi Hyun's hands.
Was he...
(A Buddhist ritual intended to send the spirits to paradise.)
also one of them?
(Kim Hak Soo, born in 1878)
The one who demanded the forced marriage left this.
Was he really...
this young?
Yes.
He was the youngest loyal soldier.
Thank you.
(Headquarters of Jipgangso, Jeonju)
As soon as they evacuate,
let us raise the army.
Do you think we can win against the Japanese forces?
There is only one way to win.
What is that?
An alliance.
We need everyone...
who is against the Japanese invasion to join hands.
Let us gather.
What is with your faces?
How will you fulfill your duties?
Did we receive an order?
Are we going to Hanyang?
We are going to Chungcheong Province...
to meet the bukjeobs.
(Bukjeobs: A Donghak organization in Chuncheong Province)
(Headquarters of Jipgangso)
Let us go.
Go to Namwon and convince Gae Nam.
What is this?
It is a secret letter from the King, ordering to raise an army.
I have not seen you in a while.
How have you been?
On behalf of my father, I went to Hanyang...
and opened up a temporary Peddler's Inn...
for the peddlers of Jeolla Province.
You are quite the persistent one.
It was not a hard task...
for a private messenger of Her Highness.
(Private messenger: A person who can freely enter the palace)
Thanks to that, I had to agree on handing over our rice...
to the disguised organization run by the Empire of Japan Legation.
Go on.
The Japanese are planning to use the peddlers...
for the civilians in their army.
I, too, have received orders to gather the peddlers...
and send them to Chuncheong Province.
What is it that you want to say?
I know you have received a secret letter from the King.
And?
If you decide to raise an army,
I will hand over all the rice...
and the peddlers of Jeolla Province...
to you.
(The Nokdu Flower)
You do not believe me.
I am looking for a reason to believe you.
That is the best you can do.
If we keep pushing, we can reach the mainland.
I do not ask for soldiers.
Just provide the weapons.
If you do not take her away, something will happen to her.
I hope it is not true.
I do not want to burn the Baek family's house down myself.
The woman who was forced to marry killed herself.
Your mouth...
Will you shut your mouth?
I wish to see for myself if he really...
does not want to fight.