The Murky Stream (탁류)

I said, "Put out the fire."

I thought you were a hard worker.

But it turns out you're nothing but a bloodsucking leech.

Fine then. Enjoy this life.

The bandits of the Gyeonggang River

have dominated the docks.

They embezzle the laborers' wages

and extort money from the merchants under the pretext of taxes.

The police need to regulate them,

but they're receiving bribes and protecting the rogues instead.

Meanwhile, the bandits are running wild,

oppressing merchants

and squeezing them dry of their sweat and blood.

I pray that the government imposes stricter laws here as well.

The Murky Stream

FOUR. FATE

The wicked daughter of Choi's guild filed a complaint

to the inspector general's office.

I was lucky an official in his office intercepted it.

Do you realize what could have happened if it reached His Majesty?

I apologize.

That crazy woman. We could have had a real mess here.

-I'll go teach her a lesson, then. -How, exactly?

Ensure she won't do it again. She just needs... disciplining.

You wanted to see me, sir?

I received an unsigned letter.

It's an indictment claiming that you were in collusion

with various bandit groups.

You're taking numerous bribes and extorting the commoners.

-None of that is true. - Is that so?

Then why does this letter clearly state

that you were seen at the West Gate consorting with bandits?

Coincidence. I saw someone I once knew.

-Coincidence? -That is the full truth of the matter.

Really?

All right, then.

You may leave.

Be more careful in the future.

Yes. You wished to see me?

Who's in charge of the docks?

I am, sir.

I need to find someone there. How might I do that?

Newcomers arrive every day along with hundreds of drifting laborers.

Well, a name or distinct characteristics would be a start.

If you have that, I'm happy to ask around.

No need. I'll inspect the dock.

-Please prepare the horses. -Pardon?

At this time, there are no available horses to ride.

There are no horses?

What do you mean by that?

They're gone because we lent four of them to the General's relatives,

and we rented out the rest to the lords and the gisaeng house.

-We'll receive payment, though. -What?

Tomorrow we can retrieve the horses.

So why not take a look around the dock, then?

Sorry, sir. I have duties. So, if you'll excuse me...

Oh, wow.

Thank you so much.

Are you sure about giving me this much?

Yes. Just go.

Thank you.

You bastard! Are you crazy?

You can't give them all this. We won't have any left to pay the taxes.

Got it? Watch this.

This is the wage.

This is a tax sum.

This is the only way for us to make a living. Okay?

Try again.

Again.

This is the least they need in order to survive, right?

You are driving me crazy.

Appreciate it.

You still can't get this right after all these years?

Pardon me.

-Oh! Hello, my lord. -May I ask you a question?

I'm looking for someone.

He's quite tall and has a thin face. Have you seen him?

I don't think I've seen anyone like that.

All right.

"Thanks, Mudeok."

Huh?

"I'm so grateful."

"I will never forget this."

Do you think they will ever pay you back?

Huh?

Treat them like human beings for once before you say that.

What the hell are you talking about? What a load of shit.

Making a decent living,

do you even know how scary that is?

Before brother Deokgae settled here,

each and every day was a living hell.

We had to witness those damn merchants joining forces

and sucking the blood from the laborers.

Not even a leech could suck that much blood from your skin.

Line up!

At the time, I got beat up every single day.

The hell are you looking at?

-Go away! - That damn clan!

They treated us like we were less than animals.

Hey. Give me just a little more.

- -For fuck's sake.

-Just a little... -Get out of here!

Okay. Line up, everyone! Hurry up!

Move quickly!

-Faster! Faster! -All right, here. Go.

What is this?

If you don't want it, go.

For each boat, you said I get one hop of rice.

I... I unloaded two.

Don't I get another?

-Don't be ridiculous! -

Now, get!

Come here!

Before you beat me to death, I'll die of starvation.

Restore order, now!

- -

Then, it happened.

He should have held back,

but his damn temper.

Let go. Let it go, you bastard!

Do you think any of the laborers helped him?

Not one. Not a single man helped him.

They were all probably too scared to fight.

I, Park Mudeok, was different.

By nature, heroes don't fall from the heavens above us.

True heroes rise up on their own with their feet on the ground.

- -Take this, Mudeok.

You said he was your friend.

You should go lend a hand.

I, Park Mudeok, held the sickle in one hand

and jumped into the center of the fight by myself.

- -

Get him!

Deokgae used his fists and feet.

And I used a sickle.

Stop there!

In a fit of rage,

I smashed the bastards' heads in one by one,

and kept pushing forward.

-Get him! -

- -

When I came to my senses,

everyone except the two of us were down on the ground.

-Deokgae. -

That is how Deokgae and I took command of Mapo.

Mudeok, well done!

After that, a new era in Mapo began.

You don't need a conscience,

not when it comes to making a living.

With only your fist,

you can eat as much as you want for two meals a day.

This is a fucked up world we're in.

But I don't care as long as I'm okay.

Let's be lawless, all right?

Whether it's a noble or His Majesty,

they don't ever dare mess with the lawless.

Oh, there he goes again.

-It's bullshit, everything he says. -

Yeah. This time, he says, he stabbed a man with a sickle.

Last time, he said it was a pickax.

A pickax?

I think it's different every time.

- Next, it'll be a hoe. - Right.

I heard what happened in Mapo.

-Apparently, the damage is extensive. -I'm sorry.

Almost half of the silk was soaked through.

The cost of medicine and acupuncture will be quite high.

But we should care for the injured.

The key to trade is calculations.

Stubbornness shouldn't get in the way.