Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin (불멸의 이순ì‹)

Royal Command!

Commander of Left Cholla Naval Station Won Kyun, receive

the royal command!

You are being dismissed from our post!

Perhaps, you came to the wrong place.

How dare you speak such absurdity!

Clear the reception and proceed with the protocol immediately.

What's the reason? Why does His Majesty want to send me packing?

Let me see what he says on that scroll.

Sir, it's the royal edict. If you don't show proper reverence...

Stay out of it!

Now, hand me the scroll.

Have you a ways ignored formalities and protocols?

On what ridiculous grounds am I being dismissed?

How dare you display such contempt!

What?!

You can't possibly be a first class third rank navy commander when you'd

receive the royal command with whores at your side!

You ignorant military man!

What? Ignorant military man!

What are you doing, Captain Chung?

Sir...

Stand down!

This is getting better and better. The leader is ignoring military

protocols and violating the laws of the land.

Am I in a military headquarters or a bandits' den?

Clear the reception at once and receive the royal command!

Or I will arrest you right now for blasphemy and take you back

to the capital?

Dismiss a military leader for killing the barbarians?

Which country are we in?

We're being played like chess pieces by the bastards in the court

that's never seen a battle!

That's right. What if we take all of them high ministers in red robes and

throw them in the barbarian compound?

They'll be begging and screaming for us to kill the barbarians before

the barbarians get to them.

Let us write a joint petition to the royal court.

A petition for Commander Won's reinstatement.

What's the difference between killing them at the time of the capture and

killing them after taking them prisoner?

I'm inclined to disagree. Killing hostages is one thing, but cruelty

to civilians is a serious matter.

Stay out of this Commander Yi!

Not all warriors are alike. What could you possibly know

when you're a pen pusher who has never been close to a battlefield?

What did you say?!

Settle down, both of you!

This arguing won't change anything!

Then are we to just sit here and do nothing?

It's the royal command. There is nothing we can do.

Darn it!

The heck with this!

I dismiss you from your post to impose discipline, so practice prudence and

restraint and seek ways to become a better warrior in the future.

Prudence and restraint...?

Something isn't right. This is a conspiracy.

I did nothing wrong.

Who could have maligned me?

Who wheedled the King to have me thrown out?

They don't know anything about the battlefield.

Kill or be killed, that's the battlefield!

I spent over twenty years on that field of carnage, and at last...

at last I acquired this uniform. I became the highest commander.

I like the red uniform. It reminds me of the enemy's blood.

I had a dream. I wanted to do my very best.

I wanted to command this navy to do great things and prove my loyalty!

But those smooth-talking cowards want to take my uniform from me.

Is there anything I can do?

If you'd like, I will come with you to the capital.

Commander.

How many days have I been here? A week?

That means you've only been my subordinate for seven days.

Why are you pretending to be on my side when you know nothing about me?

You're not the only one who has been stationed at the six camps.

If you deserve punishment, how about the rest of us?

I'd imagine more than half of the military officials in Chosun would

be stripped of their rank.

This is a conspiracy. Someone is trying to harm you.

I can't tolerate that.

Do you still see me as your superior officer?

Commander...

I'm asking you my commands still have power.

Sit down.

Why the long faces?

Lighten up. Did someone die?

Do I have to send for some girls and some wine you to lighten up?

Oh, I guess the royal guards will dismiss me from my post again for

breach of public disciplined if I did that.

Yes, that's better.

Lighten up.

I will be back.

It's not because I want the illustrious title.

I had come here with a mission.

That mission was to turn the Left Cholla Navy into the strongest

military force in Chosun.

To suppress the swarming Japanese pirates across the ocean, and

glorify the country.

Isn't that what all warriors are supposed to aspire?

I intend to fight anyone who stands in the way no matter who it is.

I will fight and win, and I will return.

In the meantime, I'm counting on you to strengthen this navy.

Take good care of my men and His Majesty's faithful soldiers.

Commander Won indeed made a mistake when he took the lives

of civilians and war prisoners lightly.

But he is a brave and honorable warrior

who has more strengths than weaknesses.

Spanking isn't the only way to discipline a child, and

dismissal isn't the only way to discipline a royal subject.

The Japanese are getting closer and closer...

Who do we have now to fill his shoes?

Your Majesty, you must choose magistrate of Jung-eup Yi Soon-shin

as the Commander of Left Cholla Naval Station.

Yi Soon-shin?

Yes, Your Majesty.

What is the opinion of the court? Is Yi Soon-shin the right man?

It is an outrageous recommendation.

Yi Soon-shin is unfit for the position.

I agree, Your Majesty. He is a defeated leader.

Why must you dredge up the past?

He already paid his price by fighting in battle as a common soldier.

And he redeemed himself honorably with meritorious services

in Shijun Battle.

The man responsible for Shijun victory is Commander Yi Il.

How can you give a man credit for building a whole house when all he

did was hammer a nail?

What is your opinion, Minister of Military?

Do you think magistrate of Jung-eup Yi Soon-shin is the right man?

I don't believe it is a just and proper appointment.

Not just and proper?

Is your reason also because he is a defeated commander?

No, Your Majesty.

I believe it is unreasonable to advance a sixth rank local

magistrate to highest ranking naval commander.

I agree, Your Majesty.

Unreasonable appointment can affect the morale of the other

warriors as well.

It's truly puzzling...

What could Sung-ryong be trying to achieve at the risk of turning his

own party against him?

What do you think, Imperial Attendant?

Your Majesty...

Habits are hard to break...

I forgot that the Imperial Attendant is at home with an illness.

Your Majesty...

Foolish man... Why didn't he say something if he was not well?

I suppose he couldn't. I never gave him the chance...

Your Majesty...

Send the Imperial Physician to his house.

Tell him that he will not be forgiven if he doesn't recuperate and return

to the palace soon.

I will carry out your command, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

if I may suggest, perhaps you would like to pay Her Highness a visit.

I'm told Her Highness the Queen is unwell.

Mother, it is time to take your potion.

Are you still here?

You must go now.

No, Mother.

How many sleepless nights have you spent by my side?

Your Majesty...

Who is with the Queen?

Prince Kwang-hae is with her.

Shall I announce you?

Lie back down, Mother

Honn...

Are you my son?

Mother...

There're times when I want to call you by your birth name.

But it scares me...

When I call out your name, I'm reminded of the departed...

To her very last breath she called out your name...

Do you miss your birthmother?

Yes, I miss her.

Mother, I want you to be healthy and strong for a long time.

One mother to long for is enough.

Your grace....

So, when will His Majesty be here?

Why don't you answer my question?

I don't believe, he is coming today.

Then...?

He is having a conversation with Prince Kwang-hae at his bed chambers.

What? He summoned Prince Kwang-hae alone again?

Yes, Your Grace...

My son Shin-sung used to be his favorite!

Why does he spend so much time with Kwang-hae lately?

That conniving Queen must be plotting some kind of a scheme

to make Kwang-hae the Crown Prince!

Never...

I won't let that happen!

Sovereigns are awful people...

Those who are closed to him are forced to bear so much...

It must be o frustrating and lonely...

A subject's loneliness, no matter how great, cannot compare to the

sovereign's loneliness.

What if a royal subject, not a sovereign, insists on walking the

avoidable lonely path?

What could be his reason?

There could be two reasons.

Two reasons?