Sat, Sep 4, 2004
"We must stop the retreating enemy at sea!" After seven years of bloody war against the Japanese invaders, Supreme Naval Commander Yi Soon-shin prepares his final battle against Konishi Yukinaga in Wekyo, Soon-chun. But bringing the allied forces of Ming army and navy together for the battle proves to be a difficult task for the Admiral. October 2nd, 1598, the Chosun-Ming Alliance finally launches another land-sea pincer attack on Wekyo only to be put in great danger by the betrayal of Ming commander Yu Jung who is bought off by the enemy.
Sun, Sep 5, 2004
"The King feared the enemy and he feared the Supreme Naval Commander who was fearless against that enemy." Both the Japanese and the Chosun-Ming alliance suffer significant loss during the Battle of Wekyo. Yi Soon-shin reports to the King that although they have suffered damages, they succeeded in destroying dozens of enemy ships. But Konishi wheedles Ming Commander Yu Jung to write an opposing report holding Yi Soon-shin responsible for the utter defeat in Wekyo. Having received two conflicting reports, the King and his court is confused and divided as to whose report to believe. The King's anxiety is amplified when he received a report that praises Yi Soon-shin as the hero of the people. Meanwhile, Commander Yu Jung sends yet another letter questioning Yi Soon-shin's loyalty to the King. The King, in response, sends his Royal emissary to put pressure on Yi Soon-shin.
Sat, Sep 11, 2004
"Retreating enemy is more intimidating than the approaching enemy. By retreating, the enemy seemed to be trying to demonstrate the futility of life." The Royal emissary removes Yi Soon-shin of his authority holding him accountable for the defeat in Wekyo and puts Yu Jung in charge of the alliance navy. Yi's men are furious and distraught, and order begins to fall apart in the camp. The emissary continues to put pressure on Yi Soon-shin threatening to charge him for impiety against the King, but Yi Soon-shin's will to go after the retreating enemy is unshaken. The confusion in Chosunese camp provides an opening for Konishi Yukinaga to launch a messenger ship requesting reinforcements from his allies nearby. Yi Soon-shin is forced to respond by taking military action against the order of the emissary, and the emissary recommends charges of treason against Yi Soon-shin.
Sun, Sep 12, 2004
"This is the burial ground for me and the enemy. I am not certain if I am determined to die or determined to live." Yi Soon-shin places the emissary in confinement and prepares his final battle. The day of battle. Admiral Yi tells the emissary that he would gladly bear the charges of treason in order to destroy the enemy and protect his men. Emissary is surprised by Yi's determination, but begins to understand him. Meanwhile, Shimazu Yoshihiro in Sachun leads his navy of 12,000 men to Noryang in order to save Konishi Yukinaga and capture Yi Soon-shin. The Battle of Noryang... The final battle that will change the fate of Chosun begins.
Sat, Sep 18, 2004
"I want to be brave like Kyun." We go back in time to the year 1555 when Yi Soon-shin, Won Kyun and Yu Sung-ryong grow up together in Gunchun-dong, Hanyang (modern day Seoul). Village captain Won Kyun is busily recruiting soldiers for an impending battle against the lower village children. Timid little boy Yi Soon-shin who admires Won Kyun for his bravery enlists in Won Kyun's army, but he is dropped when he fails to pass the initiation test. Finding out how badly Soon-shin wants to become a member, Kyun decides to give Soon-shin another chance. The challenge is to conquer the General Rock atop a rugged mountain. When the rocky hills become even more dangerous with heavy rain, the boys give up and turn back one by one until Soon-shin and Kyun are left climbing alone.
Sun, Sep 19, 2004
"I refuse to continue my education if I can't even protect a friend!" Soon-shin's father is accused of treason and arrested by the authorities. The next day at the village school house, Soon-shin gets into a fight with other children that mock him a son of a traitor. The schoolmaster, having received complaints about Soon-shin's presence at the schoolhouse by other parents, finds Soon-shin at fault for the fight and ends up expelling him from the schoolhouse.Won Kyun and Yu Sung-ryong are frustrated and distraught by their friend's absence. Finally, Sung-ryong walks out of the schoolhouse shouting out that what the books teach is worthless if he can't even protect a friend. Won Kyun follows him, and the friendship between Yi Soon-shin, Yu Sung-ryong and Won Kyun grows deeper.
Sat, Sep 25, 2004
Soon-shin's family has moved to Ahsan, and eight years have passed since Soon-shin and Sung-ryong promised to meet again at Sung-kyun Academy. There is a civil service exam being held in nearby Own-yang, but Soon-shin has put his dream aside to take care of his family. Byong-tek, the son of the local magistrate, comes to take the civil service exam in Own-yang after repeated failures in other cities, and he keeps bumping into Soon-shin in unpleasant circumstances. The magistrate and his assistant learn about Soon-shin's exceptional literary talents and proposition him to take the civil service exam in place of his son. Soon-shin's flat-out refusal infuriates the magistrate, and he and his assistant plot out a scheme.
Sun, Sep 26, 2004
Soon-shin agrees to take the exam for the magistrate's son to save his older brother Yo-shin. His parents are bewildered by Yo-shin's untimely release from imprisonment not knowing about the deal Soon-shin has made to get him out. Recovering from the beating he suffered, Yo-shin encourages Soon-shin to take the civil service exam himself. Tormented Soon-shin goes to his friend Chun-su for comfort, but a slip of the tongue in drunken state reveals his intent to be a proxy at the exam. Soon-shin's father Yi Jung goes to the magistrate to confront him.
Sat, Oct 2, 2004
After failing the civil service exam, Soon-shin turns to a wild life among the hunters to forget the pain of defeat and injustice. Meanwhile, Magistrate Song Tak is abusing the tax laws and levying all kinds of outrageous taxes from the people to fill his own pockets. When tax collection does not go as smooth as he wants, he decides to make an example of Chun-su's father arresting him and beating him to the point of death. Soon-shin feels guilty and ashamed for failing to protect his friend, and he vows not to let that happen again. He begins an investigation which begins to reveal evidence of Song Tak's illegal activities, but before it is brought to light, Song Tak arrests Soon-shin on false charges.
Sun, Oct 3, 2004
Running from Song Tak, Soon-shin and Chun-su end up in Hanyang. Soon-shin goes to Sung-kyun Academy to find his old friend Sung-ryong, but the sight of refined scholar keeps him from approaching him. Stranger in a new town with nowhere to go, Soon-shin and Chun-su find themselves in trouble surrounded by street thugs, but they are saved with help from Won Kyun. At last the three childhood friends unite. Won Kyun is bewildered by the changes in Soon-shin. Having heard about Soon-shin situation from Byong-tek, Sung-ryong coldly turns Soon-shin away with hopes that adversity will make him a stronger man.
Sat, Oct 9, 2004
"All I can do now is to live for the sake of living." Ju Tae-moon and Byung-tek's slander causes Soon-shin and Chun-su to be fired from Baron Huh's trading company. Back on the streets, the two young men use Chun-su's inheritance money to start a pottery business. But Byung-tek once again sabotages their business and leaves them penniless, and Soon-shin and Chun-su are forced to turn to Baron Huh again. Finding out that Baron Huh's company is in trouble due to a competitor hording all the ginseng in supply, Soon-shin asks the baron to let him solve his dilemma. Having dodged a potential disaster with Soon-shin's clever plan, Baron Huh sends him on an errand to Master Bang Jin who trains military officers in order to measure Soon-shin's potential.
Sun, Oct 10, 2004
"The moon sheds light on everyone equally without prejudice. But the world is so unfair..." When Bang Jin's daughter Yunhwa is taken hostage by intruders at Bang Jin's house, Soon-shin divert the intruders' attention to save the girl. The situation ultimately comes to an end when Won Kyun enters the scene, and Bang Jin finds out that the man who saved his daughter's life with calmness and quick thinking is a friend of his disciple Won Kyun. The day of the archery contest between Deung-ryong Pavilion and Sung-kyun Academy. Byung-tek finds Soon-shin doing odd jobs for the event, and blows up at the baron for keeping him in his staff. The baron assuages him telling him to keep Soon-shin near to torment him for fun. Bang Jin offers to take Soon-shin as his disciple, but Soon-shin politely refuses. Bang Jin is disappointed when he learns of Soon-shin's situation from Won Kyun.
Sat, Oct 16, 2004
Soon-shin is able to dream once again of entering government service. But students at Deung-ryong Pavilion fight to keep him out. Soon-shin is given a chance to prove himself. He will have one month to train in archery, at which time he will compete with an existing member of Deung-ryong league. The winner gets to stay and the loser gets to leave. Won Kyun is chosen as his competitor. Won Kyun pleads with Bang Jin to call off the unfair competition, as he is a trained archer and Soon-shin is not. Soon-shin prepares for the rivalry, but with much emotional struggle knowing that he has to beat his best friend in order to pursue his dream. Meanwhile, Byung-tek tries to interfere with Soon-shin's training by having the company supervisor give him unreasonable workload. Bang Jin's daughter Yunhwa watches Soon-shin from afar praying for his success.
Sun, Oct 17, 2004
Chun-su makes a trip to Andong for the company instead of Soon-shin so that Soon-shin would not miss his archery contest, but he makes a huge mistake during his trip. Chun-su grows increasingly despondent as he realizes that nothing goes right for him while everyone seems to hold his friend Soon-shin in high regard. Baron Huh and Song Tak decide to test Soon-shin's loyalty to the company and sends Soon-shin to Ahsan to collect salt tax. It turns out that Baron Huh was the one who had been exacting usury from the naive salt farmers of Ahsan. When Soon-shin finds out about their unlawful activities, he returns to Hanyang to discuss the situation with Sung-ryong. Sung-ryong begins an internal investigation which reveals involvement of a Royal kin Yoon Won-hyung.
Sat, Oct 23, 2004
Baron Huh frames Chun-su and Supervisor Kim for all of his criminal activities in the salt tax collection and points to Soon-shin as the snitch causing division between Chun-su and Soon-shin. Chun-su and Supervisor Kim are arrested and tortured by the authorities. All of the physical evidence that point to Baron Huh for the crime disappears. Yoon Won-hyung had acted quickly and gotten rid of them. Lack of evidence causes the royal court to stop the investigation. Soon-shin tries desperately to save Chun-su, but it's hopeless. He goes to the Royal Repository where the two men are being held and finds out from Supervisor Kim where Baron Huh keeps his books. With the incriminating books in possession, Soon-shin makes a deal with the baron. Chun-su is freed, but infuriated baron orders Chun-su to frame Soon-shin.
Sun, Oct 24, 2004
Framed for a crime he did not commit, Soon-shin is on the run. He goes to Ahsan to see his mother but finds his poster posted everywhere. He turns around vowing never to be defeated by the world again and heads for Gon-yang to find Namgoong Du. Sung-ryong is caught at the crossroads between the road of a government servant and the road of a scholar after having witnessed first hand corruption of government. He leaves the academy and the city and goes to Andong where he finds the great Confucius scholar Twe-gae Yi Hwang. "Corruption in the court is old news." Won Kyun is perplexed and frustrated by Sung-ryong's dilemma and Soon-shin's reckless actions. He enters and passes the military service exam and goes to Bang Jin to seek his daughter's hand in marriage.
Sat, Oct 30, 2004
Soon-shin arrives in a small pottery town of Gonyang. Namgoong Du is an old potter and a martial arts master. Soon-shin's persistent pleading moves Namgoong Du to take him in as his disciple. Soon-shin's first lesson is to find clay suitable for pottery. After days trying and failing, Soon-shin seeks help of a local boy named Jang-pyung to find suitable clay. Soon-shin confesses to having sought someone else's help, but Namgoong tells him that there is no shame in asking for help in order to make a right decision. Days pass, but there are no martial arts lessons. Namgoong tells Soon-shin that he will teach him martial arts once he opens his mind's eye. Meanwhile, Yi Hwang tells Sung-ryong that learning is not a true learning without action and tells him to go to Prince Ha-sung in Sajik.
Sun, Oct 31, 2004
Jang-pyung's father is badly beaten by the authorities because of pottery Jang-pyung has hidden. Soon-shin is struggling with his inability to help them. Seeing that Soon-shin cares more about other people than about himself, Namgoong finally begins to teach him martial arts. One year later, Soon-shin runs into Mujik at Donglae Port and learns that Chun-su has become the supervisor for Baron Huh's trading company. He also learns that the baron's company is involved in illegal trading with the Japanese selling iron and Korean pottery. Chun-su comes to Gonyang with Wakizaka Yasuyoshi seeking finest tea cups.
Sat, Nov 6, 2004
"The land will give back exactly how much you put in. Isn't it most honest and kind?" Soon-shin chases after the men that brutally slays Nalbal's father and finds Chun-su with them, but he cannot shoot his own friend. He goes to Chun-su and pleads with him to leave the company, but Chun-su is in too deep. Instead Chun-su goes to the baron and tells him that Soon-shin knows about his illegal activities. Baron Huh reports to the authorities that a fugitive has been spotted, and wanted posters with Soon-shin's picture are posted all over town. Naval officer Won Kyun must go after Soon-shin, but he cannot get himself to arrest a friend who has been wrongly accused. Sung-ryong goes to Prince Ha-sung of Sajik that Master Twe-gae spoke of. People have said that there is imperial energy around the prince. Young but thoughtful and principled young prince makes an impression on Sung-ryong.
Sun, Nov 7, 2004
"Until every last sword of tyranny against the people is withdrawn, do not let this sword out of your hands." When Mijin finds Soon-shin missing, she goes to Won Kyun, and Won Kyun take a navy vessel out to an island that illegal trading is taking place. Soon-shin, Won Kyun and Won Kyun's men successfully stop the crime. His master Namgoong Du tells him that... Won Kyun goes back to the naval station prepared to face punishment for taking action against the Right Naval Commander's orders, but much to their surprise, he is praised for his brave actions and Soon-shin is absolved for his previous crime. They find out that the political power had shifted in the court with Queen Dowager's death and Yoon Won-hyung no longer had any authority. Soon-shin is clear of all charges and free to take the military service exam. But he struggles with the fact that he has taken human lives.
Sat, Nov 13, 2004
Sung-ryong is brought before King Myung-jong for making corrections on a diplomatic document. But he lectures the king saying that a servant would not be doing his duty to his king if he were afraid to speak the truth. Meanwhile, Soon-shin settles back into his life in Gonyang pondering the meaning of the words "Ji Gwa" etched on his sword. Won Kyun urges him to take the military service exam, but Soon-shin turns him away saying that he wants to be a true warrior before becoming a military officer. When Prince Soon-hwe dies and leaves the royal house without a direct heir, the Queen looks to Prince Ha-sung for the next potential heir to the throne. Not entirely pleased with the Queen's idea, King Myung-jong tests the young prince by telling him to put on his crown.
Sun, Nov 14, 2004
Year 1567, King Myung-jong dies without an heir apparent, and Prince Ha-sung ascends to the throne as the 14th king of Chosun Sonjo. Immediately upon his ascension, Sonjo begins a reform exonerating neo-Confucian scholars that had been wrongfully prosecuted starting with Master Cho Kwang-jo. Learning that Soon-shin's grandfather Yi Bek-lok had also been exonerated, Bang Jin and his daughter Yunhwa goes to Gonyang to deliver the good news to Soon-shin. Mijin is taken aback to see Soon-shin and Yunhwa together and sad when she hears Soon-shin refer to her as his little sister. Master Namgoong tells Soon-shin that the time has come for him to leave Gonyang and sends his disciple off to Seoul. Sometime later in Seoul, Soon-shin finds out that Mijin's father Park Nam-kyong had been exonerated as well and takes the road to Gonyang again to deliver the good news to Mijin.
Sat, Nov 20, 2004
Wakizaka slaughters the people of Gonyang with vengeance. Soon-shin frantically runs after the Japanese when he learns that Mijin had been taken. He finds Nalbal's house on fire on the way and saves the young boy from the flames. Hair-raising fight ensues on the beach between Wakizaka and Soon-shin. Ultimately, Namgoong Du is killed and Soon-shin loses Mijin to the Japanese. Meanwhile, young Sonjo runs into a eunuch in the palace who does not notice the King's encourage as he busily picks up grains of rice from off the ground. The eunuch has erred by getting in the King's way, but Sonjo looks highly on he who won't let a grain of rice go to waste.
Sun, Nov 21, 2004
Soon-shin meets the King in disguise at Sung-ryong's house. Sonjo asks Soon-shin how he feels about the changes the new king is making, and Soon-shin replies that the world will not truly change as long as innocent people are being starved and persecuted. The king presses on with his reform. He cuts the royal staff in half and fires the imperial attendant Ju Tae-moon placing the rice picking eunuch Yoon Hwan-shi in his place. Year 1572. Soon-shin is living a peaceful life with his family in Ahsan.With the military service exam impending, he visits his master's grave in Gonyang. Meanwhile at the northern front, Won Kyun has come to be known as a merciless army commander more ruthless than the Jurchen nomads. A nomad raid leaves a village in ruins, and Won Kyun goes after them with his men. After an intense battle, Won Kyun saves Woo Ji-chuk and crushes the nomads.
Sat, Nov 27, 2004
Mijin returns to Gonyang from Japan pregnant and badly injured, but she safely gives birth to a girl with Eunu's help. Soon-shin returns to Seoul to take the military service exam, and dying Mijin watches Soon-shin from afar. Soon-shin shows exceptional talent in the exams but falls from his horse hurting his leg. He gets up despite his injuries and finishes his test with ovation of the people. Proud and reassured, Mijin dies in peace. In 1586, after ten years in military service, Yi Soon-shin is assigned as a garrison captain of Chosan Fort in Hamkyung Province. He is attacked on his way to his new post by the Jurchen nomads but rescued with help from a mysterious man.
Sun, Nov 28, 2004
Checking out Chosan Fort anonymously, Soon-shin runs into Oh Hyung and Yim Kyung-bun who are exacting grains from the farmers to present to the new garrison captain. The nomads attack that night while the guards are drunk, but Soon-shin effortlessly disables the nomads and punishes Oh Hyung by flogging in order to restore discipline in the camp. The next day, while inspecting the armory, Yim Kyung-bun tells him that the books are exact to a T. But Soon-shin harshly admonishes Yim saying that record keeping is meaningless when he is counting old and broken weapons that are useless. He also tells him that he is offended by the small amount of grains that the people have presented him and orders him to exact more.
Sat, Dec 4, 2004
The operation is a success. Soon-shin leads his first battle to victory and clears the misunderstanding among the people about exacting the grains. But Chief Commander Yi Il is displeased with Soon-shin for carrying out a military operation without his permission. Unable to reward his men with horses taken from the enemy, Soon-shin buys wine and food with his own stipend to reward his men for their victory. At the banquet, Soon-shin appoints Beksu as the instructor of the archery unit for his display of exceptional skills during the battle. Having lost one of his duties to Beksu, Oh Hyung's frustration with Soon-shin reaches its peak. Meanwhile, Jurchen Chief Matniungae and Sassonga swears revenge on Yi Soon-shin and his men and kidnaps Oh Hyung's younger sister Gobdan.
Sun, Dec 5, 2004
Soon-shin proposes peace with the Jurchen tribes. He tries with all his might to arrange a hostage exchange for Gobdan, but Yi Il's reaction is lukewarm, and the royal court is indifferent to Soon-shin's outcry about finding a tangible solution to the problems at the northern borders. While the hostage negotiation is in progress on both sides, in an unrelated incident, Won Kyun ends up killing a member of the Jurchen tribe who was doing illegal trade with one of the locals. The next day, Gobdan's cold body is found.
Sat, Dec 11, 2004
Soon-shin cannot understand Won Kyun who with cold blooded murder of a prisoner gave the scattered Jurchen tribes a reason to unite. Won Kyun and Yi Soon-shin's attitude toward their enemies and treatment of their prisoners could not be more different. Soon-shin and his men are busily preparing for an imminent Jurchen attack. They conclude that the Jurchen tribes are likely to attack Nokdune Island which is a vulnerable point of strategic importance. Meanwhile, Jurchen leaders Ulginae and Matniungae send Chun-su and his gang to Chosan Fort in order to steal Chosunese weapons.
Sun, Dec 12, 2004
It was none other than Beksu who fell for Chun-su's tricks and turned over the arrows of Chosan Fort to the Jurchens. Soon-shin blames himself for not seeing the pain of one of his men who was driven to commit this crime to provide for his family, but he is left with no choice but to punish him by death. The men of Chosan Fort works even harder after Beksu's death, but there is just not enough manpower to handle what's coming. Soon-shin pleads with Yi Il to request the royal court for supplementary aid, but he refuses out of fear that such request will be seen as a reflection of his own incompetence. Trying to find other means to supplement the force of arms, Soon-shin turns to the military farmers.
Sat, Dec 18, 2004
On the day of Mijin's daughter Cho-hee's wedding, Cholla Province is attacked by the Japanese armed with muskets. Cho-hee is taken prisoner by Wakizaka Yasuharu to Japan. Invasion of 1587 was a test battle for the Japanese for the seven year war that was to come, but the Chosunese government misses its opportunity to prepare their defense by dismissing this invasion as just another foray. Nomads that keep their preying eyes on Nokdune Island learn that Soon-shin is trying to supplement his force and devise a scheme to interfere. Ultimately, the idea of burning the farms and abandoning the island is brought up in Chosan Fort.
Sun, Dec 19, 2004
Desperate for military aid, Soon-shin puts his sword to Yi Il's throat, but it is useless. In Nokdune Island, the fear of imminent Jurchen attack is getting to the soldiers' heads. Meanwhile, Toyotomi Hideyoshi of Japan sends his envoy to Chosun demanding that Sonjo come to Japan before him. Soon-shin is called to attend the officers meeting held in Kyung-heung. But he can't leave his fort for a second with the imminent Jurchen attack. Yim Kyung-bun convinces him to go telling him that this could be his last chance to acquire military aid. The Jurchen nomads attack while Soon-shin is away.
Sat, Dec 25, 2004
The Jurchen nomads attack Nokdune while Soon-shin is away. Soon-shin returns to Nokdune with Yi Kyung-lok and the backup troops, but his brave men and the people of Nokdune are already dying after putting up a desperate fight. Soon-shin is brought to the North Base on the charges of negligence and defeat, but he fights back stating that the atrocity of Nokdune will be repeated again if he is not given a chance to reveal the truth about why the tragedy occurred. Finding his friend in trouble, Won Kyun calls on Minister of Military Chung Unshin for help. Chung's presence gives Soon-shin a flicker of hope. Meanwhile in the royal court, the Western faction sees Soon-shin's failure in Nokdune as an opportunity to weaken the power of the Eastern faction which Yu Sung-ryong belongs to, and calls for Soon-shin's execution.
Sun, Dec 26, 2004
For the crime of negligence and for abandonment of his men impending enemy attack, Yi Soon-shin is stripped of his rank and ordered to serve the military as a common soldier. The newly appointed garrison captain of Chosan Fort Yi Unryong is baffled by the soldiers who look upon the defeated captain Yi Soon-shin with admiration and respect. After being attacked by Ulginae and realizing the enemy's strength, Yi Unryong turns to Soon-shin for help.