Post by ajk on Jul 13, 2014 17:23:00 GMT -5
Archers! JD calls in the archers, and wow are there a lot of them. "If you don't want to become a porcupine, lower your sword and stand back." Great line but nobody's laughing. Bangwon swings his sword at the hand of the commanding general who approaches him and draws a little blood. JD says that's treason, so I can kill you now. A tense few seconds...and then Min runs in front of her husband to shield him and tells JD she knows where the weapons and army rosters are and will surrender them all. But JD says he has to take Bangwon too, now that he injured a Joseon officer. At that she gets on her knees and begs him to overlook it. "Think about the affection you had before. Please don't take him." He looks at her, and then at Bangwon. "You should thank your wife." He turns and leaves, and the soldiers rush forward to disarm everyone. Bangwon drops to his knees next to his wife, overcome with rage.
We learn that all of the princes' private armies have been assimilated and the assimilation of the private armies in the provinces is in progress.
Three Armies Headquarters: Seonggye is overseeing another training session. These are the royal guards being trained, and Seonggye isn't happy. Jiran says they're doing just fine, but Seonggye wants to get in the middle of things and ends up with his sword, walking among the guards and giving them pointers. He's having fun doing it and the soldiers can't help but smile...and he does know what he's talking about. But then he pivots a little too quickly and falls down. Gets right back up again and wants to resume...but he's an old man now and he really shouldn't be running around like this. In any event, JD arrives and interrupts him.
Now they're in Seonggye's throne room talking. The king wants to go to Yodong with the army for the attack! JD reminds him with a smile that he's not in the best of health and needs to stay here and take care of himself. There's that same relaxed, informal manner between them; the king is almost like a disappointed little kid here and JD the bemused parent. But that goes away in a big hurry, because news arrives: Joseon's spies in Yodong are reporting that the Ming emperor passed away! JD is certain that there will be an ugly internal struggle among family members for the throne, and that Ming will be far too absorbed in the struggle to pay much attention to external affairs. "Yodong is within our reach."
Evening: Bangwon and Min are lamenting how things have turned against them. Now even JD's Ming problem (that is, the emperor hating him) has vanished. Bangwon is drinking heavily and Min scolds him for it. He has an answer for her; he's trying to make himself look pathetic because "I have to let Sambong thinks he owns the world." Because that's when someone is most vulnerable to a counterstrike. Advice that JD himself gave him. But still, it sounds more like an excuse to drink than a planned strategy.
A day or two (or three?) later: It's very hot today an Seonggye is coughing and looks uncomfortable. JD's son Jin is there with the king--so obviously he has some sort of significant position now--and is trying to talk the king out of going to the training ground today. But he's petulant and insistent, and you can't exactly say no to the king, can you...so Jin and Eunuch Kim leave him to go summon the royal carriage.
At the training ground: The princes stand there watching in irritation while JD supervises the training and barks directions at the soldiers--their own former soldiers.
The royal carriage arrives, but when Jin and Eunuch Kim go back inside to summon the king, they find him lying on the floor unconscious!
That evening: Seonggye has been put to bed and JD is by his side now. He's conscious but sort of semi-delirious.
Council meeting: JD announces that as soon as farming season is over, a 100,000-man army will cross the Amnok River and capture Yodong. A very heated discussion about whether or not the attack should be postponed in view of the king's health. But JD says the king already approved it so nobody should be speaking against it. And he walks out of the meeting, with all of his allies right behind him.
Chungcheong province: Ha Ryun is watching as government officials process a large private army's soldiers for assimilation. He stands there next to who appears to be the army's commanding officer, who has an angry scowl on his face. Ha tells him how impressed he is by what JD accomplished. After 230 years of military power held by private generals, he says with a big laugh, "We will finally have a real army!" The officer walks away in disgust...but why does it feel like Ha doesn't really believe that? Seems like he's just trying to get under the officer's skin. Then Lee Sukbeon shows up to give Ha an update on events in the capital. The king's health is trouble for JD, Ha realizes. "It won't be long," he says with a smile.
JD gets a report from the inspector general's office that the princes and high officials who oversee military forces haven't been bringing their troops to the strategic training sessions. Even JD's closest allies have been neglecting them. Jiran says it's been too hot outside lately and everyone has been too distracted by worries over the king's health, and Nam Eun fesses up that he's been distracted--he got himself a concubine. But JD doesn't want to hear excuses. Says that military reprimands will be issued to everyone who hasn't complied. And wow, this is big: Narration tells us that JD reprimanded 292 commanders who neglected the training sessions, including the princes and JD's own loyal allies like Nam Eun and Lee Jiran! And it's not just a written warning: it's 50 flogs with a paddle to the back! We're told that "by the mercy of the king" the punishment was waived for the princes and the high officials and that only the subordinates were punished...which we see taking place as the princes and high officials are forced to watch. This was in August of 1398, and we're told that "the political affairs of Hanyang fell into confusion."
JD has written a book, which he's entitled "Bulsijabpyeon." It's a presentation of arguments against "the delusion of Buddhism." Not very thick--really more of a booklet than a full book. But he says it's a necessary document for making Joseon a neo-Confucian state. He gives a draft copy to Jo Jun and asks him if he'll write the epilogue. "I am reaching out to you," he says. But Jo refuses...and soon enough they're arguing again about the Yodong attack. At this point JD has had enough. ""I will give you a month. Resign from your position." Jo glares at him and calls him "definitely a monster." And slams the door behind him as he leaves.
Evening: Jiran is still too upset with JD to talk to him; walks away as JD approaches. Nam Eun is upset too, but he gets over it. Then some horrible news arrives: the king's condition has worsened.
JD goes to Seonggye's bedside. You know it's bad because the royal physician is too scared to say anything. Eventually he concedes that "the next few days will be critical." "You should be begging for mercy," JD tells him with an angry glare. "Did you say critical?" The crown prince is here too, and he's worried. "I'm not ready yet," he tells JD, anticipating the possibility of his father dying. "I'm afraid of everything." Poor kid; lost his mother and now this?
Evening: Now even Nam Eun is wondering if the attack should be postponed, what with Seonggye's serious condition. "If the king passes away, Joseon will be as unstable as Ming." But JD says it's now or never; this is the best time for it. And then Sim Hyosaeng offers a radical suggestion: "We can pull out the roots that might cause trouble." As in, kill the princes! The ones who have been causing trouble, that is...and to Nam's stunned surprise, JD agrees! "There is no other way."
Simultaneously, at Bangwon's house--which is under guard, by the way: Lee Sukbeon is back home and visits Bangwon, delivering a written message from Ha Ryun. "You are at a crossroads of life and death." the letter begins. "There is no other way. You have to make a surprise attack and suppress Sambong." Ha says he can provide soldiers--seriously?--and they will arrive on June 1, when the evening curfew bell rings. "That is when Jeong Dojeon's world ends," Bangwon says with determination.
And look at this--Min managed to keep some swords hidden away. Not a lot, but apparently enough for Bangwon and his servants to overpower the guards outside. Then word arrives that the palace has summoned him because his father's condition has deteriorated. Min smells a rat; at this late hour you're being summoned? But Bangwon says his father is ill and he can't take the chance, so he goes.
Palace plaza: The princes are all gathered here, but the place is oddly deserted. No guards are visible and no lights are burning. Now Sim Hyosaeng emerges and invites them all inside...but the princes get jumpy and all skitter away. Except for Bangwon, who alone walks inside...and finds JD sitting there next to his father. "I see you didn't run when the situation was suspicious," JD calmly tells him. "A person with the guts to come in here should be killed," he adds. And then proceeds to explain that if the king lives, Bangwon will be accused of plotting treason with Lee Sukbeon, and that if the king dies, he (JD) can gain great merit by "eliminating the next king's political enemy." So in other words, Bangwon is a dead man right now either way. So JD makes Bangwon kneel before his father and swear that he will not seek the throne and will leave the capital and stay in Dongbukmyeon until he dies. Which Bangwon does. "Leave before I change my mind," JD tells him calmly. Bangwon leaves, and JD tells the unconscious king that "I was really patient today" but please recover your strength soon. At that, Seonggye actually starts to moan a little and his eyes flicker open a bit. He mumbles a greeting and then says "I'm sorry" over and over.
It's June 1. Bangwon gets word that Ha Ryun is in the capital. It's evening and the curfew bell is about to ring. But one big problem: nobody can find JD and his allies. Where did they go?
They're partying! Not sure where this is--it looks like it might be a restaurant somewhere--but they're all having a banquet and drinking and laughing, celebrating their successes and accomplishments.
Uh-oh, look at this...a huge number of soldiers come streaming through the capital's streets at top speed. Obviously Ha Ryun delivered (but where did he get them?).
At Bangwon's home: the prince and his men charge out the front door and overpower and kill the military guards. Bangwon looks around with fire in his eyes. "The hunting begins."
We learn that all of the princes' private armies have been assimilated and the assimilation of the private armies in the provinces is in progress.
Three Armies Headquarters: Seonggye is overseeing another training session. These are the royal guards being trained, and Seonggye isn't happy. Jiran says they're doing just fine, but Seonggye wants to get in the middle of things and ends up with his sword, walking among the guards and giving them pointers. He's having fun doing it and the soldiers can't help but smile...and he does know what he's talking about. But then he pivots a little too quickly and falls down. Gets right back up again and wants to resume...but he's an old man now and he really shouldn't be running around like this. In any event, JD arrives and interrupts him.
Now they're in Seonggye's throne room talking. The king wants to go to Yodong with the army for the attack! JD reminds him with a smile that he's not in the best of health and needs to stay here and take care of himself. There's that same relaxed, informal manner between them; the king is almost like a disappointed little kid here and JD the bemused parent. But that goes away in a big hurry, because news arrives: Joseon's spies in Yodong are reporting that the Ming emperor passed away! JD is certain that there will be an ugly internal struggle among family members for the throne, and that Ming will be far too absorbed in the struggle to pay much attention to external affairs. "Yodong is within our reach."
Evening: Bangwon and Min are lamenting how things have turned against them. Now even JD's Ming problem (that is, the emperor hating him) has vanished. Bangwon is drinking heavily and Min scolds him for it. He has an answer for her; he's trying to make himself look pathetic because "I have to let Sambong thinks he owns the world." Because that's when someone is most vulnerable to a counterstrike. Advice that JD himself gave him. But still, it sounds more like an excuse to drink than a planned strategy.
A day or two (or three?) later: It's very hot today an Seonggye is coughing and looks uncomfortable. JD's son Jin is there with the king--so obviously he has some sort of significant position now--and is trying to talk the king out of going to the training ground today. But he's petulant and insistent, and you can't exactly say no to the king, can you...so Jin and Eunuch Kim leave him to go summon the royal carriage.
At the training ground: The princes stand there watching in irritation while JD supervises the training and barks directions at the soldiers--their own former soldiers.
The royal carriage arrives, but when Jin and Eunuch Kim go back inside to summon the king, they find him lying on the floor unconscious!
That evening: Seonggye has been put to bed and JD is by his side now. He's conscious but sort of semi-delirious.
Council meeting: JD announces that as soon as farming season is over, a 100,000-man army will cross the Amnok River and capture Yodong. A very heated discussion about whether or not the attack should be postponed in view of the king's health. But JD says the king already approved it so nobody should be speaking against it. And he walks out of the meeting, with all of his allies right behind him.
Chungcheong province: Ha Ryun is watching as government officials process a large private army's soldiers for assimilation. He stands there next to who appears to be the army's commanding officer, who has an angry scowl on his face. Ha tells him how impressed he is by what JD accomplished. After 230 years of military power held by private generals, he says with a big laugh, "We will finally have a real army!" The officer walks away in disgust...but why does it feel like Ha doesn't really believe that? Seems like he's just trying to get under the officer's skin. Then Lee Sukbeon shows up to give Ha an update on events in the capital. The king's health is trouble for JD, Ha realizes. "It won't be long," he says with a smile.
JD gets a report from the inspector general's office that the princes and high officials who oversee military forces haven't been bringing their troops to the strategic training sessions. Even JD's closest allies have been neglecting them. Jiran says it's been too hot outside lately and everyone has been too distracted by worries over the king's health, and Nam Eun fesses up that he's been distracted--he got himself a concubine. But JD doesn't want to hear excuses. Says that military reprimands will be issued to everyone who hasn't complied. And wow, this is big: Narration tells us that JD reprimanded 292 commanders who neglected the training sessions, including the princes and JD's own loyal allies like Nam Eun and Lee Jiran! And it's not just a written warning: it's 50 flogs with a paddle to the back! We're told that "by the mercy of the king" the punishment was waived for the princes and the high officials and that only the subordinates were punished...which we see taking place as the princes and high officials are forced to watch. This was in August of 1398, and we're told that "the political affairs of Hanyang fell into confusion."
JD has written a book, which he's entitled "Bulsijabpyeon." It's a presentation of arguments against "the delusion of Buddhism." Not very thick--really more of a booklet than a full book. But he says it's a necessary document for making Joseon a neo-Confucian state. He gives a draft copy to Jo Jun and asks him if he'll write the epilogue. "I am reaching out to you," he says. But Jo refuses...and soon enough they're arguing again about the Yodong attack. At this point JD has had enough. ""I will give you a month. Resign from your position." Jo glares at him and calls him "definitely a monster." And slams the door behind him as he leaves.
Evening: Jiran is still too upset with JD to talk to him; walks away as JD approaches. Nam Eun is upset too, but he gets over it. Then some horrible news arrives: the king's condition has worsened.
JD goes to Seonggye's bedside. You know it's bad because the royal physician is too scared to say anything. Eventually he concedes that "the next few days will be critical." "You should be begging for mercy," JD tells him with an angry glare. "Did you say critical?" The crown prince is here too, and he's worried. "I'm not ready yet," he tells JD, anticipating the possibility of his father dying. "I'm afraid of everything." Poor kid; lost his mother and now this?
Evening: Now even Nam Eun is wondering if the attack should be postponed, what with Seonggye's serious condition. "If the king passes away, Joseon will be as unstable as Ming." But JD says it's now or never; this is the best time for it. And then Sim Hyosaeng offers a radical suggestion: "We can pull out the roots that might cause trouble." As in, kill the princes! The ones who have been causing trouble, that is...and to Nam's stunned surprise, JD agrees! "There is no other way."
Simultaneously, at Bangwon's house--which is under guard, by the way: Lee Sukbeon is back home and visits Bangwon, delivering a written message from Ha Ryun. "You are at a crossroads of life and death." the letter begins. "There is no other way. You have to make a surprise attack and suppress Sambong." Ha says he can provide soldiers--seriously?--and they will arrive on June 1, when the evening curfew bell rings. "That is when Jeong Dojeon's world ends," Bangwon says with determination.
And look at this--Min managed to keep some swords hidden away. Not a lot, but apparently enough for Bangwon and his servants to overpower the guards outside. Then word arrives that the palace has summoned him because his father's condition has deteriorated. Min smells a rat; at this late hour you're being summoned? But Bangwon says his father is ill and he can't take the chance, so he goes.
Palace plaza: The princes are all gathered here, but the place is oddly deserted. No guards are visible and no lights are burning. Now Sim Hyosaeng emerges and invites them all inside...but the princes get jumpy and all skitter away. Except for Bangwon, who alone walks inside...and finds JD sitting there next to his father. "I see you didn't run when the situation was suspicious," JD calmly tells him. "A person with the guts to come in here should be killed," he adds. And then proceeds to explain that if the king lives, Bangwon will be accused of plotting treason with Lee Sukbeon, and that if the king dies, he (JD) can gain great merit by "eliminating the next king's political enemy." So in other words, Bangwon is a dead man right now either way. So JD makes Bangwon kneel before his father and swear that he will not seek the throne and will leave the capital and stay in Dongbukmyeon until he dies. Which Bangwon does. "Leave before I change my mind," JD tells him calmly. Bangwon leaves, and JD tells the unconscious king that "I was really patient today" but please recover your strength soon. At that, Seonggye actually starts to moan a little and his eyes flicker open a bit. He mumbles a greeting and then says "I'm sorry" over and over.
It's June 1. Bangwon gets word that Ha Ryun is in the capital. It's evening and the curfew bell is about to ring. But one big problem: nobody can find JD and his allies. Where did they go?
They're partying! Not sure where this is--it looks like it might be a restaurant somewhere--but they're all having a banquet and drinking and laughing, celebrating their successes and accomplishments.
Uh-oh, look at this...a huge number of soldiers come streaming through the capital's streets at top speed. Obviously Ha Ryun delivered (but where did he get them?).
At Bangwon's home: the prince and his men charge out the front door and overpower and kill the military guards. Bangwon looks around with fire in his eyes. "The hunting begins."
