Post by ajk on Apr 5, 2015 1:10:41 GMT -5
"This is the first I'm hearing about it." Ouch! Ryu lies to the king and hangs Jeong Cheol out to dry. The king is seething; he thanks Jeong for his "loyalty" and tells them both to leave. They leave and Jeong goes nuts, of course...but Ryu calls him out on his having "other intentions"--meaning intentions to control the future king.
Later, consort Kim and her son Prince Sinseong bring the king some tea to calm him down. Just the sight of the boy calms him down plenty; can't help but notice that. Clearly Seonjo likes him a lot.
Hey, the queen! With her son, Prince Gwanghae; giving him advice about being quiet and humble whenever the subject of crown prince comes up. But guess what, Gwanghae doesn't want to be crown prince. Not sure if it's only because he thinks the king has already settled on Prince Sinseong, which he does think, but he even wants to leave the palace eventually and live as a private citizen.
The Westerners go see the king and try some damage control. They swear they raised the issue only out of loyalty to and concern for the country. And they're successful enough that Seonjo surprises us with a bit of candor. "I'm not happy with any of the princes right now," he says to his visitors' shock. "Imhae has a violent side to him. Gwanghae is as sly as a snake. Sinseong is still young and immature." Neither they nor anyone else is fit to be crown prince, he feels. Says he'll discuss the subject when the time is right, but now isn't the time.
As the Westerners leave, they cross paths with Ryu and trade uncomfortable words. Yun Dusu apparently doesn't know about Song Ikpil's scheming and when Ryu alludes to Jeong trying to pull off a scheme, Jeong denies knowing what Ryu is talking about. Which leaves Yun simply thinking that Ryu is a coward who didn't keep his promise to Jeong and should be removed from office.
Japan: Hideyoshi and his inner circle are studying a map of Joseon. He's confident that Joseon doesn't expect them to attack. Why? Because of all of his boasting and bluster when the envoys were here. Says he put on that show specifically to make them think it was all a big bluff, that someone so boastful would never try to back it up. Wow, this guy is shrewd...but wait, a visitor is here to see him. It's the prince of the Ryukyu Kingdom, who' s here to submit to Hideyoshi. He's kneeling and groveling, totally scared for his life (because Ryukyu has been submitting to Ming and Joseon). Hideyoshi makes him sweat and then lets him off with a simple demand for 20,000 sacks of military rations.
Afterwards, Konishi and So Tsushima fear that Hideyoshi is determined to start a war and that it will be a long and difficult one. They're determined to stop it from happening, Konishi out of concern for its impact on Christian believers in Japan (not clear on this) and So because of the damage it will do to Tsushima. Konishi is willing to go behind Hideyoshi's back to do stop it--as in, sending another letter to Joseon to somehow get them to open up a path to Ming. But Hideyoshi will never agree to another letter, so Konishi says they need to forge one. Which means getting access to Hideyoshi's official seal to put on it. And that's going to be very difficult....
We see Japanese divers measuring the sea depths off Joseon's southeast coastline. They're discovered by Joseon soldiers and killed after a nasty struggle.
Joseon's councilors meet to discuss that incident and other signs of trouble, both with Japan and with Jurchen barbarians in the north. They all agree that it's time to strengthen their defenses, and to find the best people for the task, "without regard to their ranks," as Lee Sanhae puts it.
So Ryu gets right on that. And immediately there's trouble over one of his recommendations, a lower-ranking officer named Yi Sunsin. Trouble because Yi comes from an ordinary family and has no connections other than Ryu. And because Yi is too upstanding to accept bribes or offer favors, which some of the military leaders don't like. It leads to a huge argument in the court over Yi, an argument that so frustrates the king that he shouts at them. "If you're so divided over one general, how can you ever defend this country!" Orders them to come to an agreement about it.
Well that doesn't happen. In fact, Jeong accuses Ryu of being bribed by Yi...which leads Yun Dusu (he's the inspector general, remember) to send a squad of soldiers to Ryu's house to search it for anything resembling a bribe. To Ryu's shock, they find nothing--only a plain white garment that Yi's mother hand-made for Ryu as a gift to thank him for supporting her son. Yun sees the garment and reads the heartfelt letter that accompanied it...and wears the expression of somebody who just messed up real bad and knows it.
Now Yun is having tea with someone named Yi Il. This Yi was Yi Sunsin's superior in a northern territory where Sunsin was blamed for a Jurchen attack that led to lives lost and prisoners taken. Yun wants to know if the blame was fair or if Sunsin was made a scapegoat. Yi Il starts to squirm, so Yun assures him that his goal isn't to punish anyone for what happened, but simply to get the truth about Sunsin. Finally, after Yun ends up screaming at him, Yi Il finally comes clean and says that Sunsin is "an able and clean general" who wouldn't take or give favors and wasn't in any way responsible for the attack.
The Confucian scholars have written an appeal to the king over the search of Ryu's home. Plus another appeal about Jeong Cheol having developed a drinking problem that's affecting his work. Who's responsible for the appeals? Ryu goes right to Lee Sanhae and yes, they're Lee's doing. Ryu doesn't want any of this; says the court is too divided right now as it is...but Lee, ever the politician, sees it as a necessary step.
Now Ryu, Jeong Cheol and Yun Dusu are before the king. Seonjo calmly says that the search of Ryu's home was appropriate and that it "confirmed he is upright. He will be an example to everyone." Then tells Yun that since the inspector general's office is supposed to be unbiased, he's going to have to investigate the appeal against Jeong Cheol too! Jeong is horrified; he says he doesn't have anything to hide but that the humiliation of being investigated over a drinking problem would be intolerable. Seonjo asks Ryu for his opinion; Ryu magnanimously says that it can be treated as a "misunderstanding" but that Jeong should simply stop drinking for a while. Seonjo runs with that, suggesting that Jeong should spend some time away from other people (specifically other government officials) who might encourage him to be their drinking buddy. So he temporarily appoints Jeong to the position of "First Minister of the Office of the Royal Clan" and bumps Ryu up to take his place! Also appoints Yun to be taxation minister--which deprives Yun of the independent authority of the inspector general's office, but it may actually be a promotion (Seonjo says it's a reward for vindicating Ryu. Hmmm....). Then Yun volunteers to the king that Yi Sunsin should be made a district naval commander. So obviously Yun's investigation left him profoundly impressed with Sunsin.
March 1, 1591: Finally the envoys are back at the capital. They appear at a full state council meeting and offer two very different opinions of Hideyoshi's mindset. Huang thinks Hideyoshi is ambitious and "I am sure there will be war." Kim says there's no chance of a war; thinks Hideyoshi is "a rat" who simply exaggerates and bluffs. Their completely different opinions surprise everyone present and leaves Seonjo looking thoroughly baffled and demoralized.
Later, consort Kim and her son Prince Sinseong bring the king some tea to calm him down. Just the sight of the boy calms him down plenty; can't help but notice that. Clearly Seonjo likes him a lot.
Hey, the queen! With her son, Prince Gwanghae; giving him advice about being quiet and humble whenever the subject of crown prince comes up. But guess what, Gwanghae doesn't want to be crown prince. Not sure if it's only because he thinks the king has already settled on Prince Sinseong, which he does think, but he even wants to leave the palace eventually and live as a private citizen.
The Westerners go see the king and try some damage control. They swear they raised the issue only out of loyalty to and concern for the country. And they're successful enough that Seonjo surprises us with a bit of candor. "I'm not happy with any of the princes right now," he says to his visitors' shock. "Imhae has a violent side to him. Gwanghae is as sly as a snake. Sinseong is still young and immature." Neither they nor anyone else is fit to be crown prince, he feels. Says he'll discuss the subject when the time is right, but now isn't the time.
As the Westerners leave, they cross paths with Ryu and trade uncomfortable words. Yun Dusu apparently doesn't know about Song Ikpil's scheming and when Ryu alludes to Jeong trying to pull off a scheme, Jeong denies knowing what Ryu is talking about. Which leaves Yun simply thinking that Ryu is a coward who didn't keep his promise to Jeong and should be removed from office.
Japan: Hideyoshi and his inner circle are studying a map of Joseon. He's confident that Joseon doesn't expect them to attack. Why? Because of all of his boasting and bluster when the envoys were here. Says he put on that show specifically to make them think it was all a big bluff, that someone so boastful would never try to back it up. Wow, this guy is shrewd...but wait, a visitor is here to see him. It's the prince of the Ryukyu Kingdom, who' s here to submit to Hideyoshi. He's kneeling and groveling, totally scared for his life (because Ryukyu has been submitting to Ming and Joseon). Hideyoshi makes him sweat and then lets him off with a simple demand for 20,000 sacks of military rations.
Afterwards, Konishi and So Tsushima fear that Hideyoshi is determined to start a war and that it will be a long and difficult one. They're determined to stop it from happening, Konishi out of concern for its impact on Christian believers in Japan (not clear on this) and So because of the damage it will do to Tsushima. Konishi is willing to go behind Hideyoshi's back to do stop it--as in, sending another letter to Joseon to somehow get them to open up a path to Ming. But Hideyoshi will never agree to another letter, so Konishi says they need to forge one. Which means getting access to Hideyoshi's official seal to put on it. And that's going to be very difficult....
We see Japanese divers measuring the sea depths off Joseon's southeast coastline. They're discovered by Joseon soldiers and killed after a nasty struggle.
Joseon's councilors meet to discuss that incident and other signs of trouble, both with Japan and with Jurchen barbarians in the north. They all agree that it's time to strengthen their defenses, and to find the best people for the task, "without regard to their ranks," as Lee Sanhae puts it.
So Ryu gets right on that. And immediately there's trouble over one of his recommendations, a lower-ranking officer named Yi Sunsin. Trouble because Yi comes from an ordinary family and has no connections other than Ryu. And because Yi is too upstanding to accept bribes or offer favors, which some of the military leaders don't like. It leads to a huge argument in the court over Yi, an argument that so frustrates the king that he shouts at them. "If you're so divided over one general, how can you ever defend this country!" Orders them to come to an agreement about it.
Well that doesn't happen. In fact, Jeong accuses Ryu of being bribed by Yi...which leads Yun Dusu (he's the inspector general, remember) to send a squad of soldiers to Ryu's house to search it for anything resembling a bribe. To Ryu's shock, they find nothing--only a plain white garment that Yi's mother hand-made for Ryu as a gift to thank him for supporting her son. Yun sees the garment and reads the heartfelt letter that accompanied it...and wears the expression of somebody who just messed up real bad and knows it.
Now Yun is having tea with someone named Yi Il. This Yi was Yi Sunsin's superior in a northern territory where Sunsin was blamed for a Jurchen attack that led to lives lost and prisoners taken. Yun wants to know if the blame was fair or if Sunsin was made a scapegoat. Yi Il starts to squirm, so Yun assures him that his goal isn't to punish anyone for what happened, but simply to get the truth about Sunsin. Finally, after Yun ends up screaming at him, Yi Il finally comes clean and says that Sunsin is "an able and clean general" who wouldn't take or give favors and wasn't in any way responsible for the attack.
The Confucian scholars have written an appeal to the king over the search of Ryu's home. Plus another appeal about Jeong Cheol having developed a drinking problem that's affecting his work. Who's responsible for the appeals? Ryu goes right to Lee Sanhae and yes, they're Lee's doing. Ryu doesn't want any of this; says the court is too divided right now as it is...but Lee, ever the politician, sees it as a necessary step.
Now Ryu, Jeong Cheol and Yun Dusu are before the king. Seonjo calmly says that the search of Ryu's home was appropriate and that it "confirmed he is upright. He will be an example to everyone." Then tells Yun that since the inspector general's office is supposed to be unbiased, he's going to have to investigate the appeal against Jeong Cheol too! Jeong is horrified; he says he doesn't have anything to hide but that the humiliation of being investigated over a drinking problem would be intolerable. Seonjo asks Ryu for his opinion; Ryu magnanimously says that it can be treated as a "misunderstanding" but that Jeong should simply stop drinking for a while. Seonjo runs with that, suggesting that Jeong should spend some time away from other people (specifically other government officials) who might encourage him to be their drinking buddy. So he temporarily appoints Jeong to the position of "First Minister of the Office of the Royal Clan" and bumps Ryu up to take his place! Also appoints Yun to be taxation minister--which deprives Yun of the independent authority of the inspector general's office, but it may actually be a promotion (Seonjo says it's a reward for vindicating Ryu. Hmmm....). Then Yun volunteers to the king that Yi Sunsin should be made a district naval commander. So obviously Yun's investigation left him profoundly impressed with Sunsin.
March 1, 1591: Finally the envoys are back at the capital. They appear at a full state council meeting and offer two very different opinions of Hideyoshi's mindset. Huang thinks Hideyoshi is ambitious and "I am sure there will be war." Kim says there's no chance of a war; thinks Hideyoshi is "a rat" who simply exaggerates and bluffs. Their completely different opinions surprise everyone present and leaves Seonjo looking thoroughly baffled and demoralized.