Post by ajk on Apr 7, 2015 23:17:17 GMT -5
After the council meeting, Kim tells Ryu privately that "I'm not God" and can't say he's 100% sure there won't be an attack. Says he's taking such a firm public position that there won't be one simply because he doesn't want the country becoming destabilized over mere rumors of war. And that it will be too difficult to prepare for war if the country is destabilized. Not to mention that the areas being abandoned are big grain producers and Joseon needs that grain. Hmm...Well somebody should tell the king that, because Seonjo looks like the weight of all this confusion is crushing him.
Heo Seong went with the envoys to Japan, and now he's telling some of the high officials what he saw there. He went out in plainclothes into the villages. Saw a surprising number of foreigners there, and foreign goods being traded. Including muskets. And he saw enormous commercial trading boats, which he believes (correctly) came from Spain and Portugal. And he tells the officials his opinion, that "there could be" an attack. It riles up most of the officials but Ryu and Lee Sanhae urge calm and restraint. And Lee insists that Hideyoshi is bluffing far too much and too loudly to be able to pull off an actual attack.
Seonjo has had time to calm down. Tells Ryu that of course "No one can be sure" either way and asks Ryu to go out to the coastal areas and survey the situation there.
So Ryu takes Cheonri and his private guard and the three of them head off on horseback towards Busan. Eventually they stop at a southern village. They go to an outdoor cafe for lunch and start talking to one of the villagers. Ryu learns that half of the village has fled, and more significantly, that the local Japanese people who are living and working here (officials and traders, it sounds like) have all gone home! And then he hears a bitter diatribe about how the villagers have no faith in the government to repel a Japanese attack, how all the officials do is fight with each other, and how the king doesn't care about what's happening to the people. He won't even accept Ryu's offer to pay for his family's lunch--but he has a message for him to deliver to the king. "The king can abandon his people," the man says, "but the people can also abandon their king." Wow, harsh words, but all of the other villagers eating there agree wholeheartedly.
Next the three visit the local complex where those Japanese live. Or, more accurately, lived, because the very last family is just on their way to catch the last boat home. Kim leaves his companions to visit the local governor...who tells Ryu that he tried to limit the number of local villagers leaving for refuge but that it got out of control too quickly. And that work needs to be done on local defenses, but the residents don't trust the government enough to stay and help with it.
Ryu's two companions have headed down to the port to watch the last ship preparing to leave. But why are those three men--obviously Japanese men--getting off the boat rather than getting on it? The men say they're traders who are here to retrieve their goods...but the scars on their hands suggest they're swordsmen, not merchants. So the two Joseonese trail them back to the Japanese complex and confront them. A fight breaks out and all three of the Japanese are killed.
Japan: Hideyoshi looks devastated and is drinking heavily. Turns out his brother Hidena just died. A very loyal brother, from what he says. And the alcohol loosens his tongue. He tells Kato, Konishi and Ukita that "The other lords must think I'm crazy" for wanting to attack Ming. Then a long, rambling stream of thought about his predecessor, the futility of life, and then finally, how he sees himself in the mold of Genghis Khan. "People die in vain, but a great name remains." Says he wants his name to remain just like Genghis Khan's name has. "I have to achieve that before I die." Wow. So that's his thinking. But now another piece of distressing news arrives: his son Tsurumatsu, who's been sick, isn't getting any better. Hideyoshi immediately rushes to his son, desperately worried. Really, really desperate, like, a little scary. Just now the boy's fever has broken, which is good news, but it doesn't lessen his father's worry at all.
Later, after leaving his son, Hideyoshi tells his subordinates he wants an advance base built in Kyushu and ready in one year. It's a staggering order, a massive project that will take huge civilian labor effort. Konishi mutters, "It's absurd" and looks like he's about to pull a sword and try to strike Hideyoshi down...but one of his subordinates stops him, steps forth, kneels and asks for more time. Says it will take at least three years. So Hideyoshi has Kato kill him on the spot. And asks if anybody else thinks a year is unreasonable. Well who's going to say a word now. "A fortress will be built in a year," he says, "and we will go to war."
We're in Ming! The defense minister gets a report that Joseon is conspiring with Japan to attack them. He's skeptical...but he learns of the envoy-sending and of the comment by Hideyoshi of wanting to head to Ming. Why didn't Joseon inform Ming of any of this? It concerns him, understandably...so he goes to see the emperor. Well the emperor is playing with beetles. He and three verrrrry attractive women. He laughs when the defense minister tells him the story. Let them come, he says, and I'll send my beetles to attack them. Yikes, this guy must be some kind of nut!
Ryu returns home from his scouting trip and consults with Shin Rip, who estimates that a Japanese attack would be around 10,000 to 15,000 troops based on the size of their boats. Yi Il is with them and tells him that as long as the Japanese can be held back near the coastline until the capital's central army arrives, "I'm sure we can defeat them." So it's just a matter of positioning the capital army so that it can get there soon enough. Not a simple matter but the three officials don't seem too concerned that it will get done.
Then Ryu reports to the king. About everything, including the message from that villager. It hits Seonjo hard, of course.
Then he goes to see Lee Sanhae, who accuses the Westerners of wanting a war to break out because it will help them get a crown prince installed. That's too much for Ryu to believe, but Lee simply reminds him of what they've done so far. "Don't fall for their tricks," he warns.
Next day: Council meeting. Another round of intense arguing among the high officials as Seonjo sits there looking fed up. Finally..."I will give my answer." Says that an attack won't happen and must not happen (I don't know what that's suppose to convey). Complains about all of the bickering and differences among the officials. Then orders punishment for anyone caught spreading false rumors about a war, and orders that anyone caught leaving their village is to be forcibly returned. Orders all coastal fortresses brought up to good working order and their security increased. And then adds, "If even one vessel invades us, I'll raise an army and conquer their mainland just like king Sejong conquered Tsushima!" All of the eyes in the room widen.
Heo Seong went with the envoys to Japan, and now he's telling some of the high officials what he saw there. He went out in plainclothes into the villages. Saw a surprising number of foreigners there, and foreign goods being traded. Including muskets. And he saw enormous commercial trading boats, which he believes (correctly) came from Spain and Portugal. And he tells the officials his opinion, that "there could be" an attack. It riles up most of the officials but Ryu and Lee Sanhae urge calm and restraint. And Lee insists that Hideyoshi is bluffing far too much and too loudly to be able to pull off an actual attack.
Seonjo has had time to calm down. Tells Ryu that of course "No one can be sure" either way and asks Ryu to go out to the coastal areas and survey the situation there.
So Ryu takes Cheonri and his private guard and the three of them head off on horseback towards Busan. Eventually they stop at a southern village. They go to an outdoor cafe for lunch and start talking to one of the villagers. Ryu learns that half of the village has fled, and more significantly, that the local Japanese people who are living and working here (officials and traders, it sounds like) have all gone home! And then he hears a bitter diatribe about how the villagers have no faith in the government to repel a Japanese attack, how all the officials do is fight with each other, and how the king doesn't care about what's happening to the people. He won't even accept Ryu's offer to pay for his family's lunch--but he has a message for him to deliver to the king. "The king can abandon his people," the man says, "but the people can also abandon their king." Wow, harsh words, but all of the other villagers eating there agree wholeheartedly.
Next the three visit the local complex where those Japanese live. Or, more accurately, lived, because the very last family is just on their way to catch the last boat home. Kim leaves his companions to visit the local governor...who tells Ryu that he tried to limit the number of local villagers leaving for refuge but that it got out of control too quickly. And that work needs to be done on local defenses, but the residents don't trust the government enough to stay and help with it.
Ryu's two companions have headed down to the port to watch the last ship preparing to leave. But why are those three men--obviously Japanese men--getting off the boat rather than getting on it? The men say they're traders who are here to retrieve their goods...but the scars on their hands suggest they're swordsmen, not merchants. So the two Joseonese trail them back to the Japanese complex and confront them. A fight breaks out and all three of the Japanese are killed.
Japan: Hideyoshi looks devastated and is drinking heavily. Turns out his brother Hidena just died. A very loyal brother, from what he says. And the alcohol loosens his tongue. He tells Kato, Konishi and Ukita that "The other lords must think I'm crazy" for wanting to attack Ming. Then a long, rambling stream of thought about his predecessor, the futility of life, and then finally, how he sees himself in the mold of Genghis Khan. "People die in vain, but a great name remains." Says he wants his name to remain just like Genghis Khan's name has. "I have to achieve that before I die." Wow. So that's his thinking. But now another piece of distressing news arrives: his son Tsurumatsu, who's been sick, isn't getting any better. Hideyoshi immediately rushes to his son, desperately worried. Really, really desperate, like, a little scary. Just now the boy's fever has broken, which is good news, but it doesn't lessen his father's worry at all.
Later, after leaving his son, Hideyoshi tells his subordinates he wants an advance base built in Kyushu and ready in one year. It's a staggering order, a massive project that will take huge civilian labor effort. Konishi mutters, "It's absurd" and looks like he's about to pull a sword and try to strike Hideyoshi down...but one of his subordinates stops him, steps forth, kneels and asks for more time. Says it will take at least three years. So Hideyoshi has Kato kill him on the spot. And asks if anybody else thinks a year is unreasonable. Well who's going to say a word now. "A fortress will be built in a year," he says, "and we will go to war."
We're in Ming! The defense minister gets a report that Joseon is conspiring with Japan to attack them. He's skeptical...but he learns of the envoy-sending and of the comment by Hideyoshi of wanting to head to Ming. Why didn't Joseon inform Ming of any of this? It concerns him, understandably...so he goes to see the emperor. Well the emperor is playing with beetles. He and three verrrrry attractive women. He laughs when the defense minister tells him the story. Let them come, he says, and I'll send my beetles to attack them. Yikes, this guy must be some kind of nut!
Ryu returns home from his scouting trip and consults with Shin Rip, who estimates that a Japanese attack would be around 10,000 to 15,000 troops based on the size of their boats. Yi Il is with them and tells him that as long as the Japanese can be held back near the coastline until the capital's central army arrives, "I'm sure we can defeat them." So it's just a matter of positioning the capital army so that it can get there soon enough. Not a simple matter but the three officials don't seem too concerned that it will get done.
Then Ryu reports to the king. About everything, including the message from that villager. It hits Seonjo hard, of course.
Then he goes to see Lee Sanhae, who accuses the Westerners of wanting a war to break out because it will help them get a crown prince installed. That's too much for Ryu to believe, but Lee simply reminds him of what they've done so far. "Don't fall for their tricks," he warns.
Next day: Council meeting. Another round of intense arguing among the high officials as Seonjo sits there looking fed up. Finally..."I will give my answer." Says that an attack won't happen and must not happen (I don't know what that's suppose to convey). Complains about all of the bickering and differences among the officials. Then orders punishment for anyone caught spreading false rumors about a war, and orders that anyone caught leaving their village is to be forcibly returned. Orders all coastal fortresses brought up to good working order and their security increased. And then adds, "If even one vessel invades us, I'll raise an army and conquer their mainland just like king Sejong conquered Tsushima!" All of the eyes in the room widen.
