Post by ajk on May 20, 2015 21:44:18 GMT -5
Ryu flat-out tells Seonjo that they'll lose at Imjin if they force the issue, especially if Seonjo replaces the longtime commander Kim Myeongwon with someone new and less experienced like Han Eungin. But Seonjo considers Kim Myeongwon a coward and won't listen to Ryu. "Wait and see. You will see you are wrong."
Later, Seonjo summons Han Eungin and tells him to execute anyone in Kim's army who's insubordinate "to restore military order." And that "If the enemy gives you any room, attack first without hesitation."
We see Dongdong's sister help a sick little girl. Turns out she trained under a well-known doctor when she was younger (sounds like it may have been her father). Then we see Cheonri with his arm in a sling; turns out he took a bullet. Says he's okay...but at the sight of the sister, falls to the ground and starts writhing in pseudo-agony.
Kato's headquarters: Kato goes nuts at the news that his patrol unit got ambushed and wiped out. Orders a full attack immediately...even though he has no permission from the higher-ups to do so.
Konishi's headquarters: Konishi and Ukita are discussing those 50,000 Joseon soldiers heading north towards them...when Kato walks in, furious about his patrol unit. Konishi needles him about it and then cautions him against going to battle just for revenge. But Kato has a good point: that the ambush suggests a reorganized Joseon army that might end up surrounding them if they don't do something. So they decide to send both armies north to attack.
So the two Japanese divisions end up facing off with the northern Joseon forces across the Imjin River...which is a big river, at least big enough that with no boats the Japanese are stuck. Kim Myeongwon lays out the obvious strategy: defend the upper river and force the enemy to have to build rafts to cross the lower river, and then pick them off with arrows and cannonballs in the water. But Han Eungin won't hear of that; says the enemy army is tired and this is their chance to attack first and catch them by surprise. Of course, that means their crossing the river and giving up their positional advantage...which Lee Gak says flat-out is a mistake. "It's just as easy for us to be drowned." Han rebuffs him, and everyone else. "Everyone here is a general who lost. I'm in command here--obey my orders!" Lee Gak says he'll just take his forces and leave...so Han kills him! Wow, takes out a sword and cuts him down right there in front of everyone else.
Lee Hangbok brings news of this to Ryu. And adds, "Do you know why his majesty wanted Han Eungin? It's because you were against him. He doesn't want you to be right even if you are." Ryu thinks about that and wonders if it might just be true. Then a letter arrives from Kim Seongil, telling him Ryu that a man named Gwak Jaeu has formed a citizen militia. Ryu seems to know who Gwak is, although he says Gwak is a "commoner"...but more importantly sees it as a good sign that more militias will be forming around the nation. "We have hope."
We see a small Japanese supply convoy headed somewhere through the countryside...until they're suddenly and very effectively ambushed and all killed. This is part of Gwak Jaeu's militia. We get our first look at Gwak, and how about this, look at who's with him--Sayaka. Gave Gwak the information about where the convoy would be. Gwak thanks him for the information; looks like Sayaka was telling the truth and is trustworthy.
That evening, Gwak goes to a village and with an inspiring speech, rounds up more men to defend against the Japanese. Projects a very impressive presence.
Japan: Word reaches Hideyoshi of the Joseon capital's occupation. An odd moment when the reports from his own surveillance people are contradicted by Kato's forged report saying that he reached the capital before Konishi. "Then Kato won. He's simple-minded. He can't lie. Tell the surveillants to report properly." Ishida obviously disagrees with that but holds his tongue. Hideyoshi isn't happy to hear that the Joseon king fled to the north, but he's assured that a pursuit is underway. Tells Ishida to go there and reiterate his demand for the king's capture...oh and also he wants Yi Sunsin's head. Then tells Maeda he's going to Joseon after all. That stuff about his mother being old and needing attention, well, he says he'll take her with him! Let her see the country he conquered. "I should be a good son." Bet Maeda didn't see that one coming.
Narration tells us that the rival armies stared at each other across the river for five days.
Hey it's Jeong Cheol! Seonjo invited him back. The two meet and trade self-recriminations for their failings...and then Jeong tells Seonjo he'll be his protector, which Seonjo is immensely relieved to hear. Then news arrives that the big 50,000-man Joseon army is nearing the Han River--and getting closer to the rear of the two Japanese units. Han Eungin is visiting Seonjo too; he and Seonjo agree that this will all be easy--just attack when the Japanese start to retreat from the south bank. But Yun quietly asks Han to please be prudent and not take risks with the nation's fate at stake.
"What!? You want me to retreat?" Good luck pitching that to Kato, right? But Konishi makes a good case. They have no boats and they're low on rations. And besides, Konishi wants to send a letter to the enemy, asking for their surrender and an open path to Ming. Kato is annoyed with Konishi's wish for negotiation--"I don't make deals with the enemy!"--but he does see that Kato is right so he reluctantly agrees. Well you can just see what's coming, can't you...
Han Eungin receives Konishi's letter. No sale. "Tell them we'll fight!" He knows their rations are low...and now he gets word that they're pulling back. A patrol unit just spotted it. "They pretend to negotiate so they could buy time to covertly retreat. This is a golden opportunity." Oh dear...Kim Myeongwon cautions him that it could be a trick, but Han will have none of that.
We see Kato's army on the march south...obviously not very far, because when Kato gets word that the Joseon army has crossed the river, his eyes bug out and he cracks up laughing. Immediately orders battle preparations...
...and we don't see it, but we get the news: a total defeat for Joseon. Not exactly a surprise, but Ryu is still devastated by it. Then Lee Deokyeong asks Ryu to come look at some official reports that just came in. The king and officials are all in a council meeting today and someone needs to check the latest information.
"I told him to be careful." Council meeting and Seonjo is whining. "How can 13,000 soldiers die in such vain?" Officials argue back and forth about executing Han and maybe Kim. It drives Seonjo crazy and he shouts them into silence, because he's only concerned right now with his own safety. "We have to take refuge again." Well that horrifies the officials, all except Jeong Cheol who says the king needs to be kept safe. Even Jeong's friend Yun Dusu scolds him on that one. All is far from lost, Yun argues...but the strain of this is getting to Seonjo's heart; he's clutching his chest and gasping for air. Then from outside, Ryu calls and asks for entry. He and Lee Hangbok have brought those reports. It's good news! Victories by Yi Sunsin, sinking dozens of enemy ships. Seonjo eagerly reads the reports.
We see the Battle of Okpo, very similar to what we saw in IYSS. Enough said. Total victory for Joseon; the Japanese fleet is wrecked.
Later, Seonjo summons Han Eungin and tells him to execute anyone in Kim's army who's insubordinate "to restore military order." And that "If the enemy gives you any room, attack first without hesitation."
We see Dongdong's sister help a sick little girl. Turns out she trained under a well-known doctor when she was younger (sounds like it may have been her father). Then we see Cheonri with his arm in a sling; turns out he took a bullet. Says he's okay...but at the sight of the sister, falls to the ground and starts writhing in pseudo-agony.
Kato's headquarters: Kato goes nuts at the news that his patrol unit got ambushed and wiped out. Orders a full attack immediately...even though he has no permission from the higher-ups to do so.
Konishi's headquarters: Konishi and Ukita are discussing those 50,000 Joseon soldiers heading north towards them...when Kato walks in, furious about his patrol unit. Konishi needles him about it and then cautions him against going to battle just for revenge. But Kato has a good point: that the ambush suggests a reorganized Joseon army that might end up surrounding them if they don't do something. So they decide to send both armies north to attack.
So the two Japanese divisions end up facing off with the northern Joseon forces across the Imjin River...which is a big river, at least big enough that with no boats the Japanese are stuck. Kim Myeongwon lays out the obvious strategy: defend the upper river and force the enemy to have to build rafts to cross the lower river, and then pick them off with arrows and cannonballs in the water. But Han Eungin won't hear of that; says the enemy army is tired and this is their chance to attack first and catch them by surprise. Of course, that means their crossing the river and giving up their positional advantage...which Lee Gak says flat-out is a mistake. "It's just as easy for us to be drowned." Han rebuffs him, and everyone else. "Everyone here is a general who lost. I'm in command here--obey my orders!" Lee Gak says he'll just take his forces and leave...so Han kills him! Wow, takes out a sword and cuts him down right there in front of everyone else.
Lee Hangbok brings news of this to Ryu. And adds, "Do you know why his majesty wanted Han Eungin? It's because you were against him. He doesn't want you to be right even if you are." Ryu thinks about that and wonders if it might just be true. Then a letter arrives from Kim Seongil, telling him Ryu that a man named Gwak Jaeu has formed a citizen militia. Ryu seems to know who Gwak is, although he says Gwak is a "commoner"...but more importantly sees it as a good sign that more militias will be forming around the nation. "We have hope."
We see a small Japanese supply convoy headed somewhere through the countryside...until they're suddenly and very effectively ambushed and all killed. This is part of Gwak Jaeu's militia. We get our first look at Gwak, and how about this, look at who's with him--Sayaka. Gave Gwak the information about where the convoy would be. Gwak thanks him for the information; looks like Sayaka was telling the truth and is trustworthy.
That evening, Gwak goes to a village and with an inspiring speech, rounds up more men to defend against the Japanese. Projects a very impressive presence.
Japan: Word reaches Hideyoshi of the Joseon capital's occupation. An odd moment when the reports from his own surveillance people are contradicted by Kato's forged report saying that he reached the capital before Konishi. "Then Kato won. He's simple-minded. He can't lie. Tell the surveillants to report properly." Ishida obviously disagrees with that but holds his tongue. Hideyoshi isn't happy to hear that the Joseon king fled to the north, but he's assured that a pursuit is underway. Tells Ishida to go there and reiterate his demand for the king's capture...oh and also he wants Yi Sunsin's head. Then tells Maeda he's going to Joseon after all. That stuff about his mother being old and needing attention, well, he says he'll take her with him! Let her see the country he conquered. "I should be a good son." Bet Maeda didn't see that one coming.
Narration tells us that the rival armies stared at each other across the river for five days.
Hey it's Jeong Cheol! Seonjo invited him back. The two meet and trade self-recriminations for their failings...and then Jeong tells Seonjo he'll be his protector, which Seonjo is immensely relieved to hear. Then news arrives that the big 50,000-man Joseon army is nearing the Han River--and getting closer to the rear of the two Japanese units. Han Eungin is visiting Seonjo too; he and Seonjo agree that this will all be easy--just attack when the Japanese start to retreat from the south bank. But Yun quietly asks Han to please be prudent and not take risks with the nation's fate at stake.
"What!? You want me to retreat?" Good luck pitching that to Kato, right? But Konishi makes a good case. They have no boats and they're low on rations. And besides, Konishi wants to send a letter to the enemy, asking for their surrender and an open path to Ming. Kato is annoyed with Konishi's wish for negotiation--"I don't make deals with the enemy!"--but he does see that Kato is right so he reluctantly agrees. Well you can just see what's coming, can't you...
Han Eungin receives Konishi's letter. No sale. "Tell them we'll fight!" He knows their rations are low...and now he gets word that they're pulling back. A patrol unit just spotted it. "They pretend to negotiate so they could buy time to covertly retreat. This is a golden opportunity." Oh dear...Kim Myeongwon cautions him that it could be a trick, but Han will have none of that.
We see Kato's army on the march south...obviously not very far, because when Kato gets word that the Joseon army has crossed the river, his eyes bug out and he cracks up laughing. Immediately orders battle preparations...
...and we don't see it, but we get the news: a total defeat for Joseon. Not exactly a surprise, but Ryu is still devastated by it. Then Lee Deokyeong asks Ryu to come look at some official reports that just came in. The king and officials are all in a council meeting today and someone needs to check the latest information.
"I told him to be careful." Council meeting and Seonjo is whining. "How can 13,000 soldiers die in such vain?" Officials argue back and forth about executing Han and maybe Kim. It drives Seonjo crazy and he shouts them into silence, because he's only concerned right now with his own safety. "We have to take refuge again." Well that horrifies the officials, all except Jeong Cheol who says the king needs to be kept safe. Even Jeong's friend Yun Dusu scolds him on that one. All is far from lost, Yun argues...but the strain of this is getting to Seonjo's heart; he's clutching his chest and gasping for air. Then from outside, Ryu calls and asks for entry. He and Lee Hangbok have brought those reports. It's good news! Victories by Yi Sunsin, sinking dozens of enemy ships. Seonjo eagerly reads the reports.
We see the Battle of Okpo, very similar to what we saw in IYSS. Enough said. Total victory for Joseon; the Japanese fleet is wrecked.
