Post by ajk on Jun 13, 2015 1:13:49 GMT -5
Shen doesn't like being yelled at by Ryu so he insults him. Ryu insults him right back and gets a scolding from Seonjo. Well this is not off to a good start, is it. Seonjo and Shen go inside and, at Shen's request, the two of them speak with no officials present. Shen says he's going to go to Pyongyang alone, with no army behind him, and settle everything on his own. Seriously? How's he going to do that? He won't tell Seonjo. Says he's afraid it might leak...hmm...Seonjo doesn't like that but Shen goes even further. Tells him that Joseon has to promise to abide by whatever agreement is reached with the enemy--without knowing what the agreement is! Seriously? Seonjo scoffs but Shen fires back, "I was given the authority of the emperor. Are you saying you won't obey the emperor?" Oh boy is this guy a piece of work. And Seonjo is just buckling under to him, agreeing to the whole thing. I would never hurt a brother nation, Shen says, and then adds, "Just trust me."
Ryu and Yun Dusu and Jeong Cheol work themselves into a lather over Shen excluding them and head straight to Seonjo just as Shen leaves. What did you talk about?, they demand to know. "Nothing," Seonjo mumbles, sitting there just like a little kid who's misbehaved. They press him until he gets annoyed, but they only press harder, physically advancing towards him and even raising their voices until Seonjo spills the whole thing. "What was I supposed to do?", he adds; "He came in place of the emperor!" But as his voice and body language suggest, he's not at all sure he made a good choice.
Now we see a flashback of Shen telling Shi Xing what his plan is to end the war. We'll reconcile with them without fighting, he says. It's not in our interest to fight them, especially not simply to restore Joseon territory, is it. This doesn't sound good at all...and exactly what does he mean by "reconcile"?
Narration tells us that Shen was neighbors with the family of Shi's mistress, which is how he knew Shi in the first place, and that people who knew him described him as "an eloquent speaker but couldn't be trusted" and eventually as "an international con artist." Shi chose him for this job because he spoke Japanese and knew the country well. We're also told that these peace talks were Shi's own strategy and were held without the emperor knowing about them.
Gwanghae gets word of what Seonjo agreed to, and is as stunned and angry as the officials were. But Jeong Tak calms him down by reminding him that he and the officials right here still hold the seat of government and that "Without your consent, the fate of this country is still in our hands." Jeong suggests, and Gwanghae agrees, to quietly order Ryu to attend the negotiations as a Joseon representative. Which Seonjo wouldn't approve of, of course...
...but unfortunately for them, the walls have ears. One of the female attendants serving Gwanghae is reporting information to Consort Kim's brother (remember he's working as an attendant there too)....
...and now up in Uiju, Consort Kim promptly goes to Seonjo and spills the beans, and complains about Gwanghae exercising too much authority.
So the next day, when Ryu shows up to accompany Shen to Pyongyang, well guess what, Shen has already anticipated trouble from the officials and (as we now see in flashback) has gotten Seonjo to order that anybody who interferes with the negotiations can be executed. Shen springs that on Ryu and walks away, leaving Ryu standing there muttering about the king (but also realizing that the king has some sort of inside help to know what's going on in his son's court).
Pyongyang, Konishi's headquarters: Konishi and Shen get down to business. After the obligatory tough talk and posturing--and another dose of "We just wanted a path to Ming" from Konishi--Konishi suggests that there's a way to end all this to his satisfaction: let us keep all of the land south of the Taedong River (Pyongyang's river, where they are now) and we'll fight no more. Shen undoubtedly is surprised by the offer but doesn't flinch. Okay, he says calmly, but he needs 50 days to return to Ming to get the emperor's approval and then get back here. And says that for now there has to be a halt to all hostilities and incursions by anyone. With the depleted state of Konishi's army, Konishi is only too willing to agree to that.
Uiju: Shen brags to Seonjo that he's temporarily stopped the enemy in its tracks. Yun Dusu and Jeong Cheol are there; Yun immediately asks what the conditions were. Shen's answer: "They want the Japanese king to be installed and pay tribute to Ming." Lie! Lie! Jeong and Yun don't buy that at all...but Shen says he lied to Konishi about a huge army lurking in Yodong, ready to strike (which we did hear him say to Konishi). Ming can't spare soldiers now, he says, because the internal insurrection isn't quite suppressed yet (We got the impression two episodes ago that it was over; obviously that was wrong). But it's close, and in 50 days Ming's full army will be here "to really sweep them away." What a complicated lie he's built up...but Seonjo doesn't know any better and he's thrilled. And like Konishi, he's only too happy to agree to order a temporary truce.
Afterwards, Seonjo is happy as a clam...until Yun and Jeong show up and urge him to take this opportunity to counterattack! "If they promised a truce," Yun argues, "they must be in a situation where they can't advance." And we can take back our own country ourselves. But Seonjo gave his word on a truce. "You don't want me to sleep in comfort even for one day, do you?" And he's had enough of Joseon soldiers shedding blood. He advances towards them just like they advanced towards him earlier. "If we fail," he says in that too-quiet voice that means business, "then the enemy will head north and attack Uiju. Then everything will be over. Don't provoke a beehive."
Gwanghae gets word of the truce and he's dumbfounded. Especially considering the recent successes. Throws a bit of a tantrum--not cool but understandable--until Ryu arrives...and invites the prince to go for a walk with him. (And then turns and looks at the female attendant at the door with an I-know-what-you're-up-to stare. And yes, it's her, from earlier.) So they go outside and Ryu tells the prince there probably is a plant in his retinue somewhere...but he brings much more important news, too, about the time bombs being finished. "We should attack," he advises, explaining that an attack to retake a fortress called Gyeongjuseong, in Gyeongju, has already been planned. And about that truce, well..."You can say that the royal order was relayed to Gyeongju after this fight." Which may work since Gyeongju is quite a ways from here. Best news the prince has heard all day; he's very eager to try it.
Gyeongju region: Shin Yeongcheol and Cheonri deliver the shipment of bombs to the local commander. And then the attack is on. Slowly at first--they don't really know what to expect from those things--but the first big bomb gets launched, rolls around and baffles some enemy soldiers inside the fortress, and then explodes with major casualties. Then a fusillade of more big bombs; flies in and does more of the same damage. And then an assault on the fortress walls, but with small bombs leading the way and causing mayhem on top of the walls. It's remarkably easy for the Joseon troops and it's all over very quickly.
Pyongyang: Konishi gets word of the defeat and angrily says Joseon broke the truce. But Genso cautions him against acting rashly; says Gyeongju is far from here and maybe word of the truce hadn't reached there yet...and if we retaliate, Ming might think we're the ones who broke the truce. But uh-oh, now they put the pieces together from reports of the attack and realize that Joseon got their time bomb working. Remember from the early episodes that Japan knew of the bomb project and unsuccessfully tried to get the plans for the bomb. So now they have a danger on land to go with their problems at sea. Then guess who should show up but Ukita! Furious that Konishi would okay a 50-day truce on his own authority. So Konishi has to sit him down and explain all of the problems they've encountered and explain why the truce is a good idea. Says they need a break to reorganize, restock, solve their problems and get strong so they can take Ming. "This way Joseon can become a sure advance base for us." Ukita has to agree with him and says he'll check back with Hideyoshi.
Ryu gets word of the success at Gyeongjuseong and thanks a proud Lee Jansong for his skill and innovation. Then (and this is odd, to say the least) one of those two sunwae from Pyongyang who lied about the Japanese army, not only is he still alive but he comes running up to Ryu to tell him that the enemy's top military commander is in the city right now. Says he's telling the truth, that he's alive because of Ryu and that "I wouldn't deceive you again." And look at that, he ran all the way from Pyongyang, even lost his shoes at some point and his feet are all bloody. Ryu decides to trust him, and thanks him, and smiles at him.
So Ryu and Jeong Tak tell the crown prince about it...and they've also learned that Ukita isn't being guarded all that heavily either. So how about capturing him? Boy, that isn't exactly keeping the truce, is it. But it would be a great success and Ryu and Jeong tell the prince they'll pay for it with their lives if they have to. And Gwanghae is only too eager to try it.
That evening: A strike force lies in wait at the Taedong River rapids crossing. This is the place we saw previously, where the river can be crossed on foot. And it's how Ukita arrived in Pyongyang since, as we're told, they don't have boats (seriously?). Uh-oh, it's Lee Il leading the force...but he says his life depends on doing a good job this time and he won't be fleeing anywhere. And after an agonizing wait, well look at this, here comes Ukita and a guard of maybe thirty soldiers including a musket unit. The Joseon unit waits until the Japanese are sitting ducks, right there in the middle of the rapids...and then launch arrows at them in huge numbers. The musket unit steps forward...but nothing happens. It must be too damp there for the muskets to work! The strike force charges into the rapids, swords drawn...and they outnumber the enemy by plenty...
Gwanghae and Ryu wait anxiously for word. Any word. Jeong Tak brings them the word. Enemy heads are on their way here!
Ryu and Yun Dusu and Jeong Cheol work themselves into a lather over Shen excluding them and head straight to Seonjo just as Shen leaves. What did you talk about?, they demand to know. "Nothing," Seonjo mumbles, sitting there just like a little kid who's misbehaved. They press him until he gets annoyed, but they only press harder, physically advancing towards him and even raising their voices until Seonjo spills the whole thing. "What was I supposed to do?", he adds; "He came in place of the emperor!" But as his voice and body language suggest, he's not at all sure he made a good choice.
Now we see a flashback of Shen telling Shi Xing what his plan is to end the war. We'll reconcile with them without fighting, he says. It's not in our interest to fight them, especially not simply to restore Joseon territory, is it. This doesn't sound good at all...and exactly what does he mean by "reconcile"?
Narration tells us that Shen was neighbors with the family of Shi's mistress, which is how he knew Shi in the first place, and that people who knew him described him as "an eloquent speaker but couldn't be trusted" and eventually as "an international con artist." Shi chose him for this job because he spoke Japanese and knew the country well. We're also told that these peace talks were Shi's own strategy and were held without the emperor knowing about them.
Gwanghae gets word of what Seonjo agreed to, and is as stunned and angry as the officials were. But Jeong Tak calms him down by reminding him that he and the officials right here still hold the seat of government and that "Without your consent, the fate of this country is still in our hands." Jeong suggests, and Gwanghae agrees, to quietly order Ryu to attend the negotiations as a Joseon representative. Which Seonjo wouldn't approve of, of course...
...but unfortunately for them, the walls have ears. One of the female attendants serving Gwanghae is reporting information to Consort Kim's brother (remember he's working as an attendant there too)....
...and now up in Uiju, Consort Kim promptly goes to Seonjo and spills the beans, and complains about Gwanghae exercising too much authority.
So the next day, when Ryu shows up to accompany Shen to Pyongyang, well guess what, Shen has already anticipated trouble from the officials and (as we now see in flashback) has gotten Seonjo to order that anybody who interferes with the negotiations can be executed. Shen springs that on Ryu and walks away, leaving Ryu standing there muttering about the king (but also realizing that the king has some sort of inside help to know what's going on in his son's court).
Pyongyang, Konishi's headquarters: Konishi and Shen get down to business. After the obligatory tough talk and posturing--and another dose of "We just wanted a path to Ming" from Konishi--Konishi suggests that there's a way to end all this to his satisfaction: let us keep all of the land south of the Taedong River (Pyongyang's river, where they are now) and we'll fight no more. Shen undoubtedly is surprised by the offer but doesn't flinch. Okay, he says calmly, but he needs 50 days to return to Ming to get the emperor's approval and then get back here. And says that for now there has to be a halt to all hostilities and incursions by anyone. With the depleted state of Konishi's army, Konishi is only too willing to agree to that.
Uiju: Shen brags to Seonjo that he's temporarily stopped the enemy in its tracks. Yun Dusu and Jeong Cheol are there; Yun immediately asks what the conditions were. Shen's answer: "They want the Japanese king to be installed and pay tribute to Ming." Lie! Lie! Jeong and Yun don't buy that at all...but Shen says he lied to Konishi about a huge army lurking in Yodong, ready to strike (which we did hear him say to Konishi). Ming can't spare soldiers now, he says, because the internal insurrection isn't quite suppressed yet (We got the impression two episodes ago that it was over; obviously that was wrong). But it's close, and in 50 days Ming's full army will be here "to really sweep them away." What a complicated lie he's built up...but Seonjo doesn't know any better and he's thrilled. And like Konishi, he's only too happy to agree to order a temporary truce.
Afterwards, Seonjo is happy as a clam...until Yun and Jeong show up and urge him to take this opportunity to counterattack! "If they promised a truce," Yun argues, "they must be in a situation where they can't advance." And we can take back our own country ourselves. But Seonjo gave his word on a truce. "You don't want me to sleep in comfort even for one day, do you?" And he's had enough of Joseon soldiers shedding blood. He advances towards them just like they advanced towards him earlier. "If we fail," he says in that too-quiet voice that means business, "then the enemy will head north and attack Uiju. Then everything will be over. Don't provoke a beehive."
Gwanghae gets word of the truce and he's dumbfounded. Especially considering the recent successes. Throws a bit of a tantrum--not cool but understandable--until Ryu arrives...and invites the prince to go for a walk with him. (And then turns and looks at the female attendant at the door with an I-know-what-you're-up-to stare. And yes, it's her, from earlier.) So they go outside and Ryu tells the prince there probably is a plant in his retinue somewhere...but he brings much more important news, too, about the time bombs being finished. "We should attack," he advises, explaining that an attack to retake a fortress called Gyeongjuseong, in Gyeongju, has already been planned. And about that truce, well..."You can say that the royal order was relayed to Gyeongju after this fight." Which may work since Gyeongju is quite a ways from here. Best news the prince has heard all day; he's very eager to try it.
Gyeongju region: Shin Yeongcheol and Cheonri deliver the shipment of bombs to the local commander. And then the attack is on. Slowly at first--they don't really know what to expect from those things--but the first big bomb gets launched, rolls around and baffles some enemy soldiers inside the fortress, and then explodes with major casualties. Then a fusillade of more big bombs; flies in and does more of the same damage. And then an assault on the fortress walls, but with small bombs leading the way and causing mayhem on top of the walls. It's remarkably easy for the Joseon troops and it's all over very quickly.
Pyongyang: Konishi gets word of the defeat and angrily says Joseon broke the truce. But Genso cautions him against acting rashly; says Gyeongju is far from here and maybe word of the truce hadn't reached there yet...and if we retaliate, Ming might think we're the ones who broke the truce. But uh-oh, now they put the pieces together from reports of the attack and realize that Joseon got their time bomb working. Remember from the early episodes that Japan knew of the bomb project and unsuccessfully tried to get the plans for the bomb. So now they have a danger on land to go with their problems at sea. Then guess who should show up but Ukita! Furious that Konishi would okay a 50-day truce on his own authority. So Konishi has to sit him down and explain all of the problems they've encountered and explain why the truce is a good idea. Says they need a break to reorganize, restock, solve their problems and get strong so they can take Ming. "This way Joseon can become a sure advance base for us." Ukita has to agree with him and says he'll check back with Hideyoshi.
Ryu gets word of the success at Gyeongjuseong and thanks a proud Lee Jansong for his skill and innovation. Then (and this is odd, to say the least) one of those two sunwae from Pyongyang who lied about the Japanese army, not only is he still alive but he comes running up to Ryu to tell him that the enemy's top military commander is in the city right now. Says he's telling the truth, that he's alive because of Ryu and that "I wouldn't deceive you again." And look at that, he ran all the way from Pyongyang, even lost his shoes at some point and his feet are all bloody. Ryu decides to trust him, and thanks him, and smiles at him.
So Ryu and Jeong Tak tell the crown prince about it...and they've also learned that Ukita isn't being guarded all that heavily either. So how about capturing him? Boy, that isn't exactly keeping the truce, is it. But it would be a great success and Ryu and Jeong tell the prince they'll pay for it with their lives if they have to. And Gwanghae is only too eager to try it.
That evening: A strike force lies in wait at the Taedong River rapids crossing. This is the place we saw previously, where the river can be crossed on foot. And it's how Ukita arrived in Pyongyang since, as we're told, they don't have boats (seriously?). Uh-oh, it's Lee Il leading the force...but he says his life depends on doing a good job this time and he won't be fleeing anywhere. And after an agonizing wait, well look at this, here comes Ukita and a guard of maybe thirty soldiers including a musket unit. The Joseon unit waits until the Japanese are sitting ducks, right there in the middle of the rapids...and then launch arrows at them in huge numbers. The musket unit steps forward...but nothing happens. It must be too damp there for the muskets to work! The strike force charges into the rapids, swords drawn...and they outnumber the enemy by plenty...
Gwanghae and Ryu wait anxiously for word. Any word. Jeong Tak brings them the word. Enemy heads are on their way here!
