Episode 431 - The Imjin War: Part 6
Summary
This episode of Lions Led By Donkeys continues the Imjin War series, detailing the Japanese retreat to fortified positions and the brutal siege of Ulsan, where starving defenders resorted to eating horses and drinking urine. The hosts discuss the arrival of Chinese reinforcements, including the corrupt "Big Sword Ting," and Yi Sun-sin's diplomatic maneuvering with a rival Chinese admiral. The narrative covers the lifting of the siege due to panic and the subsequent stalemate caused by a rebellion in China, while also touching on the cultural impact of Korean ceramic artisans enslaved in Japan.
Topics discussed
Promo for live show in Cork, Ireland
Intro banter: Commuter stories and London memories
Recap: Hideyoshi's vassalage and Korean slaves
Korean artisans and the Pusan perimeter defenses
Hideyoshi's decline and castle construction supervision
Jokes about blind foremen and the approaching siege
Siege of Hwaseong: Cannons and eating horses
Water scarcity and the 'piss economy'
Frostbite, gangrene, and personal anecdotes
Mutual suffering of Japanese and Chinese/Korean forces
Yang Hao's confusion and Yi Sun-sin's swords
Big Sword Ting's arrival and corruption
Stalemate, rebellions, and Hideyoshi's death
Council of Elders and Tokugawa Ieyasu's rise
Secrecy of death and Korean political turmoil
Battle of Soryongpo: Shimizu's victory
Konishi's trap and the failed naval assault
Emperor's insults and Japanese withdrawal negotiations
Yi Sun-sin's final battle and death
Aftermath: Economic devastation and legacy
Series wrap-up and listener questions
Patreon promo and roommate horror stories
Tom's HMO experience and podcast plugs
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