Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 557

557. River of Blood (3)

The massive explosion and shaking momentarily staggered everyone in the command center.

Boom! Thump!

Two more impacts followed immediately, shaking the command center.

Lee Jingook, who had been holding onto the conference table for support, issued an order as soon as the tremors subsided.

“Confirm the impact points! Assess the damage!”

“Yes!”

A messenger immediately ran out at Lee Jingook’s command.

After sending the messenger, Lee Jingook surveyed the surroundings. The command center was located directly below the inner castle’s turret. He cautiously examined the area, but there were no obvious signs of damage.

Regaining his composure, Lee Jingook questioned the artillery officer beside him.

“Will the second strike come immediately?”

“If the one commanding that cannon is well-versed in artillery, it will be difficult to launch a second strike immediately. Cannons aren’t something that can be fired in quick succession. Reloading will take quite some time.”

“Is that so?”

At the artillery officer’s words, Lee Jingook pondered for a moment.

‘A cannon of that size probably can’t be moved easily. And if reloading takes time, there must be many artillerymen gathered around it right now. If we strike at this moment, we might be able to render it useless…’

Pondering this, Lee Jingook sighed and muttered.

“The problem is the damage our artillerymen must have suffered… If we miss this opportunity, things will get difficult…”

Lee Jingook muttered with a face full of regret. The impact of the recent shelling was tremendous. Having received such a shock that he almost lost his balance, he was certain that at least one part of the defenses had been breached. If so, they would have to focus on defense rather than counterattack.

“His Highness assured us that we could withstand most shelling without issue… but what we just experienced was beyond ordinary…”

* * *

While Hyang guaranteed the sturdiness of the Iron Bamboo fortifications, many commanders were skeptical.

In response to their doubts, Hyang even suggested building a mock fortress and testing it with cannons, but Sejong rejected the idea.

“We don’t have the budget. Your track record is trustworthy, so they won’t raise any issues.”

“Then distrust will remain until the end. I’ll raid the Insoon Department’s treasury!”

“When was the last time you didn’t raid it! Get out, you rascal!”

Despite the skepticism, major mountain fortresses across Joseon were eventually rebuilt using Iron Bamboo fortifications. Bukhan Mountain Fortress and Namhan Mountain Fortress, intended to defend Hanseong [modern-day Seoul] and serve as a refuge for the royal family if necessary, as well as the newly constructed forts and garrisons along the border, were built with new designs based on Hyang’s plans.

Insan Garrison was one of these new-generation forts and garrisons.

* * *

As Lee Jingook was doubting the fortress’s durability, a messenger entered and reported.

“No damage!”

“Huh? No damage?”

“Yes! It hit the left and right sides of the fortress’s front, and while there are some slightly dented areas, there are no collapses or breaches!”

“What about casualties?”

“We’re currently confirming!”

Soon after, another report came in.

“Casualties confirmed! A few minor injuries!”

Upon hearing the messengers’ reports, Lee Jingook muttered to himself.

“This is insane… What on earth did they build?”

* * *

As Lee Jingook was muttering to himself, chaos erupted on the opposite side as well.

“It’s intact?”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing the scout’s report, Jo Byeongdeok wore an incredulous expression and raised his telescope to his eyes.

“The projectile weighs 400 *geun* [approximately 240kg or 530 lbs], and it’s intact after being hit by that?”

Staring at the walls of Insan Garrison with disbelief, Jo Byeongdeok was speechless.

The Joseon fortress stood firm. Of course, there were three visible dents, but there were no breaches or collapses.

“This is insane… What on earth did they build?”

After examining the fortress walls several times in disbelief, Jo Byeongdeok quickly regained his senses and issued an order.

“Relay to the Hwaryong Cannon Battery! Order them to launch the second and third strikes as quickly as possible! Even if it looks intact on the outside, the internal impact must be accumulating!”

“Yes!”

After issuing the order to his aide, Jo Byeongdeok glared at Insan Garrison and muttered.

“If this goes wrong, the losses will be immense.”

If he couldn’t destroy the fortress with the Hwaryong Cannon, he might be forced to resort to the traditional method of having soldiers climb the walls.

“A siege will result in unnecessary losses…”

Worrying about having to choose a method he absolutely didn’t want to take, Jo Byeongdeok re-examined the front lines.

“Those damn iron fences…”

Jo Byeongdeok gritted his teeth as he looked at the iron fences blocking the soldiers’ advance.

He had learned through the messengers sent from the vanguard that these iron fences were not simple obstacles. The iron cables stretched between the iron posts could not be cut even after being struck dozens of times with a great sword. To cut the cables, one had to aim for the points where they were attached to the posts and strike repeatedly.

The problem was that the Joseon soldiers weren’t letting them do that. Soldiers who were cutting at the cables were immediately shot down.

The Joseon soldiers’ iron guns had superior range and accuracy compared to their own.

The best method was to hook the posts or cables and pull them down. If at least 10 men worked together, the posts would fall, creating a narrow path.

However, this was also not an easy task. As soon as the soldiers gathered, they became targets for the Joseon soldiers.

But the problem was that there was no other option. As a result, the losses among the soldiers tasked with breaking through the cable nets were enormous.

“I wish we could just push those damn things all at once…”

Muttering as he glared at the cable nets that were devouring his soldiers, Jo Byeongdeok suddenly stopped. After pondering for a moment, Jo Byeongdeok immediately called for his aide.

“Send a messenger to the Hwaryong Cannon Battery! Modify the order! Instead of attacking the fortress walls, target those iron fences!”

“Yes?”

“The iron balls from the Hwaryong Cannon should be able to create holes in those fences!”

“Ah, yes! I’ll relay the order immediately!”

The aide, understanding Jo Byeongdeok’s idea, called for a messenger with a bright expression and relayed Jo Byeongdeok’s order.

* * *

Around the same time, Lee Jingook was stroking his chin, contemplating his next move.

“This is getting interesting? Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment, Lee Jingook looked at the artillery officer beside him.

“With the range of the General Hwatong [a type of cannon], we should be able to fire cannonballs at that cannon, right?”

“Yes, but to be sure, it’s best to only use the inner fortress battery.”

“Why? Isn’t more always better?”

“That’s true, but the higher the firing position, the farther the shot will travel. To clear the earthen wall reported by the Bigu [military scouts], the inner fortress battery is the most suitable.”

Lee Jingook nodded at the artillery officer’s explanation.

“Then let’s do that! Messenger!”

“Yes!”

After calling for the messenger, Lee Jingook dictated the orders to be delivered to the inner fortress battery and the Bigu.

After sending the messenger, Lee Jingook wore a satisfied smile.

“I’d like to see the expression on their faces when they can’t use those cannons anymore.”

* * *

Meanwhile, the commander of the Hwaryong Cannon Battery, having received Jo Byeongdeok’s order, wore a strange expression.

“Target the iron fences next to the fortress walls instead of the walls themselves?”

“Yes!”

“Understood. Tell them we will follow the order.”

“Yes!”

Watching the messenger ride off towards the headquarters, the commander of the Hwaryong Cannon Battery licked his lips.

“Too bad. I wanted to see how many shots it would take to bring down that fortress wall.”

The subordinate officers near the commander of the Hwaryong Cannon Battery all nodded.

Having heard the news that the Joseon fortress had withstood all three shots, the commanders of the Hwaryong Cannon Battery were filled with intense competitive spirit.

“Oh? It withstood that?”

“I wonder how many more it can withstand?”

Consumed by their competitive spirit, the commanders began to urge their subordinates.

“Move faster!”

“Yes, yes!”

Urged by their commanders, the soldiers began to increase their speed.

* * *

The soldiers were also consumed by the same competitive spirit. They were stationed 5 *li* [approximately 2 kilometers or 1.2 miles] away from the battlefield. It was the best position, where they only had to fire the massive Hwaryong Cannon properly without risking death.

They had already experienced it during training, but the power of the Hwaryong Cannon was tremendous. The massive cannon, which could create holes in most fortress walls, was their pride.

“But it blocked it?”

“They must have gotten lucky!”

“Let’s see how long that luck lasts!”

Amidst the hearty conversations, the soldiers focused on reloading the Hwaryong Cannon.

* * *

Reloading the Hwaryong Cannon was a time-consuming task.

First, they thoroughly cleaned the powder chamber and the hole connecting to the inside of the barrel. If this hole was blocked, the flame from the priming powder would not ignite the gunpowder inside the Hwaryong Cannon.

Next, they attached ropes to the rings at the rear of the cannon and pulled them upwards. By lowering the muzzle, smaller soldiers, covering their mouths with towels, entered the barrel.

The soldiers who entered the barrel used the brushes they carried to scrape away any remaining gunpowder residue and embers inside the barrel. They were especially careful about embers. If even a small ember remained and gunpowder was loaded, it would immediately explode, causing a disaster.

Once the soldiers who had scraped away the residue and embers from inside the barrel came out, about 10 soldiers worked together to insert a large brush into the barrel.

After repeatedly pushing and pulling the brush, which was about the size of an average man’s torso, to clean the barrel, the actual reloading began.

* * *

“Cleaning complete!”

“Good! Then begin reloading!”

“Yes!”

As the commander’s order fell, the soldiers unloaded boxes from a cart on one side. The boxes contained gunpowder in sacks. The soldiers, carrying the gunpowder sacks on their shoulders, headed towards the Hwaryong Cannon.

In front of the Hwaryong Cannon, a group of officers and soldiers waited for them with scales.

They began to weigh the gunpowder sacks that the soldiers brought. If the amount of gunpowder was too large, the Hwaryong Cannon could explode.

“Good! Load it into the cannon!”

“Yes!”

As the weighed gunpowder was heading towards the muzzle of the Hwaryong Cannon, Joseon soldiers’ cannonballs began to fall from the sky.

Bang! Kaboom! Bang!

“Aaaagh!”

“Take cover!”

The cannonballs that fell from the sky created large pillars of dirt. Soldiers who were hit by the shrapnel created by the Joseon soldiers’ cannonballs, or by cannonballs that bounced off the ground, rolled on the ground covered in blood.

The soldiers and commanders who barely avoided the cannonballs quickly took cover.

Once the barrage of cannonballs ended, the commanders urgently began to assess the situation.

“Move the injured and the dead!”

“Prevent the gunpowder from catching fire!”

“Where did they come from! Is it a surprise attack?”

The first thing that came to the commanders’ minds was a surprise attack. The Joseon soldiers, having learned of the Liaodong army’s operation, had made a flanking maneuver to strike from behind.

This was due to the fixed idea that only the Hwaryong Cannon could fire so far, not other cannons.

However, their expectations were immediately denied.

“No! They came from across the Yalu River!”

At the soldiers’ answer, the commanders shook their heads.

“That’s impossible! It’s over 5 *li* from there to here! Only the Hwaryong Cannon can do that!”

However, the first to regain his senses was the commander of the Hwaryong Cannon Battery. He shouted at his subordinate officers.

“That’s not the problem! We need to check if the Hwaryong Cannon is intact first! And reload as quickly as possible!”

“Yes, yes!”

At the order of the Hwaryong Cannon Battery commander, the subordinate officers urgently began to check the condition of the Hwaryong Cannon.

“Fortunately, all three are intact!”

“The carriage is also fine!”

“We will resume reloading!”

As the work was resumed, the Joseon soldiers’ second strike came.

Author’s words.

Hello?

This is Gukbbong, the author of ‘Black Company Joseon.’

I am once again delivering an apology.

I will be taking a break during the Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] holiday.

The reason is that my sister has been hospitalized again.

She suddenly felt severe pain in her chest and went to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with re-stenosis of her cardiovascular system.

So, she was immediately hospitalized.

She now needs to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery.

Because of this, I was unable to prepare for the holiday at all.

I am deeply sorry to inform the readers who love ‘Black Company Joseon’ of the hiatus.

I will do my best.

I would like to ask the readers a favor.

I would be very grateful if you could pray that my sister can endure this surgery well and return.

Gukbbong Dream.