Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 577

577. Going to War! Charge, Turtle Ship (9)

Thus, the Ming fleet, already reeling, descended further into chaos as infighting erupted, fueled by panic and poor judgment.

Seizing the opportunity, Joseon ships surged forward, tearing into the disorganized enemy ranks.

The Joseon navy, bolstered by reinforcements from the Gyeongsang Right Naval Command, formed a massive figure-eight formation and unleashed a devastating barrage.

쾅! 콰쾅!

Each volley from the Joseon cannons ripped through the Ming ships, leaving them shattered and sinking.

As the Joseon attack intensified, the Ming fleet became even more entangled in its own disarray.

“We must escape! Full speed, retreat!”

“The retreat is cut off! We fight to the death!”

Ships attempting to flee collided with those determined to stand their ground, creating a chaotic mess.

Amidst the entangled vessels, captains engaged in heated arguments.

“Don’t block my escape! This is the time to withdraw and regroup!”

“The retreat is impossible! Our only chance is to break through the Joseon lines!”

“Do you think that’s possible with their superior firepower?”

“Even if we escape, the Joseon sea eagles [likely referring to fast patrol boats] will hunt us down! The best defense is offense!”

“We’re doomed when the Black Dragon arrives!”

“Then we must break through before it gets here!”

“Stop talking nonsense and get out of the way, or I’ll fire!”

“Desertion in the face of the enemy is punishable by death! Execute them immediately!”

“Fire!”

콰쾅!

Soon, a full-blown artillery duel erupted between those trying to escape and those resolved to fight.

With no central command to maintain order, the Ming navy, painstakingly built by the Wanli Emperor over a decade, dissolved into a disorganized rabble.

* * *

While the Ming navy self-destructed, the Joseon navy systematically reduced the enemy’s numbers.

The sight of dozens of Joseon ships maintaining formation and relentlessly pounding the Ming fleet with artillery fire terrified not only the Ming but also the observing Japanese.

“So, this is what a real naval battle is…”

Many veteran samurai couldn’t conceal their fear as they witnessed the carnage.

Their previous naval engagements had been little more than sea-based melee combat. The only difference from land battles was the setting.

Upon encountering the enemy, they would lower their sails to brace for impact and spread sand on the deck for better footing. Then, they would row with all their might to ram the enemy ship and engage in hand-to-hand combat, boarding each other’s vessels.

They would stare into their opponents’ eyes, steeling themselves against the enemy’s killing intent as they fought. Sometimes, even when facing overwhelming odds, they could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat through sheer willpower.

But the naval battle waged by the Joseon and Ming ships was entirely different.

It was a battle fought at a distance, with cannons, where they couldn’t even see their opponents’ faces.

In such a battle, troop morale could crumble with even minor setbacks. They had learned this lesson during their recent civil war. The morale of the soldiers plummeted rapidly when they began taking casualties from the Ouchi army’s long-range artillery and gunfire.

Of course, maintaining fighting spirit and morale was still crucial in artillery battles. However, it differed significantly from maintaining it in melee combat. It was about staying calm and focused, performing one’s assigned task to the best of one’s ability. This was the key difference displayed in the battle between Ming and Joseon.

Some stubbornly clung to the idea of a mental victory until the bitter end.

“But if we are willing to sacrifice ourselves and engage in close combat, we will win! Give flesh and take bones! That is the way of the warrior!”

Later, Joseon commanders who heard this remark sneered.

“That’s a noble sentiment, but to fight us, you’ll have to give up your bones as well.”

However, even those who loudly proclaimed the virtues of bushido [the samurai code of conduct] fell silent as the Maengjin sailed past them.

The Maengjin, moving without sails or oars, covered in thick plates that resembled iron armor, and sporting a massive dragon head on its bow, looked like a sea monster from legends.

And when the dragon-mouthed cannon of the Maengjin, having plunged into the heart of the battlefield, unleashed a devastating blast of fire, even seasoned samurai veterans wet themselves.

* * *

The battle ended swiftly once the Maengjin joined the fray.

The Maengjin’s cannons, blasting away at point-blank range within the entangled Ming fleet, began to obliterate the surrounding ships.

Having learned from the previous engagement that the Ming cannons posed little threat, the Maengjin moved slowly and deliberately, systematically destroying the Ming ships around it.

The Ming fleet, caught in a pincer movement from both inside and outside, faced complete annihilation once more.

The few Ming ships that managed to survive desperately fled to the rear.

Following the Joseon navy command’s signal, several Haegeup-class ships pursued the fleeing Ming vessels.

Their mission was not to sink them, but to herd them.

-Prevent them from escaping to unexpected areas other than the naval base. It would be troublesome in many ways if many of those with actual combat experience survived. Drive them into the naval base and destroy them together later.

Following these orders, the Haegeup-class ships drove the fleeing Ming ships toward the Qingcheng naval base.

While the herding operation was underway, the remaining Joseon navy began to clear the battlefield. Among the Ming ships that surrendered, the large and medium-sized vessels were sunk without exception, and only the small ships were seized and handed over to Norihide along with the prisoners.

“Are you sure it’s okay to hand over so many prisoners like this?”

In response to Norihide’s question, the Gyeongsang Right Navy Commander spoke for the admirals.

“This is a gift to further strengthen the friendship between Joseon and the Daenei clan. The approval has already been granted from above.”

* * *

The decision to hand over the prisoners to the Ouchi clan had been made in advance.

“As the saying goes, ‘One who stays near ink gets stained black’… The customs of the Ming people are not good for our Joseon, so we do not need too many prisoners. It would be better to hand them over to the Wa [a historical term for Japanese people].”

“The Prime Minister’s plan is appropriate.”

“That is correct.”

All the other ministers agreed with Hwang Hee’s proposal, and Hyang also nodded in approval.

* * *

Norihide bowed with a bright smile at the Gyeongsang Right Navy Commander’s response.

“His Majesty has bestowed grace as vast as the sea, and I am truly grateful!”

“When you think about it, the Daenei clan can be considered relatives of ours, can’t they? Relatives should help each other.”

“That’s right. That’s right!”

Norihide and the admirals continued to foster a friendly atmosphere.

* * *

Various measures were implemented to solidify the Daenei clan as a firm ally of Joseon, one of which was the creation and presentation of a ‘genealogical record (족보) [a comprehensive family tree]’.

When a genealogy was created based on the legend passed down in the Ouchi family, tracing their lineage back to Prince Imseong of Baekje [an ancient Korean kingdom], and presented to the Ouchi clan, Mochiyo, the current head of the family, Morimi, the previous head, and all the Ouchi elders were overjoyed.

This was because Joseon, which they considered their ancestral homeland, had officially recognized their claims.

In particular, Morimi, a staunch advocate of ‘脫倭入朝 (escape from being Japanese and enter Joseon) [a desire to assimilate into Korean culture]’, forced his ailing body to personally greet the Joseon envoy with great enthusiasm.

“With this, our family is no longer just a local rural family, but a descendant of a dignified royal lineage!”

* * *

The main force of the Joseon navy, having cleared the battlefield, reorganized its formation and set course for Qingcheng on the Shandong Peninsula.

Interestingly, the Maengjin, which typically arrived late to the scene, was now leading the way.

The admirals, watching the Maengjin advance at the head of the fleet, belching black smoke, all commented on its nickname.

“Black Dragon? The nickname is certainly imposing.”

“In some ways, it seems fitting…”

“Well, the Jurchens [a nomadic people who later founded the Qing dynasty] who first saw cannons also called them dragons and held memorial services…”

“But surely you’re not suggesting we rename the Maengjin to Black Dragon, are you?”

“Captain Kang has his eccentricities, but he’s not that extreme.”

“That’s true. Come to think of it, the second report should have arrived in Hanseong [the capital of Joseon].”

The Gyeonggi Naval Commander looked at the Hwanghae Naval Commander with curiosity.

“I’m really curious about Hanseong’s reaction when they heard the name Black Dragon.”

“I agree.”

* * *

“Black Dragon?”

Hyang, after reading the detailed report, including the interrogations of the prisoners captured in the ‘West Sea Great Battle,’ wore a peculiar expression upon seeing the name ‘Black Dragon.’

‘No! Why is this coming up now?’

Unlike Hyang, whose expression was hard to decipher, the ministers who read the copies reacted favorably.

“Black Dragon… The Chinese have always been prone to exaggeration, but they seem particularly arrogant.”

“Isn’t it a good thing? We didn’t give it that name, they did. Doesn’t that mean they’re terrified?”

“I think it suits it quite well. From the roof to the bottom of the ship, it’s covered in black pitch, and there’s a dragon’s head on the bow.”

Finally, Hyang stepped in to summarize the discussion.

“We didn’t ask them to call it that, and they’re calling it a dragon and are afraid of it, so let them call it a dragon. However, since we already have the name ‘Charge Turtle Ship,’ the name Black Dragon is forbidden.”

“I will do so.”

Even while making that decision, Hyang had other thoughts.

‘Isn’t this going to be called the Black Dragon Shock later, not the Black Ship Shock?’

Meanwhile, the historian recording these events added a note.

-…In this way, the Crown Prince forbade the use of the title ‘Black Dragon,’ and the officials all complied.

The historian writes:

The dragon is an auspicious creature. Therefore, its name or image should not be used carelessly. To do so improperly invites lasting shame.

As the Crown Prince said, we didn’t call it a dragon, they did, so the shame is theirs.

But this is a problem. The name Black Dragon is too catchy.

* * *

By the time the main force of the Joseon navy arrived in Qingcheng, the city was already in chaos.

“The Joseon navy has blockaded the port!”

“Escape to land!”

There were only 10 Haegeup-class ships. It was impossible to completely blockade the port with so few vessels.

However, the Ming navy, already devoid of reason, ran their ships aground on the coast and fled inland.

“Hey, you guys, stop right there!”

“Catch them all!”

“Collect the cannons, gunpowder, and shells from the grounded ships!”

“Reinforce the batteries with the collected shells!”

The commanders of the unit responsible for defending the naval base arrested the fleeing sailors and salvaged cannons and gunpowder from the grounded ships to bolster their defenses.

They then ordered the captured sailors to man the newly reinforced batteries.

However, as soon as the Maengjin appeared, the sailors began to desert.

“The Black Dragon is here! Run away!”

As the terrified sailors fled, even the soldiers already stationed at the batteries began to waver.

Finally, General Wang Homyeong, in charge of defending the naval base, issued an order.

“Catch all the fleeing bastards, shackle them, and tie them to the cannons!”