Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 590

590. The Fall of the Yellow Dragon (5)

Choe Yun-deok had laid out bait using the Joseon cavalry, but he had also set another trap within that bait.

“General! General!”

It was the vanguard outpost of the Ming army.

Commander Jang Ik-deok stepped forward at the urgent voice calling for him.

“What is it?”

“Scouts have returned with urgent news!”

“Urgent news?”

Hearing the word ‘urgent,’ Jang Ik-deok spurred his horse forward.

“Yes, urgent news. What is it?”

At Ik-deok’s question, the cavalryman who had gone scouting raised his hand, pointing into the distance as he replied.

“We’ve discovered Joseon troops 20 *li* [approximately 7 miles] ahead!”

At the scout’s report, Ik-deok tensed up and asked urgently,

“Really? How many are there, and what are they doing? Are they preparing a defensive battle?”

“Their numbers appear to be around 1,000, and they were loading supplies onto carts!”

“Loading supplies onto carts?”

“Yes! It seemed they were preparing for a final retreat!”

“Hmm…”

Ik-deok pondered for a moment at the scout’s report before asking again.

“You said there were 1,000 Joseon troops. How many infantry and how many cavalry are there?”

“There were hardly any infantry; they were all cavalry.”

“Hmm…”

Ik-deok analyzed the situation based on the scout’s report.

‘Could it be a trap? No, it’s too obvious to be a trap…’

Ik-deok took out the map he carried and pointed to the location in question.

‘It’s the middle of a plain. An ambush is difficult. Were the Joseon cavalry receiving supplies? Cavalry also needs supplies, so it makes sense. Let’s see… I can command 2,000 cavalry right now. It’s a bit tight…’

“Hmm… How much supplies did they have?”

“A great deal!”

Hearing the answer, Ik-deok made his decision immediately.

“Gather all the cavalry! And have the soldiers remove their armor and only carry their helmets, spears, and swords!”

“General?”

“Move as quickly as possible to seize the Joseon troops’ supplies! If we’re lucky, we might also obtain information about the Joseon army! Move quickly!”

“Yes!”

At Ik-deok’s decision, the subordinate officers began to move busily.

Ik-deok continued to issue orders without rest.

“Among the soldiers who have removed their armor, select those with exceptional strength and have them ride with the cavalry! And, messenger!”

“Yes, General!”

“Report to the main force! It seems we’ve caught the tail of the Joseon army!”

“Yes, General!”

Having sent the messenger, Ik-deok urged his subordinates.

“Is the preparation complete!”

“Almost done!”

“Hurry! We might miss the Joseon army! It’s a good opportunity to seize the Joseon troops’ supplies!”

“Yes!”

Having urged his subordinates, Ik-deok forcibly suppressed the corners of his mouth, which kept trying to rise.

‘The Joseon troops’ supplies are famous for their quality. And if we properly seize the enemy’s goods, the enemy’s losses will double!’

As Ik-deok said, the Joseon troops’ supplies were famous for their quality. The most famous was the Joseon army’s dried rations. Dissolving an appropriate amount in water and boiling it made a hearty meal. Because of this, even Ming merchants sought Joseon-made dried rations when embarking on long journeys.

* * *

Half a *sh辰辰* [approximately 1 hour] later, the Ming cavalry led by Ik-deok charged forward.

“Don’t forget to scout the surroundings!”

“Never act rashly!”

Under Ik-deok’s command, the Ming army cavalry traveled at a brisk pace.

“There are the Joseon troops!”

As the scout had said, the Ming cavalry, having traveled about 20 *li*, were able to discover the Joseon troops. The Joseon cavalry, who had also discovered the Ming cavalry, were hurriedly mounting their horses.

‘Their numbers have decreased even more! About 400 to 500! Good!’

Ik-deok, who was gleeful, drew his sword and shouted.

“Charge!”

“Attack!”

“Waaaah!”

Seeing the Joseon cavalry, whose numbers were far fewer than their own, Ik-deok’s cavalry shouted and surged forward.

The battle ended anticlimactically. The Joseon cavalry, seeing the Ming cavalry’s charge, abandoned their supplies and fled as fast as their tails could carry them.

“Hahaha! What cowards!”

“A disorganized rabble!”

Ik-deok’s cavalry, mocking the Joseon cavalry that was disappearing into the distance, dismounted along with the soldiers they were carrying.

The place they headed to was the supplies left behind by the Joseon army.

“They were in a hurry.”

The soldiers, examining the scene where carts half-loaded with goods and various supplies were scattered, soon began to rummage through the boxes.

“Wow! Dried rations!”

“This is alcohol? It would be good to mix with water and drink!”

As the excited soldiers rummaged through the goods, Ik-deok, who arrived late, shouted.

“Put away what you’re grabbing for later and search properly first!”

“Yes, yes!”

At Ik-deok’s command, the soldiers stuffed some into their pockets and began to search the surroundings thoroughly.

That evening, Ik-deok handed a half-burnt map to the vanguard commander.

“This was obtained from the Joseon army’s supply depot that we occupied today. Upon examination, it appears to be a supply base for the Joseon army.”

At Ik-deok’s report, the vanguard commander compared the locations of the points marked on the captured map with the map he possessed.

After examining the locations for a while, the vanguard commander nodded.

“Indeed. It’s a good location for a supply base. We will pursue the Joseon army along this route.”

“Yes!”

Hearing Ik-deok’s reply, the vanguard commander turned to look at the other commanders.

“We need to increase our speed a bit. Judging from today’s situation, the Joseon army seems to be retreating hastily. It’s a good opportunity, and if we’re lucky, we might encounter the same fortune again today.”

“That’s right!”

The amount of supplies obtained by Ik-deok’s unit was considerable. Even after subtracting the amount that the soldiers who arrived first had pilfered, it was enough for all the soldiers of the vanguard to have a hearty meal. The eyes of the soldiers and commanders, who had unexpectedly gained fortune, were filled with greed.

* * *

“Do you think they will come over?”

At Yi Jing-ok’s question, Choe Yun-deok nodded confidently.

“They will definitely come. Don’t you know them well? Soldiers are always hungry, no matter how much they eat.”

At Choe Yun-deok’s words, Yi Jing-ok nodded. He had been similar when he was on the front lines. Every time he went out, the first, most diligent, and most abundant things he took were dried rations and ammunition.

Choe Yun-deok continued.

“There’s a saying, ‘Waiting for a rabbit by a stump,’ right? Having tasted rabbit meat, they can only come along the path we have set.”

Choe Yun-deok, mentioning the *gosa* [story] of the foolish farmer who obtained a rabbit that had died by colliding with a tree stump and then sat next to the tree stump waiting for the repeated fortune, added.

“Moreover, we openly showed them the sight of us running away and even abandoning valuable supplies, so they will look down on our Joseon army. And the fact that they are a large army will also hold them back. Once a route is set, it is not easy to change the movement of an army, and this becomes even more difficult the larger the scale. Since they have already turned their bodies and started to move their feet, they have no choice but to come to the place we want through the route we want.”

Yi Jing-ok and the subordinate commanders nodded at the words of Choe Yun-deok, a veteran general whose experience was deeply ingrained.

And the Ming army fell into that trap.

‘Joseon army discovered!’

Ik-deok, who received the urgent report, immediately assessed the situation.

Ik-deok, looking at the Joseon army’s camp in the distance, unfolded the map, confirmed his location, and smiled bitterly.

“Were we lured in?”

* * *

“We were drawn in.”

The vanguard commander, who checked the map as soon as he received Ik-deok’s report, smiled bitterly like Ik-deok.

The place where the Joseon army was located was the eastern end of Guangning. In the history before Hyang intervened, the Joseon army was encamped and waiting in the eastern part of Panjin City.

The reason why both Ik-deok and the vanguard commander said, ‘We were drawn in,’ was because of the location where the Joseon army had set up camp.

To the north of the plain facing the place where the Joseon army was encamped, the Shuangtaizi River flowed, and to the south, the Daliao River flowed.

And now, not only the vanguard but also part of the main force of the Ming army had entered this place.

In other words, if they could not break through the Joseon army that had blocked the exit, they would not be able to enter Liaodong Fortress and Joseon.

* * *

“A decisive battle… Isn’t it rather a *cheonjae-ilu* [once-in-a-lifetime] opportunity!”

Han Il-sin, the commander-in-chief, who received the vanguard unit’s worried report, was rather pleased and liked it.

“A frontal battle is what we wanted! Although the location where the Joseon army is encamped is a *wiji* [dangerous place], it can never be a *saji* [death place] considering our strength!”

Han Il-sin raised his voice, waving his fist raised to the sky back and forth.

“Even though the Joseon army’s firepower may be stronger than ours, there will be limits! Like a wave that constantly pushes and breaks a dam, push in the troops and break the Joseon army’s defenses!”

Han Il-sin’s order was immediately conveyed to the vanguard unit.

The vanguard commander, with a detached expression, called his subordinate commanders.

“We have become the vanguard of the charge. Distribute alcohol and meat to the soldiers.”

“Yes.”

* * *

The battle, later called the Battle of Guangning, continued fiercely.

In order to break through the Joseon army’s *cheolseung-mangbyeok* [iron net of victory] that was laid out in as many as six layers, the Ming army ground in troops, and in order to stop this, the Joseon army consumed a large amount of ammunition.

During the war of attrition that would remain in history, both sides constantly replenished the consumed materials and manpower.

“How about withdrawing some of the soldiers to the rear and bypassing the Shuangtaizi River?”

The Ming army commanders, exhausted from the war of attrition that had lasted for almost half a month, suggested a bypassing operation to Han Il-sin.

“That sounds good.”

According to Han Il-sin’s decision to accept the suggestion, about 20,000 infantry were selected and bypassed the Taizi River. However, the troops who bypassed in this way were caught by the waiting Joseon army cavalry and annihilated.

“This cursed! What happened to the reinforcements!”

Han Il-sin, upon receiving the report of ‘separate unit annihilation,’ burst into anger and searched for reinforcements.

When he entered the Liaoxi Corridor after passing Shanhaiguan, Han Il-sin was confident of an easy victory after hearing that troops would be added.

“The more, the better! If reinforcements continue, the outcome is already decided!”

However, the battle that is taking place now is forcing a huge consumption of personnel and materials.

“Reinforcements, reinforcements are needed! If we stop here, it is nothing more than meaningless consumption!”

* * *

While Han Il-sin was fretting while waiting for reinforcements, Choe Yun-deok also had a face full of impatience.

“We are somehow holding on, but we are almost at the limit. The navy, what on earth are they doing?”

What Choe Yun-deok was waiting for was the news of the navy in charge of ‘the capture of Shanhaiguan.’

“If Shanhaiguan collapses, the victory is certainly ours…”

Battle Day 20.

“General! Good news!”

With a face full of joy, Yi Jing-ok handed a communication to Choe Yun-deok.

“The navy has finally done it!”

“Oh!”

With a face that brightened, Choe Yun-deok hurriedly received the communication.

The contents of the communication transmitted through light signal devices was concise.

-Shanhaiguan collapse. Ming supply route severance successful.

The Joseon navy collapsed Shanhaiguan, and the Ming army’s supply was cut off.

Having confirmed the contents of the communication, Choe Yun-deok unconsciously clenched his fist.

“It’s done! Now the victory has come to us!”