Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 713

713. The Second Battle of the Yellow Sea (11)

Hyang, impressed by Jinwi and Ham Deok-pung’s surrender to the Empire, turned to Wan.

“Jinwi and Ham Deok-pung have requested the rescue of their families. What are your thoughts on this?”

Wan considered Hyang’s question, his expression serious as he pondered for a long moment.

Finally, he spoke, outlining his proposed solution. “Currently, the Inner Sea Fleet, the Lushun Fleet, and a portion of the Southern Sea Fleet are engaged in retaliatory operations, including the destruction of major Ming naval ports. Perhaps we could smuggle their families out under the cover of these operations?”

Hyang shook his head. “That would be too complicated. It would require individuals intimately familiar with the alleyways of Nantong (南通, a city in present-day China), where their families reside, and fluent in the Jiangnan dialect [a variety of Chinese spoken in the Jiangnan region]. Furthermore, seamless communication between the rescue teams and ground forces would be essential, and we lack a reliable means to ensure that.”

“Could we not use flying messengers to address the communication issue?” Wan suggested.

Hyang dismissed the idea. “The first two conditions are too difficult to meet. The operation is simply not feasible.”

Wan lowered his head, accepting the rebuke. “I apologize. My inadequacy has caused Your Majesty undue concern.”

“Nonsense. This unexpected complication is no fault of yours, Crown Prince,” Hyang reassured him, then addressed his officials. “If anyone has a viable suggestion, speak now.”

Silence met his command. As Hyang had noted, this was an unforeseen issue, leaving no room for pre-planned solutions.

After a prolonged pause, Kim Jong-seo stepped forward. “Your Majesty, once these retaliatory operations conclude, Ming will inevitably be forced to negotiate. We can leverage that negotiation process to facilitate the rescue.”

Hyang’s eyes brightened. “Elaborate.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kim Jong-seo outlined his plan, and Hyang, after adding a few refinements, developed a promising framework for the operation.

“Hmm… not bad,” Hyang murmured, studying the paper on which he had sketched the plan. He then instructed Wan, “Discuss this with the navy and develop a more comprehensive strategy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Wan replied, bowing as a court eunuch delivered the paper.

Two days later, Wan presented the finalized operation plan to Hyang.

Hyang reviewed it, nodded in approval, and affixed the royal seal.

“Excellent. Proceed with its execution.”

“Yes, I will dedicate myself to this task.”

* * *

Meanwhile, the Empire’s naval retaliatory operations continued unabated.

The Ming fleet, which had been monitoring the Empire’s Lushun Fleet, immediately retreated upon learning of their defeat.

“The Joseon [Korean] bastards will undoubtedly target our naval ports! We must defend them at all costs!”

The retreating Ming forces hastily established defensive positions at the entrances to their home ports.

Some advocated for a different approach.

“If we scatter our forces, we will be defeated in detail! We should engage the Imperial Fleet in a decisive battle!”

However, this pro-war sentiment was quickly suppressed.

“It would be suicide to attack the Joseon Challenger-class battleships with our Daefukseon [large, traditional Korean ships]! It’s far better to combine our forces with the home port defenses!”

“Exactly! You have a chance of survival if you fall into the sea near the naval port, but there’s no such guarantee in the middle of the Yellow Sea!”

Thus, the Ming fleet retreated to their respective home ports.

Just as they arrived, Emperor Jingtai’s orders reached them.

-The fleet will immediately return to defend the home port! Unnecessary naval engagements are strictly prohibited!

* * *

Thanks to Jinwi’s efforts, a significant number of Deng Shulin’s battleships managed to return safely to their home ports.

The captains’ reports were immediately delivered to Emperor Jingtai.

“Defeated!”

Emperor Jingtai slumped into his chair, the report clutched in his hand.

“Defeated? You say we were defeated?”

He repeated the word several times before erupting in anger. “Deng Shulin! How could he lose all the Twin Flame Dragons [likely referring to a type of warship] under his command!”

His outburst subsided, Emperor Jingtai turned to his servants, his face etched with weariness. “Now that our attack has failed, the Joseon bastards will undoubtedly retaliate. What should we do?”

The Left Commander-in-chief stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the Joseon forces will likely attempt to strike us. However, our naval ports remain secure. Since the last war, their defenses have been significantly strengthened, and we still possess a considerable number of ships. We should adopt a defensive strategy. The Joseon forces, emboldened by their recent victory, may become careless, allowing us to inflict a significant blow.”

“Is that truly the case?” Emperor Jingtai asked, skeptical.

The Left Commander-in-chief pressed his point. “It is regrettable that we lost the Twin Flame Dragons, our pride, but this loss will surely lead the Joseon forces to underestimate us.”

“I concur,” added the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, lending weight to the Commander-in-chief’s argument.

Emperor Jingtai nodded, his expression brightening. “That may be so. Then, issue orders to the surviving battleships and the Gaphamdae [likely a naval unit]. They are to return to their respective home ports immediately and reinforce their defenses.”

“I obey your command!”

Having made that decision, Emperor Jingtai turned to the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. “What should be our next course of action?”

“Negotiations with Joseon. We must initiate negotiations, claiming that Deng Shulin acted unilaterally due to his inherent bellicosity.”

“Using Deng Shulin as a scapegoat… Do you believe the Joseon forces will accept that?”

“Whether they believe it or not, we must maintain that stance.”

Emperor Jingtai considered the Senior Grand Secretary’s words and nodded. “There is no other option. Form a negotiating team.”

“I obey your command.”

Thus, as the Ming Gaphamdae, which had been monitoring the Lushun Fleet, returned to its home port, Emperor Jingtai’s orders arrived at the naval port.

However, the Empire’s counterattack had already begun.

* * *

The Empire’s naval counterattack commenced at Shanhaiguan and Tianjin.

The Empire’s battleships, anchored along the coastline of Shanhaiguan, began bombarding the outer walls of the city.

The relentless barrage reduced the outer walls to rubble, mirroring the devastation of the previous war.

The Imperial Fleet, having neutralized Shanhaiguan’s coastal defenses, advanced towards Tianjin.

Since the last war, formidable fortresses equipped with large-caliber cannons had been constructed on either side of Tianjin’s naval port.

The battleships of the Gaphamdae guarded the entrance to the bay.

Against this formidable defense, two Assault Turtle Ships [armored Korean warships] charged forward.

The Assault Turtle Ships, pressing onward, breached the Ming battleships’ defense line and penetrated the bay.

Despite the intense fortress fire, the Assault Turtle Ships’ armor held, allowing them to systematically target and destroy the large cannons within the fortresses.

“There! That place! Take down that big copper lump first!” the captains of the Assault Turtle Ships shouted.

Meanwhile, at the entrance to the port, Challenger-class battleships decimated the Ming fleet.

With the coastal fortresses and defending battleships neutralized, the Panokseon [Korean warships], which had been waiting behind, surged into the port.

The Panokseon, heading towards the docks and nearby beaches, began disembarking troops.

The bow of the Panokseon had been significantly modified. The bow, lowered to just above the waterline, now featured a wooden pier that could be lowered to the ground.

The main landing force utilized these piers.

The first to disembark were the cavalrymen from the Jurchen tribe [a nomadic people from Manchuria].

The cavalrymen, spurring their horses down the makeshift ramps, charged into the Ming defenses.

“Heya! Heya!”

Heeheehing!

Tang! Tatang!

The Ming soldiers, caught off guard by the Jurchen cavalry’s sudden assault, fired indiscriminately.

However, few Jurchen cavalrymen were struck by the haphazard fire, and they quickly crashed into the Ming army’s first land defense line.

The combination of large European warhorses and Jurchen cavalry proved devastating, and the Ming army’s defenses were quickly breached.

The Imperial army, having broken through the Ming lines, advanced deep into the naval port.

The Imperial army’s objective was to destroy the military facilities within the port.

Driven by this goal, they systematically targeted the naval port’s headquarters, supply depot, coastal fortress, and battleship repair and construction facilities, reducing them to ashes.

After two days of relentless assault, Tianjin’s naval port was rendered useless.

* * *

Tianjin was merely the beginning.

The Imperial Navy continued its southward advance, systematically destroying Ming naval ports.

Initially, the attacks focused solely on facilities related to naval operations.

However, the scope of the destruction gradually expanded.

As naval ports and surrounding areas were reduced to ashes, a massive wave of refugees began to flee towards Nanjing.

“It’s the safest place because the Emperor is there!”

“The north is lost! Joseon is a threat, and so is Bukwon [possibly a region or rival power]! The north is no longer safe!”

Driven by these fears, refugees flocked south towards Nanjing.

The same was true of Nantong.

As the closest naval port to Nanjing, where Emperor Jingtai resided, it boasted strong defenses and a shipyard that constructed the Twin Flame Dragons.

Knowing this, refugees unable to reach Nanjing sought refuge in Nantong, leading to widespread chaos. The Ming navy and Weiso’s [likely a military unit] soldiers struggled to maintain order, but their efforts were insufficient.

Amidst this turmoil, one individual moved in secret.

It was Wang Deok-gu, a Ming merchant who had cultivated a strong relationship with Kim Il-soo at the Joseon trading post in Shandong.

* * *

“Ugh… what is it with that stamina tonic….”

Wang Deok-gu muttered under his breath as he carefully made his way through the crowded streets.

-I have a favor to ask of you, Wang Daein [a respectful title for a merchant].

-Didn’t the Ming army and our navy have a major conflict recently? Several Ming generals were captured, and one was falsely accused of defeat and forced to surrender.

-He has requested that we rescue his family, and I hope you will assist us, Wang Daein.

-In return, I will provide you with an abundance of Imperial sea otter genitals, ginseng, and bear bile. How much do you desire?

That was how Wang Deok-gu found himself undertaking this perilous mission.

“Well… the situation is clear without even needing to investigate. General Akbi’s case wasn’t an isolated incident [likely referring to a historical figure wrongly accused]. Even if I report this, I’ll only receive a pittance in compensation. But if I succeed and receive the reward, I can finally become independent! And I’ll be saving the family of a falsely accused man. It’s a win-win situation! Yes!”

Wang Deok-gu justified his actions by recalling the story of Akbi, a loyal and renowned general who was unjustly accused and met a tragic end, and by envisioning the substantial reward that awaited him upon success.