Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 766

766. A Self-Inflicted Disaster… (1)

A group of sailors disembarked from the transport ship after confirming the flag signal from the beachhead.

While some soldiers stood guard, the soldiers at the beachhead diligently loaded cargo onto carts.

“Place the drinking water and food supplies in the center of the carts!”

“Secure the *Hwacha’s* [Korean multiple rocket launcher] mounts firmly onto the carts!”

“Keep the ammunition boxes around the *Hwachas* so they can be used at any time!”

“Don’t load all the gunpowder for the toys in one place! If that explodes, the toys will become scrap metal! No, you’ll all die too!”

The commanders were most concerned about loading the *Hwachas* onto the carts and loading the gunpowder for the toys that would launch the *Bigyeokjincheonleis* [Korean bomb rockets].

They were entering a dangerous place where anything could happen. If they made even a small mistake, the dangerous place would immediately become a death trap.

If something happened, they would have to use the carts as shields to escape. The *Hwachas* would play the most important role at this time. Therefore, the commanders pondered where to fix the *Hwachas’* mounts on the carts to achieve the best results and designated the locations.

Of course, there was a manual for this, but variables existed depending on the time and place. That’s why the officers were troubled.

The same was true for the gunpowder used in the toys. If it was all put in one cart for convenience of transport and then washed away by water or caught fire, the toys would become useless.

No, being washed away by water was fortunate. If it was gathered in one place and a fire arrow flew and hit it, or if a fire spread, it would be a scene of hell.

Therefore, the commanders meticulously managed the loading of cargo onto the carts.

Montezuma I and the senior commanders, who had returned to the main camp, watched the movements of the Imperial Army with curious eyes.

What caught their attention were the workhorses pulling the carts and the carts themselves.

“To think there are such large beasts…”

* * *

The workhorses that Hyang had first brought in had gradually grown larger and had better stamina through continuous breeding.

The hardships that the managers and breeders of the horse ranch had gone through to achieve this result were enormous.

This was because the situation up until then had been so poor that there was a saying, ‘No matter how big and strong a horse is brought in, it only gives birth to smaller foals.’

To solve this problem, the managers and breeders of the horse ranch intensively raised horses on the Gaema Plateau and the plains of the Northeast region. In addition, they searched for and hired a large number of Jurchen people who were known for raising horses well.

Thanks to these efforts, the workhorses and warhorses brought into Joseon began to be known as fine horses.

* * *

“Certainly, it would be convenient to move around if we used such beasts and tools.”

Montezuma I nodded at his subordinate’s words.

Paradoxically, carts did not exist in the Aztec Empire and nearby regions. No, wheels themselves did not exist.

The transportation of goods was entirely done by people carrying them.

Therefore, Montezuma I, as well as all the Aztecs present, could not take their eyes off the carts.

And what followed was greed.

“I want to take that…”

“How can we take it?”

Whether they knew that the Aztecs were looking at them with greedy eyes or not, the Imperial Army was thoroughly prepared. When the preparations were complete, Admiral An Sang-soo, riding a horse, stood at the head of the unit.

After confirming that the Empire’s preparations were complete, Montezuma I gave an order.

“Return to Tenochtitlan.”

* * *

It was almost 20 days after departing from the beachhead that the warriors led by Montezuma I and Admiral An Sang-soo’s unit arrived in Tenochtitlan.

“It’s farther than I expected…”

Admiral An Sang-soo, looking quite tired, retraced the process of getting here and his expression became troubled.

“If things go wrong and we have to retreat, we’re going to have a hard time?”

Traversing the jungle area bordering the beach was relatively easy. This was thanks to the fact that many people moved together and opened up a passage.

The problem was the mountain range they encountered after leaving the jungle.

Traversing the mountain range called ‘Sierra Madre Oriental’ in the history before Hyang’s intervention took a lot of time.

What took up this time was the carts that the Imperial Army was pulling. Even though strong workhorses were pulling them, the rough and narrow roads were obstacles that took up time.

Therefore, the Imperial Army soldiers even clung to the carts, pushing and pulling, and were able to pass through the mountain range after a fierce struggle.

While going through the fierce struggle, the Imperial Army commanders looked at the Aztecs with new eyes.

What greeted the Imperial Army that had passed through the jungle was a large-scale supply unit from the Aztecs.

Admiral An Sang-soo and the commanders opened their notebooks at the enormous scale that seemed to be several times the size of the combat unit that had moved with them.

-Proper supply system exists.

-However, no carts are visible.

As time passed, the Imperial Army gave the Aztec army’s system, especially the supply, a low score.

This was because ‘carts did not exist.’

The Aztec supply soldiers walked with the straps of baskets full of supplies on their heads, holding them with both hands.

The Imperial Army commanders and soldiers all clicked their tongues at the sight.

“Tsk! They won’t be able to carry much like that!”

“Tsk tsk! They don’t even have A-frames [simple carrying frames]?”

“They don’t even have A-frames, let alone carts…”

However, this low evaluation changed as they entered the mountain range.

The Aztecs, who had their hands free by hanging the baskets on their heads using straps, moved easily even when they encountered steep slopes. On the other hand, when the Imperial Army encountered steep slopes, the horses and people became one and moved the carts.

Experiencing this fierce struggle, the Imperial Army commanders opened their notebooks again.

-A large number of A-frames are needed for smooth supply.

* * *

Admiral An Sang-soo, who was worried about the worst-case scenario while retracing the path he had taken so far, looked back at his subordinate officers.

“Did you measure properly?”

“Yes.”

While struggling through the jungle and mountain range, the Imperial Army officers moved busily.

On one hand, they had to command the soldiers struggling with the carts, and on the other hand, they used compasses and surveying tools to record the paths they had passed and the surrounding environment.

This was because of Admiral An Sang-soo’s order.

“All commanders are to record geographical information about the paths they have passed so far.”

“All the commanders?”

“Everyone. If things go wrong and we have to escape, the more people who know the way, the more advantageous it will be for survival.”

According to Admiral An Sang-soo’s decision, the commanders recorded geographical information and set up their own landmarks and left them as records.

Of course, some officers frowned.

“Oh, my grades in surveying and map reading weren’t very good…”

“Are you even a navy man? If you want to survive in the middle of the sea, the most important thing is knowing your location, right? You can’t do that?”

Fortunately, they were all members of the Imperial Navy.

In order to survive in the sea, where landmarks did not exist, it was a basic requirement for Imperial Navy officers to know their location.

Thanks to this, the commanders gradually collected information related to the route of movement according to the admiral’s orders.

* * *

Looking at Tenochtitlan getting closer, Admiral An Sang-soo lightly clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! Its defense is the strongest.”

Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the middle of a huge lake.

To enter Tenochtitlan, you had to use dikes and bridges. Most of the passages were only wide enough for one cart to pass through.

“Hmm…”

Watching the Aztec warriors and Montezuma I entering first, Admiral An Sang-soo pondered.

‘If we divide the troops, we could be defeated individually, and if we all go in at once and the transportation route is cut off, we’ll be like rats in a trap.’

Admiral An Sang-soo, who was thinking about the best way, made a decision.

‘Divide the troops!’

* * *

According to the decision, Admiral An Sang-soo divided the unit.

A cavalry unit was organized with 10 officers on horseback, and 5 carts loaded with *Hwachas* and 2 *ye* [military unit, about 250 soldiers] were to accompany the admiral.

“The remaining troops will form a circular formation using the carts and be fully prepared for guard duty.”

“Yes!”

Admiral An Sang-soo, who gave orders to the subordinate left behind, rode his horse towards Tenochtitlan.

* * *

Guided by a warrior who was waiting for the admiral’s party at the entrance to Tenochtitlan’s gate, the admiral’s party finally entered Techinotlan.

Admiral An Sang-soo, sitting on his horse, carefully looked around.

‘The city is well planned.’

The admiral, as well as the officers and soldiers moving with him, looked around with faces mixed with tension and curiosity.

Meanwhile, the Aztecs living in Tenochtitlan also flocked to the streets and observed the strangers they were seeing for the first time with eyes mixed with vigilance and curiosity.

As they observed each other, the admiral’s party arrived at the center of the city.

“Heo~.”

Admiral An Sang-soo involuntarily exclaimed when he saw the huge pyramids in the center of the city.

“It’s similar to the pyramids I saw when I went to Alexandria in the past.”

Passing the pyramids where the temples were located, An Sang-soo’s party arrived at Montezuma I’s palace and entered with a small number of guards.

“There may be an ambush. Be especially careful.”

“Yes.”

The guards, who answered briefly to the order of the officer commanding the guards, moved while looking around.

* * *

A banquet was being prepared in the banquet hall of Montezuma I’s palace.

Montezuma I, who saw Admiral An Sang-soo’s party entering the banquet hall, gestured for them to take their seats.

While An Sang-soo’s party was taking their seats, Aztec nobles and priests also entered the banquet hall.

As people entered the banquet hall, food soon came in.

It was the beginning of a tragedy.

* * *

“Gasp!”

Admiral An Sang-soo was horrified and stood up from his seat when he saw the food brought by the servants. It wasn’t just Admiral An. All the Imperials who came with Admiral An were horrified and stood up from their seats.

The meat that came with the large pancakes was clearly human. No, a human arm was placed whole on a large plate.

“What kind of damned bastards are these! How can they wear human skin and do such terrible things!”

Admiral An Sang-soo, enraged, glared at Montezuma I and shouted.

“Have you ever seen such rude people!”

Montezuma I on the other side was equally angry.

It was very rude to get angry when they were serving sacrifices that had been offered to the gods.

“Subdue those rude people! We will use them as sacrifices for the gods!”

The Aztec warriors who rushed in at Montezuma I’s shout ran towards Admiral An’s party as soon as they heard the order.

Instantly, the guards drew the short guns they were wearing on their waists and pulled the triggers all at once.

Bang! Bang bang! Bang!

The Aztec warriors at the front fell with the loud gunshots.

“Escape!”

“Protect Admiral!”

The guards, who had already surrounded Admiral An Sang-soo, ran through the passage of Montezuma I’s palace.

“Enemy!”

Bang! Bang bang!

“Reload!”

The guards reloaded the empty short guns with familiar movements while running.

“Gunshots!”

Meanwhile, the Imperial Army soldiers who heard the gunshots from outside began to prepare for battle.