Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 793

793. The Confucian Scholars Head to Shinji (5)

The Imperial Navy’s transport fleet diligently shuttled between Shinji and the mainland, ferrying the expeditionary forces.

This was necessitated by the northern sea route freezing over and becoming impassable from early winter.

-More troops, faster.

This was the imperative assigned to the Imperial Navy.

To overcome this logistical hurdle, the ‘assault warship conversion’ became a prominent topic among naval officers, who brainstormed various solutions.

“What about repurposing the assault warships?”

“Assault warships? Are you forgetting their primary limitation—their short cruising range? They wouldn’t even make it halfway.”

“We reduce the weight.”

“Reduce the weight, how?”

“There aren’t any pirates on the northern sea route, are there? Neither the Ming nor the Japanese dare venture near. So, we offload all the cannons, cannonballs, and gunpowder. In their place, we load extra coal, water, troops, and food for transport.”

“Hmm… that just might work.”

Thus, a formal proposal was drafted: ‘Utilizing Assault Warships as Transport Vessels.’

The Imperial Navy’s high command, upon reviewing the proposal, wore expressions of mixed feelings.

“I’m not sure whether to deem this… ingenious or preposterous.”

“Well… in some respects, it’s a rather innovative concept…”

Amidst the debate, some voices expressed cautious optimism.

“I believe it’s worth a trial run. Eventually, ironclad warships and steam-powered transport ships will become commonplace. Rather than being caught off guard when that day arrives, we can proactively explore the possibilities and identify key considerations for their effective deployment, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Hmm?”

Ultimately, the Imperial Navy’s leadership, convinced that the potential benefits outweighed the risks, revised the proposal and presented it to Wan.

“Hmm… what are your thoughts on this, gentlemen?”

Wan, having read the proposal, sought the ministers’ opinions. Hwangbo-in stepped forward to address Wan’s query.

“I believe a trial run would be beneficial. Naturally, warships and transport ships serve distinct purposes, so the results of this experiment may not perfectly satisfy either requirement. However, I believe it will provide valuable insights into the potential of steam-powered ironclad vessels.”

“Hmm… I see. Let’s proceed with it.”

Following Wan’s approval, one of the three assault warships recently assigned to the Inland Sea Fleet was selected for the experiment.

“You’re in for a rough time.”

“…Yes, sir.”

The captain, having received the imperial order from the Inland Sea Commander, kicked a pebble in frustration.

“My proud assault warship is being reduced to a cargo hauler!”

Since the Emperor himself had sanctioned the order, the process of unloading cannons, cannonballs, and gunpowder from the assault warship commenced swiftly.

“Are you saying we have to unload even the hwacha [multiple rocket launcher]?”

“Unload everything.”

“Surely we need at least minimal armament….”

“It’s not as if only one assault warship is making the journey, so what are you worried about? Besides, if an assault warship decides to flee, what ship could possibly pursue it?”

“…Understood. I will unload everything.”

However, unloading the cannons and cannonballs was not the end of the matter.

First, the weight of each unloaded cannon and cannonball was meticulously recorded.

“Based on the average weight of the soldiers and their equipment…”

“Considering the distance from here to Shinji’s initial market, how much coal will be required?”

“The daily food consumption per soldier…”

After meticulous calculations by the supply officers, the estimated figures were compiled, causing consternation among the higher-ups.

“800 people? Is that not too few?”

“Indeed. Given the size of the assault warship, shouldn’t it be able to carry more?”

The 담당자들 [person in charge] explained the reasons for the upper echelons’ concerns.

-Assault warships are, first and foremost, warships. To minimize flooding damage during combat, the compartments are intricately divided, which limits the efficient use of space.

You can’t simply stack healthy soldiers like inanimate cargo, can you?

The available space was further reduced by the installation of beds for the soldiers and the loading of additional food, water, and coal.

-Still, compared to the 300 additional soldiers that can be loaded onto a Challenger-class warship, it represents nearly three times the transport capacity.

“Hmm… it appears we need to completely redesign transport ships from the keel up.”

“I concur.”

“It would be beneficial to identify the practical challenges through actual shipping operations.”

“Agreed.”

Thus, a large-scale experiment, dubbed ‘Transportation Using Assault Warships,’ was initiated.

And, shortly thereafter, the first improvement suggestion was reported.

-It is believed that the new ironclad warships and transport ships should be designed with a more traditional hull shape.

“Huh? Why is that?”

“The natives at the ports of call experienced… distress.”

* * *

The transport fleet made scheduled stops at the newly established ports of call along the northern sea route.

While minimizing transit time was crucial, resupply and crew rest were equally important.

The problem arose when the assault warship entered port.

“It’s a monster!”

“Run for your lives!”

“Save us!”

The natives, who had gathered to supply food and water to the fleet or to sell local goods to the sailors and soldiers of the expeditionary force, screamed and fled in terror.

They perceived the assault warship, with its black smoke billowing from its stern and a massive dragon head adorning its bow, as a monstrous entity.

* * *

Despite these disturbances, the assault warship unequivocally demonstrated its inherent advantages.

Specifically, the advantage conferred by the steam engine.

Unlike sailing ships, whose speed fluctuated with wind direction and strength, steam engines enabled consistent sailing at a constant speed.

-With high-quality coal and clean water, we can utilize our time more efficiently.

The navy, upon receiving these reports, increased its support for the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, if you require additional funding, we are prepared to assist you.”

“Thank you!”

* * *

Thanks to the diligent efforts of the transport fleet, the expeditionary force rapidly amassed in Shinji.

As each new contingent of expeditionary forces arrived, the expeditionary force headquarters distributed military equipment manufactured in District 52 and initiated adaptation and combat training.

One day, Hyang, observing the training of the expeditionary force soldiers, shook his head.

“It’s like Sergeant Hartman [a drill instructor in the movie *Full Metal Jacket*] multiplied.”

Hyang was reminded of the archetypal drill instructor from a Vietnam War movie.

The Imperial Army instructors were pushing the soldiers to their absolute limits.

“Who told you to rest! Run until I tell you to rest! Do you think the enemies will grant you respite simply because you’re tired and exhausted?”

“Can’t maintain your military equipment properly! The moment your rifle malfunctions, you die!”

“Run! Run! You won’t die even if you jump from this height! If you hesitate because you’re afraid of this, you’ll get a hole blown through your stomach!”

“You are not killing people! You are protecting the Empire and protecting your families! That’s why you are soldiers!”

“Don’t even think about mercy when you pull the trigger! If you want to be merciful, abandon the teachings of the sages and go live as a Buddhist recluse in the mountains!”

“You sons of bitches! If you want to die, die alone! Don’t let your comrades die like dogs because of your stupidity!”

“You! You! You! You! And you! Stay behind! Special training! I will transform you into proper soldiers, or die trying!”

Not only did they push the soldiers to their breaking points, but the instructors also singled out soldiers with subpar performance for intensive special training.

“Isn’t that a bit excessive?”

Lee Jing-ok firmly shook his head in response to Hyang’s criticism.

“This is lenient. They will be deployed to the battlefield soon, and the battlefield is a place where even the slightest lapse in vigilance can result in the deaths of not only yourself but also your comrades. According to intelligence reports, the enemy is even more ruthless than the Jurchens. We must prepare them thoroughly.”

At Lee Jing-ok’s words, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘Well, considering the era… and the fact that most of the veterans, starting with Lee Jing-ok, have been fighting the Jurchens since they were young…’

There were instances during the early Joseon Dynasty’s conflicts with the Jurchens when actions that would be considered ‘war crimes’ in the 21st century were commonplace. At that time, the Joseon army’s military strength was bolstered by Hyang’s intervention, and despite King Sejong’s active efforts, the number of Jurchen tribes surrendering to Joseon significantly increased.

‘Considering the Aztecs, I can’t expect them to adhere to 21st-century standards. No, it’s impossible to even demand the ethical standards of the past Joseon-Ming War….’

Hyang was forced to acknowledge the constraints of time and place.

* * *

While the soldiers underwent their final hardening, Lee Jing-ok sought out Hyang.

“You mentioned needing a new hwacha?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“The current Byeongshik hwacha seems quite effective, though?”

Lee Jing-ok responded immediately to Hyang’s comment.

“The Byeongshik hwacha is a formidable weapon, but it’s not ideally suited for the terrain. It’s too cumbersome.”

“Too heavy?”

“Precisely.”

Lee Jing-ok elaborated on his reasoning.

-The Byeongshik hwacha is an excellent weapon, but its weight is a significant drawback.

-Operating the Byeongshik hwacha and cannons in the intended battlefield will be challenging.

-Of course, we cannot abandon the hwacha and cannons altogether in the pursuit of victory. However, the number of oxen and horses required to pull the hwacha and cannons, the amount of hay and feed those animals will consume, and the number of carts and oxen and horses needed to transport that hay and feed will create a logistical nightmare.

-To mitigate this, we must reduce the logistical burden as much as possible.

-Therefore, the solution lies in a lighter hwacha. We cannot afford to sacrifice the cannons.

“…Therefore, a new hwacha, specifically a light hwacha, is essential.”

“The Byeongshik hwacha has wheels, allowing soldiers to pull it and move it, correct?”

“That’s true. However, proper operation requires one squad (伍) [a five-man unit] per hwacha. I’ve heard that even a single person struggles to navigate the dense jungle in the south, making it nearly impossible to maneuver the Byeongshik hwacha.”

“Hmm….”

As Hyang pondered the matter with a serious expression, Lee Jing-ok continued.

“I’m not suggesting we replace all the hwacha in the expeditionary force. The Byeongshik hwacha remains superior in pitched battles fought in open terrain. However, in the event of combat within the jungle, a light hwacha is indispensable.”

“Hmm… If I understand correctly, the hwacha you envision is one that soldiers can carry and deploy individually, is that accurate?”

“Precisely.”

“There is yin and yang in all things. Where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. If I’m not mistaken, it wouldn’t be able to sustain the same rate of fire as the Byeongshik hwacha. That’s also a concern, isn’t it?”

“That limitation can be compensated for with numbers and mobility.”

“Numbers and mobility?”

“Deploying it to more soldiers provides the numbers, and the soldiers’ enhanced mobility will, in turn, constrain the enemy’s movements.”

“Hmm… I roughly grasp your concept. I acknowledge the necessity, but I’m uncertain if we can meet the required timeline?”

At Hyang’s words, Lee Jing-ok smiled and replied.

“Jang Yeong-sil [a famous Korean inventor] is stationed in District 52 of Shinji. And Your Majesty has resided here in Shinji for several years now, so wouldn’t there be someone of similar talent available?”

“….”

Hyang was rendered speechless by Lee Jing-ok’s astute observation.

‘He knows me too well!’