Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 801

801. Jungle Bloodbath (7)

While Yi Jing-ok was organizing a reinforcement unit composed mainly of Byeongshik Hwacha [rocket artillery wagons], Bigyeokjincheonleoi [large exploding arrow launchers], and Ilsik Hwatong units [single-shot rocket launchers] and sending them as the vanguard, the commanders of the Mexica army were receiving news brought by a messenger.

“You’ve worked hard. Join the other warriors at the main camp.”

“Yes.”

After dismissing the messenger, Abz-Puh Achatzku Okan, the supreme commander of the Mexica army, turned to his subordinate commanders.

“It seems the warriors of Daehan have arrived sooner than we expected. What should we do?”

When Admiral Ahn Sang-soo met Montezuma I, the admiral introduced himself as the ‘Admiral of the Daehan Federal Empire Navy.’

In a situation where neither side could understand the other’s language, the Mexica people began to refer to the empire as Daehan.

It was a coincidence, but the Mexica people had found the closest approximation.

In response to Okan’s question, the subordinate commanders did not immediately offer an answer.

Many of them were survivors of the bloody battle of Tenochtitlan and those who had survived the curse.

Having experienced the empire’s terrifying firepower firsthand and survived, they were hesitant to answer easily.

Eventually, one of those who had not experienced the battle spoke first.

“According to the messenger’s report, the number of Daehan warriors does not exceed 2,000. Since our warriors number over 40,000, wouldn’t it be wise to engage them?”

To the warmongering statement advocating battle, the survivors raised objections.

“The problem is their weapons. Their weapons allow one warrior to do the work of more than ten men.”

“I agree. Their weapons are the problem.”

The warmongering commanders opposed the survivors’ objections.

“Are you saying we should turn our backs and run away? Retreating from here means we’re right back at Tenochtitlan.”

“If we show a weak appearance, the Tlaxcaltec [a rival tribe allied with the Spanish] bastards will pounce on us!”

“That’s right!”

As the warmongers raised their voices, the survivors also raised their voices.

“We know very well that Tenochtitlan is right behind us! But that doesn’t mean we should blindly fight!”

“Tlaxcaltec? Compared to those Daehan warriors, they are nothing!”

While the warmongers and survivors were raising their voices and arguing, the cautious faction, who had been watching quietly, moved.

“We have also heard about their weapons. Tenochtitlan and its surroundings are open areas. Perhaps that’s why they displayed such power?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“According to what we heard in Tenochtitlan, their weapons are similar to powerful bows or catapults. Isn’t that right?”

“Hmm….”

At the cautious faction’s question, Okan and the survivors paused to recall and then nodded.

“You could say they are similar.”

“Certainly….”

Seeing Okan’s and the survivors’ reactions, the cautious faction strengthened their voices.

“In this jungle, bows are not very effective. No, they are useful for hunting or small-scale battles, but in a large battle, they are pushed to the rear, aren’t they?”

“That’s true….”

Okan nodded.

In a large-scale battle involving large armies on both sides, bows were used to inflict damage on the enemy by firing in large volleys from a distance.

However, this was not easy in the jungle.

Even if fired in large volleys, the trees of the jungle served as natural barriers.

Moreover, in the dense jungle overgrown with trees, close combat was inevitable, and bows were vulnerable in close combat.

Seeing Okan’s positive reaction, the cautious faction gained momentum.

“If their weapons are like powerful bows, they won’t be able to exert their full power in the jungle. Therefore, we should take advantage of that.”

At the cautious faction’s words, the survivors raised objections again.

“Of course, that’s possible. But their weapons are very powerful. We could suffer great losses if we’re not careful.”

They were still objecting, but the survivors’ momentum had waned slightly.

The cautious faction pointed out the problem with the survivors’ objections.

“We are also aware of that problem. We could suffer great losses if we’re not careful. But please consider this. This is the first battle. If we avoid battle and turn our backs from the very first battle, the warriors’ morale will plummet. No, they will look down on us. We must remember that many of the Jaguar warriors and lower-ranking warriors are of slave origin.”

“….”

At the cautious faction’s point, both the warmongers and the survivors closed their mouths with serious expressions.

* * *

The cautious faction’s point was a reality.

The lower-ranking warriors of the Mexica army were primarily commoners who had graduated from the Telpochcalli [Mexica military school]. However, frequent conquest wars led to the depletion of soldiers, and the Mexica people used slaves from among the prisoners of war as soldiers.

Of course, to prevent rebellions, officer-level prisoners were used as sacrifices.

If they accumulated merits on the battlefield, they were promoted from slaves to commoners, and if they accumulated even more merits, they were promoted to Jaguar warriors and provided with land and slaves.

With such rewards from the Mexica people, the slave soldiers showed a strong will to fight, and the Mexica people pushed even more slaves into the army.

The problem was that this policy was slowly starting to show problems.

As more and more Jaguar warriors emerged, they began to unite as a force.

The commoners and nobles of Mexica could rise to Eagle warriors, but the slave-born soldiers were limited to Jaguar warriors.

The problem was their number.

The Jaguar warriors had become the core of the Mexica army.

Therefore, the cautious faction mentioned this problem.

If they retreated without even fighting, there was a significant possibility that the Jaguar warriors would have other thoughts.

* * *

“Of course, we may fight and be defeated and then retreat. But in that case, the number of Jaguar warriors will also be reduced, so they can be controlled.”

At the cautious faction’s additional explanation, Okan and the commanders, regardless of faction, all nodded.

In the end, Okan made a decision.

“It would be wise to engage them once first. However, we must not mobilize all our forces. We will push in only about 1/3 of our forces and examine their strengths and weaknesses. And even if we are defeated, we must not retreat immediately. We will do our best to tie down their feet. Summon the messengers.”

“Yes.”

When the messengers arrived, Okan gave them their mission.

“Immediately go to the other units and tell them that the warriors of Daehan are coming here. And tell them to come here as quickly as possible.”

“Yes.”

After giving the messengers their mission and sending them out, Okan looked at the commanders.

“Then let’s figure out how to fight them.”

* * *

About half an hour (approximately 1 hour) after the first battle, the native warriors who had entered the jungle returned once again and informed them of the enemy’s approach.

“What is the enemy’s number?”

At Ahn Gwon-gwan’s question, the native military instructor and the native warriors, who were in charge of translation, had a long conversation. After nodding repeatedly and finishing the conversation, the native military instructor reported to Ahn Gwon-gwan.

“At least several thousand, they say.”

“At least several thousand….”

“The trees are too dense to see properly, but they say there are at least several thousand.”

“I understand. You’ve worked hard. Tell them to prepare for battle.”

“Yes.”

After finishing the conversation, Ahn Gwon-gwan ordered his subordinate officers.

“Reconfirm the preparations once again.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the subordinate officers who received the order scattered in all directions, Ahn Gwon-gwan summoned a messenger and ordered.

“Tell the artillery unit that the enemies are approaching again.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ahn Gwon-gwan, who had sent the messenger, let out a light sigh.

“Hoo~. I’m glad that reinforcements arrived not too late.”

The unit following Ahn Gwon-gwan immediately sent reinforcements, and the heavy weapons unit, which had received Yi Jing-ok’s order, had arrived additionally.

As the number of troops increased, the vanguard’s defensive line became even stronger.

The formation, shaped like an arrowhead pointing towards the jungle, was able to reinforce the flanks, which had been a problem in the first battle.

The invasion route, like the shaft of an arrow, also had troops deployed on the left and right, ready to block the enemy’s flanking attacks.

It was because the defense had been strengthened in this way that Ahn Gwon-gwan let out a sigh of relief.

Although his face was much more relaxed than during the first battle, Ahn Gwon-gwan never let his guard down.

“Don’t forget to fire the Singijeon [rocket arrows] immediately when I give the order.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ahn Gwon-gwan, who gave another instruction to the soldier in charge of contacting the artillery unit stationed in the rear, picked up his carbine again and shouted in a loud voice.

“Never pull the trigger before I blow the whistle!”

“Yes, sir!”

Listening to his subordinates’ answers, Ahn Gwon-gwan put the whistle in his mouth. At that moment, shouts erupted from the soldiers in the front.

“Enemies!”

At the soldiers’ shouts, Ahn Gwon-gwan climbed onto the driver’s seat of the wagon. Seeing the Mexica warriors emerging from the jungle beyond the open space in front of him, Ahn Gwon-gwan blew the whistle with all his might.

Peeeeep!

Tatatatatatatang!

As soon as the whistle sounded, the soldiers pulled the triggers.

* * *

The battle, which lasted until the sun was setting in the west, was literally a bloodbath.

Unlike the first battle, the Mexica army, composed on a large scale, continued to push in, using their numbers as an advantage.

Thanks to this, they pushed right up to the expeditionary force’s trench line several times.

It was the Byeongshik Hwacha and the artillery pieces stationed right behind the vanguard that saved the Mexica people from the crisis of having their defensive line breached.

Every time a soldier under Ahn Gwon-gwan’s command fired a Singijeon, the artillery pieces created a wall of fire in the jungle in front of the defensive line.

While the artillery’s barrage blocked the Mexica army’s additional forces, the Byeongshik Hwacha and Gapsik Gyeonghwacha [improved Hwacha], which were positioned in the trench line, dealt with the Mexica warriors who had pushed right up to the front.

A small number of Mexica warriors broke through the wall of shells and bullets and jumped into the expeditionary force’s trench line to engage in close combat, but they were dealt with by the carbines held by the officers.

In the end, the Mexica people, who had suffered enormous losses, disappeared back into the jungle.

“We suffered some losses in this battle. I guess there’s no match for pushing with numbers in a limited space?”

Yi Jing-ok, who heard the report that the vanguard unit had also suffered not insignificant casualties, could not hide his disappointment.

“Like those Ming bastards in the past, those who push with numbers are really disgusting!”

Yi Jing-ok, shuddering as he thought about the battles he had fought with the Ming Dynasty in Liaodong in the past, immediately began to issue the next order.

“Since the unit in charge of the vanguard suffered damage in this battle, replace the unit! And since infectious diseases can spread in this weather, immediately cremate the corpses!”

“Yes!”

“Don’t forget the report!”

“Yes!”

* * *

Meanwhile, Okan, who was observing the battle from a slightly distant location, gave orders to his subordinate commanders.

“It is impossible to engage head-on. Do your best to hold them back.”

“Yes.”

Afterward, the Mexica army chose a method similar to modern guerrilla warfare.

The Mexica army, divided into units of about ten, scattered into the jungle and began to harass the expeditionary force.

The Mexica army, ambushing in the jungle, killed the native warriors belonging to the expeditionary force who were out on reconnaissance, or ambushed and ran away from the expeditionary force soldiers who were moving.

Every time there was a Mexica army ambush, the expeditionary force had to stop moving, and the advance speed gradually slowed down.

In the end, Yi Jing-ok made a decision.

“Prepare the Amgyeokdae (暗擊隊) [Ambush Squad].”

“Yes, General!”

Not long after, a group of Imperial Army special forces soldiers and native warriors left the expeditionary force’s camp and melted into the jungle.

The Imperial Army soldiers who melted into the jungle were holding compound bows, and their quivers were full of Pyeonjeon (片箭) [bamboo arrows].