Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1151

“Okay, let’s wrap up what the main office can and should do for now…”

Woo, having prioritized the immediate tasks for the main office, moved on to the next item.

“Let’s revisit the report sent by Shinji last time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

Woo reviewed the report from Hyun, who was in charge of Shinji, and then checked the calendar hanging on one side.

“According to the report, it takes about a month to send the fleet from Shinji to Gibraltar. Does that mean we have about two weeks left?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Woo murmured as he examined the report, listening to the Prime Minister’s reply.

“Indeed, Sang-hwang [a title for a retired emperor who still holds influence] is something else. Tasks that would normally take two months with top-down directives are completed in one…”

According to Hyun’s report, it would take about a month to select and refit suitable warships from the Atlantic Fleet before they could set sail.

Hyun, who had full authority over matters related to Shinji, was able to shorten the time to this extent. And this was why Sang-hwang was legally required to stay in Shinji.

Because Sang-hwang would never revolt.

The Prime Minister, reviewing a copy of Hyun’s report, pointed out an issue.

“According to the report, the Salsu will be deployed. The report states that this voyage will finalize the soldiers’ training and bring them to full combat readiness, but I am concerned that this might be too hasty.”

All the other ministers nodded in agreement with the Prime Minister’s concern.

The Salsu was *the* warship that the entire Imperial Navy had been waiting for.

Therefore, starting with the first ship, ‘Salsu,’ the second ship was scheduled to be named ‘Gwiju,’ and the third ‘Jinpo.’

These were the names of great victories recorded in history.

Of course, there was some minor controversy regarding ‘Jinpo,’ but it was chosen because it represented ‘a great victory achieved through the full-scale use of artillery.’

Based on existing experience and lessons learned, it was the first warship conceived by Hyun, enhanced by Hyang’s MSG touch, and brought to life by the hard work of the shipyard artisans. Compared to the history before Hyang’s involvement, it was a warship similar to a ‘pre-dreadnought class’ [a type of early 20th-century battleship].

Thanks to this, it was the object of great anticipation for the Imperial Navy, which is why the ministers, starting with Jongli, were worried.

“Isn’t it said that actual combat is the best training?”

The Prime Minister immediately countered Woo’s response.

“Of course, that is true, but the officers and soldiers operating the Salsu do not fully know it inside and out. If they encounter unexpected problems in actual combat and fail to resolve them, leading to the loss of the Salsu, the Empire will suffer a great loss in terms of manpower and resources.”

Even for the Empire, building and operating a Salsu-class warship was no easy task.

The construction cost was significant, but the subsequent operation was an even bigger problem. It was not just large; it was a more sophisticated ship than existing warships in every aspect.

And all the ministers were well aware of this.

-Sophisticated = Difficult to handle = Requires skilled personnel = Costs a lot of money.

The Prime Minister bowed his head and continued to advise.

“No matter how many grains an ear of rice may bear, it is useless if it is harvested before it ripens. I believe the deployment of the Salsu is premature.”

“That may be so. But I think you all have forgotten that even if we send orders to Shinji now, the fleet is likely to have already set sail.”

“That is true, Your Majesty. However, if we send orders to Suez immediately, we can still catch them in time.”

“That may be so. But even if we do that, they will still have to fight at least one real battle, won’t they? The French aren’t the type to say, ‘You must be tired from the long voyage, let’s fight after you rest,’ are they?”

“However…”

While Woo and the ministers were engaged in a tense tug-of-war, Hyang interjected.

“I understand what many of you are worried about. But the Salsu is not a decoration for show. It is a weapon of the Empire. And it is the first weapon *we* have created. Only by experiencing actual combat can we know what is lacking and what is needed. Therefore, we must not avoid battle.”

“…We were short-sighted. Please forgive us.”

The ministers apologized at Hyang’s words. Instantly, Hyang’s expression turned fierce.

“Why are you apologizing to *me*?”

“Hup!”

The ministers, startled by Hyang’s rebuke, bowed their heads to Woo.

“Please forgive our sins.”

“Tsk! I’ll be watching!”

“We are deeply grateful!”

The ministers, sweating profusely, muttered inwardly.

‘We must follow them unconditionally for the time being!’

‘Hearing that clicking of the tongue is even more terrifying than not hearing it at all…’

‘I made a mistake…’

On the other hand, Hyang and Woo were thinking similar thoughts.

‘So, they’ve been underestimating me, have they?’

* * *

Regardless of the cold winter wind blowing through Geunjeongjeon Hall in Gyeongbok Palace [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace, a historical landmark in Seoul], the Empire was busy preparing for war. First, envoys were dispatched to Ming [a Chinese dynasty] and Japan to convey the Empire’s requests.

Nanjing.

The Hongzhi Emperor [Emperor of the Ming Dynasty], having heard the Imperial envoy’s message, discussed it with the cabinet ministers.

“What are your thoughts?”

“I believe there is no harm in listening to them. In fact, we may gain considerable benefits.”

“Benefits?”

“Yes, while the war continues, Seoul will not be able to pay attention to Persia. If we use this well, we can gain significant advantages in Persia.”

“Is that so?”

After further discussion, Ming decided to accept the Empire’s request.

The benefits outweighed the losses in many aspects.

The same was true for Japan.

Japan accepted the Empire’s request as soon as they heard it. This was due to what they had learned from watching the war of attrition in Persia.

-War is profitable. (As long as my blood isn’t spilled).

It was the best opportunity for Japan’s nascent heavy and chemical industries.

“If the Emperor needs it, our Japan can even produce the materials the Empire requires.”

The Imperial envoy momentarily lowered his head at Japan’s offer.

‘What do they take us for!’

Barely managing to compose his expression, the Imperial envoy replied with a slight smile.

“Your country’s kindness is truly appreciated. I will be sure to report it to His Majesty the Emperor.”

It was a reply full of multiple meanings.

* * *

The Empire, having passed the Persian issue on to Ming and Japan, began to focus all its efforts on France and Spain.

Less than half a month after Woo’s decision, three Black Tortoise-class transport ships set sail from the mainland, escorted by escort vessels. It was the first convoy heading to Gibraltar.

A notable point was that two of the three Black Tortoise-class transport ships were empty.

The mission of these two ships was to stop at Imperial military bases along the way to pick up supplies and head to Suez. Therefore, the transport ship initially fully loaded with supplies would separate from Hainan Island and head directly to Suez first.

Upon arriving in Suez, the captain of the Black Tortoise-class transport ship immediately sought out the commander of the Suez port garrison and presented the order.

“This is an order directly from His Majesty the Emperor.”

The commander, adjusting his attire at the captain’s words, respectfully received the order and reviewed its contents.

“Hoo…”

The commander, having reviewed the contents of the order, sighed with a strange expression.

“Is there a problem?”

“Half of them have already gone to Gibraltar. The remaining half were kept to deal with those pesky French as soon as the order came down.”

“Ah…”

“Livorno will be the same. I heard that 2,000 men have already moved from Switzerland?”

“Already?”

As the captain couldn’t hide his surprise, the commander smiled and continued.

“There’s a reason why the Gibraltar garrison commander is a Duke, isn’t there? It’s to move legally in times like these.”

“Ah…”

The power of the ‘Sang-hwang’s blood brother’ title was enormous.

“So, right now, Gibraltar is…”

“They’re fighting fiercely every day. Ah! To borrow an expression circulating among the soldiers, it’s a situation where ‘our soldiers are bleeding from their noses, and the enemy’s heads are exploding with blood.'”

* * *

As the Suez garrison commander had said, a fierce and brutal war of attrition was unfolding in Gibraltar.

The Empire was consuming supplies at a record-breaking pace every day, and France and Spain were pouring in not only supplies but also lives.

Puerto Real Spanish Naval Base.

“The problem is that Gibraltar’s lifeline is still open…”

Admiral Tourville, analyzing the war situation while looking at a map in the headquarters conference room, muttered with a face full of frustration.

“The scale of the war of attrition is larger than expected…”

The scale of consumed supplies and lives far exceeded expectations.

The idea that the French Navy could handle it alone had already been shattered in the first battle, and even the Spanish Navy had been mobilized.

However, the situation continued where two out of ten ships were inevitably sunk upon entering the Strait of Gibraltar. In response, the Spanish Navy mobilized not only the Atlantic Fleet but also the Mediterranean Fleet stationed in Valencia.

It was an operation to attack Gibraltar from both sides simultaneously.

However, it failed.

The Spanish Navy’s warships stationed in the Mediterranean were mostly outdated, and many of them were immediately decommissioned in the first battle.

Into the Mediterranean Sea.

The subsequent war situation was not a blockade of Gibraltar by France and Spain, but a severance by the Imperial forces stationed in Gibraltar. The Spanish Mediterranean Fleet, having suffered critical damage, engaged in passive containment and supply line interception, but both failed.

They were attacked by albatrosses when they came to Gibraltar, and they were attacked by Imperial escort ships that followed from Livorno and Prince Henry’s port when they tried to intercept supply lines. To overcome the stagnation of the Gibraltar blockade, the French and Spanish navies strongly urged the Spanish army to take active action.

“Everything else is unnecessary! Just seize the southern mountainous region of Algeciras!”

On either side of the entrance to Gibraltar Bay, Imperial Navy coastal batteries were firmly positioned.

What the French and Spanish navies wanted was the coastal battery on the left side of the bay, south of Algeciras.

-If we can get that coastal battery, the Imperial forces stationed in Gibraltar will have no choice but to surrender or escape!

Therefore, the French and Spanish navies had requested the seizure of that area.

It wasn’t just the navy.

Ferdinand II also began to pressure the army command.

-The navy is shedding blood to reclaim the land taken by the infidels, what is the army doing?

-How long will you only scout?

Unable to withstand Ferdinand II’s strong pressure, the Spanish army used the area requested by the navy as a breakthrough point.

-It is too inefficient to besiege and attack all of Algeciras.

-However, if we concentrate all our efforts on capturing the area requested by the navy, we have a chance of success.

-We will push so hard that the firepower of the Imperial forces stationed in that area cannot withstand it!

Based on this decision, the Spanish army mobilized a large force to capture the area.

-If the enemy can stop 100 men, we will send in 1,000!

A battle for the high ground between the Imperial Army and the Spanish Army ensued, with the southern entrance to the land route leading to Algeciras and the high ground where the coastal battery guarding Gibraltar Bay was located.