Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1154

1154. Whose Responsibility Is It? Yours (6)

As the Spanish army’s artillery battery fell silent due to the airstrikes by the kestrel and albatross squadrons, the Imperial Army’s artillery began its counter-battery fire.

Most of the Imperial Army’s artillery preparing for this were small-caliber guns or medium-to-large-caliber weapons that looked almost identical to 21st-century mortars.

The long-range, large-caliber artillery pieces were dug into the bedrock or positioned in heavily reinforced concrete fortifications, aimed at the Strait of Gibraltar, making it impossible to quickly turn them toward the opposite slope.

Of course, the Imperial Army also had medium-caliber artillery pieces, which were relatively easy to redirect, deployed in the middle ground between the inland and coastal areas.

However, the Spanish and French artillery batteries participating in this attack were just barely outside their range.

This positioning was thanks to the hard-won experience of previous defeats by the Imperial Army. Considering the range of the Spanish and French cannons, they were positioned to only bombard up to the first ridge of the targeted ridgeline.

“However, the survival of the battery is more important. If the capture of the first ridge is successful, we can move the cannons along with the soldiers.”

“Moving the cannons along the ridge is not an easy task.”

“Are you suggesting we needlessly move into the range of those damn cannons and lose our valuable artillery?”

“…”

“No matter how many cannons we have, we are at a disadvantage in an artillery battle. We must continue to force close combat to prevent them from firing even if they want to.”

Based on Alba’s decision, the Spanish-French allied artillery, deployed with overwhelming numbers, initially silenced the Imperial Army’s artillery battery positioned in front through concentrated bombardment.

However, due to such concentrated and continuous shelling, the barrels overheated before long, forcing them to cease fire. They then fell into a long silence due to the airstrikes by the kestrels and albatrosses.

* * *

With the allied artillery battery silenced, Alba grew impatient and began to urge them on.

“We must not stop the shelling!”

“Clear the wounded and dead!”

“Cannons that are undamaged, resume firing! If the shelling stops, our advancing troops will die!”

Urged on by Alba, the Spanish and French soldiers pushed aside the dead and wounded and checked the condition of the cannons that appeared to be intact.

“Is it still not ready yet!”

“Almost there!”

However, the Imperial Army’s artillery was one step faster.

Bang! Kaboom!

“It’s the Imperial bastards’ shelling!”

“Take cover!”

Among the Imperial Army’s artillery, the first to fire were the Byeong-sik Jungwangu [Medium Wangu].

Wangu with a caliber of 3 chi (approximately 9 cm [3.5 inches]), possessing performance similar to an 81mm mortar in the 21st century.

When the French-Spanish artillery bombardment ceased, the artillerymen in charge of the Jungwangu emerged from the covered trenches connected to the Wangu positions and prepared for counter-battery fire, inspecting the condition of the Wangu.

After inspecting the condition of the Wangu, the artillerymen ran to report to the commander of their battery.

“Out of the 12 Jungwangu, 9 are ready for immediate use!”

“Then blow those bastards’ heads off right now!”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon after, the Jungwangu that had survived the shelling began to fire in unison.

* * *

The Jungwangu bombardment was the signal flare announcing the Imperial artillery’s counterattack.

Following the Jungwangu, the Daewangu [Large Wangu], with a caliber of 5 chi (approximately 15 cm [5.9 inches]), also began to fire.

Bang! Bang! Kaboom!

As the continuous shelling persisted, the Hwatan [shell] storage built on one side of the Wangu position began to run dry.

“Bring the Bigyeokjincheonleis [Thunder Crash Bombs]! Quickly!”

“Yes!”

At the Jinnu’s [commander’s] shout, who was commanding the Wangu’s firing, the soldiers diligently began to run through the trenches.

Arriving at the Hwatan warehouse located a short distance behind the Wangu positions, the soldiers began to carry wooden boxes containing Bigyeokjincheonleis in pairs.

“Lift!”

“Hup!”

The soldiers in charge of supplying the Bigyeokjincheonleis gritted their teeth as they lifted the boxes and began to return to their positions.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Damn it… It’s so heavy!”

“I’m dying of exhaustion, so don’t even open your mouth! I’ll lose strength!”

The boxes containing the Bigyeokjincheonleis were incredibly heavy.

“Still, we’re Jungwangu! The guys on the Daewangu side have to come six or seven more times for every one of our trips!”

The Bigyeokjincheonleis used for the Daewangu were objects of both affection and resentment for the soldiers.

The weight of a Bigyeokjincheonlei for Jungwangu was about 9 geun (5.4 kg [11.9 pounds]), and with the box containing 10 rounds, it usually weighed about 100 geun (approximately 60 kg [132 pounds]).

However, the weight of one Bigyeokjincheonlei for Daewangu was 50 geun (approximately 15 kg [33 pounds]). Even with the box containing 3 rounds, the weight was similar to the Jungwangu at about 100 geun, but the problem was that while the Jungwangu could carry 10 rounds at a time, the Daewangu could only carry 3 rounds.

In other words, the soldiers in charge of the Daewangu had to go back and forth at least three times for every one trip made by the soldiers in charge of the Jungwangu.

Therefore, the soldiers operating the Daewangu cursed every time they had to carry the Bigyeokjincheonleis for the Daewangu. However, its power was outstanding, making it an object of both affection and resentment.

As an aside, there was one truth hidden from the soldiers. Initially, the caliber of the Daewangu was proposed to be 4 chi to 4.5 chi (approximately 13.5 cm [5.3 inches]). However, this proposal was immediately rejected by the higher-ups.

“If it’s 4 chi, it’s 4 chi, and if it’s 5 chi, it’s 5 chi. What’s 4.5 chi? Cut it off cleanly!”

“If possible, let’s avoid the number 4.”

Perhaps because they lived with death as a constant companion, there were various taboos or jinxes in the military.

Among them, the most widespread was avoiding the number ‘4’.

This was because the pronunciation of ‘4’ was the same as the Chinese character for death (死).

Because of this taboo, the soldiers’ hardships were further amplified.

* * *

Although the soldiers carrying the Bigyeokjincheonleis had to suffer, the launched Bigyeokjincheonleis lived up to their name.

As much as the shell for ordinary Hwatan was made thinner, more gunpowder was filled. The shell was not only made thinner, but on the inside of the shell, there were small cracks carved to make it easier for the outer shell to break into smaller pieces when the gunpowder inside exploded. To make matters worse, small iron beads were added.

Thanks to this, every time a Bigyeokjincheonlei fell on a target and exploded, powerful aftershocks, fragments, and iron beads swept in all directions.

Bang! Kaboom!

“Aaaagh!”

“Get down!”

The Spanish soldiers attempting to break through the Empire’s first line of defense were covered in blood and collapsed every time a Bigyeokjincheonlei exploded, or they simply buried their heads in the ground and waited for the shelling to end.

The same was true for the artillery positions in the rear.

The artillerymen, who were about to resume shelling, hid behind sandbagged protective walls, calling out the names of ‘Holy Mary’ and various saints, praying for their protection.

Seeing this, Alba shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Get up! Get up and fire the cannons!”

“The enemy’s shelling is fierce!”

“So what! Are you suggesting we tuck our tails and run away! Cannon against cannon! Stand up like men! Stand up and silence the enemy’s cannons!”

“But…..”

“Hey!”

Unable to contain his anger, Alba ran to the nearest cannon position and kicked the soldiers.

“Load the cannon! Load it, I say!”

At the Marquis’s shouts and kicks, the soldiers loaded gunpowder and cannonballs into the cannon.

“Is the aiming done!”

“Yes, yes!”

At the platoon leader’s answer, Alba pulled the firing cord with all his might.

Bang!

“Reload! Quickly!”

At Alba’s command, the platoon leader and artillerymen returned the cannon that had been pushed back to its original position and began to load the next round. Seeing Alba standing tall and firing the cannon himself despite the shells falling from all directions, the Spanish and French artillerymen forcibly suppressed the encroaching fear and rose from behind the protective walls, clinging to their cannons.

Bang! Kaboom! Bang!

As the shelling resumed and the Spanish and French artillerymen regained confidence in the face of the resounding cannon fire that rang in their ears, they endured the Empire’s shelling and began to fire shells.

Seeing this, Alba shouted with a satisfied expression.

“That’s it! That’s what I’m talking about! That’s what a soldier and a warrior should be! Don’t back down! Overcome your fear! If the enemy fires one shot, we fire one shot too! No! We fire two shots! That’s what a man does!”

If there had been a high-ranking officer of the Imperial Army in this place, Alba would have been so encouraged by the soldiers in such a brave manner that he would have been offered, ‘Would you like to join the Imperial Army?’

* * *

While the Imperial artillery and the Spanish-French artillery were fiercely exchanging fire, a fierce battle was also taking place on the Empire’s first line of defense.

Underneath the countless bullets flying back and forth, the Spanish soldiers desperately cut through the barbed wire.

“Cut!”

“Advance!”

“Advance! Advance!”

Finally, the Spanish soldiers who had made a hole in the first barbed wire zone continued their advance on their bellies.

“Don’t raise your heads! Just crawl!”

“Advance as far as possible! That’s how other guys can come in!”

“If you stop, you’ll die like a dog!”

Encouraged by the commanders and veteran soldiers, the Spanish soldiers crawled forward, lying flat on the ground. The elbows and knees of their uniforms were already torn, and blood was seeping from the skin scraped by dirt and stones.

However, the soldiers could not even feel the pain. Right now, they were just crawling forward with all their might. The vanguard of the Spanish army, crawling desperately on the ground, was soon able to reach the shaded area of the hill.

If they crossed this area, they would once again become targets of the Imperial Army, but until then, it was a perfect location where they could avoid bullets and take a breather.

“Dig trenches here!”

At the command of the commander who had survived to this point, the Spanish soldiers untied the small shovels they were carrying on their backs and began to dig into the ground.

Fling! Fling!

“Eek!”

“Ugh!”

Every time the sound of bullets passing over the heads of the soldiers hiding in the shaded area was heard, the Spanish soldiers were horrified and lowered their heads. However, among them, the unlucky ones collapsed and did not move, leaving only screams.

The soldiers who narrowly avoided misfortune looked once at the faces of those unlucky ones who had fallen like that, then turned their heads and began to dig into the ground even more desperately.

Meanwhile, the commander who had hidden in the shaded area surveyed the surrounding situation, gestured to the soldiers next to him, and gave an order.

“Report to headquarters. ‘First line of defense breached. Establishing a bridgehead. Severe damage.'”

“Understood.”

“Then move immediately. Don’t forget that at least one of you must survive to inform headquarters.”

“Understood.”

The commander’s face was filled with desperation as he watched the soldiers crawling back down the path they had come up, as carefully as possible, heading to headquarters.

“At least one of them has to arrive… If they get tangled up here without timing it right, they’ll just become targets…”

Through the hole made by themselves and those who had fallen in front of them, the next wave of Spanish soldiers was still attempting to break through.

Those who succeeded in breaking through would naturally flock to this place, and if they gathered more than necessary, they would immediately become targets. That’s why he had sent the soldiers now.

It was best to coordinate with headquarters after hearing the situation to avoid the worst-case scenario.

While the commander was agonizing, one of the Spanish soldiers who had been digging into the ground with all his might was making an absurd expression as he looked at the shovel in his hand.

“I wondered why it was digging so well…”

The Empire’s famous flower pattern was engraved on the handle connection of the small shovel in his hand.