Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1130

1130. The Middle East War (8)

While the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty were trying to mask their displeasure, Ismail and the Chancellor exchanged knowing glances. They weren’t easily fooled; the founding of Iran hinged on their shrewdness.

They understood the power imbalance between the Ottomans and Iran, and believed the only solution was firm support—in other words, active participation—from the Eastern Three [Japan, the Empire, and the Ming Dynasty].

-What the Eastern Three want is a stable supply of oil.

-If only this is guaranteed, they might abandon Iran.

-Then, we must drag them into the quagmire with us.

Having reached this conclusion, Ismail and the Chancellor used Japan, represented by Ishiwara, as bait.

* * *

“Thanks to someone, things are escalating….”

Contrary to their initial expectations, the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty braced themselves as active intervention became unavoidable.

“Now that it’s come to this, let’s finish it properly!”

“Agreed!”

The officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty, in agreement, began to move in earnest.

As they began to move, the Iranian army began to stir.

“No! The number of cannons deployed to the front lines is too small! Increase it immediately!”

“Didn’t you say this was enough?”

“Do you think we’re dealing with the Ottomans and those Uzbek tribes in the highlands? We’re not defending, but attacking! The situation is different! You said you wanted to win! Increase the number of cannons immediately!”

“The inventory and manpower….”

“Are you going to trade the cannons piled up in the rear for엿 [Korean taffy, implying uselessness]! Bring all the cannons and hwachas [Korean rocket artillery] right now!”

The Iranian commanders, overwhelmed by the Imperial army officers’ ferocity, immediately sought an audience with Ismail to plead their case. However, Ismail’s answer was unexpected.

“They are experts in wars between nations. Do as they say.”

“Understood.”

Following Ismail’s orders, the Iranian army began to change in a ‘truly imperial’ manner.

It wasn’t just the number of cannons that increased. From 완구 [small arms] to large-caliber field guns, the deployment quantity, utilization tactics, and even the distribution of command were thoroughly coordinated according to the mission. With the large-scale deployment of cannons and hwachas, the Iranian army’s battle doctrine was readjusted.

-Break them with cannons and clean them up with hwachas.

The resulting problem was supply. In this area, Ming showed its prominence more than the Empire. The Empire also had a knack for supply, but its capabilities shone only when it had sufficient equipment—assault vehicles, towing vehicles, and railroads.

However, the situation was different for Ming.

They had accumulated experience in moving hundreds of thousands of troops since ancient times.

In addition, Ming still had a lower level of mechanization compared to the Empire. Transporting supplies by carts and manpower was still common. Ming was moving and maintaining hundreds of thousands of troops even in this situation. And Iran’s means of operation for supply were as poor as Ming’s compared to the Empire.

However, looking at the current situation, it had become ‘Japanese attack caution + Imperial logistics tactics.’ To put it differently, it was like ‘a hungry merchant entering a fight.’

In the beginning, they would push the enemy with a strong one or two blows, but after a little time, they would become weak due to hunger and be beaten instead. To prevent this, the Ming Dynasty officers moved.

“Railroad from here to here, carts from here to here, and from here….”

The Ming Dynasty officers began to build supply routes and systems while struggling with maps and household registers. Thanks to their efforts, the Iranian army’s supply line was firmly refined.

The Iranian army commanders, Ismail, and the Chancellor were amazed to see the Iranian army transforming to the point that the word ‘metamorphosis’ was an understatement.

“What on earth are the Empire and Ming….”

“I thought we had almost caught up with the training and combat experience we had received so far….”

While the commanders were surprised by the firepower of the front-line units, which had changed dramatically, Ismail and the Chancellor were surprised by the things happening behind the scenes.

“They make us realize what the saying ‘conscription is also supply’ means.”

“I agree.”

Ismail and the Chancellor still held the traditional idea that ‘a warrior’ and ‘a group of warriors is a unit,’ and ‘supply can be solved by plunder.’ However, the Empire and Ming showed through their actions that such a way of thinking was outdated.

Ismail, looking at the increasingly powerful Iranian army and the mountain of reports detailing the various costs, lightly shook his head and looked back at the Chancellor.

“Chancellor, do you remember when the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty first came?”

* * *

The officers of the Eastern Three, who arrived in Iran under the guise of a military advisory group, immediately examined Iran’s internal situation and its relations with neighboring countries and reported to Ismail and the Chancellor.

-If you take a defense-oriented strategy, you must maintain 80,000 standing troops, and if you consider transcendent attacks, you must maintain at least 120,000.

“80,000 to 120,000? Isn’t that too many? The soldiers I led when I founded this country were just over 40,000. If it hadn’t been for Allah’s protection, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain even those 40,000.”

The senior officer of the Imperial army replied firmly to Ismail’s words.

“It is more difficult to govern a country than to found it. And think of the Ottomans. They are already familiar with guns and cannons. You must prepare thoroughly.”

“But 80,000 to 120,000…. It’s a huge scale that I can’t even grasp.”

However, the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty replied with expressions that it was nothing.

“It’s only 80,000 to 120,000. It is fully possible with Iran’s national power now and in the future.”

The Chancellor, who had been silent, spoke.

“80,000 to 120,000…. Is it possible to create such a large army?”

“Looking at the current situation of the Iranian army, it is not easy, but it is not impossible.”

“That’s about the level of a border defense force. It is possible.”

Ismail and the Chancellor were astonished.

* * *

Ismail, recalling the past, looked at the Chancellor and continued.

“But now it’s 140,000. We, who barely gathered 40,000 troops, now have 140,000 troops…. The country of the past would never have believed it.”

The Chancellor agreed.

“I agree. I remember the joke that the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty made at that time. They said it was a ‘border defense unit,’ right?”

“I always feel this way, but the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty are unpredictable. They seem serious about everything, but they throw jokes all the time. No matter how much it is the Empire and Ming Dynasty, is it at the level of a border defense unit….”

“That’s right.”

However, the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty, who later heard this story, looked wronged.

“It’s not a joke….”

And next to them, the Japanese army officers were nodding with envious eyes.

* * *

The Iranian army’s combat power to be deployed on the front line was further strengthened through the Imperial and Ming armies’ ‘sincere advice.’

“Although it took a lot of time, it was worth it!”

“Now we can win even if we face the Ottomans head-on!”

The Iranian army commanders, encouraged by the increased combat power, became more aggressive. As departure approached, generous amounts of alcohol and food were provided to the commanders and soldiers.

“Loyalty to the Shahansha [Persian king]!”

“Hooray!”

The soldiers who received alcohol and food shouted cheers to Ismail and began to enjoy the feast. In the noisy atmosphere, very aggressive remarks popped out, met with cheers.

However, even in the midst of this, there were those who could not enjoy this entertainment.

“Hey, poet, why are you so gloomy?”

The officer, called ‘poet’ thanks to his rich sensibility, turned his head.

“Ah! I was looking at those cannons.”

“Why the cannons?”

“I was imagining the sight of so many cannons spewing fire into the enemy lines.”

“Really? Wouldn’t it be a spectacle?”

In response, the ‘poet’ replied with a slightly bitter expression.

“It would be a spectacle for those watching, but it would be hell for those receiving.”

“Do we need to think about the other side’s position?”

At his colleague’s question, the poet stared blankly.

‘Wouldn’t the Ottomans have cannons too?’

The ‘poet,’ who forcibly suppressed the question, turned his gaze back to the cannons.

“Following the Empire and Ming Dynasty, so many cannons have been deployed. And they will achieve great results. Then more and more countries will build armies like the Empire and Ming Dynasty. To be honest, I’m a little scared.”

“What are you so afraid of?”

“I’m afraid of such wars between those countries, where they will fire shells like arrows.”

“…….”

The ‘poet’s’ colleague, who had been grinning, did not reply. The conversation spread and reached the ears of the officers of the Empire and Ming Dynasty.

The officers, who heard the rumors, looked at each other and muttered inwardly.

‘That’s why we only aim and don’t fight! No, can’t we fight? If we fight wrong, it’s over!’

* * *

Three days later, the Iranian army stationed on the Anatolian border crossed the border all at once.

-Let’s help the brothers of faith suffering from the oppression of the Ottomans!

This was the justification put forward by the Iranian army.

The Iranian army, which crossed the border, divided its forces into three.

-One goes around the north of Lake Van and advances to Patnos.

As Patnos was the starting point of this war, it must be occupied.

-The other bypasses the mountainous area south of Lake Van and advances to and seizes Mardin.

-The last group is stationed around Lake Van and performs the task of supplying and reserve forces for the left and right wings.

If Iran’s plan succeeds, Iran will secure both political justification and practical benefits.

By seizing Patnos, they would secure political justification, and by seizing Mardin, they would gain control of the southern route into Iran. Of course, there was also a route that went further south and entered through Syria, but this was a route that passed through a vast desert area.

The desert area itself was the best defense line.

However, to succeed, there were many hills to overcome. The first was time.

The Ottoman army sent from Constantinople had entered the Anatolian highlands two days earlier. At almost the same time, both armies obtained intelligence about each other’s movements. A ‘race’ had begun.

“We must seize the destination before the enemy!”

“Let’s drive out the invaders!”

“Judge the heretics!”

It was a race mixed with military objectives, political reasons, and religious beliefs.