Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1134

Batman was a town located northeast of Mardin. Well, it was more like a slightly larger village, but its location was strategic.

It was positioned to threaten the supply lines running from Van to Mardin. Naturally, the Iranian army had to seize Batman as they advanced towards Mardin. Fortunately, most of Batman’s residents were Shia, so the Iranian army was able to occupy it without bloodshed.

Conversely, the Ottoman army didn’t show much interest in Batman initially. The safest and easiest route to Van was through Mardin. The road to Batman was narrow and passed through mountainous terrain. However, the situation changed when the Ottoman army repeatedly failed to recapture Mardin.

The Ottoman army, defeated in their first recapture attempt, tried several more times, but failed each time.

“They aren’t the kind of guys to give up easily. So….”

This is where Batman became important again. As mentioned, it was a narrow road through the mountains, but it offered a direct route. If the Ottoman army seized Batman, the Iranian army’s vulnerable flank would be exposed.

Therefore, the Imperial Army officer insisted that Batman should be firmly controlled.

However, the problem was the ‘Imperial-style control’ that the Empire advocated.

* * *

The ‘firm control’ that the Empire spoke of was a bit different from other countries’ approaches:

-Securely gather intelligence on the residents.

-Be prepared to forcibly evacuate the residents if necessary.

-Deploy sufficient troops and armaments for defense.

-Operate a large-scale reconnaissance force to identify enemy movements as early as possible.

-If the enemy’s approach is confirmed, immediately evacuate the residents.

-If the stronghold must be abandoned during a defensive battle, completely scorch it before retreating.

-Preparations for all of this must be completed in advance.

In other words, it was a combination of traditional stronghold defense tactics and scorched-earth tactics. The problem was that this method unexpectedly required a lot of time and resources.

-Securing the means of transportation necessary for evacuating residents.

-The cost and manpower required to store and manage explosives and poisons needed to destroy the stronghold.

-The cost of compensating residents who return after abandoning and recapturing the stronghold.

In particular, the last item was the most troublesome.

According to the Empire’s doctrine, such stronghold clearing always involved contaminating water sources and burning down buildings like food warehouses. It wasn’t a rhetorical ‘scorched earth’ policy, but a literal one.

A stronghold scorched in this way soon became useless even if captured, and the Empire was able to recapture it with less loss than expected. The problem arose after the recapture was completed and safety was secured.

The returning residents were met with their scorched homeland. It was bad enough that the fields, houses, and warehouses had turned to ashes, but the contamination of the most important water sources—wells and springs—was unacceptable.

Naturally, the residents were greatly dissatisfied, and a lot of supplies and money were needed to appease them.

Therefore, the Empire’s ‘firm control’ was not a method that anyone could easily implement.

* * *

However, now the Empire’s officers were insisting that Batman should be ‘firmly controlled,’ and the officers from Ming [Dynasty of China] and Japan were agreeing. In response, the Iranian army commanders couldn’t hide their embarrassment and raised concerns.

“The road to Batman is very narrow and rough. That means the Ottoman army can’t deploy a large number of troops at once. Is it really necessary to control it so ‘firmly’?”

The Imperial Army officer immediately answered the Iranian army commander’s question.

“That is precisely why it must be firmly controlled. Batman is a small village, which means it’s difficult for us to deploy many soldiers to defend it. To solve this, we must evacuate the residents and turn it into a military base.”

“But still….”

When the Iranian army commander seemed to be losing the argument, a subordinate officer joined the conversation.

“The Ottoman army isn’t in good shape, and the road to Batman is narrow and rough. So, how likely is it that they’ll come to Batman?”

“Any commander with sense would choose to bypass Batman rather than launch a frontal attack on Mardin, even if the road is narrow and rough.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to deploy soldiers in the mountainous areas on either side of the road to Batman rather than firmly controlling it in the Imperial style?”

“Any commander with sense would mobilize warriors from tribes loyal to the Ottomans to clear the mountainous areas. It would be difficult to properly utilize interception tactics that take advantage of the terrain; it should only be used for containment.”

The Iranian army commanders had no choice but to nod at the Imperial Army officer’s words. Any commander with sense would naturally anticipate attacks raining down from above. Therefore, the correct approach was to clear the highlands on either side of the passage with warriors from tribes loyal to the Ottomans.

Even if the Iranian army were to advance to Constantinople [modern-day Istanbul] using the Batman passage, that was the action they would take.

“As you’re worried, firmly controlling it like our Empire does requires a lot. Therefore, it must be done now that reinforcements have arrived.”

In the end, the Iranian army commanders had no choice but to accept the advice of the Imperial Army. The residents of Batman were evacuated to the rear under the protection of the Iranian army, and the inside and outside of Batman were connected like a spider web with trenches and fortifications made of sand and soil-filled sacks.

And the Iranian army built a solid defensive line on the small stream that ran northwest of Batman.

Interestingly, even in the midst of this, the stone castle that had always been in Batman was rather ignored. It was the most visible target.

“If the Ottoman army brings cannons, it’ll be the first target, so let’s deploy some wagons or a few cannons there later.”

“That would be good.”

Before long, as the Imperial officers had predicted, the Ottoman army marched into Batman. With the stream running northwest of Batman in the middle, the Ottoman and Iranian armies engaged in a fierce battle.

The Iranian army was outnumbered in terms of troop strength, but their fortifications, reinforced with artillery and wagons, firmly blocked the Ottoman army’s offensive. In the end, the Batman front also became fixed.

As all the main fronts became fixed, Selim I began to feel impatient.

“In a situation where we should be pushing into the headquarters of the heretics, we’re stuck inside my land! It’s frustrating!”

Selim I vented his anger in front of the Ottoman army commanders and French military advisors. Now he was the monarch of a country that had been ‘invaded.’ The situation in which the enemies who invaded his country were sitting in his territory and he couldn’t repel them was a fatal blow to his authority.

Therefore, Selim I was venting his anger on the Ottoman army commanders and French military advisors.

“Speak up if you have mouths! What did you say to me before the war broke out! Didn’t you promise me Tabriz—the capital of Iran! But now, not to mention Tabriz, you can’t even recapture the lost land! What is the problem! Is it your incompetence? Is that it!”

At Selim I’s scolding, the Ottoman army commanders became stiff and only looked at Selim I. Before the war broke out, the Ottoman military leadership had been very confident.

-Our forces are superior.

-When the war breaks out, we’ll immediately overwhelm the Iranian army. This is a natural outcome.

However, when the war actually broke out, the situation was reversed. The Iranian army, which had entered Ottoman territory, was firmly entrenched, and the Ottoman army, which had launched a recapture, continued to suffer losses.

“Speak up!”

At Selim I’s scolding, Baron Ney stepped forward again.

“Sultan, the war has only just begun. Soon, the Iranian army will run out of energy.”

“I’m tired of hearing that now! According to the information conveyed by the spies, supplies sent from Iran are arriving in Van almost every day! Does that sound like they’re running out of energy!”

“If you wait a little longer….”

“Just a little, just a little, just a little! How long will that ‘just a little’ last!”

Selim I, who shouted and stopped Baron Ney from speaking, turned to his son Suleiman I.

“What do you think is the problem?”

At Selim I’s question, Suleiman I hurriedly began to think.

‘I have to think carefully!’

-If I criticize the military, the good relationship I’ve built up so far will collapse.

-I’m the only successor now, but the future is uncertain.

Because those who fled to Europe are still alive.

-Likewise, I can’t criticize the French military advisory group, because France is needed to keep those who fled to Europe in check.

-But if I remain silent, I’ll be branded as incompetent.

Then the time to take over the throne will be greatly delayed.

‘I’m in checkmate! But I can’t give up!’

Suleiman I, who was desperately searching for an answer, soon brightened and answered Selim I.

“The Eastern Three Kingdoms, especially the Empire, are the problem.”

“The Empire? Why?”

When Selim I showed a somewhat positive reaction, Suleiman I put more strength into his voice.

“Considering all the circumstances, it’s impossible for the power of those heretics to surpass us. Of course, they may have won the first few battles, but it was impossible to defend so firmly. However, the Empire made this possible. The Empire supported the heretics by putting Ming and Japan forward.”

“Hmm….”

Selim I, who nodded at Suleiman I’s answer, turned to Baron Ney.

Having received a silent question, Baron Ney immediately opened his mouth.

“I think what the Governor said is correct. The amount of supplies the Iranian army is consuming now is enormous. The only country that can provide this is the Empire.”

Selim I, who had a strange smile on his face at Baron Ney’s answer, asked again.

“What about compared to France? France also needs our Ottoman victory, doesn’t it?”

Baron Ney’s face turned pale at Selim I’s question.

‘Was this it!’

Suleiman I was talented, but Selim I was also talented. In other words, there was no way Selim I couldn’t have thought of what Suleiman I had thought.

Nevertheless, asking Suleiman I was a trap.

It was a trap aimed at Suleiman I and at the same time aimed at the French military advisors. It was to test the son who had become a strong competitor and at the same time to demand more from France.

“Doesn’t France need our victory?”