Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1160

1160. Whose Responsibility Is It? Yours! (12)

The commander of the Skywing Brigade stroked his chin, deep in thought, after receiving the report that ‘The French have changed.’

“Hmm…. Does this mean they are finally ready to fight?”

“It seems makeshift, but their movements have become quite fierce.”

“It seems they have learned a lot in the meantime.”

The commander, after pondering the pilots’ responses, gave them an order.

“From now on, prepare yourselves thoroughly before sortieing. And never lower your altitude.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Imperial Skywing Brigade had been suffering from the fire nets created by the Spanish and French artillery while bombing the Spanish positions.

“Bombing is important, but eliminating the French Skywings comes first.”

“The Spanish positions can be destroyed with cannons, so prioritize the French Skywings.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Then, dismissed.”

After dismissing the pilots, the Skywing Brigade commander pondered something further and soon summoned the maintenance personnel.

“How many kestrels [small, fast aircraft] and albatrosses [larger, more durable aircraft] can we get operational right now?”

“Seventeen kestrels and eleven albatrosses.”

“The number of albatrosses is quite low?”

“Quite a few got riddled with holes during the bombing runs.”

“I see…..”

The commander nodded lightly and gave an order.

“It can’t be helped. We need to secure as many operational aircraft as possible right now. You’ll have to work hard.”

“Understood.”

* * *

The next day, the pilots who sortied to the Spanish positions and returned reported a new fact to the commander.

“The sky was completely empty?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Instead, things on the ground have become a bit noisy.”

“Hmm…. Understood. Go and prepare for the next sortie.”

“Yes, sir.”

The commander, after dismissing the pilots, stroked his chin and assessed the situation.

‘Did those guys get scared and run away? No…. Those crazy bastards who would ride coffins into the sky wouldn’t do that. Then…..’

The commander, pondering the French intentions, looked up and out the window.

Seeing the albatrosses being busily maintained, the commander’s eyes twinkled, and he muttered.

“They’ve found a way to increase their numbers, I see.”

According to the pilots’ reports, the Skywings the French had tinkered with had become quite fierce.

Naturally, the French would have made the same assessment, so it was certain they would tinker with even more aircraft and deploy them all at once.

“Even Hang Yu [a famous Chinese general known for his strength] can’t stand against a mob. In that case…..”

From the next day, the Imperial Skywing Brigade also began to use tricks.

They sortied squadrons consisting of three kestrels and three albatrosses.

These were a kind of bait.

Six kestrels and three albatrosses, other than these, were following behind the bait squadron at a higher altitude.

-If the French bite the bait, the bait squadron will immediately turn around and retreat while firing Singijeon [rocket arrows].

-The main force, upon seeing the Singijeon or discovering the French, will immediately descend and hunt down the French.

-If the number of French who bite the bait is greater than expected, the bait squadron will not engage in combat and will immediately return to base and fire Singijeon.

-All the kestrels and albatrosses on standby will immediately take off and join the battle.

This was the trick the Imperial Skywing Brigade commander had devised.

Duke Iche smiled maliciously upon hearing the plan.

“A trick behind a trick is the best. Do it properly.”

“Thank you.”

Iche, who had approved the operation submitted by the Skywing Brigade commander, dismissed the commander and then looked at the calendar hanging on the wall.

“According to the plan that came with the last supply convoy, the fleet that departed from Shinji [a major port city] will arrive soon, and that’s when the real thing will begin. Hmm…..”

Duke Iche shuffled through the reports on his desk, checking the preparations.

“The stockpiles of fire bombs and cannons are sufficient, and if we add the assault vehicles and towing vehicles that will be shipped with the upcoming fleet, we’ll have enough transportation…. Adding the number of soldiers coming with them and the 10,000 soldiers sent from Switzerland…. The supplies such as fuel, ammunition, and food shouldn’t be lacking either…. Haa〜.”

Duke Iche sighed lightly and concluded.

“I won’t be scolded by the Supreme Emperor.”

Iche shuddered slightly as he looked at the letter neatly placed on one side of his desk.

* * *

The first supply sent from the mainland contained a letter from Iche’s father, Wan.

-I’ll cut to the chase.

-As soon as preparations are complete, crush France and Spain as quickly and surely as possible.

-Right now, the Grand Supreme Emperor is trying to step in directly, and even the Emperor is trying to stop him.

-If that happens, I will go directly to Gibraltar and beat you up first, no questions asked.

-Take care of it.

Upon seeing the brutal letter sent by Wan, Iche immediately summoned his staff and subordinate commanders.

“….Therefore, we must crush the French and Spanish bastards no matter what. Understood?”

At Iche’s question, the staff and commanders, with pale faces, answered with cold sweat.

“Yes, sir!”

“However, we can’t just rush into things with inadequate preparation. If we limit it to Gibraltar alone, we can still achieve victory now. But we will have to endure great losses. You all know what happened after the Battle of Corsica, right?”

“Yes, sir!”

In the Battle of Corsica, which took place during the Italian Unification War, the Imperial Navy won, but suffered considerable damage.

Due to this ‘pyrrhic victory,’ a significant number of the Imperial Navy’s leadership and high-ranking generals were reprimanded or had to step down.

After that, a rule to be followed was added to the Imperial Army and Navy.

-Do not act rashly until proper preparations have been made.

-Distinguish between confidence and recklessness.

Because of this, the Imperial forces stationed in Gibraltar, commanded by Iche, were conducting defense-oriented battles.

-Prioritize defense first.

-The most important thing is to secure absolute control of the sea.

-Block the union of the Spanish navies divided to the left and right with Gibraltar in the center, and at the same time, reliably maintain our own maritime supply lines.

-Avoid unnecessary consumption of troops and supplies as much as possible. Conserve the troops and supplies sent from the mainland, Shinji, and Switzerland as much as possible.

-When the time comes, unleash everything at once and crush France and Spain.

-The moment the ‘Punitive Fleet’ sent from Shinji arrives and demonstrates its power is exactly that time.

* * *

Six days had passed since the Imperial Skywing Brigade’s fishing operation began in the skies of Gibraltar.

The French Air Force took the bait.

Bang!

“Signal!”

Upon seeing the Singijeon fired by the bait squadron, the pilots of the main force immediately increased their altitude and assessed the situation.

Shortly after, the bait squadron was passing by at a significantly lower altitude than where they were positioned.

The sight of the bait squadron, with the French Air Force chasing behind, heading straight back to base without joining up—even one of the kestrels was emitting thick smoke—erased the smiles from the faces of the main force’s pilots.

It was a large-scale French offensive.

In response, the albatrosses immediately increased their altitude even further.

Almost simultaneously, the French Daedalus [French aircraft] began to appear from the front.

* * *

As the Imperial Skywings and the French Daedalus entered the engagement range, the albatrosses, which were flying at the highest altitude, were the first to take action.

Taking advantage of their altitude, the albatrosses tore through the Daedalus squadron’s formation as they dove.

The Daedalus scattered in all directions to avoid the albatrosses diving while firing artillery, and the kestrels rushed in without missing the opportunity.

Before long, the sky became chaotic with kestrels and Daedalus crisscrossing like weaving cloth.

The albatrosses, having regained altitude and energy, dived again, targeting the Daedalus.

Like a well-honed pair of scissors cutting through cloth.

And, before long, the kestrels and albatrosses remaining at the base joined the battle.

The Imperial Skywings and the French aircraft engaged in intense maneuvers, waging a fierce aerial battle, but the result was unexpected.

-French: 3 shot down, Imperial: 2 damaged.

This was partly because the French pilots’ skills had improved dramatically through previous battles, but also because the Imperial pilots had to be wary of being ambushed.

The Imperial pilots had to desperately engage in evasive maneuvers the moment a French Skywing got behind them.

After that, the Gibraltar air battles continued in a similar pattern every time.

-The albatrosses scatter the Daedalus groups, and the kestrels attack the scattered Daedalus.

-The Daedalus stubbornly insist on close-quarters combat, luring the Imperial Skywings to low altitudes.

-When the Imperial Skywings descend to low altitudes, the Spanish forces on the ground join in.

-The Imperial Skywings are horrified and immediately gain altitude.

-Or, conversely, they lure the Daedalus to high altitudes.

They were aiming to exploit the fact that the Daedalus’ movements became sluggish at high altitudes.

Before they knew it, the skies of Gibraltar were filled with all sorts of dirty tricks.

* * *

While fierce aerial battles were taking place in the skies of Gibraltar, the seas of Gibraltar were also gradually becoming rougher.

The goals of the combined French and Spanish navies, which had nested in Puerto Real [a port city], were gradually changing.

The initial goal of ‘blockading Gibraltar to starve or expel the Imperial forces’ had disappeared at some point, and the current goal was as follows.

-Break through the blockade of Gibraltar and connect the Spanish navies divided to the left and right.

-After that, cut off the Imperial forces’ transport routes from Suez and Livorno to Gibraltar.

However, even the first goal of connecting the two divided Spanish navies continued to be sluggish. This was because the Imperial Navy, which had brilliantly blocked the first attempt by the French Navy, was focusing only on blocking the connection and maintaining the transport routes instead of attacking.

The Spanish Mediterranean Fleet, composed mainly of outdated battleships, lacked the ability to break through the Imperial Navy’s blockade. To the extent that they couldn’t even properly check the Imperial Navy’s transport convoys traveling between Livorno and Prince Henry Harbor.

“In the end, we have to break through,” said Admiral Tourville.

Admiral Tourville immediately requested support from Paris.

However, the reply from Paris disappointed him.

-It is difficult right now. Please wait a little longer.

Admiral Tourville could not contain his anger upon seeing the reply from Paris.

“The guys who left from the west might stab us in the back at any moment, and they’re telling us to wait? Are they joking!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Admiral Tourville headed straight to Paris and met with Charles VIII.

“We must seize Gibraltar before it’s too late!”

“However, the situation is not good right now. The budget is too short.”

“Isn’t that part something we were prepared for from the planning stage?”

Charles VIII’s face contorted severely at Admiral Tourville’s protest.

“Yes, I was prepared. In that case, have you properly carried out your task?”

Admiral Tourville closed his mouth at Charles VIII’s rebuke. This was because he had not yet achieved the original goal of ‘starving or expelling’.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

Charles VIII, having received Admiral Tourville’s apology, continued.

“I forgive you. It’s not that I don’t understand your feelings.”

Charles VIII continued.

“I will send as many of the battleships remaining in the homeland as possible. I hope you will achieve your goal this time.”

“Thank you.”

Due to Charles VIII’s decision, Admiral Tourville returned to Puerto Real leading a considerable fleet.

Admiral Tourville, having reinforced his forces, summoned his subordinate commanders and captains.

“We must achieve our goal this time. Remember that this is our last chance.”

At Admiral Tourville’s words, the commanders and captains silently nodded.

Everyone knew that a messenger ship had slipped out of Gibraltar immediately after the first battle.

Considering the time it took for that messenger ship to arrive, the time it took for the Empire to receive the report and prepare, and the time it took for the prepared Empire to move, a new Imperial fleet would appear soon.

Therefore, they had to finish Gibraltar before that.