Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 1164

1164. Whose Responsibility Is It? Yours! (16)

The battle, as later defined by French historians, was fierce but one-sided. The *Salsoo’s* main guns, the core power of the punitive fleet, numbered only six, but their firepower was worthy of being called ‘invincible.’

However, these six main guns were all the *Salsoo* had.

* * *

Admiral Tourville scoffed, ‘The Empire people have no common sense!’ but the Empire people did have common sense.

-Six large and powerful main guns

-Armor plating that could withstand those guns

-A propulsion system capable of a maximum combat speed of 200 *li* (about 80 km, or about 22 knots in today’s terms) in one *shijin* (approximately 2 hours) if necessary.

-Turrets surrounded by thick armor and electric motors to move the massive guns inside, along with generators to power those motors.

-Fuel and food capacity to cross the Atlantic without resupply

-Ammunition load for at least three battles and medical supplies for the crew’s treatment, etc.

The Empire people—or rather, Hyang—contemplated the optimal answer to these mutually restrictive essential conditions, and the answer was simple.

-No large cannons other than the six main guns are mounted.

-To deal with small ships that cannot be engaged with the main guns, a large number of Type Eul heavy machine guns are mounted.

“They are used like the quills of a porcupine.”

At Hyang’s words, Hyun and the officials replied simultaneously.

“Aren’t the quills too small? The caliber of the Type Eul heavy machine gun is only 70% of 1 *chi*, about 2.1 cm.”

Not only Hyun and the artisans but also the naval command showed a similar reaction. In response, Hyang tapped another blueprint with his hand and replied.

“This destroyer will be a bigger quill.”

“I understand. But it’s still insufficient and makes me anxious (*bul-an-ham-ni-da*). Wouldn’t it be better to add rapid-firing guns used as the main guns of destroyers?”

At Hyun’s suggestion, Hyang crossed his arms and glared at Hyun.

“If you keep adding cannons like that, the battleship will only get bigger. How much bigger will the engine have to be to move that bulk? Then wouldn’t there be a vicious cycle of the battleship having to get bigger again?”

“That’s true with the technology we have now. But as the level of technology increases, won’t more powerful engines come out in the future with similar bulk? Wouldn’t it be good to design it generously in advance in preparation for that time?”

“Conversely, if the technology gets that good, won’t even more powerful engines come out with the same bulk as the engines on the current battleship? Of course, it’s like saying ‘an earring if you hang it on your ear, a nose ring if you hang it on your nose’ [meaning it depends on how you use it].”

Thanks to Hyang saying ‘it’s true and not true’ first, Hyun was at a loss for words, but he still couldn’t hide his disappointment and clung to it.

“Still…..”

“Stop it. Even if the level of technology develops, by the time it reaches the level you want, the battleship will be obsolete. I think it’s better to develop a new one then.”

“Hmm…..”

“Finally, think about the cost of building that battleship and the time and cost of training the manpower needed to operate it. No matter how much of a battleship it is, it’s not unsinkable, is it? If you make it too big without thinking and it sinks, can you afford the cost of rebuilding it and the expenses of training the manpower? I can’t afford that either.”

“Then I’ll do it as is.”

However, there were those who didn’t know how to give up even after that.

“This is the concept diagram of the new battleship.”

“Huh?”

The battleship drawn in the concept diagram that came out again had a total of seven main gun turrets.

Two in the front, one in the rear, and two on each side of the hull, for a total of seven turrets.

Hyang, who saw the concept diagram, immediately folded it and put it aside as if he didn’t need to see it anymore.

“Let’s fold this up. There are too many unnecessary cannons.”

“Isn’t it good? No matter which direction the enemy comes from, at least three turrets can deal with them. And think about the last Battle of Corsica. Even if enemy ships come from all directions, you can deal with them all.”

“No one can stand up to a mob. And you say that you can use at least three turrets no matter which direction you face, but conversely, no matter which direction you face, at least two turrets will be idle, won’t they? And how are you going to defend if you put turrets on the side like that?”

“If you make it that thick…..”

“The speed will be so slow that even turtles will make fun of it. Let’s fold it up.”

“….Yes.”

The *Salsoo*-class battleship was born through this process.

Admiral Tourville shouted ‘nonsense,’ but it was a battleship that came out through a very ‘common sense’ process.

* * *

As the punitive fleet joined, the Franco-Spanish allied fleet began to collapse in a landslide.

Duke Yiche, who received the situation report via the self-propelled flying sphere floating in the sky above Gibraltar, clenched his fist and cheered.

“That’s it! Chief of Staff!”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

“Turn the assault turtle ships around and smash the Spanish bastards to the east!”

“Then won’t the western sea area be too empty?”

“The support fleet has come from Shinji! The support fleet is definitely destroying them, so we just need to prevent the small fries from pushing into the mouth of the bay! That’s enough with destroyers and Challenger-class battleships! And there are coastal defense batteries too! Proceed as is!”

“Understood!”

Duke Yiche’s order was immediately transmitted to the Gibraltar-based fleet via the self-propelled flying sphere.

The assault turtle ships, having confirmed the order, immediately withdrew from the battlefield and turned their direction.

In response, the 2nd and 3rd class battleships of France and Spain moved, aiming for the gap, but the destroyers and Challenger-class battleships quickly filled the gap and blocked them.

In the end, in this battle, the French and Spanish fleets suffered fatal, no, devastating damage and had no choice but to retreat. The flagship carrying Admiral Tourville barely supported its half-tilted hull and set out on the return journey to Puerto Real.

About six or seven surviving battleships were following the flagship, but not a single one of them was intact.

“Haa〜.”

Admiral Tourville, sighing and leaning on the tilted railing, raised his head and looked at the sky. As he looked at the sky with an expression full of emptiness, he saw a Daedalus [a type of aircraft] returning to base.

Admiral Tourville, watching the Daedalus flying staggeringly, leaving a long trail of smoke, muttered to himself without realizing it.

“Were the scholars right…..”

Among scholars, there was a saying circulating about the Empire.

-Even if we start together, the Empire is at least one step ahead.

-If the Empire starts first, give up the chase and just beg them to teach you.

However, the French military, which praised itself as the strongest in Europe after the Italian War, laughed at this saying.

-Our cannons are also powerful. Jong [a type of cannon] and Hwacha [a multiple rocket launcher] are as good as the Empire’s!

-Naval battleships are also equipped with steam engines and armored!

-We are as powerful as the Empire!

-We have proven this 확실하게 (*hwak-sil-ha-ge*, definitively) against the Habsburgs!

However, this battle proved that the French military’s judgment was wrong.

The Imperial Navy was already building and deploying new concept ships.

In particular, that giant ship that annihilated the proud French 1st class battleships in today’s battle was literally a ‘monster’. The monster’s main guns literally tore apart our battleships, and the shells fired by our battleships couldn’t even make a scratch. No, most of the fired shells didn’t even get close to that monster.

The monster was firing shells from that far away.

In Admiral Tourville’s mind, looking at the sky with regretful eyes, the words left by the Empire’s envoy lingered.

-France will have to take responsibility.

“Did we pull the sleeping lion’s whiskers…..”

* * *

After the battle ended, the punitive fleet entered Gibraltar.

While the destroyers and 해응급 (*hae-eung-geup*, emergency naval) battleships belonging to the punitive fleet and the Gibraltar-based fleet guarded the surroundings, the transport ships and *naltteul* [flying machine] mothership that had been staying outside the battlefield entered the port.

As the transport ships and *naltteul* mothership were moored at the pier, the *Salsoo*-class battleships and large ships began to enter and dock.

“Hmm….. Is that the *Salsoo* I’ve only heard about?”

Duke Yiche, who was at the pier to welcome the punitive fleet, continued to admire the magnificent hull of the *Salsoo*.

After a while, the command of the punitive fleet came down the stairs lowered from the *Salsoo*.

Count Yigong, the commander of the punitive fleet, immediately saluted Duke Yiche upon seeing him. Duke Yiche returned the salute and grabbed Count Yigong’s shoulder with a welcoming face.

“Gong! It’s been a long time!”

“Haha. I’m glad to see you looking healthy, *hyeong-nim* [older brother].”

The two half-brothers moved to another place with faces full of joy.

* * *

“We should proceed with official business first.”

Count Yigong, who arrived at the headquarters, held out his hand to the adjutant who followed him.

At the Count’s gesture, the adjutant took out a document from the bag he was carrying and handed it over, and the Count handed it to the Duke.

“Hmm…..”

As Duke Yiche began to unfold the document and read its contents, the Count added an explanation.

“The number of army soldiers who arrived this time is 10,000. And 10,000 more will arrive within half a month.”

Duke Yiche nodded silently and looked at the map.

“The Emperor’s order was ‘Hold them 확실하게 (*hwak-sil-ha-ge*, definitively) accountable.’ It’s not enough to push all the way to France, is it?”

“Ah! I’m in charge of France.”

“Gong, you?”

“Yes. The fleet I led will be in charge of France.”

“How?”

At Duke Yiche’s question, Count Yigong smiled bitterly and replied.

“I’m going to make it so that the French bastards can’t go out to sea even if they want to. They can’t go out without a port, can they?”

“Aha! Then when will you start?”

“I will start right after the fleet is repaired.”

“I see…..”

Duke Yiche nodded lightly and turned his gaze out the window.

Duke Yiche, who was looking at the punitive fleet docking at the pier and disembarking the crew, shook his head slightly and looked back at Count Yigong.

“Isn’t the size of the fleet too small to carry out such an operation? Should I lend you a hand if necessary?”

“No. I think it will be enough with the ships I have now. There are very interesting ships.”

“Interesting ships?”

“They’re called firepower support ships.”

“Firepower support ships? Hmm…..”

Duke Yiche, who was reminiscing for a moment, soon recalled the information about the problematic ship and made an even more incomprehensible expression.

“That ship….. Didn’t everyone say, ‘What is it for?'”

“That’s what they said, but 태태상황 (*tae-tae-sang-hwang*) [His Majesty the Emperor] and 상황 (*sang-hwang*) [the previous Emperor] had a plan.”

“Plan?”

“Type Eul Daesingi-jeon [a type of magical device], that 요물 (*yo-mul*, bewitching object), has come out. A Type Eul Daesingi-jeon-only Hwacha [multiple rocket launcher] is a bonus.”

“Hmm…..”

Count Yigong, seeing Duke Yiche’s expression full of curiosity, smiled and held out his hand to the adjutant again.

Count Yigong, receiving a thick scroll from the adjutant, handed it to Duke Yiche.

“This is the drawing of the framework.”

“Let me see.”

Duke Yiche immediately unfolded the scroll and checked the drawing, shaking his head.

“This is….. That’s why you insisted on the firepower support ship so much.”