Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 223

223. Distant Seas Fleet (3)

Contrary to the training commander’s worries, the ‘higher-ups,’ including the Regional Commanders, offered favorable reviews.

“Overall, the effect seems good.”

The Naval Regional Commanders nodded in agreement with Jo Mal-saeng’s words.

“Indeed. I think it would be good to create similar facilities on the Panokseon ships [Korean warship] and use them for training.”

“I agree. Of course, unlike the land where there are no waves, the sea is constantly swaying even with a slight breeze. However, if we know how to move in advance, we only need to get used to the swaying, which would be much better. Especially since we can filter out those who don’t know how to handle their tasks properly in advance, which is the best part.”

“That’s right. Whether they can handle their tasks properly is important. We can’t just keep adding people to the ship indefinitely.”

The Naval Regional Commanders began to advocate for more active utilization.

As they shared their opinions, the officials from the Ministry of War and the high-ranking military officers turned to Hyang.

“What does Your Highness think?”

Hyang, receiving the question, replied with a slightly awkward expression.

“Since everyone has evaluated it positively, I have nothing more to say. I am just pleased that it is effective in fostering a strong navy.”

Having confirmed the results, everyone evaluated it positively, and a report documenting this was sent to Sejong. After reviewing the report, Sejong fixed his gaze on his ministers, especially Kim Jeom, and began to speak.

“There is a proposal that it is very effective in training sailors to operate warships, and that the Panokseon ships should also undergo the same process. I think it’s a good idea. What do you think?”

At Sejong’s words, Kim Jeom began to calculate the gains and losses.

‘It will definitely cost money. However, since it’s built on land, it’s easy to maintain. And the potential losses that inexperienced sailors might incur if they go straight to sea, including lives and even the ships themselves…’

After diligently calculating the gains and losses, Kim Jeom immediately bowed his head and replied.

“It is true that constructing the facilities desired by the navy will cost a considerable amount. However, if we can train skilled sailors through this, we can reduce losses in the future. In the long run, I believe it will be beneficial.”

“So, the Minister of Finance agrees?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Having heard Kim Jeom’s answer, Sejong turned to the other ministers. Since the Minister of Finance, who controlled the treasury, had agreed, no ministers opposed.

After confirming the ministers’ reactions, Sejong reconfirmed.

“Do the other ministers also agree?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Having confirmed definitively, Sejong made a decision.

“Then accept the navy’s request and construct the training facilities.”

“We shall obey Your Majesty’s command!”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following:

When the ministers unanimously agreed to the King’s question, the King ordered the navy’s request to proceed as requested.

The historian comments:

It is surprising that the Minister of Finance, who usually opposes anything that costs money, has agreed.

Perhaps he has taken too much tonic.

* * *

Meanwhile, the Challenger was conducting live-fire exercises in the East Sea [Sea of Japan].

Unlike the West Sea [Yellow Sea] or the South Sea [East China Sea], the East Sea was the optimal training ground for ships like the Challenger.

Thus, the Challenger, which roamed the East Sea whenever it had the chance, was filled with the shouts of its captain, Oh Ha-seok.

“Hey! Move faster!”

“Let’s finish quickly and get back quickly!”

“Are you new to ships? Get your act together!”

Whenever Oh Ha-seok’s scolding rang out, the sailors craned their necks and replied.

“We are sorry, sir!”

“Captain!”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Move quickly!”

“Yes, Ca… Captain!”

Watching the sailors disappear in a flurry, Oh Ha-seok let out a long sigh.

“Hoo~. These guys are going to be in charge of the 2nd ship…”

The tasks assigned to the Challenger were not just one or two.

– It had to embark on a long-distance voyage as the 1st ship of the Distant Seas Fleet.

– It also took over the patrol of the East Sea, which had been neglected.

– It also had to conduct training for the sailors who would operate the 2nd ship, which was in the final stages of completion.

Therefore, most of the sailors operating the Challenger now—from the officers to the sailors—were not the ones who originally operated the Challenger but those who would operate the 2nd ship.

Oh Ha-seok was the captain of the Challenger and the instructor responsible for training them.

Because the responsibility was heavy, Oh Ha-seok’s nerves were on edge.

“Hey! Are you not going to move properly! Are you even the Joseon navy!”

Oh Ha-seok, not satisfied with the sailors’ movements, raised his voice again and shouted.

“Hey! At the rate you’re going, I’ll retire before we even get to Aden! Huh? Can’t see your feet moving?”

* * *

One day, as they were being driven hard by Oh Ha-seok and scouring the East Sea, the lookout at the top of the mast frantically rang the bell.

Ding~ Ding~ Ding~

At the sudden sound of the bell, Oh Ha-seok, who was commanding the ship, ran to the base of the mast and put the megaphone to his mouth.

“Lookout! What’s going on!”

“There are Japanese ships on the starboard side!”

“Starboard?”

At the lookout’s reply, Oh Ha-seok rushed to the stern deck.

Having arrived at the highest point of the stern, Oh Ha-seok took out his spyglass and scanned the sea.

Seeing several ships in the distance, Oh Ha-seok examined them more closely.

“They are definitely Japanese ships. Judging by the size, are they fishing boats?”

After examining the Japanese ships, which appeared small even through the spyglass, Oh Ha-seok gave an order.

“Helm! Hard starboard!”

“Yes! Hard starboard~.”

With the helmsman’s reply, the Challenger tilted diagonally and began to turn its bow.

“Drummer! Beat the drums! It’s a battle!”

“Yes!”

At Oh Ha-seok’s command, the drummer began to beat the large drum.

Thump, thump, thump!

With the sound of the drum beating at regular intervals, the sailors’ voices rang out from all directions.

“Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”

With the cry of ‘Prepare for battle,’ the sailors moved quickly.

Seeing this, Oh Ha-seok shook his head slightly.

“At least they’re quick with battle preparations…”

Even as he grumbled, Oh Ha-seok commanded to the best of his ability.

“Raise all sails! Advance at maximum speed!”

“Yes! Raise the sails!”

Thus, the Challenger, having unfurled all six sails, began to pick up speed towards the Japanese ships, which were barely visible in the distance.

* * *

“Elder! There’s a ship coming!”

“A ship? What ship?”

Ooshiro, who was in high spirits due to a bountiful catch after a long time, raised his head at the shout of the young fisherman.

“Where?”

“Over there, to the north!”

“North? To the north?”

At the young fisherman’s reply, Ooshiro raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light and looked north.

“There’s nothing…”

Ooshiro couldn’t finish his sentence as he was about to say, ‘There’s nothing there.’

A huge ship with sails dyed gray was rushing towards them at high speed.

“Where did a ship like that come from…”

“Elder! What do we do?”

Ooshiro, watching the rapidly approaching ship with confused eyes, snapped out of it at the young fisherman’s shout.

“Throw away the nets! And raise the sails! Run away! Row with all your might!”

At Ooshiro’s shout, the fishermen on board threw the nets they had been holding into the sea and immediately prepared to flee.

The fishermen unfurled the folded sails and began to row with all their might.

Ooshiro’s fishing boat and the other fishing boats desperately tried to escape, but the gray battleship was approaching faster and faster.

“What kind of ship has that kind of speed…”

Ooshiro turned pale as he watched the approaching gray warship.

The large ship, which had sails that looked bigger than the ones on his own ship, and as many as six of them, was approaching faster and faster.

As the distance rapidly closed, Ooshiro identified the figures on board the ship and sighed.

“Damn it! It’s the Joseon army!”

Ooshiro, who had experience raiding against Goryeo—or rather, the newly founded Joseon—in his youth, recognized their identity by the military flags on the ship and the soldiers holding swords.

If it was the Joseon army, they would definitely have cannons, and if it was such a large ship, it was certain that there would be many of them.

Ooshiro was reminded of the nightmare of the old days.

Ooshiro didn’t know it well, but the battle that gave him the nightmare was the 1st Conquest of Tsushima in the 5th year of Taejo (1396).

Ooshiro gritted his teeth and shouted.

“Damn it! If we get caught, it’s the death penalty! Run away with all your might!”

“There are four Japanese ships in total!”

“Hmm…”

Oh Ha-seok assessed the situation. The Japanese ships fleeing for their lives ahead were clearly fishing boats, judging by their size.

Firing cannons at such small boats was close to wasting gunpowder. However, it was also unreasonable to lower a small boat and pursue them.

“As expected, Joran-hwan [a type of cannonball] is the best in times like these! Gather the gunners on the deck! Prepare only grapeshot for the cannons!”

“Yes, Captain!”

Oh Ha-seok then gave an order to the helmsman.

“Overtake them and block their path!”

“Yes, Captain!”

The ensuing chase ended with the Challenger overtaking the fleeing fishing boats and blocking their path.

“Is there anyone who knows Japanese?”

At Oh Ha-seok’s words, one of the sailors raised his hand.

“I can say a few simple words.”

“That’s enough. Tell those bastards to stop immediately.”

The sailor, receiving the megaphone, shouted at the fleeing fishing boats.

“止まれ(Tomare)! 止まれ(Tomare)! [Stop! Stop!]”

The sailor with the megaphone shouted at the top of his lungs, but the fishing boats continued to attempt to escape.

Watching this, Oh Ha-seok shook his head and grumbled.

“They’re the kind of people who won’t listen to words anyway…. Artillery Officer!”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Starboard battery, fire! Tell them to block the path of those skiffs!”

“Yes, Captain!”

The artillery officer, having received Oh Ha-seok’s order, stood at the entrance leading down to the 2nd deck, put the megaphone to his mouth, and shouted.

“Starboard battery, fire! Don’t sink them, just scare them!”

Kwakwakwang!

Not long after the artillery officer’s order was given, the 25 cannons on the starboard 2nd deck fired simultaneously.

Shortly after, huge pillars of water rose in front of the fleeing fishing boats.

“Huh?”

The Joseon sailors—from Oh Ha-seok to the lowest-ranking sailors—who were watching the scene were surprised.

The fishing boats, caught in the pillars of water created by the falling cannonballs, were all overturned.

“What kind of boat is that… Even if they’re small… Were they made of paper?”

The Joseon sailors did not realize that the performance of the cannons improved by Hyang was no joke.

It was only natural, as it was the first time they had been used in actual combat.

They had not properly felt the power during the training sessions that had taken place so far.

* * *

Oh Ha-seok, watching the fishermen thrashing about in the sea, soon gave an order.

“Lower the small boats and rescue them. Don’t forget to have the riflemen on board.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“If they resist, kill them immediately.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Following Oh Ha-seok’s order, two small boats carried on the Challenger were lowered into the sea.

The small boats, carrying one o (伍, the smallest unit of the Joseon army consisting of five men) of riflemen, headed towards the overturned fishing boats.

After going back and forth two more times, the surviving Japanese fishermen were brought to the Challenger.

“This is just great…. Tsk!”

Oh Ha-seok clicked his tongue as he looked at the fishermen kneeling on the deck.

The fishermen were in a state of confusion due to the shock brought on by the shelling.

“It’s not a situation where we can properly interrogate them, and there’s no interpreter…”

Having assessed the situation, Oh Ha-seok ordered the helmsman.

“Return to port!”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Tie all these guys up and lock them in the hold! And keep a close watch!”

“Yes, Captain!”

As Oh Ha-seok’s order was given, the fishermen were taken down to the hold under the watch of the sailors.

Watching the bow turn towards Wonsan, Oh Ha-seok pressed his fingers between his eyebrows.