Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 28

Extracurricular 28. 1592, The Naval War of the South Sea. (28)

Everything hinged on a single word from Lee Ju.

After that, no one questioned Yi Sun-sin’s actions or decisions.

Yi Sun-sin, now with the Emperor’s full backing, began to execute his plans without reservation.

* * *

From airframe [advanced aircraft] bases across Gyeongsang and eastern Jeolla provinces, aircraft soared into the sky, targeting and overwhelming Japanese air bases located between Matsue and Fukuoka.

It wasn’t just the land-based airfields.

With the airframes of the 3rd Mobile Fleet joining the offensive, Japanese air power in the region rapidly diminished.

The Empire’s airframe units sustained damage as well, but Yi Sun-sin had anticipated this.

He strategically deployed Goose-class flying boats [maritime patrol aircraft] and submarines in the Korea Strait.

Pilots whose aircraft were critically damaged in combat with the Japanese ejected near these rescue units. The flying boats and submarines then worked tirelessly to recover them.

Thanks to the superior performance of the Empire’s aircraft and the well-prepared rescue operations, the losses among the Empire’s airframe pilots were lower than expected.

And soon, bombers from the mainland’s southern airframe bases began nightly raids on key Japanese targets.

Submarines played a crucial role in these preliminary operations.

Yi Sun-sin drew power from Hainan Island, but not in the form of the battleship fleets everyone anticipated. Instead, he utilized submarines.

Having amassed a significant number of submarines, Yi Sun-sin divided them into three operational groups.

One group was tasked with crippling Japan’s commercial sea lanes, another with patrolling the Korea Strait to rescue downed allied pilots, and the third group rotated for rest and maintenance.

The preliminary operation, initiated with these preparations, gradually expanded in scope.

Initially, it targeted Japanese military facilities within range of the Empire’s mainland. Airframe bases were the first to be rendered unusable, followed by the destruction of major supply depots.

Next, Yi Sun-sin turned his attention to the railway and road networks.

“Not army bases? Road and rail networks?” Lee Ju inquired.

Yi Sun-sin responded immediately, “Damaged infrastructure can always be rebuilt, but only if the necessary materials and manpower arrive on time.”

“Aha! So even with manpower, it’s useless without materials, and vice versa?”

“Exactly.”

Having disrupted Japan’s transportation network centered around Yamaguchi, Yi Sun-sin began systematically destroying industrial complexes.

While bombers created large-scale damage during nightly raids, smaller attack aircraft followed up during the day, widening the breaches and making recovery increasingly difficult.

Through these preliminary operations, Japan gradually began to experience widespread paralysis.

* * *

With the supply of essential resources like crude oil cut off, Japan was forced to rely on dwindling stockpiles.

However, the Empire’s relentless bombing campaigns caused resource consumption to skyrocket, rapidly depleting these reserves.

Subsequently, as the transportation network and industrial complexes were destroyed, an ironic situation emerged: the rate of resource consumption, which had initially surged, quickly stabilized.

However, this meant that resources were effectively unusable, even when available.

This was because the industrial complexes needed to process raw materials into usable goods had been destroyed.

As a result, not only civilians but also the Japanese army found themselves in a state of helpless inactivity.

This situation drove Toyotomi Hideyoshi to the brink of madness.

“The Empire could cross the sea at any moment! Immediately replenish our aircraft and pilots!”

“Your Excellency… the aircraft manufacturing plant has been destroyed.”

“Then draw aircraft from bases in northern and eastern Honshu, and southern Kyushu!”

“We are short of fuel.”

“What!”

“Most of the oil storage facilities in western and southern Honshu, and northern Kyushu, have been destroyed by the Empire’s bombing.”

“Then bring fuel from other locations!”

“The railways and roads are all cut off….”

“Damn it! Fine! Then prepare for a defensive war with all our might! When the Empire tries to land, make them experience hell on the beach!”

“Ha, hait [Yes, sir]!”

At Toyotomi’s command, the officials and generals repeatedly answered “Hai!” and hastily departed.

The officials and generals, who practically fled the scene, looked up at the sky and sighed.

“Hoo~. Easier said than done….”

Toyotomi might not believe it, but the situation was dire.

The loss of aircraft was significant, but the shortage of trained pilots was even more critical.

Continuous air battles had resulted in mass casualties among experienced pilots.

Toyotomi’s order to transfer aircraft from other bases was already being implemented, but those resources were also dwindling.

The defensive war preparations were similarly hampered by shortages of all essential supplies.

Even manpower was becoming an issue.

The elite soldiers who should have formed the core of the defense had largely perished in Boryeong.

They were attempting to bolster troop numbers through forced conscription, but the lack of supplies and plummeting morale were major obstacles.

With supply depots and industrial facilities destroyed, only minimal armaments were available, and the soldiers’ morale was steadily declining.

In this desperate situation, the Japanese military leaders secretly longed for the Empire to launch its invasion.

“Please, just invade now!”

“Come quickly!”

This was because feeding and equipping the conscripted soldiers was consuming a vast amount of resources.

The sheer volume of consumption was a problem, but the inability to replenish those supplies was an even greater one.

“The problem is that the Empire shows no sign of an immediate move.”

“That’s what makes it so frightening.”

“Dealing with an opponent who knows how to wait is the scariest thing of all.”

The Empire’s calculated patience was unnerving.

Later, most war historians analyzing this period would comment:

-Why did Japan wage an unprepared war!

-A tragedy and comedy of the century caused by the leader’s misjudgment!

The Japanese military leaders experiencing this crisis were reaching similar conclusions.

“It was a misjudgment.”

“We should have remembered that the Empire is still the Empire, even if it seemed complacent.”

“The idea that a short-term decisive battle was possible was a misjudgment.”

Not only the military but also the court officials were privately accepting defeat as inevitable.

Though they dared not voice it.

Toyotomi’s spies were everywhere.

Some individuals briefly entertained thoughts of personal glory, but they quickly abandoned them.

They knew the Empire wouldn’t be swayed, even by Toyotomi’s head.

-The moment they coveted the Challenge Log [historical record] and the Miscellaneous Records of Emperors Yi Do [posthumous name of King Sejong] and Yi Hyang [posthumous name of King Munjong], the Empire would seek their destruction.

And, as they anticipated, Gyeongbok Palace [main royal palace in Seoul] was thrown into turmoil.

* * *

Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa, who had surrendered in the Battle of Boryeong, were immediately transported to Seoul for interrogation.

“The Japanese navy is effectively nonexistent. Surely you understand how this will end?”

“…I have nothing to say.”

“…As a commander of the Japanese army, I cannot betray my loyalty.”

Initially, the two men remained tight-lipped, but the interrogator’s persistent questioning began to wear them down.

“Loyalty…. To whom are you loyal, the King of Japan, or Toyotomi Hideyoshi?”

“That’s….”

“Did the King of Japan order you to attack the Empire?”

“That’s….”

The mention of “the involvement of the King of Japan” visibly troubled them.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi had been the driving force behind the entire operation.

They had also heard unsettling rumors.

-The king opposes the war, but Toyotomi’s power prevents him from acting!

“Could it be….”

“No. But perhaps….”

This suspicion solidified at the banquet held on the eve of the expedition.

The king had not attended the banquet to wish the army and naval commanders success, citing “illness.”

“Our Empire knows that the current King of Japan is gentle and considerate. Surely such a person would not condone this. What do you generals think? To whom does your loyalty truly lie?”

Finally, Konishi and Kato revealed what they knew.

“We didn’t want this war, but we followed orders because it was said to be His Majesty the King’s will.”

-Surprise attack Seoul and capture the Emperor of the Empire.

-Negotiate with the Emperor as a hostage.

-Demand the original copies of Emperor Yi Do and Yi Hyang’s Miscellaneous Records, and the Ugong Yisan grade [highest grade] of the Challenge Log.

Lee Ju, along with all the ministers, were outraged by this revelation.

“Good! I can tolerate their petty ambitions! But what? The Challenge Log and Miscellaneous Records? Even the originals? I’ve never seen such madness!”

“Heo~. Your Majesty! They are born thieves, capable only of stealing! They must be severely punished!”

“That’s right! They must be severely punished! We must make an example of them!”

-The historian says.

He’s truly insane.

Even the historian was furious. Lee Ju barely maintained his composure and instructed the Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister must inform the Jobo [major newspaper] and Ilbo [daily newspaper] so that all the people know. I had forgotten that our neighbor was a thief.”

“I will follow your orders!”

That evening, all of the Empire’s Ilbo companies – newspaper companies of the 21st century – printed and distributed urgent reports.

“Urgent report~ Urgent report!”

The imperial people who read the urgent reports shouted by the newspaper sellers were filled with rage.

“I’ve never seen such wicked bastards!”

“A thief’s nature never changes!”

“What, hand over the Miscellaneous Records left by Emperors Yi Do and Yi Hyang? Even the originals? These crazy bastards!”

The imperial people’s anger stemmed primarily from Toyotomi’s disrespect towards Sejong and Munjong.

From the very next day, people began flocking to the imperial army’s conscription offices.

“I will serve in the military!”

“I’ll quit the reserve army and become a regular army!”

“Line up~!”

The Japanese ambassador to Seoul, hearing the commotion outside, looked at his subordinates with a detached expression.

“Now we can only watch. Toyotomi will face the consequences.”

* * *

As the situation escalated, the imperial government provided unwavering support to Yi Sun-sin.

The Minister of Economy and Finance even personally visited Yi Sun-sin and declared,

“Tell me anything you need. I will empty my own pockets to get it for you immediately.”

“Thank you. If that’s the case, I will prepare a request and submit it to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

“Thank you. But this time, make sure that Toyotomi guy is crushed, ahem! Make sure he is punished.”

“I will.”

“I trust only in the General!”

The subordinate generals, witnessing this unusual scene, whispered among themselves.

“What’s wrong with the Ministry of Economy and Finance?”

“Did the sun rise in the west today?”

“If it involves the Challenge Log and the Miscellaneous Records, they’re capable of anything….”