Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 29

Extracurricular 29. 1592 Southern Sea Battle. (29)

Yi Sun-sin relentlessly wore down Japan’s strength through pre-emptive operations.

So effective was he that by late March, the Japanese air and naval forces attempting to impede the Empire’s attacks were barely a presence.

“At this rate, we could just waltz right in, don’t you think?”

Such jokes circulated among the staff at the punitive force headquarters, but Yi Sun-sin, upon hearing this, turned serious.

“Forbid optimism! Have you forgotten the Battle of Boryeong? The landing is the most dangerous moment! Remember that the success or failure of that battle can change everything!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Then, review the geographical information of the expected landing points again!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following Yi Sun-sin’s orders, the staff began to re-examine the geographical information secured by the Imperial Communication Management Bureau.

* * *

One of the tasks managed by the Communication Management Bureau was acquiring geographical information of other countries.

The Imperial Army was becoming increasingly mechanized, which had both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage was that the Imperial Army’s firepower and mobility were overwhelmingly superior for the same size force.

To stand against the Imperial Army, which moved around with assault vehicles—equipment now using the historically significant name of tanks (戰車), self-propelled artillery (自走砲), and armored vehicles (兵車, armored cars of the 21st century) as its core—required several times more troops.

The navy was similar.

Internally, they were snarling at each other, divided into the ‘battleship faction’ and the ‘air carrier faction,’ but the Imperial Navy fleet, with battleships and air carriers as its main force, and cruisers, destroyers, and submarines as auxiliary forces, was a force to be feared.

If this was the bright side, the dark side was even more pronounced.

The first was the enormous operating cost.

Vast resources were consumed for the Imperial Army to operate properly. Old armies at least cultivated garrison lands (屯田) [state-owned farmlands worked by soldiers], but the Imperial Army had no such thing.

In other words, everything the Imperial Army ate, wore, and used came directly from the Empire’s budget.

The second was that, regardless of the army or navy, mechanization made it difficult to move recklessly.

In the case of the army, it was difficult to move without solid ground for the heavy tanks to travel on.

In the case of the navy, it was impossible to approach recklessly without reliable information about other countries’ coastlines—such as the shape of the coastline and water depth.

Because running aground after a reckless approach would result in enormous losses.

Therefore, the Imperial Communication Management Bureau made every effort to secure such geographical information.

They traveled around other countries disguised as merchants or wanderers, and sometimes obtained necessary information by using bribes.

The country on which they focused the most effort in this information gathering was, of course, Ming, followed by Japan. Third place was, surprisingly, France in Europe.

This was because France was the European country that clashed most frequently with the Empire in the history altered by Hyang’s intervention.

* * *

While these preliminary operations were underway, preparations for the central operation, ‘Monkey Hunt,’ were reaching their final stages.

150,000 army troops from Shinji to the mainland began to gather in Busan, Tsushima, and Jeju Island to prepare for the landing.

Thanks to this, Imperial Army soldiers with different decorations from the mainland filled the streets of Busan, Jeju Island, and Tsushima.

Imperial citizens of the mainland watched these Imperial Army soldiers from Shinji with curious eyes.

It was because of the strange ornaments attached to their military caps and helmets.

Soldiers from the northern regions of Shinji attached eagle feather decorations to their helmets and military caps. Soldiers from the mainland also attached pheasant tail feathers or peacock tail feather decorations to their military caps and helmets, but the way they were attached was very different, arousing curiosity.

Soldiers from the southern part of Shinji wore bands made of jaguar or other wild beast skins around their military caps and helmets.

It wasn’t just the hat decorations.

There were countless soldiers carrying tomahawk axes or clubs studded with sharply trimmed obsidian.

Of course, the carrying of such bladed weapons was prohibited when going out.

As Shinji’s soldiers flocked through the streets in groups of three or five, the mainland’s people became acutely aware of the war.

And, the elderly muttered with worried faces.

“When they all disappear, that’s when the real war will begin….”

And, on the last day of March. The sight of soldiers from Shinji disappeared completely from the streets.

Three days later, transport ships carrying the vanguard of 100,000 soldiers out of the 150,000 began to cross the Korea Strait.

* * *

The first places Yi Sun-sin targeted were Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu.

“If we can properly secure these two places, the sea route leading to Yamaguchi will be ours.”

At Yi Sun-sin’s words, the staff and commanders all nodded.

The sea route from the Empire to Yamaguchi had to pass through the Kanmon Straits between Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu.

The Kanmon Straits were a natural defensive fortress for Japan.

The narrowest point was barely over 170 jangs (approximately 510m) wide, and the straits curved greatly between Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu.

Therefore, Japan had also built solid coastal batteries here.

“…Therefore, we must be prepared for great sacrifices to attack properly.”

Yi Sun-sin, pointing to these straits on the map, continued.

“So, we will not go through these straits. Our destination is….”

The places Yi Sun-sin pointed to with his baton were two coastlines, slightly north of Shimonoseki and slightly northwest of Kitakyushu.

“It looks close on the map, but it is about 200 li (about 80km) from Kitakyushu and about 100 li (about 40km) from the coastal fortress of Shimonoseki. It may be a short distance to travel by tank or armored vehicle, but according to the information, the roads are not good. Check the distributed information booklet.”

At Yi Sun-sin’s command, the faces of the army commanders, who were examining the thick booklets they had received in advance, darkened.

Even a rough reading showed that the roads were not good.

-There are almost no straight and wide roads, and most are narrow.

-Most of the level ground is rice paddies or fields.

-If you enter urban areas, the roads and alleys are narrower than the outer roads, forming a maze.

“It’s not an easy path. Therefore….”

Yi Sun-sin paused for a moment and issued a stark order.

“We will use self-propelled artillery to clear the way.”

For a moment, the conference room was briefly abuzz, but it soon subsided.

* * *

Looking at the history of the Imperial Army, the most useful weapon in urban warfare was artillery. Commanders of the Imperial Army in the past were unafraid to use artillery.

The problem was that the world was going through a considerably long period of peace.

Due to the changes created by Hyang’s intervention, the world entered the path of industrialization much faster.

The enormous growth of productivity through industrialization also increased the scale of wars, and mass slaughter became a common occurrence.

Through the experience gained through this bloodshed, many countries realized the importance of human resources in war and industry early on.

Therefore, many interventions arose regarding the process of conducting war.

One of them was the use of cannons in civilian residential areas.

-It is not right to shell civilian residential areas.

It was a world where the use of cannons in civilian residential areas became taboo, starting in Europe. As always, Europe was the place where the most fighting took place.

Of course, the Empire was taking a contradictory stance, ignoring this without saying anything about it, but not completely ignoring it either.

To be more precise….

-One life of our soldier is more precious than ten lives of the enemy’s civilians.

-We will try not to break that ‘taboo’ if possible, but if things go wrong, there is no taboo.

-So, ‘know in advance’ and do well.

This was the position of the Empire and the Imperial Army.

The problem was that Yi Sun-sin was the first to openly state this position.

Therefore, there was only a brief buzz at Yi Sun-sin’s command.

* * *

Perhaps sensing that atmosphere, Yi Sun-sin explained in more detail.

“There are two reasons for taking such a drastic approach. One is to minimize the damage to our troops. The other is to impress upon the Japanese the following: If you wage war against the Empire, the responsibility is not only borne by the rulers. The greatest responsibility lies with you, the people. Do not forget that.”

At Yi Sun-sin’s explanation, everyone in the room nodded.

“Through this war, we will make sure that the Japanese never think of challenging the Empire again. This is the biggest goal of this operation. Do you understand?”

“Understood!”

Listening to the commanders’ resounding answer, Yi Sun-sin concluded in a calm voice.

“I trust you.”

* * *

The Imperial Fleet that crossed the Korea Strait soon split into two and began the landing operation.

In the landing fleet in charge of the Shimonoseki area, the most noticeable presences were the fire support ships.

-The elders are passing by. Clear the way.

Having heard the approach of the fire support ships through flashing signals and wireless communication, the Empire’s ships moved out of the way.

Watching the ancient ships pass leisurely through the gap created in this way, the surrounding Imperial Navy sailors uttered such jokes.

“Hey, you guys! What are you doing! Hurry up and bow to the elders!”

“Oh, elders! Please accept our bows!”

The nickname for the fire support ships was ‘elders.’

Since they were first created, fire support ships had been a bittersweet existence.

They achieved remarkable results in the ‘Punitive War’ against France, but the problem was what came next.

“We’re not going to have any landing operations, are we?”

Looking at the results alone, it would be okay to mass-produce them, but the problem was that there would be no landing operations, and where to station them.

If they were mass-produced and stationed in the mainland, it was certain that Ming and Japan would make a fuss, and if they were placed in Shinji, there would be no place to use them. However, if they were placed in Gibraltar, all of Europe would be turned upside down.

“But it’s not like we can just throw them away….”

In the end, the decision made by the Imperial Court and the Navy was as follows.

-Maintain the 24 ships currently built as they are.

-Hold out as long as possible and then build new ships.

-However, as mentioned earlier, maintain the number at 24.

The Imperial Navy was able to make this decision thanks to the concept of fire support ships.

-Mount Daeshinki engines [large divine machine engines] on transport ships with simple structures that can be mass-produced and operate them.

In other words, mass production is possible at any time if necessary.

Therefore, the Imperial Court and the Imperial Navy made the decision to ‘hold out with 24 ships.’

Thanks to this, among the fire support ships now taking their positions in front, there were still three ships that had participated in the old ‘Punitive War.’

“As far as I know, my grandfather was on this ship….”

In any case, the full-scale prelude to the invasion of Japan was opened by these ancient, no, antique ships.

“Commence firing!”

“Firing!”

Shhshshsh! Sheeeing! Sheeeing!

As soon as the firing order was given, the 24 fire support ships simultaneously began to launch Daeshinki engines and Sanhwa Shinki engines [divine transformation machine engines].

* * *

The northwest coast of Shimonoseki was instantly devastated by the simultaneous firing of the fire support ships.

While the fire support ships, having finished firing in an instant, were reloading their next rounds, the cruisers and battleships waiting behind them began to fire their main guns at the coastline.

Bang! Bang!

Every time the battleships’ main guns spewed fire, the sky roared and the sea surged.

And, the surface of the land at the landing point was torn apart and soared into the sky.

As time passed, the simultaneous firing of the fire support ships that had reloaded their next rounds continued again.

While the shelling of the fire support ships, battleships, and cruisers continued, soldiers were transferring to landing craft from the transport ships behind.

What’s interesting is….

“The letters written here, are they Japanese?”

“It’s Japanese? Why is it here?”

The Daebal boats [Japanese landing craft] left behind by the Japanese army in the Battle of Boryeong were being used.

* * *

The problem that ‘the Empire has no need to fight a landing battle’ not only made fire support ships a bittersweet existence but also led to the absence of landing ships.

In the process of the Empire attacking the enemy across the sea, the methods the Empire has used so far are as follows.

-Suppress the enemy’s port with shelling.

-Bring transport ships to the suppressed port and disembark troops.

This was a tactic with many limitations. Therefore, there was a continuous call within the Imperial Army for a method to replace it.

However, due to the proposition that ‘the Empire has no need to fight a landing battle,’ this claim was only an empty cry.

However, the Japanese Daebal boat, which was shown in this Battle of Boryeong, was suitable as an answer to such a problem.

“Wait? Ports are always heavily defended, right? But if we use that well, we can land in places other than ports, right?”

“That’s right! Japan had a good idea?”

“Then we should use it well!”

The Imperial Navy quickly adopted this Daebal boat.

Not only did they repair all the Daebal boats abandoned by the Japanese Navy and make them perfectly fine, but they also mass-produced them through reverse engineering.

Thanks to this, the Daebal boats currently used in the landing operation are a mix of Japanese and Imperial made.