Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 466

466. Liaodong (2)

Residents in the villages surrounding the fort quickly sought refuge inside, but the farmers working in the distant fields faced a perilous situation.

The farthest field was about two *li* (approximately 0.8 miles) away from the fort.

They were caught between the approaching Jurchens and the fort, which was why Oh Bang-seop felt the situation was so precarious.

With a worried expression, Oh Bang-seop raised his telescope to reassess the situation.

“It’s fortunate they at least have carts…”

The farmers fleeing from the fields were lashing oxen and horses to nearby carts, climbing aboard, and racing towards the fort.

As the policy of encouraging settlement in the north progressed, the court provided oxen and horses to the farmers at low interest rates.

These oxen and horses reproduced, and most farmsteads raised at least two oxen, with some also raising a horse.

Farmers, previously unfamiliar with horses, began raising them in the northern frontier because of the vast distances.

In the south, one could walk to a neighboring village, but in the north, travel required riding a horse.

Oh Bang-seop watched the farmers speeding towards the fort on carts pulled by oxen and horses, and the Jurchens drawing ever closer. He called out to the squad leader (*chogan*) nearest to him.

“Squad Leader Jang!”

“Yes!”

“Take a *dae* (隊, approximately 25 men) to the gate tower of the fort! Hold off the Jurchens until those farmers arrive safely!”

“Yes!”

Squad Leader Jang Gwi-nam responded immediately to Oh Bang-seop’s order and rushed to the gate tower with his men. With Squad Leader Jang’s troops joining them, the forces stationed at the gate tower significantly increased.

Watching the soldiers busily moving around the gate tower, Oh Bang-seop reassessed the situation.

“The forces are concentrated at the main gate, but there are still enough reserves… It’s fortunate that we filled the quota.”

Typically, the Joseon army organized its units from the lowest *o* (伍, five men) to the highest *yeong* (營, camp) in multiples of three to five. Rear areas with little threat were organized in multiples of three, while high-risk areas like border regions were fully staffed in multiples of five.

Thanks to this, Oh Bang-seop wasn’t worried about a shortage of troops. The forces stationed at Gamok Fort were a *sa* (司, company) that had been properly filled to its quota.

Moreover, those commanding the soldiers were experienced.

Because he trusted these soldiers, Oh Bang-seop was more concerned about the safety of the fleeing farmers than the defense of the fort.

Continuing to observe the farmers and Jurchens through his telescope, Oh Bang-seop gritted his teeth.

“Where the hell did these bastards come from! Can’t they see the Joseon army flag flying from the watchtower! What kind of time is it to be launching raids!”

Since the rebellions of Yi Man-ju and Muenteemu, the number of Jurchens coveting Joseon settlements had drastically decreased. Furthermore, the Joseon land defense army’s mobile patrol units patrolled the border regions, virtually eliminating Jurchens preying on Joseon villages near the border.

Of course, there were occasional incidents involving rogue Jurchens, but these were small-scale, consisting of no more than a few dozen individuals. And their targets were usually remote pioneer villages far from the fort. As a result, these Jurchens were mostly involved in a game of hide-and-seek with the long-distance patrol units.

But now, a large group of at least 300 Jurchens was launching a full-scale attack.

* * *

Meanwhile, Jang Gwi-nam, having led his men to the gate tower, integrated them with the already stationed soldiers and organized the defense.

“Move the recruits to the back! Prepare for alternating fire! Three ranks!”

“Yes!”

Based on his assessment of the gate tower’s size, Jang Gwi-nam ordered the soldiers to form three ranks, placing the recruits in the rear.

“How far are the Jurchens!”

At Jang Gwi-nam’s shout, a soldier monitoring the situation from the gate tower immediately replied.

“120 *bo* (approximately 216 meters)!”

“And the farmers!”

“80 *bo*!”

Upon hearing the soldier’s report, Jang Gwi-nam immediately issued an order.

“First rank! Fire when the Jurchen bastards come within 100 *bo*! Everyone, load!”

“Load!”

With the echo of the command, the soldiers took paper cartridges from their ammunition belts, bit them open, and began loading their muskets.

“Loading complete!”

Almost simultaneously with the soldiers’ shouts, arrows fired by the Jurchens flew towards the gate tower.

*Whoosh! Thwack! Thud! Thump!*

“Hick!”

“Eek!”

As the Jurchens’ arrows struck the wooden shields and crenellations erected on the fort walls and bounced off, the soldiers flinched momentarily with short cries.

“Don’t be afraid! Trust your helmets and chest armor!”

At Jang Gwi-nam’s shout from beside them, the cowering soldiers straightened up again. Just then, a soldier watching the situation outside shouted.

“100 *bo*! The farmers are at 60 *bo*!”

“First rank, raise muskets!”

At Jang Gwi-nam’s command, the soldiers in the front row simultaneously raised their muskets and aimed at the Jurchens.

The farmers came into view of the soldiers aiming their muskets and Jang Gwi-nam.

Seeing that the trousers and jackets of many of the farmers on the carts were stained red, Jang Gwi-nam gritted his teeth.

“Damn it! Unleash hell! Blast them to bits!”

*Bang bang bang!*

The Jurchens rushing towards the gate tower behind the farmers were immediately met with a barrage of musket fire. A dozen or so Jurchens fell to the ground, and a similar number slumped over their saddles. Those Jurchens lying on their horses’ backs showed no further movement.

“From this distance?”

“They’re shooting this far?”

The Jurchens were thrown into confusion by the unexpected range of the musket fire.

Just then, a second volley followed.

*Bang bang bang!*

“Retreat!”

“Fall back!”

As dozens more Jurchens fell, the remaining Jurchens desperately began to retreat.

* * *

About 100 *jang* (approximately 330 meters) away from the main gate of Gamok Fort, where the battle was taking place, a dozen or so Jurchens were observing the situation.

“Khan! The range of the Joseon army’s *Dongchong* (musket) is longer than expected!”

“The Joseon army’s *Dongchong* seems to be superior to those of the Ming army!”

“Such an unbelievable thing!”

Amidst the uproar from those around him, the chieftain Ayuta was stroking his beard with a somber expression.

* * *

Trouble befell Ayuta’s tribe, a distant branch of the Jianzhou Jurchen Taowan tribe, when they provoked the Ming.

By attacking a small village where Ming citizens and settled Jurchens lived, Ayuta’s tribe became the target of the Ming army’s suppression.

Faced with the relentless pursuit of the Ming army, which had changed significantly from the past, Ayuta’s tribe had no choice but to move towards the Joseon border.

Weakened by battles and movements against the Ming army, the warriors of Ayuta’s tribe discovered Gamok Fort and began to scout the situation secretly.

After carefully reconnoitering Gamok Fort for several days, the warriors returned to Ayuta and suggested an attack.

“Although the scale is larger than expected, the stationed forces don’t seem to be that numerous!”

“Judging from the size and location of the surrounding villages, it seems the fort was expanded to accommodate fleeing residents!”

“The number of horses and cattle they’re raising is quite large! Khan! Let’s raid it!”

“That’s right! Let’s raid it!”

While many suggested an attack, there were also those who opposed it.

“What are you talking about! Haven’t you heard the rumors of what happened to Yi Man-ju and Muenteemu after they incurred the displeasure of Joseon?”

“Khan! An attack is not possible! Instead, we should select something appropriate from the goods we still have and trade!”

“Khan! An attack is not possible!”

However, those advocating for an attack did not back down.

“What do we have left to trade? Are we going to sell horses and weapons? Are we going to face the Ming army empty-handed?”

“The only thing we have left to sell is our families! If that’s the case, sell your own families!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! The Joseon bastards also have *Dongchong*! Have you forgotten that?”

“Those mere *Dongchong*! Just don’t get within 50 *bo*! Our arrows travel farther than their *Dongchong*!”

“It’s all or nothing anyway! We have to do something!”

The warriors had come to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Ming army’s *Dongchong* while fleeing. They were confident that their bows and arrows were far superior to the Ming army’s *Dongchong*. The only reason they were being chased was because they were outnumbered by the Ming army.

“Khan!”

Both sides, continuing to argue, pressured Ayuta. Ayuta, who had been silent with his eyes closed, finally opened his mouth.

“Are there any Joseon cavalry units nearby?”

“There are none within 100 *li* (approximately 40 kilometers)!”

Upon hearing the warriors’ answer, Ayuta made a decision.

“Alright. Let’s make a killing. It’s all or nothing anyway.”

“Yes!”

As soon as Ayuta made his decision, the warriors, who had been divided into pro and con, became one and devised a plan.

-Although the Joseon fort has watchtowers, based on our experience with the Ming, they are not a major concern. If we maximize our mobility, they will not be able to react in time.

-When they are flustered, we will maximize our mobility and mingle with the Joseon people. Then the Joseon army will be even more disoriented.

-When the Joseon forces in the fortress are disoriented by this chaotic situation, we will divide our warriors into two groups. One group will continue to engage the Joseon army, while the other group will plunder the village.

It was a raid carried out in desperation, but it was a plan devised with as much thought as possible.

“We can succeed.”

Ayuta and the warriors all felt that the operation would be successful.

However, the operation that was actually executed went awry from the start.

-The Joseon army discovered them from a greater distance than expected. And the residents’ response was also quick.

-Most importantly, the range of the *Dongchong* used by the Joseon army was twice as long as that of the Ming army.

“Hmm…”

As Ayuta was contemplating the unexpected variables, an old warrior offered his opinion.

“Although there are casualties, we have engaged the Joseon army. It seems best to proceed as planned.”

“That’s right. Let’s do that.”

“Yes, then the signal arrow…”

As they were preparing the signal arrow to send a signal to the warriors, a change occurred on the battlefield.

*Bang bang bang! Boom! Kaboom! Kuang!*

With fierce explosions and rising flames, the tribe’s warriors near the fortress began to be swept away.

* * *

“All the farmers have entered!”

“Close the main gate!”

“Yes!”

Oh Bang-seop, who had issued the order, clenched his fist.

“Now it begins! Messenger! Tell the *Hwachas* (fire carts) and cannons! To wipe out those Jurchens in front of us! Make it so that they only survive by chance, not die by chance!”

“Yes!”

The messengers who received Oh Bang-seop’s order ran to the turrets where the Eulshik *Hwachas* and cannons were located.

Soon after, the *Hwachas* and cannons positioned on the turrets began to spew fire at the Jurchens.

*Bang bang bang! Boom! Kwang! Kuang!*

“Waaaaaah!”

As the *Hwachas* and cannons began firing, the Joseon soldiers on the walls shouted in unison.

“Wipe them out!”

“Everyone fire! Don’t let a single one survive!”

Emboldened by the addition of the Eulshik *Hwachas* and cannons to the attack, the Joseon soldiers pulled their triggers at the Jurchens.

“Retreat!”

“Retreat! Retreat!”

The Jurchens, under attack by the Joseon army, retreated in disarray.

If the attacks inflicted by the musketeers just moments ago had created minor injuries, the *Hwachas* and cannons were now inflicting fatal wounds.

“Run with all your might!”

“Just a little further and we’ll be out of range!”

The surviving Jurchens placed their hopes on the speed of their horses and the range of the gunpowder weapons they had learned about through the Ming, but it was in vain.