Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 548

Sejong 29th year (1447, Jeongmyo year), November. Liaoyang Fortress.

On the wide-open field in front of the fortress, numerous cavalrymen were galloping in formation.

Thud, thud, thud~

Ppoong~ Ppoong~

Accompanied by the sounds of large drums and trumpets, the cavalry formations shifted and changed direction as standard-bearers waved their colorful flags.

Ppooooong~~~~~

At the sound of the trumpet, a unit of cavalry, which had been rapidly maneuvering, raised their bows and released a volley of arrows.

Shwishishik!

The arrows soared into the sky and struck their target boards with precision.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

“Hyah!”

“Haa!”

At the following drumbeat, the remaining cavalrymen charged forward, spears leveled, shouting in unison. They thundered towards the scarecrows positioned far ahead, piercing them with their spears as they passed.

* * *

Watching the scene from the walls of Liaoyang Fortress, Ju Gijin wore a satisfied expression, surveying the generals standing nearby.

“The training is progressing admirably.”

At Ju Gijin’s praise, Jo Byeongdeok replied with a proud air.

“The Jurchens are renowned for their horsemanship, and our cavalrymen have gained valuable experience fighting against the Daltu [Mongol raiding parties] of the Northern Yuan. The initial stages were challenging, but with this level of coordination, they will be unmatched.”

Ju Gijin nodded at Jo Byeongdeok’s response, adding a reminder.

“Remember, you must proceed to Hanseong [old name for Seoul, the capital of Joseon] as swiftly as possible after crossing the Yalu River. The cavalry will be crucial for this.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

“And, how is the conditioning progressing for the horses regarding the cannons that those Joseon bastards will be using?”

Horses were more skittish than one might expect. If they weren’t accustomed to the sounds of gunfire and cannons, they would be unable to perform effectively in battle.

At Ju Gijin’s question, Jo Byeongdeok responded promptly.

“Yes, Your Grace! Every time the cannon and arquebus units conduct live-fire exercises, we position the cavalry nearby to acclimate them to the noise!”

“That’s a relief….”

Ju Gijin nodded, satisfied with Jo Byeongdeok’s answer, and turned.

“Shall we inspect the training of the arquebus and cannon units next?”

“I will escort you!”

* * *

Jo Byeongdeok led Ju Gijin to an open field outside Liaoyang Fortress.

Upon arriving, Ju Gijin saw rows of arquebusiers undergoing training.

“Fire!”

Tatatang!

“Change!”

Following the commander’s order, the soldiers who had just fired their arquebuses quickly turned and retreated. Simultaneously, the next row stepped forward into the firing line.

“Aim! Fire!”

Tatatang!

Following the commander’s order, the soldiers in the firing line raised their weapons, aimed, and pulled the triggers.

“Change!”

Following the commander’s order, the soldiers who had fired switched places with the next row.

“Load!”

The firing cycle continued until each row had completed its turn.

Ju Gijin, who had been observing from behind, turned to Jo Byeongdeok.

“Are these all veterans?”

“No, Your Grace. Eighty percent are new recruits.”

“Eighty percent new recruits? And they’re performing at this level?”

Ju Gijin couldn’t conceal his surprise. Only the arquebusiers he had briefly observed in the Forbidden City had demonstrated such skill.

If Jo Byeongdeok’s statement was accurate, then most of these soldiers were recent conscripts.

“Considering their conscription period, I can tell how diligently you and your commanders have worked! I will ensure you receive a reward upon our return! And I will provide the soldiers with alcohol and meat!”

“Your grace is boundless!”

Jo Byeongdeok, deeply grateful, turned and relayed Ju Gijin’s decision to the lower-ranking commanders and soldiers.

“Woahhhh!”

“Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand, ten thousand years!” [A traditional Korean cheer expressing loyalty and wishing a long life to the ruler.]

The soldiers erupted in cheers, chanting “ten thousand years” three times.

Ju Gijin muttered softly, hearing the soldiers’ cries.

“When the year passes, we will hear shouts of a million years instead of ten thousand years.”

As of now, only the highest-ranking commanders were aware of Ju Gijin’s plans.

As the soldiers’ shouts subsided, Jo Byeongdeok inquired.

“Now that you have witnessed the Rotating Gunfire Method, would you be interested in seeing the Alternating Advance Method?”

Ju Gijin’s face brightened.

“Oh! You’ve already mastered that method!”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

“Then, by all means, let’s see it!”

Upon receiving Ju Gijin’s approval, Jo Byeongdeok relayed the order to a messenger.

Soon, the flagman waved a signal flag, and the commanders, upon seeing the signal, issued commands to the arquebusiers.

The arquebusiers began taking turns firing at the target once more. The difference this time was that instead of returning to the rear after firing, the soldiers in the next row moved ahead and continued the volley.

* * *

Ju Gijin, continuing to praise the arquebus unit’s performance, made his way to the artillery training grounds.

“Truly excellent! Such skill! Only the arquebusiers in the Forbidden City could match this!”

“Your grace is boundless!”

“Especially the reloading speed is remarkable!”

“The soldiers’ training has been effective, but the method originating from Wa [ancient name for Japan] is particularly efficient.”

Ju Gijin’s eyes gleamed at Jo Byeongdeok’s words.

“From Wa? What method is that?”

“It involves preparing the gunpowder and bullets for each firing in advance, using paper cartridges.”

Ju Gijin looked surprised.

“Did those bastards also have a trick up their sleeves?”

“They claim to have learned it from Joseon.”

Ju Gijin nodded, unsurprised.

“From Joseon? I suspected as much….”

* * *

Arriving at the artillery training grounds, Ju Gijin observed the unit’s exercises and asked Jo Byeongdeok.

“If the walls of Joseon are as formidable as the Jurchens claim, wouldn’t it be more effective to increase the number of cannons firing Jinchonroe [large stone projectiles] rather than iron balls or large arrows?”

“We are increasing the proportion of Wan’gu [a type of Korean cannon] that fire Jinchonroe.”

“That’s reassuring.”

Ju Gijin, satisfied with Jo Byeongdeok’s answer, rewarded the commanders and provided alcohol and meat to the soldiers, just as he had done with the arquebus unit.

“Ah, I almost forgot. Provide alcohol, meat, and rewards to the cavalry unit as well.”

“I will follow your command!”

After rewarding the cavalrymen, Ju Gijin immediately mounted his horse.

“Let’s proceed to the armory!”

“Yes, Your Grace! I will escort you!”

* * *

As they rode towards the armory, Ju Gijin’s expression hardened.

“I am uncertain if we will succeed this time.”

Jo Byeongdeok remained silent at Ju Gijin’s words.

Ju Gijin’s concern stemmed from the Hwaryongpo [a massive cannon], a decisive weapon intended to breach the supposedly impenetrable walls of Joseon.

The Hwaryongpo, a colossal cannon that could be described as “unprecedented,” was incredibly difficult to manufacture.

Creating the bronze for its massive body required the construction of enormous furnaces.

And crafting the mold for casting such a huge cannon was arduous work.

Thousands of local laborers were mobilized, and tens of thousands more were deployed to the mining areas in Musun.

Beyond the manpower, the cost of manufacturing was exorbitant.

Despite the immense investment of resources, the cannon casting process was plagued by failures. Defective cannons were melted down and recycled, which alleviated the resource problem but exacerbated the waste of time and money, causing Ju Gijin considerable stress.

* * *

“Even in the middle of winter, the heat is palpable. Remarkable.”

Ju Gijin, expressing his surprise at the intense heat emanating from the armory’s entrance, stepped inside.

He immediately sought out Wang Chung and inquired about the current situation.

“So… this one has a high probability of success?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Ju Gijin stroked his chin, examining the armory’s interior. Artisans meticulously inspected the mold, while laborers diligently hauled carts laden with coal and minerals.

“Hmm… we must succeed this time. Time is running short.”

“I will do my utmost.”

“Do not forget that we must complete at least three units.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then, let’s move on from the Hwaryongpo and discuss the production of other cannons and arquebuses….”

Ju Gijin, having reviewed the supply of weapons, turned to the next issue.

“How is the gunpowder supply?”

“We are making every effort to secure raw materials.”

At Wang Chung’s words, Ju Gijin turned to Jo Byeongdeok, who understood the unspoken question and responded.

“Based on the current situation, we are only using gunpowder in training exercises once out of every ten sessions.”

Wang Chung attempted to justify the situation.

“I am aware of the problem. I am in contact with various merchant groups and will secure a sufficient quantity by January.”

Ju Gijin summarized the situation.

“I expect you to fulfill that promise. If you do, you will be handsomely rewarded.”

“I will do my best!”

* * *

Having completed his inspection of the soldiers’ training and the armory’s progress, Ju Gijin proceeded to the conference room without delay.

“Now, let’s review the plan once more.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At Ju Gijin’s command, Jo Byeongdeok rose from his seat, addressed the generals, and began.

“Our current strength stands at 320,000, including the troops from the Liaodong Garrison, the forces we brought, and those secured through conscription.”

“It’s a bit tight.”

One of the generals commented, and Jo Byeongdeok nodded.

“That is true. We are continuing conscription efforts. His Majesty is also petitioning Beijing, but it’s best not to rely on that.”

The commanders nodded in agreement. If Ju Gijin could acquire more troops simply by asking, he wouldn’t have received only 150,000 in the first place.

Jo Byeongdeok continued.

“Therefore, the maximum force we can realistically mobilize is 250,000. We must allocate 70,000 to prevent potential unrest among the Jurchens and any counterattacks from Joseon.”

Ju Gijin and the commanders nodded in agreement.

Seeing their consensus, Jo Byeongdeok continued.

“After careful deliberation with the staff, we have concluded that focusing our efforts on a single point will yield the best results.”

“Does focusing on a single point mean committing all our forces to one location?”

“Precisely.”

Jo Byeongdeok nodded and explained the rationale.

“To invade Joseon, we must first cross the Yalu River. Crossing at multiple points simultaneously increases the chances of success, but it presents significant challenges.”

“The primary reason is Joseon’s firepower. According to the Jurchens, Joseon possesses a large number of highly lethal weapons, such as Flying Thunderclap Bombs [early type of grenade] and Hwachas [rocket arrow launchers].”

“In this situation, crossing at multiple points would likely result in unacceptable losses.”

“Instead, concentrating our forces at a single point significantly increases our chances of success.”

“If the firepower of the Joseon army can eliminate 100 soldiers at once, what do you think will happen if we commit twice as many, 200, or 500, or even 1,000?”

The generals briefly considered Jo Byeongdeok’s question and nodded in agreement.

“So, where have you decided to cross?”

At Ju Gijin’s question, Jo Byeongdeok pointed to a specific location on the map hanging on the wall with his 指挥棒 [command stick].

“Insanjin (麟山鎭).”

It was the place known as Sinuiju in the history before Hyang’s intervention.