Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 556

556. River of Blood (2)

“They’re coming!”

“Hold! Hold!”

As the sounds of horses and men echoed from the river, the tension among the Joseon soldiers stationed along the walls and trenches reached its peak.

The Joseon soldiers swallowed hard, staring ahead.

“Hey, maknae [youngest member of the group].”

In the tense situation, Han Il-nam, startled by the call from his squad leader, quickly responded.

“Soldier! Han Il-nam!”

“Maknae, fall back and resupply ammunition.”

Confused by the sudden order, Han Il-nam asked back with a puzzled expression.

“Excuse me?”

“Today, focus on diligently supplying ammunition. If I run out of bullets today, you’re dead. Understand?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Then go get the ammunition right now!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following the squad leader’s order, Han Il-nam ran back along the communication trench. Seeing this, a soldier joked with the squad leader.

“Hey, hyung [older brother or respected older male]! Anyone would think that maknae is your son!”

“Did you see maknae’s face? He looked like he was about to have a seizure as soon as he pulled the trigger. It’s easier to just have him carry ammunition.”

“Isn’t he here to eat military rations anyway? I think it’s better to experience it in advance.”

“Not today. Not today…”

The squad leader, shaking his head at the soldier’s words, looked at the river sparkling in the rising sunlight.

“They’re coming in droves.”

Looking at the Liaodong army swarming in, obscuring the river, the squad leader, with a slightly disgusted expression, continued.

“I don’t think I’ll be eating any fish from the Amnok River for a while.”

At the squad leader’s meaningful words, the soldier who had been joking just moments ago cursed.

“Shit…”

“I brought the ammunition… Huh!”

Il-nam, returning with the ammunition according to the squad leader’s order, froze at the sight of the swarming enemies.

Seeing this, the squad leader shouted at Il-nam.

“What are you doing! You saw it, didn’t you! Do you think one box is enough! Bring more right now!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Bring more throwing bombs too!”

“Yes!”

At the squad leader’s order, Il-nam ran back into the communication trench. Meanwhile, the squad leader shouted to the surrounding soldiers.

“Don’t pull the trigger until those bastards grab the first iron wire barrier! No! Take your hands off the trigger altogether!”

“Yes, sir!”

The distance from the Amnok River bank to the Joseon soldiers’ trenches was about 100 jang (approximately 300 meters). The first row of the five-layered iron wire barrier was 60 jang (approximately 180 meters) away from the trench. And the fifth row of the iron wire barrier was 20 jang (approximately 60 meters) away from the trench.

Although it was black powder, the Joseon army’s black powder, from which sulfur had been removed, produced less smoke. Of course, the ignition point was raised as the sulfur was removed, but this was resolved with percussion caps using fulminate of mercury [a highly explosive compound].

Although not as good as smokeless powder, the Joseon army, with its low-smoke powder and properly processed rifled guns, had an overwhelmingly long range compared to other countries’ armies.

And they were about to showcase the performance they had been hiding as much as possible.

* * *

“Huff! Huff!”

The soldiers of the Liaodong army’s vanguard were breathing heavily as they crossed the Amnok River.

It was still the dry season, so the river’s depth was only up to the middle of the thigh even in the deepest parts. And the river’s width had also decreased considerably.

However, the luck ended there. The riverbed revealed as the water receded was a mudflat. If they didn’t keep moving, their feet would get stuck. In addition, they had to cross the icy cold river, even though the thawing season had passed.

The equipment was also a problem.

The vanguard of the Liaodong army crossing the river was equipped with classic weapons: swords and shields. The shields were heavy, made of thick wood covered with iron plates, and the swords were thick and heavy greatswords.

The vanguard’s mission was to protect themselves with thick shields and break through the iron wire barrier using the greatswords.

This was a mission added after discovering the iron wire barrier upon arriving at the Amnok River.

In the original plan, the vanguard’s mission was simple.

– Engage in close combat with the Joseon army until the pontoon bridge is completed and the main force can cross the river.

A pontoon bridge or boats were essential for the main force to cross the river. If gunpowder got wet, the iron guns were just clubs.

Therefore, the vanguard, armed with swords and shields, had the mission of crossing the river on their own and engaging in close combat with the Joseon army to buy time.

And to reduce their casualties, the artillery was supposed to continuously bombard the Joseon army.

The problem was that the Liaodong artillery, which was supposed to be pouring shells onto the Joseon army’s position, had suffered serious damage from the Joseon army’s counter-battery fire and had retreated.

Therefore, they were now crossing the river at full speed, gasping for breath.

The shorter the time their movements were sluggish, the higher their chances of survival.

* * *

“Waaaah!”

“Waaaah!”

Heeheeing!

Finally, those running at the very front of the vanguard set foot on the opposite bank.

With their energy surging again as they stepped on dry land, the soldiers shouted and started sprinting again.

Finally, the soldiers who arrived at the first row of the iron wire barrier placed their shields in front and grabbed the iron wire.

Clang! Clang!

They grabbed the iron wire with their left hands and swung their greatswords with all their might, but the greatswords bounced upwards.

“Uwaaaaaa!”

Seeing their greatswords with blunted edges, unable to cut the iron wire, the soldiers screamed and began to strike the greatswords like crazy.

However, the iron wire in front of them was still just swaying and not breaking. And the steel pillars holding the iron wire were hopeless.

Just then, the Joseon soldiers waiting in the trenches pulled the triggers simultaneously.

Tatatang! Tang! Tang!

“Ugh!”

“Aaaagh!”

The soldiers who were swinging their greatswords like crazy fell onto the sandy beach, spraying blood from the Joseon soldiers’ gunfire.

The shields that had been protecting them were riddled with holes.

As the soldiers struggling with the iron wire barrier fell one after another, the soldiers following behind filled the empty spaces and struggled with the iron wire.

With other soldiers already pushing in from behind, they had no other choice.

Tang! Tang! Tatatang! Bang! Kwakwang!

As the continuous gunfire poured down, the famous Joseon army’s explosive grenades began to join in.

Every time an explosive grenade exploded, dismembered limbs scattered in all directions.

However, the vanguard could only continue to cling to the iron wire barrier.

Pung! Peopeong! Pung!

After a while, the Liaodong artillery, having recovered from the damage, began to bombard the Joseon army.

As the Liaodong army’s shells pounded the Joseon army’s trenches, the gunfire gradually subsided.

“Now’s the chance! Throw the hooks!”

“Throw the hooks!”

The soldiers of the vanguard, not missing the opportunity, threw hooks onto the iron wire or onto the pillars supporting the iron wire.

“Pull!”

“Pull! Pull!”

The soldiers holding the ropes pulled desperately.

Tutatatatang! Tatatang! Kwakwang!

The Joseon army’s concentrated attack, including the Eulsik Hwacha [multiple rocket launcher] and explosive grenades, continued, but the Liaodong army desperately held onto the ropes and pulled.

Because they knew very well that the ropes they held in their hands were the only way.

“It’s collapsing!”

“It’s collapsing!”

“Charge! Charge!”

“Waaaaah!”

Finally, a hole was made in the first row. The Liaodong army soldiers shouted and ran forward.

Tutatatatang! Tatatang!

The Eulsik Hwacha’s fire was concentrated on the Liaodong army soldiers running forward. The soldiers who were hit by the Eulsik Hwacha’s concentrated fire fell like bundles of straw, unable to even scream.

“Lie down! Lie down!”

“Crawl! Crawl!”

Seeing their comrades falling like bundles of straw as they ran forward, the Liaodong army soldiers desperately threw themselves to the ground.

The heavy and cumbersome shields had disappeared somewhere. The soldiers, holding ropes in one hand and greatswords in the other, or just holding ropes in their hands, crawled forward like wriggling caterpillars.

Their goal was only one.

To survive and hook the iron wire and pillars in front of them.

However, the Joseon army did not just watch them.

The buckshot guns began to join the weapons attacking them.

Kwang! Kwakwang!

Every time the buckshot guns, located in the sturdy covered bunkers, fired, dozens of buckshot pellets spread out in a fan shape.

And every time, the Liaodong army soldiers were killed or injured and fell to the ground.

* * *

The buckshot gun was, in some ways, a more terrifying weapon than the explosive grenade. The power of a single shot was stronger with the explosive grenade, and the range was also longer with the explosive grenade.

However, the rate of fire was overwhelmingly superior with the buckshot gun compared to the explosive grenade.

The explosive grenade required filling the projectile with propellant gunpowder and adjusting and inserting the wooden plug each time it was fired. However, with the buckshot gun, after firing, all that was needed was to open the breech, remove the empty cartridge, insert a new shell, and close the breech.

Thanks to this, the buckshot gun boasted an average firing rate more than three times faster than the explosive grenade.

* * *

“They’re more tenacious than I thought. Damn bastards.”

Jo Byeong-deok, observing the situation from the hill he had climbed a few days ago, gnashed his teeth and muttered.

“The vanguard’s casualties are greater than expected. Should we retreat them?”

At the words of the subordinate general mentioning retreat, Jo Byeong-deok shouted.

“What nonsense are you talking about! You’re mentioning retreat when not even 1/3 of the vanguard has crossed the river? Are you out of your mind?”

“But the Joseon army’s resistance is more tenacious than expected. After retreating for a moment to regroup…”

“While we’re regrouping, they’ll regroup too! Are you saying we should repeat this damn thing again! You idiot! Are you saying we should let them fill the hole we barely made!”

“Ah, no!”

“Call the messengers!”

Jo Byeong-deok, roughly calling the messengers, gave orders to the adjutant.

“Tell the forward artillery unit that has recovered from the damage to immediately pressure the Joseon army! And tell the vanguard command to deploy the remaining troops as quickly as possible! Finally, relay to the Hwaryong artillery unit! Tell them to fire immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

The adjutant, receiving Jo Byeong-deok’s orders, quickly wrote the orders and handed them to the messengers.

The messengers, receiving the orders, quickly mounted their horses and scattered in all directions.

Jo Byeong-deok, glancing at the quickly disappearing messengers, looked at the Joseon army’s position again with his telescope.

“Artillery next to artillery… Crazy bastards… Joseon bastards crazy about artillery! And which crazy bastard thought of that damn iron wall!”

* * *

At the same time, the command headquarters located in the Insan camp was also moving busily.

“Report from the left flank! Enemy vanguard breaks through the second line!”

“Report from the right flank! Enemy vanguard arrives at the second line!”

Reports coming in through the flying kites in the sky, as well as traditional means such as messengers, were immediately reported to Yi Jing-ok.

In the center of the headquarters, a large-scale map depicting the terrain of the Insan camp was spread out, and all sorts of wooden markers indicating the enemy and friendly forces were changing positions in real time.

In addition, the contents of the reports coming up from the front lines were summarized and recorded in real time on a large chalkboard hanging on one wall.

Yi Jing-ok, looking at the contents of the chalkboard and the situation displayed on the map, assessed the situation.

“We don’t need to send out the reserves yet. How is the ammunition supply?”

“No additional support requests have come in yet!”

“They’ll be coming up like crazy soon, so prepare immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

“What is the damage situation?”

“There was some damage from the initial shelling, but almost none since then!”

Yi Jing-ok smiled at the adjutant’s report.

“As expected, artillery is the best… By the way, why are those bastards’ large siege cannons so quiet?”

The moment he mentioned the super-large siege cannons that all the Joseon commanders were paying attention to, a huge explosion and impact struck the command headquarters.

Kkung!