Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 565

565. Disconnection. (4)

The Joseon navy’s Panokseon ships, originally patrolling the archipelagos of the West and South Seas, were slated for retirement after the deployment of large numbers of HaeEung ships. However, suspicious movements in Liaodong brought them back to the front lines.

“The Yalu River is a natural defense, but it also becomes an obstacle when we attack.”

“We need a way to solve this.”

The Panokseon [a type of Korean warship], came into view as a potential solution.

“This is good.”

* The biggest advantage of the Panokseon is its flat-bottomed design. Flat-bottomed ships have a shallow draft [the depth of water a ship needs to float].

* A relatively shallow draft allows for movement even in rivers. The Panokseon, with reduced ballast [heavy material used to stabilize a ship], can ascend to at least the location of Insan Jin without difficulty.

* The flat bottom ensures it remains level even if it runs aground, accidentally or intentionally. This can be utilized as an excellent fixed base and a pontoon bridge for crossing the river.

* Each Panokseon carries 26 cannons, including Eulshik Hwachas [multiple rocket launchers]. Ten ships can create a sufficiently powerful force.

Based on this, the Panokseon’s retirement was temporarily suspended, and they were gathered at Gyeonggi and Hwanghae Naval Bases.

The Joseon navy, having gathered the Panokseon ships, carried out extensive repairs and modifications simultaneously.

As soon as the battle broke out in Insan Jin, they launched the prepared Panokseon ships.

The Panokseon fleet, initially gathered at the mouth of the Yalu River, began preparing to ascend the river.

“Dump the ballast!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following the captains’ orders, the soldiers began removing the concrete blocks from the ship’s bottom and throwing them into the sea.

After confirming the Panokseon’s weight was appropriately reduced, the captains issued the next order.

“Start the engines!”

“Aye, sir!”

Following the captains’ orders, the stokers on board began to turn the steam engines.

* * *

The highlight of the modifications was the installation of steam engines.

Instead of large engines like those on the Gibeom ships [large transport ships] that travel the northern sea routes or the engines of the Iron Horses [trains], they mounted a small steam engine from a cannon-towing vehicle.

The steam engine, located at the rear of the first deck, had an output distribution device with a dozen gears. Two long iron rods were attached to the output distribution device, sloping towards the water’s surface. At the end of the iron rods, a windmill-type propeller was attached.

There wasn’t enough time to modify it like the Gibeom ships, so it was a makeshift device.

However, the prototype was evaluated as usable after testing in the Han River, it steadily ascended, albeit slowly.

“It’s enough if we mobilize the rowers there!”

* * *

When the steam pressure rose sufficiently, the stokers moved the levers to activate the output distribution device.

The Panokseon ships, beginning to move as the screws turned, soon began ascending the Yalu River.

The target was Insan Jin, 80 li [approximately 32 kilometers] away.

* * *

If the left flank of the Joseon army was the Panokseon fleet, the right flank was the Joseon army’s cavalry.

The cavalry mobilized for this battle numbered two Bu (divisions), approximately 35,000 troops. In terms of numbers alone, it wasn’t a large army, but in terms of combat power, it was formidable.

The reason for this assessment was that they were cavalry and operated a large number of cannons.

* * *

According to the Joseon army’s reform planned by Sejong [a famous Joseon king] and seasoned by Hyang [a military strategist], the core of the Joseon army’s power was artillery, supported by musketeers and cavalry.

* Considering Joseon’s economic situation, we cannot simply increase the number of soldiers.

* If a war that risks the nation’s survival breaks out, we will replenish our forces by conscripting reservists, but in peacetime, we must extract maximum power from an appropriate number of troops.

* Considering the above conditions and the expanding territory of Joseon, a unit with strong mobility and firepower must become the core of the army.

Based on this, the Joseon land and naval forces were divided into two.

One was those stationed in strongly fortified fortresses like Insan Jin, and the other was the cavalry.

The common feature of these two groups was that they operated a large number of cannons.

Whether it was the fortress garrison or the cavalry, the core of their power was artillery.

* * *

As soon as the Liaodong army’s movements were detected, the Joseon army’s cavalry moved quickly. One Bu continued north, tasked with starting an invasion from the northeastern region of Liaodong and striking the rear of Liaodong.

The two Bu moving to strike the flanks of the Liaodong army fighting in Insan Jin sprinted along the military road built on the Gaema Plateau, went around the south of Mount Baekdu, and crossed the Yalu River.

The Joseon army cavalry, having crossed the Yalu River, sprinted along the northern bank towards Insan Jin.

* * *

The Panokseon fleet and the Joseon army cavalry arrived and began striking the Liaodong army’s left and right flanks.

Approximately 30 Panokseon ships ascended the Yalu River. Ten formed a line in the middle of the river.

Their target was the Liaodong army crossing the Yalu River. Therefore, the Panokseon ships assigned to the mission were loaded with 60 Eulshik Hwachas instead of naval guns.

A total of 600 Eulshik Hwachas targeted the Liaodong army gathered on both banks and in the river.

Among the remaining 20 ships, 5 went up the southern bank, and 15 went up the northern bank and settled down.

The 400 cannons and 80 Eulshik Hwachas loaded on the 20 Panokseon ships targeted the Liaodong army gathered on the riverbanks and nearby.

“Fire the cannons!”

Following the captains’ orders, the cannons and Eulshik Hwachas fired simultaneously.

Kukwakwang!

Tatatang!

The naval Bigeokjincheonleis [large cannons] fired by the Panokseon ships and the rain of bullets from the Eulshik Hwachas instantly began to crush the Liaodong army.

“Uwaaak!”

“Aaaak!”

The Liaodong soldiers screamed and fell under the Joseon army’s attack.

The Liaodong soldiers crossing the Yalu River suffered the most fatal damage. Faltering due to the water, they fell under the fire of the Eulshik Hwachas, and the Yalu River instantly began to turn red.

A similar situation unfolded on the left flank of the Liaodong army.

Kwakwakwang!

The Bigeokjincheonleis fired by the Joseon army cavalry thoroughly destroyed the left flank.

Tatatang!

As soon as the barrage of Bigeokjincheonleis ended, the Joseon cavalry’s barrage followed.

“Kuaaak!”

“Counterattack! Return fire!”

The left wing of the Liaodong army, having received a crushing blow, faltered greatly, but the commanders quickly regained their senses and ordered a counterattack.

Following the commanders’ orders, the Liaodong soldiers raised their iron guns and bows and aimed at the Joseon army cavalry.

However, it was a futile effort.

The range of their iron guns and bows was hopelessly short compared to the Eulshik Jangchong [long rifles] of the Joseon cavalry.

The trenches of Insan Jin and its surroundings allowed for gunfights by approaching the range of the iron guns, using the help of friendly cannons and various terrain features, including the craters created by Hwatan [a type of explosive device].

However, they were now fighting in an open field.

This was the optimal place to properly utilize the superior range of the Eulshik Jangchong.

It was Joseon’s fatal blow, deceiving the range of the Gapsik Jangchong [another type of long rifle] and Eulshik Jangchong using all sorts of methods.

The left flank of the Liaodong army, under concentrated attack, gradually began to crumble.

As the enemy lines collapsed, the Joseon army cavalry continued to advance, shelling and shooting.

As the collapse and advance were repeated, the hole drilled in the left flank grew larger.

At some point, the Joseon army’s gunfire stopped.

As the gunfire stopped, the elderly Jurchen [a nomadic tribe] warriors shouted.

“Prepare for the charge!”

“Prepare for the charge!”

Before their cries could end, the Joseon army cavalry’s charge began.

Dududududu!

As thousands of cavalry charged at once, a heavy reverberation shook the ground.

The Liaodong soldiers, who had formed a phalanx [a close-ranked formation] according to the order, waited for the charge, clutching their iron guns and spears and swallowing dry saliva.

As the image of the cavalry with the Joseon army cavalry’s unique long spears grew larger, the soldiers with iron guns aimed.

At that moment, they were covered by Bigeokjincheonleis.

Kwakwakwang!

The phalanx collapsed due to the explosion, and then the long spears pierced them.

“The Joseon bastards are tied up! Strike!”

“We must tie up those bastards to prevent a second attack!”

“Uwaaa!”

The first defense line collapsed, but the cavalry’s speed also decreased. In response, the commanders of the second defense line ordered the Liaodong soldiers to catch the Joseon army cavalry trying to escape.

The life of the cavalry was speed. If caught, they would lose their greatest weapon and be unable to prevent a second strike.

In response, the Liaodong soldiers shouted and rushed towards the Joseon army cavalry nearby.

“No! Retreat! Retreat!”

The Jurchen veterans shouted to retreat, but it was too late. The weapon that the Joseon army cavalry really loved began to fire.

Tangtangtangtang!

The 6-shot Gapsik Masangchong [a type of carbine] began to fire, and the Liaodong soldiers who were gathering around fell. The other Liaodong soldiers hesitated, and the Joseon army cavalry escaped to the side without missing the gap.

As the first attack team escaped, the second attack team covered them.

* * *

The Liaodong army slowly began to collapse under the attack of the Joseon army cavalry and the Joseon navy.

The Liaodong army, already crossing the river and attacking the trench lines of Insan Jin, was in a state of panic from soldiers to commanders.

New Joseon army soldiers were flocking to the trenches, pushing them back.

The support troops were becoming fish food in the middle of the Yalu River.

Pillars of fire were rising from all sides of the main camp across the river.

“This won’t work! Let’s run away!”

“Retreat! Retreat!”

The soldiers, realizing that things had gone wrong, turned their backs and began to run away.

“Stop!”

“Hold that position! Hold it!”

The commanders shouted to stop the retreating soldiers, even forcing the defense by cutting down deserters, but they were buried by the retreating soldiers.

The collapse soon spread to the entire front.

“It’s a retreat!”

“Run away!”

Numerous soldiers shouted, turned their backs, and ran towards the Yalu River.

The middle of the Yalu River turned into hell.

The soldiers who had stopped due to the attack of the Panokseon ships and the soldiers who had escaped became entangled, causing a standstill.

The soldiers became prey for the Eulshik Hwachas.

“You bastards! Who do you think will just let you go!”

“Bring all the ammunition you have!”

The Joseon soldiers frantically pulled the triggers at the Liaodong soldiers entangled in the middle of the river.