Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 572

Late April, in the Year of Mujin, the 30th year of King Sejong’s reign (1448).

The fleets of Joseon and Ming faced each other in the sea near Socheong Island.

“It’s the Joseon fleet! Vice Admiral!”

Vice Admiral Wu 계명 (Gye-myeong), commander of the Ming fleet, raised his telescope at the captain’s words.

Wu 계명, watching the Joseon fleet emerge from the shadows of Socheong Island in the distance, turned to his adjutant.

“The scale is about the same as our reconnaissance ships reported.”

“That’s true, but…”

The adjutant paused, a slightly uneasy expression on his face, and continued.

“I’m a little concerned that the reconnaissance ships that went out to scout near Daechong Island haven’t returned.”

* * *

Even before the battle was about to unfold, Ming and Joseon were engaged in fierce skirmishes in the West Sea (Yellow Sea).

They attempted to discern the opponent’s size and direction of movement in advance, and to thwart these attempts, Ming and Joseon reconnaissance ships engaged in fierce, mutually destructive battles.

And the result was mostly a victory for the Joseon navy. The Ming reconnaissance ships, with their weak armament and defenses, could not withstand the Joseon Hae Eung-class vessels [fast warships].

However, as the Ming fleets properly united and the number of reconnaissance ships they operated greatly increased, the amount of information coming in about the Joseon allied fleet also gradually increased.

However, the adjutant could not hide his anxiety because not a single reconnaissance ship that had ventured near Daechong Island had returned.

* * *

Wu 계명 chuckled at the adjutant’s words, who couldn’t hide his unease.

“Your timidity is the problem. Look at the place where the war will take place. It’s surrounded by the sea. There are no islands to ambush from, even if they wanted to. Of course, there may be Joseon guerrilla fleets hiding on Daechong Island, which you are worried about. However, unless we go there, we cannot be caught in their ambush. Rather, they have to come out. And even if their numbers increase by doing so, don’t we have something prepared as well?”

Wu 계명 was confident for a reason.

* * *

During the journey here, the number of Ming fleets had further increased.

The last information obtained by the Joseon navy was 40 large *bokseon* ships [turtle ships] and 80 medium ships. However, last night, under the cover of darkness, 10 large *bokseon* ships and 20 medium ships joined them.

50 large *bokseon* ships with 80 cannons each was an enormous scale.

In addition, there were 100 medium ships equipped with 20 cannons. Simply combining the large *bokseon* ships and medium ships, it was an enormous number, twice the size of the current Joseon fleet.

* * *

“That’s true. I also believe that victory is certain. But… I’m still a little uneasy. I’m afraid we might suffer more damage than expected.”

The adjutant’s concern was this.

Joseon was obsessed with cannons, whether on land or at sea.

The Joseon guys were crazy enough to put 20 cannons on Panokseon ships, which were smaller than their medium ships. And as much as those crazy guys made cannons, the power of the cannons was also excellent.

According to what was already known, the number of cannons on that Hae Eung-class fast warship was about 30, and the Challenger-class warship had about 50 cannons.

Therefore, if they were even slightly careless, it was certain that even if they won, the damage would be enormous.

The large *bokseon* ships and medium ships that filled the surroundings were almost all the warships born from the naval arms race between Ming and Joseon.

If the losses of these warships were great, it would take a lot of time and money to recover them.

Wu 계명, realizing why the adjutant was uneasy, nodded.

“Yes. I know what you’re worried about. That’s why you use your adjutants and why I keep you by my side, isn’t it? Let’s do our best.”

At Wu 계명’s answer, the adjutant bowed his head with a fist salute.

“I will do my best to assist you, sir!”

* * *

While Wu 계명 and the adjutant were regaining their fighting spirit, a soldier on the watchtower shouted.

“Joseon warships are moving!”

At the soldier’s cry, Wu 계명, the adjutant, and his adjutants and captain all raised their telescopes.

The Joseon warships visible through the telescope were spreading out in a long sideways formation. And from the Challenger-class warship, which appeared to be the flagship, fire arrows were shot into the sky.

Bang! Pow! Pow!

The fire arrows shot into the sky soon created colorful clouds of smoke, and soon similar fire arrows were shot from Socheong Island and Daechong Island.

“There was a hidden card as you said. But seeing them reveal it so early, they must be very surprised.”

“That’s right.”

At Wu 계명’s answer, the adjutant nodded with a brighter face. Hidden cards were most painful when you were hit without knowing them. But now that they knew, they could reduce the damage as much as possible if they prepared properly.

The adjutant, with a brighter face, examined the Joseon army’s formation and reported to Wu 계명.

“Judging by their movements, they seem to be building a *saseonjin* formation [diagonal formation]. To be precise, it would be a *paljajin* formation [figure-eight formation].”

“That’s right.”

Wu 계명, nodding slightly at the adjutant’s words, asked the adjutant.

“I’m thinking of moving in a *eorinjin* formation [goose formation], placing the large *bokseon* ships in a rhombus shape in the center and the medium ships on the outside. What do you think?”

The adjutant examined the formation created by moving the wooden pieces placed on the nautical chart and nodded.

“I think it’s the most appropriate.”

“Then proceed as is.”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon after, signal flags moved from the Ming navy’s flagship. The Ming warships, having confirmed the signal flags, soon began to form the *eorinjin* formation.

* * *

Thus, while deploying complex fleet maneuvers, both sides began to form their formations.

Joseon formed a *hakikjin* formation [crane wing formation], placing the Challenger-class warships with the best firepower and defense in the center and the highly maneuverable Hae Eung-class on both wings, while Ming responded with an *eorinjin* formation, concentrating the large *bokseon* ships in the center and building a wall around them with medium ships.

The Joseon navy, having completed its formation, approached quickly.

And as soon as they entered the range of the cannons, they began firing cannons, starting with the Hae Eung-class warships.

Boom! Bang!

Dull cannon fire rang out, and as smoke billowed, pillars of fire began to rise from the medium ships defending the outer perimeter of the Ming navy.

Kaboom! Bang!

“What! Why are the warships exploding…”

The Ming army command, seeing the medium ships exploding on the outermost edge of the formation, was horrified.

“Is it a *Bigyeokjincheonleoi* [a type of Korean bomb]?”

“The power is too great for a *Bigyeokjincheonleoi*!”

“Then what is that explosion!”

Amidst the conflicting opinions of the adjutants, reports came in from all directions as they watched their allied warships suddenly explode.

“Report! The damage to the warships attacked by the Joseon navy is severe!”

“Ships are already sinking!”

The adjutants fell into a panic upon receiving the reports.

“No way! No matter how powerful a *Bigyeokjincheonleoi* is, it can’t sink a medium ship with just one or two shots!”

“That’s right!”

The Ming navy, already aware that the Joseon navy enjoyed using *Bigyeokjincheonleoi*, had paid attention to this aspect from the design stage of the medium ships. They made the first deck thicker and placed the cannons on the second deck. The most frightening aspect of the *Bigyeokjincheonleoi* was its explosive power and fragments. The penetrating power was surprisingly low.

The only projectiles that could make holes in the hull were iron balls or stone balls made of solid iron.

And the medium ships and large *bokseon* ships were the ships that had densely installed watertight bulkheads and even built warehouses to store wood for repairs in order to withstand the attacks of these projectiles as much as possible.

Therefore, their belief was that one or two *Bigyeokjincheonleoi* could not sink a medium ship.

And that was the correct answer.

What the Joseon navy used was not *Bigyeokjincheonleoi*.

It was a high-explosive shell filled with gunpowder inside a conical body and with a contact fuse embedded in the warhead.

* * *

Interestingly, it was not Hyang, but the navy, that first proposed the concept of a high-explosive shell using a contact fuse.

“*Bigyeokjincheonleoi* is very useful, but its penetrating power is weaker than expected.”

“If it’s a Japanese warship, just one *Bigyeokjincheonleoi* is enough, but that’s not the case with Ming or other countries’ ships…”

“It’s also inconvenient to carry both *Bigyeokjincheonleoi* and regular cannons like we do now… and above all, the firepower is reduced!”

The naval command, struggling to solve the problems caused by mounting various types of cannons on a warship with limited space, soon came up with an idea.

“We can make a *Bigyeokjincheonleoi* with sufficient penetrating power!”

“Is that possible?”

“There’s someone who can make it possible!”

The naval command immediately asked Hyang to solve the problem.

Hyang smiled broadly at the proposal and replied.

“I will create the best answer for you!”

The answer was refreshing, but the result did not come out immediately.

This was because Joseon’s steelmaking technology was just beginning to develop when the proposal was received.

It was only after the steam engine was born and steelmaking technology developed to the point where iron horses [trains], railroads, and even iron bridges could be produced that contact fuses and shells with satisfactory performance could be created.

In addition, although it was at a primitive level, breech-loading cannons were also added.

And the Hae Eung-class warships and Challenger-class warships were decorated with the cannons created in this way, and they were now fully demonstrating their performance in the current battle.

* * *

Among the people in the command who were in a state of panic and confusion, Wu 계명 and the adjutant were the first to come to their senses.

“What is this disgrace! The battle has only just begun!”

At Wu 계명’s rebuke, the adjutants came to their senses, and the adjutant advised Wu 계명.

“The Joseon cannons are stronger than expected! The best answer in the current situation is to close the distance as quickly as possible! If a cannon battle breaks out within the range of our cannons, we can properly exert the advantage of quantitative superiority!”

“Let’s do that! Issue the order for the fleet to advance at full speed!”

“Yes!”

Soon, a signal flag was raised from the flagship, and the Ming fleet began to advance at full speed.

“Row! Row!”

The rowers on the Ming army’s warships gritted their teeth and rowed. The officer in front of them shouted at them, veins popping out of his neck.

“Row until your arms fall off! If you’re even a little late, you’ll die!”

The Ming fleet approached the Joseon fleet with all its might. To live, and to win, they rowed with all their might and adjusted their sails.

“Faster, faster! Just a little faster! Just a little more! Just a little more and we’ll be in range of the cannons!”

As the distance to the Joseon fleet narrowed, the Ming warships also began to prepare for a cannon battle.

“We are still taking losses, but we can endure it at this level! A cannon battle will break out soon. Then we can pay them back enough!”

“Of course, we have to pay them back!”

While Wu 계명 and the adjutant were burning with fighting spirit, a soldier shouted from the watchtower.

“Strange ships appearing on the left flank! Approaching at high speed!”

At the soldier’s cry, Wu 계명 turned to the adjutant.

“The hidden card has finally appeared!”

“That’s right!”

The two men and the adjutants raised their telescopes and looked in the direction the soldier was pointing.

“Dragon?”

In the direction in question, a black, oversized ship with a huge dragon head on its bow was approaching at high speed.

“How is it moving without sails?”

“What is that black smoke?”

The adjutant, watching the ship approaching at high speed without sails, was soon greatly shocked.

“Has Joseon already put a steam engine on a ship!”