Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 587

587. The Fall of the Yellow Dragon (2)

The report regarding the Ming army’s situation was immediately delivered to Choi Yun-deok.

He summoned the key commanders and staff and immediately posed a question.

“What do you think?”

At Choi Yun-deok’s question, one of the commanders at the lowest rank spoke up.

“I believe they may have been exhausted fleeing from Liaodong Fortress and rushing here.”

Choi Yun-deok nodded slightly.

“That seems plausible, but there’s a problem. Based on the documents secured from Liaodong Fortress and working backward, they are a full six days behind schedule. Anyone versed in military strategy should know how far an army can move in a day. Isn’t that so?”

The commanders nodded in agreement.

* * *

In ancient military texts, understanding how far an army could travel in a day was considered the first step in establishing military strategy. Only by knowing this could one secure terrain advantageous to one’s own forces and calculate the scale of logistics needed for war.

The Joseon army had also prepared data in advance and established logistical plans accordingly before engaging in the war.

Of course, unexpected variables arose, causing hardship.

* * *

“Then why…”

“Hmm…”

The commanders, agreeing with Choi Yun-deok’s point, pondered deeply to find a suitable reason.

Just then, a pungent smell drifted in through the open flap of the military tent.

“The smell of insect repellent is strong today.”

“It seems particularly strong. Shall we lower the flap?”

“No…”

Choi Yun-deok and the commanders, who were discussing the pungent smell, stopped speaking simultaneously.

“Ah!”

Lee Jing-ok, after a brief exclamation, spoke immediately.

“It seems to be due to disease.”

Choi Yun-deok nodded emphatically at Lee Jing-ok’s words.

“I think so too.”

Since ancient times, to advance from China to Liaodong, one had to pass through the corridor of the Liaoxi region. Large and small mountains blocked the way to the north, and the Bohai Sea blocked it to the south.

Another characteristic of this Liaoxi region was the enormous number of wetlands and swamps. The Liaoxi region was even called Liaozawa, meaning ‘Liao Swamp,’ due to the abundance of wetlands and swamps.

Therefore, the Joseon army also struggled while advancing to the Daling River.

They had to deploy cavalry and scouts on a large scale to find dry land large enough for the army to move and rest easily.

In addition to these geographical issues, the timing was also a problem.

It was now June.

An enormous number of mosquitoes swarmed from the wetlands and swamps scattered everywhere.

To protect the soldiers as much as possible from these mosquitoes and gnats, the Joseon army had to burn a large amount of insect repellent.

In addition, this insect repellent was also touched by Hyang’s breath [meaning it was made with her special recipe or care].

Made from waste paper and mugwort powder collected from palaces, government offices, and other places, the insect repellent was useful for repelling mosquitoes and gnats.

Of course, there had been a method of burning dried mugwort leaves rolled into a circle from before, but the insect repellent made by Hyang was more convenient to store and use, making it popular.

* * *

The Joseon army strongly suspected ‘disease caused by pests’ as the reason for the Ming army’s late arrival.

In reality, what held back the Ming army was disease, and the cause was not just pests.

The water problem was another cause.

Wetlands and swamps could not be a source of drinking water for the soldiers. Nearby rivers or village wells could not provide enough supply for 800,000 troops.

Therefore, most of the soldiers roughly filtered the muddy water they fetched from nearby and used it as drinking water. And this method was familiar to the soldiers.

Since ancient times, the Central Plains [historical region of China] had been famous for its poor water quality, which was why tea had developed. To drink tea, water had to be boiled, and this process naturally sterilized it. And cheap teas were so common that street vendors selling tea with sugar were prevalent, so ordinary soldiers carried tea powder and sugar with them.

The problem was that they were an army of 800,000.

To drink tea, water had to be boiled, and naturally, a large amount of additional firewood was needed. And time was also needed.

Ordinary soldiers, finding this troublesome, simply drank the roughly filtered water, causing problems.

Another problem was excretion.

The amount of excrement produced by an army of 800,000 was also enormous. Of course, pits were dug in each encampment to provide toilets. However, demand always exceeded supply, and soldiers in a hurry would often relieve themselves in secluded places outside the encampment.

As this situation continued, the water near the encampment became contaminated.

The number of 800,000 was too large to move at once. Soldiers divided into armies and units departed and moved in turn, then stayed at the encampment.

As this process was repeated, the areas around the encampments created along the route became a mess of soldiers’ excrement.

Those who went ahead as the vanguard were relatively better off, but the rear guard had to solve their food and lodging in increasingly messy encampments. As a result, a large number of sick people began to emerge from the units belonging to the rear guard.

As the rear guard became a mess, the speed of the vanguard also slowed down, and the soldiers of the vanguard also became a mess due to the increasingly hot weather and the attack of insects.

On the other hand, the Joseon army was fully prepared to avoid this situation. They prepared a large number of water purifiers and even brought quicklime to use in the toilets.

The quicklime, which absorbed moisture, hardened and generated high heat, which had a somewhat useful sterilization effect. Soldiers who used the toilet were trained to take quicklime from the container next to them with a small shovel and throw it away. No, not only that, but each soldier was given four small packages of quicklime for single use. This was for use in case they could not use the toilet and had to defecate outside.

Of course, this was also Hyang’s work. Hyang, who was sensitive to this issue, was one of the first to create a flush toilet.

* * *

Choi Yun-deok, having roughly estimated the situation, stroked his beard and muttered.

“This makes me want to play a trick.”

“Yes?”

Lee Jing-ok, briefly questioning Choi Yun-deok’s muttering, soon smiled slightly and asked.

“Are you thinking of the Salsu Battle [a famous Korean victory against the Sui Dynasty of China]?”

Choi Yun-deok nodded at Lee Jing-ok’s question.

“Since they’re already exhausted, shouldn’t we exhaust them a little more so we can be comfortable?”

Lee Jing-ok and the commanders nodded at Choi Yun-deok’s words.

“Then shall we change the plan that way?”

“Hmm…”

The staff, understanding Choi Yun-deok’s words, suggested revising the plan, but Choi Yun-deok did not answer immediately. Choi Yun-deok, with his arms crossed and stroking his chin beard, opened his mouth.

“The problem is that we’ve come this far, but we’re retreating. Advancing is enjoyable, but when retreating, there are many thoughts.”

“Ah…”

When Choi Yun-deok mentioned the morale of the soldiers, the staff and commanders immediately nodded.

“Fortunately, we are benefiting from the fact that the cavalry discovered the Ming vanguard early. We have time, so let’s think about it a little more.”

“Yes.”

However, a decision had to be made soon.

* * *

The next day, noon.

“Urgent news from the navy!”

“Urgent news?”

Choi Yun-deok, who was taking a break, rose at the adjutant’s announcement.

Sitting in his chair, Choi Yun-deok unfolded the letter from the navy, and his face hardened.

“Ming reinforcements departing from Shanhaiguan [a major pass of the Great Wall of China]? At least 100,000 or more?”

After reconfirming the contents of the letter, Choi Yun-deok immediately issued an order.

“Gather the staff and commanders!”

“Yes!”

After Choi Yun-deok’s order was issued, the staff and commanders gathered in the headquarters tent half an hour later.

“This is urgent news sent by the navy. Our front line, which was scouting the Shanhaiguan area, spotted it and informed us.”

After revealing the source of the urgent news, Choi Yun-deok handed the document to the senior staff officer. The senior staff officer received the document and read it in a loud voice.

“Ming reinforcements departing from Shanhaiguan! At least 100,000 or more!”

The faces of the commanders crumpled at the senior staff officer’s reading.

“Does that country have nothing but people left? Whenever they do something, the basics are in units of 100,000…”

“That’s what I’m saying…”

While the commanders were muttering quietly, Choi Yun-deok looked at the staff and senior commanders.

“What should we do? Should we retreat? Or should we receive them here?”

“If we retreat, we can exhaust the enemies, so wouldn’t that be even better?”

“That’s right. The added troops will also be exhausted in the process of coming here. So it would be better to retreat.”

As those who agreed came out, those who opposed also came out.

“We must receive them here. If the enemies know that we have retreated, their morale will rise.”

“That’s right. The moment they know that we have retreated, they will think that we are afraid of them and become arrogant. We have already completed all preparations, so we must receive the enemy here.”

“We must not forget that the enemy’s morale is also a problem, but there is a considerable possibility that our morale will drop!”

A fierce debate broke out between those who argued for both sides. Both sides had reasonable grounds, so both sides were evenly matched.

“Stop.”

As the debate showed signs of overheating, Choi Yun-deok intervened. When those who were debating closed their mouths, Choi Yun-deok made a conclusion.

“Both sides’ opinions are valid, so I will think about it a little more. However, time is short, so I will make a decision by this evening.”

“Yes.”

With that decision, not a decision, the staff and commanders left the military tent.

Choi Yun-deok, who followed them out of the military tent, sighed as he looked at the sky.

“Hoo~. What to do with this? Whichever side I choose, it will be a white elephant [a burdensome possession]…”

However, Choi Yun-deok had to make a decision soon.

* * *

“Urgent news from the Tiger Hunter Musketeer Corps!”

Choi Yun-deok smiled bitterly at the adjutant’s cry.

“Now, just hearing the word ‘urgent news’ makes my stomach ache. Give it to me.”

Choi Yun-deok received the letter from the adjutant, examined the contents, and immediately ordered the adjutant.

“Summon all commanders again immediately!”

“Yes!”

* * *

Choi Yun-deok, facing the staff and commanders who had gathered in the military tent again, held out the letter and opened his mouth.

“Urgent news has come from the Tiger Hunter Musketeer Corps, which was sent to scout near the Great Wall. The Ming soldiers guarding the Great Wall are moving towards us.”

The senior staff officer, who received the letter from Choi Yun-deok and examined the contents, took out the letter he had received earlier and examined the contents.

The senior staff officer, who carefully analyzed the two letters, reported to Choi Yun-deok.

“Based on the time the report was received, it seems that the troops coming in addition are the troops guarding the Great Wall.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

The senior staff officer, who paused and pondered for a moment, suggested to Choi Yun-deok.

“It would be better to retreat.”

“Why?”

“If they are soldiers guarding the Great Wall, they are elites even in the Ming army. If it is them, they will maintain military discipline to some extent even if the road is rough. In that case, it is best to exhaust them further by drawing them in.”

“Hmm…”

Choi Yun-deok, who closed his mouth tightly and pondered for a long time, finally made a decision.

“We retreat.”