Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 589

589. The Fall of the Yellow Dragon (4)

Thus began the Battle of Daling River, where the Joseon cavalry held out for two days.

The vanguard of the Ming army numbered about 180,000, with only 500 artillerymen among them. The rest were infantry armed with classic spears, swords, and bows. In contrast, the Joseon cavalry had 4,000 artillerymen operating Daewangu [large-caliber cannons] and shrapnel cannons.

Faced with the overwhelmingly superior firepower and the iron net [a defensive formation using chained carts], the Ming vanguard suffered severe losses against the Joseon cavalry.

“Let’s start moving. The iron net seems to be reaching its limit, and our supplies are running low.”

“We can hold out a little longer.”

“That’s right. They are armed with spears and swords. We can hold out a bit more.”

Lee Jing-ok, assessing the battle situation, decided to retreat, but many of the commanders still harbored desires to continue fighting.

However, Lee Jing-ok rejected their opinions.

“No, with the remaining supplies, we can only defend ourselves effectively for a limited time. It’s time to withdraw.”

“But…”

“Besides, if we crush their morale too much in this opening battle, they might give up the chase, which would be troublesome for us. We need to let them maintain some momentum so they will pursue us, right?”

“Yes.”

The commanders nodded as if they understood Lee Jing-ok’s explanation.

* * *

“The security is a mess.”

The Ming army camp across the Daling River.

The Ming vanguard general, inspecting the state of the camp, shook his head and muttered.

The situation inside the camp was chaotic. The soldiers, startled to see the vanguard general, stood up straight, their faces etched with fatigue.

“I apologize! I will strictly hold the soldiers accountable!”

The unit commander, following behind the vanguard general, hurriedly bowed his head, but the vanguard general raised his hand to stop him.

“It’s alright. They have reason to be tired. The important thing is to maintain proper security now.”

The vanguard general, after replying briefly, lightly patted the shoulders of the soldiers who were stiffly watching him.

“It may be tough, but please bear with it a little longer.”

“Yes!”

Shortly after the vanguard general left, the soldiers all sighed in relief.

“Hoo~.”

The vanguard general, continuing to inspect various parts of the camp, arrived at the place where the wounded soldiers were gathered to receive treatment.

“What is the situation?”

“We are severely lacking in medicine.”

“I have sent a letter requesting supplies as quickly as possible. Please do your best.”

“I will do my best.”

After touring the camp, the vanguard general returned to his tent, took off his helmet, and sat down.

“Hoo~.”

With a long sigh, the vanguard general placed his hand on his forehead and muttered with a deeply furrowed expression.

“The losses are too great… The loss of troops is significant, but the problem is that the consumption of supplies has exceeded expectations.”

* * *

Every time they fought a battle on the way to the Daling River, they had to stop for at least a day. This meant that unexpected consumption of supplies occurred. Even when they stopped, the soldiers had to eat, and they had to take care of the soldiers who died or were wounded in battle.

The problem was that the supplies the vanguard army had brought were greatly reduced due to these unplanned events. The amount of supplies consumed by the 180,000-strong vanguard army each day was enormous, and the supplies were quickly depleted due to the unexpected consumption. In the end, the last few days of the 20-day delay were caused by not being able to move while waiting for supplies.

When the vanguard general finally caught up with the Joseon cavalry at the Daling River after such a difficult chase, he slammed his palm with his fist.

“In the end, it was all a delaying tactic!”

In the Joseon camp across the Daling River, only the Joseon cavalry was stationed. However, the scale of the fortified camp was considerable for just the Joseon cavalry. This meant that a large-scale Joseon army had been stationed there.

“The Joseon army has all fled!”

“Those damn cavalrymen were just buying time!”

“Let’s defeat them as quickly as possible and catch up with the fleeing Joseon army!”

“Waaaah!”

The soldiers, regaining their spirits with the rumors circulating inside the camp and the explanations from the commanders, shouted loudly and prepared to cross the river.

And in the ensuing two days of battle, the vanguard army suffered severe losses.

It was the result of the collaboration between the iron net, the Bigyeokjincheonle [a type of Korean cannon], and the shrapnel cannons.

* * *

Once again, the vanguard general let out a long sigh and took out his writing tools.

“I will be reprimanded, but I need musketeers and artillerymen. The spearmen and archers we currently have are not even worth the cost of their supplies. To fight against guns and cannons, guns and cannons are the only answer.”

After writing a request for a large number of musketeers and artillerymen, the vanguard general summoned a messenger.

After sending the messenger with the request, the vanguard general summoned the commanders.

“Tomorrow, we will only maintain minimal security and let the soldiers rest.”

“What about tomorrow’s battle?”

“It’s pointless in such an exhausted state.”

“That is true.”

“So, let them rest.”

“Understood.”

The expressions of the commanders leaving the vanguard general’s tent did not seem too bad. They also felt the need for rest.

“Anyway… it has become an era of gunpowder.”

“I agree.”

The commanders were realizing that the spears and swords they had been using so familiarly had become outdated.

* * *

“General! General! Come out!”

The vanguard general, who had finally fallen asleep after tossing and turning all night, hurriedly got up from his bed at the shout from outside.

“What is it!”

At the vanguard general’s shout, who had quickly put on his helmet, an officer pointed to the Joseon camp and raised his voice.

“The Joseon bastards have fled!”

“What!”

The vanguard general, receiving a completely unexpected report, quickly mounted his horse and headed to the front.

Arriving at the frontmost wooden fence, the vanguard general looked at the Joseon camp across the Daling River through a telescope from his horse.

“It’s empty….”

After confirming that there was no sign of life in the Joseon camp, the vanguard general quickly issued an order.

“Send out a scouting party!”

“Yes!”

“Select those who are skilled in tracking from the cavalry!”

“Yes!”

Two hours later, the soldiers of the unit that had gone out for reconnaissance returned. The vanguard general, who had been anxiously waiting for them at the front gate, grabbed the soldiers and asked urgently.

“Yes! What is the situation!”

“It is definitely empty!”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“I am sure!”

“Good!”

The vanguard general gave an order with a bright face.

“We will take a rest in the Joseon camp today!”

“Waaaah!”

* * *

The faces of the Ming soldiers entering the Joseon camp showed no signs of fatigue.

“As expected, they cannot withstand the heavenly army of the great Ming!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

The fact that they had not won a single battle until yesterday had disappeared far away.

“The Joseon bastards’ tenacity only lasted two days!”

“No! Think about the Joseon main force that ran away as soon as they heard we were coming! It’s not even two days!”

“How dare the rabble of a small country raise their swords against the heavenly army! They’re asking for death!”

“Hahaha!”

No, it was not that they had forgotten the facts, but that they were distorting them as if they had been forced to flee by their might.

This was similar not only for the soldiers but also for the officers.

“We must start the pursuit immediately!”

“That’s right! In general, if the enemy shows their back, we must chase them immediately!”

Despite the commanders’ outcry that they should chase the Joseon army right now, the vanguard general remained calm.

“I have sent out cavalrymen skilled in tracking to follow the traces of the Joseon army. It’s not too late to move when they return.”

“General! War is about momentum! We must not miss the opportunity now that our momentum is high!”

The commanders, who had been cowering and watching the vanguard general’s every move until yesterday, were now pressuring the vanguard general.

“How do you know where the Joseon bastards went to chase them?”

“….”

The commanders closed their mouths at the vanguard general’s point. The vanguard general, looking at them with a pathetic expression, made a decision.

“We will take a rest today. It’s not too late to move when the cavalrymen who went out for tracking return.”

“Yes.”

* * *

The next day, the cavalrymen who had gone out for tracking returned and reported.

“The traces of the Joseon army are…”

The cavalry commander drew a virtual line on the map with his finger.

“Hmm… as expected, it’s Liaodong Fortress.”

After confirming the direction in which the Joseon army was retreating, the vanguard general stroked his beard and looked back at the commander.

“We have confirmed that the Joseon army is retreating to Liaodong Fortress. I intend to detour north from here. If we follow the path the Joseon army is fleeing along now, there is a high risk of being ambushed.”

“It would be better to pursue them as they are. Even if the Joseon army sets up traps, they will be similar to what we have experienced so far. We can endure that much.”

“That’s right. The Joseon bastards ran away as soon as they heard we were coming.”

“Rather, if we choose to detour, we will give the Joseon army time to strengthen their defenses. We must pursue them immediately!”

“If we detour like this, the morale of the soldiers may drop!”

“That’s right! We must not miss the opportunity now that the soldiers’ morale is high!”

The commanders, who were gaining momentum, all insisted on pursuing and annihilating the Joseon army. The vanguard general was lost in thought at the commanders’ reactions.

‘It is certain that the Joseon army will set up traps and wait. However, there is some truth in what these guys are saying. The morale of the soldiers, which had been at rock bottom due to the battles so far, is soaring. And if we detour, we can avoid the traps, but we will give the Joseon bastards time to strengthen their defenses. In my heart, I still want to detour…’

The vanguard general slightly shook his head as he looked at the commanders who were standing in front of him with veins popping out of their necks.

‘Then those guys won’t listen properly…’

“Hmm… what should I do?”

As the vanguard general could not easily come to a conclusion, the commanders once again pressured the vanguard general.

“General! We must pursue and annihilate them, not detour!”

“That’s right!”

“We must not give the Joseon bastards time!”

Among the commanders who were pressuring him, one pointed out the biggest problem.

“General, now is the time when you need merit.”

The vanguard general’s face hardened at the commander’s words.

‘That’s right! Considering the damage we have suffered in the battles so far, it is certain that I will be reprimanded! What if I properly cling to the Joseon army here? I don’t even need to win! I just need to hold onto the fleeing Joseon army’s feet!’

Having thought that far, the vanguard general accepted the commanders’ proposal.

“We will take a proper rest until today, and from tomorrow, we will do our best to chase the Joseon army’s tail!”

“Yes! Understood!”

The commanders answered in a loud voice at the vanguard general’s decision.

“Then return to your respective positions and prepare thoroughly!”

“Yes!”

After sending the commanders out, the vanguard general hurriedly took out his writing tools and began to write a report.

-The Joseon army, frightened by the might of the heavenly army, fled after a weak resistance.

-We have detected traces of the fleeing Joseon army and will pursue them, so we hope that the main force will join us as soon as possible. In order to fight against the Joseon army’s cannons and musketeers, the main force’s artillerymen and musketeers must be present.

Sending this hastily written report, the vanguard general muttered softly.

“I have to do this to avoid blame later, even if things go wrong.”

The vanguard general was making an excuse to avoid being blamed if things went wrong, saying that the main force had failed to meet the timing and ruined the situation.