Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 591

591. The Fall of the Yellow Dragon (6)

Choi Yun-duk, initially pleased upon reading the letter from the navy, quickly regained his composure and analyzed the situation.

“The news of Shanhaiguan’s fall will reach them within days. How will they react?”

Choi Yun-duk immediately summoned his commanders and posed the question. The opinions of the commanders and staff were divided.

-Having already lost a significant number of troops, and with supplies cut off, retreat is the only option.

-No, let’s think conversely. The enemy is now in a desperate situation, making their last stand. They are likely to attack with all their might.

“Both sides have valid points…”

Choi Yun-duk nodded, listening to both opinions. Stroking his beard, he pondered for a moment before his face brightened as if a good idea had struck him.

“The navy is the answer in times like these!”

* * *

Around the time Choi Yun-duk received his report, Ming Commander Han Il-shin also received similar urgent news.

“Shanhaiguan breached? Supply lines cut? How could this happen!”

The messenger, covered in scabs from the hardships endured on the journey, kowtowed [knelt and bowed deeply] and added,

“It was due to an attack by the Joseon navy.”

“Shanhaiguan is located 10 li (approximately 4 kilometers or 2.5 miles) inland from the coast! Are you saying the Joseon navy sprouted legs on their ships and climbed all the way up there? Make sense!”

“The Joseon naval vessels directly attacked the branch fortresses such as Noryongdu, Yuhai Fortress, and Myeolhae Fortress. The main fortress was not damaged.”

“Then why are you saying the supply lines are cut off! The road from Shanhaiguan to here is at least 5 li (approximately 2 kilometers or 1.2 miles) away from the coastline!”

Han Il-shin, as well as all his subordinate commanders, glared at the messenger with disbelief. They had all come this way.

At Han Il-shin’s rebuke, the messenger explained the reason.

“The Joseon navy landed directly!”

* * *

Having annihilated the Ming navy, the Joseon navy burned all the Ming naval ports near the Shandong Peninsula, as well as those further south. With only the distant southern naval ports remaining, the West Sea of Joseon became the Joseon navy’s playground.

Having prevented such a sneak attack, the Joseon navy completed its reorganization and set its sights on Shanhaiguan.

To attack Shanhaiguan, the lifeline of the Ming army advancing into Liaodong, the Joseon navy scraped together all remaining forces. Almost all forces were mobilized, except for those guarding Tsushima Island and checking the Wae [Japanese people, often used in a historical context], and those out on the high seas.

And to transport these mobilized troops and weapons, a large number of merchant ships from the temporarily closed merchant guilds were requisitioned.

It was a moment when the foresight of Hyang, Sejong, and the court shone.

* * *

Led by Maeng Jin-ho, the Joseon navy advanced north and devastated the southern region of Shanhaiguan.

The southern branch fortresses of Shanhaiguan, which had been gradually expanded and renovated into solid defenses since the Hongwu Emperor [the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty], were turned into ruins by the Joseon army’s bombardment.

After destroying the coastal defense facilities, the Joseon navy immediately landed troops.

Although the number was only about 30,000, their destructive power was strong, befitting a navy that prided itself on being better at artillery and shooting than the land army.

It was here that the soldiers of Jurchen origin shone. The hastily formed cavalry unit, composed of Jurchen people with excellent horsemanship, wreaked havoc on the Ming army’s supply lines from Shanhaiguan to Liaodong, belying the term “hastily formed.”

The Ming army, which came out to repel them, was caught in the crossfire of the ambushing Joseon navy and annihilated.

Attempts to repair the broken defenses were repeatedly thwarted by the Joseon naval vessels floating on the sea.

Furthermore, reinforcements and supplies for the allied forces in Liaodong suffered damage from the combined attacks from the sea and land, and had to return.

* * *

“Damn it!”

Han Il-shin cursed after hearing the messenger’s explanation.

“We need more troops and supplies to break through that damn iron rope barrier!”

In the 20 days of fighting, the number of deaths alone was 150,000. The number of soldiers who died in the process of attacking the Iron Rope Wall, excluding those lost on the way here, those lost in the flanking attacks, and the wounded, was 150,000. And as the days grew hotter, disease began to spread, and the number of soldiers dying from their injuries due to lack of medicine was increasing.

Through such arduous struggles, they had broken through four of the six layers of the Iron Rope Wall laid by the Joseon army.

From generals to the lowest soldiers, everyone in the Ming army shuddered at the sight of the Joseon army’s Iron Rope Wall.

It was not simply six layers of Iron Rope Wall. It was six pairs of two layers, a total of twelve layers of Iron Rope Net Wall.

Behind each pair of Iron Rope Walls, there was always a trench line, and the Joseon army stationed there poured down relentless gunfire and artillery fire.

The moment they broke through the Iron Rope Wall, paving a bloody path with corpses, an even stronger barrage of fire unfolded, and the Ming army had to lie flat on the ground, waiting for the barrage to subside. And when the barrage disappeared, the Joseon army that had been in the trench line in front of them was gone.

Even if they managed to occupy one trench line, the follow-up troops were held back by the ensuing Joseon army attacks, and the hard-won trench line was repeatedly given back in the face of the Joseon army’s counterattacks.

After repeating such hellish battles, they had broken through four layers of the Iron Rope Net, completely destroying the Iron Rope Wall to make it useless.

“With the current state of the soldiers, it is impossible to attack the remaining two layers!”

Han Il-shin shouted in a desperate tone.

They had lost nearly 300,000 of their 800,000 troops. In terms of numbers alone, there were 500,000 troops remaining, but less than 300,000 of them were properly trained infantry. The rest were mostly engineers and support troops. Of course, 300,000 was not a small number, and it was not impossible to sweep in the engineers and support troops.

The biggest problem was that the morale of the soldiers was at rock bottom.

Although proper statistics were not being reported, there were reports that thousands of soldiers had lost their minds while experiencing the hellish war of attrition. And the number of soldiers who were caught deserting and beheaded was also gradually increasing.

To escape this situation, fresh reinforcements were absolutely necessary.

Han Il-shin, pacing back and forth inside the military tent, ordered his subordinates.

“Give the soldiers three days of rest! We will settle this in three days!”

“Yes!”

At Han Il-shin’s decision, the subordinates replied with grim faces.

And this order from Han Il-shin was immediately conveyed to all the soldiers. The soldiers who heard the order prayed to Buddha and the Supreme God for good fortune.

Three days later, they received an unexpected visitor.

* * *

“General! Something terrible has happened!”

Han Il-shin, who was tying his helmet straps with the determination of a final battle, came out of the military tent at the adjutant’s mournful cry.

“What is it!”

At Han Il-shin’s question, the messenger next to the adjutant opened his mouth instead.

“The Joseon navy has appeared! The Joseon navy is preparing to sail up the Shuangtaizi River!”

“What!”

At the messenger’s report, Han Il-shin staggered for a moment.

“General!”

“General!”

Thanks to the urgent support of the subordinate generals next to him, Han Il-shin avoided falling and looked up at the sky and sighed.

“Ah, how could this happen… Even if we do our best and wait for heaven’s will, why does heaven do this!”

Han Il-shin, crying tears of blood, gave the order.

“Prepare to retreat! If the Joseon navy blocks the Shuangtaizi River, we will be completely surrounded!”

* * *

“The Ming army’s movements are suspicious?”

“Yes, General.”

Choi Yun-duk stroked his beard after confirming the communication from the Bigu [Joseon scouts or spies] who had scouted the Ming camp.

“Is it a final battle, or a retreat?”

At Choi Yun-duk’s soliloquy, Lee Jing-ok offered his opinion.

“Wouldn’t it be a retreat? I heard that our navy arrived at the mouth of the Shuangtaizi River this morning. Anyone who has learned military strategy would have anticipated being surrounded.”

“That may be the case, but there is also the possibility of a suicidal charge in despair.”

At Choi Yun-duk’s rebuttal, Lee Jing-ok made a surprised expression.

“Would there be a general who would make such a foolish choice? If he were to commit suicide alone, he might receive sympathy, but if he sends his soldiers to their deaths, he would only be ridiculed.”

“Wouldn’t someone who fears the emperor’s censure more than ridicule make such a decision?”

At Choi Yun-duk’s point, Lee Jing-ok silently shook his head.

Seeing Lee Jing-ok, Choi Yun-duk turned his gaze towards the front line and muttered.

“We can only hope that the enemy general is someone who can at least think a little.”

The next day, the Bigu who were observing the enemy camp sent urgent reports all at once.

-Ming army begins to withdraw!

-Ming army begins to withdraw from the trench line!

-Rearguard unit approximately 30,000!

After confirming the urgent reports from the Bigu, Choi Yun-duk summoned his subordinate generals.

“Since our guests are leaving, shouldn’t we give them a proper send-off? Isn’t it our custom to escort precious guests far away?”

“That is correct!”

“Then we must give them a proper send-off. Which unit has suffered the least damage right now?”

Choi Yun-duk began preparing to pursue the retreating Ming army.

Thus began the ‘Great Pursuit,’ which is called the highlight of the second half of the Gwangnyeong War.

* * *

Around the time the Ming army was being driven to defeat in Liaodong, Beijing was also in a state of emergency.

“Is the suppression of the Wae still ongoing?”

“The Wae’s momentum is too strong…”

“Didn’t I order the deployment of the garrison commanders!”

At Emperor Xuande’s rebuke, the Vice Commander-in-Chief replied, sweating profusely.

“We have deployed them, but the Wae are even better at handling the iron cannons…”

The Vice Commander-in-Chief trailed off, but Emperor Xuande immediately understood.

“Are you saying it has only helped them?”

“That is correct.”

“Haa~.”

Emperor Xuande placed his hand on his forehead and sighed deeply.

“There is no choice. Conscript as many soldiers as possible and engage in the suppression of the Wae. Convey my orders to the ruffians who claim to be Jianghu [Wuxia martial artist] people. Tell them that if they know what chivalry is, as they say, they should come forward and exterminate the Wae.”

“Yes.”

“And what is the situation at Shanhaiguan? Is it still blocked?”

“We are doing our best, but…”

When the Left Commander-in-Chief trailed off, Emperor Xuande shouted.

“Is it possible that the advance of our great army is being blocked by only 30,000 troops and dozens of ships! Moreover, it is Shanhaiguan, which is not even enemy territory but my own domain!”

“Please forgive our incompetence!”

“Please forgive us!”

At Emperor Xuande’s rebuke, the officials prostrated themselves on the floor and begged for forgiveness. However, Emperor Xuande’s anger did not subside easily.

“Forgiveness! Forgiveness! Is it enough to just say forgive me! Give me an answer! An answer!”

“Please forgive us!”

“You incompetent fools!”

Just then, a general rushed into the main hall.

“What is it!”

“A crisis has occurred in the north! The Oirat [a Mongolic group] have moved!”

“Cough!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

As the most feared event occurred, Emperor Xuande coughed up blood and collapsed. The startled officials and eunuchs hurriedly supported Emperor Xuande.

“The royal physician! Summon the royal physician!”

* * *

It was not until that evening that Emperor Xuande regained consciousness.

“Royal physician, is there any hope for me?”

“…”

Emperor Xuande, smiling bitterly at the royal physician’s silence, asked again.

“How many days can I last?”

“I will do my best.”

“…”

Emperor Xuande, silent for a moment at the royal physician’s answer, ordered the eunuch.

“Summon the Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat.”

As if he had already been waiting, the Senior Grand Secretary arrived quickly.

“Senior Grand Secretary, summon the Crown Prince. Is it possible by land?”

“…”

Emperor Xuande, looking at the Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat bowing silently, turned his gaze to the ceiling and gave the order.

“Negotiate with Joseon regarding the cessation of hostilities.”