Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 6

Extranovel 6. The 1592 Southern Sea War (6)

Yi Sun-sin explained the reasoning behind his assessment.

“The Japanese will anticipate that we’ll recognize their intentions.”

“And the Imperial Army’s analysts will likely deduce that the operation is planned for December.”

“However, there’s no concrete evidence. The Empire can’t use a preemptive strike without justification, as it could unnecessarily provoke the Ming Dynasty.”

“Timing is critical. Winter in Japan is notoriously harsh, making operations after December difficult.”

“Therefore, they’ll likely launch the operation in early December.”

“Japan will exploit our weaknesses.”

“When the Japanese Navy begins joint exercises with the Combined Fleet, our mainland fleet will raise alert levels. It’s an annual event, but because it’s Japan, we can’t lower our guard.”

“If this continues too long, our soldiers will tire.”

“Knowing this, Japan has postponed the Combined Fleet exercise.”

“If we remain vigilant from the October exercises through November, then maintain tension until December, our troops will tire, morale will drop, and our response will be delayed.”

“Conversely, Japan, which sets the attack date, can attack the Empire fully prepared.”

Yi Sun-sin’s staff nodded, understanding his explanation.

However, some aspects remained unclear.

“But why Christmas?”

Yi Sun-sin replied simply, “Because it’s Christmas.”

“Pardon?”

“Since the Empire allows Catholicism, many citizens are Catholic.”

“Of all Catholic holidays, only Christmas is recognized as a holiday.”

“Around Christmas, the Empire relaxes. Regardless of religion, a holiday is a holiday.”

“This applies to the military.”

“Soldiers get holidays on Christmas and Buddha’s Birthday.”

“Jeju Island has a unique characteristic.”

“Many tourists visit Jeju Island for its scenery. Most are Imperial citizens, but many are from Ming, Japan, and even Europe.”

“With people from various countries gathering, Jeju Island becomes more festive on Christmas and Buddha’s Birthday.”

“Even if soldiers stay in the barracks, the outside atmosphere will loosen their tension. Combined with fatigue from monitoring Japanese Combined Fleet exercises, their capabilities will be at their lowest.”

“…Therefore, Japan will choose the Christmas period for the attack.”

As Yi Sun-sin finished, the staff nodded, raising objections.

Pointing out shortcomings was part of their job.

“Your Excellency’s idea is reasonable, but ground warfare is a problem. The attack isn’t just about a fatal blow to the 2nd Mobile Fleet stationed in Jeju Island, right? To end the war, the army must plant the enemy’s flag. Landing on the southern coast and advancing north in this cold is difficult.”

Yi Sun-sin replied, “The Japanese army won’t land on the southern coast. They’ll go straight north and land near Incheon.”

“The West Sea Fleet is holding out, though?”

“Against Japan, the West Sea Fleet can’t use its full strength.”

Yi Sun-sin’s answer surprised the staff.

He explained, “If Japan is prepared for war, it will try to win.”

“To win against the Empire, they must capture His Majesty the Emperor.”

“However, a protracted war means defeat. Even a short-term war has only a fifty-fifty chance of success.”

“Therefore, they’ll plan a surprise attack, aiming for the shortest possible war.”

“Landing on the southern coast is a bad move; they’ll land as close to Seoul as possible and target Seoul.”

“The West Sea Fleet is the problem. But as I said, against Japan, the West Sea Fleet can’t use its full strength.”

“Because of Ming.”

“If something happens in Jeju Island, Ming will notice, and the Ming Navy will move.”

“If I were a Japanese commander, I’d head north through the high seas between the Empire’s and Ming’s maritime borders.”

“That way, the West Sea Fleet can’t actively deploy.”

“If shells or warships cross into Ming’s waters, the Ming Navy will react.”

The staff looked half-believing, half-doubting.

“It’s groundbreaking, but it deviates from the norm. Tricks are hard to overcome the norm.”

Yi Sun-sin replied calmly, “Isn’t Japan challenging the Empire already beyond the norm? And Japan’s expected operation can also be seen as the norm.”

“Pardon?”

“Do I have to explain everything? Think about it.”

Yi Sun-sin, taking revenge on the staff who kept saying ‘Pardon?’ without understanding, began writing his thoughts in a document.

“The probability of acceptance is low, but a general must do what he has to do.”

* * *

In the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Yi Sun-sin’s report sparked debate.

“It’s reasonable.”

“Reasonable? Do you think the Japanese bastards can come up with such innovative ideas? The Japanese bastards?”

The majority opinion was, ‘It’s plausible, but it’s too much.’

The Imperial Army saw the Japanese army as ‘old-fashioned,’ based on experiences in the Middle East.

“Do you think those guys can come up with such innovative ideas? Come on! It’s too much!”

Even the airship carrier faction, which favored Yi Sun-sin, reacted this way. The battleship faction was even harsher.

“This is a stretch! He’s stretching it to beat our battleship faction!”

“He thinks all the staff at General Staff Headquarters are stupider than him!”

The battleship faction criticized Yi Sun-sin’s points as ‘showing off.’

Meanwhile, Lee Ju, reading Yi Sun-sin’s report, put his hand on his forehead.

“Haa〜. This is getting more uneasy… Did ‘that person’ foresee this?”

The ‘that person’ Lee Ju mentioned was Lee Hyang.

* * *

After Hyang’s death, the imperial family, led by Wan and Hyun, classified Hyang’s writings.

“But I don’t know how to classify these records.”

“That’s what I’m saying…”

Hyun and Wan were at a loss, looking at the books in front of them.

They were the Empire’s future ‘Despair Edition’ and ‘Hope Edition.’

The Hope Edition was full of positive images, the Despair Edition the opposite.

“Haa〜. How should I classify this… Prophecy? False accusation? Fantasy? Delusion?”

“The problem is that no matter how we classify it, it won’t help ‘that person’s’ reputation.”

“That’s the problem. The late Emperor hated prophecies, false accusations, fantasies, and delusions. Ah, exclude fantasy.”

After deliberation, Wan and Hyun classified the books as ‘unclassifiable’ and sealed them unconditionally.

However, the ‘Despair Edition’ and ‘Hope Edition’ became secret reference books for the emperors.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? It seemed like a delusion, but similar things happen…”

Hyang had written down major political events and changes in thought from before her intervention.

“They may not happen at the same time, but people’s thoughts are the same…”

Hyang wrote down events and social changes she remembered.

Therefore, it became a vital secret reference book for the emperors.

However, Hyang, aware that history had changed due to her intervention, didn’t record it chronologically but haphazardly.

In any case, the ‘Despair Edition’ and ‘Hope Edition’ were regarded as ‘records secretly written by Hyang after examining the heavens’ and became a secret passed down to the emperors.

“It is a text secretly written after examining the heavens. If its existence becomes known, a great calamity will occur. We will remain silent.”

* * *

Lee Ju learned of this secret reference book after becoming emperor.

“If a crisis seems to be coming to the country and the imperial family, look at it. I’m worried because the Imjin year [referring to a specific year in the 60-year cycle of the Chinese calendar, often associated with historical events] is included in your reign.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“I can’t say more.”

Lee Ju, learning of the reference book through Sangjiro’s words as he went to Shinji, couldn’t resist his curiosity and began to read it.

“What absurd words! For the world’s ‘that person’ to leave behind such false accusations!”

Lee Ju was shocked after reading the ‘Despair Edition,’ but he began to pore over the secret reference book whenever he could.

Surprisingly, he read the ‘Despair Edition’ most often.

“I’m not the only one… Just like things harmful to the body are more delicious, everything else is the same.”

Lee Ju was convinced, looking at the cover, which was more worn than the Hope Edition and showed signs of being re-bound.

Lee Ju fell into deep thought due to Yi Sun-sin’s report.

“Why do I have to look at that passage only after something happens…”

“It seems like a thought I suddenly had, or maybe I dreamed it… I don’t know exactly when, but I think it was the Imjin year. Japan started a war. It was quite a big war, and the Empire was in crisis.”

“If that dream or thought actually happens, do not entrust a major task to a general in the Imperial Navy who uses a single-character name, a general who uses a Chinese character meaning ‘flat.'”

“If you have already entrusted a major task to him, never forgive his mistakes and punish him severely. It is something that should never be given a second chance.”

This was the problematic passage.

The Imjin year after Hyang’s death was the second time this year.

The emperor at the time of the first Imjin year had examined the names of the Imperial Navy fleet commanders.

This Imjin year was the second Imjin year.

The problem was that Lee Ju read this passage only after deciding on personnel changes.

Hyang had written it down haphazardly.

Lee Ju’s worries deepened.

“But if I fire Won Gyun now, there’s no justification… And if I use my authority, it will negatively impact the military’s morale and discipline. Rumors will spread that I, the Emperor, am biased towards Yi Sun-sin, no, the airship carrier faction.”

Lee Ju, tapping the desk while contemplating, sighed.

“The conclusion is that I have no choice but to follow the second piece of advice… Is it just that I can only hope that the wound is small…?”

Lee Ju, informed of the General Staff Headquarters’ reaction, was convinced it was unavoidable.

Meanwhile, Won Gyun, reading Yi Sun-sin’s report, exploded again.

“Yi Sun-sin, that arrogant bastard!”