Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 697

697. Sixtieth Birthday (4)

The Empire’s assault galleons, known as ‘Black Flame Dragons,’ were a source of terror for the Ming Dynasty navy. Their defensive capabilities rendered them impervious to the Ming navy’s cannons, and their firepower could sink ordinary battleships with a single shot. The mere presence of these assault galleons on patrol forced all nearby Ming battleships to flee to their naval ports.

Gnashing his teeth and swallowing his anger, Emperor Jingtai questioned his ministers once more.

“How is the development of the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon progressing?”

The Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet bowed his head and replied to Emperor Jingtai’s question.

“While there are still many hurdles to overcome, we are making steady progress.”

Emperor Jingtai’s face brightened at the Senior Grand Secretary’s response.

“That is truly good news! When the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon is completed, that day will be our day of revenge!”

Clenching his fist, Emperor Jingtai rejoiced greatly, and the ministers bowed in unison, echoing his sentiment.

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

“Instead of standing here, let us go to the shipyard! Immediately!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Emperor Jingtai pushed himself up from his seat and began to walk. As Emperor Jingtai moved, the ministers and eunuchs hurriedly followed behind him.

* * *

Although Emperor Jingtai moved quickly, the shipyard was located in Nantong (a city near the mouth of the Yangtze River), 500 li (approximately 200 kilometers) away from Nanjing.

Given the distance, Emperor Jingtai had to travel to Nantong on the imperial-only iron horse [an early steam-powered train].

However, Emperor Jingtai’s face, seated in the lavishly decorated private car, was filled with dissatisfaction, and the ministers and eunuchs who accompanied him were on pins and needles.

“Is it broken down again? How many more hours will we have to wait this time?”

“It will only take half a shichen (approximately one hour) to repair, Your Majesty.”

Bang!

In response to the Senior Grand Secretary’s answer, Emperor Jingtai slammed the table and burst into frustration.

“How can the iron horse of the Great Ming Emperor break down so frequently!”

This was the reason for Emperor Jingtai’s frustration.

After relocating the capital to Nanjing, Emperor Jingtai hastened the restoration of the Grand Canal and the expansion of the railway network.

Despite the many complaints, the iron horse was useful.

Even with its issues, it was definitely faster than walking, and it could transport a large amount of goods at once. Moreover, the railway created jobs for the people who had been devastated by wars and rebellions, enabling a rapid economic recovery.

However, the Ming’s iron horses were still notorious for their poor durability and frequent breakdowns.

Even the iron horse carrying the Emperor broke down three times while traveling 500 li.

“Hoo~. Hoo~.”

Taking several deep breaths to calm himself, Emperor Jingtai glared at the Senior Grand Secretary and the military commanders.

“The steam engines that will be mounted on the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon are not like this, are they?”

At Emperor Jingtai’s question, the Senior Grand Secretary and the military commanders hurriedly shook their heads.

“No, Your Majesty!”

“The artisans have done their best to improve them, and they are far superior to this iron horse!”

“We are developing a new iron horse by referring to the steam engines mounted on the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon! Please, put your mind at ease!”

At the replies of the Senior Grand Secretary and the military commanders, Emperor Jingtai leaned back in his chair and warned.

“I will trust your words.”

Suffering from breakdowns, it was after sunset when Emperor Jingtai arrived in Nantong.

After spending a day at the temporary imperial residence built in Nantong, Emperor Jingtai visited the shipyard early the next morning.

“Oh! Is this the keel of the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jingtai exclaimed in admiration at the answer of the supervisor in charge of the shipyard.

“Oh! What a truly massive battleship! Once completed, it would not be an exaggeration to call it a floating fortress on the sea!”

At Emperor Jingtai’s exclamation, the Senior Grand Secretary and the military commanders beside him bowed their heads and added.

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

“If the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon were to set sail, the Joseon [Korean] navy would meet its end!”

“Yes, it must be! It must be!”

Renewing his determination once more, Emperor Jingtai looked around and asked.

“Is there anything that has been made in advance to show what it will look like when completed? I have seen the blueprints, but I need something more realistic!”

The shipyard supervisor bowed his head and replied to Emperor Jingtai’s request.

“There is a model that has been made in advance. However, it is so large that it is difficult to move carelessly.”

“Lead the way!”

“This way, Your Majesty!”

The supervisor led Emperor Jingtai and his party to a building that had been converted from a warehouse.

“Oh!”

Emperor Jingtai, who had entered the warehouse, exclaimed as he looked at the model in front of him. Before Emperor Jingtai’s eyes, a ship model almost the size of a cart was showing off its majestic appearance.

The model of the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon boasted an imposing appearance.

The Twin-Headed Flame Dragon was in the form of two massive battleships joined together, a catamaran design.

Large dragon heads were positioned at the bows of the two ships, and like the assault galleons, the muzzles of massive cannons were protruding from the mouths.

Along the left and right hulls of the catamaran, numerous gunports were pierced, and in the center connecting the two battleships, four large waterwheels were arranged in two rows.

This arrangement of the catamaran structure and the waterwheels was a layout created by the Ming Dynasty shipbuilding technicians after much deliberation.

-A battleship that is larger, more powerful, and sturdier than Joseon’s assault galleons.

-It should be equipped with a steam engine to have a speed similar to or superior to that of Joseon.

The Ming Dynasty shipbuilding technicians, who had received what Emperor Jingtai and the Ming navy wanted, pondered deeply.

“We can increase the size, but the problem is ‘a sturdier battleship.’ To make this possible, we need to cover it with iron armor like Joseon’s.”

“With our current technology, it is impossible to create something similar in size to Joseon’s while covered in iron armor. We need to find another way.”

The method that the Ming Dynasty shipbuilding technicians found after much deliberation was the catamaran.

“Connecting two large battleships is not an easy task, but the Yellow Sea is relatively calm, so it is possible.”

After finalizing the hull structure in that way, they encountered the problem of the propulsion system.

The Ming shipbuilding technicians, who were unaware of the existence of the fan-type propulsion system, chose waterwheels as the propulsion system. This was because there were already records of operating waterwheel ships since the Song Dynasty, so rapid application was possible.

The next thing they considered was how to arrange these waterwheels. The first idea that came up was to mount them at the stern, like the waterwheel ships of the Song Dynasty that were passed down in records, but it was rejected as soon as it was proposed.

“Considering the size of the Twin-Headed Flame Dragon, maneuverability will inevitably be poor. If the Joseon navy turns around and destroys the waterwheels, it will be a problem.”

“Wouldn’t it be possible to attach escort ships?”

“If it’s the Joseon navy, they will break through even with escort ships. Let’s admit what we need to admit.”

In that way, the proposal to mount them at the stern ended in failure, and the next proposal was to install them on the left and right sides of the catamaran.

However, this proposal was rejected by the Ming navy generals.

“We cannot accept the reduction in the number of gunports due to the waterwheels!”

“If the waterwheels are destroyed by the Joseon navy’s bombardment, wouldn’t it be the same as being crippled, just like mounting them at the stern!”

Due to the fierce opposition from the Ming navy commanders, even this plan was rejected, and the last one that came out was to install them in the central part where the left and right hulls were connected.

The Ming navy commanders, who accepted this last proposal, finally had satisfied expressions.

“It’s a very good proposal because we can increase the number of gunports!”

“The hulls on both sides protect the waterwheels, so we can move even in the very last situation!”

This is how the ‘Twin-Headed Flame Dragon’ was born to defeat the Black Flame Dragon.

The Ming Dynasty shipbuilding technicians and artillery technicians who designed it smiled with satisfaction.

“The Joseon bastards only have one large cannon, but we have two!”

The large cannon, which was examined and applied from the records of the Yellow Dragon Cannon used by the Liaodong Army in the previous Joseon-Ming War, had a shorter range than the Yellow Dragon Cannon, but its power was considerable. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty shipbuilding technicians and artillery technicians smiled confidently with satisfaction.

However, there was something they did not know. The Yonggu cannons of the assault galleons were breech-loading cannons. On the other hand, the Ming’s Yonggu cannons were muzzle-loading. Therefore, the barrels of the Ming’s Yonggu cannons were much shorter than those of Joseon’s for smooth reloading. This naturally brought about a disadvantage in range.

In addition, the iron armor used for defense was also weaker than that of the Empire due to problems with iron-making technology. Furthermore, the thickness of the iron armor around the hull was also thin due to the lower output of the steam engine than that of the Empire.

* * *

Emperor Jingtai, who had inspected the Nantong shipyard and was satisfied, returned to Nanjing with a much brighter face.

Even in the train returning to Nanjing, Emperor Jingtai was busy checking the current situation of the Ming.

“Did Prince Yuanhuai arrive safely at his manor?”

At Emperor Jingtai’s question, the Senior Grand Secretary bowed his head and answered.

“Yes, Your Majesty. As soon as he arrived at the manor, he was deeply moved by Your Majesty’s grace and offered his gratitude.”

Emperor Jingtai nodded lightly at the Senior Grand Secretary’s answer and muttered.

“Is that so? It would be good if he remained quiet in the future.”

“He is already in very poor health, so he won’t last long.”

Emperor Jingtai smiled bitterly at the Senior Grand Secretary’s words.

“That would be a good thing for him too.”

* * *

Those who had started rebellions, claiming to be Emperor Jianwen or his eldest son, Zhu Wenkui, were either destroyed by infighting due to the schemes of Emperor Jingtai and his ministers, or their power was greatly weakened.

Emperor Jingtai, realizing that the time he had been waiting for had come, began to suppress them at the same time as relocating the capital to Nanjing.

The rebels, whose power had already been weakened through infighting, were helplessly swept away by the suppression forces.

After clearing out the rebels in that way, Emperor Jingtai soon posted proclamations throughout the Central Plains.

-Those who have been calling themselves Zhu Yunwen or Zhu Wenkui are all imposters who have misled the people and plunged the country into misery!

-Therefore, I have raised the Imperial Guards to suppress them, so the people should not be deceived by false words and should focus on their livelihoods!

-And, Zhu Wenkui, the survivor of the unfortunate event that caused this incident, will be granted a royal title, be enfeoffed as Prince Yuanhuai, and be given a royal manor!

According to this decision of Emperor Jingtai, Zhu Wenkui, who had been living in confinement, was released from confinement and became a free man.

However, this was another confinement.

This was because, according to the law changed after the Yongle Emperor, the members of the imperial family who received royal titles could not leave their manors, and contact with the officials around the manor or local leaders was prohibited.

In addition, the condition of Zhu Wenkui himself was not good.

His mind and body had been devastated by more than 50 years of confinement.

In any case, Emperor Jingtai had gained much politically through this decision.

On a large scale, he had resolved the situation in Jiangnan [a region south of the Yangtze River], which had fallen into chaos, and on a small scale, he had been praised by the people as an ’emperor who knows morality and compassion’ by ennobling Zhu Wenkui as a prince.

* * *

Emperor Jingtai, who had settled the issue related to Prince Yuanhuai, looked at the Senior Grand Secretary with a much more relaxed face.

“From now on, we can begin to implement the policies to enrich the country and strengthen the military.”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Admonish the merchants to strive for trade with the Western Regions.”

“I obey Your Majesty’s command!”

“And, draw up a plan to penetrate the Joseon [Korean] bastards’ Area 51 once again.”

“I obey Your Majesty’s command!”