Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 7

Extran Story 7. The Naval War of 1592 (7)

To make matters worse, Yi Sun-shin’s report was poorly written.

It was so bad that even the commanders of the Flying Battleship faction, to which Yi Sun-shin belonged, could only manage a wry smile.

“So that’s why people say he’s not good at politics…”

To summarize Yi Sun-shin’s report, it essentially said:

—The military action Japan is attempting may seem clever, but that’s a superficial assessment.

-A deeper look reveals they are meticulously following basic strategic principles.

He presented supporting evidence, but even that lacked detail.

In other words, Yi Sun-shin’s report implied:

-You’re ignorant! You don’t study military strategy and just spout nonsense!

“Of course, he probably didn’t intend it that way…”

“His biggest problem is assuming everyone knows as much as he does and being too concise.”

Consequently, not only the Naval Staff Headquarters but also the Joint Chiefs of Staff were furious.

Won Gyun was so enraged he ranted, “I’m going to kill Yi Sun-shin!”

As a result, talk of ‘replacing Yi Sun-shin’ began circulating among the higher-ups in the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Yi Sun-shin is capable, but he’s causing too much trouble.”

“That’s right. Among the abilities a military leader should have, harmony is also important…”

-Yi Sun-shin is too much of a lone wolf.

-He damages relationships between commanders.

The higher-ups of the Battleship faction used these excuses to raise the issue of Yi Sun-shin’s dismissal.

In response, the higher-ups of the Flying Battleship faction bristled and retorted.

-That’s not wrong, but the reaction is excessive!

-Why are they blaming others for being stupid!

Once again, the two factions clashed fiercely, so Lee Ju immediately summoned all the ‘higher-ups’ from the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I heard something interesting. I heard the older folks are having fun these days.”

“We, we are sorry!”

“Tsk, tsk!”

Lee Ju clicked his tongue twice, and those summoned all knelt and bowed their heads.

Staring at the tops of their heads, Lee Ju continued.

“Instead of re-examining the problems pointed out by the commander in the field, you’re trying to kick him out? Great job. A great job.”

“We, we are sorry!”

“Please forgive our sins!”

“If you’re sorry, don’t create things to be sorry about! Avoid making mistakes before asking for forgiveness! This is about national defense! National defense is something you should be extra careful about! Are you thinking of pushing someone out because he said something unpleasant? Can I entrust the Empire’s defense to people like you!”

“We, we are sorry!”

“It hasn’t even been a year since Yi Sun-shin and Won Gyun took their positions! And you’re already talking about personnel changes? Are you trying to insult me now!”

At Lee Ju’s roar, those summoned kept their heads to the floor and answered.

“We swear to the heavens and the earth that we have never harbored such rebellious intentions!”

“Please believe in our loyalty!”

“I will continue to watch closely.”

“We will do our best!”

“There will be no more things to worry His Majesty about!”

“Humph! You’re good with words! I will order you: carry your resignations with you from now on. If even the slightest disgraceful thing happens, I will immediately accept them. Do you understand?”

At Lee Ju’s warning, those gathered answered with cold sweat.

“We, we will keep that in mind!”

“Go and do your work!”

Those chased out of Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace] wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and sighed.

“Hoo… I feel like I’ve come back from the dead.”

“Hoo… As expected, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. That bloodline hasn’t gone anywhere.”

“Anyway, we need to watch our mouths for the time being.”

“I agree. We need to be careful until at least next year.”

The ‘higher-ups’ decided to remain quiet until next year because Lee Ju had mentioned ‘one year’.

Meanwhile, Lee Ju, alone in Geunjeongjeon, pondered something and then gave an order.

“Summon Won Gyun and Yi Sun-shin. Ah! Don’t summon them at the same time; summon Won Gyun first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

* * *

Lee Ju called Won Gyun and Yi Sun-shin to talk.

“What do you think of the report submitted by the commander of the 3rd Mobile Fleet?”

“It’s nonsense! At first glance, it seems like he’s pointing out something others have missed, but a closer look reveals it’s full of forced arguments!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Jeju Island has solid coastal defenses! Seogwipo [a city on Jeju Island], in particular, must be attacked head-on due to its location, so we’ve further strengthened its defenses! And…”

Won Gyun passionately explained why he disagreed with Yi Sun-shin.

‘He’s looking at it entirely from the Battleship faction’s perspective,’ Lee Ju thought, evaluating Won Gyun’s explanation.

Lee Ju then ordered Won Gyun:

“I’ve heard your opinion. Japan is still showing suspicious movements, and Jeju Island and your 2nd Mobile Fleet must be the most reliable shield. I trust only you, General.”

“Just leave it to me!”

“I will try to believe you.”

“Yes!”

Lee Ju’s gaze was complicated as he watched Won Gyun disappear triumphantly.

“It’s good to see a confident commander, but this seems excessive… Is it prejudice from that book?”

The next day, Lee Ju greeted Yi Sun-shin and immediately got to the point.

“I’ve read your report. I don’t know military strategy well, so I’ll ask you a few questions. What do you mean the operation Japan is expected to use isn’t a clever trick but a textbook strategy?”

“The textbook strategy for defeating an enemy begins with securing overwhelming force.”

“In that case, Japan can’t even begin, can they?”

“That’s true if you compare the Empire’s total strength to Japan’s. However, if you only consider the 2nd Mobile Fleet and the West Sea Fleet, Japan is superior.”

“Jeju Island is close to Japan, but it takes a day to cross the sea. And to attack the 2nd Mobile Fleet, they must come head-on. A surprise attack is impossible, isn’t it?”

“If they use Flying Battleships, it won’t take even two hours. They can also freely choose the direction to attack Jeju Island’s port.”

At Yi Sun-shin’s answer, Lee Ju made a similar judgment to Won Gyun.

‘Yi Sun-shin is looking at it from the Flying Battleship faction’s perspective.’

“Isn’t there a possibility Japan will attack after December?”

“Then Japan is bound to lose.”

“Why?”

“Because the soldiers will be exhausted. When the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet’s training begins in October, even our soldiers guarding against it will expend a lot of mental energy.”

Lee Ju nodded at Yi Sun-shin’s point.

“So that’s why you predicted December.”

“This is the same for the attacking Japanese. No matter how thoroughly they maintain secrecy, the soldiers who need to know will become nervous and expend mental energy.”

“I see…”

After sending Yi Sun-shin out, Lee Ju muttered to himself.

“He’s stubborn… But more trustworthy than Won Gyun…”

Lee Ju chuckled, comparing Yi Sun-shin and Won Gyun.

“If things go as Yi Sun-shin thinks, he’ll become the next Chief of Naval Operations and Chief of the General Staff. A lot of people will be unhappy then, won’t they?”

* * *

In October, the Japanese Navy began its scheduled Combined Fleet training.

The Japanese Navy, gathered in Kumamoto, conducted training while traveling between Nagasaki and Sasebo [major port cities in Japan].

In response, the Empire and Ming [Chinese dynasty] dispatched destroyers to monitor the Combined Fleet training in international waters.

After the official training ended, the Imperial Navy dispatched submarines to secretly observe the Japanese Navy’s movements.

As November passed and December arrived, Yi Sun-shin summoned the commander of the submarine unit.

“Did you call me?”

“I have something to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“Please choose the three best-hiding captains among your submarine captains. I have a job I want to entrust to them.”

“…I understand. By when do I need to choose them?”

“Is it possible within two days?”

“It is possible.”

Two days later, three captains visited Yi Sun-shin.

“You have a job to do. A very important job.”

“Give us your orders.”

“You know our submarines are monitoring the Japanese Combined Fleet’s movements.”

“Yes, we know that well.”

“According to information from above, the Japanese Combined Fleet ships stationed in Sasebo and Nagasaki are preparing to disband.”

“Yes. We also know that.”

The submarine captains nodded at Yi Sun-shin’s explanation. They had been assigned to that mission.

Yi Sun-shin continued, “The higher-ups have concluded the Japanese realized we noticed and have given up. But I don’t think so. If they were going to give up that easily, they wouldn’t have started.”

The captains nodded. The Japanese were known for their cunning and tenacity.

“Of course, the higher-ups also know that, so they’ll continue to monitor the Japanese Combined Fleet ships until they return to their bases. You will monitor Sasebo and Nagasaki starting two days after the mission ordered by the higher-ups is suspended. You will monitor transport ships.”

“Transport ships?”

“That’s right. If the transport ships return to their home ports, then the Japanese have given up. But if they stay in Sasebo and Nagasaki, the Japanese will definitely do something. That’s why I’m entrusting this mission to you. You’re famous for being the best at hiding in the Imperial Navy’s submarine unit, so you can observe without being caught. Can you do it?”

The captains, realizing the mission’s importance, swallowed hard. But soon, their eyes shone, and they answered Yi Sun-shin.

“Leave it to us!”

At their unanimous answer, Yi Sun-shin immediately ordered, “Then prepare immediately.”

“Yes!”

Three days later, wireless reports began arriving that the main ships of the Japanese Navy stationed in Sasebo, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto, such as battleships and Flying Battleships, had begun to leave port.

-Will pursue.

The Imperial Navy submarines secretly followed the Japanese fleet leaving Sasebo and Nagasaki.

It was the beginning of a ‘historic hide-and-seek’ between the Imperial Navy submarines and the Japanese Navy destroyers.

The next day, the Imperial Navy submarines in charge of the pursuit transmitted similar wireless messages.

-Japanese Navy arrived at home port.

A day later:

-Mission released. Will return.

Upon receiving the order, the Imperial Navy submarines quietly began their return journey.

“It seems the Imperial bastards have been fooled.”

“Good. Then let’s start preparing.”

The Japanese Navy, having confirmed they had deceived the Imperial Navy, began their final preparations.

The next night, three Imperial submarines sneaked into Sasebo, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto.

The submarines, quietly raising their periscopes in the dark and examining the naval ports, pulled back and moved away.

The submarines, having retreated to a distance beyond the Japanese Navy’s detection range, reported to Yi Sun-shin.

-Transport ships are holding their positions.

-Transport ships have not left.

“They say the transport ships haven’t left!”

Yi Sun-shin, receiving the report from his staff, sighed.

“Hoo… Damn it.”

Yi Sun-shin, uttering a curse he wouldn’t normally say, quickly began issuing orders.

“Report to Seoul. Tell them the Japanese Navy’s transport ships haven’t moved.”

“Yes.”

“And have the fleet ready to set sail at any time.”

At this, one of the staff carefully suggested, “But, Your Excellency, Christmas is in a few days.”

“So?”

“Thanks to the late start of the Japanese Combined Fleet training, the soldiers’ vacations have also been delayed. Many soldiers are waiting for the Christmas holiday.”

“So?”

“That’s…”

“I’m sorry to the officers and soldiers, but let’s skip Christmas this year. Instead, I’ll provide a definite bonus and additional vacation within the scope of military law.”

“I understand.”

The staff member who raised the issue immediately nodded.

The most famous evaluation of Yi Sun-shin was his ‘definite reward and punishment’.

So much so that one of Yi Sun-shin’s nicknames was ‘Walking Military Law Code’.

-Emperor Lee Hyang emphasized fairness and definite reward and punishment. I will definitely uphold this. –

Yi Sun-shin thoroughly kept the words he had been saying since he was a junior commander.

Thanks to this, whenever the officers and soldiers heard Yi Sun-shin was coming, they grumbled, but their faces didn’t show dislike.

Because if you did your job properly, you would be definitely rewarded.

* * *

Around sunset on December 23rd.

The transport ships anchored in Sasebo, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto raised their anchors simultaneously.

The transport ships, gathering around Shimokoshiki Island, southwest of Kumamoto, began moving south at a slow speed.

December 24th.

The ships of the Japanese fleet, having secretly departed from their home ports, joined the transport fleet.

The Japanese fleet, having completed its gathering at Kuchinoshima Island, 1,200 li (approximately 420 km) southeast of Jeju Island, slowly increased speed and began moving northwest towards Jeju Island.

December 25th. Just as dawn was breaking.

As the sky slowly brightened, fighters and bombers began taking off from the Japanese Navy and Army Air Force bases in Sasebo and nearby.