Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 737

737. Bayonet (7)

The Allied commander stationed in Suez was constantly occupied.

This was because the situation had drastically changed from his initial expectations upon receiving the Suez assignment.

-The Mamluks and Spain have been subdued, so consider it a vacation.

As his superiors had suggested, it initially felt like a resort. However, it wasn’t a demotion. While Mamluk cavalry occasionally caused minor disturbances, they also had to remain vigilant against bandits from desert tribes.

Consequently, the Allied commanders stationed in the Suez region generally evaluated Suez as:

-A prime location to enhance one’s reputation by maintaining a moderate level of activity and vigilance.

However, this ‘honeymoon period’ for the commanders ended when the Empire began constructing fortresses.

Observing the Empire’s fortresses gradually taking shape, the Allied commanders contemplated strategies to overcome them while also acknowledging their potential benefits.

-The world has already become centered on cannons in warfare. Existing walls are as vulnerable as barn doors against cannons.

-If the fortresses in our home countries are improved in this manner, their defensive capabilities will be significantly strengthened.

Having reached this conclusion, the Allied commanders discreetly sent detailed reports to their home countries, including relevant sketches, supplementary information, and their personal assessments, without informing the other commanders.

And, sooner than anticipated, responses arrived from their home countries.

-Secure and submit the most comprehensive information possible.

-Investigate and report on the reactions of other allied nations as well.

The Allied commanders, upon receiving these orders, sighed.

“Hoo~. The good times are over.”

* * *

The Allied nations weren’t idle either.

“We must acknowledge its superior defensive capabilities.”

“We must remodel as many castles as possible, or at least those crucial for defense, in this style.”

Having reached this consensus, the Allied nations actively began remodeling their castles and fortresses.

This was a logical decision.

France, which had fought the ‘Hundred Years’ War’ with England and now maintained a strained relationship with Spain.

Similarly, Portugal, which was also at odds with Spain.

Florence, which was experiencing frequent armed conflicts, both large and small, with other city-states.

The Ottoman Empire, which was aggressively expanding its territory but also increasingly required robust defenses.

All of the Allied nations were in a position where they needed excellent base defense facilities.

Therefore, the Allied nations began remodeling their castles based on the reports and sketches provided by their commanders in Suez.

France initiated the remodeling of Paris Castle and the Bastille Fortress, Portugal remodeled Lisbon, its capital and primary trading port, Florence remodeled the city walls bisected by the Arno River, and the Ottoman Empire began remodeling the walls of Edirne in a style similar to the Empire’s.

* * *

As the Allied nations remodeled their capitals and major strongholds’ fortresses and castles in the Imperial style, neighboring countries began to react.

“Why are they doing that?”

“They’re doing this simultaneously? Why?”

Observing the Allied nations constructing or remodeling new castles concurrently, the surrounding countries all wondered, ‘Why?’

“What do they have in common?”

To answer this question, the surrounding countries analyzed the political situations and various intelligence, and soon discovered the answer.

-They are all countries that have formed an alliance.

-All of these Allied nations have strong ties with the Empire.

-The Empire’s fortress being built in Suez is very similar in design to those being built by the Allied nations. Considering the timing, the Allied nations are modeling them after the Empire’s style.

Furthermore, military commanders from the surrounding countries reported the following to their lords:

“It is difficult to attack with our current resources!”

Ultimately, as if a wave was spreading, the countries surrounding the Allied nations also began to construct new-style castles and fortresses modeled after the Empire’s design.

Thus began the trend of the ‘Imperial-style Fortress,’ a significant milestone in European architectural history.

* * *

Regardless of these developments in their home countries, the Allied commanders stationed in Suez were preoccupied with devising strategies to overcome the fortresses being built by the Imperial army.

“I don’t believe we can even make a dent with our current cannons.”

The other Allied commanders nodded in agreement with the Ottoman commander’s statement.

“If we were ordered to attack that fortress, what would be the most appropriate tactic?”

In response to the French commander’s question, the other commanders simultaneously offered the same answer.

“Isolation.”

“Blockade.”

All of the commanders shared the same opinion, but their expressions were grim.

“Blockade is the most logical approach, but the problem is that the fortress was built with that in mind.”

* * *

When the Imperial Army Joint Construction Unit was selecting a location to build the fortress, they dedicated considerable time to finding a site that met two essential prerequisites.

– A sufficient water source.

– Proximity to the military pier to be constructed concurrently.

To meet these requirements, the engineers of the Joint Construction Unit surveyed the entire Suez Bay and drilled exploratory wells in numerous locations.

The result was the fortress that was slowly nearing completion.

* * *

“Since it’s supplying its own drinking water, that avenue is closed. The only viable option is to seize the pier connected to the fortress, sever the supply line, and let it wither away.”

The Portuguese commander, nodding in agreement with the Florentine commander’s words, added.

“The challenge will be the Empire’s warships. We must intercept those warships to cut off the supply line.”

“I agree.”

“Since our knowledge of ships is limited, let’s consult the captains and seek their advice.”

At the Portuguese commander’s suggestion, the other commanders all nodded.

Shortly after, the captains of the Portuguese trading ships, who had been invited to a meeting disguised as a banquet, reacted with surprise to the Allied commanders’ questions.

“Are you asking if we can sink the Empire’s warships?”

“That is correct.”

The captains who heard the confirmation all wore similar expressions.

‘What a bunch of idiots?’

The Allied commanders, interpreting their expressions, suppressed their emotions and inquired again.

“Are we misunderstanding something?”

“Wouldn’t it seem that way if you suddenly asked us to sink the Empire’s warships? We have a good relationship with them, so why would we sink them?”

“Isn’t there such a thing as ‘what if’?”

At the Portuguese commander’s words, the captains’ expressions turned serious.

After a moment of reflection, the captains began to speak one by one.

“A frontal assault is guaranteed to fail.”

“I agree. The Empire’s warships possess incredible firepower, but their defenses are even more formidable.”

“Is it that significant?”

At the French commander’s question, the captains nodded.

“Why do you think we wait for the Empire’s warships and merchant ships to set sail and travel with them?”

“I roughly counted, and they’re lunatics who carry more than 50 cannons on a single ship.

More than 50 cannons on one ship! Have you ever witnessed those cannons firing simultaneously? You’ll soil yourself just by looking at it.”

At the captains’ words, the Allied commanders’ faces turned pale.

The captains further discouraged the commanders.

“Consider it a blessing that we are currently laying railroads from Suez to the Mediterranean. If the canal had been뚫렸다면 [뚫렸다면 means ‘뚫리다’ which means ‘to be pierced,뚫다’ which means ‘to pierce’ in Korean], the owner of the Mediterranean would have changed.”

“Yes! Yes! Even now, the Imperial Navy is inquiring about Africa, which worries me to death!”

At that moment, everyone’s attention was drawn to the last captain’s words.

“The Flower Country, no, did you say the Imperial Navy is asking about Africa?”

“That’s right. From what I’ve heard, Ming [Chinese Dynasty], which is next to the Empire, explored Africa in the past, so the Empire will likely attempt it as well. I believe that’s the reason.”

Before he could finish, the other captains pretended to be knowledgeable.

“Ah! I’ve heard that story too. A eunuch who served the Ming Dynasty emperor led a fleet to the east coast of Africa, right?”

“Wasn’t that just a rumor?”

“I don’t believe it’s just a rumor. I stopped by Ming for a while, and I heard that there are records.”

“Hmm… If Ming did it, there’s a high possibility that the Empire will do it too.”

“And, if it’s the Empire, they’ll prepare even more thoroughly.”

While the captains were discussing ‘The Empire’s Exploration of Africa,’ the Allied commanders – especially the Portuguese commander – were lost in thought with serious expressions.

‘The Empire in Africa? The possibility is definitely high. It’s not like the Empire is unaware of Africa.’

‘If they bypass Africa and head north, how should we respond? Should we open our colonial cities?’

‘No, more importantly, why? If they intend to trade, there’s no need to go through the trouble of circumnavigating Africa? What is their true motive?’

The Allied commanders’ thoughts became even more convoluted as they received unexpected information.

But the final conclusion was the same for all of them.

‘We must inform our home countries.’

* * *

While the Allied commanders’ minds were in turmoil, the firearms to be deployed in the fortress, which was nearing completion, arrived in Suez.

The Allied commanders, observing the cannons with their barrels wrapped in thick packaging being unloaded, looked on with envy.

“As expected, they are cannons made of iron.”

“Iron cannons… we still have bronze cannons.”

“I heard that England is attempting to manufacture cannons with cast iron. Does anyone know anything about that?”

“They’re trying diligently, but there’s no news of a successful outcome yet.”

Even while discussing rumors related to cannons, the commanders’ eyes remained fixed on the weapons and soldiers being unloaded from the ship.

While observing the firearms being unloaded, the commanders soon noticed something peculiar.

“Huh? Something’s strange?”

“Did you notice it too?”

“You too?”

The commanders examined the unloaded cargo with questioning expressions.

For several months afterward, the Imperial Navy transported weapons and soldiers to be stationed in the fortress.

Each time an Imperial Navy ship arrived, the Allied commanders came to the pier to inspect the unloaded cargo and the soldiers.

And, the commanders all reached the same conclusion.

‘There are no Hwachas [Korean rocket artillery]!’

‘They removed the Hwachas! What is the Empire thinking?’

The Ŭl-style Hwacha, which had been introduced six months after the war over Suez, had left a lasting impression on the Allied commanders.

The Ŭl-style Hwacha was a more effective weapon than cannons for dealing with charging enemies.

However, it wasn’t long before the Allied commanders understood why there were no Hwachas.

This was because a weapon they had never seen before had taken its place in the spot where a Hwacha would have been ideally positioned.

“What is it?”

“It’s much smaller than a Hwacha….”

The commanders, curious about the identity of the new weapon, immediately found the answer when familiar ammunition boxes were placed next to the mysterious weapon.

‘The Empire has improved the Hwacha!’

That day, homing pigeons immediately took flight into the sky above Suez.

And, a few days later, the Allied nations urgently dispatched envoys to Suez.

And the monarchs of the Allied nations who sent the envoys put their hands on their foreheads.

“A new Hwacha! Those crazy Empire bastards!”

They sent envoys because of the military’s urging, but the monarchs could roughly guess the answer.

If the Empire had phased out the existing Hwacha and deployed this new weapon, its superior performance was certain even without seeing it.

Then, it was certain that the military would advocate for its introduction, and this would undoubtedly become a political and economic burden.