Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 799

799. Jungle Bloodshed (5)

Following this, warriors from eight additional tribes joined the Expeditionary Force’s camp.

These were the tribes of those who had relocated with Ssang to Shinji, along with tribes friendly to them, who had sent warriors as allies.

“Provide them with logging axes as well. As a token of friendship.”

“Yes, General.”

Following Lee Jing-ok’s orders, logging axes were distributed to the newly joined tribal warriors.

The indigenous warriors, receiving the rough but sharply honed logging axes, had gleaming eyes.

Compared to the *macuahuitl* [a wooden club with obsidian blades] they had been using until then, the axes were a bit shorter and heavier, but the sharpness and durability of the blade were far superior.

“If only we had knives like this…”

The warriors who joined the Expeditionary Force stroked the logging axes, muttering similar sentiments.

All of them had lost family members to the Mexica people entrenched in Mexico-Tenochtitlan (Note 1).

Therefore, their hatred for the Mexica was profound.

And they were cooperating fully with the Expeditionary Force to unleash that hatred.

“These foreigners can eliminate those Mexica bastards!”

Some of the natives who had escaped with Ssang returned to their tribes and recounted the battles between the Mexica warriors and the Imperial Army.

The tribesmen who heard the story of how a mere few hundred Imperial soldiers had killed thousands of Mexica warriors initially dismissed it as an exaggeration.

However, as rumors spread from various places and the Mexica’s movements suddenly became subdued, it became increasingly clear that it was likely true.

Eventually, the tribal chiefs, shamans, and surviving warriors decided to ally with the Empire.

“Their advice is sound. We may not realize it now, but it’s certain that those Mexica bastards will cause trouble again before long. Let’s hide deeper in the jungle.”

The tribes who heeded the escapees’ words retreated further into the jungle.

Life would be more difficult, but it was an unavoidable choice for survival and for the sake of the future.

And it was a wise choice.

When the devastating wave of smallpox plunged the Mexica and surrounding areas into tragedy, they were able to avoid the catastrophe.

* * *

The native warriors who joined the Expeditionary Force immediately dispatched messengers to their tribes after witnessing the Expeditionary Force’s armaments and numbers.

“They are strong. And they are providing significant assistance. It is safer to join them.”

The tribal chiefs who received the warriors’ messages led their tribesmen and joined the Expeditionary Force.

Lee Jing-ok, upon receiving the reports, stroked his overgrown beard and wore a troubled expression.

“It’s beneficial that the number of those who can assist us has increased, but won’t it impede the speed of our advance?”

“I don’t believe it will be a major obstacle. In fact, there are even advantages.”

When one of the staff members replied that it was actually beneficial, Lee Jing-ok’s eyes lit up.

“Rather good? Explain in more detail.”

“Considering the current size of our forces, even with their addition, it won’t increase to the point of causing significant problems. That means it won’t substantially affect our movement speed.”

“Hmm, that’s true…”

Lee Jing-ok nodded in agreement with the staff member’s words. Navigating the jungle without proper roads made rapid movement impossible.

Even now, the Expeditionary Force’s line was stretched out to almost 5 *li* [approximately 2 kilometers]. Therefore, it seemed plausible that the addition of these tribesmen would not cause major problems, as the staff member suggested.

“The real advantage is the smallpox vaccination.”

“Smallpox vaccination?”

“Upon hearing the news of smallpox, Chogan Ssang and his group were the first to request vaccinations for their tribesmen.”

“That’s right.”

Lee Jing-ok nodded at the staff member’s explanation.

* * *

When Ssang’s group first arrived in Shinji, the first order Hyang gave after receiving them was to vaccinate them against smallpox.

Ssang’s group received the vaccination, curious about its purpose.

“If we can gain their cooperation by receiving this, we must get it.”

As time passed, when they returned and reported on the epidemic of smallpox, the Imperial soldiers who had become close to Ssang and his group informed them.

“Wow~. You guys won’t have to worry about getting smallpox.”

“Smallpox?”

“That curse that afflicted those Mexica guys or whatever. That’s smallpox. And the thing you got as soon as you came to Shinji? That’s the medicine that prevents smallpox.”

“Really?”

“Of course! After we got that, no one here gets smallpox.”

Hearing the story, Ssang’s group immediately petitioned Lee Jing-ok.

“Please give smallpox vaccinations to our tribal brothers and sisters!”

Lee Jing-ok, who was writing a report to Hyang after receiving the report, immediately approved their request.

* * *

“Either way, we had to go to their tribes to administer the smallpox vaccination. But it’s better that they came to us directly. It saves us the trouble of wandering around the jungle to find them.”

Lee Jing-ok nodded at the staff member’s words.

“That’s right. There’s always a good and a bad side to everything. Then, summon Chogan Ssang and his group, inform them that we will be vaccinating the tribesmen, and have them assist us. If we don’t, there might be misunderstandings since we can’t communicate effectively.”

“Yes, General!”

As Lee Jing-ok’s order was given, the military doctors and medics belonging to the Expeditionary Force moved with purpose.

Ssang’s group actively assisted the military doctors and medics.

“If you get this, you can prevent the curse that the Mexica guys got!”

The tribesmen, who were anxious about the upcoming smallpox vaccination, stretched out their arms at Ssang’s group’s words.

“If we can prevent the curse, we must do it!”

“If it’s an army that defeated the Mexica guys, then the shamans and priests must be stronger than the Mexica guys! We should definitely get what they’re giving us!”

The military doctors, who overheard the natives’ stories through Ssang’s group, exchanged wry smiles.

“We’re not shamans, but doctors…”

“Well, someone who has just become a doctor is sometimes treated like a shaman, so maybe it’s not entirely wrong?”

Whether it was because the phrase ‘prevent the curse’ was so effective, the tribesmen and warriors willingly received the vaccination, and the military doctors were able to complete the vaccination process faster than expected.

* * *

The Expeditionary Force advanced slowly but steadily through the jungle towards Tenochtitlan.

Having safely crossed the mountains that had previously blocked the bridgehead and Tenochtitlan, the Expeditionary Force began to gradually increase its speed.

As the Expeditionary Force, having overcome the biggest obstacle, gradually increased its speed, the soldiers and native warriors at the forefront became even more tense.

“Keep in mind that from now on, we can encounter those damn guys at any time. Don’t forget that your lives will be lost if you let your guard down even for a moment.”

“Yes.”

The soldiers replied with tense faces at the commanders’ words.

As they got closer to the Mexica’s territory, the movement of the vanguard also changed slightly.

The most capable and experienced native warriors moved in pairs of two or three, approximately 60 meters (20 *jang*) and 30 meters (10 *jang*) ahead of the vanguard.

The mission of the natives at the very front was to retreat immediately and inform the unit if they discovered the enemy.

The mission of those who were about 30 meters behind them was to immediately inform the main force if the scouts at the very front disappeared or were compromised.

They had reinforced the reconnaissance line, which had been deploying scouts about 10 *jang* ahead until they passed through the mountains, into two layers.

Behind this double-layered reconnaissance line were those in charge of preparing the path for the vanguard.

Their mission was to clear the passage using logging axes, axes, and saws.

Right behind them, soldiers with hardened carts and rifles were guarding the surroundings.

If the enemies broke through the reconnaissance line and ambushed, those who were clearing the way at the front would immediately lie down or retreat, and those who were waiting behind would engage the ambushing enemies.

And behind them was the vanguard’s main force. Their mission was to organize and expand the cleared passage to allow the rear main force to move properly, and to be immediately deployed as reinforcements if a battle broke out at the front.

* * *

As they were getting closer and closer to Tenochtitlan, the first battle finally began.

“Huh?”

The Expeditionary Force soldiers, who were clearing the passage, stopped what they were doing at the sight of the native warriors who had gone out as scouts running towards them.

“Already a shift change…”

“Why…”

The Expeditionary Force soldiers, who had been quite relaxed unlike when they had just crossed the mountains, expressed their confusion, but it was only for a moment.

The soldiers, realizing what the expressions of the native warriors running towards them in a hurry meant, immediately stopped what they were doing and turned around.

“Enemy!”

At the shouts of the soldiers who turned around and retreated, the soldiers waiting behind quickly scattered in all directions and looked for cover.

At the same time, the returning soldiers retrieved their weapons from the carts set up behind them and took cover.

“It’s worth training them so hard.”

Ahn Hyuk, the *Gwon-gwan* [military rank], who had a pleased expression as he watched his subordinates quickly prepare for battle, soon straightened his expression and ordered his subordinate.

“Send a messenger. Tell them, ‘Enemy encountered, battle preparations complete.'”

“Yes, sir.”

After a moment, the messenger, accompanied by a native guide, ran towards the rear.

Ahn Gwon-gwan, glancing at the back of the messenger running busily, shouted to his subordinates who were taking cover in all directions.

“Keep your eyes open and watch the surroundings carefully! You’ll get stabbed in the side if you’re not careful!”

After shouting that, Ahn Gwon-gwan took out the short gun he was wearing on his waist and put the whistle in his mouth.

According to the Imperial Army’s doctrine, firing was prohibited until the commander blew the whistle or gave a verbal order.

* * *

While the Expeditionary Force’s vanguard was preparing for battle, Mexica warriors were also preparing for battle in the opposite jungle.

This battle was also unexpected for the Mexica warriors.

Not long after the Expeditionary Force established a bridgehead, the Mexica also realized the Expeditionary Force had landed.

However, by the time they realized the Expeditionary Force had landed and prepared their forces, the rainy season had begun.

Thanks to its location in the highlands, Tenochtitlan was not greatly affected by the rainy season, but the area where the Expeditionary Force’s bridgehead was located was heavily affected by the rainy season.

If they were to depart right now, it seemed certain that more soldiers would be lost during the move than would be lost in battle.

Therefore, the Mexica waited for the rainy season to pass.

And as the rainy season came to an end, the Mexica, who had reassembled their soldiers, entered the jungle.

The problem was that the Mexica, who had been defeated by the Empire once, had gathered an unprecedentedly large army.

They were experiencing the same problems as the Expeditionary Force.

In the battles they had fought so far, they had been able to receive supplies from the surrounding colonial cities and merchants along the way. They also mobilized slaves and apprentice warriors to transport supplies.

Thanks to this, the Mexica army was able to move lightly and quickly.

However, the jungle was an area where intermediate supply was impossible. Therefore, the Mexica had to mobilize more slaves and apprentice warriors than usual.

Thanks to this, the size of the unit grew several times larger.

In addition, the level of tools used was also a problem. The logging tools made of stone and bronze were at a level that was embarrassing to compare with the iron tools used by the Empire.

Therefore, the Mexica encountered the Expeditionary Force in their own territory.

—–

(Note 1) As I continue to research while writing, I have learned that Aztec is a name given by later Western historians. The Aztecs themselves called themselves the Mexica. Therefore, I am changing the name.

In addition, I am worried about this name.

There is no right answer.

Some say Mexica, others say Mexica…

Montezuma, Montezuma, Moctezuma….

It’s difficult. It gives me a headache….