Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 8

Episode 8. The 1592 Southern Sea War. (8)

The day Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s submarines sent their transmissions was December 20th.

Upon receiving the decoded message from the submarine, Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s aide immediately delivered it to Yi Sun-sin.

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

Yi Sun-sin, who had been waiting without sleep, immediately began drafting a report upon hearing his aide’s response.

“Send this to Seoul immediately!”

“Yes!”

The messenger, who had been waiting, immediately took Yi Sun-sin’s report and sped towards Seoul.

After a perilous night flight, the messenger arrived in Seoul and immediately delivered Yi Sun-sin’s report to naval headquarters.

“Urgent report from the Commander of the 3rd Mobile Fleet!”

“At this hour? Again?”

Upon hearing that another report from Yi Sun-sin had arrived, the duty officer reached out with a frustrated expression.

“Let me see it.”

“Yes.”

The officer’s expression, which had been irritably flipping through the report, gradually hardened.

After examining Yi Sun-sin’s report several times, the officer ordered the officer of the watch,

“Bring the Chief of Staff here immediately.”

“Yes.”

* * *

“The Commander of the 3rd Mobile Fleet sent a report?”

“That’s correct.”

“Doesn’t that guy have anything better to do? He should be getting some sleep…”

The Chief of Naval Operations, a member of the battleship faction, irritably accepted the report from the aide and began to read it.

“Hmm…”

As he read the report, the Chief of Staff’s expression also hardened.

-As a result of sending submarines to investigate, transport ships are still docked in the Japanese naval ports of Sasebo, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto.

-The reason the remaining transport ships are important is because of their speed.

-Transport ships are slow, making it very difficult to carry out deception operations.

-Therefore, the remaining transport ships are proof that Japan has not abandoned its will to wage war.

The Chief of Staff, reading through the report, chuckled bitterly and muttered.

“This isn’t like the usual Yi Sun-sin.”

Normally, Yi Sun-sin would have written the report in the style of, ‘Since everyone knows this much, I’ll omit the detailed explanation.’

However, the fact that he wrote it in such detail, unlike usual, meant that he had determined the situation was serious.

However, the problem was the attached request.

-Request permission for the 3rd Mobile Fleet to conduct mobile exercises.

-Time: December 22nd to the end of the month.

-The training area will be from the Inland Sea (East Sea) to the Korea Strait.

After confirming the attached request, the Chief of Staff put his hand on his forehead.

“That guy has thrown another firebomb…” [Meaning he’s created another controversial issue.]

Conducting mobile exercises that were not planned was not an easy task.

The fact that a fleet, especially a mobile fleet, would be moving for nearly ten days meant that it would create all sorts of problems, including the budget.

“Yi Sun-sin will take care of the problems that arise on the front lines, but the problem is that the higher-ups will also have a hard time.”

The training of the mobile fleet was not something that could be done with his permission alone.

It required the permission of the Chief of the General Staff, the Minister of National Defense, and finally, the Emperor.

“If we do as he says, we have to get approval from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Ministry of National Defense, and even His Majesty the Emperor as soon as day breaks. Is that even possible? And…”

The Chief of Naval Operations tapped the request with his finger and grumbled.

“Above all, the area specified for the training is the problem. Why would he include the area under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Mobile Fleet?”

This was a serious discourtesy that ignored Won Gyun, the commander of the 2nd Mobile Fleet.

After pondering for a moment, the Chief of Naval Operations ordered the officer of the watch.

“Tell all the staff to come to my office immediately.”

“Yes!”

* * *

The staff members, who had been urgently summoned and gathered in the naval headquarters conference room, raised their voices in unison as soon as they saw Yi Sun-sin’s report and request.

“Impossible!”

Since the Chief of Naval Operations was a battleship faction member, all of his staff were also battleship faction members.

Therefore, they showed a strong rejection of Yi Sun-sin’s report and request, which was like a thorn in their side.

“What is the basis for this?”

To the question posed by the Chief of Staff, the staff members replied as follows.

-Although it is based on the remaining Japanese naval transport ships, this cannot be said to be definitive evidence.

-Also, mobile exercises that were not planned could conversely give Japan an excuse [to mobilize or attack].

-The training area includes the area under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Mobile Fleet. This is an act that seriously undermines the command of the Commander of the 2nd Mobile Fleet.

“Finally, if we allow this, it means that we do not trust Won Gyun, that friend of ours.”

Their sincerity was in not wanting to tarnish the honor of Won Gyun, who was from the same battleship faction.

Perhaps because of that sincerity, the staff members said to the Chief of Staff,

“Even if Japan does something on December 25th, there is no need to worry about Won Gyun. The power of the 2nd Mobile Fleet is considerable, and Won Gyun is also a capable friend.”

However, there was something that the staff members barely managed to hold back from saying.

‘If it’s Won Gyun, he’ll immediately take the battleships out and fire firebombs at Yi Sun-sin.’ [Figuratively, meaning he would aggressively confront Yi Sun-sin.]

At the staff members’ words, the Chief of Staff nodded.

“I suppose so? Won Gyun is also a friend who took the position of commander with his ability.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a moment at the staff members’ answers, the Chief of Staff soon came to a conclusion.

“Okay. I’ll set the direction to reject Yi Sun-sin’s request. And, make a copy of the report sent by Yi Sun-sin and deliver it to Won Gyun as well. It will help him make a decision.”

“Understood.”

* * *

The next day, the Chief of Naval Operations visited the Joint Chiefs of Staff and conveyed what had happened overnight and his decision.

The Chief of the General Staff, who received the report from the Chief of Naval Operations, nodded.

“It seems reasonable. I also think it’s good to reject it. However, I don’t think this is a problem that can be ended at my level.”

Following this, the Minister of National Defense also agreed to ‘reject’ it, and a report on this was sent to Emperor Yi Ju.

Ordinary military training was decided at the level of the Minister of National Defense, but in the case of large-scale operations such as mobile fleets, it was customary to report directly to the Emperor and receive approval.

“Hmm…. So, the training is not allowed?”

“That is correct.”

Yi Ju, hearing the Minister of National Defense’s answer, tapped the desk with his finger and fell into thought.

‘Certainly, there is no definite proof that Japan will definitely do something. There are only predictions. And sudden training can conversely provoke Japan and give them a justification. The issue of violating the jurisdictional area… there is also the issue of the commander’s pride.’

Yi Ju weighed the various situations and came to a conclusion.

“Okay. The request of the Commander of the 3rd Mobile Fleet will be denied. Convey that message.”

“I accept your command.”

“I accept your command!”

Yi Ju, seeing the Chief of Naval Operations answering in a loud voice, momentarily wore a strange expression before returning to normal.

Yi Ju, watching the Minister of National Defense, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Chief of Naval Operations leaving after finishing their business, wore a strange expression again and muttered inwardly.

‘People… seem to often forget whose blood I inherited. They forgot that my specialty is fishing [a metaphor for strategy and deception], they forgot…’

Yi Ju, muttering meaningful words inwardly, began to write an order.

-The mobile training of the 3rd Mobile Fleet is not permitted.

-Instead, the 3rd Mobile Fleet will remain in the base in full readiness until the end of December.

-If Japan commits an unfortunate act, it will immediately set sail and respond.

-If necessary, it is permissible to exercise command over the entire Imperial Navy fleet stationed in the mainland.

-This is my imperial order. I take all responsibility.

“I just hope it’s just a groundless fear or a false alarm…”

Yi Ju, muttering softly with an earnest expression, tightly sealed the order and then ordered the eunuch.

“Deliver this order to Yi Sun-sin immediately. This is an order that I am sending separately, so send it directly, not through the Ministry of National Defense.”

“I accept your command!”

Yi Ju, having sent the order, leaned back in his chair and looked out the window.

‘If something really happens, I’ll see a meteor shower.’ [A metaphor for a major event or battle.]

* * *

Meanwhile, Won Gyun, who received a copy of the report written by Yi Sun-sin, once again flew into a rage.

“Yi Sun-sin, that bastard again! His arrogance knows no bounds!”

Crash!

Won Gyun, unable to contain his anger, threw the objects on his desk in a frenzy.

The staff members, suppressed by Won Gyun’s ferocity, simply kept their mouths shut and waited for Won Gyun’s anger to subside.

“Hoo~. Hoo~.”

Only after Won Gyun, who had calmed down to some extent, sat down in his seat, panting heavily, did the staff members open their mouths.

“What are you going to do?”

“What am I going to do!”

“Yi Sun-sin is arrogant, but we can’t just ignore him. If we do, we could give the flying machine faction [a political rival group] an excuse.”

“So you’re saying we should pay attention to Yi Sun-sin’s words! Are you telling me, Won Gyun, the greatest man in the world, to follow Yi Sun-sin’s words!”

“N, no, that’s not…”

“It’s already the end of December! The mainland is already frozen solid! All the roads are icy, and even the people of the mainland are refraining from going out in this winter! But do you think the Japs, who have only experienced winters that aren’t even like winter, will be able to endure it! The situation is already over! Don’t make the kids suffer unnecessarily and maintain a peacetime posture!”

“Still…”

Won Gyun, seeing the staff members who were still trying to dissuade him despite being suppressed by his ferocity, made a considerable concession.

“Okay! Until now, I’ve given all the officers and soldiers of the fleet vacation and leave around Christmas, but this time, tell them to take leave alternately in halves! And tell the army stationed on Jeju Island to pay attention to air defense!”

“Yes!”

The staff members moved according to Won Gyun’s orders.

However, the soldiers and officers of the 2nd Mobile Fleet grumbled about this.

“Hey, damn it! I had already made plans on how to play during the Christmas vacation!”

“We’ve been through hell for the past few months because they said the Japs might do something, and now we only get leave? Are you kidding me?”

The commander of the air defense unit of the army stationed on Jeju Island, who received Won Gyun’s request for cooperation, also had a similar reaction.

“Geez! The kids have been through all sorts of hardships due to the continuous emergency over the past few months, and now again? Aish!”

The commander of the air defense unit, who was complaining, exploded at the following news.

“What? The navy guys are out on leave! Are you kidding me right now? Some people are suffering, and some people are playing?”

“There’s a lot of talk among our kids too.”

At the words of his subordinate officer, the commander of the air defense unit replied in a rough voice.

“Let’s send half of our guys out too!”

“Yes!”

* * *

December 25th.

Japanese bombers and fighters, soaring into the slowly brightening sky, formed a formation and crossed the Southern Sea.

“Tsushima is on the right!”

“Okay! Let’s start! Send the communication!”

At the order of the Japanese commander on board, the bomber’s communicator pounded on the transmitter of the radio.

Shortly after, the Japanese attack force split into two large groups.

The Japanese attack force, divided into two groups, parted ways in the sky near Wando.

One group turned its nose south and began to enter from the northern side of Jeju Island, and the other group scattered, targeting the Imperial Army flying machine units located around Mokpo and Gwangju.

* * *

December 25th, 6 a.m.

Woo-oong.

“Huh?”

Imperial Army soldiers, who were patrolling the northern coastline of Jeju Island, expressed their doubts at the sound that shook the sky.

“What’s that sound?”

“Sounds like a flying machine?”

“Could it be like the rumors…”

The soldiers, who suspected it was a Japanese attack, soon shook their heads.

“Nah, no way…. If that were the case, it would have been noisy from the south. This side is the north.”

“I guess so?”

“It must be.”

Although they denied it to each other, the soldiers, who had a bad feeling, picked up the receiver of the telephone in the outpost and diligently turned the generator attached to the body.

“Communication security…!”

The soldier, who had finished talking to the main unit, looked at his colleague with a strange expression.

“What do they say?”

“It seems like the main unit is in chaos too?”

At that moment, numerous flying machines were passing over their heads.

The soldiers, seeing the flying machines passing over their heads, wore even stranger expressions.

“If you look at the color of the belly, it’s our Imperial flying machine color, but?”

“But did our Empire have flying machines that looked like that?”

The soldiers, who found and opened the flying machine identification book on one side of the outpost, flipped through the pages and looked for similar flying machines.

“Found it… Japan?”

The soldier, who identified the identity of the flying machines flying overhead, hurriedly picked up the receiver.