Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 917

917. The Imperial March (2) – Assaulting Turtle Ships, Running on Land. (5)

“Isn’t that why artillery is even more important?”

Shin Suk-ju didn’t back down easily, firmly believing that his opinion was reasonable.

“Your Majesty is right. Therefore, I believe it is better to bring more artillery than those mere assault vehicles.”

Shin Suk-ju’s argument can be summarized as follows:

-Again, looking at the battle between Hungary and the Habsburgs, the trench lines will be breached if the attacker has the will. No matter how strong the trench lines are, they can always be breached.

-Of course, the attacker must endure many sacrifices in this process.

-Hungary and the Habsburgs were well aware of this, so they actively used artillery and armored trains in both attack and defense.

-However, the artillery and armored trains used by Hungary and the Habsburgs were outdated, so they did not play as big a role as expected, and sacrifices had to be endured.

-If the explanation about the assault vehicle is correct, breaking through the trench lines will be possible. But what about after that?

-The speed is slower than a horse, it can’t go far at once, and it doesn’t carry many soldiers compared to its size.

-Even if it charges towards the enemy lines and breaks through the trench lines as its name suggests, what good is it if it cannot chase down and annihilate the retreating enemy?

-Therefore, I believe it is better to mobilize a large number of artillery pieces to pave a wide path than to create a few small holes in the trench lines with assault vehicles.

“…Therefore, I believe it is better to deploy more large and powerful artillery than those assault vehicles.”

Hwang, listening to Shin Suk-ju’s words, muttered inwardly.

‘Paving the way with shells… How Russian-like….’

While grumbling inwardly, Hwang organized his thoughts and began to refute.

-Artillery and assault vehicles have different roles. This is the biggest reason.

-The statement that a well-defended trench can be breached if the attacker’s will is strong is incorrect. Even in the last Battle of Liaodong, no Ming troops broke through the final trench line.

-Even if a large amount of powerful artillery is mobilized to concentrate fire on the trench lines, it is rare for the trench lines to collapse completely. It should not be overlooked that the defender’s will can be as strong as the attacker’s.

-In other words, the attacker can only break through or occupy the enemy’s trench lines by mobilizing direct means such as soldiers, rather than indirect means such as shelling.

-The speed of the assault vehicle may be slower than a horse, but it is as fast as a person running at full speed. And when a person sprints at full speed, they soon tire and cannot move. However, the assault vehicle can continue to run as long as it has fuel and water. This difference is very significant.

-Finally, the pursuit and annihilation of the retreating enemy is important. However, it cannot last long because communication is impossible.

“…Penetrating as far as possible within the range where smooth communication is possible. That is the mission of the assault vehicle and the assault team. This is why most of the units the Empire has deployed to Italy this time consist of assault teams, artillery units, and finally transport units. The artillery shakes up the enemy lines, the assault team breaks through the enemy lines, and the transport unit diligently carries the follow-up units through the gap to advance.”

‘What should I say… Primitive Blitzkrieg [lightning war] tactics? Well, it’s too far to consider the culminating point of the offensive. Right now, we need to focus on breaking through first.’

While Hwang was muttering like that, Yu Eung-bu stepped forward and said to Shin Suk-ju.

“The Imperial Army and the Ministry of National Defense did not send the assault vehicles to Italy without thinking. It is the best answer that came out after we worked hard, assuming that we are in the position of the attacker.”

‘Well, I also thought it was Emperor Taejong’s amusement when I first saw it….’

* * *

‘If the Empire is the attacker and has to assault the enemy’s trench lines, what is the best answer?’

The answer given by the Imperial Army, which had been pondering over the above topic, was ‘more powerful and more artillery.’

However, in the landing operations that took place in the Battle of Liaodong and the subsequent Battle of the Yellow Sea, the Imperial Army realized that there were flaws in the above decision.

-Even if the enemy’s defense lines are covered with firebombs, they do not collapse completely.

-If the defender’s will is strong, they will somehow endure.

-To break through this, a lot of blood must be shed.

‘Shedding a lot of blood’ was a serious problem for the Empire, which had a small population.

To solve this, more powerful artillery with longer ranges were created and deployed. However, it was still impossible to perfectly solve the first problem.

To solve this, officials from the Ministry of National Defense searched the records with a hopeful heart.

And….

“This is it!”

They caught a big fish in the records kept in the archives.

It was the words that Sejong had said to Hwang when he made the artillery tractor using a steam engine in the past.

-Wouldn’t it be good to put armor on the tractor and then load artillery or soldiers and move them?

At this time, Hwang also answered that he would develop it, but it was buried as it was.

The biggest reason was that the output of the steam engine that went into the tractor at that time was quite insufficient.

Since then, time and budget have been insufficient to develop steam engines for engineering, steam engines for ships, and many other things.

However, the biggest reason was that Hwang’s interest had waned.

“I made a tractor, right? Then other humans will take care of it. Time is short and there are many things to do!”

The problem was that most of the artisans in Area 51 were put into the work of producing new equipment, or into the process of actually making things that Hwang designed or conceived, which deviated from Hwang’s expectations.

And it was buried in the archives as it was.

When the related records were submitted by the Ministry of National Defense, it was when Hwang had stepped down as Sangwang [retired king].

“Ah… I forgot about this?”

Hwang, who checked the report sent through Wan from the Ministry of National Defense, smiled bitterly and muttered.

“I completely forgot because there hasn’t been a big war….”

Hwang, who glossed over the fact that he had forgotten because his interest had waned with the excuse of ‘peaceful times,’ soon rubbed his hands and smiled brightly.

“Opportunity is chance, right? That’s great! Several new steam engines have come out, so let’s give it a try!”

This is how the assault vehicle was born.

The assault vehicle developed by Hwang was soon adopted. However, as Shin Suk-ju pointed out, the high production cost was a problem.

Therefore, the Imperial Army had no choice but to choose small-scale production and small-scale deployment rather than mass production.

“It would be cheaper to print them all at once!”

“Offensive weapons? Do you think the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Board of Audit and Inspection will just sit back and watch?”

“There are not enough artisans and production sites. There’s no way.”

That was the situation where training and deployment continued little by little within the limits of the budget.

However, this situation completely changed when the lessons learned from the war between Hungary and the Habsburgs arrived.

-Even with the help of artillery, breaking through the enemy’s trench lines with infantry’s bare bodies requires enormous sacrifices.

According to these lessons learned, the Imperial Army sent most of its assault vehicles to Italy and asked Hyun to allow mass production.

And this was immediately passed with Hyun’s approval.

* * *

“Why is there a saying, ‘The right person in the right place’? Artillery is a useful weapon, but it is not a panacea.”

‘If it were the 21st century Artillery Department or the Heavenly Dynasty [China], they would have tried to use it almost as a panacea, because they even made reconnaissance shells….’

At Hwang’s words, Shin Suk-ju bowed his head and replied.

“My thoughts were too short. Please forgive me.”

“You, too, said it after thinking for the Empire and the Imperial Army, so what is the sin? It’s just that the perspectives are different. Now, let’s end the story about the assault vehicle here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After finishing the conversation, Hwang moved on to the next topic.

“Which countries sent envoys this time?”

“Yes….”

* * *

As the special train carrying Hwang got closer to Florence, the envoys’ hearts grew more anxious.

“There’s not much time left….”

‘If we arrive in Florence, proper negotiations will be impossible. There will only be a decision of approval or disapproval!’

Most of the envoys agreed with the above opinion.

Due to the arms race that had already taken place between the great powers, each country’s military power was at its highest in history. And due to this powerful military power, a bellicose atmosphere was prevalent among the people and nobles.

-We can do it with this much!

Merchants were looking forward to the war boom, the people were looking forward to the bonanza they could get from looting on the battlefield, and the nobles were looking forward to their power growing stronger.

Of course, the Empire’s intervention made them hesitate slightly, but they soon made a positive judgment.

-‘The Land of Flowers’ [Korea] is far away! They won’t be able to exert their power properly!

-Don’t ‘The Land of Flowers’ soldiers also die when they get shot? Our long guns are also excellent!

-We can do it once! -If it doesn’t work out, we can form an alliance to drive out the Empire!

-While we’re driving them out, let’s take away the Suez interests too!

The reason why the nobles and people of the European powers were in a bellicose mood even against the Empire was because of the interests at stake in Suez.

The largest shares of Suez were held by the Ottomans and the Empire.

-The Ottomans are a burden, but the Empire is possible!

It was a very optimistic judgment that the people of the Empire would be dumbfounded and scoff at if they heard it.

Therefore, the pro-peace faction, which accounted for most of the delegation, became anxious.

-We don’t even want the Empire to back down. We just need to end it by maintaining the current system!

-The unification of Italy is of no help to our national interest! They should continue to be torn apart as they have been until now! That’s the best!

-The Empire must also know that maintaining the current system is the best!

The word ‘Ancien Régime’ [old order] spoken by a nobleman belonging to the French delegation soon spread throughout the great powers’ delegations.

“That’s right. Maintaining the old system is….”

And these stories were conveyed to the ambassadors and Hwang through the Imperial officials who were treating the delegation.

Hwang, who heard the stories through the officials, looked back at the ambassadors.

“What do you think?”

At Hwang’s question, Shin Suk-ju answered first.

“It may be the best answer to avoid war. However, it is nothing more than a delusion unless we can avoid war.”

“What is the basis for the delusion? Isn’t it possible that our Empire might back down through the ‘persuasion and negotiation’ they are talking about?”

“Then they will fight among themselves. Because too many people want war.”

At Shin Suk-ju’s words, Hwang and the other ambassadors nodded and thought the same thing.

‘Seriously… He’s a very talented person when it comes to diplomacy….’

‘He gets involved in places where he doesn’t have to, and gets criticized for no reason….’

While muttering inwardly about Shin Suk-ju, Seong Sam-mun asked Hwang.

“Are you perhaps considering appeasement?”

“Do you think appeasement is possible?”

At Hwang’s question, Seong Sam-mun shook his head.

“It is impossible.”