Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 933

933. The Imperial March (2) – Charge, Earthly Travel (21)

The Imperial soldiers also had their own commentary as they watched the excavators digging the trenches.

“Wow… a whole pit with each scoop.”

“That’s so efficient.”

As these words were exchanged, one soldier voiced what many were thinking.

“We could do it like that, so why did we train so hard to build trenches?”

“Right….”

These were soldiers recalling the nightmare of trench construction training, where they dug trenches with shovels and pickaxes until their backs ached, only to refill them with dirt and stones after the training was over.

“Do you think excavators will be available every time? If there are no excavators, will you refuse to dig trenches? Huh?”

“Ah, no, sir!”

“Then stop talking and fill the sacks with dirt! Build a wall with them!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the commanders’ shouts from behind, the soldiers quickly got to work.

Thanks to the excavators, the Imperial Allied Forces’ trench line quickly took shape. Walls and passages made by densely stacking sandbags filled with earth connected the trenches, and sturdy covered and open shelters were constructed.

French commanders on the walls of Pavia City watched the Imperial Army’s trench line and began to look increasingly uneasy.

“Damn it… are they digging in for a siege instead of building a fortress?”

Their own trench line was also cleverly structured. However, the Imperial trench line taking shape in the distance was so meticulously designed that it provoked curses.

A killing zone filled with the crossfire of railcars and cannons was being densely created along the trench line.

No matter which direction the attackers charged, they would suffer enormous casualties.

To avoid these losses, they would have to go around, but bypassing the trench line that the Imperial Allied Forces were building would require traveling a considerable distance. And by traveling such a long distance, the Imperial Allied Forces would naturally gain enough time to respond.

“I forgot that they were the first to create this damn trench warfare.”

The tactic of building defensive structures called trenches had existed since ancient times. However, the Empire was the first to combine this ancient “trench” with guns and cannons to create a deadly defensive system.

“I heard that the ‘Sage of the East’ devised that too?”

“Whether he’s a sage or a devil…”

“That’s not the problem. Adjutant! Go and find some painters and bring them here! We need to sketch those trench lines!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Instead of just cursing, we should learn what we can and use it…”

“That’s right.”

* * *

While the painters were diligently sketching under the orders of the French generals, the Imperial Allied Forces completed the trench line.

“Is the placement of the artillery complete?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Then let’s begin!”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon after, several cannons among the artillery pieces located in the rear trench line of the Imperial Army turned and fired at the French trenches.

Boom! Kaboom!

In the watchtowers temporarily erected near the Imperial Army’s artillery pieces, observers checked the impact points of the shells and diligently operated signal lamps. The Imperial artillery adjusted the angle of the cannons accordingly.

Kaboom!

“Direct hit!”

“All artillery, commence firing!”

After confirming the signal that the reference cannon had hit properly, the artillery commanders ordered simultaneous firing. As the signalman vigorously waved the flag, all the cannons that had been waiting fired at once.

Bang! Kaboom! Bang!

Soon after, pillars of earth erupted along the French trench line as the Imperial shells landed.

“Heads down!”

“Don’t stick your head out!”

From the moment the reference cannons fired, the French soldiers lay flat in the trenches to protect themselves.

Bang! Kaboom!

“Agh!”

“Someone’s hurt here! Help!”

“Holy Mary…”

Listening to the sounds of their comrades being directly hit by shells, the French soldiers huddled even closer and gripped their rifles.

“After this shelling is over, the enemy will charge! Stay alert!”

Even without the commanders’ shouts, the French soldiers, well aware of this, gripped their rifles even more tightly.

Bang!

After the last shell landed, the French junior officers, confirming that there was no more shelling, shouted at the soldiers.

“Stand up! Prepare for the enemy’s charge!”

At the commanders’ shouts, the soldiers rose to their feet, climbed onto the firing steps, and aimed their guns forward.

“Huh?”

“Uh?”

As time passed, the French soldiers in the trenches, regardless of rank, all wore puzzled expressions.

There was no charge from the Imperial Allied Forces.

* * *

For the next five days, the Imperial Army continued concentrated shelling three times a day.

And before they knew it, the French soldiers became accustomed to this routine.

Bang! Kaboom!

“The shelling is over!”

“Let’s have lunch! Let’s eat!”

After confirming that the shelling was over, the French soldiers sent details towards Pavia Castle.

Soon after, the castle gates opened, and carts filled with baskets of bread, pots of soup, and bottles of wine for the soldiers to eat came out in a line.

In the wide open space in front of the castle gate, soldiers lined up and began to share bread, soup, and wine with their comrades. Meanwhile, next to them, carts carrying ‘unfortunate friends’ entered the castle.

Inside the castle’s command center, French generals were analyzing the situation with faces that showed they couldn’t understand it at all.

“I can’t figure out the reason at all. I can’t figure it out.”

“They’ve only been engaging in shelling for five days…”

“What’s even stranger is that the power of the shells they’re firing is weaker than expected. To think that the walls of Milan were brought down by cannons like that…”

“It’s weaker than we thought, but it’s definitely not weak.”

“That’s true…”

“Considering the accumulated losses of our troops so far, we can’t ignore it at all.”

“Especially the losses of cannons and railcars are painful…”

At the last words, the generals all nodded.

On the first day, after the first shelling by the Imperial Allied Forces ended, the French also fired shells at the Imperial Army’s positions.

As soon as the French’s first firing ended, the Imperial artillery retaliated by targeting only the French artillery batteries.

Fortunately, thanks to the weak power of the Imperial cannons, they avoided fatal losses, but the French still suffered considerable damage.

After that, the French not only repaired the broken cannons but also moved the cannons back altogether.

Of course, they didn’t move them far back.

“Hide them as much as possible until those guys charge!”

“Yes, sir!”

Under the commanders’ orders, the French artillerymen moved the cannons to covered shelters with sturdy roofs or moved the cannons further back.

It wasn’t just the cannons that suffered losses. Although the power was ‘weaker than expected,’ there were constant deaths and injuries in the trenches that were directly hit, and the resulting troop losses were also gradually increasing.

“There are still nearly ten days left until the reinforcements arrive, but if losses accumulate at this rate, it will be a serious problem.”

“Raindrops gather to become a flood…”

“We must inflict damage on them before it’s too late.”

“How?”

“Look at that trench line. A charge is absolutely out of the question!”

At the words of the other generals, the general who first suggested the idea opened his mouth.

“We have to make them charge, not us.”

“So how are you going to make that possible?”

“That’s right. They’re not fools either, so they must know the losses that a charge would bring, right? That’s why they’re just shelling like that.”

The French generals thought that the ‘most reasonable reason’ for the Imperial Allied Forces’ continued shelling was ‘lack of troops.’

-It is certain that the Imperial Allied Forces have the most troops.

-However, as the front lines widen, they are gradually being divided.

-In particular, the Empire has difficulties in continuously supplying troops.

-A charge against well-prepared enemy trenches must incur enormous losses.

-Because the Empire has problems with troop supply, they are postponing the charge and continuing to shell.

“The reason they keep shelling is to minimize the losses they would suffer when charging. If so… we have to make them charge.”

“So! How are you going to make that possible!”

“By using the Italian bastards.”

“Florence?”

“That’s right.”

The general who advocated for a decisive battle explained his plan to his colleagues. At first, the other generals showed skeptical reactions, but as the explanation continued, they began to nod.

“Certainly… considering the nature of those Italians who are all talk, it might be possible.”

“It seems like it could work. If we continue like this, the morale of the soldiers will definitely deteriorate. We need to show them a lesson.”

“Let’s prepare a messenger.”

At those words, the general who first brought up the plan stepped forward.

“I will go myself.”

“Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

“If something happens to me, that would be a good reason in itself, wouldn’t it?”

* * *

While such a conspiracy was taking place on the French side, a conspiracy of their own was also underway on the Imperial side.

“Indeed… His Majesty’s words were correct.”

At Yi Si-ae’s words, all the subordinate commanders nodded.

“Certainly, its power is much weaker against properly constructed trenches.”

“The rate of fire is also too slow. Every time we fire, we have to drag the cannons that have been pushed back to their original positions, and the process of checking the inside of the barrel and loading through the muzzle is too cumbersome.”

“It’s a pity, but it’s time to discard them.”

What had been pounding the French trenches for the past five days was the Imperial Army’s old artillery.

The reason for shelling regularly three times a day was also to properly observe whether the firepower of the old artillery was still usable.

And the conclusion reached was, ‘It’s time to discard them.’

“Hmm… I see. They were truly dear fellows, but it’s a shame, but we must now discard them. Then from tomorrow…”

“General! A French messenger has arrived!”

A young officer came inside, interrupting Yi Si-ae, who was about to draw a conclusion.

“A messenger?”

“Yes! And he says he’s a French general!”

“Is that so?”

At the officer’s report, Yi Si-ae rose from his seat and went outside. Yi Si-ae, mounted on a horse tied outside, headed to where the messenger was waiting.

“I am Count Rohan, commanding the great French Army.”

“I am Yi Si-ae, the Jiedushi [military governor], commanding the proud Imperial Army.”

A short and concise introduction followed, and Rohan got straight to the point.

“I believe that further tedious shelling is useless to both sides. Therefore, I wish to determine who is superior. As a descendant of a knightly family that follows chivalry and a general leading the great French Army, I hereby grant you the honor of attacking first.”

“…he says.”

Yi Si-ae, after hearing the story through an interpreter, looked around at the subordinate generals with a dumbfounded expression.

“Is he crazy?”

Yi Si-ae, whose mind became complicated by the proposal that was far beyond expectations, barely regained his senses and replied.

“It is a very grateful proposal, but this is not something that can be easily decided. I must take some time to discuss it with my generals. Once a decision is made, I will send a messenger to inform you of the answer.”

“I hope you make a wise decision.”

Yi Si-ae nodded lightly at Count Rohan’s words and muttered inwardly.

‘The wisest thing to do is to just keep shelling like we are now.’