Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 934

934. The Imperial March (2) – Assaulting Turtle Ships, Running on Land. (22)

Back at the command headquarters, Yi Si-ae shared his thoughts with his subordinate commanders.

“I’d like to continue as we are now. What do you think? I don’t believe it’s the right time to attempt an assault on the enemy lines just yet.”

Most of the subordinate commanders nodded in response to Yi Si-ae’s words.

The enemy’s defenses hadn’t been weakened yet. In fact, they were still maintaining a solid defense.

No one in their right mind would charge towards a well-defended enemy position.

“Especially since we haven’t fully verified the power of the new cannons. An assault is premature.”

The power of the new cannons had been somewhat verified by smashing the walls of Milan, but it wasn’t perfect.

It was now time to verify their effectiveness on flat ground, especially against well-constructed trenches.

As everyone seemed to agree with Yi Si-ae’s decision, an assault troop commander in a black uniform interjected.

“With all due respect, might this not be a good opportunity?”

“A good opportunity? How so?”

Yi Si-ae showed curiosity, and the assault troop commander shared his thoughts.

“According to the scouts’ reports, enemy reinforcements are approaching. Before they arrive, I believe it would be wise to strike a significant blow to demoralize the enemy, or even crush them entirely.”

“So, you’re suggesting we use the new cannons to strike their trench line?”

At the fellow commander’s question, the assault troop commander immediately replied.

“Cannon fire alone has its limits. The most certain way is for our troops to occupy the enemy lines.”

“However, assaulting the enemy’s trench line would mean accepting heavy losses. To solve this, it’s best to slowly grind them down with cannon fire over time.”

“Isn’t the problem that we don’t have enough cannons to grind them down like that? Have you forgotten that trenches are different from walls?”

The commander who had been arguing against the assault troop commander looked embarrassed.

Even the tallest and thickest walls would eventually fall. The taller and thicker they were, the harder they were to repair once destroyed.

However, trenches were the opposite.

Even if they collapsed, they could be repaired with a little time. There was even a trick of connecting the trench lines to the craters created by the shells to create new trenches.

To completely destroy such trench lines, they had to be pounded densely and for a long time, to the point where repair was impossible.

And this method was very difficult even for the Empire’s cannon-crazed army.

No matter how densely the shelling was, errors continued to occur as long as the angle and direction of the cannons were adjusted by human hands. Moreover, there was a limit to persistently shelling for a long time because the heated barrels had to be cooled while using large amounts of gunpowder.

The conclusion was to soften them up as much as possible before the infantry charged.

The assault troop commander brushed his black uniform with his hand and continued.

“What is the reason for our assault troops being here? It is precisely to break through those trenches! New or old, it doesn’t matter! If the cannons just soften up the enemy’s trenches, we can break through immediately!”

“Aren’t you afraid of facing the enemy’s gunfire up close?”

“That’s why we have assault vehicles, and why the assault troops’ uniforms are black.”

The assault vehicles’ armor plates could sufficiently block the enemy’s gunfire. And the saying went around that the assault troops wore black uniforms ‘to hide the flowing blood.’ Of course, the saying ‘to hide the piss stains’ was even more prevalent.

At the assault troop commander’s words, Yi Si-ae and all the commanders thought the same thing.

‘The tide has turned, huh? He’s rowing very diligently [eager to please].’

The enemy had already conceded the first strike. The assault troops, who had been waiting for an opportunity, could not miss this chance.

“Hoo~.”

Yi Si-ae sighed and grumbled inwardly.

‘Damn Imperial Army traditions…’

-Since the appearance of the Challenger-class battleships in the Imperial Navy, none of those initially assigned to new weapons and units have been mentally sound.

This was a tradition, though not officially, that was passed down throughout the Imperial Army and Navy.

Following the Challenger-class battleships, even the Assault Turtle Ships, the commanders and soldiers initially assigned to the new weapons were all recognized as troublemakers.

And in the Army, it started with the Longsword Brigade and continued with the Assault Troops.

‘But the problem is that what he’s saying isn’t wrong…’

Yi Si-ae was getting a headache. The trenches, which had always been the Imperial Army’s reliable bulwark, were now a nuisance.

Yi Si-ae was keenly aware of how troublesome ‘trenches dug with determination by a sane army’ could be.

‘But to deploy a unit that hasn’t even been tested yet is a bit… No, perhaps it’s a good opportunity to test them?’

As Yi Si-ae was struggling with his decision, suddenly it became noisy outside.

“What’s going on?”

Yi Si-ae frowned at the sudden commotion, and his adjutant went outside.

Shortly after, the adjutant returned and reported the situation.

“There’s a commotion within the Florentine army.”

“A commotion? Why?”

“They’re making a fuss about taking the initiative to attack.”

“What?”

* * *

When Count Roen of France came as an envoy, the Florentine and Swiss army commanders and soldiers were also nearby.

Through them, Count Roen’s proposal spread to the Swiss and Florentine camps.

And the soldiers’ reactions to the rumors were divided. To be precise, the Swiss and Florentine armies reacted differently.

“Are they crazy?”

“I know, right.”

The Swiss army’s reaction was similar to the Imperial Army’s.

-Why charge in when the enemy’s momentum is still strong? We should weaken their momentum a bit more before going in.

However, the Florentine army’s reaction was the opposite.

Upon hearing the rumors, a few eloquent individuals brought wooden crates, stood on them, and began to raise their voices.

“People of our proud Florence! Hear my words! Comrades who have learned and trained together, hear my words!”

As the eyes and ears of the surrounding comrades gathered, the speaker put more strength into his voice.

“People, comrades! Just now, an envoy from the French army came and went!”

The speaker, who had conveyed the conversation between Count Roen and Yi Si-ae in detail, raised his voice with a passionate tone and expression.

“People, comrades! Are you not indignant! Are you not ashamed! This is our Italian land! We Italians decided on this war! But why must we stand by and watch from the sidelines! Why must we become spectators in achieving the great cause of ‘Italian Unification’! People, comrades! Think of Milan! Did the fools of Milan surrender to us? They surrendered to the Empire! Where is there such a shameful thing! Can we still call ourselves Italian men who have inherited the blood of great Rome! Do you think the women of Florence, Venice, Rome, and Naples will smile upon you!”

“Woo-hoo!”

The Florentine soldiers were excited and rose up at the words that stimulated their pride as men.

It was because a similar incident had happened in Milan.

The excited soldiers went to the officers and made requests, not quite requests, to take the lead in the attack. For the officers who desperately wanted to gain merit, it was like ‘rain after a drought [a welcome relief].’

“I will gladly succumb to your coercion! Follow me!”

As such incidents were repeated several times, a commotion arose near the command headquarters where Yi Si-ae was staying.

* * *

“These guys or those guys…”

Yi Si-ae put his hand on his forehead and shook his head after hearing the detailed circumstances.

‘But it can’t be helped. Politics cannot be left out of war, and this war is especially strong in that regard…’

Even though the Imperial and Swiss armies were the center of the force, the Florentine army could not be ignored. The Florentine army was needed for the sake of justification.

The problem was the Florentine army’s chronic problem. No matter how much they were trained, they fought chaotically once they got excited. In the end, there was too high a possibility that the entire front line would be ruined by them.

‘Hmm… Was the French army aiming for this? It’s highly likely. They are more familiar with Italians than we are.’

“Hoo~. I should have had Lord Shin Suk-ju or Lord Seong Sam-mun take on the role of commander. Hoo~.”

Yi Si-ae, who was sighing and grumbling repeatedly, glared at the assault troop commander who was gleefully laughing next to him and asked.

“Is the assault troop ready?”

“Yes! We are ready to sortie at any time!”

“We will begin the operation the morning after tomorrow. Finish all preparations by then! If something goes wrong when we actually start, I will use your head as a cannonball!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Go and prepare!”

The assault troop commander, who had been so happy until just now, quickly saluted with a pale face and disappeared. After sending the assault troop commander away, Yi Si-ae ordered his adjutant.

“Bring the Florentine army commander! We are modifying the operation!”

“Yes, sir!”

Late that evening. An Imperial Army officer and an interpreter, holding a white flag high, arrived at the French trenches.

“We have a message to deliver to Count Roen!”

At the shout of the Imperial Army officer sitting on horseback, Count Roen came out of Pavia Castle and arrived at the trench line.

Count Roen, after acknowledging the Imperial Army officer’s polite salute, immediately got to the point.

“So, what has the Empire decided?”

“Our allied forces have decided to accept the French army’s proposal. We will begin the attack at 10:00 AM, European time, the morning after tomorrow.”

“Is that so? Understood.”

As Count Roen nodded, the Imperial Army officer continued.

“The Commissioner has instructed me to convey this: ‘I am deeply impressed by the bravery and chivalry of your country’s commanders. With respect and admiration, I will do my utmost.’ That is all.”

“I understand well.”

“Then, farewell.”

The Imperial Army officer and interpreter, having finished their business, turned their horses and disappeared.

Watching the Imperial Army envoys disappear into the distance, Count Roen smiled bitterly and turned to his fellow generals.

“No matter how grateful, there’s no need to do their utmost.…”

“I agree. In any case, we have a day, so let’s prepare further.”

And the next day, the French soldiers spent the entire day strengthening the defenses of the trench line.

The bottom of the trenches was dug deeper, and the walls and roofs of the dugouts were reinforced with sandbags. In addition, barricades of sandbags were erected at intervals along the traffic routes. This was to reduce the damage from shrapnel even if shells fell and exploded in the trenches.

Having completed their preparations to the best of their ability, the soldiers and junior officers went to the priest to hold Mass [religious service].

“May we survive safely, and if we must die, may we die at once without suffering from wounds…”

* * *

The next morning. The French generals, having finished breakfast early, climbed the walls of Pavia Castle and surveyed the Imperial Allied forces’ camp.

With tense faces, the generals swallowed hard and held up their telescopes. Like the generals, the soldiers who had entered the trench line also swallowed hard and scanned the front.

“What are those smokes…”

“Oh, what is that?”

The French generals, who were looking at the Imperial Army camp through their telescopes, focused on the numerous smokes rising from just behind the Imperial Army trench line. The French generals, paying attention to the columns of smoke that seemed to number at least a hundred, all expressed their doubts.

“Why are the tractors there?”

While questioning the equipment that the spies called tractors being gathered in droves, another general shouted.

“There! Look 1 league (about 4km) behind!”

“Huh? Gasp!”

“Why are those here!”

At least 10 airships appeared to be floating in the sky far behind the Imperial Allied forces’ trench line.

As the airships, which had not been seen outside of Livorno Harbor, began to appear, the French generals suddenly felt a chill down their spines.

‘I will do my utmost.’

The words left by the envoy came to mind.