Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 948

948. The Naval Battle of Corsica (4)

With the Venetian admiral’s plan approved, things seemed to be progressing smoothly.

However, ‘time’ was the critical issue.

“Refitting the fleet’s battleships will take a considerable amount of time,” the French admiral stated.

The other admirals nodded in agreement. Battleships required maintenance after every voyage, and even when staying in port. The wooden hulls needed constant inspection, and any damaged planks had to be replaced.

It wasn’t just the wood.

The cannons and gunpowder also needed inspection, with replacements made as necessary.

All of this was incredibly time-consuming.

Both shipbuilding timber and gunpowder required careful storage and were expensive.

Consequently, these materials, especially gunpowder, were always in short supply.

In other words, supplying the necessary gunpowder to mobilize the ships for this operation would take a significant amount of time.

“When I think about gunpowder, I can’t help but envy the Imperial Navy.”

The other admirals echoed the French admiral’s sentiment.

* * *

The method of obtaining saltpeter [potassium nitrate], the most crucial ingredient for gunpowder, was similar in both the East and the West.

Therefore, Europe also struggled to acquire saltpeter. This was also the case for Joseon [historical Korean kingdom]. In fact, Joseon was almost neurotic about it.

It was only after Hyang’s intervention allowed them to freely obtain saltpeter from India that Joseon escaped this obsession.

Of course, it was expensive, but it was a vast improvement compared to not being able to get it at any price.

And it was by breaking free from these saltpeter constraints that Joseon was able to become an empire.

Later, with the opening of the route to India through Suez, Europe also learned about the saltpeter of the Bengal Sultanate [historical region in South Asia].

However, unlike the period before Hyang’s intervention, Europe had to pay a steep price to obtain saltpeter.

This posed a significant problem for Europe, which had less economic power than the East.

“Of course, obtaining large quantities has become easier compared to the past, but it’s still expensive.”

Ultimately, Europe suffered from a chronic shortage of gunpowder.

On the other hand, the Empire, having discovered guano [bird excrement, a rich source of nitrates] mines in Shinji as well as access to Indian saltpeter, maintained an army more familiar with gunpowder weapons than any other.

* * *

No sooner had the French admiral finished his complaint than the Spanish admiral continued the lament.

“The time it takes to refit the fleet is a problem, but so is the Imperial fleet coming from the west.”

The Imperial fleet stationed in Shinji regularly sent supply fleets.

And this further delayed the start of the operation.

The expected completion of the fleet refitting and the arrival of the Imperial supply fleet in Italy subtly overlapped.

The Imperial fleet already stationed in Italy was a considerable burden. To start a fight with additional battleships present?

That was unthinkable.

In the end, the French, Spanish, and Venetian allied fleets would launch their operation in two and a half months.

“The problem is whether we can maintain the soldiers’ discipline until then. There will definitely be those who loosen up and blabber carelessly.”

Although not as strict as the Imperial Army, which had been trained with Hyang’s oversight, European soldiers were also aware of the importance of maintaining confidentiality. However, adherence was inconsistent.

In particular, the army, largely composed of mercenaries, had almost no real military discipline.

This was because mercenaries, seeking easier and safer ways to earn more money, often colluded with mercenaries from the enemy army – a form of match-fixing that was commonplace.

Even in the navy, while the strong sense of professionalism among sailors prevented such extreme cases, discipline was still lax.

Alcohol and bravado were often to blame.

“Hoo~.”

The French admiral sighed deeply and shook his head.

“Isn’t the biggest problem that our enemy isn’t just in Livorno?”

The French and Spanish admirals present nodded in agreement.

“The strongest enemy is in our rear.”

The ‘strongest enemy in the rear’ they were referring to were their own kings and the nobles of the court.

-The army is shedding blood and struggling in Italy, but what is the navy doing!

-What are those battleships that the navy boasts about? Are they just toys for admirals to go boating!

These criticisms were voiced daily at the royal palace and nobles’ banquets.

Some admirals, weary of these criticisms, even suggested launching the operation immediately, but quickly retracted their suggestions.

Starting now would guarantee defeat, leading to even harsher criticism.

“There’s no choice. We have no choice but to endure it now….”

* * *

Two and a half months later, Portugal.

A heavy atmosphere hung over the Portuguese Naval Headquarters in Lisbon.

“Why are the Spanish doing this?”

Recently, or rather, since the Imperial Navy’s supply fleet had passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and disappeared westward, a large-scale Spanish fleet had begun to station itself in Cadiz, and its numbers were steadily increasing.

It wasn’t just Cadiz. The Spanish fleet stationed in Algeciras, opposite Ceuta, was also growing.

As a result, the Portuguese Navy was on high alert.

The main force of the Portuguese Navy was divided, stationed in Lisbon and Ceuta.

Lisbon was responsible for defending against France, and Ceuta was responsible for the Strait of Gibraltar and North Africa.

The problem was that Spain had simultaneously stationed large fleets in Algeciras and Cadiz.

Without Algeciras, monitoring Cadiz from Ceuta would have been sufficient. However, with the growing Spanish fleet in Algeciras, the Portuguese Navy in Ceuta couldn’t afford to focus on Cadiz.

“If that’s the case, the fleet in Lisbon has to pay attention to Cadiz….”

“Then France becomes the problem.”

The Portuguese Navy Commander and his staff were troubled by this unsolvable situation.

* * *

Although Portugal had declared an alliance with the Empire and war had broken out, relations with France remained lukewarm.

This was because the French Navy fleet did not enter Portuguese waters near Lisbon or attack Portuguese battleships.

Consequently, the Portuguese Navy responded politely and peacefully to the French Navy.

Whenever the French Navy fleet approached to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar, Portugal sent a fleet to block the route and dispatched an envoy.

-This route is blocked, so please turn back.

The Portuguese Navy, known for its professionalism, and this warning was usually effective.

Of course, the response to the Spanish Navy was different.

Both Spain and Portugal typically opened fire as soon as they entered each other’s cannons’ range.

* * *

“The fact that Portugal is in a hostile relationship with France because we have joined hands with the Empire is an unchanging truth. No matter how kindly France acts, we must not forget this. Hmm….”

While the Portuguese Naval Headquarters in Lisbon struggled to find a solution, a reconnaissance ship that had scouted the Nantes area hurriedly returned to Lisbon.

“Urgent news! A large fleet of the French Navy has appeared!”

“A large fleet? What is the size!”

At the commander’s question, the captain of the reconnaissance ship replied with a pale face.

“About 80 ships! Among them, about 60 battleships with 3 masts!”

“Issue an emergency!”

“Yes!”

Soon after, the Lisbon military port erupted in activity.

Ignoring the commotion, the commander and his staff frantically analyzed the situation.

“If it has 3 masts, it’s the new battleships that France has recently adopted, right?”

“That’s right. According to reports, it is equipped with about 40 cannons on the 2nd floor gun deck.”

“60 ships is almost the entire French Navy.”

“Hmm….”

The commander, studying the map while listening to the staff’s explanations, made a decision.

“I have to inform His Majesty. It’s war.”

At the commander’s decision, the staff replied with somber faces.

“Yes. I will gather the captains.”

“We will devise the best strategy.”

“I trust only you. I will go to the palace.”

The commander, sitting alone in the carriage heading to the royal palace, smiled bitterly and muttered softly as he looked out the window.

“You bought a very expensive map….”

* * *

While the Portuguese Navy Commander-in-Chief was reporting to King John II about the French Navy, the staff desperately racked their brains to devise a strategy.

“Even if it’s desperate… it’s just a basic tactic….”

The strategy devised by the staff was simple.

-Leave only the minimum force to defend Lisbon, and dispatch the entire Lisbon-based fleet.

-The fleet ambushes between Sagres and Lagos.

-The moment the French fleet bypasses Cape Sagres, the ‘end of Europe,’ the fleet sorties and blocks the French fleet.

-If the French fleet tries to break through the blockade, use force immediately.

While discussing the appropriate fleet deployment, another urgent report arrived in Lisbon.

-The Spanish fleet in Cadiz has set sail!

-The course is west!

“Is it a pincer attack!”

“It’s a pincer attack!”

The staff, concluding that France and Spain were attempting a pincer attack against Portugal, turned pale.

“We have to rewrite all the plans from the beginning!”

* * *

“A pincer attack….”

The commander, receiving the staff’s report, nodded.

“There is a possibility. So what’s the plan?”

“All the battleships in the Lisbon garrison will defend Lisbon with all their might.”

“Simple and clear. But we’re not weaklings to the point where that’s all we can do, are we? What crime have we committed?”

“The problem is that half of the forces are in Ceuta.”

“That’s true, but I don’t like it. What’s the difference between being cooped up like this and being a prisoner? What crime have we committed?”

“However, it is impossible to deal with the pincer attack of France and Spain with only the Lisbon fleet.”

“I don’t like it….”

The commander, looking at the map with a displeased expression, suddenly had an idea.

“Wait? Wait, wait….”

“Yes?”

“Who is the biggest enemy of France and Spain right now? Is it our Portugal or the Empire?”

“It’s the Empire, but?”

“But they’re going to waste valuable forces to deal with our Portugal? That sounds like a stupid thing to do?”

“If we suppress us, we can block Gibraltar.”

“Are you going to block Gibraltar against the Empire’s fleet? Humph!”

The commander snorted lightly and continued.

“And even if Gibraltar is blocked, as long as Suez and Livorno are intact… wait! Is this it!”

With those words, the commander closed his mouth and stared at the map. A faint smile began to appear on his face, who had been silent for a long time like a statue.