There Is No Sejong In My Joseon [EN]: Chapter 389

390. The Face of War (1)

The Ming army lifted the siege and retreated, bringing the battle for Jinzhou to a lull.

With the Emperor nearly struck by a cannonball and forced to return to Beijing, they likely decided it wasn’t worth enduring further losses in a drawn-out, uncertain campaign to capture Jinzhou.

Since the fighting had subsided for the moment, I traveled to Jinzhou to encourage the soldiers at the front and discuss future strategies with Li Sun-mong, the Liaodong Commander.

Our army planned to exploit the Ming army’s retreat towards Shanhaiguan by launching an attack in their wake.

However, Zhang Bo had not been idle during the standoff.

“What in the world are they doing?”

Through the telescope, I could see the Ming soldiers digging in the ground, carrying stones, and building walls.

Zhang Bo had repurposed the forces that had been attacking Jinzhou for construction work.

“It seems they intend to focus entirely on defense, preparing for a prolonged war.”

“Goodness.”

It would be a reasonable decision for a defending army, but they were an expeditionary force.

To venture all the way to Liaodong, set up siege tanks on a hill, and shout, ‘Come and get us!’

“Well, I suppose the roles of Gongzi [a term for a pampered young master] and Bangzi [a derogatory term for Koreans] are reversed now.”

Having been battered by our artillery, Zhang Bo seemed to have had a sudden realization.

Joseon intended to advance to Shanhaiguan after repelling the Ming army, so he was trying to hold us back in preparation for that eventuality.

‘Was the fall of Shanhaiguan that shocking?’

I had once crossed Shanhaiguan during the subjugation of Jo Wang, thanks to good fortune.

Currently, there are not many fortresses or terrains suitable for defense between Jinzhou and Shanhaiguan.

No, it’s the same even after passing Shanhaiguan.

At best, there’s the Yellow River.

If Shanhaiguan were to fall to our army’s offensive, they would have to face our troops in the field, and judging from the past victories and defeats, they must have lost confidence.

The Ming army had already suffered a major defeat in the battle of Chaoyang.

Even the self-proclaimed Great Khan Toktobuka was defeated by the allied forces and fled to the Great Wall, proving our superiority in securing the services of those barbarian friends who specialize in field battles.

Therefore, Zhang Bo had no choice but to engage in a lengthy fortification project to deter our army as much as possible in Liaodong.

However, there was a flaw in this plan.

I asked Kim Jong-seo:

“It seems the enemy intends to build fortresses every hundred li [approximately 50 kilometers] to confront our army. But can they maintain their supply lines during that time?”

The reason why a typical expeditionary force cannot simply settle in and play the waiting game is simple.

In most cases, the longer an expedition lasts, the more limited its logistics become.

“If it’s the Ming, it’s possible.”

The problem was that our enemy was not just any ordinary opponent.

Kim Jong-seo said:

“Recently, they have been gathering all the ships from Shandong to transport military supplies to Liaodong. The Ming places the highest priority on supplying the Liaodong army, so they must be relying on that.”

Ah, right, our opponent was China.

A country capable of mobilizing vast manpower and resources to supply Liaodong with just a word from the Emperor.

‘I’m so envious.’

Even for the Ming, the cost would be significant, but they could bear it due to their size.

I heard they collect 30 million seok [a unit of volume, roughly equivalent to 180 liters] of land tax each year.

If the enemy might retreat someday, we could simply move our troops to seize the fortresses they built when the Ming army withdraws, but now they seem intent on staying put, so we cannot do that.

Even if they leave only a portion of their troops after completing the fortifications, breaking through Liaodong would not be easy.

“Can we mobilize the Qinghae Garrison fleet to cut off supplies coming from Shandong?”

“It is possible, but wouldn’t that make our mainland coast vulnerable?”

If our navy moved to cut off maritime supplies, the enemy might exploit the gap and land on our shores.

Although we have a maritime defense force, I don’t think they are elite enough to repel the Ming’s regular navy, only capable of dealing with a few ships left behind by Japanese pirates.

The calculations became complicated.

However, we couldn’t just let Zhang Bo continue to hold out in Liaodong.

I nodded at Kim Jong-seo’s words.

“In the end, we have no choice but to probe the enemy with our army and drive them out.”

Zhang Bo is probably acting cocky, telling us to come and get him, right?

Fine, I’ll go and smash his head in as he wishes.

Let’s start with a light jab.

* * *

Yi Man-ju stood on the battlefield with an excited expression.

He looked around with a confident demeanor and opened his mouth.

“Listen, everyone!”

Before the battle, he had diligently memorized parts of the Zuo Zhuan [an ancient Chinese historical text] the night before for this speech, thinking they were perfect.

‘What should I talk about first? The Duke Yin chapter? The Duke Zhuang chapter? Or the Duke Zhao chapter?’

However, while he was pondering which anecdote would impress his subordinates with his knowledge, a moment of opportunity arose, which proved to be the root of trouble.

Commander-in-Chief Kim Jong-seo issued a stern order.

“What are you dawdling about with the enemy in front of you! Charge!”

“It’s the Commander-in-Chief’s order! Charge!”

Chungshan drew his sword and shouted, and the Jurchens roared and charged forward in unison.

“W-wait a moment…….”

Despite Yi Man-ju’s desperate cry, the battle had already begun.

Yi Man-ju also had no choice but to kick the horse’s flanks and charge forward, grimacing.

‘Damn it!’

Yi Man-ju’s misplaced anger was directed at the Ming soldiers in front of him.

“You southern barbarians, surrender your heads willingly!”

The Ming army was not just standing by and watching.

Zhang Bo shouted in a stern voice.

“Fire the cannons!”

The Hongwu cannons, loaded and ready, spewed flames and smoke.

A cluster of stones packed inside the cannon burst out in all directions.

– Thud, thud, thud!

Many were struck in the head by the scattering stone fragments and collapsed, or were hit in the body and fell from their horses, but the Jurchens’ charge did not stop.

“There are still so many enemies!”

Yi Man-ju, rushing into the enemy lines, clicked his tongue and shouted.

Before the battle, the Joseon army had bombarded the Ming army’s positions countless times with cannons.

However, no matter how powerful Joseon’s cannonballs were, it was not easy to inflict damage on the enemy hiding behind the low earthen walls.

“Deploy the matchlocks!”

At the command of the military instructor, the Ming soldiers, having loaded their matchlocks, began to fire shots at the charging Jurchen soldiers.

Arrows and bullets flew, brushing past Yi Man-ju.

‘This might not be as easy as I thought!’

Yi Man-ju sensed it.

This was not the Ming army that had been floundering in Chaoyang.

Thanks to the makeshift fortifications, the Ming army was also evolving its tactics to counter the Joseon army.

As the Jurchens, having broken through the cannon’s shrapnel and the arrows and bullets, crushed the well-trodden earthen walls and charged in, long spears stood tall.

“Retreat for now!”

Before the riders on their backs could understand Yi Man-ju’s instructions, the warhorses hurriedly turned their heads to avoid the spear tips pointed at them.

The Jurchens ended up making a sharp U-turn to avoid the long spears set up by the Ming army.

However, Yi Man-ju was not flustered.

There was no need to face the guys hiding behind the hedgehog-like spears head-on.

The Jurchens intended to bypass them and strike the Ming army’s flanks.

However, the Ming army’s cavalry, which had rushed out just in time, blocked their path.

Zhang Bo, quickly seizing the opportunity when the Jurchen army’s speed was greatly reduced, had dispatched the cavalry.

Among them were quite a few survivors from the Ming army’s special detachment that had set out to attack Chaoyang.

“We will avenge the grudges from Chaoyang!”

Of course, the Jurchens here did not understand the Chinese language, but they roughly guessed what it meant.

Yi Man-ju snorted and shouted.

“You foolish fools! This old man showed the benevolence of Song Xiang [a historical figure known for his foolish adherence to chivalry] in Chaoyang and spared your lives, yet you run to your death!”

Fortunately for him, his subordinates did not point out the historical idiom that Yi Man-ju had blurted out.

To be precise, there was no time to do so.

The clash with the Ming cavalry soon began.

“Sound the gongs!”

Kim Jong-seo, watching the scene from behind, ordered.

“Yes? Our troops are still in the middle of fighting.”

Kim Jong-seo said in response to Yi Mun-bin’s question.

“While the cavalry are engaged in a chaotic battle, the enemy is reclaiming their positions, aren’t they? Zhang Bo’s tactics are indeed extraordinary, so it won’t be easy to break through in one battle.”

Kim Jong-seo coldly concluded.

This battle was launched to assess the Ming army’s strengths and weaknesses.

They had to be called back before the losses became unnecessarily large.

* * *

“You can’t expect to be full on the first bite…….”

Although I knew it would be blocked when I sent them out, it is disappointing that they didn’t achieve any significant results.

“If I had fought to the end, I could have broken the enemy’s momentum and conquered their positions.”

Yi Man-ju complained, avoiding eye contact with the ceiling.

It seems he finds it difficult to speak while looking at Kim Jong-seo’s glaring eyes.

However, Chungshan’s words were different.

“The enemy’s defense is stronger than we thought. It will be difficult to conquer with a frontal assault.”

‘Should I have launched an attack when I sniped the Emperor?’

At that time, Li Sun-mong seemed to have released some troops to inflict as much damage as possible, but if the main force had arrived a little earlier and attacked, would the result have been different?

I couldn’t help but feel regret, but there was no guarantee that it would have been easy as it sounded.

“Give me one more chance, Your Majesty. Next time, I will definitely break through the enemy’s main camp.”

Yi Man-ju said resolutely, but I had no intention of recklessly charging into the enemy’s positions.

“The reason the war is stagnant is that the enemy is only trying to defend. How about using a false flag operation to lure the enemy out?”

It’s in the history books.

If an enemy general comes out with a large army and refuses to fight, he is likely to be suspected by the ruler.

Moreover, Zhang Bo had a history of participating in Jo Wang’s rebellion, albeit involuntarily, so even more so.

Then, Kim Jong-seo said with a somewhat reluctant expression.

“It seems it will not be easy to devise a plan to sow discord among the enemy.”

Well, I guess so.

The idea that strategists can make plans from a thousand li away and have them all work out is only something that happens in novels.

“Also, the Emperor has already visited Jinzhou once and is still overseeing from Beijing, so it will be even more difficult to infiltrate.”

There is a reason why the Emperor makes a personal visit.

Just by reducing the physical distance, one can grasp the war situation in relatively more detail, and the ruler’s suspicion also decreases.

‘A way to break down the enemy’s defenses.’

I have a method in mind.

But…….

‘Should I use this?’

My worries deepened.

* * *

“A great victory!”

“The Joseon army can’t do anything!”

The Ming army camp was in a festive mood despite being exhausted from the long-awaited victory.

The military instructors also allowed the soldiers to stop working and rest comfortably, at least for today.

However, Zhang Bo’s expression was not so bright.

It was only natural.

The original mission of the expeditionary force was to break through Jinzhou and seize Liaodong.

The reason for fortifying in Liaodong now was only a desperate measure taken after failing to break through Jinzhou and Chaoyang.

It was certainly a happy thing to repel the enemy’s attack, and in fact, luring the enemy was also somewhat intentional by starting the fortification.

However, in his opinion, blocking the Joseon army this time was not a significant achievement.

The Joseon army’s command also released troops to assess Ming’s defense posture without much expectation, and the damage would not be that great.

‘More than anything, I wonder if we can just drag out time like this…….’

Considering the morale of our troops, we are extensively promoting today’s victory, but Zhang Bo was keenly aware of the disadvantageous war situation.

‘His Majesty said he has a plan, so as a subject, I can only believe. I must believe…….’

Until then, just by tying up one arm of the Joseon army in Jinzhou without any major mistakes and building a defensive line in Liaodong would be enough to fulfill his role.

Then, even if the expeditionary force fails, at least we can prevent Joseon’s invasion.

He soothed himself, but Zhang Bo’s back of the head still tingled.

He had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.