1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 1
Only Noblemtl
Introduction to the work
We time-leaped to Joseon during the Imjin War.
However, even in Joseon, which had completed its upper-level state system at the same time, there was nothing that a mere individual could do.
‘Then let’s go to the Maritime Province instead.’
prolog
‘Of the two, good and evil, evil is more effective in ensuring survival.’
– From the novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde –
* * *
What on earth is going on here?
My head was buzzing and my whole body was weak. It felt like I was drowning in water and flailing around. I barely managed to open my eyes as if I was floating above the water, but my vision was still spinning and dizzy.
“Mr. Go Ji-woo, can you see my fingers? If you are conscious, please blink.”
Jiwoo blinked his powerless eyelids to express his intention.
“On the 10th day of the experiment, the subject entered a state of sleep for 5 minutes, consciousness was confirmed.”
A man in a white gown took notes on the chart. He then glanced at the mirror in front and pulled the lever of a mechanical device, causing Jiwoo’s bed to slide into a cylindrical capsule.
Because the front of the capsule was made of glass, the subject, Jiwoo, was clearly visible.
‘I’m becoming a subject of a biological experiment.’
With that brain fog, consciousness sank below the surface.
Then an intense light spread out from within the capsule.
As the light faded, the man in the gown checked the empty capsule. He then confirmed that the capsule’s display contained a number of zeros to the tenth decimal place.
Behind the mirror, a group of researchers were monitoring the process.
“It looks like a success for now.”
“What about the life or death of the subject?”
“……”
The white-haired man who seemed to be in charge had a serious expression on his face.
“Don’t use the word success lightly. And don’t use words like congratulations. Even if you say it’s for the sake of the country and the people, that can’t be our excuse.”
“……”
The atmosphere of small celebrations of the course’s success has died down.
“We will do our best to ensure the stability of the data.”
“all right.”
He sighed softly and stared at the capsule with unfocused eyes.
‘God, forgive them. Please let the punishment for their sins be mine alone.’
After a while, he turned around and disappeared into the dark hallway.
(01)
Hamgyeong Province
“Ugh.”
The sword that the soldier had swung long cut off the soldier’s arm and struck the ground with its remaining strength.
puck.
The impact of the hand hitting the floor caused him to pause for a moment, and the wooden club struck the soldier’s bald head.
Crack.
The body of the dwarf with a sunken skull collapsed.
“Everyone, come on. Push forward with your shields.”
“Kill him.”
As they pushed with their shields, the Japanese soldiers’ spears slid in through the gap. Then the volunteer soldiers rushed at them and twisted the spears to snatch them away.
The ranks of the Japanese army, which had been pushed back by their own strength, collapsed and reached a point where they were surrounded by the joint civilian-government forces of Joseon.
The battle reached its climax. Both the Japanese and Joseon soldiers fought desperately to kill each other.
The volunteer soldier who had been stabbed in the stomach grabbed the Japanese soldier’s topknot.
“Kuaaaak.”
The soldier who bit off his nose died while chewing on his flesh with a smiling face.
“Khuuuuk.”
The soldier, clutching the spot where his nose had been, took a step back.
The Japanese soldiers, who were gradually losing momentum and physical strength, were trapped by the shields of the Joseon army that surrounded them in a circle.
The spears taken away by the Joseon army also became a nightmare for them.
“Spear! What are you doing with the spear you took from me? Stab me.”
“Die, you demons!”
“Cough.”
The soldier sank to the ground helplessly as the spear pierced through his chest.
“Oh, Mother.”
“No prisoners. Kill, kill them all.”
Surrounded by the corpses of their comrades, the helpless soldiers were impaled on long spears one by one and died.
“Team Correction. This side is finished.”
“Whew, whoosh.”
When he twisted and pulled the sword stuck in the soldier’s chest, the blade broke.
Jiwoo, who had been out of breath since his chin had been puffed out, raised his head.
My vision was completely red, perhaps because of the blood in my retina. Rubbing my eyes didn’t help either. I didn’t know if my blood vessels had burst.
“Go right.”
He lifted his broken sword and pointed to the ridge on the right. It was the direction where the enemy’s shouts could still be heard.
“Wow. Let’s take care of the remnants.”
“It’s the ridge on the right. Keep your formation and surround it.”
The Japanese army seemed to be preparing for the end at the stream between the ridges. Dozens of Japanese soldiers surrounded the Japanese leader and pushed him back, hesitantly.
“shit.”
Why did General Nishimura Hanemon grit his teeth?
Under the orders of his lord, Kato Umanojo, he organized a vanguard to attack Gyeongseong, Hamgyeongbuk-do.
I was overconfident. Based on my previous combat experience, I thought that I could easily wipe out the Joseon rabble with this much. That was my mistake.
puck.
A rock the size of a fist flew and struck a soldier’s jaw from the side.
“Ugh.”
A soldier with a sunken lower face collapsed and writhed.
His deputy standing next to him shouted belatedly.
“Shields! Everyone, raise your shields.”
Nishimura Hanemon despaired. Even though he was a self-proclaimed leader of the Kato clan, he was no different from a mere soldier in the face of death.
“This is hell.”
It wasn’t the North Korean army we had been dealing with. The North Korean army in Hamgyeong Province was different.
Giants that were a head taller than them clung to them like demons, their eyes flashing. Although they were soldiers trained through countless battles, they were outnumbered in terms of strength.
The unexpected frost on a summer morning was also a problem. Most of the soldiers were suffering from colds.
Another dozen stones flew in, striking the shields, and then came the spear attack. It was the spears that the Wa soldiers had taken away.
“Ugh.”
“Ugh.”
With half of his remaining troops down, Nishimura prepared to die.
“I will commit seppuku. Get ready.”
“My, my lord. Kkeuk.”
But circumstances did not allow him the honor of a samurai.
“No prisoners. Kill them all.”
“Wow.”
Broken spears, missing teeth, and sharp stones tore at the hide of the soldiers.
The final battle was a massacre. The Japanese soldiers, overwhelmed by their strength and momentum, fell one by one.
“Kwaaak.”
“Ha, I surrender! I surrender.”
“Please save me.”
Three or four people who were still alive knelt down and begged for their lives. Nishimura, who was in a state of total tatters, was lying unconscious.
“Please, save me.”
The volunteers lowered their spears at the distinctly Korean accented voice.
“Huh? Are you by any chance Korean?”
“I was captured by the Japanese and brought here as a slave. Please spare my life.”
The reaction came from elsewhere.
“How can you believe that?”
Thud thud.
A man who appeared to be a Joseon general approached, his armor clanking.
“Believe me. I only did the dirty work I was told to do. I swear I never hurt a Korean.”
“Why should the main office believe what you say?”
The sly general took out a sword from his waistband.
It was a sword with a bluish edge and clean armor without a single drop of blood.
He tapped Nishimura, who was lying on the floor as if everyone was watching. When there was no response, he ended up kicking him in the face.
“Ugh.”
Inoue sat up, his face covered in blood as if his nose was broken.
“Ugh. For, for the honor of a warrior!”
“Heh heh heh, how funny. May? Are you talking about honor?”
The general grabbed Nishimura’s hair and wrapped it around his head.
“A clean death is a luxury for thieves.”
He slit Inoue’s throat with a knife.
“Grrrr.”
Blood spurted out between the fingers that instinctively wrapped around his neck.
“You don’t even know the topic? You want me to give you grain?”
The general’s convulsing body was kicked by the general.
“They even offered up the king’s children. They even sent local troops to conquer the Jurchen. And now what? They want us to give them food too? You beggar bastards.”
Thud, thud.
It was a tragic end for Nishimura Hanemon, Kato Kiyomasa’s lieutenant.
This place, Hamgyeong Province, was truly in turmoil.
After July, the vanguard of the Japanese army, Kato Kiyomasa, advanced deep into the northern part of Joseon.
Taking advantage of this gap, the Jurchen people plundered the borders of Joseon.
During this time, local forces revolted in various parts of Hamgyeong Province. They handed over the princes of Joseon to Kato and pledged loyalty.
Kato, whose momentum was growing, led his troops to attack the Jurchen, but was eventually pushed back and retreated.
Afterwards, when supplies became insufficient, they confiscated food and went so far as to massacre rebellious people.
Then the Sun Wae lifted their swords upside down.
“I would rather roast your flesh and eat it than starve to death.”
The islands in the northern part of Joseon did not pay taxes to the central government for generations. The environment was harsh to begin with, and it was customary to provide military supplies to prepare for the Jurchen in exchange for tax exemption.
The Sun Wae who had rebelled were furious at the Japanese army’s conscription and massacre. They had rebelled once, so there was no way they could not do it a second time.
It was an unimaginable reaction for the Japanese army, who had thought of the island’s docile serfs.
“Huh, huh. Those damn little bastards.”
After kicking for a while, he turned his gaze away.
The Japanese soldier from Joseon bowed his head and cried.
“Please spare me. I was taken away by the Japanese and endured life as a slave, but now I am being killed by my own people. It is so unfair. It is so unfair.”
“Is there anyone here who hasn’t felt wronged?”
The rebel general, Guk-saeng, glanced at the scattered corpses.
“The dead do not betray. So I will kill you cleanly.”
“Ugh, it’s so unfair. It’s so unfair.”
Guk-saeng approached with a bloody sword.
The eyes of the survivors were focused on them, and the sobs of the resentful echoed across the ridge.
Then a soft voice stopped his steps.
“General, just a moment.”
“hmm?”
Guk-saeng, who had been frowning at the voice that stopped him, soon relaxed his eyes.
“Go Dae-jeong?”
He is the leader of the defeated troops and local soldiers in the Myongcheon area.
“First of all, congratulations on your victory, General.”
As he bent down, a fist-sized lump of blood fell to the floor. It was human flesh that had been buried during the battle.
The national hero took a step back as the blood stained his armor.
“Victory, that is too much. The efforts of the late General Go Dae-jeong were great.”
“It is thanks to the General’s unwavering command.”
“Ahem.”
Guk-saeng knew the bare minimum of morality. He didn’t like the idea of suddenly acting like a general because of his father Guk-se-pil’s rebellion. He was only 20 years old and had not yet become a mature man.
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
“Please leave the interest to me.”
“These guys?”
Guk-saeng glanced at the faces of the soldiers and Ji-woo alternately with a questioning expression.
“We need information on the enemy forces, and most importantly, the soldiers are tired. We need crowd slaves.”
“Slave……”
He looked around at the soldiers sprawled out in the bloody hall, catching their breath.
After half a day of fighting, we killed about 100 enemies and suffered about 20 casualties. We had to capture enemy equipment and bury our dead.
“As you wish.”
“thank you.”
“I will leave the battlefield cleanup to the high command.”
Jiwoo turned his head and met Gooksaeng’s eyes.
‘Are you suggesting that we swap our majors and loot?’
The two people who finished their conversation with their eyes nodded and turned around.
Guk-saeng went to the barracks and wrote a report of victory to his father, Guk-se-pil, while Ji-woo led the troops and began to organize them.
“Beast!”
“Yes. Team up!”
“Divide the force in half. One group will dig a hole in a sunny spot, and the other group will load the enemy’s equipment onto the wagon.”
“All right.”
The turned beast approached the sprawling Joseon soldiers and shouted.
“Everyone, did you hear what the Great Commander said? Dogshit uncle, gather the Bamgol troops and find a sunny spot first. Chaor, you take the kids and gather the equipment.”
“Hurry up, hurry up, let’s go home, eat, and go to sleep.”
The soldiers who got up one by one each carried out their duties.
Jiwoo turned his gaze to the Whybyeong prisoner.
“What is your name?”
“Me, me? I’m Maksoe. I don’t have a last name. The Japanese call me Jatesu (雑鉄).”
The locksmith continued to recite words that were not asked.
“The two men next to me are Jiro and Saburo, they are real brothers. They were the ones who wielded muskets.”
When the one holding his lifeline did not respond, Maksoe closed his mouth and observed.
Jiwoo gestured at the Joseon soldiers at work.
“Help as much as you can.”
Maksoe, who understood the meaning, bowed his head and led the Japanese soldiers away. Then, he watched the Joseon soldiers’ expressions and joined the work.
On the floor, three hopeless-looking Japanese soldiers and the equally hopeless-looking Japanese general, Inoue Naoya, were dying from excessive bleeding.
He sighed softly.
Go Ji-woo successfully adapted to the aftereffects of time leaping back to the past and having a younger body.
However, there was not much he could do in Joseon, which had already completed its medieval state system. He started out as a government slave, trained himself, became a soldier, and achieved great success by suppressing the Jurchen. He did his best, but paradoxically, that was all.
“Like this……”
In a Japanese invasion where between 175,000 and 230,000 Japanese soldiers landed, killing a few dozen Japanese soldiers was of no help.
“Thank you for your hard work, Commander Go Dae-jeong.”
One of the volunteers handed over a cloth soaked in water.
“Oh, you worked hard too.”
As a cold sensation ran over his face, he finally felt the blood draining from his retina, and he chuckled.
‘I’m not in a position to worry about Joseon. I’m having a hard time making a living.’
As I became accustomed to killing, I adapted to the times. It was a difficult life just to get here.
‘Fucking life, if I have sinned, I will die and be judged properly.’
He took a long sigh and took off his heavy armor one by one.
After a while, a herdsman arrived, having organized the spoils into a cart.
“One suit of Japanese iron armor and 75 sets of bamboo armor?”
“Of these, 19 are in a state of repair. Only five are usable, and the rest are like broken or chipped iron skewers. Twenty long spears and ten muskets are usable.”
The armor of the Japanese soldiers, made by attaching pieces of bamboo together, was easy to repair and thus quite practical.
Jiwoo gestured towards the command barracks.
“Please clean and bring me the Japanese general’s weapons and a Japanese sword.”
“All right.”
The bastard who had grown up together as a government slave and had been with him for ten years glanced at the barracks of the national servant as if he knew what was going on.
“And make sure the prisoners are properly protected so they don’t die.”
“……”
“I’ll need it later. There’ll be a chance for greater revenge than killing a few thugs.”
“I believe in the ancient order.”
“Me too. If I, an orphan, don’t trust you, who can I trust?”
After a short break, he stood up with a ‘groan’ sound.
The place where the battle ended was a mixture of joy of victory and sorrow of death.
Unresolved excitement and murderous intent that has lost its way can lead to the massacre of prisoners and sometimes even civilians.
As Jiwoo and Chuksaeng were calming down the 10 or so government soldiers following them and the 50 or so local soldiers from the Myungcheon area, a new smell of blood wafted into the air.
“The cavalry returns.”
Warm, warm.
About 20 cavalrymen appeared in the arena.
The cavalrymen of Hamgyeong Province were the main force of the North and the best of the Joseon army. They were incomparable to volunteer soldiers or poor government soldiers.
The cavalrymen entering the room had a murderous aura that had not yet subsided, blooming like a mist.
Purr, purr.
The yapping of the excited horses was threatening, and each had one or two horned heads attached to the back of their saddles.
A general who seemed to be a cavalry commander appeared to pass in front of Jiwoo and then stopped his horse.
A bleak gaze scanned Jiwoo’s entire body.
Imjin War Japanese Army Route (Illustration 1-1)
Hamgyeong-do rebellion situation (Illustration 1-2)