1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 346



Only Noblemtl

The sea in May (June in the solar calendar) was calm.

Clang, thud.

The sails, filled with a favorable wind, pushed the ship forward without hesitation.

The 50 or so panokseon ships that left Solbin crossed the East Sea and headed south. Four days later, they continued south via Ulleungdo and Dokdo. And then another day passed.

On the deck of the flagship, the squire checked the map on the table.

It was a detailed chart of the East Sea dividing Korea and Honshu, and in particular, the Honshu coastline and the distances to each point were marked in detail.

The bastard tapped Dokdo on the map with his finger.

“After passing through Dokdo, we headed south for a full day.”

“It will soon be Iwami Domain.”

The senior member who came along as a guide and interpreter answered confidently.

“How can you be so confident in this vast ocean?”

“Solbin Top has been making nautical charts while sailing from Tokyo (Solbin) to Namhaedo (Daema Island), Kyushu, and Taiwan for the past 10 years. There.”

In the direction the upper member’s gaze was directed, a small iron disc with red and blue painted needles swinging.

“Five pun east of the southeast direction, probably not farther than 10 li (4 km) from the target point.”

“Your face is full of confidence.”

“Old sailors used to say, ‘It’s the ship that moves. The sea and the land are always in the same place.’ What do you think?”

“That’s right.”

The bastard nodded.

Jiwoo’s words came to mind: ‘The compass is a revolution in navigation.’

He tapped the table with his fingers as if it were his habit.

‘The twin-barreled pistol and the Jincheon-roe are weapons ahead of their time. The face shield is capable of blocking rifle bullets.’

Excellent equipment, advanced doctrine, arduous training and practical experience guarantee victory. This was proven in the last Battle of Beijing.

‘The problem is after the occupation. How can we stop the reinforcements that will arrive within two weeks to a month?’

There is a difference between a hit-and-run plunder war and a long-term occupation war.

The commander’s worries continued.

After a while, the watchman’s shout woke the beast.

“I can see land ahead.”

“Do you see the sandy beach, 5 ri (2 km) long?”

The top member asked loudly.

“There are only hills and cliffs. Oh, and there’s a sandy beach on the left.”

“Player to port.”

The sage stood up from his seat and headed towards the commander’s seat on the stern.

“There is a port on the right side of the coast. There are five piers.”

The observer, without taking his eyes off the telescope, continued his report.

“Ah! It looks like there are fences, watchtowers, and campsites between the white sand beach and the harbor.”

At that time, troops were seen moving along the coast, accompanied by the sound of bells.

The monk calmly gave instructions based on the doctrine.

“Pick up the ship 1 ri (400m) from the coast and immediately go into artillery formation.”

“Yes, in fleet gunnery formation, sound the drum.”

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

Fifty large ships formed a semicircle around the coast, and the small harbor with five piers was surrounded by 300 cannons.

After that, the ox sat down in the commander’s seat, seemingly satisfied.

“Open the gates!”

Rattle, rattle, rattle.

“The target is the beach fence. According to the doctrine, after the first shot, the right to fire is transferred to each battery commander until the order to stop.”

“Yes, first shot. Sound the drum.”

Drumroll.

Boom, bang, bang.

Peeweeee, swooooow.

The initial 50 shells fired from 50 ships seemed to be enough to scorch the target.

Bang, bang.

The iron ring that went through the fence blew off the soldier’s knee.

“Ugh.”

“Get away from the fence. Hide behind the barracks.”

But the barracks, built of soft cedar, could not stop the iron rings. Moreover, the follow-up bombardment was beyond imagination.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

Phew.

300 iron rings crashed into the fence.

Pavabak, Ujikkeun.

“Eww. It’s falling. Everyone avoids it.”

A watchtower as tall as 40 feet (12 m) tilted toward the camp building and crashed down, destroying the roof.

Kwakwang, wooooow.

“Eww.”

“Kuaaaah, my leg.”

The Japanese soldiers who were hiding behind the building were hit by artillery fire or were crushed by the building and died in vain.

But what happened next was even more hell.

Peeweeee, chin, roll.

Boom, roll.

A shell flew into the ruined camp and rolled helplessly before stopping. And then.

Kkwakwang, kkwagwang.

This time, there was no scream. No, it would be more correct to say that they died without even being able to scream. The Jincheonrye fragments tore apart the flesh of both the living and the dead.

In this way, even the best of the troops were defeated without being able to put up a fight.

The beast took his eyes off the telescope.

“Prepare for landing.”

“Yes. Cease fire. Prepare for landing.”

Phew, phew.

At the signal of a charge from a horn trumpet, ten panokseons emerged from a semicircle formation along the beach.

The ships that broke away from the formation soon rushed to the shore.

Choaak.

The boat seemed to gallop as its 16 oars split the water’s surface.

“Hey!”

“Hey, what’s up!”

“Everyone, cheer up, we’ll climb the sandbar like this.”

“Hey! Hey, hey!”

“Hey! Hey, hey!”

As the oars cut through the water with the sound of the slogan, the boat sailed along the waves, almost as if the swell was lifting the boat and putting it on land.

Choaak.

Soon, the huge body of the Panokseon pushed into the sandy beach.

Perhaps due to the characteristics of the flat-bottomed ship, the process continued steadily until it completely landed on the white sand beach. In this way, 10 panokseons settled on land.

“Put the platform down! Put the rope down! Put the ladder down!”

“It’s just like we’ve always trained. The sweat we’ve shed so far is for today, so get down with the prepared platoon first!”

“descent.”

Dozens of people came down the ropes and ladders at a time.

“1st Platoon, Rifle Battalion, shields forward!”

“Ahhh!”

The 120 men of the 1st Platoon, who had been transferred to a different mission, advanced forward with shields in hand. Behind them, the riflemen lined up.

“2nd Platoon, 3rd Platoon, 4th Platoon, forward!”

Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck.

“Fix your posture, don’t shake.”

“Target is the fence ahead. Sniper platoon in front.”

The palisade was burnt by the artillery fire and the watchtower had collapsed. Nevertheless, there were survivors.

“Load the bullets, take aim.”

One of the soldiers was carrying a heavy oozutsu (large-caliber musket).

But soon the Solbin gun’s unique rupture occurred.

match.

“Ugh.”

“Eww, run away.”

As a hole was made in the shooter’s forehead, his assistants fled in panic. What followed was a hail of shotguns fired from twin matchlock guns.

Boom, boo.

“Eww.”

“Kwaaak.”

Screams continued from where the one who had heard the Oozutsu had fallen.

“Stop! Platoon, standby.”

As the sniper platoon stopped 100 paces (50 m) from the remains of the palisade, the rifle battalion, with shields leading, advanced ahead of them.

Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck.

The sniper platoon left behind monitored the surrounding area with telescopes attached to their Solvin rifles.

There was resistance in the meantime.

Liar, liar.

Bam.

The soldier hesitated for a moment when the bullet struck his cotton shield, but soon straightened his posture and took a step forward.

Okay.

“Ugh.”

The man holding the giant bow was shot and fell. At first glance, it looked like only rubble, but survivors continued to appear.

“Shield fixed.”

“A big gun.”

A double-barreled rifle was mounted on the shield.

“firing.”

Chijijik.

Boom, boom, boom.

Hundreds of shotgun shells pelted the ruins in a barrage of fire. Some lodged in the remains of the palisade, while others pierced through the rubble or passed through gaps.

Pavabak.

“Eww.”

Boom, boom, boom.

As the exchange of fire continued, with one shot being returned in return for ten, the battlefield was soon covered in white smoke.

“Stop! Cease fire!”

“Cease fire.”

As the thick black gunpowder smoke cleared, a white flag was finally seen rising from the ruins.

“The white flag is rising.”

“The sniper platoon provides cover to recover the prisoners.”

“Yes, 2nd Platoon, forward. Sniper platoon, standby.”

There were no cheers, as if it was a natural victory. The waiting soldiers calmly cleaned their guns and caught their breath.

“Any suspicious person should be dealt with immediately.”

“Let’s leave the wounded alone for now. Just pick out the healthy ones.”

After a while, a rifle battalion led by prisoners headed for the docks.

Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck.

There were still those who were alive and hiding on the dock, but they laid down their weapons one by one at the sight of the prisoners waving white flags.

“We captured 152 prisoners. This number does not include the wounded.”

“What about the friendly damage?”

“There have been no reports of job changes.”

The panokseons, which had been moored along the coast with their ports facing the harbor, entered port one after another.

“Have the prisoners clean up the docks.”

“all right.”

The beast carrying a load on his back looked at the road leading east. There were low mountains rising one after another.

‘I guess I’ll have to put the prisoners first.’

It was about 20 ri (8 km) to the mine, and there was no more guidance, so I had to go along the mountain path relying only on the map. Unfortunately, I needed an arrow catcher.

“Be careful. Take your time.”

“Gunpowder comes first, cannon comes second.”

“Why don’t you clean this up? Don’t let the prisoners play there.”

One by one, cannons were unloaded from the ships docked at the pier.

“Four at a time. It will take some time.”

“There’s no need to rush. Get the camp ready and call an interpreter. I’ll interrogate the prisoners myself.”

“Yes, I will follow your orders.”

“I found a perfectly good building. I’ll show you around.”

“Take the lead.”

The beast turned around and started walking.

The sky was still clear. The battle-hardened men’s knees were said to be fine, so there would be no rain for the time being.

And so the half-day battle ended.

* * *

As the grass blades tilted, the dew, unable to bear their weight, flowed down.

In the fertile lowlands between the Ussuri River and Honggae Lake to the north, fields of soybeans covered the knees and fields of sorghum covered the heads.

A reed stalk taller than a person swayed and a horse and a person jumped out.

Knock knock, knock knock.

“The weeds are growing thick because of the rain a few days ago. I need to weed.”

“It’s impossible.”

Jiwoo looked back at the plains he had been running across for half a day.

“Just sow the seeds and then walk.”

“It’s because we don’t have enough people, but even if we put people in, I don’t know if it will be efficient.”

For a moment, a strange light appeared in Jiwoo’s eyes.

“Yes, you have experience running a fiefdom.”

“I’m sorry.”

A young man with a scholarly appearance bowed his head while riding a horse.

“Akita also grows a lot of soybeans. It’s to make the soil fertile and to plant sorghum and millet, but it looks even more barren here.”

“Is neglecting farming the answer?”

“I don’t know if it would be the case if there were people surplus like in the Ming Dynasty······.”

He held the stalk of corn and let it hang down. The grains that filled his hand felt quite heavy.

“If there are no pests or diseases, this is close to a bumper crop.”

“To Akita Sanesu.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you want to be?”

The boy who was once the ruler of Akita was now a general.

“I want to become a prime minister of a country and bring peace to the people.”

“It’s good to bring peace to the people. Are you confident?”

“Phew.”

Akita shook his head.

“The path of learning is still long, and my convictions are dull, so I don’t know.”

“Academics aren’t everything.”

As Jiwoo turned the reins and led Akita out of the cornfield, he turned his horse and followed him. The guards were waiting far away.

“The Master said that following the words of the sages is beneficial to the world.”

“That’s right. Mr. Choi is always right.”

Jiwoo thought of Choi Eun-gok, who had now become a hunchbacked grandfather.

“If only he were a little younger, he could have done more. Time flies.”

“Your Majesty, I beg you to teach me. Learn······.”

“Even the corrupt officials of Joseon were people who had achieved great success in learning.”

“······!”

“Hey!”

Jiwoo stepped forward, spurring on the momentum.

Knock knock, knock knock.

The green leaves made a dull sound as they were pressed by hooves. About 50 guards surrounded Jiwoo from afar.

“Myungseop.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am here.”

“How much further do we have to go to the scene of the incident?”

“You said that the cornfields end, so we’re almost there.”

As we left the seemingly endless cornfields, we came upon the northernmost part of Honggae Lake, an open area of ​​red clay and gravel.

“That’s the Monghon village over there.”

“Oh, like that.”

The village, already in ruins, clearly showed traces of the fire.

“The Ussuri security forces are here to see His Majesty.”

“I present myself to Your Majesty.”

After Guksaeng led his followers to Liaodong, Usuri was incorporated into Solbin’s administrative system. The problem was that public security became unstable without Guksaeng’s name.

“Have you identified any casualties?”

“Seven men were killed, 25 were injured to varying degrees, and 15 were kidnapped.”

“Tsk.”

It was a pioneer village with about 100 people, including the elderly and children. It was difficult for these people to fight against nature, so it was a typical case of looting.

Even just 10 years ago, this was not an uncommon occurrence.

“Have you identified the evil spirit?”

“It is still possible to track the route of movement.”

“A call for troops?”

“It takes at least one day.”

It was a fairly quick move to assemble the troops assigned to the mission in one day. However, it would be a headache if the villains were to hide deep in the north in the meantime.

“Hmm, this is tricky.”

That was when.

A cloud of dust rose from the south.

Doo doo doo doo.

The sound of horse hooves and the vibrations that seemed to shake the earth’s axis were transmitted. Then, thousands of cavalrymen appeared.

A familiar face appeared at the very front.

“Hahahaha, Your Majesty. I, Sosin Gaarab, hereby announce my return.”

“The problem of manpower has been resolved.”

Jiwoo shrugged.

End