1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 5
Only Noblemtl
(05)
The world of sociopaths
In the distance, the North Korean army could be seen staggering about.
Seeing them holding shields, it seemed like they were going to form ranks and advance soon.
“Good.”
Eguchi Yozaemon loosened the chin strap of his helmet.
“Everything is as I expected.”
He was the deputy commander of the Kato Umanojo, and was leading 300 men to plunder supplies.
Then, after hearing that there was a fairly large town north of Gilju, he arrived at Gapsan. He killed those who resisted, regardless of age or gender. Then, people called the Righteous Army appeared.
Now I think I finally understand the nature of Joseon people.
They hide deep inside and cannot be seen, but when their family gets hurt, they get excited and rush in without thinking twice.
“Those little rats.”
After taking a quick look, there were only about 100 men, just as the vanguard had said. It was a chance to make a contribution before Nishimura Hanemon, who had set out to attack the rebels in Gyeongseong.
He nodded toward the gun commander.
“Let’s get started.”
“To the fort!”
At the order of the gun captain, two groups of 30 men each rushed forward.
“Load the powder!”
The soldiers deftly brought the gunpowder pouches to the muzzles of their guns.
“Load the bullets!”
Soldiers loaded lead into the muzzle of the gun and pushed the plunger to compact the gunpowder and bullet.
The movements of the 60 people were synchronized as if measured with a ruler.
“Just wait.”
As the first row, having finished loading, prepared their muskets and knelt on one knee, the second and third rows stood behind them in a standing posture.
A line of Joseon soldiers, shields in hand, approached before their eyes.
Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck.
“Hmm.”
Whyjang Eguchi swallowed his saliva in anticipation of the slaughter that was about to unfold.
When you get within 100 paces, the lead bullets will fire nonstop at 30 shots. Half of them will probably miss, but half will hit. By the time the enemy gets within 10 paces, less than half will be left.
After the long spearmen charge, the battle ends.
The moment they approached the effective range of the muskets, the North Korean soldiers suddenly started running.
“Charge!”
“Raise your shield straight.”
“Wow!!”
The Joseon army charged forward with shouts as if they wanted to subdue the enemy with just one shout.
The gun emplacement stood firm like a mountain.
Behind this was the conviction that the moment the matchlock was set on fire, the enemies would fall.
Finally, the gun commander’s order was given.
“firing!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
For a moment, thick black gunpowder smoke obscured my vision.
As the first row fell back, the second row mounted the musket in a kneeling position.
“firing!”
Ppabang! Ppabang!
It was when the third row had fired and the first row had taken up position again that the gun commander noticed something strange.
“Waaaaaaah, charge!”
The cheers beyond the thick smoke seemed to have grown louder.
“Oh, you’re not going to die?”
Eguchi was also surprised to see the North Korean army emerging from the smoke.
The number of North Korean troops remained the same.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Ghosts, ghosts. An army of ghosts!”
As the Japanese army command was confused, the vanguard of the Joseon army finally clashed with the artillery battery.
While the bewildered Japanese command was unable to respond in time, the artillery soldiers were killed in vain.
“Die!”
The gun emplacements hit by the shields wielded by the North Korean army collapsed without a fight.
Thud, thud. Phew.
“Kwaaak.”
Hachimura, in a panic, belatedly sent in his spearmen, but the tide of battle was already turning.
Doo doo doo doo.
Moreover, the cavalry appearing on the flank ridge of the battlefield was a disaster for the Japanese army.
I never thought they would even have cavalry. The nightmare of being chased by the Jurchens on the northern plains a month ago came to mind.
Thud, thud, thud.
The cavalry scattered the ranks of the spearmen by firing arrows.
No, the spearmen weren’t the problem. The cavalry was heading straight for Eguchi himself.
“I got hit.”
All of this happened in less than half an hour (about 8 minutes).
The main spearmen were stuck between the Joseon infantry and cavalry, unable to move, and the command was left alone, too late to recall troops or evade.
Shh.
“Ugh.”
First, an arrow flew straight ahead and pierced the neck of the guard. Then, the cavalry in the lead charged, swinging their clubs.
Eguchi Yozaemon, sensing the end, closed his eyes.
Crack.
The cavalry captain Kang Mun-woo’s dagger blew off the Japanese general’s helmet. The cavalry that rushed in then swept through the command post in an instant.
Crunch. Crunch.
Doo doo doo doo.
It was a cavalry operation that would make the expression “sweeping with a broom” seem meaningless.
As the enemy general’s helmet flew off and he fell to the ground, and the commanding staff was annihilated, the Japanese soldiers threw their spears and knelt.
Clank, clank.
“Ha, I surrender.”
“I surrender. Please spare my life.”
Warm, warm.
After running for a while, Kang Moon-woo broke the reins and looked at the saddle in his right hand.
“This is really useful. Even though it’s my first time using it, I feel familiar with it.”
“The face shield is also great. It looks like there was no damage to the soldiers.”
The main gatekeeper moved his horse to find Jiwoo. Kang Moonwoo followed after putting Pyeongon in the saddle.
“Wow.”
“Long live Joseon.”
It was a complete victory with virtually no casualties.
The soldiers forced the surrendering Japanese soldiers to kneel and disarmed them.
Jiwoo, who had been calling the animals and ordering them to clear the battlefield, bowed his head to Jeongmunbu.
“Congratulations on your great victory, General.”
“It’s embarrassing. The cavalry captain here made a big contribution.”
The main gatekeeper glanced at the soldier who was stripping off the Japanese general’s armor and binding him.
“That’s quick.”
“Would you please leave the interrogation of the commander to me?”
Jeong Moon-bu nodded after briefly staring into Ji-woo’s eyes.
“Okay. I’ll go and observe it myself.”
“It doesn’t matter, but it might look a little awkward.”
“I will observe, General.”
Kang Moon-woo stepped forward.
“That would be good too. Then I’ll step back for a moment. It’s been a while since I’ve fought. I’m tired.”
The gatekeeper who was turning around pulled the reins and stopped the horse.
“Oh, the enemy general’s head belongs to the cavalry captain, right?”
It was a statement that the enemy commander’s life was of no concern. Jiwoo had declared from the beginning that ‘there was no need for prisoners.’
“Of course.”
When Jiwoo answered without hesitation, he nodded and started walking away again.
Kang Moon-woo’s expression also looked much better. He tapped the saddle saddle he had on.
“You said it was Pyeon-Gon? This new weapon is amazing.”
“A weapon is just a tool. No one can deny the power of a weapon that has captured the enemy commander.”
“Ahem. Stop it. It’s really hot out there.”
Kang Moon-woo blushed. Although it was an unfamiliar topic, he seemed to like the compliments being directed at him.
Jiwoo’s dry attitude also played a part in this. Before they knew it, Jiwoo was perceived as a ‘stiff warrior’ or a ‘stiff military officer’.
This wasn’t bad for Jiwoo himself.
‘Please, let’s keep our distance like this. I won’t give you any excuses.’
After a while, a soldier came with Maksoe, who had been a slave soldier of the enemy army.
“Did you call?”
“Chaor. I’m going to interrogate the commander now. Get ready.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As Chaor disappeared somewhere for a moment, Jiwoo turned his gaze to Maksoe.
“You are the interpreter. From now on, don’t bow down. Look at the Japanese general with your icy eyes. Can you do it?”
“Yes, yes.”
As Mak-soe started to show signs of tension, the ox beside him intervened.
“This is an opportunity. An opportunity to throw off the shackles and become a proud Korean.”
“I will do my best, sir.”
“Never show your emotions on your face. Remember.”
“yes.”
The locksmith nodded, his eyes wide open.
After finishing the cleanup, the North Korean army tied up the prisoners in groups of 10.
The sergeant shouted at the veteran soldiers.
“Move to Gapsan government office and stay overnight. Let’s go.”
“Let’s go.”
The animal turned its head for a moment and glanced at the stream.
Beside the stream, Maksoe was kindling a campfire, and Chaor, a Jurchen, was sharpening his butcher knives. Jiwoo was sitting on a flat rock, and the Japanese general was kneeling before him.
Kang Moon-woo was seen washing his horse from a distance.
‘I have to do that dirty work.’
Chukseng, who turned his head with a regretful expression, led the soldiers toward Gapsan Eupseong Fortress.
About 100 Japanese prisoners of war were dragged away naked. Those who had been sweating all day cleaning up the battlefield now walked barefoot, shivering from the cold.
Although it was a pitiful sight, the North Korean soldiers were ruthless.
“Everyone, look at this guy. What is this little beast wearing?”
“What a devil.”
A soldier took off the prisoner’s scarf. It was a small piece of cloth the size of a palm. It made me angry to think that they had killed a child to take it.
puck.
“Ugh.”
The axe swung by the soldier split the neck of a enemy prisoner in half and was embedded in his throat.
Blood gushed out like a fountain and the enemy prisoner fell to the ground helplessly. Then the nine others who had been tied up with him were dragged in one after another.
“Eww, shit.”
“Please save me.”
As the commotion arose, the beast came riding his horse.
“What’s going on?”
“It seems that the soldier who saw what the Japanese were wearing couldn’t control his anger.”
The ox frowned at the sight of the old soldier offering him the knife.
“You guys, so you’re going to kill them all here? Don’t you trust the old Daejeong?”
As the excited soldiers retreated, the prisoners also calmed down and formed ranks.
“If you do something like this again, you will be punished.”
Pfft, roll, roll.
After rolling the body down the slope, the group continued walking as if nothing had happened.
After walking for half an hour, we arrived at the town wall.
“It’s the North Korean army.”
“The Joseon army has captured the Japanese.”
“100 years old”
“The Joseon army is 100 years old.”
Only after leaving the city of rebellion could we hear the appropriate cheers.
The city gate was wide open, and as soon as the news got out, the people around Gapsan came offering food and drinks.
“Come in. I thought I would die without a fight at the hands of those Japanese.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Have some of this.”
“Oh, you’re hurt. I’ll bring a doctor.”
As the procession of people stopped, the beast stepped forward.
“Everyone, step aside. I need a doctor and some poisoned wine, so those who are willing to cooperate, come to the government office.”
Only then did the people step back and make way for him.
As we stood guard at the empty government office, night soon fell.
After the soldiers had finished their meal and rested, the monk climbed up the wall.
It was a quiet night with the full moon hidden by clouds.
‘I should have stayed.’
I leaned against the castle wall and tilted the gourd. The ghostly wail I could hear from afar was creepy.
It was past midnight (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.), and the soldiers who were standing guard by the bonfire saw a horse and a carriage approaching.
“There is a crab. I am Go Ji-woo.”
Rattle, creak.
The soldiers recognized the familiar voice and opened the gate without waiting for orders.
The bastard jumped down without saying anything.
“Thank you for your effort.”
“I’m tired. I’ll see General Jeong in the morning.”
“I will escort you to the government office.”
The bastard holding Jiwoo’s reins glanced at Kang Moonwoo following him. The leader of the Japanese general was swinging from the saddle.
This was the true nature of the groaning that had taken place over the past three hours.
Finally, Jiwoo arrived at the government office and got off his horse.
“Thank you for your hard work, Chaor and Maksoe.”
The two men bowed their heads and Jiwoo continued speaking.
“As promised, from now on, Maksoe, you are a soldier of Joseon. If anyone says anything, just tell them my name.”
“Thank you.”
Chaoru took Maksoe, who was sobbing and stealing his eyes, away, patting his shoulder.
Cavalry Captain Kang Moon-woo approached.
“Your Majesty.”
He now spoke in a much softer voice.
“I will report the information I have gathered to General Jeong.”
“Would you please do that?”
He chuckled when he saw Jiwoo’s delighted expression.
“I agree with the proposal we discussed on our way here. I don’t think General Jeong will object.”
“I am just grateful.”
‘It was annoying the whole time, but thank you for persuading me.’
Kang Moon-woo grabbed the Japanese general’s head and disappeared into the inner room.
The bastard looked at the back of the figure with a strange expression.
“I wonder if this awkward greeting is the right one.”
“Don’t worry about it, just keep your distance like you are now.”
The bastard shrugged his shoulders, looking disinterested.
“Yes, let’s go. I’ve prepared some snacks for you.”
Jiwoo silently patted his shoulder and followed him.
And so the night of Gapsan passed and morning came.
The North Korean army mobilized prisoners from the morning and headed toward the vicinity of Cheonbongsan Mountain.
The prisoners followed orders obediently.
Since yesterday, the North Korean army had not treated them particularly harshly and had even provided them with breakfast. The prisoners were filled with hope that they would survive.
After passing Cheonbongsan Mountain, the procession stopped at the roadside where the corpses of the people were strewn.
“Give me an extension.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
Although the animals were worried about Jiwoo’s orders, the enemy prisoners obediently chopped down trees and dug the ground.
The people’s bodies were buried in a relatively flat area and stakes were driven in front of them, hundreds of stakes being erected along the road.
Next, the Joseon army tied the Japanese prisoner to a stake.
When Jiwoo tapped Gooksaeng on the shoulder, he nodded and stepped forward.
“I will give the people you killed a chance to repent and die as human beings.”
When Maksoe interpreted the national leader’s rebuke, the prisoners screamed.
“omg.”
“Ugh, please save me.”
“Please have mercy.”
But the Joseon soldiers held out their spears and swords with cold expressions.