Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 1208
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Side story 22. 1592 South Sea War. (22)
“The overthrow of the Ryujo conspiracy….”
The voice of the communications officer reporting to Kuki Yoshitaka was as tired and listless as his expression.
The staff officer reported to Kuki after finding Ryuzo on the fleet formation chart hanging on the wall and marking it with a sinking symbol.
“The conspiracy forces have been annihilated.”
“Phew~.”
Cookie sighed deeply at the staff’s report and lamented.
“This is a terrible situation.”
Then Maeda, who was standing next to him, asked Kuki.
“I’m an army officer so I only have a shallow knowledge of warships, but I know that it’s rare for a large warship to sink with one or two torpedoes. Is there a problem?”
To Maeda’s question, Kuki answered with a very distorted face.
“The problem brought about by the ‘lost 30 years’.”
“The Lost 30 Years?”
* * *
The estrangement between the Empire and Japan has been going on for quite some time.
As the two countries grew apart, things like military technology exchanges and design contracts that had previously gone smoothly began to fall through more and more often.
However, the one who struck the final blow to this relationship was, of course, Oda Nobunaga.
‘Japan is Japan!’
‘What Japan needs is the heads and hands of the Japanese!’
‘Let’s get out of the shadow of the empire!’
Oda, who had been calling for Japan’s ‘self-reliance’, chose a very extreme method.
“How long are we going to use the weapons the Empire has made for us! We need to create weapons and tactics that suit Japan and the Japanese!”
Oda declared this and severed all military technology exchanges with the Empire.
The Japanese Navy was in the most difficult position.
“Without the help of the Empire, we cannot build a warship with such high performance!”
Although the Navy cried out, Oda steadfastly pushed forward with his plan.
“Be prepared for trial and error! That too is experience!”
“It’s such a waste of time and money!”
“Is it too much of a waste of time and money?”
Oda then put strong pressure on the Japanese Navy.
“What has the Navy done so far? Even though the Empire designed it, it was built in Japan! Does that mean the Navy gained nothing in the process?”
“That’s not it, but….”
“I won’t accept any excuses!”
Accordingly, the Japanese Navy, with bitter remorse, began designing and building its own ships.
Even though I came, I didn’t push through without thinking.
“It will take about 10 years, or at most 20 years, to establish a foundation. If there are any shortcomings even then, we can receive help from Europe or the Ming. Then, we will be able to reach a similar position as the empire within 30 years.”
The problem was that Oda was assassinated without telling anyone his true intentions.
Toyotomi, who succeeded Oda as the most powerful man, also did not know Oda’s true intentions, and the fact that he had a military background and was not familiar with the navy made the situation even worse.
-A warship is best when it’s simply equipped with large and powerful cannons.
-The weapons that Japan will use must come from the minds of Japanese people.
This was Toyotomi’s thinking.
Because of these twists and turns, Japan’s shipbuilding technology was bound to lag behind that of the Empire by at least two generations.
Of course, the Japanese Navy was not stupid either, so they tried to avoid the eyes of Oda and Toyotomi and make up for their shortcomings through the Ming and Europe.
However, the situation was the same for both China and Europe, where they were only looking at the back of the empire.
There was no one there who could provide first-class technology and knowledge, even though they were behind the Empire but ahead of Japan.
This is how the term “the lost 30 years” began to circulate among the Japanese Navy.
And now he was paying the price dearly.
Since the Empire only had warships built based on concepts that had become obsolete 20 years ago, Japan was bound to be dealt a heavy blow by the Imperial Navy.
So much so that the word ‘powerless’ is fitting.
* * *
“So, is this situation the result of spending 30 years as a ‘frog in a well’?”
“Yes.”
“Phew~.”
Maeda let out a long sigh at Cookie’s answer.
“Is this a situation where there is no exit in sight…?”
To Maeda’s words, Kuki nodded silently.
When Kuki and Maeda were at a loss for words in a situation that was even more bleak than expected, a communications officer came in and reported.
“Airborne troops are coming in again! ‘Requesting artillery support! What is Maeda-sama doing?’ It’s in plain text.”
“In plain text? Things must be bad. Which request is this now?”
Kuki answered Maeda’s question right away.
“It’s the third.”
“It’s the third time….”
Maeda stopped talking and looked at the situation board hanging on the wall.
The situation, based on communications coming from Konishi and Kato, was the worst.
‘It’s a situation where their future is at stake. Even if it’s not very good, they have to insist that it’s the best possible situation. Those guys are begging to be spared. This means that it’s already over. But… .’
Maeda looked back at Kuki.
“Can you provide support to the coast with the main guns of the remaining battleships and cruisers?”
“A cruiser might be possible, but a battleship is out of the question.”
“Why?”
“If a battleship fires its main guns, it becomes defenseless.”
The battleship’s main guns produced as much noise and backfire as they did power.
Therefore, when a battleship was about to fire its main guns, all sailors positioned outside, including the anti-aircraft batteries, were to evacuate inside the ship.
In a situation like now where the Empire’s torpedo boats and destroyers were running wild under the cover of darkness, it meant that the battleship would be left with its bare body after firing its main gun.
“…Because of that, the main guns of the battleships cannot be used right now. No, at night like now, it is impossible to provide artillery support for both battleships and cruisers.”
The operation of reconnaissance and observation aircraft was essential to eliminate the Imperial artillery positioned behind the coast.
However, at night like now, it was impossible to operate reconnaissance and observation aircraft.
It was possible to bombard enemies on the coast, but now friendly forces were being beaten back on the coast.
After hearing Cookie’s explanation, Maeda wiped his face with his hand.
“Phew~. It’s stuffy, it’s stuffy.”
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Maeda, who was in a situation where he couldn’t do anything, started to think deeply about something with his mouth shut while just washing his face.
‘Anyone can see that the landing has failed. The Empire will definitely retaliate… If the Empire lands… .’
“The sea is the problem….”
Maeda, who was mumbling something unintelligible, asked Kuki.
“The empire will definitely attack us, Japan, right?”
“If we stay still, it won’t be an empire.”
“Is it possible to defend with the naval forces remaining on the mainland?”
“It would be better to pray for a divine wind to blow.”
“… .”
At Cookie’s answer, Maeda closed his mouth again and began to ponder.
‘I know what you’re thinking.’
Cookie knew what Maeda was thinking, but he didn’t open his mouth.
‘There’s no way I can be the main character of Gye-reuk.’
The term ‘Gye-leok’ came from an anecdote about Cao Cao fighting Liu Bei in the old days.
This was an anecdote where Yang Xiu, who realized the meaning of Cao Cao’s words at the time, ordered a withdrawal, which caused Cao Cao’s entire army to fall into disarray, and Cao Cao held Yang Xiu responsible and executed him.
In the current situation, if Cookie suggested withdrawal, Maeda would definitely bite.
However, if that happened, it was certain that Cookie would take the blame for everything in the blame game that was sure to follow.
‘I would rather die here or be taken prisoner. Incompetence is better than treason.’
On the other hand, Maeda was hoping that Kuki would open his mouth first.
‘I am the supreme commander, but it is the army. So, it would be better for the navy commander to step forward. That way, we will have something to say later…’
Both of them remained silent, hoping the other would speak first.
It was the signals officer who broke the silence.
“Cruiser Amagi capsizes!”
Cookie got up from his seat in shock.
“Until Amagi!”
Amagi was the cruiser closest to Yamato, the flagship he was on.
This meant that Yamato was now within the Empire’s attack range. And, in other words, it meant that the Japanese fleet’s power was now reduced to battleships and cruisers. And, if the remaining warships were turned into scrap metal, the sea route to Japan would be open.
Then, Kuki looked back at Maeda. Maeda let out a long sigh after seeing Kuki’s expression.
“Haa~. Admiral.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Can we break through and return with our remaining power?”
“It is possible now. But it will not be possible when the sun rises.”
“Haa~. This is… .”
Maeda let out a long sigh at Kuki’s urging, which wasn’t really urging, and looked at the situation board.
In the end, Maeda had no choice but to make a decision.
“Let’s break through and return. We must protect Japan.”
“We will defend Japan with the determination to die from the sword of the empire.”
In response to Maeda’s words, Kuki gave orders to his staff.
“Break through and withdraw.”
“Hot!”
“But what about the landing force left on the beach?”
Maeda closed his eyes and answered the staff’s question.
“It will be decided at the discretion of the field commander.”
“…I will convey it like that.”
Maeda, who had sorted out the situation, stood up from his seat with a tired expression on his face.
“I want to take a break.”
“All right.”
After sending Maeda away, Kuki and his staff began to plan a breakthrough operation.
As they began to harbor the hope that ‘if they do well, they can survive,’ the staff members’ heads began to spin more tensely than ever before.
* * *
Meanwhile, Konishi, who was stuck on the coastline, couldn’t control his anger at the news he received from the transport ship.
“What? ‘Withdraw the fleet’? ‘Leave the decision to me’? Have you ever seen such irresponsible people!”
Unable to control his anger, Konishi hit the trench wall with his fist and sat down, covering his head.
“What should I do about this…?”
“dismissal….”
“It’s been abandoned… .”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
In the end, Konishi looked at the ceiling with a gloomy expression as he realized that the worst-case scenario had turned out to be a ‘throwaway’.
Konishi, who was still listening to the explosions of firearms and the screams of soldiers from all directions, gave an order to his staff.
“Raise the white flag.”
“Surrender?”
“What else is there to do?”
“…All right.”
At Konishi’s order, the staff raised a white flag on the roof of the trench and simultaneously called messengers to relay the order.
“… So, stop the useless fighting and raise the white flag.”
“All right.”
Konishi, who was sitting on one side listening to the staff’s orders, grinned and muttered.
“Engagement? Was there an engagement?”
‘There was only one-sided ridicule.’
As soon as the white flag was raised in the trench where Konishi was staying, white flags began to be raised here and there, and the gunfire and cannon sounds began to die down.
This was also the case in the area commanded by Kato.
Kato, who was lying down with his head wrapped tightly in bandages, swore at the white flag fluttering above his head.
“Chisho! Toyotomi, you monkey!”
* * *
The Japanese navy began preparing to break through, leaving the friendly forces that had landed on the shore behind.
The battleships that were still intact were placed in the lead, the lightly damaged ships were placed in the middle, and the heavily damaged ships were placed on the outermost part.
Even during the breakthrough process, the Empire’s attacks would continue, and it was a cruel arrangement that threw away ships that would have lost their fighting power and could not be deployed to defend the mainland as prey.
After confirming that the arrangement was complete, Cookie stretched out his hand and shouted.
“Breakthrough!”
“breakthrough!”
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