It Became a Symbol of the Bronze Age - Chapter 293



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Episode 293. For the Black Horn (1)

The sound of the dock at Seorabeolbu never stopped.

The sound of the creation of the dromons and Phoenician merchant ships.

However, there was a difference in the speed of production.

In the case of Phoenician merchant ships, if we add a little exaggeration, even a seven-year-old Phoenician child could make one. Just as the Asadals could all shoot arrows at a target when they were seven years old.

Naturally, the manufacturing speed is dazzlingly fast.

But the swift ship is something different. It is a ‘new’ ship, a style unfamiliar even to the Phoenicians.

In the first place, the shape of the ship was made by the Phoenicians, the sails by Asadal craftsmen, and other miscellaneous items were made by craftsmen imported(?) from the Central Plains.

Well, in other words, since all the ship experts from the East and the West of that era gathered together, it is possible that something similar to a ‘Dromon’ was created.

In any case, the manufacturing speed is bound to be slow.

“If it’s a warship, you need at least three or four to have enough strength, but if you build it like this… it’ll take over a year. This ‘pulley’ thing is especially nice.”

… but it’s only been a year.

Fortunately, the combination of Dore and Phoenicia has a synergy that is beyond imagination.

Still, the problem persisted.

“The biggest issue is the skill of the sailors. Isn’t the method of rowing completely different?”

The existing Asadal boats are rowed while standing.

This is a typical Korean style of rowing, developed from raft rowing.

It is excellent in terms of endurance, which is a characteristic of standing oars.

Since several people stick to one oar, it has the advantage of requiring fewer skilled workers.

With one skilled person in charge of the direction of the oars, the rest just have to exert force.

But the Phoenician style is a little different.

Basically, you sit and row, and one person does one row.

It is also called the ‘sensile method’.

And all the Phoenician merchant ships and dromons that were being built now used the sensile method, not the oriental oar.

It’s also because I thought it would be better to just use the proven Phoenician method rather than risking failure by mixing in the Asadal method here.

In terms of ‘instantaneous speed’, the sit-down oar is superior to the standing oar.

Whether it was a Dromon designed for hit-and-run maneuvers at sea or a Phoenician merchant ship that had to respond quickly to rapid climate change in the open ocean, a sit-down oar seemed more advantageous than a stand-up oar.

And, a new no has been introduced.

This means that new technologies will soon be needed.

“Oh, Mr. Ao, row straight! It’s tangled!”

“Hey, are you tired?”

“Kwaaak! My wrist!”

So, the rowers of Seorabeolbu were now learning a new way of rowing. To be honest, it was difficult.

-Why should I learn how to row when I already know how?

Many people have asked this question.

The answer was simple.

-Give me money.

-Of course you should!

Gold and silver… money is the best.

-I have a lot of money.

-Is there a spot left at Poongbaek Academy? Your child is now 9 years old?

-I’ll do it right away!

Studying… academic background is the best.

In that way, I succeeded in driving everyone into the new-style slave craze with the weapons I held in my hands, ‘money’ and ‘educational background.’

There’s nothing you can do until then.

“Basically, our merchant ships only have 12 oars, and the oars are spaced far apart, so there’s less to get tangled up or do. So you can learn quickly.

However, the fast-moving ship, designed based on the Duries (dual-line) has 48 oars spread out on both sides, so it takes more time to learn. Considering that, I think it would take at least two years to be able to operate it.”

Two years.

It’s too long.

I have a strong desire to occupy Ryukyu a little more quickly.

It’s not just that I want to retire early.

It’s because of Hanho.

It may be a rather trivial reason, but I wanted to somehow let Hanho taste coffee.

However, he is too old. Somehow, it would be better to quickly get rid of this Ryukyu subjugation.

Besides, it’s not just Hanho, but my age is also a problem. I’m at an age where people would play Yut Nori at the funeral home, saying that I would be fine if I suddenly passed away tomorrow.

After all, it’s a time attack.

‘… In the current situation, it seems like it would be difficult to wait until Nalssundol.’

Then there is also a way to tow the Pungbaekseon… I don’t know if the voyage would be possible with the Pungbaekseon, which is a low-grade ship. The Central Plains Trade Route is recorded, so it would have been possible since we knew the route, but there are no records at all for Ryukyu.

There is some knowledge that I have gained from the minds of the drifters from Ryukyu, but they are, after all, ‘drifters.’ They are people who were pushed over, so although it may be helpful knowledge, it is difficult to say that it is 100% accurate.

‘Besides, during the Silla-Goryeo period, even though they went to Japan or the Central Plains using low-grade ships such as the Kyo-gwan ships or Goryeo ships, they did not go further out to sea…’

in other words.

It is not dangerous to tow a low-level ship like the Pungbaekseon. It is correct to say, ‘I don’t even know if it is dangerous or not.’

So the options available now are:

1. Wait for 2 years and drag Dromon.

Pros: Certainty.

Cons: Takes a long time.

2. Drag the wind chime.

Pros: Can be done right away.

Cons: It is difficult to guarantee that it will be capable of ocean voyaging.

Both are not suitable for sex.

Then we need a third one.

The Pungbaekseon is a low-altitude ship, so it is reluctant to go out to the open sea, and the Dromon takes a long time.

Then, wouldn’t it be better to just pull the ship that can go out to the open sea among the ships that can be pulled out right away?

in other words.

3. Take only Phoenician merchant ships, not military ships.

Will it be okay?

***

Geoguroo considered himself quite lucky.

It can’t be helped.

First of all, it’s been like that since birth.

He was born with what is called a ‘golden spoon’ (a word created by Poongbaek, and the name is so catchy that even in Asadal, the word ‘golden spoon’ is often used these days).

His father was a chieftain who ruled the Geoguru region ([ɡ]ər[ɡ]rij/present-day Ulsan-Pohang area. It is estimated that the reading is ‘Georeuguri’, ‘Geoguru’, or ‘Geoguri’.)

Of course, in this day and age, if a patriarch does something wrong, he will be kicked out, but my father did well. If a father did well, it is not strange for his children to inherit it.

Geoguroo’s luck didn’t end there.

He had an older brother.

Geoguru still remembers what his father said at that time.

-Don’t go against your brother.

-If your brother becomes the chief, you have to help him.

-If you don’t want to do that, just leave the tribe.

The tribal chieftaincy of this era is hereditary and yet not hereditary.

At best, the tribe size was two or three thousand. With this size, people could drive out a chieftain they didn’t like.

However, unless there is a specific reason to expel him, this position of chieftain is basically hereditary.

The chieftains want their children to ‘accept’ power ‘well’.

This is also the reason why the eldest son is usually appointed as successor.

If the younger brother becomes the successor, the older brother’s pride will not allow it, so he will inevitably do something bad.

Usually, the first born child inherits the position of chief.

Unless the eldest son is significantly less talented than his younger siblings, this standard is usually maintained.

Because that was a given.

The second son, Geoguroo, was educated that way.

But now he is the chieftain.

-… There’s nothing I can do. You’ve had diarrhea for three days.

This is because my older brother died of an illness before he turned 15.

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It’s not that uncommon in this day and age.

At that moment, my father’s attitude changed.

-Now you will be the chief.

Fortunately, that’s true.

Geoguroo’s body resembled his father’s, was strong, and unlike his brother, he did not get sick.

So, when he was thirteen, Geoguroo went out on a boat alone and caught a whale.

Of course, it was a small finless porpoise (which looked like a dolphin), but a few days later, the finless porpoise he had caught in the tribe had turned into a ghost whale. It was thanks to his father’s breath.

Yes, he had a good father.

He also achieved the amazing feat of ‘catching a whale all by himself at the age of 13’.

After his father’s death, it was natural for him to become the leader of the tribe. In terms of size, it is as large as the three Cheonshin tribes combined. (To be honest, it is because of the difference in soil quality between Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula.)

However, he did not consider all of these things as his greatest fortune. Being born with a silver spoon in his mouth, surviving childhood, or becoming a tribal chief.

It’s small compared to the good fortune that came next.

-How do I get into Asadal?

– Build an altar, perform a ritual, and announce it to the surrounding tribes.

When Poongbaek first said that.

Geoguroo felt a little sad. He thought that because his strength was lacking, he was leaving his tribe to the hands of others.

But now that I think about it.

This was truly a stroke of luck.

‘If I hadn’t gone in, I would have been in trouble.’

Geoguroo came to Asadal and mostly watched how Asadal defeated other tribes. After the war with Yan, one of the areas on the Korean peninsula that saw the most fighting was the Namhae region.

And Asadal’s method was clear. If you were friendly, you would be accepted, but if you rebelled, you would be destroyed. Every time he saw Poongbaekseon leading a large fleet and destroying enemy ships… Geoguru couldn’t help but think that it was fortunate that he had entered Asadal right then.

And then what happened next was even more surprising.

“Heh heh.”

Whenever he saw the rice fields spread out in the distance, Geoguru could only laugh in vain. His clan members had now surpassed 20,000. It was twice the number he had received from his father.

Moreover, this only counts those who are ‘left’ in the tribe.

-Father, I will lead my people and settle them in a new area.

-Third, you? In a new area?

-Yes. Aren’t there a lot of new lands created now?

Of course, the land didn’t just pop up.

Land that was originally barren, wet, or unusable because it was in a remote area has been transformed into usable land.

-Now, to our eyes, the wetlands look like huge rice paddies, and the rugged mountains look like inns where many merchants rest. And these days, Seorabeolbu… buys a lot of things.

-yes.

Seorabeolbu is now buying both trees and fish.

It wasn’t like that originally. Trees and fish are abundant in Seorabeolbu.

But things have changed since Poongbaek came. Now, the people of Seorabeolbu mainly focus on mining and agriculture, and they often buy fish and wood from the surrounding areas. This way, there are many benefits for both sides.

-Seeing people in even the most remote mountain villages living their lives without disturbing others and engaging in their work instead of banditry… I too felt a desire to establish my own family.

People do not usually try things that seem impossible, but they often jump into things that seem right.

-Just like how Elder Poongbaek established his family in Seorabeolbu, I also want to establish my own village.

Even more so if there are such ‘good examples’.

-… Are you really going?

-Yes.

Geoguroo, honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever experienced something like this in my life. Of course, ‘expansion’ itself has happened in the past, but it was usually because of being attacked or the land becoming unusable.

But now?

Despite this, ambitious people, including his third son, voluntarily headed to other regions.

Some even went to islands across the sea, or even to archipelagoes, not just near Seorabeolbu.

To this, Geoguroo said:

-The first one will inherit my legacy, the second one is working as a bureaucrat in the central government, and you, the third one, are trying to sow new seeds. How can I stop you?

Okay, go ahead.

And if by any chance it gets too hard, come back anytime without hesitation. I will always leave a place empty for you and your people to live in… .

In addition to the children of the giants, many children of tribal chiefs or clan leaders left to establish new tribes or become officials of Haedongseong.

Like that, Geoguru smiled as he watched those who had grown up and left.

When I was a child.

The second and third ones could do nothing.

No, I didn’t have to do anything.

Only then will the order of the tribe be maintained without disruption and the order of the clan and blood relations will continue.

But what about now?

The second and third sons of the chieftain can achieve more than before.

It may even be greater than the first.

If he had not entered Asadal.

He must have had no choice but to repeat to his second and third siblings the words he had been told so often when he was young: ‘Don’t try to do anything. Just follow your older brother.’

Such an act would certainly have soured his taste buds.

Geoguroo couldn’t help but think that it was good luck that he came to Asadal.

Exactly, until yesterday.

“…You’re going to Heukgak Island by merchant ship alone?”

“right.”

“Hmm… my ears aren’t faulty.”

As he said that, Geoguroo calmly searched through his pockets and took out a bottle of Whanghwangcheongsimwon. And.

“…Would you like to eat?”

“This kid?”

I got scolded by Poongbaek.

“Who do you think is crazy?”

“That’s what the old people say. Just have some.”

“…Do you really want to lose?”

At that moment, Geoguroo felt the back of his neck become cold. It wasn’t because of Poongbaek’s threat.

If he was just senile, that would be fine. Just drink some Whanghwangcheongsimwon and let him sleep well. However, Poongbaek doesn’t seem senile now, whether you look at his face or speak.

therefore.

They are talking nonsense like, ‘Let’s just take the merchant ships and invade the island’ when they haven’t even thought about it yet!

“Let me explain in case you don’t know… The difference between a merchant ship and a military ship is clear. It’s speed.”

Geoguroo regained his senses and explained. Even if it wasn’t senility, it was suspicious that his memory was declining.

“In the case of merchant ships, they use fewer oarsmen and carry more goods. They are slow, but they can carry a lot, so they are suitable for trade. Those Baniki merchant ships made by the Sur people….”

“It’s a Phoenician merchant ship.”

“Anyway, that’s the same thing. However, on the other hand, warships are made with as many oarsmen as possible. In a naval battle, speed is more important than anything else. The wind-blown ships and the fast-moving ships are made that way. Therefore, you can’t simply mount cannons on a merchant ship and load it with men and use it as a ‘warship.’”

The explanation by Geoguroo was like explaining to a newbie who was like, ‘How do I use this?’ ‘This is a mouse. This is the click.’ Poongbaek was really annoyed by this, but he listened anyway.

“But fighting with this merchant ship? It’s difficult. Whether it’s a crow or a hawk, the opponent will either run away before you do that, or you’ll have to aim for the slow part and approach the lower part of the ship to pierce the bottom of the ship. The Pungbaek ship was fast, so you could approach it and shoot cannons and arrows, but would that be possible with a small merchant ship?”

If I were a 21st century Korean, I would have easily explained it by saying, ‘No matter how strong the river is, if you operate it without a shuttle, you will be caught by the marines.’ But unfortunately, since this is an era without folk games, there is nothing I can do.

“That’s why fast ships are usually used in naval battles. The same goes for the small boats we use, and the wind-blown ships. After clearing out the enemies at sea, we load people onto slow ships and land them. But, landing battles with only merchant ships? That’s ridiculous!”

After listening to the explanation to the end, Poongbaek shook his head.

“The current opponent is only Heukgak Island. The islands are small and scattered, so their cohesion is weak. Even if I were Hai Baba Island (Taiwan), I wouldn’t have said such a thing. And by the time I get to Hai Baba Island, the Swift Whirlwind will be somewhat usable, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Haa… It’s always the small ships that plunder the big ships. Don’t we, the merchants, know that? The merchant ships may be big, but they’re still slow! They can’t ram or shoot arrows and escape!”

“Before Asadal came, the ships you used were large, but they could only carry ten people at most. Phoenician merchant ships were large and powerful!”

“No, I said you can’t! Would you like to try it? Try loading people onto that small merchant ship. You don’t need a wind-blown ship. I’ll lead a small boat and rob it!”

In fact, it is not a wrong statement. Even in the Age of Exploration, large merchant ships were often plundered by groups of island tribes’ canoes.

Poongbaek also knows this.

However, he has a secret that Geoguroo doesn’t know.

“As you said, if a naval battle breaks out, then that would be different.”

He is a person of the future, and he is also a historian. No, it doesn’t have to be a historian.

“But what if there is no naval battle at all?”

“Yes? Does that make sense? Unless the situation arises where the enemies are so terrified that they can’t do anything as soon as they see us, then it’s impossible.”

“So, on the other hand, isn’t that saying that it would be possible if that situation occurred?”

The method of conquering a small island far away by trickery without a naval battle already existed during the Silla Dynasty… and most Koreans know this.

“So… you create a wooden tiger, put a piece of wood in its mouth, and threaten to let it go if it doesn’t surrender right away?”

Poongbaek intended to reproduce the excellent strategy of the ruler of Asuraju in this era.

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