Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 163
Episode 163: Purge (3)
It was inevitable that the Joseon government army and local rebels clashed in Cheonan.
The uprising forces in the Chungcheong region, who rose up around the Goesan, Jeungpyeong, and Jincheon areas, headed to Chungjumok to expand their power and secure weapons. However, the rebels encountered strong resistance in Chungjumok and had to change course.
The leaders of the rebellion in the Chungcheong region unfolded a map and argued.
“We can’t just waste time like this! Let’s head north like this! “There is no road!”
Hardliners raised their voices calling for an immediate advance north, but there were many voices opposing it.
“If we advance north like this, we will have to come face to face with the Gyeonggi barracks! “For now, we have to wait for those coming from the southern provinces!”
“You forgot it’s harvest season! “We must complete the work as quickly as possible and return to harvest!”
After a heated war of words, a kind of mediation plan was created.
-If we advance north like this, we will have to collide with the Gyeonggi Barracks. So, take a detour to Cheonan and go up to Hanseong. In the process of taking a detour and advancing north, they increase their influence by rallying as many sympathizing forces as possible.
It was a plan that both hardliners and conservatives were dissatisfied with, but it was the only option for now.
“Damn it! Because of those lazy people in the south!”
A funny situation arose where people from the Chungcheong region, who were always evaluated as being leisurely and moving leisurely, criticized people from other regions for being slow.
Once the plan to take a detour and move north through Cheonan was decided, the rebels changed course and began moving towards Cheonan.
However, because most of the 10,000 – 12,000 to be exact – troops were infantry, the pace of progress was not fast.
Thanks to this, Chungcheong Barracks was able to prepare quickly based on the information brought by the scouts.
“You idiots. “If you wanted to do something, you should have done it before the situation started.”
Yang Jong-cheol, a Chungcheong soldier who confirmed the report brought by the scouts, laughed at the rebels’ actions.
* * *
As King Sejong’s military regiment progressed, the Joseon military also had to undergo a major transformation.
According to the military register (short for military register) created since the early Joseon Dynasty, the Joseon army had approximately 330,000 troops. However, the main force of the Joseon army was the Jeonggun (正軍), which was recruited through conscription. And this was a method in which the expenses incurred by the government were covered by the benefactors.
However, this method had already been making explosive noises since the reign of King Taejong.
Therefore, King Sejong had to carry out military reform while proceeding with the general reform.
In this part, Hyang made a great contribution. Plate armor and commanders using mass production methods. Lastly, the rare weapon of mass destruction called Bigyeokjincheonroe made it easier to change the constitution of the Joseon army.
-One piece of artillery rather than a hundred spears!
-Horses are faster than people!
In line with that motto, the Joseon army became faster and more powerful by reducing its size, which was a large army only in numbers.
And the Joseon army, which had changed its constitution, was now in a situation where it was conducting a practical evaluation against the rebels.
* * *
Yang Jong-cheol looked at the commanders of all levels attending the meeting and continued speaking.
“Traitors are planning to pass through Cheonan. Therefore, we will completely destroy them in Cheonan. “Do you have any other opinions?”
“doesn’t exist!”
“Then, the composition of the unit that will participate in the operation is…”
According to Yang Jong-cheol’s plan, the Chungcheong barracks left Haemi’s barracks, leaving only the minimum number of personnel to guard the barracks.
* * *
The Joseon army in Chungcheong Province, commanded by Yang Jong-cheol, moved while closely monitoring the movements of the rebels.
Because the main force was cavalry and artillery, the Joseon army was able to arrive at Cheonan ahead of the rebels and set up camp.
“Other things the Crown Prince has made are amazing, but the idea of putting artillery on a cart is truly admirable. “Isn’t that right, Jo Jung-gun?”
Yang Jong-cheol, who was observing the soldiers’ movements on a shallow hill, asked Jae-hyeon Lee of the central army next to him. Lee Jae-hyeon nodded to Yang Jong-cheol’s question.
“That’s right. Thanks to this, artillery can move as fast as cavalry.”
Hyang, who created Bigyeokjincheonroe and a new artillery to fire it, created a new gun to mount the artillery. The new gun carriage, which was made in the form of the Western-style gun carriage that was used from the late 19th century until the beginning of World War I, brought unprecedented mobility to Joseon’s artillery.
Yang Jong-cheol, who liked the soldiers’ movements, tapped his palm with his baton.
“Good, good. Now all that remains is to wipe out those traitors.”
“That’s right.”
It was not only the high-ranking people who were burning with war spirit. Even the ordinary soldiers at the bottom were filled with fighting spirit.
“How far have the traitors come?”
“Well… according to what I heard, it’s a day’s journey or something?”
“Are they fucking crawling?”
“Let’s see if you come and enjoy the arts.”
“Pungryu? Ha ha ha ha ha!”
While joking, the soldiers looked at the artillery they would be handling. The eyes of the soldiers looking at the bronze-colored artillery were full of trust.
“If only I had this guy…”
They were soldiers waiting for the time to use them, recalling the power of the Bigyeokjincheonroe heard from the north.
* * *
“The soldiers of the royal court are gathered in Cheonan!”
“How many do you say there are?”
“About 6,000!”
When they heard that government troops were encamped in Cheonan, the leaders of the uprising forces put their heads together.
“Where do you think they come from?”
“It must be Chungcheong barracks.”
“Should we take a detour?”
When several noblemen mentioned bypass, Master An, who had read the Book of War, shook his head.
“If you take a detour, you will have to face the light barracks. And with those who were well prepared during the detour. They say there are currently 6,000 troops in Cheonan, so it seems like they moved hastily without proper preparation. “I think it’s better to deal with it.”
“It seems that Master An’s words are correct.”
“But the fact that they moved quickly means that their main force is cavalry.”
After being pointed out, Jinsa Ahn pointed out their weaknesses.
“But if we take a detour, will the cavalrymen at the Chungcheong barracks stay still? I will come after you right away. “Most of the troops we have brought with us are slaves. Do you think we will be able to respond properly?”
“Ah…”
Jinsa Ahn concluded.
“The only way to get the slaves to fight properly is to fight head-on. Fortunately, Cheonan has no castle and we have superior numbers, so we have a chance of victory.”
In the end, the leaders of the uprising army decided on a head-on collision. Even though they didn’t know much about military tactics, they thought there was no other way since slaves were the main force.
But that was the end. The leaders of the uprising army did not know anything about the firepower of the government army and did not inform them.
“Anyway, everyone in Pia is armed with spear swords! In times like this, we are the best because we have superior numbers!”
It was the result of being confined to one’s hometown, closing one’s eyes, covering one’s ears, and only caring about one’s own personal finances.
* * *
Finally, the next morning. Government forces and uprising forces faced each other in the area east of Cheonan.
The uprising army was also aware of the existence of government forces and was making its own preparations.
“Did you feed the slaves a good breakfast?”
“I have already fed you plenty. “You won’t run out of energy halfway through.”
Most of the preparations made by the rebel army consisted of cooking and feeding the slaves early in the morning.
“Then let’s get started.”
“That’s right!”
“Good luck!”
“Good luck!”
The noblemen, who wished each other good luck, turned to the slaves they led.
After a while, the slaves at the forefront of the uprising troops shouted and ran forward.
“Wow!”
Most of them were slaves who only had one bamboo spear in their hands, but seeing their comrades around them ignited their fighting spirit.
“The weightlifters are starting to move!”
“I’m watching too… Hmm….”
Yang Jong-cheol gave orders while observing the movements of the uprising army with the monoscope that King Sejong personally gave him.
“As expected, very few of them are properly armed. And most of them seem to be slaves. And… bamboo spear? her!”
Yang Jong-cheol, who was watching the uprising army running towards him, looked at the command center of the uprising army located behind him.
“Donkey? “Do you think war is something to drink?”
Yang Jong-cheol, who laughed when he saw that only a few people rode horses and most of them rode donkeys, gave orders to his subordinates.
“When the enemy’s main force comes within 200 paces, fire a lightning bolt!”
“yes!”
“Concentrate the bombardment on one location as trained!”
“yes!”
“And the Fuhrer cross-fires! “Just as you were trained!”
“yes!”
“Tell all soldiers! Weightlifters are a ragtag bunch! “If you do exactly as you were trained, you won’t have to eat ancestral rites today next year!”
“yes!”
The messenger laughed a little at the joke-like order at the end and busied himself with spreading the order.
* * *
“200 steps!”
“Let go!”
pop! Puff! pop!
The artillerymen, who had finished loading in advance and were waiting, pulled their lanyards as soon as the order was given.
The number of artillery pieces exclusively for Bigyeokjincheonroe mobilized by Chungcheong Barracks this time was 40 guns. Excluding the 10 guns taken out as reserve power, the 30 guns were trained to group 10 guns each and move as a single battery.
When the bigyeokjincheonroe was fired as a training exercise, three large holes were created in the formation of the uprising army that was moving toward the government forces. It was a hole so big that it could never be filled.
In the hole created, the injured people were screaming among countless corpses.
“Ugh….”
“Help me!”
“My legs! “My legs!”
The uprising army’s charge stopped on the spot while the screams of the wounded broke out in chaos. The main slaves were in a state of panic.
The commanders of the government forces, who were observing the situation through binoculars, raised their voices as they foresaw victory.
“Don’t stop firing!”
“Shoot! Shoot! Keep shooting!”
pop! Puff!
Like the commanders, the soldiers, who had a premonition of victory, quickly finished reloading and continued firing.
“What the hell!”
“A cannon of such power!”
The nobles who were observing the situation at the rear of the uprising army shouted in awe-inspiring voices. Every time large pillars of fire rose from the formation of the uprising army, holes that could not be filled were created in the formation of the uprising army.
“What should I do now?”
Ahn Jin-sa, who was unknowingly playing the role of a military master, floundered in response to the questions of the leaders looking for a solution.
“That…”
“An Jinsa!”
“Give me some time to think! “I’ve never even heard of a cannon of such power!”
In response to the leadership’s urging, Master Ahn also screamed. But he had already come to a conclusion in his mind.
‘It’s over…’
“An Jinsa! What should I do now…”
“The enemies are moving!”
“huh?”
The leaders who were pressuring Ahn Jin-sa turned their heads when they heard that government troops were moving.
As expected, as the government army’s artillery fire gradually slowed down, the infantry lines began to move forward.
Jinsa Ahn, who was watching this, was delighted.
“Opportunity! If they get close to us, they won’t be able to fire their guns! Then we will have another chance! “We must immediately gather our troops and reorganize our formation!”
“I see!”
At Jinsa Ahn’s words, the leaders urgently sent a messenger.
As if the messenger’s words had been conveyed correctly, the formation of the uprising army began to be reorganized.
When Jinsa Ahn saw that, her face was full of hope.
‘it’s okay! If we get over this crisis, it will be our victory!’
But the situation was beyond his expectations.
“First row of guns!”
“aiming!”
The Chungcheong barracks soldiers, who had advanced to a distance of about 150 paces from the uprising army, raised their Gap-style rifles ready to fire according to the command of the commander and aimed at the uprising army.
“launch!”
Ta-ta-tang!
In an instant, thick smoke blocked the line of sight of the Joseon soldiers, and the second line waiting behind them surpassed the first line and came forward.
After briefly examining the battlefield situation, the commander immediately issued an order.
“Two rows of guns!”
“aiming!”
“launch!”
Ta-ta-tang!
In this way, after one turn from the 1st to the 5th row, the formation of the uprising army completely collapsed.
Yang Jong-cheol, who was examining the situation, gave an order.
“Tell the cavalry! Stop the weightlifters from escaping!”
“ancient!”
In this way, the conflict between the Chungcheong barracks and the uprising army in the Chungcheong region was concluded in less than half a day. It was an overwhelming victory for the Joseon army in the Chungcheong barracks.