Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 241
Episode 241: Courier (3)
The messenger party departing from Tsushima Island headed to Kyoto using the sea route.
“I’m worried about pirates.”
Dodo Woong-wa, who boarded the ship with the envoys, was worried, but surprisingly, Ki-ju Nam did not look very worried.
“Is it possible that there will be people who will attack these panokseons?”
The three ships carrying the envoys as well as the escort ships were all Panokseon. Of course, the Panok ships carrying the envoys had to take off almost half of their ammunition and gunpowder in order to load the envoys and cargo, but the three ships in charge of escorting them were loaded with the designated amount of ammunition and gunpowder.
Few large pirates attacked such a well-armed Panokseon fleet.
However, there were Japanese pirates that attacked the road from Tsushima to Shimonoseki, thinking they were going to catch people.
* * *
“Unidentified fleet approaching! “Fleet approaching!”
“Ready for battle! “Ready for battle!”
“Check the number of approaching ships!”
“Increasing from about 30 ships!”
Floating!
At the shout of the soldier watching the sea from the watchtower, the war drum rang loudly, and the fleet’s naval forces began to prepare for battle.
After a while, two Panok ships left their positions and blocked the path of the approaching fleet, with another ship supporting them.
The three ships carrying the envoys camped a little away and began preparing for battle.
When preparations were completed, the interpreter on board the Panokseon, the first line of defense, put a loudspeaker to his mouth and shouted.
“It’s a ship carrying an envoy to the Joseon Dynasty! Go away! Go away! “If you don’t back down, I will attack!”
Despite the interpreter’s shouts, the unidentified fleet continued to approach.
“Get back! “Go away!”
When the interpreter shouted again, a response came from the fleet.
“Wow!”
The Japanese on the crowded boat began to shout, raising their swords and spears. At the same time, as arrows began to fly, drums sounded from the Panokseon and a new flag began to rise.
The newly raised flag was a flag signifying battle.
“It’s a battle! Release fire!”
Kwakwakwak!
The two Panok ships that formed the first line of defense opened fire simultaneously.
Every time the Eulsik general firebox mounted on the Panokseon spewed fire, the number of pirate ships carrying Japanese pirates decreased significantly. Ships that were properly hit by the Eulsik Daejeon (乙式大箭) or Eulsik Cheonjacheoltanja (乙式天字鐵彈子) were punctured and disappeared under the water.
Even if the daejeon and iron bullets did not hit, it was a problem even if the daejeon and iron bullets fell right next to it. The small boats that the Japanese pirates rode in were prone to capsizing due to the waves created by the dropped charges and iron bullets.
“Enemy ship close!”
However, there were also pirates who were determined to break through the barrage and approach the Joseon army’s panok ships.
The captain commanding the ship shouted in response to the soldiers’ cries.
“Discharge the shotgun shells!”
“Bangpo!”
pop!
At the captain’s command, the soldier in charge of firing the shotgun pulled the lanyard.
As the cannonball burst into flames with a dull firing sound, the small barge that was targeted was stained with blood. The Japanese pirates who were screaming loudly on board the ship were not even able to scream and were disintegrated into pieces.
“Reload!”
“Reload!”
After discharging the shotgun, reloading proceeded quickly. The loaders in charge of reloading pulled the lattice at the rear of the gun and turned the handle of the gun that contained the pills and gunpowder. As the handle was turned, the connection with the mother gun was loosened, causing the mother gun to fall out, and the loaders turned and inserted a new mother gun.
Meanwhile, the gunsmith, who combined a lanyard with a rack, aimed at another barge and pulled the lanyard.
pop!
* * *
The fierce Japanese pirates had no choice but to retreat as the bombardment continued four times in total.
The number of pirate ships that initially flocked was about 40, both large and small. However, when they retreated, there were less than 10 ships.
“The Japanese pirates are retreating!”
“Check the damage to our troops and check the condition of the hull!”
“yes!”
The captain, who gave orders to his subordinates, looked back at the manager standing next to him.
“I didn’t expect to see a big Japanese pirate that attacked us.”
“That’s right.”
…
_ The double ships of the Japanese pirates, who mainly used medium ships or small ships, or the fake Japanese pirates who moved with one or two ships, tended to retreat as soon as they saw the panokseon.
The Panokseon, which became larger through the hands of Hyang, was equipped with the largest number of artillery pieces and was the most durable ship among the front lines of the three Northeast Asian countries. The only drawback was the ‘damn slow’ speed.
However, even though the speed was slow, the value of the Panokseon did not decrease. The narrow strait between Joseon and Japan and the West Sea route between Shandong and Shandong were easily covered by Panokseon.
* * *
“Anyway… if this report is posted, a war of words will break out once again between the Military Command and the Commander-in-Chief and Naval Headquarters.”
“Is it a shotgun problem?”
In response to the manager’s question, Hamp nodded.
The ships mainly used by Japanese pirates were medium ships and small ships. A favorite tactic used by Japanese pirates was to drag small ships behind heavy ships with ropes or hang them behind them, and when they got close to a place to plunder or a merchant ship, they lowered the small ships and attacked them together with the heavy ships at once.
To deal with these Japanese pirates, Joranhwan was better than Daejeon or Cheoltan. Of course, the arrows fired by the Japanese pirates were threatening, but the gun shields mounted on the shotguns and the shields lined up along the side railings of the Panokseon protected the soldiers.
For this reason, the military and general staff wanted to change the armament of the Panok ships in charge of the South Sea.
“This is too much armament than necessary to deal with the Japanese pirate ships, so let’s lower the General Eulsik gun and increase the number of shotgun shells!”
The naval forces were desperately opposed to the opinions of the military commander and the Chief of Staff.
“The pirates also have a presidential election, and they can fire Joranhwan with General Eulsik’s firebox!”
“You can fire it, but when you actually use it, it all flies over the heads of the pirates!”
Considering the height of the Panokseon, even if you lowered and fired the Eulsik General’s firebox at the maximum angle (looking down), the Joranhwans would often pass over the heads of the Japanese pirates.
“So, the only case where shooting Joranhwan with General Eulsik’s firebox is effective is against the Japanese pirate ships! “It’s economical to reduce!”
“Aren’t Japanese pirates moving only in the West Sea and Japanese pirates moving only in the South Sea? “It is unacceptable to lower the General Eulsik flower box!”
“Then let’s adjust the numbers!”
“can not! “Take a boat!”
Even though they were called overarmed, they were a naval force that could never give up on firepower.
Hyang had to smile bitterly when he saw that.
“Was the tradition of Gwamujang a deep-rooted tradition that has been passed down since the Joseon Dynasty?”
‘It’s a moving powder keg’ or ‘It’s easy to stay afloat even with that much load.’ It reminded me of the appearance of the Korean Navy in the 21st century, which was evaluated as such.
The military and general staff insisted, but the justification was with the navy.
“Shit! Then why don’t you make a lot of panokseon!”
“….”
Since the appropriate number had not yet been deployed, the navy was roaming the sea carrying whatever weapons it had.
* * *
After the battle was over and the fleet had checked its condition, it sailed again.
“So… our Joseon navy is trying to establish a port on Tsushima Island.”
“Yes…”
At Nam Ki-ju’s words, Do Do-woong-wa nodded with a white face and trailed off.
Dodoungwa screamed inwardly.
‘Is this the power of the new ship of the Joseon Navy that I’ve only heard about?’
We had all heard rumors that the Panokseon of the Joseon Dynasty had tremendous power.
‘If you encounter the Joseon Navy’s new ship, run away with all your might. Otherwise, you will just end up with meat and rice.’
It was a rumor that had been going on for 2-3 years.
“It looks like the Joseon Navy’s new ships are powerful.”
Dodoungwa heard the rumor and discussed it with his retainers.
“It seems so. But the number doesn’t seem to be that large yet, so I don’t think it’s a cause for much concern.”
“That’s right.”
Dodoungwa nodded his head at the words of his retainers and gave up interest.
After that, there were rumors about a new type of wire called Panokseon, but the opinion of the retainers was, ‘There is nothing to worry about.’ was the trend.
“If you listen to the merchants who go to and from Waegwan, they say that there are still not many of them. “The sea is wide and their numbers are small, so they are not a big threat.”
“Wouldn’t it be a problem if those ships came into port?”
“Once they enter the port, it will soon become their graveyard. The main weapon of the Joseon Navy is gunpowder-based artillery, so it will not be able to withstand if flaming arrows are fired from all directions.”
Dodoungwa remembered the confident answers his vassals had given, and growled softly as he looked at the vassals standing next to him.
“You’re saying we won’t be able to survive if we fire fire and arrows from all directions?”
“There is no shame.”
To the answer of Hatoyamaa, the head of the vassals, Dodoungwa gave a small reply.
“Let’s go back and see.”
“getaway!”
When Nam Ki-ju called out to him, Do Do-woong-wa cleared his complexion and answered.
“Where do you think these pirates come from?”
To Nam Ki-ju’s question, Do Do-woong-wa thought for a moment and answered.
“I think they are pirates from the east.”
“East? Where is east?”
“It’s east of China.”
“china? So you mean our Joseon?”
In response to Nam Ki-ju’s question, the interpreter next to him explained on his behalf.
“It refers to the area on the Japanese main island facing Joseon.”
“Ah….”
Nam Ki-ju nodded at the interpreter’s explanation. Dodoungwa added, not wanting to miss the moment.
“They probably thought this fleet was just a merchant fleet and attacked it.”
“The Japanese pirates would already be familiar with Panokseon, right?”
“That’s…”
Dodoungwa looked for an answer with a puzzled look on Nam Ki-ju’s words. Looking at Do Do Woong Wa’s expression, Nam Ki Joo answered to himself.
“Perhaps they attacked our fleet because they knew it was a fleet carrying communications carriers? Considering the scale of the traditional carriers targeting Japan, one would have thought that the Panokseon would also have disarmed and taken people on board. “Isn’t that right?”
“That might be possible.”
“So, that means we knew in advance that our fleet was the one carrying communications carriers…” As
Nam Ki-ju glared, his words trailing off, Do Do-woong-wa urgently waved his hand.
“no! “I never revealed anything.”
“Perhaps among the vassals….”
“They are all my loyal vassals! “There was probably a Japanese pirate hiding in the harbor.”
“I guess so?”
“That’s right!”
Dodoungwa, who hastily resolved the situation, changed the topic by pointing to the mountain guns next to him.
“Anyway, this little artillery is very powerful!”
At Dodoungwa’s words, Nam Kiju’s face straightened and he answered.
“This is a canvas made by His Majesty the Crown Prince! That’s amazing! “There are few people who can handle this in close combat.”
‘Except for that crazy guy named Bigyeokjincheonrei!’
It was Nam Ki-ju who answered Do Do-woong-wa with a face full of pride.
* * *
As Nam Ki-ju said, the shotgun was the strongest weapon in close-quarters combat at sea.
Before the intervention of Hyang, the canvas that was called Bulranggi (佛狼機) in history was remodeled into this canvas with the simple name ‘Santanpo’.
The scent was a bit playful in the way it was fired by simply inserting a sack into a blanket and lighting the wick. By aligning the irregularities of the nematopoieta and the follicle and turning them sideways, the nematopoietic follicle and follicle were firmly joined together. In addition, the snout part of the nematocyst was lengthened and combined with the follicle to ensure better sealing.
When the actual battle took place, the loader inserted the sack according to the unevenness of the blanket and turned the handle. If it was properly assembled, the position of the detonator in the nematocyst and the position of the septum in the follicle were exactly aligned.
* * *
“The grand fleet is approaching!”
The fleet heading towards Shimonoseki after the battle was tense again due to the cries of the watchmen.
While the sailors of the fleet were tense again behind the guns, the approaching fleet stopped approaching.
After a while, a small boat was lowered and approached the fleet carrying the envoys. The interpreter, who spoke with the warrior on the small ship, reported with a puzzled expression.
“This is the escort fleet sent by Mr. Ouchi.”
Nam Ki-ju also made a similar expression upon hearing the interpreter’s report.
“That’s a good thing.”
Under the protection of the Ouchi family’s fleet, Nam Ki-ju and his party entered the Japanese main island.