Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 265
Episode 265: Battle of the Songhua River. (4)
As the battlefield was selected to deal with Lee Man-ju and Muntemu, the temporary palace in Hamheung was busy.
Among those who were so busy, those who were most busy were those related to supply issues.
At the meeting related to supply, officials under Hwang Hee were literally ‘flying around’.
“The most urgent thing is supply for the Pyeongan-do military, which has caught up with the tribes of the 20,000-man tribe.”
When a young military officer from the General Staff Headquarters pointed out the problem, everyone gathered in the conference room nodded.
At least among the Joseon military commanders of this period, there were no people who took logistics and supplies lightly.
* * *
As the Joseon army’s main weapons changed from cold weapons such as spears and swords to heat weapons using gunpowder, the importance of supply became increasingly important.
Therefore, among those who passed the military service examination and had outstanding administrative skills, they were sent directly to the supply chain.
This was also an opportunity for quick promotion for those who passed the state examination.
Thanks to this, a large number of people who applied to the military branch to avoid the fiercely competitive civil service entered the supply system, and the Joseon army’s supply system began to take shape at a rapid pace.
Of course, it was natural that Hyang had all kinds of interference in this process.
“The surest route of advance on the battlefield is a road paved with steel!”
At Hyang’s shout, Choi Yun-deok as well as all the commanders nodded.
In particular, Choi Hae-san, Choi Mu-seon’s son and the Joseon Army’s best artillery expert, nodded so strongly that one was worried that he might lose his head.
* * *
As there was no opposition, the military officer who spoke continued to speak while pointing at the map with his pointer.
“Therefore, supplies for the Pyeongan Province military will first be transported to Uiju. Next, it is transported to an appropriate point using the Yalu River and then supplied by land. Two locations were considered for this secondary supply base, one being Chosanjin and the other being Manpojin. The advantages of both places are….”
“Wait a minute.”
While the military officer was explaining in a confident voice, an official from Hamgil Island stepped in and interrupted him.
“Quick distribution is key. But let’s send them to Uiju and go up the Yalu River again? It’s just time consuming. How about this method?”
The official raised another pointing stick and took pictures of various places on the map.
“First, we gather the supplies sent from Hanseong and the south to Wonsan. It is then transported to Hamheung by sea and land. Then, we will connect supply lines from Hamheung to Manpojin and Hyesanjin. Manpojin sends supplies and reserve troops to Pyeongan-do County, and Hyesanjin sends supplies and reserve troops to Hamgil-do County heading to Jilin.”
“The road is definitely getting shorter.”
The official bowed his head in response to King Sejong’s evaluation as he listened to the explanation.
“That’s right.”
Other military officers at the Chiefs of Staff opposed King Sejong’s favorable evaluation.
“The route is short, but the problem is that it has to pass through Gaema Plateau. Gaema Plateau is one of the roughest terrains, so it is infested with all kinds of wild beasts. Even in Hanseong, which is full of people, compatibility occurs. However, passing through the Gaema Plateau, which is full of not only tigers but also bears, leopards, and wolves, is not an option! “The soldiers will quickly tire from guarding against wild beasts!”
The military officer’s opposition was reasonable.
* * *
Joseon, with its many mountains, was also a ‘country of wild beasts.’
Villages in Joseon were often surrounded by mountains.
The mountains near the village were almost bare as the trees had been cut down for firewood or building materials, but if you went just a little beyond the village boundaries, there were many mountains full of trees.
And these mountains were full of wild animals such as tigers, leopards, bears, and wolves.
What was even worse was that these mountains were lined up all over the Korean Peninsula.
Therefore, a fierce struggle between humans and wild beasts continued in this terrain.
‘For half of the year, tigers chase people, and for the other half of the year, people chase tigers.’
‘People catch tigers during the day, and tigers catch people at night.’
Joseon was a place where these words were not a joke.
And even in the infamous Joseon Dynasty, the most infamous place was Gaema Plateau.
* * *
All the military officers at the General Staff Headquarters opposed the idea, but the officials from Hamgil Island laughed and accepted the idea.
“The transportation route on Gaema Plateau can guarantee safety. At least for Koreans only.”
“yes?”
“huh?”
When not only the commanders of the Chief of Staff but also King Sejong expressed doubts, Hwang Hee stepped forward and answered.
“majesty. Do you remember the skins of wild beasts that were distributed in the second year after the start of the development of Dongbuk-myeon?”
“Remember. “It was quite a lot.”
“That’s less than half of what those guys caught.”
“huh?”
King Sejong looked at the officials in surprise at Hwang Hee’s explanation.
Hwang Hee explained the reason in detail.
* * *
As the development of Dongbuk-myeon began, officials suffered from overwork. This was because the area to be processed was large and there were no people.
Thanks to this, all officials had to become masters of horseback riding, and while dealing with the unruly Jurchen people, they became masters of marksmanship and archery.
In order to increase efficiency in a situation where there was a lot of work and no people, it was necessary to take the shortest route possible.
The problem was Gaema Plateau.
Military escort was essential to pass through rough terrain teeming with wild beasts, but it was impossible to receive support whenever necessary.
In the end, the officials grabbed their rifles and horseback rifles and mounted their horses.
“Shit! “It’s up to you whether you die from overwork or from being bitten by a wild animal!”
Whenever they were off duty, a group of officials roamed the Gaema Plateau and hunted down wild animals.
As a result, the ordeal of the wild beasts living in Gaema Plateau began. And the officials’ shooting and archery skills gradually improved.
At first, it took more than ten bullets to catch a tiger, but in less than a year, they had become skilled enough to kill a tiger with just one shot.
* * *
“… That is why I collected the skins that were in good condition from the wild beasts that were killed and presented them to Your Majesty.”
Not only King Sejong but also the military officers at the Chiefs of Staff were left speechless at Hwang Hee’s explanation.
“Oh my… so much…”
When even King Sejong was stuttering with an embarrassed expression, Choi Yun-deok came to his senses and asked Hwang Hee.
“Then the seeds of wild beasts have dried up in Gaema Plateau?”
Hwang Hee shook her head in response to Choi Yun-deok’s question.
“That’s not it. It’s just that these wild beasts seem to have any thoughts and run away as soon as they sense the presence of the Koreans. The funny thing is that it’s not Yeo Jin-in again. So, it is limited to Koreans.”
“Can the observer definitely guarantee the safety of that transport route?”
“At least as long as you don’t fail the main team, you don’t have to worry about being attacked by wild beasts.”
In response to Hwang Hee, King Sejong began to weigh various possibilities.
‘Hwang Hee is someone who does not lie. Then…’
Sejong concluded.
“Speed is important, so choose a route that passes through the Gaema Plateau!”
“I follow your orders!”
Everyone responded with one voice to the supreme commander’s decision.
* * *
As such decisions were being made in Hamheung, the first battle between the Joseon army and the Jurchen people of Manchuria was about to begin 15 ri (about 6 km) northeast of the Mae River.
“Han! “It’s the Joseon Army!”
Tribal leader Agutai, who was taking a break from his horse for a moment, shook his head with an expression that said it was impossible to hear the warrior’s cry.
“There is no way the Joseon army can move this fast! “Didn’t I see it wrong?”
“no! one! “It’s the Joseon Army!”
“really? “It’s the Joseon army, not the ones who joined the Joseon army?”
The warrior screamed at Agutai’s repeated denials.
“That’s right, the Joseon Army! “This is a proper Joseon army!”
“shit!”
Agutai, who climbed onto his horse while swearing, asked the warrior.
“where are you?”
“It’s southwest!”
“Hey!”
In response to the warrior’s reply, Agutai drove his horse and climbed a nearby hill.
“It’s over there!”
Agutai turned his head in the direction the warrior was pointing and cursed without realizing it.
“Damn it…”
A huge cloud of dust was rising in the distance. Glittering through the cloud of dust was clearly a blade.
‘Birra said that we would only encounter the Joseon army after we joined! But they’re already chasing me!’
Agutai, who was worried about the unexpected situation, quickly turned his horse’s head and ran towards his tribe.
“It’s too late! “Now all that’s left is to fight!”
Agutai ran towards the tribe members, who were carrying all kinds of goods on carts large and small, and shouted loudly.
“The Koreans came after me! Everyone pop out!”
Agutai, who gave orders to his tribe members, gave orders to the warriors following him.
“Blow the trumpet! “Tell those who went out to scout and come back!”
“Yes Khan!”
The warrior who received the order quickly blew his horn.
Phew~. As
the sound of the horn spread widely, warriors who had gone out on a scouting mission were seen rushing towards us from afar.
From here and there in the moving procession, people wearing armor and carrying weapons jumped out on horseback.
The ages of those gathered ranged from boys who had just started to grow fluffy to old people with wrinkles.
Agutai explained the situation in front of those gathered.
“The Joseon army came after us faster than expected. Now there is only one thing for us to do. They attack the Joseon army with all their might, tie them down, then run away with all their might and join other tribes! got it?”
“yes!”
“If we don’t stop the Joseon army here, you know what will happen to our family, right?”
In response to Agutai’s question, the men nodded silently.
In recent years, rumors about the Joseon military have been unusual.
It was rumored that there were more than a few tribes that had crossed the Joseon border as easily as before and then disappeared altogether.
In fact, among the tribes that were in contact with Agutai’s tribe, there was one that disappeared like that.
When battles with the Jurchen people took place, the Joseon army was more brutal than the Jurchen people.
Unlike the Jurchen people who kept some of them alive to use as slaves, the Joseon soldiers killed them all.
Because of this, all the men in the tribe were nervous.
When the warriors who returned after hearing the sound of the trumpet joined in, Agutai gave an order.
“Intercept the Joseon army from as far away as possible! let’s go!”
“let’s go!”
With loud shouts, over 1,500 cavalry units began to ride in the direction of the Joseon army.
* * *
The Joseon army also immediately realized that Agutai’s warriors had begun an interception.
“General! Aftershocks are coming! The number is about 1500!”
“What is the distance?”
The scout immediately answered Lee Soon-mong’s short question.
“It’s about 10 ri (4 km)!”
“Hmm…”
Lee Soon-mong calculated for a moment in response to the scout’s answer.
According to his experience, he would not sprint from that distance.
Among the armor worn by the Jurchen tribe, the properly made one weighed about 30 geun (18 kg).
Usually, they wear a lighter skin jacket, but the skin armor was 20 geun (approximately 12 kg).
“Is it about 1 piece (about 15 minutes)?”
Yi Sun-mong, who estimated the time when the Jurchen tribe would arrive, immediately gave an order.
“Prepare for battle! The formation is 1 volunteer! Deployment is as previously trained!”
“ancient!”
As soon as Yi Sun-mong’s order was given, messengers rushed in all directions.
After a while, all kinds of shouts erupted from all directions and the Joseon army began to form a camp.
The Joseon army quickly began to build a formation.
The cavalry was lined up in three rows at the front, followed by spearmen, then musketeers, and behind that were artillerymen.
Lastly, I looked towards the front with the command center where Lee Sun-mong was located and the reserve unit consisting of riflemen.
It took about 10 minutes for over 15,000 soldiers to complete the formation. Yi Sun-mong was very satisfied after seeing the speed at which the soldiers formed their ranks.
“The training I’ve done so far has paid off!”
“That’s right.”
The staff present at Lee Soon-mong’s evaluation also showed the same expression.
The Joseon army, which changed its constitution through light armor, was worthy of being called elite.
In addition, after catching up with the last of the Huligai tribe, they benefited from moving fully armed in anticipation of battle.
After confirming that the Jin was completed, Yi Sun-mong gave an order.
“I’ll say it again, their biggest goal is probably to tie up our feet. So they’ll probably target the cavalry. Therefore, cavalrymen were placed at the front. When the aftershocks come into range, the cavalry immediately fires once and moves to the left and right of the camp. “Did you convey it properly?”
“yes!”
In response to the advisors’ answers, Lee Sun-mong got on his horse with a satisfied face.
“Then let’s have some fun.”
“ancient!”