Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 686

Episode 686: Suez (6)

– It teaches you how to fight, but it does not teach you how to win.

There was a small commotion inside Geunjeongjeon at Hyang’s words.

Those who had military experience or experience handling military-related affairs, such as Kim Jeom and Kim Jong-seo and Minshin, nodded their heads, but pure civil servants who did not had a puzzled look on their faces.

‘I feel like I know something, and sometimes I don’t…’

‘That damn Zen question! ‘As long as you know everything!’

‘It’s either the situation or the emperor! Surely the crown prince wouldn’t do something like that? If that’s the case, I’ll resign! ‘I will resign even if it means taking poison!’

In a situation where all sorts of things were being said internally, Heo Hu came forward as the representative.

“Your Majesty, your convictions are so vague that I do not know much about your sacred place. “Please consider my foolish beliefs.”

Hyang smiled slightly at Heo Hu’s words and explained in more detail.

-With the mass distribution of gunpowder weapons, the tactics used on the battlefield have changed significantly.

-No, the big picture is largely the same, but a lot of small parts have changed.

-Therefore, instructors from the empire are sent to the Japanese country to teach them.

-However, what the instructor teaches is limited to tactical aspects. Exclude strategy or other important parts.

Heo Hu tilted his head slightly at Hyang’s explanation and asked the question again.

“However, large aspects such as strategy are emphasized in all the military methods handed down from ancient times. “Even if the empire doesn’t teach them, isn’t this something they can figure out on their own?”

Hyang nodded slightly in response to Heo Hu’s point.

“That is correct. If you look at the military books that have written about how to win a war since ancient times, there is always a mention of strategy. But a lot changed when guns appeared on the battlefield. As a result, even if the same strategy is established, how it should be implemented has changed significantly. This part is not taught. And, considering the wars that Japan has fought in the meantime, this is something you will never know unless you teach it.”

“But still…”

As Heo Hu continued to make a puzzled expression, Min Shin joined the conversation.

“Your Majesty, do you mind if I explain your thoughts to the Minister of Foreign Affairs?”

“Sure.”

“Hwang Eun is devastated that you have granted such a rude request.”

In some ways, it was an unholy act to intrude into the conversation between the emperor and the minister, so Minshin thanked Hyang and began to explain to Hu Hu.

“The easiest example is supply.”

-Famous military books from ancient times never fail to mention the importance of supply.

-However, if you look at the history of the Japanese nation, unlike the Lee Ming or us, they did not consider supply to be that important.

-The reason is that most of the wars fought by the Japanese were civil wars and the territory of the Japanese was not very large.

-How long will it take to march on a narrow piece of land, and even if there is a rotation, how many people will be mobilized? It is nothing compared to the vast land of the central plains, where many books of military methods were written, or the old Three Han Dynasties, which sometimes fought against the empires of the central plains and fought over the unification of the three Koreas.

-For this reason, the Japanese government takes this supply lightly. Spear swords are sufficient for warriors and soldiers to carry, and if in a hurry, they can cut down nearby bamboo or trees to make bamboo or wooden spears. The same goes for gungshi (弓矢). If you run out of food, you can loot it from nearby sources.

-This will be immediately understandable if you think about the behavior of Japanese pirates in the past.

-But as gunpowder weapons became the core of warfare, many things changed.

-Gunpowder and bullets Gunpowder and bullets are not items that can be made right on the battlefield. Of course, there is nothing you can’t do if you want to make it, but in order to perform properly, you have to make it properly from the rear.

-This alone increases the difficulty and the amount of consumption is also enormous. Every time a battle occurs, soldiers use well over hundreds of bullets. This is absolutely not a quantity that can be made in an emergency situation on the battlefield.

When Minshin explained up to this point, Heo Hu pointed out a contradiction.

“Considering the civil war that led to Daenae’s rise to power, wouldn’t they be aware of the problems with gunpowder weapons?”

“At that time, gunpowder weapons played a leading role in the war, but the spearmen both started and ended. And what Daenae’s soldiers used at that time was not the long gun used by the imperial army, but a gun of inferior performance. “It would have taken at least seven days to fire hundreds of rounds with that gun.”

“Ah…”

Heohu nodded at Minshin’s words. The same was true for Hyang, who was listening to Minshin above the temple.

‘It’s not like the Twelve Apostles came out…’

* * *

In the early history before the intervention of incense, European soldiers using muskets carried wooden barrels containing one shot of gunpowder and one bullet. The average number of wooden barrels carried was twelve, so the soldiers at the time called them the Twelve Apostles.

What is interesting is that all 12 Apostles were rarely used in one battle. When all 12 apostles were used, the prevailing opinion was that it was a bloody battle that would forever remain in history.

As a result, this was the reason why spearmen survived until the era of line infantry came. Although the musketeers decided the outcome, it was up to the spearmen to finish the battle.

* * *

As Heo Hu and the ministers who had expressions similar to Heo Hu nodded, Minshin began his final explanation.

“This is why the most intelligent people in the imperial military academies are assigned to the gunnery department, and the next brightest people are assigned to the administrative supply department. But do they accept Japanese people at military academies? “This is something you should never do.”

The ministers who were nodding their heads at Minshin’s explanation soon remembered one thing.

‘wait? Come to think of it…’

When discussing personnel allocation at the military academy, Hyang was the one who most strongly advocated for this kind of allocation.

* * *

Until Joseon was founded, its main force was cavalry.

No, it was moving from cavalry to artillery.

This was because he realized the power of artillery through his first powerful experience of the Battle of Jinpo in the late Goryeo Dynasty.

Therefore, the military academy tried to assign the most intelligent and qualified students to the gunnery department first, and then to the cavalry department.

However, it was Hyang who prevented this and actively recommended the Administrative Supply Department.

“Since ancient times, it has been said to first ensure supply and then move the soldiers! “If the supply of gunpowder, bullets, and ammunition to be used by the musketeers and artillerymen, the main force of the military, is messed up, we will fight a hundred times and lose a hundred times!”

Thanks to Hyang’s insistence and Sejong’s recognition of its importance, personnel allocation was made as Hyang suggested.

There was a rumor going around for a while about this personnel allocation, not only among the students at the military academy but also in the military.

-It is true that supply is important, but isn’t it too much of an emphasis?

-Isn’t what a general proves himself to be his martial prowess and skillful distribution of command posts?

-No way… because the crown prince favors artillery?

Despite such back-and-forth, Hyang and King Sejong steadfastly pushed forward with their principles.

And the victory in the last war proved that Hyang’s words were right.

The supplies that arrived at the second line supply base by rail were moved to the intermediate supply base using steam traction trucks and carts pulled by ox horses. And the supply flowed like a stream to the front line using ox carts. In addition, the Ministry of Finance and Economy joined with the Ministry of Finance and Economy to create a policy regarding the operation of private businesses for the mass production of materials consumed in large quantities at the front.

The imperial army, which maintained its morale and strength while receiving proper supplies, defeated the Ming army, which was in the opposite situation, and achieved victory.

And as a result of this war, the importance of administrative supply was proven, and no one complained about the allocation of personnel to military academies.

Except for one person, Hyang…

“Ah! “You damn art lovers!”

In addition, the number of applications from those who realized that administrative promotion is a shortcut to success has increased significantly, and the competition rate has also increased.

* * *

The ministers who remembered such a series of trends looked at the incense with strange eyes.

‘How many moves ahead were you looking at?’

Hyang, whether or not he knew what the ministers were thinking, organized the situation.

“So, let’s focus on Mr. Daenae’s request regarding the military as ‘not allowing the navy, sending instructors to the army.’ “Do you have any disagreement?”

“I don’t have any.”

“This is truly a reasonable decision.”

When all the ministers agreed, they gave the order to Kim Jeom.

“I hope the Prime Minister, together with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, will come up with a suitable excuse.”

“I follow your orders.”

* * *

Fifteen days later, the township’s response to Ouchi’s request arrived in Yamaguchi.

“Tsk!”

After checking the contents of the reply, Mochiyo took a sip of her food with a face full of regret.

“I expected it wouldn’t be easy when it comes to the military, but it’s still disappointing.”

Norihiro, who checked the contents of the reply to Mochiyo’s complaint, comforted him.

“Isn’t this an empire that has memories of being harassed by Japanese pirates? “You think we’ve made a lot of progress since the instructors are coming.”

“That’s right, but I can’t help but feel regretful. “I wanted to nurture talented people properly and reduce the time it takes for them to go out into the wider world.”

“It was called ‘1000 miles of beef.’ “Many talented people are still working hard, so it will definitely come true.”

Mochiyo nodded strongly at Norihiro’s words.

“Gadok is right! How long are we going to have to stay on this narrow archipelago? We must go out into the world, make a name for ourselves, and expand our reach before it is too late! “You can’t just follow the empire forever!”

“That’s right!”

Having made up her mind, Mochiyo moved on to the next step.

“How are the preparations for the school going to educate children?”

“The selection of where the academy will be located and the writers who will teach has been done to some extent, but something else is the problem.”

“Other? Something?”

“It’s a matter of naming. There is a strong argument that calling it a social democratic school just like the empire is a matter of pride.”

Mochiyo nodded at Norihiro’s words.

“That is correct. So… have you prepared any useful names?”

“yes. These are elementary schools and elementary schools. “Elementary schools were built because they were schools for young children, and elementary schools were built because they were places where children who would grow up as subjects of Japan learned.”

“Both are okay, but…”

Mochiyo, who was considering two options, soon chose one.

“Let’s make it a public school.”

“I will.”

Soon after hearing this news, Hyang smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“Is it a public school again?…”

* * *

Meanwhile, the surveying team members selected by Jinpyeong arrived in Suez with Giovanni.

“Whose land is this hot!”

“I’ve heard a lot of people say it’s hot, it’s hot, but it’s extremely hot!”

The surveying team members, who were surprised by the heat they had experienced for the first time in their lives, were surprised again when night fell.

“what? Why did the temperature suddenly drop?”

“When the sun goes down, it becomes a different world, right?”

“Well, there are all these damn neighborhoods!”

Giovanni smiled bitterly and muttered to himself at the shouts of the surveying team members.

‘But this is a calm place because it’s by the sea. ‘If you go into the desert, it’s even worse than here.’

Even while complaining, the surveying team members unloaded the equipment while conserving sleep.

After unloading the equipment and completing the inspection, the surveying team members took a break and relaxed from their travels.

After resting for three days to relieve fatigue, the surveying team members loaded their equipment onto camels and finally began work.

“Okay then, let’s get moving!”

“Sure!”

“But why is this beast of a camel so foul-tempered! “You’re better than my wife!”

It was the beginning of a railroad that crossed about 400 ri (about 160 km) of desert while passing through a water source for about 300 ri (about 120 km) in a straight line.