Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 709
Episode 709: The Second Battle of the Yellow Sea (7)
As the next day dawned, ships sailed from all military ports belonging to the Inland Sea Fleet.
Cho Jin-woong, aboard the Challenger-class front-line Ganggyeok, the flagship of the Inland Sea Fleet, checked the situation.
“What about spy ships and communication lines?”
“We set sail last night, so it should already be waiting.”
“What about the monks?”
“We launched it 1 o’clock (about 2 hours) before the fleet sailed.”
“I see…”
Jo Jin-woong nodded lightly and looked at the chart to organize the situation.
-It is a battle involving about 140 ships on both sides. Ultimately, the space where battles can take place is limited.
-The size of the Ming fleet deployed this time is very small compared to the last war. This may be due to the belief in a super-giant electric wire called the ‘double-headed dragon’, although most of them are large electric wires.
-Because of their faith in that huge front, they will insist on direct confrontation.
-In addition, after destroying the friendly fleet, we will immediately go up the Han River and make a show of force against Seoul.
“If we put it this way….”
Cho Jin-woong pointed at a small archipelago on the chart with his baton.
“The area right here near the Gyeokpyi Archipelago is the most likely.”
At the last meeting, when Cho Jin-woong pointed out that the area around Gyeokbiyeol Island would be the battlefield, all the commanders of the Inland Sea Fleet agreed.
Therefore, the front lines departing from Seosan, Boryeong, Seocheon, and Gunsan, the main military ports of the Inland Sea Fleet, were planned to gather near Gyeokbiyeol Island.
However, variables always existed, so Cho Jin-woong launched a spy ship at night and flew all communication ships and monks – not only self-flying monks, but also traditional monks who were fixed on ropes.
While the scout ships and self-flying monks circled around the area to reconnoiter, the communication lines and the spherical monks were in charge of relaying the information they sent to him.
* * *
It was about the time when the Empire’s Inland Sea Fleet gathered near the Gyeokbi Archipelago, just passing from Sashi (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.) to Oshi (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
At the head of the fleet, there were two assault ships standing in front and behind, and to the left and right of them were a long line of challenger-class battleships.
And the fastest-moving sea emergency front lines were forming a straight line behind the fleet.
“I feel it every time I see it, but isn’t it a truly powerful fleet? Especially those assault return ships.”
The captain of the Ganggyeok ship nodded at Cho Jin-woong’s words.
“That’s right.”
“I would like to add the word invincible, but it is forbidden by the imperial order…”
Jo Jin-woong trailed off, unable to hide his disappointment, and the captain next to him nodded with a similar expression.
* * *
Imperial navies had absolute faith in their fleets.
-The imperial fleet is invincible! It’s an invincible fleet!
However, upon hearing these words, Hyang became very angry and gave an order.
“The first thing soldiers responsible for the well-being of a nation must refrain from is pride! Never mention the words ‘Invincible Armada’ again!”
The word ‘Invincible Armada’ officially disappeared from within the Imperial Navy due to Xiang’s firm order.
Some people expressed dissatisfaction with Hyang’s treatment, while others were supportive of Hyang.
“No, what’s the problem with calling the Invincible Armada the Invincible Armada?”
“I think you care about it that much. Why don’t we give harsher names to our precious children the more we see them? I mean, it prevents dongti. “I think it’s all like that.”
“But…”
“Isn’t good something good? And since it is the name of the emperor, we must protect it.”
Even though the naval officers and soldiers grumbled, Hyang resolutely pushed ahead.
“After all the things like ‘Invincible Armada’, none of them had a good ending! “Starting from Spain’s Invincible Armada to the Japanese Navy’s 1st Aircraft Squadron!”
* * *
Cho Jin-woong, who expressed regret for a moment, soon came to his senses and looked at the chart.
“But what Your Majesty said is certainly true. Conceit is prohibited. “Nothing like cancer.”
While Cho Jin-woong was controlling himself, a military officer outside quickly came in and announced.
“Communication has arrived! ‘Enemy fleet discovered! 150 ri (about 60 km) due west from point Gap! Size about 70! Three two-headed ships in the lead! Youngjin!’ That is all!”
Jo Jin-woong clenched his fists after examining the chart in response to the military officer’s report.
“also! Those guys faced off head-on! If so, you should accept it! Hang the sacred flag! To Danjongjin!”
“ancient!”
The military officer who responded loudly to Cho Jin-woong’s command gave a military salute and immediately went outside.
After a while, the signal was raised on the flagship’s mast and the luminous signals sent out signals.
After a while, signals flashed on other fronts as well, and the fleet’s formation began to change.
The challenger-class front lines that were forming a long line to the left and right of the assault return ships began to form two single formations, increasing the distance between them and the assault return ships. The sea emergency fronts at the rear also disbanded their straight formations and then began forming two single longitudinal formations.
By organizing the formation in this way, the assault return line secured space to act more freely.
The ships that made up Danjongjin were to move along the side of the Ming fleet and attack the enemy using the guns on the side.
The tactics honed while dealing with pirates from the Ming Dynasty, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, as well as Japanese pirates, were put to use once again.
– Instead of engaging in a melee, destroy the enemy step by step, making use of mobility and firepower as much as possible.
This was the basic tactic of the Imperial Navy.
The newly formed imperial navy passed the Gyeokbi Archipelago, the point A, and marched westward. Even during the voyage, the location of the Ming Dynasty fleet was continuously relayed through the monks, and the Inland Sea Fleet adjusted its direction appropriately and headed toward the front of the Ming Dynasty fleet.
* * *
About 1 and a half past hour (approximately 3 hours), the luminous signals of the leading assault return ships and challenger-class fronts began flashing.
“Enemy fleet discovered! Friendly front!”
Cho Jin-woong immediately gave an order to the shout of a military officer who confirmed the signal.
“Order to charge to return ship! “Tell them to start snake hunting!”
“ancient!”
“Order the fleet! Everything goes as planned! Calmly destroy the enemy according to the strategy!”
“ancient!”
The signalman who received the order broke his wrist and moved the luminous signal. Soon, luminescent signals were flashing from all directions, the assault ships began to speed up, and a deadly spirit began to hover throughout the fleet.
“Hmm~.”
Cho Jin-woong took a deep breath and looked back at the captain standing next to him.
“From now on, it’s up to you. “Please take care of me.”
“Leave it to me!”
The captain answered confidently, grabbed Jeon Seong-gwan and screamed.
“All personnel deployed for battle!”
* * *
Around the same time, the Ming fleet also discovered the imperial fleet.
“I was already waiting.”
Jinyu, who heard the report on the bridge of the Great Bokship, muttered with a bitter smile. The captain standing next to his muttering responded with a similar expression.
“There were a lot of bhikkhus floating in the sky this morning. Wouldn’t it have been strange not to know?”
“That’s right. “Anyway…”
While nodding at the captain’s words, Jinwi looked with envious eyes at the self-powered flying spheres moving in the high sky.
“I really envy the imperial bastards’ dexterity. We still do best with bhikkhus fastened with rope…”
The bhikkhu was already a well-known figure. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty also made efforts to produce it and began producing and deploying it some time ago.
However, the monks placed by the Ming Dynasty were still operated by being fixed using ropes. The self-powered flight equipment used by the Imperial Army was still being researched, but there was still a long way to go due to the technology level being lower than that of the Empire.
“By the way, are you okay, General?”
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone, including the commander, was on the Two-Headed Flame Dragon, but you’re here alone…”
The captain’s words were slurred, but he understood the truth right away. Jinyu smiled bitterly and shrugged his shoulders.
“It can’t be helped, right? “Someone has to lead from outside.”
* * *
After the last private meeting with Emperor Gyeongtae, Jinwi became an outcast.
It was known that the reason he remained alone was not to be reprimanded but to give advice.
Whether good or bad, receiving the emperor’s attention had an impact on one’s career. Thanks to this, Jinwi had no choice but to leave, taking on the task of commanding one of the sub-fleets belonging to the fleet.
On the contrary, all key personnel of the fleet command, including the commander, were located in the Two-Headed Flame Dragon.
The reason why Jin Yu was taken on the Great Fuseon rather than the Double-Headed Flame Dragon, which was considered the largest and safest of the Ming Dynasty battle lines, was simple.
-Fight hard and die!
* * *
“The battle has happened anyway, so now I have no choice but to do my best to survive…”
Jinyu, who was muttering self-deprecating words and holding up the telescope, chuckled as he looked at the telescope in his hand.
“Damn it… this was also made by the Empire. Most of the things that are still usable are those made by the empire…”
Hiding his complex thoughts, Jinwi put the telescope to his eyes and looked at the imperial fleet approaching from afar.
“As expected, there are two ships.”
Jinyu, who was muttering in a bitter voice as he watched the two assault ships slowly speeding up, suddenly gritted his teeth.
“this! “This is the worst!”
The assault ships approaching from afar had changed direction. What this meant was clear.
-The Empire’s assault return plan is not to fight head-on, but to bite off the side!
However, what Jinyu judged to be the worst was the attitude taken by the ally’s two-headed flame dragon.
Instead of turning his head towards the charging return line approaching his side, he actually increased his forward speed.
Jinwi, who saw the decision of the higher-ups with his own eyes, was furious and hit the railing with his fist.
“You make the mistake of believing only in the armor of the Two-Headed Flame Dragon without really knowing how much firepower the Assault Return Ship has! Captain!”
“yes!”
“Can we go faster than now?”
When asked about the truth, the captain answered with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“You can do it if you train your enemies, but it won’t last long!”
“doesn’t care! “I just need to buy time to stop that assault line!”
“What you’re saying is…”
“If the two-headed dragon is annihilated, we’re finished!”
The captain thought for a moment at Jinwi’s shout, then nodded and called a military officer.
“Tell the soldiers to stir as quickly as possible!”
“yes!”
Meanwhile, Jin Yu diligently gave orders.
“Pass it to the other ships! Do your best to block the assault ship’s path!”
“yes!”
Signals containing Jin Wei’s orders were hung on the mast, and the great fleet ships under Jin Wei began to gradually increase their speed.
Jinwi’s eyes were full of despair as he looked at his fleet moving at such a speeding pace.
“It’s too slow…”
Compared to the ships equipped with steam engines, the ship he was on and other ships were too slow.
“Is it already too late?…”
* * *
At the same time, the first ship of the Two-Headed Flame Dragon. The bridge of ‘Jeongjo (征朝)’.
“There were also two assault ships.”
Admiral Deng Su-lin, commander of the Yellow Sea Fleet, received the report from the staff with an arrogant expression.
“After all, Koreans only know how to use tricks. “It doesn’t matter because it was already expected.”
“Shall we run the function?”
“No, speed up and rush.”
“yes?”
“Rush in like this and destroy the Koreans’ inland sea fleet. “It’s repaying what happened in the last war!”
“But the side is exposed!”
“The two-headed dragon’s side armor is 2 inches (approximately 6 cm)! The wooden board behind it is also twice as thick! No need to worry! Rather, the problem is the grand foreshadowing! “We must eliminate as many challengers as possible to make the Grand Convoy safer!”
Following Deng Su-lin’s decision, the three Two-Headed Flame Dragons increased their speed and began charging.