Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 799

Chapter 799: Bloody fight in the jungle (5)

After this, warriors from eight additional tribes joined the camp of the conquering army.

The tribes of those who had moved to Shinji with Seok and the tribes that were close to them had sent warriors.

“Please give them a logging certificate as well. “It’s a friendly gesture.”

“Yes general.”

According to Lee Jing-ok’s orders, logging swords were also provided to warriors from newly joined tribes.

The native warriors’ eyes sparkled as they held the rough but sharp logging blades.

Although it was slightly shorter and heavier than the macuahuitl they had used up to that time, the sharpness and durability of the blade were far ahead.

“If only I had a sword like this…”

The warriors who joined the conquest army muttered similar words while stroking their logging swords.

All of them had the experience of losing their families to the Mesica people who had become entrenched in Mesico Tenochtitlan. (Note 1)

Therefore, their hatred for the Mesica people was beyond imagination.

And in order to relieve that hatred, they cooperated with the conquering army with all their might.

“These strangers can get rid of those Messika bastards!”

Some of the natives who escaped with Seng returned to their tribes and told stories of the battle between the Mesica warriors and the imperial army.

The tribesmen who heard the story of just a few hundred imperial troops killing thousands of Mesika warriors initially thought it was an exaggeration.

However, as time passed, rumors heard here and there, and Messika’s sudden shrinking movements became evidence that it was likely true.

In the end, the tribal leaders, shamans, and surviving warriors decided to unite with the empire.

“Their advice is correct. I don’t know now, but I’m sure those Messika guys will strike again soon. “Hide a little deeper.”

The tribes who heard the escapees hid deeper into the jungle.

Life would become more difficult, but it was an inevitable choice for survival and for the future.

And it was a wise choice.

This was because they were able to avoid the tragedy when the smallpox storm was driving Mesica and the surrounding area into tragedy.

* * *

When the native warriors who joined the conquering army saw the armament and number of the conquering army, they immediately sent messengers to their tribes.

“These people are strong. And it is providing a lot of help. “It is safer to join them.”

The tribal leaders who heard the warriors’ message led the tribesmen to join the conquest army.

Lee Jing-ok, who received the report, stroked his bushy beard and looked embarrassed.

“It’s good that the number of people who can help has increased, but won’t there be a problem with the speed of advance?”

“I don’t think there will be much of a problem. And there is also a good thing about it.”

Lee Jing-ok’s eyes lit up when one of the staff members answered that it was actually good.

“Rather good? “Please explain in more detail.”

“Anyway, considering the current size of the troops, even if they joined, it would not have increased to the point where it would be a problem. “That means it doesn’t affect movement speed much.”

“Hmm, that’s right….”

Lee Jing-ok nodded at the words of the aide. It was impossible to move quickly through the jungle without a proper path.

Even now, the march of the conquering army stretched almost 5 ri (about 2 km) long. Therefore, as the staff said, it seemed plausible that there would be no major problems if the tribesmen joined.

“On the contrary, the good thing is the cowpox vaccination.”

“Vaccination?”

“When they heard the news about cowpox, the first thing they and their party requested was to let their tribesmen release cowpox.”

“That was it.”

Lee Jing-ok nodded at the staff member’s explanation.

* * *

When Seong and his party first arrived at Shinji, the first order given by the governor who met them was to inoculate them with cowpox.

Seong and his party received Wudu even though they were curious and did not know the English meaning.

“If I can get their cooperation by getting this right, I should get it right.”

When time passed and he returned to hear and report on the epidemic of smallpox, the imperial people he had become friends with told Seng and his companions.

“Hey~. “You won’t get smallpox.”

“pock?”

“That’s the curse placed on those Messikas or something. That’s smallpox. And you were hit as soon as you arrived at Shinji, right? “That’s the medicine that stops the smallpox.”

“Is that true?”

“then! “No one among us gets smallpox after taking that shot.”

After hearing the story, Seong and his party immediately petitioned Lee Jing-ok.

“Please give Wudu to our tribe’s brothers and sisters too!”

Lee Jing-ok, who received the report at the right time and was writing a report to Hyang, immediately accepted their petition.

* * *

“Anyway, I had to go to their tribe to get the cowpox vaccine. But it’s actually better that they came directly. “It saves us the trouble of wandering through the jungle to find it.”

Lee Jing-ok nodded at the words of the staff.

“Right. They say everything in this world has its pros and cons, but there are also good things about it. Then, call Sung Chogwan and his companions and inform them that the tribesmen will be vaccinated against cowpox and ask them to help. “It doesn’t make sense, but if you do it wrong, something bad can happen.”

“yes! General!”

As soon as Lee Jing-ok’s order was given, the military doctors and medics belonging to the conquest army were busy.

Seong and his party moved actively next to the military doctors and medics.

“If you hit this, you can stop the curse on those Messika guys!”

The tribesmen, who were anxious ahead of the cowpox vaccination, rushed to put out their arms in response to Seong’s group’s words.

“If you can stop the curse, you should do it!”

“If there is an army that defeats the Mesica bastards, the shamans and priests will also be stronger than the Mesica bastards! “They give it to you, so it has to be right!”

The military doctors who heard the stories of the natives through Seong and his party smiled bitterly.

“We are not shamans, but lawmakers….”

“Well, isn’t it completely wrong to say that someone who has just become a member of the National Assembly is treated as a senior member?”

The words, ‘We can stop the curse,’ seemed to be effective, as the tribesmen and warriors were obediently vaccinated, and the military doctors were able to complete the vaccination faster than expected.

* * *

The conquering army slowly but steadily advanced through the jungle toward Tenochtitlan.

The conquering army, which safely crossed the mountain range blocking the bridgehead and Tenochtitlan, began to gradually increase its speed.

As the conquering army, which had passed the biggest hurdle, gradually increased its speed, the soldiers and native warriors at the forefront became more nervous.

“Keep in mind that from now on you can run into those damn bastards at any time. “Don’t forget that if you turn a blind eye even just a little bit, your life will be lost.”

“yes.”

The soldiers responded to the commanders’ words with tense faces.

As it got closer to the Messicans’ territory, the movement of the vanguard changed slightly.

The most capable and experienced native warriors moved in pairs of two or three, about 20 lengths (about 60 meters) and 10 lengths ahead of the vanguard.

The task of the indigenous people at the forefront was to fall back immediately upon spotting the enemy and inform the troops.

The mission of those who were located about 10 places behind them was to notify the main camp as soon as the presence of those at the forefront disappeared.

Before passing through the mountain range, the scouts had been deployed about 10 times in front, but they had been doubled thick.

Behind this two-layered skirmish line were those who led the vanguard.

Their task was to open a passage using logging blades and ax saws.

Right behind them, light trucks and soldiers with long guns were on guard in all directions.

If the enemy broke through the skirmish line and made a surprise attack, those pioneering the path at the front would immediately lie down or retreat, and those waiting behind would block the surprise enemy.

And behind them was the main camp of the vanguard. Their mission was to organize and expand the opened passages so that the main base in the rear could move properly, and to immediately deploy as reinforcements when a battle broke out on the front lines.

* * *

As we were getting closer to Tenochtitlan, the first battle finally began.

“huh?”

“uh?”

The soldiers of the conquering army, who were in the midst of pioneering a passage, stopped what they were doing when they saw the native warriors who had been out scouting running towards them.

“It’s already shift time…”

“Why…”

Unlike when they had just crossed the mountain range, the soldiers of the conquering army, who were quite relaxed, expressed questions, but it was only for a moment.

When the soldiers realized what the expressions on the faces of the rushing native warriors meant, they immediately stopped what they were doing and turned around.

“It’s the enemy!”

“It’s the enemy!”

At the shouts of the returning soldiers, the soldiers waiting behind them quickly dispersed in all directions to find cover.

At the same time, the returning soldiers found their weapons in a cart parked behind them and hid behind cover.

“It’s rewarding to train so hard.”

Gwon Hyeok Ahn, who had a pleased expression on his face as he watched his subordinates quickly preparing for battle, soon adjusted his expression and gave an order to his subordinates.

“Send a messenger. ‘Ready for enemy encounter combat.’”

“Yes, Nari.”

After a while, the messenger paired with the native raced towards the rear.

Gwon An, who glanced at the back of the messenger who was rushing away, shouted to his subordinates who took cover in all directions.

“Open your eyes and look in all directions! “If you do it wrong, you’ll get stabbed in the side!”

After shouting like that, Gwon Ahn took out the rifle he was wearing at his waist, grabbed it, and put the whistle in his mouth.

According to Imperial military doctrine, no shooting was allowed until the commander blew his whistle or gave a verbal command.

* * *

While the vanguard of the conquering army was preparing for battle, Mesica warriors were also preparing for battle in the jungle on the other side.

Even for the Messica warriors, this battle was not what they expected.

Not long after the conquering army established a bridgehead, the Messicans also noticed the conquering army’s landing.

However, when the landing of the conquering army was noticed and the troops were prepared, the rainy season had begun.

Tenochtitlan was an area that was not greatly affected by the rainy season due to its location in an alpine area, but the area where the conquering army’s bridgehead was located was an area that was strongly influenced by the rainy season.

It seemed certain that if we left right now, we would lose more troops during the move than we would lose in battle.

Therefore, the Mesica people waited until the rainy season passed.

And at the end of the rainy season, the Messicans reassembled their soldiers and entered the jungle.

The problem was that the Mesica people, who had once been defeated by the empire, had gathered an unprecedentedly large army.

They also experienced the same problems that the conquering army experienced.

During the battles they fought, they were able to receive supplies along the way by ordering from nearby colonial cities and merchants. Slaves and apprentice warriors were also mobilized to transport supplies.

Thanks to this, the Messika army was able to lighten its body and move quickly.

However, the jungle was an area where intermediate supply was impossible. Therefore, the Messicans had to mobilize more slaves and apprentice warriors than was customary.

Thanks to this, the size of the unit grew several times.

Additionally, the level of tools used was also a problem. The logging tools made of stone and bronze were at a poor level compared to the iron tools used by the empire.

Because of this, the Mesicaans encountered the conquering army in their territory.

—–

(Note 1) As I continued to research while writing, I found out that Aztec was a name given by later Western historians. The Aztecs themselves are said to have called them the Messicans. So we change the name.

Additionally, I am worried about this title.

I don’t think there is a right answer.

Somewhere Messica and somewhere Mexican…

Montezuma, Montezuma, Moctezma…

It’s difficult. My head hurts too…