Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 895

Chapter 895 Prologue (10)

The reason the Hungarian army generals insisted on using imperial bullets was because of the lessons learned through bloodshed in actual combat.

* * *

There were two main types of long guns that Hungary smuggled from the Ottomans.

One was an armored rifle using a percussion cap, and the other was an Eulsik rifle, a breech-loading single-shot gun.

The Hungarian army deployed the armored rifles, which were available in large quantities, to the front-line units, and the self-styled rifles, which were available in small quantities, were deployed to the main forces that followed behind.

Immediately after the start of the war, until the point when the Austrian territory on the border was occupied, the armored rifle was surprisingly useful.

Most of the troops guarding the Austrian territory were armed only with rifles, and there were even units armed with spears and swords.

Due to this smooth advance, there was an optimistic atmosphere within the Hungarian army, from soldiers to generals.

“Do you think this is enough to end the war even with a Gap-style rifle?”

However, this optimistic mood was shattered when they encountered the Habsburgs’ real main force at Pottendorf.

As the trench warfare of advancing and retreating took place, the armored rifles, which were inconvenient to reload, were immediately turned back.

What stood out most in the ensuing trench warfare was the imperial bullet used in the Japanese style long rifle.

The Habsburg long gun, which was made by imitating the breech-loading long gun made in France, had a similar caliber as the French long gun – 0.5 Pouce (about 0.5 inches).

However, the caliber of the imperial bullet was about half that smaller, but its power was almost the same. In other words, soldiers using Imperial bullets could carry twice as many bullets as soldiers carrying French or Habsburg long guns.

The new battle was based on intense gunfights, in which more bullets had to be concentrated faster to gain the upper hand.

In that respect, twice the carrying capacity was a very superior advantage.

Another advantage was that very little smoke was produced when firing.

French or Habsburg bullets produced a huge amount of smoke after firing.

If a unit larger than a certain size fired a volley of fire, the smoke was enough to momentarily obscure the view.

However, Imperial bullets, which emit less smoke, were optimal for breech-loading rifles that allowed quick reloading and aimed shooting.

Later, there was even a competition among Habsburg soldiers to capture Japanese rifles.

When the Habsburg military commanders heard of this incident, they openly expressed their dissatisfaction to their superiors.

“We also need bullets with excellent performance like imperial bullets! Why don’t we have it!”

“It’s so big for no reason… it doesn’t have any good points other than its power!”

After hearing such complaints, Frederick III scolded those in charge of weapons.

Those in charge of weapons, who were manipulated by higher-ups, had no choice but to manipulate gunpowder craftsmen or send spies to France and other countries to spy on secrets.

And the situations of other countries obtained through spies were not much different from theirs.

-If the size is reduced to increase portability and reduce smoke, the power will not be released.

And everyone was going through all kinds of similar trials and errors to solve this problem.

“This is it…”

While the weapons managers who received the spies’ report were perplexed, the gunpowder craftsmen and bullet craftsmen looked helpless.

“The reason this bullet caliber and gunpowder quantity were created in the first place was to catch up in terms of power to those damn imperial bullets…”

As they say, to catch up to the power of imperial bullets that are now used in Eulsik rifles and military rifles. What came out was the current caliber and amount of gunpowder.

This was the best situation with Europe’s current steel alloy technology and gunpowder manufacturing technology.

And this was the same in Ming and Japan.

Thanks to this, the battle between spies and the Imperial Counterintelligence Bureau to steal secrets of gunpowder manufacturing was still fierce at the Empire’s headquarters.

And in mainland Europe and the Middle East, chemists and alchemists were once again experimenting.

“Someone else got the silver first, but I got the new gunpowder first!”

They were motivated by the rumor that the French people who had succeeded in developing silver were sitting on a lot of money.

* * *

“Although this war ended through negotiation, there is no doubt that in reality it was our victory. But the Habsburgs cannot stand still. If so, we also need thorough preparation. “We must introduce Florentine rifles that use imperial bullets and develop freight cars.”

When the general who fought on the front line mentioned ‘hwacha’, the generals around him simultaneously uttered curses.

“Damn freight cars…”

It was freight cars that killed the most Hungarian soldiers in this war.

The Habsburg cannons also had great power, but because they were simple chunks of iron and stone, their killing power was low compared to their size.

But it wasn’t a freight car. One freight train had the power of dozens of musketeers.

The Hungarian army was able to occupy the Habsburg army’s trenches through a slow rate of fire that allowed for a certain degree of response and the tactic of suppressing operators through sniping.

However, in the latter half of the battle, as the Habsburg army installed artillery shields on freight cars to protect the operators and operated more and more freight cars, it became difficult to occupy the trenches, and conversely, it became necessary to block the Habsburg army’s attacks.

And in these defensive battles, captured freight cars played a part in the defense.

In the end, freight cars became a thing of love and hate for the Hungarian military.

* * *

After listening to the generals’ words, Matthias I nodded and answered.

“We have already mobilized craftsmen and started producing freight cars. Sooner or later, our Hungarian army will also have our own freight cars, not looted ones. And it’s a Florentine long gun… Let’s send someone to Florence.”

“What a wise decision!”

The generals praised Matthias I with bright faces. However, the financial officials and nobles drank wine and imperial liquor with distorted faces.

“Easier said than done… what are you going to do with the budget?”

* * *

Meanwhile, the Habsburgs also claimed that they had won.

“We stopped the Hungarian invasion and regained the lost territory!”

“It’s our victory!”

“Praise the heroes!”

The troops returning from the war marched proudly through the city of Vienna, and citizens welcomed them by throwing confetti and flowers.

After the subsequent banquet and banquet, the generals and nobles gathered to discuss the future.

“First of all, the effectiveness of the new long guns and freight cars has been proven.”

All attendees nodded to the commander’s analysis during his presentation.

As seen in the case of a large number of territories that were captured in the early stages of the war, spears and swords were no longer the main players on the battlefield. Guns, including breech-loading rifles and freight cars, were the main players in the battlefield.

The commander continued speaking.

“However, shortcomings of the new long guns and freight cars were also discovered.”

-Relatively small carry-on ammunition due to size.

-A large amount of smoke generated when shooting.

This was a common problem with new long guns and freight cars, and the freight cars had additional disadvantages.

-Slow rate of fire.

-Difficulties in supplying ammunition.

-The size and weight have increased due to the addition of the gun mantlet. This causes inconvenience in operation.

“…Considering the Italian war that is certain to occur in the future, this part must be improved. In particular, we must not forget that the Korean Federal Empire is certain to intervene.”

When the commander mentioned the empire, everyone’s faces, starting with Frederick III, became serious.

“You forgot the ‘Land of Flowers’…”

“Damn…”

While most of the attendees were struggling with the powerful enemy called the Empire, there were also those who thought the opposite.

Their representative was Maximilian I.

“Everyone, aren’t we looking at ‘The Land of Flowers’ too big?”

At Maximilian I’s remarks, all those present asked, ‘What are you talking about?’ I looked at him with that expression.

“Are we looking at the ‘Land of Flowers’ too big? “What does that mean?”

In response to Frederick III’s question, Maximilian I explained in more detail.

“Everyone here is saying that the army of the ‘Land of Flowers’ is very powerful.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Is this really true? Has anyone actually seen the battle fought here by the ‘Land of Flowers’?”

No one came forward to ask Maximilian I. In response, Maximilian I added more force to his voice.

“Of course, the weapons and army of the ‘Land of Flowers’ will be powerful. Otherwise, he would not have become the ruler of the East. And it wouldn’t have gained notoriety in Suez. But yes. I don’t know about the armed forces of the East, but if you look at the armed forces of the bandits in the Suez region, they are extremely poor. “It can be seen that there was a significant exaggeration.”

To summarize Maximilian I’s following argument, it was as follows.

-The performance of the bullets currently used by our military is lower than that of the Empire, but their power is almost the same. This is like saying that whoever sees first and shoots first wins.

– To paraphrase the above, it means that if you properly use the Tomb of Command, you can defeat the empire.

-The empire has a weakness in that it is far from Italy. There are bound to be limits to the supply of troops and weapons.

-On the other hand, we have the advantage of having a short supply line.

-Of course, you can send troops and supplies from a new land somewhere in the west, but you have to cross the wide sea.

-This means that there are still problems maintaining supply lines.

“…Once again, ‘Land of Flowers’ will be powerful. However, I don’t think there is any need to be scared. “If we look at their weaknesses and our strengths and find a way, we can win.”

Hearing Maximilian I’s remarks, the generals entered the battle with serious expressions.

“Hmm…”

“Indeed…”

After a while, the generals began to nod.

In the war with Hungary, the Hungarian army used imperial army bullets and long guns.

However, the distance at which the Hungarian army began to pull the trigger was not much different from that of the Habsburg army. As Maximilian I said, the one who sees first and shoots first wins.

Of course, the Hungarian army’s snipers were causing trouble, but the concentration of fire from the Habsburg soldiers was enough to suppress them.

And the empire had a major weakness.

-It’s too far from Italy.

This meant that supply would be hindered.

During this battle with Hungary, the commanders who were troubled by supply issues, especially ammunition and gunpowder, were able to see how big a weakness this was.

In the end, the Habsburg military commanders reported this to Frederick III:

“‘Land of Flowers’ is powerful. However, it also has several serious weaknesses. If we prepare well, we will take control of Italy.”

As time passed, the contents of this conversation reached Milwi’s disguised business in Vienna.

The executive of the Mill Committee who summarized this and wrote a report chuckled and muttered.

“It’s not wrong. It’s not wrong… but these guys forgot something. No, you haven’t experienced it? “The empire does not fire bullets first, but shells first.”