novel-bin Chapter 591
Chapter 591
Episode 591: Hwangnyongrak (黃龍落) (6)
Choi Yun-deok, who was happy after reading the letter sent by the naval forces, soon regained his composure and analyzed the situation.
“The story of Shanhaiguan will be relayed to them within a few days. So how will they move?”
Choi Yun-deok immediately called the commander and asked the above question. In response to Choi Yun-deok’s question, the opinions of commanders and staff were divided into two.
-Supply was cut off in a situation where a huge amount of troops had already been lost. The only answer is retreat.
-no. If you think about it backwards, the enemy is now in a situation where they have doubled their base. There is a high possibility that they will risk everything and attack with all their might.
“Both sides have a point....”
After hearing both sides’ opinions, Choi Yun-deok nodded. Choi Yun-deok, who was stroking his beard and thinking for a moment, soon brightened as if a good idea came to him.
“As expected, in times like this, it’s just a whisper!”
* * *
Around the time Choi Yun-deok received the report, Ming army commander Han Il-sin also received an urgent report with similar content.
“Collapse of Shanhaiguan? Supply route cut off? “How is this happening?”
He added, bowing his head to the messenger who had scabs all over his face, as if the hardships he had endured on the way here were considerable.
“It happened because we were attacked by the Joseon navy.”
“There is a mountain and sea pavilion 10 ri (approximately 4 km) from the coast! The Joseon navy had its feet attached to the front line, so they went all the way up there! “You have to say something that makes sense!”
“The places where the Joseon naval forces directly attacked were fortresses such as Noryongdu, Uhaeseong, and Myeohaeseong. “The nature has suffered no harm.”
“But why did they say that the supply line was cut off? “The road from Shanhaiguan to here is at least 5 ri (about 2 km) from the coastline!”
Not only Han Il-shin but all his subordinate commanders glared at the messenger with expressions full of distrust. Because they all came here along that path.
In response to Hanilshin’s point, the messenger explained the reason.
“The Joseon navy has landed directly!”
* * *
The Joseon navy, which destroyed the Ming navy, burned not only the area around the Shandong peninsula but also the Ming military port further south. With only the military ports in the far south remaining, the West Sea of Joseon became a complete playground for the Joseon navy.
The Joseon navy, having prevented such a blow to the head, finished reorganizing itself and targeted Shanhaiguan.
In order to attack Shanhaiguan, the lifeline of the Ming army that advanced into Liaodong, the Joseon navy gathered all its remaining power. Almost all forces except those protecting Tsushima Island and keeping the Japanese in check and those out in the ocean were mobilized.
And in order to transport the troops and weapons collected in this way, a large number of merchant ships that were closed were requisitioned.
It was a moment when the foresight of Hyang, King Sejong, and the royal court shone.
* * *
The Joseon naval forces, led by Maeng Jin-ho, devastated the southern area of Shanhaiguan.
The southern fortresses of Shanhaiguan, which had been converted into a solid defense wall through gradual expansion and reconstruction after the Hongwu Emperor, were reduced to ruins by the Joseon army’s artillery bombardment.
The Joseon navy, which had blown up the coastal defenses, immediately landed its troops.
Their number was approximately 30,000, but their destructive power was powerful, as befits the naval army that boasted that its artillery and shooting skills were better than that of the land navy.
Those who shone there were sailors from the Jurchen tribe. The hastily made cavalry, made up of members of the Jurchen tribe who were excellent at horseback riding, made a mess of the Ming army’s supply route from Shanhaiguan to Liaodong, putting the word ‘improvised’ to nothing.
And the Ming army that came out to repel them was caught in the crossfire of the Joseon Dynasty army that was ambushing them and was annihilated.
Movements to repair the broken defenses failed every time because they were caught by the Joseon naval battle lines floating in the sea.
In addition, reinforcements and supplies for our troops in Liaodong repeatedly returned only to be damaged by joint attacks from both the sea and land.
* * *
“Damn it!”
After hearing the messenger’s explanation, Hanilshin swore.
“We need more troops and supplies to break through that damn iron wall!”
The number of troops lost in the 20-day battle was 150,000. Excluding the troops lost on the way here, the troops lost in the diversionary attack, and the wounded, 150,000 people died in the process of attacking the Iron Seungbyeok. And as the days got hotter, diseases began to spread, and the number of soldiers dying from injuries due to insufficient medicine was increasing.
Through such fierce fighting, they had broken through four of the six layers of iron walls laid by the Joseon army.
Everyone in the Ming army, from the generals to the lowest soldiers, was in awe when they saw the iron walls of the Joseon army.
It was not simply a six-layer iron wall. It was a 12-layer wire mesh wall, 6 layers in pairs.
A trench line was dug behind the two-layer iron walls, and the Joseon army that sat there fired and shelled without stopping.
The moment they broke through the iron wall, breaking through a blood path paved with corpses, an even more powerful barrage unfolded, and the Ming army had to lie down on the ground and wait for the barrage to disappear. And when the barrage barrage disappeared, the Joseon army positioned in the trench line in front of them had disappeared.
Even if they had claimed one trench line, subsequent attacks by the Joseon army were tied down, and the trench line they had captured was repeatedly given back to the subsequent counterattack by the Joseon army.
After repeated hellish battles and a bloody struggle to completely destroy the iron wall that they broke through and render it useless, they broke through the four-layer iron fence.
“With the current situation of the soldiers, it is impossible to attack the remaining two layers!”
In this way, the ‘Great Chase’, known as the highlight of the second half of Gwangnyeong Daejeon, took place.
* * *
At the same time that the Ming army was being driven to defeat in Liaodong, Beijing was also on alert.
“Is the suppression of Japanese pirates still going on?”
“The Japanese pirates were so strong....”
“Didn’t I tell you to send in the muskets!”
Udodog responded to Emperor Seondeok’s words while sweating.
“I have sent them in, but the Japanese are better at handling iron guns...”
U Do-dok was speechless, but Emperor Seon-deok understood right away.
“Are you saying it actually helped them?”
“That’s right.”
“Haa~.”
Emperor Seondeok placed his hand on his forehead and let out a long sigh.
“I can’t help it. Recruit as many soldiers as possible to subdue the Japanese. Please convey my order to the robbers who call themselves strong men. As they say, if they know the rules, they should step forward and eliminate the Japanese pirates.”
“yes.”
“And what is the situation at Shanhaiguan? “Is it still blocked?”
“I’m doing my best...”
When Jwado-deok trailed off, Emperor Seondeok screamed.
“Is it possible for a thousand soldiers to be stranded because of only 30,000 troops and dozens of battleships? Moreover, it is Shanhaiguan, which is a river of considerable burden!”
“Please forgive the gods for their incompetence!”
“Please forgive me!”
In response to Emperor Seondeok’s words, the ministers bowed down on the floor and asked for forgiveness. However, Emperor Seondeok’s anger did not subside easily.
“Forgiveness! Forgiveness! Is it okay to just ask for forgiveness and that’s it? I mean, come up with an answer! “Answer!”
“Please forgive me!”
“Such incompetent bastards!”
At that moment, a general rushed into the main hall.
“What’s going on!”
“There has been trouble in the north! Oirat has moved!”
“Cough!”
“your majesty!”
“your majesty!”
When the thing he was most worried about happened, Emperor Seondeok collapsed, vomiting blood. Surprised by this, the ministers and eunuchs hurriedly helped Emperor Seondeok.
“Why! “Bring in the fisherman!”
* * *
It was not until Seondeokje was able to regain consciousness that day in his room.
“Is there any hope for your luggage?”
“....”
When King Eui was silent, Emperor Seondeok smiled bitterly and asked again.
“How many days can you last?”
“I will do my best.”
“....”
Emperor Seondeok, who was silent for a moment in response to Eui’s answer, gave an order to the eunuch.
“Call the Cabinet Secretary.”
The cabinet secretary arrived quickly, as if he had already been waiting.
“Call Prince Subo. “Is it possible by land?”
“....”
Seeing the Cabinet Secretary bowing his head in silence, Emperor Seondeok turned his gaze to the ceiling and gave an order.
“Negotiate with Joseon about the end of the war.”