“We had a chance to confirm some things during the recent siege of Milan, but we need to use this next battle to sort out the artillery possessed by the Imperial army.”
At Hyang’s words, all the commanders of the Imperial forces nodded.
***
At this time, the artillery possessed by the Imperial forces, especially the ground army, was nothing short of ‘chaotic.’
Looking at the major classes alone, there were eight different ranks, from the largest General Cannons (Janggun-hwatong) down to the eight-barreled cannons (paljeon-chongtong) and finally to the wangu mortars. It was fortunate that at least the smaller-caliber and smaller-sized Sinje-chongtong, Se-chongtong, and Cheolseonpo cannons had been consolidated and changed into long guns and pistols. On top of that, with continuous improvements, some cannons had gone from Type A (Gapsik) all the way to Type D (Jeongsik).
Thanks to this, at its worst, the military supply list had included some 40 types of cannons, including those made in the early days of the Joseon Dynasty. After the army and navy were separated and the oldest cannons were all sent to the furnace, things became somewhat more organized. Still, the Imperial forces, combining both army and navy, possessed over 20 types of cannons and their corresponding shells.
And they possessed them in enormous quantities.
By any measure, this was not a good situation. For this reason, from Sejong to Hyang and now to Hyeon, there had been movements to sort out the severely chaotic artillery system.
However, whenever the emperors tried to initiate such a move, officials from the Ministry of National Defense would all write their letters of resignation and resist fiercely.
- —Why must we retire cannons that are still being used perfectly well?
- —There is a saying, ‘the right thing in the right place.’ The cannons we are currently using are all doing their part in their respective locations, from the border forts to the Namhansanseong and Bukhansanseong fortresses.¹ To recklessly organize them now could bring about even greater chaos.
- —Considering the disposal of cannons and shells and the retraining of artillerymen, it will consume more funds than necessary!
- —Most importantly, if we get rid of the cannons, we will have to produce new cannons and shells to fill the vacancies. What if we are invaded by a foreign power during that time? Ming and Japan may be at peace with us now, but we cannot be certain it will continue to be so in the future.
Reading the letters of resignation and joint petitions from the Ministry of National Defense officials and commanders, Hyang had worn a look of dejection.
“So the conclusion is, ‘We’re still using them just fine, so why throw them away?’ and ‘How do you know when the enemy will invade, so why throw away these precious cannonballs?’ Hooo~.”
Letting out a long sigh, Hyang looked out the window. “So this was the root of the Republic of Korea’s army using canteens produced during World War II all the way into the 21st century…”
***
“Much time has passed, and the world has changed a great deal. Therefore, those chaotic artillery pieces must be sorted out. I know many of the generals will still oppose this, but it cannot be helped.”
Hyang continued to explain why they had to use this war to do it.
- —The enemy fortresses and trenches we will face this time have been made properly strong by the enemy. By facing them in actual combat, we can weed out the inferior cannons from among those we currently possess.
- —Furthermore, by continuously moving across various fronts, we can properly identify areas for improvement, such as the cannon carriages.
- —Finally, if the performance of our current cannons is insufficient, we must immediately develop new ones.
“…Therefore, we must diligently accumulate the virtue of ‘The Benevolence of Duke Xiang of Song’ this time. The more firmly they dig their trenches, the more properly we can conduct our experiments.”
“That is indeed true, Your Majesty!”
“We humble generals are no match for Your Majesty’s deep calculations and keen insight!”
The commanders of the Imperial forces, having heard Hyang’s explanation, all began to shower him with praise.
“Then, would it be best to execute this operation according to my plan?”
“We believe it is the best course of action!”
“It is a plan that kills two birds with one stone, so of course it is right to proceed!”
Hyang, Shin Sukju, and Seong Sam-mun were rather suspicious of the enthusiastic welcome from the very people who had been full of doubt just moments before.
That’s a very fast change of tune. What on earth is the reason?
Why are the same people who would foam at the mouth and oppose getting rid of cannons now agreeing?
The three of them pondered to solve the mystery of ‘why?’ and soon found the reason.
—If the firepower is insufficient, we will immediately develop new cannons.
So that was it!
These cannon-crazed lunatics! This is why other countries curse them!
In any case, this was how the ‘Benevolence of Duke Xiang of Song’ operation was established and executed.
Although reports came in from the cavalry on reconnaissance that the French army was increasing its speed, the Imperial-Florentine allied forces, or more accurately, the Imperial forces moved at a leisurely pace.
“Aren’t we giving them too much time? This could bring disaster upon us.”
The Florentine and Swiss commanders, unable to overcome their anxiety, showed their impatience and urged them on, but the Imperial commanders replied as if it were nothing.
“Sometimes, waiting can show even greater strength.”
“We are not giving them time, but rather ensuring our own preparations are more thorough.”
“Ah…”
The Florentine and Swiss commanders nodded at the explanation from the Imperial command. In reality, the Imperial army was not just sitting around leisurely. Through the supply line stretching from Livorno to Florence and Bologna, more and more shells, bullets, and other materials continued to flow in. Furthermore, the Imperial cavalry relentlessly roamed in all directions, spying on the movements of France, Spain, and the Habsburgs.
- —French army has arrived in Pavia. Commencing fortification.
- —Habsburg army has halted near Venice. Appears to be observing the situation.
- —Spanish army’s movement speed has slowed. Appears to be due to attacks from the Imperial Navy. Possibility of a change in route is observed.
“It seems best to move after confirming the Spanish army’s movements,” Yu Eung-bu reported.
Hyang briefly checked the situation and then posed a question. “Considering our forces heading down to Genoa right now, might Spain not be a major concern?”
“It appears our forces will arrive in Genoa a little faster than the Spanish army.”
“I see. In that case, even if they change direction to pursue the Spanish army, it will consume time.”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
Hyang nodded at Yu Eung-bu’s explanation. “In that case, let’s observe the Spanish army’s movements a little more before we move. And contact the unit heading to Genoa and tell them to reduce their speed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
And so, the Imperial-Florentine allied forces stationed in Milan departed five days after the French army had arrived in Pavia.
***
The Imperial-Florentine allied forces that departed from Milan arrived in Pavia ten days after the French army.
“Even snails are faster than those bastards!”
“A charge by men that slow… Will they start charging in the morning and arrive in the evening?”
“Hahaha!”
Watching the Imperial army arrive in the distance and spread out to the left and right, the French soldiers jeered.
While jeers overflowed from the French trench line, located about 1,000 long cubits (approx. 520m) from the walls of Pavia, the French commanders gathered on the city walls analyzed the situation with more serious faces.
“Are they about a quarter of a league (approx. 1 km) away?”
“It seems so.”
“This is quite ambiguous…”
The French commanders, having estimated the distance between the point where the Imperial army had stopped and their own trench line, looked perplexed. They had no suitable means to attack the position where the Imperial army had halted. No, the only means of attack they had were their cannons and hwachas. The long guns their soldiers carried could not guarantee effective accuracy at that range.
The problem was, they didn’t have many cannons with them right now.
“Counting the cannons from the Pavia fortress and the ones whose carriages broke on the way, we have 70 in total…”
“It’s a good thing we had enough time to finish repairing the carriages.”
“Charging that kind of distance would be foolish.”
The French commanders, assessing the situation on both sides, spat out curses.
“Damned curs who know nothing of chivalry!”
They had figured out what the Imperial army was thinking.
- —You know full well our cannons fly farther, right?
- —And you know full well we have more cannons, right?
- —What are you going to do? Want to have an artillery duel? Or a charge? Whatever you want. Come on! Come on!
“The proper way is to face each other head-on, fair and square! To think we have to deal with barbarians who know nothing of chivalry!”
Though the French commanders were bursting with indignation, it was merely an excuse for themselves. They knew all too well that if they had as many long-range cannons as the Imperial army, they would have done the exact same thing.
“How about we launch a preemptive strike before they complete their positions?”
When one of the generals proposed a preemptive attack, the other generals once again assessed the Imperial army’s situation and calculated the possibility. But after a short while, they all shook their heads.
“The losses would outweigh the gains.”
“The distance is too great.”
“And those cunning bastards have already spread out.”
As they said, the Imperial army had spread out widely in preparation for a surprise attack. Even if they bombarded them with the cannons they had, their small number would make it difficult to inflict any real damage. The conclusion was that they would have to charge with their soldiers, but considering the hwachas the enemy possessed, the losses would be too great.
“The best we can do right now is to sit and defend the fortress of Pavia until our reinforcements arrive.”
“Reinforcements?”
“The Habsburgs would be good, and so would Spain. Our own French army would be best.”
“Hooo~.”
The French generals, who had been discussing, all sighed in unison.
According to the reports from their cavalry scouts, the situation for the Spanish army heading to Genoa was not good either. As time went on, the Imperial Navy had properly hammered the Spanish forces. Because of this, they were wasting a lot of time searching for a route further from the coast, and the paths they did find were mostly narrow and in poor condition compared to the coastal road. With these adverse conditions piling up, the Spanish army’s movement speed was slowing, and their casualties were accumulating.
The Habsburgs were just as slow. No, they were deliberately dawdling around Venice.
In the end, the only thing they could rely on was reinforcements from their own countrymen, the French.
“The conclusion is that the only answer is to hold out for as long as possible. While they dig, the only answer is for us to dig deeper as well.”
“Hmm… how about we strike them while they are digging?”
“Take a look through a telescope. See how their hwachas are lined up. And… huh?”
In that moment, both the general who had proposed the surprise attack and the one who was refuting him fell silent, their faces frozen in shock.
CHOO-CHOO! WHOOOO!
Letting out a loud whistle and spewing smoke, the excavators belonging to the Imperial Army Corps of Engineers moved forward and began to dig into the earth. Every time the massive blades of the excavators moved, pits that would have taken dozens of men to dig with shovels appeared, and those pits were connected to create a long trench line.
“Madmen…”
“Enviable bastards…”
The generals on the city walls and the soldiers sitting in the trench line were all muttering the same thing with similar expressions.