As the assault on the Qingzhou naval base began, the Maengjin ship took the lead.
Unlike previous battles where it had hidden before making surprise appearances, this time the Maengjin ship emerged at the start of the attack.
As the Haeung-class vessels blocking the entrance to the Qingzhou naval base slightly withdrew, the Maengjin ship appeared, advancing majestically while spewing black smoke.
At this imposing sight, not only the captured sailors who had tried to flee but also the soldiers originally stationed at the batteries began to lose their nerve.
Sensing the soldiers’ psychology, messengers rushed to the batteries to deliver the commander’s words:
“The general has spoken! The current situation is certainly unfavorable! Our warships have been almost completely destroyed, and the enemy is right before us! However, they are on ships floating on the churning sea, while we stand firmly on solid ground behind sturdy fortress walls! Moreover, our artillery is larger and more powerful than what can be mounted on ships! Do not be afraid – just act as you were trained! Then you will surely defeat the enemy and receive rewards!”
The soldiers murmured after hearing the commander’s battle encouragement delivered by the messenger.
“Come to think of it…”
“You know, that’s true?”
Looking around, the soldiers concluded their commander was right.
Their battery was surrounded by sturdy fortress walls. The same was true for their artillery. These were guns far larger than those mounted on warships.
The defensive troops, who had been frightened by the sight of terrified sailors and the Maengjin ship’s imposing appearance, regained their courage and stuck to their guns.
“Alright! Let’s do this!”
“If we do well, we could receive rewards from His Majesty and get promoted!”
Thus began the battle between the reinvigorated defenders and the Maengjin ship.
Upon entering the harbor mouth, the Maengjin ship turned its hull to face the southern bay.
“What are they trying to do?”
“Who knows?”
“Who cares about that! Just light the fuses when they’re in range!”
While such conversations passed among the defenders, the Maengjin ship arrived at the southern bay and turned its hull.
Shortly after, with its prow facing north, all the port side cannons of the Maengjin ship spewed fire at once.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Moments later, massive explosions erupted simultaneously from the harbor’s defensive facilities hit by the Maengjin ship’s bombardment.
Both officers and soldiers were shocked at this sight.
“From that distance?”
“Don’t be surprised – return fire!”
“Fire!”
At the officers’ orders, the defenders hastily lit the fuses stuck in their guns.
Bang bang bang!
Thus began an intense artillery exchange between the Maengjin ship and the naval base defenders.
Though both sides maintained fierce bombardments, the situation gradually became more unfavorable for the defenders.
The biggest reason was that many of the defenders’ guns had shorter ranges than the Maengjin ship’s ship cannons.
As a result, most of their shells fell into the sea without even reaching near the Maengjin ship.
While the newly deployed modern artillery had enough range to hit the Maengjin ship, this time power was the issue.
Clang! Clang!
The iron shells fired by the defenders made sharp sounds as they bounced off the Maengjin ship’s hull and roof.
In contrast, shells fired from the Maengjin ship created huge holes in the defenders’ batteries.
“Blast this to hell!”
“How is that thing a ship! Is that even a ship?! Since when do ships deflect iron shells?!”
The defenders burst with frustration each time their iron shells bounced off.
In their understanding, warships, no matter how large, were helpless against artillery. This was because ships were supposed to be made of wood, and their iron shells could easily penetrate even fairly thick wooden planks.
“What’s with that ship! Did they wrap iron around its body or something!”
The defenders had unknowingly spoken the correct answer.
***
The artillery battle between the Qingzhou naval base defenders and the Maengjin ship ultimately ended in the latter’s victory.
Though the defenders’ bombardment was fierce, the Maengjin ship’s armor withstood it.
In the Maengjin ship’s armored bridge, Kang Nam-gil grabbed the speaking tube and issued orders energetically:
“Engine room! Reduce speed further! Don’t worry! Their iron shells won’t even dent us!”
“Port battery! You’ve identified the batteries that can reach us with iron shells, right? Pick them off one by one!”
Following Kang Nam-gil’s orders, the Maengjin ship moved slowly while selectively destroying only the batteries capable of reaching it with shells.
They were preemptively removing what would become major threats to friendly forces arriving later.
As soon as the Maengjin ship finished this first round of pounding, the Challenger-class vessels waiting outside swarmed in.
This second wave of Challenger-class vessels completely destroyed the remaining batteries and defensive facilities of the Qingzhou naval base.
Finally, by that afternoon, the Qingzhou naval base defenders were completely annihilated.
***
After confirming the defenders’ resistance had ceased, the Joseon navy signaled to the Japanese squadron waiting behind.
Receiving the Joseon navy’s signal, the Japanese squadron increased speed and rushed into the harbor.
“Row! Row!”
“Increase speed!”
“Anyone late now will suffer great losses!”
The Japanese on the ships rowed enthusiastically, dreaming of instant fortune.
Not long after the Japanese squadron arrived at the dock, screams began echoing through the skies around Qingzhou.
At these echoing screams, the expressions and movements of the Joseon naval forces froze. However, these frozen Joseon forces soon began going about their business as if they couldn’t hear anything.
***
While the Japanese were beginning their plunder, the Japanese ships carrying Ouchi clan members remained outside with the Joseon navy.
Observing the situation from his flagship, the Right Naval Commander of Gyeongsang asked Norihiro:
“This is a chance for great wealth – is it alright for the young lord to remain here?”
To the Right Naval Commander’s question, Norihiro immediately replied:
“My lord’s orders to me were to learn from and assist the Joseon navy as much as possible.”
“Hmm… I see…”
As the Right Naval Commander nodded at Norihiro’s answer, the ship’s captain reported right on cue:
“Signal, sir! Orders to begin the second operation!”
“Is that so? Then let’s move!”
Soon, signal flags fluttered from the flagship, and a group of Challenger-class and Haeung-class vessels broke away and moved south.
From the flagship leading the fleet south, Norihiro asked the Right Naval Commander:
“At the last meeting, I heard Jinan was the target. Why Jinan?”
“To strike at the Grand Canal.”
“I know that much, but for that purpose, wouldn’t Qingzhou that we just attacked be more suitable?”
“It’s 200 li by land from Qingzhou naval base to the canal. Though Jinan is further inland, we can go up the Yellow River.”
“Wouldn’t Qingzhou be better if we could deploy 100,000 troops?”
At Norihiro’s words, the Right Naval Commander looked directly at him and spoke:
“Young lord, let me ask honestly. Are those men soldiers or bandits?”
“…”
“If we try to use them as soldiers, how long do you think they can maintain military discipline?”
“…”
“An army that cannot maintain discipline is nothing more than a well-trained gang of thieves.”
This was why the Joseon navy and the Japanese were separated from the start when planning operations. Even the most thoroughly trained elite troops would certainly join in at some point if such plundering was happening routinely beside them.
That would lead to the collapse of everything they had built up.
Norihiro could only close his mouth at the Right Naval Commander’s words.
Even without the Commander’s point, the excellence of the Joseon navy they had witnessed on the way here was incomparable to their clan’s soldiers.
The Ouchi clan’s soldiers were the primary merit-makers who had made their clan masters of the realm. As such, they could proudly claim to be Japan’s finest with no shortage.
Yet even such elite troops appeared undisciplined compared to the Joseon forces.
However, it hurt his pride to let the Right Naval Commander’s point pass unchallenged.
Finally, Norihiro threw out a question half in jest, half in earnest:
“Still, don’t you feel some regret? It was a chance for instant fortune, as they say.”
At Norihiro’s words, the Right Naval Commander broke into a slight smile.
“Hah! If you’re going to gather wealth, shouldn’t you gather something that can provide permanent riches?”
Norihiro’s eyes sparkled at the Right Naval Commander’s answer.
“Permanent? Such things exist?”
“There are many things, but isn’t land the most representative?”
After thinking briefly at the Right Naval Commander’s answer, Norihiro suddenly made a deep bow to him.
“Oh my! Why so suddenly?”
As the Right Naval Commander stood awkwardly, surprised by the sudden deep bow, Norihiro spoke with a bright expression:
“I have received great teaching!”
“Huh?”
***
Leaving Qingzhou and heading south, the Right Naval Commander’s fleet began sailing up the Yellow River.
“Though this is the most recent data, the Yellow River is known for frequent changes, so be especially careful!”
“Yes, sir!”
Following the Right Naval Commander’s orders, the fleet’s vessels carefully sailed upriver at a slow pace.
Moreover, neither the Challenger-class nor Haeung-class vessels used oars. It was impossible to sail upstream relying solely on sails.
To solve this, the vessels assigned to this mission were loaded with many small ferries.
As soon as they entered the Yellow River, these ferries were lowered from their mother ships and began pulling them with ropes.
“Ah, damn! And here I thought we were done with pole work!”
Though grumbling like this, the soldiers took turns using poles while pulling the warships upstream.
The journey to Jinan that began this way was not smooth. Ming soldiers who received reports along the way would rush at them, and they had to fight each time.
“…Fortunately, they weren’t properly prepared soldiers, just town patrol level troops.”
The Right Naval Commander shook his head slightly while checking their route on the map.
This advance on Jinan was hitting Ming in an unexpected place.
It was right in the heart of the Central Plains, not the Jiangnan region that had suffered from Japanese pirates, nor the northern regions that had suffered from the Jurchen and Tartars.
As a result, the quality and scale of troops rushing at the Joseon forces were much inferior.
Additionally, the Ouchi clan soldiers accompanying the Joseon fleet were pulling their weight.
It was mostly Ouchi clan soldiers who either boarded Ming small boats coming to attack the Joseon fleet and slaughtered the Ming troops, or rushed at Ming troops gathering along the riverbank and slaughtered them.
Because of this, they were slightly turning a blind eye to these soldiers going further inland to plunder before returning.
Norihiro, who was examining the map together from the side, asked the Right Naval Commander:
“Will Jinan alone really be enough of a blow?”
The Right Naval Commander nodded at Norihiro’s question.
“If we destroy the waterways and locks of the Ji River flowing north of Jinan and the Yellow River, the Grand Canal will be in chaos for quite a while. Moreover, if the area between the Yellow River and Yangtze River becomes chaos starting from Qingzhou, Ming won’t be able to move their troops even if they want to.”
“Hmm…”
Norihiro hummed and nodded at the Right Naval Commander’s words.
Watching this, the Right Naval Commander swallowed his words internally.
And Jinan has bad blood with the Yongle Emperor.
The Right Naval Commander recalled when the General Staff Headquarters and Hyang were making plans, muttering internally.
Come to think of it, the Crown Prince can be quite wicked too.
-Though the probability is very low, if we succeed, Ming won’t have the capacity to pay attention to external matters for quite some time!