The Joseon cavalry held out for two days in the Daling River crossing battle.

Ming’s vanguard numbered about 180,000, with only 500 artillery troops and the rest infantry armed with traditional spears, swords, and bows. In contrast, the Joseon cavalry had 4,000 artillery troops operating large launchers and grape-shot cannons.

Before the Joseon cavalry’s overwhelming artillery advantage and wire entanglements, Ming’s vanguard suffered terrible losses.

“It’s time we start moving. The wire entanglements seem to be reaching their limit, and our supplies are getting precarious.”

“We can hold out longer, sir.”

“Indeed, sir. They’re only armed with spears and swords. We can hold out longer.”

Though Lee Jing-ok decided to withdraw while assessing the battle situation, many commanders still showed lingering attachment.

However, Lee Jing-ok rejected their opinions.

“No, with remaining supplies we can only manage self-defense. It’s time to withdraw.”

“But…”

“Besides, if we break their spirit too much in the initial battles and they give up, that becomes troublesome for us. We need to maintain their momentum somewhat so they’ll chase us, don’t we?”

“Yes, sir.”

The commanders nodded in understanding at Lee Jing-ok’s explanation.

***

“Guard duty is a mess.”

At Ming’s position across the Daling River.

Observing the position’s state, Ming’s vanguard general shook his head and muttered.

The situation inside the position was terrible. Exhaustion filled the faces of soldiers who jumped up startled upon seeing the vanguard general.

“My deepest apologies! I will strictly hold the soldiers accountable!”

A unit commander following the vanguard general hastily bowed his head, but the general raised his hand to stop him.

“It’s fine. They have reason to be tired. Just ensure proper guard duty from now on.”

After this brief response, the general lightly patted the shoulders of soldiers who were nervously watching him like turtles stretching their necks.

“It’s hard, but bear with it a little longer.”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon after the vanguard general left, the soldiers all let out long sighs.

“Phew~”

The vanguard general, continuing to inspect various parts of the position, arrived at where wounded soldiers were gathered receiving treatment.

“How is the situation?”

“We’re severely short on medicine, sir.”

“I’ve sent letters requesting urgent supplies. Do your best.”

“We will do our utmost, sir.”

After completing his circuit of the position and returning to his command tent, the vanguard general removed his helmet and sat down.

“Hah~”

With a long sigh, the vanguard general placed his hand on his forehead and muttered with a deeply furrowed expression.

“The losses are too great… Not just troop losses, but supply consumption has exceeded expectations.”

***

Each battle on the way to the Daling River required stopping for at least a day. This meant unexpected supply consumption occurred. Even when stopped, soldiers needed to eat, and casualties and wounded from battle had to be managed.

The problem was that these unplanned stops greatly reduced the vanguard’s supplies. The daily consumption of supplies by 180,000 vanguard troops was enormous, and supplies were rapidly depleted by unexpected consumption. Eventually, several days of the 20-day delay in the latter half were caused by waiting for supplies, unable to move.

After such a difficult pursuit ending with catching up to the Joseon cavalry at the Daling River, the vanguard general struck his palm with his fist.

“So it was all about buying time!”

Only Joseon cavalry were positioned in the Joseon camp visible across the Daling River. However, the scale of the fortified camp was considerable for just cavalry. This meant a large-scale Joseon force had been stationed here.

“All the Joseon forces have fled!”

“Those damned cavalry were just buying time!”

“Let’s crush them quickly and catch up to the fleeing Joseon forces!”

“Waaaah!”

The soldiers regained their spirit at the rumors circulating in camp and commanders’ explanations, shouting loudly as they prepared to cross the river.

And in the following two days of battle, the vanguard suffered severe losses.

This was the result of the combined effects of wire entanglements, Flying Thunder Bombs, and grape-shot cannons.

***

“Hah~”

Letting out another long sigh, the vanguard general took out his writing materials.

“Though I’ll face criticism, we need gun troops and artillery. Our current spearmen, swordsmen, and archers aren’t even worth being cannon fodder. Only guns and artillery are the answer to face guns and artillery.”

After writing a request for large-scale gun troops and artillery, the vanguard general called a messenger.

After sending the request with the messenger, the vanguard general gathered his commanders.

“Tomorrow, maintain minimal guard duty and let the soldiers rest.”

“What about tomorrow’s battle?”

“It’s pointless in their exhausted state.”

“That’s true.”

“So give them rest.”

“We receive your command.”

The commanders’ expressions didn’t look too bad as they left the vanguard general’s tent. They too keenly felt the need for rest.

“By the way… it’s now the age of gunpowder.”

“I agree.”

The commanders keenly realized that the spears and swords they had grown accustomed to using had now become obsolete.

***

“General! General! Please come out!”

The vanguard general, who had finally fallen asleep after tossing and turning all night, quickly rose at shouts from outside.

“What is it!”

To the vanguard general’s shout as he rushed out hastily donning his helmet, an officer raised his voice while pointing at the Joseon camp.

“The Joseon bastards have fled, sir!”

“What!”

Receiving this completely unexpected report, the vanguard general quickly mounted his horse and headed to the front.

Arriving at the forward palisade, the vanguard general looked at the Joseon camp across the Daling River through his telescope from horseback.

“Completely empty…”

Confirming the Joseon camp showed no signs of life, the vanguard general quickly issued orders.

“Send out reconnaissance!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Select skilled trackers from the cavalry!”

“Yes, sir!”

Two time units later, troops sent for reconnaissance returned. The vanguard general, who had been anxiously waiting at the forward gate, urgently grabbed the soldiers and asked.

“Well! What’s the situation?”

“It’s definitely empty, sir!”

“Really? Are you certain?”

“Absolutely certain, sir!”

“Excellent!”

The vanguard general issued orders with a bright expression.

“We’ll rest today in the Joseon camp!”

“Hurrah!”

***

No trace of fatigue could be found on the faces of Ming soldiers entering the Joseon position.

“So they couldn’t withstand the great nation’s heavenly troops after all!”

“Indeed they couldn’t!”

The fact that they hadn’t won a single battle until yesterday had somehow already disappeared into the distance.

“The Joseon bastards’ fighting spirit lasted only two days!”

“No! Think about their main force that fled as soon as they heard we were coming! Not even two days!”

“How dare the rabble of a small country raise swords against heavenly troops! Do they want to die!”

“Hahaha!”

No, rather than forgetting the facts, they were being distorted into the Joseon forces fleeing from their imposing might.

This wasn’t just among the soldiers but similar among the officers.

“We must pursue immediately, sir!”

“Indeed! When the enemy shows their back, we must chase at once!”

Despite commanders clamoring that they should chase the Joseon forces right now, the vanguard general maintained his composure.

“I’ve sent out cavalry skilled in tracking to follow the Joseon forces’ trail. When they return, it won’t be too late to move then.”

“General! War is about momentum! We must not miss this opportunity while morale is high!”

The commanders who had been completely cowed and watching the vanguard general’s every move until yesterday were now pressuring him.

“How can we chase when we don’t even know which way they went?”

“…”

The commanders fell silent at the vanguard general’s point. Looking at them with a disapproving expression, the vanguard general made his decision.

“Rest today. It won’t be too late to move when the cavalry sent for tracking return.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

The next day, the cavalry who had gone tracking returned with their report.

“The Joseon forces’ trail…”

The cavalry commander drew an imaginary line on the map with his finger.

“Hmm… As expected, toward Liaodong Fortress.”

Confirming the direction of Joseon forces’ retreat, the vanguard general stroked his beard and turned to his commanders.

“Confirmed the Joseon forces are retreating to Liaodong Fortress. I want to detour north from here. Following their retreat path directly risks ambush.”

“Direct pursuit would be better, sir. Even if the Joseon forces set traps, they’d be similar to what we’ve experienced so far. We can certainly endure that much.”

“Indeed, sir. These are Joseon forces who fled as soon as they heard we were coming.”

“Rather, choosing to detour would give them time to strengthen their defenses. We must pursue immediately!”

“Detouring now could lower troop morale!”

“Exactly! We must not miss this moment while soldiers’ morale is high!”

The energized commanders unanimously advocated pursuing and annihilating the Joseon forces. The vanguard general fell into deep thought at the commanders’ reactions.

The Joseon forces will certainly be waiting with traps. But their words have merit. Soldier morale that had hit bottom from recent battles is now sky-high. And while detouring would avoid traps, it would give those Joseon bastards time to strengthen defenses. Personally, I’d still prefer to detour but…

Looking at the commanders straining their necks before him, the vanguard general shook his head slightly.

Then these guys won’t listen properly…

“Hmm… what to do?”

As the vanguard general hesitated to reach a conclusion, the commanders pressured him again.

“General! We must pursue and annihilate them, not detour!”

“Indeed, sir!”

“We must not give the Joseon bastards time!”

Among the pressuring commanders, one pointed out the biggest issue.

“General, this is when we need merit.”

At the commander’s words, the vanguard general’s face hardened.

Right! Given the losses suffered in battles so far, I’ll certainly face punishment! But what if we properly catch the Joseon forces here? We don’t even need to win! Just catching the fleeing Joseon forces’ heels would be enough!

Having thought that far, the vanguard general accepted the commanders’ proposal.

“Rest properly until today, and from tomorrow we’ll chase the Joseon forces’ tails with all our might!”

“Yes, sir! We receive your command!”

The commanders responded in booming voices to the vanguard general’s decision.

“Then return to your positions and prepare thoroughly!”

“Yes, sir!”

After dismissing the commanders, the vanguard general quickly took out writing materials and began composing a battle report.

-The Joseon forces, terrified by the might of our heavenly troops, fled after minimal resistance.

-Having detected traces of the fleeing Joseon forces and intending to pursue, we request the main force join us as quickly as possible. The main force’s artillery and gun troops are essential to face the Joseon forces’ artillery and gun troops.

Sending this hastily composed battle report, the vanguard general muttered quietly.

“This should at least provide an excuse to avoid blame if things go wrong later.”

The vanguard general was creating an excuse to blame the main force’s poor timing if things went wrong and he faced punishment.