Drawing a circle around Insan Fortress on the map with his command baton, Zhao Bingde continued speaking.
“If we cut off the supply lines between this damn fortress and their rear, the enemy will have no choice but to come out to avoid isolation. That’s what we need to aim for.”
At Zhao Bingde’s words, the commanders stared intently at the map, making various calculations.
After such calculations, one subordinate officer pointed out a problem.
“We could be caught in a pincer attack if we’re not careful.”
“Of course, that’s highly likely.”
Readily nodding in agreement with his subordinate’s observation, Zhao Bingde continued with a smirk.
“But from what we know, Joseon’s forces total 200,000. Half of those are naval forces. And now about 50,000 Joseon troops are deployed in that damn fortress. This means the remaining 50,000 are spread across all of Joseon. Of those, how many could arrive here in time? If you were Joseon’s commander, would you gather remaining forces here in this situation, or in Hanseong?”
After briefly considering Zhao Bingde’s question, the officer who had pointed out the possibility of a pincer attack answered.
“I would gather them in Hanseong.”
“Exactly, right?”
Hearing the answer, Zhao Bingde looked at the other officers and continued.
“Once we succeed in outflanking, they’ll have no choice but to abandon the fortress and come out. In open battle, we’ll have an overwhelming advantage. A pincer attack? Sure, that’s entirely possible. But how many of those Joseon forces rushing in would be properly trained elites? Most would just be untrained rabble conscripted from nearby farmers.”
Bang!
Striking the map with his command baton, Zhao Bingde concluded.
“In this battle, the enemy forced choices on us, and we had to accept those choices. And we suffered considerable casualties. But now it’s our turn to force choices on them. Therefore! First, focus on solidifying our secured bridgehead! Meanwhile, repair the broken artillery!”
The subordinate officers’ faces brightened at Zhao Bingde’s words. The Liaodong forces still overwhelmed Joseon in numbers. If they could avoid battles with massive casualties like today, they could keep pressing Joseon forces. And in the rear, they continued training soldiers. Their numbers were steadily increasing beyond 50,000.
Among them, the Fire Dragon Cannon unit commander made a suggestion to Zhao Bingde.
“While repairing the Fire Dragon Cannons is important, we also need to relocate the battery. When do you plan to execute?”
“Three days from now.”
“That’s not enough. We need at least two more days.”
“Two days?”
“At minimum.”
Zhao Bingde’s face showed dismay at the Fire Dragon Cannon unit commander’s response.
The firepower of the Fire Dragon Cannons he had counted on failed to breach Joseon’s fortress walls.
Yet abandoning the Fire Dragon Cannons wasn’t an option because of those damn Joseon wire nets. The Fire Dragon Cannons’ firepower was considered most suitable for destroying those wire nets.
The problem was that today’s battle revealed their Fire Dragon Cannon positions were within range of those Joseon bastards’ artillery. While they obviously needed to pull back, moving and establishing new positions required considerable time and manpower.
In other words, it had become like a chicken rib – holding them back in an urgent situation, yet too wasteful to abandon.
After much deliberation, Zhao Bingde finally reached a compromise.
“I’ll give you one more day. And I’ll provide additional manpower support from nearby units. Complete all preparations within four days.”
“We’ll do our utmost.”
After hearing the Fire Dragon Cannon unit commander’s response, Zhao Bingde issued orders to his other subordinate officers.
“I’ll soon prepare written orders, so focus on repairing the Fire Dragon Cannons and other artillery. Meanwhile, avoid unnecessary offensives and maintain only minimal containment operations.”
“Yes, sir!”
“While all battles are difficult, siege warfare tops them all. Do your utmost to maintain the soldiers’ morale.”
“Yes, sir!”
As the meeting ended, only Zhao Bingde and his staff officers remained in the command tent.
“Sigh~ They say siege warfare is the toughest of all battles, and it really is difficult.”
When Zhao Bingde sighed and complained, a nearby staff officer consoled him.
“Siege warfare isn’t something that can be finished in a day or two.”
“That’s true. That’s true indeed. It’s just surprising that they have walls that can withstand those terrifying Fire Dragon Cannons, and it bothers me that those Joseon bastards built such walls. Let’s refine our plans more until execution day.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The biggest problem is that strange object those Joseon bastards have floating in the sky. It seems to definitely be the flying ball we’ve only heard rumors about, and it’s really troublesome. With it watching all our movements from up there…”
When one staff officer mentioned the flying ball expressing concern, the staff officers’ reactions split into two. One side showed worried expressions, while the other side seemed dismissive.
“Is that really such a big problem? While it’s annoying having them watch us from the sky, isn’t communication between sky and ground the issue? Even if they’ve prepared suitable means, it’s useless without messengers, isn’t it?”
“Of course, that’s one way to look at it. But won’t their responses be faster with them watching all our movements from the sky?”
As arguments about the flying ball’s dangers continued, an opposing staff officer snorted.
“Hah! That’s what we call paranoid delusion!”
“What did you say!”
“Such things might be highly useful when battle lines stretch dozens or hundreds of li, but what about our current front? It’s barely the size of a palm! How much difference could faster or slower knowledge make in such a space? It would be a bigger loss if we fail to move properly because we’re too conscious of that thing floating in the sky!”
Finally, Zhao Bingde stepped in to settle the matter.
“I too have seen that thing and consider it quite threatening. However, as just mentioned, considering the narrow battlefield we occupy, we needn’t worry about that device.”
“Yes, sir.”
After settling this issue, Zhao Bingde and his staff officers began meticulously refining their next operation plans.
***
It had truly been a day that perfectly matched the expression “bloody battle.” However, the morale of Zhao Bingde, his staff officers, and the entire Liaodong army wasn’t significantly dampened.
-Though they say Joseon has grown recently, it’s still a small country. They couldn’t possibly maintain enough forces to oppose us.
-Difficult siege warfare means they’ve deployed many troops to the fortress. Thinking inversely, this means it’ll be smooth sailing once we overcome this hurdle.
-In other words, once we overcome this hurdle, all those abundant resources in Joseon will be ours.
The Jurchen soldiers, accustomed to plunder, raised their voices.
“Life’s gonna end anyway! Might as well go all in!”
“Oh yeah!”
“Joseon’s gold and treasures will be mine!”
Following the Jurchen soldiers’ words, even the Ming army soldiers gradually began thinking similarly.
***
However, their assumptions were fundamentally flawed from the start.
-Joseon’s standing army was larger than they estimated. Though scattered due to having to defend unexpectedly vast territories, it was by no means small.
-Joseon’s people who would be conscripted immediately upon war breaking out were not untrained rabble.
Following the reserve system Hyang created, they received training during farming off-seasons, and during each training session, they experienced firing at least 10 live rounds. Additionally, they had experienced basic formation operations through the stone battles that always concluded their training.
-Zhao Bingde was confident Joseon couldn’t coordinate timing, but this ignored Joseon’s railway network.
It wasn’t that Zhao Bingde was unaware of railways. However, Ming’s railway operations lagged behind Joseon’s in every aspect. It was a fatal mistake to apply his Ming experiences to Joseon.
-The same applied to the flying ball.
Zhao Bingde and his staff officers’ assessment was correct if limited to Insan Fortress. However, the light signaling device mounted on the flying ball allowed the rear to grasp frontline information and prepare accordingly in advance.
-Finally, Zhao Bingde’s greatest misjudgment was the scale of Joseon forces he was facing and would have to face.
His estimate of 50,000 opposing Joseon troops was somewhat accurate.
Following Hyang’s argument, three full divisions, about 50,000 troops, were deployed to Insan Fortress and its vicinity.
However, only two divisions were committed to Insan Fortress and the trench lines extending left and right. The remaining division, 17,000 troops, was firmly prepared as a reserve force behind them.
And the Joseon forces waiting in the area designated as the offensive preparation line now numbered one corps, about 88,000 troops, with more constantly gathering via railway.
The final Joseon force gathering at the offensive waiting line would be three corps, 260,000 troops. And that was just the beginning.
***
While fierce fighting raged at Insan Fortress on the Yalu River, another fierce battle was unfolding in Hanseong.
“Urgent report from Insan Fortress!”
“Make copies and send them up! We need at least 20 copies!”
“We’re short on people!”
“What are the typewriters for then!”
“Here’s the supply list!”
“These numbers are wrong! How can you get it wrong from the very first page! Are you counting with your toes? Or are all your counting rods broken? Redo it and bring it back immediately!”
While all sorts of shouts and curses thundered through the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance was no different.
“I said to put withdrawal restrictions on the battlefield, so what’s this!”
“We did, but somehow they knew…”
“Find out who leaked it immediately! Find them and throw them in the records office! If you can’t find them, you’ll be the first one thrown in!”
“Eek! I’ll definitely find them, my lord!”
The vice minister, startled by the Finance Minister’s fury, darted outside.
One wall of the Finance Minister’s office was covered with various tables and graphs.
Though it was an anticipated war, now that it had actually broken out, the Ministry of Finance was waging a war with numbers due to unexpected expenditures and costs that exceeded estimates.
This situation was the same across Seunghwadang, the Prime Minister’s Office, and other government offices.
“Crime will certainly increase amid the chaos. We must focus on strengthening public security.”
“Yes. I will issue orders to the police bureau.”
“Is the reserve mobilization proceeding smoothly?”
“Yes. Fortunately, the people are all cooperating well. It seems we can meet the planned schedule.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Hyang, who had shown a relieved expression, immediately gave a warning.
“Don’t forget to properly verify the quality of supplies to be issued to them. Keep in mind that we must prevent people from acting wrongly to satisfy their private interests.”
We can’t let another National Defense Guard incident happen!
As Hyang kept emphasizing this, Hwang Hui stepped forward to answer.
“We shall engrave it in our bones and hearts.”
After handling this agenda item, Hyang moved to the next.
“Has the selection of envoys to send to Ming been completed?”
To Hyang’s question, Heo Hu stepped forward to answer.
“I plan to go myself. I’ll properly confront them about this.”
“Your life could be in danger if something goes wrong.”
At Hyang’s warning, Heo Hu answered with a slight smile.
“Wouldn’t that be even better? We could use that as justification to burn all of Ming’s ports. Trading my one life for all of Ming’s ports would be quite a profitable deal, wouldn’t it?”
At Heo Hu’s words, Hyang slightly shook his head.
“We’ll burn all Ming’s ports anyway if things go wrong. So make sure to return with your life.”
“While it might be difficult to guarantee, I’ll do my best.”