Ming’s young officials argued to their superiors that they needed to verify the possibility of misjudgment. However, their opinions were immediately dismissed.

“Yes, as you say, Joseon has always moved meticulously. So they might have acted with some confidence. Even so, that’s just their misjudgment. Look at the absolute scale. The absolute scale!”

“Your opinions are just overreactions!”

Thus most superiors dismissed the young officials’ concerns. Of course, there were a few superiors who paid attention to their opinions.

“Though they’re young people’s opinions, aren’t they worth considering?”

However, most reactions were negative.

“It’s just young ones being contrarian. That’s how they get attention. Didn’t we do the same?”

“That’s right, that’s right. Young ones have only two ways to get attention – either work themselves to death or just be contrarian no matter what!”

The superiors dismissed the young officials’ points as mere ‘youthful rashness.’

But they had forgotten something.

Even when foreign peoples had invaded and ruled them, the fundamental capacity of the Central Plains itself had been stronger than the invaders.

***

Choi Yoon-deok’s Joseon army that crossed the Yalu River was moving smoothly toward Liaodong Fortress.

At the Joseon army headquarters located about 200 li (about 80km) from the Yalu River.

Settled in the command tent, Choi Yoon-deok read reports coming up from his subordinates while muttering quietly.

“Not as fast as expected.”

The distance from opposite Insan Garrison to Liaodong Fortress was about 400 li (about 160km) in a straight line. However, calculations showed they would need to march about 500 li (about 200km) while detouring hilly areas and securing safe water sources.

The General Staff Office staff who calculated the expected distance computed the time needed to march to Liaodong Fortress.

“Well-trained soldiers could walk one sa[1] per day without tiring, but the problem is most are reserves.”

“I agree. Even doing our best, we won’t exceed 50 li (about 20km) per day.”

“Given the dropout problem, let’s use 40 li (about 16km) as the standard.”

“That would be best.”

“Then…”

Having set the standard, the General Staff Office staff calculated the time needed to advance to Liaodong Fortress.

• At least fifteen days from the Yalu River to the Liao River.

***

“Fifteen days… isn’t that too loose?”

“I agree. Though most forces are reserves, aren’t we setting the standard too low for people used to walking long distances?”

When Jo Mal-saeng and Hwang Hui received the report and pointed out it seemed too long, the General Staff Office staff all explained their reasons for setting such standards.

• The assumption that reserves are used to walking long distances is prejudiced. This is because of predators like tigers that fill Joseon’s mountains.
• Information about the region north of the Yalu River is scarce. Therefore, we need to advance carefully to prevent unnecessary losses.
• We must keep in mind that most forces advancing into Liaodong are reserves. Having soldiers with no combat experience operate in unfamiliar foreign territory greatly consumes mental strength. To maintain proper combat effectiveness, they must avoid excessive long-distance marching.

Since the staff’s reasons were valid, Hwang Hui and Jo Mal-saeng accepted them. And Hyang, receiving the operation plan, heard the explanation and immediately approved.

“In Joseon’s current situation, we must distinguish well between possible adventures and impossible recklessness. And for adventures to succeed, proper groundwork must be laid.”

***

Thus the Joseon army began advancing according to the established operation.

However, the Joseon army’s advance was slower than expected. This despite not having fought a single proper battle yet.

What held up the Joseon army was none other than the Jurchen tribes.

Not just the Jurchen tribes near the Joseon army’s advance route but even tribes somewhat distant – specifically within a 100 li (about 40km) radius – all came flocking to voluntarily surrender, presenting their weapons, their tribal chiefs’ symbolic swords, and banners marked with tribal symbols.

The reason these Jurchen tribes rushed to surrender was because of the Joseon cavalry.

***

The Joseon cavalry was the force that played the biggest role in the process of making the northeastern region Joseon territory.

Afterward, the Joseon cavalry tasked with maintaining security in the border region became a symbol of terror to the Jurchen tribes.

When they received reports of incidents near the border, the Joseon cavalry responded by pursuing to the end and completely destroying the problematic Jurchen tribes.

In this process, both open and secret border crossings frequently occurred, and the Foreign Ministry had to work overtime routinely to resolve these issues.

“Foreign Ministry business is Foreign Ministry business, our job is to beat those bastards!”

With these words, the Joseon cavalry would pursue Jurchen tribes that crossed the border to plunder until the end and destroy their entire tribe.

And thanks to this notorious reputation of the Joseon cavalry, Jurchen tribes immediately waved white flags upon hearing of the Joseon army’s approach.

***

“Though our march speed has slowed somewhat, we should consider it fortunate that we could avoid expected bloodshed. Thanks to this we can properly maintain our fighting strength.”

Examining the reports, Choi Yoon-deok drew a positive conclusion. The staff nodded at Choi Yoon-deok’s conclusion.

Though they had retreated at the Yalu River, it was expected that at least 100,000 troops would remain in Liaodong Fortress, and the Ming forces coming over the Great Wall to Liaodong were expected to number at least 1 million.

To match this, Joseon also massively mobilized reserves and formed units before continuously sending them north.

According to Joseon’s plans, ultimately about 500,000 troops including existing forces would meet Ming in Liaodong.

And they would make up for insufficient troops with artillery including Type-Eul War Wagons.

***

While marching speed slowed but fighting strength was properly maintained like this, those in charge of supplies became insanely busy.

Officials tasked with managing, supervising and incorporating surrendered Jurchen tribes into Joseon’s administrative organization had to come on mass business trips. Additionally, police force personnel had to come en masse to maintain public order.

Unexpected demands arose for tents to house these people, various food supplies and military horses for movement, and all sorts of forms needed for paperwork.

Additionally, supply officers had to work overnight routinely to provide more supplies than expected due to slower movement and food to distribute to surrendered Jurchen tribes.

Bang!

Suffering from overwork, supply officer Jo Il-seop slammed the desk and shouted.

“Damn it all! I’d rather be fighting on the front lines!”

As Il-seop lost his reason and acted violently, section chief Kim Cheol-su sitting behind quickly ran over to stop him.

“Hey! Have some patience! They say reinforcements are coming soon so just hold on a little longer!”

“Send me to the front lines! I’d rather face those Ming bastards with guns and swords! This is ridiculous! The rear keeps rushing us while the front complains about late supplies! It’s too damn filthy to live!”

The outcry of supply officers exhausted from overwork subsided as personnel were reinforced. More precisely, it was because Prince Pyeongwon, who received an appointment as Third Grade Defense General serving as Commander of Supplies, took position along with the newly reinforced personnel.

There was no one brave enough to make a fuss where Hyang’s blood brother was serving as Supply Commander.

While Prince Pyeongwon, who was used to battling numbers at the Ministry of Defense, took command and supply-related administrative work proceeded smoothly again.

If Prince Pyeongwon became the solution for supply-related administration, the actual transport issues were resolved when traction engines arrived.

Ridiculously, the pontoon bridges installed on the Yalu River couldn’t bear the weight of the traction engines. Self-powered river crossing was problematic due to the Yalu River’s depth. There were issues of water entering the furnace and extinguishing the fire, and the high-temperature high-pressure water tank could crack upon meeting the cold river water.

Therefore, the traction engine unit could only join the main force after making a long-distance movement starting from the northeastern region and following the northern banks of the Tumen and Yalu Rivers.

As the traction engines joined, the movement of supplies also began to flow more smoothly.

The volume transported by traction engines was enormous. They easily transported twice the amount that the Western region’s strong and enduring large horses could carry.

Thus catching its breath, the Joseon army proceeded with supplies according to the logistics system established by Hyang.

They created medium-sized supply depots along the march route from large supply depots on the Yalu River bank, and installed several small supply depots right behind the front lines. Eventually, front line units would receive supplies by going back and forth to small depots, small depots to medium depots, and medium depots to other medium depots and rear large depots.

“It’s better for moving soldiers to travel light. The depot system is the answer.”

Hyang was quick to utilize a system refined over long history.

Through this process, Joseon came to be called the ‘Nation of Wagons’ once again, following in the footsteps of ancient Goguryeo.

This was because they rapidly moved large amounts of supplies and troops using wagons pulled by traction engines and horses.

***

As the clouds of war gradually thickened in Liaodong, tension was also building at sea.

After diplomatic relations between Ming and Joseon broke down, both navies continuously sent out scout ships to reconnoiter each other’s movements.

The vessels that performed best in these exploratory battles were naturally the Haeung-class ships.

The Haeung-class ships boasted the fastest speed and solid armament among both Ming and Joseon vessels.

The Haeung-class ships that took to sea continuously scouted Ming’s naval bases and tracked Ming scout ships that came out to sea.

Especially after Ming’s envoy returned, it was the Haeung-class ships that blinded Ming’s navy by sinking or capturing Ming scout ships whenever they saw them.

***

Late April of King Sejong’s 30th year (1448, Year of Mujin).

Haeung No. 22 of the Gyeonggi Naval Station entered at full speed.

“Light signals from Haeung 22!”

At the sentry’s shout, the officer sitting in the watchtower jumped to his feet.

The officer pressed against the tower railing and read the flashing light signals from Haeung 22.

“Ming… navy… fleet… deployed…”

After confirming the light signals once more, the officer frantically rang the tower bell.

Ding ding ding!

“Emergency! Emergency!”

Soon after, Haeung 22’s report was transmitted to Hanseong via light signals.

Receiving the urgent report, Hyang immediately made a decision.

“Tell them to annihilate the Ming navy according to the operation plan.”

“We receive your command!”

Hyang’s orders were immediately transmitted via light signals to each naval base in Hwanghae, Gyeonggi, Chungjeong, and Left and Right Jeolla.

Finally, the curtain rose on the great battle between the Ming and Joseon navies.