“We can conscript up to 10 million, but doing so would cost us too much. Three million is the optimal number.”
To the Minister of War’s words, Emperor Xuande responded firmly.
“We need at least five million.”
“Conscripting five million would take too long. Furthermore, supplying weapons to such conscripted soldiers would strain our resources.”
Though the Minister of War advised against such excessive measures, Emperor Xuande scoffed.
“Hmph! Isn’t that the same for three million! Most of those conscripted soldiers will be armed with spears and swords anyway! No more arguments – gather five million! If we conscript from across the Central Plains, it won’t take long! Send five million north!”
“Following Your Majesty’s orders for conscription might not be the main issue! However, training these gathered men and sending them to the battlefield is the problem! With our current facilities, three million is the best we can manage. Even that would take at least a year!”
The Minister of War put his life on the line to oppose the emperor with all his might.
“Does the Minister of War not see the current crisis!”
At Emperor Xuande’s rebuke, the Minister of War felt rage burning inside him.
Who’s the one created this current crisis!
Forcefully suppressing the words that threatened to burst out, the Minister of War addressed Emperor Xuande.
“This humble servant is all too aware of the current crisis! However, attempting tasks beyond our capability is reckless!”
“You dare!”
“Betting this servant’s life, I must say three million is the best we can do!”
“You-!”
Emperor Xuande’s cheeks quivered as he gritted his teeth at the Minister’s remonstration.
Though he wanted to order the Minister of War dragged out and beheaded right then, this was an official who had faithfully carried out his orders thus far.
Moreover, the Minister of War was the one who had managed all military households and military registers. While the Left and Right Commanders and the Five Military Commands supervised the training, operations, and command of soldiers, the Ministry of War was the department responsible for managing the mobilization system.
When the head of such a department declared something impossible, it truly meant it was impossible.
Finally, Emperor Xuande had no choice but to back down.
“Fine! You said three million is possible, so mobilize three million! If you fail, I will have your head!”
At Emperor Xuande’s threat, the Minister of War made a fist-palm salute and replied.
“I stake my life on completing this task! I am deeply grateful that you heeded your servant’s loyal counsel! Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!”
After settling the matter thus, Emperor Xuande waved his hand at his officials both great and small.
“I am tired. Withdraw while I rest for a moment.”
***
After leaving Emperor Xuande’s main hall, the Cabinet Assistant Counselor grabbed the Minister of War.
“Do you have several spare lives?”
“Even if it costs me my head, some things must be said, no? Five million is impossible. Above all, we don’t have time. Time…”
“What about time?”
At the Cabinet Assistant Counselor’s words, the Minister of War firmly sealed his lips.
“Sir! Why is time insufficient!”
“You’ll find out later.”
With those final words, the Minister of War separated himself and returned to his office.
***
Upon returning to his office, the Minister of War threw open the windows and doors and surveyed his surroundings.
After confirming no one was around, he finally let out a long sigh.
“Haah~. This is difficult, so difficult… Why did His Majesty start a war against Joseon…”
The Minister of War was certain that it was Emperor Xuande, not Zhu Qizhen, who had initiated this war. No, not just the Minister of War – all the officials had reached similar conclusions.
As Joseon’s capabilities grew stronger, Emperor Xuande’s attention toward Joseon had become nearly obsessive. The problem was that instead of the goodwill he had shown initially, it had become very hostile.
“Of course, it’s not incomprehensible…”
Just as there cannot be two suns in the sky, the Central Plains had to be the center of the world. Therefore, the emergence of a powerful competitor was unwelcome.
The problem was choosing war, the most extreme method, to suppress such a competitor.
“Is it because of his health?”
Emperor Xuande’s current condition was serious by anyone’s standards. His illness was so severe that it wouldn’t be strange if he died tomorrow.
It was a combination of excessive sense of responsibility shown since his ascension, progressively worsening health, and psychology that distrusted everyone around him.
“Haah~.”
Letting out another long sigh, the Minister of War muttered quietly.
“This war… we’ve lost. The question is how to endure what comes after.”
The Minister of War was certain of defeat with a gloomy expression.
The biggest flaw was that everyone in the Ming court, starting with Emperor Xuande, had underestimated Joseon.
Of course, everyone had expected that Joseon, having grown powerful, would have a hidden claw or two. The problem was that there weren’t just one or two hidden claws, and all those claws were lethal.
“The land forces committed to the war against Joseon must end with the current 800,000. Even if we lose, we can’t send reinforcements. The 300,000 we’re gathering now must be preserved for what comes after.”
The Minister of War muttered while looking at the map of the world hanging on his office wall.
“The problem is that the barbarians in the north and the pirates in Japan are too quiet. These bastards are as cunning and sharp as wolves. The fact that they haven’t touched Joseon until now doesn’t mean they won’t – it means they couldn’t. This means these fellows are just waiting for their chance to target our Ming. Haah~.”
The Minister of War stopped speaking and sighed. In his ears, he could almost hear the desperate screams of people being attacked by Japanese pirates and northern barbarians.
“Haah~.”
Letting out another long sigh, the Minister of War moved the stack of military registers from one side to his desk.
“At least thanks to more people than expected gathering in cities, we can quickly fill three million.”
As Ming’s economy prospered, a movement of leaving villages for cities had swept across the country. Not only traditional cities, but new ones had emerged as stops along canals and railways. As rumors spread of people making instant fortunes in such cities, many people left their rural homes to relocate to urban areas.
Though the Ministry of Households and Ministry of War had struggled to organize the household registers of these people who had left their hometowns, there was an unexpected benefit. With many people gathering in cities, mobilizing manpower had become easier.
“Next is to drag out time as much as possible while training and arming them. With Joseon controlling the seas, this war can only end in defeat. We absolutely cannot send them to Liaodong. We must hold onto these forces as tightly as possible to endure what comes after…”
As he was thinking about future matters while wetting his throat with tea, the Minister of War muttered.
“From now on, time is our greatest enemy. Time…”
Seven days after Emperor Xuande’s decision was made, another piece of bad news arrived for him.
‘Japanese Pirates Attack’
Upon hearing the news, the Minister of War squeezed his eyes shut.
“We’ve been had!”
***
The target of the Joseon naval fleet leading the Japanese squadron was Qingzhou.
Located in a northern indentation of the Shandong Peninsula, Qingzhou was a natural excellent harbor thanks to its geography.
Because of this, it was crowded with headquarters and branches of Ming’s massive trading companies, including the Joseon trading office established by Joseon.
Due to this importance, Qingzhou was also home to Ming’s largest naval base.
Dong~. Dong~.
Ding ding ding ding!
As bells large and small rang out from all directions announcing the emergency, soldiers ran about shouting.
“Bandits are coming!”
“Bandits are coming!”
“Japanese pirates are coming!”
“Japanese pirates are coming!”
Following the soldiers’ shouts came the commanders’ shouts and trumpet calls.
“Everyone board the ships!”
“Quickly to the ships!”
“Raise anchor!”
“Row! Raise the sails!”
Pwoo-ooo! Pwoo-ooo!
Amid all this chaos, the warships that had safely returned from the previous battle rushed out to sea one after another.
The commanders leading their soldiers out to sea all had the same thought.
Cover shame with merit.
Since returning from their crushing defeat by the Joseon navy, Ming naval commanders had been anxious every day. It wouldn’t have been strange for them to lose their heads at any moment when called to account.
In such an anxious situation, the Japanese pirates’ attack was actually welcome news.
The Japanese ships that had come to Shandong for mutual trade still looked flimsy, and the Japanese on board were only armed with spears and swords.
In the old days we had to fight hand-to-hand with those spears and swords, but now it’s artillery combat! The odds are in our favor!
“We may have lost to Joseon, but we can’t lose to mere pirates!”
“They’re just Japanese pirates!”
From commanders to common soldiers, everyone on the Ming warships charged toward the Japanese ships while shouting spiritedly.
However, while charging out with such courage was good, what came next was the problem.
Underestimating the pirates, they had formed their fleet in disorder.
This happened because with no new commander-in-chief yet appointed, there was no one to properly control the warships.
Seeing the Ming warships charging in with such vigor, the Japanese ships quickly began turning their prows.
Seeing this, the Ming navy’s spirits rose even higher.
“I don’t know where they heard the news, but they must have thought we were all dead! But it’s too late now!”
“Row harder! Chase those bandits!”
Boom boom boom!
With thunderous drumbeats, the Ming warships pressed forward with even more vigor.
Right then, familiar sails began appearing in the space cleared by the Japanese ships’ hasty turns.
“Eek! It’s the Joseon bastards!”
“The Joseon bastards!”
“Damn, it’s the Haeungs!”
“There are Challengers behind them too!”
Upon confirming the presence of Joseon navy’s Haeung-class and Challenger-class warships, the Ming naval forces began frantically looking around.
“No… no… please…”
As they searched their surroundings with desperate prayers, the Ming navy screamed when they saw black smoke rising in the distance.
“It’s the Black Dragon!”
“It’s the Black Dragon! Run away!”
“Turn the ships around!”
Confirming the presence of the Maengjin ship, the Ming warships began urgently turning their prows.
However, before long, the Ming navy fell into pandemonium.
Not only had they sailed out haphazardly without proper formation, but when they tried to flee by turning their ships around as they pleased, all the vessels became entangled.
“Move! Get out of the way!”
“We’re going to crash!”
Crash! Crack!
In this chaotic situation, the large ships and medium ships that chose to flee brutally crushed the small ships in their path as they moved.
Hit by the much larger ships, the small vessels either split in two or capsized, throwing many soldiers into the sea where they flailed about.
“Help! Save me!”
“Blub! Blub!”
Though the soldiers in the water desperately called for help, the large and medium ships, caught in panic, ignored them and rowed with all their might.
In the end, many small ships had to scatter in all directions to avoid not the enemy, but their own allies.