-Teach them how to fight, but don’t teach them how to win.
At Hyang’s words, Injeongjeon Hall stirred slightly.
Those with military experience or who had handled military-related affairs, like Kim Jeom, Kim Jong-seo, and Min Shin, nodded in agreement, but pure civil officials showed puzzled expressions.
‘I think I understand, but maybe not…’
‘That cryptic answer! Does he think he’s the only one who needs to know!’
‘Both the Emperor and the situation! Surely the Crown Prince isn’t like this too? If so, I’ll resign! Even if I have to drink poison, I’ll resign!’
As all sorts of internal monologues emerged, Heo Hu stepped forward as representative.
“Your Majesty, your subject is too dim to understand your sacred instruction. Please consider your dim-witted subject.”
At Heo Hu’s words, Hyang smiled slightly and explained in more detail.
-With gunpowder weapons becoming widely distributed, battlefield tactics have changed significantly. -No, the broad framework remains similar, but many small details have changed. -Therefore, we’ll send Empire instructors to Wa Country to teach this. -However, what the instructors teach will be limited to tactical aspects. Strategy and other important elements are excluded.
At Hyang’s explanation, Heo Hu tilted his head slightly and asked another question.
“However, major aspects like strategy are emphasized in military texts passed down through generations. Couldn’t they learn these parts themselves even if the Empire doesn’t teach them?”
At Heo Hu’s point, Hyang nodded slightly and replied.
“That’s also correct. Looking at military texts describing how to win wars since ancient times, they never fail to mention strategy. However, much has changed with firearms appearing on battlefields. Consequently, even with the same strategy, how to implement it has changed greatly. We won’t teach this part. And considering the wars Wa has fought until now, this is something they absolutely won’t know unless taught.”
“Still, well…”
As Heo Hu continued to show confusion, Min Shin joined the conversation.
“Your Majesty, may your subject explain to the Foreign Minister?”
“You may.”
“I am grateful for your permission to make this impertinent request.”
Having expressed gratitude to Hyang for allowing what could be seen as the improper act of interrupting a conversation between emperor and minister, Min Shin began explaining to Heo Hu.
“Supply is the simplest example.”
- Famous military texts throughout history never fail to mention the importance of supply.
- However, looking at Wa Country’s history, unlike Ming or us, they didn’t consider supply very important.
- This is because most of Wa Country’s wars were civil wars, and their territory wasn’t very large. -How far would they march in such a small land, and how many people could they mobilize for battles? It’s incomparable to the vast lands of the Central Plains where many military texts originated, or the ancient Three Hans who fought with Central Plains empires while competing for unification.
- Therefore, Wa Country takes supply lightly. Swords and spears are sufficient for warriors and soldiers to carry, and if urgent, they can cut nearby bamboo or wood to make bamboo or wooden spears. The same applies to bows and arrows. When food runs out, they can plunder from surroundings.
- This would be immediately understood by recalling the behavior of past Japanese pirates.
- However, much has changed as gunpowder weapons became central to warfare.
- Gunpowder, bullets, and shells cannot be made immediately on the battlefield. Of course, anything can be made if attempted, but to achieve proper performance, they must be properly manufactured in the rear.
- This alone increases difficulties, and consumption is enormous. With each battle, soldiers use well over hundreds of rounds. This is absolutely not an amount that can be made emergently on the battlefield.
When Min Shin explained this far, Heo Hu pointed out a contradiction.
“Considering the civil war that led to the Ouchi family seizing power, wouldn’t they know the problems of gunpowder weapons?”
“Though gunpowder weapons played a leading role in those battles, both beginning and end were done by sword and spear troops. And the guns used by Ouchi’s soldiers then weren’t the long rifles used by Imperial troops but inferior performance weapons. To fire hundreds of rounds with those guns would have taken at least seven days.”
“Ah…”
At Min Shin’s words, Heo Hu nodded. Hyang, listening from the throne, felt the same.
‘It’s not like the Twelve Apostles came out differently…’
***
In the history before Hyang’s intervention, early European soldiers using muskets carried wooden containers each holding one shot’s worth of powder and one bullet. They typically carried twelve such containers, hence soldiers called them the Twelve Apostles.
Interestingly, they rarely used all twelve Apostles in a single battle. Cases where all twelve were used were generally considered battles worthy of historical record for their intensity.
Consequently, this was why spearmen survived until the era of line infantry. While gunners determined victory or defeat, spearmen handled the finishing touches.
***
As Heo Hu and ministers with similar expressions nodded, Min Shin began his concluding explanation.
“This is why the Empire’s Military Academy assigns the smartest ones to the Artillery Department, and the next smartest to Administration and Supply. But accepting Wa people into the Military Academy? That’s absolutely something we must not do.”
The ministers nodding at Min Shin’s explanation soon recalled something.
‘Wait? Come to think of it…’
When discussing personnel assignments at the Military Academy, Hyang had been the strongest advocate for such assignments.
****
Until Joseon’s founding, cavalry was the main force.
No, it was transitioning from cavalry to artillery.
This was because they realized artillery’s power through the intense first experience of the Jin Po naval battle in late Goryeo.
Therefore, the Military Academy had planned to assign those with the best minds and qualities to the Artillery Department first, with the next tier going to the Cavalry Department.
However, Hyang blocked this and actively recommended the Administration and Supply Department.
“Since ancient times, they said to secure supply first before moving troops! If supply of gunpowder, bullets, and shells for our main forces of gunners and artillerymen becomes chaotic, we’ll lose a hundred battles out of a hundred!”
Thanks to Hyang’s insistence and Sejong’s recognition of its importance, personnel assignments were made according to Hyang’s proposal.
This assignment policy drew gossip for a while from both academy students and the military.
- Though supply is important, isn’t this overemphasizing it?
- Doesn’t a general prove himself through military prowess and skillful command, not supply?
- Perhaps… because the Crown Prince favors artillery?
Such gossip circulated, but Hyang and Sejong firmly pushed their principles.
And victory in the recent war proved Hyang right.
Supplies arriving at second-line supply bases via railway were moved to intermediate supply bases using steam tractors and animal-drawn carts. Then supplies flowed like water to the front lines using animal carts. Additionally, they created policies with the Finance Ministry for operating private businesses for mass production of heavily consumed frontline supplies.
The Imperial army, maintaining morale and combat power with proper supply, drove back Ming forces in the opposite situation and seized victory.
With this war’s result, the importance of administrative supply was proven, and no one questioned the Military Academy’s personnel assignments.
Except one person, excluding Hyang…
“Ah! These artillery fetishists!”
Moreover, as people realized administrative supply was a path to success, applications increased greatly, raising competition rates.
***
Remembering this series of events, the ministers looked at Hyang with strange eyes.
‘Just how many moves ahead did he see?’
Whether aware of the ministers’ thoughts or not, Hyang summarized the situation.
“Therefore, regarding Ouchi’s military-related requests, let’s proceed with ‘navy denied, army instructors dispatched.’ Any objections?”
“None, Your Majesty.”
“A most appropriate decision.”
With all ministers agreeing, he ordered Kim Jeom:
“Prime Minister, please work with the Foreign and Defense Ministers to create suitable excuses.”
“I receive your command.”
***
Two weeks later, Hyang’s response to Ouchi’s request arrived in Yamaguchi.
“Tsk!”
Confirming the response’s contents, Mochiyo clicked his tongue with a face full of regret.
“I expected military matters wouldn’t be easy, but still disappointing.”
At Mochiyo’s complaint, Norihiro, who had confirmed the response’s contents, consoled him.
“The Empire suffered from wokou pirates, didn’t they? Consider it progress that they’re even sending instructors.”
“That’s true, but I can’t help feeling regret. I wanted to reduce the time needed to properly train talent and advance into the wider world.”
“They say ‘ox steps thousand li.’ With many talents working hard now, it will surely be achieved.”
At Norihiro’s words, Mochiyo nodded strongly.
“The heir’s words are right! How long must we remain confined to these narrow islands! Before it’s too late, we must make our name in the world and expand our territory! We can’t follow behind the Empire forever!”
“Indeed!”
Having strengthened his resolve, Mochiyo moved on.
“How are preparations proceeding for the school to educate children?”
“We’ve somewhat managed location selection and scholar recruitment, but there’s another problem.”
“Another problem? What is it?”
“The naming issue. There’s strong opposition to using the same name as the Empire’s Civilian Schools, saying it’s a matter of pride.”
At Norihiro’s words, Mochiyo nodded.
“That’s right. So… have you prepared suitable names?”
“Yes. Elementary School and National School. Elementary School because it’s for young children, and National School because it’s where children will grow into subjects of Japan.”
“Both are fine, but…”
Considering the two options, Mochiyo soon chose one.
“Let’s go with National School.”
“As you command.”
Not long after hearing this news, Hyang shook his head with a bitter smile.
“National School again…”
***
Meanwhile, the surveyors selected by Jinpyeong arrived at Suez with Giovanni.
“Why is this land so frickin’ hot!”
“We heard it was hot, but this is brutally hot!”
The surveyors, shocked by heat they’d never experienced, were surprised again when night fell.
“What? Why did the temperature suddenly drop?”
“It becomes a different world as soon as the sun sets?”
“What kind of crazy place is this!”
At the surveyors’ outcries, Giovanni smiled bitterly and muttered internally:
‘This is still mild being near the sea. It’s worse further into the desert.’
Despite their complaints, the surveyors worked through their sleep to unload equipment.
After finishing unloading and checking equipment, the surveyors rested to recover from travel fatigue.
After three days of rest, they loaded equipment onto camels and finally began work.
“Well then, let’s get moving!”
“Let’s do it!”
“But why is this camel beast so nasty-tempered! Worse than my wife!”
It was the beginning of a railway that would cross approximately 300 li (about 120km) in a straight line, or about 400 li (about 160km) including the water source route, through the desert.