The subordinate officer continued.
“According to Lieutenant Ssang and other natives, there are numerous tribes that grind their teeth at the mere mention of those Aztec or Mexica bastards.”
“So it’s not just Lieutenant Ssang’s tribe?”
“Correct. If we can properly join hands with them, we can receive significant help with troop supply and maintaining supply routes.”
“Hmm… That sounds good. Plausible. But things don’t always go as planned. Let’s review the plan assuming we move independently, with just Ssang and his allied tribes, or even on our own.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Lee Jing-ok was issuing orders to his subordinate officer, he suddenly seemed to remember something and pointed out another issue.
“Ah! And what about the ‘prohibited swear words’? Are they being properly enforced?”
“…Yes, sir.”
Seeing his subordinate officer stammering in response, Lee Jing-ok grumbled.
“Really… of all things, to choose such a name…”
***
During the process of returning to New Frontier, some surrendered natives acquired imperial-style names.
Most natives who received names this way, like “Ssang,” recognized as their names the terms that imperial soldiers had called them while escaping.
Because of this, an implicit agreement was reached among the imperial soldiers on the ship returning to New Frontier.
-Do not use swear words that natives use as their names.
And this agreement was immediately written up as a report and submitted to Hyang.
Upon reviewing the report, Hyang immediately made a decision.
“The military shall not use the swear words listed here.”
Jinpyeong, who was watching Hyang’s decision from the side, immediately pointed out the problem.
“Since swear words tend to slip out without thought, wouldn’t it be better to simply prohibit swearing altogether? Since speech reveals a person’s character, would it not be appropriate to use this opportunity to ban the use of profanity?”
To Jinpyeong’s words, Hyang responded with an indifferent expression.
“Don’t you swear?”
“How could a nobleman so basely…”
“Do you know how many reports I’ve received saying you’re the one with the foulest mouth in the field?”
“…”
“And you said how could a nobleman so basely utter profanity? If that’s what you think, then the Emperor Emeritus isn’t a gentleman?”
“Gasp!”
At Hyang’s observation, Jinpyeong’s face turned pale.
Even King Sejong would unconsciously utter profanities when angered to his limits. No, it wasn’t just King Sejong. King Taejong was also known for swearing. Especially in the case of King Taejo, who spent most of his life on battlefields, half of his words in private settings were profanities.
In King Sejong’s case, he changed his habit from swearing to clicking his tongue instead. But everyone knew the swear words hidden behind that tongue-clicking sound.
This was why Jinpyeong’s face turned pale. Even a slight misinterpretation of what Jinpyeong had just said could be taken as an insult to the Emperor Emeritus.
“I have spoken thoughtlessly, Your Majesty!”
Jinpyeong immediately bowed his head and acknowledged his mistake, and Hyang responded by clicking his tongue.
“Tsk!”
***
Hyang’s order was the same for the expeditionary force. To prevent potential mistakes, the expeditionary force had to become accustomed to this from the time they were training on the mainland.
-(Excerpt) For these reasons, the use of the swear words listed above is prohibited. Anyone caught using the above profanities will have their pay reduced.
Among the soldiers who read the posted order, those not from noble families either showed expressions suggesting it was no big deal or even snickered.
“Well, this is nothing… It’s not like these are the only swear words…”
“I guess the units that fought in southern New Frontier only had well-behaved people? Even the kids attending the civil education hall in my neighborhood use stronger profanity than these.”
Ironically, as time passed, those who had their pay reduced the most were soldiers from noble families.
Those from noble backgrounds had lived lives far removed from profanity.
They mainly encountered swear words in civil education halls. Because of the philosophy of “Equality of the Four Classes,” the education halls conducted classes with people from all social strata gathered in one place, without distinction between nobles and commoners.
The problem arose when children from noble families used the swear words they learned at school back home.
“How can a child from a noble family use such base language!”
“He seems to have learned it from peers at the civil education hall.”
“Then you should have stepped in to prevent it!”
Through this kind of top-down pressure, those from noble backgrounds were conditioned and trained not to utter profanities.
These individuals, who had volunteered for the expeditionary force and undergone rigorous military training, somehow found profanity sticking to their tongues.
However, the swear words they were familiar with were mostly those they had known since childhood, and the problem was that most of those swear words were on that prohibited list.
***
The expeditionary forces, arriving at the southern naval base by iron horse, rested for a day before immediately boarding ships.
“The journey is quite long!”
After a fifteen-day voyage, the expeditionary forces reached their destination and immediately began establishing a beachhead under Lee Jing-ok’s command.
“Then I’ll return immediately to bring the later divisions.”
To the admiral leading the transport fleet’s words, Lee Jing-ok nodded and replied.
“I’m counting on you.”
“I wish you success in battle.”
“Thank you. By the way, I heard during the journey that a European ship was found stranded nearby?”
“Yes. Based on the evidence, it appeared to be a ship that had escaped from our attack previously.”
“Were there any survivors?”
“After searching the vicinity, it seems they fell victim to those bastards.”
“I can imagine what fate they met without even seeing it.”
At Lee Jing-ok’s words, the admiral nodded. Seeing this, Lee Jing-ok continued.
“Are ships still coming from Europe these days?”
“They come occasionally, but we sink or capture them as they arrive.”
“His Majesty must be quite concerned.”
“He said we need to hold out for at least five more years.”
“You have a difficult task.”
“Thank you.”
Having completed the unloading of troops and supplies, the fleet immediately turned their ships around and returned to their home port.
Waving goodbye to the departing ships, Lee Jing-ok turned around.
“Now the real work begins. How should I deal with these vermin…”
Lee Jing-ok was radiating killing intent toward the Aztecs.
“With those large ships, things have become easier than expected, so we should do this properly.”
According to the plan, the expeditionary force would arrive at the beachhead through a total of 10 transports.
It was a major operation moving 3,000 people at once, made possible thanks to five large transport ships newly designed by Hyang being deployed.
These ships were slightly larger than the Challenger-class but carried only minimal armaments for self-defense. They were specialized vessels for transporting passengers or cargo.
“Although we built them thanks to the large and sturdy trees in New Frontier, they can’t be deployed outside until we secure maritime supremacy in the Atlantic. Or we could modify them again…”
While expressing slight regret, Hyang sent the designs in question to the mainland. It was certain they would be invaluable on the Suez route, where maritime supremacy had already been secured.
After the expeditionary force transportation proceeded safely for five rounds, Lee Jing-ok finally began to move.
He dispatched three units, each consisting of 1,000 men, along with Ssang and other surrendered natives. Their mission was to make contact with Ssang’s tribe and other native tribes and secure their cooperation.
“According to Lieutenant Ssang, a round trip would take at least a month… What should I do to pass the time?”
After pondering briefly, Lee Jing-ok soon summoned his subordinate officers.
“You called for me, sir?”
“We have work to do.”
“Please command us.”
Lee Jing-ok raised his hand and pointed to the jungle ahead.
“Clear all of that away.”
“Pardon?”
“More troops will continue to arrive, and this land is hotter and more humid than expected. If we’re not careful, there’s a high possibility of getting exhausted or falling ill before even fighting. Therefore, we need to secure a sufficiently large space in advance. Also, that jungle obstructs our view, leaving us vulnerable to surprise attacks. So we need to clear it away as much as possible to reduce our weaknesses and leverage our strengths.”
At Lee Jing-ok’s explanation, all the subordinate officers nodded.
“We’ll implement it immediately.”
Before long, all soldiers except those assigned to guard duty left the beachhead carrying machetes, saws, and axes.
“So that’s why they sent so many machetes, axes, and saws…”
“Am I here to fight or to cut down trees…”
While grumbling, the soldiers started methodically clearing the jungle.
Later, reading Lee Jing-ok’s official report, Hyang shuddered slightly.
“And the division commander said, ‘Move that mountain,’ and the mountain was moved… Whew! That suddenly gives me the chills…”
***
The units that had left the beachhead began returning after about a month and ten days.
Dozens of native warriors armed with macuahuitls followed behind the returning units.
Watching from the watchtower, Lee Jing-ok smiled slightly.
“Seems to have gone well.”
Having judged that things were progressing well, Lee Jing-ok descended from the watchtower to welcome the returning units.
“Attention!”
“Good work! Let the soldiers rest, and you come report to me!”
“Yes, sir!”
After dismissing the soldiers, the commander, along with Ssang, led the native warriors to find Lee Jing-ok.
“I’ll say it again, well done. I was a bit worried since it took longer than expected, but I’m glad to see most of you have returned safely.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Now, give me your report.”
“Yes, sir.”
The commander began reporting to Lee Jing-ok.
To summarize the commander’s report:
- Ssang’s tribe had hidden themselves deeper in the jungle than their original dwelling place.
- Upon hearing about the offensive against the Aztecs, Ssang’s tribe promised full cooperation. Their hostility toward the Aztecs was beyond imagination.
- Ssang’s tribe planned to relocate their entire tribe near the beachhead. This was to secure the tribe’s safety and enhance the efficiency of joint operations.
- They were requesting weapons for combat. The weapon they most desired was the machete.
“Machetes?”
Slightly puzzled by the request for machetes, Lee Jing-ok soon nodded after looking at the macuahuitls carried by the native warriors.
“I see…”
Compared to those wooden clubs embedded with obsidian, machetes were weapons with far superior performance. Additionally, machetes were weapons these natives could use immediately without any special training.
“They’re not thoughtless people. I thought they would unconditionally demand muskets…”
Muttering quietly, Lee Jing-ok responded to his subordinate commander and Ssang.
“We’ll issue machetes as soon as the operation officially begins. Is there anything else?”
To Lee Jing-ok’s question, the commander immediately replied.
“The Aztecs are said to be cursed.”
“Cursed?”
“Yes. From what they say, it seems smallpox is spreading.”
“Smallpox? How?”
Lee Jing-ok asked with a face of complete incomprehension.
Whether on the mainland or in New Frontier, smallpox was an almost eradicated disease. One of the first things implemented whenever natives from newly explored regions submitted was smallpox vaccination.
Therefore, at the sudden mention of “smallpox,” Lee Jing-ok wore an expression of incomprehension.