“It seems the Great Han warriors have caught on to our trick and found a solution.”
At Akon’s words, his subordinate officers looked at him with tense expressions. Akon continued while gazing at the jungle.
“In a warrior-like frontal confrontation, we’re definitely at a disadvantage. So we hid like jaguars in that jungle to hunt them. And it seemed to be working.”
“You mean…”
“Their weapons are as loud as they are powerful. Like thunder from the sky. But lately, we rarely hear such sounds. This means they’re not using those weapons. What do you think this means?”
“…”
The subordinates answered Akon’s question with silence. At times like this, saying nothing was the basic rule of survival.
Akon smiled slightly and continued.
“It means there’s a problem with the Great Han warriors’ weapons. In other words, though we lost a considerable number of the warriors we sent out, they suffered even greater losses.”
“Ah!”
At Akon’s words, his subordinates’ faces brightened.
Indeed, the enemy’s weapons made thunder-like roars as powerful as they were.
When they first sent warriors out as ambush groups, the jungle continuously echoed with deafening sounds.
But as time passed, these noises gradually diminished, and now they only occasionally could be heard.
The return rate of the Mexica ambush groups was also decreasing. However, a considerable number still returned safely, and the Mexica replaced the depleted groups with fresh ones.
In this situation, the decreasing noise from enemy weapons meant either they couldn’t use their weapons or there were problems with them.
Understanding what Akon’s words meant, the subordinates began burning with fighting spirit again.
“Will you engage them frontally again?”
To his subordinate’s question, Akon shook his head.
“No, there’s still potential danger, so we’ll avoid frontal confrontation. We move like jaguars.”
“Will you increase the number of ambush groups?”
“Similar.”
After pausing briefly, Akon explained his plan.
—According to messenger reports, 30,000 warriors will arrive within days.
—We’ll have those 30,000 warriors guard the jungle entrance while we divide our forces into two groups and enter the jungle.
—While the newly arrived warriors engage the Great Han warriors, we’ll strike their flanks from within the jungle.
One subordinate who heard Akon’s plan pointed out a problem.
“It’s a good strategy, but will the newcomers really want to do that?”
The subordinate’s concern was valid.
Seeing the reduction in thunder-like noise, it was clear there were problems with the Great Han warriors’ weapons.
But though the thunder sounds had decreased, they still occurred.
This meant not all enemy weapons had problems.
Therefore, those engaging them frontally would have to prepare for great losses.
At his subordinate’s observation, Akon smiled sardonically.
“Those guys will actually volunteer for that mission. Because they’re ‘warriors.'”
Akon’s words made his subordinates grit their teeth.
***
After retreating following the first defeat, Akon had sent out ambush groups while simultaneously requesting support from other Mexica armies.
The messenger who had gone to other units brought back more than just the answer ‘we’ll arrive as quickly as possible.’
He also brought criticism regarding Akon’s retreat and guerrilla warfare.
—Defeat can happen. But immediately retreating after one loss, conducting ambushes and raids—that’s not befitting a Mexica warrior.
Hearing this criticism, Akon ground his teeth.
“Those comfortable bastards who only hunted sacrifices! Not befitting a warrior? Ha!”
The Mexica hadn’t always fought honorably head-on.
No, rather, actual fighting was the very last resort. Long before battles occurred, Mexica disguised as merchants would infiltrate enemy cities, divide leadership, or spread rumors to greatly weaken opponents before deploying armies.
The Mexica only charged boldly when facing much weaker tribes.
Knowing this well, Akon was furious.
***
“Since they’re the ones emphasizing warrior-likeness, they’ll naturally take the front. So don’t worry about that.”
Akon answered confidently while muttering inwardly.
‘Or I’ll just make them do it.’
Reassured by Akon’s confident response, the subordinates began organizing their movement plans.
Meanwhile, about 50-odd jang (approximately 150m) from Akon’s camp, a group of Dark Strike Unit members and native warriors quietly hid in the jungle, observing Mexica movements.
They had tracked returning Mexica ambush groups to reach this place.
“That’s their main camp. Shall we go in and cause some chaos?”
To his subordinate’s suggestion, Commander Gang Seop, leading the unit, slightly shook his head.
“No. We just observe their movements and return.”
At Commander Gang’s decision, his subordinate looked slightly disappointed.
“That’ll be boring.”
At his subordinate’s complaint, Commander Gang chuckled and replied.
“Look at those bastards. Do you think there’s anything worth starting fires with?”
“That’s true.”
At Commander Gang’s observation, the subordinate looking through a monocular at the Mexica camp answered in a deflated voice.
“And we didn’t bring incendiaries either, right?”
“That’s true.”
One of the Dark Strike Unit’s missions was infiltrating enemy camps to severely damage their firepower. And in the current situation where gunpowder weapons were common, the best approach was to blow up enemy gunpowder and ammunition stores.
For this purpose, they had created fire arrows nicknamed ‘incendiaries.’
***
Fire arrows had existed before the Dark Strike Unit used them. However, Hyang modified these fire arrows for them.
Previous fire arrows consisted of pouches containing gunpowder and sulfur wrapped around long arrows. These pouches had wicks that were lit before firing.
But Hyang dramatically enhanced these fire arrows’ power.
He inserted firecracker-like devices—called firecrackers in name but actually dynamite—sized appropriately for long arrows by skewering them onto arrow shafts. Then he attached conical arrowheads.
Inside the conical arrowheads were contact fuses.
In other words, after removing the safety pin from the arrowhead and firing, it would explode upon hitting the target.
The problem was that these weren’t simple black powder but actual explosives.
Military commanders who saw the first demonstration of these Type B fire arrows said to Hyang:
“So it doesn’t just start fires but blows things up?”
“The effect is certain, isn’t it?”
“That’s true, but…”
“Should we cancel it then?”
“No, no! How could we just throw this away!”
Thus, Type B fire arrows were adopted as exclusive Dark Strike Unit weapons. During this process, army commanders all muttered:
“Anyone hit by this will curse us again. Calling us excessive.”
“What can we do? That’s our Imperial Army.”
“Loving explosions is in our nature…”
Whether the army commanders muttered or not, Hyang organized reports on Type B fire arrows while muttering:
“They say tigers, disease, but cinematic effects are the most frightening…”
***
On the third day of the Dark Strike Unit members and native warriors secretly observing the Mexica camp, reinforcements arrived.
“Sir, reinforcements.”
Commander Gang, who had been crouched and resting, immediately snapped alert at his subordinate’s whisper and crawled forward.
When Commander Gang took position, his subordinate handed over the monocular and continued.
“Considerable numbers.”
“I see. Let me look…”
Observing the newly arriving Mexica through the monocular, Commander Gang assessed the reinforcement size.
“Let’s see… Those following behind seem to be porters, and combat troops are… hmm… roughly 30,000? About that much.”
At Commander Gang’s words, a nearby subordinate asked.
“Will you return immediately to report?”
“Hmm…”
After pondering briefly, Commander Gang looked at his subordinate.
“We’ll split the group in two. You take half and return to report. I’ll observe a bit more before returning.”
“Understood. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
“Do that. Ah! Don’t forget to leave markers.”
“Yes.”
The Dark Strike Unit, specialized in stealth movement and operations, left various markers to indicate their own routes or information.
The slang term for such markers was ‘shichimi,’ taken from the leg rings attached to hunting Eagle Warriors to identify ownership.
Even while half the personnel returned, Commander Gang kept the monocular to his eyes, observing the enemy camp.
***
“Excellent! We’ll take that mission!”
The commander of the newly arrived unit readily accepted after hearing Akon’s strategy.
“Warriors should be honorable! We must win by fighting face-to-face, honorably—that’s what makes a warrior!”
At his bold words, Akon smiled and replied.
“I’ll count on you then. I’ll move immediately. It’ll take time to move through the jungle.”
“Do that!”
Coming outside, Akon chuckled as he looked toward where the newly arrived commander stood.
“Warriors should be honorable? Ridiculous…”
Akon’s mockery had reason.
Among Mexica customs was combat between captured enemy warriors and Mexica warriors.
The problem was that Mexica macuahuitl had proper obsidian blades attached, while prisoners used ones without edges.
And it wasn’t equal numbers fighting—there were far more Mexica warriors.
Knowing this tradition, Akon mocked the reinforcement commander.
He had another reason too.
When Akon first proposed his plan, the reinforcement commander had hesitated slightly.
“According to our warriors’ reconnaissance, the enemy weapons seem to have many problems.”
“Problems?”
As soon as hearing Akon’s explanation, the reinforcement commander’s attitude immediately changed.
***
With roles divided, the Mexica immediately began moving.
Observing this movement, Commander Gang quietly looked at the remaining personnel.
“We should move too.”
Commander Gang’s group maintained stealth while moving swiftly on their return journey.
The greatest help in their return was the markers left by those who departed first and other Dark Strike Unit groups.
Thanks to following these markers, Commander Gang’s group swiftly returned and explained the situation to Lee Jing-ok.
Hearing Commander Gang’s report, Lee Jing-ok stroked his increasingly unkempt beard and muttered.
“Things are getting interesting…”