Episode 414: Lord of War. Hua Merchant (5)
“Stop!”
Daejeon, which was noisy with all kinds of shouts, like a monopoly during a discount sale period, suddenly became quiet at the sound of Sejong’s shout.
When the ministers became quiet, King Sejong settled the situation.
“The Minister of National Defense’s opinion is right, but there is a problem. It’s a matter of justification. “The President is too weak for the justification of using force on Tsushima Island.”
At King Sejong’s words, all the opposing ministers, including Hwang Hee, nodded.
However, the pro-choice ministers, including Jo Mal-saeng, continued to emphasize the necessity of conquest.
“The cause is important, but this is the best opportunity to eliminate danger while minimizing damage to our shipbuilding country!”
“You can secure your cause by using the Nine Prefectures of the Nine Provinces!”
* * *
As a preparatory step for the conquest of Tsushima Island, Joseon began to build a justification against the Japanese.
It was not just Joseon and Ming that suffered damage from Japanese pirates. Due to the chaotic situation of the conflict between the North and South, the lords of the Japanese kingdom also suffered damage from the Japanese pirates.
Thanks to this, Joseon persuaded lords who were friendly to Joseon.
– Tsushima Island is a quick place in our Joseon Dynasty, but it has turned into a den of Japanese pirates, so we want to subdue it.
As a result, Guju Jeoldosa made this request to Joseon.
“The pirates are enemies to Japan as well, so we demand that they be subjugated.”
Joseon conquered Tsushima Island using the official ‘demand’ of the Kuju Jedosa as the justification. (Note 1)
* * *
When the pro-choice ministers mentioned using the Kuju Jedosa, Hwang Hee came forward and opposed it.
“The reason why Guju Jeoldosa was able to provide justification during the year of Gihae was because our Joseon Dynasty was actually in trouble! But what about now? All the other lords of the Japanese country know that our Joseon has suffered no harm and that our Joseon is replenishing the treasures of the Savior Jedo Temple! But using the Kuju thief to gain justification and attack Tsushima? Are you planning to turn the entire Japanese nation, excluding Daenae and Guju Jeolda, into enemies? No, if things go that way, Mr. Daenae and the Guju thief will also turn into our enemies! The cause is not important, but the most important thing is the cause! Justification!”
The ministers in favor of Hwang Hee’s words were busy trying to find a way to counterattack.
“Your Majesty the Crown Prince has passed the entrance exam.”
At that time, a merchant ship announced Hyang’s visit.
“Come on in.”
With King Sejong’s permission, Hyang entered Geunjeongjeon and bowed. King Sejong, who received the bow, gave Hyang a seat and opened his mouth.
“What happened to this guy who should be in Area 51?”
“yes. “I heard that Abama had called General Choi Hae-san and General Icheon, so my curiosity arose.”
“okay? It came right at the right time. “Please show Crown Prince Sang-seon that Hwachang.”
“yes.”
According to King Sejong’s order, the merchant ship opened the box to Hyang and showed him the Hwachang in question.
Hyang-hyang asked Sejong after carefully examining the window.
“If Xiao Tzu is not mistaken, it clearly appears to be a stone fire spear used by the Ming Dynasty army. What problem did this cause?”
“It is said that lords who are hostile to the Daenae clan are introducing this Hwachang. And among those lords, there is also the Soi clan in Tsushima Island.”
“Ah…”
Hyang’s face became serious at Sejong’s explanation.
“Is it a leak? Or is it self-made?”
“huh?”
When Sejong showed that he didn’t know, Hyang stood up again and looked at Hwachang in question. Hyang, who had been looking at Hwachang for a while, looked back at Sejong.
“Can I get help from General Choi Hae-san and General Icheon?”
“Let the two generals help the crown prince.”
“yes.”
After exchanging opinions for a while with Hwachang in the middle, the three people came to a conclusion.
“Now, I am certain that this item was made in Ming. “Quality is one thing, but the most important thing is…”
Hyang pointed out the emblem engraved on Hwachang’s body. The sentence was engraved on when and where Hwachang was created.
After completing the confirmation, Hyang confirmed some more information he needed.
After gathering some information, Hyang reported it to King Sejong.
“Looking at the level of technology of Japanese craftsmen, replicas of this will soon be distributed in large quantities.”
“That’s a real problem.”
“The bigger problem is whether the gunpowder recipe was leaked.”
“this!”
With Hyang’s point out, King Sejong and the ministers learned what the real serious problem of this incident was.
“You were thinking about things wrong. To make such a mistake…”
King Sejong, who reprimanded his mistake, gave an order to Lee Maeng-gyun.
“Minister of Foreign Affairs, please form an envoy and dispatch it to Beijing immediately. “You are well aware of the importance of the matter, so you must hurry.”
“I will do my best!”
* * *
After concluding by sending an envoy by order to confirm the facts, the topic returned to the ‘conquest of Tsushima Island’.
“I will ask the crown prince.”
“Please ask.”
King Sejong explained the ‘Conquest of Tsushima Island’, which was a subject of heated debate among ministers.
“… So let’s count, I’m curious what your opinion is. “Speak honestly and without reservation.”
Hearing King Sejo’s words, Hyang closed her mouth and began to organize her thoughts. And the ministers waited for Hyang’s mouth to open with expressions of half anticipation and half worry.
After gathering his thoughts for almost a minute (about 15 minutes), Hyang finally opened his mouth.
“First of all, I think it is impossible to conquer Tsushima right now. As Abamama said, the justification is weak. “If we forcefully conquer Tsushima Island with a weak justification, there is a high possibility that we will lose the political and economic foundation we are currently building on the Japanese mainland.”
In Hyang’s reply, the opposing ministers said, ‘Yes!’ He made an expression like this.
As Hyang said, Joseon was secretly expanding its influence over the entire Japanese nation through the Joseon superiors established in mainland Japan. The Japanese lords, who heard that the Ouchi and Kuju thief Shibukawa families were gradually accumulating wealth through trade with Joseon, were secretly approaching Joseon.
Hyang continued by explaining the situation in the Japanese country.
“… This is why Ashikaga Yoshinori, the head of the shogunate, is now wary of Joseon. However, if Tsushima Island is conquered with a weak justification, it is certain that the Jokyui Church will use this as an opportunity.”
The longer Hyang spoke, the more the opposition gained momentum.
“And lastly, it is not easy to conquer Tsushima Island with the current armament of our Joseon military.”
“huh?”
“uh?”
All ministers, whether for or against Hyang’s words, expressed doubts, and this was the same for King Sejong.
“Seja. You don’t understand? Looking at the military history so far, the Land Forces have won consecutive victories against the Jurchen tribes who caused the rebellion, and the Navy has continued their victories against the pirates and Japanese pirates rampaging at sea. The background to such victory is Joseon’s powerful weapon. Even with such a weapon, conquering Tsushima Island is not easy? “Even though it’s only an island the size of your palm?”
The ministers all nodded at Sejo’s point. However, Choi Hae-san and Lee Cheon seemed to know something.
Hyang immediately responded to Sejong’s point.
“It’s not easy because it’s such a palm-sized island.”
Hyang explained what the problem was.
-What Liaodong and the sea have in common is that they are wide spaces without obstacles. In such spaces, long-range artillery and rifles can be effective.
-A space without such obstacles allows the firepower of fire bombs, especially bigyeokjincheonroe, to be utilized to the fullest extent. In a space like this, the best defense an enemy can use when attacked by a lightning bolt is the body of a comrade.
-Also, in the plains of Liaodong, the cavalry can inflict irreparable wounds on the enemy by making full use of the mobility of the front lines at sea.
-However, the environment of Tsushima Island is completely opposite to that of the Liaodong region and the sea. Those who have been to Tsushima Island will know that most of Tsushima Island is a mountainous area.
-The most important power, artillery, cannot be easily moved in such mountainous terrain.
-Of course, the navy’s front lines can approach the coast and provide support with artillery, but if the pirates go deeper into the mountains, it becomes useless.
-Rifles are also a problem. The trees on the mountain provide the best cover for Japanese pirates. If the person leading the Japanese pirates had any idea, he would lead them to hide among the trees and use the reload time to approach them step by step.
-Also, in a forest like this, the power of Bigyeokjincheonroe is greatly reduced. This is because fragments of bigyeokjincheonroe are blocked by trees.
-Ultimately, if this situation progresses, close combat will occur centered on spearmen. If this happens, you can defend, but you cannot chase. It is physically impossible for spearmen wearing heavy armor to chase down Japanese pirates while climbing mountains. Even if you chase them to some extent, it is difficult to use the greatswords and long spears equipped by spearmen in dense forests.
“… Because of this situation, all fortresses protecting military ports on Tsushima Island were built on high ground, and at least 10 barren areas (approximately 30 meters) were set outside the walls. “It is written in the military records that giving up these defenses and going on the offensive is like entering the realm of danger and death, and should never be done.”
Hyang, who was explaining why it was impossible, ended his explanation by adding the following.
“Please relive the Battle of Irogun (尼老郡) that we experienced in the last year of conquest.”
* * *
The conquest of Tsushima Island, which took place in the first year of King Sejong’s reign, started with a landslide victory for Joseon.
However, despite the pressure from Joseon, the Japanese resisted by engaging in guerrilla warfare, so Lee Jong-mu decided to attack the place where the Japanese were concentrated.
The plan was to deliver a decisive blow and force the Japanese pirates to surrender.
Lee Jong-mu, who received intelligence that Japanese pirates had gathered at the Iro Army, ordered Park Sil to destroy the enemies that had landed in the Iro Army. The problem was that the selection of this unit was not decided through proper military deliberation, but rather by drawing lots.
After receiving the order, Park Sil decided to occupy the high ground of the Iro army and proceed with an attack using the height. To this end, soldiers were encouraged to disembark and move to higher ground.
However, the pirates had already taken control of the key point and were preparing for battle.
The Joseon army, which only cared about occupying the high ground and did not even organize a proper battle line, fell into a chaotic battle. In the midst of the chaos, officers including Park Hong-sin, Park Mu-yang, and Gimhae Kim Hee, commanders of the Joseon army, were killed, and Park Sil, embarrassed, ordered the troops to retreat. Due to the sudden retreat and pursuit by the Japanese pirates, about 100 soldiers fell off the cliff and drowned.
Seeing the urgent situation, ally Sun-mong Lee and soldier Kim Hyo-seong rushed to provide support and stopped the Japanese pirates, but the damage to the Joseon army was severe.
It was a battle in which about 180 soldiers died, including those who drowned.
In addition, the Chinese army under Lee Jong-mu did not intervene in the battle, and all of these things came together and became an excuse to later impeach Lee Jong-mu. (Note 1) * *
*
In some ways, when the ‘Battle of Irogun’, a painful memory of the Joseon army, was brought out, Cho Mal-saeng and officials of the Ministry of National Defense Their complexion got worse.
However, in a way, the ‘Second Tsushima Conquest’ lost its power when even Hyang, the most staunch supporter of the Joseon army, expressed its opposition.
“Hmm, then the crown prince thinks conquering Tsushima Island is impossible?”
“no. The location of Tsushima Island is like a dagger pointed at our Joseon’s chin, so our Joseon must obtain it. But impromptu plans like this one are a no-no. You will need to thoroughly research Tsushima’s terrain and environment and the habits of those living on Tsushima and develop appropriate tactics before making any moves. The current Joseon military’s tactics are those suitable for the Liaodong region in terms of offensive tactics, while the rest are defensive in nature. So, you have to think of a strategy that suits you.”
After hearing Hyang’s answer, Sejong nodded and looked back at Jo Mal-saeng.
“Does the Minister of Defense know what to do?”
“We will immediately organize personnel and begin research.”
After hearing Jo Mal-saeng’s answer, King Sejong organized the situation again.
“Let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately form an envoy and send it to Beijing, and have the Ministry of National Defense devise customized tactics suitable for the geography around Joseon, starting with Tsushima Island. And the Crown Prince….”
King Sejong thought for a moment and continued.
“Gunpowder weapons have spread to the Japanese, so firearms with better performance than those currently in use are needed. Study this.”
“Yes Abama.”
“Only with a minimal budget.”
“… yes.”
* * *
Note 1) Military strategy of the Joseon Dynasty. Conquest of Tsushima Island. Ministry of National Defense Military Compilation Research Institute.
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