Episode 554: The war begins. (2)
Despite what he said, the county tried to solve the problem.
“The problem of command authority can be solved by clearly organizing the rank hierarchy, and the problem is probably communication.”
‘When bullets start flying above your head, everything you’ve already planned, whether it’s a plan or something else, goes out the window. ‘It is improvisation that determines victory or defeat.’
It was a rule consistently applied in large-scale wars that continued after World War I and World War II and into the 21st century.
Even though cutting-edge equipment, from balloons to airplanes to satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, were mobilized to reconnoiter enemy lines and all the smart guys came together to plan a plan, when it actually went into execution, it was a series of improvisation and brute force.
“Even if there are things called ‘Plan B and Plan C’, it all comes down to ‘WTF’, right?”
Hyang, who was muttering while twirling the stylus and glaring at the paper, came to a conclusion.
“The surest means to solve this problem is communication. “Communicating faster than the enemy allows for a quick response and victory.”
* * *
Until now, the best means of communication available on the battlefield was messengers. Of course, there were various means of communication, from drums and trumpet signals to colorful kites. However, the most reliable means was messengers.
The problem was that communication using messengers took up a lot of time. Errors occurred due to the time spent by senior commanders in the process of making decisions after hearing reports on the time of messengers traveling back and forth on horseback or on foot.
Therefore, Hyang decided that solving the communication problem would bring the best effect.
* * *
The person Hyang mobilized for quick communication was a monk.
February 12th. Han Soo-byeon.
It’s been a while since the first spring, but the local government, ministers, and generals of the military gathered on the banks of the Han River where the chilly wind still blows.
While a group of soldiers were preparing to fly the monks and engage in a mock battle, Hyang explained to the generals about the demonstration that was about to begin.
“The mock battle being held now is to demonstrate the effectiveness of communication relay using monks. The Qing Army will use monks, and the Red Army will use its soldiers in the traditional way.”
-The acetabulum that will be used first is stage 3.
-The two units will relay the situation on the left and right wings of the Qing Army and the messages of the field commanders using luminous signals, and the first unit located behind will relay communications sent from the two preceding units and communications sent from the headquarters to the front line.
Hyang, who explained the role of the bhikkhu in this demonstration, pointed to the military tent in the back.
“That is the Qing army’s command center.”
Hyang, who brought the people in, pointed to a very large desk located in the center of the tent.
“As you can see, the terrain for the mock battle is marked on this desk. Trained soldiers immediately mark the terrain and report the situation based on information received through Bhikkhu. That way, commanders can check the situation more quickly and make decisions.”
“Hmm?”
“Hoo~.”
High-ranking military commanders’ eyes lit up at Hyang’s explanation.
“The bhikkhu thought it was only useful for reconnaissance purposes.”
Hyang responded to Choi Yun-deok’s words with a light smile.
“Of course, it is optimal for reconnaissance, but it is also very useful for communication.”
‘Was it probably the Civil War that led to the use of balloons for communication?’
In the mock battle that followed, the Qing army, using real-time communication using balloons, was able to win.
“It’s not a landslide victory, but I think it’s a matter of space. This is because the waterfront is not wide. “I think it will do its job well if used in a larger space like Insanjin.”
The commanders all nodded at Hyang’s words. Even at that moment, the scene of using a bhikkhu on the battlefield was coming to mind in their minds.
After returning to Seunghwadang, Hyang, ministers, and military commanders put their heads together.
“What is the recommended number of monks to be stationed at Insanjin?”
After a long discussion to determine the optimal number, the final number decided was 20.
There were actually 5 planes in the sky, but since they had to stay in the sky from sunrise to sunset, 15 planes were actually needed, and including spare planes, there were 20 planes.
With the arrangement of the monks decided, it seemed like everything was over, but one thing remained.
“This is the typewriter stationed at your command center. “Can’t we just do it by hand?”
“Everyone’s handwriting is different, so if you make a mistake, you may not be able to read it properly.”
The commanders, including Choi Yun-deok, all looked embarrassed at Hyang’s words.
“I wasn’t aware of it when there was one or two, but now that there are more of them, the noise is quite significant.”
At those words, Hyang also made an embarrassed face.
“Of course, there is a lot of noise, but it is unavoidable when considering efficiency. And you will soon get used to the noise over time.”
‘It’s my experience!’
In the 21st century, Hyang was a person who insisted only on mechanical keyboards.
Meanwhile, the ministers who were listening to the conversation between the township and the commanders were whispering in low voices.
“Did you say that sooner or later even officers and jurists will use typewriters?”
“That’s right. This is a big deal. “My hearing has been declining lately…”
“I need to find out what medicine is good for my throat and ears.”
* * *
After various disturbances, the Joseon army was reinforced and deployed around Insanjin, and defense facilities began to be installed.
With Insanjin Castle in the center, long trenches began to be dug on the left and right, and pillars to support the iron rail network began to be installed one by one.
Lee Hwi-deok, who was leaning on the Insanjin Fortress and looking at the increasingly longer trench line, complained softly.
“I’m sure there are more than one person who would say that those huge furrows clearly show the twisted nature of our Korean people.”
The long lines of trenches extending from the left and right sides of Insanjin resembled sawtooth lines. And in front of it, supports to erect wire mesh fences were being planted along the trench line.
Later, when the wire mesh was hung, you would see a wire mesh wall with the same jagged pattern along the trench line.
As Lee Hwi-deok said, this was not because of the poor character of the Joseon people or because of geological problems.
The enemies who had crossed the Yalu River would naturally have no choice but to gather in the inner concave part of the sawtooth along the wire mesh and trench lines, and would then be subjected to concentrated attacks by the Joseon army waiting in the trenches.
To protect the outer apex of the most dangerous gear, a small tower was built using iron-clad mortar and bombardment guns were placed there.
In addition, a large number of fire trucks and shotgun shells were deployed along the trench line. Thanks to this, looking at the deployment of soldiers, the ratio of soldiers who would go into the trenches and shoot at the enemy to soldiers who supplied ammunition to shotgun shells and freight cars was created at a ratio of 6.5:3.5.
It was truly an arrangement worthy of the evaluation of a ‘nation crazy about artillery.’
* * *
Taaa~.
Lee Hwi-deok, who was looking at the trench line from the castle wall, immediately became stiff when he heard a gunshot from afar.
Ding ding ding!
“emergency! emergency!”
“Everyone deployed for combat!”
“Battle deployment! Combat deployment!”
Not long after the gunfire was heard, a loud bell sounded to signal an emergency, and soldiers rushed to the walls and trenches of Insanjin.
Lee Hwi-deok, who returned to the fortress, immediately checked the situation.
“Where did the gunfire come from? When I heard the sound, it seemed like it was quite far away.”
“Checking now!”
After the units deployed in Insanjin and the vicinity were upset, it was reported that no shots were fired anywhere.
“At least it’s not the Insanjin we’re holding on to, right?”
“That’s right.”
Lee Hwi-deok, who received the report from his subordinate, gave orders with a look of restlessness on his face.
“Lift the emergency and maintain level 2 alert.”
“yes!”
After giving orders to his subordinates, Lee Hwi-deok looked across the Yalu River and muttered.
“Did the Musketeers do something else?”
* * *
An undisclosed battle was already taking place around the Yalu River.
First, the Joseon Army cavalry conducted intensive patrols along the Yalu River and the border of the northeastern region.
The Joseon Army cavalry had all the information on the Jurchen tribes living in the patrol area they patrolled.
Thanks to this, if there was a tribe other than the tribe they knew, they immediately entered a combat stance and charged.
In this case, the only choice for the people in question was to raise their hands and surrender.
If they escaped, they were considered to be enemies who had come in for reconnaissance and were pursued and destroyed.
If they resisted, they were immediately annihilated.
As a result, everything except surrender was death.
While the Joseon Army’s cavalry patrolled and moved in large numbers, the Chakho Musketeers ambushed them in the forest south of the Yalu River.
The Chakho Musketeers, the smallest unit in the Joseon military organization, were composed of groups of five (5 people per group) and were deployed along the banks of the Yalu River.
Their targets were foreigners who secretly crossed the Yalu River without using the designated gate.
When such people were discovered, the Musketeers immediately turned them into meat of the Yalu River.
Thanks to this, another butterfly effect occurred. Even in a situation where war could break out at any moment, all those who engaged in smuggling disappeared.
* * *
February 22nd. Additional soldiers dispatched from Hanseong arrived at Insanjin.
Lee Hwi-deok, who was at the entrance to Insanjin, greeted the new arrival with a very nervous look.
“insect!”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
It was Lee Jing-ok who received the salute from Lee Hwi-deok, whose military standards were firmly raised.
Lee Hwi-deok became very nervous at the appearance of a superior who was far higher than himself, a man who had gained notoriety not only in the northeastern region where he was mainly active but also in the Yalu River region.
Lee Jing-ok, who saw the condition of the soldiers lined up at the Jinmun, praised Lee Hwi-deok.
“Seeing that the discipline is strict and the spirit is sharp, I can see that you have trained it well. “Good job.”
“thank you!”
“You may have already received the order, but I have now taken over the overall command of the units deployed to Insanjin. “I need a lot of help from you.”
“It’s the front line and it’s too dangerous. Wouldn’t it be better to set up a command center in the rear?”
“No matter how much I use a bhikkhu, there are times when what I see in person is more accurate. And…”
Lee Jing-ok paused for a moment, looked around, and whispered softly to Lee Hwi-deok.
“There are all high-ranking people gathered at the assault starting line, starting with General Choi Yun-deok. Do I have to suffer from layer after layer there?”
“yes?”
“ha ha ha! “Please take care of me!”
Lee Jing-ok, laughing heartily, walked ahead, and the officers who came with him followed behind him. Seeing Lee Jing-ok like that, Lee Hwi-deok was in tears.
“I don’t want to overthink things either…”
* * *
With the arrival of Lee Jing-ok, the Joseon army in Insanjin began preparations for the final.
A three-layer wire mesh wall was built along the Yalu River, and a two-layer wire mesh wall was built on the front 40 sections (approximately 120 m) of the trench line.
Afterwards, monks appeared in the sky. The sentences written by the signal soldiers who deciphered the luminous signal sent from the bhikkhu were immediately typed and sent to Lee Jing-ok.
And the soldiers deployed to the Insanjin Fortress and trench lines continued to train and rest.
And on March 15th. The Liaodong Army under the command of Jo Byeong-deok appeared on the other side of the Yalu River.
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