Chapter 590

Episode 590: Hwangnyongrak (黃龍落) (5)

The Joseon Army’s cavalry was used to lay ground food, but Choi Yun-deok laid another ground food there.

“General! General!”

The advance unit of the Ming army’s vanguard.

Conductor Jang Ik-deok stepped forward in response to an urgent voice looking for him.

“What’s going on?”

“The scouts have brought you an urgent report!”

“Urgent report?”

Jang Ik-deok, who heard the word ‘urgent news’, drove his horse forward.

“okay. It’s urgent. Something?”

In response to Ikdeok’s question, the cavalryman who had gone out to scout answered by raising his hand and pointing to a distant place.

“We have discovered the Joseon army 20 ri ahead!”

Hearing the scout’s report, Ik-deok became very nervous and asked urgently.

“okay? How many are there and what are they doing? “Are you preparing for a defensive battle?”

“The number appears to be around 1,000, and they were loading supplies on carts!”

“You were loading supplies onto a cart?”

“yes! “It looks like they were preparing for a last-minute withdrawal!”

“Hmm...”

Ik-deok thought for a moment about the scout’s report and asked the question again.

“You said the Joseon army numbered 1,000. How many infantry and how many cavalry were there?”

“There was hardly any infantry to be seen and it was all cavalry.”

“Hmm...”

I analyzed the situation based on the scout’s report.

‘Could it be a trap? No, it’s too visible to be a trap...’

Ikdeok took out the map he was carrying in his arms and pointed out the location of the problem.

‘It’s in the middle of a flat area. Ambushes are hard. Were the Joseon army cavalry receiving supplies? I guess it’s plausible since cavalry also needs supplies, right? Let’s see... I have 2,000 cavalry that I can command right now. It’s a little scary...’

“Hmm... How much supplies were there?”

“There are so many!”

After hearing the answer, Ikdeok made a decision right away.

“Gather all the cavalry! And have the soldiers take off their armor and only carry helmets and spears!”

“General?”

“Move as quickly as possible and take away the supplies from the Joseon army! If you’re lucky, you’ll even be able to get information about the Joseon military! “Move now!”

“yes!”

Following Ik-deok’s decision, his subordinate officers began to move busily.

Ikdeok continued to give orders without stopping.

“Choose those with outstanding bravery among the soldiers who have taken off their armor and ride them on the cavalry’s horses! And a messenger!”

“Yes General!”

“Tell this to the headquarters! “It seems like we’ve caught the Joseon military’s tail!”

“Yes General!”

Ik-deok, who even sent a messenger, urged his subordinates.

“Are you ready?”

“It will be over soon!”

“Hurry! If you do it wrong, you will miss the Joseon army! “This is a good opportunity to take care of supplies for the Joseon army!”

“yes!”

Ik-deok, who urged his subordinates, forcibly pulled down the corners of his mouth that kept rising.

‘The Joseon army’s supplies are famous for their high quality. And if you take something from the enemy properly, the enemy’s losses will be doubled!’

As Ik-deok said, the supplies of the Joseon army were famous for their good quality. The most famous one was the health of the Joseon army. If you dissolve an appropriate amount in water and boil it, you can make a hearty meal. Because of this, even Ming Dynasty merchants had to look for dry goods made in Joseon when they went on long journeys.

* * *

“Was it something you were dragged into?”

* * *

“You were dragged in.”

As soon as Ik-deok’s report was received, the vanguard checked the map and smiled bitterly, just like Ik-deok.

The current location of the Joseon military was at the eastern end of Gwangnyeong (廣寧). In history before Hyang intervened, the Joseon army was encamped and waiting in the eastern part of Panjin City.

The reason why both Ik-deok and the vanguard said they were ‘pulled in’ was because of the location where the Joseon army was encamped.

The Twin Princes River (双太子河) flowed to the north of the plain facing where the Joseon army was currently encamped, and the Daeryo River (大遼河) flowed to the south.

And now, not only the vanguard but also part of the main force of the Ming army had entered this place.

In other words, if they could not break through the Joseon army blocking the exit, they would not be able to enter Liaodong Province and Joseon.

* * *

“It’s a head-to-head match with all odds... Isn’t this an opportunity for genius!”

Commander-in-Chief Han Il-shin, who received the worry-filled report from the vanguard unit, was rather pleased with it.

“A head-to-head match is what we wanted! “The location where the Joseon army is encamped is a dangerous place, but considering our military power, it can never be a deadly place!”

Han Il-shin raised his voice and raised his fist to the sky.

“Although the Joseon army’s firepower may be stronger than ours, there will be limits! “Push in your troops and break the Joseon army’s defenses, just as the constantly pushing waves break the embankment!”

Hanilshin’s orders were immediately delivered to the vanguard troops.

The vanguard, who received the order, looked aloof and called his subordinate commanders.

“We became the vanguard of the assault. “Send wine and meat to the soldiers.”

“yes.”

* * *

The battle, later called the Battle of Gwangnyeong, continued fiercely.

In order to break through the six-layer barbed wire mesh wall of the Joseon army, the Ming army replaced its troops, and the Joseon army consumed a huge amount of ammunition to prevent this.

During a war of attrition that would go down in history, both sides constantly replenished their exhausted supplies and manpower.

“How about pulling back some of the soldiers and bypassing the twin princes?”

Tired of the war of attrition that had lasted for almost fifteen days, the Ming army commanders proposed a diversionary operation to Hanilshin.

“That would be fine.”

According to the decision of Hanilshin, who accepted the proposal, about 20,000 infantry were selected and bypassed Crown Prince Xia. However, the troops who bypassed this way were caught by the waiting Joseon cavalry and destroyed.

“Holy shit! “What happened to the reinforcements?”

Upon hearing the report of the ‘detachment’s destruction,’ Hanilshin was furious and looked for reinforcements.

Han Il-shin, who had heard that troops would be added when he passed Shanhaiguan and entered the Liaoxi Corridor, was confident of an easy victory.

“I said more is better! “If reinforcements continue, the game is already decided!”

However, the battle that was taking place was forcing a huge expenditure of men and materials.

“We need reinforcements! If you stop here, it’s just pointless waste!”

* * *

While Han Il-shin was anxiously waiting for reinforcements, Choi Yun-deok also had a face full of impatience.

“I’m holding on somehow, but I’m almost at my limit. “What on earth is the navy doing?”

What Choi Yun-deok was waiting for was news from the naval forces in charge of ‘attacking Sanhaegwan’.

“If Shanhaiguan falls, victory will definitely be ours...”

Day 20 of the battle.

“General! “It’s a waste of time!”

Lee Jing-ok, who was full of joy, handed out a communication to Choi Yun-deok.

“The navy has finally done it!”

“Oh oh!”

Choi Yun-deok’s face brightened at Lee Jing-ok’s words, and he quickly received the communication.

The content of the communication delivered through the luminous signals was concise.

-Collapse of the Shanhaiguan. Succeeded in cutting off the Ming supply route.

As the Joseon navy destroyed Shanhaiguan, the supply of supplies to the Ming army was cut off.

After checking the contents of the communication, Choi Yun-deok clenched his fists without realizing it.

“it’s okay! “Now the victory is in our hands!”