As Prophet - Chapter 11



Only Krnovel

Episode 11. Jepo Castle

The next day, we arrived at Yangsan. We inspected the troops that had already arrived, waited for the troops from afar who had not yet arrived, and discussed the operation.

They simultaneously started a rebellion in Sampo, but their main force, the army led by the son of the Great Demon Lord, was in Jepo. Jepo had a population of about 2,500 people in 347 households, so it was natural that Jepo* was set as the target.

* A port located in Ungcheon-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Jepojin was a large castle with a circumference of about 4,000 cheok. It was estimated that there were about 2,500 residents and that the son of the lord of Tsushima Island would have brought hundreds of soldiers.

The magistrate requested that the Gyeongsan County army, which was small in number but comprised of five divisions, be organized into one division. The defense commissioner, who had a favorable impression of Gyeongsan County, readily agreed and placed them in the vanguard.

The next day, the troops from Gyeongsang Left Province, who had hurriedly moved south, joined the troops from Gyeongsang Right Province in Gimhae. With this, they secured 5,000 soldiers. They achieved their goal, but it was not enough. The enemy’s troops also had 5,000. Even if the numbers are the same, their fighting power is not the same. They are skilled in close combat. They are an army that has been in civil war for hundreds of years.

However, since their army of 5,000 is divided into three places, they can secure superiority in troops in each battlefield. Another thing to consider is that the army is joined by 2,500 residents of Waegwan, so the actual combat force is estimated to be around 2,000.

It took two days to reach the place where Jepo was visible. Defense Commander Hwang Hyung and Yoo Damnyeon thought that although the enemy’s army was large, it was not a war that had been planned, so they could be destroyed immediately if they attacked from three sides.

Fortunately, the Jepo Fortress they were sieging was not too far from the Jepo Waegwan, and because it was a flat castle, it was low and easy to capture. At the same time, if we attacked from three sides, one of them would collapse, and if our troops entered, we expected that they would quickly escape on boats.

Just one thing. The son of the leader of this incident, the lord of Daemado, must be captured without fail, and if not, his head must be sent to Hanyang. However, he judged that this would not be easy. This is because he would have brought the elite of Daemado with him.

Hwang Hyung, who had been keeping in mind the abilities of the spleens, asked Baek Sa-ban during the meeting.

“Would you like to take the lead?”

“Loyalty! I will destroy them and bring peace to the country.”

“Your soldiers are brave and courageous, so I think they will do well.”

While speaking, he glanced up at the spleen standing behind him. Baek Ui-hyeong did not change his gaze. It is better not to step forward in places where there are high-ranking officials. As he stood still without answering, Baek Sa-ban reported.

“Thank you for entrusting me with this important mission. I will prepare to go out immediately.”

“I’ll take charge of the front.”

“Loyalty.”

* * *

Dalcheon, who could not attend the meeting, waited for the two people to come out. Once the operation plan is established and the roles are divided, we can determine our objectives. The role of the county magistrate’s secret commander is not even a mere commander in a place where the Gyeongsang-do troops are gathered. He paced back and forth in front of the tent, waiting anxiously for the order to come down.

If he wants to enter Hanyang by making merits, we must help him. I have seen how a good local official can make the people comfortable. If such a person can take on a bigger role, more people will benefit.

Aside from the fact that there were no starving people, even in winter, every house wove cloth. The sound of the loom, which was set up on one side of the floor or was brought into an empty room, was loud in every village. As the loom moved up and down, the drum moved left and right. They unwrapped the cocoon in warm water, waited for the end of the thread to come loose, and then pulled it out one by one and hung it up, and the silk threads came up in a stream.

He also taught and persuaded them that they should use the transplanting method of growing rice seedlings in advance. Even though it was not yet time to plant rice, each household made a seedbed in a warm place and sprouted rice seeds. It was the job of the magistrate to teach the people and call the elders of the county to persuade them. He was a local official who tried to make sure that the people who farmed were well-fed and lived well. How wonderful it would be if such a person did well.

Dalcheon looked fiercely at Jepo Castle, which was visible from afar. Dozens of military flags were erected all over the castle walls. The movement of the flags showed the Japanese pirates coming and going with flags on their backs.

Dalcheon ran over to see the magistrate and the chief of police coming out of the conference room.

“What happened?”

“I took charge of the vanguard. The defense officer told me about it, and the commander-in-chief readily gave his permission.”

“Wow! That’s great. I can give credit to you.”

Dalcheon cheered, but the magistrate’s expression was not very bright.

“If we take the vanguard in the center, won’t our soldiers get hurt a lot?”

“We are soldiers.”

“Once you take off your military uniform, you are a commoner. You are someone’s father, husband, and son.”

The spleen bowed its head. What it could not say at the meeting table, it is now said. Baek Sa-ban is a civil servant after all. The magistrate closed his eyes and looked up at the sky. He could not see anything if he closed his eyes, but he did so for a long time and then bit his lip.

“The attack will occur in half an hour. Please prepare.”

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

It happened as he had hoped. The two men who returned to the main camp looked into each other’s eyes. They had already come to an agreement before they came. Dalcheon would lead a small number of cavalry to intercept the enemy, and Baek Ui-hyeong would lead the armored personnel carrier to attack the enemy’s front.

“It’s a siege. We’ll go first.”

The magistrate nodded at Dalcheon’s request.

“Let’s go!”

“Loyalty!”

The magistrate’s fingertips trembled slightly. Dalcheon went outside and called the cavalry. About a hundred cavalry followed Dalcheon. The Gyeongsan County soldiers, who had thought that nothing would happen since they had kept their distance from the castle walls, were surprised.

“Cavalry advances first. Secure the attack point first.”

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

The Dalcheon’s horsemen ran along Dalcheon. The five-line column, with wide gaps, ran as if flying toward Jepo. Then, the order to move the entire army was given, and the armor of Baek-ui-hyeong followed. The support troops who remained behind were busy clearing away the tents and collecting what was left.

Other units, who had been watching the Gyeongsan County army hurrying, shook their heads and took stock of the situation. A trained army moves immediately. An army that just came with weapons would have no idea what to do.

Fortunately, the armies of other counties also began to move. They were much later than the army of Gyeongsan County, but there was no need to worry about the rear. They advanced first, and the rear supported them.

As they approached the castle gate, Dalcheon slowed down and formed a line.

“All troops! Prepare your bows and arrows! Archers, prepare to fire!”

“Prepare the archery!”

“Prepare the archery!”

“Prepare the archery!”

The order was passed on to the rear, and they prepared their bows and arrows as they ran. The Japanese soldiers, who had already learned of the arrival of the Joseon army, were gathered in a huddle at the gatehouse and the castle walls. There were quite a number of soldiers, standing one by one at each of the walls.

The procession, slowing down and forming a firing formation, lined up about a hundred feet in front of the city gate. It was picturesque to see them galloping forward and turning their horses’ heads. A few men jumped forward and prepared a bonfire in front of the line.

“Target is the gate tower! Prepare all troops to fire!”

About a hundred horse archers pulled their bowstrings. The sound of the bowstrings being pulled taut tickled my ears, and Dalcheon shouted like thunder.

“firing!”

Beep!

A hundred or so arrows flew toward the gate tower. A hundred or so long distance, but in fact, it is also a common distance for practice shooting. The usual training was effective. Most of the arrows flew toward the gate tower, and the leaders who were watching without thinking screamed and fell down. It flew a distance that was incomparable to their bows. Perhaps they did not know the range of Joseon bows.

“firing!”

Beep!

Dalcheon shouted again, and the officer blew his whistle, and another hundred or so arrows flew in time. The Japanese soldiers on the wall responded with fire, but their arrows had a very short range. They landed less than half the distance from our troops.

As those who had prepared fire in front started to light bonfires here and there, Dalcheon ordered them to prepare a fire pan.

“Prepare for the fire!”

At Dalcheon’s command, the archers put arrows on their bows and thrust them forward. Those in charge of fire ran with oiled cotton and lit the firecrackers. That’s why simultaneous shooting is difficult in firecrackers.

“Fire from the prepared shooter!”

Beep, the horn blew louder again.

“firing!”

“firing!”

“firing!”

“firing!”

The volley of arrows flew across the sky. The accuracy was lower than when shooting a normal arrow. Lack of training.

Dalcheon ordered the launch again.

After lighting the fire and pulling the flaming arrows, they are fired simultaneously, each one individually. Some fly toward the gate tower, and some fly toward the castle gate. Still, there are about a hundred flaming arrows. Each one is not enough, but when they are gathered together, the effect is great.

The arrows that were stuck in the gate set the gate on fire. As the fire began to burn, Dalcheon ordered them to focus on the gate. As the arrows flew at a hundred-foot intervals and set the gate on fire, Dalcheon ordered them to aim at the gate tower again. The gate was on fire, and the gate tower was also on fire. They poured water belatedly to put out the fire, but it was impossible for it to go out on a dry spring day. The parched gate and gate tower were on fire. Arrows flew at those who were trying to put out the fire.

Unable to bear it any longer, the men opened the door and came out. The main force was far away, and with only a hundred or so cavalrymen coming and making a fuss, they seemed to have taken it lightly. As if they were planning to put out the fire and fix the door, they rushed out to the front as soon as the door was opened, covered their front with a large shield, and poured water to put out the fire.

But the left and right sides of the door that opens inward do not match well. One of the doors did not open smoothly on the hinges, perhaps because they were destroyed when they attacked. I can hear the sound of repairs being made in front, and nails being driven into the wood behind. I cannot tell if they are at peace or have no sense of crisis. They are fixing the door so boldly that it does not feel like a battle. Dalcheon laughed and looked back. It is still a long way until the main force of Bogap arrives.

Dalcheon’s cavalry slowly circled around the castle wall on their right. Leaving one side open and attacking on three sides would mean waiting for them to retreat. It would be hard to resist the temptation of a single place where there were no troops. Wouldn’t they want to run away there?

The main force is the rebels and those from Tsushima Island. The entire army will obey the Tsushima Island Lord, but the command is divided into two places anyway. There is no reason to risk your life to protect this place.

* Japanese who resisted: Japanese who resided in the Japanese government office. The number was limited, but gradually increased, and at the time of the Japanese Invasion, there were about 2,500 people.

Dalcheon stopped as he moved along the wall. He took out his bow and shot one by one, knocking down the guys standing on the wall one by one like catching birds. Those who were not paying attention and exposed their bodies belatedly hid behind their clothing. Then he slowly moved forward again and shot arrows over the wall again, and each time he did, he heard the screams of a monkey. Should even the screams of death be formal?

When they had made about half a circle around the enemy-occupied wall, a group of Japanese soldiers came running out from the west gate. They seemed to have lined up on the west gate, which was out of sight from the south gate. They may have let their guard down because they had easily taken over the castle.

Instead of preparing inside and then opening the gate and rushing out, they came out and were just scurrying around. They were dragging their stuff and walking with a gait that was twisting, and they were lining up when they came face to face with Dalcheon’s cavalry.

Dalcheon’s eyes sparkled. If he stays inside the castle, he can’t do anything, but if he comes out, he’s food for the cavalry.