BCJ Chapter 554

Though he said that, Hyang worked to solve the problems.

“Command authority issues can be resolved by clearly organizing the chain of command, but communication remains the real problem.”

Once bullets start flying overhead, any plans you’ve made go straight out the window. Victory is determined by improvisation.

This was a rule that consistently applied throughout World War I, World War II, and continuing into the 21st century’s large-scale wars.

From balloons to planes, then to satellites and drones – even with cutting-edge equipment for reconnaissance and brilliant minds crafting operations, actual execution always devolved into a series of improvisations and makeshift solutions.

“They say even with Plans B and C, it all ends up as ‘WTF’?”

Twirling his brush pen while glaring at the paper, Hyang reached a conclusion.

The most reliable way to solve this is definitely communication. Faster communication than the enemy enables quicker responses and leads to victory.

***

Until now, messengers had been the best means of battlefield communication. Of course, various communication methods existed, including drums, horns, signal flags, and even colored kites. However, messengers remained the most reliable method.

The problem was that messenger-based communication consumed considerable time. Errors occurred due to time spent on messengers traveling by horse or foot, and superior commanders taking time to make decisions after receiving reports.

Therefore, Hyang determined that solving the communication problem would yield the greatest effect.

***

For rapid communication, Hyang employed observation balloons.

February 12th. Han River banks.

Though well past Ipchun (the beginning of spring), Hyang, the ministers, and military generals gathered at the still chilly Han River banks.

While a group of soldiers prepared to launch the observation balloons and set up for the mock battle, Hyang explained the upcoming demonstration to the generals.

“This mock battle will demonstrate the effectiveness of relay communications using observation balloons. The Blue Army will use balloons while the Red Army will operate using conventional methods.”

-First, three balloons will be used. -Two will relay situations and field commanders’ messages from the Blue Army’s left and right wings using light signals, while one positioned behind will relay communications between the front two balloons and headquarters.

After explaining the balloons’ roles in this demonstration, Hyang pointed to a military tent positioned behind them and continued.

“That is the Blue Army’s command headquarters.”

Leading people inside, Hyang pointed to an enormous desk in the center of the tent.

“As you can see, this desk displays the terrain where the mock battle will be fought. Trained soldiers will immediately mark information received through the balloons on this terrain while reporting the situation. This allows commanders to assess situations and make decisions more quickly.”

“Hmm?”

“Oho~”

At Hyang’s explanation, the military’s senior commanders’ eyes lit up.

“We thought observation balloons were only suitable for reconnaissance.”

To Choi Yoon-deok’s words, Hyang replied with a light smile.

“While they’re optimal for reconnaissance, they’re also quite useful for communications.”

Was it the American Civil War that first used balloons for communication?

In the following mock battle, the Blue Army using real-time balloon communications achieved victory.

“Though not an overwhelming victory, I believe this is due to spatial limitations. The Han River banks aren’t very wide. I think it will prove its worth properly in wider spaces like Insan Garrison.”

At Hyang’s words, the commanders all nodded. Even at that moment, they were imagining scenes of using observation balloons on the battlefield.

Returning to Seunghwadang, Hyang, the ministers, and military commanders put their heads together.

“How many balloons should we deploy at Insan Garrison?”

After lengthy discussions to determine the optimal number, they finally decided on twenty.

Though only five would be in the air at once, since they needed to stay airborne from sunrise to sunset, fifteen were actually needed, and including reserves, it came to twenty.

With the balloon deployment decided, everything seemed settled, but one issue remained.

“Your Highness, about the typewriters deployed at command headquarters. Wouldn’t handwriting suffice?”

“With everyone’s handwriting being different, there’s risk of misreading.”

At Hyang’s words, Choi Yoon-deok and other commanders all showed troubled expressions.

“When there were only one or two, we didn’t notice much, but with more machines, the noise is considerable.”

At those words, Hyang also showed a troubled expression.

“Though the noise is considerable, we can’t help it when considering efficiency. And regarding the noise, you’ll soon get used to it with time.”

I know from experience!

In the 21st century, Hyang had insisted on using only mechanical keyboards.

Meanwhile, ministers listening to Hyang and the commanders’ conversation whispered in low voices.

“They say court officials and scribes will soon be using typewriters too?”

“Indeed. This is troubling. My hearing has been declining lately…”

“I should look into medicines good for the throat and ears.”

***

After various commotions, Joseon forces were reinforced around Insan Garrison, and defensive installations began to be set up.

Centered on Insan Garrison’s fortress, long trenches were dug to the left and right, and posts to support iron wire nets began to be driven in one by one.

Leaning against Insan Garrison’s fortress parapet while watching the increasingly lengthening trench lines, Yi Hui-deok grumbled quietly.

“More than a few people will say these massive ditches perfectly reflect our Joseon people’s convoluted character.”

The trench lines extending from the left and right of Insan Garrison formed zigzags like saw teeth. And in front of them, posts for mounting iron wire nets were being planted along the trench lines.

Later, when the iron wire nets were hung, they would create walls following the trench lines in the same saw-tooth pattern.

This wasn’t due to Joseon people’s bad character as Yi Hui-deok suggested, nor was it due to geological issues.

Enemies crossing the Yalu River would naturally be funneled into the concave inner parts of the saw teeth along the iron wire nets and trench lines, where they would face concentrated fire from Joseon forces waiting in the trenches.

To defend the most dangerous outer points of the saw teeth, small towers were built using iron-reinforced bamboo, and grape-shot cannons were positioned.

Moreover, large numbers of Type-Eul War Wagons and grape-shot cannons were positioned along the trench lines. As a result, the ratio of soldiers deployed to fire at enemies from the trenches versus those supplying ammunition to the grape-shot cannons and war wagons became 6.5:3.5.

It was truly a deployment worthy of being called a “nation obsessed with artillery.”

***

Bang!

Yi Hui-deok, who had been watching the trench lines from the fortress wall, instantly stiffened his expression when gunfire was heard in the distance.

Ding ding ding!

“Emergency! Emergency!”

“All units to battle stations!”

“Battle stations! Battle stations!”

Shortly after the gunfire, loud bell rings announcing emergency sounded, and soldiers rushed to Insan Garrison’s walls and trenches.

Returning to the watchtower, Yi Hui-deok immediately checked the situation.

“Where did that gunfire come from? From the sound, it seemed quite far?”

“We’re confirming now!”

After units deployed at Insan Garrison and nearby were thrown into confusion, reports came up that no one had fired anywhere.

“So at least it wasn’t from our Insan Garrison?”

“That’s correct.”

Receiving his subordinate’s report, Yi Hui-deok issued orders with a relieved expression.

“Cancel the emergency and maintain level 2 alert status.”

“Yes sir!”

After issuing orders to his subordinate, Yi Hui-deok muttered while looking across the Yalu River.

“Did the marksmen make another catch?”

***

Undisclosed battles were already occurring around the Yalu River.

First, Joseon cavalry conducted intensive patrols along the Yalu River and northeastern border regions.

The Joseon cavalry patrols knew all the information about Jurchen tribes residing in their patrol areas.

Thanks to this, when they found tribes they didn’t recognize, they immediately entered combat stance and charged.

In such cases, the suspicious individuals had only one choice – to raise both hands and surrender.

If they fled, they were considered enemy spies and were pursued and eliminated.

If they resisted, they were immediately eliminated.

In the end, everything except surrender meant death.

While Joseon cavalry conducted large-scale mobile patrols, elite marksmen teams lay in ambush in the forests south of the Yalu River.

Organized into squads^[1] – the smallest unit in the Joseon military structure – the elite marksmen were deployed along the Yalu River banks.

Their targets were outsiders who tried to cross the Yalu River secretly without using designated checkpoints.

When such individuals were discovered, the marksmen immediately turned them into fish food in the Yalu River.

This created another butterfly effect. Even in a situation where war could break out at any time, all those who had attempted smuggling disappeared.

***

February 22nd. Additional troops dispatched from Hanseong arrived at Insan Garrison.

Yi Hui-deok, positioned at Insan Garrison’s entrance, greeted the new arrival with a tense expression.

“Attention!”

“At ease.”

The one receiving Yi Hui-deok’s strict salute was Lee Jing-ok.

Yi Hui-deok became extremely tense at the appearance of this superior officer who was far above him in rank and notorious throughout not only the northeastern regions where he mainly operated but also the Yalu River region.

Seeing the condition of soldiers lined up at the fortress gate, Lee Jing-ok praised Yi Hui-deok.

“Seeing their strict discipline and sharp spirit, you’ve trained them well. Good work.”

“Thank you sir!”

“You’ve probably already received the orders, but I’ll be taking overall command of the divisions deployed at Insan Garrison. I’ll need your help.”

“This is the front line – isn’t it too dangerous? Wouldn’t it be better to set up command headquarters in the rear?”

“Even with observation balloons, there are times when seeing things directly is more accurate. And…”

Pausing briefly, Lee Jing-ok looked around and whispered to Yi Hui-deok.

“The attack start line is crowded with high-ranking officials, starting with General Choi Yoon-deok. Should I suffer through layers of hierarchical service there?”

“Pardon?”

“Hahaha! I’m counting on you!”

Laughing heartily, Lee Jing-ok strode ahead casually, followed by the officers who had come with him. Watching Lee Jing-ok, Yi Hui-deok made a bitter face.

“I don’t like dealing with layers of hierarchy either…”

***

With Lee Jing-ok’s arrival, Joseon forces at Insan Garrison entered final preparations.

Three layers of iron wire net walls were strung along the Yalu River banks, and two layers of iron wire net walls were constructed 40 jang (about 120 meters) in front of the trench lines.

Then, observation balloons rose into the sky. Messages decoded by communications soldiers from the balloons’ light signals were immediately typed and sent up to Lee Jing-ok.

And soldiers deployed at Insan Garrison fortress and trench lines consistently alternated between training and rest.

Then, on March 15th, the Liaodong army under Zhao Bingde’s command appeared on the opposite bank of the Yalu River.