Black Corporation: Joseon

Residents of villages surrounding the fort could quickly take refuge inside, but the problem was with farmers working in distant fields.

The farthest fields were about 2 ri away from the fort.

These were located between the approaching Jurchen and the fort, which is why Oh Bang-seop called it close.

Oh Bang-seop anxiously raised his telescope to check the situation again.

“At least they have carts, thankfully…”

The fleeing farmers had hitched oxen and horses to nearby carts and were riding them at full speed.

As northern migration progressed, the government distributed oxen and horses to farmers at low interest rates.

As these acquired oxen and horses reproduced, most farming households came to raise at least two oxen, and typically one horse as well.

Farmers who had been unfamiliar with horses before coming north began raising them because of the vast frontier territory here.

In the south, one could walk to visit neighboring villages, but in this northern region, horseback riding was necessary.

Watching the farmers coming in groups of twos and threes on carts pulled by oxen and horses, and the increasingly closer Jurchen, Oh Bang-seop called the nearest Chogwan-ranked officer.

“Officer Jang!”

“Yes sir!”

“Take one dae (about 25 men) to the main gate tower! Hold back the Jurchen until those approaching farmers arrive safely!”

“Yes sir!”

Immediately answering Oh Bang-seop’s order, Chogwan Jang Gwi-nam led his men to the main gate tower. With Chogwan Jang’s forces joining, the troops stationed at the main gate tower greatly increased.

Watching the soldiers busily moving at the main gate tower, Oh Bang-seop assessed the situation again.

“Though forces are concentrated at the main gate, we still have reserves in reserve… Fortunate we’re at full strength?”

Typically, when organizing units, the Joseon military composed them in multiples of three to five from the lowest wo to the highest yeong. Rear areas without particular threats were organized in multiples of three, while high-risk areas like borders were composed at full strength in multiples of five.

Thanks to this, Oh Bang-seop wasn’t worried about troop shortages. Gamoksabo’s garrison consisted of a sa at full strength.

Additionally, those commanding the soldiers were experienced.

Trusting these soldiers, Oh Bang-seop worried not about defense but rather about the safety of the evacuating farmers.

Continuing to observe the farmers and Jurchen through his telescope, Oh Bang-seop ground his teeth again.

“Where the hell did they come from! Can’t they see the Joseon military banners fluttering from the watchtower! What era is this to be raiding!”

After Yi Manchu and Mengtemu’s rebellion, the number of Jurchen eyeing Joseon settlements had sharply decreased. Moreover, with Joseon Land Defense Forces’ mobile patrols monitoring the border region, Jurchen approaching Joseon villages near the border had almost disappeared.

Of course, occasionally mentally disturbed Jurchen would attack, but such Jurchen were small-scale groups of at most several dozen. And such groups targeted pioneer villages far from forts. Thus, the situation was mostly hide-and-seek between such Jurchen and long-range patrols.

Yet now, a large-scale Jurchen force numbering at least 300 was launching a full attack.

***

Meanwhile, Jang Gwi-nam, having arrived at the tower with his subordinates, merged with the soldiers already stationed there and organized the situation.

“Pull new recruits to the back! Prepare for alternate firing! Form three ranks!”

“Yes sir!”

At Jang Gwi-nam’s orders based on gauging the tower’s size, soldiers formed three ranks with new recruits positioned at the very back.

“How far are the Jurchen!”

At Jang Gwi-nam’s shout, a soldier observing from the tower immediately answered.

“120 bo (about 216m), sir!”

“And the farmers?”

“80 bo, sir!”

At the soldier’s report, Jang Gwi-nam immediately issued orders.

“First rank! Fire when the Jurchen enter 100 bo! Everyone load!”

“Loading!”

With the chorus, soldiers pulled paper powder pouches from their cartridge boxes, bit them open, and began loading through their gun muzzles.

“Loading complete!”

Almost simultaneously with the soldiers’ shouts, arrows shot by the Jurchen flew toward the tower.

Swoosh! Zing! Thud! Thunk!

“Eek!”

“Ah!”

When the Jurchen arrows hit and bounced off the wooden shields set up on the fort walls and battlements, soldiers momentarily flinched with short cries.

“Don’t be afraid! Trust your helmets and armor!”

At Jang Gwi-nam’s shout beside them, the cowering soldiers straightened up again. Just then, the soldier observing outside shouted.

“100 bo! Farmers at 60 bo!”

“First rank, raise guns!”

At Jang Gwi-nam’s command, the frontmost soldiers all raised their guns to aim at the Jurchen.

The soldiers and Jang Gwi-nam aiming their guns saw the farmers’ condition.

Seeing many farmers’ clothes stained red on the carts, Jang Gwi-nam ground his teeth.

“Grr! Open fire! Take them down!”

Bang bang bang!

The Jurchen chasing after the farmers were hit by the bullets. About twenty Jurchen fell to the ground, and a similar number slumped over their saddles. Those collapsed on horseback showed no further movement.

“At this distance?”

“They can shoot this far?”

The Jurchen fell into confusion at gunfire from an unexpected range.

Right then, a second volley followed.

Bang bang bang!

“Fall back!”

“Retreat!”

“Retreat!”

As dozens more Jurchen fell, the remaining Jurchen hastily began pulling back.

***

About 100 jang (about 330m) from Gamoksabo’s main gate where this battle was occurring, around ten Jurchen were observing the situation.

“Khan! The range of Joseon’s bronze guns is longer than expected!”

“Joseon’s bronze guns seem superior to Ming’s!”

“This is unbelievable!”

While those around him clamored, the chief Ayutawa stroked his beard with a grave expression.

***

Trouble came to Ayutawa’s tribe, a distant branch of the Jianzhou Jurchen Taowa tribe, when they provoked Ming.

After raiding a small village of Ming people and settled Jurchen, Ayutawa’s tribe became the target of Ming military subjugation.

Fleeing the persistent pursuit of the much-changed Ming forces, Ayutawa’s tribe had no choice but to come to the Joseon border.

Impoverished by battles with Ming forces and displacement, Ayutawa’s tribal warriors discovered Gamoksabo and began secretly observing the situation.

After carefully scouting Gamoksabo for several days, warriors returned to Ayutawa and proposed an attack.

“Though larger than expected, the garrison doesn’t seem very numerous!”

“Judging by the surrounding villages’ size and location, they seem to have expanded to accommodate evacuating residents!”

“They have quite a number of horses and cattle! Khan! Let’s attack!”

“Yes! Let’s attack!”

Though many advocated attacking, there were also those opposed.

“What nonsense! Haven’t you heard what happened when Yi Manchu and Mengtemu angered Joseon?”

“Khan! We must not attack! Rather, we should choose suitable items from what we still have and trade!”

“Khan! We must not attack!”

However, those arguing for attack didn’t back down either.

“What do we have left to trade? Sell our horses and weapons? Face Ming forces empty-handed?”

“All we have left to sell are our families! If that’s what you want, sell your own families!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! The Joseon have bronze guns too! Have you forgotten that?”

“Those mere bronze guns! Just stay beyond 50 bo! Our arrows fly farther than their bronze guns!”

“It’s do or die anyway! We must do something!”

The warriors had come to understand the strengths and weaknesses of Ming’s bronze guns while fleeing. They were confident their bows and arrows were far superior to Ming’s bronze guns. Their current pursuit was merely due to being outnumbered by Ming forces.

“Khan!”

“Khan!”

As both sides continued their parallel arguments, they pressed Ayutawa. After keeping silent with closed eyes, Ayutawa finally spoke.

“Are there any Joseon cavalry units nearby?”

“None within 100 li!”

Hearing the warriors’ answer, Ayutawa reached a decision.

“Very well. Let’s do it. It’s do or die anyway.”

“Yes sir!”

When Ayutawa made his decision, the warriors who had been divided for and against united to make plans.

-Though the Joseon fort has watchtowers, based on experience with Ming, they’re not a major concern. If we maximize our mobility, they won’t be able to respond in time.

-While they’re in confusion, we’ll use our mobility to mix with the Joseon people. Then the Joseon forces will be even more disoriented.

-When the fort’s Joseon forces are disoriented by this chaotic situation, we’ll split our warriors. One group will keep the Joseon forces’ eyes and ears occupied while the other raids the village.

Though it was an attack launched from a desperate situation, it was a plan made with maximum tactical consideration.

“We can succeed.”

Both Ayutawa and his warriors sensed success in the plan.

However, the executed plan went wrong from the start.

-The Joseon forces spotted them from farther than expected. And the residents’ response was quick.

-Most importantly, the range of Joseon’s bronze guns was twice that of Ming’s.

“Hmm…”

While Ayutawa pondered these unexpected variables, an old warrior offered his opinion.

“Though we’ve taken casualties, we’ve occupied the Joseon forces’ eyes and ears. We should proceed with the plan.”

“You’re right. Let’s do that.”

“Yes, then the signal arrow…”

While preparing the signal arrow to signal the warriors, the battlefield situation changed.

Ratatatatata! Bang! Boom! Kaboom!

As fierce explosions erupted with rising flames, the tribe’s warriors near the fortress began getting swept away.