Chapter 99 · 10 min

Chapter 99

Four People’s Signatures (3)

When looking at history-related content cases of favorable reviews about the Joseon army are rare.

<Q: Method to advance the Joseon army forward quickly? A: Enemy appearance in the rear!>

<Schrödinger’s quantized army>

How can attaching the title of army in the world and titles be like that?

And sadly if the Joseon army tries to sue the novelist who says such sounds, would have to look for the ‘factual defamation’ item rather than defamation in the law code. Because the real Joseon army fought dirty poorly.

Of course the reason is simple.

For hundreds of years no matter of experiencing actual combat and even not giving salary, if dying then only my family bankruptcy confirmed which soldier in the world will fight risking life?

Speaking correctly, an army that has not fought foreign regular armies for 200 years maintaining even form is a more amazing thing.

The Nazi German army that went until just before conquering the world, and its collateral (if saying direct Germans might get angry and cause World War 3) descendant West German army that backed America’s cash immediately degenerated into a Tang army doing Quidditch riding brooms a bit over 20 years after the Cold War ended. The Joseon army endured 10 times that time and was not disbanded!

In that point, the Joseon army newly reborn now has thrown off almost most of the past shackles.

Abundant supply.

Ample salary.

Training considering actual combat.

On top of that truly truly rare in Joseon history - even social respect.

However.

“R, run!”

“Heretics are too strong aaah!!”

“Don’t retreat! Will behead those who flee!”

Even equipping all that the Tang army Joseon army does not become the invincible Prussian army overnight. If that becomes no countries in the world have headaches over national defense.

At the fact of being robbed by mere rebels from the beginning, Daniel who came all the way to India suddenly became sad while strange pride rose. As expected the East India Company army is strong! Even those rebel bastard sons who learned from them are that strong!

“Came all the way here if cannot properly establish merits we are all fired, fired.”

“Well... don’t want necks cut by those crazy Indian bastards, so once do the immediate battle properly.”

The chronic problem of the Joseon army, and the East India Company Chosen army not much different from the Joseon army.

Junior officers and non-commissioned officer corps are weak.

To make matters worse, as the French Empire dispatched a military advisory group to the Joseon Kingdom seemed the head would explode one more step.

Overlapped with Britain and France, the two countries’ never-yielding idiot-like pride fight over the Joseon army’s doctrine and training methods so if not the emergency of the Crimean War cooperation might really have been impossible forever.

Joseon also has a head so of course placing expectations on officers who received new-style education discharged from Hyojong University - military academy, but even catching short at least a 10-year problem. Considering Britain and France’s intervention, and Qing’s interference that is strange if none doubtful whether possible.

“What must we do?”

“What. Must gather the soldiers and first grasp the spirit.”

So the Joseon army made a bold choice.

‘Your Majesty I will resign’

‘Right understood’

‘After resigning the workplace is the East India Company!’

Closing eyes and aung.

Those like Shin Heon or Yang Heonsu, Eo Jaeyeon were already living official life as military officers after passing the military exam but studied at Hyojong University and received Western-style education again, and later were selected as one of the Joseon army’s future and immediately joined the India dispatch ranks. Of course scheduled to be appointed official positions again if suppressing this rebellion and returning.

“The situation is simple. First, the rebels mercilessly slaughter as soon as foreigners are seen so must never have even one inch of land taken by them. And, if capacity must recapture Delhi the capital of India as quickly as possible and catch the deposed lord the rebels enthroned as leader.”

“Understood, Daegam!”

“So I am not Daegam.”

“If the one enfeoffed as Incheon Count after greatly defeating the Russians is not Daegam who will hear the sound of Daegam?”

“This person. Must say Hapha.”

“Ah!”

“No. Just call Daegam. Daegam is much better...”

Daniel unknowingly tried to chant Incheon manse three times then sighed deeply.

The expeditionary force was a truly bone-chilling composition.

Officer corps mixed with Joseon people, British people, and even a minority of French people.

Officers and soldiers lacking combat experience and know-how in the first large-scale overseas dispatch in history.

On top of that the East India Company Chosen army had a very small proportion of cavalry due to its characteristics. Even the Joseon court shedding blood tears lacking cavalry by what means will the East India Company cultivate cavalry on Joseon land? Among the 20,000 expeditionary force cavalry was not even 1,000.

If no teeth gums, instead the expeditionary force after pondering brought out a unique organization in its own way.

A light infantry unit mainly composed of Hamgyong Province marksmen.

An artillery unit armed with various cannons.

A grenadier unit that brought only guys living only today beyond having only guts. British people could not understand why Joseon people were so fascinated with dynamite throwing. Perhaps descendants of Rhodes slingers?

And they also had new weapons.

“In my view, rather than recklessly advancing on this Indian land better to firmly prepare defenses and move together with the superior country’s army.”

“Yes. From here to Delhi must advance at least tens of thousands of li, how lightly move the army in this place where customs and language are different?”

“Also we lack cavalry and close combat ability is not outstanding so must borrow the power of artillery to easily repel the enemy, so even more must sit in place and greet the enemy.”

Daniel nodded.

“All correct words. And one more. Do not recklessly drink the water here and must order soldiers to drink only sungnyung.”

Here is India.

Dysentery or cholera had the power to make even tens of thousands of armies into white bones in an instant, and Daniel had heard the latest living point ‘if boiling water and eating catch disease less’ from the younger brother.

And finally.

The time of destiny arrived.

“Kill the infidels!”

“Since we are gone now brought monkeys calling them sepoys from where! Don’t leave even one alive!”

“Those half-baked, no grit and weak guys! No need to fear!”

The confrontation between the Chosen expeditionary force and the rebels.

The number of real former sepoys was not much, but because those few sepoys had many cavalry regiments somewhat inferior in cavalry numbers.

In line infantry power of course the expeditionary force was superior, but because tenant farmers and poor who joined the rebellion showed an Indian version people’s wave the rebels were much superior in headcount.

The Indian rebels of course set the Joseon army’s artillery power strike as the top priority goal.

After blocking the matter of their artillery unilaterally hitting infantry then pressing those line infantry with numerical superiority the cavalry that subdued the artillery can smoothly lead the battle to victory.

“Prepare the rotating cannon!”

“Firing preparation complete!”

“Now! Fire!!”

Drururururuk!!

Drurururuk!!

“That... what is that!”

“That cannon! That cannon deployed in front is shooting bullets at an enormous speed!”

Was it like this when Moses parted the Red Sea?

The mere three Gatling spouted fire as if possessed, and the majority of rebels whose everything is one kitchen knife in shabby cloth pieces died in a row like autumn leaves.

“Prepare grenades!”

“Throw!!”

“Ack!!”

“Open fire!”

“Open fire!!”

Next the British army’s specialty - infantry that clumsily imitated the thin red line.

Bombs that flew from various places exploded and infantry lined up in a row fired rifles all at once, those whose minds were already confused tasting Gatling met death sequentially.

The sepoy cavalry could do nothing, and had to only watch the tragedy of countless crowds dying meaninglessly and futilely.

“Retreat! Retreating!!”

“Those guys use sorcery! Retreating!!”

The battle was decided in just a few hours.

The rebels who charged straight into the front the Gatling was waiting for were mercilessly slaughtered like ground in a mixer.

“This works?”

The three Gatling that were mere prototypes all broke down or were destroyed during the battle and degenerated into trash.

But if not recognizing this utility fine to see as cross-eyed.

“Seems not much big help.”

“Right. New weapons are all like that.”

“Rather than using that seems better to have more larger field artillery.”

Surprisingly except a minority including Daniel, British and French officers were cross-eyed. What big meaning is massacring a beggar mob whose everything is kitchen knives and bamboo spears?

Daniel who was about to chatter must supply this new weapon called Gatling to the entire army quickly shut his mouth tightly. Because noticed if not others but Arthur Lee’s older brother Daniel Lee says this sound only hears words like ‘you brothers really went crazy wanting to earn money?’.

“As expected!”

“If only 100 of these rotating cannons can burn Yanjing!”

“If there were rotating cannons at Namhansanseong in that Jeongchuk year the Jurchen barbarians would all have become pulp!”

“Can’t cavalry carry this?”

“Heavy so no? Then can’t load on a cart?”

Only Joseon people crazy about firepower got excited.

Already in the Joseon officers’ heads only the video of grinding 100 million Jurchen cavalry with 10,000 Gatling was infinitely repeating.

They continued to be excited.

Until endemic diseases covered them.

***

The political fight in London was flowing into the realm of extremes.

“Arthur Lee.”

The Conservative Party’s Disraeli held his throbbing head.

Wasn’t there no more matter to get entangled? But why? Why again? How?!

“Those from the East India Company united centered on him.”

“The company’s rule was very stable, but misleading public opinion in the way that Lord Dalhousie obsessed with Christian proselytizing and leaving achievements ruined everything.”

“From the beginning why did Lord Dalhousie make such reckless moves! Because the company was in deficit!”

Exactly 100 years since the East India Company accepted Bengal’s tax rights.

How can see deficit for 99 years except exactly one time in 100 years? Is this a company, a charity?

And then saying the company’s rule was clean and good. Crazy guys. If making those guys return all the money they sucked to the company vault the company would definitely have seen surplus.

“If highlighting the East India Company’s corruption a bit more-”

“Will be a meaningless act.”

Where in the world is a British person who doesn’t know that? Tautology.

“If saying Arthur Lee abused crisis theory for his own wealth accumulation?”

“Actually Arthur Lee himself has no direct connection with the East India Company. He is only the child of an East India Company executive.”

“Damn.”

How on earth must shut those guys’ mouths?

Actually there is a method.

The world’s Disraeli was not dull enough not to know that.

‘Fine abandoning.’

Fine cutting Dalhousie.

Cut the tail saying Dalhousie’s individual mistake, and change the core of the problem from <controversy over responsibility for the rebellion> to <how to respond to the rebellion>.

Arthur Lee is a Gladstone faction acknowledged by self and others.

Of course will chatter morality or whatever like a parrot and claim must gently soothe Indians, then fine giving a speech saying must take strict and firm measures while firmly stamping gal!!. Because the public prefers strict and hardline responses much more.

Since Arthur is not a lawmaker could not directly fight one round at Westminster, but reporters in close relations with Disraeli and the Conservative Party went out receiving his ‘request’ and asked Arthur for opinions.

“Representative Lee! How do you think must respond to this rebellion?”

“Member Gladstone already since excessive tyranny is the fundamental cause-”

“Of course must press so cannot even make a sound.”

“...Yes?”

“That, sorry, Member Gladstone-”

Arthur answered too nonchalantly.

“The member is the member and I am me.”

“Then, not agreeing with Member Gladstone’s moral principles?!”

This is a big catch!

If those two people split!!

“No. I to those principles-”

“Stop bothering the young person who is not even a lawmaker and play with me, you reporters there.”

That moment.

As Prime Minister Palmerston popped out the reporters’ eyes turned sharply.

“Stop asking opinions holding a rookie scholar who is not even a lawmaker. Intent too obvious cannot watch. According to your logic Dalhousie and the Conservative Party are also one body?”

Exorcist Palmerston who instantly exorcised the reporters.

He who briefly glared at the reporters’ backs disappearing in a hurry immediately brought out the business.

“Thank you for helping.”

“If thankful tell your sponsor to shut his mouth a bit. That morality or whatever is sickening.”

“Haha. How can I say such words to him?”

Palmerston shrugged only the shoulders instead of answering.

“Still no thought of coming to the Whig Party? Originally people must go to the party matching their beliefs.”

“Will ponder carefully.”

The head hurts.

Gradually the time to make a decision was approaching.