Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 737

Episode 737: Dagger (7)

The commander of the allied forces stationed in Suez was busy every day.

This was because the situation was completely different from what was expected when the deployment to Suez was first ordered.

-The Mamluks and Spain are also in a state of disarray, so think of them as going on vacation.

As the high-ranking people said, in the early days, it almost felt like a vacation. However, it was not a position of demotion. Even though it was a relief, the Mamluk cavalry occasionally caused disturbances, and bandits from desert tribes also had to be careful.

Therefore, the evaluation of Suez among allied commanders deployed in the Suez area was as follows.

-The best place to increase your ransom if you play moderately and pay a little attention.

However, the ‘honey time’ of these commanders disappeared when the empire built a fortress.

Seeing the imperial fortress taking shape, the allied commanders contemplated a method of destruction while also acknowledging the usefulness of the imperial fortress.

-This is a world where cannons have already become the center of war. The existing wall is like a barn door in front of the cannon.

– If you repair your home country’s fortresses in this way, their defensive capabilities will be strengthened.

The allied commanders who made this judgment sent a long report back home without the knowledge of other commanders, along with relevant sketches and other information and their own judgment.

And the reply from the home country arrived faster than expected.

– Obtain as much detailed information as possible and submit it.

-Check the reactions of other allies and report them.

The allied commanders who received the orders from the home country sighed.

“Whoa. The good days are gone.”

* * *

The home countries of the alliance were not just sitting idle either.

“It must be acknowledged that it is definitely excellent at defense.”

“We must rebuild as many castles and fortresses that must be protected as possible in that way.”

The allies who came to this conclusion began to busily renovate their castles and fortresses.

This was an obvious choice.

France fought the ‘100 Years’ War’ with Britain and is now in an uneasy relationship with Spain.

Likewise, Portugal is snarling with Spain.

Florence is experiencing large and small armed conflicts against other city-states.

The Ottomans are zealously expanding their territory, but the need for castles is also increasing.

All of the alliance countries were in need of excellent base defense facilities.

Therefore, the Allies began to renovate castles based on reports and sketches sent by Suez commanders.

France rebuilt the Paris Castle and Bastille fortress, Portugal rebuilt Lisboa, the capital and central trading port, Florence rebuilt the city walls divided into left and right sides by the Arno River, and the Ottomans rebuilt the walls of Edirne in a similar style to the imperial style. it started.

* * *

As the allies remodeled the fortresses and castles of their capitals and major bases in an imperial style, neighboring countries also began to react.

“Why them?”

“Doing those things at the same time? Why?”

All neighboring countries who saw the movements of their allies simultaneously building or renovating new castles began to wonder, ‘Why?’

“What do they have in common?”

Neighboring countries, who searched and analyzed the situation of neighboring countries and various information to solve their questions, soon found the answer.

-They are all allied countries.

-All of those allies have deep ties to the empire.

-The imperial fortress being built in Suez looks very similar to the one being built by the allies. If you look at the time period, the allies made it according to the style of the empire.

In addition, military commanders from neighboring countries reported this to their masters.

“It is difficult to attack with the means we have now!”

Eventually, as if the wave was spreading, neighboring allied countries also began building new styles of castles and fortresses modeled after the empire’s style.

It was the beginning of the ‘imperial fortress’ trend that marked a milestone in European architectural history.

* * *

Whether at home or not, the Allied commanders stationed in Suez were concerned about how to destroy the fortress built by the imperial army.

“I think it would be difficult to even make a scratch with the cannons we have now.”

Other allied commanders also nodded at the words of the Ottoman commander.

“If you were ordered to attack that Osae, what do you think would be the most appropriate tactic?”

In response to the French commander’s question, other commanders responded simultaneously.

“Isolation.”

“blockade.”

“blockade.”

All of the commanders expressed the same opinion, but their expressions were not bright.

“Blockade is the most correct answer, but the problem is that this fortress was built with that in mind.”

* * *

When the Imperial Military Joint Construction Team decided on a site to build a fortress, they spent the most time trying to find a site that satisfied two prerequisites.

– Sufficient water source

– Must be close to the military dock to be built at the same time.

To satisfy these conditions, engineers from the joint construction team scoured the entire Gulf of Suez and drilled holes for tube wells in dozens of locations.

The result was a fortress that was slowly entering its final stages.

* * *

“There is no answer to that problem since it supplies its own drinking water, and the only correct answer would be to seize the wharf connected to the fortress, cut off the supply route, and then dry it out.”

The Portuguese commander, who nodded at the words of the Florentine commander, continued.

“The problem will be the imperial battleships. Only by blocking those battleships can the supply route be cut off.”

“I agree.”

“We don’t know much about ships, so let’s call the captains and ask them.”

The other commanders all nodded at the Portuguese commander’s suggestion.

Soon after, the captains of Portuguese trading ships arrived, invited by the commanders.

The captains who had been invited to a gathering under the pretense of a banquet changed their expressions when asked questions from the allied commanders.

“Did you ask whether you could sink the Empire’s battleships?”

“That’s right.”

The captains who heard the confirmation all had similar expressions.

‘Why are there all these idiots?’

The allied commanders, who read that expression, suppressed their emotions and asked the question again.

“Did we get something wrong?”

“Isn’t that why you suddenly asked if you could sink an imperial battleship? We are getting along well at best, so why did you sink it?”

“Isn’t there such a thing as ‘what if’?”

The captains’ expressions also became serious as they heard the Portuguese commander’s words.

After gathering their thoughts for a moment, the captains began to open their mouths one by one.

“Defeat with regular attack methods.”

“I agree. The Empire’s battleships have incredible firepower, but their defense capabilities are even greater.”

“That much?”

The captains nodded to the French commander’s question.

“Why would we wait for the imperial warships and merchant ships to set sail and move together?”

“At first glance, I counted them, but they are crazy people carrying more than 50 cannons.

More than 50 cannons on one ship! Have you ever seen those cannons spitting fire all at once? Just looking at them makes you want to urinate.”

The complexions of the allied commanders turned dark at the captains’ words.

The captains drove a wedge into such commanders.

“Do you think it is the grace of the Lord that a railway has been laid from Suez to the Mediterranean? If the waterway had been opened, the ownership of the Mediterranean would have changed.”

“Cancer! Cancer! I’m already so distraught that the Imperial Navy has been asking about Africa these days!”

At that moment, the captain’s last words caught the attention of those around him.

“Did you say that the Flower Country or the Imperial Navy was asking about Africa?”

“That’s right. According to what I heard, the people next to the Empire once went to Africa, so the Empire will also try it. I think that’s probably why.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the other captains also pretended to know.

“Ah! I heard that story too. A eunuch who served the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty led a fleet to the east coast of Africa, right?”

“Wasn’t that a rumor?”

“I don’t think it’s a rumor. I stopped by Myeong briefly and heard there was a record of it.”

“Hmm… If the Ming did it, there’s a good chance the Empire will do it too.”

“And if it is an empire, it will be more fully prepared.”

While the captains were chatting about the ‘Imperial Expedition to Africa’, the allied commanders – especially the Portuguese commanders – were deep in thought with serious faces.

‘Empire in Africa? The possibility is certainly high. ‘It’s not like the empire doesn’t know Africa.’

‘How should I respond if I bypass Africa and head north? ‘Should we open our colonial cities?’

‘No, why more than that? If you’re going to trade, there’s no need to go through the trouble of going around, right? ‘Why on earth?’

The allied commanders became even more confused as they heard unexpected information.

But the final conclusion was all the same.

‘I guess I’ll have to tell my country.’

* * *

While the minds of the Allied commanders were becoming confused, the firearms to be deployed in the fortress, which was in the final stage, arrived in Suez.

The allied commanders, who were watching the guns with their barrels wrapped in thick packaging, were unloaded, looked full of envy.

“As expected, these are cannons made of iron.”

“It’s an iron cannon… We’re still a bronze cannon.”

“I heard that England is trying to make cannons out of cast iron. Does anyone know?”

“I heard they are trying hard, but there are no rumors that a good one has emerged yet.”

While discussing rumors related to cannons, the commanders’ eyes were fixed on the weapons and soldiers being unloaded from the ship.

The commanders who were observing the firearms being unloaded soon noticed something strange.

“Huh? Something strange?”

“Did you notice that too?”

“You?”

The commanders inspected the unloaded cargo with faces full of doubt.

Over the next few months, the Imperial Navy brought weapons and soldiers to be stationed at the fortress.

Every time a ship of the Imperial Navy arrived, allied commanders came to the dock to inspect the unloaded cargo and watch the soldiers.

And the commanders all came to the same conclusion.

‘There are no freight cars!’

‘You’re pulling out a freight car! ‘What is the Empire thinking?’

The Eul-style freight cars, brought in half a year after the war over Suez, left a strong impression on the Allied commanders.

The Eulsik hwacha was a more useful item than a cannon to deal with the approaching enemies.

But soon the allied commanders learned why there were no freight cars.

It would be nice to have a freight car. This was because a weapon I had never seen before was placed where I wanted to be.

“what?”

“It’s much smaller than a freight car…”

The commanders who were curious about the identity of the new weapon immediately found the answer when familiar cartridges were placed next to the mysterious weapon.

‘The Empire has improved its freight cars!’

That very day, all the globes flew into the sky of Suez.

And within a few days, the allies dispatched messengers to Suez.

And the monarchs of the allies who sent the messengers placed their hands on their foreheads.

“A new freight car! You crazy imperial bastards!”

Messengers were sent to ignite the military, but the monarchs were able to roughly understand the answer.

If the Empire had pushed out the existing freight cars and deployed them, the superior performance was clear even without looking.

Then, it was certain that the military would insist on its introduction, and it was certain that this would become a political and economic burden.