Chapter 11 : The Immortal Hero (5)
by fnovelpia
The Joseon navy stationed at Byeokpa-ri was filled with a dark and oppressive energy.
Rumors spread widely that the Japanese fleet consisted of as many as 133 ships.
The soldiers were terrified, fearing the Japanese navy might strike at any moment.
Normally, Admiral Yi Sun-sin would have gathered the soldiers by the seaside to boost their morale with a speech before departing for battle.
“Those who wish to live must die, and those who wish to die will live.”
This famous quote from Admiral Yi Sun-sin came from the speech he gave before the Battle of Myeongnyang.
And, the navy, inspired by the general’s speech, would go on to achieve the great victory of the Battle of Myeongnyang, a feat that would go down in history.
The victory of the Battle of Myeongnyang was not solely the achievement of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, but a feat accomplished by all 2,000 unnamed soldiers of the Joseon navy.
However…
“It seems you haven’t prepared yet.”
Even though the Japanese fleet was only half a day away, Admiral Yi Sun-sin had not yet delivered his speech.
As a result, the soldiers’ morale had plummeted to the point that desertions were imminent.
“It’s over.”
If this continued, the terrified soldiers would not be able to achieve the miracle of the Battle of Myeongnyang.
But at the same time, it was impossible to rush Admiral Yi Sun-sin to deliver an unprepared speech.
I often felt the consequences of poorly delivered speeches through live political speeches.
An unprepared speech could have disastrous consequences.
The problem was that Admiral Yi Sun-sin showed no sign of finishing the speech within the remaining half-day.
While it would have been great if speeches could come out spontaneously, the reality was that preparing them took an enormous amount of time.
The great speeches we know from historical figures were not delivered on the spot but after long preparation.
They sought advice from great individuals, had novelists draft speeches, revised them…
Like creating a work of art, gathering and refining words that would stir people’s hearts was what a speech truly required.
Especially Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s speech would be a historical speech that would last for generations. Such a speech could not have been written in a day or two.
The problem was that I didn’t know the full text of that speech.
“Those who wish to live must die, and those who wish to die will live.” That was the only part of the speech I knew.
Perhaps, the same was true for Admiral Yi Sun-sin at that moment.
“It’s over.”
As I leaned against the counter at Manmulsang, lost in thought, suddenly, an idea struck me.
“…Should I just make one myself?”
I didn’t know what kind of speech Admiral Yi Sun-sin had delivered.
But by now, I knew many of the famous speeches from history.
There were Hitler’s speeches, which led to the creation of the most fanatical regime in history, Nazi Germany, and Winston Churchill’s inaugural speech.
I even remembered inspiring speeches from cartoons and animations.
The speech by Elvin, the leader of the Giants, commanding a deadly charge was unforgettable.
What if I mixed those up to create a plausible speech for Admiral Yi Sun-sin?
It didn’t matter that I wrote it in Korean because modern translation would handle any language barrier.
“I’ll give it a try.”
My speech might not be the same as the one Admiral Yi Sun-sin gave, but at this point, we were desperate.
The Japanese fleet was only half a day away, and if we didn’t act, the Battle of Myeongnyang would fail.
“As long as the result is good, it’ll be fine.”
Making up my mind, I grabbed a pen and opened my notebook.
Then, I began ‘plagiarizing’ the speeches of historical figures.
Admiral Yi Sun-sin, with a white sheet of paper before him, held his brush but was deeply troubled.
It wasn’t a strategic concern about how to fight the war.
“I haven’t prepared my speech. This is bad.”
War is fought with strategy, but it is the soldiers who carry out that strategy.
And Admiral Yi Sun-sin knew very well that the force that moved the soldiers was morale.
But he had failed to prepare a speech to boost their morale.
He had delayed in dealing with the ships, and now there was no time left to write his speech.
“General, the soldiers are getting restless.”
Anwi urged, but Yi Sun-sin did not respond.
Before the blank white paper, he didn’t know what to write…
“This is bad.”
At this moment, Yi Sun-sin found himself facing the greatest crisis of his life.
“General, Choi Jeosun has arrived.”
“Choi Jeosun? Let him in.”
The sliding door opened, and Choi Jeosun entered. Admiral Yi Sun-sin looked at him in confusion and asked,
“Choi Jeosun, what brings you here?”
“I thought the general might be troubled over the speech, so I’ve come to offer my small help.”
“Oh, the speech?”
“Yes.”
Yi Sun-sin’s face brightened, and he immediately stood up. He took the notebook from Choi Jeosun.
As he read the words carefully, his eyes widened, and he exhaled in surprise.
“Ha! Did you really write this?”
“Yes.”
“Truly, you have excellent handwriting…!”
“What does it say? Let me see!”
Anwi, curious, grabbed the notebook, and took a deep breath in shock.
“Gather the soldiers at the port immediately!”
“Understood!”
Anwi quickly exited the room.
Swooosh…
The sound of waves crashing echoed faintly in the early morning at Myeongnyang’s beach.
Amid the darkness, lit by torches, over 2,000 Joseon soldiers stood in formation.
Their faces were filled with fear and despair.
In front of them, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, dressed in his military attire, walked slowly.
He surveyed the terrified soldiers and spoke,
“Today, the Joseon navy will be defeated.”
The soldiers’ faces were shadowed.
They knew.
They knew that they could never defeat the Japanese army.
It was impossible to defeat the 133 Japanese ships with only 13 of their own.
Yet, the general himself confirmed this hopeless reality.
Someone asked, in a voice filled with fear,
“Then, are we going to die?”
“Yes, we will all perish, and this sea of Myeongnyang will become the tomb of the Joseon navy.”
“Then why are we fighting?”
“Because we are the navy of Joseon. We fight to pass our will on to the next generation.”
A famous quote from a commander in a work of fiction slipped out of Yi Sun-sin’s mouth.
“In the six years of struggle, I truthfully confess that I have endured only with the thought of serving our people. The one word I never know is ‘surrender.’”
Adolf Hitler’s speech, leading Nazi Germany during World War II, echoed over the sea of Myeongnyang.
“But!”
He plagiarized.
“What I fear more than surrender is that if we do not stop them here, all hope for justice and freedom in this land will disappear.”
That was from King George VI’s national radio broadcast.
“What I can promise you is only one thing.”
He plagiarized again.
“That I, as a shield on the front lines of the Joseon navy, will shed blood, effort, tears, and sweat.”
That was from Winston Churchill’s inaugural speech.
“Victory cannot be assured. I cannot promise that we will leave the battlefield without a single casualty.”
And…
“Still, I hope to march to the battlefield with you.”
The famous quote from Admiral Yi Sun-sin, which would live on in history, flowed out.
“Those who wish to die will live, and those who wish to live will die.”
(If one is determined to die, they will live. If one seeks to live, they will die.)
“Those who wish to die, follow me!”
As Yi Sun-sin finished his speech, a quiet silence fell. Only the sound of crashing waves echoed in the still air.
Then, at that moment.
Clap! Clap!
Someone broke the silence with applause. It spread among the soldiers, like an infection.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The tridents they held hit the sand.
“Uwaaaaaaaaa!”
A roar of excitement shook the sea of Myeongnyang.
“Kyah!”
I clicked my tongue in amazement.
With just one speech, the previously grim atmosphere was completely overturned.
It was clear: mixing famous quotes had an incredible effect.
No wonder historical figures always delivered speeches just before war.
“Impressive.”
It felt like watching a fanatical cult in action.
While I was in awe of the navy’s newfound morale,
“Enemy!”
“The Japanese are here!”
The urgent shout of a scout pierced through the heated shouts at Byeokpa-jin.
Only 50 miles away.
Hundreds of Japanese warships were rapidly approaching, turning the sea of Myeongnyang dark.
“Everyone, aboard the ships!”
The sailors, who had been panicking, began to board the 13 panokseon ships.
“Choi Jeosun, come with me!”
“Yes.”
Anwi approached and led me to Yi Sun-sin’s panokseon.
“Raise the anchor!”
“Row the oars!”
The sailors who boarded the panokseon busily moved around, raising the anchor and rowing with vigor.
Swoosh…!
Against the backdrop of the dawning sky, the 13 panokseon ships crossed the sea of Myeongnyang.
Puuuu~
Like greeting them, trumpets blared as the terrifying Japanese warships swarmed like a cloud of bees.
I gripped Napoleon’s rifle tightly with a nervous heart.
‘If things get bad, I’ll just open the shop and run away.’
I didn’t plan on fighting here.
Even without my help, Admiral Yi Sun-sin was destined to win the Battle of Myeongnyang.
That’s history.
There was no reason for me to interfere.
As an E-class Hunter, this was not a battlefield where I could contribute.
“Hey, you there! What are you doing? Come help with the cannons!”
“Ah, yes!”
At the call of an unknown officer, I quickly moved to follow him.
Since everyone was working, I couldn’t just sit idle.
“Hurry up and move it!”
“Yes!”
‘Ugh, this is ridiculously heavy.’
Carrying the iron cannonballs, which were as heavy as charcoal lumps, made my arms feel like they were going to cramp.
“When the drum starts, place the cannonballs in the cannon and light the fuse.”
“Eh? I’ve never handled a cannon before…”
“Just aim it, there’s nothing difficult about it!”
Apparently, they were short on hands, so the officer entrusted me with one cannon before rushing off to help elsewhere.
“Ugh.”
He wants me to fire this?
As I looked at the cannon with a troubled heart, not knowing what to do,
Ding!
[The energy of the battlefield is detected.]
[Napoleon’s rifle unlocks its special ability.]
===
[Artillery General Napoleon]
- Napoleon, the hero of the French Revolution, dominated the battlefield with cannons. No one in the battlefield could match Napoleon with artillery.
Firepower: 500
Accuracy: +60%
==
‘…Huh?’
What’s this?
Tu-woong─! Tu-woong─! Tu-woong─!
Before I could check the newly unlocked ability, the drum sounded.
“Fire the cannon!”
At the officer’s shout, the soldiers began firing the cannons.
“What are you doing! Fire already!”
“Ah, yes!”
As I hesitated, the soldier beside me who had been firing the cannons scolded me.
‘Oh well, here goes nothing.’
I aimed at the Japanese warship in front of me and lit the fuse on the cannon. The fuse burned, and the fire ignited the cannon’s charge.
Fwoooom!
‘Ugh, why does the sound have to be so loud?’
The thunderous sound of the cannon made me frown.
And then…
Kaaa-boooom!
The Japanese warship in the direction of the cannonball was completely destroyed with a tremendous explosion.
“…Huh?”
What’s going on? Why is it sinking?
‘Is it… poor construction?’
The soldier beside me, who had been urging me to fire, asked with a dazed expression.
“What… what did you fire?”
“Huh? I just did what I was told…”
“Fire another shot at that ship!”
“Ah, yes!”
Fwoooom!
─Ba, bakemono da!
Napoleon’s cannon signaled the start of the Battle of Myeongnyang.
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