Ch.230Nagasaki (6)

The Goryeo navy was defeated at Tsushima Island.

When I heard the news, I couldn’t help but be quite flustered.

However, considering that our opponent was Japan, a country with one of the most formidable naval forces in East Asia, it was understandable.

As I’ve mentioned repeatedly, Japan is an island nation surrounded by water on all four sides.

To travel in such a country, they naturally had to operate ships.

Therefore, Japan was inherently destined to develop a strong navy.

Of course, the Goryeo navy was no pushover either.

This was because Goryeo was also a peninsula surrounded by sea on three sides.

However, in Goryeo’s case, they had to fight alongside the Mongol and Liaodong navies, which were essentially of no help.

To put it bluntly, the Mongol and Liaodong navies were more like shackles. Fighting against the numerically superior Japanese navy with such allies was a difficult task.

Fortunately, since Irin was an exceptional naval admiral, I was informed that they had retreated without major casualties and were now regrouping.

“It will take about three weeks, sir.”

I nodded at the messenger’s report.

“Three weeks…”

This meant that we, the vanguard, would have to hold out here on our own for three weeks.

“The good news is that the Ulus has completely taken control of the area around Nagasaki.”

Munglig said this to me.

As he said, if we hadn’t completely controlled the Nagasaki area and the shogunate forces had continued their offensive, we would likely have been defeated.

Fortunately, we had driven out the shogunate forces and could exert influence over the entire surrounding area.

“However, it’s unrealistic to hold out for three weeks.”

Nagasaki had a unique topography.

It was like a jar with a narrow entrance and a wide interior.

Of course, this was an exaggeration, and there was a way to escape by going around the mountainous area that formed the narrow entrance.

However, it was highly likely that Yoshitsune was stationed there waiting for us.

Kage Otoshi would know that we would wither away if left alone.

Therefore, he would certainly employ a strategy of setting up camp and waiting us out.

Given this situation, we absolutely needed supplies from the Goryeo navy.

“How about requesting support from the Mongol Pirates?”

In response to Munglig’s question, Elunka shook his head.

“Given our treaty with the Song Dynasty, it’s difficult to deploy the Mongol Pirates.”

The Ulus had a treaty with the Song Dynasty.

It included a provision requiring the withdrawal of the Mongol Pirates from the archipelago.

If we violated this, there was a high probability that the Song Dynasty would intervene in the war.

“The Song Dynasty is practically a walking corpse. Are you afraid of them?”

To Munglig’s words, Elunka shook his head.

“It’s not that I fear the Song Dynasty. But their massive production capacity is enough to put the entire Ulus in jeopardy.”

The reason to fear the Song Dynasty was, to exaggerate, similar to the fear of the United States.

While America’s formidable military power is important, it’s also because they possess tremendous production capacity to match.

Even for a typical industrial nation, converting factories for military use during wartime takes considerable time.

But I had once read a military expert’s report stating that the United States could make such factory conversions incredibly quickly.

High production capacity meant that many war supplies could be produced.

When you defeat an enemy, you take damage and need some time to regroup, but the United States could quickly manufacture new weapons and deploy new forces.

The Song Dynasty of this era possessed a similar fearsome quality to the United States.

They had powerful industrial capacity, production capability, and population.

Of course, they couldn’t be compared to the modern United States, but considering the era, there was no other country to compare them to except America.

So even if the Song Dynasty’s army was weak, they would clearly continue to throw their citizens into the war.

In such a situation, even if we won battles, in a country-versus-country scenario, we would ultimately lose.

Although the Ulus had vast territories, it couldn’t match the Song Dynasty’s population.

Moreover, in our current disadvantageous situation, the Song Dynasty’s participation would clearly invite a major crisis.

We would inevitably end up like Germany after the United States entered World War II, forced into a defensive position.

“Furthermore, the Mongol Pirates are our last bastion to prevent the Song Dynasty’s potential intervention. If they stop raiding the coastal areas near the Song Dynasty and enter the archipelago, the Song Dynasty won’t miss that opportunity.”

The Mongol Pirates were diligently raiding the Song Dynasty’s coast under my orders.

Thanks to this, the Song Dynasty was rapidly losing control over its coastal areas.

“Since we’ve scorched their land, wouldn’t it take time for them to rebuild their ports? We could recall the Mongol Pirates before then.”

In response to Munglig’s counterargument, Elunka shook his head.

“As I mentioned earlier, the fearsome aspect of the Song Dynasty is their production capacity. Even if their ports are destroyed, they will quickly rebuild and launch ships. They have the manpower and technology to make it possible.”

It wasn’t that the Song Dynasty was weak; it was that their army was weak.

Their technological prowess was the best of this era.

“If we can’t deploy the Mongol Pirates, then there’s no solution. Are you saying we should just wither away here?”

At Munglig’s words, Elunka could only close his mouth.

He too had no good solution.

“We must hold out for three weeks. And when the Goryeo fleet fights the Japanese forces again, they must absolutely win for us to complete the Eastern Expedition.”

At my words, Elunka and Munglig stopped their argument and looked at me.

With the defeat of the allied fleet, the conditions for victory in the war had increased.

The first was to hold out for three weeks.

“I’ll try to solve the problem of holding out for three weeks by using the Tenno.”

“The Tenno, sir?”

“Yes. They’ve agreed to cooperate with us.”

“But…”

Elunka trailed off.

It seemed obvious that they wouldn’t help us when we were on the defensive.

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t help us. We need to make it so they have no choice but to help.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Nagasaki has become our territory. But the surrounding areas are not.”

Nagasaki was a small fishing village.

And nearby were nameless small villages commonly seen during this period.

“We will forcibly requisition food from these places.”

“But there will be strong resistance.”

“That’s why we’ll exploit the Tenno’s name.”

I planned to plunder in the name of the Tenno.

This was possible because I had a secret letter from the Tenno.

I intended to exploit the Tenno’s name using this secret letter.

“And we’ll conscript adult men in the name of the Tenno. Of course, they will refuse.”

It was obvious they would refuse even if we exploited the Tenno’s name.

So I planned to conscript them forcibly. And I intended to give them weapons like bamboo spears and use them as arrow shields.

“It doesn’t matter if we kill those who refuse. They’re just going to be arrow shields anyway.”

To hold out for three weeks, we needed many people.

Using them for shift rotations would allow rest for the soldiers defending the area.

“Won’t this worsen public sentiment in Nagasaki?”

“We’re doing this in the Tenno’s name anyway. The karma will only be resolved when the Tenno comes personally. And…”

I swallowed my last words.

There was no need to say that only innocent civilians suffer in war.

It was clear they were sacrificial lambs.

But there was no reason to feel pity for them.

“Munglig.”

“At your command.”

“Begin the hunt.”

Munglig nodded at this.

Then he raised his hand to summon the Kheshig.

They were holding different weapons than usual.

Ropes and nets. Anyone could see these were tools for hunting.

“Show no mercy to those who resist.”

At Munglig’s words, the Kheshig nodded.

With that, the Kheshig and Munglig left, leaving only me and Elunka in the ger.

“Elunka.”

“At your command.”

“Take the Tamma and strengthen the regional defense here. And make contact with Goryeo through the fastest soldier.”

“Goryeo, sir?”

“I intend to share the formula for Greek Fire with Goryeo.”

Honestly, I didn’t want to share this valuable formula with Goryeo.

But to win the naval battle, the Goryeo navy absolutely had to win.

In this Japanese expedition, the role of the Goryeo navy was by far the most important.

The Mongol and Liaodong navies were merely supporting roles.

If someone else heard this, they might have been shocked.

Sharing something so valuable with Goryeo, which was merely an allied nation.

But given the situation, there was no choice.

First of all, most of the forces that participated in naval battles before the conquest of the Byzantine Empire were not here.

They were all serving under Temujin’s command.

The reason for this decision was that if we brought them here, Temujin wouldn’t be able to face both the Crusaders and the Ayyubids.

Moreover, all those Temujin was facing possessed excellent navies.

To fight them, we had no choice but to leave behind soldiers with naval battle experience.

“I haven’t seen Greek Fire directly, but I’ve heard about it through reports. Sharing such a valuable weapon with Goryeo poses a significant risk.”

“I know. But the Mongol navy in the Yellow Sea Fleet lacks the ability to properly operate Greek Fire.”

The second problem was precisely the lack of capability in the Ulus’s Yellow Sea Fleet.

No matter how excellent a weapon is, it’s useless if you can’t properly fire it at the enemy.

“Ah…!”

“The same goes for the Liaodong state.”

Honestly, I was willing to share it with the Liaodong state led by my son Belgutei.

But the Liaodong state, like the Mongol navy, had a miserable naval force.

Given this, as I’ve repeatedly mentioned, the allied navy would inevitably be led by the Goryeo navy.

“Therefore, I plan to share this formula with Goryeo and have them produce it.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to produce it in the Great Capital and then transfer it to Goryeo?”

“That would take too much time.”

It would clearly take several months to make it in the Great Capital, transport it to Goryeo, hand it over, and teach them how to use it.

So it was more efficient to teach them the production method so they could produce it locally while also teaching them how to use it.

“Greek Fire is a threatening item. Even if Goryeo is a trustworthy ally…”

“Don’t worry. I’ve prepared for that.”

There was no need to share the exact formula for Greek Fire.

A similar effect would be enough to easily defeat Japanese warships made of wood.

A downgrade.

I planned to share a downgraded version of the Greek Fire formula with them.