Chapter 139
Chapter 139
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Muskets and the Northern Expedition (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the Joseon era, the distinction between military officials and civil officials wasn't absolute.
General Yi Sun-sin's superior, Supreme Commander of the Joseon Forces Kwon Yul, was a pure civil official.
Beyond that, there were plenty of cases where civil officials would take up high military posts like Regional Military Commander or Naval Commander.
I knew that fact, but I never imagined King Sejong the Great would entrust me with something like this.
"From today, over the next forty days, I, Kim Dae-bung, Fourth Councilor of the State Council, will teach you drill training."
The trainees—no, the military exam passers—stared at me with blank expressions upon hearing my words.
A civil official, not a military one, stepping up to teach human weapons how to train their bodies? They looked utterly dumbfounded.
Anyone hearing this would find it ridiculous.
Truth be told, I really didn't want to do this. But after reading my report, King Sejong the Great said that the one who proposed it knows it best, so I should teach it myself.
That's why people say if King Sejong the Great had been born in the 21st century, he'd be one of those professors who drinks the tears of grad students.
Well, at least he's leaving weapon handling and tactics lectures to others...
'I'll just focus on teaching them the drills.'
"You passers of the military exam might find it absurd that a civil official like me is teaching you. But keep this in mind. This is His Highness's solemn royal command."
Even if the section chief declares pointless overtime for the whole department after fighting with his wife, as department members, we have to follow.
That's the way of the world.
Let alone defying a royal decree from the king?
Without some extraordinary excuse, your head would part ways with your shoulders.
"From now on, treat my words as His Highness's royal command and obey."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Good! Then we'll start training! About face!"
These military exam passers clearly hadn't received drill training before, so even the simple motion of turning around was all over the place and slow.
It wasn't because their heads were slow or their stamina was low.
They just weren't used to moving in unified motions on command.
"Now, run to that flag over there and back! First three to arrive!"
I hurriedly stopped the passers as they started to dash at my order.
They hadn't repeated the command back.
It's not fair to reprimand them for something I haven't taught, so I decided to kindly instruct them.
"From now on, repeat every last word I say. Understood?"
"Yes, understood!"
"Voices too quiet! Louder! Is this the extent of your resolve to protect His Highness and subjugate those wicked Jurchens?"
"No, sir!"
"First three, run!"
"First three!"
At my words, they bolted like mad.
They sprinted quickly to the flag about 200 meters away and back.
"Those not in the first three, run again! This time, first one! Run!"
After working them thoroughly, I began proper drill training.
"Though you were born in different times and places, when fighting for His Highness, you hundred must become one body. Only then can we sweep those wicked Jurchen barbarians from this land without leaving a single one."
Both civil and military exams normally select only 33 at a time.
But lately, with shortages from Chief State Councillor down to the lowest ninth-grade officials, the civil exam sometimes picks 100 at once annually.
The Ministry of Finance is even clamoring that it's still too few and we need 150 or 200.
Yet the military exam hadn't increased quotas for troop buildup until now, always sticking to 33. This time, specially for the Jurchen subjugation, they selected 100.
"The training you're doing now isn't hard at all. Even a six-year-old child could master it in one sichin (two hours)."
Drill training consists of simple motions even elementary students could grasp.
Right arm forward with left foot, left arm with right foot while marching; turn eyes front, rear, left, right on command.
Arms at sides evenly spaced, line marching forward, form ranks in fives, and so on...
Diligent teaching, and even kindergarten kids could get it.
"I don't plan to make today's training long. Once all hundred of you move as one on command, we're done for today."
"Is that true?"
"If you finish within two sichin (four hours), I'll treat you all to fine food and drink tonight at my expense."
Even military exam passers are human.
This promise means mastering unfamiliar drills perfectly as a hundred in four hours is impossible.
Because at least one will mess up.
"But if you don't finish in two sichin, you'll do loyalty exercises (calisthenics) and laps until sunset. Can you do it?"
"Yes, we can!"
"Good. I'll demonstrate the basic motions, so watch and memorize carefully."
I showed them the fundamentals of drill, explaining in detail.
Motions like attention, at ease, right face, left face, and how to march.
Seeing it wasn't hard visually, their lips curled up.
Everyone seemed excited, hoping to end training early for the promised feast...
Hey, enjoy it while you can.
When I trained as an officer, clueless guys underestimated 'drill training' until it dragged on endlessly, leaving them all gasping.
These elite passers will suffer all day thinking, "Why can't we sync on something this simple?"
"Now, left face! Forward march!"
True to military exam passers, no one erred on the first motion.
"Match strides precisely! Arms and legs exactly like the others! Remember, if you don't move as one, you all die!"
21st-century boot camp drills are tough, but this is far milder than pre-modern ones.
The reason? Modern drills build 'mental fortitude,' while pre-modern ones directly tied to combat power.
So this drill isn't just matching strides and limbs...
'Even breathing timing must sync.'
"Right face, forward march! Left face, forward march!"
They handled basics, so I added variations.
They followed well, as expected...
But exactly two messed up.
One led with the left foot on right face; another turned left instead of right, facing oncoming comrades.
"Halt! Attention. Eyes front!"
"Eyes front!"
"Is turning right or left on command that hard? Messing up something this simple?"
"No, sir!"
"If you can't handle this basic stuff, how will you lead soldiers against Jurchens? All down for push-ups!"
They must be fuming inside.
Elite passers verified in tough horse archery, shooting, martial arts, and tactics—why trip on simple turns and marches?
But what can you do?
Drill training is designed for everyone to err until practiced.
"One, down with 'loyalty!' Two, up with 'patriotism!' Execute!"
"One!"
"Loyalty!"
I made them do about twenty push-ups, then resumed drills.
Errors piled up on variations again, and as expected, they didn't finish in two sichin.
They ended the day's training burning through loyalty exercises.
Hang in there, military exam passers.
Just endure 39 more days.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After training, as expected, the military exam passers demonstrated their skills before King Sejong the Great.
I wasn't commanding them; another military official was.
"Aim!"
The trained passers precisely aligned and aimed their muskets at imaginary foes.
"Fire! First row fires, second rotates! Then third, fourth in sequence!"
They executed every motion without a single flaw.
After volley fire, spear-wielding passers advanced to cover, spears leveled.
Their unified, seamless movements as one body were truly impressive.
Makes you want to enlist for Joseon out of loyalty and patriotism just watching...?
Ah, not that I'd reenlist or anything. Why would I, unless I'm crazy?
King Sejong the Great smiled contentedly and said,
"From now on, train all Joseon soldiers this way."