Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: Ah, Chongzhen! (1)
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Indeed, the sight of the Kangxi Emperor with his legs spread wide open was an unbearable temptation to the generals of the European coalition forces.
However, the Washington faction's argument did have some merit.
"Advancing with 200,000 troops, not to mention a collective crossing of a river as massive as the Yangtze, is no small feat. It's practically a national undertaking. It's impossible for them to arrive quickly. There's no need to abandon all the occupied territories and interests in advance."
Unlike Kim Unhaeng, the European forces had no accurate information on the Zhili Army's advance, so their arrival time was the biggest point of contention.
Porter wanted to safely strip everything clean and withdraw now, while Washington aimed to drag out time, create variables, and squeeze out as much profit as possible. The two were at odds.
However, from the perspective of Britain's face and national interests, Porter's navy-led plan was more reasonable.
Admiral Porter couldn't tell if this Washington guy was British or foreign military (and in fact, in about twenty years, he really would become foreign military).
He wanted to just bark, "Shut your mouth, Washington," and shove him aside, but that was difficult too. After all, he was the one who had propped up Washington to dilute the defeat at Antang Mountain.
So Admiral Porter suppressed his anger and asked,
"Are you saying we should entrust our fate to their unpredictable marching speed? What if the northern army (Zhili Army) crosses the river faster than expected? Or if the Chinese Emperor urges the execution of the hostages sooner than anticipated? We need to start preparations immediately. Don't make statements you can't take responsibility for."
Contrary to Porter's hopes, Washington didn't back down in fear.
As if he'd been waiting for those exact words, Washington laid out his strategy.
"The hostage issue is Joseon's responsibility. Colonel Clive over there can coordinate that. As for the marching speed... if we make it so we can control it, then there's no problem at all."
In the end, the heated debate resulted in a compromise, as is common with divisive issues.
First, Admiral Porter's proposal to re-embark the sailors who had already disembarked was rejected.
It was a massive waste of time and resources, and objectively speaking, too hasty a surrender. Since only British were held hostage in Tianjin, foreign generals like Du Dreux didn't care either way.
So Admiral Henry Porter had to conduct the Tianjin assault with the remaining navy still on patrol duty.
Fortunately, most of the empty ships were ships of the line that were useless against Chinese anyway. Admiral Porter quickly assembled a light, fast fleet consisting of 12 frigates and his flagship Hercules.
George Washington would command the British army, and Du Dreux the French, to defend the occupied territories.
But the problem of how to stop 200,000 troops remained.
For that, Washington's proposal was truly worthy of a Canadian village-predator.
'Huangdao' Nanjing aside, hell broke loose in all the other occupied territories starting the next day.
Under the leadership of the British, who made up the majority of the European forces, they launched a massive evacuation preparation in full pirate style.
The locals, who had been adapting to Western rule, were terrified by the sudden onslaught of guns and blades from the Westerners.
"What madness is this now! We don't even have grain left!"
The soldiers first bayoneted the father who tried to block them. As the rest of the family screamed, they kicked them viciously.
"Out! Get out!"
Doors were smashed, and earthenware jars dug up. Every last grain hidden for dire emergencies, along with rice bowls, chamber pots, and even doorknobs—anything worth a penny—fell into the soldiers' hands. They even stripped off the clothes they were wearing and drove them out.
And naturally, other crimes followed. A soldier dragging a young girl by her hair had her mother clinging to his legs.
"Oh no! You bastards! Where are you taking my daughter? Kill me instead and take her!"
The soldiers nodded. Then they killed her and took the girl.
Western Christian nations each took on one of the seven deadly sins. The French, holding the position of 'lust,' went especially berserk.
The 'greed' of the Dutch and the 'pride' of the British weren't about to be outdone. If the 'wrath' of the Germans and the 'gluttony' of the Italians had come, it would have been complete, but fortunately, the full assembly of the seven deadly sins would happen in their own backyard about two centuries later.
George Washington, who had introduced all the civilians to a Civil War-style scorched earth, set massive fires in every village in all occupied territories except Nanjing. It was on a scale that even the Frenchman Du Dreux frowned at—slightly, very slightly.
"This is sure to breed resentment. Doesn't seem very wise."
Washington scoffed.
"Don't get too worked up just because you were on the Indian side in the last war (French-Indian War). If we rule with Christian benevolence, they won't resent us?"
"My objection is from the perspective of rationality. Will this actually help the operation? Besides, Britain's long-term goal is trade with China, isn't it?"
"That long-term goal can't even start without winning the war first. And in an absolute monarchy, public opinion doesn't influence national policy. We just need to capture the Emperor. While Admiral Porter attacks the capital region directly, we disperse China's resources here."
The refugees driven out as their homes and villages burned had nowhere to return to.
Unable to withstand the bayonets prodding them from behind, they began heading north.
Despite the Tianjie Mountains and the war, the number of refugees who had stayed because this was their only home was enormous.
These people would scatter a bit further north, along the southern and northern banks of the Yangtze, causing massive social chaos and food consumption.
Even if the 200,000 troops somehow broke through them and marched south, it would be the same.
Excluding Nanjing, where the European ground forces had fortified the city, there wasn't a single grain of rice left along the southeast coast.
Not even cannibalism would help. There were no people left.
The Reverse Tianjie Mountains.
This was Konotokarius, Village Predator George Washington's assault on China.
At the same time, it served to keep the incoming Joseon fleet from getting too cocky. Now, the only places Joseon could attack were Hangzhou north of Antang Mountain and the Shanghai coast.
George Washington, who had gone from a backwater colonial militia officer hired as auxiliary to the British Navy, to now leading one of Britain's greatest wars, smiled in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Admiral Henry Porter was also working hard.
To prove his negotiating superiority over Joseon, Porter relentlessly pressed the 'Mud Predator' who remained as liaison, hostage (and unknowingly, radar).
"In three days, our fleet will be ready. Send word to the Joseon fleet to sortie immediately. Send it now to match the timing."
"Of course, but Joseon is a poor country, so the faster we rush, the more it costs. You'll need to provide some rations from the Western army."
This was Joseon's 'collect-on-delivery reinforcements,' following the Qing Shandong suppression army.
The European forces were maintaining sea supply lines from India and the Philippines, and scraping up remaining wealth along the Jiangnan coast, so they weren't too strapped.
Admiral Porter, who had approved up to that point, suddenly recalled the irritating Asian habit of deliberately omitting the most important details.
"By the way, I forgot to ask. How large is the Joseon army?"
Yi Jae-un smiled calmly.
"Not many."
Han Jung-ryang, the Commander of the Nambyeon Naval Forces commanding 30,000 troops, took to the front lines.
The flagship of Joseon's Nambyeon Naval Forces now: painted with dancheong, adorned with a dragon head, sails replaced—it was HMS Panther, so transformed that even the late Hyde Parker wouldn't recognize it as his ship.
Han Jung-ryang said with satisfaction,
"Truly magnificent. Our navy has been around for four hundred years, but when has there been a time like this?"
Ships large and small, filling the sea, totaled over 200 vessels.
The criticism that most of the big ships were stolen went without saying. The British Royal Navy filled its fleet with prizes too. At least Joseon didn't line up stolen goods in museums to brag.
Moreover, there were plenty of Joseon-built ships. Joseon could now copy frigates. Even most transports were Dutch-style fluyt, not traditional battleships.
Han Jung-ryang breathed in deeply through his nose.
They were at Jagunae Port, the western tip of Jeju.
It was the muster point for the Nambyeon Naval Fleet: close to China, while avoiding the northern Chinese open port Huabei and the southern Japanese open port Sacheon.
However, Han Jung-ryang was lost in thought not about strategic advantages.
From Jagunae Port, one could see Chagwido, a small island fishermen occasionally passed.
Long ago, Song general Ho Jongdan visited Jeju, marveled at its beautiful mountains and rivers, and feared it might produce talents to threaten China.
So he severed all ley lines and water veins on his way back, but a hawk from Hallasan sank his ship—a legend (unrelated to the similarly named surface-to-air missile).
Instead of going to the Mongolian Plateau to sever ley lines, he bothered with Jeju, which Song never invaded—probably because Goryeo seemed easier.
Anyway, the island blocking [遮] the way home [歸] became Chagwido.
At this moment, Han Jung-ryang couldn't help thinking of his old friend.
The man who, by letting foreigners in and not sending a single one back, had ultimately provided an indispensable role in building this great fleet.
Han Jung-ryang turned to Jeju Governor Park Jiwon, another old friend of Kim Unhaeng.
"Kim Chunsik didn't single-handedly create this grand undertaking. But without him, how could such a thing happen today?"
Park Jiwon agreed.
"The Legalists criticized Shun the Great for taking too long to personally farm and make pottery [Han Feizi], but if that enlightens ten farmers and potters, and they enlighten a hundred more, the nation is governed better than any forced law or edict. Brother Chunsik's seemingly crude and ignorant actions were exactly that."
Then he pulled a book from his sleeve.
"That's why people like this have emerged."
Han Jung-ryang knew what the book contained.
While preparing the fleet, ships loaded with goods from Seoul visited Jeju.
They were flatland salt merchants like Park of Injeolmi Byeongseon-gwan. Being Park Jiwon's cousin, a meeting with the Jeju governor happened immediately.
What the salt merchants brought was mainly gunpowder.
Not surprising. Unlike Qing, Joseon with its strong militia tradition didn't strictly control gunpowder.
Moreover, the bringer was the yellow king Park clan. Since injeolmi and sulfur are the same color, Parks dominate sulfur, hence gunpowder.
The Parks demanded 'trade goods' in exchange for this gunpowder.
In other words, the book Han Jung-ryang now held was a wishlist compiled from the consensus of salt merchants who funded the gunpowder collection—a bourgeois association's desires.
Indeed, iron rods filled with gunpowder were excellent exchange mediums; anyone would gladly pay goods for them. And the Nambyeon Naval Forces were ready anytime for China's overseas direct purchase service.
Han Jung-ryang laughed and said,
"Those folks aren't warriors, so they might not know, but more essential to an army than guns, swords, or shells are grain, cloth, wood, and paper. But that's solved now too."
"Yes. The English say they'll share rice. We're friends visiting from afar to relieve their hunger, so how could they not joyfully share a meal?"
That was why the Joseon army wasn't worried despite limited provisions for a long expedition.
Even the Xiongnu or Mongols fed guests. Kim Chunsik said Westerners don't even feed visiting children, but since the claim about no salt in Hindustan (India) was false, it was probably just bizarre customs invented from something like Journey to the West. No such country exists.
If it did, beat them until they learned manners and got fed.
Han Jung-ryang straightened his official hat and took up his command fan.
"Then we should set off. But even with the admiral's orders, will the governor really come along? You're not a military man."
Park Jiwon didn't curse Kim Unhaeng for unhesitatingly deploying him to a naval operation.
"I requested it. I said touring Jiangnan was my lifelong wish, so he granted it."
Said half-jokingly, Park Jiwon added,
"And Hong Deok-bo (Hong Daeyong), expert on foreigners, sent a letter to deliver to Jiangnan. There's a scholar named Yukbi in Hangzhou who's sworn brothers with Deok-bo."
Han Jung-ryang played along as Park wished, chuckling lightly.
"Hangzhou is old Huiji Commandery land, heart of Wu, and with the surname Yuk, he could be a descendant of Wu's great commander Yuk Son? No wonder Kim Chunsik pays special attention!"
The two laughed as the massive Western flagship departed.
Thus, the other meaning behind this letter delivery was overshadowed by Kim Unhaeng's love for novels.
Moments later, Joseon's great fleet raised anchor.
Yi Jae-un and Admiral Porter's negotiation had another meaning beyond saving rice for chronic food-short Joseon.
It meant the Joseon fleet would hit Nanjing, the European coalition's base and home of 'Chongzhen's descendant' Jupiter Emperor, first—before fighting. They needed the food.
Though the Joseon navy gained much technical advice from Westerners, common soldiers rarely saw them. The marines excitedly tugged sail ropes, wondering how tasty the English hospitality rice would be.
At this time, the Jiangnan Heaven-Earth Society, which had drawn in the European coalition to build the Second Ming Empire, was truly cornered.
Following the gentry who had cried 'expel the barbarians' and sided with the Yi Shi faction, now massive civilian refugees from Washington's scorched earth were gnashing their teeth at the 'traitor' Heaven-Earth Society.
Crucially, the Europeans showed them no consideration whatsoever.
The society's base was the entire Jiangnan coast, and now it had been uprooted almost entirely. Even if a miracle happened and the Westerners crushed the Qing, nothing would remain for the Heaven-Earth Society.
Moreover, intelligence gathered from those hired by the Western army as errand boys was disastrous.
"The English naval commander (Henry Porter) wants to load all troops onto ships and leave!"
Then they, left behind, would be massacred. And most cruelly.
Something had to be done.
Fortunately, they had the ultimate proven means: history and tradition.
The Emperor.
Go San-hwi, a Heaven-Earth Society executive who had secretly imported guns through Park Jiwon, quietly and swiftly gathered his comrades.
Just as George Washington shifted from colonial militiaman to national general, so had Go San-hwi. From hauling beans and sugar, he was now an excellent politician and revolutionary.
The Heaven-Earth Society hadn't just groveled to the Europeans in panic all this time.
They had at least worked to preserve Great Ming Emperor Jupiter's legitimacy. True to their infiltration of the populace, persuading the lower classes was their specialty.
'The foreigners have imprisoned and terrorized the Emperor.'
'His Majesty was merely deceived by the Jurchens' oppression. With loyal heroes, the Ming banner will rise again!'
Jupiter Emperor maintained the image of 'oppressed young monarch' over 'barbarian puppet.' Even the 'expel barbarians' scholars around Hangzhou and Shanghai hesitated to attack Ming itself, making it barely possible.
This had another effect. Paradoxically, the Europeans hadn't faced large-scale riots in their Nanjing base because Jupiter was at least acknowledged locally.
But the Europeans believed the Nanjing citizens obeyed because they provided 'sufficient profit and safety.'
Thus, George Washington and Du Dreux obsessed over defenses against the 200,000 troops from outside Nanjing, while internal security remained minimal.
Go San-hwi declared resolutely,
"The Joseon army is coming soon."
They who, despite Jurchen ravings, clung to the Chongzhen era name for over a century, upholding integrity. Park Jiwon's proposal with the guns was truly Joseon-like.
Go San-hwi briefly explained the plan, including that.
"When the Joseon army reaches the harbor—that's the moment. Rescue the young Emperor and restore Ming loyalty. Taizu Hongwu and Yizong Chongzhen look down on us."
Go San-hwi looked around. The comrades who survived the hellish last one or two years, harsher than a century of Jurchen rule, were all tough, seasoned men.
They nodded silently. Go San-hwi distributed headbands marked with 'Chongzhen'—a sign so the Joseon army wouldn't mistakenly kill them too.
And when Admiral Henry Porter, who had detoured far for security, ravaged the Amami Islands of Ryukyu for morale and supplies before heading north again, the Joseon fleet—straight-shot without worry—crossed paths and arrived at Nanjing.
Chongzhen Restoration Year 3, Month 7 of the Year of the Snake.
Two full Jiazi cycles after Chongzhen's suicide, the grudge of Chongzhen, dormant on a foreign server, manifested as the deadliest ransomware imaginable.
This time, not via VPN, but direct connection.
Author's Note
1. Ho Jongdan is a real person who lived in Zhejiang during King Yejong of Goryeo, naturalized to Goryeo, and held high office. The reason he's the legend's protagonist is probably because, as a famous naturalized Song figure in Goryeo, it stuck.
Not a general, but his real deeds surpass the legend: when Swordmaster Cheok Jun-gyeong's soldiers stormed the palace (common in Goryeo), he alone used dialogue skills to persuade them to lay down arms.
2. During the actual procession, when envoys refused to bow to Lama monks, souring the mood with the Emperor, Park Jiwon cheerfully said, "If they send the envoys to Jiangnan exile, and I go too, I'll finally tour my lifelong dream!" But since it's from his own Yeolha Diary, it feels a bit like desperate bravado to forget the fear.
3. Yukbi is a Hangzhou scholar who became sworn brothers with Hong Daeyong and others like Ban Jeong-gyun. Famous for scholarship but didn't reach high office. Thanks to friendship with Hong, their letter collection 'Hangjeon Cheokdok' survives. Like Wu nobles, Yuk Son's clan was powerful locally; descendants served as generals into Ming, but whether this Qing scholar Yukbi is truly his descendant is unknown.