Chapter 398
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 398
Chapter Title: Navy Command Headquarters
A few days later, at Haemun in Jiangsu Province.
Due to Yi Hwan's habit of always traveling at maximum speed once a destination was set, the group arrived at an inn on the bustling market street in a thoroughly exhausted state.
“Ugh, I’m starving!”
No sooner had Hwa Ryeong sat down than she beckoned to a server.
“We can order a lot, right?”
When Yi Hwan nodded, Hwa Ryeong and the others each ordered their favorite dishes.
Yi Hwan took a sip of water and gazed down at the market street through the window.
There were quite a few people coming and going, and the street’s scale was comparable to any other city. Being adjacent to the sea, fishmongers were especially plentiful everywhere.
“What’s the size of the resident navy force?”
“About fifty thousand troops and three hundred warships—that’s the total.”
“That’s the combined strength?”
“Yes, it is.”
“How does it compare to the other two kingdoms?”
“The Qin Kingdom is three times our strength in every respect, and the Zhao Kingdom is nearly double.”
Indeed, when it came to naval power alone, Yeon Kingdom was at a clear disadvantage.
The problem wasn’t just raw strength; they were also sorely lacking in experience.
Naval battles hinged less on raw tactics and more on hard-earned experience, and in that regard, the Qin Kingdom—having amassed overwhelming expertise through countless engagements with wokou pirates—reigned supreme.
Park Ji-mun spoke up.
“Bolstering troop numbers is urgent, but the number of warships is even more critically low. A warship requires significant maintenance time after a single battle, so with only three hundred, any large-scale naval engagement would leave a gaping hole in our forces.”
“You seem to know a bit about it.”
“My dream was always to roam the seas. Back home, I even served briefly in the navy. If not for searching for my sister and this guy Mu-gwan, I might still be there.”
Park Ji-mun’s words drew a wry smile from Kim Mu-gwan.
At that moment, Hwa Ryeong chimed in.
“How about allying with Haedong? Their navy’s strong enough to crush Dongyoung—they’d be a huge help, right?”
“Impossible.”
“Why?”
“Most Haedong folk don’t take kindly to the Central Plains, whether it’s the imperial court or the military. Truth is, our two nations haven’t exactly built a history of fondness.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently in agreement with Park Ji-mun’s candid words and took another sip of water.
Thud!
“History can always change. For now, let’s find ways to strengthen the navy with our own power.”
Just then, the food and liquor arrived.
Everyone dug in, and not a word was spoken until chopsticks were set down. They were that worn out and ravenous.
A moment later, Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks, poured liquor into his cup, and asked Park Ji-mun.
Pour.
“Do you know warships too?”
“Not professionally, but compared to Haedong’s, I can spot the basic strengths and weaknesses.”
“When we reach Navy Command, check them out first.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan turned his gaze to Kim Mu-gwan.
Sensing the implication in his eyes, Kim Mu-gwan gave an awkward smile.
“I’m a complete landlubber.”
Yi Hwan lifted his cup to his lips.
Thud.
“Done eating? Let’s move.”
* * *
Caw! Caw!
Seagulls wheeled over the seaside.
In the broad bay leading to the vast ocean, massive warships stood in neat rows. This was Yeon Kingdom’s Navy Command Headquarters.
With no deployments ever happening, it was so safe that the military even called it a cushy “honey post”—the atmosphere at Navy Command was utterly peaceful.
But suddenly, the headquarters buzzed with activity.
Warriors swept the paths leading to the command center, while generals—clad in polished armor gleaming with fresh oil—waited tensely for someone’s arrival.
“The Great Prince will arrive any moment! Hurry!”
“Hurry up!”
Yi Hwan was due today.
The generals straightened up, nerves on edge. Stuck in such a remote posting, they’d only heard rumors of him, many of them brutal.
“Why’s he coming suddenly?”
“Who knows? Even the Commander doesn’t seem to know why.”
“We haven’t done anything wrong, right?”
“With nothing to show for it, what’s there to worry about?”
Moments later, a thunderous military fanfare erupted at the headquarters entrance.
Bwoong!
“Fall in!”
“Fall in!”
Generals and warriors aligned perfectly, standing at rigid attention.
Yi Hwan and his group entered. Though facing forward at attention, the generals’ eyes swiveled toward him.
Riding his crimson steed at a measured pace, Yi Hwan was far younger than expected, his striking features making those vicious rumors seem implausible.
Beside him rode a white-haired, white-bearded general. It was Navy Commander Wang Jeon.
Though he commanded Yeon Kingdom’s entire navy, the navy’s low profile compared to the army meant he was all but forgotten in the central court.
“This way, please.”
Wang Jeon guided Yi Hwan to the main headquarters building.
The generals held their breath as he passed. The closer he got, the more palpable the formless aura—something none had ever felt before.
Once Yi Hwan entered the main building, a few generals finally exhaled raggedly.
“Whew!”
“Hoo!”
* * *
Wang Jeon was a grizzled sea dog.
Even nearing seventy, he held his post as Navy Commander because no one in Yeon Kingdom understood the ocean better.
After brief formalities, Yi Hwan cut straight to his questions.
“How are the trainings conducted?”
“Routine drills in peacetime, and once a month, full-force large-scale tactical exercises.”
“Against simulated Qin Kingdom foes?”
“Yes. As our primary threat, we base exercises on the latest intelligence about their navy.”
Yi Hwan fired off more questions, each met with Wang Jeon’s unflinching answers.
Yi Hwan liked him.
With so few deployments, the navy could easily slack off, but Wang Jeon stayed vigilant, ever preparing for unforeseen war. That mindset was crucial in a general.
“No needs for support?”
“Most warships are old, with severely degraded durability. If I may request, new ships would greatly bolster our strength.”
“How many?”
“At minimum, half need replacing urgently.”
That was about a hundred fifty ships. The cost and time would be immense, obviously.
But Yi Hwan didn’t hesitate.
“Understood. You’ll get what you need.”
Wang Jeon’s eyes widened slightly at the instant approval.
“Anything else?”
“With so few troops, warriors can’t even take proper leave while always prepping for war.”
“Denied leave tanks morale, naturally. Understood. I’ll reinforce troops as quickly and numerously as you require.”
“Thank you, Great Prince.”
The talk stretched nearly half a shichen longer.
Meanwhile, Kim Mu-gwan, Park Ji-mun, and the others headed to the warship docks.
“Aren’t they too rickety? Could they even survive ramming enemy ships?”
“No battles means no timely replacements. But seriously, you really know ships?”
“Don’t underestimate me. I once dreamed of commanding Haedong’s navy.”
Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun stopped before a warship and looked up. Warriors cleaning it peered down.
“Where you from?”
“We serve the Great Prince.”
“……!”
“Mind if we inspect the ship?”
“Come aboard!”
Despite the height, Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun leaped up in one bound, drawing awed looks from the warriors.
Park Ji-mun examined every inch. After a long while, he frowned.
“Yeah, the navy’s got issues. More structural flaws than age.”
“Compared to Haedong?”
“Assuming full engagement, all these ships sink in two shichen flat.”
“You’re exaggerating. Three hundred big warships can’t all go down in two shichen—that’s ridiculous.”
“What? Two’s generous, man.”
“…….”
“Let’s report to the Great Prince.”
* * *
Having wrapped up with Wang Jeon, Yi Hwan stepped outside.
Wang Jeon personally toured him through the camp’s key areas. After covering quite a bit, Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun approached.
“See everything?”
“Yes. Details later.”
Mindful of Wang Jeon, Park Ji-mun held back. It wouldn’t sound good to him.
Yi Hwan turned to Wang Jeon.
“I’d like to board a ship and head out to sea. Possible?”
“Of course.”
Soon, all boarded a warship and set sail.
Splash!
It cut through to the deep ocean at a fair clip.
Yi Hwan asked Park Ji-mun.
“Speed sufficient?”
“Faster than expected. But turning speed matters more.”
Yi Hwan told Wang Jeon directly.
“Turn at max speed.”
“Understood.”
Wang Jeon signaled aft, and the ship veered right.
Splash!
creases formed on Park Ji-mun’s brow. Yi Hwan noticed.
“Not good, I take it.”
“At this speed, we can’t match Dongyoung’s ramming and boarding tactics.”
“Their ships that fast?”
“Yes. Speed-wise, they’re near unbeatable.”
Yi Hwan asked Wang Jeon.
“No way to go faster?”
“Apologies, this is top speed.”
Wang Jeon admitted it plainly. Lesser generals might bristle at Park Ji-mun’s critique from pride, but not him.
Yi Hwan approved. He asked Park Ji-mun again.
“What’s the issue?”
“Structural in the ship design itself…….”
“No fix short of new builds, then.”
“Correct. If battle hits before replacements, tactics are our only play—but even those have limits. Best to swap ships ASAP.”
Yi Hwan checked more details before turning back to headquarters.
He felt no blame for Navy Commander Wang Jeon. If anything, regret for neglecting them.
‘Shipbuilding costs money, but design’s the real key…….’
Yi Hwan asked Wang Jeon.
“Enough skilled shipwrights secured?”
“That’s our biggest headache. No wars for ages scattered experts everywhere. Many crossed to Zhao or Qin for pay, I hear.”
“Hmm…….”
Frustrating. A total mess.
“Moon Lord.”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
“Full intel network activation. Round up shipwrights fast. Promise top pay.”
“Understood.”
* * *
Moonlit night.
Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun strolled side by side, gazing at the moonlit sea.
“Ha! Tough call.”
Park Ji-mun couldn’t shake his troubled look.
Kim Mu-gwan eyed him.
“Worried about leaking our navy’s secrets?”
“Obviously. Warships are eighty percent of naval power. I want to help the Great Prince, but can’t spill Haedong intel.”
They’d been debating copying Haedong ships.
“Omit the core bits? If the result beats these, that is.”
“Been mulling that.”
“I’ll back whatever you decide. Think it over.”
They circled the camp till deep night.