Yi Sun-shin was reinstated as the commander-in-chief of the Korean navy of the three provinces. However, the Korean navy was almost destroyed after the Battle of Chichonryang. Yi Sun-shin retrained, rushed to build armaments, and recruited brave soldiers. He was trained to be able to fight, but he could not compete with the Japanese. It is too early for the navy to engage in a head-on confrontation.
The original idea of the North Korean court was to contact the Ming army to aid the North Korean navy, Chen Lin, the admiral of the navy, to act as the main force. Unexpectedly, it didn't take long for Chen Lin to reply that heavy rains and hurricanes in Shandong had caused losses to the navy, and the bad sea conditions made it temporarily impossible to sail. Therefore, it is not up to him to decide when to send troops to North Korea.
This rhetoric is obviously prevarication. In Shandong in August and September, heavy rains are possible, but hurricanes are too abnormal. Besides, given the geographical terrain of Shandong, Laizhou, where Chen Lin's navy is currently stationed, is not easily exposed to hurricanes. Otherwise, Laizhou in the northern part of the Shandong Peninsula has been hit by hurricanes. So what will happen to Jiaozhou in the southern part of the peninsula?
To take a step back, there is Jinghua Shipyard in Laizhou, and this factory is the beginning of Jinghua Shipbuilding. It is also called "Jinghua Shipbuilding North Factory" and is Jinghua's number one shipbuilding base in the north.
The reason why the navy aiding Korea set its base in Laizhou was precisely because the imperial court temporarily stopped at the Jinghua Shipyard to place some orders before deciding to send troops. With this shipyard here, how serious must Chen Lin's so-called naval losses be before it affects the dispatch of troops?
In fact, it was not that Chen Lin did not want to send troops, but was suppressed by Gao Pragmatic just like Ma Gui. Mr. Gao Ge wouldn't let him send troops at this time, so no matter how strong his fighting spirit was, he could only endure it and vent his energy on training the navy every day - fortunately, this was not a bad thing.
At this time, the Japanese army had fought successively on land and advanced towards Gyeonggi Province. Jeolla Province had been occupied, and the Japanese navy was also advancing along the coast. Yi Sun-shin felt the urgency and urgently needed a battle to stabilize the morale of the army and stop the enemy's momentum. However, the North Korean Navy still only had twelve warships left, so it was difficult to start a war easily.
For this reason, Li Sunchen thought hard for two days, summoned his generals and said: "After Qichuanliang, the morale of our navy is low, and the enemy's arrogance is increasing day by day. Now Wangjing is in danger, the Japanese pirate army is advancing northward, and the Japanese navy is also taking advantage of our When we are weak and unable to advance along the coast, we, as the North Korean navy, must not allow the Japanese pirates to act recklessly and roam the sea. Therefore, we must take them by surprise and dampen their energy. We must first slow down the Japanese pirates' waterway offensive, and then retreat northward to prepare for it. Fight again with all your strength."
Vice Admiral Song Xili asked: "Commander, please give the order, and the navy will follow you to the death. It's just that the warships being rebuilt now will take a long time to be completed. According to the commander's order, only two turtle ships will be rebuilt as a priority at present. It has not yet undergone sea trials.
At present, the enemy force is strong, and they are covered with iron armor and equipped with artillery. There are even some Ming Dynasty-made giant cannon-carrying ships. The general is worried that the tortoise-shell ships will not be able to have miraculous effects. We now only have twelve ships and our strength is weak. We don’t know how to replenish our combat power? Where to meet the enemy? "
Yi Sun-shin replied: "There is a huge disparity in military strength. It is true that existing warships are not enemies of Japanese pirates. We need to recruit another hundred civilian ships and quickly refit them for military use. In fact, before coming here, I had suggested that the imperial court urgently purchase from Beijing." A giant gun-carrying ship (note: refers to an armed transport ship. This is the only model sold by Jinghua. It is only priced according to the number of guns it can carry, and pure battleships are not sold.). Unfortunately, a giant gun-carrying ship is too expensive, and the imperial court cannot afford it these days. I got up, so I had to give up."
When the generals heard this, they all looked disappointed, but it is understandable if you think about it. North Korea has been beaten to a dilapidated state, and Jinghua's armed transport ships are indeed very expensive. The cheaper external models cost almost 80,000 taels of Kuping silver each (Jinghua's internal cost is 55,000 taels). I'm afraid it won't be enough even in peacetime. If you can afford it (the key point is that the North Korean court will definitely be reluctant to spend such "unjust money"), you can at most buy one as a naval flagship to make up for the appearance, but there is no need to mention it now.
Seeing this, Yi Sun-shin changed the subject and said: "I will propose the purchase of giant ships to the court again after the Japanese pirates are driven away. Now we will talk about combat: our army will not fight vigorously this time, but will only set up ambushes to block the enemy's offensive." . I thought hard for days and decided to set up an ambush in Myeongryang Strait.
Myeongryang is located between Zhendao and the mainland. It is extremely narrow and the current is turbulent. Every hour and a half, the direction of the current will reverse. This is an excellent place to set up an ambush. As long as the Japanese pirates can be lured here, there will be traps everywhere, and the Japanese boats will mostly have sharp bottoms, and there will be chaos in the rapids. If we use proper tactics, we will win. "
Song Xili's eyes lit up and he said: "It is indeed true. Our warships are all flat-bottomed, stable and heavy, and being in the rapids is conducive to our military's combat. If the Japanese pirates are introduced into the Mingliang Strait, their main warships will be covered with iron armor and move slowly. It will be difficult to form a formation due to the narrowness, and the fleet will also be confused in the rapids. In this case, we need to go to Myeongryang Strait in advance and lay out more wooden stakes and iron ropes in the shallow water." Everyone was more confident with this strategy.
Yi Sun-shin then ordered: "You and Quan Jun should prepare for this matter quickly. In addition, there should be many covering fleets in the Myeongryang Strait to facilitate our army's artillery firing. They should all be marked so that we can arrange the formation."
The requisition and modification of civilian ships must be completed within two days, and each ship must be equipped with sufficient artillery shells. In addition, I would like to remind you again that this sortie is only to block the enemy's offensive, not to completely annihilate the enemy invaders, and it cannot be achieved.
After the victory, the fleet immediately turned to retreat northward, abandoning the camp and various strongholds in the south, taking away all supplies, weapons, and rations as much as possible, resting, preparing for war, and waiting for support from the imperial court and the Ming Dynasty. "Everyone takes orders.
After the meeting, Song Xili prepared wooden stakes and iron ropes and prepared to set off to Mingliang. Li Shunchen repeatedly warned, and Song Xili asked: "The control has restored your official position. I don't know if the Japanese pirates have found out about this. Do I need to set up your flag when luring the Japanese pirates?"
Yi Sun-shin said: "I have also thought about this, but after repeated weighing, I still feel that it is inappropriate. At this time, the Japanese pirates were immersed in the joy of almost the entire North Korean navy being destroyed, and they believed that the sea route would be unobstructed. Although this was It's true, but it's also when they become arrogant and careless.
In this case, if we set up our flag at this time, we will inevitably run the risk of causing the Japanese pirates to act cautiously. If we fail to lure the enemy, we will miss the mark. "
Song Xili said: "I admire the commander's thoughtfulness. I will definitely keep your advice in mind. Please rest assured, commander. If you win this battle, everyone in the court will be happy. Even if you retreat north after the war, there will be leaders and ministers in the court." If you ministers advise the king, I believe the king will not blame you."
Yi Sunchen heard a sigh and said with emotion: "I am just making the choice I think I should make. I can't control what the king thinks. If the court punishes me, it will only be borne by me alone, and it will be difficult for me to lead him." The prime minister always spoke for the navy in every possible way.
With the Prime Minister here and the hope of the court, we don’t have to think too much. We just need to figure out how to win the next battle. You go and get ready. "Song Xili accepted the order.
So Song Xili and Quan Jun each took several ships and secretly went to the Myeongryang Strait to lay traps. The North Korean navy stepped up preparations for the Myeongryang Sea Battle, and Yi Sun-shin also sent out exploration ships to detect the movements of the Japanese troops.
In the Japanese base camp in Pusanpo, Navy General Kuuki Yoshitaka is holding a banquet. Navy generals such as Todo Takatora, Kato Yoshiaki, Wakisaka Anji, and Kurishima General are drinking with Kuuki Yoshitaka.
General Manager Laishima asked Kuki Yoshitaka: "Your Highness Taikaku has been looking forward to hearing the news of occupying all of Korea day and night. Now the front is still marching. Is it inappropriate for us to have a banquet here? If His Highness Taigaku finds out, I'm afraid he will Convict us. Once Your Highness gets angry, his anger will be unbearable."
Jiugui Jialong smiled and replied: "Your Highness, Laidao, you don't have to worry about this. The North Korean navy has almost been wiped out and is completely weak. Yi Sun-shin is not here either - haha, what can he do even if he is here? The current situation is that as long as Ming Ming The country does not send troops, and our waterways have no opponents. You have worked very hard. How can we not reward the whole army now?
In addition, Ukita Hideie and the others have not yet captured Hanyang. I heard that North Korea has obtained a batch of large barrels and iron cannons left by the Ming army to help them. In my opinion, they are still at least several months away from occupying the Eighth Route of North Korea.
In this way, our navy can occupy all the strongholds along the coast of North Korea after the banquet. Kato, Wakita, after you two captured Nanyuan with the Ukita Hide family, why didn't you continue north and return to Busan? "
Kato Yoshiaki replied: "I haven't participated in a land battle for a long time, and I have an addiction in my heart that I can't get rid of. I really want to be in a bloody battle and harvest the heads. I originally wanted to continue to go north with the army, but Anji Wakisaka insisted and insisted on taking me back to Busan. , just because of this matter, I lost several of the heads I sorted out. After the war, I was at a disadvantage!
Not only that, the day before yesterday, I threatened to Ukita Hideie and the others to attack Hanyang first before Kato Kiyomasa. Now that I have been brought back by Wakisaka Anji, I don’t know how Ukita Hideie will laugh at me! "Everyone clapped their hands and laughed after hearing this.
Wakisaka Anji said: "Hey, Kato-kun, you are really exaggerating. Why do you say that my crime is so great? You and I were appointed by His Highness Taikaku to serve in the navy. The navy is where our merits lie in this battle. Sui-gong Nanyuan was just a distraction.
Besides, if you continue to go north, let alone whether you can defeat them in the fight for the head, Kato Kiyomasa will never let you steal the credit. Don't you know who he is? That must be to maintain the reputation of the number one general in front of His Highness Taige. In terms of merit, I advise you not to provoke him.
At present, the North Korean Navy is useless. We can easily dominate the coast. And if the Ming Navy is dispatched, it will be our time to make achievements. The achievements will be much greater than those of Kato Kiyomasa and others. Naturally, we have to return to Busan. of. "
When Takatora Toudo heard him talk about the Ming Army, he asked with great interest: "I have long heard that the Ming Army is extremely powerful in combat. After the Battle of Bunroku, I also heard them mention it many times. Under the strong attack of the inferior Ming army, they were unable to defend Pyongyang. Even His Highness Kobayakawa Takakage's concentrated army failed to annihilate the numerically weak main force of the Ming army.
The Ming army's land division is so powerful, but I don't know who is stronger and who is weaker than their navy division compared to the land division? The most powerful Osaka New Fleet of our army was purchased and modified from the giant ships of the Ming Dynasty, but I don’t know how the Ming Navy’s warships and tactics compare to the Osaka New Fleet? "
Kato Yoshiaki said: "There are currently two views on the Ming Navy. One is the merchants and navy (pirates) who have been to the Ming Dynasty. They explain that the Navy has been abandoned for a long time. Although there are many types of ships, they are in a mess. On weekdays, He also rarely sails on distant seas, and at most checks for smuggling around the coast, without much combat power.
Another theory is that although the Ming army's navy is not good, the civilian armed forces are very strong. Among them, everyone knows the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance. You only need to look at the Kanto fleet they left in Misaki Castle to know this. Because they had to guard against them during the Battle of Bunroku, the Osaka New Fleet stayed in Osaka Bay and did not dare to mobilize. "
Wakisaka Anji was inflated with self-confidence due to drunkenness. Hearing this, he said to Kuuki Yoshiro: "I don't think so. Although the Kanto fleet seems to be powerful, in fact they have only fought one naval battle in Japan, and they bullied Ou. Just a country bumpkin. If Osaka's status was not too special, the new fleet would not have to stay specifically for the Kanto Fleet.
Now it seems that the Kanto Fleet has never made any moves? It can be seen that they are also somewhat self-aware. Besides, even if the fleet of the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance is really powerful, it is not the naval force of the Ming Dynasty court after all. With the pride of the Ming Dynasty court, even if it wants to send troops, I am afraid that it will not requisition civilian ships, otherwise their emperor will lose face. live? In this case, why should we worry about the sea trade alliance?
Let's discuss the military strategy of the navy. I think we should first destroy the camps of the North Korean navy, collect their supplies, money and food, and then go north along the coast to clear out the remnants, capture the positions, build and repair the cities, so that we can transport troops and food to various roads in North Korea. . "
Hearing this, Takatora Toudo immediately asked for an order to be the vanguard of the outpost, and Mr. Kurushima hurriedly fought for it: "You have been a vanguard so many times. Now you are just patrolling the sea route and plundering food. Why don't you give it to my Murakami navy?"
My Murakami navy has rarely participated in wars since the time of Wenlu, and most of them were responsible for transportation. For cleaning up the remnants of the Korean navy and exploring coastal waters, why not let me do it for you - the war is almost over. You have to give us a chance to make meritorious deeds, right? "
However, Takatora Toudo was unwilling to give up the credit, with a look of embarrassment on his face: "The Murakami navy is famous all over the world. It is too unfair to only be an outpost. Besides, Your Highness, Izumo, you are from the four Izumo guards. This kind of thing is not worth mentioning." Why should you compete with me for the credit? When His Highness Taige orders another attack on the Ming Dynasty in the future, those thousands of miles of coast and thousands of gold will be the time to come to the island to show off the power of Izumo."
Even Jiuki Jialong couldn't stand listening to these words, and waved his hands and said: "Okay, okay, don't fight anymore, just be the vanguard and lead the outpost fleet. Now our military strength is so high that no one can shake it, Iron Armor The fleet is invincible, and I also intend to let the 'Nihon Maru' sail all along the coast of Korea.
Let's do this. If you see any remaining Korean warships appearing, sink them immediately and clear the waterways. No more Korean warships are allowed to sail on the sea.
Every time you pass a stronghold, you must immediately land ashore and plunder. Be sure to remember His Highness Taige's strict order. All craftsmen, Confucian scholars, doctors, etc. must be captured. The rest of the idle and useless people will be executed, and their noses will be cut off instead of their heads. "
Everyone happily accepted the order, and the Japanese army returned to the banquet to feast and drink. Early the next morning, the Japanese naval outpost fleet of 130 ships set off from Pusanpo first.
The situation of the Japanese troops dispatched to Busan was quickly learned by the North Korean exploration ship, and Yi Sun-shin was immediately reported. Yi Sun-shin immediately ordered all the existing twelve wooden house ships, two turtle-shell ships, and one hundred converted civilian ships to set off to set up an ambush in the Myeongryang Strait, and dispatched fourteen converted civilian ships to lure the Japanese navy.
Soon after, the Japanese naval outpost fleet saw a dozen Korean warships approaching from a distance. They turned around after entering the field of view. Takatora Todo thought that the opponent had accidentally bumped into him, and was afraid of his own strength and fled, so he ordered the entire team to pursue him immediately, and the Japanese army was gradually led to the Myeryang Strait.
After chasing to Mingliang, they saw the Korean warships going deep into the strait. Todo Takatora smiled and said: "This place is quite narrow. These Koreans are really troublesome. They want to use the strait to get rid of us. I want to see how long you can escape." Far."
Takatora Toudo, who did not pay attention to the remaining strength of the North Korean Navy, ordered the pursuit to continue. However, Mr. Raishima Michiru had doubts and indicated that Takatora Toudo could pursue him first and follow up behind him to prevent any accidents.
When Takatora Toudo learned this, he secretly laughed in his heart that Mr. Kurushima was as timid as a mouse, and then continued the pursuit as if he was deliberately showing off his bravery.
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