Black Corporation: Joseon

Episode 1044: The Age of War – The Age of Copycat. (3)

The military officers who observed the process of the French and Habsburg forces entering the Lorraine region later said this.

-It was a war between the imperial army and the imperial army.

-Wear uniforms similar to those worn by the imperial army, only the colors are different.

-Iron horses imported from the empire or similar to those from the empire move to the front carrying soldiers on railroad tracks that meet imperial standards.

-Subsequent material supply also uses railroads.

-Cavalry units and self-powered aircraft are constantly dispatched to scout the front lines and monitor enemy movements.

-The monks floating in the middle relay the luminous signals sent by the cavalry or self-flying monks in the front to the main base.

-The main base, which understands the situation on the front line through luminous signals, occupies military strategic points as quickly as possible in accordance with the enemy’s movements.

-For this purpose, assault vehicles and carts are mobilized as much as possible to increase the unit’s mobility.

Except for the sieges that took place in Milan and Pavia, it was a mercenary technique that the imperial army used until it was worn out in the war for Italian unification. The mercenary skills of France and Habsburg shown in the Lorraine region were at a level that could safely be considered to have been led by imperial commanders. Imperial military officers who were observing the movements of the Habsburg army talked about this topic during nightly evaluations.

“I’ll have to listen to the records and stories of those who went to France later, but I heard that France is also moving like this?”

“That’s the rumor.”

“Hmm… That’s interesting. France has fought against our imperial army, so it’s hard to believe, but how did the Habsburgs know? They were the ones from Venice who quickly ran away before we arrived, right?” “Honestly, I

doubt that. ”

There were mercenaries behind the mercenary techniques that made the imperial military officers curious. After Switzerland sided with the Empire, France and Spain had to recruit new mercenaries. The new people who appeared at that time were the Landsknecht.

Among the Landsknecht commanders, most of whom were from the Holy Roman Empire, there were many who were secretly planted by the Habsburg family. And they returned and transplanted the imperial army’s mercenary techniques to the Habsburg army. The questions of the imperial military officers continued to arise.

“What’s even more curious is that in the last Loren conflict, neither side showed such mercenary skills. What is the reason?”

“I think time is the answer.”

“Time is the answer?”

“That’s right. In the last conflict, we couldn’t use it because we weren’t used to it, but now that we’re used to it, we should see it as a bold move.”

“I see. Then is this a problem?”

As one officer said, the other officers nodded at the same time.

“I agree.”

It was not a good thing for the Empire to skillfully use the imperial army’s tactics rather than insisting on the classic close march as before. The imperial army selected the two as the most influential people who could emerge as hostile forces against the empire. One was Ming and the other was European.

Surprisingly, the Ming insisted on classic mercenary techniques. One reason for this was blind faith in the excellence of military methods handed down from ancient times, such as Sun Tzu’s Art of War, and the confidence that came from the enormous number of troops coming from a huge population.

In the second hypothetical case of Europe, it was considered more threatening than the Ming. Considering their strong desire to expand, Shinji’s safety was at risk. It was never good news to hear that such a threatening being had learned the empire’s mercenary techniques and was putting them to good use.

“It will be a daily routine of staying up all night researching new strategies and tactics…”

“Haa~.”

They were military watch officers sighing at the prospect of their future suffering from overwork. At the same time, the imperial military officers at the French army camp looked perplexed about another problem.

“This… makes us feel like testers evaluating military officer candidates.”

“I agree. Why are they so observant?…”

The people who perplexed the imperial military officers were the French military command and the officers of other countries.

The imperial army was the first to demonstrate their mercenary skills. Therefore, while directing the soldiers, the French military command constantly monitored the opinions of the imperial military officers. If the facial expressions of the imperial military officers looked even slightly strange, the French military command immediately reviewed their orders and operations.

This was the same for other military officers. They discussed the mercenary skills of the French army and the reactions of the imperial military officers observing them whenever they could.

* * *

While the imperial military officers were sighing as they faced a difficult situation in many ways, the French and Habsburg soldiers were emitting sweet smells from their mouths.

“We’re moving again!”

“Again?”

“I think I’ve walked more steps than I’ve ever walked in my entire life…”

“Are we an army or mules?”

“Damn it! Those in high positions don’t know how hard marching is because they move comfortably on horseback!”

The soldiers who received the order to move stood up, lamenting and complaining. Self-flying monks were behind the tiresome march of French and Habsburg soldiers. The movements of both sides were clearly visible from the self-powered flying sphere floating high in the sky. The leaders of both sides, who confirmed the information sent by the self-flying aircraft, constantly moved their soldiers to occupy a more advantageous position to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses.

As a result, both sides had to keep moving, changing directions several times a day.

“The soldiers are very tired. Wouldn’t it be better to go into a nearby fort and prepare for a sit-in or dig a trench line in a suitable place?”

Both commanders shook their heads at the suggestions of the front-line commanders.

“Sit-in is not allowed. The forts here now were not built for artillery fire. If you enter such a fort, you will immediately become fodder for cannons. This has already been proven in past conflicts.”

“You have to dig a trench line. But considering the assault vehicles and cannons the enemy has, you can’t dig a trench just anywhere. You have to choose a suitable place.”

Just as fighters circle around and check each other’s weaknesses before fighting in earnest, both armies turned and moved around, constantly targeting the other’s weaknesses. While the soldiers on both sides were constantly chasing each other, unable to rest, gunshots first rang out in the sky.

* * *

The busiest people throughout the land and sky of the Lorraine region were self-powered aircraft. These were the core of the reconnaissance forces possessed by both armies. Looking down from the sky, you could observe the opponent’s movements without missing them and accurately identify the opponent’s location. This was because, unlike the sea, specific geographical landmarks – mountains, rivers, cities, or specific intersections – could be immediately identified.

Thanks to this, they became the object of resentment from both enemies and allies. This was because we had to move without resting because of the information they asked. Thanks to this, the atmosphere between self-flying monks on both sides became increasingly worse. In the beginning, it was still a good atmosphere. If they met each other’s self-flying monk in the sky, there were many cases where they simply waved goodbye to each other. It was because of a sense of comradeship or camaraderie in risking one’s life to fly in the sky.

And even if there were only a small number of people, since many people rode and moved, there was always a commander, and most of these commanders were lower-class nobles or middle-class people with higher education. Thanks to this, when we met someone in the sky, we exchanged polite greetings. However, as the intensity of the mission gradually increased and the allies’ complaints were heard, the relationship between them became increasingly difficult. The elegant and formal hand greetings disappeared and fists were thrown in the air and swear words began to be exchanged.

“Forward on the port side! It’s the enemy’s self-propelled aircraft!”

“Again!”

After receiving the report from the inspector, Knight Emilian gritted his teeth and turned his head to look at the direction of the problem. Emilian, who was glaring at the Habsburg self-propelled flying aircraft approaching from afar, puffing out smoke, looked at his subordinates.

“Whose turn is it?”

“It’s Boop!”

“Yes, Boop!” Get ready! ”

“Yes! ”

The soldier who was called held on to the bhikkhu’s railing and took a deep breath.

“Huh! hey! this! ”

Taking a deep breath, Bjol began to pour out unspeakable curses at the other person.

Just then.

Taaang!

Smoke rose from the other side’s bhikkhu and a gunshot rang out.

“Get down! ”

Emilian and his men quickly fell to the ground due to the gunfire coming from nowhere.

Taang~ Taang~.

“Hahahahaha~”

“You idiots! ”

“Hey! You cowards! ”

Following several gunshots, curses and laughter ridiculing Emilian and his subordinates erupted from the opposing monks. Watching the opposing monks disappear into the distance, leaving behind laughter and the smoke of a steam engine, Emilian stood up and looked back at his subordinates.

” Who was injured? ”

“doesn’t exist! ”

“Is there anything wrong with the hull? ‘

“No!”

“Bad! Come back!”

After hearing this, Emilien gave the order to return. After returning to the base, Emilian immediately reported to his superiors. Commander Baron Liesl, who received the report, asked with a serious face.

“There were no injuries or fatalities, and no damage to the aircraft? What do you think is the reason?”

“It looks like a pistol was used. Since it is a self-powered aircraft, there is a limit to its weight.”

“Right.”

Baron Liesl nodded. There was a limit to the payload due to the weight of the steam engine mounted on the self-powered aircraft, the coal used as fuel, and the water that moved the engine.

“But if you want, you can carry a few long guns. This is the problem. I may have only scared you this time, but next time I will use long guns.”

At the Baron’s words, not only Emilian but also the other men present nodded.

“The Baron is right.”

After confirming the consent of the men, the Baron thought about something for a moment and then came to a conclusion.

“First of all, we need five volunteers. Remove all the extra water and coal that is normally loaded, mount the wagons, and hunt down the Habsburg monks. Who will do it?” At the baron’s question, all the men’s hands

went up, starting with Emilian. .

“I will do it!”

Thus, a fierce battle began in the sky between the French and Habsburg self-flying planes.

* * *

The battle between the self-flying monks was fierce. Loss in battle meant falling, and falling meant death. As the battle between the two self-powered aircraft intensified, both France and Habsburg began creating new self-powered aircraft and sending them to the front. And battles between self-flying monks also began to take their own form.

-Do not engage in 1:1 battles.

-A group consisting of multiple self-powered flying monks engages the opponent in a single formation.

-The two sides approached in a single line, crossing each other and engaging in a gunfight.

-In this process, self-powered flying monks who lost their combat power immediately leave the battle line and return.

As the battle continued, an unspoken rule was born.

-Do not aim for the opponent’s acetabulum’s air sac as much as possible.

When the air sac was damaged, Bhikkhu crashed immediately and all crew members died instantly. If this happens, what remains is mutual destruction, so an implicit rule was created. And the commanders and military officers on both sides who were watching their battle on the ground had strange expressions.

“A fleet battle is taking place in the sky…”

Meanwhile, the imperial military watch officers looked like they had been taken aback.

“We didn’t even think of that?”

“We should inform Seoul as soon as possible!”

And when Hyang saw this information that arrived in a hurry, Hyang struggled with regret.

“A fleet battle between airships! This is a must-see! This is the essence of steampunk!”

A scene from a movie she had seen in the 21st century came to mind. In the movie adapted from The Three Musketeers, there was a scene where ships of the line clinging to airbags engaged in a gun battle in the air.

“Ah-oh! “I should have been there!”