The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair
The roar of cannons was like rolling spring thunder.
A year ago, Goryeo people might not have known what cannons were, but during the war with Japan, they finally experienced the immense power of this weapon.
Their army retreated step by step under the attack of Japanese cannons and firearms, utterly helpless. If it weren’t for the Golden Tent Khanate’s timely assistance, Goryeo would have been annihilated.
“The Great Yu Empire people are attacking…”
In the chaotic Haigucheng, Goryeo people panicked and scattered, fleeing in all directions, fearing that the Great Yu Empire people would invade Haigucheng to retaliate for Goryeo’s bullying of the Great Yu Empire over the years.
As a major coastal city of Goryeo, most of the Goryeo people who plundered the Great Yu Empire in previous years set off from here.
When these Goryeo people returned with ships full of wealth from the sea, many Goryeo people in Haigucheng became envious.
Thus, many common people in Haigucheng joined the practice of impersonating Japanese pirates to plunder the Great Yu Empire. When these people also returned with gold and silver treasures, even more people in Haigucheng became involved.
It could be said that every Goryeo person in Haigucheng, from top to bottom, knew the crimes they had committed against Goryeo.
It was precisely for this reason that the common people in Haigucheng were so terrified when the Great Yu Empire attacked, because their hands were stained with the blood of the Great Yu Empire’s common people.
Li Cheng-jae ran against the flow of people into the city. He knew very well why Haigucheng was so chaotic.
Previously, the Great Yu Empire was weak, and the Goryeo people had no qualms. After all, at that time, the Great Yu Empire was like a defenseless merchant; who wouldn’t want to go up and take a share?
But now, this rich merchant was suddenly armed to the teeth, vowing to reclaim his stolen wealth. One could imagine what would happen next.
“Boom, boom, boom…” The sound of cannons outside the city continued.
Li Cheng-jae reached the North City of Haigucheng and ran into a small alley.
His mother lived in a residence at the end of the alley. When he was young, his mother had been driven out of the capital by his father.
Because in his father’s eyes, this was a disgrace to him. However, although his father did not want his mother to stay, he also did not allow her to remain in the courtesan bureau.
So his father sent his mother to Haigucheng, letting her live there, far from Ryukyo City.
Over the years, whenever Li Cheng-jae missed his mother, he would ride his horse here. But he never imagined that he would encounter the Great Yu Empire bombarding the harbor.
Arriving at the courtyard, Li Cheng-jae pushed the door open. At this time, his mother was embroidering. Seeing his mother, Li Cheng-jae quickly walked over.
“Cheng-jae, why have you come? What’s that loud noise outside the city?” Li Cheng-jae’s mother wore worn-out clothes; it was clear at a glance that she was living in hardship.
Seeing his mother like this, Li Cheng-jae felt a pang in his heart. Over the years, he had worked diligently and cautiously under his father, but now he was empty-handed, with nothing left.
He was truly unwilling.
“Mother, the Great Yu Empire people are attacking. You must pack your things and leave the city immediately.” Li Cheng-jae said no more, immediately packing his mother’s belongings.
Ryu Chae-yeong said anxiously, “Why are you still here in such danger? Hurry and leave!”
Li Cheng-jae said nothing. He simply had no time to explain now.
At this time, the harbor outside Haigucheng had already been occupied, and marines continuously arrived at the harbor from the sea.
On the Emperor warship, Yue Yun watched all this. He said, “Anchor the ship at the harbor, and also send the cannons to them.”
As he spoke, Yue Yun glanced at the field cannons on the deck. These were the marines’ equipment. Before setting off, these big guns had been hoisted onto the ship. Now, it was time to hand them over to the marines for attacking the city.
“Yes.” The deputy general, having received the order, immediately steered the warship towards the harbor.
Seeing the flag signal from the Emperor warship, the other warships also headed towards the harbor simultaneously. However, they now had to be very careful, as the previous attack had turned the area into a sea of fire.
The warships skillfully maneuvered through the silent fleet of Goryeo warships. Soon, Yue Yun arrived at the harbor, and Liu Chen, Xie Yuan, and others had also arrived.
“General, the harbor is now completely under our control. What should we do next?” Liu Chen asked.
He hadn’t had enough of the naval battle; the Goryeo navy had been largely defeated.
Yue Yun pondered for a moment. In his plan, annihilating the Goryeo navy was just one step. The second step was to occupy Haigucheng and force the King of Goryeo to open up ports.
So he said to Liu Chen, “Once the field cannons are off the ships, you immediately attack the city and capture Haigucheng.”
“Yes, I obey the order,” Liu Chen said, excitedly licking his lips.
What he was thinking now was different from Yue Yun’s. Yue Yun was considering how to force Goryeo to open ports, while he harbored deep hatred for Haigucheng.
Over the years, the pirates who plundered the coast and killed fishermen all came from Haigucheng. He had been waiting for this day for years.
Excitement was evident on his face. Liu Chen immediately assembled six thousand marines, a number that was almost the entire marine corps.
However, although their numbers were small, the marines’ equipment was not poor. They used the rifled firearms that had recently been transported from the military workshop. Moreover, for a force of only six thousand men, they were also equipped with thirty-six field cannons. The quality of their equipment was already comparable to that of the Qingzhou army.
This showed Xiao Ming’s current emphasis on the marines.
The six thousand men, once assembled, immediately charged towards Haigucheng. At this time, musketeers were in front, and field cannons were in the rear. In just about ten minutes, they arrived outside Haigucheng.
Because Haigucheng was built along the coast, almost touching the ocean, the distance between the two was very short.
“Boom, boom, boom…”
As soon as the marines arrived outside the city, scattered cannon fire suddenly rang out from the city walls of Haigucheng.
Liu Chen looked at it, surprised that Haigucheng actually had cannons, but after a glance, he was no longer worried.
Because there were only two cannons on the city, and judging by their appearance, they were manufactured by the Golden Tent Khanate.
“Destroy those two cannons.” Liu Chen’s gaze was firm. Although he had not seen the barbarian cannons, according to intelligence, the barbarian cannons had not seen any technological improvements in recent years and were still at the level of the Battle of Jizhou.
Moreover, a mere two cannons were nothing to fear.
The artillerymen, receiving the order, immediately lined up the field cannons one by one. After correcting their angles, he gave the order to bombard.
Instantly, thirty-six field cannons spewed flames, sending stone fragments flying as black projectiles struck the city wall.
After they opened fire, the barbarian cannons on the city wall immediately fell silent. At this point, Liu Chen ordered a fierce bombardment of Haigucheng’s city gate.
As long as it was breached, victory would no longer be in doubt.
“Boom, boom, boom…”
Amidst the roaring explosions, Haigucheng’s city gate immediately became a beehive of destruction. During the second bombardment, the gate immediately tottered and then collapsed.
Just then, the sound of a bugle call, echoing throughout the city, began to spiral over the battlefield.