touchnovel Chapter 798
Chapter 798
Episode 798: Bloody Battle in the Jungle (4)
The idea of sending troops out immediately without waiting for a rearguard action soon became useless.
It wasn’t because of Lee Jing-ok’s decision.
This was due to the natural environment of the beachhead.
Around the time the 6th transport was completed, rain began to fall on the bridgehead.
It was the beginning of the rainy season.
“I don’t even care about the rainy season here.”
The staff member next to him responded to Lee Jing-ok’s words as he watched the rain falling down the eaves of the headquarters building.
“According to the story of Chogwan and his companions, they do not move carelessly during this rainy season. “Once the heavy rain passes, the road that was there disappears.”
“How long does this rainy season last?”
“The longer term is half a year.
“Hmm... this is the problem. If you think about the time the troops travel, you can face this damn rainy season again when you arrive in Tenochtitlan.”
Lee Jing-ok looked at the sky with a face full of worry.
Lee Jing-ok’s worries were not unfounded.
* * *
As the rainy season began, the weather around the bridgehead became ‘perfect for catching people’.
Once the rain stopped for almost half of the day, the humid weather with extreme humidity continued.
“Nimi! “The summer here was heaven!”
The soldiers, exhausted from the hot and humid weather, complained while wiping their sweat.
“Is it because of this weather that there are people who wouldn’t be able to kill you by peeling off their shells?”
The soldiers, exhausted from the irritating weather, were all on edge.
The good news was that the weather was so humid and hot that the energy to fight was gone.
“It is said that everything in the world has its own benefits...”
The commanders, who were worried that a fight would break out between the soldiers who were tired of the weather and waiting, sighed in relief and looked at the rainy sky.
* * *
“It would be a big deal if we encountered the rainy season when we arrived in Tenochtitlan, the capital where those damn bastards live. The soldiers may be exhausted and not be able to fight properly. “The supplies will get wet and become a mess.”
Lee Jing-ok’s face was full of worry.
A force of 30,000 was by no means a small force.
According to the plan, it took only five days for 30,000 troops to leave the bridgehead.
And there were almost no proper roads on the route to the enemy’s capital.
Of course, there was a road for the natives, but it was as good as nonexistent for 30,000 troops to use.
In other words, they had to go out by pioneering a path that did not exist, and of course the procession was bound to be long.
Naturally, the troops pioneering the path at the forefront would tire quickly and would have to replace the troops at every opportunity.
And every time, the advance would be delayed.
Supply was also a problem. The longer the procession, the more time it would take to supply it.
“Supply is the problem...”
Lee Jing-ok’s biggest concern was supply.
* * *
Even when the first operation was planned, difficult discussions took place to find a solution to the supply problem.
One of the proposals made at that time was for the soldiers to carry all their food and ammunition with them.
“It is a daily routine, not only in our hometown but also in new locations, to walk tens of miles a day with a full load on our backs! Just lose and move!”
Even through the rainy season, the expansion work on the bridgehead continued, so by the time the last troops arrived, the bridgehead had become a full-fledged military port and defense facility.
“This will come in handy!”
Lee Jing-ok smiled and accepted the admiral’s admiration for the well-built facility.
“Think of it as a replacement for the ferry fare you pay when coming and going.”
“Then a little more...”
“You damn man!”
“It’s a joke. Nong. ha ha ha!”
“ha ha ha!”
The two people created a warm atmosphere by joking lightly and continued their conversation.
“Anyway, the report you sent was really helpful. “I am especially grateful that you investigated changes in weather and when strong winds blow.”
The admiral’s gratitude was not pretentious. For sailing ships, the wind was both medicine and poison. Therefore, the imperial navies meticulously recorded the times when storms frequently occurred on major shipping routes. However, compared to this paper, Shinji was still lacking in quantity and accuracy.
As the number of fronts and personnel of the Navy stationed in Shinji increased, information was increasing, but it was still insufficient. In such a situation, the weather report written and sent by Lee Jing-ok was like the sweet rain that ended the drought.
“It’s nice to hear that it was helpful.”
“Then will you be dispatching troops as soon as this rainy season ends?”
“According to what Chu Guan said, the rainy season will end in ten days, so we will leave in five days.”
“Is that so? Good luck once again.”
“Thank you.”
Five days later, the gates of the bridgehead were opened and the vanguard of the conquering army finally began to advance towards the jungle.
* * *
“The southern jungle is terrible.”
Lee Jing-ok stuck out his tongue as he moved along the path cleared by Seonbong.
The soldiers who entered the jungle became exhausted faster than they initially expected, or even faster than their later plans.
As if it wasn’t enough to be on guard for possible ambushes, poisonous plants that could kill you with just a slight glance were swarming everywhere, and poisonous insects and wild beasts were abundant.
The soldiers had never been this tired when clearing the jungle near the bridgehead.
This was because there was a beachhead right behind it. The existence of a beachhead where they could immediately escape in case of even the slightest danger was a great support for the soldiers.
But where they were now was in the middle of the jungle.
The only people the soldiers could trust were their fellow soldiers. However, if you neglect your precautions even a little, you end up alone in the jungle. This was because the dense jungle bushes made it impossible to see anyone even from a short distance away.
In reality, something similar to this happened and the advance was halted several times.
If something happened, such as a soldier going ahead disappearing or losing connection with the unit following, all units came to a standstill.
“I guess I should give up the idea that we will pass through the jungle in 15 days.”
At Lee Jing-ok’s words, the commanders all nodded with gloomy faces.
To lighten the gloomy mood, the staff reported as many positive aspects as possible.
“We anticipated that and prepared enough supplies. And if you encounter Ssang Cho Guan’s tribe and other tribes, you won’t have to suffer like this because you can secure a sufficient number of guides.”
“There is no time I look forward to them more than now.”
Three days later, the vanguard unit made contact with the warriors of the Zeng tribe.
Seong, who was leading the unit, greeted the tribal warriors with a bright face, and the commander of the vanguard unit immediately sent a messenger.
Only then did Lee Jing-ok’s face brighten after receiving the report through the messenger.
“I can finally take a breather!”
Lee Jing-ok paired the warriors of the Xeng tribe with the imperial soldiers and placed them in the middle of the unit.
These people, composed in this way, went back and forth between the processions, preventing them from getting lost or going off onto different paths, and quickly finding water sources that the conquering army needed.
Thanks to this, the movement speed of the conquering army gradually increased.