“But their ships flew like eagles,” I pro-
test, “and ours... ours... “
“Look like clumsy turtles?”
My face burns, but the admiral just
smiles. “The enemy’s narrow-keeled ships are
swifter, but under the right circumstances, a
clever turtle can outmaneuver an eagle. Plus,
our ships are tough, and while our cannons
take time to load, I assure you the enemy’s
firepower is no match.”
As I marvel at his confidence, he stoops to
look me in the eye. “And the third thing—we
have the advantage of surprise. That’s thanks to
you, Kim Cheonson. And I will not waste it.”
THE NEXT DAY I’m back in our pasture.
However, instead of oxen, anxious relatives and
neighbors crowd the hilltop. Everyone’s eyes are
on Korea’s armada, floating in a single row in
the open waters off Mireuk’s eastern coast.
Five little messenger boats break from the
group. As Uncle’s boat leads them north to
Gyonnaeryang, I recall the admiral’s words.
First, we lure them out of the strait...
Gyonnaeryang Strait is narrow with no
room to maneuver. If our bulky warships
charged in, the Japanese could simply pick
them off. So the squad’s job is to draw them
into open water.
As the squad of small boats nears the
enemy anchorage, Sook clutches my hand.
“Will Uncle be all right?’’
“He will,” I say. “He knows Gyonnaeryang
better than anyone.”
Alarm bells clamor from the strait. The
squad halts, then turns tail as Japanese sails
unfurl to give chase.
My throat tightens as all seventy-three
warships launch in pursuit. For the plan to
work, Uncle must retreat but not too quickly.
Our squad winds through the strait, the
enemy gradually closing in, and I glimpse the
flare of fire arrows at the Japanese vanguard.
The arrows loose. The same instant,
Uncle’s squad hits open water and surges for-
ward at top speed. They barely outrace the
barrage of arrows as they draw the Japanese
toward our armada.
Next we make them think they’re winning...
Our war drums pound. The armada
retreats, withdrawing slowly. Meanwhile, the
Japanese pour out of the strait, launching
full-sail at our fleet. Enemy decks bristle with
firearms, and from our hilltop vantage, their
swift ships look like eagles diving at a line of
sluggish turtles.
Then we trap them...
The eagles are hurtling in for the kill
when our drums thunder again. One by one,
the Korean vessels stop, the retreating line
forming a semicircle. The Japanese charge
straight into that semicircle as our ships turn,
aiming their starboard cannons at their prey.
And we destroy them.
Our ships fire as one, blasting the lead-
ing enemy ships to bits. The remainder of
their fleet collides into the wreckage, and the
Japanese dissolve into chaos. Although their
narrow-keeled ships are fast, they cannot stop
nor change direction easily.
Meanwhile, our flat-bottomed warships
quickly rotate to aim their port cannons into
the semicircle for a second round of fire. A
surviving enemy ship charges through theVANGUARD MEANS THE FRONT
LINE OF A FIGHTING FORCE.A BARRAGE IS AN INTENSE
PERIOD OF WEAPON FIRE.