Korean Soldiers Quick Bio
During its reign, Joseon consolidated its absolute rule over Korea, encouraged the entrenchment of Korean Confucian ideals and doctrines in Korean society, imported and adapted Chinese culture, and saw the height of classical Korean culture, trade, science, literature, and technology. However, the dynasty was severely weakened during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when invasions by the neighboring Japan and Qing nearly overran the peninsula, leading to an increasingly harsh isolationist policy for which the country became known as the Hermit Kingdom. After invasions from Manchuria, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace.
However, whatever power the kingdom recovered during its isolation further waned as the 18th century came to a close, and faced with internal strife, power struggles, international pressure and rebellions at home, the Joseon Dynasty declined rapidly in the late 19th century.
The Joseon's rule has left a substantial legacy on the modern face of Korea; much of modern Korean etiquette, cultural norms, societal attitudes towards current issues, and even the modern Korean language and its dialects stem from the traditional thought patterns that originated from this period."
Korean Soldiers Weapons
Short Range: Ye Do
Medium Range: Jangchang
Long Range: Hwatcha
Armor: Korean Scaled Armor
Streltsy Quick Bio
The Streltsy (shooters) were some of the toughest soldiers to have come out of Russia. First formed by Ivan the Terrible sometime between 1545 to 1550, the Streltsy were Russian guardsman that served the country from the 16th century to the early 18th centuries. What made these soldiers unique was that they were equipped with the latest of blackpowder firearms of that time, and this gave them an edge often armies that didn't have guns. Unfortunately for the Streltsy, their elite status was not meant to last. While in the 16th century, those that joined the group were free tradespeople, and those from rural areas, but as time went on, their status was lowered as service in the Streltsy became lifelong and hereditary.
Streltsy Weapons
Short Range: Sablia
Medium Range: Bardiche
Long Range: Pischal
Armor: Riveted Chainmail & Cloth Overcoat
Who Got The Edge
Ye Do vs Sablia: Both swords get the edge. The Ye Do is a very nimble blade. It's relatively thin, has a decent length, and can pierce through both of the Streltsy's layers of armor. Unfortunately, it can't slash through the chainmail, but it can slash through the cloth overcoat. As for the Sablia, it's curved nature gives weight to the sword when swung, and has a high percentage chance to slice off limbs. Like the Ye Do, it can pierce the Korean's scaled armor, but it can't slash through it.
Jangchang vs Bardiche: The Bardiche gets the edge. It may be heavier and take more energy to use than the Jangchang, but it inflicts far more traumatic damage, and has some versatility to it (it can hack, slash, and do some piercing damage, while the Jangchang can only do piercing damage, and maybe some bludgeoning damage with the handle portion).
Hwatcha vs Pischal: Both blackpowerder weapons get the edge. The Hwatcha has unparalleled firepower compared to the Pischal. With the lighting of the fuse, 100 rocket arrows will fly out of the holster, and land in a tight-ish area, guaranteeing numerous kills. However, the Hwatcha isn't necessarily accurate (sometimes the spread of the rocket arrows can be much wider than anticipated), and it takes a while to reload 100 rocket arrows. With the Pischal, you have accuracy on your side, and a much lighter weapon to carry around. Also like the Hwatcha, the Pischal does take some time to reload, but not as long (at least 34 seconds). On top of that, if even a little bit of moisture gets into the gunpowder, then the Pischal is useless.
Korean Scaled Armor vs Riveted Chainmail & Cloth Overcoat: The Streltsy's armor gets the edge. The Korean's armor can protect a wearer quite well, but it is only one layer of armor. The Streltsy has essentially two layers of armor, and while it may be more weight for the wearer, it gives him twice the protection, and can keep him warm in the brutal Russian winters.
Common Quality
Blackpowder Pioneers: Both of these warriors were pioneers in the invention & use of blackpowder firearms. The Koreans never really had access to blackpowder, since it's formula & creation process was tightly controlled by the Chinese at the time. So, instead of trying to steal it, the Koreans simply went on their own way and made their own. Over the years, the Koreans further developed their own brand of blackpowder, until they finally had a stable formula, and developed weapons like the Hwatcha. The Streltsy were much more ahead on blackpowder technology. They took various designs from other cultures, and improved upon them in an effort to create deadlier weaponry
Setup
It was a damp afternoon in the hills of Korea. The clouds were grey and numerous, and there was little sign of the sun & it's warmth. The mood was made more ominous by the sound of thunder in the distance, as the boom echoed all over the place. Within the hills, Li-Shan, the commander of a small group of Joseon soldiers, were training in the damp terrain. It was a rather bad day to train, since the weather dampened their spirits. Yet, with Li-Shan's encouragement, the soldiers pushed on with their training. They needed it, because today they were going to be in for the fight of their lives.
As they were continuing with their training, Li-Shan was looking out at the dirt road that lead up to the hills for signs of activity. Perhaps it was just his eyes, but he thought he saw something coming up the road. Taking the telescope from his belt, he looked through to see who was coming to disturb them. Shen, one of Li-Shan's subordinates, came over to see what was going on. "What is it?", asked Shen.
"Streltsy." Li-Shan replied grimly. "Shen, get the rest of the men ready."
Shen nodded. He went over to the troops, and told them to get ready for a battle. Two of them pushed the Hwatcha they had over to Li-Shan, who finished putting it into position. Meanwhile, the other Joseon soldier gathered a bunch of Ye Do's, and handed them out to the rest of the men, except for Li-Shan, who already had one, and himself, because he was already holding a Jangchang.
Li-Shan finally put the Hwatcha into place. He looked through the telescope again, and saw that the Streltsy were in a perfect spot. Shen gave his commander a torch, and Li-Shan touched the tip of the Hwatcha's fuse to the burning flame, and the fuse ignited. It quickly burnt down, all the way to the 100 Singijeon the weapon carried. A second later, the rocket arrows flew out of the Hwatcha as swiftly as a hawk. They flew right down onto the Streltsy, and they soundly got pelted. Only problem was that there was a good cloud of smoke coming from the Singijeon.
"Li-Shan, did we hit anything?" asked Shen excitedly.
Li-Shan waited until the smoke cleared, then handed Shen his telescope. Shen looked through the device, and saw that two of the Streltsy were pelted with dozens of Singijeon. The other three Streltsy, however, were missing from the scene.
Korean Soldiers: 5/Streltsy: 3
Shen handed the telescope back to Li-Shan, and informed him of the results. "Two Streltsy were killed. Three of them are missing."
A grim look came over Li-Shan's face. "Alright, here's our new plan." spoke Li-Shan. "We'll precede down the hill, and examine our kills. From there we'll..."
Before he could finish, a loud chorus of bangs overcame them. To his left, Li-Shan could see one of his soldier's fall backwards onto the damp ground with a hole right where his heart should be. He looked quickly to his right, and saw that Shen was already on the ground, and had a hole right between his eyes. You could see right through the skull, and out the back.
Korean Soldiers: 3/Streltsy: 3
Li-Shan looked down the hill, and saw the three remaining Streltsy beginning to reload their guns. Without a second thought, he ordered his remaining men to charge right down the hill to attack the Russian soldiers, while he stayed on top of the hill to wait until it was time for him to arrive.
The Joseon soldiers charged right down the hill, letting out fierce warcries. One of the Streltsy had almost loaded their gun, when the Jangchang went straight through his heart. The Streltsy began to bleed out of his mouth, as his body tumbled down the hill.
Korean Soldiers: 3/Streltsy: 2
The soldier let out a quick laugh, but he had no time to react, as a nearby Streltsy brought down a Bardiche on his head. The blow split the skull in half, and the body twiched for a few seconds, then quickly flopped to the ground in a sickening heap.
Korean Soldiers: 2/Streltsy: 2
The Streltsy went to work on the other Joseon soldier. He swung the Bardiche at the soldier, but he was too quick for him. The soldier had his Ye Do drawn, and was busy swiping at the Streltsy's armor. He was cutting right through the coat, but the chainmail underneath wasn't giving sway to his blows. As the Streltsy took a wide swing, the soldier saw an opportunity for a brutal strike, and took it. When the Streltsy was catching his breath, the Joseon soldier thrusted his Ye Do right into the back of the Streltsy's neck, immediately severing the spinal cord. The Streltsy died before he hit the ground.
Korean Soldiers: 2/Streltsy: 1
When the body fell down, the Joseon soldier saw Li-Shan signaling him to come back up the hill. He tried to get up, but the last Streltsy came up right behind him, and his Sablia went straight through the back, and into the soldier's heart. His eyes quickly rolled back into his head, as the Streltsy pulled his sword out, and tossing the body to the side.
Korean Soldiers: 1/Streltsy: 1
At this point, Li-Shan had to act. He was the last soldier alive, and he didn't want to go back to his superiors in failure. He drew his ornate Ye Do, and ran down the hill screaming. The Streltsy was actually a little scared by the sight, and even panicked for a second. As Li-Shan was running towards him, the Streltsy looked around for something to take him out instantly. As luck would have it, a Pischal was lying right next to one of his comrades. Li-Shan was still a good ways away, so he had time to light the match for the gun. His target was withing distance, and after a pull of the trigger, he didn't have to worry about Li-Shan anymore.
Korean Soldiers: 0/Streltsy: 1
Streltsy: 622
Sablia: 200
Bardiche: 122
Pischal: 300
Korean Soldiers: 378
Ye Do: 100
Jangchang: 78
Hwatcha: 200
Ending Assessment: The Streltsy had the advantage in this battle. They had the better blackpowder technology, the better armor, and the fiercer approach to combat.
Strongest Weapon: With an armor shattering 300 kills, the Streltsy's Pischal takes the strongest weapon spot in this fight.
Weakest Weapon: Despite being of an impressive length, the Jangchang brought in only 78 kills, making it the weakest weapon of this fight.
Next Fight: Adolf Hitler vs Kim Jong Ill
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For more information on the Streltsy, look at the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streltsy
Yeah, I get the result, but I would have thought it would be a bit closer since they did fought the Japanese and they had guns as well.
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