A different Battle of Noryang Point

During the last days of the Japanese Invasion of Korea in the late sixteenth century, the Japanese had gathered a massive fleet, and faced a slightly smaller allied Korean and Chinese fleet. In the ensuing battle, Admiral Yi, the most influential figure of the Korean fleet, was shot in the chest and died. His last words were telling his nephew not to let the sailors know that he had died. But what if his death was instant? What if, instead of saying this, Yi died immediately after being shot? And his nephew didn't don his armor and pretended to be him? Now, this may or may not mean a Japanese victory if the Korean morale is broken, but we can at least assume that the Japanese do better, and retain at least two thirds of their fleet, whether they win or not. This could mean another battle or two before the end of the war, or a stronger Japan at the end of the war, or at least Japan retaining some of Korea.

This seems to me a great POD for a much earlier Japanese Empire. If the isolation period never happens (the failed invasion of Korea was a contributing cause), then Japan will most likely learn from its mistakes and continue growing in power, at least for a while. Where could this lead?
 

Thande

Donor
How would the rest of the fleet know Yi had died? Or are you suggesting that without his nephew's intervention, the crew of the flagship would have panicked, mutinied and fled? Otherwise I can't see how the other ships would know whether Yi had died or not until after the battle (much like Nelson at Trafalgar, which is a compelling parallel...)
 
How would the rest of the fleet know Yi had died? Or are you suggesting that without his nephew's intervention, the crew of the flagship would have panicked, mutinied and fled? Otherwise I can't see how the other ships would know whether Yi had died or not until after the battle (much like Nelson at Trafalgar, which is a compelling parallel...)

Well, I think that without instruciton otherwise, the crew of the flagship would have told the other ships that Yi was dead. In OTL, at the very end of the battle, Yi Wan (the nephew) called to Chen Lin that Yi had died, and the news spread through most of the fleet before the battle was over. However, it was too late to change the outcome of the battle. So what I'm saying is, what if one of the nearby ships was alerted (they were in a defensive position in a tight strait, so calling from ship to ship wouldn't have been to unthinkable) when Yi dies.
 

Thande

Donor
Well, I think that without instruciton otherwise, the crew of the flagship would have told the other ships that Yi was dead. In OTL, at the very end of the battle, Yi Wan (the nephew) called to Chen Lin that Yi had died, and the news spread through most of the fleet before the battle was over. However, it was too late to change the outcome of the battle. So what I'm saying is, what if one of the nearby ships was alerted (they were in a defensive position in a tight strait, so calling from ship to ship wouldn't have been to unthinkable) when Yi dies.
Oh, I see; I didn't realise they were close enough for verbal communication.
 
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