Joseon Military Officer, Establishing Balhae - Chapter 329



Only Noblemtl
Read Novel Noblemtl

Episode 329

Territory Management Plan (2)

Taegeon planned to keep most of the place names in the Liaodong region as they were. These include Gaeju, Haeju, Ansan, Yoyang, Musun, Cheoryeong, and Gaewon. However, Ujangseong was changed to Jinheung, and Simyang was also changed to a new name.

Hyun Yang-geon added a long explanation, especially about Shenyang.

Shenyang has the potential to grow into a megacity in every sense. It has endless, fertile plains around it, and water resources are abundant thanks to the abundant water of the Pingjing River (Hon River) and its tributaries. It is also a transportation hub. Of course, this is because Balhae took over most of Manchuria.

In actual history, after Nurhaci defeated the Ming in the Battle of Sarhu and took over Liaodong, he made Shenyang his capital. He also highly valued Shenyang’s potential.

“So we decided to develop Shenyang into a major city and named it Cheonpyeong.”

“Balance? Heh heh! Sounds good. It means a field given by heaven.”

Minister of the Interior Hwang Jin responded positively.

“Then the region north of Buyeo-bu doesn’t even have a name?”

“Yes. For now, that’s true. We’re only sending military troops, but we’re not in charge of internal affairs, so we’re just planning to call it the Northern Byeon.”

The military had already established a plan for managing the northern border. Song Chan-hwang, the military adviser, came forward and explained this part.

“In the future, one corps consisting of three or four divisions will be in charge of the entire northern border. So next year, as soon as the situation in the Liaodong region is resolved, they will lead the troops north and advance to the target area.”

The Army has also been busy formulating plans to reorganize the military.

Army Chief of Staff Marshal Jeong Gang-bin had already drawn up the plan and submitted it to Minister of War Hwang Jin. He divided the southwestern Manchurian border between the Liao River and the Sarmolon River in half. He announced that he would deploy one corps from the mouth of the Liao River to the point where the East Liao River and the West Liao River meet, another corps on the border between the West Liao River and the Sarmolon River, and another corps on the border with Khalkha Mongolia.

In addition, since they said they would deploy another corps to the northern border, a total of six corps were needed, including the existing 4th corps in the southern seas and the 3rd corps operating in Joseon. In addition, if they include one corps responsible for the capital, the northern seas, and the rear area, they would have to reorganize into a total of seven corps.

In the future, the 1st and 2nd divisions will be disbanded, and the divisions under them will have to be reorganized, so it was a plan that was fully feasible to create just two or three additional divisions. In addition to these, the reserve divisions whose reservists have all returned home will also perform the function of training reserve forces, leaving only the division headquarters.

“We will divide the northern border into sections by division, and those divisions will not only operate the border but also open up and operate post stations connecting the south and the north. We plan to manage the border as a post station. It is impossible to deploy troops tightly along that long border and protect it, and there is no need to do so. Therefore, the northern peoples will be able to freely enter and exit the northern border, and we have no reason to block them. However, the military government area in the south is our actual territory, so we will thoroughly defend it from there.”

After hearing Song Chan-Hwang’s explanation, the officials once again realized the meaning of the military-occupied area.

After the internal and military announcements were finished, Taegeon stepped forward.

“The most urgent task that has emerged in the future is the construction of a railroad. The areas bordering the sea in Joseon and Liaodong can be connected by sea, but the inland areas of Manchuria cannot, right? Therefore, we must first extend the Cheonbu Line currently under construction, and connect the railroad to Cheonpyeong, or Shenyang, through Aha and the old Hoi Pa region as quickly as possible. This is because this line is a true cross-country route.”

The railway connecting Seoul and Cheonpyeong, the center of Manchuria, had to be a truly cross-country route.

Another reason Taegeon wanted to hurry up the construction of this line was to utilize the Musun coalfield and the Ansan and Bonggye iron mines as quickly as possible. The Musun coalfield was an open-pit coalfield, so it was easy to develop, and its reserves were enormous, and it was a very important coalfield that even produced bituminous coal. In addition, the iron ore reserves scattered throughout Ansan and the future Bonggye city were also enormous. If a large steel mill was built using the bituminous coal of Musun and the abundant iron ore resources of the surrounding areas, it would be possible to produce a huge amount of steel that could be used not only domestically but also for export. In addition, there was a bauxite deposit, the raw material for aluminum, near Cheonpyeong.

“Oh! If we build a railroad from there to the south and connect it to Hanyang, the lifeline of our territory will be complete.”

Heo Seong responded by hitting his knee.

“You saw it clearly. Just think of the route from Seoul to Cheonpyeong, and from Cheonpyeong to Bonghwangseong, Uiju, Pyongyang, Gaeseong, and all the way to Hanyang.”

“By then, Anbyeon on the east coast and Hanyang would have been connected, right?”

“That’s right. Currently, the construction of the Anpyeong Line connecting Anbyeon, Pyeonggang, and Pyeongsan in Hwanghae Province is underway. Once Pyeonggang is completed, we plan to immediately begin construction to connect it to Hanyang.”

Minister of Justice Lee Ha-ryun stepped forward and added an explanation of the railway lines that form the foundation of the country.

“Hahaha! Just imagining it makes me happy.”

Heo Seong was greatly impressed.

“I have felt this more keenly these days. If the railways and roads are not connected, it is not our country. If that is difficult, at least the sea route should be opened. Roads are blood vessels, and if there are no blood vessels and the blood does not circulate, the flesh rots.”

Hwang Jin-do answered in an excited voice. He continued speaking.

“The moment the train enters Hansung, the consciousness of the Joseon people will be greatly shattered.”

Everyone who was listening nodded simultaneously.

Tae-Gun smiled and spoke again.

“This time, we have acquired 70,000 prisoners of war, so we will establish a prisoner of war office under the military to manage them. Of course, it will be a temporary organization.”

“Okay, Geometry.”

“Have them work in rotation at road and railroad construction sites, mines, etc. Thanks to them, wouldn’t the construction of railroads be much faster?”

“Yes, geometry.”

Minister of War Hwang Jin-i responded with a smile.

* * *

The flagship of the 11th Squadron, the Gyeongheung-class destroyer Anju.

Rear Admiral Na Yong-eon, Commander of the First Fleet, watched with a pleased expression the scene of the Marine Corps troops aboard the Anju landing on Namjangsan Island in the Myodo Archipelago.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * Baca Novel Korean * *
* * * Noblemtl dot com * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Currently, there were 15 large ships belonging to the 1st Fleet that had set out on an expedition to the Myodo Archipelago. Since the ships of the 11th Squadron were insufficient, the number was made up by drafting large ships from the 12th and 13th Squadrons.

The 1st Fleet has been carrying the 17th and 18th Regiments of the newly formed 5th Marine Division and has been carrying out operations to occupy the Myodo Islands. So, starting with Seonghwangdo in the north, Tagido, and Gosando, troops have been landing in company or battalion units and have been steadily moving south, reaching Namjangsando, the southernmost of the Myodo Islands.

“Oh my! I can’t tell you how fortunate it is that this order was given, even if it was late.”

Even though his face was filled with a smile, Na Yong-eon spoke as if he was lamenting. When he heard about the Third Fleet’s activities, such as annihilating the Ming navy fleet in the south and launching an operation to blockade the eastern coast, he became even more impatient. The 11th Squadron Commander, Admiral Lee Hwak, who knew his feelings better than anyone else, chimed in.

“I thought my eyes were going to pop out. At the beginning of the war, when we had completely destroyed the Ming navy, I waited with bated breath, thinking that the order to occupy the Myodo Islands would come soon, but there was no news at all.”

The 1st Fleet immediately went south and destroyed all the Ming warships stationed on the Myodo Islands and the northern coast of the Shandong Peninsula. They also patrolled the coasts of Liaodong Bay and Bohai Bay whenever they had the chance, paralyzing Ming sea routes, so their contribution was by no means small. However, the scale of the 3rd Fleet’s first naval battle was so large that when everyone thought of a “naval battle,” they inevitably thought of the Battle of Hani Islands. That’s why their competitive spirit was triggered and they were even more anxious.

“I expected that an order would come down to land in Shandong Province, let alone the Myodo Islands?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“What must our Marines have been like?”

Major General Kim Tae-deok, the commander of the 5th Division who was nearby, also joined their conversation.

Immediately after the war began, the Marine Corps was expanded by two divisions, for a total of five divisions, of which the 4th Division was a reserve division and the 5th Division was an active division. Therefore, when the war ended, the Marine Corps was scheduled to be reorganized into a four-division system.

As soon as the war began, the 5th Division stood by, guarding key locations on the west coast and the coast of the Liaodong Peninsula, including Lushun in Liaodong and Jangsan Cape in Hwanghae.

“The 4th Marine Division is probably busy right now, right?”

11th Squadron Commander Lee Hwak asked Kim Tae-deok.

“There’s no need to say anything. The terrain in southern Gyeongsang Province is rugged, so it’s not easy to occupy each and every town there. There are also many islands.”

“Oh, come to think of it, there’s an island too. I heard that Joseon abolished its public island policy when the Japanese pirates dried up thanks to Balhae. Would one reserve division be enough?”

Na Yong-eon asked.

“We will only inspect Namhae Island and Geoje Island. We cannot visit each of those islands and land troops there. Management of the islands will only be possible after military administration begins.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

Na Yong-eon nodded.

“Anyway, should we consider Gyeongsang-do as now completely under Balhae’s control?”

Lee Hwak asked.

“I am very sure of that. With two army divisions pressing in from the north and our marines landing on the southern coast, including Busanpo, Joseon will have no choice but to give up Gyeongsang Province.”

“We should also look forward to the southern part of Jeolla Province. Now that the army has landed, Honam Province will soon fall into our hands.”

“Of course it will be.”

Finally, when the Namjangsan Landing Operation was completed, the ships of the 1st Fleet weighed anchor again and sailed south.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been here?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The sea they were passing through was the Myodo Strait, which was about 7 roses wide. The entire Myodo Archipelago fell into the waters of Balhae, so in the future, they would face off against the Ming mainland and the Seven Roses Sea.

As the distance was quite close, the ships of the 1st Fleet soon reached the sea in front of Dengzhou.

Dengzhou was the most important coastal strategic point in the northern part of the Ming Dynasty. It was important in military, economic, and diplomatic terms. When invading the north by sea, the navy departed from here, and when sending a delegation to Joseon by ship, the starting point of the sea route was also here.

“That’s the lighthouse over there.”

Director Kim Tae-deok, who came here for the first time, was amazed when he saw the appearance of Su-seong through the Cheonri-gyeong.

“You fixed it again in the meantime.”

The commander of the Lee Hwak unit said with a smile.

It was naturally the 1st Fleet that destroyed the coastal fortress and military port of Dengzhou.

“Haha! We can only be grateful that you created something for us to do.”

Na Yong-eon smiled sinisterly.

“Okay! Shall we begin?”

The Balhae ships began to circle one after another to attack the Dengzhou fortress.

“This time, let’s just turn that castle into dust. That way, it’ll be easier for the Marines to land.”

“Haha! Thank you.”

Kim Tae-deok was very pleased with Na Yong-eon’s consideration.

Taegeon had no intention of making Dengzhou his territory. It was difficult to manage. However, even if he withdrew later, the fact that the Marines landed would have dealt a great psychological blow to the Ming. Of course, if the Ming army came, he planned to withdraw his troops immediately.

Read Novel Noblemtl
Read Novel Noblemtl