Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 121
Only Noblemtl
#121. The earth collapses, the mountains are cut down (5)
“General, the eastern gate has been breached.”
“······.”
Seop Sa-cheng, who commanded the Qing army defending Tianjin, or the Wuwei army, did not respond to the reports of his subordinate officers.
All I could think was that the signs of the apathetic Qing Dynasty’s eventual downfall had finally begun in its own generation.
No, perhaps the collapse of the Qing Dynasty had already begun with its defeat in the last war with Wa, or with the humiliating loss of Annam (Vietnam) and sovereignty over the country to France, or even earlier, during the Taiping and Yan rebellions.
Until this afternoon, morale was high among the subordinates, relying on the well-founded belief that they would be victorious.
It was thanks to the spectacular repulsion of the army of sheep that had been challenging us from the south gate.
However, the sheep, or those who were robbed of their body and mind, never forgot the harm and humiliation they suffered, and did their utmost to retaliate.
That’s why he secretly predicted that today would be his last, and that ominous prediction became reality.
Still, he had no intention of giving in easily.
Even if I couldn’t avoid defeat, I wanted to at least give them an unforgettable nightmare before I left.
At the very least, I wanted to leave them with a strong impression that there were loyalists in the Qing Dynasty.
“Drop out troops and deploy them to the East Gate.”
“However, most of the troops are deployed to defend each gate, and the only troops left are those defending the governor’s office.”
“If the Dongmun Gate is breached, this place is finished too. I will personally lead the counterattack.”
Seop Sa-seong stood up from his seat and said.
Although his other subordinates tried to dissuade him, he made up his mind.
He was defeated by the Japanese at Asan and Seonghwan, and was expelled from Pyongyang Castle without being able to fulfill his duty, and returned to his home country.
I didn’t want to be humiliated as a soldier any longer.
I just wanted to fight here until the end and then die with my sword in my hand.
And somewhere in my heart, determination and other emotions welled up.
It was despair and hatred.
Those damn Boxers and the stupid nobles who fell for them ruined everything.
He knew better than anyone else about the power of the West, and at the same time, he could not hide his disgust for those who had gone mad with cultism while suppressing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Yan Army’s rebellion.
But even after the terrible events of 40 years ago, these fools have not learned their lessons.
Rather, it only hastened our steps towards destruction.
For a moment, Seop Sa-seong thought about whether he should die for his country.
It was only for a moment, but he wanted to run away. He didn’t have the confidence to win a fight against an enemy with such powerful firepower anyway, so all he could do was hold out and fight to the death as long as he could.
So he briefly considered running away, but then he looked around and changed his mind.
As a general, it is impossible for him to abandon his subordinates who are scared and cornered.
“General! Japanese soldiers are also attacking from the South Gate. There was an explosion at the South Gate, and Japanese soldiers are rushing in right after!”
“······.”
Seop Sa-seong sighed.
I had been holding on tenaciously, and holding on, but it seemed like today would be the last day.
He pulled out the longsword hanging on the wall and looked at his last remaining subordinates.
The loud shouts and the sound of gunfire that covered it all filled my ears.
And from somewhere, I could hear the sad yet ear-stimulating sounds of musical instruments.
It was a melody like a funeral march. When he heard it, he thought the time had come and quietly gave the order to gather the soldiers.
And after a while, everyone who remained in the prison who could hold a gun and fight gathered.
He was confused about having to drive these people, who were clearly injured and exhausted, to a place where death was certain.
Nevertheless, they had to act like the vanguard of the Wuwei Army, which was protecting the heart of the Qing Dynasty.
“Brave sons of the Wuwei Army, listen carefully, we have no time left. When we set out from Gyeongseong (Beijing here), we marched proudly with 10,000 elite soldiers, but here, only our scattered brothers fighting bravely, and now only a handful of us remain.”
There was sadness in his words. There were now less than 500 soldiers left.
Most of the soldiers were focused on defending each gate, and they too would slowly melt away one by one.
If you include the Boxer guys, there would be over 20,000 of them, but they didn’t want to discuss it.
They are completely crazy and will attack anyone who comes across a Western object.
“Now the foreign enemies are breaking through the east and south gates of this castle and are trying to head towards the capital where our Emperor resides. We will not be able to stop them today. They will try to break through our defenses and eventually conquer this castle.”
There were groans among the soldiers.
Some officers stopped them.
The act of defrauding was a felony punishable by death.
But the commander signaled to his officers to raise their hands and leave him alone.
Since today was the day everyone would die anyway, there was no harm in allowing themselves to cry at least a little.
“However, we are the Muwi Army. We are the elite soldiers who have gathered together to block the foreign enemies who dare to threaten the great emperor and the capital of the Qing Empire. Even if today we all fall to their ferocious bayonets and boots at one moment, heaven and history will remember us, so let us kill as many enemies as possible and die.”
“Whoaaaaah!!”
At his shout, the remaining Qing soldiers let out something close to a shout or a wail.
From far away, a huge explosion could be heard, along with shouts.
It seemed as if the defensive line on the eastern side had been shattered.
And with that, Seop Sa-seong shouted “Long live!” three times.
Perhaps it was his last shout as a subject of the Qing Dynasty, and after shouting it with his soldiers, he bowed toward Beijing.
The distant artillery fire began to move closer to the center of Tianjin, and flames and acrid smoke began to spread everywhere.
Seop Sa-seong began to run towards the east gate with his soldiers.
Even if mountains collapse and mountains are cut away, just like in a poem by Li Bai that says that only when a merchant dies can the path of wisdom be completed, if he too can achieve something through death, if only the breath of the Qing Dynasty, which was heading toward destruction, could come back for a moment, then he would be satisfied with that.
***
Steel clashed with steel, and screams were heard.
The bloody fighting in the streets of Tianjin began to reach its climax.
The assault infantry platoons, having completely broken through the Dongmen defense line, began to advance toward the city of Tianjin, and immediately encountered the most organized and intense defense line.
Lieutenant Kim Si-jin, catching his breath, looked at the group of Qing soldiers that appeared in front of them and said.
“It looks like the enemy commander has come out to fight in person.”
“That’s true.”
Their hardened expressions could be seen between the burning buildings, and between them, the one who appeared to be their commander could be seen speaking with his longsword drawn.
Perhaps to encourage the terrified soldiers immediately after facing their enemy.
“Prepare for the assault. They will attack us soon.”
“Everyone, stock up on ammo and prepare to charge!”
I took out all the remaining ammunition, but there was only a handful.
As the offensive continued without resupply, ammunition began to run low.
Everyone put their hands into the magazine, but they found more empty space. All they could grab was one or two five-round clips.
“Something happened.”
“Isn’t that why you said we should slow down the advance a little?”
“haha···.”
Lieutenant Kim Si-jin smiled awkwardly.
The senior sergeant told them that they were running low on ammunition and that they should slow down for a while and receive supplies from the rearguard units, but they missed that opportunity as they continued to pursue the enemy’s shattered defenses.
Now that I looked, there was only a place to retreat, and the Qing army was already positioned along the visible advance route ahead.
In fact, even if Lieutenant Kim Si-jin himself had not controlled it, it is much more likely that the unit would have continued to push forward due to its aggressive nature.
“What about the remaining explosives?”
“None. I used them all up when I broke through the gate.”
All that was left were about ten rounds of rifle ammunition per man, revolvers, and close combat equipment.
Eventually, I had to back down, but backing down now would have been problematic.
As Lieutenant Kim Si-jin thought, they were the most advanced units among the offensive forces and were essentially forming a salient.
If we had withdrawn our troops here and retreated, there was a high possibility that the enemy would immediately attempt to intercept and catch up with our rearguard.
If that happened, it was clear that the protrusion would turn into a breakthrough point for the enemies, which would have the negative effect of potentially causing the friendly forces that followed to be caught up in a counterattack.
In such cases, it was better to hold the position while waiting for reinforcements from friendly units.
At least that’s what the French officers said.
To choose the best option, within the scope of their own judgment.
He emphasized “one’s own judgment,” saying that if that happens, it will allow the commanders of adjacent units or superiors to notice it and make a decision to choose the most effective method.
And his judgment was that he would hold this small salient, sending a messenger to inform them of his situation, while judging that if they could withstand the last visible offensive of the enemy, they could contribute to the overall victory.
“1st Platoon, we will hold this place. We will take all the enemy’s counterattacks with our whole body until our troops arrive.”
“But isn’t this different from our mission?”
“It doesn’t matter as long as it’s for the overall victory of our forces. We’ll just hold out until the next allies arrive.”
The battle that started at night continued until dawn, and although most of the soldiers were exhausted, at least their situation was better than that of their terrified enemies.
The advancing Qing army immediately began to fire, and Lieutenant Kim Si-jin controlled the platoon’s fire.
If you wanted to make the most of your limited ammunition, you had to fire a volley when you got close enough to see the enemy’s faces clearly.
A hail of rifle bullets rang out, and several soldiers were wounded when bullets ricocheted off the earthen walls, but fortunately there were no casualties.
Night shooting was a bit tricky, I don’t know if it was a glitch or what, but it seemed like the bullets weren’t hitting the target properly.
Slowly they closed the distance, and when the assault infantry showed no response, they began to gain momentum and increase their speed.
And Lieutenant Kim Si-jin, who raised his head slightly, waited until they got close enough to see their facial expressions clearly.
Only when the enemies finally approached close range was the order given to fire.
The method was to knock down the enemies who approached first, hinder their advance with their bodies, and continuously reduce the shock effect.
Although I was worried about running out of rifle ammunition, I decided not to think about it for now.
The original distance was close enough that enemies with penetrating wounds were visible.
Some tried to climb up to the cover of the makeshift defensive line and swing their sharp longswords.
“How dare you!”
Of course, the end of those who so enthusiastically wielded such pre-modern cold weapons was the same as always.
The bullet flew out with the loud sound of the trigger clicking and the power of gunpowder exploding, piercing the chest or head.
Or, if you rush in recklessly, you will be stabbed multiple times with a bayonet and die.
The battle repeated itself like the previous one, but this time it was a little different.
Lack of ammunition held them back.
Soldiers who ran out of ammunition tried to compensate for the firepower of their rifles by swinging their bayonets and buttstocks or drawing their revolvers, but even that had its limits.
Because the nature of the assault infantry’s missions required the frequent use of revolvers, they were consumed as heavily as rifle bullets.
Eventually, the sound of revolvers gradually died down, and all that remained was close combat with swords and bayonets.
As the last salvo was fired and the Qing army’s ranks briefly wavered, the platoon charged into the enemy lines, brandishing bayonets and sabers.
However, the appearance of the Qing army, which had wavered during the first assault, was different from before. They showed a tenacious attitude of holding on even a little and did not leave their positions.
It was a very different situation from before, when it would collapse if shocked.
“Hey, why are these kids acting like this all of a sudden?!”
“The enemy’s lines are solid!”
A scream broke out among the soldiers.
The assault infantrymen were engaging in a fierce battle like they had never seen before, and they began to fight on equal terms.
Of course, this side was also tired and lacking ammunition, but it was the first time I had seen the Qing army push so hard.
There was something different when Commander Seop Sa-seong commanded.
Even now, he was staring straight at me and fighting fiercely.
“If we continue like this, it will be difficult to endure!”
“The messenger has gone, so just hold on a little longer!”
The enemy who had his stomach stabbed by the archipelago screamed but held on to the blade embedded in him with both hands and did not let go.
Then he kicked the enemy’s chest with his boot and pulled out his sword. Then he stabbed the enemy in the neck with his sword, ending his life.
“Those damn guys.”
“The enemies keep coming!”
“Get back, into the alley!”
Pushing his exhausted men back, he fired the last bullet from his revolver into the leg of the nearest enemy who was about to swing his bayonet.
A new enemy jumped out from behind the fallen enemy.
If you can fight like a demon, why didn’t you do this before?
I remembered something my brother had said jokingly one day.
The Chinese are a race that perhaps only becomes competent when their country is in crisis.
I thought that maybe now was exactly that kind of time.
“Ugh!”
While he was lost in thought for a moment, a bullet grazed his arm.
When I was little, I was playing near a stove and my arm felt like it had been burned, but I didn’t even have time to feel the pain because I was busy fending off the next attack with the sword I was holding in my hand.
We continued to retreat, but the enemies continued to push forward.
“No more, that’s the limit!”
The senior adjutant’s cry was heard. If we continue to retreat, there will be no reason to fight here.
It was a time when I was at a loss and didn’t know what to do.
If the length of the archipelago had been a little longer, he would have fought with ease. And at the same time, something suddenly flashed through his mind.
“Put your bayonets in! Build a wall with bayonets!”
“yes?”
“Those bastards’ bayonets are shorter than ours, so if we make a wall with our bayonets, those bastards won’t be able to attack us! Put your bayonets in quickly!”
The senior sergeant, who understood what was meant, ordered the soldiers behind him to make a barrier with their rifles and bayonets, and they created a sharp wall like the square formation of infantry blocking cavalry.
The Qing army, which had been pushing forward to enter the narrow alley, could not stop in front of the barricade of the gunpowder, and one by one threw themselves onto the wall, sprinkling blood on the dry floor.
“Where did you crawl from?!”
“Kill anything that approaches without mercy!”
As if they were angry hedgehogs, the assault infantry, with their bayonets pointed out in front, blocked their way into the alley, and the Qing soldiers standing in front stopped in fear. The fear of the blade was primal.
The Qing army behind them, unaware of the situation, continued to push with their bodies when the friendly army in front did not advance, and the Qing army in front, trapped and unable to move, desperately shouted at them not to push them.
“Don’t push!”
“The enemies are hitting the barrier with bayonets in front! Don’t push!”
It was almost like a sad scream. Those who were pushed out were stabbed to death with bayonets, and the Qing commanders, unaware of the situation in the battle line, continued to send their infantry forward in front of the bayonet wall.
The screaming continued to echo through the alleys, like pigs squealing in a slaughterhouse.
After several minutes of countless Qing soldiers being bayoneted to death or groaning in mortal wounds, the Qing officers finally realized the situation in the battle lines and shouted in angry voices as if to order them to open fire.
Since there was no way to escape the enemy’s barrage, Lieutenant Kim Si-jin closed his eyes tightly and waited for the next barrage.
But that didn’t happen.
After a while, those who had foreseen their end slowly opened their eyes.
Since the enemy’s volley had failed for whatever reason, there was no reason to miss the opportunity.
Just as they were preparing for what might be their last charge, the familiar sound of gunfire began to be heard all around them. And the eerie melody began to be heard again.
At that sound, the Qing army looked around in confusion, unable to hide their bewilderment.
“Our troops are here! This is friendly gunfire!”
“Let’s push! Get them out of the alley!”
The disorganized Qing army quickly retreated out of the alley and tried to fire again, but the assault infantry was one step faster.
With long bayonets, the Qing army’s ranks were mercilessly torn apart, and the battle cries of friendly infantry approaching from the flanks could be heard amidst the dying enemies.
I don’t know if it was intentional or a coincidence, but while we were holding our ground at the front, other platoons seemed to have started moving and surrounded us on all sides.
The Qing army, trapped by the fire pouring down from all sides, fell one by one without being able to put up any real resistance, and had to meet their fate at the hands of the assault infantry.
***
“We have complete control of the alumni association!”
The messenger came running and spoke.
The Russian officers at the command post and the regiment’s advisers, who had been briefed on the situation, looked at each other with expressions like, ‘That kind of operation will work?’
The units, broken down into platoons, were impressive and unique.
“At Nammun, Japanese and allied forces are advancing.”
“We must not fall behind them in taking control of the center of Tianjin.”
“I will convey that message!”
Then, he ordered the infantry battalion led by Lieutenant Lee Gi-pyo, which had just warmed up and prepared for battle, to advance.
I was thinking of deploying the Guards Infantry Battalion first, but I kept it in regimental reserve just in case the situation developed.
Moreover, the Russian army was also preparing to enter, so it was necessary to give in a little bit of order.
The casualties of the assault infantry were also considerable. Since they were still unfamiliar with platoon-level tactics, there were considerable casualties among the units that were surrounded or failed to maneuver. In fact, given the lack of communication equipment and the nighttime environment, this could be considered light.
“The enemies are fleeing through the west and north gates. What should we do?”
“We’ll handle the North Gate. The Cossack cavalry is ready.”
“Then we will send our cavalry to the west gate.”
Intercepting fleeing enemies was also essential.
The best time to expand your reach was when you were dealing with retreating enemies.
Just like in Total War, when the defeated enemies flee en masse, you release your cavalry and annihilate them.
Since they chose to flee rather than surrender, I had to treat them accordingly.
And in that state, their commander, Seop Sa-seong, seemed unable to contain his anger and resentment.
According to the messenger who relayed the situation, he raised his sword at the last moment and charged through the friendly lines, fighting for a while before finally collapsing.
If there was one thing that was fortunate, it was that at least he did not have to see the boots and bayonets of foreign troops descending on Beijing.
Well, it wasn’t a bad ending for a soldier, if that’s the case.
If he had fled when defeat was already imminent, he could have had his head hung like his superior, Seop Ji-cho, during the Sino-Japanese War.
“The commander of the Qing army in Tianjin is dead, so now all that’s left is to wipe it out?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Keep on going, my throat is open to go to Beijing.”
And instead of the hermits who originally supported the capital city of Beijing going into that throat, a sword called the Allied Forces that were going to suppress the Boxer Rebellion and punish the Qing Dynasty will go into it.
They would be forced to swallow it, and would be allowed to breathe their last breath through it.
Admiral Alekseev looked at Tianjin, where flashes of light were shooting out one after another, as if he were enjoying a spectacle.
“Let’s go out, kids! It’s hunting time!”
The cavalry I had ordered to be released on the ground spurred on with a very distinctive war cry.
At first glance, it sounded like an imitation of Indians.
They marched forward, cheering like demons.
“What a peculiar shout. Your cavalry is also quite fierce.”
Come to think of it, I’ve heard this shout a lot somewhere. It seems to be the ‘Rebel Yell’ used by the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
What did that person really teach…
I looked at the rising sun, determined to say something when I got back.
The fluttering national flags of each country decorated the sky, and on the other side, the blue dragon symbolizing the blue was already ablaze.
It was virtually the moment when the gateway to the capital city, Beijing, opened.