Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 139



Only Noblemtl

#139. Nobody Wants (3)

“I have compiled all the reports on this expedition.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Lieutenant Shin.”

As soon as I returned to the Marshal’s Office, I ordered the soldiers who had been assigned to the expeditionary force to submit reports. I especially instructed the junior officers and senior instructors to actively describe difficulties encountered during the operation. I especially received reports from the assault infantry and cavalry units that had frequent contact with the enemy.

The content was varied. The most notable among them were the inconvenience of carrying dynamite and the positive testimonies about the usefulness of explosives that infantry could carry.

I called in some of the soldiers and got a detailed account of what the actual battle was like, and as expected, almost all of them said the same thing.

“Is dynamite that inconvenient?”

“Honestly, it’s hard to carry. Oh, of course, it’s true that we had a lot of fun with dynamite in the last operation. Those smart guys often cut the wick short and blew it up on the guys’ heads.”

Overall, everyone thought positively about the effectiveness and performance of the ‘throw something’ explosive, as it was the most effective means of fire support.

Especially when destroying strongholds or defensive lines, infantry was the most reliable weapon for our army, which had weak field artillery power.

“But it’s too hard to carry the amount you need for every battle. I tried putting it on my belt and stuffing it in my pouch, but in the end, it wasn’t enough when the battle was going on.”

As dynamite was used in every battle, just like modern hand grenades, supplies could not keep up with the demand. In particular, assault infantry specializing in breakthroughs could not expect firepower support due to the lack of artillery power, so dynamite consumption was even higher.

“That tiny amount of dynamite you’re giving us for a single battle is not enough, Colonel. To really destroy the enemy’s defenses, we need to give them four times what they’re giving us now.”

There was no choice but to give five sticks of dynamite per person, which was the standard amount given before the deployment.

When calculated, more than four times as much was consumed during an offensive operation, and up to 20 times as much was consumed during the occasional defensive battle support process.

It was similar to the South Korean military in the latter half of the Korean War.

It was like they were stockpiling and firing off 20 grenades per person during an attack, and up to 100 grenades per person during a defense.

However, as they say, it was difficult to supply dynamite. In particular, in terms of supply capacity, food and medicine were supplied without interruption through ships contracted with the Daehan First Shipping Company, but because the gunpowder factories were short of supplies, the production and supply of dynamite and other items were sometimes delayed.

Dynamite was not only a military material, but was also an essential material for the Korean Empire, which was developing its mining industry.

We urgently decided to purchase 10 tons of dynamite through the American ambassador Allen through the supply line and requested customs clearance from the foreign minister.

It was late August when it arrived at Tianjin Port.

Of course, when we were attacking Beijing, we almost suffered a setback because we ran out of dynamite. We were able to overcome that thanks to a night attack using machine guns instead of dynamite.

“To sum it up, ‘hand-thrown’ explosives are effective, but dynamite is inconvenient to carry and its supply is limited… is that it?”

“Well, that’s true. As you know, dynamite isn’t something I’m all that familiar with.”

“That’s right···.”

A grenade… I don’t know if it can be made now, but it’s not like the concept didn’t exist at all. Even in France, they were producing and using a grenade called the ‘Modèle 1882’.

However, most of them were unreliable and difficult to use, especially in hot and humid environments in summer.

Because the shrine is made of paper or wood wrapped in paper, it would be difficult for it to function properly.

“What on earth are you trying to make···?”

“It’s easier to carry than dynamite, and it’ll give your underpowered infantry a boost.”

I said, drawing a blueprint on paper. Our infantry, which was seriously lacking in artillery firepower, was not in a position to provide general support with the firepower of one artillery battalion per infantry brigade, as in modern armies. If that were possible, it would be a luxury.

If possible, I was thinking of using it as a kind of mortar that uses grenades as ammunition.

It is closer to a grenade launcher used by the Japanese army during the Pacific War than a mortar, but if it is made properly, it has many uses. It is a direct firepower that infantry can use, and it can show the strongest explosion except for artillery during offensive and defensive operations.

“That’s just my opinion, you know.”

I showed him a roughly completed blueprint. It was similar in shape to the old Japanese military’s Type 10 fragmentation grenade.

“No, my brother had this kind of talent too?”

“It’s nothing. It’s something anyone can do if they just change their mindset…”

I don’t know if this can be produced with the current level of technology, but I was planning to entrust it to the appropriate domestic facilities, or if that wasn’t possible, to take orders overseas, through the help of Director Won Se-rok of the Pohang Bureau and the elders of Hongik Trading Company.

It may seem like the most insignificant weapon, but an army that uses it properly can make the difference in infantry combat.

The most beautiful and cruel flower field to bloom on the battlefield was the grenade launching from the high ground and exploding.

The latter half of the Korean War was a war of grenadiers, with both the South Korean and Chinese armies throwing grenades at each other to supplement their lack of supporting firepower.

And the winner of that war went to the South Korean army, which used more portable and reliable grenades.

I thought I could bring forward the war of those grenadiers by more than 50 years, a piece of equipment that would add class to the dogfights of the infantry.

Leaving my surprised brother behind, I sent the blueprint to the director of the Expedition, Won Se-rok. Along with a report containing the lessons learned from this expedition.

And a few days later, I heard back from him.

***

“Are you suggesting we create this vile thing called a grenade?”

“Yes, Director of the Air Force.”

“Hmm, it seems like a good suggestion at first glance, but there must be a reason why the Europeans and Japanese don’t use it. I think it would be better to introduce additional artillery to provide the infantry with the firepower they lack.”

I read my report quite carefully, but as expected, it did not deviate much from the thinking of the people of that time.

It was thought that it would be much cheaper to expand the artillery and have them support the infantry than to spend the money on making explosives for the infantry.

“The current war is not one in which artillery supports infantry through direct fire, Chief of Artillery. Furthermore, the battlefields we will face most are not flat plains, but rugged mountains. In these places, we need high-powered weapons that infantry can handle directly.”

“Even with a straight line of fire, you can easily suppress the enemy’s positions. Moreover, if a skilled gunner can scatter the shrapnel in the air, it can cause quite a painful blow.”

“Artillery cannot provide all the fire support that infantry wants.”

Even in modern times, when communication devices and command and control systems are well-established, it is impossible for the Korean Empire Army of 1901 to have accomplished such a difficult task.

For this to be possible, at least a properly developed communications system had to be in place.

“In addition, the environment of infantry combat changes constantly. This means that the frontline fluctuates differently from artillery. Furthermore, the means by which the infantry at the front can connect with the artillery at the rear are limited, and even if they do connect, they may already be useless due to the changing battlefield environment.”

“Isn’t that why there are commanders and artillery officers? To provide that kind of fire support.”

“If we go from the front line to the theater or theater level, the story is different. The commander cannot resolve all the coordinates where he can provide artillery fire. No, if it were to be that level, small requests for fire support would be ignored. That’s why possible fire support is really important, and it should be poured out to careful targets, and the infantry should be able to resolve general fire support on its own.”

It was absurd to think that our army, which had only a few dozen artillery pieces, could provide adequate support to our entire ground force, which was being increased to 100,000 men.

“If you give these grenades to infantry, it will be more effective than the support fire of some artillery. Infantry with rifles can use explosives at once, giving the enemy a tremendous shock effect. The effect of these shock infantry was useful in Tianjin and Beijing.”

“Well, I admit that. But then wouldn’t the regular dynamite be enough?”

“Dynamite has many uses, is limited in production, and is inconvenient for infantry to carry.”

And I showed him a model of the grenade I had asked him to make as a sample.

“But grenades are different. They are easy to carry because they are about the size of an egg, and you can carry much more of them on your person than you can with dynamite.”

Then he showed me a chart of the ammunition consumed during the battle. The appropriate amount of ammunition for one battle was definitely different from before the sortie.

The results showed that each person should have 120 to 140 rifle rounds, 12 to 36 pistol rounds, and about 2,000 machine gun rounds.

And finally, it was recommended that dynamite be increased from the existing 5 to 20 or more.

“But isn’t this just your opinion?”

“That’s why I came to see the Director of the Air Force.”

I said with my back to the ground.

“The clouds of war are gathering between Russia and Japan. Whether we like it or not, we will inevitably be drawn into the war. It would be good if the artillery was strengthened, but the war may come sooner than we expect. We must prepare these things before that happens. And the only one who can do that is the Director of the Artillery Bureau.”

“Hmm···.”

He seemed to think for a moment. After looking back and forth between the blueprint and the materials I had uploaded for a while, he took off his glasses and spoke to me.

“Okay. I’ll allow the plan for now.”

“Thank you, Director.”

“But we don’t have enough money right now. I’ll give you permission, but I can’t give you a separate budget.”

“Huh? It’s only March 1900 and the budget is already···?”

“Um, that’s right···.”

I looked around and then he whispered to me.

“Your Majesty, you are diverting some of the budget for the 40th anniversary of your accession to the throne in 1903. 40% of the general reserve fund of the Empire of Japan has been lost.”

“Huh? What the heck···.”

“I don’t know either. That’s why I can’t give you the general reserve fund. I think you have a unique perspective on all your blueprints and plans, though…”

It seemed like another bullet had come from an unexpected place.

The embarrassed director of the air force stamped his seal on my blueprint, telling me not to go anywhere and tell anyone.

“Then what should we do without any reserve fund support?”

“···I will speak to Captain Peyre, the armory advisor. The armory is still under the jurisdiction of foreign advisors, so His Majesty would not have been able to touch the budget.”

I stood up, thinking that I really need to take it all in with the Minister of Finance sometime. In 1904, or maybe because of the butterfly effect I had brought about, I needed to print out as many of these as possible in preparation for the war that would break out even faster.