Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 183



Only Noblemtl

#183. The Road to War (3)

“What should we do now? Do the commander and the superintendent have a plan?”

“Since the two countries have not yet officially declared war, it is impossible for us to destroy them first. However, they also need to land troops and supplies, and we also need to gather as many troops as possible, so we need to conscript troops from each region and build key defense lines.”

The Japanese government has remained silent so far. Perhaps it is bewildered by the unexpected action.

However, it was not known how long the confusion would last, and it was predicted that they would actually come out in anger.

And this was the most important point. We had to make the Japanese military and government overestimate or underestimate our intentions, causing them to make a critical mistake.

Of course, it was an unconventional tactical concept that would be much more effective a century from now, when mass media and cyber warfare have developed significantly, but at least it would not be a problem to the extent of causing the enemy to make mistakes in strategic/tactical decisions.

Having ruined Japan’s initial plans based on the Records Investigation Office’s intelligence network, they were now going to cause mistakes in their strategies against Korea and Russia based on the flood of information, uncertain intelligence, and the realm of speculation.

It was a kind of hybrid warfare that could affect all areas both inside and outside the front lines, and it could also be part of a paralyzing warfare that could lower the enemy’s ability to wage war by inducing mistakes and greatly reducing their will to fight and morale, just like a neurotoxin slowly spreads and destroys their cognitive and thinking abilities.

Ultimately, the main goal was to destroy Japan’s initial war plan and somehow destroy its will to fight.

“Their initial plan has completely failed. Their plan to subdue us with minimal force and start a war has been botched, so now they are left with nothing but the realm of uncertain conjecture and the inexact intelligence they have to start military action against us.”

“Hmm···.”

“Of course, this process will take quite a while. By the time they realize their mistake, they will be in too deep a swamp to get out.”

First of all, the more information there is, the wider the range of strategies, tactics, and policies that each country’s military or government can choose. That is why Japan gave over 2,000 intelligence agents the name of Continental Intelligence Agency and scattered them throughout the Korean Empire, Manchuria, North China, and Gangnam, and by doing so, these collaborators also established their roots and confirmed their choices.

But this coup and the continued operation of the counterintelligence network have destroyed their intelligence network. They can no longer quickly select information that seems important, and they face the risk of accepting unrefined information.

After all, they can neither refine nor control the important information as before, so it was clear that they would choose the fastest way. And that way would be to stick to the original plan and try to break through us with force instead of trickery.

“When will we get out of that deep swamp?”

“It will probably be from the 50th day of the war.”

I said it confidently. The reason I specifically chose the 50th day of the war was because the Japanese military’s actual operational plan was to take control of the entire northwestern route from Jemulpo-Hansung-Gaeseong-Pyongyang-Uiju within 50 days.

Since February 8, 1904, it took the Japanese army exactly 45 days to advance to Uiju, right?

“After 50 days… it will probably take at least a month and a half.”

“So, does that mean that your Majesty the Governor thinks that the defense of Hanseongbu is impossible?”

Lee Beom-jin, who was next to Han Gyu-seol, asked me. They recognized that the most important thing was whether Hanseongbu could be defended.

According to the war plan, the defense of Hanseongbu was virtually impossible, but it seemed that there was still a glimmer of hope.

But this time again my answer was correct.

“We cannot defend Hanseongbu. To defend the vast Hanseongbu, we need more than 100,000 troops, but realistically, it is difficult to secure this number of troops. We must preserve as many troops as possible while we have time and withdraw to the area where their supply line can be extended as much as possible.”

The 1898 war plan, the 1901 war plan, and the 1902 war plan all had the Japanese supply line as the maximum extension within the Korean peninsula at Uiju-Hamheung at the 40th parallel north. This was the most ideal defense line that I had proposed.

In actual history, during the Korean War, the Allied Forces and the ROK Army advanced to the 40th parallel, but suffered a painful blow from the Chinese army when their supply lines were seriously stretched.

But here the meaning is a little different. As everywhere, political issues that cannot be dealt with solely in terms of military advantages are always dealt with as well.

Well, war is a subset of politics, so they are inseparable.

“If we withdraw our troops to Uiju and Hamheung along the 40th parallel, we will lose not only Hansung and Gaeseong, the three capitals of Korea, but also Pyongyang. If that happens, not only will our military morale drop significantly, but we will also lose our main weapons depot and economic center, so we should not withdraw our troops to the 40th parallel all at once.”

Due to these arguments, the general opinion was to defend at the 39th parallel, and the result was a compromise, with the main battlefield being Pyongyang and Hamheung.

As in the Sino-Japanese War, Japan would have to spend considerable time and effort securing a supply line to Pyongyang, so if it aimed for that and waged a delaying war between the 39th and 40th parallels, it might be able to buy enough time for the Russian army in Manchuria to arrive.

Well, actually, during the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese army seriously considered retreating because the supply line between Hansong and Pyongyang was not functioning properly, so this time it would be no different.

“Is retreating north the only answer in the end?”

“First, since there is still time, we should move the gold and various precious metals of the central bank to a safe place. After that, the government and the royal family should also move to Hamheung and prepare for war. Our army will buy as much time as possible for that.”

Hansung had to be emptied as thoroughly as possible. All kinds of military supplies, precious metals, and food that could be taken began to move to the northwest and northeast regions, and government and civilian ships were also ordered to leave for neutral ports with supplies, and in the three southern provinces that had no choice but to be handed over to the Japanese, orders were given to the garrison and the artillery and civilian security forces to prepare for guerrilla warfare.

With information blocked and the uncertainty of the battlefield blinding Japan’s eyes and ears, we had to do everything we could, because no one could back down anymore.

***

“Commander, urgent news from Korea.”

“What’s going on?”

“South Korean troops in the Seoul area staged a coup.”

Kuropatkin, who had been appointed commander of the Manchurian Army, quickly accepted the short telegram that his staff had brought him. It was from Colonel Strelevich, the military attaché at the embassy.

[The 1st Guards Division and the Assault Infantry Regiment of the Korean Empire have completely taken control of the capital and surrounding areas. The Japanese Gyeongseong Garrison is currently isolated in the Yongsan area or has retreated toward Chungju. Details will be provided in the attached file.]

“The Korean Empire’s army has finally risen up.”

Although the attached materials are currently unable to reach the Korean Empire due to the North Route telegraph line connecting Beijing and Vladivostok being paralyzed for some reason, Kuropatkin was able to guess what was happening within the Korean Empire.

And he secretly looked relieved. In Russia, the Korean emperor’s arbitrary actions were considered a serious problem.

The Tsar was so angry that he ordered Governors-General Kuropatkin and Alexeyev to mobilize two cavalry regiments to take control of Seoul, which caused chaos.

However, this order was stopped by Kuropatkin himself.

Rather, he barely withdrew his offer after receiving an explanation that it could pressure the Korean Empire and push it into Japan’s arms.

“Is this a blessing?”

“It would be a blessing in disguise for now. The Korean military is deeply influenced by us, and is made up of people who hate Japan to the core.”

He said, pouring wine into the glass.

His face was reflected in the clinking glass, and for some reason the red banner hanging behind him looked like blood flowing throughout Manchuria, making him feel uneasy. However, he also knew that he could no longer avoid it.

“It is difficult to know the internal situation with certainty because the telegraph lines have been cut off, but it is believed that the Korean Empire will abandon neutrality and choose war with Japan, and that we will also enter into war with Japan. However, the Tsar has shown his position that it would be advantageous for us if Japan starts the war first, so we should not interfere with the Japanese army’s landing at Jemulpo.”

“What about the Governor-General of the Far East?”

“I have asked the Tsar to issue an order for general mobilization and deployment of the fleet, but the Tsar has not yet given permission. In the name of ‘mobile training’, I have dispatched the entire fleet stationed in Lushun, totaling about 20 ships.”

Kuropatkin did not think that both Governor-General Alexeev and the Tsar were taking the right steps. The Tsar was showing that he was willing to allow Japan to strike first, even though war was imminent, and Governor-General Alexeev was providing a pretext for Japan, who was deeply paranoid.

“The Japanese will be preparing to attack soon. We should prepare as well.”

“According to the report of the Commander of the Amur Military District, Japanese people throughout the Far East are returning home in large numbers. Our military instructors stationed in the Korean Empire have also reported that Japanese residents are preparing to return home or are cooperating with Japanese military garrisons in various places, arming themselves and preparing for defense.”

“Because of this, the cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koryets have already entered Jemulpo to assess the situation.”

However, it seems that Alexeyev had not forgotten the importance of securing information, as he had already ordered ships to be dispatched early yesterday morning to assess the situation.

Pretty accurate information would soon be coming in. Perhaps the Korean Empire military, having finished internal reorganization, would reconnect the telegraph lines.

One thing was certain, however, that the Korean Empire had put an end to its internal turmoil and would turn its full force southward.