Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 196



Only Noblemtl

#196. Modern Warfare (2)

A group of troops passed through the rustling grass, and the constant sound of shells flying in the distance could be heard.

It seemed that the 12th Division had landed and the artillery had come in. The Japanese army, which had been quiet until the afternoon, began to continuously fire artillery fire at various places along the Gyeongin Highway at dusk.

In particular, there was continued concentrated shelling in the Juansan area where the main fishing boats were located. However, the enemy was firing too few shells to destroy the main fishing boats, and too many to be aimed at causing confusion.

“This is a bombardment with a clear purpose.”

I once heard that there were cases where they used this kind of artillery fire to hide their tactical intentions and create a smoke screen so that the enemy could only focus on the front lines.

I heard it in military academy and in the field, but now I can finally understand it clearly.

Of course, the deeply dug trenches and tunnel positions along the defensive line withstood the Japanese artillery fire without suffering major damage.

It’s only natural, since this was the result of the infantry digging with their teeth clenched.

However, the shelling itself was certainly annoying, as it succeeded in tying down the troops on the front lines without giving them proper rest or meals.

Then, as if there was no reason to just sit back and let it happen, the 3rd Brigade also deployed the artillery battalion deployed behind Bugae Mountain and fired an appropriate mixture of shrapnel and high-explosive bombs at each expected enemy position.

The flashes of light, the sound of shells hitting each other, and the sound of shrapnel flying from the artillery fire filled our ears, and the fiercest artillery battle since the start of the war was underway.

“The shelling isn’t falling on this side.”

Regardless, the 3rd Platoon of the Search Company, which had advanced toward Mansusan, held its breath and took the lead in securing a good ambush position.

Now that he had taken off his probationary officer’s badge and become one of the proper ‘reference soldiers’, 3rd Platoon Leader Nam Sang-deok lay face down on the floor, holding his breath.

“Are these things coming here?”

“The higher-ups are trying to train our shit dog.”

Although he is outstanding in all aspects of fighting, his one flaw is that he really doesn’t listen.

I don’t know if it’s because the unit was originally created based on hunters from Gangwon-do and Hwanghae-do, who were famous for their skills.

Then, when the senior deacon gave a low warning to be quiet, everyone fell silent.

“Hey, what’s that?”

The sound of the gunfire now sounds like background noise.

Just after midnight, a force of unknown size was moving towards the Yatmahan area of ​​Mansusan.

Lieutenant Nam Sang-deok considered taking out his binoculars, but stopped after hearing from his senior officer that he couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

“They must be enemies, right?”

“It must be the enemy, Your Majesty.”

The senior officer cautiously sent a signal.

The order was to all load and standby.

Then, the platoon members, who had seemed to be completely relaxed until just a moment ago, aimed their guns at the expected path of the enemy as if they were hunting tigers.

As their hunter’s temperament and their hatred for their enemies overlapped, they found more and more effective ways to kill their enemies.

Some soldiers loaded their guns with cross-ground bullets with a saw and waited for the platoon leader to give the order.

“Hey, stop doing that.”

The senior officer shook his head and looked at those who had made the ‘Dumdum bullet’ that was used during the Boxer Rebellion on the spot. Soldiers had a lot to do during wartime and therefore had little time.

Seeing the bastards doing that one by one with the 100 rounds of ammunition that were given out in quantitative amounts, he even tried to make an example of a few people the day before, saying, “There’s a mountain of work to do, so how can you have time to spare?”, but he didn’t really get an answer.

Anyway, Lieutenant Nam Sang-deok began to worry while holding the signal gun in his hand.

I began to worry that they might not be the enemy, but a friendly force that we didn’t know was coming from the flank to support us.

“Sergeant, those are not our troops.”

“uh?”

“There are no friendly forces around here. If they were friendly forces, they would have come from behind us. That’s definitely the enemy.”

“······.”

And he nodded at the words of the senior pastor, who seemed to have seen through his worries.

If the enemies came a little closer, then they were ready to start firing.

They appeared to be approaching in a marching formation, and the closer they got, the more clearly they could hear Japanese. The enemy was right.

They must have come in here assuming that there would be no allies here.

Lieutenant Nam Sang-deok silently aimed his signal pistol at the air and pulled the trigger while slowly applying strength to his fingers.

A red light flare briefly flashed in the air, shining for a moment like a starlight shining across the night sky.

And then the ambush men pulled the trigger without waiting any longer.

None of the platoon members raised a voice.

They remained calm and collected as they fired.

On the other hand, the ambushed enemies were just shouting at each other and running around trying to figure out where their allies were.

Their response was fierce, but inaccurate.

After a short but fierce one-sided engagement, the enemy fled, leaving behind considerable casualties.

The dead and wounded lay beneath the firing line, and Lieutenant Nam Sang-deok ordered an assessment of the remaining ammunition and casualties.

“It wasn’t a huge number, but I thought they’d bypass the 2nd Battalion.”

“I guess these stupid dogs didn’t even realize they were getting shot in the head.”

The senior officer looked at the casualties scattered everywhere as if he was shocked.

It seemed that he had never dreamed that the enemy would be ambushed here. However, the fact that he had sent his troops straight to this place, which was considered the softest part, was not a particularly good sign.

“Tell the brigade headquarters that an unknown number of enemies attacked and were repelled by surprise. However, they returned after bypassing the 2nd Battalion, so send additional troops to establish a defensive position here.”

“All right.”

There was no telephone installed here, so messengers had to be used, but fortunately the distance was short.

Lieutenant Nam Sang-deok ordered that the ground be dug as deep as possible with the field shovel he had and that the trenches be placed as wide as possible.

It was certain that the Japanese would soon launch a large-scale attack here.

And as if his intuition was right, the artillery fire that had been focused on Juansan Mountain until just now began to target Mansusan Mountain.

It was no longer an intermittent camel ride.

***

“···That kid was right.”

“The 3rd Platoon has requested reinforcements. If Mansusan is breached, our left flank will be completely exposed.”

“The shelling is falling too hard right now, so we can’t send reinforcements. We can only provide support once the shelling subsides. For now, hold out on the Mansusan Hill as long as possible, and tell the rest of the battalions to prepare for defense. They’ll be here soon.”

It was as planned. After dusk, the Japanese continued to increase their artillery fire, and reports from forward listening posts and observation teams indicated that large numbers of troops were continuing to move toward the front line.

Min Young-ki now had to choose.

The last information from the enemy headquarters was to be careful of enemies on the flanks, and as they said, the enemies raided Mansusan.

Instead of attacking the strong forward defense line, the enemy chose to bypass it and ordered the 3rd Battalion to be deployed to the Mansusan area as soon as day broke.

Now signs of a full-scale offensive were observed, and everyone looked towards the brigade commander.

Everyone was astonished at the news that the main force of the enemy was approaching, and was shocked by the formidable power of the enemy that could easily break even the first resolve.

And now, the words that would come out of Min Yeong-gi’s mouth would determine the fate of the 3rd Brigade, which would be able to hold out for the next 24 hours, or perhaps even 48 hours.

Min Yeong-gi connected the phone to the entire battalion and shouted for those who remained.

“I will give an order that all troops must follow. It is to be faithful to their assigned mission. Not a single Japanese enemy can easily pass through here. If this place falls, the enemy will rush straight to Hansung. And there, they will try to turn everything we deserve to enjoy, the great achievements of our ancestors and brothers and sisters, into ashes. Therefore, I, the brigade commander, implore you, no one to back down! The enemy is now trying to sink their ugly claws into our beautiful land! Therefore, brave children of the land, let us drive out their claws once more. Let us all remember that we are as strong as the land on which we were born and on which we stand! Remember our spirit that resists even more fiercely when facing the enemy! Therefore, let us all have courage. Let us bury all the Japanese who challenge us now in this land!”

“Freedom or death!”

The slogan that the soldiers had been saying since the first day of battle was now coming from them almost semi-officially.

At first it was something that instructors and soldiers would say, then it was something that company commanders would say, and now it was something that even battalion commanders would say.

Freedom or death, that would be one of the noblest ways a human being could die.

And along with that, a messenger arrived saying that concentrated attacks were continuing from Mansusan.

We have received reports that the enemy is launching a concentrated offensive using machine guns in addition to artillery fire, and that a considerable number of infantry forces are rushing across the entire front.

As dawn slowly dawned, Min Yeong-gi intended to make the third day of battle a bitter one for them.

He confronted the 23rd Brigade’s full-scale offensive head-on, deploying all available firepower.

And then death began to fall everywhere.

***

“The Korean bastards are fearlessly pointing their bayonets at our army that dares to bring salvation! Let’s show those insolent bastards what happens if they reject the Empire of Japan!”

With the signal for the Japanese army to charge, most of the 23rd Brigade’s forces began to rush into the front lines.

Major General Kikoshi, as if he was determined to finish off the 3rd Brigade this time, assigned a large portion of the artillery power deployed to the 12th Division and began pounding them without mercy since last night.

At around 7:00 a.m., when it seemed that the positions had been somewhat subdued by artillery fire, the Japanese army began to bring in ground troops.

They were well trained and on a whole different level from the clumsy troops under the Parking Corps.

They approached the front of Juansan Mountain while maintaining their prayer flags, and at some point, under the commander’s orders, they opened up a barbed wire area and began to charge.

Of course, the 3rd Brigade could not just sit back and do nothing, and soon, under the firm orders of Lieutenant General Min Yeong-gi, a fierce battle unfolded throughout the morning.

Lieutenant General Min Yeong-gi barely succeeded in redeploying the 3rd Battalion to the Mansusan area, and fierce fighting unfolded along the entire front.

The fighting was particularly fierce at Mansusan, where the 3rd Battalion was deployed.

Because most of the artillery was concentrated there, the 1st and 2nd Battalions could only receive relatively little firepower support.

“Artillery, when will the artillery provide support?!”

-1st Battalion Commander, a significant amount of artillery firepower is currently being allocated to support the Mansusan area, so suppress it with your own firepower.