Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 208



Only Noblemtl

#208. Glorious Days of the Navy (1)

“I think it is time to fully carry out our mission.”

Rear Admiral Petro Bezobrazov, who was commanding them, let out a hearty laugh and looked at Rear Admiral Jang Gi-ryeom, the commander of the small but assertive Korean Imperial Navy in front of him.

However, although the commander was trustworthy, it seemed that the Korean Empire Navy, which had not even been established for five years, could not be completely trusted.

Unlike Russia, which had been operating a proper fleet since the time of Peter the Great, the Korean Empire was like a child stepping into the sea for the first time.

“The cruiser fleet is not yet in perfect condition. It has only been a month since we arrived from Lushun to Vladivostok. We are very unfamiliar with the sea routes and information in this area. Naturally, we need the support of your fleet.”

“Don’t worry, Commander. Even though we only have six destroyers and one ‘cruiser’, this is our front yard. We can lead any enemies who dare challenge us into the maw of hell.”

Chief of Staff Jang Gi-ryeom emphasized the word ‘most cruiser’.

The interpreter also spoke in a similar tone, perhaps thinking of his personality, and upon hearing that, Major General Bezobrazzoff nodded, adjusting his glasses.

He had also heard stories about them secretly. They were a strange species that had a deep resentment towards the Emperor. But they still had the appearance of real fighters.

Maybe that’s why a rather cheerful atmosphere permeated the Hamheung military port.

The fleet in Port Arthur was trapped, and the fact that they, who were both numerically and qualitatively inferior, were able to remain cheerful throughout was because the 1st and 2nd fleets, which could be called the main fleets of the Japanese Navy, had all been driven to the west coast.

As they say, where there is no tiger, the fox is king, they looked at the East Sea coast that had become a no man’s land in an instant and licked their lips with quite greed. They thought of themselves as weak and inferior, but at least they thought not at this moment.

“The Japanese Navy is now in a dilemma. They succeeded in blockading Port Arthur by surprise, but failed to eliminate the fleet inside the harbor protected by coastal batteries.”

“And during that time, we should be on the move. If our Vladivostok cruiser fleet and the Korean Imperial Navy join forces to conduct a war of destruction, we will be able to deliver a very deep blow to the enemy.”

In front of Rear Admiral Bezobrazov, Admiral Jang Gi-ryeom brought a chart. It was densely packed with major sea routes along the East Sea coast, and was something the Russian Navy desperately needed.

“We will destroy all Japanese ships that enter without knowing it. Although we cannot control all the ships going from the Japanese archipelago to the Korean Peninsula and Port Arthur with a small fleet of less than 20 ships···.”

“If the enemy fleet is tied up in Port Arthur, they will not be able to control the East Sea, let alone the waters near the archipelago.”

The two smiled awkwardly, seeing that their thoughts were similar.

Of course, since the founding of the Korean Empire’s Navy, it had to cooperate with the Russian fleet in Vladivostok, but it seemed that they had not expected that their ideas would be so compatible.

The Japanese military was clearly well prepared for war.

However, we failed to control one variable, and the butterfly effect it would have was only just beginning.

This was connected to the fact that the Japanese Army’s main transport ships that were to enter the Korean Peninsula were organized in too small a number.

The number of ships assigned by the Japanese Army to transport the First Army to the Korean Peninsula was approximately 30.

Most were steamships, but some sailing ships were also used.

This is because excessive borrowing has become difficult due to domestic demand issues.

In other words, the Japanese army had too few transport ships, and so their exposure was bound to be severe.

Because it is inevitable when you need to transport large numbers of troops and supplies with limited transportation resources.

“The enemy is making a big mistake. They seem to think that the experience of 1894 will be valid in 1903.”

“Huh, it’s not like our Russian Navy is all gathered in one place like that stupid Northern Fleet. They’re going to pay a heavy price for ignoring our Vladivostok Cruiser Fleet and the Korean Imperial Navy.”

As Rear Admiral Bezobrazov said, the Japanese Navy was overly concentrated in the West Sea.

Of course, this worked during the Sino-Japanese War. The main fleets of the Beiyang Fleet were huddled together in Lushun, avoiding a decisive battle, and thanks to this, a transport fleet of some 30 ships without a single escort ship was able to transport 50,000 troops and supplies over a period of five weeks.

Of course, it’s not like the Japanese military didn’t have any fear of them.

As the voyage distance became longer, it was judged that there would be a surprise attack by the Beiyang Fleet, so in order to avoid their detection, only relatively small ships were mobilized and sailed to Jemulpo.

Naturally, the transport of troops and supplies slowed down, but they had no choice at the time.

Busan, the safest city, was excluded because it was 650km from Pyongyang and 400km from Hansung, so there was no choice but to risk transporting troops and supplies to Jemulpo.

But the current Japanese military has forgotten that lesson.

Full of confidence that they had destroyed the North Sea Fleet, they mistakenly assumed that the Russian Navy would do the same.

The Korean Empire’s navy was also half-ignored, asking what it could do.

So the current situation was that they were constantly sending transport ships loaded with troops and supplies from Hiroshima and Yokohama to Jemulpo.

They were constantly replenishing troops and supplies by sending delicious transport ships to Busan and Gunsanpo.

If he were to leave this alone, he would be unfit to command a fleet. The mere act of disrupting enemy supplies, destroying transport convoys, and ultimately destroying their ability to wage war could have enormous effects.

“Our fleet is ready to set sail.”

“We need to have fun while the enemies are still tied down on the Korean Peninsula.”

“Where are you aiming?”

“If possible, I should stab the enemy in a place they wouldn’t expect.”

Major General Bezobrazzoff smiled wickedly and pointed his finger at the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula.

The place his finger was pointing to was Busan, the rearmost area of ​​the Japanese army and also the starting point of logistics for the war.

“Your country’s greatest admiral, Yi Sun-sin, said the same thing. He said that we must block enemies coming from the sea at the sea. We must block the enemy’s supply line from the start. We simply cannot tolerate them running wild at sea.”

He spoke as he looked at the cruisers in the harbor and the latest destroyers of the Korean Imperial Navy.

Perhaps these would be enough. The combination of fast destroyers and cruisers with guns more than enough to ram larger ships would be unstoppable unless the enemy decided to deploy armored cruisers.

Especially if they are transport ships that they are targeting.

“Our Navy is also ready. Our Navy is small and insignificant, so all that remains is to choose a battlefield where we can fight bravely and die. We will be reassured if we are with your cruisers.”

“Yes, let’s create as many comrades as possible to go to the afterlife.”

Looking at the sea route, they planned to head south by starting from Hamheung and scanning the sea route connecting Wonsan, Ulsan, and Busan.

The curtain was rising on the first battle that the Korean Empire’s Navy would face.

***

“Currently, the transport of reinforcements to the Korean Peninsula is being delayed. The General Headquarters is urging the immediate dispatch of troops and supplies under the 1st Army to Jemulpo, Gunsan, and Busan.”

“No, if that’s the case, then give us more transport ships and say something like that!”

As soon as Yamagata Aritomo’s pressure was lifted, the quartermaster at Ujina Port in Hiroshima suddenly became angry and said:

All 30 ships were mobilized over the past week to transport the 12th and Guards Divisions, and it was as if they were wringing their entire bodies to make it fit together.

Additionally, requests were made to the higher-ups to send more transport ships, but most were rejected.

Eventually, the Quartermaster, unable to bear it any longer, pretended to throw a tantrum by lying on the floor like a child, and then reluctantly gave them a few old, worn-out sailing ships, but even that was unsatisfactory.

After taking control of the major ports on the Korean Peninsula, they had received a promise to provide the Quartermaster with captured or seized ships as a priority, but it seems that this did not yield much success and no ships were properly provided.

The fact that a sailing ship was given to them was also largely related to the difficult reality of the Japanese Empire.

For a moment, I forgot the grim reality of the Japanese Empire, which depended entirely on overseas supplies of coal, especially anthracite coal, which ensured the mobility of the fleet.

“We are running low on coal for the transport ships.”

“Have you asked the Navy?”

“You know we can’t communicate. The 500,000 tons of anthracite coal that Britain gave us was supposed to be supplied only to combat ships.”

“Fuck···.”

The quartermaster had a mouthful of curses in his mouth, but stopped himself.

In preparation for this war, they were saving 500,000 tons of anthracite coal that had been stockpiled, and 500,000 tons of anthracite coal from Cardiff that Britain had provided, for a total of 1 million tons.

Even with the additional supply being unclear, the Navy is frowning at the Army to quickly seize the Pyongyang coal fields, so to speak.

Eventually, given the circumstances, the supply of anthracite coal to civilian ships responsible for water transport, the core of the civilian economy and the heart of domestic logistics, was reduced to the extent that even floating ships and floating freighters were mobilized.

“Isn’t the higher-ups also worried about this right now? They also have to consider domestic coastal transportation.”

“Huh, damn it. Since when did they care so much about Minsu? Since the Yushin era, Minsu has always been subordinate to the military and they’ve always emphasized sacrifice.”

The quartermaster laughed at such an order from the headquarters and said:

It was to the point where I wondered what the point of discussing grand strategies was when those who pride themselves on being able to see several steps ahead couldn’t even solve the problems right in front of them.

“What a mess, you’re doing this while receiving a pittance salary.”

However, the higher-ups, perhaps unaware of the hard work of these supply units, continued to pass on seemingly impossible tasks.

The quartermaster grumbled, but he did not forget his duty as he unfolded a bundle of papers to place troops and cargo on the returning transport ships.

This time, he gave the order to send the remaining units of the 2nd Division, ammunition, various supplies, and laborers to Busan, and thus had to face the unfavorable condition of having to reorganize and send the ships that had returned two days earlier within three days.

“Haa, 8,000 troops from the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division, 4,000 reserve infantry, and all kinds of supplies···.”

“What can we do? We have to try.”

“No, seriously, if we continue like this, we’re in big trouble. Where did our Imperial Navy, which boasted the best fleet in Asia, go? They went to Port Arthur.”

“Right?”

“But if the Roske hiding in Vladivostok or the Joseon fleet in Hamheung suddenly makes a surprise attack, there’s no answer. We’ll all really die.”

The quartermaster spoke with a half-sad look on his face.

I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t sleep or because I was afraid of the problems that were to come, but either way, I was even more nervous because I knew that if things went wrong, I would have to give up my life.