Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 219



Only Noblemtl

#219. Time race (4)

“You hit the jackpot this time.”

“This information is more powerful than firearms and Maxims. And we have the secret weapon that can defeat the Japanese.”

Lee Gyu-tae, the commander of the Royal Guards, offered a cigarette to Deputy Chief Jo Dong-yoon, who was standing right in front of him.

“Yes, we won a great victory.”

“We… this is a victory achieved by me and the Navy. The Army hasn’t shown anything of note yet. Excluding the 3rd Brigade’s impulsive actions, that is.”

He grumbled at Lee Kyu-tae while accepting the cigarette.

“···If we are all military officers under the same national flag and military discipline, aren’t we all on the same side?”

“Is that really so, Your Majesty? His Majesty the Emperor seems to be enjoying it as if it were his own work.”

Jo Dong-yoon struck a match with a smile.

Along with a pungent smell, a crackling sound was heard and the match head caught fire.

“Although Your Majesty lost power in the last coup, you are still officially the top leader of this country and the commander in chief of the military.”

“Hmm, our esteemed Records Director would have anticipated all such problems, didn’t he give the Navy such a great opportunity?”

When Manager Lee Gyu-tae spoke with a slightly sarcastic tone, Jo Dong-yoon grumbled and responded.

“The fate of the country hangs in the balance, and I have no intention of weighing politics to that extent and fighting. Just as a cat, whether black or white, is fine as long as it catches mice, as long as it kills the enemy well, I will provide information to anyone. Even if they are the remnants of Dongbi.”

He said, taking a drag on his cigarette.

“This is a perfect example of a realistic approach.”

“If you are someone who handles information, you should be able to do that. But what I want to say is this. Be careful of Your Majesty, who still cannot give up his ambition.”

Jo Dong-yoon spoke with a rather serious expression that he had never seen before.

The emperor they served was a man who ruled Joseon for over 40 years, and did whatever it took to maintain his power, tightroping between his father, Japan, the Qing Dynasty, and even Russia.

“Think of the Minister of War Cho Hee-yeon and the Minister of the Interior Park Yeong-hyo who were blown away in the year of Eulmi. Your Majesty got rid of them all, even though all political authority had been stripped away by the Japanese military.”

“That’s why the Eulmi Incident happened···.”

“On the other hand, Your Majesty is no different from a bandit who will do anything to regain power. Perhaps, using this war as an excuse, he will try to regain his power at any time.”

“However, the current military and cabinet are not on His Majesty’s side. Even the royalist faction that was on His Majesty’s side was terrified by His Majesty’s actions and did not take the lead in the coup.”

“Haha, Your Majesty has recently found a new but capricious group of people who can be on His side: the masses of the people.”

Jo Dong-yoon said with a bitter laugh.

Although Lee Gyu-tae did not like the sly general in this information operation, he had no choice but to acknowledge his ability.

“The masses of the people···.”

“The people are not yet like the French or the Germans. They are used to being ruled, and they are very loyal to His Majesty the Emperor. Perhaps this naval victory will also play a big role in increasing His Majesty’s popularity.”

“What a strange thing.”

“In particular, the Navy, in most cases without knowing the inside story, is known to have been trained with funds willingly provided by His Majesty the Emperor···.”

“In the end, their efforts may return as a merit to His Majesty the Emperor, right?”

When Lee Kyu-tae spoke, he spoke with delight, as if he were a child who had found the answer to a problem on his own.

“That’s right. So there is also the issue that the Sunmuyeong of Pyongyang must win a great victory. Only by winning a great victory can he restrain His Majesty the Emperor’s movements.”

He said, savoring his cigarette. After all, if the Emperor regains the power he had before, then everyone here now, whether it be before or after the war or a little further in the future, will be a bunch of idiots.

“However, I am a little skeptical that such a victory can be achieved. Of course, I trust Vice Admiral Kim Si-hyeok, but unlike the Navy, which had to deal with enemies without even a single escort ship, he has to confront the elite First Army of the Japanese Army alone.”

“I don’t think a dramatic victory like the Navy’s will be possible.”

Cho Dong-yoon nodded to his words. The size of the enemy that the Army and Navy faced on the front lines was significantly different.

“Even if we win, it will be a bloody victory. It might be difficult to even call it a victory.”

Lee Gyu-tae had also heard that the emperor had been making constant efforts to regain his position recently.

Of course, neither the ministers of the war cabinet, nor the staff of the Marshal’s Office, nor the officers of the Tongeo-yeonggi did not respond to the Emperor’s empty cries.

“In that sense, how about redeploying one or two of the reserve cavalry regiments stationed in Tong-eo-sa, Sam-su, and Gap-san toward Pyongyang?”

“···Abandoning the defense of Hamheung?”

“The Japanese army will not attack Hamhung. What is urgent for them is Pyongyang, not Hamhung. Unfortunately, they think of us as change.”

“······.”

“So, what I’m saying is, let’s reinforce the two reserve cavalry regiments in the Samsu and Gapsan areas, which can be considered the rear of Hamheung, to Pyongyang.”

Lee Gyu-tae knew that reserve cavalry regiments starting with Dan-dae-ho 12 and 13 were being created in Samsu and Gapsan, respectively.

“The enemy’s advance has not even been confirmed yet? They are a valuable force.”

“Oh, really. The Japanese would be stuck there after the transport ship was destroyed and the follow-up troops were blown away. Chief Kim Si-hyeok has already devised a mysterious plan to annihilate the enemy.”

“Hmm.”

“So, if we trust him and invest in him, let’s send two reserve cavalry regiments. It’s not like we’re sending the elite brigade of the Guards Division, but isn’t this a good amount?”

This cunning guy.

Lee Gyu-tae could not have been unaware of his symbol. After all, since he had no field forces that he could actually operate, he must have come to me, who was the actual field commander in this area, and talked to me as if we were on the same boat.

However, his proposal itself was not something to be ignored. In any case, the victory in Pyongyang was directly related to Hamheung’s survival, and Hamheung’s survival would inevitably be sensitive to when the battle in Manchuria would break out again.

“Good. After all, it’s not something he can fight alone.”

So he decided to take a chance on Jo Dong-yoon’s choice.

“Even on the battlefield, I have to worry about the Emperor’s revival.”

“War is essentially an extension of politics. Your Majesty the Emperor understands this very well. We, unfortunate soldiers… can only do the best we can.”

Jo Dong-yoon threw his almost finished cigarette on the floor and stepped on it with his combat boot as he spoke.

“Ah, it’s snowing.”

“shit.”

Lee Gyu-tae cursed and looked at the pure white trash falling from the sky. It had barely been a month since the war began, but he already felt tired.

***

Meanwhile, at the Russian Army’s Manchurian Army headquarters located in Fengtian, everyone was surprised by the unexpected propaganda.

“The 23rd Brigade of the 12th Division of the Japanese Army suffered significant losses on the Gyeongin Island, and this time, the cruiser fleet in Vladivostok and the Korean fleet joined forces to capture and destroy an enemy transport convoy heading to Busan. In the process, it is said that two cruisers and four torpedo boats belonging to the 7th Squadron of the Japanese Navy were also sunk.”

“The Varyag and Koryets that sank in Jemulpo will finally rest in peace.”

The Korean government and the Korean military judged that, no matter how desperate their efforts, it would be difficult to overcome the fundamental weight class difference.

However, they resolved their internal confusion on their own, united, went to war, and struck effectively against the Japanese.

Manchurian Army Commander Kuropatkin was secretly relieved when he received reports on the situation unfolding on the Korean battlefield.

“The Korean military is doing its job better than I thought.”

The Tsar’s fence was paying for itself, though. They were more capable and brave than anyone had thought.

Despite the certainty of death looming before them, these Koreans, who had taken it upon themselves to protect the Tsar’s fence, resisted against their cold fate.

The trinity of bravery, desperation, and desperation they displayed was more sacred than anything else, at least on the battlefield where victory and defeat were at odds.

And this was also a virtue that the Russian army in Manchuria, whose morale was now low, had to observe and learn.

While thinking about this and that, Kuropatkin placed his baton on the Korean Peninsula at the bottom of the map and spoke.

“Did Major General Mischenko’s unit cross the river?”

“He has arrived in Uiju leading a 2,000-man advance force and is currently moving south to Pyongyang. He said he will join the South Korean commander there to support the defense.”

“Also urge the follow-up units. The 16,000 troops commanded by Misenko are the maximum number of troops that can support the Korean Empire. And with those troops, we must do our best to stop the Japanese advance…”

“Why did you entrust it to Mischenko when it could have been entrusted to General Zasulich?”

Kuropatkin’s expression was cold in response to the staff’s questions. Normally, it would have been proper for Lieutenant General Zasulich, who was in charge of the entire Eastern Zone, to command the unit.

But he shook his head and answered the staff’s question directly.

“He was certainly a brave man. Thanks to his bravery in the war against the Ottomans, he was promoted to colonel and has risen to his current position. However, it is difficult to find in him the bravery and bold determination he had 30 years ago.”

I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or because I’ve been promoted to a position that an ordinary person can handle, but I’ve been feeling incredibly helpless lately.

Slow, indecisive, and even courageless. The commanders of the 2nd Siberian Army Corps in the eastern sector were openly dissatisfied with their indecisive commander, so to speak.

“That is why I entrusted this important task to young Misenko. That capable, brave, and impulsive Ukrainian would be a great leader of the troops in the eastern sector under Zasulich.”

It was a choice worthy of Kuropatkin, who was recognized as one of the best strategists in Europe.

However, the reality of the Russian military was that there were not many high-ranking commanders who had fought in such a great battle, so they had no choice but to appoint Zasulich to the position of commander of the 2nd Siberian Army Corps.

So Kuropatkin withdrew his unit and assigned it to Major General Mishenko, who was considered much more capable.

The parties involved may feel bad, but it was inevitable if they wanted to make an advantageous move on the gigantic chessboard called war.

“Besides, if you put Misenko next to that young Korean general who is known for being cautious, it would be perfect.”

Although I have not yet met him in person, I have heard a lot about him from military advisors and local sources, as he is the de facto head of the Korean military.

He contributed to the creation of the current Korean military, got along well with foreign military instructors, and above all, was smart and agile.

If someone like Misenko could assist him well, he might be able to achieve results that exceed expectations.

“Our military advisory group is still in Pyongyang. Our military advisory group of about 30 people led by Brigadier General Puchata will also assist the South Korean military in its defensive battles.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Following the Tsar’s orders, the military advisory group also decided not to withdraw, but to remain with the Korean army and fight a defensive battle alongside them.

With Major General Mischenko’s forces and the support of the military advisory group, along with the 15,000 or so regular Korean troops and the 50,000 or so locally mobilized troops, it would have been more than enough to fulfill the role of Sevastopol.