Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 222



Only Noblemtl

#222. Time race (7)

Commander Kuroki couldn’t tell whether he should like this or not.

At the very least, they were worried about what would happen if the enemy was positioned at the main resistance line they had expected, such as Pyeongsan, and fought a defensive battle like they had on the Gyeongin Road.

However, after the Battle of Gyeongin-ga, the enemies emptied Gyeonggi-do and even Hwanghae-do, which they called so important.

In particular, it was a bit surprising that Hwanghae-do, which had been valued since the founding of the Joseon Dynasty and even before that by the Goryeo Dynasty, was simply abandoned.

“Your Majesty the Commander! The Koreans are retreating continuously, fearful of facing us. Perhaps they are even giving up on Pyongyang and trying to withdraw to Manchuria to join Roske. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity?”

“If you had faced the Joseon soldiers directly on the Gyeongin Road, you wouldn’t have said something like that.”

“Isn’t that because your troops are too weak?”

Now, the commander of the Guards Division and the commander of the 12th Division, who had become firmly entangled, were scorning each other, but Commander Kuroki did not think of stopping them. It seemed too unnatural to do so.

The enemies who had resisted so much in the Gyeongin-do area, this time, did nothing and gave up such good defensive positions. It was an action that defied common sense.

Perhaps, they sensed their impatience and felt as if they were telling them to come in on their own.

If this happens, the caution and prudence of the Japanese military commanders will be greatly dulled, and they will have no choice but to carry out mobile warfare semi-forcibly. In the process, many parts will be omitted, and they may end up suffering a disaster if they try to make up for the lost time by advancing quickly.

“They emptied Gyeonggi-do and Hwanghae-do… Something doesn’t feel right.”

“It is highly probable that the enemy went to extreme lengths to reduce the depth of defense. The Koreans’ forces are not that great to handle the entire defense line. Furthermore, the remaining forces were divided between Hamgyeong and Pyeongan provinces.”

“It would be presumptuous of you to say this… We are short on supplies right now, Commander Kuroki. Right now, we have enough supplies to last for two to three weeks, but as time goes by, we may not be able to fight properly, let alone go on the offensive, and may have to turn to the defensive.”

All circumstances were pointing in the direction that the First Army had no choice but to go on the offensive. That was why Commander Kuroki was even more suspicious of the situation… but that did not mean he had any choice.

“The General Headquarters is also advocating an offensive, so what are you so worried about, Commander? Organize your troops immediately and attack Pyongyang. In three days, we can reach the outskirts of Pyongyang!”

“Marshal Oyama told us to make Pyongyang the capital of our Japanese Empire. If we annihilate the Korean army in Pyongyang, they will no longer be able to resist!”

In particular, the Imperial Guard Division, which was dominated by people from Satsuma, was the most aggressive.

Commander Kuroki was left with only one choice.

“···Good. As ordered by the headquarters, we will occupy Pyongyang around the time of the anniversary of the founding of the nation and open the road to Uiju.”

He walked slowly towards the map, then looked back at his staff and division commanders and spoke.

“With the Guards Division in the lead, the 12th Division and the 2nd Division will move in turn to pass the powder pass. The Guards Division will advance toward Junghwa and Jinnampo, but will avoid engaging the enemy as much as possible until the following divisions join.”

“Shouldn’t we attack when the opportunity arises?”

“I don’t know how many enemies there are in Pyeongan Province. So if we gather all of the First Army’s forces and attack Pyongyang in a sarobyongjin, we will be able to achieve victory like in the battle of 1894.”

Kuroki was uneasy about something. He thought that if the enemy had abandoned Gyeonggi-do and Hwanghae-do, they might have prepared a considerably denser defensive line by reducing the defensive front to Pyeongan-do.

Moreover, the supreme commander in command of that area was the one who had suppressed the rioters in China with overwhelming odds and was the main culprit of the military coup that completely threw the initial war plan into disarray, so he thought that he had to be even more careful.

“I’ll say it again, don’t act unilaterally. No matter what happens, you must wait for the follow-up force.”

In Commander Kuroki’s view, the police chief Kim Si-hyeok was both extremely talented and cunning.

So, while trying to pass the dust storm, he also earnestly urged the most fully-powered Guards Division not to underestimate the enemy and enter recklessly.

And the Satsuma warrior Lieutenant General Asada Nobuoki standing in front of him was not much of a match for that man named Kim Si-hyeok.

The advantage is that they are very aggressive and can operate their units sensibly, but these generals can be easily manipulated by those like Kim Si-hyuk who use cunning as their weapon.

“Understood, Commander. I will deploy the division immediately.”

Lieutenant General Nobuoki Asada left immediately with a confident expression.

Something still felt off, but now it was time to put everything on the line in battle.

Commander Kuroki continued to send out reconnaissance units to identify enemy positions, while also requesting information about the internal situation in Pyeongan Province through internal collaborators still connected to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I kept having uneasy thoughts that the road to Pyongyang might be the road to hell, but I tried to ignore them.

***

“The enemy is finally launching a hasty offensive.”

“This is a very precious opportunity for us.”

“Okay, so what do you plan to do now?”

Finally, the Japanese army began to move. They sent out a considerable number of reconnaissance units and attempted to explore a very wide area, from northern Gyeonggi Province to Hwanghae Province.

“We must fight against the enemy’s intentions as they are known. As I said before, we will intercept the enemy’s powder charge.”

I said this without hiding my smile. The variables created by the 3rd Brigade and the result of the destruction of trade brought about by the Navy resulted in the Japanese 1st Army in Hanseong being forced into an offensive.

Of course, each of their tactical actions was careful and worth learning from, but the important thing is that they ended up in a situation where they ‘went on the offensive unprepared’.

“The enemy is not well prepared.”

“What are you talking about? Even so, they have stockpiled supplies in Jemulpo to last several weeks.”

“That’s just the fate of the Japanese in Hanseong.”

I said with a smile. The end result for the army that was rushed to the front line without preparation was more miserable than expected. It was just like when the US 8th Army and the US 10th Corps advanced after October 1, 1950.

“They have four enemies. Not two, not three, but four.”

I held up my fingers and made the number 4.

“I understand three. But what about one?”

“It’s time. Ultimately, our army, the army of Russia, and the cold are issues that are connected to time.”

One reason was that while the Allied Forces and the then South Korean Army were racing against time as they advanced north, their supply lines were not properly restored or were overstretched, which made them vulnerable to large-scale surprise attacks by the Chinese army.

Even though winter was approaching, everyone except the Marine Divisions under the US 10th Corps that had advanced along the eastern axis was in dire straits, with all their winter gear tied up at the port.

Of course, the situation then and now are incomparably different, but the Japanese military could not help but think of such a situation.

“So, since we have to come up in a hurry and quickly occupy Pyongyang, there is no way we can have proper logistical support.”

“But the enemies will attack just as fiercely.”

Suddenly, a pretty good analogy occurred to me.

“Hehe, Commander, you may have heard of it… There is a rather interesting custom in Spain. It is a form of entertainment called bullfighting.”

Perhaps this bullfight is what best represents the relationship between us and the Japanese military.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“A matador fighting a giant bull doesn’t just fight. He waves a red cloth in front of the bull to excite them, dodges the bull’s charging forward with increased movement, and finally kills it by stabbing it in the heart with a sword.”

Since Min Yeong-hwan was interested in the world, he would know what I was talking about.

“Does that mean the bull is a Japanese soldier?”

“Yes, and I plan to leave the role of the red cloth here, in Jinnampo.”

I pointed to a corner of the map.

“Jinnampo.”

“This is a very important place for us both strategically and tactically. Not only is there a port here that gives us direct access to the western part of Pyongyang, but the main logistics facilities and supply depots of the local defense forces are located here.”

I don’t know for sure, but there were enough supplies piled up here to last at least three months.

“If we occupy Jinnampo and continue north, the ammunition depot, military supply warehouse, and butcher shop for the army will all fall into the hands of the enemy.”

“Then it would be a big deal. Leading the enemies to a place like that.”

“Originally, the greater the risk, the greater the reward.”

I shrugged my shoulders at Chief Min Yeong-chan’s words.

“This will be a place that the Japanese army, which is short on supplies, cannot just pass by. If the enemy captures this place, they will gain three advantages.”

Of course, it was possible to cut off the supply line of the friendly forces, which firstly put the troops stationed in Pyongyang in a difficult position, secondly to supplement their own insufficient supplies, and lastly, it was a good opportunity to advance into the vulnerable western part of Pyongyang.

“In the year of Gap-o, the Qing army, which had held out stubbornly, collapsed after being unable to withstand the flanking attacks on Moranbong and Pothongmun. I think it will be the same this time.”

“But no matter how cold it is now, the Taedong River is very wide. And in the case of Gap-o, wasn’t the reason the Japanese army was able to enter Jinnampo because they landed in the lower reaches of the Taedong River?”

“But there is a best place to cross. Oh, here it is. It is Songnim Port. The enemy will land on the east side of Jinnampo through here and bring in ground forces.”

I said it as if I had fully anticipated the actions they might take.

“And I’ll make it so that you have no choice but to come here. To come to Songnim Port···.”

“I will inevitably have to give up Hwangju.”

Next to him, the spirit of Kim Seok-joong nodded and said.

“It is as the cavalry commander said. We must give Hwangju.”

“What? That place is a strategic point connecting Hwanghae-do and Pyeongan-do! Are you saying you’re going to hand it over so easily?”

“It is a chance to sacrifice flesh and cut the enemy’s bones. If the enemy’s dust passes are divided into Jinnampo and Junghwa, then it will be our time.”

I said with a bitter laugh.

“How can that be our time? If we give up the Hwangju so easily, it may be difficult to get it back!”

“We must make our enemies let their guard down.”

Just as Napoleon deliberately gave up the Pratzen Heights at Austerlitz to induce the Allied Forces to let their guard down.