Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 226



Only Noblemtl

#226. Sedan and Austerlitz (3)

“No matter how much I think about it, I wonder if it wasn’t a loss to give up Hwangju without fighting a single battle.”

“Does Your Majesty still feel sorry for Hwangju?”

“What a pity. They bought expensive tools, especially from the enemy country of Japan, and poured them all into Hwangju, Junghwa, and Pyongyang to barely make something look good. Do you think it would be nice to give up Hwangju, the first line of defense, without even a proper battle?”

Chief Min Yeong-hwan spoke with a displeasure. In fact, it was a pity to just give Hwangju away. Even if it was not possible, it was a natural strategic point where at least one battalion could be trapped to delay the enemy’s advance for as long as possible.

However, since there was a possibility that the classic team would falter until the entire first-team main force arrived, the conclusion was reached that they would have to give up, even if it was only temporarily.

They say that they give flesh and take the bones of their enemies, but in reality, it is burdensome for the parties involved to give up even that flesh.

“To lure out suspicious enemies, we need to throw out some plausible bait. It’s a shame to waste the concrete defenses we’ve built in advance, but if we leave them like this, they’ll assume we made a mistake and rush up.”

Of course, I felt very sorry when I had to give this away. It was even more so than when I had to give away Hanwha Eagles merchandise that I had treasured and cherished.

But he took comfort in the fact that he could gain much more in return for giving it away, and decided to greatly increase the stakes for his enemies.

If we do this much, even the cunning Japanese soldiers will roll their eyes.

Moreover, given that the friendly reconnaissance cavalry and the enemy’s guard cavalry detachment had engaged in combat north of Sariwon and even north of Hwangju… it was inevitable that it would be too late to quickly send down the 7th Brigade now.

“Hmm, won’t that be a problem when we counterattack?”

“Since it was built to block enemies advancing north anyway, there shouldn’t be any major problems in recapturing it.”

I received letters from the messengers with a smile.

Judging from the messenger’s affiliation, it was from the 7th Jingu Brigade. And as expected, they had deployed their troops on time and were ready to fight the enemy.

“Oh, just in time, a message came in from Lieutenant General Shin Tae-hyu, who commands the 7th Brigade. He said that a blockade has been established at Heukgyo, and that the enemy’s advance party is crossing Hwangju. He said that a clash with the enemy is expected starting tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“Now… it’s the beginning. There’s no way to avoid it.”

“There’s one more thing. The 30th Infantry Battalion, which was defending Songnim, is said to have identified an enemy detachment. They are said to have retreated without engaging in combat.”

“Hmm, since Hwangju has been pushed back, we have no choice but to go through Songnim as well… Wait a minute, then wouldn’t the enemies come over to Jinnampo through Songnim Port?”

“That’s why I gave you the yellow wine.”

To be honest, I feel like laughing out loud right now.

The enemies began to nitpick and hang on to what they thought were the mistakes of their allies.

Those enemies must have been the ones who bit the Russian army so hard throughout history, and they must have even defeated the Qing army so that they couldn’t even counterattack.

Again, the enemies were by no means easy opponents.

If this was really our mistake… it could have led to irreversible fatal damage.

In fact, you could say that even now it is as treacherous as walking on thin ice.

“The enemy will be proud that they have opened a breakthrough for the Pyongyang offensive by expanding to Songnim from Hwangju. They will think that because of the unexpectedly rapid offensive, our mobilization force is insufficient and they are abandoning their defensive lines, and that they may be finished off before the arrival of the 1st Army’s follow-up forces.”

The Japanese military was very dogmatic about using the dust-passing method they had learned from Moltke on us.

So exemplary.

If the plan of the 1st Army Commander Kuroki had been followed as planned, it would have been a very difficult situation.

“But if we fail to expand the breakthrough and our numerically superior field forces continue to split the enemy’s divisions, we could achieve a great victory.”

“There are roughly equal numbers of us and the enemy.”

“The forces that can be deployed on the front lines are different. Although it is temporary, our forces have a three to one advantage over the enemy forces. If we can cut off just one division before the 1st Army forces follow up….”

This is how the Chinese army was fooled by the 6th Division of the ROK army in the battlefield that connects Yongmunsan and Paroho.

Failing to expand the breakthrough, they were unable to avoid defeat, losing valuable reserves due to mistaking the kitchen fishing boats from the beginning.

By the time you realize you’ve fallen into a trap, it’s too late.

The 6th Division of the Korean Army, which had been conserving its forces in the rear, was hit hard by the main attack and almost destroyed a force equivalent to an entire corps.

Of the 30,000 troops, 21,000 were killed and 2,600 were captured, while the 6th Division’s losses were only about 700.

Perhaps in this war, Yongmunsan and Paroho could be Jinnampo. If that happens, the wind of battle will change completely.

While I was thinking like that, a telecommunications office worker came running.

He said, handing me a piece of paper.

“Sergeant, this is a secret telegram from the 5th Division of the Records Investigation Office. The enemy’s vanguard is the Guards Division, and the 12th Division and the 2nd Division will advance toward Pyongyang at intervals of two to three days.”

“You were right, sir. How did you know?”

“I would have done the same if I were Kuroki.”

I smiled and answered the words of the spirit Kim Seok-joong.

Kuroki, or anyone else sitting there, would have done the same thing if they were in that situation.

With past successes, pressure from higher-ups who are pressed for time, and a lack of manpower, all they can do is launch a quick offensive.

“By the way, each division is planning a three-way advance. Just like how Deokguk defeated France in Sedan.”

“Yes, I guess so. One division in Jinnampo, one division in Junghwa, and one division that will make a big detour and come towards Moranbong…”

Of course, the Japanese military’s methods were very different from the German military’s.

The result of the Battle of Sedan was a result of Moltke’s advanced foresight in calculating the railroad network as if it were a precise clock, the environment in which railroads could be properly utilized militarily, and France’s strategic mistakes.

“But we are not the Qing army, and of course, our enemies are not the Virtuous nation they were during the Franco-Prussian War. The Guards Division has fallen into our trap, so we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away.”

I snapped my fingers and looked at the people standing behind me.

“Cavalry Regiment, Assault Infantry Regiment! All move toward Jinnampo. Attack the enemy’s flank in the pre-designated area.”

“When do you expect to make contact with the enemy?”

“The enemy’s special forces’ main force is currently in the city of Nampo. The enemy is mistaken in thinking that our main force is currently moving towards Junghwa. We should give those arrogant guys a grand welcome.”

I said this while holding the handle of the sword on my waist tightly with my left hand.

“Perhaps this battle is the only chance to destroy the enemy’s elite division in the field. So, tell all the field units under the command of Sunmuyeong, and all the artillery and civilian troops below the commanding officer of the Gwanseo Command. Everyone, do your best in your respective positions.”

“All right.”

The enemies began to make a gamble to make this place their fortress, and I began to make this place my Austerlitz.

The snow that had been falling since yesterday has stopped, and the sunlight has begun to seep in.

***

“This is a message from the chief of police. He understands the decision of the brigade commander in selecting the current location, and he has told each of you to do your best in your respective positions.”

“I get it.”

Chief Shin Tae-hyu took a deep breath and looked at what would soon become the battlefield.

This place, also called Heukgyo Station, used to be a post station, and it was said that one day, when the Gyeongui Line was built, the main railroad connecting Hanseong and Pyongyang would pass through here.

Of course, now all that was waiting for them were the traces of the old post stations, the village where their descendants lived, and the 4,000-strong 7th Brigade.

“Brigade Commander, there are some good hills behind the village. I would like to ask why you did not set up your main defensive line there but instead attacked the village.”

“If we stay hidden in the mountains like this, the enemy may bypass us.”

Shin Tae-hyu readily answered his aide’s question and lifted the cup of warm tea that had been served for dinner.

If the enemy had bypassed this place, it would have been a complete disaster. There was concern that the 4th Brigade, which had been waiting in Pyongyang for the decisive moment, would be exhausted from the very beginning.

“And to show our enemies that we are also willing to fight, it would be right to use this Black Trade area itself as a main fishing port.”

“Hmm, the rear is all mountain ranges, which is a bit disappointing. I have some questions about the arrangement, which is a bit different from the strategy.”

“They say that military strategy is the basis of all wars, but that doesn’t mean that all battles will be fought according to military strategy. It’s just a question of who can apply it better.”

That is why the chief of police grew up to be a person capable of leading an entire army at a young age of not even thirty.

Shin Tae-hyu saw that, although young, he was a capable person who not only mastered military tactics, but also melted them all into his own method and used them in the right place at the right time.

“However, since the main building is also in a bad position, I have instructed some of the artillerymen to set up a defensive line there. If our strength is exhausted and the Japanese break our line, they will buy us time.”

“Didn’t you send most of the artillery to block enemies who might come north from Songnim?”

“I left about one battalion. Even though it was reduced by 600 men.”

It was bitter. The enemy forces heading here were also said to be in the same ‘brigade’ formation as them.

However, in detail, unlike the 7th Brigade, which commanded only four infantry battalions, the enemy’s Guards Brigade commanded six battalions.

Regardless of the battlefield, East or West, past or present, it was natural that the god of victory would smile upon those with a large reserve force.

Of course, the two squadrons of Russian cavalry that had arrived at that moment could provide support, but I didn’t have that much confidence in them.

The front they faced was one where they had to fight with their backs turned to mountains and facing an open plain.

Shin Tae-hyu wondered what the highly dynamic Nosoa cavalry could do compared to the extremely static front he was in charge of.

“Check the forward ships once more, and also check the defensive facilities of the main fishing boats. The enemy will attack us without delay tomorrow morning.”

As soon as we arrived, we inspected the defensive facilities that had been prepared since last year.

And as a bonus, he ordered them to bring in barbed wire and sandbags that had been stockpiled in Pyongyang and reinforce the inadequate defensive facilities.

“Report to the platoon leader that there are insufficient barbed wire and sandbags so that they can be replenished.”

“All right.”

Shin Tae-hyu, who thought that this was not enough, ordered that a trench line be dug in the plain in front of the village that would serve as an outpost and that two companies be deployed.

Of course, unlike Juansan, the trenches were placed on a plain, so we couldn’t have high expectations, but we had to be satisfied with the fact that we could at least control two roads leading into Heukgyo.

After all, their role is to block enemies approaching this place at the first sign of approach and to provide enough time for the main fishing boats to prepare in various ways.

“All right.”

If it were as the chief priest said, there would be no problem, but if by any chance a variable were to arise…

Shin Tae-hyu intended to make Heukgyoyeok itself a second Juansan Mountain.

He had been wondering why Brigade Commander Min Yeong-gi had refused the Marshal’s Office’s order to retreat, but now he knew for sure.

“···The Lord will come here for you who are brave in battle, and he will wield the sword of terror, giving you the power to sweep away all the wicked enemies. Also, the Lord will blow the trumpet to advance, not to retreat, and he will look upon the brave from the judgment seat in the future, and he will look down on all who go to battle.”

“amen.”

From afar, I could hear the sermon of a pastor serving in the army.

Come to think of it, there are more Christians in the northwest region than other regions.

Of course, now, unlike the time of Daewongun, their activities were free, but Shin Tae-hyu was displeased with them for that.

Because the prejudice that it would eat away at the country and destroy all Confucian principles was enormous.

However, he decided that he didn’t care if the soldiers could just find one thing, even one bit of courage.

Whatever they were fighting for, I just hoped they would do their job here.

“If we are destined to lose our lives on the battlefield, just as the Lord gave His life to wash away the sins of mankind, let us die to free our country from misery and our people from suffering under the enemy’s boots…”

Shin Tae-hyu snickered.

‘Even if he is a Christian, he still has feelings for his country, where he will eventually be buried.’

He felt that from afar, the ominous smell of gunpowder and death was advancing, little by little.