Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 298
Only Noblemtl
#298. In the name of the Tsar (2)
The Manchurian Army headquarters in Fengtian was once again in a state of stagnation.
Not only were supply lines in trouble, but the mobilization of replacement troops from Europe was now nearing its end.
Because of the ice on Lake Baikal that had melted in the evening, the railroad tracks had to be relocated frequently, making it increasingly difficult to mobilize reserve forces.
Repeated defeats and unsettling movements on the mainland easily agitated the soldiers on the front lines.
In particular, the fall of Lushun had a major impact.
Because of this, the Tsar and the imperial government were demanding a victory for Kuropatkin in order to cover up the people’s anger with victory.
Although the South Korean military and government were on a winning streak and had the upper hand, Kuropatkin knew.
The moment they were defeated, everything they had built up until then would come to an end. And now, the Japanese army was clearly moving towards one direction.
“All of our defenses outside of Mukden have collapsed. Battle for Mukden is now inevitable.”
“Lieutenant General Rennenkampf, do you think we can win?”
“···Well. Looking at the fights we’ve had so far, I don’t think it’ll be too much.”
Lieutenant General Rennenkampf led the cavalry group and fought bravely on the front lines.
As other Russian army units were pushed back, his cavalry, along with the 1st Siberian Corps, did its best to cut the Japanese supply lines and disrupt their rear.
This fierce general, who was leading the Trans-Baikal Cavalry Division in the Battle of Liaoyang and was wounded in the shoulder while fending off the Japanese’s fierce pursuit, was evaluated as being more Cossack than the Cossacks themselves, but he held his ground with a bandage on his shoulder.
But even from his mouth, the only words that came out about the war situation were those close to despair.
“The Japanese supply lines are different from ours. While we are only looking at the damned Trans-Siberian Railway, the enemy has secured various supply lines. Although the Korean army and the Korean government are threatening the supply line toward Uiju, the sea supply line through the Liaodong Peninsula and the supply line utilizing the South Manchurian Railway are still intact.”
That wasn’t all. The Japanese military was also creating new divisions on the mainland, replacing units that had suffered heavy losses, as if they were determined to fight an early decisive battle.
Even though there were already 100,000 casualties in Korea alone and a similar number in Manchuria, there were no signs of stopping.
They were preparing the conditions for a decisive blow by urgently purchasing shells from overseas by sea and obtaining national bonds through Britain and the United States.
They even displayed a madman-like behavior by confiscating pots and pans used by civilians to make ammunition.
“Furthermore, the front line is 93 versts (approximately 100 km) long. It is impossible for our 360,000 troops to defend a front line this long.”
“The enemy only has 210,000 troops, so it won’t be easy for them to launch an offensive. If we continue to wage a war of attrition as the commander intended….”
An invisible war of nerves was already taking place within the Manchurian Army Headquarters between Kuropatkin and Gripenberg.
The staff officers and frontline commanders, who were already aware of this, were cautiously observing the situation.
Both Kuropatkin and Gripenberg were well aware of the importance of Mukden, where they stood with both feet firmly planted.
With Lushun gone, the only supply route for the Russian army in Manchuria was the single-track South Manchurian Railway that ran through the Tieling to Mukden.
Although the two commanders agreed that Mukden must be defended at all costs, there was a wide gap in opinion on how to defend it.
Suddenly, Captain Gripenberg stood up and opened his mouth.
“How can we bring about the victory that the Tsar desires, gentlemen? Now it is time for us to give the Japonskys a nightmare in the name of the Tsar.”
“A wrong offensive order could bring us a nightmare. Now is the time to be cautious.”
Kuropatkin, who adhered to the internal line strategy, the traditional defensive warfare of the Russian Empire, and Gripenberg, who dreamed of an offensive command similar to that of France, were like oil and water.
“We must attack before the Japonskis take their positions. If they take their positions and attack Mukden, even with our 1.5 times more troops, it will be difficult to respond. Rather, we must take an offensive approach that utilizes our numerical superiority to stop them.”
“If we fail, we will have to retreat not to Mukden but to Harbin. If that happens, our war will be over…”
“Are you going to just sit there and take it? It’s obvious where they’re going to attack.”
Griffenberg said with his hands on his hips.
He was looking at the personnel of the Manchurian Army Command, especially Commander Kuropatkin, with very intense eyes.
Conscious of his gaze, Kuropatkin coughed in vain and avoided eye contact.
“The Japonskis will never attack our frontal forces. If they attack Mukden head-on, they will know that it will be even more hellish than Lushun. So, they will attack by making a detour to the west of Fengtian.”
“···It’s Cheongha Seong.”
It was an area roughly 65km from here, and since it was mostly flat land, it was the optimal battlefield for the Japanese army, which was good at infantry mobility.
Of course, there was the disadvantage of having to deceive and bypass the Russian defense line to do so, but seeing as the Japanese were also diligently conducting reconnaissance, it was only a matter of time.
It is impossible for the Russian army not to know that it is impossible to defend a front line of more than 100 km evenly.
“It is a distance that allows us to send troops from Mukden in three days. If the enemy is heading here… we can only guarantee victory if we can stop them within five days. The main force of the Japonskis is also heading here now.”
“Is that true?”
“It must be correct, since it was observed through a hot air balloon.”
Captain Gripenberg wasn’t the only one who came here.
Several hot air balloons belonging to the Special Aviation Unit under the Aviation Committee, which can be considered a special unit within the Russian Army, had arrived in the Far East battlefield.
Gripenberg continued his reconnaissance operation by deploying cavalry, and also deployed hot air balloons to monitor the Japanese forces near Bongcheon.
“You can’t win a war with attrition, Commander. I know what you’re thinking. It’s probably because of the experience you had in the war with the Ottomans. If you launch a frontal attack against a well-prepared defense line, you’ll suffer unbearable losses. But we saw the effectiveness of attrition in the Great Patriotic War when we defeated Napoleon at Leipzig. In the meantime, the Manchurian and Korean armies have sufficiently worn down the enemy. Now it’s time to counterattack.”
Kuropatkin was also somewhat aware of the movements within the Manchurian Army Headquarters.
There was now growing discontent that the time had come to turn from retreat to an offensive.
Moreover, the movements of the Japanese military have now reached a level that cannot be ignored.
“Winter is coming soon. Our enemies will do whatever it takes to fight us before winter comes.”
Manchuria in winter had a harsh climate, although not as harsh as Siberia.
It was a time when the ground was frozen and snow piled up on the rugged terrain, making tactical maneuvers impossible.
There was a warning that since the land was okay for now, the enemies would use it to their fullest advantage to launch attacks.
“Then should we attack first… towards Cheongha Castle?”
“It would be foolish to leave them alone when you know the enemy’s intentions. Leave it to the 2nd Manchurian Army under my command. We will beat them up, drive them out of Mukden, and retake Lushun.”
Gripenberg clenched his fist as he looked at Kuropatkin.
Kuropatkin decided that he could no longer delay.
At the very least, it was necessary to let the enemy know that the Russian army was still alive and well before they attacked.
If possible, it was also necessary to deter enemies’ attempts at bypassing attacks.
“Very well. We also need to stab the Japonskis with the Spear of St. George. However, it is not desirable for it to fall into your hands, General Gripenberg.”
“All this is what the Tsar wants. If he wants it, we do it. And I am not the only one holding the spear.”
Kuropatkin reached out to Griffenberg.
The two generals were like oil and water, but at least they fought in the name of the Tsar, and their desire for victory went beyond their hatred for the enemy.
Right now, we had no choice but to trust each other.
“In the name of the Tsar.”
“For the Russian Empire.”
The two exchanged glances for a moment, then prepared to head straight for the front lines.
300,000 Russian troops were advancing toward what would be the first and possibly last field battle of the war.
***
Meanwhile, the Japanese military was also preparing for an offensive.
In accordance with the instructions of the General Headquarters, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Armies, which were facing off against the Roskeids in the direction of Fengtian, and the Yalu River Army, which was to take over the mission of the 1st Army, were each given a mission. Their suggestion was that a very aggressive operation was necessary in order to make the most of the insufficient forces.
“General Nogi’s 3rd Army has a big job to do. While the 4th Army and the Yalu River Army on the right wing are distracting the Roske, the 3rd Army alone has to capture Cheolyeong, 70km behind Bongcheon, and surround them.”
“···This might seem a bit far-fetched···.”
Lieutenant General Kageaki Kawamura, commander of the Yalu River Army, expressed his displeasure.
No matter how excellent General Nogi’s tactics were, looking at the state of the Third Army, it was not a situation where they could engage in mobile warfare at the moment.
In addition to the severe damage suffered at Port Arthur, the army was only able to receive reinforcements sporadically, so instead of its full strength of 50,000 men, it had only 52 battalions and 38,000 men.
“Don’t worry too much, because if the 3rd Army properly carries out the encirclement maneuver, the 2nd Army will follow behind and provide support.”
“No, this maneuver itself is unrealistic. The 3rd Army alone has to maneuver 140km, and will the supplies and replacement of the troops lost in the battle be dug up?”
As expected, the Amnok River Army did everything it could to say.
The 2nd Army Commander and the 4th Army Commander looked as if they were secretly relieved, but the operational staff members from the headquarters looked embarrassed.
Even Marshal Oyama had nothing to say to him; after all, they were nominally reinforcements from the Korean Army to the Manchurian Army.
That is, since they were assigned to them in the formal chain of command but not subordinate to them, they were able to act quite freely.