Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 300
Only Noblemtl
#300. In the name of the Tsar (4)
“Commander, is there no sortie from the reserves this time either?”
“Not yet. A commander without a reserve at a critical moment is just an observer on the battlefield. We are just acting as an anvil, but who knows? The hammer handle may break, so we must always keep it in our pocket.”
The enemy’s reaction was also immediate.
When they judged that the Russian army had begun a full-scale offensive, they immediately began to defend themselves with machine guns and field guns.
Across the front lines, a tremendous flash of light followed, followed immediately by a powerful enemy counterattack.
As the artillery poured down bombardment on the intended area and the Japanese front began to retreat, the infantry began to advance forward, bayonets thrust in.
Of course, the Russian infantry’s skills were far inferior to those of the Japanese army.
“I repeatedly warned you not to advance in dense formations… It’s so horrible that I can hardly bear to watch.”
“The level of both the officers and the soldiers is too low. In the end, they have no choice but to return to the way they are used to, so they cannot abandon their old customs.”
The thought occurred to me, ‘Well, that’s why the Russian Empire is in such a state.’
Even though more than a dozen years had passed since the liberation of the serfs and the declaration of industrialization, the stagnant empire was unable to shed its past appearance.
Society was regressing to such old customs, and the military, as a derivative of it, was no different.
The current state of the Russian army, the largest in Europe, but equally clumsy, inefficient, and old-fashioned, was contained in this battlefield.
Of course, they were showing ‘old-fashioned loyalty’ to the Tsar and the Empire, but it was questionable how long that would last.
“Look, look. Oh my.”
As expected, they were seen being blown to pieces by machine gun and artillery fire hastily mobilized by the Japanese army.
It was a sight that was nothing short of the most horrific breakdown of the advance of line infantry, something that might have been seen during the Napoleonic Wars.
It was fortunate that there were no cases like the one in which a certain regiment was annihilated while using the marching formation used only in military parades at the beginning of the war.
The level of the Russian army was so low that Kuropatkin had advised the Tsar before the war that “Russia cannot wage war in the Far East.”
Of course, the abominable Japan had first provoked Korea, and the war had grown so big that the adventurists in St. Petersburg immediately responded, so he had no choice but to step forward.
After a moment of thought, he picked up his telescope and looked at the front line again, this time seeing the friendly lines being hit by concentrated bullets and shrapnel fire from the defense line.
As the soldiers floundered in the mud due to the heavy rain, the enemy did not miss it.
With a loud noise, the soldiers in the front lines disappeared with screams, and in retaliation, the powerful Russian artillery overwhelmed the enemy’s front lines with the number of shells.
Among the torrent of shells, Japanese soldiers were seen lying all over the trench lines, as if drowning, either breathing their last or being reduced to pieces of meat without even being able to breathe.
“In the name of the Tsar, let us bring death to the Japonskys!”
“Let’s show those bastards the might of the Siberian riflemen! Everyone, don’t be discouraged and keep your heads up! We will stand here and die today!”
Even in the midst of the hellish front, the surviving Russian soldiers continued to advance, filling in the gaps in the broken ranks under the command of non-commissioned officers who stepped forward to replace fallen officers.
As the drummers beat their drums and the trumpeters sang the tunes announcing the advance, they advanced bravely through the mud.
“Hmm… You’re very brave.”
When Napoleon evaluated the Russian Imperial Army, he said:
They are a moving wall that cannot be easily destroyed by any attack, and at the same time, they are excellent soldiers.
And Kuropatkin felt that his assessment might still be valid today.
The battle was fought in a typical old-fashioned manner, very much befitting the Russian Imperial Army.
It was a massive artillery barrage along the entire front, an infantry advance that never stopped despite being divided again and again, and a savage cavalry charge through the shattered defensive line.
“Commander, our cavalry is charging over there.”
When I turned my telescope at the staff’s words, I saw Cossacks wielding shashkas and lances, digging into the center of the front line.
Perhaps a Sotnia (a Russian Cossack cavalry squadron) had rushed into the front without the permission of its commander.
Of course, their appearance caused a stir on the front lines, and since they were advancing quickly, the enemies were initially unable to respond properly.
But it was obvious what would happen if cavalry were trapped between enemy lines.
They brandished their swords and spears at the Japanese infantry, but soon disappeared as if they were sucked deep into enemy territory.
Kuropatkin paid tribute to the brave cavalrymen and listened to reports on the course of the battle from Generals Lineevich on the left wing and Kaulbars in the center.
[First wave of attacks, many casualties / Currently in contact with enemy’s outer defense line / Second wave of attacks begins / Long live the Great Russian Empire / Long live the Tsar]
The content was the same on both the left and center of the front.
However, General Lineevich, commanding the 1st Manchurian Army on the left wing, reported that because of terrain problems he could not maintain a large-scale offensive, and that he would confuse the enemy by engaging in artillery fire.
“In the end, the center will become the fiercest battlefield.”
“I agree.”
Kuropatkin pursed his lips and thought that he could only wait anxiously for news of the 2nd Manchurian Army, which had now advanced toward Cheongha Castle.
Under the name of the Tsar, the wrath of the Russian Empire was pouring down like the autumn rain that was now falling.
***
“What on earth makes the Roskeites believe in and launch a preemptive strike?!”
Meanwhile, the Japanese military’s Manchurian Army headquarters was also in chaos.
He couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the large-scale offensive launched by the Roske, taking advantage of the heavy rain.
“Nogi, has Nogi’s force advanced?!”
“They should already be advancing towards Cheongha Castle. Don’t worry. The enemy probably hasn’t observed them yet.”
“But even so… I feel a little uneasy about the offensive being launched when the 3rd Army was absent. Could it be that our intentions were leaked?”
Either the enemy knew our plans or we were just plain lucky.
Concerns and worries began to creep into the command center.
“Kuropatkin, this clever man···.”
Marshal Oyama frowned and said.
Autumn in Manchuria must have been full of mud, but it was certainly an admirable display of mental strength to brave it and attempt to break through the front line.
However, the size of the attacking Roske force was not ordinary. In particular, the offensive was concentrated in the center.
As we prepared for an attack and then turned to a hasty defense, problems arose one after another.
The 4th Army and the Yalu Army, which were originally supposed to attract attention by harassing the right wing of the Russian army, ended up with their defensive points completely tangled as their positions overlapped, and the 2nd Army, which had deployed only a small number of troops to the defensive line to support the 3rd Army, was getting beaten up.
“It seems that the Roske on the right wing of the front line are not very active. The problem is the center···.”
Reports were coming in that the number of infantry and cavalry pouring down like a torrential downpour, accompanied by the Russian army’s devastating artillery fire, was estimated to be over 200,000.
“You display a strong spirit and agile movements that are unusual for a Loske.”
“Right now, we don’t know what the intentions or purpose of the Roske guys are in their offensive, but reports from the units in contact say that they’re facing an incredible number of enemies.”
“I thought we suffered a lot of damage while retreating from battle…”
When I think about it, their damage was a bit greater.
Just before the Battle of Fengtian, the Russian army had suffered casualties of about 20,000 to 30,000 in the outer areas, while the Japanese army had suffered casualties of much greater numbers, about 50,000.
Even the current 210,000 troops were barely maintained by squeezing them out from the home country.
“Even if we can’t do it, they are 1.5 times more numerous than us. We can’t let them down with that much damage, so isn’t that why we ordered General Nogi’s 3rd Army to make a bold encirclement maneuver? However, Marshal, if we continue like this, the 2nd Army in the center may be pushed back before the 3rd Army can even complete its maneuver.”
“Could it be that they noticed it and moved?”
Marshal Oyama stood up from his seat and muttered.
The 2nd Army was designated as a unit that could assist the 3rd Army’s movements, and its main mission was to gradually send troops from the central front toward the 3rd Army and break through to the point where they had broken through.
However, the Roskeids seemed to have realized their intentions precisely, and were putting great pressure on the center, not the right wing, of the Japanese front line by deploying a large number of troops.
“Is there any report on what is happening with Captain Oku’s unit?”
“Except for the 8th Division in reserve and the 8th Infantry Brigade in reserve, all troops are engaging the enemy!”
widely!
In response to the staff’s report, Marshal Oyama slammed his fist on the table.
If the 2nd Army could not move, the 3rd Army would be left alone and isolated, slowly surrounded and destined to die.
“What divisions are left among those currently in military reserve?!”
“I have no divisions left, but I have three reserve infantry brigades and one heavy artillery brigade left···.”
The staff member spoke in a crawling voice.
‘That’s why I said we need the first army.’
Marshal Oyama regretted it, but it was already too late.
The 1st Army and the Korean Army, which were supposed to support them as originally planned, ended up playing hide-and-seek with the Joseon guys, sending half of their entire force to hell.
The fact that he had to somehow solve the problem with the existing forces remained unchanged, so he boldly decided to immediately deploy the reserve forces.
“Send one reserve infantry brigade to the 3rd Army immediately as reinforcements. And tell the heavy artillery brigade to support Oku’s 2nd Army.”
“Yes? But if that happens, our military’s reserve force will be too small!”
“No matter what happens, the disaster of the 2nd Army being stuck must not happen. And tell the 4th Army and the Yalu Army, who are entangled on the right wing, to quickly reorganize their formations. Then, tell them that the Yalu Army will counterattack and that the 4th Army will come down to the 2nd Army’s position to block the Roske’s offensive.”
First, let’s put out the urgent fire.
General Oyama saw that the Roske’s troops in the field were not a very good force.
When hiding in the fortress and fighting, they are like ferocious, hungry bears, but in the open field, they are no different from a rabble that is always defeated.
“Don’t be so excited. The Roske are very weak in the field, so if you come to your senses and launch a counterattack, you’ll be able to take them down in no time. No, this could actually be an opportunity.”
Marshal Oyama suddenly had a thought that crossed his mind.
If only they could withstand this offensive and have the 3rd Army cut off Kuropatkin’s rear, then everything would be fine.
“If the 3rd Army were to attack properly… wouldn’t the Roske’s, who had exhausted their offensive capabilities, be surrounded without being able to escape?”
“Well, that’s true, but···.”
“Connect a landline to Nogi immediately. And urge him to capture Cheongha Castle as soon as possible and then advance to Cheoryeong.”
“Yes, four!”
He smiled slyly as he shouted commands to his staff.
How dare someone like Kuropatkin challenge Oyama, who dreams of becoming the Moltke of the Japanese archipelago.
Marshal Oyama thought that this would be an opportunity to display his might to the world, and picked up the receiver that his staff had just prepared.
“Ah, Captain Nogi? I’m Oyama. The situation is urgent, so move quickly. What? A mud pit? Such an obstacle is not something that can be considered a problem for the Japanese Army…”
Marshal Oyama’s confident voice echoed from the headquarters, and at the same time, the sound of rain falling in direct proportion began to mix with the sound of artillery fire.