Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 301
Only Noblemtl
#301. Russian SteamRoller (1)
The Russians’ ambitious first ground offensive in Manchuria left 20,000 dead or wounded.
The 4th and 5th Siberian Corps, which were fighting at the forefront of the battle, suffered heavy losses and were forced to retreat.
Wounded soldiers were constantly being carried to the rear, supported by other soldiers.
The Russian chaplains offered prayers for the fallen soldiers, and then other soldiers began to bury Young-Hyeon in silence in the cold plains of Manchuria.
All of them perished in the name of the Tsar.
So, after making the sign of the cross, Kuropatkin patted the shoulder of Captain Lineevich, who had a gloomy expression.
“You really worked hard.”
“We’ve lost too many men. Those Japonskis, I thought they were only good at attacking, but they’re also good at defending.”
“Still, thanks to their sacrifice, wasn’t the outer defense line broken through?”
At Kuropatkin’s words, Captain Lineevich, who had taken off his helmet in front of the fallen soldiers, sighed and said:
He was both impressed and saddened by the fact that the soldiers of the Far East were showing courage that they had not even shown in the war against the Ottomans.
It was because the father of a family and the sons of countless mothers had to fall on the cold battlefield.
“It felt like the enemy had done it on purpose. It seems like they were short on troops and wanted to draw in our troops by reducing the front of the defensive line. And right after that, the artillery fire came down in a concentrated manner…”
“Hey, are you using the method used by the Korean military?”
“Well, that method itself is the one we used during the Great Patriotic War, even in the war against the Ottomans.”
Even at night, battles between the two sides continued unabated.
Between the Russian army that launched a night attack and the Japanese army that counterattacked, the smell of blood and gunpowder showed no sign of going away even in the heavy rain.
Rather, it seemed like they were causing even more chaos in order to thirst for more blood.
“We are continuously sending out scout cavalry to find gaps in the enemy’s defenses. No matter how much the enemy reduces their front line to make up for their lack of troops, there will definitely be gaps somewhere.”
As the night passed, the damage from today would probably increase further.
Japanese casualties were also increasing to a serious degree, most of which was due to shelling.
In the distance, screams could be heard from between the enemy’s trenches.
Perhaps the brave Trans-Baikal infantry had succeeded in their night attack.
“It won’t be easy. That’s why I tried to avoid a frontal attack.”
“It was the same with the Ottomans,” Kuropatkin recalled.
The pouring fire from the Pia’s shells, the screams of the dying soldiers, and the savage shouts of the Ottoman soldiers charging forward like devils, chanting the name of their god, seemed vivid in my ears.
“As soon as daylight comes, we will withdraw the 4th Siberian Corps, which has suffered significant damage, and deploy the 2nd Siberian Corps. Then, as soon as we find a gap, we will deploy the reserve divisions and try to create a crack in the front line.”
“Okay. Let’s do that.”
Kuropatkin nodded, accepting Lineevich’s offer.
It was clear that the 3rd Manchurian Army under Kaulbars was in a similar situation.
He had not yet returned to headquarters, and he said that he would bring the headquarters closer to the front line and press the Japonskis with his units even harder.
“The rain has to stop so we can launch a balloon and check the situation.”
“The residents say that it will rain for a few more days. The damage has increased because the advance of our soldiers has been delayed due to the mud. This is really…”
“It would be the same for the Japonskis too.”
Kuropatkin spoke while predicting the enemy’s movements.
It was obvious that they would mistake the friendly forces’ containment attack as their main attack and would do everything in their power to block the breakthrough of the central front.
Even without that, the reports from our scout cavalry indicated that the Japonskis’ heavy artillery fire had increased, so it was clear that the enemy would do something in response.
“But weren’t there enemy units on the left wing of the front line? They’re quiet.”
“The scouts haven’t found any trace of them yet. They must have gone somewhere, but if they do, we have no choice but to head towards Captain Gripenberg. Could it be that the enemy has caught wind of our plans?”
“Then it would be a disaster···.”
‘Perhaps the enemy noticed our forces’ intention to move and moved in reverse to intercept them.’
If his fears were to be proven right, Gripenberg’s maneuver itself would inevitably turn into a risky move.
And that soon meant defeat in Fengtian.
The collapse of the 100,000-man field army commanded by Gripenberg was also a story in line with the opening of the left wing of the front, which could be invaded by storming into Bongcheon.
“Summon Baron Bildeidling. And tell him to lead the 16th Army Corps and support the rear of the 2nd Manchurian Army.”
“Yes? The 16th Army Corps is a fresh reserve unit that has never been deployed in combat. If we deploy it now, it may not be able to respond to variables that occur in the center of the front line.”
“It doesn’t matter. I still have 20 battalions and 60 Sotnias (Cossack cavalry squadrons) in my hands. Above all, if Gripenberg fails, the victories in the center and on the right wing will be meaningless. From that moment on, we are as good as defeated.”
“···I know what you mean.”
One of the staff officers rushed out to call Baron Wildedling, who was waiting behind the lines.
“Now is the time to take every possible tactic to win. No matter what happens, Gripenberg must succeed.”
He wanted to urge Gripenberg to take Cheongha Castle immediately, but he couldn’t do so because there was no landline installed.
If the Japanese army had enough troops to construct a telegraph post, it would be understandable, but even an engineer battalion was difficult to find in a situation where the Japanese army had a division-level formation while theirs could only be found at the corps level.
“It’s only been a day.”
There were days more of these battles to come.
He looked at Wilderling running from afar, praying that God’s blessings and protection would be with all the soldiers on the front, especially Gripenberg’s unit.
***
“Eww! Retreat, retreat!”
“The Roske’s are coming in like a tidal wave!”
The defensive line was collapsing without any use, not even the shouts of the officers wielding swords or the glaring eyes of the non-commissioned officers who were like tigers.
If the Joseon bastards came at them like ghosts and cut off their heads, the Roske would continue to push forward even if they were killed like devils.
And finally, when they started putting their boots into the trenches, they started fighting like savages.
The 11th Regiment of the 5th Division of the Japanese 2nd Army was unable to withstand the large-scale offensive of the Russian army that was coming in like a tidal wave, as well as the artillery fire that was suddenly concentrated only on them.
The forward outposts were collapsing one by one, and the main fishing boats were also riddled with holes.
The reserve units of the regiment that existed to prepare for such situations also suffered losses while responding to the enemy’s offensive.
Overall, the 11th Regiment’s combat power had fallen from 90% of full strength just before the battle to less than 60%.
Even just before the start of the battle, the soldiers of the 5th Division, who had been singing battle songs leisurely, saying that Roske was nothing, began to curse the lyrics they were singing.
The advancing enemy force was no joke, and could not be shot down or bayoneted.
No matter how many Roske’s I killed, they kept coming back, almost like demons.
With morale already broken and ammunition running low, the front line could not help but be shaken.
Boom! Kwakwakwakwak!
Another artillery strike came, and when it landed near the regimental command post, the 11th Regiment commander quickly dove to the ground and picked up the landline phone connected to the division.
The chaos was growing as messengers and staff members caught in shell fragments screamed all around them and medics hurriedly carried them away.
“There are too many people contacting us now! Now give the order to retreat!”
“That can’t be happening! If you retreat, the entire 5th Division will have to retreat!”
“If this continues, the 11th Regiment itself will be deleted from the organization! These damned bastards are advancing right up to the command post!”
It was the voice of the 11th Regiment Commander, close to a scream.
Until yesterday, I thought the defense was going well, but that was a mistake.
From experienced officers who at first looked down on the Russian troops charging forward in dense formation with bayonets set, calling them excellent targets, to new recruits thirsty for battle, as time went by, they began to feel terrified at the sight of the Russian troops swarming in greater numbers.
“They’re coming again!”
“Please stop now, stop it!”
Even though we killed and killed them, they kept coming.
Already, the screams and shrieks of mad soldiers could be heard.
The regimental commander ground his teeth at that voice.
Like demons crawling out of hell, they were running through the muddy field, their murderous intent filling their lungs.
As if they were venting all their pent-up anger here, the commanders of the Roske soldiers were constantly sending out units, exhausting the entire Japanese army.
Unable to bear it any longer, they abandoned the outer defensive line and, following the orders from their superior, the 2nd Army Command, tried to reduce the contact area as much as possible and concentrate defensive firepower on the front, but even that was useless as the Roske poured in.
As the surrounding units all retreated and the 11th Regiment was left standing as a salient point, the Roske began to pound them as if they had been waiting for it.
It was as if they were trying to drown themselves in waves of infantry and cavalry.
“For the Fatherland, for the Tsar! Forward! Hurray!!”
“There are a lot of Roske ahead! Everyone, set your bayonets, set your bayonets!”
“All rise up! Children of Hiroshima! Do not turn your backs on the enemy! For His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire of Japan! Long live!”
I could hear the sound of a hastily reorganized battalion rushing out of their positions and charging at the Roske.
It seemed that the enemies had already gathered to a point where there was nothing they could do.
The sight of soldiers falling from afar came into view vividly.
“Damn it, there are more enemies than bullets! If we don’t retreat here, we’ll all be killed. Commander, please allow us to retreat!”
– That won’t do! Right now, the division is using all its might to block their attacks! Chief of Staff! Go right now and take all the platoons and deploy them to the front! If the left wing of the front is pushed back, it’s over!
The division commander’s voice also sounded urgent.
-Bang! Bang!
It seemed like he was in more trouble than he thought, as I could hear gunshots ringing out over the phone.
In fact, the artillery fire that had been supporting the 11th Regiment had also died down. If there was a place that was more urgent than them, this place was practically abandoned.