Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 304
Only Noblemtl
#304. Russian SteamRoller (4)
“Cossacks of Transbaikal and Siberia! Now is the time to take revenge on the Japonskys for their last defeat! We have lost too many comrades and beloved brothers while following the orders of our incompetent chieftain. But even if the world abandons us, the Cossacks will gladly follow the glory of the Tsar and the ideals of the Great Russian Empire. Let us all put our courage and honor on the line and crush the enemy on this plain!”
“Ura!”
Lieutenant General Rennenkampf, commanding the cavalry group, raised his voice as he looked at the soldiers of the cavalry division that followed him, and the Cossacks responded with cheers.
The Cossacks trusted and respected Lieutenant General Rennenkampf, who had fought bravely in the previous campaign, sharing joys and sorrows with them, even if they were not others, as a human being and not as a superior.
Perhaps even if he asked them to follow him to hell, they would not say anything, and perhaps they would take the lead and cut down the devils and satans, opening the way for Rennenkampf to advance.
“A battalion-sized enemy cavalry force hastily escaped from Cheongha Castle. They probably saw us coming.”
“···I was lucky.”
The Transbaikal and Siberian Cavalry Divisions, which General Gripenberg had sent first toward Cheongha Castle, appeared on the battlefield at a stroke of luck.
Demonstrating faster maneuverability than expected, they were able to arrive at Cheongha Castle half a day earlier than expected.
If there had been even a little delay, the enemy might have allowed Cheongha Castle to fall, but this time, the god of victory who was supposed to arrive on the battlefield seemed to be smiling not at Amaterasu, who was sacred to the Japonskys, but at Saint George.
“Commander, the horses and riders are tired. It is pouring rain and they have not had enough rest. Even if they are Cossacks, they may find themselves in a dangerous situation after the initial charge.”
···Of course, I was a little worried because I had traveled the muddy road that would have taken three days in just a day and a half.
Both the horses and the riders were likely exhausted before the battle.
But Rennenkamp shook his head firmly at his staff’s words and ordered the attack.
“Trust them, not me. They are hungry for vengeance and battle, and they can do it.”
If those who lived and died in the saddle had been unable to fight, they would have already decided to retreat early in the evening.
But those brave, pure souls didn’t do that.
Rather, he was praying while raising his lance and shashka high into the sky.
“The enemy will probably think the same. However, it is time to clearly show that the Cossacks are stronger than you think. I order you once again to drive the enemy out of the Cheongha Plain. And hold this place firmly until the main force of Captain Gripenberg arrives.”
Linnenkamp tightened the bandages around his arms once more, then turned Shashka forward, leaving his worried staff behind, and shouted a final command.
“Cossacks, let us now charge at the enemies of the Tsar! Show these unprincipled men who the devils in the saddle are! And lead the enemy to death!”
At his command, the horses began to charge toward the enemy cavalry.
The Cossacks, wearing black papakhas on their heads, began to form up in a rough formation, chanting curses, fervent prayers to God, and incomprehensible words.
In the field ahead, Japanese cavalrymen who had built a makeshift trench pulled their horses back, dismounted their riders, and began to fire rifle fire.
The hail of bullets poured down like the rain that was now falling, and while a few unfortunates were no longer able to ride their horses across the grasslands of their homeland, the remnants charged like demons, crying for their vengeance.
Lieutenant General Rennenkamp clenched his fist without realizing it.
And while trying to keep my emotions as calm as possible, I vividly watched the enemy’s defenses and our cavalry clashing with each other.
It could only be described as a scene of a savage and heroic battle, such as might have been seen in the Great Patriotic War.
“Kill him!”
“Let’s fill this place with the blood of the Japonskis!”
Japanese soldiers pierced by cavalry lances fell to the ground without even being able to scream, and those whose throats were cut by the sharp blades of the sashkas slowly drowned in their own blood, struggling to die.
Along with the sound of something breaking, the screams of those hit by the warhorse were also heard.
Some of the Cossacks who had broken through the ranks dismounted and charged at the Japanese trenches, swinging their rifle butts, and one could even see one who appeared to be an enemy officer pulling the trigger of his pistol, killing one of the brave riders.
One by one, the brave men and the most hateful enemies were dying on the battlefield, calling out the names of their respective gods and emperors.
There was even a bloody battle going on in the mud, with those who had lost all their weapons punching and kicking each other, and biting the enemy’s necks with their teeth.
“Enemy reinforcement cavalry! They are advancing towards our cavalry!”
During the engagement, a battalion-sized enemy cavalry force could be seen, apparently rushing to their aid from the rear.
Unlike other Japanese cavalry, they drew their swords instead of their rifles and began to spur their horses, probably to subdue the Cossacks who were exhausted from the mud and heavy rain.
As expected, it was the sly Japonsky.
Frowning, Rennenkampf turned his horse’s head and looked at the commanders behind him.
He looked at the commander of the Siberian Cavalry Division, who he thought was as tough as he was, and said:
“Those guys will have to be dealt with by the beloved children of Siberia. Commander, can you go on a rampage against the Yaponskis?”
Instead of answering, he immediately turned around and looked at his subordinates with his fists clenched.
As soon as they exchanged a brief but determined glance, the division commander shouted loudly.
“Sons of Siberia! Lieutenant General Rennenkampf has given us a great mission! So now it is our turn to act. While the Trans-Baikal Cavalry Division tramples the enemy, we will cover their rearguard! Now let’s show them who is the best!”
“Ura!”
They shouted short cheers and charged towards the Japanese cavalry that was trying to attack the right flank of the Transbaikal Cavalry Division.
Once again, a cavalry battle broke out in chaos, and Rennenkampf began sending messengers to the main force.
***
“What?! The anger failed!?”
“They say the Roske cavalry suddenly appeared in the western part of Bongcheon. Things seem to be going horribly wrong.”
General Oyama received his staff’s report with a pale face.
Chief of Staff Major General Yasumasa Fukushima, who was standing nearby, had a similar expression on his face.
“No, Captain Nogi failed···.”
Although it was something I didn’t want to believe, the information was all true.
Although they were engaged in a fierce battle of wits, the trusted Nogi failed to capture Cheongha Castle.
I heard that while they were engaged in a fierce battle with the Roskes, they were determined to take control of Cheongha Castle, but as time passed, the Roskes’ counterattacks were only getting stronger.
While the 9th Division was holding and pounding the Roske garrison at Cheongha Castle, the 2nd Cavalry Brigade and the 15th Reserve Infantry Brigade, which had been prepared as a decisive blow, should have been reported as having destroyed and captured the enemy’s depth as planned.
Perhaps some of Roske’s cavalry force that had not been seen for some time had appeared at Cheongha Castle.
And with that, Oyama’s mind became greatly complicated.
Clearly, the reason for attacking Cheongha Castle was still the same: to divert the reserves held by Kuropatkin to other places as much as possible, and to create a situation where the entire Japanese Manchurian Army could surround Fengtian while taking advantage of the gap.
But even though the enemy’s cavalry reserve, which could be called a mobile reserve, moved, the Russian army on the main front did not move an inch.
No, rather, they were running around excitedly, crushing the Japanese soldiers from all sides.
Like large stones placed on a cauldron, they continued to overwhelm the Japanese resistance and approached very dangerous areas.
‘What the hell is going on? It’s true that Roske’s reserve force has moved.’
Oyama pondered the current situation for a long time.
At most, the gap between the two armies was about 100,000, and if we analyze the battles Kuropatkin had fought so far, we can see that he never sent his precious reserves to the front.
This is because they continued to avoid combat and stuck to the internal strategy that could be called Roske’s military tradition, that is, giving up space and buying time.
“Are you sure that the enemy cavalry has moved?”
“Yes, it must be true since Commander Nogi himself said it. However, the enemy’s attacks are not decreasing, but rather are becoming more intense. We clearly destroyed one regiment yesterday, but three regiments are appearing on the front lines today.”
“···What on earth is the 2nd Army doing!? How can they possibly win without any strategy!”
He suddenly lost his temper, but what he got in return was the sight of his staff in silence.
It was a silence so eerie and terrifying that it stood in stark contrast to the surrounding battle noise.
Oyama cleared his throat to clear the air and then asked the chief of staff again.
“So, what’s the situation on the front lines so far?”
“···The 2nd Army is being pushed back. The 3rd Army of Roske is on the offensive. Most of the troops of the 11th Regiment of the 5th Division on the left wing of the front line, including the regimental commander, have been killed, and the entire 5th Division under the 2nd Army is being defeated and retreating.”
The 2nd Army on the central front began to be driven to the brink of collapse.
The Russian 3rd Manchurian Army, commanded by Kaulbars, was overwhelming the Japanese with waves of soldiers that kept coming in, killing and slaughtering them.
No matter how many Japanese soldiers were killed, they continued to send out cavalry and infantry to take over the outer defensive lines one by one.
“What are the 4th Army and the Yalu River Army doing?! Stop acting like snails and go to the front line quickly. What are you doing!”
“The Yalu Army is engaged in a defensive battle with the Roske 1st Manchurian Army on the left wing of the front, and the 4th Army is attacking the left wing of the Roske Front to support General Oku.”
It was the only comforting story among the unpleasant news.
Oyama was glad to hear that the second team’s crisis could be overcome.
“Really? That’s fortunate. Tell the 4th Army to quickly deal with the Roske bastards that the 2nd Army is currently holding! Then, won’t the 2nd Army support the 3rd Army?”
Judging by the map alone, the ‘cooperation’ between the 2nd and 4th Armies did not look so bad.
Because while the 2nd Army was acting as an anvil, holding back the Russian army in the center, the 4th Army appeared to be coming to deliver a delicious hammer blow to the back of the enemy’s head, or rather, to their right wing.
General Oyama similarly assessed the situation and ordered that they continue to fight, saying that it was still worth a try.
But things didn’t turn out as smoothly as they wanted.
At that moment, the staff member who was reporting made an expression as if to say, ‘Should I report this for a moment?’ and then he boldly called the marshal, who seemed relieved as if he had made up his mind.