Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 313
Only Noblemtl
#313. Glory of the North (5)
The loud firing sound of the rapid-fire guns and Maxim guns deployed in Yangmu heated up the previously quiet Wonsan Port.
With the sound of gunfire, all Japanese infantrymen who had initially approached the port were subdued.
The giant ship that was slowly approaching was unleashing a firepower as terrifying as its size.
The Japanese soldiers who rushed to take control of the situation again met a similar ending, and overall, it was not a good one.
Most of them were torn apart by 47mm rapid-fire cannon fire or trapped in the Maxim machine gun fire, unable to move, and simply thrown back to their original positions.
The firepower was so powerful and accurate that it made the moonless situation seem insignificant.
“Gunner! One o’clock, enemy infantry stationed there! Explosive shells, fire as soon as ready!”
“Explosive bomb loaded!”
“Shoot!”
On the deck, the gunner shouted until his throat was hoarse and told the gunners where to fire, and the loader and gunner repeated the orders and fired without stopping.
As the rapid-fire gun’s shutter opened, the heat seemed to rush into their faces, but the loaders paid it no mind and immediately loaded the next round.
The clear clang of metal could be heard across the deck, along with the sound of 47mm shells falling.
“You motherfuckers, this is going to hurt!”
These were originally purchased as Lidite explosives to wipe out sailors on the decks of enemy ships, but it was worth bringing them in bulk this time.
As expected, the power was outstanding.
Compared to the 120mm single-barreled gun that it originally carried, it was a cute gun, but the fast firing rate and explosive shells that were similar to the explosion of a hand grenade were far from cute.
“Enemy suppression in the 1 o’clock direction complete! Gunnery officer, enemy forces in the 3 o’clock direction are taking cover behind houses!”
“No. 3 gun, replace the ammunition with armor-piercing shells and fire at Dongjewon!”
For the skilled gunners who could consistently hit enemy ships and transports even on the rough waves of the East Sea, stationary targets on the ground were an easy target.
The heads of enemies who were trapped by the nets used by the smart Maxim gunners were fired with explosive shells, and those who were barely hiding behind cover were fired with armor-piercing shells, providing solid fire support to the landing infantry.
In the end, the enemies, who were terrified by the intense and accurate artillery fire, had no choice but to act very cautiously. Even if they hid in places they thought were safe, the artillery fire would inevitably come, so they could not help but be consumed by fear.
And while looking at it, Lieutenant Kim Si-jin whistled.
The same was true for the soldiers who had just landed.
“Wow, this is no joke.”
“다 쓸려가버려라, 개새끼들!”
Each time a shell exploded, it had the same effect as a proper grenade explosion.
In any case, while the Japanese army was unable to approach the port due to the firepower pouring down from Yangmu, the 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion began to hastily unload troops and ammunition from the ships.
“I think all the enemies will wake up by now?”
“It was a loud landing, but it was definitely something the enemy didn’t expect!”
Lieutenant Kim Si-jin smiled brightly as he watched the Maximo Corps raining down bullets from this direction.
It seemed clear that the enemies had not expected us to come here at all.
When you see them hurriedly pulling out their rifles and running around looking for cover,
Perhaps they were paralyzed with fear, unable to properly check the number of friendly forces, the level of firepower, or the intention of the offensive.
bang!
In the meantime, one explosive grenade exploded among the enemies.
A 47mm explosive shell exploded in the air right in the center of the Japanese infantry line that was approaching in platoon and company units to surround the bridgehead after forming a skirmish line.
It was unclear whether this was intentional on the part of the gunner or gunnery officer, but the effect was significant.
Enemy soldiers whose eardrums had burst from the oppression screamed, clutching their heads, and those who had been hit by shrapnel rolled on the ground, making anguished sounds and repeatedly calling out someone’s name.
But even that new scream lasted only a few seconds.
Because the grenade that flew straight into the shrine exploded, it irreversibly took them to one of the Yasukuni Shrines.
Yeah, I had to fight like this to get my bearings.
My stomach, which had been rumbling until just a moment ago, felt as if it had been cleared away as if I had drunk an entire bottle of Hwalmyeongsu.
It was as if we had jumped over the high walls of Beijing and launched an assault to suppress the Boxer Rebellion.
“Shooters, enemy infantry in the 11 o’clock direction! Keep shooting! Don’t let them approach the bridgehead!”
The voice of the instructor commanding the Maxim gun crew at the bridgehead could be heard from the side. It was true that the situation was so urgent that they had to fire the Maxim gun on a suitable ammunition box without a firing pin.
“We’re out of ammo!”
“Go and get the coal right now! Quickly!”
As luck would have it, the rapid-fire guns of the Yangmu cavalry stopped firing for a moment.
This is because all of the prepared ammunition was used up.
Again, it took time to drag 47mm ammunition from the ammunition depot, and the enemy did not miss this moment, which may have been almost their only opportunity to wipe out the bridgehead.
The enemy officers took the lead and began to approach the bridgehead again, launching a half-mad bayonet charge.
Ah, to be exact, it could be said that it was a calculated form of assault rather than madness.
They somehow formed a brigade behind me and were shooting like crazy at the bridgehead.
“The enemy is approaching with fire support from the brigade!”
“Those guys, aren’t there only company-level units here? They look like they’re at least battalion-level units!”
It seemed as if the information provided by the records investigation room was wrong, and the number of enemies continued to increase. But there was no reason to worry about that.
“Don’t care if it’s a company or a battalion, just go ahead and smash it! Maximo isn’t a barley sack that’s been put on the table!”
Whatever the enemy’s numbers, the Maxim guns and the Madsen of the assault infantry battalions that had already landed still had firepower to fill the gap or certainly surpass it.
Looking at the enemies rushing toward the bridgehead, the battalion’s Maxim gun platoon leader’s rebuke rang out.
“Don’t make a square, just grind it down! I’m telling you, don’t let them get to this place!”
At that sound, the shooters immediately pressed the fire button on the Maxim gun.
Then, immediately, the rippling cartridges rose into the air and fell back to the ground, making a clear, metallic sound.
Starting with the enemy officer who was running at the very front with his sword drawn, the infantry running on the well-paved new road, and the men of the mountain battalion providing fire support behind them, they all fell one by one, spraying blood.
And this was a completely unreasonable difference in firepower.
Soon after, the 47mm rapid-fire gun of Yangmu, which had replenished its ammunition, joined the firefight, and the enemy, unable to endure any longer, began to hesitate and retreat.
Of course, retreating required even more courage than advancing, as the firepower moved toward the escape route and inflicted casualties.
Eventually, the enemies fled, bleeding profusely, into the city beyond the harbor, where they could barely be protected from direct fire.
“They are backing off!”
“Disembark all troops! We can hear fighting even inside Wonsan, so hurry!”
Occasionally, sounds of fighting were heard from the city of Wonsan, but this could not be confirmed at this time.
I also felt a slight sense of unease that perhaps the records investigation team members or local collaborators who had agreed to cooperate with the allies might be affected.
“The troops haven’t all landed yet. Should we solidify our defensive positions?”
Lieutenant Colonel Kim Si-jin shook his head in response to the words of a battalion staff officer.
“No, if you waste time like that, we’ll be in trouble.”
The bridgehead location they were occupying now was not very good.
It was an open space, and if the enemy had curved firepower, it was the perfect terrain to get hit without fail.
There were more enemies than I had thought, so it was hard to say for sure what they had. It was unlikely, but they might have artillery.
Rather than managing such crises, it was better to advance immediately and expand the Gyobu Road to defend without giving the enemy time to reorganize.
“We absolutely do not give the enemy time. Furthermore, our collaborators are waiting to enter the city. We are wasting no time like this. How many troops have disembarked at present?”
“Except for the 3rd Platoon, two entire companies are on standby. Some of the Navy Ground Forces that will control the second wave of landings, and two companies of the Police Department personnel that will be deployed for initial security and administrative work after the recapture, remain here.”
After thinking about it for a moment, he recalled the principles of the assault infantry regiment and made a decision.
When in doubt, the principle of attacking first to disrupt the enemy’s intentions, maximizing tactical gains, and contributing to the friendly forces’ follow-up operations was needed more than ever.
“There’s no time to wait for the landing of all the troops. 3rd Platoon, take care of the remaining troops and supplies here. I’ll leave Maximo to you, so control them and take out all the bastards who approach the bridgehead.”
“When all troops land, will you join the main force?”
Lieutenant Kim Si-jin shook his head at the 3rd Platoon Commander’s question.
They were to quickly return to Hamheung as soon as the entire 2nd Battalion had landed.
“No, after the follow-up detachment lands, you will join the main force. Once we have secured the coast, Yangmu will return to Hamheung and transport the 6th Brigade troops and come back. In the meantime, you must defend this bridgehead at all costs. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“And the 1st and 2nd Platoons will advance into the city. The 1st Platoon’s target is the Wonsan Garrison Barracks, and the 2nd Platoon’s target is the Wonsan Garrison Headquarters and Telegraph Facility. Let’s clear them out as quickly as possible.”
It seemed like the coup d’etat of the previous year was coming to mind, but I couldn’t afford to relax.
If the Japanese army were to invade like that, there would be no point in recapturing Wonsan and signaling the beginning of a general counterattack.
“There is no time to delay. Now is the time to attack while the enemy is in disarray! 1st and 2nd Platoon! All rise! Now is the time for us to defeat the enemy! Advance forward!”
As before, he led the charge, holding a saber and a cannon in each hand.
Although the battalion staff tried to dissuade him, saying that the battalion commander should not lead the way, Lieutenant Kim Si-jin began to run toward the city as if possessed by something.
***
Upon entering the city, the assault infantry battalion encountered a somewhat more daunting experience than expected.
“five!”
“···one.”
As the assault infantry approached the town, the records officer shouted a pre-designated combination of words, and the platoon leader at the front gave the appropriate response.
Then the collaborators who were with him immediately put away their guns and cleared away the debris that they had been trying to use as cover.
“I am Lieutenant Kim Si-jin, commander of the 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion. Who are you?”
“Hello. I’m from the Records Investigation Office of the Marshal’s Office, who has been dispatched since last month to support your operation… You can simply call me Kim Pan-im. We’ve currently cut off all of their telegraph lines, so you won’t be able to request external support for a while.”
They smiled as they watched the assault infantry as if they had been waiting for it. It seemed that they had completely blinded the eyes and ears of the Japanese soldiers underground.
Even if we only think about the methods that can be thought of right away, there are various methods besides destroying telegraph lines, such as hunting messengers, spreading false information, etc.
“In fact, it is safe to say that the enemies have no means of communication with the outside world.”
It seems that they moved more nimbly than expected, as they also cut off contact with the garrison north of Wonsan.
Looking at it that way, most of them were armed with shotguns and pistols produced by Hongik Precision, so it seemed like they had come heavily armed for this purpose.