Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 316
Only Noblemtl
#316. Glory of the North (8)
Did the enemy manage to break through the siege net that Tong-eo-yeong was enforcing and head here? Or did they notice our attempt and hurriedly turn back?
“Either way, we’re in big trouble···.”
Although the intentions were unclear, Shi Jin had a feeling that something big was going to happen.
However, he could not just sit there, so he ordered that the destroyed telegraph facilities be repaired quickly, while also quickly checking the remaining troops and ammunition.
There was enough ammunition to last about 600 troops for half a day, so there was plenty of it.
“Shouldn’t we defend along the city streets, Battalion Commander? The enemy’s forces outnumber us by dozens of times.”
“No, we’re going north. Instead, we’re going to attack them and establish a defensive line on the high ground around Munchon to buy time until our forces can land again.”
“Ha, but we will be severely lacking in troops and supplies. We may not be able to handle the enemy’s mass and be annihilated.”
“We could all be wiped out. Be careful, Battalion Commander.”
This may be a job where you have to face death right next to you, as the staff and commanders say.
With only about 600 soldiers, it was close to suicide even for the best soldiers of the assault infantry battalion.
But he had his reasons for doing so.
“Maybe we all die. But if we fail to stop this place, our counterattack will also be in vain. I can’t guarantee that we will never have another chance. So, we must defend this place, even if it means dying in battle. Otherwise…”
Otherwise, we would have to leave the end of the war entirely in the hands of Russia, occupying only one corner of the northeastern region until the end of the war. That was an unacceptable outcome for a soldier, a resister, or even a swordsman of the old days.
Even if you think a little more realistically, this method was the best.
If the enemy had known about the fall of Wonsan, they would have immediately sent an interception force.
If that were the case, there should have been fighting on the outskirts of town by now, but nothing was happening.
In that case, the enemy would not yet know of the fall of this place, and it would be clear that they were retreating to reorganize their defensive lines due to the friendly offensive.
That’s why he made it clear that he had to go on the offensive in front of everyone.
“In any case, the survival of our homeland will not be completely assured. We will have to stake our entire fate on the victory or defeat of the battle led by Nosua. Perhaps that is already the case. However, the reason humans are strong is that we can decide for ourselves how to stand up to fate, even if it tries to sweep us away like a wave. And now is that time. Rather than sitting and waiting for the enemy’s great army to swarm us, it is time for us to stake our fate on ourselves for the final victory.”
“······.”
“If only we could show the world that we can turn the tide of war ourselves… that would be enough. Gentlemen, they say that there are things in the world worth risking your life for. And I believe that this is the time. Who would join me in giving the enemy an unforgettable nightmare? What Korean man would bravely go into the enemy’s territory with me?”
As he spoke with a smile, the commanders, who were full of triumph, and the staff members, who could not shake off their worries and fear of death, had mixed feelings, but they could all agree on one thing he said.
You must decide for yourself how to resist your predetermined fate.
“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s give it a try, Commander. We’ll just have to wait for the second wave to arrive as scheduled, or maybe even earlier.”
“Move the troops north immediately. Before the enemy enters Muncheon, we must first take control of the high ground. Move at maximum speed.”
After such a brief discussion, the 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion began to advance northward toward the front lines, leaving Wonsan in the hands of the Records Investigation Office, local collaborators, and Navy and Police Department personnel left to manage the port.
***
“The Commander-in-Chief and the Commander-in-Chief reported that the enemy’s main force on the plateau was lost in the encirclement.”
“what?”
What kind of disaster is this?
As I was preparing to move out with the cavalry regiment, I looked at my adjutant with surprised eyes.
The new palgyun department also seemed flustered, and he stuttered in an unusual manner.
“That, that’s what they say, the enemy threw out traitors as bait and started retreating towards Wonsan. The Guards Division did make an artillery and encirclement maneuver, but they were a step too late…”
I don’t know what happened, but the Japanese army withdrew all of their main forces toward Wonsan.
The Tong-eo-yeong, who had tried to completely surround and destroy them, ended up only catching the remaining fish in the sack.
All enemy divisions that could be called large fish withdrew toward Wonsan, which was a huge variable.
“Thanks to the Commander-in-Chief’s promise of amnesty, we have managed to capture some of the defensive lines without fighting, but there are still fierce resistances in some places.”
In fact, most of those who could be called true traitors at this point have already been killed or taken prisoner, awaiting the strict judgment of the law.
The so-called new government forces that remain now are nothing more than victims who were brought in to be used as auxiliary troops or laborers, but who were given weapons and forced to the front lines when the war situation became urgent.
Because they were such people, the commander-in-chief was advancing while promising to “be lenient if you surrender” and issuing an amnesty to such people whenever possible.
For now, let’s leave that alone as it’s not something we need to worry about anymore. The real problem was towards Wonsan.
“If those kids go into Wonsan and stage a sit-in, it’ll be a pain in the ass···.”
To control the variables, a suitable solution was needed.
Of course, by now the second wave of the landing force would have set sail, and if they could just arrive, they could somehow buy time until the Tongyeong Army, which had cleared the defensive line on the plateau, could enter Wonsan.
But this is only a story if it arrives properly.
“The second wave of troops has now departed.”
“It won’t arrive until dawn at the earliest. If they overwhelm our forces in Wonsan before then, this operation will be a failure.”
I was busy grinding my teeth.
Because they had to cross a route of about 160 km, the ships had to spend quite a bit of time sailing.
They say that offensive operations are much more difficult than defensive operations, and seeing it now, I can see it painfully clearly.
Moreover, the difficulty level increased further because the recapture of Wonsan was a surprise landing operation that was full of variables for the army.
However, there were a few variables that could be expected.
The 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion, which had landed, was to move north and block the road toward Munchon.
Although the force was only battalion-level and had virtually no artillery, it would not be able to hold out for long. However, if they could at least hold out in the highland area and control the road with firepower, they would be able to hold out until the 2nd wave and the Guards Division arrived with reinforcements.
If this were to happen, it would be an homage to the Japanese army’s situation during the Battle of Hyeonri, when the Korean 2nd Corps was unable to move because the Chinese army had occupied Omachi Pass, their only supply route and retreat route.
Even at that time, the 2nd Corps suffered damage that was virtually disbanded because a battalion of the Chinese army had blocked their retreat route, and the Korean army was branded as a disorganized army with no fighting ability until Van Fleet took charge and reorganized.
In any case, if that were to happen, the 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion would certainly be sacrificed, but the Wonsan bridgehead would be barely maintained.
“What should I do now?”
“The 2nd Assault Infantry Battalion will advance north to cut off the enemy’s retreat, and while they are buying time, we can only hope that the 2nd landing force and the Guards Division will arrive in time.”
“There’s the sergeant’s younger brother there. If we’re not careful, we’ll end up making a big sacrifice. Urge the guards to head to Muncheon quickly…”
“That won’t do. If we suddenly change the mission during the night battle in the moonless state, the Guards Division that has already entered the operation could suffer great losses. The enemy forces have been exhausted, but we can’t underestimate them, and I don’t intend to do so either. Let them continue their current operation.”
However, it was annoying that the target was the battalion commanded by his younger brother, and that many of the soldiers were new recruits.
If it was the disposition of my younger brother that I had shown so far, he would have had similar thoughts to me and would have moved faster than me, but even if I completed the mission, I might have suffered a blow close to destruction because I was seriously lacking the troops and ammunition to endure after that.
“Sergeant, would the 2nd Assault Battalion be going north at night to intercept the enemy instead of committing suicide? This is against military strategy. Remember, we have to hold off an enemy of 30,000 with only 600 men. Sergeant.”
When the commander of the Military Police, Deputy Min Young-hwan, who was also the director of the Operations Bureau, spoke to me, I shook my head and answered.
“We have no choice but to trust them now. They know better than anyone that recapturing Wonsan could be the end of this war. They will hold on even if it means being annihilated.”
“···You are truly a scary person. You will surely sacrifice one battalion to defend Wonsan.”
“Obviously, their individual deaths would be tragic. But the moment their units advance toward certain death, our counterattack and victory will return as a guaranteed promissory note. Everyone, do not forget. We will not tolerate even a single failure at the crossroads of life and death.”
I’ve heard stories like this before, although not quite the trolley dilemma.
It was a choice between taking a route where 200 out of 600 soldiers would certainly die, but in return, achieve complete victory on the front lines, or take a route where all 600 soldiers could be saved, or if things went wrong, lose 400 men.
If it were me now, I would have chosen the former without hesitation.
Especially in the current situation where we cannot afford to allow the Japanese military to suffer a fatal defeat.
As those who had broken my strong will retreated, I immediately gave the order to the Tongyeong Army to maintain the current operation and actively intercept the enemies who had retreated toward Munchon.
And then I let out a sigh. If we failed here, it was clear that we would lose the chance to recapture Pyongyang and Hansung on our own.
And I was also worried about my younger brother who was securing the bridgehead.
The North Star seemed to shine dangerously in the sky.
***
“It looks like the enemies have completely destroyed the plateau area.”
“Look at that, wouldn’t it have been right to get out as quickly as possible? If you had just stayed like that, you would have been trapped in the enemy’s trap and beaten until you died.”
As soon as Lieutenant General Hidenori approached the direction of Munchon, he responded to the messenger’s report, saying:
Although Lieutenant General Asada was displeased, Lieutenant General Hidenori was right in the end. The enemy’s bag seemed large enough to contain both the Guards Division and the 2nd Reserve Infantry Division.
Even now, the screams of the local militia trapped inside the sacks, slowly suffocating, seemed to be heard from afar.
That’s why no one responded to Lieutenant General Hidenori’s words, just accepting them and gathering the remaining troops.
“Send a battalion to the supply depot in Muncheon. Tell them to bring all the ammunition and food for the troops from that warehouse.”
“all right!”
Now that I think about it, I barely ate anything when I left.
All of those supplies had been abandoned on the plateau, so there was only one round of ammunition left for immediate combat.
Rice and ammunition were desperately needed to give the exhausted soldiers some rest and to reorganize for the next battle.
Fortunately, supply facilities and defensive facilities for use in times of emergency had been built in Munchon, the midpoint between Wonsan and Gowon, to support combat, and this would be of great help.
“And send a messenger. There is a telegraph facility at the Wonsan Garrison Command, so send a telegram to the Home and Park Army Commands, and the Manchurian Army Command. The Korean army has turned the situation around to an offensive, and the Guards Division and the Reserve Infantry Division will withdraw from the defensive line on the plateau and directly defend Wonsan.”
“I will do that.”
Anyway, the commanding officers took a deep breath and looked at the map while wiping away the sweat pouring down as soon as the tension eased.
Instead of an open plateau intersection, everyone was relieved to see a terrain that was extremely advantageous for defense.