Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 330
Only Noblemtl
#330. Terror on the Sea (3)
“What? Any more accurate information than this? Is the intelligence report from the Records Investigation Office not enough?”
“Looking at the contents of the telegram, it seems that they definitely need information that can convince the fleet commander. It seems that they have serious doubts about the reliability of our information.”
“Fuck.”
The information had to be relayed properly in time while the Russian fleet was still stationed in Cam Ranh Bay, but the Manchurian Army High Command was demanding more certain information.
It seems that it was judged that this alone was not reliable.
The Baltic Fleet was running out of time to survive, but it had far too much leeway.
If they get destroyed, there’s no telling what might happen.
“From Hamheung?”
“They say they are intercepting those telegrams and securing solid evidence. However, they say it will be difficult to do so by this afternoon because it will take time to classify and organize them.”
“You should pester them more. No matter what happens, a telegram containing the relevant information must be delivered to the Manchurian Army Headquarters today.”
I quickly called my staff over and gave them various instructions.
As my mind became anxious, my body also became anxious, so I made all sorts of mistakes.
For example, spilling a glass of water on a table, or hitting your knee on a table as you pass by, etc.
To that extent, I was moving around without thinking.
“Tell the Second Section of the Operations Bureau of the Marshal’s Office to transmit this information to the Vladivostok Cruiser Fleet. They might be able to connect with the Russian Fleet in the Annam area. Also, is there an interim report on the progress of Rear Admiral Anisimov’s ground forces?”
“Not yet. It was two days ago that General Kim In-su reported that he would burn down the enemy naval telegraph facilities and watchtowers at Jukbyeon and advance south toward Dongrae.”
“Damn. If we get information from you, we can most certainly convince the North Korean headquarters. Oh, Chief Choi, send this telegram to Brigadier General Puchata. He might be able to help us.”
It was literally close to a ‘shit show that you can’t watch without crying’.
This was a fairly complex process, as the Russian military had to select reliable and solid information, refine it into a readable form, transcribe it into Russian, and then telegraph it back to them.
Of course, since there was no Link-16 or anything like that in modern warfare, the work was even more painful.
Even though the staff suddenly recaptured Hanseong and now had more work to do, they decided not to worry about it for now.
In preparation for such times, the German-style ‘elite few’ of the General Staff were thrown away and the ‘majority of ordinary people’ were used as the center, like the US military’s General Staff during World War II.
Even though a small number of elite forces are great, they are limited in manpower, so they will be overloaded as the front line advances, but the method I chose was less risky in that direction at least.
Although it was ordinary, it was possible to operate with much more flexibility by managing a large number of personnel, and it had the advantage of being able to properly secure personnel to replace when the staff was overloaded, as it is now.
And now it seemed like it was about to shine a light.
Moreover, we could have received a lot of help from the Governor-General of the Far East, Admiral Alexeev, and the Vladivostok Cruiser Fleet, who were very friendly to us.
I heard that it was even more so because they saw a rather romantic side to our resistance.
“Sir, sir! A reply has arrived from the Vladivostok cruiser fleet. It appears that one of the reporting ships has observed a large-scale enemy fleet movement off the coast of Ulsan.”
“Is that true?”
“It came straight from the cruiser fleet. Here, look.”
I said, looking at the piece of paper the staff member had handed me.
The real telegram was superimposed on top, and it contained the contents written in a friendly, but tired, scrawl by one of my staff members, making it easy for me to read.
Of course, I circled the important points to make them easier to see.
As I worked with everyone, I thought that their senses had improved, and I read it all the way through.
The information reported by the notice was quite useful.
The shape of the observed enemy ships, their expected types, and even their course of movement all seemed to indicate that the combined fleet was heading to Jinhae.
I wondered if I had fallen into the trap of confirmation bias, but that didn’t matter now.
The Japanese Navy was prepared to destroy any Russian fleet that attempted to break through the Korea Strait from Jinhae.
Common sense tells us that there was ample reason for the Japanese Navy to make such a choice.
I waited with renewed confidence for the records office to come up with the information to be organized.
And just before we went out to dinner, just when I was feeling hungry for the first time in a long time, a telegram came from them.
Of course, as soon as I received the telegram, the feeling of being upset definitely went away.
Because I got the information I wanted.
“···As expected.”
The telegram clearly stated that the Japanese navy was heading to Jinhae.
If they ignore this too… then I don’t know.
I seriously considered accepting it as ‘my fate to die’, believing that it was just an unchangeable history, but I think that was a good thing.
Now was the time to move quickly.
Without delay, I gave instructions to report the contents of the telegram I had just received and the information regarding the movements of the enemy fleet reported by the cruisers.
And what came back was one piece of good news and one piece of sad news, both coming in a time difference.
“···what’s this?”
“The Russian fleet set sail…?”
I sat down in my seat, feeling empty.
The good news was that the Manchurian Army General Headquarters had only just realized the gravity of the situation and had sent a message to the Russian Second Pacific Fleet in Cam Ranh Bay, but the bad news was that the fleet command that was supposed to receive it had already sailed.
“What should I do with this, Commissioner?”
If things continued this way, all the hard work of gathering information for days, persuading the Manchurian military command, and cooperating with the Governor-General of the Far East and the Vladivostok cruiser fleet would have been in vain.
“Sergeant, we need to find a way. It was with great difficulty that I was able to convince them…”
“Connect to Hamheung.”
“yes?”
But there was still one last option left.
I quickly approached the soldier who was sending the telegram and instructed him to issue an urgent order to the naval headquarters in Hamheung based on what I was saying. It was probably the first and last time I would exercise my authority to command the navy during this war.
***
“This is a suicidal operation. The police chief is going too far!”
“Would the great Norse fleet be defeated so easily? Reject, Commander.”
Meanwhile, the naval headquarters in Hamheung was engaged in a heated debate over the sudden arrival of an emergency order from the military commissioner.
The governor-general of the Russian Far East and the Manchurian Army General Headquarters informed them that the Japanese fleet was gathering in Jinhae and that they should prepare immediately. He then ordered the remaining destroyers to risk their lives and make a breakthrough toward Shanghai to meet the Russian fleet.
“I’ve already left Kamran Bay, so how can I find it?”
“But this is a great opportunity to end this war with our complete victory.”
“No, to be honest, even if the Second Pacific Fleet is completely destroyed, aren’t we still in control of the land? Anything more than this is just greed, greed!”
···Even so, for this purpose, the Russian Far East Governor-General and the Vladivostok Cruiser Fleet had already sent a number of liaison officers to Hamheung several weeks ago, and were even preparing to issue an order in the name of the Manchurian Army General Headquarters to convey the clear direction of the fleet’s movements.
“···The police chief wouldn’t have done that for nothing.”
“Commander, to your left!”
“Think about it. If a commissioned officer who has never interfered with the Navy can issue such an order, then there must be something lurking that we don’t know about. And if he sends it urgently, saying that the survival of the Russian fleet is linked to our future, then so be it.”
Vice Admiral Jang Gi-ryeom was deep in thought as he looked at the nautical chart.
The war will inevitably end at sea, but honestly, they didn’t think it was necessary for them to step forward like this.
It was clear that the enemy fleet could not enter the east coast without permission because six destroyers were holding out in Hamheung.
Moreover, if it was clear that there was an enemy fleet in Jinhae, they might have to be prepared to die if they broke through the southern coast.
This is especially true if the main ships of the combined fleet are present. In addition, the Russian counterattack in Lushun was weaker than expected.
It was, of course, because of that damn shortage of supplies.
Immediately after the great victory at Fengtian, the Russian army sent the 2nd and 3rd Manchurian armies led by Gripenberg south to recapture Port Arthur, but they were unable to launch a proper offensive due to a severe shortage of ammunition and supplies to recapture the fortress.
While Kuropatkin was hastily regrouping supplies and reorganizing his troops, the Japanese also came to their senses and rebuilt their remaining defensive lines inside Lushun, creating hedgehog-like fortresses.
This led to another Battle of Lushun,
The results continued to be disastrous.
With the recapture of Lushun now out of the way, the governor believed that their fleet had to survive no matter what.
He said that only then can we truly face the liberation of the Korean Empire.
“Why are you all so scared? Commander, the Baekdusan ship has completed preparations for departure.”
“Captain Shin Soon-seong, are you still doing this after hearing this?”
“If the Russian fleet is defeated, all the victories of the army will be in vain.”
Immediately after supporting the Wonsan landing operation, Navy Captain Shin Sun-seong, who was repairing his ship in the port for additional naval operations without rest, came in and said.
He quickly squeezed his way between the captains and took control of the ship.
As if they had had some experience playing with the French Navy in Cam Ranh Bay, they had also skillfully secured the expected meeting point.
“Instead of going north of Daema Island, it would be better to go back south.”
“Are you crazy? Fukuoka and Sasebo are within easy reach. If we get intercepted-”
“Then you will go north of Tsushima and meet the main force of the Combined Fleet in Jinhae? The enemy fleet remaining in Sasebo is the 3rd Fleet, which consists of old ships. In addition, they have suffered losses in combat power due to being hit by us several times.”