Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 331
Only Noblemtl
#331. Terror on the Sea (4)
Shin Soon-seong’s proposal was quite exquisite. If they could just properly break through the waters near Tsushima Island, which was a major route, they could shake off the enemy’s pursuit.
In particular, it was easier to avoid the combined fleet in Jinhae and face the older ships of the 3rd fleet, which were relatively easy to defeat.
“But if we’re not careful, the enemy fleet at Sasebo may find out our route in advance and perform blocking maneuvers.”
“They will be late. The enemy naval watchtower and telegraph line at Jukbyeon have been destroyed by Rear Admiral Anisimov and his cavalry. If they haven’t detected us along the east coast, they will first encounter us along the south coast. But even if they try to sound us out here… they will be late.”
“Not bad. Either way, isn’t it true that the end of this war will be in our hands?”
Jang Gi-ryeom said with a faint smile.
And everyone remembered what he had been saying since just before the war.
All that was left for the Navy was to find a way to die as coolly as possible. And he seemed to think this was his chance.
“All fleets, set sail. No matter what happens, contact the Russian fleet from the direction of Shanghai. The army has done its job, so let’s finish it off with our fleet.”
After leaving those solemn words, he immediately began preparing to set sail.
It would be the last operation of the Navy, which had served its country so bravely and courageously.
At the final crossroads of losing all of their power or leading the war to victory, the Korean Empire’s Navy chose their motto without hesitation.
***
“Admiral, is it right to keep the fleet in Jinhae?”
“······.”
Admiral Togo was gripped by an unprecedented sense of anxiety.
The sense of crisis that he had not felt until he trampled those Chinese and the pressure that the empire would perish if they failed led to an obsession with achieving victory.
The damn Choshu bastards’ army ate up even Fengtian, and now they’ve given up Gyeongseong, Pyongyang, and all the major naval facilities along the east coast.
As they attempted to advance three-way, the Japanese army on the Korean peninsula was virtually destroyed, and they were barely able to occupy only the port cities where the navy was stationed.
To be exact, there were still troops left.
The problem is that they are all trapped in various places like ‘Cameron’, desperately waiting for salvation.
This meant that even the Japanese army in Korea, which had previously been occupying only ‘points and lines’, could no longer be maintained.
While the planes and lines could be passed on to the enemy, allowing for a variety of three-dimensional attacks, the Japanese army could only control a few points, so they could only fight a one-dimensional defensive battle.
The Japanese army, which had to maintain a one-dimensional defensive line against an enemy attacking from three dimensions, would continue to suffer meaningless sacrifices in this irrational war.
“Ultimately, it is the job of our combined fleet to turn all this around.”
Togo spoke as if he was making a pledge to himself rather than his staff, then looked out at the fleet.
Although not as much as the Japanese Army, the Navy was also currently facing an unreasonable situation.
Of course, compared to the Roske fleet, which had sailed 28,000 km, literally running halfway around the world, it was possible to have a fleet battle under the best conditions, but the problem was whether the enemy would accept it.
The Japanese Navy was in the position of having to choose one of three paths for the Roske fleet to take and defend it.
If possible, I would have split the entire fleet and blocked the entire route, but that was not possible.
The 1st and 2nd Fleets had already suffered considerable damage in the Battle of Port Arthur, and the 3rd Fleet was in a state of panic after losing cruisers and auxiliary ships while fighting the combined Joseon and Roske fleets.
In this situation, if we deployed our fleet in a dispersed manner, we would risk being defeated individually without being able to do anything.
In particular, it was fearful of how the Joseon fleet, whose fighting spirit even the Japanese Navy recognized, and the Vladivostok cruiser fleet would react.
Because the 3rd Fleet alone could not be expected to have any effect beyond suppressing them.
In the end, he was put in a desperate situation where he had no choice but to take the most rational but risky move, sit down, and block it.
Still, Admiral Togo had his own calculations.
Roske’s fleet was exhausted and at the last moment, the most rational decision was to pass through the Tsushima Strait, the shortest route.
“But they can choose either the Soya Strait or the Tsugaru Strait.”
The staff still believed that the Roske fleet’s maneuver route would not lead to the Tsushima Strait.
The Tsugaru Strait was located between Honshu and Hokkaido, so there were residents and surveillance facilities, so the Combined Fleet could rush out from Jinhae and stop them in front of Vladivostok by revving up their engines at full speed, but the Soya Strait was different.
The route there was different, so even if the Roske fleet passed by, there was nothing the Union fleet could do.
In fact, it was uncertain whether we would be able to catch up with them even if we broke through the Tsugaru Strait, because those damn Joseon bastards had destroyed all the watchtowers and telegraph lines along the east coast.
“The Tsushima Strait area is the shortest route, but the enemy may also sense that we are lying in ambush here. Furthermore, the Joseon army is currently advancing south. We cannot deploy our fleet here forever.”
“We too may face misfortune like the Roske fleet that was trapped in Port Arthur.”
The staff had a slightly different fear, especially since they had experienced the fighting at Lushun and were trembling with fear that they were following in their footsteps.
Although the remnants of the army were establishing a defensive line in the Jinhae area, the general opinion was that, unlike Roske, the Joseon people had a fighting power on a different level.
Even if they didn’t want to admit it, it was true. Their army, despite its numerical disadvantage, not only virtually destroyed the elite 1st Army, but also defeated the Imperial Army’s pride, the Guards Division, and began to reign as the best army in Asia.
If those guys were to turn their bayonets to Jinhae, even the Combined Fleet, which could be said to be the pinnacle of Eastern navies, would have difficulty holding out.
“So, are you suggesting that we retreat to Sasebo?”
“We must be prepared, as the enemy ground forces may approach at any moment. If we continue like this, we may be attacked by the enemy and our fleet may be damaged, or we may get caught up in a battle and lose sight of the important Roske fleet…”
‘That would be the worst in its own way.’
Togo nodded.
Because their sincere concerns and advice were something worth accepting.
After a moment of contemplation, Togo received a telegram that had arrived from Shanghai.
“A coal supply ship has entered Shanghai···?”
“Yes, Admiral. This is a report from our consul and continental intelligence agents stationed in Shanghai. It is absolutely true.”
If so, this was certainly proof that they would get where they wanted to go.
The fact that the coal supply ship was headed to Shanghai meant that Roske’s fleet would inevitably come to the Tsushima Strait.
Togo stood up from his seat, shouting in joy.
And then he immediately shouted.
“All fleets, prepare to sail! The Roske fleet will soon pass through here. The rise and fall of the Empire depends on this single naval battle, so all crew members of the combined fleet must remember to destroy the Roske fleet at all costs!”
Along with his shouts, shouts of “Long live the Empire of Japan” and “Long live His Majesty the Emperor” rang out throughout Jinhae.
It was finally time to send the terrors of the sea to the deepest depths of the ocean.
***
Immediately after sending supply ships to Shanghai, the Second Pacific Fleet had its course set quite clearly.
It was a voyage through the Korea Strait, the shortest route and the shortest time.
As Rozhestvensky was anxiously passing the time encouraging the tired sailors, one of the fleet’s staff officers suddenly shouted urgently.
“Admiral, report from the lead ship. Two destroyers of unknown origin are approaching!”
“What? Have we already encountered the Japonsky fleet?”
“It’s not the Yaponsky! The flag on the mast… is of the Korean Navy! It looks like the Korean Navy!”
“what?”
Rozhestvensky looked puzzled.
I knew that Korea had a navy, and that they were new French-made fast destroyers, but I heard that the entire fleet was located in Hamheung, near Vladivostok.
That is why it is both surprising and awe-inspiring that they have now swept across the vast ocean and found their exact location.
Still, he didn’t fully believe it.
Rather, I was sensitive and greatly doubted their intentions.
Although there was a ‘minor incident’ at Dogger Bank when a British fishing fleet was mistaken for a Japanese naval torpedo boat and opened fire, it was not a bad thing to be extremely cautious in these waters, which were as good as enemy territory.
Rather, it was a behavior that should have been encouraged among all Russian naval officers and sailors.
He was even more suspicious because even the national flag on the mast was something that the Japonskis, who were always good at deception, could easily do.
“I don’t know why they came here.”
“I am suspicious. They might be Japonskis.”
“I agree. For now, put the cannons on standby and prepare for combat.”
Through his telescope he looked towards where he saw two unidentified ships approaching.
I don’t know what on earth they’re up to, but I don’t think they’ll give in so easily to whatever they’re thinking.
It was around this time that they were getting in contact more and more.
“It’s a flare. It’s a South Korean naval vessel, and liaison officers from the Vladivostok cruiser fleet are on board.”
“···what?”
As they drew closer, the shape of the ship became more and more apparent, and when he saw that neither guns nor torpedoes were aimed in his direction, Rozhestvensky allowed them to approach.
Still, the question remains unanswered.
The most fundamental curiosity was as to what on earth were their intentions and purposes in approaching them.
“Once we make contact, we may be able to determine your intentions. I will allow you to board.”
“I know.”
As two destroyers, each weighing only 300 tons, approached the massive fleet in motion, the naval officers were worried that they might tangle with the fleet’s maneuvering path and collide with it, but it seemed that they were quite accustomed to the sea.
“I am Lieutenant Commander Khmelev of the Vladivostok Cruiser Fleet. I am urgently conveying to you, Admiral, the order from the Manchurian Army Headquarters.”
“···It really was the Korean Navy. I didn’t know you would barge in like this without any definite agreement.”
Admiral Rozhdestvensky looked coldly at the liaison officer of the Vladivostok cruiser squadron accompanying the Korean Navy and the Korean Navy officers.