Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 121



Only Krnovel

#121. Lower your gaze

March 14, 1949, 07:20.

Yongsan Ministry of National Defense Building underground bunker.

“Oh my! You thought we were going to destroy everything, right? Why on earth is that person like that? “What kind of life have you been living?”

“But you still have the ability.”

“No, no matter how great your ability is. “What kind of god of destruction are you?”

“So, before departure, I separately told the fleet chief of staff that if General Kim goes crazy, I will stop him.”

“Ha, good job.”

Lee Kang-cheol watched the situation on each front in real time with Go Seok-man, and had to hold his breath for a long time when Kim Jong-woo poured out artillery fire as if he was going to destroy the Vladivostok Port.

Fortunately, I stopped before I crossed the line, but I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“Commander Kim Jong-woo, from now on I will not allow you to directly command the fleet. “No matter how talented you are, people are still insecure, right?”

“There is no alternative, right? “Who entrusted the fleet to that pyromaniac because they wanted to?”

“… … .”

Like Go Seok-man’s protest, there was no alternative.

This is because Kim Jong-woo had outstanding abilities from the beginning, and since moving to modern times, he has made almost everything in the Republic of Korea Navy with his own hands.

Even the Marine Corps is his work.

Originally, Lee Kang-cheol was not very active in the creation of the Marine Corps.

They thought there was a need to separate and separate the army that fights on land when there was an army, and they did not favor the creation of the Marine Corps, arguing that if the navy needed combat troops, it would be better to increase the size of the naval special forces.

“What are you talking about? “The Marine Corps is absolutely necessary as a national strategic mobile force!”

“Why does the Marine Corps have to run the National Strategic Mobile Force? Wouldn’t it be enough to designate an appropriate unit from the army and make it elite? In fact, what was so different about the Marine Corps of our time from the regular Army infantry?”

“different. “For landing operations and rapid power projection, our Navy needs elite forces that can operate independently.”

“No, President Kim. So the Army can’t conduct an amphibious landing? If you think about it, most of the US landing operations during World War II were also carried out by the Army, right? Like Normandy, Dieppe Landing, and Torch Landing? Well, the U.S. Marine Corps was active in the Pacific, but I understand that the U.S. Army was no slouch either?”

“… … .”

“Furthermore, I have no intention of carrying out a large-scale landing operation against the enemy, such as Normandy or Tara, that would risk serious blood loss to our troops. Honestly, I am a person who believes that the size of the Marine Corps in our Armed Forces is excessive even in modern times. “I followed the American style unconditionally, but is there any country other than the United States that can maintain an American-style Marine Corps?”

“… … .”

There was no country on earth that could have and maintain an American-style Marine Corps.

The U.S. Marine Corps is ranked among the top five in the world based on its own air force power alone.

Following the U.S. Marine Corps is like a bird following a stork.

Eventually, your crotch will tear.

In any case, it seemed clear that Lee Kang-cheol had a negative perception of the Marine Corps, but Kim Jong-woo was not one to back down.

“There is some truth to what the Commander-in-Chief said.”

“okay?”

“sure. If there is nothing special about the general army, there is no reason to create a separate Marine Corps. The same goes for landing operations. “I also don’t have the bad taste of making my children climb up the sandy beach, shedding blood.”

“You know me well.”

“But we still need Marines.”

“so why?”

“You said why can’t the Army run the National Strategic Mobile Force?”

“It did?”

“The Army can do it. “You can create an elite light infantry brigade and designate it, or you can create a quick response division and operate it strategically.”

“What’s wrong with someone you know so well?”

“But, ‘why’ can’t you join the Marine Corps?”

“huh?”

“What are you going to move the Strategic Mobile Force to? Isn’t it a boat? Now as well as in the future, it will be difficult to travel by air force transport aircraft. At best, there will be a few special forces brigades. However, it is difficult to respond ‘strategically’ with that number of troops and light armament. “Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right. Of course you have to move by boat. why? “Will the army kill me if I go on a boat?”

“I won’t die. Still, it’s not natural. A strategic mobile force must literally be able to respond quickly when a ‘strategic’ situation arises. Therefore, equipment and forces capable of responding ‘strategically’ should be as close to the Navy as possible. “You’re not planning on putting it in the middle of Manchuria and moving it to a naval base in case of emergency, right?”

“Keuung!”

Lee Kang-cheol felt like he was being stopped more and more, but he wasn’t wrong.

“Furthermore, in order to make a quick administrative landing in a truly strategic emergency, you must frequently board a naval transport ship and conduct repetitive training.”

“… … .”

“Also, regardless of whether you are moving at sea or operating in enemy territory, integrated operations and operations with the Navy are required, and our Navy will be responsible for all support for troops operating in enemy territory.”

“… … .”

“ruler! Let’s come to a conclusion. In this situation, why not! Is there really a need to designate the Strategic Mobile Force as the Army? Is that so or isn’t it?”

“President Kim.”

“yes”

“Are you pushing me now?”

“That’s what it says. And one more thing, it is true that our modern Marine Corps has excessively followed the U.S. Marine Corps in ways that do not match its capabilities. but! “Is that still the case?”

“What do you mean?”

“In modern times, the Korean Peninsula was cut in half. But is that still the case with us? They completely restored the entire Korean peninsula and even ate Manchuria. Moreover, more will be possible in the future. “Then, wouldn’t it be okay to follow the U.S. Marine Corps now?”

“… … .”

“Of course, this does not mean that we will have our own air force that ranks among the top five in the world, but in other respects, I think it is not unreasonable to follow suit to some extent.”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol could not refute.

This is because it could not be said that Kim Jong-woo’s words were wrong.

When I thought about it, I even thought that I might have been a bit prejudiced against modern times.

“I have no intention of creating an American-style Marine Corps.”

“then?”

“Why not!”

“Why don’t you say ‘sure’ one more time?”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol endured Kim Jong-woo’s repeated thrusting before warning him.

“Hum hum, anyway, that’s the case. “I plan to mix American and European styles appropriately.”

“European style?”

“I called it European for convenience, but aren’t the Marine Corps in Europe generally a small, elite special forces unit? Like the Corps of His Majesty’s Royal Marines.”

“yes.”

“But that doesn’t mean we can follow the European style. You also have to think about scale. So, we will create a Marine Corps that is of a certain size and has outstanding individual Marine capabilities. “If you think about it comfortably, I would say it is an expanded and strengthened version of the U.S. 75th Ranger Regiment.”

“What on earth are you going to do…?” … .”

Lee Kang-cheol furrowed his brow.

The 75 Rangers are a Tier 2 special forces unit belonging to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

Of course, unlike other special forces, the organization is not team-based, but similar to that of a general infantry unit, and the operational goal is not guerrilla warfare, but with powerful firepower and troops, it is willing to fight for occupation, and has the characteristics of an elite light infantry unit.

In short, the 75th Ranger Regiment has the characteristics of a special warfare unit, a rapid response unit, and a light infantry unit, but that crazy person is calmly saying that he will develop such a unit on a large scale.

“Are you saying this because you know how much effort and resources will have to be invested?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“And yet you’re going to make the Marine Corps that way? how much?”

“About 50,000… … .”

“Aren’t you crazy? get out! “Where are you talking about 50,000?”

Even the United States only has about 3,500 soldiers, which is the size of a regiment.

But 50,000?

“40,000… … .”

“Aren’t you going out?”

“30,000! “This is my Maginot Line!”

“ha! I really can’t live… … .”

“… … .”

Lee Kang-cheol took a long sigh and then opened his mouth.

“President Kim.”

“Nun… … .”

“Lower your gaze. It looks like you found out about the 75 Ranger online somewhere, but they are no joke. It takes a lot of time and resources to raise one person, even if it’s not like a Green Beret. You can’t make 30,000 people like that. Listen to me. “Because I saw it in person.”

“then?”

“As you said, shouldn’t it also serve as a quick response force? But what kind of guys are we dealing with? Aren’t they the Soviet Union and China? You have to have a certain scale to deal with guys like that. So lower your gaze a little. “It will only be slightly higher than the average American Marine.”

“Then it looks a bit…” … .”

“Sweet! “Why don’t you just do as I say and raise some of the Marines to ranger level like you said?”

“Should I?”

“Yes, otherwise I won’t approve it.”

“All right.”

Kim Jong-woo answered reluctantly.

“It would be roughly the size of a brigade. Decide between 3,000 and 4,000. And the rest of the troops are set to elite light infantry level. “Since we have so many and strong enemies to deal with here, we also add Marine armor and artillery for fire support.”

“Well, then, I’ll only put one special operations unit at Tier 1.”

“Do it on a battalion scale. Then I will approve it.”

“All right.”

“And there are other conditions.”

“What is it?”

“Just like the marines in our world, there are strange things and absurdities. Because I will disband the unit that day. what? Instrument bar? air cleaner? Anyway, I learned something strange from somewhere… … .”

“Oh, that’s right, the founding members of the Marine Corps back in our day were a bit…” … .”

“Yes, unfortunately, from the first commander to the third generation, they were all from the Gando Special Forces. There are some who say no, but I believe that the damned imperial military’s unique poop style has become a tradition there, right?”

“That will never happen. You know, right? “My personality.”

“To… … .”

Although Kim Jong-woo was a bit maniacal, he was not at all authoritarian or a person who would defend shit.

No, on the contrary, he is usually a very de-authoritarian person.

They go crazy when they see blood or fire.

“Okay, then do it. Oh, let me ask you one more question.”

“Yes, please say so.”

“Isn’t the relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps usually a bit bleak? Officers too?”

“Well, it’s usually like that.”

“But why are you so enthusiastic?”

“Can I be honest with you?”

“When did you stop talking to me?”

“Hehehe! in fact… … .”

“in fact?”

“You’re in form, right? Wow! Marines dispatched from the fleet flagship! Wipe them all away! How cool is this? so… … .”

“get out!”

“yes?”

“Get out! “Because I don’t want to see it!”

Anyway, in the end, it was Kim Jong-woo who couldn’t hear good things about him.

However, Kim Jong-woo was a truly capable person.

In just three years, we have trained 15,000 Marines who have become so elite that they will not be left out no matter where they are placed.

And, those fighting machines made their debut today in Vladivostok.