Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 25



Only Krnovel

#25. Dawn of July 7th

June 23, 1944.

Hagicheon-myeon, Hamju-gun, south of Jangjin-gun.

“Again, again? Such a chic show! “What kind of people are they?”

Colonel Nagoshi Tu, commander of the 75th Regiment of the 19th Division, screamed as the train stopped again.

What number is this?

It didn’t start well more than 15 days ago when I received an order from the Joseon Army headquarters to unconditionally dispatch to Ganggye.

The order was so unexpected that I had to check it several times and even received harsh criticism from the commander, Captain Itakaki.

Is there a law that orders troops stationed for years to block the Soviet Union in the north to be mobilized in this way without providing a reason?

When asked who the enemy he would have to deal with was, he said he did not know either.

I was so shocked that I forgot what to say, but an order is an order.

That is also an order given directly by the commander.

Even if you go to the river and deal with ghosts, you must go anyway.

However, the road to get there was not easy.

As we moved the unit that had been stationed peacefully for several years from the start, problems began to arise here and there.

In the first place, the 75th Regiment had been stationed for a long time and its main purpose was defense, so most of the equipment had been integrated with the station for a long time, and the unit members had also become accustomed to it.

When we finally managed to set off, suffering from the commander’s insults asking us if we had yet to leave, I thought we had just had a blast, but that was completely out of the question.

On the way down the east coast on the Hamgyeong Line, the railroad was strangely damaged or rocks or logs were placed in the wrong place, so I had to waste several hours or more than half a day trying to fix it and clean it up every time.

And, as this happened repeatedly and I realized that it was not a coincidence but someone’s sabotage, I now had to be cautious of the front and come down slowly, which took more time.

However, after boarding the Chosin Line, the Nagoshi Regiment Commander had to realize that it had been a joke so far.

More than 100m of track rails were completely gone, so it was common to drag the rails from the past track to move forward, and there were even cases where huge potholes had to be dug out and filled.

After passing Samgeo Station, you will now reach Bojang Station. From here, you must cross the steep slope of Hwangchoryeong, so it is a cable railway.

however···.

“Aaaah! Damn you! “If I catch you, I’ll kill you!”

Finally, a scream came out from the mouth of the Nago City regiment commander.

The first incline leading from Samgeo Station to Bojang Station was all damaged.

And that’s just enough to get it running again after just a few days of hard work.

It was written on the faces of not only the Nagoshi regiment commander but all the regiment members that they were shocked, but we still had to go.

“Hatoyama!”

“under!”

“I need you to take the trouble. This is definitely a rogue good man, but I’m sure they’re planning to destroy Roske! It is impossible to allow troops to advance in this situation. “You will lead your unit and advance while scouting as the advance guard!”

“under! “How far do you mean?”

“Go beyond Hwangchoryeong and go to Goto Station!”

“under···.”

Captain Hatoyama’s reply suddenly quieted down.

It was worth it because it was an arduous mission that required climbing Hwangchoryeong, which is over 1,200 meters above sea level, and covering a rugged path of over 10 km.

While searching for ambushes and traps.

However, Hatoyama also knew and ordered that proper reconnaissance was necessary.

All he could do was lament that his company had been selected unluckily.

June 26th.

After struggling for three days, the 75th Regiment finally crossed Hwangchoryeong and was moving slowly toward Goto Station.

Chick chug! Chick chug!

The train was moving a little faster than a person could walk, but it didn’t matter.

Now, if we go just 15km further, we will arrive at Sasu Station, the last station of the Jangjin Line, and all that remains is to rest there for a while and then head west to Ganggye-gun.

The long journey of over 18 days is coming to an end.

It was then.

Quawang! bang! bang! Quack!

Shells flew from somewhere and began hitting the train on which the 75th Regiment was riding.

bang! bang! Quack!

“Artillery, artillery fire! Everyone jump!”

“Kaaaaak!”

“Aaaah!”

Every time a cannonball fell, the heavens and earth shook and it seemed as if the sky was falling.

It was a 155mm high-explosive bomb with a completely different power than the 105mm artillery shell.

And while the power was powerful, it was also frighteningly accurate.

“Avoid everyone! Spread out! “Spread out!”

“Ugh!”

Regiment commander Colonel Nagoshi shouted as he watched his regiment members being torn to pieces, but it was no use.

The locomotive stopped and the subordinates evacuated, but most of them were unable to escape the effective killing radius of the 155mm high explosive bomb.

“You guys! “Avoid it…”

Quawang!

Even the Nagoshi pedestal that was shouting for evacuation was blown away by the explosion of a nearby shell.

And after a while.

As if it were a lie, the bombardment stopped.

“Ugh…”

“Aaaahhh!”

“Off, save me”

The fields of Kotori, where the bombardment had stopped, were filled with the corpses of the 75th Regiment members, and those who survived were crying out for help.

Kurrrrrr.

Grumbling.

As if this was not the end, iron blocks the size of houses began to surround the miserable scene, making a roaring sound.

They were M48 Patton tanks and K200 armored vehicles.

Squeak!

The hatch of the Patton tank, which was at the forefront, opened, exposing the tank commander’s upper body.

“cadet! Seed! “What is this?”

There was no need to recommend surrender or go to sleep.

Because there were almost no Japanese soldiers properly holding guns.

At that time, the expeditionary force headquarters in Ganggye County Office.

“Wow, it was excessive firepower.”

“…”

“…”

During the daytime, it was like watching a gore movie thanks to Albatross, which performed extremely well.

In fact, Lee Kang-cheol did not know that the firepower of 18 K55A1 self-propelled batteries of three batteries would produce such results.

The first time the entire expeditionary force experienced a battle like a battle was against the troops of the 30th Division’s Scrap Battalion in Huicheon County.

At that time, the performance of the K105A1 105mm wind-wing self-propelled howitzer was more than sufficient, but this time, the 155mm K55A1 self-propelled howitzer was simply mobilized because it was a regimental force of the 19th Division, a proper division.

But I never thought it would lead to such devastating results.

But this scene was something I would have to watch until I got sick and tired of it.

Lee Kang-cheol, who had been silent, quietly opened his mouth.

“It’s something you’ll have to get used to from now on. “All of us.”

“…”

“…”

It was not until late in the evening that the approximate criminal record was calculated.

Of the 3,400 members of the 75th Regiment, 1,900 were killed and 900 were injured, and 30% of them were said to die within a few days.

Only about 600 people, including those with minor injuries, survived.

One regiment of the 19th Division, one of the 17 permanent divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army and considered a strong force, melted down in just a few minutes.

After all, artillery was the god of the battlefield.

Among them, the 155mm self-propelled howitzer is especially special.

July 1st.

Following the already occupied Changseong-gun and Taecheon-gun, the entire Yongbyeon-gun came into the territory of the expeditionary force.

July 4th.

In Byeokdong-gun, the entire area except Byeokdong-myeon, where Supung Dam is located, was secured.

July 5th.

Ganggye County Office Expeditionary Force Headquarters.

“I have obtained a communication sent home from the Japanese Government-General of Korea.”

Intelligence Bureau Director Cho Tae-hyeon reported.

“What do you say?”

“It is said that communication was cut off for an unknown reason in most of South Pyongan Province and part of South Hamgyong Province, and that the remaining troops in the Joseon Army were squeezed out and mobilized, but even they disappeared, so we request that troops be dispatched from the home country or the Kwantung Army.”

“Hmm, it looks like I finally decided to tell you.”

“It’s much later than a normal reaction.”

“Well, if it weren’t for the Japanese people’s unique stubbornness, this would have been reported a long time ago. Anyway, I don’t think Governor-General of Joseon Koiso Kuniaki will ever become Prime Minister of Japan.”

“Oh, that’s right. Normally, you would go to Japan at the end of this month and succeed Hideki Tojo, right?”

“that’s right. But it looks like it might be a little difficult this time. “History slowly began to change.”

“We’ve already changed quite a bit.”

“haha! is it? Chief of Staff!”

“yes”

“I need to change my plan. “Convene a meeting”

“All right.”

After a while, all the major commanders gathered in the conference room.

Lee Kang-cheol looked at them for a moment, then smiled and opened his mouth.

“Change the plan.”

“yes?”

“The Korean Peninsula restoration operation will be changed from July 10th to 05:00 on July 7th, two days later!”

“ah!”

“haha!”

The atmosphere in the conference room changed drastically.

“Everyone will just have to do what they have been training for.”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“communication!”

“Yes, Commander.”

“All communications on the Korean Peninsula are blocked except for us. “Is it possible?”

“Of course. “With Albatross, all of East Asia is also possible.”

“There is no need to go that far, the Korean Peninsula and its surroundings are enough. In particular, make sure that there is no communication from Japan to the Kwantung Army or Gina Expeditionary Force. “This will be implemented immediately.”

“All right.”

“And the reinforcements training at the cave camp are all ready, right?”

“Fast Friends has already been together for over 6 months. There are more than enough dismounted infantry. Excluding some special forces, 2,500 people were assigned to each brigade.”

“Okay, I still don’t know, so please take care of me.”

“All right.”

Lee Kang-cheol looked at the map on the screen again and opened his mouth.

“Now the only forces remaining on the Korean Peninsula are the remnants of the 19th Division, the independent mixed 101st Regiment in Gyeongseong, the fortresses in Rajin, Busan, Yeongheungman, and Yeosu, and the heavy artillery replacement and anti-aircraft artillery regiment in Masan. ah! And there are airfields in Hoeryong, Hamheung, Pyongyang, etc., but since most of their fighter planes are gone now, dealing with them will not be a problem. In short, it is Muju Gongsan.”

“you’re right.”

“So taking control of the Korean Peninsula is not the problem. The problem is to fortify the entire Korean Peninsula as quickly as possible. Rapidly complete fortification by deploying air defense artillery, air defense missiles, surface-to-ship missiles, and K9 self-propelled guns along the banks of the Yalu River and Duman River, and on three sides: east, west, and south. Look, the Japanese built railroads all over the Korean peninsula so that we could travel quickly by train, right? “I guess I should at least shout “Tenno Heika Banja” for this?”

“Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Amid the tension, a burst of laughter passed by.

“Now, 1st Brigade!”

“Colonel Jeong Seon-ho!

“The 1st Brigade, together with me, will occupy the entire Gyeonggi Province, including Gyeongseong and Incheon, and Hwanghae Province.”

“All right.”

“2nd Brigade!”

“Colonel Choi Chung-heon!”

“The 2nd Brigade controls North and South Pyongyang Provinces, including Pyongyang. “Be especially careful around the Yalu River Estuary and Supung Dam.”

“All right.”

“3rd Brigade!”

“Colonel Lee Jae-ha!”

Lee Kang-cheol, who was staring at Colonel Lee Jae-ha, who answered courageously, continued speaking.

“Did you know that the 3rd Brigade has a lot of responsibility and has more troops than others?”

“I know.”

“Yes, we must destroy the entire east coast up to Gangwon-do and the 19th Division in Hoeryong. “You can do well, right?”

“Please believe me.”

“Okay, thank you. Next 5th Brigade!”

“Colonel Kim Won-sik!”

“The 5th Brigade rode on the Honam Line in the rain…”

“ha ha ha!”

“Occupy South and North Chungcheong Provinces and South and North Jeolla Provinces. The area is quite large, but as I said before, don’t pay any attention to the useless inland police babblers. This is the same for other brigade commanders. Take control of major cities, ports, and coasts? Understand? “We can always wipe out the Japanese police later.”

“all right.”

“Next 6th Brigade!”

“Colonel Nam Byeong-woo!”

“Okay, this is the last one. Gyeongsangnam-do and South Korea. “That’s where Busan is.”

“No problem.”

“Yes, I believe it. And Adjutant, bring that.”

After a while, the adjutant brought out one box at a time.

“As of today, all colonels in the expeditionary force will be promoted to brigadier general.”

“yes?”

“Don’t ask questions tiredly. Do you want to become a colonel and take over that large area? Still, shouldn’t I give it at least one star? Anyway, the expeditionary force has no choice but to continue to advance from here. Right now, it’s not enough troops to even be called a brigade, but in the future, you’ll have to command division troops and corps troops. “You don’t have to feel burdened because all your subordinates will be promoted as well.”

“…”

“Isn’t this Naylong? “You said everything was approved by the president before you came here?”

“ha ha ha!”

The general promotion ceremony was held in an informal manner on the spot, and Chief of Staff Go Seok-man was promoted to major general as he was to continue to be their superior.

And the dawn of July 7 began to dawn.