Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 330



Only Krnovel

#330. Actual combat posture!

War requires a justification.

Of course, in the past, there were many cases where they would just invade without any pretext or reason if the king or emperor gave the order, but even in those days, at least a minimal pretext was usually needed, and if they had no reason, they would make up nonsense and invade under false pretexts.

So what’s the point of talking now that the whole world is connected?

Even a hegemonic power like the United States originally started a war with Vietnam by manipulating the Gulf of Tonkin incident in history.

As can be seen from the case of the Unyoho incident in our country, causing trouble by loitering in the waters off the coast of another country is a method with a long history and tradition.

Even the United States cannot just recklessly invade South Korea in this era of China.

Of course, if we just ignore the aftermath and the international community’s criticism, we have nothing to say, but the justification is important not only externally but also internally.

It is a war that will cost countless young lives.

This is because we must inform not only the parties fighting on the battlefield, but also the citizens who have to send their sons and husbands to their deaths, why they must fight and risk their lives.

And that was directly connected to the morale of the military.

Therefore, a justification was needed for the North and South to join forces to attack South Korea in the third joint operation.

Especially in the Republic of China, which has less of an authoritarian feel than the communist dictatorship of North China.

Although there is a justification for recovering the actual territory, the Republic of Korea only acquired some of the traditional Han territory, such as Haenam and the Noeju Peninsula, and the rest was basically returned to the original owners, so it was a bit embarrassing.

Manchuria?

Manchuria was clearly not a traditional Han land.

They built the Great Wall themselves and called it Saewai (塞外).

Until a thousand years ago, Goguryeo and its successor Balhae ruled, and after that, the Jurchen people in Manchuria were granted official posts and paid tribute in accordance with Joseon’s policy of appeasing the Jurchen people, so it would be correct to see it as being under Joseon’s influence, although ambiguous.

Joseon lost its influence over Manchuria in the early 17th century, when Nurhachi of the Jianzhou Jurchen took over and unified Manchuria.

From then on, as is well known, the world became Qing’s world.

In any case, it would be difficult to claim that Manchuria was a lost territory of present-day China.

Even in the original history, Zhou Enlai warned the Academy of Social Sciences, which was trying to incorporate Goguryeo and Balhae into Chinese history, and apologized to the North Korean delegation.

Therefore, if one were to define the Manchurian region as the real territory of the Han people, East Manchuria would be nonsense, and West Manchuria, including Liaodong, would be the most, which was considerably insufficient as a justification to put forward.

In any case, a justification was needed, and the method chosen by China was, as expected, to cause trouble in the sea, a place with a proud history and tradition.

March 10, 1966.

240km southwest of Jeju Island.

This place is about 200km away from Shanghai, but it is within the boundary established as the economic zone of the Republic of Korea through an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of China at the end of the war.

So naturally, many South Korean fishing boats were actively fishing.

It was a little after 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

“Pull it up! Pull up! Pull up!”

About 20 fishing boats, including the Cheongpungho, were working hard to pull in their nets.

“Ahhhh! This time it’s full load again! Full load!”

“Captain! You have to give me a big portion?”

“You bastard, Youngtae! When have I ever neglected to take care of you? Stop talking nonsense and pull me up quickly! All the fish will run away.”

“Hahaha! Okay, I understand.”

Captain Park Su-chan of Cheongpungho looked at the fishermen pulling in their nets with a pleased expression, expecting a full catch this time as well, and then lit a cigarette.

Chick!

“Whew! That’s good!”

It really couldn’t get any better than this.

But then, Park Soo-chan noticed a fairly large ship approaching from the west.

“What is that?”

Captain Park quickly took out his binoculars and looked.

“Hey, shit! Why on earth did they come all the way here?”

The ship reflected in the binoculars was a Republic of China Coast Guard ship.

He’s been acting up a lot lately, so I was already worried.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. No matter what anyone says, this is our sea.”

Park Soo-chan turned his attention away, thinking that he would just hang around like he usually did and then back off.

But 20 minutes later.

“What the heck? Those kids? Why do they keep coming?”

A Republic of China Coast Guard vessel came within 5 kilometers.

This was not normal.

Because unless there was something special, they never crossed into the South Korean agreement waters.

“Huh? Huh?”

Now we have only approached to within 100m or so.

The ROC Coast Guard vessel, which appeared to weigh over 1,000 tons, was so large that it seemed intimidating compared to their own ships that weighed between 30 and 40 tons.

That was when.

Suddenly, a muffled Korean voice came from the radio.

―Listen up, Republic of Korea fishing boats! This is the Republic of China Coast Guard! Your boats are illegally fishing in Republic of China waters. We will conduct an inspection, so stop what you are doing! I say it again!

“What the hell are you talking about? This is clearly our Republic of Korea waters! You guys get out! I’ll call the Coast Guard!”

―This is clearly Republic of China waters! Stop working and submit to inspection!

“No, these kids?”

Park Soo-chan, who felt ominous, immediately called the South Korean Coast Guard.

“This is Cheongpung Lake! This is Cheongpung Lake! Can you hear me?”

―This is Pacific No. 3! Pacific No. 3! This is the Republic of Korea Coast Guard! Are you Captain Park?

Fortunately, the Coast Guard, with whom we occasionally exchanged radio messages, came out.

“Ah! Officer Cho?”

-Yes, this is Sergeant Cho Cheol-han.

“Sir, we are currently fishing, and the Chinese Coast Guard suddenly appears and demands that we be inspected, claiming that we are fishing illegally in their waters. What should we do?”

– Yes? Really?

“Yes, it is right in front of us now.”

-Okay, I understand. I will report to the captain and rush over immediately.

“How long will it take? I’m dying of anxiety.”

―30 minutes! Please wait 30 minutes. It won’t be long, so I’ll run at full speed.

“Yes, please!”

Captain Park cut off the communication and looked at the ROC Coast Guard vessel with an anxious expression.

“Where the hell are you guys making a fuss in someone else’s sea? Just come to our Coast Guard and see. You’re all dead!”

The South Korean Coast Guard vessels that come here from the open sea are basically 3,000-ton ships.

Those guys would have been kicked out right away.

But then the radio came again.

-Stop the operation! If you continue, we will use force!

“Get out! Our Republic of Korea Coast Guard is coming! If you don’t want to cause trouble, then get out of here!”

-Everything that happens from now on is because of you.

“What the heck, you little brat?”

That was when.

Swaaaaaaah!

A Republic of China Coast Guard vessel suddenly started shooting water cannons.

“Huh? Huh? Eww!”

“What the hell is this! Kyaaaaah!”

Fishermen working on the deck of the Cheongpungho were hit by a powerful water cannon and swept away.

“What the hell are you doing! You guys, stop!”

―… … .

Captain Park, in a hurry, grabbed the radio and protested, but there was no response from them anymore.

Clang!

A powerful stream of water shattered the windows, and Captain Park was pushed onto the deck as he tried to avoid the oncoming water cannons.

“You little shits!”

Angry sailors resisted by grabbing whatever extension cords they could get their hands on and throwing them at the ROC Coast Guard ship.

“Oh, no! Just avoid it! Our Coast Guard will be here soon!”

Captain Park, who felt something ominous, tried to dissuade his crew.

But that’s exactly when.

Tata tata tata! Tata tang!

“Ugh!”

“Kkaaa!”

“Ugh!”

The Republic of China Coast Guard fired machine guns.

Aiming shots, not warning shots.

The fishermen of Cheongpung Lake were hit by the machine gun and fell down, bleeding.

“No! You little shits! This is the law… … . Ugh!”

Captain Park saw a hole in his ship and collapsed on the spot.

“I, I have to go home… … . I was going to buy Misuk something delicious… … .”

Captain Park’s body slowly cooled down.

* * *

March 10th, 2:48 PM.

Pacific No. 3 bridge.

Captain Lee Man-cheol’s expression hardened with an ominous feeling as he watched the confrontation between the fishing boat and the Republic of China Coast Guard from afar.

Radio from Cheongpungho 30 minutes ago.

The ROC Coast Guard was said to be acting unreasonably by crossing the agreed waters, which was an unprecedented incident.

Although they have been crossing the border quite often lately, they have only been seen from afar and then passed by, never approaching this closely.

And from above, both the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China have recently issued orders to protect our fishing boats without fail, as the situation has been suspicious.

This was also an unprecedented directive, which only added to his anxiety.

“Hey! Hey! They’re shooting water cannons at our fishing boat!”

“What! These kids are really trying to do this! Can’t they go faster?”

“Current speed 27 knots! Already exceeding the design top speed of 25 knots!”

“Radio!”

Superintendent Lee Man-cheol personally picked up the radio microphone.

“This is the Republic of Korea Coast Guard Pacific No. 3! The Republic of China Coast Guard ship must immediately cease its use of force and stand down! I say it again! Cease its use of force immediately!”

―… … .

They didn’t answer.

“How dare these fucking punks!”

Captain Lee Man-cheol’s mind was burning, but the distance was still about 8 km away.

This is the first time I’ve ever felt that my ship, which I thought was fast, was this slow.

“Please stay safe until we get there… … .”

But that was then.

“Eww!”

“what!”

“They opened fire! Those bastards are killing our fishermen!”

“What? Lord, kill me? It wasn’t even a warning shot?”

“Oh my! Captain, look at it yourself! I’m aiming and shooting to kill!”

Captain Lee Man-cheol hurriedly looked into his binoculars.

“Wow, that’s ridiculous… … .”

Our fishermen were falling, spraying blood on the lens.

While being subjected to a barrage of clear-sighted fire.

Lee Man-cheol lost consciousness for a moment.

Could this happen?

Armed ROC Coast Guard shoots and kills unarmed civilian fishermen?

Something absolutely impossible was happening.

Lee Man-cheol opened his mouth with a stern expression and lowered his binoculars.

“Battle stance! Real combat!”

“Actual combat posture!”

“Actual combat posture!”

After the restoration was completed, Pacific 3 quickly entered combat readiness.

And then, immediately, Lee Man-cheol’s order followed.

“Prepare 71 guns!”

“Prepare 71 guns!”

“Are the 71 guns ready?”

“Ready!”

“Targeting the Chinese Coast Guard ship! If it’s good, fire!”

“Yes? Yes?”

The crew member who was reporting looked at the captain in a hurry.

“I’m sorry, but please tell me the instructions again. Do you want me to fire immediately instead of giving a warning?”

“Just shoot!”

“Please report first and then decide… … .”

“What the hell are you talking about! Our people are dying! This is a preemptive strike! I will take responsibility!”

“Yes! Aim at the 71st gun! If good, fire!”

“firing!”

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The new 76mm rapid-fire gun of the Pacific No. 3 was fired.