Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 50



Only Krnovel

#50. There is not much time left to conquer Manchuria. (Free minutes end here.)

December 18, 1944.

Expeditionary Force Headquarters Cabinet Meeting.

“Yesterday was Sunday, and I understand you barely got any rest. Thank you all for your hard work.”

“ha ha ha! “If I’m busy with something like this, I’ll give back as many holidays as I want.”

The supplies loaded on the 110 U.S. military transport ships were truly enormous.

The transportation capacity of Liberty or Victory class transport ships ranges from 10,600 to 10,800 tons in dead weight (DWT).

So, even if we exclude the fuel, food, etc. of the ships themselves, this means that each ship was loaded with more than 9,000 tons, and with 110 ships combined, a huge amount of materials, almost 1 million tons, came into the Port of Busan at once.

In the end, the people belonging to the expeditionary force, both soldiers and civilians, left their departments and all stuck together, so we had to run around for several days to organize it, but now that we have the framework in place, we can take a breather. It will take more than 20 days to unload everything, even if we work day and night. It was going to take.

“In that case, even if I understand it to mean that the Minister of Political Affairs will continue to return holidays…”

“Oh my! “Why are you doing this?”

“ha ha ha!”

“ha ha ha!”

After the laughter passed for a while, only Go Seok smiled and opened his mouth.

“Anyway, I really had a blast. The first shipment alone contains a lot of items we desperately need. “Weapons and ammunition such as 100,000 M1 Garand rifles, trucks, jeeps, heavy equipment and machine tools, etc.”

“Okay, let’s have a separate meeting later on defense-related matters. In any case, the Japanese navy was virtually annihilated, opening up the sea route. Everything will get better in the future. In particular, the heavy cruiser Canberra, which escorted this first convoy from Saipan, had some really good stuff on board.”

“What is that?”

“No matter what, isn’t money the best?”

“oh! then?”

“Yes, of the $5 billion we were supposed to receive from Roosevelt, $2 billion has arrived this time.”

“Hey!”

“The best!”

“ha ha ha!”

After all, money was the best.

The dollar is almost the only hard currency in the world in this era when the whole world is engulfed in the fire of war.

It was natural for cheers to erupt.

“In addition to receiving 10 destroyers, we have decided to take 20 Liberty ships and 10 Victory-class transport ships among the ships of the transport fleet that entered port this time. This means that we can now build our own fleet and trade with overseas countries.”

“Hehehe! This is really good news. So, when do you think it will be possible to work overseas?”

“What do you think? Minister Go Seok-man?”

“Actually, the sea route is not dangerous anymore. There are still submarines of the Japanese Navy left, but submarines of this era usually sail on the surface and submerge during battle, so if we sail while keeping watch with our Albatross, there is no chance of collision.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“No matter how dangerous it is, it is still an exhibition. Of course, we need to add a few destroyers, but we still don’t have enough crews. The same goes for transport ships.”

“ah! okay.”

“Right now, Navy Chief Admiral Kim Jong-woo is working like crazy to train manpower, so we expect this to be possible after March or April of next year.”

“Isn’t that enough? “There are very few countries with which we can trade right now, right?”

Lee Kang-cheol thought there was really no need to rush.

Even though the risk was reduced, there were still many variables in the maritime route, and there were few partners to trade with.

No, it was probably only the United States, Australia, and Canada.

“I don’t know anything else, but it is said that the coke to be used at the Hwanghae-do Gyeomipo Steel Works and now the Songnim Steel Works will run out. That’s why trade with Australia is urgent.”

“Oh, I see. In that case, we will first request it from the United States and supply it as quickly as possible.”

“Then I’m glad.”

“If you need anything other than coke urgently, please ask Minister Go at any time. We will contact the United States and ask for priority supply. What is an alliance? “Isn’t there an alliance for times like this?”

“ha ha ha!”

“haha! you’re right.”

“The sea route has been opened, and we have an ally called the United States who has and will continue to owe us a lot of debt. Please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“All right.”

“This too was once. For both people and countries, gratitude will be diluted over time, and global political dynamics will change. When Roosevelt is there and we are in an absolutely advantageous position, let’s tear off as much as we can. okay?”

“okay!”

After finishing the cabinet meeting, Lee Kang-cheol took a short break and then immediately presided over a series of national defense meetings composed of only military personnel.

“You will be the ones having the hardest time with the arrival of the convoy. “Even if it’s hard, let’s endure just a little longer.”

“This is about strengthening the power of our armed forces. “It won’t be difficult.”

“That’s right, Commander.”

“Okay, thank you for thinking that way. So, with the arrival of the transport fleet, there will be no problem in arming the recruited troops, right?”

“So far, there is no problem in arming ourselves with just the weapons we brought. However, since we did not bring much military equipment such as helmets or canteens, this will be of great help.”

“Chief of Staff, please report the status of the troops who have just completed training.”

“It will be 70,000 by the end of December. “We will be able to add 30,000 more by the end of February 1945, next year.”

“So the total is 100,000?”

“That’s right. This is only for the Army.”

“Hmm…”

Lee Kang-cheol thought about something for a moment and then opened his mouth again.

“Then until next June?”

“We are planning to add a few more training centers, so I think it will be possible to reach 170,000. Of course, there will be a significant shortage of middle executives.”

“What is the supply and demand situation for executives?”

“Non-commissioned officers are selected from excellent training camp graduates and those with a basic education level or higher and are being trained separately, but it is still far from sufficient.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. “What about officer training?”

“Currently, we plan to train through two routes. We are conducting a 6-month course for beginner officer training based on recommendations from non-commissioned officers, and for the military academy, we are recruiting people who have studied at least 3 years in middle school for a 1-year course.”

“That middle school lasts 5 years, right? “It’s a combination of middle school and high school.”

“Yes, that’s right. It was merged into the 3rd Joseon Education Ordinance in 1938. “The Minister of Education says he plans to return to a six-year system in about two years.”

“Well, that’s for later. “Wow, there really is a shortage of educated people.”

“There is nothing we can do for the time being.”

Because there were so few educated people, even those who studied at least 3 years of the 6-year elementary school and 5-year middle school courses had to be eligible to enter the military academy.

Although they were considered high-quality personnel at the time, it was natural that Lee Kang-cheol did not like them.

“We have no choice but to commission them first and continue to train them from time to time.”

“Okay, I got it. “It wasn’t a reality I didn’t know about.”

“What don’t you like?”

Go Seok-man looked at Lee Kang-cheol’s expression and asked cautiously.

“When does the General Staff think Japan will surrender?”

“We expect it to be at least three months faster.”

“yes?”

“Yes, because of our intervention, the damage to American forces has been and will be greatly reduced. “The operation to recapture the Philippines would normally last until after the end of the war, but at the current rate, it will be over within March, excluding those who become guerrillas in the mountains.”

“I think so.”

“Moreover, the Kwantung Army is blocked by us and is drying up. The dispatched army’s continental crossing operation proceeded similarly to the original history, but the Korean Peninsula was blocked and sea routes became increasingly dangerous, so they had no choice but to stick to China. In addition, the environment for the US military’s bombing of Japan was improved to a point where it could not be compared to the original history because our Daegu airfield was used. “This war will definitely not last beyond May.”

“I completely agree. That’s why it’s a problem…”

Lee Kang-cheol furrowed his brow and said.

“Is this also a Manchurian problem?”

“huh. We must obtain Manchuria before the end of the war. Only then will the justification be clear.”

“you’re right. “After the war, it becomes strange for us to enter.”

“That’s why I’m worried. We have to advance to Manchuria by the end of February or March at the latest. But I feel like our preparations are a bit lacking…”

“Do you think so? I think 170,000 troops would be enough for the current Kwantung Army, right?”

“I think it’s enough.”

“So?”

“There are 170,000 troops, but they are all troops who have just graduated from training camp. This is a problem because with such a force, it seems like our sacrifices would be significant. Kwantung Army? If we show all of our cards, we can wipe them out right now. But Manchuria is just the beginning of our war, right?”

“ah···.”

“I don’t just want to win. I want an overwhelming victory. “At least enough to buy us some time.”

“You want to win by such a landslide that no one can ignore us for a while. “Whether it was the Soviet Union or China.”

“Yes, and we will be stronger in a few years. So much so that the moment it touches China or the Soviet Union, it will be destroyed…”

“Hmm…”

This time, Go Seok-man seemed to be lost in thought for a moment and then opened his mouth again.

“In that case, I will rearrange my overall training schedule. “It’s a bit painful when the training gets intense, but it’s better than going to war and dying.”

“Is that okay?”

“What if it’s not okay? “It’s an exhibition right now?”

“ha ha ha! That is correct. Then, I think we need to speed up the process of converting existing brigades into divisions and creating new divisions.”

“Of course. As of now, about half of the work has been completed, so we will try to finish it by February 15th at the latest.”

“Okay, please help me. And President Jeong Ji-woon!”

“Yes, Commander.”

This time, I called Air Force Chief Jeong Ji-woon.

“How prepared is the Air Force?”

“First of all, the candidates receiving pilot training in Gimpo are working hard and achieving good results, but they can never be sent out to battle against the Kwantung Army. Pilots are not trained that easily.”

“I know that well. “I’m talking about the conversion training of our existing fighter pilots.”

“Oh, is that so? You don’t have to worry about that. We recently received 12 F4U Corsair fighter jets and are using them for conversion training, and we plan to receive an additional 100 aircraft by the end of the year.”

“I think there are more than our pilots?”

“Yes, of our 120 pilot pilots, about 70 have fighter jet skills. “Still, we receive a lot, so we have to prepare for losses, and we need replacement fighters in case of a breakdown, so this is an appropriate quantity.”

“Wouldn’t renovation be necessary?”

“The Shingung missile itself is integrated and does not require any major modifications. We can finish it all in time.”

“What about KGGB?”

“ha ha ha! Well, all you have to do is drop the KGGB bomb. “It connects to the equipment the pilot carries on board via Bluetooth.”

“okay! Anyway, there’s no problem, right?”

“yes. That’s right. “As long as you have a shrine and an albatross, you don’t have to be afraid even if 600 cars come.”

“good! Next, the Navy…”

“…”

Lee Kang-cheol looked at Admiral Kim Jong-woo and just shut his mouth without speaking.

No matter how you think about it, there is no way the navy will be helpful in conquering Manchuria.

“We will just work hard to train the Navy.”

“Well, that’s right…”

“Nun…”

“Don’t stick your mouth out”

“yes···.”

“ruler! good night! I don’t need grandiose slogans like restoring the homeland or anything like that. We just need 10,000 people right now. If we cannot eat Manchuria, we will have to live under the influence of the Soviet Union and China again. Did you understand? Next two months! Let’s work hard for two more months! If we eat only 10,000 won, we will be able to live quietly while improving our skills for a while. okay?”

“okay!”

The invasion of Manchuria was just around the corner.