Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 84



Only Krnovel

#84. Suspicious men

At this time, things were going complicated in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) received support from the South Korean government and quickly took control of not only northern Vietnam but also central Vietnam.

The reason why Ho Chi Minh was able to take control of nearly 70% of Vietnam so quickly was largely due to the support of South Korea’s arms support, as well as the support of the public by providing food to the starving Vietnamese.

At this time, Vietnam, especially the northern region, suffered a devastating food shortage historically called the ‘Vietnam Famine of 1945’, causing an estimated 2 million Vietnamese, 15% of the population of North Vietnam, to starve to death.

The food shortage was caused by natural disasters, but the main cause was that the Japanese military forced large-scale conscription over a period of about six months from late 1944 to early 1945 with the purpose of suppressing the Vietnamese people’s will to resist and securing military supplies. .

In this situation, the government of the Republic of Korea organized a large fleet and handed over low-cost food aid from the United States to Ho Chi Minh, and Ho Chi Minh used the food to carry out large-scale relief activities and was warmly welcomed by the Vietnamese people.

Meanwhile, the British army, which had entered Cochinchina in the south to disarm the Japanese army, pretended to work but immediately hit the ground running.

At a time when the Indian Empire and Burma issues were causing a headache, there was no time to waste time in the wrong French territory.

And the Kuomintang army that entered the north was also in a situation where it was suffering from Mao’s Red Army. Taking advantage of France’s concern that China’s entry into Vietnam would become permanent, it seized all concessions and ports that France had in China, such as Shanghai. The army was defeated on the condition of giving up.

As this happened, the confrontation between Ho Chi Minh’s Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which had grown rapidly with the support of the Republic of Korea and had taken control of not only northern Vietnam but also most of central Vietnam, and France, which had secured the Cochinchina region, including Saigon, was heading towards an imminent situation. .

Not only Leclerc, who returned to his home country on Lee Kang-cheol’s advice, but also diplomats such as Jean Saint-Tenis, who had been dispatched for negotiations, suggested Vietnam’s independence to their home country to avoid conflict, but the suggestion did not have any effect.

This is because Indochina, which encompasses Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and Vietnam in particular, was recognized as a land that should never be lost to France after the war.

And the time for conflict came closer and closer.

July 4, 1946, 04:00 (Vietnam time)

About 50 km east of Thanh Hoa in northern Vietnam.

A fleet of about 30 ships was quietly moving north.

The 13,000-ton heavy cruiser Suffren, the flagship of the French fleet.

“Are you sure there aren’t any Kore bastards?”

Admiral d’Argenlieu, commander of the French Pacific Area, asked in a very irritated tone.

“I’m sure. Their convoy arrived 10 days ago, unloaded the cargo, and returned 3 days ago. “They won’t come back for the next 20 days or so.”

“Damn it! “I don’t know how we, France, ended up having to look out for these guys.”

“…”

The instructions from the home country were clear.

Never collide with Corre.

“The war has just ended, right? “Sooner or later, the day will come when France will regain its glory.”

“Of course you should. Anyway, there aren’t any Kore guys in Hai Phong Port, right?”

“Yes, it is. We mobilized all of our informants and confirmed this several times. “They are occasionally seen in Hanoi, but the only time they are seen in Haiphong is when a fleet arrives.”

“Okay. Then, please show me clearly what happens to those who run amok without even knowing the subject. “Vive la France (Long live France)!”

“Viv la France!”

About an hour and a half later, at 05:35.

Haiphong is a port city about 90 km east of Hanoi.

Hai Phong has historically been a gateway for foreign powers to enter, and is the second largest city in the north, greatly developing as a colonial port city after French rule.

The French fleet appeared in the waters of Hai Phong, and soon a roar shook the port and lights began to flash.

bang! bang! bang! Quang!

Shuuuuuk! Quang! Quang!

The heavy cruiser Chiffreng’s 203mm main gun fired fire, and the guns, which were outdated destroyers provided by Britain but were still useful for land-based bombardment, also spewed shells toward Haiphong.

bang! bang! Quang!

“Hahaha! This is what happens when a servant confronts his master! Keep shooting! “Shoot!”

Admiral d’Argenlieu watched Hai Phong become a sea of ​​fire from the bridge and thought that France’s glory would begin again.

Haiphong incident.

Originally, it occurred in November 1946, and approximately 6,000 Vietnamese were sacrificed.

However, this shelling, which took place several months ago, was carried out on a larger scale than the original, so many more Vietnamese will be sacrificed.

Of course, unless South Korea intervenes.

July 4th 07:51 (Korea time)

Command and control room at the Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense building.

“her! “They pour in a lot.”

“I guess there’s a lot of stuff piled up.”

“It’s a mess that piles up when idiots invade other people’s countries…”

“That’s right.”

When Lee Kang-cheol poured out harsh words with a disapproving expression, Go Seok-man agreed.

This is because France, which had exploited Vietnam for so many years, still could not come to its senses and invaded Vietnam.

“You made sure to evacuate the citizens, right?”

“Of course. “All citizens within range of the ship’s guns were already evacuated a few hours ago.”

“Still, Ho Chi Minh makes the right decision. “When a person dies, it’s over, but for houses like that, you just have to rebuild them.”

“Well, you said there was no hesitation at all? “It appears that the person is a person.”

“You didn’t just tell me to back off, right? “It’s no different from a trap that attracts the French.”

“Hehe! “It sounds like something the French like. I’m a little sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? “They are cheap people.”

“That’s just the way it is.”

After a while, when the fierce bombardment stopped, about 20 LST ships charged to the shore and disgorged numerous French soldiers.

The landing force consisted of about 12,000 troops, including the 5th Colonial Infantry Regiment and the Foreign Legion, which was quite an unreasonable task for France.

08:53.

Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense Command and Control Center.

Only Go Seok opened his mouth.

“Right now! “Send the bombardment coordinates to the Vietnamese army!”

“Yes, Chief of Staff!”

According to Go Seok-man’s orders, the control room personnel began to guide the Vietnamese artillery fire in unison.

And now disaster fell upon the French army, which had landed and was preparing on the coast.

bang! Quack! Quang!

“Artillery, artillery fire!”

“It’s artillery fire from the Vietnamese! damage!”

“Ugh!”

“Kaaaaak!”

The mountain of supplies, equipment, and troops were all piled together and they didn’t know what to do, and the LST ships frantically pushed their troops with the bow doors still open in order to hastily leave the coast.

However, a trap is not something that can be easily closed and escaped.

This was especially true if it was an LST type ship with the bow thrown into the sand and the bow opened.

bang! bang! bang!

The Vietnamese army’s artillery fire boasted incredible accuracy and began to hit not only the French landing force on the coast but also the LST ships.

Quack! bang! bang!

“Aaaah!”

“Save me!”

Kuaaaaang!

The shell fell squarely on the ammunition that had not yet been unloaded, causing a huge explosion, and the LST ship exploded with its bow stuck in the sand.

“How could this happen…”

Admiral d’Argenlieu, who was witnessing this scene from the bridge of the heavy cruiser Chiffrein, felt like he was going to faint.

How can the Vietnamese carry out such shelling?

This operation was top secret, and strict lights and radio silence were maintained while moving north along the eastern coastline of Vietnam.

But what does this mean?

This means that they were waiting for the bombardment to be fired as soon as they landed.

In other words, you have fallen into a trap.

“Oh, Admiral!”

“Damn it! “The entire fleet advances to the shore!”

“Admiral! The fleet could be in danger!”

“You idiot! The Vietnamese’s artillery fire is from 105mm and 155mm howitzers supported by the Koh Le guys! The range of their howitzers is 11km to 14km! “It means that the range of our naval guns is much longer!”

“It’s still dangerous!”

“Then are you going to kill the entire landing force?”

“…”

The staff could not answer.

Because right now, at this very moment, about 12,000 French soldiers were being torn apart in the sand.

This is a barrage that falls immediately after landing, when the landing force is most vulnerable.

There was nowhere to escape.

In the end, according to Admiral d’Argenlieu’s orders, the fleet advanced to a point 8km from the coast.

The heavy cruiser Chiffrein’s 203mm main gun has a maximum range of 28km.

At this level, it would be enough to bring down a firestorm on their gun position, which was clearly located about 10km inland from the coast.

Now, if the sighting could determine the location of the gunfire and fire, it would at least give the battered landing force time to escape.

In this way, the fleet formed a line along the coastline to fire all guns at a point 8km from the coast.

Weeeeeee!

All four of Chiffrein’s 203mm twin gun towers headed inland and waited for the lookout to guide artillery fire.

But, they didn’t know.

In the jungle 25km inland, suspicious men had been waiting for a day.

“Hmm? “Is this just the beginning?”

Major Han Jeong-il watched the monitor from inside the K-151 command vehicle and knew that the time had come when he saw that the French fleet was lined up in a neat line.

However, their attire was quite suspicious.

The outfit is not a military uniform, but strange Vietnamese pants and a top, a spa brand PK short-sleeved tee that is common in modern times.

And they all come from different brands.

Anyway, a suspicious captain gave an order to the battery that was waiting nearby, heavily camouflaged.

“Fire at the received coordinates! Get ready and shoot!”

bang! bang! bang! bang!

When six K9 self-propelled guns fired rapidly at the same time, they spewed out high explosive shells at a rate of eight rounds per minute.

And, the 155mm high explosive bombs that flew in destroyed the French fleet with an accuracy never before seen in this era.

bang! bang! Quang!

“It’s shelling!”

“Wow, this is crazy…”

Quang!

“The main ship’s 1st turret was hit!”

Quang! bang! Kuaang!

“Three hits on the port side!”

“No. 2 stack hit!”

Quang! bang!

“Terre 3 hit!”

Quang!

“This doesn’t make sense…”

“Admiral! You must avoid it!”

A bombardment came from somewhere.

With ridiculous accuracy, they were literally cutting the entire fleet, including Chiffrein, to pieces.

Judging by its power, it must have been 155mm, but even if it was a heavy cruiser, it would not have had the ability to withstand this level of bombardment.

This was especially true on the bridge.

“Admiral! You really should avoid it!”

“How could this be…”

Kuaaaaang!

A 155mm high explosive shell hit the Schiffrein bridge directly.

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This is the French heavy cruiser Chiffrein, which was originally used in the Haiphong Incident.