Protecting the Homeland (2)
Contrary to my worries, the military majors and conservatives—who had been swayed by the name “Manchuria” and set aside their political views to bicker among themselves—were now discussing preemptive strikes and deception operations in the Wolf’s Lair. They would soon vanish from there.
No, rather than that,
“Preemptive attack on the Korean situation in Liaodong? Have they all been filled with strong rum in their noses?”
Our savior, General William M. Dye, had just torn apart the shabby draft of the “Operation Blue” written by Seo Jae-pil and the major officers right in front of our eyes, telling them not to spout nonsense.
“Get out! All of you!”
I immediately followed the general’s roar, watching the majors being driven out, and then quietly asked the still defiant General Dye.
“Huh, isn’t that too much? We officers don’t know much because we lack experience, right?”
“Although it may sound impertinent, Your Excellency the President. Your Excellency, we are a country facing a war right before our eyes. War is not something that can be won with mere delusions; it’s not an easy task.”
The general, who seemed frustrated, took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, sighing heavily with a very serious expression.
“The current military strength of Korea is truly pitiful. No matter how much the Qing Dynasty is entangled with the French expeditionary force in the south, we must never forget that there is still a complete Beiyang Army division in Beijing. If they invade Korea now, the northern part of Korea will suffer enormous damage.”
Then General Dye continued to warn me repeatedly that unlike Zeng Guofan’s retreat or the Qing provincial armies, the Beiyang Army was a force founded by Li Hongzhang with political stakes in the Self-Strengthening Movement at the level of the ultimate decision, and we must never underestimate it.
But here, for a moment.
Why is our General William M. Dye here in Korea now?
“So, it’s truly fortunate, General Dye. You turned your back on the ship to fight for our country’s freedom after hearing our plea instead of enjoying a comfortable life in Washington D.C.”
Because he returned to the battlefield after going to Washington.
“It is an honor. I am just a mere general who has done nothing noteworthy and is merely occupying a position, Your Excellency.”
“Do not be humble. I have also heard that you systematically reorganized the Egyptian military in the old era.”
“It is only the unfortunate remnants of past mistakes, Your Excellency.”
When I showed a relieved expression, the general waved his hand and smiled modestly.
In original history, General Dye should have been assigned military advisors in Egypt from 1879 to 1881 after the end of the American Civil War, then retired due to some dishonorable incident, and then flown to Washington to become police chief there.
But due to the butterfly effect, during a brief stint as a consular advisor on Japanese arms imports, he received news of the revolution in Korea through the Osaka Shinbun and was summoned by the US Minister to Korea.
“This must also be the will of God.”
He told me while recalling his short three-month schedule.
“Minister Foote and Ambassador James in Shanghai sent urgent telegrams to the home country. The Korean government, which has barely unified the chaotic situation, needs a lot of help in reorganizing the vacant military system. So, I felt that I was the right person for the job.”
“I see.”
I nodded slightly with an understanding expression upon his explanation.
“So, you and Ninsted could come quickly. The swift response of the United States will be remembered by me and our government.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency. And luckily, the capable Lieutenant Colonel Ninsted was just about to be assigned as a military attache at the Japanese Legation at that time. Although it is regrettable for the Japanese Legation, since the situation is urgent in Korea, they will understand the circumstances well.”
General Dye added that regardless, the Chase Arthur administration was promoting the military advisor team and officer recommendations that we had been requesting from 1883, and if the resolution passes in the home government and congress against the Qing, more officers would arrive in Korea in a short time.
“I received a telegram that the military advisor team and reconstruction committee of at least forty people departed from San Francisco. When they arrive, the urgent fire will be extinguished.”
“Fortunately.”
Upon his words, I felt relieved.
“If our friends who were rampaging in Mexico and the Indian Territory come, it would truly be a blessing. After collecting information, I heard that the environment of Manchuria and Liaodong, which the Koreans so eagerly desire, is very similar to our western climate. If they rampage, the Qing Dynasty will be quite surprised to face a new kind of enemy.”
“Then it would be truly fortunate. The expected military.”
“But until then, we two must handle it, haha!”
However, currently, only 2 people.
Compared to the 50,000-strong army gathered from all provinces of the new government, it was truly meager and insufficient.
However, Ninsted, who is acting as auditor in the accounting department and is a literal specialist in supplies and accounting, and General Dye, who commanded the front lines during the American Civil War and led the famous 20th Regiment in the Battle of Gettysburg, are the most excellent hands we can hold in Korea now.
“And besides, both General Dye and Ninsted are real ones who suffered greatly in the original history to reform Korea’s military system. We must trust them.”
I picked up another report above the desk instead of the outline of the “Operation Blue” that he had torn and thrown.
“Then, how do you think of this? I think this is the most realistic plan among them.”
It was the defense plan for Pyeongan Province written by elderly generals who had experienced two rounds of Yangyo with Yang Heon-su of the military and others.
“General Dye, do you also think we should defend the Daedong River defense line centered on Pyongyang?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Without any hesitation, he answered immediately.
“No matter how strong the army is, it cannot withstand more than a certain number of heads. Soldiers all holding Gatling guns in one hand.”
He gave his grounds for the defense plan’s core, which divided the crossing points and advance directions of the Qing army along the Daedong River into upper and lower streams to confront the enemies, and actively supported it.
“The current Korean army is divided into three major categories. One is the new-style army from the central army that was loyal to the old monarchy. The second is the militia prepared by the revolutionary forces including the Alliance Association as a self-help measure. The last is the conscripts gathered from the locals.”
He spread three fingers, one by one, and continued with a serious expression.
“Of these, the conscripts gathered from the locals are really, really only for filling numbers. Because they are old-fashioned matchlock muskets? Not at all, Your Excellency. People die even with old muskets. The most important thing is whether the soldiers can carry out the officers’ orders with their lives, and that is it. And the orders are mostly ‘maintain the formation’. Even if hastily conscripted conscripts enter the battle and don’t create holes in the formation but just hold their positions, the battle is half won for us.”
“...No, isn’t it too harsh on the people who left their homes just for patriotism-.”
Just as I was about to counter that it was too harsh on these people who had stepped forward to protect their hometowns and families, he waved his hand forward and said.
“Do not misunderstand. I am not belittling their fighting spirit and patriotism, Your Excellency. Their patriotism is truly worthy of being revered. However, I think it is my duty to try not to let their such decisions and honor be wasted in vain. About 30,000 conscripts will each find their own positions in the future.”
“Then, what about the Vanguard and the Central Army?”
“They are the core, Your Excellency.”
He took a gesture to wait a moment and took out a large sketchbook from the leather bag he brought and started drawing something wildly.
“Well.”
After roughly drawing, General Dye, holding a piece of charcoal in his hand, turned the sketchbook towards me so it was easy to see and explained.
“Think of this as the formation. What I drew now is the formation composition that the North and South armies roughly took during the American Civil War.”
“...The North Army is long on the left and right, thin in width. Conversely, the South Army is thick in the center and narrow in the line spacing.”
“Yes, Your Excellency. The composition is like this. The North Army had a formation of regiments and divisions that could be 1.5 to 2 times more than the South Army’s when the number of troops and supplies was enormous. With that, the formation became thicker, providing safety to the units.”
“Then the South Army...?”
“The South Army had to face the North Army’s offensive with greatly limited troops and always insufficient supplies compared to the North Army. However, they had strong attacking spirit and firm belief. Therefore, the South Army preferred to force close combat through momentum and break the center of the formation, while the North Army preferred to decide the outcome by forcing overall firepower and attrition. And we will transplant only these advantages of the South and North Armies respectively to the militia and the Central Army.”
“Meaning we will organize these two differently...?”
“Yes.”
When he saw my still unclear expression and thought his explanation was insufficient, General Dye scribbled something on the sketchbook and said.
“The soldiers from the revolutionary army including the Alliance Association and the volunteers conscripted in response to Your Excellency’s call have great loyalty and passion. And the most important thing in war is, of course, courage and belief.”
“Courage and belief.”
Courage and belief.
Upon his explanation, it seemed like some thread was forming in my mind.
“I strongly advocate using the volunteers as the anvil and the Central Army from the regular army as the hammer. The volunteers who have completed the revolution from beginning to end with Your Excellency will maintain the formation no matter what hardships and threats come.”
“In the battle where the muzzle flash is right in front of the eyes, the most important thing is the mental strength to protect the formation. And the method to break the opponent’s formation is the same.”
After General Dye’s words, I slowly nodded and answered after a moment.
“Using the Vanguard as the anvil, while they receive the enemy’s gunfire with their spirit, you break one of the enemy’s flanks with the Central Army that has outstanding firepower and equipment.”
“You have seen it correctly, Your Excellency! Upon checking the inventory report compiled by Lieutenant Colonel Ninsted, there were over 4,000 Henry Martini rifles and Remington rifles alone? Even just arming them all, one regiment of the Beiyang Army could be suppressed with just rifle firepower.”
“Repeaters are powerful, indeed.”
“And we will gather the Central Army, our elite, with rifles to secure firepower that does not lag behind the Beiyang Army, and win element by element to draw the overall picture.”
“Now I understand.”
General Dye, thinking I had understood properly, finally showed a slight smile.
However, not yet ready to relax, he began to explain what was overwhelmingly lacking for us.
“Unfortunately, the utilization of special branches like artillery or cavalry that can be meaningfully used by the Korean army is extremely limited. Moreover, although there are sufficient brave and patriotic soldiers, there is also a shortage of excellent officers to command them.”
“Yes.”
We had no large-scale artillery at all currently, and the only cavalry was the Hobunwi newly established in Pyeongan Province and elsewhere.
Upon his sharp criticism, I swallowed my sigh and answered.
“It feels like watching the founding war of the United States.”
Then he replied that it was indeed correct.
“Ah, that is also true. Our country also had many trials in the early days of the national army. Lack of uniforms, gunpowder, old-fashioned rifles.”
“But we eventually won, right? We will also win. Breaking freedom and equality is never easy, after all.”
“Haha, I think so too!”
As the two of us were strengthening our resolve, a sudden brilliant idea flashed in my mind.
Lack of artillery? This, if done well?
“...General Dye. If, if we need to have a meaningful scale of artillery unit, what would that scale be? Enough to engage in battle with the Beiyang Army.”
“Total and battle, you mean? Battle?”
“Yes.”
“If I have to insist on calculations.”
General Dye, who had been calculating with a slight head tilt to my question, eventually answered.
“At least three artillery battalions are needed, Your Excellency.”
“Why?”
Three battalions? That’s a lot.
Upon my surprised expression, General Dye smiled and answered.
“There must be two battalions each to block the upper and lower reaches of the Daedong River and one reserve to intercept as per the enemy’s expected crossing points. At minimum, that’s it.”
Upon his explanation, I asked additionally.
“What if the enemy finishes preparations in front of Pyongyang and pressures a rotation across the Daedong River tributaries?”
“Hmm, the number of such cases is scarce, but we can’t rule out the possibility. Still, three battalions are sufficient for now. I don’t know about the Beiyang Army’s traditional organization, but if one regiment is one battalion, even a proper medium howitzer might barely exceed three.”
“Fortunately, that’s what I heard.”
“But have you thought of any good ideas? Suddenly asking about the enemy’s artillery strength?”
I answered with a meaningful smile to his question.
“If done well, we might be able to obtain artillery units that will never lag behind the Beiyang Army in time.”