Chapter 18
Chapter 18
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 12.8 Military Coup (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Originally, Major Yi Je-dong's arrest team from the 22nd Military Police Company had planned to launch the operation at 7:20 p.m. to secure the prime minister at his official residence.
However, the alert had come sooner than expected, tightening security around the residence, and the operation to secure the prime minister couldn't even be attempted.
It was far from an ideal situation for the coup forces.
No matter how much of a figurehead the prime minister was, that didn't change the fact that he was the head of the executive branch representing the nation.
Colonel Kim Seong-ju, the personnel staff officer of the Guard Unit who had just rushed to the prime minister's residence after dropping off Park Han-jin at the safe house, received the report and couldn't hide his dismay.
"So, there are two MP companies around the prime minister's residence right now?"
"Yes, sir."
Even combining them with the plainclothes team, the arrest squad's strength amounted to only one company—nowhere near enough to overpower them.
At this rate, the coup's main force, the Guard Armored Regiment, would have to push all the way to the prime minister's residence before they could do anything.
Of course, by that point, Prime Minister No Jae-woo wouldn't just sit idly by.
"This is bad."
As Colonel Kim Seong-ju anxiously bit his lip, a military vehicle with a steel plate attached pulled into the prime minister's residence.
"Wha—what's that?"
One of the officers spotted it and jumped in surprise.
"What's wrong, Captain Wi?"
"It's a vehicle with the Security Command insignia."
"What?"
The news that the Security Commander's vehicle had appeared made everyone's hair stand on end.
Why else would the Security Commander show up now?
To meet with the prime minister alone.
"This is insane."
Colonel Kim Seong-ju instinctively knew the prime minister was as good as gone.
They needed to take a gamble now.
"Major Yi, listen carefully. The prime minister absolutely cannot leave the residence until the general arrives."
"You mean..."
"We have to attack the perimeter of the residence."
No matter how urgent the situation, the prime minister wouldn't dare stick his head out with bullets flying everywhere.
"We'll have to risk our lives for this."
"Revolutions always demand lives on the line. If we pull this off, you'll be one of the top contributors, same as me."
"Yes, sir."
"Get the troops ready."
Yi Je-dong ordered the soldiers waiting in the trucks to disembark.
"Huh? What's with those guys?"
The soldiers from the 11th Military Police Company guarding the prime minister's residence vaguely assumed Yi Je-dong's arrest team—stuck nearby amid the tangle of MPs, marines, police, and others—was just another unit held up in the chaos.
The commotion at nearby residences had already led to traffic controls, leaving many police, marine, and MP office units similarly stalled.
If they'd paid close attention, they might have verified the unit's affiliation and identified friend from foe, but the situation was too chaotic for that.
The 11th MP Company commander, who should have been directing the MPs, had been with the Capital Defense Commander when they were both taken by the coup forces. The senior officers who should have stepped in were out at the Taedong River Bridge.
The residence security chief—a long-retired old soldier—was temporarily in command, but no one expected him to grasp the situation sharply.
In this no-accountability mess, the 11th MP soldiers paid the price for vaguely assuming Yi Je-dong's group's affiliation.
As the MPs and plainclothes team poured out of the trucks, the 11th MP soldiers shouted.
"Halt! Halt!"
Bang! Bang bang!
Major Yi Je-dong and the plainclothes assault team didn't hesitate to open fire on the protesting 11th MP soldiers.
Gunshots rang out continuously, and the 11th MP soldiers hurriedly ducked for cover.
"What's that noise?"
"Sounds like gunfire."
Security Commander Lee Jeong-ju, who had come to the prime minister's residence, was startled by the gunfire.
He handed his pistol to his aide and rushed toward the prime minister's office.
Several MPs guarding the door approached, demanding he follow procedure.
"General, please wait a moment. We'll inform His Excellency."
"Out of my way!"
Panicking at the realization that the coup forces were attacking the residence, he barged through the door without permission.
The prime minister's office happened to have several hastily summoned cabinet officials seated inside.
They gave the Security Commander—who had burst in mid-conversation—disgruntled looks.
"What's the Security Commander doing here?"
Prime Minister No Jae-woo asked with a mild expression.
They called him the "water prime minister" for his soft, fluid demeanor like water, but that didn't mean he was a total pushover.
Soldiers who mistook his attitude for weakness had paid dearly later.
Lee Jeong-ju knew that, but the situation was too dire.
"There's gunfire right in front of the prime minister's residence."
"Wh-what?"
Only then did the prime minister and his ministers show signs of alarm.
Faint gunshots drifted in through the open office door.
"General Lee, what is this? Weren't the rebels on the other side of the Taedong River?"
The cabinet still hadn't grasped the situation properly, thanks to the military's deliberate delays in reporting.
Lee Jeong-ju's mouth went dry.
He couldn't dodge with lies, so he gave a brief explanation.
"The rebel Guard Armored Regiment has crossed the Taedong River. Their tanks will reach the prime minister's residence and the Army Ministry soon."
The Guard Unit's tanks might be decrepit old Kwongung Type 1s with 37mm rapid-fire guns, but a tank was still a tank.
No match for infantry.
"No way?"
"How the hell is the Army handling this?"
"So you're telling us to run away?"
Under normal circumstances, the ministers wouldn't have dared rebuke the Security Commander, a real power broker in the military.
But with things as they were, even they had lost their fear.
"Now, now, calm down. General Lee."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"If the rebels' main force is heading here, what's that gunfire nearby?"
"Most likely enemy MPs."
"Then how do you expect us to get out of here?"
"W-well, if we thicken the escort and move..."
"Don't talk nonsense. How dare you expose His Excellency to gunfire!"
"General Lee! If you want to escort His Excellency somewhere, deal with that gunfire first!"
Lee Jeong-ju had no retort.
He bowed to the officials and hurried out of the office.
*'Crazy bastards. How am I supposed to keep everyone safe and move in this situation?'*
He said that, but if he were in their shoes, he wouldn't have left the residence either.
Civilian bureaucrats were coup "acquisition targets," not direct threats.
In any case, persuading the prime minister had failed.
Lee Jeong-ju grabbed the phone as soon as he entered the prime minister's secretariat.
"Operator! Security Command, please. Yes, it's the chief secretary? Check the rebel situation and report to the residence every five minutes. Right."
Lee Jeong-ju made another call.
"MP Office, please. Ah, General O? It's Lee Jeong-ju. The prime minister's residence is under attack. Yes. Mobilize every available MP. It's urgent."
Lee Jeong-ju also requested marine support.
The marines' main force was outside the capital, but they handled security for most government residences.
Pulling in those residence guards could drive off the enemies around the prime minister's residence for now.
Marine Corps Commander Major General Shin Hui-beom promised cooperation immediately upon the request.
In fact, while the Army floundered from the surprise, the marines had faithfully carried out every assigned duty, from residence security to five-minute rapid deployments.
"If the Army makes a formal request, I'll dispatch the 1st Marine Division to Pyongyang."
"We'll deliberate carefully at the Army Ministry."
The Army Ministry didn't actually lack forces to deploy.
They had already ordered the 12th and 33rd Infantry Divisions in the capital region to mobilize, and placed reserve divisions near Wonsan—linked to Pyongyang—on standby.
*'If we can just hold out another five hours, we'll have the troop advantage.'*
Lee Jeong-ju anxiously awaited the suppression of the enemies around the residence.
At the same time, the Army command staff directing suppression operations from the Army Ministry faced a grave dilemma.
"The rebels are advancing on the Army Ministry and prime minister's residence. If we stay put, we'll have no choice but to surrender."
"So what do you suggest, General Ha?"
"Let's move the CP to Security Command right now."
The generals stirred at Operations Director Ha Jung-yeon's proposal.
"General Ha, how do we command field units if we move the CP to Security Command?"
"Then do you have a better idea here?"
"We can't give up the Army Ministry. Handing it over means ceding the entire government district. What happens if the rebels seize the broadcasting station?"
"We don't have the troops. What do you expect us to do?"
"Just wait for the Guard Armored Regiment to arrive."
"Why talk about nonexistent forces?"
Even as the generals argued, Chief of Staff Colonel Park Seong-ryeol couldn't reach a decision easily.
Truth be told, there was no guarantee the generals would follow even if he did.
With no clear supreme commander from the start, assigning overall command was impossible.
If only a responsible figure like the Capital Defense Commander were available, they could delegate full authority—but that wasn't an option.
Park Seong-ryeol took a sip of cola to wet his parched throat.
At that moment, Provost Marshal O Jung-gu slammed the table.
"Are you all just going to sit here spouting hot air? My men are out there fighting the rebels right now, and you're all engaged in armchair debates. Great job, everyone."
"General O!"
"I'm heading to the prime minister's residence. Live or die, whatever happens, happens. Let's go."
General O stormed out of the operations room with his subordinates.
The generals watched his retreating figure with complicated expressions.
One hour and thirty minutes since the coup broke out.
The situation had tilted heavily in the rebels' favor.
But the nail in the coffin of victory hadn't been driven yet.
The suppression forces' greatest ally was time.