Chapter 289
Chapter 289
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Translator: crow
Chapter 289
Chapter Title: The Ultimate Solution (2)
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The size of the expeditionary force Korea mobilized was around 200,000, similar to the Soviet Union's.
As the armies of Korea and the Soviet Union began assembling near the border, China finally put forward a compromise proposal.
“Send an inspection team that includes neutral countries. We will prove our innocence.”
Better late than never, China expressed its willingness to undergo verification of its nuclear armament through the inspection team.
“How can we trust your word?”
Korea and the Soviet Union scoffed at China's proposal.
“No, we said we’d accept inspections, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, we’ll send an inspection team. One with 400,000 men.”
On June 5, 1968, the Korea-Soviet allied forces announced the start of the war with a surprise missile attack.
On the first day alone, 500 surface-to-surface missiles struck Chinese bases.
“That hits the spot. Now that’s war.”
Over the next three days, the allied forces thoroughly crippled the Chinese military’s communications, radars, and command facilities with missiles and air power before committing ground troops.
“Ground forces moving in. Open wide.”
The Korean military crossed the Chinese border with its elite 7th Mobile Corps positioned like a sharp spearhead.
“Hold the current position!”
The Chinese forces met the allies with their own zeal, but war wasn’t fought on willpower alone.
“What? You guys are infantry? Got enough anti-tank weapons? No? Then just die.”
Against the mechanized forces of Korea and the Soviet Union, infantry that relied on numbers alone stood no chance.
“How the hell are we supposed to fight an enemy like this with just a single rifle?”
The allied forces massacred the Chinese military with overwhelming mobility and firepower.
The exchange ratio averaged 50:1, and in some cases exceeded 100:1.
“I don’t want to die like a dog.”
Chinese soldiers broke down in tears at the hopelessly dire battlefield situation.
Some, gripped by panic, even discarded their weapons and fled their positions.
The Chinese military command wasn’t unaware of the situation.
“Avoid the enemy’s main forces as much as possible and switch to guerrilla warfare. Understood?”
They tried to buy time with delaying tactics, but coordinating units in a shattered communications and command structure was far easier said than done.
“How’s the location tracking of subordinate units coming along?”
“We’re identifying them via couriers.”
“Finish it within the hour.”
Despite the Chinese command’s desperate efforts, the allied forces proceeded with their plans as scheduled.
If there was any delay in the allied operation, it wasn’t the Chinese military—it was the foul weather.
On the fifth day of the operation, the allies crossed the Yellow River and penetrated into China’s heartland.
“Blitzkrieg doesn’t even come close.”
Supporting this absurd advance speed was a formidable heliborne force.
Helicopters roaring with rotor noise swooped in, dropping troops in areas the Chinese never dreamed of and cutting off retreat routes.
“Thanks for running all the way here.”
Each time, thousands of Chinese soldiers were encircled and annihilated without a fight.
War correspondents brought by Korea captured these scenes in photos and footage, broadcasting them worldwide.
The world was aghast at Korea’s demonstrated prowess.
“Wasn’t China supposed to have an army of 1.5 million? Even with crappy equipment, 1.5 million should put up some show of resistance, not get steamrolled like that.”
The Republic of China was especially shocked.
The nightmare was realizing that the Republic of Korea, which could turn its blade on them at any moment, possessed such overwhelming might.
“If we fight those bastards, we’ll end up just like China, huh?”
Of course, the Korean military wasn’t invincible as portrayed in the media.
Media propaganda inevitably included some exaggeration.
They only showed victories, but at the tactical level, there were plenty of cases where Korean forces struggled against the Chinese.
“Those stingrays have a weakness too. Their infantry doesn’t know how to walk on their own feet. Stray a bit off the roads, and they give up the chase—so exploit that to the fullest.”
But in most engagements, the allies held a solid advantage.
Even when the Chinese concentrated their forces for a counterattack, they were ruthlessly torn apart by the allies’ dominant air power.
“How are we supposed to fight not one, but two superpowers?”
The Chinese military’s string of defeats led to finger-pointing over responsibility for the loss.
“This is the military command’s incompetence. How can we lose like this after pouring everything into armaments?”
Mao Zedong’s closest aides, the Gang of Four, shifted the blame for the defeat onto the military.
Their scapegoating was a ploy to preserve Mao Zedong’s prestige, tarnished by the defeat.
Lin Biao’s son, Lin Liguo, sensed danger in the Gang of Four’s actions.
‘If this keeps up, when the war ends, Father might shoulder all the blame for the defeat.’
Better to draw the sword first.
Lin Liguo brought up a coup to his father, Lin Biao.
“What? A coup?”
“Better to bite them first than end up as the hunting dog thrown into the pot.”
“Ha, but the opponent is the Chairman. There’s no way it succeeds.”
“Father, the Chairman’s inner circle is already sharpening their knives for us.”
“If it fails, our whole family gets exterminated. You know what you’re saying?”
“Even if we don’t, we’re done for.”
Lin Biao yielded to Lin Liguo’s repeated persuasion.
Under his father’s tacit approval, Lin Liguo set the coup plan in motion.
“Let’s ambush when Mao Zedong moves in Xi’an. Sounds solid.”
But the Lin Liguo faction’s secret didn’t hold.
Among Lin Biao’s aides lurked Mao Zedong’s eyes.
“Arrest them all.”
Mao Zedong purged the Lin Biao faction entirely.
“Round up everyone close to Lin Biao.”
This dealt devastating damage to the Chinese military command.
The great purge of Lin Biao and his aides plunged the already chaotic Chinese command into further turmoil.
“If even No. 2 man General Lin Biao was plotting rebellion, doesn’t that mean the military has turned its back on Chairman Mao?”
“With the top brass in this state, the war’s as good as over.”
Sensing the catastrophic atmosphere in Xi’an, some high-ranking Chinese officials openly surrendered to the allied forces.
Among those who surrendered was Xi Zhongxun, father of Xi Jinping.
Xi Zhongxun was deeply impressed by the allied forces’ overwhelming logistics, providing ample food even to Chinese POWs.
‘No wonder we can’t win.’
As the allies approached Xi’an, China decided to abandon the capital.
“This war isn’t lost yet. If the people unite as one and fight, the invaders will drown in the people’s wave and collapse.”
That would require sacrificing 1 million, 2 million—but the Chinese command didn’t care.
“We’re prepared to throw in 10 million if needed.”
Mao Zedong’s threat was no bluff.
In fact, China conscripted boys and elders, handed them rifles and a few bullets, and sent them to the front.
But not everyone agreed with this madness.
“At this rate, wouldn’t it be better to end the war? What’s the point of a war that kills off the entire people?”
The more the Chinese government flailed, the greater the disillusionment among Communist Party members grew.
That disillusionment led to surrenders and betrayals.
Mao Zedong weathered two betrayals, but the third proved too much.
“Mao Zedong’s gang is in those mountains.”
Following the tip, the allies searched the foothills of the Qinling Mountains and captured foul-smelling figures deep in the peaks who hadn’t washed.
Among them was a face often seen in propaganda.
Mao Zedong himself.
The moment he was captured by the allies, Mao Zedong started shouting.
“I am the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Communist Party. Treat me according to my status.”
“You want proper treatment? We’ll see to it.”
The Koreans treated Mao Zedong relatively gentlemanly.
“But will the Soviets treat you well too?”
Mao Zedong was sent to the Soviet Union via vehicle provided by the Korean military.
China’s remaining top cadres suffered similar fates.
“Zhou Enlai? Send him off.”
“Deng Xiaoping? Send him off.”
Figures who might have left their mark on world history were all dragged to the Soviet Union.
The fate awaiting them was endless labor in the Gulags.
With the deportation of China’s top cadres, the war came to an end.
It was July 5, 1968, one month after the war began.
“Time to withdraw.”
Korea dumped the cleanup on the Soviets and swiftly pulled its expeditionary force back home.
In this short war, Korea suffered 350 fatalities.
A significant loss of life, but the blood spilled was not in vain.
“We solve problems in our backyard with blood if we have to.”
Through this expedition to China, Korea demonstrated it was still a war-fighting nation capable of waging war.
Even Third World nations that had grown a bit complacent watching Korea consistently avoid war since World War II now straightened up.
“Koreans are like MiG fighters—quick to scramble if shit hits the fan.”
Pyongyang expressed satisfaction at the shift in neighboring countries’ perceptions.
“Well worth the blood spilled in China.”
That said, it was hard to nod along if asked whether this was cost-effective.
Crossing deserts and steppes for logistics, dispatching a massive expeditionary force—Pyongyang’s war expenditures in that short time exceeded 3 billion.
Lee Seong-jun compiled these expenditures and reported them to the National Assembly.
The lesson Lee Seong-jun sought to impart through the report was simple.
“Don’t go to war unless absolutely necessary.”
War should not be the ultimate solution except against rogue states.
Think of it lightly, and you could end up in an inescapable quagmire like America in Vietnam.
Korea’s prime minister hoped posterity would not forget this lesson.