Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Korean-Chinese War (1)
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The Korean Navy's Yangtze River flotilla consisted of twelve ships, including those around 2,500 tons, forming a fleet designed for inland operations.
The flotilla's firepower wasn't particularly strong, but the real issue was the fact that Korea backed them.
The Chinese didn't even consider baring their teeth at the Korean flotilla.
"Over there—fire a warning shot at those bastards passing by."
With the Korean Navy firmly gripping control of shipping on the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, they continued to harass Chinese vessels.
Even if the railroads shared the burden of China's transportation volume, they couldn't fully replace inland water transport via rivers and canals.
At this rate, the Republic of China's economy was on the verge of suffocating and collapsing.
The Chinese pleaded with the Koreans time and again.
"Now, let's call it quits. Haven't we met all your demands?"
"Met what demands?"
Even after China withdrew from the air defense pact and Chiang Kai-shek stepped down as head of the Executive Yuan, the Korean government showed no mercy.
Korea's demands were firm.
"Conclude a Korean-Chinese alliance to seal off any possibility of an Axis alliance. If you refuse this condition, we'll have no choice but to doubt China's sincerity."
It was a condition China absolutely could not accept.
Accepting it would mean every high-ranking government official being branded as a Korean puppet.
"We absolutely cannot accept it!"
The Chinese, forced to simply watch and wait for how long this pressure would last, only felt suffocated.
"How long are we supposed to endure the Koreans' rampage?"
Then, an incident occurred.
Boom!
As the Korean forces routinely patrolled up and down the Yangtze, a few shells flew from hastily prepared oil drums.
The incoming shells didn't hit the ships, but it was enough to make the Korean Navy feel threatened.
"They dare fire shells at Korean warships?"
In any country, warships were generally seen as extensions of sovereign territory.
"This is overt hostility against Korea by the Chinese! Until we withdraw to Shanghai, exercise the right to self-defense."
The Koreans shelled every location they suspected of firing the shots.
It was a defensive measure to avoid further attacks during the withdrawal.
Of course, that was the Korean perspective; the Chinese saw it differently.
"How can we tolerate the Fanzi brazenly shelling right in front of the capital? The Republic of China is a sovereign nation!"
Faced with the Korean river flotilla's bombardment, the Chinese military couldn't just stand by.
"All batteries, open fire!"
As the Chinese batteries unleashed full fire, the river flotilla took hits.
The gunboat Yangwu was struck, and thirty Korean soldiers were killed or wounded.
"They attack Korean warships and cause casualties?"
The Korean Navy Ministry immediately launched military action.
This wasn't an entirely unusual case; the great powers had often engaged in similar behavior in China.
The British, for instance, had once shelled a city without warning from their warships.
Something like the Korean incident could happen anytime.
The problem was that it erupted amid escalating friction between Korea and China.
"Show those Chinese bastards what we're made of!"
Once the Navy Ministry issued the order, the Marines began reinforcing their forces in the International Settlement of Shanghai, and the Navy dispatched part of the Combined Fleet to the Yangtze estuary.
The Korean public wasn't staying silent either.
"We can't let trash like China stand against Korea! Use this chance to teach Nanjing a lesson!"
The long-suppressed cries of militarism echoed throughout Pyongyang.
Pyongyang—the Empire—clearly wanted war.
*
"Korea must punish China!"
The public strongly demanded a punitive expedition against China.
Demonstrators gathered on streets everywhere, shouting for "retaliation."
Every citizen of Korea was screaming for China to be punished.
Their furious voices made my head spin.
For now, I closed the curtains over the window.
I wanted even that frenzied sight out of view.
"I have no idea how things spiraled this far."
I'd planned to pressure China just enough and then pull back, but everything went wrong.
Like it or not, war had become inevitable.
Even though China hadn't joined the Axis.
I let out a deep sigh and picked up the phone.
"Intelligence Agency. Director Lee. Any signs that Chiang Kai-shek's side tried to provoke us to break the stalemate? None? Got it."
It wasn't Chiang Kai-shek's doing.
Then maybe a provocation plotted by the warlords who wanted him out.
Or perhaps...
It could have been the work of radicals within the Empire.
I might control the military, but I didn't fully dominate their thoughts.
Whichever side was behind it, it no longer mattered.
War was unavoidable now.
"Adjutant."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
"Prepare the car."
Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the Army Ministry.
The Army Minister Kim Seong-ju and high-ranking Navy officials were all waiting.
"Your Excellency, I apologize for causing you worry."
"What's the Navy's situation, sir?"
"The Western Sea Fleet will arrive off Shanghai in twelve hours. The Marines will take about forty-eight."
I turned my gaze to Kim Seong-ju.
"Issue partial mobilization orders first."
Korea's partial mobilization targeted reserves up to five years out.
"Understood."
Upon reaching the conference room, a large map of China awaited.
Tactical symbols representing Korean forces were already scattered across it.
Fast. Too fast.
"Your Excellency, allow me to brief you on the Army's wartime operation plan."
The Operations Division chief spoke confidently.
Huh? Isn't this plan supposed to come out in September?
Did these guys work 168 hours a week?
Still, something felt off.
A nagging unease that was hard to pinpoint.
Anyway, I sat and listened intently as the Operations chief explained the plan.
Instead of the traditional land rush through Liaodong to North China to the Yangtze River Basin, the Army envisioned dropping bombs at the Yangtze estuary and then rushing straight to Nanjing.
I glanced at the Navy side, wondering if they'd coordinated, but it didn't seem so.
The Navy generals clearly looked like they were hearing it for the first time.
I crossed my arms and signaled him to continue.
"Our forces plan to seize China's core economic region along the eastern coast, then link up with the Chinese Communists and leave inland operations to them."
Outsource inland ops to the Communists.
Honestly, a Communist victory wouldn't paint a pretty picture, but it was better than Korean blood being spilled.
For a plan devised by militarist pseudo-Junkers, the Army's surprisingly considered casualties.
"Sounds plausible. It's good."
"Thank you, Your Excellency."
Come to think of it, this guy was a civilian.
In his precarious position where his head could roll anytime, he visibly lit up at my single word of praise.
Then, Kim Jeong-gil whispered to me.
"Your Excellency, call from the Foreign Ministry."
"Got it."
I told the generals to continue the meeting and went to the Army Minister's office to take the call.
"This is Yi Seong-jun. Ah, I don't want war either. But what can we do? It's come to this. Please explain our position well to the Americans and British. Yes. Thanks for handling it."
I asked the Foreign Ministry to manage the fallout and wiped sweat from my brow with a handkerchief.
Come to think of it, if war breaks out, diplomatic issues to handle won't be just one or two.
Germany?
They're not even on my mind.
The problems are Britain, America, and the Soviet Union.
The Anglo-Americans, aware we're overreacting, might shift slightly from their previously friendly stance.
Of course, they won't turn hostile against us while Berlin still breathes, but considering the coming Cold War era, this is a significant diplomatic loss.
'The Soviets are a problem too.'
With war breaking out immediately, supplies to the Soviets will face disruptions.
Moscow won't complain given our urgency, but losing credibility here could cause issues in future dealings.
Ring.
I snatched the phone reflexively, and Assemblyman No Jae-u of the Revolution League spoke in a hurried tone.
"Prime Minister Yi, things have gotten urgent."
"What's going on?"
"The Korean Revolution Party submitted a war resolution bill."
What?
We haven't even moved yet, and warmongers are already at it?
Riding the surging militarist fervor to make politics easy, plain as day.
"Prime Minister Yi, clarify your stance quickly. We're in a bind too. War or no war?"
"For now, submit the war resolution under the Great Council and Revolution League names."
"Will do."
No Jae-u hung up promptly.
I returned to the conference room and took my seat.
"Army Minister."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
"You take charge of the invasion operations."
"It's an honor, Your Excellency."
I didn't appoint a supreme commander just for the China expedition.
I wasn't foolish enough to create a dangerous war hero and potential rival.
"Navy Minister."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
"Sir, you'll handle logistics and support."
"Leave it to me."
"Marine Corps Commander."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
"Sir, you'll lead the vanguard of our attack. We need Shanghai fallen quickly—can you do it in two weeks?"
"Of course."
I nodded.
Unreliable militarist nation though Korea might be, when it came to war, they did it spectacularly.
And everyone in this room was the most battle-hardened warmongers in Korea.
I ordered these militarists to invade China—the very thing they'd longed for most.