21st Century Goguryeo

November 25, 2023, 15:00

B2 bunker, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Namju (Republic of Corea Armed Forces Joint Command and Control Office Conference Room)

After Minister Kang Yi-sik returned to the Ministry of National Defense, a meeting was held in a heavy atmosphere in the conference room where only the staff had gathered.

Although Chairman Shin Sung-yong, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, objected to the president's order to send additional troops to Kurdistan, it was only his opinion and he could not disobey the orders of the commander-in-chief of the ROC Armed Forces.

For this reason, Shin Sung-yong, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was deeply troubled, had been staring at the virtual window. Here, several tens of meters underground, virtual windows made of screens showing beautiful natural scenery were installed on each wall.

"Chairman! Shouldn't we select the military units to be dispatched to?" Lieutenant General Lee Hoon-sang, the head of the operational planning division, a former Marine Corps commander, opened the door and asked.

Minister Kang Yi-sik had urged before leaving the B2 bunker that they should somehow decide on a dispatch unit within today and report it to the Blue House.

"It's not that easy. We have to have available troops to make a decision." Lieutenant General Yang Min-chun, head of the operation headquarters, shook his head.

Currently, no units were available as additional troops at the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be sent to Kurdistan. Except for combat units to be used for future operations, there were currently only 28 mobilization reserve divisions that mobilized reserve forces from each state as a reserve force. However, it was not possible to dispatch the Dongwon Reserve Army Division.

Despite the current expanded territory that was more than seven times larger than before unification, there was no special increase in combat units except for the 5th Border Forces Command, which was established to guard the border, and the 3 newly created marine divisions to be stationed at the Japanese mainland.

In addition, the 25th Light Armored Infantry Division (Biryong) and the 9th Mechanized Infantry Division (White Horse) belonging to the 1st Corps in Dongju-e, the 2nd Marine Division in Namju, the 6th Marine Division in Shikoku among the three islands of Japan, and the 1st Marine Division in the southwestern part of Honshu, the 1st Marine Division was stationed in northeastern Honshu, and finally the 3rd Marine Mobile Division was stationed in Hokkaido. In other words, there were only seven division-level units stationed outside the mainland, and it was impossible to use in the war against the Russian army.

If one was to list the available combat units, the 11th Panzer Division (Hwarang), the 36th Mechanized Infantry Division (Baekho), the 3rd Corps 2nd Light Armored Mountain Division (Nodo), and the 2nd Light Armored Mountain Division (Nodo), which were the units under the direct control of the 1st Field Army defending northern provinces. It was about the 12th Gyeonggap Mountain Division (Eulji). However, these units were the last line of defense protecting the Corean Peninsula along the Yalu River and the Tuman River border, and they were also an emergency support unit to Manchuria in case of emergency.

In addition, there were 4 airborne strike divisions and 4 rapid response divisions belonging to the 2nd Rapid Response Army Command, which defended the entire southern part of southern provinces during peacetime, but these units were not included in the dispatch list because they were key units to be deployed in the future 'Operation for Siberia'.

"Why don't we make changes to the plan for the occupation of Siberia?" Lieutenant General Lee Hoon-sang even brought up the suggestion to revise the plan that had been devised with long-term research in his department.

"Change the plan of operation to occupy Siberia? Wasn't the 30th Mechanized Infantry Division removed last time for the 29th Army? That would be unreasonable, but if we even make changes, it would be better to just cancel the Siberian operation," Lieutenant General Ahn Gil-won, the head of the information division, expressed his opinion coldly.

Yoongi-yoon, deputy chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented his opinion, "Yes, the plan for the occupation of Siberia should never be amended. So, how about this? It is difficult for the general combat unit to immediately join the contingent unit, so they are afraid to send four airborne ground combatants to Kurdistan. Looking at the existing plan, isn't there still enough time to put those units into operation? In the meantime, after sending troops to Kurdistan and achieving a certain degree of stabilization, depending on the situation, we will send it back to the operation to occupy Siberia."

Yoongi Yoon, deputy general of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed his opinion and secretly looked at the expression of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Well, that's a good suggestion. However, wouldn't the fatigue be considerable if the operation in Siberia was also put into operation following Kurdistan? I wonder if it will lead to a decrease in combat power," another deputy chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Kim Yong-hyeon, said as he was a little concerned.

"Don't worry about that. What kind of soldiers are currently in the Airborne Army Corps? Aren't they from the strongest aviation and land brigades optimized for special missions after going through rigorous training? Exercising that much doesn't reduce fatigue or combat power."

Like a former North Korean soldier, General Yoongi-yoon was very proud of the Hwanggong Land Brigade, which was the best special forces unit in North Korea.

At this, General Kim Yong-hyun said with a smile, "Haha, is that so?"

"It's only the truth." Captain Yoongi-yoon raised his chin and gave a slightly arrogant expression.

"It seems to be the best way in the current situation."

"I think I'm fine with the suggestion, too." Lieutenant General Yang Min-chun and Lieutenant General Lee Hoon-sang also responded positively.

"Hmm… I suppose that's the only way? Then how many divisions should we send?" Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Shin Sung-yong, who had been contemplating for a while, also nodded his head and asked for more details.

"I think we can send about four divisions."

"How many men are there in one division?"

Lieutenant General Yang Min-chun, who headed the operations headquarters, immediately answered the question of Chairman Shin Sung-yong of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "There are 4,800 men per division. With four divisions, a total of about 19,200 men."

"Is that enough?"

Yoongi-yoon, deputy chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, answered the question of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "I think it's enough. Isn't the purpose of this dispatch to the terrorism alert mission of each city? Special forces members who have received special training do more than double the role of general combat units. Isn't it perfect? Haha."

"Well, it could be. Great. So, let's decide that this contingent will send 4 airborne ground combatants. Lieutenant General Yang should contact the Special Forces Command right away to coordinate the dispatch preparations."

"All right, chairman."

When the dispatch of troops was resolved more easily than expected at the suggestion of General Yoongi-yoon, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Shin Sung-yong stood up and said, "Alright! Let's go back to the situation room then."

* * *

November 25, 2023, 15:30

10km south of Bukpyeong (Hongchikun) City, Bukgang Province, North Manchuria

Rumble!

About 160 C-2A1 tanks belonging to the 34th Armored Brigade, who joined during the engagement with the 33rd Armored Brigade of the 82nd Panzer Division (Balhae), 100 K-23P Hyeonmoo Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and various models of armored vehicles on a snowy field drove past Bukpyeong (Hongchikun) city and was rapidly retreating to the southwest direction, leaving tracks with their caterpillars.

This was because the order to retreat was issued from the division headquarters immediately after they defeated the 233 Motorized Infantry Regiment and the 12th Tank Regiment, subordinate units of the 57th Motorized Infantry Division.

On the other hand, as the 57th Motorized Infantry Division, the vanguard unit of the Eastern Military District, engaged in a series of battles and suffered losses close to destruction, the remaining units under the direct control of the 5th Army, the 59th Motorized Infantry Division, the 121st Panzer Division, and the 60th Motorized Infantry Division including Dan, were rushing through the snowy field in the shape of a triangle, perhaps for revenge.

The retreat of the 33rd and 34th Armored Brigade was also a strategy to lure the enemy's main unit. In other words, it was said that the 'prelude operation of the counterattack' and the 'opposition to annihilate the triangle', which would become the cornerstone of the 'operation to occupy Siberia,' were being worked out.

And at the 90km point behind the retreating units, the 35th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the 82nd Panzer Division (Balhae) and the units under direct control were moving forward to join them, and immediately behind it, the 20th Panzer Division belonging to the 7th Mobile Squadron, the strongest unit in the world, and the Capital Armored Division were following at the highest speed they could achieve in the field.

In addition, the four airborne strike divisions belonging to the 2nd Rapid Response Army stationed in various parts of Namju were also waiting for orders to sortie with all heavy equipment on their dedicated transport aircraft.

The CC-1000TSP, a dedicated transport aircraft of the Airborne Strike Division equipped with four plasma engines, boasted a speed of Mach 2 and included eight unmanned 6th-generation C-5 Garion tanks equipped with a hover system, two operating console armored vehicles, and armed forces. It was the largest military transport aircraft in existence capable of carrying 100 people at the same time, and the air force currently had 120 aircraft.

* * *

November 25, 2023, 16:30 (10:30 Russian time)

Russia, Moscow, Bunker State R-13 (meeting room)

After the report by Defense Minister Mikhail Ivanov was over, profanity erupted from Putin's mouth.

"Those damn Chinese, why are these people who were begging all the while before this suddenly refuse to help us?"

"That, that, is currently under investigation." Defense Minister Mikhail Ivanov hesitated because the cause was unknown.

"Even though we have signed a mutual military protection treaty, they still need a preparation period? Are you telling me to believe it? Didn't they know that we are going to invade Corea on the 24th at midnight Corean time?"

"You seem to have something in your mind. I see it as a simple excuse." Foreign Minister Valery Karpin, an expert on foreign affairs, grasped China's intentions at once.

Angry, Putin looked at his officials from a crooked position and said, "What do you mean? They dare to scheme against Russia? Is this what you mean?"

Then, Vladimir Beshastnich, the head of the department, gave a cautious reply, "After watching the fierce fight between Russia and Corea, they may think that if we lose their strength after that, they could take back Manchuria."

"So, does this mean that the Chinese have noticed our intention to use it to shake the Western Front?"

"For now, that seems to be the case."

"Cunning Chinese! Foreign Minister!"

"Yes, president!"

"Right now, request through the diplomatic line for China to once again formally attack Corea following the Treaty of Mutual Military Protection. If they give nonsensical reasons as an excuse again, immediately stop economic and military aid, and warn them strongly that they will face full consequences for violating the treaty."

"All right, Mr. President!"

At midnight on the 24th, the Eastern Military District of Russia, which was deployed for a massive invasion of Corea, did not carry out a large-scale missile attack and a carpet-bombing using air force power, which were the basis of the initial engagement. Instead, it attempted to break through the border with the main units of the four military forces only with army power.

Military experts thought it was ironic, as did Corea. At present, the two countries only struggled with their military power in the area along the border.

The reason the war unfolded was that both sides were waiting for the right time.

In the case of Russia, first, the 35th and 36th Army aimed to solidify the northern front, and the 5th Army was the bait to hold Corea's main units. Therefore, the 29th Army was the main force among the forces in the Eastern Military District of Russia.

Currently, in the 29th Army, the Red Panzer Corps, which even the ROC Joint Chiefs of Staff had not been able to grasp, was holding their breath. The 27th Panzer Division, the 28th Panzer Division, and the 58th Air Defense Artillery Division were formed and trained for a long time under strict security for this war.

Russia's original plan was to mobilize all these hidden forces to make an emergency detour to Mongolian territory, break through the weak Mongolian border, and quickly vacuum the interior, and at the same time, a large-scale missile and air force were to be administered. In addition, if New China had immediately applied military force to the western border in response to Russia's request for an attack, this operation would have paid off.

In any case, the 35th and 36th Army, which had established a fixed front on the assumption that the 29th Army had successfully broken through the border and advanced to the depths of Manchuria and successfully shaken the interior, received the support of the 41st and 2nd Army in the Central Military District and supported the southern edge of the Army. It was a plan to hit and go down.

Second, it was judged that it would be unreasonable to administer missiles and air force, that is, strategic-grade weapons, in a situation where the exact location could not be determined because the main units of the Republic of Corea had moved away from the garrison before the invasion.

For these two reasons, it was to refrain from using strategic-grade weapons until now. In the case of Corea, the first reason was that Russia invaded with army power alone, and the second reason was that it had the operation to occupy Siberia in mind.

It was necessary to use a large-scale strategic-grade weapon in the 'Operation to annihilate the Triangle' against the 5th Army, and then reserve it for use when occupying the entire vast Siberia region. If the Joint Chiefs of Staff had not established a plan for the occupation of Siberia, it would have mobilized a large-scale strategic-class weapon from the beginning like in the last Chinese war.

For these different reasons, the Republic of Corea and Russia, who did not use strategic-grade weapons at the beginning, continued to struggle with each other only with their army power around the border.