Chapter 160
December 22, 2020, 15:00 (China Standard Time 14:00), 44 kilometers north of Qingdao Province, China
The sudden surface-to-land cruise missile attacks from the Korean Navy had rendered the Chinese artillery and anti-air forces useless. Now, the Chinese were being annihilated by the Korean attack and mobile choppers. The Chinese 2nd Armored Division’s defensive strategy to use artillery and anti-air forces was no longer carried out. Thus, the armored battle between the Korean and Chinese military resulted in the Korean marines’ victory.
The marines’ artillery battalion with superior range had rained down cannon shells on the enemy to destroy the Chinese tanks that earlier on were confident because of their number. The Chinese 2nd Armored Division’s type-99 and type-99G tanks could not fire their cannons before catching fire and collapsing into the muddy and snow-covered field. Over 70 tanks had been rendered useless before they could reach their enemies.
Then 24 KA-11P Phoenix land attacker jets, considered as the predator of armored forces, appeared in the 2nd Division’s front lines and tore them down. The jets flew at low altitudes and sprayed their 50mm plasma cluster bombs to the Chinese tanks. Those caught in the blast also erupted in flames before exploding. Also, the 22mm laser Vulcan beams on the jets destroyed the Chinese tank’s optical scope and other visual equipment, rendering their weaponry useless. Some of the Chinese tanks had their turrets pierced through by the 22mm laser Vulcan beams, and the rounds tore through the interior as well.
The 24 Phoenix land attacker jets had exhausted their weapons and returned back to the Yentai temporary base. China’s 2nd Armored Division had lost 50 percent of their force before facing Korea’s Marines 3rd Mobile Division’s 11th Armored Brigade K-3 White tiger tanks.
The Chinese tanks that had pushed forward confidently en masse before they lost half of their forces and met with the K-3 White tiger tanks. The Chinese tanks, which could be considered as third generation, were not a match against the 5.5th generation K-3 White tiger tanks. As in previous armored battles, many of the Chinese tanks turned into burning piles of scrap, and the number of tanks on the lead diminished rapidly. The aiding mechanized infantry division retreated from the battlefield when they saw their allies being taken down.
The Qingdao march, led by the 3rd Marine Mobile Division, was the shortest and least damaging battle against the Chinese armored forces in history. The 3rd Marine Division could attribute their success to varied attacking methods used at the proper time to ensure maximum damage. However, the overconfidence of the 12th Army Group’s Commander, Wu Weian, and him giving the order to march into battle instead of heeding the commands given by the Chinese Chief of Staff was the major reason for China’s defeat.
Three hours after the battle started, the 2nd Armored Division only had 30 surviving tanks, equal to an armored battalion’s tanks size. They fled to the rear lines at Qingdao, and the 34th and 36th, who had appeared after arming themselves again, all ran off in different directions after being attacked by the Peregrin falcon choppers and K-3 White tiger tanks.
Now, the only forces left that could defend Zhimou City within Qingdao were the 35th and 179th Infantry divisions and the 12th Army Group’s subordinate forces. The city was in chaos from the appearance of soldiers equipped with heavy armor never seen before. The city’s defensive regiment and armed police were fighting against them across the city. The soldiers in heavy armor were from the Armored Assault Brigade from the Korean military’s 2nd Command headquarters. These men had infiltrated into downtown Zhimou using the routes they had studied before their invasion.
“We must prepare for an urban battle, Commander!”
Operations Director Lieutenant General Gao lin spoke firmly to Commander Wu Weian, who only heard reports about defeat since the battle began three hours ago.
However, Commander Wu Weian did not pay attention because the 12th Army Group’s three main divisions were near annihilation within three hours after the battle began.
“Commander!”
Lieutenant General Gao lin shouted to Commander Wu Weian staring at the monitor with a blank look on his face.
“We must bring back all the defeated forces into Qingdao to prepare for urban warfare.”
When Lieutenant General Gao lin shouted out of frustration, Commander Wu Weian replied quietly.
“Yes, do that, but the thing is. Why did the 26th Army Group that was supposed to attack the enemy’s rear not show up?”
“Based on our intel, the 26th Army Group is busy battling against the Korean 2nd Marine Division, so they had no forces to spare.”
“Damn it! All right, have the defeated forces move into downtown Qingdao.”
“Understood, sir.”
Thirty minutes later, the Chinese Chief of General Staff ordered for the immediate dismissal and arrest of the 12th Army Group’s Commander when they heard about him ignoring its commands. Lieutenant General Gao lin was named as the temporary Commander of the 12th Army Group.
* * *
December 22, 2020, 15:00 (China Standard Time 14:00), 27 kilometers away from Jiaodinshang, Qiangli Province, China
The 20th Army Group had been battling against the Chinese forces for ten straight days before retreating to the west of Jiaodingshan from the appearance of the 38th Army Group, but due to the aid from the 25th Light Armored Mountain Division, they began to relentlessly march back toward Beijing.
However, within the 160-kilometer radius of Beijing, the 65th Army Group, the 27th Army Group, and four defensive divisions were waiting for them with the 38th Army Group as their main force.
Based on numbers alone, the Chinese forces had 280,000 men, 4,000 tanks, and armored vehicles along with 5 attack chopper regiments on standby.
Beijing’s western great plains had a concentrated force standing by which resulted in a fierce battle. Luckily, the Capital Armored Division and the 3rd Armored Division marching from north and northeast of Beijing was slowly moving south.
The men of the 20th Division were able to catch a break when the 7th, 60th and 61st Armored Brigade under the 7th Mobile Corps subbed in for them in battle all the while the 26th Mechanized Infantry Division aided the battling forces as well.
At times, there were Chinese ballistic missile attacks, cruise missile attacks, and chopper strikes coming at them. But every time an attempt was made, the 7th Mobile Corp’s 7th Anti-air Brigade intercepted the missiles and choppers.
Meanwhile, at the 7th Mobile Corp’s temporary encampment.
“So the Joint Chiefs of Staff has finally taken the ace out of their pockets.”
A meeting for the plan to march toward the east of Beijing was being held in the 7th Mobile Corp Commander’s tent. All the commanding Generals were in attendance.
“When will it start, sir?”
Major General Ahn Gook-jin, Commander of the 20th Armored Division under Corps Commander Yang Min-choon asked.
“The operation is scheduled on December 26, a day after Christmas. Now, hand out these documents!”
The Corps Commander answered and ordered his aide-de-camp to hand out the documents after placing them on the table.
The cover of the document had a large S-rank confidentiality logo on it. The file contained details of Operation Downfall of Beijing from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The aides-de-camp from each force, who were all Lieutenant Colonels, stood up and handed the documents to each General.
“As you can tell by reading this file, the Northern State’s 8th Special Forces Corps will be deployed into battle. All we need to do is make a full frontal assault when they do.”
Corps Commander Yang Min-choon, who had already read the documents, explained to the other Generals.
* * *
December 24, 2020, 11:00 (China Standard Time 10:00), downtown Qingdao, China
After Lieutenant General Gao lin was nominated as the 12th Army Group’s Commander, the battlefield had changed to the urban areas of downtown Qingdao. The 12th Army Group had attempted to defend the city against their enemies, but since most of their forces had been wiped out at the start of the battle, the city fell after two days.
Presently in Qingdao, numerous Korean paratroopers and heavily armored brigades infiltrated the city to wipe out any remaining forces and to take over government buildings.
The 12th Army Group’s men made a bold attempt to escape the search net and cross the sea via Hangdao Port but were captured by the heavily armored forces. General Wu Weian, who was placed under immediate arrest by China’s military, was captured as well. It was the first time a prisoner with a rank of General was captured since the Korea–China war broke out.
One of the buildings at the edge of Qingdao was under heavy security by the 3rd Marine Mobile Division’s headquarters. A dozen armored vehicles arrived at the building and parked in a line.
Then from the armored vehicles, numerous Chinese Generals got off, arms bound by rope. They were the 12th Army Group’s commanding Generals including Commander Gao lin. General Wu Weian, the previous Commander, was at the rear of the line as well.
The ten Chinese Generals entered the building and were each placed into an interrogation room by rank, while the rest waited outside. A moment later, the 3rd Marine Division’s Commander Major General, Jo Gyu-hong, appeared, guarded by the military police.
Each of the six makeshift interrogation rooms had one intelligence department’s major ranking officer interrogating the Chinese Generals. The interrogation was being monitored by Division Commander Jo Gyu-hong through the security cameras placed in each room.
In the first interrogation room, the questioning of Lieutenant General Gao lin had just started. An officer with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel had made attempts to extract answers from him, but to no avail— Lieutenant General Gao lin had not said a word. It was the same scenario in the other interrogation rooms. But even if they were prisoners of war, they still had inalienable rights. The Korean military could not use forceful methods to extract information. Division Commander Jo Gyu-hong asked one of the security camera operators as he watched the footage of the security cameras,
“In the waiting room, they have a General in there. Why don’t they question him first?”
An officer with a rank of Captain, who was one of the security camera operators, answered Commander Jo Gyu-hong’s question.
“Yes, Commander. Based on our intel, he had disobeyed orders from his superiors and was dismissed for his actions.”
“He was dismissed because of disobeying orders?”
“Yes, sir. That is the ex-Commander of the 12th Army Group, Wu Weian.”
“Ah! We were able to take over Qingdao so easily, thanks to him then. I would like to interrogate him myself. Prepare a room for me. I will do this myself.”
“You are going to, sir?”
“Yes, prepare a chamber for me.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
Ten minutes later, Division Commander Jo Gyu-hong and ex-Commander of the 12th Army Group, Wu Weian, was inside a makeshift interrogation room along with an interpreter.
“So I heard you were dismissed?”
Commander Jo Gyu-hong’s first question was one that poked at General Wu Weian’s pride. General Wu Weian did not answer, his eyes closed.
“Is the reason behind your dismissal due to disobeying orders?”
General Wu Weian did not pretend to hear the question again.
“You won’t answer me then?”
The interpreter had interpreted what Commander Jo Gyu-hong was saying, word for word.
“Well, I suppose, we don’t have a choice. Since you do not want to talk and you are now a civilian due to your dismissal, we will let you go.”
General Wu Weian, who had kept his eyes shut and stayed silent, suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Commander Jo Gyu-hong when he heard the interpreter’s words. Commander Jo Gyu-hong saw the opportunity and spoke once again.
“Isn’t that what you want? You are a civilian now, so we will let you go.”
“What do you mean?”
General Wu Weian finally retorted an answer to Commander Jo Gyu-hong, who repeatedly mentioned the prospect of letting him go.
“What it means is, I don’t think it is right to conduct a military interrogation to someone who is not a soldier but rather a civilian.”
Thoughts raced through General Wu Weian’s head. “If he were to be released during this chaos alone, not only would he face consequences for disobeying orders but also for giving out information to the Korean troops. Therefore, no matter what the outcome of the war is, his life is already over.” When the thought came to him, General Wu Weian asked carefully.
“What is it you want?”
“Nothing much. Just the current actions of the Chinese military—their future operations and whatnot.”
“Do you think I will tell you that?”
General Wu Weian shouted angrily, but to Commander Jo Gyu-hong, his actions only seemed to be out of desperation.
“I figured you wouldn’t, and that is why I suggested letting you go. Hahaha!”
General Wu Weian, who could not win the battle of wits against the Korean General who seemed to have targeted his weakness and was laughing heartily, finally showed his true intent.
“Can you guarantee my safety?”
“Of course. On my rank and position, I promise to.”
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