Chapter 166
December 28, 2020, 17:00 (China Standard Time 14:00), 16 kilometers southeast of Yuanten Province, China
As the Korean and Northern State’s special forces were battling against the Chinese military in downtown Beijing, the reorganized 38th Army Group that finished its formation after two months began its battle against Korea’s 20th Armored Division. The battle was 110 kilometers away from Yuanten’s southeastern area.
The 65th Army Group that had blocked the 20th Armored Division’s path had been annihilated as of last night. In the Southern region of Yuanten Province, the 27th Army Group and Korea’s 25th Light Armored Mountain Division were preparing to fight against each other.
The 38th Army Group had reformed and equipped themselves with the latest equipment and sent the 6th Armored Division and 112th Mechanized Infantry Division as the lead. While the 113th Mechanized Infantry Division had attacked the flank of Korea’s 20th Armored Division, and the 114th Mechanized Infantry Division and 4th Anti-Air Brigade aided the 6th Armored Division.
Numerous pillars of dirt rose around the 712 tank’s location, and rocks the size of fists and dirt sprayed everywhere.
“Left! Left! Bank left!”
Sergeant First Class Oh Young-taek, the Commander of the 712th tank, shouted loudly that he could pierce the listener’s eardrums.
Corporal Yeom Hoon-gi, the tank’s driver, turned the handle rapidly left and answered back.
“Sir, I am going deaf from your shouting.”
“Hey, hey! I am sorry, all right! Move forward to our twelve o’clock!”
Staff Sergeant Oh seemed like an excited child on his birthday party and shouted despite the numerous shells flying around the area, and continued the battle against the Chinese tanks.
“Look at these bastards! They’re getting overconfident from their new gear! Staff Sergeant Kim, when we have set a target after we go over that hill, take them out, and show no mercy!”
“Understood, sir.”
When the 712th tank rolled over the higher hill, 30 familiar looking enemy tanks were marching toward it while pointing their turrets forward. These tanks were China’s latest Type 100 A2 BMT tanks that had destroyed the number 711 tank during the last urban battle.
The Chinese tank’s identity and specs showed up on the friend or foe system’s monitor when the targeting camera saw them. Staff Sergeant Kim Young-joo read off the information showing up on the screen and spoke to Staff Sergeant Oh.
“Sergeant Oh, sir! Those are the new tanks that struck down tank 711. It’s type 100 A2.”
“I saw them as well. Those Chinese bastards have been hiding it all this time. They finally pulled them out to the field. Sergeant Lee, when a target is set, fire at will!”
“Starting from the first target then, Commander.”
The 712th tank’s turret was already pointing toward the first targeted Chinese tank.
“Target 1 at our two o’clock, distance 1,800! Fire!”
Pew!
“Locking on to the second target.”
Pew!
Both nation’s tanks were now at 2,000 meters away from each other and began to fire their cannons at each other. The Chinese type 100 A2 tanks’ 130mm shells flew toward the White tiger tanks from Korea, but the rounds could not pierce their marks but rather ricocheted off the surface and sank to the ground instead.
On the other hand, the White tiger tanks’ 100mm photon cannons hit the turrets and the cannons of the Chinese tanks and caused numerous explosions in the area. The snow- and mud-covered field soon became littered with collapsed Chinese tanks.
“Those bastards!”
Staff Sergeant Oh Young-taek shouted after seeing something on his periscope.
“What is it, sir?”
Staff Sergeant Kim Young-joo, who was busy stepping on the firing panel, answered Sergeant First Class Oh Young-taek.
“Look at the guys on tank 733 at our two o’clock! That bastard Dol-seok is full of bloodlust.”
“I suppose Sergeant Lee wants first place in the kill mark, sir.”
“Corporal Yeom, push forward farther! Let’s show them how the division’s first rank in the kill mark does it!”
“Yes, sir.”
As Korea’s 7th Company tanks raised their speed and marched forward after striking down a battalion’s size of enemy tanks, another group of tanks appeared in all directions. With the Type 100 A2 tanks at the lead, numerous AFT-10B and type-96 A2 tanks appeared from both directions.
“They’re using their superiority in numbers as expected, sir.”
“Isn’t that great? Our kill marks are going up, hahaha! Everyone get ready and keep your wits about! The anti-tank missiles are probably coming!”
Sergeant First Class Oh Seung-taek, Staff Sergeant Kim Young-joo and Corporal Yeom hoon gi, the crewmen of the 712 tank who had managed to avoid death numerous times, all seemed to have become hardened by battle and were relaxed enough to joke around even when enemy shells were flying around them.
* * *
December 28, 2020, 20:00, Yongsan-ku B2 bunker (ROK Military Joint Command Center), Seoul
Chairman Kang of the Joint Chief of Staff had gone to eat his dinner at the mess hall at eight o’clock, but he had to return to the Command Center due to an urgent report before he could take a single bite.
Soon, the Command Center’s meeting room doors opened and Chairman Kang entered.
“What is it?”
“Sir!”
All the Intelligence Officers and Commanding Generals stood up and saluted him. Intelligence Director Lieutenant General Ahn Gil-won answered.
“We have located Xi Jin Ping, sir.”
Chairman Kang waved at everyone to sit back down and spoke as he sat down.
“Are you sure? That’s a relief. Where is he?”
“Sir, Xi Jin Ping has been confirmed to be at the Southern military’s command headquarters located at Southern Huizhou.”
“Huizhou.”
“Yes, sir, it’s a small city within Gwandong Province.”
When the Intelligence Director signaled to his aide-de-camp, the screen showed a digital map of Huizhou.
“My, he went pretty far, didn’t he?”
“Sir! We have one more thing to report.”
“Speak up.”
“The Commander of the 12th Army Group, Wu Weian, is the brother-in-law of the Southern army’s Commander Han Feng.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, sir. We heard this from Wu Weian himself.”
“Hmm, so there may be a possibility to contact him?”
“We can’t be certain, but we believe it is worth a try, sir. The Western and Southern armies had been mistreated by the central military commission, so they are not friendly toward Xi Jin Ping’s government, sir.”
“Is that so?”
Chairman Kang immersed himself in thought. He figured he could get the job done without getting his hands dirty, and spoke to Lieutenant General Ahn Gil-won firmly.
“Try contacting Han Feng through Wu Weian. It might be worth a try.”
“Yes, sir. We will make an attempt.”
“This contact will be an unofficial one, and try to have it processed as quickly as possible. The reunification between the North and South is close at hand.”
“Yes, sir. We will begin immediately.”
* * *
December 29, 2020, 22:00 (China Standard Time 21:00), the 42nd Army Group’s command headquarters, Huizhou, China
At the temporary President’s office, the newly appointed Commanding Generals were conducting a secret meeting. Commander Han Feng of the 42nd Army Group and his Generals were excluded from the meeting again, this time.
“Right now in Beijing’s north and northeast, and southeastern areas are hosting fierce battles. Luckily, the North and Northeastern areas are easier to defend due to our geographical advantage. But the Southeastern area is the issue. It is a plain that is advantageous for armored forces, so we cannot avoid a battle against Korea’s 20th Armored Division.”
Lieutenant General Wang Xiao pointed to the areas on the digital map on screen and continued his briefing.
“Commander in Chief Pe Feng Li Fu!”
“Yes, Mr. President!”
“When will you commence Operation All Down?”
“We need to check on the status tomorrow, but we are planning to start tomorrow at dawn based on the Korean military’s marching status.”
“Make sure you take them out. This is the only way China may survive.”
“You are absolutely right, sir. Mr. President, if we can take out the marching forces in Beijing, then the only remaining Korean forces will be the marine division located at Shandong Province. Those stationed in the Northeastern provinces will be taken care of by the Russians. Hehehe.”
Lieutenant General Liu Weilung, Army Commander in Chief said while laughing slyly.
“Are you able to laugh at a time like this?”
President Xi, who became upset at the Army Commander in Chief Liu Weilung, who had not make any useful achievement this whole time, shouted at him while glaring.
“Ah, I am sorry, sir.”
“No matter, when Operation All Down commences, launch available nuclear missiles at Shandong Province as well.”
“Sir? At Shandong Province also?”
“We need to wipe out the Koreans completely.”
“There’s not enough nuclear missiles to use at Shandong—”
“I am saying we need to tie up all loose ends when we can, Commander Pe Feng Li Fu!”
* * *
Meanwhile, at the Southern military Commander’s office.
“Aren’t they taking it too far, sir?”
Du Zhenwui, Commander of the 42nd Army Group was complaining to the Commander in Chief Han Feng. President Xi, who was under the protection of the Southern military, had excluded the Commanding Officers of the Southern forces and conducted a meeting, causing the men to complain.
“Don’t think too much about it. That’s how they had been since the start, right?”
“I know they look down on us from the Southern military, but isn’t this taking things too far, sir? Didn’t they ignore your suggestions yesterday as well, sir?”
Lieutenant General Du Zhenwui was talking about how President Xi ignored Commander in Chief Han Feng’s suggestion.
“I am sure he will realize his fatal mistakes soon. He will realize how important our Southern military is. Have you told the guarding forces about our orders?”
Commander in Chief Han Feng, asked the Captain of the guards, who was in charge of protecting the Southern military headquarters.
“Yes, no need to worry, sir. We doubled our forces and placed them in every location.”
“Great! Lieutenant General Du Zhenwui, ensure that our 42nd Army Group’s men maintain confidentiality, and have one regiment from the 124th Division move here to Huizhou in secret.”
“Yes, Commander.”
* * *
December 29, 2020, 06:00 (China Standard Time 05:00), 5 kilometers southeast of Yuanten Province, China
The battle at Yuanten Province’s Southeastern area was dragging on. Korea’s 7th mobile corps’ 20th armored division responded by sending two brigades in shifts to reduce the men’s fatigue. Therefore, the 38th Army Group used its advantage in its number and caused the battle to drag on.
The 60th armored brigade had fought against the Chinese forces until 1:00 a.m. at the front, returned to the rear after being relieved by the 61st Brigade. They finally were able to rest and get some shut-eye after being resupplied and conducting maintenance.
Weeeeeee!
A siren rang out at the 60th armored brigade’s encampment, and order for battle stations came down. The men from the 60th armored division who were resting at their tents rather than their vehicles, all lamented the loss of their sweet rest and prepared to move.
– This is the Brigade Commander. China’s 38th Army Group is retreating to Beijing’s western area. The 20th Armored Division will move at full speed. The 61st Armored Brigade is giving chase while attacking their rear. Each battalion is to move to the location sent to their digital maps and move out in formation by company. I will take questions later. Over and out.
When the Brigade Commander’s announcement was over, each Battalion Commander used the digital map they received to give orders to each company. The 26th Tank Battalion’s 7th Company also began to move after checking their set route.
Vroom! Vrooooom!
Based on reports at 5:00 a.m. that day, the Chinese forces defending downtown Beijing all began to retreat to the west. Korean forces that had been marching north and northeast all gave chase to the Chinese military’s rear while attacking and raising their speed.
* * *
December 29, 2020, 06:20 (China Standard Time 05:20), the 42nd Army Group’s command headquarters, Huizhou Province, China
President Xi Jin Ping received a covert report from Commander Pe Feng Li Fu.
“Mr. President! Operation All Down has started at five o’clock today.”
“Will it work?”
“Based on our reports so far, everything is going according to plan, sir.”
“Hmm. That’s a relief, we must succeed, Commander Pe!”
“Yes, sir. I will do my best.”
Commander Pe, who finished his report, headed to the Command Center of the Southern military. Unknown to him, someone was watching his every move through a security camera.
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