172 Anglo-Russian Allied Forces (2)
It was only a year when 500,000 troops moved.
Obviously, it started moving in early winter, but winter was in full swing.
The year had already changed, and the expeditionary force was also arriving one after another from the mainland.
In addition, the Qing expeditionary force, which was trampled by the tank corps, was very frightened and was in a hurry to maintain the army.
“It’s hard to get food, so they loot around.”
“Are you plundering your own territory?”
“It seems that the compulsory collection is being carried out to procure military supplies.”
“… … To maintain the military force even by forcibly collecting them in their own country. I wonder if it’s a sane thing to do.”
As it turns out, people’s feelings are meant to be directed toward those who lead them in the right way.
Qing’s public sentiment has been gradually waning since the Kangxi Emperor.
He forgot all the gains he had made in trade with England with opium, and even lost the southern coast to the invasion of foreigners.
No nation can support such a helpless government.
The repeated defeats of the Qing Dynasty, which had passed their heyday, blocked the way to recover the already tilted public sentiment.
Nevertheless, it was crazy to collect grain through forced collection as if plundering private houses.
Besides, isn’t it midwinter now?
“I can’t get over the barley pass and I’m going to starve to death.”
“Last year, the harvest was poor, so this winter seems to be much more difficult, but I don’t know if they have any ideas.”
Lee Gak thought it was certain that they were doing something beyond common sense.
However, their position was not completely understandable.
“The 500,000 troops would have been conscripted, and the percentage of the standing army would not be very high. In such a situation, of course, maintaining 500,000 troops would be the key.”
“Well, that would be it. In this situation, without an army, the Qing Dynasty will perish as it is.”
Taken from noblemtl.com
Meaning that Qing was in a corner, Lee Gak asked about the situation of the DPRK-Japan coalition forces.
“How’s the warlord?”
“The 1st reinforcements have already retreated, and even the 2nd reinforcements were defeated by the Black Dragon Pirates.”
It was truly a divine move to make Yuhara an ally.
He learned warfare in Lee Gak’s army, and learned strategies and tactics through newspapers.
Now, Yuhara has become a monster, and no one can defeat her in naval battles.
“What did the DPRK-Japan coalition say? Did you say that you are building a 3rd Allied Forces?”
“Isn’t that why Qing is doing her best to maintain an army of 500,000?”
The Qing Dynasty has reigned as a central power encompassing Northeast Asia.
But this came as a huge blind spot.
If Qing loses its power and falls into hell, Joseon and the Japanese shogunate will never follow Qing.
No matter how faithful you are, it is difficult to get out of a poor crop right away.
“Perhaps even if the country is devastated, the Qing will never lose its military power.”
“That’s why soldiers are said to be wandering all over the South without a single battle. In short, it is like a swarm of locusts in China.”
“right. It is no different from an outbreak of locusts.”
Lee Gak thought that the Qing army would devastate the South in the next three months at this rate.
The people will starve, and they will be angry.
If so, what would Lee Gak do?
“Let’s mobilize the Central Intelligence Agency personnel to disturb the public sentiment.”
“People?”
“It is to give away grain for free and to further emphasize that there are forces with living conditions that could never be imagined in Qing.”
“Are you saying that the people’s hearts will be inclined and the forces that surrender will increase?”
“That’s it. Also, even those who serve in the military will desert to death to save their families. That way we’ll be able to blow our noses without touching them.”
***
At the same time, the Joseon court was discussing the third dispatch of troops.
“Your Majesty, I am telling you that the 3rd dispatch of troops should be carried out in consideration of your loyalty to Qingguk!”
“Please let me know, Your Majesty!”
According to the scholars of Joseon, the collapse of the Qing Dynasty was regarded as the ruin of the Joseon Dynasty.
If the prestige of the monarch was well established and the power of the state was strong enough not to depend on foreign powers, this would certainly not have happened.
Queen Sunwon was deep in thought.
“The whole country is in turmoil because of the mobilization order several times. But shall we do additional conscripts?”
“Their power is not as powerful as I thought it would be! If that’s the case, if our navy and the shogunate’s navy work together to operate a fleet, we will never be defeated!”
“… … You mean you can win?”
“It is! If you are desperate and ready to fight, you can promise to win!”
It was a sight that could not be understood where such unfounded confidence was coming from.
In the opinion of the Hana Munsedo family, only strong alliances with fruits and vegetables were essential to maintaining their power, so they had to protect them at all costs.
Queen Sunwon had the same thought.
“Okay, then let’s do it.”
“Yes, Mama!”
“Master! It looks like we need to recruit more troops.”
Heonjong simply put the seal on the throne as Queen Sunwon’s Queen Kim ordered.
Koo!
But his hand holding the scepter trembled.
Kim tilted her head.
“What are you doing?”
“… … Mama, I don’t think this is a bit off-putting.”
“I don’t think so?”
“The Jongmyo and Sajik of our Joseon are so strong, why do we have to dedicate our people to the Qing?”
Queen Sunwon, Mrs. Kim, knocked on the table.
Tang Tang!
Heonjong trembled in surprise at the sound.
“Our Jongmyo and Sajik have been protected by our ancestors at risk of their lives. It is clear that Jongmyo and Sajik are shaking right now, so how can the chieftain not be able to discern what is ahead?”
“… … I’m sorry.”
“We will continue to maintain a strong Joseon Dynasty by protecting Jongmyo and Sajik, fulfilling the duty of fruits and vegetables. To do so, the decision of the principal is absolutely necessary. The Lord is the Father of all. If such a lord is shaken, who can the people trust and follow?”
Heonjong’s trembling hands finally lifted the scepter.
Thus, the third deployment was decided.
***
Early moning.
“Rachel and Arthur Wellesley are having a secret affair?”
“It is. However, Rachel Goldman has sent you a letter.”
Lee Hwan immediately checks the letter.
The content of the letter was simple.
Rachel will make contact with England, and she will act as a spy between England and Easterfield.
Although it was such a simple message, there was no letter more satisfying to Lee Hwan than this.
Soon a smile began to spread across his lips.
“Yeah, I knew it would be like this.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s discuss it again at the Defense Ministry meeting later. Call all the heads of the Ministry of National Defense immediately.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Unless he is away on an overseas expedition or conducting an overseas operation, a single command from Lee Hwan will bring the military chiefs to the palace.
In the meantime, Lee Hwan has arranged things to discuss with his servants.
About three hours later, the Minister of Defense, deputy ministers, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and chiefs of staff arrived one after another at Easterfield Palace.
The meeting soon started.
Lee Hwan informed them that war was imminent.
“The British-Russian Allied Forces will start a war in the near future. Accordingly, our Easterfield Federal Forces must take action a little faster to minimize damage.”
“It’s a British-Russian union. I know they are not in a situation where they can declare war on our federal forces now.”
“Yeah, it seems that way. However, there are many Jews living in England. By making contact with them, we will finance the war and take over the Italian peninsula with the artillery technology stolen from our Easter Fields.”
“… … When it comes to our field artillery technology, are you talking about the ESA series?”
“Yes.”
The military chiefs began to murmur.
It is safe to say that no one can break into the Easterfield Defense Science Research Institute, which is called the Iron Fortress.
Nevertheless, if the lab was breached, it was highly likely that it was the work of an insider.
Lee Hwan revealed that the act came from him.
“I gave them artillery skills.”
“Huh!”
“But the artillery skill we gave them is half of it. It’s just a plausible piece of paper made up of a stupid theory.”
“Then you mean that you strategically leaked fake information to them?”
“It is true. According to the investigation by the Central Intelligence Agency, the technology they possess is similar to the draft of the ESA series, but it is said that the double-seater and steel wire technology were all developed absurdly. Moreover, crucially, they have no technology that can imitate our high-explosives. At the very least, the development of a single fuse technology is being developed as a hoax.”
“If that’s the case… … !”
The military thought that a leak of artillery technology from Easterfield would cause damage in some way, but that was a complete mistake.
The fishing operation that had been started according to Lee Hwan’s instructions had worked perfectly.
“From now on, we must prepare for a military operation on the assumption that the British did not know that they had developed artillery.”
“The assumption is that the field does not exist. So, should I show a little bit of negligence in preparing for war?”
“Shouldn’t it at least look that way?”
Although they were said to have captured the enemy perfectly, there was a possibility that the British-Russian forces could change their stance the moment they felt Easterfield noticed their operation.
Lee Hwan vowed to break the flag of Britain and Russia this time, so he did not want to leave even a single word of room for it.
“You need to be clear about what a perfect win is.”
“Perfect victory!”
There can be no war in this world where no one is injured.
But under the current circumstances, there was a good chance.
Lee Hwan first checked the condition of the army.
“How many central forces are in our kingdom, except for the Easterfield Federation?”
“The number of the Central Army is maintained at around 700,000.”
“A reservist?”
“If we call the reserve forces right now, it is possible to recruit up to 1.2 million. All of them are trained regularly, so even a fight right now can easily push the British side.”
When discussing Easterfield’s military, it is usually said that the power of these federal forces is 50 to 1.
If so, what is the difference between the federal army and the central army?
The commanders of the Central Army often speak confidently. The difference between the Federal Army and the Central Army is 50 to 1.
“It’s England. Let me correct you.”
“Oh, yes. Not England, but Europe.”