21st century Goguryeo

Chapter 98

October 31, 2020, 16:20 (China Standard Time, 15:20)

Great plains 47 km southwest of China’s Sun-Yang province.

The armored tanks from the 60th and 61st Armored Brigades, including the 26th Mechanized Infantry Division’s 31st Armored Battalion, kicked up clouds of dust as they moved in formation for the attack. From the 31st Armored Battalion’s rear, the Flying Tiger and Sky Horse armored vehicles in charge of anti-air operations were following them while maintaining distance. Meanwhile, the Chinese 65th Army Group also had its 1st Armored Division as its lead, and many of its subordinate divisions and brigades were maintaining formation with numerous anti-tank missiles and armored vehicles. They were moving in a formation that would allow them to attack at any moment.

Vrooom~ Vroooo~

Staff Sergeant Kim Young-ju, the cannon operator for the 712 tank from the 26th Armored Battalion, which was on the move, looked through the scope of the cannon and then said to the tank commander, “Ah! I’m getting nervous, Sergeant First Class Oh, sir.”

The performance of the Korean tanks could not be compared to that of the Chinese tanks, but the number of Chinese tanks and armored vehicles seen through the scope was a couple times more than that of the 20th Armored Division, so the man couldn’t help that he was nervous.

712 Tank Commander Sergeant First Class Oh Young-taek, who was full of confidence in any situation, showed his white teeth and answered in a composed tone. “Staff Sergeant Kim, no need to fear. All they have is numbers! They’re all just hunks of scrap metal, are they not?”

“Sir, but look. They almost seem to cover the entire area, don’t they?”

“My god! Worrying must be one of your better traits. Hey! Staff Sergeant Kim and Corporal Yeom, you two just follow my lead, all right? Let’s take first place in the brigade! Hahaha.”

In the Man-ju great plains, which were to be the stage of the clash between the Korean and Chinese forces, there were many villages settled within the area.

Therefore, there was a chance that many civilians would be hurt if the troops weren’t focused on anything else but the battle. The brigade commander and brigadier general, Kim Joo-myung, relayed the rules of engagement through the brigade communication line.

“This is the brigade commander. The Chinese tanks will try to conceal and take cover using the villages inside the battlefield. Therefore, damages to the civilian villages are unavoidable. Do not suffer any losses due to worries about hurting the civilians. In this battle, we put maintaining our fighting power above the civilians. Keep this in mind, and try to fight the battle carefully and with all you’ve got. That is all!”

Because of the brigade commander’s instructions, all the tank commanders who were worried about being punished by the superior officers for damaging the civilian villages all let go of their worries and were able to enter the battle without any concerns. In truth, murdering civilians or damaging an enemy nation’s property during war is largely considered unethical, and there have been cases of criticism or rebuke for those sorts of things before.

For this reason, the Joint Chiefs of Staff had given the order to enter the battle as faithfully as possible without worrying about such matters. Because of this, the commanders could ease their burden and enter into battle. Soon, the distance between their tanks and the Chinese tanks was closing in to 12 km.

“Staff Sergeant Kim! Did you hear the brigadier commander?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We fire as much as we want.”

“Yes, sir.”

Vroooom~ Vrooooo~

On the southern great plains of Sun-Yang, the 65th Army Group’s 1st Armored Division, which showed the potential of breaking Korea’s center formation, was on the left side of Korea’s 26th Armored Battalion, while the 107th Armored Brigade was on its right, moving in formation. The 26th Mechanized Infantry Brigade also followed the 26th Armored Battalion as its backup, with the 31st Armored Battalion following behind them.

A few kilometers behind were the Flying Tiger and Sky Horse armored vehicles, which were in charge of anti-air operations and were operating their anti-air and anti-artillery radars. Including the vehicles from the 65th Army Group, the number of armored vehicles and tanks would be close to 3,000. In the eastern plains of Sun-Yang, 4,000 or so tanks and armored vehicles were also about to clash.

A moment later, when the distance between the two groups was within 12 km, at the Corps Commander’s order, the 7th Mobile Corps rained down cannon fire from the thirteen artillery battalions at the rear. The sound of cannons shook the skies and land, and echoed throughout the great plains. With the grotesque sound of the hundreds of shells and rockets piercing the sky, flying toward the Chinese army’s rear, the Man-ju large-scale armored battle, or the battle of Man-ju, which would go down in Northeast Asian history, began.

First, the 670th MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) battalions directly under the corps fired the K-137 200mm Firedrakes. The MLRS vehicle’s 32-round launchpad spewed out a storm of white smoke, and numerous 200mm rockets flew into the sky. The rockets had a range of 80 km, and they contained 40 anti-tank bombs, which had the capacity to shred all the armored tanks and vehicles inside an area twice the size of a football field.

Consecutively, the 661st, 662nd, and 663rd Artillery Battalions all fired their K-9A1 lightning mobile guns, and the 758th Artillery Battalion’s MLRS K270A1 Cheon-mu also fired its rounds at the enemy, as if to boast its power. Then, the artillery battalions all quietly waited for the Chinese army’s anti-artillery attack.

Boom~ Boom~ Woosh~ Woosh~ Woosh~ Woosh~ Woosh~ Woosh~

Booo~ Booom~ Wooosh~ Boom~

Boom! Boom! Boom!~

The targets of the 7th Mobile Corps Artillery Battalions were the 65th Army Group’s 1st Armored Division’s subordinate force that operated the MLRS CM-501G 122mm anti-tank missile forces, the armored vehicle force equipped with HJ-9 anti-tank missiles, and the armored vehicle force that had the AFT-10 anti-tank missiles.

Based on what had happened in the previous battle, the 7th Mobile Corps was ordered to strike the Chinese army’s anti-tank missiles and armored vehicle forces first. Therefore, the 7th Mobile Corps and its subordinate artillery battalions had set the 65th Army Group’s anti-tank missile armored vehicle forces as there first target.

Hundreds of rounds flew past the heads of the 20th Armored Division and hit the rear of China’s 65th Armored Division.

Boom~ Boooooo~ Booom! Bang! Bang!

Within a wide radius of a few kilometers, the continuously falling shells, along with the bombs falling from the multi-purpose rockets, engulfed the hundred or so armored vehicles in flames, effectively destroying them. Pillars of dirt and shrapnel began to rise from all directions. The battle had barely begun, and already many lives were lost in the numerous explosions. The homes of civilians also collapsed from the net of shells, and they also began to burn in the inferno.

“60th Armored Brigade! Mobilize at top speed and begin the battle at maximum firing range.”

Under the 60th Brigade Commander’s Orders, the four armored tank battalions all mobilized at top speed and began to charge toward the Chinese 1st Armored Division. The White Tiger tanks, which had a range of 10 km, all pointed their guns toward the Chinese tanks 12 km away.

The tanks that could be seen through the commander’s scope were the Type-96 MBT (88C) tanks, which were the main type of tank used by the Chinese armored forces. The Type-96 were improved Type-85 and Type-85III tanks, which were third-generation tanks. But compared to Korean tanks, the Type-96 tanks had capabilities that were only midway between that of the K1 and K1A1 tanks.

When the Korean tanks were 11 km away from the Chinese tanks, the artillery alarm rang in all tanks from the 60th Armored Brigade.

Beep~ Beep~ Beep~ Beep~ Beep~

“Yeom, speed up.”

“Yes, sir.”

The 60th Armored Brigade White Tiger tanks increased to maximum speed, trying to evade the Chinese artillery shells’ impact area. The Flying Tiger a few kilometers behind them spewed 12mm laser Vulcan beams into the sky.

Pew pew pew pew pew~ Pew pew pew pew pew~

Boom~ Boo Boo Boom~

Like a firework display, the skies above the great plains were filled with explosions. Some of the shells that made it past the Flying Tiger’s fire net began to fall near the White Tiger tanks’ vicinity.

Woosh~ Boom~ Booom~

The armored tank forces that had received a rain of fire from each other before they could even begin their battle gradually began to close the distance between them and the White Tiger tanks to 10 km. When they did so, the White Tiger tanks began to spit out photon rounds from its cannon.

Pew~ Pew~

The 712 tank also weaved through the dirt pillars rising in all directions and fired its photon cannon at the first target.

Pew~

Bang!!!!!

The distance of the target was at around 9.8 km, but the photon cannon round traveled near the speed of light and hit the Type-96 Chinese tank, destroying its armored plating. However, when the 712 tank turned its cannon to another target, a shock wave sent a pillar of dirt rising up in front of them.

Boom~

The 155mm high-explosive round from the Chinese mobile artillery had fallen in front of them. The shrapnel and the dirt kicked up from the explosive engulfed the 712 tank and hindered its visuals.

The 712 tank’s commander, Sergeant First Class Oh Young-taek, was slightly shaken and responded angrily. “God d*mn! Those Chinese bastards. Staff Sergeant Kim! Are you all right?”

“Yes, I am fine, sir.”

“Good! We blow up the second target.”

“Roger that.”

The 712 tank passed by the hole in the ground and fired its photon cannon at the second target.

Pew~ Boom!!

“Third target at 9500. Fire!”

“Roger.”

Pew!

Boom boom!

Some of the White Tiger tanks, which were quickly advancing across the great plains and firing their photon cannons, were hit and damaged by the Chinese high explosive rounds. Unluckily, the rounds hit the rear of the turret, which was where the tank’s plating was weakest.

Amidst the fierce battle, the Chinese artillery suddenly stopped. The Korean army’s artillery battalions started to attack the Chinese artillery with anti-artillery rounds, and the Chinese forces had to retreat from their position, so they didn’t fire any more rounds.

The distance had closed to 8 km now, and the Chinese Type-96 tanks under the Korean tanks’ photon cannon fire all began to detonate smoke bombs and make evasive maneuvers, using the villages as cover.

* * *

October 31, 2020 16:40

B2 Bunker, Yongsan, Seoul (ROK Military Joint Command Center)

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kang Ui-sik was checking the battle in Sun-Yang Province in real-time.

“They are fighting well. No issues so far.”

The footage, which was being sent in from the unmanned stealth drone C-10 falcon eye, 20 km above the surface, was like a movie.

“How much damage did we inflict on the anti-tank missile armored vehicle forces?”

The Tactical Intelligence Director typed on the keyboard and answered immediately. “We’ve destroyed about 40% of them, sir.”

“40%... That’s not enough.”

“The Corps and Division artillery have all transitioned into firing anti-artillery rounds at the Chinese artillery, sir.”

The Operations Director, who was watching the screen next to him, said “Yes, that’s important too... What about the 17th Aviation Brigade?”

“Yes, they are flying low over the mountains in the south side to strike the 65th Army Group’s command centers.”

“I see. Since things are going as planned, let’s check the Capital Armored Division’s side, too...”

“Yes, sir. Tactical Intelligence Director! Change the footage on the screen to the battlefield of the Capital Armored Division,” the operations director ordered.

“Yes, sir!” the tactical intelligence director said, and changed the screen to footage of the battle between the Capital Armored Division and the Chinese 3rd Armored Division.

,000 or so tanks had gone into the main part of the battle 20 km east of the Sun-Yang province. The scene was chaos itself. The tanks from both sides had closed their distance to 2 km, and their cannons were pointed at each other, with photon rounds and cannon rounds flying across at one another. It had only been 40 minutes since the start of the battle, but 400 tanks were already in flames.

* * *

October 31, 2020, 16:50 (China Standard Time, 15:50)

40 km Southwest of Sun-Yang Province, China.

The distance between the front lines closed to 3 km, and now the Chinese Type-96 tanks all began to fire their cannons as well.

Boom~ Boom~ Woosh~

The rounds targeting the White Tiger tanks either missed or landed in the ground. The White Tiger tanks spat out photon rounds in retaliation.

-2 o’clock behind the village, eight enemy tanks are hiding. 1st Platoon will take them on.

When the order from the company commander came via the company communication line, Sergeant First Class Oh Young-taek from the 712 tank spoke. “Yeom~ move towards the rear of the village at our 2 o’clock.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Just when the 712 tanks turned around to advance toward the village 3 km away, the Laser Warning System’s alarm started to ring.

Beep ~~~

Sergeant First Class, who determined the location, immediately shouted, “9 o’clock! Distance 2200! Fire at target 1 immediately!”

The turret sight, which would move automatically while targeting, showed an enemy Type-96 tank.

With animal-like instincts, the 712 tank fired its photon cannon immediately, but the enemy tank also fired a round emitting flames.

Woosh~ Boom~

Bang! Boom!

The Chinese tank had its turret blown off from the 712 tank’s photon round, and the tank exploded internally. The shock wave hit the side of the 712 tank.

Sergeant First Class Oh Young-taek must have been worried about the shock wave that hit their White Tiger tank’s side, because he asked, “Were we hit?”

“It seems we got hit on our tracks, but we can still move without any issues.”

“Oh god. I was shaken... Anyways, that’s a relief. Let’s move!”

“Yes, sir!”