Chapter 61 A Plausible Plan (9)
While the infantry was proving in real-time that they were like sandcastles before the tide against the overwhelming firepower network in the first general offensive at Port Arthur fortress.
The war between the two empires was happening simultaneously in various places.
Beeeeeeeep
"Damn, even the Indian Army base was discovered!"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Did we get anything?"
"Looks like they know we're passing information to Japan through submarine telegraphs. Only the Okhrana would pull off this kind of operation. Those bastards seem to have developed their own communication network beyond encryption."
"India, Malaysia, China. Not a single breakthrough anywhere. Our Japanese friends must be disappointed."
The British soldiers threw down their trumpet-shaped receivers at the strange noise that rang out every time they tried to detect electromagnetic wave transmitters.
Even just knowing when and where units were moving and how much supplies were being sent could help deduce enemy operations, but even this was difficult to grasp.
"In the end, all we can do is help prevent the Japanese army's telegraph cable traffic from falling into Okhrana's hands."
"Additionally, they are conducting 30hz wireless communications ranging from 2.4km to 5km in Manchuria."
"A well-built fortress would surely have communication means prepared, but this is excessive. How did the Russian army acquire such expensive equipment in such a short time... Germany?"
"Yes, Germany. There's no other explanation."
Just as the British army was indirectly helping Japan, Germany, true to its Yellow Peril ideology, helped Russia by providing them with the most advanced communication equipment of the era.
[To my cousin, Nicky.
It is a fact known to all that those vicious and vulgar pirates slander and envy your country day and night, but fortunately with our cooperation...]
In fact, Germany showed great interest in the war situation in the Far East and was highly emotional about it, despising Britain who declared fair warfare through the Anglo-Japanese Alliance but helped behind the scenes materially and mentally.
So in the early stages of the war, when British forces intercepted Russian military wireless communications and informed Japan, and Japan tried to relay the contents to their expeditionary force in Korea, German forces located in Kiautschou (Jiaozhou Bay), China intercepted and informed the Russian army.
The battle continued even away from the Manchurian battlefield.
"The railway is cut! The railway is cut!"
"Damn it, what are those Manchurian cavalry bastards doing instead of guarding the railway!"
"We need to stop the train and repair first. Fortunately, the section isn't severely damaged!"
The Japanese army, which had somehow infiltrated Manchuria through Qing, worked hard to carry out railway terrorism.
"Vice President Korekiyo? Meeting you here again. So, what are you selling today? Last time you managed to secure the mainland Osaka port as collateral, didn't you?"
"Giers! Here to interfere again!"
"Wasn't it enough embarrassment when you illegally used American company-owned railways last time?"
"The... the Korean railways..."
"Don't get too excited. Your face is turning red beyond yellow now!"
Beyond diplomacy to low-grade propaganda warfare. As the war intensified and urgency grew, the battlefield knew no time or place.
Nevertheless, the decisive battle would be in Manchuria.
"The entire Nanshan of Jinzhou fortress has been fortified!"
"Again! Why is everything prepared as if they were waiting for us wherever we go!"
"4th Division annihilated! Enemy firepower is weakening! Seems they're running low on ammunition... but we need to withdraw for resupply as well."
The Battle of Jinzhou-Nanshan.
The defensive battle of the Siberian 2nd Corps and Far Eastern 1st Division with firepower of 114 field guns and 90 machine guns.
Japan's 2nd Army, 30% casualties. Later resupplied and occupied Nanshan.
"Ha! Last time you retreated easily, but not this time! We've even brought the Siberian 1st Corps to match your numbers!"
"I heard Maresuke's eldest son died in the last battle? The father should follow his son!"
"Let's fight again! This time we have twice the troops!"
The Battle of Wafangou.
The two armies that began their second battle just 130km from Port Arthur fought without retreating until their units were annihilated.
As a result, General Keller's Siberian 1st Corps suffered devastating damage. The enemy 2nd Army retreated due to numerical inferiority.
However, feeling unsatisfied with just withdrawing, both sides regrouped and engaged in offensive and defensive battles in northern Port Arthur a week later.
"Port Arthur might be a fraud, but you aren't!"
"You know our 2nd Army's target wasn't Port Arthur but you? You were planning to link up with the Port Arthur forces at this rate, weren't you? We won't let that happen!"
"We won't chase anymore! Think there's something more behind Motien Pass? But you can't go either!"
The Port Arthur fortress was isolated as the enemy stopped advancing south. The 2nd Army, having figured out their intentions, skillfully stuck to General Keller.
Naturally, General Keller didn't avoid them either.
"Those crazy bastards. Don't you remember nearly dying last time?"
"Aren't your 1st Army almost annihilated anyway? Port Arthur? What's that? We're targeting you too!"
"You only have artillery but no machine guns!"
The Battle of Motien.
The Far Eastern 2nd Division, carefully nurtured by the Amur Governor-General's office, was annihilated. The Siberian 2nd Corps was destroyed.
Experience tales at empire
The 2nd Army retreated.
However, with heavy casualties, the Siberian Corps also couldn't join up with Port Arthur fortress.
"Hey, first time seeing the Siberian 4th Corps? We're here too. 60,000 Siberian troops and 30,000 Far Eastern troops. How about it, want to try?"
"We've filled up with reserves too!"
"Come on!"
"You come on!"
"Damn it, come in!"
"You come in!"
They met again at a strategic point connected to the South Manchurian Railway main line, not far from Port Arthur.
The Battle of Dashiqiao.
The 2nd Army, which had been continuing the cycle of regrouping-battle-regrouping-battle, avoided combat for resupply but received orders from Imperial Headquarters for early attack.
Meanwhile, General Keller opposed preemptive attacks as there was no need to seek military achievements while Port Arthur was holding well.
As a result, after watching each other for several days, General Yasugata and General Keller, tired of the standoff, clashed again.
"pant pant Damn. We won, right?"
"pant pant We held on, right?"
"We killed more! Hurrah!"
"We advanced more! Banzai!"
Now with artillery all spent, machine guns insufficient, and supplies barely coming through, both sides' firepower was pitifully weak, but after a week of large-scale confrontation, both sides halted combat, shocked by division-level casualties.