Chapter 8

After the fierce battle at 203, several messengers had already come and gone, but no more battles had taken place. The situation had become a stalemate. Only some Russian units had come down from the mountains as if making a bold move and set up positions on the plain. Seeing this, Yamagata was pleased, thinking that the enemy was having internal strife, but the situation took a completely different turn. Initially, the southwestern front of Lüshun had been difficult to supply due to the lack of railways. The Japanese army had concentrated two divisions in such an area, believing that once 203 Hill was captured, the battle would be over. But what was this? "Why hasn't the Russian army surrendered even though the fleet has been destroyed!" The room was filled with army officers, but no one spoke. The only one who kept talking was Liang Qichao, who was neither a soldier nor a Japanese. "Even though the fleet is gone, the Russian army has preserved its strength. It is the attacking side, not the defending side, that should force a surrender." "Shut up! What do you know!" Liang Qichao closed his mouth as he was scolded, but Yamagata found even that annoying. It was a serious matter. The original situation was that the Japanese army was surrounding and pushing against Lüshun Fort. Now, the Japanese army was isolated in the narrow southwestern front and was being surrounded by the Russian army. The 11th Division, which was outside the encirclement, was unable to execute operations due to the northeastern defense line of the fort. Messengers from both sides continued to come and go, and time passed helplessly. The problem that Yamagata had been worried about came sooner than expected. The instructor, who was observing the situation, said in a small voice, "Due to a lack of supplies, the morale of the 1st and 9th Divisions of the Japanese army has declined. A penalty will be applied." Now, the Japanese army's combat would be carried out with dice showing lower numbers. Yamagata anxiously checked the date on the map. There was still a way for the Japanese army to win. If the 7th Division, which was on standby in Japan, joined, it would have the firepower to break through the defense line. However, after checking the date, Yamagata's expression darkened. It was still early October 1904. The 7th Division deployment event would not occur for at least another month. However, the isolated 1st and 9th Divisions did not have that much time to hold out. During this period, the 11th Division outside the encirclement attempted several times to break through but failed. The Russian army in the northeastern front seemed to be hibernating, entrenched and not coming out. The instructor spoke again in a trembling voice, "Due to a continued lack of supplies, the morale of the 1st and 9th Divisions of the Japanese army has further declined, and there are many casualties. A second-level penalty will be applied." At that moment, a messenger from the Japanese army entered and shouted, "The 9th Division is moving to the foot of Dajing Mountain and preparing for a large-scale assault! The 1st Division will prepare for a hill battle at Yizishan and Dajianzishan in coordination with the 9th Division's assault!" It was a desperate move by the Japanese army, unable to hold out any longer, aiming for a decisive victory. It was a large-scale assault that could completely turn the tide of the battle. However, Yamagata, who was watching, felt only bitter. "Idiots. If they were going to hold out until the 7th Division arrived, they should have held out until the end, or if they were going to assault, they should have done it earlier. Assaulting right after a second-level penalty is applied, which army does that?" Despite his words, Yamagata watched the Japanese army's movements closely. There was still a glimmer of hope. He believed that the Japanese army's spirit was the strongest and that they would perform better the more they were cornered. However, the cry of the Russian messenger who entered next shattered even that faint hope. "Messenger! Lay mines in the area around Dajing Mountain, Yizishan, and Dajianzishan! Use all available forces to lay the mines quickly and then retreat!" Yamagata could not say a word; he just slumped into his chair, feeling all his strength drain away. The officers of the inspection team, who were quiet, began to murmur. "Where did the mines come from?" "They seem to have been stockpiled before the Pacific Fleet sank." "If they had such good things, why didn't they lay them earlier?" "Maybe they were discovered?" "Anyway, mines are different from landmines. They are clearly visible when you assault, so it wouldn't matter when they were laid." "But this is a map exercise. It's different from reality..." As soon as the officer finished speaking, a Japanese messenger entered. The messenger shouted in a tone that felt quite solemn, "1st and 9th Divisions, launch a simultaneous banzai charge! Conduct an indiscriminate assault until the defense line is breached!" A large-scale assault by the Japanese army. The instructor, with a tight-lipped expression, rolled the dice to calculate the mine explosions. The massive mine, the size of several adults combined, was on the map. However, the Japanese army, unable to see it on the map, continued to charge despite the explosions. The instructor, noticing Yamagata's expression, saw that he had lost interest in the battle and said nothing. The instructor rolled the dice again with trembling hands. The large-scale battle of the Japanese army breaking through the minefield and reaching the trenches. The Japanese army, with a second-level penalty applied, was mowed down by machine gun fire. This was clearly more of a game than a war. The Japanese army, not a single one fleeing, continued to charge. The dice, which had been rolled with eight sides, were reduced to six. Then, from four, they were reduced to two. Rattle. The last die rolled. The last wooden piece was removed from the map. Yamagata, who had been sitting in his chair, spoke. "Clear it away." The instructor, upon hearing the order, quickly folded the map and cleared the pieces. It was a great victory for the Russian army. ___________________________________________ The Lüshun Fort Battle 4 By now, the results of the battle should be out. Where is the messenger? The door burst open. The person who appeared was not the messenger but Liang Qichao. "We won!" "Did the Japanese army surrender?" "Rather, Yamagata Kōshaku ended the wargame arbitrarily." "It's fortunate that no more meaningless blood was shed." "Blood? It really felt that way. Even someone like me, who knows nothing about war, was so engrossed that it felt like Lüshun Fort was drenched in blood." Liang Qichao, laughing, fist-bumped with the comrades who had fought together. Kim Kyung-cheon said, "I didn't think this would work. The Japanese army charging into a minefield." "It was good that the special unit cut off the supply of shells. Normally, the Japanese would have softened up the enemy positions with artillery before charging, but they skipped the artillery due to a lack of shells. If there had been artillery, the mine operation would not have succeeded." "Yang Weiting's defense line in the northeastern front also played a significant role." Yang Weiting nodded in agreement. It was a victory achieved together. When they entered the referee's room, the atmosphere was not good. Yamagata was sitting arrogantly in his chair, glaring, while the other members of the inspection team were indifferent. Liang Qichao, acting as if he didn't notice, urged the school principal. "Principal, isn't there a reward for the students who won the wargame?" "Ah... Yes. Han Shin, Kim Hyun-chung, and Yang Weiting, come here." The principal awarded the certificates. They were just pieces of paper with nothing special. However, the reward that followed was satisfying. "As a reward, you will be granted four special leave days." It was a timely special leave, like a timely rain, as there was not enough time to start a pachinko business. As soon as the certificates were put away, a clear voice was heard.