Chapter 327 – Chinese Army Moves South (2)
“Calm down.”
Artemis, who was sitting in an M shape, pulled me close.
Boom!
I was standing on one leg and putting my foot in the hole of my pants, so I lost my balance and fell.
“It seems like an issue as urgent as the previous infectious disease outbreak, right?”
Television, which normally shows dramas, movies, and video games, is now showing pictures of powerful forces.
Even though reinforcements are coming one after another from the north, the movement is organic and stealthy, not appropriate for the scale.
Many troops move organically. It is possible to achieve this by simply training the rules rigorously.
However, secrecy is a completely different issue.
As a former soldier, I can tell at a glance. That’s not something wandering remnants of the defeated soldiers can show.
It is clear that military operations are carried out with a clear sense of purpose and a firm system of rewards and punishments.
“Stay calm.”
Artemis spoke once again.
“You are the shelter manager, not the president. There is no need to make urgent public statements or press conferences. “Whether it’s giving instructions or receiving reports, everything can be resolved as long as I’m by your side.”
She looks straight into my face.
“So first, let’s calm down.”
“That’s true, but why don’t you put some clothes on too?”
With her naked body like this, she was trying to distract herself from the serious situation.
Artemis followed my gaze and looked down at her chest and laughed.
“I’m also uncomfortable in this situation where I can’t enjoy your dirty looks.”
She wrapped a nearby nightgown like a cape.
“I’m having an emergency meeting with the main garrison commander in 9 minutes. “I already sent a message to wake you up.”
“Are soldiers deciding the future of the country among themselves?”
“Isn’t it already embarrassing to call it a country?”
“That’s true too.”
Artemis brought a white shirt and opened the holes, so I could wear it.
I think she’ll end up with a thin gown that covers her chest and dress me properly.
From her hanger, Artemis took something to wear on the outside of her shirt.
“It’s been a really long time.”
One of the few things I brought with me when I retired. What she was holding in her hand was a military field jacket.
“I can wear it.”
“No. I’ll put it on for you. Jinsu, focus on watching this.”
Artemis handed me the PDA and started buttoning my shirt.
The PDA contained information that was condensed to the core.
“You will be leading the meeting, so you should know the minimum details in advance, right? “I don’t have much time.”
She said, holding up her pants and socks.
* * *
9 minutes later, large screen in the central control room.
Surveillance footage obtained with difficulty was being played there.
Most of the photos were taken by shelter drones, but some were also taken by Korean searchers.
[Hey, did you turn on recording mode?]
A nervous male voice.
[I’m taking a picture so shut your mouth.]
[If you give me this right away, I’ll give you a pretty big deal. I tried in vain, but it’s a blessing in disguise, right?]
[Oh, shut up. There is noise mixed into the video.]
The photographers’ commotion did not raise the eyebrows of anyone participating in the emergency meeting. Because it was such a serious situation.
As veterans who have delved deep into North Korea, the telescopes they use are also very expensive models.
Even though 1880 m was displayed small in the lower middle of the screen, the invaders could be clearly seen.
A Chinese military detachment occupying an abandoned factory is captured on screen.
They are all busy setting up temporary barracks and organizing military supplies.
Meanwhile, about 10 Chinese soldiers are dragging four disarmed men.
[Fuck those bastards.]
[…
Even those who said it was a bit noisy kept quiet this time.
This is because those who were brought in were not only compatriots but also partners. Korean explorers heading to North Korea full of dreams.
“It looks like he was interrogated.”
All four of them are barefoot and wearing only pants. No matter where I looked, it was covered in red blood stains.
They were so frightened that they moved quickly even when a Chinese soldier lightly flicked the muzzle of their gun.
But they soon realized that they were not in a position to calmly follow instructions.
There is only one thing that can be associated with a heavily armed soldier giggling with four prisoners lined up on a slope.
It was clear that this was not done to conduct additional interrogations or impose labor.
Lately, a Chinese soldier came rushing in from outside the screen.
He stood between his soldiers and prisoners, waving his hands wildly and shouting something.
Those who appear to be soldiers appear to be non-commissioned officers or officers, as they have stopped laughing and become calm.
But there was one more executive among them.
Are you a more senior person? ‘Huh? He taunts by making a gesture of putting his hand on his ear as if to say, ‘I can’t hear you!’
Then he suddenly took out a pistol from his pocket and shot one of the investigators.
A body with its head pierced rolls over the slope.
The officer who came to stop him had already been grabbed by both arms by his soldiers and could not move.
Bang! Bang!
Two gunshots ring out in succession and two more bodies roll down.
The last remaining one ran away rather than quietly waiting for execution. But that only extended the lifespan by about 2 seconds.
Ta-ta-ta-tang!
This is because rifle bullets rained down on his fleeing back.
[Good. Let’s move.]
The video ended there. After that, no one went into the factory to take pictures, and several reconnaissance drones even flew in.
The secret to longevity is knowing how to escape when on the battlefield.
Since then, several more videos and photos have passed.
This is all we have obtained in one day, so we will be able to obtain more information as time goes by.
I kept quiet for now.
I was wondering if the commanders who were urgently summoned through video communication had something to say. But everyone is silent.
[Huh, indeed…]
The only sound I could hear was clicking my tongue occasionally.
Well, it is natural that I was dumbfounded when I woke up and heard the news as if out of the blue.
It is a difficult situation to survive against infectious agents and food, clothing, and shelter. Isn’t it too terrible to think about a terrible war with a fellow human army?
“It was too important to wait until morning, so we urgently convened the meeting. Please understand.”
Most of the commanders seen in the video communication were wearing national defense-colored running shirts.
Even during this time, it made me happy to see everyone wearing dog tags around their necks.
As these are difficult times, even the highest level commanders are setting an example even in minor military discipline. It’s probably possible because that spirit is ingrained.
[No. If this is the case, you can convene as many times as you want.]
[There was a time when even a single unidentified boat could cause the entire subordinate division to capsize. The administrator followed the rules well.]
The major, fully dressed in military uniform and gear, spoke.
He is one of the commanders who monitor the Jeju Island government forces in the southwest sea garrison.
He is a passionate soldier who even participates in night duty, and although it may be burdensome, he is friendly to me.
“It’s a rule.”
I covered the microphone for a moment and muttered softly.
Rather than seeing me as a shelter manager, i.E. A civilian warlord leader, do they regard me as a fellow soldier?
Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to say things like ‘I followed the rules well.’
[Is there any possibility that this is a localized act of residual disease?]
[Look at that scale and equipment. Just looking at the detachment shown in the execution video, there are very few commanders here who can deal with it alone.]
[You’re right. That strong foreign power entered the country? At that point, it is meaningless to distinguish between deviation and invasion.]
Someone tried to bring up the theory of caution, but a rebuttal came right away.
It certainly doesn’t matter what their real purpose is, whether it’s a mistake or intentional.
The fact that a foreign army with a certain level of power crossed the border was itself a problem.
[Strictly speaking, it’s not domestic, right? Anyway, that’s North Korea. Isn’t this a place where infectious agents are also roaming around? As long as it doesn’t come below the ceasefire line.]
There were more doves than expected. Well, I understand.
I’m having a hard time just dealing with the weakened infectious agents after receiving the vaccine and running the garrison, but it’s terrible to even imagine fighting an army made up of elites.
However, this remark was met with criticism from other commanders.
[No, do you mean that? Is there a guarantee that they will be satisfied there and not come down?]
[Did you fall asleep during Jeonghoon Education? North Korea is also our land.]
No matter how important the order is and how important the military is, the world is the world, so they don’t just stick to their heads like they used to.
I was a senior and a beginner, and when I climbed up, I climbed up properly.
When the atmosphere feels like it’s getting too heated, it’s my role to step in and ventilate it.
“North Korea’s secret air defense city.”
Everyone became quiet at my one word. So much so that I feel burdened.
“Many commanders have probably heard the rumor at least once. A secret base where a huge amount of supplies is stored.”
[I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know. In difficult times, all kinds of rumors circulate.]
There are certainly more rumors going around than this.
A rich man’s cruise ship drifting somewhere in the South Sea, or a second shelter that was fully built but never opened.
Both my commanders and I were skilled at discerning false rumors.
“But even so, if they come down so ignorantly, I have doubts. If it really exists, the remnants of the Chinese military would know much better than we do.”
I pointed to the army in the still image.
“For a force of that size to move, it itself causes great exhaustion and dissatisfaction. Not only food and supplies, but even control.”
In this era, the leader has absolute authority, equivalent to the power of life and death.
However, if you do not prove that you are competent, your hair may be chopped off in an instant.
“I wouldn’t have come here to reclaim the barren land in North Korea. “They must have come as a group because there was definitely something worth targeting.”
[This may sound rude, but was it difficult to understand at the shelter? They may even have a dedicated satellite.]
“Satellite surveillance is not omnipotent. “To cover the entire Korean Peninsula, we need far more low-orbit satellites than we currently operate.”
Artemis quickly displayed the satellite surveillance range on the map. Intruders exist outside the border.
“For now, just covering South Korean territory is acceptable. “I never thought that the Chinese army would come down to the North Korea-China border in a time like this.”
Another commander asked to speak.
“Speak.”
[Where on earth did they come from? We also know the situation in China, albeit with limited information. The entire country was cut off. But on such a scale, I wonder where it had been for so long and then suddenly appear.]
“We are also investigating that. We will share the results as they become available. “Now, please make your troops clearly aware of the emergency situation and ask for solidarity beyond your area of responsibility in case of emergency.”
[Isn’t that obvious?]
The commander of the garrison adjacent to the ceasefire line said.
“That’s because it doesn’t seem very natural.”
From now on, this is what I wanted to say the most.
“If possible, please provide support to the troops stationed in the North, whether it is decoration materials or manpower. In an age where everyone has to live independently, I will not ask you to sacrifice everything for patriotism alone. We will clearly record your contributions and repay you in some form.”
The emergency meeting in the early morning ended here. In a situation where there was so little information right now, there wasn’t much that could be done to hold on to those who woke up.
* * *
The situation progressed quickly.
This is because the Chinese military, which occupied part of North Korea, issued a statement first.
Strong, tonal Korean speaks from the other side of the communication device.
[We do not want any friction with Korea.]
The opening statement was as expected.
No matter how unfamiliar they may be, there is no way they would suddenly start a war from somewhere else. That is extremely reckless.
[It is simply to implement the treaty made with the Joseon government before the Corpse War. We have a responsibility to jointly defend part of Joseon against monsters.]
Corpse War is the unofficial name given by the Chinese military to the infection war. And the Joseon that China refers to means North Korea.
The voice on the communicator was confident, as if asserting legitimate rights and just duties.
But what kind of deal they had with the North Korean leadership in the past is none of my business.
[We want peace. We want harmonious coexistence with Korea. We are prepared to fight against infectious agents together and exchange materials, technology, and manpower.]
The use of diplomatic rhetoric while turning the listener upside down seems to be an excellent continuation of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the war.
[We have nuclear weapons saved to deal with infectious agents. The monsters are currently split into small pieces, but one day they will form a huge tidal wave and hit this land! In order to prepare for that time, I ask that Korea also understand our wishes.]
I thought there was a low probability that they might have a nucleus. But I never thought a threat would be included in the first official communication.
I thought I would quietly bring it up when the conversation and negotiation went back and forth at least a few times and reached its climax.
[I hope Korea makes a wise decision. The official line will be open, so please respond once your position is decided.]
With these words, the communication ended.
Haha.”
I sank deeper into the chair and laughed.
The situation turned out to be much more spectacular than I expected, so I started laughing before feeling absurd.
Then, at some point, the laughter suddenly evaporates, as if there was a power outage.
“Look at these bastards?”
Even when I drank the black coffee that Artemis brought, I didn’t feel any bitterness at all.
Thanks to the endorphins secreted in the brain, a sweet smell came out of the mouth on its own.
