Chapter 471 - New China's Participation in War - 4-1 Battle of Strength

On January 1st, 2024, 20:40 (New China time: 19:40)

X-15 bunker in Beijing, New China

“Minister! This is an emergency call from Russia.”

The assistant handed the full text that they urgently received from the Russian Ministry of Defense to Jang Yue Fung, Minister of National Defense.

“Hmm, this much power at once? Russia must be in a hurry, too.”

Jang Yue Fung, Defense Minister, muttered while reading the full text, then went to the president’s office to see Wang Jing-wi, who had not left the room since the morning.

<Knock knock!>

“Who is there?”

“I’m Jang Yue Fung.”

“Come in.”

Jang Yue Fung entered the room and frowned slightly.

This was because the president’s chambers smelled of alcohol, and president Wang Jing-wi was staring at him with half-opened eyes from the simple bed on the side.

President Wang Jing-wi was enraged this morning as a result of the explosion at the Ministry of General Equipment’s secret laboratory and the death of the general equipment manager. As a result, he stayed in his room and drank all day.

<I can’t believe this person who calls himself a president behaves like this…>

Defense Minister Jang Yue Fung was dissatisfied with the president’s pathetic behavior and tried to hide his displeasure. He then approached President Wang Jing-wi and showed him the full text.

“Mr. President! Russia has requested a joint operation to launch large-scale air attacks against Korea.”

“From Russia?”

“Yes, if both countries launch large-scale air attacks at the same time, Korea, no matter how strong it is, will not be ready for a full retaliatory response.”

“Hmph! Do you believe in Russia?”

“What? What do you mean?”

He was perplexed by the question of whether he trusted their military allies in the context of a treaty of mutual military protection.

“Haha, it’s just obtuse.”

President Wang Jing-wi said.

“I am saying to use our Air Force as bait.”

“What?”

“What if we didn’t send our air force in to fight and instead used the Russian air force to attack them? Wouldn’t we be able to defeat them when they’re at their lowest?”

“What? That’s a little too much.”

“What? Too much? Oh my God!”

President Wang Jing-wi got out of bed and sat on the sofa with his bottle of alcohol. He then sighed, drank from the bottle, and shouted.

“I’m a fool to assign you as the Minister of National Defense! How pathetic! How pathetic!”

President Wang Jing-wi was completely drunk. Even though he was the president of the country, it was still rude to openly swear at the Minister of National Defense. At this, Minister of Defense Jang Yue Fung bit his lower lip to relieve his rising rage.

“Mr. President! Will you reject Russia’s request for a joint operation?”

“Is your brain still not working?”

President Wang Jing-wi turned his finger around his head.

“Well, I’m sorry.”

“Tsk tsk, first and foremost, inform Russia that we will comply with their request. However, this is not something you should do. Simply prepare to mobilize the entire air force and wait for the Russians to attack the Koreans. We’re going to take advantage of Russia’s plans. Hahaha!”

President Wang Jing-wi laughed.

“Mr. President! If you’re wrong, there will be a big problem in the future…”

“What? Are you looking down on my judgment?”

“It’s not that. It’s…”

“Shut up and do as you told! Inform the Chief of Staff of the orders right away.”

He was certain that President Wang Jing-wi was making the wrong decision under the influence of alcohol but all he could do was choose his words wisely and try to persuade the president, but eventually, all he could do was hurt his pride.

It exemplified the ills of a one-man dictatorship, in which the dictator makes all decisions at his leisure.

<hr />

January 1st, 2024, 22:00 (New China time: 21:00)

Outside Area 15 of Beichen District Industrial Complex, Tianjin, New China

“Team Leader Park! Something has arrived from our home country.”

Team Leader Park Gi-oong, who only managed to fall asleep at 3 p.m., opened his eyes when he heard Director Youn Gil-soo call out to him and said.

“What is it?”

“Team Leader Youn said you were looking for it?”

At that moment, Team Leader Park Gi-oong jumped out of bed and went straight to the living room.

“Is this it?”

“Did you wake up?”

Team Leader Youn Tae-jin greeted him and then fixed his gaze on the large box in the center of the living room. Team Leader Park Gi-oong tore the box as soon as he saw it.

“Ah! Child! You’ve returned! It is a multi-area ultrasound rescue device that outperforms the VR-M2 fluoroscope tenfold. Was it called CRB-330? Anyway, I heard it could detect and respond to bio-signals up to 50 meters underground.”

Team Leader Park Gi-oong, who was listening to Team Leader Youn Tae-jin’s explanation, took out equipment two or three times larger than the VR-M2 fluoroscope and looked at it. He then said.

“Hey! Team Leader Youn! Great job.”

“Don’t you think it is too late? I’ve been working so hard to get this.”

“Okay, okay. When we go back home, I’ll buy you a drink.”

Youn Tae-jin made a joke with Park Gi-oong, who was reading the instructions with all of his anxiety focused on the device.

“Hey! Team Leader Park!”

“What? Tell me later! I’m busy!”

“The director asked us to withdraw.”

“What?”

At that moment, Team Leader Park Gi-oong stopped what he was doing and replied.

“What are we withdrawing from?”

“He asked us to go back home.”

“So, why did he send this to us when he was about to ask us to withdraw?”

“Actually, this isn’t from him. Manager Lee Hye-jin asked the fire department for cooperation and urgently sent it to us.”

“What? Shit! When do we have to leave?”

“Tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow? That’s crazy. I’m going to quit this job after this mission!”

“Team Leader Park! To our country, it appears that the two managers have died.”

“Do you think the same way?”

When Team Leader Park Gi-oong asked him, Team Leader Youn Tae-jin took his time and replied carefully.

“Actually, it’s tough to have survived in that situation!”

“This guy, really? Do you want me to shake some sense into you?”

Team Leader Park Gi-oong grabbed Youn Tae-jin by his collar and shook him. As a result, Team Leader Lee Eun-ha of the third team intervened between the two team leaders and stopped them.

“Ah! What’s wrong with you? Your subordinates are watching, Team Leader Park. Calm down.”

“Hey! It’s not that I don’t understand you. I also wish that the two managers were still alive, too! But in reality, it just doesn’t seem likely, right?”

“Still, you jerk!”

<Pack!>

Team Leader Youn Tae-jin, who was hit in the face by Team Leader Park Gi-oong’s fist, lost his balance and fell on the living room floor.

“Oh oh? Hold it in. Team Leader Park!”

Fourth Team Leader Seong Sang-yoon rushed in and stopped Team Leader Park Gi-oong with the help of Team Leader Lee Eun-ha.

“Ya! Even so, jerks, you should confirm before making a decision.”

“Team Leader Park! You know we are at war with New China, right? They are asking us to withdraw soon because the strategic bombs will be falling here. We need to think about the safety of our employees, too!”

Team Leader Youn Tae-jin said as he wiped the blood from his burst lips. Team Leader Park Gi-oong then shouted while taking off his protective suit.

“Me! I’m quitting my job today. I don’t need to follow the orders now, right? Everyone, go back with Team Leader Youn! And because this equipment was delivered by Manager Lee through the fire department, it does not belong to the headquarters and thus I am free to use it. No objections, right? Everyone, get ready to withdraw!”

Team Leader Park Gi-oong said what he want to say and went into his room.

Team Leader Youn Tae-jin, who got up and sat on the sofa, sighed while looking at the ceiling.

<hr />

On January 1st, 2024, 23:00 (Russia time: 22:00)

Over the Cheetahs in Russia’s Zabaykalsky Krai.

The northwest front of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where 400,000 Russian troops launched a massive counterattack at 2 a.m., was a true firefighting hellhole. There had been nonstop gunfire for 20 hours.

The defending Republic of Korea Armed Forces had only eight divisions and 100,000 troops but they were able to halt Russian advances with the help of air force support.

Despite the Russian numerical advantage, the modern war was one in which mass destruction was greatly increased due to cutting-edge weapons. In other words, unlike World War II, it was not a war of quantity. The key had shifted to improving war equipment, specifically how much more advanced equipment and mass destruction power you possess than your counterparts.

Amid this fierce battle over the border, the Russian army launched an airlift operation with Spetsnaz and Airborne Forces to strike the Republic of Korea’s rear.

However, this move was previously scouted by the reconnaissance satellite of the overseas reconnaissance bureau, and they had prepared accordingly.

As the 7th Mobile Corps (the vanguard) broke through the 36th Army defense line and quickly detoured along the border, hitting the rear area was critical to break through the Korean solid defense line and create an opportunity.

If the side was given to the 7th Mobile Corps (the vanguard), which was bypassing around the border before, they could suffer great damage and they won’t even be able to counterattack.

For this reason, a rear blow was an essential operation that had to be done unconditionally.

The Russian army finally launched a full-fledged aerial assault operation at 10 p.m. Thousands of Spetsnaz, 12 assault brigades, and over 100 military transport aircraft ranging from the most recent to the oldest, including the IL-476 Ilyushin, a strategic carrier introduced in 2014, and the An-124 Ruslan, which gathered near Cheetahs and took off from various airfields.

Given the Republic of Korea Air Force’s ongoing bombing and missile attacks, the transport planes, which were divided into six military airfields and took off all at once and the jockeys gradually turned their direction. The turning point was Hulunbuir, which the Joint Chiefs of Staff had anticipated as the point of air reinforcement.

Around 400 fighters from the Southern Military District’s 4th Air Force and the Central Military District’s 2nd Air Army had already sortied in the air above the front, where 100 large-scale transport aircraft were flying in groups.

Their duties were in addition to the escort mission of the military transport plane, they were planning ground attacks with the 24 Tu-22M3 Tupolev strategic bombers. In other words, rather than a simple ground attack, a strategic bombing mission was assigned.

Eight A-100 Beriev Airborne Early Warning and Control were also flying at a distance of 300 kilometers behind. The A-100 Beriev Airborne Early Warning and Control was an airborne developed based on the IL-476 platform and was the latest model that has been deployed in practice since 2022. Originally, it was planned to be deployed in 2019, but it was delayed by three years to install a powerful radar capable of detecting stealth aircraft.

Its performance was excellent. It is equipped with a data link system that includes ultra-high frequency (UHF) wireless signals, satellite communication broadband transmission and large-capacity communication relay functions, enabling direct operation of fighter jets, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. In addition, data link functions had been developed that allow direct control and use of unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned weapons, unmanned ships, etc., which are increasingly utilized.

In other words, it was called an all-weather air command base capable of three-dimensional operations and real-time data links with various air defense units on the ground, reconnaissance satellites outside the atmosphere, and maritime destroyers.

As New China had replied that they would join the large-scale air force operation, the Russian Chief of General Staff was confident. This is because if the Republic of Korea Air Force suffers a certain amount of damage as a result of this opportunity, they will be able to regain air supremacy, and if this occurs, they will not be defeated unilaterally in all future battles.

Meanwhile, the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, which had a clear understanding of the Russian Air Force’s movements, had established a response strategy in accordance.

First of all, all available fighters from airbases stationed in three Manchuria states were ready for sortie, and 24 CFS/A-31SP Three-toed Crow space fighter jets and 12 CSRQ-100P Pegasus Space Reconnaissance aircraft were already leisurely flying in the atmosphere. In addition, three CS-AD Zeus Strategic Interceptor Satellites belonging to the Strategic Satellite Group were each preparing to attack and waiting in their orbit to participate in this battle..