Chapter 194 Progress from Yamato’s Perspective

One week later. October 26, 1927.

In the Imperial Army Headquarters of the Yamato Empire, the high command officials gathered around a long table with a map of the Choson Empire laid over.

During their first meeting, they were highly enthusiastic about the war, where it is providence wherein they will win the war and reclaim all the lands stolen from them by the dirty western imperialist countries.

Yet in just two to three days since the beginning of the war, the situation has developed not necessarily to Yamato’s advantage.

What should be a jovial meeting where they will receive news from the frontlines of their victories where their armies in Choson will push the Ruthenians back to Manchuria, they have gotten the opposite.

The Ruthenians in just one week swiftly captured most industrialized cities in the north, including Pyongyang. And whenever they made contact with the Ruthenians, their superior firepower sent them running all the way back to the 38th parallel.

Even if that was the case, the Yamato managed to set up strong footholds in several cities in the Hwanghae province hoping to slow down the marching war machines of the Ruthenia Empire until more reinforcements arrive from the homeland.

However, the reinforcements that were meant to aid their troops in the battle were bombed from Port of Busan by Ruthenian Bombers, cutting their supply lines, and effectively making basically the remaining soldiers of the Yamato Empire trapped in the peninsula.

All this situation baffles the high command, questioning how it happened in the first place.

“Looks like the Ruthenia Empire has achieved air and land superiority in the Choson Peninsula,” one of the generals said as he puffed his cigar. “If we want to turn this thing around we have to set up other supply lines in the Choson Peninsula, otherwise we will lose hold of the Choson Empire.”

Katsura Taro agreed. “I understand the importance of your suggestions. We can repurpose our cruise and merchant ships so we can transport supplies and troops to our forces. However, there’s something we have to figure out first before executing such a plan.”

The man who spoke first sighed deeply before speaking. “The Ruthenian Air Force.”

“That’s right, the Ruthenian Air Force. My question is how didn’t we see their bombers coming? According to weather reports, it was clear skies during that day yet no one saw or heard the Ruthenian Bombers approaching,” Hajime Sugiyama remarked, shaking his head as he exhaled and continued. “Also, I’m getting peculiar reports from the frontlines talking about this mysterious plane that looked like the cargo plane of the Ruthenian Empire firing on them?”

“I noticed it as well,” Katsura added. “Aircraft that have no propellers, tanks that are impervious from anti-tank shells, armored vehicles where our machine guns and rifles can’t put a dent on, and their soldiers each having their own rifle that can fire 30 to 40 bullets repeatedly without having to reload. It’s ridiculous if you think about it. It’s like the men there are overexaggerating things they don’t understand.”

“Well, I can attest their accounts are justifiable, Sir Katsura,” one of the men spoke. It was Second Lt. Shojiro Tanaka.

His sudden interjection earned him the attention of all the high-ranking generals overseeing the war.

“Who permitted you to speak?” General Katsura asked sternly. Tanaka lowered his head, feeling ashamed at the cold words he received. Yet he was not intimidated.

He raised his head again, determined to continue.

“I didn’t mean to be rude, General Katsura. All I’m trying to say is that their accounts make sense. If you allow me to explain.”

Everyone went silent when they saw the look on Tanaka’s face. He seemed extremely serious, which made General Katsura reconsider whether to accept the explanation or not. He gave him an affirmative nod while the rest of the generals stayed quiet.

Tanaka took a deep breath before he began to speak. “We all know that the Ruthenian Empire has been defeating our forces and forcing them to retreat because of the weapons we know nothing about. It was understandable because we didn’t expect it in the first place. But if you would look back days ago when the renegade militia ambushed the convoy of the Grand Duchesses, their security forces were manning a Gatling Gun without an ammunition magazine attached to it.”

“Yeah, I heard those reports. It was said to be firing almost continuously for one minute?” Katsura scoffed. “Almost continuously,” Tanaka repeated.

“That’s right, General Katsura. It was a new weapon, not even the Britannia, the Deutschland, or the United States possessed such a weapon. We can infer that it’s only exclusive to the Ruthenian Armed Forces.”

“We understand where you are getting here boy but as you said, it was destroyed. So it’s no point in discussing it. I’ve given you a chance to explain and you only wasted our time. So I would suggest that you choose your next words very carefully if you don’t want to get court-martialed.” Katsura warned Tanaka yet he remained stoic.

“Well, I’m not done yet with the report. You see, the militia killed two Ruthenian and they happen to have a weapon with a design very different from a rifle. May I request your permission to get it here?”

“A new kind of weapon you say?” Katsura raised an eyebrow. He was skeptical at first but then nodded. “You have my permission,”

“Thank you, General Katsura.” Tanaka politely bowed before clapping his hand, signaling his men just outside the war room to enter.

The door opened, revealing two men carrying the rifle Tanaka was talking about. Instead of it having straight features, it has a magazine inserted below the rifle. The generals in the war room gave it an inquisitive stare. It was quite uncommon to see a weapon so different from the mainstream.

“What is it?” Katsura frowned upon noticing his fellow generals being curious. They did have a good reason to be interested in what that piece of metal is.

“General Katsura, sir, this is the rifle the Ruthenians are using in the war. We don’t know what it’s called but its capability, range, accuracy, and rate of fire are something that can’t be neglected. If you allow me to demonstrate its performance, you will be given an insight into what our troops are facing on the frontlines.”

“I’m curious so you have my permission,” one of the generals who was silent since the start of the meeting finally spoke.

Yamagata Aritomo, Chief of the General Staff of the Imperial Yamato Army.

Katsura couldn’t defy Aritomo’s order so he prompted Tanaka to continue demonstrating the Ruthenian Rifle.

Tanaka bowed in front of the revered Generals before turning to where the window was. He walked towards it. Peering through the window, he saw no people in the courtyard. A perfect place to fire the weapon. He opened the window and aimed the rifle.

Then, he pulled the trigger, making the rifle roar out in a series of loud bangs with a sound that reverberated through the chamber and echoed among the officers’ ears. They also noticed the rifle spewing out bullets from the chamber.

After firing 20 rounds, Tanaka removed his finger from the trigger, and a trail of smoke billowed from the muzzle.

“What the hell was that?!” The generals stood from their seats after the demonstration. They gasped in shock. If that was the weapon being used by the Ruthenian infantry on the battlefield, then there’s no hope for the Yamato infantry to keep up with it. After all, they are using standard-issue Type 38 bolt-action rifles that can fire five rounds.

One question raised after the test was.

“Can we copy and produce it in large numbers?”

“If you give us time then we would be able to, I guess,” Tanaka uncertainty replied.

“Fine by me, just make it a priority. It might be the key to our victory. But for now, let’s focus on the matter at hand.” Yamagata said. “We have to deal a blow to the Ruthenian Empire, anyone has suggestions?”

“How about a night bombing campaign?” Katsura suggested. “If our aircraft are getting downed in broad daylight, then why don’t we conduct an operation at night where their spotters won’t be able to detect our aircraft.”

“Good idea, let’s scramble our bombers then.”