Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 560 Foreword and Extra Chapter: Undercurrents (Last Day, Please Vote!)
In 1945, as World War II gradually came to an end, the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, began to confront each other.

When Japan surrendered on the Korean Peninsula, the two countries agreed to use the 38th parallel north as the boundary.

The area north of the dividing line was placed under Soviet trusteeship after its surrender, while the area south of the dividing line was placed under US trusteeship after its surrender.

However, the demarcation of this border line took into account the cultural history and geography of the Korean Peninsula in the slightest.

It's just a matter of arbitrarily dividing the Korean Peninsula in two.

The boundary line cuts directly through countless villages, rivers, and mountains.

Some people can travel abroad just by turning over in their sleep.

It took ordinary people living near the 38th parallel a long time to finally figure out where this vague and elusive boundary actually was.

The United States and the Soviet Union used the 38th parallel as a boundary, treating North Korea and South Korea as their respective bridgeheads in Asia.

They all began cultivating proxies, preparing to maintain control after their main force withdrew.

However, the shadow of World War II had not yet dissipated, and both the United States and the Soviet Union were still haunted by the devastation of the war.

Nobody wants to start a third world war at this time.

Therefore, the two countries have maintained a remarkably consistent policy toward the Korean Peninsula.

They each restrained their agents, strictly forbidding them from provoking the other party.

The bottom line for both the United States and the Soviet Union was to prevent the other side from swallowing up their proxies.

Against this backdrop, the United States and the Soviet Union, as the de facto controllers of the Korean Peninsula, exercised great restraint in the development of the military power of their respective proxies.

However, as the world situation continued to develop, especially after the outbreak of the Berlin Crisis in May 1948, the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union became increasingly tense.

In North Korea, which is separated only by the 38th parallel, the conflict between the two sides has been escalating.

Since the Soviet Union's strategic focus was on Europe at the time, and it was mainly on the defensive in Asia, Stalin decided, after weighing the pros and cons, to try to ease the situation in Korea.

Soviet Russia began to actively call on both countries to withdraw their troops from North Korea, since North Korea was not a defeated country and neither the US nor the USSR had the right to station troops there.

Moreover, in order to persuade the US military to withdraw, the Soviet army took the initiative to withdraw all its troops from Korea by the end of 1948.

Kim, the young leader of the Northern Dynasty who had suddenly reached the pinnacle of his life, was overwhelmed with emotion.

The withdrawal of the Soviet troops meant that he was no longer a puppet of Soviet Russia, but had truly become the de facto ruler of North Korea.

But at the same time, a huge problem also emerged: the military strength of the Northern Dynasty was far too weak.

Due to previous restrictions, the Northern Dynasty at this time only had two divisions.

Moreover, many North Korean soldiers who had been stranded in China due to their resistance against Japan and had joined the Communist army were strictly forbidden from returning to their country by Soviet Russia.

Only some North Korean officers from the Anti-Japanese United Army's International Brigade were allowed to enter North Korea as civilians.

After the Soviet withdrawal, North Korea had many experienced officers, but it was severely lacking in soldiers and weapons.

Even including civilian and logistical personnel, the two divisions of the Northern Dynasty had fewer than 30,000 men.

Some of the soldiers on the front lines don't even have guns.

In comparison, there was the army of the Southern Dynasties.

The U.S. military helped South Korea train a modern army of over 60,000 men.

This army is well-equipped. Compared with the US military, the only thing they lack is heavy weapons for offensive operations, such as tanks and heavy artillery.

In addition, the Southern Dynasty also had a police force of over 30,000 men, who were also well-equipped with light weapons.

Most importantly, the Southern Dynasty President Yi Seung-ryong consistently insisted on a military advance northward.

With the crisis of national subjugation looming, North Korea urgently reported to the Soviet Union shortly after the Soviet withdrawal that "South Korea is frantically probing the 38th parallel and is ready to invade at any time."

At the same time, North Korea also hoped that Soviet Russia could provide weapons and agree to expand the North Korean army.

At this time, Soviet Russia, which had already withdrawn from North Korea, also realized that the United States had indeed gone too far.

Moreover, the Northern Dynasty army was far too weak compared to the Southern Dynasty army and had no ability to defend itself.

To ensure that its proxy in North Korea could maintain its regime, Soviet Russia quickly agreed to North Korea's request for military aid, and provided it very generously.

The Soviet Union readily complied with the list of military aid that North Korea had proposed.

This list even includes the advanced T34 tank.

With the weapons secured, North Korea began to worry about another matter.

That's the army. Right now, the Northern Dynasty doesn't have time to recruit new soldiers and train them from scratch.

Soviet Russia, without any hesitation, pointed North Korea in a clear direction: go to China.

In May 1949, just as the Crossing the Yangtze River Campaign was in full swing, an anxious diplomatic envoy arrived in Beiping.

The messenger brought Kim's handwritten letter.

He requested that the former North Korean soldiers be returned to North Korea.

However, the Northern Dynasty dared to make this statement because it had the confidence to do so.

The past relationship mentioned in the letter was not just a polite remark.

During the most dangerous period of the Northeast War, North Korea provided a safe rear area for the Northeast Field Army's South Manchuria troops, taking in more than 10,000 wounded soldiers and hundreds of thousands of soldiers' families.

Meanwhile, the North Korean government also provided the South Manchurian forces with more than 200,000 tons of supplies, including a large amount of Japanese military supplies.

This made a significant contribution to the liberation of Northeast China.

Although North Korea was under the control of Soviet Russia at the time, and most of the credit should be attributed to Soviet Russia, the Korean people did indeed provide assistance in any case.

returning a Favour many times more.

North Korea helped China during its time of crisis, and now that things are better, North Korea is asking for help, so China will naturally do its best to provide assistance.

Therefore, the central government readily agreed to the Northern Dynasty's request.

Moreover, the central government not only transferred troops to the Northern Dynasty, but also sent them along with weapons and equipment.

The Northern Dynasty, which was originally almost completely poor, suddenly possessed a large number of advanced Soviet-made equipment and tens of thousands of battle-hardened soldiers.

The Northern Dynasty's confidence instantly became incredibly strong.

In June, the US military withdrew from South Korea.

In July, a fully equipped North Korean division entered the country.

Furthermore, after withdrawing from the Soviet Union, the North Koreans continuously amassed troops, and by this time, they had a fairly formidable army. However, despite the South Koreans appearing utterly incompetent, the North Koreans dared not launch an attack lightly.

Before launching an attack, North Korea must obtain the consent of its elder brother.

But the Soviet Union's answer was simple: No.

With its main focus on Europe, the Soviet Union's troubles at this time were detrimental to its situation.

The Soviet army withdrew from North Korea for this very reason, and naturally, they do not want North Korea to cause trouble now.

However, as October 1st passed, the political landscape of the entire Asia and even the world underwent tremendous changes.

In December, just two months after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the central leader chose to attend the meeting alone.

After a series of combined measures, Soviet Russia was forced to renegotiate a series of agreements.

The original unequal treaties were overthrown, and the Lushun, Dalian, and Changchun railways were reclaimed.

The abrogation of the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance completely altered Soviet Russia's interests in Asia.

After being forced to return Lushun, Dalian, and the Changchun-Lushun Railway, the ice-free ports that Soviet Russia had painstakingly acquired in the Far East disappeared once again.

At this time, Soviet Russia was eager to find its next outlet to the sea.

Kremlin.

"The loss of Port Arthur by the Far East Fleet has had a huge impact. A new ice-free port must be found to replace it before the fleet can withdraw."

Stalin felt a headache coming on just thinking about the newly signed agreement; the other party was being far too assertive.

"The outlet to the sea that can replace Lushun has always been right in front of us."

"where?"

"Busan, Incheon, and Jeju Island on the Korean Peninsula are all high-quality ports suitable for Soviet Russia."

Looking at the map, Stalin remembered that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had reported to him back in 45.

However, these three ports remained under American control, and since the Soviet Union had already taken Lushun from Chang Ruiyuan, it had no incentive to challenge the United States.

However, the situation has changed now. Lushun is about to be taken back by China, so he has to make a move on the Korean Peninsula.

Soon, a massive, interconnected scheme was formed.

"Notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to invite Kim to visit Soviet Russia."

"yes!".
In April 1950, a train secretly departed from Pyongyang.

Upon arriving in Moscow, Stalin held a secret meeting with Kim.

Soviet Russia officially approved the plan for a northward offensive.

At this time, the United States just announced its abandonment of the South, which was the best opportunity in a lifetime.

"I'll go back and prepare immediately." Kim was extremely excited; he had been waiting impatiently for a long time.

"Wait a moment."

"You must get permission from China before you launch an attack."

Kim was taken aback when she heard this.

The elder brother has already agreed, so he can just do it. Why does he need China's permission?
The Northern Dynasties and China are brothers, but that doesn't mean they have to listen to China.

Furthermore, China has no reason to disagree, nor is it obligated to disagree.

Stalin did not explain, but emphasized: "This is a prerequisite. You cannot launch an attack if the Chinese comrades do not agree."

This was a crucial step in the Stalin Plan. As long as China agreed to North Korea's offensive plan, regardless of whether the offensive was successful or not, the Soviet Union could realize its dream of regaining ice-free ports.

If the North Korean invasion succeeds, the entire Korean Peninsula will be unified.

At this time, as the powerful backer of North Korea, Soviet Russia could easily obtain a port.

This request is not unreasonable, after all, all of North Korea's weapons were supplied by the Soviet Union.

Conversely, if the North Korean offensive fails, it would mean that the United States has also joined the war.

After all, with the assistance of China and the Soviet Union, North Korea fighting South Korea was like an adult fighting a child; without the intervention of the United States, South Korea would undoubtedly have lost.

However, if the United States intervenes, it will result in China being threatened with war by the United States.

The newly signed agreement includes the following supplementary clause:
[If either China or the Soviet Union is militarily threatened by Japan or other countries colluded with by Japan, the two countries may jointly use the Port Arthur naval base to facilitate joint operations.]

According to this clause, once the US military joined the war, the Soviet Union could rightfully stay in Port Arthur.

In other words, regardless of the outcome, Soviet Russia would certainly gain its own outlet to the sea in the Far East.

Of course, there is another possibility: the North was completely annexed by the South, and the US military advanced all the way to the Yalu River.

At this time, Northeast China will be in grave danger.

In Stalin's view, China simply does not have the capability to fight the US military.

Once the US military appears on the Yalu River, China will have no choice but to request the Soviet Union to directly occupy Northeast China.

At that point, it won't be as simple as just Lushun Port.

In Stalin's view, this open scheme has no solution.

The request from the Northern Dynasty has put China in a dilemma.

At this time, China was planning to retake Taiwan, and the Chinese military was already making final preparations along the southeast coast.

At this critical juncture, the Soviet Union's approval of North Korea's actions was not a good thing for China.

And most importantly, China has no reason to refuse, or even if it wanted to refuse, it couldn't.

China had no choice but to agree to North Korea's attack plan.

With permission granted, the North Kim excitedly began planning the war.

He had unwavering confidence in the strength of the North, so once the plan began, China was completely forgotten.

North Korea never informed China of any news of the war.

However, unlike the optimistic Northern Dynasty, the Communists, who had fought for countless days and nights between life and death, had already sensed the coming storm.

P.S.: There will be more in the evening, still a preface and extra chapter.

P.S.: Requesting monthly votes!
(End of this chapter)