With the successful capture of the city of Sinuiju, the Ruthenian Army gained a foothold and immediately set up fortifications to ensure the safety of the troops that are still crossing the bridge.
Hotel buildings such as the one captured by the Ruthenian Army detachment units served as the Command Center of the invasion forces. Telecommunication devices were set up along the walls operated by the operators who disseminate and receive a radio transmission from the frontlines, keeping them updated on the situation and the development of the engagement.
Major General Paul von Rennenkampf, of Deutschland descent, was the commander of the 15th Infantry Division. He was looking out the window, overseeing the construction of a forward military base in the city as well as the orchestrated movements of the army.
Helicopters such as the Black Storks and the Kolokol flew overhead the city carrying troops, supplies, and M177 howitzers. Troops from military trucks, and Polkan jeeps headed out to another city to face the Yamato Army. Rows of T-25 main battle tanks ran down the rutted roads of the underdeveloped Choson Empire, and lastly, the Wraith fighter jets screamed above as they flew in subsonic speed into the Yamato's dominated airspace to intercept incoming air support of the Yamato Army.
Everything is playing out as intended. The Yamato Army couldn't push due to the barrage of artillery strikes from self-propelled Paladin and howitzers. Ever since the war started, never once he had received a message from the front line that things were looking bad.
It was flawless…until.
"Sir, we are receiving reports from the front saying that they couldn't push further into the city of Pihyon," the radio operator reported.
"Pihyon?" Paul raised an eyebrow after hearing the first problem he may have encountered. He turned to his heels and went over to the center where tables with a map of the northern Choson Empire were laid.
He scanned the map with a scrutinizing look and his brows narrowed.
"Ah, this city. I see," Paul mused, nodding as he thought back on what the reconnaissance team told him earlier.
The Yamato army could only push so far through the city according to the Joint Chief of Staff wargaming every scenario. And they couldn't be more right about that. The Yamato Empire has around 500 forces garrisoned in that city. Even though they were informed late by their government about the existence of war, they still managed to build defensive lines around the city, barring the Ruthenian Army from advancing.
So far, the Ruthenian Army has captured neighboring cities with little to no opposition such as the Yongchon, Ryongampo, and Uiji. They could've captured more but due to the challenge in logistics where one has to cross the Yalu River, where there's only one bridge that can accommodate the crossing, they didn't have the necessary forces.
Even so, the Ruthenian Air Force has been doing their job of dropping bombs on enemy positions, turning wooden houses into nothing more than piles of ash and concrete structures into rubble.
In spite of all of that, the battle experience of the Ruthenian soldiers appeared. Even if they are equipped with modern weapons, if they don't have battle experience with it, a shortcoming is inevitable.
Paul hummed as he pondered deeply. Piles of ashes...rubbles?
"What's stopping their advance?" Paul asked the radio operator, who then asked the soldier who reported the situation.
"Sir, they said there's a lot of rubble in the way. The tank can't get through and they are under heavy machine gun fire.
"Hmm..." Paul nodded, understanding their predicament before he continued. "It seems like our guys in the Air Force and the artillery got excited huh? We can't advance if the road is not clear. I need an update of when the combat engineer vehicle is going to arrive."
"Yes sir!" the radio operator said and got to work.
To think that they would be hindered by something basic, Paul couldn't be more frustrated as he stared at the map. Well, thinking back, the goal was not to advance but rather to set up defensive positions. So it makes sense that the combat engineer vehicle will be delivered at a later date when the real offensive begins.
This phase of war should be like a warm-up to them, a prelude to invasion. They are sizing up the enemy defenses and everything they have to offer. But to think that in less than a day they are already engaged in an intense battle. The Yamato Army couldn't be more shocking.
"Sir," the radio operator hailed, getting Paul's attention as he looked in his direction. "They said the vehicle and the personnel manning it are on their way to Manchuria via Trans-Siberian railway. They are five hours away and they will get it here as soon as possible."
"Five hours?" Paul repeated. "Well, that's okay. Transmit my new orders to our men in the artillery to halt artillery strikes. We don't want to thrash the city so much that it would be hard for us to move forward."
Of course, to him, this doesn't mean they won't provide artillery strikes to their men on the frontline. If an artillery strike is really necessary, then he would authorize one. But for now, he has to act accordingly to the plan, by playing defensively.
"Sir, a report from our reconnaissance aircraft states that a column of light to medium tanks are heading towards Pihyon."
"Sir! our AWACS detected squadrons of Claude Yamato fighter aircraft flying towards Pihyon."
"So, they've arrived huh? Well, let them come, we still have toys we haven't used yet."
As he said before, this battle is a warm-up for the Ruthenian Army. They are testing their weapons left and right. The artillery had their fun and so does their flying fortress bombers.
Orders from the High Command stated it to arrange for a debut of new aircraft that hasn't been tested in battle yet. And Paul has just a perfect one in mind.
"I'll call it in. Transmit my message to the high command that we send the Ground Attack Plane 'Mjölnir' and Air Battleship 'Perun'."
A smile crept on Paul's face. He too is excited about what those war machines have to offer on the battlefield.
It's rather fortunate that Yamato Empire is the one they are facing in the war. They are known for their courage and determination, where surrender is the most dishonorable act.
With that mindset, the Ruthenian Army will be reaping battle data.
***
Twenty-five minutes later.
In the frontline, bullet rounds from the Yamato army crashed on the ground, sending splinters of dirt and metals flying everywhere. Ruthenian soldiers hid behind their tanks calmly even though machine gun rounds whizzed by and over.
"Yow, what happened to the artillery strikes? Why are they not firing anymore?" one of the Ruthenian soldiers asked.
"Beats me," the other Ruthenian soldier shrugged his shoulders. "We can only ask our pal here," he patted the radioman in the soldier with a chuckle.
"They said they are going to halt artillery strikes indefinitely due to the issues we are facing...you know, the cratered ground and the rubbles in our way."
The radioman flinched when an anti-tank shell from the Yamato Empire exploded near their position.
"That makes sense," the soldier nodded at him, unfazed by what just happened.
Even though they are charging in the hellfire of battle, they are eerily calm. Maybe because of the discipline and the training they received during their time in the academy.
Another round from an anti-tank cannon hit the T-25 tank they were trailing but got deflected. It was one of the things they noticed, the tanks are impenetrable. The tank they are following has received ten or fifteen direct hits from the anti-tank shell yet it still moves.
What's more is that it hasn't returned a single fire yet so they were hoping it would fire soon—and the T-25 boomed, turning the anti-tank cannon which has been scratching him into smithereens.
The Ruthenian soldier peeked to the side with his assault rifle drawn. He found two Yamato soldiers scurrying about. He aimed at them and adjusted the firing mode into a semi-automatic. He breathed deeply before pulling the trigger.
Their heads exploded as the round struck its mark. "Got two!"
And so they moved onwards until one of the Ruthenian infantry noticed a faint humming sound in the sky, causing him to look up.
In the blue clear sky, a black blimp the size of a needle was flying. Based on the appearance alone, it appears to be a Bogatyr cargo aircraft until it was not when he noticed the flight pattern.
It was flying in an arcing path with its side facing directly at the Yamato's defensive lines.
"That's Perun!"
