Chapter 151

The true beginning of the Northern Expedition.

It commenced with this resolution.

The Northern Expedition, proposed by Kang Yuseong, the head of the Integrated Security Command.

All preparations for it were now about to begin.

First and foremost, establishing a bridgehead was crucial.

In an expedition, the supply route is, without a doubt, the most important factor.

This meant stabilizing the deeply fractured North Korean regime, which lay on the path from South Korea to China.

However, this issue showed potential for a relatively smooth resolution.

Kang Yuseong had decided to pour the immense financial power of Star Pharmaceuticals, a global pharmaceutical company, into the endeavor.

While it might not be enough to completely quell the severe chaos of an entire nation, it would undoubtedly provide enormous leverage.

Even if the North Korean populace could be swayed in this manner, the remaining problem was the lingering warlords.

But even this seemed likely to be resolved soon through diplomatic channels.

South Korea had already devastated China.

There was no way any warlord, having witnessed South Korea’s power firsthand, would refuse to bow their heads.

Especially with the Red Flag Unit and the Black Torch Unit, now freed from Kang Yuseong and Gil Ji-yeon’s mind control, having fully expressed their intent to defect, absorbing the remaining warlords seemed only a matter of time.

Concurrently with the reorganization of South Korea’s military, a wartime mobilization order was issued to all guilds.

“We fully support the Commander’s will.”

When the Master of the Immortal Guild stepped forward to endorse the wartime mobilization order, there was no reason for other guilds to object.

From then on, things proceeded smoothly and swiftly.

Wartime supplies were prepared, and the official assault force for the Northern Expedition was reorganized.

Exactly two weeks later, the South Korean Northern Expedition United Assault Force departed from Pyongyang, the new Northern Expedition Command.

The Stardust assault force, to which Commander-in-Chief Kang Yuseong belonged, took the very front.

By now, their significance was quite profound.

They had brought down Japan, and after North Korea, they had even crushed the Black Wind Unit, China’s pride.

Given their track record, they were more than qualified to stand proudly at the vanguard.

“Alpha, this is Bravo.”

When Alpha, the codename for Stardust, was called, Kang Yuseong quietly began the radio transmission.

“This is Alpha. Speak.”

“We have reached the operational area; Bravo will now disengage.”

Kang Yuseong smiled faintly.

Bravo Team was an assault force composed of Hunters from the Immortal Guild, an elite armored division, and an engineering unit.

Their mission was to intercept the Black Wind Units believed to be near Beijing.

Having experienced the power of the Black Wind Units this time, this formation was the result of simulations based on that encounter.

As the 125th Black Wind Unit fell, the Black Wind Units hidden throughout China all surfaced, making it easy to locate them.

However, what this signified was not simple.

The fact that the previously hidden Black Wind Units had surfaced meant they had a reason to do so.

It was an implicit warning that they, too, were beginning their eastward advance.

A strong and clear signal that they intended to gather China’s power and put an end to the Korean Peninsula.

This was manifesting through the movements of the Black Wind Units.

China and South Korea.

The moment when both sides would push their respective powers to the limit and collide was rapidly approaching.

At this moment, the most crucial battlefield was Beijing.

This was where the Chinese President resided, and most of the groups considered the core of China were located there.

“Bravo. Good luck.”

A brief reply from Kang Yuseong brought another radio message from Bravo Team.

“Alpha, we will be separated until we plant the Taegeukgi in Beijing. Over.”

A bold declaration.

To plant the Taegeukgi in Beijing, the heart of China.

But it was a statement only possible for the Immortal Guild, South Korea’s premier guild, and the 1st Elite Armored Division, a combat unit commensurate with it.

“Stardust, maximize speed. Our target is Beijing.”

Kang Yuseong cast his gaze towards the distant Beijing and continued.

“We will be the first to plant the Taegeukgi there.”

The Stardust assault force surged forward.

* * * * *

The Northern Expedition United Assault Force was composed of detailed teams such as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta.

There were a total of 22 detailed assault teams, divided by phonetic codes.

They used phonetic codes from Alpha to Victor.

And each of them had different missions.

The main assault was handled by 15 assault teams, from Alpha to Oscar, with the rest serving as support or occupation forces.

Teams designated with earlier phonetic letters like Alpha and Bravo were, as their name suggested, assault teams.

These were firepower-focused assault teams, tasked with launching an all-out attack on major cities, especially Beijing, and capturing them.

The five teams positioned towards Oscar were to spread out into various regions and seize nuclear missile bases. They were accompanied by North Korean hackers and nuclear missile experts.

If things went awry, a scene of nuclear missiles flying across mainland China could unfold.

The most critical point of focus, however, was Beijing.

To eliminate the President and dismantle the leadership.

It was the most important strategic point in realizing “Jinjeok Geumwang,” one of the tactics found in ancient texts.

Jinjeok Geumwang, meaning to capture the leader and annihilate the enemy, was an essential element in bringing down China, which possessed a vast territory and a powerful army.

Bravo Team had already split off to intercept a unit presumed to be the 232nd Black Wind Unit, and Charlie Team, composed of Hunters from the Hwarang Guild, had just detached to counter the 104th Black Wind Unit.

The Black Wind Units stationed around Beijing would be left to them.

Although there were a few more Black Wind Units, strategies for dealing with them had already been established.

While they broke through the thick defenses of the Black Wind Units, Alpha Team would directly enter Beijing.

The strategy was for Alpha Team to destroy the powerful organizations within and take control of Beijing.

Once Beijing was secured, any subsequent scattered battles would be suppressed gradually.

This war was not being fought with conventional weapons.

If the power of the Hunters, considered new super-weapons, was overwhelming, any scattered resistance from the provinces could be swiftly suppressed.

And in preparation for several contingencies, the nuclear missile base seizure teams were also scheduled to penetrate deep. Everything had already been perfectly organized in Kang Yuseong’s mind recently and shared during strategy meetings of the Integrated Security Command and the Northern Expedition United Assault Force.

Even the most seasoned generals and strategy teams could not object to Kang Yuseong’s strategy.

From their perspective, it was simply too perfect a strategy.

However, there were still some who voiced concerns.

Each time, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff stepped forward.

“How many of you thought we could bring down Japan just a while ago? Did you ever imagine that unification with North Korea, with whom we’ve been grinding our teeth for decades, would happen so easily? We did that. We did!”

When the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military’s top-ranking officer who had become a complete supporter of Kang Yuseong through a series of events, roared, no one dared to oppose him.

It wasn’t because they feared his authority, but because what he said was true.

Unimaginable things had occurred, and now South Korea possessed a strength more powerful and perfect than ever before.

“Those who haven’t tried, don’t speak! Instead of that, start thinking about what we’ll do after we take China. Honestly, it’s giving me a headache just thinking about it. I’m confident in fighting, but I’m always terrible at cleaning up afterwards.”

With the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff perfectly managing the domestic situation, Kang Yuseong found it much easier to move.

Moreover, even the President actively supported the Chairman’s opinion, leaving no room for opposition or justification.

“Oscar Team, we are moving south to the target location.”

“Oscar, be careful.”

“Understood, Alpha. Over.”

Oscar was an assault force comprised of personnel from the Phoenix Guild.

Their mission was to seize nuclear missile bases.

In case of an emergency, they were to take control of the nuclear missiles.

*Beep- Beep-*

Kang Yuseong looked at the tactical monitor.

The teams were busy moving to take their positions.

Confirming that Oscar Team had also detached, Kang Yuseong nodded.

“Alright, then… Operation Awl begins.”

Bravo Team had reached a distance where they could encounter their adversaries, the Black Wind Units, and the other teams were also closing in on their respective Black Wind Unit targets.

Meanwhile, Operation Awl had begun.

Sharp and pointed, Alpha Team would perfectly penetrate Beijing’s weak points.

“Stardust, advance! Bring down Beijing!”

The members of the Stardust assault force nodded with tense expressions.

An unprecedented event in the history of the Korean Peninsula was about to unfold: penetrating Beijing, the heart of China.

Standing at that historical moment, they couldn’t help but feel a tremor.

*Tat-tat-tat!*

But their tense expressions lasted only for a moment; they grabbed their weapons and charged forward like madmen.

Beijing.

The colossal heart of China lay before their eyes.

*CRASH!*

*BANG!*

“Don’t give ground! Wipe them all out!”

Lushan, the leader of the 232nd Black Wind Unit, screamed furiously, urging his subordinates on.

With the fall of the 125th Black Wind Unit, China vowed revenge and began to mobilize all its forces.

The Black Wind Units that had been moving beneath the surface all emerged for precisely that reason.

While they awaited orders from the Central Party after surfacing, they were suddenly attacked.

And it was a perfectly planned, meticulously executed surprise attack!

*Boom!*

Self-propelled artillery and multiple rocket launchers launched a preemptive strike, seizing the initiative and neutralizing the tanks and self-propelled guns of the 232nd Black Wind Unit’s armored division.

Then, without a moment to breathe, the Hunters stormed in.

Because they had moved with such stealth, the 232nd Black Wind Unit was helpless.

Perhaps overconfidence played the biggest role.

They had never dreamed that South Korea would launch a preemptive strike…

Even after hearing that the 125th Black Wind Unit had fallen, they had attributed it to the 125th Black Wind Unit’s own weakness.

But now…

“C-Commander! The armored division has been wiped out! The 3rd Attack Regiment is out of contact, and we can’t connect with headquarters! Reinforcement requests have failed!”

At his adjutant’s urgent report, Lushan gritted his teeth.

They had lost one-third of their forces in an instant.

In that state, there was no way they could withstand the firepower of the Immortal Guild, South Korea’s number one guild.

Hunters rushed out and engaged the enemies, but the enemies were extremely skilled and suppressed them perfectly.

“Ugh! Damn it!”

Lushan shook his head.

But a strange thought occurred to him.

It was clear that these forces had launched their counterattack with everything they had.

But what were they aiming for?

‘With this many troops, they can’t even properly attack the northeastern region, let alone all of China! What are they planning?’

Suddenly, his eyes inadvertently darted to the tactical map hanging on the wall.

And he flinched.

A single place name written there.

‘Bei…jing!’

China’s heart and vital point.

‘No way!’

Were they targeting that place?

But it was too reckless.

To enter Beijing, they would have to intercept the Black Wind Units and defense forces encircling Beijing in several layers, and even then, getting in wouldn’t be easy.

The Black Dragon Unit, Beijing’s defense force, was also a formidable power.

“Commander, urgent news!”

At the sudden urgent news, Lushan’s eyes widened.

“Beijing has been breached!”

“What…!”

Lushan froze.

‘Im-impossible!’

His eyes were fixed blankly on the tactical map.

Beijing.

They truly had come for Beijing.

And,

They had now breached Beijing.

Right into the heart of China.