The Siege of the Sky (X) | Hayanttangam, Great Kingdom of AsadalWith the only exception of those working in the local newspaper in Samwon, which was not allowed to inform on security and military issues, Hwangbo was the only journalist allowed in the whole region.
Although Hwangbo was not in his forties yet, he had a considerably experience in the Royal Media Conglomerate, the company which administered most of the legal newspapers in the country, which he joined in 2010. It was true that his career had met a number of ups and downs, working for different local and regional newspapers owned by the group, without being able to promote or at least consolidate in the company, unlike many others with fewer experience but much better contacts. But it was so the state of affairs and he still patiently his chance.
He had previously worked as a correspondent in the region for two months in 2019, and the circumstances could not be more different. Everything was much more intense now and, at the same time, he could not have a calmer routine in such circumstances. Embedded in a convey along officers from the High Office of Military Affairs, Hwangbo was not the typical war correspondent, and he did not witness any kind of combat.
After seizing Yangmonsan, the remaining territory could be divided in three: in the south, there was the arid but mountainous chains along the Cassiopeia border, barely populated; on the east, there was the dense timber forests and the isolated valleys in a succession of smaller mountain chains; and finally, there was the northern region, which offered a direct access toward Paskheon. However, their passes and corridors, offered little cover and the roads were heavily mined. In such conditions, it would be difficult to advance through the northern region without facing a considerably number of casualties, so the army decided a different approach.
While the south was barely cleared, only as to avoid as much as possible the launching of counter-attacks against Yangmonsan, the army advanced into the eastern forest areas in wide numbers but organized in smaller units. The companies were divided in several dozens formations of soldiers and special forces, rarely more than ten men, to cut the casualties from artillery against the army forces. Only when the enemy was pushed and withdrew to a concrete and limited place, a larger number of soldiers were mobilized into battle.
The system of military camps and smaller villages in which the enemy was accustomed to find shelter along the mountain chains and the forests were treated as military objectives and suffered from heavy artillery and air combat when possible. The convoy was forced to enter the forests before they expected, as the roads had suffered considerably damage. When he entered the forests, Hwangbo could see that they have turned into an unearthed cemetery. Facing the frustration of a slower advance than expecting, with the army advancing sometimes only a few dozen of metres a day rather than kilometres, and the logistical problem, it was established a policy of no taking prisoners from "active enemies", with only a few exceptions. After they crossed the Hyeolnyo River, Hwangbo was assigned to accompany a different convoy. As a consequence, more tense and demanding days were awaiting him.
When they reached Kangpo, a town located along a lake in the middle of two mountain chains, fighting had already been happening for several days. The town, rather a large settlement with wooden houses covering the valley along the lake and the cliff that surrounded, had already been hit heavily by artillery. Still, giving it was located in an open space, it proved a challenge for the army. As Hwangbo had witnessed, most of the soldiers were rather unexperienced, with the only exception of those who came from the northeastern region.
Two army divisions took part in the battle, for another four days of non-stop combat after Hwangbo's arrival. One of the divisions took a heavy battering, with casualties close to one thousand soldiers. Nevertheless, the steep terrain that surrounded the valley did not allow for any kind of withdrawal or counter-attack, and the army obtained a costly but resounding victory.
"It will take days to clear this place", Sergeant Choi told Hwangbo. He nodded in silence, but he was able to understand it more clearly when he was allowed to walk on puddle of blood, along the tiny houses consumed by the fire, and saw the corpses still floating on the lake.
The pause allowed for the legalistic, but largely deadly, approach that the High Office was so fond of. Hwangbo observed how many of the surviving prisoners could be as young as thirteen years old. The conquest of the valley allowed an easy access toward the Kokkili Pass. Still, it threatened to be at the same time a logistical problem, Hwangbo realized. The combined advance through the eastern forests, the destruction of villages surrounding it and finally the seizure of Kangpo, created a large number of displaced people which could turn into a humanitarian disaster.
"
It has turned impossible to transfer the large number of wounded, prisoners and civilians", Hwangbo noted down in his personal notebook, "
the town has no other fate to perish. It will be likely turned into a military camp and prison center". He was not too unhappy, however, about having a few days to rest in the same place, even if the area did not gave him a lot of confidence about its safety.
After finishing his dinner, Hwangbo recorded his last chronicle for the newspaper:
"The Battle of Kangpo has proved to be a decisive victory. Our heroic troops have fought bravely to liberate the town from our enemy, the terrorist forces. They have achieved the capture of a great fortress in the middle of a beautiful landscape but sadly turned into a refuge of bandits and criminals, certainly, but also a great victory toward the achievement of peace in the region...The local population has celebrated the capture by raising the national flag with prayers and slogans praising His Grand Majesty Grand King Wonhyo for his fairness and leadership. Finally, they are able to taste freedom and justice. I was able to witness myself the tears of joy from children and grandfathers alike when they finally heard the good news about the birth of the first child of His Grand Majesty and the Noble Consort Lady which their jailers had concealed against their will..."
Even if Kangpo may look as a ghost town now, Hwangbo was pleased to fall sleep easily after several bad nights in the middle of nowhere.
