“It’s OK, Boss. Let’s get back to work before we start sobbin’ like a couple of women watching soap operas,” Hufham said. The two men made their way back to the school to mop things up. At least this one would be marked “mission accomplished.”
“Comrade Chairman, we have lost communications with our forward units” the Defence Minister stated. “They have been on the attack for the last eight hours and have failed to report. The telephone communications have been lost south of the former border and radio is out. I am unable to tell you of the results of that battle and have sent messengers by car to retrieve it,” he said.
“What have you done to restore communications?”
“We have sent technicians along the telephone lines to find the disruption. They are accompanied by additional soldiers in case there is trouble. I have also sent new radio units down to the commanders in case they have been destroyed in the fighting.”
“Any other reports?”
“We had a report from the commander in Seoul saying he was surrounded and trying to break out. I sent a message that he is to stand his ground. No Allied soldiers are between Seoul and Pyongyang and the North Korean Army is not that far away. Obviously the man is having mental problems. I sent a new commanding general to relieve him of duties. Once he arrives there will be an end to cowardice in the ranks,” the Minister said.
“Indeed. I wish to be informed the instant we receive word from the south,” Kim demanded. “I also wish for you to send the technicians to the ship. I believe it is time we demonstrated our real power,” he said.
The Minister nodded. “I will order it immediately.”
“Good. Now continue with the briefings,” Kim said.
General Hu Dong Sui rode in his staff car through the North Korean countryside. The Defense Minister himself selected him to relieve the garrison commander in Seoul. His orders were quite clear — hold Seoul and maintain it as a base of operations for the People’s Army. The roads in North Korea were fairly poor. It took three hours so far to travel the eighty miles from Pyongyang to the area north of Seoul. He would cross the bridge at Munsan and from there would be very close indeed.
The driver saw the sign for Kaesong, one of the last towns before crossing the border. He could see lights up ahead and some vehicles. The driver slowed the car and eventually brought it to a halt.
“Why are you stopping?” asked Hu.
“Comrade, those do not look like our tanks,” said the driver. He was visibly nervous.
Hu looked at the vehicles ahead and then gasped, “They are Americans!”
Shots began to ricochet off the car as the driver jammed it into reverse and backed into the darkness. Sliding sideways into a turn, he quickly shoved the car in first gear and gunned the engine, sending a shower of gravel along the road behind them. The car sped along the road, often swerving and almost going into the ditch. At Kyejong-gol the driver slid to a halt outside the police station. Hu ran inside.
“I need a telephone line to the capital immediately,” he demanded. The man behind the desk produced an old telephone receiver and Hu dialed the operator.
“This is General Hu Dong Sui. I need you to connect me with the People’s Palace immediately!” After a minute someone answered. “This is General Hu. I must speak to the Defense Minister immediately. It is of great importance!”
“The Defense Minister is in a conference with the Chairman right now. He must not be disturbed.”
“Disturb him! The Americans are within our country!”
“That’s impossible.”
“It is possible and you must connect me now or I will have you shot!”
The line clicked and began to ring again. Someone answered quietly.
“This is General Hu, I must speak to the Defense Minister.”
“I am sorry, but the Def…”
“I do not care if he is available or not. Put him on the phone right now!”
In a few seconds the familiar voice came on the line. “This is the Defense Minister, who is this?”
“Comrade Minister, it is General Hu. The Americans are in Kaesong. I was nearly shot by one of their tanks on the road leading toward Pyongyang.”
“Are you certain, Comrade?”
“Yes, Comrade Minister. I have the bullet holes in the car to prove it. We must send troops immediately!”
“Where are you?” the Minister asked.
Kyejong-gol at the local police station. I can wait here for troops, but they must be sent now, comrade.”
“Stay there, it will be done,” the Minister said hanging up the telephone. He turned to the group. “Pardon me, comrades, but I have received alarming news. General Hu just told me that American tanks are in Kaesong. Somehow the Americans are north of our border and moving toward Pyongyang.”
The crowd of men began shouting back and forth. No one believed the report and everyone was trying to cast blame on someone else. The Defense Minister raised his hand to quiet the men. “Comrades, we must act quickly. Have the army troops guarding Pyongyang mustered and sent to the south to counter this threat. General Hu is waiting in Kyejong-gol. He can get things organized. Chairman, you are very correct in moving the technicians. I will get them on a train and have them there by tomorrow evening. I recommend we use nuclear attack plan bravo and launch against key installations in the south. This will stop any incursion and allow us to regain our footing,” he said decisively.
Kim was standing there with his mouth open, still processing the invasion of the motherland. He dumbly nodded. “Make your plans and prepare to move from the capital if necessary. Where are additional troops we can send into this?”
“There are none, Comrade. Your prior ministers failed to inform you we were using up our reserves? We drew down everything but the Chinese border guards and the troops around our military facilities and Pyongyang for this final push. We may be faced with no army at all!” he shouted. “We must act now and save what we can until we know exactly what we have!”
Kim nodded. “Make the arrangements. Choi and I will accompany you to see the missiles launch. I want all the ministers to meet with us there tomorrow evening. Now go!” he shouted.
The room emptied quickly leaving only Kim and Choi. “Have some of your men meet us there. Once the missiles launch that man is dead along with the other ministers. If we have to start new, then let it be with trusted advisors,” he said turning on his heel and leaving the room.
The North Korean evacuation of Seoul lasted only thirty minutes. Using all the vehicles they could scrounge up, the 30,000 man garrison departed from the World Cup Stadium and made a dash along the highway beside the Han River. They covered exactly eight miles before the shells from the battleships Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Missouri began pounding them to pieces. They were also harassed by artillery and tanks. The last six trucks remaining reached the bend in the river near Munsan before the Apache gunships blocked their way. The garrison commander died in the barrage. Only a lieutenant was left. He got out of the civilian truck he was in and raised his hands. He looked across the river into North Korea, only to see an American flag flying on the promontory.
Just as before, General Richardson watched them come. The convoy of troops made its way across the dirt roads of North Korea putting up a cloud of dust behind them that could be seen from space. They stopped in Kyejong-gol, picked up General Hu, and made their way south. The convoy reached the place the General had seen the tanks, but nothing was there. They proceeded to Kaesong and drove straight to the government buildings. American flags were flying everywhere.