21st century Goguryeo

December 5, 2020, 15:00 (China Standard Time 14:00), 95 km northwest from Qiqihar Province, China

On November 2, the Korean military had completed establishing a Western encampment except in some parts of the Hulunbuir Province. It focused primarily on maintaining peace in the area and eliminating any remaining Chinese forces.

After 10 days, the 7th Mobile Corps and 8th Mechanized Infantry Division grouped into the plains of Aorong Qi, which was 95 km northwest of Qiqihar Province, to face the last remaining forces of the 16th Army Group. The men were busy preparing for the move.

The distance between Qiqihar Province and the 16th Army Group's defenses at Hulunbir Province was 295 km straight; the midpoint was on harsh mountain regions. Two roads connect the area, such that the 7th mobile corps would take the G10 Highway with two lanes, whereas the 8th Mechanized Infantry would take the G301 one-way Highway.

Also, since the mobilization was an extended one that was over 300 km, each moving force was divided into battalions and took shifts when in movement. Above the skies, AH-64D apache helicopters and FAH-91SP Peregrin falcons from two aviation forces hovered in a dispersed area to guard the convoys and detect any threats.

A moment later, the 7th Mobile Corps' reconnaissance vehicle began to head out. The 73rd Armored Brigade's 31st Battalion K-3 White tiger tanks and armored vehicles roared their engines and moved while maintaining their line. The White tiger tanks left their tread marks clearly on the frozen ground as they climbed over a small hill. The tanks broke through a guardrail next to the highway and got on the G10 Highway.

The 8th Mechanized Infantry Division, which was 10 km away, also began their move along the G301 Highway with their reconnaissance battalion in the lead. Ten minutes later, the 10th Armored Brigade's 81st Battalion followed them to start the convoy.

* * *

December 5, 2020, 15:30, the Prime Minister's cabinet office, Tokyo Japan

Three hours earlier, an urgent meeting for national defense was called by Prime Minister Abe, but it was held not at the Ministry of National Defense but rather at the Prime Minister's cabinet office instead. The attendees were Minister Shibasaki, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Masaki Hajime, other military commanders, Director Gurumada of Internal Security, Inamoto Junichi from the cabinet Intelligence Office and Tactical Secretary Yagumachi Geno.

"Navy commander Murakawa."

Prime Minister Abe called to the Commander of the Navy as the meeting was coming to a close.

"Yes, sir!"

Commander Murakawa showed his soldierly discipline and answered.

"The role of our naval forces will be critical from now on. Use any means necessary to make preparations. I will spare no expense in aiding you."

"Yes, sir! I will do my best."

Prime Minister Abe smiled, satisfied at Murakawa's answer, then glanced at the military generals attending the meeting and continued.

"This opportunity will be a turning point in history for our great nation. Keep this in mind as you work hard to keep Japan a world power for another millennium."

"Yes, sir!"

The twenty military and government officials all answered loudly.

"Then let's conclude the meeting for today."

The long meeting ended after three hours. When all the military generals and government officials filed out of the room, Prime Minister Abe leaned back on his chair to relax. Then he picked up the confidential document on the table and read it over carefully.

The document was labeled "The Japanese–Chinese Mutual Treaty," which Yagumachi Genzo had signed in behalf of the Japan Government with the Chinese officials in Singapore.

"This is only the beginning. We can finally start what our ancestors could not finish."

Shinzo Abe muttered to himself in the empty room as he placed the documents back in the envelope, and then he laughed wickedly.

* * *

December 5, 2020, 19:40 (China Standard Time 18:40), 50 km southeast of Hulunbuir Province, the G10 Highway, China

The 7th Armored Division had been moving along the G10 Highway for five hours already and was 50 km away from Hulunbuir Province, where China's 16th Army Group was stationed. The 7th Armored Division Commander had considered artillery attacks from China and gave the order for each force to leave the road while maintaining their formation. The 8th Mechanized Infantry Division that was moving along the G301 Highway also exited the road and spread out to prepare for a nighttime battle.

Dududududududu~

Above the skies, the FAH-91SP Peregrin falcon attack chopper battalion in charge of detecting aerial threats and reconnaissance moved ahead to the Chinese military's encampment. The 7th Division's reconnaissance armored vehicle also followed behind as it moved along the bumpy landscape effortlessly.

The FAH-91SP Peregrin falcon attack choppers arrived at the battlefield and began the attack by launching their 50-mm fireball rockets. The reconnaissance battalion's K-2A1 Black Panther tanks began to fire their 125-mm cannons.

The battle for Hulunbuir, the last area of the three Northeastern provinces had begun. However, a report from the 7th Armored Division came to the Joint Chiefs of Staff after 30 minutes had passed.

* * *

December 5, 2020, 20:30, Yongsan-ku B2 bunker (ROK Military Joint Command Center), Seoul

Screens 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the Command Center were showing footage from the Apollo satellite, the Falcon eye reconnaissance drones from the division headquarters, and dozens of Spider drones in the Hulunbuir area. A week ago, the Hulunbuir Province that had an army the size of two army groups were covered with inflatable armored vehicles and tanks.

"What the—? They're all fake? Those slippery sons of bitches."

General Choi Ho-il, who entered his 20th day in the bunker, spoke as he glanced at the screen.

"It seems to be that way, sir. The Chinese must have tucked tail and ran after leaving their false weapons behind."

Lieutenant General Yoon Gi-ho, Commander of the 620th Artillery Corps, and General Choi Ho-il's aide-de-camp, agreed. The other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all murmured while Chairman Kang Ui-sik silently glanced at the screen.

"The Chinese must have a trick up their sleeve, sir."

The Operations Director stepped closer to the Chairman and said.

"Right. The important thing is what their plans are."

Chairman Kang Ui-sik stroked his chin and then gave an order after quietly answering the Operations Director.

"Tell the 3rd Division Commander to proceed with occupying Hulunbuir and to conduct a thorough reconnaissance mission along the area. Also, order the Apollo satellite to scan the area along Hulunbuir up to a 200-km radius."

"Yes, sir."

* * *

December 5, 2020. 21:00 (Russia Standard Time 15:00), the Presidential Palace, Moscow, Russia

President Putin was elected into the presidency in 2012 and held a firm stance against terrorism, for strengthening economic development, and for settling conflicts among neighboring nations. He had created a firm and powerful image of being a "Grizzly bear nation" for Russia. President Putin had received unwavering support from the citizens of Russia and succeeded in his reelection in 2019. He had set economic development as his greatest priority and turning Russia into a powerhouse in Asia.

At the conference room inside the Presidential Palace, a meeting of government officials in support of President Putin was being held to deliberate on the secret treaty document the government signed with China.

The Ministers who attended the meeting were giving their opinions about the treaty, including Minister Mikhail Ivanov and Evgeny Lebedev; the debate was getting heated. After 30 minutes, the Ministers came to a unanimous agreement, and President Putin finally spoke.

"Our Russia is at a time to take two, no, three steps forward. Russia will now surpass those arrogant Americans and become the world power. The die has been cast. For Russia!"

When President Putin stood up from his seat, raised his right hand, and shouted, the other Ministers also stood up and followed suit.

"For Russia!"

* * *

December 5, 2020, 21:30, Yongsan-ku B2 bunker (ROK Military Joint Command Center), Seoul

An additional report from the 7th Armored Division Commander was sent to the Joint Chiefs of Staff that had been watching the battle at Hulubuir for an hour.

"Sir! This is Major General Suh Jeong-yul, Commander of the 7th Armored Division."

"General! Anything we should know about?"

"We have confirmed that there is only a single Chinese infantry division within a 50-km radius in Hulubuir. Also, we have found out by questioning civilians in the area that the Chinese military had used the G301 road four days ago at night to move westward. We also got a report that a large force left the area last night."

"They took the G301 road . . . That is the border between Mongolia and Russia."

"Yes, sir. It seems the 16th Army Group had crossed the border to Mongolia or Russia."

"Are you suggesting Russia or Mongolia allowed a Chinese force numbering up to 100,000 into their borders?"

"It seems we must keep all possibilities in mind, sir."

The Operations Director said.

"Good! Operations Director, deploy all the Apollo reconnaissance satellites and have them report anything they scan along the Russian and Mongolian borders."

"Yes, we will deploy all three Apollo satellites, sir."

"Get the 8th Division Commander on the line as well."

"Yes, sir."

The Communications Operator answered loudly and manned the console. A moment later, Major General Kim Young-won, the Commander of the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division appeared on the screen.

"Sir! This is Major General Kim Young-won, Commander of the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division."

"General! Great work out there. Are you facing the same circumstances there as well?"

"Yes, sir, we are. We have confirmed all Chinese tanks and armored vehicles we attacked during the battle were made of inflatable balloons."

"Does it mean our reconnaissance satellites and radars were fooled by those puppets and scarecrows?"

"According to our analysis, the fake weaponry was all equipped with heat and magnetic wave generators to fool our recon satellites and radars, sir."

The fact that the Korean military had been fooled with a few air balloons and scarecrows despite having the best weapons in the twenty-first century made everyone in the room including the Chairman seem aghast and curious as to why the Chinese would do such a thing.

"General Choi, sir, isn't that the same equipment our forces use also? They must be very effective, now that we see them in action."

Lieutenant General Kim Youn-gi, the Commander of the 620th Artillery Corps, came up to General Choi and spoke quietly.

"Now is not the time to speak of such things. Can't you read the room? Stop talking about useless things and be quiet."

"I am sorry, General."

General Choi Ho-il glared at his aide-de-camp and scolded him discreetly so as not to be overheard by the South Korean Generals.

The 16th Army Group was ordered by Commander in Chief General Chiu Ji Liang Ji to retreat 20 days ago. They had left behind one infantry division and set up the air balloon weapons and soldiers while the rest of the army group moved past Russia's borders in the night.

An hour had passed and the Apollo 2 satellite had detected a mechanized division along Russia's borders that was suspected to be Chinese.

"The Apollo 2 satellite has found a force that might be a Chinese mechanized division. It's on screen 2, sir."

The operator manipulated the console as he made the report and put the footage transmitted from Apollo 2 satellite on screen 2.

"Their location?"

"We are putting it on the main screen, sir."

The main screen showed the digital map of an area 39 km away from the Mongolian village of Ereentsav. It was 265 km away from Hulunbuir.

"How did the Chinese military enter Mongolia? Did Mongolia allow the Chinese to encamp in their territory?"

Even if Mongolia had allowed the Chinese military to encamp there, a third nation getting involved in the Korea–China war was a major diplomatic statement.

"Intelligence Director, notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow morning of this and instruct them to get a clear statement from the Mongolian government."

"Yes, sir."