Grand March to the South
The Grand March to the South, also known as the Joyonghean Southern Expeditions, was a significant military operation of the Third Joyonghean-Quenminese War and the Fifth Lorican-Quenminese War. It is one of the last major military campaigns of the Asianna and the Pacific Campaign, and the last overall military operation in both aforementioned conflicts.
After the defeat of Imperial forces at Hyesong Gap, Generalissimos Cheon Sang-ji and Janggok Yeung-chul and the rest of the Allied leadership in Joyonghea met with Emperor Yeoljong and Prime Minister Chong Dong-jun to discuss plans for expeditions towards the Lorican Alliance, sensing an opportunity to provide further contribution to the Allied cause. On July 1, Yeoljong, Chong, and the Joyonghean government gave their unanimous support, and the leadership compose their plans. On 2 July, Cheon ordered Mun Jae-geun's Anbyeon Amalgamated Army, Baek Dong-woo's Jurchenia Amalgamated Army, and Diego Janggok's Ecautorial Expeditionary Army to Joyonghea to move down south into Bersalliers. A day later, Yeung-chul ordered Prince Sim Kyung-jae, General Baron Pom Song-hyon and Thomas C. Metcalfe to land at Shoulongne with the newly formed East Lorica Expeditionary Force with the assistance of their respective navies. Altogether, they formed a extensive two-pronged attack torwads two directions: from the north towards Tibetia and Lorica's Sibayevka Province and from the east in Shoulongne towards Sarkoros, Murgan Province and North Quenmin. With the assistance of the Lorican military forces and local resistance, the efficiency of Allied intelligence spearheaded by Jang Iseul and Hwangbo Man-shik, and the combat experience and numerical and air superiority of the Allied forces, the Allies were able to liberate a major portion of Lorica in almost two months.
In the north, Quenminese Marshal Hồ Danh Sĩ Quốc retreated along the Northern Lorican Corridor following the defeat at the Hyesong Gap. He attempted to make a dash towards the East Europan border by means of the Bahatsvan Corridor. In an attempt to prevent this, Rubrumian General Harry Kurosawa voluntarily pulled out the 1st Zanarkian-Joyonghean Army Group, Lucis 11th Army, and Third Rubrumian Army to commence a chase to prevent the retreating columns from seeking asylum, and to capture Marshal Quoc so he can stand trial. With Grand General Cheon Sang-ji's blessing, Kurosawa and his forces gave chase. These series of conflicts would later come to be known as The Northern Corridor Wars, which also involved Aurucolian forces.
The stream of Allied victories in the campaign significantly demoralized and reduced the effectiveness of Quenminese and collaborationist forces in Lorica. The March formed a consequential factor leading to the Admirals' Coup and the subsequent decision of the Quenminese government to surrender unconditionally.
Background
Order of battle
Allied forces
Southern Direction (Northern Front): Commander - Generalissimo Cheon Sang-ji
- Anbyeon Amalgamated Army: Commander - Gr. Gen. Mun Jae-geun
- 1st Zanarkian-Joyonghean Army Group: Commanders - Gen. Edward Samegawa and Gr. Gen. Chae Hwa-young
- Lucis 11th Army: Commander - Gen. Okita Hanamura
- Third Rubrumian Army: Commander - Gen. Harry Kurosawa
South-Southeast Direction (Northeast Front): Commander - Generalissimo Marquis Baek Dong-woo
- Jurchenia Amalgamated Army: Commander - Ditto
- Ecautorial Expeditionary Army to Joyonghea: Commander - Gen. Diego Janggok
Southeast Direction (Eastern Front): Commander - Generalissimo Count Janggok Yeung-chul
- East Lorica Expeditionary Force: Commander - Ditto
- 21st Army: Commander - Gen. Prince Sim Kyung-jae
- 11th Army: Commander - Gen. Baron Pom Song-hyon
- Royal Concordian Expeditionary Force Gangbaek: Commander - Gen. Thomas C. Metcalfe
Imperial forces
Northern Lorica: Commander - Imperial Marshal Lạc Công Hậu
- 1st North Asianna Imperial Front: Commander - Ditto
- First Army: Commander - Gen. Viscount Hoàng Minh Triết
- Second Army: Commander - Gen. Vưu Hồ Nam
- 1st National Armed Force: Gen. Ippolit Pechenikov
Northeast Lorica: Commander - Imperial Marshal Margrave Tống Khắc Tuấn
- 2nd North Asianna Imperial Front: Commander - Ditto
- Fifth Army: Commander - Gen. Duke Uất Nam Thông
- Seventh Army: Commander - Gen. Hoàng Hoàng Ân
- 2nd National Armed Force: Gen. Sylvain Wathelet
Tibetia: Commander - Imperial Marshal Margrave Trương Ngọc Thái Bình
- Tibetia Imperial Front: Commander - Ditto
- Tibetia National Army: Commander - Commander of All Tibetian Forces Gendun Tsultrim
- 1st District Army: Commander - Gen. Choekyi Rinchen
- 2nd District Army: Commander - Gen. Lobsang Wangmo