Sword of Light: Humanoid Self-Propelled Artillery

Chapter 321: The enemy advances and we retreat
Wang Gensheng's words immediately stunned Wei Dayong, Duan Peng, and the others. So Duan Peng asked curiously:

"Tail-biting ambush? Si Ling's ambush technique?! How does she even use a tail-biting ambush?"

Regarding Duan Peng's question, Wang Gensheng replied:

"You'll see what a tail-biting ambush is when you hear my command."

After saying this, Wang Gensheng sensed that Smith's entire Marine force had left, leaving only the tail, and then gave the order to attack.

Wang Gensheng then led his assault team to charge at the very back of the American troops.

When they were about fifty meters away, the M2 heavy machine gun in Wang Gensheng's hand roared, and the American soldiers at the back of the column fell to the ground like wheat being harvested.

In just over ten seconds, Wang Gensheng killed over a hundred American soldiers.

While Wang Gensheng led the assault team to launch the attack, Baili Xiu and Li Xiu were not idle either.

They took up their guns and began firing short bursts at the American soldiers in the ranks who were carrying infrared night carbines.

As Wang Gensheng launched a surprise attack on the rear of the Marine Corps, Smith naturally reacted and immediately arranged for his soldiers to reinforce the rear.

However, despite the darkness making it impossible to see anything beyond fifty meters, Smith's reinforcements could not escape Li Xiu's notice.

Just as Smith made his move, Wang Gensheng received the news.

Wang Gensheng, who had just finished firing two belts of ammunition, immediately gave the order to retreat.

Under Wang Gensheng's orders, the marine assault team quickly turned and withdrew.

The movement was so swift that the US soldiers didn't even have a chance to fire back, since visibility was only fifty meters; any further and they couldn't even see a figure, let alone shoot.

Upon receiving news that the attackers had withdrawn, Smith immediately halted the U.S. soldiers who were preparing to turn back and provide support, urging them to hurry on their way.

Smith understood that the attackers were trying to delay them until enemy reinforcements arrived.

After all, if it were a large squad, they wouldn't just attack the back of the line; they would intercept them directly.

Although Smith's guess was very accurate, it could not hide the fact that Smith's team suffered more than 500 casualties in this attack.

At Smith's request, the pace of the demobilization march was accelerated again.

After Smith's team crossed the three-kilometer minefield at Watergate Bridge, the altitude dropped rapidly, resulting in less snowfall and colder temperatures.

As a result, Lu Zhan Yi Shi's speed was able to increase even further.

Wang Gensheng was somewhat disappointed to learn that Smith had not ordered the entire Lions to pursue them, since he had been hoping that Smith would act impulsively and recklessly order the entire Lions to give chase.

However, Smith was not an impulsive person, so he did not give chase.

If Smith didn't pursue, then it was Wang Gensheng's turn to pursue. After all, Wang Gensheng wasn't satisfied with eliminating 5,000 people. In Wang Gensheng's view, at least 5,000 people had to be eliminated, otherwise he wouldn't let them go so easily.

So Wang Gensheng, who had turned back to pursue, cleaned up the battlefield and replenished his ammunition.

He led the Marine assault team to chase for another 500 meters and found the soldier at the end of the column.

After Li Xiu confirmed the number of people and whether there was an ambush, Wang Gensheng issued another combat mission.

Under Wang Gensheng's leadership, the Marine Corps assault team launched another short-range charge.

This charge was just like the last one; after firing a wave, they immediately retreated, giving Smith no time to react and send reinforcements. After Wang Gensheng and the others left, Smith and his men carefully examined the battlefield.

Smith looked at the bullet marks on his soldiers' bodies and said:

"This must be a small, elite unit from the relief forces. Look at where they were shot – in the chest or face! We can't let this continue!"
Five hundred were killed or wounded in a single attack; we can't withstand many more. Therefore, we must leave behind a force to hold off the enemy. Let's send a battalion to stay behind and deal with this elite unit's pursuit!

However, the staff officer standing to the side spoke up:

"But I doubt any battalion would be willing to accept such a mission!"

Smith paused for a moment before speaking:
"Send the 18th Battalion! Tell him not to worry, if he really can't take it, he can just surrender. The reinforcements to Chaozhou treat prisoners of war well!"

Indeed, thanks to the propaganda of the US military, ordinary soldiers only knew that the troops supporting Chaozhou were cruel and particularly fond of beating prisoners.

This is why very few American soldiers were willing to surrender in the early days, but later, as some prisoners were released, the number of prisoners of war decreased.

More and more US troops are becoming aware of the Chinese army's policy of treating prisoners of war well.

With nearly 500 men from one battalion left behind, Wang Gensheng's side showed no mercy and immediately launched an attack.

After all, Wang Gensheng wouldn't give the American troops who stayed behind to hold the line the opportunity to build trenches.

Of course, Wang Gensheng didn't send all the Marines to pursue Smith's Marine One Lion.

Because the fire support team was also arranged by Wang Gensheng to return to the north side of the water bridge to receive the cars, tanks and heavy artillery left behind by Smith's Marine Corps.

That's right. Although Smith didn't destroy the cars and tanks that were left behind, if those cars were still left on the road during the day...

Then the US Air Force will definitely destroy these cars and tanks.

Therefore, in order not to waste resources, Wang Gensheng arranged for a fire support team of about 300 men to drive away and hide the cars and tanks left behind by the American army.

Actually, there's no need for much concealment. Just break up the trucks that are lined up together, and then cover them with some snow. This way, it will be difficult for US fighter pilots to distinguish whether they are trucks or not.

Moreover, compared to air transport, land transport is much more cost-effective. A C47 transport plane can only carry three or four tons of supplies at a time, and it also requires an airport.

Trucks, on the other hand, not only consume fuel at a rate of one liter per three minutes or even less than that of transport planes, but they also have a greater carrying capacity.

For example, the more than two thousand vehicles of various kinds that have been seized can provide tens of thousands of tons of transport capacity.

Therefore, bringing these trucks back would naturally save even more war funds.

After all, the domestic economy is still very fragile, so every penny saved counts.

Of course, it wasn't just trucks; more importantly, there were tanks and hundreds of large-caliber heavy artillery pieces. These heavy artillery pieces, which could only be towed by trucks, were also valuable.

Scattering and hiding them could also help them avoid large-scale bombing by US aircraft.

Just as the Marine Corps fire support team was dispersing and disguising the large number of trucks, artillery, and tanks left behind by the US Marine Corps Lion, they were...

Wang Gensheng's side had already eliminated a battalion of Smith's troops left behind to block his pursuit.

However, with the destruction of this battalion, Smith took advantage of the time to lead the main force on a long journey.

(End of this chapter)