Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 115 Crossing the 38th Parallel!
"Hey, hey, hey, no, old brigade commander!"

"I, Li Yunlong, will fight in the Korean War!"

"I was so tired of working in the clothing factory, I can't let them send me to some Jiangnan Textile Factory again!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately protested.

"Alright, alright, I knew you couldn't stay still!"

"The tentative decision is that I will lead a legion to Korea to participate in the war and serve as the deputy commander-in-chief."

"The senior instructor and the old political commissar once asked me privately, 'Whom should I take on?'"

"I thought about it for a long time, and I still decided to bring you along, you stubborn mule, because I value your ability and courage to fight!"

"By the way, do you know anything about the Korean War? Do you have any predictions about the situation of the US military and our army?"

"I asked Chief Chen on the other end of the phone."

"Have!"

“Old brigade commander, these American troops are different from the American-equipped divisions we fought before.”

"They possess a massive armored formation, with more fighter jets and bombers than the Hornets. It is said that the carrier-based aircraft supporting Xingnan Port number as many as six hundred!"

"Not to mention the large number of howitzers, anti-aircraft guns, and heavy machine guns."

"In the early stages, we were only equipped with a small number of mortars and mountain guns, and even our firearms and ammunition were basically captured from the Japanese devils!"

"The 9th Army Corps, which is the Third Field Army, fought in the Menglianggu Campaign, the Yuzhong Campaign, the Jinan Campaign, the Huaihai Campaign..."

"None of the battles has ever been as difficult as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir!"

Li Yunlong said.

"Yes!"

"This 1st Marine Division participated in the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Peleliu Campaign, the Gloucester Cape Campaign, and the Okinawa Campaign. It is a battle-hardened elite force of the U.S. Army!"

"Including the Polar Bear Regiment under the 7th Infantry Division, which is one of the most elite units in the U.S. Army."

"At that time, the US-ROK allied forces were compressed into the Busan area by the North Korean army and could be driven into the sea at any time!"

"The 1st Marine Division was ordered to the rescue and finally stabilized the Busan defense perimeter. The subsequent Inchon Landing dealt a fatal blow to the North Korean army."

"However, in the end they were still defeated by our volunteer army!"

Chief Chen laughed heartily on the other end of the phone.

"Take him down?"

"I heard that those American devils retreated as a unit despite suffering over half their casualties, and they were only recently surrounded..."

"This Kong idiot, with a flurry of wild punches, defeated the American devils so quickly?"

Li Yunlong asked.

"Defeat?"

"The entire 1st Marine Division surrendered to the Ninth Army Corps!"

"And the entire command system, including Major General Smith, commander of the 1st Marine Division, Brigadier General Krullack, deputy commander, and the chief of staff, was captured!"

Chief Chen smiled slightly on the other end of the phone and said.

"What!?"

"An entire American division surrendered? And all the commanders were captured?!"

Li Yunlong's eyes widened like saucers as he shouted in disbelief.

"Old Li, did you hear that right?"

"Logically speaking, the US military's combat capability shouldn't be this bad..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but frown slightly and said with some doubt.

"This isn't right either!"

"Logically speaking, even if the Ninth Army Corps surrounded the US forces and launched a general offensive, their commanders should have been able to break through. How could they have been wiped out in one fell swoop?"

Li Yunlong nodded in approval at Zhao Gang, then continued to ask the old brigade commander questions.

Have you ever heard of the unit called the Seventh Steel Company?

"Or rather, have you ever heard of the name Comrade Wu Wanli?"

The old brigade commander on the other end of the phone laughed.

"Steel Seventh Company and Wu Wanli? Of course I've heard of them!"

"In the Battle of Xiaogaoling, the Steel Seventh Company disregarded the advice of the Army Staff and instead fought according to Wu Wanli's plan!"

"They broke through from the front, routed a battalion of the 1st Marine Division, and even captured the commander of the 1st Marine Regiment! That's satisfying!"

"Old brigade commander, tell me, what's the difference between this and when I crushed the Sakata Regiment head-on back then?"

"Old Kong treated them like treasures, and Wu Wanli and the others were fine. How come I was sent to the clothing factory back then?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately perked up.

"Li Yunlong! Have you lost your conscience? If it weren't for the old chief of staff and me protecting you back then, you would have been shot eight hundred times over by the commander-in-chief!"

"Well, you're something else! Of all the brilliant battles fought by the Steel Seventh Company and Comrade Wu Wanli, you only remember this little hill, huh? It's a case of heroes treasuring heroes, isn't it?"

"I'll also tell you that they are different in nature."

"Comrade Wu Wanli and the Seventh Steel Company did not listen to advice or orders. At most, they were arrogant and disrespectful of the opinions of the General Staff."

"That was disobeying orders on the battlefield. I'm warning you, if you do it again during the Korean War, there won't be any old chief of staff to speak up for you!"

Chief Chen on the other end of the phone was furious and cursed.

"Yes, no old chief of staff is speaking up for me anymore..."

Li Yunlong was slightly taken aback, then sighed and said with a hidden pain in his heart.

"Hey... let's not dwell on the past."

"If we finish this war of resistance against U.S. aggression and aid Korea well and defeat the American devils, then the new China can have some peace and quiet for a while."

Chief Chen's voice on the other end of the phone was also somewhat heavy as he spoke.

"By the way, old brigade commander, how did that Kong Erlengzi fight his last battle and achieve such results? His skills have really improved!"

To break the dull atmosphere, Li Yunlong quickly changed the subject.

"It was the 7th Steel Company that tore open the breach in the southern part of the burial site at the first moment and rushed straight to the headquarters of the 1st Marine Division."

"Major General Smith of the 1st Marine Division attempted to break out with his men, but was ultimately captured by Wu Wanli and his men."

"Then I heard that Wu Wanli pointed a gun at Smith's head and forced him to order the entire division to surrender."

"The 1st Marine Division was already demoralized at the front and was holding on by sheer willpower."

"Seeing that even the command post had been destroyed, they still ordered surrender, meaning the entire division surrendered as a whole!"

"To achieve such a victory, Comrade Wu Wanli and the Steel Seventh Company are simply the Volunteer Army's top elite company..."

Chief Chen on the other end of the phone looked on with complete agreement and couldn't help but sigh.

"It's that Steel Seventh Company and Wu Wanli again?"

"I knew it! That Kong Erlengzi was only a half-baked military strategist. How could he possibly have commanded such a great victory?"

"Isn't this yet another major victory achieved by this elite force without any effort?"

"If this guy were under my command..."

Li Yunlong felt a slight jolt in his heart and began to ponder how North Korea could recruit Wu Wanli and the Steel Seventh Company.

"Alright, I have a ton of things to do, I don't have time to chat with you."

"In short, prepare well and don't let me, the senior officer, and the old political commissar down!"

After finishing his sentence, Chief Chen hung up the phone immediately.

"Old Li, is that the old brigade commander on the phone?"

"Are they going to transfer you to fight in the war?"

Seeing that the conversation was over, Zhao Gang asked the question.

"Yes!"

"Kong Erlengzi has had his fun for so long, it's time for the two of us to take the stage!"

"I've been idle for so long, my hands are itching to get back to work!"

"I've been following the situation of the Korean War all along, and I've been waiting for this moment!"

Li Yunlong said.

"Hahaha... Oh, so you've been keeping an eye on me all along."

"So, Lao Li, what do you think is the overall objective of the next campaign?"

Zhao Gang smiled and looked at Li Yunlong, asking a question.

"We have achieved such great results that the American devils must have a military vacuum in Korea. We must not let the American devils catch their breath!"

"If I were in command, I would have fucking crossed the 38th parallel!"

Li Yunlong slammed his hand on the table and said decisively.

....................................

Buried in Miri

"Report to the commander!"

"This is the regimental flag of the U.S. 1st Marine Division, delivered by the 7th Steel Company. Take a look!"

The chief of staff handed the general's flag to Kong Jie and said.

"What's so interesting about military flags? We can just display them back in China and let our descendants admire them."

"Didn't the Seventh Steel Company deliver the military flag? Where's that kid Wu Wanli? I want to see him!"

Kong Jie glanced at the military flag only once before asking with shining eyes.

"Reporting to the commander, the soldier who came to deliver the flag was just an ordinary soldier from the Seventh Steel Company. After delivering it, he ran back to the battlefield south of Zangmi-ri."

said the chief of staff.

"Running back to the battlefield south of Zangmi-ri?" "What is Wu Wanli and the Steel Seventh Company doing again?"

"At such an honorable moment, not only did they not come to me to claim credit and rewards, but they actually stayed on the battlefield?"

"If it were Li Yunlong, he would have already downed two drinks and was bragging that even the Heavenly King himself couldn't compare to him!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

The image of Li Yunlong flashed through Kong Jie's mind, and he burst into laughter.

"Commander, since we entered Korea, you haven't stopped talking about Commander Li Yunlong."

"So you want to go drinking with him this time?"

"That makes sense. After this battle, at least two corps of the Ninth Army will need to rest. Commander Li Yunlong might also be able to go to Korea to participate in the war."

The chief of staff smiled slightly and said.

"I miss him? Pshaw!"

"He's probably cursing me with those 'Kong Erlengzi' names!"

"Moreover, he is quite skilled in warfare, but he always disobeys orders on the battlefield. I'm really afraid that after he enters Korea, he won't fight many battles before the commander-in-chief takes him out and executes him!"

Kong Jie gave a light snort and said.

"Hahahahahaha..."

"Commander, stop being so stubborn. When the time comes, you'll probably be the first to plead for him!"

said the chief of staff.

"If that's the case, I'll have to really blackmail Li Yunlong!"

"Enough of that, come with me to see what's going on with Comrade Wu Wanli and the others."

"Oh, right, take two of the captured red liquid grenades with you, as a reward for the Steel Seventh Company!"

Kong Jie smiled and said.

"Yes!"

said the chief of staff.

....................................

Battlefield south of Miri

The ground was littered with limbs and fragments, and the blood on the snow had turned blackish-red. Even the wreckage of tanks and military vehicles was half-buried in the snow.

"Brother, I remember this little bag. Little Zhejiang said his mother sewed it!"

“Yu Congrong, here’s a letter that’s half burned, but it’s alright. He just writes ‘I miss my parents’ dozens of times…”

“Pinghe, isn’t this the foot binding cloth of one of your soldiers? He always complained about his smelly feet when he slept, so I wrapped it up.”

"Actually, Yu Congrong's feet smell the worst, but he absolutely refuses to admit it!"

Wu Wanli walked among the corpses, picking up a familiar object each time and confirming it with the crowd.

"Wanli! What do you mean you won't admit it! It's clearly not me!"

"Yes……"

Yu Congrong was protesting when he saw the corpses on the ground riddled with shrapnel and fell silent.

Wu Qianli, standing to the side, picked up the notebook in his hand and crossed out one name and number after another with slightly trembling hands.

"Brother, I have an idea..."

"That is, after each major battle, we would write down the character traits and habits of the comrades who sacrificed their lives, as well as some related anecdotes."

"That way, the people who joined the Steel Seventh Company later would remember the people who joined before them."

Wu Wanli thought for a moment and then said.

"Company Commander, that's a great idea!"

"I heard from the old folks in the village that when a person truly dies, it's not that they're gone, but that no one remembers them anymore..."

Yu Congrong said.

"Yes, Company Commander."

"As long as the Steel Seventh Company still exists, the records about the soldiers of the Steel Seventh Company will be passed down from generation to generation, and they will never have truly sacrificed themselves."

Mei Sheng nodded in agreement.

"Okay, I'll bring it up when I see the leader."

Wu Qianli agreed.

"Reporting, Company Commander! The Army Commander and Chief of Staff have arrived!"

"They specifically asked to see Comrade Wu Wanli by name. Let's quickly send him to greet them!"

At this moment, a soldier from the Seventh Steel Company ran back to remind him.

"No need, I don't have the bureaucratic airs of the Nationalist army!"

"Besides, your Steel Seventh Company is the most meritorious company in our Volunteer Army, so it's only right that I come to see you in person!"

"Hahahahahaha..."

In the distance, Kong Jie walked over with a hearty laugh.

Behind him followed the chief of staff, who also wore a smile.

"Greetings, Commander! Greetings, Chief of Staff!"

Wu Qianli and the others immediately straightened their backs and saluted.

"No need for formalities, let's share this red wine, and also share the food we brought. We can drink more today!"

Kong Jie said.

"Thank you, Commander!"

Wu Qianli shouted.

"Wanli, come over and have a drink with me."

Kong Jie said.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli was somewhat flattered and said...

Soon, Wu Wanli and Kong Jie arrived at a relatively clean open space, where the captured American troops' wine and food had already been laid out.

"Commander, how much can you drink?"

Wu Wanli picked up his glass of red wine and asked in a frank and open manner.

"I can only drink about a pound of liquor, but when I drink with a hero like you, I'll drink two pounds!"

"How about you, kid? Can you drink?"

Kong Jie excitedly opened the red wine and laughed heartily.

"I can only drink two ounces of alcohol."

"I'll drink with the commander, even at the cost of my life!"

Wu Wanli laughed.

"Hahahaha... You're quite the hero!"

"But don't get drunk so quickly, kid. I'm counting on you, Staff Officer Wu, to talk to me about our ideas for the upcoming battle."

Kong Jie smiled.

"Let's finish this bottle, and then we can talk about the upcoming battle!"

Wu Wanli said.

"Drink the whole bottle in one go?"

"Okay, the American stuff isn't very strong!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie nodded in agreement.

Then, he raised the wine bottle and gulped it down in one go, smacking his lips as he finished, a blush spreading across his face.

"Your turn, Wanli!"

Kong Jie smashed the wine bottle on the ground and said.

"it is good!"

Wu Wanli nodded, but instead of drinking directly, he raised the bottle slightly and looked up at the sky.

Kong Jie was slightly taken aback, somewhat confused about what Wu Wanli was up to.

"Let us pay tribute to the heroic spirits of the Chinese People's Volunteers who died in battle!"

With a somber expression, Wu Wanli spilled some of the wine on the ground.

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie thought of the volunteer soldiers who had sacrificed their lives and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Let us pay our respects to the people of Northeast China who have suffered so much!"

As Wu Wanli spoke, he poured another portion onto the ground.

"Well done! The people of Northeast China who were killed in the bombing should be relieved to see the American devils being taught a lesson like this..."

Kong Jie took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"In the middle, let us pay tribute to the conscience of humanity!"

Wu Wanli poured out some more of the wine in his hand before picking it up and drinking it all in one gulp.

"The drinks are finished. Now, tell me, what do you think the next phase of the battle plan should be?"

Kong Jie let out a long sigh and asked.

"Commander, I'm not sure about the exact troop strength at that time, but I think... in the next battle, we must cross the 38th parallel!"

Wu Wanli smashed the wine bottle in his hand and said decisively.

(End of this chapter)