Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 119 Ridgway takes office, magnetic attraction tactics are born!

Soon, all the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Company had assembled, including almost all the new recruits.

Only after successfully gathering information did Cheng hesitate for a moment before running towards the company headquarters.

Steel Seventh Company Headquarters

"Report to the instructor!"

"The company commander has led the entire company to the military headquarters!"

Success shouted loudly.

"To the military headquarters?"

"Tell me what happened."

Liu Hanqing asked.

"The military headquarters said that in the Battle of Hagaru-ri, it was the Sixth Company that first broke through the defensive line!"

"But this was actually a meritorious deed of the Steel Seventh Company!"

Successfully and concisely reported.

"what?"

"They actually dared to... I hope they've misremembered."

"Come on, let's go take a look."

Liu Hanqing said.

"Yes!"

Successfully said.

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

Military newspaper gate

When Wu Wanli arrived with the Steel Seventh Company in a menacing manner, he was instantly stunned.

In front of the military communications office, a group of soldiers stood in neat rows not far from the door.

"what's the situation?"

"Yu Congrong arrived first with his men?"

Wu Wanli frowned slightly and asked.

"Reporting, Company Commander!"

"I'm here!"

Yu Congrong stepped forward and shouted.

"Go and see."

After Wu Wanli finished speaking, he strode towards the military intelligence office.

"Salute to Wu Wanli, the company commander of the Seventh Steel Company!"

Not far away, an officer from the Sixth Company recognized Wu Wanli and quickly called out.

"Hello, Chief!"

The soldiers of the Sixth Company straightened their backs and shouted loudly.

"Your Sixth Company isn't under my jurisdiction, yet you salute me?"

"Besides, we're all company commanders, why are you calling me 'commander'?"

Wu Wanli smiled, somewhat puzzled.

"Reporting to the commander, the entire army has been notified that the company commander of the Seventh Steel Company has been promoted to deputy battalion level!"

"Besides, I'm not a company commander, I'm a platoon leader!"

"The company commander is over there!"

The platoon leader of the sixth company pointed to the military communications office and shouted.

"Oh!"

The company commander of the sixth company kicked open the door and stormed in.

"The Battle of Hagaru-ri was clearly the first battle fought by the Steel Seventh Company, so why did you write that it was our Sixth Company?"

Inside, the roar of the Sixth Company Commander instantly echoed.

Outside the door, Wu Qianli and the others were stunned when they heard these words.

The company commander of the Sixth Company came to the military headquarters to cause trouble for the Seventh Steel Company.

"Where is your deputy company commander?"

"Let me find out what's going on."

Wu Wanli scratched his head, somewhat confused, and asked.

"Reporting to the company commander, Wu Si, the former deputy company commander of the sixth company, has stepped forward!"

At this moment, Wu Si stepped forward and spoke.

"Why would a deputy company commander like you participate in the recruit selection for the Steel Seventh Company?"

Wu Wanli frowned slightly and asked.

"Report: During one mission, I made a mistake because I suspected that the orders from my superiors were incorrect."

"Even if I don't leave, I'll still be demoted as punishment."

"I have a high level of education and am familiar with various U.S. military weapons, including tank driving. I believe I can have a greater role to play in the Steel Seventh Company."

Wu Si reported.

"Good, good, good, you Sixth Company..."

Wu Wanli was both amused and exasperated, unsure of what to say, so he stepped inside.

inside
"Even if the Seventh Steel Company breaks through first and gets the credit, why are you arguing with them?"

"It's not my fault that so many people from your Sixth Company sacrificed their lives. I was just trying to give you some honor, so you don't need to take it out on me, do you?"

Officer Zhang was somewhat annoyed and said sarcastically.

"you……"

"I'll settle the score with you later for insulting your comrades in the Sixth Company, but you must publish an apology for what happened to the Seventh Company!"

"If it weren't for the Steel Seventh Company breaking through Zangmiri first, and if it weren't for Comrade Wu Wanli holding a gun and forcing the entire US 1st Marine Division to surrender."

"I, and all the comrades in the Sixth Company, have died on the battlefield!"

"Even countless comrades in the entire Ninth Army Corps were saved in this way!"

The company commander of the Sixth Company, realizing that their certain death had been turned around, shouted excitedly.

"Comrade, thank you for standing up for the Seventh Steel Company. I'll handle the rest."

Wu Wanli smiled and patted the sixth company commander on the shoulder, saying...

"Hello, Chief!"

The company commander of the Sixth Company turned around and saw Wu Wanli. His eyes widened instantly, and he saluted with a hint of excitement.

"No need to call them commanders, they're all just company-level officers."

Wu Wanli said.

"report!"

"The entire army has been notified that the commander of the Seventh Steel Company has been promoted to deputy battalion level, and the entire Seventh Steel Company has been promoted by half a rank!"

"Moreover, the Seventh Company saved countless comrades, and we all express our respect to you!"

"The company commander of the Sixth Company said sincerely."

"Okay!"

"I think the Seventh Steel Company has been spoiled by the leaders. They're arrogant in the regiment and domineering in the battalion. Do you think you're the boss among the company commanders?"

“Let’s talk things out. If it doesn’t work, we can submit a report. What kind of company commander comes to us directly to talk about things?”

“Go back and apply level by level. We’ll follow the system and procedures. Once the military level approves it, I’ll publish an apology in the newspaper, okay?”

Officer Zhang smiled broadly and spoke with apparent sincerity.

"For a company, honor is more important than life, you know that?"

"If we keep going down the chain of command, and a new battle breaks out, will we no longer need to clarify things?"

A slight anger rose in Wu Wanli's heart as he spoke.

"That's not my problem. I was just following procedures. I can't give special privileges to your Steel Seventh Company and break military discipline, can I?"

"Xiao Li, try to persuade Company Commander Wu, then see the guests out," Officer Zhang said with a smile.

"Let me tell you, if you dare to do anything reckless, I'll report it to my superiors immediately!"

"This has blown up, even the commander can't protect you!"

Officer Zhang shouted in slight panic.

"what's going on?"

When Kong Jie entered, he was slightly taken aback by the angry looks on Instructor Liu and Wu Wanli's faces, and quickly frowned and asked.

"Reporting to the commander, the military report is wrong. It says that the Sixth Company broke through the defense line first at Hagaru-ri. Our company has come to demand an explanation."

Wu Wanli said.

"Reporting to the commander, the company commander of the Seventh Company has brought men to cause trouble. In particular, the political instructor of the Seventh Company has actually allowed the troops to disregard military discipline."

"Tell me about this..."

Knowing that the commander was protecting Wu Wanli, Officer Zhang shifted the blame to the political instructor of the Seventh Company.

"do not talk!"

"You are insulting a heroic company!"

"Publish an apology in the newspaper immediately tomorrow. You, Officer Zhang, and all related personnel will be dismissed and demoted to cooks, and will also be placed in solitary confinement for one year!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie rubbed his head in exasperation and said decisively.

"Dismissal?"

"Cook!?"

"One more year of confinement..."

"It's over, it's over, everything is over..."

Upon hearing this, Officer Zhang was stunned and collapsed to the ground, his body limp and weak.

He had expected a severe punishment for each of the three groups, but it turned out to be a one-sided affair.

"Wanli, just come to me for these kinds of things in the future."

Kong Jie ignored Zhang, and instead looked at Wu Wanli to offer advice.

"Yes!"

Wu Wanli responded.

………………

Besides the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and the domestic authorities keeping a close eye on the Steel Seventh Company, US Lieutenant General Ridgway conducted even more in-depth research on it.

At this time, Ridgway succeeded the commander of the U.S. Eighteenth Army and also served as the commander of the United Nations Army.

Although MacArthur remained Commander-in-Chief, he chose to delegate authority to Ridgway after experiencing a major defeat.

Therefore, Ridgway had become the de facto supreme commander of the UN forces in the Korean War.

United Nations Command
“Sir, I can understand why you have studied the Chinese army’s strategy and tactics in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir for so long.”

"But why expend so much effort on such a small unit as the Chinese Steel Company?"

The U.S. Chief of Staff looked at the documents on the table, somewhat puzzled.

"I always felt that this unit represented a new tactic."

"The German SA and other armies have used similar tactics before, but their results were far less impressive than those of this Chinese steel company."

Li Qiwei flipped through the information about the Steel Seventh Company and spoke slowly.

"Why...is that?"

"The Chinese army does not have many sophisticated weapons. The Chinese steel company is just using our American equipment."

The U.S. Chief of Staff paused slightly, then asked.

"I've also thought about this question, and I eventually made a surprising discovery."

"What they valued most was not their weapons and equipment, nor even their mature tactics and veterans, but a Chinese man named Wu Wanli."

With a hint of surprise, Li Qiwei took out the newspapers and said...

"So the Chinese army won because of him and that iron-willed company?"

"I heard that the entire 1st Marine Division surrendered, entirely thanks to this Chinese man leading that Chinese steel company."

The US military chief of staff spoke with a hint of hatred in his eyes.

"Their role is particularly important, but how can a small force decide the outcome of a battle?"

"The Chinese army is already a powerful army, and I even feel that their future threat will not be much smaller than that of the Soviet Union."

Li Qiwei glanced at the battle lines that had been pushed back sharply on the battle map and sighed.

"Sir, we were just not careful enough in this battle, which allowed the Chinese army to gain an advantage. It's not fair to say it like that..."

The US Chief of Staff paused slightly, somewhat disagreeing.

Do you think that the only standard for judging the strength of an army is its weaponry?

"In my opinion, strong organization, tenacious fighting spirit, and tactical coordination of encirclement and penetration are also strengths."

"In these aspects, we are not as good as China."

"Therefore, the defeat at Chosin Reservoir was not accidental, but rather a testament to the fact that the Chinese army truly possessed the capability."

After a moment's thought, Ridgway said...

"Sir, General MacArthur and the White House are giving you authority in the hope that you can turn the tide and defeat the Chinese army."

"Regardless of their strength, we must take action and at least achieve some results."

"After all, we are already in a very passive position in diplomatic negotiations."

The U.S. military chief of staff said.

"America needs a fig leaf and bargaining chips, but it cannot afford to sacrifice the entire UN force."

"Have you noticed that the Chinese army's offensives always end in about a week?"

Li Qiwei put down the thick stack of documents, rubbed his eyes, and said.

"Yes, you are absolutely right."

"The General Staff has studied this situation because the Chinese army has difficulties in logistics and supplies, and the military rations they carry can only last for about a week."

"Therefore, the Chinese army's offensive is usually completed within a week. Any longer and the troops will face the risk of running out of food."

"We call this the 'Worship Offensive'."

The U.S. Chief of Staff nodded and said.

"The offensive exposed the fatal weakness of the Chinese army. We should use our strengths to defeat their weaknesses."

"Therefore, we should break free from the mindset of blindly charging forward by relying on roads and artillery fire, and learn from the Chinese army."

Li Qi smiled slightly and said.

"Learn from the Chinese military?"

The U.S. Chief of Staff paused slightly, then asked.

"Yes, we can lure the enemy deep into our territory and then use the advantages of our mechanized armored forces to carry out a large-scale infiltration!"

"Specifically, we can use the tactic of feigning a retreat, and then using logistical support, artillery, and air superiority to launch a counterattack against our army on the spot!"

"At that time, the Chinese army was running out of food and ammunition, and its supply lines were stretched. If it were to be infiltrated, it would inevitably collapse."

"I'll name this tactic the Magnetic Attraction Tactic!"

Ridgway said.

"Magnetic attraction tactics...General, you are brilliant!"

"Our tanks are a greater threat than their light infantry infiltration!"

"However... our losses in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir were too great, and our military strength is insufficient to complete such a strategic encirclement and annihilation."

"The waiting time for reinforcements is too long, and during this period, the Chinese army is very likely to launch the next battle in an effort to expand its gains."

The U.S. military chief of staff said.

"It's alright, we have already done our best to delay through diplomatic means."

"Furthermore, I have a special military operation that, if successful, could not only delay the Chinese army's next campaign, but might also allow us to launch a counter-offensive."

"Moreover, we'll have both the fig leaf for the UN forces and the diplomatic bargaining chips the White House wants..."

Ridgway looked at the Chinese People's Volunteer Army markings on the strategic map and smiled slightly.

(End of this chapter)