Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 146 Chu Yunfei Enters the Court, Code Name: Kite!

"Old Li, when are you going to get rid of this old habit of disobeying orders on the battlefield? Isn't this just skirting the line?"

"Have you forgotten the Battle of Cangyun Ridge? So what if you led the New First Regiment to break through the enemy lines and defeat the Sakata Regiment? Were you still just doing embroidery?"

Kong Jie pointed at Li Yunlong, both amused and exasperated, and reminded him.

“That’s right, Lao Li. If it weren’t for Chief of Staff Zuo stopping you back then, you might have been shot by the General himself. You can’t be reckless this time.”

Zhao Gang also leaned closer to Li Yunlong and offered his advice.

"Don't fucking bring up these old, rotten things. Back then, the order was clearly given to break out towards Yujialing. I didn't do it, so it's my fault."

"If the order given now is to annihilate the entire US 38th Regiment and then call it a day, I'll go and be part of the general reserve without hesitation!"

"But the orders from above were to annihilate the enemy forces near Tashanli, not even referring to American troops, but to the enemy forces!"

"What does this mean? Maybe the boss wants us to fight another British army, right?"

"If we back down now, that would be defying orders!"

"I'm just following orders from above. Even if the King of Heaven himself came, it wouldn't make a difference!"

Li Yunlong, shameless and stubborn as a mule, persisted.

"Old Li, you're just making excuses."

"Who are we doing this for? Isn't it for your sake?"

"The reason why the old brigade commander took you to the Korean battlefield was because he trusted us, and also to give you more experience."

"If we really fight like that, it's fine if we win big, but if we lose, the higher-ups won't be lenient."

Zhao Gang felt like a scholar encountering a soldier—he couldn't reason with him and sighed helplessly.

"Yes."

"They made nice promises before I took office, saying things like 'head' and 'deputy,' and 'we'd discuss it.'"

"But now, they treat good intentions like dirt."

Kong Jie rolled up her sleeves and said, like a wronged little wife.

"Oh ho, so these two are now inseparable?"

"You, Kong Erlengzi, have suddenly become a political commissar?"

"If the Royal Rifle Regiment retreats to the turtle shell of the Uijeongbu defense line, how many of our men will have to die to break through it!?"

"To put it mildly, that would mean the loss of an entire main division!"

"A golden opportunity is right in front of us, are you going to let it slip away? No way!"

"I've made the decision. One word: Fight! Even if the Heavenly King himself comes, there's no room for negotiation!"

Li Yunlong looked at the battle map, quickly rehearsed the scenario, and found that there wasn't much danger. He then slammed his hand on the table and said...

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang and Kong Jie exchanged a glance and fell silent in tacit agreement.

If Zhao Gang and Kong Jie really wanted to stop it, they did have a way.

As long as the old brigade commander, Chen, who is even more powerful than the Heavenly King himself, is brought out, even the fearless Li Yunlong will suffer a setback.

Li Yunlong had just taken office in the 27th Army, and his old partners Zhao Gang and Kong Jie still couldn't bear to undermine him.

"Eh……"

“Old Li, I don’t want to argue with you, but as the director of the military political department, I have to be responsible to my comrades.”

"Okay, if you can solve the relevant problems, I'll agree to fight like this."

"Otherwise, I will have to ask Vice General Chen for instructions on whether to annihilate the nearby enemy forces, including the British Rifle Regiment that we haven't made contact with yet."

Zhao Gang glanced at Li Yunlong, and finally softened his tone.

"Hehe! Old Zhao, I knew you were different from those poor, pedantic scholars."

"However, opportunities in war are ever-changing and fleeting. Relying on requesting orders to fight will never allow you to catch up with any situation, so let's forget about requesting orders."

"Just tell me, what's the problem?"

Seeing this, Li Yunlong quickly changed his expression back to a smile and said.

"Our troops are fighting fiercely near Tashanli, and the British Rifle Regiment there couldn't possibly have missed the commotion."

"But from the fall of Tashanli until the annihilation of the US 38th Regiment, they still didn't arrive. What does that mean?"

Zhao Gang said.

"This shows that those British devils never intended to actually provide a rescue!"

"Based on the news and intelligence from the front lines, it can be inferred that they most likely used the false intelligence transmitted from afar to find an excuse not to provide support."

"Using the pretext of the defeated soldiers of the nearby Steel Seventh Company, they are actually like the Nationalist army, afraid to fight in order to preserve their strength!"

Kong Jie thought for a moment and then succinctly revealed the truth.

"That's right!"

"So the first question is, given that the British rifle regiments are so cowardly, they'll definitely run away. Can we catch up with them?"

"Old Li, this is a major battle between the elite forces of China and the United States. If our 27th Army fights, the US military will definitely come to our aid."

"If the troops on both sides keep piling up, the assault will turn into a war of attrition, which is contrary to the strategic objectives of the higher command."

"So if we want to fight, we have to lure the British Rifle Regiment to stay and fight, and then quickly defeat them."

"In short, the battle must be fought quickly and ended quickly; only then can it be considered a sure-fire victory!"

Zhao Gang looked at the battle map and said seriously.

"I had this planned long ago. The air force could go and bomb the British forces to slow them down."

"We can just march quickly and catch up with him, bite off a piece of his flesh from behind, and leave. That should be fine, right?"

Li Yunlong said.

There is a potential problem.

"Old Li, we're not the only ones with an air force; the American devils have one too. It's just that their air force formations targeting our army have suffered heavy losses, which has temporarily created a power vacuum."

"But if the American devils were to gather their bombers, which were meant to bomb other military forces, to attack our air force, then the bombing and interception plan would be ruined."

"Moreover, although our air force is capable of fighting back, the US military has a strong industrial base. They can afford to lose their aircraft, but for us, every aircraft lost is one less..."

Kong Jie saw the problem and said.

"Bullshit! What war is without risk?"

"If we were afraid of risks, how could our poor and backward new China dare to go to war with the American devils, the number one capitalist country?!"

"If you have an air force but are afraid of losses and therefore don't fight, what's the difference between you and the Nationalist army that hoards its artillery and doesn't use it?"

"I don't care, once the guns start firing, the whole army has to listen to me!"

"Have the General Staff draft a plan for me. We'll try our best to overcome the difficulties, but we absolutely must fight!"

Upon hearing Kong Jie's reason, Li Yunlong waved his hand and shouted.

"Old Li, what you've done..."

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie wanted to offer further advice.

"Never mind, go and call the chief of staff over."

Zhao Gang thought for a moment, then pulled Kong Jie aside and said.

In fact, Li Yunlong was right. If we were afraid of the risks, we shouldn't have fought in the Korean War.

However, considering that it might affect the entire campaign, it would be best to discuss a plan carefully.

"Commander, Commander, urgent telegram from the Seventh Steel Company!"

At this moment, the chief of staff rushed over and said.

"What urgent message? Tell me slowly."

Li Yunlong said with a hint of doubt.

"Wu Wanli led the Steel Seventh Company out of Tashan to lure the British rifle regiment to the Tashan!"

He said the British rifle regiment would definitely take the bait, and hoped the corps commander would dispatch troops to follow up and complete the encirclement!

said the chief of staff.

"The Seventh Steel Company has already gone to lure them in; a whole company is heading straight for a British regiment?!"

Li Yunlong's heart skipped a beat, and he asked with wide eyes.

"Old Li, this is a done deal. The Royal Rifle Regiment will most likely take the bait!"

After a moment's thought, Kong Jie immediately said excitedly.

"The Royal Rifle Regiment failed to rescue Tashanli, leading to the annihilation of the US 38th Regiment. Ridgway will definitely hold them accountable, and may even have to sacrifice someone to save the flag!"

"Under these circumstances, the British Rifle Regiment must have been in a difficult position, as returning empty-handed would have had a very negative impact."

"This is tantamount to abandoning them to their deaths; even the British Foreign Office couldn't save them."

"And at this moment, the Steel Seventh Company appeared."

Zhao Gang smiled slightly and said.

"Therefore, the British Rifle Regiment would definitely want to eliminate the Steel Seventh Company in order to protect itself."

"Considering the Seventh Steel Company's achievements and political significance, they will not only escape punishment, but may even be awarded merit!" "Commander, Comrade Wu Wanli is not playing a conspiracy, but a calculated and open scheme to win people's hearts!"

The chief of staff added excitedly.

"Hey! Wu Wanli is a fucking genius!"

"The air force I planned to use for blocking is actually less useful than his Steel Seventh Company!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Yunlong's eyes, and he praised him with a smile.

"Commander, give the order quickly! If we're too late, the Seventh Steel Company might be in danger."

The chief of staff advised.

"it is good!"

"Tell Zhang Dabiao to take the 80th Division and go around to block the British Royal Rifle Regiment's retreat!"

"The 79th and 81st Divisions, attack from both flanks, and be quick!"

"Air Force, provide full support to Steel Seventh Company. We can't let the British really swallow Steel Seventh Company up!"

Li Yunlong slammed his hand on the table and gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the chief of staff immediately went to relay the message.

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

On a large island in the southeastern sea, the Shilin Official Residence
"Darling, this is a supplement recommended by American doctors. Eat it while it's hot."

An elegant lady, carrying a bowl of tonics, looked at the bald general and said...

"Alright, you can go out now. I need to see one of my students; he'll be here soon."

The bald general took two sips and said.

"What kind of student is this that we're paying so much attention to?"

The lady said with a hint of doubt.

"Oh, this is unfair to him."

"I need to talk to him alone. We'll discuss it later."

The bald general patted the noblewoman on the shoulder, offering words of comfort.

"Ok."

The noblewoman turned and left, her eyes filled with a hint of sorrow.

……

"Principal, Chu Yunfei from the fifth class of Huangpu Military Academy has come to report!"

Chu Yunfei came to the door and shouted loudly.

"come in."

"The bald general said."

Chu Yunfei walked into the room, stood up straight, and looked at the bald general.

"Yunfei, you are one of my best students."

"You made great contributions during the War of Resistance Against Japan, and I will always remember them."

"Now I have a difficult task for you, I don't know if you are willing to take it."

The bald general smiled slightly and said.

"Soldiers are duty-bound to obey orders. Please give any instructions from the principal."

Chu Yunfei said.

"On the Korean battlefield, there is an old rival of yours named Li Yunlong, who is now in charge of a large army and fighting against the American army."

"The US has specifically requested that you serve as an advisor to the General Staff. What's your opinion on this?"

The bald general narrowed his eyes, observing Chu Yunfei's expression as he asked.

“Principal, in my opinion, there is no benefit for us in helping the Americans. We might as well let them suffer more in North Korea.”

Chu Yunfei considered for a moment, carefully choosing his words.

"Oh? You mean you hope the American army is defeated?"

A glint of light flashed in the bald general's eyes as he asked with a slightly authoritative tone.

"Principal, think about it, why has the United States been much more polite to us lately, and even other countries in the world are looking at us with more respect?"

"They simply thought we were easily defeated after our previous defeats, but now that the US military is fighting against our adversaries, they've discovered that our army's combat capabilities are actually quite strong."

"The fact that they now want to invite students to serve as military advisors is one example of this."

"After all, it has always been Americans who have served as advisors to our military. There is no precedent of our military personnel serving as advisors to the US military."

Chu Yunfei asked with a smile.

"I know what you're saying."

"But I don't understand what you're trying to elicit."

The bald general nodded thoughtfully and asked.

"May I ask, Principal, who do you think will be the final winner of the Korean War?"

Chu Yunfei didn't dare to answer directly, but instead asked.

"Although their Ninth Army defeated the US forces in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, it could not make up for the gap in the overall strength of the two sides."

"No matter how you look at it, the US forces in this battle consist of the army, navy, and air force, while the US forces consist of only the ground army. The US has the advantage!"

The bald general thought for a moment, then unhesitatingly gave a shout to the American soldiers.

"Since the US military is going to win, the longer this war goes on, the more advantageous it will be for us."

"On the one hand, it can deplete a large amount of military strength on both sides, and even cause significant losses in materials, personnel, weapons, and reputation."

"On the other hand, if the US military performs worse than our national army in combat, then our voice will be greatly enhanced."

"Therefore, I can simply remain silent like Xu Shu and watch the two sides fight it out."

"They even put forward some superficial or short-term beneficial solutions to mislead the US military and cause them to suffer losses."

Chu Yunfei smiled and said in a low voice.

Aren't you afraid they'll find out?

The bald general remained silent for a long time before asking.

"Not afraid."

"The UN forces are not truly united against a common enemy. Many countries only reluctantly cooperated and sent troops to participate in the war because of the strength of the US military."

"In reality, they each had their own agendas and were suspicious of each other."

"For example, I could propose a plan that is difficult but highly profitable, but the UN forces would inevitably fail due to internal problems."

"In this situation, what does it have to do with the students?"

Chu Yunfei thought for a moment and then said.

"Yunfei, you are one of my boldest students, but I still need to consider this matter..."

A hint of worry flashed in the bald general's eyes, and he hesitated before speaking.

"Principal, I have a foolproof plan."

"Didn't they join the Korean War as volunteers?"

“I could volunteer to be a U.S. military advisor in my personal capacity, without even needing to use my real name.”

"Anyway, the US military knows the real situation, and considering the sensitive reasons, they should agree."

Chu Yunfei immediately saw through the bald general's worry and quickly said...

After all, there's a risk that he'll be held accountable for doing this.

However, if he were to enter the court under a nominal personal identity, then in the end, it would be his own action and would have nothing to do with anyone else.

"Voluntary deployment to North Korea? Interesting..."

"If you go alone without anyone to look after you, you can bring someone you trust with you."

The bald general smiled slightly and looked at Chu Yunfei with great interest.

"Principal, I would like to bring my former chief of staff, Fang Ligong, and his adjutant, Sun Ming!"

Seeing an opportunity, Chu Yunfei quickly spoke up.

"No problem, I will negotiate with the US side. After you go back, tell the people you are taking with you to make good preparations, and then board the plane to North Korea."

"By the way, didn't you say you wouldn't use your real name? Then let's use a code name. You can think of one yourself."

"That's what the bald general said."

"Principal, let's call the students 'Kite'!"

Chu Yunfei thought for a moment, and finally said.

(End of this chapter)