Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 171 Ridgway: Where did this army of 100,000 come from?!

"Reporting, Company Commander!"

"Seoul is just ahead!"

"We are heading in the direction of the eastern defense line of Seoul, which is where the US military is stationed!"

At this moment, Pinghe hurriedly ran back to report.

"Company commander, don't say anything more. Let me lead the firepower platoon to launch the main attack. With the support of those artillery pieces, I guarantee we can break through the position in half an hour at most!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong immediately volunteered for the battle.

"Yu Congrong, that's not very ethical of you to steal it."

"Your fire support platoon is naturally responsible for providing fire support, so the main attack should be done by our assault platoon!"

"Company commander, leave it to me. I can break through the American defenses in twenty minutes!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Daxing quickly spoke up.

"No hurries?"

"This battle doesn't need a main offensive at all right now!"

Wu Wanli shook his head and looked towards the direction of Seoul in the distance.

"No need for a primary attack?"

"Wanli, could it be that this American force has also been infiltrated?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing asked in confusion.

“Besides our attack on the eastern defense line of Seoul, Chun Doo-gwang will surely send people to create an offensive commotion around Seoul.”

"At that time, Ridgway would receive the news that Seoul was suddenly surrounded on all sides and that the main force of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had arrived silently."

"In such a critical moment, there is a chance that he will directly lead his guard platoon to break through the encirclement, relying on powerful firepower and air force bombing!"

"When that time comes, all we need to do is block the exit of the eastern defense line of Seoul, and kill as many as they come out."

Wu Wanli touched the cold watch on his wrist and said.

"If that's the case, then that would be great!"

"That idiot Ridgway is the Commander-in-Chief of the UN forces!!"

"If our Steel Seventh Company can capture him, we won't even need to fight this battle. Those damn UN forces will definitely collapse completely!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Gong smiled and said...

"I hope so too, but the chances of that are slim..."

Wu Wanli rubbed his hands together and said.

"Company commander, do you mean Ridgway will stay inside and fight us in street battles?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing thought for a moment and then said.

"It is indeed possible that there will be urban warfare for a period of time, but it is more likely that they will escape by air force."

Wu Wanli clenched his fists and looked up at the sky.

"Yes! We must guard against this!"

"At this point, forget about radio silence and contact your superiors immediately."

"If we had the support of the air force, we might have achieved a great victory in this battle!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing quickly replied.

"If the US Navy's new carrier strike group hadn't entered North Korea yet, there might still have been a chance."

"But now that the US aircraft carrier has brought hundreds of carrier-based aircraft, it has become very unlikely that we can rely on that small air force to accomplish this."

"It all depends on whether General Jeon's South Korean forces can seize the airport ahead of time, or whether our progress on the eastern front of Seoul goes smoothly."

Wu Wanli smiled slightly and said.

"Your Excellency Wu, I will send your opinion to General Quan via secret telegram."

Upon hearing this, Moon Jae-yoon nodded and said...

"Company commander, if the American troops don't come to our rescue, are we just going to stay here and waste our time?"

Yu Congrong thought for a moment and then asked.

"If Ridgway doesn't bring the main force of his guard regiment, then we'll have to send South Korean troops to support us."

"Currently, the only armed forces in Seoul are the First Division of the South Korean Capital Region and Syngman Rhee's presidential guard."

"Which unit do you think will come to provide support?"

Wu Wanli asked.

"It's definitely the First Division of the South Korean Capital Division! One of ours!"

"Good! No wonder we're not in a rush to launch a major attack now; this is a battle we're guaranteed to win!"

"This whole thing is so damn clever!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Daxing couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Without the Seoul Winter Project, there would be no Chun Doo-gwang and the First Division of Seoul today."

"And this strategic move was already accomplished at Chosin Reservoir; it was truly a far-sighted plan."

"Most importantly, Wan Li did not hold a high position at the time, yet he had such a far-sighted vision, truly befitting the demeanor of a great general."

Liu Hanqing looked at Wu Wanli and sincerely praised him.

"Hahahaha... Let's save those words for the victory celebration. Right now, the key is the battle at hand."

"Wen Zaiyin!"

Wu Wanli suddenly changed the subject and shouted loudly.

"To!"

Moon Jae-yoon responded very cooperatively.

Because when he left Seoul, Jeon Doo-kwang had repeatedly told him to obey all of Wu Wan-ri's orders.

How many cannons does your artillery battalion have now?

Wu Wanli asked.

"We currently have six 75mm howitzers, six 105mm howitzers, and four 155mm howitzers!"

"There are also dedicated anti-aircraft gun batteries to protect against bombing by the U.S. Air Force."

Moon Jae-yoon replied.

"A normal artillery battalion should have twelve cannons. This configuration is considered an reinforced artillery battalion, which is sufficient!"

"Once we've reached our positions, quickly construct artillery positions and bombard the American positions relentlessly!"

"Don't worry about the shells. As long as the artillery doesn't explode, bombard the American positions with as many shells as you can, and don't stop!"

Wu Wanli gave the order.

"Yes!"

Moon Jae-yoon quickly agreed.

"Pinghe, you lead the reconnaissance platoon ahead to take out the American sentries and clear the way for the main force!"

Wu Wanli continued to issue orders.

"Yes!"

After responding, Pinghe immediately led his reconnaissance platoon toward the distant snow-covered landscape.

"While it would be good if we could win this way, it seems a little different from the bloody battle of Seoul I imagined."

Yu Congrong scratched his head and asked.

"Historically, the main force of the US military withdrew directly, and there was not much fighting in Seoul. Ridgway just threw away his pajamas and ran away."

"It's just that with me in this life, their fighting force has suffered such severe losses."

Wu Wanli scratched his head and sighed inwardly.

"Company commander, are the rest of us just supposed to watch the artillery and fireworks in the distance?"

Gao Daxing asked.

"Who said it was just fireworks?"

"The frontal bombing was to make the US military think that we were going to launch a strong attack, but in reality we were waiting for Ridgway to take the bait or for the South Korean army to provide support."

"This will keep the US military busy, and Gao Daxing, you can take the assault platoon to the right flank of the US forces and bomb their front-line ammunition depot."

"The exact location is on this simple map. Just go and do it. The US military probably didn't expect us to know the location, so their defenses won't be very tight."

Looking at the map markings in his mind, Wu Wanli handed the map he had prepared to Gao Daxing.

"We've got this thing!"

"Don't worry, Company Commander, we'll complete the mission!"

Gao Daxing took a look and quickly agreed.

At that moment, he thought to himself, "The South Korean army is really reliable; they even got the US military's deployment maps." Moon Jae-yoon, standing beside him, also thought to himself, "The Chinese People's Volunteer Army's intelligence system is omnipresent."

No one knew that all of this was due to Wu Wanli's personal clairvoyance ability.

"Company commander, what about me and Lei Gong?"

Seeing that everyone had something to do, Yu Congrong asked.

"Lei Gong's artillery platoon will operate together with the South Korean artillery battalion to guide the bombing mission. As for the fire support platoon, it will remain on the position to ensure the safety of the artillery."

"After all, we're not really going to launch a full-scale attack, so we don't know how Ridgway will react."

Wu Wanli said.

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

Soon, Pinghe and his men cleared the sentry posts ahead, and the artillery quickly reached the optimal position.

"These cannons were equivalent to the equipment of an artillery regiment in the Chinese People's Volunteer Army."

"That idiot Wanli wasn't lying to me. He really let me command so many artillery pieces. It was exhilarating..."

Lei Gong looked at the large-caliber cannons with their covers removed and exclaimed with a gleam in his eyes.

Soon, the howitzers adjusted their muzzles, aiming directly at the US military's defense line at the east gate of Seoul.

"dinner time!"

Seeing that the firing parameters had been adjusted, Lei Gong immediately waved his hand.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang..."

In an instant, a series of sharp firing pins rang out, and the howitzers were jolted backward by the recoil, sending countless shells hurtling towards the American positions amidst billowing white smoke.

US military defensive positions in Seoul

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—"

The fierce whistling of artillery fire grew closer and closer, and the American soldiers stared wide-eyed, completely unaware of what was happening.

"What?!"

"Shouldn't the Chinese army be kept under surveillance on the front lines? This is..."

One of the American soldiers was slightly taken aback, thinking he was dreaming.

He pinched his thigh; it hurt.

However, the next second, the first shell landed at his feet.

"boom!!!"

An explosion as loud as a landslide rang out, and a violent cloud of fire instantly enveloped him, making him feel no pain at all.

"Shit! Enemy attack! It's an enemy attack!"

"Lie down and take cover!"

Although the U.S. Army major didn't know what was going on, he immediately snapped out of it and shouted.

The American soldiers on the position immediately lay down on the ground, not daring to show their heads.

However, this time the shelling was not like the one or two rounds that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had previously been stingy with; instead, it was a continuous and relentless bombardment.

"Cough cough cough cough..."

"Sir, the Chinese army's artillery fire is so fierce, it must not be a small force, it must be at least a division!"

"How could we possibly withstand this!"

A U.S. Army captain coughed repeatedly, choked by the thick smoke, and quickly guessed what was going on.

"Fortunately, I had already made the engineering company place the ammunition depot in a blind spot out of habit, so they couldn't blow it up!"

"The artillery fire can't go on forever. Get the soldiers ready for battle and repel their attack. The ammunition depot is right next door; we have plenty of bullets and shells!"

"In addition, I telegraphed General Ridgway, saying that we may be under heavy attack by the Chinese army and requesting reinforcements!"

The U.S. Army major shook the sand off his head and said.

"Yes, sir!"

After the U.S. Army captain finished his response, he was about to crouch down and get up slightly to run to the radio station.

"Boom!!! Boom! Boom! Boom..."

In an instant, an explosion like a thunderclap rang out, and a violent shockwave carrying a heat wave rushed in from the right.

"Fuck! How could there be such a violent explosion all of a sudden!"

The U.S. Army captain was knocked to the ground by the shockwave, his head ringing with a buzzing sound.

"Damn it! The explosion is coming from the ammunition depot!"

"Impossible! The terrain and location there are absolute blind spots for artillery fire, how could this be..."

The U.S. Army major shouted, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sir!"

"While the Chinese army was shelling, their raiding force simultaneously attacked the ammunition depot and has now destroyed it!!"

At that moment, a U.S. Army sergeant, his body slightly charred, crouched down and ran over, shouting anxiously.

"what?!"

"Damn it! I'm going to wipe out these cunning Chinese who only know how to launch sneak attacks!!"

Upon hearing this, the U.S. Army major angrily drew his pistol.

"Sir, this is definitely a premeditated large-scale blitzkrieg. The most urgent task is to hold the line. Telegraph General Ridgway!"

"The defenses of Seoul cannot be breached, otherwise the entire UN forces' retreat route will be..."

The U.S. Army captain standing nearby quickly pulled back the U.S. Army major and reminded him.

"Fuck!"

"Telegraph General Ridgway immediately! The situation has become extremely dire. We are running out of ammunition and need immediate support!"

The U.S. Army major took a deep breath and, after barely managing to calm himself, spoke.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the U.S. Army captain quickly agreed.

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

Seoul, UN Command Headquarters
"Sir!!"

"A large force of Chinese troops suddenly appeared near Seoul. The defenders on the eastern front of Seoul said that about a division of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army was launching a fierce attack!"

"Not only that, Chun Doo-kwang's First Division of the Capital also reported being attacked by multiple large units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army."

"According to their report, nearly 100,000 Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops have surrounded Seoul and are launching fierce attacks on all lines of defense."

"However, given the South Korean military's tradition of lying, the specifics..."

The U.S. Chief of Staff, listening to the distant artillery fire, wiped away a cold sweat and reported.

"An army of 100,000?!"

"Where did this army of 100,000 come from?!"

"Didn't the previous reconnaissance report say that there were only a few scattered North Korean guerrillas near Seoul?"

"Do they think I'm only three years old?!"

Ridgway slammed his fist on the table, interrupting the US Chief of Staff, and roared.

"Sir, it's normal for the South Korean army to lie, but our troops also reported that, based on the artillery fire, it was indeed a bombardment by a Chinese artillery regiment."

"And the only units that can utilize artillery regiments are the main divisions of the Chinese army..."

The U.S. military chief of staff said with a hint of panic on his face.

"In the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, our 1st Marine Division was completely annihilated, the 8th Army was severely damaged, and Major General Smith and Lieutenant General Walker were both killed..."

"If we lose this battle again, America's military prestige and reputation will be trampled underfoot by the Chinese army!"

"Damn it, is God really helping the Chinese?"

"Why would they send such a large force on a surprise attack, carrying heavy artillery?!"

Ridgway drew his pistol from his waist, slammed it on the table, and stared intently at the battle map, racking his brains but still unable to figure out where so many Chinese troops had come from.

"General, the garrison in Seoul may not be able to withstand the main force of the Chinese army."

"If that's the case, please make plans to get out of danger as soon as possible."

Upon seeing this, the US military chief of staff gave a veiled hint.

"If we leave and abandon Seoul to the Chinese army, what will happen to the main force of the UN forces at the front?"

"We cannot leave! Telegraph the 25th Division in Gaoyang to come back and reinforce!"

"Furthermore, immediately issue an order to the guard regiment that I will personally support the front lines and hold out until reinforcements arrive!"

Ridgway clenched his fists and glared at the US Chief of Staff, roaring angrily.

(End of this chapter)