Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 177 Promotion! Wu Wanli, Commander-in-Chief of the Seoul Garrison!

志司
"Boss, boss!"

"Great victory!!!"

"Wu Wanli and Liu Hanqing led the Steel Seventh Company to capture Seoul, the capital of the puppet South Korean regime, seizing dozens of warplanes, tens of thousands of guns, and countless supplies of ammunition!"

"UN Commander-in-Chief Ridgway and South Korean President Syngman Rhee abandoned the defending troops and fled. Seoul is now firmly in our hands!"

Commander Chen, unable to contain his excitement, rushed into the command room with the telegram in hand, his voice trembling slightly as he shouted.

"What did you say?"

"They actually managed to capture Seoul, the capital of the puppet state of South Korea, with just their Seventh Steel Company?!"

Upon hearing this, the boss's body trembled slightly, and he turned his head, widening his eyes as he asked.

He sent this surprise force with a bit of a gamble in mind.

Even the expectation for the Steel Seventh Company was not to capture Seoul so quickly, but to threaten the rear of the UN forces and force them to withdraw, which would be considered to have achieved its strategic objective.

But now... Wu Wanli actually led a company and an inside agent to completely defeat the First Division of the Capital and accomplished this feat!

"To be precise, it wasn't just the Seventh Steel Company, but also the First Division of the Capital led by Comrade Quan Douguang."

"That's why we didn't get a Seoul riddled with holes."

"It is a Seoul with complete fortifications, a complete weapons and ammunition supply center, and a complete Seoul airport!"

Commander Chen handed the battle report to the general, his eyes filled with excitement as he spoke.

"Comrade Quan Douguang... Old Chen, you called out so quickly!"

"Indeed, someone who has made such a great contribution is indeed a good comrade of ours!"

"The highest directive once said that we should unite all forces that can be united. Isn't the current 50th Army the same as the 60th Army of the National Revolutionary Army in Northeast China back then?"

"But do you remember who placed the chess piece that is Chun Doo-kwang?"

The boss stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of admiration as he spoke.

"Wu Wanli, that kid, has great foresight..."

"During the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, they were still carrying out the mission of blowing up the Water Gate Bridge, but Wu Wanli was still able to think of setting up this move."

"The younger generation is truly formidable! It seems that our new China has no shortage of military talent and has successors..."

Chief Chen instantly pictured Wu Wanli's resolute face and said.

"Most importantly, he's only 19 years old!"

"At the age of 19, he was able to lead an elite force to raid Seoul and capture the capital of an enemy state. This reminds me of the Marquis of Champion in the Han Dynasty!"

The boss said.

"Boss, we can focus on developing Comrade Wu Wanli, but I don't think we should elevate him too much all at once."

"After all, I have a great general under my command named Li Yunlong. He is indeed a capable commander, but he is also incredibly arrogant."

"He was already a regimental commander before the Long March, but after crossing the grasslands, he made a mistake and became a cook?"

"As for becoming the director of a clothing factory or a battalion commander later on, those are no big deal."

"I'm worried about the tragedy of a prodigy like Zhong Yong..."

"Chief Chen said."

"No!"

“I might worry about others, but he has Liu Hanqing, his instructor, watching over him.”

"With a principled person like Hanqing working with Wanli, what mistakes could he possibly make? We can rest assured."

The boss thought for a moment and then smiled.

"Principles... okay, but Seoul won't be easy to defend next."

"The US 25th Division was halfway back to reinforce Seoul when it was destroyed. They will definitely take advantage of the situation and launch a strong attack!"

"Judging by the time, the Battle of Seoul will begin in just a few hours. I'm really worried about whether Wanli and his men can hold out..."

Chief Chen sighed and said.

"Commander, Chief Chen, a call from the front!"

"On the western front, the 27th Army has completely annihilated the British 29th Brigade at Pogok-sang-ri!"

"After hearing that Seoul had fallen and the British 29th Brigade had been annihilated, the US 2nd Division used its armored and mechanized advantage to break out regardless of casualties and returned to Goyang City."

"The 42nd and 66th Armies are still engaged in a stalemate with the US 24th Division and the US 1st Cavalry Division in Heijeongbu."

"On the eastern front, the 198th Division and the Korean People's Army Corps have captured Hongchon and are advancing towards Hengcheng!"

"Overall, we have gained an advantage on the western front and made smooth progress on the eastern front, but logistical support is simply not keeping up, and non-combat casualties have reached more than 10,000!"

"These more than 10,000 soldiers did not die on the battlefield, but starved to death, froze to death, or died due to insufficient medical supplies!"

"Commander, if this drags on any longer, our more than 200,000 elite Volunteer Army troops on both the eastern and western fronts will be worn down."

The chief of staff hurriedly entered the command post, looked at the commander-in-chief, and said with eyes full of reluctance.

"Don't we have an air force with hundreds of fighter jets? Can't we protect our logistical supply lines?"

Upon hearing this, the boss's face darkened, and he said...

"Boss, although we have more than a hundred fighter jets, the US military has six or seven hundred!"

"If we spread out to protect such a long defensive line behind us, we will definitely be divided and annihilated!"

"Only by concentrating superior air power to create local air superiority for the front lines can we make it effective."

"Even under such conditions, nearly half of the more than one hundred fighter jets were lost, leaving only ninety-one."

said the chief of staff.

"Sigh, we still suffer from falling behind..."

"More than 10,000 comrades were killed in action; heavy snow and injuries took away the strength of an entire division!"

"If the fighting leads to every household wearing mourning clothes, how will the people of the new China view me?"

The boss's eyes were slightly moist as he spoke.

Although he was heartbroken, he would not hesitate to use force, because only by being ruthless and winning could he reduce casualties.

"Boss, don't worry, Wanli has already solved half of our problem."

"The tens of thousands of rifles and hundreds of machine guns in Seoul, along with a large quantity of ammunition, can completely solve the army's urgent needs."

"With the addition of dozens of fighter jets from Seoul, the air force can recover to roughly the same level as before the war."

"However, the medicine and food in Seoul are estimated to be not enough for the more than 200,000 volunteer soldiers for long, not to mention the Korean People's Army. We can't just not give them anything."

"At that time, the boss will have to go back to China to discuss with the Chinese government and the Soviet ambassador to China."

After a moment's thought, Chief Chen said.

"You're talking about an ideal scenario. What if the US military launches a crazy attack and retakes Seoul? Wouldn't our supply lines be completely cut off?"

"Will our soldiers from the seven armies continue to fight on empty stomachs?"

"Old Chen, give me a straight answer, how much longer can the logistics hold out?"

The boss sighed and said.

"Not counting the spoils from Seoul, we can fight for at most three more days, and that's the most economical way to use it..."

After pondering for a long time, Chief Chen finally spoke.

"Three days! Within three days, our troops must break through the US defenses near the 38th parallel and reinforce Seoul, where Wanli is located!"

"What is the latest situation on our western front? Which units are still available for deployment?"

The boss frowned and asked.

"Only two major strongholds remain for the US military on the western front: Goyang and Uijeongbu, which are strategically positioned to support each other."

"After Seoul was captured, half of their retreat route was cut off. The main reason they weren't completely cut off was because there were simply too few troops inside Seoul."

"Our two corps held up the US 24th Division and the US 1st Cavalry Division in Uijeongbu, and two corps besieged the Turkish Brigade and the US 2nd Division in Goyang.

"The remaining forces are the 27th Army, the 50th Army, and the 38th Army. They have just completed the mission of annihilating the British 29th Brigade and blocking reinforcements."

"However, it should be noted that the South Korean troops who retreated from the Imjin River were concentrated in various parts of the defensive line to provide assistance, and the exact number is unknown."

said the chief of staff.

"Gaoyang City is a relatively easy target, so let's pick on him!"

"Tell the two armies under the jurisdiction of the State Council not to rush into an attack. Instead, try to send a division to bypass the State Council and attack the Surosan Mountain behind the State Council. See if we can cut off their retreat and then catch them in the middle."

"The 27th, 38th, and 50th Armies should immediately reinforce the attacking forces at Gaoyang City!" "I will gather five main armies, form an iron fist, and smash the American defenses at Gaoyang City!"

"I'm only giving them two days. I don't aim to annihilate them completely, I just want to rout them and then advance into Seoul to provide support!"

The boss slammed his right fist on the table and said menacingly.

"Commander, on the Seoul battlefield, the Steel 7th Company and the Capital 1st Division are holding firm, while the US 25th Division is launching a fierce attack."

"I've read the previous battle reports. The casualty ratio between the Capital Division and the US Guard Regiment is about three to one, while the ratio for the Steel Seventh Company is one to two."

"According to the analysis, they will have a very difficult time in this battle."

"Should we send reinforcements to help?"

Chief Chen thought for a moment and then said.

"support?"

"How can we provide support before they break through our defenses?"

Upon hearing this, the chief of staff asked.

"Seoul Airport is intact and still has aviation fuel and bombs available for resupply."

"We might as well send the entire air force to provide support, and also transport a batch of the most elite soldiers to replenish Wu Wanli and his men."

"After the expansion of the army, Comrade Wu Wanli, who has made great contributions, should also be given more responsibilities and promoted."

Chief Chen thought for a moment and then said.

"It's time to move the position."

"How many men can the Air Force transport to replenish the Seventh Steel Company?"

The boss nodded slightly and asked.

"Reporting to the commander, we can probably replenish the Steel Seventh Company with more than 800 men. These are all elite soldiers in the Volunteer Army, with extremely strong combat capabilities."

Chief Chen did some calculations and then said.

"With over 800 men, let's not call it the Steel Seventh Company anymore. Let's expand it into the Steel Seventh Battalion."

"Comrade Wu Wanli was promoted to battalion commander of the Seventh Steel Battalion on the spot, Liu Hanqing was appointed political instructor of the Seventh Steel Battalion, and everyone below him was promoted one rank!"

"But it feels a bit unfair to him to only be a battalion commander. He definitely shouldn't be limited to this position."

The boss thought for a moment, then shook his head and said...

"He's just being the battalion commander for now, because that's all the men we can send to him."

"After the battle ends in a few days, when we can properly expand their army, we can promote them."

Chief Chen smiled and said.

"Promote him again in a few days..."

"No, even so, one battalion commander is not enough. He should be given the treatment he deserves now, and he will definitely be promoted in a few days."

"By the way, isn't the First Division of the Capital also in Seoul? Together with the air force, they are all part of Seoul's defense forces."

"In addition to being the battalion commander of the 7th Steel Battalion, also give him the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Seoul Garrison, giving him control over all land and air forces in Seoul to hold out for reinforcements!"

The boss thought for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table and said...

"The commander-in-chief of the Seoul Garrison, what a grand gesture!"

"In this way, not only Wu Wanli, but also the status of the Seventh Steel Battalion has risen, somewhat resembling the path of the officer-level training corps..."

Upon hearing this, Chief Chen's eyes widened in shock, and he thought to himself with a sigh.

"Yes!"

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

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

Uijeongbu Castle, UN Provisional Command
"Fuck!"

"This Wu Wanli actually managed to change the course of the battle by bringing an entire company and a division of inside agents!"

"If it weren't for him, we could have just stalled until the Volunteer Army ran out of ammunition and food in three days, then launched a counter-offensive and turned the tide of the war!"

Ridgway, who had fled back covered in dust, angrily smashed his coffee cup on the ground and roared.

"General Ridgway, victory and defeat are normal on the battlefield. Instead of venting your anger, you should think carefully about the upcoming battle."

At this moment, the newly appointed UN Chief of Staff, Van Fleet, with a solemn expression and resolute face, walked in, handed Ridgway a fresh cup of coffee, and said...

“Van Fleet, I didn’t appoint you as the new chief of staff to be my psychologist; I need your advice.”

"Wu Wanli always loved to use surprise tactics. From the Battle of Chosin Reservoir to the Battle of Seoul, it was he and the Chinese Iron Seventh Company that influenced the course of the battles."

"If only we had such military geniuses and elite troops under our command..."

Ridgway took a deep breath, took the coffee, and said.

"Wu Wanli? He's only 19 years old, and hasn't been in the army for long. He's just lucky and daring, a reckless general."

"I participated in the Argun Offensive in the first battle, cutting off and defeating the German army."

"During World War II, I became a general under General Patton and led a regiment to be the first to hit the beachhead during the Normandy landings. I was awarded three Crosses of Valor and one British Medal in one day."

"After that, I led my troops to break through the Remagen Bridge and invade Germany. I also served as the deputy commander-in-chief of the European Command."

"General Ridgway, trust in my abilities. Fifty thousand miles is nothing to worry about. I will turn the tide of the battle and utterly defeat the Chinese People's Volunteer Army."

VanVleet smiled confidently and said.

"Generals, if I may be frank, the situation is actually quite simple: it all comes down to whether we can retake Seoul."

"If we can recapture it, the UN forces will win a great victory and launch a counterattack against the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, which is running out of steam and supplies."

"If we can't take it back, the Volunteer Army troops that received supplies in Seoul will support some of our forces and continue fighting towards the 37th parallel."

Chu Yunfei looked at the battle map and said.

He was brought back in a fighter jet by Ridgway, so naturally he had to put on a show of returning the favor to gain his trust.

In any case, pointing out the outcome of the battle won't change anything; it's just a rational judgment.

"The most crucial thing is indeed to retake Seoul, but our volunteer army on the front line will definitely take the opportunity to launch an offensive to support Seoul."

"Therefore, in order to ensure the stability of the front line, we can only send the 25th Division to attack at most, and we cannot transfer any more troops."

Van Fleet, upon hearing this, offered a reminder.

"Can the 25th Division alone really retake Seoul?"

Li Qiwei asked, sounding slightly tired.

"Sir, there are only a small number of elite Chinese troops and a division of South Korean rebels in Seoul."

"After reading the battle report, I can roughly conclude that China's elite troops have high combat effectiveness but insufficient numbers, while the South Korean rebel army is considered daring to fight but not elite enough."

"Although we cannot spare troops, a new artillery regiment has just been reinforced at Incheon Port, which can be sent to strengthen the firepower of the 25th Division."

"I have done the calculations and predictions. We can hold out for two or three days at most. If the US 25th Division cannot take us within two days, we will have to retreat. We cannot gamble and be unwilling to continue."

"Of course, we're not going to just sit here and wait to die."

Chief of Staff Van Fleet calmly looked at the battle map and said.

"What do you want to do?"

Li Qiwei pinched his chin and asked with a frown.

"The Chinese army is currently arrogant and doesn't take anything seriously. They want to take all the spoils of war. We have to teach them a lesson."

"Given their flanking maneuvers, I suspect they will send a detachment to attack Shuiluoshan, attempting to cut off the rear of our two divisions in the Uijeongbu."

"We should turn the tables on them, ambush and destroy their detachment, and launch a counterattack to try to defeat their two armies here."

"If we win here in Uijeongbu and then take Seoul, we can have the 1st Cavalry Division of the United States go around to their rear and completely cut off their retreat and supply lines, while the 25th Division of the United States is pulled to their flank."

"At that time, it will be our turn to infiltrate and encircle the more than 200,000 main force of the Chinese army, which is out of ammunition and food!"

Van Fleet looked at the battle map and said menacingly.

"well said!"

"Van Fleet, I've always believed in you. You are the savior of the UN forces!"

"Do as you say!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiwei's fighting spirit was instantly rekindled, and he shouted loudly.

(End of this chapter)