Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 178: A lone warrior defeats the enemy, his achievements shake the world!
Beijing, courtyard

"Xiao Wang, come to think of it, this is the second time I've written calligraphy for Comrade Wu Wanli, isn't it?"

"Come on, take a look at my writing!"

He smiled, put the brush aside, and pointed to the words on the table.

"Isn't this... too high a rating?"

"Comrade Wu Wanli is only 19 years old. I'm worried that praising him too much will hinder his growth over the next few decades..."

After looking at the words "Great People's Hero" on the Xuan paper, Xiao Wang gasped and gave a warning.

"What's this?"

"It would be disheartening not to praise someone for their merits, especially since the current situation in Seoul depends on him..."

"Take this and send it to his home in Huzhou, Zhejiang. Also, give my regards to Comrade Wu; his three sons are all excellent!"

He waved his hand and said.

"Yes!"

Xiao Wang quickly agreed, carefully put away the Xuan paper, and slowly walked downstairs.

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

Beijing streets
"Sell newspapers!"

"Wu Wanli led his troops to liberate Seoul, and UN Commander-in-Chief Ridgway fled in panic!"

A newsboy, holding a newspaper, shouted excitedly.

The next second, the people who heard the news rushed forward, scrambling to buy the newspapers.

"Give me one, give me one!"

When Anjing heard that familiar name, she paused slightly, then quickly squeezed through the crowd and managed to buy a newspaper.

"Comrade Wu Wanli has liberated Seoul..."

She held the newspaper in her hand, smoothed her hair from her forehead, and stared intently at the contents of the newspaper.

The newspaper described Wu Wanli's journey from joining the army and entering Korea, to his meritorious service in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, capturing Major General Smith, and then to his leading troops in a surprise attack to capture Seoul.

It also incorporates some artistic techniques to portray Wu Wanli as a determined and valiant young hero.

"What are you looking at?"

"Wu Wanli? Isn't that the guy you gave the red scarf to at Ji'an Station!"

"Great! You've achieved great success now. I wonder if they'll even remember you!"

Linna suddenly appeared, patted Anjing on the shoulder, and teased her with a smile.

"Linna, you scared me to death!"

"If he doesn't remember, he doesn't remember. It's just a red scarf. As long as he fights the enemy well and contributes to the country, that's all that matters!"

Anjing pouted and stubbornly retorted.

"You say that, but why were you the first to sign up for the cultural troupe that went to Korea to inspire the volunteer soldiers yesterday?!"

"Could it be that he wants to meet Comrade Wu Wanli...?"

Linna covered her mouth, looked at Anjing who was blushing, and whispered.

"What nonsense!"

"I joined the army to contribute my part to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea."

"Besides, he just led his army to capture Seoul. Who knows how many more sieges he might face? It's uncertain whether he'll even survive..."

Anjing sighed quietly and said with a hint of worry.

"Leading the army to surrender Seoul..."

"Excuse me, ma'am, may I see the newspaper you're holding?"

Old Master Sa, whose hair and beard were both white, happened to be passing by. Upon hearing this, his slightly hunched body trembled slightly, and then he reached out his hand shakily and asked excitedly.

He was once the assistant commander of the Beiyang Fleet and captain of the Haiqi warship, and rose to the rank of admiral of the Guangdong Navy.

In 1894, he witnessed firsthand the complete annihilation of the proud Beiyang Fleet, Asia's premier navy, in the First Sino-Japanese War.

Now, as he read the news of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's capture of Seoul, Old Sa was overwhelmed with emotion. He gripped the newspaper tightly with his aged hands, tears streaming down his face.

"Oh my! It's all thanks to the strength of our new China's Volunteer Army. Unlike back in the late Qing Dynasty, when the Japanese used the captured Zhenyuan warship to attack our forts!"

"Those Beiyang Fleet even claimed to be the best navy in Asia, but they couldn't even guard the country's borders. What a disgrace!"

A middle-aged man from Beijing, holding another newspaper, said with a smile.

"Yes, back when the Empress Dowager was alive, our capital was occupied by the Anglo-French Allied Forces and the Eight-Nation Alliance in turn."

"But it's not entirely the Beiyang Army's fault. They fought desperately, but their shells were filled with sand. How could they possibly fight like that?"

"Now it's great, our Chinese army has captured the capital of another country! How inspiring!"

Another elderly man gave a thumbs-up and praised him.

"China has become strong!"

"China will no longer pay reparations and cede territory as before, and the Chinese people are no longer the 'sick men of East Asia' who are compared to dogs!!!"

"On this day, tears flow freely across the land; with you by our side, the navy's might is truly strengthened!"

"Deng Shichang, my old classmate, did you see it all? We old Beiyang men can rest in peace now!!!"

Listening to the words of those around him and looking at the newspaper in his hand, Old Sa looked up at the sky with tears in his eyes and shouted.

The humiliation of the past is still vivid in his mind. When the Dingyuan was captured and dragged away by the Japanese, he cried even more heartbreakingly than he does now.

Now, Mr. Sa felt that the depression that had been weighing on his heart for decades had been swept away, and a great sense of pride filled his heart.

"Grandpa, what's wrong? You're getting on in years, please take care of yourself..."

Seeing this, An Jing looked at Old Sa with concern, quickly stepped forward to support him, and offered words of comfort.

"Body?"

"I'm such an old-fashioned person, I've lived this long just to see this!"

"Not long ago in Fuzhou, I wrote: 'When the royal army has pacified the Central Plains, remember to tell your grandfather at the family sacrifice!'"

"Now it's unnecessary. Seeing how powerful the new China is, I have no regrets even if I die..."

"Fifty-seven years have passed like a dream, the entire nation perished because of Seoul. Even a dragon trapped in shallow waters should not despair, for there will eventually be a day to raise its head high!!!"

Old Sa gently pushed away An Jing's support and excitedly recited the poem aloud.

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

White House, Washington, D.C., U.S.

"Fuck!!"

"We are the world's strongest nation, why were we defeated by a poor, weak agricultural country?!"

"Ridgway led a well-equipped UN force, yet he was defeated by a single Chinese Iron Seventh Company? And just like that, Seoul was lost!"

"How dare he flee by plane? Why didn't he die in Seoul?!"

Truman slammed the coffee cup to the ground and roared angrily.

He might be able to accept it if the Chinese army took Seoul at a great cost of hardship and bloodshed.

If Ridgway and his men hadn't escaped so quickly, newspapers around the world would probably be reporting wildly that Chinese soldiers had captured the South Korean president and the UN commander-in-chief alive!
"Mr. President, it wasn't just the Chinese Steel Seventh Company that took Seoul, but also Chun Doo-kwang and the rebellious First Division of the South Korean Capital Region."

"This Chun Doo-kwang once saved Kim Baek-il, the commander of the South Korean army group, at Chosin Reservoir, and rescued our prisoners at Sumun Bridge. He is also the most daring officer in the South Korean army."

"No one could have imagined that he was actually a pawn planted by the Chinese army, who played a crucial role in turning the tide of the battle at a critical moment."

Secretary of State Acheson sighed and said.

"That's Ridgway being stupid; how could he not even recognize a spy!"

"Damn it, the Korean War has dragged on like this, how am I supposed to explain this to the media and the public, how am I supposed to explain this to those members of Congress!"

"If this war continues like this, I'm afraid the Chinese will rise up by stepping on our prestige!" Truman slammed his fist on the table, still furious, and cursed.

"Mr. President, I don't think we need to be in such a hurry. Victory and defeat on the battlefield and the struggle are all normal."

"According to the opinions compiled by the Ministry of National Defense, we may not necessarily lose this battle, and we may even be able to turn the tide and win."

Secretary of State Acheson said.

"Turning defeat into victory? What exactly did the Ministry of National Defense say?"

Truman was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but a glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes, and he asked.

"The garrison in Seoul now consists of only a small number of Chinese troops and a division of South Korean troops."

"Our elite 25th Division is launching a counterattack towards Seoul, and it has been reinforced with an additional artillery regiment."

"If they can take Seoul within two or three days and annihilate the Chinese Iron Seventh Company, the situation will be reversed instantly!"

"At that time, China's first heroic company will be wiped out, Seoul will fall back into our hands, and the demoralized and poorly supplied Chinese army will be vulnerable!"

"That will be the time for our major counterattack!"

Secretary of State Acheson said.

"Alright, then let's give Ridgway another chance."

"He must win this damn war, or he'll be stuck in the Far East forever and never come back!"

Truman snorted coldly and said in an icy tone.

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

Soviet Union, Moscow, Kremlin
"It seems that the victory at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir was not accidental; the Chinese really have the strength to defeat the Americans."

"The liberation of Seoul will inspire the entire Red Army; they fought brilliantly!"

"Do you think we have any troops that can achieve the same feats as the Chinese Iron Seventh Company, successfully launching a raid amidst a massive battle involving hundreds of thousands of troops?"

Stalin took a puff from his pipe, exhaled, and said.

"In terms of combat effectiveness, we are certainly not inferior to the Chinese army. After all, we once defeated the German army, and our iron torrent is the best in the world!"

"But the outcome of a war is not determined by the soldiers, but more importantly by the military talent."

"Wu Wanli of the Chinese army is incredible. His fighting style is a gamble with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death."

"I doubt even Zhukov would send such a small force to raid the enemy capital. Rommel would need to assemble a large armored formation before launching a raid."

Molotov's eyes were filled with disbelief as he exclaimed in admiration.

"He is a fierce general who dares to fight and charge, and is good at using surprise attacks."

"Unfortunately, he lacks experience in commanding major battles, so his potential for growth may not be that high."

Stalin thought for a moment and then said.

"But... this Chinese soldier has only been in the army for a short time, and his first battle was the Korean War. He is only 19 years old."

Molotov remarked with emotion.

"what?"

"He led an army to conquer a country's capital at the age of 19?"

Upon hearing this, Stalin was slightly startled and widened his eyes as he spoke.

He originally thought Wu Wanli was a veteran who fought in the War of Resistance against Japan, but he didn't expect him to be so young.

"Moreover, he should also have experience in commanding major battles. The Chinese Communist Party headquarters has just appointed him as the commander-in-chief of the Seoul garrison, preparing to fight against the American counterattack and defend Seoul to the death."

"This defensive battle is crucial to the success or failure of the entire campaign, and it will be a good opportunity to test this young military genius."

Molotov said.

"Then I hope he succeeds."

"By the way, hasn't the Chinese military been hoping we'd increase our aid?"

“I think this aid is worthwhile. Let’s give it to them now. I want to see how badly they can defeat the UN forces.”

Stalin's lips curled slightly upward as he spoke.

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

Seoul, Blue House
"Reporting to the company... battalion commander!"

"Air force support has arrived, along with several hundred elite troops."

"Prehistoric ran back excitedly and said."

"Don't call me Battalion Commander, call me Commander-in-Chief of Seoul!"

Yu Congrong, standing to the side, pretended to be serious as he spoke.

"I think it's fine to call it the First Division of the Capital. Calling it that way makes it sound too distant, hahaha..."

Gao Daxing laughed.

"I can call them battalion commander or Seoul commander-in-chief, but what I'm most concerned about right now is how we divide up these elite troops."

Pinghe also said with a smile.

Everyone present was promoted one level, and the boss made it clear that this was only temporary and that they would continue to be promoted once it became easier to replenish the ranks.

In this situation, everyone couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

"How the positions are allocated involves adjustments to the new staffing structure, and I will announce that later."

"But you all seem quite happy, especially you, Yu Congrong, becoming a deputy battalion commander. You must be ecstatic!"

Wu Wanli looked at Yu Congrong, who was laughing the most, and teased him.

"Definitely! The allowances after the war are plentiful, enough to build a house, get married, and have a bunch of healthy sons!"

"Or rather, the death benefit is more substantial, which will give me some peace of mind about my parents' future..."

As Yu Congrong spoke, his expression became serious.

Hearing this, others couldn't help but empathize.

Everyone knows that the upcoming battle to defend Seoul will be extremely difficult. Whether they will survive and achieve great things or die a tragic death is anyone's guess.

"Comrades, we have won the battle and driven Ridgway away. Are we still afraid of those Americans?"

"Let them come if they want, but once they're here, they're not leaving!"

Seeing this, Liu Hanqing quickly encouraged them.

"Exactly! Back when we were the Steel Seventh Company, we were able to pinpoint Seoul, let alone now that we've expanded into the Steel Seventh Battalion!"

"Let's fight! When two armies meet on a narrow path, only the brave will prevail. We've never been afraid of the largest American forces!"

Wu Wanli stood up and called out to the crowd.

"Report to the commander-in-chief!"

"Wang Wei, the North Korean Air Force squadron leader, is here to report!"

At that moment, Wang Wei's voice came from outside.

"come in."

"You've worked hard, fighting against several times the air power of the US military for so long."

Wu Wanli said with a face full of respect.

"It's not hard work!"

"In addition to bringing over elite reinforcements, we also sent out reconnaissance planes to risk scouting the enemy situation."

"The US 25th Division will arrive on the outskirts of Seoul in two hours, and we estimate they have two artillery regiments; they've definitely been reinforced!"

"This battle is likely to be very difficult; we need to be mentally prepared..."

Wang Wei sighed and said.

(End of this chapter)