Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 179 The Battle of Seoul!!!
Seoul, Blue House, Garrison Command
"Reporting to Commander Wu, Kaka!"

"The outer defenses have been reinforced, and the barricades and street fighting fortifications in the city have been repaired. We are fully prepared to deal with the upcoming major battle!"

"This is the latest deployment map, please review it!"

At this moment, Quan Douguang walked in, gave Wu Wanli a respectful military salute, handed the map to Wu Wanli, and then said.

"Now that everything is arranged, there's no problem."

"You should all take a look too, so that if a fight breaks out, everyone will be at a loss."

After reading it, Wu Wanli nodded slightly and handed the defense map to everyone for review.

"Wanli, your deployment of defenses is quite like that of a great general. Did you really not attend a military academy?"

"I studied at the Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union. Although my military talent is not outstanding, I do have the ability to discern."

"I'm afraid even if someone else were to set it up in a short period of time, they couldn't possibly do it as well as you."

Liu Hanqing, who was initially somewhat worried, took a look and was slightly shocked, and sighed.

The city's defensive fortifications were arranged in an orderly and progressive manner, and the allocation of firepower and troops was also very unique.

“I never attended a military academy, but I often heard my brother talk about domestic warfare tactics and the old ways of fighting from our ancestors when I was a child, so I tried to integrate them into my understanding.”

"Look, Seoul is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the remaining southern side is also surrounded by the Han River, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"After the US 25th Division and an artillery regiment that landed at Incheon on the west side joined up, they could only come from three passages."

"First, there is the highway to the north, the Anshan Canyon mountain route to the west, and the Han River ferry crossing to the south."

Wu Wanli gave everyone a simple and easy-to-understand explanation.

"Battalion Commander, the highway to the north leads to Gaoyang in the northwest and Uijeongbu in the southwest, which is extremely disadvantageous for us!"

Pinghe glanced at it and immediately suggested that he debut.

"I know. I've already had Chun Doo-kwang send people to blow up several sections of the highway. If the American tanks and vehicles want to come over, let them repair them slowly."

Wu Wanli nodded and said.

"If the northern route is cut off, then the US military will only be able to come overland via the Anshan Canyon mountain road in the west."

"There is only one complete mountain road leading there, and it is quite narrow, allowing only one tank or one troop carrier to pass at most."

"Battalion Commander, should we blow that place up too?"

Yu Congrong looked at the defense map and said.

"No need, that was a passage I left there on purpose."

“The mountain roads are narrow and suitable for ambushes. If the US military were to take that route, we only need the 7th Steel Battalion to ambush them directly.”

Wu Wanli shook his head and said.

"In that case, the most likely target for the main US forces is the Han River to the south."

“The weather is not as cold as it was during the Chosin Reservoir period. Only part of the Han River is frozen. The only place that is solid enough for a large force to cross the river is Xingzhou Ferry.”

"In other words, the focus of our outer defense is very likely to be the Xingzhou ferry crossing on the Han River to the south."

Liu Hanqing looked at the deployment map and analyzed it.

"Battalion Commander, in that case, let's focus our defenses on Xingzhou Ferry."

"The U.S. military has large formations, with a battalion having more than a thousand men. With the addition of new artillery regiments, they have at least 20,000 men!"

"We can't underestimate our enemy..."

After observing for a moment, Lei Gong offered a reminder.

"That's right, Battalion Commander! As long as we hold the ferry crossing and the mountain road to the death, regardless of casualties, we can probably hold out for three days!"

"Our mission will be complete in three days!"

Upon hearing this, Shiqian smiled easily and said...

"That being said, I now have five artillery battalions of uprisings, three infantry regiments of uprisings, plus our elite Steel Seventh Battalion, bringing my total strength to over ten thousand men."

"In addition, we have hundreds of fighter jets providing us with air support. I have never fought a battle with such abundant resources in my eight lifetimes."

"If I don't do something for the 200,000 main force of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army at the front, I will feel ashamed..."

Wu Wanli hesitated for two seconds before speaking.

"Do something?"

"Battalion Commander, the previous battle has just ended. Our casualty ratio against the elite American troops is what it is. These 10,000 troops are not much against the 20,000 elite American troops."

"Taking into account the advantages of fortifications and terrain, our Steel Seventh Battalion's estimated casualty ratio is at most one to four, while the ratio for the uprising troops is at most one to one."

"Under normal defensive conditions, even if we were to fight them all out, we would only have taken out two and a half regiments of the US military. If it weren't for the time pressure, the US military could have won a Pyrrhic victory even if they fought to the bitter end..."

"The outcome of the entire campaign hinges on the current situation of the Battle of Seoul, so we cannot act rashly."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing quickly offered a reminder.

Upon hearing this, everyone present became more serious, and they all tacitly agreed with Liu Hanqing's statement.

After all, in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, an entire army corps barely managed to encircle and annihilate the US 1st Marine Division, resulting in heavy casualties so that only one corps was left to replenish its strength and continue fighting.

With over 10,000 guns, they could only defend against the US 25th Division.

"Battalion Commander, I, Lao Yu, don't care how many American devils there are. As long as you give the order, I dare to charge an entire regiment of them with my firepower!"

"From entering Korea until now, in dozens of battles, our Steel Seventh Battalion has never been defeated!"

Seeing that everyone was silent, Yu Congrong was the first to stand up and speak.

"that is!"

"How did the 1st Marine Division get surrounded and annihilated? It was because the battalion commander led a company to break through the division's command post!"

"Battalion Commander, just tell us your ideas, and we'll do whatever you say!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Daxing also stood up to support him.

"Wukaka, at this point, my soldiers and I have no way to turn back!"

"No matter what, the entire First Division of the Capital is willing to follow you to the death and fight to the bitter end, and will never retreat!"

Upon hearing this, Quan Douguang also stood up and spoke in somewhat broken Chinese.

"We dare not say anything grand, but as the first air force of the new China to participate in the national war, we will definitely defend the skies to the death and ensure the safety of heavy firepower!"

Wang Wei also stepped forward to vouch for him. Lei Pinghe didn't speak, but they both looked firmly at Wu Wanli, clearly indicating that they would support all his decisions.

"That's true, at least the morale of the troops is good..."

"Alright, Wanli, you are the commander-in-chief of the Seoul garrison. The land and air forces all obey your orders. I'm just making a suggestion; the final decision is yours."

Upon seeing this, Liu Hanqing sighed.

"Who said I was going to wipe out an entire American division in one go?"

"No... do you really think I'm such a reckless warrior in battle?"

"I always prioritize caution in warfare. Even when I take a risk, I've already calculated it carefully. How could I be so reckless!"

Wu Wanli felt both angry and amused, and slammed his hand on the table.

"Yes!"

Hearing Wu Wanli say that he was cautious and not reckless, everyone tried hard to suppress their laughter and responded in unison.

Yu Congrong, in particular, suffered internal injuries from holding back his emotions. His face turned bright red as he recounted all the sad things he could think of in his life.

"Since we're going to hold out for two or three days, I plan to let the US 25th Division in around the second day and fight them in the city."

"Otherwise, after the US front-line troops retreat, it would be too easy for them to extricate themselves. They only need to deploy two heavily armed battalions to cover the rear so that the main force can go and cover the front-line troops."

"We can't be the ones crossing the river to charge in, can we? That would mean losing the initiative to counterattack."

"On the contrary, letting them in will keep them bogged down in the quagmire of Seoul. If they try to escape, we'll just chase after them!"

"All we need to do is block their western mountain road and blow up the pontoon bridge at the ferry crossing. They won't be able to get out without losing half their blood!"

Wu Wanli clenched his right fist and slammed it hard on the table as he spoke.

"Good, this tactic takes into account both the risks of the battle and the ability to achieve the greatest results!"

"However, to defend against the US military, we need to strengthen our firepower, and the new organizational structure can also be adjusted."

After thinking for a moment, Liu Hanqing looked at Wu Wanli with approval and reminded him.

"I know that. The organization and firepower configuration of the First Division of the Capital have been adjusted. It's just that our Seventh Steel Battalion has been delayed until now because of the addition of new personnel."

Wu Wanli said.

"Battalion Commander, the newly recruited soldiers are all from our 80th Division. Many of them are from the First Assault Regiment and the Third Battalion. So they are not completely strangers and it will be relatively easy for them to integrate."

Upon hearing this, Wang Wei smiled and said.

"In that case, we can expand the workforce with peace of mind."

"The fire support company is the first company, the reconnaissance company is the second company, and the assault company is the third company. Each infantry company has about two hundred men."

"Each infantry company is equipped with a platoon of eight 60mm mortars."

"Each infantry platoon is equipped with a fire support squad with three M1919 heavy machine guns."

"Each infantry squad was equipped with a Browning light machine gun, a sniper rifle with a scope, and a flamethrower."

"The remaining squad leaders and deputy squad leaders will carry submachine guns, while the regular infantry will carry Garand rifles."

Wu Wanli thought for a moment and then said.

"Battalion Commander, you seem to forget from time to time, what about our artillery company?"

When Lei Gong noticed that the artillery company wasn't mentioned, he quickly asked.

"I haven't forgotten that the artillery company is equipped with sixteen M1 75mm howitzers to provide medium-range artillery support, and also has 16 M2 heavy machine guns to form a dedicated anti-aircraft platoon."

“Lei Gong, our artillery reinforcements are limited, and the 75mm is the largest caliber artillery that can be used in various complex terrains, so this configuration is the best.”

Wu Wanli looked at Lei Gong and said.

Each M1 75mm howitzer requires 6 gunners, so 16 howitzers would require 96 men. Adding the remaining heavy machine guns, the total number of men in the artillery company would be about the same.

"fine!"

"So many cannons would have been enough for an artillery battalion in the original army, how could my artillery company not be enough!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Gong said with a joyful expression.

"That's right!"

"With this firepower, if we didn't have the massive weapons and ammunition depots in Seoul to supply us, who would dare to fight us like this!"

"Battalion Commander, you're right. We've never fought such a well-funded battle in our entire lives!"

Yu Congrong laughed heartily as he spoke.

"As for the First Division of the Capital, apart from the fact that its artillery is not strong enough to be further strengthened, its other infantry weapons are also in accordance with this standard."

"With well-trained troops and ample supplies, we're just waiting for the American devils to run into our trap!"

"Oh, and a radio station should also be assigned to the platoon level, so it will be convenient for command in critical moments!"

Wu Wanli said, fully prepared for the micro-management.

"Battalion Commander, with this kind of firepower, let alone holding out for three days?"

"Ha, we can hold out in Seoul until we die of old age!"

Gao Daxing said excitedly.

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli's heart stirred slightly, and the DNA of a veteran Mount & Blade player from his previous life stirred within him.

"Battalion Commander, now that the weapons organization and overall plan have been resolved, why don't you talk about the specific combat plan for the next step?"

Liu Hanqing reminded him.

"it is good!"

"Two infantry regiments and one artillery regiment of the Capital Division are stationed on the Han River. Don't rush to attack them at the beginning. Wait until the American troops have crossed halfway before attacking them while they are crossing!"

"In addition, the 7th Steel Battalion and an artillery battalion are lying in ambush on the mountain road to the west, ready to intercept the American troops!"

"The remaining infantry regiment will remain in Seoul as the general reserve!"

Wu Wanli thought for a moment and then said.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly agreed and went to make preparations.

The Battle of Seoul, Wu Wanli's first large-scale battle, is about to break out!
(End of this chapter)