Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 188 Defending the Han River to the Death! The Fate of Han's Uprising Forces! (Bonus chapter for "Life 0" - a longer chapter)
Outside Gaoyang City, the 27th Army's forward command post
"Tell Zhang Dabiao that Wan Li led two battalions of main force soldiers and those ragtag troops to fight against an entire American division. Does he dare to say that the assault was difficult?"

"Aren't you ashamed?!"

"I gave him a death order: he has to break through the American devils' defenses by tomorrow night at the latest!"

"If you can't take it down, you'll come back with your head!"

Li Yunlong slammed his fist on the table and roared in a serious tone.

The communications officer below quickly agreed and hurriedly ran towards the radio station.

"Old Li, why are you so angry?"

“Ridgway personally oversaw the defense of Goyang, and with everyone betting that the 25th Division would take Seoul, the resistance was naturally fierce.”

"Back when we fought the US 1st Marine Division, how long did it take us to finally take it down, using the entire Ninth Army Corps?"

Seeing this, Kong Jie put down his pipe and advised him.

"The US military's air and firepower superiority was too obvious. The soldiers charged forward under a hail of bullets without fear."

"Now that we have almost captured all the outer positions, the US military cannot hold out in Gaoyang City for long."

Seeing this, Zhao Gang quickly offered his advice.

"I know they're facing difficulties, but can their difficulties compare to those thousands of miles away?"

"Last night I dreamt that Wanli and the others were singing that song, 'The Spirit of the Chinese Army,' dying on the battlefield..."

After taking a sip of water, Li Yunlong said with concern.

"Well... there's no use in being anxious now. Comrade Wu Wanli and his men might have already retreated into Seoul and are fighting."

"A great victory at Anshan!"

"Several thousand American troops were annihilated; the entire 1st Regiment of the US 25th Division was wiped out, with only a little over two hundred escaping to Incheon!!"

At this moment, the chief of staff excitedly held a telegram and shouted in a slightly trembling voice.

"Dang Cang——"

Li Yunlong slammed the enamel mug on the table, oblivious to the scalding tea splashing onto the back of his hand.

The pipe that Kong Jie had just put in his mouth fell to the ground with a thud, and a spark splattered onto his military trousers, burning a small hole.

Zhao Gang was also stunned on the spot, his mind seemingly calculating all sorts of possibilities, but he couldn't figure out how it could have turned out like this.

The three men stared intently at the telegram in the chief of staff's hand, as if frozen in place.

"You just said that Wan Li led his troops to annihilate how many American devils?!"

"How did they fight this battle? A few hundred main force soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, along with a bunch of ragtag soldiers, wiped out several thousand elite main force soldiers of the US Army?!"

Li Yunlong's eyes widened, and he roared in shock, causing the roof of the command post to tremble and dust to fall.

"That's right! The main force regiment of the US 25th Division was almost completely annihilated!"

"Comrade Wu Wanli led the Seventh Steel Battalion to ambush the American forces in the Anshan Valley, consuming half of Seoul's fuel, in addition to the flammable materials such as dry branches that had been laid out in advance."

"When the US troops were halfway up the mountain, countless oil drums and boulders rolled down, and the air force and artillery bombarded the US troops with incendiary bombs."

"The morale of the American troops collapsed amidst the intense bombardment and flames, and the entire army fled in disarray, even killing each other in the struggle for escape routes!"

"In this battle, we captured two slightly damaged tanks, twelve howitzers, three thousand rifles, three hundred submachine guns, and fifty machine guns!"

"The remaining defeated American troops are now fleeing towards Incheon, which means that Seoul is only threatened from the Han River side!"

The chief of staff was so excited that his fingers trembled as he quickly read the contents of the telegram.

"That was awesome! So awesome!"

"Old Li, if we put these captured guns and weapons together with those in Seoul, we could pull out two American-equipped divisions!"

"Forget Seoul, once we replenish our weapons and ammunition, we can even take Incheon and Suwon!"

Kong Jie stomped out the sparks on his trouser leg and said in an excited voice that was slightly distorted.

"Once this battle is over, the Battle of Seoul will already be half won!"

"As long as Wan Li leads his high-spirited troops to reinforce the Han River, along with those fighter jets, they might just be able to knock the teeth out of the American forces!"

"Even if we lose the battle, we'll have the option to retreat slowly to Seoul and fight in the streets, without having to worry about being attacked from both sides!"

Zhao Gang, unusually, slightly loosened his top button, and the usually composed man was now filled with excitement as he spoke.

"Hahahahahahahahaha... Well done!"

"Wu Wanli is a damn genius at warfare!"

"Send the battle reports to the entire army, let them see how Wan Li fights, and get them all motivated!"

Li Yunlong excitedly slammed his fist on the edge of the sand table, causing the small flags representing the US 25th Division to fall over, and laughed as he spoke.

"Commander, Wanli also led the Seventh Steel Battalion in singing a song, and the lyrics were sent over by telegram."

"He said he was afraid he wouldn't be able to come back after this battle, and he hoped that this song could continue to inspire others."

The chief of staff handed the lyrics to Zhao Gang.

"The five-star red flag flutters in the wind, the song of victory is so loud..."

"The sun is rising in the East, and the People's Republic is growing!"

"Our leader, Mao...guides the way forward!"

"..."

"We have overcome so many hardships to achieve our liberation today..."

"We love peace, we love our homeland, and anyone who dares to invade us will be destroyed!"

As Zhao Gang read on, his body trembled slightly, and a look of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

"That sounds incredibly inspiring! Anyone who dares to invade our territory will be annihilated!"

"Didn't we take down that damned pseudo-Korean capital?"

"If our navy were more capable, give me ten divisions and I'd fight my way from the West Coast of the United States all the way to Washington and New York!"

Li Yunlong praised him with an air of dominance.

"Speaking of the five-star red flag, it seems like we didn't get to see it enough before we came to the Korean battlefield."

"That makes sense. When Chairman Mao gives the order, we don't need to think too much; we just have to fight!"

Kong Jie said with a touch of emotion.

"This song is of great significance; it is not only suitable for our comrades in the army, but it can also inspire the people of the whole country!"

"Submit this song along with the battle report to the headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. When it's sent back to China, let the leaders of the Party Central Committee see it too. It can't be included in the propaganda."

"To be honest, this song shows Comrade Wu Wanli's firm stance and ideological awareness, which will greatly help his future."

“If it weren’t for his exceptional fighting skills, I would have considered training him to be a political officer.”

Zhao Gang looked at it for a long time, and finally said with a face full of admiration.

"That won't do. Nine out of ten people who do that are just scholars. Only you, Old Zhao, are like Confucius with a sword at your waist, skilled in both literature and martial arts!"

"If it were anyone else, I really wouldn't be able to work with him!"

"Alright, let's report it together as Lao Zhao suggested."

Li Yunlong waved his hand and said.

"and many more……"

"Commander, Comrade Wu Wanli has also sent over a list of the fallen..."

The chief of staff quickly handed over the list and said.

"Give me the list of the dead?"

"He'll be rewarded for his contributions, and there will be no shortage of compensation and benefits later on. Don't worry about him!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately waved his hand and said.

"Sir, he reported not only the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Battalion, but also those South Korean troops who defected. What do you think of this..."

Upon hearing this, the chief of staff quickly offered a reminder.

"Old Li, this matter really needs to be taken seriously. Let's report it to the bosses for a decision as well."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang immediately noticed it and spoke up.

"Okay, let's do as Lao Zhao says."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong nodded.

"Yes!"

The chief of staff immediately agreed.

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

Shiji
"Boss, a great victory in Seoul!!"

"Wan Li led his troops to almost completely annihilate a regiment of the US 25th Division, eliminating thousands of elite US troops!"

"The weapons and ammunition we've captured, combined with Seoul's reserves, are enough to arm two American-equipped divisions!"

"Boss, this is not just a victory in the Battle of Seoul, it has great significance for our pursuit after the breakthrough!"

"After the war is over, I'll have to congratulate Comrade Wu Wanli on his fortune, hahahahahahaha..."

After reading the battle report three times over, Commander Chen confirmed that he hadn't misread it and smiled with admiration in his eyes.

"what?"

"That's a main US military regiment with combat power equivalent to the Polar Bear Regiment. Wanli took it down with just that small force?"

Upon hearing this, the boss was momentarily shocked, and quickly took the battle report to read it.

The commander-in-chief had a complete view of Wu Wanli's strategies: the air force employed the "Tian Ji Horse Racing" tactic, the army employed the "luring the enemy deep into their territory" tactic, the burning of the valley, and the psychological warfare tactics.

"Courageous and resourceful, flexible in combat, and possesses the demeanor of a great general!"

"It's just a bit wasteful. The war wiped out 1% of Seoul's ammunition reserves, plus half of its fuel. You don't know the cost of living until you're in charge!"

After reading it, the boss smiled and cursed, his heart filled with admiration.

"These assets were all seized by his troops, so it wouldn't hurt to use more of them."

"This kid is not only good at fighting, but also at songwriting. Another patriotic song has been released!"

"Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang strongly recommended that this be sent to the higher-ups for review."

Chief Chen smiled and handed the lyrics to the general.

"Let me see……"

"The five-star red flag flutters in the wind..."

"The sun is rising in the east..."

"..."

"It's really good! Even I, an old farmer with little education, feel inspired and passionate after reading it!"

After reading it, the boss said with a slightly contemplative expression.

"However, I don't think there's any need to rush to send it back to China. After all, there are only lyrics yet, and the melody and other details are still unclear."

“It just so happens that the Capital Cultural Troupe is going to North Korea to participate in the comfort work. I think we can wait until this round of battle is over in a few days and have Comrade Wu Wanli sing for the troupe members himself.”

"After we teach the comrades in the Capital Cultural Troupe, we can have them take the songs back to Beijing and sing them for the leaders. That should have a better effect."

Chief Chen thought for a moment and then said.

"The Capital Performing Arts Troupe?"

"I imagine there are quite a few women working in the arts; wouldn't it be too dangerous for them to come to the Korean War?"

The boss asked.

"The comrades who went to North Korea to perform and entertain the troops all volunteered. They are all full of patriotic fervor. The higher-ups have approved it, so we can't very well discourage them."

Chief Chen smiled and said.

"Okay, we need to protect the safety of these comrades."

The boss nodded and said.

"Commander, these can be considered later, but Comrade Wu Wanli has submitted a list of the dead." "The list contains many comrades from the Steel Seventh Battalion who sacrificed their lives in the Anshan Victory, but Wanli also added soldiers from the South Korean uprising troops who died."

"This is Wanli helping those South Korean soldiers to subtly ask us for equal treatment."

"After all, he only has two battalions of volunteer soldiers under his command, and the rest of the division consists of uprising troops. If he doesn't handle these things well, it will be difficult to lead the troops."

Chief Chen said with a hint of contemplation.

"We have always had a tradition of treating the uprising troops with preferential treatment."

"Putting aside other things, just take our 50th Army below us, isn't that the 60th Army of the National Revolutionary Army?"

"The power transmission is 50,000 li away. As for the treatment, there is no need to worry. The soldiers who died in the uprising will enjoy the same compensation and treatment."

"Afterwards, they can decide for themselves where they want to stay."

"That's all I can promise. I need to report the specific details to the Party Central Committee for a decision."

The boss thought for a moment and then said.

"These promises are enough to reassure the insurgents and give them peace of mind to fight."

"Moreover, according to intelligence, most of the families of the soldiers of the First Division of the Capital are still in Seoul and have not fled, so with that guarantee, there is no need to worry about their fighting spirit."

"Chief Chen said."

"Given the current situation in Seoul, do you think it's possible for Wan Li and his men to actually defeat an entire US division?"

The boss asked with a smile.

"It's unlikely. The victory at Anshan was due to favorable timing, location, and popular support. But the battle at the Han River won't be so easy."

"Boss, the current situation is quite good. We shouldn't put too much pressure on Wanli and the others."

"Commander Chen said calmly."

"Alright, order the frontline troops to press on and capture Goyang before heading to Seoul to regroup and replenish their forces."

"Generating electricity across ten thousand miles, that means he fought very well. I've noted his merits, and he'll be promoted after the war when the army expands."

The boss said.

"Yes!"

Chief Chen responded.

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

Han River defense line, enemy forward command post
"Boom!"

A shell exploded not far away, kicking up countless snowflakes and filling the air with pungent smoke, causing Mei Sheng and the others to cough repeatedly.

"Battalion Commander, our command post is too close to the front line. Should we move it back a bit to ensure the safety of the command center?"

Mei Sheng calmly made the suggestion.

"Right here, I can see the overall situation clearly and stay with the soldiers to show my determination to hold the line."

"The commander-in-chief entrusted the Han River defense line to me, and as his older brother, I can't let him down!"

"Besides, we have completely lost air superiority. Even if we can avoid artillery fire from the rear, can we really avoid enemy aircraft in the air?"

Wu Qianli put down his binoculars and said resolutely.

"Wukaka, the front line has been bombarded by artillery and bombing for so long, and many trenches and fortifications are about to collapse."

"The morale of the soldiers below is also quite low. Why don't we send the artillery out of their bunkers and open fire now?"

Quan Douguang said with a hint of anxiety.

"No, we've held out for so long just to prevent the artillery from becoming disposable."

"Wait a little longer. Once the commander-in-chief arrives with reinforcements, morale will stabilize."

"In addition, our air force will also come to provide support. That will be the time for the artillery to show its power!"

Wu Qianli shook his head and said.

"Battalion Commander, it will take Wanli and his men time to arrive as reinforcements. I'm worried that we won't be able to hold out until then."

"Telegrams reporting urgent situations from the front kept coming in, and our reserves have been almost entirely deployed to the front to provide support."

"Now there's only one guard platoon left standing by in the rear. If we keep fighting like this, the Han River defense line will fall soon..."

Mei Sheng sighed and then offered some words of advice.

Actually, there were still some things he didn't say, considering that Jeon Doo-kwang was still there.

That is, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers might be able to fight to the death under such environment and pressure, but you can't expect those South Korean soldiers who have just revolted to fight so hard for so long, right?

If it weren't for Jeon Doo-kwang personally leading the charge and using his previously accumulated prestige to stabilize morale, those South Korean rebel soldiers would have already collapsed.

Even if Quan Douguang has a high reputation, he has almost reached his limit in maintaining it until now.

"Reporting to the battalion commander, the American troops on the eastern position have charged up! Company Commander Zhang Taofang has led the remaining soldiers of the Ninth Company into hand-to-hand combat with the American troops!"

"They urgently need our help!"

At that moment, a volunteer army communications officer rushed over to report.

"Battalion Commander, the last reserve force cannot be moved lightly. Fire!"

Seeing the critical situation, Mei Sheng quickly offered some advice.

"Judging by the time, Wanli and the others should be arriving soon."

"Pass on my order: the guard platoon will personally accompany me to support the front lines and help the Ninth Company drive the American devils off their positions!"

Wu Qianli hesitated for a few seconds before finally deciding to speak.

"Commander, wouldn't this be..."

Seeing this, Mei Sheng wanted to persuade him again.

"That's it. Without artillery, if Wanli and the others come, we'll just be passively bombed without any chance to fight back."

"Comrades, follow me into battle and defeat those American imperialists!"

As Wu Qianli spoke, he charged out of the command post with his rifle, bayoneted and ready, shouting loudly.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The soldiers of the guard platoon were filled with determination, and they gritted their teeth and followed Wu Qianli, desperately rushing towards the Ninth Company's position.

……

To the east, on the Ninth Company's position
Zhang Taofang drew the captured pistol and fired continuously at the American troops, who posed the greatest threat on the battlefield.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Several gunshots rang out quickly, and six American soldiers fell to the ground.

Zhang Taofang didn't even glance at it, but instead picked up her bayonet and quickly joined the fray.

However, while he was an excellent marksman, he was not as skilled in bayonet fighting and was quickly killed in the shoulder by several American soldiers.

"what!"

Zhang Taofang clutched the wound on her left shoulder, struggling to lift the bayonet, preparing for a final stand.

However, the next second, a battle cry came from behind. It turned out that Wu Qianli had led his guard platoon to join the battle.

Upon seeing this, two American soldiers roared and lunged at Zhang Taofang, intending to assassinate her during the last opening.

"clang--"

In a flash, Wu Qianli, with his bayonet in hand, used all his strength to knock the bayonets of the two American soldiers away, and then quickly drew his pistol.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two shots rang out, and two American soldiers were shot in the chest and fell unwillingly into a pool of blood.

"A medic, come and bandage Comrade Zhang Taofang and take her to the rear!"

Wu Qianli shouted, panting heavily.

"Battalion Commander, I only suffered minor injuries..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Taofang hurriedly tried to stand up, but halfway up, she struggled to cover the wound on her shoulder and gasped for breath.

"Old Tan appreciates you a lot. I have to take you back with me, or I'll get a real scolding from him."

"Take good care of your injury, that's an order!"

Wu Qianli patted Zhang Taofang on the shoulder, then continued to throw himself into the battlefield.

"Commander Tan, an invincible hero, appreciates me, fine, staying here would only be a burden..."

Zhang Taofang watched Wu Qianli's retreating figure, grinned with relief, and murmured to herself.

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

U.S. 25th Division Command
"Has the Chinese army used up all its reserves?"

Major General William put down his binoculars and asked.

“That’s right, they’ve exhausted all their strength. It’s time for us to carry out our surprise attack plan.”

"Sir, the Chinese army's reinforcements should be arriving soon."

The U.S. military chief of staff issued a reminder.

"God will bless us. We only need a few minutes to successfully cross the border from the west. At that time, those South Korean troops will definitely collapse first."

"Let's get started. The disastrous defeats at Anshan and Hanjiang need a great victory to wash away the humiliation."

Major General William said.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, the U.S. Chief of Staff immediately agreed.

……

Soon, the US artillery and air force launched a new and even more rapid bombardment of the Han River positions.

Meanwhile, a commando team of several hundred American soldiers took advantage of the opportunity to advance westward towards the Han River ferry crossing.

To conceal their movements, they deliberately chose to go around to a more distant part of the river, where the ice was thinner and there was a risk of collapse, but this did manage to fool the already small number of defending troops.

If things continue to develop in this way, the battle will end with the US military successfully launching a surprise attack in the final moments, leading to the collapse of the South Korean uprising forces and the resulting disintegration of the entire Han River defense line.

However, at this moment, Wu Wanli, who was about to reach the Han River battlefield, looked at the Iron Heart Sky Eye map and a chill ran down his spine.

"Wanli, this is roughly the battle report from the front. What do you think of us..."

Liu Hanqing had just finished showing Wu Wanli the battle report and was about to continue.

"This is bad! Judging from these battle reports, the American forces are definitely going to launch a surprise attack!"

"How much longer until the air force reaches the Han River defense line?!"

Wu Wanli put down the battle report and quickly asked.

"Wanli, what's wrong?"

"The Air Force will take a few more minutes to arrive."

Liu Hanqing said.

"A few minutes? That's too slow..."

"Power on! Immediately order all hidden artillery units to open fire on the ice surface west of the Han River ferry crossing. Give me a barrage!"

"In addition, the Air Force should immediately support the artillery positions to prevent the artillery from being bombed by the US Air Force!"

"Quick!"

Wu Wanli frowned and gave the order urgently.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing quickly agreed.

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

PS: Thank you to the big brother "一生O" for the tens of thousands of Qidian coins. As mentioned in the previous bonus chapter rules, a bonus of 2,000 words will be added for each helmsman who gives a bonus. So this chapter will not be 4,000 words. I will only publish it after writing 6,000 words!

(End of this chapter)