Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 207: Piercing the Heart of the US Army, Opening a New Battlefield!

Seoul, Zhisi

"Weren't we supposed to hold the south of the Han River to the death? What's Wu Wanli up to?"

"They're leading an entire regiment and they're actually planning a counterattack on Lizhou!"

"The US 5th Division and the South Korean 8th Division, two main forces with tens of thousands of men!"

“This Wu Wanli, I just reported the deeds of the 7th Steel Regiment in defeating the 1st Battalion of the US 32nd Regiment to the whole army and he messed things up for me.”

"I should have known better than to put him under Li Yunlong's command; he picked up a whole bunch of that kid's bad habits!"

"Alright, it should still be in time to retreat now. Even if we send twelve urgent telegrams, we must recall them!"

The boss read the telegram several times before confirming that he hadn't misread it. He then slammed it on the table and shouted.

"Boss, Wanli is a guy who always wins every battle. He doesn't seem like the kind of reckless person you'd expect."

"I think we should send a telegram to inquire about the details first, and then make a decision?"

Chief Chen snapped out of his shock and reminded him.

"Is there anything else to ask?"

"I was afraid they would become arrogant because they never had a defeat!"

"The significance of the Seventh Steel Training Regiment is extraordinary. It is the most glorious and elite regiment in the war, and it has a large number of elite veterans and heavy firepower!"

"If we are surrounded and annihilated by the American devils, the morale of our army will definitely suffer a heavy blow. If our two heroes, Wu Wanli and Liu Hanqing, cannot return, I will not be able to explain to the people in Beijing!"

The boss sighed and said.

"Report to the boss!"

"A great victory for the 7th Steel Regiment!"

"They annihilated thousands of South Korean troops who were attempting an ambush, and also intercepted and killed hundreds of routed soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the US 32nd Regiment!"

At this moment, the chief of staff, holding the battle report, said with a smile.

"what?!"

"Several thousand South Korean troops ambushed the 7th Steel Regiment, only to be completely annihilated?"

"Who ambushed whom here?!"

"Show me the details of the battle."

Upon hearing this, Chief Chen was startled. He quickly snatched the telegram, adjusted his glasses, and began to read it carefully.

"How...how was this battle fought?"

The boss couldn't help but take a couple of steps closer and look at the battle report.

"Boss, Wu Wanli is a damn military genius!"

"He studied the terrain marked on the map himself and deduced that there was an ambush at Xiaoxueling. When the scouts went to check, they found that it was indeed the case!"

"So he turned the tables on them, sending one battalion ahead of time to infiltrate the rear of the South Korean army, and another battalion to block the only way to retreat to Yeoju."

"After the main force entered the canyon, artillery fire roared, attacking from both sides and crushing the South Korean army in one fell swoop."

"3687 enemy soldiers were killed, 0 were captured, and thousands of rifles, more than 200 light and heavy machine guns, and dozens of mortars were seized!"

"However, he had limited manpower and only took machine guns and mortars. He hid the extra weapons and ammunition and notified the New Eighth Army to retrieve them."

After reading the telegram, Chief Chen couldn't help but praise it.

"That was a great play..."

"By the way, how is the New Eighth Army doing behind enemy lines?"

The boss keenly sensed the opportunity and asked.

"The new Eighth Army was expanded several times from the original First Division of the Capital after the war, with a force of 30,000."

"However, the combat effectiveness and weapon configuration are uneven, and the main force consists of several thousand veterans who survived the uprising following Comrade Wu Wanli in the Battle of Seoul."

"Equipped with rifles, machine guns, and artillery of all American caliber, it is similar to the weapons and equipment of the US military."

"With the political commissar and the military police strengthening their resolve, they are capable of fighting the US military."

"With this, Comrade Quan Douguang established base areas in many mountainous areas and small towns in the rear!"

"The rest are newly incorporated guerrilla and line-filling troops, recruited from the border between our controlled area and the US-controlled area, ensuring that the soldiers' families can come to our territory for safety."

"But they couldn't even provide each person with a rifle; at most, they could only wage guerrilla warfare and entangle with Syngman Rhee's South Korean garrison."

The chief of staff held up a recent report from the new Eighth Army and said.

"Okay!"

"It seems that Wu Wanli's move was made with a long-term perspective!"

"A single spark can start a prairie fire!"

"Strengthening the forces behind enemy lines will allow the US military to experience the consequences of logistical instability!"

Upon hearing this, the boss's anger towards Wu Wanli's recklessness subsided somewhat.

Now, he was wondering if Wu Wanli was in the atmosphere and hadn't seen the deeper strategic thinking behind it.

"Commander, the New Eighth Army has heard that Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Regiment is in dire straits, so it has gathered tens of thousands of soldiers and is assembling towards Lizhou."

"Now, Quan Douguang is personally overseeing the operation and has led several thousand elite troops to the vicinity."

The chief of staff said with a smile.

"Boss, it seems that Wanli is not being reckless; he has his sights set on Lizhou City."

"It is one of the three major supply cities for the US military south of the Han River, one of the three major airfields, and also the headquarters of the South Korean 8th Division!"

"After this battle, the weapons captured seem to be enough to arm 30,000 men of the New Eighth Army."

"With Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Regiment and Quan Douguang's veterans of the uprising in command, how could tens of thousands of men not be able to defend Lizhou City?"

"Wanli is about to open up a new battlefield!"

"Boss, do you remember the strategic infiltration during the Long March into the Dabie Mountains?"

Chief Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and he gasped.

"what?!"

"He's going to turn the Korean War upside down!"

Upon hearing this, the CEO quickly walked to the strategic map and took a look, and was immediately taken aback.

Yeoju is not only one of the three major supply cities and an airport, but also the city closest to Chipyeong-ri, the junction of the east and west lines!

"That kid Wu Wanli is playing a grand game!"

"The US military might suffer damage on both the eastern and western fronts because of this thorn in their side."

"Victory would open up new battlefields, force the U.S. military to divide its forces, and greatly weaken the U.S. strategic offensive."

"If we are defeated, our army will be wiped out. After the US forces have finished their encirclement and annihilation, we will continue our fierce attack toward Seoul."

The boss sighed and said.

"Brilliant! That was a brilliant move!"

"The western front, which was originally playing a supporting role and holding the line, has actually shown the momentum of a counter-offensive, while the main forces on the eastern front are not even fully in place yet..."

"Boss, given the current situation, should we recall Comrade Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Regiment, or should we let him take a daring gamble?"

Chief Chen thought for a moment and then asked.

"This……"

The boss frowned and pondered, somewhat unsure.

"Boss, something terrible has happened!"

"Our comrades in the intelligence department risked their lives to send back the latest news: Ridgway has ordered a battalion of elite troops from the 1st Cavalry Division to be transferred to the airport in Lichuan and parachuted into Lizhou!"

"This means that in a dozen hours, the 7th Steel Regiment will not only be facing an empty city, but also a formidable and elite American force!"

At this moment, a staff officer from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army rushed in to report.

"What?! They've parachuted into Lizhou!"

"Boss, this makes the Seventh Steel Regiment even more dangerous!"

Upon hearing this, Chief Chen's heart sank, and he immediately said with concern.

"No, that's like gambling with your life, the risk is too great!"

"Immediately send a message to the Seventh Regiment of the Electric Steel Company. Tell Wanli that I know his idea is good, but it won't work this time. Tell him to return to his division immediately and break through towards Tiande Peak. Have Li Yunlong send troops to meet him!"

Upon hearing this, the boss did not hesitate at all and immediately gave the order.

"No need, it's too late..."

"Wanli's last telegram specifically stated that, in order to ensure that the unit's position was not exposed, the entire regiment should temporarily put on radio silence."

"He is currently leading the entire regiment on a rapid march towards Lizhou at top speed," the chief of staff said with a wry smile.

"Old Chen, how far is it from Xiaoxueling to Lizhou, and how long will it take him to get there?"

The boss's face showed a rare look of worry, and he quickly pointed to the battle map and asked.

"Reporting to the commander, it's about 73 kilometers, or 146 li!"

"Based on the intercepted intelligence, it is estimated that they would have to arrive in Yeoju within 14 hours to get there before the US military!"

Chief Chen looked at the map and intelligence and made an estimate.

"If I remember correctly, the 113th Division of the Long Live Army only covered 145 li during their raid on Sansuoli. They went one li over the distance?"

The boss's heart sank slightly, and he said.

"Not only that, their weapons are more numerous and heavier than those of the 113th Division, and they didn't just rush there; there are also a small number of South Korean troops stationed in Yeoju!"

"However, compared to the other side, their roads and terrain are much better than those in the three villages. The terrain is not as rugged, and the temperature is not as extreme as minus thirty degrees Celsius."

"But overall, their difficulty will be half a level higher than that of the Long Live Army."

The chief of staff thought for a moment and then spoke frankly.

"Radio silence, what a wonderful radio silence!"

"This Wu Wanli, he's not disobeying orders anymore, because he's not receiving any orders at all!"

"If I had air superiority, I would have loved to airdrop the orders over there!"

The boss came to his senses and suddenly understood Wu Wanli's thoughts, and immediately laughed angrily.

"Commander, please calm down. Things have come to this point. Perhaps the Seventh Steel Regiment can actually accomplish a task that is even more difficult than the Long Live Army?"

"After all, the 113th Division had an extra five minutes after arriving at Sansuo Village..."

As Chief Chen spoke, he also felt a little unsure of himself.

That run to the three institutes was too extreme; trying to surpass it is as difficult as climbing to the sky!
"I hope..."

The boss sighed, his heart clenching with worry as he looked towards Lizhou.

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

On the road to Lizhou

The sub-zero temperatures, the stinging pain from blisters on their feet, and the hunger that left them no time to eat were all overwhelming the soldiers of the 7th Steel Regiment.

But no one complained; everyone gritted their teeth and sped along carrying heavy weapons and ammunition.

"thump--"

The next second, a volunteer soldier fell to the ground, felt a sweet taste in his throat, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Comrade!"

Upon seeing this, Xu Mumu rushed forward and took out her own dry food and water.

"Idiot, you can't stop suddenly! You'll lose your strength and won't be able to keep up!"

Seeing this, Chenggong quickly tugged at Xu Mumu and anxiously reminded her.

"Our regimental commander said, 'Never abandon, never give up.' I can't just stand by and watch my comrades go!"

Xu Mumu shook off Chenggong's hand, opened the kettle spout, and personally fed the wounded soldier water.

Upon seeing this, the wounded soldier pushed Xu Mumu's hand away and, with all his might, pointed tremblingly in the direction of Lizhou.

"Walk……"

The wounded soldier was barely breathing; his words could only be understood through lip reading. Then his arm went limp, and he closed his eyes.

"what--"

Xu Mumu checked the wounded man's breathing and, confirming that there was no hope of recovery, cried out and continued rushing towards Lizhou.

"Officers of all battalions! Quicken your pace and get to the front for the meeting!"

At that moment, Wu Siyi's loud shout came.

"Well, you...you still have the...breath to shout!"

"The prehistoric man who was accompanying Wu Siyi said breathlessly."

"I'm not one of those greenhorn recruits!"

"I trained for 20,000 kilometers in the 20-kilometer cross-country run, and only... did I get second place in the whole division!"

Wu Siyi said proudly.

"Save some breath...keep telling them to go ahead and attend the meeting!"

As if wearing a "mask of pain," he said.

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

Temporary meeting at the front of the 7th Steel Regiment
"Commander, we can't let this continue... They've run away!"

"It's exhausting!"

Yu Congrong said, his face flushed.

"Rest... Wanli, let the comrades rest..."

Liu Hanqing, also panting, offered his suggestion.

Upon hearing this, Pinghe, Leigong, and the others were too exhausted to speak, and could only nod heavily in agreement.

Looking at everyone's condition, Wu Wanli hesitated. He was truly heartbroken that these elite veterans had been driven to exhaustion.

Moreover, the US Army doesn't seem to be able to catch up so quickly. Although speed is of the essence in war, a short rest doesn't seem to have much of an impact.

【Ding------】

[The system has detected that the host is facing a battlefield decision and has selected to activate!]

[Option 1: Continue the rapid advance towards Lizhou! Light infantry at their peak, surpassing even mechanized speed!]

[Reward: The protagonist's troops gain a 25% stamina bonus and a 15% mountain marching speed bonus!]

Option Two: Take a break! Humans aren't made of steel; miracles don't happen every time.

[Reward: The protagonist's troops receive a 30% bonus to stamina recovery speed!]

Soon, the system's cold notification sound rang out.

Hearing about these two bonuses, he became even more hesitant.

"Oh no! I've decided to keep speeding towards Lizhou and not rest!"

Wu Wanli's expression suddenly changed drastically, and he immediately made a choice.

I was so focused on the march that I didn't notice, but now that I've looked at the map, I realize that the US 1st Cavalry Division is mobilizing troops and heading towards Icheon.

Furthermore, next to the unit's tag, there was a message: "Heading to Lichuan Airport!"

The air force squadron badges at Lichuan Airport also displayed the message: "Preparing to coordinate with the Yeoju airborne operation!"

Isn't all of this obvious?

There's no time to waste!
【bite----】

[Host selection complete, reward issued!]

[Irregular reminder: If you do not complete the process after making your selection, the system will be permanently dormant!]

Soon, the system's cold voice finished broadcasting.

At this moment, Wu Wanli felt his body relax a little, his feet felt lighter, and the mountain road didn't seem so rugged and difficult to walk.

This change wasn't limited to him; the flush on Yu Congrong Pinghe's face also subsided somewhat, and the dry, bloody taste in his throat was relieved.

All the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Regiment also felt much more relaxed, and they all felt the changes to varying degrees.

But in their oxygen-deprived state, they had no time to think about why; they simply treated it as a second breath after reaching their limit.

"Commander, I think my sprint endurance has broken through!"

Yu Congrong couldn't help but exclaim with delight.

"Enough nonsense. I bet the Americans will use airborne troops, after all, they've done it before in Seoul!"

"So we can't delay!"

"Order the entire regiment to increase speed and continue the march!"

"Isn't the blitzkrieg at Lizhou just one mile longer than the Long March's raid on Sansuoli?!"

"Our Seventh Steel Regiment is determined to make it happen!!!"

A murderous glint flashed in Wu Wanli's eyes as he gave the order with an air of dominance.

(End of this chapter)