Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 231 Li Yunlong: I'd rather die on the road of charging forward!

In the twilight clouds, inside the 80th Division command post

"Commander Li Yunlong is surrounded?!"

"When did this happen? How many people were there?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dabiao immediately took out a battle map and estimated the time and distance.

"We were guarding the last stronghold in Yangcun when the US 2nd Brigade suddenly turned around and headed towards the direction of the main reinforcements of the 27th Army."

"I realized something was wrong, so I immediately ran to report it."

"It's all our fault for not protecting the radio station properly; otherwise, we could have reported it sooner."

Zhang Taofang said with some self-reproach.

"It's alright. Your Sharpshooter Battalion did a great job in the Yangcun blocking battle."

"Radio damage is also a problem with the American devils' firepower, it's not your fault."

"However, considering the speed of the US military's mechanized march, it is indeed dangerous for Commander Li Yunlong."

"Even if we send troops to rescue them immediately, we can't be faster than the US 2nd Brigade. We must notify the corps commander immediately."

Tan Ziwei said.

"Telegram to the Corps Commander: Tell him that the US 2nd Brigade intends to join forces with the 1st Cavalry Division to encircle and annihilate the main force of the 27th Army."

"Have the commander go to the nearest Tiger Mountain to hold the position, I'll come to his aid immediately!"

Zhang Dabiao said.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, one of the staff officers quickly agreed.

"report!"

"Commander Wu Wanli of the Seventh Steel Regiment has arrived!"

At this moment, the guards outside reported.

"Just let him in."

"And there's also Wu Wanli, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army!"

"Remember to call me that from now on... Never mind, it might not be this position in the future."

Zhang Dabiao smiled and waved his hand.

"Commander Zhang, Commander Tan!"

Wu Wanli strode into the command post and gave a dashing salute.

"Chief of Staff Wu, you really made a name for yourself this time!"

"Damn it, the Fifth Division of the US Army must have gone mad, actually surrendering to the Seventh Steel Regiment. It's infuriating!"

Zhang Dabiao returned the salute and said.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

"Wanli, it's been a long time! You're still as charming as ever!"

Tan Ziwei looked at Wu Wanli and smiled.

"They're all volunteer troops, so it doesn't matter who they surrender to."

"The captured American weapons, artillery, and ammunition were all divided up first; I won't keep them all for myself."

"We've suffered heavy losses of manpower. Our own regiment has more than enough, so we don't need that many."

Wu Wanli said.

"Your regiment is the 27th Army's top elite regiment. How many are left?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dabiao couldn't help but ask with concern.

"The main infantry force has about 1500 men left, which is exactly 500 soldiers per battalion. The artillery battalion has not suffered much loss."

"In addition, there is another detachment in Lizhou, which recruited several thousand soldiers to form a garrison regiment to defend the area. Originally, there were four or five thousand men."

"Now we are under heavy attack from the US First Brigade. The latest telegram reports that we have only about two thousand men left."

Wu Wanli sighed and said.

"More than half of our losses have been incurred..."

"Old Tan, this time both our east and west sides are in danger."

Zhang Dabiao said.

"Fortunately, our center has been successfully breached. If the US Fifth Division were still resisting, the situation would have been really difficult."

"To be honest, some of the US military generals are quite capable."

"Ridgway had the courage to make tough decisions, decisively abandoning a division to encircle our reinforcements."

"The commander of the US First Brigade was named... Freeman, wasn't he?"

"The General Staff had unanimously assumed that he would go to the Eastern Front to join forces with the main force of the US 2nd Division, which would be a good opportunity to run into the 40th Army."

"With the 40th Army's superior manpower and combat capabilities, defeating him in open battle would have been no problem, and we wouldn't be in this dilemma now."

Tan Ziwei sighed.

"That's right!"

"The best-case scenario would be that after the 40th Army defeats Freeman's forces, it captures Chipyong-ni and joins forces with us, giving us a significant advantage!"

"But Freeman's attack on the 7th Steel Regiment has slowed down our pincer attack."

"If we consider our current objective strength, we might actually be able to take Lizhou to the east."

"To be honest, I see a shadow of Wanli in him."

Zhang Dabiao said.

"The evaluation is so high?"

"I certainly don't want the US military to produce another Wu Wanli."

"If possible, we should nip it in the bud."

"However, with our current troop strength, it's probably unlikely. We can only wait and see."

Upon hearing this, Tan Ziwei became somewhat wary.

"Freeman was a famous American general who rose to fame in the Battle of Chipyong-ni and later became the NATO Army Commander-in-Chief."

"To command the army of the Western world and defend Europe for the United States is a low evaluation..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Have we calculated how many troops we still have?"

Zhang Dabiao frowned and asked.

"Reporting to the division commander, we've just finished counting. The entire division has 8587 soldiers remaining, but we have plenty of weapons and ammunition!"

"That's what the division chief of staff said."

"Allocate 1500 men to the Seventh Steel Regiment to replenish them with 3,000 elite troops."

"Wanli, we have limited manpower, so this is all we can do to help you."

Zhang Dabiao sighed and said.

"It's alright, this is enough."

"The casualties on the New Eighth Army side must be quite high as well. Quan Douguang said he would come over in person after the statistics are completed, but I don't know how long that will take."

Wu Wanli said.

"report!"

"Quan Douguang, commander of the New Eighth Army, requests an audience with Commander-in-Chief Wu!"

At this moment, Quan Douguang's voice came from outside.

"Hahahaha...Okay!"

"The one requesting an audience is Commander Wu. Shall I step aside with Lao Zhang for a moment?"

Upon hearing this, Tan Ziwei laughed and scolded.

"You know, in this world, the US 5th Division only surrendered to the 7th Steel Regiment, while the commander of the friendly army came to the headquarters of my 80th Division to request an audience with Wu Wanli!"

"Damn it, am I really that bad?"

Zhang Dabiao pretended to be annoyed and said.

"The Battle of Seoul ended a long time ago, and I don't know why the South Korean insurgents are so persistent."

"Hurry up and let them in."

Wu Wanli waved to the guards.

"Yes!"

The guard, remembering Zhang Dabiao's mention of being the deputy chief of staff, immediately obeyed the order.

"loyalty!"

When Quan Douguang walked in and saw Wu Wanli, he immediately thought of the kindness he had shown him when he was a prisoner and brought to the rank of army commander. He saluted and shouted.

"Quan Kaka, no need to be so polite."

"What is the current casualty situation of your New Eighth Army?"

Wu Wanli pressed his hand down and asked.

"The casualties were very heavy. Only 10,000 soldiers remained in the entire army, and only 3,000 of the veterans who had revolted were left."

"Fortunately, after the bloody battle with the US Fifth Division, all the survivors were veterans!"

Quan Douguang reported to Wu Wanli.

Wu Wanli nodded, opened the Iron Heart Sky Eye Map, and saw that the personnel situation of each army was clear at a glance.

New Eighth Army: [Experienced (Combat Power +50%)].

27th Army Main Force: [Veteran in Battle (Combat Strength +75%)].

80th Division: [Veteran in battle (Combat strength +75%)].

US 1st Cavalry Division: [Veteran (Combat Strength +75%)].

First Brigade: [A Fierce and Powerful Force (Combat Power +100%)]

US Second Brigade: [Veteran (Combat Power +75%)].

Steel Seventh Regiment: [Tiger Warriors (Combat Power +125%)]

After reviewing everything, Wu Wanli was somewhat surprised that the First US Brigade actually had the advantage of being a formidable force—a 100% boost!

What does this mean? Fighting one US brigade is equivalent to fighting an entire US division! "No wonder Freeman was able to defeat eight regiments of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army with just one regiment in the Battle of Chipyong-ni in history."

"It seems that Lizhou is in danger..."

Wu Wanli sighed and thought to himself.

"Wanli, our total troop strength is now about 20,000."

"The US First Brigade besieging Lizhou on the east side probably has more than 10,000 men."

"The 1st Cavalry Division and the 2nd Brigade of the American Army, which are besieging the main force of the 27th Army from the west, are estimated to have more than 30,000 men."

"How to carry out the rescue has become a problem."

Zhang Dabiao looked at the battle map and frowned.

"The 115th Division at Tiande Peak seems to be idle. Could we ask them to come and assist in the rescue?"

Tan Ziwei said.

“No, Tiande Peak originally required a full army to be secure, but now a division is the minimum standard.”

“If we make a move, they could easily take over Tiande Peak.”

“In that case, the 40th Army won’t need to come, Yeoju won’t need to be defended, and all the efforts on the Yeoju-Chipyeong-ri battlefield will be in vain.”

"After all, Tiande Peak is much more effective at dividing the eastern and western battlefields than Yeoju-Tipyeong-ri."

"Besides being divided, it can also threaten the flank of the 38th Army on the west side, and even coerce our supply depot and transit station, Yangping."

"If the UN forces use Tiande Peak as a bridgehead and then capture Yangping, it won't just be a flank threat; it will cut off the rear of the main force on the eastern front!"

Wu Wanli shook his head and said incisively.

"Yes, Lizhou is in a critical situation now, and the entire Chinese Air Force has been withdrawn to Yangping."

"If Yang Ping is also gone, we will have no choice but to retreat to Seoul."

"With such a long distance, air force support would be extremely limited."

Zhang Dabiao sighed and said.

"I think it would be better if I personally led 3,000 elite troops from the 7th Steel Regiment to the east to relieve Lizhou."

"More than 10,000 men from the 80th Division and the New Eighth Army went to rescue Commander Li Yunlong."

"In that case, our troop strength on the west side is about the same as that of the US military. Even if we can't defeat them, we can still successfully rescue Commander Li Yunlong."

Wu Wanli said.

"Well... what about you, Wanli?"

"The US First Brigade has more than 10,000 people!"

"Are you sure three thousand elite soldiers are enough to charge in?"

Upon hearing this, Tan Ziwei expressed his concern.

"Who said I was going to fight the US First Brigade?"

“A direct confrontation is definitely not going to work, but a strategy of attacking Wei to relieve the siege of Zhao is still sufficient.”

Wu Wanli looked at the situation of the Sky Eye map in Heart of Steel and said.

"You mean... to attack Chihaya-ri!"

"That's right! There's only one French battalion in Chipyong-ri, so the defenses are really weak!"

"If Chipyong-ri is captured, the US First Brigade will have no choice but to quickly retreat across the Red Cloud Canyon to the western front."

"Otherwise, we could very well be surrounded."

Tan Ziwei's eyes lit up, and he said.

"The idea is good, but three thousand is still too few."

"Since the New Eighth Army will be going with us to provide support, I don't need so many people."

"I'll replenish your force to four thousand. You take four thousand elite troops and charge out. If you succeed, great; if not, don't force it."

"If things don't go well, we can always fight back later!"

Zhang Dabiao said.

"I understand. Time is of the essence, so I won't say any more."

"Take care of yourself!"

Wu Wanli said, saluting.

"Take care of yourself!"

The group returned the greeting and watched Wu Wanli walk away.

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

27th Army Headquarters
"Commander, our vanguard has breached the 1st Cavalry Division's blockade position!"

"But their movements are very strange. There were a lot of tanks blocking their way when they attacked before, but now they've all disappeared."

"Not only that, their resistance is not as firm as before, but they seem to collapse at the slightest touch. I feel there's something fishy going on!"

Zhao Gang handed the battle report from the front lines to Li Yunlong and said.

"Is it a scam?"

Li Yunlong glanced at the battle report, then frowned and walked over to the battle map to study it carefully.

"Old Li, an urgent telegram from the 80th Division!"

"The US Second Brigade appears to be moving in our direction; judging by the timing, they should have arrived by now!"

Kong Jie rushed over with the latest battle report and said.

"The Second US Brigade?"

"Weren't they going to support the US 5th Division? Why are they suddenly coming here?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang asked with some confusion.

"At the very beginning of the battle, the 7th Steel Regiment destroyed the last artillery battalion of the US 5th Division."

"The US military probably saw that there was no hope of saving the 5th Division, so they gave up and turned to attack us."

"But the good news is that the US 5th Division has been completely annihilated, and now the 80th Division and the New 8th Army, totaling more than 10,000 men, are on their way to its aid."

Kong Jie thought for a moment and guessed.

"They'll turn their attack on us?"

"Damn it, they really think we're easy targets, trying to trade the US 5th Division for the main force of my 27th Army!"

"He wishes!"

Li Yunlong snorted coldly and cursed.

"Old Li, judging from this situation, the US military is trying to lure us onto the Great Plains by having us break through or even feign a retreat."

"The tank formation has disappeared; that means they're outflanking us from the rear."

"Old Li, there are mountains nearby that we can go up and hold our ground. We absolutely cannot fall into the trap of the American devils."

Zhao Gang said.

"Or there is another slightly risky, but successful, way to get out of trouble quickly."

"The American devils' outflanking maneuver should not be closed yet. Our entire army should turn around and break through towards Tiande Peak."

"Once we successfully break through, all of the US military's plans will be rendered futile, and they will have no choice but to withdraw."

Kong Jie thought for a moment and then said.

"No, this isn't just a little risky, it's too dangerous."

"If we try to outrun the tanks on two legs, and we get blocked and can't get through, then the American troops behind us will push forward, and the 27th Army will be finished."

Zhao Gang sighed and shook his head.

"What the hell is this 'holding out' and 'retreating'?"

"To put it bluntly, a large number of tanks have gone around to the rear. The US 2nd Brigade is almost there but hasn't arrived yet, right?"

"Why don't we just send our entire army up and crush their infantry in one fell swoop, then break out and turn east to join Zhang Dabiao and the others?"

"If we succeed, not only will we get out of this predicament, but I'll also be able to win a damn great victory!"

"Didn't Ridgway want to wipe out the main force of my 27th Army?"

"I'll fight him to the death and knock his teeth out!"

Li Yunlong said domineeringly.

"Old Li, the American troops aren't like the Japanese devils; their firepower is on a completely different level!"

"If we defeat them before the US 2nd Brigade arrives, that would be fine. But if the advance is slow and not going well, the main force of the 27th Army may be wiped out."

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie immediately spoke up.

"I know the risks. If the US Fifth Division hadn't been wiped out by now, I would have gone up the mountain to hold it without hesitation!"

"But now the US 5th Division has been wiped out, our reinforcements are on their way, and the tank group has circled around to the rear."

"That's a fighter jet!"

Li Yunlong tapped on the markings of various armies on the map and said.

"Old Li, neither Old Kong nor I agree with this plan this time. You should reconsider."

"The 1st Cavalry Division and the 2nd Brigade of the United States, more than 30,000 elite American troops, could be equivalent to 100,000 Japanese troops if their firepower were replaced!"

"With only 20,000 soldiers left in our 27th Army, the chances of successfully seizing such a dangerous opportunity are at most 30%."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang continued to persuade him.

"That's right, Lao Li. A single wrong decision could cost the lives of more than 20,000 comrades!"

"The US military is currently too powerful. We can retreat for now and wait until later..."

Kong Jie said.

"Bullshit!"

"I don't care, once the guns start firing, the whole army has to listen to me!"

"Even when facing the most powerful enemy, we must have the courage to draw our swords!"

"Even if only one person remains in the entire army, we must continue the attack!"

"Even if we die, we'll die on the front lines!!!"

"Pass on my order: launch a general offensive in three minutes! Fight alongside me all the way to Ridgway's command post!"

Li Yunlong slammed his hand on the table and gave a loud order.

(End of this chapter)