Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 234 Do the Line-Filling Troops Need to Be Issued Guns? (Small Update Feedback)
Chipyong-ri, 1st Brigade Command Post
"Sir, the 7th Steel Regiment of China did not break into our encirclement, but instead rushed towards Chipyong-ri!"

The chief of staff of the US 1st Brigade rushed over with the latest reconnaissance information and said this.

"They went to Toheiri?!"

Freeman's eyes flashed with surprise, and he said with some unexpectedness.

He suppressed his anxiety and tried to calmly let his brain work at high speed, deducing the current battle situation.

“Sir, our ambush plan was very well concealed. Logically, they shouldn’t have been able to find it.”

"Could it be that they are willing to make a drastic sacrifice, abandoning Lizhou in exchange for our Dipingli?"

"Sir, shall we continue our all-out attack on Lizhou?"

The chief of staff of the US First Brigade speculated.

"We can't trade with them!"

"China also sent the 40th Army as reinforcements at breakneck speed. Once Chipyong-ni is lost, we will never be able to take it back!"

"Lizhou is actually an added bonus for us."

"With Yeoju and Chipyong-ri, it's like having a diagonal defensive belt running northeast to southwest."

"With this defensive belt, the main flanking attacks of the Chinese army on the eastern front can be almost completely blocked."

"If it's only Tohei-ri, it's a bit of a stretch, but it's enough."

"It's like using a key town to block them while simultaneously threatening the Chinese army's Yangping logistics station to the north."

“If they dare to ignore us and bypass us, our logistics could be cut off, and they are also at risk of being attacked from the flanks and rear at any time.”

After Freeman finished his simulation, he strode to the battle map hanging on the wall and said loudly.

“Sir, I understand.”

“By holding the strategic points of Chipyong-ri and Lizhou, we can almost completely block China’s westward detour route, since they should be afraid of being attacked from two fronts.”

"By holding only the point of Dipingli, we can maintain a threatening and stable position at the junction of the eastern and western lines."

"If we lose Chipyeong-ri and only defend Yeoju..."

The chief of staff of the US First Brigade smiled wryly.

"Then it can only stabilize the rear and prepare for the army's early retreat."

"After all, the four cities of Suwon, Icheon, Yeoju, and Wonju in the south, when connected, form a new defensive line after the defeat in the Fourth Campaign."

"Damn it, but I really didn't want it to end like this."

"Pass on my order: those who are not currently attacking the city, proceed at full speed to provide support to Chipyong-ri!"

"Those currently besieging the city, launch one last fierce attack. If you can't take it, there's no need to linger. Join the main force."

"Furthermore, telegraph General Ridgway: We need more support!"

Freeman waved his hand and said.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, the chief of staff of the US First Brigade quickly agreed.

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

Lizhou, on the south city wall

"Da da da da da da..."

Xu Mumu gritted his teeth and silently fired his light machine gun at the charging American soldiers.

Several corpses lay at his feet; one soldier after another had sacrificed their lives beside him.

There was a fellow villager from Henan who, just an hour ago, was smoking a cigarette and joking with him, saying that he would go back alive and marry a beautiful 18-year-old girl.

Just a minute ago, he was blown to pieces by a rocket.

The flames scorched his body, and countless shrapnel bullets pierced his flesh, making him unrecognizable.

"call out------"

In an instant, the shrill explosion of an approaching cannonball rang out.

"fool!"

Upon seeing this, Chenggong quickly stepped forward and tackled him to the ground.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom..."

The next second, flames from the explosion rose up from the city wall, and countless shrapnel fragments burst forth like flowers scattered by fairies.

Dozens more garrison soldiers were killed on the spot, and more than a dozen others were wounded and struggling.

He successfully touched the cool back of his head and felt a trace of blood.

It turned out that shrapnel had just grazed his scalp, shaving off a small clump of hair and severing the capillaries in his skin.

"Idiot! How many times have I told you?!"

"You're a newly promoted temporary officer, what are you doing mowing down with a machine gun?"

"If you die, your garrison will fall into chaos. What will happen to the command then?"

Successfully grabbed Xu Mumu's shoulders with both hands and pulled her up, shouting anxiously.

"What garrison squad? There's no one left, no one left..."

"Not a single one left!!!"

Xu Mumu looked at the piles of corpses on the city wall with a sob in her voice, and cried out.

With the added impact of the artillery fire, all his soldiers were killed, leaving only him.

At this moment, Xu Mumu's eyes were blurry, and all she could see was the red of blood.

If he had a choice, he would even prefer that it was himself who died, instead of these people.

"They're all dead, only I'm left, only me..."

Xu Mumu picked up the gun while crying, ready to continue fighting desperately.

"In ancient times, this would have meant the success of one general was built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers."

"If this were today, they would all have died gloriously for their country and people."

"That's how war is; there's no such thing as no sacrifices..."

"Third Company, follow me and push forward!"

Successfully surveyed the corpses scattered on the ground, but felt little emotion. After comforting Xu Mumu, he roared, grabbed his gun, and rejoined the battlefield.

"kill!!!"

The soldiers of the Third Company immediately grabbed their guns and joined the battle, firing at the American soldiers charging below from various points on the city wall.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang..."

"Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump..."

With precise shooting and the roar of heavy machine guns, countless bullets flew rapidly toward the American soldiers below.

Because the bullets are fired from above, the headshot rate is extremely high.

One by one, American soldiers' heads exploded, and bright red blood and pale brain matter splattered everywhere.

One after another, American soldiers had their hands or feet severed by large-caliber bullets, staggering and falling to the ground, howling in pain.

"Fuck!!!"

"They bombed and charged wave after wave, and each time they were just a little short, but they always managed to fight back!"

A U.S. Army major lay down behind the corpse and began to curse.

"Sir, Colonel Freeman said that if we can't win this round, we should just retreat. Should we continue?"

A U.S. Army captain asked.

"Hold on my ass. Once the main force gets far away, we may be surrounded by Chinese troops."

"withdraw!"

The U.S. Army major looked at the surging gunfire and dense bullets firing from the city wall and roared helplessly.

Upon receiving the order, the American soldiers quickly dispersed like a tide.

After repelling the American attack, cheers erupted from the city walls.

However, after the cheers subsided, the sight of the horrific casualties quickly brought everyone back to a calm, even somewhat somber, state.

The price of victory was that of the thousands of veterans of the 7th Steel Regiment who entered the city, only more than 200 were left, and the casualty rate of the troops filling the gaps reached more than 90%.

If it weren't for Wu Wanli's temporary buff that locked down the organization level, these filler troops temporarily incorporated into the New Eighth Army would probably have collapsed long ago.

"Brother Chenggong, didn't you say you were running out of guns and ammunition?"

"Didn't they say there were no reinforcements to be sent?"

"What about this last wave of reinforcements? And what about all those heavy machine guns and the dense hail of bullets...?"

Xu Mumu wiped away her tears and approached Chenggong with a hint of anger, asking him a question.

"Your garrison only has a few of our men as junior officers. Didn't I tell you to take them and command from a safe location?"

"As for the rest, they are basically enemy prisoners of war who fought against us, like Park Chung-hee and his gang."

“I gave them the opportunity to go to the battlefield to exchange for freedom and status, which is good for them.”

Successfully said.

Due to the intense fighting, many of those recruited earlier had already perished.

Faced with a shortage of manpower, Chenggong tried every possible solution, including this one.

"What I'm asking is why we didn't send support sooner?"

Why do you say there isn't enough gun and ammunition?

Xu Mumu no longer called Chenggong "Brother Chenggong," but looked into Chenggong's eyes and asked.

"Idiot, are you going to glare at me for the sake of those South Koreans?"

"They weren't volunteers; they were just a bunch of prisoners stained with the blood of Chinese people!"

"I only promised them that they would atone for their crimes by winning the battle, and that I would give them the benefits they deserved. They fought desperately for their own freedom and advancement!"

"If I hadn't done this, the veterans of the Seventh Steel Regiment would have been wiped out long ago, and Lizhou City wouldn't have been able to hold out until now!"

"Wake up, you idiot! This is a battlefield, and victory on the battlefield is achieved by any means necessary!"

"Moreover, although I put victory first, I have done right by every Chinese soldier!"

"Among the defenses of the four city gates, the veterans of our 7th Steel Regiment have the lowest casualty rate!"

"What's wrong with favoring your own people?!"

"So what if the line-filling troops aren't issued guns!"

"You're right, you're not fit to be an officer, you're only fit to be a soldier!"

Cheng Gong felt wronged and angry. After venting his anger, he turned and left.

Xu Mumu stood there, thinking about what Chenggong had said, looking at the corpses scattered all over the ground and Chenggong walking away, feeling a sense of bewilderment.

He had a vague feeling that success seemed to be the right thing to do, but it didn't seem quite the same as what he had imagined.

“A few people should go and talk to him. This fool is just too kind-hearted. Just give him some good advice and he'll be fine.”

Having successfully reached the halfway point, he turned to look at his fellow villager and said to the instructor beside him.

"It's alright. Go to the city defense command and report to Commander Lei Zhen. He's still waiting for you."

"I'll take care of Comrade Xu Mumu."

Seeing the concern in Chenggong's eyes for his comrade, the instructor immediately smiled and agreed.

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

Lizhou City Defense Command

"success!"

"You are a great contributor to this city defense battle!"

"The other three sections of the city wall have only about a hundred veterans left in the 7th Steel Regiment, but the section you're defending still has more than a hundred!"

"Not only that, you also killed more enemies and captured more spoils!"

"I will report this to the commander and award you a major merit!"

Lei Zhen said appreciatively.

"Commander Xie Lei, it's just that most of the suitable officers have already sacrificed themselves, so it's my turn to make a difference."

"I am extremely honored to fight for my country and people, and I don't care about these merits."

Success filled him with elation, but he remained outwardly calm as he spoke.

"It's alright, the reward you deserve is yours."

"It's a pity that Lizhou only managed to hold its ground. If we're talking about truly great achievements, we should look to the contributions of Dipingli!"

"This is a crucial location that concerns the entire strategic situation. The reason we've been fighting for so long is simply to contain it."

"Fortunately, the regimental commander led his troops to launch a surprise attack on Chipyong-ni, which relieved our siege; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

A hint of worry flashed in Lei Zhen's eyes as he spoke.

"What do you mean by that, Commander Lei? Lizhou should be fine if we can hold it for another day or two, right?"

Having successfully detected Lei Zhen's hidden worries, he asked.

"The US military just finished its last offensive and, as usual, provided artillery cover during the retreat."

"It was during this wave of artillery fire that the city walls on the north and east sides collapsed."

"It wasn't just one of the smaller breaches that appeared before, but rather a large portion of the city wall collapsed."

"It's truly heartbreaking that more than a dozen soldiers from the 7th Steel Regiment died at this moment..."

Lei Zhen sighed and said.

"In that case, Lizhou cannot be defended!"

"We have Lichuan in the west and Yuanzhou in the east. We were originally a thorn in the side of the US military."

"The departure of the 1st Brigade does not mean that other US troops will not come. They certainly will not give us a chance to catch our breath."

"And our current situation..."

Upon hearing this, Chenggong immediately offered a reminder.

"I was just about to report to the commander. I'll leave it to the commander to decide."

"Someone, send a telegram to the regimental commander..."

Lei Zhen nodded and shouted loudly.

"report!"

"The regimental commander called, ordering our unit to evacuate Lizhou immediately!"

At this moment, a volunteer soldier strode into the city defense command post and shouted.

"This... I haven't even generated the power yet, how would the commander know?"

Lei Zhen was slightly taken aback and said with some surprise.

"It's not surprising, actually."

"Lizhou has been under heavy American fire for so long; with the commander's judgment, he must have calculated the extent of our casualties." "Commander Lei, there's no time to lose, let's go!"

Successfully said.

"it is good!"

"The outcome of the next battle depends on the commander and his team!"

Lei Zhen nodded emphatically and said.

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

Diping inside and outside
The battalions of the 7th Steel Regiment occupied the advantageous terrain on the outer perimeter and, relying on each other, hastily repaired makeshift fortifications, thus encircling the French battalion inside.

"Wanli, didn't you say you wanted to relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao?"

"Now that the siege of Lizhou has been lifted, we can withdraw first."

"A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. If we forcefully surround it, we may be attacked from both sides by the French battalion and the US 1st Brigade."

Liu Hanqing asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I think the commander is fine. To hell with the pincer attack, let's go all out and just launch a fierce attack to push in."

"Not long ago, didn't Commander Li Yunlong and his men also have tank units flanking them from behind, yet they still managed to push all the way to the 1st Cavalry Division's command post!"

"I think our Seventh Steel Regiment would be good too!"

"When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave shall prevail; let's fight!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong's eyes blazed with fury, and he laughed loudly.

"Commander, the artillery battalion has enough shells to support several more attacks, but it will be difficult to replenish them after they run out."

Lei Gong took a puff of his pipe and said neutrally.

"Commander, we'll do whatever you say, however you want us to fight."

Gao Daxing seemed to sense that Wu Wanli had different ideas, and quickly said something.

"Don't withdraw!"

Upon hearing Wu Wanli's words, Yu Congrong immediately grinned, ready to seize the main attacking position with a smile.

"Don't attack!"

After the second sentence was uttered, all the key members of the regiment looked at Wu Wanli with some surprise.

"What does it mean……"

"Commander, are we just going to wait here?"

Yu Congrong paused for a few seconds, then asked in confusion.

"I ask you, is it easier to fight the US First Brigade in open battle, or to let them into Chipyong-ni and then launch a strong attack on their defensive perimeter?"

Wu Wanli stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the hanging battle map, and asked.

"Of course, open field battles are easier to fight..."

"I understand. That's why you're surrounding them, Commander. You don't want them to enter Chipingli!"

Pinghe suddenly realized.

"And the same goes for that French battalion."

"Is it better for us to launch a strong attack, or to wait for them to attack?"

"If they want to launch a pincer attack, the French battalion will definitely have to commit its main force to fight..."

"This French battalion is not simple. They are from the French Foreign Legion, not those white flag native troops."

"France relied on these foreign legions to fight most of its tough battles. They were the absolute elite of the French forces and the only French troops sent to the Korean War."

"Their general, Ralph, is a battle maniac. A lieutenant general, he actually volunteered to fight in Chipyong-ri."

"This is no simple matter..."

Wu Wanli said.

Historically, Ralph was a French lieutenant in the First World War, was wounded seven times, and was awarded ten times for meritorious service.

During World War II, he served as the commander of the 13th and a half Brigade of the French Foreign Legion, participating in the North African campaign and inflicting a major defeat on the Italian army.

Before joining the Korean War, he was the Inspector General of the Foreign Legion and a French lieutenant general.

But as soon as he saw a battle, he volunteered to come even if it meant being a lieutenant general or battalion commander.

During the Battle of Chipyong-ni, he took the lead in removing his helmet, tying on a red headscarf, and leading the French army and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, which had managed to break in, in hand-to-hand combat!
It was this hand-to-hand combat that held out until the US counter-offensive, and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army lost its best chance to capture Chipyong-ni for the last time.

"Commander, if that's the case, then the American and French troops are the elite of their respective countries."

"If our Seventh Steel Regiment fights like this, the casualties will probably be huge."

Liu Hanqing said.

"I remember when I first joined the army, the 7th Steel Regiment was still the 7th Infiltration Company."

"Do you remember what you said back then, Lei Gong, that's very relevant now?"

Wu Wanli looked at Lei Gong and said.

"The enemy's rear is the front line of our company."

"The Seventh Company sacrificed its own heavy casualties to achieve only minor casualties for our army..."

Lei Gong was stunned for a moment before finally uttering those words loudly.

"Casualties are nothing to boast about, holding on is everything!!!"

"The Seventh Steel Regiment will be a nail, firmly nailed here!"

"If the US First Brigade wants to enter Chipyong-ri, they'll have to step over my dead body first!"

"As long as we hold out until the 40th Army arrives, all of this will have been meaningful!"

Wu Wanli slammed his fist on the table and roared.

He considered many ways to break the deadlock, but facing the stubbornly defending Chipyong-ri, he really couldn't guarantee that he could take it down.

After all, he was the last military genius in the US military, plus the most elite French troops and a lieutenant general who dared to fight hand-to-hand combat.

This lineup doesn't stop there; it also boasts superior firepower, artillery, and air force...

In addition, the battlefield at Chipyong-ri is extremely narrow, making it impossible for large troops to deploy.

Now, the casualties of the 38th and 50th Armies are increasing, and they will soon be unable to hold on.

In summary, it's still possible that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army could lose this battle...

However, with the Seventh Steel Regiment cutting things off, the situation becomes very different.

The battlefield width issue has been resolved; the US First Brigade is still outside, in an open area with no defensible terrain.

Firepower was also diluted, and even in terms of command, the US and French battalions had to coordinate via telegram, and in many situations they could not know each other's situation in a timely manner.

In night fighting conditions, this was a significant weakening of the US-French forces!
"If that's the case, I estimate the UN forces will be in a panic. We might be facing more than just the US 1st Brigade and the French battalion."

Looking at the strategic map, Liu Hanqing made a prediction.

"No matter how many come, the Seventh Steel Regiment will hold them off!"

"With me, Wu Wanli, here, the UN forces won't be able to turn the tide!!!"

"My only worry is whether the 38th and 50th Armies can hold out for that long..."

A hint of worry flashed in Wu Wanli's resolute eyes as he looked in the direction of the 38th Army and said.

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

Central part of the Hanjiang South Front, Taihua Mountain, 38th Army Command Post
"Commander, Li Yunlong's army is safe, but our comrades have suffered heavy losses!"

"If this keeps up, we're really going to be wiped out..."

The chief of staff of the 38th Army handed the battle report to Commander Liang and said.

"Old Liang, the casualty rate has reached 60%, it's really not good to continue fighting like this."

"Even if we don't apply for an early withdrawal, we can at least get some of the 113th Division's reinforcements back."

Looking at the battle report, Director Wu of the Political Department of the 38th Army said with a hint of heartache.

"I've read the 27th Army's battle report, and Li Yunlong did nothing wrong!"

"You only see that they are safe now, but the fortifications and weapons and ammunition supplies they have occupied all belong to the US military."

"The army commander, deputy army commander, and director of the political department charged into battle together, breaking through three lines of defense of the 1st Cavalry Division in one fell swoop, and killing at least three thousand enemy soldiers!"

"They are still holding back the US 2nd Brigade and the 1st Cavalry Division, and they've already done enough."

"The 113th Division cannot be moved; it will remain at Tiande Peak."

“We’ve encountered a situation here. The 50th and 27th Armies can attack the US forces from both sides and provide support at the same time.”

"But if something happens at Tiande Peak, and the US military rushes straight to Yangping, a major logistics and supply station, the Eastern Front army will be in complete disarray."

Commander Liang shook his head and said.

"The 27th Army did fight very well, and I admire their achievements, especially the Steel 7th Regiment led by Wu Wanli."

"But if they could help us more, especially if they still have the resources..."

The chief of staff sighed and said.

"Yu Li?"

"Who has the energy left now..."

"When I first went to fight in Korea, I made a command error and let the American troops escape. I was severely scolded by my superior."

"If it weren't for our elite regiment wiping out a large number of American troops while gnawing on rocks at Flying Tiger Mountain, I probably would have been shot long ago."

"The commander was lenient with our 38th Army, giving us the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Sansuoli and fight fiercely at Songgufeng to turn the tide. He even called us the Long Live Army!"

"The Long Live Army must live up to its name; we will withstand any difficulties."

"Report the casualty figures normally, but don't complain at all. Just say that even if the 38th Army lost its unit designation, it would still die on the battlefield."

Commander Liang recalled the scene from back then and said with emotion.

"Commander, a small number of our soldiers are demoralized, and it's even said that the Fourth Field Army is the one that cares about us the most..."

"Actually, it's not that I have any real grievances, it's just that it's hard to watch my old comrades die one by one."

"I think we should add a clause: request more weapons and ammunition support, as well as food supplies, to appease our comrades."

said the chief of staff.

"If anyone dares to say such things again and disrupt morale, they will be shot on the spot!"

"As for weapons and ammunition supplies, we can ask and let the bosses make the decision."

Commander Liang said.

"Yes!"

The chief of staff immediately agreed.

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

Outside Eagle's Nest, the joint command post of the US 2nd Brigade and the 1st Cavalry Division
"Sir, something terrible has happened!!!"

"The Chinese 7th Steel Regiment abandoned Yeoju and launched a full-speed blitzkrieg against Chipyong-ni, now completely surrounding the French battalion within Chipyong-ni!!!"

Van Fleet, holding the telegram, strode up to Ridgway and spoke.

"What?!"

"What exactly do these Chinese people want to do?!"

Are they launching a fierce attack on Chipyong-ri?

"Quickly send Freeman with the First Brigade of the US Army to provide support!"

"Chipyong-ni is the junction of the UN forces' eastern and western fronts, and it must not be lost."

"Also, have the 24th and 25th Divisions on the west flank speed up and launch a fierce attack on the Chinese 38th and 50th Armies!"

"Their army isn't as monstrous as the 27th Army. With so many captured American weapons and artillery, they should have taken them long ago!"

"After the breakthrough, launch a fierce attack on their logistics transit station Yangping, and outflank the Chinese army in a counter-encirclement."

"I refuse to believe that the Volunteer Army can win without food and ammunition supplies!"

"We'll hold them off until they run out of food, then wage a massive annihilation battle to end this damned war once and for all!"

Li Qiwei looked at the battle map and said fiercely.

"Sir, Freeman has already led the First US Brigade to provide support."

"But the Chinese army did not launch a fierce attack on Chipyong-ni. Instead, it seized advantageous terrain and high ground on the outskirts and built a series of ring-shaped defensive fortifications."

“I suspect their goal is to separate the US 1st Brigade and the French Battalion, preventing them from meeting up in Chipyong-ri.”

"In this way, when the 40th Army arrives, the difficulty of attacking Chipyong-ni will be reduced by tenfold!"

"Not only that, the lightly armed French battalion certainly can't escape!"

"Sir, their commander, Ralph, is a French lieutenant general..."

“Smith, William, and Edward were all just major generals before. We can’t let the Chinese set a precedent again.”

"Otherwise, not only us, but the glory of the entire Western world will become a stepping stone for China to dominate the world."

Chief of Staff Van Fleet reminded him.

Actually, that's not all; France only sent one reinforced battalion into North Korea in total.

This is the only son!

If the Seventh Steel Regiment were to annihilate them, the newspapers would have plenty to brag about.

For example: [Shocking! All French troops in North Korea were wiped out by a 19-year-old Chinese man! Freeman, however, laughed...]

[Shocking! Ridgway's conspiracy to frame his allies through the Chinese army—the reason is actually this...]

When newspaper reporters come to interview Wu Wanli, he won't mind teaching them these skills.

"Fuck! We can't let them succeed!"

"We still have those US troops we can mobilize, but the few people in Chipyong-ri aren't enough to guarantee our safety!"

"We must send reinforcements to ensure the complete annihilation of the Steel Seventh Regiment outside Dipingli!"

"They want to be Chinese heroes, so I'll send them to hell!"

Ridgway slammed his fist on the table in anger and said...

In fact, besides fighting the 7th Steel Regiment, he also had another reason for sending reinforcements: the battle was going badly, and he wanted troops to cover Freeman and Ralph's retreat.

However, for the sake of morale, this cannot be said openly.

"Sir, the US troops cannot be moved, otherwise it will be impossible to maintain pressure on the Chinese 38th and 50th Armies."

"However, the Turkish Brigade and the British 27th Brigade can still be mobilized. They haven't done much work, so it's a good opportunity to give them a chance to move around."

Chief of Staff Van Fleet said,
"The Turkish brigade is too far away, so let's forget about it and let him continue to assist the Chinese 50th Army in its offensive."

"The British 27th Brigade is relatively close, so let them break camp immediately and rush to Chipyong-ri to provide support!"

"I want to see if even the most elite Chinese regiment can withstand the siege of more than 20,000 elite British, French and American troops."

Li Qiwei snorted coldly and immediately gave the order.

(End of this chapter)