Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 257 Let them pass, that will make it easier to seize the aircraft carrier!
Soon, Miller led 3,000 elite troops of the 4th Brigade in the final amphibious assault.

A torrent of steel warships tore through the thick fog, and the transport fleet surged forward frantically on the azure sea.

Looking out, hundreds of transport ships formed a huge wedge-shaped array, cleaving through layers of waves.

On the rearmost transport ship
A U.S. soldier was lying on the side of the ship, with half of his body sticking out, vomiting.

In an instant, a surging wave suddenly came.

"No!!!"

"Help me!!!"

The American soldier was swept into the waves in a panic, shouting for help.

“Sir, Jon has fallen. We have to save him.”

Upon seeing this, a young U.S. soldier said anxiously.

However, at this moment, the American veteran on the ship simply shook his head and sighed, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.

"Buddy, this is our Fourth Brigade's last chance to salvage our honor."

"We cannot let one person disrupt our offensive rhythm."

"Let's wait for the search and rescue ships from the following fleet to come and save him. Let's pray that he survives until then."

"Now is the time to accelerate."

"Only by attacking and taking over those damned Chinese positions as soon as possible can we save more people."

Brigadier General Miller patted the American soldier on the shoulder and looked at the beach getting closer in the distance.

"Yes, sir..."

The young American soldier looked at his comrades being swallowed by the sea behind him and felt a pang of sorrow.

Soon, all the engines of the transport ship were running at maximum power, and the propellers at the stern churned up a pale white trail in the murky seawater.

The moment the landing hatches slammed into the shallows, the carnage began.

Thirty Pershing heavy tanks were the first to rush directly onto the shore from the amphibious landing ship, their tracks kicking up countless clumps of mud and sand.

Soon, Brigadier General Miller also jumped into the waist-deep seawater, where the salty, cold waves, carrying shrapnel, crashed against him.

He lunged forward, his M1 carbine already held level in front of his chest.

"Guys, we fight for the free world! Kill all these Chinese who have been brainwashed by the Red Terror!"

Miller roared and joined the charge.

"kill!!!"

Three thousand elite American troops from the transport fleet surged ashore like a floodgate opening, charging forward with loud roars.

At this time, the hill fortress complex remained silent, and Yu Congrong was waiting for the distance to close.

……

Fortress Command Center

"Instructor Yu, Deputy Instructor Lei, and Commander-in-Chief Wu sent telegrams to inquire."

"Are the craters he requested to obstruct American tanks enough, and how is the bomb placement going?"

"That's what a volunteer army communications officer said."

"Don't worry, Commander-in-Chief. Our men will dig deeper into the existing craters to create trap pits."

"It was relatively easy, so we dug a lot."

"The bombs have been checked repeatedly and there are no problems."

"The bombs will detonate when the American devils storm the fortified area after we evacuate."

"Not only will it ensure that the fortifications of the bunker complex are destroyed directly, but it can also bury hundreds of American soldiers."

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhen immediately spoke up.

"The commander-in-chief's move is brilliant; it prevents the US military from hiding here when we're trying to seize the aircraft carrier."

"If the commander-in-chief hadn't reminded me, I really wouldn't have thought of expanding the crater to create a tank trap."

Yu Congrong praised.

"Fighting alongside the commander-in-chief is so easy."

"The battlefield situation seemed to be clearer than I could observe; everything had been noticed and arranged."

Lei Zhen also smiled and sighed.

"The distance is about right, comrades, let's open fire!"

"Hit me hard!"

"It's better to shoot the American devils than to carry our heavy ammunition boxes around."

Yu Congrong, holding binoculars, observed and gave the order.

"Yes!"

The volunteer army communications officer quickly agreed.

…………

"Da da da da da da da da..."

“Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump…………”

Yu Congrong's order was quickly relayed, and the light and heavy machine guns in the fortress complex roared to life.

However, the US infantry tried to follow behind the tanks during the charge.

Therefore, most of the machine gun bullets hit the front armor of the tank, making a clanging sound.

Only a few American soldiers who accidentally slipped out of the gaps next to the tank were hit by stray bullets and fell to the ground in pools of blood.

"These Chinese are incredibly stupid. This kind of shooting has absolutely no effect on us."

Brigadier General Miller watched this scene and snorted coldly.

"Sir, something terrible has happened!"

"There are pits dug by the Chinese ahead, and our tanks get stuck right in them!"

"A U.S. soldier said."

"Damn it, how could the Chinese dig so many huge holes in such a short time?"

Brigadier General Miller raised his binoculars and looked inside; his heart sank.

As seven or eight Pershing heavy tanks fell heavily into cleverly disguised traps and pits, the originally aggressive American offensive arrows came to an abrupt halt.

The tracks futilely scooped up mud and water at the edge of the deep pit, its massive body unable to move, becoming a fixed target.

"Sir, to be specific, they didn't dig anything, they just enlarged the crater."

"Our naval bombardment, combined with the bombardment by the Chinese army, has long since created natural craters in the ground."

"Those craters aren't very big, so they won't affect our attack."

"But things are different when the Chinese dig deep and wide..."

A U.S. Army major said.

"Damn it, send in the engineers and get rid of these obstacles!"

"Pass down the order: the tanks are not to advance for the time being."

"Raise the cannons and bombard the Chinese army's firing positions to suppress them."

"Give me a good blast with all the machine guns and mortars, suppress their firepower and create space for the engineers."

Upon hearing this, Brigade Commander Miller angrily cursed.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Upon receiving the order, the US tank turrets immediately turned their guns around and opened fire on the exposed firing ports of the bunker complex.

At the same time, the mortar group behind them roared and rained down shells on the hill fortress complex.

The surface of the fortress complex was instantly engulfed by fire and smoke, with rubble and dirt flying everywhere.

Some machine gun positions were hit directly and immediately fell silent.

Inside the fortress complex, the tremors were violent, and dust fell in abundance.

Yu Congrong was so shocked that he staggered, but steadied himself by leaning against the wall and wiped the dust off his face.

"Reporting to Instructor Yu!"

"US military engineers have arrived with sandbags and planks and are filling the hole!"

The voices of the observation post were almost screaming amidst the gunfire.

"beat!"

"Hit me hard!"

"The mortar shells can be fired now; kill as many as you can!!!"

A fierce glint flashed in Yu Congrong's eyes as he roared at the messenger.

At the edge of the pit, U.S. engineers, under the cover of tanks and firepower, risked their lives to rush to the edge and throw sandbags into the pit.

However, many U.S. military engineers were hit by bullets and fell down as soon as they rushed out to throw sandbags.

Then, under the bombardment of mortar shells, he was blown away and buried in the crater.

Amidst the chaos and deafening gunfire, time ticked by.

Finally, after suffering considerable casualties among the engineers, the largest pits were barely filled in, creating a passable passage.

"All units! Charge!"

"Overrun them! Now!"

Brigadier General Miller roared, his face contorted with a ferocious, vengeful rage.

Driven to a frenzy, the elite American troops, like wild horses, followed closely behind the tanks and launched a ferocious assault on the seemingly crumbling hill fortress complex.

Bullets rained down on the surface of the fortress, kicking up gravel and dust, and the machine gun fire was suppressed intermittently.

……

Smoke filled the air inside the fortified command post.

Yu Congrong stared intently at the enemy troops surging in like a tide, his eyes as hard as steel, showing no sign of panic.

"Master Yu, the enemy's vanguard tank group has crossed the leveled area!"

"The infantry followed closely behind, less than two hundred meters from the front line of the core fortress!"

Lei Zhen said.

"understood!"

"Fire all artillery fire! Give those American devils their final blow!"

Yu Congrong immediately gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the Volunteer Army communications soldier immediately responded.

In an instant, several concealed mortar positions deep within the fortress complex, which had not been completely destroyed, roared!

The shells did not hit the tanks directly, but rather struck the infantry assault group that followed closely behind.

Boom! Boom!
The explosion burst into flames amidst the crowd, knocking dozens of American soldiers at the front to the ground.

In an instant, the hill fortresses that had just seemed to be "on the verge of death" appeared to come back to life!
The surviving heavy machine guns spewed angry flames from their pre-existing firing ports, which had not yet been completely destroyed, sweeping across the dense infantry formation.

Bullets from light machine guns and submachine guns rained down like water.

The American soldiers exposed to the bullets fell to the ground, their momentum halted.

"Damn it! Suppress fire! Call in all available fire support!"

Seeing this, Miller immediately gave the order.

However, the fortresses' firing positions were scattered and fortified.

Yu Congrong made full use of the last remaining concealed fortifications, catching the US military off guard.

The US infantry were forced to seek tank cover again or lie on the ground to fight back, and their momentum was abruptly halted for several minutes.

"Observation post report! Follow-up US forces are advancing!"

Lei Zhen warned again.

"Execute the commander-in-chief's plan!"

"Everyone, evacuate the battlefield immediately according to the predetermined evacuation order! Quickly!"

Yu Congrong gave the order.

Upon receiving the order, the surviving Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers in the fortified area acted without hesitation, as if they had rehearsed it countless times beforehand.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers quickly retreated through the pre-designated, winding underground passages.

Yu Congrong was the last to leave the core command post.

He glanced at the detonation control device, which was covered with wires, pressed the cover of one of the buttons hard, and then disappeared into the dark retreat tunnel without looking back.

As the U.S. military was still reeling from the intense barrage of fire that the fortified complex unleashed at the last moment, the firing positions suddenly fell silent, as if they had been cut off.

An eerie silence fell over the entire battlefield, with only the dull echoes of American artillery shells hitting the empty surface of the fortress.

"Did they escape? Or... a trap?" a U.S. Army captain hiding behind a tank shouted in surprise.

"We can't stop! The Chinese people can't hold on any longer!"

"Tanks, charge! Infantry, take the position!"

Brigadier General Miller also felt a strong sense of unease, but the madness of victory being within his grasp overwhelmed his reason.

Urged on by their superiors, the American soldiers mustered their courage and cautiously made their way toward the silent fortress complex.

Just as the first few dozen American soldiers finally stormed into the ruins of the fortress complex, preparing to plant the Stars and Stripes, the situation suddenly changed.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth, as if a giant dragon slumbering underground had been awakened!
A terrifying chain of explosions occurred throughout the entire hilly fortified area, from the inside out!
Flames shot into the sky, instantly engulfing all the American troops who had rushed in.

The massive shockwave, like an invisible giant hammer, slammed into the American troops on the periphery.

Tanks that were closer to the ground were lifted off the ground and then crashed down heavily!
The high-yield explosives, converted from blasting craters and buried deep beneath key passages and support points, were detonated simultaneously!
The entire hilly area shook violently and collapsed!
"Do not--!"

Brigade Commander Miller screamed desperately in the command vehicle; what he saw almost made his heart stop.

Thousands of elite American vanguard troops, along with nearly half of their tanks, were instantly reduced to mangled limbs and twisted steel fragments amidst the explosions and roars!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom..."

The smoke and dust from the explosion shot straight into the sky, obscuring the heavens.

As the smoke cleared, what came into view of the surviving American soldiers was a vast, scorched earth area that was completely twisted, sunken, and riddled with huge craters and hellish scenes.

The elite vanguard of the U.S. Army's 1st Division, along with nearly twenty valuable heavy tanks, became heavy casualties in front of this "ruins" that they had so easily obtained.

"Damn Chinese people!!!"

"They never intended to fight to the death; the attack just now was merely a final blow to deceive us!"

Miller stared at the scene before him, his eyes bloodshot, and cursed.

"Sir, we have lost another two thousand elite troops. The casualty rate of the Fourth Brigade has reached sixty percent."

"In other words, the Fourth Brigade was reduced to only about 4,000 men, and the brigade was reduced to the size of a regiment."

"Not only that, it also included a large number of wounded."

"Our Fourth Brigade will be temporarily unable to participate in the upcoming battles."

"That's what the chief of staff of the 4th Brigade of the United States said."

"Who cares! At least our mission is accomplished!"

"General Thomas, the Fourth Brigade has fought valiantly and has captured the Chinese army's hilly fortifications."

"The Chinese army could not resist, so they detonated the mountain and perished together with a part of our vanguard!"

Brigade Commander Miller thought for a moment and then said.

"perish together?!"

"Sir, judging from the sudden quieting of their firepower at the end, it doesn't seem like a mutual destruction; they retreated beforehand..."

The commander of the 4th Brigade of the United States was slightly taken aback and gave a reminder.

"Shut up!"

"Look at those boulders that were detonated; everything is buried. Who will slowly dig them up to count the corpses?"

"Even if we dig it up later, the body will be blown to pieces and impossible to identify!"

"Report it like this!"

"Brigadier General Miller said, frowning."

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, the chief of staff of the 4th Brigade of the United States had no choice but to agree.

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

USS Enterprise, War Room
"Sir, the 4th Brigade has successfully captured the Chinese army's hilly fortifications, but suffered heavy losses and is temporarily unable to fight any further."

"Our 5th and 6th brigades of the 1st Division are currently landing and preparing to set up ammunition depots and medical stations on the shore."

"Japan is transporting a large amount of equipment and supplies here, intending to develop Incheon Port into a good port that can provide long-term supply and maintenance for the naval fleet."

The chief of staff of the U.S. Army 1st Division reported.

"It's enough that the Fourth Brigade has taken it; there's no need to be too demanding."

"The record of that Chinese man named Wu Wanli is simply too dazzling."

"Not only did they have the elite Chinese 7th Steel Regiment, but they also had so many North Korean soldiers as their auxiliary troops."

"However, the construction of Incheon Port shows that the higher-ups are very confident that we can capture Incheon and occupy it for a long time."

Lieutenant General Thomas rubbed his head, put down Wu Wanli's detailed information, and sighed.

"Yes."

"Because according to the General Staff's assessment, the Chinese military's logistics have reached the brink of collapse."

"According to intelligence, their current aggressive fighting is solely for the sake of the outdated MiG fighter jet production line provided by the Soviet Union."

"As long as they annihilate us, China can obtain that production line for free."

"Otherwise, the Chinese would have to tighten their belts and exchange their grain and minerals for it."

"Red China had only been established for a short time, and it was already very difficult to maintain domestic production in order to fight the Korean War."

"If we have to take more food, we'll probably go hungry, hahahahaha..."

The U.S. Army 1st Division said with a loud laugh.

"They dare to use us as a debt settlement target; these Chinese people deserve to go hungry."

"However, there is one advantage to their defeat of us: their main force can now retreat at an ease."

"Otherwise, why wouldn't the Chinese army retreat when its supplies are so tight?"

"With us behind them, once the Chinese and North Korean troops retreat, our UN forces can attack them from both sides!"

"Now the beachhead port has been captured, and their hill fortifications have been destroyed."

"Tell me, what are your plans for the next round?"

Lieutenant General Thomas asked with a smile.

"Sir, according to the Air Force's reconnaissance, we now face only two major battlefields."

"One is Songaksan Mountain, and the other is Incheon City."

Harrison, the commander of the 6th Brigade, handed over the documents and said.

"Urban area?"

"Did they simply abandon setting up defensive positions outside the city?"

"They're trying to avoid our firepower and engage us in direct street fighting!"

"Of course, we can also take Songaksan first and then attack Incheon city."

"After thinking for a moment, Carter, the commander of the 4th Brigade of the United States, said..."

“Sir, I must remind you that the Chinese army has deployed a large number of defensive fortifications on Songyue Mountain.”

"And they moved all their air defense firepower up there, forming an integrated land and air defense perimeter."

"If we force our way in, we may suffer heavy losses."

The chief of staff of the U.S. Army's 1st Division said.

"But if we don't take Songyue Mountain, their artillery fire will pose a great threat to us."

“Once we penetrate deep into Incheon city, they can launch a full-scale bombing campaign against us.”

"This is a reminder from Harrison, the commander of the 6th Brigade of the United States."

"Songaksan Mountain is well-defended and difficult to attack, but attacking Incheon city directly without taking Songaksan Mountain would make it vulnerable to artillery fire..."

"But their artillery fire always has to consider avoiding friendly fire, and their ammunition is also limited, right?"

Lieutenant General Thomas frowned and pondered for a long time before asking.

"Should we launch a surprise attack under cover of night, engage in close combat with the Chinese army, and quickly capture Incheon using our superior firepower and manpower?"

Upon hearing this, Brigade Commander Carter guessed.

"Hahahaha...you're half right!"

"A night raid and lightning advance is correct, after all, the Chinese army's visibility is limited at night, and artillery fire is difficult to accurately bombard them."

"But the most crucial element is the position for the attack."

"It's not realistic to take over Incheon city in one night."

"But we can take Incheon's western district, cut off the defenses of Songaksan Mountain and Incheon city, and split the Chinese army in two!"

"As a result, the Chinese troops at Songyue Mountain will lose their ammunition and material supplies."

"In this situation, we will launch a continuous offensive using both ground forces and air force rotations."

"The Chinese troops on Songyue Mountain were exhausted, hungry, and thirsty, and their ammunition was running out quickly."

"Wouldn't it be so easy for us to attack then?"

Lieutenant General Thomas's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke.

“Sir, but I heard that the Incheon commander named Wu Wanli has an extremely accurate judgment on the battlefield, as if God is his sentinel.”

"I don't know the specific reason. It could be that China's reconnaissance forces are very strong, or it could be that their intelligence and simulation capabilities are excellent, but we must be on guard..."

Brigadier General Harrison, commander of the U.S. Sixth Brigade, frowned, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart.

"Sir, since Harrison is so worried, let's entrust the main task of the night raid to our Fifth Brigade."

"Let their Sixth Brigade launch a series of attacks on Songyue Mountain."

"It's just a case of God acting as Wu Wanli's sentinel, spreading misinformation!"

"I just don't believe he could have predicted a surprise attack in the middle of the night!"

"At worst, I'll just learn a Chinese 'feint attack' tactic!"

Brigadier General Carter volunteered with a disdainful look.

"it is good!"

"Harrison, you take the Fifth Brigade and use a series of attacks to wear down the Chinese army at Songyue Mountain, which is known as the South Heavenly Gate Fortification."

"Remember, the goal here is to wear down the enemy and deplete their ammunition; don't charge in recklessly."

"Carter, you will lead the Sixth Brigade on the night raid!"

"We must take over Incheon's West District in one night and cut off the connection between Songaksan Mountain and Incheon City!"

"I want to split the Chinese army in two, and also cut off the Chinese army's supply line at Songaksan!"

"Wu Wanli? Faced with overwhelming strength, he is ultimately just a defeated opponent of ours."

Lieutenant General Thomas snorted and said confidently.

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

Incheon Garrison Command
"Wanli, Lin Zhengshun has returned and is ready to accept the consequences. He has shown no resistance or resentment whatsoever."

"However, the person you saved before, Lin Yoona, who is now the head of the medical team, says she wants to meet you. What do you think about this..."

Liu Hanqing looked at Wu Wanli and asked tentatively.

"He's here for his brother, Lin Zhengshun, right?"

"No, no, if anyone's going to see him, it's you. I've entrusted him entirely to you."

Wu Wanli shook his head.

"Wanli, I intend to let Lin Zhengshun redeem himself through meritorious service."

"After all, the 9th Division, in coordination with the artillery battalion, fought quite well at the front, and only about three thousand men were left dead."

"Give the North Korean army some face, and let them leave some seed troops. We won't need them for the next battle."

Liu Hanqing said.

"The command authority of the lower and middle ranks of the New Eighth Army was also taken over by the instructors sent by the Seventh Steel Regiment."

"In addition, these new Eighth Army units have fought fierce battles in the encirclement and annihilation of the US Fifth Division, and their combat effectiveness is sufficient, so there is indeed no need for the people of the Ninth Division."

Wu Wanli nodded in agreement.

"Reporting to Commander Wu, Kaka!"

"After landing, the US troops did not stay, and two brigades rushed towards Songaksan Mountain and Incheon City respectively."

"The battle should begin simultaneously on both sides!"

"There was also a telegram from Commander Ding Wei, who had led his troops to Seoul and was building fortifications there."

Quan Douguang walked over with a telegram in his hand and said.

"Commander Ding Wei has arrived, let's start fighting!"

"Fight on both sides, complete the target number of enemy casualties as soon as possible, and severely damage the US 1st Division as soon as possible."

"We can only let them pass after we've severely damaged them, so it will be easier for us to seize the aircraft carrier!"

Looking at the approaching American troops on the Sky Eye map, Wu Wanli straightened his military overcoat and said with great pride.

(End of this chapter)