Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 278 China's Iron Torrent Counterattack Plan! Hundreds of Tanks and Armored Vehicles! North Korea's Iron Quadrangle Unleashed!

27th Army Command Post on the South Hanjiang River Defense Line
"Commander, Commander!"

Duan Peng slammed open the door of the 27th Army's command post and roared in a rough voice.

"What's the rush!"

"Which position has been lost? Take it back for me..."

Li Yunlong was looking at the map with a troubled expression when he started cursing without even turning his head.

"It's not a loss of ground!"

"It's Wu Wanli!"

"He set Songyue Mountain ablaze, turning it into a living hell, annihilating the elite regiment of the U.S. Army's 1st Division, and capturing U.S. Army Lieutenant General Thomas alive!"

"The headquarters has issued a telegram to the entire army—the 7th Steel Regiment has been expanded into the 7th Steel Brigade, directly under the headquarters!"

"Wu Wanli was awarded the honorary title of Vice Minister of National Defense of North Korea and concurrently served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front!"

Duan Peng interrupted, panting heavily, and wiped his sweat hard as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, the command post fell into a deathly silence.

Kong Jie's pipe fell to the ground with a "thud".

Zhao Gang's pen smeared a large blot of ink on the document.

"Damn it...this little brat's become a spirit?!"

Li Yunlong suddenly turned around, his eyes wide with surprise.

"There's something even more amazing!"

"Deputy Commander Wu has just finalized a new strategy: the 7th Steel Brigade will make a brief appearance in Incheon to cooperate with us in defending the first phase, and then board the ships from Incheon, launch a blitzkrieg across the sea in Pyeongtaek, and raid the US military's Suwon logistics base!"

Duan Peng quickly added.

"What a brilliant strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao'!"

"If this plan succeeds, the main force of the US military on the western front will surely return to reinforce, greatly reducing the pressure on the Han River defense line!"

Zhao Gang slammed his hand on the table, his eyes lighting up as he spoke.

"I still remember the humiliation of being defeated by Colonel Yamamoto with a regiment back then, and being told by the commander to make dough."

"But now it seems that Wu Wanli can capture a US lieutenant general alive. Compared to him, Yamamoto is not even worthy of carrying Wu Wanli's shoes!"

"What a young military genius!"

Kong Jie picked up the pipe and exclaimed in admiration.

"Commander, you will serve as the commander-in-chief for the next phase on the western front, and Wu Wanli will serve as the deputy commander-in-chief."

"The commander ordered us to abandon the southern Han River defense line and move our troops to the Incheon and Seoul area for defense."

"Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Corps is currently en route to Incheon and should be arriving soon. Commander Ding Wei is also on his way."

"He said that before Wu Wanli boarded the warship and left, they should have a good meeting to discuss the details of the cooperation in this blocking battle."

"There's another saying... The Iron Triangle of Northwest Shanxi, it's been a long time!"

Duan Peng said.

"The Iron Triangle of Northwest Shanxi... Yes!"

"The three of us old buddies used to drink and fight the Japanese together all the time. It's been a long time since we got together!"

"It just so happens that this ambush mission has been assigned to us brothers, so we should cooperate well!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately burst into laughter.

"Cooperate?"

"Isn't that a piece of cake?!"

"Back in the day, when you, Li Yunlong, led a regiment of over ten thousand men to attack a county town, neither I, Kong Jie, nor Ding Wei, failed to cooperate?"

"Back then, there were no radio stations, so we just went straight to the air without any communication!"

"Now that we have a radio station, we should give those American devils a good beating!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie also spoke with a hint of excitement.

"Back in the day, I was a well-mannered college student, but Lao Li turned me into a stubborn mule, and now I'm full of foul language!"

"However, with Comrade Wu Wanli added, we'd probably have to change the name to the Iron Quadrilateral of North Korea!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang couldn't help but speak up as well.

"Let's save the idle chatter for when we meet!"

"Duan Peng, go and relay my orders!"

"Zhang Dabiao led the 80th Division to hold the rear and resist step by step, while the main force of the army retreated with me to Incheon!"

Li Yunlong immediately gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Peng immediately agreed.

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

UN Command
“Van Fleet, I remember you previously had strong resistance to some of the military advice that General Chu, the advisor, gave you, and even doubted his position.”

"Aren't these consecutive losses enough to illustrate the problem?"

"The setbacks suffered by the American army were clearly not because General Chu might have colluded with the enemy."

"Quite the opposite is true; some of his earlier opinions now appear to have been remarkably prescient."

"Shouldn't you apologize to General Chu for your misjudgment back then?"

"It's one thing to plead guilty with a bundle of thorns on one's back, but could you at least offer a simple apology?"

General Ridgway rubbed his temples wearily, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of reproach.

He certainly couldn't expect VanVleet to apologize profusely, but he still needed to give him the respect he deserved.

Because he was increasingly unable to understand the tactics and methods of the Chinese army, he needed the help of a Chinese advisor like Chu Yunfei who understood the other side.

Chief of Staff Van Fleet's cheek muscles twitched slightly. He opened his mouth, wanting to offer some explanation, but found that any explanation would seem pale and powerless.

For him, it was a tremendous humiliation and embarrassment to apologize to the general of an "ally," especially to an opponent he had once suspected.

"damn it!"

"General Chu, I... that..."

Van Fleet stammered, managing to squeeze out only a few indistinct syllables.

"General Ridgway is too kind. The Chief of Staff's concerns are understandable in extraordinary times; it is simply his duty."

"The battlefield is ever-changing, and victory and defeat are common occurrences for military strategists."

"I, Chu, am merely fulfilling my duty by offering my humble opinion; I do not deserve such praise from the general."

"Chief of Staff Van Fleet was dedicated to his duties and had no selfish motives whatsoever for the American military."

Yunfei has long since put aside the past misunderstandings.

"With a formidable enemy at hand, unity and cooperation are paramount. Phrases like 'bearing thorns to apologize' or 'making amends' are too formal and not the priority at the moment."

"General, you should focus more on strategizing the overall situation and making the best of a comeback."

Chu Yunfei smiled and said gently.

His words were impeccable, saving face for Van Fleet while downplaying his own contributions and steer the conversation back to the current crisis.

Another reason why he could speak so sincerely and lifelessly was that Chu Yunfei had indeed been helping the other side come up with bad ideas.

He even suspected that some of the other side might be spies, but he remained silent, instead always pretending to inadvertently leak some information to these people.

They were able to reach a point where a spy would definitely know, and a non-spy wouldn't suspect Chu Yunfei.

He's a master at playing dumb!
Li Qiwei's gaze towards Chu Yunfei held a more complex expression, reflecting both admiration for his understanding and a deep sense that this man was far from simple.

Van Fleet secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both grateful and somewhat wary of Chu Yunfei's timely intervention.

"boom----!"

Just as Ridgway was about to speak again to discuss the next steps, the door to the command post was suddenly pushed open.

A U.S. military staff officer rushed in, his face ashen and his steps faltering.

"General!"

Incheon is finished! It's all finished!

"Latest battle report just received!"

"The 1st Army Division... Lieutenant General Thomas... at Songyue Mountain..."

The U.S. military staff officer said breathlessly.

"Explain yourself! What happened to the First Division? What happened to Lieutenant General Thomas?"

Ridgway suddenly stood up, a sense of foreboding washing over him like ice water.

"A complete rout! A total rout!"

"The Songyueshan defense line has collapsed!"

"The Volunteer Army's fire attack engulfed the entire Songyue Mountain in flames, and our attacking force was almost completely wiped out!"

"Lieutenant General Thomas himself was captured alive by a Volunteer Army commander named Wu Wanli!"

"The main force of the 1st Army Division has been almost completely annihilated!"

The U.S. military staff officer steadied himself and shouted, his voice trembling with tears.

"What?!!!"

Ridgway seemed to have been struck by a heavy hammer; his tall body swayed, and his face instantly turned ashen.

Thomas was captured?
Was the main force of the 1st Army Division completely annihilated?

This news was like a bolt from the blue!
Van Fleet also stood up abruptly, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets in shock. He slammed his fist heavily on the table, sending splinters flying.

Chu Yunfei, standing to the side, froze his calm smile instantly, his pupils dilating in shock.

Even with his extensive experience on the battlefield and his deep cunning, he was completely shocked by this earth-shattering change!

Wu Wanli?
He actually captured a US lieutenant general and almost annihilated the elite US 1st Infantry Division in a strategic battle?!

This is extremely rare in the history of warfare!
A deathly silence fell over the command post, broken only by the monotonous ticking of the telegraph machine and heavy breathing.

The air seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

This is one of the symbols of the elite of the U.S. Army, an entire main division deployed in a key position!

They just reimbursed me like that?!

And even the division commander was arrested!?

A profound sense of frustration and the ensuing fear began to spread through the minds of the two top U.S. military commanders.

"Oh, God!"

"Damn Thomas, he actually managed to wipe out the 1st Infantry Division, you idiot!"

Li Qiwei braced his hands on the table, his knuckles turning white, and closed his eyes in pain as he cursed.

VanVleet slumped back into his chair, looking utterly dejected, his face slightly pale.

What's next?
How can we explain this to our country?

The fury of Congress and the President is imminent! The torrent of public opinion could overwhelm them!

Never before in American history has there been such a devastating loss and such a humiliating capture of a high-ranking general.

"Fuck!"

"How can we explain this to Washington after the war has turned out this way?"

"How are we going to explain this to President Truman?!"

Ridgway suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse and desperate.

"General, Chief of Staff, the most important thing at this time is to maintain our composure."

"And we also need to give a 'clear' explanation to the angry domestic population."

"Sometimes, the real reasons for failure don't need to be known by everyone."

"Only one sufficiently significant and reasonable failure in a process needs to bear the greatest responsibility."

"It's like in chess, sacrificing a key piece to preserve something more important."

"Finding a scapegoat that everyone can accept and shifting the blame is crucial."

"As for who it is specifically, Yunfei will not presume to speak for himself. I believe the general knows the answer in his heart."

Chu Yunfei sighed, recalling the actions of the Nationalist army, and made his suggestion.

To be honest, as an upright person, it must have been very upsetting for him to offer such an opinion.

However, in order to regain Ridgway's trust, steal more intelligence for the other side in the future, and even influence US military decision-making to cooperate with China, this was necessary.

Just as Chu Yunfei himself said during the War of Resistance Against Japan: "National interests come first!"
At that moment, Chu Yunfei's suggestion struck Li Qiwei's brain like a cold electric current.

He looked up abruptly, his chaotic and desperate eyes quickly turning sharp.

scapegoat?
Shifting the focus?

Yup!

Failure is inevitable and cannot be changed, but there is much to be done in assigning responsibility!
A perfect candidate instantly came to mind—Townbur, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division!

It's that damn Tornbur!
He previously stood by and watched the US Fifth Division be completely annihilated without offering any assistance!
If the annihilation of the US Fifth Division had not created a huge gap in the battle line, none of what followed would have happened.
If the crucial link of the US Fifth Division hadn't collapsed first, would the subsequent chain reaction have deteriorated so quickly?

This is simply the most perfect "responsible person"!
His indecisiveness was the starting point and key turning point of this series of disastrous failures!
Moreover, he was a battlefield commander of a high enough rank to be fully qualified to bear this "blame"!
"That's right!"

"General Chu's words have awakened me from my dream!"

"This failure is unforgivable!"

"His 1st Cavalry Division missed a crucial opportunity, directly leading to the annihilation of the US 5th Infantry Division and indirectly causing everything that followed!"

"He was the key factor that caused the entire Korean Peninsula war to take a sharp turn for the worse!"

"What a coward!"

"He is our greatest sinner!"

"Give me the order!"

"Remove Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Tonber, from his post and appoint Brigadier General Freeman immediately!"

"And don't say I didn't help him redeem himself!"

"All the previous provisional units were disbanded and replenished into the Third Division, the Twenty-Fourth Division, and the First Cavalry Division."

"An additional four thousand elite troops, plus a hundred still-functioning tanks and armored vehicles, will be assigned to lead the pursuit!"

“Tell him this is his last chance to atone!”

"At the same time, immediately draft a detailed report for the president!"

"The emphasis is on the serious dereliction of duty by the 1st Cavalry Division, which was right next to the 5th Infantry Division when it was annihilated, yet failed to come to its aid!"

"To portray Toynbee as the culprit behind the annihilation of the 5th Infantry Division, which in turn led to the Incheon defeat, the complete annihilation of the 1st Infantry Division, and the capture of Lieutenant General Thomas, among other disastrous consequences!"

The light in Li Qiwei's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and he almost immediately made up his mind and said.

"Understood, General! I'll handle it immediately!"

"Sir, what about the other units?"

"The US 3rd Division, the US 24th Division, the US 1st Cavalry Division, the Turkish Brigade, and the British 27th Brigade on the western front are still combat-ready!"

"The US 2nd Division on the eastern front suffered heavy losses and could only barely pursue with the help of the South Korean troops."

Chief of Staff Van Fleet's eyes flashed with a knowing understanding of his superiors' intentions, and he immediately spoke.

"Then the strategic objective is clear: we need to launch a full-scale attack on the blocking forces left behind by China and strive to annihilate them!"

"Or at least wipe out one or two of their armies, so that this battle will at least have some results."

"Let's launch an attack with Tornberg as the vanguard and the other divisions following suit!"

Ridgway gave the order.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Chief of Staff Van Fleet immediately agreed.

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

In [Month] 1951, the White House in Washington, D.C.

President Truman sat behind his desk, his brow furrowed, his fingers tapping impatiently on the smooth oak surface.

Secretary of State Dean Acheson stood a few steps from the table, his hands in his suit trouser pockets, leaning slightly forward. His usually elegant and confident face was now filled with gloom and disbelief.

The air was filled with the smells of cigars and worry.

A young staff officer had just presented Ridgway with the latest detailed battle report from the Korean front. He stood at attention by the door, barely daring to breathe.

"Fuck!!!"

"The Chinese annihilated the entire US 1st Infantry Division!?"

"What a joke! That's a super-enhanced army of 30,000 elite soldiers!"

Truman looked at the battle report, his eyes widening suddenly, his voice hoarse with excitement and some indescribable shock.

He suddenly stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, turned his back to the room, and tried to calm himself down.

"God……"

"Mr. President, I cannot fully understand these battle reports."

“Ridgway is a meticulous commander; he would never exaggerate the enemy situation.”

"The fighting spirit and tactical skills of the Chinese people far exceed all our imagination."

"This is not a problem with equipment; we have an absolute firepower advantage."

"From the soldiers' perspective, this is a tactical execution ability that runs deep in their bones and an almost inhuman tenacity."

"From the perspective of generals, Wu Wanli is simply China's number one general, comparable to Rommel of the German Army!"

"Not only does he possess wisdom, but he also has the courage and boldness that ordinary generals lack!"

"If we were to set fire to the entire Songyue Mountain, and something went wrong, we could very well burn ourselves and our troops to death as well."

"Such combat effectiveness and such generals have completely overturned our understanding of a Chinese army."

Atchison gasped softly, adjusting his signature rimless glasses, and exclaimed in surprise.

"It's more than just overturning our understanding!!"

“The whole damned Washington, the whole of America, has been turned upside down!”

"Look at the numbers of these losses!"

"A single battle wiped out our 1st Army Division and the 5th US Division. We've never had two divisions completely annihilated in such a short time when we fought the Japanese before!"

"This isn't called a mind-blowing experience, Dean, this is a crushing defeat! A naked, undeniable crushing defeat!"

Truman turned around abruptly, his face flushed with anger and anxiety, and said...

"Yes, Mr. President."

"Defeat is a foregone conclusion, but the predicament we face now is a hundred times more complex than a defeat on the battlefield."

“We have already invested enormous political, military and diplomatic capital.”

"If we were to sit down at the negotiating table now with such a dismal outcome..."

"Mr. President, this means we are voluntarily admitting that we have been defeated by China."

Acheson paused briefly, then looked directly into Truman's anxious eyes and spoke.

Upon hearing this, Truman narrowed his eyes dangerously, fully understanding Acheson's meaning.

"Decent? What's so decent about that?!"

"Could a newly rising red China have forced the world's most powerful nation, the United States, to cease hostilities?"

"my Lord!"

"Think about what the newspaper headlines would say?"

"What will the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, and all the taxpayers in America, and the mothers who sent their sons to war, think of me, Harry Truman?"

"They'll say I'm the first president in American history to sign an instrument of surrender to Asians!"

"They will nail me to the pillar of historical shame!"

"I might even end up becoming a symbol of the United States' decline!"

"All my policies could be ruined by this damned war and lose credibility!"

"My presidency?"

"Ha! They won't even last until the end of their term before being torn apart by the angry public and Congress!"

"A dignified retirement? By then, I'd only deserve to be swept into the dustbin of history!"

He sat back down in his chair and said with a hint of excitement.

"That's right, Mr. President. The fires of domestic politics are more deadly than the winter in North Korea."

"The American people need confidence, Congress needs results, and the entire free world is watching whether our backbone is strong."

“Once the shadow of defeatism spreads, our strategy to contain communism globally will be devastated.”

"In this situation, people in the Soviet Union and China would be laughing in their sleep."

"We need a turning point, a clear and unmistakable victory that will show the world that America's military strength remains unshakeable."

Acheson nodded heavily and then pointed out.

"Victory... Yes! We must have a victory!"

"This isn't some minor skirmish or a stalemate; it's a real, headline-worthy victory!"

"We must completely shatter the illusion that China is invincible!"

"We need to make it clear to them, and to the whole world, that challenging the United States comes at an unbearable price!"

As Truman spoke, he slammed his fist on the table again, but this time it was with determination rather than frustration.

"Connect me to the Ministry of National Defense! Immediately!"

"The front lines are now torn apart, morale is low, and everyone is exhausted. We need fresh blood, and we must do it quickly!"

"Order!"

"Send an urgent document to Defense Secretary Louis Johnson!"

"At all costs, accelerate the rotation speed of domestic recruit training camps!"

"The United States will allocate substantial resources to them. All bureaucratic procedures that delay training and hinder recruitment will be eliminated!"

"I want to see a significant increase in the number of new recruits each week and each month!"

"The faster the better, the more the better!"

"The reinforcements must be delivered to Ridgway as soon as possible so that he can stabilize the defensive line and build up his strength!"

"At the same time, issue MacArthur the highest priority order!"

"Tell him to abandon his illusions and face reality!"

"Organize troops stationed in Japan or elsewhere and prepare for combat in Korea!"

"Send a telegram to Chief of Naval Operations Sherman!"

"Draw warships from the Pacific Fleet and the Seventh Fleet and immediately begin organizing a powerful transport and support squadron!"

"Deploy a sufficient number of fast transport ships and landing ships, and add necessary cruisers and destroyers for escort."

"There are only two tasks!"

"First, in coordination with the troops prepared by MacArthur, we must accelerate the delivery of a strong fresh force and urgently needed heavy equipment, fuel, and ammunition to North Korea!"

"Second, prepare! Study possible landing sites!"

"Once we find an opportunity on the main battlefield or on the flank of the east coast, we will immediately launch a new landing operation that can penetrate deep into our flanks and rear!"

"Be fast, be ruthless, and be unexpected!"

"Just like Incheon back then, but this time we need to make sure we have enough follow-up forces and firepower support!!"

"The premise for a dignified end now is that we put a knife to the other side's neck again, not that the other side puts a bayonet to our chest!"

"Suggest to the National Assembly that they prepare a contingency plan for negotiations."

"But remember, what you can get at the negotiating table depends entirely on what cards the generals on the battlefield can play!"

"Tell them that as long as China is willing to give up the war in Korea, we can relax some other conditions for them!"

After Truman finished speaking, he stood at the table and looked intently at Acheson.

"Understood, Mr. President!"

"I immediately coordinated with all parties to ensure that the instructions were conveyed accurately and executed as quickly as possible."

Atchison took a deep breath, and a hint of agreement and determination finally appeared on his solemn expression. He picked up a copy of his report, turned around, and strode away.

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

Incheon Garrison Command

The Seventh Steel Brigade had just completed its initial deployment, and the staff officers were having a heated discussion around the map and sand table.

Wu Wanli stood by the window, his brow furrowed as he scrutinized the newly marked defense posture map.

A dull ache throbbed in the area of ​​my shoulder blade, where the new injury overlapped with the old one.

He subconsciously moved his shoulders, only to hear light footsteps and a familiar voice with a hint of timidity behind him.

"Oppa... your wound needs to be treated."

Wu Wanli turned around abruptly, staring in astonishment at the slender figure standing at the door.

It's Lim Yoona!

She was wearing a slightly oversized uniform belonging to the Korean People's Army, with a medic armband printed with a red cross over it, and she was holding a medical tray with sterile gauze and medicine bottles neatly arranged on it.

"Comrade Yoon-ah?"

"Why are you here?"

"Isn't this the frontline command post?"

"Does Lin Zhengshun know you're here?"

The sharpness in Wu Wanli's eyes was instantly replaced by surprise and a hint of disapproval.

To be honest, he didn't really approve of bringing Lin Yoona to the battlefield.

After all, the battlefield is so dangerous that one could lose their life in an instant, and bringing vases would only add to the burden on the troops.

It was one thing before, since they were from Lin Zhengshun's unit, but now...

Yoona felt flustered under his gaze, her fingers gripping the edge of the tray tightly until her knuckles turned slightly white.

"I...I came with the military medical team."

"He...he knows, he approves of my coming."

"The volunteer soldiers are bleeding on the front lines, and we have medical support in the rear, so we should naturally support the front-line battlefield."

"I've learned a lot about medicine from military doctors during this time. Although I haven't fully mastered it yet, I can already perform some medical treatments!"

"Oppa, please let me see your injury."

She mustered her courage, raised her head, and met Wu Wanli's gaze, but her voice involuntarily lowered.

Seeing the determination and seriousness in her eyes, Wu Wanli ultimately couldn't bring himself to refuse her as harshly as he had when dismissing his subordinate officers.

"Come on, Comrade Yoona, hurry up, there are still many things to deal with."

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli nodded slightly, then hesitated and pointed to the simple table beside him.

Im Yoona felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and quickly stepped forward to put down the tray.

As her fingers carefully untied the collar of his uniform and tended to the bandages on his shoulders, soaked with sweat and dust, the light touch of her fingertips made her heart pound.

She forced herself to focus on the wound, which wasn't actually that serious, but the repeated pulling and the harsh environment caused it to become red, swollen, and inflamed.

Wu Wanli was initially focused on battlefield deployment and didn't pay much attention to the actions of the person behind him, but soon he sensed something was different. The actions of disinfecting, cleaning, and re-bandaging were not only gentle but also exceptionally skilled and methodical, far beyond what an ordinary novice could do.

The old cloth was removed, and the cool sensation of the new medicine and the neat bandaging made him feel almost no extra pain.

He couldn't help but turn his head slightly to look at Yoona's focused profile.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating her smooth forehead and trembling eyelashes.

"Your technique..."

"Compared to before, he's practically a different person."

Wu Wanli said with a hint of praise.

As Yoona was nervously cutting the last piece of tape, she heard his voice, her hand trembled, and she almost messed it up.

"On the battlefield... there are too many wounded. If you follow the old military doctor, you will learn more and naturally become faster with more training."

"Besides... I also know you're not the kind of person who would bring a pretty face to the battlefield, so I'll work hard to improve myself."

"Make yourself useful to you and the army, maybe that will help you in some way."

"Oppa, can I... still follow you now?"

Her ears were already bright red. She lowered her head to organize the medicines and asked in a barely audible whisper.

【Ding------】

[Congratulations, host! You are faced with a choice. The system has chosen to activate!]

[Option 1: Drive away Lim Yoona and lecture her, saying that men are only useful on the battlefield, and the host will learn medical skills on her own; she is not needed!]

[Reward 1: The host immediately gains intermediate-level medical knowledge and skills.]

[The host gains a 20% speed boost to medical skills!]

[Option Two: Keep Yoona and encourage her, saying that she is truly needed!]

[Reward 1: Lim Yoona's medical learning speed increases by 80%, and she will quickly master previously learned but not fully familiar medical knowledge!]

[Reward 2: The host directly gains basic medical knowledge and skills.]

"Eh……"

"During wartime, the most needed thing for the troops in the rear is doctors!"

"Stay, but not with me, you'll stay with the Seventh Steel Brigade!"

"I'm keeping you here not out of personal feelings, but because of your own hard work and contributions."

"Keep up the good work, Comrade Yoon-ah! I believe you will become the best doctor in our army!"

Wu Wanli patted Lin Yoona on the shoulder, smiling and encouraging her, while making the decision to stay in his heart.

【bite----】

[Host has made their selection; rewards are being distributed!]

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

At the same time, hearing Wu Wanli's rare and clear praise and encouragement, Lin Yoona's heart felt as if it were being immersed in warm water, swelling with warmth.

She looked up, her eyes full of smiles, and was about to speak when a sharp, sudden pain struck her head without warning!

"hiss……"

She cried out in pain, her vision blurred, the tweezers in her hand clattered to the ground, and she lost her balance and slumped forward!
At a time like this, there's no time to worry about etiquette. You can't just let Yoona, who just helped you with your treatment, fall to the ground, can you?

"Comrade Yoon-ah!"

Wu Wanli reacted extremely quickly, stretching out his long arm and immediately scooping the fallen Lin Yun'er into his arms!
In an instant, the girl's soft body, carrying the scent of medicine and slightly sweaty, crashed into his firm chest.

The sudden warmth and sense of dependence made even the usually composed Wu Wanli's heart tremble for no apparent reason.

Lin Yoona collapsed into Wu Wanli's arms due to a sudden headache.

At the same time, a small amount of medical knowledge rewarded by the system also flooded into Wu Wanli's brain, causing a sudden headache.

"I see. It seems that's why Yoona is in pain."

"Damn system, it gives rewards but comes with side effects!"

"Comrade Yoona has the advantage of faster learning speed and the ability to quickly integrate the knowledge she has learned, so she must be in much more pain than me."

"No, we have to help her!"

With that thought in mind, Wu Wanli disregarded everything else and helped Lin Yun'er sit down in the chair next to the table.

He held her trembling shoulders firmly with one hand, while his other thumb pressed precisely on the temples and the area near the Baihui acupoint on the top of her head.

Based on the newly acquired knowledge of acupoints and massage techniques, I pressed and rubbed with just the right amount of pressure.

Lin Yoona felt as if the excruciating pain, which was almost bursting open, was being gently soothed and smoothed out by a pair of warm and strong hands.

The burning and dizziness quickly subsided, leaving only the throbbing and tingling sensation from the other person's fingertips, which carried a strangely soothing power.

As her consciousness gradually returned, she opened her eyes and saw Wu Wanli's calm yet subtly concerned gaze right in front of her.

"Much better... much better..."

"Thank you, Oppa... This method really works."

"I feel like not only my pain is gone, but my head also feels... strange."

Yoona's voice was weak and gasped for breath, her cheeks as red as ripe apples.

Wu Wanli withdrew his hand, the sensation seemingly lingering on his fingertips.

"It's probably due to overwork and emotional fluctuations. Be more careful in the future."

"Also... saving lives on the battlefield is our duty, so don't worry about it."

Looking at the girl's blushing face, Wu Wanli said...
Upon hearing this, Lim Yoona's heart pounded even harder.

"I...I know it's my duty."

"but……"

"No one has ever touched me like this before..."

She stood up, supporting herself on the table, her steps still a little unsteady. Her voice was barely audible, carrying an indescribable shyness and strange feeling.

She emphasized the word "bump," as if using its literal meaning to conceal the unspoken yet real excitement and joy in her heart.

After saying this, she didn't even dare to look at Wu Wanli's reaction. Like a frightened deer, she grabbed the tweezers and medicine tray that had fallen, and rushed out of the command post in a panic, almost as if she were running away.

Wu Wanli stood there, watching the figure disappear quickly behind the curtain. A faint scent of medicine and the breeze from her hurried footsteps seemed to linger in the air.

He subconsciously rubbed the tips of his fingers that had just massaged her acupoints.

The words, "No one has ever touched me like this before," still seem to echo in my ears, carrying the unique shyness and inexplicable dependence of a young girl.

"Wanli, Commanders Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, and Ding Wei are all arriving soon. The military meeting will begin shortly."

At this moment, Liu Hanqing walked in and reminded him.

"I understand. Get the area ready immediately and wait for the commander to arrive."

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli immediately nodded and said...

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

Incheon, a meeting on the western front of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.
The wooden door to the command post was pushed open with a bang, and Li Yunlong's loud voice, carrying the chill from outside, swept in.

"Haha, Lao Ding, Lao Kong, Lao Zhao, and I, Li Yunlong, are all here!"

"Wu Wanli, you've become the deputy commander-in-chief of the western front in the blink of an eye!"

"But you coming up here is no problem. You fought that battle with great intensity, who the hell would dare to disagree?!"

"Damn it, this wind is really strong, it's making me shiver!"

Li Yunlong walked in and said.

"Old Li, can't you just shut up for a bit? Comrade Wu Wanli has been waiting for ages."

Kong Jie, with a pipe dangling from his lips, calmly followed behind and spoke.

Ding Wei didn't speak, his sharp eyes swept around the command post, and his gaze fell on Wu Wanli, who was standing by the oil lamp.

When he saw Lin Yun'er next to Wu Wanli, who had just packed her medicine box, her face slightly pale but forcing a smile, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Lin Yoona looked at Wu Wanli, her lips slightly pouting, as if she was reluctant to leave.

"Yoona, you've worked hard. Leave this to us."

Wu Wanli patted Lin Yoona on the back, speaking with a hint of reassurance.

"Commander, please take a rest."

Lin Yoona understood, whispered something to Wu Wanli, and then quietly withdrew, gently closing the door behind her.

Zhao Gang was the last to enter. Seeing this scene, he nodded to Lin Yoona's retreating figure.

Only a few of them remained in the command post. The glow of the oil lamp cast long shadows of the five men onto the wall where a large battle map was displayed.

"Come on, damn it, it's rare that our 'Iron Quadrangle' is all together again!"

"That kid Duan Peng said that the battle you, Ding Wei, and Wu Wanli fought at Songyue Mountain was absolutely earth-shattering!"

"You wiped out the American devils' elite 1st Army Division!"

"Not to mention they even captured the American lieutenant general alive, which is even more satisfying than when I killed Sakata back then!"

"Come on, let's drink this!"

Li Yunlong uncorked the bottle, and a strong aroma of liquor wafted out. He paused for a moment, then waved his hand and said...

"Old Li, this is a crucial time in the war, what are you doing?"

Upon seeing this, Zhao Gang quickly stood up and stopped Li Yunlong.

"Old Zhao, it's not easy for us old buddies in northwestern Shanxi to get together like this, let's just let it go this time."

"To be honest, even if we set aside the Jin-Sui region, they were all old comrades-in-arms from the Fourth Front Army, fighting all the way to Korea..."

Seeing this, Li Yunlong quickly pleaded in a low voice.

"Old Li, don't say I'm being unreasonable. Two drinks per person at most, or I'll start cursing!"

Zhao Gang felt the gazes of the group and hesitated for a few seconds before speaking.

"Two cups? Not even enough to feed a chicken..."

"Alright! Old Zhao, only you can keep me in line!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong was somewhat displeased, but he still nodded emphatically in agreement.

"That's pretty much it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang sat down.

"Come on, drink!"

"Consider this the first sip as a victory celebration for that kid Wu Wanli!"

Kong Jie raised his glass and said.

"You flatter me, sir."

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli quickly replied modestly.

"Bang—"

Several glasses clinked together, and the cheap liquor rolled down their throats, burning hot.

"Comrade Wu Wanli, the fire you lit on Songyue Mountain burned brightly enough, wiping out the last elite force of the UN landing forces!"

"It's so enjoyable, so enjoyable!"

"I reckon you'll be dominating the headlines in a lot of newspapers these next few days."

"And I heard you've taken on a terrifying new official position?"

"I heard he's called the Vice Minister of Defense of North Korea?"

"I heard from Lao Zhao that this is equivalent to the Vice Minister of National Defense of North Korea?"

"I've worked for over a decade and never reached this position. These young people are truly formidable!"

Kong Jie exhaled a smoke ring, the smoke and alcohol fumes dissipating as he spoke.

"Commander Kong, this is just an honorary position given by North Korea. It has no real power. It's just a title and the right to make suggestions."

"The battle is fought by everyone, and our Seventh Steel Brigade was just lucky."

Wu Wanli put down his cup, his face, which was slightly flushed from the wine, broke into his usual smile and said.

"luck?"

"Don't you dare play the humble card with me, you little brat!"

"Without you leading these bastards into Incheon's jaws, bombing warships and seizing aircraft carriers, there wouldn't have been the good show that followed."

"Ding Wei is right, you were born for this!"

"Now this is what fighting a war is all about!"

"Eh…………"

"If the monks were watching from heaven, they'd probably be cheering for you..."

When Li Yunlong mentioned the monk, his eyes darkened for a moment, his voice deepened, and he took another gulp of wine.

Ding Wei hadn't said much, his fingertips habitually twirling the matchbox. When he heard the word "natural," the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Fighting is what we make a living from."

"When you first arrived in North Korea, you hadn't even gotten used to handling a gun. Now, with our aircraft carrier, you've invited an American lieutenant general back for tea."

"This transformation... is comparable only to that of Han Xin in ancient times!"

"This major battle will be another chance for you to make a name for yourself!"

"By the way, Lao Li, do you still remember the famous battle you fought in Ping'an County back then?"

Kong Jie shook his head, seemingly feeling that words were insufficient, and took a sip from his cup before speaking.

"How could I not remember!"

"I'm not doing this for fame, I'm doing this to save my wife, Xiuqin..."

"Damn those Japanese devils! They attacked Zhao Jia Yu, killed so many of our fellow villagers, and even kidnapped my wife!"

"At that time, I was convinced of one principle: Fire! Fire! Bomb them!"

"That damn Yamamoto Ichiki is trying to stall for time? I'll just pull out the Italian cannon and blast him flat!"

Li Yunlong slapped his thigh, the alcohol and his blood boiling together, his voice suddenly rising as he slammed his fist on the table and spoke.

"Old Li, calm down..."

"Who wouldn't feel sad when they think about Comrade Xiuqin's matter?"

"What we can do now is to achieve more victories and make China stronger."

"Just like aircraft carrier battleship and MiG fighter jet production lines, we should leave more for future generations."

Kong Jie sighed, patted Li Yunlong, who had stood up excitedly, and said.

"Old Li, Old Kong, Comrade Wu Wanli's position is different now, and his responsibilities are heavier."

"The deputy commander-in-chief of the western front is still you, Li Yunlong."

"Now that we're talking about war, let's get serious."

"Comrade Wu Wanli, didn't you have a bold idea that the commander-in-chief approved? To land in Pyeongtaek and launch a blitzkrieg against Suwon, right?"

Ding Wei handed over the water bottle at the right moment and looked at Wu Wanli and said.

"Correct!"

"To relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao, to remove the fuel from under the cauldron, to use offense as a substitute for defense!"

Wu Wanli nodded, the last trace of shyness fading from his face, replaced by the calmness and sharpness of a battlefield commander.

"Indeed, I've read your battle plan. It's very bold, but it could indeed produce surprising results!"

"However, Comrade Wu Wanli, I remember that one of your plans was to temporarily defend Incheon."

"Take the Seventh Steel Brigade and fight the US military first, make them notice your presence, and then sneak up behind the US military without them noticing, right?"

Zhao Gang smiled and asked.

"That's right!"

"Before the blitzkrieg in Pyeongtaek, I want to give these American troops another big gift!"

"Otherwise, if we just hold our ground, we won't make enough of a show of presence before we leave."

As Wu Wanli spoke, he walked to the map and pointed precisely to a location not far from Incheon Port, marked "Anyang Canyon".

"Anyang Canyon?"

“I’ve analyzed the terrain. Incheon is bordered by the Han River to the north, the sea to the west, and the Anyang Mountains to the east and south!”

"The US Navy fleet was recently annihilated, so it is impossible for them to launch an attack from the sea."

"If we want to attack from the land, we will definitely be blocked by the Anyang Mountains. The only suitable passage for large-scale mechanized troops is the Anyang Gorge in the southeast!"

Ding Wei's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer to say something.

"So what kind of good business are you looking for? Tell me quickly!"

Li Yunlong couldn't even dwell on the past. He took a deep breath, squeezed in front of the map, and asked a question.

"According to intelligence, an advance team of more than 4,000 American troops, with about 100 tanks and armored vehicles, is approaching us."

"They were moving very fast, and even became somewhat separated from the main force behind them."

"Once this advance US force enters Anyang Canyon, Commander Ding Wei can send at least one division to attack, destroy all bridges and roads between the advance US force and the main force, and block the US troops!"

"I'll lead the 7th Steel Brigade to ambush them in the canyon again, ready to give these American devils a good beating and test the fighting power of the expanded 10,000-strong American-equipped volunteer army!"

"Commander Li Yunlong, your troops also marched south from the Han River, completely cutting off the American forces' retreat route by withdrawing from Yiwang City at the canyon pass."

"To put it simply, the 7th Steel Brigade ambushed the main force of the US Army, the 12th Army blocked the main force of the US Army, and the 27th Army blocked the retreat route of the US Army!"

Wu Wanli traced the mountains on both sides of the canyon with his fingers and spoke with a sharp gaze.

"The plan is good, but will the advance team of the American devils really come?"

"Should we arrange for our troops to go and lure them out?"

Zhao Gang asked calmly.

"No need!"

"We are currently in a strategic withdrawal phase, while the US military is in a strategic offensive phase. It is normal for them to attack."

"As for why the U.S. advance team will come first, there are many reasons."

"One reason is that, according to intelligence, the commander of this advance team, Tangenber, has just been dismissed from his post and is now in a position to redeem himself, so he must be anxious."

"Previously, we had won one battle after another, and the main force had always maintained an overall advantage."

"But now that the main force is gone, it's already a situation where we outnumber the enemy, and they're waiting to grab the credit."

"Moreover, I always felt that this advance team was very likely a deliberate move by Ridgway."

Wu Wanli analyzed.

"Intentionally?"

"why is that?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong immediately asked in confusion.

"The intelligence report said that Ridgway blamed the failure of this battle on Thompson, and in his war reports to the United States, he portrayed him as a complete idiot and placed all the blame on him."

"In this situation, his advance team is a natural and effective bait!"

"Go ahead, and wait for us to encircle and annihilate this advance team in the Anyang Mountains, so that our main force can be drawn to the Incheon battlefield. Then they can send their elite troops across the Han River to cut off our retreat!"

"In this way, they can achieve their strategic goal of annihilating one or two of our armies and regaining international prestige."

"Retreat. Overall, they still have the advantage in the battle. Even if we successfully annihilate the vanguard, if the battle drags on, they may find an opportunity to inflict heavy damage."

"In the worst-case scenario, the advance team is completely wiped out, and we leave. Wouldn't that confirm that Tangenber is useless and that we've lost again?"

"Everything can be blamed on the mute dead!"

"In short, the advance team will definitely come. The question is whether we can quickly annihilate them and retreat!"

Wu Wanli smiled slightly and said.

"Comrade Wu Wanli, based on this intelligence and your analysis of the battle situation, there is indeed a high probability that we will wipe out the US advance team."

"But our mission is to block the American forces. According to your analysis, our safest course of action should be to ignore this bait and retreat entirely north of the Han River, right?"

After a few seconds of contemplation, Ding Wei looked at Wu Wanli and said.

"Commander Ding Wei, I know your concerns. Are you afraid that I, Wu Wanli, will become arrogant and eager for quick success, trying to take the bait?"

"Don't worry, I have a lot of reasons for this."

"If we only hold our ground on land, it would be safer to retreat to the Han River defense line and abandon Incheon."

"But after this battle, I still have a plan to land in Pyeongtaek and launch a blitzkrieg against Suwon!"

"If we fight like this, the main force of the US military will concentrate all its forces to rush over and wipe us out, and rescue the advance team."

"When your two armies are engaged in a fierce battle with the main force of the US military, I will launch a blitzkrieg attack on Suwon!"

"Only when you stick to the main force of the US military and form a chaotic situation where you are intertwined with me and I am intertwined with you, will the US military be unable to quickly rush to the rear."

"You have to understand that the distance between Incheon and Suwon is actually not long for mechanized troops. We have to do this to buy enough time."

"Once I take Suwon and destroy the largest logistics base and airfield of the US military, they will be unable to contain me due to insufficient reinforcement speed."

"And when they return to reinforce and annihilate me, it will be time for you to retreat at your leisure."

"This is just a rough estimate of the battle plan. The situation on the battlefield can change rapidly, and we have to proceed according to the circumstances."

"For example, if the US military doesn't come to our aid, I'll break through their lines from the rear and turn their rear into a complete mess!"

"For example, if the US military returns to reinforce faster than expected, then I will stop fighting and withdraw by sea ahead of time, leaving the US military empty on both ends!"

“I have taken all the possible scenarios into account, so there is no need for you leaders to worry.”

"If the battle goes smoothly, I'm really envious of that armored force with hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles!"

"After all, the U.S. military lost more than just the 1st Army Division and the Navy in the Battle of Inchon."

"There are also a large number of fighter jets that were shot down while attacking Songyue Mountain, as well as aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft that were destroyed at sea. The air force is not very strong for the time being."

"If we win the battle and successfully capture these tanks, we can launch a counter-offensive against the Chinese armored onslaught and then retreat!"

Looking at the battle map, Wu Wanli spoke with boundless pride.

After Wu Wanli finished speaking, the entire command post fell into a brief silence.

Only the occasional soft crackling of the oil lamp wick and the faint sound of the wind coming from afar outside the window accentuated the tense atmosphere in this small space.

The matchbox that Ding Wei was spinning in his fingertips fell onto the map with a "thud".

His gaze, like that of a hawk, was fixed on the point of "Anyang Canyon," then suddenly rose and sharply swept towards Wu Wanli.

The army commander, known for his calmness and foresight, seemed to have a slight twitch in his facial muscles at this moment. It wasn't doubt, but rather a kind of stunned silence after being overwhelmed by the tumultuous plan.

He stared at Wu Wanli, as if seeing for the first time so clearly the immense power contained within this young man, a power capable of influencing the entire battle.

"Be good..."

"I've fought half my life, from northwestern Shanxi to the Korean War, and I've never dared to think like this!"

"We're supposed to be retreating and blocking, so why are we eyeing their largest airport, their largest logistics base, and their hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles?"

"That's one thing, but they actually think about China's steel torrent launching a counterattack against the US military before withdrawing?"

Kong Jie smacked his lips unconsciously, even forgetting to suck on his pipe.

His thick fingers repeatedly tapped the locations of Anyang Valley, Incheon, and Suwon, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He couldn't find the right words to describe it, but his astonishment and admiration were palpable.

At this moment, Li Yunlong's face appeared unusually rosy under the lamplight, a sign of extreme excitement.

His hand, which was holding the wine bowl, froze in mid-air, his eyes wide like copper bells, staring straight at Wu Wanli.

"More than a hundred tanks? Armored vehicles?!"

"This deal looks so tempting!"

"And Kong Erlengzi, haven't you figured it out yet?"

"The two strategies of attacking Suwon to destroy the largest US airfield, seizing US tanks and armored vehicles to launch a counter-offensive against the Chinese armored forces, and then withdrawing are complementary!"

"No matter how weak the US Air Force is, it's not up to us to bully them."

"Unless they are already weakened and then the largest U.S. airfield is destroyed."

"Only by inflicting such heavy damage on the US Air Force can we gain temporary air superiority and launch a counter-offensive with China's steel torrent!"

"This deal, unless the old brigade commander disagrees, is something even the Heavenly King himself can't stop me from making!"

Li Yunlong's voice suddenly rose, filled with a fanatical and unbelievable desire; his hands trembled with excitement, and he almost spilled the wine.
He became more and more excited as he thought about it, as if those hundreds of tanks were already beckoning to him.

Although Zhao Gang was also shocked by the grandeur and peril of Wu Wanli's plan, his heart was also in turmoil.

But as a political commissar, his strong sense of reason forced him to calm down.

"Wanli, are you sure your plan to land in Pyeongtaek and launch a blitzkrieg against Suwon will succeed?"

"This kind of fighting would turn into mobile warfare, a kind of containment and blocking, rather than a defensive blocking attack."

Zhao Gang thought for a moment and then asked.

"Believe me, I, Wu Wanli, have never been defeated!"

Wu Wanli looked intently at Zhao Gang and said.

"Old Zhao, no need to say anything! I trust Wu Wanli, let's do it!"

"Let's vote. Raise your hand if you agree."

Li Yunlong's eyes were now devoid of any doubt, only burning with fighting spirit as he spoke.

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his own hand, stained with wine and calloused, without the slightest hesitation.

"Done!"

"This plan... is awesome!"

"The very idea that China's steel torrent could launch a counterattack against the US military is enough to make us fight back!"

Following closely behind was Kong Jie. This army commander, known for his composure, took a deep breath, tapped his pipe on the edge of the table with a "clack," and steadily raised his strong arm.

Ding Wei remained silent. His eyes, which seemed to pierce through the fog, lingered on Wu Wanli's calm yet confident face for a full three seconds before sweeping across the markings on the sand table that represented the advance and subsequent main forces of the US military.

Finally, the fingers stopped turning the matchbox, and with a soft "snap," the hand was raised cleanly and decisively.

Now, four pairs of eyes are focused on the last person with a deeply furrowed brow—Zhao Gang.

"I...agree!"

Zhao Gang's Adam's apple bobbed, and he slowly, almost heavily, took a breath, then raised his hand.

"Thank you for your trust, esteemed leaders!"

"Chinese Navy troops land behind US lines! China's steel torrent launches a counter-offensive and then retreats! North Korea's iron quadrangle shakes the world!"

"After this battle, these words will surely become the front page of newspapers around the world, letting the world see the strength of the Chinese army!"

Wu Wanli looked at Li Yunlong and the others, and said with a firm gaze.

"Comrade Wu Wanli, I must remind you of one last thing: just because we all agree does not mean that we can fight like this."

"This matter needs to be reported to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for approval."

"While there's a chance they'll respect our consensus, if they don't agree, you're not allowed to drag Old Li along to disobey you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang immediately offered a reminder.

"Don't worry, Commander Zhao. Commander Li Yunlong and I are both honest and law-abiding people in the army. How could we disobey orders if the higher-ups disagree?"

"But whether we agree or not, it's always good to prepare in advance and arrive at the designated location ahead of time."

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli immediately put on an innocent look and laughed.

"hahahahahahahahahahaha……"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, and Ding Wei couldn't help but burst into laughter.

(End of this chapter)