Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 285 The entire headquarters is shocked! Wu Wanli's protracted blitzkrieg! Liberation of Suyun! Capture of Park Jung-hee alive!

South of the Han River, east of the Anyang Mountains, Chengnan City
UN Command
"Sir, no...something terrible has happened!!!"

"Ping... has been conquered... has been defeated!"

At that moment, a U.S. military staff officer rushed in, panting, and shouted.

"What's the panic!?"

"We currently have the superior troop strength, so it's a good thing that the Chinese army dares to fight across the Han River or Incheon!"

"Wherever they conquer, we'll simply surround that area and annihilate them!"

Li Qiwei thought it was one of the main strongholds that had been lost, and said it nonchalantly, even with a hint of joy.

"Sir, we can't surround them!"

"The Chinese army did not capture our frontal strongholds, but rather the port city of Pyeongtaek in our rear!"

The American staff officer handed the battle report to Ridgway and shouted, his face pale.

"What, the, fuck!?"

"How could the Chinese army suddenly appear behind our lines? Can they fly?"

Upon hearing this, Chief of Staff Van Fleet, who was standing nearby, immediately widened his eyes and said in disbelief.

"Sir, they don't fly. The Chinese Navy brought them to Pyeongtaek Port for landing!"

"We recently had an entire massive fleet wiped out in the waters near Incheon Port; our aircraft carriers and battleships were all captured."

"It was with these aircraft carriers, battleships, and the original gunboats that the Chinese Navy once again annihilated our small fleet outside Pyeongtaek Port!"

"Not only that, they also helped the Chinese 7th Steel Corps successfully land in Pyeongtaek and capture the city, thanks to their powerful naval gun support!"

The U.S. military staff officer sighed and added.

"China's Seventh Steel Corps!?"

"Is it that Chinese guy named Wu Wanli who's behind this again!?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiwei stood up angrily, clenched his fists, and asked.

"It's highly likely, because in the Chinese army, only the newly expanded Steel Seventh Brigade can be equipped with all American weapons and have that kind of firepower density and combat capability."

The U.S. military staff officer said.

"Sir, these Chinese people definitely don't just want to take over Pyeongtaek!"

"I'm almost certain that their next goal is to take Suwon's southern barrier, Su-nam Fortress, and then head straight for Suwon!"

"In that way, they can destroy our largest airfield and our largest logistics base!"

"Our air strike capability will be severely weakened, and even ammunition supplies may be in short supply!"

"In this way, we won't be able to launch a large-scale offensive to annihilate them for too long!"

"It also falls far short of the goal of achieving a major victory by annihilating a Chinese army as a whole, thus failing to restore morale and international face!"

"Even if we bring in new supplies through the navy and air force, they will at least tie down our forces and disrupt the rhythm of our offensive annihilation campaign!"

"Sir, we must not let them succeed!"

After looking at the map and pondering for a few seconds, Chief of Staff Van Fleet clenched his right fist and slammed it hard on the ground.

"How many defensive forces do we have in Suwon now? Are they enough to defend against the attack of this Chinese Steel Seventh Team?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiwei frowned and quickly asked.

“Sir, the 187th Airborne Regiment is currently stationed in Suwon, with only a few thousand soldiers.”

"The Seventh Steel Brigade of China has tens of thousands of soldiers, all of whom are elite troops of the Chinese army, and their firepower is very strong!"

"If a fight really breaks out like this, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out until our main reinforcements arrive!"

"unless…………"

Chief of Staff Van Fleet said after a moment's thought.

"Unless what?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiwei quickly asked.

"Sir, although it will be slower for our main UN forces to return from here, the South Korean troops in the rear are much closer."

"We can mobilize those South Korean troops to gather and defend Suwon's southern barrier, Sunam Fortress, to buy time for our main force to return to Suwon."

"Chief of Staff Van Fleet said."

"Send those South Korean troops to buy time?"

"The reason they were left behind was basically because they were defeated by the Chinese army on the eastern front."

"Not only is morale low, but even their weaponry and firepower density is inferior to that of the Seventh Steel Brigade, right?"

Li Qiwei frowned and said with some concern.

"General Ridgway, we don't need them to defeat the Chinese Steel Seventh Brigade, we just need them to buy us some more time."

"Moreover, according to intelligence, there are several South Korean army units that can reach Shuancheng, which should be enough."

Upon hearing this, the consultant Chu Yunfei chimed in.

In his view, these South Korean soldiers were just easy targets, but at this time, agreeing with Van Fleet would be more beneficial in gaining favor and trust.

"All right!"

"Pass on my order to have the 2nd US Infantry Division move back from the eastern front to prepare to support the Suwon area. This will not affect the strength of our main force's offensive on the Incheon-Han River area from the western front."

"Order the nearby South Korean troops to move towards Suwon immediately and hold this southern barrier of Suwon for a period of time."

"Anyone who is willing to go to defend, regardless of the outcome, will be promoted one rank as long as they go and come back alive!"

"If we can hold this position, everyone will be promoted three ranks!"

After thinking for a moment, Li Qiwei immediately spoke.

"Promotion by three ranks?"

"Sir, those who can go are basically regimental commanders, first-level commanders are division commanders, second-level commanders are corps commanders, and third-level commanders are South Korean army group commanders on the eastern or western fronts!"

Chief of Staff Van Fleet, upon hearing this, whispered a reminder.

"Damn it, if he can really stop the Chinese Steel Seventh Brigade, what's wrong with being the commander of a South Korean army group?"

"Even those who dare to fight the Seventh Steel Brigade and manage to escape alive are considered among the best in the South Korean army, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they could become division commanders."

"Don't forget that many of our US Army division commanders can't escape!"

Li Qiwei sighed and said.

"Yes, sir!"

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

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

In the temporary command room of the headquarters.

Suddenly, the heavy, carved wooden door was pushed open with a bang, and a strong gust of air, carrying the chill of winter air from outside, rushed in.

A young staff officer rushed in almost at full speed.

Because he was running so fast, his military cap was askew, glistening beads of sweat hung on his forehead, and his chest heaved violently with rapid breathing.

But his face was beaming with an almost ecstatic light, and he held aloft an urgent telegram that still smelled of ink.

"Report...Report!"

"Commander! Chief Chen! Chief of the General Staff!"

"A great victory! A tremendous victory!"

The staff officer said breathlessly and excitedly.

This loud shout, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, instantly shattered the silence in the command room.

All eyes were immediately focused on the staff officer, the air seemed to tighten, and even the ticking of the telegraph machine seemed to pause for a moment.

"What's the panic? What good news? Tell me quickly!"

The boss suddenly raised his head and said with a sharp look in his eyes.

"It's in the direction of Anyang Canyon and Yiwang County!"

"The 27th Army under the command of Commander Li Yunlong and the 12th Army under Commander Ding Wei, together with the main force of the 7th Steel Brigade under the command of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Wu Wanli, fought a fierce and exhilarating annihilation battle!"

"Commander Wu Wanli led the Seventh Steel Brigade to ambush the American advance team in Anyang Canyon, annihilating the armored vanguard of the US advance group and successfully capturing over a hundred tanks, armored vehicles, and a large amount of heavy equipment!"

"Subsequently, Commander Li Yunlong led his troops in a fierce attack on Yiwang County, annihilating the main force of the US advance team, including capturing its commander, Tangenber!"

"At this point, Yiwang County is completely under the control of our army!"

"During Commander Li Yunlong's attack on the county town, Commander Ding Wei's 12th Army's main force division was surrounded and attacked from three sides by three regiments of the 1st Cavalry Division..."

"It was Comrade Wu Wanli who led the 7th Steel Brigade to blitz the flank of the 1st Cavalry Division, defeating a cavalry regiment and rescuing Commander Ding Wei's troops!"

"This battle completely shattered the UN forces' attempt to advance rapidly towards Incheon!"

"According to rough estimates, at least 7,000 American soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured!"

"Our steel torrent... the steel torrent counter-offensive plan, is a success!"

The staff officer handed a battle report to the commander-in-chief and said excitedly.

"Wha...what?!"

"Anyang...total annihilation?!"

"Yiwang has been captured? Completely annihilated?!"

After a brief silence, an incredulous gasp erupted in the command room.

The operations director jumped to his feet, his eyes wide with shock.

Several staff officers surrounding the sand table trembled, and the small blue flag representing the enemy fell onto the sand dune.

"Okay...okay!"

"What a 'all-out attack' strategy! Yunlong, that kid, is ruthless!"

"We've captured over a hundred armored vehicles... Now we really have the resources to form a mobile armored regiment!"

The stack of casualty reports in the Chief of the General Staff's hand silently slid onto the table. He rushed to the staff officer, grabbed the telegram, and quickly scanned it, his lips moving slightly as he spoke excitedly.

"Pretty!"

"That was a fucking brilliant battle!"

"This is the true spirit of the Chinese soldier!"

"Wu Wanli's lightning tactics, Li Yunlong's fierce offensive, Kong Jie's active cooperation, and Ding Wei's tenacious resistance!"

"The spirit of the 'Iron Triangle' of northwestern Shanxi, which they spoke of, has been rekindled on the Korean battlefield!"

"No! Now with Wu Wanli added, it's a North Korean iron quadrilateral!"

"By setting up an ambush and acting swiftly, we avoided the enormous losses of a canyon battle!"

"A strong attack on Yiwang, annihilating the remaining enemy forces cleanly and efficiently!"

"This is not only a tactical victory, but also a major strategic turning point!"

"Quickly, give a detailed account of Wu Wanli's specific performance in the Seventh Steel Brigade!"

"In my experience, their actual tactics are definitely more exciting than the results suggest!"

Chief Chen's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and a huge surprise appeared on his face. He slammed his hand on the table and said.

"Commander Chen, you were absolutely right!"

"The Seventh Steel Team made a great contribution in this battle, and their specific tactics were simply superb!"

"It was Deputy Commander Wu who saw through the U.S. Army's Towneer unit's intention to 'cut off its tail and survive' and formulated a precise ambush and encirclement plan!"

"The combined infantry and tank assault commanded by Detachment Commander Yu Congrong and Detachment Commander Pinghe was incredibly swift, completing the penetration and division of the US cavalry regiment in a short period of time!"

"Comrade Lei Suisheng's artillery detachment provided precise and deadly artillery support at a critical moment!"

"This is not just empty talk. It means being able to accurately bombard the rear of the American forces with artillery during the melee without accidentally killing our soldiers in the front!"

"This is a surgical precision artillery strike!"

"I heard that many of the artillery bombardments by the Seventh Steel Brigade were directly assigned to the artillery units by Deputy Commander Wu after conducting reconnaissance and intelligence analysis!"

"This ability to integrate and analyze information is truly remarkable, making him a rising star among the younger generation on the battlefield!"

Upon hearing this, the volunteer army staff officer's voice rang out even louder, filled with immense admiration.

"Okay, okay, okay!"

"You're right, he truly deserves the title of a battlefield prodigy!"

"What's next?"

"Is Wu Wanli and the Seventh Steel Brigade resting in Incheon? Or did they just board the warship that landed in Pyeongtaek?"

Upon hearing this, the boss immediately nodded in agreement and asked a question.

"Commander! Fellow commanders!"

"This is an updated top-secret battle report that we just received!"

"Deputy Commander Wu Wanli has already personally led the Seventh Steel Brigade onto a naval warship and is heading towards Pyeongtaek at full speed."

"With the powerful naval and air support of the battleship fleet, they successfully launched a lightning-fast assault and landed at Pyeongtaek Port!"

Upon hearing this, the volunteer army staff officer took a deep breath, straightened his back, and raised his voice suddenly, with a shocking force, as he raised another battle report in his hand and spoke.

"They've successfully landed in Pyeongtaek?!"

"So fast!?"

Upon hearing this, the Chief of the General Staff immediately widened his eyes and blurted out the words.

If the news of the Anyang-Nyewang victory had shocked the command center, then the words "landing in Pyeongtaek" were like pouring a ladle of ice water into a pot of boiling oil!
"Clap!"

The red pencil in the boss's hand, which was almost broken by his grip, finally gave way and snapped in two!
"After the battle, Wu Wanli and his men didn't even rest; they went straight to their warships for a blitzkrieg landing in Pyeongtaek!"

"It wasn't just the US military that was blinded; even we, the people busy moving and getting back on our way, were blinded!"

Unaware of what was happening, the commander leaned forward instinctively, his war-weary eyes suddenly flashing with disbelief as he looked at the staff officer and spoke.

"Reporting to the commander! The Seventh Steel Squadron is indeed that fast!"

"Not only that, the Pyeongtaek landing was... incredibly satisfying!"

"For the first time, the navy of our new China annihilated a small US garrison fleet with overwhelming firepower, and even supported the attack on a US port with overwhelming firepower!"

"Destroying the small US garrison fleet is nothing special, after all, it only has one cruiser and a few destroyers, which is far inferior to our aircraft carriers and battleships!"

"But this Pyeongtaek landing operation was the first landing operation with tens of thousands of troops in our new China!"

"Deputy Commander Wu will conduct a pre-emptive precision bombing sweep using the aircraft carrier-based aircraft group of the Wanli, followed by a comprehensive fire preparation using the battleship's 406mm guns!"

"Once the firepower was unleashed, the overwhelming barrage of shells directly destroyed the defensive fortifications and main firing positions of Pyeongtaek Port!"

"Subsequently, the entire Seventh Steel Corps boarded landing craft and forcibly stormed the beach!"

"According to the latest reports from the front, after a brief and intense beach battle, Pyeongtaek Port has been completely taken over by our Seventh Steel Brigade!"

"At this point, most of the US and South Korean troops defending the port have been annihilated or surrendered!"

"Deputy Commander Wu has led his troops to regroup and, without a moment's delay, is launching another all-out blitzkrieg against Suwon, the strategic logistics heart, core airfield, and ammunition supply base of the UN forces on the western front!"

"Commander Wu Wanli mobilized the troops, saying that he would eat breakfast after liberating Suwon!"

"That means he has to conquer both Shuinan City and Shuiyuan City before he can have breakfast!"

"What confidence and arrogance!"

"If the Seventh Steel Brigade were to return, I'd gladly go there, even if it meant becoming a soldier!"

"Which young Chinese soldier wouldn't want to join an army like this?!"

"Which young Chinese soldier wouldn't want to be so spirited and full of vigor?!"

"I'm not afraid to speak my mind in front of so many leaders!"

"If given the chance, I would gladly serve as a guard for Deputy Commander Wu, helping him to dismount his horse!"

The young staff officer of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army spoke with a resolute voice, his eyes filled with excitement and longing.

"boom--!"

These words caused an uproar in the entire headquarters command room!
This wasn't cheering; it was a deafening roar, as if the news of a massive and overwhelming victory had shaken one's very soul!
"My God..."

"Suwon... Oh my god... They... They just finished the Battle of Iwang!"

"They attacked Hirasawa without even taking a breath... and now they're going to continue their blitzkrieg against Mizuhara?!"

An elderly middle-aged staff officer gaped open and instinctively grabbed the back of the chair next to him, afraid he might faint.

The operations director's voice was shrill as he rubbed his temples, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Is...is this god-like fighting style even possible?"

"That speed...that audacity...that appetite..."

Another staff officer murmured, his eyes filled with deep awe.

"madman!"

"Wu Wanli is a tactical genius in close combat and a war maniac!"

"He's playing the blitzkrieg game!"

"Ambush and seize equipment in Anyang is the starting point!"

"The annihilation of Yiwang is a sure thing!"

"Landing in Pyeongtaek is a strategic move to open up a new battlefield!"

"The blitzkrieg at Mizuhara... that's the true deadly strike!"

"He's trying to rip Ridgway's heart out on the Western Front!"

"Liberate Suwon, then have breakfast?"

"This boundless ambition, this invincible spirit! How magnificent!"

The Chief of the General Staff's face flushed red with extreme excitement. He slammed his fist on the edge of the sand table, his voice filled with uncontrollable elation and unbelievable shock.

"That kid Wu Wanli is going to smash all of the boss's problems, the Soviet Union's obstruction, and the United States' counterattack all at the foot of Suwon City!"

"He's trying to completely paralyze the UN forces' logistics on the western front!"

"Once he takes Suwon, it can be said that Li Yunlong's and Ding Wei's armies will become supporting forces for the feint attack!"

"Our decision to appoint him as the deputy commander-in-chief of the western front was absolutely correct!"

Chief Chen adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, paced back and forth excitedly, then suddenly stopped, his eyes gleaming with admiration and pride as he spoke.

Upon hearing this, the heavy pressure that had been building up in the boss's chest seemed to be instantly shattered by Wu Wanli's earth-shattering series of blows!
His bloodshot eyes blazed with a sharp, eagle-like light, and his back, which had been slightly hunched from exhaustion, was now ramrod straight, exuding a heroic aura as if he were commanding thousands of troops.

"Okay! Good job!"

"That kid Wu Wanli! He's fucking my lucky charm!"

"He is a young military genius of our entire Volunteer Army and the entire new China!"

"Three victories in three battles in such a short time! Every step is fraught with danger, every step is a thunderbolt!"

"This isn't a war, it's a miracle!"

"This is taking the impossible underfoot, dancing right under the noses of the American devils!"

"That's satisfying! That's cathartic! That saved us from a tight spot! Well done!"

The boss slammed his hand heavily on the huge sand table, his voice booming like a bell, and praised it with irresistible force.

"Comrades, Wu Wanli is creating a war opportunity! An unprecedented and excellent war opportunity!"

"Suwon is the Achilles' heel of the UN forces on the western front! Take it, and Ridgway will be crippled!"

"He's fighting desperately on the front lines, shedding blood and sacrificing his life for us. We're holding the rear, and we must give him our all! We must support him!"

"We need to ensure he can fight, win, and, most importantly, escape!"

"I absolutely cannot allow our meritorious soldiers and our heroic troops to be trapped in the enemy's encirclement!"

The general paced around the room twice with great excitement, his gaze sweeping over the equally excited Chief Chen, the Chief of the General Staff, and others. He added in an even more resolute and forceful voice.

"Correct!"

"We can't just be shocked and full of praise; we need to give Comrade Wu Wanli some practical help with advance planning!"

"We absolutely cannot allow such young heroes and the Seventh Steel Brigade to fight to the very end, only to become trapped in the American forces' encirclement and unable to escape!"

"Boss, you give the orders regarding the specific deployment!"

Upon hearing this, Chief Chen immediately echoed his opinion.

"Order Xiao Zhenhua's naval forces, including carrier battle groups, battleships, and all available naval and air power, to do everything in their power to find an opportunity to bomb us!"

"Bombard US coastal forces with naval guns to tie down and kill US troops defending the coast!"

"Fighter jets take off, and while trying to avoid the main force of the US Air Force, bomb some of the resistance strongholds on the outskirts of Suwon City! Cut off some of the routes that the US might use to reinforce!"

"Order Li Yunlong, the commander-in-chief of the western front, and his men to cease all localized containment operations!"

"Immediately launch the largest-scale feint attack against the main force of the UN forces on the western front!"

"This isn't a small-scale brawl! It's like what happened in Anyang and Yiwang—give me a good beating!"

"Make a big commotion! Tie down the enemy's main force on the south bank of the Han River! Engage them! Make them unable to defend themselves from both ends!"

"It would be best to make Ridgway think we're going to launch a full-scale counterattack! Try not to give them the spare capacity to send troops back to reinforce Suwon!"

"I love that line in Li Yunlong's battle report, 'All of them are attacking from the front!'"

"Now, without affecting the defensive line, let the entire western front briefly launch an offensive!"

"And the Chief of the General Staff! The Operations Department! You must immediately develop detailed contingency plans!"

"Once Wu Wanli takes Suwon, he will likely face a fierce counterattack and encirclement by the UN forces!"

"We must plan several evacuation routes and meticulously organize rendezvous points!"

"After Li Yunlong and his men finish their feint attack on the front, they must prepare to provide support troops and be ready to move forward at any time!"

"Make sure our heroic troops return safely after winning the battle!"

The boss stopped and, with sharp eyes, issued a series of clear and decisive orders.

"I'd like to add something!"

"Immediately report the results of the Anyang-Yiwang victory and Wu Wanli's landing in Pyeongtaek and the blitzkrieg at Suwon to the entire front in the name of the Volunteer Army Headquarters! Boost morale!"

"Let all the volunteer soldiers know! We are now in a strategic retreat, so even the blocking forces can fight very well!"

Chief Chen quickly added.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone responded in unison.

Soon, the company was operating at high speed.

The staff officers were like wound-up springs, with telephones and keypads ringing incessantly, and telegrams conveying orders flying to all sides like snowflakes.

The air was thick with excitement, tension, and a strong desire for victory.

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

South of Suwon City, outside Sunam City, the headquarters of the Seventh Steel Corps

"Wanli, according to the intercepted telegram, Ridgway has offered a very generous reward this time."

"Any South Korean soldier who comes to garrison nearby Suyun City and manages to evacuate alive will be promoted one rank!"

"If we can successfully stop our Steel Seventh Brigade, we'll be promoted three ranks!"

"The ridiculous thing is that under these conditions, only one regiment of South Korean troops actually came!"

"The commander of this group is an old acquaintance of ours, his name is Park Jung-hee!"

Liu Hanqing handed a document to Wu Wanli and said.

"This Park Jung-hee was captured by us back in Yeoju!"

"Taking advantage of the chaos of war, Park Jung-hee, who was under house arrest, and the prisoners launched a rebellion."

"We were in the midst of a fierce battle and didn't think much about anything else, so these people got away!"

"If we catch them again this time, we'll have to execute them!"

Upon hearing this, Deputy Squad Leader Lei Zhen said with a hint of anger.

“It would be a waste to execute him. Keep him after he is captured. I have my own plans for this matter.”

Wu Wanli shook his head and said.

"Commander, how should we proceed this time?"

"Have you come up with another plan to lead us to another resounding victory?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong immediately asked the question.

"Do you really need a strategy to take down a regiment of South Korean troops?"

"It would be a laughing stock if word got out!"

"Surround them on all sides! Thunder God's artillery detachment, give them a good blast!"

"The Seventh Steel Brigade will launch a general offensive from all four sides. I will lead the guard battalion and Yu Congrong's fire support brigade to attack from the south, the north and west to the Pinghe Brigade, and the east to the Gao Daxing Brigade!"

"The first battle will be the decisive one; a single battle will secure the south of the river!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli waved his hand and gave the order with an air of dominance.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately agreed and went to make preparations.

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

Before long, all units of the Seventh Steel Brigade completed their pre-battle preparations and moved into their designated attack positions. South of Shuainan City, the north wind howled, but it could not extinguish the fighting spirit burning in the hearts of the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade.

Wu Wanli stood behind the temporary bunker, his military overcoat fluttering in the wind, his gaze sweeping across the smoke-filled South Korean positions like that of a hawk.

Behind him, the 500 elite guards and the more than 2,000 elite troops of Yu Congrong's artillery detachment were like lurking tigers, gripping their guns and cannons, ready to strike with thunder.

"Thunder God!"

"Blast a hole in Shuinan City in five minutes!"

"Scavenge every single fort, bunker, and firing point on and around the city walls!"

"Extend the firepower in three minutes, extending it 300 meters into the city walls!"

"We must consider not only the south side, but also all other sides!"

Wu Wanli spoke clearly and coldly.

"Yes!"

Soon, Lei Suisheng's hoarse but excited response came through the walkie-talkie.

Before long, the earth began to groan in pain.

The Thunder Artillery Detachment had already completed the parameter settings and was now unleashing all its pent-up anger.

Almost simultaneously, the roar of the artillery detachment tore through the sky.

The deafening roar of artillery fire was the first to erupt from the Pinghe Detachment and the Gaodaxing Detachment.

Pinghe's reconnaissance detachment precisely guided artillery fire to strike South Korean forward defensive strongholds.

Gao Daxing's assault detachment, under the cover of artillery fire, launched a rapid assault on the pre-designated weak points like a tidal wave.

Their attack was not a feint, but a genuine multi-pronged attack.

Park Jung-hee, whose forces were already stretched thin, was completely unable to determine the main direction of attack. The South Korean army's hastily mobilized reserves were torn apart amidst cries for help from all directions.

The 155mm howitzer barrage roared with a dull, deadly intensity, as shells ripped through the sky with a sharp whistling sound and slammed into the top of the designated city wall.

Huge orange-red fireballs rose one after another, and bricks and frozen soil were thrown into the air like mud.

The dense barrage of 75mm mountain guns and 105mm howitzers swept across the city wall and the open ground in front of it like iron brooms.

Machine gun emplacements, barbed wire, and abatis were torn to shreds, and South Korean soldiers who had no time to hide were turned to dust in the terrifying shockwave of the explosions.

Lei Gong's observers and Wu Wanli's key points analyzed from the intelligence were pointed out one by one.

The moment the hidden bunker, concealed on the reverse slope at the base of the city wall, appeared, it was immediately bombarded by at least three indirect fire cannons.

South Korean artillery observation posts on the city wall, attempting to observe the area outside the city, were precisely hit by a barrage of mortar shells.

Three minutes later, the artillery barrage continued without pause, with the shells landing all the way behind the city wall and into the city.

The massive explosion and dust instantly enveloped a large area near the south gate.

This was not only to kill reserves and reinforcements, but also to create a smokescreen for infantry assaults.

"Guard Battalion! Firepower Brigade! Charge with me!"

Before the echoes of the artillery fire had even faded, Wu Wanli's figure leaped out from behind the cover like an arrow!

"Drip drip drip drip drip drip drip————"

In an instant, the unique bugle call of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army pierced the sky!

On the open ground, almost completely leveled by artillery fire, the assault troops faced only sporadic resistance from the survivors.

Wu Wanli was like a divine marksman, accurately sniping even while charging forward.

As soon as a South Korean machine gunner, who was hiding in a half-collapsed bunker and trying to fire, Wo Wan-ri raised his hand and fired a shot while speeding along.

"boom!"

With a crisp gunshot, the precise bullet ripped the target's helmet off.

Wu Wanli's movements were fluid and effortless, as if he were merely dusting off a speck of dust from his clothes.

Two stunned South Korean soldiers crawled out of the crater and tried to fight back, but they were only a dozen meters away from Wu Wanli.

Wu Wanli's speed did not decrease at all. His right hand had already drawn the sharp M1 bayonet from his waist with lightning speed. He slightly turned his body to avoid the bayonet, and with a flick of his wrist, the blade flashed!
"Pfft! Pfft!"

Two muffled thuds rang out as Wu Wanli's bayonet pierced the neck of a South Korean soldier with pinpoint accuracy.

The two South Korean soldiers collapsed to the ground before they could even scream.

The guard battalion soldiers followed closely behind, and the barrage of bayonets, Thompson submachine guns, and M3 submachine guns instantly overwhelmed the remaining enemy.

Their tactical maneuvers were swift and precise, forming an almost unstoppable torrent of death.

The light machine gun teams (BAR) and flamethrower teams (if equipped) of the fire support detachment became crucial tools for clearing the way.

After the collapsed walls and ruins were destroyed, if any South Korean troops tried to resist from their fortifications, the BAR would immediately unleash a hail of bullets to suppress them. Flamethrower soldiers would approach under cover, and scorching fire dragons would roar out, instantly turning the corners where they were hiding into infernos. The shrill screams became the best deterrent.

The bazooka rocket launcher was aimed at any suspected firing positions that appeared in the foreground and eliminated them.

Wu Wanli quickly broke through the outer defenses of Shuainan City. The huge gaps blasted by cannonballs at the base of the city wall were clearly visible, and the rubble and debris formed a slope leading into the city.

However, South Korean troops continued to fire desperately from the walls on both sides that were not completely destroyed.

"Grenade launchers! Heavy machine guns! Suppress the city walls!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli roared loudly.

"Yes!"

Soon, Yu Congrong directed the grenade launcher team to set up on the spot and begin bombing.

"Whoosh—Boom! Boom! Boom..."

The sound of cannons rang out one after another, and the curved shells landed precisely on the remaining bunkers on the city wall.

"Thump thump thump thump thump..."

The heavy machine guns then fired wildly at the ramparts, sending rubble flying and sparks flying everywhere.

Under heavy firepower, the South Korean troops on the city walls were firmly suppressed.

"Guard battalion, follow me to seize the high ground on the left side of the city wall! First battalion, secure the breach!"

"The remaining main force of the fire support unit, provide cross-cover and charge in!"

After giving the order with a loud roar, Wu Wanli, under the cover of fire, was the first to climb up the pile of rubble at the breach, his movements as nimble as a monkey.

When he reached the breach, he did not rush in immediately. Instead, he calmly knelt behind a remaining low wall, his sharp eyes quickly scanning the street beyond the breach.

Inside the breach, a small squad of South Korean soldiers organized resistance, relying on the bunkers formed by the collapse.

Wu Wanli glanced around and instantly spotted the position of the enemy machine gunner.

"Grenade!"

Wu Wanli pointed to the location of the South Korean machine gun and let out a low growl.

Upon seeing this, Shi Qian and his men behind him immediately threw several American MK2 fragmentation grenades.

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

Several sparks quickly lit up and then dimmed. Before the smoke from the explosion had dissipated, Wu Wanli had already charged into the smoke screen like a cheetah!

His bayonet gleamed coldly, and with a sudden thrust, he pinned the South Korean soldier at the front, who had just gotten up and was stunned by the explosion, to the sandbag.

Immediately afterwards, he parried a rifle thrust at his side with his left arm, and with a swift slash of his knife in his right hand, he took down another man.

Prehistoric, accompanied by his guard battalion, followed closely behind, and a fierce close-quarters battle erupted in the narrow gap.

The soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade fought bravely and worked in perfect coordination, bayonets clashing and blades flashing as they swiftly cleared the small barrier.

Thus, Wu Wanli led the Seventh Steel Brigade into the city, but the battle did not stop.

Park Jung-hee clearly knew that the pressure was greatest in the south, and therefore stockpiled a large number of reserves there.

However, the demoralized South Korean troops had already become easily frightened under such a rapid attack.

The vanguard of the guard battalion and artillery detachment advanced into the city along the main street.

"First battalion, left! Second battalion, right! Fire teams, crossfire to suppress the barricades ahead!"

Wu Wanli looked at the main street ahead and gave a loud order.

"Yes!"

After Wu Wanli gave the order, the troops quickly spread out on both sides of the street.

"Da da da da da da..."

"Bang! Bang! Bang..."

The rapid fire of the Thompson submachine gun and the short bursts of the carbine created a deadly barrage of fire.

With their powerful firepower clearing the way, Wu Wanli and his men quickly advanced into the interior.

As they were halfway through their journey, two machine guns suddenly spewed fire from the window of a three-story brick building ahead.

"Third floor, right front! Two o'clock! Machine gun! Where's the mortar? Give it a shot!"

Wu Wanli immediately crouched down behind a broken stone step and shouted, while steadily firing his gun.

"Bang! Bang!"

Wu Wanli fired two shots in quick succession, one of which knocked off the helmet of one of the machine gunners, and the other hit the assistant gunner in the shoulder.

As the South Korean machine gun fire faltered, their own 60mm mortar team quickly fired, the shells whistling through the windows and blowing the machine gun team inside away.

After Wu Wanli and his men finished dealing with this area, they continued their advance to the central core street, where a sturdy stone barricade blocked their path, and South Korean troops fired wildly from behind.

"Demolition team, move in! Everyone else, cover us!"

Wu Wanli waved his hand and shouted loudly.

Under heavy fire, several volunteer soldiers quickly approached and placed explosive charges.

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, a large gap was blasted open in the barricade, and Wu Wanli was the first to rush through the smoke!
Just as he charged over the barricade, he ran headlong into a group of South Korean soldiers who were attempting a counter-charge.

Wu Wanli was fearless. In close-quarters combat, his bayonet was like a viper's tongue, each strike fatal.

A burly South Korean officer lunged at him with a knife, but Wu Wanli dodged the blade.

After dodging, he grabbed the other person's wrist with his left hand and pressed it down hard, while his right leg quickly kicked the back of the knee.

"what!!!"

The moment the South Korean officer screamed and fell to his knees, Wu Wanli's bayonet had already precisely pierced his throat.

At the same time, Yu Congrong and others rushed over and, together with Wu Wanli, quickly dealt with the remaining South Korean troops.

"Commander-in-Chief, you're right!"

"It's like piercing tofu with chopsticks; they stormed in with overwhelming force!"

"If the US military were defending this city, we might still be launching a fierce attack from outside!"

"Hahahahaha..."

Looking at the corpses of South Korean soldiers scattered on the ground, Yu Congrong laughed loudly.

"Stop talking nonsense, what's so great about defeating a South Korean army?"

"The street has been taken, now head straight for the command post!"

"What did the prisoners say? Where is the command post?"

Wu Wanli asked.

“The prisoners’ confessions and maps indicate that Park Jung-hee’s regimental command post was located in a relatively sturdy two-story Western-style brick and stone building.”

"It's just two hundred meters ahead!"

Yu Congrong said.

"go!"

Without uttering any unnecessary words, Wu Wanli waved his hand and led his soldiers to charge forward.

Meanwhile, good news kept pouring in from the other three sides.

The Pinghe Detachment has broken into the city from the west, and the Gao Daxing Detachment has also broken through the city's eastern defense line. They are rapidly encircling the city center, and the South Korean troops inside the city are in despair.

Upon arriving outside Park Jung-hee's command post, Yu Congrong's artillery detachment quickly organized heavy firepower.

"Machine guns suppress the doors and windows!"

"Bazooka! Aim at the doors and windows and fire!"

"Further request to concentrate artillery fire at coordinates xxx!"

"Break off the building's back door! Cut off their escape route!"

Wu Wanli looked at the command post in front of him and quickly made arrangements.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong and the others immediately agreed.

"Huh! Huh!"

Soon, a bazooka rocket, trailing a fiery exhaust, hurtled towards the command post's doors and windows.

"Boom!"

With a deafening explosion, flames instantly ripped off the door and half of the wall bricks.

Wu Wanli led his guard battalion like tigers descending a mountain, rushing straight in through the blasted opening under the cover of light machine guns and smoke grenades.

Wu Wanli burst into the first-floor lobby amidst the billowing smoke and dust. The place was in complete chaos, with South Korean soldiers in a state of panic.

Wu Wanli fired with both hands, his carbine repeatedly snapping shots down the guards at the stairwell.

He then slung his carbine over his shoulder, drew both pistols, and strode forward like a war god, firing left and right; the gunshots fell to the ground.

He moved with ghostly speed and unpredictable footwork, making full use of the hall's pillars as cover, and every bullet hit the enemy with precision.

Upon seeing this, the remaining guards retreated in terror or fell to the ground.

At the same time, terrified shouts in Korean came from upstairs.

Wu Wanli signaled several soldiers to guard the stairwell, while he himself rushed up to the second floor like a whirlwind.

At the end of the corridor, a thick oak door was tightly closed; this was Park Jung-hee's command room.

"Park Jung-hee! Surrender and you will not be killed!"

Wu Wanli roared and, without waiting for a response from inside, fired a short burst at the door lock area!

"Dangdang!"

Yu Congrong and Shi Qian stepped forward and kicked the door open!

What came into view was Park Jung-hee, who was holding a pistol and whose face was as pale as paper, along with several equally terrified staff officers.

"asshole!"

"Why am I the only one who came? Damn Ridgway, damn my South Korean colleagues!"

Park Jung-hee screamed in despair, then suddenly raised his gun and pointed it at Wu Wanli!
Wu Wanli's eyes sharpened, and he slid to the side with lightning speed, his left hand flashing out like lightning.

"Snapped!"

Wu Wanli precisely grabbed Park Jung-hee's wrist and twisted it upwards at the joint!
"what!"

Park Jung-hee screamed and dropped the pistol.

At the same time, Wu Wanli's right-hand bayonet drew a cold arc and stopped steadily half an inch in front of Park Jung-hee's throat!

The cold light was piercing, and the killing intent was chilling.

This move of disarming and controlling the throat was extremely fast, accurate, and ruthless!
Park Jung-hee froze instantly, large beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

The room was deathly silent, save for Park Jung-hee's heavy breathing and the chattering of his staff.

However, to everyone's surprise, Wu Wanli did not order the people to be tied up, but instead slowly withdrew his bayonet.

He ignored the South Korean military staff officers who were slumped on the ground, and instead focused his gaze, as deep as a still well, on the ashen face of Park Jung-hee.

"Park Kaka, how have you been?"

"I heard you left in a hurry when we parted ways in Lizhou last time."

Wu Wanli spoke, his voice calm and indifferent, showing no trace of excitement after the battle, as if he were meeting an old friend in the camp.

Park Jung-hee looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock and humiliation.

His capture in Lizhou was the biggest stain on his military career, and he never expected that Wu Wanli would bring it up again under these circumstances.

"Ah Xiba!"

"Wu Wanli! Don't be so smug!"

"This time, my forces were insufficient and my deployment was flawed!"

"If it weren't for that bastard Ridgway's empty promise of a bounty, and me alone coming to defend this damn city, all the other regimental commanders would have been too cowardly to advance!"

"Your artillery support is insufficient, and your heavy firepower for defending the city is not even a fraction of what your Seventh Steel Brigade has!"

"If we had equal troops and equipment, this wouldn't have happened..."

Park Jung-hee suppressed his turbulent emotions and replied stiffly.

When he got excited, he almost roared, veins bulging on his forehead, filled with dissatisfaction with his own situation and his "colleagues".

As Wu Wanli listened, there was no sign of anger on his face; instead, a faint, elusive smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh?"

"It seems you're resentful, feel you lost unfairly, and aren't truly convinced of your defeat?"

He slightly raised his hand, interrupting Park Jung-hee's increasingly loud defense.

"Clothes?!"

"Ah Xiba!"

"Of course I disagree!"

"If you have the guts, release me. Once I've mustered my troops, I'll have a fair and square battle with you!"

"No matter how powerful your Seventh Steel Brigade is, can you always be this lucky?!"

Park Jung-hee practically roared, spittle flying everywhere.

These words stunned even the staff officers who were too intimidated by Wu Wanli's aura to move.

They all thought Park Jung-hee must have gone mad, daring to challenge them like that?

Wu Wanli stared at Park Jung-hee quietly for a few seconds, his eyes deep and penetrating, as if he could see right through people's hearts.

Then, he did something that surprised everyone.

Wu Wanli stepped to the side, making way for the doorway.

"Okay."

"I'll let you go!"

Wu Wanli's voice wasn't loud, but it resounded like thunder in the small command room.

"Wha...what?!"

Park Jung-hee was completely stunned, wondering if he was hallucinating.

Even his staff officer and the prehistoric men who had just rushed in to deal with the prisoners stared wide-eyed, thinking they had misheard.

"Let me go?"

"Wu Wanli! What...what trick are you playing?"

Jung-hee's tone was filled with disbelief and extreme vigilance.

"I, Wu Wanli, keep my word."

"You should pick up your gun now and go back to prepare your troops and horses."

“I will have someone drive you to a suitable place, and then you can leave on your own. When you go back, just say that you broke out on your own.”

“I killed all the South Korean staff officers who saw you. No one will know that I let you go.”

"I'm waiting for your next battle to see if you've improved."

Wu Wanli's expression was calm, his tone carried an unquestionable authority, and he even pointed to the door.

Park Jung-hee stared blankly at Wu Wanli, then at the open doorway leading to freedom, and then back at the pistol lying on the ground, a symbol of his shame.

The immense shock left his mind blank; anger, humiliation, and disbelief intertwined in that moment.

Then, a very faint, complex emotion mixed with shock and bewilderment quietly arose, one that he himself was unaware of.

He suddenly looked up and gave Wu Wanli a deep look. The roar and howl from before were gone from his eyes; only a fierce, suppressed emotion surging within them remained.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he said nothing.

He bent down to pick up the pistol from the ground, hesitated for a moment, and did not point it at anyone, but simply held it tightly in his hand.

Then, without a word, with his head down, he walked quickly out of the command room through the passage cleared by Wu Wanli, as if escaping a nightmare, without even glancing at his limp staff officers.

He walked down the stairs, through the hall, and out of the bombed-out building. Park Jung-hee staggered into the still chaotic battlefield.

The icy wind blew on his face, and only then did the turmoil in his heart surge up.

"You really let me go? Why?"

"He...is he really that confident? It's like...he's really waiting for me to fight him again someday? That kind of composure..."

"But what good would it do me to fight again? Even if I were lucky... wouldn't I just be Ridgway's watchdog?"

"What good is a nominal rank for a South Korean military officer? In the face of the US military, he is ultimately a dependent."

Is it worth being a lackey of the United States?

At this moment, an unprecedented sense of powerlessness and a faint questioning of his own identity and worth overwhelmed his brief relief at being released and his desire for revenge.

In the command room
"Captain! You...you really let that Park guy go? You just let him go like that?!"

The first one in prehistoric times couldn't contain himself and shouted excitedly, his face full of confusion and anxiety.

Yu Congrong, Ping He, and the others who had just rushed in also surrounded them, their eyes full of confusion.

"Captain, this Park Jung-hee is a stubborn old man. He's fallen into our hands twice. If we let him go, he'll only cause trouble later!"

"If he brings troops again, it'll be troublesome!"

Yu Congrong frowned and quickly reminded him.

"Yes, Captain, he escaped from Lizhou last time, but we finally caught him again this time..."

Upon hearing this, Pinghe also offered a low-pitched word of advice.

Wu Wanli raised his hand, stopping the crowd's discussion.

“I let this person go, not because he is harmless to us now, but because I am playing the long game.”

"His heart was not in the temporary victory or defeat on the battlefield, nor in the high-ranking positions and generous salaries promised by the US military."

"His morale was thwarted twice, and his dissatisfaction with the U.S. military and his resentment towards his colleagues had taken deep root."

His gaze swept over the concerned and puzzled faces, and he spoke slowly, his tone firm and profound.

"Letting him go today is so that he can take back this dissatisfaction, this confusion, and that slight feeling that just arose in his heart... that touched his military style."

"What he wants is not charity from the Americans."

"This will be useful to us in the future, and even more useful after this war ends."

"His value far exceeds whether we kill him or imprison him now."

"After all, I've even arrested US major generals and lieutenant generals, so why would I be any different from a South Korean regimental commander?"

“But after he goes back, he will become a division commander according to Ridgway’s promise.”

"Winning his heart is far more meaningful than killing a thousand enemies."

"This move is very important, not only on the battlefield, but also after this battle. You will understand in the future, believe me!"

Wu Wanli walked to the window, looked in the direction where Park Jung-hee had disappeared, and spoke through the lingering smoke.

"He's just a South Korean military officer, not the president of South Korea. What use is he after the war is over..."

"But the commander-in-chief is right, we don't need another South Korean regimental commander."

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong muttered something under his breath.

Although Pinghe and the others were somewhat confused, Wu Wanli's brilliant track record of almost flawless strategies left no one with any objections.

"The commander-in-chief's vision has always been farther-reaching than ours."

Pinghe said.

"I didn't hear what they were saying clearly, but I did hear that it was Wanli's decision."

"Even if I don't know the specifics, that's all I know!"

Liu Hanqing had just walked in when he looked at Wu Wanli and said trustingly.

"Sinan has fallen, there's no need to discuss Park Jung-hee's matter further, and we need not linger here!"

"Immediately reorganize the troops, move the wounded to a safe area and hand them over to the follow-up troops, and have the main force take the necessary ammunition and supplies! The troops shall rest and replenish their supplies on the spot for half an hour!"

"Our next target is Suwon City! This is our final objective on this mission! It will be our lightning-fast end to crippling Ridgway's logistical heart!"

"It was also key to fulfilling the Soviet Union's demands and acquiring cruisers and destroyers!"

"After this battle, we can break out immediately! We'll break through the encirclement of the returning American reinforcements, retreat back to the north bank of the Han River, and rejoin the main force!"

"The leaders of the company are still waiting for our triumphant return!"

Wu Wanli walked to the map in the center of the command room, pointed heavily at the location of Suwon City, and decisively gave the order.

"Yes!"

All the generals in the room, including the soldiers who had just been wondering about letting Park Jung-hee go, were instantly ignited by this clear and inspiring goal of the final battle, and they all responded.

(End of this chapter)