Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 289: The Chinese Army Annihilates the US Air Force! The Capture of the Chaoding Bridge! Chu Yunfei, Director of the Strategic Deception Bureau!!
With Wu Wanli's order, the 7th Steel Corps began crossing the river, with the artillery detachment serving as the first unit to do so.

This is heavy firepower support from the entire Seventh Steel Brigade, and whether or not this batch of artillery can be safely brought across the river is of great importance.

The captured jeeps, carrying heavy howitzers and mountain guns, slowly moved onto the widest and sturdiest No. 3 main pontoon bridge.

The pontoon bridge bobbed up and down under the weight, making a groaning sound as if it were about to collapse, and the current seemed to become even stronger.

The first few 75mm mountain guns and 82mm mortars passed through relatively smoothly.

Next came the slow and arduous crossing of the bridge by the howitzer group.

Fortunately, with the help of captured jeeps, most of the howitzers were successfully pulled across the bridge.

They encountered some difficulties when a large-caliber American-made howitzer crossed the bridge. This was one of the core firepower of the Thunder Artillery Corps and was extremely important.

The jeeps pulling the cannons were running at full speed, and the soldiers pushed the cannon wheels on both sides, chanting slogans as they moved forward step by step.

Just as the cannon was about to reach the bridgehead on the other side, an accident occurred!

One of the main load-bearing beams on the bridge deck appears to have partially broken or loosened due to days of water damage and repeated trampling, causing a noticeable collapse and depression to appear on the pontoon bridge deck.

With a loud clang, the massive revolver of the howitzer precisely jammed into the dent, sinking deep into the gap between the two rough bridge planks!
The gun carriage tilted suddenly, and the gun barrel fell heavily down, almost touching the river water.

"Stop! Stop!"

The thunder god's hoarse roar immediately rang out.

He was originally directing the follow-up artillery vehicles to maintain spacing at the bridgehead when he heard the noise, and he rushed to the blocked position in a few steps.

"What are you all standing there for?!"

"Get them! Everyone get them!"

"Push! Lift! Damn it, get it out of here!"

Lei Gong pounded on the cold cannon barrel, his eyes wide like copper bells as he shouted.

"Yes!"

Several artillerymen quickly agreed and immediately surrounded him.

They chanted slogans, carrying heavy loads on their shoulders and in their hands, veins bulging, their faces and necks covered in sweat and splashed mud.

Someone brought a large crowbar and inserted it under the cannon wheel in an attempt to pry it open. Heavy breathing and muffled groans filled the air.

The large-caliber howitzer, however, seemed to be welded to the bridge, remaining completely still.

The gun wheel gripped the edge of the damaged bridge plank tightly, its enormous weight seemingly about to crush that section of the pontoon bridge.

Time ticked by, and the artillery vehicles and ammunition trucks that followed were all stuck behind, unable to advance.

The river wind whistled past, carrying a chill, causing the bridge to sway even more, making it even more difficult to pry it open.

Liu Hanqing anxiously ran back and forth, directing the troops to speed up the crossing of the river, constantly looking up at the sky.

"Captain!"

"Commander Lei and his men have that cannon stuck tight, they can't move it! Their escape route is blocked!"

Liu Hanqing saw Wu Wanli personally catching up from behind and immediately reported this.

Wu Wanli didn't say anything, but quickly crossed the pontoon bridge and walked all the way to the position of the cannon.

He saw Lei Gong personally directing several of his strongest soldiers to try to drag the gun by attaching ropes to the gun carriage, their voices hoarse from shouting.

Lei Gong was so anxious that the veins on his forehead were throbbing, and his ears seemed redder and more deaf than usual. He didn't even listen to the soldiers around him telling him to make way.

"Sink it!"

Wu Wanli stood still, his voice not loud, but clear and decisive, piercing through the chaotic voices and howling wind.

"What?! Who said that?!"

"Sink?! Bullshit!"

"This is damn tough stuff for attacking positions and destroying bunkers!"

"Do you know that our Volunteer Army is short of artillery?!"

"Sinking them would be destroying the weapons used in the Korean War!"

Lei Gong suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes blazing with fury.

The cold wind was still howling, making Wu Wanli's voice sound somewhat distorted.

In addition, Lei Gongzheng was putting all his strength into pushing the cannon wheel, and didn't even look at who was next to him. He just assumed that it was some anxious soldier giving bad advice.

"I'll be the first to disagree with anyone who dares to sink it!"

"Keep pushing! Add more people! Even if you have to dismantle the bridge deck, get it out..."

Lei Gong's voice was tinged with tears; he understood all too well the significance of these cannons to the army.

Before we had cannons, we were constantly being chased by artillery fire. Now that we finally have cannons...

"Comrade Lei Suisheng!"

Wu Wanli sighed, then directly called out Lei Gong's real name. His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable power, and he took another step forward.

The name and that familiar tone struck like a thunderbolt.

His cursing and swearing froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place.

His fiery temper froze instantly; he jerked his head around so fast he almost twisted his neck.

When Lei Gong saw that the person standing in front of him was none other than Captain Wu Wanli, his face instantly stiffened, followed by an extremely embarrassed blush.

Without any hesitation, Lei Gong instinctively brought his heels together, straightened his back, and gave Wu Wanli a perfect military salute!

His movements were so fast that the surrounding soldiers were stunned, as if the impatient Thunder God from before was just an illusion.

"Commander-in-Chief! I..."

Lei Gong straightened up and roared in a booming voice.

But the words he was about to say stuck in his throat, leaving only apologies and confusion in his eyes.

"Hahahahahaha..."

Seeing his unusually embarrassed state, Wu Wanli burst into hearty laughter, which stood out especially in the cold river wind.

“Lei Gong, look at it, it’s stuck here. The comrades behind can’t get through, the comrades in front are getting anxious, and the whole bridge is in danger.”

"This is what's really sabotaging our Korean War! It's ruining our chance to launch a lightning attack on Hengcheng from the east!"

"Sink it!"

"It's just a cannon, isn't it?"

"Our Seventh Steel Brigade fought from Songaksan to Incheon Port, from Anyang Valley to Suwon City. How many tanks and artillery have we captured?!"

"What are these difficulties at hand!"

"Sinking this cannon is to save our people, and to save many more other cannons!"

"Where there is life, there is hope."

"Once we cross the river, we can seize even more and better artillery from the enemy!"

"Excuting an order!"

Wu Wanli gently pressed down on Lei Gong's salute arm, looked at the unmoving howitzer, and spoke calmly.

Wu Wanli's words carried immense weight and clearly reached the ears of every anxious soldier.

The embarrassment and stubbornness on Lei Gong's face completely disappeared, replaced by an enlightened understanding and a resolute obedience to orders.

"Yes! Captain!"

"You heard that?!"

"Commander-in-Chief's order! Remove the fuse from this 'roadblock,' take off the scope, tie it securely with rope, and sink it into the river!"

"Hurry up! Make way for the artillery behind!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Lei Gong shouted loudly.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the artillery detachment no longer hesitated and immediately took action.

The cannon, which had been desperately being saved, had its key components quickly removed, and several people, chanting slogans, pried the heavy steel behemoth back into place.

"Pfft!"

With a loud bang, a huge splash of water shot high into the air, creating ripples that spread rapidly before subsiding.

The bridge surface suddenly felt lighter, and the pressure decreased sharply.

The line of artillery vehicles and ammunition trucks that had been blocked behind them instantly began to move.

"Hurry! Keep up! Don't dawdle! Maintain the distance! Keep up the pace!"

Lei Gong regained his authority as the commander of the artillery and stood at the bridgehead, shouting.

Lightweight howitzers, mortars, and ammunition vehicles followed, passing through in an orderly and rapid manner.

About ten minutes later, when the last truck carrying shell boxes drove onto the solid ground on the other side, the Thunder God Artillery Team had finally completed its crossing of the river!

"The artillery detachment is at its most vulnerable right now. We'll take our most elite guard battalion to protect them!"

"go!"

Wu Wanli nodded to Liu Hanqing and said.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately agreed.

Soon, the two men, leading several hundred elite guards, stepped onto the swaying pontoon bridge.

The river wind howled, the bridge planks creaked underfoot, and the river water surged and rushed beneath the bridge.

Just as the guard battalion crossed the river, a low buzzing sound, like countless bees gathering and rapidly approaching, tore through the cold morning air as it drew nearer.

"Air raid—!"

"Enemy aircraft! Take cover—!!!"

In an instant, the piercing whistles and shouts of the sentries of the Seventh Steel Brigade rang out almost simultaneously, shattering the sky.

Before the words were even finished, a moving, metallic-looking black dot appeared on the horizon.

Extremely fast!

The quantity is huge!

A massive formation of U.S. military aircraft, like vultures smelling blood, swooped down over this north-south tributary of the Han River!

In an instant, the entire riverbank erupted in chaos!

Having just crossed the river, the soldiers, still tidying up their formation and catching their breath, suddenly rushed towards the nearest depressions, shell craters, riverbanks, and piles of rocks, searching for any possible cover.

“Rumble——!!!”

A series of violent explosions followed, deafeningly loud!
Without any warning, the US military aircraft began their dive and bombing as soon as they reached the river surface! First came the heavy bombs!
A huge column of water, mixed with mud, sand and gravel, shot into the sky!

The first loud bang hit the middle section of the No. 2 pontoon bridge directly, and the wooden bridge was instantly blown in half!
Broken wooden beams and bridge planks flew dozens of meters into the air amidst the flames, turning into burning fragments that rained down onto the river!
Immediately afterwards, several bombs exploded violently near the No. 1 and No. 3 pontoon bridges.

The No. 1 pontoon bridge was torn apart and mostly blown away by the huge shock wave!

The widest and strongest pontoon bridge, No. 3, which had just been traversed by all the artillery units, became a key target!
American warplanes swooped down, bombs under their wings trailing long plumes of white smoke as they hurtled toward the bridge piers at both ends of the main bridge!
“Swoosh—boom!!!”

“Swoosh—boom!!!”

The violent explosion shattered the wooden piles securing the pontoon bridge into dust!
The bridge deck collapsed violently into the water!

The thick ropes made a sickeningly tight snapping sound!
The iron chains connecting the bridge deck snapped one after another!
The main pontoon bridge, which had taken countless hours and effort to build, was torn to pieces in a devastating explosion and fire!

Burning logs, debris, and twisted iron pieces crashed into the rushing river, instantly swept away and disappeared by the torrent!
The fighter-bombers that had dropped their bombs immediately pulled up to make way for the dive-strike fighters.

The ferry crossing was instantly transformed into hell!

Smoke filled the air, the river churned, flames soared into the sky, and debris flew everywhere!
The bridges and passages that were just full of hope were completely flattened in an instant!

The remaining flames burned on the wreckage of the pontoon bridge and on the water, emitting a pungent, burnt smell.

The troops who had successfully crossed the river cowered behind their bunkers, gazing at the horrific scene. Anger, humiliation, and a touch of dejection silently permeated the air among the soldiers.

"His grandma's!"

"These American devils, of all times, they had to come!"

Lei Gong looked at the group of American fighter jets in the sky and cursed angrily.

"They're already slow to arrive, but thankfully we fought quickly and annihilated a large number of American troops, and we withdrew in time."

"Otherwise, the current scenario should be that the US military, in coordination with the armored units we destroyed earlier, attacks us while we are crossing the river!"

"With the added bombing from these air forces, we will suffer heavy losses and be bogged down, if not completely routed."

"Our victory in that decisive battle ensured that Chengnan City had no more pursuers, so we had to rely on these air force fighters to bomb the bridge."

Looking at the group of American fighter jets in the sky, Wu Wanli said without any surprise.

"That's indeed true..."

"The number of US warplanes was also greatly reduced in the Battle of Suwon, so now most of the bombs are being fired on the bridge, and the casualties among the soldiers are not many."

"In particular, the artillery detachment crossed the river first and subconsciously concealed themselves in advance, so the position of the heavy artillery was not exposed."

"However, the impact on our marching speed and the reduction in morale are very real."

Liu Hanqing looked at the circling and bombing formations of American warplanes and sighed.

"Motivation is easy to deal with; if they blow up the bridge, I'll just shoot down their fighter jets!"

"As for the problems with marching, I have my own solutions!"

"Give me my gun!"

Wu Wanli shouted.

"Commander, this isn't just one or two American warplanes..."

Upon hearing this, Shiqian quickly replied.

"Of course I know!"

"We still need to remain hidden, but it won't take too long."

"The payload capacity of US warplanes is limited. Given the US Air Force's wasteful nature, they will definitely carry out a saturation bombing before leaving, at which point there will be little ammunition left."

"If I shoot down one or two fighter jets, I'll definitely provoke the US fighter jet group and make them rush over!"

"Lei Gong, will the anti-aircraft guns in the artillery detachment have any problem dealing with this air force formation that has very little ammunition left?"

Wu Wanli asked.

"If this fully armed air force formation were to launch a sudden attack, we would only have a 30% chance of winning."

"If we fight fairly and openly, we have a 50% chance of winning."

"If we prepare in advance and use your method, Commander-in-Chief, to lure this group of American warplanes over, and then suddenly open fire to take out a batch of American warplanes first, we have a 70% chance of winning!"

"If we also add what you said about the US Air Force running out of ammunition after their saturation bombing, then we have a 90% chance of winning!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Gong pondered for a while before speaking.

"it is good!"

"Then let's wait for the American devils to blow up the bridge, and then we'll annihilate this entire American air force squadron!"

Wu Wanli gripped his rifle tightly, watching the US Air Force fighter jets circling and bombing the bridge, and said through gritted teeth.

At this moment, the American planes had just finished bombing and strafing, and seemed quite satisfied with the devastating result.

Inside the Chu Ying No. 1 fighter jet
"Guys, unleash the bombs and ammunition! We must not leave the Chinese a single bridge, or even the possibility of repairing one!"

"Believe me, this will be a great victory!"

A U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel said arrogantly.

"Sir, we're almost out of ammunition, it's time to head back!"

"Sir, I've run out of ammo too!"

“Sir, I have 10% of my ammunition left, but the bridge below has been blown up and is beyond repair.”

At that moment, the radio channels inside the cabin began to receive replies from the various US pilots.

"it is good!"

"These cowardly and short-sighted Chinese probably didn't even bring their anti-aircraft guns when they were trying to escape, and they didn't even fire back once. How boring!"

"Return to base immediately, let's go back and celebrate!"

The U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel gave a mocking smile and immediately gave the order.

Soon, the US military aircraft group that received the order regrouped in the air and prepared to return to base.

The piercing engine sounds began to level off as they prepared to climb and leave the sky that had just been ravaged.

In this moment of utter devastation, when morale was low and there was a deathly silence!

Just as a U.S. military aircraft finished its final strafing and was comfortably pulling up altitude, preparing to catch up with the formation,

Behind an inconspicuous pile of rocks by the river, Wu Wanli suddenly leaped out like a cheetah that had been lying in wait for a long time!

Using the height of the pile of stones, he stood exceptionally steadily, and a rifle was firmly gripped in his hand!
Wu Wanli immediately raised his gun, shouldered it, and aimed in one fluid motion, without making any unnecessary movements!

The cold muzzle of the gun was pointed at the sky at an almost exaggerated angle, locked onto the American warplane that was lazily pulling up!

"boom--!"

A sharp, unusually clear gunshot suddenly rang out!

The moment the gun fired, the fuselage of the American fighter jet that was pulling up suddenly shuddered!
The cockpit window shattered, and the US pilot was shot in the forehead on the spot!

Immediately afterwards, the US military aircraft completely lost control of its attitude!
Like a drunkard, its nose rose high, then suddenly stalled and flipped, spinning and tumbling, leaving a trail of black smoke as it plummeted straight down!

"boom--!!!"

The distant sound of the impact, accompanied by the flash of the explosion, echoed from afar, as if it were a belated judgment on the massacre that had just occurred!
This unbelievable scene stunned everyone!

Time seems to freeze at this moment!
The second American pilot, who was flying low and preparing to turn, was also taken aback by this sudden turn of events.

That fraction of a second of hesitation became a fatal mistake!

After firing the first shot, Wu Wanli didn't even lower the butt of his rifle!
Before the powerful recoil had fully reached his shoulder, he had already moved the muzzle of his gun sideways at a dizzying speed and a tiny angle!

In the scope, it instantly locked onto the front of the cockpit of the US military aircraft with a lead time!

"boom--!"

In an instant, the rifle in Wu Wanli's hand roared once again!

This time, everyone saw the result clearly!
The windshield of that US warplane, which was originally clear, suddenly shattered into a blurry mixture of red and white!
The plane that had just passed by seemed to have been struck by an invisible giant hammer!
The aircraft shook violently, then lost all control, and crashed and exploded with a sharp whistling sound!
On the east bank of the river, Liu Hanqing and Lei Gong stared wide-eyed at the astonishing scene unfolding on the opposite bank, their mouths agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

Wu Wanli leaped out from the pile of rocks with lightning speed, and raised his seemingly ordinary rifle to fire at the diving enemy plane!
"God!"

"Both shots hit their mark, bringing down two fighter jets!"

"Wanli... he's a true god!"

"No wonder the US military gave him the nickname 'Shot of God,' it's well-deserved..."

Upon seeing this, Liu Hanqing exclaimed in shock.

West bank of the river
Yu Congrong, Pinghe, and Gao Daxing were also struck dumb, their feet rooted to the spot.

"My goodness!"

Yu Congrong slapped his thigh suddenly, his eyes widening in shock, almost dropping his jaw.

"The captain hadn't shown his power for too long, and some people even said it was just luck."

"Now that's great, no one can question it anymore."

Pinghe gasped and said.

Even though he was usually calm and collected, he felt a surge of hot blood rushing to his head, and an indescribable surge of excitement and heroic spirit exploded in his chest.

"Those two shots were brilliant! Well done!"

Gao Daxing excitedly waved his fist and shouted towards the opposite bank of the river.

The soldiers on the west bank erupted in uncontrollable shouts and cheers, their blood boiling with excitement!
U.S. Air Force formation, inside the cockpit of a Young Eagle 1 fighter jet.

In the command cockpit, the arrogance and smugness on U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Thompson's face froze instantly, as if he had been doused with ice water!
Those blue eyes were first filled with disbelief at the incredible tale of a rifle shooting down an airplane, and then were swallowed up by an unprecedented, heart-wrenching sense of humiliation and a violent rage!

"Special Crab Gift!"

"Fuck! Fuck, you!!!"

"What...what kind of monster is that?!"

"How did he take down Chuck and Jones?! That's impossible! Damn it, impossible!"

Thompson launched into a tirade through the intercom, his spittle practically filling his oxygen mask.

The radio channel fell silent, then filled with the same horrified and angry curses from the other pilots.

"Kill him!!"

"Attention all personnel! Turn 180!"

"Target! The West Coast!"

"Smash all the remaining ammunition! Tear him apart! Send him and his ruined position to hell!"

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Thompson's voice was distorted with rage, like a wild beast whose tail had been stepped on.

"Sir! Calm down!"

"Our bomb and cannon ammunition reserves are very low! The bridge bombing just now almost depleted our supplies! Order to return to base..."

The wingman's voice came urgently over the radio channel, filled with anxiety.

"Low ammo? Taking him out is enough!"

"Look at their reaction to the bombing! They didn't dare utter a single word! They were like a bunch of terrified Chinese rats!"

"I reckon they don't even have any decent anti-aircraft firepower!"

"Dive! Blast him to pieces with the machine guns! Charge down!"

"This is an order!"

Thompson abruptly interrupted, his reason completely consumed by rage.

Under Thompson's hysterical orders, dozens of bloodthirsty American warplanes lowered their noses and, with their last remaining ammunition, swooped down on Wu Wanli once again!
"Perfect timing, they've taken the bait!"

Wu Wanli's eyes were cold, but a hint of excitement flashed in them.

Facing the massive swarm of aircraft diving down, he showed no fear and steadily raised his rifle once again!
"boom!"

Another bullet pierced through the airflow and accurately struck the canopy of a US warplane that was at the forefront!

"Ugh!"

The American pilot inside the cabin only saw a flash of red light before his eyes, and he didn't even have time to scream!

The fighter jet trembled violently, instantly went out of control, tumbled, and crashed into the ground, turning into a huge fireball!

Gunshots rang out, and men were killed!

From the perspective of the US Air Force, this is nothing short of a provocation!

Dozens of US warplanes swooped in, and Wu Wanli didn't even try to dodge!?

Not only did they not avoid it, but they also shot down another fighter jet without any fear!
It's a blatant mockery, riding right over someone's head!

"Ahhh!!! You bastard!!"

"He must be the Chinese 'Shot of God,' he's too arrogant, how can there be such an arrogant Chinese person!"

"Kill him! We must kill him!"

"Even if he gets hit by all of them, he'll need to reload, which means it's a 100% kill situation!!!"

The US pilots' headsets were filled with Lieutenant Colonel Thomson's frantic roars.

That shot completely ignited the barrel of explosives!
The remaining American warplanes completely lost their minds and formation, their minds filled only with the thought of destroying Wu Wanli!

Their last shred of caution was burned away by their rage, and dozens of steel raptors let out deafening screechs as they desperately lowered their flight altitude!
Three thousand meters, two thousand meters, one thousand meters... until they were charging at almost the lowest altitude!
The dense trajectories of machine gun shells, carrying an aura of destruction, swept like raindrops towards the shallow, rocky area where Wu Wanli stood, sending dust and smoke flying everywhere!
Just as all the enemy planes were fiercely diving, their bellies fully exposed to the optimal firing angle of the pre-set anti-aircraft guns below, and they had descended to their lowest point, just as they were about to open fire.

"Lord Lei, where are my American anti-aircraft guns?!"

"Half the firepower, blast them!!!"

The moment the aircraft reached their densest point, Wu Wanli's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he roared angrily.

In an instant, the order was like a lit fuse!
"Thump thump thump! Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump

The anti-aircraft guns, concealed and disguised in the depression behind the shallows on the west bank, suddenly revealed their ferocious fangs!

These anti-aircraft guns, which were transported to the west bank by the artillery detachment during the latter part of the river crossing and were immediately deployed and concealed, are now proving useful!

On the concealed anti-aircraft gun positions, half of the gun muzzles simultaneously spewed out furious flames!

The barrage of orange-red tracer rounds, like a giant whip of death woven from steel thorns, lashed fiercely into the sky!

The US military aircraft group was completely unprepared for this fatal blow!
They assumed that the fish below was already on a chopping board!
too close!
Too dense!

puff!

Boom!

In an instant, the most brutal steel fireworks burst forth in the sky!
One P-51 Mustang fighter jet after another was like a paper kite that had been punctured!
Some exploded in mid-air, turning into burning debris that scattered in all directions!

Some engines were hit and caught fire, trailing long plumes of black smoke as they plummeted to the ground with a shrill scream!
Some wings were broken off, and they tumbled and crashed into the murky river water or the hard western bank!

With just one salvo from half of the anti-aircraft guns, a third of the diving American fighter jets crashed down like dumplings being dropped into a pot!

The number has plummeted!

The once-mighty torrent of steel was instantly broken in two!

"No no no no!"

As Lieutenant Colonel Thompson listened to the dense screams and desperate cries for help over the radio in the command cockpit, his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an icy hand!
His rage was instantly replaced by a bone-chilling cold and despair, and cold sweat soaked through his flight suit.

With so many losses, going back like this would mean facing the Air Force Commander's wrath, a military court trial... and everything would be over!

retreat?

A dead end!
beat?
Maybe we can destroy those damn cannons!
Wu Wanli just ordered only half of the anti-aircraft guns to fire, precisely to exploit the current wishful thinking of the US Air Force commander.

I think that's all the anti-aircraft firepower the Seventh Steel Brigade has!
I realized I was careless just now, and if I could do it again, I could at least win by a narrow margin!

"The rest! Listen up! Pull them up!"

"Target! Aim at those anti-aircraft positions! One last dive!"

"Fire all the bullets! Destroy them!"

"Avenge our fallen brothers! Charge—!"

Sure enough, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Thomson gritted his teeth and roared.

The remaining dozen or so battered American warplanes, like gamblers who have lost everything, are making a final, desperate attempt!

They suddenly pulled up a little, then pushed the nose down again, unleashing the remaining machine gun shells at the anti-aircraft artillery group in the Chinese depression!

"I knew you wouldn't accept this..."

"All anti-aircraft guns!!"

"Go all out this time! Give them full coverage fire!!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli smiled slightly and roared with a wave of his hand.

"Hey kids, dinner's ready!!!"

"boom!!!"

Lei Gong roared with all his might beside the cannon!
"Thump thump thump thump thump thump—!!!"

In an instant, all the anti-aircraft guns of the artillery detachment unleashed their full firepower, letting out a deafening roar!

All the cannons were spewing deadly flames!
The web of death, woven from chains of tracer bullets, was denser and more ferocious than the previous web of fire!
This is no longer a half-force attack, but a complete and utter devastating sweep!
puff!

Boom!

Click!

This group of US warplanes was almost simultaneously engulfed in a hellish inferno of fire!

Machine gun shells and high-explosive warheads rained down on their fuselages and wings like steel rain and hail!

The continuous explosions were like death flowers blooming in the sky!
One after another, US warplanes disintegrated in mid-air or crashed to the ground with a mournful cry, turning into fiercely burning torches!
In an instant, the sky was dyed a blood-red color, a mixture of red and black!
In the blink of an eye, the once arrogant and domineering formation of US warplanes in the air was reduced to... only one aircraft!
That's Lieutenant Colonel Thompson's landline!

His cockpit canopy was torn open by shrapnel, and the cockpit alarms were flashing shrilly as thick smoke billowed out! Like a stray dog, he frantically pulled on the control stick through the gaps at the edge of the fire, desperately trying to escape this life-devouring airspace.

Climb!

Climb higher!
I just want to live!

"Want to run?"

Wu Wanli's icy gaze suddenly locked onto the climbing enemy plane, his movements so fast that only a blur remained!

The rifle was raised steadily again—through the scope, the engine of the enemy plane, which was struggling to climb, was now in the optimal firing range!
"boom!"

This shot, like the scythe of death, cleaved through the clamor!

The bullet pierced the Mustang's engine with pinpoint accuracy!

"boom--!"

Finally, the "command aircraft" transformed into a huge, rolling fireball in the sky!

The flames devoured everything, including Thompson's last shred of desperate fear!

In an instant, fragments fell like rain onto the Han River.

In an instant, the world fell silent!
Even the wind seemed to have stopped!

next second!
"Ouch-ouch-!!!"

"Well done! Long live the Captain!!"

"The anti-aircraft guns are incredibly powerful!!"

"annihilate the entire US Air Force formation!"

"Without the support of the air force, the Chinese army used a strategy to annihilate a US air force squadron!"

"Unprecedented, absolutely unique!!!"

Both sides of the river

Yu Congrong, Pinghe, Gao Daxing, Liu Hanqing, Lei Gong, and all the soldiers...

Witnessing this amazing reversal and the glorious scene of annihilating the powerful enemy, I was instantly ignited!

They jumped up, waving their hats, rifles, and fists, letting out a roar and cheer that seemed to shake the heavens and earth!
The pent-up frustration, sacrifices, and anger that had been building up in his chest for so long finally erupted at this moment!
Morale erupted like a volcano, soaring straight to the sky!

Wu Wanli, alone, with a gun, plus anti-aircraft guns that were not originally capable of achieving such a brilliant victory!

With his brilliant command, he actually led them to withstand the desperate situation and finally unleashed all their firepower, tearing the air formation of dozens of American fighter jets to shreds!
What a courage!
What tactical genius!
What a victory!
Under Wu Wanli's command, the steel torrent of will was so strong that even the U.S. Air Force had to bow down!

The soldiers looked at Wu Wanli as if he were an invincible war god!

At the ferry crossing on the riverbank, the fighting spirit was overwhelming!
"Hanqing, I told you, morale and fighting spirit are not a problem."

"Not only was it not weakened by bombing, but it actually reached its highest peak!"

Wu Wanli looked at the cheering soldiers on both sides of the strait and said with a smile.

"Commander-in-Chief, if you only have personal marksmanship, you can only shoot down a few fighter jets."

"If you only have those anti-aircraft guns, you can't attract US Air Force fighters to dive so low and so densely. At most you can only take out half of the fighters and you may not even win."

"If you only have schemes, you can't even fight."

"But you have everything, and you made history by taking on and annihilating a US Air Force formation single-handedly!"

"A mighty man descended upon China, crushing the American imperialists like weeds!"

Liu Hanqing was stunned for a long time before he could not help but sigh.

"Hahahahahaha..."

"Han Qingyan is exaggerating. Compared to those genius heroes before, I simply have many more cards to play."

"However, the enemy we are facing has become much stronger, so we cannot let our guard down."

Wu Wanli calmed down and immediately reminded him.

"Commander, should we rebuild the pontoon bridge now so the remaining troops can cross the river?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Gong immediately spoke.

"No!"

"The US 1st Cavalry Division and part of the US 24th Division are probably coming to attack; there's no time..."

"Look at the map. If you go south along this north-south tributary of the Han River, there's a bridge called Chaojeong Bridge!"

"We need to get to this bridge before nightfall tomorrow so that the main force can cross over!"

"First, this will make it difficult for the US military to understand our intentions for a while, so they will need to move their troops south to encircle us, in order to prevent us from running into the vast rear area to the south to fight."

"Second, moving south would allow us to move slightly away from the areas with large concentrations of US troops along the Han River, forcing them to divide their forces and thus dispersing the tightly clenched fist of the US military."

"Third, according to intelligence and map markings, the river there is narrower and shallower than here, and the current is also faster. In addition, there are already seven bridges, making it easier and faster for us to cross the river."

Wu Wanli opened the map, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"But... Wanli, it's 241 li from here to Chaoding Bridge!"

"Arriving after a day and a night, before dawn, is that too rushed?"

"Even if we reach our destination, our exhausted troops may still have to fight the American troops who are going there before crossing the river, which will be quite difficult."

"This is very similar to the situation when we seized Luding Bridge, but the firepower of the US military we faced was much stronger than that of the National Revolutionary Army!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately spoke up.

"Hanqing, our intelligence has already stated that the main force of the US military on the eastern front is just the US 2nd Division and those South Korean troops."

"The main force of the US 2nd Division has not yet returned, and the only US military force that can be mobilized is probably a supplementary regiment."

Wu Wanli looked at the map and said.

"Supply Regiment? I know about those."

"It's a supplementary force transported from Wonsan Port in the east, consisting of new recruits trained domestically by the US military, mixed with some veterans serving as officers and non-commissioned officers..."

"Because the fighting in the east was not so intense, the casualties of the US 2nd Division were not particularly severe, so the last replenishment regiment was still staying in the Hengcheng area on the west side."

"Even the reinforcement regiment has around three thousand soldiers..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing frowned and said...

"Crossing the sea to the east is not the end, but merely a step towards Hengcheng."

"These three thousand American reinforcements are not much of a threat in the field, but they will be difficult to defend Hengcheng based on the city's defenses."

"In other words, I'd love for them to seize the ferry crossing at Chaoding Bridge so I can easily annihilate them in the open!"

"This will make it much easier for us to cross the Han River tributary to attack Hengcheng!"

"Moreover, unlike when we seized Luding Bridge, we now have some elite troops and heavy firepower that have already crossed the river."

"Where will the US military deploy its heavy firepower and elite troops when our main force crosses the river?"

Wu Wanli smiled and immediately said.

"Riverbank! River defenses!?"

"So the rear will actually be more vulnerable?"

"Once we cross the river and engage the US forces in direct combat with their river defenses, we will then attack the rear of the US reinforcement regiment!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately realized what was happening and widened his eyes.

"That's right!"

"The US Air Force formation was just wiped out, but they must have sent back their reconnaissance information immediately."

"The main force that hadn't crossed the river yet didn't hide well in the first place, while those who had already crossed the river were better hidden."

"The intelligence presented to the US military was that the main infantry force of the 7th Steel Brigade had not crossed the river, but the artillery had."

"That is indeed the case, except that we have an additional elite guard battalion."

"By mixing truth and deception, this plan is bound to succeed!"

Wu Wanli took a deep breath and looked in the direction of Chaoding Bridge.

"it is good!"

"Two hundred and forty-one li it is, we're still going to seize it by force!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately nodded emphatically.

"Pass on my order: after sending the telegram back to the headquarters, immediately march towards Chaoding Bridge!"

"Objective: Annihilate the entire US reinforcement regiment and seize the Chaoding Bridge!"

A murderous glint flashed in Wu Wanli's eyes, and he immediately gave the order.

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

Seongnam City, inside the UN Command Headquarters
"General! Latest battle report from the front!"

A lieutenant, his voice trembling slightly, handed Ridgway a thin sheet of paper.

Ridgway was leaning over the map table, a red pencil resting on the mark "Southern Outer Defense Line".

He raised his eyes, took the telegram, and glanced at it only once.

"Click!"

The sharpened red pencil broke in half, the sharp shards piercing his white-gloved fingertips.

"The entire garrison troops defending the outer fortifications of Chengnan City have been wiped out!?"

He paused, his gaze fixed on the few startling words on the paper.

Encountering a fierce attack from the main force of the enemy's 7th Steel Brigade, the outer positions were completely lost, the firepower points were precisely suppressed, and our army, including the armored units, was completely annihilated!
The paper crumpled silently in Ridgway's hand, which he gripped tightly.

An unprecedented chill crept up his spine, pierced through his crisp military uniform, and reached his heart.

A defeat, a crushing defeat!
The opponent was none other than Wu Wanli and his Seventh Steel Brigade!

The US military staff held their breath involuntarily, and the operations room fell into a suffocating silence.

Only on the huge battle map on the wall, the defensive line drawn exceptionally conspicuously in red pencil now resembled a glaring mocking mark.

"air force!"

"Where is our planned strike force? What's the status of the follow-up strikes?!"

Ridgway abruptly turned to the Air Force liaison officer, raising his voice.

"General...the colonel's squadron has been out of contact for more than forty minutes!"

"Reconnaissance and observation units observed a large amount of metal debris scattered in the air, suggesting that the formation had suffered a catastrophic loss..."

The U.S. military liaison officer was pale, his headset still hanging around his neck, and his lips trembled as he spoke.

"Speculation?!"

"You're telling me it's just speculation?!"

"An air force squadron equipped with state-of-the-art fighter-bombers is going to fight a bunch of infantrymen who have lost their armor and weapons!"

"Now you're telling me they were also 'completely wiped out'?!"

"God!"

"When will the Chinese army be able to annihilate an entire US air force formation?!"

"Unheard of!!!"

Ridgway slammed his fist on the map table and roared angrily.

He suddenly turned around, bracing himself on the edge of the table with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the effort, and breathing heavily with his back to the crowd.

Could the Chinese army annihilate a US air force formation?

This is simply a myth, an absurd fantasy!
But this unbelievable myth is printed on cold paper.

shame!

In my more than 20 years of military service, this was the greatest humiliation I had ever experienced!
The name Wu Wanli has become an invisible steel blade, hanging over the heads of the entire UN command system!
At this moment, an immense fear silently spread through the operations room.

The U.S. military staff looked at each other, their eyes filled with indescribable horror.

In such a short time, how could they annihilate the well-equipped and armored forces on the outskirts of Chengnan City?
Annihilate an air force formation with absolute air superiority using the army!?

Such an enemy...

It was beyond the comprehension and understanding of all US military staff, like a nightmare come true!

Everyone's heart sank to the bottom at this moment, except... Chu Yunfei!

He was dressed in a crisp American advisor's uniform, standing a little distance from the map table, the light illuminating half of his calm, serene face.

From the moment the telegram was brought into the room, his gaze never left the area on the southern outskirts of the city on the map, and the thick, winding red line that represented the Seventh Steel Brigade's intention to advance eastward.

At this moment, he stepped forward to read the battle report, his movements unhurried and calm, as if the raging waves around him had nothing to do with him.

But only upon closer inspection can one discover a glimmer of light in the depths of his eyes, like a star in a cold winter night sky, piercing through the heavy gloom.

It was a shock that followed disbelief, and deeper still, a complex flame mixed with admiration and a deep sense of anticipation.

Wu Wanli...

Chu Yunfei silently recited the name in his heart.

he made it!

They actually accomplished something so astonishing!

From blowing up the Watergate Bridge and ambushing the 1st Marine Division, to now causing chaos in the heart of America's most elite military behemoth!

The power that erupted from this young man was far more immense and terrifying than he had initially anticipated!
This is the backbone of all Chinese people!
Chu Yunfei felt a surge of scalding heat rushing through his chest, almost escaping his lips, but was firmly suppressed by his iron will.

"General, the casualties have already occurred; the key question is where they will go next."

"According to intelligence from our subsequent reconnaissance aircraft, the direction of the Seventh Steel Squadron is clear: it will continue to move south!"

Van Fleet handed the newly delivered telegram to Ridgway, suppressing the similar shock he felt towards Ridgway, and said in a hoarse voice.

On the map, the deep red arrow icon representing the Seventh Steel Brigade sharply pierced through the outer defense line of the city's south side and pointed towards the area further south.

"South? Towards Pingze Port? The 3rd Division of the US Army is to the southwest!"

Li Qiwei stared at the arrow, his cold gaze as sharp as a scalpel as he spoke.

At that moment, the command center instantly regained some vitality.

The U.S. military staff quickly slid their fingers across the map, pushing forward the marker for the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division stationed in the southwest.

"That's right!"

"If they head south, attempting to infiltrate our rear areas to sabotage supplies, this route seems to be the only option."

"But General, please take a closer look."

"For them, there is still a way to survive!"

"That's the east!"

"Cross the tributary of the Han River and enter the Hengcheng area!"

"Look at the map, near Hengcheng, next to the blue line marked 'tributary of the Han River,' there's a bridge called Chaoding Bridge that's specially marked with a small red flag!"

"This is the best place to cross the sea to the east!"

VanVleet said.

"Crossing the sea to the east..."

"Entering the Hengcheng area?"

"The area is hilly, the roads are winding, and the supply lines are as long as a spider web..."

"It's like driving hunting dogs through a swamp as our army assembles and deploys!"

"This is the perfect stage for their mobile warfare! And once they successfully cross the river, they can use maneuvering to gain a respite and seize the opportunity to force a crossing of the eastern section of the Han River at any time!"

"At that time, this encirclement will become loose and flimsy..."

As Li Qiwei spoke, he felt a chill penetrate to his very bones.

Wu Wanli's move was by no means a desperate struggle, but a cunning and astounding maneuver!
If we let them succeed, it would be tantamount to releasing a tiger back into the mountains!
Every move that bastard makes is precisely aimed at the most critical points!

"General!"

"General Van Fleet has keen insight. In my opinion, Wu Wanli is indeed a possible candidate for crossing the sea to the east!"

Chu Yunfei's voice rang out, clear and calm, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Mr. Chu, what makes you so certain? Please explain!"

Li Qiwei turned around abruptly, his sharp gaze piercing Chu Yunfei as he asked.

"Firstly, they fled south, seemingly to avoid the brunt of the attack, but in reality, they were moving away from areas where they could evacuate!"

"Although Pyeongtaek, Suwon, and Sunam have been captured, they have been abandoned. South Korea's interior is indeed empty, but there are no natural defenses to rely on."

"The area is narrow and deep, with a dense network of rivers."

"Once my 1st Cavalry Division turns around from the northeast, the US 3rd Division presses from the southwest, and the 24th Division on the Han River blocks the north bank of the river like an iron gate, and the US 2nd Division arrives on the eastern front, a true encirclement can be formed."

"Their meager infantry force will surely be bogged down in the mire and annihilated in the wilderness!"

"This is a poor choice."

"Secondly, the eastward crossing is a perilous journey, seemingly fraught with danger, but it secretly holds the key to survival and a risky strategic reversal!"

"Once they cross the tributary of the Han River and penetrate deep into the mountainous area around Hengcheng, they can instantly turn their prey, which I control, into a poisonous thorn that penetrates deep into my flesh!"

"Their main force faces our Han River defense line, and their flank and rear flank are the heartland of our deployment."

"They are in the mountains, and our large army can easily surround and annihilate them, like an ox entering a rat's hole."

"They can harass our main force at any time with small groups along the river, delaying our main force's movements, or feign to move our troops, thus creating opportunities for the Volunteer Army north of the river to block the main force."

"What's even more terrifying is that as long as this Steel Seventh Brigade survives in the mountains, it will be a Damocles' sword hanging over the middle of the Korean Peninsula!"

"It will become a nightmare that crushes the soldiers' fighting spirit, and a symbol of failure that will be constantly questioned in Washington and Tokyo newspapers!"

"It will severely delay or even completely shatter your meticulously prepared fifth campaign counter-offensive plan, General!"

Chu Yunfei spoke eloquently, his fingertips precisely sketching on the map, dissecting the battlefield like a sharp blade.

He understood very well that if he wanted to gain trust and distort some of the US military's decision-making and deployment, he had to first demonstrate his true analytical skills.

Success requires a blend of reality and illusion, truth and falsehood.

As expected, Chu Yunfei's words struck Li Qiwei's heart like heavy hammer blows, and also made all the officers in the command room feel a chill!
This is by no means a simple tactical choice, but a matter of life and death for the entire battle!
Wu Wanli's eastward voyage was intended to drag the entire UN forces' war machine into a huge strategic quagmire where they were caught between a rock and a hard place!
"I, Chu, have fought against the opposing army on the domestic battlefield. The opposing troops are unconventional and their tactics are as unpredictable as a gazelle hanging its horns, yet they always have a keen understanding of the overall situation!"

"Its resilience far exceeds what ordinary people can imagine!"

"The south side may seem safe, but it is actually a death trap with no chance of survival!"

"Although the east is dangerous, there is a glimmer of hope!"

"This is the fundamental reason why they must choose to cross the sea to the east!"

"General, we must stop its eastward advance at all costs on the east bank of a tributary of the Han River!"

Chu Yunfei paused for a moment, took a deep breath as if making a final confirmation, and then spoke with absolute certainty.

His words were like a cold wind, dispelling the last glimmer of hope in the command room.

"Crossing the sea to the east..."

"Near Hengcheng...a tributary of the Han River!"

"Hengcheng is strategically located, and the reinforcement team is stationed there!"

"But the main force of the US Second Division won't be back so soon; it will take time..."

Li Qiwei's eyes were sharp as a knife cutting through the map, quickly capturing the key points, and he couldn't help but frown.

"General!"

"Of all the bridges and ferry crossings needed for the eastward crossing, the best location along the entire thousand-mile stretch of the Han River tributaries is the Jojeong region!"

"The river is narrowest here, the current is relatively gentle, and there are many shallows during the dry season, especially the Chaoding Bridge!"

"There's a ready-made bridge there, the only vital passage for the rapid transport of large quantities of heavy equipment!"

"The Seventh Steel Detachment of China is definitely targeting this location! This is a golden opportunity!"

"General, we can order the reinforcement regiment to immediately seize the east bank of Chaoding Bridge!"

"Then construct multi-layered defensive fortifications with tiered firepower!"

"When they are halfway across the river, annihilate them in one fell swoop! End the Seventh Steel Brigade completely in the icy river!"

Chief of Staff Van Fleet clenched his fist and immediately spoke.

Annihilate them!

This idea instantly ignited the eyes of many officers in the command room!

The immense humiliation that had been suppressed for so long seemed to have found an outlet!

The destruction of American troops and the disappearance of air force formations must be cleansed with ten times the blood!
"If we're going to deploy defenses, should we take this opportunity to blow up the bridge beforehand?"

Li Qiwei frowned and pondered.

"General! We must think twice before blowing up the bridge!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Chu Yunfei spoke with an expression as solemn as iron.

"What does Advisor Chu mean?"

Li Qi frowned slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"General, the core of our current strategy lies not only in the gains or losses of a single city or territory, but also in the word 'time'!"

"Our most crucial battlefield objective is to completely eradicate Wu Wanli's forces with overwhelming force and achieve victory in one decisive battle!"

"If our army blows up the Chaoding Bridge directly, then fleeing south instead of crossing the river will become the best option!"

"If Wu Wanli is trapped here and follows the old ways, launching so-called mountain guerrilla warfare, the threat will be endless!"

Chu Yunfei's heart tightened, and he quickly said.

The stuff up front was real, but this part was a half-truth, part-fake attempt to help Wu Wanli and his team influence US military decisions.

As Chu Yunfei described it, the area marked as a dark mountainous region seemed to come alive in everyone's minds, transforming into a swamp.

The U.S. military staff nodded slightly, their brows furrowed.

"Firstly, if the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade really abandons the crossing of the river and enters the deep mountains of the south to fight guerrilla warfare, our powerful air superiority will be greatly weakened by the terrain in those dense forests and deep valleys!"

"Secondly, the advance of a large army will be extremely difficult in that rugged and broken terrain!"

"Thirdly, and most dangerously, our main force will be pinned down in this area, as if being dragged into a bottomless quagmire!"

"Precious time and manpower will be wasted here indefinitely!"

"How should your general's deployment for the Fifth Phase Offensive, planned by the UN Command, be carried out?"

"General, what image do you have in the eyes of the American people and the President?"

Chu Yunfei took a deep breath and used his lifelong military tactical skills, combined with his persuasive abilities, to deliver his message.

He was certain that he was absolutely right, but he was selectively emphasizing certain points.

This elevates the discussion from a military perspective to a future strategic and operational perspective, especially considering the impact on Ridgway's personal future.

Sure enough, these words struck Ridgway's heart like a heavy hammer.

He would never allow a hill west of a tributary to disrupt his crucial overall counter-offensive plan!
This is his last resort in order to regain the initiative on the Korean Peninsula!
"I suggest that the replenishment regiment stationed in Hengcheng be ordered to advance at full speed!"

"We must seize the east bank of Chaoding Bridge before Wu Wanli does! Construct a strong defensive position!"

"Remove and burn all easily damaged components such as wooden planks and ropes from the main body of the bridge!"

"Cut off the enemy's idea of ​​using the bridge to quickly break through!"

"Let this passage become a 'visible but insurmountable' barrier!"

"In this way... if the Seventh Steel Brigade tries to force its way across the river, it will inevitably be exposed to the powerful firepower of our troops on the east bank!"

"Our army can then concentrate its superior firepower and annihilate them while they are crossing the river!"

"If they want to detour or find other crossing points, this process will consume a huge amount of their time and energy!"

"Once the main force of the US 2nd Division returns to the east to reinforce, the 1st Cavalry Division forms a pincer movement in the south, and the 24th Division completely encircles Wu Wanli in the north, no matter how unpredictable Wu Wanli may be, he will find it impossible to escape this inescapable net!"

"This is not making an exception!"

"This is a trap to lure the tiger into an even deeper one!"

"Use a bridge that is 'dismantled' rather than 'bombed' to force the enemy out, then gather them and annihilate them!"

Chu Yunfei smiled slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes as he spoke.

His tactical thinking was once again entirely correct, even remarkably insightful.

There are just two points that weren't emphasized.

While it's true that the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade is in the west, the fighting power of the small number of troops on the east bank should not be underestimated.

In particular, Wu Wanli's command and strength cannot be analyzed in the same way as an ordinary army.

Chu Yunfei felt he could now call himself the director of the Strategic Deception Bureau and fool these American devils to death!
However, at this moment, the US military staff did not notice the point that Chu Yunfei had not emphasized, and the air in the command room seemed to be ignited instantly!
The U.S. military staff officers looked at Chu Yunfei with admiration and respect!
Even Van Fleet nodded slightly, expressing his deep agreement with this logically sound "attack while the enemy is crossing" plan.

Li Qiwei slammed his hands on the map table, his eyes burning with renewed fervor because of Chu Yunfei's words!
time!

Take the initiative!
Annihilate them in one fell swoop!
These three keywords, like a red-hot branding iron, completely ignited his desperate resolve!

Chu Yunfei's analysis was like opening a gap leading to victory in a gloomy and desperate place!
"Mr. Chu is truly a kind and generous man, going to such lengths to help us advise on the war!"

"aweason!"

"Give me the order!"

"Telegraph the U.S. Army Replenishment Regiment stationed in Hengcheng! Proceed at forced march speed to the east bank of Chaoding Bridge before the enemy!"

"The core of the mission is to hold the bridgehead to the death and let the enemy troops attempting to cross the river fill this shallow beach with their corpses!"

"I will use the blood of this Steel Seventh Brigade to wash away our past shame!"

"Furthermore, order the 3rd Division of the US Army stationed in Pyeongtaek Port in the southwest to immediately dispatch an elite mechanized infantry regiment to maneuver in a north-northeast direction at the fastest speed!"

"The objective is to cut off all escape routes of the Seventh Steel Brigade as it flees southwest or due south!"

"And form the southern flank of the encirclement! Coordinate with the eastern forces to squeeze them into the pre-designated battle zone!"

"Order the 1st Cavalry Division to halt its original mission!"

"All forces of the division, including tank battalions, mechanized infantry battalions, and artillery battalions... are marching at maximum speed toward the outer area of ​​the east bank of Chaoding Bridge!"

"Hurry! We must outflank the Seventh Steel Brigade from the east and cut off any possible escape route they may take to the eastern mountains!"

"Commander Freeman of the 1st Cavalry Division once told me that his armored tracks could crush everything!"

"Now, I'll see if the stiffness of these tracks is truly commensurate with his mouth!"

"Order the 24th Division in the Han River defense zone on the northern front. The Han River is the impregnable fortress bestowed upon our army by God!"

"Keep a tight lock on! Don't let a single soldier slip through the main northern channel!"

"Even if corpses float by, tear them to shreds with heavy artillery!"

"His dozens of patrol boats patrolled the river day and night!"

"Any suspicious target! Kill them without mercy! This is a death order!"

"Order the Hengcheng reinforcement regiment to dismantle the bridge planks immediately upon arriving at Chaoding Bridge!"

"I need that 'door' to be half-open, yet still enough to completely trap Wu Wanli and his troops here, rendering them unable to move!"

"I want the blood of the Seventh Steel Brigade to stain the entire tributary red!"

"I want to turn Chaoding Bridge into their burial ground!"

"After this battle, I never want to hear the words 'Steel Seventh Brigade' again!"

"Do you understand everything?!"

Ridgway slammed his fist on the table and gave a loud order.

"Yes, sir!!!"

The U.S. military staff solemnly agreed, their voices echoing throughout the command room.

(End of this chapter)