Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 292 Blitzkrieg in Hengcheng!!

On the east bank of Chaoding Bridge, outside the last line of defense behind the US military's river defenses.
"After fighting for so long, it's about time. The US military must have requested assistance long ago."

"I estimate that a large force from Hengcheng is heading this way right now. We must annihilate this American army before they arrive!"

"Get the soldiers who know how to fight onto the tanks and armored vehicles, and we'll break through their defenses in one fell swoop and join up with the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade on the West Bank!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the last line of defense behind the US reinforcement regiment in the distance, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he spoke.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately agreed.

……

Wu Wanli's order was quickly relayed.

With the armored units of the 7th Steel Brigade as the vanguard, the final assault, followed by the guard battalion, quickly unfolded.

Eight Sherman tanks roared, spewing thick smoke, and with the first tank as the spearhead, they formed a wedge-shaped assault formation, crushing the last core defense zone of the US forces on the east bank.

The steel tracks ruthlessly shredded the fallen barbed wire and charred tree trunks, the mud and flesh mixed together, making a teeth-grinding crushing sound under the huge metal wheels.

Wu Wanli took a deep breath and pressed himself tightly against the cold observation scope of Tank No. 1.

"Da da da da da..."

At the edge of the line of sight, the machine gun bunkers of the US second line of defense were spitting fire wildly.

Large numbers of tracer rounds were poured onto the tank armor like molten copper, clanging and scattering dazzling sparks.

Inside Tank No. 1
"When these Americans saw the Chinese tank formation advancing, instead of surrendering, they actually dared to fight back?"

"fire!!!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli immediately gave a loud order.

"boom!"

Under his command, the roar of the No. 1 tank, which seemed to have been building up for a century, finally burst forth!

The crimson flames bursting from the tank's cannon instantly engulfed the entire field of vision in front of the observation port, as if a fissure had been torn open in a hellish furnace.

The gleam of the American machine guns in front of Wu Wanli was swallowed up by the artillery fire and then instantly obscured by the thick smoke.

"Wanli, you hit it!"

"I drove Soviet tanks back when I was on the Eastern Front. I really didn't know how to drive captured German tanks, but American tanks were much easier to drive than German tanks!"

"However, the shelling might not kill all the American troops in the fortifications; the comrades behind will have to clean up the mess..."

Gunner Liu Hanqing shouted excitedly in a hoarse voice.

At this moment, the high temperature in the cramped space caused beads of sweat to rise, and every inch of the cabin wall resonated with a buzzing sound after the violent tremor.

"Don't leave the problem for later. What if the US military comes with a bazooka and rams our tanks in the rear?"

"Charge! Full speed ahead, crush them all!"

Looking at the scene on the Tianyan map, Wu Wanli immediately gave the order.

In the SkyNet map, there are still American soldiers lying down and pretending to be dead in the collapsed fortifications, but they are holding bazookas in their hands.

Clearly, they wanted to wait for the tanks to pass before launching a surprise attack!
"Yes!"

"Crush them all, just hearing that is inspiring!"

The volunteer driver immediately agreed, his body tense like a fully drawn bow, and he pressed the accelerator to the floor.

"Rumble————"

In an instant, the roar of tank engines drew closer to the American troops at that fortification.

"Damn it, Chinese tanks are rolling in!"

"If I survived being run over by my own tanks in Washington in 1932, then being run over by Chinese tanks now would be considered dying on the battlefield!"

A U.S. veteran, clutching his abdominal wound, closed his eyes and said.

"They're coming head-on. If they fire rockets now, the tanks might not be affected, but I'll definitely die... No way!"

Another U.S. soldier dropped his bazooka and was trying to take cover.

"Da da da da da da..."

In an instant, the tank's machine gun opened fire, instantly mowing him down.

"Bang!!!"

The next second, the massive body of Tank One crashed into the American sandbag fortification that had just been shelled!

Under the pressure of tens of tons and the enormous impact energy, the sandbags instantly disintegrated, shattered, and were thrown into the air!
The sturdy log support let out a miserable scream as it could no longer bear the weight and snapped in the middle.

Before the American soldiers operating heavy machine guns inside the fortress could react, they were completely crushed by this destructive steel force!

It wasn't just dust that flew up, but also broken pieces of wood and cloth, and a thicker, scarlet substance.

The tracks were covered in dark mud and indistinguishable debris, and the heavy tracks made a sticky, crushing sound as they turned.

An armored vehicle following closely behind immediately turned its heavy machine gun on its roof and launched a fierce pursuit and mopping-up operation against the other American soldiers fleeing from the collapsed fortress exit.

"Thump thump thump thump thump..."

The bullets, like scythes of hell, instantly tore the fleeing body in half, crimson bursts erupting as limbs and debris fell alongside clods of earth and gravel.

"Follow!"

"Everyone, follow!"

"Don't let the armored forces led by the commander-in-chief be isolated and fighting alone!"

Prehistoric looked at the tanks ahead and gave a hoarse command.

"Yes!"

The guard battalion soldiers surged forward like a raging tide, following closely behind the bloody path carved out by tanks and armored vehicles.

They advanced flexibly and alternately in highly skilled three-on-three squad tactics, spreading like wild grass across scorched earth.

Under the strong cover of tanks and armored vehicles, the first group of Chinese People's Volunteer Army demolition experts quickly rushed out and shoved the demolition charge into an exposed anti-tank gun firing port!
He yanked the fuse, and without looking, he tumbled into the crater beside him, the movement completed in one fluid motion.

"Boom——!"

A violent explosion rang out, and the entire US anti-tank gun position, along with the gun barrel that gleamed with a cold metallic light, was instantly engulfed in flames!
Several surviving American gunners were slammed against the pit wall by the shockwave and died instantly.

"Third Company! Left Flanking! Suppressive Fire!"

"First Company! Follow me and take out that bunker complex!"

Upon seeing this, the prehistoric ruler shouted with composure.

"Yes!"

The guards immediately agreed.

Soon, Prehistoric crawled swiftly between the tracks of several tanks, his light machine gun pressing down hard on the firing port of a bunker.

The veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army behind him threw two weighted grenades tied together, which hit the target perfectly.

"Boom! Boom!"

Amidst the smoke and dust of the explosion, the firepower of the US bunker abruptly ceased.

"Da da da da da da..."

But just as a veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army peeked out to try to move forward, a stray bullet grazed his left shoulder.

Blood splattered!
At the same instant, an armored vehicle on the right flank of the tank line was subjected to unprecedentedly fierce concentrated fire!
A bazooka rocket, accompanied by a piercing whistle, slammed into its side armor!
"Bang--!"

A heart-stopping roar rang out, followed by a dazzling fireball!

The rocket failed to penetrate the armor completely, but it did blast open the lower part of the thick steel plate on the surface.

Hot metal fragments flew around like sparks of steel inside the armored vehicle!

The volunteer driver inside let out a heart-wrenching scream, his whole body riddled with debris and turned into a bloody mess.

Inside Tank No. 1
"Son of a bitch!"

"Hanqing, bomb it! Bomb it hard!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli angrily gave the order.

"Yes!"

Liu Hanqing gritted his teeth and quickly began operating the machine.

Soon, the turret of Tank No. 1 suddenly turned to the right!

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the muzzle of Tank No. 1 spewed flames of vengeance, and the shockwave from the shell shook the entire tank!

The US team that had just fired the bazooka hadn't even had time to reload before it was completely covered and engulfed by this high-speed shell!
Soil and limbs were blasted into the air, leaving only a deep crater emitting blue smoke.

"Thunder God!"

"Suppress the enemy's depth! Extend the firing range!"

"Marker 13, fire rapidly!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the Sky Eye map and immediately gave the order via radio communication.

"Yes!"

"You idiots, change the firing range!"

"Suppress the enemy's depth! Extend the firing range!"

"Marker 13, fire rapidly!"

"Dinner's ready!!!"

Soon, the sound of Lei Gong directing the artillery fire came through the radio.

Listening to Lei Gong's voice, Wu Wanli sat in the swaying turret, his gaze fixed on the core area of ​​the enemy's defenses through the observation scope.

"call out----------"

The artillery fire seemed to have gained a new soul, and the even higher-pitched whistling of the bullets tore through the sky!

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

In the distance, fiery clouds instantly rose from the marked area.

Heavy shells rained down in rows, and shockwaves from the explosions rose and fell!

A US Army jeep attempting to start, along with a heavy machine gun squad that couldn't dodge in time, was hit directly by a shell and instantly turned into flames and metal debris!
The burning fuel tank exploded with a loud bang, and fragmented metal parts were thrown dozens of meters into the air by the shockwave, like a black rain of death.

In an instant, the core area of ​​the US military defense line was plunged into indescribable chaos and despair!

Screams, desperate cries, and frantic gunfire intertwined to create a symphony of hell.

A U.S. Army lieutenant brandished a pistol, trying to rally the last of the fleeing soldiers. He screamed hysterically, his voice hoarse and distorted.

The next second, a Sherman tank that was rushing towards him ran over him and the group of American soldiers without stopping!
The massive tracks created a horrifying crushing sound and a cracking sound of bones breaking on flesh...

Where it rolled, only a terrible, unrecognizable scarlet mark was left.

The few remaining American soldiers completely lost their minds; some dropped their weapons, clutched their heads, trembled on the spot, and vomited uncontrollably.

Others scattered and fled in a frenzy, becoming sitting ducks behind the lines.

Wu Wanli's armored group and the guard battalion soldiers following closely behind broke through the last barrier behind the US reinforcement regiment with unstoppable force.

Their momentum did not wane in the slightest; instead, they charged madly toward the core area that the US reinforcement regiment had finally occupied.

The building standing atop the hill in the distance, surrounded by several circular trenches, is the headquarters of the U.S. Army Supplementary Regiment!
"Tanks, focus fire on all reverse slope bunkers!"

"Use the machine guns on the armored vehicles to give them a good blast!"

"Firepower them first, then we can attack!"

Wu Wanli looked at the US military command post's defensive perimeter in the distance and roared into his throat microphone.

"Yes!"

The radio communication station instantly relayed responses from other Chinese People's Volunteer Army tank crews.

Soon, the Sherman tank's muscular gun barrel rose and began to take aim.

The armored vehicle's firing turret rotates at high speed, and a deadly hail of bullets instantly rains down on any US military firing position that dares to peek out!
"call out--------"

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

"Thump thump thump thump thump..."

The shells exploded into dazzling fireballs of death in the fortifications on the hilltop, scattering rocks and steel fragments everywhere. The screams of the American soldiers were instantly swallowed up by the sound of the explosions!
"High-explosive shells to the left and up to the top of the US command post!"

"Tanks Three and Five, you guys get to target and eliminate them!"

After observing for a moment, Wu Wanli immediately gave the order.

"Boom! Boom!"

Two tank shells precisely penetrated the broken window, blasting several American soldiers who were attempting to set up a heavy machine gun inside, along with the mortar crew, into the air!
In an instant, a scorching wave of air mixed with human tissue sprayed out!

"Armored vehicle formation, firepower coverage! Don't let a single American soldier peek out and fire!"

Wu Wanli then gave the order.

"Thump thump thump thump thump..."

Soon, the armored vehicles' machine guns unleashed a furious barrage, sending chunks of earth flying from the hastily constructed sandbag wall in front, while American soldiers behind them convulsed and collapsed!
An M8 armored vehicle crashed onto the pile of wreckage, its heavy machine gun raining down bullets from above, pinning down a dozen American soldiers who were trying to launch an attack from the flank trenches!
"Guard Battalion! Full speed ahead!"

"Hold on tight to the armored spearhead! Leave no gaps!"

"Demolition team assault formation, target—the gate of the US military command post on the hilltop!"

Wu Wanli shouted into the radio.

"Yes!"

"Come at me!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately led several hundred elite guard battalions to attack the breach in the US military command's defensive line.

Hand grenades were hurled out from between the tanks and armored vehicles like raindrops, suppressing the remaining firing windows!

At the top of the hill, inside the command post of the U.S. Army Supplemental Regiment

Commander Tom, his face contorted, roared into the microphone, ordering all the soldiers who could still move to hold on for their lives!
Chief of Staff Harrison was trembling all over, running around the room with classified documents in his hands, desperately trying to stuff them into the fireplace!

Through the Sky Eye Map, Wu Wanli could clearly see their faces contorted with fear!
"Slightly adjust the muzzle upwards!"

"Target—the leftmost window on the second floor! Tear it open!"

Wu Wanli clenched his fist and immediately gave the order.

"boom----"

In an instant, orange-red flames shot from the muzzle of the Sherman tank No. 1, and the shells whistled through the air.

"call out------"

"Boom!"

On the second floor of the U.S. Army replenishment regiment's command post, the sturdy wooden window, along with half a wooden wall, was completely blown away!
The flying splinters of wood and scorching hot gravel struck down the American soldiers inside like the Grim Reaper's scythe, and thick smoke and dust instantly filled the air!
"They're not all dead yet..."

"Fire another shot to the right! Don't give it a chance to fire!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the Tianyan map and continued to give orders.

"boom!"

Tank No. 4 responded immediately, and another high-explosive shell slammed into the other side of the main building, blasting a large hole in it!

The shockwave from the explosion made the entire building tremble!
"That's about it! Tanks, focus fire and blast open the gate! Prepare for the final assault and charge in!"

Wu Wanli continued to give orders via radio communication.

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

In an instant, the muffled thuds of countless tank shells leaving their barrels rang out.

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

With the sound of explosions, flames from the saturation bombardment rose at the entrance of the US military command post.

"Boom—crash!!!"

In an instant, a terrifying explosion shook the entire US military command headquarters!

The sturdy gate, along with its two-meter-wide frame and the sandbags and brick walls built behind it, were torn apart and thrown into the air!

A scorching wave of air, carrying smoke, dust, scraps of iron, and human remains, surged out instantly!
The American guards who were originally standing at the door were violently overturned like leaves in a strong wind!
Before the dust had even settled, Wu Wanli had already pushed open the tank's top cover!
"Guards battalion! Assault formation! Follow me and charge in!"

Wu Wanli roared and charged forward, gun in hand.

"Da-da! Da-da-da!"

As Wu Wanli fired a burst of submachine gun fire, two American soldiers who had just peeked out from the corner of the hall fell backward with a gruesome blood hole between their eyebrows!
The guards, like a flood bursting its banks, surged after him into the last stronghold of the American troops!
The narrow foyer and corridor instantly transformed into a cruel meat grinder!
"Use grenades to clear the way!"

Wu Wanli roared, his voice ringing out clearly in the buzzing echo chamber inside!

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle..."

Several grenades, emitting blue smoke, were accurately thrown into the rooms on the left and right!
"Boom! Boom!"

The blast wave shot out from inside the door, accompanied by screams!

Wu Wanli darted forward like a ghost, his submachine gun close to a U.S. lieutenant who had just gotten up from the ground in the corner.

"boom!"

A gunshot rang out, and a headshot rang out!
Wu Wanli's movements were swift and decisive!

The scalding hot shell casings fell onto the shattered floor tiles!

At the far end of the corridor, around the corner, a surviving American soldier suddenly raised his Browning Automatic Rifle and opened fire!
"Puff puff!"

The bullet struck the wall beside Wu Wanli, sending up a large amount of gravel and dust!

"Suppress it!"

Wu Wanli rolled to the side and hid in a doorway, while giving a stern order!

The prehistoric figure immediately knelt down, and the roar of the light machine gun it raised instantly drowned out Browning!
"Da da da da da..."

The dense barrage of bullets sent stone chips flying around the corner, effectively suppressing the Browning gun!

"Bomb! Blow open that corner!"

Wu Wanli pointed at the firing point and shouted.

"Yes!"

A volunteer soldier demolition expert immediately agreed, pressed himself against the wall, and rushed forward under the cover of his comrades' fire, stuffing the explosive charge into the blind spot at the corner!

He lit the fuse and immediately rolled back!

"boom!"

A muffled thud rang out!
The corner wall was mostly destroyed! The American machine gunner and his deputy were buried alive under the bricks, with only their two twitching feet showing!
"Clear the room! Search for the basement entrance!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the mess in the first-floor lobby and said.

Before long, the guards kicked open the doors in groups of three, and short bursts of gunfire, screams, and shouts of surrender filled the air!
Wu Wanli stepped over the scattered documents and broken furniture, his target pointing straight at the heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor!
"Thunder God! Be on standby! We might need you to 'tear down the wall'!"

"Received! Coordinates are ready!"

Lei Gong's voice, steady as a mountain, came from behind the artillery scope!
"boom!"

Wu Wanli kicked open the half-collapsed door to the operations room.

Inside, Chief of Staff Harrison was frantically stuffing the last stack of documents into a burning tin can, the flames greedily licking at the papers!

"No! You won't get it..."

Harrison screamed, his face contorted in pain!
Without any hesitation, Wu Wanli unleashed a furious burst of flames from his Thompson submachine gun at close range.

"Ta-ta-ta! Ta-ta-ta!"

The scorching bullets instantly tore several huge bloody holes in Harrison's chest and abdomen!
The U.S. Army Chief of Staff's body slammed against the metal barrel like a broken sack, rolled to the ground, and the documents mixed with his blood quickly curled and charred in the flames!
A strong smell of burning filled the air!
Wu Wanli didn't even glance at the corpse; his gaze swept across the entire operations room: maps, broken communication equipment, overturned coffee cups...

"Where is the US Army commander?!"

Wu Wanli frowned as he spoke.

"Commander! There's gunfire in the basement!"

A volunteer soldier shouted into the walkie-talkie.

At that moment, a fierce firefight and the muffled sound of grenade explosions came from the direction of the basement entrance!

"He's trying to escape! Block the tunnel exit!"

Wu Wanli roared into the walkie-talkie and sprinted out the door!
At the basement entrance, several bodyguards leaned against the entrance fortifications and fired wildly, attempting to provide cover!
The guard battalion soldiers returned fire fiercely and suppressed the American troops!
"Grenade! Throw it in!"

The squad leader roared.

In an instant, several hand grenades were thrown down the stairs in an arc!

"Boom! Boom!"

The blast wave, carrying smoke and dust, erupted from the entrance! Accompanied by the screams of American soldiers!

In that chaotic moment, Wu Wanli rushed to the top of the stairs and looked down!
By the light of the explosion, he could clearly see Commander Tom, in a disheveled state, dragging a heavy wooden plank hidden deep in the tunnel with the last two guards!
"Ta-ta! Ta-ta!"

Wu Wanli picked up his Thompson submachine gun and fired two precise short bursts!

The first shot shattered Tom's wrist as he reached for his gun! Blood splattered everywhere!

The second bullet, carrying the scent of death, pierced his forehead!

Commander Tom's body stiffened abruptly, the lingering madness and fear in his eyes instantly freezing, then completely losing their luster, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Clean up the battlefield! Prioritize searching for undamaged documents! Separate prisoners for interrogation!"

His commands into the walkie-talkie were clear yet weary, and the dried blood on his face looked even more menacing under the dust.

"Wanli! More than 300 American soldiers have been wiped out! Those who resisted were killed, and the rest were captured!"

"Three radios seized! Codebooks...wait!"

Liu Hanqing, covered in gunpowder smoke, strode over, his face flushed with excitement after the fierce battle.

As he spoke, he bent down and pulled out a bloodstained but intact hardcover book from under a collapsed cabinet.

Wu Wanli took the precious trophy, his fingers unconsciously brushing against the corner of the book.

This codebook, which could have been crucial to the deployment of a larger campaign, almost turned to ashes along with Harrison or Tom!
"Let's bring these things to the General after the war; we don't need them for now."

"Armored units and guard battalions, assemble and immediately attack the American forces defending the river."

"Take them down, then rejoin the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the codebook and immediately gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately agreed.

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

Soon, the armored units and guard battalion were ready for the next offensive as ordered.

Inside Tank No. 1
"Advance! Take over the US river defenses! Full speed ahead!"

Wu Wanli shouted the order into the radio communication station.

"Rumble————"

After the order was given, the tank group roared and accelerated its charge.

The elite soldiers of the guard battalion followed closely behind in skillful three-on-three combat teams.

They either clung to armored vehicles or used the vehicles as mobile cover, their guns warily pointed at any possible firing positions.

This assault force, composed of elite infantry and newly captured heavy armor, charged fiercely towards the core of the US river defenses with an unstoppable momentum.

The steel tracks kicked up the slippery mud and broken barbed wire, and the heavy vehicle rolled over the edge of the trench, making a grating metallic scraping sound.

Wu Wanli's "Sky Eye" system has scanned and modeled the entire river defense position, clearly displaying it in the field of view:
The core area of ​​the U.S. river defense was a defensive hub built around several fortifications, surrounded by heavy machine gun nests with crossfire, mortar positions, and strongholds made of sandbags.

In the rear, several concealed artillery positions had already been silenced by the previous barrage of fire, but the infantry, relying on fortifications, were still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Sure enough, several hundred meters away from the core position, a barrage of bullets came crashing down on them.

"Da da da da da..."

Several U.S. heavy machine guns emitted a terrifying tearing sound from behind carefully reinforced bunkers.

Tracer rounds drew flickering red lines in the dim light of dawn, pounding densely on the tank's frontal armor with clanging sounds and scattering sparks.

Although it couldn't penetrate the Sherman's thick frontal armor, the sound was enough to send chills down the spine, putting immense pressure on the infantry following behind the tank, and some stray bullets caused casualties.

"Tank Number One!"

"Target: the heavy machine gun bunker marked number three on the left! One high-explosive round, fire!"

Wu Wanli's roar was clearly transmitted to the ears of every passenger through the intercom.

Liu Hanqing calmly took aim, the turret creaked as it turned, and after a short, angry roar, a huge flame shot out from the muzzle.

"boom!"

The tank shells pierced precisely into the firing port of the fortress, causing it to shudder violently as if struck by a giant hammer.

Stones, pieces of wood, and broken limbs were thrown out in the explosion's flames, and the machine gun fire came to an abrupt halt.

Target cleared!

Liu Hanqing responded.

However, at this moment, the "heavenly eye" in Wu Wanli's mind showed:
In several previously silent foxholes, faint red dots, representing life, were indeed moving, attempting to extend their long, cylindrical rocket launchers.

"The US military definitely still has anti-tank squads; we can't give them a chance to target us!"

"Tank One, full speed ahead! Crush them all! All tanks, follow!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli immediately shouted.

The driver of Tank Number One slammed on the accelerator, the engine roaring laboriously, and the tank accelerated suddenly, its tracks whipping up mud as it charged toward the foxhole area with the force of a burst dam. The American anti-tank soldiers hiding in the craters never expected that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's tanks would dare to launch such a brutal close-quarters infantry charge. They screamed in terror, trying to jump out and escape or raise their guns to fire, but it was too late.

The massive metal tracks rolled violently over the crater with destructive force, and screams were instantly drowned out by the roar of steel and the terrifying thud of bones shattering.

The following tanks also pressed forward without hesitation, crushing the area and the remaining will to resist into a bloody pulp.

On the flanks, the armored convoy became the Grim Reaper, reaping the fleeing soldiers.

"Da da da da da..."

The heavy machine guns mounted on the M8 armored vehicles opened fire fiercely, their long tongues of fire sweeping away the American soldiers fleeing from the flank trenches.

The bullet has extremely high penetrating power and can easily tear the human body apart.

Armored vehicles moved nimbly, cutting off the retreat of small groups of American troops. The demolition experts of the guard battalion displayed astonishing bravery and skill.

Prehistoric himself led his men, under the cover of machine gun fire, to crawl to the side of a fortified anti-tank gun position.

He yanked the fuse and hurled the explosive charge into the trench beneath the gun emplacement.

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, the entire fortification, along with the 37mm anti-tank gun and its crew, was blasted into the air, leaving only a huge crater amidst the billowing smoke.

"Team One! Left front bunker! Suppress fire! Team Two, follow me!"

It roared in prehistoric times.

After saying that, he picked up his submachine gun and personally rushed towards another bunker that was constantly spitting fire.

Bullets kicked up dirt at his feet, but he was not afraid.

Under his leadership, the soldiers either suppressed firing ports with a barrage of grenades, forcibly blasted them with demolition charges, or turned them into fire pits with flamethrowers.

One after another, the sturdy bunkers fell silent and collapsed under the relentless and courageous assault of the guard battalion soldiers.

However, an unexpected event occurred amidst the fierce battle.

An M8 armored vehicle positioned on the right flank, tasked with suppressing a group of US infantry, was suddenly struck on the side by a Bazooka rocket from a concealed location!

"boom!"

A huge explosion rang out, and the armored vehicle bounced violently. A large hole was torn open in the side of the vehicle, and black smoke mixed with flames surged out of the breach.

Screams erupted inside the vehicle. The driver's side window shattered completely, and half of the driver's body was dangling outside the door, a bloody mess! The machine gunner on the roof was also thrown away by the shockwave.

"Oh shit!"

"It's that half-collapsed stone house in the northwest corner! That bastard is hiding there!"

"Tank Number One! Blow it to pieces!"

Wu Wanli immediately used the Sky Eye Map to capture and search, and then almost shouted himself hoarse to give the order.

The main gun of the No. 1 tank turned around again and, almost without aiming, fired a shot at the conspicuous pile of dilapidated buildings!
"boom!"

The massive explosion completely leveled the stone bunker, sending several black figures flying through the air.

"Thunder God! Thunder God! Calling for the Thunder God!"

"The American devils have shown their faces, all their firing positions are clear, no need to wait!"

"Aim at (XXX, XXX) area! The core of the US military defense line!"

"All artillery, ten rapid-fire rounds! Cover them! Blast them completely!"

He not only wanted to vent his anger, but also to completely dismantle the remaining American forces' organizational resistance.

"Roger that!"

"Target area (XXX, XXX)!"

"Ten rapid-fire rounds! Fire!"

From the direction of the concealed artillery positions on the west bank, Lei Gong responded via radio communication.

Almost instantly, a deep, piercing shriek tore through the air above the battlefield!

"Boom--!"

Rows of shells, like vengeful thunderbolts, with irresistible destructive power, accurately struck the core defense zone designated by Wu Wanli.

Flames soared into the sky, and the earth shook violently!
The earth trembled violently, American trenches were plowed over, fortifications were shattered in a series of violent explosions, and human remains were scattered indiscriminately in the shockwaves and flames.

Wu Wanli's decisive call for fire was like a final, precise punch that shattered the backbone of the US military's defenses!
Just then, a group of familiar figures suddenly appeared on the flank and rear of the US defense line, amidst the deafening smoke and dust of the explosion and the still-smoky ruins!
Leading the charge was none other than Gao Daxing!
The Thompson submachine gun in his hand roared, and behind him were countless equally brave elite soldiers!
It turned out that just as Wu Wanli led his armored forces in a rapid advance, launching a fierce attack on the river defenses and attracting most of the main force of the US river defenses, the situation was quite different.

Gao Daxing led the assault team to lay seven iron chain bridges in the shortest possible time, sparing no effort!

Their appearance completely caught the American troops on the river defense off guard!

These American soldiers never dreamed that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops, who had just been suppressed, would actually build a bridge in such a short time and under such intense firepower, and become an extremely fierce assault spearhead to successfully cross the river!

"Chinese troops! Rear! They're behind us!"

Terrified and desperate cries echoed throughout the American defense lines.

Attacked from both sides!

The little order that had been barely maintained under the barrage of artillery fire collapsed instantly!

The surviving American soldiers ran around like headless flies.

Following closely behind Gao Daxing's assault team as they broke through was Pinghe's reconnaissance team!

They emerged from the smoke and chaos like ghosts, their targets clearly aimed at the officers and communication nodes who were still trying to organize resistance.

The cold bullets of the sniper rifle accurately claimed the lives of one commander after another.

Elite scouts armed with Thompson submachine guns quickly infiltrated and cut off small groups of American troops from communication.

"Mortars from the artillery detachment! Cover the American retreat route with fire!"

Yu Congrong's voice was also broadcast on the radio.

Part of his fire support unit continued to provide support fire on the west bank, while another elite unit had followed the assault unit across the bridge.

The mortar crews quickly set up their guns, and the shells, as if guided by eyes, rained down on areas where American troops might be gathering or fleeing, completely extinguishing any hope they might have of retreating or regrouping.

The distinctive dull "thump-thump-thump" sound of the M2 heavy machine gun rang out, its long whip of fire lashing out at any fleeing troop group that dared to band together in resistance.

At this moment, the remaining troops of the US replenishment regiment on the east bank of Chaoding Bridge were completely trapped in a desperate situation!
The battle has turned into a one-sided massacre!

The faces of the American soldiers surrounded at the core were filled with fear, confusion, and despair.

Without unified command and effective organization, the so-called "fighting will" vanished in the face of annihilation.

Some American soldiers raised their guns, intending to resist to the end, but were immediately riddled with bullets from all directions.

Some American soldiers tried to feign death inside the half-collapsed fortifications, but were quickly dealt with by the charging Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers using grenades or bayonets.

Some American soldiers threw down their guns, raised their hands, and cried out in surrender, only to be swallowed up by the chaotic battlefield environment.

The fleeing soldiers trampled each other as they fled...

Many more followed the desperate crowd, blindly rushing towards the still partially closed riverbank behind the river, attempting to wade across and escape.

What awaited them was precise artillery fire from the west bank and relentless crossfire from light and heavy machine guns that were already waiting at pre-positioned firing points!
"Help! God!"

"I surrender! I surrender!"

"I can't escape..."

In an instant, the mournful and desperate cries mingled with the fierce gunfire, playing the final elegy for this American replenishment regiment.

Wu Wanli did not order a complete surrender; time did not permit it!

Reinforcements from Hengcheng could arrive at any moment. The battlefield is in chaos, and accepting a large number of prisoners could easily lead to unforeseen changes, which would also severely slow down troop movements.

More importantly, the Seventh Steel Brigade must complete the mission of annihilating the enemy with overwhelming force and lay the foundation for the upcoming Battle of Hengcheng with victory!
"Continue the offensive! Completely wipe out the remaining enemy!"

Wu Wanli said, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

Soon, the tanks of the 7th Steel Brigade continued to advance, crushing any obstacles and remaining firing positions that dared to block their way, their tracks stained with blood and flesh.

The heavy machine guns of the armored vehicles mercilessly swept through the fleeing troops.

Infantrymen, in groups of three or five, worked like the most sophisticated killing machines, clearing out the remaining enemy piece by piece, house by house.

Bayonets clashed, grenades cleared the way, and Thompson submachine guns rained down a deadly storm.

Explosions, short gunshots, roars, and screams mingled together.

The bodies of American soldiers were piled up in layers, covering the narrow positions, tunnels, and ruins.

Blood flowed into the crater, forming dark red pools in the low-lying areas.

As the last wisp of smoke was slowly dispersed by the gentle river breeze in the glaring midday sun, the deafening battlefield finally fell silent.

"Wanli, the entire US river defense position has been completely cleared! No organized resistance was found!"

Liu Hanqing walked up to Wu Wanli and reported.

"Happy, happy!"

"Commander-in-Chief, we've run for so long to seize the Chaoding Bridge and annihilate the US reinforcement regiment. Isn't that a miracle?"

Yu Congrong approached, excitedly saying.

"that is!"

"If Ridgway finds out, he'll be dumbfounded!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

Gao Daxing also came over and said happily.

"Don't be so happy yet, it's not time for us to take a proper rest."

"Take only the most important weapons and ammunition; there's no need to thoroughly clean up the battlefield!"

"While we are currently at the peak of our strength and possess tanks and armored vehicles, let's take this opportunity to wipe out the South Korean troops who are leaving the city!"

"The American troops were just badly attacked here, and they've sent countless telegrams requesting reinforcements. The South Korean troops in Hengcheng definitely won't dare not send reinforcements!"

"And that's the only fast and widest route they can take!"

"Turn around and intercept the Hengcheng attacking force!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the Heavenly Eye map in his mind and immediately gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately regained their seriousness and hurriedly agreed.

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

The elite Steel Seventh Brigade, having just undergone intense combat, unleashed incredible resilience and speed under Wu Wanli's iron-fisted command.

The exhausted soldiers straightened their backs, their eyes once again igniting with fierce determination.

Engines roared as steel tracks crushed the soft corpses and scattered equipment, splashing up large amounts of mud and debris.

Under the direct command of Wu Wanli, the Steel Seventh Brigade, with its captured armored units as the vanguard, rushed towards the 3rd Regiment of the 9th Division of the Han Army, which was attacking Hengcheng.

Meanwhile, at the foot of a hillside in the direction of the Seventh Steel Brigade's attack, inside the command post of the Third Regiment of the Ninth Division of the Han Army...
"How... how is it possible?"

"Has the US military headquarters stationed at Chaoding Bridge really been captured?"

Park Chan-woo muttered to himself, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, his hand holding the telegram trembling slightly.

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, this last telegram sounds very much like a dying message..."

A major staff officer standing next to him was pale-faced and spoke in a hoarse voice.

A tremendous sense of panic instantly gripped Park Chan-woo's heart.

He knew exactly what kind of people the 3rd Regiment of the 9th Division of the Han Army was.

The veterans were all taken away by Park Jung-hee and left in Hengcheng, while the new recruits who came in were not even proficient in shooting.

equipment?

The only heavy weapons they had were a few 60mm mortars provided by the US military.

He had initially comforted himself by thinking that he might be there to take advantage of the situation, to wage guerrilla warfare on the periphery and keep the Chinese occupied while letting the Americans deal with the tough issues.

Unexpectedly, the Americans not only failed to break through, but it was as if they were swallowed whole!
Aren't the main forces of the Seventh Steel Brigade all on the west bank of Chaoding Bridge?
There were only a small number of troops that had infiltrated from the east bank, and yet they managed to wipe out an entire reinforced US regiment, complete with armored vehicles!

Park Chan-woo felt a chill run from his tailbone straight up to the top of his head.

If that's really the case... what's the difference between those three of us crashing into it and being delivered to the ground?
Thinking of this, Park Chan-woo shuddered.

"Chief of Staff! Chief of Staff!"

A deputy commander wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking even more flustered, approached.

He was Park Chan-woo's confidant, but also an extremely self-protective person.

"Something's...something's definitely wrong! The US military is probably wiped out!"

"They're definitely heading our way! We have to leave immediately! We need to get back to Hengcheng right now!"

The deputy commander suggested.

"Walk?"

"Commander...the commander ordered us to 'restrain' them!"

Park Chan-woo suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, flashing with immense fear and struggle.

"Chief of Staff! This isn't the time to carry out those damn orders! Your life is at stake!"

"If even the US military can't hold out, what good will we do?"

"A pointless death!"

"As long as we return to Hengcheng, with our strong fortifications..."

The deputy commander grabbed his arm urgently and said.

Park Chan-woo flung his hand away and paced back and forth in frustration.

He understood the reasoning, but the unpredictable expression on Commander Park Jung-hee's face and the blame from the US military were probably still lingering in his mind.

If they were scared away without even seeing a glimpse of the enemy, and if the American army were truly wiped out, naturally no one would testify against them.

But what if an American officer manages to break out with the remaining troops?

If even a small group of American soldiers managed to reach Hengcheng alive and discover that their regimental commander had fled with three regiments without firing a single shot, they would certainly be blamed and possibly even court-martialed.

"Perhaps the US military has a very strong fighting spirit..."

"Perhaps Commander Harrison has already organized a breakout. Let's wait and see if there are any new developments..."

Park Chan-woo licked his dry lips, his voice hoarse as if trying to convince himself.

The next second his words were abruptly interrupted by a sudden, deep, and deadly roar!

"Rumble..."

The sound was initially low and distant, like muffled thunder rolling from the horizon, but it gradually became clearer!

Before long, the ground began to tremble slightly and continuously!

The South Korean soldiers, who were leisurely resting in the depression, all looked up and stared blankly at the mountain pass to the west from which the sound came.

The birds in the woods were startled and scattered from their nests.

"what sound?"

A South Korean recruit asked in confusion.

"Was it thundering? It doesn't seem like it..."

"It's...it's to the west!"

"Rumble————"

The sound grew closer and more violent!
Accompanied by the sound of tracks crushing stones and mud, and the roar of tank engines!

Park Chan-woo and the deputy commander's faces turned deathly pale in an instant, completely devoid of color.

Park Chan-woo lunged at the tracked chassis of the communications vehicle and pressed his ear against it.

tremble!

A violent, intense tremor!
It carries the coldness of steel and an unstoppable sense of power!

"It can't be this fast..."

Park Chan-woo's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

The deputy commander was completely terrified and stood frozen in place.

While all the South Korean soldiers were still in a state of shock and confusion, the forest at the mountain pass was suddenly smashed open!

A steel torrent!

For the South Korean military, this was already a true steel torrent!
The first to bear the brunt was the angular Sherman tank, its massive gun barrels lowered and pointed at the depression!

Without slowing down, they charged out of the mountain pass with the force to crush everything in their path!

The tracks kicked up a cloud of mud, snow, gravel, and broken branches! Behind and to their sides were smaller but equally menacing M8 armored vehicles, their heavy machine gunners pulling back their bolts with a clang!

And in the shadows and between the gaps of these steel behemoths, there are countless Chinese soldiers wearing heavy cotton-padded coats!

They were terrifyingly silent, but their eyes were as sharp as icicles in the dead of winter, and their footsteps maintained an astonishing speed under the cover of tank armor!

A bright red, tattered but still dazzling military flag fluttered in the wind atop the lead Sherman tank, whose turret bore obvious signs of impact.

Beside the flag, a figure stood steadily, his posture as straight as a pine tree—it was Wu Wanli!
"China—!! It's the Seventh Steel Company—!!"

A South Korean soldier's eyes widened, and his shrill scream, so distorted it was almost unintelligible, was only half-uttered!
"fire--!"

Wu Wanli's roar was like a thunderclap, drowning out the roar of all the engines!

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

The four Sherman tanks at the forefront instantly spewed out huge fireballs and thick smoke from their cannons!

The massive shell tore through the air, emitting a deathly whistle sharp enough to pierce eardrums!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom..."

The earth-shattering explosions rang out almost simultaneously in the depression!

A jeep parked on the outermost edge, along with a dozen or so South Korean soldiers next to it, instantly turned into burning parts and severed limbs that flew into the air!

A South Korean 60mm mortar, which had just been set up and whose barrel was pointing in the wrong direction, was blown to pieces along with its ammunition box!
A huge column of smoke, mixed with blood, flesh, and mud, rose from a small, hollowed-out hill where officers were gathered!

"High-explosive shells! Full speed—assault!"

Wu Wanli's orders were quickly transmitted via the tank's communicator.

Almost the instant the cannon fire subsided, the armored vanguard of the Seventh Steel Brigade had already crashed into the outer edge of the depression!

The tracks brutally crushed the bushes, the scattered individual equipment, and the bodies of South Korean soldiers who had been knocked unconscious by the artillery fire!
Click!

puff!

The crisp sound of bones cracking and the terrifying thud of flesh being crushed reached the ears of every nearby South Korean soldier, becoming the final straw that broke their will!
"what--!"

The South Korean troops in the depression were in complete chaos!

Rest?

Organize resistance?

Order?

It's all bullshit!

The explosions, the crushing, the sudden surge of steel, and the red flag symbolizing "death" completely pulverized the psychological defenses of the new recruits of the 3rd Regiment of the 9th Division of the Korean Army!

"Run-!"

"The Chinese devil is coming!"

"The Americans couldn't stop them!"

"It's that 'Sword of God' Wu Wanli'!"

"Run!"

Cries, screams of terror, and chaotic gunfire mingled together, and the scene was completely out of control!

The South Korean soldiers, like a flock of frightened sheep, abandoned their weapons, helmets, and backpacks, wishing they had two more legs, and ran for their lives in the southeast towards Hengcheng!

South Korean officers futilely drew their pistols, pointed them at the fleeing soldiers, and yelled at them to stop, but what they were met with was an even more chaotic surge of people.

Some South Korean officers were even knocked down and trampled by fleeing soldiers in a panic!
"Armored vehicles! Spread out! Firepower! Clear out any organized resistance!"

"Infantry, follow! Drive away the fleeing troops! Target—Hengcheng!!"

Soon, Wu Wanli's cold voice rang out again.

The M8 armored vehicles that followed scattered instantly, like sharp scythes cutting through a tangled mess!

"Da da da da da..."

Heavy machine guns and light machine guns on the vehicle opened fire fiercely, creating a series of intense crossfires!
They did not aim for precise shots at the fleeing soldiers, but instead unleashed a barrage of fire on the officers' encampments and those still trying to organize machine gun positions!

"Puff puff puff puff puff puff—!"

A barrage of machine gun bullets, like a metallic storm, tore through grass, trees, rocks, and bodies that tried to resist!

Several South Korean soldiers who tried to set up light machine guns had their upper bodies instantly riddled with bullets!

An officer holding a pistol was torn in half by a burst of bullets!
"Charge! Kill—!"

The infantry of the 7th Steel Brigade, following on the flanks and behind the armored vehicles, finally let out a deafening roar!

This is not a chaotic charge, but an attack with a clear tactical purpose!
They formed small groups of three, taking turns providing cover as they advanced.

If small groups of resistance are encountered, they should be immediately suppressed by the firepower of armored vehicles or by throwing grenades to eliminate them.

Their main objective was not to annihilate the fleeing enemy, but to use precise and efficient firepower to drive all the South Korean soldiers who were still breathing in this depression along the road leading to Hengcheng, like herding ducks!
Wu Wanli's intention was clear: he planned to use the routed troops to attack the South Korean army's own defenses!

Park Chan-woo and the deputy commander have been completely annihilated.

The sight of the tanks bursting out of the mountain pass, and the iconic order to fire, shattered all their illusions.

No matter what Commander Park or the US military's accusations, none of them are as deadly as the Grim Reaper's scythe before us!

"Chief of Staff! Get in the car! Run!!"

The deputy regimental commander cried and scrambled toward their modified command jeep.

Park Chan-woo was dragged and shoved into the back seat by two of his trusted confidants.

The driver slammed on the gas, and the jeep shot forward like a startled rabbit!
However, the retreat route he chose happened to merge into the torrent of fleeing people heading towards Hengcheng, driven out by the armored vehicles of the Seventh Steel Brigade!
Their jeeps tried to overtake, honking their horns, but it seemed so ridiculous and powerless in the face of the overwhelming rout of soldiers.

The vehicles could only be swept along, bumping and struggling forward in the dense and terrified crowd.

Park Chan-woo turned around and, through the smoke and dust, saw the team made of steel and flesh, closely "attached" to the rear of the fleeing soldiers, like wolves driving a flock of sheep.

He knew that it was aimed at him, and at Hengcheng!

Steel tracks and wheels rolled over the edge of the Wulipo depression and stepped onto the road leading to Hengcheng!
Wu Wanli's tank group always charged at the forefront, becoming the sharpest arrowhead of the entire assault!
The Seventh Steel Brigade followed closely behind, no longer in a hurry to kill the enemies at their feet, but maintaining immense pressure and deterrence.

"Captain!"

"Why not just use tanks and armored vehicles to separate them?!"

"With our firepower and armor, we can easily divide our forces into several groups and annihilate these ten thousand or so men in this open field!"

Liu Hanqing looked at Wu Wanli beside him and asked loudly.

"What are they now?"

"They're defeated soldiers! A bunch of turtles who've lost their souls and just want to burrow into their shells!"

"They've collapsed!"

"Was the direction they fled back towards Hengcheng's positions?"

"Have you considered how Park Jung-hee and his South Korean troops in Hengcheng would react if we 'dealt with' all these frightened birds outside the city?"

"Although they were afraid of us, they felt relieved and could finally breathe again while hiding behind their fortifications!"

"But what about now? We're right behind them! Only a few miles from the city gate! Park Chan-woo has led several thousand terrified, crying and screaming soldiers to their own lines!"

"Behind them are the tank cannons of my Wu Wanli and 8,000 elite troops who just wiped out a full-strength American force! What will the South Korean troops defending the city face now?"

"Open the gate or not?! Create a breach in the defenses or not?!"

"Open fire! These thousands of routed soldiers are the spearhead to disrupt their lines! They're crowding the city gates, and their will to survive will drive them to charge their own people's positions!"

"The defending troops dared not fire, fearing it would cause greater chaos or even a mutiny!"

"Once the defensive line is breached even slightly by the fleeing soldiers... it doesn't even need to be completely breached, just a little chaos near the city gate is enough!"

"That's when we charge in! Armored infantry, clear the way! Infantry, follow! Press in and strike while the chaos is in the air!"

"How much morale do the South Korean troops in the city have left amidst the chaos and double shock?"

"Those who ran back were a bunch of jinxes who could break down their own city gates, throw their own people into chaos, and cause their morale to plummet!"

"This is much less strenuous and much faster than us gnawing on their tortoise shells outside the city!"

"On the battlefield, you must press on with unwavering momentum! Opportunities are fleeting! Do you understand?!"

Wu Wanli smiled slightly and said.

"Wanli, that was a brilliant move!"

"Even if they don't open fire, we can still demoralize them!"

"Besides, these South Korean soldiers can't escape. We can chase them down and slowly kill them, gradually demoralizing the defenders inside the city!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing immediately widened his eyes and praised.

"We'll talk about the praise later. Tell the comrades to speed things up, make sure there's enough pressure, and get them moving faster!"

"Try not to give Hengcheng too much time to react, and don't give the US reinforcements a chance to catch up with us."

"In short, get those South Korean troops to the front lines and launch a full-speed blitzkrieg on Hengcheng!!!"

Wu Wanli clenched his fist and gave the order with boundless pride.

(End of this chapter)