Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 303 Fog Shrouds the Han River Chess Game, One Move Breaks the Whole Game!

The night fog hung low, pressing down on the rocks and bushes along the banks of a tributary of the Han River.

A small detachment from the Seventh Steel Brigade quickly set up several mortars at Mingdu point, which were carefully disguised with tree branches and rags.

"As ordered by Captain Wu, fire three rapid rounds into the pre-designated area on the opposite side in ten minutes!"

Captain Chenggong, using the faint moonlight to check his pocket watch, lowered his voice and spoke to the figures around him.

Upon hearing this, Xu Mumu and the others quickly nodded in agreement.

Not long after, the flames suddenly exploded in the night!

The shells, with a sharp whistling sound, streaked across the calm river surface, leaving a blinding flash, before slamming heavily onto the designated open mudflats on the opposite bank.

"call out------"

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

The deafening explosion ripped through the night's disguise, sending dirt, rubble, and dead wood flying several meters into the night sky, while clusters of orange-red flames rolled about.

"Da da da da da..."

Immediately following, a dozen machine guns unleashed a torrent of bullets, the dense tracer rounds flying like fiery snakes, creating sparks on the opposite cliff face.

Successfully, he led his soldiers to lie in ambush behind the makeshift fortifications, shouting the battle cry to create the illusion of a massive amphibious assault.

The sounds were stirred by the river wind and repeatedly torn apart and amplified by the sounds of cannons and machine guns, echoing in the misty valley and creating a chaotic yet resolute momentum of a powerful attack.

The terrain of this area is one of the "high-risk river crossing points" marked on the UN intelligence map, and it has been monitored by fixed observation posts.

As soon as the artillery fire started, the US electronic signal listening station set up on a high point on the opposite mountain immediately detected the unique frequency of the mortar shells cutting through the air.

The radio emitted a piercing alarm: "Dabukou is under heavy artillery fire from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army!"

Inside the UN forces headquarters in Chengnan City, the atmosphere erupted almost instantly.

"Sir! The area in the direction of Dabukou is under heavy artillery fire from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, and there are signs of an infantry attack!"
This is determined to be the main crossing point for Steel Seven!

The voice of the U.S. Army communications officer was filled with barely suppressed excitement amidst the static noise of the radio.

"It's them! General Ridgway, our fortified siege tactics have made them feel threatened!"

They had no choice but to launch a mobile offensive and find a way to break through our encirclement!

We must strike them with air immediately and stop them!

Van Fleet thought for a moment and immediately made his judgment.

"These Chinese soldiers won't sit idly by and wait to die; jumping out is definitely their style!"
All air units on standby, target Dabukou, to launch a maximum-intensity saturation bombing!
Destroy them! Let the Han River burn!

Li Qi nodded slightly and quickly said.

His orders, like sharp knives drawn from their sheaths, sped along the dense network of power lines toward the American aircraft scattered across the skies over the peninsula.

Within minutes, the shriek of death had already torn apart the air above.

The first batch of US warplanes emerged from the low-hanging clouds with the muffled roar of their engines, diving down at a steep angle like eagles swooping down on their prey!
The bombs, accompanied by an extremely piercing shriek, instantly covered the open mudflats of Dabukou, which had been deliberately created to create chaos!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom..."

The dense explosions merged into a sea of ​​fire, and the air itself was distorted wherever the napalm went!
Withered grass, shrubs, and even shallow water along the riverbank instantly transformed into towering flames, the pungent smell of gasoline and burning gas shooting straight into the sky.

The makeshift fortifications on the mudflats were completely leveled almost immediately.

Immediately afterwards, a deep, rumbling sound came from afar.

That was the real main force, the roar of the engines of the US heavy bomber formation.

As their massive shadows swept across the beach, which had been turned into a hellish landscape, incendiary bombs mixed with high-explosive aerial bombs rained down like a storm!

A deafening roar triggered a chain reaction of explosions, sending massive orange fireballs mixed with thick black mushroom clouds churning and threatening to engulf the area for several kilometers around.

The blinding light, as if daytime had arrived, illuminated the continuous river water with a glaring, pale yellow hue.

The earth trembled violently from the terrifying shockwave of the explosion, and the river water churned up into murky foam. The heat and choking smoke stung our mouths and noses.

The hellish bombardment lasted for nearly half an hour.

The truly horrific scene at Dabukou was revealed when the last bomber, with a satisfied roar, spiraled upwards and left the utterly destroyed death zone.

The riverbank was scorched black, riddled with deep pits, and the murky river water poured into the cratered areas.

Several sections of the riverbank suffered severe soil and rock collapses, and several sections of trees, twisted and charred from the explosion, were still futilely emitting wisps of smoke.

The entire battlefield was filled with a suffocating atmosphere of destruction, as if a small nuclear explosion had just occurred there.

A U.S. reconnaissance plane, tasked with assessing the bombing's effectiveness, cautiously descended to low altitude, braving the lingering smoke and radiant heat below, and circled repeatedly to observe.

The experienced U.S. military pilots opened their eyes wide and tried to scan the scorched earth below through the cockpit window.

There were no large-scale troop retreat debris as imagined, no remnants of pontoon bridges hastily erected by engineers, and no trace of any scattered organized troops struggling to retreat.

Only a dozen or so scattered, or even fewer, outlines of completely destroyed individual bunkers remain!

How can this be?

In an instant, a chilling coldness spread up Spark's spine.

"Vulture One calling Eagle's Nest! Eagle's Nest!"

Bomb the target area! ...Personnel targets...Extremely few in number!
Repeat! No large-scale river-crossing troops were found! No river-crossing facilities were found!

We...we might be blown up!

He immediately roared into the airborne radio, his voice trembling with shock as he reported.

"What?!"

In an instant, the air inside the UN command post froze.

"Lieutenant Spark! I confirm your judgment!"
You said below Dabukou..."

Van Fleet's facial muscles twitched violently, and he snatched the microphone from the communications soldier's hand in disbelief, shouting.

"Vulture No. 5 urgently calls Eagle's Nest!"
At...at Hulukou on the Han River! A large-scale troop crossing has been discovered!
Absolutely certain! A large number of people!
Crossing a tributary! Coordinates: East longitude…

Just then, another pilot's panicked scream suddenly cut into the communication channel.

Hulukou on the Han River!

That was an extremely well-hidden area with shallow, undercurrent-filled water!

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with treacherous terrain, this area is marked on the map as "almost impossible to cross"!

How could it be there?

"It's actually a gourd-shaped mouth!!"

Van Fleet's face turned ashen instantly; his previously dismissed intuition was cruelly confirmed at that moment.

"All available forces! The nearest fighter squadrons, immediately rush towards Hulukou!"

Stop them from crossing the river at all costs!

Ridgway practically spat out the command through clenched teeth.

In an instant, the entire UN command center spun wildly like a top that had been whipped.

The piercing commands mingled with urgent radio calls, creating a tidal wave of sound.

Hulukou Ferry Crossing, a tributary of the Han River
The murky, icy river water had already submerged him up to his waist, and the biting cold pierced through his uniform like needles, going straight to his bone marrow.

The main force of the assault detachment led by Gao Daxing is passing through this narrow waterway with the gentlest current at top speed.

The soldiers lined up in pairs, supporting each other, holding their breath as they waded through the water, their shoulders laden with heavy weapons and ammunition.

"Faster! Faster!"

Gao Daxing waded through the water while constantly urging him on in a low voice.

The rushing river, carrying pieces of ice, washed over my swaying body, making every step extremely difficult.

The steep cliffs on the opposite bank were faintly visible in the increasingly thick morning fog.

Pinghe, who was in charge of guarding both sides of the strait, kept his hawk-like eyes vigilantly scanning the leaden-gray sky above.

When the faint yet ear-piercing roar of a motor suddenly rose from the southeast, like the friction of metal, Pinghe's heart clenched.

"Enemy plane!"

"Southeast orientation! Very low altitude! Speed ​​up the crossing!"

Pinghe shouted a stern warning, the voice not loud, but it instantly pierced through the sound of the flowing water!

Almost simultaneously, Wu Wanli and Lei Gong, who were in charge of the overall situation on the other side, also heard the ominous noise that was approaching from afar.

The water at Hulukou surged, and the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade, who had not yet reached the shore, instantly felt a tangible pressure descending upon them. The water seemed to become even heavier and more viscous!

Liu Hanqing looked up at the southeastern horizon, where several rapidly moving black dots were quickly growing larger, like sharp arrows that were constantly approaching.

"It's too late! Damn it!"

Yu Congrong cursed angrily in the ranks and tried to push his comrade in front of him to move forward faster.

"Vulture No. 5, target confirmed! Target confirmed! Main force of China Steel Seventh Team!"

Crossing the river! Location locked!
Request immediate action!

Repeat, requesting immediate action!

The pilot of the Mustang reconnaissance plane that spotted the main force of the Steel Seven had obviously confirmed the target and immediately shouted excitedly on the radio.

In a short while, the "Wild Horse" had already circled one and a half times above Hulukou.

Upon receiving permission to attack, the pilot launched a fierce dive!

The short bursts of machine gun fire were like the fangs of a viper, the thick ammunition belts tearing the surface of the water and sending out a long string of exploding water jets, splashing water onto the cold faces and bodies of the soldiers wading through the water!

The piercing roar of machine guns had just subsided when even more black dots suddenly appeared on the horizon!
The formation of American fighter jets that arrived first swooped down at high speed with their engines at full throttle, as if they had spotted a bloody swarm of sharks!

"Sure enough, it's here..."

"Prepare according to the second plan! Thunder God! Let them see what's what!"

Wu Wanli remained calm and issued the order in a composed manner.

With Wu Wanli's thunderous roar, the silent mountains and forests on both sides of Hulukou suddenly "came to life"!

On the cliff, deep in the forest, and in the crevices of the rocks, the tarpaulin that was originally covered with thick grass, fallen leaves and fake netting was suddenly ripped off!

One after another, the dark muzzles of cannons suddenly rose up, revealing themselves to be perfectly disguised anti-aircraft machine gun positions.

Lei Gong, this experienced veteran gunner, was crouching behind the most central gun position.

"All artillery crews, listen to my command!"

Anti-aircraft machine guns suppress low-flying enemy aircraft!

"Anti-aircraft guns, main positions, aim at the lead US Air Force formation's lead aircraft! Obey my command!"

His eyes were icy cold, his calloused hands pressed firmly on the cold gun barrel adjustment plate, and he roared into the radio.

At that moment, the American pilots in the sky were completely unaware that the end was nigh.

The three leading American planes formed a perfect inverted triangle assault formation, almost reaching the treetops on the riverbank, their jet engines whistling like a death knell!

In the cockpit of the lead aircraft, Lieutenant Billy, the US pilot, had a smirk of excitement before the hunt on his lips as his finger rested on the cannon button, ready to press it!

"Fire!!!"

The Thunder God raised his command flag and swung it down sharply, roaring like thunder!

"Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump—!"

In an instant, the anti-aircraft machine guns, as dense as a sudden downpour of beans, were the first to spew fire!

Dozens of deadly fire lines instantly intertwined to form a terrifying barrage of metal bullets covering the low sky!
Dense fire whips lashed wildly at the diving American aircraft formation!
"Thump thump thump thump thump..."

Almost at the same time as the anti-aircraft machine guns opened fire, the larger-caliber anti-aircraft guns let out a deep and imposing roar!

The high-explosive incendiary tracer rounds, glowing with a dazzling orange-red light, roared towards the American lead aircraft at a speed too fast for the naked eye to detect!
The anti-aircraft artillery positions are too close together, and the shells have a very short flight time!

The U.S. Army lieutenant named Billy only had time to see a blinding red light rapidly enlarging from afar onto the cockpit canopy.

"boom!!!"

The first anti-aircraft shell hit the right engine of the American lead aircraft with perfect accuracy!
The orange-red explosion instantly engulfed half of the fuselage, and the sturdy aluminum alloy skin was torn apart like paper!

Immediately afterwards, the second and third shells seemed to have eyes, directly blasting through the connection between the right wing and the fuselage!

The lead plane, at low altitude, was like a crushed soda can, twisting and turning violently, billowing thick smoke and flames, spinning out of control as it crashed into the cliff!

"boom--!"

Amidst the deafening explosion, the US warplane was blown into a dazzling, massive fireball!

"Hit! The lead plane is destroyed!!"

From the concealed command post on the opposite bank of the river, the sentry on the observation post immediately began shouting frantically through the walkie-talkie.

Witnessing the shocking scene of the lead plane being shot down like fireworks ignited a surge of passion in the hearts of all the Steel Seven warriors who were fighting to cross the river and waiting to fire!
Without the lead aircraft's guidance, the American pilot in the right-hand wingman was terrified!

A dense hail of anti-aircraft machine gun bullets had already pierced his wings, causing the plane to lose its balance.

He desperately pulled on the lever to try to climb up and escape, but his body was already very sluggish.

"boom!"

The left wing was hit by a 37mm cannon shell and a large section of it was broken off!

The damaged American aircraft, like a bird with broken wings, cried out as it plunged headlong into a turbulent tributary of the Han River.

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, a jet of water shot into the sky!
The situation was equally dire for the US wingman on the left.

The anti-aircraft machine gun fire followed closely, with dense bullets sweeping across the fuselage like scythes.

A bright chain of tracer bullets struck the canopy directly, the clanging and shattering sound was ear-piercing and terrifying!
Captain Jack, the pilot, felt a burning numbness in his left shoulder and face. Looking down, he saw that the cockpit was covered in blood and his left arm was almost unable to move!
"Jump! Jump!"

He screamed desperately as he pulled hard on the ejection seat handle.

"Swoosh—Bang!"

The high-pressure gas canister beneath the seat exploded, and the powerful thrust instantly ejected the American pilot, along with the entire seat, from the teetering fighter jet.

The dazzling white umbrellas bloomed tragically in the air.

This was merely the opening act of a death symphony; the predator of the sky instantly became the prey to be slaughtered!
The US aircraft formation that followed were clearly stunned by this sudden, exceptionally accurate and fierce ground-based air defense fire!

The immense psychological shock caused them to momentarily freeze and become confused.

"Damn it! There's an ambush! Climb up!! Climb to a certain altitude!!"

The radio channels were filled with the terrified screams of American pilots.

The US aircraft, which had rushed too fast and were going too high, tried to pull up and recover from their dive, but found that they were too low!

Several subsequent US fighter jets attempted to pull back on the control stick to climb, but the immense G-forces caused the fuselage to groan under the strain.

But can the kinetic energy of a dive be canceled out in an instant?
At this moment, their massive aircraft were moving almost clumsily at low altitude.

This fatal clumsiness, in the face of the already prepared Steel Seven air defense positions, makes them nothing more than moving live targets!
"Thump thump thump thump thump thump!"

Lei Gong personally operated an anti-aircraft gun, steadily tracking the target and firing with calm and deadly precision!

Another US warplane that had forcibly pulled up in an attempt to escape was viciously struck in the tail, and anti-aircraft shells exploded violently at the tail engine!
Orange-red flames, mixed with thick smoke, fiercely spewed out from the crack!
The US military plane swayed like a drunkard and plummeted downwards!

"Third from the right! That plane's trying to escape! Han Laosi! Give it a good beating!"

"West end position! Watch out for those two planes trying to sneak out and into the mountain! Crossfire! Shoot them down!"

Each anti-aircraft machine gun position unleashed its full firepower, spewing out a storm of metal!
Armor-piercing incendiary rounds and armor-piercing incendiary tracer rounds are woven into a noose of death!

The anti-aircraft machine gun team skillfully used crossfire and pursued and blocked the enemy.

The interwoven fireballs blocked off a large area of ​​low-altitude airspace!
A US warplane attempting to fly close to the mountainside to find an angle of attack was blocked by two Chinese People's Volunteer Army anti-aircraft guns positioned on either side of the mountain ridge, creating a crossfire.

Bullets rained down on the fuselage and left wing, exploding into a series of flashes and fragments!

The American plane instantly billowed black smoke and crashed into the cliff face on the opposite bank of the river, exploding into a huge burning wreckage!

Another unfortunate U.S. warplane, while diving, collided head-on with a burst of deadly armor-piercing rounds fired from the side!

"Puff puff puff puff puff..."

The warhead easily tore through the nose skin and penetrated the core of the jet engine's combustion chamber!

The high internal temperature triggered a violent explosion upon contact with oxygen!

The entire aircraft disintegrated in mid-air at low altitude, turning into a rain of metal and burning fragments accompanied by flames and shockwaves!
This was a completely one-sided massacre!

In less than ten minutes of firefight, the entire sky above the Hulukou section of the river was filled with thick smoke, flames, and the wreckage of a crashed plane!

Of the more than 20 aircraft in the first wave of high-speed attack formation meticulously planned by the US military, 16 were shot down, destroyed, or forced to land in the blink of an eye!
Two more planes, barely managing to escape with thick smoke and huge holes in their bodies, wobbled and fled in panic.

The remaining American pilots circling at high altitude witnessed this terrifying scene and were so frightened that they dared not descend to attack.

They circled frantically high in the sky, waiting in vain for the "real large formation" to be summoned.

As the last American plane fled, battered and bruised, the gunfire on the river abruptly ceased, leaving only the sobbing of the river and the crackling of flames.

A strong, pungent odor filled the air, a mixture of aviation fuel, burning rubber, burnt human flesh, and rocks scorched by artillery fire.

"The main force will complete the river crossing immediately! Hurry!"

Seeing the last few teams of soldiers struggling to climb the steep riverbank, Liu Hanqing, who was in command position on the opposite bank, shouted into the walkie-talkie.

Soon, the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade were rapidly deploying in formation on the steep riverbank to accelerate their crossing of the river.

Having experienced the thrill of a high-intensity river crossing and a surprise attack, and having witnessed the astonishing results achieved by the anti-aircraft artillery, the soldiers' faces were flushed with excitement, and their eyes burned with a fiery fighting spirit.

Despite the biting cold and their clothes being soaked and heavy, the team's morale was soaring!
"Commander-in-chief! Our secret crossing point has been exposed after all! It's been spotted by the vultures."

Yu Congrong wiped the cold river water from his face and strode over to Wu Wanli, his tone carrying a hint of bewilderment and worry after the victory.

The exposure of the crossing point and the sudden loss of follow-up operations greatly increase the likelihood of having to fight tough challenges and pay a heavy price. No matter how brave the soldiers are, they are still just mortals.

"Yes, Commander, the American devils are probably going to press in with heavy troops soon, and we will be under tremendous pressure."

Pinghe appeared silently on Wu Wanli's other side, wiping the body and scope of his Springfield sniper rifle, which he never parted with, as he spoke.

Lei Gong squatted on a relatively flat rock not far away, directing several gunners to quickly disassemble and clean the 37mm anti-aircraft guns that had performed extraordinary feats.

His fingers deftly cleaned the remaining gunpowder from the breech, looking with heartache at the burn marks on the barrel and a patch of camouflage green paint scraped off by shrapnel.

"To hell with heavy troops or not, let's fight them when they come."

Upon hearing Yu Congrong's words, Lei Gong stopped what he was doing, looked up at Wu Wanli, and made his stance clear.

Liu Hanqing had just settled a group of sentries who had climbed to a high place when he walked over quickly, his face also showing a questioning expression.

"Old Yu, Pinghe, look where the US military bombed for the first time!"

Wu Wanli asked.

"They bombed a target we deliberately set up to show them!"
What you meant by "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass"?

The problem is our Hulukou…

Yu Congrong said somewhat anxiously.

"No, the US military bombed 'high-risk river crossing points' on their own intelligence maps."

They believe in their own judgment.

Our Hulukou has been discovered, that's for sure.

More than a dozen planes were shot down, causing quite a stir.

The key is the timing of their discovery!

It was just as our last group of men set foot on the south bank!

It was after our anti-aircraft guns shattered their first wave of attacking aircraft!
This discovery itself can also become part of our plan!

After all, the real goal of our Seventh Steel Brigade was never to head north and meet up with Commander Li Yunlong on the main stream of the Han River.

That was a decoy, a more tempting false target!

If they had simply shown their true colors, Ridgway and his men wouldn't have fallen for their trick.

But the way he was forced to be discovered now makes it much more believable.

Think about it, the Hengcheng Detachment has already successfully fooled the UN forces once, making them think that our main force was gathering at the ferry crossing on the upper reaches of the Han River, and they were deceived.

This time, Commander Li Yunlong's troops are once again making a big show of force in the north. Our secret crossing here has been exposed again. What will this make of Ridgway and his men?
They will be convinced that the previous attack was a feint to lower their guard, and this time it's for real!

Otherwise, why would we use the tactic of feigning one move while secretly making another?

The only possibility is that the main force of Steel Seven crossed the tributary of the Han River and its goal was to quickly head north!
This logic is so logical! It's even more convincing than our own pretense!

Wu Wanli said with a smile.

"Wonderful!
We exposed ourselves at just the right time; the "facts" we revealed only reinforced their flawed assumptions!

Liu Hanqing thought for a moment, and then suddenly realized.

The previous deception was a very blatant lie.

Now, the Americans are just being clever and thinking that Wu Wanli is playing a second game, a feint followed by a real attack.

Little did they know, Wu Wanli's purpose on the third floor was to exploit the UN command's speculations and assumptions!
That makes sense!

What we lost was several sections of the air defense positions and some valuable air defense ammunition.

In return, the entire UN command system misjudged our true intentions even more deeply!

They will fix their main forces and air strikes firmly on the north bank of the Han River!
They'll set up their supposedly impenetrable fortress there, trapping us in what they think is an impenetrable wall!

Wu Wanli nodded and then continued.

"A brilliant plan!"

So, our exposure and being bombed, which gave the planes a taste of the real fun, actually fed the enemy an even bigger meat bun filled with poison?

"Should we make them spread their net as far north as possible?"

Lei Gong paused for a moment, then grinned, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow by smoke, and slapped his thigh as he spoke.

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant, Captain!"
We let those American devils get sold out, and they're still happily counting the money for us...

No, they're digging a pit for us, waiting for us to "fall in"!

Yu Congrong suddenly realized, and his previous worries vanished, leaving only the excitement of being deceived by such a huge tactic.

Pinghe stopped wiping the gun completely. He looked at Wu Wanli, his cold eyes flashing with an almost worshipful intensity.

He nodded silently and gripped the gun in his hand tightly.

Trust and admiration need no further words.

Wu Wanli's thinking was like a wild horse galloping freely, yet each step was tightly linked, seeking victory in the midst of danger and manipulating the enemy at will!
"All right!
Exposure is the best disguise!

What the UN forces saw was exactly what we wanted them to see.

Now, let the soldiers stop resting!
Target: the high mountain forest to the east!
Forced march—Let's go!
"Let's hide there first, and completely lure the main UN forces to the Han River defense line in the north before we take action!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the Tianyan map and immediately spoke.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the key officers quickly agreed.

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

Meanwhile, inside the UN Command headquarters

"Eagle's Nest! This is the high-altitude observation eagle eye!"
A plane crashed at Hulukou... My God, sixteen planes! No... It's confirmed that sixteen of our fighter jets were shot down!

The Chinese military's air defense positions... do not appear to have continued firing!
Ground troops... an organized signal... they've completed the river crossing!

They're moving! Their destination is unknown!

Repeat: The main force of Steel Seven has completed its crossing of the river and is currently moving in an unknown direction!

Just then, the terrified voice of a pilot from a US reconnaissance plane circling high in the sky echoed through the command center's radio.

In an instant, the air in the UN command center froze.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on the central communications station.

"Sixteen aircraft shot down in ten minutes?"

"Spark! Double-check! Damn it, double-check!"

Chief of Staff Van Fleet, his face ashen and body stiff, shouted into the radio communications station.

However, there was only silence on the other end of the radio, followed by a jumble of reports from another channel.

The staff officers looked at each other in disbelief, a sense of panic filling the air.

A young U.S. Army lieutenant colonel was pale-faced, oblivious to the fact that the documents in his hand had slipped to the ground.

The other officers either stared at the "gourd mouth" mark on the map or lowered their heads to avoid Ridgway's gaze.

In the corner, consultant Chu Yunfei also feigned surprise, but cold sweat quietly seeped from his vest.

Wu Wanli actually succeeded!
Not only did they successfully cross the Han River for the third time, but they also severely damaged the US air force!
However, he was well aware of the sensitivity of his position and knew he had to maintain a professional demeanor as an advisor.

He quickly lowered his eyelids, tapping his knuckles lightly under the table, suppressing the joy that was about to overflow.

"General, this is indeed an accident."

The reconnaissance aircraft reported that the target's movement was unclear, indicating that they were still maneuvering covertly.

We must analyze their intentions as soon as possible, otherwise…

Chu Yunfei's performance was flawless; he even moved to stand next to Li Qiwei and said in a deep voice.

"enough!
Panic won't solve the problem.

Communications, mobilize all reconnaissance resources, and conduct a comprehensive search of the 30-kilometer radius around Hulukou!

The staff immediately assembled to analyze Wu Wanli's marching direction!

What do you think the Seventh Steel Brigade will do after breaking through the defense line?
They've just finished a tough battle, and their ammunition and physical strength are extremely depleted; they must have follow-up targets!

Li Qiwei finally regained some composure. He waved his hand to signal for quiet, his deep voice penetrating the entire hall.

Upon hearing this, the US military staff immediately gathered around the strategic map of the Han River and began to argue amongst themselves.

"General, I believe they will rush to the southeast!"
The terrain there is complex, with dense mountains and extremely high forest coverage.

The Chinese army excels at guerrilla tactics, and they can easily break up into smaller units here.

Our main force is difficult to track quickly; they can rest and resupply, and even launch sporadic attacks to tie down our main force.

A U.S. military staff officer thought for a moment and spoke first.

"Yes, the Seventh Steel Brigade is now a depleted force; it's unwise to fight them head-on."

Guerrilla tactics maximize the use of terrain!

The other staff officers nodded in agreement, one of them adding.

I disagree!
Although the southeast has great depth, it lacks strategic points.

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army had just won a battle and was in high spirits; how could they be willing to cower in fear?
Hengcheng is the key!

Intelligence indicates that there are large South Korean military stockpiles there: food, ammunition, and light weapons are piled up like mountains.

The Seventh Steel Brigade had been fighting continuously, and its supplies were severely depleted.

They definitely need supplies urgently!

Hengcheng is currently the largest supply point on the eastern part of the Han River.

If Wu Wanli takes it, he can regroup and start anew!
This is the most direct survival strategy!

But another older U.S. military staff officer immediately retorted, his voice urgent.

The debate among the staff officers grew louder, with some supporting a move eastward to capture Hengcheng and others insisting on guerrilla warfare to the southeast.

Ridgway crossed his arms and listened patiently, but his brows furrowed more and more.

Chu Yunfei observed coldly from the side, secretly amused.

The more you argue, the further you stray from the truth!

Wu Wanli's plan was far more complex than just resupply!
Just then, Chief of Staff Van Fleet took a step forward, his heavy military boots thumping on the floor.

"You're all wrong!"
Wu Wanli has always had only one goal—the north!
Han River main stream defense line!

He will lead the Seventh Steel Brigade to cross the river again and join forces with Li Yunlong's main force!
That's his ultimate goal!

Chief of Staff Van Fleet's face was grim, but his eyes gleamed with a stubborn light as he spoke in a voice that overwhelmed the crowd.

As soon as he finished speaking, several US military staff officers immediately began to whisper among themselves.

"Chief of Staff, how is this possible?"

Ten days ago, the Chinese army launched a feint attack at Dabukou, deceiving all of us.

Their tactics are obvious: first, feign a river crossing to draw enemy fire; second, launch a full-scale attack on 'Hulu Pass'. And now you're saying they're going north again?
Two shots in the same spot?

This defies common sense on the battlefield!
The Chinese People's Volunteer Army wouldn't be foolish enough to repeat a failed strategy!

A U.S. military staff officer quickly reminded him.

Others echoed this sentiment, shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Surprise attack—that's Wu Wanli's trademark!"

Have you all forgotten?
He just pulled off a classic "openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass" maneuver at Hulukou.

They first launched a feint attack at Dabukou to trick us into bombing, while their main force secretly crossed Hulukou.

What now?
The gourd's mouth was exposed, and we thought he wouldn't dare to use the same trick again, but that was precisely the most dangerous moment!
There are indeed supplies to the east, in the direction of Hengcheng, but the entire 2nd Division of the US Army is stationed there!

So many soldiers, fully armed, tank battalions and artillery positions, and such well-constructed fortifications!
How many troops does the Seventh Steel Brigade have left after just finishing a tough battle?

At most five thousand people!
A frontal assault on the Second Division would be suicide!

They have absolutely no chance of winning!

Now look to the west!

In the Pyeongtaek port area, a portion of the main force of the US 3rd Division had a tight blockade, and no ferry could escape surveillance.

The outer ring of Incheon is defended by a joint British and Turkish brigade. Even if the 7th Steel Brigade swims over there, they will be riddled with machine gun fire!

As for the south... the main force of the 1st Cavalry Division and the South Korean defense line seem solid, but their depth is limited, and they will be trapped if they go in.

Only the north is the core weakness of our 'fortress siege tactic'!

A few days ago, they launched a feint attack to lure us north to set up an ambush. This time, their main force took advantage of our lax defenses to launch a surprise attack!

Once they successfully cross the river, they should immediately join forces with Li Yunlong, and the balance of the entire battlefield will shift!

The Chinese military excels at this kind of 'comeback from a desperate situation' tactic!

Van Fleet pointed to the battle map and spoke with reason and evidence.

His analysis was logically sound, leaving the US military staff speechless for a moment.

“Van Fleet, you speak beautifully.”

But what is the current status of each defense line?

I want the live stream!

Intelligence department, immediately report on deployments in the southeast, west, south, and north!

Li Qiwei's eyes flickered, clearly wavering, but he then pressed on in a cold voice.

"Report to the General!
In the Hengcheng area to the east, the entire 2nd Division of the US Army is on standby, with 95% of the construction work completed.

To the west, from Pyeongtaek Port to Incheon, the 3rd Regiment of the 3rd Division, along with the British and Turkish allied forces, formed a tight blockade.

To the north, along the main stream of the Han River, the 6th Infantry Division has been deployed as planned, but the defensive line is quite long, and some reserves have been transferred south.

Meanwhile, another urgent report arrived from the southern front: something had happened to the South Korean troops at Susun City…

The morale of the South Korean troops gathered in Suanam-siung continues to collapse!

In the past 24 hours, more than 300 deserters have been reported!
Local officers complained of ammunition shortages, poor food, and a lack of morale among the soldiers.

If we don't reorganize, this defensive line could be breached at any time by small infiltration units!

A major staff officer immediately stepped forward, holding a folder in his hand, and quickly read aloud.

"General, our meeting has decided to use the 'fortress siege' to tighten the trap and annihilate the Seventh Steel Brigade!"

Now that they have revealed their location, we cannot allow the crisis on the southern front to put us in a dilemma of dividing our forces!
I suggest immediately deploying the main force north to encircle and annihilate them!

Specific plan: First, order the Second and Third Divisions to transfer some of their main forces, along with the main force of the First Cavalry Division, to reinforce the north bank of the Han River at full speed!
Completely annihilate the Seventh Steel Brigade there!

Second, the southern defense cannot be lost. You will personally lead the command post and guard regiment to Shuainan City to take command!
With you in command at the front lines, how could the South Korean army dare to slack off?
With the added deterrent effect of the guard regiment, the defense line can be stabilized.

In this way, our main force can move north to complete the encirclement and annihilation, while the southern front can also be preserved!

Upon hearing this, Van Fleet immediately slammed his fist on the table in response.

The hall was completely silent. The staff officers exchanged glances, some worried that the southward transfer of the 1st Cavalry Division would leave the South Korean military region vulnerable.

Ridgway frowned and paced silently.

This is a risky move!

With the main force of the 1st Cavalry Division transferred away, can such a long southern front really be supported by a guard regiment and a portion of the South Korean army?
"Advisor Chu, what's your opinion? Is this plan feasible?"

Li Qiwei frowned slightly, then suddenly turned to Chu Yunfei and asked.

Upon hearing this, Chu Yunfei's heart pounded wildly.

He knew from his past combat experience that Wu Wanli and the Seventh Steel Brigade's opportunity had arrived!
Van Fleet's suggestion was exactly what Wu Wanli wanted to hear!

"General, I completely agree with Chief of Staff Van Fleet's suggestion!"

The problem with the South Korean troops on the southern front is essentially a lack of morale.

With your personal command at the front line of Shuainan City, coupled with the presence of elite guard regiments, we are sure to deter the enemy and quickly stabilize the situation.

The key is to gather and encircle the enemy on the northern front. The location of the Seventh Steel Brigade has been locked, and now we must strike with lightning speed!
If we miss the opportunity and allow them to escape again, the consequences will be dire!
This plan takes both aspects into account and conforms to the tactical principle of 'concentrating superior forces to annihilate the enemy'!

He suppressed the urge to grin, forced his facial muscles to tighten, and answered in a deep voice.

Chu Yunfei's endorsement convinced Li Qiwei to make up his mind completely.

"Then it's settled!"
The orders are as follows: First, the Second and Third Divisions shall mobilize part of their main forces, along with the entire main force of the First Cavalry Division, and set off within three hours to assemble on the north bank of the Han River!
Objective: To complete the encirclement within 24 hours and annihilate the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade!

II. All personnel of the UN forces' frontline command shall immediately prepare to accompany me to Shuainan City!

The entire guard regiment escorted them upon arrival, and they took command of the South Korean 7th Regiment to reorganize the southern defenses!
All units, take immediate action!

Ridgway slammed his hand on the table and gritted his teeth as he gave the order.

"Yes, sir!!!"

Upon hearing this, the US military staff responded in unison.

The UN command center was bustling with activity once again.

The sounds of telephones ringing, radio calls, and maps being flipped through created a chaotic cacophony.

(End of this chapter)