Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 309 A Mighty Man Descends from the Sky: Wu Wanli! The Possibility of Crossing the Han River Four Times and Defeating Six Generals at Five Passes!
Pyeongtaek, on the west coast of North Korea, the headquarters of the US 3rd Infantry Division.
"General Ridgway orders: The infantry and artillery units of the 3rd Division shall immediately disengage from their current defenses and rush to the aid of Shuainan City at full speed without delay!"

The division headquarters must assemble a special task force of at least 1,200 men to defend Pyeongtaek Port and all road junctions leading to the beachhead! Repel any enemy attempts to break through!
Anyone who neglects their duty or leaves their post without authorization, regardless of rank, will be executed on the spot!

complete!"

A U.S. Army staff officer held Ridgway's order telegram and read it aloud.

"They've already mentioned execution. Is it really that difficult to completely annihilate a Chinese 7th Steel Brigade when 100,000 UN troops are besieging them..."

General Robert Saul, his thick brows furrowed, strode to the large battle map and muttered to himself.

The atmosphere at the division headquarters instantly plummeted to freezing point, the hum of the radio being drowned out by the officers' suppressed breathing.

The chief of staff silently handed another telegram to Saul, containing the latest intelligence from the south.

Division Commander Saul snatched the telegram, his eyes quickly scanning the few short but thrilling lines of text:
The southern city wall was severely damaged, and Chinese tanks penetrated nearly 400 meters into the city. Our southern artillery battalion was wiped out, and the general reserve fought desperately to repel the enemy's offensive.

The command estimated that the total strength of the Seventh Steel Corps of China had exceeded 8,000...

"Eight thousand! How come I remember the General Staff's simulation showed that the Seventh Steel Brigade of China only had four or five thousand left?"
A Chinese army has been entangled on the other side of the Han River; it is estimated to be the main force of the Chinese forces behind enemy lines!
Did the three thousand Chinese soldiers who have now surrounded the city of Shuainan fall from the sky?

Or have all the bastards in the intelligence department gone blind?!

Commander Saul took a deep breath and slammed the telegram onto the steel table.

"Commander, these things are no longer important!"

General Ridgway's situation was more dangerous than we imagined!
That unit called the Seventh Steel Brigade is indeed tough!
The fact that the south city wall of Shuainan City was breached once is proof of this!
If we don't come to the rescue, we're gambling with General Ridgway's life on whether we can stop the next attack!
No matter how important Pyeongtaek Port is, can it be more important than the sudden collapse of the UN command center?

The Han River, Hengcheng, and even the entire central front will collapse immediately!

The chief of staff of the Third Division sighed and offered a reminder.

"I understand the necessity of the rescue you mentioned, but General Ridgway's requirement to leave only an elite task force to defend the area is very unreasonable!"

The 1,200-strong special garrison team had to guard the main road leading to the beachhead and protect the port facilities from infiltration. There were too many points to guard!

Once the defense line is dispersed and the depth is too shallow, the Chinese will specifically target these weak points!
There are no strong strongholds, no deep tiered defense, and no mobile support from heavy armored forces!
In this situation, sending in 1,200 people is just to boost the stats of that Chinese guy named Wu Wanli!

Moreover, there's the issue of time difference!

From the moment General Ridgway issued his telegram, to the time our army relayed the order to all units to set off, and then to the completion of the packing up of supplies and heavy artillery for the march, it absolutely could not have been completed in less than three hours!
The current location of the Chinese navy is unknown, and how long will it take to get close to the waters controlled by us?
Half a day? A day?
General Ridgway ordered the task force to hold out until the main force of the Han River returned to relieve them. How long would that take?
During this period, the China Steel Seventh Team has ample room to react!

What makes us so sure that they are definitely heading towards the port to break out?

See the battle report for Shuinan City!
That Wu Wanli was able to command the remaining armored forces that had just broken through the city wall to move quickly and accurately destroy our artillery battalion in just a few minutes!
This shows that this person is not only good at strong attacks, but also good at seizing fleeting opportunities to make high-speed maneuvers and infiltrations!
He might choose to bypass our reinforcements and force his way in, using a small elite force to launch a surprise attack on the port and create chaos!
The pressure on Suinan is immense, but who can guarantee that Wu Wanli won't immediately change his strategy once he learns of the troop redeployment in Pyeongtaek?

Division Commander Saul frowned and raised concerns about the risks.

"A roundabout approach?"
How much ammunition and manpower did the Seventh Steel Brigade expend in the battles and street fighting at the foot of Shuainan City?
Even if they really have 8,000 troops, how strong of a mobile strike can such a tired army, after a siege, organize?
Do they have enough vehicles? What about fuel?
A large force traversed tens of kilometers of complex terrain, bypassed our prepared troops, and finally arrived at Pyeongtaek Port to launch an attack.

Is this realistic?!
Unless God helps the Chinese keep watch and observe the entire situation, and tells the Chinese army our location in real time!
And our navy!
Our biggest trump card has always been the navy! General MacArthur's follow-up support fleet is already on its way at high speed!
What if the Chinese managed to find their way to the port and board a ship during the gap when the main force of the Third Division left?

"As long as MacArthur's follow-up fleet arrives in time, we can take down the Chinese 7th Steel Squadron and their navy together!"

Upon hearing this, the chief of staff of the U.S. Third Division shook his head.

"I agree with the Chief of Staff. I don't believe that the Seventh Steel Corps of China can really successfully break through and evacuate from Pyeongtaek!"

First of all, there is a special garrison in Pyeongtaek. Even if they can't beat the Chinese Steel Seventh Brigade, they can at least buy some time!
Perhaps we can hold out until the main force returns to encircle and annihilate them; this is the first layer of insurance!
Then there's the vanguard fleet that already exists in Pyeongtaek Port, plus the follow-up special support fleet from MacArthur's side is also arriving soon!
At that time, we can also use naval and air power to strike the Chinese Navy intercepting the transport of the Seventh Steel Corps. This is the second layer of insurance!

Furthermore, the Chinese Steel Seventh Team might not be able to react immediately and launch a flanking attack on Pyeongtaek, which is the third layer of insurance!
With three layers of insurance in place, I think it's unlikely that the China Steel Seventh Brigade will be able to escape from Pyeongtaek. They can simply provide direct support to Suyunseong.

If the division commander is really worried, we'll have a fourth layer of insurance: we'll split our forces into three groups and launch an attack to support Shuainan!

After all, there are only three roads from Suyun to Pyongtaek. If our three regiments are divided and occupy them, we don't have to worry about being bypassed by the Chinese Steel Seventh Corps.

This means using the main force of the division to occupy all roads leading to Shuenan, forcing the Seventh Steel Brigade to be unable to detour and attack Pyeongtaek!

The deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Third Division thought for a moment and then made a suggestion.

"But if we split our forces into three groups... wouldn't we be vulnerable to a frontal breakthrough by the Chinese Steel Seventh Brigade due to our weaker numbers?"

Upon hearing this, Commander Thor hesitated slightly.

"As I said before, we don't need to win, just hold them off."

If we can hold them off, General Ridgway of Shuainan City can send troops to encircle them from the rear.

If General Ridgway's encirclement fails, two other regiments from the 3rd Division will flank from the rear.

If we still can't win, we can even call in the special garrison in Pyeongtaek to encircle them.

No matter how capable the Seventh Steel Brigade of China and Wu Wanli were, it was impossible for them to have just won the Battle of Shuainan, broken through a regiment of the Third Division, and then broken through the Special Task Force.

Then let's send the Chinese navy to defeat the vanguard fleet, and finally defeat the task force sent by MacArthur.
This is equivalent to crossing the Han River four times and then passing through five checkpoints to defeat Liu Bei. I don't believe China has such a formidable figure!

The chief of staff of the U.S. Third Division smiled and said confidently.

"Haven't the Chinese Steel Team No. 7 achieved enough miracles? We must be cautious!"
The plan to launch a three-pronged attack to provide support is feasible, but I am still very worried about the beachhead defense!
Our army has laid a large number of landmines and barbed wire at the pre-arranged beachhead positions on the flat beach, mainly in response to possible enemy landing operations.

However, these obstacles have limited effectiveness against enemy armored forces launching attacks from inland.

Our pre-determined main line of defense faces primarily the sea.

The current defensive line facing inwards from the port is severely inadequate!
I think we need to consolidate! We must reduce our troop strength by all means!
The absolute order was to hold the port and the 'road junction' leading to the beachhead!
Then we should completely abandon all other defensive lines and sentry posts!
All perimeter security forces have been withdrawn and concentrated at one point!
The core support point is built on the sturdy, large-scale row warehouses of Pyeongtaek Port!

These warehouses are sturdy, with walls almost as thick as bunkers!
The windows on the first and second floors can be reinforced with sandbags and converted into firing positions!
The rooftop offers a wide view, and mounting a heavy machine gun or even a recoilless cannon would be enough to block off a large open area around it!
Construct interconnected trenches and anti-artillery bunkers in the gaps between warehouses to create crossfire!

The special garrison's anti-tank guns are digging deep trenches and laying mines!

Commander Thor tapped his finger on Pyeongtaek Port on the map and said.

"This defensive strategy is fine, I agree!"

But there is still a problem: what to do for a period of time after the main force of our division sets off?
This period was a crucial window for the Seventh Steel Corps to detect opportunities, assess intentions, adjust deployments, and launch a forced march to Pyeongtaek!
The only force that can fill this gap is the Air Force!

Commander! Please call the commander of the 5th Air Wing immediately!
Continuous reconnaissance of all major transportation routes from Suan to Pyeongtaek is required!

As soon as any enemy force is detected breaking away from the south and moving southwest, fighter jets will be immediately dispatched for fire reconnaissance!

Once their target is confirmed to be Pyeongtaek Port, request the immediate deployment of fighter-bombers to bombard their marching column with napalm!

The chief of staff of the U.S. Third Division straightened up and added in a resolute voice.

"Airborne interdiction is only theoretically feasible, but Pyeongtaek Port itself is of paramount importance and requires the most direct early warning!"
Strengthen ground-based observations by deploying numerous observation posts at high points around the port!
Simultaneously request airborne early warning and control aircraft to provide reconnaissance intelligence from the nearest location!

Commander Thor thought for a moment and then said.

"A plan to build a tight defense around the port and warehouse complex was finalized, with more than a thousand elite special garrison troops working in conjunction with the air force."

The plan to deploy the main force in three routes to block the three passages and prevent the Seventh Steel Brigade from taking a detour was also finalized.

Now there's only one last question: after we retreat, who will command the task force to hold out to the death?

The chief of staff of the U.S. Third Division swept his gaze across the crowd and finally asked.

In an instant, the headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Division fell silent.

Everyone knew that the ultimate fate of this special garrison would likely be a bloody battle to the point of total annihilation; it was a death sentence.

"I come!"

At that moment, a hoarse but unusually firm voice rang out.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, the deputy commander of the 7th Regiment.

"Commander, no one knows the terrain and warehouse structure of Pyeongtaek Port better than me!"

I have no problem with military rank or determination to defend the city; I will carry out any defensive orders!
If necessary, I will be the last one to pull the fuse!

Anderson stood ramrod straight and spoke loudly.

"Alright! Lieutenant Colonel Anderson!"

I hereby appoint you as the Supreme Commander of the Pyeongtaek Port Task Force!

The Chief of Staff will provide the list of assigned troops immediately!

Remember the orders: if you can't hold Pyeongtaek Port, you die there!

Commander Thor nodded and immediately appointed him.

"Yes, sir!"

Lieutenant Colonel Anderson tapped his heel and responded loudly.

"Give me the order!
First, all main units of the division shall immediately carry out General Ridgway's order to rush to the aid of Shuainan. The time for all units to assemble and gather is two hours and forty minutes later!

Second, the main force of the division split into three groups to launch a support attack, occupying the road from Pyeongtaek to Suyun!
Commander Grylls of the 7th Regiment led the 7th Regiment along a northern route to support Shuenan!
Commander Mur led the 15th Regiment along the central route to support Shuainan!
I went directly with Harris, the commander of the 65th Regiment, and led the 65th Regiment and the guard battalion along the southern route.

All units must march at a forced march pace and must not waste any time!

Third, more than 1,000 elite soldiers and some heavy firepower were selected to form the Pyeongtaek Special Task Force, with Lieutenant Colonel Anderson as the task force commander!

Anyone in the task force who refuses to hold their position, deserts, or surrenders under explicit orders shall be executed on the spot!
These are the orders. Go forth and act immediately. Time is of the essence; we cannot afford to miss this opportunity!

Commander Saul slammed his hand on the table and gave a loud order.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the 3rd Division command post immediately responded in unison.

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

Outside Shuainan City, the temporary command post of the Seventh Steel Corps

"The headquarters urgently reports that the latest intelligence confirms that the main force of the US 3rd Division has been successfully mobilized from Pyeongtaek as planned, leaving Pyeongtaek Port vulnerable to attack!"

Liu Hanqing held a telegram and read it aloud.

The moment the words were spoken, the atmosphere inside the tent exploded.

"Great! After fighting for so long, we've finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong said excitedly.

"It's done! It's done!"

"The commander-in-chief's move of 'checkmate's move' has completely fooled the Americans!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Daxing couldn't help but laugh and say something.

"Hirasawa is empty! Now we can bypass the direct confrontation and directly raid Hirasawa to retreat!"

Pinghe nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

"Finally, we're going home. Comrades, it hasn't been easy getting this far..."

Lei Gong took a puff of his pipe and sighed.

At this moment, the four detachment leaders of the Seventh Steel Brigade were all filled with barely suppressed excitement, praising Wu Wanli's strategy one after another.

The bloody battles and pressure of the past few days seemed to have found an outlet at this moment.

Taking a detour to the deserted Pyeongtaek Port, boarding a ship to evacuate, is almost the only and best way out of the current predicament.

"Comrades, don't be too happy yet."

The subsequent intelligence from the Shiji (Chinese Communist Party) clarified that although the main force of the US 3rd Division had left Pyeongtaek, they did not leave in a chaotic manner.

General Saul, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, ordered the division to be divided into three infantry regiments!

The 7th, 15th, and 65th regiments were positioned at the exits of the three main transportation routes from the Shuainan area to Pingze Port!

They searched for hidden areas along the way while providing support; we had absolutely no chance to escape by detour!

Liu Hanqing sighed, his face grave, and pressed his hand down in a deep voice.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the headquarters of the Seventh Steel Brigade plummeted to freezing point, with the initial excitement replaced by astonishment and solemnity.

The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment; the newly ignited flame of hope seemed to have been doused with a bucket of ice water.

"All three roads are blocked?"

Pinghe's heart sank, and he said in a low voice.

“Three regiments, each with several thousand American troops, are coming to search and provide support along the way; there's no way to bypass them…”

Lei Gong exhaled a puff of smoke and shook his head.

"Damn it! That American is really cunning!"

Gao Daxing clenched his fists and frowned.

After a brief silence came suppressed whispers, sighs, and murmurs.

Anxiety and headaches filled the command center.

"Screw him! If there's a road, we'll walk it!"

All three roads are blocked? So what!

Our Seventh Steel Brigade has fought its way through countless battles, and every time we've come out of a pile of corpses.

In my opinion, let's stop scheming and plotting!
Regardless of the consequences, let's choose this path. Our five thousand comrades will risk their lives and charge straight through!

What happened to his three regiments?

"I refuse to believe we can't break through!"

Yu Congrong suddenly stood up straight, his eyes wide like copper bells, and waved his hand.

"Old Yu! Calm down!"

Have you ever thought about it?
The three U.S. regiments occupied pre-planned defensive terrain, were well-prepared, had ample ammunition, and were fully equipped with heavy firepower.

What about us?
Continuous combat has left them extremely exhausted. The siege and street fighting have resulted in heavy losses, numerous wounded, and dwindling ammunition supplies.

If we do as you say, concentrate our forces and force our way through one of the routes, we might be able to tear open a gap, but that would only be possible if most of our brothers were to sacrifice their lives!
The enemy has the advantage of terrain and air support.

Once we get stuck in the passage or are entangled as soon as we break through the exit, and then the US reinforcements or two other regiments come to attack from both sides...

At that time, we might really be completely wiped out.

A direct assault would be too risky, and we couldn't afford the consequences.

Now is not the time for recklessness; we must use strategy to gain the greatest opportunity with the least cost.

Pinghe patted Yu Congrong on the shoulder and reminded him.

"Outsmart them? Easier said than done!"

With our roads blocked and the Americans watching us from above and below, how can we outsmart them?

"Fly over?"

Yu Congrong said somewhat impatiently.

All eyes turned to Wu Wanli, who stood silently in front of the map.

His gaze slowly moved across the three red markers on the map that represented the exits of the three main routes, his brow furrowed, as if he were rapidly deducing something.

Time passed by minute by minute.

Finally, Wu Wanli raised his head, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"The enemy has a clever plan, and we have a way to overcome it."

If we can't force our way in, we'll lure them out and create a time gap!

Now, Ridgway and his command post are in this city, surrounded by us, like ants on a hot plate.

Our next steps will be divided into three parts.

The first step is to strike the snake at its vital point.

We will concentrate all our remaining forces and launch a fierce attack on one of these three US forces!
Let's choose the US Army unit stationed at the entrance to the canyon in the far north!

The terrain there is complex, making it ideal for ambushes.

With thunderous force, beat him hard, beat him until he cries for his parents and feels a huge threat!
The second step is to lure the enemy out of their nest.

The more fiercely our American troops fight, the bigger the commotion, the faster the news will reach Ridgway's ears.

What is Ridgway's mindset right now?
What is he most worried about?
His biggest fear is that we will wipe out any one of his army units!
Not to mention that Shuainan City is currently surrounded by us and is in danger of being attacked from both inside and outside at any time.

An army corps is on the verge of collapse under our fierce attack; Ridgway will definitely not sit idly by!
He absolutely couldn't resist sending out a portion of the garrison from Shuinan City, likely with the aim of encircling us!

If we can win, they'll be happy. If we can't win, they can at least hold us off until the other two regiments of the US 3rd Division come to surround us and fight us to the death!

The third step is to remove the fuel supply from under the cauldron and allow the cicada to shed its shell.

Once Ridgway can't resist leading the main force of Shuainan City to the rescue, that will be the opportunity we've been waiting for!

Once their main force came out, the fortified stronghold of Shuainan City was completely and utterly exposed!

Only an empty shell and a few remaining staff are left!
What if we launch a surprise attack, defeat the Shuainan forces, and then attack Shuainan again?
Who was most shocked by this news?
The 3rd Division Commander, Sol, who was closer to the division, was most shocked!
Shuainan is the location of the UN forces' command post. If the core command post is destroyed because of the rescue of the 7th Regiment, Saul cannot afford the consequences!

So, when Thor learned that Ridgway's main force had been mobilized and that Shuainan City was extremely vulnerable, what was his first reaction?
He would immediately order the three troops guarding the crossroads to abandon any blocking missions!

Let's rush to Shuinan City to 'put out the fire'!
So, are there still any people on these three lifelines leading to Pyeongtaek Port?

They were too busy rushing to support Suyun to have any spare capacity to closely monitor our detour and attack Pyeongtaek!
This is the golden opportunity for us to take a detour and evacuate!
If you look at the map, the three roads from Pyeongtaek to Suyun are not direct.

Instead, the western half was divided into three roads, while the eastern half was a plain! Once Thor's three regiments panicked, they rushed towards Shuainan at full speed!
We can bypass the main force of the US 3rd Division on the eastern plains, and then take any route on the western half to reach Pyeongtaek!

Wu Wanli pointed to the battle map and explained clearly.

In an instant, the temporary command post of the Seventh Steel Brigade fell into a brief silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately, a burst of barely suppressed gasps of surprise and admiration erupted.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
The chief commander linked each step carefully, attacking one group, leading another, and diverting another, until finally... the road was open!

They inflicted heavy damage on one of the American troops, drawing out a portion of Ridgway's forces from the south.

They then routed the attacking forces at Shuen and launched a fierce assault on Shuen, which terrified the US 3rd Division.

The US 3rd Division panicked and launched a full-scale attack to rescue Shuainan. Once the troops blocking the road left, our road was cleared!
The Americans are being led by the nose by our commander; they have no idea that our real goal is the road!

Upon hearing this, Gao Daxing immediately praised him.

"I give up! I'll obey your commanding officer, let's fight!"
"Let's take down those damn American troops on the northern flank!"

Yu Congrong slapped his thigh hard, his anxiety vanished, and his face was filled with excitement and admiration.

"This plan will draw the enemy's main force away from our true route, minimizing our casualties and making it the best way to outsmart them!"

Pinghe nodded emphatically in agreement.

"Wanli's plan not only broke the current three-way blockade, but also took advantage of the psychological deterrence exerted by the Shuainan Command on Ridgway and Saul."

This achieves two goals at once and deeply embodies the essence of military strategy.

Liu Hanqing praised with a smile.

"Alright, no need for further praise!"

Time waits for no one! Opportunities are fleeting!
All officers and soldiers of the Seventh Steel Corps, listen to my command!
Target: Kyrian Division, 7th Regiment, 3rd Division, North Canyon!
Immediately organize your equipment and check your ammunition!
The wounded should be properly cared for, and non-combat personnel should prepare in advance!

"All teams, depart immediately!"

Wu Wanli slammed his fist on the table, making a firm decision.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly agreed.

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

After the order was issued, the Seventh Steel Corps, along with 8,000 elite troops from the Hanjiang Detachment, began a forced march.

After an unknown amount of time on the march, they finally reached a canyon on the west side of Shuainan.

The 7th Steel Brigade quickly set up ambush firing points and laid anti-tank mines, waiting for the arrival of the US 7th Regiment.

The wind and snow were howling, and the slopes on both sides of the canyon were covered with thick snow.

Wu Wanli lay prone behind the cold rocks, coldly scanning the advance troops of the US 7th Regiment appearing on the road below through the scope of his sniper rifle.

Soldiers from the Seventh Steel Brigade were lurking around him, their black gun barrels protruding from the crevices of the rocks, and anti-tank mines lying silently beneath the frozen ground covered with a thin layer of snow.

Liu Hanqing crouched slightly behind in a concealed position, holding binoculars and whispering his observations of enemy movements.

Gao Daxing's assault team gripped their submachine guns and demolition charges, holding their breath and focusing intently at their designated attack positions.

Yu Congrong's heavy firepower detachment operated machine guns, mortars, and bazookas, all pointing their guns and cannons at the deadly path below the mountain.

Lei Gong's artillery detachment had completed the setting of all the artillery parameters at the pre-established rear positions.

"Enemy tanks are coming. The first one is an M26 Pershing, followed by an M4 Sherman. The infantry are advancing under the cover of the armored vehicles."

Liu Hanqing held up his binoculars, observing and reporting as he went.

"Keep your cool and wait until we get close before you attack."

Wu Wanli nodded, his fingers as steady as a rock on the trigger guard, and said in a low voice.

His gaze, through the scope, was firmly fixed on the Pershing heavy tank leading the charge.

It rumbled forward on the dirt road covered with a thin layer of snow, its tracks grinding against the ground, the vehicle swaying slightly with the rough terrain, getting closer and closer.

"preparation……"

Wu Wanli's voice was transmitted to every combat unit via low-frequency radio.

The commander of the Pershing tank had half his body sticking out of the turret cupola, vigilantly observing the suspicious terrain on both sides of the canyon.

Meanwhile, the convoy behind maintained a cautious distance as they followed.

"boom!"

A muffled, loud bang suddenly ripped through the silence of the valley, as if the entire earth had been lifted up!
A plume of black smoke suddenly rose from the right track of the lead Pershing tank, and the enormous impact instantly flipped the tank to the right!

The right-side road wheel assembly and torsion bar suspension snapped and deformed instantly amidst a piercing whistling sound of twisting metal!
The right side of the tank suddenly sank in, lying paralyzed in the middle of the road like a beast with a broken leg. The turret swayed slightly out of control, and the tracks collapsed like dead snakes.

The American soldiers inside the vehicle were stunned by the massive impact. The American tank commander's head slammed hard against the hatch, and blood flowed down his forehead.

"Landmines! Anti-tank mines! We've been ambushed!"

Upon seeing this, the American soldiers in the armored vehicles behind screamed in terror.

Just as the smoke from the explosion had not yet cleared, and the US military convoy following behind was still in shock and in chaos,

“It’s time!

Thunder God! Fire!

Wu Wanli shouted into the radio.

"Boohoo, boomboo-!"

A few seconds later, a sharp, piercing sound came from behind the high ground on both sides of the canyon.

Dozens of dark red bullets with fiery trails streaked across the sky, slamming viciously into the U.S. 7th Regiment on the narrow road!
"Boom! Boom boom boom! Boom—!!"

The first wave of shells landed, accurately covering the vehicles blocked in the middle of the road and behind it!

Thunderous explosions rang out one after another, and blazing fireballs, carrying shrapnel and shockwaves, expanded violently!

An M3 half-track carrying infantry was hit directly and instantly turned into a burning iron coffin, with fragments and limbs flying everywhere along with blood and mud!

The military truck next to them was lifted up by the explosion and rolled over, crashing into the rocks beside the road.

The fuel tank ruptured and caught fire, and the gasoline spilled onto the ground and burned, instantly engulfing several soldiers who were jumping out of the vehicle nearby. The shrill screams cut through the gaps in the explosion's roar!

Shrapnel rained down like iron from hell, mercilessly sweeping across the highway area!
American infantrymen, who were frantically getting off their vehicles and trying to find cover, fell in droves. Their helmets, blown away by the blast wave of the shells, spun in the air and landed on the snow.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Take cover! Find cover!"

Colonel Grylls, commander of the 7th Regiment, roared at the top of his lungs from a relatively safe depression.

His jeep luckily avoided the first round of gunfire, but the driver was killed with shrapnel lodged in his face.

"Mortar! Where are our mortars?"

"Fight back! Suppress their artillery!"

Grylls clenched his fists and roared at the communications officer.

Due to their firing angle and portability, mortars are now the most suitable weapon for counterattacks.

The surviving U.S. mortar crew frantically searched for firing positions, attempting to set up M2 60mm mortars.

Several gunners had just put the gun mount in place and were preparing to take the shells from the side.

Through Wu Wanli's scope, the gunners' movements were both frantic and clear.

His breathing remained unchanged as the crosshairs steadily encircled the head of one of the main gunners, who was completely exposed.

"boom!"

A crisp gunshot rang out!

The gunner, who was bending over to load a shell, suddenly jerked his head back.

A small, blood-red hole instantly appeared between his eyebrows, and his body slumped down, the cannonball in his hand rolling into the snow.

"Sniper! Watch out for snipers..."

"boom!"

The American deputy next to him had only managed to utter half a sentence in alarm when his voice abruptly stopped.

Wu Wanli fired another shot!
The bullet pierced his temple precisely from the side, splattering a spray of red and white matter.

The American deputy's body slammed heavily onto the mortar's tripod, causing the mortar to tilt.

"Three o'clock! High ground! Take him down!"

Following the faint gunshots and the direction in which his men fell, Grylls shouted to the people next to him.

However, Wu Wanli's location on the high ground was extremely tricky, with natural rocks providing cover.

Several American M1919 heavy machine guns that had narrowly escaped the first round of artillery fire had just turned their muzzles around, attempting to suppress the area where Wu Wanli was located.

"Da da da da da da da da..."

A dense hail of bullets swept across the rocks on the hillside, sending sparks flying and stone chips flying everywhere.

After firing two shots, Wu Wanli had already slightly turned his body to avoid most of the fire line, his cold eyes scanning the exposed machine gun positions below.

A machine gun crew located behind a large rock was particularly conspicuous. The gunner was firing at them, while the assistant gunner was busy changing the ammunition belt.

Wu Wanli moved the muzzle of his gun, the crosshairs framing the area below the shooter's exposed shoulder—the heart area.

"boom!"

The bullet whistled past, instantly piercing the shooter's ribs and precisely tearing his heart apart!

The American machine gunner shuddered violently, and the machine gun went silent.

The U.S. machine gunner's assistant pushed the body aside in terror, trying to take it from him.

"boom!"

Wu Wanli fired another shot!
The American machine gunner's fingers, gripping the ammunition belt, had just pulled the trigger when a huge, bloody hole appeared on the side of his neck.

His carotid artery was instantly ripped open, blood gushed out, and he collapsed onto the machine gun.

"Positioning correction! Distance reduced by 100! High-explosive shells! Rapid fire!"

At the same time, the thunder roared from the artillery positions!
Soon, the artillery fire became more accurate and intense, specifically targeting exposed heavy firing positions and infantry squads that were gathering!

"Boom!"

An M24 Chaffee light reconnaissance tank that was reversing and attempting to turn around was hit directly on the top of its turret by an armor-piercing grenade.

The explosion of the ammunition caused a deafening roar that shook the earth, turning the entire vehicle into a violently burning fireball, with debris flying everywhere!
"The mortar has been destroyed! The heavy machine gun has also been silenced!"
Quick! Get the tanks out there!

They can't just stand on the road and become targets!
"Have the infantry follow the tanks and charge forward, across this canyon!"

Grylls grabbed a communications officer by the shoulder and roared.

The two surviving Sherman tanks and one armored reconnaissance vehicle sped off, ignoring the infantrymen falling around them, their turrets spinning as they opened fire on suspicious targets on either side of the mountainside.

75mm tank shells and 37mm machine gun shells bombarded the hillside, blasting up patches of soil, rocks, and snow.

Although they had the momentum, they were simply unable to accurately strike the carefully constructed and strategically located Volunteer Army strongpoints.

The heavily armored turrets of the US military withstood most of the attacks from small arms fire from the mountain, but their sides and rear were exposed to bullets and mortar shrapnel from multiple directions.

Wu Wanli's gaze swept across the chaotic battlefield and locked onto one of the Sherman tanks charging at the forefront.

The tank attempted to use the wreckage of destroyed vehicles ahead as cover, its cannon firing directly at a machine gun emplacement on the high ground.

"Hanqing! Have someone bring a few Bazul decks!"
"Move to position nine! The right track of that Sherman is exposed! Perfect angle!"

Wu Wanli shouted into the radio, while his sniper rifle fired again.

"boom!"

Another mortar gunner who was peering out from behind a roadside rock was hit, and his head exploded like a watermelon.

"boom!"

A U.S. soldier, hiding behind the wreckage of an armored vehicle, fell to the ground clutching his chest as he attempted to operate the vehicle's heavy machine gun; his blood instantly stained the cold steel.

Commander Grylls was furious as he looked through his binoculars.

His company, which had lost its mortars and heavy machine guns, was almost completely deprived of its ability to fight back. The American soldiers could only rely on the terrain or blindly fire from behind tanks.

Every shot from that Chinese sniper felt like a blow to his heart, mercilessly stripping him of the strength to fight back.

He saw two excellent platoon leaders trying to organize their soldiers to charge forward under the cover of tanks, and they had just stood up to give the order.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two shots rang out in quick succession, and the two American platoon leaders were shot in the head almost simultaneously and fell backward!
"Damn it! Damn sharpshooter! Bastard!"

Grylls slammed his fist on the cold hood of the Jeep and roared.

Wu Wanli remained as calm as ice. He saw another Sherman tank struggling to raise its cannon, trying to bombard a heavy machine gun position halfway up the hill that was continuously suppressing them.

Although this angle is almost impossible to be effective against the tank's main gun, it does not allow for any possible threat.

"boom!"

A gunshot rang out, followed by the ear-piercing clashing of metal!
The bullet struck precisely the observation slit in the tank gunner's periscope!
The sparks flew and disappeared in a flash!
The gunner behind the periscope cried out in pain and covered his eyes; shrapnel may have cut his cheek.

Although the shells did not penetrate, the sudden attack and loss of visibility rendered the tank's firepower completely ineffective.

Meanwhile, three rocket launchers, led by Shi Qian, risked their lives to move to position number nine, carrying heavy bazookas.

It was behind a rock slightly above the road surface, where the weak point on the right side of the Sherman tank could be clearly seen.

"rocket missile!"

With a low growl, the prehistoric loader beside him quickly inserted the long rocket into the tail launch tube.

"Zi-boom!"

After a muffled firing sound, an orange plume tore through the air, and the rocket, trailing white smoke, struck the right side of the Sherman tank precisely!

"Boom!"

Amidst a massive explosion, sparks flew everywhere!

The tracks of the American tank instantly went limp, the tank body lurched, and it became paralyzed on the spot.

But another Sherman tank and an M8 reconnaissance vehicle fired even more wildly and charged forward.

The 37mm guns of US armored vehicles swept across various exposed firing positions.

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli picked up his sniper rifle again.

He saw a Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldier at a firing point just hoisting a bazooka and aiming it at an American armored vehicle, but was pinned down behind a rock by a burst of intense fire and unable to show his face. The machine gunner next to him was also forced to lower his body.

Wu Wanli took a deep breath of the cold air and flicked his finger lightly.

"boom!"

The bullet tore through the snow and instantly pierced the exposed observation window of the driver and co-driver of the US military armored vehicle!

The sound of shattering glass was barely audible, drowned out by the sound of gunfire, and screams came from inside the vehicle.

The speeding US armored vehicle suddenly went out of control, veered off course, and crashed hard into a huge rock on the side of the road.

"Clang!!!"

With a loud bang, the US armored vehicle stalled completely, and the US machine gunner inside was thrown out.

At this moment, the convoy of the U.S. 7th Regiment was blocked on a narrow road, with disabled heavy tanks and minefields in front, further blocked by disabled Shermans and wrecked Greyhounds in the middle, and the vehicles behind became fixed targets.

The most elite tanks were unable to effectively attack targets at high altitudes, mortars and heavy machine guns were repeatedly picked off, and the elusive sniper was reaping key personnel with every shot.

American soldiers were swept down in droves by the barrage of fire from the high ground on both sides of the exposed road.

Lei Gong's artillery showed no sign of stopping; shells rained down wave after wave, covering the entire road and any area attempting to form an organization.

"We're nailed down! We need reinforcements! Immediate reinforcements!"

"Connect to the Shuinan Command Center! Top priority!"

"Tell General Ridgway that we have been besieged by the main force of the Seventh Steel Corps of China and have suffered heavy casualties!"
They have at least the firepower and manpower of an ordinary Chinese People's Volunteer Army division beating us up!
The 15th and 65th Regiments of the 3rd Division are still behind on other roads, and it will take them time to arrive as reinforcements!
It's too far. By the time they get here, my Seventh Regiment will be completely finished!

We request that the Shuainan Command immediately, immediately, immediately organize troops to launch an attack and flank these damned Chinese from the flank and rear!
"You have to be quick! Otherwise it will be too late!"

Commander Grylls clenched his fists and roared anxiously.

"Yes, sir!!!"

The U.S. Army communications soldier quickly agreed, his fingers trembling but striking the key with unusual speed into the radio.

The urgent beeping sound rang out again, sending this plea for help, a mixture of despair and command, toward the UN command headquarters in Shuainan City.

(End of this chapter)