Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 312 The Fourth Campaign is Coming to an End! The Chinese Navy's 7th Steel Squadron is Retiring and Returning Home!

Shuinan City, inside the UN Command Headquarters
"damn it!

The entire elite regiment of the 7th Regiment was utterly defeated and had no chance to fight back!
Commander Kyrian was also killed!
And the two thousand men Brown sent out of the city to encircle them were also just defeated!
Can anyone tell me how Wu Wanli managed to defeat two of our regiments simultaneously on the battlefield?

After looking at the battle report that had just been delivered, Li Qiwei was stunned for a few seconds before quickly asking a question.

"General, Colonel Grylls of the 7th Regiment gave a final, clear report that they were ambushed by the main force of the 7th Steel Brigade. Their firepower was fierce, and the command structure was quickly and precisely attacked."

The last communications from the Brown Task Force focused on the raid on the western highway.

They were cut off and surrounded by Chinese armored columns in a very short time…

The U.S. military communications officer lowered his head and said.

"But the previous intelligence said they were active in the Pyeongtaek area!"

Are our scouts all blind?
Brown's timing and route were kept strictly confidential! How could Wu Wanli possibly be blocking the road at just the right moment?
This is definitely not luck!

Could it be that there was a traitor among us who leaked intelligence, allowing the Chinese army to react so quickly?!

Otherwise, how could the Chinese, who lack a God-like perspective, know this directly?

Van Fleet's gaze swept sharply over every staff officer in the command center, and he spoke with a hint of doubt.

“Van Fleet, before the truth is clear, please control your emotions. Blaming others will not solve anything.”

Edson, re-examine all channel information!
I need to know, where exactly is the core force of that damned 'Steel Seventh Brigade' right now!

Ridgway said.

"General, I think Chief of Staff Van Fleet's suspicions are on the right track, but he's misjudging the opponent."

The phrase "the direction was right" means that this series of attacks was not the result of information leakage, but rather based on extremely clever strategic deception and precise control of the timing of the operation.

The opponent was wrong because the commander's thinking was not guided by any mole.

The Chinese Steel Seventh Team has never been separated from its goals, and Shuainan City has always been at the core of its offense!
All the peripheral battles—the Brown Regiment, the previous counterattacks, and even the annihilation of the Seventh Regiment—were merely a brilliant prelude to clearing obstacles and ultimately defeating Shui Nan!

"I think for a moment," said Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg.

"Clear obstacles? Pull apart defenses?"

Does this mean that he paid a huge price to annihilate the 7th Regiment and the Brown Task Force, two tough nuts to crack, just to pave the way for another attack on the city?
This price is far too high! We've suffered heavy losses, and they seem to have escaped unscathed?

Upon hearing this, Li Qiwei frowned.

"The cost is relative."

He used two mobile units as bait and hammers, and indeed suffered losses, but look at the results.

Our army lost the two strongest and most mobile strike units outside Shuainan City in a short period of time.

Now, Shuainan City is like a wild beast with its fangs plucked out, and it has ruthlessly targeted the relatively weak areas of defense at the east and south gates.

Brown's move, in our view, presents a powerful opportunity for a counterattack.

In Wu Wanli's eyes, this was precisely the opportunity that Commander Ridgway had presented to him under immense pressure, a feast of vulnerability.

This man's use of troops is like the "returning spear" in ancient Chinese legends.

Feign defeat and retreat to lure the enemy into pursuit. When the enemy's formation is unstable and their desire to pursue is at its peak, suddenly turn around and deliver the most fatal blow.

General Brown's powerful punch landed headlong into the trap the enemy had laid.

The annihilation of this elite force not only severely weakened the city's defenses but also resulted in the capture of a large amount of equipment, replenishing its combat strength.

Next, riding high on his recent victory and with morale soaring, he set his sights directly on our weakened Shuainan defense zone!

"This is what Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg said."

Ridgway's pupils contracted sharply, and a chill ran down his spine.

Van Fleet froze on the spot, while the staff members gasped in shock.

The shrill ring of the telephone suddenly tore through the stagnant air!
The communications supervisor practically lunged forward to grab the microphone, his voice trembling with extreme tension: "Where? The observation post outside the East Gate? Shelling?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the command post immediately turned their gaze to the huge observation window.

Although the direction of the East Gate could not be seen directly, the firelight in the distance had already dyed half of the night sky red, and the muffled explosions began to clearly impact the sturdy walls of the command post!

"Confirm location! Scale of artillery fire! Which defensive line will the shells impact?"

Van Fleet rushed to the communications station and shouted.

"Report! Multiple large-caliber artillery pieces confirmed!"
God, the impact point covered the third and fourth support points outside the East Gate!
Our positions...are being...fiercely suppressed!
"Accompanied by infantry fire!"

The U.S. military communications officer said with a look of horror.

Without a doubt, the China Steel Team No. 7 is back!
"The observation post also reported that organized Chinese infantry units were moving rapidly under artillery cover, targeting the weak points in the defenses of the East Gate!"

"This was stated by the U.S. military communications officer."

Buzz——————

In an instant, the entire UN command post was in complete chaos, and the last shred of hope vanished!
"It's the main force of the Chinese army! They've really returned! They've reached the east gate!"

A U.S. Army colonel staff officer lost his composure and shouted.

"It's the Seventh Steel Brigade of China! Their artillery unit! Only they can deliver such precise coverage!"

Another U.S. military staff officer looked at the firelight outside the window and said in a trembling voice.

"Commander Thor's Third Division's main force has just left the canyon!"

Their search-and-response tactics, used to prevent the escape of the Chinese Seventh Steel Brigade, meant they wouldn't have enough time to provide support!

The U.S. military communications officer whispered a reminder.

"God! Time difference! How long can we hold out before General Saul arrives?"

Upon hearing this, another U.S. military staff officer spoke with a hint of fear.

"Sol must bring the Third Division back quickly! There is no time to lose!"

We're betting on how much strength the enemy still has, but the enemy is openly seizing the time advantage!
At this moment, Shuainan City is like a skyscraper without a foundation caught in a storm!

Upon hearing this, Chief of Staff Van Fleet quickly replied.

"General! The core fortifications of Shuainan City are still quite solid! We cannot afford to lose our composure!"

Instead of pinning our hopes on Thor, who is far away but cannot quench our immediate thirst, we should immediately consolidate all our fighting forces!
Abandon some outer positions and consolidate forces! Construct the inner city's core defensive perimeter!
Hold the line in the warehouse area and command post! Wait for reinforcements! As long as Thor's main force arrives…

Deputy Chief of Staff Ekkelberg placed a hastily drafted proposal on the conference table and said in a low voice.

"Give up the perimeter?"
Eklberg! Listen! That's the sound of 105mm shells hitting our main position! The 'outer perimeter' will soon be gone!

To give up? That would be handing the city walls over to the enemy!

Contraction can only delay things, but it will allow them to enter the city much faster!
Urban warfare is even more disadvantageous for us!
They have proven themselves to be extremely good at this on numerous occasions!

Commander! Thor's main force is already on its way!
We must now push him to the limit and accelerate! Day and night!

But it's too late to expect him to put out the fire in time! We must fight our way out of the city!
Concentrate all mobile armored units and reserves!

Launch a decisive counterattack on the East Gate before dawn!
Destroy their artillery positions! This is the only chance to break through the center and regain the initiative!

"Let Saul's Third Division accelerate, while we ourselves fight like cornered beasts, attacking from both inside and outside!"

Van Fleet laughed in anger, pointing at the firelight outside the window and the faint, muffled explosions coming from afar, and roared.

"Chief of Staff! Forgive my bluntness, but this is not a blossoming flower, but a meat grinder!"
Look at these junctions and trench connections marked as 'potentially weak'!
Look at the density of the core area covered by the shelling!

If Wu Wanli dares to launch such a large-scale attack here, wouldn't he be prepared for our counterattack?
He deployed his elite forces directly at the entrance to our core defense perimeter, employing a strategy of encirclement and annihilation, waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out!
By throwing the last remaining mobile force in the city into a counter-offensive, you've played right into his hands!

His ambush positions on both sides of your counter-attack route and the reserves hidden during the intervals between artillery strikes will completely engulf the counter-attack force!
This is exactly the way he most wanted to end the battle!
"Use our last reserves to conserve his last bit of strength for breaching the city gates!"

Chu Yunfei's gaze instantly sharpened as he stared intently at Van Fleet.

"Advisor Chu, are we just going to cower in this fortress and wait to die, or can we only pray that Thor will sprout wings and fly back?"

Eckerberg's face turned bright red, and he asked in a low voice.

"No, a fortress needs support."

However, the biggest threat to Suian City at present is not that it will be breached, but that its core defense system will be completely dismantled before General Sol's main force in Pingze returns!
Wu Wanli's East Gate offensive had the core objective of creating immense psychological pressure and forcing us into chaos.

He's using psychological tactics!
Once we can no longer restrain ourselves and use our last remaining mobile forces to counterattack, then our seemingly impregnable fortress will be precisely smashed down by him!

If Shuainan falls, the entire west coast defense line will collapse like a domino effect!

What we lost was not just a city, but the initiative in the entire battle!
Therefore, all illusions must be abandoned, and Commander Saul must be ordered to stop the entire routine march!

Order the Third Division to return immediately!
Only when the main force of the Third Division returns to the walls of Shuainan City will our strategy of holding the fortress truly take effect!

This is the only real, tangible, and decisive factor we can control that can shift the balance of power!

Chu Yunfei gritted his teeth and said, "I'll just have to go for it."

He knew he might be held accountable afterward, but this was the most important moment for the Seventh Steel Brigade to withdraw.

Moreover, he also pretended to be acting as if he were concerned for the safety of the UN command and did his best.

Ridgway stared intently at the marker representing Shuainan City on the map, then looked at the distant, slowly moving blue dotted line.

Outside the window, the explosions became more frequent.

Eckerberg's tight, defensive approach, VanVleet's impulsive counter-attacks, Chu Yunfei's keen insight...

At this moment, he believed that Chu Yunfei was the only one who could accurately grasp Wu Wanli's deepest battle intentions through the chaos of gunfire, smoke, and despair before him.

The Third Division is the only physical force he can currently control that can shift the focus of the battlefield.

The gambler's mentality must end. The only way to survive is this last, seemingly hasty, rescue!

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes no longer wavering, only the resolute light of a commander bursting forth in the face of desperation remained.

"Order Saul's Third Division to abandon all planned phased advances!"

All personnel and vehicles of the Third Division, immediately proceed to the location of Shuainan City at the maximum speed achievable! Remember!

I'm talking about maximum speed! Ditch all unnecessary baggage!
Even if it means using up all the vehicle tires, even if it means the soldiers have to run until their legs break!

We must provide support to Shuinan City in the shortest possible time!

at all costs!
Repeat! At all costs!
Respond immediately!!!

Ridgway gritted his teeth and gave a loud order.

"Yes, sir!!!"

Upon hearing this, the communications officer quickly agreed and hurriedly ran to send a signal.

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

Shortly after, inside the US Third Division headquarters

"General Ridgway has ordered our 3rd Division to immediately abandon all existing plans! Return to Shuainan at top speed! At all costs!"

A U.S. Army staff officer reported to Division Commander Saul.

"Return at full speed to provide reinforcements? Abandon the camp and search?"

General Saul, this is completely contrary to our previous assessment!

The Seventh Steel Brigade has just defeated the Brown Task Force, and they are now launching a feint attack on Shuainan!
Just like before!
They eliminated the 7th Regiment and Brown to remove any potential threats from their rear. Their ultimate goal is most likely to bypass our blockade and attack our core target, Pyeongtaek!

The fortifications of Shuainan City are solid; they are putting pressure on them!
This is our last chance to catch them!
We slowly set up camp, blocking all passages, like a large net being pulled in, leaving them no way to escape!

Now that everyone is rushing back like this, the pressure on Shuainan is gone, but the net has been completely torn apart!
Wu Wanli will take advantage of our panic and slip away!

Upon hearing this, the deputy division commander quickly looked at Division Commander Sol and offered some advice.

"But this is an order! An order from the United Nations Command!"
General Ridgway is in Shuainan City!
His judgment was that Wu Wanli's real target was him! The entire command center of Shuainan!
How did Kyrian die?

How did Brown die?

The Chinese military has this precise decapitation strike capability!

General Ridgway is now the biggest target!

No matter how strong the defenses of Shuainan City are, if the command system collapses instantly, everything will be meaningless!

Do you think General Ridgway would risk his own safety and that of the entire core of the command to gamble that Wu Wanli wasn't after him?
Do you think his description of "a hair's breadth" is an exaggeration?
The telegram clearly stated that the defenses of the East Gate were under heavy artillery fire!
This is not fake!
Brown was just wiped out, and they were able to shell Shuainan right away, which shows that they do indeed have extremely terrifying mobility and combat recovery speed!

Do you think that with the current strength of the troops in Shuainan, after their teeth have been pulled out, they can hold out until we slowly and leisurely arrive according to the original plan?

What if the general's judgment is correct, and we are still outside 'weaving our net'?

The fall of Shuainan City and the destruction of its core command center—can you and I bear this responsibility?
Who will be responsible for explaining this to Washington?

Who will face the collapse of the entire Allied forces?

Thor shook his head and sighed.

The two men held differing opinions. Johnson emphasized the tactical aspects of seizing opportunities and blocking enemy forces, believing that only by risking a pursuit of the Steel Seventh Squadron could future troubles be eliminated.

Saul, on the other hand, emphasized the strategic risks and political responsibilities, stating that the consequences of Ridgway's downfall would be unimaginable.

Both sides have very valid reasons, and their logical chains point to completely different paths.

"Division Commander and Deputy Division Commander, even after three days and three nights of disagreement on tactical judgment, they still can't reach an absolute conclusion on right or wrong."

That Wu Wanli is a devil; we can't predict where he'll place his next move.

But the choices we need to make now involve tactics as only one aspect, and perhaps not even the most important one.

Whether from the perspective of military regulations or the actual power structure, General Ridgway's orders are the highest directives.

He is the commander of the UN ground forces, and we are a direct link in his command chain.

On the battlefield, especially when the commander himself is under direct threat and has clearly issued an emergency retreat order, following orders is an ironclad rule with no room for maneuver.

Questioning means disobeying orders.

Putting aside the cold, hard rules, please consider the consequences.

If General Saul's judgment is wrong, and we have let the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade escape, it would be regrettable and we might be questioned.

But as long as we obeyed orders and quickly returned to Shuinan to provide assistance.

Our actions were in the best of our ability; the primary responsibility for the consequences lies with the general himself, who made the decision, due to his flawed judgment of battlefield intelligence.

The general himself will certainly take responsibility for this matter in reports and meetings.

But what about the reverse?
If we choose to disobey orders, or merely pay lip service while acting slowly!
What will be the result?
If we don't go back, or go back too late!
However, the Shuinan Command Post was unexpectedly attacked by the Seventh Steel Brigade, and even the slightest mishap occurred!

Whether it's our delays causing the defense to collapse and be breached by a strong attack, or being precisely decapitated like Grylls and Brown.

Commander Saul, Deputy Commander Johnson, what will our entire 3rd Division command face?
But what if we carry out the orders to the fullest extent?
At most, we bear secondary responsibility for failing to encircle and annihilate the enemy; it was merely a defeat in a battlefield game.

As long as the chain of command is clear, we obey orders, and protect the safety of the supreme commander, our foundation remains intact.

The general will not forget this loyalty in the face of danger, which is crucial to the future of the entire Third Division!
Even if someone questions it afterward, General Ridgway himself needed our loyalty as a basis for his authority.

Between two evils, choose the lesser! Commander, this is a crucial decision concerning the entire Third Division, and especially your own future.

Upon seeing this, the chief of staff of the Third Division stepped forward and spoke.

What about encircling and annihilating the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade, what about eradicating a major threat...

Those grand goals appear fragile and insignificant in the face of political risks and the abyss of personal destruction.

"You all heard what Chief of Staff Miller said."

General Ridgway's orders are the highest principle of action!
Now, put away all the maps and all the tactical simulations!

Immediately issue an order to the entire division to cancel all planned operations and lift all combat alerts!
All units, execute Level 1 Mandatory Mobilization Order!
Target: Shuainan City!

Route, shortest path!
Speed, the limit of forced march!

Begin the forced march immediately!

Take immediate action!!!

Commander Saul clenched his fist and gave a loud order.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly agreed.

Before long, a sharp emergency command voice suddenly rang out on the radio channel, jarringly tearing apart the Third Division's original slow pace.

The American soldiers snapped out of their shock as the officers’ urgent commands, the roar of engines, and the crashing sounds of soldiers hastily boarding vehicles merged into a cacophony of noise.

The massive mechanized infantry division of the US 3rd Division abandoned its encirclement and search tactics and rushed headlong along the road leading to Shuenan City!

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

At this time, outside the east gate of Shuinan City

The brave soldiers of the Han River Guerrilla Force, relying on the ruins, launched a feint attack with the American weapons they had captured.

Bullets struck the cold American military fortifications, scattering sparks.

Every burst of machine gun fire and every mortar shell that landed triggered a brief burst of counter-fire from the city walls.

The American searchlights on the city wall swept wildly, and the heavy machine guns poured bullets outwards indiscriminately.

These guns and smoke, enveloped in the deep night, formed a wall of mist, as if the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade was still there.

However, the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade had already been withdrawn by Wu Wanli, leaving the Hanjiang guerrilla forces to launch a feint attack and attract attention.

Wu Wanli was standing in an open-top jeep, the faint light of the Sky Eye map constantly unfolding in his mind. The more than 4,000 elite main force of the Steel Seventh Brigade, along with the remaining twelve tanks and four half-track armored vehicles, were silently marching westward.

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

At the same time, the skies above the U.S. 3rd Division, 37 kilometers away, were torn apart by another kind of roar.

Wang Wei pressed steadily on the control stick of the Wanli-1 fighter jet. The starlight outside the windshield was blocked by the wings, and the dark earth below looked like an ink carpet.

"The location provided by Commander Wu Wanli, XXX, YYY, has been confirmed as the advance motorized column of the U.S. 3rd Division."

Repeat, target confirmed, execute the original strike plan.

On the radio channel, the ground control voice spoke with urgent urgency.

"receive.

The formation entered the attack route, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, and the bomb bays were opened and prepared.

Upon hearing this, Wang Wei calmly relayed the message clearly to the other fighter jets through his throat microphone.

With a whistling sound, the bomb bay door slowly opened under the fuselage, and a howling cold wind rushed into the cabin.

The navigator and bombardier pressed himself against the rubber goggles of the sight, and in the darkness below, a long line of countless moving dots of light was clearly visible.

Those were trucks and armored vehicles of the U.S. Third Division, lined up at full speed and heading back to reinforce Shuainan City.

"We've spotted the fire serpent; the column stretches for at least two kilometers."

The core target area has been confirmed to be located at the front third of the column. All aircraft are requested to simultaneously proceed to the attack launch point.

At that moment, the radio channel picked up sound again.

"Permission granted for all aircraft to dive in coordination."

As Wang Wei gave the order, he pressed down on the control lever and swooped down.

The "Wanli-1" fighter jet, carrying another Chinese fighter jet, drew a steep arc, its nose pointing directly at the swirling stream of light below.

"Bombing parameters set: high-explosive bomb mixed with napalm."

Objective: The US advance force must tear open a passage!

Wang Wei observed for a moment, then continued.

Soon, the pointer on the barometric altimeter began to spin rapidly.

Two thousand meters, fifteen hundred meters, the shrill scream of the huge machine tearing through the air drowned out the sound of the engine.

The US military convoy below had clearly detected the air attack threat and was thrown into chaos.

The originally densely moving lights scattered wildly, and the headlights swayed erratically.

Piercing alarms and sporadic anti-aircraft fire rang out between the convoys, while the faint streaks of tracer bullets wove a futile interception net beneath the aircraft.

"Altitude 900 meters! Speed ​​450 kilometers per hour! Aim steady!"

A Chinese Air Force bombardier shouted in a taut voice.

Below, an armored command vehicle with bright headlights is locked in place at the center of the crosshairs.

"bomb!"

Wang Wei roared.

Almost simultaneously, the bombardiers of each Chinese fighter jet pressed the release button.

The heavy hanging rack is freed.

A string of aerial bombs, trailing deadly shadows, left the bomb bay and plummeted downwards.

The Chinese bomber group quickly pulled back on the stick and climbed, the intense G-force pressing Wang Wei tightly against the back of his chair.

Incendiary bombs covered the ground, and after a few seconds of deathly silence, a huge explosion rang out.

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

The first thing to hit the US military convoy was a 50-kilogram high-explosive grenade.

The roadbed at the epicenter was torn into a honeycomb pattern, and the massive shockwave instantly overturned nearby trucks, sending twisted steel frames and debris, along with severed limbs, soaring into the night sky.

A truck tire was hurled more than ten meters into the air during the explosion and landed on the hood of a jeep.

The debris, like a high-speed steel whirlwind, swept away everything in its path.

Immediately following, the even more ferocious and terrifying attack of napalm bombs descended.

The incendiary bomb canister shattered in mid-air, spraying out a viscous mixture of solidified gasoline like a torrential downpour of fire.

The pungent smell of gasoline instantly filled the entire battlefield, followed by towering orange-red flames.

Gasoline ignites violently upon contact with air, and countless tiny flames intertwine to form a sea of ​​fire that engulfs everything.

The high temperature instantly evaporated the snow on the ground into white mist, which was then ignited by the flames.

A ten-wheeled truck full of infantry became the perfect ignition source.

The napalm adhered to the canvas roof, the wooden planks of the carriage, and the cotton overcoats of the American soldiers, and burst into flames.

The American soldiers on the vehicle instantly turned into struggling, wailing torches, their shrill screams drowning out the sound of the explosion.

Several American soldiers, covered in flames, rolled off the truck bed and tried to extinguish the flames on the snow.

But the specially made napalm is like a leech, impossible to extinguish.

More napalm bombs landed with extreme precision, covering vehicles on both sides of the road that U.S. troops were trying to evacuate to the field.

The flames, like a flowing wall of fire, blocked the escape routes on both sides of the convoy.

The entire section of road has become a giant furnace, devouring metal and life.

The rising air currents generated by the burning flames carried ash and sparks straight into the sky, illuminating the night sky for several kilometers around.

Almost at the same moment Wang Wei dropped the bomb, a fierce battle had already begun in the sky.

Peter gripped the control stick of his MiG-1 fighter jet, the piercing radar warning blaring through his headset.

"Peter! Multiple waves of US warplanes are approaching from high altitude behind us! At five o'clock!"

A warning came over the radio from the wingman.

Peter jerked the control stick, and the MiG instantly rolled to avoid the attack.

Several bursts of scorching 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets narrowly missed their original flight path, leaving brief, bright trails in the night sky.

"Attention all members of the Korean War Aid Team 1, this is the US Army Vanguard Night Combat Squadron!"
The cover team climbed to gain altitude. I went down to hold them off and protect the bombers!

As planned, the two machines will operate in a scissor-like cross configuration!

"Aid Korea No. 1" and another MiG fighter jet simultaneously dived from an altitude of 4,000 meters from the left and right, their intersecting flight paths forming a giant cross.

This maneuver tactic allowed them to instantly cut between three US warplanes that were approaching Wang Wei's bomber formation.

Peter's eyes quickly swept across the dashboard, and he pushed the throttle lever all the way forward, unleashing the MiG's engine to its maximum thrust.

The speedometer needle crossed 800 kilometers per hour, and the altitude dropped to 2,000 meters in an instant.

He clearly spotted the navigation light on the left wing of a US military aircraft, which was trying to get close to the massive silhouette of the "Wanli-1".

Without a moment's hesitation, Peter instantly aimed and skillfully switched on the MiG cannon's combination switch.

"Thump thump thump...!"

In an instant, the three cannons mounted on the Korea Aid No. 1 fighter jet fired simultaneously, and the heavy recoil of the shells was clearly transmitted to the control stick.

A blinding flash illuminated the night in an instant.

A huge fireball suddenly erupted from the base of the left engine of the locked-on US warplane, and fragments of the torn fuselage scattered everywhere.

Not long after, the US warplane lost power, trailing thick smoke and flames, and tilted as it crashed down onto the burning ground.

The other MiG fighter also succeeded, hitting the tail of another American fighter with its cannon.

The tail of the hit US support aircraft shattered, and it instantly went out of control, spinning and plummeting.

The remaining US aircraft were forced to abandon their pursuit attack on the bomber formation, quickly dispersed to evade, and re-formed at high altitude.

Peter glanced at the altimeter, which read 1,000 meters, and decisively pulled the lever to increase the altitude.

The MiG fighter jet No. 1 climbed almost vertically upwards, returning to a safe operational altitude.

Below, the wreckage of two burning U.S. military aircraft is falling toward the chaotic convoy of the U.S. 3rd Division.

"The bombing is over, the bomb bay has been emptied, and we are withdrawing from the bombing route."

Thank you, Peter. I'm going back now to have some vodka with you!
"Don't linger in the fight; once the main force of the US Air Force arrives, they won't be able to leave!"

Wang Wei's voice came through the communication channel, sounding relaxed after completing the mission.

"That's wonderful, Comrade! Go back and have a good drink to celebrate your elite troops' imminent escape from Pyeongtaek!"

Peter grinned and quickly said.

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

Just as flames raged and steel roared in the sky, dozens of miles away in the hilly area, the Seventh Steel Brigade was silently speeding through the darkness.

The 4,000 elite main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade, like a silent tide, swiftly moved through the mountains and ravines where the moonlight could hardly penetrate.

Taking advantage of the recent bombing and Wu Wanli's Sky Eye Map, the Seventh Steel Brigade has bypassed the US Third Division and is rushing towards Pyeongtaek Port with all its might.

In the convoy of the Seventh Steel Brigade, on an armored vehicle

"It wasn't easy. You crossed the Han River four times and defeated the American forces in so many battles. In the end, you still managed to bypass the Third Division by using your tactic of 'General Pulling the Chariot'."

There were only a little over a thousand American troops garrisoned in Pyeongtaek, and according to intelligence, they were all holed up in the port to defend it, so it wasn't a particularly difficult obstacle.

Liu Hanqing said with a smile.

"Damn it, I never thought we could actually succeed!"
Now it's time for us to get the weapons and ammunition from the six Soviet-equipped divisions, along with the supporting ammunition production lines and repair facilities!
"Who do you think will be assigned the Soviet-equipped weapons of these six divisions by the Volunteer Army Headquarters?"

Yu Congrong grinned and said with a hint of excitement.

"Is that even a question?"
Our Steel Seventh Brigade is fully equipped with American-made weapons, so we definitely don't need these.

Six divisions, exactly two Soviet-equipped armies!

The troops under Commander Li Yunlong and the troops under Commander Ding Wei have completely surrounded them!

Given Commander Li Yunlong's personality, he'd be willing to exchange a few captured American medics for him!

Upon hearing this, Gao Daxing immediately spoke up.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

"I crossed the Chishui River four times with my old unit before, and now I'm crossing the Hanshui River four times with the commander-in-chief. I'm really lucky to have survived all of these."

It's a pity about my old squad leader. He gave us all the fish meat and fish soup, while he ate fish bones and grass roots himself. In the end, he didn't make it.

He was the head cook, yet he starved to death first, sigh..."

Lei Gong touched the golden fishhook in his pocket, which was covered in red rust, and sighed.

"The head cook...starved to death..."

Wu Wanli murmured these words, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"That's not all, the quartermaster of our old unit also froze to death."

He even pulled out the cotton wadding from his cotton-padded coat to start a fire for the troops. Sigh...

"That's enough, that's enough. Let's focus on the upcoming Battle of Pyeongtaek and head back."

Lei Gong wiped away his tears, waved his hand, and said.

"Hanqing, will the Chinese navy be able to pick us up near Pyeongtaek on time?"

Wu Wanli was silent for a few seconds, then looked at Liu Hanqing and asked.

"No problem, Chief Xiao is leading the navy at full speed."

The port also houses the vanguard fleet of the US Navy, which is weaker than our navy and can be dealt with.

But we'd better hurry, because according to intelligence, MacArthur's main fleet is also heading straight for Pyeongtaek.

We can defeat the vanguard fleet, but we don't have enough intelligence on the main fleet. If we encounter them, it will be very dangerous.

Liu Hanqing took out a telegram and handed it to Wu Wanli, saying...

"Comrades, speed up the march! We must reach Pyeongtaek as quickly as possible and capture Pyeongtaek Port. We cannot keep the navy waiting too long!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli nodded emphatically and gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly agreed.

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

Meanwhile, on the sea surface of the Huanghai Lake, inside the Chinese Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, the Wanli...
"Have the latest relative position and velocity been clearly calibrated?"

Can the precise time difference between Wu Wanli's troops and MacArthur's fleet arriving at Pyeongtaek port be estimated?

Commander Xiao Zhenhua tapped his finger heavily on the mark representing the Wanli's position on the chart table and asked in a low voice.

"Commander Xiao, don't worry. According to the latest intelligence pieced together from the Soviet submarine squadron and frontline reconnaissance aircraft, we are currently in a delicate window of opportunity."

If we maintain our current speed, we can theoretically reach the designated rendezvous area about six hours before the main US fleet completes its blockade of the Pyeongtaek sea area.

The prerequisite is that Wu Wanli's brigade can capture Pingze Port on schedule, and that our military's shipping routes are not seriously interfered with by US reconnaissance aircraft or submarines.

If anything goes wrong in any step, the time window will be compressed, or even disappear.

Li Hongbo said.

Six hours?

These six hours were built on too many 'what ifs'!
The Seventh Steel Brigade had just finished a series of fierce battles during the Fourth Crossing of the Han River. They fought to the extreme to break through the gap in the Third US Division and seize the last opportunity!
Their ammunition and physical strength were almost at their lowest point, and every minute of delay at the gates of Pyeongtaek Castle was being paid for with the blood of the soldiers!

Captain Li, I need your true maximum potential! Can this ship, this fleet, go any faster?

"Chief Xiao asked."

"Sure! The boilers on the Wanli and Dongfanghong ships still have spare capacity!"
They can also take over those cruisers and destroyers from the Soviet Union!

The trade-off is that navigation noise and infrared signal sources will increase exponentially, boiler pipelines and steam turbines will be subjected to extreme high temperatures and pressures, and the mechanical wear index will far exceed the safety threshold.

If this continues, unpredictable mechanical failures could occur at any time, and fuel consumption will be extremely high!

Li Hongbo hesitated for a moment before offering a reminder.

"Then let's do it!"
Wu Wanli's soldiers are risking their lives to attack the city, trying to seize the firepower and production lifeline of those six Soviet-equipped divisions for their motherland!
The purpose of the naval fleet's current operation is to bring them home!
Our navy is doing well now, but we must not forget our roots!

How did this world-class aircraft carrier beneath our feet come about?

How did that world-class battleship with its powerful firepower come about?

And that cruiser, those four destroyers, and those six submarines... weren't they all won by Wu Wanli and his men?

It's a million times better to let the warships' machinery suffer a little than to let the army's elite troops sink silently in the cold waters of the peninsula!
Immediately issue orders to all warships in the entire fleet!
Speed ​​up immediately, don't worry about mechanical wear and tear, sprint at top speed!

Maintain the target course, increase speed, and spare no effort to reduce arrival time!

Arriving at the designated anchorage even a minute earlier means giving our comrades at the gates of Pyeongtaek a better chance of survival! Execute!

Xiao Zhenhua clenched his fist and said.

"Yes, sir! We will complete the mission without hesitation!"

The entire fleet's speed will be increased to its maximum and then by another 5%! We will arrive ahead of schedule, at all costs!

Li Hongbo straightened his body, his chest heaving violently.

He grabbed the dedicated microphone that led directly to the bridge with lightning speed, almost roaring, "Bridge! Highest level combat mobilization for the entire fleet!"
Order: Boiler pressure pushed to the red line! Turbine units both operating at full capacity! Execute immediately!

The orders were transmitted instantly to all key nodes of the "Wanli" ship via radio, light signals, flags, and sonic telephones, like wildfire.

In the main engine room, the deafening roar suddenly rose to a terrifying decibel level.

A massive amount of high-pressure saturated steam surged into the blades of the two enormous steam turbines with overwhelming force.

On the battleship, eight massive heavy oil boilers were forced to their limits.

The pressure gauge needle was pushed directly against the mechanical limit switch by the strong pressure, making a continuous clicking sound.

The triple-mounted turret of the 406mm gun rotated heavily on its base, maintaining the warning firing angle.

Position of the escort formation.

The deck of a cruiser was almost completely covered by the giant wave that broke through its bow, and the slender hulls of four destroyers shook violently at their maximum speed.

The waterline was violently impacted by the high-speed water flow, producing a piercing friction sound.

The captains kept a close eye on the raging wake left by the 10,000-ton behemoth "Wanli" ahead, striving to maintain their escort positions and distances to avoid the risk of collision or falling behind.

All of this was for one purpose: to evacuate Wu Wanli and the entire Seventh Steel Corps of China!

(End of this chapter)