Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 315: Making the United States Cede Twenty States!!!
UN Command
"Sir, the port of Pyeongtaek has fallen!"
Our vanguard fleet in the waters near Pyeongtaek was also completely annihilated by the Chinese Navy!
The Seventh Steel Brigade is boarding ships to evacuate!

A communications officer nearly stumbled in, sweat pouring down his pale face as he shouted.

In an instant, the command center fell into dead silence, and everyone froze.

"Does this mean... Wu Wanli's Third Division, leaving behind a detachment to feign an attack and deceive us, actually withdrew?!"

A feint attack once lured my Shuennan garrison out of the city, a second feint attack drew Sol's main force away from the Pyeongtaek defense zone, and the ultimate target was always Pyeongtaek?!

Chief of Staff Van Fleet's eyes flashed with surprise, and he murmured in disbelief.

"more than!
He also crossed the Han River four times, breaking through the blockade of hundreds of thousands of UN troops with only a small battalion of remnants...

On the south bank of the Han River, they come and go like the wind!

Suwon, Hoengseong, Sunam, Pyeongtaek... every time, he escaped from the brink of death!
And this time, right under our noses, outside our core command post, he breached our most elite armored forces, annihilated so many of our soldiers, destroyed Task Force Brown, and ultimately…

Just when we thought he was about to take Shuinan City, he feinted and captured the entire Pingze Port, and now he's trying to escape unscathed?!

Deputy Chief of Staff Eckerberg trembled slightly with anger as he gritted his teeth and spoke.

The air was like a layer of frozen ice, with only the static from the radio and heavy breathing standing out in the deathly silence.

Every U.S. military officer's face was etched with extreme confusion and frustration.

The names "Steel Seventh Brigade" and "Wu Wanli" have transcended mere titles, becoming the deepest nightmare haunting the UN forces on the Korean battlefield.

In the shadows of the corner, Chu Yunfei stood with his back to the wall, facing the huge map of the Korean War zone.

When the words "board the ship and evacuate" reached his ears, his fingers gripping the cigarette case tightened suddenly, bringing a sharp pain.

It was this pain that forced him to suppress the long howl that was about to rise in his throat.

He maintained his posture with his back to the crowd, his shoulders taut like a fully drawn bowstring, his gaze fixed on the location of Pyeongtaek Port.

"Taking Pyeongtaek means we can withdraw from here!"
That kid named Wu Wanli actually did it!

He crossed the Han River four times, treating the ambush from all sides as a smooth road!
Such military tactics are unpredictable and can be considered a textbook example!
No, it cannot be used as a textbook because this is not a case of ordinary generals having complex talents.

Truly, God blesses China!

Every time we face a formidable enemy in dire straits, a powerful figure appears out of nowhere!

Chu Yunfei felt a surge of emotion coursing through his chest, his blood boiling, and he thought to himself with a sense of awe.

He calmly opened the cigarette case, took out a cigar, and moved slowly and steadily.

But the moment he struck the match, the leaping flame clearly reflected his slightly trembling wrist.

A wisp of white smoke rose, blurring and concealing his excited gaze.

The lapse in composure of the American troops behind him was, in his view, like an anthill facing a storm.

What if an army of 100,000 surrounds and suppresses them?
So what if the US military has a large number of think tanks and advisors?

In the face of Wu Wanli's absolute military talent, it was all in vain.

Why is everyone so quiet?
Tell me how to stop him now?!

Chase them with planes? Outrun them with a fleet?!

Li Qiwei's sharp gaze swept over the crowd as he asked loudly.

"Sir... After repeated battles, our aircraft have suffered heavy losses, and the replacement pilots are still familiarizing themselves with the battlefield."

In addition, some of our fighter jets are still bombing Li Yunlong's troops along the Han River defense line, so the number we can deploy is severely insufficient.

Moreover, the Chinese navy fleet possesses powerful shipborne radar and air defense networks, among the most advanced in the world today…

After all, they captured the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier and the USS Missouri battleship from our United States; their combat power should not be underestimated.

Air Force intelligence officer Colonel Edmund's throat tightened, and he whispered a reminder.

His words were like cold water poured into a hot oil pan, making everyone's hearts sink even further.

"General, General MacArthur's main fleet cannot reach the outer perimeter of the Pyeongtaek sea area so quickly..."

Unless they split up their fastest destroyers and cruisers and go all out to attack.

But our American cruisers and destroyers, compared to Chinese aircraft carriers and battleships, might not last long before being sunk…

Jenkins, who was in charge of naval coordination, looked even more grim and sighed.

An atmosphere of despair weighed heavily on the hearts of every American officer.

The command post was deathly silent, save for heavy breathing and the chilling ticking of the clock's second hand.

The ticking sound seemed to be a countdown to Wu Wanli's departure from the ship.

After a brief, suffocating silence, Van Fleet took a step forward in the dead silence.

The sound he made attracted everyone's attention.

"General, perhaps we don't need to try with guns and cannons anymore."

In the face of absolute military genius, our stubbornness can be tempered.

President Truman had previously given a secret order to the front lines, allowing us to offer Wu Wanli a special price.

As long as Wu Wanli surrenders and joins the UN forces, he will be immediately appointed as a US division commander.

He was also appointed as the commander-in-chief of the South Korean army group, leading several South Korean divisions.

At the time, we all thought it wasn't necessary!
Because we firmly believe that we can starve and annihilate him!

The destruction and heavy losses of so many troops will only make us want to capture him and put him to trial!

But now, he's about to leave!
They left carrying with them the most utter humiliation towards us!
Indecisiveness leads to disaster!
Since we can't eliminate them, we might as well use them for our own purposes!
Since he can rampage through tens of millions of troops with only a few thousand remaining soldiers, why can't we let him tear open the enemy's chest for us?
The U.S. Army's 1st Division is already preparing for reconstruction!
The U.S. 1st Marine Division has also begun replenishing its ranks on the West Coast!
The President has granted him a division!

We can even give him a choice!

Will he lead the brand-new 1st Marine Division to conquer the battlefield, or will he revive the legend of the 1st Marine Division?

Give him a few more divisions of South Korean troops and let him concurrently serve as the commander-in-chief of a South Korean army group!

When news of Wu Wanli, commander of the First Division, is published and reported to the world, it will deal a major blow to the morale of the Chinese army!
America will also turn our mortal enemy into our sharpest sword!

Van Fleet took a deep breath and looked at Ridgway.

After he finished speaking, the command post fell into dead silence.

The humiliating thunderclap exploded like a bomb in the confined space!

Before Van Fleet's words had even faded, the entire UN command headquarters erupted in chaos!

Long-suppressed emotions were completely ignited, and countless voices erupted instantly, sharp, piercing, and chaotic.

"What?!!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Let **** lead our honorary army?!"

"If there are any veterans in the reorganized division who were lucky enough to escape from the Air Force, we'll have to fight them to the death!"

In an instant, a wave of anger surged forth.

"Van Fleet! Wake up!!"

Wu Wanli, commander of the First Division of the United States Army?!
Let that Chinese executioner become our division commander?!

How can we appoint a Chinese commander whose hands are stained with the blood of American soldiers and who climbed over the bones of tens of thousands of American soldiers as our division commander?!

What a disgrace! What a disgrace!!

Everyone present has heard the heartbreaking cries of a mother who has lost her son!

We've all seen the young man burned to a crisp by white phosphorus bombs!
Let the murderer sit in the position of our elite division commander?!
Van Fleet! You're stabbing every fallen American soldier in the grave!

It is telling all the living that under the Stars and Stripes flying in Washington and at West Point, an enemy that slaughters American soldiers can gain supreme glory by stepping on the corpses of his brothers, as long as he is powerful enough!

This is a thousand times more shameful than letting Wu Wanli escape unscathed!
This will be a permanent stain on the Pentagon!

Chief of Staff Eckerberg rushed up to Van Fleet and roared at him, almost nose to nose!

His voice echoed wildly in the command post, making everyone's eardrums ache, and the battle maps hanging on the wall seemed to be buzzing.

Some staff officers and young officers were burned by the bloody carnage screamed by Eckerberg.

They clenched their fists, their faces were ashen, and their eyes were practically spitting fire.

shame!

An intense, indelible sense of shame scorched their reason.

A colonel, a staff officer with gray hair and gold-rimmed glasses, quietly tugged at the sleeve of his colleague next to him, and the two quickly exchanged a knowing glance.

He pushed his way through the crowd, his voice not loud, but clearly audible amidst the commotion: "General! Gentlemen, listen to me!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's attention immediately turned to them.

"His advice, Chief of Staff... has strategic value."

However, this price... might be too... 'generous'.

Eckerberg's anger stemmed from the dignity of our military.

Put Wu Wanli in direct command of the US Army's elite divisions, especially the two rebuilt divisions...

The blow to morale could be devastating.

But the South Korean army!
Commander-in-chief of an entire South Korean army group! This price is already incredibly generous!

This is sufficient to match Wu Wanli's capabilities and the losses he inflicted on the UN forces!
More importantly, it won't directly tarnish the reputation of our U.S. military!
The South Korean military currently lacks combat effectiveness and excellent commanders.

Handing the reins to Wu Wanli would both deplete his energy to reorganize this messy army and maximize his 'value'!
Once the South Korean army is transformed into a combat-ready force under his command, the UN forces will ultimately benefit!
This is the compromise!
We only gave up command of the South Korean army, preserved the face and flag of the US military, and gained a powerful claw to tear our enemy apart!

This is a viable deal!

The old U.S. military staff officer said.

This "compromise" proposal, which clearly shows concessions, is like throwing a hidden reef into two violently colliding giant waves.

The voices opposing the direct handover of command of the US military divisions have significantly weakened.

The anger on the faces of many officers subsided slightly, replaced by complex contemplation.

It seems... this is indeed the only solution at present that might salvage some face or even turn the tables?
Why send Wu Wanli to wreak havoc on that burdensome South Korean army?
Thinking about this scene, it's strangely cathartic.

Some people began to whisper among themselves, their murmurs a mixture of hesitation and a sense of acceptance.

Chu Yunfei remained hidden behind the smoke in a corner, coldly observing the openly traded price surrounding Wu Wanli.

He appeared calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

Van Fleet was really willing to spend a lot of money, even including the scepter of a US Army division commander?
Despite Chu Yunfei's calm expression, Eckerberg's furious roar stirred a chilling undercurrent within him.

What the US military sees as a disgrace is precisely the medal of Wu Wanli and that land in the East!
Behind every name of those sacrifices lies an indomitable spirit!

When the colonel's staff officer proposed a compromise, and the winds of change subtly shifted in the command post, Chu Yunfei keenly caught the fleeting hint of unease in Ridgway's eyes.

The opportunity is coming!

"Advisor Chu, I heard that your principal was very good at bribing and recruiting enemy generals during the war. What do you think of this?"

Sure enough, Li Qiwei looked at Chu Yunfei and asked.

"General, as an advisor, I agree with Chief of Staff Van Fleet's core assessment of Wu Wanli's military value."

Wu Wanli was indeed a man of exceptional talent; his wisdom, courage, and grasp of battlefield timing were extraordinary.

If they could be subdued, it would indeed greatly alter the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula.

Its effect might be equivalent to that of an army group, that's one point.

Secondly, for a target of such high value, the offer must be substantial enough to entice him.

As far as I know, Wu Wanli's honor and status in the Chinese army were not low.

In this situation, people value legitimate authority and a tangible sense of ownership of power.

A mere command of the South Korean military?
Those of you here know better than I do about the South Korean military's combat capabilities and organization.

Do you think you can bind a fierce tiger with such a small amount of stuff and make it willingly serve you?
Back in the Jin-Sui region, I, as a deputy division commander in the Nationalist Army, sincerely invited Li Yunlong, who was also a member of the Nationalist Army, to join me.

At the time, Li Yunlong was just a regimental commander, and he resolutely refused the position of deputy division commander.

Today, Wu Wanli's status, achievements, and arrogance are all superior to Li Yunlong's back then.

The position of commander of the U.S. Army's main division, whether it is the 1st Division or the 1st Marine Division, is not just a job title, but a status, an ace, and a strength!

This sense of belonging, combined with the command of the South Korean military, constitutes enough weight!
Only then might it be possible to touch his genius heart!

The South Korean military position was merely an added bonus, nothing more than icing on the cake.

What truly matters and entices him is command of the core elite units of the US military!

Chu Yunfei smiled and said.

"Draft a telegram for me immediately!"
A telegram was sent to Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Brigade!

The telegram clearly states: I, Ridgway, on behalf of the United Nations Command and the President of the United States, solemnly promise to His Excellency Wu Wanli, Commander of the 7th Steel Corps!

If your unit immediately ceases boarding and evacuation and remains in the Pyeongtaek Port area, you may choose either the position of Commander of the 1st Division of the United States Army or the position of Commander of the 1st Division of the Marine Corps, effective immediately!

At the same time, the South Korean side handed over command of at least three divisions of the army group!
I vouch for this with the honor of a soldier of the United States of America!
But—the operation must stop immediately!
The telegram must be sent immediately!

At the same time, a telegram was sent to all our ships in the Pyeongtaek sea area that we could contact!

Tell them to keep them occupied!
Engage them at all costs!
Every second counts in making this telegram effective!

Ridgway took a deep breath, turned around abruptly, and raised his voice sharply, with a resolute air of "I'm going to burn my bridges."

This order was earth-shattering!

In an instant, the command center erupted into chaos!

The officers could no longer control their expressions; shock, anger, humiliation, and disbelief twisted into a complex mix.

Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg was like a powder keg that had been ignited.

"General! Please wake up!"
To put that butcher, whose hands are stained with the blood of our soldiers, in the position of commander of our most elite division?!
This is a betrayal of all those who died in battle!

It is an insult to every soldier who fights on the front lines!

This will be the biggest stain on the history of the U.S. Army!

A stain that can never be erased!

Do you really want to personally pin America's most prestigious honor ribbon on the chest of that enemy leader?!

On behalf of the countless American soldiers who died in battle, I resolutely oppose this shameful decision!
God will not forgive such a deal!

Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg practically roared.

Several senior officers behind him, who had also served on the front lines, couldn't help but shout hoarsely:

"This can't be done, General!"

"This is not victory! This is surrender!"

"The Chief of Staff is right! This is an insult to the Stars and Stripes!"

The noise was so loud it almost lifted the ceiling of the command center.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Do we have a choice now?!

He was already stepping onto the departure gangway, victorious!

Tell me, besides paying the price, do you have any other way to keep that bomb, which could destroy our entire front line at any moment, in your own hands?!

First, keep him calm!
Use the biggest bait to catch him first!

I, Ridgway, will never forget the honor of soldiers and the heroic spirits of fallen warriors!

But now, it's a choice that concerns the future of this war!

Is it better to endure temporary, tactical humiliation in order to seek a strategic reversal that completely changes the course of the war?
Or should we just stand by and watch him retreat, only to have him slaughter even more of our soldiers on other battlefields next time?!

As for the division commander position? Hmph!

Give him the position! Give him the power! Give him the South Korean army too!
But will they be able to hold their ground in the end?!
Can we achieve results that meet the requirements of this position?!
Can you break through the enemy's defenses for America?!

That depends on his real skills!

All we gave up was a title!
a chance!
If he's not good or deliberately doesn't play well, what will happen next?
There will be plenty of opportunities to get to him later!
Now! Keep him calm! Keeping him here is a thousand times more important than letting him leave!
Eckerberg, I understand your concerns!
But right now, your emotions won't solve anything!

Execute the command!

Ridge's face turned ashen, and he abruptly raised his hand, pressing it down heavily. "Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, the U.S. military communications officer quickly responded.

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

Pingze Port, inside the temporary command post of the Seventh Steel Corps
"Wanli, all non-combat personnel and wounded have boarded the ship."

The artillery detachment is escorting captured artillery pieces onto the ship.

The assault detachment was responsible for perimeter security, clearing out stragglers who were firing snipers, and the dock area was basically cleared.

The most time-consuming thing right now is Lei Gong's artillery detachment, those big guys.

Especially the American-made 155mm howitzer, which is too heavy.

And those anti-aircraft guns that we towed all the way from the west bank of the Han River, Lei Gong treated them like his lifeblood, making sure they were transported intact onto the main deck of the Dongfanghong.

The eight tanks and three armored vehicles that were still operational were vying for positions in the lower hangar and deck of the Wanli aircraft carrier.

The ship's chief engineer almost lost his temper with us, saying that if we packed any more in, the aircraft carrier wouldn't be able to move.

The last batch of heavy equipment will take at least an hour to be loaded, secured, and fixed onto the ship.

An Air Force reconnaissance plane just reported that they can now see a group of black dots resembling the masts of what appears to be the main US fleet in the distance.

Although we are still dozens of nautical miles away, we have few opportunities left to evacuate.

Liu Hanqing reported.

"Have Gao Daxing's cordon extended another 500 meters outwards, set up all the scattered searchlights, and turn them on, shining as far as possible."

Inform Commander Xiao that all naval guns, main and secondary guns, that are movable should be raised and pointed towards the horizon.

Even if it's just for show, we have to make sure that the main fleet MacArthur sent can see that our cannons are still hot!

"Buy the retreating heavy equipment units one last second; every second counts."

Wu Wanli spoke in a low, hoarse voice, yet with an undeniable force.

Liu Hanqing nodded emphatically: "I'll do it right away..."

Before the words were finished, the thick waterproof canvas curtain of the command post was suddenly lifted, bringing in a salty, cold sea breeze.

A young communications staff officer from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army practically burst in, his face flushed from running and a look of disbelief on his face.

"Commander-in-Chief! Political Commissar Liu! Urgent telegram!"

The voice of the volunteer army staff officer was panting as he shouted.

All eyes in the command post instantly focused on him and the telegram in his hand.

Yu Congrong, who was inspecting a spare MG42 machine gun next to the map, looked up.

Gao Daxing stopped tilting his head.

Pinghe, who had just come in to report that the ruins on the west side of the port had been cleared, stopped at the door.

Even Lei Gong, who was reloading his empty magazine in the corner, stopped what he was doing and looked over with a frown.

"read."

Wu Wanli remained seated, leaning forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the telegram in the staff officer's hand.

"To Commander Wanli of the Seventh Steel Corps:"
I, Ridgway, as Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command and Plenipotentiary Representative authorized by His Excellency President Truman of the United States of America, hereby solemnly telegraph your Ministry and propose the following final peace terms.

If your unit can immediately cease all boarding and evacuation operations, remain within the Pyeongtaek Port area, and lay down its weapons.

The United States of America wishes to appoint you to one of the following positions.

Commander of the 1st Division of the United States Army, or Commander of the 1st Division of the United States Marine Corps, is awarded the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army and enjoys all the powers, privileges, and honors of that position.

At the same time, you, Wu Wanli, are appointed as the commander-in-chief of the South Korean Army Group, with command of three to five divisions.

All officers and soldiers of the former Seventh Steel Corps of your unit, including senior officers Yu Congrong, Gao Daxing, Pinghe, Lei Gong, and others, are eligible to be promoted two ranks from their original positions.

He will serve in core command positions within the newly formed 1st Marine Division, the U.S. Army 1st Division, or the ROK Army Group.

If any additional conditions are required, further consultations can be proposed, and our UN forces will do their utmost to meet them with the utmost sincerity.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for peace, and I hope that Your Excellency and all members of your ministry will carefully consider and cherish it.

Response timeframe: Immediately.

Ridgway, at UN Forward Command, end of telegram.

The staff officer took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice steady.

After the telegram was read, the command post fell into a deathly silence.

Lei Gong's hand unconsciously loosened, and the magazine, which had just been loaded with bullets, fell onto the ammunition box with a "thud," and a few bright yellow bullets rolled out.

Gao Daxing's mouth was half open, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly.

Pinghe leaned against the door frame, his face showing utter astonishment.

Even Liu Hanqing's pupils contracted slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the red pencil, and the lead snapped.

"Pfft—Hahahahahaha!"

Yu Congrong burst into a loud, booming laugh, laughing so hard he was doubled over and slapping his thighs.

"Damn it! That son of a bitch Ridgway!"

Is this old man still half asleep?!
Ask him to be a damn American division commander?!
Commander-in-Chief of the South Korean Army?
Hahaha!
Give us two promotions!

"Damn it, why would I want his dog skin?"

He snatched the telegram from the communications officer's hand, quickly scanned it, and laughed even harder, almost unable to breathe.

"Old Gao, Old Lei, Pinghe, did you hear me?"
We brothers will soon be both US Army Corps Commanders and ROK Army Division Commanders!

Hahaha!
That's fucking hilarious!
Old Lei, from now on you'll be the chief heavy artillery expert for the 1st Marine Division!

"Old Gao, you're the perfect candidate to command an armored regiment in the US Army!"

Yu Congrong looked at the telegram and said with a mocking tone.

Lei Gong was finally brought back to his senses from his petrified state by Yu Congrong's interruption.

The astonishment on his face was instantly replaced by a strong, almost angry contempt, and he spat a mouthful of phlegm onto the ground.

"I bother!
Even if my ancestors' graves were emitting eight generations of auspicious smoke, I wouldn't do such a shameful thing!

To be cannon fodder for the Americans?
Even if I, Lei Gong, am blown to bits by cannon fire, my bones will still be buried on my own mountain!
He's dreaming!
"Keep dreaming!"

Lei Gong's voice was loud and clear, his spittle flying everywhere, which made several volunteer army operations staff officers next to him laugh along.

"Return Commander Han?"

Those Korean soldiers are harder to command than the donkeys clearing land in our back mountains.

Ridgway's move wasn't an attempt to persuade us to surrender; he was clearly plotting something bad, trying to trap us in this quagmire!

Americans' ulterior motives are written all over their faces!

Gao Daxing grinned, revealing a set of white teeth that were still conspicuous in the dim light, and shook his head, his tone full of sarcasm.

"It seems that our four crossings of the Han River, the destruction of so many American troops, the capture of Suwon and Suwon, and now the capture of Pyeongtaek and the complete annihilation of their vanguard fleet have truly stunned and alarmed this American commander."

This is a desperate situation, a sign of utter desperation; they're resorting to any means necessary, even losing all sense of shame.

Even the usually calm Pinghe couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, his eyes flashing with cold mockery.

Amidst the laughter and shouts of the crowd, Wu Wanli remained seated behind the table made of ammunition boxes.

Only when Yu Congrong uttered the final word "dream" did a glint of extremely bright light flash in his eyes, which had been fixed on the map.

Wu Wanli slowly raised his head, revealing a bright, wide smile that was full of mockery.

It was as if what I had just heard was not a tempting letter of surrender, but the most ridiculous stand-up comedy routine in the world.

That smile was like a drop of water thrown into a hot oil pan, instantly igniting the absurd and relaxed mood that had been building up in the command center.

Seeing the captain's smiling face, Gao Daxing and Lei Gong laughed even more loudly without restraint.

The entire command post was buzzing with excitement, filled with a joyful atmosphere.

After laughing enough, Wu Wanli stood up and stretched his neck, which was stiff from sitting for a long time; his joints made a slight "crack" sound.

He extended two fingers and gently pulled the slightly crumpled telegram from Lei Gong's hand, casually weighing it in his hand.

"Since General Ridgway is so enthusiastic and generous, wanting to promote me and make me rich, and even wrote that he would do his best to meet the additional conditions."

If I, Wu, don't set some conditions, wouldn't I be letting down his "sincere intentions" and making us Chinese seem petty and unsophisticated?
Alright, I would like to ask my staff officer to send a reply to our esteemed Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command, General Ridgway.

The content should read: We have received your proposed conditions.

Wu believed that the positions of US division commander and South Korean commander-in-chief were too insignificant and lacked sincerity, and were not commensurate with his and his unit's achievements.

If Wu Wanli were to submit to the United States, it wouldn't be impossible! However, the following core conditions must be met!
First of all, I, Wu Wanli, will be the biggest if I'm going to do it!

He must immediately assume the presidency of the United States!

"Make room for me in the White House; all members of Congress must pass this resolution unanimously!"

Wu Wanli said with a hint of sarcasm.

boom--!
The command center fell silent for a moment, then erupted into laughter that was even more frenzied and earth-shattering than before!
Yu Congrong seemed to have been tickled, and he burst into laughter, collapsing onto the ammunition box, pounding on the lid, tears streaming down his face.

Gao Daxing clutched his stomach, bent over, his shoulders shaking violently, unable to utter a single word.

The thunder god's loud laughter shook the flame of the kerosene lamp.

He laughed wildly while pointing at Wu Wanli, making a choking "hoarse" sound in his throat, and could only give him a thumbs up repeatedly.

Even the usually reserved Pinghe couldn't help but turn his head away, his shoulders trembling, letting out a suppressed chuckle.

"Second! The United States territory must be permanently ceded to China, including twenty states."

Which twenty exactly, um...

California, Oregon, Washington on the West Coast... New York, Pennsylvania on the East Coast...

Oh, and it would be best to include Texas, the oil-producing country... just make sure you have about twenty.

The land should be contiguous for easier management!

Amidst deafening laughter, Wu Wanli raised his voice, his tone becoming even more mocking.

"Pfft-hahahaha!"

"Twenty states ceded?! President Wu is truly awe-inspiring!!"

"Yes, yes, yes! They also need to be connected in a continuous line!"

The command post was completely transformed into a sea of ​​joy, where the nerves that had been stretched taut by days of fierce fighting were released to the fullest extent in these almost manic jokes.

The staff officers and guards were all laughing so hard they were breathless; some were rubbing their stomachs, while others collapsed to the ground laughing.

As Wu Wanli watched everyone laughing so hard they were practically falling over, his own smile was equally radiant. He waited until the laughter subsided, then slammed his hand on the table and declared, "If the above two basic core conditions are met, I, Wu Wanli, can reluctantly go to America to take charge of the overall situation, and from then on, there will be no more worries about fighting each other."

Otherwise, there is no need to discuss anything!
If General Ridgway can't even offer this much sincerity, then he should focus on cleaning up the mess left by the hundreds of thousands of shells fired in Pyeongtaek!

"good!!!

Captain-General! If you're going to be someone, be the president!

I'll take my brothers to the White House for a feast!
Let's turn Capitol Hill into our hot pot restaurant! I don't think it'll be a bad deal!

Yu Congrong was the first to jump up and cheer, as excited as a child, his eyes shining.

He patted his chest, seemingly eager to follow the captain and "enter" the White House right now.

"Yes! It's worth it! Hahaha!"
Give China twenty states!
How much land is enough for us to farm? It's worth it!

Gao Daxing laughed and echoed.

"Captain, all we've got are threats. I think we've missed something!"

Add another clause to the reply: demand that the United States seize all of their factories and technical data!
Move over the production lines for our eight 152mm and twenty 122mm howitzers, as well as the production line for the MiG-15!

Also, stock up on at least a year's worth of artillery shells and aviation fuel!
No... two years, otherwise it won't be enough!

That way we'll have enough confidence after we take office!

Otherwise, what good would having twenty states do if all we'd have was to be bombed?
That's so frustrating!

Lei Gong stopped laughing and caught his breath. He pointed at the telegram and spoke in his distinctively rough voice, as if he were seriously discussing technical details.

Even Liu Hanqing, who is usually calm and thoughtful, was infected by this completely unrealistic joke, and laughed until the muscles in his face were a little sore.

But he was still a political commissar after all. Listening to Lei Gong's suggestion to "increase the stakes" and looking at Wu Wanli's self-righteous "presidential" demeanor, a very slight concern resurfaced in his heart. He wondered if the joke had gone too far.

He rubbed his aching temples, leaned closer to Wu Wanli, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of admonition, "Wanli, isn't this reply... a bit too... too arrogant?"
It's fine for the comrades in our Seventh Steel Brigade to joke around, since it's internal and nobody knows.

But if a reply is sent, it would be an official telegram to the outside world, and in plain text at that.

Shouldn't we... be more mindful of the consequences?
I think we can just ignore them. After all, we should just treat these American devils' words of persuasion to surrender as nonsense.

If we actually get involved, they might argue with us about it later, which is really annoying.

Wu Wanli's smile hadn't faded, but the playful look in his eyes was instantly replaced by a clear understanding of the essence of things.

He looked at Liu Hanqing, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a low voice that was loud enough for the core cadres around him to hear clearly: "Comrade Hanqing, this is not a matter of being arrogant or not."

This is a matter of attitude; it's a matter of attitude among the thousands of people in our Seventh Steel Brigade!

It's more than just a statement; it's a matter of attitude, meant for our country and for the world to see!

His gaze swept over Yu Congrong, Gao Daxing, Pinghe, and Lei Gong, his eyes firm and sharp as he continued:
"The 'sugar-coated bullet' that Ridgway is throwing out now, on the surface it is 'high-ranking positions and generous salaries,' but in essence it is to loosen the reins on our will, to confuse right and wrong in the face of world opinion, and to disrupt the morale of our army!"

Our dismissive or ambiguous rejections may give some people an opportunity to take advantage of us.

It could even leave behind future problems, giving malicious individuals ammunition to spread rumors!
We must use the most resolute, thorough, and uncompromising method—even the method they consider 'arrogant'!

Let's slap them hard enough to completely dispel their delusions! Slap them hard enough to hurt them!
Shake him awake!

Let them and everyone in the world understand what I, Wu Wanli, and everyone in the Seventh Steel Brigade are made of and what color our blood is!
Using this kind of 'daydream' to recruit someone?

None of the doors!
Chinese soldiers will never surrender. Don't even mention giving me a division commander position, I won't accept even a corps commander position.

As for how to fan?
That depends on how to make him memorable to everyone who sees him.

My attitude is to make Ridgway give up on that idea.

Let the telegram fly for a while, let the whole world see that Ridgway can't defeat us, so he has to hand over the 'letter of appointment'.

And how did we respond to this "generous kindness"?

Pinghe, who had been mostly silent, also put away his smile and said in a deep voice, "The captain is right."

This telegram was sent to clearly tell Ridgway and the Americans that our Seventh Steel Brigade, from top to bottom, could only die standing up, and would never live on their knees.

Any sugar-coated bullets wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap here.

Upon hearing Wu Wanli's words, Yu Congrong, who was standing nearby, rolled his eyes and suddenly slammed his hand on the table, teasing him with a sly and mischievous smile: "Hey, Commander-in-Chief! You mean, what if... I mean, what if!"
What if Ridgway actually persuades those old men on Capitol Hill to agree?
You really did... hehe, you really went and crossed the ocean to become the President of the United States?

These words instantly reignited the tension in the command center, which had just begun to calm down.

Haha ...

Old Yu is right!

"That's right, Captain! If we agree, we can't break our promise!"

The territory of twenty states!

This deal... seems... quite worthwhile?
Besides, this isn't just about our own selfish interests; it's a major event that benefits the country and its people!

Gao Daxing joined in the commotion, pretending to count on his fingers: "Captain, you'd be the head of state back then. We brothers don't ask for much, just a title, a governorship, or a vice president would be fine!"

Anyway, the White House is huge; there's plenty of room for our entire brigade. We can be officials during the day and still get together to play cards and brag at night!

Lei Gong waved his hand boldly, as if he was already planning the "immigration" route: "At the command of the captain, I, Lei Gong, will be the first to push our old buddy, the 152mm cannon, onto the ship!"

Once we get there, we'll fire a volley at the Capitol Hill to show those American bastards who's in charge from now on!
If they're still not convinced after one round of bombardment, we'll bombard them again until those American devils submit!

Laughter once again flooded the command post like a tidal wave, making the air vibrate.

Everyone's face was filled with a sense of unbridled joy and pride.

These men, who followed Wu Wanli through countless battles and crawled out of piles of corpses on the west bank of the Han River, endured too much sacrifice and cruelty.

Looking at his comrades gathered around him, laughing and chatting, Wu Wanli couldn't help but smile genuinely.

(PS: After fighting for so long, the comrades of the Seventh Steel Brigade are exhausted, and the officers reading are also tired. Let everyone relax. Chinese soldiers will definitely not surrender, but they can make the American army kneel down.)
(End of this chapter)