Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 327 Gundam Armored Group Tears Through Defenses, Wu Wanli's Blitzkrieg Attacks Yuan Tongli!!!

The first line of defense outside Yuantongli
The 23rd Infantry Regiment of the South Korean 3rd Division is working intensively to reinforce the fortifications on the front lines.

The ring-shaped core defensive strongpoint is located on a small hill with a flattened top and gentle slopes on three sides.

The barbed wire groaned softly in the damp wind, and newly dug trenches and foxholes divided the high ground.

The minefield markers on the east and west sides have just been laid out and have not yet been completely covered.

The heavy machine gun emplacement was barely reinforced with thick logs, its firing port facing the open area ahead, the cold barrel exposed to the biting wind.

Park Jae-sang, commander of the 23rd Regiment of the Korean Army, wore a thick woolen overcoat over his military uniform, but the taut lines of his body could still be seen underneath.

He tirelessly patrolled the main position, his military boots making a "plop, plop" sound in the mud.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Choi Jung-wook's face was even more gloomy than the sky. He followed closely behind the regimental commander by half a step, occasionally reminding him in a low voice of the progress and shortcomings of the deployment.

"The trenches of the First Battalion are not deep enough!"

Dig down another fifty centimeters!
Otherwise, if a mortar shell skims across the ground, you'll all be dead!

Park Jae-sang stopped beside a bunker on a salient and roared at the battalion commander who was directing the soldiers to dig.

"Heavy machine gun, move forward! Move forward!"
Can't you see that little mound?
That's a natural blind spot for shooting!

It must be covered!

Thirty minutes remain; the artillery observation post must establish visual coordination with the anti-tank team!

Park Jae-sang then turned and pointed to a hastily set-up machine gun position in the Third Battalion, his voice piercing through the cacophony of sandbags being moved and tools clattering.

The air was filled with the earthy smell of soil, the sweat of soldiers, suppressed breathing, and a hint of fear of a major battle.

The fear was temporarily dispelled by the commander's stern urging, but it stubbornly grew back.

Finally, a new recruit, his face still bearing the traces of youth, stopped what he was doing and asked, his voice trembling, as Park Jae-sang and Choi Jung-wook approached:

"Commander... Commander..."

I...I've heard that the Chinese army...especially the Seventh Steel Brigade...is particularly terrifying...

Even the elite troops of the US military... like the 1st Marine Division... can't beat them...

"If we face the enemy, we're not going to die here, are we?"

Before he finished speaking, the movements of people moving stones and digging soil around him instantly slowed down.

A dozen or so fearful gazes were cast directly at Park Jae-sang's face from different positions on the fortifications.

Even in the distance, one could faintly hear the crisp sound of metal tools being released from one's hands and falling to the ground.

This question, which no one dared to voice publicly, was now timidly voiced by a new recruit, becoming a boulder in the hearts of all the South Korean soldiers on the front lines.

Chief of Staff Choi Jung-wook looked at the pale face of the new recruit and the overwhelming fear in the eyes of the soldiers around him, and instinctively wanted to speak.

He experienced the initial defeats of the war and witnessed firsthand the overwhelming charge of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Especially in recent months, the name "Steel Seventh Brigade" has haunted every South Korean soldier like a nightmare in the battle reports.

Just as the chief of staff sighed and was about to reveal the truth, he was suddenly interrupted by Park Jae-sang, who said, "Afraid? There's nothing to be afraid of!"

Who are you afraid of?

Is it the Korean People's Army?

Their weaponry is far inferior to ours!

In this battle, we mainly faced their troops!
As for the Chinese People's Volunteer Army?

They are indeed capable of fighting, I admit that!

But not all Chinese troops are like the Steel Seventh Brigade!

Not every team is invincible!

The 38th Army, which the Chinese themselves proudly call the "Long Live Army," could be considered their main force and ace unit.

But the result?

In November 1950, the 38th Army in Xichuan was slow to act and made mistakes in coordination, and could only watch helplessly as the American troops drove past!

The US military occupied Heecheon, and they couldn't stop them!
In the same year, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, in December, the U.S. 12nd Infantry Division brazenly withdrew its main force right under their noses!
This is a major mistake by the Chinese military!

They make mistakes too, and they often slip up!
Look at us now, soldiers!

We are on the defensive, we are holding our ground!
We don't need to charge into battle like them, let alone fight those difficult fortified positions!

Relying on the solid fortifications we have painstakingly built day and night!
Ring defense, crossfire network, dense minefields, and layered deployment in depth...

As long as we remain determined, and as long as we don't make fatal mistakes!

"Hold these positions firmly, and wait for reinforcements from the main divisions or even the US allies to arrive. What's so difficult about holding these positions?!"

His words were like a force that, while not powerful, was just enough to move the warm currents on the ice.

The deep-seated fear on the faces of the South Korean soldiers seemed to be diluted by the words "strong fortifications" and "support" in their words.

Some South Korean soldiers' tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and their hands, which had been gripping the wooden handles of their shovels, were no longer so bloodless.

Park Jae-sang noticed this subtle change and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, this brief period of calm was short-lived.

An officer beside a machine gun emplacement on the position, seemingly dissatisfied that the regimental commander had not directly addressed the question about the 7th Steel Brigade, interrupted loudly, his neck stiff:
"What the commander says is true. Those North Korean People's Army soldiers are nothing, and the vast majority of Chinese troops are not always winning!"
But the Chinese Steel Seventh Brigade, from the Steel Seventh Company era to the present, has never officially lost a single battle!
If we were to encounter that… sigh!

This statement was like pouring a bucket of ice water into ashes that had just begun to glow with a spark.

The immense fear that had just been temporarily calmed down by Park Jae-sang resurfaced in the soldiers' hearts and instantly swelled, engulfing the high ground.

The color drained from the faces of many soldiers, leaving them even paler than the melting snow.

Fear surged back like a cold tide, threatening to breach the psychological dam that had just been barely erected.

Even Chief of Staff Choi Jung-wook suddenly looked up at Park Jae-sang, his eyes filled with astonishment and worry.

The South Korean battalion commander realized he had said the wrong thing, and his face under the scar instantly turned bright red. He opened his mouth in a panic, but didn't know how to make amends.

The highlands were deathly silent, save for the mournful sound of the wind.

Park Jae-sang suddenly took a step forward, standing taller, and said in an almost shouting voice:
"Ha! That's right! They've never lost in name only!"
But being surrounded by more than 100,000 UN troops in an ironclad formation, and repeatedly managing to escape in a sorry state by relying on the so-called "Four Crossings of the Han River", is this what you call being invincible?

How did Seoul fall?

Why couldn't they hold the city after they conquered it?

Why are the outposts around Seoul being so eager to get rid of like a burden?

That's escape!
It's time to retreat!

It was a retreat to save lives!

Upon hearing this, the South Korean soldiers froze, their expressions becoming even more bewildered.

Park Jae-sang gave them no time to think, his words continuing to bombard them like a barrage of cannon fire:

"And that so-called victory in several cities—look at the map!"

The route from Pyeongtaek Port to Pyongyang was circuitous and detours, but in the end, they still managed to escape.

Isn't that the route they took to escape because they were being suffocated by us and the Allied forces in the rear and couldn't stand it anymore?

Cleveland?

Taking something and running away is called robbery, not victorious occupation!

My warriors! Remember who we are?

We are the mighty National Defense Force of the Republic of Korea!
It is one of the world's top ten military powers!

We not only have the most modern weapons, but also a long-standing and profound spirit and civilization inherited from our ancestors thousands of years ago on the peninsula!
Think of the mugwort used to ward off evil and bring good fortune during the Dragon Boat Festival, and the fragrant rice dumplings used to worship the Dragon God!
The long-standing Dragon Boat Festival embodies the essence of our great national culture!
As for the Chinese? Hmph!
They are nothing but a despicable group of cultural thieves!
They are attempting to seize our splendid civilization for themselves!

What's so scary about a group of cowardly guys who rely on theft and hide under the guise of 'invincibility' to escape?!
Let's do what we're supposed to do!

Put all your effort into digging trenches every foot deep!

Use it to construct every perfect firing point! Use it to securely mount every heavy machine gun!
Victory, honor, and medals—they all belong to our Korean warriors!

"Long live the commander!"

"Let those Chinese taste our firepower!"

"Hold the line! Take them down!"

Upon hearing this, the South Korean soldiers were immediately filled with a sense of national pride and loudly echoed his sentiments.

Jiang Chengri waved his hand forcefully towards the open area below the high ground, making an exaggerated gesture as he said:

"Ah, damn it!"

We admit we can't win in open battle!
That's because their equipment is inferior!
But now, do those damn light infantry dare to charge under our fire net?
Let them come!
My heavy machine gun barrel will make them fall like wheat, row by row, to feed the dogs!
Grind all the bones of the Chinese people into powder!

"Whoosh!"

Long live the Republic of Korea!

"Must win!"

Several of his closest platoon leaders and sergeants joined in the shouting.

Then came more soldiers, their blood boiling and their basic judgment clouded by this twisted and incited "spiritual victory" and "national culture theory," shouting out their opinions.

Throughout the high ground, from the core support point to the outer positions, the deathly silence of fear was instantly replaced by an abnormal frenzy.

The South Korean soldiers, as if injected with stimulants, roared, ran, and frantically swung their shovels and picks to reinforce the fortifications.

They dragged the heavy machine gun forward with all their might, sweat mixed with dust clinging to their faces, which were flushed with excitement.

Group leader Park Jae-sang also exhaled a breath of stale air that had been trapped in his chest. The cold sweat on his back was trapped inside his coat, making it sticky.

He turned his head and met Choi Jung-wook's complicated gaze.

Chief of Staff Choi Jung-wook opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

He knew that this false morale was only temporary and he didn't know how long it could last.

at this time--

"Boom... boom boom..."

A muffled thud, like countless boulders rolling, pierced through the raging sound waves that had just begun to boil, and penetrated the soil of the highlands without warning!

The sand and gravel on the entire highland trembled with the vibration, and the ripples in the muddy water in the low-lying areas spread out rapidly and regularly.

The South Korean soldiers who had just been shouting and digging and moving things froze in mid-air.

"Wh…what's that sound?"

A South Korean soldier asked in surprise.

"Tanks! Lots of tanks!!"

Another South Korean soldier pointed to the end of the highway in the distance to the east and screamed in agony, his face ashen.

Upon hearing this, Park Jae-sang suddenly turned around and lunged to a firing position with the best view, frantically grabbing the binoculars hanging around his neck.

The moment the cold metal barrel struck his forehead, a horrifying sight simultaneously assaulted his vision:

At the horizon, Chinese tank formations surged forward with unstoppable momentum!

The first thing to pierce the horizon was those cold cannon barrels pointing towards the sky!
Next, the outline of the massive vehicle!
The twenty-six tanks at the very front were even larger and heavier, with their sloping frontal armor cutting out hard, angular lines!
This is the Pershing, the main heavy tank that the U.S. Army is so proud of and which was used to counter the German Tiger!
On either side of the Pershing tank’s massive body were ten T-34 tanks, which were slightly lower in profile but faster.

This is just a forward!

Behind the group of more than thirty tanks charging at the forefront were a large number of elite soldiers!

Three hundred elite guards from the Seventh Steel Brigade were running close to the massive tanks, maintaining precise spacing between themselves to maximize the cover provided by the tanks' advance.

In the vast rear area, countless soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade, like a flood bursting its banks, rushed wildly along the highway and the fields on both sides!
They split into several sharp, massive arrowheads, with countless leaping figures appearing and disappearing amidst the dust, smoke, and thick smoke billowing from the chariots.

The South Korean battalion commander and soldiers, who had just been spitting and shouting about "using a barrage of fire to annihilate the light infantry," now felt as if they had been struck on the head by an invisible giant hammer.

"Tan...tan..."

"Pershing... the US Army's Pershing, so many?"

"Damn it... the Seventh Steel Brigade... they have tanks! So many! And behind them... behind them are men!"

Several South Korean soldiers stared intently into the distance, shouting in a daze.

"Wow!"

It's unclear which South Korean soldier's hand completely gave out, but the heavy machine gun, which had just been loaded with ammunition, slammed heavily onto the muddy ground of the bunker.

"Prepare for battle!!"

All machine guns and artillery, prepare to fire at the tanks charging at the front!

In addition, immediately send a telegram to the division headquarters in Yuantongli!
Level 1 emergency call for help! Level 1 emergency call for help!
Repeat! Encountered an attack from at least a battalion-sized tank group and the main force of the 7th Steel Brigade!
The location is right in our 23rd Regiment's main position, which is also the first line of defense in Yuantongli!

"Commander Park Jae-sang shouted in a panic!"

The South Korean artillery positions finally responded with a sluggish and chaotic echo.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Several hastily fired mortar shells blindly crashed into the open ground in the distance, kicking up several columns of mud in front of the galloping tank formation.

However, these small, thin shells were completely useless against the heavily armored tanks, and were deflected and exploded far away.

Inside the Wanli No. 1 tank
"Lei Gong, artillery detachment, open fire immediately! Give them a thorough bombardment of their positions, and wash away all those fortifications and landmines with artillery shells!"
After bombarding the position, the artillery fire extended backward, forming a fire isolation zone that prevented them from escaping back!
Gao Daxing, you lead the assault detachment to flank and advance to the left!
Pinghe, you lead the reconnaissance team to outflank us from the right!

Yu Congrong, you lead the fire support detachment to closely follow the armored guard battalion and launch a frontal assault!

All tanks, accelerate! Don't stop! Tank-gun coordination, advance slowly through the barrage, and press behind the impact points of the shells!

"Eliminate this South Korean 23rd Regiment within half an hour. Don't give them a chance to retreat or hold out for reinforcements!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the Sky Eye map and loudly gave the order over the radio.

"Yes!!!"

The radio immediately relayed responses from all directions, and the Seventh Steel Brigade sprang into action without hesitation, launching a thunderous attack!

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

At this time, on the artillery detachment's position
"Team One! Target: Enemy high ground ring core position front barbed wire perimeter, coordinates azimuth XX-XX-XX! Instantaneous grenade detonator!"
Team Two! Target: Enemy's western flank minefield and rear area with dense trenches, coordinates azimuth XX-XX-XX! Delayed fuse!
Three teams! Suppress the suspected mortar positions and reserve assembly area on the reverse slope of the enemy's high ground!

"Fire rapidly! Release!"

Lei Gong raised his thumb and gestured twice towards the South Korean army's position before loudly giving the order.

The order was relayed by the messenger beside him in a shouting manner, and the artillery position instantly came to life.

The gunners roared and repeated the coordinates.

The gunners turned the huge directional wheels and elevation mechanism like precise machine parts.

The heavy gun barrel is slowly adjusted by a hydraulic mechanism or by manual operation.

The gunners, carrying the heavy shells, worked together to push them into the open breech, the cartridge case making a dull "clang" as it went in.

The loader made a final check of the fuse type and propellant charge number, then shouted, "Good!"

The breechblock snapped shut with a heavy metallic clang—"Bang!"

Almost simultaneously, the red command flags held high by the artillery commanders at each position swung down sharply: "Fire!"

"boom!!!"

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

The roar of dozens of cannons tore through the air, drowning out the rumble of tank engines.

The massive flames and thick smoke spewed from the cannons instantly engulfed the gun emplacement.

The scorching hot cartridge case clattered out of the ejector with a loud bang, tumbling and crashing into the loose soil on the ground, wisps of white smoke rising from it.

The ground trembled violently from the reaction force of the launch, and the spade under the gun mount sank even deeper into the soil.

The first salvo of shells whistled across the sky overhead, carrying the piercing scream of death.

South Korean 23rd Regiment's position
The soldiers, who had just been stunned by the massive tank formation in the distance, suddenly heard the whooshing sound from their side and rear, and their already fragile nerves snapped completely.

"It was Chinese artillery fire!"
"Get hidden—!"

On the battlefield, someone was the first to shout hysterically.

Immediately following was a chorus of screams filled with terror and despair.

However, the shells were extremely fast, and most of the South Korean troops did not have time to dodge into effective cover.

The first volley of shells crashed down with a destructive intent.

A team of high-explosive grenades from the strike zone landed precisely at the front of the circular core position, instantly turning the barbed wire fence into the epicenter of the explosion.

The shockwave from the explosion first slammed into the barbed wire like an invisible giant hammer, throwing the twisted metal stakes into the air in pieces before tearing them into burning fragments that flew everywhere.

The carefully placed barbed wire and spikes were tossed high into the air and disappeared into the thick smoke and dust.

The explosion sent up a mud wave several meters high, and mud mixed with broken iron fragments rained down on the newly dug foxholes and the starting point of the communication trenches below.

A sandbag bunker near the barbed wire was hit directly, and the sandbag exploded.

The wet soil inside the sandbags poured down, instantly burying three South Korean soldiers hiding behind them halfway alive, leaving only their struggling upper bodies and their hands frantically scratching the ground as they suffocated exposed.

The minefield on the western flank of the second team's strike zone, which had just been laid and whose markings had not yet been fully concealed, suffered a devastating blow.

The delayed-fuze grenade does not explode immediately upon contact with the ground; instead, it penetrates half a foot into the soil before detonating with a loud bang.

The immense pressure generated by the violent implosion directly squeezed, tore apart, and detonated the landmine buried beneath it.

In an instant, the entire minefield was rocked by a series of violent explosions as the ground trembled!
"Boom! Bang! Bang! Bang!!"

Countless black plumes of smoke, carrying mud, shrapnel, and the steel casings of landmines, shot into the sky, forming a rolling curtain of death.

The originally planned minefield instantly turned into a boiling pot of mud, spewing out steel fragments.

As the shockwave from the explosion swept through, the walls of several newly dug trenches collapsed like piles of sand, burying several South Korean engineers who were fleeing halfway down.

A huge circular crater appeared in the center of the minefield, like a greedy mouth swallowing everything nearby.

The mortar barrage from the three strike zones rained down like hail on the reverse slope of the high ground and the densely packed trench area behind it.

The explosions were continuous and almost without pause.

One of the 105mm grenades even struck the top of a heavy machine gun bunker made of thick logs with great precision.

"Crack! Crack! Boom!"

The sturdy logs were as fragile as rotten wood in the face of the terrifying explosive energy; the roof and half of the wall of the bunker were blown to pieces.

Broken logs, broken machine gun parts, scorching shrapnel, and human remains shot out in all directions like leaves in a hurricane.

The heavy machine gun with its barrel exposed to the wind, along with the three South Korean soldiers operating it, was completely wiped out in a flash of fire.

Another group of shells landed in the middle of a relatively concealed main trench, where the narrow space amplified the explosive power.

The powerful shockwave traveled at high speed along the walls of the trench, leaving the South Korean soldiers inside with nowhere to hide.

In an instant, severed limbs, shattered weapons, and splattered blood mist filled that section of the trench.

The South Korean soldiers who were fortunate enough to escape the blast were bleeding from their ears and noses, clutching their heads and huddled at the bottom of the trench, letting out inhuman screams. Smoke, dust, and the stench of blood instantly filled the entire area.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The shells continued relentlessly, one after another.

Lei Gong's voice was cold and hard as he assessed the situation through binoculars in the observation post: "Team One! Extend fifty meters westward! Cover the enemy's main communication trenches and sandbag firing points!"

Team Two! Clear the extended section behind the minefield! Delayed-fuze deep blast!

Teams three, maintain the pressure! Block all routes from the high ground towards Yuantongli!

Ten rapid-fire rounds! Fire! Quickly! Don't let them catch their breath!

On the artillery detachment's position, the second and third rounds of loading were completed at maximum speed.

Sweating profusely, the volunteer artillerymen mechanically repeated the actions of loading, locking, and firing, the scorching gun barrels distorting the surrounding air.

The sound of cannonballs leaving the barrel was like an endless hammer blow, striking the heart of everyone.

The main hill of the South Korean 23rd Regiment was now like a hellish landscape.

The meticulously constructed circular core position was now in complete disarray.

The barbed wire has completely disappeared, leaving only twisted and deformed piles and charred metal fragments scattered all over the ground.

The core support points of the so-called "crossfire network" were overturned and destroyed, along with several exposed firing points.

A trench was hit by several shells in succession, turning it into a ditch filled with bits of flesh and mud, emitting a strong stench of blood and gunpowder.

The foxholes were blown into huge craters, filled with murky blood.

The South Korean soldiers who had just been driven to work feverishly by their commander Park Jae-sang's "spiritual victory method" now collapsed like wheat being cut down.

Screams, cries, and heart-wrenching pleas for help were completely drowned out by the continuous explosions.

A South Korean soldier was thrown into the air by the shockwave and crashed heavily onto a pile of sandbags that had collapsed. He lost feeling in his lower body and could only helplessly stretch out his bloodied hand.

Another soldier, whose head had been shattered by shrapnel, rolled into a nearby crater that was already half a foot deep in water.

Many more were left bleeding from all seven orifices, dizzy, and completely unable to move, as they were shaken by the flying debris, shockwaves, and tremendous noise. They could only instinctively clutch their heads and writhe in the mud and pools of blood.

"Medic! Help me—!"

"My legs! My legs are gone—ah—!"

"God! Save us!"

"We can't hold on any longer! Run!"

In an instant, chaos spread like a plague.

Some South Korean soldiers completely ignored the officers' hoarse shouts and attempts to stop them, abandoning their tools and weapons and running around the smoke-filled, flame-scorched battlefield, desperately trying to find a way out to a relatively safe area in the rear.

Some people tried to jump into the gaps in the collapsed bunker, but were completely buried alive by the soil and rocks that fell from the secondary explosion.

Some people rushed into open areas in a panic, only to be shot and killed by tank artillery fire from a distance.

Fear completely overwhelmed the previous false fervor.

The recruit who had been reprimanded by the regimental commander earlier was now huddled in a corner of a foxhole that had been partially destroyed by bombing.

He covered his ears tightly with both hands, his pupils dilated, and he made hoarse, hoarse sounds as he broke down completely.

The officer next to him was Battalion Commander Jiang, who had once boasted about using firepower to annihilate Chinese light infantry.

His helmet was askew, his left arm dangling, clearly broken by flying stones. Leaning against a section of broken trench wall, he muttered unconsciously, "Tanks...the tanks haven't arrived yet...the guns...this gun..."

At that moment, Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Choi Jung-wook was struggling to tackle the stunned Regiment Commander Park Jae-sang behind a relatively sturdy bunker.

A shell exploded just a few meters away, the violent shock causing the logs of the bunker to creak, and a shower of dirt fell all over the two men.

Choi Jung-wook shouted hoarsely into Park Jae-sang's ear, "Commander! We must request air support and artillery fire from the division!"
We can't hold on by ourselves!

Most of the fortifications have been destroyed! The morale of the troops is about to collapse!

Park Jae-sang's thick woolen overcoat was now covered in mud and bloodstains, his earlier inspiring declaration of national pride had been shattered by the horrific scene before him.

His eardrums throbbed from the violent explosion, and he seemed not to have heard what Cui Zhengxu was saying. He simply struggled in vain to reach out towards the radio and said:

"Telephone... radio... request support from the division headquarters and the Americans in Yuantongli!"

We need all the support!
"In the air! Cannons! Quick!"

However, the location of the radio operator had already been covered by the suppressive artillery fire from the three teams, and the small communications bunker, along with the equipment and people inside, had disappeared.

Even with radio stations, sending messages out under such intense artillery fire would be extremely difficult, let alone receiving an immediate and effective response.

“Boom boom boom boom—!”

The artillery detachment continued its bombardment without any reduction in intensity.

Lei Gong's orders were continuously issued via battlefield telephone, and the entire artillery position carried out the tasks of "washing" and "isolation" with precision and ruthlessness.

The firelight illuminated the artillerymen's faces, which were covered in sweat and soot. Each volunteer soldier executed his actions with mechanical precision, ensuring that every shell landed accurately in the designated area.

The grenades precisely eliminated remaining firing positions and high-value targets.

Delayed-fuze shells continued to efficiently clear minefield debris and fortified bunkers.

Mortar shells, like the relentless scythe of death, reaped lives as people fled in chaos.

Explosions echoed across the high ground, bursts of fire erupted in different locations, and billowing black smoke, tinged with crimson blood, shot straight into the sky.

The once-solid fortifications were torn open one by one, the trenches were blown to pieces, and the sandbag bunkers were razed to the ground.

The South Korean army's carefully constructed positions are being rapidly torn apart and shattered by countless falling shells.

Thick smoke from artillery fire and choking dust, along with the nauseating stench of blood, completely enveloped the first line of defense held by the 23rd Regiment of the Korean Army in Wontong-ri.

After an unknown amount of time, the artillery fire finally extended far into the distance, and the South Korean soldiers finally caught their breath.

However, just as the smoke from the bombing had dissipated slightly, the roar of Chinese tank formations rapidly approached.

Inside Tank No. 1
"Lei Gong did a great job! The artillery fire destroyed the fortifications and morale of the 23rd Regiment of the Korean Army, and the artillery fire also successfully extended to isolate their rear!"
Sound the bugle call! Launch a three-pronged attack according to my previous plan!

"Tanks, go full speed ahead and follow me! Guard battalion, follow up! Don't give them time to react!"

Wu Wanli glanced at the situation on the Sky Eye map and realized that the Han 23rd Regiment was just one strike away from victory. He immediately gave the order via radio.

"Yes!!!"

At that moment, the radio relayed the responses from everyone.

"Drip drip drip drip drip drip—!"

In an instant, the unique bugle call of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army pierced the sky like a dragon's roar and resounded everywhere.

Inside Tank No. 1, some distance outside the South Korean army's position.
"Accelerate! Turn right 15 degrees, target: main passage of the ring-shaped core position on the high ground!"

Wu Wanli gave the order loudly.

At the same time, he stared intently at the map floating in his mind, his God-like perspective clearly overlooking the muddy, crater-strewn battlefield:

The main position of the ROK 23rd Regiment was as if it had been repeatedly plowed by a furious giant plow. After the baptism of artillery fire, all that was left of the carefully constructed defensive line was ruins and twisted metal.

The destroyed trenches resembled charred scars, and broken wooden stakes, shattered sandbags, and mud-covered, damaged weapons were scattered everywhere.

Thick smoke, mixed with lingering gunpowder fumes and a faint stench of blood, permeated the air, enveloping this hellish area.

The South Korean soldiers, fleeing in disarray, were like scattered black dots amidst the ruins, while the guard battalion soldiers charged closely behind the attacking tank formation.

The driver of Tank Number One slammed on the accelerator and simultaneously pulled the control lever with his left hand. The heavy tank let out a deep roar from its diesel engine and charged fiercely toward the top of the hill!
The commander's cupola of Tank No. 1 was open, and a biting wind, carrying with it the pungent smell of gunpowder and a faint stench of blood, rushed in.

Wu Wanli's upper body was steadily exposed outside the swaying turret, his center of gravity low, his right hand firmly pressed on the headset he was wearing, ensuring that command and communication were absolutely unimpeded.

His eyes were incredibly sharp, focusing not only on the field of vision before him, but also constantly glancing at the three-dimensional map of the entire battlefield spread out in his mind.

Just as the tank's massive and heavy hull was almost at the top of the hill, a flash of light suddenly appeared from behind a half-collapsed earthen bunker on the right!
"Clang!"

A deafening clang of metal striking metal seemed to ring out right next to my ears!

The massive shockwave acted directly on the armor of the Panzer I, causing the entire tank to tilt and vibrate violently to the left!

Clang! Bang!

A blinding orange-red fireball exploded violently on the slope less than five meters to the left front of Tank No. 1!

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli immediately gave the order over the radio: "Lei Gong! There is an anti-tank firing point in the northeast corner of the coordinate area!"

Smash it! Now!!
Estimated reference scale XXX, direction XX-XX-XX!

After receiving Wu Wanli's coordinates and orders, Lei Gong immediately directed the artillery bombardment.

A distinctive, sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out in the sky, tearing through the air!

"Boom!"

"Whoosh—Boom! Boom! Boom—!"

Four enormous flames, mixed with thick smoke and flying sand and dirt, struck with pinpoint accuracy the area around the collapsed bunker on the right side of the hilltop, where only half of the structure remained!
A wave of heat suddenly rushed toward the hatch of Tank No. 1, and thick dust instantly blurred the view.

Wu Wanli could clearly hear the anti-tank gun hidden in the bunker and the screams of the South Korean soldiers erupting from behind the surrounding bunkers.

Just two shots later, these screams were completely drowned out by the continuous bombardment of the shells!

"Eliminate the threat! Move forward!"

Wu Wanli took a deep breath and roared hoarsely.

Without hesitation, the driver yanked the gear lever back and floored the accelerator!

The Pershing tank roared as its massive body climbed the hilltop, its tracks crushing the edge of the position!

About twenty meters ahead, a small group of South Korean soldiers, who had just been driven out of the trench by artillery fire, stood frozen in place, their faces a mixture of extreme shock and fear.

They couldn't believe that this Chinese army not only had so many heavy tanks, but also such precise and fierce artillery support for coordinated attacks!
"Fire!"

Wu Wanli gave the order decisively.

The gunner of Tank No. 1 slammed his right foot on the firing pedal almost simultaneously!
"Bang—!"

The tank gun of the Panzer I spewed out a violent burst of flames, and the huge impact caused the entire heavy Panzer I to lurch and shake violently!
The high-explosive grenade, trailing a deadly trajectory, slammed into the ground in the center of the group of South Korean soldiers!
"Bam—!"

Flesh, limbs, shredded cotton uniforms, shattered rocks, and mud mingled violently together to form a brief but terrifying dark red cylinder!
A thick, warm spray of blood splattered violently onto the mudguards and tilted armor of the No. 1 tank, flowing down in a thick stream.

The sporadic screams were instantly drowned out by the roar!
At the same time, the tank's machine guns roared to life amidst the aftershocks of the artillery fire!
"Da da da da da..."

The dense barrage of bullets hissed and spun, causing several South Korean soldiers whose bodies were not completely covered by the blast to convulse and tumble to the ground!
And so, the No. 1 tank relentlessly crushed the highest point of the ROK 23rd Regiment's circular core position!
The moment the hilltop was torn open, the guard battalion following closely behind the tank formation was released like a tightly compressed spring!
The prehistoric battalion commander roared, "Charge!" and simultaneously raised his signal pistol, sending a blinding green flare soaring into the sky.

As if hearing a silent command, the elite soldiers of the guard battalion scattered instantly like three torrents of iron bursting their banks.

They clung tightly to the gaps created by the tank assault ahead, sweeping outwards along the shattered trenches repeatedly ravaged by artillery fire!

“Da da da da—!”

"Boom! Boom!"

"boom!"

The narrow, twisted trench, filled with mud and severed limbs, suddenly erupted with deafening close-range fire!

The dull, rapid bursts of the Thompson submachine gun, the crisp, eight-round bursts characteristic of the M1 Garand rifle, and the heavy explosions of grenades echoed across the trench walls!
The guards, in groups of three, back to back, moved with the swiftness and precision of sophisticated killing machines.

They advanced under cover, and before the smoke from the explosions had even cleared, sharp bayonets and short bursts of fire were already at the enemy's doorstep.

At the first zigzag turn, in the firing position haphazardly piled with sandbags and broken logs...
Several South Korean soldiers had just set up a Browning heavy machine gun, its surface mottled with mud and water, their fingers barely able to grip the trigger due to fear and the cold.

The prehistoric leader stopped abruptly the moment he rounded the corner, curling up and using the edge of a shell crater as a foothold, with his submachine gun already pressed against his shoulder.

"Ta-ta-ta-ta!"

A single, precise burst of fire sent a South Korean gunner, who had been trying to stabilize his machine gun just seconds before, sprawling backward.

His chest was pierced by a high-speed bullet fired at close range, creating a huge hole that sprayed out blood and fragments of shattered internal organs.

Before the South Korean assistant gunner next to him could react, a grenade thrown by a soldier from the guard battalion on the other side grazed the trench wall, drew a high arc, and tumbled into the firing position!

"Boom!"

The flames exploded within the narrow bunker, and the shockwave, carrying wood chips, pieces of flesh, and twisted machine gun parts, slammed heavily against the narrow trench walls with a dull thud.

Before the smoke had cleared, a third guard battalion soldier pounced like a cheetah, his bayonet accurately piercing the neck of a South Korean soldier who was staggering backward from the explosion.

The blade pierced through the uniform with a muffled thud, and blood gushed out from the wound. The last vestiges of terror on the South Korean soldier's face froze.

Just as another South Korean soldier, reacting a little faster, raised his Type 38 rifle to stab, a precise rifle bullet pierced through the back of his head from his open mouth, spraying a mixture of blood and bone fragments onto the trench wall!
"Left-side trench! Enemy routs! Trio, be on alert!"

The prehistoric voice, still highly penetrating amidst the intense gunfire, shouted.

Upon hearing the sound, three guard battalion soldiers who were dealing with the remaining enemy forces inside the bunker immediately turned around.

At the other end of the narrow passage, three distraught South Korean soldiers had just crawled out of another section of the trench that had been destroyed by artillery fire, dragging their comrade with a broken leg as they stumbled and staggered toward the rear.

The squad leader of the guard battalion, leaning forward, fired a short but deadly burst of fire with his submachine gun as steady as a rock.

"Da da da!"

The two South Korean soldiers at the forefront of the retreat burst open in blood on their chests, and with great momentum, they fell forward, their bodies crashing into the mud and water.

The last South Korean soldier dragging the wounded soldier turned around in terror, his face deathly pale. He opened his mouth as if to shout something, but a precise pistol bullet pierced his forehead, instantly extinguishing his unspoken cry and consciousness.

The wounded South Korean soldier with a broken leg collapsed in despair onto his comrades, only to be struck hard on the temple by the butt of a rifle by another guard battalion soldier who rushed up behind him. He collapsed without even uttering a sound.

Without pausing for a moment, he brought down the heavily worn but gleaming entrenching tool in his hand.

"Crack!"

With a sharp crack, the arm bone of a South Korean soldier who had just struggled to his feet from the mud pit and was futilely raising his forearm to try to block was broken, the twisted and deformed angle of which was shocking.

The South Korean soldier let out a heart-wrenching scream. Before the scream had even faded, Shi Qian kicked him hard in the jaw with the heavy sole of his military boot. The faint sound of bones breaking was drowned out by the chaotic noise of the battlefield.

The South Korean soldier's body fell straight backward like a puppet with its strings cut, his neck twisted unnaturally, and he remained motionless.

Just two minutes!
One of the key passages to the core of the highlands has been completely opened!
All that remained on the ground were the efficiently dismembered corpses of South Korean soldiers, splattered dark red blood, and a mixture of gases that emitted the distinctive stench of gunpowder, blood, and ruptured internal organs.

"Commander! Regiment..."

A wail rang out from outside a bunker that had been partially destroyed by the explosion.

Battalion Commander Jiang Chengri, covered in black mud and congealed dark red blood clots, was futilely dragging two soldiers' corpses with his still-movable left hand, trying to plug the small gap created by the mortar shell.

His scarred face, covered in oil, sweat, and dust, was contorted with pain and extreme fear. His previous fervor and shouts had been crushed by the torrent of steel and fire in reality.

When he saw those prehistoric eyes, cold as polar ice and devoid of any emotion under the smoke of gunpowder, he felt a sudden chill run through his body, as if he had been frozen instantly.

Overwhelmed by immense fear, he even scrambled into the mud beside him, forgetting to pick up the mud-covered pistol that lay beside him.

"what!……"

The desperate scream only produced half a syllable. The entrenching tool in the prehistoric hand ripped through the air.

"Woo!"

With a sharp sound, the prehistoric entrenching tool cleaved down with incredible speed and power!
The sharp blade of the spatula sliced ​​into the back of Jiang Chengri's head where his cervical spine connected, as easily as cutting through tofu!

Jiang Chengri's body convulsed violently twice, his eyes bulged out, instantly losing all their luster, and he collapsed slumped into the mud.

The prehistoric gaze did not pause for a moment, but locked onto the half-collapsed shelter not far away, which was barely supported by a few huge, blood-stained logs!
That's the core command post of the South Korean 23rd Regiment!
Park Jae-sang will surely be trapped there!
The tracks of the No. 1 tank kicked up blackish-red mud, crushing over a broken wooden observation post and scattered ammunition boxes.

At the same time, Wu Wanli's body swayed slightly forward with the momentum of the tank rushing over the small slope.

Through his Sky Eye, he saw that Pinghe's reconnaissance detachment and Gao Daxing's assault detachment had successfully outflanked the high ground from both sides and were rapidly closing in on the core area of ​​the South Korean army's position!

However, he noticed a faint disturbance in the half-collapsed supply bunker area on the left.

About fifty South Korean soldiers, driven by a South Korean officer with a cold look in his eyes, were using the low-lying area of ​​the broken communication trench and the half-buried bunker as cover, and were rushing at high speed from the side to stab the guard battalion in the rear!

Clearly, they intend to disrupt the prehistoric offensive!
This small, still-cobbled-together counterattack force must be dismantled immediately, otherwise the rear of the guard battalion attacking the core point will be exposed to enemy fire!
"I will join the army!"

Two points in the direction of the depression!

An enemy counterattack group is rushing towards the left flank of the guard battalion!
"Immediately open fire! Take them down!"

Wu Wanli gave the order over the radio.

"Roger that! Give it to me!"

Soon, Yu Congrong's voice came through the radio.

Not long after, the heavy firepower of the artillery detachment began to unleash its power!
“Boom boom boom boom—!”

“Boom boom boom boom—!”

The almost hoarse roar of two Browning heavy machine guns suddenly rang out on a raised slope, 400 meters to the left of the core position, where the ground had been ripped open by high-explosive shells!

The ammunition belt was rapidly devoured, and scalding brass cartridge cases gushed out violently from the ejection port like a fountain!

The flames spewing from the gun barrels were particularly glaring against the smoke-filled battlefield!

A metallic storm of machine gun bullets, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound that tore through the air, swept fiercely across the depression where Wu Wanli had just marked the movement path of the South Korean remnants on the Sky Eye map!

The bullets lashed the mud like steel whips, exploding into dense sprays of water in the low-lying, muddy areas, but mixed in with them were large amounts of spraying blood mist and the dull sound of human muscles and bones being torn apart in an instant!

The South Korean remnants who attempted to rush towards the left rear waist of the guard battalion seemed to have crashed into an invisible, scorching steel wall!
The bodies of the seven or eight South Korean soldiers charging at the forefront were instantly blasted into pieces and exploded!

The soldiers crammed into the hollow behind them fell down like harvested wheat!

The South Korean company commander, who was frantically driving his soldiers to attack, only managed to shout half a sentence before being hit in the upper body by at least five armor-piercing incendiary rounds!
The area above the chest cavity completely disappeared, as if it had been thrown into a meat grinder!

A cloud of crimson mist, mixed with fragments of internal organs and shredded military uniform fabric, burst open in the depression!

Less than ten seconds!

An entire counter-attack group of South Korean troops was precisely covered, destroyed, and vaporized by this terrifying firepower!
All that remained were the murky pool of blood that instantly formed in the depression and dozens of mangled corpses still being whipped by stray bullets, proving that they had once existed!

The guard battalion's worries were completely eliminated! Their prehistoric offensive momentum was not diminished in the slightest!

"Prehistoric! Smash it open!"

Wu Wanli gave the order over the radio.

At the same time, the dark 76mm gun muzzle of Tank No. 1 instantly lowered, locking onto the half-collapsed command bunker where Park Jae-sang was hiding!

Target locked, destruction is decided with just one button!
Inside the bunker, Park Jae-sang's thick woolen overcoat was covered in churned yellow soil and mud, while bits of dirt kept falling from above, splattering onto his greasy, ashen face.

The last backup radio had been blown into several twisted pieces of metal debris, with sparks still flickering and dying out between the broken wires.

He gripped his hair tightly with both hands, his eyes bloodshot and red, his pupils filled with spiderweb-like veins, and immense terror was tearing at his already fragile nerves.

Chief of Staff Choi Jung-wook lay on a crack in the ground, peering out. When he saw the Pershing Tank No. 1 approaching in his field of vision, his body went completely limp.

"Clang!!"

A shockwave, even more devastating than artillery fire, suddenly shook the bunker!
Prehistoric led the elite demolition team of the guard battalion to smash the already crumbling entrance with entrenching tools!

"Listen up, you inside! Surrender your weapons and you will not be killed!"

He roared loudly in broken Korean!
"The 23rd Regiment of South Korea surrendered."

Park Jae-sang shuddered violently, collapsing completely like a deflated balloon, and hurriedly shouted.

(End of this chapter)