Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 334 Ridgway Deploys Elite Cavalry Division! The First Decisive Battle on the Eastern Front is Imminent!
Seoul, UN Command Headquarters.

"Commander-in-Chief! Chief of Staff!"
Urgent report from Fupingli! The main force of the 7th Steel Corps of the Chinese Army has rushed westward after capturing Yuantongli!
All of my outer defenses in Fupingli have been lost!
The British battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Beckham and the French battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Zidane were routed by their main forces and suffered heavy losses.

Lieutenant Colonel Beckham and Lieutenant Colonel Zidane have both been confirmed dead in action!

The remaining British and French troops, along with approximately 3,000 officers and soldiers from our army and American troops, were compressed into the core defensive perimeter of Fupingli.

The Chinese Air Force has just carried out high-intensity precision bombing of our logistics warehouse complex.

The stored ammunition, fuel, medicine, and most of the food reserves were completely destroyed!
Current reserves are estimated to last for less than 48 hours!
The defending troops faced a severe survival crisis, and their combat capabilities plummeted.

The air force urgently needs to launch a large-scale airdrop supply operation!
Repeat: The garrison at Fuping Village is surrounded and urgently needs air support and supplies; otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable!

A U.S. military staff officer rushed in, his voice trembling slightly.

Inside the command post, from Ridgway to the ordinary staff officers, a hint of astonishment appeared on everyone's face.

"impossible!

How long has it been since Yuantongli fell?
Four hours? Six hours? Did they fly?!
The Third Division of the Han Army has at least ten thousand men!

Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg suddenly stood up and said.

"Is this the China Steel Seventh Team?"

They had just wiped out the Han Third Division, and in the blink of an eye, they had crossed dozens of kilometers to rush towards Fupingli, and even broke through the combined defense of the British and French battalions..."

An older staff colonel stared wide-eyed, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

Lieutenant General Van Fleet's expression turned extremely grim. He quickly stood up and strode toward the huge battle map on the wall.

With precise fingertips tracing the battlefield: the location of Yangkou City, where the blue marker representing the US 2nd Division is partially surrounded by red arrows representing the Chinese 27th and 12th Armies.

In Yuantongli, the area has been completely turned red.

Then, he pressed hard on Fupingli—that crucial pivot point.

The sign representing Fupingli is now tightly surrounded by even more intense red arrows representing the offensive power of the Seventh Steel Brigade.

"Everyone, I don't need to elaborate on the strategic location of Fuping Village."

It is a crucial node that locks down the logistics throat of the Second Division of the US Army in Yangkou City, and it is also the most convenient and direct passage for the Second Division of the US Army to retreat!

Once Fupingli falls completely into the hands of the Chinese army, it will be like using an iron clamp to clamp the retreat route of the US 2nd Division!
With supplies cut off and retreat routes blocked, the US 2nd Division is facing a complete dead end!

A forced breakout without any preparation carries incalculable risks!

General, I suggest... a drastic measure!
Immediately order the US 2nd Division in Yangkou City to organize its main force and break through the encirclement of the Chinese 27th and 12th Armies at all costs!
Then, retreat around the direction of Xingzhangmuli!

Although the journey is long and arduous, and there will be losses, this is the safest way to preserve our strength!
It's more realistic than risking everything to open up the Fupingli Pass!
"We can give up on Fuping Village; those three thousand people are beyond saving!"

Chief of Staff Van Fleet sighed.

"fart!
VanVleet, were you scared out of your wits by that Chinese Steel Seventh Team?!

Open your eyes and look!

Look at every blue sign painted on this wall!
We have hundreds of thousands of elite UN troops equipped with tanks, artillery, and aircraft!
The war has only been going on for a few days?
Several key strongholds have just been lost, and you're already thinking of drastic measures? Retreat?

Are you suggesting we let the Chinese army, which is riding high on the entire eastern front, chase after us?!

Who were the people besieged in Fuping Village?!
It's a British battalion! It's a French battalion! It's our American soldiers!

Those are soldiers from our allies! They are our own soldiers!

Abandon them?! Tell me how we're going to explain this to the governments in London and Paris?

How are we going to explain this to the American media and the public?!

Did the 'brave' UN forces abandon their valiant allies and compatriots under pressure?!

Such behavior will not only completely destroy the morale and fighting spirit of frontline soldiers.

If they can abandon their British and French brothers today, who can guarantee they won't abandon their own people tomorrow?!

More seriously, it will trigger a crisis of confidence within the entire UN forces!
Troops from different countries will become suspicious and wary of each other! They will grow increasingly divided and disloyal!

How can we fight this war?!

This is political suicide! This is a devastating blow to the Allied system and the image of the entire West!
We lost not only these three thousand soldiers and the armed forces they represented!
What we have lost is the 'justice' and 'cohesion' of this war!
Generals, this cannot be covered up by a simple tactical setback!

Eckerberg rushed to the map, his finger almost poking Van Fleet's nose as he spoke.

"Eckerberg, put away your high-sounding political correctness!"
I know better than anyone what losing even one American soldier means!
But I know better than you what kind of monster we're facing!

The group surrounding Fupingli is not an ordinary North Korean guerrilla force!
This is not an ordinary Chinese infantry column!

It's the damn Chinese Steel Seventh Corps!

It's that Chinese tactical genius named Wu Wanli!

They fought continuously under extremely harsh conditions and managed to defeat the Han Third Division.

Then, without stopping, they marched dozens of kilometers and crushed the notoriously tenacious British and French battalions with lightning speed!

Beckham and Zidane are both dead!

The combat effectiveness, willpower, and determination of this unit have reached a level that we cannot fathom using common sense!

I don't believe they are incapable of taking down the core position of Fupingli; they are besieging it! They are waiting!

What are you waiting for?
When our Second Teachers' College, out of anxiety and a sense of responsibility, willingly jumped into their trap!

What if we did as you suggested, ordering the Second Division of the US Army to rescue Fupingli and forcibly open up the passage?

I dare say that just as the main force of the 2nd Division of the United States left the fortified positions and was making a difficult advance towards Fupingli, the 7th Steel Corps would immediately launch a general offensive against Fupingli!

They might not even need a day or half a day to completely crush those three thousand exhausted, short of ammunition and food!

and then?
The Chinese 7th Steel Corps, now free to maneuver, will join forces with Li Yunlong's troops, who are following closely behind, to launch a pincer attack on the main force of the US 2nd Division, which is currently marching in the field!

That would be an absolute disaster!

It was the collapse of the entire UN forces' eastern theater!

It's a loss a hundred times worse than abandoning Fuping Village!

Faced with Eckerberg's barrage of accusations, Van Fleet, his face ashen, suppressed his anger and said...

“Why?!

Van Fleet, are you so sure this Chinese force still possesses such formidable strength?!
They are human beings! Not machines!
After continuous high-intensity rapid operations, they broke through Yuantongli and then launched a fierce attack on the outer perimeter of Fupingli, successfully breaking through!

Their soldiers will get tired!

Equipment will wear and tear!
Ammunition consumption will also be enormous!
The fierce resistance they just encountered and the results they achieved themselves—doesn't that prove they also paid a considerable price?

How could a group of remnants from the outer perimeter of Fupingli, which had already been destroyed, possibly stop my 2nd Division with such a small number of men?
Do you think our most elite division is less important than the North Korean militia?!
"Coward! You don't even dare to attack!"

Eckerberg was taken aback by Van Fleet's horrific description, but quickly countered with even more vehement rebuttal.

"enough!"

Ridgway's deep, sharp shout, like a muffled thunderclap, drowned out all the arguing.

He slowly stood up, his face as dark as a clouded sky, his cold gaze sweeping over the two chiefs of staff who were locked in a fierce confrontation.

The heated argument came to an abrupt halt, and all the officers held their breath.

Van Fleet and Eckerberg's chests heaved violently, like two bulls glaring at each other, but they forced themselves to remain silent.

A suffocating silence fell over the command center, with only the piercing buzz of the telegraph machine remaining.

Ridgway's gaze shifted from Fupingli on the map to Chu Yunfei, the unusually quiet Chinese advisor in the corner.

"Mr. Chu, as an advisor familiar with the situation on the East Asian battlefield, what is your view on the current situation in Fupingli?"
And what are your insights on strategies to counter our military?

Ridgway asked.

In an instant, all eyes were focused on Chu Yunfei.

The opinion of this officer from China suddenly became subtle and crucial at this critical moment for Allied decisions.

Van Fleet and Eckerberg both stared intently at him, trying to discern his true inclinations from his subtle expressions and phrasing.

Chu Yunfei seemed to have anticipated being called out.

He calmly put down the documents in his hand, stood up, and first nodded slightly to Ridgway and several senior generals.

Then Chu Yunfei walked to the map, standing a little distance away from the two chiefs of staff, his gaze steadily sweeping over Yangkou, Fupingli, and the wider battlefield.

After a brief silence, he spoke in a clear, calm, and distinctly analytical tone:

"Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Staff Van Fleet, and Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg..."
Both officers' judgments were based on their profound understanding of the battlefield situation, and they also revealed the severity and complexity of the problem.

Chief of Staff Van Fleet's focus on mitigating uncontrollable tactical risks and ensuring the safety of the core US 2nd Division on the Eastern Front was a prudent move.

Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg emphasized the profound concerns regarding allied coordination, morale maintenance, and the unavoidable political and diplomatic consequences.

However, if I may be so bold, it seems that everyone is viewing this crisis on the Eastern Front in 'isolation'?

Why limit our focus to the US 2nd Division in Yangkou City and the Chinese troops surrounding Fupingli?
General Ridgway, doesn't your command still have a powerful strategic reserve force?!

Especially the 1st Cavalry Division, which possesses powerful armor and high mobility!
They are indeed farther from Fupingli than the Second Teachers' College in Yangkou, but they are not completely out of reach!

Moreover, isn't the purpose of the reserve force to respond to such a sudden and serious situation and provide decisive battlefield support?
As for the concerns raised by Deputy Chief of Staff Eckelberg regarding 'morale' and 'Allied unity,' they are very good.

In my view, deploying our most elite 1st Cavalry Division to reinforce and rescue the besieged Allied soldiers is precisely the most powerful action to boost morale!

It will prove to all allies and soldiers that the United States will never abandon its comrades-in-arms in times of crisis!

Furthermore, everything would be fine if the 1st Cavalry Division could arrive at the battlefield in time with overwhelming force.

They don't need to attack the core perimeter of Fupingli, which is already heavily fortified by the Seventh Steel Brigade!

They only need to swiftly penetrate the junction or flank between Fupingli and Li Yunlong's troops of the Chinese Eastern Assault Group to effectively contain the possible counter-encirclement attempt by the Seventh Steel Brigade against the Second American Division that is rushing to our aid.

At the same time, it can also create a channel and space for the main force of the Second Division of the United States to successfully break away from the outer perimeter of Yangkou City and safely retreat!
Once the main force of the US Second Division successfully rendezvouses with the mixed regiment trapped in Fupingli!

The assembled heavy forces, under the strong cover of the elite 1st Cavalry Division, and with powerful air and ground fire support, were enough to seize the strategic initiative.

Whether they choose to hold their ground in the Fupingli defensive perimeter for longer and wait for our strategic adjustments.

We should concentrate our efforts on a counterattack and repel the Chinese army.

There's even a chance to try and annihilate the exhausted Chinese Steel Seventh Brigade with overwhelming firepower!
Of course, this is a simulation based on the most ideal battle scenario.

But its core message is: We have strength! We have a powerful reserve force that we can mobilize!

We don't have to make a painful choice between 'abandoning' or 'taking a risky offensive'!

We can fully utilize our reserves, with strong support from the air force, to conduct a proactive and decisive relief and counterattack operation!
This will not only resolve the immediate crisis, but also deal a heavy blow to the enemy's morale!
Awe Li Yunlong's Eastern Front Assault Group! Regain the strategic initiative!

This is the only way to break the deadlock that aligns with the strength and identity of our UN forces and will once and for all eliminate our passive situation!

The value of deploying the 1st Cavalry Division lies not only in its rescue efforts, but also in its potential to create a historic opportunity to annihilate China's sharpest weapon!

Chu Yunfei's speech was fluent, well-organized, and logically complete.

He skillfully combined Van Fleet's concern about "avoiding the US Second Division being caught in the crossfire" with Eckerberg's emphasis on "not abandoning political and allied responsibilities"—two seemingly contradictory core points.

Furthermore, he proposed a solution that seemed to have manageable risks and huge returns.

More importantly, he introduced the prospect of using a strong reserve force for a powerful counterattack.

This line of thinking itself has a strong appeal and persuasiveness, which resonates with the subconscious desire of most officers in the command to take the initiative.

In particular, his ultimate goal of "taking advantage of the situation to annihilate the Seventh Steel Brigade" was extremely tempting, which dropped a bombshell on the minds of the commanders who were already suffering from the stimulation of this "ghost unit".

The entire command center fell into an even deeper silence.

Several staff members who had initially supported Van Fleet's "drastic measures" now showed signs of hesitation and reconsideration.

Eckerberg's furrowed brows relaxed slightly. After all, Chu Yunfei supported his core principle of rescuing allies and offered a more "offensive" solution.

VanVleet stared intently at the distant reserve team position on the map, then glanced at the glaring red circle in Fuping Village. The anxiety about the time difference and the psychological shadow cast by the Steel Seventh Team still weighed heavily on his mind.

Clearly, he did not trust that Chu Yunfei's rosy vision could be easily realized.

Van Fleet opened his mouth, wanting to ask many questions.

The specific assembly and maneuver time of the 1st Cavalry Division, whether Fupingli could hold out until that moment, and whether the 7th Steel Brigade, under desperate siege, still had enough will to resist the frontal breakthrough of the US 2nd Division...

Significant uncertainty at any stage could cause the entire rescue operation to collapse into a greater disaster.

A hint of a smile flashed in Chu Yunfei's eyes; this was precisely the opportunity he was giving Wu Wanli and Brother Yunlong under his strategy.

If you're fast enough, you can break the game and win.

Van Fleet's voice was dry and hoarse, but with a final insistence, he said, "General, Mr. Chu's strategic vision is very ambitious, but the time factor must also be considered!"

The 1st Cavalry Division is currently located more than 150 kilometers away from Fupingli as the crow flies!
The terrain along the way is complex and the road conditions are unclear, so there will inevitably be constant harassment from enemy small groups and guerrillas!

Even if the order is issued immediately and the entire division launches a forced march, it will take at least 36 hours, or even more than 48 hours, to reach the designated combat position!
Moreover, during this period, the Chinese troops on the periphery will inevitably continue to exert pressure and launch attacks to wear them down!
Can they last for a full thirty-six hours?
If they collapse before reinforcements arrive, our 2nd Infantry Division, in its all-out effort to break through and reinforce, will encounter resistance, delays, or heavy losses, and will fail to form a cohesive force in time.

At that time, facing the pincer attack of the Seventh Steel Brigade and Li Yunlong's Eastern Front Assault Group, as well as the deeply penetrated First Cavalry Division, the entire Eastern Front situation would descend into uncontrollable chaos! Therefore, I strongly suggest…”

Van Fleet was interrupted by Ridgway abruptly raising his hand before he could finish speaking.

Ridgway's eyes gleamed with a long-deliberated determination, as well as a hint of adventurous glint ignited by the prospect of a counterattack described by Chu Yunfei.

"Van Fleet! Concerns will always exist! But we cannot let concerns freeze our actions!"

Eckerberg is right, Consultant Chu's proposal is more constructive!
Abandoning the Allies was a last resort, and the political disaster it would bring far outweigh any battlefield losses!
We still have trump cards up our sleeves! Powerful air force! Elite reserves!
Relay my orders!

Order 1: Immediately call Lieutenant Colonel Henry of Fuping Village!

Make it clear to him that the UN High Command will never abandon any soldier who fights loyally!

Regardless of nationality, he was ordered to take unified command of the besieged British, French, and American troops, and regardless of whether they were wounded or not, to organize all available forces and hold their ground, relying on the core defensive fortifications of Fupingli!

We must fight to the death to buy time for reinforcements!
Order 2: Inform Air Force Command to immediately develop and launch Operation Hurricane Lifeline!
From now on, mobilize all available large transport aircraft to deliver large quantities of supplies to the garrison in Fupingli.

Saturation supply ensures they can hold their ground with firepower superiority!

Order 3: After the US 2nd Division holds out for a while to wear down Li Yunlong's eastern assault group, it can break through and rendezvous with Fupingli.

If the 1st Cavalry Division arrives quickly and the situation permits, they can take the opportunity to encircle and annihilate the Chinese 7th Steel Corps!

Order 4: Instruct Freeman of the 1st Cavalry Division to immediately lead the 1st Cavalry Division on a forced march to support the US 2nd Division and mixed regiments on the Eastern Front!
"While ensuring the safety of the US 2nd Division and the mixed regiment, we will then seize an opportunity to encircle and annihilate the Chinese 7th Steel Brigade!"

Li Qiwei slammed his hand on the table, a sharp glint in his eyes, and gave the order.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, seeing that Li Qiwei had made up his mind, everyone could only agree in unison.

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

Meanwhile, inside the headquarters of the Seventh Steel Brigade, outside Fuping Village.
In an instant, the curtain was ripped open, bringing in a gust of cold wind carrying the smell of gunpowder.

A Chinese People's Volunteer Army reconnaissance soldier, covered in mud and snow, rushed in, shouting, "They're here! Southwest airspace! A large formation of aircraft!"
"I guess this is the US military's logistical support aircraft group that the commander mentioned!"

The air suddenly tensed up.

Yu Congrong stuffed the rest of the chocolate into his mouth and mumbled indistinctly, "Damn it, it's finally here!"

Commander, set up those anti-aircraft guns and bring a few of them down!
These pampered soldiers are floating in the sky; if they're scared out of their wits, they'll just throw things around recklessly!

Pinghe suddenly stood up, his ammunition belts scattering all over the ground, and said, "Nonsense! If the anti-aircraft guns fire, not only will our position be exposed, but the transport planes that are hit will crash down, and the area within several miles will be in turmoil!"
Our soldiers are down below building trenches and setting up firing positions; even a single piece of aircraft wreckage could cost them half their lives!

Gao Daxing wiped his face, his voice weary from days of fierce fighting, and said, "If all else fails... let them in?"

Anyway, Fupingli will be our meat sooner or later, so we'll just go in and take it when the time comes.

The Americans might not have had time to bomb everything while they were running away.

Liu Hanqing put down the pen he had just used to register the seized supplies, his gaze sharp as he said:
"impossible!

The fact that the US military could maintain control even after both the French and British camps had been bombed shows they were no pushovers.

They definitely have contingency plans. If the situation changes, they will immediately organize the destruction of excess supplies and will not leave us a single grain of food or a single bullet!
This strategy was devised by Wan Li; let's see what he has to say.

Everyone nodded upon hearing this, and their gazes instantly focused on Wu Wanli.

Wu Wanli remained in the position of looking down at the map, but his right thumb unconsciously rubbed the wooden handle of the pencil as he said, "It's too risky to shoot it down."

Putting it in would introduce too many variables.

Let them become blind, misjudging the market and investing recklessly, minimizing risk and maximizing profit.

Lei Gong, within five minutes, fire half of the smoke grenades you brought!

Target: 2,000 to 3,000 meters above Fupingli!

I want the whole sky to turn into ashes at the bottom of a pot!

The gun emplacements will move at full speed, fire rapidly for three minutes, and then immediately relocate!
Yu Congrong! Gao Daxing!
Bring along the captured American Stars and Stripes, the largest size!

Pick out the loudest and most boisterous soldiers under your command!

Here, here, and here on the map, let's get our comrades rolling up their sleeves and working like crazy!

We need to work as hard as a bunch of American soldiers who've finally seen their mother!
Let those American lords in the sky see the 'ground guidance signs' clearly!
Hanqing, contact Air Force Captain Wang Wei immediately!

Tell them to continue circling the perimeter and not to come any closer to alert the enemy. Wait until we've collected the loot and captured them alive before initiating any action if there's an emergency!

"Everyone, get ready! Hurry up!"

After Wu Wanli finished speaking, he waved to everyone.

Before long, the command post was almost empty.

The heavy footsteps, the clanging of weapons, and the urgent shouts of commands blended together, rumbling outwards from the tunnel.

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

On Lei Gong's artillery position, the scene resembled a boiling iron pot.

"Quickly! Smoke grenades! Set parameters! Wind direction: southwest, wind speed: level 3! Coverage height: 2,800 meters!"

Lei Gong roared until his voice cracked, the veins on his neck bulged, one hand held up the artillery observation scope, and the other hand almost reached into the cold cannon barrel to feel the temperature.

Several artillery platoon leaders ran quickly to the deafening commands.

The ammunition handlers carried heavy ammunition boxes like ants carrying food, scrambling up the muddy, slippery slope with both hands and feet.

Someone stepped into a half-frozen mud pit, sinking most of his leg in. Immediately, two hands rushed over and pulled him out, while another person took the ammunition box from him.

Sweat and mud mingled on the loading hands, and the cotton-padded clothes were soaked and clung tightly to the back. The metallic clanging sound of the gun doors opening and closing was crisp and piercing.

"Boom boom boom boom...!"

Not long after, a dull yet deafening launch sound rang out.

The muzzles of the cannons flashed, and the position was once again engulfed in smoke.

This time, the shells that rose up left short, thick yellow trails of smoke as they whistled and pierced the sky.

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

On the southeastern slope, Yu Congrong practically rolled up a huge Stars and Stripes around himself, like an angry giant bear, climbing up a craggy mound on all fours.

"You damn American! Look closely! Your grandpa's right here!"

He roared in a hoarse voice, waving his arms wildly, the huge flag making a whooshing sound in the wind, extremely conspicuous against the gray-yellow hillside background.

At the bottom of the slope, Gao Daxing was forcefully tying an equally large flag to the top of a temporarily bound long wooden pole.

"Shorty! Little Shandong! Big Eyes Ma! You lot, jump! Jump! Shout!"
"Whoever's out of energy, go back and get the hell out of here!"

Gao Daxing tightened the rope while roaring at the dozen or so soldiers around him.

These selected "loudest voices" and "highest jumpers" immediately began.

Some people tore open their cotton-padded coats, revealing old American shirts they'd somehow acquired underneath; others simply stripped off their shirts, waving flags and jumping and shouting in the sub-zero wind:
"Hey! This way! The landing field is over here!"

"God bless America! Vote now, buddy!"

"I was sent by Lieutenant Colonel Beckham!"

"Hans! You damn cowboy, look down there!"

This chaotic yet enthusiastic scene, viewed from above, strangely exudes a sense of "formal welcoming."

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

In the sky, a massive fleet of transport aircraft has entered the airspace of Fupingli.

Inside the cockpit of the aircraft carrying the commander, navigator Lieutenant Green was scratching his head in frustration, muttering rudely:
"Where is the damn navigation signal?"
Where are the promised ground markings in Fupingli?
My God, it's all smoke below!

We felt like we'd fallen into the devil's ashtray!

Large areas of Fuping Village, where white phosphorus incendiary bombs were used, still emit wisps of ash smoke.

At that moment, a large number of new, thicker columns of tan smoke grenades were rising and churning below, completely blocking any possibility of observing the ground.

"Look! At three o'clock! On the slope! There's a flag! The Stars and Stripes!"

The observer slammed his hand on the back of the captain's seat and pointed to an area below the porthole where the smoke was relatively lighter.

The captain strained to squint through the billowing smoke.

On that open slope, there were indeed several spots where large American flags were being waved wildly, and figures could be vaguely seen jumping around.

"Is it them?"
This location... is quite different from the planned area, isn't it?

It's some distance from the town of Fupingli.

"U.S. bombardier Bob licked his chapped lips."

"Big deviation?

Bob, tell me now where the reservation area is?
Can you even see a single, complete roof below?
The navigation signal is completely off!

There, someone is guiding us!
That's the only identifier!
I don’t want to carry all this deadly stuff around in this thick smoke a second time!

Colonel Henry is still down there waiting for life-saving rations!

The entire team descends 1,500 feet, preparing to drop the item into the designated area!

Lieutenant Green laughed in exasperation, pointed to the smoke barrier that seemed to connect heaven and earth outside the window, and gave the order over the radio.

"Roger that!"

"Roger that!"

"..."

Soon, various US military transport planes responded.

After the order was given, the massive formation of aircraft began to clumsily adjust its altitude, like a flock of giant iron birds, slowly swooping down toward the hillside where the flags were waving.

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

Inside the command post of the 7th Steel Corps, the red light on the radio was flashing rapidly. A communications soldier took off his headset and shouted, "Report! The US military is preparing for an airdrop. Everything is going smoothly!"

Wu Wanli's taut jawline relaxed slightly for a moment.

Liu Hanqing, who had been intently watching the map, exhaled a long puff of white breath and said, "It's done! The enemy planes have descended their altitude, that's about it!"

Almost the instant Liu Hanqing finished speaking, an unprecedented muffled howl suddenly rang out outside the tunnel.

Dust fell from the ceiling of the command post, and the flame of the small oil lamp flickered wildly.

This is the loud sound of countless huge parachutes rubbing against each other in the air when large transport planes begin to intensively airdrop supplies!

The sound was coming from the southeast slope!
"well!

These silly Americans! So obedient! They've all gone down that slope for me! Haha!

Yu Congrong had somehow sneaked back into the command post, slapping his thigh and excitedly saying...

"It's done!
Captain, our brothers are all watching! Parachutes are flying everywhere, like dumplings being dropped into a pot, all landing on the slope we've marked out!

The engineering company has already taken a shortcut and gotten there!

Gao Daxing followed closely behind, his cotton hat covered in sweat and mud, but his excitement was still evident on his face.

The oppressive tension in the command center was instantly replaced by a feeling of ecstasy.

But Wu Wanli suddenly strode to the observation post, snatched the binoculars from the soldier next to him, and locked his gaze on the slope that was almost completely covered by the parachutes.

In the telescope's field of view, countless enormous, dark green umbrellas were slowly falling, like a steel version of a celestial maiden scattering flowers.

What you see is no longer smoke and fire, but a dense forest of supply crates hanging under parachutes, swaying gently.

The heavy ammunition boxes slammed onto the frozen slope with a muffled, thunderous impact that seemed to echo in the distant valleys.

The massive wooden food crates were flung open, and from the broken wooden planks rolled out piles of flour sacks wrapped in moisture-proof oil paper and canned beef, spreading a glaring white and red across the cold earth.

The round fuel drum rolled down the hillside, its rumbling echoing throughout the valley.

Several sappers were wielding shovels and wooden sticks, trying to stop the out-of-control oil drums from rolling into deeper trenches.

Further away, dozens of soldiers had formed a human chain, chanting slogans as they worked together to drag those enormous equipment crates that were too big to move after landing.

He clearly saw that several huge parachutes failed to fully open, suspending heavy equipment boxes, and crashed obliquely to the ground like out-of-control boulders, shattering the frozen soil and scattering ice fragments everywhere!
I also saw a soldier slip and fall while trying to push away an ammunition box that was sliding toward his comrade. Instantly, his leg was crushed by the rolling box. His comrade immediately rushed over and lifted the box... The blood on the frozen ground was extremely glaring.

"Pass on my orders: 1. The medical team must proceed at full speed to the southeast slope to rescue the wounded!"
Each detachment commander must immediately dispatch reserve teams to expedite the transport! Prioritize the transfer of ammunition, fuel, and heavy equipment! Food supplies should be left for last!
Second, the engineering company shall immediately establish a temporary field warehouse area and evacuate and stockpile supplies on the spot!
Set up all the captured American tents and cover them up! Cover them with three layers of camouflage netting!
3. Yu Congrong and Gao Daxing, take your detachment and return to your posts immediately! Air defense alert level raised to Level 1!
The Americans have suffered such a huge loss. The drop planes have just left, and their bomber squadrons may come to retaliate at any time!
Fourth, coordinate with the Air Force to press forward. When the US military aircraft finish dropping supplies on our area and are preparing to move on, intercept them and give them a good beating!

Wu Wanli looked at the Tianyan map and gave the order.

"Yes!!!"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly agreed.

(End of this chapter)