Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 340 My department is unimpeded, unimpeded!
Shortly after Zhang Dabiao gave the order to hold out for the last ten minutes, a new wave of attacks from the US 2nd Division was launched.

It was no longer a tentative attack, but a frenzied all-out assault.

The roar of the tank engine made one's chest tingle, and the tracks crunched and creaked as they crushed the scorched earth mixed with blood, flesh, and bone fragments.

Leading the charge was still a massive line of Pershing tanks, their thick armor riddled with craters and charred marks from the previous round of fierce fighting, but their gun barrels were still pointed directly at the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's positions.

"Attention! Sherman! Three o'clock!"

A sharp-eyed company commander from the 79th Division issued a stern warning.

Several relatively light Sherman medium tanks, taking advantage of Pershing's cover, sped in from the flank.

The machine gun on the tank's roof sprayed a dense hail of bullets, sending rubble flying from the edge of the bunker.

"Anti-tank rifles! Focus fire on their tracks and observation windows!"

Upon seeing this while holding up his binoculars, Tan Ziwei immediately gave an order into the walkie-talkie.

His command post had been mostly destroyed, and several key defensive points marked in pencil on the battle map had been covered by glaring red crosses.

The loss of Hill 3 was like a sharp knife piercing the weak spot where the 79th and 80th Divisions were joined.

Although Zhang Dabiao led the reserve force to plug the fatal gap in time and drove back the advancing American vanguard, the overall American offensive wave did not weaken in the slightest.

80th Division frontline
"Commander! Right Wing!"

US infantry are approaching! They have flamethrowers!

A volunteer army communications soldier pointed to a depression on the right side of the position that had been leveled by artillery fire and roared.

A dozen or so American soldiers were seen crawling forward in a skirmish line under the cover of an armored vehicle.

Two of them carried heavy flamethrower canisters on their backs, the long nozzles reflecting the light of the flames.

Zhang Dabiao's pupils suddenly contracted; flamethrowers were an absolute nightmare in trench warfare!
He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, grabbed a PPSh submachine gun from the ground, and shouted, "Guard company, come with me! We'll shoot those guys carrying cans!"

After saying that, Zhang Dabiao did not hesitate at all. Holding his gun, he used the shell crater and the ruins of the destroyed bunker to charge towards the depression on the right with a fearless attitude.

The guards followed closely behind, knowing that being at the forefront against enemies wielding flamethrowers meant extremely high risks, but no one flinched.

The American troops in the depression clearly did not expect that, under such intense firepower, the enemy commander would dare to personally lead a counterattack.

The armored vehicle machine gunner responsible for providing cover hastily adjusted his firing range, and bullets struck Zhang Dabiao's side, sending up a trail of mud.

Zhang Dabiao felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder; the previous wound had reopened due to the violent movement, and blood instantly soaked through his dirty military uniform.

He grunted, but his movements didn't slow down at all. He rolled to the side to dodge a burst of machine gun fire, and at the same time, he fired a burst of bullets at the observation window of the armored vehicle.

"Da da da da da-"

In an instant, the car window shattered, and a shrill scream came from inside the armored vehicle.

In the brief moment when the machine gun fire was interrupted, Zhang Dabiao's guards rushed into the depression like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey.

They simultaneously unleashed their submachine guns, grenades, and bayonets at the American soldiers carrying fire canisters.

Before a volunteer soldier could even fire his gun, he grabbed an American soldier who was about to spray flames and they rolled down the hillside together.

In the instant the two were entangled and rolling, a grenade thrown by a Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldier landed precisely on the back of the American soldier.

After a loud "boom", flames shot into the sky and scalding oil splashed everywhere.

Several nearby American soldiers, engulfed in flames, screamed and rolled on the ground.

The flamethrower became a huge source of fire, instantly creating a small area of ​​fire in the depression.

Another flamethrower soldier was also stabbed down by several bayonets in the chaos.

"Well done!"

Zhang Dabiao grimaced in pain, but roared with even greater ferocity in his eyes.

The guard company he brought quickly dispersed the scouts who had infiltrated from the flank, but at a great cost, more than twenty soldiers of the guard company were killed in just a few minutes.

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

"Commander Tan! Report from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment, Southern Front: Anti-tank grenades are exhausted!"

Only three explosive charges left! Requesting additional supplies!

They were facing at least a reinforced company and four tanks!

The communications soldier, clutching his shattered ears, roared out a report of the new crisis.

Tan Ziwei slammed his fist heavily on the dented and uneven war table.

He glanced at his pocket watch—eight minutes to go, each second feeling like an eternity.

"Order the divisional artillery company! All mortars! Fire the last three smoke grenades!"

The target is 80 meters from the front line of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment! Obstruct the tanks' line of sight!

"Yes!"

"Order the 1st Battalion Reserve! Immediately gather all available ammunition, especially hand grenades, explosive charges, and cluster grenades!"

"Give me the position of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment! And quickly!"

Tan Ziwei gave the order anxiously.

He knew that the smoke and a few mortar shells wouldn't change anything.

It was just to buy some time for the Second Battalion of the Third Regiment, and at the same time, to show the troops that were fighting the hardest: you are not fighting alone!
Almost at the same time Tan Ziwei gave the order, a chilling shriek echoed through the sky once again.

This time, the US military concentrated its artillery fire deep within the main peak position held by Zhang Dabiao's 80th Division.

Clearly, General Kaiser, commander of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, identified this place as the core strongpoint of the defensive line.

105mm and even 155mm artillery shells rained down like hailstones.

It's no longer about covering, but about precise strikes, targeting those solid strongholds that can still organize counter-fire.

"Boom! Boom! Boom boom boom boom—!"

The dilapidated bunker where Tan Ziwei was located shook violently, and a large amount of soil fell from the roof, instantly obscuring the light completely with the smoke and dust from the explosion.

He coughed, his ears were ringing, and he could barely hear anything. He could only sense the impending destruction through the tremors of the ground.

The outside world seemed like the end of the world. The flames from the explosions repeatedly illuminated the outlines of the remaining fortifications, only to be swallowed up by new smoke and dust the next second.

A communications soldier, his face covered in blood, rushed in, almost collapsing to the ground. Blood and foam dripped from his mouth as he hoarsely reported, "Commander... the heavy machine gun company... the last heavy machine gun... was... shot down by artillery!"

Tan Zi helped him up, but felt a lump in his throat. This meant that the sky was completely open to the enemy.

Sure enough, almost during the brief lull in the artillery barrage, several Thunder fighter jets, like vultures that had smelled blood, swooped down with a sharp cry!

The rocket pods under the wings spewed flames, and the rockets, trailing long plumes of fire, swept across the main peak like a plow.

Several concealed firing positions were directly hit, and flames and thick smoke shot into the sky.

Napalm bombs were dropped behind the positions, and the sticky flames spread rapidly, engulfing trees and destroyed supplies.

Thick smoke obscured the sky, the battlefield temperature suddenly rose, and the air seemed to be burning, making it suffocating.

The scorching heat surged into Tan Ziwei's bunker, giving him a suffocating burning sensation.

Screams echoed intermittently from the sea of ​​flames; they were from wounded soldiers being consumed by the fire…

The US ground offensive continued relentlessly.

Guided precisely by artillery fire and aerial attacks, the tank formations rammed into the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's defenses with the unwavering resolve and discipline of battering rams.

Infantry are no longer simply following and charging, but have formed a tight infantry-tank coordination system with tanks.

US tanks fired their main guns at their targets, destroying bunkers and firing positions, while coaxial machine guns and heavy machine guns on armored vehicles continuously suppressed any Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers who might peek out.

The US infantrymen held close to the blind spots on the sides and rear of the tanks, using the tanks' massive bodies as mobile cover.

They continuously used rifles, carbines, and even rocket launchers to fire in short bursts, clearing remaining firing points, removing roadblocks, and even using small explosive charges to blast open the remaining trenches.

When one tank is damaged or needs to be reloaded, another tank immediately takes its place to maintain continuous firepower.

This multi-layered, closely coordinated approach demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and lethal efficiency.

Every time the Chinese People's Volunteer Army attempted to charge close to the exploding tanks, they were met with fierce counterattacks from the accompanying infantry, resulting in a sharp increase in casualties.

On the main peak, Zhang Dabiao witnessed his own position rapidly crumbling under such an efficient joint attack.

The tenacity shown by the soldiers of the 80th Division in the face of heavy casualties brought tears to his eyes and broke his heart.

"Reporting to the commander!"
The Fourth Company's position... The company commander was killed, the deputy company commander was seriously wounded, and only a platoon leader was left to command... They repelled two enemy attacks, but the position was compressed to less than one-third of its original size!

Anti-tank capabilities have been essentially lost!

"Reporting to the commander!"
The 1st Platoon of the 5th Company has lost its position!
Three enemy tanks and about two platoons of infantry have broken through and are attempting to penetrate deeper into enemy territory!

The bad news came one after another.

Zhang Dabiao looked at the faces around him, stained with gunpowder and blood, yet still radiating determination.

He knew that the final, life-or-death moment had arrived.

Zhang Dabiao pulled out the bayonet from his leg wrappings; the cold, hard blade reflected the firelight.

"Comrades, many of us have followed the army commander from Shanxi to the present day. No matter how difficult the mission was, we have never given up once!"
There are still five minutes left to defend!

If you're a real man, charge with me!
Use bayonets, rifle butts, bite with your teeth!

I have to get through these five minutes!
Let those American devils see how tough the 80th Division really is!

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

In an instant, a short and resolute roar rang out from all around.

Zhang Dabiao was the first to leap out of his bunker and charge straight at a Pershing tank that had just broken through the defensive line and was arrogantly bombarding a machine gun emplacement behind it with its main gun!

The guards followed closely behind, like a black torrent, rushing towards the enemy against the flow of deadly bullets.

Tan Ziwei witnessed all of this from the rear, and his heart was in his throat.

He roared, "Everyone who can still move! Whether they're soldiers or officers! Move them forward!"

Support Lao Zhang! Stop those tanks that are breaking in! Even if it means losing everything, we have to hold them off!

The remaining soldiers of the 79th and 80th Divisions erupted in a deafening roar.

Without formation or strategy, they surged forward like a tidal wave bursting its banks, following the collapsed trenches, shell craters, and broken slopes, launching a final, desperate counterattack against the hail of bullets from the American forces!
Bayonets, entrenching tools, rifle butts, and even stones became deadly weapons.

In an instant, the battlefield was transformed into a bloody carnage.

Zhang Dabiao practically charged straight at the Pershing's coaxial machine gun!
The bullets thudded into the dirt in front of him, the splashing dirt stinging his skin.

A veteran guard tackled a U.S. soldier who was trying to shoot Zhang Dabiao from his side, and the two rolled and wrestled together.

Seizing the critical opportunity, Zhang Dabiao lunged at a huge shell crater on the side of the tank track.

As he dodged the deadly gunfire, he opened fire with his submachine gun on the infantry behind the tank, instantly mowing down two of them.

"Grenade!"

Zhang Dabiao roared.

Upon hearing this, the volunteer soldiers nearby immediately threw several unscrewed Mawei grenades under the tank tracks.

"Boom! Boom!"

Although the explosion did not sever the tracks, the powerful shockwave shook the tank violently, causing panic among the American soldiers inside. The turret's rotation was noticeably slowed for a moment.

"on!"

Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Zhang Dabiao suddenly leaped out of the shell crater and tried to climb back onto the tank.

But this time the enemy was prepared; the hatch opened a crack, and a carbine was extended.

"Da da da!"

A burst of bullets grazed Zhang Dabiao's ribs, leaving a trail of blood!
"Hold!"

Zhang Dabiao groaned in pain and slowed his movements slightly.

Just then, a crisp gunshot rang out!

The American soldier who had just opened the hatch and poked his head out suddenly jerked his head back, his helmet was knocked off, and red and white matter splattered everywhere!

It was a sharpshooter from the 79th Division lying prone in the ruins in the distance.

"Well done!"

Zhang Dabiao roared, and in the instant the hatch opened, a veteran guard managed to shove a smoking anti-tank grenade into the gun port!
Then, the two of them simultaneously lunged into the deep pit beside them!

"boom--!"

A muffled explosion came from inside the tank, and the turret top was suddenly ripped open by a blast of scorching air.

Flames, accompanied by thick smoke, violently spewed out from the observation window and gaps in the vehicle body!

The Pershing was instantly reduced to scrap metal, blocking the crucial passage to this breakthrough.

But this frantic battle did not stop, and subsequent attacks by the US military followed one after another!

Division Commander Kaiser was clearly determined to completely crush this defensive line during this last brief window of opportunity.

With their ammunition exhausted, the volunteer soldiers could only put up a final stand with grenades and bayonets.

A trench less than fifty meters long was fought over eight times in half an hour!

The battlefield was littered with the corpses of soldiers from both sides, and the blood had even frozen into dark red lumps of ice.

Tan Ziwei was briefly unconscious after being hit by a near miss in the command post.

As he was being helped to his feet, swaying, the communications soldier almost cried out:

"Commander! Commander Zhang's side... is about to collapse!"

He fought hand-to-hand despite his injuries, and was even bitten by shrapnel! There's still a minute and a half left!
But the eastern section of the main peak... can't hold on any longer!

Tan Ziwei looked at his pocket watch—time seemed to stand still!

He raised his binoculars and peered through the thick smoke to see that Zhang Dabiao's location was surrounded by American troops several times their size.

A Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldier used his body to block a breach in the fortifications. Despite being hit by multiple bullets, he clung tightly to an American soldier, biting his neck with his teeth...

"Artillery company! Fire! Unleash all your shells! Burst them fifty meters from the front of the main peak! No matter what kind of shells they are! Use them all!"

With bloodshot eyes, Tan Ziwei issued a final, almost desperate order!
The three remaining relatively intact mortars of the division's artillery company roared in their final moments, their shells whistling as they crashed into the enemy ranks.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The shells exploded amidst the charging American troops!

The firepower was limited, but the sudden bombardment temporarily slowed the enemy's offensive and gave the besieged soldiers a precious respite amidst the chaos.

Just then, the last rays of the setting sun almost completely disappeared below the horizon.

The battlefield was illuminated by flares and burning flames, as bright as day.

"Drip drip drip drip!"

A familiar bugle call pierced through the curtain of gunfire and echoed across the battlefield, which was already stained with blood!
This is not a signal to charge, but a signal to retreat!
"Time's up! Withdraw! Alternate cover! Withdraw!"

Zhang Dabiao shoved away the American soldier's corpse that was pressing down on him, ignoring his many wounds that had reopened, and shouted loudly to the soldiers around him.

The surviving soldiers seemed to be infused with an invisible force, and with their last bit of willpower, they formed a flesh and blood shield, covering their wounded comrades as they began their arduous retreat along the planned route.

They fought and retreated, each turn accompanied by the whistling of bullets, each step back landing on the spot where their comrades had fallen.

Seeing that the breach had finally been opened, the US troops did not pursue the retreating Chinese People's Volunteer Army, but instead quickly crossed the breach and headed towards the road in Fupingli.

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

Inside the command vehicle of the Second Division on the road leading to Fuping Village

"General, we suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Yangkou City!"
The division was originally overstaffed to 23,000 people, but now it is roughly estimated that there are only 15,000 people left, even including all non-frontline combat personnel.

The 9th Infantry Regiment, with approximately 6,000 men remaining, was the main force with the largest remaining strength.

The 23rd Infantry Regiment had about 3,000 men remaining, and suffered heavy casualties.

The 38th Infantry Regiment has about 4,000 men remaining and still maintains its combat effectiveness.

The armored battalion still has 35 tanks and 39 armored vehicles remaining, so its strength is still intact.

The division's artillery regiment still has eight 155mm howitzers and twenty-two 105mm howitzers remaining.

Overall, if this force, along with the 1st Cavalry Division, successfully joins forces at Fupingli, annihilating the entire Chinese 7th Steel Brigade should not be a problem.

"That's what the chief of staff of the U.S. Second Division said."

"I do hope to reach Fupingli with this force without any casualties, but the Chinese will not give us that opportunity."

Even a fool could tell that they had definitely arranged blocking forces along the way.

I really can't guess how many troops that is.

If they have a large number of blocking troops, it's better for us to proceed slowly.

If they only send a small flanking force, we can launch a quick attack, preventing our pursuing troops from constantly cutting us down from the outside.

Division Commander Kaiser said with a frown.

"Commander, this is easy to handle. We just need to be fast when we need to be fast and slow when we need to be slow."

I have a way to efficiently know when to go fast and when to go slow.

The chief of staff of the U.S. Second Division thought for a moment and then said.

"any solution?"

Upon hearing this, Division Commander Kaiser's eyes flashed with interest, and he asked.

"Arrange for the air force to drop large numbers of white phosphorus incendiary bombs in suitable ambush locations such as forests and mountains along our route."

As long as Chinese troops are lying in ambush, they will inevitably be forced to expose their positions by the burning pain. At that time, we can concentrate our fire to bombard them and send out elite troops to clear them out. This is a slow and steady approach.

If there's no ambush, then fire will replace reconnaissance, allowing us to pass quickly and unimpeded!

"That's what the chief of staff of the U.S. Second Division said."

"good idea!

No matter how strong their fighting spirit is, these Chinese people are still just human beings, not gods!
I refuse to believe they can withstand the scorching flames without uttering a sound!
I hereby order General Ridgway to send a telegram requesting a large number of air forces to use incendiary bombs to scout and clear the way, assisting us in a rapid blitzkrieg to Fupingli!
The US 2nd Division used an armored battalion as its vanguard, followed by the 38th Infantry Regiment.

The 23rd Infantry Regiment, which suffered the heaviest casualties, should stay in the center to protect the artillery and command hub.

The most powerful 9th ​​Infantry Regiment was deployed to hold off the pursuing Chinese eastern assault group!

Upon hearing this, Kaiser, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, immediately gave the order.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, the commander of the 2nd Division of the United States immediately agreed.

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

Inside the 81st Division Command Post at Hanxi Canyon, a route the 2nd Infantry Division would inevitably take.

"Commander, to be honest, I still have a deep impression of Comrade Wanli, who had just joined the army."

He was the first person I've ever met who asked me on his very first day in the army when he could write his application to join the Party.

He is also the young commander with the most illustrious military achievements and the fastest growth rate that I have ever seen.

Our old Seventh Company has come a long way under his leadership, and it's truly been a long and arduous journey to become the current Steel Seventh Brigade..."

Mei Sheng looked at the battle map and said with a slight sigh.

"Yeah, that kid used to be a real scoundrel. Liu the boatman called him a little bastard every day."

Now he's known as Captain Wu, whom everyone admires.

And those soldiers from the old Seventh Company, they all had it tough...

After the Second Division of the US Army passed through the jurisdiction of our 81st Division, it headed straight for the Seventh Steel Brigade in Fupingli.

Besides, as you all know, he is my younger brother, the one I originally intended to keep for the Wu family.

I've already carried my elder brother's urn back once, and I don't want to carry Wanli's back again...

If I had a choice, I'd rather die in battle so that the brat could live.

Wu Qianli forced a relaxed smile onto his lips, but his eyes were already moist.

He desperately didn't want his younger brother to always be at the heart of the battle, but the country and the army needed Wu Wanli's desperate efforts. "Commander, we'll go all out! We'll fight with everything we have to carve a piece of flesh out of the US 2nd Division!"
When they stand outside Fuping Village, they will surely be covered in wounds!

Mei Sheng took a deep breath and said resolutely.

"What is the General Staff's blocking plan?"

Wu Qianli asked.

"The General Staff suggested dividing the 81st Division into nine battalion-level ambush points to block the enemy at each level."

Although our main focus was on constructing an ambush zone in the Hanxi Canyon, platoons and squads were also deployed to build fortifications at other ambush sites, so this plan could be executed.

Mei Sheng said.

"No, our firepower is insufficient. If we spread out too much, we won't be able to tear off any pieces of meat."

Unless we firmly establish air superiority and receive reinforcements, this approach will only allow us to be picked off one by one.

Wu Qianli shook his head and said.

"Well... indeed, the advantage of this kind of ambush is that it prolongs the time, but the amount of meat taken is slightly less."

"So, Commander, what are your thoughts?"

Upon hearing this, Mei Sheng immediately asked.

"At other ambush points, a company or platoon can be stationed at each location. They don't need to hold the line for long; their job is simply to harass and delay the enemy."

They could even perform poorly, causing the US military to underestimate them.

Finally, when the US 2nd Division reaches Hanxi Canyon, our 81st Division's main force will launch a general offensive to try to wipe out at least half of their armored forces in one go!

"Let's proceed as I've described."

Wu Qianli thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Mei Sheng quickly agreed.

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

At this moment, the steel torrent of the Second Division of the United States continued to crush towards Fupingli.

Division Commander Kaiser's request for air force incendiary bomb reconnaissance was approved and effectively executed, making the Air Force the most vicious eye and the most ferocious weapon in the U.S. military.

"Woo--Woo--"

The sharp, piercing sound shattered the brief tranquility of the mountain forest.

Clusters of blinding white light, carrying the aura of death, descended from the sky.

It wasn't a high explosive, but a white phosphorus incendiary bomb!
This incendiary bomb will burn fiercely once it touches the skin and flesh, until it burns through the bone marrow.

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

In an instant, countless pale white fire lotuses bloomed fiercely in the mountains, ravines, and behind boulders on both sides of the road.

Flames instantly rose, licking at withered branches, fallen leaves, and dry mountain grass.

The orange flames, mixed with a ghastly white, writhed wildly, the temperature suddenly rose, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of burning and the stench of charred protein.

"Attention! Dodge! Retreat!"

Liu Tiezhu, the platoon leader of the second platoon of a company of the 81st Division of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, who was hiding behind a simple bunker on the reverse slope of the ridge, roared in a hoarse voice.

He watched as a white phosphorus bomb crashed into a thicket a hundred meters away.

"Ugh—!"

A suppressed scream suddenly rang out. A young soldier had not managed to completely hide in the crevice, and a few sparks flew onto his back.

The sparks, like venomous insects gnawing at bones, instantly pierced through the thin cotton clothing, hissing and burning the skin, emitting wisps of smoke.

He rolled on the ground in agony, his fingers futilely scratching at his back.

"Qiangzi! Quick! Take cover!"

The squad leader next to him, his eyes bloodshot, lunged forward and, ignoring the lingering heat, tore off his own cotton-padded coat and lashed it over his body to try and cut off the air.

Another soldier held down Qiangzi's struggling arm tightly.

The searing pain turned Qiangzi's roar into a beast-like whimper.

"Withdraw! Execute the order! Carry him on your back and withdraw!"

Liu Tiezhu gritted his teeth and shouted.

They can't even fire shots into the air to vent their anger, as that would expose more of their position.

The scorching air, thick with smoke, rushed in. The soldiers, their eyes red, carried the wounded and disappeared like groundhogs into the pre-dug tunnel leading to the back of the mountain.

At almost the same time, similar scenes were unfolding at various pre-arranged ambush points along the route.

As soon as the fire started, the harassing fire of the small units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army suddenly stopped, and their figures disappeared into the burning forest or the pre-planned retreat route.

"Reporting, sir!"
Chinese soldiers have been spotted retreating on the western ridge! They were driven away by our white phosphorus!

The commander of a Pershing tank shouted excitedly through the observation window.

Inside the armored command vehicle, Kaiser clearly saw this scene through the periscope:
Amidst the raging flames of the burning mountains, a few scattered figures in earthen yellow hues fled in disarray toward the mountains behind them.

This scene repeats itself repeatedly in different locations.

"Ha! It worked! Chief of Staff, your brilliant idea is truly amazing!"

Kaiser grinned smugly, his nerves, which had been tense for days, finally seeming to relax a little.

The staff officers in the division headquarters also showed a sense of relief and a hint of pride.

Several days of intense marching and constant harassment along the way had left them exhausted and extremely irritable.

At this moment, the blazing "flame reconnaissance" seemed to have cleared all obstacles and verified their judgment.

The Chinese have been frightened by this unprecedented tactic of fear and dare not confront it head-on anymore.

"Continue to maintain air cover!"
Incendiary bombs should be thrown towards the suspected concealed area ahead!
Armored battalion, advance at full speed!
Infantry company, prepare for battle, but don't be too nervous; they seem terrified!
Air Force reconnaissance indicates complex terrain near Hanxi Canyon ahead, potentially posing a small-scale harassment threat. Let the firepower cleanse the area again!

Division Commander Kaiser shouted into the radio.

At this moment, the massive steel convoy, its tracks crushing the scorched earth burned by the flames, kicked up dust mixed with plant ash.

They noticeably increased their speed, and some of the American soldiers inside the tanks even started humming tunes.

The infantrymen on the armored vehicle relaxed, no longer huddled behind the vehicle like hedgehogs, and some secretly lit cigarettes.

With continuous "fire-push" and "remarkable results," a blind optimism spread through the massive war machine of the US Second Division.

The sudden disappearance of the Chinese army was interpreted by them as a tactical failure and a collapse of will.

They forgot the fierce resistance they encountered at the foot of Yangkou City, the desperate struggle for every inch of land, the destruction of Panxing by Zhang Dabiao's anti-tank team, and the figures rushing towards them with explosives.

The flames seemed to have blinded them to the truth.

Kaiser even picked up the draft of the telegram to the Ninth Army headquarters and dictated it with a triumphant tone: "To the esteemed Joint Chiefs of Staff and His Excellency General Ridgway: My unit is making good progress."

Thanks to air superiority and new flame reconnaissance tactics, the Chinese military's pre-set ambush points have been precisely destroyed one by one and effectively forced back.

Our casualties were minimal. The resistance encountered along the way was slight and quickly disintegrated, proving that the enemy had lost the will to resist stubbornly based on the complex terrain.

Currently, the roads leading to Fupingli are mostly unobstructed.

Our division is advancing at high speed and is expected to arrive at the designated area on time to complete the encirclement of the enemy's 7th Steel Brigade together with the 1st Cavalry Division.

Repeat, my department is operating smoothly! Smoothly!

The phrase “All Clear!” is repeatedly emphasized in telecommunications.

The division staff officer quickly sent out the telegram, and the atmosphere inside the command vehicle became much more relaxed.

They seemed to already see the Chinese remnants trapped in the Fupingli Valley, and the "double pincers" closing in on victory.

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

After some time, the Second Division of the US Army finally approached the road into the Hanxi Canyon.

The area is flanked by two mountains, with a relatively straight gravel road running between them, no more than a few dozen meters wide.

This is the last natural barrier to enter the Fupingli Basin, and it is also the only true slaughterhouse that Wu Qianli selected for the Second Division of the United States.

Although the hillsides on both sides of the road are not extremely steep, they are covered with jagged rocks and dense coniferous forests.

Although it was the dead of winter and the trees were bare, the gnarled branches and undulating terrain still provided excellent cover.

The US military's flamethrower reconnaissance, like an invitation from the Grim Reaper, arrived as scheduled.

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—!"

More intense and piercing screams than ever before echoed across the Hanxi Canyon.

The air in the entire canyon seemed stretched out, tense, and about to be torn apart.

Kaiser was determined to thoroughly cleanse this last canyon with flames one last time to ensure that everything was perfect.

"They're here! Everyone! Grit your teeth!"
Get down on your knees and don't move an inch!
Exposure means total defeat!

Think of Fuping Village! Think of the Seventh Steel Brigade! Think of those comrades who fought to the death!

Wu Qianli's orders were rapidly transmitted through a makeshift communication network in every hidden foxhole, rock crevice, and bunker covered with camouflage netting.

He was currently in a sturdy forward observation post built using a natural stone cave on the mountainside to the left of the canyon, with an excellent view overlooking the canyon road below.

However, not long after, Wu Qianli's face turned ashen.

Mei Sheng stood beside him, also holding her breath.

They witnessed firsthand how the swarms of flames exploded!
"Boom! Boom boom boom!"

One, two, ten...

Dozens or even hundreds of fiery flowers bloomed simultaneously on the hillsides on both sides of the canyon!

The blazing white light instantly pierced the twilight's darkness, illuminating the entire canyon as if it were the interior of a steel furnace.

The air was rapidly compressed and violently pushed away, forming scorching air waves that carried away ashes, soil, and gravel, sweeping across every inch of land.

White phosphorus, an extremely unstable chemical weapon that spontaneously combusts upon contact with air, has strong adhesion, and can burn to the bone marrow, should be freely splashed and sprayed!
In an instant, countless dry branches and fallen leaves were ignited, and the raging fire spread out, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.

The sea of ​​fire, a mix of orange and pale, illuminated the valley with flickering light, and the temperature soared from below freezing to over fifty degrees Celsius, hot enough to burn the skin!

But the truly brutal hellish scene unfolded on a steep hillside less than 100 meters below the Wuqianli Observation Post—a natural reverse slope covered with thick withered grass and low shrubs.

A huge white phosphorus bomb landed right to the right of the 6th Platoon, 5th Company, 2nd Battalion's ambush area!

At the moment of the explosion, the viscous, white-smoking flames scattered like hellish lava!

Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng both experienced a violent tremor at the same time!

Their telescopes clearly captured that heart-wrenching scene!
It ignites instantly upon contact with flame!

A cloud of white phosphorus splashed precisely onto the left side of soldier Zhao Dashan's back!
"Zi la——!"

A wisp of smoke rose! Zhao Dashan's entire body suddenly convulsed!

His body, which was lying prone on the ground, instantly tensed up like a fully drawn bow!
He was at the very front of the infiltrative position, in the core area where the propellant had splashed!
The warrior Wang Shitou, who was standing nearby, was about to rush over and help him fight!
That's human instinct!

It's the bond of brothers who spend every day together!

"Don't move! Follow the rules!"

A lower, more husky roar, tinged with sobs, escaped from the throat of Li Guozhu, the squad leader on the left!
His eyes were bloodshot, almost bursting out of their sockets, and blood was seeping from the corners of his mouth. His body was also trembling violently from the immense pain!
He saw the look Zhao Dashan was giving him.

There was no fear or plea for help in those eyes, only a kind of almost frozen, burning determination and obstruction!

There's no other way; I have to obey orders!

This is iron discipline! This is the discipline that determines the life and death of the entire 81st Division, and even the Fupingli defense line!
Any movement would not only expose oneself, but also the hiding positions of the entire battalion and company!

All the sacrifices will be in vain!

Zhao Dashan's body trembled violently, every muscle fighting against the body's instinctive urge to roll and pounce!

He bit his lip so hard that he bit through it! Blood mixed with sweat rushed into his mouth, but he forced it back down!

A suppressed growl, like a bellows being blocked, came from his throat!
Flames are burning! First, the military uniforms! The inferior cotton cloth was easily corroded and ignited by white phosphorus!
Next up is the skin!
Blinding flames danced and spread across his left shoulder blade, and his skin melted, curled, and turned black as quickly as butter on a hot pan!
The stench of burning flesh in the air seemed to penetrate into Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng's nostrils, even through the thick smoke on the hillside a hundred meters away!
Wu Qianli's body was as tense as a stone sculpture, and his face was so pale that it was devoid of any color.

He felt his heart being gripped and torn apart by a cold iron claw!
Those were his soldiers!
He watched as the flames slowly devoured Zhao Dashan!
He watched as the young soldier's body convulsed uncontrollably from the excruciating pain, yet remained motionless as if nailed to the ground!

That iron-like discipline was forged with the deepest love and the most resolute will!
Mei Sheng quickly covered his mouth!

Scalding tears flowed out like a floodgate bursting open!

He desperately suppressed the sob in his throat, his shoulders heaving violently.

He saw that his squad leader, Li Guozhu, was just a few meters away from Zhao Dashan, watching helplessly as the flames burned his comrade, yet he himself dared not move at all.

That young face was completely distorted by immense pain and unwavering discipline, tears streaming down his face, his teeth clenched deep into the mud!

Other soldiers who were a little further away also witnessed this horrific scene.

Under the firelight, every face covered in gunpowder and mud bore silent, crisscrossing tears!

Their fingernails dug deep into the frozen earth beneath them, their bodies trembling violently from extreme grief and heartache. The thick smoke choked them, causing them to cough violently, tears and snot streaming down their faces.

The intense heat of the flames seared them, burning their skin. But they remained motionless! Zhao Dashan was not alone!

He represents the choice of all the soldiers of the 81st Division at this moment!

For victory, for the mission, and for their comrades and commander in Fupingli behind them, they could turn themselves into silent, burning rocks!

The fire on Zhao Dashan's back burned brighter and brighter, and the flames began to engulf his entire left side.

The cotton wadding burned to black ash, and the skin and flesh burned to charcoal.

The intense pain began to blur his consciousness, but the thought of "not moving" was like a steel needle deeply embedded in his soul.

His gaze gradually became unfocused, but his posture miraculously remained frozen in place.

The flames were still raging, burning away his young life.

Time, in the torment of purgatory, stretches every second to infinity.

Only the crackling of the flames remained in the air, mixed with suppressed sobs and heavy breathing.

It lasted a full three or four minutes, like an eternity!

The flammable materials in that area were completely burned, and the fire gradually subsided.

On that hillside, there was a charred mark and a charred torso that was almost entirely just the right half of its outline.

Squad leader Li Guozhu and the soldier next to him Wang Shitou had run out of tears; their eyes were empty, only bloodshot.

But their gun barrels remained firmly pointed at the road below.

Wu Qianli closed his eyes, and a hot tear finally slid down his face, which was covered with dust and traces of gunpowder.

His fist slammed heavily against the earthen wall of the observation post, leaving a deep dent.

Mei Sheng wiped away the tears on his face with the back of his hand, his eyes filled with only cold hatred and murderous intent.

"Order all artillery positions to lock onto the target! Await my command!"

Wu Qianli clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on the rolling tide of American steel below.

At this moment, on the canyon road below
The American vanguard, illuminated by the flickering flames, was spearheaded by the Pershing Tank Company, followed closely by trucks and half-track armored vehicles carrying soldiers of the 38th Infantry Regiment.

The news that the aerial threat has been eliminated and roads are now open has already taken root in people's minds.

With the continuous flames in front "successfully" dispersing all the enemies, the American advance appeared unusually swift.

"The Air Force is awesome! That stuff burns a hole as soon as it's stuck on you!"

"Speed ​​up! We'll be at Fuping Village once we cross this valley! Have the infantry follow!"

The US tank commander, who was leading the group, said with a smile.

Soon, the engines of the tanks at the forefront of the US 2nd Division roared as they increased their horsepower.

The long convoy maintained a relatively high speed and surged into the Hanxi Canyon without hesitation.

The hillsides on both sides, scorched by flames, were belching black smoke and looked completely "safe."

The American soldiers on the armored vehicles even relaxed their vigilance; some pushed their helmets back, while others leaned against the vehicles to doze off or chat quietly.

The tension of the past few days was dispelled by the illusion of "unimpeded passage," and fatigue and underestimation of the enemy made them sluggish.

Even the command vehicle following behind seemed calm and composed.

The division radio even started discussing the issue of setting up camp after arriving at Fuping Village.

Kaiser looked through the periscope of the command vehicle at the lifeless, charred hillsides on both sides.

Dead!

Apart from the roar of their convoy and the crackling of the still-burning flames in the distance, nothing seemed amiss.

A smug smile crept back onto his lips: "It seems that this Hanxi Canyon is nothing special after all..."

"Boom——!!!"

His words were abruptly interrupted by a deafening roar!
It wasn't a bombardment from the sky! It wasn't artillery fire from the flanks!
The loud bang came from the very front of the convoy! It was the lead Pershing tank!

Its massive tracks suddenly crushed an inconspicuous bump buried deep beneath the gravel road!

The next second, the sky collapsed and the earth cracked!

The entire steel behemoth, weighing over forty tons, suddenly leaped upwards like a toy!
The left side of the car was instantly torn apart from bottom to top by a terrifying force!
Large anti-tank mines easily cut through the supposedly sturdy bottom armor of the Pershing tank!
The shockwave from the violent explosion, mixed with shrapnel, poured deep into the fragile interior of the vehicle!

"Boom—!!! Clang!"

A massive fireball instantly engulfed the vehicle!
Torn tracks, twisted road wheels, and shattered chassis fragments mixed with human tissue and burning internal organs sprayed violently in all directions!
The terrifying shriek of twisting and deforming metal drowned out the echo of the explosion!

The shockwave from the explosion overturned a half-track armored vehicle that was right behind the tank!
"Landmines! Anti-tank mines! Stop the car! Stop the car!!"

In an instant, a sharp, terrified scream rang out in the US military's radio communication network!
However, it was too late!

"Bang, bang, bang! Boom, boom, boom!"

A series of violent explosions, like the drumbeats of death, suddenly rang out one after another along the narrow canyon road!
Some exploded in the middle of the road, the huge shockwave tearing trucks full of soldiers in two and throwing them into the air.

Some exploded on the roadside, their sharp fragments sweeping across an area.

Others were bombed behind roadblocks, specifically designed to intercept fleeing soldiers!

The ingenious placement of the plan clearly indicates that the US military's marching speed, formation, and vehicle spacing were carefully calculated!

In an instant, the entire canyon road was transformed into a bloody slaughterhouse!
The burning wreckage of the vehicles became a huge obstacle blocking the road!
Terrified screams, dying howls, the groans of twisting vehicles, and the dying roars of engines mingled together!
The once relatively orderly convoy of the Second Division of the United States was thrown into chaos, like an anthill that had been hit with stones!
The car behind couldn't brake in time and crashed violently into the car in front.

American vehicles on the flanks attempted to swerve to avoid the obstacles, but were blocked by rock walls or congested traffic.

American infantrymen jumped off the vehicles like headless flies, frantically searching for cover, only to be mercilessly mowed down by flying shrapnel!

Just as the chaos reached its peak, the silent mountains on both sides of Hanxi Canyon erupted!

"Order! Open fire on all cannons!"
Target: The forward and central blockade points of the enemy armored formation!

Firepower coverage! Fire!!!

"Sound the bugle call! All troops, launch a general offensive! Avenge our comrades who were burned alive!"

Wu Qianli roared into the walkie-talkie like a raging tiger, unleashing a furious roar that had been building up with countless grievances and agonizing waits!

"Ugh——!"

The piercing yet familiar whistling sound of artillery shells!
No longer sporadic, but overwhelming!

All remaining mountain guns and mortars of the 81st Division's artillery company!

At the same moment, all the reinforced infantry guns and field guns of each regiment and battalion roared out deafeningly!

"Boom! Boom boom boom! Boom boom boom boom boom boom—!!!"

The sound of artillery fire, far denser, heavier, and more furious than the incendiary bombs fired by the US military, rang out!
Countless red projectiles ripped through the sky above the canyon, blackened by smoke and fire, and crashed down into the center of the vortex of steel and flesh below!

The density of the explosions almost instantly engulfed the area where the US 2nd Division's vanguard convoy was located!

"Drip drip drip drip drip drip—"

In an instant, the bugle call of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army sounded, piercing the sky like a dragon's roar.

(End of this chapter)