Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 358 Capturing the US Seventh Fleet Flagship USS Intrepid! The New China's Dual-Carrier Fleet is Completed!

Just as the Battle of Gangneung was raging, outside Chuncheon, inside the command post of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's Eastern Front Assault Group...
"Wu Wanli is a damn genius!"
Despite being in such a disadvantageous situation in the Battle of Jiangling, he managed to make a name for himself!

I heard from the old brigade commander that many staff officers in the headquarters did not agree with Wu Wanli, saying that the kid was too risky!

In my opinion, every war involves risks.
Forget about the US 2nd Division and the US 7th Fleet; even if it were just a US army group, so what?
When paths cross, the brave prevail; even when facing the most formidable enemy, one must dare to draw their sword!
Wherever the sword points, nothing can stand in its way!
Once Wu Wanli leads his troops to completely control the coastal artillery group at Paotaishan and completes the bombing, Jiangling will be secured, and the US Seventh Fleet will be completely annihilated!

Commander Qin, Commander Wei, I told you Wu Wanli could win, didn't I?
There's no need to worry about anything like flanking them from behind!

Li Yunlong looked at the battle report in his hand and laughed excitedly.

"Hahahaha... Now there's really nothing to worry about."

Commander Li, please don't blame Lao Wei and me for being too cautious. After all, it concerns the fate of 100,000 elite Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers from four armies, so we can't be careless.

If Wu Wanli loses the Battle of Jiangling, it means we will have no more troops available on the eastern front.

At that time, the US Second Division might suddenly appear and stab us in the back.

Moreover, when the U.S. Seventh Fleet was still in existence, their carrier-based aircraft could follow the aircraft carrier south at any time.

It's even possible that they could land at some point on the coast carrying the US Second Division and attack our flank.

Now that Wu Wanli's troops have won a great victory, and although we no longer have the US 2nd Division behind us, we still have this formidable army. What is there to fear?

Commander Qin of the 15th Army nodded and said.

“That’s right!

Wu Wanli, that kid, has the style of his father back in the day!

Back in Northeast China, my division wiped out Liao Yaoxiang's entire army!

He's using a more advanced strategy than me, a coordinated land, sea, and air battle to decisively defeat Jiangling!
If they truly achieve a complete victory, this will be a battle worthy of being recorded in military academy textbooks!

Upon hearing this, Ding Wei couldn't help but praise him.

"But the 1st Cavalry Division has been silent. Do we really not need to take precautions?"

Even without the cooperation of the US 2nd Infantry Division and the US Seventh Fleet, the 1st Cavalry Division cutting off our retreat would still be extremely dangerous.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang frowned and offered a reminder.

"Without the US 2nd Division and the US 7th Fleet behind us, I think the 1st Cavalry Division alone, the Steel 7th Brigade, the New 8th Army, and the North Korean 9th Army are enough to handle it."

We cannot be hesitant and indecisive just for the safety of our own troops; we must consider the overall war situation.

Now that the western front is locked in a stalemate, the fifth campaign should begin by opening up the situation on our eastern front!

Commander Wei of the 60th Army looked at the battle map and said firmly.

"That's right!"
I fought my way from Hubei, Henan, and Anhui to the Korean Peninsula for so long, risking my life on the edge of a knife and rolling around in piles of corpses!

As long as we attack fast enough, the American devils won't be able to react!

After capturing Chuncheon, we must proceed as planned to launch a surprise attack on Gapyeong, the junction of the eastern and western fronts, to threaten the flank of the main UN forces on the western front!

This time, we are not aiming for immediate gains, but rather to seize the time. Therefore, we will employ the strategy of surrounding three sides while leaving one side open, and quickly defeat the New Marine Division 1!
My 27th Army attacked from the rear, Ding Wei's 12th Army attacked from the east, and Commander Qin's 15th Army attacked from the west.

Commander Wei, your 60th Army, as a reserve force, is to be positioned in concealed locations outside the South Gate, ready to be used as fresh troops to pursue the routed army!

Li Yunlong looked at the battle map and thought for a moment before making a decision.

"Okay, I have no objection!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Wei immediately nodded in agreement.

"I support it too!"

Commander Qin nodded.

"and many more!
Commander Li, or rather, Commander Li, why should you fight all the tough battles while we pursue the routed troops?

Upon hearing this, Commander Wei of the 60th Army was somewhat displeased.

"Commander Wei, a large number of your elite 180th Division have been transferred away, which is why you have been given this offensive position."

This is based on a practical consideration and is not intended to belittle your troops.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gang immediately offered words of comfort.

"Alright, although some soldiers were taken from my 180th Division, it is still an elite force!"

"The task of leading the way will be assigned to my 180th Division!"

Upon hearing this, Commander Wei tried to persuade him.

"No problem, with our 100,000 troops in command, the 180th Division can be the vanguard!"
Let's go down and prepare now. In three hours, we'll launch a full-scale attack on Chuncheon!

The New Marine Division has 20,000 elite American troops with fierce firepower, so this battle should be mainly led by our 27th Army and Ding Wei's 12th Army.

After all, our entire force is equipped with the Soviet-made weapons that Wu Wanli brought back from his four crossings of the Han River. Commander Qin, you can just launch a feint attack and not waste too many troops.

The three divisions of each army took turns launching fierce attacks, with artillery fire continuing unabated.

Take my 27th Army as an example: Zhang Dabiao led the 80th Division in battle, Wu Qianli led the 81st Division in preparation, and Tan Ziwei led the 79th Division in rest and reorganization.

Then Zhang Dabiao led the 80th Division to rest and reorganize, Wu Qianli led the 81st Division to fight, and Tan Ziwei led the 79th Division to prepare.

Repeat the cycle, launch a series of fierce attacks!

"Using our superior numbers to the fullest, fighting non-stop all night, we must take Chuncheon Castle!!!"

Li Yunlong looked at everyone and immediately made a decision.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, all the commanders and soldiers immediately responded.

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

Before long, the deafening roar of artillery fire echoed through Chuncheon.

Li Yunlong stood with his hands on his hips in front of the observation post, the entire burning front line reflected in his binoculars.

As the commander of the 27th Army and the highest-ranking commander of the Eastern Front Assault Group, his face was filled with solemnity.

"Zhang Dabiao! Your 80th Division is a tough nut to crack. Turn their main position into mush for me!"
Wu Qianli, your 81st Division's artillery fire is keeping a close watch on the American artillery positions and counterattack routes. When Zhang Dabiao charges, don't you dare stop firing!
Tan Ziwei, 79th Division, make sure you get enough rest and recuperation. Zhang Dabiao is out, so you can take his place!

"Use a war of attrition, wear these sons of bitches down!"

Li Yunlong looked into the distance and shouted loudly into the walkie-talkie.

His command, like radio waves, instantly ignited the north side of Chuncheon.

On Zhang Dabiao's 80th Division position, countless gray figures leaped up from the scorched earth plowed by artillery fire.

The three-man combat teams moved like precise gears, rapidly navigating through craters and wreckage.

PPSh submachine guns and captured American Browning rifles roared alternately, weaving a dense network of suppressive fire to cover the demolition team as they approached the barbed wire and minefield laid by the American forces.

"First Battalion, right flank trench! Fire support teams suppress the left flank bunkers! Demolition teams, move in!"

Zhang Dabiao was personally on the front line, and his hoarse roar was particularly clear between the explosions.

This was a habit he developed in northwestern Shanxi, starting with charging to the front lines when fighting against the Sakata United Team.

Several figures carrying explosive packs and demolition charges crouched low and pounced under the cover of machine gun fire.

Boom!

Muddy waves carrying broken wires shot into the sky, and a section of the trench was forcibly torn open.

"Charge in! Nail it down!"

Zhang Dabiao grabbed a PPSh submachine gun and took the lead.

Soldiers from the 80th Division surged into the breach like a tide, instantly engaging in a fierce battle with the American troops who were stubbornly resisting from their fortifications.

The sounds of Thomson's strafing, Garand's bursts, the muffled explosions of grenades, and the tearing sounds of bayonets piercing bodies mingled with shouts and screams in both Chinese and English, creating a symphony of death in the narrow trench.

Relying on permanent firing positions and a network of trenches, the U.S. military used concentrated firepower to launch layer upon layer of attacks, and the struggle for every inch of land was stained with blood.

To the east of Chuncheon, Ding Wei's 12th Army launched an equally fierce offensive.

After the artillery barrage, infantry surged like a tide against the outer strongholds of the US forces built on the high ground outside the city.

To the west, Qin Jiwei's 15th Army launched a feint attack that shook the earth, with artillery shells and machine gun bullets raining down on the American defenses, tightly binding the enemy's flank forces and heavy firepower.

……

Chuncheon Castle, 1st New Marine Division Command Post

Major General Iverson stared at the defense map that his staff kept marking red, his face ashen.

The urgent calls from the front lines on the radio were almost constant.

The massive anti-artillery bunker trembled slightly under the continuous shelling from the outside, and fine dust fell in wisps.

"General! Area B on the northern front has been breached! The Chinese are consolidating their position!"

"Eastern Front, Hill F, requesting reinforcements! Our casualties exceed 40%!"

"The pressure on the western front is immense; the Chinese army's artillery fire is too fierce!"

The reports from the U.S. military staff grew increasingly urgent.

Division Commander Iverson's gaze swept across the blue markers on the map representing his own troop deployments, then fixed his eyes on the huge red arrow representing the main attack direction of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

The superiority in troop strength, firepower, and the enemy's reckless momentum all clearly indicated that Chuncheon could not hold out for long.

Ridgway's secret order echoed in his mind: "Use space to buy time, lure Li Yunlong's troops away from the fortified positions in Chuncheon, and deep into the pre-arranged battlefield in Gapyeong!"

He slammed his fist on the battle map covered by a thick, transparent glass panel and said:

"Execute the 'tail-cutting' plan!"
Order: The First and Third Regiments shall rely on the core fortifications and barricades to resist layer by layer and delay the enemy's offensive!
The remaining artillery firepower of the division will cover the main force and the division headquarters' supplies as they withdraw from Chuncheon through the south gate according to the predetermined sequence!

The goal is to level off!

The armored battalion and reconnaissance company will cover the rear!
"Act quickly!"

Upon hearing this, the chief of staff of the 1st Marine Division immediately replied, "Yes, I will go and relay the order right away!"

……

Soon, the order to retreat acted like a shot in the arm, giving the desperate defenders their only way out.

The US forces in the core defensive perimeter suddenly intensified their resistance. They used sturdy bank buildings, church bell towers, and meticulously constructed street corner bunkers to weave a deadly web of crossfire, relentlessly pursuing the Chinese People's Volunteer Army as they broke into the city.

Meanwhile, large numbers of US infantry and vehicles began to disengage in an organized manner and regroup towards the south of the city.

The roar of US tank engines echoed dully through the city.

In the northern district, Wu Qianli keenly sensed the subtle changes in the atmosphere of the battlefield.

"Extend the artillery fire! Cover 500 meters behind the enemy's core area!"

He decisively gave the order into the walkie-talkie.

The Soviet-made howitzers of the 81st Division immediately adjusted their parameters, and a dense barrage of shells whistled over the heads of the troops engaged in urban warfare, slamming into the American reserve assembly area and possible retreat routes, attempting to delay the enemy's disengagement.

However, the US military withdrew extremely quickly, and armored units began to assemble at the south gate, forcibly opening a passage.

"Old Li! Those damn American devils are really going to run away!"

Something's not right from the south gate; their mechanized forces are gathering!

Ding Wei's voice came through the walkie-talkie, hoarse and tinged with the smell of gunpowder.

Almost simultaneously, a shout came from Zhang Dabiao's side: "Commander! That bastard can't hold on any longer, he's desperately trying to retreat south!"

Should we bite it?

Li Yunlong grabbed the walkie-talkie, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and shouted, "Stuck on my ass! Let them go!"

Order: All attacking units, control and consolidate existing positions! Clear out any remaining enemy forces in the city!
Commander Qin, the 15th Army shall cease its feigned attack and begin guarding the west!

Commander Wei, the rabbit has emerged from its burrow; it's time for your 60th Army to take the field!

Tie your pockets tight and give me a good beating!

Especially that elite 180th Division you've been boasting about, I want to see just how elite they really are!

"Understood! Commander Li, just you wait and see!"

Commander Wei responded decisively, then roared at his staff officer, "Order Zheng Qigui, the 180th Division to carry out the planned attack with all its might!"
Tell Zheng the Madman not to hold back, beat those foreign devils coming out of the south gate to death!

The only way from Nanmen to Jiaping is through a relatively open valley, with the road winding through it and rolling hills covered with vegetation on both sides.

Night had fallen, and this area, which had seemed peaceful during the day, had long been transformed into a massive death trap by the 60th Army.

Wei Guoqing and Zheng Qigui carefully selected the ambush point: the highway was forced to approach the mountains on both sides at several bends, with steep slopes, which was extremely unfavorable for tank maneuverability.

The main force of the 180th Division was hidden on the reverse slopes of these mountain ridges and in the woods.

Zheng Qigui personally squatted in a well-camouflaged observation post in front of the 180th Division command post, his binoculars firmly locked on the direction of Chuncheon South Gate.

The firelight in the distant city illuminated the sky, and the booming of cannons and the sounds of fierce fighting carried on the wind.

But the valley of death before us was unusually quiet, with only the whistling of the mountain wind blowing through the treetops.

All the Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers held their breath, gripping their cold weapons tightly. Anti-tank grenades, cluster grenades, explosive charges, and the muzzles of light and heavy machine guns were all pointed at the road.

Time slipped away in anxious waiting.

Finally, the earth began to tremble faintly. The tremors became clearer and clearer, eventually turning into the heavy rumble of tracks crushing the road and the beast-like roar of tank engines.

A series of blinding beams of light pierced the darkness first, and the armored vanguard unit of the 1st Marine Division appeared!
The lead tanks, Pershing heavy tanks and M24 Chaffee light tanks, advanced cautiously, their turrets turning warily, while machine gunners nervously scanned the suspicious mountain shadows on either side.

Following closely behind was a massive convoy of armored personnel carriers, trucks, and jeeps, their headlights forming a distorted band of light in the darkness.

The rearguard consisted of a few tanks and half-track vehicles carrying infantry.

The entire group exuded a tense atmosphere of eagerness to escape.

"Don't rush... let them in... wait until the middle of the convoy enters the ambush zone..."

Zheng Qigui's voice was deep and steady, transmitted through the telephone line to the commanders of each ambush position.

As the long convoy, trailing weary dust, mostly disappeared into the narrow, dark mountain bend, Zheng Qigui immediately shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Call!"

The shout of "Strike!" was like a thunderclap, instantly shattering the silence of the valley!

boom! boom! boom! boom!
The first to launch an attack was the 60th Army Artillery Battalion, which was deployed on the high ground on both sides.

The pre-measured field guns and mortars roared.

The shells, with a piercing whistle, struck the middle and rear sections of the convoy with pinpoint accuracy!
A massive fireball rose into the air from the US military convoy, instantly tearing the first and last trucks into burning fragments, with tires, twisted metal, and human remains thrown high into the air.

An troop carrier was hit directly, and the American soldiers inside were engulfed in flames before they could even scream.

The American troops were thrown into chaos instantly, with terrified screams and piercing alarms breaking the night sky.

"Take cover! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Establish defenses! Tanks, turn around! Suppress the high ground on both flanks!"

The US military's response was remarkably swift.

The rear-guard tank turret suddenly turned, spewing out huge fireballs from its muzzle, fiercely retaliating in the general direction of the incoming shells.

The machine gun on the roof of the vehicle fired wildly at the hillsides on both sides, and the tracer bullets, like red-hot venomous snakes, wove into a net in the night sky.

The American infantrymen jumped off their vehicles and found nearby cover, hastily forming a defensive line using the vehicles and roadside ditches as cover.

"Comrades, the time has come for the Party and the people to test us. Charge with me!"

The deafening shouts of battle erupted from the hillsides on both sides like a tsunami!
The soldiers of the 180th Division descended the mountain like tigers, with countless gray figures leaping out from behind the trees and rocks.

They charged desperately up the steep hillside, braving a hail of bullets hastily assembled by the American forces!

Division Commander Zheng Qigui personally led the charge, carrying a PPSh-45 rifle, his figure appearing and disappearing amidst the flames of the explosion.

"Demolition team! Go! Blow those iron turtles up!"

The shouts of the company and battalion commanders below remained clear even amidst the deafening gunfire.

Clutching explosive charges and cluster grenades, the suicide squad members, under the desperate cover of machine gun fire, used the darkness to charge recklessly at the tanks and armored vehicles on the road.

A Pershing tank had just turned its turret, attempting to aim at a firing point on the hillside.

Just as the gun barrel turned, a dark figure leaped up from under the earthen embankment to the side and rear, shoving a bundle of hissing, smoking cluster grenades into the gap between the tank's tracks and drive sprocket!

"Boom——!!!"

The massive explosion completely severed one of the tank's tracks, causing the heavy vehicle to tilt violently.

The turret of the American tank spun helplessly, temporarily losing its mobility.

The American soldiers inside the vehicle panicked and tried to escape by opening the hatch, but were immediately mowed down by a barrage of submachine gun bullets.

More and more demolition teams followed suit.

Just as an M24 Chaffee had finished off two Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers who were rushing towards it with its machine gun, another soldier suddenly sprang out from the side!
He roared as he pressed the explosive charge against the tank's thin side armor, lit the fuse, and rolled to the side with his last bit of strength.

After the violent explosion, a large gash was torn open on the side of the tank, and thick smoke and flames gushed out from the breach.

"Machine gun! Suppress that firing point!"

"Three! Go around to the right! Attack their flank!"

While firing, Zheng Qigui loudly directed his troops to cut through the chaotic formation of the American troops.

The soldiers of the 180th Division demonstrated extremely high tactical skills and an indomitable fighting spirit.

Working in platoons and squads, they used the complex terrain on both sides of the road to continuously cut and divide the massive U.S. military convoy into several sections.

Light and heavy machine guns swept across the road from above, creating a series of impenetrable lines of fire.

Mortar shells rained down within the makeshift defensive perimeter set up by the US military, causing a bloodbath.

The battle quickly escalated into a brutal close-quarters melee, with bayonets, rifle butts, entrenching tools, and even teeth becoming weapons.

Iverson witnessed this hellish scene from the command vehicle, and his heart sank to the bottom.

He understood that once they were completely entangled, the 1st Marine Division would face annihilation.

He roared the decisive order over the radio: "Don't linger! Armored battalion! Charge forward with full force! Tear a path through!"

Infantry abandoned vehicles and heavy equipment they couldn't take and followed the tanks in their breakout! The reconnaissance company covered the rear! Quickly! Target: Jiaping!

He knew that at this moment, only by relying on the impact of the armored forces could he break through.

Upon receiving the order, the engines of the remaining mobile US tanks and armored vehicles roared hysterically.

Like wounded steel behemoths, they charged forward recklessly!

These American tanks spewed flames from their guns, and their machine guns fired wildly at anything that stood in their way.

The heavy tracks relentlessly crushed any obstacles on the road, including the bodies of fallen soldiers from both sides.

"Stop them! Use anti-tank grenades!"

Zheng Qigui's eyes were bloodshot as he watched the American armored group about to force its way through.

He personally grabbed a heavy anti-tank grenade and rushed to a boulder by the roadside.

A Pershing tank roared towards him at high speed, its machine gun fire sending sparks flying from the boulder he was hiding behind.

Just as the tank rushed past the boulder, Zheng Qigui suddenly leaped up and slammed the anti-tank grenade in his hand into the side armor of the tank!

"clang!"

With a crisp click, the magnetic fuse snapped shut.

He immediately landed and rolled on the ground.

boom!
The explosion sent a burst of fire and thick smoke up from the side of the tank.

But the heavy armor blocked the fatal blow. The tank only shook violently, emitted black smoke, and slowed down slightly, but it still stubbornly charged forward.

Failed to penetrate!

"Damn it!"

Zheng Qigui spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

Ordinary anti-tank grenades have limited effectiveness against such heavily armored targets.

More Chinese volunteer soldiers attempted to throw grenades or use explosive charges to blow up the tank tracks, but suffered extremely heavy casualties under the dense accompanying fire of American tanks and armored vehicles.

The US armored group, like a red-hot dagger, carved a bloody gash in the 180th Division's blocking position by sacrificing infantry and vehicles to create space!
Large numbers of American infantrymen, like a flood breaking through a dam, followed the path of life carved out by the tanks, fleeing for their lives in disarray, abandoning their armor and weapons.

The reconnaissance company covering the rear fought bravely and even launched several small-scale counterattacks, sacrificing their lives to buy time for the main force.

When Li Yunlong and Ridgway received the results of the ambush on the southern front almost simultaneously, the last resistance in Chuncheon was also nearing its end.

Li Yunlong slapped the ammunition box in the temporary command post, making the map on it jump, and said, "Damn it! That old bastard Iverson is like an eel!"

"Commander Wei, how's the fighting going? Especially the 180th Division?"

Soon, Wei Guoqing's tired but still excited voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Reporting to Commander Li! The 180th Division is fighting fiercely! They've managed to take a big chunk out of Iverson!"
Seventeen tanks were destroyed, more than a dozen armored vehicles were destroyed, and a large number of trucks were burned!

The number of enemy killed or wounded is estimated to be no less than two thousand!
Unfortunately, those damn tanks were too tough, and the infantry followed closely, allowing their main force to break through!

Two thousand! Good! What a crazy Zheng!
Damn it, having more armor means you have an advantage!

However, the monk may run away, but the temple remains!
Order the troops to quickly clear the Chuncheon battlefield! Take inventory of the spoils!

All resting and regrouping units should immediately regroup, and the wounded should be evacuated!
Commander Qin, your 15th Army is to move westward to establish a perimeter and keep an eye on the flanks and rear!
Ding Wei, your 12th Army should immediately launch a pursuit south along the highway, keep up with Iverson's tail, and don't let him catch his breath!
Commander Wei, the 60th Army should quickly disengage, reorganize its troops, and follow up as the second echelon!
Lao Tzu's 27th Army, as the general reserve force, is here to hold the line!
All-out objective: Jiaping, the junction of the UN forces' eastern and western fronts! Get them!

Li Yunlong slammed his hand on the table and gave a loud order.

The retreating American convoy, trailing thick smoke and lingering flames, fled desperately along the wrecked road leading to Gapin, leaving behind a trail of devastation and corpses.

Behind them, the 100,000-strong Chinese army that had just ravaged Chuncheon was already fully armed and rushing towards Gapyeong.

In the cold night, only the bayonets and cannon muzzles gleamed with the light of eager battle.

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

The perspective shifts back to Jiangling City. At this point, Wu Wanli has led the guard battalion to complete the approximate turning of the coastal defense guns, and Lei Gong has also arrived with his elite artillerymen to begin operating the coastal defense guns for aiming.

"Gunner, take your positions! Loader, take your positions! Gunner, take your positions!"

Seeing that everything was ready, Lei Gong immediately shouted.

Without the slightest hesitation, the elite gunners he brought rushed to their respective battle positions as if they had practiced a thousand times.

An old artillery commander from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army placed his hand directly on the cold breechblock, his calloused fingers tapping rapidly across the barrel as he listened intently to the subtle echoes to assess the temperature of the cannon.

The volunteer soldiers' loaders worked together to open the heavy iron door of the ammunition compartment, where several heavy armor-piercing projectiles and high-explosive shells that the Americans had not had time to destroy remained.

"Clear the breech! Prepare to load!"

Damn, what a huge target!

As Lei Gong spoke, he rushed to Wu Wanli's side, looked in the direction indicated by the cannon barrel, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Wu Wanli grabbed the crank of the field telephone fixed next to the gun emplacement and connected the frequency:

"Commander Xiao! This is Wu Wanli!"

The No. 3 gun position on Paotaishan is ready!
Target—Santa Fe!

Requesting air and sea guidance!

Lock onto it! Slowing its speed will make the coastal defenses more effective; don't let it escape!

Although he had the Sky Eye Map to assist him, the warship's location was somewhat misleading and still required intelligence cover-up.

Moreover, even with a sky-view map, the coastal defense artillery's angle of movement is too slow, so the navy and air force still need to cooperate to attack its propulsion system first.

……

Meanwhile, off the coast of Gangneung Port, the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Wanli was already engulfed in flames and thick smoke.

A bomb exploded near the port side, sending a massive column of water carrying steel fragments soaring into the sky before crashing down and sweeping an anti-aircraft gun, along with its crew, into the sea.

The bridge windows shattered from the impact. Xiao Zhenhua, gripping the violently shaking command console, desperately shouted through the communicator:
"Wanli! I heard you!"

Wang Wei! Wang Wei! Bite Santa Fe to death! Nail it to the sea chart for me!

Coastal artillery requires precise guidance!

"Wang Wei received! Bald Eagle Squadron, engage the wild horse it is escorting!"
Haiyan Team One, follow me!
"Dive! Slam it onto the surface!"

Over the radio, Wang Wei's voice was accompanied by the screeching of fighter jet engines and the roar of machine guns.

The aerial strangulation had already reached a fever pitch.

Several Chinese fighter jets relentlessly pursued a group of US Mustang aircraft attempting to provide air cover for the USS Santa Fe.

The machine gun's tracer rounds crisscrossed wildly in the air, drawing out countless whips of death.

A Chinese fighter jet had half of its wing broken off and was spiraling down, trailing thick smoke.

In the final moments, the Chinese pilot defiantly maneuvered his wrecked fighter jet into a US destroyer attempting to approach the Santa Fe, perishing in a violent explosion.

This tragic scene was like a spark thrown into boiling oil.

Wang Wei's Wanli-1 fighter jet suddenly burst out of the clouds high in the sky, its nose pointing directly at the Santa Fe below, which was frantically twisting and turning to avoid him.

Two wingmen followed closely behind, forming a sharp dive triangle.

The dense anti-aircraft fire from the American warships wove together a fiery orange net that surged upwards.

Wang Wei pushed the stick hard, and the Wanli-1 fighter jet roared into the fire net at an almost vertical angle.

At this moment, the fuselage shook violently, and the edges of the wings were torn apart by high-explosive shrapnel.

But he held the control stick firmly, his gaze fixed on the huge gray ship below.

"Hold on... hold on... drop the bomb!"

Three Chinese fighter jets pulled up suddenly at a breathtaking altitude, the bombs mounted under their fuselages detached from their racks, and plummeted with a deathly scream!
Boom! Boom! Boom!

One of the explosions was almost right next to the starboard side of the Santa Fe, sending a huge column of water lifting the ship high into the air before slamming it down.

Another shell hit the aft deck directly, detonating the secondary gun ammunition stored there. The chain reaction of explosions tore apart the superstructure, sending thick smoke and flames soaring into the sky.

"Got it! Wang Wei! Well done!"

Xiao Zhenhua, watching from the bridge, was so aroused that he slammed his fist into the porthole frame, sending shards of glass flying.

"Santa Fe damaged and slowed down! Course locked!"

Azimuth maintained at 020! Distance 4500!

Wanli! Fire! Fire! Tear it apart!

At the top of the fortress, Lei Bo's bloodshot eyes were almost pressed against the rubber visor of the scope.

Wang Wei's desperate strike and the precise data transmitted by Xiao Zhenhua were the final fuses that ignited the beast's fangs.

"Bearing 020! Distance 4500! Armor-piercing round! One round loaded!"

The old gunner's roar was like the clash of steel.

The heavy armor-piercing shell was pushed into the gun barrel, producing a dull metallic scraping sound.

The massive breechblock slammed shut and locked at the triggerman's shout!
"High/low speed! Left turn 0.3 micrometers!"

Lei Gong's hands rested steadily on the high and low handwheels, his calloused fingers feeling the subtle vibrations transmitted by the gears as he made meticulous adjustments.

The crosshairs of the scope firmly captured the outline of the cruiser on the distant sea, made even more conspicuous by the explosion and thick smoke.

It was like a wounded giant struggling in vain in a sea of ​​fire.

"put!"

Lei Gong swung his right hand down sharply, like a guillotine severing fate.

In an instant, the earth shook!

The rubble around the gun emplacement was instantly pulverized as if it had been struck by an invisible giant hammer.

An indescribable wave of intense heat, accompanied by a deafening roar, violently spread outwards.

Several soldiers near the breech were thrown to the ground by the powerful shockwave, their ears and noses instantly bleeding.

The flames spewed from the cannon were more than ten meters long, their bright orange-red color instantly illuminating half the hilltop, and the shockwave knocked down soldiers who were a little further away.

The entire Fort Hill seemed to tremble and groan at this roar!
The massive armor-piercing projectile tore through the air at several times the speed of sound, leaving a trail of orange-red fire across the night sky, spanning thousands of meters of sea surface, and striking the target with unparalleled accuracy!
On the bridge of the cruiser USS Santa Fe, Captain Collins had just regained consciousness from the violent shock of the near miss explosion, his right arm bleeding profusely from flying shards of glass.

He gripped the twisted railing and roared orders for the damage control team to extinguish the fire on the aft deck.

At that moment, he suddenly looked up, his pupils instantly contracting to their maximum size!

In the night sky, the orange-red streak, like a shooting star, rapidly magnified in the field of vision, moving at a speed that was despair-inducing!

He didn't even have time to issue any commands; he only saw the destructive light explode deep within his pupils!

"boom--!!!"

Armor-piercing shells, carrying the terrifying kinetic energy accumulated from their dive at an altitude of several thousand meters, cut through the "Santa Fe" ship's side less than two meters above the waterline, like a hot knife cutting into butter!

Even the toughest armor is as flimsy as paper in the face of absolute power!
The shell pierced and tore through the ship's interior with unstoppable force, easily penetrating several decks before finally exploding in the compartment between the engine room and the main gun ammunition magazine!

A deep, muffled roar, as if from the depths of hell, came from inside the ship.

What followed was a chain reaction of cataclysmic destruction! The main gun ammunition magazine, which had been detonated, erupted like a volcano inside the ship!
More than 100 tons of high explosives and propellants instantly released a violent energy powerful enough to warp steel!
The massive hull of the Santa Fe was suddenly "lifted" upwards by this unparalleled force from within.

Its central part was as if it had been slammed hard by an invisible giant fist, and the keel made a teeth-grinding cracking sound.

The thick armor plates were torn, twisted, and tossed outwards like fragile pieces of paper!
A massive pillar of fire shot into the sky from the rupture in the middle of the ship, piercing the clouds and illuminating the sea surface for several nautical miles around as if it were a daytime inferno!

A massive shockwave swept across the sea, causing even the "Wanli" ship, which was several chains away, to shake violently.

Just seconds later, this once mighty steel ship, which had dominated the oceans, broke in two in the middle amidst a series of terrifying internal explosions!

The bow and stern sank into the icy water at a visible speed, and the whirlpools frantically swallowed the struggling American naval soldiers on the surface.

The destruction of the USS Santa Fe was like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of all the American naval officers and sailors who witnessed it.

Fear spread like a plague among the remaining ships.

However, the aerial battlefield remains brutal.

"Hudson! Hudson! Santa Fe is gone! We've lost our cover! Repeat, Santa Fe is sinking!"

Jones, the U.S. Army pilot flying the F4U Corsair fighter jet, screamed desperately into the radio.

"Intrepid! This is Falcon, the leader! We've suffered heavy losses! Requesting... requesting evacuation!"

Another U.S. squadron leader saw the huge flames on the sea below and the broken and sinking Santa Fe, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

The desperate counterattack by the Chinese navy and air force cost them dearly, and the sinking of the main escort cruiser at this moment was a fatal blow.

"Damn it! Don't back down!"

If your air force can retreat, how can our naval warships, which are stuck in Jiangling Port, retreat?

Regroup! Attack their battleships! Do not allow the coastal defenses to fire again!

Colonel Hudson's near-maniacal roar, mixed with the hissing of electricity, came through the radio.

He was well aware of the threat posed by the massive coastal defense artillery and knew that it had to be destroyed at all costs!

Orders are absolute.

The remaining US fighter jets, like enraged wasps, struggled to regroup in the air.

They abandoned the close-quarters combat, brazenly lowered their altitude, and, braving the dense anti-aircraft fire, once again charged towards the direction of Paotai Mountain in a near-suicidal manner!
At the same time, the few remaining carrier-based attack aircraft on the deck of the USS Intrepid also took off urgently to join this final, frantic assault.

The U.S. military is attempting to concentrate all remaining air power for a final assault to completely erase Fort Hill from the map!

"They're going to fight to the death! Wang Wei! Stop them! At all costs!"

On the violently rocking bridge of the Wanli aircraft carrier, Xiao Zhenhua roared through the radio like a ripping knife.

He saw the resolute stance of the American fighter jets; once they crashed onto Paotai Mountain, Wu Wanli and Lei Gong would have no chance of survival!

"Understood! All Air Force personnel, follow me! Run them down with your planes, even if it means ramming them!"

After giving the order with a firm gaze, Wang Wei suddenly pushed the control stick and charged towards the American dive bomber formation!
Behind him, almost all the Chinese fighter jets that were still airworthy crashed directly into the flight path of the American dive bombers!
They were willing to use their own lives to build the last line of defense for their comrades on Paotai Mountain!
The sky went completely mad at that moment.

Fighter jets continued to explode into fireballs and disintegrate in the air, with burning fragments falling like meteors onto the cold sea.

A Chinese fighter jet with thick smoke billowing from its belly had its wing severed.

"Captain Wang Wei, I can't return. Tell my parents that their son isn't a coward!"

In the final moments before losing control, the Chinese pilot roared and slammed the throttle to the floor, crashing into a U.S. military aircraft.

The next second, the two planes transformed into a giant fireball in mid-air!

This horrific mutual destruction greatly slowed down the dive pace of the US aircraft group.

But some fearless fish managed to escape the aerial attack and, like moths drawn to a flame, swooped down!

"Enemy aircraft! Dive! Protect the gun positions!"

A prehistoric roar resounded atop the fortress.

The heavy machine gun in his hand was the first to spew forth angry flames.

Instantly, all the remaining air defense forces on the mountaintop opened fire!
The rotary machine guns in the hands of the guard battalion soldiers, the captured Browning M2 heavy machine guns, the twin anti-aircraft machine guns temporarily set up next to the artillery positions, and even the PPSh submachine guns and rifles in the hands of the soldiers...

At this moment, all weapons capable of firing at air units formed a frenzied barrage of fire, unleashing a deluge of ammunition at the diving American warplanes!

The trajectories were like a forest, and the trailing lights were like rain.

The bullets struck the fuselage of the diving American fighter jets, clanging and scattering sparks.

A Hellcat fighter jet that had dived to an extremely low altitude was hit in the engine by a barrage of bullets, and thick smoke billowed out.

It swayed uncontrollably, and the driver desperately tried to pull it up, but it still crashed hard onto the slope outside the mountaintop position, exploding into a huge fireball.

Another American dive bomber was engulfed in a dense barrage of fire, its wings riddled with holes and billowing thick smoke.

In a final frenzy, the American pilot dropped the bomb, and a huge black shadow fell down with a deathly scream!
"hidden!"

Wu Wanli's pupils suddenly contracted, and he roared!
Boom——! ! !
The bomb landed on the ruins of another coastal defense gun less than 20 meters from gun position number three.

A violent shockwave, carrying countless fragments of rock and steel, swept across the area, instantly engulfing several guards who were operating anti-aircraft machine guns.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, Lei Gong was violently slammed to the ground by the shockwave, his forehead striking the gun mount base, causing blood to gush out.

He struggled to lift his head, his blood-stained face contorted in a grotesque grimace, staring intently at the scope, and roared hoarsely:
"Never mind me! Load! Quick! Load! Next round! High-explosive!"
"Target, those sons of bitches destroyers! Clear the way for our brothers in the sea!"

……

Meanwhile, on the bridge of the USS Intrepid, the US Navy captain's face was ashen.

He saw the whirlpool where the Santa Fe sank, and Chinese fighter jets crashing into the US aircraft formation like moths to a flame.

They also saw that the giant cannons on the top of the fort, after being bombarded by bombs, still stubbornly turned their muzzles, pointing at the few remaining destroyers on the sea!

"Captain, we have lost more than 70 percent of our aircraft."

Santa Fe sank, and the destroyer fleet was almost completely wiped out, but the shore guns controlled by the Chinese could still fire.

We've lost air superiority; the fleet's air defense network is almost overwhelmed.

A U.S. Navy staff officer whispered a reminder.

Clearly, continuing to resist now will not change anything except sending the Intrepid and countless sailors to the bottom of the sea.

The muzzles of the coastal artillery, like the eyes of death, had locked onto the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier.

The bridge was deathly silent; everyone was staring at their captain.

The U.S. Navy captain slowly removed his cap, revealing gray hair. His voice was deep and hoarse, yet it carried clearly throughout the bridge and the aircraft carrier's public address system.
"This is the captain of the USS Intrepid, addressing all U.S. Navy ships and air units that are still able to receive signals."

Stop attacking. Repeat. Cease all attack actions.

They raised a white flag and requested a ceasefire and surrender to the Chinese navy.

The order was given, and a huge white flag was laboriously raised from the highest mainmast of the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier.

With this, the Chinese Navy has officially captured the USS Intrepid, the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet!

The US Seventh Fleet was destroyed, and the new China's dual-carrier navy was forced out of existence by Wu Wanli!

(End of this chapter)