Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 370 A resounding victory! Landing to reinforce the battlefield in Gaping!
Nighttime, on the way to aid Hakuinri

Colonel Holmes sat on the roof of the bumpy command vehicle, his body swaying slightly with the rhythm of the tracks rolling over the road.

His gaze pierced through the billowing dust, fixed on the dark end of the road ahead.

There, the muffled thuds of gunfire in Hakuinri were like the struggles of a dying beast, intermittent yet stubbornly refusing to be extinguished.

His 8th Cavalry Regiment was pouring out in full force, a torrent of steel surging forward on the narrow road.

Leading the way were two armored companies of Pershing heavy tanks. The huge angle of the front armor of the tanks reflected in the hazy moonlight, and the thick barrel of the main gun pointed straight ahead, exuding a deadly sense of oppression.

The M3 half-track armored personnel carriers following closely behind spewed out scorching heat from under their hoods.

The muzzle of the .50 caliber heavy machine gun on the roof turned warily. The American soldiers huddled inside the vehicle, their faces taut beneath their helmets. Only the faint red glow of cigarettes occasionally flickered in the dimly lit compartment.

Behind them was a torrent of rolling wheels.

Trucks, jeeps, tractors towing 105mm howitzers... one after another.

The car headlights cut through the night, creating dazzling beams of light that converged into a thick, luminous dragon.

Holmes grabbed the transmitter of the vehicle radio, his calm voice cutting through the noise: "Reconnaissance company, report the situation ahead."

"Report: Roads are clear, visibility is poor, we are accelerating towards the outer perimeter of Baiyinli!"

However... the gunfire there is very intense!

The voice of the U.S. Army reconnaissance company commander came through intermittently amidst electrical interference, carrying a hint of impatience.

"Maintain formation, stay alert!"

That cunning Wu Wanli could be lurking in any shadow!

Holmes frowned and gave a stern command.

His gaze swept over the silhouettes of the hills and woods on either side of the convoy, which appeared indistinct in the moonlight, and an instinctive sense of alertness arose within him.

It was unusually quiet. Apart from the battle in Hakuin-ri ahead, the road leading there was eerily silent.

Wu Wanli's greatest skill was concealing the most deadly traps beneath seemingly harmless or even chaotic appearances.

He took a deep breath and glanced back.

The artillery tractor steadily followed, towing the heavy artillery, its barrels raised.

Thousands of elite soldiers, armed to the teeth, were in high spirits.

Seeing this, Holmes forcibly suppressed the slight unease in his heart.

He picked up the microphone again, his voice firm and resolute: "The entire regiment! Speed ​​up the advance!"
Crush everything in our way! Target: Hakugakure!

The steel torrent of the 8th Cavalry Regiment accelerated once more, the roar of their engines becoming even more ferocious, their tracks kicking up clouds of dust as they charged fiercely toward the direction from which the gunfire was coming.

The road made a sharp turn ahead, with steep cliffs rising abruptly on both sides, and a narrow valley, no more than a hundred meters long, sandwiched in between, shaped like the mouth of a rough gourd.

The dense convoy had to slow down slightly here, and the heavy tanks carefully adjusted their direction, with the gravel kicked up by their tracks bouncing off the cliff face.

Just as the massive tracks of the first few Pershing tanks in this long steel convoy rolled over a seemingly ordinary section of road in the middle of the valley—

Boom! ...
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted from under the tank chassis!
The blazing fireball expanded and churned instantly, completely engulfing the two leading Pershings!
The heavy turret was violently ripped off the vehicle by the shockwave, twisted and flew into the air, and then crashed down heavily, making a loud metallic tearing sound!
In an instant, burning fragments and exploding ammunition rained down in all directions!
At the same time, the silent cliffs on both sides of the road erupted like volcanoes!
Woo——! Woo——!
In an instant, a sharp and piercing whistle tore through the echoes of the explosion!
Da da da da da—! ! !
boom! boom! boom!
There were no shouts, only the purest death symphony suddenly descending!
Countless tongues of fire were spewing wildly from the cliff tops on both sides, the rock crevices halfway up the mountain, and behind the low bushes!

The distinctive heavy bursts of the Garand rifle, the dense, tearing fire of the Thompson submachine gun, the crisp, rapid bursts of the Browning light machine gun, and even the sounds of mortars all rang out together.

A barrage of firepower poured down from both flanks in an instant, covering the entire vanguard of the chaotic 8th Cavalry Regiment without leaving any blind spots!

Bullets struck the tank's armor, sending up blinding sparks; they struck the troop carrier's thin hull, penetrating it instantly and leaving trails of blood mist.

The American soldiers who had just jumped out of the vehicle and were trying to find cover fell to the ground as if struck by an invisible hammer.

The spacious troop carrier compartments became a bloody slaughterhouse, with crowded American soldiers having nowhere to hide, and those hit by bullets letting out shrill, short screams.

In an instant, the air was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder, the strong stench of blood, and the burnt smell of burning diesel.

"Enemy attack! Left and right flanks! Take cover! Open fire! Return fire!"

Holmes leaped out of the command vehicle the instant it was violently shaken by the blast wave, roaring as he rolled behind a boulder.

He watched helplessly as his meticulously trained elite vanguard suffered casualties of over a hundred soldiers in less than ten seconds!

"FIRE! All firepower! Cover both slopes!"

Artillery fire! Calling in artillery support!

Holmes gave the order while drawing his Colt pistol from his waist and firing repeatedly at the direction where the muzzle flashes wildly above, futilely venting his anger.

The U.S. soldiers were indeed well-trained; after the initial chaos and heavy casualties, their survival instincts and rigorous training enabled them to react quickly.

The turrets of the unaffected American tanks began to rotate, and high-explosive shells spewed orange-red fireballs toward the hillsides on both sides.

The heavy machine gunner on the armored personnel carrier, disregarding the danger of being exposed, frantically fired at the suspected firing point.

Tracer bullets left bright trails, weaving a net in the darkness.

The U.S. infantrymen relied on vehicle wreckage, roadside ditches and rocks to fight back desperately with M1 carbines and Browning automatic rifles.

Gunfire, explosions, the cries of the wounded, and the roars of the commanders boiled this narrow valley of death!

Just as the US military was about to launch an effective counterattack, Chenggong's figure leaped out from behind the rocks on the side of the cliff like a cheetah!
Without pausing for a moment, he suddenly raised his right hand into the air, and the muzzle of a signal gun pointed directly at the dark sky!

boom! ! !
A bright red signal flare, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, shot into the sky like a blood-soaked star!

The blinding red light bathed the entire valley and the burning wreckage of vehicles on the highway in a red glow!
"kill--!!!!"

He successfully dropped the flare gun he had just fired and shouted loudly!
The roar was like a thunderclap in the ears of every ambush soldier!

After shouting, he gripped his Thompson submachine gun tightly in his left hand, leaped up, pressed the gun against his shoulder, and led the charge down the chaotic American convoy on the road below!

Behind him, beside him, behind rocks, in bushes, in trenches...

As the blood-red signal flare soared into the sky, the figures of countless elite soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade burst forth like a silent black tide!

Eight hundred veterans of the Seventh Steel Brigade followed Chenggong's figure closely and rushed down the steep hillside without hesitation!
……

"My God! That madman! He's charging down!"

A U.S. lieutenant hiding behind the wreckage of a Pershing tank screamed in disbelief.

In the face of a sudden attack and utter chaos, how could the enemy commander, instead of holding his advantageous position, lead his infantry in such a frenzied counter-offensive?!
Successful figures flashed swiftly across the smoke-filled slope, their movements as agile as ghosts.

He used every protruding rock, every crater, and even every destroyed and burning vehicle as cover, and his charge route was not a straight line, but a zigzag full of tactical evasion.

The Thompson submachine gun spat out brief but deadly fire in his hands, each burst extremely accurate.

A U.S. heavy machine gunner who had just emerged from behind the wreckage of an troop carrier to prepare to fire had his helmet burst open in a spray of blood, and he fell to the ground without uttering a sound.

Success continued on his way, dodging a burst of machine gun fire with a roll, the bullets sending sparks flying from the rock where he had just stood.

He crouched down and fired two more precise shots, causing the radio antenna on a jeep in the distance and the soldier leaning out to give directions to fall to the ground.

"Stop him! Quickly take down the one charging at the front!"

Holmes, watching from behind his bunker dozens of meters away, was furious and roared the order.

Several US heavy machine guns immediately turned their muzzles and unleashed a dense hail of bullets on the area where Chenggong was located, sending debris flying and dust billowing everywhere.

At this critical moment, the veterans of the Seventh Steel Brigade who followed the successful charge displayed a chilling teamwork and a death-defying will!

"cover!"

A veteran machine gunner from the 7th Steel Brigade suddenly rushed out from the side, carrying a captured M1919 Browning machine gun, the butt firmly against his shoulder, and opened fire fiercely on the enemy heavy machine guns that had been successfully suppressed!
"Da da da da da—!"

The extremely long bursts of fire, like a roaring storm of metal, instantly suppressed the firepower on one side, giving the team a precious chance to catch their breath!

Bullets clanged and sparks flew as they hit the wreckage of the vehicle next to the old machine gunner, but he stood firm as a mountain!

Almost simultaneously, a dozen veterans from the 7th Steel Brigade, armed with submachine guns, leaped out of a shell crater and formed a fearless assault team!
While they were frantically firing to suppress the American infantry in front of them, they were also recklessly pushing forward!

The leader of the assault team was oblivious to the bloody gash on his cheek caused by shrapnel, his eyes fixed only on the gap in the defensive line that had been briefly torn open in front of him!
"Grenades! Smash them!"

Successfully surveying the battlefield situation, he immediately roared behind him.

Before long, hundreds of wooden-handled grenades, emitting white smoke, traced graceful arcs, flew over the heads of their charging comrades, and landed precisely in the center of the temporary circular position established by the US military using vehicles!
boom! boom! boom!
The explosions sent up thick smoke and dirt, and screams and severed limbs flew into the air.

The defense line that the US military had just tried to organize was breached again by this precise and deadly delivery!

Taking advantage of the sudden opening, he rushed forward for more than ten meters and leaped into the wreckage of a bombed jeep.

He was breathing heavily, sweat mixed with gunpowder smoke streaming down his forehead, but the mad light in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

Successfully and quickly changed the submachine gun's drum magazine, his eyes scanning the chaotic battlefield ahead with lightning speed.

He saw the towering M4 Sherman tanks attempting to turn their turrets, and American soldiers regrouping under the reprimands of their officers.

"Coordinates XXX! Three rapid fires! Take down that 'Sherman' that's trying to fire!"

He successfully took out a flashlight, signaled, and shouted behind him.

Soon after, a sharp whistling sound came from the sky!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
boom! boom! boom!
The three mortar shells seemed to have eyes, striking with perfect accuracy around the Sherman tank that had just finished taking aim!

The explosion's flames and blast wave instantly engulfed it, blowing off the hatch on the turret and setting the vehicle on fire, rendering it completely inoperable!

"Well done!"

Now's the time! Press it!
Don't give them a chance to breathe! Overwhelm them!

Success let out a low growl and leaped up again.

Under his leadership, the 800 veterans of the Seventh Steel Brigade were like those injected with a powerful stimulant.

Taking advantage of the brief lull in the enemy's concentration of fire from their own precise artillery fire and desperate charge, they unleashed an even more ferocious attack!
The veterans worked in groups of five or in teams of three, taking turns providing cover and skillfully employing various individual combat tactics.

Some used submachine guns to suppress enemy fire, some threw grenades with precision, and some, like cheetahs hunting their prey, charged at lone American soldiers stunned or scattered by the explosions with bayonets fixed to their rifles, engaging in ruthless bayonet charges!

The steady firing of the Garand rifle, the dense spray of the PPSh-41, and the brutal bursts of the Thompson submachine gun, accompanied by the explosions of grenades and the muffled thuds of bayonets piercing flesh, reverberated repeatedly in the narrow space of the valley.

The charge of eight hundred men displayed the fearless and powerful spirit of thousands!

They were like a sharp knife, piercing the massive but chaotic body of the US military.

Wherever they went, American soldiers retreated in shock and fear, and the makeshift defensive line teetered on the brink of collapse.

The front of the convoy was completely paralyzed, with burning tanks and vehicles blocking the road, effectively blocking the follow-up troops and preventing them from providing effective reinforcements.

"Contract! Contract your defenses!"

Abandon the forward positions!

Everyone! Retreat to the core area of ​​the regimental headquarters!

Establish a ring-shaped defensive perimeter using heavy vehicles and artillery!

Hurry! Act quickly!

Holmes gave the order loudly.

Amidst the frantic shouts and shoving of junior officers and sergeants, the well-trained U.S. soldiers swiftly carried out orders.

The troops, which had been forced to retreat and become scattered by the desperate charge of the 800 brave warriors, moved rapidly towards the middle and rear of the road like a receding tide.

In particular, the area around those massive tanks and tractors towing heavy artillery was shrinking, and American wounded soldiers were forcibly dragged behind cover by their comrades.

Meanwhile, the mobile American soldiers hastily dug makeshift foxholes and set up machine gun positions, relying on the thick side armor of the Sherman tanks and the tall bodies of the artillery tractors.

For a moment, the momentum of the Seventh Steel Brigade's charge was like hitting a wall of steel that was rapidly solidifying.

Although the U.S. military lost a large number of forward positions and casualties, the firepower density of the core defense perimeter increased dramatically after the contraction!
Da da da da da da—!
boom! boom!
Bullets from the Browning heavy machine gun rained down like hail, striking the rocks and vehicle wreckage where Cheng Gong and his men were hiding.

Gravel and metal fragments flew everywhere, pressing down on people so they couldn't lift their heads.

A dense hail of rifle and carbine bullets whizzed overhead, weaving a tight net of death.

Even more fatally, the 105mm howitzer group behind the US military's lines finally completed rangefinding and loading!

"Fire for effect!"

In an instant, the cold command of the US artillery commander rang out.

Woo-woo-woo-!
A dull and terrifying shriek tore through the night sky, growing louder and louder, like the horn of death!

Immediately following was an earth-shaking explosion!
Boom, boom! ! !

At this moment, an enormous orange-red fireball exploded violently at the front and flanks of the Seventh Steel Brigade's assault formation!

The scorching airwaves, carrying deadly shockwaves and countless sharp shrapnel, swept across in a fan shape!

The ground trembled violently, as if it were about to collapse, and thick smoke mixed with soil and gunpowder smoke rose into the sky, forming terrifying columns of smoke!
Just before the shells fell, relying on his intuition honed from countless brushes with death, he suddenly lunged into a deep pit!
Almost the instant his body crashed into the bottom of the pit, a violent explosion occurred less than five meters from the edge of the pit!

The massive shockwave whipped up dirt and rocks that crashed down like a waterfall, instantly burying half of his body!

All I could hear was a sharp buzzing in my ears, and the whole world seemed to be spinning wildly.

He felt a tightness in his chest and a metallic taste rose in his throat, but he forced himself to swallow it down.

"Take cover! Fire! Find cover!"

Successfully shouted with all his might into the radio microphone that finally caught up.

However, the veterans of the Seventh Steel Brigade did not need his reminder.

When the first round of artillery fire came from the US military, the experienced soldiers instinctively searched for any usable terrain features.

However, the US artillery coverage was extremely precise and fierce.

The second and third rounds of shells came one after another, repeatedly plowing through the area where the Seventh Steel Brigade was hiding, each explosion meaning death and serious injury.

Successfully saw a young soldier who had just been charging alongside him being torn to pieces by a direct hit from a shell, leaving only a severed arm clutching a rifle lying not far away.

A soldier lying behind a small mound had half his head sliced ​​off by flying shrapnel.

Some were even struck by the shockwave, bleeding from all seven orifices, and collapsed silently...

The once unstoppable charging formation was instantly shattered by this overwhelming storm of steel, and casualties increased dramatically.

He managed to lift his head with great difficulty and saw that the US military, under the cover of artillery fire, had begun a steady counter-offensive.

A company of infantry, accompanied and supported by several Sherman tanks, is steadily pressing forward in a standard skirmish line formation, providing alternating cover.

The tank's tracks crushed the scorched earth and wreckage on the ground, while the machine guns and main guns fired intermittently, eliminating any suspected firing positions.

The US infantry used tanks as mobile cover, advancing step by step and suppressing the sporadic counterattacks of the Seventh Steel Brigade with precise sniping.

The U.S. military's superior firepower and tight tactical coordination began to show after it stabilized its position.

What shocked Chenggong even more was that on the right flank of the American position, a battalion of American troops was quietly and rapidly maneuvering to their own rear using the terrain and the cover of artillery smoke!
Holmes, that old fox, not only wants to suppress and wear them down with powerful frontal firepower, but also wants to send a fresh force to flank them from behind, completely cutting off their retreat route and completing the encirclement and annihilation!

"Damn it! Main force, hold the line! Don't let them push forward!"
Did the right-wing troops see those bastards flanking from behind?
"Block them! Hold them off! At all costs!"

Successfully gave the order and personally led dozens of soldiers, tumbling and crawling as they rushed toward the right flank.

He hastily erected a thin defensive line using several old trenches and piles of stones that had been bombed beyond recognition, attempting to block the advance of the American flanking battalion.

Thompson submachine guns and light machine guns fired desperately, trying to slow the enemy's advance.

However, the disparity in strength between the enemy and ourselves was simply too great.

The soldiers on the front were suppressed by American tanks and heavy machine guns and could not raise their heads, and their positions were constantly being eroded and compressed.

The right wing, with only a few dozen men, was no match for an entire battalion of American troops!

Under the cover of machine guns and mortars, the US infantry spread out in skirmish lines and advanced steadily.

Bullets rained down on the makeshift positions on the right flank, and men fell one after another, wounded and killed.

The American battalion commander, who had made a detour, was clearly experienced. He was not in a hurry to launch an infantry charge, but instead methodically used his firepower advantage to crush the resistance bit by bit.

He successfully crouched in the shell crater, firing his submachine gun precisely at the exposed American soldiers in his field of vision, all the while feeling extremely anxious.

The radio kept broadcasting urgent cries for help and reports of casualties from various positions.

Sweat, blood, and dirt mingled, leaving streaks of black marks on his face.

Several more soldiers fell beside us, and the defensive line was in grave danger!
Once the right wing is completely breached, these eight hundred men will be in utter peril!
Every second that passes means more soldiers fall, and the encirclement is tightening relentlessly!

Colonel Holmes stood on the roof of an M3 armored command vehicle, holding binoculars, and finally revealed a cruel and cold smile on his face.

The situation on the battlefield is gradually becoming clear.

The artillery fire precisely covered the area where the Chinese troops were hiding, pinning them firmly in place.

The frontal assault force, supported by tanks, advanced steadily, compressing the enemy's operational space and counterattack capabilities.

Meanwhile, a battalion that had made a flanking maneuver had successfully circled around to the enemy's flank and rear without encountering any organized and strong resistance. Clearly, the enemy had no more troops to deploy!

The scales of victory are tipping in his favor with unstoppable force.

"Order!
The right-wing attack battalion immediately cut off the enemy's retreat and constructed a blocking position!

Reinforce the fire from the front of Camp Charlie! Crush those rats within fifteen minutes!

Artillery, extend your fire towards the enemy's core area!
"Leave no one alive!" Holmes put down his binoculars, a slight smile playing on his lips.

At first, the surprise attack and the cover of night did catch him off guard.

But now that the enemy's weakness in terms of troop strength has been exposed, there's nothing to be afraid of.

He wanted to turn that madman who dared to challenge the Eighth Cavalry Regiment and his troops to ashes in this nameless valley!

The shadow of death loomed over the successful 800 warriors like a cold iron curtain.

……

Right wing battlefield at this time

"I can't take it anymore! I can't hold on any longer!"
That son of a bitch's firepower is too intense!

Comrades... we're almost out of ammunition!

A veteran from the Seventh Steel Brigade rushed to Chenggong's side and said anxiously.

He successfully spat out the blood and foam from his mouth, the barrel of his Thompson submachine gun already glowing red: "Even if we can't hold on, we have to! Keep firing!"
Anyone who dares to back down even a step, I'll kill him!

He suddenly stood up, ignoring the bullets coming at him, and fired a long burst at the densest area of ​​the flanking American troops until the ammunition belt ran out and made a "click" sound.

Several bullets whistled past his body, leaving behind a trail of scorching air.

The right flank defense line was teetering on the brink of collapse under the intense firepower of the US forces, like a small boat about to capsize in a storm.

The American flanking battalion soldiers had closed to within 100 meters, and could even see their cold eyes under their helmets and the flames spitting from their guns.

The pressure was even greater on the front side, as the gun of a Sherman tank slowly turned, aiming at their core position!

A chilling sense of despair instantly gripped Success's heart.

Is this... the end?

What happened to that idiot?
Eight hundred brothers perished just like that...

He bit his lip hard, the salty taste of blood stimulating his nerves, and the mad flames in his eyes burned even more fiercely!

No! no way!

Even if it means death, we will tear the biggest piece of flesh from the American military!

He suddenly grabbed the rifle of his fallen comrade, snapped it shut with a bayonet, and roared at the last remaining communications soldier: "Tell the comrades to prepare for a desperate counter-charge!"

Rather than be worn down by artillery fire and machine gun bullets, it's better to engage in hand-to-hand combat and take more American soldiers down with us!

The communications soldier looked at Chenggong's bloodshot eyes, nodded firmly, and picked up the microphone.

Just as he was about to leap out of the crater for his final desperate attempt—

"Woo-wu-wu-"

A sharper and more rapid whistling sound, completely different from the American artillery shells, suddenly tore through the night sky from the flanks and rear of the American flanking battalion!

Boom boom boom boom! ! !
The sheer volume of explosions was terrifying, like rolling thunder, as they blasted violently behind and on the flanks of the US flanking battalion's position!

It wasn't heavy artillery, but a rapid barrage of mortars and infantry guns!
The flames from the explosion instantly merged into one, illuminating the figures of the American soldiers who were steadily advancing, making them appear as distorted ghosts!
Hot shrapnel and shockwaves raged wildly among the unsuspecting American troops, and screams and panicked shouts instantly replaced the previous rhythm of the attack!

Then came even more intense and violent gunfire!

The sounds were so sudden and so intense, as if a thousand troops were firing simultaneously from the darkness!
Countless tongues of fire suddenly spewed out from the hillside, forest, and ravines behind them!

Bullets rained down on the American flanking battalion's ranks!
"Brother Chenggong, I'm here!"

Kill! Follow me and kill all the American devils!!!

A loud, yet straightforward, roar pierced through the roar of gunfire!
Successfully looked up and his heart almost stopped beating!

Amidst the flashes of explosions and the flickering tracer rounds, a fresh force, like a tiger descending a mountain, crashed into the position of the American flanking battalion from the flank and rear!

Xu Mumu, who was at the forefront, was firing a light machine gun as he charged forward recklessly!

His uniform was torn in several places by thorns, and his face was covered in soot, but his eyes were wide open, staring intently at the chaotic American troops in front of him, repeatedly shouting the same word: "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Behind him were dozens of veterans from the Seventh Steel Brigade, all covered in blood and with fierce eyes!

Behind them was a dark mass of soldiers from the New Eighth Army, surging forward like a tidal wave!
They roared, their weapons spitting flames of revenge, as they fiercely drove into the flank of the American flanking force!

This sudden and extremely fierce attack was completely unexpected by the US flanking battalion!
They were focused on advancing towards their positions, their flanks and rear defenses were extremely weak, and their attention was completely drawn to the front.

Suddenly subjected to such intense artillery fire and infantry assault, the entire battalion's formation collapsed instantly!
"My God! It's an ambush! We're surrounded!"

"Chinese! So many Chinese! They're attacking from behind!"

"Retreat! Quickly regroup with the main force!"

"Requesting backup! We're under heavy attack!"

Panic spread like a plague among American soldiers.

In the darkness, they had no idea how many enemies were emerging from their sides and rear.

The dense gunfire and the countless swaying figures in the darkness led them to mistakenly believe that Wu Wanli had personally led the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade to attack!

The battalion commander of the flanking battalion had half of his shoulder blown off during the initial shelling, paralyzing his command.

The American soldiers no longer cared about carrying out any orders to outflank or encircle the enemy; they turned around and retreated towards the core of the main force in Holmes!

Xu Mumu charged ahead, completely unaware of any tactical evasion, and simply targeted the area with the highest concentration of American troops!

The muzzle of the machine gun in his hand swung left and right, the trigger was tightly held, and a long tongue of fire gushed out!

Although the accuracy of the strafing was not high, the dense firepower at such close range still managed to knock down several American soldiers who were trying to organize resistance!
A U.S. military officer attempted to shoot him with a pistol, but was taken down by a precise burst of fire from a veteran of the 7th Steel Brigade behind him.

"Cover! Cover the retreat!"

As Xu Mumu fired wildly, he roared, his voice so loud it made people's eardrums buzz.

He didn't even consider his own safety; only one thought occupied his mind: Charge in! Disrupt the enemy! Rescue the trapped brothers!
The soldiers of the New Eighth Army he brought were also inspired by this fearless spirit.

Although they were mainly North Korean soldiers, they had fought alongside Wu Wanli in the Battle of Seoul and the Battle of Incheon, which meant they had also fought alongside the American forces to victory!

At this moment, inspired by the veterans of the Seventh Steel Brigade and Xu Mumu, they unleashed astonishing courage, following the figures ahead like a flood bursting its banks, charging and attacking the retreating American troops!
In an instant, the shouts of battle shook the heavens, and the momentum was overwhelming. They actually routed the originally aggressive U.S. Alpha Battalion, forcing them to retreat in panic!
"Withdraw! Withdraw! All hands! Cover each other!"

"Move towards Xu Mumu! Quickly!"

Successfully leaped up from the crater, roaring at the radio and the other soldiers who could still move around him.

The sudden and astonishing reversal left Holmes completely dumbfounded!
He stood on the command vehicle, his binoculars falling to the ground with a clatter, the shattered lenses reflecting his face contorted with extreme shock.

"What?! This is impossible!"

He roared in disbelief as he watched his elite flanking battalion crumble like an ant colony being doused with boiling water, collapsing instantly and fleeing in disarray under the sudden and fierce attack from the flank and rear!

The terrifyingly dense gunfire, the countless swiftly advancing figures in the darkness... Could it be that Wu Wanli's main force has returned to reinforce?
Or... have we fallen into an even bigger trap?

A tremendous panic instantly gripped Holmes's heart!

His carefully woven counterattack and encirclement were instantly shattered by the opponent's fierce side punch!

In those few seconds when his mind was in chaos and he was unable to make a decision, the situation on the battlefield changed dramatically once again.

Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he grabbed a submachine gun and charged toward the gap opened by Xu Mumu!
The veterans of the Seventh Steel Brigade reacted extremely quickly!
They threw out all the remaining grenades and fired machine guns and submachine guns at the advancing American Charlie Battalion with all their might, showing a desperate attitude and managing to slow down the enemy's offensive for a moment.

The other soldiers helped each other up, supporting the wounded, and followed closely behind Chenggong, like a torrent bursting through a breach, desperately charging towards Xu Mumu's troops!

"Provide cover! Suppress the pursuers with firepower!"

Xu Mumu continued to hold the light machine gun, its barrel red-hot, and fired fiercely at the main force of the American troops behind him.

The veterans of the Seventh Steel Brigade and the soldiers of the New Eighth Army around him also turned their guns and opened fire fiercely on the American troops who had successfully pursued them, forming a protective fire net.

"Stop fighting! Provide cover! Retreat! Retreat now!"

He successfully rushed to Xu Mumu's vicinity, grabbed his arm, and pulled him backward forcefully.

Xu Mumu finally came to her senses, a look of relief and bewilderment appearing on her honest face, but she did not hesitate and successfully retreated to the safer dark area behind her.

"No... if it's a large force, why would they run away at this time!?"
Stop them! Don't let them get away!

Holmes finally snapped out of his shock and let out a furious roar!
He watched helplessly as the remnants of the army, which he should have crushed, managed to escape with the help of another fresh force!

This is simply a shame!
However, his order was too late.

The flanking maneuver has been completely withdrawn, and not only has it failed to intercept the enemy, it has also disrupted the main force's formation.

The artillery needed to readjust its firing range, but in the rush, it was simply impossible to effectively cover the rapidly disengaging Chinese troops.

Meanwhile, the fresh troops brought by Xu Mumu were in high spirits and had fierce firepower. They covered the remnants of Chenggong as they fought and retreated, giving him no chance to organize an effective pursuit!
"Fire! Fire! Cover their retreat route!"

Holmes could only scream in vain.

Then they watched helplessly as the several groups of Chinese troops that had merged together quickly disappeared into the dark mountains and complex terrain.

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

Shortly after, in Chuncheon Castle, at the headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Division

"Damn it! I sent him to support Hakuinri, and he got ambushed?"
Ambushing them is one thing, but to tell me they weren't even the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade?
Where exactly is the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade?!

Freeman looked at the latest battle report of the 8th Cavalry Regiment and cursed angrily.

"This Chinese detachment ambushed the 8th Cavalry Regiment under cover of night; they certainly couldn't win a head-on battle."

If our entire division were to be mobilized, they certainly wouldn't have this opportunity.

"This was stated by the deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Second Division."

"General, if we send all our forces to reinforce you this time, it's possible that the Seventh Steel Brigade will ambush us."

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

"You mean, the Seventh Steel Corps of China might still be lying in ambush outside?"

Freeman thought for a moment and immediately understood.

"That's possible, after all, so many troops have already been openly deployed."

If they manage to get around it, it means they'll have to split up their forces.

However, given the prevailing tactic of using mobile warfare to gain local numerical superiority, it's rare to see forces being divided.

The chief of staff of the U.S. 2nd Division analyzed the situation while looking at the battle map.

"You're right. We have to be extremely cautious when facing such an enemy..."

I've read about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in China, so I guess I'm Sima Yi and Wu Wanli is Zhuge Liang...

I'm not going out; I'm staying put. Let's see what he can do!
Order the 8th Cavalry Regiment to garrison Baiyinli and hold fast to the supply lines and retreat routes, prohibiting them from leaving.

I personally led the main force of the US 2nd Division to garrison Chuncheon!

Freeman slammed his hand on the table and shouted firmly.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, the people below responded loudly in agreement.

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

Meanwhile, off the east coast of North Korea, the outlines of a Chinese naval fleet were faintly visible through the fog.

The massive, silent ship, skimming the dark water, with most of its navigation lights off and the engines at their lowest speeds, quietly sailed towards the desolate coastline marked "Eagle Beak Rock" in the direction of Gaping, relying solely on the navigator's precise calculations of the nautical charts and currents.

The bow cut through the stagnant seawater, emitting a suppressed hissing sound.

Inside the command ship "Wanli," the lights were strictly controlled, with only a few faint directional lights above the instrument panel and nautical chart table in the dim light.

The figures of Wu Wanli, Liu Hanqing, Quan Douguang, commander of the New Eighth Army, Xiao Zhenhua, naval commander, and Li Hongbo, captain, were frozen in front of the huge nautical chart.

Everyone deliberately held their breath very low, afraid of disturbing the heavy atmosphere that determined the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and the overall success or failure of the battle.

Xiao Zhenhua's sharp gaze swept across the flashing green dots on the radar screen, then turned to the thick, impenetrable sea fog outside the porthole, his voice low and hoarse: "God have mercy, this fog is our shield!"

Wu Wanli stared intently at the last stretch of the winding coastline on the nautical chart that represented the landing point, his taut jawline conveying immense pressure.

Time crawled by, second by second, in the suffocating silence and thick fog.

Each normal report transmitted from sonar and radar eased the heavy atmosphere in the bridge slightly.

Finally, the navigator's hushed voice broke the silence: "Arrived at the designated area! Bearing Eagle's Beak Rock, port side, 1.5 nautical miles!"

The command was immediately issued: "Shut down all hosts! Drop anchor!"

Soon, the muffled sound of the massive iron anchor sinking into the sea was absorbed by the seawater.

The massive side hatches of the transport ships slowly opened with the soft hum of hydraulic systems, lowering the ramps.

The engineering corps, which had been waiting in the darkness of the hold for a long time, leaped onto the inflatable rafts carrying heavy equipment and paddled toward the shore at top speed.

As the rafts surged ashore on the icy beach, the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Brigade immediately rolled into the shallow water and silently began their work.

Heavy prefabricated steel plates and frames were quickly assembled, and temporary piers rapidly extended towards the transport ship between the reefs and shallows.

Soldiers from the Seventh Steel Corps and the New Eighth Army, carrying weapons, ammunition, and combat gear, silently and efficiently waded ashore along these steel channels in squads and platoons.

The seawater was knee-deep and icy cold, but no one made any unnecessary noise; the only sounds were the splashing of leather boots in the shallow water and the slight clanging of equipment.

The advance garrison scattered like ghosts, disappearing into the fog-shrouded rocks and bushes on the shore, quickly setting up makeshift defensive positions, their guns warily pointed inwards towards possible attacks.

The landing point, "Eagle Beak Rock," is a jagged, rocky area.

As the last group of soldiers from the New Eighth Army rushed onto the beach via the temporary pier, a faint ray of dawn was quietly seeping into the inky black sky where the sea and sky met in the east.

The dense fog began to thin slightly, but it was still enough to obscure the massive fleet.

Wu Wanli, Liu Hanqing, and Quan Douguang stepped onto the flight deck of the "Wanli" command ship.

The deck was outlined by the faint light of dawn, but most of the massive hull was still shrouded in the shadow of thick fog.

Xiao Zhenhua and Li Hongbo were already waiting by the gangway.

There were no elaborate ceremonies, only the most direct transmission of power among soldiers.

Xiao Zhenhua solemnly saluted Wu Wanli and the others, his gaze sweeping over the three army generals who still carried the smell of the sea and the damp chill: "Comrade Wanli, Comrade Hanqing, Commander Quan! This is all I can do to see you off!"
The fleet must return to port immediately to refuel, or it will be nothing but a pile of dead iron!
Now it's up to you guys!

Quan Douguang waved his hand forcefully, his voice filled with urgency and anger after landing: "Commander Xiao, rest assured!"

The newly formed Eighth Army was determined to outmaneuver the American forces and encircle them!

Liu Hanqing remained relatively calm, speaking very quickly: "Commander Xiao, Captain Li, please take care!"
The fleet is a vital national asset and must not be lost!

If there are any changes, please contact us by radio!

Wu Wanli stood between the two men, his gaze passing over Xiao Zhenhua and Li Hongbo, directed towards Jiaping, a place unseen yet clearly audible deep within the thick fog.

He reached out and shook hands tightly with Xiao Zhenhua and Li Hongbo: "Commander Xiao, Captain Li, thank you for risking your lives to transport them!"
We will remember this kindness!
Please return to base immediately to replenish supplies.

We will lift the siege of Jiaping!
We're determined to take down the tough nut that is the new 1st Marine Division!

Wait for our news!

He didn't say anything more, but the determination and confidence burning in his eyes were more powerful than any grand words.

A soldier's farewell can happen in an instant.

After the final military salute, Wu Wanli, Liu Hanqing, and Quan Douguang did not hesitate for a moment. They turned around and strode down the gangway, stepping onto the cold, shady rocks.

Behind them, the massive hulls of the "Wanli" and "Renmin" began to turn amidst the heavy clanging of the anchor chains.

On the beachhead, the brief but efficient reorganization was completed.

The main forces of the Seventh Steel Corps and the New Eighth Army, based on the landing batches and pre-arranged plans, quickly formed two huge, silent square formations of steel and flesh.

Despite the addition of a large number of new and capable personnel, the Seventh Steel Brigade, a battle-hardened force, still bears undeniable signs of fatigue and numerous wounds.

The new Eighth Army appeared even more disciplined, their eyes blazing with the flames of revenge and new war.

The soldiers' wet uniforms clung to their bodies, steaming in the dim morning light and lingering chill.

Wu Wanli stood atop a massive black reef, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over the troops bearing a heavy mission before him, and shouted:

“Everyone has it!
Objective—Gaping battlefield!
Mission: Support the Eastern Front Assault Group and crush the U.S. Army's New 1st Marine Division!
Full speed ahead!

"By order of Commander-in-Chief Wu! Advance!"

Quan Douguang drew his pistol from his waist and swung it forward with a fierce swing, like a mountain-splitting axe.

There were no earth-shaking slogans, only the dull thud of countless pairs of military boots stomping on the sand and pebbles, converging into a heart-pounding vibration.

The massive force roared into action, bursting out of the narrow area of ​​the "Eagle Beak Rock" tidal flats and sweeping into the rugged mountainous region, heading towards the Jiaping battlefield to provide reinforcements.

(End of this chapter)