Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 381 Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, Ding Wei, and others are shocked! They drink sweet potato liquor! They march straight to Seoul! The final battle!
Eastern Front Assault Group Command Post
Li Yunlong sat on the ammunition box with his legs spread apart, his military cap pushed back on his head: "Damn it!"

This Turkish traveler is a bastard?
How long has the sound of gunfire from Wu Xiaozi's side been so faint?

All I can hear is his endless commotion!

At this moment, anxiety pounded in his chest like a trapped beast.

The Seventh Steel Brigade was the apple of Li Yunlong's eye, and Wu Wanli was a tiger general whom he valued from the bottom of his heart.

But the lonely city of Guangzhou on the map now seemed like a bottomless pit, swallowing up all the messages that came back.

Zhao Gang: "Old Li, calm down."

Comrade Wanli was not a reckless person, and the Seventh Steel Brigade was a battle-hardened elite force.

The setback in the attack may be due to the enemy stubbornly resisting by relying on the city's defenses, or it may be due to the time needed for tactical adjustments.

Let's wait for the definitive battle report.

Kong Jie suddenly stood up from the corner, his eyes wide open: "Wait? If we wait any longer, the daylily will be cold!"
The Seventh Steel Brigade is the toughest blade!

No matter how good Wu Wanli is at fighting, he's still made of flesh and blood!
If we get bogged down in Guangzhou by the Turks, what's the point of making this grand plan in Seoul?
In my opinion, we can't afford to waste any more time!
"I will personally lead reinforcements up there, smash open Guangzhou's turtle shell, and meet Wu Wanli!"

Ding Wei picked up a red and blue pencil and drew a heavy line on the thin line representing the highway between Guangzhou and Seoul: "Old Kong, I understand how you feel."

Seoul was Ridgway's heart and the head of the UN forces!
Our unit is now like a knife pressed against his throat, the tip of which is Guangzhou, which was captured by Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Brigade!
If we can't break into Guangzhou, this knife will become dull and won't be able to penetrate.

Not long ago, our troops had just finished fighting in Jiapinggang, and all units suffered heavy casualties, with ammunition supplies being extremely tight.

If we send our core personnel to Guangzhou, that meat grinder, will we still be able to fight in Seoul?

If things go wrong, we could lose on both fronts and the entire Eastern Front Group could be trapped here, surrounded and cut off!
Moreover, the battlefield in Guangzhou is only so wide, which is not conducive to the deployment of large troops..."

Commander Wei sat next to him, his lips pressed tightly together. The casualties suffered by the 60th Army in the bloody battle of Gaoyang seemed to be right before his eyes. He nodded silently.

They weren't worried that Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Brigade couldn't win, but rather that if the conflict dragged on, the arrival of American reinforcements in Wu Wanli might be dangerous.

However, in the midst of this suffocating stalemate, the heavy canvas curtain of the command post was suddenly flung open!
A gust of cold wind howled in, causing the oil lamp flame to flicker wildly and cast a huge, swaying silhouette of the person who had entered on the wall.

Everyone turned around abruptly and saw two people standing at the door.

Wu Wanli, who was in the lead, was holding a strangely shaped curved knife upside down. The blade was stained with blood, and the edge gleamed slightly under the light.

Liu Hanqing, who was following behind him, was also covered in blood, but his back was straight and his eyes were filled with an almost fanatical excitement.

Dead silence.

The command post was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; even the annoying buzzing of the radio seemed to have disappeared.

Li Yunlong suddenly stood up, the movement so large it created a gust of wind: "Wu...Wu Wanli?"

Zhao Gang's cigarette burned down to the filter, scalding his fingers before he jerked it away.

Kong Jie opened his mouth, but the second half of the sentence "send troops to support" got stuck in his throat.

Ding Wei's hand, which was about to grab the kettle, froze in mid-air.

Wu Wanli suddenly raised his hand and threw away the blood-stained scimitar in his hand along with a flag embroidered with white stars and moon patterns that he was holding in his other hand.

"Bang!"

The Turkish brigade flag happened to land right on the prominent "Guangzhou" marker southeast of Seoul on the map!

The heavy blade and the rolled-up flag slammed onto the map, the wind even causing a small section of the map representing the UN forces' area to flutter.

"Reporting to my esteemed commanders!"
Wanli has successfully completed his mission and has captured Guangzhou!
In this battle, Brigadier General Aziz, commander of the Turkish brigade, was killed, wounded, or captured, along with more than 4,800 enemy soldiers!

One of their brigade-level military flags was captured!
The enemy's main force has been almost completely annihilated!

Only a little over a hundred survivors managed to escape northeast towards Baishuihe, under the desperate cover of a US support unit!
Guangzhou has been completely liberated!

Every word was like a bombshell, exploding in the cramped command post!

"what?!"

"Turkish Brigade Commander Aziz... was killed?!"

"The Turkish brigade... was almost completely wiped out?!"

"Guangzhou... has been taken?!"

Exclamations rose and fell, filled with extreme shock and ecstasy.

Li Yunlong rushed to the map, staring intently at the exotic-style scimitar on the ground and the military flag symbolizing the Turkish brigade's organizational structure.

Then he suddenly looked up at Wu Wanli's face, which was blurred by gunpowder and blood: "Good lad!"

You fucking think you really took Guangzhou so quickly?!
Hurry! Tell me!

How did you fight?!
How did that old bastard Aziz die?!

In an instant, the eyes of Zhao Gang, Kong Jie, Ding Wei, Quan Douguang, An Changsen, Commander Qin, Commander Wei... all focused on Wu Wanli.

After the huge surprise came an even stronger desire to know everything.

A battle that was initially thought to be unpredictable due to the need for US military support turned out to be a resounding success, with the enemy generals being overthrown and flags captured!

This is unbelievably fast!
Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli slightly stepped aside, making way for Liu Hanqing behind him.

Liu Hanqing immediately stepped forward and began to report in the clearest and fastest possible tone: "Reporting to all leaders!"
The battle was extremely fierce!
The Turkish troops relied on the old city walls of Guangzhou and the complex architectural complex within the city to establish layers of defense.

In particular, its core artillery positions and the firing points at the south gate of the city inflicted heavy casualties on our breakthrough troops!
Comrade Wu Wanli made a decisive decision and ordered the Thunder God Artillery Group to concentrate all its firepower for ultra-precision suppression fire!
At exactly 5:00, a rapid-fire shot lasting only 30 seconds!

The first round of artillery fire destroyed the enemy's core artillery position in the northwest corner!
Immediately following, a second round of precise coverage uprooted the heavy machine gun emplacements and anti-tank gun positions inside the south gate tower!

As the artillery fire spread, tank and armored vehicle formations, under the personal command of the commander-in-chief, concentrated their assault and launched a fierce attack on the south gate of the city, which had just been breached!

Liu Hanqing spoke very quickly, as if he wanted to directly cramm the scene of blood and fire into everyone's mind: "The enemy brigade commander Aziz, in desperation, organized a large number of rocket launcher operators, attempting to destroy our tanks in urban warfare!"
The commander-in-chief, who had been keeping a close eye on the overall battlefield situation, immediately used a walkie-talkie to pinpoint the concealed location of the rocket launcher team and ordered the accompanying tanks to bombard the area with artillery fire, instantly covering it!

Five or six rocket launcher squads... all gone!

Subsequently, the artillery barrage unleashed its power once again, launching a devastating bombardment on the central square and the weakest section of the south city wall!
A gaping hole more than 20 meters wide was torn open in the south city wall!

The Turkish army was forced to abandon the city walls and retreat entirely into the city, relying on barricades and buildings to fight street battles!

He took a breath, his eyes still gleaming with lingering fear: "Street fighting...that was the most brutal!"
Turkish soldiers are extremely brave and fierce, and are especially adept at using narrow alleys and obstacles to launch bayonet charges!

The commander-in-chief personally led the guard battalion at the forefront!

At the corner of the 'Cross Street', we were entangled by at least a reinforced platoon of elite Turkish troops, with machine guns on the rooftops on both sides!
The commander-in-chief is right there!

One man, with a captured scimitar, hacked and stabbed his way through three Turkish officers who rushed up to him and tried to get close!
That knife skill... fast! accurate! ruthless! Like chopping wood!

The comrades, in groups of three, back to back, used their bayonets and rifle butts to hold off the enemy's desperate counterattack!

Yu Congrong, Gao Daxing, and Captain Pinghe launched a fierce attack from both the east and west flanks simultaneously, effectively tying down a large number of enemy troops!

Finally, the enemy was forced into the city hall building in the central square!

Aziz called for overwhelming air support from the U.S. military!
Napalm bombs, high explosive bombs... rained down on them!

The attacking forces suffered heavy casualties.

But the captain reacted extremely quickly!
On the one hand, he ordered the troops to immediately disperse and take cover, and to organize anti-aircraft fire.

On one hand, an urgent order was given to extend artillery fire and blockade the Baishui River ferry crossing north of the city!

At the same time, Zhang Xinghua's troops were strictly ordered to block the enemy's escape route to the north!
Finally, Aziz led his remaining troops, under the cover of American aircraft, and charged like mad dogs at the Independent Guerrilla Division's defenses on the north bank of the Whitewater River!

The comrades who were blocking the way fought very tenaciously, but the enemy's armored vehicles opened the way and their firepower was too fierce!

The defenses were breached! Just when things were at their most critical!

Liu Hanqing suddenly raised his voice, filled with excitement: "The commander-in-chief has arrived with the main force of the Seventh Steel Brigade!"

The captain immediately set his sights on Aziz, who was dressed differently and was directing his men to break through the encirclement!
Amidst the chaos of battle, the commander-in-chief charged forward like a tiger descending a mountain!

Aziz had several guards around him, and the captain, wielding the captured scimitar, slashed left and right, carving a bloody path through the enemy!
The final cut went from the shoulder to the ribs!
Kill that damned brigade commander on the spot!

The brigade commander ripped off the military flag representing the brigade headquarters from his chest!
When the US support troops saw that even the brigade commander had been killed and the flag had been lost, they were so frightened that they turned around and ran away!
That's why the last hundred or so survivors ended up fleeing with the American troops!

Liu Hanqing finished speaking in one breath, his chest heaving violently, and his forehead covered in sweat.

The entire command center fell into absolute silence once again.

The only sounds were heavy breathing and the occasional crackling of the oil lamp wick.

Ding Wei was the first to break the silence, slamming his hand on the table: "A stroke of genius! A stroke of genius, Lao Li!"

Wu Wanli fought this battle... absolutely brilliant!
Concentrate artillery fire for precise strikes!

Armored group assault to break through!

In the street fighting, elite troops faced off against elite troops, and the commander-in-chief led the charge, using courage to overcome the fierce!
At the last moment, he remained calm and composed, directing artillery fire to block the retreat route, personally leading the main force to provide timely reinforcements, and capturing enemy generals and flags on the battlefield!
Interlocking elements, powerful and domineering!
This commanding courage, this battlefield insight, this ruthlessness in wielding the Steel Seventh Brigade—this sharpest weapon—in the most dangerous situations… I, Ding Wei, am truly impressed!

Kong Jie stared wide-eyed at the blood-stained scimitar: "Good lad! You've got guts!"
Even more ruthless than I was back in my day!

As a commander-in-chief, he dared to carry a blade and lead the charge in recklessly killing people!

This is the real military might forged in real fighting!

"You've honed the Seventh Steel Brigade's blade to a damn sharp edge!"

Ding Wei couldn't help but exclaim, "A strong frontal assault broke through the city! The center blossomed!"
The final decapitation strike sealed the victory!

His tactical execution is masterful!

What's even more remarkable is that, under the immense pressure of such fierce street fighting and strong enemy air raids, the troops did not collapse, but instead became stronger with each battle!
This tenacity and discipline... truly makes them the seeds of an iron army!

Zhao Gang did not immediately comment on the tactics. Instead, he walked to Wu Wanli's side, carefully examined the simple bandage on his arm, and said in a deep voice, "Comrade Wu Wanli, you've worked hard!"

What is the situation regarding troop casualties?

As the political commissar, he was more concerned about the lives of the soldiers. Wu Wanli replied hoarsely, "Reporting to the political commissar! The Seventh Steel Brigade has suffered approximately two thousand casualties, nearly one thousand of whom have died."

Zhang Xinghua's troops suffered particularly heavy casualties when they tried to intercept Aziz's breakout; the specific figures will be reported in detail later.

But... Guangzhou has been captured, the enemy's main force annihilated, and the strategic passage is now open!

Li Yunlong slapped Wu Wanli's shoulder hard, so hard that Wu Wanli staggered: "Good! Well done!"

"Your strike not only severed Aziz's head, but it also cleaved a gaping hole in the iron gates of Seoul for us!"

As he spoke, he suddenly turned around, pointed at the map, and drew a sharp line from "Guangzhou" to "Seoul," where the thin line representing the highway seemed to transform into a smooth road.

Li Yunlong's voice boomed: "With Guangzhou under control, the southeastern gateway to Seoul is wide open, and our army will no longer have to worry about being blocked!"

Ridgway's headquarters is right in front of us!

In this battle, Comrade Wu Wanli not only annihilated the Turkish brigade and captured their military flag, but also beheaded their commander…

More importantly, it opened a path for our troops to advance directly to the outskirts of Seoul and threaten the UN command!

This is a major strategic victory, a fatal blow to Ridgway's heart!

He surveyed every face in the command post, ignited by victory: "You're right!"

Comrade Wanli's command was decisive, and the Seventh Steel Brigade was unstoppable!

This battle was a great achievement! Let's raise a toast!

At this point, Li Yunlong burst into laughter, then suddenly turned around and roared at the door, "Duan Peng! Bring in that jar of sweet potato liquor that I hid all the way from northwestern Shanxi back then!"
To be honest, I had three jars hidden away back then, but unfortunately that frivolous monk stole and drank two of them...

Well, let's not dwell on those painful memories...

Quick! Get the big bowl!

Upon hearing this, Duan Peng responded and went to leave. He quickly returned carrying a jar of homemade liquor sealed with yellow mud and a large stack of rough porcelain bowls.

The rich aroma of alcohol instantly overwhelmed the smell of gunpowder.

Li Yunlong personally broke the mud seal, picked up the wine jar, poured a large bowl full, and shoved it into Wu Wanli's hands: "Here you go! Kid! This first bowl is for you!"

Give it to our Seventh Steel Brigade!

To all the heroes who shed blood and risked their lives beneath the walls of Guangzhou!

Soon, Duan Peng quickly poured the drinks for Kong Jie, Ding Wei, Zhao Gang, Quan Douguang, An Changsen, and others.

"Done!"

Li Yunlong picked up the bowl, his heroic spirit soaring to the clouds.

Kong Jie, Ding Wei, and others also raised their bowls, their faces beaming with the excitement of a great victory: "Cheers! For the great victory in Guangzhou! For capturing the enemy general and seizing the flag!"

The wine bowls clinked together, producing a crisp sound.

The spicy and mellow sweet potato liquor rolled down my throat like a scorching fire, instantly igniting the passion in my chest and the fatigue from days of bloody battles.

However, just as everyone was about to tilt their heads back and drink heartily, Wu Wanli held the bowl of wine but did not drink it immediately.

His gaze swept over the murky liquid swirling in the bowl, then he looked up at the battle map on the command post wall that marked the location of Seoul.

His eyes remained sharp, yet they held a maturity beyond his years and an almost cold focus.

"Commendations!"
Wanli thanks the leaders for the wine!

The credit for this battle belongs to all the soldiers who fought bravely and to the leaders who made strategic plans!

However, Wanli believes it is too early to celebrate with a toast at this moment!
Although Guangzhou has fallen and the gates are open, Ridgway is cunning and shrewd, Seoul's defenses are strong, and the garrison's strength remains!

Our troops have been fighting bloody battles for days, and the soldiers are exhausted and have consumed a lot of ammunition. They need a short rest and replenishment.

If we indulge in wine and pleasure now, we might miss the important task of striking at the heart of the enemy, capturing Seoul, and taking Ridgway alive!
I humbly request that all the leaders join me in drinking this cup of wine, as a gesture of farewell!
Once we have achieved a complete victory, we will drink to our hearts' content and drink until the world turns upside down!

how is it? "

His words were like molten iron poured into ice water, instantly cooling the heated atmosphere in the command post and transforming it into a deeper and more intense force!
Li Yunlong's hand holding the wine bowl froze in mid-air, his smile stiffened, and then his eyes flashed with a light even brighter than before!
He stared intently at Wu Wanli's young face, which was etched with the marks of hardship and bloodshed, and now appeared unusually calm and resolute.

This kid... just performed a monumental feat that shook the entire peninsula battlefield: beheading the enemy chieftain, capturing the military flag, and liberating a strategic location!

At this moment, there is not a trace of arrogance or complacency, nor a hint of laziness or indulgence.

Instead, what he was thinking about was how to fight the next battle, how to seize the fleeting opportunity, and how to deliver the final and most fatal blow!

This calm, almost ruthless, battlefield intuition; this composure in the face of success, maintaining the utmost vigilance at all times; this unwavering drive for progress…

Even Li Yunlong, a seasoned veteran who had spent half his life among piles of corpses, felt a strong sense of shock and admiration!
Li Yunlong nodded emphatically: "Good! Good lad! Well said!"

Drinking will cause trouble!

The right thing to do is to strike at the heart of the enemy's stronghold!

I'll drink this farewell toast with you!
"Once we take Seoul and capture that bastard Ridgway alive, I'll treat you to all the sweet potato liquor in Korea!"

Zhao Gang was the first to cheer loudly, his gaze towards Wu Wanli filled with admiration and satisfaction: "Well said!"

He was the first to raise his wine bowl high and proclaimed loudly: "Be humble and prudent, and never give up after victory!"
Always keep a clear head and keep your eyes on the ultimate strategic goal!
Comrade Wu Wanli, your excellent work style is a model for the entire army!

"I, Zhao Gang, will drink this toast to bid you farewell!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the spicy liquid in the bowl in one gulp!

His movements were crisp and clean, carrying the elegance of a scholar and the boldness of a soldier.

Kong Jie let out a heavy "Hey!" and looked at Wu Wanli with nothing but sincere admiration in his eyes: "Damn it! I'm impressed!"

You're a natural-born fighter, a natural-born warrior!

"I'll drink this bowl of wine with you!"

He tilted his head back and gulped down the wine, which dripped down his thick beard.

Ding Wei said nothing, but gave Wu Wanli a deep look, his eyes filled with admiration, praise, and a sharp insight into the future.

He decisively raised the bowl and drank it all. The wine went down his throat, and the chess game in his mind instantly became clearer; there was only one goal—Seoul!
"Dry!"

"Let's send them on their way! Straight to the heart of the enemy!"

"Take Seoul! Capture Ridgway alive!"

Quan Douguang, An Changsen... everyone in the command post was deeply moved by Wu Wanli's attitude of not taking credit for his achievements and always prioritizing the battle situation.

The elation brought by that great achievement was instantly suppressed, replaced by an even more magnificent and cohesive fighting spirit!

Everyone raised their bowls and roared out their most fervent desires!
The spicy liquor rolled down my throat, turning into a raging fire that burned fiercely in my chest!

"Clap!"

"Snap! Snap!..."

Li Yunlong was the first to smash the rough porcelain bowl he had just finished drinking into the muddy ground at his feet!

Shards of bowl flying everywhere!

Immediately afterwards, Kong Jie, Ding Wei, Zhao Gang... everyone smashed their empty bowls without hesitation!

The crisp, ear-piercing sound of shattering echoed throughout the command post!
The strong smell of alcohol mixed with the aroma of gunpowder and earth filled the small space.

The ecstasy and intoxication on Li Yunlong's face were instantly replaced by the cold, hard demeanor of a tough, iron-blooded hero.

He strode to the map, his finger striking the Seoul symbol with the force of a hammer, his voice resolute:

"Pass on my orders!"

1. All units shall immediately clean up the Guangzhou battlefield!
Be sure to be careful!

Weapons, ammunition, medicine, food—not a single grain of rice or bullet can be missed!
That's our capital for attacking Seoul!

II. Field hospitals are operating at full capacity!
Seriously wounded personnel should be immediately transferred to the rear!

Treat the lightly wounded on the spot; for those who can move, give them guns!

Tell them that the Battle of Seoul needs every soldier who can wield a gun!
3. All captured supplies shall be registered and cataloged by the Logistics Department and given priority to replenishing front-line combat troops!
Especially ammunition and heavy mortar shells, fill the gun barrels to the brim!

IV. All commanding officers shall immediately return to their units!
Conduct the briefest and most powerful pre-battle mobilization!
Tell all the soldiers that the victory in Guangzhou is just the beginning!
Seoul is just ahead!
5. Order the reconnaissance troops to advance to a range of 20 kilometers outside Seoul!
We must ascertain the enemy's forward deployment and firepower configuration!
I need to know where Ridgway's Seoul defenses are weak!
6. Artillery column, immediately move forward to the pre-established positions! Mark the firing range!
Set your sights on the East Gate of Seoul!
Ready to fire at any time!
At 3:00 AM sharp, the entire army set off!
Destination—Seoul!
"I want to see whether Ridgway's planes and artillery are more powerful, or our troops are faster!"

"Yes!!!"

“Guaranteed to complete the mission!!!”

Everyone in the command center responded loudly!
Wu Wanli suddenly raised his right hand and gave Li Yunlong a standard and firm military salute!

Then he turned around and strode out of the command center.

Liu Hanqing followed closely behind.

The heavy curtain was lifted again, revealing an endless, dark night outside, though the starlight was faintly visible.

Sporadic gunfire could still be heard from some distant corner of Guangzhou, like the last gasps of this great battle.

Further away, on the eastern horizon, that huge and heavy black outline marks the destination of this journey—Seoul.

The entire Eastern Front Assault Group, this massive and battered war machine, seemed to emit a deep and powerful roar at Li Yunlong's command to "Move out."

The sounds of countless Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers' footsteps, commands, vehicle engines, and weapons clashing were converging from every corner of Guangzhou.

Seoul is just ahead.

The decisive battle has begun.

(End of this chapter)