Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 382 The UN Command is in shock! Ridgway is stunned! Abandoning the South Korean army to block the Chinese advance!
Seoul, inside the UN Command Headquarters

"Report!
Commander! Chief of Staff! Urgent military intelligence!
The southeastern gateway to Seoul, Guangzhou, is finished!

A young U.S. Army lieutenant, his face ashen and his forehead covered in cold sweat, staggered in and shouted.

"boom!"

The entire command center felt as if a bomb had been dropped into it.

All the staff officers who had been working with their heads down suddenly looked up, and dozens of eyes instantly focused on the lieutenant.

Ridgway turned abruptly, strode up to the lieutenant in a few steps, and shouted sharply, "What's over? Explain yourself!"

The U.S. lieutenant's voice trembled with tears as he said, "Guangzhou has been completely lost!"

The Turkish brigade stationed there was almost completely wiped out!

Brigadier General Aziz was killed in action by Chinese commander Wu Wanli!

The military flag... the military flag was also captured!
The US military camp that was supposed to provide support was destroyed!

Now, Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, Ding Wei, Wu Wanli… they are leading a large number of Chinese troops at full speed towards Seoul!

"Bang!"

Ridgway slammed his coffee cup onto the floor, sending brown liquid and shards of porcelain flying everywhere.

He suddenly grabbed the lieutenant staff officer by the collar, and a series of roars echoed through the command room like thunder: "How could it have been fought like this?"

Even if the Turkish brigade is a second-rate force, even if they can't win!

With such strong city defenses, surely a city shouldn't have fallen in just a few hours?!

Guangzhou is not made of paper!
Even if... even if the city falls! Surely the troops can break out, right?

Several thousand people couldn't even break through?

They were all nailed inside?!
Even if... even if the troops fail to break through!

How could a brigadier general like him be killed in battle?!
How did he manage to rush to the front lines and get killed face-to-face by a Chinese soldier?!
This is simply...absurd!
Utter absurdity!

Ridgway shoved the lieutenant away abruptly, who staggered a few steps before managing to regain his balance.

Dead silence.

An even heavier, deathly silence than before.

Only Ridgway's heavy breathing echoed.

Van Fleet suppressed the turmoil in his heart and stepped forward: "Speak!"

Explain the entire battle process to me, from beginning to end, down to every single detail!

How on earth did Wu Wanli manage that?!

The U.S. Army lieutenant staff officer swallowed hard and began to recount the report from the chaotic front lines: "Based on the last evacuation observation posts, low-altitude reconnaissance reports from pilots, and the piecemeal fighting of scattered returning soldiers, the battle began last night."

Initially, it was the independent guerrilla divisions that launched a fierce attack on our brigade's outposts.

They mobilized more than 20,000 people, and their attacks covered Eagle Beak Heights in the north of the city, the railway station in the south of the city, and the textile factory area in the east of the city. The battle was extremely fierce.

Eagle's Beak Heights is a strategically important location, densely populated with our army's bunkers and firing positions.

The enemy launched repeated attacks, suffering heavy casualties before finally capturing the city.

The enemy forces at Chengnan Railway Station used feint attacks and flanking maneuvers.

They first sent small groups of troops to draw fire from the front, while the main force used the complex terrain of the railway embankment and warehouse area to infiltrate the rear of our railway station's core position.

The most crucial blow was when they detonated the tanker trucks inside the station that were fully loaded with oil!
What followed was a brutal hand-to-hand battle, and the train station fell.

Every factory building and every machine in the Chengdong Textile Factory area is a battlefield.

Our army relied on reinforced concrete buildings to resist step by step, but ultimately lost the position.

Although the outer strongholds were eventually wiped out, the Independent Guerrilla Division itself had paid a heavy price, with its strength reduced to about 10,000 men.

Without stopping, they immediately launched a general offensive against the main city of Guangzhou.

However, relying on the solid urban defense system that our army has built over the years, the permanent fortifications, barricades, and crossfire points in the core positions have played a huge role.

Their final assault...failed, and casualties worsened.

The command room was completely silent, except for the echoing voices of the staff repeating their instructions.

Van Fleet frowned, while Eckelberg nodded thoughtfully, seemingly acknowledging the Turkish Brigade's tenacious defense in the early stages.

This sounds like a tough war of attrition; the Independent Guerrilla Division has been decimated, but Guangzhou remains standing.

"Then, just as the Independent Guerrilla Division's attack was thwarted, the troops were exhausted, and our army's morale was recovering, Wu Wanli led the Seventh Steel Brigade to arrive!"

At dawn, the enemy launched a general offensive, but it was not the infantry group charge we had expected.

The artillery units of the 7th Steel Brigade first fired according to an extremely precise coordinate sequence, covering the core artillery positions of the brigade in the northwest corner of the city!

The artillery fire seemed to have eyes, hitting the ammunition depot with its first shot, triggering a chain reaction of explosions. Our main long-range support force was completely wiped out within five minutes!

Then, the shelling accurately hit the inner area of ​​the south gate tower.

Several permanent firing positions and heavy machine gun nests are hidden there!

The artillery fire came crashing down almost touching the city wall, destroying most of the fortifications and instantly crippling most of the south gate's defenses.

The entire process was... terrifyingly precise!
How did they know the location of our firing positions so clearly?!

At the same time, a unit of the Seventh Steel Corps launched a major attack on the west side of the city, breaking through the breach and penetrating deeper into the interior.

One unit was tasked with attacking the east side of the city, using a strong offensive to draw the firepower of our eastern front.

Wu Wanli led the main force to attack the south of the city, consolidate the breakthrough point, and advance into the core area.

The heavily damaged independent guerrilla division didn't even participate in the main attack!
They built defensive fortifications north of the Baishui River in the north of the city, and were only responsible for intercepting our troops who might break through!
The Chinese commander had absolute confidence in the Seventh Steel Brigade! Or rather, he was arrogant!
After the battle began, our army organized a counterattack on the south city wall, especially the anti-tank rocket launcher team, which attempted to block his armored battalion.

The tank guns and vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns of the Chinese armored group seemed to have eyes, specifically pointing out the firing positions of our rocket launchers!
Our operator was blown to bits before he could even fire a second shot!
Immediately afterwards, the artillery fire of the Seventh Steel Brigade shifted again, bombarding the central square!

That's where the Turkish Brigade's headquarters is located, and also the last assembly area for the reserve forces!

The artillery fire covered the entire square, communications were completely cut off, and the command system collapsed instantly!
Brigade Commander Aziz was on the move at the time and was fortunate enough to escape being directly hit by the first wave of artillery fire, but he lost effective contact with the front-line troops!
Just as the artillery fire ceased, the south city wall was subjected to five more rapid rounds of fire!

Under the intense and dense bombardment of heavy artillery, that section of the already ravaged city wall... collapsed with a deafening roar!
The elite troops of the Seventh Steel Brigade surged in through this gap like a tide!

At the same time, the eastern and western parts of the city were also breached!
The Seventh Steel Brigade... breached the city from three sides!

A collective gasp filled the command room.

Van Fleet's clenched fists turned white at the knuckles, and Eckelberg closed his eyes, as if he couldn't bear to listen anymore.

Wu Wanli's command rhythm, firepower application, troop division of labor, and timing were precise, ruthless, and seamlessly integrated.

This fierce attack completely shattered their understanding of conventional offensive warfare.

If it were the US military fighting like this, they would think it's normal, but they didn't expect the Chinese army to fight so fiercely!
The U.S. Army lieutenant's voice lowered as he continued, "The urban warfare is even more brutal."

Our army relied on the familiar terrain and the pre-built barricades and building firing positions to launch a series of attacks.

But Wu Wanli and his troops were extremely flexible and fierce in their tactics.

When breaking through the last strong barricade in the outer city, the tanks and armored vehicles of the Seventh Steel Brigade carried out precise direct-fire fire to eliminate the enemy.

First, take out the heavy machine gun position, then suppress the anti-tank gun position on the right. The infantry will then dismount and mop up the remaining enemy. Finally, artillery fire will cover any possible reinforcement routes from the rear.

The whole process was smooth and seamless; our defenses were cut open like butter.

After entering the complex alleyways of the old city, the tanks' mobility was restricted, so the soldiers of the 7th Steel Brigade launched a bayonet charge!
At the crossroads, they were ambushed by an elite corps of officers from our army.

Chinese soldiers, in groups of three, back to back, moved forward with perfect coordination, like a meat grinder!
Our soldiers... were stunned by this reckless fighting style!
At the same time, several other units of the Seventh Steel Corps launched fierce attacks in different urban areas, tearing our defense system to pieces.

The street fighting lasted for nearly two hours, and our defensive line was constantly being compressed.

Brigade Commander Aziz had already retreated to the core defensive perimeter of the central square. Seeing that more than two-thirds of his troops had been killed or wounded and that his forces were divided and surrounded, he knew that Guangzhou was completely indefensible.

He requested the largest possible close air support, demanding that bombers cover the central square and the surrounding streets where we were fighting the enemy—a mutually destructive situation!
Then, he ordered all mobile troops to abandon and destroy any heavy equipment that could not be carried away, and immediately break out towards the Baishui River to the north of the city!

The second lieutenant's narration paused, and the command room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone could imagine the desperate and cruel scene: with their commander killed, their units scattered, and friendly fire about to rain down on them, Turkish soldiers frantically rushed towards the Baishui River north of the city.

In the north of the city, what awaited them was the independent guerrilla division's defense line, which Wu Wanli had deployed in advance, and the pursuing troops of the Seventh Steel Brigade!

The American staff officer's voice had lost all its strength, leaving only a numb statement: "Our support battalion has established a bridgehead on the north bank of the Baishui River, and a large number of Turkish soldiers are rushing to the crossing."

The independent guerrilla division held off the enemy at the front line, but their forces were scattered and mostly composed of new recruits from North Korea, so their combat effectiveness was limited.

Brigadier General Aziz personally directed the remaining armored company to clear the way, with the infantry battalion following up with the assault.

The first line of defense was quickly breached, and when the enemy reached the second line, a brutal hand-to-hand battle broke out. Our army still had the upper hand, and the enemy was forced to retreat and consolidate their defenses.

Brigade Commander Aziz directed the mortar group to bombard our retreating positions, and sent out a small elite force to infiltrate from the flank and finally break through.

The last line of defense guarded the crucial crossing point, and the remaining soldiers who had been withdrawn earlier also joined the defense.

Turkish troops launched a desperate charge, and Brigade Commander Aziz called in US air force to drop aerial bombs on the positions of the 3rd Regiment in Suwon... regardless of friend or foe!
Both sides paid a heavy price, and then Brigade Commander Aziz personally led the last reserve force to charge forward!
This last line of defense has been breached! Some Turkish troops have begun to rendezvous with the US support battalion on the north bank.

At this final moment, the Seventh Steel Brigade attacked from the flank into the ranks of the Turkish troops who were crossing the river and those who had already crossed!
Wu Wanli directly targeted Brigade Commander Aziz, who was directing his troops, and in the ensuing melee... the two clashed!
He wouldn't be mistaken, because only he has the ability to tear through battle formations in close combat!
Just like when he killed French Lieutenant General Ralph, only his close-quarters combat skills could have done it!

Then, Brigade Commander Aziz was beheaded in front of everyone by Wu Wanli!

He even personally seized the Turkish brigade's flag!

Upon witnessing this, the US support battalion abandoned its rearguard mission and retreated in panic.

In the end, only a hundred or so Turkish soldiers escaped with the American troops; the Turkish brigade... was finished.

After uttering the last word, the U.S. Army lieutenant swayed, almost collapsing from exhaustion.

Narrling the details of that bloody encirclement and annihilation battle seemed to drain all his strength.

A deathly silence once again enveloped the UN command post.

This silence was heavier and colder than any before.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, blood, and a terrifying aura associated with the "Steel Seventh Brigade."

The U.S. military staff officers were pale-faced, and some subconsciously reached for their sidearms at their waists, as if that could bring them a sense of security.

On the map, Guangzhou's location at this moment appeared to everyone as no less than the entrance to a demonic lair that had just devoured thousands of elites.

An older staff officer broke the suffocating silence with a muttered phrase: "My God..."

This is not a battle; it is a massacre, a perfect blend of precise calculation and raw violence—an art of slaughter!

The intelligence officer slammed his fist on the table, his voice trembling with excitement. He pointed to the location of Guangzhou on the map: "Accurate! Absolutely accurate!"

Look at his action milestones!

The Independent Partisan Division fought with all its might, wearing down the Turkish Brigade's morale and manpower to a critical point.

Just when the defense system was showing signs of weakness or even complacency, he appeared with fresh troops!

This is the most devastating psychological blow!
Choosing to launch a general attack at 5 a.m. is precisely when the defending troops are most tired and least vigilant!

The targets of the artillery fire—core artillery positions, permanent firing points, command posts, and reserve assembly areas—are all key nodes supporting the defense system!

He always strikes the snake at its vital spot!
His grasp of battlefield information...it was as if God was relaying intelligence to him!

The operations staff immediately chimed in, his eyes filled with shock at that kind of courage and a hint of barely perceptible admiration: "It's not just about information, but also about decisiveness and courage!"

He completely ignored the heavy casualties suffered by the Independent Guerrilla Division, and did not even allow this exhausted force to participate in the main attack. Instead, he directly committed his core elite troops to launch a thunderous strike!
At the last moment of the Turkish brigade's massive breakout, he precisely appeared in the most critical position, capturing the enemy general and the flag!

This kind of relentless, fearless, and ruthless approach—seizing an opportunity and clinging to it relentlessly, even at the cost of one's own life—is simply demonic!

The logistics officer's voice was tinged with lingering fear: "And their organizational skills!"

Look at the division of labor in his troops!

The reconnaissance detachment broke through the defenses, the assault detachment drew enemy fire, the fire support detachment consolidated and expanded the gains, and the armored battalion broke through from the front!
Each person performs their duties, and they work together as seamlessly as a machine!

In the chaotic urban warfare, the troops' tactical teams used their skills skillfully, something that a hastily assembled force could not achieve!
This is... a truly elite team that has been honed to its very core!
That Wu Wanli was not only a brave general, but also a genius commander who could unite the troops into a terrifying force!
Damn it, this Chinese man absolutely cannot be allowed to live; we must find a way to kill him!

"Steel Seventh Brigade... Steel Seventh Brigade..."

Van Fleet repeated the name under his breath, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, making a dull thud.

He had not taken this Chinese unit, which was being touted as a miracle by those on the front lines, seriously, always thinking it was just exaggerated talk from a defeated general.

But now, with the bloody details of the Battle of Guangzhou right before his eyes, he had no choice but to believe it.

That terrifying efficiency in attacking strongholds, that fearless fighting spirit, that tactical execution as precise as an extension of one's own arm...

The combat effectiveness of this unit far exceeded his expectations.

He looked up at the blue arrow on the map pointing directly from Guangzhou to Seoul, his pupils contracting slightly. "Enough!"

Ridgway slammed his hand on the table, the loud noise causing a buzzing sound in the command room and interrupting the staff's alarmed analysis.

His face was ashen, his temples throbbing. Wu Wanli's name and the Seventh Steel Brigade's achievements burned into his nerves like a red-hot iron.

"Analyze his tactics?"
Praise his bravery?

Now is not the time for tactical discussions!
He, along with Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, Ding Wei, and their gang, are leading their troops like a group of sharks that have smelled blood, rushing towards Seoul!
What we need now is a solution!
The strategy is to block them and crush them!
Think about it immediately!

Ridgway's roar was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the chaotic thoughts that arose from the shock among the staff and pulling everyone back to the harsh reality.

Under immense pressure, diametrically opposed strategic propositions immediately clashed fiercely.

Van Fleet was the first to step forward, pointing heavily at Seoul, his tone resolute: "Commander! The situation is extremely critical!"
With the fall of Guangzhou, the southeastern gateway has been wide open!

Riding high on their great victory, Wu Wanli and Li Yunlong's forces are at the peak of their offensive!
Seoul... Seoul must never become the next Guangzhou!
I strongly recommend that an immediate telegram be sent ordering all main forces on the western front to retreat at full speed and at all costs to defend Seoul!
Relying on Seoul's long-established city defense system and the existing garrison within the city, we will build an ironclad defense line!

At the same time, strict orders were issued urging the 1st Cavalry Division, the remnants of the 1st New Marine Division, and the main force of the 7th U.S. Division on the eastern front to move towards Seoul day and night, sparing no effort!

As long as we can pin down the main force of the Chinese Eastern Front assault group under the walls of Seoul, and wait for our reinforcements from the east and west to arrive, we can form a perfect encirclement!

At the gates of Seoul, with coordinated attacks from within and without, we will completely and utterly annihilate Li Yunlong and Wu Wanli, this formidable threat! We will achieve our goal in one decisive battle!

As he spoke, he slammed his fist into the Seoul area on the map, his eyes flashing with a fanatical, desperate light.

This is an extension of his "steel defense" strategy, and in his eyes, it is the only opportunity to turn the tide and reverse the defeat.

In Seoul, a decisive battle was fought against the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

"Do not!

Van Fleet, you're gambling with the entire Western Front and the entire war effort!
The risk is too great!

Eckelberg immediately retorted loudly, his face filled with disapproval and deep concern.

He strode to the other side of the map, his finger urgently sweeping across the vast area on the western front: "Once the main force on the western front withdraws on a large scale, the pressure on the front will be greatly reduced."

The main force of the Chinese army will surge up like a tide and relentlessly pursue our retreating troops!
They might even ambush and intercept us on our way back to defend Seoul!
At that point, not only will we be unable to return to Seoul in time, but the western front itself will also be in danger of collapse!

Eckelberg's finger suddenly jabbed at the narrow path on the map leading from Guangzhou to Seoul, and he spoke very quickly: "Seoul is our core, and we must not lose it!"
But it's absolutely not a good idea to empty the western front now and put all your eggs in one basket in Seoul.

Time! Time is not on our side at all!
The 1st Cavalry Division on the eastern front was still quite a distance from Seoul, and they had to overcome guerrilla attacks and possible resistance from small Chinese units along the way, so they could not be as fast as Wu Wanli's raid on Guangzhou!
By the time they arrive, Seoul may already be engulfed in a bloody battle, or even…

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: Seoul might fall before reinforcements could arrive.

He took a deep breath and proposed a more conservative approach of "trading time for space": "I think the most urgent task is not to immediately pull all the main forces on the western front back, as that would cause a chain reaction of collapse!"
We should take advantage of the several tens of kilometers of depth between Guangzhou and Seoul!
Immediately organize a powerful mobile force and engineers to block the enemy at strategic points along the way, taking advantage of favorable terrain and air support!

Every line of defense must be like a steel nail, driven in hard to slow down Li Yunlong and Wu Wanli's advance!

Every day, even half a day, that delays them buys us crucial time!

Eckelberg's gaze swept over Ridgway and the other staff officers, his tone urgent: "Use this precious time to hold the line, on the one hand, to have the Seoul garrison reinforce the city's defenses, stockpile supplies, and prepare for the worst-case scenario of street fighting."

On the other hand, strict orders were issued urging the 1st Cavalry Division on the Eastern Front, the remnants of the 1st New Marine Division, and the main force of the 7th U.S. Division to accelerate! Accelerate even more!
There is no need to rush to Seoul immediately. Instead, we should try to attack the already exhausted Chinese Eastern Front Group from the east and west when Li Yunlong's troops are at the gates of Seoul, unable to take it after a long siege, and when the troops are tired and worn out.

This is much safer and the risks are manageable than hastily launching a battle for Seoul before our forces are fully assembled!

Van Fleet immediately retorted sharply, his voice rising with excitement: "Eckelberg! Your 'safe' approach is to sit and wait for death!"
A series of ambushes?

Do you expect a few temporary lines of defense to stop the Steel Seventh Brigade, which has just ravaged Guangzhou and is in high spirits?

How to stop Wu Wanli, who dared to kill even Aziz and launch a strong attack on even the strongest city defenses?

And that old fox Li Yunlong!
Have you forgotten how our vanguard regiment was ambushed and wiped out in Qingping Canyon?
Ambushing Wu Wanli in complex terrain?

It's practically handing him a victory!
Moreover, how many parts of the route from Guangzhou to Seoul are completely flat?
Apart from Jiuli, which is somewhat decent, there are no other places that can truly stop them from establishing a solid defensive line!

How long do you expect to delay with one or two weak lines of defense?
one day?
Half a day?

What can you do in that little bit of time?!

Van Fleet slammed his hand heavily on the map, marking the location of Seoul. His eyes burned with the flames of a decisive battle: "Retreating our main force on the western front back to defend Seoul may seem risky, but it will allow us to quickly mobilize the maximum defensive force we can currently muster!"
The defenses of Seoul are far superior to those of Guangzhou!

With the defenders relying on strong fortifications, how could they not hold out for even a few days?

As long as we can hold onto Seoul as a magnet and firmly attract Li Yunlong and Wu Wanli.

Once reinforcements arrive from the eastern front, we will be able to attack from both inside and outside, and the scales of victory will tip in our favor in an instant!

This is the most effective and thorough solution to the problem!
Your so-called layered blocking strategy, while seemingly secure, actually disperses your forces and places your hopes for victory on the vague notion of 'delay'.

In the end, they will only be defeated one by one by Wu Wanli, and Seoul will be lost in vain!

The heated debate between the two senior generals was like two colliding torrents, creating a huge vortex in the command room.

Other staff officers could no longer remain silent and joined the debate, which concerned the fate of Seoul and the entire Korean War.

A burly operations staff officer stepped forward, his voice urgent: "I support Chief of Staff Van Fleet's opinion!"

Seoul must be defended at all costs!
This is the political center, and also where the morale of the military rests!
If anything goes wrong, the consequences will be unimaginable!

Although the withdrawal from the western front was risky, as long as the action was swift and decisive enough, it might not be impossible to shake off the entanglement of the Chinese army!
Even if the western front faces some temporary pressure, as long as Seoul can be held and the main force of the Chinese eastern front annihilated, all losses will be worthwhile!

Another intelligence officer, wearing glasses, adjusted his glasses and pointed to the map of the western front, retorting, "No! That's too risky!"

Don't we know the resilience of the Chinese military?

Once the western front retreats, they will definitely not just 'engage'; they will launch a full-scale counter-offensive!
The 19th Army Corps, the 9th Army Corps, and those two elite reserve forces that have not been used will pounce on us like hungry wolves!

The risk of a collapse on the western front is far greater than the immediate threat currently facing Seoul!

I support General Eckelberg in his efforts to create a multi-layered defensive strategy and buy time.

It would be safer to wait for reinforcements from the eastern front to arrive, and then launch a well-prepared counter-encirclement battle on the outskirts of Seoul!

Another staff officer excitedly interjected: "Is it safe?"
By the time the reinforcements from the eastern front arrive, it's questionable whether Seoul will even still exist!

Have you forgotten how long it took Wu Wanli to attack Guangzhou?

From the perimeter to breaching the city and then annihilating the entire enemy!

He advanced with lightning speed!
Concentrating our main force on the western front is the only option! We must pull back our fists before we can strike again!

A U.S. military staff officer in charge of logistics spoke with concern, his voice weary: "Retreat? Easier said than done!"

How long would it take for hundreds of thousands of troops on the western front, with countless pieces of equipment and supplies, to retreat on a large scale right under the noses of the enemy's heavy forces?
How will logistics be guaranteed?

Will the roads be damaged? Will air cover be provided?
If any one link in the chain goes wrong, it will be a catastrophic failure!

"By then, let alone returning to aid Seoul, we'll collapse on our own!"

The debate grew increasingly heated, even straying from the main topic.

A young staff officer, driven to the brink of madness by immense pressure, shouted in a desperate tone, "What's the point of defending Seoul! What's the point of fighting a decisive battle!"
The Eastern Front has been lost, and the Western Front is also in danger!

I think... I think it would be better to simply retreat across the entire front!
Relying on the rear defense line and naval and air superiority, we reorganized our defense!
This is the way to preserve our strength and avoid a greater disaster!

Van Fleet flew into a rage and shouted, "Absurd! Coward!"

To abandon Seoul without a fight?
Do you want to bring shame upon the flag of the United States before the whole world?!
If anyone dares to utter such demoralizing remarks again, they will be court-martialed!

The young staff officer retorted defiantly, but his voice trailed off: "But General! The reality is that we are suffering defeat after defeat!"

Wu Wanli and Li Yunlong...they...they are too..."

The command center was in complete chaos.

Those who support Van Fleet's advocacy of immediately withdrawing the main force on the western front and fighting a decisive battle in Seoul.

They supported Eckelberg's strategy of delaying and blocking along the way, waiting for reinforcements from the eastern front to counter-encircle them.

There were even pessimistic and desperate voices advocating a complete retreat... Various opinions were mixed together, and no one could convince anyone else.

Immense disagreements and a pervasive sense of defeat plunged the UN forces’ highest command center into unprecedented chaos and inefficiency.

Anxiety, exhaustion, and uncertainty about the future were written all over everyone's face.

Ridgway remained silent, like a reef in the eye of a storm.

With his back to the chaotic command post, his gaze was fixed on the huge battle map.

The red and blue arrows were intertwined, but the most eye-catching one was the blue arrow that shot proudly from Guangzhou and pointed straight at Seoul—Wu Wanli and Li Yunlong!

The ambush at Qingping Gorge, the fall of Jiaping, the rout of the 1st Marine Division, the annihilation of the vanguard regiment of the US 7th Division, the fall of Guangzhou, the complete annihilation of the Turkish brigade, and the beheading of the brigade commander...

This series of defeats was like a cold iron chain, wrapping around him and making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

The waves of arguing assaulted his eardrums.

Van Fleet's resolute "Seoul showdown theory" was driven by a desperate zeal and carried enormous risks, but if successful, the rewards would be unprecedented.

The complete annihilation of the Chinese Eastern Front Assault Group, this major threat, would be enough to turn the tide of the entire war!

Eckelberg's cautious "step-by-step blocking and waiting for reinforcements to counter-encircle" theory seems prudent, but as Van Fleet questioned.

Can the blocking force really stop the "Steel Seventh Brigade" that just created a miracle in the siege?

Can they stop Wu Wanli, who seems to be possessed by a god of war?

Is time truly on their side?
As for the noise of a full-scale retreat, he immediately eliminated it.

Seoul is not only a military stronghold, but also a political symbol and a sign of the presence of the United Nations forces!
To retreat without a fight and abandon Seoul?
This is impossible!
That would be tantamount to declaring the complete defeat of the UN forces in Korea, and Ridgway's military career would come to an end.

Time slips away second by second, and every second is precious.

The staff's arguments gradually subsided, and everyone realized that the final decision rested with only one person.

All eyes in the command room were focused on Ridgway's back.

Ridgway's gaze shifted back and forth between two key points on the map.

One is the position of the Third Division and other units representing the elite main force on the western front.

Another is Guri, a small town located about 20 kilometers southeast of Seoul on the map, which guards an important highway and railway line.

Although the terrain of Guli is not extremely dangerous, it has low hills on both sides and a highway runs through the town, making it an important transportation hub leading to Seoul.

Holding this position will buy Seoul at least a day of buffer time.

His fingers tapped the table unconsciously.

Van Fleet's decisive battle plan requires time to assemble his forces.

The withdrawal of the main forces on the western front will take time, and the convergence of the troops on the eastern front will take even longer!
Eckelberg's blocking plan also hinges on time.

Right now, what we lack most is time!

We must stop Wu Wanli and Li Yunlong's first and fiercest attack head-on at Seoul!
To buy that crucial buffer for all subsequent deployments!
A compromise and pragmatic solution quickly took shape in Ridgway's mind.

He turned around abruptly, all hesitation, struggle, and anger vanishing from his face, and immediately said, "Pass on my orders!"

In an instant, all the US military staff officers straightened up, held their breath, and picked up their pens to take notes.

Ridgway's finger slammed heavily on the map at Kyuri: "First, immediately mobilize the entire force of the ROK 2nd Division, along with a heavy artillery battalion, an engineer company, and corresponding anti-tank weapons, and send them to Kyuri at full speed!"
The mission is to establish a strong defensive position in Jiuli Town and its surrounding area at all costs!
In coordination with the continuous bombing and interdiction by the air force, we must hold off the vanguard of Li Yunlong and Wu Wanli's eastern assault group at all costs!
Hold out for at least 24 hours!
Anyone who retreats without orders will be court-martial!

Tell them that the safety of Seoul depends on the Battle of Guri!

He chose the South Korean 2nd Division, which, although not as combat-effective as the elite US forces, was considered one of the more well-organized units in the South Korean army.

More importantly, they were located near Seoul, allowing them to be deployed to the battlefield as quickly as possible.

Using South Korean troops to withstand the first and most intense wave of attack not only preserved the core strength of the US military, but also served as a delaying measure.

As he spoke, Ridgway's finger moved toward the western front: "Second, once again strictly order the 3rd Division of the western mobile corps to immediately disengage from current contact, abandon all unnecessary supplies, and return to Seoul at full speed!"

The order requires them to arrive at the designated area on the western outskirts of Seoul within 36 hours!
Tell them that Seoul is in imminent danger; this is a death order, and they must fight to the death!

He ultimately did not choose to immediately withdraw all main forces from the western front, but instead first selected the elite Third Division, which was relatively close and had strong mobility, as the first batch of reinforcements.

This would strengthen Seoul's defenses without immediately undermining the foundation of the entire western front.

Ridgway's gaze was sharp as a knife as he swept over the officer in charge of communications: "Third, immediately call the 1st Cavalry Division, the 1st New Marine Division, and the 7th Infantry Division on the Eastern Front: Seoul is under direct threat from the main force of the Chinese Eastern Front Group!"
At all costs, we must overcome all obstacles as quickly as possible and move towards Seoul!
Any delay will be subject to military law!
Tell them that the Battle of Seoul needs their strength!

The warplanes that can encircle the main force of the Chinese army are right in front of us!

Fourth, strengthen aerial reconnaissance of the movements of the Chinese eastern front assault groups!
I need to know the location, size, and speed of advance of every unit under Li Yunlong and Wu Wanli!

At the same time, the Air Force Tactical Command was ordered to concentrate its maximum strength immediately!
Continuous saturation bombardment and firepower blockade will be carried out on all major roads, bridges and suspected assembly areas from Guangzhou to Jiuli and from Jiuli to Hancheng!

The goal is to delay the Chinese army's ground advance to the greatest extent possible, buying time for the defense of Jiuli and the return of the Third Division!

"Yes, sir!!!"

Those in the command post understood that Ridgway's mind was made up, and immediately responded loudly.

(End of this chapter)