Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 395 Chu Yunfei Shoots and Kills a Japanese-American! Chinese Navy Engages in Bloody Battle Against US Pacific Fleet Carrier-Based Air Force!
Cheongpungwon Theater in Seo-gu, Seoul

The stands were packed with U.S. soldiers who had been "organized" to "relax."

The vast majority were Japanese-American soldiers with distinctive bowl cuts and eyes that habitually conveyed obedience yet could not conceal the wildness in their bones.

They smoked cheap cigarettes or cigars, the cigarette butts glowing, and talked loudly in Japanese, interspersed with broken English slang and profanities.

In the corner, a few burly Black soldiers sat scattered about, smoking large cigars. Amidst the swirling smoke, their eyes held a detached and indifferent air, as if watching a spectacle.

There were also a few white military officers who were clearly drawn by the "mysterious Eastern beauty" gimmick on the poster, holding wine glasses and looking down with a curious expression.

Just then, a small commotion broke out at the entrance.

The head of the Seoul Public Security Preservation Association, wearing a cheap suit with crooked shoulders, led a group of people into this smoky and chaotic place with a broad smile.

The person he respectfully led in front of him was Chu Yunfei.

This Nationalist Army lieutenant general stood tall and straight, wearing an immaculate officer's overcoat, creating a striking contrast with his surroundings.

His face was cold and stern, his gaze sharp as lightning, as if he possessed an invisible barrier.

Fang Ligong and Sun Ming followed closely behind, like the most loyal guards.

Fang Ligong's eyes remained calm as he surveyed the entire room, assessing the potential risks.

Sun Ming's right hand was habitually on the quick-draw holster at his waist, his sharp eyes sweeping over every dark corner and suspicious face, a chilling killing intent faintly emanating from him.

The president's smile was almost overflowing as he bent over, trying to lead Chu Yunfei to the "VIP seat" specially reserved in the center of the front row.

However, as soon as Chu Yunfei stepped into the area, his gaze was precisely locked onto the few Japanese-American officers in the front row who were sitting arrogantly and talking and laughing loudly.

Their bowlegs were spread apart in an extremely relaxed, even unrestrained manner.

Those narrow eyes and flat cheekbones, bearing the marks of a history of aggression, pierced Chu Yunfei's eyelids like poisoned needles.

In an instant, countless memories of blood and fire—the smoke of the Battle of Xinkou, the fighting in northwestern Shanxi, and the bloodstained faces of fallen comrades—violently assaulted his senses.

Chu Yunfei's face suddenly darkened, as if covered with a layer of frost. He stopped abruptly and said in an icy voice, "No need."

Chu could simply find a quiet spot.

The 'smell' there is too strong.

The president's smile froze instantly, like a mask that had been frozen in place.

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead and temples, instantly soaking his temples.

He almost immediately understood the target of the Nationalist general's cold words and sharp gaze.

They were Japanese soldiers!
It was those faces that made him feel uneasy and humiliated!

He apologized repeatedly, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Yes, yes, yes! General Chu, please calm down!"
It was my oversight!

Neglect! Utter neglect!

This way, please!

He hurriedly turned to the side, no longer daring to look Chu Yunfei in the eye, and frantically led the three of them to the side near the backstage entrance.

There were fewer people there, and the lighting was dimmer, with a few benches sitting alone.

With a blank expression, Chu Yunfei sat down on a cold bench under the anxious guidance of the chairman.

His brows remained tightly furrowed, as if they were knotted into an unsolvable knot.

The surrounding noise, the pungent smell, and especially the grating laughter of the Japanese officers in the front row, all felt like sandpaper grinding against his nerves.

"Qiang Qiang Qiang..."

The gongs and drums on the stage suddenly began to beat, the rhythm was rapid and monotonous, and it had a sense of being rushed into something.

The faded curtain slowly opened to both sides with a creaking sound, accompanied by the harsh creaking of the winch.

The role of the overlord was played by a tall, middle-aged North Korean actor whose face showed signs of long-term malnutrition.

He wore a costume that was stiff from starching and worn at the edges, and his face was covered with exaggerated greasepaint, trying to hide his haggard appearance.

The actress playing Yu Ji was a Korean girl who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old. She was slender, had a delicate face, and possessed an innocent and fragile quality.

Her costume was relatively bright, but the fabric was rough and the size was not very good.

As soon as the two stepped onto the stage and struck the classic opening pose from "Farewell My Concubine," the audience erupted in cheers.

Wow! What a pretty girl!

"Hey! Overlord! Your beauty is really something!"

"Make her spin around and see!"

A tidal wave of strange noises, whistles, and banging on stools surged in, instantly drowning out the already faint sound of gongs and drums.

The dim environment aggravated the restlessness of the American soldiers, who pulled out flashlights from their pockets and bags.

Dozens, even more, blinding beams of light shot directly at the stage without any regard for the consequences!
The intense light, like an invisible blade, lashed fiercely at the faces and bodies of the two actors!
The actor playing the Overlord was so shaken that he instinctively turned his head to the side, his eyes narrowing into slits.

The young "Yu Ji" was even more panicked. She instinctively raised her water sleeves to shield herself from the blinding light, her body trembling slightly.

Her delicate face was filled with fear and helplessness; she couldn't open her eyes in the bright light, and her long eyelashes trembled violently.

"Haha! She's shy!"

"Flashlight! Shine it on her face! Let me see her clearly!"

Several Japanese-American soldiers, their faces flushed and reeking of alcohol, took advantage of the dim light and the stimulation of alcohol to jump off the bench with strange laughter and stagger up to the edge of the stage.

Their greedy eyes roamed unabashedly over "Yu Ji's" slender waist, fair neck, and terrified face, making lewd smacking noises and leering laughs.

The actor playing the overlord, a North Korean man, had his chest heaving violently.

The bright light stung his eyes, and the beast-like gazes from the audience and the panic of his companions burned his heart even more.

He suppressed his almost bursting anger and immense humiliation, made a gesture of waving a weapon as described in the play, and then abruptly stopped.

He took a deep breath and bent over deeply in the direction of the blinding flashlights waving below the stage, his head almost touching his knees.

He called out in a trembling, hoarse voice, in a servile, heavily accented, broken English mixed with pleading Korean: "Honorable gentlemen..."

Please, please turn off the flashlights! They're too bright; Yu Ji can't open her eyes and can't see what's happening...

Please, gentlemen who went on stage, return to your seats so we can perform more easily. Thank you all...

His extremely humble posture and almost tearful pleading did not elicit the slightest understanding or restraint from the rioters below the stage. Instead, it was like a spark suddenly splashed into a boiling oil drum!
"idiot!"

The Japanese officer in the front row, who wore the rank of major and was particularly disliked by Chu Yunfei, suddenly stood up!

He had long harbored wicked thoughts towards the charming and terrified "Yu Ji" on the stage, and the pure fear she exuded only fueled his desire to conquer her.

At this moment, the actor's "lack of appreciation" gave him the perfect excuse to make a scene!

His face instantly contorted with rage, his eyes flashing with violence and lewdness, as he cursed in a mix of Japanese and English: "Baka!"
Ungrateful wretch!
How dare they order us around?!
"You've gone too far!"

He suddenly pulled out his belt, swung it hard in the air, and pointed it at the Overlord and Consort Yu on the stage, shouting, "Go!"

Let's teach this arrogant bastard a lesson!
Let him know what hierarchy is!

Then, a cruel and excited smile spread across his face, and his voice suddenly rose, roaring with the excitement of a wild beast pouncing on its prey: "Bring that little beauty down!"
Come on, have a few drinks with us!

That final line, "Come drink with us!" was like a cannon igniting a fuse, or more like throwing a piece of bloody meat into a pack of hungry hyenas!
"Oh oh oh!"

"Arrest him! Arrest him!"

"Drink! Drink!"

A group of Japanese-American soldiers in the audience, who had been eagerly anticipating the performance, burst into wild, beast-like screams and surged toward the stage!
Their target was clear and cruel—the "Yu Ji" who retreated in terror, helpless like a leaf in the wind!
The "Overlord" on the stage, his eyes bloodshot, roared and spread his arms, trying to protect his companion with his body.

But he was immediately and violently shoved aside by one of the first American soldiers who rushed up, a soldier as strong as a bull!

The actor staggered back several steps, tripped over the messy scenery, and fell heavily onto the hardwood stage with a loud thud, letting out a painful groan.

Chaos erupted inside the theater!
The screams of women, the shouts of soldiers, the crash of overturned benches, the screech of shattering bottles...

All sorts of noises mingled together, forming a chaotic ocean of chaos, as if the end of the world had arrived!
"boom--!"

A crisp, deafening gunshot rang out, like a thunderclap suddenly exploding in the sky!
It instantly drowned out all the noise in the arena!

Time seemed to be paused at this moment.

The chaotic moment is frozen in time.

All the waving arms, open mouths, and forward-rushing bodies froze in place.

Everyone's face was filled with astonishment and confusion, and they subconsciously looked in the direction of the terrifying sound.

Chu Yunfei had somehow stood up from the bench, his posture as straight as a javelin, completely still.

He held his right hand out, and a wisp of white smoke still drifted from the muzzle of the Browning M1910 pistol in his hand. The muzzle flash was exceptionally dazzling in the dim light.

His face was ashen as he glanced at the group of Japanese-American soldiers who were frozen at the edge of the stage, just a step away from "Yu Ji": "In broad daylight, forcibly abducting a woman."

How dignified!

Stop your beastly behavior!

Get off!

After a brief, suffocating silence, the Japanese-American soldiers, stunned by the gunfire, finally came to their senses.

Shame, anger, and the fury of being interrupted instantly overwhelmed reason.

They recognized Chu Yunfei—the lieutenant general in the Kuomintang military uniform, the so-called "Kuomintang military advisor"!
That deep-seated contempt for the Chinese people and the rage at being publicly rebuked and humiliated erupted like a volcano!
Dozens of fierce and venomous gazes, like tangible steel needles, were fixed on Chu Yunfei!

The Japanese-American soldiers surrounding the stage roared and reflexively turned their guns around.

In an instant, the dark muzzles of dozens of rifles and carbines were all pointed at Chu Yunfei, who stood alone with a cold expression!
The Japanese major who was in the lead flew into a rage, drew his Colt M1911 pistol from his waist, and cursed with a twisted and ferocious expression: "Damn bastard!"

You defeated, worthless general who retreated to a small island, dare to meddle in our affairs?!
Your rank as a general is not even as valuable as that of a major in our U.S. Army!

court death!!"

The atmosphere instantly became tense, and the air was stretched to its limit!
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the killing intent, as if a single spark could ignite the entire space!
"Your Excellency!"

Fang Ligong and Sun Ming entered combat mode the instant the gun fired, instantly standing in front of Chu Yunfei and using their bodies to block most of the gun barrels.

Sun Ming's movements were lightning fast. He reached behind him with his left hand and, with a crisp "whoosh," snatched the M1A1 Thompson submachine gun in his hand!

The heavy gun was as steady as a rock in his hand, and the dark muzzle, exuding an aura of death, was pointed directly at the Japanese major who had been shouting the loudest!

His eyes blazed with fury as he roared in English, his voice like that of a wounded lion, filled with deep-seated hatred and contempt: "Fuck You!"

Descendants of the Japanese devils!

A leopard can't change its spots!
The number of Japanese devils that our lord killed on the anti-Japanese battlefield in Shanxi back then, if piled up, would be higher than the graves of your ancestors for eight generations!

More than your entire squad combined!

We don't need a few scum like you who crawled out of the gutter!
Come on up if you dare!
Watch Grandpa shoot you bastards into a sieve!
Come on! You son of a bitch! Give it a try!

Sun Ming's roar and the submachine gun that could spit out deadly flames at any moment were like a bucket of ice water thrown over their heads, making the group of Japanese American soldiers freeze in shock!
The terrifying lethality of submachine guns at close range instilled fear in them instinctively.

They instinctively took a half step back, their eyes scanning between Chu Yunfei's cold face and Sun Ming's submachine gun with suspicion.

However, in the midst of this tense standoff, a glint of madness flashed in the eyes of a Japanese-American soldier who had been crouching behind Chu Yunfei.

He pulled out a revolver, and using the crowd in front of him as cover, he suddenly raised his arm, the cold muzzle pointed at Chu Yunfei's back!
"Your Excellency, watch out behind you! There's a hidden gun!"

Fang Ligong, who had been on high alert and keeping a keen eye on everything around him, caught a fleeting glimpse of the cold metallic light out of the corner of his eye!

At the very moment Fang Ligong issued the warning, Chu Yunfei seemed to have eyes in the back of his head!

This veteran, who had honed his astonishing battlefield instincts amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, turned halfway to the right with incredible agility!

Almost simultaneously with the body's rotation, without even looking, the right hand holding the gun raised and fired a clean and decisive shot at the shadowy area to the side and behind!
"boom!"

Gunshots rang out, and lives were lost!
The Japanese soldier who attempted to fire a shot suddenly had a burst of bright red blood erupt from between his eyebrows and collapsed to the ground dead on the spot!

Brain matter and flesh splattered everywhere!
The Colt revolver clattered to the ground on the cold, dirty floor.

"Damn it! He fired!"

"He killed one of our men!"

"Kill that Chinese pig! Avenge Ono!"

This shot was like igniting a real powder keg!
Witnessing their comrades being killed, especially Chu Yunfei, whom they considered an "inferior race," enraged all the Japanese-American soldiers around them!
Their eyes were bloodshot as they pulled the bolts and released the safety.

The "snap" sound, like the Grim Reaper sharpening his knife, rang out in rapid succession!
Dozens of gun barrels were raised again, this time with even stronger and more undisguised killing intent!
A bloody battle was about to erupt inside the theater!
"Stop it, all of you!"
Stop!

Put the gun down!

A dignified and angry voice, with an unquestionable commanding tone, boomed like thunder at the entrance of the theater!
The voice, with its pure American English accent and the oppressive aura of someone accustomed to being in a superior position, instantly quelled the chaotic scene.

Immediately afterwards, with a loud crash, the heavy wooden door of the theater was violently kicked open!

A squad of U.S. military police, wearing conspicuous white helmets, with "MP" (military police) printed on their armbands and carrying M1 carbines, rushed in quickly!
They were well-trained and swift, immediately forcibly separating the chaotic crowd, using their bodies and gun barrels to form a human wall between the two sides, isolating them.

Then, Ridgway, accompanied by his adjutant, strode in with a grim expression.

He had apparently heard unusual gunfire coming from the direction of the theater while on his way to inspect the outer defenses, and thus changed his plans and turned in.

His eyes swept across the chaotic and messy scene like searchlights, capturing every detail in a flash.

What happened here?
A market as chaotic as hell!
Someone tell me, God, what's going on?!

Ridgway's voice was deep as he turned his head and sternly questioned a white lieutenant officer next to him who was already dumbfounded.

The officer, who was in charge of "order" in the area, was already deathly pale with fright.

The white lieutenant was startled by the commander's gaze, hurriedly stood at attention, saluted, and stammered out a rapid report in English about what had happened.

He focused on describing how Chu Yunfei fired a shot to stop the American soldiers from harassing the actress, how the Japanese soldiers then surrounded Chu Yunfei with guns, and how the soldier who fired a shot was swiftly killed by Chu Yunfei in retaliation.

He dared not conceal anything and tried his best to present the facts objectively.

After hearing the report, Ridgway's already stern face became even more somber, as if water could drip from it.

His gaze slowly swept over the group of Japanese-American soldiers who still held their guns, finally settling on the face of the leading Japanese-American major. Upon meeting Ridgway's gaze, the major's arrogance vanished instantly, his face turning deathly pale.

Ridgway's voice was as cold and piercing as the Siberian wind: "This scoundrel who attempted to murder a senior Allied advisor deserves to die. He should be prosecuted for treason and will not be given any compensation."

And this commander who instigated the disturbance, incited riots, and seriously violated military discipline, should be arrested immediately!

"Send them to a military court and punish them severely according to wartime regulations; there will be no leniency!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the other silent Japanese soldiers, then his voice suddenly rose, filled with thunderous fury: "Everyone else, get back to your barracks immediately! Three days of confinement!"

Anyone who dares to cause trouble again will be court-martialed on the spot and killed without exception!

The U.S. military police rushed forward like wolves, their actions brutal and merciless.

Several men grabbed the arm of the limp Japanese major and dragged him away roughly like a dead dog.

The remaining Japanese soldiers, under the threat of the military police's dark carbine barrels, could only reluctantly put away their weapons and slink away from the theater.

Only after the last troublemaking soldier disappeared through the door did Ridgewei straighten his uniform, force a smile, and walk up to Chu Yunfei: "General Chu!"

An unfortunate misunderstanding and confusion has startled you.

These soldiers... are undisciplined, barbaric, and brutal; they are a disgrace to our army.

On behalf of the United Nations Command, I apologize to you.

Rest assured, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and take strict measures to control it.

This place is too chaotic and dirty; it's definitely not a place to talk.

Just then, I was on my way to inspect the defensive fortifications surrounding Seoul.

If General Chu doesn't mind the bumpy journey, why don't we go and take a look together?

Take a break and learn about the arduous and extraordinary efforts we are making to defend this outpost of the free world.
I believe this is far more meaningful than staying here.

Chu Yunfei silently and steadily holstered the Browning pistol back into its holster at his waist.

He did not immediately respond to Ridgway's invitation, but instead looked up, his gaze passing over the messy stage and landing on the dark backstage entrance.

There, the Korean girl playing the role of Yu Ji was being supported by several equally terrified companions.

Her frail body was still trembling uncontrollably, and her delicate face was streaked with tears, filled with the fear of surviving a disaster.

Chu Yunfei's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then slowly swept over the messy stage. The last trace of warmth in his eyes vanished, leaving only exhaustion.

He didn't speak, but nodded very slightly, and then followed Ridgway out of the theater.

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

Shortly afterward, an open-top military Willys Jeep was seen violently jolting along the dilapidated streets of Seoul.

The cold wind lashed across my face like a knife, whipping up dust and scraps of paper from the ground.

The closer you get to the city's outer defenses, the more shocking the scene becomes, as if you've fallen from the human world into purgatory.

Along both sides of the road, as far as the eye could see, were endless shacks built with rags, broken planks, and discarded sheet metal.

These so-called "homes" are low, dirty, and dilapidated, shivering in the biting cold wind, stretching endlessly.

Ragged and emaciated, the North Korean refugees, like withered ghosts abandoned by the world, huddled at the entrance of shacks, in corners, and even in the cold wind in the open.

Their eyes were empty and numb, their sunken sockets revealing no hope, only the fear of hunger, cold, and the ever-present possibility of death.

Several emaciated children, reduced to skin and bones, stared wide-eyed as they futilely searched through the stinking garbage heap.

In the corner, one could even see the outlines of one or two small corpses hastily covered with tattered straw mats or dirty burlap sacks, with flies buzzing around them, unnoticed.

The dust kicked up by the jeep mercilessly swarmed towards the creatures struggling between life and death on both sides of the road, and into their empty eyes.

Further ahead, near the outer defensive line constructed of sandbags, barbed wire, and concrete blocks, the scene was even more brutal.

Large numbers of North Korean civilians, who also looked pale and sickly, were carrying heavy sandbags under the close watch and harsh reprimands of heavily armed American and South Korean soldiers.

Some North Korean civilians are digging anti-tank trenches in the cold, hard ground with simple shovels and picks.

The cracking sound of whips striking flesh, the rough shouts of American soldiers, and the painful groans of laborers rose and fell in waves.

An elderly North Korean man with gray hair and a thin frame seemed to have exhausted his last bit of strength as he stumbled and fell onto the cold mud.

The South Korean soldiers nearby immediately rushed forward, cursing and showing no mercy, and slammed the butt of their M1 rifles hard onto the old man's hunched back!
"Bang! Bang!"

The dull thud was unsettling.

The old man curled up in pain, letting out a weak and desperate wail.

An American Jeep bumped past, kicking up even more dust, shrouding everything along the roadside in a gray, despairing atmosphere.

Chu Yunfei sat in the passenger seat, his body swaying slightly with the bumps of the vehicle.

His furrowed brows were reflected in the car window.

This is... the so-called "free world"?
Is this what they call a "bastion of democracy"?
A feeling of nausea churned in his stomach.

However, Ridgway, sitting in the driver's seat, seemed oblivious to the tragedy unfolding outside the car window.

He turned his head to Chu Yunfei, deliberately creating a relaxed tone, even one that seemed somewhat "heart-to-heart":

"The Battle of Seoul was of great significance; it was a turning point that determined the fate of countless American soldiers!"

Once we have completely crushed Li Yunlong and Wu Wanli's offensive, held Seoul, and even pushed them back!

Then, you, General Chu, will become one of the most deserving heroes in the free world's fight against the surging tide of red from the East!

A true hero!

At that time, I will personally petition Washington and the President for your commendation and apply for a medal symbolizing our nation's military honor for you!

May your deeds and courage be forever etched in the annals of the free world!

Then, we'll stand together under the spotlight, being interviewed by people all over the world.

Let the people of the free world see who is on the front lines, protecting their freedom with an iron will!

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something important, and a smile appeared on his face: "Oh, right!"
I've heard that there's a very famous journalist in Taiwan, Miss Manli?

He is exceptionally talented, has a sharp writing style, and is very influential in the Chinese-speaking world.

When the time comes, we will definitely invite her to Seoul to give you the most exciting and detailed exclusive interview!
May your illustrious achievements truly become a household name, renowned throughout the world!

The cold wind, like icy water, poured in fiercely from the open car windows, carrying the stench of rotting corpses from the refugee camp, relentlessly slapping against their faces.

Chu Yunfei's gaze slowly shifted from the small, mangled body of a child lying by the roadside, torn apart by wild dogs, wrapped in a tattered mat, and left unattended.

The name Manli was like a blunt knife, unexpectedly stabbing him in the softest part of his heart, bringing with it a long and lingering pain.

The youthful vigor and lofty ideals of yesteryear, contrasted with the bloody scene before them, the empty eyes of refugees, the painful groans of laborers, and the medals so lightly promised by Ridgway…

All of this intertwined to form a huge and absurd satire, making him feel nauseous.

His throat bobbed with difficulty, as if he had used all his strength to forcefully swallow the intense bitterness in his heart.

In the end, he merely shook his head very slightly, his gaze returning to the endless, seemingly limitless suffering outside the car, his voice low and somber:

"General Ridgway, there's no need for Miss Manley to come."

I've heard that the naval fleet opposite us has grown quite large, and it might be dangerous for us to come over..."

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

Meanwhile, deep in the Yellow Sea, the fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy is cutting through the waves and advancing resolutely toward the west coast of the Korean Peninsula.

At the heart of the fleet are two massive aircraft carriers with towering island superstructures—the "Wanli" and the "Renmin," which fly the five-star red flag.

Their predecessors were the US aircraft carriers that Wu Wanli captured during a surprise attack on the port.

Flanking the two aircraft carriers was the majestic battleship "Dongfanghong," equipped with three triple-mounted guns.

In addition, a sleek Soviet cruiser and four Soviet destroyers patrolled the area like vigilant hunting dogs.

Underwater, six submarines were also quietly lurking.

The transport ship convoy followed behind the naval fleet.

Inside the bridge command room of the aircraft carrier "Wanli," the atmosphere was as heavy as the sea before a storm.

With his back to the huge nautical chart, Xiao Zhenhua listened to the staff officers' reports with his brows furrowed.

Outside the window, the strong sea breeze made the signal flags flutter.

A young naval staff officer spoke urgently, with a hint of barely perceptible tension, pointing to a location that had just been marked on the nautical chart: "Reporting, sir!"
The reconnaissance plane urgently transmitted intelligence!
A large group of US carrier-based aircraft has been spotted approximately 180 nautical miles northwest of my fleet!

The number... is initially estimated to be no less than 180!

Heading southeast by south, the destination is clear—the west coast of the Korean Peninsula!

Based on intelligence gathered on land, it is highly likely that these were enemy aircraft that took off from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Fleet and were rushing to reinforce the Han River battlefield!

A suppressed gasp and gasps of surprise filled the command room. All eyes were fixed on Xiao Jingguang.

Captain Li Hongbo stepped forward, speaking quickly and clearly with the urgency of a soldier: "Towards the Han River!"
Commander Li Yunlong and his men are launching a fierce attack on the Han River defense line!
Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Brigade is likely also preparing to break through and engage in a major battle!
Once these US carrier-based aircraft are deployed to the Han River battlefield, it will be a devastating blow to our ground forces!

Should we...should we immediately scramble carrier-based aircraft to intercept them?
Even if we can't annihilate them completely, we must delay them as much as possible to buy time for our ground troops!

Li Hongbo's words represented the sentiments of the vast majority of commanders and soldiers in the command room, and many of them showed a resolute expression on their faces.

However, in the corner, Zheng Weiyu, a former Kuomintang naval officer who had defected, stepped forward: "Commander Xiao, Captain Li, and fellow colleagues, please forgive my bluntness."

Impulse will not solve the problem.

Our two aircraft carriers, the "Wanli" and the "Renmin", have a total of only eighty carrier-based aircraft!

Moreover, the aircraft types are mixed, and their performance is far inferior to that of US military aircraft.

Pilot training time is also insufficient; most are elite army aviation personnel who have just completed basic training and transferred to other units, with very few possessing genuine experience in aircraft carrier takeoffs and landings and air combat.

He walked to the nautical chart and tapped his finger heavily on the location of the US military aircraft formation: "One hundred and eighty aircraft against eighty aircraft, it's still fighting with fewer aircraft and the weak against the strong!"
Intercept?

This is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock!

Once our precious carrier-based aircraft are all lost in air combat, or even... even if the US aircraft break through the interception and counterattack our fleet!
These two aircraft carriers, this precious battleship, as well as cruisers and destroyers, are all extremely valuable and hard-won assets of our new Chinese navy!

They are the seeds of future coastal defense!

To put the entire fleet at risk for a delayed goal that is uncertain to be achieved, and possibly even jeopardize the future of our navy?
Is it worth it?
Zheng believed that the most urgent task was to avoid the enemy's sharpest attack and preserve their strength!

Abandon the battle to save the ships and carrier-based aircraft!
"Let's wait for tomorrow!"

A young naval staff officer blushed and stood up abruptly to retort, "Staff Officer Zheng! What are you saying!"

'Protect the ship'?
Where did these warships come from?

It was Comrade Wu Wanli who led the army and risked their lives to snatch it back from the enemy!
Without the bloodshed and sacrifice of our army brothers on land, where would we be standing here today discussing 'saving the ships'?
No matter how valuable a warship may be, can it compare to the value of General Wu Wanli and the millions of volunteer soldiers who are fighting desperately on both sides of the Han River?
Isn't the navy meant to support the army in combat and defend the country?
Now that our army brothers are on the brink of death, are we, the navy, just going to stand back and watch because we're afraid of losses and losing our ships?
What kind of revolutionary soldier is this?!

"Yes! The Navy is not a coward!"

"Without our army brothers, where would we get our warships to sail?"

"The opportunity to fight is fleeting! We must fight!"

The young officers were outraged.

Former KMT naval staff officer Zheng Weiyu's face flushed red and then turned pale as he was questioned. He tried to argue, "I was thinking about the long-term development of the navy! It was just reckless courage..."

"enough!"

Xiao Zhenhua, who had been silent all along, suddenly turned around and shouted like a thunderclap, instantly silencing all the arguments.

His thin face was covered with frost, his eyes were like torches, piercing Zheng Weiyu and sweeping over everyone present: "Comrade Zheng Weiyu!"

Your argument just now has greatly disappointed me!
We must also be very vigilant!
"Abandon the battle to save the ship"?
'Preserve strength'?
This kind of argument is a tacit and outdated practice of the reactionary navy!
It's the pernicious influence of defeatism and escapism!
"Have you brought these old military habits into the People's Navy of New China?"

He took a step forward, his sharp gaze almost pinning Zheng Weiyu to the spot: "Our navy, from the day it was born, has been fundamentally different from the old navy!"
Our warships are not for display, much less antiques to be preserved and looked after!

Our mission is to support the army's operations and to defend our motherland's maritime borders!
Now, our army brothers are on land, fighting a life-or-death battle against an enemy armed to the teeth for the sake of our country and nation!

They need us!
Our navy needs to be ready to draw its sword and make sacrifices at critical moments!

Xiao Jingguang slammed his hand on the command platform, making a loud "bang": "Comrade Wu Wanli, with his Seventh Steel Brigade, how many good comrades died in order to seize these ships for the Navy?"

They are now on the front line of the Han River, surrounded and attacked by enemy planes and artillery, their lives hanging by a thread!
You're telling me our warships are more important than their lives?!
Are we, the navy, only fit to hide in the back and watch our army brothers fill the enemy's sea of ​​fire with our flesh and blood?!

Let me tell you, Comrade Zheng Weiyu!

In the People's Navy of New China, there is no such thing as "preserving ships first"!
The only priority is to 'eliminate the enemy and complete the mission'!

Ships can be rebuilt, and pilots can be retrained!

But if the opportunity is missed, the blood shed by our army brothers will have been in vain!

This responsibility is one that our navy cannot bear!

The people of the new China will never forgive us for deserting!

Xiao Zhenhua's chest heaved as he issued the order with unwavering resolve, each word like a hammer blow from steel:
"Give me the order!
First, all eighty available carrier-based fighter jets and attack aircraft from the aircraft carriers "Wanli" and "Renmin" should immediately prepare for sortie!

Maximum combat payload!
Objective: Intercept a group of US carrier-based aircraft!
At all costs, delay and weaken the enemy aircraft and prevent them from reaching the Han River on time!

Second, the entire fleet immediately turned around!
Heading northwest, full speed ahead!
We must close the distance to the enemy aircraft group to buy time for our carrier-based aircraft to stay airborne!

At the same time, all warships sounded the air defense combat alarm!
Get all the anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns in position!

We are prepared to use the fleet's air defense network, in conjunction with carrier-based aircraft, to give those American warplanes a good beating!
Third, immediately send a telegram to Li Yunlong!

The naval fleet has detected and is making every effort to intercept the US carrier-based aircraft reinforcements on the Han River!
The army can attack with confidence!

We will never allow American planes to fly over your heads so easily!

"Yes!"

All the officers in the command room straightened their chests and roared in fury!

(End of this chapter)