Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 398 Naval Bloodbath!
On the west side of the peninsula, at sea

"Reporting, sir!"
The second wave of carrier-based aircraft was completely wiped out!

The "Sea Eagle III" and "Sea Eagle VII" squadrons have been completely wiped out!
Only two of the "Haiying-5" aircraft remained and returned to base!
Currently, our navy has a total of... thirty-one carrier-based aircraft!

Captain Li Hongbo stood in front of the radar screen, each word trembling in his voice.

The air inside the command center of the flagship aircraft carrier "Wanli" was incredibly heavy.

The piercing air raid siren was the only background noise, each short scream tugging at everyone's nerves.

Outside the porthole, black smoke from exploding anti-aircraft shells filled the sky.

Commander Xiao Zhenhua stood in front of the huge nautical chart table, his gaze fixed on the markers representing the positions of his own fleet: "How long can the air defense firepower be maintained?"

Li Hongbo spoke quickly and urgently: "The ammunition consumption of each ship is nearing the warning line!"

Bofors anti-aircraft guns on some destroyers overheated and were damaged, and the supply of proximity fuses on cruisers was running low!
American aircraft are adjusting their tactics, launching waves of attacks on our air defense network, while simultaneously diverting forces for low-altitude penetration, attempting to directly attack our ships!

"Commander Xiao, the US military's intention to attrition is very clear!"
We can't hold out with our firepower forever!
A decision must be made as soon as possible!

decision?

Xiao Zhenhua's gaze moved with difficulty from the fleet that was alone at sea on the nautical chart to the land outline representing the Korean Peninsula in the east.

Han River, Seoul!
Have Wu Wanli's Seventh Steel Brigade and Li Yunlong's Eastern Front Assault Group torn through that damned defensive line at this moment?

The Chinese Navy fought a bloody battle here. Every carrier-based aircraft lost and every warship damaged was to buy a chance for the Chinese Army to survive!
If a decisive breakthrough cannot be achieved on the Han River battlefield, the sacrifices of the navy, and this hard-won wealth...

Just as the suffocating silence was about to crush the command room, the heavy blast door of the command room was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang!

A young naval staff officer practically burst in: "Han River! The great victory at Han River!"

The Eastern Front Assault Group Command forwarded a battle report from the Seventh Steel Brigade!

Commander Wu Wanli led his troops... and led his troops to capture the US military's Han River defense line headquarters!

At the same time, they destroyed the core position of their hidden 37th Field Artillery Regiment!
The captured artillery and ammunition were piled up like mountains!
We wiped out the entire headquarters of the US forces along the Han River!

Dead silence.

All sounds in the command room seemed to be instantly silenced, and even the air raid sirens seemed distant.

The naval staff officers, communications officers, and even Captain Li Hongbo all froze in their tracks.

Only his eyes widened suddenly, focusing incredulously on the telegram being waved excitedly.

"What?!

Comrade Wu Wanli took down the US military's Han River command post and artillery positions?

A hoarse voice broke the silence first; it was Staff Officer Zhao, who was in charge of communications.

He lunged at the nautical chart, his trembling fingers pointing towards the core area of ​​the Han River defense line: "Take this place down?"
And... the 37th Artillery Regiment?
God!
This is tantamount to gouging out the eye of the US-South Korea military defense line and breaking their backbone!

The naval staff officer's voice trembled with almost tearful elation: "Absolutely true! The telegram confirms it!"

Now the Seventh Steel Brigade is cooperating with Commander Li Yunlong's main force to launch a fierce attack on both flanks of the Han River defense line along the breach that has been torn open!

With the US and South Korean forces losing unified command and their artillery firepower severely weakened, the entire defense line is collapsing!
A complete sweep!

It's a complete sweep!

"boom!"

In an instant, the brief silence was completely shattered by the sudden burst of enormous sound!
"Okay! Well done!"

"Wu Wanli! I knew this kid could do it!"

"It was worth it! We held on here with all our might, it was worth it! It was fucking worth it!"

Ecstasy surged like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the command center.

The naval staff officers excitedly waved their fists and pounded each other's shoulders; some even had tears in their eyes.

The immense pressure they had endured under the relentless attacks of US aircraft in recent days, the heartache of watching their carrier-based aircraft dwindle one by one, and the deep anxiety about the fate of the fleet all seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

At this moment, all that pressure has transformed into heartfelt admiration and pride for the Seventh Steel Brigade and other volunteer army units.

Captain Li Hongbo looked at Xiao Zhenhua, his face flushed: "Commander Xiao!"

Our efforts to hold off these hundreds of enemy planes and buy time for the Han River battlefield were not in vain!

Captain Wu, you've delivered a devastating blow!

Xiao Zhenhua's tense face finally relaxed, and a look of relief mixed with admiration flashed across his eyes.

He took the telegram, slightly damp with sweat, and scanned each word with piercing eyes, as if trying to draw strength from it.

However, the sudden increase in the sound of explosions outside the command room and the violent shaking of the ship instantly pulled everyone back from their euphoria to the harsh reality.

The sky outside the porthole was filled with more plumes of smoke from explosions and the dark silhouettes of diving enemy planes.

"Report!
US aircraft intensified their attack on the aircraft carrier "People's Daily" and the battleship "Dongfanghong"!

The People's aircraft carrier's starboard flight deck was hit and caught fire!
The battleship Dongfanghong reports that its forward main gun turret was damaged by a near miss!

In an instant, the damage control communication system crackled to life.

The tide of excitement quickly receded, and the cold seawater washed over him again.

Clearly, the enormous crisis is far from over.

A young staff officer who had just been excited turned pale instantly: "The great victory at the Han River... fantastic news!"
But... but what do we do?
The US Pacific Fleet's carrier-based aircraft relentlessly pursued them like mad dogs, leaving them with only about thirty aircraft and running out of anti-aircraft ammunition...

Which way do we go?

These words immediately created a tense atmosphere in the command room, even more oppressive than before.

The news of victory was like a gentle rain, but it could not extinguish the raging flames of war before them.

The People's Liberation Army Navy is a young force that has just started in its infancy and has only managed to piece together a small foundation by exhausting all its resources.

Must we really sacrifice ourselves to cover the army's victory on these waves far from our homeland?

Just as the clouds of despair began to spread, the door to the command room was pushed open once again!

The naval staff officer who rushed in this time had a mixture of disbelief and astonishment on his face, and an almost absurd ecstasy.

He even stumbled slightly from running so fast, raising the telegram in his hand high: "Commander Xiao! Captain!"
New...new support! Huge support!
Captain Wu Wanli! It's him again!
In his advice to the Eastern Front Assault Group Command, he said: "The Han River battlefield has become a meat grinder, with enemy and friendly aircraft entangled and the airspace extremely chaotic."

Under these circumstances, the effect of deploying a large number of aircraft in our air force is unlikely to be satisfactory.

Moreover, the number of land-based fighter jets deployed by the US military over the Han River far exceeded my expectations, making a head-on battle of attrition a poor strategy!
Instead, we should emulate Tian Ji's horse racing strategy and avoid their strength!

The staff officer took a deep breath and shouted out the rest of his words with all his might: "He suggested that Commander Li Yunlong immediately redirect our main land-based air force force, which was originally scheduled to reinforce the Han River battlefield, to reinforce our naval fleet!"
Commander Li Yunlong has given the order!
Two hundred MiG fighter jets of the Air Force, led by Air Force Squadron Leader Wang Wei, are flying at full speed toward the airspace where our fleet is located!
Expected arrival time: 15 to 20 minutes!

There was a deathly silence, an even more profound silence than when the news of the victory at the Han River was first announced.

All the naval staff officers, including Captain Li Hongbo, seemed to be frozen in place, their eyes wide open and their mouths slightly agape.

Wu Wanli?
The army general who commanded thousands of troops on the Han River front and had just destroyed the enemy's command post and artillery.

At this critical juncture that determined the fate of the fleet, his gaze actually crossed hundreds of kilometers of land and sea barriers and was precisely cast onto this turbulent sea area.

They even proposed such a bold and unconventional strategy as "Tian Ji's Horse Racing"!
Captain Li Hongbo couldn't find the right words for a moment, and finally let out a heavy sigh, full of emotion and respect: "Captain Wu..."

He was truly trembling with shock, yet his face remained as calm as a still lake!
This strategic vision...this sense of responsibility...I'm impressed!
I, Li Hongbo, am convinced!

Xiao Zhenhua suddenly straightened his back, and his eyes suddenly flashed with an unprecedented sharp light.

He strode to the communications station, grabbed the microphone, and announced: "Fleet-wide notification! This is Xiao Zhenhua from the Naval Command!"
Reinforcements have arrived!

Air Force Commander Wang Wei is leading 200 MiG fighter jets on their way!
Order: All anti-aircraft gun positions, stay firmly in place!

All carrier-based aircraft that are still capable of taking off should immediately load their weapons and refuel!
Even if there's only one left, get it up there and entangle the enemy planes!
The People's aircraft carrier and the Dongfanghong battleship are firing at full speed with their air defenses; there's no need to conserve ammunition!
adhere to!

Hold on for another twenty minutes at most!

Victory is right at hand!
For the new Chinese navy!

"For the new Chinese navy!"

Inside the command center, everyone from the staff officers to the communications soldiers roared in unison in response.

The sound coalesced into an invisible torrent, almost lifting the roof off the command center.

The gloom of despair was instantly dispelled by this inspiring news and the commander's resounding orders.

Instead, it is a tragic and heroic spirit of fighting with one's back to the wall and welcoming the last darkness before dawn.

Every Chinese naval gunner at every anti-aircraft gun position felt as if they had been given a shot of adrenaline upon hearing the news broadcast over the loudspeaker.

The loaders, their bodies blackened with sweat, oil, and gunpowder, roared as they crammed heavy shells into the scorching hot breech.

One by one, Chinese naval gunners, their eyes bloodshot, hoarsely roared out the correction parameters.

Ignoring the danger of being hit by stray bullets, the observer leaned half his body out of the shield, staring intently at the enemy planes tumbling in the sky.

On the bridge of a Chinese destroyer, the captain gripped the railing and roared into the megaphone: "Did you hear that, comrades?"

Our plane is coming!

Two hundred!
Give him a good beating!

Let the Americans taste what it's like to be bombed!

The destroyer's broadside anti-aircraft guns instantly increased to their maximum rate of fire, weaving an even denser web of deadly fire.

At this time, the fire on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Renmin was still burning, with thick smoke billowing out.

But the damage control team members, like tireless ants, frantically dragged the fire hoses through the scorching heat, swatting at the flowing fuel and flames on the deck.

Inside the engine room, the high temperature was like a steamer. The naval engineers worked shirtless, and the sweat on their bodies was dried as soon as it seeped out.

They used crowbars and their bodies to hold the steam pipe valves, which had shifted due to the violent vibrations, and roared as they tried to keep the power output going.

Every second felt like an eternity.

Every Chinese warship is under unprecedented pressure, its hulls are battered and bruised, yet it still stands firm amidst the hail of bullets and seas of fire.

Time has never felt so slow and heavy.

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

Soon after, high in the distance, tens of thousands of meters above the ground, the cold, thin air carried a biting chill.

Wang Wei gripped the control stick of the Wanli-1 fighter jet tightly. In the cramped cockpit, only the roar of the engine and his own heavy breathing through the oxygen mask could be heard.

Below, the vast Yellow Sea has been left far behind; ahead, the airspace filled with thick smoke and explosions is the battlefield!
The headset was filled with urgent calls from the forward guidance aircraft: "Report! Enemy main force aircraft detected!"
Altitude 5,000 meters, orientation northwest, distance 50 kilometers!
The number... at least one hundred and forty!

Repeat, more than 140!

They are focusing their attack on the core of my fleet!

More than 140 aircraft!

Wang Wei's heart sank, but was immediately ignited by an even stronger rage.

He looked down through the frost-covered canopy.

In that sea shrouded in smoke, a few tiny ship shadows appeared and disappeared in the flames of the explosion, like a few leaves in a stormy sea.

That was his comrade-in-arms, a fellow soldier in the Chinese Navy!
They are using their flesh and blood and steel warships to hold on desperately!
"Attention all!
I am Wang Wei, number one on the Wanli Railway!
The target airspace is right ahead!
The US military has a numerical advantage in fighter jets, but they are a tired force, while we are a fresh and powerful force!

Our naval comrades are watching us from below!

The army comrades on the Han River front are waiting for our good news!

For victory, for our motherland, charge with me!

Wang Wei's voice, clear and firm, reached the ears of two hundred pilots through the radio.

"For victory! For our motherland!"

In an instant, a thunderous response erupted in the channel.

Two hundred Chinese fighter jets, like arrows of revenge released from a bow, with their engines at afterburner, resolutely pierced that airspace!
Seconds later, the Chinese and American aircraft collided violently!
In an instant, the calm sky turned into a boiling inferno.

Countless lines of fire crisscrossed, weaving a vast and deadly net.

The whistling of shells tearing through the air, the frantic roar of fighter jet engines, and the deafening explosions of aircraft being hit all mingled together.

Wang Wei slammed the control stick, and the Wanli-1 fighter jet rolled at high speed, narrowly avoiding a burst of hot bullets fired from the side and rear.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw an F4U Corsair fighter jet painted with a striking white arrow viciously biting the tail of one of his MiG fighters.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Wei slammed on the rudder and simultaneously pulled the control stick backward!

The Wanli-1 fighter jet instantly recovered from its dive, its nose rising high.

The powerful overload slammed him hard into the seat, and his vision went black at the edges.

The Wanli-1 fighter jet drew a near-vertical arc, instantly transforming from the prey's position into a deadly hunter!

The sight's halo firmly locked onto the overconfident American pirate fighter!

"How dare they act arrogantly in the Yellow Sea right on China's doorstep?"
Fuck you, die!

Wang Wei roared inwardly and slammed his thumb down on the fire button!
"Thump thump thump thump thump thump thump thump!"

The MiG-15's powerful 37mm cannon and two 23mm cannons roared simultaneously!

The scorching shell, like the scythe of death, instantly tore the entire right wing of the American Corsair fighter plane, along with its engine compartment, into metal fragments and burning oil!
The enemy planes, like kites with broken strings, tumbled and plummeted into the turbulent sea below.

"pretty!!"

Through the headset, I heard excited cheers from my wingman.

Wang Wei didn't have time to respond because the alarm in the cockpit emitted a piercing scream!
The rear hemisphere radar warning lights are flashing wildly!

Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the downing of a friendly aircraft, an exceptionally cunning American fighter jet silently circled around to his six o'clock position!
Wang Wei's pupils contracted sharply, and he slammed on the accelerator while violently rolling to the left!
A string of blazing tracer bullets whizzed past his tailpipe, the scorching airflow even causing the fuselage to tremble!
"Trying to frame me?"

A cold glint flashed in Wang Wei's eyes. Instead of accelerating to escape, he suddenly reduced the throttle and, in conjunction with the control surfaces, performed a textbook-perfect prelude to the Cobra maneuver.

The fighter jet's speed suddenly decreased, and its nose pitched up instantly, as if it were about to stall and crash.

The pursuing US warplane clearly hadn't expected Wang Wei to make such an illogical move.

The immense inertia propelled it instantly to the front of the Wanli-1 fighter jet!

In an instant, the tide of battle turned!

A cold smile curled at the corner of Wang Wei's mouth. Almost the instant the American fighter jet flew overhead, he suddenly slammed down the nose of the aircraft and pushed the throttle valve all the way down!
Like a cheetah awakening, the Wanli-1 fighter jet unleashed its powerful engine, tilted its nose down, and locked onto the opponent's exposed tail!

Sight locked!
Just as Wang Wei was about to press the launch button, he caught a glimpse of a pirate fighter jet with a huge shark mouth pattern painted on its fuselage to his side and below!

The enemy plane darted through the chaotic battlefield like lightning, and within seconds, two MiG fighters, trailing black smoke, had been shot down by it!

The numerous kill markers on its fuselage were dazzling in the sunlight.

"They must be the American devils' ace pilots!"

Wang Wei felt a chill run down his spine.

The unique paint scheme and sharp combat style instantly reminded him of the top carrier-based ace of the US Pacific Fleet mentioned in the intelligence report.

A strong fighting spirit instantly ignited in Wang Wei's chest!
Without hesitation, he abandoned the prey that was within his grasp, pushed off the control surface, and piloted the Wanli-1 fighter jet in a sharp arc, rushing towards the shark-mouthed fighter jet!
The American ace pilot obviously spotted the opponent who had taken the initiative to challenge him immediately.

He let out a disdainful sneer, piloting his high-performance pirate fighter jet, and with a sharp turn, charged head-on at Wang Wei!

Ace vs. Ace!
A clash of unparalleled courage and technology!

Two fighter jets, representing the pinnacle of technology in the East and West at the time, like two bolts of lightning, unfolded a breathtaking dance of death at an altitude of ten thousand meters.

Tumbles, dives, rapid ascents, scissor maneuvers...

Every move was fraught with deadly intent, and every evasive maneuver teetered on the brink of stalling and crashing.

Shells and machine gun bullets wove a dense web of death around each other's aircraft, creating a perilous situation.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Wang Wei's forehead. He was highly focused, and his body tensed and relaxed with each violent maneuver of the fighter jet.

He felt that the US military ace pilot's skills were indeed superb, and he had explored the performance of the Corsair fighter to the fullest extent.

But Wang Wei felt no fear; only an unwavering belief in victory burned within him!

During a fierce horizontal circling dogfight, the US ace pilot attempted to use the Corsair's superior low-altitude, low-speed performance to throw Wang Wei ahead with a sudden, small-radius turn.

However, Wang Wei had already seen through his intentions! The moment the other party slowed down, Wang Wei not only did not slow down as well, but instead suddenly increased his speed and, in conjunction with the rudder, performed an extremely risky high-speed rolling maneuver!
The Wanli-1 fighter jet, like a rapidly spinning top, tumbled violently along its longitudinal axis, instantly cutting from the inside of the pirate to its outside.

Not only did it perfectly neutralize the opponent's killing move, but it also instantly seized an excellent attack position!

"it's over!"

Wang Wei silently recited it in his heart.

Under the incredulous and horrified gaze of the American ace pilot, the Wanli-1 fighter jet's cannon once again unleashed a deadly flame!

The high-explosive bomb accurately hit the pirate fighter's vulnerable belly fuel tank!

A huge and blazing fireball exploded, instantly engulfing the once invincible Shark Mouth fighter jet!
No parachutes deployed; only burning debris scattered across the sea like meteors.

That American ace pilot, the pride of the Pacific Fleet, along with his battle-hardened aircraft, was forever lost in these cold waters.

Meanwhile, inside the No. 1 aid-to-North Korea fighter jet
"Hurrah! You damned Americans! Taste the iron fist of the Soviets!"

Peter piloted his MiG-15, with a bright red five-pointed star and the words "Aid Korea No. 1" painted on its nose, letting out a rough and bold roar in the war-torn airspace.

His style of piloting fighter jets, like himself, was full of Slavic wildness and ferocity.

Unlike Wang Wei, who pursued exquisite maneuvering skills, Peter believed in the simplest and most direct principle: high-altitude dive, one-hit kill!

With the MiG-15’s superior high-altitude and high-speed performance, he piloted the “Aid Korea No. 1” to launch deadly attacks time and time again from the direction of blinding sunlight.

"Ugh——!"

The piercing scream of the fighter jets as they swooped down was like the horn of death.

Peter stared intently at a US attack aircraft in the targeting reticle that was attempting to drop bombs on the USS People at low altitude.

The cumbersome attack aircraft was like a lamb to the slaughter in front of the agile MiG.

"You're the one I've got my eye on, my little darling!"

Peter grinned maliciously and, the instant he entered the optimal firing range, pressed all the firing buttons without hesitation!
The combined firepower of the machine guns was like a scorching steel whip, lashing hard at the wide wings and fuselage of the American attack aircraft.

The large-caliber shell easily tore through the thin armor, instantly turning it into a violently burning and disintegrating fireball.

The bomb it dropped didn't even have time to detach from the rack before it detonated, turning into an even larger fireball that crashed into the sea.

"Next!"

Peter yanked the control stick, and the Aid Korea No. 1 fighter jet roared as it broke free of its dive, its nose pointing to several American pirate fighter jets that were attacking a Chinese destroyer on the other side.

Just then, a burst of large-caliber machine gun bullets, accompanied by a terrifying tearing sound, pierced through the left flank of "Aid Korea No. 1"!

The machine jolted violently, and several red lights on the dashboard lit up instantly!

"Damn it! I got bitten by an American cockroach!"

Peter cursed as he glanced back and saw an American warplane with a skull and crossbones symbol painted on its wing smugly trying to break away.

The violent vibrations and loss of lift on the left wing made the fighter jet difficult to control.

"Trying to run? Not so easy! Come take a bath with me!"

A mad and resolute glint flashed in Peter's blue eyes.

Instead of parachuting, he suddenly pushed the throttle valve to its maximum!
The damaged "Aid Korea No. 1" let out its final mournful cry, trailing black smoke billowing from the broken part of its left wing.

Like a burning comet, it recklessly crashed into the American fighter jet that was trying to break away, as well as two other enemy planes that were in formation nearby!
This is a completely suicidal fighting style!
The American pilot with the skull and crossbones emblem was clearly terrified by the fearless charge, and in a panic, he jerked the control stick in an attempt to climb and evade.

At that moment, Wang Wei arrived in his Wanli-1 fighter jet and wingman to provide support, and immediately unleashed full firepower.

"Thump th ...

"Boom——!"

A deafening roar exploded high in the sky!

The hit US warplane turned into an enormous, billowing cloud of flames and thick smoke!
Countless metal fragments, like a grand death firework, scattered and flew in all directions with burning flames.

Meanwhile, on the deck of a destroyer, smoke filled the air, and hot shrapnel and water stains remained everywhere after the fire was extinguished.

The anti-aircraft gun barrels were glowing red-hot, and the sailors at the gun positions were drenched in sweat, their faces covered in gunpowder smoke.

Loader Xiao Li suffered a long gash on his shoulder from shrapnel, and blood soaked half of his uniform.

He gritted his teeth and used his uninjured arms and chest to hold the heavy 37mm anti-aircraft shell in place, helping the gunner to load the shell into the scorching hot barrel.

On the ammunition box next to it, a few words were written crookedly in chalk: "Fire one shot, one less shot, until all are gone!"

When they saw a Chinese fighter jet trailing black smoke crash into the enemy formation like a meteor, eventually transforming into a giant fireball that illuminated half the sky, the entire gun emplacement fell into a deathly silence.

Xiao Li froze, staring blankly at the rolling flames and scattered debris. His lips trembled, and finally he let out a roar: "Kill!"

He turned around abruptly and, with all his might, slammed another shell into the cannon barrel!
"Avenge our comrades!"
Hit them! Hit them hard!

The gunner's eyes were bloodshot, and his hoarse roar sounded like that of a wounded lone wolf.

The Chinese naval soldiers at their gun positions seemed to be infused with new strength, forgetting their pain and exhaustion, with only the flame of revenge burning in their hearts.

The cannons spewed even fiercer flames, and the shells whistled as they hurtled towards the enemy planes that were still circling and diving.

At this moment, between the sea and the sky, sacrifice and revenge intertwine, and tragedy and courage coexist!

Wang Wei's feat of shooting down a large number of warplanes was like a shot in the arm, completely igniting the fighting spirit and belief in victory of all the Chinese pilots who participated in the war!
Wang Wei's voice resonated through the radio, echoing in every pilot's headset: "Comrades! Avenge our fallen comrades!"
"Avenge our comrades in the navy! Follow me and kill them!"

"kill!"

The remaining MiG fighters unleashed even more ferocious combat power.

They worked in groups of three or five, providing cover for each other and cooperating in combat.

At high altitude, the MiG fighters used their speed and altitude advantages to continuously dive and attack, tearing apart the formation of the US aircraft.

At low and medium altitudes, Chinese pilots displayed tenacious dogfighting skills, engaging in close combat with US fighter jets of varying capabilities.

Having lost a large number of elite US military pilots and faced such a fearless and desperate counterattack, the psychological defenses of US military pilots began to collapse.

The initial fierce offensive gradually crumbled, and the formation became scattered and disorganized.

US warplanes were constantly being shot down in mid-air or crashing into the sea, trailing thick smoke and wailing.

The remaining enemy planes began to lose their rhythm.

Some hastily dropped bombs or rockets to lighten their load and escape, while others flew around like headless flies, trying to escape this deadly airspace.

The scales of victory began to tip violently toward China at a speed visible to the naked eye!

When the last American Corsair fighter jet that tried to put up a fight was surrounded and attacked by three Chinese fighter jets, it was turned into a fireball and crashed. The noisy and fierce air battle finally subsided.

The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, and the enemy planes that had once blotted out the sky had vanished without a trace.

Only a small number of American warplanes remained, fleeing in panic towards the open sea like frightened crows, leaving behind a pathetic trail of aircraft.

The roar of engines, the shrieks of cannons, and the deafening explosions that once filled our ears were replaced by an almost vacuum-like silence.

All that remained were the low, mournful sobs of the distant ocean waves and the whistling of the sea breeze against the plane's wings.

Wang Wei piloted the "Wanli-1" and hovered over the battlefield.

The wings and fuselage were riddled with bullet holes and blackened marks, like medals on a soldier's body.

"Report to Number One!"
The main force of the enemy aircraft group has been defeated!
Preliminary inventory of the results!

Confirmed to have shot down 89 enemy aircraft!

The number of injuries is impossible to count!

Our land-based air force lost 58 MiG fighters. Including the carrier-based aircraft, we still have 172 fighters available for combat!

Most pilots have ejected; the maritime rescue team has been dispatched!

Wang Wei's heart clenched suddenly.

Fifty-eight comrades-in-arms!

But he quickly suppressed his grief. War always comes at a price!
He took a deep breath, suppressing the lump in his throat, and replied in a steady and powerful voice: "Received!"
Each formation should take inventory of its remaining aircraft, ammunition, and fuel, maintain vigilance, provide low-altitude cover for the fleet, and guard against enemy aircraft counterattacks!
Tell the Navy's rescue team to do everything they can to search for the pilot who fell overboard!

Not one can be left behind!

"Yes!"

A clear and loud response came from the channel.

Meanwhile, on the sea, cheers erupted like a tsunami from the surviving Chinese naval vessels!

"Victory! We have won!"

"Long live the Air Force! Long live the Navy!"

"Long live the motherland!"

On the deck of a Chinese destroyer, exhausted Chinese naval soldiers, covered in gunpowder smoke, hugged, patted each other, and jumped around.

Many people still had tears and grease on their faces, yet they smiled radiantly.

Despite the pain in his shoulder, Xiao Li hugged his comrade at the gun position tightly, crying and laughing at the same time.

On the bridge, the captain spoke into the microphone, his voice choked with emotion yet brimming with pride: "Comrades! We held on! Together with the air force, we won!"

Although the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Renmin was in a mess, the fire had not been completely extinguished, and thick smoke was billowing out.

But the bridge and the ship's sides were crowded with cheering Chinese naval soldiers and ground crew.

As the damage control team members struggled to extinguish the last embers, they waved their hats and shouted deafeningly at the silver war eagles circling in the sky.

Beside the battered forward main gun turret of the Chinese cruiser, sailors vigorously unfurled a bright five-star red flag, which fluttered in the sea breeze!

Inside the command center of the flagship Wanli, the atmosphere reached its peak!

"Good! Well done!"

Captain Wang Wei played so beautifully!
More than 170!
We still have more than 170 fighter jets!
The US military was reduced to only a few dozen aircraft, and its defeated troops fled in disarray!

A resounding victory! This is an unprecedented victory!

Captain Li Hongbo slammed his fist on the control panel in excitement, overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of accomplishment and a feeling of immense relief.

The Chinese naval staff officers were all beaming with joy; the gloom of the past few days had vanished, and they chattered excitedly.

"That was so satisfying! Let's see if they dare to look down on us again!"

"We're safe now! The fleet can turn around immediately and escape this dangerous area!"

"Yes! While the US land-based fighter jets are still tied up in the Han River battle, let's hurry up and withdraw!"

"This operation, which covered the army and severely damaged the enemy's naval air force, has exceeded its mission objectives!"

"That's right, Chief Xiao, give the order to return to base! It's time to go home for supplies and repairs!"

Li Hongbo also turned to Xiao Zhenhua excitedly, his face beaming with the joy of victory and the relief of surviving a disaster.

Xiao Zhenhua stood in front of the nautical chart table, his hands behind his back, his gaze deep, listening quietly to his subordinates' excited discussions.

He didn't look at the nautical chart that marked the position of his own fleet and the direction of pursuit, but instead shifted his gaze to the mark on the east side of the map that read "Incheon Port".

The news of victory on the Han River battlefield and the joy of the great air victory before him were like two huge rocks thrown into a deep pool, stirring up towering waves in his heart.

A bolder, more insane idea, capable of rewriting the entire course of the naval battle, suddenly became incredibly clear and intense, like the dawning sun.

He slowly raised his head, his face showing none of the ease or relief that everyone had expected in ordering the return to base. Instead, he stretched out his finger and, with immense force, pressed it heavily on the name on the map—Incheon!
"Return to base? Go home?"

Xiao Zhenhua's voice wasn't loud, but it exploded like thunder in the ears of every excited staff officer, instantly silencing the command room once again.

All eyes were on him, filled with astonishment and bewilderment.

Xiao Zhenhua's gaze slowly swept over each young and excited face: "Comrades, what is the mission of our newly established Chinese Navy?"
Is it merely for self-preservation?

Was it merely to cover for the army?

No! "

He suddenly raised his voice and jabbed his finger hard at the location of Incheon Port again: "Our mission is to keep the enemy out of our borders!"
It's a struggle for sea power!
The goal is to crush the enemy's current naval power!

Just now, the main force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet's carrier-based aircraft was destroyed in one fell swoop by us and the Air Force!

They now only have about fifty frightened birds left!
Meanwhile, the US land-based air forces around Seoul were bogged down in the meat grinder of the Han River battlefield, unable to spare any resources to support the sea!

Xiao Zhenhua's voice, like a war drum, struck heavily on everyone's hearts: "Look at us now!"
We have two complete aircraft carriers!
Although injured, the bones and tendons are not broken!

We also have one battleship, one cruiser, four destroyers, and six submarines!
More importantly, above us are over 170 MiG fighter jets, commanded by Comrade Wang Wei, which have just been tempered in bloody battles and are in high spirits!

The balance of power has been reversed like never before!
The U.S. Pacific Fleet is at its weakest point in Incheon Port!
Their main carrier-based aircraft group was almost crippled, and the port defenses must have been weakened!
If we choose to retreat now, we can certainly preserve the fleet, but that would only be a tactical victory!

Xiao Zhenhua's voice suddenly rose, filled with thunderous power: "But if we turn the ship around and abandon this readily available 'safety'..."

Let us concentrate all our strength and charge straight at Incheon with overwhelming force!
Blitzkrieg in Incheon! Straight to the heart of the enemy!
Completely destroy the remaining forces of the U.S. Pacific Fleet anchored in port, along with their supply bases!
This decisively secured North Korea's current control of the sea off the west coast!

Completely cut off the US military's sea route for reinforcements and evacuations from Incheon to Seoul!

Turn Seoul into a truly isolated city!

This is the ultimate mission that the Chinese Navy should accomplish in this war!
This is the best reward for the army brothers who fought bloody battles to capture the Han River defense line and for the air force comrades who risked their lives to win the air battle victory!

This is the strongest message our young navy is sending to our motherland and the world!

Xiao Zhenhua slammed his fist on the chart table with a loud thud, making the pencils on the table jump: "Comrades! Tell me!"

Are we going back to be cheered for a 'great victory' of shooting down 130 enemy planes?
Or should we seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a decisive victory that will be recorded in the world's naval textbooks and completely turn the tide of the war?!

Dead silence.

Absolute silence.

The astonishment and confusion on the faces of the Chinese naval staff officers vanished instantly, like fallen leaves swept away by a gust of wind.

Instead, there was an ignited, almost frenzied excitement!

Their eyes began to shine, their breathing became heavy, and their chests heaved violently.

Enormous risks and equally enormous opportunities, like ice and fire, simultaneously scorched their nerves.

Captain Li Hongbo was the first to react, and the hesitation in his eyes was instantly replaced by a kind of reckless fervor.

He straightened his chest abruptly, his voice trembling with excitement: "Commander Xiao!"

You mean...we...

Should we proactively attack Incheon?

"Go...go to the final battle against the US Pacific Fleet?"

Xiao Zhenhua said firmly: "That's right!"
Take advantage of his illness and kill him!
Opportunity knocks but once!

A young Chinese naval operations officer slammed his fist on the table, his face flushed red: "Let's do it!"
Damn it, the army comrades are fighting desperately outside Seoul, and the air force comrades are bleeding in the sky.

As the Chinese Navy, are we just supposed to slink back with our shot counts?
If you’re going to do something, do it big!

Bomb Incheon flat!

"Yes! Bomb Incheon flat!"
Let's send all those American warships to the bottom of the sea to feed the fish!

"Fight! We must fight!"

I've been holding this in for too long!

"Commander Xiao, give the order! We'll follow you to the end!"

The fervent wave of support instantly overwhelmed the command center.

The emotions of the Chinese naval staff were completely ignited. From initial shock to disbelief, then to being conquered by the enormous strategic temptation, and finally to a resolute fighting spirit of sharing a common hatred for the enemy and vowing to fight to the death!

Xiao Zhenhua looked at the burning gazes of his subordinates and nodded heavily.

Without further hesitation, he strode toward the communications control console and grabbed the microphone for the highest channel.

That steady and powerful voice instantly spread throughout the entire fleet and reached the Chinese Air Force aircraft circling at low altitude: "Attention, all fleet!"

This is the flagship Wanli, and I am Xiao Zhenhua!

I order: All combat-capable forces of the navy and air force to turn around and head straight for Incheon to engage the US Pacific Fleet in a decisive battle!!!

(End of this chapter)