Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 63: Chinese People's Volunteer Army's artillery fire plows the land, the Steel Seventh Company breaks through the enemy lines alone!
"Deng deng deng-"

Accompanied by the crisp, muffled thuds of mortars, volleys of mortar shells blasted towards the minefield in front of the Seventh Company.

"Boom boom boom..."

The intense artillery fire instantly detonated countless landmines, and the chain of explosions burst into brilliant flames in the darkness, making them exceptionally conspicuous.

The exploding "red flowers" stretched all the way to the US military's steel wire fence.

The steel wire mesh with bells hanging from it was engulfed by the flames, instantly becoming shriveled and sunken, leaving only flat black remains, no longer able to stop the advance of the Steel Seventh Company!
"Comrades in the artillery platoon, charge with me!"

With a sigh, Lei Gong picked up his Garand rifle, roared, and charged after the main force of the Seventh Company.

"Come on!"

The artillery platoon soldiers packed up and prepared, then charged out with Lei Gong.

Ahead, the main force of the Seventh Steel Company, treading on the scorched earth, had already broken through half of the minefield.

"The American devils are about to open fire, everyone lie down!"

Upon receiving the battlefield threat alert, Wu Wanli immediately shouted and collapsed to the ground.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Company did not hesitate at all and immediately lay down on the ground with a thud.

"Da da da da da da da da..."

In an instant, the sound of heavy machine gun fire erupted from the American positions.

The long trajectory formed by countless bullets resembled a fiery serpent with bared fangs, tearing towards the Steel Seventh Company.

"Company commander, I blew them up with a bazooka!"

Yu Congrong stared intently at the machine gun in front of him, picked up his bazooka, stood up, and roared.

"careful!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli quickly tackled Yu Congrong to the ground.

In an instant, several bullets grazed past Wu Wanli's ears; it was the scent of death.

If it weren't for his incredible luck, Wu Wanli would probably have died on the spot!
"Yu Congrong, don't act rashly!"

"This is fighting an entire US Army division, not just a regiment!"

Seeing this, Wu Qianli quickly offered some advice.

"Company commander, I'll be careful."

"But we can't stay here forever, can we?"

Yu Congrong recalled what had just happened and felt a lingering fear.

"Wait for Lei Gong and his men to rush over with mortars, or wait for the artillery battalion's howitzers!"

Wu Wanli thought for a moment and then said.

"Artillery battalion?"

"Yeah! The battle has already started, why haven't they blown it up yet!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong said with some anger.

"No rush, let the bullets fly for a while..."

Wu Wanli smiled slightly and said.

"Let the bullets fly for a while?"

Yu Congrong scratched his head, somewhat bewildered, and muttered to himself.

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

Artillery positions outside Hagaru-ri
"The bullets have mostly flown out!"

"All of the American devils' firing positions have been exposed!"

"Have the key strike areas been marked?"

"Commander Yang asked."

"Marked!"

"That's what a volunteer army officer said."

"Good! Proceed with the confirmed artillery firing data!"

"fire!"

Battalion Commander Yang waved his hand and roared.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the artillerymen quickly finished loading the shells and fired them.

"Boom bang bang..."

Countless howitzers roared like dragons, then lurched backward by the powerful recoil.

The sand and dust were shaken out of their hiding places by the enormous roar, and danced wildly in the air like yellow dragons.

Rows of 105mm howitzers were aimed at the American positions, their muzzles spitting out destructive flames.

Countless shells streaked through the air in twisting trajectories, recklessly hurtling towards their targets.

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

With a deafening explosion, countless fragments, carrying the potential energy of the shockwave, exploded, mercilessly devouring the lives of American soldiers on the position.

This was an explosion density that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had never imagined; it was enough to destroy any exposed ground units!

Individual strength is so insignificant in the face of such a battle.

However, such fierce artillery fire was all thanks to one person—Wu Wanli!

American positions on the 7th Company's offensive direction
"Shit!"

"Didn't the Chinese People's Volunteer Army only have those pitiful mortars and mountain guns?!"

"What exactly is going on?!"

A U.S. military officer covered his head and roared loudly.

"Sir!"

"It's the Polar Bear Regiment! All their artillery has been captured!"

"The Chinese People's Volunteer Army, coupled with such artillery fire... Ah!"

As a U.S. Army sergeant was speaking, the shockwave of a bomb threw him into the air and then slammed him heavily to the ground.

"Fuck you!"

"Damn the Polar Bear Gang, they deserve to go to hell!"

"Medics! Medics!"

The U.S. military officer looked at his subordinate with grief and roared.

But then the whistling shells drowned out his words; all that could be seen was his open mouth, but no one could hear what he was saying.

Explosions rang out continuously, and sharp screams intertwined with heavy thuds as they hit the ground, forming the main melody of the battlefield.

In the smoke, the figures of American soldiers were faintly visible, their expressions frozen for a moment, filled with despair and fear.

Some people clutched their heads, while others prayed to God, trying to escape this invisible pursuit.

Each explosion was accompanied by flying dirt and splattering blood, painting everything around them in the red of death.

After several rounds of continuous bombardment, the US artillery finally reacted, turning their guns around and bombarding the direction of the artillery battalion.

Artillery position

A barrage of artillery fire from the US forces destroyed a cannon instantly, and seven or eight artillerymen were blown to pieces.

"Battalion Commander, we can't fight anymore!"

"The American devils are coming to shell us, let's retreat!"

A platoon leader of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army shouted.

"Withdraw? I can withdraw, but can these artillery pieces be withdrawn?"

"You lead a platoon. China's artillery seed is precious; we can't let an entire battalion die here!"

Battalion Commander Yang staggered to his feet and roared.

"Battalion Commander, but you..."

The platoon leader of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army was startled and quickly shouted.

"It's too late to waste any more time... Get lost!"

Battalion Commander Yang kicked him and gave the order.

"One row, follow me!"

The volunteer platoon leader saluted Battalion Commander Yang with deep salute and roared with tears in his eyes.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers in the row all retreated into the distance, their eyes slightly red.

"Seventh Company, extend your artillery fire, increase elevation by five, and move seventeen mils to the left!"

"fire!"

Battalion Commander Yang waved his hand and roared.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the artillerymen quickly adjusted their howitzers and began firing at the American positions.

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

Seventh Company

"Is this the kind of powerful artillery that China can possess...?"

"No wonder Wanli and the Steel Seventh Company risked their lives to seize this batch of artillery; it's an artillery force powerful enough to influence the entire battle!"

Gao Daxing looked at the distant fire that had almost completely ravaged the American positions and said with great emotion.

"Not just the last round of artillery fire!"

"Brother, look! Another round of extended artillery fire!"

"We should coordinate our charge!"

Wu Wanli suddenly remembered the plot in his mind and immediately reminded him.

"Comrades of the Seventh Steel Company, maintain a safe distance and charge after the shell's impact point!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Qianli immediately realized what was happening and charged toward the American positions with his gun.

"Come on!"

The soldiers of the Seventh Steel Company immediately leaped up and charged forward.

The artillery fire had just ceased when the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Company charged forward, stepping over the scorched earth. "The ground...it's so hot!"

"My face feels so hot!"

As Wu Wanli charged forward, he remarked with emotion.

Not only was the ground charred, but the shockwave from the explosion ahead also sent waves of heat crashing onto Wu Wanli and the others, making their cheeks burn.

"This artillery fire... Old Yang really knows his stuff!"

"After this battle, I must go find him for a drink!"

Yu Congrong laughed heartily as he looked at the biased artillery support.

"broken!"

Upon hearing Yu Congrong's words, Wu Wanli's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly had a bad feeling.

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

Artillery position

Another round of intense artillery fire from the US military came down.

In an instant, artillery fire raged and smoke filled the air.

The firelight and mud created the calm before the storm, followed by a deafening roar.

"Damn it! Lie down!"

Battalion Commander Yang roared and fell to the ground.

The explosion temporarily deafened him, and a cloud of smoke obscured his vision.

After Battalion Commander Yang slowly got up, he looked around.

A broken cannon barrel and pools of blood and mud came into view.

"Is anyone still alive?!"

Battalion Commander Yang roared in grief and anger.

"Have!"

At this moment, the remaining artillery soldiers on the position struggled to their feet and shouted loudly.

"Keep firing!"

Despite the pain in his leg, Battalion Commander Yang roared.

"Yes!"

The artillerymen continued to stand up and laboriously loaded shells into the howitzer barrels, continuing to bombard the American positions in the distance.

"Boom bang bang-"

The remaining howitzers, accompanied by the roars of the artillerymen, bombarded the American positions.

At this point, the only two machine guns remaining on the American position were also blown away, and all heavy firepower was destroyed by artillery fire.

But at that moment, the most intense barrage of artillery fire from the US military also rained down on the artillery battalion's position.

"Shhhhh-"

American artillery shells pierced the sky, making a sharp whooshing sound.

Battalion Commander Yang and the artillerymen had been firing for so long that they knew immediately that the enemy was beyond saving.

"Comrades, see you at the Martyrs' Cemetery!"

Battalion Commander Yang smiled freely, hugged a red flag tightly, and shouted loudly.

"See you at the Martyrs Cemetery!"

The artillerymen focused their gazes firmly on the red flag and shouted in unison.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In an instant, a violent explosion rang out, and flames engulfed them.

Flames soared, and smoke billowed.

Blood was everywhere, and life was extinguished.

Only that red flag remained, still vibrant despite being encased in a pool of blood and flesh.

Dozens of Chinese People's Volunteer Army martyrs are buried here, never having lived to see the prosperity of the new China.

Why is the battle flag so beautiful? Because it is stained red with the blood of heroes.

Why does spring always reign on earth, and why do the lives of heroes bloom like flowers...?

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

US military position

"Fuck you!"

"Wake up, lads!"

"The Chinese army is about to attack! Open fire with the machine guns!"

"Guys, fight back!"

A disheveled U.S. military officer roared angrily.

"Sir!"

"The machine guns have all been destroyed!"

"The soldiers were also blown up, leaving only a third of them alive!"

A U.S. Army sergeant, with a mournful face, offered this reminder.

"what?"

"How could the Chinese army's artillery fire possibly..."

The U.S. military officer clenched his fist, speaking in the middle of a sentence.

In an instant, a grenade was thrown into the air above his head.

"boom!"

With a loud explosion, the U.S. military officer and the U.S. military sergeant were killed.

"kill!"

Wu Wanli had just finished dropping the airburst when he grabbed his bayonet and leaped into the American trench, killing an American soldier on the spot.

At the same time, Wu Qianli, Yu Congrong, and others also jumped into the trenches and fought with the American troops.

The American soldiers in the trenches had just finished being bombed when they saw the gleaming bayonets of the Steel Seventh Company soldiers rushing towards them.

Caught completely off guard, the American troops instantly left behind more than a dozen more bodies.

A fallen American soldier reached for a submachine gun on the ground and aimed it at Wu Qianli's figure.

"die!"

Wu Wanli keenly sensed this and immediately raised his bayonet, thrusting it at the American soldier.

"what!"

The American soldier felt a sharp pain in his heart, and instantly released his grip on the submachine gun.

At this moment, two more American soldiers rushed towards Wu Wanli from behind, their bayonets pointed directly at his chest.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two shots rang out, and two American soldiers fell instantly.

It turned out that Wu Qianli turned around and saw the situation, immediately drew his pistol, and shot the two American soldiers dead on the spot.

The fighting continued, but as more and more soldiers of the Steel Seventh Company jumped into the fortifications, the last bit of resistance from the American forces was being slaughtered.

Two minutes later, all the American troops inside the fortifications were cleared out, and they were even finished off several times.

"Reporting to the company commander, the American positions have been completely captured by the Seventh Steel Company!"

Yu Congrong shouted loudly.

"It's only been half an hour, but it's amazing!"

Mei Sheng glanced at his watch and said.

"Brother, although the Seventh Steel Company was the first to break through the position, we still need to widen the gap so that more comrades from our brother units can charge up!"

Wu Wanli quickly reminded him.

"Wanli is right!"

"Meisheng, Pinghe, you two lead the reconnaissance platoon to continue the assault on the left flank!"

"Wanli, Lao Yu, let's lead the firepower platoon and break through to the right!"

"Lei Gong, you take the artillery platoon and stay here. If American support comes, just bombard them!"

After a moment's thought, Wu Qianli made his decision.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately responded.

Soon, the two elite units of the Steel Seventh Company launched attacks from both sides, catching the American troops on other positions off guard.

With the US positions attacked from both inside and outside, they were quickly breached by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

In a very short time, the Seventh Steel Company assisted friendly forces in breaking through several positions.

More than a battalion of Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers had already stormed the position and were holding it, allowing more and more Volunteer Army soldiers to keep coming up.

The general offensive had only just begun, and the outer perimeter of the US forces east of Hagaru-ri was already at risk of being breached by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army!

At this time, with new allied forces guarding the position, the Steel Seventh Company was able to regroup.

"Company commander, that's about enough!"

"Charge forward and destroy the American devils' artillery positions!"

Yu Congrong said excitedly.

"Good! The Seventh Company of Kouzigang has broken through!"

"Comrades, next target: the American devils' artillery position!"

"Come at me!"

Wu Qianli nodded and gave the order.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers of the Seventh Steel Company immediately picked up their guns and charged after Wu Qianli.

(End of this chapter)