Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

Lin Yang suddenly opened his eyes.

"Now!"

"Everyone! Get out of the tunnel!"

Lin Yang kicked aside the camouflage stones covering the tunnel entrance and, like a black lightning bolt, charged into the battlefield shrouded in night and smoke.

Three hundred assault team members followed closely behind Lin Yang like arrows released from a bow.

Instead of taking the surface positions, they moved along the shady side of the mountain, like a group of nimble ghosts, quickly infiltrating the rear of the American forces.

The US military's attention was entirely drawn to Li Yunlong's frenzied counterattack on the front lines, and they never imagined that a deadly dagger was quietly approaching from their supposedly impregnable rear.

They bypassed two patrol posts and eliminated several machine gunners in the bunkers.

Lin Yang led his assault team and successfully reached the outer perimeter of the US heavy artillery position.

Looking out, dozens of massive 155mm howitzers gleamed coldly in the night. American artillerymen, shirtless, busily moved shells, preparing for the next round of fire.

Behind the artillery positions, piles of ammunition boxes resembled small mountains.

"Pillar." Lin Yang lowered his voice, his gaze fixed on the direction of the ammunition depot.

"Here!" He Yuzhu immediately stepped forward.

"You take two squads and stuff the explosives into that ammunition depot! Be quick, set up the delayed-action fuses and retreat immediately!"

Lin Yang drew his Browning pistol from his waist and cocked it with a click.

"The rest of you, follow me! Slaughter all those foreign devils who are firing the cannons!"

"kill!"

At Lin Yang's command, three hundred assault team members charged into the American artillery positions like tigers descending a mountain.

This time, there were no bugle calls to charge, only ruthless slaughter!

"Pfft!"

Lin Yang's bayonet pierced the throat of a US artillery commander with pinpoint accuracy. He then snatched the American submachine gun from the commander's waist and unleashed a barrage of fire on the surrounding artillerymen.

Da da da da!

The American artillery had no time to react; they didn't even have time to pick up their rifles before being mowed down in pools of blood.

The assault team members worked in groups of three, cooperating seamlessly. Some provided cover while others threw grenades into the cannon barrel.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

One after another, American heavy artillery pieces were destroyed, their barrels twisted and deformed, rendering them completely useless.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack from behind!"

The US military positions were thrown into chaos instantly, and piercing alarms shattered the night sky.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu had already led his men to the edge of the ammunition depot.

"Quick! Pile all the explosive charges under that box of high-explosive bombs in the middle!" He Yuzhu directed as he deftly set up the detonators.

"Squad leader, the American patrol is closing in!" a soldier shouted anxiously.

"Ignore them! Light the fire!"

He Yuzhu gritted his teeth and swiftly pulled the delayed fuse. The fuse instantly emitted blinding sparks and hissed.

"withdraw!"

He Yuzhu roared and led his soldiers to turn and run.

"Rat-a-tat-tat!" The machine guns of the US patrol swept across the area, sending dirt flying everywhere.

Just as He Yuzhu and his men had rushed out of the artillery position less than a hundred meters away...

"Boom!!!"

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were created, exploded in the rear of the US military!

In that instant, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

A massive fireball, a million times brighter than the sun, soared into the sky!

The U.S. military's massive ammunition depot was completely detonated!

The terrifying shockwave, like a Category 12 hurricane, instantly leveled everything within a radius of several hundred meters. The American artillerymen and patrols who hadn't had time to escape were instantly vaporized in the intense heat, leaving not even ashes.

A massive mushroom cloud rose into the night sky above Shangganling, illuminating the entire battlefield.

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers, who were struggling to hold out on the front lines, were stunned for a moment when they saw the towering flames behind enemy lines, and then they burst into a deafening cheer!

"The enemy's artillery positions have been captured!"

"Commander Lin has succeeded!"

In the rear command post, Li Yunlong looked at the mushroom cloud and, in his excitement, smashed the wooden table in front of him with a punch.

"Good job, lad!"

Li Yunlong grabbed the phone on the table and roared into the receiver, "Sound the charge! All reserves, send them up! Those Americans are out of artillery! Strike while the iron is hot! Take that position back!"

"Drip drip drip drip—!"

The resounding bugle call echoed throughout the entire Shangganling!

Deprived of artillery support and suffering a devastating attack from the rear, the US military was instantly plunged into immense panic and chaos.

Li Yunlong's troops surged out like tigers released from their cages, pouring out of the tunnels and from the reverse slope positions, and engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with the American forces.

After destroying the ammunition depot, Lin Yang's special commando team did not retreat but instead attacked the US military's defenses from the rear.

A pincer attack from both sides!

The US military's defenses completely collapsed.

They dropped their weapons and scrambled down the mountain to escape.

That night, the surface positions of Shangganling were completely recaptured by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army!

Over the next month, although the US military launched several counterattacks, their offensive weakened as they lost their heavy artillery advantage and were frequently sabotaged in the rear by Lin Yang's special forces.

Ultimately, the Battle of Shangganling, which lasted for forty-three days and was known as the "meat grinder," ended in a complete victory for the Chinese People's Volunteer Army!

With their indomitable will and superb tactical coordination, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army held the less than four-square-kilometer hilltop and completely thwarted the UN forces' showdown operation.

This battle became a turning point in the entire Korean War, breaking the backbone of the US military and forcing them to return to the negotiating table.

……

The third day after the battle ended.

Headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

General Peng personally received Li Yunlong and Lin Yang at the command post.

General Peng, his face beaming, paced back and forth excitedly in the room as he looked at his two beloved generals.

"Well played! That was a beautiful play!"

General Peng walked up to the two men, patted their shoulders forcefully, and his eyes were a little moist.

Hahahaha, great!

"In the Battle of Shangganling, your teamwork was flawless! Old Li withstood the enemy's relentless bombardment on the front lines, demonstrating the indomitable spirit of Chinese soldiers! Lin Yang infiltrated behind enemy lines, burning down the enemy's vital stronghold, showcasing our ingenuity!"

General Peng turned around and took the two heavy medals from the staff officer.

"The Central Military Commission and higher authorities personally issued the commendation order! Comrades Li Yunlong and Lin Yang are awarded the First-Class Independence and Freedom Medal! The Special Mountain Independent Division is awarded a Collective Special Merit!"