Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

He Yuzhu's warning that "it might be a trap" ultimately failed to turn the tide. Once the war machine is set in motion, it cannot be stopped by the vigilance of one or two battalion commanders.

In the first few days, the battle reports showed the offensive arrows steadily advancing, and the situation seemed excellent. But He Yuzhu's nerves were on edge. He held the reconnaissance battalion firmly in place, like a rock standing on a surging tide. Friendly forces on both flanks surged forward, leaving them further and further behind. Supply convoys struggled on the muddy roads, and the ammunition and food delivered to the front lines were running low. On the radio, the advance troops' calls for replenishment grew increasingly urgent, their voices strained and strained.

The incident involving Regiment Commander Wang finally blew up. Unpleasant rumors spread throughout the division, saying the reconnaissance battalion was "cowardly as tigers" and that "the courage of a first-class combat hero has been eaten by dogs." He Yuzhu listened to the gossip relayed by Lao Geng without saying a word, but simply spread out the map, his fingers repeatedly tracing the treacherous ravine called "Vulture Valley"—the only natural gateway to the flank and rear. If the front lines collapsed, this would be the last line of defense to cut off the enemy's lifeline.

On the morning of the fifth day, my premonition came true.

The eastern sky was torn apart by elongated streaks of fire—not from our artillery preparation, but from heavy artillery shells hurtling down from behind the horizon. Immediately afterward, muffled thunderclaps erupted simultaneously from multiple directions to the southwest and due south, interspersed with low, continuous roars. That was the collective roar of tank engines, which could be heard from miles away.

The radio station was in an uproar. Every channel was filled with distorted, altered announcements:

"Tanks! So many tanks!"

"We're surrounded!"

"Requesting artillery support!"

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

The enemy wasn't retreating; they were like a fist that had been pulled back, now gathering its strength to smash back at our overextended and poorly supplied salient. Air and ground forces combined, armored vehicles clearing the way, infantry surging forth, relentlessly attacking the weakest points in our defenses. Many positions crumbled at the first touch, and the entire front line, like glass struck by a heavy hammer, cracked rapidly.

The reconnaissance battalion's radio was urgently reconnected by the division command. Division Commander Song's voice, hoarse but trying to remain calm, came through the static: "He Weiguo, what's your battalion's current location?"

"Unnamed hill northeast of Vulture Valley, Division Commander."

"Okay. Your judgment is correct, but there's no time to discuss that now. The junction of the 3rd and 5th Regiments on the right flank has been breached by enemy armor, and they are advancing towards Vulture Valley. They want to cut off the main force's retreat route. Your battalion's mission: Hold Vulture Valley at all costs for at least 24 hours! Buy time for the main force to adjust its deployment! Any questions?"

"No!" He Yuzhu answered decisively. The worst-case scenario had come true; now it was time to figure out how to cope.

"Tell us what kind of support you need as soon as possible. The division's artillery regiment is currently relocating, and heavy firepower cannot be provided to you in the short term."

"Understood. We need fortification materials, the more the better. And anti-tank weapons as well."

"What we can allocate is limited, I'll do my best. He Weiguo," Commander Song paused, "tighten the gates for me. Whether the entire division can be withdrawn depends on you."

The call ended. He Yuzhu turned to face the company and platoon leaders who had gathered around, their expressions grave. The only sounds in the battalion headquarters were the rustling of maps being spread out and the faint rumble of artillery fire outside.

"I heard you all. Twenty-four hours, Vulture Valley." He pressed his finger heavily on the thin, curved line on the map. "This place is narrow, with rocky mountains on both sides, and the widest passage in the middle is less than two hundred meters. It's a desperate situation, but also a good place to hold out."

"Old Geng, you take the battalion headquarters and logistics department and mobilize everyone who can move, including the lightly wounded, to send any usable materials to the front lines—wood, stones, enemy scrap metal, whatever you have, bring it. Wu Dayong!"

"arrive!"

"Your company, advance one thousand meters beyond the valley entrance and establish a defensive position, providing layered resistance to slow the enemy's approach. Remember, it's about slowing them down, not a desperate fight! Every hour of delay gives the main position more time to prepare. Fight for a while, then retreat, luring the enemy to the valley entrance."

"Second and Third Companies, follow me to the main position. Time is running out; we must get the fortifications done."

His consciousness sank into the system. Points: 4,993,398. Only a little over 6,000 points away from the five million threshold.

[Exchange: 100 M18A1 "Claymore" directional anti-personnel mines, -20,000 points.]

[Exchange: 50 M6A1 anti-tank mines, -15,000 points.]

[Exchange: 200 rolls of prefabricated barbed wire, -5,000 points.]

[Exchange: 20 sets of standard prefabricated steel bunker components, -7,000 points.]

[Exchange: 10 M9A1 "Bazooka" 60mm rocket launchers, 200 rockets, -25,000 points.]

[Exchange: 100 sets of engineer tools, -3,000 points.]

Total: -75,000 points.

[Remaining points: 4,918,398.]

They were still short by 80,000 to 5 million. But there was no time to worry about that. The supplies appeared in several well-prepared, hidden corners, and he immediately sent people to "receive the supplies urgently allocated by the division headquarters." In this life-or-death situation, no one cared how the supplies had arrived so quickly in this freezing weather—having something to use was a blessing from heaven.

The entire battalion operated like a wound-up machine. Wu Dayong led his company forward without hesitation, charging towards the ever-approaching smoke, dust, and gunfire. He Yuzhu, on the other hand, led his second and third companies, selecting their main positions 500 meters from the entrance to Vulture Valley. This was where the passage was narrowest, with steep slopes and exposed rocks on both sides.

"Anti-tank mines should be strategically placed in open areas outside the valley entrance and along the first half of the passage, in a tiered configuration, using a combination of tripwire and pressure-activated mines. 'Claymore' anti-tank mines should be deployed along the waistline of both sides of the hillside, covering the minefield and the passage. Three layers of barbed wire should be laid, staggered in arrangement. Prefabricated components should be used to construct heavy machine gun nests and rocket launcher firing positions on the reverse slope of the hillside, with the front reinforced with stones and earth; camouflage is crucial!"

He roared out orders as he wielded an entrenching tool, digging through the frozen ground and moving stones alongside his soldiers. His fingers quickly blistered and bled, but he ignored the pain as they were covered in mud. Scattered pieces of field fortification knowledge from later generations rapidly integrated into his mind—fields of fire, crossfire, concealment and camouflage, reserve positions, and retreat routes. He even took a moment to sketch a few basic defensive configuration diagrams, which he circulated among the company commanders.

A new recruit, his hands trembling as he planted a mine, looked up timidly and asked, "Battalion Commander, this... can really blow up a tank?"

He Yuzhu wiped the mud off his face and grinned. His smile was rough, but his eyes were steady and deep: "The softest spot is under the iron turtle. Blow a hole in it, and it'll lie down. Trust me, and trust this lump of iron in your hand."