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

The commendation order from the division headquarters, along with another, even thicker document, were delivered to He Yuzhu one after the other. The commendation order was the expected recognition, with precise wording and a prominent red seal from the division headquarters. But the order, jointly issued by the division's Party Committee and the division headquarters, made He Yuzhu stare at it intently for a long time in the dim light of the tunnel. He silently handed it to Old Geng, whose eyes were bloodshot, beside him.

Old Geng took the paper, his rough fingers tracing its lines carefully. After reading it twice, he looked up, his voice hoarse: "Regimental commander? Lieutenant colonel? This... is too fast. Forming a new regiment to guard the eastern entrance of the 'Tieyuan Corridor'?"

The "Tieyuan Corridor," a narrow passage on the map, is actually one of the vital choke points connecting the eastern and western fronts and supplying logistical lifelines; it must not be lost. Such a heavy responsibility rests on the shoulders of a young man whose official age is only nineteen and who has only two years of actual combat command experience—the pressure is immense.

"An order is both a trust and a task that must be completed." He Yuzhu said calmly, carefully folding the appointment letter and placing it in his pocket. "The reconnaissance battalion will be expanded into a regimental-level reconnaissance company, with Wu Dayong as the company commander. You, Lao Geng, will be the regimental chief of staff."

"Me?" Old Geng pointed to himself. "Me, a roughneck like me, can I really do it?"

"You understand the military, you understand me, and you know how to coordinate things from top to bottom. Chief of Staff, no one but you is suitable," He Yuzhu said firmly. "Time is of the essence. Come with me immediately to the division headquarters to receive specific tasks and take over personnel and equipment."

The jeep heading to the division headquarters bumped along the cratered road. Outside the window, scorched earth and marching columns flashed by. Old Geng hesitated several times, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Finally, He Yuzhu broke the silence: "Old Geng, before, when we fought, we only thought about one thing: win this battle well and bring as many brothers home as possible. Now... it feels different."

Old Geng responded in a muffled voice, "Yes, Commander. Before, we were only in charge of a few hundred men and a single position. Now it's a regiment, several thousand men, a defensive line stretching for dozens of miles, and we're guarding the lifeline... This burden is too heavy."

The atmosphere at the division headquarters was solemn. Division Commander Song, though weary, immediately perked up upon seeing He Yuzhu, patting him forcefully on the shoulder: "Good lad! 'Eagle's Beak' was executed brilliantly! You've shown your prowess and, more importantly, your confidence for negotiations!" He led He Yuzhu to a large battle map, his finger landing heavily on the eastern section of the "Tieyuan Corridor": "This is a strategic stronghold, a place the enemy will surely fight for. Previously, our forces were scattered; now we must unite as one, forming the newly formed XXth Regiment, and you will be stationed here!"

His fingers tapped on the map: "Your mission: First, be like a steel nail, firmly anchored to this gateway, no matter what means the enemy uses or how many troops they deploy, never allow them to pass! Second, do not passively defend; seize the opportunity to counterattack and chop off the enemy's outstretched claws!"

Commander Song turned around, his gaze intense: "You are now the commander of a regiment, leading thousands of men and defending a line stretching dozens of miles. When considering problems, you can't limit yourself to the gains and losses of your company and battalion; you must have a holistic view—coordinated operations across the defense zone, logistical support, troop morale, and even the enemy's deeper intentions. Your vision must be far-reaching." He softened his tone slightly, adding with a hint of entrustment: "I have no doubt about your talent for warfare. But leading a regiment involves more than just combat. Relationships between superiors and subordinates, internal unity, and all aspects must be considered. If you encounter difficulties, you can come directly to me. However," his eyes suddenly sharpened, "the mission must be completed! The Tieyuan Corridor must not be lost! Understand?"

"Understood! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" He Yuzhu replied with a straight back and a steady voice.

When He Yuzhu left the division headquarters, the weight on his shoulders felt significantly heavier. Accompanying him, besides Lao Geng, was the newly appointed regimental political commissar—the composed middle-aged Political Commissar Zhao—as well as a large number of documents concerning the defense zone, enemy situation, troop strength, and supplies.

In the following days, the newly formed XXth Regiment began operating at high speed, like a finely tuned gear. The core members of the original reconnaissance battalion were dispersed to various newly established battalions and companies, serving as squad and platoon leaders and instructors. Veterans transferred from other units, along with a large number of new recruits, poured into the assembly area. A diverse mix of unit numbers, accents, and expressions filled the air.

He Yuzhu had no time for an inauguration ceremony. He led Lao Geng, Political Commissar Zhao, and several newly appointed battalion commanders straight into the defense zone. The symbols on the map were transformed into real mountains, ravines, ruins, and rivers. They walked dozens of miles, surveying every high point and possible stronghold.

"The slope here is gentle and vulnerable to tank attacks. We need to lay deep minefields and anti-tank ditches, and deploy direct-fire weapons on the flank hills."

"This ridge is a natural barrier, but the reverse slope is steep, so a winding trench or cableway needs to be built to ensure transportation."

"The village ruins are usable, but the structure is loose and must be reinforced to build underground garrison points and a series of fortified bunkers."

"The main defensive line tunnels need to form a network, with main trunks, branches, troop garrisons, ammunition depots, medical stations, command posts, and concealed attack and retreat routes."

"Logistics points must be dispersed, concealed, and numerous to prevent them from collapsing with a single blow from the enemy."

As he moved about, he made arrangements, and the fragments of knowledge about defense systems in his mind rapidly integrated, expanded, and became concrete, driven by immense responsibility and practical needs. What he needed was an ironclad defense line that could withstand heavy blows, not a temporary shelter.

Upon returning to the regimental headquarters, he drafted a detailed plan for constructing defensive fortifications overnight, complete with numerous sketches and specific requirements. The next day, he took the plan to the divisional logistics department and, through the connections of Division Commander Song, directly contacted the army-level engineers and logistics departments, speaking earnestly and resolutely: to safeguard the strategic gateway, it is imperative to construct solid and permanent fortifications; this is essential for the overall situation.

Some of the supplies were painstakingly allocated through normal channels. The rest, He Yuzhu quietly used the system. Points: 6,041,398.

[Exchange: 100 tons of high-strength silicate cement (disguised), -50,000 points.]

[Exchange: 20 tons of standard threaded steel bars (distressed finish), -30,000 points.]

[Exchange: 500 pieces of anti-corrosion pit timber (standard size), -20,000 points.]

Total: -100,000 points.

Battlefield Points: 6,041,398 - 100,000 = 5,941,398 points.

These supplies, mixed in with normal allocations and building materials "sourced locally" by the troops, were gradually transported to the defense line. At the same time, He Yuzhu, with the authority of the regimental commander, selected soldiers with experience in carpentry, stonemasonry, and mining from the entire regiment to form a professional engineering team, and began to construct fortifications on a large scale and in a planned manner according to the standards he set.

[Promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed regimental commander, his command area and responsibilities have increased significantly, and he has received corresponding rewards.]

[Gain Battlefield Points: +200,000 points (rewards for promotions and new missions).]

Battlefield Points: 5,941,398 + 200,000 = 6,141,398 points.

Standing at the entrance of the newly constructed "Number One Core Support Point" tunnel, He Yuzhu gazed at the soldiers toiling under the scorching sun, listened to the clanging of picks and axes against the rock and soil, and smelled the fresh scent of earth and wood. He was no longer just the battalion commander leading hundreds in a mobile attack. Now, he was the commander of a regiment, tasked with building and defending a true "national gate." Beyond this gate lay a much longer battlefront and the safety of countless lives.

Qin Huairu had arrived at the bustling construction site at some point. She didn't disturb him, but simply watched from afar as He Yuzhu surveyed the tunnels with his hands behind his back—his posture transcended that of a supervisor, resembling more the work of a designer constructing a defensive line. The earlier curiosity and admiration in her eyes had settled into a profound, historically focused concentration. The war hero she had written about was continuing his war in a different, more significant way.