Courtyard House: I Rely on Time-Space Trade to Build a Nation

October 5, 1951, Headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Commander Peng had been standing in front of the map for a full two hours.

One month after the launch of the Fifth Campaign, the troops advanced more than 100 kilometers south, reaching the vicinity of the 37th parallel.

The battle was a resounding success, with over 40,000 enemy troops annihilated. But Commander Peng did not smile.

Commander Deng walked in.

"The various corps reported the following: the troops have been fighting continuously for twenty days and are exhausted to the limit. Some soldiers have fallen asleep while walking and didn't even realize they had fallen into the roadside ditch."

Commander Peng remained silent.

"But there's no problem with ammunition and food. Comrade Ping An's truck transport has never stopped, and the reserves reported by each unit can last for more than ten days."

Communication was also smooth; individual radios were issued to platoon-level soldiers, ensuring they could be contacted at any time.

Commander Peng finally spoke.

"Ridgway had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. He knew we had ample ammunition, smooth communication, and that we couldn't win a war of attrition."

But what he's after is time—to cut us off in the middle while we're exhausted.

He pointed to the location of Tieyuan on the map.

"Here. Tieyuan."

Commander Deng gasped.

Tieyuan was the main logistics hub of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Supplies from the south are distributed here, troops retreating from the north rest and reorganize here, and all highways and railways converge here.

The warehouses were filled with ammunition and food, and the hospitals were full of wounded soldiers.

"If Tieyuan is lost..."

"Three army corps, 400,000 men, are all trapped inside," Commander Peng interrupted him. "No matter how much ammunition we have, we can't get it up there; no matter how much food we have, we can't eat it. Not a single one of them can get out."

He picked up the walkie-talkie on the table.

"Commander Fu."

A response immediately came through the walkie-talkie: "Commander Peng, I'm here."

"Where are your troops?"

"The 63rd Army has fully entered the Tieyuan position. Three hundred excavators and bulldozers are operating at full capacity, and the fortifications are being repaired. The first line of defense will be completed before dawn."

Commander Peng remained silent for two seconds.

"Hold on. Seven days."

"clear."

Commander Peng put down the walkie-talkie and looked at Commander Deng.

"Order all corps: withdraw north as planned. Have the truck drivers drive faster, take turns driving if they get tired, and don't stop."

On May 22, the U.S. military began its counterattack.

Van Fleet succeeded Ridgway as commander of the Eighth Army. Seven divisions, more than a thousand tanks, and thousands of aircraft advanced northward along the highway.

The radio in front of Commander Peng continuously broadcasted reports from various units.

"The 40th Army has withdrawn to its designated position."

"The 39th Army encountered a small group of enemy troops and is currently engaged in firefight."

"The US advance team is 45 kilometers from Cheorwon."

Commander Peng picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Commander Fu."

"exist."

"How much time do we have left?"

"The first and second tasks have been completed, and we are now working on the third task. All three hundred machines are running, and the entire project will be completed by this evening."

One hundred and twenty tanks have entered their positions, and the crews are in place.

Commander Peng glanced at the map.

"Move into the blocking position by evening and prepare to engage the enemy."

"Yes, mission accomplished."

On the evening of May 22, north of Tieyuan.

Zhao Ping'an's jeep bumped along the potholed dirt road. He had set off from Shenyang and traveled south for three days and three nights without closing his eyes.

The vehicle-mounted radio continuously broadcast communications from various military units.

"63rd Army reports: All tanks have entered their positions."

"Engineer Regiment Report: Anti-tank trenches are complete, and earthen walls are 90% complete."

"Air defense battalion reports: Individual missile launchers have been set up."

Zhao Pingan picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Commander Fu, I've arrived at your military headquarters."

The vehicle stopped in a mountain valley. Ahead, the lights were bright; that was the headquarters of the 63rd Army.

Commander Fu, the army commander, stood waiting at the door. He was only thirty-five years old, but his face was already weathered.

"Minister Zhao, what brings you here?"

Zhao Pingan jumped out of the car.

"I'm bringing you something."

He walked into the command post and slammed a piece of paper on the table.

"One hundred and twenty Type 59 tanks have arrived."

"5,000 RPG-7 rocket launchers. Unloading is underway."

"Eight hundred man-portable air defense missiles. They arrived with the tanks."

"The entire J-2 fighter squadron has been moved forward to the north of Tieyuan. The Air Force says they have secured air superiority."

Commander Fu looked at the paper without saying a word.

Zhao Ping'an walked to the map.

"North of Tieyuan is flat land with no natural defenses. How do you plan to defend it?"

Commander Fu pointed to the map.

"Three lines of defense. The first line is an anti-tank ditch and an earthen wall to slow down their tanks."

The second line of defense is the tank ambush zone. Originally, we planned to use RPGs, but now that Comrade Ping An has delivered the equipment, I plan to hide 120 Type 59 tanks there and wait for them to rush in before engaging them.

The third line of defense is the artillery positions, with 240 cannons. Prioritize identifying the enemy's artillery positions; once their artillery is cleared, then cover the entire battlefield.

Zhao Ping'an looked at the markings on the map.

"Is there enough time for the fortifications? What other equipment do we need?"

Commander Fu nodded.

"It's been repaired and is no longer needed."

Zhao Pingan turned and left.

"Okay, I'll head back to headquarters now. Contact me anytime if you need anything."

At 3:00 AM on May 23, at the Tieyuan position.

Beyond the multiple lines of defense, engineers continued to construct positions.

The roar of three hundred excavators and bulldozers continued throughout the night.

Sixty-five kilometers of anti-tank ditches have been dug, and forty-five kilometers of earthen walls have been built.

The engineers' eyes were bloodshot, the machines kept running non-stop, and people took turns operating them.

One hundred and twenty Type 59 tanks lay quietly in their designated positions, their gun barrels pointing diagonally south. The crew members rested beside the tanks.

Five thousand RPG-7 rocket launchers were issued to the company. The soldiers, carrying their rocket launchers, found positions behind the newly erected earthen walls.

Eight hundred man-portable air defense missiles were issued to the air defense battalion. The launchers were set up on the reverse slope of the hillside.

Commander Fu stood on a high point. The construction work was now complete.

At four o'clock in the morning, the last excavator was shut down.

Commander Fu picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Commander Peng, the 63rd Army is ready."

Commander Peng's voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Understood. Radar shows they're here."

At 6:00 AM on May 23, 20 kilometers south of Tieyuan.

The advance tank formation of the US military began to move forward.

The commander sat in the command vehicle and glanced at the sky through the hatch.

There was nothing there.

There were no Chinese planes.

Unbeknownst to him, a group of J-2 fighter jets was circling above the clouds.

At 6:30 a.m., Commander Peng picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Air Force, it's time to attack."

"clear."

Above the clouds, the first batch of 48 Type 2 fighters simultaneously engaged afterburners and swooped down toward the American fighter group below, followed closely by the second batch.

At the same moment, on the Tieyuan position, 120 Type 59 tanks started their engines simultaneously.

Two hundred and forty cannons had their covers removed.

Five thousand RPG-7 gunners pushed the rockets into the launch tubes.

The aiming personnel for 800 anti-aircraft missiles had their eyes pressed against the aiming scopes.

Commander Fu stood in the command post.

He picked up the walkie-talkie and pressed the full-band call button.

"Attention all units—"

"Let them in to fight."