Zhu Tian: Beginning to Cross the Changjin Lake

Chapter 185 is of great significance!

Reports of defeat at the front continued to reach Van Fleet's headquarters.

"The 24th Division of the South Korean Army has been completely defeated by the Volunteer Army. The Volunteer Army took advantage of the situation and pursued them. They have penetrated the flank and rear of the th Division in an attempt to cut off our retreat."

"Fake~!"

Lieutenant General Van Fleet could not help but curse: "This bunch of rubbish, they are more likely to cause trouble than to do anything else!"

"It is because of these stupid teammates that we have suffered failure again and again."

The rapid defeat of the 6th Division made Lieutenant General Van Fleet very dissatisfied.

If they were not short of troops and needed to borrow the manpower of the Korean army, Van Fleet would even want to replace all these useless people to prevent them from causing trouble.

A staff officer nearby quickly explained: "Under the training of our advisory group, the combat effectiveness of the Korean army has been improved."

Lieutenant General Van Fleet said angrily: "This is what you call promotion. It is ridiculous."

The staff officer explained: "Their combat effectiveness was even more ridiculous before."

Lieutenant General Van Fleet was also speechless. Can such a force be called a force?
At this time, a staff officer ran over and said, "Report to the commander, I just received a report from the front line that the enemy attacked Hill 733. The Dutch camp stationed nearby was attacked by the enemy and has been completely destroyed."

Hearing this, Lieutenant General Van Fleet was so angry that he almost fainted.

I originally thought that the Korean army was weak enough, but I didn't expect that the Dutch battalion was even weaker. A main battalion was completely wiped out, and they were all killed in such a short time.

Lieutenant General Van Fleet shouted angrily: "What are they doing? Did they come all the way here just to get killed?"

The enemy staff officers present bowed their heads and remained silent.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on?"

An enemy staff officer said: "The Dutchmen's fighting ability is really too poor. In order to protect them, they were placed in a relatively safe rear area."

"We didn't expect the Volunteer Army to suddenly come from the east, cut off their retreat and surround them."

"They were quickly defeated, and then..."

"Fake~!"

Lieutenant General Van Fleet slammed his fist on the sand table and said angrily: "Maybe we shouldn't have brought such a bunch of trash to the front line. They can't do anything except drag us down."

At this time, a staff officer said: "Commander, calm down. The enemy has launched a full-scale offensive. They are well prepared and their offensive is fierce."

"They launched the most ferocious offensive along a front of several hundred kilometers."

"The situation on the front line is critical. The 24th Division is not only facing direct enemy attacks, but its retreat has also been cut off. The situation is extremely dangerous."

Lieutenant General Van Fleet frowned and pondered for a moment, then ordered: "Immediately order the 24th Division to retreat across the board and evacuate to a safe place as soon as possible."

"Yes sir!"

Lieutenant General Van Fleet pointed to the sand table and said, "All the troops on the front line should defend if they can, and retreat if they cannot."

"We must make full use of our advantages, delay the enemy, and gradually consume their forces."

"Commander Ridgway's previous judgment was correct. The enemy's logistics support is still the biggest problem."

"They have deployed hundreds of thousands of troops on the front line, and they need to consume a large amount of supplies and ammunition every day. As long as we hold them back, their offensive will not last long." "As long as we hold on, when their supplies are almost used up and the enemy is exhausted, it will be time for us to counterattack."

"Then we will surely be able to turn the tide, completely crush them, and defeat them thoroughly."

"So what we have to do now is to preserve our own strength as much as possible and consume the enemy's forces. As long as we hold on, victory will definitely belong to us."

"The General Staff should immediately formulate a new combat plan based on this situation. As long as we can hold out for ten days or half a month, it will be time for us to counterattack."

"Before the counterattack, the troops don't have to care about the gains and losses of the positions. They can decisively give up the positions that should be given up, and those that can be held must hold on with all their strength, consume them, and wear them down."

"Yes sir!"

The enemy staff officers present responded in unison.

There was a gleam in Lieutenant General Van Fleet's eyes. Although the situation on the front line was not favorable to them, this old Japanese was full of confidence. He firmly believed that the disadvantage was only temporary.

As long as they continue to persist and turn it into a war of attrition, it will be the Volunteer Army, not them, that will be dragged down in the end.

……

After dawn, the enemy indeed sent a large number of aircraft to launch a massive bombing on the Volunteer Army positions near Hill 733.

Fortunately, the Volunteer Army was well prepared, and all main forces retreated to hidden places and waited in hiding.

Only a small number of troops were left behind to hold the high ground nearby, using the dug tunnels to resist the enemy's bombing.

As long as the Volunteer Army can hold several nearby commanding heights, the 24th Division will not be able to escape from here even if it retreats.

In the dark and narrow tunnel, Yu Congrong squeezed next to Li Guotao.

"We just received news that the M24th Division has begun to retreat. About a regiment of enemy troops is heading our way."

"Our superiors ordered us to hold our positions and stop the enemy's attack."

Li Guotao, who was resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes and asked, "How long will it take for the enemy to arrive?"

Yu Congrong replied: "Perhaps because they are afraid of causing chaos, the enemy's retreat speed is not very fast. It is estimated that they will arrive nearby around noon."

Li Guotao nodded slightly and said helplessly: "Based on the current situation, we don't have a good solution. We can only do our best to defend our position and prevent the enemy from breaking through."

"As long as we hold out until night, the main force will launch another attack, and then we may be able to take the opportunity to encircle and annihilate this group of enemies."

Yu Congrong said: "Our superiors ordered us to hold out until dark at all costs."

Li Guotao had already anticipated that there would be a fierce battle, and since the enemy had air superiority and heavy artillery fire, the attack could only be launched at night.

So they had to hold on until night, and the enemy had learned their lesson. At night they would definitely hold on to their positions to resist the attack of the Volunteer Army.

Our army is poorly equipped and lacks siege weapons. This battle is very difficult to fight. But no matter how difficult it is, we must strive to win it.

Li Guotao gritted his teeth and said, "We must hold on no matter what. We have a regiment of troops nearby. It will be no problem for us to hold the position and block the enemy's attack."

"The terrain here is pretty good. Let's take advantage of the terrain and have a good fight with the enemy."

"If we can defeat the M24 Division this time, it will be of great significance to the entire battle situation."

(End of this chapter)