Zhu Tian: Beginning to Cross the Changjin Lake

Chapter 77 Watergate Bridge!
Not long after, the main forces of the Volunteer Army arrived at Hagaru-ri one after another, and gradually formed an encirclement of Hagaru-ri.

By this time, it was almost dawn, and the Seventh Connection received an order to retreat and rest in seclusion, preparing for the general attack in the evening.

In Hagaru-ri, inside the enemy's headquarters, Major General Smith stared at the sand table in front of him with worry, his old face showing a hint of fatigue and his eyes were bloodshot.

Colonel Bowser said cautiously: "The Fifth Marine Regiment suffered a devastating blow and was basically wiped out."

"However, the rest of the troops have basically retreated to the vicinity of Hagaru-ri, but now we are surrounded by the enemy."

"Based on the current trend, the enemy will definitely launch a full-scale attack on Hagaru-ri after dark."

Major General Smith gritted his teeth and said, "No matter what, we must defend Hagaru-ri and stop the enemy's offensive. Otherwise, the entire eastern front will be completely defeated."

Colonel Bowser said helplessly: "Please rest assured, General, we will do our best."

Major General Smith ordered with a serious face: "Send a telegram to the fleet immediately and ask them to send out all the planes to bomb the enemy positions."

"We must consume their forces as much as possible and stop their attack to ensure the safety of Hagaru-ri."

"Yes sir!"

Colonel Bowser responded quickly and then ordered a staff officer to convey the order.

Major General Smith stared at the sand table, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Once the enemy launches a full-scale attack, none of us can guarantee that we can stop their attack."

Colonel Bowser nodded and said, "Although the Chinese army is poorly equipped, they have a strong will to fight, and they have a large number of troops. Once they launch an attack, they will rush forward without regard for their lives."

"This kind of army is more ferocious than the Japanese invaders before. We are not sure of winning."

“I really don’t know what these people are made of.”

Major General Smith said helplessly: "I'm afraid even God can't explain this."

Major General Smith and his men really couldn't understand why the Volunteer Army at that time was poorly equipped, even worse than the Northern Korean army.

Due to historical reasons, the Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan for half a century, during which time it established a complete industrial system.

After the end of World War II, Japan was defeated and the Korean Peninsula was divided into two, with most of the industrial areas concentrated in the North.

After several years of development, and with the support of Russia, the equipment level of the Northern Dynasty’s army is still quite good.

In terms of equipment alone, the Northern Dynasties were much better equipped than the Volunteer Army, but their combat effectiveness was not as good as that of the battle-hardened Volunteer Army.

However, its combat effectiveness was not weak. In the early stages of the war, it was able to completely defeat the South Korean puppet army. If the United States had not intervened, the destruction of South Korea would only be a matter of time.

What Major General Smith understood was that the Northern Dynasty army was being defeated by them step by step, and it could even be said that it was on the verge of collapse and was about to be wiped out.

The Volunteer Army was even worse equipped, but they were able to turn the situation around in an instant, switching from defense to offense. Now they are being defeated and suffering heavy losses.

If he had not experienced it himself, he would never have believed that such a thing could happen.

Not only was he confused, but even the five-star Mike and Lieutenant General Walker were all stunned at this moment.

Major General Smith gritted his teeth and said, "No matter what, we have to try to turn the tide."

"But we also need to prepare in advance and transport all the injured back to Xingnan Port by plane to avoid becoming a burden."

"We must prepare for the worst!"

“Yes sir!”

In the waters near Xingnan Port, the calm sea was filled with enemy warships.

One after another, carrier-based aircraft took off from several Essex-class heavy aircraft carriers.

Soon, hundreds of fighter planes took off one after another, lined up in neat formations, and flew towards the Hagaru-ri battlefield one after another.

After the fleet of planes covered the sky and flew over the battlefield, they quickly launched bombing on the volunteer army's positions in the nearby area.

Amid the shrill whistling sounds, bombs fell on the Volunteer Army's positions like raindrops, and violent explosions sounded one after another.

"Chirp, chirp!" Amid the shrill whistling sounds, fighter planes swooped down as fast as falcons, followed by a series of dense bullets that fell on the Volunteer Army's positions one after another.

Under the enemy's heavy bombardment, the defensive fortifications on the positions were destroyed one after another, and the volunteers paid a heavy price in casualties.

In order to win this battle, the enemy tried its best and mobilized all the forces it could.

The artillery regiment of the 1st Marine Division also began to concentrate its firepower and fire with all its might.

Major General Smith also mobilized some troops and launched a counterattack to open up a retreat route just in case.

Now this old guy is no longer thinking about how to completely defeat the Volunteer Army, but how to evacuate safely if he cannot defend Hagaru-ri.

……

Wu Qianli led the soldiers of the Seventh Company to hide in a secluded place. The soldiers gathered together, huddled together for warmth, slept and rested, and conserved their energy in preparation for the general attack in the evening.

Tan Ziwei brought two soldiers to the seventh company’s base and met Wu Qianli.

Wu Qianli asked: "Are there any new instructions?"

Tan Ziwei said, "I came here to tell you that our Third Battalion has received a new mission. I will take the 9th Company and leave here first."

"Your Seventh Company will continue to stay in Hagaru-ri and participate in the general attack tonight."

Wu Qianli asked curiously: "Where are you going?"

"Watergate Bridge!"

As Tan Ziwei spoke, he turned around and looked into the distance, which was the direction of the Watergate Bridge.

"Watergate Bridge?"

This was the first time Wu Qianli heard this place name.

Tan Ziwei explained: "All signs indicate that the 1st Marine Division is ready to escape."

"Once our army launches a general offensive, they will not be able to resist and will inevitably continue to flee southward."

"The Watergate Bridge is their only way through. Our superiors have ordered us to blow up the Watergate Bridge at all costs."

"Cut off the enemy's retreat and annihilate this enemy force."

At this moment, Wu Qianli didn't know how difficult it was to blow up the Watergate Bridge.

But he understood the importance of this task.

Wu Qianli nodded and said, "Don't worry, we will also do our best to fight this battle."

"You guys should be more careful too!"

Tan Ziwei smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's just blowing up a small Watergate Bridge, right?"

"a piece of cake!"

"We will set off now. If everything goes well, we will launch an attack on the Watergate Bridge tonight."

"After taking Hagaru-ri, the army will definitely continue to move south."

"See you at the Watergate Bridge!"

"Okay! See you at Watergate Bridge!" Wu Qianli nodded.

Tan Ziwei was quite confident about Wu Qianli's Seventh Company, so he gave them a few instructions and left.

Afterwards, Tan Ziwei led the 9th Company and rushed to the Watergate Bridge to carry out the mission of blowing up the bridge.

(End of this chapter)