Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 564 An Unexpected, A Huge Unexpected
Although putting the first batch of students into one group felt like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

However, the Southern army's advance was too rapid, and now it was time to take action.

Inside the temporary command post, Chen Chengxing pointed to the map and said:

"According to reconnaissance, the enemy has already occupied Tangcheng. So the next target of the South 1st Division, South 6th Division, and South 8th Division should be Chushan on the Sino-Korean border, and Jiangjie, the temporary political center of North Korea."

“There’s only one road north of Tangcheng, so let’s ambush them here.”

After speaking, Chen Chengxing glanced at everyone, thought for a moment, and then said, "Li Chishui."

"To!"

"You take the 21st Detachment north of Tangcheng, occupy advantageous terrain, set up an ambush, let the enemy's vanguard in, and then attack them fiercely."

"Yes!"

"Zheng Hua, Sun Xun."

"To!"

"After the 21st Detachment opened fire, the 22nd and 23rd Detachments were responsible for flanking and eliminating the enemy's reinforcements."

Chen Chengxing's plan was simple: surround the enemy and then devour them.

"yes!".
The next day, the forward troops of the 21st Detachment, who had been preparing all night, heard the sound of a car engine.

Ren Wuliu, the commander of the 211th Regiment, quickly raised his binoculars.

"what's the situation?"

Looking at the enemy's movements, Ren Wuliu was somewhat incredulous. He rubbed his eyes and looked over again.

However, the situation inside the telescope remained unchanged.

A battalion of several hundred Confederate soldiers were seen riding in American trucks, swaggering along the highway.

Along the way, there wasn't even a single reconnaissance officer, and the troops didn't even distinguish between front, middle, and rear ranks.

Meanwhile, the soldiers on the vehicle were eating and singing, looking quite happy.

Ren Wuliu and the political commissar Liang Ran next to him looked at each other in bewilderment.

"I don't remember the puppet troops doing this back then, did they?" Liang Ran said, indicating that he didn't understand.

Even those lowly guards weren't this arrogant back in the day.

“They probably don’t know about the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army’s entry into Korea yet,” Ren Wuliu analyzed.

"Even if they don't know we're here, they're still behind enemy lines, why are they making such a fuss?" Liang Ran was speechless.

Ren Wuliu didn't know how to explain it, so he could only give up on the topic.

"Never mind that, they're about to enter the minefield, let's prepare for battle."

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a loud "boom".

The front right wheel of the truck in front ran over a landmine, and the wheel was blown to pieces. The truck's front end tilted and landed next to it.

Upon hearing the explosion, the soldiers gripped their rifles tightly, ready to fire at any moment.

To everyone's astonishment, even though they had run over a landmine, the Confederate infantrymen on the vehicle did not get off and simply sat there waiting, as there were no casualties.

Ren Wuliu and Liang Ran exchanged a glance as they looked at the row of parked trucks.

Seeing that the Southern Army was at this level, Ren Wuliu stopped wasting words and directly issued the order to attack.

"Let the infantry artillery shoot down the last few enemy trucks to slow down their retreat."

"As soon as the cannon fire started, the entire regiment opened fire. After a round of fire, the bugle call to charge was immediately sounded."

"Yes!"

The chief of staff immediately relayed the order via radio.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
Several infantry guns opened fire simultaneously, and the last three trucks of the Confederate army were instantly blown up.

At the same time, the well-prepared soldiers opened fire.

The 211th Regiment, already equipped with a large number of semi-automatic rifles, had an astonishing firepower density, and bullets rained down on the chaotic Southern Army.

Immediately afterwards, the bugle call sounded.

"Beep beep beep beep."

"Kill!"

"kill!".
The soldiers leaped out of their bunkers, brandished their bayonets, and charged toward the Southern Army.

Faced with the sudden attack of the troops, the Southern army failed to mount any effective counterattack.

Within just five minutes, the Southern army was in a state of collapse, with the Southern battalion commander being the first to lead the retreat.

With a leader in place, several hundred Southern soldiers immediately threw down their weapons and plunged into the ravine.

However, by this time, the 21st Detachment had already surrounded the area, leaving the Southern Army nowhere to run.

As the encirclement tightened, the fleeing Southern soldiers were pulled out one by one like ducks.

Although they couldn't communicate verbally, the Southern soldiers still performed the action of raising their hands to the muzzle of a gun very correctly.

After confirming that the enemy forces had been completely annihilated, the 21st Detachment immediately sent the battle report to the headquarters.

"Commander, the enemy is the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of the 6th Division of the South. We have annihilated them, captured 532, killed 183, and also captured an American advisor."

“另外缴获了完好的重型卡车43辆，81毫米迫击炮8门，75毫米无后坐力炮4门，各种枪支382支。”

"Commander, these Southern soldiers are rolling in money; their rifles are all big eight-rounders."

As he spoke, Xu Wu handed the details to Chen Chengxing.

"I'm not going to watch it." Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

“The prisoners will be sent to the headquarters. Li Chishui can handle the weapons himself. Those who want to stay can stay, and those who don’t want to stay should be handed over to the brigade headquarters.”

The South Korean army's light weapons are similar to those of the US military, and their performance is considered good internationally at present.

However, Chen Chengxing did not intend to equip the unit in a formal, organized manner.

The ammunition for American-made weapons is incompatible with the ammunition currently used by the Second General Staff. If American-made weapons are used, logistics will become a major problem.

It's not like the guerrilla warfare of northwestern Shanxi anymore. The ammunition consumption for frontal combat is staggering, and it's impossible to keep up with the supply by simply capturing it.

Furthermore, although the weapons currently equipped by the Second General Corps have a lower maximum bullet yield than American weapons due to the steel used in their construction, their other performance characteristics are not inferior.

Moreover, given the current situation, it is impossible for a battle to fire three to five thousand bullets in a short period of time.

Therefore, Chen Chengxing had already made plans for the captured weapons; those units that were willing to keep them were reinforced in the battalions, companies, and platoons.

Those who did not wish to stay would be given portable weapons such as carbines and pistols by Chen Chengxing, and distributed to logistics departments and artillery ammunition handlers.

All the rest that is not needed is handed over.

"Xu Wu, where are the 22nd and 23rd detachments now?" Chen Chengxing asked.

According to intelligence, the enemy force that came out of Tangcheng consisted of a regiment. They had only managed to wipe out the first battalion, and there were still more than two thousand men behind them.

Xu Wu immediately reported, "We are encircling them."

Before Xu Wu could finish speaking, a operations staff officer came over with a telegram.

"Commander, the 22nd and 23rd detachments report that the enemy has withdrawn."

"They've withdrawn?" Chen Chengxing snatched the telegram.

"The main force of the 2nd Regiment of the South showed no intention of providing support. As soon as the gunfire started, they turned around and ran away?" Chen Chengxing couldn't understand the South Army's actions at all.

Finally, unable to figure it out, Chen Chengxing slammed the telegram on the table: "You can run away from the monk, but you can't run away from the temple."

"Order the 22nd and 23rd detachments to advance to Tangcheng and encircle and annihilate the remaining enemy."

"yes!".
Upon receiving the order, the 22nd and 23rd detachments immediately launched a fierce attack on Tangcheng from two directions.

However, to Chen Chengxing's utter surprise, the Southern Army had no intention of stationing troops there at all.

As soon as the first shell was fired, the Confederate army abandoned their heavy weapons and supplies and fled without looking back.

Moreover, the Southern soldiers fled at an extremely fast pace, and the two pursuing units sent out by the two detachments failed to catch up.

In the end, the two detachments worked all night, but apart from seizing a large amount of supplies, they managed to capture very few people.

Looking at the unit's report, Xu Wu could hardly believe his eyes.

"Damn it, is there anyone who can outrun the Second Boss?"

He had always thought that the Second General's infantry marching speed was unmatched, but he never expected that there would be someone on this small Korean Peninsula who could rival them.

Even though the Second General's soldiers were fully armed, while the pursuers of the Southern Army were lightly armed, the result was still unbelievable to Xu Wu.

This has never happened before.

"It was indeed a bit unexpected." Chen Chengxing said with some helplessness.

He knew the Southern army was quick to escape, but he didn't expect them to be this skilled.

"Xu Wu, order each detachment to send out their reconnaissance companies to find out the situation of the enemy forces in the vicinity."

"It seems I'll need to roll out a bigger wrapper if I want to make dumplings."

Even if the Southern army is very fast, once they are surrounded, they are like turtles in a jar.

Chen Chengxing planned to expand the area and then crowd the enemy together.

However, after the information from various units came back, Chen Chengxing looked at the enemy troops scattered across the map like sesame seeds and felt a bit overwhelmed. Now, even if he wanted to make dumplings, he couldn't, unless he could gather the enemy into one group.

Chen Chengxing stared at the map, lost in thought.

At this moment, the commander of the militia headquarters looked at the hundreds of enemy troops here and there, and felt that it was difficult to make a move.

If we fight, we can definitely win, but the enemy is like a disorganized mess, so we can't take much of them.

"Commander, a telegram from the Second General Staff."

The commander reached out and took it: "You want to besiege the point and attack reinforcements? Is that feasible?"

The chief of staff standing nearby said, "There are sesame seeds scattered all over the ground. Even if we wanted to pick them up, we couldn't. Encircling the enemy and attacking their reinforcements is now the only way to gather them together."

"Then let's give it a try." The commander nodded.

"But Chen Chengxing is too stingy. If you're going to eat, eat something big."

The commander pointed to the map: "According to intelligence, the 2nd Regiment of the South has now fled to Chuanning. Have Chen Chengxing send a detachment to surround this place."

"Tell Chen Chengxing not to rush into battle, but to draw the main forces of the 1st, 6th, and 8th Southern Divisions over here."

"Our main force is closing in here now, we'll take them down in one fell swoop!"

"yes!".
Upon receiving the order, Chen Chengxing immediately ordered the 23rd Detachment to advance covertly towards Chuanning, while the remaining troops prepared to encircle them.

The operation of the 23rd Detachment went very smoothly. The South 2nd Regiment, which had just reached Chuanning, had no time to catch their breath when they suddenly found themselves surrounded.

"This is the Central Army! This is definitely the Central Army!" The commander of the 2nd Regiment of the South was deathly pale.

"Quickly, send a telegram for help immediately!"

"yes!".
Over the next two days, although the 23rd Detachment continued to make small-scale moves, the South 2nd Regiment sent out telegrams requesting assistance without stopping, averaging one telegram every half hour.

Upon receiving the telegram requesting assistance, both the US and Confederate commanders immediately ordered a full-scale rescue of the 2nd Regiment of the South.

In their view, this was just a small-scale counterattack by the Northern Army. As long as the three divisions of the Southern 1st, Southern 6th, and Southern 8th would encircle them, they would have more material to use for propaganda.

However, no matter how much their superiors urged them, the leading 6th and 8th Divisions of the South remained silent.

They all sensed the danger simultaneously.

Although the Americans never admitted that the Chinese had entered North Korea, the officers of the South Korean army were very certain that they were right in front of them.

Going to rescue someone at this time would be like walking into a trap.

The reinforcements at the front remained motionless, which infuriated the American commander.

Once the Allied Command issued the order for reinforcements, the three divisions had no choice but to send their own reinforcements.

As the elite force of the Southern Army, the 1st Division of the Southern Army, led by its commander Bai Shangye, began to move forward, but their movement was very slow.

Moreover, after engaging in firefights with the outer forces of the 21st Detachment outside Tuancheng, the 1st Division of the South immediately ceased operations and entered a standoff.

The 6th and 8th Divisions of the South were not as serious as the 1st Division of the South; they each only sent two battalions.

After they joined forces, three thousand people began to go to Sichuan to provide support.

This left not only the South 2nd Regiment dumbfounded, but also Chen Chengxing and Zhisi, who were waiting for the food to be served, scratching their heads in disbelief.

Inside the headquarters, everyone looked at the telegram and exchanged bewildered glances.

Seeing that everyone was speechless, the commander could only grit his teeth and order: "Send a telegram to Chen Chengxing: wipe out the 2nd Regiment in the South!"

"Then have the Second Commander maneuver around Tuancheng; even if he can wipe out a division, that's fine!"

"As for the other troops, let them each capture the detachments in front of them and take as much as they can!"

"yes!".
Looking at the telegram from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Chen Chengxing was somewhat speechless: "A mudfish in a pot, I don't know where to start."

"Since the Commander has given the order, then carry it out," Chen Chengxing commanded.

"The 21st, 22nd, and 24th detachments secretly surrounded Tuancheng from three sides."

"Be careful! Don't give yourself away."

"After the 23rd Detachment wiped out the 2nd Regiment in the south, it immediately maneuvered around the enemy's rear, blocked their retreat, and intercepted reinforcements."

"yes!".
Upon receiving the order, each detachment immediately began to act according to the plan.

The 23rd detachment began shelling Chuan Ning.

But listening to the continuous shelling, the commander of the 2nd Regiment in the south was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth to dust.

"Damn it! These bastards only sent a few battalions to support us! They will be held fully responsible for any problems that arise with the 2nd Regiment of the South!"

"Commander, the situation is extremely critical. The enemy is about to launch a general offensive!" the chief of staff warned.

Now is not the time to curse; we need to think of a solution quickly.

"Understood!" the commander of the 2nd Regiment of the South decisively ordered, "Disperse and break out immediately!"

The sudden collapse of the South 2nd Regiment resulted in a significant waste of the 23rd Detachment's time.

For an entire day, the 23rd detachment was capturing prisoners all over the mountains and fields.

On the other side, Sir Wolverine, commander of the Eighth Army, sensed something was amiss as he watched the constant stream of messages from the Southern Army at the front.

At first, Walker thought the Confederate army had encountered the Union army, which was still resisting.

However, the fact that entire battalions or even regiments of Southern troops had been wiped out for two consecutive days made him uneasy.

"Has the Chief of Staff replied?" Walker asked, looking at Chief of Staff Dane.

“Not yet.” Dane shook his head. “But even if we get a reply, I don’t think anything will change.”

Although MacArthur received Walker's telegram, he continued to insist that the Chinese army could not participate in the war on a large scale.

MacArthur's insistence prevented Walker from making a firm decision.

"Sir, no matter what, the defeat of the 6th and 8th Southern Divisions is a fact, and Bai Shangye has sent another telegram."

"Or did he see many Chinese people?"

"This time it's many, many Chinese people."

"Okay," Walker said, somewhat helplessly.

He was well aware that the 1st Division of the South had indeed encountered the enemy, but whether the enemy was Chinese troops was questionable.

The telegram sent back by the US military advisors of the 1st Division of the South did not specify that the enemy was the Chinese army.

"Although we don't know yet whether the enemy is the Chinese army, we have to take action."

"Order the 1st Cavalry Division to proceed to Tuancheng and relieve the 1st Southern Division in its garrison. The 1st Southern Division shall continue to advance toward Tangcheng to assist the 6th and 8th Southern Divisions in their operations."

"Yes, sir!"
Previously, the 1st Cavalry Division had been stationed in Anju as the general reserve. After receiving the order, it immediately dispatched troops to Tuancheng.

As a highly mechanized and motorized elite unit, the 1st Cavalry Division has 18,000 men and extremely powerful firepower.

Therefore, they could not, like the 1st Division of the South, deploy the entire division to Tuancheng for defense.

The only units that actually reached Tuancheng were the 3rd Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division and the 11th Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division's auxiliary force, the South 11th Regiment.

The other two regiments of the 1st Cavalry Division were deployed in the rear to provide support or cover at any time.

Inside Tuancheng, Bai Shangye was overjoyed to see the US 3rd Regiment.

"Colonel Wayne, you've arrived just in time!"

"Master Bai, I have been ordered to take over your army and garrison Tuancheng."

"Yes, yes, I have received the telegram!" Bai Shangye nodded repeatedly: "Let's take over immediately. I'm preparing to outflank the 8th Division's position from the south."

“No problem.” Wayne nodded.

With the full cooperation of the South 1st Division, the troop rotation between the two sides went very smoothly.

During the rotation, Bai Shangye found Wayne again.

"Colonel Wayne, my unit is about to head to the eastern battlefield. Before we leave, I must remind you to be careful of the Chinese!"

"Based on my assessment, there are enemies in the surrounding mountains, and they are Chinese troops!"

Bai Shangye was a traitor to the Koreans and fought alongside the Japanese in China.

He smelled that familiar scent again.

"Commander Bai, you're being too cautious," Wayne said dismissively.

“I don’t care if there are enemies in those ravines, or who the enemies are. If they dare to show up, the warriors of the 3rd Regiment will tear them to pieces.”

骑1师3团这次并不是只有他们自己来驻防，同时抵达的还有师部加强的一个105毫米榴弹炮营，以及一个坦克连的17辆M26重型坦克。

Not to mention they also have air support that can be provided at any time.

“Okay.” Bai Shangye shrugged.

Bai Shangye had never seen the combat capabilities of the heavily armed US military, but looking at the tanks weighing tens of tons and the large-caliber howitzers, Bai Shangye could only conclude that Wayne had the confidence to say that.

After the garrison was replaced, the 1st Division of the South did not hesitate at all and immediately descended the mountain from the south.

After leaving the position, Bai Shangye looked back at Tuancheng and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

He has been restless these past two days in Tuancheng.

Although there was no evidence that he was surrounded by Chinese troops, he was certain that the surrounding forces were not Northern troops.

If the Union army had this fighting capability, the Allied forces would have been drowned long ago.

(End of this chapter)