Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 577 Death is not necessarily a bad thing
After recapturing Pyongyang and advancing to the vicinity of the 38th parallel, Shiji did not relax but immediately began discussing the next operational plan.

"The US military now intends to hold the 38th parallel, and we must not let them achieve their goal so easily."

Everyone agreed with the commander's plan to launch an attack.

Even when they were being driven back by the US military, they had already demanded a ceasefire before negotiations.

However, such a small trick could not possibly fool the Central Committee and the Central Government.

"According to the instructions from the Central Committee, we must cross the 38th parallel."

"In order to thwart the US-led coalition's attempt to hold the 38th parallel, I plan to target the 1st South Korean Division, the 6th South Korean Division, the 24th US Division, and the 1st US Cavalry Division as the first step of the attack."

"I estimate that it will take about 10 days for all units to move into their designated positions, and the battle should be over by the end of the month."

Looking at the map, the chief of staff said, "Sir, if we can annihilate the enemy as planned, crossing the 38th parallel and taking Seoul will be a piece of cake."

"But if we can't eliminate them, or rather, if we can't deliver a devastating blow, it probably won't be so easy."

“You’re right.” The commander nodded.

"If we cannot inflict a devastating blow on the enemy, even if we can cross the 38th parallel and capture Seoul, we must not advance rashly."

The North Korean army failed to inflict a devastating blow on the enemy, resulting in excessively long supply lines, which ultimately led to its collapse due to the Inchon Landing.

"If we cannot successfully eliminate the enemy, we will cease fighting north of the 38th parallel and fight again next year."

"However, the Northern Army's 2nd and 5th Corps on the eastern front must advance south to create a strategic outflanking maneuver for the enemy."

Although the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had won the previous two battles, the speed of the US military's maneuverability was truly frustrating for the Volunteer Army Command.

Once the enemy's retreat route cannot be completely blocked, the wheels of war will turn in a way that two legs cannot keep up with.

"Sir, there's one more question."

"Since entering Korea, we have fought two battles in succession. Our troops have suffered more than 40,000 combat casualties, in addition to a large number of non-combat casualties."

"Moreover, due to continuous combat, the troops are quite exhausted, and we are currently on the verge of needing a rest,"

Tens of thousands of combat and non-combat casualties can still be put back into battle if given enough time to recover.

However, if the fighting continues, these people will be unable to participate in combat for a short period of time.

"I know." The commander nodded. "But I think we should still press on and fight this battle in one go."

"As for what to do next, it depends on how well the third campaign goes. If it goes well, we'll cross the 38th parallel; if it doesn't go well, we'll rest and regroup north of the 38th parallel."

The leader made this decision because he received top-secret intelligence from the Central Committee.

I know that U.S. Army Chief of Staff Collins has been ordered to the front lines in Japan and Korea.

Moreover, the US military's overall attitude toward North Korea is currently pessimistic.

Although the UN forces were still actively building fortifications, MacArthur was already preparing ships, and even the Seoul garrison showed signs of retreating.

However, for various reasons, the central government specifically requested that this top-secret intelligence not be issued.

Of course, whether or not to fight the third campaign was not a decision the headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army could make on its own; this matter had to be reported to the Central Committee.

Soon, the headquarters sent the agreed-upon next operational plan back to the central command.

A few days later, the telegram from the Central Committee arrived.

The central government not only supported the fight, but also demanded that it be fought across the 38th parallel.

Currently, all countries are demanding a ceasefire, hoping to halt the Chinese People's Volunteer Army north of the 38th parallel, giving them time to regroup and fight again.

Therefore, at this time, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had to cross the 38th parallel.

If the offensive were to cease north of the 38th parallel, it would be politically very disadvantageous.

If the ceasefire is lifted, and the political situation changes, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, which originally had the upper hand, may find its advance blocked by this virtual border.

Furthermore, as early as when MacArthur crossed the 38th parallel, China had already publicly declared that it did not recognize the existence of this line.

Therefore, even from a purely political perspective, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had to cross the 38th parallel no matter what.

Only in this way can China demonstrate its attitude toward this border to the world and thus gain a politically advantageous position.

As for whether or not to take Seoul, the central government didn't seem to care too much.

If the enemy chooses to hold Seoul, then find an opportunity to eliminate some of them.

If the enemy runs away without looking back, the armies on the western front will rest for a period of time between Pyongyang and Seoul.

Upon receiving the telegram, the headquarters immediately understood the central government's meaning.

Soon, the headquarters adjusted its strategic deployment in accordance with the instructions of the Central Committee, and at the same time required all departments to prepare to cross the 38th parallel.

Just as the various units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army were adjusting their deployments according to plan and preparing for battle, the US military, which had just suffered heavy losses, was once again hit with bad news.

Eighth Army General Sir John Walker was killed when he was run over by a Confederate truck while inspecting defensive positions along the 38th parallel.

Walker had absolutely terrible luck ever since he arrived in the Korean War.

They were hastily deployed at first, and then they were thoroughly beaten by the North Korean army in Busan.

Together with the UN forces in Busan, they embarrassed themselves on the international stage.

After MacArthur's Incheon landing, Walker did not agree with MacArthur's bold and reckless strategy.

However, he was forced to become both the executor of this strategy and the scapegoat.

Of course, judging from the results, Walker's performance was actually not bad.

If it weren't for his decisive retreats, the entire Eighth Army might have been encircled and annihilated.

However, although everyone in the UN forces felt somewhat disheartened at this time, they did not expect that Walker's unexpected death would not be a bad thing for them.

On the contrary, this may be the best news they have received since the Chinese People's Volunteer Army entered the war.

The reason was that after Walker's death, Washington urgently dispatched his successor, Matthew Bunker Ridgway, the U.S. Army's Deputy Chief of Staff.

Ridgway was born in Virginia in 1895.

After graduating from West Point, he served in various countries in addition to the United States, including China, Nicaragua, Panama, Bolivia, the Philippines, and Brazil.

In 1942, Ridgway was ordered to reorganize the 82nd Infantry Division into the first complete airborne unit of the U.S. Army.

The 82nd Airborne Division is widely recognized as an elite unit of the U.S. military during World War II.

In 1944, Ridgway parachuted into France with his unit and participated in the Normandy landings.

After Walker's death, he was appointed to take over as commander of the U.S. Eighth Army.

Because Walker's death was so sudden and the situation on the Korean battlefield was extremely dangerous, Ridgway set off for Japan immediately after receiving orders.

In order to get there faster, he didn't even bring any luggage.

As the special plane glided into the sky, Ridge breathed a sigh of relief, finally having time to examine the thick stack of documents the Ministry of National Defense had given him.

However, looking at the documents in his hand, Ridgway felt increasingly uneasy.

It wasn't that the contents of the document gave him a headache, but rather that Ridgway was very puzzled.

According to the available information, the situation in the Korean War was far from being out of control.

He had already formulated a rough counterattack plan in just half an hour.

But why did the UN forces keep retreating as the fighting went on?
Could it be that Walker, who's already dead, was that bad?
But with five-star general MacArthur around, shouldn't this be the case?

Filled with confusion, Ridgway met with his direct superior, MacArthur, in Tokyo.

This wasn't the first time Ridgway had worked with MacArthur, and he knew that no one could negotiate with MacArthur.

Therefore, after the meeting, Ridgway directly asked MacArthur for his opinion.

As a five-star commentator, MacArthur's descriptions of the battlefield situation were both professional and easy to understand.

In just a few minutes, MacArthur explained the situation in North Korea.

MacArthur then specifically warned, "After you take office, you must be careful of the Chinese!"

Seeing that Ridgway didn't understand, MacArthur explained:
"The Central Army looks like a vagrant, and its firepower is weak compared to the Allied forces, but they are a very dangerous enemy."

"Walker once reported that the Chinese army rarely took the main roads, and usually chose to cross mountains and valleys to penetrate deep into the rear of the UN forces to launch attacks."

"Moreover, although the Chinese army lacks heavy weapons, it makes full use of infantry weapons, and many soldiers are equipped with semi-automatic rifles."

"They are particularly adept at nighttime mobile warfare."

Upon hearing MacArthur's words, Ridgway's expression turned serious; this information was not in the previous documents.

"Sir, what are your plans for the next phase of operations against the Central Army?"

"The situation is extremely serious right now," MacArthur said, his expression grave as he spoke of the Korean War.

"But the more critical the moment, the less we must panic."

"I have been paying close attention to the situation in North Korea and am currently coordinating resources from all sides to formulate the most favorable plan."

"Once you arrive, your first priority is to make the troops understand that the Siling Command cares deeply about their safety and will not risk their lives unnecessarily."

After listening to MacArthur's long and rambling speech, which offered no truly constructive suggestions, Ridgway couldn't hold back any longer and bluntly asked a crucial question.

"Sir, if necessary, may I launch a counterattack?"

MacArthur had long since run out of ideas about this hot potato, so after hearing Ridgway's words, he directly handed over the Korean War to him.

“Matthew, you are the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Army. Do whatever you think is best.”

"I believe you can lead the UN forces to victory!"

"Yes, sir!"

This is exactly what Ridgway wanted.

This was also the true command of the Eighth Army that Walker never obtained, even until his death.

Although the communication with MacArthur was not smooth, and he was forced to listen to nearly an hour of high-sounding nonsense.

However, Ridgway, who had been granted authorization, still flew to North Korea with a smile on his face.

He couldn't wait to make a big splash.

However, upon arriving in North Korea, Ridgway's good mood was shattered by what he saw.

"This is the US military??" Ridgway's eyes widened as he looked at the miserable state of the UN forces.

Even though Ridgway didn't completely believe the information in the documents and had some idea of ​​the situation of the US forces in North Korea, he didn't expect it to be this bad.

Faced with this appalling situation, Ridgway disregarded any counter-offensive plans and immediately began summoning the commanders of each army and division.

Without taking a break, Ridgway summoned all senior U.S. military officers within 48 hours and had in-depth exchanges with each of them.

Ridgway asked each officer for their opinion on launching a large-scale counterattack.

However, the result only made Ridgway feel even more depressed.

Ridgway looked on with a sense of helplessness as Major General Guy, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, left.

This was the last senior officer he summoned.

"It seems that a counterattack in the short term is no longer possible."

Eighth Army Chief of Staff Dai En said from the side, "Sir, what our army should do now is stabilize the situation, not risk a counterattack."

"At this point, any effort may fail, which could come at a heavy price."

"Maybe." Li Qi nodded slightly.

However, he did not completely give up on the counterattack at this time, as he was well aware of the principle that prolonged defense would inevitably lead to defeat.

"Chief of Staff, I need to go to the grassroots level to take a look."

Ridgway was well aware that the UN forces, in terms of both manpower and equipment, were not significantly weaker than the known strength of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

It's just that the army was so badly beaten before that it developed some psychological and mental fear.

But as long as the morale of the rank-and-file soldiers remains high, his plan can still be implemented.

"I'll make arrangements right away."

Dane was not surprised by Ridgway's plan.

Regardless of who commands a unit, understanding that unit is a top priority.

Because it was anticipated, Dane acted quickly, and Ridgway arrived at the front line by noon.

To his disappointment, every command post at the front, from the division headquarters to the company headquarters, regardless of size, had lost confidence and fighting spirit.

MacArthur saw no hope on the faces of commanders at all levels.

After leaving the command post, Ridgway went to the front line.

"Soldiers!" Ridgway called out to several soldiers.

The soldier who was pulled by Ridgway did not recognize him, but he recognized his military rank.

"Sir!"

Because it was the front line, the soldiers did not salute; they simply stood at attention.

"How are you all doing now? Have the enemy on the other side made any unusual moves?"

"Sir, this is the front line. We can spot Chinese reconnaissance units every day."

The soldiers didn't understand what Ridgway was trying to do, but they answered truthfully nonetheless.

"However, there have only been small-scale skirmishes between the two sides so far, and the enemy has not deployed a large force."

“Of course, this wasn’t something we detected,” the soldier added. “It was intelligence gathered by an Air Force reconnaissance plane.”

"Hmm." Li Qi nodded slightly.

He knew about this. According to the reconnaissance aircraft, the Chinese army was still dozens of kilometers away from the 38th parallel and did not seem to intend to mobilize a large force.

"Do you think this battle can still be fought?" Ridgway continued, "If there's an opportunity to counterattack now, do you think it's possible to turn defeat into victory?"

After exchanging glances, the soldiers said helplessly, "Sir, we're just soldiers!"

Ridgway nodded encouragingly, "I know, but you are also an important part of the coalition. You just need to express your thoughts."

"You are the real frontline workers, aren't you?"

He desperately needed to know the thoughts of the lowest-ranking soldiers in order to accurately assess the specific situation.

After all, it was these soldiers who were truly fighting against the central army.

“Sir, if you insist…” The soldier didn’t hesitate much and began to complain.

"I've always had this question: why are we fighting in this damn place?"

"For family? For country?"

"Our family is not here, nor is this our country."

"The Northern Dynasty did not launch an attack on us."

"And I must say, the combat orders from above were utter garbage! Garbage!"

Listening to the soldiers' cacophony of complaints, Ridgway's mood grew increasingly heavy.

He knew very well that the soldiers had lost faith in themselves and their officers.

This is an army that has lost its way.

They didn't know what they were doing; they were just hoping to hear orders to return home soon.

As things stand, a counterattack is impossible; the most important task at present is to boost morale.

Moreover, although there were no signs of an attack from the central army based on the known intelligence, he could not place his hopes on the actions of the central army.

Once the Chinese army launches an attack, the UN forces will have a hard time holding the 37th parallel, let alone the 38th parallel.

Therefore, upon returning to command post, Ridgway immediately adjusted the defensive formation.

South of the 38th parallel, Ridgway constructed two basic lines of defense and three mobile lines of defense.

In order to preserve the American forces as much as possible and buy himself more time to reorganize, Ridgway ordered six Confederate divisions to take charge of the front-line defense.

The UN forces, including those from the US and UK, were responsible for the second line of defense.

At the same time, Ridgway also gave an important task to the 10th Army, which had retreated to Busan.

That is to establish a last line of defense covering Busan in southern North Korea.

After establishing defensive positions south of the 38th parallel, Ridgway turned his attention to the area north of it.

Pointing to the area north of the 38th parallel, Ridgway said with certainty:

"Only by attacking can we regain the initiative on the battlefield and restore the morale of our troops."

"Pass on my order: each division and regiment shall immediately send forward reconnaissance and small attack units."

"We must maintain constant contact with the enemy and never passively defend our positions."

Upon hearing that small groups of troops should be eliminated, Dane immediately reminded him, "Sir, reconnaissance units from various units have already been deployed."

“I know,” Ridgway nodded, “but they’re just wasting their time!”

"All units must immediately abandon their previous practices, get the soldiers off the vehicles and tanks, and get off that damned road!"

"Everyone must go into the mountains, into the forests to find the enemy, and to seize the high ground!"

U.S. military reconnaissance units are indeed constantly conducting reconnaissance missions abroad.

But they all patrolled the highways in armored vehicles, jeeps, or light tanks.

According to intelligence, the central army was taking mountainous terrain and back roads, while the reconnaissance troops were driving around on the main roads, which was completely useless.

While Ridgway was busy reorganizing the army, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army was already preparing for another attack.

(End of this chapter)