Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 594 Heading West
Late at night, inside the Second General Headquarters.

Looking at the locations of the various units on the map, Chen Chengxing pointed to a ring of hills surrounding Shangshuili, his expression somewhat serious, and said:
"Our encirclement is complete, but not secure."

"With the 7th Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Regiment joining forces, the number of enemy troops in Shangshuili is now very sufficient."

"The American troops on the outer perimeter are defending very tenaciously, and they probably won't be able to threaten the core positions in Shangshuili tonight."

"And as long as we wait until dawn tomorrow, the US military will definitely make a full-scale breakout."

Currently, the only position in the Shangshui area that poses a threat to the US military is the Dongshan position.

But this is a key target area for the US military, and as soon as night falls, flares and artillery shells are fired non-stop.

Let alone a large force, even a small group of reconnaissance soldiers would have a hard time getting in.

"The unexpected appearance of the 1st Marine Regiment has disrupted our rhythm," Luo Ping sighed.

If the 1st Marine Regiment hadn't occupied Shangshuili in advance, the US 7th Division would never have been able to break through the blockade, no matter how high they jumped.

Chen Chengxing said, "Li Qiwei is not to be underestimated; he is extremely skilled at organizing troops."

"Judging from the situation of the US military, Ridgway has already achieved considerable results in such a short period of time."

If it were the US military in the past, they would have been completely stumped in this situation.

But now, the US military is not only fighting tenaciously, but also retreating without panic.

This is completely different from the previous US military.

If the US military does not panic and instead uses its advantages to launch a counterattack, it will be the Chinese People's Volunteer Army that suffers.

Looking at the map, Luo Ping said helplessly, "It seems we have no choice but to launch a direct attack."

"Attack with full force!" Chen Chengxing nodded forcefully; he had no other choice now.

"Xu Wu, tell all units to use up all their shells tonight!"

"Including Army A and Army C?"

"Yes, all of them!"

"The supply corps took out all the shells, bullets, and food and sent them all to the front line."

"Fuck you, I'm done for!"

Tonight is the best opportunity. Even if we can block the American troops' retreat, the possibility of annihilating them will decrease day by day.

"I'll make arrangements right away!"

"Wait a minute." Chen Chengxing suddenly called out to Xu Wu.

"Order the 243rd Regiment to withdraw from the Shangshuili battlefield and move towards Zhenxingli."

Pointing to a point on the map, Chen Chengxing said, "Even if the enemy breaks through Shangshuili, they will have to cross Anshun Bridge if they want to continue retreating south."

"If we cut off this place, the enemy will be trapped in Tukuri again, and then we will have a chance to surround them."

Chen Chengxing is now unsure whether he can defeat the US forces in the waters, so he plans to make a patch.

In the upper reaches of the river, the battle between the two sides was exceptionally fierce, with tracer bullets weaving into a web of fire in the darkness.

The various units of the 4th Army Corps launched repeated attacks on the US forces, trying to create a breach.

Inside the command post, looking at the Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers who were once again exposed to flares, Márquez's expression was unusually serious.

"The central army is indeed terrifying," Marquez said in a low voice.

Since nightfall, the US military's artillery, tanks, and machine guns have been firing non-stop.

However, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army continued to launch attacks.

Gabriel García Márquez lived through both World War I and World War II.

But this was the first time he had ever seen a unit so fearless in the face of death.

Just then, the chief of staff of the US 7th Division rushed over: "Sir, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's attack is very fierce, and the pressure on the troops is too great."

"We need support!"

"Which direction is under the most pressure right now?" Márquez asked without turning his head.

"In the northeast direction, the enemy's charge has never stopped."

"Northeast? The 32nd Regiment's defense line?"

"Yes!"

After a moment's thought, Marcos Roth ordered, "Send a battalion to the 1st Marine Regiment to reinforce the front-line positions in the northeast."

"The First Marine Regiment? The front line?" The chief of staff was somewhat bewildered.

What kind of troop reinforcement method is this?
Moreover, the command also has reserves, so how can troops be drawn from the 1st Marine Regiment?
“I have my own plans. Go and give the order.” Marquez waved his hand.

"Yes, sir!"

The Marines are indeed more elite than the U.S. Army, but this is not a battalion of U.S. Army captains; they cannot possibly withstand an attack from five divisions.

The casualties of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment soon exceeded half.

Albert was furious. While in command post, he kept asking his superiors for help and cursing Marquez's family.

Since the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment was deployed to the front lines in Northeast China, Marquez had been closely monitoring the casualties of the 3rd Battalion.

Looking at the latest reported data, Márquez nodded: "That's about right."

"What's almost done?"

“It’s nothing.” Marquez put down the report in his hand and said, “Send a message to the Seventh Fleet immediately, requesting air support.”

The Marine Regiment suffered several hundred casualties in just one hour, and Marquez did not believe that the Navy could tolerate it.

The navy couldn't hold back any longer.

In an effort to relieve pressure on the 1st Marine Regiment and the 7th Infantry Division, the Navy deployed all its attack aircraft equipped with night vision devices.

This would leave the Seventh Fleet temporarily unprotected, leaving them with few effective countermeasures should an aircraft launch a night attack.
However, even with night vision devices, US carrier-based attack aircraft can only achieve precision strikes at night by engaging in ultra-low-altitude, close-range attacks.

Napalm bombs dropped by carrier-based attack aircraft created several burning barriers in front of the US positions.

The desperate support from naval carrier-based attack aircraft enabled the US military to get through one of its most difficult nights.

However, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army continued to fire various machine guns at the low-flying American aircraft.

In one night, the Seventh Fleet suffered the loss of 8 aircraft and more than 15 aircraft damaged.

This can be considered the greatest cost that US military aircraft have paid since they entered the war.

Li Qiwei's face was very ugly.

After daybreak, a large number of American planes arrived again, but this time they completely ignored the Dongshan position.

Marquez simply dispatched a fleet of aircraft, tanks, and artillery to launch a suppressive attack on Dongshan.

The rest of the main force began a fierce assault on other blocking positions.

Using overwhelming firepower, the US forces forcibly suppressed the blocking fire on the eastern hill, and then the main force quickly emerged into the water by vehicle.

However, facing layers of resistance, the 1st Marine Division took a full 36 hours to traverse the less than 18-kilometer journey from Xishuili to Tugori, while suffering heavy casualties.

After resting for a night in Tughri, they prepared to continue their retreat from Tughri at dawn, only to find that their route to break through to the south had been cut off.

"Fuck! Why didn't the garrison hold the bridge?!" Marquez's face was extremely grim.

"Didn't the report already say the problem had been fixed?!"

"We've been bombed again," the chief of staff said with a hint of helplessness.

The night before last, the 243rd Regiment infiltrated Zhenxingli and immediately launched a surprise attack, blowing up Anshun Bridge.

Anshun Bridge is located about six kilometers south of Tokri, connecting the mountain road between San Yue Shan and Jie Tai Shan.

The bridge is 8.8 meters long and is the only road leading south from Tokuri. There are no other roads around it that allow large vehicles to detour.

However, the U.S. Army engineer battalion quickly completed the repairs after the first explosion.

Then the 243rd Regiment attacked again and carried out demolition, after which the US military repaired the site, and the 243rd Regiment bombed it again.

By the time Márquez was preparing to evacuate, Anshun Bridge had already been destroyed for the third time.

This time, the 243rd Regiment used all its explosives, even blowing the bridge foundation in the middle of the bridge into the air.

The soldiers believed the bridge had been completely destroyed and would not be able to be repaired in less than a few months.

"I don't care if the engineers can repair it!" Marquez roared. "What I want is to get across the Anshun Bridge!"

Upon hearing Marquez's words, the battalion commander of the engineering corps almost cried.

The first two repairs had almost used up all the supplies they had brought.

Even if we filled the entire engineer battalion with soldiers, it wouldn't make any difference.

"Sir, the problem is beyond the capabilities of the engineer battalion to solve," the chief of staff said. "I think we should hold a meeting to discuss it."

"hurry up!"

As he spoke, Márquez gestured for the battalion commander of the engineer battalion to stay and attend the meeting as well, since he was the one who was truly professional.

Whether the proposed suggestions will be feasible will depend on the evaluation by the engineering battalion.

Soon, the commanders of the 17th and 32nd Regiments of the 7th Division and the 1st Marine Regiment all gathered together.

Inside the meeting room, all sorts of solutions emerged one after another.

However, the engineer battalion commander rejected them one by one.

The reason is simple: he can't do it.

Just as Márquez was having a major headache, Ridgway's telegram arrived.

While Márquez was organizing the discussions, Ridgway was also actively brainstorming ideas.

"Sir, General Ridgway says that the Tokyo factory is already producing steel and wood bridge components, which can be airdropped over tonight!"

Ridgway's plan was simple: since there were no materials, he would airdrop them.

Moreover, it can be made into components directly, and then simply laid on the broken bridge.

Upon seeing Ridgway's telegram, Márquez breathed a sigh of relief.

"Great, logistics are already operating at full capacity."

"The engineering battalion is ready to repair the bridge as soon as the components arrive."

"The remaining troops, in addition to blocking the central army's attack, should also be prepared for a surprise attack."

For Márquez, acquiring the bridge components was not the end of the matter; to build the bridge, he also had to break through the blocking positions in front of the Anshun Bridge.

However, although Marquez was somewhat serious at this moment, he was not too nervous.

Once Anshun Bridge is breached, the enemy's position in Zhenxingli can be easily broken through.

As Márquez waited anxiously, eight transport planes arrived over Tuguri in the evening.

According to the assessment, only 4 sets of bridge components were needed to repair Anshun Bridge, but Ridgway directly airdropped 8 sets.

"Sir, all the airdrops have been retrieved."

"Six sets of components are intact. The other two sets are slightly deformed, but they are still usable, although they may not be able to withstand the weight of 50 tons."

“Use the good ones first,” Marquez said. “As for the two deformed ones, don’t give up on them either; see if they can be repaired.”

"yes!".
Looking at the sky outside, Márquez hesitated for a moment, but still didn't have the courage to launch a direct attack that night.

He was afraid that the bridge, which he had worked so hard to build, would be blown up by the enemy.

After a grueling night, as dawn broke, Márquez immediately gave the order to attack.

The 17th Regiment of the 7th Division of the United States launched a fierce attack on the small hill north of Anshun Bridge.

This is the only position that the 243rd Regiment set up north of the bridge.

According to Márquez's idea, a position defended by fewer than a hundred men could be taken in less than an hour with the support of tanks, planes, and artillery.

However, things took an unexpected turn.

From morning till night, the US 17th Regiment launched more than ten assaults, but failed to capture the position. "Fuck! What's going on?!"

"A whole day! A whole day wasted! This is practically a crime!"

Who would have thought that even though the material problem for the bridge was solved, it still couldn't be installed?

According to reports from aerial reconnaissance aircraft, a continuous stream of Chinese troops is encircling this area.

In a single day, tens of thousands more people around you may have been strengthened.

"Sir, don't worry," the chief of staff reassured him.

"According to the reconnaissance, there should only be a dozen or so people still holding out on this high ground."

"We can take it down in one fell swoop after dawn tomorrow."

"If all else fails, we can have the 17th Regiment attack overnight."

“No, we can’t fight at night.” Marquez shook his head repeatedly.

"At night, we can't make use of our firepower advantage, and it's too disadvantageous to attack a well-defended position."

In all his years of fighting, Márquez had never seen a unit so adept at night combat.

The US military has never practiced night combat. If they rush in at this time, they will likely just be throwing away lives and supplies.

"Keep the shelling going tonight, and strike the enemy positions with all your might."

"Keep going? Our ammunition reserves are running low. Today's airdropped supplies are mainly medicine, food, and bullets, not many artillery shells."

"Fire! Fire until they're all gone!" Márquez declared firmly. "Destroy any artillery pieces that are out of ammunition, and use trucks to transport troops."

Based on the current situation, Márquez judged that tonight and tomorrow should be the last chance.

If we can't break through Anshun Bridge tomorrow, we may never be able to.

"I'll go and relay the order right away."

Marquez nodded without saying anything more, but his eyes remained fixed on the map.

After a night of shelling, the already small hill seemed to have been leveled by a meter or two.

However, there were tunnels on the position, which, although not very deep, were enough for a dozen or so soldiers to use.

In the morning, the US troops launched another attack on the high ground, but they were still held off by the remaining dozen or so men.

Faced with this situation, Márquez called for air support again.

Dozens of planes arrived at the battlefield, and the small hill was shrouded in thick smoke and flames.

In the end, only one soldier remained on the high ground, still holding on.

Even so, the surviving soldiers did not give up.

He kept moving between the various machine gun firing positions that had been set up in advance.

Various types of firepower rained down on the advancing American troops.

However, two fists can't fight four hands, and the US military is still getting closer and closer.

Finally, the soldier threw the light machine gun, now empty of bullets, onto the ground and leaped onto the walkie-talkie beside him.

"Commander! Commander! The enemy is coming!"

"Fire at me! Fire at me!"

The veins on the hand holding the microphone bulged as Luo Cheng, commander of the 243rd Regiment, forced out a few words through gritted teeth: "Artillery position."

Just then, another sound suddenly appeared on the call channel.

"I am Chen Chengxing! Now obey my orders!"

"Stay there and don't move. Give me your exact coordinates!"

"Draw a circle with a radius of 50 meters, using this point as the center. All artillery pieces within the combat zone that can reach it should concentrate their fire outside the circle!"

"The rocket launchers will fire in 3 minutes, targeting the area below the mountainside!"

At this time, the main force of the 4th Army Corps had basically arrived. Although the howitzer regiment remained in Nan'an Mountain, the more than one hundred mountain guns were enough.

Marquez, who was initially delighted to see his troops charging onto the position, suddenly saw the position covered by artillery fire.

The American soldiers who rushed up were flying around everywhere.

Seeing this, Márquez immediately shouted, "Keep charging! Don't stop!"

Seeing that the American troops were still climbing up, the soldier shouted into the walkie-talkie: "More enemies are coming up!"

"25 meters! Requesting 25 meters!"

Hearing the number 25 meters, Chen Chengxing hesitated for a moment.

50 meters is already beyond the safe distance, and 25 meters is basically no safe distance at all.

The shell could easily hit his head if it encountered even a slight gust of wind in the air.

However, Chen Chengxing still agreed to his request: "All artillery units, 25 meters!"

"Lie down where you are! Don't move!"

Another barrage of firepower followed.

The US military could no longer hold out and withdrew en masse.

"Now I'm the only one left on the mountaintop!"

"I'll repeat myself, I'm the only one left on the mountaintop now!"

"The blocking mission is complete, you can withdraw from the position now!" Chen Chengxing said, putting down the microphone.

"With so many artillery pieces here, I'd like to see how the American army will build a bridge!"

If Anshun Bridge were a concrete bridge, Chen Chengxing wouldn't dare say that, as a 75mm mountain gun wouldn't be that effective against a concrete bridge.

However, no combat engineers carry steel bars and cement to the battlefield; all they can provide is a bridge structure made of steel and wood.

Even a 75mm mountain gun would leave a large hole with every shot.

Márquez was also well aware of the artillery threat posed by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Therefore, although he successfully occupied the high ground, he did not smile at all.

Two hours later, U.S. military engineers used airdropped components to build a bridge that could accommodate 50-ton vehicles.

The escape route for the 1st Marine Division reappeared, and tanks and troop carriers began to flee rapidly south of Anshun Bridge.

However, what Márquez feared still happened: a large number of shells flew over.

Amidst a deafening roar, the bridge deck was riddled with holes.

Now, although the bridge is still there, even pedestrians have to be careful, let alone tanks and troop carriers.

If you step on the wrong step, you'll fall into the valley.

"Fuck!" Marquez was truly disgusted.

"Sir, should we have the engineer battalion continue the repairs?" the chief of staff asked.

"As long as a portion of the troops can break through, they should be able to coordinate a retreat from the north and south."

“It’s pointless. We’ve wasted too much time.” Marquez shook his head, his face grim.

"Unless we can destroy all of the enemy's artillery, every time we set up a position, the enemy will destroy it."

Upon hearing Marquez's words, the chief of staff fell silent.

Even with absolute air superiority, the US military could not completely destroy the enemy's artillery.

After taking one last look at Anshun Bridge, Márquez put down his binoculars.

"Send a telegram to headquarters requesting coordination with the navy. Our unit is preparing to abandon the southward retreat and instead retreat westward by sea!"

There isn't only one road leading south from Tukuri; you can also go west.

It's just that the west side is the coast, so most people wouldn't think of this place.

Upon hearing Marquez's order, the chief of staff suddenly realized what was going on.

Why didn't Márquez give the order to march south after occupying the high ground? It turns out he was waiting here.

Ridgway hesitated upon receiving Márquez's report.

Dane, who was standing nearby, analyzed, "Sir, retreating westward by sea is probably the only option now."

"And it has to be done quickly."

"Tonight, the central army will definitely launch a general offensive."

All intelligence indicates that the central army has already encircled them from the north in an arc, and they are now just waiting for nightfall.

Ridgway slammed his fist on the table: "I agree to Marquez's request to retreat!"

"In addition, the 1st Marine Division and the 1st Cavalry Division are ordered to cease their attack on Nam An San.

The 7th Infantry Division's breakout to the west meant that its counter-encirclement plan had been abandoned, and Nan'an Mountain was now useless.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon receiving the telegram, Márquez did not hesitate. After concentrating his firepower and launching a fierce attack, he abandoned all the heavy weapons that could be abandoned and sent all the light troops westward to break through.

The people in the Second Command were somewhat surprised by the movements of the US military.

"The west is a death trap, what does it mean that the US troops are running that way?"

Chen Chengxing understood Márquez's plan: "It's a death trap for us, but not for the American army."

"The US Seventh Fleet is probably already moving towards the shore."

"Breaking out by sea is definitely not that quick. Should the entire army give chase immediately?"

"We must pursue them, but we must not pursue them with a large army," Chen Chengxing affirmed.

“The guns of US battleships can fire forty or fifty kilometers. If the US 7th Division runs west for half a day, it will be within the range of the guns.”

"If we pursue them relentlessly, it will be disadvantageous for us."

Aircraft have a long attack range, but when it comes to firepower delivery in the same amount of time, artillery always comes first.

Xu Wu said somewhat dejectedly, "We can't just let it go like this, can we?"

According to the battle results, at least 8,000 to 10,000 American soldiers have been killed, so the results are not bad.

But it would be a great pity to let the main force of the US military escape like this.

"The fact that the main force cannot pursue does not mean that the small force cannot either."

"Xu Wu, issue an order to all units to send out small elite units, organized by company and platoon, to pursue and kill the American troops."

"Let the Americans experience the treatment of the Japanese, and learn about guerrilla warfare."

Shiji.

Looking at the telegram in his hand, the chief of staff excitedly reported, "Sir, Chen Chengxing has finished the work."

"The US military is fleeing westward in a chaotic manner, likely intending to retreat by sea."

"Great! Great!" The commander happily took the telegram and glanced at it.

"Speak of the devil and he appears. I was just about to send a telegram to Chen Chengxing to ask him about it when he finished his work."

"With the 7th Infantry Division driven away, the pressure on the western front has been reduced by half, and we can finally launch a counterattack!"

During this period, the Union Army first squandered its initial advantage, and Ridgway then seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, leaving Ridgway seething with anger.

"Pass on my order: have Kong Jie lead the C Army to retreat to the north bank of the Han River for rest and reorganization, and have Chen Chengxing lead the Second Division eastward to the Guangjin area to await orders."

"Li Yunlong and Ding Wei established defenses on the south bank of the Han River, keeping an eye on the US 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Marine Division."

"Next, let's see where to hit."

(End of this chapter)