Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 610 A Handful of Sesame Seeds

As someone who was used to leading from the front, Li Yunlong, even though he was somewhat afraid of the clerk being promoted, ultimately couldn't resist.

The defensive formation deployed by Army C is a classic inverted triangle defense.
The 7th Division was on the right, the 9th Division on the left, and the 8th Division was in the rear as a reserve force.

However, when Li Yunlong arrived at the 9th Division's position, he was somewhat surprised by the 9th Division's defensive deployment.

"Shen Quan! Shen Quan! What the hell are you doing?!"

Shen Quan, commander of the 9th Division, did not arrange the three regiments in a triangular formation as was the usual defensive tactic of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. Instead, he lined up the three regiments in a straight line, placing them all at the front line.

Not only that, Shen Quan also broke up all the troops, and the 9th Division was divided into small groups around the main position of Seed Mountain, setting up nearly two hundred blocking positions of various sizes.

Li Yunlong could tell at a glance that Shen Quan was planning to fight to the death.

Shen Quan ran over without saluting, and explained directly:

"Commander, our firepower is insufficient. It is absolutely not feasible to concentrate our troops and defend a few main positions."

Based on the assessment of the military conference, the US military will likely focus its main attack on Yeoncheon, which is in the direction of the 7th Division.

There is not only a main road leading directly to the Triangle Plain, but also a railway in the same direction, which can leverage the armored advantage of the US military.

Therefore, Li Yunlong transferred all the artillery of the military dependents to the 7th Division, and even Xing Zhiguo personally took charge of command of the 7th Division.

After such a long period of fighting, the 9th Division only had 4 mountain guns and 4 120mm heavy mortars left to use.

If a real battle breaks out, the US military's firepower would overwhelm the 9th Division in an instant.

After reviewing Shen Quan's plan, Zhang Dabiao said directly, "Using the entire division to risk our lives is not advisable."

“You don’t have a single reserve team. If something goes wrong, there’s no way to fix it.”

"Moreover, this tactic could very well wipe out the 9th Division in a single battle."

Before Li Yunlong could speak, Shen Quan said, "Commander, Chief of Staff, the mission of Army C is to hold Jinping for 15 days."

"The only way to hold out for the longest time in a disadvantaged situation is to take advantage of the U.S. military's cautious and prudent combat style."

"The U.S. military is very afraid of being attacked from the flank or rear, so they certainly won't advance until they've cleared out all the enemy troops in the line."

"If my 9th Division scatters a handful of sesame seeds, even if the American army tries to pull them out, it will take them five days!"

Shen Quan's plan was to put the US military in a difficult position of having to remove a thorn in their side.

The firepower of the US military was several times that of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, but no matter how powerful the US firepower was, it was impossible for it to fire on two hundred positions at the same time.

They had to clear out the 9th Division's blocking positions one by one before they could continue their advance.

Trading his life for time was an extremely rare tactic by Shen Quan, and even someone as fearless as Li Yunlong couldn't make up his mind.

After hesitating for a while, Li Yunlong said, "Zhang Dabiao, immediately send a telegram to headquarters and ask what the acting commander means."

"No need to ask, I'm right here."

Li Yunlong turned his head and saw Chen Chengxing walking over from behind, and immediately felt a little embarrassed.

Chen Chengxing didn't bother to pay attention to Li Yunlong, but said directly, "We can fight according to the 9th Division's plan."

"Old Li, move the C Army's rocket artillery battalion to the Seed Mountain position. I'm bringing two howitzer battalions over here to reinforce the area as well."

"What about the 7th Division?" Li Yunlong asked anxiously. "The rocket artillery battalion is crucial if we want to block the Lianchuan Highway."

“You’re all wrong.” Chen Chengxing shook his head: “This time, the US military is unlikely to break through from Lianchuan; they will probably focus their attack on Seed Mountain.”

"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Li Yunlong shook his head repeatedly: "The terrain of Lianchuan is suitable for armored assaults. How could the US military possibly give up its advantages?"

Although there is also Highway 87 at Seed Hill, the terrain is narrow, making it impossible for the US military to deploy effectively.

If it's just a march, it doesn't matter, but if a battle breaks out, this place is simply not suitable for armored warfare.

In this mountainous region, tanks cannot reach the top of the mountain.

"According to reconnaissance, the US 3rd Division has already arrived at the Jinping battlefield," Chen Chengxing explained.
"Currently, the U.S. military has two units on the east side: the 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Infantry Division. On the west side, in the direction of Lianchuan, there are only two regiments of the 1st Cavalry Division. It is possible that only one regiment will be engaged in the battle head-on."

“Van Fleet had no choice but to focus his attack on Highway 87 on the east side.”

"The US 3rd Division arrived so quickly?" Li Yunlong asked incredulously.

Based on previous battles, the U.S. 3rd Division was the U.S. Army's reserve force, located at the easternmost edge of the entire battlefield.

The distance from the easternmost point to the Seed Mountain battlefield is more than 200 kilometers, which would have taken the Chinese People's Volunteer Army at least a week.

"No mistake." Chen Chengxing nodded: "The special forces have captured him."

"Holy crap, the changes are too drastic!"

Li Yunlong did not expect the situation to change so quickly. He thought the US military would choose the Lianchuan direction, but now the main battlefield has become the mountainous area in southeastern Jinping.

And it's very likely that the first day will be the final assault.

"Since the main direction of the US military's attack has changed, the previous arrangements are no longer valid."

"Zhang Dabiao, immediately transfer the rocket artillery battalion over. Also, move the 8th Division behind the 9th Division."

Since Shen Quan didn't leave himself any reserves, he had to cover for the 9th Division.

Inside the headquarters of the United Nations Eighth Army.

Chief of Staff Dane reported: "Sir, the 1st Cavalry Division, the 1st Southern Division, and the 3rd Infantry Division are all in position."

"However, the 1st Cavalry Division reported that they only have one infantry regiment available for combat."

Because of the threat from Army A, in addition to the 3rd Regiment being assigned to defense, the 5th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division had to be left behind as a reserve, so only one regiment could be deployed to the Lianchuan direction.

“I understand,” VanVleet nodded.

Van Fleet had already foreseen this scene when the 1st Cavalry Division clashed with Army A.

"In this battle, the 1st Cavalry Division advanced towards the enemy's 7th Division, the 3rd Division attacked the main position of Seed Mountain along Highway 87, and the 1st Southern Division attacked Seed Mountain from the flank."

"The fighting in other directions has now ceased, and apart from the essential standby aircraft, all other air power has been fully deployed to the Jinping line."

"I have only one request: wipe out the enemy's positions as quickly as possible!"

"Yes, sir!"

On Seed Hill, soldiers of the 9th Division leaned against makeshift field fortifications, preparing to meet the American attack.

As one of Li Yunlong's old subordinates, Shen Quan naturally shared the habit of taking a stroll around the front lines before a battle.

"Comrades, are you wearing new clothes?"

"Very good, that's spirited!"

Many soldiers in the 9th Division put on new clothes, shoes, and hats that they had previously been reluctant to wear.

"Master, you've changed your clothes too, you look just like a new son-in-law."

The soldiers around him burst into laughter.

Shen Quan patted his clothes and chuckled, "I think the environment of this Seed Mountain is pretty good, so I'll just die here."

"If I go down to meet the King of Hell, he might see that I'm in good spirits and ask me to be his son-in-law."

"Don't worry, Master. If the King of Hell has a daughter, we'll just help you snatch her away!"

"With over ten thousand brothers, do you think the Master would be left all alone?"

Just as Shen Quan was joking with everyone, the American attack began. Upon hearing the artillery fire, Shen Quan immediately rushed to the trench and raised his binoculars.

"Damn it, the US military can't wait any longer."

It's evening now, and the US military can't choose to fight at night, so their meaning is quite clear: they plan to fire artillery all night.

Despite everyone being mentally prepared, the intensity of the US military's firepower still felt somewhat unbelievable.

Van Fleet was an extreme admirer of firepower.

In just one hour, from dusk until nightfall, 4,500 shells were fired at the 9th Division's positions.

Throughout the entire night, the US military's shelling never stopped, with more than 50,000 shells of various types being used.

The soldiers were hiding inside the fortifications and couldn't even distinguish the sounds of shells exploding as they landed; the explosions seemed to blend together.

The shockwave created a blast of air that was like a strong wind, never stopping for even a second.

The overwhelming firepower of the US forces surprised the soldiers of the 9th Division, but when the US forces launched their attack at dawn, the 9th Division's counterattack surprised them even more.

Not a single soldier in the small position retreated; they all fought to the death with the American troops until the very end.

Meanwhile, the soldiers on the rear positions watched quietly as the battle on the front lines went from fierce to quiet.

Until they were also blown to bits, then came the positions behind them.
"Sir, the troops at the front are encountering fierce resistance from the central army, and progress is very slow."

“Impossible!” Van Fleet was somewhat incredulous: “No unit could withstand such intense firepower.”

"According to intelligence, the Chinese army did not use its main force to defend key positions this time, but instead divided itself into a large number of small positions."

"A large portion of our shells hit open ground."

Faced with the two hundred positions deployed by Shen Quan, the US military's firepower advantage was minimized.

"Sir, now we're afraid we can only fight for the positions one by one."

Van Fleet's face was grim; whether he wanted to admit it or not, the situation was tilting in the direction he didn't want to go.

Faced with this scattered position, the US military had to stop and remove the obstacles in front of them one by one.

The US 3rd Division plunged headlong into the 9th Division's blocking position and could not extricate itself.

Meanwhile, the South 1st Division, which was next to the US 3rd Division, faced the same situation.

However, Bai Shangye's choice was as shrewd as Charles's: with a simple statement of insufficient firepower, the Southern army began to slack off.

Van Fleet couldn't say anything about this, since the Confederate army's firepower was indeed far inferior to that of the American army.

Moreover, the 1st Division of the South was attacking the flank of Seed Mountain, which is all mountainous terrain, making it impossible for howitzers to be pulled up there.

Soon, Shen Quan's torment completely destroyed the morale of the US 3rd Division.

"Fuck! Where did the Chinese army get this kind of willpower?!"

VanVleet said he had never even heard of such a "scattering sesame seeds" tactic.

To achieve this, the entire unit, from top to bottom, must be prepared to die.

"Sir, the central army is just using its extraordinary willpower to kill time."

For the U.S. military, time is their most important factor.

If Jinping cannot be captured in a short time, it will be meaningless once the Chinese People's Volunteer Army completes its transfer.

Van Fleet knew very well that capturing Jinping would indeed give the UN forces an offensive advantage, but it wouldn't matter.

The UN forces had no plans to continue their advance north; going further north would have been risking their lives.

"Send orders to all units, instructing them to launch an attack to the greatest extent possible."

"Since the central army has laid so many nails, let's smash them flat with hammers!"

"The artillery should concentrate its firepower and strike them one by one."

"If ten shells can't solve the problem, then twenty or fifty!"

"I'd like to see how long the central army can hold out!"

The US military's offensive momentum was halted, and Shen Quan's defensive deployment proved to be absolutely effective.

There is no way that the US military can quickly break through the 9th Division's defense zone.

However, everyone knows that the consequences of this defensive deployment will be severe.

Because the troops were dispersed into numerous small positions, and there were not enough troops to form reserves and support forces, the casualties of the 9th Division were destined to be extremely heavy.

On the evening of the third day, just as Shen Quan was giving his routine report to Li Yunlong, Li Yunlong suddenly asked, "What is the casualty situation of the 9th Division? Why hasn't it been reported?"

"Commander, I don't know about the casualties either."

"The US artillery fire was too strong; telephone lines have been severed, and many positions have been cut off from communication."

All I know is that they are still fighting.

For several days, both sides fought desperately.

The rocket artillery battalion of Army C and the two howitzer battalions reinforced by Chen Chengxing had also run out of ammunition and withdrawn from the battlefield.

Shen Quan can only judge the situation of the 9th Division's blocking action by the sound of gunfire.

"Do you need me to reinforce your troops from the 8th Division?"

Shen Quan paused for a moment, then said, "Commander, have the 8th Division prepare the second-line positions."

Shen Quan did not ask Li Yunlong to send troops to support him.

Because from the very beginning, the 9th Division had no positions available for reinforcement.

After hanging up the phone, Li Yunlong remained motionless.

After a few minutes of silence, Li Yunlong spoke up: "Judging from the gunfire, the 9th Division should have several hundred men besides the heavy weapons units."

"Zhang Dabiao, order the 9th Division to retreat to Jinping, and the 8th Division to advance to the Gaotaishan and Jigongshan areas to block the enemy."

Based on the current situation, the 9th Division can hold out for another day, but Li Yunlong simply cannot accept the outcome of the 9th Division being completely wiped out.

Inside the underground command post of the 8th Division, Division Commander Wang Huaibao looked at everyone and said, "The 9th Division has completed its mission. Now it's up to our 8th Division."

"The second line of defense north of Jinping is under construction. As long as we can hold out until the line is completed, the US military will return empty-handed."

As he spoke, Wang Huaibao stood up and pointed to Gaotai Mountain on the map, saying, "Gaotai Mountain is the core position of our 8th Division's blocking position."

"He Wei, this place is now in your hands, 83rd Regiment. Can you hold it?"

The 83rd Regiment is the most capable main force of the 8th Division, with rich experience in defeating stronger opponents.

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

“Okay!” Wang Huaibao nodded: “The 82nd Regiment will be responsible for Jigong Mountain, and the 81st Regiment will serve as the reserve force.”

"My requirement is simple: 5 days, at least 5 days!"

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)