Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 616 Bloodletting
The next day, having figured out the situation, De La Drummond decided to attack from a different direction.

According to reconnaissance, the leftmost hill, Hill 894, has the fewest central troops.

Of course, this is also related to the terrain.

Hill 894 is extremely steep, and not many troops can be deployed there.

"Although Hill 894 is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with our firepower, it will not be difficult to take it."

"Let the 9th Regiment be in charge of the attack this time."

Deradmon wanted to earn some credit for the 9th Regiment, after all, they had been badly beaten before.

Upon receiving the order, Brooke, the commander of the 9th Regiment, looked at the treacherous mountain terrain with a headache. Hill 894 was easy to defend but difficult to attack, and taking it would not be easy.

After thinking for a moment, Brooke ordered, "Set the tank company as the vanguard, and the 5th and 6th companies will assist in the attack!"

The chief of staff standing nearby said, "Sir, it won't be easy for tanks to advance through this mountainous terrain."

Although the forward positions of the US 9th Regiment are less than 500 meters away from Hill 894, there are quite a few ditches and ridges along those 500 meters.

Moreover, the tank company was still in the rear at this time, and it would take another kilometer for the tanks to reach the front line.

“We can’t afford too many casualties right now,” Brooke said. “I’d rather slow down the attack than have soldiers fall in front of the enemy lines.”

Brooke waved his hand: "Go and pass on the order."

"Yes, sir!"
It wasn't easy for the US 9th Regiment's tank company to reach the front lines; the mere one-kilometer distance took the tanks several hours to traverse.

By the time the tanks began their attack, providing cover for the infantry, it was already late afternoon.

Facing 22 well-prepared teams, the progress of the US 9th Regiment was not very smooth.

However, after a difficult trek over mountains and valleys, the US 9th Regiment still managed to capture Hill 894 after two days of intense assault.

When Derridmon learned that the US 9th Regiment had captured Hill 894 with only 300 casualties, he was ecstatic.

"very good!"

"Order the 9th Regiment to immediately strengthen the defense of Hill 894, and the 38th Regiment to prepare to outflank Hill 913."

"As long as we cut off the enemy's supplies, we can easily achieve victory!"

However, no sooner had Dragmon finished speaking than he suddenly heard a burst of fierce cannon fire.

Upon hearing the cannon fire, Drummond felt a pang of panic; the cannon fire was coming from Hill 894!

As he stepped to the observation post and looked through the binoculars at Hill 894, De La Démaur froze.

Hill 894 was completely engulfed by explosions, and the shelling continued.

"How is this possible?!" Drummond exclaimed in disbelief. "Where did the central army get such powerful firepower?!"

While Deradmon was annoyed by the shelling of the saddle area, it wasn't entirely unexpected.
Even if the central army's firepower is poor, they can still find a dozen or twenty heavy artillery pieces.

But what about Hill 894 now? It's being bombarded by at least fifty or sixty heavy artillery pieces, and many of them are 150mm or larger.

This was something that had never happened before in the US military's previous battles against the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

After a moment of stunned silence, Deradmon snapped out of it and shouted urgently, "Send the order to the 9th Regiment: Hill 894 must not be abandoned!"

There are still more than a dozen tanks on the high ground. Using the tanks as artillery emplacements, Hill 894 is not indefensible.

As long as Hill 894 is held, the US 2nd Infantry Division can still maintain the initiative on the battlefield.

Chen Chengxing was not surprised by the US military's steadfast stance.

After all, the allure of 894 is immense; once someone gets their hands on it, they won't easily give it up.

Inside the underground command post of the 22nd Detachment, watching the American troops persisting amidst the artillery fire, Chen Chengxing turned to Zheng Hua and said, "After the shelling ends, send out a small unit to conduct a probing attack."

"The US military will inevitably build bunkers for its tanks in the next step. If a tank is unable to move, we can take it out one by one."

Upon hearing Chen Chengxing's order, Zheng Hua scratched his head.

"Commander, with the US forces holding the position, almost all the firing points will not move."

"But the 76.2mm cannons of the artillery regiment, even when using armor-piercing shells, can only hit Sherman tanks."

“I see that the enemy has a lot of Pershing tanks. The frontal armor of these tanks is too thick for cannons to penetrate.”

While the 76.2mm cannon is known for its versatility, it is somewhat outdated in terms of anti-tank capabilities.

“I know that,” Chen Chengxing nodded. “That’s why I brought you an anti-tank company.”

"Four Soviet-made 57mm anti-tank guns should be enough for you."

Although anti-tank guns have a small caliber, their armor-piercing capabilities are several levels superior to 76mm cannons due to their extremely long caliber.

Of course, due to its caliber, it can only be used for anti-tank purposes and can't do anything else.

Upon hearing that anti-tank guns were being reinforced, Zheng Hua immediately patted his chest in relief.

"Then there's no problem. Once the anti-tank guns arrive, I'll open the cans one by one!"

"I dare to make a military pledge that we will definitely take back the position before dark."

"No, no, no, don't rush to attack." Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

"Hill 894 was meant to bleed the US military dry. They could harass them during the day and then take them back at night."

"If the US military continues its attack the next day, then inflict some casualties on them and withdraw from the position, and then launch a counterattack to retake it at night."

"Understood." Zheng Hua nodded; he had fought many battles like this before.

Previously, they could only retake the position at night when the US military's firepower was weak, because they had no other choice.

Now, this tactic is being used to proactively wear down the enemy.

The daytime harassment period is the time to strike enemy firepower.

After using cannons and anti-tank guns to destroy the American fortifications, the nighttime general offensive will be much easier.

Seeing Zheng Hua, who refused to leave even after being ordered to, Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

"You don't need to worry about me. Just give the orders as you see fit. I'm just an observer."

"yes!".
Faced with the small-scale attack from 22 teams, the US 9th Regiment felt a bit stuck in its throat.

When the Chinese People's Volunteer Army launched its attack, the US military strongpoints had no choice but to fire, since the US military's advantage lay in its firepower.

But if we open fire, shells will soon be flying over.

This put the US military in a dilemma: whether to fight or not.

The heavy equipment used by the U.S. military is extremely heavy.

This is an advantage when there is vehicle transport available, allowing for stable and continuous firing.

However, when there are no cars, this weight problem becomes a serious issue.

Infantry simply cannot withstand rapid relocation.

Before evening, the heavy machine guns and mortars of the US 9th Regiment on Hill 894 had already been almost completely destroyed by sniper artillery.

By nightfall, the American troops on position 894 were no match for the 22nd Regiment, which was equipped with semi-automatic and automatic rifles.

At night, it's really hard to determine who has the firepower advantage.

Putting everything else aside, the 12.7mm heavy machine guns assigned to the 22nd Detachment's attack force alone were enough to give the US military a headache.

The US military never imagined that large-caliber machine guns could move forward with the infantry at any time, and not just one.

The individual skills of American soldiers were not as good as those of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to begin with, and after losing their firepower advantage, they were even less likely to win.

In just half an hour, the attacking force of the 22nd Detachment stormed the position.

To save their lives, the soldiers of the 9th Regiment of the US Army decisively chose to abandon their post and retreat.

Looking at the easily recaptured position, the soldiers discussed it with slight surprise.

"Damn, those Americans are too weak. They should at least have exchanged a few blows."

The soldiers who attacked last were simply practicing armed cross-country running this time.

"Hey, without their firepower advantage, I don't think the Americans will be able to fight." "During the day, seven or eight American tanks were destroyed, and at night six more were shot down by rocket launchers. I doubt the US military will be able to mount a strong attack tomorrow."

"Are we supposed to go easy on them?"

"I'm afraid we have to let them go, otherwise they won't be able to get up here. How will the detachment commander explain this to the commander-in-chief?"

"The captain's penalty drink doesn't taste good."

Inside the US military command post, upon learning that the position had been gained and then lost again, De La Dre was furious.

"Fuck! From the first shot to the end, it wasn't even an hour!"

“Even the Confederate army held out longer than them!” Drummond slammed his fist on the table.

"Sir, according to the 9th Regiment's report, this central force is different from ordinary central forces."

"Their tactics are very flexible, with clear plans for advancing and retreating, yet they are incredibly fierce when they attack."

"Most importantly, this unit is also equipped with different weapons; all of them are equipped with semi-automatic rifles."

De La Drummond retorted angrily, "So what? Do you think our soldiers are carrying wooden sticks?!"

The staff officer next to him fell silent.

Previously, when the Chinese People's Volunteer Army was armed with bolt-action rifles and submachine guns, their attack intensity was already very high.

Now everyone is armed with semi-automatic rifles and submachine guns, making their offensive even stronger.

"Tell the 9th Regiment that Hill 894 cannot be lost!"

"Tell them to organize their troops immediately. Aircraft will come to support them after dawn. Hill 894 must be retaken!"

"In addition, five Pershing tanks and four self-propelled anti-aircraft guns will be transferred to the 9th Regiment to strengthen its firepower."

Of the 20 tanks previously owned by the 9th Regiment, more than half have been destroyed. Support is essential for them to maintain their offensive strength.

"Yes, sir!"

Over the next week, the US 2nd Division and the 22nd Detachment fought repeatedly for control of Hill 894, with both sides locked in fierce battles.

Hill 913, which should have been the main character, has now become a mere spectator.

Of course, the US 23rd Regiment also attempted to launch an attack on Hill 913 from both the front and the saddle.

However, faced with the blockade of heavy mortars, the US military not only failed to capture the position, but the attacking troops were also pinned down in the valley and unable to move.

They held out until nightfall before finally escaping back from the valley in a disheveled state.

The prolonged attrition war between the two sides resulted in increasing casualties for the US military.

However, Drummond was reluctant to give up Hill 894 because he was able to retake it every time.

The two sides remained entangled for half a month until VanVleet, unable to bear it any longer, finally made his move.

Dragmon's agent had barely settled into his position when he was kicked out.

1st Cavalry Division Chief of Staff Bradley took over command of the 2nd Infantry Division.

As a new broom sweeps clean, Bradley made a series of adjustments and changes in response to the situation at Hill 913.

But no matter how Bradley changes, the only thing that remains unchanged is that the US military makes no progress.

Moreover, as the fighting continued, the number of casualties in the US 2nd Division continued to rise steadily.

In the end, although the US 23rd Regiment's attack on Hill 913 did not stop, it could only be considered a minor skirmish.

Their main task shifted from attacking to transporting the wounded to the rear and supplies to the front.

Due to the terrain, US military trucks could not reach the front lines directly, so the US military had to use manual labor to carry the trucks back and forth.

This really exhausted the American soldiers.

For more than a decade, U.S. soldiers have not done this kind of work.

They swore more and more every day, but transported less and less stuff.

Seeing that his offensive was making no progress, VanVleet could no longer sit still.

Seeing that Hill 913 was about to become Hill 965 again, VanVleet gritted his teeth and stomped his foot.

"Pass on my order: the 9th and 10th Armies, launch a full-scale attack and coordinate an assault on Hill 913!"

Van Fleet had no intention of disobeying Ridgway's orders.

According to his plan, if the US military launched a full-scale counterattack, even if they did not advance, the heavy firepower of the Chinese army would be distributed among them.

This would make it easier for the 2nd Division to concentrate its efforts on breaking through Hill 913.

With Van Fleet's orders, U.S. forces on the Eastern Front and in the Central Front began to move out in full force.

Even the South Korean army, which was originally located in the rear, had to take the initiative to attack the positions of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army again.

Standing before Hill 913, Bradley knew this might be his last chance.

Therefore, Bradley decided to deploy fresh troops.

The French battalion, which had been staying in the rear, was pushed to the front lines.

Commander Powers of the 23rd Regiment also began to assemble his troops. After reorganizing all the soldiers who were still able to move, the 23rd Regiment and the French Battalion launched an attack on Hill 913 from the front.

The US 38th Regiment also launched an offensive against Hill 813 simultaneously.

As for the US 9th Regiment, they are still locked in a tug-of-war.

Seeing the U.S. 2nd Division, which was almost entirely committed to the attack, Zheng Hua felt some pressure, but he wasn't particularly nervous.

The headquarters was right behind him, and the artillery detachment and the 23rd detachment were ready to provide support at any time.

Even if they were to fight a decisive battle against the entire US 9th Army here, the 22nd Regiment would not be defeated in a short time.

However, the reality of the battlefield revealed that Zheng Hua's pressure was entirely self-imposed.

The soldiers on the front lines held their ground as firm as a rock in the face of the attack by the US-French allied forces.

Without tank support, the US-French forces couldn't even get within 100 meters of the position.

The large-caliber heavy machine guns of the battalion alone and the general-purpose machine guns of the company alone were enough to make the enemy reluctant to advance.

After a stalemate of more than ten minutes, the US-French allied forces had no choice but to retreat.

Bradley sighed as he watched the troops withdraw once again.

However, before he could make a new decision, the commander of the 23rd Regiment, Bowers, ran over.

"Sir, the 23rd Regiment has suffered over a thousand casualties! Continuing to fight is tantamount to suicide!"

"I beg you, let us retreat and rest!" Bowers was practically pleading at this point.

The 23rd Regiment's combat strength has been reduced by 50-60%, and the further the battle goes on, the more difficult it will be for the 23rd Regiment to fight.

Bradley's expression changed repeatedly as he heard Bowers' request.

He had just taken command of the 2nd Infantry Division, and a victory would solidify his position.

However, even if victory is not possible, defeat is the least acceptable outcome.

Otherwise, Drummond's fate would be a prelude to his own downfall.

After hesitating for a long time, Bradley finally decided to play it safe.

If we withdraw now, the responsibility can be shifted to Drummond. But if we stay here for another ten days or half a month, the responsibility will fall entirely on us.

"Pass on my order: the entire army shall retreat."

"Send a telegram to headquarters explaining the situation; we have no choice but to accept this shameful defeat."

Bradley described this round of battle as a shameful and humiliating defeat.

The US military spent more than half a month and suffered heavy casualties, but withdrew without achieving any results.

(End of this chapter)