Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 635 Countermeasures
"Boom!" "Boom!"
At four o'clock in the morning, Chen Chengxing heard a fierce cannon shot coming from the direction of Wufangling. He took three steps at a time and looked towards Wufangling through the high-powered telescope on the observation hole.

Just as Chen Chengxing was using binoculars to check the situation at Wufangling, a combat staff officer walked over.

"Chief, we have received an investigation report."

"The positions of the 2nd Division of the South have been handed over to the 6th Division of the South. All the troops of the 2nd Division of the South are gathering on the east side of Wufangling. It seems that they are going to attack the north mountain."

"In the direction of Tiehua, a hundred or so trucks were detected moving back and forth. The 17th and 32nd Regiments of the US 7th Division have returned to the western front of Wufangling."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another staff officer ran over.

"Report! Report from the front: US advance troops have been spotted moving towards Hill 454 in the North Mountain area!"

At this moment, Luo Ping also rushed over and immediately said upon hearing this, "Is the US military trying to break through Beishan?"

Although the 23rd and 24th detachments had already completed their deployment in the Wufangling North Mountain area, the C Army's troops had not yet reached Shengwu Mountain. If the UN forces broke through here, there would be no defensive line behind them.

"We don't know what the US military is thinking yet," Chen Chengxing shook his head. "But whatever the enemy wants to do, we can't let them have their way!"

"Give the order to the artillery corps to concentrate the firepower of three battalions and strike the Yanggu area hard!"

Upon hearing Chen Chengxing's order, Luo Ping, who was standing next to him, thought he had misheard.

"Isn't the US military attacking right now? Why attack Yanggu if not the US military?"

Yanggu was the forward artillery position of the 2nd Division in the south, and a major fire support point for the eastern front.

But now it's the American forces on the western front preparing to launch the attack.

“No matter what the enemy is thinking, attacking the Southern Army is definitely the right thing to do,” Chen Chengxing explained.

"The Southern army's firepower is relatively weak, and we can completely suppress them."

"If the attack on Beishan is mainly carried out by the US military, then striking the Confederate army will prevent them from making a feint."

"I'm sure the U.S. military will not act alone if the Confederate army doesn't move."

"On the contrary, if the attack on Beishan is mainly carried out by the Southern Army, as long as we launch a fire attack on them, they will not dare to make any rash moves."

According to Chen Chengxing's judgment, no matter what the UN forces' intentions were, attacking the South Korean army was definitely the right thing to do.

After all, with the artillery he had, if he were to fight the American army, he could at most skin them alive.

But if they were to fight the Southern army, they would at least lose an arm.

If we don't fight them, who should we fight?

Moreover, this is a win-win situation.

With the artillery battalion of the Southern Army stationed in Yanggu attacked, the 2nd Division of the Southern Army will inevitably call on other nearby artillery positions to counterattack the 2nd General Artillery Corps.

This was exactly what Chen Chengxing wanted to hear. As long as the enemy's artillery positions were exposed, it would be the Second Division's turn to attack them next.

The Yanggu artillery battalion was suddenly attacked, and Li Dongxu, the commander of the 2nd Division of the South, was completely stunned.

"What the hell? What's going on?"

Li Dongxu racked his brains but still couldn't understand it. Wasn't the UN forces attacking? Why was Yanggu being shelled? Didn't the Volunteer Army defend against their artillery fire?

"Sir, the Yanggu artillery battalion has now retreated and disengaged, but they have lost one-third of their artillery and almost all of their shells have been abandoned and destroyed."

After speaking, the chief of staff asked, "Should we contact the three artillery battalions in the rear to open fire and counterattack?"

These three artillery battalions were reinforced artillery battalions, with a total of 54 cannons, and were specially reinforced by Van Fleet to support the offensive on Hill 537.

Without hesitation, Li Dongxu decisively ordered, "Immediately contact the artillery for a counterattack."

"In addition, pass on my order that the attack on Beishan be suspended and the troops remain on standby at Hill 537 until the situation is confirmed before launching a formal attack."

Li Dongxu didn't understand the Volunteer Army's intentions, so he decided to wait and see.

On the other side, the Second General Headquarters' artillery positions had already moved to their planned locations after the initial barrage.

The artillery battle between the two sides had been going on for several days, and the UN forces had long since figured out how long it would take for their artillery to correct the firing data.

When the 2nd Division of the South was hit by artillery fire again, they knew that the previous artillery counterattack had been ineffective, and they dared not move again.

Without the cooperation of the Confederate army in advancing northward, the US 31st Regiment was also forced to cease its feint.

Inside the Second General Headquarters, upon learning that the UN forces had ceased their operations, Chen Chengxing did not relax.

"Judging from the enemy's current movements, they will attack sooner or later. I think we should put some pressure on them."

Xu Wu immediately understood Chen Chengxing's meaning: "To organize a counterattack?"

“Not bad.” Chen Chengxing came to the sand table: “According to the reports from the soldiers in the tunnels, the enemy has built many strong bunkers in our blind spots, and relying solely on tunnel counterattacks is becoming increasingly ineffective.”

"The enemy wants to gradually trap and shut down the tunnels through blockade, but we certainly can't let them succeed."

Since the UN forces had been occupying the high ground for several days, they naturally discovered many tunnels.

Unable to penetrate the tunnels, the UN forces built numerous bunkers near the tunnel entrances to encircle the area.

If left to develop like this, the tunnel will become a dead end.

"Moreover, due to the enemy's continuous 24-hour shelling, the digging of foxholes and bomb shelters along the supply lines was not going smoothly."

"Affected by these two factors, our supply transportation has not been very smooth."

"As the saying goes, people are made of iron, and food is made of steel. No matter how strong the will of the soldiers is, they will starve to death if they don't eat."

After looking at the sand table and making some calculations, Chen Chengxing ordered, "Tell Qin Sheng to organize five companies of troops and gradually deploy them to the east and west positions."

"I am not asking for the permanent restoration of the position. My main purpose is to use the short time we have to counterattack and restore the position to destroy the enemy's fortifications, and at the same time transport the wounded and the remains of the fallen to the rear."

"Xu Wu, once the surface positions become contested, the US military will inevitably shift its artillery fire back to the high ground. You must do everything you can to dig forward tunnels."

"First, ensure a stable connection to the highlands, and then gradually expand the scale."

"yes!".
Upon receiving Chen Chengxing's order, Qin Sheng immediately formulated a counterattack plan based on the current situation.

The 241st Regiment was responsible for attacking Hill 597, and the 242nd Regiment was responsible for attacking Hill 537.

That night, the rocket artillery regiment and 15 artillery battalions launched their first all-out assault, and countless shells rained down on Wufangling.

In just two minutes, the US military's defensive fortifications on the ridge suffered a major blow.

Before the American troops could recover from the intense shelling, the 8th Company had already charged out from inside Tunnel 1.

The U.S. Army deployed a company on Position 1, which was swept away by the whirlwind-like 8th Company.

Then, the 8th Company marched without stopping towards Position 3.

At position number 3, the 8th Company was blocked by a battalion of American troops. The 8th Company charged repeatedly nine times and finally managed to force its way into the position.

After days of fighting, both the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and the American troops were already bloodthirsty.

No one intended to capture prisoners; any encounter was a fight to the death, and the battlefield was soon littered with corpses.

However, faced with the fearless and determined Chinese People's Volunteer Army, who were determined to drag the Americans down with them even in death, the Americans' eyes quickly cleared, and they began to retreat in a panic.

Faced with the fleeing American troops, Chen Feng loudly stopped his soldiers from continuing the pursuit. "Everyone, cease pursuit!"

"We'll turn and attack position number 8!"

As previously planned, the 8th and 5th companies were to launch a pincer attack on position number 8 after completing their respective objectives.

If there is still time, the 8th Company will continue to attack positions 9 and 10 in sequence. If the situation still permits, then they will attack position 7.

The 5th Company attacked towards Position 11, and the two companies eventually surrounded Position 15.

Of course, although Qin Sheng formulated this plan, he did not believe that he could achieve this goal.

After leaving the 3rd Platoon behind, the 8th Company turned and charged toward Position 8.

Upon arriving at position number 8, Chen Feng discovered that the 5th Company had not arrived, and the position was completely silent.

"Stop advancing!" Chen Feng clenched his fist and raised his arm.

"Damn it, what kind of conspiracy are those American devils plotting?"

The gunfire on Hill 597 is so intense that any American soldier on Position 8 who isn't deaf can definitely hear it.

But now the US troops on position 8 are completely silent, as if they are all asleep. It's obvious that something is wrong.

"Platoon leader, send two elite teams forward to scout from the left and right."

"Yes!"

After the platoon leader arranged the spearhead team, Chen Feng waved his hand and ordered, "The rest of you, advance in combat readiness and be on guard against sudden enemy attacks."

They switched states eight times in a row, continuing to widen the distance between them.

Chen Feng's concerns were not wrong. When the two spearhead teams approached within a dozen meters of the position, the No. 8 position was suddenly brightly lit, and more than a dozen light and heavy machine guns began to fire.

In the darkness, a dozen bullet chains swept left and right like scythes.

Of the six men in the two elite teams, five fell on the spot, and the main force of the 8th Company was also suppressed and forced to lie on the ground, unable to move.

"Fire! Fire now!" Chen Feng shouted at the top of his lungs, and the communications officer next to him blew the military whistle loudly.

The well-prepared 57mm recoilless rifles and rocket launchers began to continuously attack the US bunkers.

Chen Feng did not wait for the US firepower to be completely suppressed, or rather, the 8th Company's current firepower was not enough to suppress all of the US firepower.

They could only rely on a surprise attack to suppress some of the enemy's firepower before launching a direct assault.

With a series of artillery bombardments, the US military's firepower was reduced by more than half.

Chen Feng picked up his automatic rifle and shouted, "Blow the bugle! Follow me and kill!"

The 8th Company must seize this window of opportunity; otherwise, once the US military completes its adjustments, its firepower will be restored again.

"kill!"

As the bugle sounded, the 8th Company launched a fierce attack.

Despite having anticipated the ferocity of the 8th Company, the American troops on the position still felt that the 8th Company's offensive power was beyond their expectations.

The No. 8 position, which was originally planned to be attacked by two companies, was taken by the No. 8 Company all by itself.

As a result, the 8th Company suffered more than 30 casualties.

Looking at the troops cleaning up the battlefield, Chen Feng knew that the 8th Company could no longer continue the attack.

They're not just going to take the position and call it a day; tomorrow they'll use it to wear down the American forces.

Although we don't need to hold our ground, we still need to have sufficient troops.

Let out a breath and Chen Feng ordered, "That's all for tonight. Arrange for personnel to transport the seriously wounded."

"Leave one reinforced squad at each of positions 1, 3, and 8; the rest shall retreat to the tunnels."

Inside the 7th Division headquarters, Marquez was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table.

Hill 537 has been completely recaptured by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, while Hill 597, although still holding a few positions with the 31st Regiment, is of little use.

The most crucial positions on the battlefield have all been captured by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Moreover, because the positions of both sides were intertwined, the US military was unable to carry out large-scale carpet bombing; otherwise, it would have been hard to say who would have been hit by the bomb.

Seeing that Marquez was furious, the chief of staff said, "Sir, the enemy's counterattack is definitely an attempt to buy time."

"The fact that they were willing to suffer such heavy casualties to fight for the position shows that our daytime attack on the north side of Wufangling has stung them."

“The more the enemy doesn’t want us to do something, the more we should do it. I suggest increasing our forces, recapturing the position as soon as possible, and then continuing our attack northward.”

"I estimate that the enemy's forces are somewhat depleted right now. Once they break through Beishan, they might be able to reach Pingkang directly!"

Looking at the arrows the chief of staff had drawn on the map, Márquez's eyes were filled with anticipation.

If we can really advance straight to Pingkang, then, in conjunction with the 7th Infantry Division, we might be able to wipe out the two Chinese People's Volunteer Army divisions on Ximashan and Xiyueling.

This would give the UN forces a significant advantage on the central front.

After a moment's thought, Márquez concluded that the advantages outweighed the disadvantages no matter how he calculated it, so he decisively spoke up:

“让32团增援31团，天亮后必须要夺回597阵地；17团支援南2师，同样必须在中午之前夺回537高地。”

"After recapturing the position, except for leaving some troops to block the enemy inside the tunnels, the rest of the troops will launch a full-scale attack to the north!"

"Yes, sir!"
Márquez had a good idea, but problems arose in practice.

The 597 Hill was attacked from both sides by two US troops. Although they suffered more than 200 casualties, they recaptured the position in just three hours. The Chinese People's Volunteer Army then retreated to the tunnels and engaged in a stalemate with the US forces.

However, the situation was completely different at Hill 537.

After the 31st Regiment pulled such a stunt on the 17th Regiment, they now have no fighting spirit left.

After arriving at Hill 537, the 17th Regiment completely regarded the South Korean army as the main force, and they only provided fire support from behind.

But the Southern army itself was disappointing.

When attacking fixed positions, with the support of firepower, they fought quite well.

But when the 2nd Platoon broke away from its position and began guerrilla warfare with a 60mm mortar and two general-purpose machine guns, both the Confederate and American forces were completely caught off guard.

The sporadic attacks from the east and west directly disrupted the Southern army's deployment.

At this time, however, the US military dared not use artillery to bombard the area, because if they did, it would be completely unknown who would die.

The entire regiment of the 2nd Division of the South did nothing all day but search for these few people on the whole mountain.

The fighting dragged on until nightfall, when the Southern troops retreated into their positions and became like turtles hiding in the ground. Only then did the soldiers of the 2nd Platoon return to their tunnels, ending the day's guerrilla warfare.

Meanwhile, Chen Chengxing convened another operational meeting in the command post.

(End of this chapter)