Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

As the first operational target in preparation for the counter-offensive, Chen Chengxing set his sights on the mountain ridge east of the crucial 883 Hill.

However, instead of taking direct action, he ordered Kong Jie to launch an attack on the square-shaped mountain ridge extending northward from Hill 949.

Meanwhile, in order to cover the 4th Army Corps' campaign objectives, in addition to Ding Wei, the Second Army Corps and Li Yunlong's troops also launched small-scale harassment attacks on the enemy in front of them.

The South Korean army did not give much thought to the actions of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Such attacks happen frequently, and they've long been used to them.

During the operational meeting, Kong Jie pointed to Fangxing Mountain and said, "According to reconnaissance, this place is defended by a battalion of the 36th Regiment of the 5th Division of the South."

"If we take this place, our army will directly threaten Hill 949."

"You all know the situation of the South Korean army. Although they are better at fighting now than when the Volunteer Army first entered Korea, they are still just the same."

"It's not difficult to fight them, but it's not easy to annihilate them."

Upon hearing Kong Jie's words, everyone present burst into laughter.

Based on the pattern of contact with the Southern Army during this period, it would be an exaggeration to say that the Southern Army would collapse at the first contact, but the Southern Army's combat strength can indeed only be considered second-rate. They only know how to use firepower to fight a defensive war of attrition.

Once a gap is breached in the position, they can run incredibly fast.

Therefore, if we want to wipe them out in one fell swoop, we really need to think of a way.

After laughing for a while, Kong Jie drew a meandering line on the map with his pen.

"I believe that in order to annihilate the enemy, we must launch a lightning encirclement and annihilation campaign."

"The 41st Regiment launched a frontal attack on Fangxingshan, while a part of the 42nd Regiment bypassed and penetrated deep into enemy territory, cutting off the enemy's retreat."

Kong Jie made a fist in the air with his right hand: "We want the square mountain, and we also need to leave the heads on the square mountain for us."

Two nights later, four companies of the 41st Regiment of the 4th Division of Army B quietly entered the ambush area.

At the same time, the logistics troops also brought supplies into the nearby tunnels.

Once the 41st Regiment captures Hill 949, the logistics troops will send supplies up there immediately to ensure that the troops can hold the position.

At 10 p.m. the following night, with Kong Jie’s order, 180 cannons of various types bombarded Fangxing Mountain.

The Southern troops on the square-shaped mountain were taken aback.

The Southern Army commander looked at the flames of the explosions outside, his face extremely grim: "Damn it! With such intense artillery fire, the enemy is about to launch a major offensive!"

The Southern Army captain standing nearby said, "Sir, I don't think we need to worry too much."

"The tunnel fortifications we built on the reverse slope were only hit by some medium-caliber mortars. Such firepower could not possibly destroy our positions."

Having fought the Chinese People's Volunteer Army for so long, the South Korean army had also learned how to dig tunnels.

Since they were both tunnels, it couldn't be that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army could hold them while the South Korean Army couldn't, right?
After glancing at him sideways, the Southern Army commander said, "Captain, you're thinking too simply. We absolutely cannot allow the Central Army to breach our position, or the situation will spiral out of control."

"Tell the entire army to prepare for a fight to the death."

"Yes, sir!"

The captain was still unaware of the danger and naively believed that the South Korean army could replicate the tunnel tactics of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

He felt that, regardless of whether the Chinese People's Volunteer Army would launch a large-scale offensive, even if they did, they could use the tunnels to inflict heavy casualties on the Volunteer Army's manpower.

However, to the despair of the Southern Army, as the artillery fire of Army B extended backward, the soldiers of the 41st Regiment cleared the frontal positions in less than 10 minutes and then directly stormed up the mountain ridge.

Such a swift offensive caught the Southern army completely off guard.

Before the Southern Army commander could make a decision, gunfire suddenly erupted behind the Southern Army.

Hearing gunfire from both the front and rear, the entire Southern army was filled with despair.

It's obvious they've been surrounded and trapped.

The Southern army commander was determined to fight to the death to break out, but without the reinforcement of fortifications and heavy firepower, the Southern army was clearly unable to cause any trouble.

From the start of the artillery fire to the complete annihilation of the Southern Army battalion, Army B ended the battle in just 20 minutes.

The northern gate of the Confederate Hill 949 was forcibly opened.

Inside the headquarters of the 5th Division in the south, Division Commander Li Zhengyuan was utterly incredulous when he heard that Fangxingshan had fallen in just 20 minutes.

Li Zhengyuan kept muttering, "How could it be so fast?"

Not everyone has a thought process like Li Chenglong's.

Li Zhengyuan has a clear understanding of the current situation. Although the ceasefire negotiations have been postponed again, the negotiations are essentially nearing their end, and now it's just a matter of the final push.

Losing the position at this point could very well mean that the Southern Dynasty would lose this territory forever.

Realizing what was happening, Li Zhengyuan shouted, "Counterattack! Counterattack immediately! We must take back Fangxing Mountain no matter what!"

Li Zhengyuan may not have expanded the territory of the Southern Dynasty, but if he lost the position at the last moment, he would certainly be despised by later generations.

After daybreak, under the personal command of Li Zhengyuan, the 36th Regiment of the South launched an unprecedented and desperate counterattack.

However, the South Korean army was unable to break through the 4th Division, which had been mobilized to its maximum strength in terms of supplies, morale, and firepower.

After two days of frenzied attacks, the 36th Regiment of the South suffered more than half its casualties and could no longer organize an effective offensive.

Left with no other option, Li Zhengyuan had to ask the nearby 3rd Division of the South for help, and pulled the 35th Regiment over.

But this wasn't originally the 35th Regiment's position, so how could they possibly put in their best effort?

After two more days of drawn-out fighting, the 35th Regiment of the South, having lost more than two hundred men, chose to withdraw from the battlefield and return the position to the 36th Regiment of the South.

By the time Li Zhengyuan found out, the 35th Regiment had already run far away.

Li Zhengyuan stood in the command post, staring at the square mountain for a long time without moving.

He knew very well that although Hill 949 was still in his hands, the 5th Division of the South was no longer able to attack Square Hill.

This not only means that the Southern Dynasties have lost Fangshan forever, but also that Hill 949 is in danger.

The 5th Division of the South must strengthen the defense of Hill 949.

Inside the Yincheng Campaign headquarters, Kong Jie excitedly told Chen Chengxing, "Continuing south along Fangxing Mountain, I can take Hill 949 in a day at most!"

"No rush." ​​Chen Chengxing waved his hand: "The attack on Hill 949 needs to be paused for now."

“After we capture Fangxing Mountain, the 5th Division of the South will know that we are going to attack its core position, and they will definitely be on high alert.”

"So my next plan is to lure the snake out of its hole while simultaneously diverting the tiger away from its mountain."

"The 4th Division is indeed going to attack from Fangxing Mountain toward Hill 949, but this is just a feint. The bigger the show, the better, so as to draw all the troops that the 5th Division can mobilize to the front."

"Meanwhile, the main force of Army B launched a surprise attack on the core position of another regiment of the 5th Division of the South, Hill 883."

"In addition, I will have the Independent 3rd Division feign an attack on Hill 1089 to hold back the Southern 20th Division and prevent it from supporting the Southern 5th Division."

"With your strength, Lao Kong, you can easily take over Hill 883."

Chen Chengxing's elaborate scheme earned him a thumbs up from Kong Jie and the others.

Moreover, Kong Jie had a premonition that this elaborate scheme was far from over. A few days later, in the early morning, Kong Jie selected 3,500 men from various regiments of the 5th Division and secretly infiltrated them in three groups to a location less than 200 meters from the enemy's position.

This was the first time the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had deployed such a large number of troops for infiltration.

Kong Jie's goal was to crush the 38th Regiment of the South in one blow, thereby completely capturing Hill 883.

The 5th Division's ambush troops needed to remain in place and silent for an entire day before launching their attack once night fell again.

In the afternoon, some of the soldiers from the 38th Regiment of the South, who were patrolling in front of the lines, felt that something was amiss.

A Southern soldier stopped and pointed to the south, saying, "Look over there, something seems amiss."

The soldiers next to him immediately took their guns off their shoulders and looked warily in the direction the finger was pointing.

However, they looked left and right but couldn't find anything wrong. The squad leader even raised his binoculars, but still couldn't see anything.

"Something's wrong? What's wrong? There's nothing on the ground!"

“Not on the ground, but in the air,” the Confederate soldier explained.

"Those birds kept circling on the hilltop, neither flying away nor landing to forage for food."

"Birds need to expend energy to fly; they can't just wander around aimlessly."

"Since they are circling, it means there is food on the ground, but they are not landing, which means there is something on the ground that they are afraid of."

Upon hearing this explanation, the expressions of the others all turned serious.

"Now that you mention it, it's certainly very possible!"

"Let's go and have a look!"

Seeing the Southern Army coming down the mountain and heading this way, the soldiers immediately tensed up.

Once the two sides encounter each other, they will definitely open fire. Even if all these guys are wiped out, it won't change the fact that they've been exposed.

The company commander of the 8th Company of the 53rd Regiment looked at the company commander of the 5th Company next to him: "We absolutely cannot let the enemy get close, or we'll all be finished. Do you have any good ideas?"

The 5th Company Commander frowned as he watched the approaching Southern Army squad.

Suddenly, the 5th Company Commander remembered the content of the meeting he had previously organized.

"Move the cannons and fire!"

When the headquarters of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army organized a study session on the spirit of the Volunteer Army, it was mentioned that if the enemy discovers you during an infiltration operation, the best way is to quickly call for artillery support, so that the enemy will mistake you for an artillery scout from the Volunteer Army.

Although the enemy hasn't actually discovered it yet, it's practically the same as being discovered.

"Communicator! Contact the regimental artillery battalion immediately and request fire support!"

After the communications officer reported the situation via radio, several 82mm mortar shells flew over.

Although the location was quite far off, it still gave the Southern Army patrol a big fright.

"Damn it! It's enemy artillery!"

"Get out! Get out!"

The best way to deal with artillery observation posts is to bombard them with artillery fire; charging in at that point would be suicide.

The men stopped patrolling and quickly returned to their position.

A few minutes later, a 60mm mortar fired several shots at the spot that had just been suspected.

Seven members of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army who were lying in ambush were wounded.

Zhang Youcai, the deputy squad leader of the 2nd squad of the 8th company, was the most seriously injured. His abdomen was pierced, and his intestines mixed with blood flowed out.

Zhang Youcai gritted his teeth, slowly stuffed it back in, and then tightly blocked it with a towel.

A soldier from the 2nd squad next door saw this and wanted to come over and take Zhang Youcai down.

Although Zhang Youcai appears to be seriously injured, he can be treated if the bleeding is stopped, he is pulled out of the sheltered area, and taken to the emergency station.

The soldier stretched out his arm, about to move, when Zhang Youcai heard the noise.

Zhang Youcai turned his head, frowned, and stared at the soldier with a stern look, his eyes full of warning.

They were less than 200 meters from the enemy's position, and the slightest movement could expose them, ruining the entire plan.

The soldiers had no choice but to watch helplessly as Zhang Youcai bled out his last drop of blood.

At 7:30 p.m., the 4th Company of the 41st Regiment of the 4th Division launched an attack on Hill 949 as planned.

The 5th Division of the South did indeed strengthen its defenses in this direction, with its artillery bombarding the area in front of the lines.

Upon receiving the report from the front lines, Li Zhengyuan wore a smug expression.

"Just as I expected, the enemy will definitely use Hill 949 as a breakthrough point next. Fortunately, I have already aimed all the artillery at this place."

The chief of staff standing nearby gave a thumbs up.

"The commander is indeed brilliant. By using Hill 949, we can give the Central Army a good thrashing and let them know how powerful our Southern Dynasty army is."

Li Zhengyuan became even more smug, especially after learning that the Volunteer Army's offensive had been stalled. Despite their impressive momentum, they had failed to capture the positions. His laughter was incessant.

Just as Li Zhengyuan was feeling smug, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had already taken action in the direction of Hill 883.

At 8:30, with Kong Jie's order, the artillery regiments that had just arrived and the artillery that had already joined the battle opened fire simultaneously, with 288 artillery pieces conducting a high-intensity artillery preparation on the eastern ridgeline of Hill 883.

Upon learning that Hill 883 had been subjected to a sudden and intense barrage of fire, Li Zhengyuan was momentarily stunned.

Ten minutes later, while Li Zhengyuan was still considering the intentions of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, the artillery fire had already begun to extend backward.

The soldiers of the 38th Regiment hurriedly came out to find cover, preparing to resist the attack of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

However, at this moment, the Volunteer Army's shells turned back, and a large number of South Korean soldiers were killed.

The South Korean soldier immediately ran back to the artillery bunker. Just as he ran back to the bunker, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's artillery fire began to extend backward again. The South Korean soldier had no choice but to run out again.

After this was repeated twice, even those Southern soldiers who weren't killed by the cannon fire were so exhausted they felt like they were going to vomit blood.

When the artillery fire extended backward for the third time, the ambushing troops did not fire signal flares or sound the charge. Instead, they followed the barrage of fire and launched their respective charges towards their designated targets in three separate columns.

Faced with the attack, the Southern army had no time to react.

The 5th Company of the 53rd Regiment took only 4 minutes to break through the enemy's position after discarding their camouflage.

When Quan Junhe, the commander of the 38th Regiment of the Southern Army responsible for defending Hill 883, learned that his flank hill had been breached, he jumped up.

"Immediately reinforce Southeast Position 3! Drive the enemy back!"

Once Position No. 3 falls into the hands of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, the defensive position of the 38th Regiment of the South will be cut in half immediately, and half of the army will be defeated before the battle even begins.

However, Quan Junhe clearly overestimated his subordinates. The South Korean company responsible for defending position No. 3 was no match for the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's strong attack.

When the reinforcements from the 38th Regiment of the South arrived, the 5th Company of the 53rd Regiment of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had already occupied the position, and the other companies also began to disperse and attack the nearby enemy positions.

(End of this chapter)