Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 242 Incheon Landing!!

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"Commander, the 7th Steel Regiment has captured Chipyong-ni, cutting off the UN forces' eastern and western fronts!!!"

"Wu Wanli, that kid, played beautifully!"

"One regiment broke through the encirclement of American and French troops and, despite being attacked from both sides, managed to win the battle."

"Comrade Wu Wanli even killed French Lieutenant General Ralph in battle, annihilated the French army, and there was no trace of the French army on the Korean battlefield."

"Not only that, they also captured the artillery battalion of the US 1st Brigade, bringing their artillery to more than thirty pieces, making them practically an artillery regiment!"

Commander Chen handed the battle report to the general and said.

"Beautiful! That was a really beautiful shot!"

"As long as the Seventh Steel Regiment launches an attack, it will surely win the battle!"

"This Wu Wanli has appeared and disappeared from the King of Hell's register countless times."

"Who knows, he might even slap the Black and White Impermanence who are sent there!"

"Ha ha ha ha…………"

The boss looked at the battle report and couldn't help but smile and sigh.

However, halfway through his laughter, his expression turned serious again.

"Boss, what's wrong? Are you not getting enough rest and feeling unwell?"

Chief Chen looked at the bloodshot eyes of the general and couldn't help but ask.

"Eh……"

"Compared to the soldiers on the front lines, what does my fatigue matter?"

"The 50th Army sent a telegram saying that only a quarter of the soldiers were left, their food was almost gone, and their bullets were almost out."

"The 38th Army is in a slightly better situation, but only one-third of its soldiers remain, and food and ammunition are severely lacking."

The boss sighed and said.

"I've discussed these things with Lao Hong."

"Actually, Seoul still had some surplus supplies, including ammunition, but the US Air Force bombing was too intense, completely blocking the logistics line."

"It is said that out of ten pounds of fried noodles, only half a pound can be delivered to the soldiers on the front lines!"

"Out of a hundred bullets, only a few can be delivered to the front lines."

"Some soldiers had no other choice but to risk going out of the trenches to retrieve weapons and ammunition, only to be blown up by intermittent artillery fire."

"Behind our glorious achievements are the countless volunteer soldiers who have been silently holding the line."

Chief Chen sighed and said.

"Wanli is quite aware of this."

He said that whether it was the encirclement and annihilation of the US 5th Division or the capture of Chipyong-ni, a large part of the credit should be attributed to the soldiers of the 38th and 50th Armies.

The boss looked at the telegram and said with satisfaction.

"Boss, isn't our strategy to counter the east and push the west?"

"The fighting in the west is fierce, but all the necessary conditions for the rebellion in the east have been met. Should we fight or not?"

"Chief Chen asked."

"Whether to fight or not, I think we should let Ridgway and the others decide."

"We certainly suffered heavy casualties, but they suffered even more!"

"The entire US 5th Division was wiped out, the US 1st Brigade was reduced to a reinforced regiment, and the 1st Cavalry Division and the US 2nd Brigade were also tied up."

"If they mobilize the remnants of the British 27th Brigade and the US 1st Brigade to continue the attack, then we will fight to the death!"

"If they decide to withdraw, then we will not venture any further and will stop while we are ahead and end this campaign."

Lao Tzu looked at the battle map, pondered for a long time, and then spoke.

"It will take the 40th Army another ten hours to get to Chipyong-ri!"

"In other words, once Ridgway decides to go all in..."

"The remaining two thousand elite troops of the Seventh Steel Regiment must withstand the attack of more than ten thousand elite UN troops."

"I heard that this British force also carried a large number of tanks and armored vehicles, and this time the US military will definitely learn from its mistakes and deploy air force."

"Boss, even the toughest steel troops can't be used to their death."

Chief Chen sighed, feeling a pang of pity.

"I know that this battle places too much and too heavy a burden on the 7th Steel Regiment."

"But look at the 38th Army, the spirited Long Live Army, they wiped out more than a division!"

"Look at the 50th Army, which is holding out to the bitter end. They don't report casualty figures, they only report the number of personnel who can fight."

"An army was reduced to an understrength division!"

"Eh……"

"Send a telegram to Comrade Wu Wanli, instructing him to lead the Seventh Steel Regiment to fight the final battle of the campaign well, and I will expand his organization after the campaign ends!"

"Not only will the number of troops increase, but the organizational structure will also expand, and positions will be promoted!"

"The 7th Steel Regiment will not be wiped out and withdrawn because of the battle, but will grow stronger with each battle and become an elite force that the UN forces fear!"

The boss slammed his hand on the table and said...

....................................

Meanwhile, outside Eagle Ridge, the UN Command headquarters

"Sir, Chipyeong-ri has fallen!!!"

"Chief of Staff Van Fleet said."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"There are over a thousand elite French Foreign Legion troops in Chipyong-ri, as well as the US 1st Brigade personally led by Freeman. How could it possibly fall?"

"Has China's 40th Army staged another long-distance raid?"

Li Qiwei was stunned on the spot, his mind went blank, and it took him a long time to react and ask.

"No!"

"Sir, the 7th Steel Regiment of China defeated more than 10,000 of our elite American and French troops with the strength of a single regiment."

Van Fleet swallowed hard and said.

"A single regiment defeated over 10,000 elite troops?!"

"Chipyeong-ri is ours, we occupy it!"

"This isn't a case of them defending while we attack!"

Ridgway angrily tore the telegram to shreds and demanded an answer.

"Sir, it was indeed them defending, while the US First Brigade was attacking."

"In summary, they withstood the attack of the US First Brigade and managed to capture Chipyong-ri."

"Fighting on two fronts, achieving complete victory on both fronts..."

Chief of Staff Van Fleet's voice grew softer and softer until it was barely audible.

"Fighting on two fronts and winning on both fronts, and there's also the possibility of defeating a larger force with a smaller one?"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

"I don't care what the French Foreign Ministry says, have the supervising team kill Lieutenant General Ralph!!"

"The Chinese army could only spare one battalion at most to attack Chipyong-ni, how did they manage to hold it?!"

Li Qi chuckled in exasperation, then overturned the entire command table and roared.

"Sir, please calm down!"

"French Lieutenant General Ralph has already been killed in action by the Chinese; there's no need for the supervising team to execute him..."

"According to the description in the French military telegram, it seems that the one who killed Ralph was that Chinese man named Wu Wanli again."

Chief of Staff Van Fleet sighed.

"It's Wu Wanli again, and it's the 7th Steel Regiment of China again!"

"If the Chinese are so capable, let Wu Wanli and that regiment go back to China. I'll have a proper fight with them then!"

"Damn it, tell me the specifics!"

Ridgway asked.

"Sir, the US 1st Brigade and the French army have agreed to attack the Chinese army from the south of Chipyong-ni and open up a passage into Chipyong-ni to hold the line."

"But the Chinese army had pre-positioned blocking forces to hold off the US 1st Brigade, while a Chinese expert led a commando team to launch a fierce attack on the French troops."

"They pressed their artillery fire to its limit, advancing on the French army in coordinated infantry and artillery fire, and finally engaged in hand-to-hand combat, defeating the French commando team. It was at this time that Ralph was killed."

"Then the Chinese warriors continued to lead their troops into Chipyong-ni, relying on firepower and their superior marksmanship to force the French to surrender."

Chief of Staff Van Fleet summarized it.

"its not right!"

"The Chinese army could only muster a maximum of a thousand men for the attack, while the French army also had more than a thousand men. Logically speaking, they shouldn't have lost so quickly in close combat and the aftermath."

Freeman frowned and asked.

"It was that fierce Chinese man. I heard that he charged from the front ranks of the French army with a bayonet into the center of the French army and killed Lieutenant General Ralph while surrounded!"

"Later, during the sniping operation in Chipyong-ri, he must have also killed dozens of French soldiers."

"Conservatively estimated, he killed more than a hundred French soldiers by himself, while the total number of French soldiers was only a little over a thousand."

"This means that 10% of the battle losses were caused by one person."

"Although there is no clear evidence, there is no doubt that it is the Chinese man named Wu Wanli, and he is also the one who wielded the Gun of God."

"Chief of Staff Van Fleet said."

"What's terrifying isn't the Hundred-Man Kill or the Spear of God, but the terrifying precision of their tactical judgment!"

"Otherwise, it would be due to espionage..."

Freeman sighed and said.

"Sir, Freeman has now withdrawn with the US 1st Brigade, leaving behind approximately one reinforced regiment."

"After joining up with the British 27th Brigade, we still have more than 10,000 troops. Should we continue our fierce attack on Chipyong-ni?"

Chief of Staff Van Fleet asked.

"How long until the Chinese 40th Army arrives? How much time do we have left?" "How many men are left in the Chinese 7th Steel Regiment?"

Freeman said, frowning.

"Including the distance, we have at most ten hours to launch a fierce attack on Chipyong-ri."

"The 7th Steel Regiment of China has more than 2,000 men left, which is about one-seventh of our strength."

"Moreover, their small force needs to be scattered in all directions, while we can launch a fierce attack on one place."

"Chief of Staff Van Fleet said."

"Eh……"

"Van Fleet, do you know?"

"I originally thought that our last trump card would be the killing blow, completely annihilating the Chinese army and washing away all the humiliation of the past."

"But now it seems like a last-ditch effort to salvage the dire situation."

"Tell Freeman that the US 1st Brigade and the British 27th Brigade have been merged into the UN Provisional 1st Division, under his command."

"His position was promoted to division commander, and I submitted an application to the higher authorities to request a promotion in military rank."

"Tell him to launch a full-scale attack on Chipyong-ri. I not only want Chipyong-ri, but I also want the entire Chinese 7th Steel Regiment inside to be annihilated."

A pang of sadness welled up in Li Qiwei's heart as he spoke.

"Sir, isn't it a bit inappropriate to promote Freeman after he lost?"

"Chief of Staff Van Fleet said."

"His military talent is worthy of a major general, and he may even be able to go higher in the future."

"The future of America needs such brave and determined young generals, just like China has Wu Wanli."

"It's quite remarkable that he was able to bring back the entire US First Brigade under those circumstances and make a dignified evacuation."

"Moreover, the fact that he annihilated half of the Chinese 7th Steel Regiment is enough to show that he was not an incompetent fool; he just encountered a very strong opponent."

"But no matter how strong this Chinese man named Wu Wanli is, I'm afraid he can't outmatch the elite UN forces of more than 10,000 men, plus the steel torrent of dozens of tanks."

"I want to strangle this Chinese general in the Chipingli."

"We must also enable Freeman, the only young military talent in the U.S. military, to stand up by stepping on the Chinese 7th Steel Regiment."

"In my opinion, this is more important than winning or losing a battle."

Li Qiwei said with a wry smile.

"Sir, why do you say that?"

Van Fleet sensed something was wrong with Ridgway and asked.

"Perhaps after this battle, I will still be the Commander-in-Chief of the UN forces."

"But judging from the current situation of the battle, it seems unlikely that we can defeat the Chinese."

"All I can do is try to get a draw."

Ridgway took out a cigar he hadn't smoked in a long time, put it in his mouth, and tried to light it with a lighter several times, but he couldn't get it to light.

"Sir, don't we still have our last trump card?"

"If the Inchon Landing succeeds, we still have a chance to turn the tide!!!"

"The U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division is poised to depart on a Navy warship and has been expanded before its departure, making it an elite division with 30,000 troops!"

"They participated in World War I, and even spearheaded the assault on Omaha Beach during the Normandy landings!"

"During the North African campaign, they landed on Sicily."

"During the Battle of the Bulge, they participated in the capture of the Remaden Bridge!"

"Sir, I believe the UN forces will one day achieve victory!"

Van Fleet looked at Ridgway with burning eyes and said.

"You're right, there's still hope for the UN forces."

Li Qiwei forced a smile, took a deep breath, and looked at the battle map.

His despondency stemmed from the fact that while the UN forces still had a chance of victory, his military career had no hope of continued success.

The best outcome now would be to fight back little by little on the Korean battlefield, wash away the shame with victories, and then retire with mixed reputation.

But if the defeats continued, Ridgway dared not even imagine his own fate.

Perhaps it would mean utter disgrace and being nailed to the pillar of military shame...

How many more fighter jets can we spare?

Ridgway asked.

"Sir, we must maintain a logistical blockade against the Chinese 38th and 50th Armies. Now is a critical time."

“If the lockdown is lifted or eased now, the Chinese will definitely take the opportunity to send a large amount of supplies up there, and all our efforts will be in vain.”

Chief of Staff Van Fleet reminded him.

"No, while ensuring the blockade, we also need to squeeze out some air force."

"The British 27th Brigade under the Provisional 1st Division has a large number of tanks, which is the key to our quick recapture of Chipyong-ni and annihilation of the Chinese 7th Steel Regiment."

"Otherwise, with their existing dozens of artillery pieces, they could blast all those tanks into living coffins."

Ridgway said.

"We can only squeeze out a maximum of 120 fighter jets, no more than that, otherwise the logistics line will not be able to be sealed off."

Van Fleet calculated for a long time before speaking.

"One hundred and twenty aircraft...that's barely enough."

"It's worth it even if we lose most of their artillery, as long as we can destroy it."

Li Qiwei thought for a moment and nodded.

"Sir, I have a question."

"Actually, it might be better if we could retreat in large steps, allowing the Chinese army to continue to penetrate deeper, and then launch a landing."

"Why...fight them to the death on two fronts?"

Chief of Staff Van Fleet asked, frowning.

"The Chinese army's strategic and tactical level is too high. You can't assume they will just blindly advance recklessly."

"Our current strategy is to launch a fierce attack to deplete their manpower closest to Seoul and Incheon, namely the 38th and 50th Armies."

"And the main force of the Chinese 27th Army charged up Eagle's Nest, why didn't I rush to wipe them out?"

"Because we have surrounded them and have built a lot of trenches and fortifications during this time."

"By the time the 1st Army Division cuts off Seoul's retreat route, it will be too late for them to break out!"

"The same applies to the 1st Provisional Division's all-out attack on Chipyong-ni; I must eliminate the Chinese 7th Steel Regiment, the biggest variable in every battle!"

Li Qiwei's lips curled up slightly as he spoke.

"Oh my god!!!"

"Sir, in this way, the entire Chinese army on the western front is... completely locked down by us!!!"

"Their westward expansion and eastward rebellion have led them straight into our trap!!!"

Van Fleet surveyed the overall strategic situation, his eyes blazing with excitement as he spoke.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

"That was indeed the case originally."

"But because of the Chinese 7th Steel Regiment, the US 5th Division and the ROK 8th Division were annihilated."

"With insufficient fighting forces, we can only be said to have tied down the Chinese western front troops, but we cannot lock them down."

"Moreover, Chipyong-ni has also been occupied, which means that our eastern and western fronts have been effectively cut off."

"If we are defeated, we can only retreat to the Lizhou line, and the Chinese army can easily withdraw to a safe position."

"And there's one more crucial thing. Have you forgotten that a Chinese general named Ding Wei is leading an army from the Yalu River?"

Ridgway pointed to the Yalu River on the map and said.

"This……"

"In terms of time, it seems we are a bit ahead of them."

"And even if they manage to arrive after a desperate struggle, a weary army would hardly be able to stop our 30,000 elite troops from the 1st Division, would it?"

"The navy brought not only landing infantry, tanks, and artillery, but also aircraft carriers, and aircraft carriers carrying a large number of carrier-based aircraft!"

"Superiority in firepower, superiority in manpower, superiority in air support, superiority in surprise attack..."

"With so many advantages combined, how could that Chinese general named Ding Wei possibly win?"

"As far as I know, he was originally just a guerrilla fighter in northern Shanxi, China."

"It was only recently, when we fought against the Nationalist army, that we gained some experience in large-scale operations."

"But as you know, the fighting capabilities of those Nationalist troops are worlds apart from ours."

"He entered the Korean War with that little experience. Unless he is a top-notch strategic genius, he is unlikely to become a major threat to us."

Van Fleet thought for a moment, then shook his head in rejection.

In his view, how could a commander of the Eighth Route Army who was in northwestern Shanxi just a few years ago possibly defeat them?

"Don't forget, MacArthur had the same thoughts when he was fighting those Chinese troops."

"But what happened next?"

"The lessons of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir have taught us far too much."

"Moreover, even if this Chinese army cannot win, they are fully capable of holding off the elite of the 1st Army Division, adding new uncertainties to the battle."

"You know, we've always been at a disadvantage during all the uncertainties we've faced before."

"Especially the Chinese 7th Steel Regiment, which always manages to seize opportunities and achieve some miraculous victories, turning the tide of battle."

"Hopefully, this time, Freeman's Provisional 1st Division can truly annihilate them, and our UN forces can finally achieve a long-awaited Pyrrhic victory."

"Go down and relay the orders."

Li Qiwei sighed and said self-deprecatingly.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Van Fleet immediately agreed.

(End of this chapter)