Changjin Lake: From Xinxingli to Seoul

Chapter 243 The All-Powerful Noble Girl!
Post of the 7th Steel Regiment, Dipingli
"Report to the leader!"

"Lei Zhen, deputy battalion commander of the artillery battalion of the 7th Steel Regiment, reporting for duty!"

Lei Zhen covered his arm, which was wrapped up like a "zongzi" (a type of Chinese rice dumpling), and saluted with his left hand.

"Comrade Lei Zhen, you must have had a long journey."

"I heard that you encountered US warplanes on the road and did not hesitate to give the order to fire to draw their attention, which is why you were injured."

Wu Wanli looked at the injury on Lei Zhen's hand and sighed.

"It's not hard work!"

"When that group of American fighter jets flew toward Chipingli, I ordered them to fire to draw their attention, hoping to buy more time for the main force."

"But now it seems I'm guilty for causing so many casualties among my comrades..."

"Commander, if you want to dismiss me from my position as deputy battalion commander, I won't feel aggrieved at all."

"Comrade Chenggong just captured the US Army colonel chief of staff and made a great contribution. We can definitely consider having him take over."

Lei Zhen straightened up and said sincerely.

"When did the regimental commander say he was going to fire your deputy battalion commander?"

"In the Battle of Lizhou, you withstood the fierce attack of the US First Brigade for so long, you held your ground very well."

"The commander sent us a telegram, telling us that the 7th Steel Regiment should fight well in the final stage of the battle."

"As long as we fight the final battle well, the entire Seventh Steel Regiment will be expanded, and those who have made contributions in the regiment will be promoted."

"There will be plenty of opportunities for promotion by then, so why would we need to ask veteran comrades to step down?"

Liu Hanqing smiled and said.

"Will the 7th Steel Regiment be expanded after this battle?"

"OK!!!"

"Given the commander's achievements, it's time to promote him to a higher position!"

"Capture Yeoju and annihilate the South Korean 8th Division!"

"Encircle and annihilate the US 5th Division, and capture its major general commander alive!"

"Capture Chipyong-ni, annihilate the French army camp, and kill French Lieutenant General Ralph in battle!"

"We still have to withstand an attack from a division!"

"With all these points added up, it's only right that you, Commander, were promoted!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhen immediately became excited and began to advocate for it.

"Hahahahaha!"

"The achievement was made by the entire 7th Steel Regiment fighting together, with the cooperation and coordination of a large number of other volunteer soldiers."

"We can't say that the 38th and 50th Armies, which blocked and tied down a large number of American troops, had no merit, and that we, the Steel 7th Regiment, just got the most credit, so we can't just take all the credit?"

"It is said that the 50th Army has now been reduced to... having no troops left, not even a division."

"But they didn't get the honor of being expanded or promoted."

Wu Wanli said with emotion.

"The commander is right."

"The 113th Division of the 38th Army, which previously raided Sansuoli and fought a bloody battle at Songgufeng, also made great contributions."

"But they still didn't get any expansionary promotions."

"This shows the importance and trust that the headquarters places on the Seventh Steel Regiment and our comrades. We cannot take it lightly."

Liu Hanqing nodded and agreed.

The 113th Division, which raided San Suo Li, became famous overnight and earned the honorary title of Flying Tiger Division.

However, after the war, Jiang, the commander of the Flying Tigers Division, remained a division commander and did not receive a promotion to a military rank such as deputy commander of the Volunteer Army.

But it wasn't that the Volunteer Army deliberately didn't promote them; it was mainly because there simply weren't any positions available. Everyone had made contributions, so they could only keep a record for now.

However, in the 1955 conferment of ranks, Commander Jiang still received the reward he deserved and was awarded the rank of general.

Therefore, from the Battle of Chosin Reservoir to now, Wu Wanli's promotion speed can truly be described as a rocket-like ascent.

Although it feels like we've been through a lot along the way, it's actually only been about five months.

He was promoted five ranks in about five months!

One level up every month!!
What is the gold content of this?

What's more, he'll be promoted after this battle!
“There is a huge difference between promoting one regimental commander and promoting the entire regiment as a whole.”

"When only the guild leader is promoted, there are often times when the guild leader is parachuted into a vacant position."

"But if the entire regiment is promoted, it means that in addition to the regimental commander being promoted, there will be several more promotion slots for regimental commanders below him."

"In addition, there are more than ten promotion slots for battalion commanders, dozens of promotion slots for company commanders, and more than one hundred promotion slots for platoon leaders..."

"Anyway, the plan is to have the regimental commander lead all of us veteran comrades up together; it involves a major promotion of hundreds of people!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhen spoke with a hint of anticipation.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

"It's too early to say anything now. If we suffer a crushing defeat, we might be finished!"

Wu Wanli smiled and looked into the distance as he spoke.

"Report to the leader!"

At that moment, a staff officer walked in carrying several telegrams.

"Is it new intelligence about the enemy?"

"There's no one else here, so just read it yourself."

Seeing this, Wu Wanli waved his hand and said.

"This……"

"Commander, it's not just intelligence, there's also..."

The staff officer spoke somewhat hesitantly.

"What else?"

"Don't be so hesitant, just say it directly."

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli frowned and said.

"Commander, there is also a letter from a young female comrade for you."

The volunteer army staff officer said.

"letter?"

"Who is this incredibly talented young noblewoman who was able to deliver a letter to the commander from thousands of miles away?"

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhen's eyes widened, and he said with some surprise.

Historically, it is true that messages were sent to the volunteer army at the front lines.

The most famous letter is "The Wish of a Nine-Year-Old".

A letter from a nine-year-old child could be sent from Qujiang County, Sichuan Province, to the front lines of the Korean War.

Not to mention the letter from nearby Seoul, which was delivered to Jipyeong-ri. "Besides this letter, is there anything else?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing asked.

"Yes, there are also some letters to the comrades of the Seventh Steel Regiment."

"Among them, Comrade Wu Shili from Huzhou, Zhejiang, also had someone write a letter and send it to the regimental commander, which was also sent along with the letter."

"I was too embarrassed to say it directly just now, since they were all family letters."

"It's not good if word gets out that a young, quiet woman like Anjing is with the regimental commander."

The staff officer glanced at the others in the regimental headquarters and said.

"When war rages for three months, a letter from home is worth a fortune..."

"Some comrades fought until their deaths without ever seeing a letter from home. The commander sent it because he was considerate of everyone."

"It's not like I'm being given special treatment."

"Remember Lei Zhen, if anyone tries to make an exception for you in the future, you must not obey!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli looked at Lei Zhen and said.

"Don't worry, Commander."

"I, Lei Zhen, will not tolerate any nonsense!"

"No matter who it is, if they dare to pull strings on the battlefield where blood is shed and lives are sacrificed?"

"I'm the first to disagree!"

As Lei Zhen spoke, he excitedly slammed his general's hat to the ground.

"well said!"

"Comrade Lei Zhen not only made military achievements, but also has such a profound ideological awareness. His future is bound to be limitless."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing smiled and nodded.

"Time is of the essence. The UN forces could launch an attack at any moment. Distribute all the letters from our comrades home so that everyone can read them before the battle."

"Give me all the letters from my family and Comrade Anjing as well."

Wu Wanli recalled the image of a small fishing boat in Huzhou, Zhejiang, and the blush on Anjing's face when they took a photo together, and said.

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, the staff officer immediately handed the letter to Wu Wanli.

Wu Wanli opened An Jing's letter, which contained the following:
Comrade Wu Wanli:
Seeing words is like meeting.

Yesterday, when the cultural troupe was rehearsing "Singing for the Motherland," Director Wei specifically analyzed and praised the profound meaning of your writing.

When the song reached the line "The army and the people are united and full of fighting spirit," I suddenly recalled the day we first met on the banks of the Yalu River. You stood in the backlight of the train carriage, the red scarf around your neck fluttering in the wind.

I wonder if it shielded you from some of the wind and snow from North Korea?
The other day, while sorting through supplies donated to the war effort, I came across several captured pocket watches.

I always thought, if only the hands of a clock could run faster than artillery fire.

I long for the day when the clouds clear and the fog dissipates, so that you can stand in the sunlight without any worries. I want to sing the songs you wrote for you.

Also, the day before yesterday, US bombers flew over the area, and I took shelter in an air-raid shelter with my team.

The cave was dark, but the watch face you gave me shone brightly.

In a daze, it felt as if I had returned to Ji'an Station: you ran towards the carriage wearing my cotton coat, but you left the sunset glow on the photograph paper.

The journey to the southern battlefield of Hanjiang is fraught with danger and the mountains are high and the roads are treacherous. I urge you to take good care of yourself.

On the day of my triumphant return, I will still be wearing the watch you gave me, waiting for you outside the South Gate of Seoul.

Take care of yourself!

be quiet
Seoul, 1951
"Comrade Anjing's affection for you is almost overflowing on paper. Wanli, what do you think?"

Liu Hanqing said, glancing at her furtively.

"Old Liu, you're not being fair!"

You even peeked at my letter!

Upon seeing this, Wu Wanli immediately put the letter away and said...

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

“I apologize, Comrade Wu Wanli, but I am indeed curious about your thoughts.”

Liu Hanqing said.

"To be honest, Comrade Anjing is a very good woman."

"She is young and beautiful, knowledgeable, and artistic. Her voice is as melodious as a nightingale's and gentle."

"If it were peacetime, I would probably pursue her without hesitation."

"But to put it bluntly, with my playing style, I really don't know when I'll be eliminated."

"Such a young and beautiful girl, is she destined to be a widow?"

Wu Wanli sighed and said.

"But she treats you..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanqing couldn't help but speak.

"Let's not talk about her for now. I'll think about these personal issues properly after this battle is over."

As Wu Wanli spoke, he opened a letter from his family in Huzhou, Zhejiang.

To his surprise, his family had already built a nice house, and the local government had even helped erect a memorial archway.

The archway prominently displays the words "Great People's Hero".

In addition, the calligraphy delivered to Wu Wanli's home was framed and hung on the wall of his new house.

Wu Wanli's parents said that they had never received such good treatment in all their lives, and they were a little unaccustomed to it.

After all, even the local town mayor would come to visit them from time to time to ask them what difficulties they were facing in their lives.

But each time they only said that they hoped Wu Qianli and Wu Wanli would return safely.

They weren't used to living in such a big house and were waiting for Wu Qianli to come back and build a country cottage.

After reading it, Wu Wanli was somewhat moved.

Seeing the words of concern and care from his family on the battlefield in a foreign land was a feeling he had never experienced before.

"Report to the leader!"

"A large enemy force is approaching us; it's probably the US 1st Brigade and the British 27th Brigade coming back together!"

"According to reconnaissance, they have a large number of tanks!"

At that moment, a staff officer rushed over and said.

"Here he is after all..."

"Tell the comrades to prepare for battle!"

"Also, send a telegram to Yang Ping requesting air force support!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wanli's tenderness instantly turned into composure and calmness, and he immediately gave the order.

(End of this chapter)