A courtyard house; Li Yunlong, a subordinate of the deputy director of Harbin Military Engineering I

Regarding this fifth campaign, Zhang Renfeng knew clearly that the final result could not be described as a victory. Moreover, due to underestimating the enemy and being reckless, and lacking sufficient supplies, they were once counter-infiltrated by Ridgway, almost resulting in defeat... But he also knew the corps commander's personality; you can't explain why things turned out that way based on events that haven't happened yet.

The conversation with the leaders of the Volunteer Army lasted for about half an hour, and the final battle plan was determined: the entire army would be divided into three major assault groups to launch a simultaneous attack on the two-hundred-kilometer front from Munsan to Chuncheon on the western front!

On the western front, the 19th Army Corps crossed the Imjin River, annihilated the British 29th Brigade, and cut off the highway north of Seoul through deep penetration. On the eastern front, the main force of the 9th Army Corps was engaged in frontal harassment of the US 24th Division and the ROK 6th Division, while the 40th Army, as the spearhead, penetrated through Jiaping overnight, cleaving the enemy's eastern and western defense lines and blocking the US 10th Corps' westward reinforcements. The core assault mission in the central area was assigned to the 3rd Army Corps! It broke through the Yeoncheon defense line from the front, fought against the US 9th Corps' 3rd Division and the Turkish Brigade, advanced south into the Yeongpyeong Basin, held the enemy's main force on the western front, and cooperated with the flank armies to complete the encirclement!

On the eastern front, only the People's Army was left to hold the line, while the 42nd and 38th Armies were stationed along the coast to prevent amphibious landings!

On the evening of April 22, the first phase of the general offensive of the Fifth Campaign began on schedule.

Following the established route set by the headquarters, the Third Army Corps advanced southward along the entire line from the command post at Kongsi Cave in Yichuan.

The 15th Army advanced along the right flank of the Longshuidong-Yunufeng line, while the 12th Army broke through along the central route of Tandong-Banjuli. A division of Li Yunlong's Independent Army maneuvered through the deep mountains to the side of Jiuling Mountain of the US 25th Division.

The 107mm disassembled rocket launcher was completely dismantled and carried by artillerymen, then quietly moved to the mountainous front.

After just three days of fierce fighting, the Turkish Brigade and the US 3rd Division suffered devastating losses, and the remnants fled south in panic.

However, ever since Ridgway took over, the Allied forces had a rule for their southward retreat: they would stop every 20 kilometers. This 20-kilometer distance was exactly the limit of our marching distance.

At this time, the defensive lines of the 35th Regiment (Golden Dragon Regiment and Black Regiment) and the 24th Regiment (Cactus Regiment) of the 25th Division of the United States, which were responsible for the defensive operations, were broken. They were pinned down by the 107mm rocket artillery of the advance special forces sent by Li Yunlong, and thought they were being blocked. Coupled with the previous defeat in Turkey, the division commander was worried that a rash advance would result in being attacked from both sides. Therefore, he ordered the two regiments to retreat to the Limu Valley Basin south of Yongping and wait for the flanks of the southern front to provide support!

After the chief of staff finished reporting the battle report, Zhang Renfeng slammed his hand on the table.

"Aren't the fighter jets here now?"

"Li Yunlong is good, very good."

Hanging in the headquarters was a military overcoat belonging to Old Chen, a woolen overcoat symbolizing Old Chen's rank as a general. Zhang Renfeng had taken it from Song Xilian, Old Chen's good brother, and draped it over Old Chen's shoulders. Old Chen wore it ever since. Whenever there was a battle, even if he wasn't in the corps, he would insist that the overcoat be put away and hung in the headquarters!

This was to demonstrate that Old Chen was close to the command headquarters.

This dog is incredibly cunning.

Zhang Renfeng stepped forward and patted the dust off the surface.

Subsequently, in the tunnel command post of the Third Army Corps in Yichuan, Zhang Renfeng convened a joint meeting of the three armed forces.

Qin Jiwei proposed a direct frontal assault on the valley, but Zhang Renfeng rejected the idea outright.

"A direct assault is a poor strategy. The valley is surrounded by mountains, and the US forces are concentrated in the depression. A frontal charge would only expose us to enemy fire and increase casualties. My strategy consists of four steps."

"First, the special operations detachment will infiltrate under cover of rain and night, eliminate all sentry posts, destroy communication radars, and pinpoint the coordinates of two regimental headquarters and ammunition depots; second, one hundred 107mm rocket launchers will be dispersed and deployed on the reverse slopes of four hilltops, awaiting a salvo at dawn to cover the valley; third, the 12th Army will move to the northern highway to intercept enemy reinforcements; the 15th Army will suppress the enemy forces on the western flank; fourth, Li Yunlong's troops, as the southern salient, will split up and infiltrate the southern forests overnight to block the bridge across the river, completely cutting off all enemy retreat routes. After the artillery fire ends, all three armies will simultaneously advance into the valley to divide and mop up the enemy. It's either no action or a complete annihilation!!"

Once the plan was finalized, Zhang Renfeng immediately sent a telegram to the Junzili Commandery to report the complete operational plan.

The telegram was delivered to the corps commander, and all the leaders of the Volunteer Army Headquarters gathered to read it, plunging the tunnel into a tense atmosphere once again.

Deputy Commander Deng frowned: "Since the start of the war, we've never completely annihilated two full American infantry regiments. The risk is too great. If we can't break through after a prolonged siege, enemy air support will arrive at dawn, and the Third Army Corps will be surrounded. Then our troops will become targets for their air force. This Zhang the Demolitionist is truly skilled and daring!"

That's actually a very tactful way of putting it...

Old Hong also hesitated, because his repeated suggestions to the corps commander to move Tieyuan northward had been rejected. Now the entire Volunteer Army was winning battle after battle, and everyone was very proud, but Old Hong was particularly worried that a great victory would inevitably be followed by a great defeat, which was a major taboo in military strategy!

As the commander-in-chief in charge of logistics, he knew all too well that our seemingly impregnable defenses were actually riddled with problems, with the core issues revolving around logistical support.

However, based on his understanding of Zhang Renfeng and the mobilization of the Third Army Corps by Zhang Baozao, it seemed that only the Third Army Corps was on high alert. He thought that this time they might be able to give it a try. Old Hong said, "After all, this guy brought a lot of new things with him when he entered Korea this time. If we can annihilate them all, it will be a first. If not, we will definitely inflict heavy damage. Opportunities are fleeting."

The corps commander read the telegram repeatedly, his gaze falling on the last line: "Zhang Baozhao proposed that special operations guide light rocket artillery to annihilate the enemy." He recalled Zhang Renfeng's confident statement at the meeting at the beginning of the month and pondered for a long time.

"Then give him a 48-hour window, allowing the Third Army Corps to independently deploy its directly subordinate special operations battalion and the three divisions under its command, and to test rocket artillery. If this battle succeeds, it will be a pioneering tactic; if it fails, immediately cease the encirclement and annihilation and return to the original deployment of the Volunteer Army Headquarters."

A reply was swiftly sent back to the Third Army Corps. Upon receiving the approval, Zhang Renfeng immediately ordered the entire army to begin all pre-battle preparations. The first four campaigns were a series of victories. After entering Korea, the soldiers were all proud upon hearing the news. Therefore, Zhang Renfeng changed the previous propaganda that the US military was a paper tiger. In fact, it was not at all. The US military at this time was absolutely the strongest force in US military history, without exception.

.....

On the evening of April 25, Zhang Renfeng, accompanied by officers from the operations, intelligence, and reconnaissance departments, arrived at the special operations battalion's base to bid farewell to his beloved battalion.

He knew in his heart that these fearless warriors were facing a life-or-death situation.

The officers and commandos who came to see them off had solemn expressions, creating a rather tragic atmosphere.

The Liangshan Special Operations Battalion was equipped with small walkie-talkies, which Zhang Renfeng specially modified for them.

All personnel were equipped with Type 56 assault rifles.

Zhang Renfeng discovered that these brand-new, uniformly sized guns became oddly shaped in the hands of the special forces soldiers. Some soldiers even sawed off the stock, leaving only the handle and trigger. In a regular army, such vandalism would be punished, but in Liangshan, it was considered normal behavior.

Battalion Commander Duan Peng believed that he could modify his weapons however he pleased. He even used a crude analogy, comparing them to his own wife, saying that he could sleep with her however he wanted and no one else could interfere.

The team members' submachine guns were all equipped with silencers, and their pistols and daggers were practically hanging around their necks. This special operations battalion placed more emphasis on the individuality of its members.

Battalion Commander Duan Peng was wearing a ghillie suit and looked relaxed. He wasn't very tall, but he looked very sturdy. Zhang Renfeng unexpectedly spotted someone in the crowd.

"Tsk, Wei Dayong, you're not..." Zhang Renfeng almost cursed. This kid was doing well in the Central Guard Regiment, when did he run to the Volunteer Army? He didn't even know.

Before Zhang Renfeng could finish speaking, Zhao Gang quickly stepped in to explain, "Well... sir, it's like this, before going to North Korea, Old Li went to visit Comrade Wei Dayong, but that kid insisted on coming back to his old unit, so..."

Seeing Wei Dayong's simple-minded look, Zhang Renfeng beckoned: "Come here!"

Wei Dayong stepped forward, and Zhang Renfeng looked him up and down before patting him on the shoulder.

This kid is even stronger than he was back in the Taihang Mountains. He has an old scar on his face that runs from his eyebrow to his cheekbone, adding to his fierce look. But his eyes are still the same as they were back then, bright and clear.

"Commander!" Wei Dayong snapped to attention and saluted, then casually put his arm around Duan Peng's shoulder. "Commander, we trained with you for so long back then, how could I not come now that we have this opportunity? If I didn't come, I would truly regret it. After all, using special forces' positioning and coordinate tactics, we..."

Zhang Renfeng felt a lump in his throat. He had a lot to say, but he didn't know how to say it for a moment.

He wanted to say to Wei Dayong, you son of a bitch, isn't it good for you to stay in the Central Guard Regiment?

Why did I have to come to this godforsaken place to risk my life? But I swallowed the words back down my throat.

This kid was rescued from the Japanese, brought all the way from the Taihang Mountains to the Central Plains, and then recommended to the Yan'an Short Gun Team. Now that he has chosen his own path, what can Zhang Renfeng say?

He simply waved his hand: "Great Qing, bring the wine!"

Although supplies were scarce, it was perfectly normal for veteran troops from the Taihang Mountains to smuggle in their own goods.

He Daqing brought over a lot of briefcases brewed by Brother Zhang Renfeng, which were prepared in advance. The staff officers and Zhang Renfeng's bodyguards poured them into rows of large bowls for them.

The liquor was cloudy and had a sweet and sour smell of fermented mountain fruit. Spreading through the deep mountain tunnels, it suppressed the smell of gunpowder to some extent.

Zhang Renfeng picked up his bowl and said, "Today, I'm seeing you all off. All I want to say is that our Liangshan Special Forces Battalion has no cowards, only upright and honorable men. Seven years ago, I brought you all together, and then we parted ways. But seeing you all again fills me with emotion. I don't even have time to reminisce with you all."

I envy you all. I wish I could go to the battlefield myself, but as soldiers, obeying orders is our duty. We all bear different responsibilities and can only do our own job.

Today, I'll use this briefcase, personally crafted by my elder brother, to send you off. May you all return safely!

Zhang Renfeng downed the scalding hot wine in one gulp, the liquid burning down his throat and warming his chest.

He slammed the bowl down on the ground, shattering the coarse porcelain into pieces.

After drinking, the commandos smashed their bowls, the clanging sounds echoing through the valley for quite some time.

Duan Peng, Wei Dayong, and sniper Wang Xikui stood at attention and saluted, the three of them standing in a row with their backs ramrod straight:

"Commander, all 108 members of the First Detachment of the Liangshan Special Operations Battalion bid you farewell."

Zhang Renfeng tried his best to control his emotions. After all, more than half of these 108 people were veterans of the War of Resistance Against Japan. This mission was too important, so he selected these key personnel. The goal was to make the difference on the front line!

As for how many will be able to return, no one can say for sure.

He glanced at the faces; some were young, looking no more than twenty, while others already had graying temples, but every pair of eyes shone with the same light.

Zhang Renfeng said, "Is there anything you need to take care of at home? Just say it! I've come here personally today to solve your problems."

This is a question that the superiors must ask before a suicide squad goes to their deaths; it seems to have become a rule.

Wei Dayong looked at Duan Peng, and the two smiled at each other. Finally, Wei Dayong spoke up: "That's all. If anything really happens, we'll take care of it ourselves when we get back."

He paused for a moment, then grinned and added, "Old brigade commander, you said you wanted me to spar with your old brigade commander. After all, we're both martial monks from Shaolin Temple."

After saying that, Wei Dayong snapped to attention and saluted.

They gave one last salute, then ordered everyone to disappear into the dense forest.

One hundred and eight figures emerged in single file from the twilight. Their ghillie suits blended into the darkness of the forest, and their footsteps were swallowed by the falling leaves and pine needles. In just a few seconds, they were all gone.

Zhang Renfeng stood there watching them disappear into the shadows of the trees, remaining motionless for a long time.

Back when these people were gathered together in the Taihang Mountains, Duan Peng was still a greenhorn, Wei Dayong was rescued from Yamamoto Ichiki, and Wang Xikui was a half-grown boy who couldn't even hold a gun steadily.

These people have become the blades on a sharp knife, but a broken knife can still be used, but once a person is gone, they are truly gone.