Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

The waters of Qingpingchuan were not yet completely frozen in early winter, and a continuous cracking sound carried on the night wind, like an invisible hand tearing at silk in the dark. He Yuzhu lay prone in a snowdrift four hundred meters from the south bank of the bridge, holding a scratched, captured pair of binoculars, having observed for nearly two hours. His breath condensed into a thin frost in front of the lens, then quietly melted away.

Something's not right.

Previous intelligence from the division headquarters indicated that there were two fixed sentry posts at the bridgehead, a guard post in the middle of the bridge, two searchlights, and patrols every half hour. But what he saw now was a series of sandbag fortifications at the bridgehead, with dark firing ports aimed at the riverbank; occasional flashes of cold light appeared beneath the bridge piers, seemingly from newly added barbed wire. Even more troublesome was that, in addition to the regular patrols, scattered figures occasionally appeared in the shadows of the bridge and riverbank, walking and stopping, cigarette butts glowing between their fingers.

It was a mobile sentry post. And the slightly raised mound behind the bridgehead, though well camouflaged, was suspiciously angled—it looked exactly like a firing position from a pillbox.

"Platoon leader," Old Geng leaned closer, his breath carrying a chilling aura, "it's quite different from the picture... they added 'chewing grain'."

"Hmm." He Yuzhu put down his binoculars and rubbed his frozen cheeks. Delayed intelligence or enemy reinforcements are not unexpected on the battlefield. The trouble was that the original infiltration route—approaching from the downstream shallows and climbing under the shadow of the bridge piers—had run into newly deployed sentry posts and suspected bunkers.

On the other side, Shuanzi shifted uneasily: "Force our way in?"

He Yuzhu didn't answer immediately. He raised his binoculars again, his gaze sweeping across the outlines of the bridge, the riverbank, and the opposite mountain ridge. Snowflakes, carried by the cold wind, stung his face. In his mind, the instincts woven from his basic demolition expertise and countless combat experiences began to rapidly unfold.

A direct assault would be suicide—thirty men against a heavily fortified bridgehead. The original plan was drastically risky. Retreat? The mission would be ruined, a first defeat, how could he lead troops in the future? What would the division think of this "young platoon leader"?

He licked his chapped lips, tasting a hint of blood. Things had to change.

"Don't charge," he said, putting down his binoculars, his voice cold and firm. "If they add more food, we'll have to put in more effort. Old Geng, watch that rocky beach east of the bridge pier—the current is swift, the ice is thin, and the defenses are weak. Shuanzi, take eight men and sneak up to the north bank slope. Once we make our move, use two light machine guns to launch a fierce attack on the bridgehead and sandbag fortifications. The bigger the commotion, the better, to draw all available and concealed fire. Remember, after the attack, retreat eastward along Route Two. Don't linger."

"A feint attack?" Shuanzi's eyes lit up.

"Yes, draw everyone's attention away." He Yuzhu turned to Lao Geng, "Pick two of the best swimmers and the bravest ones to come with me into the rocky beach, swim across, and climb the bridge piers. Divide the explosives into two portions, one for placing the support beams as originally planned, and the other as a spare."

"Platoon leader, your foot..." Old Geng hesitated.

"It won't be ruined," He Yuzhu interrupted him. "Execute it."

At eleven o'clock at night, the wind grew stronger. Shuanzi led his men like ghosts to their designated position. He Yuzhu, Lao Geng, and two elite soldiers—Shuigen, a soldier from the south, and Dashan, a man from the northeast—dive to the edge of the rocky beach. The river water was icy cold, instantly soaking through their simple oilcloth waterproof trousers, feeling like a thousand needles piercing their bones. He Yuzhu's old, unhealed foot suddenly throbbed with pain, and his vision went black for a moment. He clenched his teeth tightly, remaining silent.

The four men, clutching explosives and tools wrapped in tarpaulin, stealthily approached the massive shadow of the bridge pier along the swift current. The sound of the water masked their movements. The feigned attack from the opposite bank had not yet begun; occasional scouts flitted across the bridge, and searchlights lazily swept across the river, dissipating in the turbulent current and night fog.

He Yuzhu was the first to touch the slippery, rough concrete bridge pier. He shook the icy water off his head and untied the rope and grappling hook from his waist. The power and control granted by the intermediate enhancement were now on full display—despite his fingers being numb from the cold, he still accurately threw the grappling hook upwards, and after two attempts, it firmly gripped the bridge pier's maintenance railing.

He started climbing first. The rope rubbed against his frozen palms and the concrete surface; each pull-up, with his injured foot bearing the weight of his entire body, brought excruciating pain. Cold sweat mixed with icy water streamed down his forehead. Lao Geng and Shui Gen followed closely behind, while Da Shan kept watch below and passed on the remaining explosives.

Just as He Yuzhu's fingers were about to reach the edge of the maintenance platform, an unexpected event occurred!

The sentry who had already gone far away on the bridge suddenly turned back, sped back, and shone his flashlight haphazardly down the bridge! At the same time, a faint but clear sound of a gun bolt being pulled back came from the direction of the bunker at the bridgehead.

"We've been discovered?" Da Shan's voice tightened below.

He Yuzhu's heart clenched, his body pressed firmly against the cold bridge pier, motionless. A beam of light swept past several meters overhead, heading towards the center of the river. Was it a coincidence, or had the other party noticed the unusual sound?

At that moment, gunfire erupted on the north bank! Shuanzi and his men had made their move! The roar of machine guns and the crisp sound of rifles tore through the night sky, and a hail of bullets rained down on the bridgehead and fortifications, sending sparks flying.

The sentries on the bridge sprang into ambush, while machine guns from the bunkers spat fire as they pressed down on the north bank with all their might.

A perfect opportunity! Taking advantage of the chaos, He Yuzhu silently scaled the platform. Lao Geng and Shui Gen quickly followed. Da Shan remained on guard below.

Amidst the howling wind on the bridge piers, steel beams crisscrossed overhead like the skeletons of a colossal beast. The enemy troops on the bridge were completely absorbed by the fierce battle on the north bank, their shouts, stampedes, and the roar of gunfire all blending together in a chaotic cacophony.

"Quick! Old Geng, the joint between the left and right main beams! The symmetrical point on the right side of the water source! Double the charge!" He Yuzhu spoke with lightning speed, rushing towards the most critical load-bearing point between the pier and the bridge deck. Using a dagger to scrape away the ice and rust, he wrapped the TNT, connected to the fuse and detonator, in a waterproof cloth and stuffed it into the gap, quickly securing it with wire. His movements were so practiced, it seemed like he was doing it for the first time. His explosives expertise automatically surfaced in his mind: charge, angle, timing, all crystal clear.

Just then, he caught a glimpse of a string of car lights approaching from the south side of the bridge.

Trucks? Several of them, appearing at this moment?

His heart skipped a beat. His hands didn't stop, but his mind raced: the explosives were enough to break the bridge. But what if this was an troop carrier or an ammunition truck…?

"Platoon leader! The car!" Old Geng called out in a low voice.

The convoy had already driven onto the bridge, slowing down slightly due to the fighting on the north bank, but not stopping. The lead vehicle was a jeep, followed by three tarpaulin-covered trucks, their tires sunken, indicating a heavy load. The tarpaulin on the last truck was not fully closed, and in the dim light from the bridge and the flashes of explosions, one could see square outlines piled up inside, resembling instruments with antennas.

Radio? Command equipment?

It's done!

"Change the plan! Get all vehicles ready!" He Yuzhu growled through gritted teeth. "Dashan, send the spare explosives!"

He quickly adjusted the position and timing of the explosives, with Lao Geng and Shui Gen working in perfect harmony. Spare explosives were handed over and strategically placed under the bridge where the convoy might pass.

Time seemed to stand still. The gunfire from the north bank gradually shifted eastward—Shuanzi was retreating as planned to lure the enemy. A portion of the garrison on the bridge gave chase, while the rest remained on guard. The convoy also stopped, and some men got out to investigate.

We can't wait any longer!

"Retreat!" He Yuzhu gestured. The three of them descended rapidly along the rope, Da Shan provided cover, and the four of them plunged back into the icy river, desperately swimming towards the rocky beach.

He Yuzhu looked back through the icy river water—the convoy on the bridge was blurry, and the direction of Shuanzi's retreat was in the distance—his finger pressed down on the detonator.

It began with a dull, heart-pounding tremor beneath my feet, like a giant beast overturning at the bottom of a riverbed. Then, bursts of orange-red flames erupted simultaneously from the middle of the bridge and the south bank pier, engulfing the steel and concrete structure and the stopped vehicles!

boom--!!!

The deafening roar, though delayed, was like a thousand thunderbolts striking the sky! The shockwave spread out in a ring, hurling rubble, twisted steel, burning debris, and even human bodies into the night sky and the frigid river! The bridge emitted a chilling, agonizing wail as the middle section of the bridge collapsed like a broken branch amidst flames and thick smoke, crashing into the churning river and creating massive waves!

Those trucks and jeeps, along with the important equipment they might be carrying, were torn apart and ignited at the moment of the explosion, plunging into the fiery waves along with the broken bridge.

He Yuzhu and his three companions scrambled and stumbled onto the rocky beach, their bodies dripping with ice, but they paid no heed, only running towards the rendezvous point. Behind them, half the sky was illuminated by firelight, and the sounds of collapsing buildings, enemy screams, and chaotic gunfire mingled together.

The rendezvous point was located at the foot of the leeward cliff. Shuanzi and the others who had retreated there first were anxiously waiting. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw He Yuzhu and the others return safely, but Shuanzi groaned and staggered to the ground.

"What's wrong?" Old Geng asked anxiously, helping him up.

"It's nothing... just a scratch..." Shuanzi tried to laugh, his face deathly pale. He Yuzhu crouched down and lifted his torn cotton pants—a gruesome bloody hole on his calf was gushing blood, staining the snow red. It was a stray bullet that hit him during the retreat from the feint attack on the north bank.

"Is this what you call rubbing?" He Yuzhu's face darkened. He tore open the first-aid kit and tightly bandaged the area above the wound. The bleeding had slowed, but Shuanzi's lips had turned blue. With blood loss and the extreme cold, his life was hanging by a thread.

"Pursuers! They're tailing us!" the rearguard soldier whispered the alarm.

He Yuzhu hoisted the bolt—it felt like iron—and shouted, "Retreat along the planned route! Old Geng, detonate the tripwires!"

The group stumbled and fell into the dense forest, supporting each other. The footsteps and shouts of their pursuers grew closer. As the pursuers stepped onto the narrow snow slope, Old Geng detonated a pre-set tripwire.

Boom! Boom!

The explosions and screams slowed down the pursuers. He Yuzhu and his men took the opportunity to disappear into the shadows of the mountains and forests.

Before dawn, they staggered to their designated rendezvous point in their controlled area. When He Yuzhu lowered the throttle, his arms trembled uncontrollably—not just from exhaustion, but also from lingering fear. The medic frowned upon seeing the injuries: "Immediate evacuation! The wound is frostbitten and severely infected; the leg… well, that's up to fate."

The man on the stretcher was half-conscious, but he still struggled to look at He Yuzhu and mumbled, "Platoon leader... Bridge..."

"It's blown up, that felt good." He Yuzhu squeezed his cold hand. "Take good care of yourself, don't overthink it."

The stretcher disappeared into the distance. He Yuzhu stood in the morning breeze through the woods, his clothes half-damp and half-frozen, the chill penetrating to his bones. Watching the stretcher vanish, a heavy, dull pain gnawed at his chest, as if a massive, icy boulder had been lodged there. The bridge was destroyed; the victory exceeded expectations, but Shuanzi…

[Mission "Han River Blockade Vanguard - First Raid" completed. Confirmed destruction of a key enemy transportation hub (Cheongpyeongcheon Bridge) and its accompanying convoy (containing suspected communication/command equipment).]

[Gained 30000 Battlefield Points.]

[Current Battlefield Score: 279398 points.]

Main quest progress: 0.279%

Witnessing a close comrade seriously wounded, deeply understanding the weight of command responsibility, Leadership +2.

The points ticked away, but he felt little joy. His knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, his nails digging into his palms. This was the price, the inevitable debt on this path. He only hoped that this debt wouldn't be paid by the person he knew best.

The road is still long, and the bridge still needs to be blasted.