Chapter 68: The Fierce Tiger Emerges from the Mountain and Roars at the River
Save it! Save it!!
That's all for today, I'm not in the mood, sorry! Will make up for it tomorrow. Actually spent more than 5 hours in front of the computer screen today, and this is what came out, really not feeling it!
I'm really sorry, I don't have a draft saved, so I'll make it up tomorrow or the day after. Although I'm not a gentleman, I still keep my word.
Although the vanguard unit on high alert was suddenly attacked last night, this little episode subsided quickly after dozens of soldiers were struck off the roster. General Choo Kyu-ha, in high spirits, ordered his troops to launch a new attack at dawn, preparing to cross the 38th parallel as soon as possible.
The relentless attack, after a brief "drumbeat" of noise, began again. Looking at the dense enemy and tank artillery firing fiercely in front of the position, the commander's brain was a bit swollen, having taken over the position for only three days, fighting for three days without a break.
In front of the cast-iron mountain, the helmet mountain has changed hands several times. Facing the enemy's dense firepower, the field fortifications on the front line can't withstand the US military's crazy bombing. However, the main position behind only built a tunnel, and without the help of technical personnel and materials from the independent first division, it would not have been possible to advance more than 6 meters in one day. But time was still far from enough, and without at least 7 days, it would be impossible to complete the tunnels and shooting fortifications in the mountain. However, the casualties of the front-line troops were too great!
This time, the US military again brought out the full force of Ridgway's firepower, and the advancing barrage of artillery fire once again sprouted new buds on the old tree. The US infantry, under the cover of tanks, repeatedly charged at the front line, that battered ship swaying in the stormy rain. The second battalion commander of the 232nd Regiment had already been fighting with bloodshot eyes, and over 700 men from the entire regiment were constantly being poured into this bottomless pit. Looking at the large number of US corpses on the front line, looking at the remaining 120 or so soldiers who were exhausted and covered in black grime, even this old Red Army veteran who had been through the Long March couldn't help but shed tears.
The bodies of the martyrs were dug into a pit and hastily buried. More than 100 seriously wounded soldiers could not be sent away due to the enemy's tight encirclement, and they could only be rescued in several small artillery caves with simple bandages by emergency responders. The scene was filled with bloodstains, festering limbs, and unconscious wounded soldiers with dry, cracked lips due to thirst, which was terrifying. Many soldiers were wailing and cursing, while more were helplessly watching their company commander, and some soldiers in the corner were slowly dying.
The temporary fortifications built on the mountain waist and foot were all destroyed, many soldiers were shooting at the US military in the huge craters blown out by US bombs and shells, the guns and ammunition collected from the US military last night were being quickly consumed. The lightly wounded, hastily bandaged with black gauze, were also firing.
Occasionally, a direct hit from a tank cannon would send some mangled limbs and splattered blood flying into the air, but soon the enemy retreated. The seasoned soldiers knew that the US military was about to launch another bombing raid. Although they didn't know why the US military was so wealthy, the second battalion had already been drained of its blood in just three short days, leaving only a withered limb still holding on. The dense craters on the moonlit terrain were devoid of trees, and the soldiers quickly grabbed their rusty iron shovels, digging rapidly through the piles of floating soil, their silhouettes disappearing into the swirling dust.
Living hour by hour in this kind of life where you don't know if there will be a next minute.
In the rear of where the fierce battle was taking place, three howitzer battalions scattered in Gaoyang, Yigovernment and Fuping were building firing positions, half-buried underground positions equipped with large camouflage nets filled with leaves, and the long barrels blended into the dense forest.
A large number of soldiers carrying X-shaped backpacks are busily carrying huge shells to the artillery position. The long queue has no end in sight. Warm sunlight penetrates the dense forest, casting round spots of light on the tender yellow grass that has just sprouted, and from time to time, a clear bird call is heard. In this world of intertwined light and shadow, everything is so dizzying, except for a pair of eagle-like eyes in the distance, revealing a fierce gaze!
As a special elite force of the US Army, the cavalrymen had carried out such long-range reconnaissance and sabotage missions more than once, but this time they encountered so many artillery transport troops, which was indeed beyond their expectations. Although they could call in planes to strike, there were so many shells that it was definitely a rare sight for the volunteer army.
It's highly likely that this is a precursor to the Chinese army launching a large-scale offensive! So what are the plans of the CCP army? What is the deployment situation like? Where will they launch their attack from? These are all mysteries! However, the artillery commander providing firepower support must know! Soon the wireless waves pierced through the dense forest's heavy obstruction and flew southward.
Due to the threat of pseudo-military special agents and the US airborne 187th regiment, which had already been reorganized, a howitzer battalion's artillery position was such an important target that Gao Quan sent out three infantry companies and three assault platoons despite being short-handed. Not far from the artillery position of the Howitzer Battalion, Li Dashi's patrol team soon discovered the trail of the US military, and a soldier accidentally kicked open a shallow pile of garbage buried by the US military.
Li Daishi and Pan Taizhao looked at the large number of tin cans, cigarette butts and other objects in the cave, their expressions becoming grave. At this critical moment, they had discovered signs of the enemy's presence. Had the American army found out about part of their plan? Moreover, for such an important artillery position, there were actually enemies lurking not far away. If the enemy launched a surprise attack, the consequences would be unthinkable! This battle might end in failure after suffering heavy casualties.
After discussing with Fang Gui in a certain dialect of Zhejiang coastal area (esoteric language! Very difficult to understand!) over the phone, the plan to lure the snake out of the cave was quickly approved. Soon, through semi-underground construction, several hidden triangular reverse-slope fortifications were built, and many anti-infantry landmines were laid around. After all preparations were ready, the heavy artillery and shells buried underground began to be moved out, preparing to be transported away.
Looking at the bright headlights under the night sky, Lieutenant Colonel Greim, the commander of the small detachment, was preparing to strike immediately. He couldn't just watch as his prey escaped from right in front of him without doing anything. Although the Chinese army's move was very sudden and it was highly likely that his own men had been exposed, he simply didn't believe that the Chinese army could stop his elite squad of over 70 men.
Black overcoats, three wedge-shaped assault teams quickly advanced in the direction of the artillery position, and despite Grem's ominous premonition, every soldier was on high alert, aiming their guns at every possible place where the enemy might appear, carefully treading on the thick dry leaves underfoot, the crunching sound echoing eerily in the quiet forest.
Graem's mind was a complete blank, his highly concentrated attention focused on every tiny movement. However, in the dark fort beneath the layered leaves, Pantao Zhao was also carefully listening to the enemy's movements, and the surrounding soldiers didn't dare make a loud noise or even breathe heavily. Both sides wanted to give each other a fatal blow, but they were both waiting for the perfect opportunity, so time passed by second by second!
