Commander Wei had already seen the map and clearly understood the role played by the 180th Division in the second phase of the retreat of the Fifth Battle.
The 180th Division alone was obviously unable to withstand the frenzied attack of the US troops from these divisions, and their role was naturally not to block the enemy on the spot, but to contain the enemy and buy time for the retreating troops behind.
Chief of Staff Deng stopped talking. He thought carefully and figured out the key.
Commander Deng was a little helpless and said: "The 180th Division has a heavy burden, but the 179th Division and the 181st Division were previously lent to the 12th Army and the 15th Army. I guess the Corps did not expect to let the 180th Division come.
Playing such an important role, now we have no other troops that can be called upon to help the 180th Division share the pressure. Even just one regiment can help the 180th Division solve the current dilemma it is facing."
"But let alone a regiment, even a battalion or a company, we can't mobilize it. Old Deng, you are worried. You are the teacher and commander of the 180th Division. Aren't I worried? They are all
My soldiers, they are all my soldiers. You are also an old comrade. You know what will happen if you order them to withdraw from the battle prematurely without authorization. The chain reaction of this is unforeseen by you and me. The Corps allows them to stay
On the south bank of the Han River, there must be a regiment, we just need to resolutely implement the orders issued by our superiors."
Chief of Staff Deng opened his mouth, remained silent for a long time, and then said: "Are you just going to watch the 180th Division fall into the enemy's encirclement step by step?"
Commander Wei sighed helplessly, "It all depends on the 180th Division themselves. The military headquarters can no longer protect them."
Chief of Staff Deng suddenly stood up and stared at the map, "Commander, can we have the 180th Division retreat to the north bank of the Han River to block the attack? The 180th Division has now committed a military taboo and is fighting with its back to the river. Once the enemy
After breaking through the defense line of the 180th Division, with the surging river behind them, there was no way to retreat. Retreating to the south bank of the Han River, standing on the mountain to block the enemy, not only did the 180th Division get rid of the taboo of having its back to the Han River, but also
You can also advance and retreat anytime and anywhere, and the space will be much larger.”
Commander Wei rolled up his sleeves and looked at the time, frowned, and said: "It's too late. The 180th Division retreated from the front line to the south bank of the Han River. It takes too long, and the 180th Division's defense line is more than a hundred deep.
Kilometers, it will take at least three hours to retreat from the front line to the Han River, and the foreign devils will not watch them cross the river."
Chief of Staff Deng thought: "We can let them retreat to the rear for defense first, and then wait until tomorrow night to cross the river. We must leave behind the troops."
He looked at the time again: "It's one o'clock now. After retreating to the rear, we have enough time to form a new defense line in the rear."
Commander Wei thought carefully for a while and said: "This is actually a plan. Send a telegram to the 180th Division and ask them to find a new defensive position to form a defense line. They must hold on until tomorrow night."
"yes!"
Although Xia Yuan's efforts did not change the fate of the 180th Division in general, it did change a small part. At least the 180th Division no longer stubbornly stood on the south bank of the Han River. They had a new goal and retreated to the north bank of the Han River for defense.
, but time no longer allowed the 180th Division to move, and it established a new line of defense on the south bank of the Han River and would retreat tomorrow night.
The 180th Division commander pointed out that as Commander Zheng's suggestion was rejected, the air in the conference room became obviously tense. Xia Yuan frowned. He raised his head and looked at Commander Zheng, then at Deputy Commander Duan and Staff Officer Wang.
Chang, thinking about it, said:
"Commander, let me take a company to cross the river tonight and cooperate with the 540th Regiment to resist the US 24th Division at Chenghuangtang in Jiguan Mountain. I can guarantee that I will persist until tomorrow night. I can issue a military order.
.”
Commander Zheng didn't say anything. Chief of Staff Wang said: "Comrade Xia Yuan, now is not the time to be impulsive. A company cannot hold out for long when faced with the attack of an entire division of the US 24th Division, especially since this division is still a mechanized force.
unfolded.”
Chief of Staff Wang pointed to the City God's Hall on the map and said: "The terrain around the City God's Hall is flat, with a width of more than ten kilometers, and there are mountains on both sides. We are not the US military when we are blocking the ground and lacking heavy firepower.
opponent."
The terrain of Chenghuangtang is very bad. The so-called bad means that it is very bad for the volunteers. There is a small town standing on the flat road. As far as the eye can see, it is a flat road. It is similar to Cheorwon. It is very convenient.
The enemy's mechanized troops were deployed, and the terrain was very unfriendly to the volunteers.
Director Wu said: "The commander of the 540th Regiment stationed a company of troops in Chenghuangtang, and another company as a reserve force. I had previously thought of asking them to withdraw from Chenghuangtang. Such terrain is not convenient for blocking the enemy. There is no way to stop the enemy.
For one day, under the fierce artillery fire from the US military, I probably wouldn’t be able to hold on for even half a day.”
Other leaders agreed with Director Wu and Chief of Staff Wang that the Volunteer Army's top priority in blocking operations was geographical location. The terrain of Chenghuang Hall was very bad for them, and it was very unwise to block blocking operations in such terrain. Director Wu also
Considering that the terrain of Chenghuangtang was not suitable for the volunteers to block the attack, the commander of the 540th Regiment deployed two companies of troops in Chenghuangtang. They could not resist for long, and both companies were bound to be killed.
But the Chenghuang Hall was the only way for their 180th Division to retreat. How could they do it without fortification?
It can be said that these two companies stayed in Chenghuang Hall with complete determination to die.
Xia Yuan naturally understands this truth, "Chenghuang Hall is the first line of defense on the retreat of the 180th Division, and Yingfeng is the second line. If we abandon the City God Hall and let the enemy enter the City God Hall with great arrogance, it will be too easy for them."
"
He said: "If the enemy wants to capture Chenghuangtang, he will definitely have to pay a heavy price. Division commander, I have some thoughts in mind when attacking Chenghuangtang. Even if Chenghuangtang is lost, I will make the US 24th Division pay a heavy price."
These two companies of the 540th Regiment will go to Yingfeng as the second line of defense. The City God's Hall is lost, and we have to rely on them."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! In his heart, Master Zheng doesn’t really want Xia Yuan to lead his troops to the front line. With such a strategic vision, he is more suitable to be a decision-maker in the rear.
But he also saw that Xia Yuan didn't seem to want to stay behind. As for why he didn't want to, only Xia Yuan himself knew the reason.
Xia Yuan has told his teacher everything he knows. If he really has to face a crisis, he may not think more comprehensively than his teachers and others. The reason why he can see so clearly at the moment is because he stands
God's vision, without the prerequisite of God's vision, he no longer has such a unique strategic vision.
On the contrary, he is more suitable for leading troops to fight.
The location of Chenghuang Hall was not good, and Xia Yuan was not sure. His idea was to penetrate behind enemy lines, bomb the enemy's artillery positions, and cut off the enemy's logistics supply routes. If the logistics supply routes were cut off and the artillery positions were bombed, the US military would definitely stay in place.
Wait until the artillery position is reorganized before setting off again.
I may not have some old comrades who are good at positional interdiction warfare, but when it comes to inserting enemy forces behind enemy lines and conducting sneak attacks, he dares to say that he is second, and no one dares to say that he is first.
This is Xia Yuan's confidence.
The 24th U.S. Division is still on the way. I and a company should still have a chance to reach the 24th U.S. before they reach Chenghuang Hall, let go of the vanguard troops, and focus on beating the butts of the foreign devils.
.
"Master!"
Xia Yuan shouted again.
Teacher Zheng said: "How sure are you?"
Xia Yuan thought: "Eight points!"
Teacher Zheng asked again: "Are you sure?"
Xia Yuan nodded: "Sure, I have a lot of experience in fighting foreign devils. I have set up camps for foreign devils several times. It's enough to spank them with a company of troops. It can't be done with too many people, and it can't be done with few people. Division commander, one company can just do it."
We will penetrate the foreign devils' buttocks and harass them as long as they stop to rest at night. If we don't let them have an easy time at night, they will naturally have no energy to attack during the day."
He added: "As long as their baggage is hit, these foreign devils will have no confidence to participate in the next battle."
Commander Zheng was silent for more than a minute, thinking carefully about the feasibility of Xia Yuan's plan. After a long time, he said: "One company cannot do it. The 540th Regiment now has two battalions that can help you. When the time comes, I will
I will ask the 540th Regiment to cooperate with your actions."
It was obvious that Commander Zheng attached great importance to this action plan. Xia Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Commander, the 540th Regiment cannot move yet. They have to keep an eye on the Pseudo Sixth Division."
"Pseudo Sixth Division?"
Everyone was stunned.
"That is, the Sixth Division of Han."
Xia Yuan said: "From the beginning of the war, the Puppet Sixth Division began to pass through the junction between the 180th Division and the 63rd Army. Since the 189th Division retreated, part of the 189th Division's position was occupied.
The Puppet Sixth Division is in the bag, but the puppet army is always a puppet army. Their movements are very careful, and the speed of attack cannot be compared with the foreign devils. Therefore, if they want to occupy all the ferries, it will take a certain amount of time. If the 540th Regiment assists
We and they will not be able to devote their forces to fighting against the Puppet Sixth Division, which will only increase the speed of the loss of the Han River ferry."
Everyone looked at the position of the Pseudo Sixth Division and frowned.
Deputy Commander Duan said: "If the Puppet Sixth Division continues to move north, the 540th Regiment will not be able to withstand the Puppet Sixth Division's attack. But this enemy is the Korean Army. That is, the Korean Army can do this. Grandma, let's put it this way.
The 540th Regiment really can’t move. If it moves, the Pseudo-Sixth Division’s march north will speed up.”
This is indeed the truth. The 540th Regiment occupied the important place of Jiguan Mountain. Jiguan Mountain is not only a necessary place for the 180th Division to retreat, but also an important place for the Puppet Sixth Division to pass through on its offensive. Jiguan Mountain will not be lost.
, the Puppet Sixth Division's northward march will slow down. The arrival of the US 24th Division will make the 540th Regiment no time to take care of the Puppet Sixth Division's northward movement. The Puppet Sixth Division will take the opportunity to occupy all the crossings of the North Han River, until the US 24th Division's
All troops arrive.
This issue is very important. Whether the 540th Regiment can assist Xia Yuan or not, Master Zheng and others discussed it briefly.
cannot.
One battalion of the 540th Regiment has been transferred to the logistics supply force, and two companies are stationed at Chenghuangtang. One of them has to assist the 180th Division in the defense on the right side. How many troops are left in Jiguan Mountain?
It is basically impossible to send another unit to assist Xia Yuan.
Commander Zheng hesitated for a moment and said: "Xia Yuan, have you thought about it? A company faces a US division. If you are not careful, the whole company may be wiped out. Moreover, you have no reinforcements and no logistics supplies. Everything needs to be done.
It’s up to you.”
Xia Yuan nodded, "Commander, I understand that the difficulties faced by the 180th Division since the war started are just like this. There are no logistical supplies and no reinforcements. The 180th Division has still survived, and so have I."
Deputy Commander Duan said: "There is no comparison between a division and a company. What we are facing is only the US 7th Division. The 1st Marine Division and the Pseudo-Sixth Division have not yet started fighting with us, so the 180th Division still has room to maneuver.
There is a lot of room, and what you have to face is a complete division of the US military, and it is a complete division that is moving forward. This is not how this battle is fought, and the disparity in strength is too big."
At the conference table, other leaders had the same idea as Deputy Division Commander Duan, and they discussed it one after another.
"A company faces a division, and this division is a mechanized force of the US military. The disparity in strength is huge."
"More than that, the gap in weapons and equipment, troops, and logistics is too big to be made up for tactically. Once they meet, it will be very tragic."
"This battle, eh."
Obviously, no one is optimistic about Xia Yuan, and even he himself is not very confident. However, the 180th Division is currently facing an almost unsolvable dilemma. Chenghuangtang and Yingfeng can only lose one.
If the second route is used as the retreat route, the distance to evacuate from the retreat cave is too large and the span is too long. Chenghuangtang and Zhiyanli are abandoned. The US 24th Division goes all the way north. They rely on two legs.
, cannot outrun the U.S. military with mechanized troops. The enemy may have already occupied the Chenghuangtan-Mapingli line before reaching Mapingli.
And the most critical point is that the 1st Division of the US 7th Division is passing through the junction between the 1st Marine Division and the 180th Division. It may arrive near the retreat cave at noon tomorrow. The situation on this route is also very complicated.
.
Harassing the U.S. 24th Division with a company was a last resort. Xia Yuan knew very well that compared to the U.S. 7th Division, the 1st Marine Division, or the Pseudo Sixth Division, the U.S. 24th Division was the key.
The 24th Division went north along the Qingpingchuan Highway, like a sharp blade piercing the Volunteer Army positions on the east and west lines, completely cutting off the 180th Division's two retreat routes.
The leaders looked at the map, discussed it and then fell silent.
The flags of the US 24th Division and the Pseudo Second Division were just planted on the map. Without these two flags, the situation of the 180th Division was not so critical. On the contrary, these two flags were planted on the map.
After that, the situation of the 180th Division suddenly became crisis-ridden.
Judging from the map, the biggest enemy of the 180th Division is no longer the US 7th Division, but the US 24th Division. This US Division is the key.