Beginning in January 1952, front-line troops generally carried out cold-gun and cold-gun activities to annihilate the enemy, so as to consume a large amount of the "United Nations Army" and cover the troops to build positions and fortifications. Each unit selects excellent shooters and gunners to form sniper groups or joint gun-gun sniper groups to use rifles or light and heavy machine guns to kill and wound exposed personnel in the front line of the "United Nations Army" positions, destroy their earth-wood fortifications and fixed tank firing points with direct aiming artillery, rocket launchers, and recoilless guns, and use field artillery and howitzers to shoot at small groups of targets in shallow, near, and deep depths.

In carrying out sniper activities, snipers flexibly selected firing positions according to the rules of the enemy's activities, built fortifications in advance, and carried out strict camouflage, thus effectively developing their firepower. The Volunteers and the Korean People's Army killed and wounded more than 13,000 "United Nations Army" in sniper operations in May ~ August. Cold gun and cold artillery activities continued until the end of the Korean War in 1953.

Xia Yuan fell silent and tapped the wall with an iron pickaxe, carefully recalling some details of the Battle of Shangganling in his heart.

Shangganling 14th broke out, 20th into the tunnel operation, relying on the tunnel to fight at night, small-scale operations, the 43-day fierce battle began, the soldiers ate and drank Lazar all in the tunnel, to the later stage, the tunnel lacked water and food, the soldiers began to drink urine, at first the color of the urine was white, then turned yellow, and then brown, blood-colored, and even made of liquid into gelatinous, difficult to secrete saliva, compressed biscuits hard to break the soldiers' tongues. In order to keep in touch with his superiors, the hoarse walk-in-one could only slap his mouth to moisten his mouth, which was still the case for ordinary people, let alone the wounded. The wound could not be treated, could not be transported to the rear, and could only be left to inflame, fester. In order not to affect their comrades-in-arms, the wounded bit the sheets with their mouths, endured the pain of the wounds, and did not say a word.

"Fortunately, fortunately, I have added a lot of knowledge about the battles on the Korean battlefield before, and this time I have crossed into a more familiar battle."

Xia Yuan took a deep breath, half a month's time was quite limited, he compressed the time for sleep and martial arts, learned English, improved various skills, and learned about various blocking battles, including the Jinhua Offensive and the Tieyuan Resistance Battle.

After 43 days of fierce fighting, the Battle of Shangganling ended.

And now it is the end of September, and there is still half a month before the battle starts, since we can't go to the cold gun and cold artillery movement, let's try to change the conditions of the No. 1 tunnel.

As far as he knew, in the later stages of the battle, the enemy began to throw grenades into the tunnels, pour smoke, and use all the means available to force the volunteer soldiers in the tunnels to come out.

But at present, the largest No. 1 pit is still a semi-finished product, with only one pit mouth, and the interior is bifurcated into two pit mouths, which can be increased to three pit mouths on the original basis.

Squad Leader Hu looked at Xia Yuan, who was deep in thought, and asked, "Comrade Xia Yuan, what are you thinking?" ”

Xia Yuan said: "Squad leader, I'm thinking about the tunnel battle!" ”

"Tunnel warfare?"

Tunnel warfare is a combat method in which the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians on the North China Plain used tunnels to fight against the Japanese invaders during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The method of tunnel warfare began from Ranzhuang in Qingyuan, Baoding, in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border region, and has undergone continuous development, from a single hiding to an underground fortification that can fight and hide, waterproof, fireproof, and poison-proof, and gradually formed a combat mode of connecting houses and houses, forming internal and external joint defense, cooperating with each other, and striking at the enemy. Tunnel warfare turned the originally undefended Jizhong Plain into an important combat area for the Chinese military and civilians to fight against the Japanese invading army.

Xia Yuan had seen tunnel warfare when he was a child, and he had fantasized that he could dig one tunnel after another to fight the enemy.

And now, here's the opportunity.

Xia Yuan said to the squad leader: "Squad leader, tunnel warfare is when fighting little devils, digging one pit after another underground, I think, if it can be combined with the tunnel, will it be effective." ”

He stared at the tunnels around him and said: "Squad leader, I see that the tunnels we dig are relatively single, if the enemy finds our tunnels and blocks our holes, we will not be able to advance or retreat, I think we can dig two or three tunnels to prevent one tunnel from being blocked, and the other two tunnels can still be used, in addition, there must be a place to store water and food, such as digging a well water in the tunnel, and solving the water problem directly in the tunnel." “

Squad Leader Hu turned his head and said with some surprise: "Comrade Xia Yuan, are you thinking too much, no one can say for sure what will happen in the future, we dig this tunnel just to avoid the bombing of US planes, as for the two or three tunnels you said about digging two or three tunnels, this mountain is full of stones, it is very difficult to dig, it takes a lot of time to dig such a big tunnel, if you dig the tunnel you said, it will take even more time." ”

Xia Yuan opened his mouth, knowing that his thoughts were too naïve.

The original purpose of the tunnel was to store troops and materials to avoid bombing by US planes.

Shangganling is not a strategic place, it has special strategic significance, the enemy will basically not launch a large-scale attack on this place, the current tunnel is enough for the current Nine Company Commanders fighters, and digging the tunnel they said requires labor and time, which is a thankless task.

It is obviously unrealistic for me to say that the enemy will attack Shangganling in the future, and it is not possible to pass on information without brains, and we must adopt methods.

Xia Yuan's idea is that it is best to dig up a water source, but such an idea is somewhat unrealistic.

There was once a puddle shared by the volunteers and the enemy in Shangganling, and that puddle was the crater where the enemy's shells fell, and gradually formed a pool, which shows that there is groundwater under Shangganling, and if it can be found, the water source problem can be completely solved.

He thought in his heart, and he also deeply agreed with what Squad Leader Hu said, after all, he knew some details of the battle, maybe the volunteer soldiers stationed in the Shangganling area at the southern foot of Wusheng Mountain never thought that the Shangganling Battle that shocked China and foreign countries in the future would start here.

"Don't worry, it's enough, but the idea of digging two passages is pretty good." Squad Leader Hu was puzzled, bent over and said, "I'll go and talk to the platoon commander." ”

Squad leader Hu put down the kerosene lamp, took the basket with the gravel and left.

Xia Yuan squatted on the ground, scratched his head, turned to look at the pit in front of him, stretched out his hand and touched it, it was all hard rock, close to artificial, and it was basically impossible to achieve what he said in a short time.

"Not even the slightest hint of water can be given up."

In the future, the tunnel environment will be very difficult, there is food, but what is lacking is water, not only the No. 1 tunnel, but also the tunnels on several other positions in the future will lack water sources.

Xia Yuan decided that in the next half month, the main solution is the problem of water shortage!

Just do it!

Xia Yuan stretched out his hand and touched the rock surface, judging the direction of the possible water source through the slippery rock surface, the rock surface in the mountain is extremely cold, it is already October now, it is very hot outside, but the tunnel is shady, and the walls are cold and cold.

He chooses the direction by touching it with water.

Squad Leader Hu hooked back, and also brought two or three soldiers from the second squad, he saw Xia Yuan's actions, and asked differently: "Comrade Xia Yuan, what are you doing?" ”

Xia Yuan turned his head, "Squad leader, I'm thinking, if we can find a water source in the tunnel, we no longer need to go to the col to fetch water, even if there is a real war, the US army has blocked the rear, we can also solve our daily needs through the water source in the tunnel, so that we can avoid sacrificing comrades who go to fetch water." ”

"Comrade Xia Yuan, are you thinking too much?" Said a soldier from the second squad.

Xia Yuan shook his head: "We came from the rear, the US planes have been flying overhead, bombing the targets that appear in their sight, the enemy will not give up, we should be prepared in advance." ”

He reached out and touched the wall, groped for the ground beneath his feet, withdrew his hand and squeezed it into a fist, he could feel the water stains on his palm.

Xia Yuan raised his head, "Squad leader, you touch here." ”

Team Leader Hu touched the ground pointed by Xia Yuan, and it was cold, slippery and cold, "This is, water stains." ”

"Yes, squad leader, the ground seeps out of the water stains, indicating that there is water in this mountain, but the location is wrong, dig down towards this place, even if you can't dig a well, but you can dig a small pool, you can solve the water needs of the soldiers in the tunnel, and you don't need to go to the col to irrigate."

Xia Yuan nodded: "Squad leader, let's try, if we really find a water source, we can solve the water source problem from the root." ”

Squad Leader Hu looked at Xia Yuan with an expectant gaze and hesitated: "Comrade Xia Yuan, the task assigned to us by the superiors for the second class is to advance two meters inward, and our task has not yet been completed." ”

Xia Yuan's eyes lit up, "Squad leader, is it possible to dig water after completing the task?" ”

Squad Leader Hu said with a smile: "Comrade Xia Yuan, do you have a big idea about digging tunnels?" I can react with the platoon commander, let the platoon commander react with the company commander, and see what the company commander thinks. ”

"Hey, thank you, squad leader."

"Comrade Xia Yuan, let me introduce you to these two fighters......"

On the first night of entering the company, it soon came, Xia Yuan's resting position was at the mouth of the No. 1 tunnel, holding a Type 50 submachine gun, and squad leader Hu was leading recruits, so he leaned on Xia Yuan's side and looked at the night sky outside.

The moon and stars are scarce, and tonight is a good day.

In the later period of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the full moon offensive of the volunteer soldiers was basically thoroughly studied by the US army, and there were more sentry posts at night, but it did not affect the volunteer soldiers to carry out small-scale annihilation warfare at night.

The platoon commanders of the four platoons of the Ninth Company gathered in the No. 1 pit and were having a meeting.

Sun Yuandao, the commander of the first platoon, said: "Company commander, the new recruits in our platoon today reported a problem to Lao Hu, and I feel that the suggestion is not bad." ”

"Oh?" Company Commander Gao became interested, "Let's talk about it." ”

Sun Yuan said: "The new soldier in the company is called Xia Yuan, and he has studied the tunnels dug by the guerrillas on the plains during the war period, and he said that the tunnels we dig are similar to the tunnels, but they are too single, if the enemy captures the mountain and blocks our tunnel entrance, we can't enter or exit, he said, it is best to dig two more tunnels, one on the surface, and the other as a hidden hole. ”

He also proposed the idea of digging a pool to Lao Hu, saying that a lot of the ground in the tunnel is covered with water stains, which shows that there is a high probability that there is some groundwater under us, as long as we dig down and dig to a certain extent, we can dig out the water source.

The second platoon leader said: "Old Sun, Comrade Xia Yuan's idea is not too simple, you don't know the situation of the tunnel, it is all hard rock, not to mention what water source to dig, even digging a few more tunnel mouths, it is very difficult." ”

Sun Yuan said: "Second platoon leader, I think Comrade Xia Yuan's idea is very good, although it is difficult to dig, but if it is dug through, the effect will be very significant, with two or three tunnel entrances, once the enemy occupies the 597.9 high ground and blocks our tunnel entrance, we will be able to eliminate the US troops on the high ground by surprise from other tunnel entrances!" ”

The second platoon leader pondered.

Gao Lian Commander said: "The idea is very good, then discuss and discuss, it just so happened that the superior issued more digging tunnels, digging more trenches, and the combat theory of combining tunnels and trenches, the theory needs to be practiced, maybe we can experiment on the 597.9 heights, the theory of tunnel warfare is good, I have also heard of it, tunnels, can hide and fight, and the enemy who fights cannot see or touch." At present, our company has been stationed in Shangganling for three months, and the enemy's movements have been very stable, and we have time to dig slowly. ”

He turned his head: "Instructor, tell me what you think." ”

Instructor Lin thought for a while and said: "On weekdays, everyone should talk more with the soldiers, brainstorm, think about problems together, and solve them together. ”

He continued: "This digging tunnel is the same as when we face the enemy's firepower, so if we see the enemy's firepower, we won't attack?" No, we are not only going to attack, but also to blow up enemy fire points! Even if it is dug little by little, this tunnel must be dug, so that Comrade Xia Yuan will come over and listen to his opinion, how about it? ”

Several platoon commanders of the Ninth Company nodded in agreement.

At the mouth of the tunnel, a soldier ran over, "Comrade Xia Yuan, the platoon commander called you." ”

Xia Yuan was squinting and resting, and opened his eyes when he noticed someone approaching, "The platoon commander called me?" Comrade, do you know what the platoon commander called me? ”

The soldier shook his head and said, "Comrade Xia Yuan, I don't know very well, just go over and take a look." ”

"Oh yes."

Xia Yuan held the gun, bent down to the depths of the tunnel, and met the platoon commander and instructor of the Ninth Company.

Instructor Lin sat on the ground, waved his hand, and said, "Comrade Xia Yuan, come here." ”

After Xia Yuan approached, he squatted on the ground and asked, "Instructor, company commander, platoon commander, you are looking for me." ”

Company Commander Gao nodded: "Yes, your platoon commander, you just told us all about some of your tunnel ideas, and we all think it's very good." ”

Xia Yuan's eyes lit up, squatted on the ground and said: "Company commander, that's the case, I have learned about tunnels before, tunnels are like ant nests, criss-crossed, I think, since we have dug tunnels, why not combine tunnels and tunnels, this mountain is not all rocks, we just look for weak points to dig on the line, there is no need to dig the tunnel straight, just dig it crookedly, it is best to dig a tunnel mouth in front of the position, and dig a tunnel mouth on the anticline." ”

"In this way, when the enemy comes up, we will be able to reach the trenches of the position from the mouth of the frontal pit and deliver a quick blow to the enemy."

"In addition to the mouth of the front tunnel, I also noticed that some of the rocky ground in the tunnel was very wet and had water stains, which means that some moisture from the water buried deep in the ground has penetrated up, and if we dig down, we will definitely be able to dig up the water source, so that we can avoid taking water from the col."

"Even if the enemy blocks the mouth of the tunnel, we can survive a period of time by relying on the water source in the tunnel."