Xia Yuan thought for a moment and didn't speak.

Blowing up the enemy's hoarded artillery shells was completely unintentional, his original intention was to blow up an enemy truck, but he didn't expect the US military to be so stupid, after so many night attacks by volunteers, these foreign devils don't even have a long memory, and still hoard shells in one place.

It's okay now, it's served in a pot.

"Lao Duan is right, whether it is blocking the US 24th Division, making them so late, or blowing up the enemy's hoarded shells, it is good news for our 180th Division, you have completed the task excellently."

Master Zheng continued: "The loss of the City God's Hall is expected and unavoidable, you don't have to blame yourself too much, and you also protected a force, Eagle Peak's. ”

"Eagle Peak hasn't been lost yet, when I came over, I heard gunshots coming from the direction of Eagle Peak, but I don't know how long they can hold out."

Xia Yuan pondered and said, "Division Commander, we have to go and support them, Eagle Peak is defending, we still have a chance, this is the last route for us to retreat." ”

Deputy Division Commander Duan opened his mouth, but was stopped by Senior Commander Zheng, and then said, "Lao Li." ”

"Commander."

Not long after Lao Li arrived, he finished reporting the casualties of the 539th Regiment.

"What about the casualties of the 539th Regiment?" Master Zheng asked.

"There is no room for optimism, so far, one of the 539th Regiment has been killed" Lao Li told the casualties of the 539th Regiment to Division Commander Zheng, and he also knew that Division Commander Zheng had listened to it once, and this time it was obviously for the little comrade in front of him.

More than 2,000 people were killed in the 539th Regiment, retired due to wounds, and disappeared across the river, and there were less than 1,000 troops left to continue fighting.

And that's just the 539th Regiment.

The first battalion of the 538th Regiment was basically scrapped, and the first company had been completely wiped out, so how many remaining troops could continue to fight.

The only one that has been preserved is the 540 Regiment.

After listening, Xia Yuan was silent and sacrificed two-thirds of the people in one regiment.

Division Commander Zheng said: "You are just too inexperienced, the idea is good, but you don't take into account the reality, now the division headquarters can call on only one guard squad, we can't support Eagle Peak, we can only rely on themselves." ”

"But Eagle Peak is missing."

"We don't have any choice."

Master Zheng looked at Xia Yuan and said solemnly.

At this moment, Xia Yuan understood that the situation of the 180th Division was too strong, even if he resisted for half a day, the 180th Division had reached a critical value after a major battle, continuous battles, lack of ammunition, and lack of food, and they could only defend in situ.

"Xia Yuan, come and see."

Chief of Staff Wang took out a stick and pointed at a point on the map, "If you want to reinforce Eagle Peak, you need to pass through the enemy's defense area, the current position of Jiguan Mountain, the 540th Regiment and the two divisions of the US Army are fiercely contested, and the 539th Regiment and the 538th Regiment are responsible for the security of the left and right sides of the division headquarters. ”

"Moreover, even if reinforcements are sent, it will be difficult to fight over such a long distance, and we need to pass through the enemy's blockade lines, and the number of American troops on these blockade lines is two divisions."

Xia Yuan opened his mouth, and a sense of powerlessness rose in his heart.

In the face of the original division-level battle, the unpredictable prophet could not play a role, even if he knew the fate of the 180th Division, he could not change it.

Individual power is too small in the face of war.

Even if he blew up the enemy's artillery positions, worked hard to capture supplies, and tried his best to tell Division Commander Zheng about the situation of the 180th Division, what was destined to happen still could not be changed.

"Commander, me."

Xia Yuan lowered his head.

Master Zheng is correct when he says that he is inexperienced.

What he thought about was so beautiful that he thought that all the volunteer soldiers could be like him, blocking a hundred and a company to block the enemy and a division. After all, they are just ordinary people, where do they have such a powerful force, let alone facing an American military division of tens of thousands of people.

"You don't have to blame yourself, this is what you have to go through on the road of growth, your decision is actually not wrong, it is also correct, whether it is the US 24th Division attacking Chenghuangtang or attacking Zhiyanli, their attack has been hindered a lot."

Division Commander Zheng stood up, looked at the location of the 24th US Division on the map, and said: "Our task is to hold back the enemy, and the US 24th Division is later than originally planned to occupy the City God's Hall, which means that your mission has been completed." ”

The division commander's voice became heavy again: "In war, how can there be no sacrifice without sacrifice, whoever is sent to block the US 24th Division is a mortal task, who to send?" You helped me make a choice so I didn't have to worry about it. It is said that the commander is cold-blooded, and one of their orders is to have countless soldiers pay for their lives, which is wrong, we are also flesh and blood people, look at the casualty reports sent to the division headquarters every day, my heart is dripping blood, and my heart is distressed. ”

"Divisional Commander!"

Everyone looked at Master Zheng, who was a strong man in his life, and finally showed his weak side to everyone.

Even Deputy Division Commander Duan felt incredible.

"As the commander of the 180th Division, I must stand up straight, the four divisions are eyeing us, how dare I take it lightly."

Division Commander Zheng looked at everyone, turned his head to look at Xia Yuan, and said: "You will be a qualified commander in the future, but what you lack is battlefield experience. ”

This time, Xia Yuan did not refuse, but nodded very seriously.

"The enemy has surrounded us, and the situation is not optimistic."

Chief of Staff Wang pointed to the map and began to introduce to Xia Yuan the current predicament faced by the 180th Division.

The 540th Regiment is fighting with the U.S. Army for Cockscomb Mountain.

The 539th Regiment held the Jiulipdai Mountain and the surrounding areas.

The 538th Regiment blocked the pursuers of the buttocks, and the three regiments were in a triangular formation on three sides of the division headquarters. Chief of Staff Wang said: "We have already controlled all the mountain passes, but the control will not be too long, you blow up the enemy's hoarded shells, so that the enemy's heavy artillery can not cover the high ground we occupy, if the enemy brings in heavy artillery and covers the various high ground with artillery fire, it is estimated that these positions will fall very quickly." ”

Xia Yuan said: "Then go and blow him up again!" ”

"There's no chance." Chief of Staff Wang said: "The enemy will be on guard this time, and it is unlikely that you want to blow up the enemy's shells again." ”

Xia Yuan thought about it carefully, and it was.

Deputy Division Commander Duan said: "We are now given the task of holding on for three to five days, and this is only the second day, and we will hold on for three more days. ”

Master Zheng said: "Old Duan, don't be too pessimistic, the situation has not yet reached such a bad time. ”

He rolled his gaze again and asked Xia Yuan: "You have seen the battlefield very thoroughly, put forward opinions, say whatever you want, and say whatever you want." ”

Xia Yuan looked at the map, there were flags of the US army and the South Korean army on the map, and there were also flags representing the three infantry regiments.

The 540th Regiment and the U.S. Army competed for Jiguan Mountain, and since the U.S. Army was able to free up its hands to grab Jiguan Mountain, this means that the U.S. Army has attacked Zhiyanli, and if it wants to retreat from Eagle Peak, it needs to open up this road, and now it seems that it is basically unlikely.

Xia Yuan had a deeper thought, since he had joined the division headquarters, when the military headquarters issued the order, he would also prevent the 180th Division from retreating from Eagle Peak, this road was no longer possible.

"Division commander, let the defenders of Eagle Peak retreat, send scouts to tell them, now retreat to Shi Cangli."

"Huh?"

Senior Commander Zheng was obviously stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect Xia Yuan to care about the defenders of Eagle Peak, "Have you thought of a better retreat route?" ”

"Division commander, in less than three days, the U.S. military will not give us such a long time, it is estimated that tomorrow, the U.S. military will occupy the retreat hole, and this road will also be blocked."

Xia Yuan combined his understanding of the fate of the 180th Division and told Division Commander Zheng the idea of the two routes in advance, which can be regarded as laying the groundwork for the next order issued by the military headquarters, he said: "If I were the army commander, the first thing I would consider would be to retreat from the direction of retreat to Mapingli after completing the three-day blocking mission, but there is also one question to consider, that is, Zhiyanli and Mapingli, whether the US 24th Division has occupied these two places." ”

In fact, there is another key, that is, the restoration of communication between the 180th Division and the 3rd Corps, and the military headquarters did issue an order to the 180th Division to retreat, but not long after the order was issued, the 180th Division was still on the way to the retreat hole, and the 3rd Corps resumed communication with the 3rd Corps, and the 3rd Corps ordered the 180th Division to block the attack on the spot.

Xia Yuan also had to consider this factor, he said: "But if we can take into account the situation of friendly forces on the whole front, if there are still troops on the Eastern Front that have not had time to retreat, I will continue to order the 180th Division to stay here to contain the enemy until all the troops on the Eastern Front are safely evacuated." ”

The Third Corps had already gained insight into the enemy's movements and made countermeasures in advance.

The U.S. 24th Division will attack Hwacheon along the Jiam-ri-Maping-ri road, the 1st Marine Division will occupy Chunchon and attack Hwacheon, and the U.S. 7th Division, having lost the target of the 180th Division, will also follow the U.S. 24th Division to attack Hwacheon and Shichang-ri from Huidong-ri-Maping-ri.

And Hwacheon is a lifeblood of the Ninth Corps' retreat to the west.

This lifeline is occupied by the enemy, and the four divisions of the US 24th Division, the US 7th Division, the 1st Marine Division, and the ROK 6th Division will block the 9th Corps on the Eastern Front.

The fate of the 180th Division was already predestined.

So this path is not going to work.

Only Master Zheng knew the meaning of Xia Yuan's words, which was why he tried his best to advocate staying.

The Ninth Corps.

The 180th Division shouldered the fate of the Ninth Corps, and if it really withdrew, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Go on." Senior Commander Zheng didn't speak, and motioned for Xia Yuan to continue.

"If the task of assisting the retreat of friendly neighbors is completed, and the road from Huidongli to Mapingli is blocked by the enemy, I will definitely order the 180th Division to break through in the direction of Yingfeng."

What Xia Yuan said was to look at the problem from the perspective of the military department, and this idea of empathy was very novel to everyone in the division headquarters, who used to often substitute the enemy's vision and think, if I were the enemy, how would I choose.

But he directly brought the problem into the perspective of the military department.

Everyone stood in front of the map, listening very carefully, and with Xia Yuan's voice, they gradually entered the perspective of the military department, and gave orders to the 180th Division from the perspective of the military department.

They studied it carefully, and no one refuted it, if you stand from the perspective of the military department, there are only two roads in front of the 180th Division.

One road is in the cave, and the other is Eagle Peak.

"Retreat from Eagle Peak, the 179th Division also needs to be used, send them up to meet us." Deputy Division Commander Duan interjected, raised his head and asked, "It seems that there are only these two paths." ”

Now the battle is getting more and more difficult, and they have to consider not only how the 180th Division can block the enemy, but also the direction of the breakthrough to complete the mission.

"But what if the order conveyed by the military department is not timely?"

Xia Yuan raised another question and said: "The military headquarters is in Shicang, on the one hand, it has to issue orders to us, and on the other hand, it has to issue orders to the 179th Division, it takes time during this period, but every minute passes, the situation on the battlefield changes differently, and the orders issued by the military headquarters may take several hours to reach us, and during this period, there are enough things to happen." ”

Everyone looked at each other again, but they didn't expect Xia Yuan to even take into account the timeliness of the order.

"Division commander, I suggest that the retreat order of the military headquarters does not necessarily need to be adhered to, the 179th Division wants to meet us, they need to pass through the defense area of the 24th Division of the United States, they will be blocked by the enemy on the way, it may not be possible to catch up in a day or two, and on the way to Eagle Peak, the US defense line needs us to break through, and when we reach Eagle Peak, how many people are left."

Xia Yuan continued: "Eagle Peak Mountain is high and steep, there are not many places that can be defended, and the road is very wide, the US army only needs to surround Eagle Peak, surround but not fight, we don't need to be destroyed by the enemy, we will be destroyed by ourselves first." ”

Everyone frowned, in fact, they had thought about this problem for a long time, and even Senior Commander Zheng had mentioned this problem, but everyone didn't take it seriously, because at that time, the situation of the 180th Division was still very good, and now, they retreated to the north of the Han River, and the situation did not improve with their retreat, this problem was said by Xia Yuan, and everyone had to re-examine this problem.

"Not absolutely, anything can happen, and you're talking about just one of them."

Chief of Staff Wang thought for a while and said: "If the military department really issued this order, then they must have considered many issues, more comprehensively than we have to consider, and any order issued will be carefully and carefully considered." ”

Obviously, everyone has unconditional trust in the orders issued by the military department.

Trust, a word, runs through the life of every volunteer soldier.

(End of chapter)