Chapter 129 Sniping on the Icefield, Breaking the Stalemate Side by Side

The biting wind whipped up snowflakes, scraping against your face like knives, making your skin feel tight and even your breath felt like it was filled with ice.

Yu Congrong had just steadied himself on the thick snow when a familiar figure strode toward him. The person raised his arm and, with a rough force, punched him hard on the shoulder.

Yu Congrong was not to be outdone and clenched his fist to punch back.

Two seasoned warriors, needing no further words, exchanged a fistfight as a greeting of their long-awaited reunion.

Company Commander Xiong Jie squinted and looked around. His gaze swept over Yu Congrong's back, where he saw only two figures. His eyebrows immediately rose, and his voice was so loud it could drown out the wind.

"So it's you, kid. You only brought three people? The other one must be Pinghe, right? The battle's almost over, hurry up and let him out, stop hiding!"

At this moment, Yu Congrong's face was so gloomy it could drip water, his lips were frozen purple, and the air around him was frighteningly low. His voice was muffled, carrying an undisguised heaviness:

"Not Pinghe!"

"Not Pinghe?"

Xiong Jie immediately became interested, took a step forward, and pressed for an answer.

"What about Pinghe? Your 7th Company has produced a new sharpshooter? I'd like to see which young man's marksmanship can rival Pinghe's!"

Seeing that Xiong Jie kept asking questions and didn't notice the strange look in Yu Congrong's eyes, Huang Liwen, the political instructor of the 6th Company, quickly stepped forward, subtly tugged at his sleeve, and gently shook his head.

Xiong Jie belatedly shut his mouth, but his mind was still full of doubts. He just didn't ask any more questions.

After a moment of silence, Yu Congrong finally spoke, but his words were irrelevant to the question, and he gestured with his eyes towards the distant snow slope:

"You'll see when you meet him. He's an old acquaintance of yours, and you have a close relationship with him."

"Hey, you're keeping me in suspense!" Xiong Jie chuckled and spat, his curiosity completely piqued.

Just then, a steady footstep came from behind the snow slope, growing louder as it approached.

Everyone looked up and saw He Yuzhu slowly put away his KR98K sniper rifle with a clean and decisive movement. His fingertips lightly caressed the cool gun barrel, and then he picked up the M1 Garand rifle next to him and walked steadily toward them.

He stood tall and composed amidst the swirling snow, exuding a cold and aloof aura unique to snipers.

Xiong Jie took a closer look, his eyes lit up instantly, and a hearty smile instantly spread across his face.

He immediately strode over and, without saying a word, opened his arms and gave He Yuzhu a tight hug, so strong it almost squeezed him:

"It really is someone I know! Comrade He! Hahaha, I never expected it to be you!"

"Greetings, Company Commander Xiong." He Yuzhu nodded slightly, his tone calm and carrying just the right amount of respect.

"What a coincidence! This is an incredible coincidence!"

Xiong Jie released him, patted his back hard, his hand landing with heavy force, his tone full of gratitude.

"You saved our entire 6th Company twice! If it weren't for the cotton-padded clothes and sleeping bags you risked your life to bring us last time, all of us brothers in this company would have frozen to death in this freezing weather and said goodbye to this world forever! We, the entire 6th Company, will never forget this kindness!"

He Yuzhu smiled faintly, his tone indifferent:

"I just did what I could. Any comrade would have done the same."

"Instructor! Come quick! Look who's here!"

Xiong Jie waved excitedly behind him, his voice filled with joy.

Huang Liwen had already strode forward, and before he could get close, he reached out and grabbed He Yuzhu's hands.

His hands were rough and cold, yet he gripped them tightly. His expression was solemn and dignified as he said, word by word, "Thank you, Comrade He Yuzhu! Thank you for saving all the brothers in our 6th Company!"

This scene left Yu Congrong and Wu Wanli, who were standing nearby, completely stunned. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock.

He Yuzhu had previously downplayed his role by saying he had "helped with a small favor."

To them, it was just a small favor, but now it seems that it was no small matter at all; it clearly saved the lives of an entire company!

Just now, they witnessed He Yuzhu's terrifying sniping skills firsthand.

Pinghe's marksmanship was already top-notch in the 7th Company, and he was a recognized sharpshooter.

Even if they were unwilling to admit it, they had to face the fact that Pinghe's marksmanship was still a bit lacking compared to He Yuzhu's, lacking that precision, ruthlessness, and decisiveness in hitting the bullseye every time.

Seeing Xiong Jie and Huang Liwen chatting enthusiastically with He Yuzhu, Yu Congrong and Wu Wanli didn't disturb them and turned to join the team cleaning up the battlefield.

On this perilous battlefield, every minute and every second is crucial. The faster the battlefield is cleared, the sooner they can evacuate, and the higher their safety level will be.

After chatting for a while, Xiong Jie suddenly remembered the important matter and turned to He Yuzhu, asking in confusion, "By the way, Comrade He, how did you end up with that kid Yu Congrong? Didn't your 7th Company take a different route than the main force?"

"Company Commander Xiong, this is not the place to talk."

He Yuzhu glanced around at the empty snowfield, his brows furrowed, and his tone became serious.

"The battle just now was too loud; the gunshots and explosions have already been heard. The enemy reinforcements will be here soon. Let's talk on the way."

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at my brain, I got so excited I forgot the important thing!"

Xiong Jie slapped his forehead and immediately turned around to shout behind him.

"Platoon leader! Is the battlefield cleanup finished? Hurry up!"

"Reporting, Company Commander! We're almost done, almost done!" A loud reply came from not far away.

"Speed ​​up the cleanup! Take all usable weapons, ammunition, and supplies—leave nothing behind!"

Xiong Jie paused, then seemed to remember something and looked at Yu Congrong to ask.

"By the way, do you guys in the 7th Company have enough winter coats? Should we take some from these enemy corpses as spares?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Congrong couldn't help but sneer, pointing at He Yuzhu beside him with a smug look on his face:

"Don't you even know who's in our 7th Company? Do we really need to strip the enemy of their old cotton-padded clothes?"

Xiong Jie was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized what he meant, slapped his thigh and burst into laughter:

"Yes, yes, look at my muddled mind! With Xiao He here, I can't guarantee anything else, but there'll definitely be enough cotton-padded clothes! I was overthinking it!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than three soldiers came running over, carrying seven or eight captured rifles on their backs. One of them asked loudly, "Company Commander! What should we do with these captured guns?"

Xiong Jie's gaze fell on the M1 rifle in He Yuzhu's hand. Seeing that the rifle didn't have a scope, he immediately said enthusiastically, "Xiao He, come and pick one out! I see that the gun you have doesn't even have a scope. Some of these guns have scopes, which are perfect for you!"

He Yuzhu stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the rifles on the backs of the soldiers, and hesitated briefly.

These rifles are mainly divided into two types. One is the M1 Garand rifle, which has a high rate of fire and a large magazine capacity, making it suitable for rapid fire and fire suppression at close to medium range.

Another option is the Springfield M1903 sniper rifle, which has a longer barrel and extremely high accuracy, making it suitable for precise sniping at medium to long ranges. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Seeing that he hadn't made a decision yet, Xiong Jie smiled and said:

"Are you overwhelmed by the choices and can't decide? Why don't you stop worrying about it and take your time choosing on the way? You'll eventually find something you like."

He Yuzhu looked up at Xiong Jie and asked earnestly, "Company Commander Xiong, can I have two? One for each day."

He asked this question because he knew that the two rifles used the same bullets, which would save him a lot of trouble changing bullets in future battles.

For short-to-medium range encounters, use the M1 rifle for rapid firepower; for medium-to-long range sniping, use the Springfield M1903 for precise kills. The combination of the two is perfect.

"Why not!" Xiong Jie agreed without hesitation, waving his hand dismissively.

"You basically took care of all these enemies by yourself. You're the biggest contributor. You could have easily taken down two, three, or even four! But Xiao He, those two guns are quite heavy. Can you carry them by yourself?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Huang Liwen quietly tugged at his arm and glared at him with annoyance:

"Isn't that a pointless question? Back then, he carried a whole sled full of cotton clothes and sleeping bags through the snow for a whole day, and managed to get it to our camp. If he could carry something that heavy, how could two rifles be a problem for him?"

"Hehe, you're right!"

Xiong Jie scratched his head, smiled sheepishly, and his voice was full of excitement.

"I was just so happy to see Xiao He that I blurted it out! It's only because we're on the battlefield that conditions don't allow it; otherwise, I would definitely drag him somewhere for drinks, and we wouldn't leave until we were completely drunk!"

Huang Liwen shook his head helplessly and joked, "I think you're not happy, you're just craving some wine, aren't you?"

"My instructor understands me best!"

Xiong Jie didn't hide it and openly admitted it.

"It's freezing cold here, I'm completely chilled. If I could have a sip of hot wine to warm myself up, that would feel even better than celebrating the New Year!"

While the two were bickering, He Yuzhu had already walked up to the soldiers.

These captured rifles, previously used by enemy snipers and elite soldiers, had long been calibrated to near perfection.

Without any hesitation, he carefully selected two of the best-maintained and newest rifles, an M1 and a Springfield M1903, and then handed his own M1 rifle to the expectant young soldier beside him.

The young soldier took the rifle, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes filled with excitement and joy. He hugged the gun tightly, as if afraid it would run away.

He secretly made up his mind that he would keep this gun with him no matter what. It was the gun used by the sharpshooter He Yuzhu, and its significance was completely different!

The other two soldiers beside him looked at the young soldier with undisguised envy in their eyes, secretly regretting that they hadn't brought the gun over themselves and missed the chance to exchange it with the sharpshooter.

None of the soldiers in the 6th Company objected to He Yuzhu's decision to select two guns at once, nor did they show any dissatisfaction.

He Yuzhu was a great benefactor to their 6th Company, a true savior. Moreover, he had just single-handedly sniped most of the enemy troops, helping the 6th Company win the battle. Such a sharpshooter deserved the best weapons.

The better his weapons, the more enemies he can kill and the fewer casualties they will suffer—this is something everyone knows.

Not long after, the platoon leader rushed over again, his expression grave, and reported to Xiong Jie:

"Company Commander! The battlefield has been completely cleaned up, but due to limited resources, the bodies of our brothers on the battlefield can only be buried on the spot."

Xiong Jie looked up at the mounds of earth that had been simply buried, his eyes slightly reddening.

He clenched his fist, his voice hoarse but incredibly firm:

"Memorize this place thoroughly, not a single stroke can be wrong! When we win the war, we will definitely come back and bring our brothers home!"

"Yes, sir!" The platoon leader straightened his back and gave a solemn military salute.

"All assemble, depart immediately!" Xiong Jie said no more and immediately issued the evacuation order.

He Yuzhu's gaze swept over the 6th Company's ranks, and he immediately spotted the sled he had previously used to transport supplies at the rear of the ranks.

At this moment, the area is piled high with the weapons, ammunition, and various supplies captured in this operation, all neatly arranged.

At this moment, Yu Congrong also strolled over slowly, nudged He Yuzhu lightly with his elbow, and looked at Xiong Jie with a hint of "wariness":

"Are you all finally done talking? Old Xiong, let me make this clear: Zhu Zi was first chosen by our 7th Company. He's one of our brothers. Don't even think about snatching him away halfway through!"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Jie immediately became displeased, stepped forward, put his arm around He Yuzhu's shoulder, and retorted with a smile:

"You can't say that! Zhu Zi was someone we met first in our 6th Company, we've been through thick and thin together, haven't we, Zhu Zi?"

He Yuzhu smiled helplessly, not wanting to get involved in their struggle, and said calmly:

"Anyway, we're all fighting the enemy on the battlefield. No matter which company we're in, it's all about protecting our country. It's the same no matter where we are."

He knew in his heart that his future destination was not something that a company commander or a platoon leader could decide. Instead of arguing here, he should conserve his energy and prepare for the battles to come.

"Alright, stop fooling around, let's hurry up and get going!"

Wu Qianli is still waiting for them at the assembly point. He must be getting impatient after all this time without any news.” Seeing this, Yu Congrong quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Okay, okay, I'm leaving now!" Xiong Jie replied, but his pace quickened noticeably. He grabbed Yu Congrong's arm and said with a smile.

"Yu Congrong, don't try to change the subject. Today I'm going to get this straight: which side does Zhuzi belong to?"

The two continued walking, bickering as they went. Huang Liwen walked up to He Yuzhu and asked gently, "Zhuzi, is it alright if I call you that?"

"No problem, instructor, feel free to call me." He Yuzhu nodded in response.

"Okay." Huang Liwen nodded slightly, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"Now you can tell me how you ran into the 7th Company? I remember their marching route wasn't in the same direction as the main force or our 6th Company, so how did we end up together?"

He Yuzhu didn't hide anything, and simply but clearly recounted how he met the 7th Company, from their accidental encounter to fighting side by side. Huang Liwen listened with repeated amazement, and his eyes were filled with increasing admiration as he looked at He Yuzhu.

He became increasingly certain that He Yuzhu was an extremely rare and precious gem!

Putting aside their other skills, just in that sniper battle just now, if He Yuzhu hadn't been there, their 6th Company would have had the numerical advantage.

Ultimately, they will be gradually worn down by enemy snipers, resulting in the complete annihilation of the entire force.

As he listened, Huang Liwen suddenly remembered something, his eyes narrowed, and he quickly asked, "So, that big guy on the mountaintop early in the morning who was trying to shoot down the plane with a submachine gun, was he also one of your men?"

Speaking of this, his tone was full of respect. Such an action, seemingly reckless, was actually a desperate gamble in a desperate situation, and he was a true iron-blooded man.

He knew in his heart that only Yu Congrong could do such a thing, and he secretly thought that if Yu Congrong were to sacrifice himself in the future, he would definitely give him a respectful military salute.

"Yes, the situation was urgent at the time, and he was forced into a corner with no other choice."

He Yuzhu responded softly, his tone tinged with emotion.

"I understand. In that desperate situation, anyone would fight with all their might."

Huang Liwen patted He Yuzhu's broad shoulder, filled with emotion.

"You little rascal, you really are always there to help in times of emergency, and you bring victory wherever you go!"

Wu Wanli silently followed He Yuzhu, never leaving his side.

Before he set off, his brother Wu Qianli repeatedly instructed him, giving him a strict order: no matter what, he must protect He Yuzhu's safety.

After this series of events, Wu Wanli finally understood himself and was filled with guilt and resentment.

He finally realized that his abilities were far too inadequate. Just being able to throw grenades was not enough on a real battlefield. If he wanted to become a soldier like his brother and He Yuzhu, there was still so much he needed to learn.

Meanwhile, Xiong Jie and Yu Congrong argued all the way, but ultimately failed to reach a conclusion.

After all, this matter was only Xiong Jie's wishful thinking. He Yuzhu had already made his stance clear, so there was no point in arguing any further.

The group crossed two snow-capped mountains, and the terrain gradually leveled out.

He Yuzhu suddenly stopped and quickly walked to Xiong Jie's side, whispering, "Company Commander Xiong, I've hidden a batch of supplies in this mountain gully ahead. Let's take them along the way; they might be useful in later operations."

"real?!"

Xiong Jie's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with surprise, and he immediately waved his hand.

"Quick! Take me to see this! The more supplies we have, the better our chances of winning!"

The group followed He Yuzhu and quickly entered the mountain valley. When they saw the supplies hidden under the snowdrifts, everyone was completely dumbfounded and stood there, their faces full of shock.

That was half a company's worth of Bald Eagle Army equipment: guns, ammunition, rations, cotton-padded clothes, sleeping bags...

They had everything, in such large quantities and of such high quality that they were enough to fully equip one of their six companies, and even had some to spare!

"My God! So many supplies!" Xiong Jie's voice trembled with excitement.

He immediately turned around and shouted behind him.

"Second Platoon Leader! Take your men immediately and make sleds as quickly as possible! Make three! No, make four! Make sure all these supplies are moved!"

"Yes, sir!" The second platoon leader responded and immediately led his soldiers to set to work, using local materials to quickly build snow sleds.

Looking at the mountain of supplies in front of him, Xiong Jie looked at He Yuzhu with a slightly embarrassed expression, scratched his head, and tentatively asked, "Zhuzi, our brothers have been hungry for a whole day. Could we have some compressed biscuits to tide us over?"

"Of course I can." He Yuzhu nodded in agreement without hesitation, his tone frank.

"I hid these supplies precisely for use in battle, for emergencies with my brothers. The soldiers have been marching and fighting in the freezing cold; they must be starving by now!"

"Hey! To be honest!" Xiong Jie sighed heavily, his tone full of relief.

"If it weren't for the supplies you sent last time, we would have either frozen to death or been too weak to travel or fight, and we wouldn't have made it this far. By the way, those chili peppers you gave us before were incredibly effective! When you're frozen stiff, just bite into one, and you'll be sweating all over in no time, and the chill will instantly dissipate. They're more effective than anything else! Do you have any left?"

Yes, plenty.

He Yuzhu nodded with a smile.

"Let the soldiers take as much as they want."

"Great! Excellent!" Xiong Jie nodded excitedly, then turned around and gave a loud order to all the soldiers.

"Everyone, take a compressed biscuit and two chili peppers to replenish your energy! Platoon leader, you're in charge of supervising. Don't take too much; keep some supplies for later!"

"yes!"

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers lined up in an orderly fashion to collect the supplies, their faces beaming with joy.

Xiong Jie looked at Yu Congrong, then at Wu Wanli beside him, and said, "Old Yu, why don't you go and get some with this young soldier? By the way, you haven't introduced this young man to me yet."

"His name is Wu Wanli, and he is Wu Qianli's younger brother."

As Yu Congrong spoke, he walked over without any hesitation, took five compressed biscuits and ten chili peppers, and then turned around and distributed them to Xiong Jie, Huang Liwen, He Yuzhu and Wu Wanli.

"As for the rest, I don't need to explain further; you should be able to guess by now."

"Wu Qianli?" Upon hearing this, Xiong Jie's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Wu Wanli.

"What is Wu Qianli up to! He's the last remaining son of the Wu family in their ancestral home, how can we let him come to such a dangerous battlefield!"

"This kid secretly ran away with the army; no one could stop him."

Yu Congrong shook his head helplessly, his tone carrying a mixture of doting and worry.

Xiong Jie stepped forward, reached out, and gently patted Wu Wanli on the shoulder, his tone approving:

"You're a real hero, lad! You truly deserve to be called a man of the Wu family—you've got guts and guts!"

His touch seemed gentle, but those who fight year-round have great strength. In addition, Wu Wanli was still young and his physique was far less robust than Yu Congrong and He Yuzhu. He immediately winced in pain, but still endured it and straightened his back.

"Hahahaha!" Xiong Jie couldn't help but burst into laughter upon seeing this.

"You're still too weak, kid. You need to train more! Learn from Zhu Zi and see his physique!"

"Yes!" Wu Wanli gritted his teeth and could only obediently agree, secretly vowing that he would train hard in the future to build a strong body and become a qualified soldier.

The soldiers of the 6th Company quickly collected supplies while taking a short rest to replenish their strength.

Just then, a deep rumbling sound suddenly came from the sky, growing louder as it approached.

"Damn it! Enemy activity! It's an enemy reconnaissance plane!"

Someone shouted, and the previously relaxed atmosphere instantly became tense.

Xiong Jie's expression changed, and he immediately gave a stern order:

"Attention everyone! Spread out and take cover immediately! Quickly! Use the snow and rocks for cover, and do not expose your position!"

The soldiers reacted quickly. Upon hearing the order, they scattered instantly, lying down in the snow or hiding behind rocks, holding their breath and remaining motionless.

The entire valley fell silent instantly, with only the howling of the cold wind and the roar of the reconnaissance plane getting closer and closer.

Enemy reconnaissance planes circled overhead again and again, their wings slicing through the air with a piercing sound, and their reconnaissance equipment under their bellies kept scanning the snow-covered ground below, lingering there for a long time.

Everyone lay prone on the spot, not daring to breathe, their hearts clenched, fearing that they would be discovered by enemy planes.

After more than ten minutes, the enemy plane circled several times, but found nothing unusual, before finally turning around and gradually flying away, its roar slowly fading into the horizon.

Only when the sound of enemy aircraft could no longer be heard did Xiong Jie breathe a sigh of relief, immediately stand up, and give the order in a deep voice:

"Quickly! Everyone assemble! Quickly gather supplies and evacuate immediately! This place is being watched by enemy aircraft; it's extremely dangerous. If we don't leave now, the enemy's main force will be here soon!"

The soldiers didn't dare to delay and quickly organized the supplies, loading everything onto the prepared snow sleds.

Soon, the 6th Company quickly assembled, pulling four snow sleds loaded with supplies, and rushed towards the 7th Company's designated assembly point.

After a rapid march, they finally arrived at the assembly point agreed upon by the 7th Company. However, the scene before them froze everyone in place, their expressions changing drastically.

The once open snowfield was now scorched black. The snow on the ground had long since melted and then solidified again. Ashes from the fire were everywhere, along with broken branches and fragments. It was clear at a glance that the area had just been subjected to a fierce bombing by enemy napalm bombs and had been completely razed to the ground.

"Brother! Instructor!"

Wu Wanli's face turned deathly pale. He shouted and, disregarding everything else, rushed into the charred ruins like a madman, searching everywhere.

Yu Congrong was equally anxious and rushed in after him. The two searched through the ruins for a long time, calling out again and again, but they couldn't find a single soldier from the 7th Company, not even a trace.

The two returned to the group anxiously, still unwilling to give up, and kept urging each other on:

"Hurry! Speed ​​up! We must find the main force as soon as possible. Only by seeing my brother and the others can we confirm that the 7th Company is safe!"

Xiong Jie and Huang Liwen also realized that something was wrong, and without hesitation, they immediately ordered the team to advance at full speed.

The route was originally only five kilometers long on the map, but in these towering mountains and snow-covered landscapes, the mountain path was rugged and difficult to traverse, making every step extremely challenging.

The two teams traveled over mountains and valleys without stopping until midnight, finally managing to reunite with the remaining members of the 7th Company late at night.

At this moment, Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng were wide awake, standing in the snow, craning their necks and looking on anxiously.

During the day today, the Bald Eagle Army went all out, sending more than twenty aircraft to bombard the area around the Watergate Bridge. Large areas were reduced to ashes by napalm bombs, a truly shocking sight.

Previously, Wu Qianli led his soldiers out on a reconnaissance mission and almost fell into the enemy's bombing trap. Fortunately, Mei Sheng was meticulous and quick-witted. He learned from the guards that the number of enemy planes deployed was far greater than usual. Sensing something was wrong, he made a decisive move and led his troops to relocate in advance, thus escaping disaster and preserving the remaining troops.

Seeing Yu Congrong, He Yuzhu and his group return safely, Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to greet them.

When Xiong Jie saw the last remaining soldiers of the 7th Company, he was stunned. His face darkened instantly, and his heart sank.

The 7th Company now has only about twenty men left, a pitifully small number. He glanced around and saw that many familiar faces were missing—Lei Gong, Ping He…

These comrades who once fought side by side are all gone.

In an instant, all words seemed pale and powerless. Xiong Jie stepped forward and gave Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng a big hug each, patting their backs forcefully without saying a word of comfort. But both of them understood that this hug carried too much heartache, sorrow, and mutual sympathy.

On this brutal battlefield, separation and death are commonplace, but the loss of a comrade-in-arms still causes heart-wrenching pain.

After a brief reunion, Wu Qianli spoke first, asking urgently, "Was the journey today smooth? Did you encounter any large enemy forces?"

Xiong Jie quickly organized his thoughts and recounted in detail their encounter with enemy snipers, He Yuzhu's intervention to rescue them, and the supplies they seized while cleaning up the battlefield.

Wu Qianli listened attentively, occasionally asking for details. When he learned that the enemy was just a scattered sniper squad and was not specifically targeting the 6th Company, nor was it heading towards the 7th Company, he finally breathed a long sigh of relief and completely let go of his worries.

He knew in his heart that with the remaining strength of the 7th Company, if they really encountered a large enemy force, the consequences would be unimaginable, and there would be no chance of victory.

At the same time, he subconsciously glanced deeply at He Yuzhu beside him, and sighed inwardly.

This is fate, this is luck! If it were anyone else, let alone successfully taking over the brothers of the 6th Company, they would probably have lost their own lives. He Yuzhu has made a great contribution again this time.

After a short rest, Wu Qianli truthfully recounted the intelligence he had gathered during his reconnaissance mission that day:

"The enemy has rebuilt the Watergate Bridge, and this time they're using a sturdy steel structure that's far more stable than the previous one. At this rate, even if we blow up the bridge again, the enemy will be able to rebuild it quickly thanks to their superior mobility."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Jie frowned deeply and fell into deep thought.

After a moment of silence, the two company commanders quickly reached an agreement after a brief discussion.

Simply blowing up the bridge is not enough to completely stop the enemy's advance; it's a band-aid solution. We must destroy the bridge while simultaneously annihilating the enemy's manpower, especially the engineering corps responsible for repairing it. Only in this way can we truly accomplish the mission of blocking the enemy's advance.

After all, the ultimate mission of their entire division was to block the enemy's retreat. Blowing up the bridge was just one means of achieving this. The enemy's mechanized forces and mobile units all relied on vehicles for transportation. Only by completely cutting off their retreat route could the strategic objective be achieved.

Ultimately, the two finalized the battle plan: tonight, the 7th Company would once again carry out the mission of blowing up the bridge, since the 7th Company had carried out the mission many times before and was most familiar with the terrain around the water gate bridge and the enemy's deployment.

The 6th Company fully cooperated, responsible for blocking enemy reinforcements from the surrounding areas, clearing the outer obstacles for the 7th Company to blow up the bridge, and providing security.

However, the 7th Company only has about 20 men left, which is a serious shortage of manpower. It will be extremely difficult to complete the task of blowing up the bridge.

Xiong Jie immediately made a decision, saying in a deep voice, "I will transfer a platoon from the 6th Company to support your 7th Company and assist in blowing up the bridge!"

Wu Qianli shook his head and resolutely refused:

"No, your 6th Company doesn't have many men to begin with, and you're also responsible for blocking enemy reinforcements. If we send a platoon there, your defensive pressure will increase exponentially, and it will be very difficult to stop the continuous stream of enemy troops. It's too dangerous!"

"The war is urgent, we can't worry about anything else!" Xiong Jie's attitude was firm, and his tone left no room for doubt.

"Your 7th Company is too small and without support, you simply cannot complete the bridge-blowing mission! You must receive support!"

After arguing for a while, the two eventually compromised. Wu Qianli agreed to transfer a squad from the 6th Company, as the 7th Company was short-handed and had no choice but to accept the support.

Once the plan was finalized, the two companies immediately redistributed and optimized their existing equipment to suit their respective combat missions: the 6th Company took two heavy machine guns for positional blocking to enhance firepower suppression.

The 7th Company abandoned heavy machine guns and carried only lightweight machine guns to ensure mobility and flexible combat during the bridge bombing attack.

The 6th Company transferred all its existing submachine guns to the 7th Company, and the entire 6th Company was re-equipped with M1 rifles with a stable rate of fire.

The remaining sniper rifles were all assigned to the two companies' top marksmen, who were responsible for long-range precision strikes.

Of the captured bazooka rocket launchers, two were distributed to the 7th Company to facilitate close-range destruction of enemy firing positions; the remaining three were all left to the 6th Company to intercept enemy armored targets.

A total of 30 kilograms of explosives were used. The 7th Company took 15 kilograms with them to blow up the bridge, and the remaining 15 kilograms were properly stored for use in subsequent operations.

Wu Qianli had previously asked He Yuzhu and confirmed that there were no other hidden supplies nearby, and subsequent supplies could only be obtained from battlefield spoils.

After the troops and equipment were allocated, He Yuzhu did not hesitate to choose to follow the 7th Company to carry out the bridge-blowing mission.

His advantage lies in long-range sniping. It would be a waste for him to stay in the 6th Company and hold the position. Only by following the 7th Company to penetrate deep into the front line and accurately kill enemy fire points and snipers can he maximize his role and clear obstacles for his comrades.

Before setting off, He Yuzhu specifically sought out Xiong Jie and made a request:

"Company Commander Xiong, I need a soldier who is proficient in mortar firing to work with me."

He already had a clear battle plan in mind. Tonight's battle would not be as simple as before; the enemy must have laid out heavy defenses.

He didn't plan to provide long-range support after the sniping, but rather wanted to fight on the front lines, taking on both the bridge-bombing and blocking operations. Mortar fire support was crucial.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiong Jie immediately selected the most skilled and experienced mortar shooter from the company and transferred him to He Yuzhu's side.

With everything ready, Mei Sheng packed his gear and prepared to go to the front lines with the bridge-bombing team.

But as soon as he stepped into the line, He Yuzhu called him back.

He Yuzhu walked up to him and said in a serious tone, "Instructor, let me check your eyesight first."

Mei Sheng was confused, but she still cooperated and completed the examination.

After the inspection, He Yuzhu did not hesitate at all. He turned around and found Wu Qianli, and said in a deep voice, "Company Commander, the political instructor's eyesight is impaired. He is not suitable to go to the front line to carry out the bridge-blowing mission. It's too dangerous."

No matter how Mei Sheng tried to explain or insisted on going to the front lines, He Yuzhu remained firm in his decision.

After listening to He Yuzhu's words, Wu Qianli thought for a moment and then decisively rejected Mei Sheng's request to go to the front line, ordering him to stay in the rear and work with the artillery to provide long-range fire support.

Mei Sheng was filled with resentment and was exceptionally stubborn this time, refusing to stay behind no matter what.

Left with no other option, Wu Qianli convened an emergency branch meeting that very night, gathering Xiong Jie, Huang Liwen, and all the party members from both companies to discuss and make a decision together.

After some discussion, the participants unanimously voted that Mei Sheng should stay in the rear to be responsible for artillery command, long-range fire support, and artillery support for the 6th Company's blocking direction.

Once the order was given, Mei Sheng, though unwilling, had no choice but to obey the organization's decision and reluctantly agreed.

He Yuzhu did not participate in this branch meeting. He is neither a member of the Youth League nor a member of the Party, so he did not need to attend this kind of meeting.

He had no interest in these matters and devoted himself entirely to pre-war preparations.

He took the Springfield M1903 rifle cartridges from the soldier who was assigned a sniper rifle, which was twice as many as those of ordinary soldiers. He sat in the snow and patiently loaded the cartridges one by one to ensure that he had enough ammunition for sniping.

At the same time, he focused his mind and carefully searched through his spatial storage for the equipment he had previously captured from the Bald Eagle Army. After searching around, he could not find any spare Springfield rifles.

So he prepared a large batch of fully loaded M1 rifle ammunition and several pistols loaded with bullets in advance, placing them in easily accessible locations for unforeseen close-quarters combat.

At 11 p.m., the night was so dark it was almost impenetrable, and the cold wind was even more biting. The two teams, following the pre-arranged battle plan, silently arrived at their designated combat positions, concealed behind the snow and rocks, holding their breath and waiting for the signal to attack.

He Yuzhu lay prone behind a rock with a wide field of vision, set up his Springfield M1903 sniper rifle, closed his left eye, and carefully observed the defenses around the Watergate Bridge through the scope with his right eye.

With just one glance, his brows furrowed tightly, his gaze grew increasingly serious, and he instantly sensed that something was wrong.

The enemy soldiers on the bridge appear to be scattered in twos and threes, loosely packed and unprepared, but a closer look reveals that they are stationed at key points on the bridge, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Each point is a hidden danger, forming a perfect crossfire network.

Even more suspiciously, he scanned the area through the scope several times, but he didn't see a single engineer, let alone any of them!

Moreover, the enemy strongholds that they had completely destroyed when they blew up the bridge have now been completely repaired and reinforced with sturdy steel, making their defenses far superior to what they were before!

Clearly, the enemy was prepared; this was obviously a trap set in advance, just waiting for them to come to them!

Wu Qianli and Yu Congrong were both veterans who had fought countless battles and had extremely rich battlefield experience. After a brief observation, they also noticed the strangeness of the enemy's deployment and became secretly on guard.

The two exchanged a glance, then immediately lowered their profile and silently crept up to He Yuzhu's side, preparing to discuss their countermeasures. After all, this long-range precision strike and obstacle clearing operation relied entirely on He Yuzhu's sniper support.

"Company Commander Wu, something's wrong." He Yuzhu said in a low voice without turning his head, his eyes still fixed on the scope.

"The enemy's defenses are loose on the outside but tight on the inside, with all their firing points in key areas, and there are no traces of engineers, so they are clearly prepared. I suggest that I take the lead and fire a round of sniper fire to test the waters. You should immediately send someone to signal Instructor Mei to have the artillery in the rear temporarily stop bombarding the bridge side and focus the artillery fire on the 6th Company's blocking direction to prevent the enemy from reinforcing in advance."

Wu Qianli's expression turned serious. He nodded and asked in a deep voice, "Are you confident? The enemy's firepower is unknown. Wouldn't a hasty attack alert them?"

"Whether I'm confident or not, we'll only know after we try," He Yuzhu said calmly, yet with unwavering confidence.

"The enemy's exact troop strength and the location of their bunkers cannot be discerned from the surface. With our current forces, if we rashly launch an attack, we will surely be surrounded by enemy fire, suffer heavy losses, or even be wiped out. We must first probe their strength."

Wu Qianli turned to look at Yu Congrong beside him and asked in a deep voice, "Old Yu, what do you think?"

Yu Congrong nodded slightly, his tone firm:

"I agree with Pillar's assessment; caution is paramount! But Pillar, how do you plan to fight? How should our firepower platoon coordinate with you?"

"Your fire support platoon, lead your soldiers and sneak forward as close as possible to the bridge, but remember, you must not reveal your location."

He Yuzhu quickly deployed the battle plan, his tone decisive.

"I will prioritize sniping all enemy soldiers who pose a threat to you, as well as all the lights around the bridge, especially the searchlights. Once I have destroyed all the searchlights and completely cut off the enemy's vision, you can launch your attack."

"Okay! We'll do it your way!"

Wu Qianli immediately made the decision.

"I'll temporarily hand over the machine gun team to you. I'll also advance with the soldiers. The fire support platoon is short-handed, so I can provide support from the front."

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on the machine gun. I'll make sure we coordinate well," He Yuzhu replied.

"Alright! We'll hide up ahead and wait for your signal to turn off the lights and attack!"