Chapter 132 He Yuzhu's Snake-like Movement

On a winter night at Changjin Lake, the cold wind was so biting that it hurt your bones. It wasn't just any ordinary cold; it was a biting wind that carried ice shards that pierced into your flesh. It was covered in snowflakes and hit your face like tiny knives, cutting you painfully.

It snowed heavily for half a day, with large flakes falling softly from the leaden night sky without any sign of stopping.

The mountains and fields were covered with thick snow. The rugged forests and steep cliffs were all covered with white snow, leaving only a dazzling pure white in the world.

The snow underfoot was already above my ankles. With each step, I could feel the biting cold spreading rapidly up the soles of my shoes, freezing my toes until they went numb and stiff.

The white breath exhaled by the soldiers was instantly frozen into fine ice shards by the extreme cold of minus thirty or forty degrees Celsius.

It clung to eyebrows, eyelashes, and hat brims, quickly forming a thin layer of white frost. Even breathing carried a bone-chilling cold, and with the slightest effort, one felt as if their nasal cavity was being pricked by ice needles.

The valley was eerily quiet, so quiet that you could hear the faint sound of snowflakes falling on the snowdrifts. Only the wind howled as it swept across the bare rocks, like the mournful cries of wronged souls, adding to the grim atmosphere of the eve of a battlefield.

The volunteer soldiers lay motionless in the snowdrifts and crevices of rocks. The thin cotton clothes they wore were already soaked through with cold air and frozen stiff, like a layer of icy armor stuck to their bodies, offering no protection against the biting cold.

They pressed their bodies tightly against the cold snow, becoming one with the white snow, their faces and bodies covered in snowflakes.

From a distance, it looked like a rock protruding from the snow, or a pile of snow. People didn't dare to breathe too loudly, for fear that the slightest movement would alert the enemy in the distance and ruin the entire ambush plan.

Everyone's hands and feet were already frozen stiff, their fingertips numb, yet they still gripped their guns tightly, their eyes fixed firmly on the road below the mountain, their gazes showing no fear, only a determination to win.

According to the pre-battle tactics, the first round of ambush would not require heavy artillery at all. All firepower should be precisely aimed at the enemy convoy, striving to defeat the enemy in one blow and catch them off guard.

Eight bazooka rocket launchers were steadily set up by the soldiers at the firing positions that had been pre-surveyed at the front line, while the soldiers lay prone on the cold snow.

They adjusted the firing angle again and again, keeping the gun barrel firmly aimed at the right-angle bend in the road below the mountain—the only route the convoy could take.

On both sides are towering, steep, barren mountain walls, with only a narrow road in the middle, shaped like a pocket. Once an enemy convoy enters, it will be a dead end with no way to escape.

During the pre-battle deployment, Company Commander Wu Qianli repeatedly emphasized that as long as the enemy's leading tanks, armored vehicles, and troop carriers were destroyed as soon as possible, these scrapped vehicles could be used to completely block the road, trapping the entire enemy force in the valley and leaving them at our mercy. This was the key to winning this ambush.

Bazooka rockets have always been a scarce commodity. In the extremely resource-scarce Volunteer Army, every single one was precious. The company controlled them very strictly, and they were reluctant to use them even in regular training, saving them all to deal with the American iron lumps.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name 1110 ...

However, this time there were twenty more rockets on the position than the authorized number, which surprised and delighted all the soldiers, and gave them a lot more confidence.

This was all He Yuzhu's doing. Last time, he was ordered to go to the rear to collect the last batch of war supplies.

The rear warehouse was crowded with people and soldiers busy moving ammunition and food. The soldiers responsible for counting the ammunition were so busy that they didn't have time to check the quantity carefully.

He Yuzhu seized the opportunity and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, secretly stuffed twenty more rockets into his pocket. He carefully hid them in the pile of sacks used for transporting supplies, braved the bitter cold and dodged layers of checks, and safely brought them back to the camp.

Back at the temporary camp, the soldiers gathered around the campfire to count their ammunition.

When the number of rockets was checked, the soldiers in charge of counting counted them again and again. After confirming that there were a full twenty extra, they were overjoyed and immediately surrounded He Yuzhu, chattering excitedly with their faces full of admiration.

"Pillar, you're amazing! You've got twenty extra rockets for nothing! Now we don't have to worry about dealing with those American iron hoops anymore; we're much more confident!"

A young soldier patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder, his face flushed with excitement, and his voice rose a few decibels.

"Absolutely! These bazookas are incredibly accurate at taking down tanks and armored vehicles. We treasure them like the back of our hand, but now that we have more, they'll be invaluable in a pinch. They might even be able to wipe out an entire enemy convoy!"

Another veteran echoed this sentiment, his eyes filled with joy as he looked at the pile of rockets beside him. On this brutal battlefield, every extra round of ammunition meant a greater chance of survival and victory.

He Yuzhu patted the bulging ammunition pouch at his waist, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his dark face exuding a cleverness, and his eyes bright and determined.

"I noticed no one was checking carefully at the time, and I figured I couldn't miss the opportunity, so I grabbed a few extra. In war, having more ammunition is never a bad thing. In a close encounter, the brave prevail. With sufficient equipment, we can give these American troops a good beating and stop them from running rampant on our borders!"

He spoke in a relaxed tone, but he knew in his heart that these twenty rockets were the soldiers' confidence and an important asset in winning this battle.

As night deepened, the dark sky was shrouded in heavy snow, obscuring the starlight. The clock slowly ticked down to around 10 p.m., and the entire valley remained deathly silent, with only the relentless raging wind and snow.

The scout lying at the forefront suddenly moved slightly. He dared not make any big movements, but slowly squinted and stared intently toward the direction of Changjin Lake. With the help of the faint snow light reflected from the snow on the ground, he could see a string of car lights in the distance, slowly driving toward the ambush zone.

The car headlights cast long, blinding streaks of light in the pitch-black snowy night, stretching as far as the eye could see. Accompanied by the faint rumble of machinery, they drew ever closer, and with each passing minute, the atmosphere on the battlefield grew increasingly tense.

The scouts immediately lowered their bodies, pressed themselves tightly against the snow, and moved swiftly through the thick snow, their movements light and agile, as if afraid of making the slightest sound.

He crawled forward quickly, the snow being scraped off and falling in a flurry, splashing up snowflakes over the short distance of a few dozen meters.

He rushed to Wu Qianli's side in just over ten seconds. After stopping, his voice was extremely low but exceptionally clear and powerful, every word filled with tension.

"Company Commander! A large enemy convoy is approaching from the direction of Chosin Reservoir. There are so many vehicles, you can't see the end of them, and you can't count them all. Judging from their size, they are at least a regiment of troops, and they are heading towards our ambush area!"

Wu Qianli's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his previously calm face was instantly filled with murderous intent. Without the slightest panic, he raised his hand and quickly made a battle preparation gesture to the surrounding positions. His movements were swift and decisive. Then, he gave a deep order, his voice carrying through the wind and snow to the surrounding positions.

"7th Company, all personnel, immediately take combat positions, remain concealed, and await orders! Bazooka teams, all in position, keep a firm aim at the bend in the road. No one is to fire without my order!"

In an instant, all the soldiers on the position adjusted their posture, moved their bodies slightly, and found a more stable shooting position. All eight bazookas were set up steadily. The shooters squinted one eye, aimed closely at the bend below the mountain, and placed their fingers lightly on the trigger, not daring to shake it in the slightest.

Everyone held their breath, afraid to make a sound. The entire position fell into a deathly silence once again, with only the howling wind and snow echoing in their ears.

Everyone patiently awaited the signal to attack, their hearts pounding in their chests, yet they remained absolutely calm.

Before long, the enemy convoy came into full view of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

Leading the way were two imposing heavy tanks, their dark tracks grinding fiercely across the snow-covered road, crushing the ice and producing a dull, grating creak. Their thick armor gleamed with a cold, hard metallic sheen, and their cannons were raised high as they rampaged through the road, displaying an arrogant and domineering attitude.

Behind the tanks followed a long line of armored vehicles and ten-wheeled trucks loaded with American soldiers. The wheels spun rapidly, kicking up clouds of snow, and the convoy marched menacingly toward the right-angle bend in the road. The roar of the convoy was particularly clear in the silent valley.

Wu Qianli lay prone behind a huge rock, his body pressed tightly against the cold surface. His eyes were fixed on the slowly approaching enemy convoy, sharp as an eagle's. He showed no impatience, patiently waiting for the best opportunity to attack.

One, two, three...

He counted silently in his mind, and as the convoy drove past the bend one after another, a full twelve or thirteen vehicles had passed.

When the entire convoy had completely penetrated into the heart of the ambush zone, blocked in front and behind on the narrow valley road and unable to move forward or backward quickly, he suddenly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, and with all his might, he shouted loudly, his voice echoing through the valley.

"beat!"

The moment the command was given, all eight bazookas simultaneously spewed fire!

Eight rockets, trailing bright orange-red flames, pierced the pitch-black night sky with sharp, piercing whistles, striking the enemy vehicles on the road with precision like arrows released from a bow.

"Boom! Boom!"

The deafening explosions rang out one after another, each more violent than the last, and the towering flames instantly illuminated the dark night sky, turning the entire valley into daylight.

The US tank leading the charge was hit precisely by the rocket, its thick, sturdy armor was torn apart, its tracks snapped instantly, and the tank burst into flames, which shot into the sky. It was paralyzed in the middle of the road and could no longer move.

The armored vehicles that followed were hit one after another, their bodies blown to pieces, and fragments flew everywhere with the roar of fire, completely losing their mobility and blocking the road haphazardly; the trucks full of soldiers were also detonated one after another.

The vehicle instantly twisted and deformed, bursting into flames. Many American soldiers were still fast asleep inside the vehicle, completely unaware of what was happening, when they were thrown into the air by the massive blast wave and crashed heavily onto the cold snow.

Screams, cries, and violent explosions mingled together, echoing through the valley. The once orderly American convoy was instantly thrown into chaos.

In just over ten seconds, the once grand and orderly convoy came to a complete standstill. The wrecked vehicles were scattered haphazardly on the narrow road, unable to move forward or backward, becoming sitting ducks.

The highway was littered with burning vehicles, flying debris, and the cries of American soldiers; the scene was chaotic.

Before the remaining American troops could react to the sudden attack, the light and heavy machine guns on the position roared simultaneously.

"Rat-a-tat-tat! Rat-a-tat-tat!"

The dense barrage of bullets, like a torrential downpour, wove together an impenetrable web of fire, sweeping wildly across the exposed enemy troops on the road.

The American troops were instantly routed and had no chance to fight back. The surviving soldiers were terrified and scrambled to hide behind burning vehicles and in the cracks in the roadside rocks, trembling and clutching their heads. They were completely stunned by the fierce firepower of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and did not even have the courage to raise their heads to fight back. They could only let the bullets whiz past them.

The U.S. commander at the rear of the convoy sat in a sturdy armored vehicle, his view completely blocked by a vehicle that had suddenly been damaged in front of him.

All I could hear were continuous explosions and intense, ear-piercing gunfire ahead. My heart sank, and an ominous premonition instantly washed over me.

He had just picked up the walkie-talkie to ask what was happening at the front when he heard the panicked, tearful screams of the soldiers on the front lines.

"Sir! We've been ambushed! There's a large number of Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers on the mountain ridge east of the highway. Their firepower is extremely intense, pinning us down. Judging from the firepower, it's at least a battalion's worth! Requesting artillery support! Requesting artillery support immediately!"

This assessment was hastily made by frontline U.S. military officers based on the intense firepower density on the positions. In their view, such dense and fierce firepower was something that small groups of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops could not possess; only organized battalion-level units could achieve such firepower.

The enemy commander's face turned ashen, his previous arrogance vanished, his brows furrowed, and he barked orders into the walkie-talkie, his tone filled with anger and urgency.

"Hold on to the Volunteer Army's attack! Organize our forces to push all the damaged vehicles off the cliff and clear the road at all costs!"

A moment later, a helpless and desperate response came through the walkie-talkie, the subordinate's voice filled with fear and powerlessness.

"General! We can barely move the trucks and light armored vehicles because they're small, but those tanks weigh tens of tons each; we can't move them at all! If this continues, we'll all be annihilated!"

The commander was instantly enraged, hysterically yelling into the walkie-talkie, "If you can't push it, you have to find a way! Are you just going to stay here and wait to die? This is an order, execute it immediately!"

After yelling, he abruptly hung up the communication, turned around and shouted fiercely at the artillery unit behind him with a ferocious expression.

"All artillery must assemble immediately and set up temporary artillery positions within ten minutes. Locate the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's positions on the mountain ridge and prepare for overwhelming fire! We must raze their positions to the ground!"

He then hurriedly dialed the tank unit's communications, his tone extremely urgent and somewhat flustered.

"Send tanks equipped with bulldozer blades forward immediately! Your tanks have buckets and can be used as bulldozers. Clear the roadblocks quickly! This peninsula is all mountainous terrain. We usually rely on them to clear roads through mountains. Use them now; this is our only way out!"

The addition of bulldozer blades to these US tanks was a necessity born out of necessity due to the rugged and difficult terrain in North Korea. They were used for road and bridge repairs and obstacle clearing in normal times, but no one expected that they would become the only hope for opening up a retreat route and saving lives.

At the same time, the observation post set up by the 7th Company on a high point on the eastern ridge, through binoculars, clearly saw the series of actions of the American artillerymen below quickly setting up guns and loading ammunition, and was immediately shocked.

Without daring to delay for even a moment, they immediately fired a rapid red warning signal toward the artillery position where He Yuzhu was located, while shouting at the top of their lungs. Their voices traveled far through the wind and snow.

"Sergeant He! The American troops have set up artillery down the mountain, targeting our position. They're going to bomb our position! Get ready!"

The moment He Yuzhu saw the warning signal, his eyes darkened. He made a decisive decision without hesitation, turned to look at Mei Sheng beside him, and spoke crisply and without a word of embellishment.

"Instructor Mei, you are now in full command of this artillery position. Hold the line and maintain firepower! Pick two quick-handed ammunition handlers and come with me immediately!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already bent down and quickly picked up two light mortars, steadily hoisted them onto his shoulders, and with a burst of speed, sprinted towards the eastern ridge. His steps were swift, each step sending snow flying, and his figure moved rapidly through the snowy night with incredible speed.

The two soldiers from the 6th Company reacted quickly, not daring to delay for a moment. They each carried a heavy box of mortar shells and followed closely behind He Yuzhu, running towards the ridge.

Mei Sheng was about to tell him to be careful and stay hidden when he looked up and saw that He Yuzhu had already rushed more than ten meters away, his figure darting through the swirling snow and about to reach the ridge.

Mei Sheng shook his head helplessly, feeling both admiration and headache. This He Yuzhu never played by the rules in battle.

He always dared to charge forward alone, venturing deep behind enemy lines. After each battle, he always had to clean up the mess and cover for him. Yet, his battlefield judgments were always incredibly accurate, and his decisions always turned the tide of battle, making him unstoppable.

On the other side, on the main position of the 7th Company, Wu Qianli knew that the US military had suffered such a great loss and heavy casualties, and would inevitably retaliate with artillery fire. This was the US military's consistent combat method, relying on powerful firepower to suppress the opponent.

He immediately gave a firm order to the bazooka group.

"Quickly move all six rocket launchers to the rear concealed positions, leaving only two at the front! This is a protracted war. We already have limited equipment, so we mustn't let the enemy destroy all our gear with a single shot. Preserving our strength is essential for a long-term battle!"

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers quickly moved their equipment, their movements swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. They carefully carried the rocket launchers through the wind and snow, retreating towards their concealed positions in the rear.

The 7th Company was fighting fiercely on the front lines, while the three companies lying in ambush behind them could no longer contain their excitement. The soldiers were all eager to fight, and one after another, they sent messengers to ask for instructions, their eyes full of longing.

"Company commander! Let us go up and provide support! The brothers are itching to go up and give the Americans a good beating!"

Wu Qianli waved his hand, his tone firm and composed, showing no sign of panic.

"Go back and wait. There are plenty of enemies behind you. I'm afraid you won't be able to fight them all. Be patient and await orders, and follow unified command!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, a soldier from the artillery platoon rushed over, his face extremely solemn, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and his voice urgent.

"Company commander! Something's wrong! The American artillery has set up its guns, and the fire will start soon. We need to retreat!"

Wu Qianli's expression changed, his eyes instantly turned serious, and he immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing throughout the entire position.

"Attention everyone! Leave two light machine guns to block the right-angle bend, the rest of you retreat immediately! Quickly! Move fast!"

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers quickly and orderly withdrew from the position and moved to a safe area in the rear, leaving only five people on the position: two groups of machine gunners and one artillery observer.

The five men stood firm in their machine gun positions, watching their comrades retreat without flinching. Even knowing that American artillery fire was about to cover their positions, and facing a life-or-death test, they remained steadfastly in their firing positions, ready to defend their position to the death.

Wu Qianli had only led half of his troops away when the sound of artillery shells whistling through the air came from behind them. The sound was sharp and piercing, making one's scalp tingle. Then came a deafening explosion.

He turned around abruptly and saw the position he had just been holding was engulfed in flames, with rubble, snow, and soil flying everywhere from the blast wave. The once stable position was instantly blown beyond recognition.

The two light machine guns paused for a moment, then only one fired intermittently before falling silent.

"Company Commander!"

Yu Congrong's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at the battlefield engulfed in flames and let out a heart-wrenching cry.

The two machine gunners who stayed behind were all his brothers in the platoon, and the only remaining machine gunners in the entire firepower platoon. They were his comrades-in-arms who had been with him day and night and fought side by side.

"Retreat! No turning back!"

Wu Qianli's eyes were red and swollen, and his heart felt like it was being torn apart, but he still shouted with all his might.

He knew that there was no turning back now; if panic broke out, the entire army would be in danger, and he had to lead the main force to a safe retreat.

They had anticipated this scenario before the war began; this mountain ridge was strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

However, they were also excellent targets for artillery fire. To hold the ambush point and hold off the American troops, they had to risk their lives. This was the cruelty of war, and there was no other choice. As a commander, he had to consider the overall situation.

"yes!"

Yu Congrong clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood. He glanced at the position in the firelight with tears in his eyes, gritted his teeth, turned around, and quickly followed the team, each step feeling incredibly heavy.

On the other side, He Yuzhu heard the whistling of shells behind him and quickened his pace instantly, almost running across the snow. He skillfully dodged the flying debris and artillery fire, and survived two rounds of artillery fire from the American forces.

Finally, they found a concealed spot on the ridge with a wide view and a direct view of the enemy's artillery positions.

He immediately put down the mortar on his shoulder, squatted down and quickly adjusted the coordinates. His eyes were focused and his movements were skilled and nimble. When he looked back, he saw that only one of the two ammunition handlers who had followed him had caught up.

The other one was still more than ten meters away, limping and struggling to run, his figure looking particularly disheveled in the snow.

He Yuzhu strode forward, took the ammunition box from the ammunition handler, and asked in a deep voice, his tone tinged with urgency.

"Where's the other person? I clearly brought two people with me when I set off, why are you the only one here?"

"Report! That guy was running too fast and lost his way, twisting his ankle in the snow. He's limping here now and will be here soon!"

The ammunition handler was panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat. In this extremely cold weather, the sweat froze into ice crystals as soon as it appeared. He replied between breaths.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go get him, bring over the rest of the shells too. If we miss our chance, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

He Yuzhu saw the staggering figure in the distance by the reflection of the snow, and immediately urged him on with a firm look in his eyes.

"yes!"

The ammunition handler didn't dare to delay, turned around and ran back towards his wounded comrade.

He Yuzhu returned to the gun position, quickly disassembled the ammunition box, took out the shells one by one, carefully adjusted the fuse, and after confirming that everything was correct, quickly loaded the shells into the gun barrel in one smooth motion.

"Thump thump!"

Two muffled cannon shots rang out, and two shells shot through the air, whistling through the air, flying rapidly toward the enemy artillery position.

A moment later, two loud "bangs" were heard in the distance. The shells hit their targets precisely, and two bursts of fire instantly rose from the enemy's artillery positions.

Immediately afterwards, a clear signal came from the observation post on the ridge, and the soldiers shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Target hit! Precision hit! Continue firing, extend the artillery fire by twenty meters, expand the gains!"

He Yuzhu moved without stopping, his hands flying fast as he quickly loaded, adjusted the cannon, and fired again. His movements were fluid and without pause. After two rounds of shelling, the ammunition box he carried was completely empty, with not a single shell left.

"Quickly! Send the shells over! Now!"

He Yuzhu shouted at the ammunition handlers who were rushing towards him, his voice full of urgency.

The ammunition handler, carrying the ammunition box, rushed forward, bent over, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently, almost unable to breathe.

He Yuzhu took the box, quickly adjusted the fuse, loaded the shells, and continued to bombard the enemy's artillery positions, giving the enemy no chance to catch their breath.

Not long after, the observation post sent another urgent message, the voice tinged with excitement.

"Enemy artillery positions are completely paralyzed! Enemy command vehicle spotted, suspected to contain a high-ranking officer, coordinates ***!"

He Yuzhu's eyes flashed, his gaze sharp as a knife. He immediately aimed at the given coordinates and fired two shots in quick succession. The sound of the cannon rang out, and then he shouted to the ammunition handler beside him.

"Go to the rear and carry two more boxes of artillery shells! Quickly! You have to be quick!"

After giving the orders, he immediately picked up the sniper rifle beside him and rushed towards the observation post. He knew that the enemy's high-ranking officers were definitely hiding in sturdy armored vehicles, and ordinary shells would hardly be able to penetrate the armor completely. To eliminate the target, he had to use a sniper rifle to accurately snipe and kill him with one shot.

Rushing to the observation post, He Yuzhu snatched the binoculars from the observer's hand.

First, look at the enemy's artillery position. The position is in a mess. The cannons have been blown up and are lying on the ground with their barrels twisted and deformed. Many artillerymen have been killed or wounded and are lying in the snow.

Another box of unfired shells was detonated, and several ammunition trucks nearby were also affected, overturning and bursting into flames.

He Yuzhu's lips curled up slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face. He was very satisfied with the result; completely destroying the enemy's artillery eliminated the biggest threat to the position.

Following the observation post's guidance, he slowly moved his binoculars and saw an armored vehicle overturned on the side of the road. A group of American soldiers were frantically prying open the door and pulling people out in a panic. From their cautious, respectful, and tense attitude, it was clear that there must be important people inside the vehicle.

The target was more than 400 meters away. In this snowy and windy weather, visibility was obstructed and wind speed would affect shooting accuracy, making it extremely difficult.

He Yuzhu immediately took off the Springfield 1903 sniper rifle from his back, lay steadily on the cold snow, set up the gun, adjusted his breathing, and locked his gaze on the armored vehicle door through the scope. His eyes were focused and cold, without the slightest distraction.

A few dozen seconds later, a U.S. soldier wearing an officer's cap was pulled out of the vehicle by soldiers.

Even though he was more than 400 meters away and the rank insignia on his shoulder was not clearly visible, the soldiers around him were so careful and respectful that it was enough to tell that this person was no ordinary person and was a high-ranking commander of the U.S. military.

He Yuzhu's eyes were cold. Without the slightest hesitation, he slowly chambered the bullet, his finger steadily pulling the trigger. His arm remained motionless, and even as the wind and snow blew against his face, he maintained absolute composure.

"Bang!"

A crisp gunshot rang out, shattering the clamor of the valley and standing out clearly in the wind and snow.

Four hundred meters away, the American officer's cap was instantly knocked off, a bloody hole appeared on his forehead, and his body went limp, falling straight into the arms of the American soldier next to him, dying on the spot, without any further movement.

The American troops were thrown into chaos and completely panicked. Several men hurriedly carried the bodies and fled in panic.

The remaining soldiers were terrified and fired wildly at the surrounding mountains and forests. The bullets flew aimlessly and without any strategy, as they only wanted to vent their fear.

"Go! Retreat immediately! Find cover!"

He Yuzhu pulled the observation post soldier beside him and quickly retreated more than ten meters, hiding behind a huge rock.

He knew that these indiscriminately fired stray bullets were more dangerous than precision shooting. Although 400 meters was a long distance, stray bullets had no eyes, so it was safer to stay far away and find cover.

After finding a new hiding spot, He Yuzhu cautiously peeked out and observed that the American troops no longer dared to approach the armored vehicle, let alone drag the people inside. Either all the people inside had been killed, or they were too scared to move, and their previous arrogance had completely vanished.

Just then, several dazzling tracer bullets suddenly rose into the night sky, illuminating the entire mountain ridge as bright as day.

The American troops went completely mad, setting up heavy machine guns and firing wildly at the surrounding hills. The sound of gunfire was incessant, and bullets rained down on the rocks and snow, splashing up clouds of snow.

They even used the bazookas they carried with them to bombard areas in the mountains and forests that they thought were inhabited, with explosions ringing out one after another, showing a frenzied counterattack that disregarded costs.

At the same time, the gunfire from the blocking positions below the mountain intensified again, occasionally interspersed with loud explosions.

Although the US artillery was destroyed, the remaining soldiers still had their bazookas, which had a direct firing range of more than 200 meters.

Even when firing upwards, the enemy could still pose a significant threat to the positions of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army on the mountain. The battle, which had initially been in a superior position, became stalemate again, and the two sides were locked in a fierce tug-of-war.

He Yuzhu found a blind spot for the American soldiers, lay tightly behind a rock, and kept his eyes fixed on the bend in the road below, carefully observing the battlefield situation.

Two American tanks equipped with bulldozer blades were seen pushing forward desperately. In their desperate attempt to clear a path, the Americans had gone completely mad. They even pushed intact trucks off cliffs on the bends, sparing no effort to clear a way for the tanks and break through the ambush.

In order to get a better view of the road ahead and better direct the advance, the two tank commanders leaned out halfway, completely exposing themselves to He Yuzhu's sniper line of sight, completely unaware that danger was about to strike.

He Yuzhu would never let such a target, delivered to his doorstep, go. He was never soft-hearted and dealt with his enemies with ruthless force.

He slowly set up his sniper rifle, squinted to aim, breathed steadily, and fired decisively. The whole sequence of actions was completed in one go, without the slightest hesitation.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two crisp gunshots rang out in quick succession, almost merging into one.

After the two shots, He Yuzhu got up and quickly moved to a new position. His steps were light and he left no trace. He disappeared behind the rocks in an instant, giving the American troops no chance to pinpoint his location.

On the highway, the two tanks came to an abrupt stop, and the roaring sound of their engines ceased abruptly.

Upon seeing this, the American infantry rushed forward and quickly dragged the hit tank commander back into the compartment, frantically trying to treat him, but the commander had already stopped breathing.

Immediately afterwards, a tracer round precisely illuminated the spot where He Yuzhu had just fired, and a dense barrage of bullets swept wildly in that direction.

The incessant gunfire and the distant roar of mortars echoed in the air—the US military had urgently deployed small-caliber artillery to bombard the hillside relentlessly, with artillery fire raining down, in an attempt to completely eliminate this elusive sniper.

Hearing the whistling sound of the shells, He Yuzhu quickly judged from his rich battlefield experience that the impact point was still some distance away from him.

He immediately and carefully identified the location of the enemy artillery, then turned around and nimbly weaved through the piles of rocks on the ridge, disappearing silently into the night to continue searching for new opportunities.

The American tank, now without its commander, continued to advance slowly forward, gradually rounding the bend, with the remaining driver operating it in a panic.

Just as he pushed aside a wrecked armored vehicle, he was accurately hit by a bazooka left behind on the position. The vehicle instantly burst into flames, became paralyzed on the spot, and could no longer move.

The other tank behind immediately became cautious. The driver dared not show his face easily anymore, and drove close to the cliff face, using the steep mountain to block the Volunteer Army's firing angle. He cleared the roadblocks little by little, completely depriving the soldiers on the mountain of their firing opportunities.

To attack this tank, one would have to expose oneself to US firepower and suffer heavy casualties.

But this little trick was ultimately useless. A tank could barely move a few wrecked cars, and as more and more damaged vehicles blocked the road, they piled up into a small mountain.

The tank engine roared shrilly, billowing black smoke from its rear. It had run out of power and could no longer be pushed. It was stuck on the road, unable to move forward or backward.

Left with no other option, the driver risked his life by leaning out of the cabin again, trying to use all his strength to push the wrecked tank in front of him off the cliff and clear the path completely.

But as soon as he showed half of his body, he was accurately hit by a bazooka on the position. The gun emplacement was blasted with a large hole, thick smoke billowed out, and it was completely destroyed, becoming a pile of scrap metal.

On the blocking position, Wu Qianli and Xiong Jie looked at the American tanks being destroyed one after another, but their faces showed no joy. Instead, their expressions became increasingly solemn.

They had fought against the US military many times and knew their combat style all too well. They suffered such a great loss, losing a large number of troops and equipment.

They will inevitably launch a more ferocious retaliation and use more powerful firepower; the real tough battles and fierce fights are yet to come.

Sure enough, not long after, a muffled and enormous whistling sound came from the sky. The sound was heavier and more piercing than the previous artillery fire. It grew closer and closer, making people's scalps tingle and a strong sense of crisis rise in their hearts.

"Take cover! Everyone take cover! Find cover!"

Wu Qianli and Xiong Jie shouted at the top of their lungs at the same time, their voices hoarse and filled with endless urgency.

However, the US 105mm howitzers arrived too suddenly this time. They had a long range, powerful firepower, and were positioned in extremely concealed locations, hidden in the blind spots of the valley. The observation posts of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had no time to detect them in advance.

The soldiers didn't have time to evacuate completely; artillery fire instantly covered the entire blocking position!

"Boom! Boom!"

"Boom boom boom!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Five or six howitzers bombarded the valley three times in quick succession before gradually ceasing their barrage. The violent explosions shook the valley to its core.

The entire position was completely razed to the ground by artillery fire. Thick snow, gravel, and mud were mixed together and scattered everywhere by the explosions. The position was a mess, with shell craters everywhere and a scene of devastation.

After the artillery fire subsided, smoke filled the air. Wu Qianli struggled to his feet from the thick pile of mud, covered in dust, his hair and face smeared with mud and sand.

He spat out the mud and sand from his mouth, rubbed his head which was still dazed from the shock, and shouted loudly at his surroundings, his voice hoarse: "Is anyone still alive? Anyone who can answer, answer!"

"have……"

Sparse, extremely weak sounds came intermittently from all parts of the position, each sound revealing endless weakness and pain.

"Old Xiong! Xiong Jie! Where are you? Answer me!"

Wu Qianli shouted loudly, his voice full of urgency, but received no response.

His heart tightened, and he panicked instantly. Ignoring the rubble and smoke scattered on the ground, he looked around anxiously, searching for Xiong Jie's figure.

Suddenly, he saw a blood-stained, trembling hand reaching out from the pile of rubble not far away.

Wu Qianli's heart clenched, and he rushed over, using his bare hands to pry open the stones that were pressing down on top of him. The mud hurt his palms, but he didn't even notice.

Xiong Jie lay quietly on the ground, one of his legs smashed by a basketball-sized rock, a bloody mess with bone protruding. His head was also slashed open, blood flowing out and staining the snow beneath him.

Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet, which blocked most of the impact, and he narrowly escaped death.

Wu Qianli breathed a sigh of relief, secretly rejoicing that the kid was incredibly lucky to have survived such intense artillery fire.

He laboriously removed the stones from Xiong Jie's body and carefully helped him to lean against a rock, trying to alleviate his pain as much as possible.

Xiong Jie slowly opened his eyes. It took him a while to recover from his unconsciousness. The first thing he said when he opened his eyes was to ask his comrades-in-arms, his voice extremely weak.

"Where's my instructor? How is he? Is he injured?"

Wu Qianli shook his head, but before he could speak, he heard Yu Congrong's weak voice from not far away. It was weak and listless, and it was filled with deep pain and exhaustion.

"He's here! He's not dead, just stunned by the artillery fire!"

Yu Congrong's voice was extremely weak, and each word was spoken with great difficulty, carrying an undisguised pain.

"Men, immediately carry 6th Company Commander Xiong Jie to the rear for treatment. Order the 2nd Company to send a squad to support the position!" Wu Qianli immediately gave the order in a deep voice, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Yes!" Two soldiers immediately stepped forward, ready to lift Xiong Jie.

"I'm not leaving! I can still fight! It's just a leg injury, it's nothing serious, I can continue fighting!"

Xiong Jie struggled and shouted, his eyes incredibly stubborn, refusing to leave the position and wanting to stay on the front line to fight alongside his comrades.

"Go down and treat your wounds! There are many battles to fight later, don't try to be a hero here. Staying here will only hold your comrades back. Listen to me and go down!"

Wu Qianli's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation, and he waved for the soldiers to quickly carry the person away.

"Let me see the instructor! Just one look!"

Xiong Jie still refused to give up, struggling to look in Yu Congrong's direction.

"Take it away! Take it away immediately!"

Wu Qianli shouted sternly, his eyes resolute. He knew that showing leniency at this moment would only cost Xiong Jie his life.

Without further hesitation, the soldiers lifted Xiong Jie up and quickly retreated towards the medical point behind them.

Wu Qianli strode over to Yu Congrong and Huang Liwen, looked down, and his heart sank instantly, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar—the situation was a hundred times more serious than Yu Congrong had described!

Huang Liwen did indeed faint and was completely unconscious, but one of his arms had been blown off, the wound was a bloody mess, and blood kept gushing out, staining the snow all over his body.

Yu Congrong had a large gash in his stomach from shrapnel, his flesh turned inside out and blood flowing freely. He clutched his wound tightly with one hand, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, while pressing down on Huang Liwen's severed limb with the other, trying his best to stop the bleeding. His face was ashen, devoid of any color, and he only managed to stay upright thanks to his strong willpower.

"Quickly! Gently carry Instructor Huang and Platoon Leader Yu away, be extremely careful with their wounds, and don't move them even slightly!"

Wu Qianli's eyes were red and swollen, and he shouted in a hoarse voice, his heart filled with heartache and self-blame.

"yes!"

Several soldiers rushed over immediately and carefully lifted the two men, moving gently so as not to touch their wounds and aggravate their pain.

After settling the two men in, Wu Qianli suddenly remembered his younger brother Wu Wanli and panicked instantly. He could no longer maintain his composure as a commander and shouted loudly, his voice filled with panic.

"Wu Wanli! Wu Wanli! Where are you? Answer me!"

"To..." came Wu Wanli's weak reply from not far away, his voice broken and intermittent.

Wu Qianli ran over quickly and saw Wu Wanli slumped in the snow, his eyes unfocused, his face pale, and he looked extremely weak.

He quickly crouched down, anxiously looking the person up and down, and carefully asked, "Where are you hurt? Where does it hurt? Tell me!"

"Brother, I see stars everywhere, I'm so dizzy, and I feel like throwing up..."

Wu Wanli frowned, clutched his chest, and kept dry heaving as he spoke, feeling completely dizzy.

Wu Qianli carefully examined his body and found no obvious external injuries. He immediately realized that he had been injured by the powerful shockwave of the artillery fire.

His heart finally settled down. He slowly took off the water bottle, unscrewed the cap, carefully fed his younger brother a few sips of water, and gently helped him lean against the rock to rest.

"Are you feeling better? Are you still dizzy?" Wu Qianli asked softly, his tone full of brotherly concern.

"I'm still dizzy. I see so many shadows of you, I can't tell which one is real..."

Wu Wanli reached out and touched his eyes, but found nothing. His voice was extremely weak.

"Listen to me, go and rest. You're in no condition to fight in your current state."

Looking at his younger brother's weak appearance, Wu Qianli said with heartache.

"Brother, I'm fine, I can fight, I can stay here with you..."

Wu Wanli struggled to stand up, but he was too weak to muster any strength.

"Listen to me, get some rest for the night, recharge your energy. There's a tough battle to fight tomorrow. Let's work together, brothers, and drive the American troops out of here."

Wu Qianli patted him on the shoulder, his tone gentle yet firm.

At this moment, reinforcements from the 2nd Company arrived. It wasn't just a squad as mentioned before, but an entire platoon. The 2nd Company commander, upon learning of the heavy casualties and critical situation on the main position, directly dispatched a platoon to reinforce the position and provide full support to the blocking position.

"The platoon leader of the 2nd Company has been ordered to provide reinforcements. Please issue the mission order, Company Commander!"

The platoon leader quickly ran to Wu Qianli, stood at attention, saluted, and looked solemn.

"First, we must do everything in our power to find and properly care for the remains of our fallen comrades. Then, we must carefully examine the wounded on the front lines and provide them with the best possible treatment. We cannot afford to waste a single moment!"

Wu Qianli gave a deep order, quickly adjusted his mindset, and returned to his role as commander.

"yes!"

The platoon leader received the order and immediately led his soldiers into action.

The positions at the foot of the mountain were heavily damaged by American artillery fire, resulting in heavy casualties and a difficult situation.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu was also caught in a thrilling and desperate battle—a group of American soldiers sneaked up the mountain along hidden paths, attempting to outflank the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and launch a pincer attack!

The US military's communication equipment was far more convenient and advanced than that of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, covering a distance of several kilometers.

A walkie-talkie quickly relayed the combat order. Upon receiving the order, the US troops in the rear immediately dispersed their forces, searched for trails up the mountain, and silently approached the ridge, hoping to catch the Chinese People's Volunteer Army off guard.

This group of American troops ran right into He Yuzhu, who was carrying a mortar and searching for American howitzer positions on the ridge. They met on a narrow path and had no way to retreat.

He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold. Without saying a word, he immediately stopped and quickly set up the mortar. Without the slightest hesitation, he fired several mortar shells. The shells exploded precisely in the American troops, instantly killing a large number of them. The American troops were caught off guard and immediately lost their composure.

He then quickly put away the mortar, switched to his sniper rifle, and, using the huge rocks in the mountains as cover, fired with precision, hitting his target every time. With each shot, an American soldier fell to the ground.

At this moment, He Yuzhu was all alone. The two soldiers who had originally accompanied him were far too slow to keep up with his pace and gradually fell behind in the rugged mountain forest.

He Yuzhu was afraid that the two would slow down his pace, and even more afraid that they would be in danger. Before they encountered the US military, he had already sent them back to their rear positions.

Now that he was all alone, he had no more scruples. He could freely use the various weapons and equipment hidden in his personal space without any need to hide them. He could unleash his full combat power and, in this mountain forest, was like a lonely god of war.

This American force was a full-strength company, with ample manpower and excellent equipment.

At first, seeing that there was only one volunteer soldier on the other side, even though his marksmanship was excellent, he immediately became complacent, thinking that with the strength of a company, he could easily take down this volunteer soldier, and even take the opportunity to break through the position on the mountain.

The US commander immediately ordered a full-scale attack. The soldiers roared and surrounded He Yuzhu, their arrogance reaching its peak.

But they soon realized that they had completely messed with the wrong person. The lone volunteer soldier in front of them was a hundred times more terrifying than they had imagined!

He Yuzhu's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes sharp, and he directly took out an M1 heavy machine gun from his personal space.

They quickly set up behind the rocks, attached extra-long ammunition belts, aimed at the charging American troops, and pulled the trigger without hesitation!

"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!"

The heavy machine guns were incredibly powerful, with bullets raining down on the front lines, and the dense firepower instantly suppressed the American offensive.

In order to make it easier to go up the mountain, the US military did not bring heavy weapons at all. The firepower of their light machine guns was completely insufficient to suppress the enemy, and the bazooka could not reach He Yuzhu's position.

He was instantly beaten to the ground, not daring to lift his head, completely subdued, and his previous arrogance was gone.

The entire ammunition belt was quickly emptied, the heavy machine gun fire stopped abruptly, and the forest fell silent instantly.

The US commander, believing He Yuzhu was changing his ammunition belt, saw this as the perfect opportunity to attack and immediately shouted, "Go, go, go! Attack now! Rush in and grab him!"

The American soldiers immediately got up and charged forward, but before they could take two steps, a barrage of gunfire erupted again!

He Yuzhu didn't change the ammunition belt at all, nor did he stay in the same place; he simply moved his firing position quickly.

The second volley of fire instantly covered the American troops, catching them off guard and taking down more than a dozen more, resulting in heavy casualties.

This series of smooth and efficient operations completely baffled the US military, leaving them with a lot of doubts.

Is the opponent just one person, or a large army lying in ambush?

How can they maintain continuous firepower and move positions so flexibly?

By the time the American troops hurriedly fired tracer rounds in an attempt to pinpoint He Yuzhu's location, he had already vanished silently into the pile of rocks. The firing point was now empty, without even a trace of a heavy machine gun, as if no one had ever been there, leaving only the corpses and wounded American soldiers scattered across the ground.

The tracer rounds illuminated the entire forest, allowing He Yuzhu to clearly see the US military deployment. He quickly locked onto the enemy commander's location, steadily set up his sniper rifle, calmly aimed, held his breath, and decisively pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

A crisp gunshot rang out, and the American commander fell to the ground instantly, shot in the head, and never moved again.

"Captain! Captain!"

The American soldiers cried out in alarm and instantly fell into chaos, unleashing a barrage of fire in the direction the guns were firing. Bullets and shells rained down haphazardly, striking the rocks and sending up countless fragments of stone.

The telegraph operator rushed to the surviving lieutenant, his voice trembling with endless fear.

"Sir, we've suffered too many losses. If this continues, we'll be wiped out. Should we call for fire support?"

The lieutenant, his face ashen, stared at the wounded and dead soldiers strewn across the ground and gritted his teeth, cursing, "Using artillery to bombard one person? If word gets out, I'll be court-martialed! Don't call out! Absolutely not!"

"yes!"

The telegraph operator dared not disobey and quickly put away the telephone.

"Spread out and attack, spread out in a fan shape, and advance gradually. I refuse to believe that he alone can hold the entire forest and defend against our attack!" the lieutenant ordered sternly, his eyes filled with resentment and ruthlessness.

The US troops immediately adjusted their formation, dispersed, and slowly advanced into the depths of the mountains in a fan shape, pressing closer and closer to the direction where He Yuzhu was hiding. An even more intense close-quarters battle was about to begin.