Chapter 143, Courtyard House
Deep within the dimly lit and damp tunnel, the air was thick with the stench of earth and the lingering smell of gunpowder.
He Yuzhu curled up on the simple straw mat and fell into a deep sleep.
The relentless, sleepless battles and the steadfast defense of the tunnels had already exhausted all his energy.
Even in his sleep, his muscles remained tense, maintaining a soldier's vigilance at all times.
Suddenly.
A deafening, terrifying roar ripped apart the silence of the early morning.
"Boom boom boom!"
A series of loud explosions rang out, causing the entire mountain to tremble violently.
He Yuzhu was instantly awakened by the violent artillery fire.
He could tell from the sound that the incoming artillery was all heavy howitzers of 105mm or more.
The entire tunnel shook and trembled violently.
Loose soil and gravel from the top of the pit slid down the cracks.
The dust landed on my face, cold and choking.
He Yuzhu sat up abruptly, steadying his swaying body.
He subconsciously raised his wrist and looked at the military watch.
It was only a little past 5 a.m.
The sky was still pitch black, and dawn had not yet arrived.
He Yuzhu looked puzzled and muttered to himself.
"Why is the enemy acting so strangely today? They've launched a large-scale artillery bombardment so early."
In the past, the enemy rarely bombed so intensively at dawn.
The sound of hurried, chaotic footsteps grew louder as they approached.
Company Commander Zhang Zhongfa of the Eighth Company quickly jogged to He Yuzhu's side.
His face was full of anxiety as he carefully looked He Yuzhu up and down.
"Staff Officer He, are you alright? The tunnel was shaking so badly, weren't you hit by falling rocks?"
He Yuzhu shook his head slightly and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"Don't worry, Company Commander, I'm perfectly fine."
He then asked, puzzled.
"Does the shelling here start this early every day?"
Zhang Zhongfa gave a wry smile, his tone full of helplessness and habit.
"It's like this almost every day."
"Sometimes, the enemy would suddenly launch an artillery attack in the middle of the night."
"Every time we start a fight, it lasts at least half an hour and it never ends quickly."
Zhang Zhongfa, in turn, asked curiously.
"Staff Officer He, were you in a similar situation when you were defending tunnels at other positions?"
He Yuzhu gently shook his head.
"The difference is too big."
"Both sides held their positions firmly, and the battle lines were clearly defined."
"Although they shelled each other, they never fought so fiercely over a small hill."
Zhang Zhongfa patted him on the shoulder.
"You're not used to it yet. Stay a few more days and you'll gradually get used to life here."
Looking at the continuous sounds of artillery fire outside, He Yuzhu asked again.
"With such intense artillery fire during the day, it's impossible to go out and fight."
"What do those big guys do in the tunnels during the day?"
Zhang Zhongfa blurted it out.
"What else can we do but keep digging tunnels?"
He Yuzhu looked on with surprise.
"Wasn't the tunnel already dug? Why continue digging?"
"Isn't that enough?"
Zhang Zhongfa's expression turned serious.
"The enemy's artillery fire was too fierce, specifically targeting and precisely bombing the tunnel entrances."
"Many of the tunnels that we had worked so hard to dig were blown up and destroyed, making them completely unusable."
"Without continuous digging and expansion, we won't even have a place to hide and save our lives."
He Yuzhu was filled with respect and immediately volunteered to fight.
"Since the war is so intense, let's not be idle."
"Company commander, just assign me a task directly. I can't just sit here doing nothing."
A smile of approval flashed in Zhang Zhongfa's eyes.
"Alright! Then I'll select a group of top-notch marksmen to come over."
"Could you please help explain firearm maintenance and precision shooting techniques to everyone?"
He Yuzhu agreed without hesitation.
"No problem, leave it to me."
The heavy artillery bombardment from the outside world continues unabated.
The shelling continued for over an hour, with no sign of abating.
Not long after, the deafening roar of fighter jets filled the sky.
Enemy bombers arrived over the position.
Several heavy aerial bombs fell in succession.
A violent explosion resounded through the mountains.
He Yuzhu clearly felt that the entire mountain was shaking violently under the shock wave of the bomb.
The top of the tunnel was constantly collapsing and dropping soil, making it extremely dangerous.
After the artillery fire subsided slightly.
He Yuzhu immediately gathered the soldiers and carefully explained the knowledge of daily firearm maintenance.
The tunnels were damp and dark, making firearms prone to rust and malfunction.
He explained every detail thoroughly.
The soldiers listened attentively and carefully memorized every key point.
Right in the middle of the explanation.
A young soldier, looking flustered, rushed over.
He was panting heavily, his face pale.
"Staff Officer He! Something's wrong! Evacuate immediately!"
"The enemy has released poisonous smoke towards our tunnels!"
He Yuzhu was stunned on the spot, his face full of disbelief.
He had fought in many battles, but this was the first time he had encountered the enemy using poison gas in combat.
Dark, despicable, and utterly shameless.
The young soldier's voice trembled with anxiety as he kept urging him on.
"Staff Officer He, hurry! If we're any later, the poisonous smoke will spread, and we'll all be finished!"
The soldiers listening to the lecture immediately stepped forward and reached out to help and pull He Yuzhu.
He Yuzhu snapped out of his daze and didn't dare to hesitate for a moment.
They immediately followed the others and quickly retreated into the depths of the tunnel.
The group ran quickly, passing through a fork in the tunnel.
The soldier in charge immediately stopped and counted the number of people.
After confirming that no comrades had fallen behind and that everyone was safe, the team confirmed that no one had fallen behind.
Everyone immediately set to block the hole.
Wood, thick cotton quilts, and earth and stones were piled up to block the passage.
To prevent toxic fumes from seeping into the tunnel as much as possible.
The hole has just been sealed.
A dull, cracking sound immediately came from outside.
"Boom boom boom!"
The enemy is using explosives to violently destroy the tunnel entrance.
A soldier shouted in a panic.
"Quick! The entrance to tunnel number two has been blown up! Everyone, continue retreating deeper!"
No one dared to stop and continued running.
They hadn't run far when another muffled explosion rang out.
"Entrance number five has also been destroyed and collapsed!"
"Head to the newly dug backup tunnel immediately!"
He Yuzhu kept running closely behind the main group.
Until everyone poured into a brand new, hidden tunnel.
More than fifty soldiers were crammed together in the cramped space.
There was only one ventilation opening, about the size of a fist, letting in a faint light.
The tunnel was dark and oppressive, making it almost impossible to see people.
The soldiers knew very well that the backup entrance must not be dug too large.
Once the caliber is conspicuous, it is very easy for the enemy to detect.
When needed for combat, simply break through.
Moreover, the entrance to the cave will definitely not be located on the mountaintop.
The mountaintop was a clear target; a single artillery barrage could completely destroy it.
A large number of people were crammed into a small space with very small ventilation openings.
The oxygen inside the tunnel was being consumed rapidly, and the air was becoming increasingly thin and murky.
Everyone felt dizzy, drowsy, and weak all over.
Even though He Yuzhu's physical condition far exceeded that of ordinary people, he could not withstand the discomfort caused by lack of oxygen.
My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and my consciousness gradually faded.
Just as everyone was about to fall asleep.
A sharp shout suddenly startled everyone awake.
"Company commander! Something terrible has happened! The enemy is building fortifications outside the tunnel!"
The sentry on the observation post rushed over to urgently report the enemy situation.
Zhang Zhongfa immediately gave the order in a deep voice.
"Wake up, everyone! Don't sleep!"
"The toxic fumes outside should have dissipated by now, and some people have gone out to investigate the situation."
"Everyone remaining, immediately dig backup escape tunnels!"
All the soldiers responded in unison.
"yes!"
Everyone got up and dispersed in an orderly manner to the various cave entrances.
He Yuzhu noticed that every soldier carried an entrenching tool at their waist.
This clearly shows that digging pits, repairing tunnels, and preventing artillery fire had become routine practices.
He was new to the area and unfamiliar with the intricate network of tunnels, so he was momentarily at a loss as to where to go.
Zhang Zhongfa slowly walked to his side.
"Officer He, there are too many branching paths in the tunnels, please don't wander around."
"I will guide you through the layout and orientation of the entire tunnel."
He Yuzhu nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for your help, Company Commander."
He Yuzhu then followed Zhang Zhongfa closely, traversing all the tunnels in the entire position.
Every single tunnel—those that had been destroyed and abandoned, those that were being urgently excavated, and those that connected various locations—was included.
The entire tunnel system resembles a giant spider web, with interconnected and crisscrossing passages.
The roads are numerous and winding, making it difficult to discern directions.
If it weren't for He Yuzhu's extraordinary memory that allows him to remember everything he sees, he wouldn't have been able to achieve this.
An ordinary person would get completely lost within moments of entering.
He was filled with admiration for the ordinary soldiers who could remember such a complex route so well.
Along the way, Zhang Zhongfa patiently explained the dangers of the battlefield.
"We had terrible luck today. The enemy's artillery fire was fierce and destroyed too many of our tunnels."
"Under normal circumstances, each class is stationed separately in their own area and will not gather in one place."
"Dozens of people crammed together, the risk is just too great."
He Yuzhu nodded slightly, understanding the potential risks.
Zhang Zhongfa continued solemnly.
"Once the enemy finds the ventilation shaft, release a large amount of poisonous smoke."
No one in the entire tunnel had any chance of survival.
"Poison gas is just one of the enemy's methods."
"They would also use fire and thick smoke to force us out of the cave."
"This hilltop is far from any water source; otherwise, the enemy might have flooded the tunnels."
In addition, there are extremely dangerous unexpected situations.
The tunnels of the two sides were accidentally dug together and connected.
Needless to say, they immediately engaged in a bloody battle, throwing grenades at each other at close range.
This kind of thing doesn't happen frequently, but it does happen occasionally.
The US military only dug shallow pits in the shallow layers of the mountain, with extremely poor protection.
The Chinese People's Volunteer Army dug deep tunnels everywhere, making it inevitable that the two sides would accidentally meet and collide.
After exploring all the tunnels.
Without taking a break, He Yuzhu picked up an entrenching tool and joined the digging team.
Looking at He Yuzhu, who was down-to-earth and hardworking, Zhang Zhongfa's admiration deepened.
The long, agonizing wait finally ended with dinner.
The sky was completely dark, and night enveloped the entire mountain.
During the day, it was relentlessly suppressed by artillery fire and poisonous smoke.
He Yuzhu was seething with anger and desperately wanted to retaliate against the enemy.
He immediately went to Zhang Zhongfa to inquire.
"Company commander, it's getting dark. Can we go out and launch a preemptive strike?"
"The enemy bullies us during the day, we will repay them tenfold tonight!"
Zhang Zhongfa cautiously shook his head.
"We cannot act rashly."
"We must first send out scouts to find out the enemy's situation."
"After a whole day of bombing, the enemy's firing positions and hidden bunkers must be completely different from yesterday."
He Yuzhu volunteered.
"Then let me go scout; I have plenty of experience in field exploration."
Zhang Zhongfa pondered for a moment, but still refused.
"You only arrived at the position yesterday."
"I am only familiar with the terrain of a small hillside; I am completely unfamiliar with the rest of the area."
"Visibility is extremely poor at night, and it's too dangerous to go out alone. Absolutely not."
Around 8 PM.
Several reconnaissance soldiers quietly filed out from the hidden cave entrance.
The group lay prone in the shadows on the hillside, carefully probing the enemy's new firepower deployment under the cover of darkness.
Nine o'clock in the evening.
All reconnaissance soldiers returned safely to the tunnel.
Provide a detailed report on the enemy's defensive positions and troop distribution.
Zhang Zhongfa immediately assigned a nighttime assault mission.
The entire army was divided into eight combat teams, which launched separate raids on various enemy strongpoints.
One of the elite teams was given full leadership by He Yuzhu.
The battleground was the hillside where he had fought a bloody battle the day before.
Many of my old comrades from the guard company were also assigned to this area to cooperate in the operation.
10 PM.
The surrounding mountains and fields were eerily silent, eerily quiet.
The soldiers in each group quietly launched their attack from multiple hidden cave entrances.
10:30.
The nighttime counterattack officially began in full swing.
He Yuzhu and his team had already arrived at their ambush position.
In order not to disrupt the overall offensive rhythm, they patiently lay in wait for the signal.
Gunfire suddenly erupted from other directions.
The enemy was thrown into chaos, and a large number of tracer rounds streaked across the night sky, illuminating the battlefield.
The enemy machine gunners had just set up their weapons and were preparing to fire.
He Yuzhu's sniper rifle fired first with a deafening roar.
"Bang!"
With a precise shot, the enemy's main gunner was killed on the spot.
The enemy riflemen immediately returned fire.
He Yuzhu's soldiers immediately launched a barrage of fire, instantly pinning the enemy down.
After the main shooter was killed, the enemy immediately had someone take his place.
This substitute has just scored two long penalty shots.
He Yuzhu fired another precise shot to the head.
The enemy machine guns fell silent once again.
Immediately afterwards, He Yuzhu's gaze locked onto the enemy soldier carrying a bazooka rocket launcher.
The American soldier had just poked his head out.
One shot, one kill; swift and clean.
In their panic, the enemy troops frantically threw grenades in retaliation.
The two sides were too far apart, and the grenade explosion could only affect the open area in front of them.
They were completely unable to harm the lurking volunteer soldiers.
He Yuzhu immediately gave a low command.
"Quickly! Everyone move to new positions immediately! Do not linger!"
The soldiers followed him and quickly retreated to the side.
The group had just left the spot.
Enemy machine guns and rifles opened fire wildly.
A rocket accurately hit the spot where Fang had been lying in ambush.
A violent explosion occurred, sending soil and rocks flying everywhere.
He Yuzhu steadied himself and raised his hand to fire again.
Another enemy machine gunner was killed on the spot.
He instantly killed multiple marksmen.
The enemy realized they had encountered a top-tier sniper.
No one dared to touch the machine gun again.
After firing the first shot, He Yuzhu picked up a hand grenade with a wooden handle.
Pull the safety pin and unleash your full power.
The grenade flew through the air up the steep slope.
Everyone was stunned.
The grenade traveled a full seventy meters from bottom to top.
It landed precisely on the enemy's machine gun position, destroying the entire machine gun.
This is not a light cantaloupe grenade.
Instead, it was a Soviet-supplied heavy wooden-handled grenade, which was extremely powerful and heavy.
If He Yuzhu hadn't possessed superhuman strength, he would never have been able to throw it such a long distance.
Then the second and third grenades were launched in quick succession.
Enemy positions were thrown into complete chaos as explosions occurred one after another.
"Everyone, charge with me!"
He Yuzhu gave a low shout and led his team to quickly advance while bending over.
During the charge, his rifle never stopped firing, each shot deadly.
Once they reached the appropriate distance, a large number of melon grenades were thrown in succession.
Until the enemy stopped firing at the strongpoint.
He Yuzhu quickly estimated the enemy's troop strength.
Yesterday, only five people were stationed here.
After yesterday's crushing defeat, the enemy has significantly increased its troop strength, deploying a full platoon to defend the area.
The group quickly cleaned up the battlefield and collected weapons and ammunition.
He Yuzhu asked for a few more wooden-handled grenades and casually picked up the captured bazooka rocket launcher.
Randomly select a clever warrior and appoint them as your personal ammunition handler.
He then led his team to the next enemy strongpoint.
Before they had run far, He Yuzhu crouched down and gave a deep command.
"Load!"
The young ammunition handler was nervous and flustered, frantically loading rockets.
"Whoosh!"
The rocket roared out.
A dazzling burst of light erupted from the hillside eighty meters away.
As the flames subsided, the enemy machine guns resumed their frenzied firing.
"Don't panic, keep loading!"
"The rest of you, provide full-force cover fire!"
The soldiers responded in unison.
This time, the ammunition handler was noticeably more composed.
He had only trained in using rocket launchers and had never experienced actual combat.
It's inevitable to be extremely nervous when you're going to perform for the first time.
Gunfire rang out in rapid succession, and flashes of light continued to streak across the battlefield.
The second rocket hit the same spot precisely.
The enemy's machine gun positions were completely destroyed and could no longer be fired.
Upon seeing this, the comrades below immediately charged forward to eliminate the remaining enemies.
He Yuzhu gave the order in a calm tone.
"No need for help, everyone follow me."
He continued his advance, carrying the bazooka.
At a distance of less than fifty meters, another firing point was precisely destroyed.
The remaining enemy strongholds in this area were also successfully eliminated by our comrades.
The small firing positions on the perimeter have been cleared.
He Yuzhu immediately led his team to charge towards the enemy's main position on the mountaintop.
The defenses at the foot of the mountain were scattered, while the enemy's main force was concentrated at the summit.
During the run, Bazooka fired three times in succession.
At first, the soldiers did not know their target.
It wasn't until the explosion and flames rose that the concealed machine gun, which had been blown away, could be seen clearly.
One soldier reacted quickly and immediately turned back to find his other comrades.
They inquired about the surplus rocket reserves and successfully obtained a full bag of spare ammunition.
The first to follow, the concealed ammunition handlers, all their rockets were fired.
They immediately stepped forward to help with the loading.
Although their movements were still somewhat clumsy, they were extremely fast after practical training.
He Yuzhu gave the order in a deep voice.
"Go and inform our comrades in the rear that if they see any mortars, gather them up and bring them up."
The ammunition handler immediately took the order, turned around, and ran to relay it.
Mortars are not needed in tunnel warfare.
Nighttime positional counterattacks were also rarely used.
Therefore, soldiers never carried them in the past, and rarely picked them up after the war.
The soldier was extremely lucky and successfully located a intact mortar.
They searched everywhere for the remaining shells, but unfortunately, they had already been collected by other units.
"Someone come help move the shells!"
A passing soldier asked in confusion.
"You know how to operate a mortar? Those aren't things you can just fire casually."
"I don't know how, but Staff Officer He does."
"You all saw how accurate 40 firepower was just now."
"With such excellent marksmanship, artillery would naturally be no problem for him either."
Everyone suddenly realized what was happening and immediately stepped forward to help carry it.
The group cleared the next position and collected a large number of artillery shells and rockets.
When he rushed back to He Yuzhu's side, the bazooka rocket in his hand had just run out.
He Yuzhu looked around at everyone and asked.
"Who knows how to operate a bazooka?"
One of the soldiers immediately responded.
"Officer He, I am proficient in using the 40-fire technique and can use it without any problems."
"Okay, you're in charge of clearing out the remaining enemy heavy firepower."
"The rest of you, take the shells and move with me to a new position."
Everyone responded in unison.
This time, instead of attacking up the mountain, the group turned around and headed down the mountain.
The enemy's tracer rounds just now gave them away.
He Yuzhu could clearly see a large number of enemy reinforcements quietly approaching from below the mountain.
The enemy attempted to flank and launch a surprise attack, outmaneuvering the Volunteer Army from the rear.
The tracer rounds were launched again, revealing their location.
The hastily arriving enemy reinforcements were instantly met with a barrage of mortar fire.
Three rapid, continuous shots accurately covered the entire enemy force.
The enemy troops hurriedly sought artillery positions to take cover.
They were met with He Yuzhu's unerring rifle fire.
In a short period of time, half of the enemy's company suffered casualties.
The surviving enemy lieutenant hurriedly called for heavy artillery support from the rear.
However, he was directly and severely reprimanded by the artillery.
There are still a large number of our own soldiers on the mountain; blindly bombarding them with heavy artillery will only result in friendly fire.
With no other options, the lieutenant had no choice but to call on the battalion headquarters to send mortar support.
Before the coordinates could be fully reported, he was shot in the head and killed instantly.
The remaining American soldiers, under the command of the sergeant major, continued to put up a stubborn resistance.
Before they had gone far, the commanding sergeant was also accurately sniped.
With no leader, the enemy's morale completely collapsed.
In a sorry state, they retreated hastily down the mountain.
Meanwhile, the battle on the mountaintop was equally fierce.
Initially, the enemy held their ground, waiting for reinforcements to arrive and buy time.
After discovering that all reinforcements had been wiped out and there was no hope of providing further support.
The enemy was in dire straits and launched a desperate counterattack.
The soldiers of the Eighth Company who have held out until now are all battle-hardened and indomitable.
In addition, He Yuzhu accurately destroyed a large number of enemy heavy firepower in the early stages.
In just half an hour, the hilltop position was successfully recaptured.
When cleaning up the battlefield, He Yuzhu gave a special order.
Prioritize the collection of tunnel defense equipment such as gas masks and flamethrowers.
Zhang Zhongfa immediately gave his full approval.
The soldiers who fought alongside He Yuzhu spontaneously and frantically gathered up rockets, artillery shells, bazookas, and mortars.
Everyone was utterly shocked.
The same weapon is nothing special in the hands of an ordinary person.
In He Yuzhu's hands, it became an invincible weapon for reaping the lives of enemy soldiers.
Everyone finally understood what an all-around top-tier soldier king was.
He is proficient in rifles, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and mortars.
The heavy machine gun was the only weapon that was not shown, but everyone knew it.
Even if a heavy machine gun falls into his hands, its lethality still cannot compare to that of a precision sniper.
The battlefield is cleared extremely quickly.
Zhang Zhongfa immediately ordered all personnel to retreat to the tunnels to avoid retaliatory artillery fire.
The group had just entered the tunnel.
The enemy retaliated with heavy artillery fire, relentlessly covering the entire mountaintop position.
The enemy troops below the mountain confirmed that the position was silent and communication had been cut off.
Immediately determine that the high ground has been completely lost, and launch indiscriminate artillery fire to bombard the area.
The position was subjected to multiple rounds of heavy bombing.
After the artillery fire ceased, the reconnaissance scouts went out to investigate.
The enemy was thoroughly terrified throughout the night and dared not send troops to counterattack and fight back.
After the battle subsided, Zhang Zhongfa made a point of talking to He Yuzhu.
"Officer He, I underestimated you before."
"Without your powerful firepower tonight, the casualties in our company would have been unimaginable."
He Yuzhu waved his hand modestly.
"All my comrades fought to the death; I was just doing my part."
Zhang Zhongfa directly interrupted his polite remarks.
"You don't need to be modest; everyone can see your contributions."
"I will report and record all results truthfully."
"For tomorrow night's offensive operation, I've readjusted your combat mission to allow you to play a greater role."
He Yuzhu responded solemnly.
"yes!"
The following morning, the enemy launched a full-scale artillery barrage as usual.
After the shelling ended, enemy soldiers rushed onto the position and frantically destroyed the collapsed tunnel entrances.
The enemy deliberately released poisonous smoke at one of the cave entrances.
He Yuzhu immediately ordered everyone to wear gas masks.
Holding a flamethrower, aim it at the opening and spray flames in the opposite direction.
The intense flames created toxic smoke, and many enemy soldiers were burned to death on the spot.
Immediately afterwards, a barrage of hand grenades was thrown.
The enemy suffered heavy losses and immediately changed their tactics.
Flamethrowers were used to burn the tunnel entrance for an extended period of time.
They burned two cans of gasoline in an attempt to force the soldiers out of the tunnel.
All the tunnels used by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army were designed with curved structures.
The flames could not penetrate the interior, and the soldiers had already safely retreated to the rear.
After the flames subsided, the enemy attempted to use explosives to collapse the entrance to the cave.
Grenades flew out continuously from inside the tunnel, killing enemy soldiers one after another.
The two sides fought a fierce battle repeatedly around a cave entrance.
The enemy suffered repeated losses and became enraged.
They directly used bazooka rocket launchers to bombard the cave entrance and completely collapse it.
This battle of offense and defense brought enlightenment to all the soldiers.
During the rest period, everyone spontaneously gathered to study the tunnel entrance modification plan.
How to prevent fire, smoke, and poisoning, and how to launch a covert counterattack to kill the enemy.
He Yuzhu shared a wealth of practical tips based on his past experiences in tunnel warfare.
Experienced soldiers learned from experience and continuously optimized and upgraded the defensive fortifications.
What was originally a simple tunnel has become incredibly powerful, combining offense and defense.
During the nighttime battle for the hilltop again.
The soldiers not only defeated the enemy, but also captured a large number of heavy machine gun shields and fortification building materials.
All of them were transported back to the tunnels to reinforce the defensive positions.
The repeated battles for control of the hilltops remained incredibly brutal.
Even with He Yuzhu's extraordinary combat prowess, he could not completely prevent casualties among his soldiers.
The enemy continued to reinforce the troops on the mountaintop, while a large number of mortars were on standby to provide support from below.
More than forty people went out to fight that night.
Only about thirty people remained after retreating into the tunnel.
Zhang Zhongfa was already used to the brutal casualties on the battlefield.
He gently comforted He Yuzhu.
"Don't blame yourself too much or feel too bad."
"You have done a perfect job; without you, the casualties would have been even greater."
In the following days, the battle continued in a recurring pattern.
The cycle of dodging artillery fire, fighting for positions, and nighttime counterattacks continued endlessly.
Zhang Zhongfa adopted He Yuzhu's tactical suggestions.
There's no need to hold your ground during the day; abandon pointless battles.
The goal is to maximize the destruction of the enemy's manpower.
After the tactical adjustments, the Eighth Company's casualties dropped significantly.
October 30, 1952, 9 PM.
Hill 597.9 was suddenly subjected to large-scale artillery fire from our side.
Inside the tunnel, only the soldiers remained, cheering excitedly.
"The great counter-offensive has begun! We've finally fought back!"
After the artillery fire ceased, gunfire and fighting suddenly erupted outside.
The soldiers of the Eighth Company did not rush out rashly.
Stray bullets have no eyes and can easily injure friendly forces.
Once the sentry at the cave entrance made contact with the counterattacking friendly forces.
After confirming that everything is safe.
The entire company of soldiers came out in full force, and together with the Seventh Company, they recaptured the high ground in one fell swoop.
This counterattack was only a brief recapture of the position.
The superiors issued a rotation order, and the Eighth Company took a break, while the Seventh Company took over the defense.
The soldiers of the Eighth Company were reluctant to leave the position they had fought so hard to defend.
They only obeyed the order to evacuate after learning that it was personally given by the army commander.
Before evacuating, everyone had a detailed exchange of information about the tunnel layout, defensive techniques, and enemy tactics.
The soldiers of the Seventh Company were extremely impressed and repeatedly praised the valuable experience as a lifesaver.
The company commander of the seventh company gave repeated instructions.
The experience gained in tunnel defense must be reported to the entire army as soon as possible.
The other positions were also fiercely contested, and relevant tactical references were urgently needed.
He Yuzhu did not evacuate with the Eighth Company.
Throughout the entire bloody battle, he was the only one in the entire company who emerged unscathed.
They killed the most enemies, charged the fiercest, and fought the most dangerous battles, yet remained unharmed.
Everyone was astonished.
Another important reason he stayed was his expertise in battlefield first aid.
In recent days, countless wounded people have been saved by his timely treatment.
All the soldiers in the company can come forward to testify.
December 1-4.
The enemy launched a fierce counterattack, and the battle raged day and night on the high ground.
Except for lulls in the artillery fire, they were fighting almost every moment.
The 7th Company's strength continued to decline sharply, and casualties continued to increase.
11 month 5 day.
The 12th Army arrived to take over all defenses of Shangganling.
He Yuzhu followed the Seventh Company and officially withdrew from the Battle Heights.
This time, he was no longer unharmed.
He had two gunshot wounds on his body.
Fortunately, none of them sustained vital injuries.
Given his exceptional physical condition, he was not in any life-threatening danger.
But its appearance is utterly miserable.
He was shot in the thigh and injured in the shoulder, and he walks with a limp.
His arm was slinged with bandages, making it completely impossible for him to fight normally.
If his injuries allow, he will still apply to continue to stand guard on the battlefield.
After withdrawing from the position, the leaders of the 15th Army personally received and commended them.
He was awarded a prestigious military medal.
Both companies testified that the outstanding achievements were true and were awarded a special merit.
Shortly afterward, the 15th Army was ordered to withdraw and rest.
He Yuzhu knew that his unit would no longer participate in major battles, so he voluntarily applied to return to China and rejoin his unit.
The leader did not object and immediately approved the request.
He was originally a seconded support personnel, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to return home after the war.
He Yuzhu's journey back to China was fraught with difficulties and setbacks.
In the later stages of the battle, the enemy began to use a large number of despicable and unconventional tactics.
They raided transport convoys, bombed rear hospitals, and guided airstrikes on critical facilities.
These dirty tasks were all carried out by the South Korean puppet army.
The U.S. military is proud and disdains using such underhanded tactics.
I wonder if my good luck has run out.
He Yuzhu encountered almost every kind of despicable sneak attack by the enemy.
After suffering severe injuries, his combat power dropped significantly and he was no longer at his peak.
Even so, he endured the pain and saved many of his comrades.
His injuries worsened again, and he suffered an extremely dangerous penetrating wound to his right chest.
His lungs were severely damaged, and he completely lost the ability to move.
He was carried on a stretcher by his comrades the entire way back to China.
When they arrived at the hospital to prepare for surgery, the supply of anesthetic drugs was severely insufficient.
In a critical moment, He Yuzhu took out his own spare anesthetic and gave it to the doctor.
Otherwise, one can only endure the excruciating pain, undergoing surgery like Guan Yu having his bone scraped to remove poison.
After the surgery, the private first aid kits were confiscated and stored by the hospital.
A small amount of precious antibiotics were specially reserved for him.
The food supplies in the package were distributed to other seriously injured people.
He Yuzhu didn't care at all and accepted it calmly.
Having returned home, these battlefield supplies are no longer needed.
It would be more valuable to leave it to a seriously wounded comrade.
After the hospital staff saw his military merit certificate and hero medal, they learned that he had received a commendation.
Everyone stood in solemn respect and deep reverence.
First-class combat hero, recipient of multiple special-class merit awards.
No one knows how many enemy soldiers he killed on foreign battlefields.
The medical staff who requisitioned his supplies felt deeply guilty and took the initiative to apologize.
He Yuzhu smiled gently, seemingly unconcerned.
"It's alright, as long as it can be used on the wounded, it's worth it."
He suffered a severe chest injury and remained unconscious for a long time.
After being transferred multiple times by transport vehicles, the journey was of unknown duration.
Once I regained consciousness, I no longer felt the vibrations in the carriage.
He is already at the Dandong Military Hospital.
After waking up, I asked about the date and learned that it was December 10th.
There were only twenty-odd days left until the New Year of 1953.
Spending long periods of time on the brutal battlefield.
He never had time to check the system panel.
He paid no attention to the sign-in rewards or task progress.
Now that he is recuperating, he is focusing on checking his own system information.
[Host: He Yuzhu]
Age: 17 (Birthday: February 28, 1935)
[Height 185CM]
【Weight 75KG】
[Physical Fitness: 18.5/28.5 (Severely injured, maximum 30)]
Skills: Bajiquan (Max Level), Liuheqiang (Max Level), Pistol Shooting (Advanced), Artillery (Advanced), Culinary Arts (Advanced - Sichuan Cuisine, Shandong Cuisine, Halal Cuisine), Monkey Tongbeiquan (Advanced), Cherry Blossom Language (Beginner), English (Advanced), Korean (Advanced), Lockpicking (Advanced), Sniping (Advanced), Car Driving (Advanced), Motorcycle Driving (Advanced), Small Ship Driving (Advanced), Aircraft Driving (Advanced), Tank Driving (Advanced), Tracking and Counter-tracking (Advanced), Motor Vehicle Repair (Beginner), Photography (Advanced)
[System Space: 5,000 cubic meters + 3,000 cubic meters (Accumulated merits from four battles + Shangganling, fully redeemable for space rewards) - Permanent and incorruptible, items do not decay, cannot store living beings]
[Additional Space: 2,000 square meters of ecological space, 1 acre of fishpond, half an acre of livestock pen, and half an acre of poultry pen (permanent reward for annual check-in)]
[Items: Some reserve supplies]
[Check-in mode: Permanently changed to annual check-in]
Current task: None
He Yuzhu was overjoyed to see the significantly expanded space.
After following the system for so many years, this is finally the first time it has been exceptionally reliable.
The enormous storage space is millions of times more practical than scattered items.
He quickly scanned the items stored in the space.
The country has ample reserves of gold, silver, and jewelry, in large quantities.
He didn't care at all that the battlefield was consuming large amounts of ammunition and munitions.
Having returned home safely, having more weapons is of no use.
In addition, there were a large number of battlefield spoils.
Exquisite watches, fine pens, and items treasured by the US military in the European theater.
Imported liquor, cigars, compressed dry rations, and various military canned goods were piled up like mountains.
After more than two years of fighting on foreign battlefields, I am exhausted both physically and mentally.
The hospital quickly contacted his original unit, the 27th Army.
At this time, the troops were stationed around Shanghai to carry out garrison duties.
The entire army hopes that he will recover from his injuries and return to his unit to continue serving as soon as possible.
But He Yuzhu longed for his hometown and only wanted to return to Beijing.
Once stationed in East China, it's uncertain when I'll be able to return home.
After much deliberation, he decided to apply for a career change due to the aftereffects of his serious injury.
After my health improved slightly and I was able to make normal phone calls.
He immediately called the headquarters of the 27th Army to explain his intention to transfer to civilian work.
He coughed violently throughout the call, as if his lungs were damaged and could not be healed.
The military replied that he should wait patiently for the verification results.
The military needs to verify his new combat merits in the 15th Army, and cannot rely solely on his own account.
At the same time, confirm the true extent of the injury with the hospital and whether it will leave any permanent sequelae.
While awaiting approval, Wu Qianli and other old comrades-in-arms called to persuade him to stay.
Everyone tried their best to persuade him to stay in the army.
He Yuzhu patiently explained the reasons and declined repeatedly.
His comrades stopped trying to persuade him and only hoped that he would return to the unit to visit him after he recovered.
They also left their detailed address and kept in touch frequently.
Wu Qianli offered to do everything he could to help him secure a transfer to civilian status and benefits.
When a regular company commander is transferred to civilian work, he will be demoted by half a rank.
The treatment of those working at the grassroots level is extremely poor, and veterans who are discharged due to injury are generally in a bad situation.
After New Year's Day in 1953.
The military officially approved He Yuzhu's application for demobilization.
The 27th Army was too far away to complete the procedures on-site.
The entire process was handled by the Logistics Department of the Northeast Military Region.
He was specially promoted by half a rank and transferred to civilian work with the treatment of a deputy battalion commander.
This is a special preferential treatment and compensation provided by the military to combat heroes.
Rest assured and recover while waiting to be discharged from the hospital, and handle all kinds of procedures throughout the process.
He didn't receive all his documents until January 31st.
The transfer certificate, merit file, and resettlement introduction letter are all complete.
At the same time, a comprehensive subsidy of 500 yuan will be issued.
It includes service allowance, combat merit bonus, and serious injury recuperation allowance.
The logistics department specially provided a complete set of brand-new military uniforms.
He brought back clothes from the battlefield that were tattered and covered in blood and gunpowder.
If you wear this back to your hometown, you will definitely be looked down upon by your neighbors.
After packing his luggage, He Yuzhu headed straight for the train station.
Upon seeing him as a hero returning from the battlefield, the window staff immediately registered him for a free ticket.
According to regulations, free travel is only permitted up to Shenyang.
After thanking him, He Yuzhu waited quietly for the train.
He walked to a secluded corner where no one was around.
Open the system space and fill the military satchel with all kinds of snacks and dry rations.
Long train journeys are long, so you absolutely cannot compromise your appetite.
Unlike the hardships of war, returning home is naturally a comfortable and carefree experience.
After waiting for a long time, I finally boarded the train home that night.
The train traveled for a full ten hours before arriving safely in Shenyang.
Transfer tickets still enjoy the preferential treatment of free travel for military personnel.
All the staff at the station looked at him with deep respect and admiration.
The journey from Shenyang to the capital city takes a full thirty hours.
Compared to the stuffy military vehicles on the battlefield, these vehicles are a thousand times more comfortable and safe.
Compared to the icy snow and hail of bullets, it was like paradise on earth.
Upon arriving at Beijing Railway Station, the military rations had already been completely consumed.
He walked to a secluded corner again.
Two large U.S. military backpacks were retrieved from the space.
It was filled with canned goods, candy, chocolate, and valuable watches, among other treasured items.
Standing in the station square, He Yuzhu shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Beijing! I, He Yuzhu, have finally returned!"
Passersby who saw the soldiers in military uniform instantly realized that they were heroes returning from the northern frontier.
No one was surprised; instead, they all looked at them with respect.
As he walked out of the station square, he flagged down a rickshaw.
He spoke gently and gave the order.
"Driver, please go to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang."
The driver immediately responded.
"Alright, comrade!"
The driver asked curiously.
"Comrade PLA soldier, you've returned from the Korean War, haven't you?"
He Yuzhu responded calmly.
"Um."
The driver asked again.
Are Americans particularly good at fighting wars? Are they difficult to deal with?
He Yuzhu spoke in a flat tone.
"It's nothing special, nothing to be afraid of."
Unwilling to discuss the bloody battlefield past, he stopped talking.
The driver was very sensible and quietly pulled the rickshaw without asking any more questions.
Arriving safely at his doorstep, He Yuzhu took out a ten-yuan bill to pay.
The driver shook his head helplessly.
"Sorry, comrade, I can't make change for such a large bill."
He Yuzhu was quite helpless and could only ask the driver to wait at the door.
Standing before the familiar Guangliang gate, I lingered for a long time, gazing at it.
Two short years of separation.
Yet it felt like twenty long years had passed.
It felt like a lifetime ago, and a myriad of emotions welled up in my heart.
Just then, someone came out of the courtyard and spotted the figure in military uniform.
He stood there stunned, his face filled with disbelief.
After two years of bloody battles on the battlefield, He Yuzhu's skin was dark and rough.
His face was thin and covered in stubble; he was no longer the same person he used to be.
The man stared blankly for a long time, then screamed in terror and turned to run away.
He ran while shouting wildly.
"He Yuzhu from the Intermediate People's Court is back! He Yuzhu is back alive!"
He Yuzhu looked bewildered and helpless.
He recognized the person as Jia Gui's wife, Yang Ruihua.
It's only been two years, why make such a fuss?
Upon entering the courtyard, a large group of neighbors had already gathered in front of the screen wall.
At the very front of the crowd was Jia Zhangshi, who was always causing trouble.
Jia Zhangshi stepped forward excitedly, unable to believe what she was saying.
"Pillar! It really is you!"
"Everyone says you disappeared on the battlefield and will never come back!"
Liu Haizhong's wife immediately chimed in, maliciously probing.
"Yeah, Zhu Zi, everyone's saying you've gone missing or lost contact, and some are even spreading rumors that you deserted!"
Yang Ruihua continued to press for answers.
"Where have you been these past two years? We haven't heard a thing."
He Yuzhu was too lazy to pay attention to these gossipy neighbors.
His gaze swept across the crowd and he spotted a young, unfamiliar woman.
They looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't remember their identities at all.
Liu Guangqi, Liu Guangtian, Yan Jiecheng, and a group of other teenagers were all present in the courtyard.
Most of the men in the family are at work and not in the yard.
The crowd wanted to continue questioning them.
A familiar voice, choked with sobs, slowly drifted over.
"Pillar... my Pillar, you're finally back..."
He Yuzhu's nose tingled, and tears welled up in his eyes instantly.
This is Chen Lanxiang, the mother who worries about her child day and night.
The crowd automatically separated.
Chen Lanxiang stood in front of the hanging flower gate with tears streaming down her face.
Her younger sister, He Yushui, was also crying her eyes out.
"Brother! Brother, you're back! Waaaaah... Everyone said you died in battle!"
He Yushui rushed forward and hugged his leg tightly, refusing to let go.
He Yuzhu's voice choked with emotion as he called out softly.
"Mother, your son is back."
Chen Lanxiang stepped forward quickly and looked her over repeatedly.
He carefully checked for any injuries or disabilities, and reached out to stroke his dark, rough cheeks.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back... Mother worried about you for two whole years, and couldn't sleep day or night."
An old, hurried voice came from the central courtyard.
"Where's my grandson! Let Grandma see Zhu Zi!"
He is the wife at home, and the old man who worries about him day and night.
Chen Lanxiang gently pushed him.
"Go on, the old lady has been thinking about you every day for the past two years."
He Yuzhu strode towards the hanging flower gate.
Her younger sister, He Yushui, clung tightly to her body, refusing to let go for even a moment.
I saw an old woman with red eyes, looking old and haggard.
He called out softly.
"Madam, our grandson He Yuzhu has come home."
The old lady could no longer hold back her tears.
"My pillar...it really is my pillar that's back..."
Xu Damao and Xiaoman, who were supporting the old lady, had red eyes.
Little Xu Xiaoman followed behind, looking bewildered.
The two shouted in unison.
"Brother Zhu! You're finally back!"
He Yuzhu responded gently.
"Hey, I'm back."
The young Xu Xiaoman was full of doubts.
Everyone should be happy that Brother Zhu is home safely.
Why is everyone crying?
She tried hard to hold back her tears, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't squeeze them out.
With a strange and adorable expression, it was exceptionally cute.
Zhao Cuifeng stood quietly beside the moon gate.
She didn't approach him; it was obvious from her recent crying.
The neighbors lingered in the courtyard, reluctant to leave, creating a warm yet melancholic atmosphere.
The rickshaw driver, who had been waiting outside for a long time, couldn't resist going into the courtyard.
An awkward moment of prompting a reminder.
"Comrade PLA soldier, could you please settle the fare?"
The warm yet melancholic atmosphere was instantly shattered.
He Yuzhu gave an awkward smile.
"I'm so sorry to have kept you from doing your business. I'll pay right away."
The driver quickly waved his hand.
"It's alright, it's alright, it's nothing."
He Yuzhu looked at his mother, Chen Lanxiang, who was at home in a hurry and did not have any spare change on her.
Xu Damao, with a quick glint in his eyes, immediately released his grip on the old lady's hand.
He quickly ran up to the driver and asked.
"Master, how much is it in total?"
"Two and a half cents."
Xu Damao immediately took out some small bills, carefully counted them, and handed them over.
"Here you go, just the right amount."
The driver collected the fare, exchanged a few polite words, and turned to leave.
With such a large entourage, it was really inconvenient for him to stay any longer.
Chen Lanxiang waved to the neighbors.
"It's so cold, everyone should go home."
The crowd was still reluctant to leave.
She urged He Yuzhu again.
"Don't stand outside in the wind, hurry inside and go home."
The old lady also spoke up.
"Go home quickly, it's cold outside, and let your family reunite."
The neighbors dispersed in twos and threes, whispering among themselves as they walked.
Xu Damao saw the heavy backpack and stepped forward.
"Brother Zhu, let me help you with your luggage!"
He Yuzhu smiled and gave his instructions.
"Be careful, this backpack is quite heavy."
Xu Damao patted his chest, trying to sound tough.
"Don't underestimate me, I've gotten a lot stronger in the last two years!"
But the moment I took the backpack, my arm suddenly felt heavy.
It almost slipped from my grasp and fell to the ground.
He was secretly shocked.
The backpack weighs nearly fifty pounds.
It's hard to imagine what kind of trials He Yuzhu went through on the battlefield.
Xiaoman kept supporting the old lady, occasionally stealing glances at He Yuzhu.
The old lady gently patted her hand and said softly and gently.
"If you want to watch it, then watch it openly. You'll have plenty of time when you get home."