Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

As soon as the forward combat mission was assigned, Liang Jian, the company commander, immediately gathered all the key personnel of the company and, amidst the swirling snow, they formed a circle and finalized a plan to reduce their workload on the spot.

The howling wind was like a knife, stinging my face. Snowflakes crept into my collar, sticking to my cold skin, instantly making me shiver.

Liang Jian stood at the front of the line, his old cotton-padded coat already soaked and frozen stiff by the snow. He clenched his fists, which were stiff with cold, his knuckles white. His tone was firm and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority:

"Listen up, everyone! Streamline your equipment! Only keep the rifles in their best condition—those with smooth bolts, no barrel wear, and accurate shooting. Eliminate the rest. Carry ammunition according to your maximum load capacity for marching—not a single round more, not a single round less. Pack up any excess supplies and immediately send two soldiers to the regimental headquarters!"

His cheeks were purple from the cold wind, his military cap was covered with a thick layer of snow, and tiny ice crystals clung to his eyebrows and eyelashes. When he spoke, the white breath he exhaled was instantly blown away by the cold wind.

Seeing the company commander's resolute expression, none of the soldiers hesitated. They all squatted down and began to organize their equipment in an orderly manner.

The gleaming rifles were laid out one by one on the snow. The soldiers, wearing worn-out cotton gloves, carefully inspected the bolt, barrel, and sight of each rifle. Rifles with stuck bolts, barrels with minor cracks, or sights that were misaligned were all picked out and piled aside.

Firearms in good condition were carefully held in the arms, and the snow on the gun body was repeatedly wiped away.

The bullet belt was tightly tied around the waist and shoulders, with each bullet neatly arranged with the tip facing outwards for easy access, without adding any unnecessary bulk.

Excess guns, spare equipment, damaged backpacks, non-essential daily necessities, and even the small amount of dry rations that the soldiers were reluctant to throw away were all packed into two large packages and escorted to the regimental headquarters by two strong and healthy soldiers braving the wind and snow.

Liang Jian stared at the supplies about to be transported away on the snow, his eyes filled with calculation. He turned to look at He Yuzhu, the deputy squad leader of the first squad, who stood ramrod straight beside him, lowered his voice, and smiled confidently:

"Pillar, just watch. The equipment we get in return for these things will double our company's firepower! In the upcoming ambush, even with fewer troops, we'll still have a formidable force!"

He Yuzhu nodded, his sharp eyes sweeping over the supplies. He understood the company commander's plan and replied in a deep voice, "Don't worry, company commander. No matter what equipment we get in return, our platoon will definitely be the first to charge forward and will never hold the company back."

Sure enough, in less than half a day, the two soldiers who escorted the supplies came running back, panting. Behind them were two logistics soldiers from the regimental headquarters, pushing two small carts. On the carts were two brand-new grenade launchers, and six boxes of grenades were neatly stacked next to them, totaling seventy-two rounds.

The logistics soldiers from the regimental headquarters responsible for the transport couldn't help but give Liang Jian a thumbs up upon seeing him, their faces full of admiration.

"Company Commander Liang, this exchange was incredibly worthwhile! The regiment was initially adamant about not exchanging them, saying the extra guns were useless and the ammunition was insufficient. It was thanks to you handing over those two unloaded 60mm mortars that this exchange was finalized!"

Liang Jian laughed heartily, strode over to the small cart, and reached out to stroke the cool metal tube of the grenade launcher. It felt smooth and was lightweight, making him increasingly satisfied with its appearance.

The logistics soldier standing nearby quickly explained, "As you know, those extra guns and ammunition simply can't buy such heavy firepower."

It's easy to distribute guns, but we capture few ammunition to match them, and supplies can't keep up, so they're just a pile of scrap metal.

But those two 60mm mortars were different. Other companies had previously fought against the US forces and captured a batch of compatible shells. With a little allocation within the regiment, each mortar could get five rounds. In critical moments, the suppressive fire capability of these things was far superior to that of a dozen or so rifles. In small-scale skirmishes, a few shells could directly turn the tide of battle!

Liang Jian patted the grenade launcher, grinning smugly, and turned to the soldiers who had gathered around him, saying, "We traded for this because it's lightweight! Mortars are too heavy and inconvenient for marching. This grenade launcher is light, and the grenades are easy to carry. Even if our company is reduced in strength, we have to be at the forefront, and our firepower absolutely cannot be weak!"

After this reorganization, the company's firepower configuration was completely transformed. After the entire company was reorganized, each platoon was equipped with a BAR automatic rifle, and strong and quick-reacting soldiers were assigned as gunners, with assistant gunners responsible for carrying ammunition.

All assault troops were re-equipped with the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, which has a high rate of fire and high accuracy, giving it a significant advantage in close-quarters combat.

Each grenade launcher is equipped with twenty-four grenades. Special grenade launcher teams are formed, and all ammunition handlers are armed with M1 rifles. They can transport ammunition and be deployed to combat at any time. Gunners carry M1911A1 pistols on their waists, making them effective in both close and long-range combat.

This configuration is based entirely on the mature solution that the first row and first class had previously explored. The second and third rows can directly copy it, which is extremely efficient.

Even veterans like platoon leaders and company commanders, who have fought for many years, are still reluctant to put down their familiar Mauser C96 pistols. These guns are powerful and reliable at close range and have long been their personal weapons. However, each of them now carries a heavy M1 rifle. With two guns in hand, their combat effectiveness is maximized.

The soldiers looked at their brand-new equipment with excitement in their eyes. They wiped their guns and organized their ammunition. Their morale, which had been low due to insufficient manpower, instantly soared.

Just as the entire company was busily organizing their equipment, the system panel in front of He Yuzhu suddenly started flashing repeatedly. A pale blue light flashed across his eyes at an astonishing speed, so fast that no one else could detect it.

He calmly focused his attention and realized that the first battle had officially ended and the system had begun distributing rewards.

[Task completed and settlement]

[Rewards: Tank Driving (Proficient), English (Advanced), Korean (Advanced)]

Almost simultaneously, a massive amount of knowledge and operational skills flooded into his mind. The various operational procedures for tank driving, troubleshooting, tactical positioning, fluent English and Korean conversations, and reading and writing abilities seemed to be innate, deeply engraved in his memory, and he could use them at will without having to deliberately recall them.

He Yuzhu was secretly delighted, but he didn't show it on his face. These skills were all tailor-made for the subsequent battlefield. They would be very useful for everything from operating captured enemy tanks to communicating with local North Korean soldiers and civilians and reconnaissance of enemy positions.

He quietly suppressed his excitement and continued to help the soldiers around him organize their ammunition, as if nothing had just happened.

Late at night on November 22, the night was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Goose feather snowflakes danced in the air without any sign of stopping. The frigid temperature of tens of degrees below zero made the air seem to freeze, and even the ground was cracked with fine ice patterns.

Braving the raging wind and snow, and trudging through ankle-deep snow, the entire company marched rapidly to their designated blocking position—Hill 87.6.

The soldiers trudged through the snow, their cotton shoes soaked through and their feet numb with cold, but none of them slowed down. They all gritted their teeth and followed the column forward.

The wind and snow stung their faces, but everyone's eyes were filled with unwavering determination, their hands gripping their weapons tightly, ready for battle at any moment.

After several hours of rapid marching, we finally arrived at Hill 87.6. It was a low hill next to the road, with an elevation of only 87.6 meters. The terrain was flat and there was no cover. Looking around, all we could see was bare snow-covered ground with no natural shelter.

In the early stages of the war, the enemy forces were all mechanized and relied on cars and armored vehicles to advance rapidly. They had not yet fallen into a brutal mountain tug-of-war. These high grounds near the roads were right in the enemy's marching route and were key points to block the enemy.

Unlike the last time when they fought alone, this time the entire 141st Regiment was deployed around the company, and other brother regiments from the division headquarters were also nearby. They had ample logistical support and troop reinforcements, which gave the soldiers more confidence.

While resting in the snow, He Yuzhu looked at the distant, undulating snow-covered mountains, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes. He sighed softly, his gaze lingering on the distance.

Liang Jian noticed his mood, patted his shoulder, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong, Zhu Zi? You seem down. Are you tired?"

He Yuzhu snapped out of his reverie, shook his head, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of regret:

"It's not that I'm tired, it's just that I feel it's a pity that this mission wasn't in the Chosin Reservoir area. I've always wanted to see with my own eyes how different the real Chosin Reservoir is from the movies, and I also wanted to meet the 1st Marine Division of the United States to see if they really have that much backbone and how capable they are in combat."

"You little rascal, you've got quite the thirst for war, still thinking about Changjin Lake, haven't you?" Liang Jian said with a laugh, his eyes immediately turning serious as he looked towards the distant highway, his tone deep.

"Let's fight this battle well first. There will be plenty of opportunities at Chosin Reservoir. The enemy we're facing right now is fully equipped with American weapons, which should give us a run for our money. We can't let our guard down."

He Yuzhu nodded, suppressing his disappointment, and his eyes sharpened again: "Company Commander, don't worry, no matter who the opponent is, our company can hold the position."

After a short rest, the entire company immediately began constructing the position, but the soldiers encountered a problem as soon as they started.

In November, the Korean Peninsula was already freezing cold. The permafrost on the surface was harder than granite. When the entrenching tools dug down, they could only leave a shallow white mark. They couldn't dig through the soil at all. If they used too much force, the soldiers' hands would go numb, their arms would ache, and they would almost drop the shovels.

Even though the company had a few sharp entrenching tools captured in hand-to-hand combat, which were harder and more durable than ordinary shovels, the soldiers of the whole company took turns digging for more than an hour, but they only dug a few shallow trenches, which were not even knee-deep. They could not build defensive trenches at all and could not play a role in concealment or defense.

"We can't dig any further, Company Commander! This soil is harder than iron; the shovels are about to break!"

A young soldier, panting heavily, slumped in the snow, looking helplessly at the deformed entrenching tool in his hand. The sweat on his forehead was instantly dried by the cold wind and froze into thin ice.

The soldiers beside them also stopped what they were doing, panting heavily, looking anxiously at the incredibly hard frozen ground.

Liang Jian strode over, looked at the shallow trenches on the ground, then glanced at the sky. Knowing that digging any further would be a waste of effort, he decisively gave the order:

"No more trenches! Everyone change your plan! Dig foxholes! They don't need to be too deep, just deep enough for one person to crawl and hide in, enough to stop bullets. Hurry, get on with it!"

"Yes!" the soldiers responded in unison, regaining their spirits and picking up entrenching tools and bayonets to dig at the frozen ground bit by bit.

Every dig required all their strength, and frozen soil flew everywhere, landing on their faces and necks, icy cold, but no one complained; everyone just kept their heads down and worked hard.

With great difficulty, the soldiers dug scattered, shallow pits, just deep enough to lie down and hide, barely enough to cover their bodies. Fortunately, He Yuzhu had specifically reminded Liang Jian before returning to the unit that everyone should bring a marching blanket and a thin military quilt, which now came in very good use.

The men spread their marching blankets on the cold frozen ground, covered themselves with thin military blankets, and huddled in their foxholes. The cold wind blew in from all sides, and they still shivered from the cold. They just hoped that they could get through the night and that the frozen ground would soften a little so they could continue to reinforce the position.

Lighting fires on the position is strictly prohibited; this is an ironclad rule. Any smoke or fire, especially conspicuous in the darkness, will immediately reveal the position's location, attracting enemy artillery fire and potentially annihilating the entire company.

Other units have already suffered heavy casualties from frostbite. Many soldiers have lost sensation in their hands and feet due to the severe cold, and some have even suffered severe frostbite, rendering them unable to fight.

Thanks to the ample cotton-padded clothing, the situation improved considerably. However, the later batch of soldiers who were replenished did not receive cotton-padded shoes due to the delayed supply. They only had a pair of thin rubber shoes on their feet. After just half a night, several of them had their feet frostbitten, swollen, and purple. They were in so much pain that they were wincing, but they still gritted their teeth and stayed at their posts without uttering a sound.

Seeing this, Liang Jian felt a pang of anxiety and immediately shouted an order:

"Quickly, don't just stand there! Take the cotton out of your coats and stuff it into your shoes! Every bit of warmth you can offer is important. Protecting your feet is crucial to holding the line. Our company cannot afford any non-combat casualties!"

After saying that, he took the lead, tearing open the lining of his cotton-padded coat, taking out the fluffy cotton inside, and handing it to the soldier next to him whose feet were frostbitten. His movements were urgent and firm.

Seeing this, the soldiers followed suit, reluctantly tearing open the lining of their cotton-padded coats, taking out the cotton inside, and carefully stuffing it into their shoes to wrap their feet tightly.

Although it was still cold, at least there was an extra layer of warmth, which barely protected it from the biting cold and prevented the frostbite from worsening.

As the wind and snow intensified in the dead of night, the soldiers huddled together in the foxholes, keeping warm in pairs, not daring to relax for a moment. The sentries on night duty braved the wind and snow, standing on high ground and vigilantly observing the surroundings, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

At five in the morning, the sky was still pitch black, and the wind and snow were still raging. The sentry on night duty braved the biting wind and carefully slid down the hillside to wake the soldiers in their foxholes one by one. His voice was urgent and low, filled with a strong sense of vigilance.

"Wake up! Everyone wake up! An urgent message from the regimental reconnaissance company: the enemy's main force is arriving soon! Everyone prepare for battle! Get to your combat positions immediately!"

Everyone instantly woke up, all sleepiness gone. Without hesitation, they quickly got up, grabbed their weapons, and hurriedly organized their equipment.

Ignoring the cold, everyone grabbed the snow from the ground and rubbed their cheeks and hands vigorously to quickly regain feeling in their frozen bodies. Then, they ate the dry, hard fried noodles while eating the icy snow.

The soldiers carefully collected all the compressed biscuits in their arms, warming them with their bodies. No one wanted to eat a single bite, thinking of saving them for the most critical and urgent moment to save their lives.

He Yuzhu had gotten used to the taste of fried noodles over the past month. He knew that if the noodles could be made into a paste with hot water, they would be barely edible, but if eaten dry, they were dry and astringent, making it hard to breathe. Unfortunately, no fire could be lit at the front line, and the few aluminum lunch boxes that the company had captured were now just decorations, completely useless, and they couldn't even get a sip of hot water.

In the past, soldiers would first drink a mouthful of cold water they carried with them, and then slowly eat fried noodles. Now, in order to save time and be ready to go into battle at any time, they would grab a handful of snow and swallow it with the fried noodles. The icy snow water mixed with the dry and hard fried noodles would run down their throats, making their throats hurt from the cold, but no one complained.

"Where's our mess hall? Why haven't we seen any hot food? Even a sip of hot water would be nice."

A newly recruited soldier muttered something under his breath as he ate his fried noodles, his eyes filled with longing for hot food.

Hearing this, the veteran beside him sighed, his tone heavy and his eyes filled with sorrow:

"In the last battle, almost all of our cooks sacrificed themselves to deliver rations to the front lines. The few remaining men were all assigned to combat roles. They didn't bring any pots or pans, so they couldn't cook at all and had to rely on the rations they had on them. Now the front lines are short of soldiers and personnel. Every extra person means an extra fighting force. Even cooks have to pick up guns and go to the battlefield."

Not only the first company, but the entire company at the front was in the same situation. There was a severe shortage of manpower and supplies. The fighting at the front was fierce, and casualties were constant. There was simply no time to replenish the manpower in the rear.

Anyone who could handle a gun and walk rushed to the front lines, even logistics soldiers and communications personnel, who were ready to join the battle at any time.

The group quickly finished their dry rations, cleaned their weapons, and took their positions. They lay prone in their foxholes, staring intently at the road in the distance, fingers on triggers, holding their breath, waiting for the enemy to arrive.

At 7:20 a.m., the eastern sky finally began to lighten, and the dim sky gradually brightened. On the distant highway, the enemy's marching column finally appeared, a dark mass that stretched as far as the eye could see. The outlines of cars and armored vehicles were vaguely visible as they slowly advanced along the highway.

"They're here!"

He Yuzhu's eyes narrowed, and he immediately lowered his body, quickly crawling to Liang Jian's side, his voice low.

"Company commander, may I borrow your binoculars to check on the enemy's situation?"

Liang Jian quickly took out his binoculars from his pocket and handed them over.

He Yuzhu took the binoculars, held them close to his eyes, and carefully observed the enemy troops in the distance.

The enemy troops were all equipped with American weapons, wore steel helmets and military uniforms, and all had Asian faces. They had eye-catching tiger head armbands embroidered on their arms. The troops were well-organized and well-equipped, clearly the South Korean 1st Division.

Seeing his slightly raised eyebrows and strange expression, Liang Jian was puzzled and quickly leaned closer to ask, "Zhu Zi, what's wrong? Who are these guys? Their equipment looks pretty good."

"It's nothing," He Yuzhu put down the binoculars, smiled faintly, and handed them back to Liang Jian, his tone calm.

"I just think this tiger head armband is quite interesting. It looks imposing, but it's all show and no substance. I wonder if its fighting ability is really as fierce as a tiger. Maybe it's just a paper tiger."

"An arm patch? I hadn't noticed that before. Let me see it."

Liang Jian reached out and took the binoculars, staring intently at the enemy troops in the distance. Upon closer inspection, he immediately burst out laughing, his tone tinged with disdain.

"Oh, it really is a tiger's head, and it's embroidered quite exquisitely. I'd like to see if it's a real tiger or a paper tiger. We'll find out after a battle."

"You'll know once you try." He Yuzhu said calmly, but a hint of certainty flashed in his eyes.

He already knew from movies and books that the South Korean army was mostly ineffective, with only a few elite units having some fighting power, while the rest were a rabble with extremely poor combat capabilities. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been unable to defeat the North Korean army in the early stages of the war and would have turned to the US military for help, seeking their foreign backer.

Liang Jian put down his binoculars, his face instantly turning serious. He looked at the approaching enemy troops in the distance and said in a deep voice, "When I was in China, I dealt with North Korean soldiers from the Fourth Field Army. Those guys were brave and fearless in battle, and they were very decisive when it came to bayonet fighting. If the South Korean soldiers are all like that, this battle will be tough. We need to be prepared for a hard fight."

In previous encounters with the US military, even after losing two-thirds of his troops, Liang Jian never backed down or yielded.

Although the US military is well-equipped and has fierce firepower, and can call in artillery and air support at any time, its close combat ability is extremely poor. Its soldiers are afraid of death and dare not fight at close range. As long as they get close, our army can gain the upper hand.

Fortunately, the 24th Division command made an advance prediction and detected that the enemy would not provide large-scale air support and would not bomb the company. Otherwise, the company's situation would have been even more difficult.

"Don't worry, they might not be that strong. They can't compare to North Korean soldiers."

He Yuzhu responded softly, without offering further explanation. He knew that saying more would be pointless; everything would become clear once the fight started.

Liang Jian nodded, said no more, and immediately issued the combat order: "Immediately notify each platoon to take up their combat positions, all personnel to remain concealed, do not expose yourselves, do not reveal your positions, and be ready to fire at any time!"

"yes!"

He Yuzhu responded, lowered his body, and crawled quickly to the positions of each platoon, conveying the company commander's instructions one by one.

In this deployment by the regimental headquarters, the First Company was not intended as a front-line defensive echelon, but rather as a reserve force responsible for intercepting fleeing enemy troops.

The main force at the front line blocked the main enemy force, while the first company was responsible for providing reinforcements at any time and clearing out any enemy soldiers who had escaped or fled.

Upon learning of this arrangement, Liang Jian's eyes immediately turned red with anger and resentment. He braved the wind and snow to run to the regimental headquarters to ask the regimental commander for permission to join the battle.

"Commander, our company wants to be on the front lines! We absolutely refuse to be in the reserves. Please, put us on the front lines!"

Liang Jian stood straight in front of the regimental commander, his tone firm and his eyes resolute.

The regimental commander looked at him, his brows furrowed, his tone tinged with both helplessness and sternness:

"Liang Jian, wake up! What's the situation in your company right now? After the last battle, you only have one platoon left after reorganization. Can you guarantee that you can withstand an attack from an enemy company, or even more?"

"Yes! I guarantee it! Even if only one person is left in our company, we can hold out and complete the mission!"

Liang Jian answered without hesitation, his voice firm and clear, without the slightest doubt.

"I know your company is capable, I know your combat strength, but this is large-scale warfare, not small-scale guerrilla warfare or skirmishes. Once your point is breached by the enemy, the entire defensive line will be affected, and it may even affect the overall battle plan. If something goes wrong, who will take responsibility?" The regimental commander's tone was stern, directly rejecting his request. "Obey orders, hold your reserve position, and be prepared to intercept!"

Liang Jian had nothing to say. He knew that the regimental commander was considering the overall situation, so he could only return to the position with a dark face and a belly full of anger.

He was filled with determination. In the last battle, he had failed to stop the enemy and they had managed to escape. This time, he vowed to annihilate the invading enemy and not let a single enemy slip through his nose.

Before long, the general offensive began. Positions on various hilltops opened fire simultaneously. Gunfire echoed through the valleys, and the whistling of bullets, the explosions of shells, and the shouts of soldiers mingled together, shaking the heavens.

The only awkward silence fell on Hill 87.6, where the First Company was located—the enemy forces were firmly held back by the Second Company next door, and all their forces were concentrated on attacking the Second Company's position. They were still a full mile away from the First Company's position, so it was not their turn to make a move.

"Damn it! That Wei Erlengzi kid is too fierce in battle! Couldn't he have let a few enemies in? Isn't he afraid of overcrowding himself and not being able to swallow them all at once!"

Enraged, Liang Jian slammed his fist into the snow, sending up a spray of snowflakes. His face was full of frustration, and he had nowhere to vent his anger.

All the soldiers in the company shared the same thought as him. They lay prone in their foxholes, staring longingly at the distant battlefield, their hands gripping their guns tightly, filled with resentment.

In particular, several soldiers who were transferred from the guard company had been listening to the veterans of the first company boast about He Yuzhu's heroic deeds in the last battle every day, and their ears were almost calloused.

They were already full of resentment, always feeling that He Yuzhu was just exaggerated by the veterans, that he was just a better shot and nothing special. They were eager to see for themselves just how good this legendary deputy squad leader of the first platoon was on the battlefield, where there was real fighting and life and death.

After all, being skilled in combat and having accurate marksmanship in ordinary times is completely different from being calm and fearless on the battlefield. They didn't believe in their hearts that He Yuzhu was really as amazing as the veterans said.

The wait was short-lived, as the situation on the highway soon changed.

The enemy's main force was held back by the Second Company, their attack was thwarted, and they retreated step by step. In order to cover the retreat of the main force and disrupt our defense line, the enemy commander immediately made a deployment, sending a company to bypass the Second Company's position and rush straight to the 87.6 Hill where the First Company was located.

Clearly, the enemy wanted to seize this inconspicuous little hill to build a temporary defensive position, so they could have a commanding view and cover the retreat of their main force. Otherwise, if they were constantly being chased and attacked by our forces, they would eventually collapse completely.

"They're here! They've finally arrived! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

Liang Jian's eyes lit up, and the frustration in his heart instantly dissipated. He immediately gave the order in a loud voice, his voice filled with long-suppressed excitement.

The soldiers instantly perked up, their eyes sharp, and quickly checked their weapons, repeatedly pulling the bolts to prevent the extreme cold from freezing the bolts and causing malfunctions that would render them unable to fire.

Grenadier Zheng Shuanzi, along with two team members, immediately took out the grenadier parts that they had warmed up beforehand and quickly assembled them.

During earlier training sessions, there were instances where the temperature was too low, causing the grenade launcher tube walls to expand and contract due to temperature changes, which prevented the grenades from being loaded and disrupted the training.

Upon learning of this, Liang Jian specifically ordered the entire company that all grenade launcher components must be kept close to the body and warmed by body heat before being reassembled, so that no part of the grenade launcher would be unusable during combat.

This practical method was reported by Liang Jian to the regimental headquarters, and other companies followed suit after learning about it.

The M1 rifle in He Yuzhu's hand was captured American equipment. It was not equipped with a scope. With his superb marksmanship and keen judgment of the battlefield, he could guarantee a first-shot hit to the enemy's head within 200 to 300 meters. However, at a greater distance, he could not accurately hit vital organs and could only hit the enemy's body.

He also deliberately concealed his marksmanship, fearing that revealing his accurate shooting ability too early would scare away the enemy and cause him to miss the opportunity to annihilate the enemy force.

The enemy troops were getting closer and closer, their steps quickening as they advanced rapidly toward the high ground. Soon they reached a position 100 meters from the position, completely within the effective range of their rifles.

"Fire!"

At Liang Jian's command, gunshots rang out instantly.

He Yuzhu's gunshot broke the silence of the battlefield. He had already locked onto an officer wearing the rank of lieutenant in the enemy ranks. Holding his breath, he steadily pulled the trigger. The bullet flew through the air with a sharp whistling sound, accurately hitting the enemy between the eyebrows, a headshot!

The enemy officer didn't even utter a sound before falling straight down on the snow, instantly losing his breath.

Without a leader, the enemy troops were thrown into disarray.

Immediately afterwards, gunfire erupted on the position. The bursts of M1 rifles and the rapid fire of BAR automatic rifles intertwined to form a dense barrage of fire, pouring towards the enemy. The bullets struck the enemy positions, instantly felling many of them.

As per the pre-battle plan, the grenade launcher team remained stationary, awaiting unified instructions from the company headquarters before opening fire to provide suppressive fire.

Caught off guard, the South Korean soldiers scattered and fled, taking cover behind rocks and embankments along the roadside. They hastily returned fire, firing wildly at the high ground, where bullets struck the snow and frozen ground, splashing up snow and dirt.

He Yuzhu kept his gun locked on the enemy machine gunner and the hidden officer, but the enemy officer was extremely cunning. He immediately hid behind cover and only dared to remotely command the soldiers to charge, not daring to show his face even a little.

The pre-battle deployment had been finalized long ago. Hu Sanxi, the squad leader of the first squad, was in charge of the company's firepower command and coordinated the firing rhythm of each platoon. He Yuzhu was a free sniper, specializing in clearing out enemy fire points. Zheng Shuanzi's grenade launcher team obeyed the company's unified command and was ready to provide fire support at any time.

He Yuzhu held his breath and lay prone in the foxhole, his eyes cold. He kept changing his firing position. With each shot, an enemy machine gunner fell to the ground. The enemy's machine guns, which had been set up, fell silent one after another and lost their combat effectiveness.

He knew that on the battlefield, once a sniper took a fixed position, he would quickly become the target of concentrated enemy fire. Therefore, after each shot, he would quickly crawl and move to a different firing position, never lingering in battle.

Taking advantage of his retreat, the remaining enemy machine gunners hurriedly dragged their machine guns and repositioned them. However, when they fired again, they had already lost their accuracy. In their panic, all the bullets hit empty air and posed no threat to the soldiers of the company.

Immediately afterwards, He Yuzhu locked his sights on the enemy's heavy machine gun, which was extremely powerful and posed a great threat to the entire company.

He held his breath and fired several precise shots, each hitting its mark. The heavy machine gun fell silent instantly—clearly, the gunner, assistant gunner, and ammunition handler had all been killed, and no one dared to approach the deadly machine gun anymore.

The successive precise sniper shots completely terrified the enemy light machine gunners. After firing a few short bursts, they immediately panicked and moved to a new position, hiding extremely well, fearing that they would become He Yuzhu's next target.

Unable to lock onto the agile machine gunners, He Yuzhu turned his gun towards the enemy's ordinary soldiers, still hitting his target every time, each bullet taking down an enemy.

This swift and decisive operation left the soldiers from the guard company speechless, their last trace of resentment vanishing and replaced by deep admiration.

Based solely on his superb marksmanship, He Yuzhu truly deserved the title of deputy squad leader; it was no empty boast. They finally understood why the veterans of the company had praised him so highly.

After exchanging fire for a short while, the enemy, based on the density of fire from the company, determined that there was only one platoon of troops on the high ground. Under the pressure and reprimands of their officers, they immediately launched an assault on the high ground position.

However, the enemy soldiers' charge was incredibly slow. They were all timid and hesitant, taking a few steps forward and then secretly retreating. They were forced to advance by the officers behind them with guns, and had no fighting courage at all, fearing that they would be hit by bullets.

"Look at these guys, all cowering and cowering, don't they look just like the traitors and collaborators we fought back then!"

A straightforward soldier, seeing the enemy's disheveled appearance, couldn't help but shout loudly, his tone full of contempt and disdain.

"That's right! They don't dare to charge forward at all, they just shrink back, just like the puppet troops, bullying the weak and fearing the strong!" The soldier next to him immediately chimed in, his face full of sarcasm.

He Yuzhu curled his lips into a cold sneer and said in a deep voice, "Maybe these people really did serve as puppet troops for the Japanese back then. Their cowardice and weakness are innate and can't be changed. No matter how good their equipment is, they are still just a rabble."

"I think so! No matter which country's puppet troops they are, they're all the same: bullying the weak and fearing the strong, cowardly and afraid of death!"

Liang Jian smiled and chimed in, and the entire company burst into laughter. The tense battlefield atmosphere instantly relaxed, and everyone's morale soared.

Just then, a soldier on lookout duty suddenly shouted:

"Company commander, look! They're running away! They're not charging!"

Upon closer inspection, everyone saw that the enemy soldiers, no longer heeding the threats from their officers behind them, had dropped their weapons and were fleeing in panic towards the main force like frightened rabbits, wanting only to escape and having no courage to fight again.

The soldiers on the position immediately seized the opportunity and fired wildly. The fleeing enemy soldiers were hit and fell to the ground. The road was filled with cries of pain. The wounded enemy soldiers lay in the snow, struggling in pain. But even so, not a single enemy soldier turned back to rescue the wounded. They were all only concerned with their own escape.

"Mom! I want to go home!" "Help! Don't kill me!" "I don't want to fight!"

Desperate cries echoed along the highway, utterly heartbreaking.

He Yuzhu did not order a follow-up shot. It was not out of pity, but because he wanted to keep the wounded alive to tie down the enemy's attention.

He knew that as long as the enemy refused to abandon the wounded, they would inevitably fall into chaos, their morale would completely collapse, and they would be on the verge of a total rout. This was more tactically valuable than killing them directly.

"Quick! Everyone evacuate the main position! Quick, take cover from the artillery!" Liang Jian's expression suddenly changed drastically. Looking at the enemy's movements in the distance, he shouted urgently.

The pre-arranged observation posts quickly moved into the pre-dug concealed bunkers, while the other soldiers, not daring to delay, swiftly retreated to the reserve positions on the flanks, their movements clean and efficient.

Liang Jian's premonition was incredibly accurate. Just as everyone withdrew from the main position, the sharp whistling sound of artillery shells cutting through the air came from afar and grew closer. Immediately afterward, a violent explosion rang out on the main position, sending snow, frozen soil, and rocks flying everywhere. Smoke instantly enveloped the entire high ground, and dust filled the air.

Fortunately, the enemy's artillery ammunition reserves were insufficient, and after two rounds of shelling, they completely ceased fire. It was clear that all the firepower and shells were concentrated on the main front-line positions, attacking the Second Company's positions.

As soon as the shelling stopped, the soldiers of the 1st Company immediately returned to the main position according to the pre-arranged plan.

The permafrost, after being repeatedly bombarded by artillery fire, had become much softer and was no longer as hard and difficult to dig as before. Everyone immediately set to work, expanding the foxholes, connecting the scattered foxholes, and building simple trenches. The position's defense was instantly strengthened, and its defensive capabilities were greatly enhanced.

"Company commander! Something's wrong! The enemy is back, and their numbers have doubled!" The soldier on lookout suddenly shouted a warning, his voice urgent.

Liang Jian immediately raised his binoculars and looked towards the road. He saw that the enemy troops who had just fled were forced back by an armored vehicle, and their numbers had doubled. A half-track armored vehicle followed behind the column, and the vehicle-mounted heavy machine gun was firing wildly. The bullets hit the snow and splashed up snow columns. The firepower was extremely fierce.

"It's an armored car! Everyone be careful, take cover!" a soldier exclaimed, looking at the armored vehicle's thick armor with a serious expression.

He Yuzhu quickly observed the slope of the hill and then looked at the track structure of the armored vehicle. He immediately felt relieved and lowered his voice to say to the soldiers around him, "Don't panic. This is a half-track armored vehicle, suitable for driving on roads and flat ground. The slope of this hill is quite steep, so it can't drive up here at all. Don't be afraid. The only threat is the vehicle-mounted heavy machine gun. Everyone, please take cover."

He secretly regretted that when he captured bazookas in the earlier battle, he hadn't let the soldiers take a few more, nor had he assigned anyone to carry them. Now, facing the heavy machine gun fire of the armored vehicles, he could only passively defend and couldn't actively destroy them.

Just as he thought of this, He Yuzhu's eyes narrowed and he instantly became alert. He saw a soldier in the enemy ranks hurriedly carrying a bazooka rocket launcher, the muzzle of which was aimed directly at his firing position, about to fire.

In the nick of time, He Yuzhu reacted swiftly, decisively pulling the trigger without hesitation, accurately killing the rocket launcher gunner with a single shot. He then quickly rolled on the spot, changing positions several times to evade enemy fire.

Before he could get up and stand up, another enemy soldier rushed forward, trying to pick up the rocket launcher on the ground and fire it. He Yuzhu's eyes were cold, and his movements did not stop at all. He fired another shot, hitting the target accurately and completely dismantling the enemy's heavy firepower threat.

From then on, no one dared to approach the bazooka rocket launcher on the ground.

They were either afraid of becoming He Yuzhu's next sniper target, or they had no one around who knew how to operate the equipment, so they could only leave it lying in the snow.

With armored vehicles overseeing the battle, the enemy soldiers dared not retreat any longer and were forced to charge towards the high ground like madmen. Bullets rained down on the position, and casualties finally appeared on the first company's position. Several soldiers were unfortunately hit by bullets and fell to the ground, and the scene instantly became tense.

Zheng Shuanzi immediately led the grenade launcher team to open fire as instructed. However, the enemy soldiers were extremely cowardly in their tactics. After being frightened, they dispersed and hid throughout the entire operation, and did not launch a concentrated attack. The area damage and lethality of the grenade launchers were greatly reduced. They only destroyed a few enemy light machine gun positions and failed to effectively suppress the enemy's charge.

He Yuzhu became a thorn in the side of the enemy. The heavy machine gun on the armored vehicle kept its sights locked on him and fired wildly. Bullets rained down around him, splashing up countless snowflakes.

He could only fire a shot and then move to a different location, constantly shifting positions to flexibly evade enemy fire while looking for opportunities to accurately kill enemy soldiers.

At this time, the fighting on the 2nd Company's position next door was even more brutal. The enemy launched three consecutive company-sized assaults, and the artillery bombardment was much more intense than on this side, wave after wave. It was clear that the enemy regarded the 2nd Company as our main defensive line and only regarded the 1st Company as a small supporting force.

The soldiers of the First Company could even hear the fierce hand-to-hand combat shouts from the neighboring position, the sounds of clashing metal and roars intertwined. Even though the battle was extremely fierce, the Second Company held its ground and the enemy was unable to break through.

In the distant mountains, the sound of artillery fire continued incessantly, indicating that the entire battle had already begun and fierce fighting had broken out on all fronts.

During this time, several US warplanes flew over the sky and headed towards the positions of the other two divisions to carry out aerial bombing.

He Yuzhu had learned from Liang Jian that their division was responsible for mountain blocking, a relatively easy task. The other two divisions, having failed in their last mission, were tasked with avenging their defeat. This time, they not only had to defend but also launch an offensive. The army had issued a death order to annihilate the enemy in front of them.

The battle continued until noon. The sun was high in the sky, but there was no warmth at all, and the wind was still biting cold.

Ten men have already been killed or wounded, weakening the fighting capacity. However, the enemy's offensive is becoming increasingly intense, wave after wave, with no sign of abating.

He Yuzhu's ammunition was already empty. Without making a sound, he took advantage of the gaps in moving positions and avoiding fire to quietly retrieve bullets from his system space and quickly replenish his magazine. His actions were so stealthy that no one noticed.

Seeing that ammunition was running low, several soldiers risked rushing out of their positions to pick up ammunition from enemy corpses. Although they did not die, they were all wounded to varying degrees and crawled back to their positions with difficulty.

Seeing this, Liang Jian felt both distressed and furious, and immediately gave a stern order:

"No one is allowed to leave their position without authorization! Violators will be court-martialed! All personnel, obey orders! Conserve ammunition! Do not fire without orders! Aim carefully before firing!"

Only now did Liang Jian understand why the regimental commander had looked so disgusted when he first saw the M1 semi-automatic rifle.

This rifle has a high rate of fire and powerful firepower, but it consumes a lot of ammunition. Under high tension, the soldiers frantically pulled the trigger, and in just a few hours, they almost exhausted all the spare ammunition. Once the ammunition ran out, they could only be put on the defensive.

In the afternoon, the enemy's ground offensive weakened significantly, and the frequency of their charges decreased, but the artillery bombardment became more frequent. Not only He Yuzhu's position, but all the positions along the entire defensive line were subjected to continuous artillery bombardment.

He Yuzhu stared at the enemy's movements and immediately saw through their intentions.

He crawled to Liang Jian's side and said in a deep voice, "Company Commander, they're stalling for time. Their ground offensive has weakened, and they're using artillery fire to tie us down. They're either waiting for reinforcements to arrive, or they want to wait until it gets dark and visibility is reduced so they can break out and escape!"

Liang Jian nodded, his expression grave: "That's right, they're definitely trying to stall until dark. We absolutely cannot let them succeed."

Just then, a staff officer from the regimental headquarters, braving heavy artillery fire, crawled all the way to the company's position and relayed the regimental headquarters' order:

"The regimental commander has ordered that we hold the enemy at all costs, not allowing a single enemy to escape, in order to buy time for friendly forces to encircle them! Is the company facing any difficulties? What supplies do you need?"

"We're short-staffed! We're facing a severe shortage of troops, casualties are mounting, and our manpower is insufficient!"

Liang Jian spoke immediately, his tone urgent.

The staff officer sighed helplessly and said wearily, "The regiment has no reserves left. All the troops have been committed to the front line. We staff officers are now responsible for delivering messages and conducting reconnaissance. When we go back, we have to go to the front lines. We really can't spare any troops to reinforce you."

"What kind of supplies can you provide? Do you have ammunition?" Liang Jian pressed.

"Bullets and grenades will be prioritized for allocation by the regiment."

"We're using American-made firearms, and the ammunition in our unit isn't compatible, so we can't use them. We need as many grenades as possible!" Liang Jian made a quick decision and then asked, "Do you have any extra firearms? We can replenish the equipment of our wounded and injured soldiers."

"No, all the equipment has already been allocated, there's nothing left."

"Then send the grenades over as quickly as possible, the more the better, and it must be done as soon as possible!"

The staff officer accepted the order and left, braving the artillery fire to hurriedly return to the regimental headquarters.

Not long after, a batch of grenades was delivered by logistics soldiers, along with a supply platoon soldier. All of them carried weapons and stayed behind in the company to participate in the battle.

Liang Jian quickly reorganized these new personnel, directly assigning those with good marksmanship and shooting skills to combat teams and supplementing each platoon.

Those who were inexperienced marksmen and had little combat experience were all assigned to dig trenches and serve as ammunition handlers. Their weapons were distributed to wounded soldiers, and the soldiers were organized to share ammunition and distribute it in a concentrated manner to ensure that everyone's firepower could be sustained.

When asked about He Yuzhu, he waved his hand and said firmly, "I have enough bullets, so I don't need to distribute them. I'll leave the bullets for my other comrades."

Everyone assumed he carried more weight and bullets than others before the battle, but no one expected that his bullets came from the system space and were inexhaustible, so he didn't have to worry about running out of ammunition.

And so the stalemate continued until dusk, when the sky gradually darkened and it was about to become completely dark.

Just then, the enemy launched a final, fierce attack, committing all their forces in an attempt to break through the company's defenses and escape as darkness fell.

He Yuzhu immediately put down his M1 rifle, took a grenade launcher, and with grenade pouches hanging from his waist, he moved nimbly back and forth across the position to provide support, rushing to wherever the battle was most critical.

"Squad Leader He, the enemy machine gun fire at the three o'clock position is too intense, we can't even lift our heads, come and provide support!" a soldier shouted urgently.

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately crouched down, quickly loaded the grenade, aimed, and fired. The entire sequence of actions was performed in one smooth motion without any pause.

The grenade, arcing through the air, landed precisely on the enemy machine gun position, exploding with a deafening roar and sending sparks flying. The enemy machine gun instantly fell silent and was completely destroyed.

"Deputy Squad Leader He, the enemy is charging up! They're only a dozen meters from our position! Suppress them immediately!"

He Yuzhu rushed over and loaded and fired grenades one after another. The grenades exploded in the enemy's charging ranks, scattering shrapnel everywhere. Instantly, the enemy's offensive momentum was suppressed, and the enemy soldiers were blown away and fled in all directions, no longer daring to charge forward.

"Zhu Zi, find a way to take out that heavy machine gun. It's right next to the armored vehicle, and its firepower is too intense, making it impossible for us to raise our heads!" Liang Jian's voice came through, filled with urgency.