Glorious Joining the Party

The enemy's heavy artillery positions deployed along the riverbank were completely reduced to a sea of ​​fire and ruins by the precise surprise attack of the Seventh Company.

Thick smoke billowed into the sky, carrying shell fragments, and the heavy artillery that had been relentlessly bombarding the river crossing route was rendered inoperable.

Although this surprise attack did not fundamentally reverse the overall war situation on the Korean battlefield.

However, it effectively cut off the enemy's artillery fire threat, resulting in a significant reduction in casualties for the subsequent Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops crossing the river.

Seeing the enemy's position in complete disarray, the soldiers of the Seventh Company didn't have time to wipe the smoke and sweat from their faces before quickly taking inventory of the battlefield and collecting their weapons.

Company Commander Wu Qianli glanced at his old military watch on his wrist, frowned slightly, and immediately ordered the communications officer to send a telegram to the 8th Division headquarters.

The telegram clearly conveyed the results of the destruction of the heavy artillery position, as well as the current personnel and ammunition situation of the 7th Company, awaiting further instructions from the division headquarters.

Not long after, the division headquarters sent a reply to the 7th Company command.

The telegram issued a new combat mission to the Seventh Company: to delay the enemy's retreat step by step along the enemy's southward escape route.

Wu Qianli held the telegram and turned to look at his instructor, Mei Sheng, beside him. The two exchanged a glance, both with a hint of seriousness in their eyes.

This time, the division headquarters specifically noted that the delayed mission was not a death-defying order.

In the Battle of Shuimen Bridge, the 8th Division paid an extremely heavy price, losing most of its core combat personnel and suffering severe damage.

Nowadays, most of the new recruits are new soldiers who have just joined the army and have not yet experienced combat.

These new recruits are filled with patriotic fervor, but they lack experience in battlefield combat and the same fighting spirit and determination as veteran soldiers.

Their bodies were still too young to withstand the exhaustion of a pointless, deadly battle.

Upon learning that the mission was not a death order, the soldiers of the Seventh Company breathed a sigh of relief, especially the new recruits, whose tense faces relaxed slightly.

As the deputy company commander of the 7th Company, He Yuzhu smiled confidently, secretly planning the battle strategy.

Since we don't need to fight to the death, we can use more flexible and efficient methods to accomplish the task of delaying the enemy.

He Yuzhu immediately summoned the squad leaders and quickly arranged a camouflage and infiltration operation plan.

The soldiers of the Seventh Company quickly used the surrounding grass, rocks, and dead trees to create a full camouflage, and the entire team silently disappeared into the mountains and forests.

Not long after, a fully-organized South Korean army unit swaggered toward the direction where the Seventh Company was lying in ambush.

This unit consisted of a full battalion, well-equipped, with trucks lined up in a row, fully loaded with supplies. The soldiers were relaxed and completely unaware of the approaching danger.

Once the enemy troops were fully within the ambush zone, He Yuzhu suddenly raised his hand and issued a stern order for a surprise attack.

"Beat them! Beat them hard!"

In an instant, the machine guns and rifles of the Seventh Company opened fire simultaneously, and a dense barrage of bullets rained down on the enemy.

The sudden attack completely stunned the South Korean military camp.

They originally thought their rear was safe and had no idea they would be ambushed by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

After a brief moment of panic, the South Korean soldiers realized that the 7th Company's firepower was even more ferocious than they had anticipated.

The heavy machine guns roared incessantly, grenades exploded one after another in the enemy ranks, and countless enemy soldiers were killed or wounded wherever the artillery fire covered.

This South Korean army was inherently cowardly and afraid of death. Seeing the 7th Company's fierce offensive and powerful firepower, they had no intention of resisting at all.

Someone shouted "Run!" and the entire South Korean military camp instantly collapsed.

The soldiers threw down their weapons and fled without looking back, abandoning the trucks and supplies behind them.

In just over ten minutes, the ambush ended in a resounding victory for the Seventh Company.

The soldiers rushed out from their hiding places, quickly cleared the battlefield, and took stock of the captured supplies.

The trucks and the piles of supplies abandoned by the enemy contained a wide variety of items, far exceeding everyone's expectations.

He Yuzhu led his soldiers to search carefully, and soon they found boxes of buried landmines among the supplies.

In addition, a large number of mortar shells, rockets, and countless rifle bullets were also added.

Looking at the ammunition piled on the ground, the recruits were filled with excitement, constantly wiping the weapons in their hands.

He Yuzhu did not stop. His gaze swept over the empty gasoline cans lying idle to the side, and he immediately gave instructions to the soldiers beside him.

"Go, take these empty gasoline cans with you. Be careful when you move them, don't bump or break them."

The new recruits around him looked at each other with puzzled expressions, completely baffled.

They whispered amongst themselves, wondering what the deputy company commander wanted these useless empty gasoline cans for.

"Deputy Company Commander, why are we bringing these empty buckets? We can't use them as weapons."

"Yeah, it's cumbersome to carry around, we might as well move more ammunition."

Looking at the puzzled new recruits and then at He Yuzhu's confident expression, Yu Congrong immediately understood the reason behind it.

He quickly moved closer to He Yuzhu, gently nudged He Yuzhu with his arm, and a sly smile appeared on his face.

"Pillar, are you trying to make a heartless cannon?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu froze on the spot, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and he subconsciously let out a sound of astonishment.

"?!"

He originally thought he had hidden his thoughts well, but unexpectedly Yu Congrong saw through them at a glance.

Seeing He Yuzhu's surprised expression, Yu Congrong raised an eyebrow smugly and continued in a low voice.

"Hey, you think the company commander and political instructor really can't figure out what you're up to?"

"We don't need to start a campfire right now, so what else can we do with empty gasoline drums besides making those heartless cannons?"

He Yuzhu looked at Yu Congrong, who knew perfectly well what was going on, and no longer concealed his intentions, giving the order in a deep voice.

"Now that you've figured it out, stop talking nonsense and bring over more explosives, the more the better."

"Understood! I promise to prepare plenty for you!"

Yu Congrong immediately straightened up, loudly agreed, and turned to run towards the ammunition storage area.

After running a few steps, Yu Congrong turned back and called out with a smile.

"I never expected that you, Deputy Company Commander, would even know the ins and outs of this homemade cannon! You're amazing!"

Not far away, Company Commander Wu Qianli and Political Instructor Mei Sheng overheard the entire conversation between the two men.

The two exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes, they saw a strange yet knowing look.

The "Heartless Cannon," a homemade weapon, is a method passed down from the battlefield in the early days. It is incredibly powerful but extremely difficult to operate.

They hadn't used this weapon in a long time, and they never expected He Yuzhu to think of using it to slow down the enemy.

Wu Qianli nodded slightly, offering no objection and tacitly agreeing with He Yuzhu's actions.

Mei Sheng raised his hand to adjust his glasses, a faint smile playing on his lips, trusting that He Yuzhu knew what he was doing.

After the captured supplies were sorted out, the soldiers of the Seventh Company, carrying their equipment, quickly headed to the pre-arranged ambush position.

He Yuzhu led the demolition team to bury all the landmines they had previously captured at a major north-south intersection.

This intersection is a vital passage for the enemy's southward escape. The terrain is narrow, with hillsides on both sides, making it extremely easy to set up an ambush.

The mine-laying work was carried out in an extremely secretive manner. The soldiers carefully buried the mines in the ground and then carefully covered them with soil and weeds, leaving no trace.

After the landmines were laid, the main force of the 7th Company quickly withdrew to the mountain one kilometer north of the intersection.

Taking advantage of the mountainous terrain, the soldiers quickly constructed temporary positions, dug trenches, and built bunkers, quietly awaiting the arrival of the enemy.

Meanwhile, He Yuzhu arranged for a platoon to set up a temporary checkpoint on the north side of the intersection, pretending to be a regular patrol force.

Time passed by, and the forest was silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

The soldiers of the Seventh Company held their breath, gripped their weapons tightly, and stared intently at the crossroads below the mountain, ready for battle at any moment.

The expected White Eagle troops and South Korean troops have yet to appear.

Instead, they were met by a group of enemy troops dressed in strange and unfamiliar clothes.

These enemy soldiers, some wearing black berets and others wearing flat-topped cylindrical hats, dressed in a style completely different from the enemy forces they had previously encountered.

The soldiers of the Seventh Company had never seen such attire before, and they all looked puzzled.

He Yuzhu, standing calmly at the checkpoint, raised his hand to signal the soldiers to stay calm, and then stepped forward to block their way.

He spoke to the group of enemy soldiers in the simple foreign language he had just learned, his tone tinged with wariness.

"Which unit are you from? What are you doing here?"

The enemy soldiers opposite him were arrogant and initially unwilling to respond. Only after He Yuzhu pressed them repeatedly did they reluctantly reveal their identities.

After a difficult communication process, He Yuzhu finally confirmed that this was a battalion of the 27th British Brigade.

Upon learning the enemy's identity, He Yuzhu remained calm and pretended to let them pass. He then quickly turned around and quietly ran back to his position on the mountain.

He immediately informed Wu Qianli, Mei Sheng, Yu Congrong, and others of the enemy's identity.

Wu Wanli, who was still young, came over with great curiosity and asked with a bewildered look.

"Where is Britain? No wonder their equipment is different from the other enemies; those hats are really distinctive."

Yu Congrong stared at the enemy troops below the mountain with sharp eyes and asked in a deep voice.

"Company commander, deputy company commander, are these British guys easy to deal with? Are we confident we can win?"

Wu Qianli's gaze was fixed on the enemy troops below the mountain. His expression was calm, and his tone was firm as he spoke.

"Whether it's easy or not, we'll find out after we fight. Everyone, get ready for battle."

"As soon as the landmines ahead detonate, we'll strike immediately and catch them off guard!"

"Alright! I'll go and inform the soldiers at each position to prepare for battle!"

Yu Congrong immediately accepted the order and ran quickly to the various trenches to convey the company commander's combat instructions.

The sentry post set up this time only had one platoon of soldiers from Yu Congrong's artillery platoon left behind.

He Yuzhu led a platoon of mostly artillerymen who were skilled in long-range firepower, so they were assigned to the main position on the mountain to provide artillery support.

Wu Wanli had previously been severely reprimanded by instructor Mei Sheng for leaving He Yuzhu without permission and acting alone.

Mei Sheng spoke to Wu Wanli with a serious expression and stern tone.

"Wu Wanli! Do you even realize the enormity of your mistake?!"

"Even if there are combat orders, you can't just abandon your deputy company commander, disregarding your own safety and teamwork!"

"On the battlefield, one wrong step can lead to a series of mistakes. Your recklessness could very well bring annihilation to the entire company!"

Wu Wanli lowered his head, his face full of guilt, knowing he had done wrong, and dared not utter a single word in rebuttal.

In the end, it was He Yuzhu who pleaded and made repeated promises that calmed Mei Sheng down, and he agreed to let Wu Wanli continue to fight with the team.

From then on, Wu Wanli stayed by He Yuzhu's side without leaving him for a moment, always protecting the deputy company commander.

The British battalion at the foot of the mountain saw only a platoon of Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers at their outpost ahead, and their defenses were lax; they didn't take them seriously at all.

They assumed it was just a small patrol force and nothing to worry about, so they completely let their guard down.

The entire British battalion marched casually and without any precautions toward the depths of the crossroads, their formation scattered and showing no signs of combat readiness.

The moment the enemy's vanguard stepped into the minefield.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Several deafening explosions shattered the silence of the forest in an instant.

Landmines exploded one after another, flames shot into the sky, and debris and dirt flew everywhere, instantly blasting the enemy's vanguard into chaos.

Only then did the British soldiers realize that they had been completely deceived and that an ambush had been set up by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

The enemy soldiers panicked instantly, and the commander immediately ordered them to turn around and retreat.

But it was all too late.

On the mountain, the Seventh Company's position, which had been poised for action, unleashed a barrage of artillery shells and rockets at the enemy.

The dense barrage of bullets formed an impenetrable fire net, firmly blocking the enemy's retreat route.

Shells exploded continuously in the enemy's ranks, and rockets accurately hit the enemy's equipment and vehicles, causing fires to erupt everywhere, and screams and explosions to mingle together.

The British soldiers were instantly bombarded by artillery fire, suffering heavy casualties.

No one expected that this soldier from the British battalion would be so stubborn.

Even when faced with a sudden and fierce attack, even when caught off guard by the Seventh Company's firepower.

They did not immediately collapse, after all, this battalion had more than 800 soldiers, far exceeding the strength of the Seventh Company.

The British battalion commander hid behind a bunker and quickly assessed the battlefield situation, although he couldn't figure out the exact strength of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

But relying on his superior numbers, he immediately turned red in the eyes and issued a stern battle order.

"First Company! Attack immediately and take out the Volunteer Army's outposts ahead!"

"The rest of the troops, follow me and charge! Take the Volunteer Army's position on the mountain!"

After the order was given, the British soldiers regrouped and launched a fierce attack on the Seventh Company's position on the hill.

Bullets rained down on the Seventh Company's position, raising clouds of dust. The soldiers lay tightly in their trenches, calmly responding to the attack.

How could He Yuzhu and Yu Congrong possibly stand idly by on the highway waiting for the enemy to charge?

The highway was completely exposed, making it an easy target for the enemy. They had already withdrawn to their mountain positions with the soldiers at the outposts.

The Briton, who was ordered to attack the outpost, rushed across the road without any hindrance, completely unaware that he had stepped into a death trap.

Once they were fully within firing range, Yu Congrong's fire platoon on the mountain immediately began suppressing their fire.

Meanwhile, the two "large-caliber cannons" personally operated by He Yuzhu—the Heartless Cannons—are ready to go.

"put!"

At He Yuzhu's command, two 5-kilogram explosive charges were instantly launched into the enemy ranks on the road.

The explosive charge traced a sharp arc through the air and landed precisely in the densely packed enemy ranks.

The British soldiers looked up at the explosive charges falling from the sky, their faces blank, having no idea what kind of weapon it was.

Before they could react, two deafening explosions reverberated through the valley.

Centered on the landing points of the two explosive charges, all British soldiers within a 20-meter radius were instantly engulfed by artillery fire.

As the smoke cleared, not a single British soldier remained standing in the area; the casualties were extremely severe.

The British company commander, who was leading the charge, was hit directly by the first explosive charge and died on the spot, without even having time to scream.

The surviving British platoon leader, seeing the horrific scene before him, was terrified and turned deathly pale.

He clutched his head, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Heavy artillery! Enemy heavy artillery! Retreat! Retreat immediately!"

The platoon leader shouted as he turned and ran back, trying to escape this land of death.

His panicked shouts and frantic escape were instantly spotted by He Yuzhu, who was not far away.

He Yuzhu raised his rifle, his eyes cold, held his breath, and quickly aimed.

With a gentle pull of the trigger, a crisp "bang" rang out.

The bullet left the barrel instantly, hitting the fleeing platoon leader precisely, blowing his head off with a single shot, blood splattering everywhere.

Without their commander, the British soldiers completely lost their will to fight and turned tail and ran, wanting only to escape the battlefield as soon as possible.

Coming here is easy, but leaving is not so simple.

On the Seventh Company's position, light and heavy machine guns had already been deployed, forming a crossfire network.

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

"Da da da!"

The machine gun fire was incessant, and dense bullets swept wildly towards the fleeing enemy troops.

Enemy soldiers fell one after another on their escape route, like wheat being harvested, their screams echoing throughout the battlefield.

Ultimately, of the entire British company that had launched the attack, less than a platoon of soldiers managed to escape; almost the entire force was wiped out.

On the main position of the Seventh Company, Wu Qianli kept a close eye on the battlefield situation and calmly commanded, giving the enemy no chance to catch their breath.

Whenever the enemy launches a small-scale group charge, they gather together and advance up the mountain.

Wu Qianli would then decisively give the order to fire the Heartless Cannon.

"Go! Bomb it hard!"

Each round of explosive charges could inflict devastating damage on the enemy, with astonishing lethality.

The power of the explosive charge and the horrific state of the enemy troops after being blown up completely stunned the remaining British soldiers.

They had never seen such a powerful homemade weapon, and were filled with deep fear.

Unfortunately, the Seventh Company had only a limited number of explosive charges captured earlier, and after two rounds of firing, the explosive charges were completely exhausted.

Without the suppressive fire of the merciless artillery, the surviving enemy troops went berserk and launched a retaliatory attack with no regard for the cost.

Enemy shells and bullets rained down on the Seventh Company's position like a storm, and the offensive became increasingly fierce.

This fierce battle lasted from late at night until the sky was just beginning to lighten, almost until dawn.

The two sides fought fiercely, and the soldiers of the Seventh Company held their ground and repelled the enemy's repeated frenzied attacks.

Just when the soldiers of the Seventh Company were about to run out of ammunition and their physical strength was nearing its limit.

Suddenly, a familiar, earth-shattering battle cry came from afar.

The reinforcements from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army have finally arrived!

The British troops were already exhausted and had suffered heavy casualties.

Hearing the continuous shouts of battle in the distance and learning that reinforcements from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army had arrived, they instantly collapsed completely.

They had no will to resist anymore, and they abandoned their weapons and fled in disarray.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers of the Seventh Company were greatly encouraged and wanted to get up and pursue the enemy to completely annihilate them.

Before Wu Qianli could give the order to pursue, troops were rapidly approaching from a distance.

The first to arrive was not a reinforcement from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, but a unit of the Bald Eagle Army, about a regiment in size.

The enemy forces were numerous and aggressive, and were about to reach the front lines.

Wu Qianli made a decisive decision and ordered sharply, "Abandon the pursuit! Immediately construct a defensive line to block the American forces!"

The soldiers of the Seventh Company quickly adjusted their posture and, relying on their existing positions, launched a new round of tenacious resistance.

This battle lasted from dawn until daybreak, with sunlight illuminating the battlefield amidst smoke and devastation.

One regiment of the White Eagle Army was held back and unable to advance an inch due to the tenacious resistance of the Seventh Company.

In the end, the enemy was left with most of its forces by the Seventh Company, suffering countless casualties. The remaining remnants could only flee in disarray, never daring to look back.

While cleaning up the battlefield, He Yuzhu unexpectedly captured a living British prisoner of war among the piles of enemy corpses.

The prisoner was a second lieutenant named Orian Trench.

After being captured, Orian Trench showed no fear whatsoever, but instead adopted an arrogant attitude.

He raised his chin, looking at He Yuzhu with disdain, and said, "I am a man with a title! You must give me the treatment I deserve!"

"I demand to be treated like a prisoner of war; you cannot mistreat me!"

Seeing his arrogant, rude, and reckless behavior, He Yuzhu's eyes turned cold, and he didn't tolerate him at all.

They went straight up to him and gave him a good beating without any politeness, completely destroying his arrogance.

Then, the soldiers of the 7th Company bound Orian Trench tightly and led him to the rear of the column.

When the Seventh Company fought later, they left him behind the lines so he could witness firsthand how the Seventh Company soldiers fought valiantly and how they brutally beat the enemy.

Orian Trench witnessed the bravery, strength, and iron will of the Seventh Company soldiers throughout the entire process, and watched as the enemy army was defeated and suffered heavy casualties under the Seventh Company's offensive.

He was completely terrified by the Seventh Company's fighting power and no longer dared to show any arrogance. He remained silent throughout, not daring to utter a single word.

But no one expected that Orian Trench would later genuinely thank He Yuzhu for winning him over.

Of the British soldiers in his battalion, only one-third of them ultimately returned alive to Britain.

If he hadn't been captured, he would most likely have died on this Korean battlefield.

This fierce battle, in which the Seventh Company successively resisted the British and Bald Eagle armies, resulted in extremely heavy losses for them.

The company lost half its soldiers, most of whom were new recruits who had just entered the battlefield and had little combat experience.

The 8th Division, which had experienced the Battle of Zhaoyangjiang, was originally a formidable fighting force, but it did not perform well in this infiltration and division operation.

The reason for this is simply that there are too many new recruits with insufficient combat experience, making it difficult for them to coordinate with veterans in executing tactical maneuvers.

In addition, after many battles, the enemy had gradually figured out the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's tactics and made targeted preparations.

For various reasons, the 7th Company did not receive any more large-scale assault missions in subsequent operations, but instead carried out various reconnaissance missions.

June arrived in the blink of an eye, and the situation on the Korean battlefield gradually stabilized.

The 8th Division received orders from its superiors to change its overall mission and move to a certain area at 38 degrees north latitude.

The 7th Company then moved into the designated area, and the troops were replenished with new recruits, gradually restoring their strength.

However, the company's combat missions changed completely. Instead of carrying out forward offensives and proactive attacks, they entered the tunnels and began tunnel warfare.

The soldiers of the Seventh Company, who were used to flexible combat and fighting on the battlefield all year round, were suddenly trapped in a narrow tunnel and they were all suffocating.

During the daytime, the enemy's aircraft and artillery had an absolute advantage, bombarding the positions of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

A barrage of shells and bombs rained down on the position, raising dust and shaking the earth.

The soldiers of the Seventh Company could only hide in the deep tunnels, like hiding in a rat hole, and dared not show their faces at all.

Even though the soldiers managed to recapture some of the positions under the cover of night, they still managed to do so.

But the next day, under the enemy's fierce artillery barrage, the positions that had been so hard-won had to be relinquished again.

This back-and-forth struggle left the soldiers feeling frustrated and helpless.

Looking at the soldiers' suppressed expressions and their predicament in the tunnel, He Yuzhu secretly devised a plan.

He privately approached Company Commander Wu Qianli and Political Instructor Mei Sheng, and the three of them got together to carefully discuss countermeasures.

"Company commander, political instructor, we can't keep taking this beating. We have to find a way to change the situation."

He Yuzhu spoke first, expressing his thoughts firmly.

"What I mean is, let's continue to dig deeper into the tunnels, improve the tunnel system, and connect the entire mountain."

Wu Qianli frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then nodded in agreement: "I agree. Only by digging and securing the tunnels can we have more room to maneuver."

Mei Sheng adjusted his glasses and added, "That's right. Improving the tunnels will not only allow us to avoid enemy fire, but also make it easier for us to launch night attacks."

The three immediately reached a consensus and made up their minds to lead the entire company in digging deeper tunnels day and night.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the soldiers of the Seventh Company, almost the entire hilltop was completely excavated, with tunnels crisscrossing and connecting in all directions, forming a complete underground defense system.

From then on, the soldiers of the Seventh Company no longer just attacked from the tunnels at night to seize positions.

Incidentally raiding enemy strongholds and seizing enemy supplies also became their routine operation.

At that time, the logistics supply lines of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army were subjected to relentless bombing by enemy aircraft every day.

The food, ammunition, medicine, and drinking water urgently needed at the front lines could not be delivered smoothly.

The troops were extremely short of supplies and had to be self-sufficient, trying every possible way to solve their survival problems.

Compared to other units, the Seventh Company's supplies are relatively plentiful.

On the one hand, He Yuzhu secretly took out his privately stored emergency supplies when the tunnel warfare was first launched.

On the other hand, the supplies captured by the Seventh Company in previous battles were accumulated and supported the company through the most difficult period.

After the tunnel warfare began in full swing, He Yuzhu issued an order that left all the soldiers extremely puzzled.

He demanded that when seizing supplies during nighttime raids, enemy water containers such as canteens and buckets should be given higher priority than weapons and ammunition.

Upon receiving this order, the soldiers of the Seventh Company were completely stunned and began to discuss among themselves, their faces full of confusion.

"What's wrong with the deputy company commander? Aren't weapons and ammunition much more important than water bottles?"

"Yes, what we lack are bullets and shells. What use are so many water bottles and buckets?"

"Are we short of water, not weapons?"

Listening to the soldiers' discussion, He Yuzhu couldn't explain the specific reason, so he could only remain silent.

Although Company Commander Wu Qianli and Political Instructor Mei Sheng did not fully understand He Yuzhu's intentions, they chose to unconditionally trust him.

The two immediately stepped forward to calm the soldiers and demand that they strictly follow He Yuzhu's orders.

Meanwhile, Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng compiled He Yuzhu's order and reported it to the higher division headquarters.

After receiving the news, the division headquarters simply issued a brief notice, instructing each company to refer to it as appropriate, without giving it special attention.

While leading his soldiers to improve the tunnels and seize supplies, He Yuzhu never stopped working to enhance their combat effectiveness.

During lulls in combat, he personally led the soldiers in his company who were good marksmen to learn sniping techniques.

From camouflage and infiltration to finding sniping positions, to accurate shooting and rapid relocation after eliminating the enemy, He Yuzhu taught everything meticulously and without reservation.

Under He Yuzhu's guidance, the sharpshooters of the Seventh Company carried out piecemeal sniping operations.

Although each kill only resulted in a few enemy soldiers, the cumulative effect was considerable, creating a significant psychological deterrent for the enemy.

The sniping tactics of the Seventh Company quickly spread among the surrounding units, and other brother units sent people to learn sniping skills.

The soldiers who came to learn were all top-notch marksmen selected from the best of their respective units, each with superb marksmanship.

However, most units lack professional sniper rifles, and soldiers can only practice with ordinary rifles.

A group of sharpshooters from the battlefield gathered together, and when they had nothing to do, they began to compete in killing more enemies.

At first, the top-notch archers who came to learn were somewhat unconvinced, thinking that He Yuzhu was just lucky.

After several days of practical competition and skill exchange, everyone was completely convinced and admired He Yuzhu immensely.

At first, they used the fact that He Yuzhu's gun was better than theirs as an excuse for their inferior marksmanship.

Later, He Yuzhu took the initiative to exchange weapons with them. Even with the most ordinary rifle, he still hit the bullseye every time, and his killing efficiency far exceeded that of the others.

Now, no one dared to utter a single complaint, completely impressed by He Yuzhu's exceptional sniping skills.

Whether it's the ultimate camouflage skills in the wild, the quick repositioning after killing the enemy, or the choice of tricky shooting angles and accurate prediction kills.

These superb sniping skills are so advanced that even if other soldiers tried their best, they would find it difficult to fully master them.

Soldiers of this era possess an indomitable spirit and a willingness to endure hardship.

They knew they couldn't reach He Yuzhu's top level, but they still gritted their teeth and studied hard.

Even if you can't reach the top level with a perfect score, you should still do your best to learn to an excellent level and improve your sniping skills.

Once this group of soldiers who have learned sniping skills return to their respective units, the enemy forces on the other side will be in deep trouble.

Whether it was day or night, enemy soldiers could be attacked by snipers at any time if they dared to show their faces on the position.

They never know when a bullet will accurately take their lives.

To guard against sniper attacks from the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, the enemy tried every possible method.

They hung canned food boxes all around the position, laid out a dense barbed wire fence, and kept searchlights on all night to illuminate the position.

Using tracer rounds to assist aiming during firing has become an essential tactic for enemy troops.

Even so, they still couldn't withstand the sniper attacks from the sharpshooters, and the enemy soldiers lived in fear every day.

These peaceful yet confrontational days did not last long and were soon shattered.

In mid-July, the 7th Company Command suddenly received an urgent telegram from the division headquarters.

The telegram ordered He Yuzhu to immediately go to the front line to support another brother unit.

The reason is that a professional sniper squad from the White Eagle Army appeared on the positions of our brother units, causing heavy casualties to our soldiers, and we urgently need the support of sniper experts.

Upon receiving the order, He Yuzhu did not hesitate at all, immediately packed his equipment, and prepared to set off.

Originally, Wu Wanli, who had been trained to be mature enough to be an observer, insisted on going with He Yuzhu.

After much deliberation, He Yuzhu ultimately refused his request.

In the event of large-scale positional warfare, He Yuzhu would naturally bring his team to cooperate in the battle.

However, this time it was a solo sniper confrontation, and being alone made it more flexible and safer than having someone with you.

Wu Wanli was reluctant to leave, but he could only obey orders and stay in the company to watch He Yuzhu go to the front line alone.

He Yuzhu's departure lasted for more than a month.

On the front lines, he relied on his superb sniping skills to fight a desperate battle against an enemy sniper squad all by himself.

After several covert sniper duels, He Yuzhu successfully annihilated the enemy sniper squad, completely resolving the crisis for his brother unit.

After the crisis was over, He Yuzhu did not immediately return to the Seventh Company. Instead, he was left at the front line by his superiors to train snipers from various units.

On the battlefield, actual combat is the best training method.

He Yuzhu led his students on the battlefield, engaging the enemy while teaching them sniping skills and providing practical training.

Through repeated kills and counter-kills, the trainees' sniping skills improved rapidly.

In just over a month, He Yuzhu made numerous outstanding contributions on the battlefield, and with his excellent sniping record, he was once again awarded the First-Class Merit.

After completing the training, He Yuzhu packed his bags and embarked on his journey back to the Seventh Company.

September arrived in the blink of an eye, and the rains on the Korean Peninsula completely stopped, making the weather increasingly dry.

The situation for the Chinese People's Volunteer Army on the front lines worsened.

Inside the deep tunnels, water became scarce on a large scale, and drinking water became the most scarce resource.

The only water source on the position had already been occupied by the Bald Eagle Army, who had established a stronghold and were guarding it closely.

The logistics troops responsible for delivering water and food to the front lines suffered heavy casualties every time they transported supplies.

On his way back to the Seventh Company, He Yuzhu encountered several logistics teams from brother units that were being blocked by enemy forces.

Without hesitation, he immediately stepped in to help, and single-handedly cleared out enemy strongholds on multiple occasions.

To open up transportation channels for logistics troops and ensure that supplies and drinking water can be delivered to the front lines smoothly.

After a long and arduous journey, He Yuzhu finally made it back to his regimental headquarters.

Upon arriving at the regimental headquarters, He Yuzhu happened to arrive just in time for a shipment of supplies to be delivered to the front lines. He immediately volunteered to lead the team and deliver the supplies back to the tunnel position where the Seventh Company was located.

After many days of separation, Wu Qianli finally welcomed He Yuzhu back.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, Wu Qianli quickly stepped forward and, without saying a word, gave him a big, forceful hug.

"You're finally back! I've been waiting for you!"

Wu Qianli's tone was filled with undisguised joy and worry as he held He Yuzhu tightly, unwilling to let go for a long time.

He Yuzhu gently patted Wu Qianli on the back, a long-lost smile appearing on his face, and said in a calm tone.

"It was alright, I completed the mission successfully and returned safely."

Wu Qianli released him, looked He Yuzhu up and down, and seeing that he was unharmed, he was completely relieved and joked with him.

"Not bad? Don't be modest, kid!"

"The news of your first-class merit award at the front has already reached our division headquarters!"

"You earned a first-class merit by sniping, you have no idea what your comrades call you!"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu looked puzzled and asked curiously, "What did you call me? I've never heard of that before?"

Seeing his puzzled look, Wu Qianli couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying each word slowly and deliberately, "The Smiling Killer!"

"Huh?" He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, his face full of astonishment. He never expected to have such a title.

Seeing his surprised expression, Wu Qianli continued to explain with a smile, "You lad, when you're with our comrades, you're always smiling and approachable, without a trace of official airs."

"But once on the battlefield, when facing the enemy, they were truly ruthless; almost no one survived their attacks, every shot was fatal!"

"That's why your comrades gave you that nickname, 'The Smiling Killer,' it couldn't be more fitting!"

After hearing this, He Yuzhu smiled helplessly, waved his hand, and said, "Hehe, that's a bit of an exaggeration. We also have enemies we didn't kill."

Upon hearing this, Wu Qianli immediately raised his hand and lightly punched He Yuzhu, saying with a knowing look, "So you can't kill him? You deliberately left him alive to lure the enemy. Don't think I don't know your little scheme!"

He Yuzhu, seeing that he had been seen through at a glance, did not argue, but smiled and said, "You know me best."

Wu Qianli put his arm around his shoulder and said urgently, "Come on, the instructor knows you're coming back today and has been waiting for you at the tunnel company headquarters for ages. He's so worried!"

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "What's wrong? Is there an emergency at the company?"

Wu Qianli smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't ask so many questions. You'll know when you get to the company headquarters!"

The two walked briskly through the crisscrossing tunnels and returned to the tunnel headquarters of the Seventh Company.

Instructor Mei Sheng was already waiting inside the company headquarters. When he saw He Yuzhu enter, he immediately strode forward to greet him.

She gave him a big, warm hug and said excitedly, "Good lad, you're finally back!"

After releasing He Yuzhu, Mei Sheng looked him up and down, and said with a puzzled expression, "Everyone else who stays in this tunnel is starving and thirsty every day, and they've all lost a lot of weight."

"We've all been eating the same fried noodles and dry rations in the company. How come you've gotten even stronger after being away for over a month?"

He Yuzhu smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "There are rewards for killing enemies, and I've eaten plenty of canned food and dry rations from the front lines."

Upon hearing this, Mei Sheng immediately laughed and said, "Stop talking nonsense! Take out the delicious food you brought back! You can't eat it all by yourself!"

"Yes, yes, everyone will definitely get a share!"

He Yuzhu smiled and agreed, quickly took off the heavy backpack from his back, put it on the ground, and began to take things out.

As He Yuzhu moved, one after another, tin cans, tightly packaged biscuits, and sweet candies were pulled out.

Soon, the makeshift table made of ammunition boxes in the company headquarters was piled high with all kinds of captured enemy supplies.

Mei Sheng and Wu Qianli stared wide-eyed at the mountain of canned goods and snacks in front of them, exclaiming in shock.

"Wow...you bastard, you robbed the enemy's supply depot, didn't you? You brought back so much good stuff!"

He Yuzhu packed up the remaining supplies in his backpack and explained with a smile, "It all adds up. We took care of a few enemy supply depots along the way."

"Knowing that you guys eat fried noodles in the tunnels every day, which is so bland and tasteless, I brought them all back on the way."

Mei Sheng, beaming with joy, gave He Yuzhu a thumbs-up and exclaimed sincerely, "It has to be you, He Yuzhu!"

"It just so happens that our wounded soldiers on the front lines are severely malnourished; now their nutrition is finally secured!"

"As the company's part-time quartermaster, you'd better show off your skills and cook everyone a good meal!"

He Yuzhu patted his chest and said confidently, "No problem, leave it to me!"

The tunnels of the Seventh Company have been meticulously modified by the soldiers, and the smoke extraction system is excellent, so they have long been converted into smokeless stoves.

The smoke from cooking in the stove could be expelled through the tunnel and wouldn't bother the soldiers.

Although they could cook, fuel was extremely scarce in the tunnels, and it was usually reserved for boiling water for the soldiers to drink.

After all, many soldiers would get diarrhea from drinking unboiled water from outside, which seriously affected their combat effectiveness, so they rarely cooked on weekdays.

When He Yuzhu returned, the company was filled with joy and laughter.

Wu Qianli, Mei Sheng, and He Yuzhu exchanged pleasantries for a short while before Yu Congrong received the news and rushed to the company headquarters.

After meeting, there was naturally a warm hug and some playful punches between the brothers.

However, after all that playful fighting, Yu Congrong didn't gain any advantage at all. Instead, he was easily subdued by He Yuzhu, his face contorted in pain.

After exchanging pleasantries with his comrades, He Yuzhu, still worried about his platoon, immediately got up and went to the platoon's encampment to check on the soldiers' condition.

After some questioning, he learned that during his absence, several soldiers in the platoon had been killed in ambush by the enemy.

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu's eyes instantly turned icy, and he exuded a strong aura of hostility.

Without saying a word, he silently slung his rifle over his shoulder, turned around, and walked out of the tunnel.

He wanted to use his own way, with the gun in his hand, to tell the enemy on the other side: He Yuzhu is back!

From this moment on, everyone in this area, behave yourselves!

Alone, He Yuzhu silently infiltrated the enemy's front line, located a sniping position, and quickly began sniping.

Gunshots rang out one after another, and with each shot, an enemy soldier fell to the ground.

In a short while, He Yuzhu killed all the enemy soldiers at the front line. The remaining enemy soldiers were so frightened that they retreated back into their tunnels and dared not show their faces again.

After dealing with the enemy troops in front of him, He Yuzhu did not stop and made his way to the entrance of the enemy's tunnel.

He secretly planted explosives, which, when detonated, directly collapsed several enemy tunnel entrances.

The tunnels dug by the enemy were far less extensive, sturdy, and deep than those dug by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

The shallow tunnel entrances were blown up, and the enemy soldiers inside were practically buried alive, their cries of agony filling the air.

After doing all this, He Yuzhu turned around, casually brought back some drinking water and scarce supplies from the enemy stronghold, and returned to the Seventh Company's tunnel.

Back in the tunnel, He Yuzhu went straight to the smokeless stove without saying a word and personally cooked a steaming hot stew for the soldiers.

The ingredients were simple: canned goods and vegetables that had been seized, whatever was available, just thrown together haphazardly.

Yet this simple stew was devoured by the soldiers, who hadn't had a hot meal in a long time. They ate with gusto, their faces full of satisfaction, exclaiming how delicious it was.

The next day, the enemy learned that their position had been attacked the previous night, many soldiers had been killed, and the tunnels had been destroyed, and they were instantly enraged.

Enemy planes swarmed out, focusing their bombing on the hill where the Seventh Company was located.

Napalm bombs and heavy bombs were dropped one after another on the mountaintop, the explosions were deafening, and the entire mountain was shaking.

Flames swept across the mountaintop, and smoke billowed everywhere, obscuring the sky and the sun.

Strangely, the enemy infantry on the other side became unusually quiet and dared not launch any further attacks.

They suffered a great loss at He Yuzhu's hands last night, with many soldiers dying and some even suffocating to death in the tunnels, their deaths extremely gruesome.

The enemy was completely intimidated by He Yuzhu's ruthless methods and, fearing another attack, could only cower and remain hidden.

This arduous and protracted tunnel and positional warfare continued until the spring of 1952.

After more than six months of fierce fighting, the soldiers on the front lines were exhausted both physically and mentally, and the combat effectiveness of the troops had dropped significantly.

The 8th Division finally received orders from its superiors to withdraw from the front-line positions and return to the Wonsan and Hamhung areas for a long period of rest and recuperation.

After six months of intense combat, the entire 8th Division was exhausted, and the soldiers finally got a rare opportunity to rest.

Back at the rear rest camp, He Yuzhu finally got a rare moment of relaxation, no longer having to be on edge all the time, facing a hail of bullets.

But this relaxation only lasted a few days.

Instructor Mei Sheng then found He Yuzhu and gave him an important task—to write an application to join the Party.

Mei Sheng looked at He Yuzhu and said solemnly, "Yuzhu, you are now a deputy company-level officer. You are brave in battle and calm in handling affairs. You should have asked for promotion long ago."

"We were fighting on the front lines before, and the conditions were tough, so we didn't have time to write an application. Now that we're resting, we have time, and this matter must be put on the agenda."

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu was startled, then nodded emphatically and agreed to the matter.

He knew that joining the Party was the highest pursuit and honor for a soldier.

Upon learning that He Yuzhu was going to write an application to join the Party, Wu Qianli, the company commander, volunteered to be his introducer.

Instructor Mei Sheng also immediately offered to become another of his introducers to the Party.

In addition, Xiong Jie, upon hearing the news, also rushed to the Seventh Company to join in the fun.

Xiong Jie, a veteran, returned to the army before the Battle of Han River began in 1951.

However, the Seventh Company had already been ordered to set off for the front line, and the two companies never met again after that.

Previously, when He Yuzhu was training snipers at the front line, Xiong Jie originally wanted to come to the Seventh Company to visit his comrades whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

However, at that time he had just been transferred to the position of political instructor of the Sixth Company, and the position commander was not allowed to leave the position without authorization, so he had to give up.

Now that all the troops have withdrawn to the rear for rest and reorganization, Xiong Jie arranged his work and rushed to the Seventh Company as soon as possible.

Accompanying him were all the veterans who survived the battle of Shuimen Bridge from the Sixth Company.

A group of comrades who had fought side by side through thick and thin were finally able to reunite.

Even from a great distance outside the Seventh Company headquarters, Xiong Jie's signature loud voice could be heard from afar.

"Is there anyone still alive in the Seventh Company? It's been so long, and not a single person has come out to greet me!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Wu Qianli immediately went out with a smile and shouted back, "You old bastard, you're still alive? You don't need us to come and greet you!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

When the two old comrades met, they smiled at each other, their weathered faces beaming with the joy of reunion.

He Yuzhu also strode out from the company headquarters. Seeing Xiong Jie, he jokingly said with a smile, "Hey, Old Xiong, your leg is completely healed? Come on, walk a few steps so I can see!"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Jie immediately feigned anger, waving his hand and saying, "Go away, you have no manners! How dare you call me 'Old Xiong'?"

Although he said that, his smile grew even brighter, and his eyes were filled with the excitement of reunion.

He Yuzhu laughed and said, "What? I'm a deputy company commander now, can't I call you Company Commander Xiong?"

"Hahaha, I've missed you so much, you little rascal!"

Unable to contain his excitement any longer, Xiong Jie strode forward and gave He Yuzhu a big bear hug.

He Yuzhu laughed and pushed him away, teasingly saying, "Are you sure you miss me, or just want to get some good food or useful things from me?"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Jie proudly raised his head and said, "Our Sixth Company isn't short of supplies anymore. We're fully equipped with Russian gear, we're rolling in it!"

Wu Qianli stepped forward, smiling, and said, "It's not like nobody doesn't have one. Our Seventh Company isn't lacking either!"

Xiong Jie looked around and said with a smile, "I've heard that Zhu Zi is going to join the Party?"

Mei Sheng laughed and said, "Can't others be proactive and make progress? Do you think everyone is like you, struggling to write a simple application to join the Party? Yu Zhu, on the other hand, writes applications that are several thousand words long!"

Xiong Jie scratched his head and said with a smile, "Of course, how can I compare to him? He's a proper vocational school graduate, he's educated."

"I only attended a literacy class, and I can't read many words, so it's not the same! By the way, did you submit the application?"

Mei Sheng asked with a smile, "What? You want to help take a look and make some changes?"

Xiong Jie chuckled, revealing a simple and honest smile, and said, "How could I change it? I just want to put my name on it!"

"How about it? Let me be your party membership introducer too, count me in!"

Wu Qianli instantly realized what was going on and said with a laugh, "So you were waiting here! Mei Sheng, Mei Sheng, someone's trying to steal your matchmaking business!"

Xiong Jie looked at Mei Sheng coming out of the company headquarters and said anxiously, "Oh, you're here! I thought you went to the regimental headquarters on business! Where's Zhu Zi's application? Let me see it quickly!"

Mei Sheng laughed and said, "You old bear, you still have such a short temper."

"I was looking at Yuzhu's application to join the Party. Since you're here, why don't you come in and take a look too?"

Xiong Jie quickly waved his hand and said with a smile, "No, no, I won't look at it. Just let me leave my name on it, hehe!"

At this moment, Wu Qianli quickly spoke up, "You two are really something! We have guests, how can you keep them standing outside? Come inside and talk!"

After saying that, Wu Qianli pulled Xiong Jie and a group of veterans into the headquarters of the Seventh Company.

Around noon, to entertain his old comrades whom he hadn't seen in a long time, He Yuzhu once again personally cooked, showcasing his culinary skills.

After resting in the rear, supplies were relatively plentiful. Although there was no fresh fish or meat, there was a wide variety of canned goods and vegetables that had been captured.

He Yuzhu prepared a sumptuous meal, including canned stew, hot and sour cabbage, stir-fried shredded potatoes, and locally pickled vegetables, filling the table to the brim.

Wu Qianli, Mei Sheng, Yu Congrong, and Wu Wanli were all summoned to the company headquarters to have dinner with Xiong Jie and a group of veterans.

Everyone enjoyed the meal immensely, filled with joy, and a long-lost warmth lingered in everyone's hearts.

At the dinner table, everyone was in high spirits, clamoring that the first thing they would do after returning to China was to have He Yuzhu cook a big meal for them.

Everyone felt that today's meal was too simple and didn't showcase He Yuzhu's excellent cooking skills at all.

Looking at his enthusiastic comrades, He Yuzhu smiled gently and readily agreed to everything.

He Yuzhu's application to join the Party was submitted to the higher-level Party organization and was approved very quickly.

During this special period, He Yuzhu was promoted to a higher position and admitted to the Party on the front lines. He successfully passed the Party organization's review and became a probationary Party member.

The moment He Yuzhu stood under the bright red Party flag, raised his right fist, and solemnly swore an oath.

His eyes were unfocused.