Level 1 Combat Hero

In June, the smoke of war once again engulfed the scorched land of the Korean battlefield.

The troops rushed to the front lines once again, only to be met with the brutal tunnel warfare.

The mountains and fields were filled with the sound of artillery fire. The enemy and our side fought back and forth in the narrow positions. There was no earth-shattering large-scale decisive battle, but only fierce and piecemeal fighting.

Several months passed in the blink of an eye, every minute and every second soaked in the blood and sweat of the soldiers.

The gears of time turned slowly, eventually reaching October 1952.

Having gone through countless life-and-death battles, He Yuzhu has been officially promoted to company commander of the Seventh Company.

Yu Congrong, who fought alongside him, became the deputy company commander of the Seventh Company and his most capable deputy.

Wu Wanli, the young man who followed his brother on a long journey to the battlefield, was promoted to deputy platoon leader thanks to his bravery on the battlefield.

Wu Qianli and Mei Sheng, who had led the Seventh Company in a bloody battle, were both transferred to the battalion headquarters.

Wu Qianli became a battalion commander thanks to his outstanding military achievements and excellent command skills.

Mei Sheng, who possesses both literary and military talents, was appointed as the battalion instructor, and the two remained the best partners with excellent teamwork.

Xiong Jie, who was usually cheerful and daring in battle, also took advantage of his meritorious service on the battlefield to join the battalion headquarters and become the deputy battalion commander.

The entire 7th Company, and even the entire battalion headquarters, grew stronger amidst the flames of war, with each individual shouldering even greater responsibilities.

But no one expected that a sudden order would disrupt the original rhythm of the troops.

The 27th Army received official orders from its superiors to prepare to withdraw from Korea and return home.

When the news arrived, the entire military camp was instantly filled with complex emotions, including the joy of returning home and the reluctance to leave the battlefield and comrades.

Before the troops set off to return home, the higher authorities conducted a comprehensive and detailed reassessment of the combat achievements of all the soldiers who participated in the war.

Every achievement is carefully verified, and every charge is meticulously remembered, so that no hero who fought on the battlefield will be let down.

After layers of evaluation, He Yuzhu's military merit record not only retained the original first-class merit and second-class merit, but also...

He also received an additional, highly prestigious honor—a Level One Combat Hero.

This is the supreme glory earned through countless life-and-death experiences and countless enemy casualties; it is the highest recognition of his battlefield performance.

The day for the troops to depart for home arrived as scheduled, and the entire garrison was filled with the sounds of packing and comrades saying their reluctant goodbyes.

He Yuzhu carefully packed his simple luggage, patted the dust off his clothes, and stepped into the military vehicle to board the vehicle for the return journey.

Just as he was about to step onto the train, a communications soldier rushed toward him, his face full of urgency.

The communications soldier clutched a newly delivered transfer order tightly in his hand, the paper still wrinkled from the urgent delivery.

The transfer order was clear and unambiguous, and He Yuzhu was immediately removed from all his posts as the company commander of the 7th Interception Company.

He was directly transferred across military lines to the 15th Army to serve as an operations staff officer.

This sudden transfer order completely stunned He Yuzhu.

He stood beside the military vehicle, still clutching the luggage rope in his hand, filled with reluctance and astonishment, unable to come to his senses for a long time.

Not only He Yuzhu, but also Wu Qianli, Mei Sheng, Yu Congrong, Wu Wanli and others who were preparing to go with him were all stunned.

Everyone felt a deep sense of regret. Cross-military transfers are different from transfers within the same unit; once separated, it becomes incredibly difficult to meet again.

This is not a temporary separation, but a complete parting of ways. From now on, we will be in different units and go to different battlefields.

Wu Qianli immediately led everyone to the regimental headquarters to find out what was going on.

However, the leaders of the regiment were completely baffled by the transfer order, having no idea what it was all about, and only said that it was an order directly issued by their superiors.

The group did not give up and rushed to the division headquarters, determined to get to the bottom of what happened to He Yuzhu.

It wasn't until they met their commander that they finally learned the reason behind the transfer order.

The division commander looked at the group of reluctant soldiers in front of him and spoke in a heavy tone with a hint of helplessness.

"The fighting on the positions held by the 15th Army is now extremely fierce, and the struggle between the enemy and ourselves has reached a fever pitch."

"More importantly, the soldiers of the 15th Army were completely unfamiliar with tactics such as sniping and small-scale precision annihilation of the enemy."

"They urgently need experienced personnel who are proficient in sniper tactics to guide their troops in combat."

He Yuzhu was a renowned sniper in the entire 27th Army and even in the surrounding armies that were cooperating with him.

His sniping tactics, which he led the Seventh Company to conduct, were already well-known in various units. His marksmanship was excellent, and he had killed countless enemies. Everyone knew about it.

This transfer was not a forced arrangement by the higher authorities at all. Rather, the 15th Army specifically requested the personnel and came directly to us to request the transfer.

Now that things have come to this, all the reluctance can only be suppressed in my heart. Military orders are like mountains, and there is no room for the slightest refusal.

Looking at his comrades from the Seventh Company, with whom he had shared life and death, He Yuzhu's eyes were filled with reluctance, but he finally nodded slowly.

He personally and solemnly handed over command of the Seventh Company to Deputy Company Commander Yu Congrong.

From that moment on, Yu Congrong would shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Seventh Company, leading his brothers to continue fighting until they returned home.

He Yuzhu remained alone at his post in North Korea, waiting for the 15th Army to come and pick him up.

Before the main force of the 27th Army officially set off, He Yuzhu took out a letter he had written beforehand and solemnly handed it to Mei Sheng.

This is a letter sent back home; he has been away from home for two whole years, heading to the battlefield.

Two years have passed without any news. The parents, far away in Beijing, must be extremely worried and anxious every day.

Mei Sheng took the heavy letter from home, patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder forcefully, and said nothing, but his words were full of promise.

In fact, Mei Sheng, Wu Qianli and others had already prepared several letters to send back to He Yuzhu's home.

These letters were all thank-you notes to He Daqing and Chen Lanxiang, filled with sincere gratitude.

The letter detailed how He Yuzhu had risked his life to save them on the battlefield on several occasions, thus saving their lives.

He went on to recount every single merit and contribution He Yuzhu had made on the battlefield.

They wanted to let He Yuzhu's parents know that their son was a true hero, a good son who brought glory to the country.

The letter that He Yuzhu wrote to his family consisted entirely of words of reassurance that he was safe and sound.

He made no mention of the gunfire, smoke, and carnage on the battlefield, nor did he ever describe a single scene of brutal fighting.

He knew all too well the brutality of the war and the vulnerability of his family.

He wanted to bear those scenes of carnage and bloodshed alone, those perilous situations where he was on the verge of death, so that his parents would not be heartbroken and shed tears upon hearing them.

He Yuzhu, who remained at his post, waited for two full days before the 15th Army finally sent personnel to pick him up.

There was no special convoy for this trip; he would be traveling with a convoy of supplies bound for the front lines to the 15th Army's base.

At that time, enemy planes from the United States circled over North Korea all day long, and the bombing never stopped, making the journey of the transport convoy extremely dangerous.

The convoy had only traveled halfway when it was subjected to relentless bombing raids by enemy aircraft, and danger descended instantly.

The enemy bombing was extremely dense, with bombs falling in dense formations. The drivers of the transport convoy suffered heavy casualties and fell one after another.

Seeing the convoy stuck in the predicament of being unmanned, He Yuzhu took over the steering wheel without saying a word and became a transport driver.

While vigilantly observing the enemy planes overhead, he steadily maneuvered the truck, struggling forward amidst the gunfire.

He once performed the feat of shooting down airplanes with a rifle on the battlefield, but he did not choose to do so now.

At this point, he only had an M1 Garand rifle on him, which he used as his primary weapon.

The Springfield 1903 sniper rifle, which was extremely accurate, had been given to Wu Wanli before they parted ways.

After months of battlefield development, the positions of the two sides have become extremely close, and every hilltop is being fought over repeatedly.

Soldiers from both sides engaged in close combat, and close-quarters fighting became the norm. There were almost no targets on the battlefield that required long-range sniping.

This Springfield 1903 has accompanied He Yuzhu through countless battles and can be called a battlefield weapon.

When Wu Wanli received the gun, he was so excited that his whole body trembled, and his face was full of ecstasy.

He knew in his heart that this gun was a treasure on the battlefield, a precision weapon that countless soldiers dreamed of.

The number of American enemies who died under this gun was at least fifty, if not a hundred, and every bullet carried the mark of their battle.

Wu Wanli held the sniper rifle with obvious affection, and seeing that He Yuzhu showed no intention of taking it back, he immediately mustered up his courage and spoke.

"Brother Zhu, can you trade me your M1911 pistol? I'll trade you my most precious military medal!"

He Yuzhu looked at the young man in front of him, who had long since shed his immaturity and become increasingly courageous, and nodded with a smile.

In this way, Wu Wanli carefully took the M1911 pistol and kept it close to his body.

Mei Sheng, who was standing to the side, looked at the seized items next to He Yuzhu and smiled as he came over.

"Yuzhu, this pen you seized is in excellent condition. I'll trade it for my pocket watch as a keepsake."

Seeing the reluctance and affection in Mei Sheng's eyes, He Yuzhu did not hesitate at all and completed the exchange with him directly.

The two exchanged a smile, needing no further words; all their camaraderie was contained in this small exchange.

When it was Xiong Jie's turn, he saw that He Yuzhu had only a few items left, and he was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks.

After thinking for a while, Xiong Jie took off his watch and shoved it into He Yuzhu's hand.

"Zhu Zi, I have nothing else to give in exchange, so I'll trade you this watch. Whatever you give me, just keep it as a keepsake!"

He Yuzhu was usually a low-key person, and he carried only ordinary items. He immediately took Xiong Jie's watch and took a look.

This sight stunned him, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

This is actually a Vacheron Constantin watch, far exceeding the level of luxury of ordinary watches.

It was only after he arrived on the Korean battlefield that he gradually learned the markings on these luxury watches from captured American officers.

Seeing that everyone else had exchanged items with He Yuzhu, Yu Congrong became anxious and tore off his military medal from his chest.

"Zhu Zi, I'll trade my medals with you too. Let's get the same rank. I also have a first-class merit medal, so neither of us will lose out!"

The two immediately exchanged their medals, keeping each other's honors close to their bodies.

At this moment, the remaining comrades around them all panicked, fearing that they would be too slow to act.

Everyone crowded around, wanting to exchange items with He Yuzhu, even if it was just a small button or a bullet casing.

Everyone had only one thought in mind: to keep one of He Yuzhu's belongings as a memento.

In a short time, almost all of He Yuzhu's belongings were taken away by his comrades.

Only the medal commemorating a first-class combat hero remained, still firmly hanging on his chest.

It's not that no one wants to exchange, but that none of our comrades have a medal of that rank, so there's no way to exchange them.

No one present felt jealous of this unique, top-tier medal.

Everyone genuinely felt that He Yuzhu deserved this medal; he was fully worthy of this highest honor.

This achievement was not due to luck, but rather earned through countless charges and countless kills amidst a hail of bullets.

It was with his blood and life that he forged his own glory, which no one can question and no one can match.

His comrades eagerly exchanged items with him, their actions revealing the deepest reluctance to part with him.

Everyone knows that after He Yuzhu's transfer across military lines, he will most likely not return to the 27th Army after returning to China.

As for the 15th Army, it is unknown how long the battle will last and how many more life-and-death battles they will have to endure.

After the 27th Army returned to China, it would immediately receive new national defense missions, and the two teams would be separated from each other from then on.

In this era of war and chaos, once separated, there may never be another chance to meet again in this lifetime, and all that may remain is longing.

Fortunately, He Yuzhu's home address in Beijing was very detailed and easy to find.

Every comrade present took out their pen and paper and carefully wrote down the address, stroke by stroke.

Everyone secretly resolved that once they were settled in their respective units, they would write to each other as soon as possible.

Send your latest address to them, and cherish this camaraderie, never losing contact no matter how far apart you are.

The convoy carrying He Yuzhu's supplies was constantly on the move, facing life-or-death challenges as it was bombed by enemy planes.

There was no moment of safety; every inch of land that the wheels rolled over was riddled with craters from artillery shells.

Thus, what was originally a short journey took the convoy a full week to finally reach the outskirts of Wusheng Mountain.

This area is now within the garrison area of ​​the 15th Army, and the distant, continuous lines of positions are constantly filled with the roar of artillery fire.

He Yuzhu bid farewell to the soldiers in the transport convoy and, alone with a simple bag, headed to the headquarters of the 15th Army to report for duty.

Upon arriving at the military headquarters, before he could even have a sip of hot water or a short rest, he was immediately given an urgent mission.

His superiors ordered him to immediately go to Hill 597.9, where the fighting was most intense, to participate in the defense of the position and to guide sniping tactics.

The army commander personally received He Yuzhu, looking at the young officer who was so young yet exuded the aura of gunpowder.

The army commander, with a mix of amusement and concern, asked him sarcastically, "Comrade He, we're about to go to Hill 597.9, aren't you scared?"

The army commander's question was not unfounded; it concealed endless helplessness and heartache.

When He Yuzhu was specifically requested to be transferred from the 27th Army, the battle for Hill 597.9 had not yet fully broken out.

At that time, the army commander simply felt that the position needed key personnel who were proficient in sniper tactics, so he tried every means to get them.

But no one expected that the process would be delayed again and again, and He Yuzhu would finally arrive after many twists and turns.

The 597.9 hill ahead had long been turned into a hellish scene, with the fighting between the enemy and ourselves being extremely fierce, and the positions had been bombarded beyond recognition.

What was once a beautiful high ground has long been covered in blood and scorched earth. Countless soldiers have sacrificed their lives every day, and the battle situation is shocking.

Knowing the horrors on the front lines, the army commander asked that question, worried that the young combat hero might become timid.

He Yuzhu straightened his back, his eyes as firm as iron, looked at the army commander, and asked in a calm and powerful tone.

"Commander, do you think I'm afraid?"

He actually had a vague understanding of the battle situation on Hill 597.9, knowing that it was destined to be a fierce battle.

However, he was not fully aware of the extent of the carnage here; it was just that this high ground was so famous that even though he was in the 27th Army, he had heard of it long ago.

It is simply impossible to ignore this position in this war.

Seeing the unwavering determination in He Yuzhu's eyes, the army commander burst into laughter, full of admiration.

"Hahaha, I knew you were a good guy, full of courage, otherwise I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of asking you for this!"

"I originally wanted to take more elite personnel, but the 27th Army was also in a tense situation and refused to release anyone, so I only transferred you!"

After laughing, the army commander's face instantly turned serious, his tone filled with endless urgency and expectation.

"Comrade Yuzhu, the soldiers on the front lines are fighting so hard, sacrificing themselves every single second. You must teach them the sniping tactics!"

"As long as we can improve the efficiency of our troops in eliminating the enemy and reduce our casualties, we will have accomplished the most arduous task!"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu immediately stood up straight, raised his right hand, and gave the army commander a standard and solemn military salute.

His voice was loud and clear, his tone resolute, and he spoke without the slightest hesitation: "I guarantee I will complete the mission!"

The army commander looked at the spirited, courageous, and resolute young man before him, his eyes filled with expectation.

"Alright! I'd like to see what kind of results you, a level one combat hero, can achieve on Hill 597.9!"

"If you can successfully complete the mission, hold the position, and teach the soldiers sniping tactics, I'll personally treat you to drinks!"

He Yuzhu stood tall and straight, his gaze resolute, and replied firmly, "Please wait and see, Commander!"

After speaking, he saluted solemnly again, turned around to accept the order, and strode away from the military headquarters to the hellish battlefield.

On October 25, 1952, in the dead of night, the night was pitch black, and the whole world was shrouded in thick smoke.

He Yuzhu received orders from his superiors to follow the 8th Company of the 15th Army and advance towards Hill 597.9.

He also shoulders a crucial mission on this journey.

He led a platoon of logistics soldiers and a platoon of guards from the regimental headquarters to transport urgently needed supplies to the high ground.

At this point, the 8th Company, stationed on the high ground, was in dire straits, having run out of ammunition and food. Without further supplies, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The superiors gave clear instructions that the guard platoon that accompanied the 8th Company should stay behind after arriving at the high ground to assist the 8th Company in holding the position.

This was not the first time the 15th Army had sent reinforcements to Hill 597.9; wave after wave of soldiers poured into this fiercely contested position.

They claimed to have a company of soldiers stationed on the high ground, but in reality, a whole battalion of soldiers had been deployed there.

Countless young lives were lost forever on this barren mountaintop, becoming a monument to the battlefield.

As for how many soldiers are still left on the high ground at this moment, no one can give an accurate answer.

All everyone knew was that the gunfire on the high ground never stopped, and as long as the fighting continued, it proved that there were still soldiers of the 8th Company alive.

As long as there are still soldiers resisting, it means that the position of Hill 597.9 is still firmly in our hands.

The soldiers of the guard company had never met He Yuzhu before and were completely unfamiliar with each other.

In their eyes, He Yuzhu was just an operations staff officer dispatched by the military, and a company-level staff officer at that. They subconsciously thought he was a civilian officer.

Everyone felt that these staff officers mostly commanded from the rear, had never actually fought on the front lines, and lacked practical combat skills.

Out of a desire to protect their superior, the soldiers deliberately arranged for He Yuzhu to walk in the very center of the column, away from the dangers of the front lines.

He Yuzhu didn't say a word about this arrangement, nor did he offer any explanation.

He knew in his heart that further words were useless; the strength demonstrated on the battlefield was the best proof.

No matter how eloquently you speak, nothing is more convincing than a real battle. Once the fighting begins, everyone will see everything clearly.

However, the M1 Garand rifle slung across He Yuzhu's back was too conspicuous and attracted a lot of attention in the team.

Several experienced soldiers in the team immediately recognized it as a standard, high-quality weapon of the U.S. military.

Despite their curiosity, everyone strictly adhered to military discipline, and no one stepped forward to inquire about the origin of the guns.

The march took place silently in the dead of night, with the entire team moving swiftly and stealthily in the darkness, approaching the foot of Hill 597.9.

However, as soon as the team arrived at the foot of the mountain, they were completely exposed to the enemy's firepower and encountered an unprecedentedly fierce interception.

The US searchlights instantly turned on, the blinding white light piercing the night sky and locking onto the position of our troops.

Immediately afterwards, a barrage of tracer rounds came hurtling through the night, leaving behind a trail of menacing red light, densely packed and blotting out the sun.

Bazooka rocket launchers and light and heavy machine guns opened fire simultaneously, and the enemy's firepower poured down like a torrential rain on the troops.

In an instant, gunshots, cannon fire, and rocket explosions mingled together, echoing throughout the valley, and danger descended in an instant.

Faced with a barrage of tracer rounds flying everywhere, He Yuzhu had no way to intercept them one by one, so he could only choose to prioritize breaking the enemy's vision.

He immediately raised the M1 rifle on his back, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and locked onto the searchlight in the distance.

Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled the trigger, and the bullet flew precisely, shattering the searchlight closest to the team.

He Yuzhu moved without stopping, changing ammunition, aiming, and firing in one smooth and efficient motion, without the slightest delay.

One after another, all the American searchlights that could illuminate our troops were precisely smashed by him, without exception.

The moment the searchlights went out, the enemy's firepower instantly lost its precise target, and its offensive was greatly reduced.

Immediately afterwards, He Yuzhu turned his gun around again and aimed at the enemy's core heavy machine gun firing point.

A bullet struck the machine gunner precisely, and the heavy machine gun, which had been roaring wildly, instantly fell silent, unable to make a sound anymore.

He then shifted his target, and the light machine gun positions on the flanks were destroyed one by one, with the machine gunners falling to the ground one after another.

Even the bazookas on the enemy's position only had time to fire one rocket.

Soldiers who tried to operate the rocket launcher were shot dead by He Yuzhu before they could even get close to the weapon, and no one was able to pick it up again.

Even though He Yuzhu acted extremely quickly and instantly destroyed the enemy's core firepower, he still couldn't avoid casualties.

In just a few dozen seconds, a platoon of guards lost an entire squad of soldiers.

Vibrant lives fell in an instant, and blood stained the scorched earth at the foot of the mountain, demonstrating just how fierce and brutal the enemy's firepower was.

Looking at his fallen comrades, He Yuzhu was filled with helplessness and self-blame. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

He had been fighting in the positions held by the 27th Army and never expected that the defensive deployment of Hill 597.9 would be so stringent.

The battlefield environment here was far worse than any of the battles he had experienced before, and the enemy's firepower was also completely different.

He secretly regretted that if he had known the situation earlier, he would have smashed the searchlights immediately to reduce casualties in his team.

Even if all the searchlights were destroyed, the enemy could still blindly fire based on the trajectory of the tracer rounds, and casualties among the team could not be completely avoided.

This is the cruelty of the battlefield, the helplessness under the fire, something no one can completely change.

Fortunately, He Yuzhu was positioned in the middle of the group, which allowed him to avoid the enemy's first round of intense fire and prevent him from being hit by bullets.

By this time, Hill 597.9 had already been flattened by continuous artillery fire, and the entire mountain had become a barren hill.

There were no trees or rocks on the hillside, only scorched earth from repeated bombardments, and not a single decent shelter could be found.

The defending U.S. forces had constructed sturdy fortifications using cement and gravel in advance, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.

In contrast, even if our army tried to make makeshift shelters by filling bags with soil, it would be useless, as the mountain was covered with loose, loose soil that could not stop bullets at all.

The intense gunfire at the foot of the mountain instantly reached the high ground, and the soldiers of the 8th Company stationed in the tunnel immediately launched a counterattack.

Dense gunfire emanated from the high ground tunnels. Although the firepower was weak, it never stopped, demonstrating our army's determination to hold the line.

He Yuzhu listened carefully and accurately judged the strength of the 8th Company just by the density of the gunfire.

He instantly understood that the 8th Company on the high ground now had at most one platoon left, and its weapons and ammunition were severely lacking, making its firepower extremely weak.

The situation was critical and there was no time to lose. He Yuzhu immediately turned to look at Platoon Leader Meng of the guard company beside him and gave an urgent order.

"Platoon Leader Meng, you lead your team to charge forward and draw enemy fire. I'll cover you from the rear!"

Upon hearing this, Platoon Leader Meng immediately shook his head and refused, replying sternly, "No, our mission is to escort you safely to the high ground; we absolutely cannot let you be in danger!"

Upon hearing these words, He Yuzhu frowned instantly, his tone suddenly becoming stern, and he no longer showed any politeness.

"What a load of rubbish about escorting me! I'm here to fight, to fight alongside my brothers, not to be a weak strategist who needs your protection!"

"You really think I'm just some pretty face sent down to the army for training? Let me tell you, I was originally the company commander of the 7th Infiltration Company, 239th Regiment, 80th Division, 27th Army!"

"The Battle of Watergate, which shocked the world, was won by our 7th Company. Our four companies single-handedly held off half a division of the US Army!"

He Yuzhu spoke these words with conviction, his tone filled with the glory and spirit of the Seventh Company.

The Battle of Shuimen Bridge was extremely fierce. The soldiers of the Seventh Company, outnumbered and outgunned, held their ground and ultimately accomplished the impossible.

The fame of this battle had already spread to every Volunteer Army unit on the Korean battlefield, and even the 15th Army, which entered Korea later, was already very familiar with it.

When Platoon Leader Meng and all the soldiers present heard the words "Shuimen Bridge," their eyes widened instantly, their faces filled with shock.

The way everyone looked at He Yuzhu instantly changed from their initial disdain to deep respect, and they dared not be negligent in the slightest.

He Yuzhu observed everyone's reactions without pausing for a moment; the current battlefield situation allowed no room for idle chatter.

He shouted again in a stern voice, "This is an order! Execute it immediately!"

"yes!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Platoon Leader Meng straightened his body and loudly agreed, then turned and led the guards of the company in a charge toward the high ground.

Braving the enemy's remaining fire, the soldiers bravely advanced, rapidly heading towards the tunnel at the top of the mountain.

He Yuzhu stayed behind alone, holding an M1 rifle, transforming into a highly accurate killing machine.

His eyes were sharp, fixed on every firing point on the enemy position and every American soldier who tried to fire.

Bullets whistled out continuously, each one hitting its target precisely. Enemy firing positions were eliminated one by one, and the marksmanship was so accurate it was outrageous.

Any American sniper with exceptional marksmanship who attempts a sneak attack will be spotted by him immediately and killed instantly.

Besides covering the advancing troops, He Yuzhu had an even more important plan in mind.

The logistics team accompanying the mission carried mostly dry rations and drinking water, and hardly any ammunition.

Although his personal storage space contained a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, he couldn't simply take them out in full view of everyone.

The only way to replenish the troops' ammunition was to seize it from the enemy and turn American supplies into their own.

Having figured this out, He Yuzhu moved even more swiftly, his entire body moving nimbly through the hail of bullets, constantly closing in on the enemy's position.

The US troops stationed at the foot of Hill 597.9 consisted of a reinforced company, far exceeding the number of our assault troops.

Fortunately, the US forces were dispersed, and their various firing positions were not connected to each other and were not concentrated in the same position.

In addition, the soldiers of the 8th Company on the high ground continuously tied down the enemy's troops and firepower, giving He Yuzhu a great deal of room to maneuver.

Without these favorable conditions, he alone would not be able to withstand the concentrated firepower of a US company, let alone launch a counterattack.

He Yuzhu fired accurately while moving quickly, his figure nimbly darting across the scorched earth hillside, never being hit by a bullet.

With his superb marksmanship and exceptional battlefield experience, he quickly found himself beneath an isolated enemy firing position.

He approached silently, then launched a surprise attack, wiping out all the American soldiers inside the firing point in just a few seconds.

Immediately afterwards, he quickly looted the weapons, ammunition, and dry rations in the firing point without stopping, and turned to run towards the next firing point.

Just as he was moving quickly toward his next target, a burst of intense flames suddenly shot out in front of him.

Seeing the familiar trajectory of the flames, He Yuzhu's heart tightened instantly; he was all too familiar with this thing.

In past battles, he had personally destroyed countless American flamethrowers, and he was very familiar with their power.

"Holy crap!"

He Yuzhu instinctively uttered a classic Chinese curse, his body reacting far faster than his mind, instantly collapsing heavily to the ground.

Even when he lay down to conceal himself, he didn't stop firing his M1 rifle, his finger constantly pulling the trigger.

The magazine was emptied instantly, all the bullets being poured towards the flamethrower.

The instant the bullets were fired, a scorching heat wave swept over his head, burning his skin painfully.

Immediately afterwards, a loud explosion was heard from the other side, and the US military's flamethrower was successfully detonated.

A U.S. soldier, engulfed in flames, tumbled and fell down the hillside, letting out a heart-wrenching scream.

Nearby were several American soldiers caught in the flames, their bodies engulfed in flames, rolling frantically on the scorched earth, trying to extinguish the flames on their bodies.

But such struggles are utterly meaningless on the brutal battlefield; they only add to the suffering.

He Yuzhu would never give the enemy any chance to breathe or be rescued, and would not leave them any chance of survival.

With a few nimble rolls, he quickly hid behind a makeshift cover, changed his magazine, and fired at the firemen one by one.

The precise bullet hit its target instantly, ending the enemy's suffering and eliminating any further threat of fire.

Just as he had dealt with the flamethrower crisis, a squad of American soldiers suddenly rushed out from his side and opened fire in his direction.

A hail of bullets came in an instant, hitting the scorched earth around them and kicking up clouds of dust.

He Yuzhu's eyes were cold, and he showed no panic. He immediately released a BRA light machine gun from his personal space.

He quickly set up the machine gun, pulled the trigger, and the sound of gunfire erupted instantly, with a dense hail of bullets raining down on the American soldiers.

He emptied a magazine in an instant, but without pausing, he immediately switched back to his M1 rifle and continued firing precisely.

After a swift counterattack, only two or three men from that American platoon managed to escape; the rest were annihilated.

He Yuzhu, rifle in hand, rushed to the American stronghold that had just been destroyed and began to loot all the supplies.

He stored all usable supplies, including weapons, ammunition, compressed rations, and drinking water, into his personal space.

He cleared out several US military strongpoints in succession, and the amount of supplies he captured increased. However, a key question suddenly came to his mind.

He had been so engrossed in the battle that he had forgotten to look for the entrance to the high ground tunnels, and now had no idea where to enter the position.

Fortunately, the soldiers of the 8th Company on the high ground did not keep him waiting long, and kept an eye on the battle at the foot of the mountain.

Just as He Yuzhu destroyed another US military strongpoint, clearing the way for his team...

Taking advantage of this excellent offensive momentum, the soldiers of the 8th Company in the tunnel decisively launched an attack and destroyed two enemy firing positions in one fell swoop.

Immediately afterwards, the 8th Company dispatched about a platoon of soldiers, who, taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, rushed quickly toward He Yuzhu's direction.

Upon seeing this, He Yuzhu immediately reacted, releasing five captured US military sleeping bags from his spatial storage.

He stuffed each sleeping bag full of newly captured weapons, ammunition, dry rations, and urgently needed first-aid kits.

After placing the supplies, he immediately picked up his rifle, took a good position, and did his best to cover the soldiers of the 8th Company who came to provide support.

Soon, the small team rushed up to him, and the young soldier in the lead, panting heavily, asked to confirm his identity.

"Excuse me, are you Staff Officer He, dispatched by the military headquarters?"

Without turning his head, He Yuzhu kept his eyes fixed on the enemy ahead and replied calmly, "It's me. Quickly drag these supplies back into the tunnel. I'll cover you!"

The leading soldier looked down at the five bulging sleeping bags on the ground, his eyes widening instantly, his voice filled with disbelief and shock.

"These...you seized all of these by yourself just now?"

He Yuzhu looked at the American troops in the distance who were gradually realizing what was happening and preparing to counterattack, and urged them on urgently.

"No time to say more, act now and retreat back to the tunnel immediately, or it will be too late!"

"yes!"

Without asking any further questions, the leading soldier waved his hand and led his men, pulling and dragging their heavy sleeping bags, towards the tunnel entrance.

He Yuzhu had already memorized the locations of all the enemy's firing positions by the time the soldiers charged forward.

At this moment, he fired precise shots, like calling out rolls, suppressing the enemy's firepower one by one, and escorting the team's retreat.

Even with his full cover, several soldiers were still unfortunately hit by bullets and wounded during the retreat.

Fortunately, no more soldiers were killed during the entire operation, and the entire team successfully retreated to the tunnels on Hill 597.9 without any major incidents.

Having just experienced a fierce charge and retreat, the soldiers collapsed onto the ground as soon as they entered the tunnel, panting heavily.

After a long period of intense marching and fighting, coupled with a shortage of supplies, everyone was already exhausted.

The remaining soldiers of the 8th Company, who were originally stationed in the tunnel, looked at their comrades who had returned safely, and then at He Yuzhu standing in the middle.

The crowd's gazes became incredibly complex, a mixture of curiosity, shock, and admiration that lingered for a long time.

Everyone could see that this new Staff Officer He was not a civilian officer at all, but a true battlefield killing machine.

Just now at the foot of the mountain, he single-handedly tore through the American fire defenses, rescued the entire team, and captured a huge amount of supplies.

After calming his rapid breathing, Meng, the platoon leader of the guard company, walked up to He Yuzhu and spoke solemnly.

"Officer He, I must apologize to you. I was blind to your abilities before, underestimated you, and was very offensive to you!"

He Yuzhu looked at the guilty-looking Platoon Leader Meng, waved his hand, and responded in a calm tone, without taking it to heart at all.

"Why apologize? You don't know me or my past. If I were in your shoes, I would have made the same arrangement."

Platoon Leader Meng still felt bad and was about to speak again, but He Yuzhu raised his hand to stop him.

He Yuzhu didn't dwell on the matter any further; the war was tense at the moment, and there was no room for sentimentality.

At this moment, the young soldier who had been waiting outside stood up, walked up to He Yuzhu, extended his hands, and spoke solemnly.

"Hello, Staff Officer He. My name is Zhang Zhongfa, and I am the company commander of the Eighth Company. On behalf of all the soldiers of the Eighth Company, I welcome you!"

Zhang Zhongfa's eyes were filled with uncontrollable admiration and joy as he continued speaking excitedly.

"I never expected that you would single-handedly complete all of our Eighth Company's scheduled combat missions for tonight as soon as you arrived at the position!"

"The heroes of the Water Gate Bridge battle truly live up to their reputation. Meeting them today fills me with immense admiration!"

Looking at the company commander in front of him, whose face was resolute and whose body was covered in the marks of gunpowder, He Yuzhu quickly reached out and shook hands with him tightly.

Both men's palms were covered with thick calluses, bearing the marks of the battlefield—the medals of warriors.

He Yuzhu smiled and replied humbly, "Company Commander Zhang, you flatter me. It is truly admirable that you have held the high ground for so long."

He knew in his heart that he was able to succeed so smoothly because of the support of his personal space and advanced battlefield experience.

The soldiers of the 8th Company held out on this scorched earth with their own flesh and blood, without any external assistance.

Although he had made outstanding military achievements, he still felt slightly inferior to these soldiers who held their ground day after day in fierce battle.

He Yuzhu was thinking this to himself, but the other soldiers in the tunnel did not think so.

Apart from the soldiers who stayed outside to keep watch and keep a close eye on the enemy's movements, everyone else crowded around.

Everyone took the initiative to extend their hands and shake hands with He Yuzhu, expressing their welcome and recognition to him in the most sincere way.

Just as everyone was greeting each other, a soldier crouched down, opened one of the sleeping bags, and immediately let out a joyful shout.

"Company Commander! Come quick! We're not short of bullets this time, and we have so much rations and water!"

The soldier's shout instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the tunnel, and they all gathered around.

Looking at the sleeping bags filled to the brim with mountains of ammunition and supplies, a long-lost smile appeared on the face of every soldier.

Looking at the supplies in front of him, Zhang Zhongfa grasped He Yuzhu's hand again, his voice full of gratitude, and laughed heartily.

"Staff Officer He, you're truly a lucky charm for our Eighth Company!"

"Your arrival not only helped us break through the enemy's blockade and solve our immediate crisis, but you also provided us with food, water, weapons, and ammunition all at once!"

The soldiers around him nodded in agreement, their faces full of approval, and their respect for He Yuzhu grew even stronger.

They were stationed on this high ground, and were already on the verge of running out of ammunition and food. They had no water to drink, no food to eat, and every bullet they fired was one less available.

If He Yuzhu hadn't led the reinforcements tonight, even if a few of the reinforcements had managed to get up there, the supplies would never have been able to be transported up.

This barren mountaintop offered no cover, and carrying heavy loads made us easy targets for the enemy's machine guns, rocket launchers, and flamethrowers.

I'm afraid that before the supplies even get up the mountain, all the soldiers transporting them will perish on the way, and there's absolutely no chance of winning.

Seeing everyone's joyful expressions, He Yuzhu smiled and waved his hand, speaking sincerely.

"If you hadn't launched your attack from the tunnels in time to draw enemy fire, I wouldn't have been able to capture so many supplies so easily."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhongfa immediately shook his head, replying firmly, "Without your precise cover, even if we launched an attack, we wouldn't be able to bring back these supplies!"

As soon as they finished speaking, the two looked at each other and then burst into laughter at the same time. Their laughter echoed in the narrow tunnel, dispelling some of the oppressive atmosphere of war.

"Come on, Staff Officer He, come inside. I'll explain the details of our position to you!"

"With you here, our upcoming defensive battle will be much easier. Finally, there's hope!"

He Yuzhu nodded and followed Zhang Zhongfa deeper into the tunnel, responding humbly.

"It's not that exaggerated. I'm just a little better at shooting than everyone else, and I'm also a little luckier."

Looking at the humble He Yuzhu, Zhang Zhongfa waved his hands repeatedly and said with a smile, "You're too modest. We've all seen your abilities!"

The two walked deeper into the tunnel, and Zhang Zhongfa found a relatively clean spot, then began to give a detailed introduction to the situation on the position.

But as Zhang Zhongfa recounted the story, He Yuzhu's expression gradually became serious, and he was utterly shocked.

He already knew the battle on the high ground was fierce, but he never expected it to be this fierce.

This small hill has been hit by at least several thousand shells from the US military.

The overwhelming artillery fire and repeated bombardments shaved off a large section of the mountaintop.

The mountain was blasted beyond recognition, with scorched earth piled up and shell fragments everywhere, and it no longer resembled its original appearance.

The soldiers of the Eighth Company could only rely on the rudimentary tunnel fortifications to fight a desperate battle with the enemy.

During the day, the enemy would seize the position, but at night, they would launch a counterattack under cover of darkness and retake it.

Thus, they fought day and night, repeatedly vying with the enemy for control of this small hill, as many as 50 times.

Before the Eighth Company was stationed there, this position was defended by the Ninth Company, with reinforcements arriving in batches.

This small hilltop position has seen the sacrifice of hundreds of volunteer soldiers; every inch of the land is soaked in the blood of martyrs.

Our soldiers, at such a heavy cost, killed or wounded at least two battalions of American enemy troops.

Such a casualty ratio and such a level of devastation far exceeded all the battles He Yuzhu had experienced before.

When he led the Seventh Company to defend the strategic location of Shuimen Bridge, he used the terrain advantage to make it difficult for the enemy to rush onto the position.

Moreover, the battle at Shuimen Bridge only lasted one night, and although it was fierce, it was only a temporary battle.

More importantly, although the Seventh Company was also bombed by American aircraft, he personally destroyed the enemy's artillery positions.

Even so, the Seventh Company still lost three-quarters of its troops and almost suffered total annihilation.

But the 597.9 hill in front of us has no terrain advantage whatsoever, and is constantly subjected to artillery bombardment and air raids by the US military.

Day after day of desperate defense, with continuous casualties, this battle was nothing short of hell on earth.

After describing the dire situation on the battlefield, Zhang Zhongfa looked at He Yuzhu, whose expression was solemn, and spoke with a firm tone that carried a hint of determination.

"Staff Officer He, it's so good to have you here! With you here, even if I gloriously sacrifice myself on the battlefield one day, you can still lead the Eighth Company to keep fighting!"

"As long as one person remains, we will never abandon this position!"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu quickly intervened, saying sternly, "No, Company Commander Zhang, please don't say that!"

"I'm just someone sent by my superiors to help. Just treat me like any other soldier in the Eighth Company. Give me orders as you normally would, without any reservations!"

"Furthermore, I have a specific mission: to teach our company's soldiers to master sniping tactics!"

Zhang Zhongfa looked at He Yuzhu, waved his hand with a smile, and said in a friendly tone, "We're at the same rank now, so it's not a matter of one commanding the other!"

"Before you leave the position, let's fight side by side and defend this hill together!"

"Judging from your appearance, you're quite young. Staff Officer He, how old are you this year?"

Upon hearing this, He Yuzhu responded calmly, "17 years old. Soon I'll be 18."

Upon hearing this age, Zhang Zhongfa's eyes widened instantly, his face filled with disbelief and shock, and he repeatedly exclaimed in admiration.

"Impressive! Absolutely impressive! I'm only 25 years old, and in our 15th Army, I'm already the youngest company commander!"

"You're so young, yet you've not only become a company commander but also achieved so many remarkable feats. You're far superior to me; you're truly a young hero!"

He Yuzhu remained humble, responding with a smile: "Company Commander Zhang is too modest. It was much harder for you to hold the high ground than for me."

Zhang Zhongfa waved his hand, stopping the mutual flattery, and looked at He Yuzhu, who looked exhausted, and said with concern.

"Alright, let's not stand on ceremony. You've been traveling all day and going through a fierce battle, you must be exhausted."

"You should take some time to rest and recharge. We can talk about it tomorrow."

"The situation has stabilized somewhat tonight, and we will not launch any further attacks, so you can rest assured."

He Yuzhu was indeed feeling deeply tired, so he stopped refusing, nodded, and replied, "Okay."