Chapter 465: Chapter 465
The battle resolve of the Volunteer Army from the Republic revealed the true nature of these so-called ’titled’ Federation units.
Understanding such battle resolve, however, is not something that can be grasped immediately.
It requires starting from scratch with historical simulation games from Huaxia.
On the Western Front, with the collapse of the Turkish Brigade,
the main force of the 38th Army of the Volunteer Army advanced westward, preparing to pursue the larger forces of the US 9th Army.
The Turkish Brigade, unable to hold their ground, naturally didn’t get any favor from the United States and was placed at the very end of the column to cover the retreat.
However, being at the end,
they managed to gather some Turkish Brigade soldiers who also escaped from Gari Ridge.
At that time, with darkness setting in, everyone was running in all directions.
Some, with a stroke of luck, did get away and rejoined the main force, slightly improving the mood of the Turkish Brigade’s commanding officer.
At least the casualties weren’t as severe as feared, and they regained some strength,
otherwise, it would be unimaginable how they would be held accountable later.
With the ’Second Campaign’, and the retreat of the US 9th Army on the Western Front,
on the Eastern Front in the Changjin Lake area, the 1st Division of the U.S. Marines was also completely surrounded by the Volunteer Army, though they remained unaware.
on the Celestial Shark Live Platform, thanks to the numerous player streamers,
there were Blue Star broadcasters providing perspectives from all directions over Changjin Lake.
In the livestream room of the broadcaster Li Ran,
the plan map for the ’Christmas Offensive’ by the United States was displayed in the upper right corner of the stream.
Compared to the Western Front, Updates are released by 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✦𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✦𝓷𝓮𝓽
on the Eastern Front, the US was planning to occupy key routes near the Yalu River from four directions, intending to thoroughly block the Volunteer Army of the Republic from entering the area.
However, what the United States did not know was that the Volunteer Army had secretly entered the Changjin area,
and their numbers were vastly different from the US estimates.
In order to occupy this place before Christmas,
the US dispatched over 1,000 aircraft sorties daily to bomb bridges and roads south of the Yalu River.
Li Ran’s unit, the 1st Division of the U.S. Marines, after arriving in the Changjin Lake area, prepared to advance westward to occupy the direction of Wupingli.
Yet these United States NPCs were unaware they had already been encircled by the Volunteer Army.
Nevertheless, the Blue Star broadcasters situated in the Changjin Lake area all had access to a ’real-time map.’
Just by looking at the blocks representing the Volunteer Army surrounding them, their scalps tingled with apprehension.
Compiling data from all live streams and estimating based on the color-coded areas of the Volunteer Army, their numbers were at least three times that of the United States forces.
But one can’t really make a direct comparison .
After all, the United States had a fully mechanized force.
Fewer numbers didn’t necessarily mean weaker combat power.
Firepower outweighed manpower.
The United States not only had artillery regiments and tank battalions but also vast logistical support capabilities, with over 1,000 trucks dedicated to material transport.
They could call in B29 bombers and other air support at any moment.
On the Volunteer Army’s side,
based on what Blue Star gamers learned over time, much of the weaponry was captured from the Japanese Army and during the Liberation War.
Supplies were even less likely to reach the Changjin Lake area.
With the US sending over 1,000 aircraft sorties daily to bomb roads and bridges south of the Yalu River,
not to mention the lack of vehicles,
Even if there were trucks, surrounded by mountains and with all the bridges destroyed, transporting supplies would be impossible.
This was why the US high command, up until now, didn’t believe the Volunteer Army would participate in the battle on a large scale.
There was a generational difference in the weaponry and equipment of both sides.
Moreover, now in late November in the north,
daytime temperatures could drop to minus 20°, with nighttime lows reaching below minus 40°.
the roads and bridges in the north were almost entirely destroyed by daily air raids, with over 1,000 aircraft sorties patrolling and bombing.
Who could possibly cross over unnoticed in such a scenario?
Are you suggesting that the soldiers on the other side aren’t afraid of minus 40° freezing temperatures and don’t need supplies, yet they can climb mountains and cross ridges to attack them?
Those are no ordinary soldiers; they are superhumans.
And a whole group of them at that.
Such a thing couldn’t possibly exist in reality.
In the camp of the United States troops at Riutang Village,
Li Ran kept glancing towards the distant peaks and, with the help of Blue Star viewers in his livestream room, used the zoom function to search for traces of the Volunteer Army.
Even though the ’real-time map’ clearly showed the presence of the Volunteer Army,
there was nothing visible to the naked eye.
It’s unknown how the Volunteer Army managed to disguise themselves so effectively.
Li Ran’s actions also caught the attention of other US veterans, though they thought he was just nervous. One veteran who had just lost a card game and refused to play anymore noticed Li Ran, chuckling as he walked over:
"No need to be nervous."
"There’s no enemy there, come and play some cards."
The surrounding US soldiers couldn’t help but laugh:
"You’re such a trickster."
"Lost so much and now trying to coax the rookie into losing too?"
"Come on, young man."
"I have a good feeling you’re going to win big today!"
Hearing the heckling, the veteran who stopped playing continued to jest, while Li Ran twitched the corners of his lips, his peripheral vision catching sight of the "real-time map" in front of him.
We’re totally surrounded, aren’t we?!
From the perspective of the US NPC soldiers, there was no one else at Changjin Lake but them.