freenovelworld Chapter 342 The Army Marches Towards Gantang!
Chapter 342 The Army Marches Towards Gantang!
The sounds of gunfire on the outskirts of the old town gradually subsided and eventually fell silent.
The successful defense of the three key high grounds was like driving three hard nails into the enemy's defense system, creating a decisive opportunity for our subsequent troops to deploy and launch an attack.
The iron torrent of the western front counterattack, compared to the difficulties and slow progress of the first two days, is now advancing at an astonishing speed.
In a makeshift command post on the outskirts of the old town, the ticking of the telegraph machine and the hurried footsteps of the staff mingled together.
Zhong Yuemin had a bandage wrapped around his arm. It wasn't serious; he had been grazed by shrapnel from a shell that had landed nearby while they were facing off on the high ground. The medic had bandaged it up.
The others included Zhang Haiyang, whose arm was in a sling, Man Tun, whose back was wrapped in thick bandages, and Wang Tiezhu, whose left arm gunshot wound had been simply treated…
At this moment, the last remaining communications officer of the squad ran over; the other communications officer had been killed in the battle to defend the nameless hill.
"Captain, a call from headquarters!"
Zhong Yuemin stood up, took the communication equipment, and said in a loud voice:
"Zhong Yuemin, captain of the first reconnaissance squad of the [unit name], reporting for duty!"
"Captain Zhong, you did a great job in the battle to annihilate the enemy in the villages surrounding Guliu, and in capturing the unnamed hill outside the old street. You showed the might of the reconnaissance soldiers!"
A deep, authoritative voice, tinged with approval, came from the other end of the line.
"Especially in the face of the enemy's fierce counterattack, you withstood the pressure and held the high ground, laying a solid foundation for our main force on the western front to fully capture Lao Cai city. Your small detachment made an indelible contribution."
Zhong Yuemin immediately recognized the voice on the other end. He initially thought it was Commander Liu Yonghua, since Commander Liu had been the one who arranged the missions for their small team before.
"Commander, it's you!"
"What, you noticed? You've got pretty good hearing."
This commander was none other than Commander Li of the military region where he served. During the Red-Blue Exercise, he had caused quite a stir among the "enemy" forces, and Commander Li had even summoned him to headquarters for "tea," where the two talked for more than two hours.
"Commander, our small team dares not take credit for this. The real heroes are the spearhead company under the 118th Regiment, who successfully held the three high grounds. They fought to the last man and did not give up. The company commander, the first platoon leader, and the third platoon leader all sacrificed their lives."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, followed by a heavy tone.
"The command center already knows, but you, Captain Zhong, don't be modest. Without the cooperation and desperate fighting of your squad, these high grounds would have been hard to hold."
"However, the casualties are too high, Captain Zhong. You must remember, you are reconnaissance soldiers. Your primary mission is to gather intelligence on the enemy's movements, not to engage in direct combat with them. It's simply not worth it."
Although it was a reprimand, the tone was full of concern and protection.
"Commander, at that critical juncture, if our squad disregards our comrades and deserts in the face of battle, it would be worse than death!"
Zhong Yuemin said:
"I think if you, sir, had been there, you would have rushed forward without hesitation."
"hehe!"
There was a smile on the other end.
"You brat, still so disobedient! The original order from command was for you to withdraw and rest, but now..."
Zhong Yuemin's heart sank slightly.
"The situation is pressing. The troops are advancing rapidly, and reconnaissance forces in various units have suffered heavy losses. The next step is to advance deeper into Lao Cai city, closer to Cam Duong."
Therefore, there is a gap in the reconnaissance of the enemy situation in the direction of Gantang. The enemy is now desperate to protect Gantang. Le Duan has given a death order: we need eyes and we need to find out their troop movements and defensive weaknesses in advance.
You are the most experienced veterans. Now, we are in dire need of reconnaissance soldiers, and the mission must be entrusted to you again.
Of course, if the injury is too severe...
"report!"
Zhong Yuemin interrupted his superior, his voice not loud, but unusually firm.
"Zhong Yuemin, captain of the first reconnaissance squad, requests permission to carry out the mission!"
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Haiyang and Man Tun and the others stood up at the same time, their tone extremely firm.
"Report! Scout Zhang Haiyang requests to return to unit!"
"Report! Scout Man Tun is requesting to return to unit!"
"Report! Scout Wang Tiezhu requests to return to unit!"
Ning Wei remained silent, but his cold, stern eyes were exceptionally firm, demonstrating his attitude through his actions.