On the battlefield of the Fourth Campaign to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the smoke of gunpowder was filled with flames. Van Vliet, commander of the 8th Group of the U.S. Army, found that the heavy firepower of the Volunteers was relatively weak, so he decisively decided to invest in elite armored forces in an attempt to repel the Volunteers with a strong firepower advantage.
Van Vliet's armored men were like fierce beasts, rampage across the battlefield, leaving behind scenes of wailing and ruin everywhere they went. In the face of this sudden and fierce offensive, the volunteer soldiers were brave and tenacious, but they were difficult to resist after all. Many soldiers died heroically under the enemy's fire, and their blood stained the land red, adding a bit of cruelty and tragedy to this war.
Mr. Peng issued the order for the withdrawal of the Volunteer Army with a solemn expression, however, Van Vliet's armored troops were like stubborn beasts, tightly biting our troops. Their torrent of steel crushed everything that stood in its way, and the resistance of our soldiers, though valiant, seemed so weak in the face of the mighty mechanized force.
Especially after entering the fifth battle, the cruelty of the battlefield has reached an unprecedented height. Our fighters, they charged under artillery fire, struggled in pools of blood, and each charge was accompanied by a large number of casualties. According to statistics, the number of casualties in our army has reached a staggering 75,000, and this number is increasing inexorably every day.
Proposals to build trenches to defend against American attacks were a sensible and effective strategy, but the reality on the battlefield turned out to be far more complicated than might have been imagined. When many soldiers hid in the trenches and sought a little shelter, they did not expect that the explosive power of the American artillery shells was so huge, they not only destroyed the defense of the trenches, but also lifted up the surrounding soil, forming a huge flow of earth. In this way, many fighters were buried alive by these shells, and their lives were ruthlessly taken away at that moment.
Mr. Peng felt that he had no choice but to use the radio waves to send a heavy telegram to Beijing. In the telegram, he asked the chairman to show him a clear path, a sure plan that could turn the tide of the war. He knows that Chairman Mao's wisdom is like a bright star, which can always illuminate the way forward in the dark.
Chairman Mao sat in the study, holding Mr. Peng's telegram in his hand, his brows furrowed. His eyes were like torches, and through the back of the paper, he seemed to see the heroic figures of the volunteer soldiers on the battlefield. He was well aware of the difficulties faced by the volunteers, especially the inability to resist the heavy weapons of the US military.
However, in Chairman Mao's mind, there was a figure that gradually became clear. That is Wang Yaonan, who is known as the "King of Sappers". In many battles, he made great achievements for the victory of the war with his surprising winning tactics and exquisite engineering skills.
During the Red Army period, Wang Yaonan was like a sponge, constantly absorbing the essence of engineer operations. He is not only satisfied with superficial skills, but also understands every detail and every step in the marrow. When encountering water, he skillfully applied the principle of buoyancy to build the bridge both firmly and quickly. In the mountains, he relied on his deep understanding of the terrain to carve out a path to victory. In the Red Army, his name became almost synonymous with solving complex terrain puzzles.
Therefore, when our army was in trouble on the battlefield of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, the first thing that came to Chairman Mao's mind was the all-powerful engineer hero in the ranks of the Red Army - Wang Yaonan. He knew very well that only Wang Yaonan could turn the tide of the battle and lead the troops out of the predicament at this critical moment.
After receiving the chairman's instructions, Wang Yaonan did not hesitate and immediately prepared to go. His eyes were firm and his steps were powerful, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.
After arriving at the battlefield, he did not have a moment to rest, and immediately followed the scouts deep behind enemy lines to conduct detailed reconnaissance of the terrain. He shuttles through rugged mountains and wades through muddy river beaches in search of overlooked terrain features. He observes carefully, and he feels with his heart, and every subtle change in the terrain cannot escape his eyes.
After in-depth investigation, Wang Yaonan came to a thought-provoking conclusion: The reason why our army's fortifications could not withstand the attack of the US army was to a large extent because it failed to make full use of the advantages of the terrain. In the vicinity of the 38th parallel, the positions of our troops were too exposed, and the enemy could easily detect and attack our weak points. And our trenches, although strong, looked so vulnerable in the face of heavy enemy fire.
However, we cannot change the topography of the position. In the face of this dilemma, Wang Yaonan did not flinch, and he firmly believed that as long as we can make full use of the advantages of the terrain, we will definitely find a way to break through the dilemma. He began to delve into the terrain, looking for advantages that could be exploited, while thinking about how to improve the design of the fortifications and make them more suitable for the realities of the battlefield.
In the long night, Wang Yaonan wandered alone under the 38 line, his mind flashing with various tactics and strategies. Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind like lightning - to construct an underground Great Wall. This thought was like a ray of light that illuminated the darkness in his heart. He is well aware that this will be a difficult task, but he also understands that only in this way can he effectively counter the powerful firepower of the American army.
So, Wang Yaonan picked up the pen without hesitation and began to write a report to report his thoughts to the Party Central Committee. His words are full of passion and determination, as if every word is beating the flame of life. As soon as the report was completed, he sent it to the Party Central Committee.
After Premier Zhou received the report, he carefully read Wang Yaonan's thoughts. He had a relieved smile on his face, because he knew that it was a creative and intelligent strategy. Despite the country's economic difficulties, he still decided to do everything possible to allocate a batch of equipment to support Wang Yaonan's underground Great Wall project.
With the support of the Party Central Committee, Wang Yaonan's underground Great Wall plan was finally implemented. He and his team worked hard under the 38th line, digging deep tunnels and building their underground defenses. Their figures loom in the night, as if they are a group of indomitable warriors, with their sweat and wisdom, to build an impregnable underground Great Wall.
However, in Wang Yaonan's eyes, this is still far from enough. He was faced with a torrent of enemy steel and a storm of artillery bombardment. He knew that the fortifications they had built could not be as simple and crude as they were. In his vision, these fortifications should not only be as strong as a rock to withstand heavy artillery bombardment by the enemy, but also like fortresses, protected from fire, wind, and poison.
In Wang Yaonan's mind, these fortifications were not only made of cold stones and soil, but also the guarantee of the soldiers' lives and the support for them to hold their positions. Therefore, he came up with a bold idea - to combine these fortifications with tunnels, so that the tunnels would become not only the fighting positions of the warriors, but also the places where they lived.
The idea was undoubtedly unprecedented at the time. However, it was this innovation that made the later wars more advantageous. Wang Yaonan personally designed these tunnels, and he took into account every detail, from the entrance and exit of the tunnels, to the internal layout, ventilation, lighting, and even fire prevention, anti-virus and other facilities. These tunnels were later known as tunnels.
After the tunnel was completed, Van Vliet was dumbfounded. After Van Vliet ordered the U.S. troops to pour countless explosives, he was shocked to find that the well-built tunnel was still standing, as if it were a strong fortress against all attacks. His face turned pale in an instant. He originally thought that with the powerful firepower and material superiority of the US army, he could easily destroy all the defenses of our army. However, the appearance of this pit completely shattered his illusions.
The reason why the US military dared to attack so brazenly was because they were convinced that our army had limited material reserves. They believe that as long as pressure is constantly applied, our army will collapse at the moment when the supplies are exhausted. However, they did not expect that our army would be able to build such a strong tunnel underground.
This tunnel not only stored a large amount of food and supplies, but also provided enough shelter for our troops. Fighters no longer need to carry heavy food and equipment with them, and can more easily plunge into battle. And the existence of tunnels has also greatly extended the combat time of our army. The supplies, which were supposed to last only seven days, are now enough to support our army for a longer period of fighting.
Van Vliet's seven-day strategy was originally a tactic he was proud of. However, in the face of the underground tunnels of our army, this strategy turned out to be useless. He reluctantly realized that this tunnel had become a stumbling block to his attack, and his strategic plan had been completely defeated.
After the construction of the tunnel was completed, Mr. Peng personally inspected, his eyes sharp and keen. He walked through the winding tunnels, feeling the rock-solid defense, but the doubts in his heart did not dissipate. He knew that war was not only about defense, but also about the art of attack. So, he decided to recall Wang Yaonan, who had just returned to China, hoping that he could renovate the tunnel again.
After receiving the call, Wang Yaonan did not hesitate to return to the battlefield to resist US aggression and aid Korea. He knows that this is not only a trust in him, but also a challenge to him. He stood at the entrance of the tunnel, looking at the deep passage, his heart full of determination.
He began to direct his warriors in the improvement work, and they built numerous forts around the tunnels, which were like steel giants standing on the battlefield, mighty and majestic. Each fort is equipped with powerful firepower, so that the tunnels are not only defensive, but also have strong offensive capabilities.
At the same time, Wang Yaonan also introduced a revolutionary innovation in the artillery unit. He personally designed and built special bunkers, which not only protected the fighters from direct enemy fire, but also skillfully concealed the presence of artillery. Previously, the fighters had to risk breaking out of the trenches, exposed to enemy sight and fire, in order to carry out artillery shelling of the enemy. And now, they can operate safely under the protection of bunkers, which undoubtedly greatly increases their survival rate and combat effectiveness.
Such a design makes the way of attack of our army more cunning and unexpected. The US military is confused on the battlefield and is completely unable to predict the location of our artillery units. The volunteer soldiers are like ghosts in the dark night, elusive and unpredictable. And every time the American troops thought that they had mastered the movements of our troops, a piece of artillery would appear in their sight coldly and carry out a fierce shelling of them.
The use of this tactic gave the volunteers a great advantage on the battlefield. Whenever artillery appears, it poses a huge threat to the US military. More than a dozen shells were fired in succession, pouring down like a torrential rain, catching the US troops by surprise and howling wolves. Wang Yaonan's design not only improved the survival rate of the soldiers, but also enhanced the combat effectiveness of the volunteers.
The U.S. military accidentally got a glimpse of the mystery of our army's use of tunnels to fight. So I also began to try to dig my own tunnel. However, the tunnels they dug were very different from those of our army. Our trenches are deep and hidden, both to withstand enemy artillery fire and to serve as cover for attacks. The tunnels dug by the U.S. military, on the other hand, were rough and fragile, lacking sufficient depth and the necessary protective measures.
The US generals were confused and frustrated by this. They do not understand why the same tactics, which are so powerful in the hands of our troops, have become so vulnerable in their hands. They began to wonder whether they should continue to adhere to this imitation tactic in their decision-making.
As time went on, the casualties of the American soldiers in the tunnels became more and more heavy. Their tunnels do not provide adequate protection, making them helpless against our attacks. This feeling of helplessness and despair spread among the American soldiers, who began to lose faith in this tactic.
In the end, the U.S. generals had to admit that their tunnel tactics did not have the desired effect. They had to abandon this imitation plan and re-examine their tactics and strategies.
In 1953, the smoke of the Korean battlefield was ignited again, and Van Vliet launched a fierce artillery attack on a small high ground where our troops were stationed in an almost frenzied way. He ordered the artillery unit to rain a full 170,000 rounds of shells on that small piece of land, as if to raze every inch of the land. However, he did not expect that the soldiers of our army were not as fragile as he had imagined.
Shells rained down, explosions were deafening, dust flew and smoke filled the air. However, even in such an environment, our soldiers still held their ground, their eyes were firm and resolute, without the slightest fear or retreat. Their figures appear so tall in the artillery fire, as if they are an indestructible Great Wall of steel.
Van Vliet saw that his attack did not have the desired effect, but only strengthened the resolve of our soldiers. He had to watch as rows of American soldiers fell in front of him, their lives lost in the fire, but they could not change the course of the battle.
This battle was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Van Vliet, who lost face and no longer dared to rely on the abundant ammunition of his American army as before. He was deeply aware that war was not a mere numerical confrontation, but a contest of wisdom and courage.
And behind all this, it is inseparable from the wisdom of one person - Wang Yaonan. His invention of tunnel warfare terrified the U.S. military, and even years later, the U.S. soldiers who participated in that battle still have lingering fears at the mention of tunnel warfare. His field fortifications not only protected the lives of our soldiers, but also provided an important guarantee for our army's victory.
On the battlefield of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea, Wang Yaonan's wisdom and courage became an important factor in our army's victory. His inventions and innovations have made the US military daunted, and also increased the confidence of our soldiers. He deserves the title of "King of Sappers".