In the silence of the night, the starry sky is like a painting, but this tranquility is about to be broken by the flames of war. In the battle tunnel of Moshigou, Liu Zhijun and his comrades-in-arms had just finished a short rest, and their nerves were tense to the extreme. On this front, every soldier knows that a large-scale counterattack is about to begin, and they will be a direct participant in this battle.
Time passed slowly until 6 o'clock in the morning, and the mountains in the darkness slept like giant beasts, but this peace was suddenly broken by the sudden thunder. From the artillery positions in the distance came a continuous sound of artillery, like a thunderbolt, shaking every inch of land. The ground outside the cave began to tremble, and the air inside the cave vibrated with a piercing roar in the ears of the soldiers. Liu Zhijun quickly put on his battle suit, put on his helmet, and clenched the weapon in his hand, he knew that this was a signal that everything had already begun.
Preliminary actions in the self-defense counterattack against Vietnam
In early 1979, tensions between China and Vietnam rose rapidly as the border conflict between China and Vietnam intensified. Against this background, our army has intensified military reconnaissance and combat readiness in the border areas. In the early morning of January 31, when the sky was still dark, the reconnaissance platoon of the 99th Regiment of the 11th Army of our army quietly approached 150 meters east of the Lao Kou border checkpoint in Vietnam. The complex terrain in this area provided good cover and ambush positions for reconnaissance platoons.
The reconnaissance platoon had been able to grasp the pattern and timing of the movement of the enemy patrol after several days of reconnaissance in advance. On the day of the operation, they took advantage of the darkness of the night and the dense jungle around them as shelter to carefully set up an ambush circle. When the Vietnamese soldier patrol arrived as scheduled, our reconnaissance platoon quickly and accurately attacked.
First, a burst of intense automatic rifle fire suddenly broke the early morning silence, and the Vietnamese soldiers were caught off guard by the sudden fire. After the initial firing, the reconnaissance platoon, taking advantage of the terrain, quickly adjusted its position and continued to suppress the enemy. The entire ambush operation plan was meticulous and quickly executed, demonstrating the high degree of professionalism of our army at the tactical level and the ability to dispatch for immediate battle.
During the ambush, two Vietnamese soldiers were killed on the spot, and another soldier was captured alive in the chaos. The captured enemy soldiers were then taken to a safe area for further interrogation and intelligence gathering. This operation not only succeeded in eliminating and capturing enemy personnel, but also captured a number of light weapons and equipment, which provided our troops with valuable battlefield information.
Immediately after completing the ambush mission, the reconnaissance platoon withdrew from the scene, avoiding a possible counterattack by enemy reinforcements. During the retreat, the platoon commander strictly asked the team members to remain silent so as not to attract the attention of the enemy. The entire operation, from the beginning to the end, lasted no more than half an hour, showing the efficiency and precision of our army's actions.
Upon returning to the base, a detailed report of the operation was promptly escalated to higher command. The report details the course of the battle, casualties on both sides and the circumstances of the battlefield.
Elaborate combat operations
After the successful ambush operation of the reconnaissance platoon on January 31, our troops continued to strengthen the combat readiness of the border areas. By February 6, the elite personnel of the reconnaissance company of the 31st Division of the 11th Army and the reconnaissance platoon of the 91st regiment were assembled, with the goal of conducting a well-planned large-scale capture battle in the salient 1 km southwest of the Ban Bon River. The open terrain is conducive to surprise attacks and tactical deployments, as well as a possible retreat.
On the eve of the operation, members of the reconnaissance company and reconnaissance platoon carried out a detailed pre-battle arrangement, including topographical exploration, enemy analysis and tactical discussions. Each combatant is clear about his or her mission and expected course of action to ensure that orders can be carried out quickly and effectively in actual combat.
In the early morning of 6 February, as the sky was twilighting, the elites of the reconnaissance company and reconnaissance platoon were already in their predetermined positions. They take advantage of the darkness of the night and the surrounding natural bunkers to lurk and wait for enemy forces to enter the ambush zone. Soon a squad of Vietnamese troops appeared on the patrol path, and they walked into our ambush circle without noticing.
With a low whistle, our soldiers quickly moved into action. The first wave of firing was accurate and effective, and immediately disrupted the ranks of the Vietnamese army. The Vietnamese soldiers tried to organize a counterattack, but they were extremely passive in the face of the intensive firepower and well-prepared tactics of our troops. The battle lasted about an hour, and our troops demonstrated excellent fire control and maneuverability.
In the fierce exchange of fire, our troops, taking advantage of their high mobility and firepower, successfully divided the enemy forces and cleared them one by one. At the height of the battle, a Vietnamese lieutenant attempted to organize an effective counterattack, but was killed by our snipers while trying to climb over a small hill. In addition, 20 other Vietnamese soldiers were killed in the fighting.
Towards the end of the battle, our troops managed to capture a Vietnamese soldier who was trying to hide. This person was later brought back to our army-controlled area to gather more information. After the war, the site left visible traces of battle, including scattered pieces of equipment, bullet casings, and the remains of improvised bunkers.
After the battle, members of the reconnaissance company and reconnaissance platoon quickly withdrew from the battlefield and returned to a safe area. They carried out a quick but thorough clearing of the battlefield to ensure that no intelligence or supplies were left behind that could be exploited by the enemy. The success of this battle not only demonstrated the efficiency and precision of our army's tactical execution, but also greatly enhanced the morale and self-confidence of the entire unit.
Through these two well-planned and courageously executed battles, Liu Zhijun and his army directly under the army deeply felt the hardships of the battle and the joy of victory.
Establishment and operation of front-line command posts
In mid-February, as the fighting continued to escalate, the leadership of our army decided to set up an forward command post (front finger) in order to more efficiently direct the upcoming larger-scale battles. This decision is based on the need for faster decision-making response and command and dispatch on the front line. As an outstanding military personnel, Liu Zhijun was selected to become one of the members of the former commander, which indicates that his duties and role are highly recognized in the army.
The foregoing location is located in a position that is relatively safe from the front line, but has quick access to the theater of operations. When selecting members, the command deliberately selected skilled and experienced personnel from various departments to ensure that every member can quickly make accurate judgments and command decisions in an emergency. Immediately after being informed, Liu Zhijun and the other members began to prepare for the duties they were about to take up and familiarize themselves with the facilities of the forward command post.
First of all, they inspected and upgraded the existing communications equipment to ensure unimpeded communication in wartime. In addition, the front finger is equipped with the latest maps and satellite images for real-time updates on battlefield dynamics. The setting of the front finger allows commanders and tactical teams to quickly adjust tactics and strategies based on real-time information.
The establishment of the front command has greatly enhanced the efficiency and flexibility of operational command. Through direct command from the front, it is possible to respond more quickly to changes in the enemy, effectively deploy forces and resources, and ensure the maximization of combat effectiveness. The operation of the front command also allows the rear base to focus more on material supply and logistics support, forming a strong pattern of coordinated operations between the front and rear.
Life and combat readiness inside the tunnels
On February 12, as the fighting escalated further, Liu Zhijun and all the fighters under his command entered the combat tunnel located in Moshigou according to the order. Built during the period of aid to Vietnam and the United States, the tunnel was rudimentary but strong enough to withstand external bombardment and shelling, providing a relatively safe refuge for the soldiers.
The interior of the tunnel is made of rough rock, the interior space is narrow and wet, and the lighting conditions are very limited. The entrance to the pit is obscured by camouflage nets and natural vegetation, and its presence is almost impossible to observe from the outside. Soldiers entering the pit need to pass through a series of winding passages that can also serve as a quick retreat path in case of emergency.
Despite the difficult living conditions, the inside of the tunnel is tight and orderly. Soldiers have set up makeshift sleeping quarters, weapons storage areas and a small medical post in the limited space. In order to maintain the physical strength and morale of the soldiers, the former commander also specially allocated some basic living supplies, including dry food, water and necessary medical supplies.
Inside the tunnel, Liu Zhijun and other members of the former command made final pre-battle preparations. This includes a final armed check of all personnel to ensure that each soldier's equipment is in the best possible condition. At the same time, communication equipment is set up and tested to ensure timely information exchange with the outside world.
War officially broke out
At 6 a.m. on February 17, the battle tunnel of Moshigou was still shrouded in night, and the stars in the sky had not completely receded. The surrounding mountains appear unusually quiet at night, but this tranquility is quickly shattered by drastic changes. Suddenly, the silence was broken by a thunderous rumble, and the sound rolled from afar, shaking everyone's heart.
This loud sound originated from the artillery position of the 31st Division of our army, and the sound of artillery was like spring thunder awakening the earth, indicating the full-scale outbreak of war. The ground outside the cave seemed to tremble, and even the air inside the cave vibrate. The surrounding mountains seemed to tremble due to the impact of the shelling, and the slight sound of falling rocks echoed in the tunnels.
After the soldiers in the tunnel heard the movement outside, they quickly got up one by one and prepared to move. An experienced fighter whispered to the comrades around him, "Here it begins, the return fire begins." This phrase spread quickly through the tunnel, and everyone understood that this was a signal to launch a full-scale counterattack against the enemy.
Liu Zhijun and the other members of the former finger were also alarmed by the sudden sound of artillery fire. They quickly put on their combat gear, put on their helmets, inspected their weapons, and prepared to come out of their holes to observe and participate in the battle. Liu Zhijun was the first to rush out of the tunnel and came to a slightly higher area not far from the tunnel, from which he could clearly see the artillery position ahead.
Looking at the artillery position of the 31st Division, I saw a continuous firelight, and the night sky was illuminated by the constantly flickering firelight, and the light of each round of shells was as fierce as a fire dragon. The cannons were fired round after round, and the tongues of fire that erupted from the barrels illuminated the environment around the firing point, and the deafening sound of cannons and the whistling of shells piercing through the air constituted a symphony of war.
During this fierce shelling, the artillerymen operated in an orderly manner. Every aspect of loading, aiming, and shooting was carried out in strict accordance with the pre-war training. The trajectory of each shell was carefully calculated with the aim of striking the enemy positions to the maximum, clearing the way for the next ground offensive.
As the shelling continued, an overwhelming superiority in firepower on the front line gradually developed. The artillery fire not only destroyed the enemy's defenses, but also effectively suppressed the enemy's ability to counterattack. Under such cover, the infantry units began to advance as planned, taking dispersed and rapid tactical actions, gradually occupying points previously controlled by enemy forces. The entire shelling operation marked the beginning of a full-scale self-defense counterattack against Vietnam.
"Walking with the Motherland"