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In 1952, the war in Shangganling was in full swing. This day will become an immortal page in the history of the Chinese People's Volunteers. A recruit named Hu Xiudao will write an incredible war legend on this battlefield.
Heroic guards: Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng
In the early morning of the prelude to the Battle of Shangganling, before the sky was completely bright, the US forces had already begun to launch intensive artillery bombardment on the 597.9 and 537.7 heights. The roar of artillery tore through the silent valley, and the trees and rocks on the hilltop were destroyed by artillery fire and dusty. Volunteer fighters reacted quickly from their positions, looking for cover in artillery fire and gunsmoke, adjusting their defensive lines and preparing for an incoming ground attack.
As the shelling continued, the American infantry began to attack the two heights. They split into squads and tried to use the terrain and vegetation as cover, slowly but cautiously advancing upwards. However, the volunteer fighters had already set up machine-gun and rifle firing points on the positions, and they accurately pinpointed the enemy's course of march by means of binoculars and sights.
In the holding of the No. 3 position, Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng showed excellent fighting skills and firm will to fight. The offensive of the American army was like a wave, and each wave of attacks tried to break the line of defense of the volunteers. Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng were at the forefront of the battle line, and their position was critical to overlook the approach route of the enemy army, which allowed them to effectively monitor and respond to any threat.
Every time the U.S. forces tried to break through the line with heavy artillery support and infantry charges, Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng acted quickly. They use automatic weapons in their hands, such as submachine guns and light machine guns, to fire at the enemies that rush up. Every round of bullets fired is a powerful response to the aggressor. Under the cover of artillery fire, the American soldiers tried to use various tactics, including throwing grenades and trying to flank them, but they were all recognized and effectively blocked by Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng in time.
Squad leader Li Feng played a role in organizing and commanding in the battle. Not only did he ensure an adequate supply of ammunition, but he also adjusted the points of fire of his fighters so that each fighter could be as effective as possible in defense. Under his command, Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng and other warriors formed an impregnable defensive circle. They covered each other, effectively using trenches and natural terrain to fend off multiple enemy attacks.
In a particularly fierce clashes, the American forces sent a small squad to try to break through from the left flank of position No. 3. The squad was armed with flamethrowers and intended to clear the bunkers from the position. Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng quickly adjusted their positions, cooperated closely, and launched a counterattack. Teng Shisheng was responsible for suppressing the fire, while Hu Xiudao used cover and terrain to conceal himself, skillfully rounded the enemy's flank, and successfully paralyzed the enemy's fire point with grenades, forcing it to retreat.
As the fighting continued, the U.S. offensive intensified, and they began to use more heavy firepower and air support. Despite such strong pressure, Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng and their comrades-in-arms still held their ground and constantly adjusted their tactical responses. They kept their positions intact under constant artillery and machine-gun fire, ensuring that every attempt to break through by the enemy ended in failure.
Hard-fought position 10
The continued intensification of the fighting made the situation of Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng on Position 3 even more critical, until they received orders to quickly move to Position 10. After receiving the order, the two quickly packed up their equipment, checked their weapons and ammunition, and after making sure that everything was ready, they took advantage of the cover of night and terrain to move quickly but cautiously towards position No. 10. Throughout the movement, they experienced intensive artillery fire and air strikes, remained calm in the dust, and managed to avoid multiple possible direct attacks.
When they arrived at the No. 10 position, Hu Xiudao and Teng Shisheng immediately threw themselves into a new battle. Position 10 was elevated and overlooked the surrounding area, providing a strategic advantage for the defense, but it was also a key target for enemy attacks. The two quickly collaborated with the rest of the fighters to build defenses using existing sandbags and earthen embankments, setting up firing points to deal with a sustained enemy attack.
Soon, the American forces increased their firepower, and dense artillery and mortar fire began to cover position No. 10. During a dense artillery bombardment, Teng Shisheng was unfortunately hit by fragments, causing serious injuries. At this time, the scene was chaotic, with explosions and screams intertwined, and Hu Xiudao and other fighters quickly moved Teng Shisheng to a relatively safe bunker for simple first aid treatment. Subsequently, several fighters escorted Teng Shisheng to a medical point in the rear so that he could receive more professional treatment.
After Teng Shisheng's evacuation, the pressure on Position 10 increased further. Just as Hu Xiudao and the remaining soldiers were preparing for another wave of strong offensives, Guo Sandan, the platoon commander of position 9, arrived as reinforcements.
The sacrifice of Guo Sandan platoon commander
As platoon commander Guo Sandan crossed the steep terrain to the No. 10 position, every step was under intensive artillery fire and machine gun fire. In the last few hundred meters approaching the destination, the ground was suddenly hit by a shell, and the shock wave of the explosion and the flying fragments of the shell immediately caused serious damage. Platoon Commander Guo was near the center of the explosion when he was hit by flying debris, resulting in serious injuries.
After the death of Platoon Commander Guo, Hu Xiudao fought alone on the No. 10 position. In the face of repeated attacks by the enemy, he showed tenacious combat effectiveness. Hu Xiudao knew that any retreat could lead to the loss of the position, so he was determined to hold on to every inch of land and not let the enemy advance a single step.
Using the remaining weapons and ammunition from the position, including grenades, grenades and automatic rifles, Hu Xiudao set up a makeshift firing point. He moves quickly between trenches and bunkers, using every covered corner to attack. Whenever the enemy tried to get close to the position, he was able to accurately throw grenades or fire grenades, effectively stopping the enemy's multiple attempts to break through.
In one particularly heavy engagement, an enemy squad attempted to break through a section of a blown up trench. When Hu Xiudao sensed the movement, he quickly fired with the automatic rifle in his hand and threw several grenades at the same time, and the powerful explosions and gunfire shook the enemy and forced them to retreat. This move not only repelled the enemy forces, but also strengthened the positions under his control and ensured the safety of key passages.
In the continuous hours of fighting, Hu Xiudao's figure spread almost all over the entire position. He constantly checked and replenished ammunition, rearranged firing points, and made sure that there was a response at every possible angle of attack. In addition, he used dropped enemy equipment such as mortars and automatic rifles to bolster his firepower.
As the battle continued, Hu Xiudao constantly adjusted his tactics to cope with the changing battlefield environment. He took advantage of the darkness of the night and the complexity of the terrain to create visual and auditory confusion and mislead the enemy. Whenever the enemy adjusted his attack strategy and tried to encircle the position through scattered group attacks or encirclement tactics, Hu Xiudao was able to respond in a timely manner, effectively using his tactical flexibility and accurate understanding of the terrain to defend against more enemy forces with very few resources.
Despite exhaustion and a gradual reduction in ammunition, Hu Xiudao's will to fight showed no signs of weakening. He set up multiple firing points on his position, and even dared to expose himself to enemy fire at certain critical moments, just to be able to throw grenades or fire sniper rifles more accurately, in order to hit with a single hit.
In this long and lonely battle, Hu Xiudao successfully maintained the safety of the position with his excellent tactical use and tenacious defense.
Hu Xiudao's honor and influence
Hu Xiudao's performance on the No. 10 position has become legendary. In the continuous enemy attacks, he not only single-handedly defended his position, but also managed to repel 41 frantic charges of the enemy. On this day, his combat skills and tactical wisdom reached their peak, and through accurate shooting and effective explosives, he single-handedly annihilated more than 280 enemy troops.
The day's fighting began early in the morning. Hu Xiudao began to prepare for defense at dawn, set up machine guns, distributed grenades and grenades, and confirmed that the location of each ammunition could be quickly accessed. As the first wave of the enemy offensive began, he responded quickly, firing the incoming enemy with a machine gun, hitting the target with precision with almost every shot. When the enemy approached the trenches, he used grenades and grenades to inflict a large number of casualties, forcing the enemy to retreat.
As the battle progressed, Hu Xiudao constantly adjusted his tactics to deal with attacks from different directions. He set up multiple firing points around the position and could quickly move to any point to defend. Whenever the enemy forces tried to break through from an unexpected angle, Hu Xiudao was always able to detect and stop these attempts in time. His quick reflexes and accurate shooting were the keys to his success.
In the afternoon, the enemy offensive intensified, and they even used tanks and armored vehicles to support the infantry. In the face of such an attack with heavy equipment, Hu Xiudao used pre-prepared anti-tank weapons. He accurately hit several approaching armored vehicles, causing a huge explosion and successfully stopping this wave of enemy offensive.
In the evening, the enemy, despite the heavy casualties, tried to make a final assault. At this time, Hu Xiudao had almost exhausted all his ammunition, but he still held his ground. Using weapons and ammunition collected from enemy corpses, he continued the fight until the last wave of enemies was repulsed.
When night falls, all that remains on the battlefield is smoke and scattered equipment. Hu Xiudao stood in position, surrounded by evidence of his successful defense. His feat not only earned respect on the battlefield, but also deeply shocked all who learned about it.
For Hu Xiudao's heroic deeds, the senior management of the Volunteer Army gave him a very high evaluation and honor. He was awarded the title of "First Class Combat Hero" and was credited with a special meritorious service. In addition, for his heroic performance, the DPRK also awarded him the Order of the National Flag of the First Class and the Gold Star Medal, which are the highest recognition of his incomparable courage and sacrifice.
Resources:
From Qianyuan, Deng Rongzhong, Xue Changjin (eds.). Selected poems of the Chinese People's Volunteers entering the Korean War[M]. 2009
From the editorial board of "One Day of the Volunteer Army". Volunteer Army One Day 2[M]. 2021
From the Political Department of Unit 6408 of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Selected Battle Stories: Night Raid[M]. 1974