February 1979, Sino-Vietnamese border. It's a little-known corner where history is shrouded in gunsmoke and land is burned red by war. Shortly after the end of the Vietnam War, the international situation remained complicated. China decided to impose a punitive strike on Vietnam in response to Vietnam's expansionist behavior in Cambodia and harassment on the Chinese border. The conflict between China and Vietnam, although relatively partial in the long course of global history, is also full of cruelty and blood. This article will take you back to those turbulent days and witness a piece of history that has been almost forgotten.
In the early morning of February 16, the eastern sky was not yet fully lit. In the Shuojiang area, the 2nd Division and 4th Regiment of the 41st Army were intensively carrying out the final preparations before the war. As the morning fog lifted, the outline of the battlefield began to become clear. The regiment commander Li Hao stood outside the temporary command post, his eyes piercing through the hazy morning fog and staring at the dense jungle and caves ahead.
"Are you ready?" Li Hao turned to Zhang Qiang, the deputy head of the regiment beside him, with a little imperceptible nervousness in his voice.
Zhang Qiang nodded and replied, "All the troops have entered the predetermined position, just waiting for your order. ”
Just then, a loud bang broke the silence, followed by a series of explosions. The soldiers of the entire fourth regiment were instantly disrupted by this sudden blow. Thinking that the enemy had launched an attack, in the confusion, many soldiers hurriedly grabbed their weapons and prepared to return fire.
"No, that's our own dynamite! Quick, check for casualties! Li Hao ordered loudly, and at the same time, a sense of powerlessness surged in his heart. It turned out that an careless sapper accidentally triggered the explosion while planting explosives, which led to the tragedy. The accident not only caused casualties, but also seriously interfered with the offensive arrangements of the 4th Regiment.
After initial confusion and organization, Li Hao gathered cadres and quickly adjusted his tactics. "We can't let this mistake stop us from moving forward, adjust our positions and continue to carry out the plan." His voice was firm and powerful.
In the hours that followed, the four regiments tried to find a breakthrough in the enemy's line of defense. It backfired, and again, due to the wrong operation of the recruits, an even greater chaos occurred. A recruit accidentally caused an explosion while trying to break the barbed wire fence at the enemy's front line, resulting in injuries to nearby soldiers.
"Concentrate! Stay in formation! The company commander roared and tried to stabilize the situation, but chaos had already ensued. The Vietnamese army's mine and artillery fire hindered the attack of the 4th Regiment and caused heavy casualties. In the face of all this, the head of the regiment, Li Hao, was like a knife, but he knew that the cruelty of war would not stop because of personal will. He had to stick with it.
Under the cover of night, the four regiments reorganized their forces and began a night attack on the enemy's positions. Soldiers grope their way in the dark, every step could be on a mine, every shadow could be an enemy ambush. It is this extreme environment that forges the will and courage of the soldiers.
"There's movement ahead, pay attention!" A scout whispered warning. The soldiers raised their weapons and stared nervously ahead. Suddenly, a dense burst of gunfire rang out, and the 4th Regiment engaged in a fierce night battle with the defenders of the Vietnamese army.
The battle continued throughout the night, and it was not until dawn that both sides withdrew their positions. Although the 4th Regiment failed to completely break through the enemy's defensive line, this battle greatly depleted the combat strength of the Vietnamese army and also bought valuable time and experience for subsequent operations.
The aftermath of the battle was still unsettled, and the Shuojiang River in the early morning was like a blood-stained battlefield, and the tired soldiers returned to their positions. Li Hao stood on the high ground, looking at the devastated battlefield, with mixed feelings in his heart. That night, they paid a huge price, and the sacrifice of each and every soldier made his heart ache. All these sacrifices were not meaningless, they showed indomitable fighting spirit and dealt heavy blows to the enemy.
In the torrent of war, every life seems small and fragile, but it is these seemingly insignificant lives that converge into a great wall of steel to resist aggression and defend the homeland. The Battle of Shuojiang, although full of misunderstandings and sacrifices, is also a profound ode to courage and sacrifice. The long river of history will dilute many pains and glories, but the names and stories of those soldiers who fought for faith and duty will forever be engraved in the hearts of those who remember them. War is the tragedy of human history, but in tragedy, we can always find the brilliance of humanity.