War is merciless, and only true heroes can laugh and kill. On the battlefield of Korea, the legend of a sharpshooter shocked everyone. With his amazing shooting skills, the young Zhang Taofang killed three American soldiers in a row, in front of Staff Officer Xiao, a staff officer sent to investigate. This brave performance not only swept away the doubts of his superiors Pi Dingjun, but also made people full of infinite curiosity and admiration for this marksman. However, how did Zhang Taofang cultivate such extraordinary shooting skills? What kind of life experiences and tribulations are hidden behind it? How will the story between him and Pi Dingjun develop? Let's find out.
1. Growth in the bloody wind
In 1931, Zhang Taofang was born in an ordinary peasant family in Xinghua County, Jiangsu Province. At that time, it was an era of continuous beacon fire, and the Japanese warlords launched a crazy war of aggression against China. Despite Zhang's young age, the atrocities wreaked havoc by the Japanese army in his hometown left an indelible shadow on the child. The smoke of artillery fire, the wailing and shouting, and the tragic situation of the village being burned...... These cruel scenes were deeply imprinted in his young mind.
As the war spread, Zhang Taofang's family lived a life of displacement. They had to constantly hide from the Japanese raids in search of safe shelter. During her flight again and again, Zhang Taofang witnessed the tragic death of too many compatriots at the hands of the enemy. Watching his homeland turn into a mess and watching his relatives and friends being killed, the child Zhang Taofang's heart has slowly refined a firm will to serve the country and the family.
In this dire situation, Zhang Taofang joined the children's group in his hometown and began to fight wits and courage with the Japanese puppet army. Although he was still young, he had already shown remarkable courage and wisdom. He often risked his life to infiltrate the Japanese puppet army positions to steal military information and give advice for the battle of national heroes. On one occasion, he was even more clever in evading the encirclement of the Japanese army and raising ammunition and food for the children's group.
During the training of the children's group, Zhang Taofang's marksmanship has begun to take shape. Not only did he master the art of shooting, but he also learned more about the construction of firearms and how to maintain them. When discovered by the Japanese army, Zhang Taofang put down several cunning puppet soldiers with his excellent marksmanship, winning a precious escape opportunity for himself and his comrades. These experiences laid the foundation for him to become a generation of sharpshooters.
Second, the training and setbacks of the military career
In March 1951, Zhang Taofang joined the People's Liberation Army as she wished. During his rigorous training in the army, he found himself particularly interested in the sport of shooting. The gun was not as cold in his hand as it was from its hideous appearance, but rather as an innate part of it, integrated with his mind and body.
Zhang Taofang repeatedly won high scores in shooting training, which aroused high appreciation from the instructors. The instructor spoke highly of his marksmanship, believing him to be a "natural sharpshooter". But Zhang Taofang himself didn't think so, he knew that his skills were still in the beginning, and there was still a long way to go before the real "magic gun".
The following year, the Korean War broke out, and Zhang Taofang, who was only 21 years old, went to the front line with a gun. He was both excited and nervous about his first time on the battlefield. On the defensive position of the 597.9 heights, Zhang Taofang confronted the US army. However, what people didn't expect was that this young man, who was usually good at marksmanship, did not hit the enemy with a single shot, but exposed his position and had to evacuate.
After the battle, Zhang Taofang was puzzled and annoyed. Fortunately, the veteran sniper of the team noticed his confusion and selflessly passed on his years of shooting experience to him in time. The veteran elaborated on the trick of shooting in difficult terrain - aiming at the head when the enemy went up the hill and hitting both feet when he came down.
Zhang Taofang, who has benefited a lot, made a comeback and started a new round of sniper training. He practiced diligently from morning to night, and his marksmanship improved rapidly; He memorized every inch of terrain around the position and knew the enemy's course of movement well. After half a month of training, Zhang Taofang finally found her own shooting rhythm, destroying 71 enemies in one fell swoop in 32 days, creating an incredible record.
However, such an achievement has aroused doubts from his superior, Pi Dingjun. As a veteran of the Marine War, Pi Dingjun had doubts about Zhang Taofang's magical record of 71 people in a company of 171 bullets. He sent staff officers to secretly investigate Zhang Taofang's true level, either witnessing his marksmanship or dismissing him as a liar.
3. Emerging in the Battle of Shangganling
Hard work pays off. Zhang Taofang held on to the 597.9 heights for a long time, and her marksmanship became more and more proficient, and her sniper skills finally shined in the battle of Shangganling.
In January 1953, the Seventh Corps of the Chinese People's Volunteers encountered difficulties with the enemy at Shangganling. The two sides encountered a life-and-death hand-to-hand fight on this small highland position, and suffered heavy casualties. At this critical juncture, Zhang Taofang's sharpshooter skills played a key role.
With her excellent marksmanship and mastery of the terrain, Zhang Taofang always captures the enemy's every move in battle. He repeatedly hit the enemy who jumped down from the mountain with a single shot, and even covered the attack and retreat of his officers and soldiers with accurate shooting.
At the end of the first round of battles, Zhang Taofang set a terrifying record of killing 71 American soldiers in 32 days. Such extraordinary sniper skills immediately caused a sensation in the troops, and the news soon reached the ears of the superior leader Pi Dingjun.
Pi Dingjun, who was born as a veteran of the Marine War, expressed disbelief in Zhang Taofang's legendary record as a sharpshooter. Killing so many enemy troops in just 32 days with the power of one person? It's a fantasy! He guessed that Zhang Taofang was probably bragging about himself and exaggerating his achievements.
As a result, Pi Dingjun decided to send his close staff officer Xiao to secretly investigate Zhang Taofang's true situation. He also took out a brand new pair of leather boots as a reward, and if Zhang Taofang really had outstanding skills, he would reward him.
After Staff Officer Xiao accepted the task, he soon came to the frontline position where Zhang Taofang was. There, he saw Zhang Taofang's miraculous skills. At that time, Zhang Taofang was in sniper training, and it was almost as seen by the shooter, and the enemy must not escape.
What shocked Staff Officer Xiao even more was that Zhang Taofang actually killed three American soldiers with one shot in front of him! Moreover, Zhang Taofang's shooting angle and direction are extremely unfavorable, and it is impossible for other snipers to shoot so accurately.
After witnessing Zhang Taofang's strength, Staff Officer Xiao truthfully reported the situation to Pi Dingjun. Pi Dingjun was overjoyed, and immediately took out the brand-new leather boots and personally rewarded them to Zhang Taofang, and instructed him to teach this magic skill to more warriors.
Fourth, the decisive moment is proud
After Pi Dingjun questioned Zhang Taofang's shooting strength, the decisive moment finally came. This time, Zhang Taofang personally showed his sharpshooter skills in front of Staff Officer Xiao, completely sweeping away the doubts of his superiors.
Early one morning in April 1953, Zhang Taofang was standing guard at the front line. Staff Officer Xiao also made a special trip to inspect it, wanting to see with his own eyes the true level of this rumored "sharpshooter". Unexpectedly, at this moment, three US soldiers did not know whether they entered by mistake or deliberately approached, and actually stepped into the territory of the Chinese People's Volunteers.
The situation was critical, and Zhang Taofang immediately aimed at the incoming enemy. At the same time, Staff Officer Xiao uncomfortably aimed his guns at the three people, for fear that Zhang Taofang would escape again this time and expose his incompetence.
However, Zhang Taofang's marksmanship soon stunned Staff Officer Xiao. I saw that he looked calm, and a shot hit the head of the first American soldier; Immediately after that, a second shot pierced the chest of the second man; The last bullet pierced the third person's eyebrows, killing all three enemies on the spot!
All this happened between lightning and flint, and the scene was thrilling. Staff Officer Xiao didn't come back to his senses for a long time, and it was unbelievable that Zhang Taofang could do such a miraculous shooting. Moreover, the shooting angle and environment at that time were extremely unfavorable, and I am afraid that other snipers would not be able to start.
Staff Officer Xiao, who witnessed Zhang Taofang's strength, truthfully reported everything to Pi Dingjun. Pi Dingjun, who learned the truth, was overjoyed and praised Zhang Taofang. He immediately took out a brand-new 98K sniper rifle from the cabinet, gave it to Zhang Taofang personally, and instructed him to continue to pass on this magic skill.
Since then, Zhang Taofang has become a "marksman" on the front line. At every critical moment, he can always perform his unique skills to level the difficult enemy for the troops. He even taught all his shooting know-how to a group of rookie snipers, cultivating a strong team of sharpshooters for the country.
Fifth, after being discharged from the army, teach sniping skills
After the end of the Korean War, Zhang Taofang left the barracks, and his 24-year career in the army came to an end. But his love for gunnery and his legacy of sniping never stopped. After retiring, Zhang Taofang has been concentrating on the study of shooting theory and passing on her unique secrets to future generations without reservation.
After leaving the army, Zhang Taofang initially worked as a shooting instructor in her hometown of Xinghua for a while. Under his careful guidance, many young people got rid of their former jerky posture and their marksmanship improved steadily. Some of the trainees have even become shooting experts at the county and provincial levels.
Despite her advanced age, Zhang Taofang's enthusiasm has never diminished. In 1970, he was hired as the head coach of the Jiangsu Provincial Shooting Team and began a new stage of his life. Here, Zhang Taofang has passed on the valuable experience accumulated over the years to batches of athletes.
As a coach, Zhang Taofang values the students' own quality the most. He often said: "A sniper not only needs excellent skills, but also noble moral cultivation." At his request, the athletes not only studied the theory of shooting day after day and memorized the construction of firearms, but also studied traditional culture diligently and strictly adhered to the discipline of conduct.
What Zhang Taofang is best at is turning marksmanship skills into formulas, making it easier for students to understand and master. He likes to explain the various details of shooting in simple language, so that the students can have a more thorough understanding of marksmanship. For example, "how to shoot the target most accurately", "the difference between jet and rolling shooting", etc., have become vivid and familiar in Zhang Taofang's mouth.
In addition to theoretical teaching, Zhang Taofang also attaches great importance to practical exercises. He often leads athletes to field training and experience shooting in complex terrain. Sometimes they have to stay in the mountains for days and nights to learn how to survive sniping. Because Zhang Taofang had personally participated in the Korean War, he knew the battlefield environment well. This kind of training close to actual combat has greatly exercised the comprehensive ability of athletes.
In this way, under the careful teaching of Zhang Taofang, the Jiangsu Provincial Shooting Team has a brilliant record and a large number of talents. Many of Zhang Taofang's disciples later became the main force of the national shooting team. Zhang Taofang used her sniping skills and teaching wisdom to cultivate a large number of outstanding marksmen for the country.