Chapter 145: Tieyuan Ambush

In May, Tieyuan should have been a season of blooming mountain flowers. At this moment, only endless scorched earth is visible, and the gunpowder smoke has dyed the sky iron‑gray. Li Ping'an, leading the soldiers who have recovered from wounds back to the unit, arrived at the front and saw Cooking Squad Leader Lao Wang handing out the last half‑bag of fried noodles.

Battalion Commander! You finally made it! Tie Zhu stuck his dark face out of the trench and said, if you come any later, there will be only Shitou left to gnaw on the position!

Li Ping'an looked around; the shell craters were as dense as a sieve. Several soldiers were prying tank tracks with bayonets, hoping to find something edible.

The situation is grim. Instructor Lao Chen hunched over and came forward: the whole army has been out of food for three days, and the artillery shells are exhausted.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound came from the horizon. Li Ping'an's face changed: artillery! Take cover!

Shells fell like hail, shaking the position like a winnowing sieve. When the barrage paused briefly, Li Ping'an brushed the mud off himself and saw that the communications soldier Xiao Wang, who had just been speaking, was already missing half his body.

Damned Van Fleet! Tie Zhu's eyes reddened as he tried to charge out, but Li Ping'an held him down tightly.

Remember this feeling. Li Ping'an croaked, "Later the enemy will pay double!"

At night, a command from headquarters arrived: Hold Lianchuan Mountain Pass to the death, at any cost! Li Ping'an's battalion was assigned to the Reserve Unit, ready to fill any breach at any moment.

Frustrated! Wang Da Niu pounded the trench wall, watching his comrades get hit while we just stare helplessly!

Li Ping'an remained silent, quietly sorting the dwindling ammunition. He re‑attached the fuse of each hand grenade and laid concealed mines in front of the position. After finishing, he took out a Spirit Spring Water flask and gave each wounded soldier a small sip.

Battalion Commander, what's this? a rookie exclaimed, noticing his wound no longer hurt.

An heirloom energizing broth. Li Ping'an patted his shoulder, "Stay strong and kill more enemies!"

In the dead of night, gunfire erupted ahead. The communications soldier staggered over: Lianchuan Mountain Pass has fallen, the 187th Division has suffered over half casualties!

Li Ping'an sprang to his feet: Everyone, fix bayonets! It's our turn to go up!

When they reached the pass, they saw American tanks rolling over the trench. A soldier whose legs had been blown off clutched an explosives pack and crawled under a tank, humming a hometown tune.

Cover! Li Ping'an's eyes reddened as he was the first to charge out of the trench.

The battle instantly reached a white‑hot climax. The soldiers used cluster hand grenades against the tanks and bayoneted the enemy in close combat. Li Ping'an employed Bajiquan, weaving through the enemy ranks and striking vital points. An American officer raised his gun to aim, but Li Ping'an knocked him far away with a shoulder‑bump.

Exhilarating! Tie Zhu, drenched in blood, laughed loudly—this is what war is!

But they soon realized something was wrong. The Americans surged like a tide, repelling one wave after another. At dawn, a headcount showed fewer than a hundred combat‑ready troops in the entire battalion.

Retreat to the second defensive line. Li Ping'an croaked the order: alternate covering fire!

On the second line, the scene was even grimmer. On the 189th Division's position, a company commander led the last five soldiers, strapped explosives to his body, and leapt into the tank cluster. The explosion shook heaven and earth.

Battalion Commander! The left wing can't hold! Tie Zhu pointed west.

Li Ping'an saw American tanks breaking through the line, charging straight for the rear warehouse. Without a word, he led the Demolition Group forward.

Watch me! He demonstrated a crawl, targeting the tracks for demolition!

The soldiers followed the plan and indeed crippled several tanks. But the Americans immediately changed tactics, advancing with infantry cover. As the line threatened to be torn apart, Li Ping'an suddenly had a flash of insight.

Tie Zhu! Go blow up the reservoir!

Tie Zhu froze.

Execute the order! Li Ping'an shouted while firing, "Let the enemy taste the flood that drowned the Seventh Army!"

After the huge blast, floodwaters surged down. The advancing Americans were caught off guard, their tanks stuck in the mud, unable to move. The volunteer forces seized the chance, counter‑charging and finally stabilizing the position.

The good times were short. In early June, the Americans threw in the Reserve Unit, intensifying the assault. The 563rd Regiment fought a bloody battle on Gaotai Mountain for several days, leaving only 247 men in the whole regiment. When Li Ping'an was ordered to take over the defense, he saw the position piled with corpses, unable to tell friend from foe.

Battalion Commander, ammunition. a rookie handed over the last magazine.

Li Ping'an silently took the magazine and slipped it into his chest. He looked around at the smoke‑smudged faces of the soldiers and suddenly laughed: After the war, I'll treat everyone to stew.

Really? A few of the younger soldiers' eyes lit up.

When has old Li ever lied? He patted his chest, "Enough!"

Just then, the Americans launched another attack. This time they used flamethrowers to clear a path, roaring flames devouring the trench, with endless screams.

Use earth to extinguish fire! Li Ping'an was the first to fling soil with an iron spade.

The soldiers copied him, finally suppressing the flames. But worse, a swarm of American bombers arrived. Tons of bombs rained down, turning the entire position into a sea of fire.

Enter the artillery bunker! Li Ping'an shouted hoarsely.

The bombardment lasted two hours. When Li Ping'an crawled out of the ruins, the position was eerily silent. They frantically pried apart the rubble, rescuing a buried soldier. When they found Tie Zhu, he was still in a firing stance, but already without breath.

Brother... Li Ping'an gently closed his eyes, farewell.

In June, Korea grew hot. The stench of rotting corpses on the position lingered. The Americans wore gas masks, and the volunteers could only cover their mouths with rags.

Battalion Commander, perhaps... Wang Da Niu hesitated.

No "perhaps"! Li Ping'an declared resolutely, even if only one person remains, we must hold Tieyuan!

That night, he patrolled the position alone. In the moonlight, he saw Lin Xueqing leading a medical team, braving the artillery fire to bring medicine. Her white coat had turned ash‑gray, yet her eyes remained bright.

Here you go. She handed over a Small Cloth Bag of wild greens she had gathered on the way, to fill the stomach.

Inside the bag, besides the greens, was a withered Golden Dalia. Li Ping'an felt a warmth in his heart, carefully stowing the flower: after the war......

I understand. Lin Xueqing interrupted, saying, survive first.

June 10th, when the Americans attacked again, they were surprised to find volunteer troops still resisting the position. Li Ping'an led the last thirty‑plus soldiers, fighting on with captured weapons.

Battalion Commander! A telegram from headquarters! The communications soldier ran in excitedly, "The main force has redeployed, we can retreat now!"

The news spread, yet the position was unusually quiet. The soldiers exchanged smiles, using their last strength to repair fortifications and bury fallen comrades.

Before retreating, Li Ping'an stood on the position for a final look. Tieyuan glowed blood‑red in the sunset, while the distant mountains already showed outlines of hope.

Let's go. Lin Xueqing whispered, spring will come again.

Li Ping'an nodded, pulling out the Golden Dalia. After the baptism of fire, the petals were withered yet still intact. He believed that next year, on this blood‑soaked land, the most beautiful flower would bloom.

As they set out on the road home, distant artillery roared on. Yet every volunteer soldier knew that what they defended with their lives was not only Tieyuan, but countless forthcoming springs.