in2ebook Chapter 320 Unexpected!
Chapter 320 Unexpected!
Zhong Yuemin didn't say much.
"Pick up all the weapons and ammunition on the ground, and follow me, hurry up!"
The squad members picked up the weapons and ammunition and then quickly followed.
A few minutes later, the squad members gathered on the second floor of the enemy-held building. Two snipers were set up at the front, and two others stood guard at the back window, remaining constantly alert. This position offered both offensive and defensive capabilities; even if a large enemy force attacked, they could put up a fight. A retreat was also an option; if all else failed, they could simply run away.
"The rest of you should rest for a bit, warm yourselves by the fire, and dry your clothes and shoes."
There were two stoves inside, and some food and wine on the table. The team members gathered around the stoves to warm themselves, sipping white wine to keep warm. The bullets had been removed from the three wounded soldiers, and they were bandaged and resting. They were not in life-threatening danger at the moment. The herbs he had grown using the immortal spring water were quite effective at stopping bleeding.
Zhang Haiyang said while warming himself by the fire:
"Yuemin, what do you think of the Vietnamese weapons? AK47s, M16s, carbines with night vision devices—they're a generation ahead of our Type 56 semi-automatic rifles. And the Vietnamese are fighting on their home turf, familiar with the terrain, and there are many rivers and streams around. This battle might not be easy."
Compared to his initial disdain, Zhang Haiyang became much more humble and cautious after engaging the enemy. Take the terrain, for example: a subtropical monsoon climate with abundant rainforest and karst landforms. They had entered the country from the river mouth, a distance of at most twenty kilometers as the crow flies from the outskirts of Guliu, which would normally take three or four hours on foot. However, their small team ultimately spent an entire night to reach their destination.
Without a guide, it would have taken even longer. Of course, to conceal their movements, they intentionally avoided the main road, crossing rivers, traversing rainforest, and taking a circuitous route.
Zhong Yuemin nodded.
"The arrow has already been shot, it can't be taken back, and it shouldn't be taken back. Even if it's difficult, we have to fight."
To be honest, the initial offensive of the counterattack was not as overwhelming and unstoppable as everyone had expected.
Why did they adopt this attitude? Was it due to underestimating the enemy? Or arrogance? Actually, no. Even if they underestimated the enemy or were arrogant, they had sufficient grounds to back it up.
Firstly, the number of troops mobilized for this counterattack reached as high as 55.
西线所部，调集了第11军（缺少33师）、第13军、14军和第50军的149师，以及云南省军区独立师、炮兵4师和高炮65师，形成了西线兵团，
而东线所部，调动了第41、42、43、50、54、55军（其中缺少149师）、广西军区独立师、炮兵第1师以及高炮70师等军队，组成了东线兵团。
The enemy initially numbered only around 15, with subsequent reinforcements totaling 30. Given that it was a surprise attack, we remain optimistic about successfully advancing deep into enemy territory.
The reality is that the eastern part of the border is mostly karst landforms, with mountainous terrain covered by dense forests.
Coupled with the fierce resistance of the Vietnamese guerrilla militia, our mechanized forces could only advance 58 kilometers per day. In the first few days of the war, affected by various unfavorable factors, their casualties once exceeded four thousand.
Compared to the devastation on the eastern front, the western front had fewer participants, but the casualties were still considerable. In the first two days, they had only just captured the old town area across the river.
The casualty ratio and the speed of the advance were somewhat unexpected.