When Li Qiufan returned to the command post, the forward troops had repelled two enemy attacks.
The enemy, whose attack failed, immediately called for air support and carried out coverage bombing of the volunteer positions on the north bank.
At the same time, the enemy army concentrated their howitzers again and began to bombard the positions of the Fourth Army on the Yeoncheon front line.
"Correspondent, inform all armies to hold on for one more day. Our reinforcements will soon arrive. When the reinforcements arrive, it will be time for us to launch a counterattack!"
After returning to the command post, Li Qiufan first quickly learned about the battle situation on the front line, and then asked the correspondent to notify the various armies of the news that reinforcements were about to arrive.
After learning that the reinforcements were about to arrive, the commanders of each army immediately informed others to boost the morale of the troops.
Since the Han River Blockade, the Volunteer Army has been suppressed by the enemy and has retreated again and again. Now it has retreated to the north bank of the Imjin River.
Although they knew that this was buying time for reinforcements, the morale of each unit was more or less affected.
Now that I heard the news that the reinforcements would arrive in one day, the morale that had been drained instantly returned to its peak, and the overall combat effectiveness of the troops has been improved to a certain extent.
"Inform the 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade not to be stingy with artillery shells. As long as the enemy launches a large-scale charge, I will push them back immediately!"
"In addition, quickly get in touch with the garrison division and the second army, and order the garrison division to go directly to Matianri to supplement the first army, and the second army will provide support to the Yeoncheon area!"
Reinforcements were about to arrive, and Li Qiufan's mood improved inexplicably.
When he was in a good mood, he became more aggressive. He directly asked the 1st Heavy Artillery Brigade and the 2nd Heavy Artillery Brigade to launch artillery fire suppression against the enemy forces attacking the Yeoncheon defense line, regardless of consumption.
At the same time, the correspondent was asked to quickly contact the Second Army and the garrison division, and issued orders to the two troops respectively.
Today's First Army only has about 9,000 troops. After the garrison division arrives, it can be replenished and restored to about 30,000 troops.
In addition, before entering the peninsula, the garrison division and the Second Army, together with the units of the Third Corps and the 19th Corps, replaced their light weapons with Soviet weapons, which resulted in a considerable improvement in their equipment.
As time passed, it soon came to the second day. The three armies stood on the north bank of the Imjin River and did not allow the enemy to advance a step.
When it was almost noon, the garrison division finally arrived at Matian and joined the First Army.
After arriving at Matianri, the garrison division was directly integrated into the units of the First Army, and then entered the forward position to fight.
At the same time, the Second Army had also entered the Yeoncheon area, less than half a day's journey from the location of the Fourth Army.
The reinforcements on Li Qiufan's side are in place, and now they just have to wait for the Third Corps and the Nineteenth Corps to enter the eastern front to take over the positions, and then the Thirteenth Corps merge into the western front, and then they can launch a full-scale counterattack.
"Report to the commander! The commander of the Second Army, Lu Ming, is here to report!"
In the evening, Li Qiufan was watching the reports from various forward positions. Suddenly Lu Ming appeared at the door of the command post and shouted to him with a military salute.
"Lu Ming?! Why are you so stupid here! Didn't I ask you to support Li Xiping!"
After hearing Lu Ming's voice, Li Qiufan raised his head suddenly, and then asked him in surprise.
"Report to the commander! Our Second Army has now arrived at the rear of the Fourth Army. I broke away from the main force to come specifically to see you!"
After hearing Li Qiufan's inquiry, Lu Ming quickly explained to him.
"So that's what happened. I thought you were so stupid that you brought the troops to the command post!"
After hearing Lu Ming's explanation, Li Qiufan suddenly realized, and then smiled and said to him.
"Commander, where is the political commissar?"
After seeing that Li Qiufan understood what was going on, Lu Ming looked around, but did not see Zhao Gang, and then asked Li Qiufan.
"Old Zhao was seriously injured some time ago and has been transferred back to China by Shisi for treatment."
After hearing Lu Ming's inquiry, Li Qiufan explained with dark eyes.
"The political commissar was seriously injured? What happened?"
Lu Ming didn't know about Zhao Gang's injury, so he asked Li Qiufan anxiously.
When Zhao Gang was transferred back to the country by the Volunteer Army Headquarters, Lu Ming was leading his troops towards the 38th Parallel. The two sides were not taking the same route.
After hearing Lu Ming's inquiry, Li Qiufan explained the situation at that time.
After hearing what Li Qiufan told him, Lu Mingdang clenched his fists and cursed loudly.
"Commander, let our Second Army replace the Fourth Army! I will kill these scoundrels and avenge the political commissar!"
Lu Ming looked up at Li Qiufan and directly asked the soldiers to replace the fourth army with their second army.
"There's no rush, now is not the time for your second army to move!"
"Besides, Lao Zhao's revenge cannot be avenged by just killing a few people. I want these idiots to come to the peninsula!"
After hearing Lu Ming's request to fight, Li Qiufan immediately waved his hand and refused.
Because it is not the time to counterattack yet, the Third Corps and the Nineteenth Corps have not yet arrived on the Eastern Front, and the Thirteenth Corps has not yet transferred to the Western Front. Their current strength alone is not enough to annihilate the enemy forces on the Western Front.
"I know the commander, so what are the next arrangements for our Second Army?"
After hearing Li Qiufan's words, Lu Ming could only nod helplessly, and then asked about the arrangements for their second army.
"Your Second Army will first be stationed behind the Fourth Army, and then rotate into the Fourth Army's positions in regiment-level units to adapt to the combat environment!"
"The beautiful Chinese troops we are facing now are not like the Japanese and Chinese troops in the past. Their weapons and equipment are more advanced, especially they have a large number of heavy firepower weapons and mobile troops!"
"Your Second Army has not participated in a battle for a long time, especially when it is your first time to face the beautiful Chinese troops. You need to adapt first!"
Hearing Lu Ming ask about the arrangements for their second army, Li Qiufan thought for a while and made a decision, that is, let the second army adapt to the combat environment and intensity first.
Because after the capture of Yunnan, the Second Army has been stationed at the border and has not fought for a long time.
It happened to take advantage of the period when the Thirteenth Corps transferred to the Western Front, so that the Second Army could train its troops first, so as to avoid suffering losses when facing the beautiful American troops.
"yes!"
After hearing Li Qiufan's arrangement, Lu Ming immediately agreed, then left the command post and returned to the army.
"My troops are here. You stupid political commissars who dare to hurt me, be prepared to go to hell!"
After Lu Ming left, Li Qiufan looked in the direction of the front line of Linjin River and murmured with cold eyes.
