Episode 4 recap: Qiu Shaoyun's Heroic Sacrifice Amidst Gunfire
In Episode 4, on October 8, 1952, Chinese representatives and UN forces engaged in negotiations at Panmunjom once again. Chinese representative Deng Hua pointed out that the prisoner of war lists submitted three times did not match, while the US side insisted that they adhered to the principle of voluntary repatriation and denied any abuse of prisoners, despite the Chinese having sufficient evidence. This led to mounting frustrations, ultimately resulting in a complete breakdown of the talks.
Mo Yuan felt that further negotiations were pointless and requested to be reassigned to the front lines to inspect the prisoner camps, receiving approval from Li Kenong. In contrast, Duan Xianfeng's outstanding performance drew the attention of his superiors, and the Third Corps planned to promote him to a staff position, pending an internal review. However, Duan Xianfeng had always believed in engaging directly in combat, viewing obedience to orders as a duty. Thus, he sought out Qin Jiwei.
Coincidentally, Qin Jiwei was working on an American-made vehicle but struggled to identify the problem. Duan Xianfeng stepped in, quickly diagnosing and fixing the issue. He expressed his desire to remain with the 15th Army and gain experience on the front lines. This reminded Qin Jiwei of their first meeting at the Nanjing Military Academy, where Duan Xianfeng had impressed him as a talented teaching assistant discussing the Normandy Landings.
Later, Qin Jiwei received orders to engage in combat in Korea. Duan Xianfeng eagerly applied to join the 15th Army, passionately articulating his patriotic intentions, which ultimately moved Qin Jiwei. Reluctant to let Duan Xianfeng go, Qin Jiwei allowed him to write a request to stay with the 15th Army under the pretext of serving in the guard company.
The breakdown of negotiations enabled Qin Jiwei to proceed with his plan to attack Hill 391. He called upon Meng Jianmin to select 400 soldiers for a decisive assault on the hill. The soldiers lurked in position but were soon bombarded by enemy artillery. Qiu Shaoyun's camouflage caught fire, and despite the intense pain, he chose to endure the flames to protect his comrades and ensure victory, ultimately sacrificing himself without a hint of self-preservation.
Due to the continuous small-scale assaults by the 15th Army, the UN forces found themselves in disarray. Van Fleet discovered that only a reinforced company of Chinese troops occupied Hill 598 (597.9) and confidently predicted he could create a breach within five days, having finally gained the agreement of UN Commander Clark for his planned "showdown operation." Meanwhile, the Volunteer Army's command received intelligence about the US 45th Division stationed in Japan and the 1st Cavalry Division conducting amphibious landing drills in Tokyo. They ordered the 15th Army to closely monitor enemy movements across from Wushan.
Recalling Peng Dehuai's advice, Qin Jiwei understood the critical importance of holding Wushan; if it fell, they would be left vulnerable. He recognized that if the US landed in Wonsan, attacking Wushan would be their best strategy. Consequently, Qin Jiwei dispatched Duan Xianfeng to scout the front lines of Wushan, accompanied by Shuang Xi and Han Xiaomao.
The trio observed the US forces, recording their troop numbers and equipment. Upon returning, they reported that the US was adept at operations similar to the Normandy landings and the Calais area, much like the current situation at Wushan and Xifang Mountain. Qin Jiwei concluded that the immediate priority was to ensure the 15th Army's troop deployment across the two mountains remained unchanged while creating a show of strength, instructing the tank battalion to move with vehicles to confuse the enemy.
Soon, Qin Jiwei realized the significant distance between Xifang Mountain and Wushan, as Van Fleet deployed smoke screens, preventing the 15th Army from pinpointing his main attack direction. A fierce battle was on the horizon, with both sides' commanders engaging in a battle of wits.
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