Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

mountain city.

Military Commission of the National Government.

The days of rain were finally dispelled by a piece of good news from North China, bringing long-awaited sunshine.

The servants' room.

Zhang Zhizhong strode into the Chairman's office, his face beaming with undisguised joy: "Chairman, a great victory! The second phase of the strategic counter-offensive plan in the Second War Zone has achieved a phased victory."

He presented an urgent telegram: "Song Xilian, commander of the 71st Army, seized the opportunity and launched a decisive attack in the direction of Pingxingguan. In coordination with the 27th Army, he captured Sanmengshan, Laiyuan, and Fuping in two days, annihilating thousands of enemy soldiers and completely shattering the Japanese army's defense system along the Pingxingguan line!"

Chang Ruiyuan nodded slowly and smiled, "So, it seems that we have already torn a huge hole in Okamura Neiji's deployment in North China!"

"Okay! Okay!"

Chang Ruiyuan took the telegram, read it carefully, and said "good" twice, a hearty smile spreading across his face: "Xilian truly deserves to be called an elite of my Whampoa Military Academy and a pillar of the nation!"

"Such a great achievement deserves a rich reward!"

The atmosphere in the office became incredibly relaxed because of this resounding victory.

However, at this moment, Dai Yunong, the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau who had been standing quietly to the side, stepped forward and solemnly presented another document.

"Chairman."

Dai Li's voice was deep and cold: "The soldiers on the front lines are fighting bloody battles, but there are parasites in the rear that are eroding the foundation of the nation."

The chairman's smile vanished instantly. He took the document, his gaze sharp as lightning.

It was an investigation report on corruption within the 66th Army, jointly submitted by the Military Intelligence Bureau's Burma Station and the First Army Group's Anti-Corruption Committee.

The report detailed a series of shocking crimes committed by Army Commander Zhang Zhen and some of his core subordinates, including abusing their power to resell weapons, embezzle military pay, falsify troop numbers, and smuggle strategic materials.

"You bastard! Shameless!"

The Chairman was trembling with rage. He slammed the report heavily on the table, making a loud noise: "Our brothers at the front are shedding blood for the country, while the generals in the rear are sucking the blood of the nation!"

"Such traitors must be killed to appease public anger and comfort the loyal souls!"

His gaze shifted to Dai Li, his tone chilling: "Yu Nong, I'm entrusting you with the full authority to investigate this matter!"

"Start with Zhang Zhen, investigate thoroughly! Anyone involved, regardless of rank or background, will be severely punished without exception! They will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Yes, Chairman!"

Dai Li suddenly bowed his head, a chilling murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

The atmosphere in the office once again plummeted to freezing point.

Looking at the furious Chairman and the murderous Dai Li, Zhang Zhizhong had an idea. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Chairman, since General Song Xilian has made an unparalleled contribution, he should be richly rewarded."

The 66th Army is currently leaderless and urgently needs a capable and virtuous general with an iron fist to reorganize it. I humbly suggest a plan that might achieve both goals.

The Chairman turned his gaze to him: "Wenbai, speak."

"We can use this great victory to promote General Song Xilian to Commander-in-Chief of the 11th Army Group. At the same time, considering the complexity of the situation in Burma and the importance of cultivating reserve forces, we can transfer him to Kunming to serve concurrently as the Kunming City Defense Commander and the Dean of Education of the Ninth Branch of the Army Officer School, so as to cultivate talents for the country."

"As for the 66th Army, which has been plagued by corruption," Zhang Zhizhong changed the subject, "it can be temporarily placed under the command of General Song's newly formed 11th Army Group."

General Song, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Army Group, personally went to Burma to take full charge of the investigation, reorganization, and reconstruction of the army.

With General Song's prestige and iron fist, he will surely be able to rebuild this force into a fighting army!

This proposal not only granted Song Xilian the honor and promotion commensurate with his achievements, but also gave him the recognition and promotion he deserved.

He was then given a tricky but crucial task, which cleverly resolved the mess left by the 66th Army.

Moreover, whether the 66th Army actually had these problems is actually unknown.

Perhaps this is just the Chairman reducing He Yingqin's military power, or perhaps the Chairman doesn't want to see Chu Yunfei and He Yingqin become more closely connected.

The Chairman pondered for a moment and slowly nodded: "Wenbai's strategy is a mature and prudent approach to governing the country."

"That's the plan! Draft the telegram immediately!"

An imperial edict from the mountain city is about to change the fate of countless people.

Pingxingguan front line, Laiyuan city.

The 71st Army headquarters, having just experienced a great victory, was now immersed in the joy of triumph.

Song Xilian was discussing the next steps in the pursuit with several core division commanders when a confidential staff officer rushed in, looking excited, carrying a telegram.

"Commander! Mountain City, a top-secret commendation order from the Military Commission!"

Song Xilian took the telegram and began to read it.

Inside the command center, all eyes were on him.

The contents of the telegram stirred the emotions of even a seasoned general like Song Xilian, who had seen countless storms.

"Song Xilian, commander of the 71st Army, is hereby promoted to commander-in-chief of the 11th Army Group. He is transferred to Kunming and concurrently serves as the Kunming City Defense Commander and the Director of Education of the Ninth Branch of the Army Officer School. He shall depart immediately without delay."

"The position of commander of the former 71st Army has been taken over by deputy commander Long Muhan."

"In addition, Zhang Zhen, commander of the 66th Army, was dismissed and investigated for corruption and dereliction of duty."

"The army was temporarily assigned to the 11th Army Group, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Army Group was in charge of its reorganization and reconstruction."

Commander-in-Chief!
Inside the command center, a collective gasp filled the air.

All the officers cast admiring and congratulatory glances at Song Xilian.

Song Xilian slowly put down the telegram, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew that behind this honor lay greater responsibility and more arduous challenges.

The 71st Army was, after all, an elite force directly under the command of the General Headquarters.

Although he was promoted to commander-in-chief of the 11th Army Group, he was unable to continue leading his old troops.

It seems like his position has been promoted quite a bit, but he's lost the prestige he used to have.

Song Xilian knew in his heart that there was nothing he could do about it.

Based on his military achievements, he should have been promoted to commander-in-chief of an army group long ago.

But the Second World War zone, or rather the entire North China region.

The Nationalist army had far too many troops.

There simply aren't that many positions for army group commanders.

He has now been transferred from the front lines in North China to the rear command in the Southwest.

Especially in places like Kunming.

In essence, Chang Ruiyuan wanted to drive this nail into Long Yun's heart.

In this situation, to purge an army that is rotten to the core, every step is, in fact, a grand strategy.

He looked at his old subordinate, Long Muhan, who was about to take over as army commander, and said in a deep voice, "Muhan, the 71st Army is now in your hands."

Remember, we are the nation's elite force; at no time should we allow this banner to lose its prestige!

Long Muhan saluted excitedly: "Yes! Please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief!"

Song Xilian nodded, his gaze fixed on the southwest sky.

He knew that a new and more complex battle awaited him.

The handover of the 71st Army to Long Muhan was also a decision made after careful consideration from above.

Long Muhan's life could be said to have been saved by Chu Yunfei.

When Gui Yongqing, that bastard, ran away, he wanted Long Muhan to take the blame. If it weren't for Chu Yunfei leading his troops to repel the Japanese advance westward and successfully cooperating with the 71st Army to recapture Lanfeng County...

Long Muhan's grave is probably already half a meter high with grass growing on it.

Song Xilian was aware of this, and so was Long Muhan.

at the same time.

Myanmar.

The former site of the 66th Army.

A storm is approaching with overwhelming force.

The Kuomintang agents, under the personal leadership of "Scorpion," were dispatched.

They began searching for their target.

Inside an officers' club that has been converted into a luxury casino.

Several colonel-level officers from the 66th Army were sitting around a card table, puffing away on cigarettes.

They divided up the gold bars they had just earned from reselling military gasoline on the black market.

"boom!"

The door was kicked open violently, and more than a dozen dark submachine gun muzzles were pointed at everyone inside.

"Don't move! We are from the Military Commission's Investigation and Statistics Bureau!"

The scorpion's icy voice froze everyone in the room.

A colonel, though blustering, roared, "You... what right do you have to arrest people!"

Scorpion sneered and waved the arrest warrant in his hand: "Based on this! By order of the Chairman and Boss Dai, thoroughly investigate the corruption case in the 66th Army! Commander Zhang Zhen and all those involved will not escape! Take them away!"

Similar scenes were playing out simultaneously in the 66th Army's quartermaster department, armory, and transport teams.

The Kuomintang agents, armed with the list, followed the clues.

Those officers who usually acted arrogantly were now like stray dogs, being shoved onto trucks in a sorry state.

The entire 66th Army was plunged into tremendous shock and panic.

The ordinary soldiers, after witnessing the downfall of these "big shots," were first shocked, then erupted in long-suppressed anger and cheers.

Many of these people came from military academies, while some were former officers of warlords.

Although they have different backgrounds, they have one thing in common.

That means they are all unclean.

The "Scorpion" hand was played very cleverly.

He did not do anything unnecessary in preparation for Song Xilian's takeover; he neither showed favor nor caused any trouble.

I simply did what I was supposed to do in a serious manner.

The problem of officers being addicted to gambling and prostitution was prevalent throughout the entire Nationalist army.

It can't even be called a problem.

What Chang Ruiyuan hated most was greed.

If an officer gambles with his own money, he also uses his own money to patronize prostitutes.

They'll basically turn a blind eye to one thing and a blind eye to the other.

Even Du Yuming, when he was young, used the company's funds to gamble and visit prostitutes.

However, after he made up his mind to quit his bad habit, he never did it again, which is indeed worth mentioning.

Second World War Zone, Frontline Command Headquarters.

Chu Yunfei oversaw the overall situation, while Fang Ligong, Zhang Dayun, and others compiled the telegrams sent by various units and quickly made corresponding marks on the sand table map.

The staff, composed of dozens of officers, was extremely efficient at this moment.

This is the biggest advantage of the US military compared to the militaries of other countries.

This is something that Chu Yunfei learned almost entirely from the Americans.

A large and highly efficient staff team can often play a role far exceeding that of a "famous general".

This is not.

Chu Yunfei noticed the exhaustion of the North China Army with just one glance.

They have many directions from which they can launch an attack next.

If Nankou can be successfully breached, it will be enough to threaten the capital region.

But that's highly unlikely.

"Nankou" was nominally the main point of attack, but it was not the real breakthrough point.

The Pingxingguan line did indeed give him a pleasant surprise, but the real main focus of his attack was the Hebei line.

Chu Yunfei made relevant predictions before the battle.

It would take at least 200,000 troops to maintain the existence of the controlled area.

Only then were the troops from the Second and Fifth Theaters able to advance more than 80 kilometers and successfully hold their positions.

"Sir, isn't the timing of Commander Song's promotion a bit..."

"Is it a bit too hasty?" Chu Yunfei chuckled. "Judging from the previous efficiency of the General Headquarters, even if Commander Song is confirmed to be promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the 11th Army Group, it will at least be after this battle ends."

"And now, in just four days, this kind of efficiency is not what the General Headquarters is capable of."

Zhang Dayun took a drag of his cigarette and slowly said, "I suspect that this was not actually the result of the General Headquarters' research, but a decision made by the Chairman himself."

"The 66th Army," Chu Yunfei smiled, "but it's quite obvious that the Chairman wants to put pressure on Yunnan."

"Commander Yan and Commander Long have been in contact. Could this have led to some misjudgment by the Shancheng side?"

Chu Yunfei shook his head: "We don't need to think too much about this. We are soldiers. We should first think about how to fight the next battle."

"You see, after these two weeks of testing and adjustments."

"Apart from the 7th Army Group Commander Fu's troops, which are the general reserve force of the theater in this battle."

"Our main force in the Nankou direction is the 14th Army Group, while the enemy's main force is the 108th and 114th Divisions. The battle is basically at a stalemate. In addition, they have the reserve forces of the 11th and 13th Mixed Brigades, making a breakthrough almost impossible."

"In the direction of Sanmeng Mountain, the Japanese 2nd Mixed Brigade and the Akiyama Detachment of the 20th Division are only an infantry regiment plus a field artillery regiment. They pose no great threat to our 27th and 71st Armies. The question now is whether to continue the plan to launch a pincer attack on Shijiazhuang."

At this time, Shijiazhuang was also a key town held by the Japanese army.

Taking over a major city like Shijiazhuang is of great significance for the second phase of the strategic counter-offensive.

This is where Chu Yunfei's dilemma lies.

Given the military strength of the Second World War zone at that time, a counter-offensive was indeed not a major problem.

However, how to balance the power of these warlords in North China with the military strength in the mountain city has become the biggest problem at present.

With the Japanese devils as our number one enemy, everything is negotiable.

When the Japanese were weak, or even when they could only be suppressed and beaten.

Many things will be exposed as a result, becoming major problems that are difficult to resolve.
"Sir, after occupying Shijiazhuang, we can join forces with the Fifth War Zone to attack the main forces of the Japanese 20th and 33rd Divisions in Hebei. If we can successfully annihilate them, we may be able to continue eastward." (End of Chapter)