Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

However, it only took three hours.

A detailed production report was presented directly to Chu Yunfei.

Monthly Production Report of Northwest Manufacturing Bureau (Stable Supply of Raw Materials as follows):
The Jin-made Type 65 rifle had a monthly production of 2,000 units.

The Czech-made rifle manufactured in Shanxi: After the process was improved, the monthly output stabilized at four hundred rifles.

PPS43 submachine gun: 500 units per month.

Type 3 heavy machine gun manufactured in Shanxi: monthly production of 120 units.

Shanxi-made imitation Mauser C96 pistols: monthly production of 700 pieces.

Obvious.

The production of the Jin-made Thompson submachine gun was discontinued due to the availability of the PPS43 submachine gun.

After the Jin-made Czech submachine gun underwent corresponding improvements, the barrel replacement no longer needed to be as frequent as before.

As for heavy machine guns, the reason for choosing to continue producing the Shanxi-made Type 3 heavy machine gun was...

It was also because of this heavy machine gun, which was a blend of Chinese, Japanese and French design, that the technical experts and workers of the former Taiyuan Arsenal had a certain level of experience.

The reason its previous performance was not very good was that the quality of raw materials and the precision of machinery at the Taiyuan Arsenal were far inferior to those of Japanese arsenals.
Now, with industrial upgrading and improvement...

In Chu Yunfei's memory, Sun Weimou had once told him this.

Within the next year, they will switch to producing Browning heavy machine guns.

There's no way around it; the heavy machine gun is the most complex weapon in terms of structure and has the highest requirements for manufacturing processes.

7.92mm rifle cartridge: approximately 1200 million rounds produced per month.

Various types of hand grenades: monthly production of approximately 250,000.

82mm mortar shells: approximately 4 rounds per month.

75mm mountain gun shells: 4500 shells per month.

105mm howitzer shells: Some raw materials are imported, and the current monthly output is 2,300 shells.

75mm Shanxi-made mountain gun: 4 units per month.

105mm Shanxi-made howitzer (modeled after the American M-2-105mm packhorse-drawn howitzer): Quarterly production of four.

Overall.

Thanks to everyone's efforts, the Northwest Manufacturing Bureau was much stronger than the previous Taiyuan Arsenal, with its production capacity more than tripling.

This was during wartime, so you can imagine how powerful the aid from the Americans and the Soviets was.

The reason why the Northwest Manufacturing Bureau no longer produces mortars is that the production capacity in this area has been largely handed over to the Changzhi Arsenal.

In terms of current production capacity, apart from being limited by insufficient alloy steel supply and relying on imports,

The few electric furnaces available are primarily used to supply gun steel.

Support weapons such as mortars and grenade launchers are often only used in scraps.

Although the quantity is not large, if these outputs are carefully managed, they can completely support the recovery of most areas of Henan and Hebei.

It could even trigger a full-scale war that sweeps across several provinces and involves millions of troops.

It's just that it doesn't last that long.

At most, they can continue playing for another half month.

And after that two weeks, once they lost the heavy artillery shells, aviation gasoline, trucks, and medicines provided by the United States.

The National Revolutionary Army, which now seems like a powerful war machine, will soon collapse due to a lack of blood and nutrients.

In the short term, the Republic of China was ultimately unable to shake off its dependence on its "allies".

Inside the command post, there was an eerie silence.

Everyone looked at Chu Yunfei, waiting for his final decision.

Is it to obey the orders of the mountain city, abandon the victory that was about to be in hand, pay the price for the stupidity of one's colleagues, and continue to play the role of an obedient pawn?

Or should we continue fighting?
Chu Yunfei had clearly given this matter considerable thought.

When he raised his head again, all the struggle and hesitation in his deep eyes had faded, leaving only a resolute determination.

He strode to the phone and personally connected the line to the 14th Army Group and the 13th Reserve Division.

"I am Chu Yunfei."

His voice, though not loud, clearly reached the ears of every commander.

"Order!"

"The original plan to provide assistance to Tang has been cancelled."

"The counter-offensive plan for Changshan remains unchanged: take Changshan within three days!"

"Yes, sir. Don't worry, if Changshan isn't taken within three days, I, Cao Potian, will offer my head in retribution!"

"Brother Ligong, this is for Commander Wei."

Chu Yunfei hung up the phone and slowly glanced at everyone.

He met the slightly excited gazes of the crowd.

Chu Yunfei's expression remained calm, as if he were recounting a trivial matter: "I don't care what the Chairman said about 'forbearance for the sake of the country'!"

"All I know is that with our homeland lost and the Japanese invaders not yet defeated, we must fight to the bitter end!"

Chu Yunfei paused, then added, "In this battle, due to the intervention of the Americans, we may not be able to recover the entire North China region, but we must take control of the Changshan and Handan line, cut off the Japanese invaders' Pinghan Railway line, disrupt their transportation, and destroy their supply lines, so as to create a good opportunity for the subsequent operations of the Fifth and Ninth War Zones."

"Yes~!"
-
Outside Changshan City.

The forward commander in the Changshan direction was Cao Potian.

This fierce general, forged in the fires of the Shanxi battlefield, is now standing in front of a huge sand table.

On the sand table.

The city's fortifications and the surrounding outposts that have not yet been captured have been reproduced almost one-to-one.

As one of the key areas targeted by the Japanese.

Faced with the threat of offensive operations in the Second World War zone, the Japanese made countless preparations and plans.

Even though the attacking forces stormed into the city several times, they still failed to gain a foothold.

This battle will be very difficult.

"You have all seen His Excellency's official telegram," Cao Potian's voice boomed.

He did not mention the pressure from the mountain city and the United States, but every word conveyed an undeniable sense of urgency: "Almost all the previous battles were to create an opportunity for us to capture Changshan."

Now, this heavy responsibility has fallen on our shoulders.

"You all know, without me saying a word, that it was Commander Chu who withstood all the pressure and created this opportunity for us."

He looked up and glanced at his two division commanders.

Sun Xinpu, commander of the 15th Reserve Division, and Liu Wang, commander of the 16th Reserve Division.

"I don't care what the Americans think, nor do I care what those officials in Chongqing are planning."

Cao Potian slammed his fist heavily on the edge of the sand table: "I only know that military orders are absolute! Commander Chu wants us to take Shijiazhuang, and we must take it!"

He slowly extended three fingers, his voice as firm and resolute as iron.

"I have pledged my life to Commander Chu: three days! We only have three days!"

"If I cannot plant the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag on the Japanese headquarters in Changshan within three days, I, Cao Potian, will offer my head to you!"

Do you have confidence?

Sun Xinpu and Liu Wang exchanged a glance, both seeing a burning fighting spirit in each other's eyes.

They straightened up abruptly and roared in unison, "We are willing to follow our commander and fight to the death!"

"it is good!"

Cao Potian shouted, "Pass on my order! The general offensive shall commence immediately, according to the original battle plan!"

The hundreds of cannons that had been assembled represented Cao Potian's confidence.

Upon receiving the order for a general offensive, they immediately launched a devastating artillery barrage against the city's defensive positions in Shijiazhuang.

The one commanding this artillery barrage was none other than himself.

It was Liang Guoping, who had followed Chu Yunfei for many years.

As the commander of the artillery group directly under the Second World War zone, he was a major general at this moment, one of the few major generals among artillery generals.

(In the Nationalist Army, artillery brigades held the rank of general, with virtually no chance of promotion; at most, they could be transferred to the rank of lieutenant general in infantry, which was rather frustrating.)
Tons of steel were hurled at the Japanese positions.

The earth trembled, and the sky groaned.

The Japanese army's fortified city walls and bunkers were gradually shattered under devastating artillery fire.

Chen Fu was an ordinary soldier in the 1st Battalion of the 153rd Regiment.

He huddled in the trench of the attack line, gripping his Springfield rifle tightly, feeling the tremors beneath his feet.

And around him were countless brothers.

These people had the same expression as him.

Tense, excited, and filled with fear of death.

"Listen to me!"

Not far away, Company Commander Zheng's voice could be heard.

The voices of these rank-and-file commanders were still clearly audible amidst the deafening roar of artillery fire: "The moment the shelling stops, it's time for us to charge!"
We are the elite detachment!
Our mission is to rush through the gap at the south gate, hold it, and provide cover for the reinforcements!
Let me make this clear: anyone who dares to be a coward, I'll shoot them dead first!

The moment the cannon fire finally ceased, a powerful whistle pierced the sky.

Beep beep beep~~ Beep beep beep beep~!

"kill-!"

Chen Fu followed his brothers.

Like a tiger released from its cage, it leaped up and charged toward the city wall that had been blasted open with a huge gap.

however.

What awaited them was a fierce counterattack from the Japanese.

These Japanese devils were like cockroaches that could never be killed when they were conducting defensive operations.

At the breach in the city wall, the remaining "cockroaches" kept firing back through the bunkers and pillboxes.

Several light and heavy machine guns simultaneously spewed fire, forming an impenetrable net of fire that would kill.

Bullets rained down, causing heavy casualties among the soldiers at the forefront.

Chen Fu saw with his own eyes a fellow villager who happened to be playing with him.

His chest was riddled with bullet holes; he let out a groan and collapsed into the muddy water.

"Take cover! Crawl forward! Machine gun cover!"

Company Commander Zheng roared, directing his soldiers to advance little by little, using the shell craters and ruins as cover.

fighting.

It entered the most brutal phase from the very beginning.

The regiment's mortars began providing support, with 107mm mortars continuing to fire in suppression, while 82mm mortars used smoke grenades to obscure the Japanese troops' vision.

A series of tactical maneuvers provided corresponding cover for the attacking forces.

The attacks from all directions began almost simultaneously, and each regiment basically chose the same tactics.

The simplest, most convenient and effective way to play.

After suffering nearly half of their casualties.

After the company finally broke through the breach in the city wall...

What followed was even more brutal street fighting.

Bang~ Da da da~
Boom~!

The reinforcements pouring in through the breach quickly began to seize nearby buildings.

Enemies could appear at any moment from these collapsed ruins.

At this moment, every street and every building in Changshan City has become a battlefield.

Using their familiar formations, the Japanese army set up numerous sniping positions and crossfire among the ruins.

A sniper rifle was fired from beneath some unknown brickwork.

Hand grenades could roll down at your feet at any moment.

The roar resumed.

The planned support firepower was delivered much earlier than scheduled under Chu Yunfei's command.

Under the skill of artillery fire guidance.

These shells struck the Japanese positions on the second line, where they were preparing to counterattack, with perfect accuracy.

Amidst the screams and explosions of the Japanese invaders.

The first wave of attack troops successfully established a foothold and began to expand their occupied territory.

When Chen Fu's squad rushed into an alley, the squad leader immediately shot him with a sniper rifle, killing him instantly.

The enraged soldiers used cluster grenades to blow the two-story building where the sniper was hiding into the air.

They carried rifles with bayonets fixed, meticulously clearing out each and every house.
Gunshots and explosions could be heard intermittently.

The brutal and fierce battle lasted for two whole days and two nights.

The entire city of Changshan has been completely reduced to scorched earth.

As the battle entered its third day.

The remaining Japanese soldiers were compressed into an area of ​​less than 1.5 square kilometers.

Lieutenant General Sue Mitsuhiro, commander of the 109th Division of the Japanese Army, led his last remaining troops in a desperate struggle.

Cao Po Tianxia issued the final order for the all-out offensive.

Chen Fu and his unit once again took the lead in the attack.

They launched an assault on this last remaining area.

The Nationalist army's tanks led the way, clearing the buildings one by one with artillery fire.

The soldiers followed closely behind, rushing forward to engage the Japanese troops in the most brutal close combat, even bayonet fighting.

Fighting raged everywhere—in the hallways, in the rooms.

The sounds of clashing bayonets, the pounding of rifle butts, and the dying screams filled the air.

Chen Fu also killed the red-eyed soldier. After he stabbed the Japanese soldier with his bayonet, the dying soldier grabbed the bayonet tightly.

Seeing an opportunity, the Japanese soldier standing nearby immediately charged forward, bayonets at the ready.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Fu immediately picked up the "big knife blade" on the ground and slashed fiercely at the charging Japanese soldiers.

As a new recruit, Chen Fu was lucky enough to survive the fierce fighting, along with several of his comrades.

But they weren't so lucky; they ultimately didn't get to see the flag of the Republic of China being planted on the last front.

Cao Potian looked down at the city that had been reduced to ruins.

The streets were almost piled high with corpses from both sides throughout the city.

Fortunately, they successfully captured Changshan within the allotted time, thus reclaiming one of the most important cities in Hebei Province.

"Send a telegram to Commander Chu: The battle is over. We have successfully annihilated the enemy forces in the city. The majority of the enemy's 109th Division has been wiped out."

the other side.

On the southern Hebei plain, Tang Enbo's 31st Army Group was in dire straits, facing complete collapse.

His initial reckless advance led his elite 13th Army to be completely surrounded by the main forces of the Japanese 20th and 35th Divisions.

Just as the battle was raging in Changshan.

The Japanese army was also intensifying its plan to encircle and annihilate the 13th Army, a direct descendant of Tang Enbo, a member of the Central Army.
In the Nangong and Xinhe areas.

This once-mighty main force of the National Revolutionary Army is now suffering devastating blows from all sides.

Japanese tanks continued to assault their lines.

The heavy artillery calmly constructed its artillery positions.

They launched repeated heavy fire attacks on the surrounded Nationalist troops.

The 13th Army fought desperately.

However, having lost logistical support and without reinforcements, they were already at their last gasp.

Defensive positions are being lost, the defensive line is being compressed little by little, and the casualty figures are alarming.

The former high spirits and vigor had long since vanished from Tang Enbo's army group headquarters.

The Japanese army seemed determined to wipe out his 13th Army.

Three days and seventeen attacks still failed to support the 13th Army's breakout.

It seemed as if the annihilation of his elite force was a foregone conclusion.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the encirclement on the map, which was being tightened by red arrows, making him appear as if he had aged ten years.

Chief of Staff Gou Jitang whispered a few words to his colleague, then quickly stepped forward: "Commander-in-Chief Tang, a telegram from the Joint Command."

Upon hearing the sound, Tang Enbo jumped up abruptly: "Have reinforcements arrived?"

Gou Jitang shook his head: "Asking about the specific situation of our army is as if they don't know that our 13th Army is surrounded." (End of this chapter)