Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

"Two reasons."

Second World War Zone Command Headquarters.

Yan Laoxi put down his teacup and analyzed for Liang Huazhi, one of his confidants, "First, it's no problem for Yun Fei to investigate military personnel, even if he's a war zone commander."

The mountain city authorities wanted to use Yunfei to contain the various war zones in North China, which was also for the sake of the overall war situation.

"But if Commander Chu is to do this, what will happen to the war in Burma?"

Yan Laoxi frowned: "Right now, we should indeed prioritize the war effort. This is the consensus reached by Yunfei and Stilwell not long ago. Otherwise, why would the Americans be willing to continue providing aid?"

"If the expeditionary force has such good equipment but fails to win the battles it deserves, Yunfei may not bear much responsibility, but other war zones in China probably will not think so. This would give Chongqing a reason to negotiate with the United States to bring more American-aided equipment into the country."

"Although Yunfei is representing the mountain city side this time, he is actually demonstrating the attitude of the National Government."

"The current situation in the Second World War zone is already quite good compared to other war zones, but corruption is inevitable."

"Let's take this opportunity to let Yunfei thoroughly sort out the Second War Zone and completely eliminate the corrupt officials hiding within us."

Liang Huazhi was taken aback.
Immediately, a sense of crisis arose in his heart.

It should be noted that his role within the Jin army was actually to balance the old Jin army.

With the rise of the younger generation, the Jin army's iron-willed organization and their last comrades had effectively merged into one.

"Then, Lord Yan, how should I handle this matter?"

He also had his own thoughts on this matter, but after being reminded by Yan Laoxi...

As a member of the intellectual faction and someone who knew about the secret service organization, Liang Huazhi knew he couldn't cause trouble for Chu Yunfei and his group.

"We will fully cooperate with the investigation. Every country has its laws, and every family has its rules. Whoever makes the mistake must be severely punished!"

"Remember, don't act impulsively. If Yunfei wants to know anything, just tell him everything. Try not to have any conflicts with Yunfei's subordinates."

Yan Laoxi sighed deeply: "These lads don't have anything we can use to our advantage. If Yunfei really makes things difficult for you, come to me again, and I'll step in. I think Yunfei will do me a favor."

Liang Huazhi nodded emphatically: "Yes, Commander Yan."

After leaving.

Soon, Chu Xichun also received the notification and walked to Yan Laoxi's office.

"Qingbo, in the past two years, have there been any cases of corruption in the Second War Zone?"

Chu Xichun frowned and pondered for a moment: "As far as I know, there shouldn't be any. Whether it's the promotion of military officers or the appointment and removal of local civil servants, it's basically done according to procedure."

"It's simply a matter of those who give gifts getting things done faster, while those who don't follow the proper procedures."

Yan Laoxi sighed: "Yunfei is usually carefree and doesn't have enough guards when he goes out. Send two companies of guards to protect him secretly, so that nothing else goes wrong."

Chu Xichun was taken aback: "Commander Yan, this is our territory, and we're surrounded by our own people."

"Yunfei doesn't have any 'own people' in his eyes. Even if you and I break the law, don't expect Yunfei to show leniency."

Yan Laoxi saw things quite clearly. He stroked his beard and then slowly said, "It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. In Shanxi, I wonder how many people want me, Yan Xishan, and want Chu Yunfei to die immediately."

"Qingbo is dull-witted..."

"Sigh," Yan Laoxi sighed silently, feeling an indescribable sense of helplessness.
-
That night.

Chu Yunfei then arrived at the headquarters of the Second World War Zone Commander.

The group of dozens of people, under the personal arrangement of Yan Laoxi, moved into the guard regiment's garrison.

In fact, Chu Yunfei arranged for nearly two hundred people to carry out this related task.

The one leading the team was Sun Ming, who was not traveling with him at the time.

Sun Ming also controlled a sizable intelligence organization, although its coverage was not as extensive as that of the Military Intelligence Bureau or the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

However, their intelligence network in Shanxi was quite efficient.

In addition, Zhao Pengcheng accompanied him.

Qian Bojun, Fang Ligong, and other senior commanders also received orders to suppress the situation at any time.

Once the investigation begins, whoever has the problem will naturally bear the corresponding responsibility as the military commander.

As for the guard regiment, the vast majority of them were actually Yan Xishan's own people.

Chu Yunfei wasn't worried about sleeping here.

If he can't even trust Yan Laoxi.

In this world, Chu Yunfei no longer had any leaders or elders he could trust.

As for Chang Ruiyuan...

From Chu Yunfei's perspective, he was even less capable than Yan Laoxi, who had almost completely retired.

"Lord Yun, where should we begin our investigation?"

"Start the investigation with Wei Mou," Chu Yunfei said calmly, though he actually knew exactly what was going on.

If we were to say who is most likely to be corrupt, it would naturally be his close old subordinates.

As for how much he embezzled, Sun Weimou himself needs to confess; it would take them a long time to investigate on their own.

"Finance Minister Sun?"

Pengcheng was taken aback: "He's one of your most trusted confidants."

"That's why I need to investigate him first. Only after I've confirmed that he's clean will I be able to investigate the others."

Chu Yunfei smiled and explained, "After all, Wei Mou's family is made up of merchants, and profit-seeking is in their nature. Shanxi has developed quite well under his command. If it weren't a matter of principle, I wouldn't have bothered him."

"However, using one's position for personal gain..."

Chu Yunfei nodded: "You're right, the principle is that not a single penny is allowed."

That evening, Sun Weimou was completely bewildered when he received Zhao Pengcheng's call.

At this very moment, he was in northwestern Shanxi leading several regiments of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army in development and construction.

He was suddenly ordered to return to report on his duties, and was completely bewildered.

Brigade Commander Chen, who was standing to the side, asked with a smile, "Are you going back now?"

"It was a call from Lieutenant Zhao. Judging by the time, Your Excellency should have already returned to Myanmar."

Sun Weimou looked puzzled. He sat down on a chair and picked up Commander Chen's teacup, drinking it all in one gulp. "Commander Chen," he said, "your unit will need to put in a lot of effort regarding the follow-up construction work in Northwest Shanxi during this phase. After all, this area was discussed as originally planned."

"Understood. Rest assured, our Eighth Route Army will definitely develop Northwest Shanxi and turn this place into a Jiangnan region beyond the Great Wall."

Sun Weimou grinned: "I have great confidence in your organizational skills, and we have witnessed them over the past few days."

"Not at all. Your department's grassroots mobilization capabilities are not much different from our staff. Ultimately, it's the people of Shanxi who trust both of us."

Time passed quickly as the two flattered each other.

Two more days.

Sun Weimou rushed back to the Second World War Zone and met Chu Yunfei, who was working in his office. "Report."

"Come in." Upon hearing the familiar voice, Chu Yunfei immediately put down his pen and looked up at his old subordinate.

Slightly different from the Sun Weimou I had seen before, he appeared somewhat thinner at this moment due to excessive fatigue.

"Wei Mou, you've lost weight again?"

"We've been keeping an eye on developments in northwestern Shanxi lately, due to some geographical reasons."

Chu Yunfei waved his hand: "I understand these things, but I didn't call you here for this matter."

He turned to Zhao Pengcheng, who was standing beside him, and handed him Chang Ruiyuan's telegram.

"See? You're the first person I contacted."

Sun Weimou glanced at it and said with a hint of helplessness, "I did get a private job transporting grain for my family a while ago, but no one in Shanxi can take on related construction and transportation tasks. It's not a problem for me to do it for my own family."

"Your family"

Chu Yunfei stroked his chin: "Tell me in detail."

"As per your previous request, we have established relevant transportation companies in various places. The largest of these is Guanghua Transportation Company, whose main members are my family's old boss and old partner who used to be in the grain transportation business."

"They will definitely make some money from it. I don't know how much, but judging from the feedback from the Eighth Route Army and the garrison, the amount of grain is sufficient and there are no problems with the quality."

Sun Weimou confidently assured, "Although we did earn transportation fees, we won't discuss whether any public power was used in the process."

Chu Yunfei suddenly realized.

Sun Weimou had been deep in thought for a long time, considering all possible scenarios of corruption.

It is obvious that Sun Weimou is likely clean, given that he only considered this minor detail.

As for the current state of the people below.

Further investigation is needed.
-
Chinese Expeditionary Force, Provisional Headquarters in Yangon.

Du Yuming, the acting commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, is personally presiding over a top-level military conference that will determine the course of the entire Southeast Asian war.

The attendees were all core generals of the expeditionary force who were capable of leading independently: Huang Baitao, commander of the newly formed 11th Army; Wu Ziqiang, commander of the newly formed 12th Army; Yu Zhixing, commander of the newly formed 13th Army; and Zheng Dongguo and Dai Anlan, veterans of the 5th Army.

On one side of the conference table, a somewhat unfamiliar figure sat upright.

He was General Song Xilian, who had just arrived in Burma and was ordered to reorganize the 66th Army and take command of the newly formed 11th Army Group.

After months of rest, replenishment, and training, the expeditionary force is now strong and well-equipped, with high morale.

In the eyes of every general, there shone a desire and confidence for the upcoming great battle.

"Gentlemen," Du Yuming spoke first, his voice steady and powerful, echoing in the operations room: "Just an hour ago, I received an encrypted telegram from Chief Advisor Chu."

Upon hearing this, all the generals perked up and focused their attention on Du Yuming.

They knew that every telegram Chu Yunfei sent would determine their next course of action.

Du Yuming walked to the huge map and continued, "In his telegram, Chief Advisor Chu first affirmed the enormous strategic restraining role we played against the Japanese army in the counter-offensive in North China."

However, he also pointed out that although Okamura Yasuji was defeated, the Japanese army still had a foothold in China, and the war was far from over.

He believed that we must not give the Japanese invaders entrenched in Southeast Asia any chance to breathe.

"We must seize the opportune moment when their forces are consolidating and they are making misjudgments, launch a preemptive strike, and achieve a decisive victory in one battle, completely eliminating the threat on the Southeast Asian battlefield! This will clear the last obstacle on the southern front for our future general counter-offensive!"

"therefore."

Du Yuming's tone became extremely solemn: "Commander Chu has approved the battle plan we previously submitted and has made final adjustments and improvements to it. Code name—'Siam Conquest Operation'!"

He slammed his baton down on the map, drawing a line from the Myanmar border all the way to Bangkok, the capital of Siam.

"To facilitate unified command and efficient coordination, Chief Advisor Chu suggested, and I have decided, that during the 'Siam Conquest' operation, the existing main force of the Expeditionary Force should be reorganized into two armies, one in the north and one in the south, to launch an unprecedented pincer attack on the main Japanese forces in the Siam region!"

Du Yuming's gaze slowly swept over each of the generals present, and he began to announce the appointment that would determine the fate of countless people.

“The Northern Route Army!” He first looked at Huang Baitao and Wu Ziqiang: “It will be composed of the newly formed 11th Army and the newly formed 12th Army.”

Its strategic mission is to swiftly cross the border from the north, penetrate to the enemy's flank and rear, with a direct target of Chiang Mai, cut off its logistical supply lines, and tie down its main northern force!

"The commander-in-chief of the Northern Route Army will be General Huang Baitao, the commander of the newly formed 11th Army!"

Huang Baitao stood up abruptly, gave a crisp military salute, and shouted in a loud voice, "Yes, sir!"

"The deputy commander-in-chief of the Northern Route Army will be General Wu Ziqiang, the commander of the newly formed 12th Army!"

Wu Ziqiang also stood up and saluted, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "Yes, sir!"

Then, Du Yuming turned his gaze to himself and Song Xilian, who had just arrived.

"The Southern Route Army!" His voice grew increasingly solemn. "It will serve as the absolute main force and spearhead of this offensive! It will be composed of my Fifth Army, Yu Zhixing's Thirteenth Army, and General Song Xilian's Eleventh Army Group!"

"Our mission is singular: to crush the enemy head-on with overwhelming force and advance straight towards Bangkok!"

"I, Du Yuming, will personally assume the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Route Army!"

He paused, his gaze finally settling on Song Xilian.

"The deputy commander-in-chief of the Southern Route Army will be General Song Xilian, commander-in-chief of the 11th Army Group!"

Song Xilian stood up and saluted calmly: "Xilian understands."

Knowing Song Xilian's current situation, Du Yuming immediately added, "Brother Xilian, I know that your 11th Army Group, especially the 66th Army which has just completed its reorganization, is still undergoing reorganization and recovery training, and its combat effectiveness has not yet reached its peak."

"Therefore, in the initial stage of the campaign, the main frontal assault of the Southern Route Army will be undertaken by the Fifth Army."

"Your primary task is to, in the capacity of the army group commander, oversee the rear, ensure the absolute security of the supply line from Yangon to the front lines, and accelerate the training of your troops."

“However,” Du Yuming’s tone became extremely solemn, “once the battle enters a decisive phase, I need you and your 11th Army Group as our most important strategic reserve to be deployed to the battlefield at the most critical moment and deliver a fatal blow to the enemy! I entrust this crucial task of making the final decision to you!”

"Please rest assured, Commander Du," Song Xilian's voice was calm and confident: "Within three months, I will surely return to you a completely transformed and mighty army!"

"it is good!"

Du Yuming nodded in satisfaction.

He walked back to the map and drew two huge, pincer-shaped red arrows on it with his baton.

"The Northern Route Army is the pincers, the Southern Route Army is the hammer! Attack from both north and south, striking with both pincers and hammer!"

"Gentlemen, although Chief Advisor Chu is in North China, he is unable to personally command the operation."

"But his gaze was always on us."

"The expectations of the General Headquarters and the hopes of 400 million compatriots also rest on our shoulders."

"This battle concerns the fate of the nation; victory is the only option, defeat is not an option!"

"Gentlemen, do you have confidence?!"

"Yes!" (End of Chapter)