Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

the other side.

Expeditionary Force, Northern Route Army Headquarters
Southeast Asia is still in the rainy season at this time.

The air humidity must be so high that you could wring water out of it.

The temporary headquarters of the Northern Route Army of the Expeditionary Force.

Set up in a clearing in the woods, which was heavily covered with banana leaves and camouflage netting, several military tents were hammered into the ground with huge iron nails.

Huang Baitao, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Route Army.

He was standing in front of a huge, newly completed operational map of northern Siam.

He stood ramrod straight, and his profile, sharpened by years of military service, was now filled with determination.

After nearly three months of intensive preparation.

The battle codenamed "Siam Conquest" is about to begin!
"The Japanese army's defenses around Chiang Mai were structurally strengthened, but in reality, their forces were dispersed."

Huang Baitao slammed his baton down on the Japanese positions marked by red circles on the map, his voice echoing in the quiet garrison. "My idea is simple: concentrate all our artillery forces, especially those 105mm howitzers that the Americans just sent, and give them a good whack on their main positions!"

His eyes gleamed with confidence in the overwhelming firepower: "Use heavy artillery to smash a hole in their turtle shell."

Then, with two main infantry divisions, like two sharp knives, they will stab into the gap!
"Divide and encircle them, and in mobile warfare, completely wipe out these little devils entrenched on the border!"

This playing style is simple and direct.

It has the style of a fierce general, characterized by bold and sweeping attacks.

However, Wu Ziqiang, the deputy general manager sitting to the side, frowned almost imperceptibly.

He pondered for a moment, then got up and walked to the map, calmly offering a different perspective.

"Brother Huanran, your plan is indeed efficient and straightforward."

"But if I may be frank, there is probably danger in places like this for the locals."

Wu Ziqiang's finger traced across the green area that represented endless adventure: "This forest is our enemy, but also a natural barrier for the Japanese devils."

"Our heavy artillery units will inevitably be greatly hampered when maneuvering on such muddy roads."

"What if the weather turns bad?"

"After several heavy rains, the artillery got stuck in the mud, and as soon as the sky cleared, it became a sitting duck for the Japanese warplanes."

"and."

Wu Ziqiang continued his analysis: "Although the Japanese army was at a disadvantage, its experience in jungle warfare was far richer than ours."

"Their most ingenious tactic is to set traps and organize small groups of troops to harass and ambush in such complex battlefields."

“Once our main force penetrates deep into enemy territory, our supply lines will be stretched and our flanks exposed, making us vulnerable to being exploited by the enemy. Even if we are not wiped out by the enemy, we will suffer heavy losses.”

Everyone present was well aware of the Japanese soldiers' fighting capabilities.

We absolutely cannot underestimate our enemy in this battle!
Huang Baitao raised an eyebrow: "Then, in your opinion, Brother Ziqiang, how should this battle be fought?"

"Use skill to overcome force, and use a point to influence the whole."

Wu Ziqiang replied, "I suggest we postpone the large-scale frontal offensive. Let Zhou Weiguo's 'Special Operations Brigade' infiltrate first."

His gaze fell on the more hidden mountain trails on the map: "Let Monk (Wei Dayong) and the others continue to clear away the observation posts, sentry posts, and those annoying minefields that the Japanese army has deployed on the periphery, like a sharp scalpel, so as to open up a safe route for us to advance."

"Wait until they 'clean up' the battlefield."

"We will then use artillery to accurately strike those isolated core strongholds."

"Finally, only by pressing in with a large army can we achieve twice the result with half the effort, and obtain the greatest victory with the least cost."

Huang Baitao shook his head: "This goes against Commander Du's strategic requirements. We don't have that much time."

Wu Ziqiang insisted on his idea: "But this is indeed the most suitable way for us to fight, and even if the attack is thwarted, our army can retreat in an orderly manner. Under such circumstances, we can preserve our own strength to the greatest extent."

The two senior generals had two different tactical approaches, and neither was willing to concede to the other.

Huang Baitao advocated for overwhelming force, believing that one force can overcome ten techniques.

Wu Ziqiang, on the other hand, was shrewd and meticulous, planning his moves carefully before acting.

For a moment, the command center fell into a brief silence.

Only the sound of rain outside the tent and the faint shouts of soldiers drilling in the distance could be heard.

Huang Baitao paced back and forth in front of the map, knowing that Wu Ziqiang's concerns were not unfounded.

The jungles during the rainy season are indeed a nightmare for all heavy weapons and large-scale military units.

But he also longed for a resounding victory to kick off the "Siam campaign" with a bang.

a long time.

Wu Ziqiang remained silent and did not change his mind, so Huang Baitao stopped and made a decision.

"Ziqiang, we both have our reasons."

Huang Baitao's tone was slightly calmer: "Since we both insist on our own viewpoints, we should immediately draft a telegram and submit both of our battle plans to Commander Chu. We will leave the decision to him!"

Laohekou War Zone

An encrypted telegram from the front lines traveled thousands of miles and finally reached Chu Yunfei's hands.

He is currently in the temporary command post in Laohekou, dealing with the complex military, political and public opinion situation in North China after the war.

He unfolded the telegram.

He quickly glanced through Huang Baitao's and Wu Ziqiang's respective battle plans, a relieved smile appearing on his face.

He glanced at the telegram and handed it to Sun Ming, who was standing beside him, and said with a smile, "Our generals are now able to stand on their own and express their own opinions."

After reading the telegram, Sun Ming pondered and said, "Sir, both Commander Huang's and Commander Wu's plans have their merits."

"Huang Baitao is brave, Wu Ziqiang is calm."

"In my humble opinion, if we can combine the two, first using a special operations brigade to infiltrate and sabotage, and then using heavy artillery and infantry to assault, it might be the best course of action."

Chu Yunfei shook his head.

He picked up his pen and wrote only a few words in the blank space of the telegram.

“Huanran, Ziqiang, both cases are acceptable.”

"On the battlefield, things change in an instant. You are on the front line, so you should know the enemy's true situation better than I do."

"The decision should be made jointly by the two of you on the spot; there is no need to consult with your superiors on every matter."

"I have more important things to do in the Fifth War Zone."

"Hope. With one heart and one mind, we will achieve victory. Clouds soar."

He handed the reply to Sun Ming: "Just send it back like that."

Sun Ming was taken aback, and for a moment he felt a surge of emotion.

He knew that Chu Yunfei was using this method to give the frontline generals the greatest trust and autonomy.

He believed that Huang Baitao had a fierce heart, and he also believed in Wu Ziqiang's steadiness.

He was also willing to believe that these two were his beloved generals, whom he had practically promoted himself.

To be able to make the most correct choices in this campaign.

"Yes!"

After Sun Ming saluted and left, Chu Yunfei turned to the bodyguard beside him and asked, "When will Pengcheng arrive?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the earliest is one day, the latest is three days."
-

Western Henan.

The area around Baiyun Mountain.

Sitting in the bumpy jeep, Zhao Pengcheng felt as if his bones were about to be torn apart by the endless vibrations.

He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked outside.

The villages along the way are mostly low mud-brick houses, many of which have cracked walls or even collapsed halfway, yet no one repairs them.

This is Henan, the heart of the Central Plains, a land that should be known as a land of plenty.

However, years of war and natural disasters, coupled with the dereliction of duty by the government, have turned this land into a paradise for bandits.

They gathered in the mountains and forests, robbed and plundered, and even dared to openly attack passing military vehicles. Their rampant behavior was outrageous.

"Brother Pengcheng, we've just passed Baiyun Mountain. We're worried that some unruly creature might bump into you, so we're planning to take a detour. We might arrive in the county town a little later."

"The road is rough, please hold on tight." The soldier driving the truck turned around and reminded him, his dark face full of vigilance.

Zhao Pengcheng nodded and placed his hand on the Browning pistol at his waist.

As Chu Yunfei's adjutant, he had previously stayed in Jincheng and Shanxi Province to organize work for a period of time.

We are currently heading to Laohekou.

At this time, he was accompanied by only a guard platoon of more than 30 men, all of whom were elite veterans who had fought their way through gunfire.

They were well-equipped, all armed with Thompson submachine guns, and their waists were laden with magazines and German-made stick grenades.

This small unit, placed on any small-scale battlefield, would be a sharp platoon capable of tearing through enemy lines.

But in western Henan, where bandits roamed freely.

They were like lone sheep wandering into a pack of wolves, each step fraught with unknown dangers.

Zhao Pengcheng vigilantly observed his surroundings, ready to fight at any moment.

suddenly!

"boom!"

A sharp gunshot shattered the tranquility of the canyon without warning.

The truck at the front suddenly had its tires burst, making a screeching sound, and the truck lurched violently, crashing heavily into the mountainside.

"Enemy attack!"

The guard platoon leader's shrill roar sounded as if he were being choked.

Before the words were even finished, gunfire erupted from the hillsides on both sides of the canyon!

“Da da da da—!”

"Bang! Boom!"

Bullets rained down from all directions like a storm.

The bullet struck the car body, scattering a series of blinding sparks and making a crisp "clanging" sound.

Zhao Pengcheng felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He suddenly lowered his body and shouted almost reflexively, "Get out of the car! Take cover! Fight back!"

The guards were well-trained and immediately took cover the moment the gunfire rang out.

Using the vehicle and rocks as cover, they quickly set up submachine guns and Czech light machine guns, launching a fierce counterattack against the fire on the hillside.

Just one burst of bullets took down more than a dozen people.

This level of combat skill could never be found in a regular army.

Bang~!

Tap tap~ Boom~ Collapse~!

Listening to these strange gunshots,

As an old soldier changed a magazine, he spat out a mouthful of saliva: "Damn it! They're bandits!"

"This firepower is equivalent to at least two or three hundred people!"

On the hillside, figures moved about, and the bandits shouted strangely, holding a variety of weapons, including Type 24 rifles, old-fashioned rifles, and Type 38 rifles.

There were even a few Type 96 machine guns; although the firepower was varied, the sheer number of men made up for it.

For a time, they suppressed the guard platoon so much that they couldn't even raise their heads.

Zhao Pengcheng hid behind a huge rock, his heart filled with coldness.

He knew that today was likely to be a terrible day.

"Platoon leader! Cover me!" A young guard's eyes flashed with determination.

He gestured to the grenade at his waist.

Crouching low, using the vehicle as cover, they charged suddenly toward the most heavily armed bandit position on the flank.

"Shuanzi! Come back!"

The guard platoon leader's eyes were bloodshot.

However, the soldier named Shuanzi seemed not to hear him.

He used all his strength to throw the two grenades one after the other.

"Boom! Boom!"

Amidst the deafening explosion, the bandits' machine gun positions fell silent instantly.

But Shuanzi himself was also hit by several bullets at the same time.

His tall body swayed, and finally collapsed helplessly into a pool of blood.

"Avenge Shuanzi!"

The guard platoon leader's eyes were bloodshot as he picked up his submachine gun.

The first one leaped out from behind the bunker and launched a counter-charge down the hillside.

They already had a firepower advantage, but they lost the initiative.

With the machine guns falling silent, the remaining bandits were naturally unable to suppress the twenty-odd elite soldiers.

He heard the order from the guard platoon leader.

The remaining twenty-odd guards were like enraged tigers.

Shouting and following their platoon leader, they launched a desperate charge against an enemy force several times their size.

It's unclear whether these bandits were blinded by rage or misled by someone.

Under these circumstances, instead of fleeing, they launched a simultaneous attack.

For an instant.

What was originally a counterattack that seized the opportunity suddenly turned into a battle with no chance of victory, yet one that was incredibly tragic.

"Commander Zhao, something's wrong. There must be someone behind these bandits!"

Zhao Pengcheng frowned and said loudly, "I guessed it, these sons of bitches!"

Da da da~!

Da da~!

This group of bandits was very strange; they were determined to die, but their combat skills were poor, and they used a wide variety of weapons.

For a moment, Zhao Pengcheng had no clue what to do.

The guards used their submachine guns to unleash a deadly hail of bullets, felling the bandits who charged at them one by one.

But the number of bandits was simply too great; they came in waves, one after another.

The battle lasted for several hours.

The guard platoon, which started with more than thirty men, was reduced to less than ten men in the end.

When they ran out of ammunition, they used bayonets, rifle butts, and even their teeth to engage in the most primitive hand-to-hand combat with the bandits.

Zhao Pengcheng was also in a bloodthirsty frenzy. A stray bullet slashed his arm, leaving a deep gash that exposed bone, but he was completely unaware of it.

Until dark.

When the last group of "bandits" were frightened away by their reckless fighting style, they fled in panic into Baiyun Mountain.

Zhao Pengcheng, with only seven remaining guards, supported each other as they evacuated towards the nearest county town.
The next morning.

Fifth War Zone Command Headquarters.

An urgent telegram from the Luanchuan County Garrison Command left the entire command stunned.

Chu Yunfei's adjutant, Zhao Pengcheng, was attacked on his way to the Fifth War Zone.

Zhao Pengcheng was wounded, leaving only six men in the guard platoon. The platoon leader, Dou Zhenyu, was killed in action.

Upon receiving the news, Li Zongren frowned and immediately asked, "Which unit is closest to Luanchuan County?"

"It's Wang Shijun from the 125th Division of the Sichuan Army, which was just relocated there."

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Zongren ordered: "Immediately send a telegram to the 22nd Army Group of the Sichuan Army, as well as Chen Dingxun, commander of the 45th Army, and Wang Shijun, commander of the 125th Division. Upon receiving the order, they shall set off to surround Baiyun Mountain. Under no circumstances should a single bandit be allowed to escape." (End of Chapter)