Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Gunfire could be heard in the area surrounding Pyinmana.

The situation finally calmed down completely by dusk on the third day.

The setting sun, like blood, gilded the entire scarred battlefield with a tragic and solemn golden hue.

The once invincible 18th and 33rd Divisions of the Japanese Army have now turned into dust in history.

After experiencing a final frenzy and despair, the thousands of Japanese soldiers trapped in the valley, some chose to commit suicide under the leadership of their officers, while others surrendered under the "persuasion" of tanks and flamethrowers.

This is since the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan.

This was the most thorough and glorious annihilation battle achieved by the expeditionary force on the battlefield.

General Zhang Zhizhong, Director of the First Auxiliary Division and concurrently Director of the Political Department of the Military Commission.

As the highest-ranking representative from the mountain city, he arrived in Yangon on a special plane as soon as possible.

The purpose of his trip.

He was the representative of the chairman, presiding over the upcoming post-war debriefing meeting, and awarding medals to meritorious soldiers at the commendation meeting after the debriefing meeting.

The plane landed.

When Zhang Zhizhong stepped out of the cabin, he saw Chu Yunfei and the others who had come to greet him.

Even this senior official of the Nationalist government, who was used to seeing grand occasions, couldn't help but feel his eyes well up with tears.

The Chu Yunfei before me was still wearing a crisp military uniform, but the weariness between his brows was undeniable.

He seemed thinner than before he went to North China, and looked somewhat malnourished.

Only those eyes.

But it is brighter and sharper than ever before.

"Yunfei!"

Zhang Zhizhong strode forward, grasped Chu Yunfei's hand tightly, and shook it vigorously: "You've worked so hard! You have made unparalleled contributions to the Party, the country, and the nation!"

Chu Yunfei simply returned the handshake calmly and said lightly, "Lord Wenbai, you flatter me."

"This was won by the entire expeditionary force with their lives and blood."

Behind him stood a group of senior generals, including Du Yuming, Zheng Dongguo, Huang Baitao, Wu Ziqiang, Long Muhan, and Dai Anlan.

On their faces.

It was also filled with the exhaustion of the post-battle period.

But it also exudes the unique pride and glory of the victors.

After simple greetings.

Chu Yunfei did not immediately accompany Zhang Zhizhong to the command post.

He handed a newly drafted telegram to his confidential secretary: "Send it immediately to Chongqing at the highest level. To be opened by the Chairman."

The telegram contained very little, just a few words.

This is the final statement on the outcome of the entire Battle of Pyinmana.

……

Chongqing, a mountain city.

When this report of victory from the front lines in Siam was delivered to the Chairman's residence, it was already late at night.

Chang Ruiyuan immediately got up from his sickbed, ignoring the doctor's advice.

He took the telegram himself, put on his reading glasses, and read it word by word.

His hands trembled slightly: "We annihilated over 58,000 enemy soldiers, captured over 3,600, and seized over 300 artillery pieces and over 70 tanks and armored vehicles..."

"The main force of the Japanese Army's Thai-Burma Area Army has been completely annihilated in the Piedmana region of Siam."

Read to the end.

Chang Ruiyuan suddenly stood up, held the telegram high, and with all his might let out a long-suppressed shout: "We won! We really won!"

"Chairman!" Zhu Peiji smiled from the bottom of his heart.

Chang Ruiyuan finally received the news he had been waiting for.

The next day, it was dawn.

A letter to the nation’s military and civilians, personally signed by the Chairman, was sent by hundreds of transport planes to all parts of the country, including those occupied areas still under the iron heel of the Japanese invaders.

The whole of China seemed to awaken from the deep darkness overnight, as if a sun had been set and ignited.

The front page of the Central Daily News, with an unprecedentedly large, bright red headline, proclaimed this victory:

[A Great Victory in the Expedition! Our Expeditionary Force Annihilates Three Major Japanese Divisions! Displaying National Prestige Overseas and Laying a Solid Foundation for the Counter-Offensive!]

The subtitle is even more emotional and impassioned:
[Chu Yunfei and Jiang Jun strategized and won battles from afar; 100,000 brave soldiers fought valiantly, drinking the blood of the Japanese invaders!]

Terauchi Hisaichi is at his wit's end, Sakaguchi Shizuo surrenders, imperialism is in its twilight, and the Chinese nation is rising like the sun!

Songhu, an isolated island.

Despite still being under the harsh rule of the enemy and their collaborators, the entire city was plunged into a secret and fervent joy when newspapers bearing news of victory circulated through various clandestine channels.

The Shen Bao newspaper, struggling to survive, reported the news in an extremely subtle way:

The front page featured a seemingly ordinary business news item: "Southeast Asian trade routes may reopen, and the business community eagerly awaits." However, any discerning reader could discern the underlying message.

And in the middle of the newspaper, an inconspicuous classical poem was quietly published:

"The news of victory arrives like paper money, offered in distant sacrifice to 300,000 in Nanjing. The royal army has already reached the borders of Siam, and will soon wield its weapons to reclaim the Central Plains."

into the night.

In many homes in Shanghai, a light has been quietly turned on in the window, or a red candle has been lit.

There were no words, no noise, only these faint specks of light, which gathered into a silent ocean.

From afar, it serves as a comfort to those compatriots who perished on the day Nanjing fell.

Beiping, an ancient capital.

In the teahouse, the storyteller had long since abandoned the traditional tales of talented scholars and beautiful women.

He slammed his gavel and began recounting, with spittle flying, the story of "Chu Yunfei's brilliant plan to secure the world, and Commander Liao's bloody battle at Binmana."

The tea drinkers listened with rapt attention, frequently erupting in thunderous cheers.

An elderly professor in a long gown was so moved that tears streamed down his face. With trembling hands, he wrote eight large characters on the table with tea: "Expel the Tartars, restore our China!"

Yan'an, at the foot of Pagoda Hill.

A special edition issued by Xinhua News Agency was posted on the most conspicuous wall.

The title was equally inspiring: [Celebrating the Expeditionary Force's Great Victory in Siam: A Historic Victory for the Kuomintang Army on the Main Battlefield!]

While praising the bravery of the expeditionary force soldiers, the article also emphasized that this was a common victory for the entire nation's resistance against Japan, and called on all sectors of the country to unite as one and carry the war of resistance through to the end.

A young Eighth Route Army soldier finished reading the newspaper carefully, turned to his comrade beside him and said, "See? The Kuomintang can win battles, and so can we!"

"Once our equipment catches up, taking down those damn Japanese will be a piece of cake!"

In major cities within the Kuomintang-controlled areas.

The streets were already deserted, and the whole place was filled with joy.

From the mountain city to Kunming, from Chengdu to Guilin, countless people spontaneously flocked to the streets.

They waved the national flag, beat drums and gongs, and set off firecrackers that had been stored up for a long time.

The students held aloft huge banners written with calligraphy brushes:

"May my expeditionary force achieve a great victory!"

"Long live General XXX!"

Shops have put up banners that read "Celebrate the great victory, 20% off everything".

Young women in cheongsams tossed bouquets of flowers into the parade.

The children rode on their father's shoulders, waving small paper flags.

Although they didn't quite understand the significance of this victory, their heartfelt joy was infectious.

An elderly man with white hair, leaning on a cane, stood on the street corner, his cloudy eyes filled with tears.

He bowed deeply to the marching crowd again and again.

He muttered to himself, "Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes!" "Perhaps this old man will live to see the day when the Japanese are driven out!"

this day.

The national sentiment, suppressed for too long, erupted like a volcano.

From the tragic Battle of Shanghai to the humiliation of the fall of Nanjing.

And now...
This resounding victory from a foreign land was like a lightning bolt piercing the long night, allowing all Chinese people to see the dawn of victory in the War of Resistance.
-
Yangon, Allied Joint Command.

The atmosphere inside the huge circular conference room was solemn and dignified.

The long, gleaming teak conference table reflected the magnificent crystal chandelier on the ceiling.

The flags of China, the United States, and the United Kingdom are hung on the wall, symbolizing the supreme authority of the Allied forces in this area.

Here, a post-battle debriefing meeting for the Battle of Pyinmana is about to be held.

Those present were the commanders of the entire Chinese Expeditionary Force.

Minister of Military Affairs Zhang Wenbai, as the representative of the Chairman, occupied the main position.

To his left.

It was Chu Yunfei, dressed in military uniform, with a calm expression.

Further down the list are a host of high-ranking generals, including Du Yuming, Huang Baitao, Sun Liren, Zheng Dongguo, and Yu Zhixing.

Each person's epaulets shine with the brilliant stars of a general.

They are the architects of this great victory and the core force for the future counterattack in Southeast Asia.

The meeting began with a speech by Zhang Zhizhong.

He read out the Chairman's commendation telegram, giving the highest affirmation and praise to the heroic performance of all the soldiers of the expeditionary force.

Then, as is customary, the most crucial part began—the assessment of combat merits and the distribution of rewards.

This is also a war without gunfire, concerning factional interests, personal honor and disgrace, and future prospects.

All eyes involuntarily turned to Chu Yunfei.

As the de facto supreme commander, he was the greatest contributor to this victory.

His first words will directly set the tone for the distribution of credit.

The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Chu Yunfei slowly stood up, looked around at everyone, and showed no sign of arrogance or pride.

His voice was steady and clear, echoing in everyone's ears.

"Wenbai Gong, fellow colleagues."

"The reason why our expeditionary force was able to defeat the enemy in the Battle of Binmana was not due to the efforts of one person, but to the dedication of all the soldiers and the unity of the three armies."

"If we're talking about who deserves the most credit for this battle," he said solemnly, his gaze sweeping over Du Yuming and Zheng Dongguo. "Yunfei believes it should be the newly formed 22nd Division of the Army."

"General Liao Yaoxiang led his division to hold out against the enemy's vanguard for five days and nights. Despite being seriously wounded, he did not retreat and thwarted the momentum of the two major Japanese divisions, thus winning the most precious opportunity for our northern and southern armies to encircle them."

"Seven or eight out of ten of his troops were killed or wounded, and almost all of them died in battle."

"His ambition astounded heaven and earth; his courage moved even ghosts and gods to tears."

"If such loyal and courageous individuals who sacrificed themselves for their country are not recognized as the greatest heroes, how can we comfort their souls and inspire future generations?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room was astonished.

In particular, the generals of the Fifth Army system, such as Du Yuming and Zheng Dongguo, showed disbelief in their eyes.

They originally thought that Chu Yunfei, as the commander-in-chief, would surely take the credit for himself.

This is human nature, and no one can criticize it.

But no one expected it.

He actually attributed this tremendous credit directly to Liao Yaoxiang, whose life hung in the balance in the hospital, and to the newly formed 22nd Division, which had been nearly crippled.

Du Yuming suddenly stood up.

He looked at Chu Yunfei, his lips trembling slightly. This iron-willed man, who could remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him on the battlefield, was now speechless.

Chu Yunfei's actions were not only selfless, but also a great favor and a great honor for him and the entire Five Armies faction.

This is tantamount to telling everyone.

Although Chu Yunfei holds great power, he would never use it to suppress dissidents or embezzle credit.

In an instant, the last trace of wariness and estrangement that Du Yuming had towards Chu Yunfei vanished.

He solemnly bowed deeply to Chu Yunfei and Zhang Zhizhong.

"General Advisor Chu is absolutely right! Our Fifth Army fully agrees!"

Generals like Huang Baitao and Wu Ziqiang, who were promoted by Chu Yunfei, had no objections whatsoever.

They were Chu Yunfei's direct subordinates, so naturally they followed his lead.

Chu Yunfei's noble character made them, his subordinates, feel honored.

Seeing that no one objected.

Zhang Zhizhong clapped his hands and laughed, immediately approving the decision.

"Excellent! What a wonderful phrase, 'comforting the loyal souls and inspiring future generations'! Yunfei's magnanimity is truly a model for us soldiers!"

"In my opinion, this matter should be settled!"

With the initial achievement secured, the atmosphere became much more harmonious afterward.

This also aligns with Zhang Zhizhong's intentions for this trip.

They continued to support the Five Armies faction, thus creating a delicate balance with Huang and Wu.

This prevented the expeditionary force from becoming a one-man show.

This is no longer a contest for credit, but a celebration of victory.

Huang Baitao stood up and reported on the battle situation of the Northern Route Army.

The newly formed 11th Army, which he commanded, served as the main force on the northern route and launched a long-distance raid to capture Chiang Mai.

With the cooperation of Wu Ziqiang's troops, they disregarded casualties and relentlessly held onto the flank of the Japanese 56th Division, which was the key to completely dragging this elite Japanese force into the abyss.

"In this battle, our newly formed 11th and 12th Armies, along with the Special Operations Brigade, fought together and killed or wounded more than 12,000 Japanese soldiers, and captured more than 600, including Division Commander Shizuo Sakaguchi. Our own casualties were also close to 8,000."

Huang Baitao's voice was low as he reported the results of the battle, while also revealing the brutal reality behind the victory.

His performance was outstanding, especially his rather daring playing style, which earned high praise from Chu Yunfei.

Immediately afterwards, Yu Zhixing also stood up.

This is the commander of the Yu family army.

At this moment, however, his face showed a hint of pride and excitement.

His newly formed 13th Army, although its equipment and training were inferior to those of the Central Army's elite forces.

But in this battle, the Yunnan Army displayed its fighting spirit.

"My newly formed 13th Army was ordered to encircle the rear of the Japanese 18th Division."

"The soldiers fought bravely and valiantly, successfully destroying their artillery positions, breaking through the enemy's defenses, and providing timely and effective support to friendly forces."

"In this battle, our army suffered heavy casualties, with more than 5,000 killed, and the total casualties were nearly two-thirds. But I, Yu Zhixing, dare to pat my chest and guarantee that in this battle, no one in our newly formed 13th Army retreated a single step!"

Yu Zhixing's words were powerful and moving, touching all the generals present who held prejudices against the local army.

Subsequently.

Generals such as Sun Liren, Dai Anlan, and Qiu Qingquan also reported on the battle situation and casualties of their respective units.

The reports, when pieced together, revealed the full picture of this great battle.

In the entire Battle of Pyinmana, the Chinese Expeditionary Force deployed a total of nearly 200,000 troops.

In total, more than 70,000 Japanese ground troops were annihilated.

More than 50,000 were killed or wounded, and more than 20,000 were captured.

One Japanese lieutenant general division commander, three major general brigade commanders, and nearly one hundred officers of the rank of colonel or above were captured.

The captured weapons and equipment were enough to arm two infantry divisions with Japanese weaponry! (End of Chapter)