Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

First War Zone Command Headquarters, Luoyang.

The atmosphere in the spacious office was subtly tense.

General Wei Junru, Commander-in-Chief of the First War Zone, was slowly sipping a cup of hot tea.

His face was expressionless, but the occasional glint of light in his eyes revealed that he was not at peace.

He was one of the "Five Tiger Generals" who were once deeply trusted by the Chairman.

Wei Junru's life in recent years has not been very comfortable.

He was alienated for a time because he disagreed with the chairman on certain issues.

They were even transferred away from the core of military power.

For a long time, the First War Zone, which he commanded, was like a child raised by an illegitimate parent.

Equipment replenishment was second only to that of ordinary soldiers, and military expenses and provisions were often embezzled.

Until recently, with the escalating tensions in North China.

The Chairman then reassigned his old core troops—the Ninth Army and the Fourteenth Army—back to the First War Zone.

This made his back straighten up a little.

now.

In front of him lay a top-secret telegram from the mountain city.

The contents of the telegram.

It was about the decision to reorganize the 15th Army.

Wei Junru was quite supportive of this matter.

first.

The 15th Army's poor discipline was widely known and resentful during its garrisoning in western Henan.

Reforming it would not only align with public opinion.

It can also eliminate toxic elements in the military and enhance the combat effectiveness of the entire theater.

Secondly.

Wu Tinglin and his old subordinates from the Zhen Song Army have never been of one mind with him.

If Liu Maoen and the people of Chongqing were of one mind, it could be considered that he possessed a certain degree of political wisdom.

Wu Tinglin was a true warlord.

With the help of the Central Army, they removed this thorn in their side and replaced it with "their own people."

It would be entirely beneficial for him to consolidate his control over the First War Zone.

He put down his teacup and glanced at his deputy sitting opposite him.

Liu Maoen, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the First War Zone.

At this moment, Liu Maoen was staring intently at the copy of the order on the table, his expression shifting between light and dark, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The instructions are very clear.

After reorganizing the 15th Army and purging its commander Wu Tinglin and his cronies, Liu Maoen will temporarily assume the position of army commander.

A deputy commander-in-chief of a war zone concurrently serves as the commander of an army corps.

This was unprecedented in the organizational history of the National Revolutionary Army.

This appears to be a sign of trust and a reinstatement, allowing him to regain command of his old unit.

But Liu Maoen, a seasoned veteran who had spent half his life navigating the official and military circles, keenly sensed something unusual about it.

He knew this bowl of rice wouldn't taste good.

Some of them were even too hot to handle.

It is true that the 15th Army was his old unit.

However, most of the officers inside were former subordinates of the Zhen Song Army.

During the two years that Wu Tinglin cultivated his power in the military, his nepotism led to a deeply entrenched internal faction.

Even with his intervention, Wu Tinglin had essentially turned the 15th Army into his private army.

Let him become the army commander, a position called "takeover".

In reality, he was made to play the "bad guy".

Go to replace the Central Army, go to replace Chu Yunfei, and go to personally purge his former subordinates.

If they do it well, they will offend a large number of veterans and old friends of the Zhen Song Army, thus destroying their own Great Wall.

If they don't do a good job, it means they are incompetent, which gives the mountain city authorities a perfect excuse to "disband and reorganize" the 15th Army.

No matter what choice he makes, Liu Maoen will always be the one who is caught in the middle and ultimately put on the hot seat.

Having figured this out, Liu Maoen's heart sank.

He knew that this was a trap set for him by the Chairman.

It was a scheme he knew was a trap, yet he had no choice but to fall into it.

Disobeying orders? Are you going to lead the 15th Army in rebellion?

With only 20,000 people in western Henan?
Come on, these 20,000 men don't even know if they can defeat the 22nd Army Group of the Sichuan Army.
After a struggle with his mind, Liu Maoen slowly raised his head, his face regaining its composure.

He forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace at Wei Junru.

"Commander Wei."

He gently pushed the order back: "I appreciate the Chairman and Chief Advisor Chu's good intentions."

"It is only because I am of limited talent and shallow learning, and of meager virtue and little ability."

"The position of deputy commander of the theater command has already exhausted me, and I am really unable to concurrently serve as the commander of the 15th Army."

"I request that Commander Wei convey my message to the Chairman and request that he seek another capable person."

Liu Maoen chose to back down.

Despite his advanced age, his resolute stance on the War of Resistance earned him a good impression in Chongqing.

He is competent to serve as the deputy commander of the theater command.

This also demonstrates the trust that the people of Chongqing have in him.

Otherwise, they will most likely end up with a sinecure like Feng Qinzai.

Commander Wei Junru looked at him, seemingly having anticipated his reaction.

He didn't try to persuade him further.

Because he knew that if he were in that situation, he would probably make the same choice.

"Ugh."

Wei Junru sighed, his face also showing helplessness.

He picked up his pen, preparing to consult with the authorities in the mountain city again about this matter and report on the predicament here.

He had even prepared his excuse, saying that "Deputy Commander-in-Chief Liu is unwell and overwhelmed with the burden," thus passing the buck back to the General Staff.

But at this time.

A staff officer knocked on the door and entered, looking flustered.

"Report sir!"

"President Chu, our consultant, has arrived!"

"what?"

Wei Junru and Liu Maoen stood up from their chairs at the same time, their faces filled with shock.

Why is Chu Yunfei here?

Didn't we just arrive in Luoyang yesterday?

Coming so fast!
The two exchanged a glance, and both saw a hint of unease in each other's eyes.

They originally thought that there would be at least a few more days, enough time for them to have some time to negotiate with the people in Shancheng via telegram.

did not expect.

Chu Yunfei arrived so quickly.

Entrance of the First War Zone Command Headquarters

Wei Junru and Liu Maoen both wore polite smiles on their faces.

But in their hearts, they were all secretly trying to figure out the true intentions of this young chief consultant.

Wei Junru was filled with mixed emotions.

Back when the War of Resistance against Japan had just broken out, Chu Yunfei was just a nobody who had made a name for himself after the Battle of Ruyuekou, and after the Battle of Yuanping, he directly caught the eye of Chang Ruiyuan.

Since then, with the help of Yan Laoxi and Chang Ruiyuan, he has risen through the ranks, winning every battle, and has achieved his current status.

In the blink of an eye, almost six years have passed.

When Chu Yunfei got out of the car.

Wei Junru glanced at Chu Yunfei's slightly graying temples and sighed inwardly.

All these years of hard work and toil.

Chu Yunfei's contributions were by no means small.

The crow's feet at the corners of his eyes were deeply sunken. If someone who had never met Chu Yunfei before told him that Chu Yunfei was already forty years old, they might believe it.

"Commander Wei, Deputy Commander Liu, I hope you two will forgive my unauthorized visit."

Chu Yunfei spoke first, his attitude humble and without the slightest arrogance due to his current status.

Wei Junru chuckled and led Chu Yunfei to the main seat, saying, "Not at all, not at all."

It is an honor for our First War Zone that Chief Advisor Chu is able to provide guidance to Wei Lin.

The three took their seats as host and guest, and the orderly served them the finest tea.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Chu Yunfei didn't beat around the bush but went straight to the point: "Gentlemen, you must have received the General Headquarters' order regarding the reorganization of the 15th Army, right?"

Wei Junru and Liu Maoen exchanged a glance and nodded.

Wei Junru said, "Received. Deputy Commander Liu and I are just about to report to the Chairman about some of the difficulties we are facing."

"Oh?"

Chu Yunfei turned his gaze to Liu Maoen: "I wonder what difficulties you are facing, Deputy Commander Liu?"

A troubled expression appeared on Liu Maoen's face. He stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Chu Yunfei, and said with a "sincere" tone, "Chief Advisor Chu, although the 15th Army is my old unit, the situation within the army is complex now. The officers are arrogant and the soldiers are lazy, and the problems are deeply entrenched. I am truly incapable of shouldering this heavy responsibility." He adopted a very humble posture, as if to say, "It's not that I don't want to, but that I simply can't."

Chu Yunfei looked at him quietly without saying a word, but his deep eyes seemed to see right through people's hearts.

He was well aware of Liu Maoen's disdain for many of Wu Tinglin's actions.

There were also many conflicts between the two.

No matter how deep the conflict was, Liu Maoen could not hand over this force to any commander other than Wu Tinglin.

Of course.

The same bastard things Wu Tinglin did were also done by Liu Maoen before the reorganization.

Just as Liu Maoen was feeling a little uneasy under his gaze.

Chu Yunfei suddenly laughed: "Deputy Commander Liu, you flatter me."

He took a folder from Zhao Pengcheng behind him and gently placed it on the table.

"I understand the difficulties you mentioned."

He pushed the folder in front of the two of them.

"These are pieces of evidence collected by the Military Law Department and the Military Intelligence Bureau over a period of six months regarding the crimes of Wu Tinglin, the commander of the 15th Army, and his key confidants."

Wei Junru and Liu Maoen curiously opened the folder, and after just one glance, they gasped in shock.

The list of crimes presented inside was shocking.

"Firstly, he indulged his relatives, who forcibly seized farmland in western Henan, set up checkpoints, and imposed exorbitant taxes, causing widespread suffering and resentment among the people."

"Secondly, they embezzled military funds and misappropriated soldiers' rations. They diverted the military funds allocated by the mountain city to their private use, resulting in lower-ranking officers and soldiers suffering from inadequate food and clothing and their equipment becoming dilapidated."

"Thirdly, they privately operated opium dens and sold opium. They colluded with traitors and ronin in the Japanese-occupied areas to smuggle strategic materials and make a fortune from the national crisis."

"Fourth, nepotism and exclusion of dissidents. Any upright officer in the army who disobeys will be dismissed or forced to resign, or even executed on fabricated charges. There are already seven such cases on record."

Each charge is accompanied by detailed evidence and witness testimonies.

The evidence is irrefutable and irrefutable.

"My two officers."

Chu Yunfei's voice suddenly turned cold, "Do you still think that reorganizing the 15th Army is a difficult task?"

Wei Junru had only read part of the material when he angrily slammed his fist on the chair beside him and stood up abruptly: "He deserves to die!"

The words fell.

Chu Yunfei's resolute voice rang out again: "This is no longer about rectifying military discipline."

"This is eliminating traitors for the country! Getting rid of a scourge for the people!"

A fine layer of cold sweat instantly appeared on Liu Maoen's forehead.

He hadn't expected that the people of Shancheng had already obtained such detailed evidence.

Wu Tinglin is doomed.

Even a god couldn't save him.

Liu Maoen was still shaken.

fortunately.
Fortunately, he chose to protect himself and didn't say a good word for Wu Tinglin.

otherwise.
Given Chu Yunfei's past behavior, there's a high probability he'll treat him as an "accomplice" and deal with him as well.

No one will forget.

During the later stages of the Battle of Xuzhou, Chu Yunfei took less than two days to reorganize and incorporate Liu Ruming's deserter troops, and even killed the cowardly Liu Ziliang in the command post.

"Chief Advisor Chu is right!" Liu Maoen quickly declared, "Wu Tinglin's execution is not enough to appease public anger! It is not enough to uphold military law! I fully support the General Headquarters' decision!"

Wei Junru immediately chimed in, "The old man's decision is perfectly reasonable. If this continues, won't the local people think that all our Nationalist troops are like this?"

Chu Yunfei nodded in satisfaction; the purpose of making a show of force had been achieved.

Looking at Liu Maoen, who still looked troubled, he spoke again: "Since Deputy Commander Liu truly has no intention of continuing to command the 15th Army, I, Chu, will not force him to do so."

"However, with the nation in crisis, it is precisely when people are in high demand."

"The First War Zone, as the front line of the future counter-offensive in North China, can only be strengthened, not weakened."

"Therefore, I dare to propose a compromise to the Chairman."

"Gentlemen, please listen to this."

Wei Junru and Liu Maoen immediately perked up their ears.

Chu Yunfei stood up, walked to the map, and announced his plan in an unquestionable tone.

"Based on the reorganized 15th Army, the 14th Army Group will be rebuilt!"

"boom!"

This news shocked the two even more than the evidence they had just heard.

Reorganize the 14th Army Group?

After the second phase of the counter-offensive.

Although Liu Maoen was promoted, he was effectively stripped of his military command authority.

The disbandment of the 14th Group Army left him depressed for a long time.

To know.

An army group, comprising several corps, is the highest-level strategic unit under a theater command!

The 14th Army Group should have been continued to be commanded by Guo Jiqiao, a close subordinate of Wei Junru.

It was precisely because of Wei Junru's conflict with the mountain city that he had the opportunity to serve as the commander-in-chief of the 14th Army Group.

As Wei Junru's power diminished, the importance of the 14th Group Army also diminished.

His dismissal as a general of a non-military force was something that was expected.

And now.

What Chu Yunfei meant.

It was as if Chang Ruiyuan intended to let him lead troops into battle again.

This situation is especially true for a general like him who comes from a ragtag army background.

This is the first time.

Liu Maoen looked surprised, while Wei Junru frowned and pondered.

Chu Yunfei continued, giving them no time to be shocked.

"The reorganized 15th Army will be downsized, weeding out the weak and retaining the strong, and will be structured as a Class B combat unit."

"I suggest that the position of army commander be taken over by General Yao Beichen, the former commander of the 64th Division."

This is to promote the "non-Zhensong Army" forces within the military.

Yao Beichen was a graduate of the artillery department of the Japanese Army Academy, not a bandit.

"At the same time, in order to strengthen the capabilities of the 14th Group Army."

“I have made the recommendation to the Chairman, and it has been approved.”

"Two highly capable and combat-ready units will be drawn from other war zones and assigned to the 14th Group Army's combat sequence."

He tapped the map twice with his baton.

"One of them is the 128th Division, an independent unit originally stationed in Hubei Province. Its commander is Wang Jinzai!"

PS: He was a semi-independent warlord who fought against both the Nationalist Army and the New Fourth Army.

"The other one is the newly formed 8th Division, which was originally under the command of the Second World War Zone but was disbanded during the reorganization. It is currently undergoing reorganization and training in the rear. Its commander is Jiang Zaizhen!"

Wang Jinzai!
Jiang Zaizhen!
Upon hearing these two names, Wei Junru and Liu Maoen's hearts skipped a beat once again.

These two people.

He was a well-known "troublemaker" and "fierce general" in the National Revolutionary Army.

Wang Jinzai, a native of Weinan, Shaanxi, was nicknamed "Tiger Wang." He was brave in battle, but also had a fiery temper and was unruly.

Even Xue Yue and Li Zongren had to give him some leeway.

During the relief of Caozhou, the lives of hundreds of people in the Fifth War Zone Command were saved by his troops.

During that pajama mountain climbing competition in Shaanxi.

Wang insisted on killing Chang Ruiyuan, but later left in anger and then joined Chang Ruiyuan's side.

Chang Ruiyuan, being petty, held a grudge.

No matter how much effort Wang put in, Chang Ruiyuan always remained on guard.

Anyway.

On the issue of resisting Japan, Wang Jinzai was never ambiguous.

As for Jiang Zaizhen...

He was from the Guizhou Army and was also known for his ability to fight tough and fierce battles.

Previously, it was under the command of the 98th Army.

They suffered heavy casualties during the second phase of the counterattack in North China and were transferred to the rear for rest and reorganization.

After briefly belonging to Chen Cixiu's troops in the Sixth War Zone, they were kicked out of the Sixth War Zone by Chen Cixiu.

They have nowhere to go right now.

Upon learning of this, Chu Yunfei immediately transferred him to the First War Zone to strengthen its troop strength.

Both of these units are known for being "capable of fighting, but also difficult to manage."

Chang Ruiyuan transferred them here and formed a new army group. What is he planning to do?
Chu Yunfei seemed to see through their thoughts. He turned around and said with a smile, "I know that these two generals, and their troops, are both quite individualistic."

"But I believe that if they are used properly, they will all be a sharp weapon in the fight against Japan!"

"As for the position of Commander-in-Chief of the newly formed Fourteenth Group Army."

Chu Yunfei's gaze finally landed on Liu Maoen.

"The General Headquarters has decided that Commander Liu is the most suitable person to take on this role."

"Commander Liu is highly experienced and familiar with the situation in the First War Zone."

"With you commanding this new army, you will surely be able to unleash their full fighting potential." (End of Chapter)