Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 590 Are the Japanese really that easy to defeat? The various parties' hidden agendas! (Please subscribe)

Early morning hours.

As the first rays of dawn pierce the eastern horizon.

The gunfire and artillery fire on the Anyang front gradually subsided.

The remnants of the Japanese Independent Mixed 7th Brigade.

Like a stray dog, they retreated a full eight kilometers in a sorry state.

Overnight, they lost all their forward positions and outposts.

In the end, they could only barely consolidate their forces near a town called "Wagang".

They rebuilt a fragile defensive line to protect the exposed and precarious flank of the 5th Division.

A battle report from a night of fierce fighting.

Like snowflakes, they flew towards Beiping.

In the North China Area Army Headquarters, Okamura Yasuji looked at the telegram personally drafted by Asada Yuuju, commander of the 7th Mixed Brigade.

It seems to be filled with horror and disbelief.

Even Okamura Neiji, who was known for his composure, was greatly surprised.

"Last night, our brigade was suddenly attacked by a main force of the Chinese army with an unknown designation."

"The enemy's offensive is extremely fierce."

"Their firepower is unprecedented. According to reports from frontline troops, almost every enemy soldier is equipped with an automatic rifle, as well as a large number of submachine guns and mortars. The density of their light weapons firepower even far exceeds that of the main force divisions of our brother's army!"

"The enemy forces are extremely skilled in nighttime infiltration and close-quarters combat."

"Their soldiers are extremely tenacious in their fighting spirit and fearless in the face of death."

"Our troops were completely unable to organize an effective resistance in the darkness of night, and several positions collapsed the moment they came into contact."

"After a night of bloody fighting, our brigade suffered heavy losses, with more than 800 casualties, and was forced to retreat."

"We urgently request reinforcements from headquarters!"

"One automatic gun per person?"

Okamura Yasuji put down the battle report, his narrow eyes filled with confusion. "Which unit is this? When did such a monster appear in the ranks of the Chinese army?"

The staff officers present.

They looked at each other blankly, unable to answer.

According to their intelligence, the entire North China region possesses such formidable firepower.

Only a few elite divisions from Shanxi were directly affiliated with the local forces.

But those troops.

Some of their forces were deployed in Handan, hundreds of miles away, while others were on the front lines near the capital, confronting their main force.

Where did this mysterious, valiant, and mysterious force that suddenly emerged from underground come from?

……

at the same time.

Frontline General Headquarters.

Almost the same battle report.

It was also placed before Chu Yunfei.

This is a report of victory sent by Ding Wei, commander of the Eastern Expeditionary Column.

Chief of Staff Qian Zhaoyou looked at the battle report, his expression revealing a complex emotion.

Just like Okamura Neiji, he was surprised, followed by deep bewilderment.

"Overnight, they routed a reinforced Japanese brigade, annihilating over a thousand enemy soldiers."

Qian Zhaoyou looked at Chu Yunfei, his tone filled with disbelief: "Your Excellency, please forgive my bluntness."

"As far as I know, the Eighth Route Army troops, although they have a strong fighting will and a fierce style."

"But their equipment has always been extremely rudimentary. How could they possibly achieve such amazing results?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yunfei revealed a confident smile.

He picked up his teacup and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Then, slowly, he revealed the answer to his old friend from the Whampoa Military Academy.

"Brother Wu Guan."

He put down his teacup: "You only know one side of the story, not the other."

"Do you think this 'Eastern Expeditionary Column' is just a combat force that was casually assembled by the Yan'an side?"

Chu Yunfei shook his head, a subtle, shrewd glint in his eyes: "Let me tell you, the formation of this unit has been in the planning stages for over a year."

"At that time, Director Zou requested from the mountain city authorities to grant the Eighth Route Army an additional official designation and supplies."

"The Ministry of Military Affairs, the Political Department, and the Military Command have been arguing about this for months, and the case has even reached the Chairman."

"Everyone's idea is to use the tactic of 'delay' to let this matter drop."

Chu Yun-fei changed the subject: "But after I took on the role of chief advisor to the military training department..."

"I put this matter back on the agenda and pushed it through forcefully."

Upon hearing this, Qian Zhaoyou's heart stirred, and he vaguely guessed what was going on.

Chu Yunfei continued, "At that time, I made a suggestion to the Chairman."

"Since we're going to give them a designation and supplies, we can't just give them away for nothing."

"We not only want to give, but we want to give the best!"

"We must build this army into a 'model'! A 'model' of sincere cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in resisting Japan!"

"The weapons and equipment of this unit are provided by our Shanxi Ordnance Factory, with the best quality weapons selected!"

"Ammunition supplies are readily available!"

"We can even make an exception for their officers and allow them to enter our Army University for further study and training!"

Chu Yunfei smiled as he looked at Qian Zhaoyou's expression of sudden realization.

"Therefore, the Eastern Expeditionary Column you see now is no longer the army you remember with its millet and rifles. They are an elite force that has concentrated the superior resources of both sides!"

"Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, and Kong Jie are all battle-hardened generals."

"Give them enough opportunities and resources, and the fighting power they can unleash will exceed everyone's imagination."

"I even have the idea of ​​sending all three of them to the Army University for training after this battle is over."

"Once we get out, hanging up a sign with Shao Jiang's name won't be a problem."

A few words.

Qian Zhaoyou was dumbfounded, and he admired his superior's foresight to the point of prostration.

It is a potential "rival".

In this way, it can be made into a "model" for external display.

It can gain political prestige for uniting against Japan.

This also allows them to exert a certain degree of "influence" and "infiltration" on this unit.

This wrist.

That's absolutely brilliant!
Just then, another communications staff officer came in and handed over the latest battle report from the 40th Army.

"Report! A telegram from Commander Ma Fawu of the 40th Army!"

Qian Zhaoyou took the telegram and read: "Report: Affected by the victory of the friendly forces' night raid, the enemy in front of us, the Japanese 5th Division, has stopped its attack on our army this morning and shows signs of retreating."

"Commander Ma judged that the enemy may have suffered heavy losses in last night's battle, and their morale was wavering."

"He came specifically to ask whether we should seize the opportunity and launch a decisive full-scale counterattack tomorrow?"

After hearing the battle report, the atmosphere in the command post immediately became subtle.

All eyes.

All attention was once again focused on Chu Yunfei.

Okamura Yasuji's plans seem to have been completely disrupted.

The 40th Army was originally on the defensive and being attacked.

Now, it seems there is hope of turning defeat into victory.

Should we press our advantage and intensify the war?
Or should we take our profits and consolidate our position?

Faced with Ma Fawu's telegram, which was full of requests for battle, Chu Yunfei did not make a decision immediately.

He gently placed the telegram on the table and turned his gaze to his chief of staff, Qian Zhaoyou, beside him.

"Brother Wu Guan."

He spoke slowly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "I think I'd like to hear your thoughts first."

This is both an inquiry and a test.

Qian Zhaoyou felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew that Chu Yunfei was testing him.

Qian Zhaoyou dared not delay and immediately went to the huge war sand table.

After organizing my thoughts, I presented my analysis in a methodical manner.

"Your Excellency."

His voice was steady and clear: "Commander Ma's desire to fight is commendable. However, in my opinion, this is not the best time for our army to launch a full-scale counterattack."

Qian Zhaoyou picked up a baton and first pointed to the position of the Japanese Fifth Division.

"Admittedly, the night raid by my Eastern Expeditionary Column disrupted Okamura Yasuji's plans and did cause some chaos on the flanks of the Japanese army. However..."

He then changed the subject, saying, "We must not underestimate the fighting power of the Japanese army because of this."

"The 5th Division was, after all, the elite Class A division of the Japanese army."

"Its organization and resilience are far superior to those of a second-line unit like the 7th Mixed Brigade."

"I believe that even if they are temporarily on the defensive, they will be able to adjust quickly."

"What they're calling 'shrinking their defenses' now."

Qian Zhaoyou's baton traced an arc on the map: "In my view, it's more like a 'retracting punch' movement. They're accumulating strength, preparing to deliver a more lethal follow-up punch!"

"Once we order the 40th Army to launch a rash attack and pursue the enemy while they are ahead."

Followed by.

Qian Zhaoyou's command baton struck heavily on the open ground between the 40th Army and the 7th Brigade.

"Then, what awaits them is inevitably a fierce counterattack from the Japanese 7th Mixed Brigade!"

"There's even a possibility of a fatal attack from the 5th Division on the flank!"

"With the 40th Army's existing equipment and manpower, how can it withstand the counterattack of two main Japanese brigades?"

"This is tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock."

"In addition, the objective of this campaign in Handan is to recapture Handan, open up the railway line from Zheng County to Changshan, and make the Pinghan Railway line available to us."

"The real focus of the battle should be on the direction of Handan, not Anyang."

"so."

Qian Zhaoyou drew the final conclusion: "In my opinion, this kind of proactive counterattack, which seems brave, is actually not worth the effort."

“Not only will we not gain any benefits, but we will also push the 40th Army, which has finally stabilized, back into danger.”

The analysis was logical, well-founded, and clearly organized.

The young commanders and operations staff present all nodded in agreement.

Chu Yunfei listened quietly, a hint of approval appearing on his face.

Qian Zhaoyou's judgment almost perfectly aligned with his own thoughts.

just now.

He had already used his consciousness to quickly scan the "three-dimensional combat map" in his mind.

On the map.

The "organization level" value, which represents the status of each unit, clearly shows the most realistic situation on the battlefield.

Ma Fawu's report actually has no problems.

After a night of fierce attacks by the Eastern Expeditionary Force, the Japanese 7th Independent Mixed Brigade's [Organization Level] visibly dropped from 85% before the battle to 55%.

Based on the combat experience of the past few years.

Once the organization rate drops below 60%, it has basically reached a very dangerous critical point.

It represents the morale and command structure of this unit.

It is on the verge of collapse.

If it suffers another strong blow, it is very likely to decline rapidly. This was the point in the War of Resistance against Japan had reached.

It wasn't just the Nationalist army that faced difficulties in replenishing its ranks, but also the lengthening of training cycles.

Japanese army.

They also face the problem of a serious decline in the quality of their personnel.

Although they still have a large number of reserve troops, these "old devils" who have long since started families and careers often do not put in much effort when they go to the battlefield.

Regarding the so-called "Heavenly Locust Honor".

They cared far less than those young "madmen" who had been thoroughly brainwashed by militarism.

Independent Mixed 7th Brigade.

It was indeed a huge weakness on the battlefield.

Theoretically speaking, at this point, there is no absolute right or wrong in either proactive attack or passive defense.

Offense carries a high risk-reward ratio.

If, at this very moment, the force facing the Fifth Division were any main force of the Central Army...

Chu Yunfei would agree to launch a counterattack without hesitation.

But now they're stationed in Anyang.

It was the 40th Army.

It was a worn-out army with outdated equipment and unstable morale.

Let them.

To carry out such a high-risk counterattack mission would only needlessly increase the number of casualties.

Even if we were to win this battle by sheer luck, it would be a Pyrrhic victory.

Chu Yunfei also found it difficult to get along with Pang Bingxun.

Overall, it's not worth the effort.

Having thought this through, Chu Yunfei had already made up his mind.

He took the baton from Qian Zhaoyou and said, "Brother Wu Guan, your analysis is very accurate."

He walked up to the sand table and gave the order in an unquestionable tone.

"Return the call to Ma Fa Wu immediately!"

"His request to retaliate is rejected!"

"Order the 40th Army to hold its current positions, strengthen its defensive fortifications, and guard against any counterattack by the Japanese invaders!"

"Tell him that his mission is not to attack, but to contain!"

"Hold the 5th Division and the 7th Independent Mixed Brigade in front of us at all costs, and buy time for our main battlefield in Handan!"

"Yes!"

……

Anyang, the headquarters of the 40th Army.

Ma Fawu paced anxiously in front of the map, his mind racing with unease.

The telegram volunteering to fight back had been sent for over two hours, but there had been no response from Changzhi.

This made him feel uneasy.

Is he really trying to fight back?

of course not.

He knew better than anyone else what the situation of the 40th Army was like.

He was an old man whose body had been hollowed out; he still looked like a decent person on the outside, but inside he was rotten to the core.

Let him go and fight head-on against two main Japanese divisions?
Isn't that asking for death?
The reason he sent that telegram was merely to put on a show, to put on a charade of "commendable loyalty and bravery."

On the one hand, it was to show off his achievements to the new "boss" Chu Yunfei and demonstrate his "active resistance against Japan" attitude.

On the other hand, and most importantly, he wanted to use the pretext of "preparing for a counterattack" to legitimately distance himself from the Eighth Route Army's "Eastern Expeditionary Column," which had just launched a brilliant night raid on their flank.

He didn't want to get involved with those "peasants".

In case the mountain city is investigated and punished in the future.

He was branded with the crime of "collaborating with the Communists," a charge he could never clear his name of.

But now, Chu Yunfei hasn't called back yet. What's going on?

Did he really agree?

Are you really going to let him lead these thousands of old, weak, sick, and disabled people to fight the Japanese to the death?

The more Ma Fawu thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, and a layer of cold sweat seeped out from his back.

Just when he was feeling uneasy and even began to regret that he had “overacted.”

The tent flap was lifted.

A young officer walked in, looking travel-worn.

The person who came was someone Ma Fawu knew.

It was Pang Qingzhen, who was serving as the chief of staff in his army.

"Nephew."

Ma Fawu hurriedly went to greet him: "Why are you here?"

Pang Xiang didn't say much, but took out a telegram signed by Chu Yunfei from her bosom.

Ma Fawu received the order, unfolded it, and felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his heart.

With a "thud," it finally landed on the ground.

He let out a long sigh of relief; the content of the order was exactly the same as the perfect outcome he had envisioned.

"The request for a counterattack is rejected. The 40th Army is ordered to hold its current positions, strengthen its defenses, and is strictly prohibited from launching any attacks without authorization. It must maintain a safe distance from the Eastern Expeditionary Column to avoid any misunderstandings."

"Great, great."

Ma Fawu looked at the sentence, "Maintain a safe distance to avoid misunderstandings."

A smug smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

He knew that Chu Yunfei had seen through his little tricks.

But so what?

Chu Yunfei did not expose him.

Instead, they went along with it and gave him the "imperial sword" he wanted most.

With this order issued.

He not only didn't have to risk his life to fight back against the Japanese.

Furthermore, it would give them a legitimate reason not to cooperate with any offensive actions by that Eighth Route Army.

In the future, no matter how fiercely the Eastern Expeditionary Force fights at the front,

He could also remain calm and collected, using the excuse of "holding the line and containing the enemy" to remain inactive.

Even if it were a great achievement, he was just a general from a warlord background, so it didn't matter if he didn't get it.

But if the counterattack fails, he will definitely not be blamed for this huge mistake.

This is the safest way to protect oneself in chaotic times.

Ma Fawu carefully folded the order, put it in his pocket, and put his honest and kind smile back on his face.

“Nephew, draft a telegram for me.”

"Just tell him to rest assured, sir."

"I, Ma Fawu, will resolutely carry out the order!"

"Our 40th Army swears to live and die with our positions!"

Just as a strange standoff was breaking out on the front lines in Anyang.

On the main battlefield in Handan, dozens of kilometers away, the flames of war were finally ignited.

According to the established operational plan of the North China Joint Command.

The 14th Reserve Division, commanded by Chen Zejun, was ordered to launch a frontal assault on the Japanese positions on the outskirts of Handan!

They were joined in the fighting by the 76th Army.

The 76th Army, commanded by Li Tiejun.

Generals from the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy.

He served under Hu Zongnan for a long time, and whenever Hu was promoted, he would be promoted one rank.

Hu Zongnan took a step forward, and he took a step forward in return.

He was Hu Zongnan's most loyal confidant.

Their relationship is similar to that of Qian Bojun and Chu Yunfei.

Among the young officers of the Whampoa Military Academy (Hu Zongnan's faction) in the National Revolutionary Army.

He is also a very prominent figure.

After receiving the "coordinated attack" order from Fang Ligong.

Li Tiejun.

This general has always considered himself a "direct descendant of the Central Army".

But in her heart, she was already making her own little plans.

He appointed Liao Ang, commander of the 24th Division, the most elite unit under his command.
He was summoned to his command post.

Liao Ang was a graduate of the second class of the Whampoa Military Academy and was also a "capable and brave" general in Hu Zongnan's system.

"Xiancheng (Liao Ang's courtesy name)," Li Tiejun pointed to the location of Handan on the map and said bluntly, "This is the first tough battle for our 76th Army on the North China battlefield, and it is also a battle for us to show off to Commander Hu!"

"Although Chen Zejun's 14th Reserve Division was Chu Yunfei's direct subordinate, the Japanese army focused their defenses on them."

"In our direction, the Japanese army has only deployed one infantry regiment."

"It's obvious that the Japanese underestimated us; they didn't take our strength seriously."

"Take advantage of this opportunity"

Seeing Li Tiejun's spirited appearance, Liao Ang couldn't help but interrupt: "Commander, having Chen Zejun lead the main attack means the credit for the first strike has probably already been decided internally. This is most likely a deal between Chu Yunfei and the CC Clique. If we try to claim the credit now, we might offend two groups for Commander Hu's sake."

"I don't care what method you use!"

"Offend?" Li Tiejun sneered: "Commander Hu has always been at odds with Chu Yunfei. Although we are from a different faction than Chu Yunfei, there is one point worth pointing out: Chu Yunfei has always been fair in his work. He also reported the merits of Brother Hanjie's 27th Army to his superiors truthfully. As long as we fight well in this battle, there will definitely be no misattribution."

"As for offending Chu Yunfei, Commander Hu will naturally take the blame for us."

Liao Ang nodded slowly.

Within factions, the relationship is one of shared prosperity and shared ruin.

Everyone's interests are closely intertwined.

Liao Ang had no other choice at this point.

"I order you to personally lead the 24th Division to launch an attack towards Guangzong County, creating a strategic posture of outflanking the main force of the Japanese invaders."

This is the direction of the attack.

It is located in the northeast direction between Xingtai and Handan.

This could be coordinated with the Handan offensive to tie down the main Japanese forces deep inland.

Retreat would allow them to directly capture Guangzong County and advance into the heart of the Japanese territory.

If we could really break through the Japanese defenses, it wouldn't just be about winning credit.

It would also give their boss, Hu Zongnan, a chance to prove himself!

Hu Zongnan was involved in the battles of Shanghai, eastern Henan, and Wuhan.

The main force of the unit had been operating in the Northwest and had not fought any significant battles.

The General Headquarters had previously transferred the 27th Army, which is now under the direct command of the theater command.

The 76th Army was under the command of the First War Zone.

It was to demonstrate our attitude towards resisting the Japanese invasion.

Hu Zongnan also needed his subordinates to fight a tough battle to silence the gossip.

He wanted to accumulate more military merits so that he could succeed the commander of the Eighth War Zone.

Liao Ang naturally understood these principles, and immediately stood at attention, snapping to attention and giving a military salute.

"Please rest assured, Commander!"

"Your subordinate swears to complete the mission, even at the cost of your life!"

(End of this chapter)