Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Tokyo, General Headquarters, Army Ministry Conference Room.

A heated debate concerning the fate of hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the North China Front Army had been going on for an entire morning.

Smoke swirled around the somber faces of every senior general in attendance.

This made the atmosphere in the meeting room even more oppressive.

The core of the debate revolves around only one line: should we defend or retreat along the Handan-Anqing line?

"We absolutely cannot retreat!"

Prime Minister and Army Minister Hideki Tojo slammed his baton heavily onto the map, producing a dull thud.

His voice, like his expression, was filled with an undeniable firmness: "Handan is the most important nail that our Locust Army has driven into the heart of the Chinese army on the North China Plain!"
If we abandon this position, we will be forced to retreat nearly 200 kilometers before we can build a new defensive line in western Shandong along the Pingjin line!

"At that time, the strategic situation of the entire North China region will become even more passive!"

"We will shift from a strategic stalemate to a passive defense!"

Hideki Tojo surveyed the crowd, his eyes gleaming with an almost obsessive fervor: "More importantly, international influence!"

"We just suffered a crushing defeat in Southeast Asia."

"If we were to launch another 'Great Dive' in North China, how would the United States view us?"

What will Germany think of us?

"How will those countries that are still wavering view us?"

"The dignity of the Locust Army and the prestige of the Empire will be completely destroyed!"

Hideki Tojo's words were delivered with great passion and were filled with his so-called "big picture" and "sense of honor".

A group of hardliners in the army, led by Chief of the General Staff Gen Sugiyama, nodded in agreement.

In their view, land can be won inch by inch with blood.

However, the "dignity" of "the locust army being invincible" must not be lost.

however.

Another faction, represented by Navy Minister Shigetaro Shimada and several relatively rational cabinet officials, raised strong objections to this.

"Lord Tojo."

An elderly minister with gray hair stood up shakily and said in a hoarse voice, "Dignity needs to be supported by strength."

The speaker was none other than Commerce and Industry Minister Nobusuke Kishi: "The reality is that we no longer have sufficient strength to support the Handan-Anqing front."

"As you all have seen, General Okamura Yasuji's report states that the 12th Heavy Artillery Brigade was completely annihilated, and the 7th Independent Mixed Brigade suffered heavy losses."

The 8th Division was in dire straits under the siege of two elite Chinese divisions;
The 5th Division was bogged down in Anyang by an enemy force several times its size.

"Our air force cannot fully secure air superiority."

"Our logistical supplies are now in dire straits."

"Under such circumstances, how can we defend Handan?"

"Are we to make our soldiers use bayonets to stop the Chinese army's planes, tanks, and artillery?"

This scene seems familiar.

It's somewhat reminiscent of the scene where Wang Jingwei questioned Chiang Kai-shek.

Even the Japanese could only rely on time to manufacture heavy artillery.

The annihilation of a heavy artillery brigade was an unacceptable loss for the North China Front Army.

Commerce and Industry Minister Nobusuke Kishi's questioning was like a sharp blade, piercing the hardliners' false bubble of "honor."

"Rather than grit our teeth and wage a hopeless war of attrition, exhausting the last elite troops of our North China Front Army."

"It would be better to make a tough decision, retreat voluntarily, consolidate our forces, and hold onto Pingjin in order to plan for the future."

"This is the most rational and realistic choice!"

"Cowards! You are undermining morale!"

"This is disloyalty to His Majesty the Heavenly Locust!"

The meeting room erupted into a noisy argument.

The pro-war faction and the pro-withdrawal faction each held their own views, and neither could convince the other.

Hideki Tojo was furious at the chaotic scene before him, his face turning ashen, yet he was utterly helpless.

He himself knew that what those who advocated retreating were saying was true.

But how could he, the "war prime minister" who single-handedly dragged the empire into the abyss of total war, personally issue the order to "retreat"?

This is tantamount to admitting that you were wrong.

It must be acknowledged that this so-called "holy war" has reached a dead end.

He cannot bear this responsibility.

Just as the two sides were arguing and at an impasse.

A confidential staff officer strode into the conference room, looking flustered.

He was holding in his hand a top-level urgent telegram that had just been sent by the North China Front Army.

"Sir, urgent military intelligence!"

The meeting room fell silent instantly.

All eyes were focused on the thin telegram.

Hideki Tojo snatched the telegram and glanced at it.

His face, which he had been trying so hard to maintain, suddenly collapsed.

The telegram was from Yasuji Okamura.

"To His Excellency General Sugiyama Gen, Commander-in-Chief of the General Staff, and His Excellency General Tojo Hideki, Minister of the Army: The general offensive of the Chinese army was fully launched at dawn today. The ferocity of the enemy's offensive and the precision of its command have far exceeded our expectations."

"Within just a few hours, more than ten key strongpoints on our defense line have been destroyed by enemy precision artillery fire or breached by their elite infantry."

"The enemy commander is a master strategist."

"It seems that the battlefield has become a completely one-way transparent situation."

"Any movement or deployment of our troops is under their control."

"The battle situation has deteriorated to this point. If we continue to hold Handan, the main force of the army will risk being completely divided, surrounded, and annihilated."

"I swear on the honor of being a soldier of the Empire, not that I do not want to, but that I cannot."

"To preserve the last remaining blood and bones of the army group, and to retain the strength for our brother nation to fight again."

"I implore headquarters to issue the order immediately."

"All lines, retreat!"

The telegram slipped from Hideki Tojo's limp hand.

The entire conference room was deathly silent.

Has Okamura Yasuji once again requested a retreat?
This "wise general," who prioritized the honor of his brother's country and was renowned for his military command abilities, had already requested reinforcements and a retreat several times in less than half a month since the start of the campaign.

This is enough to illustrate the situation at the front.

It has deteriorated to the point that even Okamura Neiji is powerless to reverse it!
Reality is like the loudest slap in the face.

It was a resounding slap in the face to Hideki Tojo and all the pro-war faction.

All the "decency," all the "honor."

All of this seems so pale and ridiculous in the face of the terrible prospect of "total annihilation".

"That's all."

a long time.

Hideki Tojo managed to squeeze out those two words through gritted teeth.

His voice was hoarse and full of exhaustion.

Hideki Tojo waved his hand listlessly: "I approve General Yasuji Okamura's request."

"Advance across the board!"

Actually.

Everyone knew that the North China Area Army had no other choice.

Their current meeting resolutions seem to be nothing more than finding an excuse to have a big argument.

Maybe.

To find someone to pay the price for subsequent failures.

The members of Hideki Tojo's cabinet were actually unaware of the situation themselves.

Why have things turned out this way?

He never knew that the Chinese troops he had always looked down on would become so powerful.
-

That night.

Orders filled with humiliation and resentment were issued from the North China Area Army Command in Beiping and spread to every corner of the Handan front.

"Order: The 5th Division, the 8th Division, and the 7th Independent Mixed Brigade shall completely disengage from the enemy in front of them by 24:00 tonight."

"All units, provide alternating cover and advance at top speed towards the second line of defense pre-established in the rear, along the Liaocheng-Linqing line!"

The order was given resolutely and decisively.

The retreat was also carried out quietly.

They left numerous campfires on the position to create the illusion that the defenses remained tight.

Then, like the tide in the night, it quietly receded.

There was only one small "accident" during the entire evacuation operation.

That was the order to retreat, a matter of life and death.

In reality, the order was not issued to Sun Dianying's command of the newly formed Fifth Army.

……

Outside Handan City, at the temporary headquarters of the newly formed Fifth Army of the puppet regime.

Sun Dianying was pacing back and forth in the tent, feeling extremely uneasy.

An ominous premonition, like a venomous snake, coiled tightly around his heart.

Just half an hour ago.

His staff officer, whom he sent to liaise with the Japanese 8th Division, reported back news that sent chills down his spine.

"What do you mean by not letting you get close?"

"I don't know, they're being very secretive. All the Japanese soldiers at the command post are quite busy and don't want to talk to us."

“Something’s wrong”

As if suddenly remembering something, Sun Dianying slapped his thigh: "Could it be that these bastards have run away?"

The staff officer, who was terrified, exclaimed, "If they really retreat, we're doomed!"

"Otherwise, why are they in such a hurry?"

The words "abandoned pawn" instantly flashed through Sun Dianying's mind.

He only felt a "buzz" in his head.

Blank.

Okamura Neiji, that old fox, treated them like expendable pawns!
He wants to leave these 30,000-plus lives here as cannon fodder to cover the retreat of his main force!
"Damn it! Those Japanese bastards, they're using you and then discarding you!"

Enraged, Sun Dianying cursed and smashed everything he could find to pieces.

But he knew that swearing wouldn't solve anything now.

He must, immediately, right now!
He was trying to find a way to survive for his more than 30,000 brothers, and also for himself!
He immediately summoned his two most trusted division commanders, Yang Keyou, commander of the 7th (puppet) Division, and Zhang Xike, commander of the 8th (puppet) Division, to his command post.

The sky is falling!

"Commander, what should we do now?"

After hearing Sun Dianying's account, Yang and Zhang were both ashen-faced and completely bewildered.

"Yes, Commander! Ahead lies a pack of ravenous soldiers."

"Behind us are the Japanese swords! We have nowhere to turn!"

"Why panic!"

Sun Dianying slammed his hand on the table, his eyes flashing with a gambler's madness.

"The sky hasn't fallen yet!"

"The Japanese are ruthless, so don't blame us for being unjust!"

He looked at his two trusted confidants and said, word by word, "We will set things right!"

"Anyway?"

“That’s right!” A cunning glint flashed in Sun Dianying’s eyes: “We’ll immediately send a telegram to the mountain city! Say that we are ‘physically in Cao’s camp but mentally in Han’s, and that our previous defection was just an expedient measure to ‘preserve our strength and wait for an opportunity to turn back’!”

"As long as we can re-establish contact with the mountain city, Chu Yunfei can't possibly disregard the Chairman's authority and wipe out our 'anti-justice division,' can he?"

Now, this seems to be the only way to save his life.

Yang and Zhang immediately nodded vigorously.

Just do it.

They immediately summoned their clerk and sent a telegram filled with "remorse" and "loyalty" to the enemy.

……

Unfortunately.

When the telegram was translated, Chang Ruiyuan was already resting.

Zhang Wenbai and Zhu Peiji, who were on duty, looked at each other in bewilderment as they stared at the astonishing contents of the telegram.

"Is Sun Dianying going to defect?"

Zhu Peiji looked puzzled.

That's ridiculous! It's only been less than a month since they defected to the enemy.

The Wang Jingwei regime held press conferences, reorganized its troops, and provided so much military equipment.

Can you just say "anything goes" and then throw it away like that?
It was practically impossible; the whole country hated Sun Dianying.
Although the laws of the Republic of China stipulated that the chairman of the Military Commission had the final decision-making power during wartime.

But Chang Ruiyuan wouldn't be so foolish as to agree to Sun Dianying's defection at this point. Even if Chang Ruiyuan did agree.

Would the officers and soldiers fighting on the front lines agree?

Obviously impossible!
Zhang Wenbai understood this perfectly, so he sighed and said, "This matter is of great importance. Let's wait until the Chairman wakes up before reporting to him."

One to two to go.

It wasted a full six hours.

And in those six hours that determined their fate.

Handan Frontline Command Post.

Chu Yunfei did not rest at this time.

He was processing the combat reports submitted below.

I had heard before that the troops below had captured new weapons and equipment from the Japanese invaders.

Today, someone even brought it to the command post.

Chu Yunfei recognized it as a Japanese Type 99 rifle with just a glance.

This rifle was actually developed and produced to address the issue of the Type 38 rifle's low power.

In terms of accuracy, they are almost identical.

At the same time, the Japanese army's individual combat weapons saw almost no updates.

Minor changes to carrying equipment don't actually have much impact on the course of a war.

After finishing processing the documents at hand.

I glanced down at the watch on my wrist.

It's already 1 a.m.

Chu Yunfei took the hot tea handed to him by the staff officer and stood in front of the sand table.

In reality, his consciousness had already been immersed in the three-dimensional combat map once again.

On the map in his mind, the soldiers representing the main force of the Japanese army were quietly retreating.

And that gray square, neither too big nor too small, represents the newly formed Fifth Army.

Yet it remained all alone, standing still in the same spot, without moving an inch.

"Want to run?"

A cold smile curled at the corners of Chu Yunfei's lips.

"late!"

Chu Yunfei turned around abruptly and issued a series of orders, like a death knell, to the communications officer who was already waiting.

"Order: The newly formed 24th Division, Liao Ang's unit, shall disregard the Japanese 8th Division's resistance and immediately turn towards Guan County at full speed!"

"Order: Ding Wei's Eastern Expeditionary Column! Again, there is no need to engage the enemy in front of you. The entire column shall immediately advance and capture Neihuang."

"Order: After dawn, the troops under Sun Tongxuan, Chi Fengcheng, and Ma Fawu shall immediately launch a full-scale attack on the newly formed Fifth Army of the enemy in front of them. Tell them that if anyone lets Sun Dianying, that dog, escape, I will definitely send him to the military court."

"Yes!"

……

The sky gradually brightened.

However, there was still no news from the mountain city.

The scouts sent out by Sun Dianying brought back one terrifying message after another.

"Reporting to the commander! Our retreat to the east is completely blocked! Judging from the unit designation, it seems to be Liao Ang's 24th Division!"

"Reporting to the commander! The southeast direction is also blocked! It's a unit wearing gray uniforms, and their firepower is terrifyingly strong. Damn, it looks like the Eighth Route Army."

The mountain city did not reply, meaning the road ahead was blocked!

As for a way out, there is no way out at all.

Sun Dianying, a ruthless warlord who had made his living through speculation and scheming in the chaotic world, finally felt what despair meant at this moment.

He slumped into the chair, as if all his bones had been removed.

The fierce aura of a tyrant had vanished from his face, replaced by a deathly calm.

"Bring me cigarettes."

He waved weakly at the guard beside him.

The guard quickly and respectfully presented a set of exquisite smoking paraphernalia inlaid with jade.

Sun Dianying skillfully filled a pot with tobacco paste.

Light it, then close your eyes and take a deep drag.

The sweet yet spicy smoke flowed down his throat and into his lungs.

It gave his heart, which was pounding violently with fear, a temporary moment of numbness and peace.

Yang Keyou and Zhang Xike looked at his "otherworldly" appearance.

I felt anxious and angry, yet helpless.

They knew that they couldn't count on this commander.

If we don't leave now, we'll really have to die here with him!
"Commander!" Yang Keyou stepped forward, making a final effort: "We can't just wait to die like this! Brothers, we're waiting for you to make a decision!"

"Yes, Commander!" Zhang Xike echoed, "We'll fight! Even if we have to charge straight in from the east, we might still be able to break through and survive!"

Sun Dianying slowly exhaled a thick smoke ring, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

"Charge?" He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

His voice, distorted by opium inhalation, became somewhat unsteady: "Where to charge? To charge right into their cannons?"

"If you want to go, then go by yourselves."

"I can't walk anymore."

Done.

Sun Dianying then lowered his head again and began to intently fiddle with his beloved opium pipe.

It was as if everything in this world had nothing to do with him anymore.

Yang Keyou and Zhang Xike were completely disheartened by his hopeless state.

They exchanged a glance and saw the same resolute determination in each other's eyes.

The two men turned around abruptly and rushed toward the horses.

"Let's go! Back to the unit!"

"Take as many brothers as you can out!"

the other side.

After the various units of the National Revolutionary Army on the front line of Handan cautiously launched an attack on the Japanese positions.

The officers and soldiers were then astonished to discover this.

The Japanese have already fled!
Chen Zejun and Guo Yanzheng's two troops
They immediately surged into the empty positions left by the Japanese army like a tidal wave.

They quickly took over the defense of the Handan front.

then.

Following Chu Yunfei's latest orders, the two left behind a portion of their forces to encircle the isolated newly formed Fifth Army.

Main force.

Without stopping, they launched a relentless pursuit towards Weixian and Nangong!
The soldiers of the newly formed Fifth Army only realized what was happening at this moment.

They discovered that their "allies" had vanished without a trace overnight.

They were completely surrounded by countless dark, gaping cannons and gun barrels of the Nationalist army!
Fear, like a plague, spread throughout the entire military camp in an instant.

Before they could decide whether to fight or surrender...

The shells rained down on us like raindrops.

These puppet troops truly enjoyed the treatment of elite Kwantung Army soldiers.

Within just one hour, nearly two thousand shells fell on the puppet army's position.

At this point, a few dozen rounds of 105mm American howitzer shells were symbolically fired as an "appetizer".

The entire position of the newly formed Fifth Army was instantly turned into a sea of ​​fire.

These "soldiers" had only been wearing the puppet army uniforms for a few days.

Where have I ever seen such a spectacle?

When they learned that the Japanese had all retreated, leaving them here as cannon fodder.

Their organization declined faster than anyone else's!
Even Yang and Zhang were unable to order the troops to take any action.

They didn't even need to launch a general offensive with the three main forces—Ma Fawu, Sun Tongxuan, and Chi Fengcheng—who were holding their breath and ready to fight.

It was merely the stage of artillery barrage.

The entire newly formed puppet Fifth Army completely collapsed.

The organization level visibly dropped rapidly from 60 to 25.

As the smoke from the gunfire slowly dissipated...

The officers and soldiers of the National Revolutionary Army poured into the camp of the newly formed Fifth Army of the Peace and National Construction Army, which was already in a terrible state, like a tidal wave.

Everywhere you look, there are abandoned weapons, burning tents, and puppet army prisoners kneeling on the ground with their hands raised.

A motley crew is a motley crew; a force composed of bandits and laborers has no fighting capacity.

These soldiers, or rather, the puppet troops who could be called soldiers, cried out for their fathers and mothers, threw down their weapons, and knelt down to surrender.

As for the puppet army officers, they took the lead in raising the white flag.

A search team composed of the 40th Army quickly located Sun Dianying's military headquarters.

When they kicked open the door to the command post.

A strong, sweet smell of opium wafted towards us.

The choking caused several young soldiers to cough repeatedly.

The tent was a mess.

Tables, chairs, and benches were overturned on the ground, and documents and drawings were scattered all over the floor.

In the very center of the tent, Sun Dianying, the once invincible "Eastern Tombs Thief" and commander of the newly formed Fifth Army, lay sprawled out on a luxurious cot.

Beside him lay a complete set of exquisite smoking paraphernalia.

At this moment, Sun Dianying's eyes were glazed over, his face was ashen, and a strange, satisfied smile lingered on his lips.

He was completely immersed in the illusory bliss brought by opium, and had no idea what year it was.

"Reporting, Company Commander! We've caught a big fish!"

A soldier shouted excitedly.

The platoon leader quickly stepped forward, glanced at the limp, mud-like man on the bed, and then at the incongruous uniform of a Wang Jingwei regime officer on his body. His face showed contempt and disgust.

"Wake him up, you bastard!"

Two soldiers rushed forward and roughly dragged Sun Dianying off the bed.

Startled by this sudden action, Sun Dianying opened his cloudy eyes with displeasure.

When he saw the Nationalist soldiers in front of him, dressed in military uniforms and carrying rifles.

His nerves, numbed by opium, seemed to still retain a trace of his former "official authority."

He instinctively wanted to open his mouth and shout, "How dare you!"

However, his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he could only utter a few weak, dreamlike murmurs.

"They dare to put on airs with us?"

The soldiers weren't going to tolerate this traitorous leader.

A soldier with a fiery temper.

He raised his hand and slapped Sun Dianying's sallow face twice.

However, after those two slaps, Sun Dianying's cheeks quickly swelled up, but his eyes remained dazed and unfocused, as if he had become numb to the pain.

"Company commander, this guy's been given too much poison, he won't wake up."

The platoon leader frowned, looked around, and his gaze fell on the steel helmet worn by a soldier at the door.

"go with!"

He pointed to the helmet and ordered a soldier, "Go to the well outside and fetch me a helmet full of cool water!"

"Yes!"

Soon, a helmet full of icy, bone-chilling well water was brought over.

The platoon leader took the helmet and, without any hesitation, poured it over Sun Dianying's head!

"Wow."

The icy well water, mixed with soot and grime, flowed down Sun Dianying's cheeks.

A chilling coldness instantly pierced my bones.

"Ugh—!"

Sun Dianying let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered, and his whole body convulsed violently as if he had been electrocuted.

His dazed eyes finally regained a sliver of clarity.

He saw clearly.

He saw clearly the Nationalist soldiers glaring at him, and the dark, cold killing intent emanating from their gun barrels.

Having also clearly seen that his path forward and backward had long been cut off, Sun Dianying naturally understood that his grand dream of becoming a powerful and opportunistic warlord, where he could play both sides and engage in scheming, had finally come to a complete end.

If I had known it would end this way, what would have happened if I had handed over military power?

All that remains is endless regret.
Sun Dianying opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.
Begging for mercy? Explaining? Or cursing?

But in the end, he couldn't say anything.

However, it let out a few unintelligible whimpers, like those of a wild beast.

Then, his eyes rolled back, and he completely collapsed, like a lump of mud. (End of Chapter)