Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Nanjing, the headquarters of the China Expeditionary Army.

This was also the second day after the 74th Army launched a full-scale counterattack.

Commander-in-Chief General Hata Shunroku did not sleep all night.

His bloodshot eyes were fixed on the huge battle map, as if he wanted to imprint every symbol on it into his mind.

Battle reports poured in from the front lines in western Hubei, like snowflakes falling continuously.

Each battle report was like a heavy hammer blow, striking his heart hard.

"report!"

"My 13th Division was surrounded by the 74th and 30th Armies of the Chinese Army in the area east of Yuyang Pass."

"Report! The 39th Division reports that the Chinese 18th and 86th Armies, which are facing them, are also launching a full-scale counterattack. The division has shifted to a defensive posture and is unable to provide effective support to the 13th Division!"

"Report! The 17th Independent Mixed Brigade reports that the enemy (74th Army) has bypassed our unit and is rapidly advancing towards Xizhai and Xinhe. Onodera, the commander of the 88th Independent Infantry Battalion, has died in fierce fighting, having served His Majesty the Emperor."

The entire command center was completely silent.

Everyone felt as if an invisible hand had gripped their throats, and they could only watch helplessly as the red arrow representing the 13th Division on the map was surrounded by more and more blue arrows, turning it into a desolate island of despair.

"idiot!"

One of the staff officers, unable to withstand the immense pressure, lost his composure in a rare display of weakness.

He slammed his fist on the table and let out a furious but powerless growl: "These damned Chinese, why do they have so many troops?"

"Why panic?!"

Hata Shunroku's voice was hoarse: "They are the most elite warriors of the Brotherhood, and we are not yet at our wits' end!"

He walked to the map, his gaze sweeping over all the terrified officers present, and gave an order that left no room for doubt!
"Send a telegram to Yokoyama-kun immediately!"

Hata Shunroku's command baton slammed down on the surrounded 13th Division: "Order the 13th Division to halt all retreat operations! Organize a defensive line on the spot, concentrate all firepower, and launch a desperate counterattack against the enemy in front of you!"

He paused, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"Their target should be those weak and ragtag Chinese troops. They should be the first to be attacked, and their corpses should be used to carve a bloody path for the 13th Division!"

"All units of the 13th Division that have crossed the river and withdrawn shall be immediately transferred to Yidu and launched a counterattack along the south bank of the Yuyang River towards Moshi. From the outside, they shall break through the encirclement of the Kai Na Army and strike their combat troops."

……

With Hata Shunroku's order issued.

The besieged Japanese 13th Division quickly received orders.

This beast, trapped in a desperate situation, unleashed an astonishing will to survive.

Instead of retreating, they frantically charged towards the weakest link in the encirclement.

In comparison, the 86th and 32nd Armies under Song Kentang in the river defense forces were relatively easy targets among the Nationalist army's combat units.

The intensity of the battle escalated once again.

The casualty figures on both sides are rising at an alarming rate!
However, just as Hata Shunroku had predicted, those hastily organized ragtag troops, despite their fierce offensive, were still powerless against the desperate counterattack of the elite Japanese army.

Despite suffering hundreds of casualties every day, the main force of the Japanese 13th Division miraculously managed to stabilize its position and maintain a fairly high level of combat effectiveness.

Northern Hubei, Chu Yunfei's forward command post.

Chu Yunfei stood in front of the huge sand table, holding several small blue flags representing the main force of the National Revolutionary Army in his hand.

A satisfied smile graced his face.

The 74th Army is a fine weapon.

It is no wonder that it has always been used as the general reserve by the General Headquarters throughout history.

No wonder they were able to earn honorary titles such as Tiger Warriors and Iron Army of the Anti-Japanese War.

From the Japanese military's perspective, they were also known as the "Tiger Unit of China".

"The efficiency of the 74th Army is really high. The 51st Division defeated the 17th Mixed Brigade in one day and even killed a battalion commander."

Chu Yunfei smiled and nodded.

[Base Area Name: Shanxi Anti-Japanese Base Area (Core Area: Jinzhong)]

[Current Base Level: Lv.max]

Current total population: 257 million

[Estimated Gross Domestic Product: 136 Million (Fiat Currency)]

[Current estimated total annual income: 3200 million (fiat currency)]

Current tax revenue capacity: 90%

[Currently estimated number of recruits: 6 (out of 12)]

[Current development status of the base area: 17 (out of 100)]

[Current pillar industries of the base area: textile industry; military industry; mining industry]

Current literacy rate: 45%

Current stability: 78%

[Current Buff Mission (1) is now available: Submit proof of officer rank (4/5)]

It was very difficult to kill a Japanese officer.

Previously, the mission to enhance the strength of the Jin-Southeast region was accomplished by annihilating an entire Japanese regiment and destroying the headquarters of the 3rd Division.

The pursuit operation has now lasted for almost four days.

Only the 74th Army killed one of the Japanese Independent Infantry Battalion commanders, a major.

With the completion of the enhancement mission, the productivity of Jinzhong region will increase significantly again.

As the Japanese forces in Central China fall into a trap, the Japanese Expeditionary Army Headquarters in China will inevitably dispatch relevant combat troops to provide assistance.

The national situation is a unified whole.

If the troops are drawn from South China, then they can take action from the sea. After all, the task force is not a free aid; it also needs to fulfill its promises to the United States. In addition, the expeditionary force has been on standby for more than half a year, and its combat effectiveness has long since recovered to its peak.

Five main forces—let alone conquering a small island like Hainan.

If operated properly, with timely support and sufficient reserves, it will be effective.

There's a good chance we can take that island.

If Okamura Yasuji is transferred from North China, he will face the heavy blows of the North China elites.

Regardless of the choice made, it will affect all aspects of life.

Just as Chu Yunfei was pondering whether to have the North China forces prepare for an offensive ahead of schedule.

Pang Junming approached Chu Yunfei with a smile: "Sir, we have good news from the Military Intelligence Bureau. They have deciphered the Japanese army's telegraphic code and intercepted a telegram sent by the 11th Army to the 13th Division."

Chu Yunfei looked slightly surprised.

After all, it was often their telegrams that were deciphered, which made it difficult for Chu Yunfei to command effectively.

Now the Military Intelligence Bureau has actually risen to prominence, playing a role in such a crucial battle.

"Aren't you leaving?"

He took the telegram, glanced at it briefly, and then set it aside: "Good thing they're not withdrawing!"

"Your Excellency."

Looking at the red arrow surrounded by layers of obstacles on the map, Zhao Pengcheng's voice was filled with excitement, "Are those Japanese devils going to fight us to the death?"

"He's not trying to fight us to the death."

"He's stalling for time."

"Hata Shunroku, that old Japanese devil, he wasn't blinded by anger."

"He is using the 13th Division, his most useful piece, to buy time for his reinforcements to arrive on the battlefield."

"The 13th Division in Chilu is surrounded, but its fighting capacity is still intact."

"If they switch to defense and hold out with all their might, they could hold our main force here for ten days or even half a month."

"And half a month later, their reinforcements will inevitably be drawn from other places, but we don't know yet where the enemy will draw their troops from."

"The Kwantung Army?"

Chu Yunfei shook his head: "It's too late, it's too far. Even if we just board the troops lightly equipped, it will take eight days to collect our weapons. Add to that the assembly and marching, and it's simply not enough time."

"That would be North or South China. Perhaps the Third War Zone could cooperate with our operations." "Their fighting strength hasn't recovered yet. The Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign depleted most of the Third War Zone's elite forces. The Third War Zone is now just a shell; we can't count on them. We'd be better off relying on the New Fourth Army."

"them?"

Pang Junming frowned slightly: "What kind of combat capability do they have? Besides having a large number of people and fighting off the puppet troops, what real role can they play?"

Zhao Pengcheng explained with a smile, "Your Excellency previously transferred a considerable amount of weapons from the Shanxi inventory, since our people are still being taken care of in their territory."

Chu Yunfei's consciousness quickly left the three-dimensional combat map.

A cryptic smile curved at the corners of his lips once more.

Every move Hata Shunroku made was actually within his expectations.

He could see everything clearly in the three-dimensional combat map.

"Sir, how should we fight now?"

"What should we do?" Chu Yunfei smiled and said, "If the 74th Army's offensive goes smoothly, then we should cut off the snake's head and seek to annihilate the 13th and 39th Divisions, and severely damage the 17th Mixed Brigade."

"If the offensives of the 74th and 40th Armies are not successful, then strike at their flanks and annihilate the 17th Mixed Brigade. With the arrival of the main force of the 22nd Army Group and the cooperation of the 21st Army Group, cut off the Yangtze River and besiege the main force of the 11th Army in Yidu, Yichang and other places, and move on to the next stage of the operation."

"Also, don't forget, we still have a powerful weapon at our disposal: a squadron of bombers. That will be the key to breaking this deadlock!"

Everyone was still deep in thought.

Chu Yunfei then instructed, "Immediately send a telegram in my name to General Chennault, suggesting that they launch an airstrike on the Zhijiang area."

"If there are concerns about inefficiency in combat before an operation is launched, reconnaissance aircraft can be dispatched."

"Yes!"

Despite still being filled with doubts, Zhao Pengcheng accepted the order without hesitation and went to carry it out!

After returning, Zhao Pengcheng could no longer suppress his doubts and stepped forward.

"Sir, Zhijiang is neither the main gathering place of the Japanese army nor a key transportation hub."

"Shouldn't our priority now be to concentrate our air power, coordinate with ground troops, and eliminate the besieged 13th Division as soon as possible?"

Chu Yunfei nodded slightly: "That's a valid point of view, but don't forget that was when the Japanese army took the initiative and seized the strategic advantage. Now it's our turn to counterattack. Zhijiang is strategically important; we can attack or defend as needed. If I were the commander of the Japanese 13th Division, I would definitely set up my headquarters in Zhijiang Town!"
-
In Nanjing, at the headquarters of the dispatched army, Hata Shunroku looked at the latest battle report, his eyes growing colder: "Not enough!"

He knew that the struggle of the 13th Division alone was far from enough.

He needs a new force, a force powerful enough to change the entire course of the war, to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy from the outside!
"Order!" he said to the Chief of the General Staff, Masazo Kawabe, behind him, "Immediately select elite personnel from the divisions and brigades of the North China Area Army!"

Kawabe Masazo was startled: "Commander, what kind of pressure is coming from Commander Okamura's side?"

"Draw some combat troops from the Kwantung Army and send them south to reinforce the North China Area Army in conjunction with the puppet Manchukuo army." Hata Shunroku interrupted him, "Tell him to draw one elite infantry battalion from each division! And one artillery company from each artillery regiment!"

"Gather all available resources!"

He turned around, walked to another map of North China, and used a red pencil to draw a shocking arrow on it, pointing straight from Beiping to Wuhan!

"A special task force will be formed, with Major General Masakuni Ito, who has just been promoted, serving as the team leader."

"The total force must be no less than 15,000 men! I don't care what method they use, whether by rail, truck, or even on foot! They must be assembled in Wuchang within thirteen days."

This was a desperate, all-or-nothing decision.

The entire operations room gasped in shock.

Should key personnel from North China be transferred to support Central China?

What about North China?
The main force of the Nationalist army in North China is still eyeing us covetously!

But Hata Shunroku couldn't care less about that anymore.

This telegram was not only sent to North China, but also to the headquarters of the 11th Army in Puqi.

It is more than just a support force.

It's more than just a shot in the arm; it's a gesture.

The telegram was actually meant to inform Yokoyama Isamu and all the soldiers of the Locust Army fighting on the front lines.

The brother nation has not given up yet; reinforcements are on their way!

Sixth War Zone, Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters.

Sun Lianzhong leaned back in his chair, looking at the "victory report" that Chief of Staff Guo Chan had just drafted and was ready to be submitted to the General Staff. His face showed disapproval: "Chief of Staff Guo,"

"Is this telegram a little too optimistic?"

He pointed to the phrase "successfully encircled the main force of the enemy's 13th Division" in the battle report.

"As far as I know, what we have really surrounded is only an infantry battalion of the 13th Division."

"The main force of the 13th Division has long since left the encirclement."

"As for the decisive pursuit by each unit, which inflicted heavy losses on the enemy?"

"The telegrams I received from various army and division commanders were all complaining about the excessive resistance and the difficulty of pursuit!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Chan gave a wry smile.

“Commander,” he said in a low voice, “what we are fighting is not just a military battle, but also a political one.”

Sun Lianzhong frowned but remained silent.

“You know better than I how much the General Staff expects from this campaign,” Guo Chan said, his tone filled with helplessness. “The Chairman urgently needs a glorious victory. It is the capital to confront the United States and also to gain a higher position among the Allies.”

"Otherwise, the elite force of the expeditionary force that we have painstakingly armed will inevitably be drawn away by Stilwell to shed blood for the Americans in the Pacific! This would not be a good thing for any of us!"

"What we need now."

Guo Chan's voice was almost a whisper, "It's not a true casualty report, but a victory report that will satisfy the Chairman and shut the Americans up. As for whether we've actually won, that's not that important. Besides, we're already on the road to victory. Doesn't Commander Sun have confidence in Commander Chu's command?"

Sun Lianzhong fell silent.

He certainly understood what Guo Chan meant.

This is using ink to exchange for guns and cannons.

Use a paper "great victory" to preserve the most elite strategic reserve force on the Chinese battlefield.

Although it is unknown whether the mountain city's plan will be effective.

But as a Chinese person, he could only cooperate.

"Just do as you say."

Guo Chan breathed a sigh of relief.

He picked up the draft and, without making a sound, added a zero after the number "thousands of enemies killed".

Tens of thousands of enemy soldiers were annihilated.
……

Mountain city, command headquarters, operations conference room.

When Zhu Peiji read this "appropriately embellished" telegram aloud: "...Our soldiers of the Sixth War Zone fought bravely and successfully encircled the main force of the Japanese 13th Division east of Yuyang Pass! After several days of bloody fighting, we have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Preliminary estimates indicate that at least 13,000 enemy soldiers have been annihilated!"

The silence lasted only a moment.

The next second, a deafening roar of cheers erupted!
"May God bless China!"

"We will have the opportunity to annihilate the main force of the Japanese 13th Division, a standing division. This is absolutely fantastic news."

The officers were so excited that their faces turned red.

Chang Ruiyuan suddenly stood up from the head of the table, snatched the telegram, and his eyes burned with a fierce flame!
He even lost his composure, rushing directly to the huge battle map and waving the command baton in his hand.

"Order!" His voice trembled slightly with extreme excitement: "Send a telegram to the entire army! Commend all officers and soldiers of the Sixth War Zone!"

"Order the Fifth War Zone not to continue resting in place, but to press south and pursue the enemy while they are ahead."

"Eliminate the remnants of the Japanese Third Division as well!"

"Wenbai, go and draft the telegram."

Zhang Wenbai glanced at the crowd reveling in the operations room and couldn't help but sigh.

Chang Ruiyuan then turned to Zhu Peiji, who was also beaming with excitement, and instructed him: "Immediately translate this report of victory into English and send it to Stilwell! Send it to Washington!"

"Let them see! Let the Chinese soldiers defend our country with these weapons!"

No one would question the exaggerated, almost absurd, battle results figures, or rather, no one would be willing to question them.
After all, Chu Yunfei's current tactic of striking the enemy in the belly is essentially paying the price for the strategic mistake made by the General Headquarters in its initial assessment of the Japanese army's attack on the grain-producing areas. If Chu Yunfei had been in full command of the Battle of Western Hubei, it wouldn't have developed into what it is today.

Everyone in the command desperately needed such a "great victory" to cover up previous defeats, to respond to pressure from allies, and to inject the most powerful boost into this long-running and exhausting war.

Even if this stimulant contains lies. (End of Chapter)