Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Northern Hubei, Chu Yunfei's forward command post.

The night is already deep.

Inside the command post, the light from the kerosene lamp cast a dim, yellowish glow on the huge battle map on the wall.

Chu Yunfei did not rest; he continued to simulate possible battlefield scenarios.

"Your Excellency."

Zhao Pengcheng strode in, holding a telegram, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. "Urgent telegram from Commander Lin Zuozhen of the 141st Division!"

Chu Yunfei slowly turned around and took the telegram.

The contents of the telegram were exactly what he had expected.

"Our master completely wiped out the stubborn enemies within the encirclement by dusk today!"

"According to the initial count, more than 950 Japanese soldiers were killed and dozens were captured."

"The Japanese invaders were fierce, and our division also suffered heavy casualties, with a total of more than 1,800 casualties."

The total number of weapons and equipment seized is as follows.

Upon seeing this casualty ratio, Chu Yunfei's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Even after the internal strife, the two severely weakened Japanese battalions were still able to inflict such heavy casualties on the 141st Division.

The fighting spirit of the elite Japanese troops was indeed not to be underestimated.

However, after this battle, the Japanese army would no longer have any so-called elite troops that could be mobilized in Central China.

"Reply to the 141st Division." He instructed Zhao Peng-Cheng, "Send a commendation! Tell Lin Zuozhen that the battle was fought well, and instruct him to regroup his troops, rest on the spot, and prepare for the next tough battle!"

"Yes!"

Just then, another communications officer delivered a new battle report.

"Your Excellency!"

"Urgent telegram from the Sixth War Zone! Our 18th and 79th Armies, in coordinated operations, successfully captured Niejiahe this evening! The enemy entrenched downstream of Yuyangguan has been driven back to the Yidu direction by our troops!"

"it is good!"

Chu Yunfei clapped his hands heavily!
The liberation of the Niejiahe area.

This meant that the Japanese 13th Division's hope of escaping from the outside was completely dashed!
Immediately afterwards, the third, and most crucial, report of good news was delivered to his desk.

They came from the 74th Army.

"Reporting to Your Excellency!" Zhao Peng-cheng's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Commander Wang Yaowu of the 74th Army has called! His main force successfully captured Songzi County an hour ago and has firmly occupied the right bank of the Songzi River!"

"The main force of the Japanese army in the Yichang, Yidu, and Shipai areas has been completely separated!"

This last piece of news came like a thunderbolt!
The entire command post erupted in an uncontrollable cheer!

At Chu Yunfei's signal, Pang Junming strode to the map and moved the blue arrow representing the 74th Army. The 74th Army, like the sharpest dagger, plunged fiercely into the heart of the Japanese army's entire defensive line!
The red "snake" that was originally connected end to end.

At this moment, it was finally cut in half!
East of the Songzi River, the only remaining strategic strongholds for the Japanese army were Yichang and Yidu.

One is on the north bank of the Yangtze River (Yichang), and the other is on the south bank of the Yangtze River.

The Japanese 39th Division, the Noji Detachment, and part of the 13th Division, which were besieged on the front of the Shipai Fortress and were attempting to relieve the siege on the south bank of the Yangtze River, were now completely isolated.

Their only remaining connection with other Japanese combat units in Central China was the Yangtze River.

The land routes have been completely cut off by the 74th Army, a true "iron army against Japan"!

"Your Excellency!" Zhao Pengcheng's eyes gleamed with admiration. "Hatake Shunroku is now trapped in a dead end. All his plans and struggles are within your calculations!"

Chu Yunfei didn't speak. He just stared quietly at the red area on the map that was now surrounded, watching those once invincible Japanese elite troops now trapped like turtles in a jar.

Joy had not yet appeared on his face.

"Pengcheng." Chu Yunfei didn't turn around, but calmly asked, "Where is Shi Wengui's 8th Artillery Brigade?"

"There's still no news; they're probably still on the move. Your Excellency, please rest."

At 5 a.m. the next day, Zhao Pengcheng, who had not yet rested, finally received Shi Wengui's telegram.

After glancing at the telegram, Zhao Pengcheng immediately stepped forward and placed a special piece representing the heavy artillery unit on a point on the outskirts of Yichang on the map.

The next morning, after waking up, Chu Yunfei went to the battle map.

Pang Junming stepped forward: "Your Excellency."

His voice carried an barely suppressed excitement: "The entire 8th Artillery Brigade has arrived at the designated area. Brigade Commander Shi Wengui called in the early morning, saying that the entire brigade is in good condition with all personnel and artillery, and has already constructed artillery positions, ready to support the offensive of the 22nd Army Group at any time!"

Chu Yunfei nodded.

Consciousness quickly entered the three-dimensional combat map.

The vanguard units of the Guangxi clique have reached the west bank of the Ju River (directly east of Yichang, a tributary of the Yangtze River), and are ready to launch an attack on Dangyang (directly east of Yichang, with a highway connecting them).

The organizational level of the 22nd Group Army's combat units has declined, and Chu Yunfei hasn't paid much attention to the specific number of casualties.

However, it seems they must have clashed with the Japanese army last night.

The river defense army to the east, the 74th and 79th Armies to the south, and the 30th Army to the north.

All the combat troops had arrived at their final positions, just as he had planned.

A comprehensive and inescapable net has been cast against the remaining main force of the Japanese 11th Army.

"it is good."

After Chu Yunfei's consciousness left the battle map, he quickly issued a new order: "Send a telegram to all units."

"At dawn tomorrow, launch an offensive against the Yichang area according to the pre-determined battle plan."

"Yes."

……

Another day has passed in the blink of an eye.

The various units were still engaged in fierce fighting. In addition to using his artillery guidance skills to help improve the battlefield situation for each combat unit, Chu Yunfei also...

There were basically no further adjustments to the positions of the combat troops.

There is absolutely no need for adjustment.

Everything that needed to be done has been done; whether the operation succeeds or not does not depend on the senior commander.

It depends not on the quality of the officers and soldiers on the front lines, but on the quality of the soldiers at the grassroots level.

Early morning at the mountain city military airport.

The darkness before dawn was torn apart by rows of huge searchlight beams.

The booming sound, like a deep rumble of thunder, echoed in the humid air, making people's eardrums buzz.

The mechanic, Wang Laonian, was squatting next to the massive landing gear of a B-25 Mitchell bomber, tightening the last screw with an oil-stained wrench.

The pungent smell of aviation fuel mixed with the smell of engine oil had long been the most familiar smell in his life.

"Old Wang! Hurry up, there's still a problem with the hydraulic system of Unit 6!"

Not far away, an American mechanic, also covered in oil, was yelling at him in broken Chinese.

Wang Laonian didn't look up, but quickly finished his work and then gave an "OK" sign in that direction.

He straightened up, rubbed his aching lower back, and looked at the steel jungle in front of him, feeling dizzy.

Rows of silver B-25 bombers, like sleeping behemoths, were neatly arranged on the tarmac. Ground crew, mechanics, pilots, and soldiers from both China and the United States, like worker ants, bustled about in this steel jungle.

Hey guys, give it your all!

At the other end of the runway, a group of Chinese soldiers in khaki uniforms were chanting slogans as they painstakingly unloaded aerial bombs, each painted with yellow stripes, from trucks and carefully loaded them onto bomb-laden vehicles.

"I have to say, this thing is fucking heavy!"

A young soldier carefully placed a bomb on the ammunition cart, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said breathlessly.

"Nonsense, this is a 500-pound behemoth!" A sergeant with a rough, old-fashioned look patted the smooth, cold shell, a hint of awe on his face: "If one of these hits, the Japanese bunker will be as flimsy as paper, its skull will be blown off!"

"Squad leader, do you think it's really something a Chinese person would throw?"

The young soldier's eyes were filled with curiosity and longing. "Is there any doubt?" The squad leader puffed out his chest proudly. "See?"

"Several of those guys wearing flight jackets are our Chinese brothers!"

"There are pilots, bombers, and machine gunners!"

"I heard Americans say that this is called, oh right, 'crew members'!"

The veteran squad leader gestured towards a group of young Chinese pilots who were talking with American pilots not far away.

Those young people had a hint of naivety on their faces, but also an undisguised pride.

Although they played different roles in the crew, some even just as deputies, being able to fly this "flying fortress" alongside a powerful American ally and personally drop vengeful bombs on the heads of the invaders was itself an unparalleled honor.

"Once this battle is over," the squad leader said, looking at the silver eagles about to take off, his eyes filled with anticipation, "our good days will really be coming."

"W-W-W-!"

The piercing alarm shattered the pre-dawn tranquility.

"Ready to take off!"

"All personnel, evacuate the runway!"

Wang Laonian and the soldiers carrying the bombs immediately retreated to a safe area as quickly as possible.

They looked up and saw B-25 bombers, led by a guide vehicle, slowly heading towards the end of the runway.

The massive engine began to roar deafeningly!

The airflow whipped up by the propeller was like a gale, making it almost impossible for people to stand up!

Immediately afterwards, the first bomber, like an arrow released from a bow, began to taxi and accelerate on the runway!
The nose of the aircraft slowly rose!
The massive fuselage, carrying hundreds of tons of steel and flames, roared into the sky that was about to be dyed golden by the rising sun!
The second one!
The third one!
One after another!
The entire mountain town seemed to tremble at the earth-shattering roar!
The Frontline Command Post in Northern Jiangxi.

The assessment of the air raids has not yet been drafted and sent here by telegram.

However, Chu Yunfei could already see it clearly.

The skull that represented the 13th Division's command post has disappeared.

In addition, the two core anti-Japanese base areas that had activated special buffs also completed the relevant buff tasks.

This indicates that the 13th Division's command post had been destroyed by them.

At this moment, Chu Yunfei is inspecting the current base construction template.

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

[Current Base Level: Lv.max]

Current total population: 462 million

[Estimated Gross Domestic Product: 246 Million Yuan (Legal Tender)]

[Current estimated total annual income: 5420 million (fiat currency)]

Current tax revenue capacity: 90%

[Currently estimated number of recruits: 14 (out of 48)]

[Current development status of the base area: 23 (out of 100)]

[Current pillar industries of the base area: tobacco industry; mining and industrial production; military industry]

Current literacy rate: 50%

Current stability: 82%

[Special: Base area pillar industry resources increased by 10%, work efficiency of all industries increased by 10%, and production efficiency cap increased by 20%]

[Current Anti-Japanese Base Area: Shanxi Anti-Japanese Base Area (Core Area: Southeast Shanxi) Enhancement Mission (II) has been completed]

[Mission Requirement: Submit proof of being a general-level officer (2/2)]

[Current Buff Task (II) has been completed]

[Current Special Buffs: Base base pillar industry resources increased by 10%, work efficiency of all industries increased by 10%, production efficiency cap increased by 20%, production efficiency remains at 10%]

The current estimates for GDP and tax revenue have been revised.

Gross Domestic Product: 266 million RMB

[Current estimated annual revenue: 89 million national currency]

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

[Current Base Level: Lv.max]

Current total population: 278 million

[Estimated Gross Domestic Product: 146 Million (Fiat Currency)]

[Current estimated total annual income: 3400 million (fiat currency)]

Current tax revenue capacity: 90%

[Currently estimated number of recruits: 12 (out of 18)]

[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)]

[Current Buff Task (1) is complete.]

[Current Buff Mission (II) is now available: Submit General-Rank Officer Certificate (2/2)]

[Current Buff Quest (II) Completed]

[Current Special Buff: Increases production efficiency by 20%, maintains production efficiency at 10%]

The current estimates for GDP and tax revenue have been revised.

Gross Domestic Product: 166 million RMB

[Current estimated annual revenue: 55 million national currency]

The two core bases were already developing rapidly, and now that they have completed their enhancement mission, they are even more powerful.

In the second half of the year, the factories that received aid in previous years will basically operate at full capacity.

The estimated gross domestic product (GDP) will likely double.

In addition, most of the steel production facilities that the Americans provided aid to in 42 have now been transported to the Shanxi region.

Steel production in Shanxi is expected to increase again soon.

The current steel production (alloy steel) output in Shanxi Province has already surpassed that of other regions.
Including carbon steel, the total reached 350,000 tons.

Not only did the output more than double, but the quality was also much higher.

Add to that the scattered heavy industries that have developed in the southwest and northwest regions.

It can be said that the Republic of China at this time was quite powerful.

On the battlefield at this very moment.

The 13th Division headquarters was destroyed in an air raid.

Over time, the organization of various Japanese units declined.

Although they still maintain an independent operational structure with a large battalion-sized organization.

But at this moment, on the battlefield covering tens of square kilometers, the troops appeared sparse and disorganized.

The 39th Division put up a strong fight, but ultimately could not withstand the attack of the main force of the river defense army.

The Japanese defenses are crumbling, and victory is in sight. (End of Chapter)