Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Pengcheng, the North China Joint Front Command.

The cold winter wind, mixed with snow and sand, scraped across the blue bricks of the command post like blades.

Inside the meeting room, however, the scene was quite different.

High-powered incandescent bulbs hung from the ceiling, illuminating the enormous multi-theater joint sand table in the very center without casting any shadows.

Chu Yunfei, wearing a general's woolen overcoat, rested his hands on the wooden edge of the sand table.

Commanders gathered on both sides of the sand table.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief Li Zongren sat upright to one side, his expression reserved.

Chief of Staff Lin Wei, Commander Fang Ligong (episode 88), and Commander Wang Zhonglian (episode 31) stand side by side.

Behind them, a group of high-ranking generals, including Zhang Xuezhong (episode 19), Liu Maoen (episode 14), Qian Bojun (episode 6), He Zhuguo (episode 15), and Sun Weiru (episode 4), sat upright, their breathing barely audible.

This is the highest-level operational summary and campaign turning point meeting held by the North China Joint Command since the launch of "Winter Storm".

Zhang Dayun, the head of the operations section, walked briskly to the front of the sand table, holding a thick battle report.

"Sir, esteemed officers!"

Zhang Dayun picked up the wooden baton and tapped it heavily on several key ports and beaches on the north bank of the Yangtze River.

"With the completion of the final mopping-up operation along the Taizhou, Yangzhou, and Nantong line by the early hours of this morning, our 31st and 88th Group Armies have achieved their objectives."

"The Battle of Jiangbei has been declared completely over!"

A low but undeniably excited murmur rippled through the command center.

"Currently, there are no longer any organized Japanese field units or puppet troops in Jiangbei."

Zhang Dayun's baton traced a solid blue line along the Yangtze River.

"My main forces that marched south have fully entered a period of rest and preparation for the crossing of the Yangtze River."

"Inland waterway vessels, motorboats, and pontoon bridge equipment urgently dispatched from the rear are being transported to the front lines day and night via railways and canals."

Chu Yunfei nodded slightly, shifting his gaze from Jiangnan to the north of the sand table.

"What is the situation on the northern front?"

Fang Ligong pushed up his glasses and skillfully took over the conversation.

"Your Excellency, the progress on the northern front is extremely smooth, it can even be described as unstoppable."

Qian Bojun took out a new situation map from his briefcase and spread it next to the sand table.

"Qiu Qingquan's First Armored Group, together with the main forces of the 14th and 15th Divisions, has completely torn apart the Japanese army's defenses."

"Currently, the main force on the northern front has reached the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, forming an impenetrable encirclement of the enemy."

"The battle has officially entered the critical stage of eliminating the outer defensive positions and clearing out the key defensive nodes of the Japanese invaders."

With excitement gleaming in his eyes, He Zhuguo, commander of the 15th Army Group, interjected, "Those 'turtle shells' that the Japanese built around Beijing and Tianjin are no different from paper in the face of the direct fire of Sherman tanks."

"The Kwantung Army was firmly blocked outside the Great Wall, and the Japanese and puppet troops in Beijing and Tianjin were like turtles in a jar!"

Just as the crowd was getting excited.

Zhang Xuezhong, commander of the 19th Army Group, suddenly stood up, his face full of frustration.

"Your Excellency! Gentlemen!"

Zhang Xuezhong tugged at his collar, his face turning red with urgency.

"The fighting is fierce on the southern front, but exhilarating on the northern front!"

"But what about our nineteen episodes?"

"They are completely useless as a strategic reserve."

Zhang Xuezhong stood at attention, saluted, and loudly volunteered for battle: "Now that the northern front has been encircled, and the southern front is to force a crossing of the Yangtze River, please allow the Nineteenth Episode to be deployed to the front line and play our part."

Chu Yunfei raised his hand and pressed it down: "Calm down. Sit down. The water-rich areas of Jiangnan are full of tough nuts to crack. Good steel should be used on the most deadly blade."

Zhang Xuezhong reluctantly sat down, but he couldn't suppress the fighting spirit in his eyes.

The battle situation report is now complete.

Chief of Staff Lin Wei, who had not spoken until now, cleared his throat.

Lin Wei, holding several documents stamped with the official seal of the Supreme Command, slowly walked to the center of the conference table.

"Gentlemen."

Lin Wei's gaze swept over the powerful generals present, and his tone became unusually serious.

"The front lines are fighting well, and the rear is also preparing for battle."

"I would like to inform you about the specific situation regarding the downsizing of troops in North China and surrounding theater commands."

The atmosphere in the meeting room froze instantly.

This is a major event that concerns the vital interests and lifeline of all military units.

"This was under the strong promotion of the General and the Commander-in-Chief."

Lin Wei paused, her voice crystal clear.

"The clearing out of redundant troops in the rear, as well as the reorganization plans of 'division-to-brigade' and 'army-to-division', are nearing completion."

"Especially the 21st Army Group of the Guangxi Clique."

As Lin Wei spoke, she deliberately turned her head to glance at Li Zongren, who was sitting in the second seat.

"With the cooperation and reorganization of General Zhang Gan, the 21st Army Group has completely completed the personnel reshuffle and organizational adjustment."

"Currently, the unit has not only regained its morale, but has also been fully integrated into the central government's unified logistics and military command system."

Li Zongren sat upright in his chair, his expression calm and without the slightest embarrassment.

He even nodded slightly, taking over Lin Wei's words as the deputy commander-in-chief.

"The malignant tumor of old ideas can only be eradicated by scraping the bone and removing the wound."

Li Zongren's voice was deep and resonant, revealing the resolute determination of an old marshal.

"Zhang Gan has done a great job. The 21st Army Group is no longer a private army of any faction, but the national defense army of the Party and the State!"

This statement came out.

All the generals present felt a chill run down their spines.

Even Commander Li publicly stated that he would completely hand over his core supporters, so who would dare to outwardly comply but inwardly defy him on the matter of reorganization?
Lin Wei gave Li Zongren an approving bow, then picked up the last top-secret operational plan.

"Ladies and gentlemen, now comes the core of today's meeting."

Lin Wei opened the folder in her hand.

"Regarding the next phase of the general offensive against the Japanese forces in the Yangtze River Delta and even the entire Central China region."

"The General Staff and the Joint Command made extremely significant adjustments to the operational deployment."

Fang Ligong, Qian Bojun, Wang Zhonglian and others straightened their backs, their eyes fixed on Lin Wei.

Lin Wei's baton crossed the Yangtze River on the sand table, landing heavily on the southern regions of Jiangsu and Anhui, as well as the border area between Zhejiang and Jiangxi.

"After the annihilation of the Japanese 60th and 13th Divisions."

"Okamura Yasuji has retreated all of East China's heavy firepower, tanks, and remaining troops to Jiangnan."

“They built a dense network of semi-permanent bunkers along the riverbank in an attempt to prevent us from crossing the river.”

Lin Wei sneered: "If we simply try to force our way across the river from the north bank, even if we manage to land successfully under the cover of the air force, the casualties we suffer will be staggering."

"Therefore, the General Staff's plan is..."

Lin Wei's voice boomed like thunder in the conference room.

"Drain their firewood from under their base! Encircle them from both flanks!"

"The main offensive against the core defense line of the Japanese and puppet troops in Jiangnan will be launched by combat troops transferred from South China and the rear, starting from the enemy's rear and flanks!"

"Does the General Headquarters mean that our main force in North China is only conducting a feint attack to contain the enemy north of the Yangtze River?"

“That’s right. Since we can launch an attack directly from the ground, there’s no need for us to cross the river to be the main force.”

"This was part of the plan. Our goal was not just to launch a feint, but also to allow our troops to rest and recuperate, and more importantly, to let our American allies know that we have important things to do."

"Of course, the purpose of this move is also to make our opponent, Okamura Yasuji, think that our main attack direction is on the other side of Nanjing."

"The joint command between North China and South China does not have any real coordinated operations, and even the operational areas are still divided very strictly as usual."

As soon as Chu Yunfei said this, everyone immediately understood.

No wonder they're making such a big show of launching a river-crossing operation.

I thought it was a large-scale amphibious landing exercise, but it turned out to be a complete smokescreen.

Lin Wei nodded and announced the order of the participating troops in detail.

"The General Staff has issued the latest order."

"The 32nd and 25th Group Armies under the command of Gu Zhutong, commander of the Third War Zone, are hereby relieved of all second-line defensive duties and shall rapidly advance into the front lines of southern Jiangsu and Zhejiang!"

"Under the command of Xue Yue, commander of the Ninth War Zone, Li Yutang's army group and Ou Zhen's troops, as the vanguard, launched a direct attack from the west."

Lin Wei turned to Li Zongren and said, "In addition, the 21st Army Group, which has just completed its reorganization, has already moved westward."

"They plan to secretly cross the river towards Wuhan to fully support Li Yutang's army group and ensure the final victory in the offensive operation." A grand undertaking!
A truly extravagant undertaking!

Qian Bojun gasped and punched his own thigh.

"This battle was equivalent to mobilizing a quarter of the country's combat forces. You can imagine how difficult it was to command. I never expected that the Chairman would have such great courage."

"And most importantly, we must win this battle."

That's strange. When did the Chairman become capable of commanding such a large-scale battle?
Just then, Lin Wei coughed twice: "This battle is under the full command of the Chief Advisor; the General Headquarters will only provide the battle plan and some ideas."

No wonder.
Now, everyone looked at Chu Yunfei with even greater respect.

The direct commander of the Jingji Campaign was the chief advisor, while the commander of the Yangtze River Delta Campaign was still the war marshal himself.

Multitasking and juggling multiple roles must be an enormous test of one's energy.
And it seems that no one can guarantee victory in this battle except the war commander himself!
Chu Yunfei calmly said, "If Commander Gu and Commander Xue's troops attack from the south and west, the Japanese forces will inevitably be dispersed and distracted again."

"Even if the Central China Front Army had three heads and six arms, it couldn't handle this kind of multi-directional strategic strangulation!"

Liu Maoen nodded repeatedly, his eyes burning with fervor: "Once the Japanese troops in Jiangnan are forced to divide their forces to rescue their flanks and rear, their defensive thickness along the Yangtze River will be instantly thinned out."

"At that time, under the cover of the air force, those assembled river crossing boats will be able to easily pierce through their river defense positions like sharp swords."

Zhang Dayun quickly added blue attack arrows representing the Third and Ninth War Zones to the sand table.

What was originally a massive offensive focused only on the north bank of the Yangtze River instantly transformed into a death trap that engulfed the entire Jiangnan water town.

Fang Ligong stared at the suffocating encirclements on the sand table, adjusted his glasses, and raised the most crucial question: "Chief, the equipment levels of the troops in the south are uneven."

"Although the Third and Ninth War Zones have no shortage of elite troops, their firepower projection is far inferior to that of the troops armed by our North China Ordnance Cluster."

"If they are tasked with leading the attack to break the stalemate with the Japanese forces, can their supplies and firepower hold up?"

"We were naturally prepared for this problem long ago."

"The equipment for the first batch of thirty American-equipped divisions was mainly allocated to the Expeditionary Force for training combat troops in preparation for possible future amphibious operations."

"But the arsenals in the rear have never stopped operating for all these years."

"The main combat forces in the south have been equipped with nearly 400,000 rounds of artillery shells and have been deployed with 35 mortar battalions."

"Not only that."

Chu Yunfei's eyes turned cold: "The 14th Air Force and our heavy bomber squadron will abandon bombing other unrelated areas."

"The entire operation has been relocated to field airfields in Quzhou and Woyang."

"Provide absolute air interdiction and fire support for the ground forces of the Third and Ninth War Zones!"

The entire operation plan was flawless.

From troop deployment to logistical support, from frontal containment to flanking maneuvering, the Japanese forces in East China compressed all their living space to the extreme.

In the fourth episode, Commander Sun Weiru stood up and straightened her military uniform.

"Your Excellency, now that the strategy has been decided..."

Sun Weiru asked in a deep voice, "When will the North China Front Army launch the final Yangtze River Crossing Campaign?"

Chu Yunfei took a deep breath and placed his hands back on the edge of the sand table.

His gaze swept over the faces of all the generals, which were filled with fighting spirit and desire.

"Wait!"

Chu Yunfei only said one word.

"wait?"

"Wait until the South China Joint Command fires the first shot, until the Japanese headquarters in Nanjing is in complete chaos, until they have to send river defense troops to reinforce the front lines."

The operational meeting came to an end.

Some commanders left one after another to rest.

The conference room at the Pengcheng forward command post gradually quieted down.

Inside a small conference room not far away.

The core members of the North China faction gathered together.

Chu Yunfei sat upright in the main seat, holding a cup of scalding hot tea in his hand.

Sitting in front of him were Fang Ligong, Qian Bojun, and Zhang Dayun, the head of the operations section.

These men were all his most trusted confidants, who had fought their way through the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in Shanxi.

The door was tightly closed, shutting out the wind, snow, and noise from outside.

Qian Bojun finally couldn't resist. He took out a cigarette from the pack, but didn't light it. Instead, he irritably tapped the table twice.

"Your Excellency."

Qian Bojun lowered his voice, his tone filled with deep frustration: "I really don't understand."

"I couldn't say much in front of everyone just now, but now that it's just the few of us old brothers, please tell me the truth."

"The recapture of Nanjing is a monumental achievement that washes away national humiliation and will be recorded in history!"

"Why are we leaving our strongest and most heavily armed units, the 88th and the 6th Army Group, unused, and instead having Wang Zhonglian's 31st and Zhang Xuezhong's 19th take the lead?"

"Wang Zhonglian fought so poorly on the outskirts of Xuzhou." Zhang Xuezhong's troops were previously a reserve force, and assigning them the main offensive mission was met with resentment from the men.

Zhang Dayun nodded slightly to the side.

As the head of the operations section, from a purely military perspective, sending troops that had not yet been fully equipped with American weapons to carry out the most brutal river-crossing assault would result in a geometric increase in casualties.

Only Fang Ligong did not agree.

He sat there quietly, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming slightly, as if he had already caught something.

"Bojun, in war, we can't just focus on the city or the town in front of us."

"First, the political significance of recovering Nanjing is too great."

"It's so significant that if our main force in North China takes on all the credit and keeps all the credit in their own hands, what will other combat units think? Even Chairman Chiang himself will not feel at ease sleeping."

Chu Yunfei interlaced his fingers and placed them in front of his abdomen: "Letting the main attack be given to episodes 31 and 19 will not only silence the public but also allow the Central Army's core forces to share the spoils. This is a political balance. As for our North China's military achievements, they are already too many and too heavy."

"Secondly, it is also a purely military consideration."

Chu Yunfei stood up, walked to the map of China hanging on the wall, and pointed to the Yangtze River basin.

"A forced crossing of the Yangtze River is essentially a large-scale inland river landing operation."

"Episodes 31 and 19 need to accumulate experience in amphibious landing and surface assault through actual combat and even bloodshed in this battle."

"To prepare for possible amphibious operations in the future."

"The expansion of the expeditionary force will inevitably be based on the existing combat troops as the core backbone, rather than recruiting and training new ones. We don't have that much time. The 19th and 31st will definitely be completely dismantled in the future."

Qian Bojun was taken aback for a moment, then became even more puzzled: "What about us?"

"We were just sitting on the north bank of the Yangtze River, watching them cross and reap the rewards, in episodes 88 and 6?"

"Who said we're just going to stand by and watch from Jiangbei?"

"Your battlefield is not in this Jiangnan water town at all."

Chu Yunfei suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp and piercing like that of a hawk: "In the Northeast!"

"Your Excellency, what do you mean?"

Fang Ligong took a deep breath. "Our goal is to directly eliminate the Kwantung Army, and also to guard against the polar bear?"

"good."

Chu Yunfei walked back to the table, placed his hands on the surface, leaned forward, and exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

"In the coming year, the expeditionary force will be equipped with those thirty American-equipped divisions and will shine in the Pacific theater against the Allied forces of the United States and Britain, tearing down the Japanese island defenses one by one."

"But the real battlefield is still on the Asian continent."

"Once the Japanese army shows signs of complete collapse and the Kwantung Army is drained by us, that behemoth that has been watching from the north will definitely not remain silent any longer."

Chu Yunfei's voice was as cold as if it had been soaked in ice water: "The Soviets' ambition for the Far East has never been extinguished since the Tsarist era."

"They will definitely try every means to tear up the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact, march south, and use the pretext of declaring war on Japan to forcibly interfere in the distribution of interests in Manchuria!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Bojun and Zhang Dayun felt a chill run down their spines.

Although the Japanese army was stubborn, it was eventually at its last gasp.

But the Soviet Red Army was a terrifying force that had been forged in the crucible of fighting Nazi Germany on the European battlefield!
Both the number of tanks and the density of artillery were far superior to those of the current Japanese army.

"so."

Chu Yunfei straightened up, looked at Qian Bojun, and said in a tone that left no room for doubt.

"The 88th Group Army and the 6th Group Army, as our most elite and core backbone forces, must not be allowed to lose even a little bit of their strength in the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign."

"I want you to maintain the most complete organization, the highest morale, and the best equipment!"

"From today onwards, we must be prepared to turn our cannons further north at any time."

"If Stalin had stayed obediently outside the border, there would have been no problem."

"If they dare to use the guise of 'liberators' to reach into our black soil and plunder the fruits of our labor, or engage in any kind of sphere of influence demarcation."

"Then let's use large-caliber artillery and Sherman tracks to show him who truly owns this land!" (End of Chapter)