Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Thirty-eight years, early winter.

Northern foothills of the Kent Mountains.

A white blizzard, carrying snowflakes as large as goose feathers, fell continuously across the vast grasslands and frozen ground.

Although it is only early winter, the temperature has already dropped to an extremely harsh minus twenty degrees Celsius.

The gale whipped up snow and sand from the ground, which lashed against the thick concrete walls of the bunker, making a sickening "rustling" sound.

Inside this forward observation post codenamed "042," Corporal Wang Meng of the Third Platoon of the First Company of the Third Column of the Border Defense Army was gripping his domestically produced Type 35 semi-automatic rifle tightly.

This Type 35 semi-automatic rifle is a Chinese copy of the Garand rifle.

The amount of propellant in the bullet was reduced by 25%, and the recoil was reduced by 30%.

It is more suitable for soldiers' physique, and its power has not decreased much.

Wang Meng's breath formed a thin layer of frost on the edge of his helmet. He gritted his teeth and stared intently through the narrow firing port at the boundary line to the north, which was already covered by heavy snow.

"Squad leader."

Wang Meng swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly in the howling wind and snow.

"Did you hear anything?"

Squeak, boom, boom, boom.
Scattered noises rose from afar.

"Those Russian heavy weapons from the other side are coming over."

Sergeant Qin Chuan, lying prone in front of the periscope, had a particularly menacing scar on his face in the dim light of the bunker.

As a veteran who fought his way through the War of Resistance against Japan.

"What's the panic?"

"Hold the butt of the rifle firmly!"

Qin Chuan didn't turn around; his rough fingers gently rotated the focus knob on the periscope.

“These damn bastards haven’t been behaving themselves for the past few years.”

In Qin Chuan's vision, several huge black outlines were faintly visible deep in the snowstorm.

"Rumble"

The dull roar of the diesel engine, like muffled thunder, traveled along the permafrost, even causing the snow on the top of the bunker to fall in a rustling sound.

"They are tanks, three of them. I reckon it's a tank platoon."

"They should be followed by about a reinforced platoon of infantry. Based on past experience, these Russians should be wearing snow camouflage clothing and their light weapons firepower will definitely be enhanced."

Inside the firing point behind the observation post.

Two soldiers operating the domestically produced Type 36 recoilless rifle quickly removed the muzzle cover.

The ammunition handler skillfully loaded a finned armor-piercing projectile into the gun barrel.

With a "click," the lock closed.

In recent years, with the continuous development of military industrial capacity in North China.

The defense industry system is constantly being improved.

The combat unit that used to be using Type 31 rocket launchers, PAK-37s, and 45mm anti-tank guns.

The makeover is now almost complete, from head to toe.

They can already be described as an army armed to the teeth.

Before the following year, most of the equipment provided by the United States and the Soviet Union was dumped at the new recruit training center, and a large portion of it was even dismantled, recycled, or destroyed.

Now, all the defense weapons guarding this long northern border are domestically produced heavy weapons that have undergone rigorous design and finalization by Chu Yunfei and have achieved complete independent mass production.

"Squad leader, they've crossed boundary marker number twelve!"

Wang Meng's pupils contracted sharply, and his finger was already on the trigger.

In sight.

The three T-34 tanks, painted with red five-pointed stars, did not stop their tracks before the boundary line.

They spewed acrid black smoke, their tracks recklessly crushing the boundary marker that represented the sovereignty of the two countries, and, with the arrogant Russian infantry behind them, swaggered toward observation post 042.

Clearly, these people who built this outpost didn't take it seriously.

In their minds, even if the German fascists fell.

This Asian continent should still be considered their spoils under the Yalta system.

Everything that North China had done before was an offense against this northern superpower.

"provocative?"

Qin Chuan released the handle of the periscope, turned around abruptly, and grabbed the submachine gun leaning against the wall: "Since you've crossed the line, then prepare to leave your lives behind!"

Qin Chuan pushed open the blast door behind the bunker and ordered the communications soldier, "Connect to the company headquarters!"

"Report on the enemy crossing the line!"

"The whole platoon has it!"

"Prepare for battle!"

"Anti-tank team, take aim at the tank at the front."

"Yes!"

In addition to the fixed recoilless gun aimed at the opponent.

The infantry squad's rocket launcher gunners immediately picked up their launchers.

They quickly moved through the trenches to a concealed position outside the bunker.

In the wind and snow, the so-called "flower of the Japanese army," which the Japanese army once took pride in, had already been crushed by them five years ago.

And today.

Facing this northern power that had once swept everything across the European battlefield.

This border defense force, which has been established for less than two years, has not retreated in the slightest.

Three hundred meters.

Two hundred meters.

150 meters!

The turret of the leading Russian T-34 tank slowly rotated, its 85mm main gun coldly pointing at the location of outpost 042.

Is it a show of force, or a provocation and a display of power?

who cares?
"Now! Fight!"

Qin Chuan's voice boomed through the communication channel.

"Hey—!"

A blinding trail of flame suddenly lit up the snow, instantly melting the ice and snow within several meters around it.

A high-explosive armor-piercing shell, trailing a long plume of white smoke, streaked across the swirling snow with terrifying speed, leaving a straight trail of death!

"boom--!!!"

A deafening roar suddenly exploded across the vast tundra.

The medium tank at the very front of the charge unleashed a dazzling orange-red fireball from the junction of its right track and lower glacis armor.

The steel tracks, weighing several tons, were blown off and twisted as they flew into the air.

The massive 32-ton tank jolted violently, shifting erratically due to inertia, and finally came to a complete stop in the snowdrift, like a wild boar with a broken leg.

"Enemy attack!"

"Take cover! Open fire!"

The infantry following behind the tanks instantly erupted in chaos.

They clearly did not expect that this seemingly reserved Chinese outpost would launch anti-tank weapons so decisively and fiercely without warning.

"Da da da da—!"

Dozens of submachine guns instantly spewed out dense tongues of fire.

They fired like water onto the defensive line of post 042.

Bullets struck the outer wall of the concrete bunker, sending up large amounts of sparks and concrete debris.

But this level of infantry firepower suppression is like a tickle in the face of the border guards' permanent fortifications.

"Fire!"

Qin Chuan roared, his submachine gun protruding from the firing port, and pulled the trigger at the figures dressed in white camouflage below.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

The semi-automatic rifles in Wang Meng and his comrades' hands emitted an extremely crisp and rhythmic roar.

A dense barrage of fire, composed of a full set of automatic weapons, poured out from the bunkers and outer trenches in an instant!

The dozen or so North Russian soldiers who charged at the front didn't even find cover before they were instantly cut in half by 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.

The blood mist burst open in the white snow, staining large areas of snow red.

"Machine gun team, suppress enemy infantry!"

"Don't let them get near the disabled tank!"

Qin Chuan changed the magazine while giving loud instructions.

The battle, fought in the frigid minus twenty degrees Celsius, instantly escalated into a fierce struggle.

The local troops, relying on the unique ferocity of the fighting nation, immediately lay down on the spot.

Using the remaining two tanks as cover, they desperately organized a counterattack.

"boom!"

An 85mm tank shell struck the trench to the right of the 042 outpost.

The shockwave overturned the sandbags, causing two border guards to cough up blood and fall unconscious.

"Medic!"

"Carry him away!"

Qin Chuan moved swiftly through the trenches, his face covered in gunpowder and mud, but his eyes were unusually bright.

Just as the two sides were locked in a fierce battle.

From the communications bunker behind the position, a rapid telephone ringing accompanied by the sound of running military boots could be heard.

"Class monitor!" "The counselor is here!"

The communications soldier shouted, his brow beaded with sweat.

As soon as he finished speaking, an officer wearing a large military overcoat crouched down and quickly walked to Qin Chuan's side in the trench.

The visitor was Captain Xu Chaoyang, the political instructor of the First Independent Company of the Third Border Defense Column.

He wasn't wearing a helmet, and had an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth. His square face exuded a seasoned and shrewd composure.

"Played well."

Xu Chaoyang peeked out from the edge of the trench and raised his binoculars to look at the North Russian troops below, who were being held down in the snow.

"Director Xu!"

Qin Chuan pulled Xu Chaoyang aside, dodging a string of stray bullets: "These bastards are insane, driving tanks into the controlled area in broad daylight."

Qin Chuan pointed to the T-34 below that was still smoking: "Judging from this situation, it's not a provocation. I guess they want to take advantage of the snowy weather, which prevents our air force from providing rapid support, and they want to forcefully remove this thorn in our side!"

"Pull out our nails?"

Xu Chaoyang sneered, casually crushed the cigarette in two, and threw it into the snow water.

"They're dreaming!"

Xu Chaoyang turned his head and looked at the frontline soldiers whose faces were full of fighting spirit: "Brothers, the enemy has been trying to take our land at the negotiating table for the past two years."

"The Supreme Command's attitude can be summed up in one word: Get out!"

Xu Chaoyang's voice remained clear amidst the rumble of gunfire: "They suffered a setback against the M country in the west, and now they want to get back at us in the east. They're using the border conflict to put pressure on us and probe our strength!"

As Wang Meng changed to a new magazine, he shouted, "Captain! Are we just going to stay stuck in this muddy ditch and waste our time with them?"

"Hai?"

A hint of arrogance and fierce confidence flashed in Xu Chaoyang's eyes.

He slapped Wang Meng's helmet and laughed loudly, "We have 500 million Chinese people standing behind us, and the largest arms factory in all of Asia."

Xu Chaoyang pulled out a top-secret instruction he had just received from his pocket and waved it in front of Qin Chuan: "Just fifteen minutes ago."

"The headquarters of the Third Border Defense Column has issued an order to put the entire frontline on the highest level of combat readiness."

Xu Chaoyang pointed his finger towards the distant rear: "The First Mechanized Rapid Reaction Brigade, directly under the Border Defense Army, has been fully deployed to the Kelun Field Base, which is less than 100 kilometers away from us!"

Upon hearing the words "rapid reaction brigade," Qin Chuan and the veterans around him instantly brightened up.

"Quick Return Brigade?!"

Qin Chuan swallowed hard: "Those are the first batch of ace tanks in the entire army to be equipped with our independently developed and produced new main battle tanks. I heard that there are only a little over a hundred tanks in the whole country, and they were all assigned to them."

"That's right!"

Xu Chaoyang nodded heavily, his eyes filled with uncontrollable fervor.

"In the past five years, we have spent countless amounts of national currency in the rear, tightening our belts to develop industry and build railways."

"The high-standard railway network from Zhangjiakou to Kelun has been in operation for a long time."

Xu Chaoyang pointed south, his voice as firm as iron: "On the railway, dozens of military trains, carrying heavily armed groups loaded with ammunition and fuel, are speeding day and night toward this border line!"

"The higher-ups had long anticipated that these sons of bitches would cause trouble in the winter."

"So we made thorough preparations in advance."

Xu Chaoyang's expression turned extremely cold: "We don't provoke trouble, but we are absolutely not afraid of trouble when it comes to territorial sovereignty!"

"If the Russians only send a platoon to test us, we'll wipe them out with a whole company!"

"If they dare to push the main force of the Far East Military Region across the boundary marker, we'll bury their pitiful resources completely in the permafrost of XBLY this winter!"

at the same time.

Thirty kilometers north of the boundary marker.

The forward command post of an infantry division of the Far East Military Region stationed on the border.

Major General Ivanov, the division commander, sat at a rough pine table.

His gaze was fixed listlessly on the extremely large Far East military map on the table.

"Drip-drip-drip—!"

Suddenly, the radio station in the corner burst into an extremely shrill and urgent call.

The communications soldier wearing headphones suddenly shuddered.

He grabbed the pencil next to him and started scribbling rapidly on the translator paper, the veins on the back of his hand bulging with extreme shock.

Just half a minute later.

The communications soldier ripped off his headset, not even having time to straighten his uniform, and stumbled to the long table.

"The division commander has given a notification!"

"The armored reconnaissance platoon in the direction of Boundary Marker No. 12 was attacked by enemy border guards."

"One tank has already been damaged."

"Snapped!"

Ivanov slammed his fist on the table in anger: "They actually dared to fight back! What about their casualties?"

"More than ten infantrymen have been killed or wounded."

Sitting on the other side, Shi ZW Smirnov slammed his hand on the table, his face full of anger: "This is utterly absurd!"

Smirnov roared, "We defeated the most powerful FXS; they should tremble under the treads of the Soviets!"

Colonel Petrov, the chief of staff who had been standing silently beside the sand table, soon received the latest battle damage report from other communications officers.

His gaze swept across two lines on the paper.

His cold, stern face instantly lost all color.

"Commander, zw."

Petrov took a deep breath, his voice dry as if sandpaper was being rubbed: "Frontline report: This is a long-planned ambush."

He looked up, his eyes filled with deep horror: "The lead vehicle, the X-XX medium tank, was directly destroyed by an unknown new type of anti-tank weapon less than fifty meters from the boundary marker!"

"The tank's lower glacis armor and tracks were torn apart instantly, and the condition of the crew could not be confirmed."

"Not only that."

Petrov pointed to the lower half of the telegram, his voice growing heavier: "A reinforced platoon of infantry following behind the tanks was subjected to extremely dense crossfire from automatic weapons."

"The enemy's firepower density is very high, and the proportions are obviously very well-balanced."

"The front line pointed out that each of their squads and platoons was equipped with a large number of submachine guns and semi-automatic rifles, as well as a 12.7mm heavy machine gun with extremely strong suppressive power!"

"Our troops have now suffered more than half casualties and are currently stuck in the snow. We are requesting reinforcements from the main force."

A deathly silence fell over the command center.

Only the blizzard outside the tent continued to howl wildly.

Smirnov's face, which had been flushed, had now turned ashen.

He has always believed that the neighboring country across the border is still the same weak, easily bullied, and vulnerable lamb it was ten years ago.

But now, the other side is not retreating at all.

They even skipped the warning procedure and directly tore their proud armored vehicles to pieces with the most ferocious firepower!
How dare they?

Smirnov muttered to himself, his eyes blazing with barely contained rage: "This is blatant war!"

"The division commander has given a notification."

"I demand that our tank battalion and heavy artillery regiment in the rear be deployed immediately!"

Smirnov brandished his fists and roared, "That little observation post must be wiped off the map completely with howitzers!"

"We will teach these arrogant border guards a lesson with blood, and let them know the price of provoking a great nation!"

"enough!"

Major General Ivanov suddenly shouted, sternly interrupting zw's frantic rant.

He strode to the sand table, gripping the wooden edge tightly with both hands, his eyes flashing with the ruthless rationality of a high-ranking military officer.

"ZW notification: Please put away your pointless anger!"

Ivanov looked at him coldly: "The orders given to us by headquarters are to take advantage of the winter snow and wind to conduct small-scale armed probing and encroachment on the border."

"We are not going to the Far East to start a third world war!"

Ivanov turned his head and looked at Petrov.

"Chief of staff, if we send a tank battalion forward now, what will their reaction be?"

Petrov adjusted his glasses, his gaze falling on the high-standard heavy-haul railway on the map, built by the Chinese themselves, that runs from Zhangjiakou directly to the Sino-Mongolian border.

"If we launch a major offensive, we will definitely not be met with compromise."

Petrov's voice carried a deep chill.

"The fact that they dared to equip such a small border post with such sophisticated anti-tank weaponry shows that the entire defense line is already armed to the teeth."

"According to intelligence from the Far East Intelligence Bureau, Chinese heavy mechanized rapid reaction forces may be assembling on that heavy-haul railway at any time."

"Once the war escalates..."

Petrov's gaze turned extremely serious: "With our current equipment, if we encounter the enemy's main heavy forces, we have no chance of winning."

Major General Ivanov took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He had to admit the extremely humiliating fact that the main force was deployed in the west, and the Far East was only a secondary direction for them.

Since Churchill delivered his Iron Curtain speech and the Marshall Plan (a massive economic aid program) was in full swing,
The pressure on them in that direction is increasing.

Now, on this icy plain in the Far East, the once-dormant Eastern Empire has not only fully awakened, but also wields a longsword that is sharper and more deadly than theirs.

"Order them to do everything possible to disengage and retreat two kilometers!"

Ivanov suddenly opened his eyes and decisively issued the order to cut losses tactically.

"No one is to cross the boundary marker again without my order!"

He turned and walked to the telegraph machine, pushed the communications soldier aside, and personally picked up the encrypted telegram paper.

"Immediately report to the Far East Military District Command and directly to the MSK General Staff!"

Ivanov's voice was urgent: "The border probing operation has encountered a devastating counterattack from the enemy's heavy firepower."

"The border troops' weaponry and combat readiness have completely surpassed the Far East Military Region's previous strategic assessment."

"The situation in the Far East has undergone a fundamental reversal; please make a decision immediately..." (End of Chapter)