Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 322 Chu Yunfei has connections above him.
Chu Yunfei's face turned ashen as he watched the troops lay down their weapons and surrender their positions.

These idiots!

If we hand over the reins of power to others, wouldn't we be at their mercy?!
Chu Yunfei's only consolation right now is that it was the Eighth Route Army that came.

"Brigade Commander, we have taken control of the 358th Regiment!"

Xu Wu went up and took a look around before returning to report.

"Alright! Take all personnel and supplies and return to Dayun Mountain!" Chen Chengxing ordered.

"yes!".
"Commander Chen, if we're waiting for investigation, wouldn't it be better to stay put and wait?"

Chu Yunfei spoke up from the side.

Dagushan was the base of the 358th Regiment. If they withdrew now, it wouldn't be so easy to come back.

Of course, Chu Yunfei was not worried at all that the Japanese would take the opportunity to invade.

He was worried about the Eighth Route Army.

If the Eighth Route Army occupies this place, the entire Jin-Northwest Military Region will be a single, unified entity.

The remaining 321st and 217th Regiments were completely surrounded.

If the two sides become enemies, these two regiments will likely be sacrificed immediately.

"The situation at Dagushan is complicated. The Japanese are watching us closely from the side, and the main force of the New Second Brigade is not here. It is not suitable to stay for long."

"Brother Chu, rest assured, once we reach Dayun Mountain, I will certainly not mistreat the 358th Regiment."

"Once Commander Yan figures out where you're going, my Second New Brigade will definitely help you to the end!"

Chen Chengxing patted his chest and assured him.

"Where to? Heh, with such a big incident, even if I pass the investigation, I'm afraid I'll only be sitting on the sidelines in the Jin-Sui Army."

Chu Yunfei smiled wryly.

If he could, he would still prefer to follow his old superior.

If there's really no other way, he'll have to go find his old classmate and continue working as a regimental commander in the Central Army.

However, since Chen Chengxing had already said that, Chu Yunfei didn't say anything more and silently followed the group.

"Sun Desheng!"

"Have!"

"Go and get rid of the puppet troops, then launch a surprise attack on the 358th Regiment headquarters and wipe out Chu Yunfei's command post back to Dayun Mountain."

"Yes!"

"Cavalry battalion! Follow me!"

Sun Desheng waved his hand and led his cavalry to charge towards the puppet troops.

Chen Chengxing did not concern himself with the cavalry battalion's affairs, but instead returned to Dayun Mountain with the main force.

With such a small number of puppet troops, driving them away wouldn't be a problem.

"Old Chen, you brought the entire 358th Regiment back with you?"

"Is that the mountain artillery battalion of the 358th Regiment?"

"American-made mountain guns? Those are really good stuff!"

Luo Ping stared wide-eyed at the vast procession.

My mouth is practically watering.

Look at those mountain guns, those heavy machine guns, those submachine guns, they're all good stuff!

"Old Luo, the 358th Regiment is in your hands now."

"How many you can keep depends on your abilities," Chen Chengxing whispered.

"Isn't this inappropriate?" Luo Ping said somewhat awkwardly.

"What do you mean by whether it's suitable or not? Just do it first and see what the higher-ups say," Chen Chengxing said confidently.

“Okay! Leave it to me!” Luo Ping said, patting his chest.

It's just about recruiting people through advertising; that's our old profession.

Luo Ping, along with the political commissar, plunged into the 358th Regiment.

His first job was as an artilleryman and truck driver for the supply train of the 358th Regiment.

These are all treasures.

On the other side, Chen Chengxing also went into the radio communications room; he still had to send a telegram to Da Sijin.

"Sijin! Something's happened!" The chief of staff rushed to Chen Sijin with a telegram in hand.

"What's wrong? You look so pale?" Chen Sijin asked curiously.

"Look, Chen Chengxing has detained the 358th Regiment, and they've all been brought back to Dayun Mountain."

The chief of staff handed Chen Chengxing's telegram to Chen Sijin.

Chen Sijin grabbed the telegram and began to read it carefully.

This is a very serious matter.

He breathed a sigh of relief after reading it carefully.

"It startled me; I thought Chen Chengxing had gone mad."

"Si Jin, this is no small matter!"

"The situation between us and the Jin-Sui Army was already very tense."

"Now that this has suddenly happened, I'm afraid the Second World War Zone Command..."

"What? Commander Yan has the nerve to come looking for trouble with the Eighth Route Army?"

Chen Sijin glared at him. He wasn't even afraid of Chairman Chang, so why would he be afraid of Yan Xishan?

"Besides, were the New Second Brigade fighting the Jin-Sui Army? They were clearly puppet troops!"

"Even Commander Yan can't be unreasonable, can he? If he doesn't give me some benefits, I'm not finished with him!"

Chen Chengxing has already laid down all the evidence, so what is he afraid of?
The evidence, including witnesses, physical evidence, and confessions, is all readily available.

Even when the 358th Regiment was fighting the Japanese, they voluntarily gave up their defensive line. What is this if not betrayal?
You say it's luring the enemy deep into your territory, so it is?
“But…this is the Jin-Sui Army after all,” the chief of staff said.

"It's alright!" Chen Sijin waved his hand.

"Chen Chengxing did not engage in any substantial firefight with the 358th Regiment; he merely achieved control of the area."

"If Yan Xishan really acts like a scoundrel, just give him back."

"Draft a telegram. This matter needs to be reported to headquarters so that headquarters can inform the command."

He was also envious of the 358th Regiment!

"This is impossible!"

Yan Xishan slammed his fist on the table as he looked at the telegram that had arrived.

Even if Yan Xishan defected to the enemy within the Jin-Sui Army, there was absolutely no possibility that Chu Yunfei would do so. "Sir, you can know a person's face but not their heart. It's hard to guarantee that Chu Yunfei won't have any wicked thoughts."

"Didn't the telegram say that all the witnesses and physical evidence are now in the hands of the Eighth Route Army?"

“I think we should send someone to investigate,” Yang Xingru suggested from the side.

If this is true, it would be incredibly embarrassing.

"I still don't believe Chu Yunfei would become a traitor!" Yan Xishan said.

"Sir, the crooked thoughts I'm talking about aren't those of a traitor. Don't forget, Chu Yunfei has connections above him."

Yang Xingru pointed upwards with her finger.

The vast majority of mid- to high-ranking officers in the Jin-Sui Army were graduates of the Baoding Military Academy, with a smaller number coming from the Yunnan Military Academy.

The Whampoa Military Academy only had Chu Yunfei.

"You mean..." Yan Xishan's eyes immediately changed.

"Given the current international situation, Japan is already showing signs of decline."

"I think the Japanese will be defeated in a few years."

"Even the puppet troops know this, how could Chu Yunfei not know it?"

"What did it mean that he sided with the Japanese at this time?"

"I think they're nominally siding with Japan, but secretly they're planning to seize Shanxi ahead of time."

Listening to Yang Xingru's analysis, Yan Xishan remained silent, but he clearly understood something.

Even among the puppet troops, there is now a growing sense of unease.

He has already received overtures from several groups of puppet troops and has issued several letters of appointment.

Chu Yunfei isn't stupid; he must have his reasons for joining them at this time.

The most likely scenario is that they were instructed by someone to use the name of the puppet army to seize key positions first.

As the saying goes, cleverness can backfire, and making things up in one's own head is the most fatal mistake.

However, it's really not fair to blame Yan Xishan for overthinking this.

After all, this is exactly the trick that Chairman Chang loves to play.

If Chu Yunfei had seized Taiyuan ahead of time...

For Chairman Chang, the Japanese had essentially done him a job for nothing.

But for Yan Xishan, losing Taiyuan meant losing Shanxi.

Without Shanxi, what is the Jin-Sui Army? What is he?
"This matter must be dealt with seriously!" Yan Xishan set the tone.

Although the 358th Regiment was very important to the Jin-Sui Army, Chu Yunfei was always loyal to it.

But compared to Shanxi, it's nothing at all.

"Xingru, I'm leaving this matter to you."

"You lead a team to the Eighth Route Army and conduct a thorough investigation. Kill those who deserve it."

"Bring back what can still be used; give what can't be used to the Eighth Route Army rather than to the Japanese!"

For Chairman Chang, the Eighth Route Army posed a greater threat than the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Although the Eighth Route Army also posed a great threat to him, he chose the lesser of two evils.

Now Yan Xishan would rather throw people into the Eighth Route Army.

After all, the Eighth Route Army didn't lack these men.

"Please rest assured, sir! I will investigate carefully and distinguish between enemies and friends!"

Yang Xingru said seriously.

In Hongni Bay, Chen Chengxing found Chu Yunfei.

"Brother Chu, how was your rest? The Eighth Route Army is not as good as the Kuomintang army, so please bear with us."

"Commander Chen is overthinking it. I, Chu Yunfei, can eat Western steak and millet buns."

"But I'd like to know how the Eighth Route Army plans to deal with the 358th Regiment?"

"Oh, what are you saying?" Chen Chengxing waved his hand with a smile.

“Your brother Chu is not only Commander Yan’s favorite, but also Chairman Chang’s top student. How could the Eighth Route Army possibly deal with you?”

"I've come to tell you that the Second World War Zone Command has already dispatched a task force."

"They've already arrived at headquarters, and I estimate they'll be here the day after tomorrow."

"What will happen to the 358th Regiment in the future depends on Commander Yan's decision," Chen Chengxing said.

Chu Yunfei breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that someone from the higher command was coming.

When the higher command arrives, the 358th Regiment will naturally clear its name.

It's just a pity about the first battalion; they'll probably have to be purged.

"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Chengxing." Chu Yunfei's tone softened.

"It's my fault for failing to manage my troops effectively," Chu Yunfei sighed.

Chu Yunfei never imagined that Qian Bojun would suddenly betray him.

"If it's going to rain, it's going to rain; if a mother wants to remarry, she can't be blamed on Brother Chu."

Chen Chengxing is now a very good person, constantly comforting Chu Yunfei.

"Well, no matter what, as the regimental commander, I have a lot of responsibility."

Chu Yunfei shook his head with a bitter face.

If this matter hadn't alarmed the higher authorities, he could have found a way to suppress it.

But now the Eighth Route Army headquarters and the Second War Zone Commander's Office know about it.

Even if he was Commander Yan's favorite, he still deserved the punishment he was due.

Otherwise, Commander Yan would not be able to gain the respect of the people.

"Brother Yunfei, don't worry. If you can't make it in the Jin-Sui Army, come work for me."

"I'll give you the position of deputy brigade commander!" Chen Chengxing said, patting his chest.

Although the deputy brigade commander is the number three person in the new Second Brigade, he actually has little real power and is more like a mascot.

As the chief of staff of the fourth-ranking official, he actually wielded even more power.

However, if they had this mascot, the soldiers of the 358th Regiment would definitely stay.

"Hehe. Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Brother Chengxing, but it's not necessary," Chu Yunfei said with a smile.

Chu Yunfei was confident that at most he had simply made an oversight.

There shouldn't be any problem with him continuing as the commander of the 358th Regiment.

(End of this chapter)