Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 101 Yan Laoxi: I'm not old yet! Is Chu Yunfei so anxious?
Wei Lihuang himself was involved in the war in Shanxi.

Return to the headquarters of the Second War Zone Commander to have a talk with Yan Laoxi.

After a long and hard fight on the Xinkou front, the Japanese support troops have arrived.

Two infantry regiments were added to the front line to provide offensive strength.

Accordingly, at least four additional infantry divisions are needed to be added to the defense line in order to withstand the fierce offensive of the Japanese army.

Where did Yan Laoxi and Chiang Kai-shek get so many new troops?

The Xinkou line can no longer hold out for much longer.

Before rushing back to the headquarters of the Second War Zone Commander, Wei Lihuang had already sent two secret telegrams to Chiang Kai-shek.

Chiang Kai-shek's reply was very direct and simple.

It depends on what Yan Baichuan, the commander-in-chief of the Second War Zone, thinks.

Listen to his advice.

Well, let's listen to the opinion of the commander-in-chief of the Second World War.

Actually.

Old Yan had just seen the improvement on the front line of the Niangzi Pass in the past two days, and his mood had improved a little.

then
General Wei Lihuang ran back from the front line to tell him.

Xinkou can no longer be defended.

We must prepare in advance for the Taiyuan defense war
Yan Laoxi's mood instantly fell to the bottom
The 122nd Division of the Sichuan Army went to the front line without getting the equipment promised by Yan Laoxi.

As a result, after they went up, more than 2,000 people were killed or injured in less than a day.

Facing the elite troops of the Kwantung Army.

These Sichuan troops who traveled thousands of miles out of Sichuan to fight in the war were poorly equipped and had poor qualities.

The combat tactics used were those from World War I and before.

Under the Japanese army's heavy bombing.

The troops were so demoralized that they nearly got into trouble.

If Deng Jinkang had not personally gone to the front line to suppress it.

There is even the possibility of a mutiny or an attack on the supervision team.

Wei Lihuang, who knew about this, was very dissatisfied with it.

He believed that if Yan Laoxi had been able to deliver the equipment as promised, this kind of thing would not have happened.

Old Yan is still being stingy at this time, he is simply holding us back.

Yan Laoxi also knew it.

Don't be fooled by the way General Wei Lihuang calls people Brother Baichuan all the time when he speaks.

But the implicit meaning of his words was to question whether Yan Laoxi was just talking nonsense and deceiving the Sichuan Army to go up and die.

General Wei Lihuang’s core point is: if the Sichuan Army were given equipment.

That would definitely kill more Japanese devils.

As a soldier, even if you die on the battlefield.

It was a worthy death, a valuable sacrifice, and it fulfilled his obligations and responsibilities as a soldier!
But now?

He was wearing straw sandals and holding a pile of scrap copper and iron and a large knife in his hands.

This marked the most intense frontal battle in the entire North China region.

What is the difference between this and committing suicide?
Old Yan also felt extremely aggrieved.

He also spent real money to buy weapons, equipment, cotton-padded clothes, shoes, socks and other things.

Why couldn’t it be handed over to you?

Two persons and one total.

Then he summarized the urgent telegram sent from the confidential room.

This made it clear.
Some time ago, the Tongpu Railway was frequently bombed by Japanese planes.

The supplies originally prepared to be transported to the Xinkou front line were also affected.

It was about two days slower than originally planned, and even resulted in a considerable loss.

And Yan Laoxi a day ago.

He is also winning over the hearts of the people in Yangquan City.

Where is the time to deal with such trivial matters?
The matter has been clarified.

Wei Lihuang apologized repeatedly, but Yan Laoxi didn't care.

The two discussed the current situation in Xinkou and explored the possibility of a defensive war in Taiyuan.

After hearing that Yan Laoxi planned to evacuate the troops on the Xinkou front line, he went directly to the preset position to fight again.

Wei Lihuang seemed to have a brain short circuit.

It took me a long while to come back to my senses.

This Mr. Yan is simply a genius in command!

The troops withdrawn from Xinkou must have suffered heavy losses and were exhausted.

What kind of troops and what kind of officers can organize troops to fight large-scale city defense battles in the event of a rout?

No army in the world has ever accomplished such a feat.

If there really was this level of organization, there would be no defeat.

The plan that Yan Laoxi had in mind and that was formulated by Chief of General Staff Zhu Shouguang was to deploy defenses outside the city in the form of a field battle.

The specific battle plan is.

The 35th Army under Fu Zuoyi's command, the reserve force on the Xinkou front, was the main force defending the city.

Use the 14th Army Group as the left and right wings and try to buy as much time as possible.

Tang Enbo's troops, supported by Chang Kaishen's military orders, advanced towards Yuci.

Once Tang Enbo's troops arrived, they could attack the Japanese army from both sides.

By then, the siege of Taiyuan can be lifted.
Wei Lihuang believes

Once the Xinkou front line collapses.

The speed with which these retreating troops redeployed their defensive positions.

It was far less than the advance speed of the Japanese mechanized forces.

Perhaps the defense line has not been set up yet.

The Japanese army had already appeared at the gates of Taiyuan City.

Besides
There is no need to think too much about the so-called national defense fortifications outside Taiyuan City, as we know they are simply vulnerable.

It's not like they haven't seen the bunkers that Yan Laoxi repaired on the Xinkou front line.

In the face of the Japanese heavy artillery and aircraft bombing, it was as fragile as paper.
Rather than fighting outside the city, it is better to defend the city.
What's more, Wei Lihuang originally wanted to rely on the mountainous terrain of Shanxi to deal with the Japanese army.

After the main force of Tang Enbo's troops arrives, we will seize the opportunity to annihilate the main force of the enemy.

How could we possibly defeat Yan Laoxi's Tang-style combat plan?
It was naturally impossible for the two to reach a consensus.

Seeing that their voices were getting louder and louder, Chief of the General Staff Zhu Shouguang stepped forward to rescue them.

He said that the Taiyuan city defense plan still needs further research.

"General Wei, Commander Yan, please be patient."

"We have received news that the 115th and 129th Sichuan Army have entered Shanxi. If everything goes well, they will reach the front line within two days." "On the right wing battlefield of Xinkou, the 385th Division of the Eighth Route Army and the th Brigade of the th Division are also fresh troops. They can be ordered into battle at any time..."

"The situation in Xinkou is not completely irreversible... Moreover, Tang's army is the main force of the Central Army. If we can buy more time, it is not impossible for Tang's main force to counterattack after arriving..."

Bullshit!

General Wei Lihuang knew that Zhu Shouguang was talking nonsense, but he still pretended to frown and think deeply.

After discussing for a long time, we still couldn't come to a conclusion.

General Wei Lihuang served as the commander-in-chief of the front line in Xinkou.

There was no way to stay in the Second War Zone Commander's Headquarters for too long.

Xie Ming stood obediently not far away, and waited until General Wei left before he stepped forward.

"Commander Yan"

Yan Laoxi slumped down on the bench and rubbed his temples: "Yufa, is there any new news?"

"The combat effectiveness of the 30th Artillery Regiment is too poor. Brother Yunfei is thinking of disbanding the officers and soldiers of his mountain artillery battalion and the officers and soldiers of the 30th Artillery Regiment and reorganizing them."

When Yan Laoxi heard this, his brows knitted tightly together: "What does that mean? He wants to assign the 358th Artillery Regiment to the battle sequence of the th Brigade?"

Xie Ming nodded silently.

"Okay, okay, Chu Yunfei has really become more capable..."

Yan Laoxi was lost in thought, muttering, "I am not satisfied with the command of a teaching regiment and an artillery regiment."

The 30th Artillery Regiment is also directly under the command of the theater.

In other words.

In fact, no matter who is in charge of this force, they only have temporary jurisdiction and command.

The person to whom the officers and soldiers of the 30th Artillery Regiment are truly responsible.

It was the headquarters of the commander of the Second War Zone, Yan Laoxi himself.

suddenly.

Yan Laoxi turned his head to look at Xie Ming beside him and asked, "Yufa, am I old?"

Xie Ming immediately broke out in a cold sweat: "How could that happen, Commander Yan? The overall situation in Shanxi still needs you to preside over it..."

"Yun Fei is so anxious, what does he want to do?"

Heartbreaking words!

Xie Ming was horrified and quickly explained in a low voice: "Commander Yan, you must have misunderstood."

"The main anti-enemy forces on the Niangziguan front are complicated. Feng Jingye has always been at odds with you, and Huang Shaohong is from the Guangxi clique. He has been unable to command this deputy commander-in-chief from the First War Zone before."

"Brother Yunfei must have encountered some difficulties on the front line for doing this... Moreover, Director Li called us yesterday and said that Chief of Staff Fang of the 358th Regiment helped them a lot."

Yes!

Niangzi Pass line.

Sun Lianzhong's troops fought to the death.

It's because I continuously provide them with weapons, equipment and manpower replenishment.

Feng Jingye has always had a grudge against me...it's normal that he doesn't put in any effort at work.

Chu Yunfei was the only Jinsui Army fighting on the Niangzi Pass front, and he was also a Wutai general under my command.

The 358th Brigade fought on the Niangzi Pass front.

It has always undertaken the most dangerous tasks.

They encircled and annihilated the Japanese troops in Guangou, captured Jiuguan, and fought a bloody battle at Qiluling, suffering heavy casualties.

Whatever you encounter now, you must fight for it.

Isn’t it because he is not welcome on the front line?

Old Yan frowned and thought carefully, and seemed to begin to understand Chu Yunfei.

Just like what Chu Yunfei did.

It’s just like who I am now.

Yan Laoxi thinks Chu Yunfei doesn't feel safe fighting on the front line.

Actually.

Just as he himself was worried that General Wei Lihuang would abandon Taiyuan because of heavy casualties.

They were worried that the Sichuan Army would resort to rash tactics because of this accident.

Worried that the industries and people in the surrounding areas of Taiyuan City had not completed the evacuation, the main force of the Japanese mechanized forces attacked directly as General Wei Lihuang had said.

Shanxi is Yan Laoxi's base.

He is the local official of Shanxi.

Shanxi cannot be saved.

The elders of Shanxi will scold him for the rest of his life!
After a long silence, Yan Laoxi sighed and said meaningfully: "I am old, it is time for the young people to shoulder more responsibilities."

"Go, send him a telegram... and do as he says!"

Xie Ming breathed a sigh of relief, his expression remained the same: "Yes!"

On the Niangziguan front, the 358th Artillery Regiment and the Mountain Artillery Battalion under the th Brigade quickly made personnel adjustments.

Some of the veterans entered the 30th Artillery Regiment to serve.

The mountain artillery battalion welcomed a group of new recruits who had just been transformed from civilian laborers.

The 30th Artillery Regiment has continued to bombard the enemy's front-line and deep positions over the past two days.

Although not many casualties were caused.

But it's disgusting enough
Every time these Japanese devils were about to attack.

Either the mountain artillery battalion or the artillery regiment launched a round of artillery bombardment on them.

The Japanese soldiers of the 78th Regiment were also in great pain at this time.
The air force basically carries out missions on the Xinkou front line...even many fighter planes are deployed along the Jinpu Railway.

Kawagishi Fumisaburo has sent three telegrams requesting air support.

All of them fell on deaf ears. For a time, the Japanese soldiers on the Niangzi Pass front began to doubt themselves.

Is it possible..
The Niangziguan frontline battlefield has not made good progress.
But was he "abandoned" by the North China Expeditionary Army Headquarters?
For a time, the captains of the infantry regiments under his command all requested to fight...
Even the commander of the Xiyang Detachment, the old Japanese, Gu Teng Changying, made a special trip to his 20th Division Headquarters.

Morale is available, supplies have arrived.

This time, Kawagishi Fumisaburo did not continue to ask for instructions from Terauchi Hisaichi.

Instead, he shouted at the top of his lungs and issued an attack order: "Smash the Chinese army's positions, crush them completely, and let the Chinese turn into dust under the iron hoofs of our great Japanese brother locust army!"

"Hai!"

On the Niangziguan battlefield, the Japanese army once again launched a large-scale attack.

It was just the first round of bombardment.

The Japanese invaders fired thousands of artillery shells on the front line of Zhangjiazhuang.

Among them is the conventional caliber 75mm mountain cannon.

There is also a 105mm caliber howitzer.

To avenge the previous shame.

Kawagishi Fumisaburo still deployed the heavy artillery regiment in this direction, vowing to tear to pieces the Chinese troops who dared to block them.
No more. I have to catch a train on September 9.13th. I will try to get up early and finish writing.

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(End of this chapter)