Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 281 Current Dilemma; Power Change; (Subscribe)

"Report, the battle is over. We killed 378 Japanese soldiers, 47 puppet soldiers, and captured 88 puppet soldiers."

Bian Fucheng nodded: "What about the seized goods?"

"The statistics have not been completed yet, but we have seized a deputy officer's sword."

As the battalion commander said this, he asked the soldier next to him to hand the officer's knife to Bian Fucheng.

Bian Fucheng, however, had a look of disgust on his face: "Take it back, don't embarrass yourself here, there are hundreds of these little Japanese soldiers, at most he is a major, throw it to the warehouse, this thing is worthless."

Liao Yaoxiang smiled and said, "It is a great achievement to be able to seize the deputy officer's sword. Brother Fucheng doesn't seem to care about it?"

“Oh~!”

After walking around to confirm that Chu Yunfei was not at the headquarters, Bian Fucheng explained in a low voice: "Seizing the Sergeant's Sword is a normal military achievement for us. It is difficult for officers at the battalion and regiment levels to move up one step. At most, the deputy battalion commander can be promoted to battalion commander. Only if you kill the Japanese general or the Japanese colonel can you be promoted to deputy brigade commander."

"Isn't this a bit too harsh?" Shi Jue and others frowned.

Since the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the number of Japanese army lieutenants and officers killed in battle has been very small. So far, including the number of lieutenants and officers killed by Chu Yunfei's troops, no more than fifty have been killed.

As for the generals, the number has not exceeded two so far, and this is when Chu Yunfei has killed five generals.

It is conceivable how difficult it is to kill the senior Japanese commander on the battlefield.

Killing the Japanese army's non-commissioned officers (at the brigade, regiment, and battalion level) was already a very good result.

"We have to do something. We have frequent combat missions. If we kill a major, we will get a promotion, but there are not so many positions. However, the boy just now is also a graduate of your Whampoa Military Academy, and it seems that he is from the tenth batch."

"The tenth batch of Huangpu?"

Bian Fucheng nodded and said, "We have quite a few officers who graduated from Huangpu Military Academy. Many of them have become majors and battalion commanders, and a few have been promoted to regiment commanders. Sun Xinpu of our brigade is already the third regiment commander.

Commander Chu likes commanders who graduated from military academies. After all, they are much better than those of us who are unskilled in theoretical knowledge.

If you can fight a few battles, survive, and command well, you will basically be promoted. "

Two days later.

On the Taihang Mountains.

Chu Yunfei pretended to raise the telescope in his hand and looked towards the direction of Zhengtai Road.

At this time, he had changed into a set of coarse cloth clothes with a tattered cotton jacket on the outside.

The three-dimensional map in his mind basically covered the Japanese military deployment in the entire Niangziguan area.

stationed in the area.

It’s still an old rival that we’ve fought before.

The 114th Division of the Japanese Army, under the command of Shigeharu Suematsu.

[Unit name: Japanese Army 114th Division]

【Organization: 90%】

[The main light weapons currently equipped are: Type 38 rifle and Type 38 carbine. ]

[The main machine gun models currently equipped: Taisho Type 11 light machine gun; Type 92 heavy machine gun. ]

[Currently the main equipment support weapon models: Type 92 infantry gun, Type 97 mortar. ]

[The main heavy weapons currently equipped are: Type 75 105mm mountain cannon and Type mm howitzer. ]

[Current equipment status: good]

[Current logistics supply situation: good]

[Current training level of the unit: well-trained]

The training level rating has been increased by one level compared to before.

The assembly and logistics supply conditions are also at the highest level.

As for the combat strength, there is no way to see it directly.

But with such a high level of organization and training rating, I don't think they are new recruits.

It is highly likely that they were soldiers drawn from the Kwantung Army, or they were reservists recruited from the country.

As for the Japanese 109th Division, which was also deployed in the nearby area.

Chu Yunfei didn't see their specific stationing location.

At least no trace of them could be found on the three-dimensional combat map.

Along the Shotai Railway, the Japanese army seemed to have simply given up maintaining a strategic presence.

The reason why he went to the front line to observe the enemy situation.

This was also because of the report received from Qian Bojun’s troops.

In addition, the Eighth Route Army also provided relatively accurate intelligence.

If we take a look at the intelligence and reconnaissance of both sides.

That is, the Japanese troops along the Zhengtai Railway were constantly shrinking their forces.

It seems that they are preparing to completely abandon the Zhengtai Railway line.

This greatly surprised Chu Yunfei.

Even though the Zhengtai Railway is just a single track.

However, it has great strategic significance for the Japanese army to maintain its occupation of Shanxi region.

With this thing, they can continuously transport coal from Yangquan area to North China.

It is used in the occupied areas, while the coal mines in the Northeast region fully supply the Northeast's industrial industries.

Because of this, what if we give up maintenance just because it is often attacked and raided?
Chu Yunfei was reluctant to believe it.

This is almost impossible.

There is no other way, in order to understand the specific situation.

He decided to conduct a personal reconnaissance and quickly found out the specific situation.

After all, the three-dimensional combat map in the mind looks more intuitive and accurate.

A full day of reconnaissance activities is over.

Chu Yunfei also figured out the current situation.

The railway section from Shouyang to Yangquan.

Not only did the Japanese army have no troops deployed, but there were no troops in the areas that seemed to be the areas where they originally planned to build strongholds.

And all unused materials have been taken away.

It is obvious that the Japanese army intends to abandon these places completely.

Corresponding.

The railway from Yangquan section to Niangziguan, and the railway from Shouyang to Taiyuan section.

The Japanese army chose to concentrate heavy troops for defense.

And maintained a considerable number of troops.

The Japanese chose to abandon the middle section of this railway line.
This made the so-called blockade of southeastern Shanxi by the Japanese army a de facto joke.

But then again, if the Japanese army blockaded Wutai area, Yu County and other places, it would not be impossible to blockade the southeastern part of Shanxi as well.

After all, there are not many people in the areas surrounding Wutai, including the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei base area.

Theoretically, there is not much war potential.

But this battle is not calculated that way.

Chu Yunfei not only had more markets to sell his Guanghua brand cigarettes.

They can also exchange what they have with the Eighth Route Army's Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region.

Providing them with the Shanxi salt, which they most lack, can solve many of the guerrillas' problems.

For the Japanese army.

The most fatal point is.

Chu Yunfei could also lead his combat forces to the Wutai area to attack the Japanese Beitongpu railway line.

The Beitongpu railway line has become the de facto Achilles' heel of the Japanese army.

Is Umezu Mijiro really that stupid?

Chu Yunfei touched his chin.

It makes no sense at all.

"Sir, it's getting dark. Do you want to find a place to rest?"

"Let's go to Qian Bojun's place."

In Qin County.

Chu Yunfei had already changed into his military uniform and walked quickly into Qian Bojun's command center.

After hearing the noise, Qian Bojun walked out of the yard and responded, "Sir."

Chu Yunfei raised his hand in return, but did not stop: "Go to the war room."

"Yes!"

Qian Bojun nodded. Wu Ziqiang also came over after hearing the noise: "What happened?"

Chu Yunfei turned his head and glanced at Wu Ziqiang: "You come too."

Several people quickly walked into the operations room.

Under the light, the three of them gathered in front of the battle map.

Chu Yunfei pointed in the direction of Shouyang on the map.

"Today, I led the guards to conduct a disguised reconnaissance and found that the Japanese army's deployment of troops was very strange. On the surface, they have given up the defense between Yangquan and Shouyang."

"It doesn't make sense... Such an important place is given up just like that. Could it be that the Japanese army has given up on blockading our southeastern Shanxi region?" Chu Yunfei could not find any reason to support Umezu Mijiro's current strategic decision.

In terms of military strength, if the Japanese army continues to mobilize and chooses to draw troops from the Kwantung Army, there will not be any major problems in maintaining the current confrontation situation.

After all, the situation of each unit in the Second War Zone is here, even if it belongs to the strategic counterattack zone.

In addition to Chu Yunfei's troops having the ability to counterattack.

The remaining troops still have not received the corresponding supplies.

Theoretically, they do not have the corresponding counterattack capability.

And from a practical point of view.

Even now Chu Yunfei receives assistance from the Soviet Union and the Americans.

It can only support a large-scale battle.

If we cannot understand the specific situation of the Japanese army.

Then Chu Yunfei himself needs to be extremely cautious when choosing the direction and target of counterattack.

Qian Bojun thought for a moment and then said, "From the situation in our defense zone, the Japanese army's recent actions are indeed a bit abnormal. After discovering our reconnaissance troops, they did not think of driving them away immediately, but hid in their strongholds. It seems that they are worried that we will take the initiative to launch an attack."

Wu Ziqiang also added: "Moreover, the Japanese army has been strengthening the fortifications in the area around Shouyang. It seems that they only intend to defend Shouyang County. In addition, scouts reported that the Japanese army seemed to have made great efforts to win over the villages in the surrounding areas and set up corresponding maintenance associations."

“What do the local people say?”

"Some people still took the lead and stood up. The Japanese army asked them to send them some military rations every once in a while, and if necessary, they would recruit some laborers, but there was nothing else."

"Give money?" Chu Yunfei asked.

Wu Ziqiang touched his nose and said, "How can I explain this? The Japanese army said they would give money, but they don't know the specific situation. There is no recruitment of laborers yet. It seems that they don't intend to let the Chinese touch their core fortifications."

Chu Yunfei nodded slowly and said slowly: "Now, many people in the occupied areas are unwilling to be slaves of a conquered country. They are beginning to move towards the rear area. This is the refugee wave reported by the National Government. We must also be prepared. The purpose of land reclamation is to absorb more refugees so as to improve the productivity of southeastern Shanxi."

"I have ordered Zhuo Tianyu's Farm Reclamation Corps and Sun Weimou's Construction Corps to go to Jincheng Ferry to accept refugees, and have prepared corresponding relief food..."

Wu Ziqiang sighed, looking worried: "I just don't know if we are well prepared. According to the report from the National Government, there are quite a lot of refugees."

Chu Yunfei nodded.

In his impression, there are relevant research papers and historical materials that have estimated the approximate number.

By the end of 38 alone, the number of refugees caused by the war exceeded million!

Eighty million!
What an astonishing number!
All Chinese people have a homesickness complex and are reluctant to leave their homeland. That is why they are willing to leave their homeland and become refugees.

It's because they don't want to live under Japanese rule.

They were unwilling to accept the "good citizen certificate" issued to them by the Japanese.

These people were unarmed, and the only way they could protest was to leave their hometown.

After the Japanese army occupied the Northeast region.

A large number of refugees from Northeast China poured into the interior of China. After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the whole country was plunged into a nationwide refugee crisis.

Before the fall of Peking, the wealthy families in the city had already moved out with their belongings.

After the Japanese invaders occupied Peking, many civilians fled the city with their families to escape the war.

Since Tianjin is closest to Beijing, the Tianjin Concession naturally became the first choice for civilians.

Subsequently, Beijing and Tianjin fell.

Jinan, the capital of SD Province, originally had a population of more than 400,000 people, but after the escape, only more than 10,000 people were left in the city.

These refugees represented almost every profession and class.

Farmers, businessmen, workers, doctors, engineers, teachers, self-employed people and even grassroots officials.

Refugees from Henan, Hebei and other regions will basically migrate towards Shaanxi.

Shaanxi naturally cannot accommodate so many refugees.

The war refugees at this time were not the same as those fleeing famine in 1942.

The conditions are pretty good and most people will stay in the Northwest.

Some were even able to reach XJ and settle down.

Southeast Shanxi is also one of the ideal locations for refugees, but if they want to come to Southeast Shanxi, they need to pass through the ferry.

The ferry can only transport less than 3,000 people every day.

Coupled with the need to verify identities and other related tasks, the workload of officers and soldiers of the Agricultural Reclamation Corps and the Construction Corps is almost full.

Logically speaking, southeastern Shanxi is the front line in the fight against the enemy, and its ability to absorb refugees is relatively weaker than that of the real rear area.

But Chu Yunfei's reputation is too good and loud enough.

The only reason many young people came to southeastern Shanxi was to join the army and fight the Japanese invaders, not because they wanted to continue their previous comfortable life.

Another place that is an ideal choice for refugees is the Sichuan Basin.

After the fall of Wuhan and Guangzhou, the main destination for refugees to migrate was Sichuan. The population increased rapidly but productivity did not increase.

Coupled with related factors such as grain collection, war, and drought, even the Nationalist government set up a Refugee Relief Agency.

It is a drop in the bucket for the huge refugee group.

The biggest danger facing the refugee team came from pursuit by the Japanese army.

These sons of bitches do more than just bomb refugees at railway stations with planes.

They will also treat most living people as living targets.

Used to train new soldiers coming from Japan to the Chinese battlefield.

The situation of women and children among the refugees is the most miserable.

Their faces were covered in dust, their clothes were tattered, and they were starving and thirsty.

Children were easily separated from their parents and families, and women were easily subjected to brutal insults by the Japanese army and could only die in pain.

When he thought of this, Chu Yunfei felt very upset.

Qian Bojun looked worried: "Recently, the frequency of Japanese and puppet troops infiltrating our base area has increased. We have to increase the number of soldiers and officers in the Security Department. There are not many cadres with combat experience in this area, so we need to train them in a targeted manner."

Wu Ziqiang also added: "We can only proceed by trial and error in this regard. As a combat unit, we lack experience in this area."

Chu Yunfei made a prompt decision: "We really don't have enough manpower... So, let's send a telegram to the chairman in my name, saying that we need some counterintelligence personnel from the Military Control Commission to support our work."

"Will Commander Yan be unhappy?" Qian Bojun and Wu Ziqiang looked at each other.

"I can't care about that." Chu Yunfei shook his head and said in a rather stiff tone: "According to the news from Shaanxi, the number of refugees in this batch is at least 300,000. Even if Shanxi accepts 200,000 of them, there are still more than 100,000 people who have nowhere to go. Instead of going to the desolate northwest, it is better for them to stay in Shanxi and build a base."

"You are probably aware of the Ma family army's character in the northwest. These refugees are just like cattle and sheep to them."

Wu Ziqiang and Qian Bojun both nodded.

Although the population will consume a lot of food.

But at the same time, more food can be produced.

Nowadays, water conservancy projects in various places are basically nearing completion, and all irrigation canals have been taken over by the Construction Corps.

It will definitely be available before the beginning of next spring.

By then, water irrigation will be convenient and will not be affected by drought, so the yield will naturally increase.

In this case, let alone 100,000 people, even 300,000 people would be enough.

Chu Yunfei is also confident that he can feed them.

If the number of refugees continues to increase given the existing amount of arable land.

We need support from the rear for so long.

Chu Yunfei sighed, then turned around, walked to the table nearby, and slowly sat down: "Everyone sit down."

Qian Bojun and Wu Ziqiang sat next to Chu Yunfei.

Chu Yunfei asked: "With the return of these wounded soldiers, how many people are you still short of?"

"For Honor 196, we are still short of people."

Chu Yunfei touched his chin and said, "It is not possible to continue to recruit veterans in the short term. The main reason is that the militias and local armed forces in various places need a large number of veterans to lead them."

Qian Bojun knew Chu Yunfei's difficulties, so he chose a relatively compromise plan: "I suggest that we use new soldiers to supplement. It is easy to form combat effectiveness when the old soldiers lead the new ones. Besides, the training volume of 196 is relatively large, and they do not undertake corresponding garrison tasks."

Chu Yunfei nodded: "Okay, I will make the arrangements. Ziqiang, how is your 198 situation now?"

"As for the troops, we are still short of 2,400 men to barely fill the staff. In addition, the quality of our new recruits is much worse than before, especially in terms of shooting training, which is very lacking, and we have to carry out garrison missions."

Wu Ziqiang sighed slightly. It was really difficult to deal with the decline in combat effectiveness.

The 9th Infantry Regiment under his command had just been formed and had basically no foundation.

Together with the 8th Infantry Regiment, the combat effectiveness of the two regiments was at the bottom of the entire team.

Honor 196 needs to maintain extremely strong combat effectiveness at all times and be used as a mobile force and spearhead force.

He is the absolute main force under his command.

It was also because of this that they suffered a heavy loss of combat effectiveness in the Battle of Changzhi.

The first task Chu Yunfei gave them was to train and restore their combat effectiveness.

The garrison of the defense zone can only be entrusted to 198.
The training plan of 198 can only be adjusted appropriately, using rotation training to improve physical fitness and train troop tactics, and the efficiency is relatively low.

More importantly, they lacked the corresponding ammunition.

Chu Yunfei became even more annoyed when he thought that the Second War Zone had only allocated 1.8 million rounds of bullets this month.

The gap between production and demand is too huge. How to improve the combat effectiveness of the troops before the offensive and counterattack is also something that Chu Yunfei urgently needs to solve.

"As for training ammunition, I will find a way to solve it."

"Sir, do you think it would be possible to collect some unused ammunition from the rear, or suggest that the arsenal produce some reloaded bullets?"

"Reloading bullets?" Chu Yunfei waved his hand, indicating that they didn't need to worry: "The process of reloading bullets is actually much more complicated than you think. If you produce reloaded ammunition, it will only occupy the production equipment of normal ammunition, and it will not increase the output much. The quality will also decline a lot..."

"Okay, it's getting late. Find me a place to sleep. I have to go back tomorrow and attend a meeting at the Second War Zone Commander's Headquarters next week."

"Yes!"

After Chu Yunfei left.

Wu Ziqiang took out a cigarette and handed it to Qian Bojun: "Old Qian, although our scale has expanded a lot compared to before, the days now are much more difficult than before."

Qian Bojun took the cigarette, puffed on it for a while, and then sighed: "There is no other way. Commander Yan's decades of foundation have been exhausted, and we are a big consumer of money and grain. If it were not for the strong support of the chairman and Commander Yan, we would not have been able to hold on to the southeastern Shanxi region for so long."

"Do you know how many bullets we have left?" Qian Bojun threw away the cigarette butt in his hand and asked after a moment of silence.

Wu Ziqiang shook his head: "I don't know."

"As far as I know, the combined combat strength of all the troops under the command of the Lord has exceeded 100,000 in the entire southeastern Shanxi region."

"The number of troops from the Jincheng Detachment of the Shanxi Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army, the Construction Corps, and the Agricultural Reclamation Corps alone has reached more than 40,000."

"This..." Wu Ziqiang frowned, "With so many people, how much will it cost to feed them?"

"Your Excellency does not have much surplus food on hand right now. Fortunately, we have established contact with the Soviets. Once these tobaccos can be supplied to the Soviets stably, the situation may improve slightly."

Qian Bojun thought about this and then raised his doubts: "I was actually wondering before, Your Majesty transferred Zhuo Tianyu and Sun Weimou to Jincheng to build the ferry and anti-aircraft artillery positions. Did you already think that refugees would pour into southeastern Shanxi? Did you already think about not letting these two large-scale corps participate in normal battles?"

Wu Ziqiang nodded: "I think so too, otherwise, how could so many people be equipped with so few guns?"

"If we don't count them, and exclude the militia, self-defense forces, and guerrillas, our total combat strength is less than 40,000."

Qian Bojun gestured with his hand, and Wu Ziqiang handed over the cigarette box in his hand. Qian Bojun didn't bother to be polite with him. He smiled and put the cigarette in his pocket. "Many of them are new recruits who have just completed physical training and corresponding tactical training. Their combat effectiveness is much worse than the veterans we brought before."

"In terms of artillery, the number of artillery pieces in our army has increased significantly compared to before..."

Wu Ziqiang seemed to want to convince Qian Bojun, and also to convince himself: "With the decentralization of mortars, Song Ming is now equipped with a 107mm heavy mortar. The number of artillery pieces in our artillery brigade has also increased a lot compared to before, that is, in terms of shells."

"In fact, if you think about it, you will know that if you want to counterattack, the direction of the counterattack is basically fixed."

Following Qian Bojun's gaze, Wu Ziqiang asked, "My wife, are you at the gate?"

"Well, if we eliminate the Japanese troops in Niangzi Pass and Yangquan, we can drive the Japanese in this direction out of Shanxi. Judging from the Japanese deployment near Shouyang City and the actions of repairing fortifications, they seem to want to use Shouyang and the surrounding areas to complete the construction of a defense system around Taiyuan City."

"I don't think such troops will attack Qin County from Shouyang. After all, they don't have many marching routes to choose from. The most suitable attack route previously cost them a brigade... If you were the commander of the Japanese army, would you still choose that place?"

Wu Ziqiang pondered for a moment and said: "If I were the Japanese army, I would definitely launch an attack from Shexian County. Only the terrain over there is the flattest and most suitable for deploying troops."

"Southeastern Shanxi is a good place, but it also imposes self-restrictions on us. The Japanese army can easily determine our strategic goals and combat intentions, and will certainly make targeted defensive deployments at Niangzi Pass. The Japanese army's 150mm heavy artillery can't even hit it, so our 75mm mountain artillery won't have much effect either."

The next morning.

Chu Yunfei then set off back to Changzhi with his guard platoon.

We stopped and walked along the way back and inspected the development of the surrounding areas of Qincheng.

Overall it is not bad, but because it is too close to Taiyuan City, it may become a battlefield at any time.

The local public treasury in southeastern Shanxi provides relatively little support for the development of Qincheng.

Therefore.

Chu Yunfei was amazed that Qincheng could have such a magnificent scene.

The original county magistrate should be Li Zuitian, a typical old bureaucrat.

He listens to Old Man Yan and not Chu Yunfei, and is considered a corrupt scholar who has not yet come to his senses.

Chu Yunfei didn't believe that this man could turn Qin County into this state.

"Pengcheng."

The platoon leader of the Sixth Guard Platoon rode up to Chu Yunfei and said, "Yes, sir. You called me."

Chu Yunfei: "Did Sun Ming tell you the name of the new county magistrate of Qin County?"

"Shi Huaibi seems to be a member of the Sacrifice Alliance"

Zhao Pengcheng responded after thinking for a moment.

As Chu Yunfei's new adjutant.

Zhao Pengcheng obviously learned a lot of information from Sun Ming.

"Their people?"

"Yes."

Chu Yunfei: "Where is the former County Magistrate Li?"

"It is said that he was replaced."

After hearing what Zhao Pengcheng said, Chu Yunfei also found it interesting.

He chuckled and then asked, "Li Zuitian is Commander Yan's man, so he was withdrawn just like that?"

Zhao Pengcheng nodded: "It is said that he was removed because of poor performance. County Magistrate Shi is very cooperative with our work. Generally speaking, we are all busy with our own things, and we can be considered to be at peace."

"The original old officials were not removed?" Chu Yunfei raised his eyebrows and asked, "Logically speaking, since the county magistrate has been replaced, the people doing the work should also be replaced, right?"

Zhao Pengcheng shook his head: "No, after all, every time you need them to work, it is your direct order. From top to bottom, they are very cooperative. I think the Sacrifice Alliance will not be able to find any reason to replace them."

Chu Yunfei chuckled: "This is quite interesting. The situation in Qin County seems to be more complicated than we thought."

"When you get back, go find Sun Ming and ask him to come to Qin County to preside over the work. Reshuffle the power distribution in Qin County and replace it with our people..."

"Yes." Zhao Pengcheng raised his right hand and gestured on his neck.

Chu Yunfei shook his head: "What are you thinking about? Li Zuitian is alive and well. Emphasize to Sun Ming not to break the rules."

"Yes."

"What about Commander Yan's men?"

“They’ve all been changed.”

(End of this chapter)