Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 490: Unprecedented changes in the world political landscape (Subscription required)
The sound of gunfire in Mindang had just subsided.

The morning light was just breaking, and the smoke of war had not yet dissipated from the valley.

Preliminary battle report on the newly formed 29th Division's unexpected night attack counterattack.

It had already been sent via radio to Shancheng, Washington, London, and even the various command centers of the Japanese army in Southeast Asia.

The Japanese 18th Division Command and the Thai-Burma Front Command were shocked by this sudden battle report.

When Mutaguchi Renya learned from the remnants of the soldiers who escaped back from the Wild Wolf Valley that the vanguard regiment was almost wiped out.

After further inquiry.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya learned that the regiment commander, Colonel Masamura, had died in battle, and that the reinforcement battalion he sent out had suffered a devastating ambush in Wolf Valley, and that the battalion commander, Major Yamaguchi, had committed suicide.

The division commander, who was known for his ferocity and arrogance, flew into a rage in his own headquarters and smashed everything that could be smashed to pieces.

"Damn it! Destroy it! They're all idiots!" Mutaguchi Renya's face was distorted by extreme anger. He hissed, his voice like a beast: "Masamura, you idiot! Yamaguchi, you good-for-nothing!"

"A regiment and a reinforced battalion were actually defeated by a little-known new division of China!"

"And the army is completely routed! This is a huge humiliation for the Locust Army! A huge humiliation!"

The staff officers around him were silent as a mouse, not even daring to breathe.

They knew very well that the disastrous defeat at Mindang was not only a military loss, but also a heavy blow to the reputation of the 18th Division and the entire Southern Army.

After receiving the report, Terauchi Juichi remained silent for a long time.

His wrinkled face did not show much expression, but his slightly trembling fingertips revealed the turbulent waves in his heart.

He turned the thin telegram paper over and over again. An elite regiment of the Imperial Army's Type A Division was completely wiped out in an unknown valley!
"Snapped!"

Finally, Terauchi Juichi slammed his fist heavily on the sturdy teak desk, and the teacup fell over, splashing the scalding tea everywhere.

He said to his subordinates in a cold tone: "Find out immediately! Who is the commander of the Chinese army in the direction of Mindang!

Where do their shells come from?

What is the number of this combat unit that is ambushing us? "

The chief of the operations department, the intelligence minister and others around him were all silent, lowering their heads and not daring to speak.

They knew that Commander-in-Chief Terauchi Hisaichi was truly furious this time.

Just when the atmosphere in the command center was extremely tense.

An aide-de-camp walked in quickly, bowed slightly and reported: "Your Excellency Commander, Major General Lin Canghui, the chief of the Special Countermeasures Section, has urgent military information to request!"

"Let him in!" Terauchi Juichi's voice was still cold, but a barely perceptible expectation flashed across his brows.

Lin Canghui might give him some different perspectives.

Soon, Major General Lin Canghui, wearing a neat military uniform and with a calm but slightly tired face, walked quickly into the office holding a folder.

He saluted Terauchi Juichi with a standard military salute, and then went straight to the point:
"Your Excellency, Commander-in-Chief, regarding the battle in Mindang, I have just received the latest intelligence from the battlefield, including information obtained and deciphered through technical means. The situation is more complicated and serious than we initially expected."

Terauchi gestured and he continued.

Lin Canghui opened the folder, took out a report, and said in a calm tone: “First, according to our multiple verifications, the commander of the Chinese Army in the Mindang direction temporarily changed the commander.

The former commander of the newly formed 29th Division, Ma Weiji, has been replaced.

The successor was Zhang Lingfu, a general in the Central Army of China who was known for his bravery and fighting skills.

"Zhang Lingfu?" Terauchi Hisaichi frowned, as he seemed to have some impression of this name.

But he is not as well-known as Chu Yunfei and Du Yuming.

No matter what, Zhang Lingfu was just a small division commander before.

Lin Canghui explained: "Yes, Zhang Lingfu, a graduate of the fourth term of Huangpu Military Academy, performed well in the Battle of Songhu, the Battle of Wanjialing, and the Battle of Shanggao, and was famous for his bravery in combat and courageous command.

This person has a strong character and is good at boosting morale and reorganizing troops in adversity.

According to reliable intelligence, Zhang Lingfu reorganized the newly formed 29th Division less than a day before the outbreak of the Mindang battle.

As soon as he took office, he used iron-fisted means to rectify the morale of the army, quickly stabilized the morale of the army that was on the verge of collapse, and immediately planned this night attack and counterattack against our Zhengcun Regiment.

"Damn it!" Terauchi Shouichi cursed again, "Changing generals before a battle should be a taboo in military strategy, but it actually has such a miraculous effect! Zhang Lingfu, when did this difficult character appear in the Chinese army!"

Lin Canghui continued: "Second, regarding the artillery support of the Chinese Army.

According to our analysis, the 105mm howitzers supporting Zhang Lingfu's troops in Mindang should belong to the newly formed th Army of the China Expeditionary Force and Huang Baitao's troops. "

"Chu Yunfei"

Terauchi Juichi whispered the name, his eyes becoming increasingly gloomy.

Lin Canghui took a deep breath and told the most crucial information, which also shocked Terauchi Shouyi: "The third important point. According to our analysis of the deployment of Chinese expeditionary forces on the entire battlefield.

Chu Yunfei urgently adjusted the deployment in the direction of Mindang, and while deploying the 200th Division as a "surprise force", he also mobilized almost all the mobile forces he could mobilize.

The one who ambushed our Yamaguchi reinforcement brigade was the Fifth Army’s ace main force - Dai Anlan’s 200th Division.

On the Mindang front, Zhang Lingfu's newly formed 29th Division had not been reorganized, and its actual combat power was still limited. In addition, the Sixth Army suffered a heavy blow from our army. Even if we lost an infantry regiment, our manpower and firepower advantages still had an absolute advantage over the expeditionary army. "

Lin Canghui paused, and said in a serious tone: "Commander, I can guarantee with my life that at this moment, the Chinese Expeditionary Force in the area around Yangon and on the front line from Yangon to Mindaung, I am afraid there is no reserve force that has been fully formed and can be put into battle at any time!

They surrounded and annihilated our 55th Division at Biaoguan.

When the vanguard of our 18th Division was severely damaged.

It was indeed a glorious victory, but they had also played almost all of their cards out!"

"What?!" Terauchi Shouichi raised his head suddenly, a terrifying light bursting out of his eyes, "Lin Cangjun, are you saying that the current Chinese Expeditionary Force is actually strong on the outside but weak on the inside, and has reached the limit of its troop deployment?"

Lin Canghui nodded heavily: "Yes, Commander!
Chu Yunfei’s command is indeed brilliant, but he is not a god after all.

The battle situation was complicated and supplies were difficult.

The expeditionary force's strength is not infinite.

They need to deploy heavy troops on the Yangon front line to guard the hard-won victory.

Apart from the 200th Division, the newly formed 29th Division and the remnants of Huang Baitao's troops, he had almost all the available pieces in his hands that could be used in the direction of Mindang.

"Moreover," Lin Canghui added, "Based on our research on Chu Yunfei's past style, he is extremely good at taking advantage of the enemy's chaotic command and low morale after achieving partial victory to quickly expand the results of the battle, and even risking deep penetration. But after this Mindang battle.

Apart from ordering Zhang Lingfu to hold his ground and wait for reinforcements, he did not launch any larger-scale pursuit or counterattack.

This also indirectly confirms that his current military strength is indeed stretched to its limits and unable to launch a larger-scale offensive.

Terauchi Juichi paced back and forth in the office, his brain working rapidly.

Lin Canghui's report was like lighting a lamp for him in the darkness, allowing him to see a wonderful, even strategic opportunity for the entire battle scenario!
If Lin Canghui's judgment is correct.

He suddenly stopped, with a ferocious light flashing in Terauchi Juichi's eyes like a hungry wolf, and ordered Iida Shojiro beside him: "Immediately order the battle! The 18th Division Mutaguchi Renya's unit and the 33rd Division Yanagida Genzo's unit that is gathering in the direction of Mindang, continue to attack the enemy's defense line according to the original battle plan."

"At the same time, order the air force to seize air superiority from Mindan to Yangon at all costs and launch continuous strikes."

"I want to prevent any reinforcements and supplies from Chu Yunfei from reaching the front line!"

"Hai!"

The head of the operations department and the chief of staff responded in unison.

Terauchi Shouichi murmured with a ferocious expression: "Chu Yunfei, do you think you won?"

"Do you think you can scare the Imperial Japanese Army with an ambush that takes advantage of the time difference?"

"You underestimate me, Terauchi Juichi! Since you no longer have any reserve troops, I will use my absolute superiority in military strength to devour your main force in one gulp!"

"The final victory will belong to the Empire of Japan!"

Although the expeditionary force's fighting will and command level far exceeded expectations.

But at the same time, a larger-scale adjustment and a more ferocious and brutal counterattack are already brewing.

At the same time, at the British Indian Army Headquarters in Kolkata, India.

This "miracle" from Mindang also caused a commotion and confusion.

The interior of Commander-in-Chief General Wavell's office was filled with smoke.

He, General Alexander, who had just withdrawn from the front line of the battlefield, General Smith, and several senior staff officers were gathered around a huge topographic map.

"Everyone, what do you think of this battle report?" General Wavell spoke first, his voice extremely hoarse. He pointed to the location of Mindang on the map, "General Stilwell said in the telegram that the newly formed 29th Division of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, under the command of a division commander named Zhang Lingfu, not only withstood the fierce attack of the vanguard of the Japanese 18th Regiment, but also successfully launched a counterattack at night, killing more than 2,000 enemies, including a Japanese regiment commander.

At the same time, their 200th Division, under the command of General Dai Anlan, ambushed and severely damaged the Japanese reinforcements. This sounds like a myth! "

General Alexander frowned, put down the magnifying glass in his hand, and said thoughtfully: "Sir, if the battle report is true, then we really need to re-evaluate the combat effectiveness of the Chinese army."

"According to my observation, the newly formed 29th Division has performed mediocrely in previous battles, and can even be described as a complete failure."

"To be able to transform himself in such a short period of time and achieve such a great result, the commander Zhang Lingfu is definitely not an ordinary person."

"General, when we retreated from Yangon, we had a brief encounter with Chu Yunfei's troops. Take Huang Baitao's troops of the newly formed 11th Army as an example. Their military discipline is the best I have ever seen."

"Moreover, Chu Yunfei's command style is treacherous and unpredictable, and he is very good at using tactics and psychological warfare."

"It is very likely that he had been planning the battle of Mindang for a long time, and Zhang Lingfu was just a tactical executor."

"So, Smith," Wavell turned to Major General Smith, who had some complaints about the Chinese army, "Do you still think that the Chinese army is just 'large in numbers'?"

Major General Smith looked a little embarrassed. He cleared his throat and said, "Sir, I have to admit that the results of Mindang are indeed surprising. If they can really continue to fight like this.

It is undoubtedly a huge help for India's defense.

Perhaps we could consider working even more closely with them in certain specific campaigns.

On the premise of ensuring the interests of the empire, retain some necessary support for them."

Alexander also nodded: "Commander-in-Chief, I think Smith's suggestion is worth considering."

"The expeditionary force's strength far exceeds our previous estimates. Judging from the current situation, General Chu Yunfei's ambitions are clearly on the table. Perhaps we should focus the empire's energy on the war in Europe and no longer care about Myanmar's domestic interests."

General Vervet pondered for a long time and finally nodded: "What you said makes a lot of sense. If we have to give up something in order to gain corresponding benefits, perhaps Myanmar is more suitable to be the strategic area we give up.

I will contact Prime Minister Churchill to report the latest situation on the battlefield and our recommendations.

At the same time, the British military attaché in China should try to establish a more direct communication channel with the Joint Forces Command.

Tell them that the British Empire is willing to fight alongside the brave expeditionary force on the basis of mutual respect and common goals.

We can also discuss the coordination of command in some war zones at an appropriate time."

It is obvious that the attitude of the British and Indian sides has finally begun to loosen.

From initial suspicion and contempt, they turned to seeking cooperation.

They even began to consider the possibility of transferring some command in certain situations.

Thousands of miles outside Washington, the atmosphere in the rooftop Oval Office was much more relaxed.

President Roosevelt was sitting in a wheelchair, holding in his hands the detailed battle report of the Mindang victory and the special assessment report sent back by General Stilwell.

His face was filled with an excited smile and he uttered an exclamation of praise from time to time.

Army Chief of Staff General Marshall, Navy Chief of Operations Admiral King, Presidential Advisor Hopkins and others surrounded him, each with varying degrees of surprise and joy on their faces.

"Gentlemen, please allow me to say it again, this is really a great victory!" President Roosevelt waved the telegram in his hand and said excitedly, "Stilwell called it the 'Mindang Miracle' in his report! A newly formed division that was almost broken up, led by a Chinese general named Zhang Lingfu, not only withstood the attack of the elite Japanese army, but also launched a counterattack at night and annihilated more than 2,000 Japanese soldiers!
More importantly, they accomplished all this with the remote planning and artillery support of General Chu Yunfei!
This fully proves our judgment.

Under the leadership of the right generals and with sufficient equipment support, even an ordinary army can fight against the main force of the Japanese army! "

General Marshall added: "Mr. President, General Stilwell particularly emphasized in his report that General Chu Yunfei's strategic vision and use of tactics have reached the world's top level."

"His grasp of opportunities, use of artillery, and his ability to inspire the potential of his men are all impressive."

"Although the scale of Mindang's victory was not huge, the combat effectiveness of the expeditionary force it once again demonstrated, as well as Chu Yunfei's own command ability, are of great reference value for our future global strategic deployment."

"Perhaps we don't need to invest too much land force in the Pacific battlefield. We can rely on them to win the corresponding war. Chu Yunfei has always been on good terms with us, and Chang Ruiyuan, the commander-in-chief of the Far East Theater, also urgently needs to rely on our country. This is the best opportunity to deepen the relationship between the two sides."

"Yes." Admiral Kim, the Navy's chief of operations, also considered it and said, "If we can continue to win such victories in the Chinese battlefield, it will greatly contain the main force of the Japanese Army. This will undoubtedly be a huge help for our Navy to reduce pressure and seize the initiative in the Pacific battlefield."

“We can even form a closer strategic fit with the Chinese military on the mainland battlefield during the future counterattack phase.”

President Roosevelt's eyes swept over the crowd, and the smile on his face became even brighter: "Gentlemen, China's performance has given us immense confidence! We must further increase our aid to China! Tell Stilwell to tell Chu Yunfei and Chairman Chang Ruiyuan that the United States will always be their most reliable ally!"

"Weapons, equipment, and supplies, as long as they need them, we will support them unconditionally, as long as they can continuously achieve corresponding victories!"

"Henry, immediately start the final review process for the 'special aid to China' that I asked you to draw up earlier! I want to see more American equipment shipped to China and to the battlefield in the shortest possible time!

Especially those heavy artillery, tanks, and fighter planes and bombers with better performance that can enhance the expeditionary force's attack capabilities!"

Morgenthau bowed and said, "Mr. President, everything is going according to plan. The second batch of 105mm howitzers and M3 Stuart light tanks have been shipped and are expected to arrive in Yangon within this month.

The subsequent list of aid materials has also been drawn up, and the total value will exceed our initial aid bill. Our armored troops will also arrive in Yangon along with the ship, and we will fight together with the expeditionary forces on the battlefield in Southeast Asia, but..."

"Just what?" President Roosevelt demanded.

Morgenthau said with a little worry: "Mr. President, the situation in Europe is still not optimistic. According to the latest intelligence we have received, the Germans seem to be gathering heavy troops and preparing to restart an unprecedented large-scale offensive on the Eastern Front this summer (1942). Its main targets are likely to be Stalingrad and the Caucasus oil fields on the southern front. If the Soviets cannot withstand this round of German attacks, the consequences will be disastrous. Should we make some balance and trade-offs between aid to China and aid to the Soviet Union?

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the office suddenly became tense again.

The direction of the Soviet-German battlefield undoubtedly concerned the top leaders of every Allied country.

General Marshall said in a deep voice: "Mr. President, Minister Morgenthau's concerns are not without reason. From the various intelligence we have at present, Hitler does have the intention of making a desperate attempt to completely defeat the Soviet Union this summer.

Although the Wehrmacht was damaged after its failure in the Battle of Moscow, its armored forces' surprise attack capabilities and air force's support capabilities still existed.

If they could capture Stalingrad, cut off the Volga transport routes, and seize the oil of the Caucasus, the Soviet Union's war potential would suffer a devastating blow.

That would mean that we would have to face a stronger Germany on the European continent that would be more powerful and free of worries.

President Roosevelt's brows also furrowed. He tapped the table lightly with his fingers and fell into deep thought.

After a moment, he raised his head with a firm look: "Gentlemen, the fate of the Soviets is indeed related to the overall situation of the anti-fascist war. We must do everything possible to support them in resisting the German attack."

"But this does not mean we are going to cut off aid to China."

"On the contrary," President Roosevelt said more strongly, "precisely because the European battlefield is facing such tremendous pressure, we need the Chinese battlefield to play its irreplaceable strategic role!"

"If the Germans decide to succeed on the Eastern Front, and Japan takes the opportunity to win a decisive victory on the Chinese battlefield, or even withdraws from the war for China, we will face a catastrophic collapse on both fronts! This is something we absolutely cannot allow to happen!"

"Therefore," he said firmly, "aid to China should not be cut off, but should be further strengthened!"

"We must make the Japanese clearly realize that they are facing a Chinese army that is getting stronger and better equipped in mainland China!"

"We must make them deeply bogged down in the quagmire of the Chinese battlefield and weaken their war strength. In this way, the Soviets will draw more troops from the Far East to the European battlefield, thereby weakening our pressure on the Pacific battlefield and the Soviet Union on the European battlefield!"

“As for the Soviet-German battlefield, I judge that although the Greek German summer offensive will certainly bring great difficulties to the Soviets, the Soviet Union’s war potential and strategic depth should not be underestimated.

Moreover, the Soviets would defend Stalingrad, a city named after Stalin, at all costs.

I believe that the heroic Soviet people and the Red Army will eventually be able to withstand the German attack, and may even be able to inflict a heavy blow to the German army at a critical juncture.

Of course, this will take time and require ongoing assistance.

But no matter what, we cannot let the crisis on the Eastern Front shake our determination to support China’s war of resistance.”

"Henry," President Roosevelt turned aside again: "The plan to aid China must be implemented without compromise! And the speed must be accelerated! Let Stilwell tell Chu Yunfei everything. The American people stand with the Chinese people!
As long as they can continue to strike hard at the Japanese invaders, we can provide the necessary support! I can even directly authorize Stilwell to directly allocate the materials originally planned to be shipped to other war zones under certain circumstances and according to the needs of the war situation, and give priority to supporting the Chinese Expeditionary Force! "

"Yes, Mr. President!"

Everyone present was impressed by President Roosevelt's decision and strategic vision and responded in unison.

obviously.

Chu Yunfei and the Chinese Expeditionary Force under his command.

With its astonishing fighting power and tenacious will, it is winning more and more respect and support from the international community.

It also helped poor and weak China gain more important voice in the anti-fascist war!
(End of this chapter)