Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

A full month had passed since the expeditionary victory that shocked the world.

Although the rainy season has arrived in Myanmar, bringing many inconveniences to subsequent military operations, it also provides both sides with a valuable opportunity to catch their breath and adjust.

During this month, the core meeting room of the Shancheng Military Commission was brightly lit almost every night.

The Chairman personally presided over the meeting, and the heads of various departments including the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Ministry of Logistics, and the core staff of the Secretariat repeatedly checked and carefully evaluated the military achievements in the Burmese battlefield.

Every battle report from the front line, every number of enemy killed, every gain or loss of a position were spread out on a giant sand table and deduced and reviewed one by one.

This is not only a recognition of past military achievements, but also a far-reaching consideration of future strategic direction and personnel arrangements.

Among them, there is not only recognition of the bloody battles of the soldiers on the front line, but also the subtle struggles between factions, and even more so the speculation and balance of the attitudes of the United States' allies.

Several war situation analyses and personnel recommendations by General Stilwell were also placed on the Chairman's desk, and their importance is self-evident.

Although Chu Yunfei was far away in northern Myanmar, the strategic ideas and implicit evaluations of certain generals that he conveyed through various channels also invisibly influenced the final decision.

at last!

After countless closed-door meetings and heated discussions, a commendation order was issued that embodied the will and compromise of all parties.

It was officially promulgated by the Military Commission of the National Government and telegraphed to the front lines in Burma and major war zones in the country.

Shancheng, Auditorium of the Military Commission of the National Government.

A simple yet grand awarding ceremony is being held.

The only general present was Qiu Qingquan, who had been transferred to the rear.

The rest were led by special persons.

The truly important appointments are made via encrypted telegrams.

It was sent to the commanders of various relevant war zones and troops in the form of "National Government Military Commission Order".

The first commendation order was directed to the core command of the Burma Campaign:
"Lieutenant General Du Yuming, commanding the Fifth Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, made good plans and dispatched troops in the decisive battle in southern Burma.

Facing the fierce attacks from the elite 18th and 33rd Divisions of the Japanese invaders, he commanded with confidence, first ensuring the stability of the outer defense line of Yangon, and then seized the opportunity to counterattack decisively, inflicting heavy damage on the enemy in front of him, and played a pivotal role in helping our army recapture Yangon and stabilize the overall situation in southern Myanmar.

Due to his outstanding contributions, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General of the Army and served as the acting commander-in-chief of the newly formed First Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, commanding the Fifth, Sixth and Sixty-sixth Armies of the Expeditionary Force.

I hope you will continue to carry forward the spirit of hard work, create more achievements, and live up to the trust of the chairman! "

Once this order was issued, it meant that Du Yuming officially jumped from a division commander to a real big shot in command of several armies.

The weight of his authority and responsibilities far exceeds that of the past.

His command center will also be moved from the Fifth Army Headquarters to Yangon, serving as the core for stabilizing the entire southern Burma front.

The second commendation order was for the internal adjustments of the Fifth Army.

These are also the relevant opinions and evaluations given by Chu Yunfei.

"Lieutenant General Zheng Dongguo has assisted the Fifth Army in combat since entering Burma. During the Yangon offensive and defensive battle and the Mintang counterattack, he commanded his troops (the Honorary First Division) to fight bravely and persevere. At every critical moment, he stabilized the front and turned the tide.

His loyalty and bravery are commendable and his talents are capable of great use.

He was specially promoted to commander of the Fifth Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force, and continued to serve as commander of the Honorary First Division.

I hope that when he takes over, he will immediately strengthen the army, inherit the glorious tradition of the Fifth Army, lead all the soldiers, serve as the shield of the Party and the country, and be the pioneer of the nation, and make new contributions! "

Many people had expected Zheng Dongguo to take over as commander of the Fifth Army.

After all, before going to the Fifth Army, he was already an acting army commander, and when he was in the Fifth Army, he was also a deputy army commander and acting commander of the Honorary 1st Division.

He is calm and capable, with outstanding military achievements. It is popular among the people that he will be in charge of this ace unit of the National Army.

The Fifth Army will serve as the core force of the First Army and continue to guard the most important defense line north of Yangon.

The third commendation order was directed to General Sun Liren, who performed brilliantly in the Biaoguan siege battle:

"Major General Sun Liren commanded the newly formed 38th Army Division. In the Battle of Biaoguan, he made a foresight and used his extraordinary force.

With inferior forces, we decisively penetrated into the enemy's rear, cut off the enemy's retreat, and cooperated with friendly forces to encircle and annihilate the main force of the arrogant Japanese 55th Division in Mokparin (east of Biaoguan) and surrounding areas in one fell swoop, creating a brilliant record of defeating the enemy with fewer troops and annihilating an entire Japanese division, spreading our military prestige in foreign lands and boosting the morale of the Chinese people.

His outstanding command ability and immortal military achievements are worthy of praise.

He was specially promoted to Army Lieutenant General and appointed commander of the newly formed First Army of the Expeditionary Force.

The army is composed of the newly formed 38th Division and the newly formed 30th Division.

I hope this member will take this as a start and keep up the good work! "

Sun Liren and his newly formed First Army will become a highly mobile and powerful strategic reserve force. Its garrison location is initially scheduled to be in the Sittang River basin in central Myanmar, so it can respond to wars in the north and south at any time.

This was also due to the contributions of the Americans and the Song family, otherwise Sun Liren would never have been directly promoted to the commander of the newly formed First Army.

The fourth commendation order.

Gave to Huang Baitao, commander of the newly formed 11th Army:

"Lieutenant General Huang Baitao led the newly formed 11th Army in the attack on Yangon and the outer defense operations. He commanded well and his soldiers fought bravely. They were unstoppable in attack and solid as a rock in defense.

Especially in cooperating with the Fifth and Sixth Armies in the counterattack, and in the subsequent battles to wipe out the remnants of the Japanese 18th Division, he did not avoid hardships and dangers and made many contributions.

He was specially awarded the Second Class Baoding Medal to recognize his outstanding contribution.

The newly formed 11th Army is still commanded by this officer and is temporarily stationed in the Pegu area northeast of Yangon, responsible for guarding the flank of Yangon and serving as a strategic vanguard in the eastward direction of Siam.

Huang Baitao's newly formed 11th Army was adjusted and placed in Pegu. It was obvious that the command had long-term considerations of using troops against Siam in the future.

The fifth commendation order formally confirmed Qiu Qingquan's transfer and new mission:

"Major General Qiu Qingquan, formerly the commander of the newly formed 22nd Division of the Fifth Army, fought bravely and led the troops in the Burma campaign. Although the new 22nd Division under his command had experienced many hard battles, its fighting spirit remained strong and it set an example for the entire army.

Because of his outstanding military talent and loyal and brave character, he was promoted to Lieutenant General of the Army and transferred to the country to be responsible for the establishment of the new Seventh Army of the National Army and serve as the first commander of the army.

The newly formed Seventh Army will be under the command of the newly formed 51st Division, the newly formed 52nd Division, and the newly formed 53rd Division. This army is the first batch of fully American-equipped strategic counterattack corps planned by our country. It is related to the overall situation of the War of Resistance and has heavy responsibilities.

I hope General Qiu Qingquan will live up to your high expectations, work hard, and quickly train elite troops to accumulate thunderous power for the future general counterattack! "

As soon as this order came out.

This means that Qiu Qingquan has officially embarked on the journey of forming a brand new American-equipped corps. This future strategic force will make its mark in the all-out counterattack that will soon unfold.

The sixth commendation order was given to Zhang Lingfu, who was ordered to take charge of the front line of Mindang:
"Major General Zhang Lingfu and Yu Min were ordered to take command of the newly formed 29th Division when the battle was at a critical juncture.

He organized his troops before the battle, acted swiftly and decisively, and used resolute means to quickly stabilize the situation that was on the verge of collapse.

He then commanded his troops to launch a night attack despite being at a disadvantage, and surprise attacked the command post of the vanguard regiment of the Japanese 18th Division. He cooperated with friendly artillery fire to inflict heavy damage on the enemy in front of him, and made outstanding contributions to stabilizing the Mindang defense line and delaying the Japanese offensive.

His bravery is commendable and his wisdom is also remarkable.

He was awarded the third-class Yunhui Medal as a commendation. He was officially appointed as the commander of the newly formed 29th Division.

The division will be stationed in the Alan area north of Mindang, responsible for guarding the central route and coordinating with friendly forces to prevent the Japanese army from invading the north again.

It is obvious that Zhang Lingfu firmly established his foothold in the New 29th Division through a tough battle and won the recognition of the headquarters.

If Chu Yunfei had not obstructed him, Zhang Lingfu would have taken another step forward and formed a new Second Army.

That's the problem.

If Zhang Lingfu was promoted, then Dai Anlan's military achievements would be sufficient and he should also be promoted.

But where can we get so many troops in the country to expand seven infantry divisions?

So for things like this, we can only wait and postpone them.

Wait until all other preparations are done.

The corresponding positions will also be adjusted accordingly.

The seventh commendation order was an affirmation and expectation for the new army commander Wu Ziqiang:
"Major General Wu Ziqiang was ordered to form the new 12th Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in a time of crisis.

He worked day and night to supervise and train the soldiers, and in a short period of time, he initially integrated a new unit, which has been sent to the front line to take over the defense of the new 22nd Division. His hard work and loyalty to duty are worthy of praise.

The personnel are asked to continue to intensify the training and actual combat training of the new 12th Army, so that it can become another powerful force in our expeditionary force as soon as possible.

I hereby award you the fourth-class Baoding Medal as an encouragement."

In addition to the promotion and commendation of these core generals, others such as Chief of Staff Liao Yaoxiang are now acting as the commander of the new 22nd Division.

Brigade and regiment-level officers who performed outstandingly in various battles were also rewarded, with promotions in rank, medals, or telegrams of commendation.

I won’t mention it here.

For a time, the entire command system of the Chinese Expeditionary Force was completely renewed with this large-scale reward and award ceremony.

New generals took up more important positions.

New unit numbers were given expectations.

New strategic deployment also gradually unfolded.

Yangon.

Inside the temporary command headquarters of General Du Yuming, acting commander-in-chief of the First Army.

Du Yuming put down the appointment telegram in his hand, and a solemn and resolute expression appeared on his face.

He knew that the title of "acting commander-in-chief" meant heavier responsibilities.

The stability of southern Myanmar, the safety of Yangon, and even the planning of future counterattacks all fell on his shoulders.

"Order." He said to the Chief of Staff Liao Yaoxiang beside him: "All armies should immediately adjust their deployment according to the defense zones designated by the Chairman and the Joint Command.

The main force of the Fifth Army moved to the Pyay line north of Yangon to build the main defensive position.

The Sixth Army's Gan Lichu Division, except for a part left to assist in the defense of Yangon, moved its main force westward to the Pathein area on the west side of the Irrawaddy River Delta to prevent the Japanese from landing from the sea;
Wu Ziqiang's troops of the newly formed 12th Army are strengthening their fortifications at Mindang and are ready for battle."

Liao Yaoxiang reminded quietly: "Commander Du, Wu Ziqiang is over there..."

Du Yuming was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Since they are under the command of our First Army, we will treat them equally."
-

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Myanmar, north of Yangon.

This has become the headquarters of General Zheng Dongguo, the new commander of the Fifth Army.

After a month of rest and replenishment, the main force of the Fifth Army had not fully recovered, but its appearance had been tidy and its morale was acceptable. However, a tension and dullness different from before previous wars quietly spread among officers at all levels.

The military meeting room was filled with smoke.

Zheng Dongguo sat in the main seat, his eyes calmly sweeping over the core generals in front of him: the deputy army commander, the commander of the 200th Division Dai Anlan, the commander of the newly formed 22nd Division Liao Yaoxiang, the acting commander of the Honorary 1st Division (formerly the deputy commander) Zhang Xian, and several core staff members of the military.

"Everyone," Zheng Dongguo said straight to the point, his voice not loud but full of weight: "I'm sure everyone has a lot of doubts about the series of defense adjustment orders issued earlier."

He paused and continued: "After the great victory in Yangon, the main force of our army did not pursue the victory, but gradually contracted the defense line and focused on consolidating core areas such as Yangon, Pyay, and Bago.

For frontline positions, the strategy of "loose outside and tight inside" is often adopted.

The enemy was given many opportunities to take advantage of, and the intention to induce them to attack was very obvious. "

Liao Yaoxiang put down the pencil in his hand and took over the conversation: "General, what you said is absolutely right.

Since I took over as the acting commander of the new 22nd Division and led my troops to move here, I have realized that our army's overall strategy has changed from active offense to active defense, with the focus on depleting the Japanese army's manpower and waiting for an opportunity to launch a tactical counterattack.

This is quite similar to the tactics that the Chu commander had used in Shanxi before: "Lure the enemy deep into our territory, gather them together and annihilate them."

"That's right. Our 200th Division was ordered to deploy on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River. Our frontier outposts were intertwined with the Japanese army, but we were strictly ordered not to attack easily, and only to conduct firepower probing and harassment.

The main force was hidden deep in the second and third line positions, relying on fortifications and ready to fight.

I guessed a little bit about what was going on."

The generals discussed with each other and soon analyzed the current battlefield situation in detail.

Zheng Dongguo nodded slightly and concluded: "You all agree. The joint command's deployment is indeed intended to lure the enemy deep into our territory. I'm sure everyone knows the underlying reason."

He glanced at everyone, and said in a heavy tone: "In the great victory of Yangon, although our expeditionary force annihilated tens of thousands of enemies, we also suffered heavy casualties.

Subsequent troops (such as the new 12th Army) are still in training, and the replenishment and replacement of American equipment will not be a one-day task.

More importantly, the rainy season has arrived in Burma, and the roads are muddy, making it extremely difficult for large armies to move and supply. At this moment, to be honest, our expeditionary force has temporarily lost the ability to launch large-scale offensives."

After these words were spoken, there was a brief silence in the conference room.

In the hearts of these arrogant soldiers and generals, admitting that they have "lost the ability to take the initiative to attack" is undoubtedly a very painful thing.

But the bloody reality was before them. The continuous fierce battles, the pressure of logistics, and the damn rainy season forced them to bow their heads.

"Commander-in-Chief."

Liao Yaoxiang broke the silence, a sharp look flashed in his eyes, "If the joint command really wants to lure the enemy, our Fifth Army, which controls the throat of Pimiao, must be the main target of the Japanese army heading north."

"The burden on our shoulders will only get heavier."

Zheng Dongguo said sternly: "Yaoxiang's words are exactly the core of why I convened you to discuss the matter today.

If the Japanese army comes, Pyi Taw will be the first to bear the brunt!
I have received a secret order from Commander-in-Chief Du that the Fifth Army must set up a dragnet here and, at all costs, pin the Japanese invaders who dare to invade to the front line of Pyay, creating the most favorable conditions for the victory of the entire subsequent battle! "

Liao Yaoxiang was silent for a moment, then looked at Dai Anlan and whispered, "Do you think the Japanese army still has the strength to continue the attack?"

Dai Anlan shook his head silently.

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Dongguo did not answer the question directly.

In his opinion, the Japanese army had indeed lost its offensive capability.

Next, we will probably enter a long period of confrontation.

Or maybe a change will only occur after Shancheng has completely determined its next strategic direction.

Zheng Dongguo speculated that the headquarters would most likely be more inclined to launch a large-scale offensive operation in the country, also to give an explanation to the people and the common people.

Thinking of this, Zheng Dongguo immediately stood up and walked to the huge sand table, his eyes firm: "Pass my order!
All divisions immediately strengthened their positions, dug deep trenches, laid minefields, and all artillery units recalibrated their firing parameters and preset coverage areas.

In terms of logistics, stockpile ammunition, food, and medicine at all costs! "

the other side.

On the Japanese side.

Just as the Army Ministry was struggling to fill the shortage of troops, a request for a joint meeting from the Naval General Staff and a top-secret proposal on "adjusting the strategic focus of the empire in the future" were sent to the desks of Hideki Tojo and Hajime Sugiyama at the same time.

The core content of the proposal shocked everyone present.

In view of the stalemate and huge consumption on the battlefields in Burma and mainland China, as well as the growing threat of US naval and air force in the Pacific, the Imperial Navy and some senior army officials jointly proposed: temporarily suspend all active expansion plans in the South Pacific region, concentrate existing naval and land forces, and fully switch to a strategic defense posture!

Priority will be given to ensuring the security of the 'absolute national defense circle' (including the Japanese mainland, North Korea, Taiwan, Manchuria, the Kuril Islands, and core islands such as the Mariana and Caroline Islands), and all efforts will be made to ensure the resource needs for operations against China and homeland defense!
This means that Japan has paid a heavy price for its unstoppable "victory disease" and expansion frenzy that swept across Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific since the attack on Pearl Harbor, especially in the face of the tenacious resistance of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma.

Finally forced to press the pause button!

As Hideki Tojo looked at this proposal, which was almost equivalent to admitting the temporary failure of the "Southward Strategy", his hands began to tremble involuntarily.

He knew that once this proposal was finally passed and implemented, it would be the most significant strategic shift for the empire since the war began.

The impact is as profound as a decisive defeat in a battle.

However, faced with the increasingly depleted resources at home, the huge "quagmire" of the Chinese battlefield, the tough bone of Myanmar, and the awakening industrial giant on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, Hideki Tojo felt a deep sense of powerlessness for the first time.

perhaps
Go on the defensive, concentrate your strength, and solve the China problem first.

Is it really the only realistic option for our country to plan for the follow-up?

Once this thought came up, it could no longer be suppressed. In fact, Tojo Hideki was already thinking about what would happen after his brother's country was defeated. (End of this chapter)