Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

North China, Changzhi.

Joint Command Operations Conference Room.

The air inside the room was filled with a strong smell of tobacco.

On the huge, extra-large military map of North China hanging on the wall, red and blue arrows are interlocked, densely marking the enemy and friendly positions.

"Chief Zhang has arrived!"

Li Yunlong looked in the direction of the sound.

The door was pushed open, and Zhang Dayun, the head of the operations section, strode in, dressed in a crisp official uniform.

Li Yunlong was looking at a map with his hands behind his back when he heard the noise and turned around.

Upon seeing Zhang Dayun's impeccably dressed military uniform...

His expression slightly hardened, and with a snap, he brought his legs together and raised his hand to give a standard military salute.

"Section Chief Zhang."

This is both a military regulation and Li Yunlong's way of showing respect for capable people.

In North China, Chu Yunfei's people have to be given a lot of respect.

Zhang Dayun quickly returned the greeting, a professional smile on his face, yet with a touch of warmth: "Commander Li, you're too kind. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly."

The ceremony is over.

Zhang Dayun's gaze lingered on Li Yunlong for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The Li Yunlong before me was still wearing that faded gray coarse cloth military uniform with frayed edges at the collar.

The collar was bare; he was neither wearing a military rank insignia nor wearing the new woolen uniform recently issued by the General Headquarters.

"Commander Li."

Zhang Dayun couldn't help but ask curiously, "As far as I know, the Second War Zone and the General Headquarters should have previously issued new uniforms and rank insignia to your army."

"You're all dressed up now, why are you still wearing this 'old-fashioned outfit' when you're out and about?"

"Not even wearing rank insignia?"

Li Yunlong glanced down at his old military uniform, chuckled, patted the patch on his chest, and said nonchalantly, "Hey, don't mention it."

"Old Zhang, you don't know, I, Li Yunlong, come from a peasant background."

"The uniforms of the Central Army are good-looking and the material is comfortable."

"I'm terrified of being poor."

"I only wear this when I come to meetings; I wouldn't wear it on a regular day."

As Li Yunlong spoke, he waved his hand casually: "This old cotton outfit is still the most comfortable, breathable and absorbent!"

"Besides, we've been rolling around in the trenches in these old clothes for over a decade, we're used to it."

"This is our skin!"

"If you suddenly asked me to change my appearance, I wouldn't even know how to fight a war."

"This body of mine is just too weak; it can't enjoy that kind of happiness, and it's really hard to change it in a short time!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dayun couldn't help but chuckle.

Although Li Yunlong was willing to obey the orders of the Eighth Route Army headquarters to be reorganized and awarded a rank.

He was willing to cooperate with the Nationalist army represented by Chu Yunfei, but that did not mean he had no grudges or complaints.

Wearing this old military uniform is essentially an outlet for the dissatisfaction in my heart.

After all, the Eastern Expeditionary Column had already begun the process of completely replacing their uniforms with those of the Central Army.

It's normal for veteran Red Army soldiers like Li Yunlong to resist.

"Commander Li is a man of strong character."

Zhang Dayun stepped aside and gestured "please": "Let's cut to the chase and look at the map."

"Regarding the fourth phase of the counter-offensive operation plan in North China, our staff has finalized the plan, and the General Headquarters has approved it. The preliminary operation plan has already begun."

The two walked up to the map.

Zhang Dayun picked up the baton, his expression turning serious. Pointing to the major sections on the map, he analyzed, "The current situation in North China can be described as a critical juncture of 'strategic stalemate turning into counter-offensive.'"

"Although Okamura Neiji is still putting up a last-ditch effort, he doesn't have many cards left to play."

"On the main battlefield of our army, Fang Ligong's 88th Group Army and Liu Maoen's 14th Group Army have firmly secured the Hebei front and confronted the main force of the Japanese army."

Li Yunlong looked at the blue flags representing large troop groups on the map and clicked his tongue: "The 88th Army is your ace, equipped with a large number of heavy weapons, a tank regiment, and it's all American-made. They're going to devour Okamura Yasuji alive."

Zhang Dayun smiled but didn't reply. He continued what he was doing, his baton pointing towards the Great Wall: "In the direction of Nankou, Commander Qian's Sixth Army Group has completed its assembly and has created a high-pressure situation against the remaining enemy forces in the puppet Mengjiang and the Japanese army in the Rehe direction, ensuring the safety of the flank."

Then, he turned his baton southward, landing on the Central Plains: "In the Henan region, Tang Weiyuan's Fifth Army Group, Li Jiayu's Thirty-Sixth Army Group, and Wang Zhonglian's Thirty-First Army Group have completed their preliminary preparations for the offensive."

"At present, weapons, ammunition, and provisions have been allocated. Once the order for the general offensive is given, these hundreds of thousands of troops can surge towards the Jinpu Railway like a flood. At that time, the Jinpu Railway can be cut off, making it impossible for the Japanese invaders to attend to both ends."

Li Yunlong crossed his arms, looked at the airtight deployment, nodded, and his eyes sharpened: "This formation is quite impressive, like an iron barrel."

"But, Lao Zhang, you also know that if we want to recover Shandong, we can't just rely on a frontal assault."

He pointed heavily to the location of the Shandong Peninsula with his rough finger: "Shandong has a complex terrain, with mountains, hills and plains interspersed."

"According to the intelligence sent back by our comrades there, the Japanese are doing a very good job there."

"The pillboxes and strongholds were built like tortoise shells, and the roads crisscrossed, allowing for rapid support. The Japanese troops were also numerous, no less than the combat troops confronting them on the front line."

Zhang Dayun nodded slowly: "Indeed, the Japanese defenses are very well-constructed. We are waiting for a new batch of heavy artillery shells to arrive. Once the 150mm shells arrive, the initial operations will officially begin. The current operations are only focused on clearing out some outer positions."

Li Yunlong abruptly changed the subject, a sly smile spreading across his face: "Old Zhang, don't forget that's our Eighth Route Army's old base!"

"I'm not bragging, but in Shandong, who do the people side with?"

"They're definitely on our side!"

"We know better than the Japanese devils which roads are passable and which ditches are suitable for hiding troops, and even better than you!"

“That’s natural,” Zhang Dayun said sincerely. “This is the core reason why we invited your army to participate in this joint counter-offensive. We need your army’s intelligence support, guerrilla flanking maneuvers, and attacks on Japanese supply lines.”

"Only if we launch a strong frontal assault while your troops launch attacks behind enemy lines can we take Shandong with minimal losses."

Li Yunlong chuckled: "When it comes to fighting the Japanese, our Eighth Route Army never hesitates, but when it comes to weapons, equipment, and supplies..."

"Everything as usual..."

"That's a good feeling."

Li Yunlong smiled and said, "Everyone knows you guys are generous. You always give us more supplies and equipment, which makes fighting much easier and reduces our casualties."

Speaking of it.

Li Yunlong suddenly stopped talking and looked at Zhang Dayun with a smile: "Section Chief Zhang, where is your Commander Chu for such a major strategic operation?"

From the moment he entered the room, Li Yunlong sensed something was wrong.

When it came time to use their Eastern Expeditionary Column, given Chu Yunfei's hands-on nature and his strong emphasis on his relationship with the Eighth Route Army, it was a good idea.

How could he not show up?
Zhang Dayun's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm on the surface, even showing a helpless bitter smile: "Commander Li, as you know, the recent case of 'anti-corruption' in Henan has caused quite a stir."

"The Lord... was urgently summoned back to the mountain city by the Chairman to report on his duties, mainly to explain the situation in Henan and to coordinate the subsequent distribution of supplies."

"Going to the mountain city to report on my work?"

Li Yunlong narrowed his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

He cursed inwardly, "Bullshit!"

Who is Chu Yunfei?

That's the kind of person who, when in the field, may disobey the emperor's orders!
Can Chang Ruiyuan control Chu Yunfei?
As things stand, it's completely impossible.

A person who dared to disobey orders from the command headquarters when he was a regimental commander could never be restrained.

Moreover, the North China counter-offensive was imminent.

With hundreds of thousands of troops sharpening their swords, would he be obediently summoned back to the mountain city to be reprimanded by a single telegram from Chang Ruiyuan?
"Oh?"

"You went to the mountain city?"

Li Yunlong sighed, "That's a pity. I was hoping to ask him for a couple of bottles of good wine."

"Before leaving, the commander specifically instructed that if Commander Li comes, you can take two bottles of his good Fenjiu with you."

Zhang Dayun went along with it, trying to change the subject.

Li Yunlong laughed, but there was a hint of perfunctoriness in his laughter.

He thought to himself: North China is about to launch a counterattack, and Chu Yunfei isn't here for such a big event.

What does this mean?
This shows that in Chu Yunfei's eyes, there are battlefields that are more important, more urgent, and even larger than the counter-offensive in North China!

What battlefield could be more important than the liberation of North China?

Li Yunlong's mind flashed through some recent rumors—the South, the Navy, the Americans…

"Alright, since Brother Chu isn't here, let's get down to business."

Li Yunlong abandoned his probing intentions and began to seriously discuss the operational details of Shandong with Zhang Dayun.

……

Half an hour later.

Li Yunlong walked out of the joint command post.

As soon as he got into the jeep, he dropped his carefree expression and became unusually serious.

Li Yunlong had been waiting for Zhao Gang, who said in a low voice, "Something's strange."

"What's wrong, Lao Li? What happened initially?"

"It's good, but something's not quite right."

Li Yunlong took out a cigarette from his pocket: "Chu Yunfei is not in Changzhi."

"That Zhang Dayun said he went to Shancheng to report on his work, what a load of rubbish!" "I knew he was lying the moment I saw that kid's eyes darting around."

Zhao Gang asked in confusion, "Then where could he go?"

"Hmph, if they're not holding down the fort in North China right now, they're definitely off to snatch meat from other pots!"

Li Yunlong struck a match, took a deep breath, and said, "Send a telegram to headquarters immediately!"

"Give me a report on the situation here."

"It is said that the counter-offensive in North China is imminent, but Chu Yunfei's whereabouts are unknown."

"I think he's using a 'feigned attack on one side while secretly advancing another' tactic!"

"He might be planning something big somewhere else!"

"That Chu Yunfei is a weasel that's become a demon. As soon as he steps out, he's sure to bleed the Japanese dry!"
-
The third day of the landing operation on Qiongzhou Island.

The tropical sun scorched the earth mercilessly, and humid steam rose from the dense sugarcane fields and bushes, making one feel as if they were in a steamer.

West of Chengmai County, on the outskirts of Jinjiang Town.

The main force regiment of the First Combat Division of the Second Army of Dingnan encountered a strange obstacle here.

"do not move!"

"Who is there?!"

A scout, carrying a submachine gun, shouted a stern question at the waist-high thicket of grass ahead.

His voice trembled slightly, and sweat trickled down the edge of his helmet into his eyes, stinging painfully.

There was no response from the bushes.

The only sound was the rustling of the wind, like countless whispering ghosts wandering about.

Sudden.

A white shadow flashed past in the woods.

"A ghost! There's a ghost!"

The scout screamed in terror and pulled the trigger: "Rat-a-tat-tat—!"

The bullets swept through, leaving nothing but broken sugarcane stalks.

However, just as the scout was on high alert and preparing to change magazines, the soil beneath his feet suddenly turned upside down.

A wounded Japanese soldier, covered in mud and almost blending into the earth, rushed out of the cave, clutching a smoking grenade tightly in his arms.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, the vanguard and the Japanese "ground devil" instantly turned into a cloud of blood mist.

Such a scene.

This has happened more than once in the past few hours.

Inside the front-line command post.

Division Commander Wu Sizhong frowned deeply as he looked at the urgent telegram that had just been sent by Chen Feng.

"It's just nonsense!"

Wu Sizhong slammed the telegram on the table: "This is war, not listening to ghost stories!"

"What ghosts and gods?!"

"Commander, it's not that the brothers are superstitious, but these little devils are truly insidious."

"They took advantage of the terrain, hanging white cloth strips all over the sugarcane fields and drawing all sorts of messy scribblings, along with those one-on-one suicide squads hidden in the caves."

"The brothers are in the open, while the Japanese devils are in the shadows."

"Often, you'd only be distracted by a white shadow for a moment before something exploded beneath your feet."

"This kind of psychological pressure is much greater than fighting with bayonets in a head-on battle."

Wu Sizhong took a deep breath; he knew the chief of staff was right.

Fear stems from the unknown.

The Japanese army was using psychological warfare in conjunction with suicide attacks.

They attempted to slow down the advance of the Nationalist army and wear down the morale of the soldiers.

"Welcome, Commander Huang!"

Wu Sizhong grabbed the phone and said, "Since they're 'ghosts,' then I'll ask the Thunder God to come and take them away!"

……

Second Army Headquarters.

Huang Baitao was lying face down in front of the map, studying a route that detoured to the side and rear of Haikou.

Zhao Pengcheng stood to the side, organizing the progress of each department.

"Report!" The communications soldier handed over the microphone. "It's an urgent call from Division Commander Wu Sizhong. Chen Feng from the First Regiment is requesting fire support!"

Huang Baitao took the phone, listened for a few minutes, and his expression suddenly turned cold.

"You mean, your soldiers were scared by a few rags and a few shady Japanese devils?"

On the other end of the phone, Wu Sizhong's voice sounded anxious: "Commander, the main problem is that the landmines and those 'human bombs' buried in the ground are too dense, making it impossible for the sappers to operate."

"Chen Feng requests the deployment of heavy artillery to indiscriminately cover the target area!"

He said that as long as you plow the ground with pears, all ghosts and spirits will reveal their true forms!

Upon hearing this, Huang Baitao not only didn't get angry, but grinned, his laughter carrying a hint of murderous intent: "Chen Feng, you've got a quick mind!"

"I'll take care of this. Since those Japanese devils like to play tricks and hide underground, let's just go along with it!"

After hanging up the phone, Huang Baitao turned to look at Zhao Pengcheng, his eyes flashing with a cold light:

"Pengcheng, give orders to the artillery commander."

"Mobilize all our large-caliber heavy artillery."

"Our target is the sugarcane field and bushes on the outskirts of Jinjiang Town."

"Use a mix of incendiary and high-explosive rounds!"

"I'm going to burn that land to the ground!"

"I'd like to see if their ghosts and spirits are tougher, or if my cannonballs are tougher!"

Zhao Pengcheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stood at attention: "Yes, sir! I'll relay the message right away!"

Twenty minutes later.

The outskirts of Jinjiang Town.

Chen Feng lay prone behind cover, looking at the sugarcane field in front of him that resembled a green ocean, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

The battalion commander whispered, "Regimental Commander, we received a call from above. The shelling will begin in five minutes."

"Pass down the order, tell the brothers to plug their ears," Chen Feng said calmly. "This kind of big scene is a rare sight."

Five minutes later.

Suddenly, a chilling whistling sound echoed through the sky.

That's the sound of a large-caliber heavy artillery shell tearing through the air!

"boom--!!!"

The first high-explosive shell landed in the center of the sugarcane field.

The earth seemed to have been slammed down by an invisible giant hand, and the violent tremor caused dust to fall from the bunker.

A huge black and red mushroom cloud rose into the sky, uprooting countless sugarcane stalks and sending them flying into the air.

Then came an even more intense series of explosions!

“BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!”

Dozens of heavy cannons opened fire simultaneously.

The incendiary bomb exploded in the air, and countless white phosphorus and napalm fell like petals from a fairy.

The once lush sugarcane fields were instantly turned into a sea of ​​fire!
"what--!!!"

The piercing screams were clearly audible even amidst the booming of cannons.

The Japanese suicide squads that had been hiding in the caves, preparing to launch a surprise attack, were now trapped like turtles in a jar.

The flames shot into the cave through the ventilation hole, and the high temperature instantly sucked away the oxygen.

Those props used for charlatanry—white cloth and paper figures—turned to ashes in an instant in the raging fire.

The so-called "ghostly figures" are nothing but a joke in the face of the heavy firepower of modern industrialization.

After ten minutes of rapid firing, the shelling ceased.

The once lush sugarcane fields have disappeared, replaced by a charred, still-smoking ruin, and charred limbs and broken bodies scattered everywhere.

"did you see it?"

Chen Feng stood up, dusted himself off, pointed to the hellish scene ahead, and roared at the pale-faced soldiers behind him, "This is our 'magic'!"

"Whether they're human or ghost, one shot and they're all reduced to ashes!"

"Brothers, fix bayonets!"

"Charge! Send these charlatan devils to their doom!"

"kill!!!"

At Chen Feng's command, thousands of Dingnan Army soldiers charged like tigers descending a mountain, treading on the scorching hot earth, and once again launched an assault on the Japanese army's deep defensive line. (End of this chapter)