Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Haikou, Xiuying Fort Underground Command Post.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander."

Chief of Staff Colonel Sasaki walked in hurriedly, his voice still carrying a hint of urgency despite his efforts to remain composed: "The latest intelligence we just received."

"The Chinese army did not launch an attack towards Haikou as is customary."

Sasaki walked up to the map and quickly marked two striking blue arrows.

"The enemy's Second Combat Division (Zhang Dongkai's unit) is advancing rapidly towards Danxian along the western highway, and its offensive is extremely fierce."

"The enemy's First Combat Division (Wu Sizhong's unit) is braving the rain to penetrate into the middle reaches of the Nandu River in the southeast. Their intention is very clear—to cut off our connection with the Wuzhi Mountain area in the inland and to surround Haikou from the flank and rear."

The atmosphere in the operations room instantly became tense.

Several young operations staff officers' expressions changed slightly, and one of them couldn't help but step forward:
"Division Commander!"

"Danzhou is a major hub for supplies in western Hainan, and the Nandu River is our escape route!"

"Once the two flanks are cut off, Haikou will become an isolated city!"

"Immediately order the independent mixed brigade to intercept them, or send troops to relieve Danzhou!"

"Rescue?"

Lieutenant General Heiji Wakamatsu, commander of the Japanese 46th Division, is standing with his hands behind his back in front of a huge map of Qiongzhou Island.

His military uniform was impeccable, and there was no trace of panic on his thin face.

Wakamatsu Heiji slowly turned around, his hawk-like eyes sweeping over the crowd, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth:

"What can be done to save us?"

"Leave the fortified fortress and go into the open field to fight mobile warfare against elite Chinese troops equipped with large numbers of American automatic weapons and even air support?"

"That's just going to your death!"

Wakamatsu Heiji walked to the map, picked up a red and blue pencil, and heavily marked a red X on the location of Danzhou with a cold and resolute gesture: "Pass on my orders."

"The Danzhou garrison, relying on the defensive line, is preparing for a decisive battle."

"Nani?!"

The staff officers present gasped in shock.

"Everyone."

Wakamatsu Heiji's voice suddenly rose: "Haven't you seen the situation yet?"

"Headquarters has abandoned us; the Combined Fleet won't be coming."

"Without any air superiority or foreign aid, defending the entire island is a dead end."

"You can only hit someone if you retract your fist!"

"Therefore, we cannot send troops to rescue them!"

He slammed his hand heavily on the spot where Haikou was located: "Chu Yunfei wants to surround me?"

"Okay, I'll let him make it!"

"I'll grant his wish!"

"We must concentrate all available troops, ammunition, and food in the core defense perimeter of Haikou!"

"I want to turn Haikou into a giant meat grinder, and make it our own 'Stalingrad'!"

"Even if Chu Yunfei has an army of 100,000 and wants to take this tough nut to crack, I'll break all his teeth!"

"Abandon the outer perimeter, and fight to the death in Haikou!"

"This is our only option."

These words instantly calmed the previously somewhat panicked command center down.

obviously.

Heiji Wakamatsu's idea was to put himself in a do-or-die situation and then survive.

But then, Wakamatsu Heiji's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze falling on the line across the southern river: "However..."

He squinted at the relentless downpour outside the window, a calculating glint in his eyes: "The First Combat Division of the Chinese Army wants to cross the Nandu River and cut off my retreat?"

"The idea is good, but they are too greedy and underestimate the tropical downpours."

Wakamatsu Heiji turned to Sasaki: "Chief of Staff, in this weather, can the Chinese army's heavy American 105mm howitzers and trucks loaded with ammunition keep up with the speed of their light infantry's infiltration?"

Sasaki was taken aback, then his eyes lit up: "Absolutely impossible!"

"The soil along the Nandu River is loose, and it turns into muddy puddles as soon as it rains."

"Their infantry and artillery will inevitably become disconnected!"

"Yoshi."

A sinister smile appeared on Wakamatsu Heiji's face:
"This is the opportunity."

"Although I have decided to abandon the outer perimeter, before retreating back to Haikou, I must first cut off Chu Yunfei's outstretched hand!"

"Order!"

"The engineer regiment, in coordination with the independent infantry battalion, set up an ambush along the Huangzhuling line on the north bank of the Nandu River, aiming to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy."

"Hai!"

……

That afternoon.

Hours later, the battle had already begun on the outskirts of Danzhou.

The battle became one-sided.

Just as Chu Yunfei had predicted, Zhang Dongkai's second combat division displayed formidable offensive power.

"Boom! Boom!"

The tail flames of the Type 31 rocket launcher flickered in the rain, and several outer bunkers left behind by the Japanese army were instantly overturned.

Commandos armed with Thompson submachine guns quickly tore through the Japanese defenses.

The Japanese army was not large to begin with; including the puppet troops, it numbered no more than three thousand men, and they were scattered across various defensive lines.

Facing the elite Second Combat Division, it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

"Commander! The Japanese have escaped!"

Regimental Commander Long Wenzhang reported excitedly: "Apart from a few fortified small strongholds, the main force of the Japanese army seems to be retreating eastward!"

Sitting in the jeep, Zhang Dongkai looked at the urban area ahead, which had not encountered any fierce resistance, and frowned instead: "They got there so fast?"

Guo Lingfeng keenly sensed something unusual: "It doesn't seem like they've been defeated; it seems like they're deliberately retreating. It's somewhat like Junzai's tactics. I reckon the Japanese either want to use the terrain to their advantage or they're planning to consolidate their forces and continue their retreat into the interior..."

Zhang Dongkai nodded, expressing his approval: "It seems that the Japanese commander in Haikou is a ruthless character."

"Pass down the order: after occupying Danzhou, conduct a thorough search."

"Don't rush to pursue, be careful of the Japanese counterattack, and wait for your orders."

……

at the same time.

Huangzhuling, on the north bank of the Nandu River.

Just as Wakamatsu Heiji had predicted, the situation became extremely unfavorable for the Nationalist army.

The torrential rain turned the roads into swamps.

The vanguard regiment of the First Combat Division of the Dingnan Army had already left its artillery regiment more than 10 kilometers behind.

Even the regiment's 107mm mortar support company suffered a significant reduction in firepower due to difficulties in ammunition transportation.

"quick!"

"We must control the ferry crossing before nightfall!"

Regiment Commander Wu Linfeng wiped the mud off his face and urged the troops to move forward. Just as the troops reached a treacherous mountain pass...

"shooting--!!!"

A piercing scream in Japanese cut through the rain: "Da da da da da—!"

Suddenly, countless tongues of fire spewed out from the previously silent jungle on both sides!
The Japanese independent infantry battalion and engineer regiment, which had been lying in ambush, used their pre-set crossfire network to instantly suppress the vanguard of the National Revolutionary Army on the muddy road.

"There's an ambush!"

"hidden!"

"Mortar! Bomb it!"

"Captain!"

"We're running out of shells! We only have two boxes left!"

"Where are the heavy artillery?"

"Calling division headquarters, requesting heavy artillery support!"

"Commander, you've forgotten, the artillerymen are stuck in the mud and can't be pulled out at all!"

“We even sent a company to help.” Wu Linfeng was extremely annoyed, but he quickly changed the battle order in an instant: “Brothers, even without artillery, our firepower is still stronger than the Japanese. Let’s take them down and get the first credit.”

"kill!"

They lost the suppression of heavy firepower.

The Japanese Type 92 heavy machine gun and grenade launcher became the dominant weapons on the battlefield.

These Japanese soldiers displayed extremely high tactical skills, relying on advantageous terrain to fight to the death without retreating.

more than this.

When the Japanese army discovered that the National Revolutionary Army was about to launch an attack, the wounded Japanese soldiers who were responsible for covering the rear actually strapped explosives to their bodies, rolled out of the bushes, and frantically rushed towards the National Revolutionary Army.

Elite forces clashed with elite forces, and the battle was exceptionally fierce.

"boom!"

The loud explosion sounded particularly muffled in the rain.

The vanguard suffered over 400 casualties in just half an hour.

The high ground remained in the hands of the Japanese army.

Left with no other option, Wu Linfeng had to order a retreat and wait for supplies to arrive.

The Japanese forces also suffered heavy casualties and were unable to pursue and expand their gains.

The battle was forced to pause, and both sides took a break.

The message was relayed back to the command center in Haikou.

Heiji Wakamatsu listened to the battle report, but his face showed no joy: "That's enough."

He glanced at his watch and said calmly:

"The objective of the blocking operation has been achieved, and the morale of the Chinese army has been dampened."

"Order the ambush troops to take turns providing cover and withdraw to the Haikou Fortress."

"The real battle has not yet begun."
-
Lingao, the forward command post.

"Your Excellency."

Li Jingzhong tiptoed to Chu Yunfei's side, handed him a cup of freshly brewed strong tea, and whispered, "Commander Huang called to inquire about the next steps for Division Wu Sizhong after his setback at Huangzhuling."

"Commander Wu hopes to give him another chance, and he promises to take Huangzhuling."

"Nonsense."

Chu Yunfei took the teacup but didn't drink from it. Instead, he slammed it down on the table with a crisp sound. His tone was calm but unquestionable: "Knowing that heavy firepower can't keep up, you still want to attack the stronghold. Isn't that just being reckless?"

He turned and walked to the sand table, picked up his baton and said: "The commander of the Japanese 46th Division, Heiji Wakamatsu, is a smart man."

"It is obvious that we can see this from the battle reports of the 2nd Combat Division."

"The Japanese abandoned Danzhou and chose to ambush them at Huangzhuling."

"His purpose was to dampen the morale of our vanguard and buy time for him to assemble his troops at the Haikou front."

"He wanted to turn Haikou into a meat grinder, and wanted to make the most of the strong permanent fortifications to fight us in street battles."

Chu Yunfei slammed his baton on the west side of the map: "Send the order to Zhang Dongkai!"

"The Second Combat Division need not rush to move towards Haikou!"

"Keep sweeping westward and southward!"

"Within a week, wipe out all the remaining Japanese and puppet forces in the Danzhou, Baisha, and Changjiang area!"

"Yes!"

Chu Yunfei then shifted his command to the Nandujiang defense line on the east side: "Tell Wu Sizhong to rest and build fortifications where he is, and not to rush into an attack."

"Tell him that Bai Yongqiang and Bao Zhishan's Third Combat Division has landed."

"Let their two divisions join forces."

"Wait for the weather to clear up, wait for the roads to dry."

"Wait for our heavy artillery units and the American bombers to take off."

……

The next morning.

In western Hainan, south of Danzhou, following Chu Yunfei's order, the Second Combat Division of the Dingnan Army swept across the land like a steel whirlwind.

They lost the support of the main Japanese force.

The small garrison units of the Japanese army and a large number of puppet troops, the "Qiongya Self-Defense Corps," stationed in various counties and towns were utterly helpless against the elite Nationalist army, which was fully equipped with American weapons.

“Da da da da da—!”

Amidst a burst of intense Thompson submachine gun fire, a Japanese stronghold on the outskirts of Baisha County was breached in almost half an hour.

Division Commander Zhang Dongkai sat in his jeep, looking at the rows of puppet troops kneeling and trembling in surrender by the roadside, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Chief, this battle has gone too smoothly; it's getting a bit boring."

Deputy Division Commander Guo Lingfeng toyed with a captured officer's knife in his hand and curled his lip: "It seems that the remaining tens of thousands of Japanese main forces are all hiding in Haikou like cowards. Commander, you're leaving these rotten potatoes and stinking eggs for us to practice on."

"Don't act innocent after getting the benefit."

Zhang Dongkai glared at him, then pointed to several points on the map: "Your Excellency is naturally playing a grand game, how could you and I possibly guess it?"

"Pass down the order: speed things up!"

"The first regiment will go to Changjiang, the second regiment will go to Dongfang, and the third regiment will serve as a reserve force to take care of subsequent security."

"Anyone who holds a gun and refuses to surrender, whether they are Japanese or traitors, shall be killed on the spot!"

"Yes!"

Gunfire continued across the Qiongxi region for the next week.

The 2nd Combat Division swept across half of Qiongzhou Island at an almost marching pace.

The Japanese military had painstakingly built up its colonial rule system over several years.

Under the iron hooves of the Dingnan Army, it almost collapsed in an instant.

Countless local people, who had long been oppressed, poured into the streets with drums and gongs, welcoming this army that had descended from the sky.

……

at the same time.

Southwest of Haikou, along the line from Chengmai to Laocheng, a fresh force has arrived at the First Combat Division's position, which had been hampered by torrential rain and ambushes.

"Old Wu! You don't look too good!"

Bai Yongqiang, commander of the 3rd Combat Division, jumped off the truck, strode up to Wu Sizhong, saluted each other, and then punched the other in the chest.

Looking at the endless convoy, especially the dozens of trucks towing American 105mm howitzers at the back, Wu Sizhong's previously depressed mood finally eased a bit.

"Don't even mention it. Huangzhuling suffered a loss. Their heavy weapons couldn't keep up, and they were tricked by that old devil Wakamatsu Heiji, resulting in the sacrifice of more than two hundred officers and soldiers."

Wu Sizhong sighed, then his eyes flashed with a fierce light: "But now it's all right, you've come, and the cannons have been delivered."

"Your Excellency has given the order."

Bai Yongqiang put away his smile and said seriously, "The Third Division and the First Division will immediately join forces to form the left flank attack group, which will be personally commanded by Commander Huang."

"I see."

Wu Sizhong offered a cigarette: "The rain has stopped these past two days, and the engineers are paving the road. The officers' intention is to proceed cautiously and steadily, and to have a decisive battle with the Japanese in Haikou."

Bai Yongqiang pointed to the howitzer behind him, which stood tall and proud: "Once the road is open, we'll set up the howitzer in front of Wakamatsu Heiji's house and let him taste our firepower."

"That's natural."

In just one week, the battle situation on Qiongzhou Island underwent a fundamental change.

On the western front, Zhang Dongkai's troops had basically wiped out the enemy near Danzhou and defeated the vast majority of the Japanese troops.

Many Japanese and puppet troops infiltrated the mountains and forests, making the subsequent mopping-up operation quite difficult.

During the course of the battle.

Zhang Dongkai's troops also made contact with anti-Japanese guerrilla forces active on Qiongzhou Island.

The officers and soldiers of the Qiongya Column, who had received instructions from Yan'an, warmly welcomed the arrival of these Nationalist troops.

The two sides held a friendly meeting. Zhang Dongkai's troops also provided some medicine and canned food to replenish the friendly forces.

The commander of the Qiongya Column even expressed his desire to cooperate with the Nationalist army in order to strike the Japanese army.

With the cooperation of the officers and soldiers of the local Qiongya Column.

The operation to clear out western Hainan proceeded very smoothly, and the entire western peninsula fell into the hands of the National Revolutionary Army. This not only relieved them of their worries about the rear, but also resulted in the capture of a large amount of grain and supplies abandoned by the Japanese army in their haste.

On the eastern front, Wu Sizhong's troops and Bai Yongqiang's troops successfully joined forces, bringing their total strength to over 30,000 men, with the heavy artillery regiment also in place.

The two main forces advanced steadily and successfully pushed forward another 40 kilometers within a week, essentially breaking through the outer defense line of Haikou.

Because of the terrain characteristics of Qiongzhou Island—high in the center and low around the edges, high in the east and low in the west—the battles in the west were relatively smooth, while the battles in the center and east progressed relatively slowly.

Zheng Ting and his troops of the First Army of Dingnan successfully landed and launched an attack towards Wenchang and Qionghai. Once the attack succeeds, it will mean that the final battle will begin. (End of this chapter)