Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Haikou, south of Xiuying Fort, along the Baishuitang line.

The sky was stained a murky yellowish-brown by the smoke of gunpowder, and the air was filled with various kinds of dust, including concrete dust.

Although the probing attack was successful, the attacking side began to make corresponding adjustments after suffering heavy losses.

Huang Huanran requested fire support from both the United States and Australia, and received approval from Chu Yunfei.

The three-day-long air and sea bombardment almost leveled off a layer of the originally lush tropical hills surrounding Haikou.

The 406mm guns of the USS Washington battleship.

Even if the shells roared over the sea more than ten kilometers away, every time one landed, the Japanese hiding in the forward command post could feel the ground beneath their feet trembling violently.

Inside the forward observation post of the Second Army of the Dingnan Army.

Chu Yunfei put down his binoculars and turned to look at the grim-faced U.S. lieutenant general beside him: "General Bradley, it seems the final moment is fast approaching."

Bradley held up his binoculars, staring intently at the Japanese core position known as "Hill 103" in the distance.

That was the strongest barrier for the Japanese 46th Division in Haikou, and also the last high ground for the Japanese on the outer perimeter.

The entire mountain there has been almost hollowed out.

It was densely packed with permanent machine gun nests and bunkers, like a firepower hedgehog with no blind spots.

This place reminded Chu Yunfei of the siege battle known as the Battle of Songshan in his memory.

The Battle of Songshan has been studied countless times by military enthusiasts.

The layout of this high ground is somewhat similar to the Japanese army's deployment in the Battle of Songshan.

The number of casualties among the National Revolutionary Army in the Battle of Songshan.

They were seven or eight times the size of the Japanese army!
With the aim of training commanders' command abilities, Chu Yunfei sought to minimize casualties among rank-and-file soldiers.

“Commander Chu.” Bradley put down his binoculars, his brow furrowing slightly. “Although our naval guns and air force have destroyed most of their surface positions, based on our experience in the Pacific theater, those rats are still hiding in tunnels dozens of meters deep.”

"Once the infantry launch an assault, they will emerge like ghosts."

"In the Pacific theater, every time we tackled such tough challenges, the Marines suffered thousands, or even tens of thousands, of casualties."

Bradley pointed to the Dingnan Army troops gathering in the distance, his tone tinged with concern: "If I may be so bold, the 18th Armored Division is exhausted from days of offensive and desperately needs rest."

"With your light infantry alone, I'm afraid you'll lose a lot of lives."

General Zinovie Peshkov, the French military representative standing on the other side, also nodded slightly.

His only remaining left hand unconsciously rubbed the hem of his clothes, his eyes filled with doubt about the attack.

He had witnessed far too many of these senseless deaths in the Verdun meat grinder of World War I.

In General Peshkov's view, the recapture of Haikou was a foregone conclusion, so it was better to surround it without attacking. Except for Hill 103, the Japanese army's other positions were basically cleared.

In fact, their concerns were not unfounded.

If it weren't for the frequent Japanese counterattacks and harassment during the street fighting, Huang Huanran might have actually given up attacking this high ground and chosen to besiege it instead.

Chu Yunfei smiled faintly, offering no explanation, but simply making a "please look" gesture.

"General, times have changed."

"In the past, we did have combat records where people died, but that was because our national strength was insufficient. We didn't have steel or artillery."

Chu Yunfei's gaze sharpened like a knife: "But things are different now."

"We're going to teach the Japanese a lesson, and the topic will be—'The Art of Infantry Assault'."

"We are the unit that understands the Japanese tactics and methods best, especially in the fight against Japanese offensives. We have unique insights and experiences, and have developed a series of infantry company, platoon and squad tactics for this purpose."

The words have not yet fallen.

Three red signal flares pierced the murky sky.

That's the signal for the start of the final offensive!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

It wasn't the massive human wave charge the observation group had anticipated.

The first sound to be heard.

These were heavy mortars from various regiments of the Dingnan Army, which had already been deployed and were under the command of Huang Huanran.

More than two hundred 107mm mortars unleashed tens of thousands of shells at the reverse slope and trenches of Hill 103 in a very short time.

But this was just a cover, intended to block any possible infantry support from the Japanese army.

The real killer move followed closely behind.

Bradley's pupils contracted sharply.

Through a high-powered telescope.

He saw groups of three Chinese soldiers, and squads of more than ten soldiers, like raccoons, taking advantage of the cover of artillery fire and smoke, leaping into the blind spots of the Japanese firepower with great agility.

They didn't shout during their charge; their movements were extremely quiet, swift, and professional.

"Are they carrying bazookas?"

"You want to use this for close-quarters combat?" Bradley asked in surprise, pointing to the thick pipe carried on a soldier's shoulder.

“That’s our own ‘Type 31’ rocket launcher. Although the technology originated from your country’s bazooka, we made some targeted improvements,” Chu Yunfei explained calmly.

Bradley naturally recognized disposable rocket launchers.

Back when I was negotiating with Chu Xichun in Longcheng.

Chu Xichun has already demonstrated this.

Bradley said this simply to tell the French people something.

This technology used by the Chinese originated from the United States!
The presence of the French here served as a wake-up call for the United States.

Clearly, de Gaulle also wanted to align himself with East Asia.

This was not what Roosevelt wanted to see.

Bradley feigned sudden realization and continued, "As far as I know, your production capacity is far from sufficient. Although this technology comes from our bazooka, it often encounters reliability issues on the battlefield."

The French military delegation standing nearby also changed their expressions slightly, clearly guessing that Bradley and Chu Yunfei had a direct conflict of interest.

Chu Yunfei chuckled lightly and did not continue to explain.

Their performance on the battlefield speaks for itself.

On the battlefield at this very moment.

A Japanese bunker had just spewed fire in an attempt to suppress the advancing infantry.

"Tom!"

Almost at the same second that the machine guns fired, a plume of white smoke rose instantly from the ruins on the flank.

The rocket, trailing a plume of flame, pierced the bunker's firing port with unparalleled precision.

"Boom!"

A violent explosion occurred inside the bunker, with flames and bits of flesh gushing out from the firing ports, instantly silencing the Type 92 heavy machine gun.

"What a quick response!"

Peshkov couldn't help but exclaim, "This is heavy firepower deployed down to the platoon level. The speed of support is not much different from that of direct-fire weapons."

But this was not the end. As the bunker was destroyed, two flamethrower soldiers carrying M2 flamethrowers, under the close cover of several soldiers armed with Thompson submachine guns, quickly approached the entrance to the Japanese tunnel.

"call--!"

Two ferocious fire dragons roared as they burrowed into the tunnel.

Even if they are several kilometers apart.

The people in the observation group could almost hear the heart-wrenching screams.

Flamethrowers, once they get close, become the ultimate torture for the defending team.

Meanwhile, the infantry squad responsible for the assault did not stop.

They worked in pairs, taking turns providing cover.

One man used a Garand rifle to accurately suppress the Japanese stragglers who were peeking out, while the other man skillfully threw grenades and demolition charges.

There was no blind charge, no chaotic command.

This unit is like a sophisticated killing machine.

Every component operates at high speed, in a calm, ruthless, and efficient manner.

The Japanese army's proud "gyokusai charge" appeared pale and laughable in the face of such impenetrable firepower and tactical coordination.

Even if a few Japanese soldiers strapped with explosives rushed out like madmen, they were riddled with bullets by several submachine guns before they could run five meters.

Besides the infantry company they were focusing on, the attack on Hill 103 was launched simultaneously by several infantry companies, with an entire battalion of troops committed to this wave of attacks.

Although Hill 103 was a hilly area with nearly two and a half Japanese companies stationed there, it was still unable to be defended under the attack of the elite Dingnan Army.

Hill 103, which the US 38th Army Staff once estimated would require "800 casualties and two days" to capture, was covered with a blue sky and white sun flag riddled with bullet holes in just two and a half hours.

The Dingnan army's attack was too fast, and the whole process was smooth and seamless.

So much so that the Americans and French officers in the observation group who were brainstorming ideas for the attack hadn't even had a chance to react.

Bradley slowly lowered the binoculars, his expression shifting from initial arrogance and skepticism to deep shock and solemnity: "My God."

"The coordination of squad and platoon tactics, and the use of heavy firepower by individual soldiers, have become so proficient in just six months."

Brad Lipton paused for a moment, then gave a very high evaluation: "Even the most elite infantry divisions on the European battlefield couldn't achieve this level, could they?"

"Commander Chu, your soldiers possess a fearsome level of discipline and execution."

Chu Yunfei remained calm, showing no sign of pride despite the two men's praise: "Without the advance firepower of our allies, which destroyed a large number of the enemy's surface positions, it would have taken us at least ten days to eliminate such fortified areas. Rather than attributing our victory to the superior combat capabilities of our soldiers, it is more accurate to say that it was a victory achieved through overwhelming resource advantage."

"After eliminating the last flank threat, there are no more obstacles in the urban warfare. The real battle is about to begin. These Japanese troops will surely choose to withdraw their forces again. The moment of decisive battle has arrived!"

……

Haikou, urban area.

With the complete loss of the surrounding high ground, the remnants of the Japanese 46th Division were compressed into a small area centered around the provincial government building and Haikou Port.

At this time, Haikou had become a burning hell.

Everywhere there were collapsed houses and burning vehicles. In order to block the tanks and armored vehicles of the Dingnan Army, the Japanese army frantically piled up roadblocks on the streets, and even piled up furniture and corpses together.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander!"

"The entire 3rd Regiment has been wiped out! Captain Soma Kenren has been killed!"

"The engineering battalion sent a farewell telegram: the enemy has breached the waterworks' defenses!"

Inside the underground command center, bad news came flying in like snowflakes.

Lieutenant General Heiji Wakamatsu was sitting at a table covered with a white cloth, holding a clean white handkerchief and carefully wiping the samurai sword that symbolized the family's honor.

His military uniform was still crisp and straight, even the top button was fastened tightly, but his face was ashen, like that of a dead man.

Heiji Wakamatsu muttered to himself, "Can't we even last fifteen days?"

The Japanese army did not lose due to a lack of courage, nor did it lose its "Bushido spirit".

In Wakamatsu Heiji's view, he lost to steel, to the overwhelming force of a nation's power that left him feeling utterly hopeless. The ratio of resources invested by the two sides in this battle was an astonishing 10:1.

The Allied forces consumed as many as one-third of the total number of artillery shells used by the Japanese army.

This doesn't even include the incendiary bombs and heavy bombs dropped by the air force.

His so-called "street fighting meat grinder" plan, which he was so proud of, was a joke in the face of the Dingnan Army.

When encountering slightly more sturdy fortifications, 45mm direct-fire artillery or disposable rocket launchers would be deployed.

If these direct-fire weapons cannot solve the problem.

The 76mm Sherman M3 will soon be deployed to the battlefield.

If a breakthrough cannot be achieved, the American air force will soon drop a large number of heavy bombs and incendiary bombs on the area.

Encountering complex barricades?
That was the tanks providing cover as the flamethrower soldiers burned their way through.

The staff officers below witnessed firsthand what a highly elite suicide squad belonging to the Third Regiment was like.

He was strapped with explosives.

Before they could even get within fifty meters of the enemy tanks, they were blasted into pieces by the intense automatic fire.

Clearly, the Chinese army has found a way to counter the "suicide attack" tactic they used in the early stages of this campaign.

"chief of staff."

Heiji Wakamatsu stopped what he was doing and looked at Colonel Sasaki, who was also ashen-faced: "Has there been a reply from Tokyo?"

Sasaki's voice was hoarse: "The General Headquarters replied: 'At this critical moment, we hope that all officers and soldiers of the division will remember the grace of the Heavenly Locust and sacrifice themselves to inspire the fighting spirit of the people of the homeland.'"

"hehe."

Wakamatsu Heiji let out a bitter laugh, slowly drawing his katana from its sheath, the cold gleam reflecting in his despairing eyes: "To inspire the people?"

"We're just expendable pawns."

"Boom——!!!"

With a loud bang, dust fell from the concrete roof of the command post, and the lights flickered on and off.

That was the Dingnan Army's tanks, which had already driven to the entrance of the building and were bombarding the gate with artillery.

"coming."

Wakamatsu Heiji unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his emaciated abdomen. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with both hands, the tip of the blade pressed against his abdomen.

"Gentlemen!"

Wakamatsu Heiji surveyed the officers around him who were also preparing to commit suicide, and roared, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Great Japanese Empire!"

"Pfft!"

Blood splattered almost simultaneously.

"boom!"

The heavy iron gate of the command post was blown open by a directional blast.

Amidst the smoke and dust, a squad of fully armed Dingnan soldiers rushed in, led by Ma Xiaoyuan, who had been promoted to company commander less than two days prior.

He looked at the Japanese soldiers' corpses scattered on the ground, some of whom had committed seppuku, especially Wakamatsu Heiji, who was still convulsing, and a hint of disdain appeared on his face.

"Damn it, that old Japanese devil got off easy."

Ma Xiaoyuan stepped forward, kicked the knife out of Wakamatsu Heiji's hand, and spat at the corpse: "Want to die a quick death?"

"It's not that easy."

"Company commander, what do we do?"

"What can we do? The person is dead, what else can we do?"

Ma Xiaoyuan turned to the communications officer and roared, "Go call the division headquarters! The commander of the Japanese 46th Division, Wakamatsu Heiji, has committed seppuku, and the remaining enemy forces have been basically wiped out!"

……

That afternoon.

In Haikou, in front of the former Japanese military headquarters building.

The smoke of battle had not yet dissipated, but a huge flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) had already been raised at the highest point of the ruins, fluttering in the sea breeze.

In the square, thousands of Dingnan Army soldiers stood in formation, covered in dust and blood, but their eyes were frighteningly bright.

The fighting in Haikou County has basically ended.

Several US military jeeps slowly drove up.

Chu Yunfei, Bradley, Peshkov, Huang Baitao, and others got out of the car.

Looking at this land that had just been ravaged by war, Bradley's face showed not only shock but also an unprecedented sense of importance.

He walked up to Chu Yunfei and, instead of using the usual polite formalities between allies, gave an extremely solemn American-style military salute.

"Commander Chu"

Bradley's voice, delivered clearly through a translator, reached everyone present: "You are not only excellent defenders, but also top-notch offensive players."

"You are one of the best militaries in the world. On behalf of the United States Army, I salute this great army!"

Peshkov stepped forward as well, his gaze sweeping over the young Chinese soldiers, as if he saw his younger self in them: "Commander Chu."

The French general said earnestly, "General de Gaulle is right. In this world, only the strong deserve respect."

"You have earned the respect of France with your strength, and I hope that this battle is just the beginning of our friendship."

sunset.

It turned the entire Haikou Port into a blood-red color.

This crimson hue is both the afterglow of the collapse of the old order and the dawn of the rise of a new era.

Chu Yunfei stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm yet powerful, exuding the majesty of a general from a great nation: "The victory on Qiongzhou Island is merely a note in the prelude to the counter-offensive."

"Whether it's the Japanese or any other adversary, anyone who dares to invade our land..."

Chu Yunfei's gaze swept over Peshkov almost imperceptibly, causing the French general to feel a slight chill: "We will make them pay with steel and blood."

"Jingzhong, immediately report the liberation of Qiongzhou to the General Headquarters and send copies of the telegram to all strategic command posts..."

"Yes!"

……

The next day.

The fastest to react was the Central Daily News in Chongqing.

Having long awaited news of the restoration, they had prepared the manuscript in advance.

The news broke on the same day it reached the front page of the Central Daily News the following day, and the bold, large characters shocked people from all walks of life:

Haikou Recaptured! 80,000 Enemy Troops Annihilated!

The Chinese Expeditionary Force – the Dingnan Army – is renowned throughout the South China Sea; Allied commanders praise it as the strongest army in Asia!

The news caused a nationwide uproar!
With the tone set by the front page of the Central Daily News.

This glorious victory, held far away on the shores of the South China Sea, instantly swept across the land of China.

Not only in Chongqing, but also in North China, Northwest China, and in every corner that is concerned about the fate of the nation, the printing presses of major newspapers are running day and night.

In the heart of the Taihang Mountains, an emergency supplement to the North China edition of the Xinhua Daily was published:
The front page of the newspaper featured a photograph of a Chinese soldier wearing an M1 helmet shaking hands with a Qiongya Column guerrilla fighter wearing a straw hat under a coconut grove.

The editorial's title was concise and powerful: "A Model of Unity Against Aggression: North and South Swords Join Forces to Slay the Enemy!"

The article not only highly praised the modern combat capabilities of the Dingnan Army, but also focused on describing the achievements of the Qiongya Column in cooperating with the main army, mobilizing the masses, and guiding the way, calling this battle "a great victory of the national united front on the sea front".

In the Northwest region, the headline of the Guanghua Daily read: "The Dingnan Army's Triumph in the South China Sea Boosts the Confidence of the Northwest Horse Administration!"

The article takes a unique perspective, linking the rubber and mineral resources of Qiongzhou Island with the horse administration and animal husbandry projects being planned in the northwest, stating that "with rubber in the south and fine horses in the north, China has already secured half of the material foundation for its rejuvenation!"

Changzhi, Changzhi Weekly:
As the core mouthpiece of the North China Joint Command, the weekly report devoted four full pages to a detailed recap of the battle.

From the formidable power of the Type 31 rocket launcher in urban warfare to the steel torrent of American Sherman tanks, all these demonstrate the achievements of North China's industry in supporting the front lines.

The title also exudes a sense of pride as a "family member":

"Made in North China, Triumphing in Dingnan: On the Decisive Contribution of Our Industrial Construction to the Great Victory of Qiongya".

Amidst this jubilant wave of public opinion, the most weighty, the most expansive in perspective, and the most passionate in writing is this.

The North China Daily, which was directly and deeply influenced by Chu Yunfei, was one of the most prominent examples.

[Extra edition of the North China Daily, dated XX/XX/1943]

[Breaking News! The entire territory of Hainan Island has been liberated! The South China Sea has been reunited!]

The Chu general's strategic brilliance led to victory from afar; allied commanders were awestruck by the might of our army!

(Express dispatch from Haikou)

A thunderclap pierced the sky, and good news arrived!
Under the personal command of General Advisor Yunfei, the various units of my Expeditionary Force Dingnan Army were under the command of General Advisor Chu.

After ten days of fierce fighting, the stubborn enemy at the entrance of Qiongzhou Island was completely wiped out yesterday afternoon.

Lieutenant General Wakamatsu Heiji, commander of the 46th Division of the Japanese Army stationed in Hainan, saw that the situation was hopeless and committed seppuku in despair. The remaining enemy forces were all annihilated or captured.

Thus, the precious island of southern Xinjiang, which had been occupied for several years, returned to the embrace of the motherland, and the flag of the Republic of China once again fluttered atop Wuzhi Mountain!
The iron torrent rolls on, no longer the ignorant fool of Wu Xia Ameng.

Looking back, our army fought against the Japanese invaders with our own flesh and blood, often using our bodies to resist their iron torrents. Whenever I think of this, I can't help but shed tears.

However, in today's Battle of Qiongya, the situation has been reversed!

According to eyewitness accounts from reporters on the front lines, our Dingnan army soldiers were fully equipped with American weapons and were well-equipped.

The M4 Sherman tank, like a tiger descending a mountain, crushed the enemy's false Bushido.

Heavy artillery roared, and flames engulfed the land, reducing the Japanese army's proud permanent fortifications to dust.

The Japanese invaders' rampant "human bomb offensive" was nothing but a moth drawn to a flame in the face of our army's modern three-dimensional firepower network, and only brought ridicule!
General Bradley, commander of the U.S. 38th Corps, exclaimed on the battlefield: "This is the strongest army in Asia. Its tactical skills and ability to attack fortified positions are top-notch, even on the European battlefield!"

This is not the opinion of one person, but a global consensus on the rise of China's military power!
This joint operation fully demonstrates the demeanor of a major power.

This battle marked the first time our military led a joint operation involving the army, navy, air force, and the United States, Australia, and China.

Commander Chu, with the bearing of a great power's leader, skillfully directed the allied fleet.

US warships took the lead, with Australian cruisers providing escort on both sides. French General Peshkov personally came to observe, and seeing the majesty of our army, everyone was filled with awe.

Clearly, this was not only a military victory, but also a great diplomatic and political victory!
It declared to the world: We are no longer a weak country at the mercy of others, but a mainstay in the world's anti-fascist camp!

We have the capability and the determination not only to defend our homeland, but also to venture across the seas to develop Southeast Asia and reshape the new order of postwar Asia!
With Qiongzhou recovered, we now have the throat of the South China Sea firmly in our grasp.

The main artery for the Japanese invasion southward was completely severed, and their Southeast Asian invading forces were now trapped like turtles in a jar.

However, while we rejoice in victory, we must remain vigilant.

The northern barbarian hordes have not yet retreated, and the lost territories in the Central Plains still await recovery.

On the ruins of Haikou, the general of Chu used this battle to comfort the spirits of the fallen heroes and to warn powerful enemies: those who offend China, no matter how far away, will be punished!

We urge the military and civilians across the country to seize this great victory as an opportunity to unite in hatred against the enemy, intensify production, and support the front lines.

Whether it's the counter-offensive in North China or the sweeping campaign in Southeast Asia, our 400 million compatriots, united as one, will surely achieve final victory for China! (End of Chapter)