Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

North of Dacheng County, in the Central Hebei Plain, lies the forward command post of the Sixth Army Group.

Compared to the overwhelming heavy artillery roar on the front lines in western Shandong, the pace of the battle here is faster and the infiltration is more ruthless.

The command center was located in an abandoned Dragon King Temple.

The radio's ticking sound was like rapid raindrops as the staff officers moved back and forth, their faces beaming with the excitement of witnessing history.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief!"

A communications officer strode to the sand table, snapped to attention, saluted, and announced in a loud voice: "Urgent telegram from Deputy Commander Zhang Fugui!"

"Read!"

Qian Bojun, who was staring intently at Tianjin on the map with a half-smoked cigarette in his hand, suddenly turned around when he heard this.

"The troops successfully captured Dacheng County at 3:45 PM today!"

"We annihilated a whole enemy battalion and a puppet security regiment, totaling more than a thousand men!"

"Currently, our main force, without rest, is advancing rapidly along the east bank of the Ziya River in two columns, with its sights set on the horse farm!"

"it is good!"

Qian Bojun slapped his thigh hard, the slap making the pencil on the table jump: "That kid Zhang Fugui, when it comes to fighting, he's like an eel, slippery and quick to get in, he really has mastered the essence of your tactics."

Qian Zhaoyou, the army group chief of staff and commander of the new 9th Army, who was standing to the side, also walked over with a smile. He drew a line on the map with a red and blue pencil in his hand, connecting Dacheng and Machang.

"Sir, once we take over Bachang, we'll cut off the vital artery of the northern section of the Jinpu Railway (Tianjin to Pukou)!"

Qian Zhaoyou pointed to the black railway line on the map, his voice filled with excitement: "With the loss of Machang, the Japanese troops south of Tianjin and north of Cangzhou have become like kites with broken strings."

"The Japanese troops in Beiping and Tianjin who want to go south to reinforce Shandong, or the Japanese troops in Shandong and Jiangsu who want to go north to escape, this route is now completely blocked!"

"That's right!"

Qian Bojun walked to the sand table, looked at the North China map that had been cut into pieces by red and blue arrows, and sneered: "That old devil Okamura Yasuji is still dreaming of defending the Jinpu Railway and protecting the rear."

"He doesn't even realize that our Sixth Army Group came out this time with all its weapons!"

"With his barely cobbled-together Independent Mixed Brigade No. 15 and that Advance Army No. 4 Brigade?"

Qian Bojun curled his lip in disdain: "What is that?"

"Use the military police, regular police, and reservists older than me from Beiping to make up the numbers..."

"Giving them a few grenade launchers is already showing them respect; they think they can stop my American-equipped division?"

"I heard that the commander of the advanced brigade was still shouting something about 'defending the city to the death, sacrificing himself for the country,' but what happened?"

Qian Zhaoyou picked up the thread and said sarcastically, "As soon as we attacked, those so-called 'locust troops' scattered like rats that had been disturbed, running all over the mountains and fields. It took a lot of effort to capture prisoners. The biggest threat is still our old rival, the Fifth Division."

During the Battle of Taiyuan and the Battle of Taierzhuang, the 5th Division was incredibly arrogant, a heavy burden on the hearts of Chinese soldiers.

Previous battles had failed to annihilate them.

"The Fifth Division?" Qian Bojun scoffed, as if talking about a washed-up clown: "Now it's just a joke. Their elite core members have been successively struck down by us, and the remaining greenhorns haven't developed much combat capability."

"The equipment is bad, and the morale is even worse."

"With our current firepower, even a regiment, as long as we get into position, I dare to go head-to-head with an entire corps!"

Qian Zhaoyou nodded in agreement: "Yes, the roles have reversed."

"We used to be afraid of the Japanese planes and artillery, but now it's the Japanese's turn to be afraid of our tanks and heavy artillery."

"If this major detour goes smoothly, we can not only cut off the Jinpu Railway, but also directly threaten Tianjin Port, blocking the Japanese army's access to the sea in North China!"

"By then, the 200,000 Japanese devils and 400,000 puppet troops on the North China Plain will be trapped like turtles in a jar, with no way to escape!"

Just as the two were chatting and laughing, a confidential clerk delivered an urgent telegram.

"Commander, urgent telegram from the Changzhi Joint Command!"

"Signature of the Chief Advisor"

Qian Bojun immediately suppressed his smile, took the telegram, and solemnly read through it.

"What did Your Excellency say?" Qian Zhaoyou asked.

Qian Bojun handed the telegram to Qian Zhaoyou, let out a long breath, and his eyes gleamed with a sense of certainty.

"The leader said, 'We did a great job in episode six. Let's keep up the good work, you and I.'"

He pointed to the last paragraph of the telegram and read it aloud, word by word:

"The commander also said, 'The key to the success or failure of this battle lies in completely paralyzing the enemy's transportation lifeline.'"

"Whether it was Wang Zhonglian's 31st Army Group on the southern front cutting off the Longhai Railway and threatening Xuzhou;"

"Xue Jie will still advance along the central route, conquering Liaocheng and threatening Jinan."

"Or perhaps Zhang Gan's 21st Army Group is holding back the Japanese forces on the eastern front; all of this is aimed at dividing and encircling the Japanese army!"

"And your Sixth Army Group's strike must be deep and ruthless!"

"'Once the Jinpu Railway is cut off, the Japanese army's defense system in North China will be severed in half, and its last remaining advantage in mobility will be gone!'"

Qian Bojun put down the telegram, turned his head and looked north, towards the horse farm and also towards Tianjin.

"Your Excellency is putting more burdens on us."

"That's giving us a high regard!"

Qian Zhaoyou declared with great enthusiasm, "Since Your Excellency has entrusted us with this 'throat-sealing' strike, then we must do it well!"

"Send the order!"

Qian Bojun suddenly waved his hand and shouted, "Give me a full-speed assault!"

"We must take over the horse farm train station within two days!"

"Tell all participating troops that even if they have to bite it with their teeth, they must bite the Jinpu Railway in half."

"We can't let the Japanese train get past, not even a single sleeper!"

"Yes!"
-
Machang Railway Station.
Japanese Army Independent Mixed Brigade 15th Forward Command Post.

Major General Kiyoshi Aoyama, the brigade commander, was like an ant on a hot plate, pacing frantically in the command room filled with ringing telephones.

"Nani?!"

"The great city has fallen?"

"The tanks of the Sixth Army Group of the Chinese Army have arrived in Qingxian?"

"idiot!"

"How can this be!"

Aoyama Kiyoshi grabbed the staff officer by the collar, his face contorted with rage: "From Dacheng to Qingxian, it's a full 35 kilometers. There are quite a few strongholds along the way. And according to intelligence, the Chinese army has very few armored units. The Sixth Army is obviously not among them!"

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander"

The staff officer, pale-faced, stammered, "The small elite force of the Chinese troops consists of mechanized units made up of trucks and armored vehicles. Although few in number, their combat effectiveness is extremely formidable."

"And their firepower is too intense! The forward squadrons report that as soon as they fire a shot, even a light machine gun, it will immediately be met with a barrage of more than a dozen artillery shells!"

"Our soldiers couldn't even lift their heads!"

Qingshan loosened his grip, and the staff officer collapsed to the ground.

He frowned and calmly analyzed: "Currently, the enemy's firepower is formidable and their speed is extremely fast, and their troop strength is also very abundant."

"But the enemy does not possess such objective strength."

"Therefore, reports from the front lines are almost impossible."

The staff officer responded in a low voice, "Perhaps the enemy only has a small number of elite troops on a forced march? Their purpose is to disrupt our defensive deployment."

Qingshan Qingwei nodded slightly: "As long as we can withstand the first wave of attacks, we will have the opportunity to annihilate this isolated fighting force. I judge that once Zhang Fugui's troops encounter resistance, they will definitely be able to buy more time for our defensive operations."

The 15th Independent Mixed Brigade under his command consisted mostly of newly recruited soldiers and retired veterans who had been recalled from the military. Their equipment was also quite basic, with Type 38 rifles and Type 11 light machine guns being the standard issue for an infantry squad.

A company has six to eight fewer grenade launchers than a regular unit. How can they possibly stop this group of ferocious, heavily armed American-equipped divisions?

"Your Excellency Brigade Commander, a telegram has arrived from Beiping inquiring about the battle situation."

"Reply!" A resolute glint flashed in Aoyama Kiyoshi's eyes, tinged with a hint of sorrow: "Tell Commander Okamura that the Chinese army's objective is clear: to cut off our North Tongpu Railway transportation line."

"My troops will defend the positions around the horse farm station to the death, and serve His Majesty the Heavenly Locust to the bitter end."

"But before you shatter your jade, Commander, please prepare for the worst!"

On the other side, in Beiping (Beijing).

North China Front Army Headquarters.

On the huge battle map, the red areas that originally represented the Japanese-controlled areas are shrinking at a visible rate.

"report!"

"Urgent telegram from northern Jiangsu!"

A staff officer rushed in, sweating profusely, his voice trembling with tension: "The Chinese Nationalist Army under Han Deqin in northern Jiangsu has actually put aside its past grievances with the main force of the New Fourth Army under Chen, and even formed a joint operations command!"

"Last night, they carried out a devastating attack on the eastern section of the Longhai Railway!"

"The supply line from Lianyungang to Xuzhou has been completely cut off!"

"Nani?!"

Chief of Staff Major General Shinichi Kitajima gaped in astonishment: "Aren't they mortal enemies? How could they possibly join forces?!"

"This is a Chinese conspiracy, a 'united front' tactic!"

Another operations section chief, his face ashen, added: "Not only northern Jiangsu, but the entire North China region is in chaos! In the northern Jiangsu plains, the Shandong Peninsula, and the water towns of southern Jiangsu, which had not been attacked before, all the Chinese armed forces are acting like madmen!"

"They disregarded casualties and factionalism; they attacked any stronghold of the Locust Army and dismantled any railway!"

"The 60th Division of the New Fourth Army, which is currently encircling and suppressing the New Fourth Army in southern Jiangsu, sent an urgent telegram. Because the Longhai Railway is interrupted, their ammunition supply can only last for one week, and it is very likely that their subsequent offensive will be weak."

Okamura Neiji's face was gloomy.

They were attacked everywhere and had to ask for help everywhere.

This is the current predicament of the North China Front Army.

Chu Yunfei was like a master conductor, waving his baton and making all the anti-Japanese forces in North China, whether they were the Central Army, miscellaneous troops, the Eighth Route Army, or the New Fourth Army, sound the death knell for the Japanese Empire at the same time!

"These are all minor ailments. They pose no real threat to us."

Okamura Neiji forced himself to remain calm, his gaze fixed on the area where western Shandong and eastern Henan met, which was his core defensive perimeter: "The real threat is still on the Jinpu Railway!"

Just then, the communications officer waved a telegram in his hand, his face ashen.

"Commander! Something terrible has happened!"

"Urgent telegram from northern Anhui! The 13th Independent Mixed Brigade has been surrounded in the area south of Bozhou and north of Woyang!"

"what?!"

Okamura Yasuji abruptly stood up, his chair crashing to the ground with a loud thud: "The 13th Brigade was sent to support the flank of Xuzhou and block the northward advance of the 31st Army Group of China. How could they be surrounded while relying on their strong fortifications?!"

"It's not just the 31st Army Group."

The communications officer swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "There's also a unit called the 'Eighth Route Army Eastern Expedition Column'!"

"Based on reports from retreating soldiers at the front and aerial reconnaissance."

The staff officer pointed to the prominent blue arrow in northern Anhui on the map, his voice filled with disbelief and horror:
"This Eighth Route Army unit possessed extremely fierce firepower, and even large-caliber American howitzers."

"Just four hours ago, they encountered the 35th Infantry Regiment (which belonged to the Japanese 114th Division and was temporarily transferred) rushing to their aid in the vicinity of Yulou. Our 35th Infantry Regiment launched a direct flanking attack, catching the enemy off guard."

"result……"

Okamura Neiji shouted sternly, "What was the result? Tell me!"

"In the end, this Eighth Route Army unit did not retreat; instead, it launched a frontal assault!"

"Their mortars and artillery formed a dense barrage of advancing shells. In just two hours, the 35th Regiment suffered more than 400 casualties. The front line was breached and the command post was shelled. The current situation of the command post is unknown."

A collective gasp filled the operations room.

How to defeat a field regiment head-on when ambushed?
"Not only that!"

The staff officer continued to report even more devastating news: "When our 7th Independent Mixed Brigade attempted to flank and provide support, this unit actually managed to carve out a bloody path through a narrow gap at the junction!"

"Not only did they break through the encirclement, but they also made a large flanking maneuver, cooperating with Wang Zhonglian's 31st Army Group on the front, and tightly blocking the main force of the entire 13th Brigade in the low-lying area northwest of Woyang!"

"Currently, the enemy is tightening the encirclement. The 13th Brigade has sent a farewell telegram. The Chinese army's offensive is surging like a tide. We request tactical guidance!"

"Li Yunlong"

Okamura Neiji stared intently at the blue arrow representing the Eighth Route Army, spitting out the name through gritted teeth, his eyes instantly bloodshot.

"It's Li Yunlong again!"

Okamura Neiji was all too familiar with this person!

This "Eastern Expeditionary Column" was equipped with American equipment supplied by Chu Yunfei, but it also maintained the Eighth Route Army's reckless infiltration tactics.

It had long been on the blacklist of the North China Area Army and was a major threat that Okamura Yasuji dreamed of eliminating!

They had had such opportunities in previous battles, but in the end, they always failed because of the reinforcements from the Nationalist army.

"This unit is a vicious wolf raised by Chu Yunfei!"

"It's the toughest nut to crack among the Eighth Route Army!"

Okamura Yasuji was slightly angry: "Once the 13th Brigade is annihilated, the southern gate of Xuzhou will be completely open!"

"At that time, if the southern section of the Jinpu Railway were lost, the Japanese army in North China would be trapped in a pincer movement between the north and south!"

"This is both a crisis and an opportunity!"

"As long as we can defeat this 'Eastern Expeditionary Column,' we can cut off one of the Eighth Route Army's arms in the plains, severely dampen Chu Yunfei's momentum, and stabilize the situation on the southern front!"

"Send the order!"

"Hai!"

"Order the 59th Division, which is currently assembling in Jinan, to immediately halt its northward advance!"

"Turn around, head south, transport the goods to Xuzhou by rail, and then rush towards Woyang!"

Kitajima Shinichi was shocked: "Commander, the 59th Division is the last reserve force in Jinan. If it is transferred, what will happen to Jinan?"

"The Chinese army's advance from the direction of Liaocheng will arrive soon!"

"I can't control that much anymore!"

Okamura Yasuji sighed: "If the 13th Brigade is completely annihilated, the Huai River will inevitably fall, and Xuzhou will become the front line."

"If the southern section of the Jinpu Railway is cut off, our troops in Shandong will be trapped like turtles in a jar, and defending Jinan will only lead to certain death!"

"To defend Xu, one must defend the Huai River."

"We must put out the fire first!"

"We must wipe out this Eastern Expeditionary Force first!"

"Also, order the air force to send over all the bombers that can fly!"

Okamura Yasuji slammed his finger into the northern part of Anhui: "Forget about the 31st Army Group. They are the Central Army, Chang Ruiyuan's direct troops. Wang Zhonglian was originally under Tang Enbo's command. Tang Enbo and Chu Yunfei had many conflicts before, so he certainly won't lend a hand at this moment."

Our primary operational objective is this "Eastern Expeditionary Column."

"Give that Eighth Route Army unit a good beating!"

"Throw bombs and incendiary bombs all over the heads of that 'Eastern Expeditionary Column'!"

"This unit must be crippled and destroyed! We absolutely cannot allow them to continue operating in our flanks!"

"Hai!"

Looking at the chaotic battle scene on the map, Okamura Neiji knew very well that this was a high-stakes gamble.

He was gambling with the safety of the Luzhong defense line on whether he could wipe out this elite Eighth Route Army force that was giving him the biggest headache, thereby stabilizing the situation on the southern front, which was collapsing like an avalanche.

"Chu Sang..."

Okamura Neiji's eyes were sinister: "Since you want to join forces with the Red Party to strangle us, and once again resort to this trick of seeking unity through external warfare, I won't let you have your way. Don't blame me for starting with your 'model cooperative force'!" (End of this chapter)