Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

The next morning.

Accompanied by the crisp cries of newsboys on the street, newspapers, exuding the fresh scent of ink, flew into thousands of households like snowflakes.

Instead of publishing dry statistics on enemy casualties, the front page headline of the North China Daily featured a huge photograph that took up half the page.

It was a black and white photograph.

On the turbid old course of the Yellow River, thousands of sails raced and hundreds of boats competed for position.

An old boatman, his face weathered and bare-chested, veins bulging, was struggling to push a heavy box of ammunition ashore.
Beside him, Tang Huaiyuan, the commander-in-chief of the National Revolutionary Army, covered in mud, was tightly holding the old boatman's calloused hands, his eyes filled with tears, as if he had a thousand words to say.

Below the photo, there is only one line of short but powerful text.

On the banks of the Yellow River, soldiers and civilians are of one mind; after a thousand sails have passed, all are for the sake of saving the nation!

Although the accompanying editorial was short, every word was precious:
"In ancient times, there was a battle with one's back to the river; today, there is a journey that breaks through the waves."

"What is national defense? It is not just about strong armor and sharp weapons, but about the unity of the people!"

"These ships are loaded with supplies, not only food and ammunition, but also the burning passion and unwavering belief in victory of the people of North China!"

"With such an army, the country can be defended; with such people, the country will surely prosper!"

This report, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a huge wave across the country.

In teahouses, schools, and factories, countless people are passing around the book, reading it aloud, and shedding tears.

It allowed those far from the front lines to more directly experience the tragedy and power of the "national resistance against Japan."

In a remote mountain town.

The Central Daily News also "did not back down."

However, unlike the North China side, which focused on the warm narrative of the close relationship between the military and the people, the Chongqing command clearly wanted to use this major counter-offensive to show the world the image of a "military superpower" in order to support their diplomatic maneuvering.

Therefore, the front page of the Central Daily News was completely in the style of an exciting "blockbuster poster".

The title was printed in bold red.

Thunderous Strike! Air Force Formation Launches Thousand-Mile Raid, Japanese Armored Train Sinks into the Yellow River!

The article begins with extremely impassioned language:

"Our valiant air force, ordered to act in a time of crisis, wields the thunder of the heavens to strike the enemy halfway across the river!"

"According to accurate battle reports from the front lines, yesterday morning, our Air Force's B-25 bomber formation descended like divine eagles and flew over the Yellow River Luokou Iron Bridge."

"Faced with the dense anti-aircraft fire of the Japanese army, our heroic pilots showed no fear, broke through the defenses at extremely low altitudes, and dropped bombs with perfect accuracy!"

"With a deafening roar, this steel behemoth, on which the invaders relied to transport troops and supplies, along with the armored train on it fully loaded with elite Kwantung Army soldiers, instantly broke apart and plunged into the raging Yellow River!"

"It is reported that this bombing not only completely cut off the Japanese army's north-south artery, but also dealt a devastating blow to the elite Japanese divisions that were attempting to reinforce Jinan. Thousands of enemy soldiers were killed without firing a single shot!"

The article then abruptly shifted its focus, beginning to exaggerate the achievements and political significance of the Air Force's development:
"This victory was not achieved in a single day."

"This is truly a brilliant achievement of the Supreme Command's visionary leadership and early efforts in building a modern air force!"

"They are also a vivid portrayal of our Air Force heroes who inherited the spirit of the 'August 14th' air battle and forged an iron wall in the sky with their flesh and blood!"

"This battle declares to the world: China's airspace is no longer a place where the Japanese invaders can run rampant!"

"Our air force is now strong enough not only to defend our territory, but also to carry out long-range strikes and deliver a fatal blow to the aggressors!"

The mountain town that afternoon.

The Aviation Commission building.

Flashes went off one after another, and the sound of camera shutters filled the air.

A grand press conference for Chinese and foreign journalists is being held here.

Zhou Zhirou, director of the Aviation Commission, stood confidently in front of the microphone, dressed in a crisp air force general's uniform with medals adorning his chest.

Facing the Western journalists who usually have a critical eye, Zhou Zhirou stood up exceptionally straight today.

"Director Zhou!"

An American journalist was the first to raise his hand and ask a question: "I am a reporter from The New York Times."

"Regarding the bombing of Luokou Bridge, it is rumored that it was directly commanded by the North China side. Is this true?"

Does this mean that command of the Chinese Air Force has shifted?

Zhou Zhirou smiled slightly; this question was clearly within his expectations. He answered calmly:
"Sir reporter, I think you've misunderstood something."

"The Chinese Air Force is a unified whole, operating under the unified leadership of the Supreme Command."

"Whether it was the frontline airfields in North China or the command center in the mountain city, we had only one goal: to eliminate the Japanese invaders, recover our lost territories, and make our due contribution to the world's anti-fascist cause."

"This operation is the result of the collective wisdom of the General Headquarters and the close cooperation among the various theater commands."

"Of course, we have given full authority to the frontline commanders in terms of specific tactical execution, which is also to better adapt to the ever-changing battlefield situation."

Zhou Zhirou paused, scanned the entire room, and raised her voice slightly: "Building a strong and modern air force is an inevitable requirement to keep pace with the times and an unswerving pursuit of our country."

"In the past years, we have experienced too much suffering and humiliation."

"But today, I can proudly tell you that the days when we could only watch enemy planes ravage our lands overhead are gone forever!"

"We want to thank our allies, especially our American friends, for their generous assistance. It was your aircraft and technology that accelerated this process."

At this point, Zhou Zhirou gave a slight nod to the U.S. military attaché sitting in the front row, which drew a round of applause.

"Of course, we must also thank our brave and fearless pilots!"

"They are eagles soaring in the sky, the backbone of the nation!"

"It is because of them that our skies are safe and our victory is guaranteed!"

"I believe that as our air force continues to grow stronger, that day will not be far off—we will plant the flag of victory on every inch of our liberated land!"

The applause of the audience was thunderous.

Countless journalists' pens flew across the page, recording this confident and powerful declaration and spreading it to every corner of the world.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Washington, London, and even Moscow...

As policymakers from various countries looked at these reports, at the severed Yellow River bridge on the map, and at the rapidly rising Eastern superpower, their eyes became more solemn and thoughtful.

They realized that in this game called "World War II," the piece called "China" was no longer an insignificant supporting character, but was growing into a powerful force capable of influencing the course of the war.
-
Moscow, Kremlin.

Stalin was not standing in front of the huge map of the European battlefield that he loved most at that moment.

There, the iron-fisted strangulation battle on the Kursk steppe was still ongoing, but the Soviet army had stabilized its position and even begun preparations for Operation Kutuzov; the horn of the counter-offensive was about to sound.

now.

His gaze was fixed on a map of Asia on the other side of his desk.

Beside him were several translated newspapers that had just been urgently delivered from Chongqing and Changzhi, as well as an internal report from a TASS correspondent in China.

"Thunderous force! Air Force triumphs!"

Stalin tapped the translated manuscript of the Central Daily News with the handle of his pipe, a cryptic smirk playing on his lips, his brown eyes gleaming with scrutiny: "Comrade Molotov, it seems our Chinese 'ally' has been making quite a splash lately."

People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Molotov stood in front of the desk, his face still expressionless, his tone flat and serious: "Yes, Comrade Stalin."

"Based on comprehensive intelligence from intelligence agencies and military attachés stationed in China, it has been confirmed that the Chinese army has indeed achieved a series of surprising tactical victories in North China."

"Especially this bombing of the Yellow River Iron Bridge."

Molotov pointed to the marked break point on the map: "It not only directly severed the Japanese army's north-south artery, but also directly destroyed a train full of elite Kwantung Army soldiers."

"Intelligence indicates that the bombing was carried out using B-25 medium bombers provided by the United States, as well as P-51 Mustang fighters that had only recently appeared on the Chinese battlefield."

"American support for China has risen from the initial small arms, artillery and advisors to the level of strategic air force and heavy armored formations."

"Humph."

Stalin chuckled through his nose, struck a match, and slowly relit his pipe.

Thick smoke rose up, blurring his pockmarked face.

"That was Roosevelt's plan."

Stalin's voice was deep and hoarse, revealing an all-seeing insight: "The Americans didn't want to shed too much blood in the Pacific, so they armed the Chinese and let them wear down the Japanese army's manpower."

"This is objectively advantageous to our war effort in Europe."

“Even if the Japanese amassed the Kwantung Army on the Far East border, as long as they were bogged down in the quagmire of North China, we would not have to worry about being attacked from both sides.”

Stalin stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced around his office, his boots making a rhythmic sound on the floor.

"but."

He abruptly stopped, his gaze turning sinister and sharp: "This Chu Yunfei, his ambitions seem to extend beyond North China. The Americans also hope to continue to court China in order to establish a foothold in East Asia after the war."

Molotov understood immediately and pulled out a document marked "Top Secret" from the bottom.

"Comrade Stalin, you are right. Compared to the war in North China, this intelligence is perhaps more worthy of our attention."

Molotov handed over the documents with both hands, his tone becoming extremely serious: "Based on our informants in the mountain city and our analysis of Chu Yunfei's recent actions, we have confirmed a startling plan."

"Chu Yunfei has reached a high degree of consensus with the Mountain City Command. They are secretly planning and steadily advancing an action called the 'Donggoo Referendum'."

"Toungoo?" Stalin raised an eyebrow, his gaze quickly moving south across the map until it landed on Burma.

“Yes,” Molotov explained, “they are using the Aung San armed forces, which were previously supported by the Japanese, to prepare a so-called ‘referendum’ in the Toungoo region.”

"Nominally it's about 'national self-determination' and 'getting rid of colonialism,' but in reality, it's about incorporating Toungoo into the territory of the Republic of China as a federal member or special administrative region!"

"Moreover, this plan is not just empty talk; they have already begun to implement it."

"A large propaganda machine has been set in motion, and slogans such as 'brotherly friendship' and 'returning to China' are being shouted loudly; they have even drafted a plan for postwar administrative divisions, and railway survey teams have already set off."

"what!"

Stalin let out a short, cold laugh, as if he had heard an unbelievable joke, but his eyes were icy cold:
"What a huge appetite!"

"While Churchill was still dreaming of the eternal existence of the British Empire in London, his Chinese allies had already stabbed him in the most vulnerable spot, preparing to dismantle his colonies!"

Stalin walked to the map and traced his finger along the points where Burma and the Indian Ocean meet: "If they succeed, China will gain access to the Indian Ocean, and their strategic depth will be completely altered."

Do Americans know this?

“They definitely knew,” Molotov analyzed. “Roosevelt always advocated ‘decolonization.’ He wanted to dismantle the British colonial system so that American capital could enter.”

"In this matter, Washington, even if it did not publicly support it, at least tacitly approved of it."

"This is an extremely dangerous sign."

Molotov said with concern, "This shows that Chu Yunfei is not only a general who can fight, but also a strategist with strong geopolitical ambitions."

"If he dares to use a 'referendum' to annex British colonies today, wouldn't he dare to use the same means to covet our 'vested interests' in the north tomorrow?"

"for example.?"

Upon hearing this, Stalin's eyes flashed even colder. He certainly remembered Chu Yunfei's telegram requesting passage.

That was a test, and also a provocation.

The progress of the Dongwoo referendum undoubtedly proves that the mountain city government's execution and ambition in territorial expansion are real.

"As China's fourth phase of counter-offensive operations in North China entered its second stage, the Chongqing authorities called again, requesting consultations regarding passage."

Stalin took a deep drag on his cigarette: "Regarding that request to 'pass through Outer Mongolia,' in accordance with the established policy, we must resolutely reject it!"

"The reason is still the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact."

"Tell him that the Soviet Red Army is fighting for the freedom of all mankind in Europe and is unable to take on new risks in the Far East. We will never allow any foreign troops to enter our strategic buffer zone!"

"We should use this refusal to pour cold water on him, and also on that smug chairman of the committee in Chongqing."

"Let them understand that we can watch the show in the south, but they shouldn't even think about anything in the north!"

Stalin then changed the subject, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "We don't need to publicly oppose his victory in North China, or the 'Taungoo Referendum'."

"Let Churchill have a headache, let the British and Chinese quarrel."

"The more conflicts there are between our allies, the more secure our position becomes."

"As long as he is still fighting the Japanese, as long as he can still provide us with supplies, we should not only maintain this 'friendship', but also give him some benefits."

“For example?” Molotov asked.

"For example, hasn't he always wanted to build an air force?"

A sly glint flashed in Stalin's eyes: "The Americans gave him the plane, but they can't give him everything he wants."

“We can provide him with some technical guidance on the primary processing of aerospace aluminum materials through that ‘civilian machinery factory’ channel, or some relevant technical drawings that were seized from Germany but are no longer the most advanced for us.”

"This would both make him feel that we have not chosen to break with him and make the Americans nervous."

"As long as China, the United States, Japan, and Britain restrain each other in the Far East and Southeast Asia, we can concentrate on dealing with Hitler."

At this point, Stalin walked back to his desk, sat down again, and his expression returned to its steely hardness.

As for the post-war period...

His finger emphasized the locations of Manchuria and Outer Mongolia on the map:
"The day the red flag is raised over the Reichstag building in Berlin."

"At that time, this 'war commander' will understand that in the face of an absolute steel torrent, whether it's a 'referendum' or 'passing through,' he'll have to defer to us!"

"Comrade Molotov, go and draft the reply."

"Be polite and enthusiastic, but on matters of principle in the North, never give an inch!"

"Yes, Comrade Stalin."
-
Luxi, Liaocheng, Frontline Command Headquarters.

"Your Excellency."

Zhang Dayun, the head of the operations section, strode in with a strange look on his face. He first saluted Chu Yunfei and then reported, "We just received reports from the air force and ground sentries that General Stilwell's plane landed at our forward field airfield half an hour ago."

"Oh?"

Chu Yunfei, who was studying the Jinan city defense map with Fang Ligong, looked up, glanced at his watch, and asked in surprise, "Now that we've arrived, why didn't any guards announce our arrival?"

"Logically, his convoy should have already entered the city by now."

Zhang Dayun gave a wry smile and spread his hands, saying, "That's the problem. He didn't even come to our command post."

"They got into a jeep, took a few US military advisors and translators, and sped off to Yin Chongyue's armored brigade base, saying they were going to inspect the front-line troops of the 88th Group Army."

"This guy," Fang Ligong pushed up his glasses, his brows furrowing slightly, "he doesn't seem to have any good intentions. Could he be involved in the Dongyu Project?"

“If it were someone else, I might think he had ulterior motives.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Yunfei was not angry at all. Instead, he chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "But for Stilwell, this is perfectly normal."

"He was a pure soldier, you could even say he was half an 'infantry platoon leader.' He preferred watching the soldiers clean their guns in the mud pit rather than drinking tea and exchanging pleasantries with us in the command post."

"Let him be."

Chu Yunfei walked to the window, gazing at the dust rising in the distance, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "Speaking of which, this is quite an interesting story."

Have you thought about this?

"Now, whether it's Southern Europe or Eastern Europe, it's a huge battlefield involving millions of people."

"But who would have thought that the first large-scale combat test of the American's latest model, the M4A3 Sherman tank, would not be against the German Tiger and Panther tanks on the European plains, but rather on the North China Plain in Asia, where it was used to crush the Japanese small tanks and fortifications."

"You are right, Your Excellency."

Fang Ligong also laughed, his tone tinged with pride: "This shows that our North China battlefield has become more important."

"The Americans were eager to see how effective their new equipment, which they were so proud of, could be in the hands of the Chinese. This can be seen as us serving as a 'sharpening stone' for the Allies."

"Whetstone or touchstone, it may be."

Chu Yunfei turned around, his expression turning serious again: "As long as it can kill Japanese devils, even if they are experimental subjects, I will accept them all."

"By the way, how's the situation on Qiongzhou Island?"

Li Jingzhong, who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped forward and took out a telegram from his briefcase.

"Sir, this is a telegram from Commander Du from Qiongzhou Island."

Li Jingzhong reported: "After a month of continuous cleaning, the cleanup operation across the entire Qiongzhou Island is progressing very smoothly."

"Except for a very small number of Japanese remnants who have fled deep into the Wuzhi Mountains, the major towns, ports and transportation lines are all under the control of our army."

"In addition, the resumption of production at the Shilu Iron Mine has begun, and the first batch of iron ore is expected to be shipped back to China next week. The takeover of the rubber plantation has also been completed. The assets that originally belonged to the Japanese zaibatsu and local reactionary forces have now all been nationalized. The current director of the inspection committee, Qian Dajun, has also set off to inspect the site."

"it is good!"

Chu Yunfei took the telegram, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction: "I trust Brother Guangting to handle things."

"We must continue to dig deeper, mobilize the masses, and especially build good relations with the comrades of the Qiongya Column. We must drag out those 'Japanese devils' who have sneaked into the forest one by one, and we must not leave any future troubles."

"Furthermore, the reorganization of the Qiongya Column must be carried out quickly. I will call the General Headquarters and Yan'an later to inquire about the progress of the negotiations. In addition, I must also remind the Dingnan Army to speed up the construction of the air force base."

"We must, as we have promised before, turn Qiongzhou Island into an unsinkable aircraft carrier for the Allies, a nightmare that the Japanese will never forget in the skies over the South China Sea!"

"Yes!"

……

Three hours later.

Qihe County, west of Jinan.

Temporary garrison of the armored brigade of the 88th Group Army.

The sun was blazing overhead; it was noon, the hottest time of day.

The air at the base was filled with a strong smell of engine oil and the pungent odor of soil.

Rows of Sherman tanks, fresh from the battlefield, were parked in the field, some still bearing broken tree branches and barbed wire from the Japanese positions.

Clearly, although the second phase of the operation plan has not been fully implemented, sporadic probing attacks have almost never stopped.

Beside a broken-down tank, a U.S. military technical advisor was crawling under the engine hood, cursing with his face covered in grease.

"Fuck, it's that damn overheating again!"

Stilwell stood in the mud with his hands behind his back, his face looking very grim.

Beside him, Armored Brigade Commander Yin Chongyue smiled obsequiously: "General Stilwell, look."

Yin Chongyue pointed to several tanks being repaired in front of him, his tone somewhat helpless, "It's not that the brothers don't cherish their equipment, it's just that the battle is being fought too quickly, and the weather is too hot and the road conditions are too poor."

Stilwell ignored Yin Chongyue's explanation. He walked to the tracks of a tank, squatted down, reached out and touched the scorching hot road wheel, and then looked at the broken track pin next to it.

“Yin”.

Stilwell stood up, dusted his hands off, and said curtly, "I've seen your battle report."

"In Liaocheng, on the banks of the Yellow River, you fought very bravely and executed your tactics very resolutely. You are qualified armored soldiers."

"but."

Stilwell abruptly changed the subject, pointing his finger at the rows of tanks waiting for repairs: "Look at these big guys!"

"According to your statistics, you lost 15 tanks in the past 72 hours, of which only 3 were destroyed by the Japanese!"

"The remaining 12 vehicles were all taken out of service due to mechanical failure, engine overheating, or broken tracks!"

Stilwell turned to look at the U.S. military liaison officer and recorder behind him, his tone becoming unusually serious: "This is a very serious problem. Our non-combat losses are four times our combat losses!"

"General, this..."

Yin Chongyue was about to say something in his defense when Stilwell raised his hand to stop him: "I'm not blaming your soldiers, Yin."

Stilwell sighed, his gaze becoming somewhat complicated: "The battlefield environment in Asia is indeed different from our testing ground in Detroit."

"The dust here, the scorching heat, and this damn muddy ground..."

"The problems we encountered with our weapons and equipment are basically the same as those we encountered when we were fighting on Qiongzhou Island. We will report them together."

He turned around and ordered the U.S. military personnel accompanying him: "Write it down!"

"First, the Ford GAA engine in the M4A3 has insufficient heat dissipation efficiency in high-temperature environments, and the cooling system must be improved."

"Secondly, the wear resistance and grip of the tracks are poor on muddy surfaces, requiring wider track plates or anti-skid teeth."

"Third, the air filter needs to be upgraded, as dust from the Far East can wear out the cylinders like sandpaper."

The recorder quickly jotted it down in his notebook.

Looking at the bustling repair yard, Stilwell remarked, "This is a valuable practical test."

"If we don't solve these problems now, our armored forces will encounter the same troubles when they reach the Philippines, Okinawa, or even the Japanese mainland."

At this point, Stilwell suddenly turned to look at Yin Chongyue, a hint of admiration in his eyes: "However, Yin, your soldiers are excellent. I saw that battalion commander named Chang, or something like that, leading his men to repair tanks themselves?"

“It’s Chang Weiguo, the battalion commander of the second battalion. He just arrived yesterday and is already familiar with his men,” Yin Chongyue said, standing at attention.

“Yes, that’s him.” Stilwell nodded. “The son of a leader, crawling under a car and eating mud, is not common in the Chinese army. This style is unlike his father.”

Yin Chongyue was shocked, but dared not reply, pretending he hadn't heard.

Fortunately, Stilwell didn't say much, only emphasizing: "The top priority right now is to improve the reliability of the tanks."

Stilwell gazed at the faint outline of Jinan city in the east and said in a deep voice, "The second phase of the operation is about to begin. I don't want to see our tanks destroyed by Japanese artillery shells on the way to the front."

“I will immediately send a telegram to the Pentagon and Detroit to make them take this data seriously.”

"Tell Chu that I will do my best to help you solve the spare parts problem, but until then..."

Stilwell patted the Sherman's sturdy armor: "I hope you can order your lads to treat these like they would their own wives." (End of Chapter)