Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

"Damn it! What on earth is the 32nd Division doing?!"

"In just half a day! The outer defenses of Yanzhou have completely collapsed?"

"Even if you released several thousand pigs on the front line, it would take the Chinese a whole day to catch them!"

Nanjing, the headquarters of the China Expeditionary Army.

Commander-in-Chief General Hata Shunroku was standing with his back to the staff officers in front of the huge situation map.

His back still looked as upright as a pine tree, only his hands, wearing white gloves and gripping the hilt of his command sword tightly, were trembling slightly from excessive force, revealing the turbulent emotions within him.

On the map, the blue arrows representing the Nationalist army's offensive are like a group of sharks that have smelled blood, frantically tearing at the heart of southern and western Shandong from all directions.

The red defensive line representing the Japanese army resembled a dam breached by a flood, with breaches everywhere, resulting in utter defeat.

"Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief"

Lieutenant General Masazo Kawabe, the Chief of the General Staff, cautiously stepped forward, holding a stack of newly translated telegrams in his hand. His voice was low: "From the direction of Jinan, Lieutenant General Ichiji Tsuchibashi, the commander of the 12th Army, has sent an urgent telegram requesting permission to abandon the outer perimeter and consolidate forces to defend the inner city to the death."

"In addition, reports have been received from Beiping regarding General Okamura Yasuji's condition."

Upon hearing the name "Okamura Yasuji," Hata Shunroku's body stiffened abruptly.

He slowly turned around, his face trying his best to maintain the commanding presence of a commander who would remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, but the deep weariness and panic in his eyes could not be concealed.

"How is Okamura-kun doing now?"

Hata Shunroku asked, his tone carrying a hint of dependence that even he himself didn't realize.

Since the Yellow River Iron Bridge was bombed and the main force of the Kwantung Army reinforcements was blocked north of the Yellow River, the commander of the North China Area Army, who was known for his ruthlessness, viciousness and perseverance, seemed to have lost his backbone.

Overwhelmed by anger and anxiety, Okamura Neiji vomited blood and fell into a coma, and was rushed to the Beiping Army General Hospital.

Now, facing this mess in North China,
Although nominally Beiping was still in command, in reality all the pressure was transmitted through the telephone line to his shoulders as the commander-in-chief.

Hata Shunroku believed he had burned himself out for the sake of his great nation, but still had no way to turn the tide.

"The doctor said it was caused by a sudden surge of anger. Although he has regained consciousness, he is exhausted and needs absolute rest," sighed Kawabe Masazo.

Rest and recuperation?

There's no time for him to rest now!

Hata Shunroku roared inwardly, but on the surface he could only nod with feigned concern: "Let Okamura-kun rest and recover. We will take care of the next battle."

He walked to the table, forced himself to sit down, and his hand holding the teacup was a little unsteady, the lid clinking against the rim of the cup.

"Given the current situation, I have no better solution. Okamura-kun's deployment is the best solution at the moment. We can only wait for the enemy to run out of ammunition, and then they will stop their offensive as before."

Hata Shunroku put down his teacup, a desperate resolve flashing in his eyes: "And before that, even if I die, I will die in the trenches!"

"Send orders to all armies in North China!"

"We must resolutely implement the 'Decisive Battle in Central Shandong' plan formulated by Commander Okamura before he fell ill!"

"The Jinan-Tai'an-Yanzhou line must be defended at all costs!"

"Even if we fight to the last man, we must not retreat a single step!"

"We must take advantage of the mountainous terrain in central Shandong to slow down the advance of the Chinese armored forces and drag them into a quagmire of attrition!"

"They don't have many tanks. According to Tuqiao-kun's previous report, they only have a few dozen tanks left, and they will be exhausted sooner or later."

"This is our last chance. I urge you all to remember to obey orders."

After issuing this order, which was practically sending the soldiers to their deaths, Hata Shunroku did not feel any relief.

He waved away his men and women, leaving only Masazo by the river.

"Kimi by the River".

Hata Shunroku's voice instantly became old and hoarse. He took a piece of paper from the drawer and pushed it in front of Kawabe Masazo: "Send a telegram to the Tokyo headquarters immediately."

"Are you requesting 'tactical guidance'?" Kawabe Masazo was taken aback. This was a euphemism used within the Japanese military for "requesting a retreat" or "requesting how to proceed in this critical situation."

"No, it's a cry for help."

Hata Shunroku took off his glasses, rubbed his throbbing temples, and stared blankly at the ceiling: "Tell Chief of the General Staff Sugiyama Gen that the situation in North China has reached an 'irreversible' point."

"The firepower and tactical skills displayed by the Chinese army are unmatched by our army."

"The ferocity of their air force and the sharpness of their tanks have given our army a generational advantage."

"If the General Headquarters cannot coordinate with the Kwantung Army or mobilize at least three more divisions from the mainland within half a month, and provide sufficient air cover..."

Hata Shunroku paused, then squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Then please prepare to abandon most of North China, retreat to the area beyond the Great Wall, and even hold the Yangtze River."

Hata Shunroku's hands were trembling as he wrote this telegram.

He knew that once this telegram was sent, his career as commander-in-chief would essentially be over.

But he couldn't help it.

He was genuinely afraid of the rapid offensive from North China.

Three divisions, and at most two temporary conscripted troops forming an advance brigade.

Such troops would be of little use in the war at that time.

Beiping, Japanese Army General Hospital.

The intensive care unit was filled with the strong smell of baking soda and disinfectant.

Okamura Neiji lay on the hospital bed, his face ashen, an IV drip attached to his left hand, while his right hand still clutched a crumpled map of North China tightly.

"Cough cough."

A violent cough caused his already thin chest to heave violently, as if he might stop breathing at any moment.

"Commander, please take care of yourself!"

Major General Shinichi Kitajima, who had been staying by the bedside, rushed forward to take the map from his hand, but was forcefully blocked by Neiji Okamura's withered, claw-like hand.

"do not move!"

Okamura Neiji's voice was weak, yet it carried a morbid obsession: "The front lines... cough cough, how's the situation at the front lines?"

"Has Fang Ligong's troops already reached the walls of Yanzhou? Has the Chinese army captured Jining?"

Shinichi Kitajima lowered his head, not daring to look directly into Okamura's bloodshot eyes, and stammered, "The 32nd Division is holding out against the city walls, but in the past week or so of fighting, we have lost most of our outer positions. At present, we can only hold out against the enemy by relying on high ground and communication lines."

"Those Chinese bastards!"

Okamura Neiji closed his eyes in anguish, two streams of tears sliding down his cheeks: "The 8th Division is finished. The 32nd Division is finished too."

"I, Okamura Yasuji, cough cough, Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere... cough cough..."

"Commander, the doctor says you can't overexert yourself anymore," Shinichi Kitajima advised. "General Shunroku Hata has already ordered all units to hold their ground and await reinforcements, as you previously instructed."

"Hold your ground and wait for reinforcements?"

Okamura Neiji suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them like a dying ember: "The reinforcements are cut off north of the Yellow River, where are the reinforcements?!"

"but."

His gaze fell on the brown area in central Shandong on the map—the Taiyi Mountains.

The area is characterized by towering mountains and deep ravines, making it a natural defensive fortress.

"Although I lost the plains, I have not lost the war."

Okamura Neiji struggled to sit up, his finger trembling as he pointed towards the mountainous area, a sinister smirk curling at the corner of his mouth:

“Kimi Kitajima-kun, remember this.”

"Chu Yunfei's advantage lies in his heavy artillery and tanks, in those iron lumps the Americans gave him."

"However, as long as we retreat into the heart of central Shandong, into these vast mountains!"

"His Sherman tank can't climb the mountain!"

"His heavy artillery can't be transported in!"

"At that time, light infantry will dominate, and most importantly, their logistical problems, which have often been exposed before, will definitely be exposed again at this moment."

As if grasping at a straw, Okamura Yasuji's previously cloudy eyes turned unusually fervent: "Even if Jinan is lost, even if Yanzhou is lost, as long as the main force of the 12th Army can retreat into the mountains, we can still fight!"

"We want to turn this war into a protracted war of attrition."

"Just like the way the Chinese army dealt with us back then."

“Tell Tsuchibashi once,” Okamura Neiji said, panting heavily as he stared intently at Kitajima Shinichi, “Don’t worry about the gains or losses of a single city or place.”

"Our defenses are already incredibly strong, and our semi-permanent fortifications are enough to slow down the enemy's advance."

"Even if the defense line is breached, we can retreat into the mountains."

"As long as we have people and guns, relying on the mountains of central Shandong, we can completely slow down the enemy's offensive and buy enough time for Tokyo's military and political leaders to negotiate with the United States."

Looking at Okamura Neiji's almost manic state, Kitajima Shinichi felt a chill run down his spine.

Commander, you're being foolish.

This mountainous area in central Shandong was also a base area for the Eighth Route Army!

"Hai! I'll go and relay your tactical instructions immediately!"

Shinichi Kitajima left.

He dared not do anything that might provoke Okamura Yasuji.

After all, any commander with a certain level of military expertise could see that Okamura Yasuji's deployment was impeccable and the optimal military solution.

The ward was completely quiet.

Okamura Neiji collapsed weakly onto the pillow, looking out at the gloomy sky.

Chu Yunfei

He muttered to himself, his voice filled with hatred and resentment: "Even if I die, I will become a vengeful ghost on this land of North China, watching you suffer and bleed in the ravines."
-
Southwestern Shandong, outside Jining City.

The heavy rain had just stopped when the heatwave returned, steaming the yellow earth that had just been soaked by the rain into a misty haze.

Two large armies are conducting a silent but rapid handover of responsibilities in this open field.

"Commander Guo, you've worked hard!"

Zhou Tiren, commander of the Third Army, strode forward and firmly grasped the hand of Guo Yanzheng, commander of the Eighty-Eighth Group Army. Although Zhou Tiren's uniform was covered in mud, his spirits were higher than ever before.

Although Guo Yanzheng looked exhausted and had bloodshot eyes, he had a relaxed smile on his lips.

In the past few days, his troops have been stationed outside Jining City like nails, holding the Japanese 26th Independent Mixed Brigade firmly in their grip. They have neither allowed the Japanese to reinforce Yanzhou nor to retreat towards Yanzhou and Jinan, thus successfully completing their mission of blocking and containing the enemy.

"Brother Tiren, you've finally arrived."

Guo Yanzheng pointed to the faintly visible Jining city wall in the distance, and the Japanese flag fluttering on the city wall, and reminded him in a solemn tone: "Although the 26th Mixed Brigade is not the main force of the Japanese army, the brigade commander is not an easy person to deal with. Relying on the city's fortifications, this is a tough nut to crack."

"Hard bones?"

Zhou Tiren sneered and glanced back at the massive artillery formation that was being slowly pulled into position by tractors and mules: "Old Guo, you saw it too."

"In order to crack this nut, the Lord not only gave us that heavy artillery training regiment, but also, just yesterday, the ammunition for those hundreds of ships was distributed!"

Zhou Tiren patted the pistol at his waist, exclaiming with boundless pride: "Right now, the one thing our Third Army has in abundance is artillery shells!"

"Don't even mention tough bones, even if it's an iron walnut, I'll smash it to pieces today!"

Guo Yanzheng looked at the 105mm howitzers pointing skyward, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes, then nodded: "Good! In that case, I'm relieved."

"Military orders are absolute. The main force is gathering along the line from Yanzhou to Jinan. Commander-in-Chief Fang and Army Commander Xue are waiting for my fresh troops to give that old devil Tuqiao a final blow."

"Here, I leave it to you!"

"Go!"

"Once I take Jining, I'll come to the walls of Jinan and ask you for that celebratory drink!"

Two large hands clasped tightly together, then separated.

Without any hesitation, Guo Yanzheng immediately led his main force, marching in a mighty force towards Jinan City in the northeast.

With the departure of Guo Yanzheng's troops.

The oppressive atmosphere beneath Jining City did not lessen; on the contrary, it became even more suffocating as the main force of the Fifth Army Group and the heavy artillery regiment deployed.

Inside the forward command post of the Fifth Army Group.

Tang Huaiyuan stood in front of the observation hole, holding up his binoculars, staring intently at the west gate of Jining.

There, the Japanese army was frantically reinforcing their fortifications, clearly aware of the enemy's troop rotation and anticipating the coming storm.

"Commander, the artillery positions are complete!"

"All attacking units have moved into their starting positions!"

"Commander Zhou of the Third Army requests instructions: Should we launch an attack immediately?"

Tang Huaiyuan put down his binoculars and took a deep breath.

The telegram requesting help that he sent more than a week ago was the most agonizing moment of his military career.

This is the moment for him to fulfill his promise and wash away his shame!
He remembered the calloused hands at the Weihe Wharf and the simple words, "We'd give our lives for you as long as you fight the Japanese."

"Tell Zhou Tiren, and also tell Principal Ouyang."

Tang Huaiyuan's voice was deep and powerful, each word seeming to burst forth from his chest: "In this battle, don't hold back on ammunition!"

"Put all the pent-up frustrations we've endured these past few days, and all the sentiments of those hundreds of boats of ordinary people, into the cannon barrels and fire them out!"

"One hour!"

"I'm going to use an hour of artillery barrage to flatten the walls of Jining!"

"fire!!!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!"

At Tang Huaiyuan's command, the land outside Jining City instantly erupted in excitement.

The heavy artillery training regiment was personally commanded by Ouyang Xianpeng, in addition to the original artillery forces of the Fifth Army Group.

Countless 105mm and 75mm high-explosive shells, accompanied by a piercing whistle, rained down on the walls of Jining.

Under the bombardment of heavy artillery, bricks and stones of Jining's ancient city walls flew everywhere, and smoke and dust obscured the sun.

The Japanese machine gun nests and observation posts set up on the city walls, along with the soldiers who tried to resist, were reduced to ashes and minced meat in a very short time.

"idiot!"

"How can this be?!"

"Where did the Chinese army get so many heavy artillery pieces?!"

Eiji Okada, commander of the Japanese 26th Independent Mixed Brigade, hid in his command post buried deep underground, listening to the continuous explosions overhead, his face ashen.

He originally thought it was just a routine switch of defense, and that the opponents were just a ragtag team with mediocre equipment.

But the reality was that he felt like he was facing the main artillery of the Soviet or American forces!
Fortunately, they had made extensive preparations for the defense of Jining, so they were not defeated by the artillery bombardment.

The shelling lasted for a full hour.

When the cannon fire finally stopped, the western city wall of Jining was gone, replaced by a section of ruins stretching for hundreds of meters.

On the battlefield, it was like a door that had been kicked open.

"brothers!"

Zhou Tiren, who had been holding back his energy in the trenches, suddenly drew his pistol, leaped out of the trench, and roared, "Commander-in-Chief Tang is watching us from behind, and the folks along the Wei River are watching us!"

"Charge! Kill all the Japanese devils! Liberate Jining!"

"Kill them all!!!"

Thousands of combat troops surged forward like a flood bursting its banks, roaring as they charged toward the crumbling city.
As the officers and soldiers of the Third Army surged into the breach like a tide, Zhou Tiren, who had just been drawing his gun and roaring angrily, vowing to charge to the death, did not join his troops in entering the city.

He slowly holstered his pistol, dusted off his uniform, and even took a towel from his adjutant to wipe his face.

Thinking of the 40th Army under Ma Fawu, which was providing flank cover, Zhou Tiren's lips curled into an undisguised smile of smugness and contempt.

"Commander, shall we go in and take a look?" the adjutant asked cautiously. "The brothers ahead have already climbed onto the city wall."

"No hurries?"

Zhou Tiren snorted coldly and pointed behind him: "The overall situation is settled. The city walls have all collapsed. All that's left is to clean up the mess in the streets."

"The credit for recapturing Jining is already our Third Army's for the taking."

"Some units are just unlucky."

"The previous three counter-offensives resulted in heavy casualties; it was truly a hard-fought battle."

"But this time it was a lucrative job that finally gave us face, and all we can do is guard our house and eat our leftovers."

The adjutant asked with a forced smile, "The commander is referring to the 40th Army?"

"I heard that their main task this time is to provide flank cover and conduct training, since they haven't fully recovered yet."

"Hmph, training troops?"

Zhou Tiren spat dismissively: "That's because Your Excellency is giving him face, which means Your Excellency is broad-minded enough to tolerate them."

"This shoddy, off-the-beaten-path brand can't compare to us?"

"Although our Third Army is not entirely equipped with American weapons, it is still a heroic unit that dares to fight tough battles, and a genuine all-weapon armed force."

"This time, I'm going to show the entire army that when it comes to attacking fortified positions, our Class B combat units are just as capable!"

After saying that, Zhou Tiren waved his hand and said, "Send a telegram to Commander-in-Chief Tang and the Liaocheng forward command post!"

"Say: Thanks to Your Excellency's skillful command and the soldiers' valiant efforts, our Third Army broke through the defenses of Jining this afternoon. The Japanese defense line has collapsed. Our army is currently waging fierce street fighting to wipe out the remaining enemy. Jining will be liberated tonight!"

"Yes!"

Luxi, Liaocheng, Frontline Command Headquarters.

The telegram was quickly delivered to the operations room.

"Your Excellency!"

"Great news! Great news!"

Fang Ligong, holding the telegram, walked briskly to the sand table, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy: "Zhou Tiren has sent a telegram. The Third Army has already entered Jining City. The progress is going smoothly, and they are currently carrying out the final mopping-up work in the streets."

"It seems that Principal Ouyang's heavy artillery regiment is indeed incredibly powerful. That Independent Mixed 26th Brigade simply cannot withstand our bombardment."

Fang Ligong pushed up his glasses and pointed to Jining on the 1:50,000 scale military map: "As long as we take Jining, the Fifth Army Group will be able to free up its resources to either move north to threaten Tai'an or cut off the connection between Yanzhou and Linyi to the east. Our game is getting more and more dynamic."

However, to Fang Ligong's surprise,

Chu Yunfei showed not the slightest excitement, nor did he respond to his words.

Within a three-dimensional combat map.

[Unit Name: Japanese 26th Mixed Brigade]

Organizational accuracy: 66%

Current combat troop numbers: 4750 (out of 6300)

[Currently the main light weapons in service: Type 38 rifle, Type 38 carbine]

[Currently the main machine gun models in service: Type 11 light machine gun; Type 92 heavy machine gun.]

[Current main equipment support weapon models: Type 92 infantry gun, Type 41 mountain gun]

[Current primary equipment: Heavy weapons: None]

Current equipment status: Moderate

Current logistical support status: Good

[Current training level of this unit: Well-trained]

The 26th Mixed Brigade still had one-third of its combat strength remaining, and its organization remained at a high level.

This doesn't look like the battle is about to end.

Therefore, the Third Army ended its peripheral operations in a short period of time, most likely due to artillery support and taking advantage of the situation caused by Guo Yanzheng's troops. The contraction of the 26th Mixed Brigade was probably because they were prepared to engage in urban warfare.

"Your Excellency... what brings you here?"

Chu Yunfei snapped out of his daze and said with a grave expression, "Something's not right." (End of Chapter)