Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Luxi, Liaocheng, Frontline Command Headquarters.

Everyone was anxiously awaiting news from Jining.

Suddenly, the door to the operations room was flung open.

Communications staff officer Zhuang Liqun was clutching a telegram in his hand, and he even stumbled a little.

Everyone was startled. The next moment, they saw the uncontrollable joy on Zhuang Liqun's face, as if even his wrinkles were filled with laughter.

"Your Excellency! Your Excellency, everyone!"

"Good news!"

"Major Victory News from Jining!"

"Urgent telegram from Zhou Tiren, Commander of the Third Army!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Ligong didn't even bother to put down his teacup; he strode over and snatched the telegram.

He quickly scanned the text above.

He quickly turned to Chu Yunfei, whose gaze was equally intense, and reported in a loud voice, "Your Excellency, it's all settled!"

"Commander Zhou and his men breached the dikes of the Grand Canal and Weishan Lake this morning, causing floodwaters to pour into the entire city of Jining!"

"The Japanese 26th Independent Mixed Brigade's attempt to stubbornly resist by relying on underground fortifications has completely failed!"

"The main force of the Third Army has now fully taken control of the city and is clearing away the mud and corpses. Jining can now be declared liberated!"

"it is good!"

Chu Yunfei suddenly stood up, and his usually calm and composed face now broke into a hearty smile.

He strode to the map and drew a bright red circle over the characters "Jining" with a red and blue pencil.

"happy!"

Fang Ligong pushed up his glasses, glanced at the calendar on the wall, and said in an incredulous tone, "Your Excellency, please calculate the time."

"From the start of our second phase of the general offensive until now, it's been less than ten days!"

"Less than ten days!"

"This flood not only destroyed the Japanese brigade, but also completely revitalized the situation on our southern front!"

Fang Ligong raised a finger, his voice trembling slightly: "In ten days, we severely damaged two Japanese brigades, annihilated a Japanese mixed brigade, and captured an important town like Jining."

"Such results and such a speed of progress are remarkable victories on a global scale."

"In my opinion, this shows that our strategic direction is correct, our wartime national defense force construction is correct, and our army has been completely transformed!"

Chu Yunfei nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming: "This is also the result of the soldiers' bravery and the unity of the entire army."

"Brother Ligong, draft a telegram immediately!"

Chu Yunfei decisively gave the order, his tone equally joyful: "First, send a telegram back to Zhou Tiren!"

"A commendation is hereby issued for him and all officers and soldiers of the Third Army!"

"Tell him to verify the battle results as soon as possible, confirm the number of enemy killed and the supplies captured, even a pistol. He must remember it clearly. This is the credit our brothers earned with their lives, and not a single bit can be missing!"

"Second, immediately report the good news to the Chongqing Command!"

Chu Yunfei straightened his collar and said proudly, "In the name of the Joint Command, report this great victory to the Chairman and to the whole country!"

"I want the people in the rear to know that the soldiers at the front have not let them down!"

"Yes!"

Inside the operations room, there was a burst of jubilation.

Everyone knew that after the liberation of Jining, a gap appeared in the Japanese army's defense line in central Shandong, and the final battle was about to begin.
-
It was 10 p.m. that night.

Mountain city, command headquarters, operations conference room.

The rain continued to patter outside the window, and the atmosphere inside was extremely heavy.

The British diplomatic protests and the Soviet Union's firm rejections left the high command uneasy.

Everyone is worried about this.

With a piece of good news from North China, the gloom in everyone's hearts was instantly swept away.

Standing before a huge military map, Chief of the General Staff Bai Jiansheng was beaming with pride, wielding his baton with ease across the map of western and southern Shandong.

And behind him.

Chang Ruiyuan, unusually, did not sit upright in his chair, but stood up, leaning on his cane with both hands, his face flushed with an undisguised ruddy glow.

The military and political leaders present, including He Jingzhi and Chen Cixiu, were whispering among themselves, marveling at the sight.

"Chairman, colleagues."

Bai Jiansheng slammed his baton down on the word "Jining," his voice booming with excitement: "The second phase of the counter-offensive in North China has only been underway for less than ten days!"

"Only ten days!"

He raised a finger and looked around: "Under the command of Commander Zhou Tiren, the Fifth Army Group skillfully took advantage of the weather and terrain, using water as a substitute for troops, and not only captured the fortified city of Jining, but also annihilated the main force of the Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade No. 26 in one fell swoop!"

"The significance of this battle lies far beyond the gain or loss of a single city."

Bai Jiansheng's command baton swept eastward, cutting directly into the heart of Shandong: "With the loss of Jining, the Japanese defense system in southwestern Shandong has completely collapsed. The so-called 'central Shandong defense line' that Okamura Yasuji had painstakingly built has now been completely exposed to our army's advance!"

"It can be said that with the liberation of Jining, the Japanese army's plan to hold out in the Taiyi Mountains was effectively dead!"

"Good! Well played!"

Chang Ruiyuan couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration, his cane tapping loudly on the floor: "This Zhou Tiren, he used to always ask us for supplies and complain about his treatment, but I never expected that he would learn to use his brain in battle and show the might of our Chinese soldiers!"

"Chairman, it's not just Zhou Tiren."

Minister of Military Affairs Chen Cixiu pushed up his glasses, looked at the battle report in his hand, and said with a hint of disbelief, "After receiving reinforcements from the artillery units, the Fifth Army Group can not only fight tough battles, but also fight clever battles."

"There was also the Sixth Army on the northern front, which held the northern section of the Jinpu Railway firmly in place, leaving the Kwantung Army's '100,000-strong army' to sigh at the river."

"The Fourth Army Group on the southern front, under the command of Sun Weiru, blocked the Japanese troops from advancing an inch in the direction of Xuzhou."

Chen Cixiu exclaimed, "I never expected that these troops, under Yunfei's command, could unleash such formidable combat power."

The generals nodded.

It used to be said that "ragtag troops" were useless.

It now seems that as long as logistics are adequate and command is proper, even so-called "ragtag" forces can become man-eating tigers.

Amidst the praise, Chang Ruiyuan's expression darkened slightly.

His gaze passed over the blue arrows symbolizing victory and landed on the southern end of the map—the border between northern Anhui and southern Henan.

"Tang Huaiyuan, Qian Bojun, and Sun Weiru played well, which is certainly a good thing."

Chang Ruiyuan's tone shifted abruptly, a hint of coldness in his voice: "However, some units, equipped with the best gear from the central government and receiving the highest pay, have performed a deeply disappointing job!"

The conference room fell silent instantly.

Everyone knew who the Chairman was referring to.

Chang Ruiyuan's cane pointed to the positions representing the 31st and 21st Army Groups.

"Wang Zhonglian's 31st Army Group is still a direct subordinate trained by Brother Enbo!"

"Well-equipped and well-trained."

"The results of it?"

"His performance really didn't satisfy me."

"And the 21st Army Group of the Fifth War Zone!"

Chang Ruiyuan looked at Bai Jiansheng, and although he didn't say it explicitly, the warning in his eyes was self-evident: "The supplies are about to leave, and you're still dawdling in the Dabie Mountains, saying you're 'unprepared'!"

"What does their Fifth Army have?"

"Even though the entire army group doesn't have many heavy weapons, the Class B combat units can still overwhelm the Japanese brigades!"

"They are an army with an honorary title, an iron army that was famous throughout the world during the Northern Expedition, but now they are still fighting against the second-rate Japanese troops, and they can't even produce a decent result!"

Bai Jiansheng's expression stiffened slightly, but he immediately stood at attention and said, "The Chairman's reprimand is correct."

“Commander Li is indeed being a bit too cautious. I will personally call to urge him on.”

"It's not just about urging!"

Chang Ruiyuan suddenly waved his hand, his voice stern: "Issue a strict order to the 31st and 21st Army Groups!"

"The situation in North China is very good right now, and all the armies are advancing triumphantly."

"If they cannot achieve anything in this battle, and cannot quickly defeat the enemy in front of them and recover lost territory."

"After the war, when rewards are distributed, I'd like to see if they'll have the face to accept that medal!"

A cold glint flashed in Chang Ruiyuan's eyes. "If this jeopardizes the entire counter-offensive, military law will show no mercy."

"Yes!"

The generals solemnly accepted the order.

Chang Ruiyuan took a deep breath and looked again at the red dot of "Jinan" surrounded on the map, his eyes becoming fervent and determined.

"We must win this battle, as it is closely related to improving our country's international image."

"Order all departments to speed up the progress!"

Chang Ruiyuan received an urgent telegram from Zhu Peiji, the director of the adjutant's office. The telegram contained a lengthy document from Chu Yunfei, attached to his report on the victory at Jining, concerning the issue of compensation for the fallen soldiers.

"Gentlemen, Yunfei mentioned something else in the telegram."

Chang Ruiyuan gently placed the telegram on the table and glanced at everyone: "He cited the performance of the newly formed 35th Division and the 5th Army Group in this battle as examples to vehemently criticize the drawbacks of the current compensation system."

"In his telegram, he said: 'We were all comrades in the National Revolutionary Army, we shed blood in the same trenches, yet the honors we receive after death are worlds apart simply because of our family background. This is not the way to lead troops in the long run.'"

"Therefore, he formally proposed to the General Headquarters that, effective immediately, the compensation standards for the deaths of all combat troops nationwide be raised to the same level as those for the Class A combat troops in North China."

"As for the original Class A troops, the standards will remain unchanged."

"For officers and soldiers like those of the newly formed 35th Division who played an exemplary role and made great sacrifices in key battles, regardless of their origin, they will all receive double compensation to demonstrate the nation's preferential treatment of loyal and brave soldiers!"

This statement came out.

A low humming sound suddenly filled the conference room.

“Chairman, I’m afraid this is absolutely unacceptable!” “The national treasury is empty, the currency has been severely devalued, and military spending has long been insufficient to cover expenditures.”

"If the compensation policy is adjusted, the government won't be able to come up with that much money even if it sells everything it owns!"

"Yes, Chairman."

Many people nodded in agreement, though they felt emotionally in agreement; in reality, their wallets were the biggest obstacle.

"absurd!"

A sharp shout interrupted the whispers of the crowd; the speaker was none other than Chen Cixiu, the Minister of Military Affairs.

He stood up abruptly, his face flushed, clearly enraged.

"What kind of time is this to be arguing about these long-standing scores?!"

Chen Cixiu pointed at the map on the wall, his voice impassioned: "Like that Zhao Daye, a former puppet army commander, who, to atone for his sins, hugged a satchel charge and perished with a Japanese tank. Was his life worth half as much as the lives of the other fallen soldiers?!"

"If the brothers on the front lines knew that they were shedding blood while their orphans and widows at home were also shedding tears, how could they continue fighting?"

"Can the morale of the troops still be maintained?!"

Chen Cixiu turned to face Chang Ruiyuan, his tone firm and earnest: "Chairman! The Ministry believes that Chief Advisor Chu's proposal should not only be agreed to, but should be agreed to with great fanfare!"

"We must not only approve this telegram, but also have the Ministry of Military Affairs take the lead in formally revising the 'Regulations on Compensation for Army Soldiers Killed in Action'!"

"We must enshrine 'equal rights and equal fate' into law to stabilize morale and to tell all the miscellaneous troops that as long as they fight against Japan, the country will never treat them unfairly!"

As for money

Chen Cixiu gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "No money? Then you can owe me for now!"

"Issue IOUs! Issue bonds!"

“We can urge the pension agencies in each province to implement this, and even think of other ways to raise funds.”

Even if we can't get the money right now, we still need to establish this status and remember this debt!

"We want the families of fallen soldiers to hold a nationally recognized government bond in their hands, not just a piece of worthless paper!"

"Only in this way can we have a chance to make amends later, and only then can the country have any credibility!"

Chen Cixiu's words were powerful and thought-provoking.

Even some of the military and political officials who had just opposed the movement now lowered their heads in shame.

Chang Ruiyuan was deeply moved.

He looked at Chen Cixiu, then at the telegram: "Good! Cixiu is right!"

Chang Ruiyuan said solemnly, “No matter how poor we are, we cannot let the martyrs suffer; no matter how hard life is, we cannot let the orphans suffer.”

"Pass down the order to immediately begin revising the pension regulations and fully adopt Chu Yunfei's suggestions."

"This money, even if it's a debt incurred by our generation, we must acknowledge it, even if it has to be paid off to the next generation!"
-
The third day after the end of the Battle of Jining.

The smoke of battle on the front lines has not yet cleared, but the public opinion field at the rear is facing an unprecedented storm.

With the news of the liberation of Jining, urgent extra editions from major newspapers flew to every corner of the rear area like snowflakes, and also into the hopeful hands of the people in the occupied areas.

The front page of the North China Daily featured a striking black-and-white photograph taken by a war correspondent who risked his life to venture deep into the city.

The background of the photo is a low-lying street in Jining City. After three days of settling, the muddy floodwaters have gradually receded, leaving behind a mess of silt and debris.

In the mud, Japanese soldiers' corpses lay scattered haphazardly.

Some of them still maintained their ferocious postures as they climbed out of the sewer opening, while others lay half-buried in the mud like dead fish, still clutching their Type 38 rifles stained with sin, their swollen faces filled with the terror and despair of dying.

In the very center of the image, a young Nationalist soldier is standing in the mud.

With his back to the camera, he held a military flag high.

It was as if the sunlight at that moment had just pierced through the clouds, shining on the flags and the soldiers' helmets, creating an extremely strong visual contrast with the surrounding gruesome Japanese corpses.

The accompanying title carries immense weight.

"What goes around comes around! The 'flooding of the seven armies' has occurred again beneath the walls of Jining; the invaders will surely sink in the ocean of people's war!"

The article is written in an extremely sharp and passionate style: "In the past, Guan Yu flooded seven armies, and his might shook the land of China."

Today, General Zhou Tiren's brilliant plan brings peace to the land, drawing water from the Wen River and Weishan Lake to cleanse the filth of the Japanese invaders!

"According to eyewitness accounts from frontline reporters, the once invincible Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade No. 26, a beastly army that had committed heinous crimes on the North China Plain, was utterly reduced to a sitting duck in the face of our army's thunderous offensive and overwhelming power."

"The underground fortifications they were so proud of became their graves; the bunkers they relied on for resistance became coffins filled with mud and water."

"Those swollen, stiff corpses silently proclaim a truth—those who offend China, though possessing strong armor and sharp weapons, will ultimately perish under the wrath of this land!"

"This victory was not only due to superior military strength, but also to a victory of wisdom and strategy, and even more so, a victory of the people's hearts!"

The moment this report was published, the whole country was in an uproar.

In teahouses and taverns, people talked enthusiastically about Commander Zhou Tiren's "brilliant strategies," praising him as a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang. The story of "flooding the seven armies" was passed down orally among the people, greatly boosting their confidence in the inevitable victory of the War of Resistance.

In the Japanese-occupied areas, this newspaper was secretly passed on by underground workers.

Countless traitors and puppet troops, witnessing the horrific sight of the Japanese soldiers' corpses, felt a chill run down their spines and were unable to sleep at night.
In southwestern Shandong, not far from Jining.

On the outskirts of Pei County, at the Woniugang position.

The main force of the Japanese 65th Division had already retreated, leaving the newly formed 35th Division with scorched earth that had been plowed countless times by artillery fire and corpses scattered all over the mountains and fields.

Division Commander Kong Congzhou sat in a trench that had been bombed by Japanese artillery fire, holding a cigarette that was only half lit, which he did not light for a long time.

His military uniform was tattered, and his face was covered in blood and dirt, making him unrecognizable.

Beside him, the surviving soldiers were silently cleaning up the battlefield.

The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, even uneasy.

They suffered heavy casualties in this battle, with more than half of their troops killed or wounded.

Although they held their ground and forced the Japanese to retreat, they were still uncertain about their chances.

After all, they were once "puppet troops" and "traitors".

In the eyes of many regular troops, they were just "cannon fodder" used to fill in the gaps and consume enemy ammunition.

With so many people dead, what will the higher-ups think?
They would say they were "ineffective in combat," that they had worked hard but had no merit.
As usual, they gave some compensation and then removed the unit designation, reorganizing the officers and soldiers into other units.
No one was sure of what was going on, and Kong Congzhou was no exception.

After all, he knew that he was neither from the Jin Army nor a direct descendant of the Central Army.

He was once a favorite of General Yang Huchen, but his relationship with the people of Chongqing was not good.

"Master's seat."

The chief of staff walked over with red eyes and said in a low voice, "Zhao Daye's battalion, apart from those who were wounded and went down earlier, was completely wiped out today."

Kong Congzhou's hand trembled slightly, the cigarette fell to the ground, he sighed, and then asked, "Has the body been found?"

"It's gone. It must have been blown to pieces."

"Commander! Commander!"

A communications officer, holding a telegram aloft, stumbled onto the position. Overwhelmed with excitement, he tripped and fell in a shell crater, but immediately scrambled to his feet, shouting as he ran:

"coming!"

"Your Excellency's telegram has arrived!"

"Your Excellency?" Kong Congzhou turned around abruptly, his heart pounding.

The soldiers who were cleaning up the battlefield stopped what they were doing and all looked expectantly at the thin piece of paper.

The communications officer rushed to Kong Congzhou, panting heavily, his hands trembling as he unfolded the telegram. His voice was so loud it was almost cracking: "Urgent telegram from the Frontline Command! Written by Chief Advisor Chu!"

"Read!"

Kong Congzhou roared.

The communications officer straightened his back and read aloud:

"In the Battle of Pei County, the newly formed 35th Division faced an enemy several times its size, but showed no fear and fought a bloody battle!"

They forged an iron defense line with their flesh and blood, decisively defeating the Japanese 65th Division and ensuring the safety of our flanks—a truly remarkable achievement!

Upon hearing the words "made great contributions," many soldiers' eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Although the officers and soldiers of this division have made many mistakes in the past, they have become courageous after knowing their shame and are willing to die for their country! Their will is commendable, their feelings are pitiable, and their actions are respectable!"

The staff officer's voice echoed across the battlefield, each word like a heavy hammer blow, shattering the shackles of "inferiority complex" in the hearts of these soldiers.

"After discussion by the General Headquarters and approval by the Chairman."

"Effective immediately, the newly formed 35th Division is hereby awarded the honorary title of 'Iron-Blooded National Defense Division'!"

"A commendation has been issued throughout the entire army!"

"Major Zhao Dayan, who bravely sacrificed his life in battle, was posthumously promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Army, awarded the Fifth Class Precious Tripod Medal, and enshrined in the Martyrs' Shrine for eternal worship."

His family members will receive double the compensation according to the standards for the principal officer!
All other fallen soldiers will receive compensation according to the unified standard.

By the end, the staff officer's voice was trembling with emotion: "Heroes come from all walks of life; as long as their guns are pointed outwards, they are all fine sons of China!"

Immediately afterwards, a long-suppressed cry erupted from the crowd.

"Your Majesty has acknowledged us!"

"We are the Iron-Blooded National Guardians!"

"Waaaaah, Mother, your son is now a proud and honorable Chinese soldier!"

Crying is the release of grievances, the return of dignity, and the moving sentiment of a scholar dying for a friend.

Kong Congzhou received the telegram with trembling hands, holding it to his chest as if it were a rare treasure.

He whirled around, holding the telegram high, facing the empty battlefield, and roared with tears streaming down his face, "Big-Eyed Brother!"

"Did you hear that?!"

"Your Excellency has vindicated us!"

"You're an army lieutenant colonel, you're going to be enshrined in the Martyrs' Shrine!"

"Our brothers did not die in vain!"

"Our blood wasn't shed in vain!!!" (End of Chapter)