Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Luxi, Liaocheng, Frontline Command Headquarters.

Even after Jining was liberated, the great battle continued.

The command center was becoming increasingly busy.

Chief of Staff Fang Ligong, holding a thick stack of telegrams, strode to Chu Yunfei's desk.

Chu Yunfei looked slightly helpless, rubbing his throbbing temples, and complained, "My dear brother Ligong, how come this official business is never finished?"

"Your Excellency."

Fang Ligong placed a summary report on the table, his tone heavy: "I just received news that the South China Joint Command has submitted a counter-offensive operation plan, which has now been approved by the Chairman."

"Currently, logistics units and related departments across the country are operating beyond their capacity."

"Although we mobilized the masses and used the Yellow River waterway to solve the immediate problem, if the war in South China becomes a protracted war, it will probably seriously squeeze the share of subsequent US aid allocated to us, especially fuel and heavy artillery shells."

"After all, the United States also has limited transportation capacity."

Chu Yunfei put down the red and blue pencils in his hand, picked up his teacup and took a sip, his expression still calm and composed: "Brother Ligong, there's no need to worry."

He took Fang Ligong's telegram and glanced at the general deployment plan, briefly assessing the situation of both sides.

"If we launch an attack, it will actually relieve the pressure on us."

"The fiercer the fighting in South China, the less Hata Shunroku dared to transfer troops from Central China to the north."

"Moreover, South China has a large network of waterways, and with the addition of inland waterway combat boats provided by the Americans, it is generally much more convenient."

"Moreover, Jining has now been liberated, and the battle to capture Yanzhou has reached its final stage. The Japanese army's defense line in central Shandong has basically collapsed. What we need to do next is to carry out a mopping-up operation in southern Shandong, which will only deal with some demoralized Japanese and puppet troops."

Chu Yunfei was fully confident of victory in the battle and had already joined forces with the Eighth Route Army to begin work on disintegrating the puppet troops.

With the precedent of the newly formed 35th Division, the puppet troops would naturally be more inclined to surrender.

Once the Japanese front lines could not be maintained, the key towns huddled within the transportation lines were actually of little practical significance.

Fang Ligong suggested, "Should we ask the logistics department to be more careful with their spending and use the best resources where they are most needed? As for South China, as long as they can recapture the three towns of Wuchang, I believe it would be worth it to tighten our belts and send them 20,000 artillery shells!"

Chu Yunfei nodded in agreement: "Brother Ligong is right. Under these circumstances, it is unlikely that the Japanese army in Central China will act rashly."

"By the way, could you please approve the industrial development document that Wei Mou sent me?"

Seeing that Fang Ligong was still hesitant and looked reluctant, Chu Yunfei said helplessly, "You're not my chief of staff anymore."

Fang Ligong laughed heartily: "Sir, we'll feel more at ease if you take the helm."

"Well done, buddy Li Gong!"

Chu Yunfei looked helpless. Fang Ligong then pulled out a top-secret telegram stamped with the seal of the "Annam Army Headquarters" from the bottom of the folder. His expression became somewhat subtle: "Sir, there is one more thing."

"It's about the expeditionary force."

Fang Ligong reported: "Commander Du sent an urgent telegram. It is in accordance with the supplementary clauses of the Pacific Joint Operations Agreement that we previously reached with the United States and Australia."

"In view of the Japanese army's stubborn resistance in the Southwest Pacific, the Allied High Command formally requested our Expeditionary Force to send an elite division-level combat unit to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands immediately to cooperate with the US-Australian coalition forces."

New Guinea?

Chu Yunfei raised an eyebrow.

The image of that deadly island—a place of extreme heat and humidity, filled with tropical rainforests and malaria—instantly flashed into my mind.

In the original historical timeline.

It was a place of sorrow for the Japanese army, but also a purgatory for the Allied forces.

Both sides suffered a great many non-combat casualties, and the Japanese losses were mostly due to hunger and disease, rather than combat.

In addition, New Guinea is a key node in Rabaul's outer defense line.

No matter how crucial it is, the efficiency of the Japanese Pacific supply line has decreased by at least 30% due to the harassment of the US-Australian air force from Qiongzhou Island.

Logically speaking, the Japanese army shouldn't have been able to hold out for long.

Why would it be necessary to deploy an expeditionary force?
Could it be that the US military doesn't intend to besiege the island, but instead plans to wipe out the island's garrison with swift and decisive action?

If that's the case, it's no wonder they're trying to draw troops from elsewhere.

Chu Yunfei pondered, "No wonder the Americans have been so generous with supplies these past two months. They want our soldiers to share the burden of jungle warfare with them."

"Exactly."

Fang Ligong nodded and said, "Commander Du proposed in the telegram that the Zheng Tingji Division, formerly the First Honorary Division and now the main force division of the First Army of Dingnan, be dispatched to undertake this expedition."

"Zheng Tingji's troops performed exceptionally well in the previous victory at Kunlun Pass and the expeditionary operation. They are skilled in assault and jungle warfare, and are fully equipped with American weapons. They are ready to fight as soon as they are deployed."

At this point, Fang Ligong paused, then lowered his voice and said, "However, this is, after all, an overseas expedition, and to such a far place."

"Commander Wei is still the same old guy, a pushover who never offends anyone..."

Chu Yunfei tapped the table lightly, his mind perfectly clear.

Although the Dingnan Army was nominally under the command of the Expeditionary Force, it was still customary to consult their old superior.

This is a sign of respect, but also a test.

If Chu Yunfei gets too involved, he will inevitably be suspected of being a dictator.

If he ignored it, he feared something might go wrong ahead.

“Brother Ligong, send a telegram back to Yangon (after the liberation of Qiongzhou Island, the command headquarters moved from Kunming to Yangon).”

Chu Yunfei said solemnly, "Please pass this message on to Commander Wei."

"Since it is an expeditionary force's combat mission, it should naturally be decided by Commander-in-Chief Wei."

"Commander Wei is a seasoned veteran with a long-standing reputation. He understands his troops far better than I do."

"Whether it's sending Zheng Tingji's division or other troops, I firmly support Commander Wei's decision!"

"in addition."

Chu Yunfei changed the subject and added, "Please tell Commander Wei that the environment in New Guinea is harsh and rife with miasma."

"Once the deployment force is determined, please make sure the Allied forces prepare plenty of antimalarial drugs and mosquito repellent equipment."

Fang Ligong put away the folder: "This subordinate will reply immediately."

"Go."

Chu Yunfei turned around, looked at the map again, his gaze passing over the South China Sea and landing on the distant ocean.

Zheng Tingji

He muttered to himself, "This is a formidable general; he'll give the Japanese a run for their money."

At this very moment, on the other side of the battlefield.

Inside Yanzhou City.

This vital town, which guards the vital passage of the Jinpu Railway, has now been transformed into a massive inferno.

The city walls had already collapsed under the bombardment of heavy artillery, and the main force of Sun Xinpu's troops surged in through the breach like a flood.

Just as Chu Yunfei had predicted, the remnants of the Japanese 32nd Division, having lost their outer defenses, did not choose to surrender. Instead, they launched a fierce street battle, relying on the streets, houses, and railway facilities in Yanzhou.

By this point, the 32nd Division had held out for a full seven days under the attack of Sun Xinpu's troops.

On the battlefield.

"Boom--!"

A dull thud shattered the glass on the street corner.

An M4A3 Sherman tank, painted with the emblem of the Republic of China, brutally smashed through half a brick wall. Its tracks churned up broken bricks and stones, crushed over the still-burning corpses of Japanese soldiers, and charged onto the main road with an unstoppable aura of steel.

Side of the turret.

The vehicle bearing the prominent number "201" is the command vehicle of the 2nd Battalion of the Armored Brigade.

Acting battalion commander Chang Weiguo was pressed against the observation periscope of the command tower.

"Notice!"

"An anti-tank gun firing position spotted on the second floor of a Shikumen building at the 11 o'clock position!"

Chang Weiguo's voice came through the throat communicator, short and forceful, without any unnecessary words: "Short stop firing! One high-explosive round, fire!" "Boom!"

The 75mm tank gun recoiled violently, and a burst of orange-red flames erupted from the muzzle.

A hundred meters away, the second-floor window where the gun barrel had just been extended exploded instantly, and bricks mixed with the fragments of Japanese snipers sprayed onto the street like a fountain.

"go ahead!"

"Infantry, follow up and clear both flanks!"

Despite it being his first match, Chang Weiguo demonstrated exceptional tactical acumen.

He did not rush forward blindly, but strictly implemented the tactical doctrine of "infantry-tank coordination".

Tanks are responsible for destroying firing positions and hardened fortifications, while infantry are responsible for covering the tanks' flanks and clearing blind spots.

"Onboard—!!!"

Suddenly, from a narrow alley to the side, seven or eight Japanese suicide squad members, covered in grenades and with white cloths wrapped around their heads, emerged.

They avoided the frontal artillery's firing range and charged towards the side armor of tank "201" with a roar.

"court death."

Chang Weiguo didn't even blink. He yanked the trigger of the coaxial machine gun with his right hand and shouted into the radio, "Attention all vehicles, free hunting! Don't let the rats get close to the tanks!"

"Da da da da da-"

The tank's coaxial machine gun and roof-mounted anti-aircraft machine gun simultaneously spewed fire.

At the same time, the Thompson submachine guns of the accompanying infantrymen also fired in unison.

A dense hail of bullets crisscrossed the streets, creating a deadly web.

Before the Japanese soldiers could even run ten meters, they were cut in half by heavy machine gun bullets. The grenades hanging on their bodies were detonated by the bullets, exploding into clouds of crimson blood mist on the street.

The tracks turned, emitting a tooth-grinding metallic scraping sound, as the Sherman tank mercilessly crushed the still-twitching limbs, continuing its advance towards Yanzhou Railway Station, the last stronghold of the Japanese army.

……

Yanzhou Railway Station, the command post of the remnants of the Japanese 32nd Division.

Division Commander Lieutenant General Yoshiho Ishii listened to the increasingly close roar of the tracks and looked at the group of staff officers around him, covered in dust and bandages with injuries, his eyes filled with despair.

"Will the reinforcements ultimately be unable to break through the defenses?"

"Your Excellency, the Chinese armored forces have once again joined the attack, and their offensive is extremely sharp."

"Our direct-fire artillery poses no threat to it."

A lieutenant colonel stumbled in: "Division Commander, the outer defenses of the train station have been breached. Please retreat immediately."

...

At 6 p.m. that day.

"Your Excellency! A great victory!"

Fang Ligong practically sprinted to the map, the telegram in his hand crumpled in his fist.

"We just received an urgent telegram from Commander Sun Xinpu!"

"At 4 PM today, the main force of our 88th Group Army completely captured the entire city of Yanzhou!"

"The Japanese 32nd Division, except for its headquarters which is unknown, was basically annihilated..."

"It is particularly worth mentioning."

Fang Ligong pointed to the location of Yanzhou on the map, his tone filled with amazement: "The Second Battalion of the Armored Brigade, which is the unit commanded by Battalion Commander Chang Weiguo, served as the vanguard and not only broke into the city first, but also led the troops to destroy the last stronghold of the Japanese army."

"According to Brigade Commander Yin's report, this was Major Chang Weiguo's first time commanding an independent combat operation, and he performed exceptionally well."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yunfei put down his teacup, walked to the map, and watched as the red dot representing Yanzhou turned blue, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

"Good, it seems that those years of studying abroad in Germany were worthwhile."

Chu Yunfei commented, "It's quite impressive that they were able to maintain a clear head and conduct well-organized infantry-tank coordination in this complex urban warfare environment."

"With one gram of Yanzhou, the southern gate of Jinan is completely opened, and the middle section of Jinpu Road is completely connected."

"Now, those tens of thousands of remnants of the Tuqiao army are completely trapped."

Chu Yunfei looked at the battle report in his hand, raised an eyebrow slightly, then relaxed, and a cold smile appeared on his lips: "They can run away, but they can't hide. The main force of the 32nd Division has been annihilated in and around Yanzhou City. The few remaining survivors can't cause any trouble on the Luxi Plain."

Fang Ligong added from the side: "What you are saying is true. According to the prisoners of war, before the city fell, Japanese division commander Ishii Yoshiho ordered the burning of the military flag and codebook. Afterwards, he and his staff changed into ordinary soldiers' clothes and tried to break through to the Taishan mountain area by mingling with the fleeing soldiers. However, even if they escaped into the mountains, without a commander, they would be no different from bandits."

"There's no need to waste energy on a few remnants of a defeated army."

Chu Yunfei waved his hand, shifting his attention back to the strategic level: "The key to this battle is that we have completely taken over Yanzhou, opened up the middle section of the Jinpu Railway, and turned Jinan into an isolated island."

At this point, Chu Yunfei turned around, his gaze falling on Fang Ligong, and his tone became serious:

"Brother Ligong, draft a telegram!"

"Sent to the Attendant's Office in the mountain city, for the Chairman's personal perusal."

Chu Yunfei was well-versed in the ways of officialdom; at this time, how to write a battle report was more of an art than how to fight the battle.

"First, let me report the details of the great victory at Yanzhou. After a bloody battle, our 88th Army Group has today annihilated the main force of the Japanese 32nd Division and liberated Yanzhou, a key town in southern Shandong."

"Secondly, we must emphasize the role of Major Chang Weiguo, acting battalion commander of the 2nd Armored Battalion."

Chu Yunfei carefully considered his words, avoiding exaggeration to prevent giving others a handle against him, while also striking just the right spot to tickle Chang Ruiyuan's sore spot:
"Although this was Wei-guo's first time commanding a real battle independently, he showed composure and took the lead."

He led the 2nd Armored Battalion as the vanguard, skillfully employing combined arms tactics in complex urban warfare to swiftly capture key strongholds such as the railway station, laying the foundation for the subsequent main force to divide and annihilate the enemy.

"Wei-Guo fought bravely and was like a tiger general. He is a model for young officers in the National Army."

Fang Ligong's pen flew across the paper, and he secretly admired him.

Instead of directly stating easily verifiable specific achievements like "destroying the command post," the text emphasizes "vanguard" and "core strongholds," highlighting these as concrete, hard-won accomplishments. This approach not only showcases Young Master Chang's abilities but also makes the story seem authentic and credible.

"Furthermore, please rest assured, Chairman."

Chu Yunfei walked to the map and pointed his baton heavily at the location of Jinan:

"Currently, Guo's 14th Army Group has ended its rest and reorganization ahead of schedule and headed north to provide reinforcements. The Japanese reinforcements on the northern front will inevitably be unable to break through our defenses."

"The enemy in Jinan has no reinforcements to come; they are already trapped like turtles in a jar!"

"I have decided that the entire army will march north immediately without rest!"

"Within three days, we will complete the encirclement of Jinan. This time, I will make sure Tuqiao has no chance to escape!"

"Yes!"

Fang Ligong closed his notebook, turned around, and strode away.

Communications staff officer Zhuang Liqun quickly stepped forward to report: "Report! Urgent telegram from the Fifth War Zone."

"Ok?"

"Commander Li Pinxian telegraphed that his units have launched a swift attack as planned and are currently engaged in fierce fighting with the Japanese army in northern Anhui."

The combat troops of the Fifth Theater Command have been mobilized.

Two hundred thousand troops could tie down at least fifty thousand Japanese troops.

This means that the Japanese and puppet troops deployed in northern and central Jiangsu will be unable to send reinforcements northward again.

To the north, in order to relieve the pressure on Qian Bojun's troops.

The 14th Group Army ended its eight-month training ahead of schedule and headed north to provide reinforcements.

This situation made Chu Yunfei feel that the upcoming battles would be much easier.

"Jingzhong, go and relay my military orders!"

"Without rest, let's press on and pursue our victory!"

"The army marches north and will join forces beneath the walls of Jinan!"

"We must make it clear to the 12th Army that the end has come!" (End of Chapter)