Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Lunan, Zaozhuang, Yixian.

The force responsible for attacking this place was the 17th Division of Li Zhenxi's 38th Army, under the command of Shen Jizhi.

The forward command post of the unit was located in a shed that had been bombed and was now only half intact.

Not far away, they were attacking the most important strategic asset in the Zaozhuang area, namely the renowned Zhongxing Coal Mine.

As the first mechanized coal mine in modern China entirely operated by national capital.

Chung Hsing Coal Mine was once a benchmark for saving the country through industry, and even the president and prime minister of the Republic of China were proud to hold Chung Hsing shares.

Its high-quality coking coal is the heart of the Jinpu Railway's power supply.

however.

For six years since the fall of Xuzhou, this monument to national industry has become a "blood transfusion bag" for the Japanese army.

Millions of tons of high-quality coal were plundered and transported to the Yawata Steel Works in Japan, where they were turned into guns and bayonets to slaughter Chinese soldiers and civilians.

Recapture of Zaozhuang was not only a strategic blow to cut off the Jinpu Railway, but also a way to sever the Japanese army's claws that allowed them to sustain their war effort, and to wash away the shame of the national industry being tarnished!

Before the battle begins.

The air was still thick with the pungent smell of coal dust, and even as war approached, the miners remained under strict information control.

Although they could hear the sounds of gunfire in the distance, they had no choice but to continue working under the threat of Japanese bayonets and machine guns.

tonight.

The air was filled with the smell of coal ash mixed with the stench of blood.

Division Commander Shen Jizhi stood in front of the table, the telephone receiver in his hand cracking as he gripped it tightly.

His face was covered in soot, only his eyes shone frighteningly brightly in the dim kerosene lamp: "The commander has given a death order: the Zhongxing Coal Mine must be taken down before dawn to rescue these thousands of workers."

Shen Jizhi yelled at Zhang Yong, the commander of the 51st Regiment, on the other end of the phone: "Zhang Heizi, I'm asking you, what kind of bullshit fighting method is that?"

"The Japanese army relied on the mine buildings and coal washing plants, which are hard bones made of reinforced concrete. How can you use human lives to fill the gaps?"

"Did Chief Consultant Chu allocate these rocket launchers to you so you could use them as crutches?"

"What do you mean by 'not enough quantity'? You're planning to use it when it's crucial? Damn it, the war's turned out like this, when is it supposed to be a crucial moment?"

"Where are your flamethrower soldiers? Burn them!"

"Roast all those Japanese devils hiding behind coal piles and in bunkers!"

"Three hours, I can only give you three more hours!"

"If you can't take over the main mining area, I'll submit a report to have you dismissed!"

"Snapped!"

hang up the phone.

Shen Jizhi subconsciously glanced at the submachine gun beside him.

During the recent battles in Feng and Pei, his colleague Kong Congzhou personally went to the front line to supervise the battle. Because of his loyalty, courage and selflessness, he led his troops to be awarded the honorary title of "Iron-Blooded National Guardian".

He also wanted to follow suit.

However, before Shen Jizhi could make a move, the chief of staff hurriedly snatched the submachine gun from him: "Commander, calm down."

Zaozhuang Zhongxing Coal Mine, the front line of the main building defense, this place can be described as purgatory.

The beams of searchlight swept wildly through the darkness, and the Japanese army, relying on the sturdy industrial buildings, constructed an impenetrable crossfire network.

Battalion Commander Zhang Yong, shirtless with two bullet pouches wrapped around his chest and carrying his signature large blade, squatted behind a huge pile of abandoned coal gangue, panting heavily.

His face was covered in coal dust and blood, and he looked as if he had rolled in a coal pile.

The battle was extremely difficult.

The Japanese army was not only holding their ground, but also rushing to transport coal from the mine.

Even with the railway disrupted, they still wanted to rely on maritime transport to continue plundering resources.

It was as if the vastness of the Qilu region would become their natural barrier.

No one knew where the Japanese army got such confidence, but Zhang Yong's attack was somewhat hesitant, as he was always worried that Japanese reinforcements would arrive.

The battalion commander, covered in dust and dirt, crawled over and said, "Regimental commander, the Japanese firepower is too strong!"

"There are two heavy machine guns on the roof of the coal washing plant, a high and low combination. Our mortars can't take them down. If the assault team rushes in, they'll just be throwing their lives away."

"Use smoke grenades for cover, then charge again."

"The division commander has given a death order: we must take over the coal mine!"

Zhang Yong spat fiercely, then turned to look at the row of soldiers huddled behind the coal pile: "Rocket launcher team, come here!"

Two soldiers carrying Type 31 rocket launchers crouched down and ran over.

"Do you see that second-floor window of the coal washing plant where flames are shooting out?"

Zhang Yong pointed to the dark building two hundred meters ahead: "Bomb it! Don't worry about the ammunition!"

"Machine gun company, provide covering fire! Fire all your bullets to suppress the Japanese fire and cover the rocket launchers!"

"Yes!"

At Zhang Yong's command, several light and heavy machine guns opened fire simultaneously, and a dense barrage of tracer rounds lashed out at the coal washing plant, sending bricks and stones flying.

The mortar company also followed tactical instructions, using smoke grenades to obscure the battlefield and reduce the Japanese army's visibility and threat.

Taking advantage of a brief lull in the Japanese firepower, the two rocket launcher operators swiftly leaped out of their bunkers, knelt on one knee, and steadily locked onto the window that was spewing deadly flames with the iron pipes on their shoulders.

"Fuck your mother!"

"Boom! Boom!"

Two plumes of white smoke were particularly glaring in the darkness, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, as the rocket accurately penetrated the second floor of the coal washing plant.

"Boom——!!!"

The deafening explosion echoed through the enclosed factory, and flames mixed with shattered bricks and the corpses of Japanese soldiers burst violently from the windows.

The Type 92 heavy machine gun, which had been roaring all night, suddenly fell silent.

"Great! I got it!"

But that was far from enough; the remaining Japanese troops were still putting up a stubborn resistance in the ground bunkers.

Even from the high ground, countless threats remain hidden. No one knows where these Japanese devils have put themselves, and every step forward requires a bloody price.

"One platoon, charge!"

The battalion commander pointed his sword forward, and two flamethrower soldiers carrying heavy oil tanks, under the desperate cover of their comrades, used the coal piles as stepping stones to quickly approach the main bunker set up by the Japanese army at the entrance of the mine.

The remaining soldiers performed their duties, advancing rapidly in combat teams, while the few marksmen also played their part, eliminating all threats.

"Da da da~!"

"Boom boom boom~!~"

"Soldier seriously wounded, medic needed!"

On the battlefield, all sorts of noises clashed, and no one knew whether they would be killed in the next second, or what would happen next.

"call--!!!"

It was less than 15 meters in front of a Japanese bunker.

Two ferocious fire dragons poured into the bunker through the firing ports.

In that instant, the piercing screams even drowned out the sounds of gunfire.

The screams were clearly the result of despair as the victim was instantly engulfed by the scorching fuel.

Before the eyes of many soldiers from both sides, several "fire men" covered in flames screamed as they rolled out of the fortifications.

They writhed and struggled in agony on the coal pile, and soon turned into charcoal.

Such combat casualties had little impact on the defending side's troop strength, but had a huge impact on morale. The Japanese army's painstakingly constructed mining area defense line was thus breached.

"Bugler, blow the damn charge!"

"Tick-tock—tick-tock—!!!"

At that moment, the resounding bugle call rang out.

"Brothers! Charge with me!"

Zhang Yong roared and was the first to leap out from behind the coal pile, his large blade gleaming coldly.

Behind him, hundreds of men from Northwest China roared in anger.

They surged into the black mining area like a flood bursting its banks.

An even fiercer battle erupted in a short moment.

Some Japanese troops relied on strong fortifications to put up a stubborn resistance, while those in the trenches were forced into close combat and bayonet fighting.

These well-trained Japanese soldiers appeared utterly helpless in the face of the bloodthirsty soldiers.

In the narrow mine tunnels and factory buildings, broadswords clashed with bayonets, and blood stained the black coal red.
"kill!!!"

"Prepare for firepower!"

"Kill the Japanese devils!"

Even as their comrades fell one after another, not a single one of them stopped charging forward. All the soldiers continued to charge forward with unwavering determination.

Illumination flares were launched one after another, and the division's heavy mortars were also firing at the Japanese rear positions, intending to affect Japanese support.

The battle lasted for more than an hour.

The sky gradually brightened.

As the first rays of dawn illuminated this weathered mining area, the gunfire gradually subsided.

Shen Jizhi strode over the crunching coal slag and walked to the office building of Zhongxing Coal Mine.

At the top of the building, the blue sky with a white sun flag, stained with coal dust and blood, fluttered in the morning breeze.

Zhang Yong, carrying a large, blunt sword, stood at the door with a silly grin on his face: "Commander, this...Commander, we're not cowards, are we?"

Shen Jizhi returned the salute, looked at the tired but excited soldiers around him, and let out a long breath: "Damn it, as long as they're still alive."

"What is the situation regarding casualties among the brothers?"

Zhang Yong grinned, revealing his big teeth, and said, "We lost about four hundred men and more than three hundred, but we took down two companies of Japanese soldiers. It was worth it!"

The surviving soldiers around them also let out relaxed laughter.

With 700 casualties and over 300 Japanese soldiers killed, Shen Jizhi was heartbroken, but had no better solution.

Without heavy artillery support, the cost of an assault would be unimaginable.

If the Japanese army's combat skills had not declined significantly compared to before, the price they paid might have been even higher.

"Your regiment shall rest in place. I received news before I came that reinforcements from the rear have arrived in Dang County and are expected to reach the front line within three days. Until then, your regiment has no offensive missions."

"If we rest, who will fight the battles to come?"

"The 49th Regiment will take over your subsequent offensive work."

Upon hearing that the 49th Regiment was to take over their offensive mission, Zhang Yong immediately became unhappy.

He rushed down the building to Shen Jizhi and protested, "Commander, you're being too biased towards the 49th Regiment! They were the vanguard in the previous battles, and they always get all the good stuff. Our regiment's combat effectiveness is no worse than theirs. The subsequent offensive operations should be left to us..."

"Stop showing off, how many men are left in your regiment? Eight hundred, or six hundred?"

Shen Jizhi retorted without any politeness: "Do you think I'm going to deny your contributions?"

Zhang Yong remained silent; this was naturally impossible.

However, their regiment had little to do with the subsequent battle achievements.

Shen Jizhi was furious: Attacking Zhongxing Coal Mine was a task personally assigned by Commander Chu. You look like a coward looking for trouble.
"You coward, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Commander, uh..."

"What? I'm just trying to protect you. If we really wipe you out, how will I explain it to the commander? How will I explain it to Commander Chu?"

"I can tell you're just like that."

Zhang Yong was completely stunned by the scolding.

He barely heard what the division commander was saying; he only remembered that he vaguely remembered staying at Zhongxing Coal Mine and obediently leading the team to rest and resupply.
-
That evening, in Luxi, at Ershilipu, the front-line command headquarters.

"Your Excellency, an urgent telegram from Tai'an!"

Fang Ligong strode to the sand table, his baton slamming heavily on the Dawen River line south of Tai'an, his face ashen: "The Fifth Army Group's offensive has been stalled!"

"The Japanese army constructed many tank positions. They buried the tanks deep in the ground and used them as direct-fire artillery. These tanks were thick-skinned and tough, making them difficult to fire upon."

"Although Zhou Tiren's Third Army had heavy artillery support, it was limited by the terrain, which prevented the heavy artillery from being deployed. The infantry was pinned down on the riverbank by the direct fire of the Japanese tanks, resulting in a surge in casualties. They launched several attacks, suffering considerable losses, but with little effect."

Chu Yunfei raised an eyebrow: "Taian is the southern gateway to Jinan. If we don't remove this thorn, we can't close the gate to Jinan. The Japanese army's escape to the east is also a way out. Pengcheng area is still in their hands. If they abandon northern Shandong and instead try to join forces with the Japanese army in southern China, this battle will be dragged on even further."

This was a situation Chu Yunfei did not want to see; he desperately wanted to fight a decisive battle with the Japanese army in the area surrounding Quancheng.

This is also the time for both sides to increase their stakes.

Chu Yunfei asked knowingly, "Which card in your hand is closest to the end?"

Fang Ligong blurted out: "The 28th Group Army, which serves as the reserve force, is the 92nd Army under its command!"

PS: At this point, episode 28 only had the 92nd Army, and the same was true for episode 15, which only had one army.

"They are in Feicheng, less than 40 kilometers from the front line in Tai'an."

"The 92nd Army".

"Back then in southern Shandong, Commander-in-Chief Li was chased all over the mountains by the Japanese army like ducks. That was a disgrace to the 92nd Army and a thorn in his heart."

This is also why Chu Yunfei deployed them in this direction.

"Your Excellency, let them go! A desperate army is bound to win!"

Chu Yunfei nodded: "Draft telegram: To Commander-in-Chief Li: The battle at the front is at a stalemate, and the Japanese tanks are rampaging."

"The shame of southern Shandong in the past shall be avenged today!"

"Your unit is hereby ordered to immediately advance at full speed to the flank of Tai'an and take over the main attack mission from the fifth phase."

"I hope that my brothers will be spurred on by shame and strive to recapture Tai'an within five days."

"Yes." Li Jingzhong turned and left.

The staff officers quickly compiled the telegrams and replaced the flags on the sand table with small blue flags representing their side.

On the southern Shandong battlefield, the important town of Yixian has been captured, and Zaozhuang is also surrounded by the Fourth Army Group.

As usual, a commendation telegram was sent.

Everyone's attention immediately turned to the larger battlefield.

"Your Excellency, the offensive is progressing smoothly overall. What do you think? Should we start the third phase of the operation ahead of schedule?"

According to the third phase of the four-stage counter-offensive operation plan proposed by Chu Yunfei, the objective was to annihilate the main force of the Japanese army in the Huaihai region.

The Huaihai region refers to the large plain area centered on Xuzhou.

In terms of troop strength alone, it is almost equal to that of the surrounding areas of Jinan.

According to the original plan.

The three-phase counter-offensive plan was scheduled to take place at least a month later, but no one expected the battle to go so smoothly.

Chu Yunfei was also somewhat tempted at this moment. The Japanese army were people, not machines. When they were completely passive and at a disadvantage on the battlefield, it would trigger a chain reaction. (End of this chapter)