Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

I. Mountain City, Huangshan Official Residence.

No one was destined to sleep that night.

The monotonous ticking of the telegraph machine sounded like heavenly music tonight, touching the hearts of everyone.

When the telegraph operator, with trembling hands, presented the urgent telegram—which contained only a few words but carried immense weight—the entire adjutant's office and even the Supreme Command instantly erupted in excitement. The usual solemnity and hierarchy were completely shattered at that moment.

"Jinan has been liberated! Jinan has been liberated!"

"Tuqiao committed suicide once!"

"The Japanese 12th Army was almost completely wiped out!"

This shout, like a volcanic eruption that had been building up for a century, instantly pierced the roof of Yunxiu Tower and resounded throughout the night sky of the entire wartime capital.

Chang Ruiyuan's hand trembled violently as he took the telegram.

That face, which was usually expressionless and always taut, was now twitching with muscles and streaked with tears.

He looked at it three times, his gaze finally settling on the word "Jinan," and he couldn't look away for a long time.

In a daze, time seemed to flow backward, returning to that bloody and humiliating May of the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928).

"Fifteen years."

Chang Ruiyuan's voice choked with emotion, revealing a deep sense of vicissitude and sorrow: "Jiansheng, it's been fifteen years!"

He suddenly raised his head, tears welling in his eyes, pointed to the place name on the telegram, and said in a trembling voice, "Do you remember?"

"When the Northern Expeditionary Army reached Jinan, those bastards, Fukuda Hikosuke of the Japanese 6th Division, brazenly committed the 'May 3rd Massacre' in order to obstruct our army's northward advance!"

“Negotiator Cai Gongshi, that’s our diplomat!”

"To have one's nose and ears cut off by the Japanese is an utter disgrace!"

Chang Ruiyuan closed his eyes, two lines of tears sliding down his cheeks. That memory was a wound in his heart that could never heal.

"At that time, I was the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Expeditionary Army."

"In order to prevent the Northern Expedition from failing at the last minute and to preserve our strength, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and swallow my pride, ordering the entire army to detour north and hand over Jinan to the Japanese!"

"At that time, everyone in the world cursed me, Chang, for being weak and cowardly!"

"But who knows that for the past fifteen years, I have been suffering terribly every day?"

"I think about avenging Cai Gongshi and the more than 10,000 soldiers and civilians who died every moment!"

The entire operations room was silent, and everyone looked at the elderly man with gray hair and beard with deep emotion.

Bai Jiansheng was also one of the senior generals who strongly advocated fighting against Japan back then, and at this moment, he felt the same frustration that Chang Ruiyuan was experiencing.

Chang Ruiyuan took a deep breath, suddenly opened his eyes, and the grief and indignation in his eyes had transformed into boundless joy and pride.

He held the telegram high in his hand, as if offering a sacrifice to the heavens and to the wronged souls who had died unjustly: "Today! Today!"

"The officers and soldiers have avenged this blood debt for me, and for the Party and the country!"

"The complete annihilation of the 12th Army is the best offering to the spirits of the fallen heroes of the Jinan Massacre!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

He exclaimed "Good!" three times, then laughed loudly, his laughter filled with boundless catharsis: "This is the first time since the First Sino-Japanese War that our Chinese army has annihilated an entire enemy corps in a head-on confrontation!"

"This is revenge, this is the destiny of our nation!"

"Quickly, arrange for the telegram to be sent nationwide as soon as possible, and for newspapers to report on this."

Chang Ruiyuan waved his hand sharply, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, and he regained the dignity of a commander: "We must tell our 400 million compatriots as soon as possible that Jinan has been liberated and the humiliation of the past has been washed away!"

"We must drive the Japanese devils out completely!"

Zhu Peiji didn't hesitate and immediately turned to order, "Have the radio station broadcast it immediately, right now!"

"Yes!"

Chongqing should have been quiet in the early hours of the morning.

But tonight, it awoke, and in an almost frenzied manner.

The newspapers, printed overnight, were already in the hands of newsboys before dawn.

"Extra! Extra! Great victory at Jinan! Tens of thousands of enemy soldiers killed!"

The newsboy's hoarse yet excited voice pierced through the morning mist.

Immediately afterwards, the first firecracker rang out at the parade ground, followed by a second and a third.
Within a short span of ten minutes, the sound of firecrackers quickly escalated from a few scattered bursts into a thunderous roar, deafeningly loud. The smell of gunpowder even overpowered the fog, and red debris covered the streets and alleys, just like during the Chinese New Year.

All the lights came on, and everyone poured into the streets.

An elderly man with a full head of white hair held a newspaper, his hands trembling so much he could barely hold his reading glasses. He cried loudly as he read, tears of joy streaming down his face.

Young students, carrying torches and unfurling banners, ran through the streets shouting, "Long live China!"

"The war of resistance will be won!"

Strangers embraced tightly, and the shop owner carried his long-stored wine jars to the street, pouring them for everyone he met: "Drink up, it's free today!"

"For the liberation of Jinan!"

"For our brothers on the front lines!"

In the teahouse, an elderly storyteller with white hair and beard slammed his gavel down hard, tears welling in his eyes. His voice trembled but was still powerful and resonant.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"

"Let me tell you!"

"Our Chu general strategist is a master strategist who wins battles from afar; General Li is a tiger unleashed from its cage, unstoppable; and that old scoundrel from Tuqiao has nowhere to run and meets his end."

The mountain city is in an uproar!

One can imagine that in the occupied territories, this news of victory would be like a thunderbolt, shattering the last illusions of the traitors and collaborators.

It will also ignite the suppressed flames of patriotism in the hearts of countless people of noble character!
It was bright.

North China, Jinan (Spring City).

The former site of the Shandong Foreign Affairs Office of the Nationalist Government.

This is also the site of the May 3rd Massacre (Jinan Massacre).

The setting sun, like blood, painted the ancient city, which had just been ravaged by war, with an even more poignant beauty.

Li Yannian, commander of the 34th Army Group, stood alone in front of the small Western-style building that was riddled with bullet holes but still stood firm.

His hand stroked the cold, rough brick wall, his fingertips tracing the old bullet holes as if touching the dripping blood of fifteen years ago.

"Commander."

Liu Anqi, commander of the 57th Army, strode over, his mud-caked military boots crunching on the rubble with a screeching sound.

He stood at attention and saluted, looking somewhat hesitant, as if the report to come was quite troublesome: "We've captured quite a few prisoners."

Liu Anqi lowered her voice: "They are the remnants of the guard battalion directly under the headquarters of the Japanese 12th Army, as well as some staff officers who did not have time to commit seppuku. There are about 800 people in total, and they are all being held in the parade ground in the west of the city."

"According to the 'Regulations on the Management of Prisoners of War,' shouldn't we immediately report to the joint command and request instructions on how to handle this matter?"

"After all, there are a few junior officers among them, who might be of intelligence value."

"Please give me permission?"

Li Yannian slowly turned around. His bloodshot eyes showed no joy after victory, but rather a solemn expression: "Brother Shouru, do you remember where this place is?"

Liu Anqi was taken aback. She looked around and her expression suddenly turned serious: "This should be the place where Mr. Cai Gongshi and his colleagues died for their country."

"Yes, it was May 3rd, 1928."

Li Yannian's voice was low and hoarse, each word sounding like a clot of blood squeezed from his chest:
"That year, the Sixth Division of that old devil Fukuda Hikosuke stormed into the city, killing, burning, raping, and looting."

Li Yannian suddenly drew his pistol from his waist, the muzzle trembling as it pointed at the open space, as if the Japanese soldiers from that year were still standing there: "That night, Jinan was awash in blood, and that night, 17,000 soldiers and civilians perished!"

"And what about us?"

"In order to consider the overall situation and for the unification of the Northern Expedition, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek ordered the withdrawal of troops with tears in his eyes. We have no choice but to detour northward!"

"We were driven out of Jinan by the Japanese like dogs!"

"This shame has been burning in my heart like a branding iron for fifteen years!"

"If it's raining or cloudy, the pain from this wound keeps me awake at night!"

Li Yannian's chest heaved violently, and the resentment he had suppressed for half his life finally erupted at this moment.

He looked at Liu Anqi, his eyes chillingly cold: "Now, we've won, we're back."

"But this blood debt has not yet been settled."

"Commander, should we consult the joint command?"

"Don't bother Chief Advisor Chu anymore." Liu Anqi sensed Li Yannian's murderous intent, and her Adam's apple bobbed. "Then let's kill all these prisoners."

He was originally from Yixian County, Shandong Province, so he was naturally willing to support Li Yannian's idea of ​​avenging the dead villagers.

Li Yannian put away his pistol, turned his back, not wanting his subordinates to see the tears welling up in his eyes, and his voice became cold and hard, leaving no room for negotiation: "Commander Chu is a man who does great things. He has to consider international opinion, he has to abide by the Geneva Convention, and he has to give face to the Allied forces."

"But Li Yannian is a rough man and also a vengeful person."

"Since we are on the battlefield, and since we are in Jinan, let's do it according to our old Chinese customs."

Li Yannian suddenly waved his hand, making a decapitation gesture, and said in a chilling tone: "This is war, not a dinner party!"

"Tell the machine gun company that I do not accept surrenders and do not need any survivors!"

"Shoot them all!"

"The heads of these eight hundred Japanese devils are the offerings I, Li Yannian, make to Mr. Cai Gongshi and to the compatriots who died in Jinan back then!"

"If anything goes wrong, I, Li Yannian, will bear all the blame myself!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Anqi's body trembled violently, and the long-suppressed passion in her heart was ignited.

He didn't try to persuade him further, but instead gave a solemn military salute and roared, "Yes, sir! Blood for blood!"

……

Ten minutes later, at the West City Playground.

“Da da da da da——!!!”

The intense sound of heavy machine gun fire echoed through Jinan at dusk, startling flocks of crows returning to their nests.

The gunshots, like tearing fabric, lasted for a full five minutes.

When the gunfire ceased, all eight hundred-plus Japanese prisoners who had been kneeling on the ground lay dead in pools of blood.

Blood stained the land of Jinan, as if washing away the shame and grievances that had accumulated over the past fifteen years.

An officer who had experienced the Battle of Jinan shouted, "May your soul return!"

Inside the command post, Li Yannian slowly stood up from the ground and patted the dust off his knees.

His face showed no trace of the ecstatic joy of revenge, but rather a deep weariness and loneliness.

"Brother Shouru."

Li Yannian did not turn around, his voice so calm that it was as if he had not just ordered the execution of eight hundred people.

"Arrange for people to fill the hole."

"Make it clean, sprinkle more lime, lest a plague break out."

"Also, send a telegram to headquarters saying..."

Li Yannian paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Take the remnants of the Japanese 12th Army headquarters, for example. They refused to surrender, resisted stubbornly, and even attempted to detonate chemical weapons to perish together with our army."

"In order to protect the city's safety, our army was forced to annihilate them all."

Liu Anqi understood immediately and nodded emphatically: "I understand. The Japanese army's 'rather die than surrender' spirit is their 'Bushido spirit,' and we will uphold their reputation."

……

Luxi, the front-line command headquarters.

"Your Excellency."

Fang Ligong held the detailed report on the "annihilation battle" from Jinan City in his hand, his expression somewhat subtle: "The battle report from Li Yannian's side has arrived."

"More than 800 soldiers from the 12th Army Headquarters were killed in action at the parade ground in the west of the city."

Fang Ligong deliberately emphasized the words "all killed in action," then lowered his voice and said, "Sir, this is too much of a coincidence. Over eight hundred men, not even a single lightly wounded prisoner."

"Isn't this blatant slaughter of prisoners of war..."

"What is it?"

Chu Yunfei smiled and looked at Fang Ligong: "Brother Ligong, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

He stood up, walked to the window, looked in the direction of Jinan, and said with a tone full of protectiveness: "The 12th Army is the elite of the Japanese army and has been deeply poisoned by militarism. This is a well-known fact."

"When they are in despair, they launch a desperate charge or commit mass suicide, which is very much in line with the character of these Japanese people."

Fang Ligong nodded solemnly: "I understand, Your Excellency."

Chu Yunfei turned around, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Commander Li is an old military officer and a veteran revolutionary; he knows his limits."

"Since he says the Japanese didn't surrender, then they didn't surrender."

"We don't need prisoners to waste food; what we need is victory, and an explanation to our fallen compatriots."

"File this battle report. Also..."

A glint flashed in Chu Yunfei's eyes: "Immediately issue a telegram in the name of the North China Joint Command to commend the 34th Army Group for their courage and determination in mopping up the remaining enemy forces!"

"We need to clearly state our position and make him stand up straight!"

"With our North China Joint Command here, no one can make a fuss about this!"

"Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for him!"

"Yes!" Fang Ligong's heart tightened, and he said no more.

The following morning, in Jinan, the City of Springs.

The long-awaited sunlight pierced through the smoke that filled the city and shone on this ancient city that had weathered many storms.

Although the city walls have collapsed and the streets are still littered with rubble and craters, a sense of new life is spreading through the ruins.

The entry ceremony began.

There was no deliberate rehearsal, nor were there any flowers or a red carpet.

But this is the city's biggest festival in more than a decade.

Tank columns of the 88th Group Army, infantry formations of the 34th Group Army, and soldiers of the 28th Group Army marched in orderly steps along Jing'er Road and Pulimen, making their way into the city.

"The Nationalist army is here!"

"Our team is back!"

The streets were already packed with people who had come after hearing the news.

The battle was over, and they wanted to return to their homes.

Some of these people were still holding half a piece of dry food that they hadn't had time to put down, some were leaning on crutches, and some were holding children.

When they saw the flag of the Republic of China fluttering in the morning breeze, a long-suppressed cry erupted from the crowd.

An elderly man with white hair shakily squeezed through the crowd, carrying a basket of boiled eggs, trying to give them to a passing soldier.

"Child, eat..."

The old man sobbed uncontrollably, "We've been waiting for this day. Even if it means dying, I can close my eyes in peace."

Sun Xinpu, who was walking at the front of the group, saw this scene and his eyes instantly turned red.

He jumped out of the jeep, walked quickly to the old man, and gave a standard military salute.

"Sir, we're late."

That cry of "I'm late" speaks volumes about the bitterness and helplessness, and carries with it both blood and tears and glory.

Meanwhile, on the top of the captured provincial government building.

Li Yannian and Liu Anqi stood side by side, overlooking the jubilant city.

"Chief, look."

Liu Anqi pointed to the surging crowd of people and military flags below, her voice choked with emotion: "We not only avenged our grievances, but we also brought our souls back to life."

Li Yannian took a deep breath of the free air, and a long-lost smile finally appeared on his face, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Yes, the soul has returned."

He turned to look north, his gaze becoming profound:

"Jinan has been liberated, but to the north there is Beijing and Tianjin, and beyond the Great Wall there are the four northeastern provinces."

"Now that our bayonets have been sharpened, we cannot put them back."

Li Yannian slammed his hand on the railing, his voice filled with heroic spirit: "They say you shouldn't pursue a cornered enemy, but I refuse to believe it!"

"Order all units to rest for one day!"

"At dawn tomorrow, we will set off ahead of schedule, coordinate with friendly forces, and advance eastward!" (End of Chapter)