Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Located in the western suburbs of Anqing, at the foot of Dalong Mountain.

The scorching midday sun pierced through the sparse clouds, baking the earth like a steamer.

The air was filled not only with the smell of dust, but also with a strong, sour smell of sweat.

On the highway leading to Anqing, a Nationalist army unit covered in dust was on a near-frenzied forced march.

This unit was the vanguard regiment of the 10th Army—the 568th Regiment of the 190th Division.

Regimental Commander Luo Heng, mounted on his horse with his uniform open and whip in hand, shouted hoarsely, "Hurry up! All of you, get on your feet!"

"Anyone who falls behind, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Tell the brothers, Anqing is just ahead!"

"Whoever is the first to rush into the city, I'll reward him with a thousand silver dollars!"

Although the soldiers were exhausted, their eyes still lit up when they heard the name "Anqing".

After several days of pursuit, they encountered almost no significant resistance. The Japanese troops not only abandoned their armor and weapons, but even left rice and canned goods by the roadside.

If you win too many battles with an easy advantage, you can easily become arrogant.

In the eyes of Luo Heng and all the officers and soldiers of the regiment, the Japanese troops in front were a flock of lambs to the slaughter. If they were a step too late, the credit would be stolen by their ally (Ou Zhen's 4th Army).

"Duanzao!"

The battalion commander ran over, sweating profusely, and pointed to the ranks behind him, panting, "The brothers are too exhausted to run anymore. The heavy rifle company has fallen behind."

“Those things were too heavy, and several mules and horses died from exhaustion.”

"Should we take a break and wait for the heavy firepower to come up before making any further plans?"

"Stop taking a break my ass!"

Luo Heng's eyes widened, and he lashed out with his whip in the air: "If our friendly forces overtake us, where will I put my face? Where will the commander's face be?!"

"The heavy machine guns didn't keep up, so they didn't keep up!"

Luo Heng glanced contemptuously at the distant mountains: "The Japanese devils are terrified; it'll only take a few gunshots."

"The full complement of Type 24 rifles and light machine guns we have is enough to wipe out those remnants!"

"Order! The entire regiment shall advance lightly! Discard your backpacks, carry only your guns and ammunition!"

"We'll break through Dalong Mountain and have dinner in Anqing City tonight!"

"Yes!"

As urgent orders were issued, soldiers along the roadside took off their heavy marching packs, and even spare ammunition boxes were carelessly discarded.

The entire force, like a pack of starving wolves, rushed haphazardly into the treacherous pass called "Dalong Mountain," with no formation whatsoever.

However, what Luo Heng didn't know was...

Deep within the dense forests of Dalong Mountain, behind those seemingly silent rocks, countless eyes are fixed on this group of prey who are oblivious to their fate.

That was the main force of the 120th Infantry Regiment of the 116th Division of the Japanese Army, as well as a part of the elite troops of the 3rd Division.

They did not flee.

Instead, under the strict orders of their commander, they used the day and night to construct an inverted triangular ambush position on Dalong Mountain.

"The Chinese are here."

Japanese regimental commander Kenji Sakai lowered his binoculars, a cruel sneer curling at the corner of his mouth: "Dense formation, no scouts, no heavy weapons accompanying them."

"This is an insult to the Locust Army."

He slowly raised his right hand, which was wearing a white glove, and gently waved it downwards.

"shooting!"

"boom!"

A red signal flare suddenly exploded over Dalong Mountain.

next second.

“Da da da da da——!!!”

"Boom boom boom --!!!"

The once silent valley instantly came alive.

Japanese Type 92 heavy machine guns, Type 11 light machine guns, and countless Type 38 rifles simultaneously unleashed deadly fire from the front, left flank, and right flank.

The dense hail of bullets, like scythes reaping crops, swept across the entire highway in an instant.

"Puff puff--"

The dull thuds of bullets piercing flesh created a continuous sound.

The first company of the first battalion, which was at the forefront, didn't even have time to react. Like wheat fields swept by a whirlwind, a large swathe of wheat fell down in unison.

Blood instantly stained the yellow earth red.

“Enemy attack—!!”

"There's an ambush!!"

"Ah! My legs!"

Screams and cries of alarm echoed through the valley.

The Nationalist soldiers, who had not anticipated such intense firepower, were completely stunned.

They instinctively wanted to find cover, but the open area had already been cleared by the Japanese army and was bare, without even a large rock.

"Fight back! Fight back!"

Luo Heng was held down firmly in a shallow pit by his guards, with bullets blasting dirt and debris around his head.

He roared, his eyes red, "Where's the machine gun? Suppress the hill for me!"

Several Czech machine gunners were just about to set up their machine guns, but before they could pull the trigger...

"Tum! Tum! Tum!"

The Japanese army's precise grenade launcher landed right next to them.

"boom--!"

The machine gunner was blown away along with his gun, and his limbs were left hanging on the branches of a tree by the roadside.

The Japanese army's firepower was extremely well-organized, with light and heavy machine guns arranged at varying heights, and grenade launchers specifically targeting the Nationalist army's firing positions.

In contrast, the 568th Regiment...

Because they were lightly armed and advancing recklessly, their 82mm mortars were still more than ten miles away, and the heavy machine gun company was nowhere to be seen.

The rifle and a few light machine guns in his hands were as useless as sticks in the face of the Japanese army's crossfire from higher ground.

"Commander, we can't hold on any longer!"

The battalion commander rolled back, his face covered in blood, crying out, "The Japanese firepower is too fierce! There are at least two battalions of them!"

"Brothers, charging in is suicide!"

"Withdraw."

Luo Heng looked at his brothers falling like grass in front of him, his heart was bleeding, and he was filled with remorse.

He finally realized that he had not run into some defeated soldiers, but a red-hot iron plate!

"withdraw"

Luo Heng gritted his teeth, just about to order a retreat.

"Onboard—!!!"

A chilling roar came from the mountainside.

The Japanese troops were no longer satisfied with just firepower; instead, they brandished their gleaming bayonets and launched a counterattack!
Not only that.

At the end of the road, two Japanese Type 95 light tanks appeared!

"boom!"

Without anti-tank weapons, heavy artillery support, and even insufficient ammunition, the vanguard regiment completely collapsed.

"Run!"

It's unclear who started shouting, but the already wavering morale of the troops instantly collapsed.

The soldiers dropped their weapons and turned to run away. Even though the officers waved their pistols in an attempt to maintain order, they could not stop the avalanche-like rout.

The army was defeated like a mountain.

At the foot of Dalong Mountain, Li Yutang's elite troops, which he was so proud of, were routed in just half an hour, with more than half of them killed or wounded.

This wave of defeat even disrupted the vanguard of the Ou Zhen Legion that arrived later.

The entire front instantly descended into chaos.
-
South China, Changsha, Headquarters of the Ninth War Zone.

Compared to the smoke-filled and dramatic battlefields of the North, the sweltering heat of the South seemed to have a greater effect on eroding one's will.

Every day, the number of non-combat casualties in each unit is increasing.

Even so, the air inside the headquarters seemed to be boiling, and everyone's face was filled with undisguised joy.

Inside the operations room, huge military maps occupied an entire wall.

Minister of Military Affairs Chen Cixiu and Commander-in-Chief of the Ninth War Zone Xue Yue stood side by side, each holding a red and blue pencil, their eyes scanning the winding Yangtze River defense line on the map.

"Brother Boling."

Chen Cixiu pointed to Jiujiang, Hukou, and other places that had turned blue on the map, and a long-lost relaxed smile appeared on his face: "This battle was fought beautifully!"

"Li Yutang and Ou Zhen's forces were like two sharp knives, cutting two large gashes in the stomachs of the Japanese."

"At this rate, we should be able to rest in the Anqing area in less than two days."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yue's lips curled up slightly, and a smug look appeared on his usually cold and arrogant face.

Although he had his own ulterior motives.

They didn't want Chu Yunfei from the north to dominate, but they had to admit it.

This collaboration with Chen Cixiu.

It truly made him feel a smoother experience than ever before.

Supplies have been provided in sufficient quantities, and we are no longer facing bottlenecks as we did before.

The cooperation between the central army and local forces also became exceptionally close, driven by the desire to "claim credit".

"Commander Chen, you flatter me."

Although Xue Yue spoke modestly, he slammed his baton down on Anqing, his tone exuding an air of dominance: "This is also the soldiers' willingness to risk their lives, knowing shame and striving for improvement."

"The name 'Taishan Army' isn't given lightly; he's really got a lot going for him this time."

“Ou Zhen is no slouch either. After all, the Fourth Army is an iron-willed army, and it runs really fast.”

Xue Yue turned around, looked at Chen Cixiu, his eyes burning: "The situation is now very clear."

"The Japanese Central China Expeditionary Army is already on edge. As long as the battles go smoothly, the Ninth War Zone will be able to connect with Commander Gu's Third War Zone!"

"At that time, we'll join forces and fight as one!"

Xue Yue drew a sharp line on the map, pointing from Anqing downstream: "To the north, we can directly threaten Nanjing, or even Shanghai, and stab the Japanese in the heart!"

"southward."

Xue Yue's gaze fell on the Yuehan Railway, which runs through the north and south: "We can turn our guns around and take advantage of the Japanese army's weakened forces to open up the Yuehan Railway and take Guangzhou directly!"

"Once we regain access to the sea through Guangzhou, South China will have its own lifeline, and we won't have to rely on others anymore!"

Chen Cixiu nodded repeatedly, his heart filled with pride.

If this strategic vision could be realized, the Nationalist government's rule in the South would be rock solid, and its bargaining power in the face of the Allied forces would be greatly increased.

The troops under the South China Joint Command are more likely to receive aid from allies simply because rail transport is far more efficient than road transport.

The transportation efficiency of the Yuehan Railway was far superior to that of the Yunnan-Burma Railway.

On this trip, Chen Cixiu made a special trip to the Ninth War Zone Temporary Command Post, also with the intention of winning over Xue Yue and securing a new batch of American aid.

Who wouldn't be tempted by over a thousand Sherman tanks?

"it is good!"

Chen Cixiu clapped his hands and laughed: "In that case, let's wait for good news."

"Once the news of Anqing's liberation arrives, I will personally petition the Chairman for credit on your behalf! This first merit will undoubtedly go to your Ninth War Zone."

"Report--!!!"

Just as the two were chatting and laughing, envisioning the future, a shrill report suddenly shattered the harmonious atmosphere in the operations room.

A communications staff officer stumbled in, his military cap askew, clutching a telegram soaked with sweat, his face ashen.

"Why panic?!"

Xue Yue frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. He shouted sternly, "The sky isn't falling! Speak properly!"

"Commander Xue, Minister Chen!"

The staff officer, panting heavily, his voice trembling with tears, cried out, "Frontline! Urgent telegram from the front!"

"Li Yutang's army group and Ou Zhen's army group encountered strong resistance from the Japanese army along the Dalongshan line on the outskirts of Anqing. They have suffered heavy casualties."

"what?!"

Xue Yue's expression immediately changed as he asked, "Ambush? Where did this powerful ambush come from?"

"They are the rearguard of the Japanese 116th and 3rd Divisions!"

The staff officer swallowed hard and reported with difficulty, "Not only did the Japanese army block our advance, but they also launched a fierce counterattack from their established positions!"

"Our vanguard has suffered a setback in its offensive!"

"Currently, in order to avoid being surrounded by the Japanese army, both forces have retreated 30 kilometers to the Taihu County and Qianshan line, where they are gathering troops and waiting for follow-up heavy weapons."

"Retreat thirty kilometers?!"

Xue Yue felt a buzzing in his head, his vision went black, and he almost lost his balance.

He snatched the telegram and scanned it quickly, his face growing darker with each reading. Finally, his hands trembled with rage, and he tore the telegram to shreds, slamming it to the ground.

"Those two bastards."

Xue Yue was furious. He paced back and forth in the hall, his military boots pounding on the floor: "It must be their greed for credit and recklessness that led to this result."

Chen Cixiu, being the Minister of Military Affairs, was shocked but quickly calmed down.

"Brother Boling, calm down"

Chen Cixiu said in a deep voice, "The most urgent task is to find out the specific battle situation. I remember that there is a unit from the Sixth War Zone not far away."

……

The front line in Central China.

It had started raining heavily.

Temporary joint command post outside Taihu County.

Li Yutang and Ou Zhen, two brothers in misfortune, were sitting in the command post, which was covered in mud.

Holding a rather stern telegram from Xue Yue in their hands, they looked at each other, their faces filled with bitterness.

far away.

Japanese artillery shells would occasionally fall, kicking up clouds of mud and water.

The heavy machine guns and mortars that were left behind on the road due to the lightly armed advance became their greatest pain at this moment.

Weapons like mortars are not keeping up, let alone the artillery units of each army group.

Heavy artillery units were at least 150 kilometers away and it would take them at least four days to catch up.

In this situation, how could they possibly contend with the elite Japanese troops?
"We've really messed up this time."

Ou Zhen sighed, "Everyone wanted to show their face, but ended up showing their backside."

Li Yutang spat angrily: "Damn it, those Japanese devils are too cunning!"

"However, Commander Xue is right to criticize us; we have indeed fallen short in this respect."

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other's eyes the flames of resentment and revenge.
Li Yutang then declared, "Once the artillery arrives, I'm going to get my revenge!"

"You're right, we must get our revenge!" (End of Chapter)