Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Mountain city, Huangshan official residence.

Inside Yunxiu Tower's study, the window was half-open, and the mountain breeze, carrying moisture, poured in.

Chang Ruiyuan sat upright behind his desk, holding a newly delivered summary of battle reports in his hand.

Zhu Peiji, the head of the attendant's office, stood in front of the table and bowed slightly, not daring to breathe loudly.

On the table.

The telegram sent by Chu Yunfei was spread out, its words revealing a frankness and a cold, businesslike demeanor.

Chu Yunfei made no attempt to conceal the progress of the battle to capture Pengcheng.

They even listed out in detail the setbacks suffered by Wang Zhonglian's troops at Jiuli Mountain, the number of casualties, and the amount of ammunition consumed.

In addition, there is that new deployment adjustment plan.

They mobilized the 19th Group Army to launch a flanking attack, and even requested the Guangxi clique to move north.

Chang Ruiyuan tapped lightly on the three characters "Wang Zhonglian" with his fingers, making a tapping sound.

"Jie Ren."

Chang Ruiyuan took off his round-framed glasses, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and slowly wiped the lenses.

"He was trained by Enbo, and he's quite capable in battle, but sometimes his mind is just too cunning."

Zhu Peiji cautiously replied, "Chairman, the fighting on the front lines is fierce, and the 31st Army Group, as the main attacking force, is indeed under considerable pressure."

"pressure?"

"The main peak of Jiuli Mountain has been captured for two days, but if the remaining Japanese troops cannot be wiped out in two days, what are they doing but dawdling?"

The light in Chang Ruiyuan's eyes suddenly sharpened, like a drawn sword.

"To put it another way, this is a national war, who isn't under pressure?"

"I know exactly what he's thinking."

Chang Ruiyuan stood up and slowly walked to the huge battle map on the wall, his gaze fixed on the red dot over Xuzhou.

"He wanted to preserve his strength and let Chu Yunfei's direct subordinates or those miscellaneous troops fill the gaps first."

"But doesn't he realize that the current situation doesn't allow for his petty schemes?"

Chang Ruiyuan turned around abruptly, slamming his cane heavily on the floor: "Now, over 100,000 troops have gathered in the Pengcheng area!"

"The amount of food and ammunition consumed daily by people and horses is astronomical!"

"The aid from the United States has arrived, but we can't squander it like this!"

"If this drags on any longer, we'll not only wear down the Japanese, but we'll also cripple our own logistics system!"

Chang Ruiyuan took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently.

"Send a telegram to Wang Zhonglian!"

"The wording must be strong!"

“Tell him that I don’t care what difficulties he has, or who is commanding the Japanese army he is facing.”

"I'll only give him seven days!"

"We must capture Pengcheng and annihilate the enemy in front of us within seven days!"

"If this delays our opportunity, we will certainly be court-martialed!"

"Yes!"

Zhu Peiji wrote down the notes with great speed and fluency.

Chang Ruiyuan gazed at the pitch-black night outside the window, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Quick victory"

"We must end the war in North China as soon as possible so that we can free up our resources."

……

The next morning.

Xiao County is located at the junction of Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces.

The headquarters of the 31st Army Group was located in a dilapidated landlord's compound.

The old locust tree in the yard had half its crown cut off by artillery fire, its bare branches piercing the sky, making it look particularly desolate.

The operations room was filled with smoke, so thick that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Wang Zhonglian's eyes were bloodshot, his military uniform collar was open, and he was holding a half-smoked cigarette, staring at the map with a troubled expression.

"report!"

A confidential staff officer stumbled in, waving two telegrams in his hand.

"Commander-in-Chief! Urgent telegram from Yamashima! And a telegram from Commander-in-Chief Zhang of the 19th Army Group!"

Wang Zhonglian's heart skipped a beat. He stubbed out his cigarette and snatched the telegram.

Let's look at the mountain city first.

After reading only two lines, his face turned ashen, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

"Seven days."

Wang Zhonglian gritted his teeth and squeezed out those two words.

"The Chairman is trying to force our 31st Army Group to its death!"

He slammed the telegram on the table, causing the water in his teacup to spill all over the table.

"Take Pengcheng in seven days?"

Did the High Command think the Japanese defenses were made of paper?

"That old Japanese devil, Yoneo Ohta, is now fighting like a cornered beast. Pengcheng's defenses are as solid as an iron barrel!"

"Didn't Sun Xinpu's troops only advance thirty li in three days and get stuck at Yuwang Mountain in Pi County?"

Wang Zhonglian, panting heavily, grumbled a few words.

The staff officers nearby quickly offered words of advice.

He picked up the second telegram.

This was sent by Zhang Xuezhong.

"Commander, what do we do now?"

The chief of staff cautiously asked, "The Chairman gave a direct order."

Wang Zhonglian plopped down in a chair, rubbing his face vigorously with both hands, trying to calm himself down.

"What to do? Fight!"

"Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed."

Wang Zhonglian sighed, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He didn't actually want to avoid war; he just wanted fewer deaths and to preserve more of his family's wealth.

After all, in this chaotic world, the gun in one's hand is the only thing that allows one to survive.

But now, with pressure from above and pressure from all sides, there's no way out.

Wang Zhonglian suddenly raised his head, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Since we're asked to fight to the death, we can't be expected to fight empty-handed!"

He stood up, walked to the map, and pointed heavily at the high ground surrounding Pengcheng.

Jiuli Mountain, Yunlong Mountain, Yuwang Mountain
Leaving aside Yuwang Mountain for the moment, it is currently Sun Xinpu's troops who are attacking.

Jiuli Mountain has been basically captured, but the Yunlong Mountain defensive position on the outskirts of XZ City is also a tough nut to crack and will surely become a meat grinder on the battlefield.

"We only have mountain guns; we can't crack these turtle shells."

"Send a telegram to Commander Chu!"

Wang Zhonglian turned around, his tone becoming unusually firm: "Just say that my unit will resolutely carry out the orders of the General Headquarters and vow to take Pengcheng at all costs!"

"However, we earnestly request heavy firepower support from headquarters!"

"I want heavy artillery, the kind of large-caliber heavy artillery that can blow bunkers into the sky!"

"As long as the cannons are in place, I, Wang Zhonglian, will fight to the death to take Pengcheng!"

……

Luxi, Jinan, the front-line command headquarters.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow on the massive model of mountains and rivers.

Chu Yunfei stood in front of the sand table, holding Wang Zhonglian's telegram requesting assistance in his hand, a faint smile curving his lips: "This Wang Zhonglian, he finally couldn't sit still anymore."

Fang Ligong stood aside, pushed up his glasses, and smiled, "Your Excellency, it seems that the Chairman's telegram had an effect. In addition, our desire to transfer the Guangxi troops north has greatly provoked them."

"Yes, the troops from the Fifth War Zone will still head north, but they will not be heading north to reinforce Pengcheng, but to support the Huaiyin direction."

Fang Ligong pointed to the terrain around Xuzhou: "Sir, the Japanese army has formed a defensive system based on the defense fortifications we built earlier. The fortifications are solid and they are difficult to penetrate without heavy weapons. Do you think we should consider transferring troops to reinforce the Pengcheng area?"

After the Battle of Quancheng, some artillery units were assigned to the Qingdao direction.

The remaining artillery units were mostly resting and resupplying.

For the siege of Pengcheng, Chu Yunfei had already assigned Wang Zhonglian a considerable number of artillery pieces.

Now, what Wang Zhonglian clearly wants is not a 105mm howitzer.

Instead, it was a 155mm heavy howitzer.

Chu Yunfei nodded slightly and handed the telegram to Li Jingzhong behind him.

"If he wants it, I'll give it to him."

"At this critical juncture, I'm not afraid of him wanting things, I'm afraid he won't fight."

"As long as he's willing to really fight, I'll give him whatever he wants!"

Chu Yunfei walked to the map and his gaze fell on the Zaozhuang area north of Xuzhou.

"Send the order!"

"Select the 7th and 8th Artillery Regiments from the directly subordinate artillery units and send them south immediately!"

"Assigned to the command of the 31st Army Group!"

Fang Ligong was taken aback: "Sir, the 7th and 8th Artillery Regiments are units equipped with American 155mm howitzers. Are we to assign them all?"

Chu Yunfei turned around, his eyes blazing: "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."

"Pengcheng is a must-capture city. It's a hub station for the Jinpu Railway and the Longhai Railway. Once the railway is open, our logistical supply efficiency will also improve."

"Similarly, episode 31 must strictly adhere to the time limit set by the General Headquarters. Within seven days, these thorns—Jiuli Mountain, Yunlong Mountain, and Yuwang Mountain—must be removed!"

"Annihilate all Japanese and puppet troops, and do not let a single one escape!"

"Yes!"

……

During the day, fighting continued, and telegrams from all sides came in almost non-stop.

Soon, darkness fell.

"Your Excellency, Wang Zhonglian has replied: If Pengcheng is not captured within the specified time, you shall be subject to military law."

"Now that we've said all that, there shouldn't be any problems in Pengcheng."

He muttered something to himself, then turned his gaze to the east on the map.

That place is the Shandong Peninsula, in Qingdao.

"Your Excellency."

"There's been some activity from the Fifth Army Group."

Chu Yunfei turned around, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Tang Huaiyuan?"

"No, it's Li Yannian."

Fang Ligong handed over the telegram: "The main force of Li Yannian's 34th Army Group has suddenly accelerated its march. Its vanguard, the 57th Army, has crossed the original assembly line and is heading straight for Jimo, on the outskirts of Qingdao."

"The fifth episode, which was originally supposed to be a coordinated attack, was instead redirected to the Yantai and Weihai areas."

Chu Yunfei was taken aback. He took the telegram, glanced at it, and a cold smile appeared on his lips: "The 40th Army launched its attack a day ago. They transferred the 40th Army away as soon as their main force arrived. It seems that Li Yannian wants to take all the spoils for himself."

Fang Ligong nodded, a hint of worry in his voice: "It's obvious that he wants to claim all the credit for the recapture of Qingdao."

"Although Tang Huaiyuan came from a miscellaneous background, he is still a veteran. He must be resentful that he was relegated to a marginal position this time."

"Your Excellency, won't this affect the offensive across the entire peninsula?"

"Furthermore, isn't Li Yannian's behavior a bit too disregard for our joint command's deployment?"

Chu Yunfei casually placed the telegram on the table, showing little anger.

He understood the thoughts of these Central Army generals all too well.

Claiming credit and shifting blame are the norm.

Especially when the outcome is already decided, everyone wants to gain more political capital.

"Let him fight."

Chu Yunfei said calmly, his tone so composed that it was hard to fathom.

"Qingdao is a piece of fat meat, but also a tough bone."

"The Japanese army had been operating in Qingdao for many years and had the support of naval guns, so they were not easy to deal with."

"Since Li Yannian wants to make a contribution, let's give him that opportunity."

Chu Yunfei walked to the map and pointed to the locations of Yantai and Weihai.

"Although it is not the main battlefield and there are not many garrison troops there, it is still an important port."

Tell Tang Huaiyuan to calm down.

"If the battle is fought well, he will definitely get the credit."

Fang Ligong hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Should we call Li Yannian and give him a heads-up?"

"Need not."

Chu Yunfei waved his hand, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Since he's willing to be the vanguard, let him go and crash into the Japanese devils' wall."

"A telegram to Li Yannian is to be sent."

"It is said that the General Headquarters is aware of the unit's progress and commends its desire for battle."

"But the Japanese forces in Qingdao still had considerable fighting strength and had naval and air support."

"We must advance steadily while minimizing casualties, and we must not underestimate the enemy or act rashly."

"If we encounter a strong enemy, we can temporarily halt our offensive and wait for support from heavy artillery and the air force."

Fang Ligong listened and secretly admired him.

This telegram both gave Li Yannian face and foreshadowed future events.

If Li Yannian succeeds in capturing the city, it will be due to the effective command of the General Headquarters; if he fails to capture it, or suffers heavy casualties, it will be because Li Yannian is greedy for merit and reckless, and has disobeyed military orders.

Regardless of the outcome, the initiative is in Chu Yunfei's hands.

"Yes! I'll take care of it right away."

Fang Ligong accepted the order and left.

Chu Yunfei looked out the window again.

The eastern horizon was already faintly tinged with the first hint of dawn.

A new day is about to begin.

And this decisive battle that will determine the fate of the nation is about to come to an end.

……

On the outskirts of Qingdao, at the foot of Jimo City.

Liu Anqi, commander of the 57th Army, stood on a muddy jeep, holding up binoculars and gazing at the faintly visible coastal city in the distance.

The sea breeze carries a faint salty taste, but also the smoke of war.

In the distance, the rearguard of the 40th Army was withdrawing due north.

originally.

The credit for the recapture of Qingdao should also be shared with them.

However, Li Yannian made adjustments to his plans.

Subsequent attacks had little to do with them.

Liu Anqi couldn't help but grumble, "To be honest, I really don't want to do this kind of thing that steals other people's credit."

The chief of staff standing to the side smiled but did not respond.

"Commander."

A division commander ran over excitedly and said, "The scouts ahead reported that the Japanese troops in Jimo City have retreated after breaking contact with the 40th Army!"

"The city gates are wide open, we can drive straight in, but there seem to be Japanese warships on the sea, and we are very likely to be shelled."

Liu Anqi waved his hand sharply, his voice filled with heroic spirit: "Pass down the order, the entire army shall accelerate its advance, pay attention to dispersal and concealment, and avoid gathering in groups."

"We're determined to make a big profit in Qingdao!"

"Yes!"

Two days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Pengcheng front line, artillery position of the 31st Group Army.

God is on my side.

Three consecutive days of sunshine have significantly reduced the mud on the roads.

Amidst the heavy roar of the tractors, rows of massive cannons with thick barrels slowly drove into position.

Those were heavy artillery pieces that the Central Army had almost never seen before.

The massive cannon barrels pointed skyward, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, like a herd of silent behemoths waiting to devour their prey.

"Wow, what kind of cannon is that?"

A Central Army infantry platoon leader circled a 155mm howitzer several times, his mouth agape as if he could fit an egg in it.

"With a shell this big, wouldn't one shot flatten the hilltop?"

Beside him, an artillery officer jumped off the vehicle, took off his gloves, patted the cannon barrel, and wore a proud expression.

"American-made M1 155mm howitzer."

"These were specially allocated to you by Commander Chu for attacking key targets."

"Brothers, I'll show you what heavy artillery is like in a bit."

After saying that, the artillery officer grinned, then pointed to the high-powered binoculars on his chest and said, "Sorry, brother, I forgot you guys don't have these... you can't see anything."

The infantry platoon leader scoffed, his eyes full of envy but still stubborn: "What's with the attitude? Take it or leave it."
When the news reached the command center, Wang Zhonglian was so excited that his hands were trembling.

"Okay! Okay!"

"What a generous gesture!"

He slammed his hand on the table, instantly dispelling the gloom of the past few days.

With these big guys around, what is there to fear about strong fortifications?
The time for artillery preparation before the attack has arrived.

"Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!"

Hundreds of cannons of various calibers roared simultaneously, and huge shells ripped through the sky, whistling with death, and crashed down on the Japanese positions.

The main peak of Jiuli Mountain had long been captured, but the surrounding hills and Japanese positions remained in Japanese hands.

The Japanese army had launched several attacks in an attempt to recapture the main peak of Jiuli Mountain, but they were all repelled by the National Revolutionary Army.

nowadays.

As the density and power of the artillery fire increased, the sturdy reinforced concrete bunkers crumbled like paper toys under the bombardment of heavy shells, with severed limbs and debris flying into the sky.

The Japanese army's fortifications, which they were so proud of, appeared extremely vulnerable in the face of this devastating firepower.

“Charge——!!!”

Accompanied by the resounding bugle call, countless Nationalist soldiers leaped out of their trenches and surged toward the enemy lines like a tidal wave.
“Da da da da—!”

The rain of bullets from above swept down on the remaining Japanese bunkers on the mountainside and at the foot of the mountain like a torrent of water.

The remnants of the Japanese 65th Division, suppressed and unable to raise their heads, could only watch in despair as the Nationalist soldiers, covering the hillsides, surged in from all directions like a black tide, taking advantage of the gaps blasted open by heavy artillery.

This was a cleanup operation with no suspense whatsoever.

"Boom! Boom!"

Several more 155mm heavy grenades whistled past, accurately striking the reinforced concrete bunker at the foot of the mountain, which was trying to block the soldiers' advance.

Yes.

Chu Yunfei turned his gaze to the battlefield and twice used his skill to guide artillery fire, helping the attacking forces to destroy key defensive fortifications.

Under the watchful eyes of the soldiers, amidst a massive explosion, the bunker shattered into pieces like a sandcastle kicked by a mischievous child.

The offensive of the 31st Army Group was unstoppable.

The remaining Japanese troops attempted to engage in hand-to-hand combat using the shell craters and ruins, but this suicidal counterattack proved futile against the high-spirited and well-armed Nationalist army.

The flamethrowers spewed fire that mercilessly devoured every corner, turning the stubbornly resisting "Gyokusai" squads into charred remains.

Just forty minutes after the general offensive began.

The last few stubborn strongholds around Jiulishan were completely eliminated.

The main road leading to Pengcheng city was finally fully opened.

Thousands of infantrymen marched in a mighty force toward the ancient city.

As the sun sets, the majestic outline of Pengcheng's city wall is clearly visible, and the frantic figures moving about on the wall are clearly visible even without binoculars.
(Xuzhou city wall, reportedly photographed after the Battle of Xuzhou in 1938) (End of this chapter)