Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 206 Argument
Puyang.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, news has come from Changzhi that the 47th Army has encountered the Japanese army, and fierce fighting has broken out. In ten hours, friendly forces have suffered casualties of up to two battalions."

Wang Feng was startled: "Two battalions?"

"How exactly was this battle fought?"

Zhao Fangyuan looked troubled: "The invading Japanese army is extremely fierce in its attack, and the Sichuan army is poorly equipped; the entire army doesn't even have a single heavy artillery piece."

Wang Feng rubbed his temples: "What about all the aid we gave them before?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "After the Dangshan Campaign began, our army was short of supplies and almost ran out of funds, so foreign weapons aid was stopped."

Wang Feng paced back and forth on the ground with his hands behind his back:

"Where is the Eighth Route Army? Has the 386th Brigade arrived on the battlefield?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "The New First Regiment fought several raids on the Japanese supply lines, but the Japanese seemed to be prepared, resulting in some wins and losses for both sides, but overall the results were minimal."

Wang Feng: "Telegram to Song Wenjie: The battle of Puyang has ended. Our army will soon return in triumph. We will then shift our strategic focus to the defense of Changzhi and ensure the safety of our rear!"

Zhao Fangyuan tapped his heel against the ground and saluted: "Yes! I'll pass it on right away!"

Wang Feng: "Huang He, is there any news from Zhengzhou?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, you were absolutely right. The 8th New Division under the 20th Army Group was caught red-handed digging in the Yellow River. Now there are protests in Zhengzhou. According to the news that came back, Chiang Kai-shek personally rushed to Zhengzhou after the incident!"

Wang Feng smiled and said, "It's good that everything is going smoothly. Let me know as soon as there's any new information!"

Zhao Fangyuan frowned: "Sir, I'm afraid there really is something."

Wang Feng raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

Zhao Fangyuan took out a telegram and handed it over: "This is from the General Staff of the First War Zone. The situation is special, and I haven't replied yet."

Wang Feng took it and glanced at it briefly:
"Cheng Qian came in person?"

"What is a theater commander doing in Puyang?"

Zhao Fangyuan scratched his head: "Could it be the Chairman's idea?"

Zhang Hu leaned closer and said, "We welcome friends with fine wine, and we deal with wolves with hunting rifles. Even if they are enemies, once they come to our territory, are we afraid of them?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "That's true. Cheng Qian arrived so quickly, he must have been traveling light, and his entourage probably doesn't even include a battalion!"

Wang Feng nodded and casually tossed the telegram aside: "Never mind that for now. Each column will rest in Puyang for two days and then rush back to Changzhi. We're going home!"

Zhang Hu was overjoyed: "Going home! I'm finally going home!"

Like most officers, his hometown was in the occupied area, suffering from the ravages of Japanese artillery fire. But after wandering for more than half a year, being able to return to Changzhi and set foot on the land of Shanxi again was a long-awaited good thing for these people.

Zhao Fangyuan's face lit up with joy: "Sir, when will we be able to recapture Shanxi this time?"

Wang Feng thought for a moment: "Although the 14th Division has been annihilated, the main force of the First Army is still intact. We must not rashly engage in a decisive battle with the Japanese invaders in Shanxi. I understand everyone's feelings, but I'm afraid now is not the time!"

Zhao Fangyuan turned his head and glanced at the wall chart: "Alas, that is indeed the case. Looking at the entire North China region, Shanxi is located on high ground, which is both offensive and defensive. Once we break out into a decisive battle with the Japanese invaders in Shanxi, even if Terauchi Hisaichi and Katsuki Seiji are at odds, the Japanese army in North China will definitely not sit idly by. At that time, we will probably be in a desperate situation of being attacked from both sides!"

Zhang Hu also stared at the map, scratched his head, and said nothing, only nodding in agreement.

Wang Feng yawned:
"I'm going to rest now. Let me know if anything comes up!"

Commanding tens of thousands of troops in battle is no easy task, even with the aid of a three-dimensional combat map. One of the most important abilities of an excellent frontline commander is to seize every opportunity to rest. If you keep pushing yourself for too long, your body will eventually break down.

The two of them snapped to attention, heels together.

"Yes!"

----------

6 month 6 day.

Ten o'clock in the morning.

In front of the headquarters.

A jeep slowly came to a stop, and a squad of soldiers jumped out of a transport truck behind it. They were all armed with American submachine guns and looked very imposing and smug.

The soldier standing guard at the gate glanced at it but didn't say anything.

He simply turned his head to look at the heavy machine gun position to his side.

Four Changzhi 1938 heavy machine guns gently turned their muzzles and aimed at the truck.

Cheng Qian got out of the car and looked around. Looking from the outside in, the command post seemed to be a temporary structure. Some parts looked very new, unlike a city building that had been through many battles.

"So many heavy machine guns. What models are they?"

His gaze was drawn to the heavy machine gun, and he glanced at the machine gun position a few more times.

The guards on duty weren't going to tolerate him. Seeing that he wasn't an officer from their unit, they strode forward:

"Hello, this is a military area. Please show your identification!"

Cheng Qian frowned, and the adjutant beside him said, "Corporal, we are from the First War Zone Command. We have important matters to discuss with your Commander Wang. Please let us through immediately!"

The corporal remained unfazed: "Please show me your identification!"

The adjutant was about to get angry, but Cheng Qian stopped him: "This is my identification. Your garrison's hospitality is quite interesting!"

The corporal took the document, glanced at it, and said expressionlessly, "So it's Commander Cheng. I apologize for the neglect. You may proceed!"

Another guard lifted the railing and waved for the convoy to enter.

Cheng Qian took back his identification and looked inside carefully:
"Let's go in and talk first!"

"boom!"

The jeeps started up again, and the convoy slowly drove into the command post compound.

Doorway.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, the guard who had been in charge of raising the barrier came over and said, "Brother, didn't Chief of Staff Zhao already give us instructions? Why did you still stop him?"

Corporal: "Haven't you heard? The First War Zone is going to breach the Yellow River dike!"

The guard's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape: "Huh? Really?"

The corporal glanced around to make sure no one else was there, then whispered, "You went to bed early last night, so you don't know about this, as far as I know."

Upon hearing this, the guard's eyes widened in disbelief: "No... they've gone mad!"

The corporal snorted coldly: "The news that spread yesterday has already arrived today. What good could it possibly be?"

"Don't even mention stopping him, if this were in the middle of nowhere, I'd kill him on the spot!"

The guard was stunned: "Brother, are you out of your mind?"

Corporal: "The world doesn't want people to live."

Inside the compound. Having learned of Cheng Qian's arrival early on, Wang Feng did not come out to greet him personally. Only Zhao Fangyuan and several staff officers waited in front of the command post tent.

The adjutant, sitting inside the car, could see the situation ahead through the windshield:

"Sir, these garrison soldiers are so rude!"

Cheng Qian frowned and waved his hand: "Don't worry about that for now, let's talk about it when we see Wang Feng!"

"Please double-check that everything is included. We can't afford any mishaps!"

The adjutant patted the briefcase: "Don't worry, sir, everything is ready!"

After the vehicle came to a stop, Cheng Qian opened the city gate, and Zhao Fangyuan greeted him with a smile: "Commander Cheng, I've heard so much about you!"

Cheng Qian nodded with a forced smile.

Long heard of your name
That sounds so harsh.
The news had spread like wildfire in the newspapers outside; no matter which newspaper or which edition, Cheng Qian's name was on it.

Ignoring all that, Zhao Fangyuan turned to the side and said, "Commander Cheng, please. Our commander has been waiting for quite some time!"

Cheng Qian smiled and said, "Please!"

The group entered the command post.

Wang Feng learned yesterday that Cheng Qian was coming. Although he didn't take it too seriously, the other party was, after all, the commander of the war zone, a man of high rank and great power. If he didn't treat him with any hospitality, wouldn't people laugh at him?

The wooden table that was originally used to lay out battle maps was removed and replaced with a long table that was usually used to receive guests and hold high-level military meetings.

It was called a table, but it was actually just empty ammunition boxes stacked up and covered with a red cloth.

Wang Feng sat at the head of the table, leaning back in his chair. As Cheng Qian and the others approached, he slowly stood up and politely extended his hand.
"Commander Cheng, it's been a long time since we parted ways in Guide!"

Cheng Qian stepped forward and took off his gloves: "Looking back, it's been half a year since the Guide Military Conference. Now that I think about it, those few days are really memorable!"

Wang Feng remained expressionless, but inwardly he chuckled coldly.

It was just a military conference, what's there to reminisce about?

It's nothing more than an attempt to scare themselves.
Do you really think I'm Han Fuqu?

The adjutant handed over the briefcase, then exchanged a glance with Cheng Qian before turning and leaving the command post.

Zhao Fangyuan understood, and after obtaining Wang Feng's eye signal of approval, he led the group of staff officers away.

Only these two remained in the entire command post.

Wang Feng pulled out a chair: "Commander Cheng, sit down and let's talk!"

After saying that, regardless of Cheng Qian's expression, he sat down in the head seat and took a sip of hot tea.

Cheng Qian smiled and sat down as well.

Wang Feng covered the teacup: "Commander Cheng, the Japanese invaders have already captured Dangshan and are approaching Lanfeng. We are both busy with military affairs, so let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point!"

Cheng Qian responded and opened the briefcase brought by his adjutant:

"Commander Wang, this is the supplementary military funding for three months issued by the central government."

Wang Feng was somewhat surprised.

Refund of military funds?

They give money right away.
Cheng Qian opened the box, and a large stack of bank deposit slips came into view.

Immediately afterwards, he pulled a letter out of his pocket: "This is a personal letter from the Chairman to you, ordering me to deliver it to you no matter what."

Wang Feng raised his eyebrows and sat up slightly: "In that case, we should thank Commander Cheng for traveling hundreds of miles to personally deliver this letter."

Cheng Qian: "We are both soldiers of the Party and the State, so there's no need for these words. Commander Wang, please open it and take a look first!"

Wang Feng opened the letter and glanced at it from top to bottom.

[To my beloved brother:]
With Xuzhou suddenly falling, the Japanese invaders are fleeing in disarray, and their 5th Division's mechanized division has already reached Dangshan. Judging from their tank formations, which resemble a locust swarm pressing in, they will surely reach Zhengzhou within ten days. If Zhengzhou falls, the gateway to Wuhan will be wide open, and the lifeline of the Nationalist government will hang by a thread.

In the past, Yu the Great tamed the floods by carving the Dragon Gate to connect the nine rivers. Although countless people were displaced, the nine provinces were eventually brought to peace. Today, the Japanese pirates are more rampant than the flood demons. Zhuge Liang burned Xinye, yet they all abandoned petty benevolence for the greater good.
[Handwritten]

The letter was short, but it was full of classical allusions. Wang Feng chuckled coldly after reading it.

Digging the embankment at the entrance of the garden.
They all set aside petty benevolence for the greater good.
Screw that bullshit logic.

Wang Feng folded the letter neatly and returned it unopened: "Commander Cheng, since you've come today, I'll be frank with you. Whoever wants to breach the Yellow River dike, I, Wang, will be the first to disagree."

Cheng Qian's voice rose several decibels: "But this is the Chairman's intention!"

Wang Feng shook his head: "Commander Cheng, since you are so proactive about breaching the Yellow River dike, you must have made full preparations in all aspects. Then let me ask you, once the Yellow River releases its floodwaters, where will the tens of millions of people downstream go?"

Cheng Qian wanted to refute, but couldn't find the words to say for a moment:

"This"

"If we notify the people downstream, the news will inevitably leak out!"

Wang Feng said coldly, "So, according to Commander Cheng, we're just going to disregard the tens of thousands of people living along the Yellow River?"

Cheng Qian jumped to his feet: "Wang Feng!"

"We've neglected one thing for another! We've neglected one thing for another!"

"The Japanese army is advancing on Zhengzhou. I think you must know their next offensive plan!"

"Factories in Wuhan need to be evacuated, schools need to be evacuated, government agencies need to be evacuated, troops withdrawn from the front lines need to rest and recuperate, weapons need to be replenished, soldiers need to be trained, and defense fortifications need to be built. All of this takes time!"

"If we can't stop the Japanese army in the Henan area, what will become of Wuhan!"

"We've lost Shanghai, we've lost Nanjing, we've lost Taiyuan, we've lost Xuzhou, we can't afford to lose Wuhan too!"

These words ignited Wang Feng's anger, and he stood up as well: "So what if we lose it? If we save the land but lose the people, we lose both; if we save the people but lose the land, we save both. Don't you understand this principle, Commander Cheng?"

"Wuhan is a city in crisis. Even if we can hold it, what then?"

"Japan's war potential has not been exhausted. There are still millions of reservists on the mainland, and industrial production can still supply the needs of the front line. Now is not the time to engage in a large-scale decisive battle with the Japanese army!"

Cheng Qian: "If you lose the land but the people, you lose both the land and the people, Commander Wang. That's true, but for the common people who are constantly on the move, that's utter bullshit!"

"The fall of Henan is a fact that no one can change. We must think about the future and defend Wuhan at all costs. This is the next policy of the War of Resistance!"

"Commander Wang, you only see the tens of millions of people in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, but can you see the people in the three towns of Wuhan!"

"To be honest, at our level, the worst thing we can do is act impulsively. We can't limit our vision to just one place or one moment. If we save the people along the Yellow River, what about all the people in Wuhan who couldn't be evacuated in time!"

"I remember a few months ago, you were the one who showed me the photos of the Nanjing Massacre. You should know very well what kind of scene it would have been if Wuhan had been occupied by the Japanese invaders!"

"Our country's military strength is weak, which is an objective fact that cannot be changed for the time being. We can only choose between the Yellow River and Wuhan!"

"Commander Wang, a kind heart cannot command an army, nor can it govern a government!"

(End of this chapter)