Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 215 Returning to the Front Lines
6 month 10 day.

Wang Feng sat in the swaying carriage, peering out.

In the fields on both sides of the highway, the midday wind blew through the wheat that was beginning to turn yellow. Although Changzhi was still in the early stages of industrialization, Wang Feng had seen too many towns abandoned due to war along the way. Now, looking back at Changzhi, he could feel a trace of prosperity.

Zhao Fangyuan sat in the passenger seat of the jeep: "Sir, the forward command post is just ahead."

Wang Feng snapped out of his daze: "Hurry up! Who's in command there right now?"

Zhao Fangyuan truthfully said, "When the Japanese army attacked, our main generals were all in other places. The one currently in charge of the forward command post is a rising star."

Wang Feng became interested: "A rising star?"

"What identity?"

When he was away, the resistance in Changzhi was led by Song Wenjie. Although the promotion of generals required his approval, military affairs piled up every day. He had to go through more than a dozen names a day, so it was still a bit difficult to remember a newcomer.

Zhao Fangyuan explained, "His name is Hao Lingfei. He used to be a deputy battalion commander in our 414th Regiment, under Zhang Hu. He made meritorious contributions during the Chihe Campaign. Later, he transferred to the infantry department of Changzhi Military Academy as a first-term student. After graduation, he stayed in Changzhi and is currently serving as the chief of staff at the forward command post. He is only responsible for handling emergency situations and providing advice. The real decision-making power is still in Song Wenjie's hands."

Wang Feng nodded.

It wasn't that he didn't care; it was just that he had too many things to do every day. On the contrary, the Changzhi resistance was the one he was least in a hurry for.

Although its main force was not present, the Changzhi resistance still mobilized a considerable number of troops, including seven reserve battalions totaling 7000 men, 2.4 men from the 47th Army, and a significant number from the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army. The scale of the deployment continued to increase.

The Japanese devils won't last much longer!
Wang Feng: "Approximately when will you arrive?"

Zhao Fangyuan glanced down at the time: "It will probably take another half hour!"

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The forward command post.

Hao Lingfei frowned and looked at his adjutant beside him: "What exactly happened? Have you found out?"

Why have there been more and more Japanese planes flying around these past few days?

The adjutant shook his head: "The situation hasn't been clarified yet; we probably need to end the battle as soon as possible."

"What are you all good for?" Hao Lingfei sneered. "I don't want to hear any possibilities. As soldiers, how can we fight based on unfounded guesses? One victory will only lead to more lucky breaks. Keep investigating!"

The adjutant lowered his head after being reprimanded: "Yes, sir!"

Hao Lingfei: "What's the situation with the 47th Army?"

Adjutant: "Sir, the 47th Army sent a telegram two minutes ago. They claim they have encountered the main force of the Japanese army, their front line is in retreat, and they are reorganizing their counterattack."

"They lacked anti-aircraft firepower, and the Japanese army anticipated this, deliberately picking on the weakest link!"

"Our main force's offensive is progressing smoothly. Should we slow down the pace of the attack and go to support our friendly forces on the flank?"

Hao Lingfei thought for a moment: "Any orders from the rear command headquarters?"

Adjutant: "Yes!"

"The Commander-in-Chief's convoy set off last night and is now less than 30 kilometers away from us."

Hao Lingfei: "Where are the support troops?"

The adjutant glanced at the time: "We should run into them soon."

Hao Lingfei rubbed his temples: "Send a telegram to the Third, Fourth, and Seventh Battalions, informing them to temporarily postpone the attack, rest in place, and await further instructions."

The adjutant saluted: "Yes, sir!"

Hao Lingfei glanced at the guard beside him: "Go and tidy up the command room. Finish it within 20 minutes, then come back and let me know!"

Although he commanded most of the frontline operations, his military rank was only Chief of Staff before the war. Therefore, he always commanded operations from the General Staff Headquarters. The command room was usually only used when Song Wenjie came to the front.

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After half an hour.

When Wang Feng entered the command post, everything was ready.

Hao Lingfei stepped out from behind Zhao Fangyuan and saluted: "Sir!"

Wang Feng pulled out a chair and sat down: "Give me a brief overview of the battle."

Hao Lingfei: "Yes!"

After saying that, he walked to the large chart and took out his command baton: "The current battle line is mainly divided into three parts. The first is the main battlefield composed of our army's seven battalions, which occupies almost two-thirds of the battle line."

"Secondly, there was the friendly 47th Army, which was mainly on our right flank. Although it was a flank battle, the Japanese army keenly discovered the loopholes in our defenses and focused their main offensive firepower on the 47th Army."

"The third line of defense is the anti-enemy-land line composed of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army and our guerrilla units."

Wang Feng raised an eyebrow: "There are still our people on the enemy's rear?"

Hao Lingfei nodded: "Two days ago, three guerrilla detachments behind enemy lines arrived from the Zhengtai Railway and cooperated with the 386th Brigade in several raids, with very good results."

Wang Feng nodded.

The guerrilla force behind enemy lines should be Zhu Xiangwen's troops.

Hao Lingfei continued, "Sirs, our most pressing problem right now is that the 47th Army is outdated in equipment, lacks rigorous training, has low combat effectiveness, and has too many gaps on its flanks, making it unable to effectively cooperate with our main force in combat."

Wang Feng sighed.

The problems of the 47th Army are indeed complex.

The fall of Taiyuan and the defeat of the Jin-Sui Army in southern Shanxi meant that the war of resistance in Shanxi on the main battlefield was coming to an end. The various army-level units were either incorporated into Wei Lihuang's command or transferred to the Fifth War Zone to participate in the Battle of Xuzhou.

For example, Deng Xihou's 22nd Army Group.

Li Jiayu's 47th Army also belonged to this unit.

However, when the 22nd Army Group moved to Xuzhou, Changzhi was fighting against the first Japanese attack. The two sides were already locked in fierce fighting, and withdrawing troops at this time was obviously not a realistic option.

No matter how urgent the situation, we have to wait until the war is over before we can talk about it.

Therefore, the 47th Army remained in Changzhi for the time being.

His fate was fraught with misfortune.

After the Battle of Changzhi ended, the 47th Army suffered heavy losses and was unable to turn back to Xuzhou. It could only remain in Changzhi temporarily. At this time, the political situation in Sichuan changed. The warlord Liu Xiang suddenly passed away, and Deng Xihou returned to Sichuan to take charge of the government.

Sun Zhen will temporarily serve as the army group commander.

At that time, it was a critical period for the defense of Teng County.

After the battle ended, the 47th Army had almost finished its rest and reorganization. Because he had secretly recruited Wang Mingzhang, the truth could not be kept, and when Chiang Kai-shek found out about it, it directly touched a nerve.

Even Wang Mingzhang, who had worked with them for several days, could be recruited.

What about the 47th Army, which has been stationed in Changzhi for so long?

The recent accusation that Li Jiayu colluded with the enemy was a way of secretly testing his attitude.

The result is obvious.

This was a doomed situation for Li Jiayu; in Chiang Kai-shek's eyes, he had become a pawn to be discarded.

Anyway, he's just a Sichuan Army general, not a direct descendant of the Whampoa Military Academy. One more or one less won't make a difference.

If he didn't step in to help, the charge of being a "bandit" would be confirmed. Under the backdrop of cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, Li Jiayu wouldn't face particularly severe punishment, or even a formal charge.

But being unfairly treated and demoted in name only is an inevitable outcome.

This is extremely unfair to a patriotic anti-Japanese general!
If I were to intervene and save them.

In Chiang Kai-shek's mind, he would be classified as a member of the "newly emerging faction".

He can keep his position as army commander.

But forget about military spending.

A unit that cannot receive military funding and lacks sufficient reserves will inevitably have poor combat effectiveness.

In any case, it's all the same – death. With this level of infighting, the choice is no longer in Li Jiayu's hands.

Wang Feng simply stepped in to help, temporarily saving the 47th Army and providing a minimum amount of financial support.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, how about we take them in?"

Wang Feng waved his hand, interrupting the topic: "Let's continue with the battle situation!"

The soldiers of the 47th Army are indeed of good quality. They were able to continue fighting under such difficult circumstances. If their weapons were replenished and they underwent standardized training, their combat effectiveness would surely increase rapidly.

It's not difficult to incorporate regular troops registered with the Ministry of Military Affairs; nominally, they do have that authority.

However, how to settle these 20,000-plus people after they are incorporated into the army, whether to add two new columns or to assign them to the reserve force, requires repeated consideration.

Wang Feng looked at Hao Lingfei: "What are your thoughts on the current battle situation?"

Hao Lingfei: "Sir, in my opinion, the 14th Division has been defeated, and the First Army is already stretched thin. At the same time, the Jin-Sui Army in southern Shanxi and the Central Army are making moves. The Eighth Route Army's base areas behind enemy lines and the Japanese-occupied areas are intertwined, making the situation extremely complicated. Xiangyue will definitely not stay in Changzhi for too long. No matter how we fight this battle, we will eventually win."

"The key is how to maximize the gains!"

Wang Feng nodded.

Hao Lingfei continued, "Since the Japanese army has adopted the strategy of 'Tian Ji's horse racing,' using superior forces to fight against our weaker troops, we might as well turn the tables on them and send a portion of our forces to stabilize the front line for the 47th Army, while our main force maneuvers around to the rear of the Japanese army and cuts off their retreat!"

Zhao Fangyuan thought for a moment: "Isn't this too risky?"

"What if the 47th Army can't withstand the pressure and retreats before the Japanese army?"

Hao Lingfei: "Sir, behind the 47th Army's front line, there is a semi-permanent defense fortification. Even if our friendly forces are defeated and retreat to this location, they can hold out for a period of time."

"However, if this defensive line is breached, the subsequent battles will likely be extremely difficult. The Japanese artillery can fire directly into the city, where there are many supply depots. A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall. Whether it was the first Battle of Changzhi or now, we usually push the front line forward a few kilometers."

Wang Feng switched to an overhead view.

The defense fortification that Hao Lingfei mentioned was not far from here. By slightly adjusting the time, every detail of the entire fortification could be observed.

【Taiyue Defense Line】

Construction completion rate: 48%

[Effect: Supply limit +10, Defense +30, Troop loss rate -20%]

Wang Feng raised an eyebrow.

new function?
That's quite thoughtful. Wang Feng came to his senses: "This defensive line is well-constructed. The connections between the bunkers, command center, and logistics are excellent. Who designed it?"

Hao Lingfei smiled and said, "Sir, the construction plan for this national defense fortification was jointly decided by several instructors and staff officers in the military academy. The students also participated, but their contribution was very small; they only made a few suggestions."

Wang Feng grinned.

This leadership characteristic makes him another "gatekeeper".

Wang Feng: "Let's do as you say. I brought two battalions and an artillery column with me. They are probably building positions right now and will provide fire support to cover the infantry's advance."

Hao Lingfei saluted: "Yes, sir!"

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Inside the command post.

Wang Feng focused all his attention on the bird's-eye view.

He silently noted down the coordinates of the Japanese military airfield.

"So close?"

"No wonder they're deploying so frequently."

Wang Feng glanced at the coordinates he had written down and a sense of unease crept into his mind.

A short while later, Zhao Fangyuan strode in: "Sir, the artillery positions have been set up. Requesting artillery fire instructions!"

Wang Feng handed over the coordinates he had written down: "While you were away, our brothers operating behind enemy lines managed to sneak up on the Japanese airfield. These are the coordinates. Order the artillery to mobilize all their firepower and take it down!"

After taking the paper with the coordinates written on it, Zhao Fangyuan made a phone call to the artillery command without hesitation.

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Ten kilometers away, a Japanese military airfield.

A Type 97 fighter jet with flames trailing behind it wobbled and landed on the runway. As soon as it came to a stop, a group of ground crew surrounded it. The cockpit canopy was opened, and the pilot, Yokoyama Tadashi, unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped to the ground.

"Yokoyama-kun, what happened to your plane?" The ground crew looked at the numerous bullet holes on the wing and couldn't help but ask. "It's been damaged to this extent that it's probably going to be totaled. You're really lucky to have made it back!"

Yokoyama Tadashi gasped for breath, his palms sweating profusely: "Those cunning Chinese! They lit some dry grass to obscure my vision. I think I flew into their core area. There are at least twenty anti-aircraft machine guns firing at me!"

The ground crew couldn't help but laugh: "Twenty anti-aircraft machine guns?"

"You said they used thick smoke to obscure your vision, so how did the anti-aircraft machine guns aim at you?"

Yokoyama was speechless. He stood there stunned for a long time. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him anymore, he turned around and walked towards the lounge.

Within the headquarters.

The squadron leader sat with his legs crossed in his chair: "We've launched over 200 sorties today. The Chinese on the front lines are about to give out. Maybe we can return to Taiyuan next week."

The infantry colonel standing nearby asked, "Mr. Matsui, His Majesty the Emperor has approved the cabinet's proposal to increase troops in China. Will you be transferred to Wuhan in two months?"

Matsui thought for a moment: "There's no news yet, but he might be transferred out of Shanxi."

The colonel looked somewhat regretful.

Matsui then changed the subject: "Two days ago I received a letter from home. Now the anti-war sentiment in the country is rising again. Yesterday there was another demonstration in our prefecture, right in front of my house, but it was suppressed by the police."

Colonel: "These parasites of the Empire!"

"His Majesty the Emperor should order them all to be exterminated immediately!"

"boom--!!"

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard a loud bang and felt the ground tremble.

The colonel immediately realized what was happening and walked to the window.

The once orderly military airfield was now in complete chaos. Smoke from the explosion enveloped the runway, and concrete fragments mixed with aircraft wreckage were blown into the sky.

"What's going on?" Matsui was a beat slow to react.

Colonel: "We've been shelled by the Chinese army!"

Matsui's heart skipped a beat: "What?!"

"Quickly."

He swallowed the words he was about to say.

The airport has been shelled. What can be done now?
Organize a counterattack?

Where are the artillery positions in China?

Matsui: "Report to the division commander immediately!"

The colonel shook his head: "It's no use. The communications station has been destroyed. Quickly organize the pilots to get into the air defense fortifications!"

"boom--!"

The shelling outside intensified, and the once smooth runway was now riddled with deep craters. Before the command could give any orders, the pilots spontaneously rushed toward the air defense fortifications.

A 155mm grenade crashed heavily onto the air defense fortification.

The explosion caused the concrete walls of the fortification to tremble violently, as if they were about to collapse at any moment.

The entire airport was a temporary construction, not to mention this fortification. Its defensive capabilities are incomparable to those permanent or semi-permanent fortifications.

This means fighting against the garrison.

If it were the Jin-Sui Army or the Central Army, they wouldn't bother with this.

Their heavy artillery can't reach us, and instead of spending time building fortifications, they might as well widen the runway.

Matsui was knocked down by the explosion while running, and a guard nearby helped him up.

"Damn it, you Chinese! What's the caliber of this cannon anyway?"

He was running and looking around as he spoke.

Even though it was a temporary airport, it was still quite large. In the past, Matsui would have moved around the airport on a motorcycle with a sidecar, but now he couldn't care less. The Chinese firepower was too intense, and in less than five minutes, the ground was riddled with holes.

Matsui gritted his teeth and ran desperately through the gunfire.

Colonel: "The caliber is at least 150 mm, bastard. When did they equip themselves with so many heavy artillery pieces?"

Amidst the continuous gunfire, Matsui couldn't hear what the enemy was saying and charged forward with his head down.

"Sir, the hangar has been destroyed!" a guard shouted from the side.

Matsui subconsciously turned his head, but before he could even see the hangar, a 122mm grenade landed at his feet.

"boom--!"

After the smoke cleared, only some broken tissue remains remained on the ground.

Several bombers preparing to land circled overhead, their pilots looking bewildered. They didn't have enough fuel to reach the nearest airfield.
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Wang Feng snapped out of his reverie, took a sip of tea, and said, "Fang Yuan, tell Zheng Zhenzhong that we can switch targets after another volley."

From his vantage point, he saw several grenades land in the hangar and fuel depot, and the raging fire engulfed everything. Judging from the size of the area, at least an air force squadron was stationed there.

It boasts strong capabilities and a wide variety of models.

But now it's all gone!

We'll leave the pilots and ground crew who took refuge in the air-raid shelters for now.

Firstly, it is quite difficult; secondly, without aircraft, the combat capability of the air force is not as good as that of an infantryman.

The situation is urgent; the 47th Army could collapse at any moment, and we absolutely cannot waste time on this.

After finishing his call, Zhao Fangyuan quickly walked to Wang Feng's side: "Sir, my unit is ready to launch an attack. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 4th Column have arrived at their designated positions and are waiting for orders."

Wang Feng nodded.

The main force of the Fourth Column is still resting in the rear. The two infantry battalions brought this time have been adjusted and replenished, and are now fully staffed.

In other words, all the elite troops of the Fourth Column, veterans who have been tempered by the flames of war, have been condensed into these two battalions.

"Begin the operation after the shelling!"

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

After saying that, he quickly walked out of the command post.

Wang Feng switched his perspective to the overhead view and spotted the locations of the two infantry battalions.

Having unlocked the [National Policy], it's a bit inappropriate to call it an infantry battalion.

"Assault Battalion" might be a more suitable term.

"Buzz!"

A flatbed truck, loaded with piles of combat supplies and crammed with soldiers, was towed behind the transport truck as it traveled along the bumpy dirt road.

There are at least thirty trucks like these in this convoy.

Wang Feng cannot afford to equip the motorized infantry column at present, but it is not a problem to equip two infantry battalions with a sufficient number of mechanized vehicles to achieve the effect of rapid motorized infantry advance.

This can be considered a small attempt.

It was the first time the soldiers were traveling to the battlefield together in trucks, and they were still somewhat unaccustomed to it. From an overhead view, Wang Feng could see that some of the soldiers looked a little unnatural.

I don't know if it's motion sickness or what.

Before this, whether it was a long-distance raid or a short-distance assault, the soldiers relied on their own two legs to run.

Only combat weapons are transported by truck.

"We still need to work on the integration and training!" Wang Feng frowned. It seems that achieving motorization is not as simple as just having enough autonomous vehicles.

It's not something that soldiers can achieve simply by overcoming motion sickness.

Officers' command philosophies need to be changed, and soldiers' long-term training also needs to be adjusted.

Simply relying on piling up equipment to achieve motorized movement will only result in what we see before us—not exactly chaotic, but the effect is rather unsatisfactory.

(End of this chapter)