Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 217 The War Ends, An Olive Branch is Offered (6K Long Chapter)

28th Brigade Frontline Command Post.

The communications officer handed over a telegram: "Brigade Commander, the division headquarters has ordered our troops to continue the attack and capture the main defensive line of the 47th Chinese Army within three hours. The cavalry regiment will support us on the flank!"

After receiving the telegram, Kanichiro Ueno glanced at it. Due to the timing of the dispatch, he had not received news of Kiyoshi Kazuki's dismissal.

"well!"

"Immediately order the 1st and 2nd Regiments stationed here to launch a general offensive!"

The communications officer nodded: "Hai!"

Standing on the high ground, Kanichiro Ueno could easily see the battlefield situation below. Imperial soldiers were attacking relentlessly, while the soldiers of the 47th Chinese Army were putting up a fierce resistance in the trenches. Their courage was commendable, but they were mercilessly torn apart by artillery fire and eventually turned into a pool of blood mist.

This is his favorite scene to see.

It would be even better if the soldiers in the trenches could be replaced by civilians.

The operations staff officer standing nearby said with some concern: "Sir, we are on the flank of the main Chinese force. If they abandon their advance and instead turn right to cut off our brigade's rear, we may be attacked from both sides!"

Kanichiro Ueno smiled and said, "You're overthinking it!"

“If this were on a plain, what you said would make some sense, but this is mountainous terrain, the most rugged battlefield. Even if every Chinese soldier had iron feet, it would be impossible for them to appear on our flank so quickly!”

The operations staff glanced at the map, feeling somewhat conflicted.

Kanichiro Ueno is absolutely right.

This is mountainous terrain, not a plain.

In addition to the main combat troops on the front line, the 28th Brigade also set up a large number of reconnaissance posts on the periphery. Even if the Chinese army really had this idea, it would be discovered in time and there would be no chance to take advantage of it.

The operations staff officer lowered his head: "Perhaps I'm overthinking it."

Ueno Kanichiro thought for a moment: "The Chinese 47th Army is already trapped and not worth worrying about. There is an old Chinese saying: 'He who travels a hundred miles is only halfway there at ninety.' The closer we get to success, the less we can afford to be careless and the more cautious we must be!"

"Dispatch two infantry battalions to defend the flank!"

The communications officer beside him frowned: "Sir, this old saying doesn't seem to mean that."

Kanichiro Ueno glanced at him.

The communications officer took two steps back, shrank his neck, lowered his head, and said no more.

Operations Staff Officer: "Hai!"

--------

Flanking battle.

A faint rustling sound could be heard from the lush grass.

"Platoon leader, there are Japanese sentries ahead!" a soldier said in a low voice, crouching down.

The platoon leader gently parted the weeds in front of him and looked in the direction the soldier was pointing.

"Damn those Japanese devils, they're pretty clever, setting up so many sentry posts!"

"What should we do? Should we sneak over and take him out?"

The platoon leader mentally estimated the time: "Let's wait a bit longer, it shouldn't be time yet!"

A soldier nearby chimed in, "Platoon leader, when are you going to give us watches? I saw the company commander wearing one before, and he looked so impressive!"

The platoon leader rolled his eyes at him and said, "Keep your voice down! What's it to you with this watch? Just keep your gun to yourself."

Several soldiers started a commotion:

"That's right, that's right! If the officer can provide you with a watch, your family's ancestors' graves will be emitting auspicious smoke!"

The soldier who had spoken earlier blushed deeply: "My brother works in a factory. I heard about it when I got home. They've been producing foreign watches recently."

"Hahahaha!"

The soldiers covered their mouths and burst into laughter, instantly easing the pre-battle tension.

The platoon leader kept his eyes fixed on the front. The nearest Japanese sentry post was more than 400 meters away in a straight line. With the noise from the wind blowing through the grass, there was no need to worry about revealing their position.

"Alright, get ready to move in!"

The soldiers, who had been laughing and joking, immediately became serious upon hearing the order. The riflemen lowered their bodies and moved slowly forward in a half-crouch.

The burly light machine gunner slightly raised his gun muzzle and aimed at the Japanese sentry post exposed in his field of vision.

"beat!"

The platoon leader gave the order.

"Da da da--!"

Gunfire erupted like popping beans, and the Japanese sentries who were looking around were riddled with bullets and fell to the ground. Until the last second before they died, they didn't understand what was happening.

"dash forward!"

The platoon leader stood up and led his platoon of soldiers to rush towards the Japanese defense line.

--------

Inside the forward command post.

Wang Feng kept a close eye on the movements of his own side displayed on the overhead panel.

After unlocking the [High-Speed ​​Assault Motorized Unit], the Fourth Column's strength has undergone a qualitative leap. With a massive influx of resources, it has already begun to resemble a motorized unit.

Their assault speed was comparable to that of the First Column. With the added advantage of the organization of the first attack in the campaign, they advanced at least two kilometers in less than half an hour after contacting the enemy. The troops at the forefront were about to reach the command post of the 28th Brigade.

From an overhead perspective.

Wang Feng clearly saw two infantry battalions moving to the flanks, but it was too late.

An infantryman's legs cannot outrun a car's four wheels.

At this rate, by the time Japanese reinforcements arrive, our side will have already cleared out the enemy brigade command post and moved on to the next target.

They came up empty-handed.

The adage "speed is of the essence in war" was perfectly exemplified at this moment.

Wang Feng summoned Zhao Fangyuan: "Give the order: the entire army shall immediately launch a counterattack."

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, but the Japanese are still attacking."

In battle, the attacking side often suffers far greater losses than the defending side. Now that the Japanese army is fighting fiercely, it would be better to let the soldiers stay in the trenches for a while longer, and wait for the Japanese to get tired before going out. Wouldn't that be twice as effective?

Wang Feng: "The offensive and defensive positions have changed. Each battalion should organize a vanguard suicide squad to charge at the forefront. Anyone who dares to retreat will be shot on the spot!"

He personally witnessed the 4th Column infiltrate the Japanese 28th Brigade from the flank. Telegraph transmission has a high delay, so not only was his side completely unaware of it, but the Japanese brigade commander was probably still in the dark, dreaming of an imminent victory.

This battle is all about timing.

We must seize the initiative quickly before the Japanese army fully realizes what's happening.

Otherwise, if the Japanese realized what was happening and tried to annihilate the 28th Brigade, they would likely suffer even more casualties.

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

"I'll give the order right away!"

Wang Feng rubbed his eyes, sat down in the chair, and yawned.

The remaining battles were no longer his concern. All the strategic deployments had been implemented, and all he needed to do was fight the Japanese army head-on to secure the victory.

--------

114th Division Command Post.

Three hours had passed since Wang Feng issued the order for a full-scale attack.

Suematsu Shigeharu had no desire to pace back and forth on the ground. His eyes were bloodshot, and he stared intently at the battle sand table in front of him, not moving an inch.

He didn't understand.

Why did more than two thousand Chinese soldiers suddenly emerge from the flank of the 28th Brigade?

Why.
Their marching speed was unusually fast. Judging from the reports from the troops below, these Chinese soldiers had strong firepower and were clearly a fully armed main force, rather than a lightly armed vanguard.

Chief of Staff Tetsusuke Shimazu walked over slowly: "Report!"

Suematsu Shigeharu turned his head: "What is it?"

"If it's a telegram requesting assistance from the 28th Brigade, then there's no need to tell me."

Tetsuya Shimazu withdrew his hand, which was about to hand over the telegram, and stood there somewhat awkwardly.

Shigeharu Suematsu: "Shimazu-kun, what are your thoughts on the current battle situation?"

Tetsuya Shimazu's lips twitched as he looked at the battle map, remaining silent for a long time.

What do you think?
The battle situation was in complete chaos. One division and two independent mixed brigades were cut off and surrounded by the Chinese army, turning them into isolated islands. They were calling for reinforcements everywhere, and each regiment was at risk of being annihilated at any moment.

Now you know to ask me? When we received the telegram before, it was you who insisted on doing things your own way, not me.

They should be swept into the trash heap by the Imperial Way faction rebels!

Shigeharu Suematsu: "Shimazu-kun, I have a question for you!"

Shimazu Tessuke: "Sir, I have no good remedy."

"Is that so?" Suematsu Shigeharu sneered. "Shimazu-kun, if you, as the division chief of staff, continue to be so passive and avoid battle, I can file a complaint with the Army Headquarters!"

Tetsuya Shimazu's expression changed drastically: "Sir, things have come to this point, there is no room for maneuver. Retreating immediately might preserve some of our forces!"

Shigeharu Suematsu waved his hand dismissively: "Baka!"

"As a warrior of the Empire, how can you constantly talk about retreat? It's a disgrace to the Empire to have an officer like you!"

Tetsuya Shimazu looked at Shigeharu Suematsu, clenched his fists, his lips trembled, wanting to speak, but after struggling for a while, he swallowed his words back.

If internal strife breaks out now, there will truly be no way to reverse the situation.

Suematsu Shigeharu looked at the sand table: "Order the 27th and 28th Brigades to break out immediately and reorganize their defensive lines!"

"Was the telegram requesting air support sent? What was the response from the Taiyuan Command?"

Shimazu Tesuke: "Sir, the Taiyuan Command has issued a retreat order."

Suematsu Shigeharu roared in fury: "Shut up!"

--------

early morning.

The sixth hour of the all-out offensive.

Wang Feng looked down at the mountain of victory reports on the table, and wondered, "What is the 114th Division thinking? They've already fought to this extent, why are they still fighting to the death?"

Zhao Fangyuan shook his head: "Is the Japanese commander on the other side some kind of idiot?"

Wang Feng frowned. It was a pity that while the overhead view allowed him to see all the enemy's military deployments, it did not reveal the psychological activities of the enemy officers.

Zhao Fangyuan scratched his head: "Judging from the current battle situation, the Japanese army's defeat is a foregone conclusion. It seems that they have no other plans. Since the start of the general offensive, they have had many opportunities to break out. Why would they want to do this now?"

"Even if a military academy student were in command of this battle, it wouldn't have turned out like this!"

Wang Feng took a sip of tea: "Go and inform the artillery positions to move forward another two kilometers. Since they don't want to withdraw, I'll have to help them out."

Zhao Fangyuan raised an eyebrow: "Give them a hand?"

Wang Feng: "Go and relay the order!"

After so many battles, the Japanese army accumulated a lot of "valuable experience". In addition, in the first half of the war, the enemy advanced several kilometers, which meant that even now, the command post of the 114th Division is still outside the range of artillery fire.

According to Wang Feng's original idea, the Japanese army was beyond saving in this battle. Even if the likes of Kiyoshi Katsuki, Seishiro Itagaki, and Hisaichi Terauchi came to command, there would be no good solution.

Then this command post is just for show; it's optional to use it.

Instead of wasting shells on these scum, it would be better to bombard the front lines a few more times to suppress the Japanese army as much as possible and reduce the casualties of our own troops.

But look at it now.

The enemy is incredibly stubborn!
Zhao Fangyuan: "Yes!"

"By the way, sir, the Eighth Route Army has sent word that Nosaka Sanzo departed from Hong Kong the day before yesterday and will arrive in Changzhi in a few days!"

Wang Feng was somewhat surprised: "So fast?"

From Hong Kong to Changzhi, Shanxi, it crosses most of China, a straight-line distance of several thousand kilometers, not to mention the complex situation along the way. How long has it been? We're almost there.

Those are really iron legs!
Zhao Fangyuan explained, "The Eighth Route Army's reply was that Nosaka Sanzo was heading north with the supply transport team. This batch of goods was urgently needed, and they were traveling almost day and night. With the help of the underground organizations in various places, their journey was basically unimpeded!"

Wang Feng responded with an "Oh".

The Eighth Route Army readily agreed to provide cover for the key figure and handled the matter efficiently. Since that was the case, there was nothing for me to do. I didn't care what method they used, as long as they could bring the person to the destination.

Wang Feng: "Keep a close eye on this matter. How are the negotiations going regarding the weapons transport?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Everything is settled. A merchant ship will arrive in Hokkaido, Japan from Tianjin in half a month. We can tamper with it."

Wang Feng: "Is it safe?"

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "Please rest assured, sir. Although the merchant ship is controlled by the Japanese, the crew is mostly Chinese. A special team from the Ministry of the Interior has already arrived in Tianjin for this matter!"

Wang Feng: "Well done!"

----------

2:00 AM on June 11th.

With a deafening explosion, the headquarters of the Japanese 114th Division was engulfed in flames.

"Nani?"

The sentries on the perimeter turned at the sound, staring wide-eyed at the rising plumes of smoke from the explosion, their expressions filled with disbelief.

"quick!"

"Hurry up and save people!"

The scattered sentries gathered together, at a loss. After a long time without any shells falling, they rushed into the ruins and frantically rummaged through them.

"useless"

The defense captain survived by sheer luck. Looking at the command post that had been flattened by artillery fire, his mental defenses were completely shattered, and he collapsed to the ground.

The bombardment just now is still vivid in my mind.

He had served in the regular army and had a general understanding of the power of different artillery calibers.

Such a devastating explosion must have required the Chinese army to mobilize a large number of large-caliber heavy artillery pieces, at least 105 mm, and the first shell to fall was very likely 150 mm or larger.

6 month 12 day.

The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, the sand was softened by the explosions, and the scorched earth was marked with craters.

Accompanied by Zhao Fangyuan, Wang Feng stepped onto the trench at the front line.

Li Jiayu and his group strode over, snapped to attention, and saluted: "Good morning, Commander Wang!"

Wang Feng smiled and returned the greeting: "It's been a long time. How has your department been lately?"

Li Jiayu grinned from ear to ear: "Thanks to Commander Wang, my brothers and I are doing very well!"

Behind him, Deputy Army Commander Luo Zezhou echoed, "The victory in the Changzhi resistance today is all thanks to Commander Wang's support. On behalf of all the brothers of the 47th Army, I thank you!"

When a military officer in his thirties or forties, in the prime of his life, addressed him with the respectful "you" (formal), Wang Feng felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Commander Li, Commander Luo, you're too kind!"

"Defending our territory and fighting the war of resistance is the duty of us soldiers, so why should we express our gratitude!"

Li Jiayu laughed heartily: "Commander Wang, I have prepared a victory celebration banquet in the army. I hope you will do me the honor of joining me for a couple of drinks at my humble abode!"

Wang Feng frowned: "A banquet?"

"Now that the war has just ended, the camps are full of wounded soldiers, and cries of sorrow are everywhere. The bodies of the fallen soldiers are still warm, and many are still lying exposed in the wilderness. Yet we, as generals, are eager to hold a grand banquet and organize a victory celebration. I'm afraid this is not appropriate, Commander Li?"

Li Jiayu's expression changed drastically, and he quickly spoke up to smooth things over: "Commander Wang's teachings are excellent. It was my oversight. May I rest in my army for a while?"

Wang Feng thought for a moment and nodded:
"Please lead the way, Commander Li!"

Li Jiayu: "Please! Please!"

--------

When the group arrived at the headquarters of the 47th Army, they happened to see the cook serving the food.

Upon seeing Wang Fenghou, the cook didn't forget to greet him with a smile:
"Good day, sir. This is freshly cooked in our kitchen. Please sit down and have a taste!"

Li Jiayu's expression changed drastically, and he frantically gestured to Luo Zezhou beside him with his eyes.

what's the situation?
Didn't I tell you to take the dishes away?

Luo Zezhou also looked helpless.

It's not my fault!
The 47th Army was a Sichuan Army, which was severely lacking in vehicles. The army headquarters only had two jeeps, but they had long since broken down due to lack of fuel. When they arrived at the front line, the men rode on tall horses.

He "coincidentally" ran into Wang Feng and hitched a ride back with the General Headquarters.

If they were to actually run, the four wheels of a jeep would be much faster than the four legs of a warhorse.

In addition, it was a special vehicle of the General Headquarters. Although there were many soldiers on the road, it was unobstructed. When the group arrived, the messenger who was temporarily delivering the message was still blocking the road on horseback.

Wang Feng glanced at the dishes on the table.

In the very center of the round table, there was a large pot of braised pork with cabbage, with a few pieces of chili floating in the murky broth.

Around the pork stew with cabbage were several small dishes, the names of which he didn't know, but they were probably some kind of wild vegetables that had undergone special processing.

It looks quite spicy, which would suit the tastes of Sichuan soldiers.

Li Jiayu had a smile on her face. Things had already developed to this point, and even if there were problems, she had to grit her teeth and continue.

"Commander Wang, please have a seat!"

He pulled out the chair in the main seat, gesturing for Wang Feng to sit down.

"Commander Wang, don't underestimate this pork stew with cabbage. Although it's not authentic Sichuan cuisine, this dish alone contains two and a half pounds of pork, and it's stewed with lard!"

Li Jiayu introduced with a smile.

Wang Feng nodded. This dish was common in the army, whether it was the Sichuan Army, the Guangxi Army, or the Shanxi Army.

Among all kinds of livestock, cattle are used for plowing and agricultural production, sheep produce very little meat and have a strange taste if not handled properly, only pigs are almost the most perfect meat for the army.

They produce a lot of meat, are easy to raise, and are not picky eaters. Pig bristles can also be exported to earn foreign exchange and support the economy during the war of resistance.

It's simply killing multiple birds with one stone.

As for the cabbage.

They benefited from the good transportation.

But ordinary soldiers don't get to eat this much meat in their meals. If a platoon can get a pound of meat in a meal, that's considered a luxury.

This stuff really doesn't have much of a taste.

Wang Feng was unsure about other units, but in other Nationalist Army units, once you passed the brigade level, you basically wouldn't see this dish anymore.

Although it was tough.

But it's the lower-ranking soldiers who suffer the most.

To Wang Feng's surprise, the main dish of the "banquet" that Li Jiayu mentioned was actually a stew of pork and cabbage.

Thinking about it carefully, it was actually expected.

"Has your unit encountered any difficulties?" Wang Feng didn't touch his chopsticks, but instead asked about the matter. "Commander Li, perhaps I can help you solve it."

Li Jiayu understood the unspoken meaning, but pretended to be confused: "Commander Wang, my unit is truly poor and has not provided adequate hospitality. Please forgive us."

"How about this! I'll punish myself with three drinks."

Having said that, he was about to stand up and raise his glass.

Wang Feng stretched out his hand and pressed it down: "Li Jun, there's no need for that. Although I came from a well-off family, I'm just like you. I came from a local army and experienced hardship with ordinary brothers in the army. As for this dish, when I was deep in the heart of the Fifth Division, I didn't have enough to eat for several days. I missed this dish every day back then. How could I have been a poor host?"

Li Jiayu smiled and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Commander Wang, but I still want to drink this wine!"

This time, Wang Feng did not speak up to stop it.

The war is over, so moderate drinking can be overlooked. But if someone drinks excessively, it just means they misjudged the 47th Army; it's not a team worth trying to win over.

Li Jiayu stretched his neck and drank the baijiu in his glass in one gulp.

Wang Feng: "Commander Li, the current situation of the War of Resistance truly reflects what Chairman Chiang Kai-shek said—'Once war breaks out, regardless of north or south, young or old, everyone has the responsibility to defend the land and resist the enemy.'"

Li Jiayu nodded repeatedly: "Absolutely! Absolutely!"

Wang Feng continued on this topic, saying, "Your 47th Army has been in Changzhi for so long, and you've lost contact with the 22nd Army Group for so long. Now that the battle in Changzhi is over, I expect there will be no more disputes in the short term. I wonder what your unit plans to do next?"

Li Jiayu and Luo Zezhou exchanged a glance.

Actually, the reason they invited Wang Feng here today is precisely for this matter.

In Chongqing, the 47th Army had already been labeled as part of the "newly promoted clique," though this was not something Li Jiayu wanted, and it was not something he could decide.

The army commander's position seems very high.

But everything is subject to constraints. What good is having a large army if supplies and provisions are cut off? In the long run, the actual combat effectiveness of the soldiers under your command is no better than that of the roadside weeds.

There are countless generals in the National Revolutionary Army, but not everyone can have a solid foundation like Wang Feng.

Follow orders, not announcements!
Li Jiayu tentatively asked in a low voice, "Commander Wang, what do you think?"

The 47th Army was stationed in Shanxi, and theoretically, it should be subject to the jurisdiction of the garrison district. Whether it stayed or left was entirely up to Wang Feng.

(End of this chapter)