The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Begins in Songhu

Chapter 396 Different Reactions (Two-in-One Chapter)

As mentioned earlier.

In December of the 28th year of the Republic of China, the most significant event on Chinese soil was the battle that took place in the Guinan region.

This major battle, because it involved one of China's most critical supply routes, had already attracted the attention of countless people on both sides.

Especially in China, countless people are deeply concerned about the outcome of this war.

However, as they waited anxiously, no good news came back from the front lines, which made them increasingly anxious.

Therefore, on the evening of the 24th, news came that Hu Biao, Commander Hu, and his comrades had led the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment to capture the Jieshou Mountain position in just three hours.

It spread like a plague through the Central News Agency's radio station and numerous newspapers.

This immediately triggered a series of different reactions from both the Chinese and Japanese sides, and even some foreigners who were paying attention to the battle, making the aftermath of this great war even more exciting...

Time: A little after six o'clock in the evening, at the main gate of the 20th Factory of the Ordnance Department in Shuangqing City.

Compared to the Guinan region, where the temperature is still around 15 or 16 degrees Celsius and quite comfortable and pleasant, Shuangqing City has already entered the cold depths of winter.

Even though it hasn't snowed in the last two days, the cold wind still makes you feel chilled to the bone.

Dragging his body, exhausted from a day's work, Xu Xuewen slowly walked out of the factory gate; a strong gust of cold wind blew in, making him feel extremely tired, cold, and hungry.

I couldn't help but imagine how wonderful it would be to enjoy a bowl of mutton soup with extra pepper right now.

Unfortunately, he himself knew that this was something he could only think about at most.

The only thing I could really do was tighten my oil-soaked coat, go home early, have a couple of bowls of porridge, and go to bed early.

With his hopes for mutton soup still lingering, Xu Xuewen hung his head and slowly walked back towards the two shacks rented by his family of five, a mile or two away.

As he walked, the man in his thirties had an indescribable look of worry on his face.

There was nothing he could do! Xu Xuewen had just too many things to worry about.

In fact, the so-called 20th Factory of the Ordnance Department was originally the Gongxian Ordnance Factory, but after it was moved to Shuangqing City by the National Government, the name was changed to this.

Xu Xuewen, a native of Zhongyuan Province, was a senior technical worker in the factory, and his family also came to Shuangqing City.

Even though he was a senior skilled worker and his monthly salary was relatively high among his colleagues in the factory, it was still far from enough.

The cost of living in Shuangqing City is too high. Rent, firewood, cooking oil, charcoal for heating, and winter clothes all cost money. His salary is simply not enough for a family of five.

In addition to these concerns, there was also the worry about the Japanese bombing of Shuangqing from time to time, and the safety of relatives in their hometown in Central China.

However, what worried this man the most was the National Revolutionary Army's response to the Japanese invasion. Although, unlike before, they had not lost most of the country in just over a year.

But we kept hearing news of places being captured by the Japanese and how many people were killed or wounded.

For example, last month he heard on the radio that Nanning, the capital of Guangxi province, had been lost.

The National Revolutionary Army deployed elite troops led by the Fifth Army, along with a large number of Guangxi troops, but after fighting for so long, no good news came back.

After hearing so much bad news, Xu Xuewen felt somewhat desperate.

He saw no hope whatsoever that he could drive away the Japanese invaders, return to his hometown in Central China to reunite with his family, and live a peaceful life together.

I did my best, but all I could do was keep my family barely alive.

They live a life of immense hardship, like cattle or livestock.

In such an environment, how could Xu Xuewen possibly be happy? He even forgot how long it had been since he had last laughed.

Xu Xuewen's situation and mentality are merely a microcosm of the current situation of most Chinese people.

This was a period before the outbreak of the Pacific War, when the interests of the foreign devils were not threatened or damaged, and when China did not receive any large-scale foreign aid.

After too many failures, too many Chinese people no longer dared to hope that they could drive out the Japanese invaders.

They were filled with confusion and despair about the future of the country and themselves.

But today's situation is a little different. Just as Xu Xuewen was worrying about the price of rice on the market, which had recently risen again, a newsboy suddenly appeared at the other end of the street and ran over like a gust of wind.

He waved the newspaper vigorously while shouting repeatedly in a childish voice:

"Good news, good news, the latest good news! The most crucial high point of Kunlun Pass, Jieshou Mountain, has just been completely captured by Commander Hu and his men."

In this battle, at least one Japanese battalion was annihilated, and a Japanese colonel was captured.

Upon hearing the shouts, Xu Xuewen experienced a severe mental lapse, seriously doubting whether he was hallucinating due to exhaustion, cold, and hunger.

The main reason was that during lunch today, he heard that Commander Hu had made a pledge, saying that he would definitely take Kunlun Pass within two days, or he was willing to be court-martialed.

Then, at noon today, news broke that the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment had launched an attack on Jieshou Mountain, a strategic high ground.

He naturally had no doubt about the fighting capabilities of Commander Hu and the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment; after all, their reputation was earned through the sacrifice of countless Japanese soldiers.

Even if they were very capable, they could only field a reinforced regiment on the Kunlun Pass battlefield.

The main force is still in northwestern Shanxi.

Previously, the Nationalist Fifth Army, responsible for attacking Jieshou Mountain, was also a renowned elite force.

They have more troops and better equipment, but after fighting for so many days, they have made little progress.

Therefore, Xu Xuewen believed that even if Commander Hu could capture Jieshou Mountain, it would take him a day or two and many brothers would die in battle.

Only half a day later, Jieshou Mountain was captured. Were those Japanese soldiers made of clay? Instinctively, Xu Xuewen thought he must have misheard.

However, he soon found out that it was all true.

A bespectacled man stopped a newsboy to buy a newspaper, but after only a few quick glances, he muttered a curse.

He was a bit too emotional, and his words even included Cantonese dialect:

"Damn it! We really took Jieshou Mountain, it only took three hours."

This unusually excited roar was just the beginning. More roars, each with a different accent, followed, shouting out similar things.

Soon after, even the city of Shuangqing changed.

Thousands of people gathered together, cheering and marching, their faces beaming with long-lost smiles; even Xu Xuewen, whose fatigue, hunger, and cold had vanished.

Such a frenzied scene is because Shuangqing has seen an influx of over a million people in the past year or two.

The vast majority of them were pitiful people like Xu Xuewen, who were forced to leave their homes under the threat of the Japanese invaders.

They unleash their greatest enthusiasm whenever they see even the slightest glimmer of hope...

At the same time, still in Shuangqing City, but the location changed to the bald principal's official residence.

When the huge cheers from the thousands of people gathered together reached his ears from afar, the bald principal already knew the good news of the successful capture of Jieshou Mountain more than an hour earlier.

After feeling the surge of excitement in those cheers, I couldn't help but slap the table hard.

He muttered, "Damn it! Hu Biao is truly a tiger general."

This victory is truly invaluable.

Compared to the general public, all they saw was the glorious victory of Hu Biao and his men, who captured Jieshou Mountain in three hours, annihilating over a thousand enemy soldiers and capturing one Japanese soldier.

Given the bald-headed principal's status and position, he could naturally see more benefits. For example, after capturing Kunlun Pass in a short time, the army could take advantage of the Japanese troops being weak in Nanning City and the lack of reinforcements, and drive the Japanese back into the sea, thus restoring this crucial supply line.

Furthermore, the public has been suppressing their emotions for too long and urgently needs a resounding victory to vent their frustration after a series of defeats.

That's why a huge impulse surged in the bald principal's heart.

He asked Chen Bulei, who had been silent in the office and was known as the "literary courage," a question:
"Xun'en! What do you think about sending Hu Biao to Whampoa for six months of advanced training after this battle?"
While he was pursuing his studies, he reorganized the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment into a Class A reinforced regiment, selecting elite junior officers and soldiers to fill it, and equipping them with the best gear. He also continued to have Hu Biao in command.

In this way, if a similar battle situation arises again in the future, Hu Biao will lead the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment into battle.

That's right! This time, letting Hu Biao and his team take over the main attack mission at Kunlun Pass was like a fire brigade on the battlefield, which can be considered a sweet taste for the bald principal.

Once you've tasted the sweetness of success the first time, you'll naturally want it countless times afterward.

The bald-headed principal envisioned turning Hu Biao and the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment into the sharpest blade in his hands; in the future, wherever a critical battlefield was in dire need, they would be transferred there to provide assistance.

There were also some other little plans that he didn't say directly, but Chen Bulei would definitely understand.

Even if Hu Biao is unruly, if you arm him with a regiment-sized force, he won't become too powerful and difficult to control.

"The Chairman's idea is excellent! However, the Battle of Guinan is currently at a critical stage. Perhaps we should observe Hu Biao's capabilities further and make a decision after this battle is over."

Upon hearing this, Chen Bulei offered this suggestion.

"The Battle of Guinan is of great importance, so naturally we should discuss everything after the battle." The bald-headed principal nodded, indicating that he had adopted this suggestion.

However, the idea of ​​Hu Biao and his partners being brought in as a fire brigade at critical moments had already left a very deep impression on the bald principal.

I reckon that whenever a similar situation arises in the future, they'll immediately think of Hu Biao and his group...

In contrast to the joyous scene on the Chinese side, the Japanese side, especially the remaining Japanese soldiers on the main battlefield of Kunlun Pass, were now shrouded in indescribable gloom.

Almost every Japanese soldier could smell the scent of defeat and death.

The Japanese commander in charge here at this moment is Colonel Sakata Genichi, the acting brigade commander of the 21st Brigade.

The original brigade commander, Masao Nakamura, was seriously injured by mortar fire during the battle of the newly formed 22nd Division yesterday and has lost his ability to command.

He is now lying in a field hospital, not even having passed the critical period.

Since the commander of the 5th Division, Imamura Hitoshi, could only be replaced by Colonel Sakata Genichi.

However, Colonel Sakata Genichi had no desire to take on this hot potato if there was any other possibility.

Because all the news his subordinates were reporting to him at that moment was bad news.

"Lord Sakata, the division commander sternly rejected our request to advance from Kunlun Pass tonight, ordering us to hold this position and fight for the Empire to the last man."

The so-called "transition" was actually a euphemism used by the Japanese for breaking out and retreating.

An hour earlier, seeing that Jieshou Mountain had not held out for half a day, Sakata Genichi had lost all confidence in defending Kunlun Pass.

So they sent a telegram to Nanning City, requesting permission to break out and retreat overnight, and asking for friendly forces to come and meet them.

Unfortunately, this request was not approved by Division Commander Imamura Hitoshi.

"Lord Sakata, the personnel on the main position have been counted."

We currently have about 3,000 people, but a considerable number of them are seriously wounded; if we include some lightly wounded, we still have nearly 2100 combat personnel.

However, the losses of officers and equipment at the rank of rank were enormous, and even ammunition for light and heavy machine guns was severely insufficient; not even a bayonet could be guaranteed for each soldier.

Upon hearing this report, Sakata Genichi became even more depressed.

There was no other reason than that, in order to defend the strategic high ground of Jieshou Mountain, they transferred a large number of weapons, ammunition, and junior officers there.

Originally, such a decision seemed to have no problems.

Because once Jieshou Mountain is controlled, the garrison and its weapons can provide strong fire support to the main position, thanks to the superior geographical advantage of its high vantage point.

What happened? Jieshou Mountain was lost in just over three hours. All those officers, weapons, and ammunition were essentially wasted.

This has resulted in them lacking even enough ammunition, making it impossible for them to continue; yet, under strict orders, they are forced to hold this position to the death.

Unable to break through, yet unable to hold out, under immense pressure, Sakata Genichi became ruthless.

With the thought that even if he died here, no one else would have an easy time, he said fiercely:
"All damaged or unarmed weapons should be dismantled and buried on the spot. If there is a shortage of weapons, bamboo knives and spears should be made. A group of brave warriors should be recruited, strapped with explosives, and used as human shields when necessary to launch a counterattack against the attacking troops."

The key is to tell everyone on the front lines that we must fight for the Empire to the last moment.

His Majesty the Emperor's glory must not be tarnished in the slightest.

In addition, a telegram was sent to Division Commander Imamura Hitoshi, requesting that a batch of officers, weapons, and ammunition be airdropped to us as soon as possible, especially bullets for light and heavy machine guns…”

******
So what was Hu Biao and his men doing while the whole nation was cheering for their brilliant achievements and looking forward to their continued success?

The correct answer is: lie down and wait for your meal, wait to have a good feast.

After they finish eating, they will launch an attack overnight and take Kunlun Pass completely before dawn.

To be more specific, apart from the warehouse manager and the third brother, who were seriously wounded and have now been urgently sent to the field hospital.

The other eleven travelers who participated in the attack on Jieshou Mountain in the afternoon were Hu Biao, AT, Uncle Bo, Black Star, Mo Shuiyan, Warehouse Manager, Old Ma, Little Henan, Old K, Guard, and Thug.

They were lying lazily on the edge of a trench at the starting position, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.

With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, or perhaps a blade of grass or foxtail grass, he looked quite relaxed.

After all, if they don't recover their physical and mental strength now, how will they have the energy to take down the main position of Kunlun Pass tonight?

This is the most important thing; everything else pales in comparison, and there are others busy with their own things.

Look! On Jieshou Mountain behind them, thousands of artillerymen from the Fifth Army are currently working hard.

They were chanting in unison, preparing to pull 10 Bofors 75mm mountain guns, along with two loads of shells, up the top of Jieshou Mountain in one go.

Furthermore, they must successfully establish artillery positions before 8 PM, with the cannons pointed towards the main position at Kunlun Pass.

Despite the caliber and power of these Bofors 75mm mountain guns, they are far inferior to the original 150mm heavy artillery of the Germans.

However, when it came time to launch the attack, Hu Biao and his men could have used the radio to call for artillery support.

Having these mountain guns fire from their elevated position, providing powerful fire support, made things much easier.

Not far ahead of them, several earthenware pots and large cauldrons were already lined up, emitting a rich aroma.

A rare treat for the battlefield—a stew of canned meat and taro—is being prepared.

It should be noted that these canned goods were a reward that the four officers, Bai, Chen, Li, and Zhang, unanimously agreed to have urgently transported by the logistics department.

The quantity was quite large; it was said that they had emptied the logistics warehouses at the front lines.

Commander Hu, being a man of principle, naturally wouldn't allow the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment to eat and drink heartily while friendly forces around them watched, given the large quantity of canned goods.

They simply had someone bring back a lot of taro and cooked all the canned goods in one pot.

Consider it Hu Biao's treat; if there's meat, everyone can eat together; if there are Japanese devils, everyone can kill them together.

This order further fueled the already high spirits of the Nationalist troops on the Kunlun Pass battlefield, who were already excited about capturing Jieshou Mountain...

(End of this chapter)