Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Jinling City.

The facade of peace and tranquility, like a thin layer of ice, covers the cold waters of the Qinhuai River.

Japanese women in kimonos, their wooden clogs making a crisp "click" sound, walked alongside locals in long robes, their expressions blank, past a teahouse adorned with a banner proclaiming "Sino-Japanese Friendship."

Inside the attic of the second floor of a "Zhou's Cloth Shop" facing the street, the atmosphere was completely contrary to the false tranquility.

Cao Deyu, the head of the Nanjing underground party's special agent group, was carefully wiping an old pair of binoculars with a piece of deerskin. His movements were steady and powerful, just like him, always giving people a sense of unwavering reliability.

With a creak, the wooden door to the attic was pushed open.

A young man wearing a short-sleeved shirt and covered in dust slipped in like a raccoon dog.

His name is Awei, and his code name is Qingfeng.

He is the youngest and most skilled reconnaissance member in this intelligence team.

"Comrade Guyu, where is Comrade Qiushou?"

Ah Wei lowered his voice, took off his baseball cap, revealing a face that was a little chapped from the wind, but with sharp eyes.

"here I am."

He picked up the tea that had long since gone cold from the table, gulped it down, and then, panting, said, "Something's been really wrong in the city lately."

Xiao Zhou, who is in charge of intelligence analysis, is codenamed Autumn Harvest.

A young man with glasses and a refined demeanor.

He looked up from behind a pile of messy fabric samples: "What's wrong?"

"balloon."

Ah Wei walked to the window and pointed to the gray sky in the distance: "Balloons again. I've seen them at least seven or eight times this week, all rising from the northeast corner of the city."

Old Cao put down his binoculars, his brow furrowing slightly: "Is it the same as before, measuring the wind direction?"

"Not like."

Ah Wei shook his head, his tone certain: "I specifically climbed up the clock tower to take a look. There were no wind measuring instruments hanging under that balloon; it was just a bare ball."

Moreover, after they took off, they neither dropped leaflets nor made any other noise; they just floated there until they disappeared from sight at a certain height.

Xiao Zhou pushed up his glasses, a thoughtful glint in his eyes: "If they don't measure the wind or publicize it, what are the Japanese doing releasing these 'sky lanterns'?"

"Could it be to provide some kind of aerial identification for their aircraft?"

"Not at all."

Cao Deyu denied it in a deep voice: "Recently, while delivering cloth out of the city, we passed by the direction of the airport outside the city. The Japanese did not conduct large-scale flight training."

"Moreover, these unpowered balloons are too susceptible to wind force to serve as accurate navigational markers."

All three fell silent. This seemingly ordinary strange event, like a small dark cloud, loomed over their hearts.

"And one more thing."

Ah Wei's voice became even more subdued, and he leaned closer, as if afraid of being overheard.

"You know Fumin Hospital in the west of the city, right? The one run by the Japanese."

Cao Deyu and Xiao Zhou both nodded, signaling him to continue.

“When I passed by, I noticed that the place was under heavy security recently. There were not only Japanese military police at the entrance, but also plainclothes officers. Moreover, after staking out the place for two days, I discovered something particularly frightening.”

Ah Wei's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

“Every day, trucks bring in batches of sick people.”

"Most of them were ragged, emaciated refugees. But after asking around, I found out that no one had ever seen many of them come out alive."

The air in the attic seemed to instantly grow a few degrees colder.

Xiao Zhou's face turned slightly pale: "I didn't see anyone come out, are they all dead?"

"I don't know if they're all dead."

A flicker of fear crossed Ah Wei's eyes: "But I heard from the neighbors that the incinerator behind the hospital has been burning things day and night recently, and that strange smell lingers for several blocks."

"Living people go in, corpses come out."

Xiao Zhou muttered to himself, then suddenly looked up at Cao Deyu as if he had just remembered something: "Old Cao, this reminds me of something else!"

"what?"

"A beggar from the city!"

I heard Comrade "Autumn Harvest" mention beggars.

Ah Wei instantly recalled details he hadn't noticed before, and his voice carried a hint of urgency: "Logically speaking, it's autumn now, a time of food shortage, and with the disaster outside, more and more refugees are running into the city. There should be more beggars and starving people on the streets!"
But have you noticed how much cleaner the streets have become in the last two weeks?

This discovery made Cao Deyu frown.

Xiao Zhou's expression grew increasingly grave: "So many homeless people have disappeared from the streets. Considering the special circumstances at Fumin Hospital, I suspect that these two things are very likely one and the same thing!"

"Are the Japanese arresting homeless, starving people and beggars, sending them to Fukumin Hospital, and then burning them like fuel?"

why?
At this moment, Cao Deyu's face became more gloomy than ever before.

He slowly walked to the wall, lifted a curtain disguised as a landscape painting, revealing a detailed map of Jinling City behind it.

His gaze, like that of a hawk, swept across the map.

Suddenly, he stepped forward and fumbled behind the map for a moment, pulling out a small scroll of paper sealed with wax.

This is a top-level secret order that was just recently passed down from higher authorities.

The remaining two looked surprised, clearly unaware that there were small recesses inside.

"At all costs, thoroughly investigate the Japanese invaders' 'divine punishment' plan."

Cao Deyu pressed the note against the location of Fumin Hospital.

"I understand now. The Japanese invaders are very likely capturing our people to conduct experiments."

His voice was hoarse, like two rusty pieces of iron rubbing together: "Comrade Qingfeng, Comrade Qiushou, the 'Divine Punishment' plan that the higher-ups ordered us to investigate is very likely that the Japanese are using our Chinese people for human experiments, or rather, they are using living people for bacterial experiments!"

This conclusion struck like a thunderbolt in Xiao Zhou and Awei's minds!

At this moment, all the clues came together!

Those beggars who disappeared without a trace were experimental subjects who were captured!
That Fumin Hospital, where no one ever leaves, was an inhumane human laboratory!

Those strange balloons that frequently took off were very likely one of the methods the Japanese army later used for bacteriological warfare.

Xiao Zhou also realized what was happening. He gripped the table, his body trembling slightly: "There must be a secret bacterial bomb manufacturing plant in Jinling City. This bacterial plant is very likely Fumin Hospital!"

"They want to use hot air balloons to drop those deadly germs into our rear!"

The truth is so bloody and so shocking!

The faces of the three were filled with immense shock and overwhelming anger!
"Beasts! These beasts!"

Ah Wei's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Cao Deyu took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He knew that now was not the time to be angry.

After a moment's thought, Cao Deyu quickly issued the order in an unquestionable tone: "The situation is extremely urgent!"

"I will try to organize the clues we have collected into the highest level of coded telegrams and do everything possible to report to our superiors. As for how our superiors judge it, that has nothing to do with our intelligence team."

"Awei!" Cao Deyu turned to the young comrade, his eyes flashing with determination. "From now on, you have only one mission!"

"Find it!"

"That bacteria manufacturing base hidden in Nanjing."

"Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground in Jinling City, you must find it for me!"

Cao Deyu paused, his voice carrying a tragic air of mutual destruction: "Then, I will destroy it with my own hands!"
-

In the blink of an eye, another week of biting cold has arrived.

Forty-five days have passed since the great victory at Handan-Anqing that shook North China.

At the entrance of Changzhi Military Family Primary School, a black Cadillac sedan was quietly parked on the side of the road in the afternoon sun. Its body was polished to a shine, reflecting a cool light.

Chu Yunfei didn't get out of the car. He just leaned back in the back seat, his gaze passing through the car window and landing on the somewhat simple school gate.

From here, he could hear the noisy sounds of children playing on the playground; their clear, pure laughter seemed to wash away the accumulated smoke and fatigue on his body.

Zhao Pengcheng appeared at the classroom door of Class 1, Grade 2.

He was dressed in a crisp colonel's uniform, his upright posture drawing frequent glances from several young female teachers in the corridor.

The homeroom teacher, Li Jinfeng, a pretty young woman, blushed slightly when she saw the hand order Zhao Pengcheng presented to pick up the student.

She carefully checked the seals and signatures on the document, but her gaze kept drifting to the handsome profile of the young and promising adjutant.

After confirming that everything was correct, she turned around and called out into the classroom, "Jiang Chuchu, your Uncle Zhao is here to pick you up."

A little girl with pigtails and wearing a thick cotton-padded coat stood up from her seat and ran out with small steps.

When she saw Zhao Pengcheng, she immediately gave a sweet bow and said in a clear voice, "Hello, Uncle Zhao."

Zhao Pengcheng smiled, habitually reached out and ruffled her soft hair, then turned and nodded to Li Jinfeng: "Thank you, Teacher Li, we'll be going now."

"Take care, Lieutenant Zhao."

Li Jinfeng's voice was so gentle it seemed to melt your heart, and her eyes were filled with admiration for soldiers.

Chu Yunfei pushed open the car door and stood beside the car. He had a gentle smile on his face that he himself did not realize, as he looked at the small figure running towards him.

Jiang Chuchu also saw him.

The little girl's eyes lit up instantly, like the brightest star in the night sky.

That pure joy made her steps lighter.

But as she ran closer and saw Chu Yunfei's face, with its distinct features in the sunlight and the unique dignity of a soldier, her originally cheerful little run unconsciously slowed down, and finally turned into hesitation.

The joy remains, but a sense of awe and fear, stemming from a child's instinct, also quietly emerges.

Chu Yunfei's aura was too menacing.

Zhao Pengcheng noticed the little girl's hesitation. He smiled, stepped forward, gently patted her head, and half-squatted down, teasing her in a gentle tone, "What's wrong?" "Haven't seen you for a few days, Chuchu doesn't even recognize her godfather?"

"Godfather!"

These two words were like a key, instantly unlocking the invisible door in the little girl's heart.

She shook her head, her clear "Godfather" ringing out loudly.

All her fear and hesitation vanished in that instant. She took another step, like a fledgling returning to its nest, and rushed headlong into Chu Yunfei's already open embrace.

Chu Yunfei smiled and picked up the small, warm body.

He could smell the faint scent of sunshine and ink on the child.

He patted the car beside him and asked softly, "Chuchu, have you ever ridden in a car before?"

Jiang Chuchu hugged his neck tightly, shook her head in his arms, and her big eyes were full of curiosity: "Not yet."

"Alright, today your godfather will take you for a ride in a car, and then take you for a ride in an airplane."

Chu Yunfei's voice grew even gentler: "In a few days, it will be the anniversary of your father, General Jiang Yuzhen's, death. We will go together to visit your father."

"Ah."

Jiang Chuchu nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Her impression of the word "father" was vague and distant.

After her mother and grandmother passed away one after another, it was the uncles and aunts at the welfare home and her godfather who gave her a "home".

Later, after the Changzhi Military Family School was built, she lived and studied there with her brothers.

Soon, the guard, Xiao Wang, also came out of the school's senior teaching building, leading two teenagers.

They are General Jiang Yuzhen's sons and Jiang Chuchu's older brother.

The older one is called Jiang Weiguo, and the younger one is called Jiang Baoguo.

P.S.: This is fictional; the name cannot be found.

Upon seeing Chu Yunfei, the two boys immediately stood up straight and saluted like soldiers: "Hello, Uncle Chu!"

Chu Yunfei smiled and nodded, then gestured for them to get into the car.

The group split into two cars and sped off towards Changzhi Airport.

……

The plane landed at Longcheng Airport.

As soon as Chu Yunfei stepped off the gangway, a combat staff officer who had been waiting there quickly stepped forward and handed him an urgent telegram that had just been received.

The telegram was forwarded by the Fifth War Zone Office of the Eighth Route Army.

The content made Chu Yunfei's expression instantly turn serious.

Nanjing, balloons, Fumin Hospital, missing beggar...
Scattered clues were pieced together by the underground party members with their lives and wisdom to create a chilling picture.

A hidden biological weapons manufacturing base within Nanjing!
Chu Yunfei, who was well-versed in the War of Resistance against Japan, immediately suspected the Rong 1644 Unit stationed in Nanjing.

Chu Yunfei's fist clenched unconsciously inside his sleeve.

The biting north wind made the children's cheeks turn red.

Chu Yunfei immediately called out to everyone, "Let's go to the commander's headquarters."

The children got into another car.

Zhao Pengcheng and Chu Yunfei rode in the same car.

"Your Excellency, something has happened?"

"The Japanese devils' plan for a holy war of 'divine punishment' is no longer just a plan on paper, nor is it a smokescreen to contain and deplete our national strength. Clearly, these little devils have actually put it into action."

Zhao Pengcheng frowned and nodded seriously: "It must be destroyed!"

This thought rose in Chu Yunfei's mind like wildfire.

However, Nanjing was the heart of the Japanese army and the Wang Jingwei regime in Central China, and was heavily defended.

"Conventional air strikes are too far away and extremely risky, with almost no chance of success. The only way is to rely on personnel to infiltrate and carry out internal sabotage."

Infiltration operations also have a very low success rate.

Zhao Pengcheng, who was standing to the side, noticed Chu Yunfei's dilemma and whispered a bold idea: "If it is sabotaged from within, the risk is too great."

If you make a mistake, you'll alert the enemy.

If successful, it could very likely cause a bacterial leak, which would be a catastrophic disaster for the entire population of Jinling City.

He paused, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Perhaps we can request the help of the US military and use their B-25 bombers, carrying incendiary bombs, to conduct a blanket bombing of the target area!"
At temperatures of several thousand degrees Celsius, it would be difficult for any bacteria to survive!

This method is ruthless and decisive.

Chu Yunfei pondered for a moment, but still shook his head: "We need to be cautious about this matter. We cannot take action until we are 100% certain of the target's location and have evacuated the surrounding civilians."

"After all, there are still hundreds of thousands of our compatriots in Nanjing."

He turned to Zhao Pengcheng and ordered: "Immediately encrypt and send this intelligence back to the joint command headquarters."

This matter was assigned to Chief of Staff Lin Wei, Director Cao Potian of the Inspectorate, and Xu Hu's reconnaissance team to form a special task force to immediately analyze the situation and formulate a detailed action plan.

"in addition."

Chu Yunfei added, "This intelligence was provided by comrades from the Red Party."

"Have Chief of Staff Lin make sure to contact Yan'an and cooperate with them on the matter of destroying the germ warfare factory, sharing intelligence and coordinating actions!"

"Yes!"

After arranging all of this, Chu Yunfei's mood remained heavy.

After a night's rest.

The next morning, Chu Yunfei led everyone to Longcheng Airport.

According to the reply from the mountain city authorities, Song Wenying should have arrived in Longcheng this morning.

Soon, a series of booming sounds came from the sky.

Chu Yunfei looked up at the sky and saw a C-47 transport plane from the mountain city slowly descending, preparing to land.

He turned around and gave a gentle smile to the three curious children behind him.

"Come on, let's go pick up your aunt."

……

The plane's cabin door opened.

Song Wenying carried a child of about two years old as she slowly walked down the gangway.

Behind her followed several bodyguards and adjutants carrying luggage.

They were all unfamiliar faces, clearly not Chu Yunfei's own people.

When Song Wenying saw that upright figure on the tarmac, smiling and looking at her.

Song Wenying's eyes instantly reddened.

Chu Yunfei quickly stepped forward to meet him.

He didn't speak, but simply reached out and gently took his wife's slightly cool hand.

He turned around and gestured to the three children behind him: "Weiguo, Baoguo, Chuchu, come on, call Song your godmother."

He then said to the two boys, "From now on, you should call me godfather too."

"Okay, Godfather!"

"Godmother is so good!"

The two boys were very obedient and exceptionally sensible, and called out in their clear voices.

Jiang Chuchu, somewhat shyly, hid behind Chu Yunfei and whispered, "Godmother."

Song Wenying's heart was instantly melted by these sensible children: "Hello."

The moment she saw Chu Yunfei.

It was as if all the hard work and waiting had turned into joy at this moment.

Song Wenying carefully handed her son, whom she was holding, to Chu Yunfei: "Come here, Guanghua, let Daddy hold you."

Chu Yunfei awkwardly took his son from his wife's arms.

The little one who had been looking around with his eyes darting around seemed to sense a completely unfamiliar presence. His pink little face instantly scrunched up, and he burst into tears with a "waaaah!"

The cries were loud and full of resistance, and the little hands and feet kicked wildly in the air, desperately trying to break free from this unfamiliar embrace.

Chu Yunfei froze on the spot.

He fought on the battlefield, commanding thousands of troops, without ever frowning.

But at this moment, faced with the cries of his own son, he felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness.

Song Wenying sighed helplessly and had no choice but to take the child back into her arms.

Strangely enough, as soon as he returned to his mother's warm and familiar embrace, Chu Guanghua's crying immediately stopped.

He sobbed, his large, dark eyes darting timidly as he looked at the tall, unfamiliar man before him.

Chu Yunfei felt as if something had stabbed him hard in the heart.

An indescribable bitterness and sorrow welled up in my heart instantly.

Her own son was not as close to her as her goddaughter.

He glanced at Jiang Chuchu beside him subconsciously, only to find that as she grew older, the way she looked at him had gradually become more awe-inspiring and less affectionate than before.

It was at this moment that this "war commander," who was omnipotent on the battlefield, was...

For the first time, I felt a profound sense of powerlessness and indebtedness. (End of Chapter)