Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Looking at the strongly worded yet tactful words in the telegram, Lin Wei sincerely exclaimed, "If the British agree, we can gain real benefits while safeguarding the foundation of our nation. I just don't know if the British will agree."

Chu Yunfei slowly shook his head and pushed the telegram draft aside: "This telegram is just the beginning. We can't put all our eggs in one basket."

His voice sounded unusually calm in the warm room, even carrying a hint of heavy worry: "Chief of Staff Lin, in this border conflict, the British aid seems to have given us a huge advantage."

But have you ever considered why I value a mere fifty million pounds and a little bit of oil refining technology so much?

Lin Wei was taken aback, and subconsciously replied, "Naturally, it's because we're lacking it."

Needless to say, they were short of money.

If it weren't for foreign aid, the Nationalist government's economy would have collapsed long ago.

The fundamental reason why the legal tender is slowly depreciating rather than collapsing is because North China implemented a food-based system and received substantial aid from countries such as the United States and Britain.

"Yes, we are short of them."

Chu Yunfei stood up and walked back to the huge map, but this time, his gaze did not linger on any battlefront, but swept across the entire inland hinterland of China: "Our foundation is too weak."

"Our industry is completely lagging behind the world's major powers. Our agriculture is also underdeveloped, still relying on the weather for its livelihood."

Even if such a country wins this war, what good will it do?

It's just climbing from one quagmire into another.

Chu Yunfei pointed heavily at the location of the Yumen Oilfield in Gansu on the map: "Take the top-level oil processing technology that we asked the British for this time, for example."

Compared to American technology, the only difference is in utilization rate.

But our oil refining industry could only begin under such humiliation.

We have no other choice.

Currently, our entire country can only rely on the Yumen Oilfield. According to American estimates, its annual production could reach six million gallons.

But what is the reality?

Lin Wei was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "As far as I know, the output of the Yumen Oilfield is not high enough to supply the needs of the domestic war."

"That's right, because of outdated mining technology and extremely limited transportation conditions."

Our actual production last year was a mere four million gallons!
A significant portion of these losses occurred along the long and arduous transportation routes.

Four million gallons!

Chu Yunfei's tone became more serious: "This amount of oil seems like a lot, but it's barely enough to keep our existing thousands of trucks and armored vehicles running daily."

However, Chief of Staff Lin, this is during the current standoff!
Once we launch a large-scale strategic counter-offensive, once our army begins large-scale mechanized maneuvers.

This production volume is barely enough to support a major battle, let alone establish any effective strategic reserves!

Chu Yunfei paused for a moment: "In order to adapt to the form of warfare to come, and to transform the military's development over the next ten or twenty years, increasing oil production is imperative!"

He sighed deeply, his finger sweeping across the map, pointing northeast: "The shale oil in the Fushun area is a major producer."

But now, it's in the hands of the Japanese, and has absolutely nothing to do with us.

"If we want to increase our own production and ensure that oil from Gansu can be continuously transported to the front lines and factories, it means we need more trucks, more railway locomotives, and a more complete transportation network!"

"otherwise."

His voice turned cold, “We will be forever dependent on imports! We will waste our precious foreign exchange and transportation capacity, which we earned with the lives of our soldiers, on these difficulties that we could have solved ourselves!”

Lin Wei listened quietly. Chu Yunfei's words had already transcended the simple military realm and risen to the level of national strategy.

He fully agreed with Chu Yunfei's foresight, but deep down, a sense of unease also arose.

"Chief Advisor".

Lin Wei hesitated for a moment before speaking, "You're absolutely right. But whether it's exchanging technology with the British or asking for aid from the Americans, wouldn't this make us too deeply tied to them?"

Is there a potential for such deep cooperation to undermine our own sovereignty?

Inviting a wolf into the house, or making a deal with a tiger for its skin—will it ultimately backfire?
After hearing Lin Wei's concerns, Chu Yunfei showed no surprise whatsoever.

He turned around and looked at his chief of staff again, his eyes sharper and more determined than ever before: "Chief of Staff Lin, what you're talking about is a long-term strategy for stability. But we are now in a perilous situation facing national subjugation and annihilation!"

Chu Yunfei's voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight: "We are currently drinking poison to quench our thirst!"

"There's no such thing as sovereignty!"

"Only by surviving, at all costs, can we win this damned war of resistance against aggression."

"Only by winning this war will we be qualified to step onto the negotiating table as victors and discuss with them what sovereignty is, what interests are, what they should concede, and what benefits we should give up."

Chu Yunfei walked back to the table, placed his hands on the surface, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at Lin Wei: "But what if we rely on the charity of our allies to 'win by lying down' on the battlefield?"

So even if we win the war, we won't gain the respect of any country!

“By then,” Chu Yunfei’s voice was icy cold, “we won’t even be qualified to sit at the table.”

"They will only be treated as a dish, placed on the table and devoured by these so-called allies of today!"

"Don't forget, we just joined forces with the Americans to squeeze a lot of money out of the British. Once the time is right, the British can also join forces with the Americans to put pressure on us."

Lin Wei nodded in agreement: "I think so too."

Yes.

First, survive.

Only then are we qualified to talk about the future.

Chu Yunfei then stroked his chin, his consciousness once again immersing itself in the base construction template within the system.

Nearly four months have passed since the anti-bandit campaign in western Henan began, but the establishment of the western Henan anti-Japanese base area has still not been successfully completed.

This illustrates a very pressing issue.

That is, the bandit suppression work in western Henan was not as smooth as Zhao Chengshou reported.

Locally, they did not effectively reach the grassroots level, nor did they effectively complete the transfer of power at the grassroots level.

The real power and interests at the grassroots level are still in the hands of the landlord class.

How can this be done?
Time is already limited, and if this drags on, when will the land reform ever be completed?

If you can't win the hearts and minds of the people, nothing can be accomplished, and all talk and no action will be of any use.

What kind of people were most prevalent during the Republic of China era?

Of course, the poor suffer the most.

A person who cannot consider the plight of the poor is ultimately just a rootless duckweed and will not gain the support of the people.

Thinking of this, Chu Yunfei immediately said loudly, "Zhao Pengcheng."

"Have!"

Zhao Pengcheng quickly pushed open the door and entered: "Your Excellency."

Where is Ding Wei, the commander of the Eastern Expeditionary Force, now?

"Based on your previous recommendation, I have now set off for Lu University to register."

Chu Yunfei nodded with satisfaction. The Eighth Route Army commander Shang Luda was only part of his plan.

If it can continue to be implemented smoothly, that would naturally be a happy thing for everyone.

Who is commanding the Eastern Expeditionary Force now?

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Pengcheng slowly said, "Currently, the commander of the Eastern Expeditionary Column is Li Yunlong, the deputy commander is Kong Jie, and the political commissar is a man named Li Wenying. We haven't dealt with each other before. However, they seem to be called the Political Department now. The director is Li Wenying, and the deputy director is a man named Zhao Gang, who was previously the political commissar of the Independent Regiment."

"Pass on my orders."

Chu Yunfei's voice became unquestionable.

"First, notify Li Yunlong, commander of the Eastern Expeditionary Column, Zhao Gang, deputy director of the political department, as well as Sun Weimou and Xie Ming, to put aside their current work and attend a meeting at the joint command headquarters in three days to discuss the implementation of the next phase of land reform in North China!"

"Second, immediately send a telegram to Commander-in-Chief Zhao Chengshou. Ask him to immediately set aside his frontline affairs and come to headquarters for a meeting to report on the 'specific' progress in the suppression of bandits in western Henan!"

"Yes!"

After Zhao Pengcheng turned and left, Lin Wei was still completely bewildered.

Just ten minutes ago they were discussing the industrial development of the Northwest.

The next moment, Chu Yunfei let Zhao Pengcheng in and assigned him the relevant tasks.

Lin Wei found this leapfrog way of thinking quite difficult to adapt to.

Seeing Chu Yunfei standing in front of the map again, deep in thought, Lin Wei tactfully left the meeting room.

After these days of contact.

Lin Wei already understood that Chu Yunfei in this state was slightly "deaf".

Perhaps Chu Yunfei in this state was thinking about other things and didn't want to discuss things with others.

After leaving the meeting room.

Zhang Dayun, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, leaned closer and asked, "Chief, what's the matter? Why are you being so mysterious?"

Lin Wei smiled and handed the telegram to Zhang Dayun: "This matter should not be made public. Just read it and that's it."

Zhang Dayun glanced at it and then gasped: "Chief, I'm afraid this can't be kept secret."

"Don't worry, it won't be long before the Central Daily News sets the tone for its propaganda, and other newspapers will naturally follow suit."
-
Taiyuan, a hundred miles away.

Inside that arsenal, forged in the flames of war and now the heart of North China's industry.

A long-awaited reform has finally come to fruition.

Arsenal, Weapon Test Range No. 3.

The area is heavily guarded, with tall barbed wire fences erected all around.

The winter sun was pale and powerless.

In the center of the firing range, two target bunkers stand alone.

One of them was an exceptionally sturdy Japanese semi-permanent defensive fortification built of reinforced concrete, its firing ports resembling black holes, radiating a chilling aura.

The other is a field fortification more commonly seen on the battlefield, built with bricks and sandbags.

Zhang Shutian, the general manager of the arsenal, was standing behind a concrete observation bunker a hundred meters away, his eyes pressed tightly against the narrow observation slit of the bunker, staring intently at the field. His temples were already gray, but his eyes, which were always bloodshot, were now burning with a flame that was a mixture of anticipation and tension.

These field fortifications and semi-permanent fortifications are among the most difficult challenges encountered since the counter-offensive in Shanxi.

Several technicians wearing blue overalls.

They were carefully placing a simple and crude-looking weapon on the shoulder of a tester.

It was a roughly one-meter-long, somewhat rudimentary-looking steel pipe with a simple firing device and sight attached to the back.

Its name is tentatively set as the Type 31 Individual Rocket Launcher.

Zhang Shutian, the general manager of the arsenal, was standing behind a concrete observation bunker a hundred meters away, his eyes pressed tightly against the narrow observation slit in the bunker, watching every move in the test field without blinking.

His temples are now gray.

But in those eyes that were always bloodshot, there was now a burning, almost fanatical, expectation.

The fierce battle to conquer Datong four years ago.

Like a nightmare, it is still etched in his mind.

He remembers.

That year, countless outstanding soldiers were mowed down by machine gun fire in the street fighting as they charged toward the Japanese fortified positions.

The grenades in their hands were almost useless against the thick concrete fortifications.

The number of direct-fire artillery pieces was small, and they were also unable to move quickly.

Furthermore, due to the angle of fire, many bunkers could only be destroyed by close-range explosions.

The helplessness of watching one's brothers smash through steel walls with their own flesh and blood gave rise to an urgent tactical need.

A heavy weapon for individual soldiers that enables ordinary infantrymen to destroy fortified positions!
For the past four years.

Since the liberation, the Longcheng Arsenal has invested countless manpower and resources in the research of disposable rocket launchers.

Furthermore, this year, with the collaborative assistance of American technical experts, [the project was launched].

They successfully created a disposable rocket launcher similar to a bazooka.

Today is the day to see the final results!

The tester knelt on the ground, hoisted the steel pipe onto his shoulder, and used a makeshift sight to lock onto the firing port of the bunker.

"Target! Reinforced concrete bunker number one! Open fire!"

At Zhang Shutian's command, the tester pulled the trigger!

"Whoosh-!"

A bright plume of flame shot out from behind the steel pipe! A rocket, trailing white smoke, flew like an arrow, instantly traversing a hundred meters and striking the concrete wall on the front of the bunker with pinpoint accuracy!
"Boom——!"

A deafening roar suddenly erupted! Flames and black smoke shot into the sky!

Looking at the people inside the bunker, my heart was in my throat!
However, as the smoke cleared, the scene that was revealed was like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads.

That steel and concrete bunker still stands there stubbornly!
Although the point where the rocket hit was blasted into a charred crater the size of a washbasin, and surrounded by spiderweb-like cracks, it was not penetrated!
Failed.

As expected, such individual weapons could not destroy the solid fortresses made of steel and concrete.

A tremendous sense of disappointment instantly enveloped the entire test site.

Several young technicians, their faces pale, some even pounding on the walls of the bunker in frustration.

Zhang Shutian's heart sank to the bottom.

But he looked at the sturdy fortification, which, though not destroyed, was already damaged.

But in his eyes, there was not complete despair.

He took a deep breath and, in a hoarse voice, issued the second order: "Test the second brickwork!"

The tester reloaded a rocket.

This time, his arms seemed to tremble slightly.

"Fire!"

"Whoosh—Boom—!"

Another loud noise!
In everyone's shocked eyes.

That brick and stone bunker seemed to have been struck hard by an invisible battering sledgehammer!

With a sickening "crack" sound, the entire wall collapsed inward!

Bricks and sandbags flew everywhere, and a huge gap appeared in front of everyone in an instant!

With such a large "damaged area," any normal person could throw a grenade into the bunker from a distance of forty meters.

"It worked! It worked!!"

"Damn it, I knew it! How could so much medicine not work!"

The oppressive atmosphere was instantly ignited!
The stark contrast caused the technicians to erupt in wild cheers, as if they had survived a disaster!

Zhang Shutian finally loosened his clenched fists, his palms covered in sweat.

Become!

Although it cannot destroy the most advanced permanent fortifications in one blow, it is an absolute reaper for more than 90% of the brick, stone and earthen fortifications on the battlefield!
"Okay! Okay!"

Zhang Shutian clapped his hands vigorously, and a genuine, radiant smile finally appeared on his usually tense face.

He turned his head and looked at the technical supervisor beside him.

"So, do we have any other options for Fortification Number One?"

The technical supervisor was a middle-aged man in his forties named Chi Xu.

After a moment of careful consideration, he slowly said, "A few more shots should be enough to destroy it."

If one shot doesn't work, then try a few more.

When heavy artillery bombards a fortified city, it's not said that a single shot can destroy the enemy's offensive.

Zhang Shutian nodded seriously: "Then let's test it and see how many shots it takes to destroy it."

One after another, disposable rocket launchers were fired at Bunker No. 1.

It took seven more rockets to barely break a large hole in the steel and concrete bunker.

As for completely destroying it, that's virtually impossible.

It took eight shots to barely create a small opening, which means that the amount of explosives in the rockets used in the individual rocket launcher is completely insufficient.

How can this be done?
These test results mean that when a soldier encounters such fortifications, he has no choice but to wait for heavy artillery support.

That left only one option: close-range demolition.

Who knows how many infantrymen will be lost in this process!

It hurts!
Zhang Shutian frowned.

Chi Xu, a technical expert standing nearby, then waved to the technician not far away as if showing off a treasure: "General Manager, we have this too."

Inside the box, rows of black, pebbly offensive grenades were neatly stacked.

Chi Xu coldly ordered, "Bring the test personnel up."

"Yes!"

Soon, two Japanese war criminals and one death row inmate were escorted by heavily armed soldiers into another steel and concrete bunker and tied tightly to a corner.

A tester, holding an offensive grenade, carefully approached, pulled the fuse, and threw it into the firing port.

"Boom--!"

A muffled bang, completely different from the sound of a rocket launcher exploding, came from inside the bunker!
The bunker itself remained almost completely untouched.

When Zhang Shutian looked through the observation hole again, a strong smell of blood and burning flesh hit him.

The walls remain sturdy.

But there were three "testers" inside.

Two of them, however, were already bleeding from all seven orifices, their eyeballs bulging, and lay limp on the ground in a contorted posture, lifeless.

Another person was bleeding from his mouth and nose and appeared to be incapacitated; apparently, the explosion was not fatal to him.

"General Manager, the principle of this type of offensive grenade is different from that of traditional defensive grenades. Our wooden-handled grenade has a similar function to this grenade, but with a larger explosive charge, a faster initial velocity, and greater throwing accuracy."

Although Zhang Shutian was a person arranged by Yan Xishan through connections, he was indeed quite capable. He immediately raised the question that had been on his mind: "Isn't it true that this type of egg-shaped grenade is difficult to produce due to the limitations of small flip-type firing pin fuses?"

"Our American allies helped us make targeted improvements in this area. Compared to the wooden-handled grenade, the egg-shaped grenade is indeed more expensive to produce, but its advantages are also more obvious. The small flapping firing pin fuse uses relatively inexpensive aluminum, and its production cost is only half that of the Shanxi-made wooden-handled grenade."

Upon hearing Chi Xu's words, Zhang Shutian also recalled the scene of the testers throwing the object earlier.

He threw it very accurately.

He said with a hint of doubt, "It's definitely more accurate, Lao Chi, you're not kidding me, are you?"

Chi Xu patted his chest and declared, "How could that be, Chief? How could I dare to be careless about something like this? We're considering using disposable rockets to breach key points, followed by bombardiers throwing offensive grenades to assault the enemy. At the same time, to reduce casualties among unprotected assault personnel due to failed throws, we're minimizing shrapnel generation. This offensive grenade is arguably the most advanced in the world!"

Seeing the confidence of his technical experts.

Zhang Shutian immediately replied, "Alright, compile the two sets of test data and reports into documents with the highest level of confidentiality!"

His voice trembled slightly, as if he couldn't contain his excitement: "I must report this incredible good news to the Second War Zone Command immediately!"

The next day.

The test results of the two new weapons were delivered to the desk of Commander-in-Chief Chu Xichun of the Second World War Zone as quickly as possible.

When Chu Xichun finished reading the two complementary test reports.

This veteran general, who had spent half his life in the military, was so happy that he stood up from his chair and paced back and forth in the office: "Good, good!"
The flowers I planted four years ago have actually produced two fruits today!

Chu Xichun was overjoyed. He sent a telegram to share the good news while immediately driving to the Longcheng Arsenal.

He wanted to see for himself the two revolutionary weapons Zhang Shutian had described, weapons that were poised to completely transform infantry assault tactics. (End of Chapter)