Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

North China Joint Command, Operations Room.

The somber atmosphere weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, a stark contrast to the relaxed atmosphere of celebrating the Chahar victory a few days earlier.

"Snapped!"

With a livid face, Chu Yunfei slammed a newly translated telegram onto the table!

The crisp sound made Lin Wei and Zhang Dayun, who were present, jump in surprise.

A low growl, suppressed with anger, was squeezed out from between Chu Yunfei's teeth: "I really don't know if Commander Bai thought about this seriously when he was drafting the battle plan."

He rarely lost his composure like this, and he would never show such disgust for the Guangxi clique in front of Lin Wei.

The telegram was sent in the name of the First Office of the Attendants, but it was full of probing questions.

The telegram detailed the "grand" operational plan that Bai Jiansheng had proposed at the General Staff's military conference.

By assembling the main forces in North China, along the three major railway arteries of Pinghan, Jinpu, and Longhai, they will engage in a strategic decisive battle with Okamura Yasuji's large army group, which will determine the fate of the nation!
Chu Yunfei was furious the moment he finished reading it!
What does Bai Jiansheng want to do?
As far as I can remember, although Bai Jiansheng had no victories in commanding operations against the Japanese, he was still quite capable in the civil war.

They have shown remarkable performance during the National Revolutionary War, the Warlord Era, and the Liberation War.

How can you give such foolish advice nowadays!
Does he think that not enough combat troops have died?

Are they going to waste the hard-earned resources of North China on endless offensives?

Who the hell gives advice like that!
Chu Yunfei grew angrier the more he thought about it, and then shouted again, "A scourge to the country and its people!"

Lin Wei stepped forward, picked up the telegram, quickly glanced through it, and her expression instantly became extremely serious. "This...this..."

"Chief of Staff Bai's suggestion is too optimistic. The main force of the Japanese army is still here, and their defenses are still incredibly strong. Moreover, after such a long period of preparation, they have already established a basic defensive system. Once we launch an attack, it will affect the whole situation. How easy is it to have a decisive battle?"

Zhang Dayun sneered from the side, bluntly exposing the truth, "Commander, Chief of Staff, Commander Bai is clearly trying to put our hundreds of thousands of brothers in North China on the fire to roast!"

"Isn't this just a classic case of armchair strategizing?"

"They only consider the big picture and the strength of the troops, avoiding the weaknesses of our army and completely ignoring our predicament of insufficient heavy weapons."

He pointed to the defensive line on the map that Okamura Neiji had built up like an iron barrel: "Okamura Neiji is now eager for us to fight this kind of head-on assault against him!"

“Let’s talk about the area around Beijing and Baoding.”

"With over 100,000 main forces, backed by the fortified cities of Beijing and Tianjin, and able to replenish supplies at any time via railways and sea routes, they were completely at ease and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out."

"To gain the upper hand, we need to mobilize the elite main forces of at least two army groups."

"Once we really gather our main force and head north, western Henan and southern Shanxi will become extremely vulnerable."

"How could those combat units that have not yet been reorganized and modernized be a match for the Japanese Class A divisions?"

"Once the Japanese army shows signs of collapse, they can even send isolated troops to penetrate deep into our territory and cut off the Zhengtai and Pinghan railway lines. At that time, our North China artillery group will not be able to supply artillery shells, and this battle will turn into a damn mess."

Zhang Dayun became more and more agitated as he spoke, spitting as he spoke: "With just a few words from Commander Bai, he expects us to risk our lives."

"He won because of his excellent planning and strategy."

"If we lose, it's because of our poor command. There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

Chu Yunfei waved his hand, signaling Zhang Dayun to calm down.

Everything that was said at the beginning was fine.

Towards the end, anyone could tell that Zhang Dayun was completely making veiled attacks.
He wasn't referring to Bai Jiansheng, but to Chang Ruiyuan.
Chu Yunfei also knew that everything Zhang Dayun said was the truth.

But what chilled him most was the deeper political calculation behind it.

Upon hearing this, Lin Wei also let out a long sigh.

How could he not see that this telegram, ostensibly an "inquiry," was actually an attempt to exert pressure?

Chang Ruiyuan was using Bai Jiansheng's "open strategy" to test Chu Yunfei's attitude.

Aren't you good at fighting?

Alright, now the whole nation is watching, and the generals at headquarters unanimously agree that it's time to launch a general offensive.

Do you fight or not?
Attacking would play right into Okamura Yasuji's hands, inevitably resulting in a bloody Pyrrhic victory, or even a crushing defeat, severely weakening the Nationalist army in North China, which would just fulfill the wishes of certain individuals.

If you don't fight, it means you're cowardly and avoid war, failing the expectations of the Party, the country, and the leader, and you'll be labeled as "holding up military power for personal gain."

Chu Yunfei sneered, "What a 'Little Zhuge Liang,' truly a master strategist."

"Dayun, send a telegram to the General Headquarters, indicating that further study is needed."

"Yes!"

Zhang Dayun turned and left.

Chu Yunfei was silent for a moment, then ordered Zhao Pengcheng: "Pengcheng, go and inform them that an expanded army military operations conference will be held at the North China Joint Command five days from now. Commanders of all major combat units must attend and are not allowed to take leave. Even if they are sick, they must be carried to Changzhi in bed."

"Yes!"

Zhao Pengcheng turned to leave, and Lin Wei hurriedly advised, "Think it over! Aren't you just escalating the conflict with the General Staff?"

Chu Yunfei waved his hand dismissively: "Brother Weiwen, you're overthinking it. I just want to hear what these loyal and dedicated Party and state cadres who are risking their lives on the front lines think about Chief of Staff Bai's 'brilliant opinion'!"

Lin Wei sighed. Like Chu Yunfei, he had no idea what had happened in Shancheng.

Chen Cixiu did not inform him in advance, which caught him completely off guard.

Chu Yunfei neither disobeyed nor carried out the order, but simply said he would study it.

That makes sense. With so many people involved in this big battle, we need to be fully prepared.

So, when we're preparing, it wouldn't be a problem to gather all the commanders together and discuss how to fight this battle, would it?

There's nothing wrong with that.

But when this group of people gathered together to review Bai Jiansheng's decisive battle plan...

Even if these generals had disagreements or sabotaged each other in the past, they would be forced to unite as one when faced with the pressure from the mountain city.

This force might even take the initiative to charge into battle for the North China Joint Command.

after all.

Any Nationalist commander in North China with even a little military knowledge would know one thing: given the current strength of their own forces and the state of the enemy's defenses, launching an offensive would be tantamount to suicide!

……

In the blink of an eye, another three days or so have passed.

Just as generals from all over North China were setting off to assemble in Changzhi.

A staff team dispatched by the joint command also returned to headquarters after a long journey from the front lines of the anti-bandit campaign in western Henan.

The team was led by a senior colonel staff officer from the operations department named Qin Mo.

Qin Mo respectfully handed a thick investigation report to Chu Yunfei, his face showing a hint of undisguised fatigue, but his eyes were full of excitement.

"The bandit suppression operation is progressing very smoothly!" he reported. "Li Yunlong's Eastern Expeditionary Column and Commander-in-Chief Zhao's mobile corps are cooperating perfectly."

One was responsible for a frontal assault, taking down those tough nuts that were entrenched on the hilltops.

One was responsible for infiltrating and dividing the area, and clearing out the scattered bandits.

With the assistance of the Sichuan Army in the surrounding areas during the mopping-up operations, the banditry in western Henan has been largely eradicated.

"Currently, all tasks are progressing steadily."

"Although the process of surveying and measuring land, establishing grassroots farmers' associations, and distributing land encountered some resistance, under the strong military deterrence of our army, those landlords and gentry dared not make any major moves."

Chu Yunfei nodded in satisfaction and flipped through the report in his hand.

The report was very detailed, covering everything from military progress to civil reforms. It was rich in illustrations and data, and even included several photos of letters seized from bandits and local gentry.

However, at the very end of the report, Qin Mo abruptly changed the subject, a strange expression appearing on his face.

"However, Commander-in-Chief Zhao also has some ideas." "Speak."

Chu Yunfei raised his head, his gaze sharp.

Qin Mo hesitated for a moment, but still said truthfully: "Commander-in-Chief Zhao believes that the people in western Henan have complex circumstances. Although the banditry has been suppressed for the time being, it has not been eradicated."

Many of the bandits who were scattered broke up into smaller groups and went into hiding.

Once my army withdraws, they could easily rise again.

Moreover, many military and political cadres of the Eighth Route Army contributed greatly to this operation, along with local officials.

Chu Yunfei nodded to indicate that he understood and there was no need to continue.

"Therefore, Commander Zhao suggests," Qin Mo cleared his throat, "that for the long-term stability of western Henan and to consolidate our hard-won achievements in reform, the joint command should consider stationing a highly mobile force in western Henan for an extended period to respond to any possible emergencies."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yunfei's lips curled up slightly, revealing a knowing smile.

He gently placed the report on the table.

Zhao Chengshou, that old fox, is really shrewd in his calculations.

He certainly knew about the battle situation in Chahar.

He also knew that the boundless grassland was a natural battlefield where cavalry could roam freely.

But Zhao Chengshou knew even better that, apart from its strategic location, the Chahar region did not have much economic or population value.

He was a hundred times unwilling to take the wealth he had painstakingly built up and fight the Japanese in that freezing, godforsaken place.

Staying in western Henan would have made a difference.

Located in the heart of the Central Plains, this area is known as the granary of the nation, with a dense population and abundant resources.

With such a treasure trove of land, with food and soldiers, we can attack or defend as we please. Isn't that much better than going to that godforsaken grassland to starve?
More importantly, his reasons were so compelling and so "righteous".

The social conditions in western Henan are complex, and stability maintenance is necessary.

Chu Yunfei knew this better than anyone else.

Zhao Chengshou's suggestion was entirely based on the perspective of local stability, and was entirely aimed at preserving the "reform achievements" that Chu Yunfei valued most.

This was absolutely precise, hitting Chu Yunfei's Achilles' heel.

It makes you know he has ulterior motives, but you can't find any reason to refute it.

Lin Wei and Zhang Dayun, who were standing to the side, exchanged a glance and both wore expressions of bewilderment.

Chu Yunfei, however, did not feel much aversion.

If the water is clear, there will be no fish.

As long as Zhao Chengshou can handle things well and hold onto this hard-won base in western Henan, what harm is there in giving him a little reward and letting him realize some of his personal "small ambitions"?
This world is essentially an exchange of interests.

The key question is whether this exchange is beneficial to the overall situation.

Chu Yunfei pondered for a moment, and had already made up his mind.

He picked up his pen and wrote at the end of the report: "Commander-in-Chief Zhao is very insightful and his words are quite correct. We will discuss the matter of the garrison in western Henan in detail after the military conference."

The words fell.

A communications officer strode forward: "Sir, I have just received some good news."

"Oh?" Chu Yunfei raised an eyebrow and turned to ask, "What good news makes you so excited?"

"The anti-aircraft artillery unit of the 138th Division of the 48th Army of the 21st Army Group of the Fifth War Zone shot down a Japanese transport plane. From the wreckage, it can be vaguely identified that many of the Japanese soldiers on board were generals. The General Headquarters obtained relevant intelligence from a third party that the plane carried Tsukada Osamu, commander of the 11th Army, and Fujiwara Takeshi, a senior operations staff officer of the Japanese Army."

Who is the newly appointed commander of the 11th Army?

"It seems to be someone named Yokoyama Isamu."

Lin Wei analyzed: "As far as I know, the morale of the Japanese 11th Army was low due to the disastrous defeat in the Third Battle of Changsha."

Tsukada Osamu had been in office for less than six months.

The Japanese army has yet to reverse the decline of the 11th Army before a new commander has been appointed.

It seems unlikely that the Japanese army in South China will take any major actions in the short term.

Chu Yunfei stroked his chin.

Yokoyama Isamu, being well-versed in military history, naturally knew this.

Operation No. 1 was the Changsha-Hengyang Campaign commanded by Yokoyama Isamu. As for when he first took command of the 11th Army, he also commanded the Jiangxi-West Campaign.

But since so much time had passed since he traveled here, he couldn't recall exactly how the battle was fought.

Moreover, given Japan's current economic decline, whether it has the resources to launch an attack in South China is another matter entirely.

Although Chu Yunfei had concerns about Yokoyama Isamu's arrival, he did not remind the Yamashiro side to make preparations.

Communications staff officer Xiao Liu chuckled and replied, "In that case, we can have a more comfortable Spring Festival."

Spring Festival?

Spring Festival!

At this very moment, Yokoyama Isamu's first operation was an attack launched while the Chinese army was celebrating the Spring Festival and its vigilance was relaxed!

Where exactly did they hit?

Chu Yunfei frowned and strode towards the huge strategic situation map.

After pondering for a long time, he finally asked Lin Wei, "Brother Weiwen, if you were the commander of the Japanese Expeditionary Army, what would be the problem you most want to solve right now?"

Lin Wei remained silent for a moment, pondering Chu Yunfei's question.

oil?

Other mineral resources? Or food?

For the Japanese army, the current stalemate is primarily a defensive mission.

Even without oil and mineral resources, this battle can still be fought.

Without food, the war cannot continue.

"The food problem is the most serious problem troubling Japan at present, followed by the oil problem. However, the oil problem cannot be solved on the Far East battlefield. There can only be one driving force for them to launch an offensive on the domestic battlefield, which is to plunder the grain-producing areas."

Which unit is stationed in the Taihu Lake area?

"The 128th Division under Wang Jinzai is currently under the command of the Sixth War Zone."

Chu Yunfei gave Lin Wei a deep look and reminded him, "Yokoyama Yuki is very likely to launch an attack on the Wang tribe that occupies the fertile plains of Jianghan."

"Firstly, he had only recently taken office and needed to take action to build confidence in the fight. Wang Jinzai's troops were not strong, and they had previously defeated their attacks, making them a suitable opponent."

"Secondly, it is for the sake of the tens of thousands of acres of paddy fields in the Jianghan Plain, and also to open up the corresponding waterways."

The triangular area between the Yangtze River and the Han River is a vast, flat, and fertile land with a dense network of waterways and many roads that are embankments.

After the Japanese army occupied Yichang, the Japanese army's transportation was hindered due to the presence of Nationalist troops in the area.

Resources plundered near Yichang are limited and cannot sustainably supply the war effort.

Eliminating the combat troops stationed in these areas would not only provide access to large quantities of food resources, but also open up the Yangtze River waterway.

"This place is not only garrisoned by the 118th Division, but also by the 1st Honorary Division of the 8th Army. Furthermore, the Sixth War Zone has constructed a large number of bunkers at the confluence of various dikes and transportation hubs. It shouldn't be so easy for the Japanese army to conquer it, right?"

Lin Wei was somewhat puzzled, because the strategic direction of the Japanese 11th Army was always towards Changsha.
However, Chu Yunfei's judgment of the battle situation was exceptionally keen.

Now that he had already offered the reminder, he naturally needed to send a telegram to remind Chen Cixiu, who was currently concurrently serving as the commander of the Sixth War Zone, to make the necessary defensive preparations. (End of Chapter)