Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Mountain city, Huangshan official residence.

The sound of firecrackers outside the window had long since dissipated, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year had been completely washed away by the continuous stream of battle reports.

Chang Ruiyuan's face, however, was no longer gloomy as it had been in the past few days, but instead carried a faint smile.

He held two telegrams in his hand, one from the Sixth War Zone, reporting that the main force of the 128th Division had successfully broken through and was approaching the Fifth War Zone.

Another report came from the Fifth War Zone, stating that the main force of the Guangxi clique had launched a full-scale attack and was engaged in fierce fighting with the Japanese army along the Dabie Mountains to the Suizao Corridor.

"Good, well played!"

He muttered to himself, but his approving gaze was not directed at the soldiers fighting valiantly on the map, but rather at the signature at the end of the telegram.

He had long harbored fear of Li Zongren, the powerful figure in the Guangxi clique.

Chang Ruiyuan was inherently suspicious, and he was especially wary of local powerful figures who held significant military power and whose achievements threatened his authority.

Since Tang Enbo was impeached and transferred by Chu Yunfei.

Within the Fifth War Zone, no one was able to effectively restrain Li Zongren.

Even before this battle, the Fifth War Zone had been divided under Chu Yunfei's intervention.

Under Commander Li's management, the entire organization was united and impenetrable.

Although Chang Ruiyuan was unable to provide the Fifth War Zone with much military equipment and supplies due to the limitations of national strength, he also did not want to see a war zone that was completely "doing nothing" and only going through the motions.

But that's where the contradiction lies.

The Fifth War Zone was riddled with factions and consisted mostly of miscellaneous troops. Their treatment was vastly different from that of the Central Army, so expecting them to fight to the death without complaint was wishful thinking.

This delicate balance.

This forced Chang Ruiyuan to both use and guard against Commander Li.

Before the war, they were even more worried, fearing that the enemy would become too powerful to control.

What troubled Chang Ruiyuan even more was...

Although Commander Li has been "passive" in the past two years, his previous record was exceptionally brilliant.

The Huai River blocking battle, the Linyi counterattack, the Taierzhuang battle, the Tengxian offensive, and the Linxian pursuit battle were all victories fought by Chu Yunfei under the command of the Fifth War Zone.

It remains a significant chapter in the history of the War of Resistance against Japan.

Commander Li certainly deserves some credit for this.

This made it impossible for Chang Ruiyuan to find a suitable excuse to remove this increasingly prestigious leader of the Guangxi clique from his position as commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone.

The only option left is a "promotion in name only, demotion in reality".

As for where he would be promoted, Chang Ruiyuan had always had an excellent plan in mind—Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the North China Joint Command.

As for the Commander-in-Chief, that can only ever be Chang Ruiyuan himself.

Li Zongren, this smiling tiger, was transferred to the North China Area Army Command.

Letting the two of them check and balance each other, and wear each other down, is undoubtedly a brilliant move.

Just as Chang Ruiyuan was pondering how to make this move more secure.

Chief of Staff Zhu Peiji walked in with an admiring expression, holding a new telegram in his hand: "Chairman, General Yunfei's move can truly be described as killing two birds with one stone, a stroke of genius!"

"Oh?"

Chang Ruiyuan became interested and accepted the telegram handed to him by Zhu Peiji.

This is a summary of yesterday's battle situation.

The Japanese attack has been repelled, and it is estimated that about 400 pursuing Japanese cavalrymen have been eliminated, and 100 warhorses have been captured, resulting in a minor victory.

This made Chang Ruiyuan's lips curl into a slight smile.

Although it is the same unit, different people commanding the battle can bring out different effects.

Zhu Peiji walked to the map, pointed to the breakout route that stretched northward from the Jianghan Plain, and analyzed: "Chairman, you see, the Guangxi clique and the Japanese army in front of them have been in a long-term standoff and have long formed a tacit understanding of non-aggression."

now.

Wang Jinzai's nearly ten thousand remaining troops poured into his defensive zone, followed closely by the main Japanese force. This tacit understanding would no longer exist!

"The previously peaceful standoff will be completely shattered!"

"With the intervention of Commander Chu."

Zhu Peiji’s voice carried a hint of excitement: “The Japanese army, which had originally been like a long snake coiled along the Yangtze River, now had a huge gap between its head (Wuhan) and its body (Yichang).

"To kill a snake, you must cut it in half!"

"If the Fifth War Zone launches a full-scale attack southward, it has a real chance to sever the snake's waist, which would also be an excellent opportunity for the Ninth and Sixth War Zones!"

After hearing this, Chang Ruiyuan smiled with immense satisfaction.

He could see, of course, that Chu Yunfei's move not only saved Wang Jinzai, but also accomplished something he wanted to do but couldn't do well!
He forced Li Delin to break the "tacit understanding" with the Japanese army and rejoin the battle!
Although Chen Cixiu's Sixth War Zone lost face and suffered a loss of heavy weapons, Wang Jinzai's main force remained intact.

The Japanese army's seemingly massive offensive ultimately only occupied some paddy fields that could not be converted into grain production in the short term, and its strategic goal of annihilating the main force of the Sixth War Zone north of the Yangtze River had completely failed.

From the perspective of the overall battle, this was undoubtedly a successful defensive battle that traded space for attrition!
However, the amount of resources required to launch a counterattack against the Japanese army in Central China simultaneously with the main forces of three war zones, numbering over a million, would be astronomical.

Everything is fine, except I can't come up with the money.
……

Fifth War Zone, Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters.

Unlike Chang Ruiyuan, who was riding high on success.

Commander Li's feelings were like a rollercoaster ride, a mix of emotions.

On the one hand, he admired Chu Yunfei's masterful command, which, with just a few telegrams, revitalized the entire crisis in Central China.

On the other hand, he felt a sense of helplessness and frustration at being "tricked" into committing the main force of the Guangxi clique to this bloody battle, which was not his intention.

Just as he was pondering how to complete his mission while preserving his strength to the maximum extent possible in the upcoming battle.

An encrypted telegram from the General Staff was delivered to his desk.

The contents of the telegram startled him at first, but then a look of relief involuntarily appeared on his usually furrowed brows.

"Li Zongren, Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone, is hereby appointed as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the North China Joint Command, to assume his post immediately. The position of Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone will be temporarily held by..."

He didn't look any further.

The content that follows is no longer important.

Li Zongren slowly folded the telegram and put it into his jacket pocket.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the familiar camp where he had been stationed for many years. He was filled with mixed emotions.

He was well aware of what this appointment meant.

This is also an opportunity for him to step down gracefully after years of bloody battles and political maneuvering.

Go to North China and become a deputy commander-in-chief with no real power.

It may seem like being sidelined, but isn't it also a kind of liberation?
At least, he no longer had to rack his brains over the food, supplies and weapons of the Guangxi clique troops, and he no longer had to struggle between the orders of the General Headquarters and his own desire to preserve his strength.

Temporarily setting aside this heavy responsibility and going to see that land that is creating miracles is not a bad thing; he is indeed quite tired.

Li Zongren turned around and gave a relatively relaxed smile to the astonished Chief of Staff Wang Hongshao: "Hongshao, get ready, I should head to North China."①
"Lord De, what is this?"
-
In northern Hubei, on the official road leading to the southern foothills of the Dahong Mountains.

An army that stretched as far as the eye could see, like a long, gray dragon, slowly crawled along a muddy road.

This was ordered to move south to support the 7th Army, the main force of the Guangxi clique, which was part of the 128th Division.

Chu Yunfei stood on the running board of a speeding jeep, letting the biting wind make his military overcoat flutter loudly.

He held up the binoculars, but his brows furrowed more and more deeply.

too slow!
This is not the marching speed that an elite force known as the "Steel Army" should have!

In Chu Yunfei's memory.

Although the reputation of the Guangxi Army has declined in recent years in the Dabie Mountains, it has long since honed a wealth of experience in mobile warfare after being chased and attacked by the Japanese for so many years.

Their marching speed and mountain mobility were among the best in the entire Nationalist Army.

But the troops in front of them seemed somewhat sluggish.

It's obvious they're just dragging their feet.

"It seems that the impact of De Gong's resignation on the Seventh Army is greater than I imagined."

Chu Yunfei put down his binoculars and muttered to himself.

The guerrilla warfare in the Dabie Mountains during those years was fundamentally different between the Guangxi Army and the Red Army.

The Red Party's guerrilla forces were truly rooted in the people; they organized evacuations, harvested crops, and covered the people's retreat. In contrast, the Guangxi Army's guerrilla warfare was more like a "mobile warfare" that parasitized the people.

When faced with a strong attack from the Japanese army, they would often flee in a flash, leaving their backs and innocent civilians to the enemy.

Of course, nothing is absolute. The Guangxi Army also had some heroic and moving battles, while the local guerrilla forces of the Red Party also had some despicable negative records.

Overall, however, the Guangxi Army's "guerrilla warfare" has gradually lost its popular support in the Dabie Mountains.

An army that has lost the support of the people, a field force that only knows how to confront and monitor.

Their fighting spirit and discipline will naturally be greatly diminished.

Just now.

Zhao Pengcheng rode up from the rear of the group and rode alongside the jeep.

"Sir," he wiped the mud off his face and reported, "I have already spoken with the Chief of Staff of the Seventh Army and learned about their current situation."

"explain."

“There were some complaints among the troops.” Zhao Pengcheng phrased it tactfully: “They had previously kept to themselves and the Japanese army, and their lives were relatively peaceful.”

"Many officers and soldiers have not yet mentally adjusted to being suddenly pulled out to fight a tough battle in the south."

Where is the command post?

Chu Yunfei went straight to the point: "Where is the Seventh Army's headquarters located now?"

A strange expression, both amused and exasperated, appeared on Zhao Pengcheng's face: "Reporting to Your Excellency, the Seventh Army's command post has moved forward, but the exact location has not yet been determined."

"Hasn't it been decided yet?"

Chu Yunfei's brows furrowed. "What do you mean? Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and it's common sense for the command post to go first. What are they waiting for?"

"Wait until their army commander, Zhang Gan, has calculated the location for the command post."

"You've calculated it?" A strange light flashed in Chu Yunfei's eyes, but he didn't show much surprise.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Zhao Pengcheng explained with a helpless expression, “This Commander Zhang Gan is obsessed with feng shui and metaphysics, and is known as the ‘Compass General’.”

Every time they set up camp or even an artillery position, they had to first take out a compass to divine good or bad fortune and determine the direction.

It is said that he has yet to find a suitable burial site to place his "military seal."

After listening to Zhao Pengcheng's explanation.

Instead of getting angry as Zhao Pengcheng had expected, Chu Yunfei thoughtfully stroked his chin.

He looked at the low-spirited, slow-moving column ahead and instantly understood.

"Is it absurd?"

He seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps asking Zhao Pengcheng, "Maybe."

Zhao Pengcheng was taken aback and looked at Chu Yunfei in confusion: "Sir, is he really not stalling for time?"

"Pengcheng, you should know that there are countless ways to lead troops into battle."

Chu Yunfei's gaze was profound: "Many officers and soldiers of the Guangxi clique believe in ghosts and gods. Zhang Gan's move, though seemingly absurd, is also a means to win over the troops and stabilize morale."

"When officers and soldiers were generally resistant to the southward campaign, we used 'divine will' and 'auspicious omen' to unify their thinking and eliminate their fear and doubts."

"Although this method is not exactly respectable, it must be admitted that it is very effective for certain military units."

Although Chu Yunfei disdained such methods, he could understand the logic behind them.

A general who can firmly control a diverse and complex army must possess extraordinary abilities.

"but."

Chu Yunfei changed the subject, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Understanding is one thing, rules are rules."

"Now that it is wartime, and I have been ordered to coordinate and command, I cannot tolerate any delays that may affect the course of the war."

He looked at Zhao Pengcheng, his tone calm yet filled with unquestionable authority: "The order still needs to be issued."

"Perfect timing. We can also use this opportunity to test whether the Seventh Army listens to Zhang Gan's 'compass' or the orders of the General Headquarters."

"Order!"

Chu Yunfei's voice deepened: "Order the Seventh Army! Order them to speed up their march and reach the designated Zhongxiang (now Zhongxiang, a county town in the northern part of the Jianghan Plain) area before nightfall!"
Send two telegrams. The first telegram need not be too harsh; it can simply be a routine military order.

The second telegram, sent thirty minutes later, was strongly worded: "If you do not arrive before nightfall, you will be court-martialed!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Pengcheng immediately accepted the order and left.

Chu Yunfei naturally lacked the ability to conduct military law against Zhang Gan, a core figure of the new Guangxi clique, within the Guangxi clique's territory.

Moreover, although Zhang Gan seems to be an abstract figure, there are rumors that even high-ranking officials like He Yingqin consulted him for divination, and Bai Jiansheng also escaped danger during the Northern Expedition thanks to Zhang Gan's divination.

Zhang Gan had indeed been well-versed in the I Ching since childhood and had a passion for Feng Shui; perhaps he really did possess some knowledge of it.

With a system already running in their heads, it's not surprising that they encounter some extraordinary person.

……

The 7th Army, Provisional Headquarters.

"Commander, this is a telegram from Commander Chu of the North China Joint Command."

Lieutenant Li, jokingly referred to as the "compass adjutant," carefully handed a telegram to Zhang Gan, who was fiddling with an exquisite compass.

Zhang Gan grunted in response, without even lifting his eyelids, his fingers calculating on the compass while he muttered incantations.

Seeing his state, Lieutenant Li was extremely anxious and couldn't help but speak up to persuade him, "Commander, the telegram orders us to reach Zhongxiang before dark. If we delay any longer, what if things go wrong in North China?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gan calmly put down the compass, took the telegram, glanced at it, and instead of showing fear, he let out a cold laugh.

"It's just a routine military order, what's the rush?" he said dismissively. "My Seventh Army's actions are naturally governed by my own rules. Chu Yunfei is far away, what does he know about the situation on the front lines?"
Moreover, as the army commander, any punishment I want to impose can only be decided by the Military Commission.

Chu Yunfei's reach couldn't extend that far.

"Is there no place for our Commander Bai to speak within the Military Commission?"

The implication was that whether or not Zhang Gan obeyed Chu Yunfei's orders depended entirely on his mood.

Upon hearing this, Lieutenant Li stamped his feet in frustration, lowered his voice, and muttered, "Commander, you can't say that."

"This Commander Chu is notoriously audacious; he's capable of anything!"

"Back then, when he was just a junior regimental commander, he dared to impeach the legion commander."

"During the Battle of Eastern Henan that year, wasn't there news that Commander Gui Yongqing's death was orchestrated by him and Commander Xue?"

"Don't forget, Commander Chen has been making trouble for Commander Xue because of Gui Yongqing's matter."

"In my opinion, we'd better avoid this bad luck."

These words finally caused Zhang Gan's expression to change slightly.

He had certainly heard of Chu Yunfei's "infamous reputation".

"Impeach Commander Tang", "frame a colleague in the Central Army", "openly collude with bandits".
These things, whether true or false, are enough to prove that this young "warrior" is definitely not a kind person who plays by the rules.

Zhang Gan subconsciously picked up his compass again and cast a divination at the place where he planned to camp and rest that night. His brow furrowed, and he muttered, "No, something's not right. This place seems to be fraught with bloodshed; the feng shui is off."

Just as he was muttering to himself, the military chief of staff rushed in.

"Commander! Something terrible has happened!"

"Urgent telegram from Commander Chu!" The chief of staff's face turned ashen, and he practically slammed the telegram paper onto the table.

"What?!" Zhang Gan exclaimed in surprise.

The chief of staff read in a trembling voice, "The telegram is very short, just one sentence!"

"'Any further delays will result in Zhang Gan, commander of the 7th Army, being immediately handed over to a military court for jeopardizing a battle opportunity!'"

The compass in Zhang Gan's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

He felt a shiver run through his body, and cold sweat instantly broke out!

No wonder there was bloodshed...
The Military Commission's handling of him required meetings and strategic maneuvering.

Commander Bai can definitely protect him, but if he goes directly to a military court, then it's up to the Chairman to decide.

Furthermore, Chu Yunfei also serves as the deputy director of the military law enforcement department, which means that Chu Yunfei has the authority to directly intervene in his affairs.

Thinking of this, Zhang Gan still tried to maintain his composure, saying, "This is outrageous! He's simply abusing his power; he's utterly lawless!"

But after a brief pause, he continued, "Pass on my order! The entire army, advance at full speed, and be sure to take up position at Zhongxiang before nightfall." (End of Chapter)