Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 647 Chu Yunfei angrily rebukes the command: If this continues, the nation will be in danger (Please subscribe)

North China Joint Command Headquarters, Operations Conference Room.

Unlike the war-torn northern Hubei thousands of miles away, this place is so quiet that you can only hear the scratching of a pencil across a map and the occasional crisp ticking of a telegraph machine.

Chief of Staff Lin Wei slowly put down the telegram in his hand. He glanced at the huge map of the enemy and friendly forces in Central China on the wall. The originally clear battle lines had now been turned into a mess by countless red and blue arrows representing the latest developments.

"Da Yun".

He turned around and spoke to Zhang Dayun, the operations section chief, who was engrossed in compiling battle reports.

“Here!” Zhang Dayun immediately stood up.

"Draft a telegram," Lin Wei said slowly, but every word was crystal clear: "Order all army groups and directly subordinate divisions and brigades to select some outstanding officers from units at the battalion level and above to form an observation group to immediately depart, assemble in Zheng County, and then proceed to the Fifth War Zone to observe and learn from this Battle of Northern Hubei."

Zhang Dayun was taken aback, his hand holding the pen froze in mid-air: "Chief of Staff, is this Your Excellency's intention?"

Why send front-line officers to observe a battle that takes place thousands of miles away?
This is the first time since the establishment of the North China Joint Command.

“That’s right. He gave instructions on this matter before he left, and now he’s sent another telegram emphasizing it,” Lin Wei explained. He walked to the map and pointed to the battlefield, which was now in complete chaos: “It’s clear that he had already anticipated that the scale of this battle would expand further when the war began.”

Zhang Dayun scratched his head and said uncertainly, "Judging from the current situation, the main force of the Japanese 11th Army has been deployed, and our Fifth and Sixth War Zones have also committed heavy troops. How can a battle of this scale be expanded?"

A wise light shone in Lin Wei's eyes.

He picked up a baton and pointed it heavily at the location of "Xinyang".

"The minimum operational objective of the General Headquarters is to recapture Xinyang."

"This means that the Fifth War Zone must continue to exert pressure on the south."

Without waiting for Zhang Dayun's reply, he directed the baton westward along the Yangtze River, eventually stopping in the treacherous mountainous region between Yichang and Chongqing.

"Yokoyama Isamu will not let this go."

Lin Wei's voice became extremely solemn: "He will unleash all his anger on the Sixth War Zone!"

"Because behind the Sixth War Zone lies the wartime capital, Chongqing!"

"Its primary task is to shield eastern Sichuan and protect the central government."

"If Yokoyama Isamu can achieve a breakthrough here, even if it's just tactical, its political significance will be immeasurable!"

“Therefore,” Lin Wei’s baton drew a clear retreat arc on the map, “based on our assessment of the General Headquarters’ strategic intentions, the Sixth War Zone’s next tactic will still be a retreat-and-fight decisive battle.”

"They will utilize the deep strongholds along the river defenses to resist layer by layer, constantly wearing down the Japanese army's strength and morale. Finally, along the Cili, Wufeng, and Xingshan line, relying on the treacherous mountainous terrain, they will engage in the final battle with the isolated Japanese army."

Zhang Dayun's heart skipped a beat. He was all too familiar with this fighting style.

The Battle of Wuhan and the Battle of Changsha were examples of this. By using vast open spaces to offset the Japanese army's superior equipment and firepower, although the fighting was arduous, the battles were always managed to drag the situation into a war of attrition that was advantageous to the Chinese side.

"and."

Lin Wei added, "This time, our small number of air force units will also participate in the battle."

"On the navy's side, the few remaining minelayers will also prepare a 'gift' for the Japanese on the Yangtze River."

He paused, a hint of fatigue on his face: "The initial preparations will be very lengthy, and the troop movement and assembly will be an unprecedented and enormous test for logistics."

"so."

Lin Wei concluded, "This battle will be a major campaign that lasts for several months and involves nearly a million troops."

"It will become a huge meat grinder, but at the same time, it will also become the best and most realistic battlefield classroom."

He looked at Zhang Dayun, who had just realized something, and said solemnly, "Let our officers see for themselves and experience firsthand how a modern large-scale battle should be fought without absolute firepower superiority."

"This is crucial for their future growth."

Just then, another staff officer strode in, holding a document.

"Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this is a telegram just sent back from the front by the Chief Advisor. It's not about the battle situation, but about the internal affairs of North China."

Lin Wei took the telegram, unfolded it, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

The contents of the telegram were completely different from the war scenes before them; between the lines, it was filled with concern for the land and the people's livelihood.

"The Spring Equinox has arrived, and the farming season waits for no one."

In his telegram, Chu Yunfei explicitly demanded that all military and political departments at all levels in North China must treat spring farming as a top priority, on par with war preparations.

"Immediately mobilize the people to use the off-season for farming to build water conservancy projects and reinforce dikes, laying the foundation for this year's bumper harvest."

"All projects must be scientifically planned to avoid affecting people's normal spring plowing as much as possible."

"The local garrison troops must do a good job in protecting the area during the spring plowing season and strictly prevent harassment and sabotage by the Japanese and puppet troops."

"At the same time, we must strengthen the inspection of the border with Japanese-occupied areas, guard against the infiltration of enemy agents, guard against possible germ warfare, and guard against enemy agents taking this opportunity to incite public opinion and cause adverse effects."

Lin Wei handed the telegram to Zhang Dayun and remarked with emotion, "Even though Chief Advisor Chu is thousands of miles away, he still cares about the people's livelihood in North China."
-
Northern Hubei region.

"The Japanese reconnaissance planes are coming again."

The buzzing of airplanes, like annoying flies, almost never stopped overhead.

As soon as there was a gap in the clouds, the Japanese planes would immediately emerge.

At the same time, the Nationalist Army's fighter jets would also take off to intercept. The air forces of both sides were like two vultures wary of each other, circling over their respective controlled areas, spying on any signs of troop movements on the ground.

Troop deployments are more frequent than ever before.

Within the headquarters.

Chu Yunfei sat quietly on the folding chair, slowly wiping the lens of his binoculars.

The three-dimensional battle map had already laid out every subtle movement of both sides in his mind. He sat calmly, observing the chessboard that was being stirred up by countless hands.

Zhao Pengcheng strode in, holding a newly compiled battle report in his hand.

He placed the document on the ammunition box in front of Chu Yunfei, his movements revealing a hint of barely suppressed frustration: "Sir, I really don't understand!"

"Since the General Headquarters still allows Li Pinxian to command, why is it that they specifically want you to 'cooperate'?"

"Now it's all messed up. The mountain city side is unwilling to relinquish all control, and Li Pinxian's side doesn't have the ability to command such a large-scale battle."

"The various units are hesitant and timid, fighting intermittently. Isn't this just giving the Japanese a chance to gather their main force and deploy their forces at their leisure?!"

Chu Yunfei wiped the lenses without pausing for a moment.

He didn't even look up, but simply said, "Pengcheng, you still only see the pawns on the chessboard, not the hands outside the board."

Chu Yunfei put down his binoculars, picked up the cup of tea next to him that had long since gone cold, and took a small sip: "It's cold."

Zhao Pengcheng immediately picked up the thermos next to him and added hot water to Chu Yunfei's thermos.

"This is not simply a military issue."

"This is a political issue."

Zhao Pengcheng was taken aback, his anxiety and anger turning into confusion: "How did it become a political issue again? Wasn't Wang Jinzai already captured by the Japanese army?"

"It's not Wang Jingzai's business."

Chu Yunfei raised his eyes, his gaze deep, as if he could see through people's hearts: "The Chairman and his group want to use this major battle to weaken the Guangxi Clique."

"If Li Pinxian were in command, he would win, but at the cost of huge troop losses, severely damaging the Guangxi clique."

“He was all show of work but not putting in any effort; we can use that to hold him accountable for missing a crucial opportunity.”

“We’re watching from here, and the General Staff is watching from the mountain city. After the war, he will be dealt with just as well.”

"This is a dead end."

"What about us?"

Zhao Pengcheng asked instinctively, "Why did the Chairman put you here?"

Chu Yunfei stood up, walked to Zhao Pengcheng's side, and patted him on the shoulder.

"The Chairman placed me here to provide a safety net."

Chu Yunfei stated bluntly, "If the game goes wrong, someone has to clean up the mess. That person can only be me."

"It's also a good way to recuperate." "Keeping an eye on that old fox Okamura Yasuji all day in North China is exhausting."

"To take care of your health?"

Zhao Pengcheng was even more confused. This front line, amidst a hail of bullets, had nothing to do with the word "nurturing".

However, Chu Yunfei felt that things were much easier on the front lines.

After all, it only requires micromanaging one provisional 51st Division, without having to worry about so many things in North China.

Chu Yunfei did not explain directly, but walked to the entrance of the command headquarters, looked at the gloomy sky in the distance, and said in a somewhat distant voice: "Pengcheng, the General Headquarters actually has a deeper consideration."

“Even though I’m not in North China, Brother Weiwen can still make an appearance and increase his influence here.”

Zhao Pengcheng seemed to realize something.

He naturally knew that Lin Wei was a spy planted in North China by the General Headquarters, and even Li Delin's promotion to deputy commander of the Joint Command was for a special power balance.

"Then what should we do now?"

"Wait, wait for an opportunity for us to make our move."

"If we can win this battle, we will cut off most of the Japanese army's supply lines along the Yangtze River, and liberate the Xinyang area, threatening Wuhan."

Chu Yunfei twitched his fingers slightly and tapped the table in front of him: "But if their internal strife leads to the defeat of the campaign, no one can bear that responsibility."

----------

This wait lasted for a month.

During this period, Chang Ruiyuan increased his stakes considerably for this battle.

Sun Lianzhong's troops, which belonged to the Fifth War Zone, were transferred to the Sixth War Zone, and he was appointed as the acting commander-in-chief of the Sixth War Zone.

The 30th Army, the main force under his command, led by Chi Fengcheng, was also brought to the Sixth War Zone.

At the same time, the 74th Army, which was undergoing reorganization and training in Hengshan, was ordered to suspend its reorganization and training and head to the front line in western Hubei.

During this month.

The battlefield, once ablaze with gunfire, has gradually fallen into an eerie silence.

Rainwater washed over the trenches, mixing mud and blood into a sticky, scarlet mess.

The abandoned shell casings quickly developed a thin layer of verdigris in the humid air.

It's as if the war, which came to an abrupt end, has been prematurely draped in the moss of time.

The two armies, separated by a ravaged expanse of land, gasped for breath, neither willing to advance another step.

The Japanese army had already taken advantage of this month-long respite to complete its final deployment, fully shifting to a strategic defensive posture, and had amassed superior forces in preparation for an annihilation operation.

The favorable situation was once again turned into a disadvantageous one due to the struggle between the central government and the Guangxi clique.

In the same month, it was to plan the offensive operations launched by the Sixth and Fifth War Zones.

Various units in North China launched small-scale offensive operations in an effort to further deplete the Japanese army's supplies.

Headquarters of the Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Sixth War Zone.

Sun Lianzhong, who had just taken over from Chen Cixiu and was hastily appointed to his post amidst a mess, was looking out the window with a helpless expression.

His weathered face was deeply lined with wrinkles, etched with weariness.

"Snapped."

A confidential staff officer gently placed a telegram on his desk, his movements so careful that the thin piece of paper seemed to weigh a ton.

Sun Lianzhong didn't look at it immediately; he knew what was written inside.

Since yesterday, the atmosphere in the entire headquarters has been so oppressive that it's hard to breathe.

finally.

He sighed, turned around, and picked up the telegram.

The words on paper, in black and white, were harshly worded; each word felt like an invisible slap in the face.

"The opportunity to fight is fleeting, yet you hesitated to advance, allowing the enemy to deploy at their leisure, and watched as your friendly forces were surrounded while you were slow to provide support!"
How can this passive and war-avoiding mentality console the fallen soldiers and face the people of the whole country?
A concrete operational plan must be presented within three days; any further delay will result in court-martial!

Signed: Zhongzheng.

"Commander, this..."

"What is it?"

Sun Lianzhong slowly folded the telegram, his tone unusually calm: "The Chairman is right to criticize. With the war going on like this, someone has to take responsibility."

He knew, of course, that the telegram was not intended to be a rant directed at Sun Lianzhong.

He knew even better that if it weren't for Chu Yunfei's earth-shattering telegram three days ago, the people of Shancheng might still be celebrating this "successful defensive battle."

Sun Lianzhong walked to the map and gently stroked the battle line that had been deadlocked for nearly a month.

The contents of Chu Yunfei's telegram flashed through his mind.

That wasn't a battle report; it was more like a declaration of war, a ruthless declaration of war delivered directly to the command headquarters and to all the senior generals.

"There is nothing inherently wrong with a national policy of sustained consumption."

"But what is endurance? What is consumption?"

"The enemy is employing a strategy of 'using war to sustain war.' If we sit and wait for victory, it would be tantamount to sitting and waiting for death!"

"The Japanese military's withdrawal of troops to the Pacific and the decline of the nation's power are common knowledge."

"With such a golden opportunity, why are our main forces concentrated at the front lines, yet we are coexisting peacefully with the enemy in order to preserve our strength?"

"This is not sustainable, it is passive! This is not consumption, it is self-destruction!"

"If this continues, the soldiers will lose their will to fight, the generals will lose their fighting spirit, and the nation will become listless, decadent, and corrupt!"

"This action is contrary to the spirit of our National Revolutionary Army's attack and the integrity of soldiers in defending their country!"

Even with his eyes closed, Sun Lianzhong could imagine the uproar that would ensue when this telegram was placed on Chang Ruiyuan's desk.

From the time Chu Yunfei set off for the front lines to the time this telegram was sent.

Two whole months have passed.

Chu Yunfei did give the mountain city side time to adjust, but that time went on for far too long.
no way.

He could only drag everyone onto the fire, tearing away the fig leaf of "protracted war" to reveal the ugly truth beneath: "passive avoidance of war" and "preservation of strength"!

Chang Ruiyuan is now at a loss.

He could neither admit that Chu Yunfei was right, because that would be tantamount to admitting that he himself and the entire command's strategy were negative.

He couldn't ignore the accusation, after all, everything Chu Yunfei said was true.

Therefore, the rebuking telegram arrived as expected.

"Commander-in-Chief," Guo Chan (the current Chief of Staff) said, sounding somewhat worried, "then what about us?"

"Us?" Sun Lianzhong opened his eyes, a bitter self-mockery flashing in them: "What else can we do?"

"Since the Chairman wants us to fight, then we will fight."

His voice suddenly rang out in the deathly silent operations room, like a thunderclap from a clear sky: "The Japanese army's occupation of the Honghu Triangle area north of the Yangtze River and their current occupation of Huarong and Shishou south of the Yangtze River clearly indicates their intention to establish forward bases and eliminate any worries about their rear. We must never allow such bridgehead positions to exist peacefully."

"Give me the order!"

"The 77th Division and the 15th Division shall immediately launch a counterattack along the line of Meitianhu, Zhimaping, Sanchahe, and Huangshizui."

"The 29th Army Group and the 10th Army Group simultaneously launched a counterattack. The river defense forces were ordered to detach the 67th Division of the 86th Army, and the 18th Army also dispatched two main regiments to cooperate with the 10th and 29th Army Groups in the operation."

"A telegram was sent to the Fifth War Zone Command, ordering it to immediately launch an attack on the enemy in front of it to support the offensive of our war zone."

(End of this chapter)