Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Provisional 51st Division Command.

Lin Maohua and Yu Yongrui sat together, both with a hint of worry on their faces.

Because he had not previously obeyed Li Pinxian's orders.

This caused their new batch of supplies to arrive three days late.

"Commander, if we continue like this..."

Lin Maohua sighed, "I wonder if this move was the right one..."

Frustrated, he looked up and walked out of the command post.

All that could be heard was a thunderous roar coming from afar.

"Air raid?"

Yu Yongrui raised an eyebrow and subconsciously looked up at the sky through his binoculars.

Dozens of silver B-25 bombers, painted with the Kuomintang emblem and shark mouth markings, roared in from the clouds in neat formation!

A startling light flashed in Yu Yongrui's eyes.

"Commander, it looks like one of our bombers."

"Our bombers?"

Lin Maohua was dumbfounded. He immediately took the binoculars that Yu Yongrui handed him.

Those signs and paintwork.

It seems to be true!
Good heavens, we have bombers now?
"Could it be the latest batch of American aid?"

"I do not know!"

Just then, a staff officer strode out of the command post and announced loudly, "Commander, Chief Advisor Chu is looking for you!"

The two exchanged a glance and instantly understood everything.

This strange bomber squadron was Chu Yunfei's doing!

……

the other side.

Xinyang, the headquarters of the Japanese Third Division.

It was located in the basement of the old county government building.

The air here is murky, filled with a strong smell of tobacco and sweat.

On the wall hung a huge battle map, where the red circles representing our own positions were now surrounded by blue arrows representing the Guangxi Army's offensive, like prey caught in a spider web.

Division Commander Lieutenant General Yamamoto Mitsunami stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the map expressionlessly.

His face, which looked extremely haggard from days of fierce fighting, showed no emotion.

After all, even though they are in a semi-encircled strategic situation.

Despite the offensive of the Guangxi Clique forces, they still possessed the ability to fight back.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander!"

Chief of Staff Takehito Ueno walked over anxiously and slammed a casualty report on the table. His voice was filled with undisguised anxiety. "Since the start of the war, the 6th and 68th Regiments have suffered more than 40 percent casualties."

"The front-line squadron has lost more than half of its strength."

"We can't hold on much longer!"

Ueno Takehito pointed to the precarious defensive lines on the map: "Although the offensive of the Guizhou Army has slowed down temporarily, their forces outnumber ours by several times!"

"If they launch another all-out offensive, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"I suggest you immediately request tactical guidance and troop support from the Eleventh Army Headquarters!"

Yamamoto Mitsunami slowly turned around.

He picked up the casualty report, glanced at it calmly, and then casually put it aside.

"No need."

"What?!" Takehito Ueno could hardly believe his ears: "Division Commander!"

I said, "No need."

Yamamoto Mitsuaki interrupted him, his eyes flashing with an almost fanatical, stubborn light: "Can't you see? The annihilation battle in Jiangnan has reached its most critical moment!"

He walked to the map and pointed heavily with his baton at the fortress called "Shipai" on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

"Commander Yokoyama's main force is making every effort to capture Shipai!"

"As long as we can take that place, our army can march up the river, penetrate deep into the mountains, and strike at the city!"

"This may be our last chance to end this damn war."

"This is also the best opportunity for our 11th Army!"

"If we fail in this battle, we will have no chance of winning again."

"But Your Excellency!"

Ueno Kenji still argued unwillingly, "If we are completely annihilated here, what is the point of the victory in Jiangnan?"

"At that time, the main force of the Guangxi Army will be able to advance unimpeded and cut off the rear of our 11th Army. Our main force will likely be encircled and annihilated in the area surrounding Yichang."

Yamamoto Minami shook his head again, a contemptuous sneer appearing on his face.

"Completely annihilated? You're overestimating their combat capabilities."

Division Commander Yamamoto pointed to the situation map at the front line, "The Guangxi Army's offensive has stopped for two days."

"In the past two days, apart from sporadic shelling and ineffective probing, what other decent actions have they taken?"

"Our daily casualties don't even exceed ten or so!"

"I'm pretty sure their logistical supplies are already insufficient."

"That heavy artillery unit from North China has run out of ammunition and is completely mute!"

"Without heavy artillery, how can the Guangxi Army, relying solely on their two legs and the junk they have, break through the steel defenses of our Third Division?"

"Commander-in-Chief" Takehito Ueno: "Although the enemy does not have the ability to manufacture heavy artillery shells, their strategic allies are likely to provide them with a large amount of combat supplies."

"Yokoyama-kun has already mobilized the Locust Relief Army from Central China to come to our aid. Several thousand elite troops from the Nogo Detachment, plus several thousand more Locust Relief Army soldiers, will arrive soon."

"At that time, not only will we be able to defend Xinyang, but we will also be more than capable of launching a counterattack!"

Chief of Staff Kenji Ueno had already given up hope.

Now, all he can do is pray that the division commander's judgment is correct.

Because if the judgment is wrong.

This will be the true end of their 3rd Division.

Just as they were studying how to strengthen their defenses and even looking for an opportunity to launch a probing counterattack.

A sharp, piercing air raid siren blared, sounding like the wailing of ghosts and wolves.

Without warning, it shot into the sky from all directions of Xinyang City!

The sound pierced through the thick layers of earth, echoing and crashing wildly in the narrow basement, piercing people's eardrums with pain!

"Enemy attack! Air raid!"

"what happened?!"

Yamamoto Mitsunami's face turned deathly pale instantly!

A guard staff officer immediately rushed out of the basement and looked up at the sky.

Then, he witnessed a scene he would never forget.

Above the sky!

Dozens of B-25 bombers, painted with the emblem of the Republic of China and shark mouth designs, were flying overhead at an almost arrogant, extremely low altitude, under the cover of fighter jets above them!
The enormous roar of the engine, like the howl of death, shook the entire earth!

Immediately afterwards, countless black "iron eggs," trailing a desperate shriek, poured down from under the silver fuselage like hail!

next second.

“BOOM Boom Boom Boom!!!”

The entire Xinyang County town, half of the urban area, was shrouded in flames.

For this guard staff officer...

The world before his eyes was instantly swallowed up by destruction.

As for the commander of the Third Division, Yamamoto Mitsuhiro.

He didn't know what had happened before he died, and he died without pain, as he was blown to pieces immediately.

The power of aerial bombs far surpasses that of howitzers!
One heavy bomb after another fell, and the earth trembled and tore apart violently, like an anvil being repeatedly hammered by a giant!
Even the most fortified positions are as vulnerable as sandcastles in the face of aerial bombs!
The Japanese army's painstakingly constructed defense line was blown to pieces and left in ruins by the overwhelming explosions!
Almost on the same day.

The Battle of Shipai Fortress has officially begun!
After completing their strategic shift, the Japanese 13th and 39th Divisions launched an exceptionally rapid offensive!
However, what awaited them was China's most elite troops!
The 18th Army, under the command of Wu Qiwu, the commander-in-chief of the river defense forces, was known as the "Iron Army of the Anti-Japanese War".

And the 30th Army of the Northwest Army under Chi Fengcheng, which had just returned to its original command after fighting all the way from the North China battlefield.

Song Kentang's 32nd Army was also on the flank, ready for battle!

A bloody and earth-shattering battle that would determine the course of the entire Central China war and even the entire course of China's War of Resistance against Japan has officially begun!
Northern Hubei.

At the forward command post, Chu Yunfei had fully entered command mode.

The six radios they carried were almost constantly in use.

The confidential staff who were slacking off just a month ago are now experiencing the true intensity of their work.

Telegrams were sent one after another to the various participating units.

Each telegram referred to a new combat unit, and Chu Yunfei even specified the location and arrival time for these units.

Just as Chu Yunfei had anticipated.

This was a true battle of annihilation, and he also left ample redundancy for these troops.

Even though their combat skills and soldiers' physical fitness were not as good as those of the elite troops in North China.

That would be enough to complete this massive encirclement.

While it might not be enough to annihilate the 11th Army, it would be sufficient to inflict heavy damage on it.

After the bombing ended.

The ground panel data was also used to make corresponding improvements.

[Base Area Name: Shanxi Anti-Japanese Base Area (Core Area: Southeast Shanxi)]

[Current Base Level: Lv.max]

Current total population: 457 million

[Estimated Gross Domestic Product: 206 Million (Fiat Currency)]

[Current estimated total annual income: 5200 million (fiat currency)]

Current tax revenue capacity: 89%

[Currently estimated number of recruits: 12 (out of 45)]

[Current development status of the base area: 22 (out of 100)]

[Current pillar industries of the base area: tobacco industry; mining and industrial production; military industry]

Current literacy rate: 51%

Current stability: 81%

[Special: Base area pillar industry resources increased by 10%, work efficiency of all industries increased by 10%, and production efficiency cap increased by 20%]

[Current Anti-Japanese Base Area: Shanxi Anti-Japanese Base Area (Core Area: Southeast Shanxi) Enhancement Mission (II) has been released]

[Mission Requirement: Submit proof of being a general-level officer (1/2)]

[Base Area Name: Shanxi Anti-Japanese Base Area (Core Area: Jinzhong)]

[Current Base Level: Lv.max]

Current total population: 257 million

[Estimated Gross Domestic Product: 136 Million (Fiat Currency)]

[Current estimated total annual income: 3200 million (fiat currency)]

Current tax revenue capacity: 90%

[Currently estimated number of recruits: 6 (out of 12)]

[Current development status of the base area: 17 (out of 100)]

[Current pillar industries of the base area: textile industry; military industry; mining industry]

Current literacy rate: 45%

Current stability: 78%

[Current Buff Mission (1) is now available: Submit proof of officer rank (3/5)]

Besides these two core regions.

The anti-Japanese base areas in northwestern Shanxi, southeastern Shanxi, and northeastern Shanxi have not yet reached level 5, which is the maximum level.

The Jin-Northwest region is currently stuck at LV4, lacking new pillar industries.

The situation in northern Shanxi was somewhat better, but due to the previous major battles, the situation remained unchanged.

The economic recovery has also been relatively slow.

However, the population is substantial, approaching three million, and the industrial and mining sectors have a relatively solid foundation.

I barely reached LV3.

The development of southwestern and northeastern Shanxi is proceeding in an orderly manner, and a second pillar industry has already been identified.

It has reached LV2 level.

After all, the population of these two enemy sides is relatively much smaller.

The two base areas together had a population of just over three million.

At that time, besides salt production, agriculture was the only pillar industry left in southeastern Shanxi.

The output value is not high, and the tax coverage rate is less than 50%.

Many people in mountainous areas are relatively isolated from the outside world, making it difficult to collect their taxes.

In addition, the large number of mountainous areas has constrained their development speed.

Even with the current surge in infrastructure development, the relevant road construction has not yet been completed.

Apart from Shanxi, the development of western Hebei and western Henan has also been extremely slow.

Up to this point in time.

The work of stationing cadres in villages has been completed in northern Shanxi, southwestern Shanxi, and northeastern Shanxi.

The project is still underway in western Henan, western Hebei, and northern Henan.

The bigger the operation, the more things there are to do, and the slower the development becomes.

Besides.

Currently, many large-scale projects are under construction in North China.

All water conservancy projects in various places have been approved, and they are basically carried out with money and labor from the local people.

Besides northwestern Shanxi, the region with the most approved projects is Shanxi.

It's the Taihang Mountains area.

The Taihang Mountains are short of water, even extremely short of it.

Take Qian Bojun's hometown, Linxian County, for example.

Because of its historically severe drought, Linxian County has continuously undertaken water conservancy projects throughout its history.
Out of consideration for Qian Bojun, Chu Yunfei specially approved a batch of construction funds for the exploration and construction of related ditches to divert water, intending to solve the problem of large-scale irrigation.

This project also started last year.
However, it is clear that the Linxian irrigation canal diversion project is a long-term project, and it is extremely difficult to increase local economic investment during wartime.

After dropping off the telegram from the Second World War Zone Command Headquarters.

Zhao Pengcheng, who was standing nearby, chimed in at the opportune moment: "Judging from the current allocation of tax revenue, there is still a surplus of about 20 million yuan. Many people have sent telegrams about this amount."

Apart from southeastern Shanxi, most other areas are in a state of disrepair and in need of reconstruction.

"We only have so much money, we're so stubborn, we're hitting a wall on both ends."

Chu Yunfei said with a hint of helplessness, "Resources can only be prioritized for military industry and basic production facilities. The construction of other supporting facilities can only follow slowly. When will the new batch of Soviet export goods arrive?"

"It's already on its way. President Chu is also having a headache about how to allocate this batch of industrial equipment."

Chu Yunfei said with a hint of helplessness, "There are only so many items in total. Let them discuss it among themselves. Don't create a situation where one side is short of some items and another side lacks equipment to produce anything."

"This batch of supplies is delivered every year. Whether it's a year earlier or a year later won't have a significant impact on the local area. Let's not let this damage our relationship."

"Only by working together can we be more efficient and achieve victory sooner."

Zhao Pengcheng nodded seriously: "I'll send a telegram to Chief Commander Chu later and make our suggestion."

The Soviet Union's aid was obtained in exchange for tobacco from places like Quwo, Jincheng, and Yangcheng.

A few million dollars may not seem like much, but it's enough to buy a lot of industrial equipment.

After all, if the Soviet Union really had to provide it itself, instead of them buying it, it would be a different story.

The Soviet Union preferred to give them second-hand weapons, or even equipment that had been phased out.

But for the Republic of China at this time...

They've long since moved beyond the stage where buying was better than making; now their need is for fishing gear, not fish.

As for the diplomacy module in Chu Yunfei's system.

He didn't actually waste his diplomatic points.

Relations with the Soviet Union and the United States have always been excellent.

Even when there are extra points that are not used.

Chu Yunfei might even try to improve relations with countries like Australia and Canada.

However, Britain is not among these countries.

For this inhumane country.

Chu Yunfei will forever harbor hatred towards him.

Similarly, due to the course of the war.

When submitting aid requests to the Soviet Union through the system's diplomacy module, the Soviet Union would always give them the runaround, or the aid list would only contain some unimportant items.

The Americans, on the other hand, always stingily provide some second-hand machine tool equipment, and say that their support is already quite substantial.

Chu Yunfei guessed that it was because the Soviet Union and the United States had also entered the stage of strategic counter-offensive.

In order to gain more say in the postwar period, they urgently needed to achieve a decisive victory on the battlefield.

The Soviet Union was already struggling financially and relied on British and American aid.

The support provided by the United States has always been substantial, and Chu Yunfei can't keep chasing after the US for its money.

Starting from 41.

The machinery and equipment that the Republic of China acquired through trade with the Soviet Union were mostly second-hand.

Fortunately, the two sides have a good relationship.

The Soviet Union also sent engineers to be stationed there permanently; otherwise, the frequent equipment malfunctions would have been a major headache.

The reason why southeastern and central Shanxi have developed so rapidly is...

That's also because of the beginning.

These aid supplies had nowhere to go, as most of Shanxi was occupied by the Japanese army.

They can only be transported to southeastern and western Shanxi.

The industrial base of these two regions is indeed much stronger.

under these circumstances.

The civilian goods produced by industrial equipment in southeastern and central Shanxi naturally need to be distributed, and individual businesses in counties, towns, and even townships are springing up like mushrooms after rain.

Civilian industry supports military industry, and military industry ensures victory in war and protects the achievements of civilian industry development, thus achieving a perfect closed loop.

What Chu Yunfei also did not expect was...

The University of California, Marijuana was able to submit an aid contract and have the application approved.

This was a pleasant surprise for him.

After submitting the aid contract application in the system's diplomacy module.

The Nationalist government quickly received the relevant diplomatic request.

Although it was only five thousand Buran light machine guns and twenty million rounds of ammunition.

However, for the current Nationalist army, it is still a very good weapon and equipment.

It will take some time for the goods to arrive.

This batch of weapons and equipment.

The General Staff decided to allocate half of the funds to the Expeditionary Force combat units under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, and the other half to the Nationalist Army units in South China to strengthen their light weapons firepower. They also consulted the North China Joint Command for their opinion.

The North China side naturally agreed.

Even if the parties in a camp belong to different factions, none of them can take all the benefits.

With North China now in a stalemate, South China is the key area for the next counter-offensive, and everyone knows which region should be strengthened.

Two more days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Chu Yunfei and the others in the forward command post spent most of their time waiting anxiously.

The crisis on the front lines emerged quickly, and casualties among the combat units in the Sixth Theater Command were also surging.

The 13th Division, under Cao Jinlun, suffered heavy casualties due to continuous attacks by the Japanese army.

Retreat towards Changyang.

He was previously stationed at Chayuan Temple, Renheping, and other places, where he defended the area together with the 121st Division, the 118th Division, and the Provisional 35th Division.

The Japanese army's strategy for breaking through this defensive line remained unchanged.

It means concentrating forces to attack once, leading to a complete collapse.

The combat effectiveness of the troops was indeed much worse than that of the Japanese army.

After the 13th Division was defeated, the remaining troops did not put up any strong resistance and retreated from the Wangjiapeng line.

This infuriated Sun Lianzhong, who reported it to the General Headquarters and decided to severely punish the commanders of these units after the war.

It was one of the outer positions of the Shipai Fortress.

Sun Lianzhong immediately informed Chu Yunfei, seeking a solution.

Within a three-dimensional combat map.

Chu Yunfei immediately discovered this combat unit, which had suffered heavy casualties, was running out of ammunition, and had its organization reduced to less than 30%.

Unlike Chang Ruiyuan, who personally called Wu Qiwei to ask him to hold out to the death.

Chu Yunfei simply ordered the commander of the 5th Division of the 32nd Army to reinforce the front, while the 13th Division withdrew to the northwest of Shipai to regroup and replenish its supplies, preparing for another battle.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure that the defense line can be firmly established along the Ziqiu-Muqiaoxi line.

Sun Lianzhong telegraphed again that Wu Xiaoya's troops from the Provisional 34th Division should rush to the aid.

The Provisional 34th Division was subordinate to the 18th Army and was an elite infantry division.

Once deployed to the battlefield, the defensive line was immediately secured.

The fundamental reason why it was able to stabilize was not because the defenses of the combat troops were particularly strong.

It was because the Japanese army's offensive speed was relatively fast, but the artillery units were completely out of sync or even failed to keep up.

Supporting weapons for offensive operations was a huge problem that neither the elite troops in North China nor the Japanese army could solve.

(Anxiang and Nanxian had already been captured by the Japanese army, and they were launching a feint attack on the 10th Army Group in the direction of Lixian.)
(Gongan and other places have fallen. The Japanese 39th Division, 13th Division, Noji Detachment, and Hagaya Detachment are attacking the Shipai Fortress defense line.)
Inside the forward command post.

Zhao Pengcheng handed a new telegram to Chu Yunfei: "Sir, according to Commander Fang's battle report, the Japanese army has once again dispatched bombers to bomb the Shipai Fortress's artillery positions."

Chu Yunfei waved his hand dismissively: "It's meaningless. The terrain of Shipai Fortress is treacherous, and bombing will not be very effective. What I'm worried about is the progress of the battle on the outer perimeter of Shipai Fortress. The Japanese army is currently in high spirits."

"Although our army has sufficient manpower, ammunition supply has always been a problem."

"Even with the strategic reserves that have been accumulated for less than a month now being drawn upon, it is still not enough for this campaign."

"Judging from the current strategic situation of both sides, the 139th Division is guarding the north bank of the Qingjiang River and the Duzhenwan line, while the 94th and 86th Armies are in close contact with it and are cooperating in combat. The 67th Division is stubbornly resisting the enemy and then retreating towards Duzhenwan. The strategy is actually very correct, but it is lacking in combat effectiveness. However, the Japanese army will not have a chance to conquer it in a short period of time."

"As long as this attrition continues, the attack of the Japanese 11th Army will naturally be contained, and the two sides will enter into a protracted war of attrition, which is what we are best at."

"The 11th Army is their only remaining elite field army. They can't afford to lose it. As long as we continue fighting this battle, we will be able to win."

"Sir..." Zhao Pengcheng suggested, "The General Headquarters wants to continue to send troops from North China south to reinforce the Japanese army and engage in a decisive battle. What do you think we should reply to regarding this matter?"

Chu Yunfei's consciousness quickly detached from the three-dimensional combat map, and then he said, "As of now, the 74th Army has arrived in Changde, and the 79th Army under Xia Chuzhong, which came from the Ninth War Zone, is only about ten days away. If we include the 30th Army in Chifeng City, the available mobile forces around Shipai will be deployed within half a month."

He paused, then asked, "What is the current progress of the reorganization of the 22nd Army Group?"

Zhao Pengcheng replied, "Commander Sun Ming reports that it is basically complete. The newly equipped weapons have undergone adaptation training, and approximately 28,000 troops are ready to move south to provide support."

"Very good. It will take about fifteen days for the 22nd Army Group to be transferred here."

"Half a month is all it takes; the Shipai defense line just needs to hold out for half a month."

Shipai Fortress is not a proper fortress.

He was referring to an entire region, roughly seventy li in circumference.

It is an extremely long defensive line, encompassing countless villages, towns, and mountain passes.

As a gateway protecting the mountain city, it is less than 20 kilometers away from Yichang.

In order to resist the Japanese advance westward along the Yangtze River and threaten the mountain city, the National Revolutionary Army had made extensive preparations.

Various defensive positions were established, and the main forces of the six divisions of the river defense army were concentrated here.

The few mine-laying vessels deployed a large number of mines in this area, preventing the Japanese from using river gunboats or naval warships for reinforcements.

The fortress's gun emplacements were not only capable of blocking the river, but could also attack ground targets.

Elite units like the 18th Army are responsible for the core defense line.

There should be no problem within half a month!
With this in mind, Chu Yunfei was confident and optimistic, saying, "As long as the Japanese army maintains its offensive operations, the time for the decisive battle will be ripe."

At that time, whether the 74th Army captures Yuyang Pass or the 87th Army of the 10th Army Group, which is currently reorganizing and replenishing on the outskirts, captures Tianzhu Mountain, they can directly cut off the Japanese army's retreat route.

Our army can then attempt to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 13th Division, 39th Division, and parts of the 40th and 34th Divisions.

"In addition, the main force of the Japanese Third Division, which was besieged by our army in northern Hubei."

"If we win this battle, it will be enough to severely damage or even annihilate the main force of the Central China Field Army."

"The liberation of Yichang, Hankou, and other places is just around the corner!" (End of Chapter)