Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Mountain city, command headquarters, large operations conference room.

As the battle intensified, the fighting on the mountain city side became increasingly fierce.

“Chairman,” Bai Jiansheng stood before the huge battle map, his baton pointing to the red arrows that were slowly but steadily advancing westward, “the Japanese forces are attacking from all directions and must cross several rivers. Because of their shortage of boats, even though my 10th Army has suffered heavy casualties, the enemy is unable to continue to expand their gains.”

He paused, then changed the subject, seemingly analyzing the enemy situation, but actually trying to excuse the passive situation of the Sixth War Zone: "At the same time, the mountain roads in this area are rugged, making resupply and travel quite difficult."

The Japanese army's pack animal transport teams were no longer able to keep up with the infantry's advance, and the food shortage problem for their front-line attack troops was becoming increasingly serious.

Chang Ruiyuan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't want to hear any more analysis. His unfathomable eyes stared straight at Bai Jiansheng.

"And what about our soldiers?" His voice wasn't loud, but it struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. "How are our soldiers' supplies?"

This question left Bai Jiansheng speechless.

An awkward, deathly silence fell over the entire operations room.

After a moment, Bai Jiansheng spoke with difficulty, his voice dry: "According to the current reports from the war zones, the Sixth War Zone is short of food and fodder. The Fifth War Zone is out of ammunition."

“I know about their tenacious resistance.” Chang Ruiyuan ignored his evasive words and pointed heavily at the map. “How is the Japanese offensive progressing near Liujiapeng?”

"We broke through the Liujiapeng line a few days ago. The commander of the 67th Division was wounded, and Luo Xianda is now acting as commander." Bai Jiansheng's voice grew lower and lower. "The division has suffered more than half its casualties. Yesterday evening, they launched a desperate charge and finally defeated the Japanese army. Now, the Japanese offensive on the southern front has been largely thwarted."

"Let's see how the fighting goes at Shipai Fortress."

Chang Ruiyuan sighed.

He understood.

Bai Jiansheng's report was purely positive, with no mention of the bad news, and he even used a lot of euphemisms to embellish it.

He simply ignored them, abruptly stood up from his seat, and swept his gaze over all the generals present.

"I declare!" His voice was resolute and filled with unquestionable authority, "The operation to protect the secondary capital is officially commenced!"

Minister of Military Affairs Zhang Zhizhong immediately stood up, holding a pre-prepared document, and read it aloud:
"The guiding principle of this operation is: the National Army aims to repel the enemy's westward advance, always ensuring that the Three Gorges is the operational hub, and annihilating the invading enemy in the mountainous area north and south of the Three Gorges! It will also engage in fierce battles with the enemy along the line of Changde, Shimen, Wufeng, and Ziqiu."

At the same time, in order to support the Fifth War Zone's operation to recapture Xinyang in North China, efforts were made to draw the enemy's main force into a decisive battle along the banks of the Qingjiang River and across the Yangtze River!

As soon as he finished speaking, a barely perceptible glint flashed in Chen Cixiu's eyes.

He exchanged a glance with Chang Ruiyuan, who nodded slightly.

"Cixiu, is there anything else you want to say?"

"Yes, Chairman." Chen Cixiu stood up, his expression solemn. "In my opinion, the day of the decisive battle has not yet arrived, and the plan is not yet mature enough."

"Expand your story."

Chen Cixiu took a deep breath, his voice steady and powerful: "I have exchanged telegrams with the North China side regarding this matter. Currently, several main forces of my Sixth War Zone, which are being used for the decisive battle, are still on their way to deployment. The 22nd Army Group is still en route, and the elite troops under Chi Fengcheng will need at least three more days to reach the Qingjiang attack line. The 74th Army has only one division's vanguard arriving on the battlefield for mountain assaults, which is a serious shortage of manpower. As for the Fifth War Zone, ammunition is exhausted, and the replenishment is less than a quarter of what it was originally intended for."

He raised his head and looked at Chang Ruiyuan with a firm gaze.

"If preparations are carried out according to the plans and estimated timelines of each unit, the decisive battle should take place between May 1st and May 4th. Before that, our army should continue to focus on defense."

Chang Ruiyuan gave his most trusted and beloved general a deep look, his brows furrowing slightly.

Postponing the decisive battle meant that the Shipai Fortress would have to withstand the most frenzied attacks from the Japanese army alone for more than a week.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Are you confident in the defense of Shipai Fortress?"

Chen Cixiu reported: "I have ordered Hu Lian's 11th Division of the 18th Army to hold Shipai!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Chang Ruiyuan slowly walked towards the only telephone in the conference room.

"Receive the command of the 11th Division of the River Defense Army."

Everyone looked surprised, but they all remained silent, even their breathing became soft.

After waiting for several minutes, the call was finally connected amidst the buzzing of the electricity.

"Hello?! Eleventh Division Headquarters!"

"Is it Boyu?" Chang Ruiyuan's voice was quite calm.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Immediately, a voice trembled slightly with excitement: "Yes, Principal!"

"You're a whole division, guarding Shipai, do you have the confidence to succeed?"

"Reporting to the Principal!" Hu Lian's voice was resolute and filled with a determination to die for the cause. "Although we students are not confident of success, we are determined to die for our cause! All officers and soldiers of the 11th Division are willing to live and die with the Shipai Fortress! We swear to defend Shipai to the death! We swear to defend our leader to the death!"

"Very good, I believe you!"

Chang Ruiyuan slowly hung up the phone, but his tightly furrowed brows did not relax.

The reason he wanted to bring forward the decisive battle was...

Essentially, the concern is that Shipai cannot be defended.

If Shipai is lost, the Japanese army will advance directly towards the mountain city.

Even a symbolic threat was enough to humiliate the newly established South China Joint Command, rendering it incomparable to the highly decorated North China Joint Command.

This battle can only be won, not lost!
Shibei Fortress, the headquarters of the 11th Division.

The dim light of the kerosene lamp cast flickering shadows in the damp tunnel, illuminating Hu Lian's resolute face, which appeared as if sculpted by a knife and axe, highlighting its sharp features.

On the map, the red arrow representing the Japanese offensive has reached the outer perimeter of the Shipai Fortress.

The enemy troops, who had broken in from the direction of Yichang Avenue, were now within arm's reach after a fierce tug-of-war with the 18th Division.

The air was filled with the earthy smell and the sulfurous odor of gunpowder.

Hu Lian knew that the moment that would determine the fate of the nation had arrived.

He slowly took out a stack of clean letters from under the desk, which had been converted from an ammunition box.

The freshly ground ink emits a faint fragrance in the inkstone, standing out from its surroundings.

He first picked up his pen and wrote a farewell letter to his elderly father who lived far away.

Between the lines, there is the resolute determination of "If a son is willing to die for his country, it is enough to comfort a great man," and also the guilt of "I have long neglected this duty for the simple pleasures of life."

He put down his pen and remained silent for a moment, his mind filled with the image of his wife's gentle face and his children's still-childish faces.

An indescribable sorrow welled up in his heart, causing the valiant general's eyes to moisten slightly.

He picked up his pen again, the tip gliding across the letter paper. This time, there was a barely perceptible tremor in his handwriting.

It was written to his wife.

“I am now ordered to take charge of the defense of Shipai Fortress, which is my duty, so I have no worries.”

When he wrote this sentence, Hu Lian paused for a moment, as if the words were a way of convincing himself.

"My family is old and poor, I have a young wife and children, and I am far from my hometown. I am lonely and helpless. I feel a little sad, but I have no choice but to accept my fate."

He stopped writing at this point and let out a long breath.

That breath was incredibly heavy.

"When the sons grow up, it is advisable for them to become soldiers to avenge their father and serve the country loyally."

"After the war, those who remain in Jiangxi or return to Shaanxi are free to choose."

"If you can be frugal at home, you can have enough to eat and wear. There is an ancient saying that you should be able to understand and appreciate the simple pleasures of poverty.

He wrote down his instructions for the future and his expectations for his children.

Finally, the emotions belonging to the husband flowed from the pen at the moment of parting.

"In my more than ten years of military service, I have failed you in many ways. Now that we are parting, I am deeply grateful."

"I leave behind a gold watch, a fountain pen, and a diary as a memento."

"Upon receiving this letter, do not grieve, for life is but a hundred years long, and death is inevitable. To die a worthy death is to be joyful."

"I wish you well in haste."

After finishing the last stroke, he took off his worn gold watch from his wrist, then took out his fountain pen and diary from his jacket pocket, and solemnly handed them, along with five sealed suicide notes, to Cui Huanzhi beside him: "Help me mail them out..."

……

The next day, it was dawn.

The pre-dawn mist still shrouded this mountain range, which was about to be soaked in blood.

In front of the Shipai Fortress, on a temporarily cleared open space, an altar was erected high, and offerings were laid out.

Division Commander Hu Lian, dressed in brand-new military uniform, personally lit three sticks of incense and bowed deeply before the vast heavens and earth, and before the young and resolute faces of his subordinates. "Heaven above, earth below!"

His voice, loud as a bell, echoed endlessly in the silent valley with his raised right hand!

"Commander Hu Lian of the 11th Division of the Army hereby solemnly proclaims this to the spirits of the mountains and rivers."

I now lead my mighty army to defend the land that my ancestors painstakingly built and bequeathed to us. This is a just cause, and I am worthy of the utmost respect and divine favor. My resolve is unwavering, and I swear to never give up!

The Han and the traitors cannot coexist; this is an ancient and clear-cut saying.

The distinction between Chinese and barbarians must be strictly made, and righteousness must be preserved in the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Born a soldier, die a soldier's soul!
Future generations will view the present as we view the past.

What do I have to fear!

Now that the enemy has invaded, I am determined to annihilate them with all my might, even at the cost of my life.

However, I firmly believe that Heaven, with its vast expanse, will surely protect the loyal.

We swear that victory is within our grasp during this bloody battle!

Noon on April 28, 1943 (the 32nd year of the Republic of China) ①
Behind him, hundreds of officers and soldiers roared in unison.

The sound waves merged into a deafening torrent, dispelling the morning mist in the mountains and also dispelling the last trace of fear of death in everyone's hearts!
This scene was captured by a reporter embedded with the military.

In a short time, the news spread rapidly.

The Shipai Fortress became a focal point of national attention.

Less than two days later, with the support of fighter planes and artillery, the Japanese army launched an attack on the 11th Division's positions.

The time for the 11th Division to fight desperately has come!

Under the command of Yin Zhongyue, the commander of the 31st Regiment, each battalion calmly fought back and, with the full support of the fortress's artillery, repelled several Japanese offensives.

The Japanese army made no progress that day.

Immediately, all units were greatly encouraged and praised the 18th Army for living up to its title as a campaign attack force.

Northern Hubei, forward command post.

Chu Yunfei was setting up Hu Lian's troops on the sand table.

On the surface, the deployment is based on battle reports, but in reality, it is based on a three-dimensional battle map in one's mind.

It's obvious at a glance.

Hu Lian was very bold, daring to set up a pocket formation at Shipai Fortress, which was actually a small-scale Heavenly Furnace tactic, suitable for V-shaped deployments in terrain.

As the Japanese army continued to advance deeper into enemy territory, they not only faced the risk of being surrounded, but also the possibility of being completely annihilated.

"Your Excellency, the Japanese army has divided into small groups and launched fierce attacks on the Chinese defenders' positions. They are charging in dense formations and penetrating deep into the enemy's positions in a cone shape. It is clear that they want to win a quick battle, break through one point quickly, and then cause the entire front to collapse, which is the old tactic."

Chu Yunfei nodded: "It is obvious that our Commander Hu has already made a plan. He has deployed the vast majority of his troops on the outer defense line. When the Japanese army penetrates deeper, he can seize the initiative, inflict casualties on the enemy, and then move to the pre-set defensive positions in the rear."

"As long as we can hold the line, we can continue to wear down the Japanese troops and their ammunition. In three days at most, we can switch to a counter-offensive."

"But the reinforcements are still on their way..."

"That's why we have more time to make more thorough preparations."

Shipai Frontline, Pengjiazhai.

The mountain breeze after the rain was sticky and damp, carrying the earthy and grassy smell.

In the trenches, the brothers of the company, wrapped in thin military blankets, dozed off against the damp, cold breastwork.

The day's fierce battle had drained them of all their strength.

The Japanese attack was almost nonstop, with gunfire lasting for nearly ten hours.

Sentinel Zhang Gou Dan forced his eyelids open and stared at the mountain forest in front of him, which was bathed in the silvery-gray moonlight.

Insects chirped tirelessly, and occasionally a few muffled cannon shots could be heard in the distance, like snoring from within a trench.

Sudden.

A very faint metallic clanging sound came from the darkness.

Zhang Gou Dan's heart skipped a beat, and he gripped the Zhongzheng rifle in his hand tightly: "Who?!"

He subconsciously recalled the voice he had just heard.

It sounds like the Japanese soldiers smashing their helmets with grenades.
Then he immediately let out a slightly hoarse roar: "Grenade!"

The next moment, a Japanese cantaloupe grenade was thrown into the trench.

"boom!"

The explosion instantly tore his young body apart!
The explosion was like a signal!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Japanese grenade launchers emitted rapid, muffled sounds as grenades whistled through the air, crashing into the sleeping positions!

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack—!!!”

The company commander was jolted awake from his dream, grabbed his pistol and rushed out of the command post. The sight before him made his eyes widen in horror!
Fire and explosions instantly engulfed the entire position!

Soldiers wearing thin cotton uniforms scrambled out of the bombed bunkers and burning thatched huts, many without even having time to grab their weapons!
The distinctive tearing sound of the Type 91 machine gun rang out from all directions!

The Japanese assault teams, like ghosts, had already infiltrated deep into the heart of the position!
"withstand!"

"Hold on for me!"

The company commander roared and pulled the trigger at a Japanese lieutenant who popped his head out!

Chirp chirp chirp~!

Not far away, several flares were launched from the direction of the regiment's mortar support company, providing support for the Pengjiazhai position.

On the battlefield at this moment.

The battle quickly devolved into hand-to-hand combat.

The dull thud of bayonets piercing flesh, the crisp crack of bones breaking, the dying screams, and the officer's roars followed one after another.

Caught completely off guard, the stationed soldiers were practically using their own flesh and blood to withstand the long-planned, thunderous attack from the Japanese army!
With their collective sacrifice, the Pengjiazhai position was also occupied by the Japanese army.

The position was breached by the Japanese army.

A very obvious breach has appeared in the entire defense line.

This gash was like a red-hot dagger, stabbing viciously into the heart of the 31st Regiment.

The entire regiment's defenses were instantly attacked from both sides!

However, even when attacked from both sides, the officers and soldiers of the 31st Regiment did not collapse.

Relying on their second-line positions, they used cluster grenades and their own flesh and blood to forcefully halt the Japanese offensive at that corner of the breached position!

The Japanese army was clearly unwilling to give up this excellent opportunity and continued to send reinforcements to the front lines.

This night raid.

Within just one hour, it turned into a protracted battle where every inch of ground was contested.

11th Division Headquarters.

When news of the breach of Pengjiazhai arrived, the entire command post fell into a deathly silence.

Hu Lian's face, as resolute as if carved by a knife and axe, showed no expression.

He listened quietly to the reports from the front lines, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the telephone receiver.

"Commander!" A staff officer exclaimed anxiously, "Pengjiazhai has been breached! The 31st Regiment's flank is exposed! We should immediately consolidate our defenses!"

Hu Lian didn't speak, but slowly put down the phone.

"Snapped!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, he slammed his hand on the table, the loud noise startling everyone!
"Order Yin Zhongyue to lead his troops in a counterattack, and send all the reserves forward as well! Launch a counterattack!"

Hu Lian's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a chilling murderous intent!
His gaze swept over everyone present, his tiger-like eyes burning with fierce flames: "Division reserve team, no need to wait until dawn! Push forward now and repel the Japanese offensive!"

"Commander!" the adjutant exclaimed in alarm. "It's not even dawn yet, the enemy situation is unclear, and a hasty counterattack... this..."

Hu Lian slowly turned around and walked to the huge battle map: "We have no room for error. Right now, our main force is all around Shipai. If the Japanese army captures Shipai, our previous deployment will be completely ineffective. Our unit cannot afford such a risk. We must give the Japanese the illusion that our forces are very strong. Only in this way will the Japanese army have any chance of retreating." (End of this chapter)