Chapter 339: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 349: Can Yunfei Dare to Cross the Yellow River North

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

According to plan, Qiu Qingquan led two reinforced divisions of the First Army south to support the battlefield at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains, while another division crossed the Yellow River northward to coordinate with friendly forces of the First War Zone and recapture Jiyuan.

"Supporting the Wuhan campaign to the south will be handled by Qiu Qingquan; as for the candidate to go north, it has not yet been decided." Lv Muzhi looked at the generals under his command.

Everyone immediately understood Lv Muzhi's meaning and began to eagerly volunteer.

Liao Yaoxiang stood up first: "Recapturing Jiyuan, I am willing to serve as the vanguard!"

Zhang Fei was not to be outdone: "The devils have one division and two brigades eyeing the Lanfeng area; if Liao junior brother leaves, I fear we won't be able to hold down the devils. You should stay and guard Zhengzhou; this task should be mine!"

Sun Liren: "Not good, not good. You two tigers can only intimidate the Japanese in Zhengzhou. It's better to let me go north and attack!"

Chen Mingren, Zhou Weiguo, and others also volunteered to go into battle one after another.

Chu Yunfei spoke: "As for combat capability, naturally no one is convinced by anyone else, so let me say something else."

Jiyuan borders Shanxi. Yunfei is a native Shanxi man, so having me go out is the most suitable choice."

Seeing Chu Yunfei's confident appearance, Zhou Weiguo frowned and said: "Brother Yunfei talked for half a day, but in the end Jiyuan isn't Shanxi—Jiyuan is in Henan! What does that have to do with you being a Shanxi man?"

"Uh... this..."

Chu Yunfei was embarrassed for a moment, and everyone burst into laughter, thinking Chu Yunfei's reason was truly far-fetched.

Seeing everyone arguing without resolution, Lv Muzhi smiled: "Since everyone has a point, why not draw lots to show fairness."

A staff officer folded the slips of paper with the generals' names written on them and put them into a bowl, shook it, and poured them out. Lv Muzhi casually drew one.

Everyone held their breath and prayed that they would be the one drawn to go into battle to recapture Jiyuan City.

After all, the opportunity for this battle was very rare. The war of resistance had lasted a year, and it had always been the Japanese army attacking while we defended passively. Now it was finally our turn to take the initiative, and the commanders of the Youth Corps were all very enthusiastic.

Lv Muzhi unfolded the slip and looked at it, then extended his hand: "Jiyuan is a stepping stone for our counterattack into North China. Yunfei, do you dare to lead a division across the Yellow River northward and recapture the lost land?"

Chu Yunfei suddenly stood up: "What is there not to dare!"

Seeing Chu Yunfei had been drawn, everyone just shook their heads in regret, hating that their luck was bad today.

Sun Liren asked: "The Yellow River is surging. How will the tanks be transported?"

Lv Muzhi said: "Speed is essential in warfare. Heavy equipment cannot be carried across the river, let alone tanks. Yunfei, are you confident?"

"Absolutely confident!" Chu Yunfei said loudly: "Even without tanks, I can still recapture Jiyuan."

Lv Muzhi added: "I have communicated with First War Zone Commander Cheng Qian. The Luoyang ferry crossing cannot get 105-caliber artillery to the opposite bank for the time being. If it really doesn't work, you must not be reckless!"

Chu Yunfei got angry: "If this battle fails, I am willing to accept military punishment!"

"Good! I'll go with you!" Lv Muzhi nodded. "If 105 cannons won't do, 75-caliber cannons won't be lacking for you. Near Jiyuan, the First War Zone's 95th Division is conducting guerrilla operations there, and the Eighth Route Army is also active."

I have already telegraphed First War Zone Commander Cheng Qian that part of the 166th Division will cross the river first to coordinate with your forces in battle.

If you can't take Jiyuan, don't come back to see me.

Chu Yunfei saluted: "Yes!"

Lv Muzhi then looked at the other commanders: "Gentlemen, there is no need to regret.

Our army this time is again striking with both hands—one force crossing the Yellow River northward to recapture lost land, another force heading south to the Dabie Mountains to respond to the campaign. The Japanese North China Area Army will surely not sit still and will think we have left the front gate wide open.

Opposite them in the Lanfeng area, one division and two brigades will probably not be able to hold back. Then you will have your battles to fight."

Everyone nodded, thinking it reasonable.

Lv Muzhi continued: "The reorganization of the Youth Corps is still underway.

Currently, only the First and Second Armies have complete combat strength, with establishments the same as during the Youth Army period.

The Third and Fourth Armies only undertake training and emergency defense missions, and these two armies do not yet have formal army commanders.

Personnel for the Third Army have already been recruited and are in training;

Troops for the Fourth Army are not yet complete, with personnel at only sixty percent, and urgent conscription and training are still needed.

In addition, I plan to establish a guerrilla force. Conscription and the formation of a guerrilla army behind enemy lines are also urgent."

"Once the reorganization is complete, the Youth Corps will have four regular armies under its command, plus a guerrilla army, as well as an air force and river defense forces.

By then there will be new personnel arrangements for the Youth Corps. I hope you all perform well recently and seize the opportunity."

Everyone in the conference room heard this and was greatly invigorated. After the Youth Corps expansion was completed, those who would benefit most were these old subordinates of theirs.

Following Commander Lu in the war of resistance indeed has a future!

That night, Chu Yunfei led the Second Division of the First Army westward to Luoyang by military train along the Longhai Line, and then the entire division crossed the Yellow River northward.

On the north bank of the ferry crossing, Ma Liwu, commander of the 166th Division, had long been waiting, and finally saw Chu Yunfei on the second night.

Upon seeing Chu Yunfei, he said excitedly: "Commander Chu, you've finally come! Now I feel assured! This time we must thoroughly liberate Jiyuan!"

Jiyuan City and Luoyang City, where the First War Zone Headquarters is located, are separated by a Yellow River, and they changed hands repeatedly within less than a year.

Jiyuan was captured by the Japanese this February, briefly liberated by the 166th and 95th Divisions in April, and then captured again by the Japanese 110th Division.

The 110th Division left a regiment's worth of troops to garrison Jiyuan City, while the division's main force went to Jiaozuo to be stationed. As for Jiaozuo, it faces Zhengzhou, where Lv Muzhi is, across the river.

The Daoqing Railway within Jiaozuo was repeatedly sabotaged by the Eighth Route Army. The 110th Division was anxious like ants on a hot pot, busy running around in circles.

The National Army's 95th Division also came down from the mountains to harass everywhere. The 166th Division crossed the river from Luoyang to open a landing field, and finally waited for Chu Yunfei's youth division.

Chu Yunfei looked at the 75mm mountain guns and 107mm rocket launchers being unloaded from the ferry boats one by one, and said in a deep voice: "Commander Ma, not only can Jiyuan City be liberated, but with such a good opportunity, I want to capture the three nearby counties in succession!"

"Point the gun muzzles directly at the 110th Division's forehead, and from now on they'll be sitting on pins and needles!"

At the same time, on the Daoqing Railway east of Jiyuan, a supplementary regiment of the Eighth Route Army's 386th Brigade and local militia were vigorously sabotaging the railway.

"Quick! Take the rails away, burn the sleepers!" A staff officer urged loudly while prying up the rails.

A signalman came running: "Staff Officer Jiang! Brigade Commander Chen relays an order from the Second War Zone Headquarters: demanding our forces launch a railway sabotage operation, coordinating with the Youth Corps' operation to recapture Jiyuan!"

The so-called Staff Officer Jiang was Lv Muzhi's Whampoa Class 1 classmate Jiang Xiangyun, who, in the capacity of Training Officer of the 386th Brigade Headquarters, led a detachment to carry out railway sabotage warfare on the Daoqing Railway.

Jiang Xiangyun only kept his head down and worked, saying: "What fart is Yan Laoxi blowing again? I'm already carrying out sabotage warfare—do I need him to issue an extra order?"

After the signalman finished listening and saw there were no instructions, he put away the telegram paper and prepared to leave.

Jiang Xiangyun suddenly reacted: "Youth Corps? You come back, let me see the telegram."

Taking the telegram and examining it closely, after reading this order that had been transferred from the First War Zone to the Second War Zone, then to Eighth Route Army Headquarters, and finally before his own eyes, a smile gradually bloomed on his face: "Muzi Ah Muzi... you've finally made your move."