Bright Sword: Iron Will 42

Chapter 42: The Great Bombardment of Tuanchengkou.

January 21, 2025

Chapter 42: The Great Bombardment of Tuanchengkou.

Tuanchengkou front line.

Chu Yunfei paced anxiously within the command post.

Since dawn, the whirring of propellers had been incessant.

It seemed that Baguan Zhengsi郎 had been truly angered, swallowing his pride to request aid from North China Command.

An entire brigade, six to seven thousand combat troops, had been encircled and annihilated.

Terauchi Juichi, the then Commander-in-Chief of the North China Area Army, could not afford this loss.

Although he continuously grumbled about Baguan Zhengsi郎’s disregard for his order to shift operations to Baoding and his insistence on attacking Shanxi, he still dispatched an air squadron – over a hundred aircraft of various types – to drop supplies to the Japanese troops in Tuanchengkou and provide air support through bombing.

This was no small matter.

Previous bombardments typically involved fighter planes carrying aerial bombs on their wings to bomb the Shanxi Defense Army positions. This allowed for relatively precise bombing, similar to a dive bomber.

However, this time, Terauchi Juichi deployed a large number of Type 97 heavy bombers. This was the Japanese army’s first developed bomber model, having only undergone test flights for less than a year. Currently, it was only used in North China and Shanghai.

The Type 97 heavy bomber could carry over a ton of aerial bombs.

Because the Shanxi Defense Army lacked effective air superiority, these large bombers acted with impunity, lowering their flight altitude to the safety limit to improve bomb effectiveness.

Don’t underestimate a ton of aerial bombs. A single 50-kilogram bomb had explosive power no less than a 150mm or larger heavy howitzer shell. With a high hit rate, a full payload could completely destroy a battalion’s defensive line. Even a slower release could severely cripple two battalions.

Chu Yunfei slammed his fist on the wooden table, looking up at the Japanese planes preparing to return to base, his anger reaching its peak.

Amid the Japanese’s relentless bombardment, the 358th Regiment, due to its fierce offensive, became a prime target. After several rounds of bombing, its initial fiery advance was completely extinguished.

Now, it seemed impossible to organize an attack. Even holding onto the captured positions was proving difficult.

Fang Ligong approached, his face covered in dust and grime, a far cry from his usual officer’s appearance. His hat had been blown off by the shockwave, his hair disheveled. His glasses were lost somewhere during the fighting.

“Commander, the men are about to break. The second reserve army has begun to retreat.”

“If we don’t make a decision soon, our army will be attacked on three sides by the Japanese.”

In the command room, several other staff officers urged, “Yes, Commander, we should retreat!”

“It’s better to preserve our strength for future battles!”

“Yes…”

The surrounding noise irritated Chu Yunfei. He furrowed his brow and slapped the table.

“Shut up!” he roared. “You’re all cowards, afraid of death!”

“The soldiers at the front lines fighting the Japanese haven’t said they’ll retreat, yet you officers in the rear, in the command post, dare to speak of such a thing. Higher command hasn’t issued a clear retreat order! Our brother units, the Provisional First Brigade, are engaged with the Japanese to our rear! To retreat now, would that be worthy of our comrades, worthy of the nation, worthy of the people of Shanxi?”

Chu Yunfei, as regiment commander, commanded considerable authority within the army. Under his furious rebuke, the staff officers looked at each other, none daring to speak.

“The phone lines are down, the radio is destroyed. You several, run to the various battalions and issue the order to continue fighting. Go!”

The staff officers responded weakly, “Yes, sir…”

Chu Yunfei clasped his hands behind his back, gazing at the regimental positions from the observation post. Faced with the swift, combined air and ground assault of the Japanese, Chu Yunfei had considered retreating. It felt like a war destined for failure. The disparity in weaponry was immense. With China’s current capabilities, Japanese planes would likely dominate the skies for at least a decade. As it stands, lasting even two years would be considered a great victory.

Chu Yunfei shook his head. “Alas, the Japanese are wreaking havoc upon China. Can Mr. Sun’s path truly lead to success?”

Although an officer under Yan Laosi, he firmly believed in the Three Principles of the People’s ability to save China. He knew he couldn’t change the fact that different factions couldn’t achieve genuine unity against the enemy.

But the 358th Regiment and Wang Feng’s Provisional First Brigade were both under Commander Yan’s Shanxi Defense Army. He couldn’t abandon his brother troops.

Gazing at the dive-bombing fighters, Chu Yunfei gnashed his teeth. “One day, if our army possesses such powerful weapons, these little devils will not be spared!”

Fan County.

At the war zone military conference, Yan Laosi lowered his head, his eyes coldly scanning the senior officers below. The atmosphere in the conference room was frigid. Even Chu Xichun, his trusted subordinate, sat silently with his head bowed.

Yan Laosi’s mood had been fluctuating wildly in recent days. The Eighth Route Army’s 115th Division, regardless of what anyone said, was under his Second War Zone’s command. The plan for the offensive also originated from his office. The successful ambush at Xiaozhai and Guangu had given him some credit. He had intended to launch a major offensive at Pingxing Pass.

However, Tojo Hideki, that old devil, seeing that the attack on Yamen Pass was stalled, shifted his focus to Ruyue Pass. If Ruyue Pass fell, Fan County would be next. The Japanese would soon be at the Second War Zone headquarters.

The thought that he might not even be able to return to his home in Wutai Mountain sent a chill down Yan Laosi’s spine. He immediately ordered the three brigades heading towards Tuanchengkou to hastily shift to Ruyuekou.

The meeting officially began.

Yan Laosi’s expression was devoid of emotion. “Given the current situation, does anyone have any strategies?”

The officers and staff officers below looked at each other. Someone stood up and said softly, “Commander, with the crisis at Ruyue Pass, besides reinforcing troops, we should also plan ahead.”

Yan Laosi frowned slightly and gestured for him to continue.

The officer looked around. “We should move the headquarters south of Xinkou as soon as possible.”

“What?”

“That’s impossible!”

“Yes…”

“It’s not a bad idea.”

This statement caused an uproar in the conference room. In the face of a major enemy, to do such a thing would surely cause unrest among the troops!

But Yan Laosi did not express his opinion, only furrowing his brow even tighter.

Chu Xichun, observing his subtle expressions, understood Yan Laosi’s intentions.

He spoke, “Gentlemen, moving the headquarters is to protect the command center. Only in this way can you, and Commander Yan, better command the battle. It’s a strategic relocation, not a retreat.”

Yan Laosi nodded subtly. “Which units are still fighting in the Tuanchengkou area?”

(End of Chapter)

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