Chapter 307: The Benefits Of Holding The Moral High Ground
Inside Taiyuan City, Japanese North China Area Army Headquarters.
As Jingguan Ren’s telegram filled with farewell arrived, the atmosphere in the entire headquarters became extremely heavy, deathly silent as if one could hear the sound of air solidifying. Shono Yoshio’s face was ashen, his tightly clenched fist turning his knuckles white from excessive force.
“Tanaka-kun, the 36th Division… Jingguan-kun, he… he really…”
Shono Yoshio’s voice was low, carrying a hoarse disbelief.
He could never have imagined that the 36th Division, which he had placed great hopes on, would collapse so quickly.
In just three days, over ten thousand men were completely annihilated.
Chief of Staff Tanaka Takayoshi’s expression was equally grave.
He had just received the latest battle report from the front lines, every word in that report like a sharp blade piercing his heart.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner shock, then slowly raised his head, his eyes showing a trace of fatigue, yet he had to face the cruelty of reality.
“Commander, the 36th Division, all… perished in honorable defeat.”
Tanaka Takayoshi’s voice trembled noticeably, each word squeezed out of his throat with great difficulty.
He paused for a moment, as if organizing his words, or perhaps struggling to digest this cruel fact.
“According to the latest aerial photos risked by reconnaissance aircraft and reports from guards outside the city… all positions around Taiyuan City have… fallen.”
He pointed to the large military map spread out on the desk, which originally marked the Japanese layered defensive lines, but now only showed a red area representing occupation.
“Lieutenant General Jingguan and his division headquarters launched a final banzai charge in front of the cave, but were instantly wiped out by the dense firepower of the Chinese troops… none, not a single one survived.” Tanaka Takayoshi’s voice grew lower, his eyes filled with pain.
He was silent for a moment, as if recalling something, then added with a trembling voice:
“Chief of Staff Suzuki Toshifumi Colonel, Artillery Brigade Commander Suzuki Kiyoshi Colonel, Infantry Brigade Commander Fukushima Tadao Colonel, Ouchi Sadao Colonel… and all staff officers, guards, signalmen who followed the division commander in the final assault… all, all killed in action.”
He paused, his tone filled with indescribable grief.
“The 36th Division has been completely wiped out… Commander, all defenses around Taiyuan City no longer exist.
Now the Chinese vanguard troops have even advanced to… advanced to less than five hundred meters from the city gate, ready to attack Taiyuan City at any moment.
Commander, we must prepare.”
Inside the headquarters, the air stagnated like lead weights, pressing heavily on everyone’s chest.
After a long time, Shono Yoshio finally let out a long sigh, the sound filled with endless bitterness and exhaustion.
“The Chinese have an old saying: things are unpredictable…”
He muttered to himself, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, yet each word echoed clearly in the deathly silent space.
“When I first came to serve in the First Army, I thought I would make my mark, completely eliminate the Chinese forces in Shanxi, and turn Shanxi into a solid rear base for the Empire… who would have thought…”
His gaze shifted from the map to the pitch-black night sky outside the window, as if seeing through the darkness his once spirited self and the now despairing reality.
“Commander!”
Tanaka Takayoshi suddenly straightened his back, unable to accept the commander’s dejected posture.
“You don’t need to be disheartened!”
He emphasized his tone, trying to bolster Shono Yoshio’s confidence. “Although the 36th Division has perished in honorable defeat, we still have the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade stationed in Taiyuan City!”
Tanaka Takayoshi’s tone carried urgency as he quickly stepped to the map, his fingertip heavily landing on the marker for central Taiyuan City, as if grasping the city’s fate firmly in his hand.
“Plus the imperial collaborationist army, we have over ten thousand men.
We can definitely hold Taiyuan for a long time! Once reinforcements arrive, we can bloom from the center and wipe them out!”
However, Shono Yoshio just shook his head, the motion carrying helplessness and fatigue.
“If only it were that simple…”
Tanaka Takayoshi was only considering from a military perspective, overlooking politics and morale, which were the invisible, intangible keys to victory or defeat.
“Tanaka-kun, the forces in Shanxi are too complex.”
Shono Yoshio paced to the window, his back to Tanaka Takayoshi, his gaze cast toward the distant mountains shrouded in night, as if countless elusive eyes hid among those peaks.
“Jin-Sui Army, Central Army, Eighth Route Army, Shanxi militia, and local private armed forces… as numerous as hairs on an ox.”
With each force he named, his tone grew heavier, each representing a potential threat and unpredictable variable.
“When the Shanxi militia and 386th Brigade first attacked Taiyuan, the other forces watched as if it were a joke, most not optimistic, thinking that the Shanxi militia and a bunch of dirt Eighth Route Army taking Taiyuan was a pipe dream.”
Shono Yoshio’s tone carried a hint of self-mockery; they had once thought the same, treating these “rabble” as a joke, disdainfully.
“But now it’s different…”
His voice suddenly lowered. “The shock from the total annihilation of the 36th Division is too great.”
Shono Yoshio slowly turned around. “If the Jin-Sui Army doesn’t seize the chance to jump in and take advantage, then he wouldn’t be Yan Xishan…”
He snorted coldly, able to imagine that usually timid Yan Xishan now grinning greedily, sharpening his knife to pounce on the fat battlefield of Taiyuan.
Outside Wuta County town
A black sedan, escorted by a truck full of soldiers, approached from afar covered in dust, its tires rumbling lowly over the concrete road.
Night had deepened, lights sparse around the county town, only the oil lamp high at the city gate swaying with dim yellow light.
The guards responsible for the gate, though accustomed to nighttime traffic, immediately raised their vigilance at this sight.
Several soldiers with submachine guns quickly stepped forward, setting up a cordon, signaling the convoy to stop.
The sedan window slowly rolled down, revealing two officers seated inside.
“Papers.” A guard extended his hand, tone stern.
Inside the sedan, an officer handed over several documents. The guard took them, carefully checking under the oil lamp; by the faint light, he saw the steel stamp, photo, and prominent two-star lieutenant general rank.
His gaze darted between the name on the papers… “Yang Aiyuan”.
And the face of the general in the back seat, confirming no discrepancy, his stern expression instantly relaxed.
“Report to the general, verification complete.” The guard respectfully returned the papers, standing at attention.
“General, the night road is treacherous; we’ll send two brothers to guide you.” The guard leader stepped forward and said loudly.
No sooner said than two soldiers quickly jumped onto the truck bed, signaling the convoy could proceed.
The sedan and truck started again, arcing through the night, soon arriving outside the Wuta County command post.
Outside the command post, several gas lamps illuminated the gate brightly.
At this time, Su Yaoyang, Bai Chongxi, and the brigade commander were already waiting at the door.
Dressed in neat uniforms, they stood tall like pines in the cool evening breeze.
When the black sedan’s door opened, Yang Aiyuan, wearing two-star lieutenant general insignia, stepped out.
“Brother Xingru, long journey, you must be tired!”
Bai Chongxi was the first to step forward enthusiastically, extending his hand to grip Yang Aiyuan’s tightly.
“Brother Jiansheng, long time no see.” Yang Aiyuan looked Bai Chongxi over, then sighed: “Several years apart, you’ve got quite a few more white hairs.”
“Who says otherwise, time spares no one.” Bai Chongxi smiled helplessly, pointing to Su Yaoyang beside him: “Come, let me introduce two young heroes.
Shanxi Militia General Commander Su Yaoyang Su Mingxi.”
Though Yang Aiyuan’s face showed fatigue, his eyes remained sharp and spirited; he smiled and shook hands with Su Yaoyang, his tone carrying a soldier’s straightforwardness.
After brief pleasantries and eye contact, without excess formality, all understanding the purpose, they turned together, striding steadily into the command post gate. Inside, the operations sand table was brightly lit, awaiting their next strategic deployment for Taiyuan City.
Inside the command post, in a operations room for small meetings, lights bright, atmosphere somewhat heavy.
By the rectangular wooden conference table, the four sat in sequence.
Bai Chongxi at the head, Su Yaoyang and the brigade commander on his left and right, while Yang Aiyuan and Sun Chu sat opposite.
A subtle tension filled the air; the operations map lay flat on the table, densely marked with red and blue positions, but the gazes of those present were not on the map, but fixed on each other’s faces.
Just seated, not even tea served, Yang Aiyuan leaned forward impatiently, hands folded on the table, eyes piercing as he swept over Su Yaoyang, Bai Chongxi, and the brigade commander, getting straight to the point with resolute tone.
“Brother Jiansheng, Commander Su, Brigade Commander, we’re all straightforward people, no need for nonsense.”
Yang Aiyuan’s voice carried the rough steadiness of a battlefield veteran.
“You must know why I’m here this time; I’m here on orders from Commander Yan. Taiyuan is Shanxi’s capital; it should and must be controlled by the central government, that is, in Commander Yan’s hands. No objections, right?”
He emphasized “should” and “must” heavily, his tone carrying unquestionable firmness, as if his words were irrefutable truths.
Su Yaoyang, Bai Chongxi, and the brigade commander exchanged glances, a brief silent understanding reached.
A faint smile appeared on Bai Chongxi’s usually calm face.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said leisurely:
“Brother Xingru, nothing is absolute; don’t be so certain. We can discuss any issues.”
Su Yaoyang’s lips curved slightly, eyes playful.
He leaned back comfortably into the chair, posture relaxed.
“General Yang, it’s not that we’re not giving you and Commander Yan face; it’s just that Commander Yan isn’t playing fair.”
Su Yaoyang’s voice sounded helpless yet laced with reproach, uttering “not playing fair” lightly but with strong accusation.
He pointed to the Taiyuan City map on the table, tone sarcastic.
“We’re in the thick of fighting the Japanese, and you suddenly show up wanting to reap the benefits; that doesn’t fly, does it?”
His words sounded joking, but the sarcasm was clear.
Especially “reap the benefits,” blatantly exposing the other’s intent, like a sharp blade to Yang Aiyuan’s heart.
The brigade commander, straightforward by nature, spoke bluntly.
“General Yang, this isn’t how it’s done!”
The brigade commander’s voice was rough and loud, laced with unmasked gunpowder.
He leaned forward, staring intently at Yang Aiyuan.
“No sign of you during the fighting, but you jump out when there’s meat to eat; is that how it’s done?”
“If Commander Yan wants Taiyuan, no problem; let him send troops, let the Jin-Sui Army liberate it themselves, and we’ll cheer them on!”
Yang Aiyuan knew they were indeed in the wrong, no wonder the barbs, but he was on a mission and wouldn’t back down easily.
He stared at Su Yaoyang, face serious: “Since Taiyuan fell, Commander Yan has often been sleepless, always pondering its recovery. Unfortunately, Jin-Sui Army lacks strength; Commander Yan could only gather old subordinates, develop quietly, and await the right moment.
Now the moment has come; if you two were Commander Yan, what would you do?
Moreover, as the central government-appointed Second War Zone Commander-in-Chief, all of Shanxi is under Commander Yan’s jurisdiction; what’s wrong with ordering the Jin-Sui Army to recover Taiyuan?”
Now it was Su Yaoyang and the brigade commander’s turn to fall silent; Yan Xishan’s opportunism was shameless, but Yang Aiyuan was right on one point—no matter what, he was the central government-appointed Second War Zone Commander-in-Chief, so sending troops to recover the provincial capital was perfectly legitimate; that was the advantage of holding the moral high ground.
