Chapter 245: I Feel Numb
Facing Li Zongren’s eyes that seemed able to pierce through people’s hearts, a general wearing the rank of major general and responsible for intelligence compilation immediately stepped forward, his feet snapping together with a “pa” sound, standing at attention to report:
“Report, sir! According to the latest intelligence, the Japanese army has launched a full-scale offensive this morning!”
His voice sounded exceptionally clear in the tense operations room. He picked up a long pointer and pointed to the huge operations map on the wall.
“The enemy leader Michishige Michitsura has led the main force of his Third Division from the area north of Xinyang, under the coordinated cover of his air force and tank units, launching fierce attacks along the Pinghan Railway toward our positions east of Tongbai Mountain!”
The pointer drew a shocking red arrow on the map.
“At the same time, 」he moved the pointer to another area, “the Thirteenth Division commanded by Tanaka Shizuichi has also set out from Zhongxiang, its forces heading straight for the line of Xinye and Tanghe! They are coming with overwhelming force, and their vanguard units have already clashed with the outposts of our Thirty-Third Army Group!”
The atmosphere in the operations room instantly grew even heavier.
Everyone knew that this meant the Japanese army’s long-planned “Yichang Campaign,” aimed at opening the Yangtze River waterway and threatening Chongqing, had officially begun.
However, listening to this succession of bad news, Li Zongren’s face remained unusually calm, a calmness that was heart-palpitating. He did not look at the map, merely tapping the desk lightly with his fingers, as if pondering something.
Moments later, he spoke, his voice not loud, yet overpowering the sound of wind and rain outside the window:
“Has the air force promised from Chongqing arrived?”
This question made the reporting major general stiffen all over.
He hesitated for a moment, his gaze somewhat evasive, but finally steeled himself and answered in a low voice:
“No.”
Seeing that Li Zongren said nothing, he could only continue, “Chongqing replied… saying that the battles everywhere are intense right now, they… they have no spare aircraft to support us, and asked us… to figure out a solution on our own.”
“Figure out a solution on our own”—these eight words landed like a silent slap on the faces of all the generals present. A chorus of suppressed, angry gasps filled the operations room.
“Hmph.”
A very faint yet extremely cold snort came from Li Zongren’s nostrils. The corners of his mouth curved into a barely perceptible, mocking arc. He seemed not at all surprised by this outcome.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd again, and asked:
“What about the Shanxi Militia? Have Su Yaoyang and their troops arrived?”
This question invigorated everyone. Compared to the unreliable Chongqing, the Shanxi Militia, which had beaten the Japanese in Shanxi until they discarded helmets and armor and created the myth of annihilating an entire division, had become their greatest hope at this moment.
The major general’s expression improved greatly, and he immediately replied: “Report, sir! Chief of Staff Pi of the Shanxi Militia sent a telegram this morning, saying their ‘Pirate’ Air Wing and a task force composed of heavy artillery and infantry are ready and can head south to reinforce at any time!”
“However…” He glanced at the violent rain curtain outside the window and said helplessly: “However, the weather has suddenly worsened. They say that in this weather, planes cannot take off at all, and heavy equipment cannot be transported over muddy roads. They… they still have to wait for the weather to improve before coming.”
After hearing this news, the furrowed brows of Li Zongren finally relaxed somewhat. He nodded in understanding.
He knew better than anyone that large-scale air transport and heavy equipment maneuvers in this hellish weather would be suicidal.
That the Shanxi Militia was willing to come was enough.
“Stay in contact with the Shanxi Militia. As soon as the weather improves, urge them to take off immediately.”
“Understood!”
“Next, I will announce our army’s next operational plan…” Li Zongren continued.
“Yes!” The generals in the conference room responded in unison…
………..
Facing this sudden heavy rain, neither the Chinese army nor the Japanese army liked it much, as heavy rain affects troops too severely and greatly hampers troop movements.
However, this annoying heavy rain came fast and left fast.
After roaring and pounding all night, the rain miraculously stopped at dawn.
Through the torn clouds, faint morning light shone through. By early morning, the sky had begun to clear, with a pale sun hanging in the freshly washed sky, illuminating the damp earth with rising steam.
Just after 10 a.m.
Inside the Yichang City Defense Headquarters, Li Zongren, who had just handled a night of emergency military affairs and lain down for less than three hours, was startled awake by urgent knocking and the report of the orderly.
“Report, sir… urgent telegram!”
Li Zongren sat up abruptly from the campaign bed, his eyes showing no trace of sleepiness.
“Read it!”
“Yes! From Shanxi: their first batch of support troops has departed and will arrive at Yichang Airport in one hour!”
“Boom!”
This news exploded like a thunderbolt in Li Zongren’s mind. He leapt from the bed in an instant, grabbed the nearby dried military uniform haphazardly, pulled it on while buttoning it, and shouted to the door:
“Prepare the car! To the airport immediately!”
When Li Zongren’s convoy sped to Yichang Airport, kicking up mud and water, faint, bee-like roaring sounds were already audible overhead.
He got out of the car and looked up at the clear blue sky.
On the horizon, a large cluster of dense black dots appeared.
Those black dots rapidly enlarged in his view, their outlines becoming clearer and clearer.
Li Zongren was a battle-hardened veteran who had seen countless aircraft, but this sight still filled him with unprecedented shock.
What a massive, majestic formation of aircraft!
Twenty massive C-47 transport planes painted with the blue sky white sun emblem formed a neat formation, like twenty mountains moving through the air, approaching with heavy oppressive force, blotting out the sky.
Surrounding the transport formation was a squadron of burly, imposing fighters circling in escort.
Those fighters had ferocious shark-mouth nose art, wings loaded with dense clusters of rockets and bombs—they were the Shanxi Militia’s ace unit that terrified the Japanese over Xincounty skies: the F4U “Corsair” fighter!
“My goodness…” A general beside Li Zongren instinctively exclaimed.
Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, the massive formation began to descend.
The F4U fighter squadron first roared over the airport in alert patrol, while the twenty C-47 transports descended one after another with incredible steadiness, landing precisely on the newly cleared runway.
As the massive engine roar gradually faded, the first C-47 transport taxied slowly to Li Zongren and the others, stopped, and with a “click,” the huge ventral hatch slowly lowered, forming a wide ramp.
A figure appeared at the hatch.
It was a tall, upright young man wearing a deep gray wool officer’s uniform that differed completely from the National Army standard, tailored to look sharp and capable, with shiny black high boots.
Without a cap, he revealed neat short hair, a handsome face, and a calm, confident expression.
After exiting the cabin, his gaze pierced the steaming water vapor on the tarmac to meet Li Zongren’s from afar.
This person was none other than the founder of the Shanxi Militia… Su Yaoyang.
Su Yaoyang descended the wide ramp, and his adjutant immediately handed him a German mountain division officer’s cap matching his uniform.
Su Yaoyang took the cap, placed it squarely on his head, and under the brim, his deep, calm eyes appeared even sharper.
He straightened his collar and strode steadily across the tarmac to Li Zongren.
Three steps from the supreme commander of the Fifth War Zone, Su Yaoyang halted abruptly, his heels snapping together with a forceful “pa,” while raising his right hand in a standard salute.
“Greetings, Commander Li!” His voice was loud and clear. “Your humble servant, Shanxi Militia Commander Su Yaoyang, reporting for duty as ordered. Awaiting your instructions, sir!”
Looking at this young man he hadn’t seen in over a year, who now exuded extraordinary poise, a genuine, undisguised smile finally appeared on Li Zongren’s weathered face.
“Hahaha! Good! Excellent!”
Li Zongren stepped forward, gripped Su Yaoyang’s hand firmly with both of his, and shook it vigorously. He could clearly feel the steady, powerful warmth unique to youth from the other’s hand.
“Mingxi, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for you so long these days my neck’s grown.”
Li Zongren’s joy was evident; he pulled Su Yaoyang’s hand and turned to introduce him to the generals behind.
“Come, come, let me introduce—this is Shanxi Militia Commander Su Yaoyang, Su Mingxi, who just rushed here from Shanxi.”
Then he introduced the present National Army senior generals to Su Yaoyang one by one.
“This is the commander of the Thirty-Third Army Group, Zhang Zizhong.”
“This is the commander of the Thirty-First Army Group, Tang Enbo.”
“This is the commander of the Second Army Group, Sun Lianzhong.”
………..
Su Yaoyang smiled and shook hands with these historically renowned figures one by one. Zhang Zizhong was solemn and awe-inspiring, genuinely respectful toward this big shot Su Yaoyang, stepping forward to salute him solemnly.
“Greetings, Commander Zhang. Your humble servant has long admired your name. Your performance in the Battle of Linyi greatly boosted the morale of our Chinese soldiers. Your humble servant admires you!”
“Commander Su flatters me. Your performance in the Battle of Taierzhuang was truly brilliant.”
When it was Tang Enbo’s turn, he wore a forced smile, his eyes filled with scrutiny and calculation.
“Commander Su has been renowned far and wide these days. I have long admired your name.”
Su Yaoyang took it all in, but kept a polite yet distant smile on his face.
“Commander Tang flatters me. I dare not trouble you with praise.”
After the brief pleasantries, Li Zongren spoke bluntly.
“Mingxi, let’s be straightforward.
With the military situation urgent now, I want to know how many troops and men you’ve brought this time. I hope you’ll report honestly.”
“Of course, your humble servant will speak freely!” Su Yaoyang nodded in agreement.
“Your humble servant has brought two infantry battalions first this time. Follow-up troops will arrive in batches, estimated to take three to four days to complete delivery.”
In this campaign, the Fifth War Zone had assembled over 300,000 troops—a heavy concentration of forces. What Su Yaoyang brought was not much.
But note that this included an air wing’s worth of aircraft—that was extraordinary.
Hadn’t Li Zongren sent several telegrams to Chongqing for air support, only to receive “handle it yourselves”? Now Su Yaoyang delivered an entire air wing at once—that was impressive.
Everyone was seasoned in commanding troops—who hadn’t suffered under Japanese planes?
They all knew that on the battlefield, whoever gained air support would have victory tilt in their favor.
“Good… excellent…” Li Zongren was overjoyed.
“Mingxi, I plan to inspect the troops you’ve brought. Is that convenient?”
Su Yaoyang was slightly taken aback, then smiled: “Of course, it is your humble servant’s honor.”
Soon, under Su Yaoyang’s orders, the two battalions of soldiers who had disembarked from the twenty C-47 transports quickly assembled.
When Li Zongren led Zhang Zizhong, Tang Enbo, and other generals to the neatly arrayed formation, even these veterans accustomed to grand scenes couldn’t help drawing in a sharp breath.
Where were these two battalions? They were practically two battalions of steel monsters!
The soldiers before them were all burly, spirited, with eyes revealing the ferocity and confidence tempered by blood and fire. They wore full German M35 helmets and camouflage combat uniforms, high combat boots, looking formidable.
And their weapons made Tang Enbo and the others’ eyes nearly pop out.
Uniform American Garand semi-automatic rifles! Each squad equipped with one BAR automatic rifle and two Thompson submachine guns, each platoon with one M1919A1 heavy machine gun, and each company with three M2 60mm mortars, M18 57mm recoilless guns, and flamethrower troops.
What kind of firepower was this? Forget the National Army—even the Japanese army’s most elite Type A divisions would look like beggars in front of them!
Looking back at the rows of shark-mouthed F4U fighters on the tarmac and the 105mm howitzers being unloaded from the transports, everyone felt numb.
“My goodness… is this still our National Army?” 29th Division Commander Xu WenYao behind Zhang Zizhong couldn’t help saying, “If our division had this equipment, I’d dare take on a Japanese division.”
