Chapter 30: The Victory Report of Xinghe County's Defense War

  Fu Zuoyi was relatively familiar with his sworn brother, although he was slightly lacking in military affairs, but in terms of character and conduct, he was quite good. He had some connections with officers from his own faction as well as those from the Central Army, including Tang Shengzhi and He Yingqin. It seemed that at this critical juncture, Li Zongren would not play any tricks on him.

  "Xinghe County Security Regiment, Xinghe County Security Regiment..." Fu Zuoyi muttered to himself as he walked with a furrowed brow.

  "New brother, go and find out who the head of Xinghe County Security Regiment is, and ask where this troop is now." Commander Fu said with a frown.

  "General, no need to check, the head of Xinghe County Security Regiment is Chen Feng, you probably don't remember him, he was appointed as Colonel Regimental Commander by you in person a few months ago." Although Fu had already been appointed as the commander-in-chief of the 7th Army Group of the National Revolutionary Army, old subordinates like Ye Qijie still addressed him as "General".

  "It's him, Li Jingyuan is back or not, if he's back let him come see me quickly." After Ye Qijie reminded him, Fu Dajiang finally remembered who Chen Feng was.

  The guard came in and reported: "Commander, Director Li is still inspecting the troops downstairs and has not returned yet. However, he sent a telegram to the commander a few days ago."

  "Telegram? What telegram? I didn't see it."

  "It's like this, Commander. You didn't instruct otherwise, so for the past few days, we've been prioritizing military affairs along the Zhangjiakou-Tianzhen line. Everything else has been put on hold, so Director Li's telegram hasn't been presented to you yet." The Seventh Group Army's intelligence and communications director, Wang Jinshan, stood up to answer.

  Fu Zuoyi remembered that he had indeed given such an order, so he said: "Hurry up and bring me Li Jingyuan's telegram, and also send a telegram to Li Jingyuan, telling him to report to the command headquarters immediately."

  Yes

  Soon a typed telegram was delivered to Fu Zuoyi's desk, the telegram had only over a hundred words, but it was these hundred words that made Fu Zuoyi read and read again, finally bursting into loud laughter and saying: "What a Chen Feng, what a Security Regiment! I, Fu Zuoyi, haven't misjudged, this Colonel Regimental Commander is worth the price."

  "Jun Ze, what's wrong? Chen Feng actually made you so happy." Ye Qijie asked with a smile.

  "You see for yourself!" He said with a smile, handing the telegram to Ye Qijie.

  After reading the telegram sent by Li Jingyuan, Ye Qijie was also surprised and said: "Chen Feng's strategic vision is not bad. Before the war broke out, he actually spent his own money to buy so many weapons and equipment, and even formed such a large army. It's amazing! However, how did Chen Feng get involved with the 61st Army? Why did Li Junze specially ask you to thank Chen Feng on his behalf?"

  "I reckon it's Chen Feng and his security team who helped the little devil, directly or indirectly helping the 61st Army a great deal." Fu Zuoyi said with a smile.

  "Then we should ask at once, if it's really a victory, that would be the first victory for Chinese troops since the War of Resistance!" Ye Qijie said hastily.

  "Right, right, we should make a phone call and ask if our headquarters can contact Chen Feng's unit?" Fu Zuoyi asked.

  "Before the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, each county in Suiyuan was equipped with a wireless telegraph station. After the war broke out, orders were given to each security regiment to immediately take over the defense of the county seat, including the order for the radio station to be directly managed by the troops. I think Chen Feng must have also taken over the local radio station. As long as we send a telegram to the local radio station, Chen Feng should be able to receive it." Ye Qijie replied.

  "Then immediately send a telegram to ask Chen Feng where he is now, whether his security team has attacked and what the outcome is?" Fu Zuoyi ordered.

  Shifo Temple. Temporary Command Center.

  "Report to the commander, Japanese reinforcements have arrived, totaling one infantry brigade and a puppet army cavalry division, with a total strength of over 5,500 people. They are now camping in front of the Third Battalion's position and may launch an attack at any time."

  "Keep watching!"

  "Report to Commander, Japanese army launched an attack on the third battalion's position, please instruct!"

  "Order the three battalions to counterattack immediately. However, only expose one-third of the firepower points and personnel, after repelling the enemy, everyone will immediately enter the artillery cave, leaving only a few observation posts."

  Yes

  "Report to Commander, the first wave of Japanese army's attack has been repelled!"

  "Continue to monitor"

  "Report to the commander, the Japanese army launched an artillery attack on the third battalion's position. The Japanese have an artillery company equipped with eight mortars and two Type 92 infantry guns."

  "Order the artillery battalion to counterattack, and make sure to take out the Japanese artillery in the first round of attack."

  Yes

  "Report to the commander, the guard battalion sent a telegram, Commander Fu asked where you are now, and also asked if our security regiment has launched an attack on the Japanese army, what is the outcome?" The reporter reported.

  "Deputy Commander, which Deputy Commander?" Chen Feng asked without lifting his head.

  "It was Commander-in-Chief of the Seventh Army Group and Chairman of Suiyuan Province Fu Zuoyi, Commander Fu."

  "Fu Si Ling, how can he have the mood to care about our security team?" Chen Feng asked in surprise.

  "Commander, it should be reported to the Tianzhen side, Li Fu'en's 61st Army is under the combat sequence of the 7th Group Army." said Li Wensheng.

  "Let the guard regiment send over the password for Commander Fu's command radio, and also send a telegram to the Seventh Army Command in the name of the Security Regiment. The telegram reads:

  The Japanese bandits have invaded our borders, attacking our key city Tianzhen in northern Shanxi, threatening the safety of our garrison in Xinghe. I led the Xinghe County Security Regiment and reinforced the defenders of Tianzhen yesterday, and last night we captured the northern gate of Tianzhen, Newpingbao, annihilating over 160 enemy soldiers, including a complete Japanese infantry company.

  This morning, my regiment of over 1,000 men launched a surprise attack on the Japanese artillery positions, eliminating two battalions of Japanese artillery, killing over 1,300 Japanese soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, destroying 24 large-caliber artillery pieces and countless ammunition. We also attracted a Japanese infantry regiment and a pseudo-cavalry division to move north, directly supporting the battle of the 61st Army.

  However, my unit has suffered heavy losses, with 522 martyrs, 811 wounded, and over 30 missing persons, totaling over 1,400 people..." Chen Feng dictated the telegram to be sent to the Seventh Army Command.

  At that time, Chen Feng could not have imagined that this telegram would stir up such a big wave. In his view, it was just an ordinary telegram that couldn't be more ordinary. However, when this telegram entered the eyes of the Seventh Group Army and even the high-level officials of the Second War Zone, this ordinary telegram became the first good news for the National Government since the start of the war of resistance.

  Yanmen Pass. Headquarters of the Seventh Army Group.

  "Good news from the Military Council: Xinghe County Security Regiment has annihilated over 1,300 enemy troops."

  "What? Over 1,300 enemy troops annihilated? Bring it over quickly!" Fu Zuoyi hastily said.

  The clerk did not dare to slack off and hastily handed over the telegram.

  Fu Zuoyi took over the telegram and read it carefully, after a while, a loud and clear laughter came from Fu's mouth, and he kept saying: "A newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger!"

  "Jun Ze, what did Chen Feng say?" Ye Qijie was also very concerned about the situation with Xinghe and asked hastily.

  "Great, last night the security team launched a surprise attack on Xinpingbao, annihilating more than 160 defenders. This morning, we launched another attack, ambushing the Japanese artillery position, annihilating two Japanese artillery battalions and an infantry company, posing a mortal threat to the Japanese flank's safety, forcing Tōjō Hideki to divide his troops and head north, haha!" Fu Zuoyi exclaimed excitedly.

  "What a great victory! This is the first major victory of our Chinese army against Japan since the War of Resistance, it can be said that it has broken the myth of the invincibility of the Japanese army, and stripped off the cloak of those sons of bitches." Ye Qijie also exclaimed excitedly.

  "Immediately send a telegram to Generalissimo Chiang, and also send a telegram to Li Yu-tang's 61st Army, ordering the 61st Army to hold on for another seven days. After seven days, wait for further orders." Fu Zuoyi said loudly.

  After giving the order, Fu Zuoyi said to Ye Qijie: "Xinwu brother, Chen Feng this little rascal gave the Japanese a slap in the face, but he himself suffered heavy casualties, and nearly half of his men were killed or wounded. Now the Japanese army has sent an infantry regiment and a puppet army cavalry division northward, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the Security Regiment to resist."

  "Let them withdraw then, after all their purpose has been achieved. Not only have they threatened the Japanese army's flank, but also forced Tōjō Hideki to split his troops and head north. Now withdrawing from battle won't be criticized by anyone, besides with a security regiment that has lost more than half of its men, how can it be the opponent of so many devils?" Ye Qijie said.

  "The retreating troops also have to bear a considerable risk. Now the security team is blocking the Japanese army's northward advance at Shifo Temple, and the enemy's bayonet has already reached the chest of the security team. At this time, retreat may lead to a big defeat." Fu Zuoyi said with a frown.

  "What's going on? We can't just send a telegram to the Second War Zone headquarters and then tell them that this heroic unit was eaten up by the little devils, can we?" Ye Qijie said.

  "Alright, take a regiment from Dong Qi Wu's unit and then assemble the Jining Security Regiment and the previous security regiments to rush overnight to Xinghe and replace Chen Feng's troops." Fu Zu Yi said.

  "It's okay, the 218th Brigade's combat effectiveness is still pretty good. With two security regiments added, it will be almost four thousand people. Replacing Xinghe County Security Regiment shouldn't be a problem. But now the only concern is whether Chen Feng's troops can hold on until the arrival of reinforcements. You know they're facing a full Japanese infantry regiment, even a division from the Central Army may not be able to withstand it head-on, let alone their half-crippled security regiment." Yeh Qijie said.

  Fu Zuoyi said, "Send a telegram to Chen Feng's unit and order them to hold their ground in a favorable terrain and wait for reinforcements. Tell Chen Feng that if they can hold on for eight hours, the reinforcements will arrive. If he comes back alive, I'll promote him to regiment commander."