Chapter 36: The Defense of Xinghe County - Confrontation at Xinping Fortress

  "Report, Xinghe County Security Regiment telegram!" Just as a group of big shots were arguing incessantly, the reporter stood up and said loudly, extremely excited.

  A group of big shots in the headquarters were startled by the loud and clear voice of this reporter, and Dong Qiwu, the commander of the 218th Division, shouted loudly: "What's going on? Can't you see that the Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief are discussing something?"

  "Report to Your Excellency," said the telegraph operator, "we have just received an urgent telegram from the Xinghe County Security Regiment in Xinpingbao, and it's a victory report!"

  "Telegram, bring it quickly! What telegram is this kid sending at midnight?" Fu Zuoyi said in puzzlement.

  Fu Zuoyi took the telegram handed over by the telegraph operator and read it carefully. As soon as he saw the beginning, Commander Fu burst out laughing, causing a stir among the high-ranking generals in the headquarters.

  "General, what good news can't you share with us alone? All the brothers are here waiting for you with bated breath, come on and tell us?" As Fu Zuoyi's trusted confidant, Dong Qi Wu was always very casual when talking to him.

  "Can you recite it?" Fu Zuoyi asked back with a smile.

  "Of course, Jun Zu is laughing like a flower, it must be good news. You read it out loud so that brothers can also bask in the glory and have some fun." said Dong Qi Wu.

  "Alright, I'll play the role of a telegraph operator. Listen carefully, this is a telegram from Chen Feng, the commander of the Xinghe County Security Regiment. The text reads:

  To Commander-in-Chief Yan of the Second War Zone and Commander Fu of the Seventh Army Group of the National Revolutionary Army,

  Last night, our security regiment launched a surprise attack on the Japanese army's arsenal in Chahar Province, destroying a large quantity of military supplies and living materials stockpiled by the enemy near Liushuigou. We also killed several high-ranking officers of the Japanese army, including Lieutenant General Sakai Kōji, commander of the Independent Mixed First Brigade of the Chahar Expeditionary Force. Our troops suffered no casualties.

  We have now withdrawn to the Xinpingbao line and temporarily evaded the enemy's pursuit."

  "Really? A single guard company dared to launch a surprise attack on the Japanese army's logistics base, destroying countless supplies and killing a Japanese major general, yet not suffering a single casualty themselves? That's impossible, right?"

  "How is this possible? The little devils of Japan are not made of clay, let alone a regiment, even a division may not be able to achieve such results in the encirclement of tens of thousands of Japanese troops."

  The senior officers at headquarters' first reaction was that it was impossible, such a result was simply unbelievable.

  Fu Zuoyi frowned and looked at the generals in the command center, then said: "You may not be able to do it, but that doesn't mean others can't. I'm telling you, yesterday afternoon this security regiment used just one infantry battalion to annihilate two Japanese artillery battalions and an infantry company, destroying 24 field guns. Not a single Japanese soldier escaped, from the lieutenant colonel battalion commander down to the ordinary soldiers. It's not impossible for a single company to sneak attack the Japanese ammunition depot. Have you forgotten why we're having this meeting so late at night? If the security regiment really sends out a small team to sneak attack the Japanese ammunition depot tonight, then those intense explosions from the eighth floor are what they'll be responsible for. I just don't know if Chen Feng's claim that Sakai Koji was killed is true or not."

  "So what you're saying is that yesterday's events have been confirmed?" Ye Qijie asked in surprise.

  "Hmm, although the Military Intelligence Bureau is a bit of a mess, they do have their ways in espionage. Yesterday afternoon, it was confirmed that the Japanese army not only lost two artillery battalions with 24 75mm caliber guns but also had two lieutenant colonels killed. Now, newspapers in Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, and Chongqing are all reporting on this, and I, as the commander of the Seventh Army Group, have become famous along with it." said Fu Zuoyi.

  "Awesome, I really don't know how that little security team leader's brain grew, doesn't he know how to be afraid? One battalion went to raid the Japanese artillery position, one company went to raid the Japanese arsenal, what a newborn calf!" Dong Qiwu said with emotion.

  "This kid really didn't disappoint me, the weapons and equipment we gave before the war were not in vain, General's vision is unique, brilliant! Hahaahaha!!!" Ye Qijie also laughed and said.

  "Previously, I was just trying to win over the Fourth Son Wang tribe behind Chen Feng. Unexpectedly, this kid is also a talent, killing a Japanese lieutenant general. With this merit, Chen Feng, the lieutenant general and commander of this first-class division, can't escape, haha!" Fu Zuoyi said with a smile.

  "Jun Zu, it seems that the situation in the 61st Army doesn't require our worry for now. Without cannons or ammunition, those little devils won't be able to do anything to the 61st Army in a short period of time. We can focus on dealing with Itagaki Seishirō's hungry wolves." Ye Qijie said.

  "Yes, General Fu is now being pressed by Itagaki Seishirō to the wall, and the entire Jinbei and Jinzhong lines are in urgent need. The strength of the 7th and 8th Army Groups is indeed a bit weak. With this trick of the Security Regiment, at least for half a month, we don't have to worry about the devils entering Shanxi. Hurry up and send a telegram to General Fu, just forward it according to the original text sent by the Security Regiment, without changing a single word. We've already taken advantage of that little devil once, so let's just forget it this time." said Fu Zuoyi.

  After receiving the telegram from the Seventh Army Group, Yan Xishan didn't even have time to spend half a night, and immediately sent a telegram to the Military Commission in Nanjing. Of course, this telegram was revised by the staff of the Second War Zone Command Headquarters. The commander-in-chief of this battle was naturally Yan Xishan, and Chen Feng was just an executor.

  To compensate Chen Feng, the Second War Zone Headquarters immediately issued an order: "The Security Regiment was immediately upgraded to the 7th Independent Brigade of Jin-Sui Military Region, as a first-class independent brigade. The ammunition and supplies that were in short supply would be resolved by the headquarters immediately. The personnel department only provided four new recruit companies for replenishment, while the rest were solved by the 7th Independent Brigade itself. In addition, the 7th Independent Brigade was awarded 50,000 yuan, and Chen Feng and other officers had additional rewards."

  As for how to reward Chen Feng, Yan Laoxi also racked his brains. Yesterday, the Security Regiment won a victory, and Yan Laoxi rewarded Chen Feng with a lieutenant general's rank and 20,000 yuan. The Security Regiment was also promoted from a local force to a regular army unit and expanded into a division-level military unit.

  However, considering that Chen Feng was too young, only 23 years old on file, according to the customs of Shanxi Province, this is just his nominal age, and in fact Chen Feng's actual age was one or two years younger. Therefore, at that time, the organization of the Seventh Independent Division was a secondary division, which was a small division with two regiments in each regiment, and only 2,800 to 3,500 people in the whole division.

  After the security team won the battle, the troops were upgraded and expanded, and the officers were promoted and became rich. It's also acceptable to say that there won't be anyone who is dissatisfied with it.

  However, the security team won another victory and killed a Japanese army lieutenant general, which was a great achievement. Nevertheless, it had only been one day since the last reward, so it wasn't suitable to give another big reward. The commander-in-chief Yan could only work on the troop's organization, changing the second-class regiment into a first-class regiment. Although there was no difference in terms of organization, the number of soldiers increased to over 5,000, plus a reward of 50,000 yuan. This should satisfy the security team's officers and men and also block the mouths of people all around.

  These things Chen Feng would not mind, whether it was a secondary trip or a primary trip. Anyway, Chen Feng had as many people as he expanded his troops, and the organization had no impact on him. As for the current security team, three infantry regiments and two cavalry regiments were more numerous than the 61st Army of Shanxi-Suiyuan.

  He is now most worried that Honda will not come, and when he will come. The 3rd Security Regiment is still 15 kilometers away from here, and at the speed of the troops' march, it will take at least two hours. If Honda's team retreats without a fight, Chen Feng's plan will be completely ruined.

  "Report to Commander, the Japanese army's Honda detachment is advancing with a vanguard of puppet cavalry troops, and has already passed by Xuanjia Tower, now less than 20 kilometers away from Xinpingbao."

  "Alright, order the 1st Battalion to immediately enter combat and engage the enemy, while sending a telegram to Commander Li, ordering the 2nd and 3rd Battalions as well as the units directly under the Command Center to reoccupy Xuanjia Tower after the Japanese army has passed it."

  Yes

  Honda Taiji immediately convened a meeting with the main officers of the Ryūgun and the puppet army cavalry division after receiving a phone call from Tōjō Hidemasa, deciding to launch another attack on the Shifosi position tomorrow and must occupy Shifosi before noon.

  However, when the troops attacked on the second day, they found that the cunning Chinese army had quietly retreated last night. The previous day's attack on the Shifosi Temple position, which was a hard bone, left nothing but hundreds of new graves in the back mountain. After consulting with Tōjō Hideki, Commander-in-Chief Honda Shin'ichi led his troops to rush towards Xinghe County.

  The troops arrived at Xuanjia Tower and saw the abandoned position of the Chinese army, which made Honda Shinichi feel much more at ease. It seems that the Shina army has indeed retreated, otherwise, with just these positions in Xuanjia Tower, the Japanese army would have to pay a considerable price.

  After passing by Xuanjia Tower, Honda Shinichi led his troops directly to the North Gate of Tianzhen, Xinpingbao.

  Fearing an ambush by Chinese troops, Honda Shigeyuki ordered the puppet army's Third Cavalry Division to lead the way, with scouts advancing as far as five kilometers ahead.

  By around 9:00 am on September 9, the vanguard cavalry reported that Chinese troops were garrisoned in Xīnpíngbǎo with heavy troops and had also built solid defensive fortifications. The grassland wolf battle flag fluttered again in front of the formation.