Chapter 14: The Land of Shanxi Cannot Nurture a Coward Like Chu Yunfei!

Chu Yunfei nodded and turned to leave the command center with Fang Ligong, Sun Ming, and the others.

“Officer Xie!”

As soon as he stepped out, Staff Officer Xie approached, and Chu Yunfei immediately put on a smile. “Officer Xie, you must be tired from the long journey. Thank you for your hard work!”

Staff Officer Xie quickened his pace and shook Chu Yunfei’s hand. “Yunfei, I came without prior notice this time. I hope it hasn’t affected your operations?”

“Not at all, Officer Xie. Your timing is perfect. Today, we joined forces with the 203rd Brigade and won a great victory, annihilating over a thousand Japanese troops. We haven’t even buried the bodies yet!”

“Really?”

“I, Chu Yunfei, don’t deal in empty boasts!”

“Ha! Brother Yunfei, you’ve truly surprised me.”

“Brigadier Liang is here discussing battle plans with me. Officer Xie, please come in.”

Officer Xie was surprised. “Brother Jingzhai from the 203rd Brigade?”

“You know him?”

“He’s an old classmate of mine. It’s been a long time since we last met; this is a good chance to catch up.”

Officer Xie was unpretentious, and the two of them headed toward the command center together.

Upon meeting, they embraced like old friends, exchanging pleasantries and feigning the warmth of long-lost comrades.

Chu Yunfei knew they were not on the same side, though perhaps they had once been classmates. After all, Staff Officer Xie was also a graduate of the Japanese Army’s Officer School.

They might have been classmates, but there was no friendship between them.

After briefly echoing their conversation, Chu Yunfei watched as Officer Xie bluntly requested to inspect the battlefield.

The battlefield was far from cleared, with piles of Japanese corpses scattered like a mountain.

Even through the binoculars, Officer Xie could vividly sense the fierceness of the recent battle.

“Brother Jingzhai, Brother Yunfei, what are the casualties like in your units?” Officer Xie asked.

Under the silent cue from Brigadier Liang, Chu Yunfei slowly reported, “Currently, over half of our forces have been lost. Ammo and shells are nearly depleted. Our main force, the 1st Battalion of the 358th Regiment, has withdrawn to defensible positions along the village line of Jiaochang. Without reinforcements, it will be difficult for us to hold.”

“Brigadier Liang and I are preparing a telegram for Commander Yan...” Officer Xie sighed, “Let me send it.”

Lowering his binoculars, Officer Xie saluted crisply. “You have all worked hard.”

Judging solely by the frontline situation and the overwhelming number of bodies in those faded yellow uniforms, there was only one conclusion.

Chu Yunfei and Brigadier Liang Jingzhai were fighting the Japanese with nothing left but their own grit and blood.

“Officer Xie...” Chu Yunfei began.

“No worries. I’ll prepare some propaganda photos first. Brother Jingzhai, would you be willing to be the headline for the next issue of the Central Daily?”

Brigadier Liang hesitated before smiling, “I would be honored.”

After sending Brigadier Liang away, Officer Xie earnestly advised, “Yunfei, brother, let me speak plainly. Sometimes, effort is enough. Giving your all comes at a price. The 358th Regiment is your pride and joy. If you expend it all, it may affect your future.”

Chu Yunfei did not hesitate. Controlling his tone, he replied, “Officer Xie, I understand your meaning. But I, Chu Yunfei, have no regrets. As long as I can fulfill Commander Yan’s orders, buy time for the main forces, and secure some escape time for the people of Shanxi, it is worth it.”

“Defending Ruyuekou is the honor of soldiers like us.”

Officer Xie raised an eyebrow and pressed further, “What if no reinforcements come?”

“Mountains are full of loyal bones; why must I return wrapped in horsehide?”

Chu Yunfei’s voice rang clear and firm. “Chu Yunfei, nurtured by the millet of Shanxi and devoted to his country, is no coward afraid of death.”

“Bravo, Brother Yunfei!”

“I, Xie Ming, salute you!”

Officer Xie saluted Chu Yunfei again, his eyes bloodshot and tears welling with emotion—moved by Chu’s fearless soldier’s spirit.

Hatred for the enemy, grief for the nation.

Chu Yunfei had never thought of abandoning the Ruyuekou line.

Hoping for reinforcements was only to allow his men a moment to breathe.

If this continued, the 358th Regiment would be wiped out in days.

Staff Officer Xie quickly shifted into work mode, approaching the telegraph operator.

He personally drafted a telegram for Chu Yunfei, reporting on the situation at Ruyuekou.

Since the July 7 Incident,

Tang Enbo’s fame and promotion to corps commander stemmed from his middle and lower officers’ determination to fight to the death at Nankou.

Most of the time, Tang himself could only hide in the command post, pleading for reinforcements by phone and telegram.

The reckless betrayals by comrade Liu Ruming further transformed Tang from a fierce frontline commander into one who prioritized preserving strength.

After this battle, Tang lost much of his elite troops and junior officers.

His attitude toward the irregular militia also plummeted.

Officer Xie believed the Jin-Sui Army had commanders who would fight to the last man.

Chu Yunfei was such a man.

After a long pause, Xie said, “Urgent, three-hour limit. To Commander Yan of the Second War Zone. On the night of September 26, I have arrived at the Ruyuekou frontline.

“Upon inspection, the great victory at Ruyuekou is confirmed. Over three thousand enemy troops destroyed. Both sides’ bodies lie scattered with no means to bury them. The 203rd Brigade under Brigadier Liang and the 358th Regiment under Chu have each suffered over fifty percent casualties.

“The remaining forces hold key points, relying on terrain to resist step by step, buying time to restrain the southward advance of the Japanese.

“Currently, ammunition, shells, and provisions are exhausted; no strength remains to continue fighting.

“I advised the 358th Regiment’s Chu to withdraw to Fanzhi County, but he resolutely refused, replying: ‘Mountains are full of loyal bones; why must I return wrapped in horsehide?’

“Respectfully, Xie Ming.”

At the Second War Zone Headquarters,

Commander Yan saw the urgent telegram from Liu Tao and was shocked.

The situation at Ruyuekou was already so dire.

Before, when Chu Yunfei sent requests for help, claiming heavy casualties, Yan had instinctively thought the frontline commanders were preserving their forces.

But now, the telegram from his trusted Staff Officer Xie clearly showed that the defenders at Ruyuekou were on the verge of being wiped out.

This was the elite 358th Regiment, standing firm against the best of the Japanese Kwantung Army.

At this moment, Yan understood the urgency.

Ignoring others’ objections, he immediately ordered reinforcements from the Sixth Army Group to Ruyuekou.

He directed the withdrawal of Chu Yunfei’s 358th Regiment and Brigadier Liang’s 203rd Brigade to the Xinxian area for rest and reorganization.

Just as the lines at Pingxingguan had stabilized, Yan was already calling for troop redeployment.

Sun Cuiya, puzzled, hurried forward. “Commander Yan, why go to such lengths?”