Chapter 10: Lobbying

Naval guns with a caliber exceeding 300 mm, you can imagine their destructive power

Lin Feng was rendered speechless by Xu Rui's words

Lin Feng felt a heavy heart upon hearing these words, as what Xu Rui said was also Lin Feng's greatest concern

However, what disappointed these remnants of soldiers somewhat was that Xu Rui did not express his stance immediately

Lin Feng was taken aback; just now, he was only thinking about returning to rebuild as soon as possible, and he really had not considered this issue.

Lin Feng frowned and said: "Although staying behind enemy lines means we do not have to worry about the withdrawal of our troops, it can indeed play a role in preventing the Japanese from consolidating their occupied territories. At the very least, it can hinder the Japanese from quickly digesting the occupied areas in a short time. However, where will we replenish our military supplies such as weapons, ammunition, food, and clothing? We cannot go into battle with empty hands and empty stomachs against the Japanese, can we?"

After a considerable amount of time, Lin Feng finally sighed and said, "But no matter what, we must return to our base, right?"

As a time traveler, no one understands the trajectory of Chinese history better than Xu Rui. In a word, the failure of the Nationalist Government is irreversible. Old Chiang is nothing but a thorough comprador. To expect Old Chiang to save China is nothing but wishful thinking. Only by following the Communist Party can China find a way out and hope for the future

These more than one hundred remnants were able to break through because Xu Rui and his men diverted the main force of the enemy during the ambush in the city center

The thought of possibly fighting alongside Xu Rui in the future made these remnants of soldiers extremely excited

Listening to Lin Feng expound on Jiang Baili's theory of national defense, Xu Rui found himself somewhat distracted

Therefore, it is utterly foolish to engage in a hard fight with the Japanese army along the coastline within the reach of the Japanese naval artillery.

Basically, with a single shell, an entire company of the Nationalist Army would be reduced to ashes

After the Battle of Songhu, the most elite 500,000 troops in all of China suffered devastating casualties, making it impossible to continue the war. The Japanese army advanced all the way to Nanjing, while the Nationalist army retreated in disarray to the interior of Jiangxi and Anhui. For the next four years, the Nationalist army was unable to regain its strength, and it was not until the outbreak of the Pacific War and the commencement of American aid to China that the situation began to improve

However, with a change of thought, Lin Feng suddenly considered another issue

Do not be misled by the current momentum of the enemy as they advance towards Nanjing with great strides; in reality, their control is limited to just a few major cities and the areas along the highways and railways.

Xu Rui continued, "Back in the day, during the Shanghai Resistance on January 28, your 79th Army had as many as 30,000 troops. However, after the Fujian Incident, your 79th Army was reduced to a single division, and it was a mixed division with only three regiments. This was something your former commander fought hard to secure. Now, your temporarily organized 79th Division has only a few hundred men left. Brother Lin, do you think those high-ranking officials in the command will still consider retaining your division's designation?"

At that time, it was uncertain whether the Japanese army could even advance into Nanjing, let alone sweep through a large part of China.

Well then, Lin Feng nodded and finally made a decision

Xu Rui further stated: "Mr. Jiang Baili proposed three key points regarding the war against Japan in his discussion on national defense. Does Brother Lin remember them?"

In fact, Xu Rui had no intention of joining the temporarily organized 79th Division; not only did Xu Rui not plan to participate in the temporarily organized 79th Division, but he even wanted to take this unit away and join the armed forces of the Communist Party

Xu Rui said: "Brother Lin, if, and I mean if, you were to return with these few hundred remnants, do you think the headquarters of the Third War Zone would still retain the designation of your temporarily organized 79th Division?"

Donglin Academy is located in the southern suburbs of Wuxi City, surrounded by dense woods and an elegant environment

Lin Feng said, "Brother Xu, please speak."

What? Lin Feng said in astonishment, "Stay behind enemy lines and conduct guerrilla warfare?"

As time passed, more and more remnants of soldiers returned to Donglin Academy. By the time dusk was approaching, the number of these soldiers gathered at Donglin Academy had exceeded 400, amounting to nearly a battalion's strength. However, after this, very few remnants of soldiers came to Donglin Academy, which meant that the temporarily organized 79th Division was left with only these 400 men

And this is precisely what Lin Feng finds most intolerable; his feelings for the old unit are indelible.

Upon hearing Lin Feng's words, the faces of the twenty or so remaining soldiers who had broken through alongside Xu Rui immediately revealed a look of hope. They had already witnessed Xu Rui's capabilities and knew that he was an extraordinarily powerful soldier king. Naturally, they also wished for Xu Rui to stay and become a member of their temporarily assembled 79th Division.

Xu Rui smiled and said, "Brother Lin, have you ever heard a song? The song is called 'The Song of the Guerrilla Squad'"

Xu Rui pulled Lin Feng aside and whispered: "At present, the Nationalist army is collapsing like a landslide, and the Japanese invaders are advancing with unstoppable momentum. They have already reached Nanjing, and the headquarters of the Third War Zone seems to have fled to some corner. With these three to five hundred remnants, not to mention whether you can break through the Japanese blockade, even if you are lucky enough to escape, where will you find the headquarters?"

Now, upon Xu Rui's remark, Lin Feng suddenly realized that it would not be so easy to lead these more than four hundred remnants back to reestablish themselves; one misstep could very likely result in the complete annihilation of the entire army

After a brief moment of distraction, Xu Rui's thoughts quickly returned to reality

Moreover, before the time travel, Xu Rui was already a party member! A loyal Communist Party member!

Lin Feng naturally hopes that Xu Rui will remain in the temporarily organized 79th Division, as he is truly a formidable general

Seeing that Lin Feng was frightened, Xu Rui seized the opportunity and said: "Brother Lin, we can now be considered as life-and-death friends, so there is something I must tell you"

The preservation of Donglin Academy is not due to the strong awareness of the Japanese invaders in protecting historical sites, but rather because their resources are limited, making them reluctant to expend valuable aerial bombs on targets unrelated to military objectives. As for the Japanese infantry, they are even less concerned about these historical buildings

The battle in Wuxi was fought with great losses; the temporarily organized 79th Division, which originally had over 6,000 soldiers, is now left with merely around 400. Based on Lin Feng's understanding of the high-ranking officials in the command and the Ministry of Military Affairs, it is likely that these more than 400 remaining soldiers will be incorporated into other brother units, and the designation of the temporarily organized 79th Division will become a thing of the past

Since we have already broken through, I shall naturally lead the troops back to regroup. Lin Feng nodded and continued, "If Brother Xu does not mind, why not join us? Or perhaps simply stay with our division?"

Lin Feng returned the courtesy while gently comforting everyone

Xu Rui began to hum softly: "No food, no clothing, yet enemies deliver it to us; no guns, no cannons, the enemies provide us with them." After humming a couple of lines, Xu Rui grinned and said, "We are guarding the transport lines of the little devils, so why should we worry about lacking food, supplies, weapons, and ammunition? Don't forget, we are now a guerrilla force."

Regrettably, Chiang Kai-shek consistently placed his hopes on the Western powers to intervene and mediate. In order to gain the sympathy of the Western powers, Chiang Kai-shek did not hesitate to mobilize troops from all over the country, continuously sending them to the battlefield of Songhu, only to be reduced to ashes under the bombardment of the large-caliber naval guns and the relentless airstrikes of the Japanese Navy

At this time, the city of Wuxi was almost leveled by the artillery fire of the Japanese army, yet the nearby Donglin Academy remained unscathed, still preserving its original appearance

"Who says you must necessarily return to the military?" Xu Rui immediately retorted, "Brother Lin, you have studied at the Army Command College and should be familiar with Mr. Jiang Baili. You must have read his theories on national defense, haven't you?"

Xu Rui continued, saying: "Mr. Jiang Baili proposed three strategic points; the second and third points have already become a reality. The key issue at present is the first point: transforming the Japanese army's rear into their front, making it impossible for them to digest the occupied areas and implement their strategy of sustaining war through war. Brother Lin, why don't you lead your troops to stay behind enemy lines and conduct guerrilla warfare?"

Upon seeing Lin Feng and the others enter, especially after noticing the General Star on Lin Feng's insignia, the remaining soldiers resting in the academy corridor and courtyard all stood up. Several officers hurried over to salute Lin Feng. Xu Rui glanced over and found that among these officers, the highest rank was merely that of a captain.

Before the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, there was a saying circulating in the Japanese military that China had only three and a half military strategists, with Jiang Baili being ranked first among them

"How can you not remember?" Lin Feng replied, "Firstly, China is not afraid of Japan's overwhelming force, but rather of its gradual encroachment. Therefore, China should not retreat step by step, but should actively implement a comprehensive resistance, transforming the rear of the Japanese army into the front, leaving them no time to digest the occupied territories and unable to execute the strategy of waging war to sustain war; secondly, by taking the initiative to strike the Japanese forces in Shanghai, we can change the Japanese attack routes from the north-south lines through North China, Central China, and South China to the east-west line advancing along the Yangtze River; thirdly, by exchanging space for time, we should promote a protracted war, dragging Japan down through a long-term war of attrition. In a thousand words, it can be summed up in one sentence: China has its ways."

"The Song of the Guerrillas?" Lin Feng shook his head in confusion and said, "I haven't heard of it, but does it have anything to do with us?"

Xu Rui waved his hand to stop Lin Feng and said with a smile, "What’s the matter, Brother Lin? Are you planning to leave?"

When Xu Rui and Lin Feng arrived with about thirty remaining soldiers, more than one hundred remaining soldiers had already gathered in the Donglin Academy

A division, with more than six thousand personnel, has been reduced to merely four hundred, which is truly tragic

"Of course," Lin Feng said solemnly, "National Defense Theory is a required course at Lu University."

Lin Feng organized the remaining soldiers, temporarily forming these more than 400 remnants into three companies. He then approached Xu Rui and said: "Brother Xu, the success of our temporary 79th Division in breaking through this time is entirely due to your efforts. I won't say much in gratitude, as it would be too clichéd. I will just say this: from now on, you will be the benefactor of all the brothers in our temporary 79th Division..."

Jiang Baili's theory of national defense can be said to have directly hit the crux of the Sino-Japanese conflict

If Chiang Kai-shek had resolutely implemented the strategy proposed by Jiang Baili in his theory of national defense, when the full-scale Sino-Japanese War broke out and the focus of the Japanese offensive shifted from North China to East China, by proactively executing a strategic contraction and adopting a strategy of exchanging space for time, the Japanese army would likely have suffered significant losses on the two national defense lines of Wufu and Xicheng.

Countless words can be summed up in one sentence: China has its ways, and Jiang Baili is undoubtedly a true military strategist

Before this, Lin Feng had never considered the concept of guerrilla warfare. In his view, regular troops should engage in direct confrontation; what sense did it make to fight guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines? However, now Lin Feng suddenly felt that staying behind enemy lines to conduct guerrilla warfare might also be a good option, at least he wouldn't have to worry about the unit's designation being withdrawn