Chapter Sixty-Eight: Winds Stir and Clouds Gather

With a stern expression, Chen Cheng said, “From now on, the Japanese army will flood towards you in an endless stream. They will exhaust every possible means to wipe you out. What will you do then?”

“Hahaha…” At these words, Chen Qingzhi burst into hearty laughter before replying in a deep, resolute voice, “There is nothing for it but to fight to the death!”

“As Confucius said, 'To fulfill benevolence,' and as Mencius said, 'To uphold righteousness.' Only when one has given everything does one achieve true virtue. What is the purpose of studying the classics of sages and wise men, if not for this moment? From this day forth, I shall strive to live without regret!”

“Our land is shattered, China is suffering, the people are in dire straits—how could I be without shame simply by dying? If I can awaken the blood and spirit of my countrymen, if the people all dare to rise in battle and fight the Japanese, what need is there for my own sacrifice?”

Having spoken, he did not wait for Chen Cheng to reply, but declared loudly, “Commander Chen, my mind is made up. There is no need for further persuasion! Take care of yourself—we must each do our duty. I am off!”

With that, he hung up the phone.

Hearing the busy tone on the receiver, Chen Cheng was truly moved this time.

Though Chen Qingzhi’s words might have seemed unremarkable to others, to Chen Cheng, they resounded like the voice of heaven—deafening and soul-stirring!

He clenched his fists tightly, his chest heaving, breath growing rapid, as if overwhelmed by the force of Chen Qingzhi’s words. The hand clutching the receiver trembled; a complex emotion flickered across his face. For a moment, he was speechless, at a loss for words.

All the staff officers in the room were likewise stunned, standing motionless with vacant eyes.

Indeed, it was as if they had heard the voice of heaven!

Each sentence struck powerfully at their hearts, each word battering their spirits.

Though they had never met him, the powerful aura of righteousness seemed to rush towards them as if face-to-face.

This was the same spirit that had driven Huo Qubing to ride three thousand miles and enshrine his legacy at Wolf’s Lair Mountain.

This was the same spirit that inspired Ran Min to rally the people in the Five Dynasties, saving the Han people at the brink of annihilation.

This was the very spirit with which Wen Tianxiang faced death with composure at Yashan, singing his last song.

This was the backbone and unyielding character of the Chinese nation.

And now, how similar were Chen Qingzhi’s actions?

“Confucius said to fulfill benevolence, Mencius said to uphold righteousness—only when one has given all does one achieve true virtue!”

“How could one be without shame simply by dying?”

“If I can awaken the blood and spirit of my countrymen, what need is there for my own sacrifice?”

As these words flashed through his mind, Chen Cheng could not help but take a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his emotions. He called out urgently, “Prepare the car at once—I must see the Chairman!”

“Yes, sir!”

…

In Qingyuan County, at the headquarters of the Independent Brigade, Chen Qingzhi hung up the phone and could not help but sigh.

He did not know whether what he had done was right or wrong, but regardless, as a soldier, faced with the massacre of three hundred thousand civilians in Nanjing, he could never remain indifferent!

Even if it meant bringing great trouble upon himself, he would not hesitate!

Just as he had said, “If the country is at stake, how can one evade danger for fear of personal gain or loss?”

No matter what, this time Chen Qingzhi would not retreat!

Having resolved himself, Chen Qingzhi drove all other thoughts from his mind and threw himself into the intensive final training of the Independent Brigade’s troops.

To forge iron, one must be strong oneself!

It would be the greatest shame to shout slogans to the heavens, only to be crushed by the Japanese after just a brief engagement on the battlefield.

Chen Qingzhi would not allow such a disgrace to occur!

After this experience, every soldier trained with utmost diligence—where once there had been grumbling, now none uttered a word. All silently endured and pushed through the hardship, no matter how bitter or exhausting it was.

They all knew that the greatest challenge awaited the Independent Brigade soon; if they wanted to survive on the battlefield, if they wished to kill the enemy fiercely, they would have to hone their combat skills through relentless training.

Punishment from above soon followed: Chen Qingzhi was stripped of his position as commander of the Independent Brigade. However, since there was no replacement yet, he was appointed acting commander until a new one arrived, at which point he would be removed entirely.

The new commander would be dispatched by Officer Chen Cheng.

When Chen Qingzhi received the news, he was moved.

There was no doubt—Commander Chen Cheng must have pleaded for him before the Chairman, securing for him the lightest possible punishment.

Moreover, after the punishment was handed down, Chen Cheng did not send a new commander immediately, as though he had forgotten the matter.

Clearly, this was intentional on Chen Cheng’s part.

Chen Qingzhi saw all of this and felt a warm gratitude in his heart.

Day after day passed, and in the Independent Brigade’s garrison, the thunderous shouts of slogans rang out as the soldiers trained with redoubled urgency.

At the same time, the situation around Xuzhou was growing ever more dire.

By now, all available forces were converging on Xuzhou. Cavalry units could often be seen galloping past, warplanes frequently took flight to patrol the skies above Xuzhou.

As overall commander of the Xuzhou Campaign, General Li Zongren of the Fifth War Zone had personally arrived to direct the deployment. All forces were in place, hastily constructing defensive lines in anticipation of the Japanese advance.

Meanwhile, the Japanese 13th Division crossed the Yangtze River northwards, attacking the Otang and Mingguang line on the eastern bank of the Chi River in Anhui. The Japanese 10th Division, which had invaded North China, crossed the Yellow River southward from Qingcheng and Jiyang in Shandong.

Notably, when the Japanese advanced into Shandong, Han Fuqu—then Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone and Commander-in-Chief of the Third Group Army, responsible for Shandong’s defense—retreated with his troops without firing a shot, resulting in the loss of Shandong to the Japanese without resistance.

Subsequently, the Japanese used Shandong as a springboard to rapidly seize the Yellow River defensive line, capturing all of North China’s Yellow River front.

Upon learning of this, Chiang was furious at a military conference, even threatening to execute Han Fuqu by firing squad.

Han Fuqu, terrified, considered defecting to the Japanese but failed; he was arrested by the military prosecutor’s office and immediately executed by firing squad.

But that is a later matter. For now, as the situation in Xuzhou became more volatile, the Japanese Central China Area Army was in an uproar.

General Iwane Matsui, commander of the Central China Area Army, had never been so enraged.

“Baka! Look what you fools have done!” Matsui flung the documents in his hand at the face of a subordinate officer, roaring, “You let a mere Chinese officer not only kill the commander of our Sixth Division but also escape unscathed! What have you all been doing? Useless—utterly useless!”

“And now, this Chinese is not only alive and well, but also making statements detrimental to our Empire. Look for yourself—now the whole world knows what we have done! This has put our Empire in a passive position internationally, do you understand?”

Matsui’s furious voice echoed in the room.