Chapter 69: The Wrath of the Invaders’ High Command!

To counter the enemy, Jiang Bai urgently dispatched two infantry brigades to aid the defense. This action unexpectedly boosted the morale of the garrison. Believing that reinforcements brought a turning point, the defenders launched intense street battles within the city. Although the 62nd Infantry Brigade was well-armed and highly motivated, it faced nearly double its number. The narrow confines of urban combat limited the effectiveness of heavy weaponry, forcing them to abandon their firepower advantage and engage in brutal close-quarters fighting. As the 37mm rapid-fire gun thundered, a stronghold of the defenders was destroyed, its wreckage scattering like blossoming fireworks. Under overwhelming fire, the once-resolute garrison quickly collapsed. When the eastern city wall fell, the defenders lost all will to fight; if not for the rear guard units standing by, they would have surrendered long ago. The defenders had hoped for reinforcements, but what arrived instead were three infantry brigades from the Chenyun faction, advancing from Wangkou. Their arrival led to the swift loss of large sections of the city. The last hope of the garrison was shattered. Led by their officers, they stepped out waving white flags, their faces pale. At this moment, the capture of this crucial transport hub at the southern end of Chaha was complete.

After taking Wangkou, Jiang Bai did not advance further. Instead, he chose to fortify his position and await the arrival of Tang Yu’s 12th Army. After fierce and repeated battles, the 7th Enhanced Division was utterly exhausted. Especially with two enemy divisions in Tiangu still largely intact, Jiang Bai did not wish to take risks and give the enemy an opportunity. More importantly, his troops were at the limit of their strength. With both the northern and southern parts of Chaha now under control, the region was left in a power vacuum. Jiang Bai urgently needed to consolidate these newly acquired territories to prevent their easy loss.

"Commander, the Chaha region is simply too vast," said Chief of Staff Wang Xiao, his gaze fixed on the expansive map, a blend of worry and anticipation in his eyes. Even the Old Marshal’s massive forces could only defend the core areas; the remote regions were left exposed, presenting opportunities for the Jin faction and the enemy. Given the shortage of troops, the Old Marshal could not allow Tang Yu to remain stationed here for long; otherwise, the Chenyun province’s defensive line would be left wide open. That was something the Old Marshal could not accept.

Jiang Bai pondered for a moment, then spoke calmly: "With only infantry divisions, we cannot hold such vast territory. Therefore, we must organize local defense forces." His plan quickly reached Chenyun. Upon learning that Jiang Bai had not only taken Wangkou but also annihilated a whole enemy regiment, the Old Marshal was astonished. He had not expected such remarkable achievements from the 7th Enhanced Division under Jiang Bai’s command. Without hesitation, the Old Marshal supported Jiang Bai’s proposal to form local defense units: "Jiang Bai, you reclaimed this land. Handle it as you see fit. I’ll always back you!"

With the Old Marshal’s approval, Jiang Bai immediately began expanding his forces, using the 66th and 67th Infantry Brigades as the core, and incorporating prisoner units. In southern Chaha, there were still five local warlords, amounting to a total strength of five divisions. Though their combat effectiveness was limited, they nonetheless represented a significant force—especially notable for their swift ability to retreat. When Sanlaodeng first took control of Chaha, he boldly hoped to eliminate all armed groups in the region. Yet whenever his troops pursued these scattered bands into the forests and hills, the locals would cleverly disperse and vanish into the deep woods, making them nearly impossible to capture. Eventually, Sanlaodeng had no choice but to tolerate the existence of these smaller armed groups. They, in turn, paid him protection money each year. Since they could not be eradicated and even brought some profit, Sanlaodeng acquiesced to their continued presence.

Now, with Wangkou in enemy hands, the region had a new master. The local armed groups quickly declared their loyalty. Jiang Bai welcomed these factions, believing that with time, he could fully absorb them into his own forces. Counting just these second-tier units, his troop numbers were set to exceed one hundred thousand. Including the 7th Enhanced Division, Jiang Bai’s total strength would reach an astonishing one hundred and fifty thousand. Yet this was only a nominal figure. These so-called one hundred thousand second-line troops might be sufficient for maintaining order and patrol duties, but if thrown into battle, their fighting power would be far inferior to even a single infantry brigade under Jiang Bai’s command.

Still, Jiang Bai believed that with high-level training, it would take only a few months for this mixed force to achieve a qualitative leap in combat capability. Once this army became truly battle-worthy, Jiang Bai would, besides the Old Marshal, be the most powerful military figure in the Chenyun faction, and one of the top warlords in the country. As for the commanders of these second-line units, Jiang Bai did not hesitate to transfer most of his reconnaissance battalion’s soldiers into the new army. These men had all undergone rigorous military training and were recognized from the beginning as Jiang Bai’s backbone. Thus, commanding this composite force would be effortless for them. With these core officers in place, Jiang Bai had firm control over his new force of a hundred thousand, and nothing escaped his notice.

According to the plan, Jiang Bai retained the elite of the reconnaissance battalion and replenished their numbers with other selected soldiers. After a week of intense effort, Jiang Bai finally established a firm foothold in southern Chaha. During this period, his forces faced multiple joint attacks from the Jin faction and enemy squads, but each time, the 7th Enhanced Division, under Jiang Bai’s shrewd command, repelled them. These successive victories quickly drew the attention of the Old Marshal in distant Chenyun. He realized that Jiang Bai was not only an outstanding military commander, but also highly capable in local administration. After careful consideration, the Old Marshal appointed Jiang Bai as Commander-in-Chief of the Chaha region, while retaining his role as commander of the 7th Enhanced Division. This decision sent shockwaves through the Chenyun faction, but the Old Marshal quelled all dissent with a single statement: "If any of you achieve such success, I will promote you just the same."

In the spacious office of the enemy general’s headquarters, sunlight should have brought some hint of autumn’s tranquility, yet the air was heavy and oppressive. The chill of late autumn seemed to have crystallized in the room, each breath tinged with cold. The enemy’s Grand General, Muto Nobuyoshi, sat behind his broad desk, his expression as dark as a winter’s day, his gaze icy and severe, as if intent on freezing the man before him. A suppressed rage filled the office, threatening to erupt at any moment.

Opposite him sat Lieutenant General Amatani, commander of the Takatoshi Division. Once an arrogant and conceited officer who looked down on others, he now resembled a stray dog deprived of shelter, his head hanging so low it nearly touched his knees, unable to meet Muto Nobuyoshi’s frosty glare. His face was pale, his lips trembling. Muto Nobuyoshi’s voice was low, heavy with repressed fury, each word squeezed painfully through his teeth: "What kind of command is this? You let nearly seven thousand elite soldiers be slaughtered by the Chenyun Army!"