White Sun and Red Sun - AAR Nationalist China

[Pokka]

Warning: This is my first AAR. Since English is not my first language, I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Before this game, my last game was on 1.03. In order to test the improved AI, I decided to play this game again. The game is played on 0.84 CORE with Normal/Aggressive setting. Don’t expect any National Chinese World Dominion in this AAR. The focus is on the Asia Pacific theatre.

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Prologue

1th January, 1936

It’s 1936 at last. After several years of conflicts with the warlords, the Nationalist force at last unified most of the Country. The communists were trapped in the mountainous region of Yanan and Xianyang. Everything looked fine. Except the sun dawning on the Eastern China is in red, not white.

General Chiang Kai-Shek, the supreme commander of Chinese Army and the head of the government, announced the industrialization to a Modern China. Massive factory building activities were being carried out all over the country. New research concerning to the Great War in Europe were on the way. The Nationalist government had tried to reduce the dissent caused by Japanese occupation of the northeast provinces. But that didn’t work……

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4th January, 1936 – Shanghai Times

Shanghai - 1936

"In Shanghai, The Nationalist had commenced the building of the “New Great Wall” - The Yat-Sen Defense Line. Extensive fortifications were started in Datong, Tianjin and Peking (Beijing). "

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7th July, 1936 - Nanking

If General Von Falkenhausen did not come to Chiang’s office, it is just another common day.

“Well, Mr. Chiang, I, on behalf on the Reich, would like to propose a deal to your glorious nation. (Sounds like the diplomats in Civ)” said Von Falkenhausen.
“So what’s that? Another crates of Uniform with the unique symbol which looks like the Buddhism symbol in Tibet?”
“Nein…! No, actually, our country has some spared technologies and equipments would like to share with you. Unfortunately the great Reich currently is lack of some resources for army expansion, perhaps we can do some trade.”
“Ahh…be gone with the resources, now give us infantry uniforms and guns, and replace the Buddhism symbol with our white sun!” exclaim Chiang.
After Chiang has replied, Von Falkenhausen put a thick technology booklet on the table and smiled. “Perhaps you would like me to train the troops, aren’t you?”

The White Sun

On the same day, the 99th Modernized Army Group for China was established. It is weird that eventhough the Germans were providing the guns and equipments, the Nationalist China still had to use the industry capacity to subsidy the new divisions. It started with 1 division of infantry, all armed with Mauser K98. General Von Falkenhausen was the commander in charge.

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28th December 1936 – South China Morning Post, Hong Kong

“Today the Communists announced they are willing to cooperation with the Nationalist to defend against possible Japanese invasion. It is also rumored that the Nationalist accepted this is purely based on the threat of Japanese invasion. The Chinese army spokesman denied such accuse and refuse to make any comments. He also said that until Chiang’s plane arrival in Nanking, no statements will be made.”

After reading this newspaper imported from the British Hong Kong, Chiang laughed.
“So glad that they didn’t mention about the fact of our force's failure in breaking Commie’s defense line”
All his generals were silent after hearing this. Only Chiang’s merciless laugh left in the hallway. None of them know what were Chiang thinking

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23rd May 1937 – Tianjin Evening Times

“Today the 99th Motorized Army has shown the newly imported German Tank. The Motorized Army, elite of the China, now contains 6 divisions with imported German equipments. With the increasing tension between the China and Japan, the motorized army certainly possess a valuable use."

99th Motorized Army

A girl bought the newspaper and had a glance on the picture. Then she threw that away and though “Just wait two more months, the Imperial Army of Japan will show these Chinese how a real army looks like.”

 

[unmerged(33058)]

Very nice start. The mix of writing styles you use blends together very well. Consider me tuned in on this one.

 

[Pokka]

Chapter 1
Rise of Red Sun

After a year of industrial development, the economy of China was improving. Excessive consumer goods are available at the market. Army modernization was also carried out. Militants units were being replaced. Everything was calm. Chinese people were looking forward for the bright future. All of the sudden, everything was changed on 17th July, 1937.

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7th July, 1937 - Peking

There was a Macro Polo Bridge incident near Peking City. The Japanese claimed that they had lost a soldier and requested to search the entire Peking City. The Nationalist refused the request and several shot were fired. Since the Nazi’s still wanted to trade with China, the German embassy helped to settle the problem. After a few hours, a conclusion was made. Local Communists were responsible for the kidnapping of Japanese solder. Japan declared war on the Communist China. Since Nationalist China controlled the land between the Commies and Japanese, and they refused to grant Japanese military access, nobody thought a war would be break out.

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17th July, 1937 - Peking

“When I woke up this morning, everything was abnormal. The street was full of soldiers. There were crowds in the market and food was out of stock. My neighbour was planning to move to Qingdao. He claimed that a war is broke out. Huh? I thought, wasn’t a war broke out last week? That’s not news! All of a sudden, the land is shaking. I hastily look up to the sky. There were 30 of bomber planes dropping bombs. Oh god. I knew this is a War between Nationalist and Japan. No more Commies fake war! I ran through the bombed streets, everything was a mess. After 30 minutes of dangerous walk, at last I reached the press, which was now a destructed building. My colleagues were just printing on the street, with the scavenged machine, outside the building that once stood.”

- Chan Wing-Shiu, worker in Peking

Same day in Nanking

“NOW! Quickly deploy our troops to the Yet-Sen defense line!” shouted Chiang. “I know the line it is not ready, but who cares now! The Forbidden City contains lots of jewels; we must evacuate them to my villa in Nanking. Also, tell Von Falkenhausen move his army to Tianjin! I am moving front to Peking.” Knowing the fact that militants would not be able to defend against the Japanese infantry, Chiang hoped that the Motorized Army would be able to defend Tianjin so the evacuation of jewels could through the Great Canal.

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28 July, 1937 – Qingdao Times
“Yesterday in the skies of Jinan, the Air battle in China was on the stage. A Japanese bomber division was intercepted by the Chinese Air Force. 2 of A5G bomber were being shot down. Our air force did not have any causality. Nevertheless, this marks the beginning of battle in skies over China”

Biplane of the Chinese Air Force

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18 August, 1937 – Tianjin
“I wouldn’t forget what happened today. The so call Yat-Sen Defense line is a JOKE to the Japanese! As a soldier of 1st Xin Bu Bing Shi, 99th Motorized Army, our defend position was at the gate of Tianjin. At 1000 this morning, recon reported a few divisions of Japanese occupied the village at north. The colonel was very nervous. About 1200, the 2nd Xin Bu Bing Shi (New Infantry Group) was retreated to our position. The soldiers claimed that General Von Falkenhausen ordered the retreat. Nevertheless, the colonel firmly believed that we should hold the position until the messenger comes. At 1300, the Japanese arrived at last. They were rushing towards us. Even the MG-36 gunner keeping on fire, he just couldn’t finish them all. And worse, they just looked like rushing with organization! When I was reloading my K98, Japanese soldier appeared at the door of the bunker with buoyant. He claimed the Colonel’s life. I was terrified!! Luckily a militant was nearby and he slashed that guy into two half. A few minutes later, the messenger was arrived, passed the retreat order, and then we fled to Jinan. I had heard that the militants were defeated badly; the Japanese ran over them with tanks. Nevertheless, I feel lucky enough that I am still breathing.”

- Sergeant Lee Chung-Shing, Author of "Secrets of the Nationalist Army"

Battle of Tianjin

The battle of Tianjin was a disaster to the Nationalist. The elite army was defeated badly. If not General Von Falkenhausen ordered a strategic retreat, the 99th Army will be eliminated just like the militants. The Yat-Sen defense line proven to be ill-equipped. The Japanese cannot be stopped with the militants.

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10 September, 1937 – The gate of Peking
“ALL UNITS! FIRE!” Chiang shouted. “No step back! Or I’ll kill you all!”. The situation looked grim. 12 divisions of Japanese Army invaded Peking from the North. 15 divisions were moving south at Datong. With the fall of Tianjin, Peking surely was an isolated island. “Sire, the jewels were in Jinan now. Also, there is a massive Japanese reinforcement coming in trucks” reported General Tang. “Peking was the capital for the about 700 years. Do we really have to lose it?” said Chiang. “With the fall of Datong and Tianjin, Peking cannot be hold for long. Sire, I suggest we do a retreat before we are encircled. The 5th Army Group can be retreated from the Peking City before.” Chiang sighed, and ordered “Retreat Southward!! Nobody stops until we reach the Hwang He (Yellow river)!”

Evacation from Peking

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This is just the start of the 10 year war.

 

[Pokka]

Very nice start. The mix of writing styles you use blends together very well. Consider me tuned in on this one.

Thanks. Your comment really motivates me

 

[unmerged(29305)]

Are you chinese yourself?

 

[unmerged(19542)]

Interresting AAR. I like it.

 

[Pokka]

Phew just handed in an assignment before deadline. So this instalment is a bit late.

Chapter 2
The North and the South

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In the lunar new year, nobody in China have the mood to celebrate. The Japanese, although didn’t fulfill the claim of “3 months to annex China”, they occupied the Northern China without strong resistance from the Nationalist Army. The Nationalist Army kept fleeing southward. In the February, the major Nationalist force was gathered around the capital region. The Japanese forces were splited into 3 major army groups. The main army was going down along the coast. The Western army was gathering along the Commie region. The Southern army occupied the Guangxi province and Hainan. The only thing that Nationalist can do was deploy militants dressed in elite troops. This can confuse the Japanese intelligence and hinder their invasion plan.

The year of 1938, is considered to be a breathing space for the Chinese.

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12 January, 1938, Shanghai
“As the commander of the navy, I am also in-charge of the flagship ‘Sun Yat-Sen’. At the dawn of 12th January, 1938, Japanese convoy was sighted at the Eastern China Sea. Intelligence stated that the fleet was transporting oil from the occupied Guangxi region to Tokyo. Considering it a chance to slow down the Japanese offense at Northern China, I immediately ordered the Eastern Fleet sail out the Yangtze River. All ships were advancing at full speed and seem nothing could to stop us. At 0752, the convoys were in the fire distance. The convoys were unprepared and we sank 4 transports in a short time. The remaining convoys were escaping towards the Northern Sea.

Crusier "Sun Yat-Sen"

At 0854, there were several white dots appeared at 3 o’clock. These dots were soon identified as Japanese Torpedo bombers. Anti air gun was not adequate for our fleet. Hoi Hing was hit by 4 torpedos and sank. In order to save our brave sailors, several ships were ordered to rescue the crews of Hoi Hing. The remaining fleet was ordered to back to Shanghai.

At 0912, a Japanese fleet appeared on the eastern horizon. We were desperately outnumbered. Since Yangtze River is too shallow for Japanese capital ships, our only hope was to sail back to the river as soon as possible. Despite our ships were sailing at full speed, the Japanese cruisers and destroyers caught us. Our fire-power was not match to theirs, and 6 cruisers were sunk. When I escaped from the gate of hell and reached the Shanghai Naval Base, I was notified that all of the rescue ships were sunk. We lost 10 cruisers and only sunk 4 transports. Chiang is going to kill me for this. Now I know why nobody wants to be a Chinese Admiral.

- Admiral Chan, the commander of the Eastern China Fleet, in his memorial

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17 February, 1938, Nanking
The battle of Guangzhou took place 10 days ago. It is the first ever victorious battle for the Chinese Nationalist Army. Nevertheless, China’s future is still grim. When Chiang was still in rejoice of victory, a telephone brought him back to the reality.

“General Chiang, an emergency situation in Shanghai!! The Japanese launched an amphibious assault at Shanghai and the militants cannot hold for long! Please send reinforcement there as soon as possible” said General Ho.
“Bloody Japanese! How’s the situation? Did they control the whole city?”
“Not yet, but the city centre is in the hand of Japanese……the militants can only hold up 2 more days.”
“That’s enough!” said Chiang. As soon as he hung up the phone, he ordered General Falkenhausen sending his 99th Motorized Division to Shanghai.

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19 February, 1938, Shanghai Daily
“After 5 days of battle, Shanghai is defended from the bloody hand of Japanese pirates! The Japanese Army suffered another defeat from the Nationalist Force! The 99th Motorized Army swiftly drives the ill-equipped Japanese marines out! Local tycoons are celebrate at the night clubs as usual. Plus they also donate a large sum of money to the Nanking government.

Nationalist Army in action - with Czech Z36 Machinegun

It is rumored that after driving out Japanese Army, General Falkenhausen hop on the KM Deutschland in the Shanghai Port, which arrived before the Japanese offesne. He left China with the treasures he obtained from the bulletproof monk in Tibet. The Nationalist spokesman claim that General Falkenhausen was recalled by his fuehrer and nothing related to the mysterious Tibet power. After Falkenhausen’s departure, General Chang Chih-Chung will be the commander of 99th Motorized Army. The spokesman also added, after the departure of Falkenhausen, no more trades will be occuried between China and Germany.”

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In April, the Chinese barely held the Japanese at the North of Yangtze River. Shanghai citizen were clamed down. Unfortunately worse is yet to come.

1st April, 1938

 

[Pokka]

A Trooper: Yeah I come from Hong Kong

Korppi: Thanks so much. I'll try my best to keep it interesting

 

[Mettermrck]

Great stuff. You're really fighting a desperate battle. I shudder to see what you mean by 'worse is yet to come'.

 

[unmerged(29305)]

You wnat to hide out in those fortified provinces.

 

[unmerged(19542)]

Those Japanese landings seems quite nasty.I hope you can stop them.

 

[Pokka]

Chapter 3
The Great Retreat

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17th July, 1938 - Osaka Daily

“Another success for the Emperor and his mighty imperial army! In the past few months, our imperial army was under meaningless resistant from the barbaric Chinese army at the Guangxi province. Zhanjiang was captured by the Chinese force in May. In response to the counterstrike, our mighty emperor ordered more divisions to be deployed on the mainland Asia. The reinforcement, comproised the newly built tank division equipped with“Chi-Ha”, quickly re-captured Zhanjiang and encircled 5 Chinese divisions in Bobai. Yesterday the encircled Chinese were elminiated and Bobai is again, liberated from the puppet government of the colonial powers!”

“Bloody Japanese!” Chiang shouted, then he walked to the window and looked outside to the streets of Nanking. “Now we’ve lost 5 divisions and our Southern provinces are poorly defended. What’s the situation on the Northern frontier?”
”We barely hold the Japanese at the North of Yangtze. Their bombers bomb us daily, with flyers and bombs. ZhengZhou has been fallen and our Eastern defense line was being shifted backward. Another important matter is that, Japanese forced captured Xiamen and Fuzhou as bridgehead and we do not have enough force to stop them going inland” reported General Ho.
Chiang sighed, and said “I’ll go to Luoyang to meet Mao, about the future of the country and make sure he pledge to this unholy alliance loyally.”

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23th July, 1938 - Luoyang Evening Daily
“The meeting between Chiang and Mao, Nationalist and Communists, came up with little solution to solve the Japanese invasion. Although China has completed to the League of Nations and League of Nations announced Japanese as aggressor, this neither stop or slow down the Japanese. Generalissimo Chiang, again, inspired us to fight bravely against the invader.”

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24th December, 1938 – Shanghai Times

“After a week of bloody battle, the battle of Luoyang ends with victory on the Nationalist side. The battle last for 10 days and Nationalist lost 5 militant divisions. Japanese were being repelled back to the North of Yellow River. A week before, when the 2nd Army Group was under attacked. The poor organized militants in 2nd Army Group could not hold the Japanese effectively despite an advantage on region. Several divisions were fully annihilated. Fortunately Chiang decisively led the 5th Group by himself to reinforce. The bloody battle costs about 35000 lives of brave Chinese soldiers. 12000 Japanese pirates are eliminated. Nevertheless, the victory this battle marks the Nationalist force still capable to repel further Japanese inland aggression.”

Battle of Luoyang

The Battle of Luoyang is the most important battle in Eastern mainland theatre. 12 divisions of Japanese led by Terauchi couldn’t break the defense of an army group with majority militants. This had shown that Japanese could not cope with the mountainous region and Nationalist force can make use of it. With a victory on the Battle of Luoyang, Japanese inland invasion from the North has been slowed down. The Japanese seek for alternatives in order to invade Westerward.. Soon after the battle of Luoyang, the Nationalist force failed to defend the fortress Lanzhou. This isolated the Western provinces and Sinkiang.

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12th January, 1939 – Nanking
A terrible news reached Chiang this morning. “General! Urgent news! Nanchang has been fall into the hand of Japs! Since most Southeastern provinces were fall already. Shanghai and Nanking are now separated from remaining our controlled regions in Southwest China!” reported Ho. Chiang was terrified. He flied back to Nanking a week after his victorious battle in Luoyang, and then he encountered such an ill-fate.
“What the……” Chiang couldn’t say a word before calming himself down. “Send a telegraph to Shanghai. Tell General Chang abandon the Shanghai and merge with our main force in Nanking. We’re going to break out the Japanese encircle.”
”Sire, are you sure to abandon the capital and our largest city!? We have…”
”Enough! We don’t have any time left. Our only hope is to preserve our elite and hold the Southwestern part of mainland. Without the help of 99th Motorized Division, we cannot effectively fight against the pirates!” Chiang waved his hand and asked his secretary come over. “Pack the luggage for me, and ask Mei Ling and kids to be prepared, we are leaving in hurry!”

The tycoons in Shanghai were not pleased with Chiang’s decision. Although early inland industrial movement had been carried out, Shanghai was still a unformidable industrial city in China. Nevertheless, they agreed to leave Shanghai, for the sake of their lives. At the same time, high ranked government officials were leaving Nanking with Chiang…Basically, nobody were willing to be left in Shanghai and Nanking, except only traitors.

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6th February, 1939 – Kumming Daily

The fall of Shanghai

“Shanghai, at last, fall into the hand of Japanese. It is rumored that when the Japanese force marched in the downtown. Nobody was there. It just likes a dead city. Nevertheless, it is a shame to Nationalist government. Shanghai, once the glorious never sleeping metropolis on the delta of Yangtze, is in the hands of pirates…”


12th February, 1939 – Nanchang
“I’ve never been so brave! For the first time of my life, I feel the responsibility as a Chinese soldier. This morning, Operation Breakthrough at last commenced. With the support of the Chinese elites, our division quickly captured the Japanese occupied Nanchang town. Despite Japanese having better equipments and more organized, we have much more soldiers than them! Perhaps they figured that out, only minimal resistances were encountered. When I was heading back to the camp outside Nanchang, I saw General Chiang! He was standing on the car and waving to us! I felt really inspired. After all, I had contributed to the breakthrough of the Japanese encirclement!”

-Sergeant Lau Ling, 99th Motorized Army

Capture of Nanchang and the breakthrough

The Japanese had committed seriously mistake to let the Great Retreat successful. Since the Southwestern part of China is mountainous, Japanese cannot effectively launch attack on those provinces. With the great number of Nationalist divisions successfully retreated westward, the Japanese had not chance to invade further inland.

 

[Pokka]

Phew I had a hard-time to fight against the Japanese. Yes I tried to hide in those fortified provinces, but it doesnt work

And the amphibious assualt eventually led me to forfeit Shanghai and Nanking. Really smart AI :wacko:

 

[Mettermrck]

Great update, Pokka! I'm glad you got those divisions out of Nanking so you'll have a force ready for the inland fight. When you say you lose militia divisions in battle, were they completely wiped out or just heavily damaged? Were the Japanese comparably wounded? I note that your forces west of Nanking seem to be in a salient. Is there any danger of the Japs moving into Changsha and cutting you off? I look forward to more!

 

[Pokka]

Great update, Pokka! I'm glad you got those divisions out of Nanking so you'll have a force ready for the inland fight. When you say you lose militia divisions in battle, were they completely wiped out or just heavily damaged? Were the Japanese comparably wounded? I note that your forces west of Nanking seem to be in a salient. Is there any danger of the Japs moving into Changsha and cutting you off?

In the Battle of Luoyang, they were completely wiped out...at least 3 divisions of militiants completely eliminated The Japanese were wounded but I can only wipe 1 of their infantry division out.

It was really scary. Once I get my armies out I move them to Changsha and regroup there. You can see that Hengyang at the west side is being occupied. Instead it is being traded for Huangzhi so that I have a bridge for my troops to retreat. Eventually my forced were being pushed back to Changsha.