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The Impossible Journey: A Communist China AAR

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Febuary 11th, 1936

SS1.jpg


Mao Zedong sighed as he glanced through the reports from across the Communist territory. Shortages of everything, poor infrastructure, Nationalist incursions. The Red Army consisted of only four professional army divisions and two militia units.

"Hardly enough to hold off Chaing if he gets his act together," thought Mao. That was what Mao had that his Nationalist counterpart did not have. Loyalty, dedication, and a lack of any of the corruption that was killing the Nationalist regime.

General Zhu De, Chief of Staff and Army and personally leading the 2nd Army, stepped into Mao's tent.

Mao stood up to shake his friend's hand, motioning for him to sit, "What news from the front, Zhu?"

Zhu sat down in front of Mao's desk, "Looks like the Nationalists have given up the chase. The only movement our spies reported was a few divisions being shuffled around. It doesn't look like they're planning an attack anytime soon."

Mao breathed a sigh of relief, "That'll make the people happy."

Zhu nodded, "Xie," the Chief of Security, "reports that now that things have stabalized, the people aren't causing any trouble."

Mao pondered for a moment, "What's the status of your militia?"

Zhu shrugged, "They're dedicated and ready to fight....but that's about it. They probably wouldn't last long in a fight."

"Alright. Have your militia divisions put to work. The capitalists never bothered to maintain to roads, so we need to fix that."

Zhu nodded once again, "I'll get right on it," the General stood up, saluting and left.

Alone, Mao put aside the reports and pulled out a small pocket-sized book wrapped in red cloth and scribbled some words down before falling asleep.
 
Good luck with your AAR!
I just started on on Nationalist China. Looking at the situation from that side, the ChiComs have a very tough task.
Historically, what happened to stop Chiang from finishing off the Chinese Communists was the Xi'an Incident in December of 1936. Without making it that far in my AAR yet, I do not know whether or not that is an event.
At any rate, best of luck Comrade!

YoungMao.jpg


YOUR NOBLE LEADER
 
March 17th, 1936

News had finally reached the people of Communist China that the war with the Nationalists was over. Celebration exploded across the rural country. With the end of the war came a flood of defectors from the Nationalists and with them some very helpful resources. Without having to fear Nationalist attacks, construction of fortifications had quickly began and ended in success.

Mao, along with the rest of his closest advisors, were enjoying the celebration as much as anyone else.

Trying to hold his glass, Mao was laughing, "To think that a couple of soldiers could slip out of the camp with Chiang still sleeping!"

Li Kenong, Chief of Intelligence stepped forward, "He was still in his night clothes when he signed the cease-fire!" he said, grinning from ear to ear.

Zhu walked up behind Mao, "Nationalists forces have begun pulling back from the border. I guess he's really keeping his word."

Mao rolled his eyes, "Come now, comrade. Such a dedicated soldier such as yourself deserves a drink or two. You can get back to your army later."

"Divisions don't train themselves, sir."

"Yes," replied Mao, "And they don't train late at night while the people they're fighting for are celebrating!"

Zhu finally cracked a smile, "I think I might have that drink."
 
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Come on the Commies!!!
 
Go Commies!
 
March 9th, 1937

Mao walked along the newly completed roads of Yanan, flanked by Zhu and Wang Jiaxiang, the Foreign Minister.

"Just goes to show you what the people can do when they put their minds to it," said Mao, stamping his foot down on what had once been crumbling dirt roads, now rebuilt and worked over.

Zhu smiled, "And now that we have infrastructure, we can focus on industry and then..."

"....then you get those weapon syou need to finish training your men," finished Mao. Wang cleared his throat, turning Mao's attention to the man, "And what is the situation in the rest of China?"

Adjusting his military hat, Wang began, "Two more sets demands sent by Chiang. Even if we aren't at war, he wants this land back."

"I assume they were all promptly refused?"

"Of course," said Wang with a grin, "Chiang isn't willing to start up a full scale war with us, not with the Japanese military built up on their border."

Mao nodded, knowing full well that at least 8 Japanese divisions were amassed near Bejing and Datong, with only two Nationalist divisions between them.

Wang continued, "Fortunately, the Japanese-Soviet border is virtually undefended. If war comes, it won't be difficult for us to slip our divisions through Inner Mongolia into Manchuria."

Mao nodded again. Inner Mongolia was far too undeveloped, and far too poorly guarded to notice, let alone stop, any communists forces Mao sent through.

"I think," said Mao, "We should continue to focus on building our industry...and our military," gesturing to Zhu, "and worry about the Japanese when the time comes."

The three men continued to walk down the road.



Thanks for all the support so far. Expect things to heat up soon.
 
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August 20th, 1937

For Mao, the world had turned upside down in little more than a week. On August 9th, Japan had declared war on the Communists. The fact that there was no way for Japan to actually reach the Communists, Japan declared war on the Nationalist regime on the 17th. Three days later, the rival factions of China set aside their differences and formed an alliance to fight the Japanese.

Mao looked forlorn as he studied the maps in front of him. The Communists were not ready for a war. Training of the army's first new division was still slowly proceeding, and industrial development would not be completed until April of '38.

Across the table stood Zhu, pointing to a position near the border, "Chiang managed to bring 4 divisions up to the front, leaving their borders to us completely undefended."

Mao spoke, "How many Japanese divisions?"

Zhu looked up, "Our scouts last reported a total of 8 Japanese divisions supported by 12 to the south. We should anticipate for a quick break-through to occur within a week at Datong."

Mao sighed, "Maybe if Chiang gets killed there, the people will rise up against the Nationalists. But since he'll probably flee before he's in that position, can we hold out against the Japanese attack?"

Zhu looked up, uncertainty in this expression, "If they hit us in Yanan, yes. But if they strike to the south, which they almost certainly will, I can't gaurantee the militia will hold."

Mao frowned, "We'll just have to wait and see."

Zhu looked concerned, "Comrade, the Japanese may win a few battles along the war, but they can never defeat the revolution."

Mao nodded in agreement, "It's times like these that a man must remember that."
 
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October 23rd, 1937

General Zhu De looked through his binoculars at the enemy positions in front of him. Around him was the newly formed 1st Bu Bing Shi, the first of many divisions to be formed. The men were exhausted and disorganized after being rushed from their training grounds to the front.

Just as he had expected, the Japanese were likely to strike them in the south, although they hardly had a choice. General Kanin had pushed past the weak Nationalist defenses south of Chiang's personal 11 division army and captured Taiyuan and placed his army directly along the great Hwang Ho river.

Zhu put down his binoculars and turned to the man standing at attention next to him, General Liu Bo-cheng, a rising star within the military heirarchy.

"What do you think?" asked Zhu.

Liu cleared his throat and pointed directly ahead, "They'll come straight at us, if at all."

Zhu blinked in suprise, "Do you honestly believe Kanin would be that stupid? To hit us head on across the river?"

Liu nodded, "I don't think he is that stupid, but the government will want him to advance, and the Japanese do not question orders."

Zhu thought for a moment, "Very well. Head back to Yanan and inform Chairman Mao that we will be able to hold off any Japanese attacks long enough for reinforcements to arrive."

Liu saluted and left, leaving Zhu alone. Zhu turned back to the distant Japanese forces, muttering, "Alright. You know exactly where we are. Come and get us."
 
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Zhu shook his head in disgust as he watched the Nationalist soldiers march by, their uniforms filthy and defeat evident in their eyes. Chiang's personal army had been soundly defeated at Datong, while a smaller Japanese force had siezed Handan after only a few hours. Now the entire eastern border of Communist China was open to attack.

The roar of a plane filled the air, causing Zhu to casually look east. A small formation of Japanese aircraft lumbered towards the Nationalist column. They had been bombing, or attempting to, for the last two weeks, losing more men than they killed. Casualties could be counted on a man's hand. As usual, the Communist anti-aircraft batteries opened up, spewing flak burst into the formation. Several hit home, sending the airplanes spiralling down to the ground, while the others took evasive action and scurried back east amidst the unified Chinese attack of obscene gestures and remarks.

Zhu cracked a smile, "If any of that is true," he thought, "then we're all fighting our children."

Zhu turned back to the the Nationalist forces, only to have his stomach turn upside down. Slowly approaching on horseback with the same defeated and weary look, stood out deeply in his spotless uniform.

His chest was adorned with dozens of medals, most won against the Communists. Chiang Kai-Shek rode closer still. The General looked up, suddenly stiffening as he spotted Zhu and nervously glanced down at the revolver hostered to the Communist's belt.

All it would take was a small movement and Mao's rival, the blight on China, and capitalist devil, would have a bullet in his head.

"No, if he dies then China will fall into chaos, and the Japanese will win," Zhu crossed his arms, showing he would not reach for his weapon.

Chiang sagged in relief, nodding to Zhu. Zhu ignored it and continued to stare as the leader of the Nationalists rode by.

Zhu shook his head, turning back towards his command tent, "When this war ends, I will not be so lucky."

--------------------------------

Chiang sank lower into his saddle, grummbling, "When this war ends, I will not give you that chance again."
 
Have you considered joining the commies?
 
elbasto said:
Have you considered joining the commies?
Click to expand...

Ge could try if he has the right foriegn minister and some DI. The easiest way to join the Comintern would be when both the Soviet Union and Communist China are at war with the same country/alliance ie. Japan
 
June 2, 1938

The first Japanese attack smashed into the Chinese defenders like a tidal wave. A total of 18 divisions supported by two air wings threw themselves upon the well prepared defenders. It had not been a suprise. It had taken a month to move the entire Japanese attack force into the attack, giving plenty of time to finish training the second new Chinese divison and readily prepare its defenses.

General Zhu De looked on in amazement at the numbers of Japanese soldiers swarming across the Hwang Ho river. The first waves of Japanese attacks had been slaughtered as they crossed the wide river on boats, the dead bodies packed so together at a man could almost use them as a bridge to cross.

Casualties were ridiculously light so far, a testiment to the time and effort put into the defensive foritifications by the Chinese workers. Around the General, artillery batteries rained down a constant, deadly fire. Shells exploded in the river, obliterating several boats, sending tattered Japanese rocketing into the air. Only a few Japanese boats had actually reached the western shore, barely managing to scratch out a beachhead. Eventually, sheer numbers would overwhelm the defenses, spelling disaster for all of China.

One of the General's aides ran up to the General, saluting, "Sir, several more boat flottilas approaching from the northeast and southeast.

Zhu frowned, pearing through his binoculars. Sure enough, more Japanese boats were sailing towards the Communist positions. Machine gun fire racking the wooden vessels, cutting down dozens in moments.

Zhu swore. With the limited artillery, the reinforcements would be able to land succesfully. The General turned to his aide, "Send word to Mao that we'll need additional support. Tell him I am holding my position at present, but may not be able to win the battle without more men."

The aide saluted, and ran off to the radio center to inform Mao of the situation.

Zhu turned back to the river. Shaking his head, he sighed, "You may have the numbers, but nothing else."
-------------------------------

June 10th, 1938

General Liu Bo-cheng sat atop his horse as the men of the 1st Corps charged ahead of him. Mao had dispatched him from Yanan to reinforce General De immediately after recieving the request.

Liu beemed with pride as the soldiers of the 1st Corps overwhelmed the Japanese position. They were brave men, ready for their first fight, and they were performing admirably. Having already lost so many men, the Japanese could hardly deal with this counter-attack. The General watched as many Japanese soldiers were surrounded and impaled by Chinese bayonets. Anger and frustration at the growing number of air attacks, while still almost useless, had been a seemingly endless annoyance. Now his soldiers could do something about it.

Waving his hat in the air, Liu whooped encouragement to his soldiers.
----------------------------

June 18th, 1938

The battle had ended early in the morning with the remaining Japanese forces, less than half their original size, fled back across the red Hwang Ho.

Now the Communist forces were searching through the corpses of Japanese soldiers and ruined military equipment. Surely some of this could be used by the Communist military.

Liu stood surrounded by the carnage of battle. The General turned to see General De aproach.

"Nicely done," said Zhu, "An excellent performance of the Army. I think we sobbered up the Japanese a bit."

Liu shrugged, "The Nationalists could learn a thing or to from us."

Zhu gestured around him, "What a waste. You were right, they did come straight at us."

"And it'll be the same the next time."

"And then we'll be stronger."

"I have a feeling so will they," there was an awkward pause, "So what news from Chairman Mao?"

He reported he made a move on Datong when scouts reported the city garrison was tied up in the battle here. Had to call it off when a motorized division got their first."

"Any plans for the future?"

"Mao's ordered me to train a calvary unit to go up north and stir things up. The Soviet-Japanese border, at least in Mongolia, is totally undefended."

"Any possibility of them getting into this war?"

Zhu shrugged, "There have always been border fights, and Stalin might take advantage of this war....but word is that one of the Soviet Union's neighbors, someting starting with a P, annexed another country."

There was another pause before Liu spoke again, "Well, I'd best get the Corps moving back north. See you next time, General."


Elbasto: We'll see ;)
 
Nice job, but be strong enough at the end to declare war on the Nationalists and seize control of the mainland. And Siam and Korea for good measure...
 
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