Full Decryption of the Behind-the-Scenes of the Taiyuan Battle: Memorial Record of the Chinese War of Resistance Against Japan on the Front Line

Author: Tao Chun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: This is a history written in blood and tears by the Chinese people. With vivid writing and rich historical materials, this book authentically recreates the magnificent Taiyuan Campaign, exposing many little-known secrets of the Chinese side on the main front of the Anti-Japanese War! The Chinese nation, with its unique resilience and indomitable spirit, fought bravely against the Japanese invaders in the midst of blood and rain, composing a magnificent epic of tragic heroism. Sixty years after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, this book takes our memories back to that era of flames and fierce battles.
Battle Time: Mid-September to November 9, 1937
Combat Forces: 280,000 troops from the Second War Zone of China; 140,000 Japanese troops from the 5th, 20th, 108th, and 109th Divisions, as well as the Expeditionary Force.
Battle Outcome: The Japanese suffered nearly 30,000 casualties, while the Chinese forces suffered over 100,000 casualties.
Significance of the Battle: Although the Chinese forces suffered heavier casualties, they also significantly depleted the Japanese army's combat strength and hindered the Japanese advance south along the Pinghan Railway. It was one of the battles with the most determined, prolonged, and significant achievements in North China.
Taiyuan, anciently known as Jinyang and abbreviated as Bing, is the capital of Shanxi Province and a renowned heavy industrial base in North China. It is located on the east side of the Taihang Mountains and the west side of the Lüshan Mountains, with the two mountain ranges converging northward to form a ring around the city. The Fen River flows from north to south through the center of the city, creating a long, narrow belt-like urban layout. Due to its strategic terrain and abundant resources, Taiyuan has long been a contested battleground. The ancient city of Jinyang was founded in 497 BC and served as a northern stronghold for dozens of dynasties since the Spring and Autumn period. It was once the capital of the Zhao State, a major hub during the Qin and Han dynasties, the "dominant fortress" of the Northern Dynasties, the "northern capital" of the Tang Dynasty, a key stronghold during the Five Dynasties, and the "gorgeous Taiyuan City" of the Song and Yuan dynasties. After the 1911 Revolution, it became the capital of Yan Xishan.
At the junction of Shanxi and Hebei provinces stands the world-famous Mount Wutai. The Shui Jing Zhu records: "Mount Wutai has five majestic peaks, hence the name." It is also known as Mount Wuding, Mount Wu Feng, and Mount Qingliang. The Huayan Jing states: "Mount Qingliang refers to Mount Wutai in Yanzhou, Yanmen. It accumulates ice year-round, with snow flying even in summer, never experiencing heat, hence the name Qingliang." The five peaks are: Zhong Tai (also known as Cuiyan Peak), Dong Tai (also known as Wanghai Peak), Xi Tai (also known as Guayue Peak), Nan Tai (also known as Jinxiu Peak), and Bei Tai (also known as Yedou Peak), the main peak of Mount Wutai and the highest mountain in North China, with an elevation of 3,058 meters. Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, Mount Wutai has been one of China's major Buddhist pilgrimage sites and is known as one of the "Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism in China," alongside Mount Emei in Sichuan, Mount Putuo in Zhejiang, and Mount Jiuhua in Anhui.
On October 8, 1883, Yan Xishan was born in Wenchang Fortress, Hebian Village, near Mount Wutai in Datong County. Surrounding the scenic Mount Wutai flows the Huto River, a well-known river in northern China. The Huto River gently flows past Wenshan, merging with the rapidly flowing Muma River from the southwest. At the confluence of these two rivers lies a large village of nearly a thousand households, which gives its name to the village. The village's buildings are naturally divided into 18 fortresses based on geographical features and clan ancestral halls, each with a unique name. Yan Xishan was born in Yongchang Fortress, which was locally called Wenchang Fortress due to the presence of a Wenchang Pavilion.
Yan Xishan, styled Baichuan, was known as Longdi and was affectionately called "Wanxiizi" in childhood. When Wanxiizi was six years old, his mother, Qu Yueqing, passed away, and his father, Yan Shutang, remarried Chen Xiujing. However, his stepmother refused to raise him, and the orphaned child was taken in by his grandmother. The young Wanxiizi suffered greatly from living with relatives, which left a deep psychological impact on him. From a young age, his temperament was fierce. He was sometimes silent and reserved, sometimes extremely volatile, sometimes very obedient, and sometimes unrestrained. At the age of nine, his grandmother and uncle sent him to a private school, where the headmaster gave him a name he would carry throughout his life: Xishan.
At the age of 16, he accompanied his father to the county seat to study commerce at the "Jiqingchang" money shop his family owned. During the two-plus years there, he learned the meaning of "meticulous calculation," "profit above all," and "speculation." Although this period was short, it played a significant role in shaping his character. In the early 1930s of the 20th century, a newspaper published in Nanjing once...