The Chinese unloosed a modest five-minute artillery barrage mixed with smoke to cover Jia’s retreat. Halfway back across the river the smoke lifted and another 50 men fell to the ROC machine gunners. Dugen’s anger and the adrenaline rush of fear got him to the other side of the river. When his last commando made it to the safety of the modern steel and cement buildings on the west bank of the Tanshui Ho, Colonel Chu passed out.
Fu Zemin was released from the field hospital at six in the morning on Thursday with a twirl of cotton gauze on his skull and a massive headache. The Taiwanese missile attack on the airport caused him to lose two whole precious days. For two days the Americans just sat at the hotel. He was half thankful Beijing didn’t send in a backup negotiator to arrange for the Americans’ surrender. On the other hand, a crucial window of opportunity was almost closed.
Fu winced as he got out of the jeep and made his way to the hotel where the Americans were staying. He approved of the decision to move the headquarters to the basement of the hotel. If the Taiwanese found him again, he wanted to make sure the Americans would be the first to die in the attack.
Fu was slowly escorted to his chair in the briefing room. Thinking of himself as the only “hero” to be wounded in the Taiwanese attack, he was disappointed to see several officers and staff clerks carrying on with their duties having suffered wounds apparently far worse than his own. For a moment he was ashamed of his self-centeredness, but he quickly recovered his air of superiority.
An intelligence officer Fu hadn’t seen before walked up to the large map board. He was only a colonel (Fu later discovered that the Chief of Intelligence for the headquarters was mortally wounded in the missile attack). The young looking officer began his briefing, “Good morning. My name is Colonel Chung. I am the deputy to the Chief of Intelligence.
“First, the weather. The weather will remain overcast and rainy with a low ceiling for the next 24 to 48 hours. This does not affect our ability to use commercial aircraft but it does severely limit our tactical air operations and aerial reconnaissance capabilities. Off road mobility is also poor. Local flooding caused by the lack of dam and reservoir maintenance as well as damage also limits river crossing operations.
“Now an overview of the situation. We have 18 divisions in the field opposite 13 under strength divisions of the enemy. More importantly, our divisions are in place to accomplish their mission of capturing Taipei. By merely holding our ground we can starve the capital into submission. In addition to the 250,000 troops we now have on the island, more than 100,000 PAP security forces are securing the rear areas. We have had very little bandit activity as a result.
“Moving from north to south then, allow me to summarize current posture of enemy and friendly forces,” the colonel began using a small metal pointer, tapping each area with precision as he spoke. “In the vicinity of Taipei in the 10th and 12th Group Army sectors, we have the bulk of our deployed forces totaling two tank divisions, three mechanized infantry divisions, four infantry divisions, an air mobile division, an artillery division, an airborne infantry division and two regiments of airborne infantry. Opposing us in this decisive area are two divisions of infantry, one airborne brigade and one tank brigade in Taipei and the Yangmingshan mountain redoubt to the north. South of the city we have the remnants of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Division, a tank brigade and an artillery brigade. On the east coast we still have an airborne brigade that has not apparently moved from its positions since D-Day. Enemy activity has slowed down in the last 24 hours. Very little movement has occurred in this sector, although we have seen an increase in artillery and rocket fire concentrated on our ports of debarkation.”
Colonel Chung paused and gathered his concentration for what he knew to be the rough part of the briefing. “Now then, in the 11th Group Army area we have two divisions of infantry at Taichung along with a regiment of airborne infantry. These divisions hold strong defensive positions anchored by the city of Taichung and running 20 kilometers west to the port facilities. Opposite these forces are one mechanized infantry division, three infantry divisions, two tank brigades and an artillery brigade. Last night, the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Airborne Division reported a strong enemy attack on a battalion battle position in the hills to the east of Taichung. Following the pattern of the enemy’s actions at Tainan and Kaohsiung, the commander of the 11th Group Army expects the enemy to counterattack his forces in an attempt to seize the port. He has given his commanders direction to stay in place, using the extensive urban cover to exact a high price on the enemy. He estimates he could hold out for at least a week under a strong assault. Should the enemy attempt to reduce our positions at Taichung, this would present an opportunity for us to strike south and smash the northern part of the enemy’s attack against the 11th Group Army’s positions around Taichung.”
Fu shifted uncomfortably in his chair. In somewhat less than 48 hours of absence, the ROCs had managed to reverse their misfortunes at yet another major city — first at Kaohsiung with the unexpected American intervention, now at Taichung—what next?
“In the 15th Group Army area we have two infantry divisions and a regiment of airborne infantry. The enemy also has two infantry divisions, one to the north and one to the south…”
Fu cleared his throat, “Pardon me colonel, but we enjoy interior lines of communication in Tainan. Why doesn’t the commander of the 15th Group leave a small holding force to the north or south and move to crush one of the divisions opposite him?”
The intelligence officer stammered, “Comrade, I cannot answer for operations.” He looked to the small knot of operations officers standing in the corner to his left.
“Comrade Fu,” it was a major general, “The commander of the 15th Group Army is a prudent officer. He has reported a build-up of enemy armor to his east — probably the 4th Tank Brigade fresh from its fighting in Kaohsiung. We all think it appropriate for a continued defensive stance while the possibility of a mounted assault remains. When the weather clears, and we once again have strong air support, we can move against the enemy in this sector.”
Colonel Chung looked ill now, “Now, in the 14th Group Army sector…”
“We have sacked the commander of the 14th for incompetence,” the operations major general said, sparing the intelligence officer the agony of explaining the setback to the senior political officer on the island. Colonel Chung was visibly relieved. “We have perhaps 5,000 troops remaining around Kaohsiung from the forces we committed there. We do not expect them to hold out much more than a day or two.”
Colonel Chung broke back in, “This, of course, presents a challenge to the 15th Group Army. We estimate that within 72 hours the enemy will have rested and refitted the 10th and 17th Infantry Divisions and will commit these forces to an attack to retake Tainan.”
Colonel Chung collected himself, then summarized the situation, “Sir, while we have had setbacks in the south, we believe our position to be so strong around Taipei that it would be militarily impossible for the Taiwanese to dislodge us from our siege. Furthermore, theirs is a wasting position. Every day we get stronger and they get weaker. Without the Americans or the Japanese to come to their rescue it is only a matter of time before their options run out and they will be forced to surrender.”
Fu’s concussion sent waves of pain into his head. The military situation was still acceptable, even if the Taiwanese were enjoying some minor success — it was too little too late anyway. In the meantime, he aimed to make the Americans pay for the Taiwanese aggression. Fu smiled to himself. “Send General Wei to my office, we have some planning to do.”