Chapter 44 The Aftertaste (4)

During the period when He Jian fainted, Chiang Kai-shek made plans, and Bai Chongxi withdrew his troops, the Second Red Division trekked all the way, defeated several raids by reactionary militia groups, and reached Liping.

What the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Division did not expect was that Liping was an empty city without a single soldier to guard it. Most of the people ran to the mountains. A few poor farmers opened the east gate of the city, beat gongs and drums, and set off firecrackers.

Welcoming the Red Army. This made Chen Guang, Liu Yalou and the cadres and soldiers of the Second Division overjoyed. You must know that since leaving the Soviet area, this is the first time that this glorious pioneering force of the Red Army has encountered a spontaneous welcome from the masses.

Chen Guang and Liu Yalou excitedly asked the names of these farmers one by one. These poor farmers were generous and reported their names one by one: Wang Huatang, Liu Bayuan, Zhang Keming, Min Dewen, Zhong Jingzhai, "Zhou Hualian", Mr. Ning

4. After further understanding, Chen Guang and Liu Yalou understood why some people welcomed the Red Army here. It turned out that both the Seventh Red Army and the Sixth Red Army had been to Liping, leaving a very good impression on the sufferers.

Of course, what these farmers don’t know is that Liping has already had the red seeds sown by the Seventh Red Army. When Comrade Xiaoping, Comrade Zhang Yunyi, and Comrade Wei Baqun launched the Baise Uprising, there was someone in the team who had participated in the Guangzhou Uprising.

Shi Laofa, a soldier from Liping, and Wei Shaohuai, the company representative, were entrusted by the Seventh Red Army to sneak back to Lipingshikou. They used mountain goods as a cover to engage in revolutionary activities and secretly established the Huaiping Township Soviet Government. Later, the Seventh Red Army was established by the Guangxi Red Army.

When moving to the Guizhou border, it was Shi Laofa who led the troops into Lipingshuikou. After the Seventh Red Army left, Wei Shaohuai was killed by the enemy, and Shi Laofa continued to fight in secret.

Overjoyed, Chen Guang and Liu Yalou entrusted these farmers to go up the mountain to call back the hiding people. Liping City immediately became lively. Under the leadership of these people, the Red Army soldiers organized people to kill pigs and grind rice.

Be prepared to meet the large army.

After the 1st Army Corps, 1st Division and the Central Column arrived, Liping had made logistical preparations. It turned out that Liping was a relatively wealthy place in southeastern Guizhou, with many shops and products, which was suitable for large troops to rest and replenish. Historically, before and after the Liping Conference

, the Red Army rested here for several days.

The Central Revolutionary Military Commission immediately ordered the 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 9th Red Army Corps to go to Liping for a short rest. The central column, the 1st Army Corps, 1st Division, and 2nd Division were better. They rested briefly in the passage. The soldiers put on new military uniforms and ate

I had a full meal and a haircut. The other troops had never had their hair trimmed since the Long March. When they entered Liping, they were busy getting a haircut, repairing shoes, eating a hot meal, and having a good sleep. In addition, after arriving in Liping, they had a good meal and a good sleep.

From the moment they set off to the present, the Red Army troops have been fighting all the way, and many old comrades and relatives have sacrificed their lives on the way to break through the blockade. During this period of rest and recuperation, the comrades reunited and rejoiced! Liping City was immediately filled with a strong atmosphere of joy.

The surprise is yet to come. At six o'clock in the afternoon, the confidential section chief once again reported the good news: the Red 18th Regiment completely annihilated the Hunan 62nd Division and 63rd Division in Xikou. Mr. Zhu received the telegram and only glanced at it without discussing it with anyone.

, ordered all the staff of the headquarters to mobilize and loudly publicize the good news throughout the city that the 18th Red Regiment had completely wiped out the 62nd and 63rd Hunan Divisions. At this time, Liping City was completely plunged into a sea of ​​joy. The Red Army soldiers cheered thunderously, and the crowd was excited.

Sweeping away the low morale after the Xiangjiang defeat.

The owners of several shops selling fireworks and firecrackers in the city were completely grinning. As long as the Red Army soldiers still had a little allowance in their pockets, they came in groups to buy firecrackers and bought up all the firecrackers in Liping City.

Then it started burning.

The cadres originally wanted to stop setting off firecrackers for fear of exposing the whereabouts of our troops. But then they thought, let the soldiers be happy. Since setting off from Yudu, every day has been filled with sad news of the sacrifice of comrades and where the enemy has pursued our troops.

When has there ever been such a morale-boosting success in reporting on the enemy's tenacious resistance? Besides, He Jian lost three elite divisions. I'm afraid He Jian is crying for his father and mother at the moment. He has no time to chase us. Even if he is chasing us.

Come, what are you afraid of? As long as the troops are repaired and restored to strength, is the Red Army easy to mess with? Who have we been afraid of? No matter how many of them come, kill one; come if they come, kill both of them. We are afraid that he will not come! So, the cadres

Not only did they not stop them, but they quickly joined in setting off firecrackers.

Since they have been in transition for a long time and there is little communication between the troops, many Red Army cadres and soldiers are full of curiosity about the Red 18th Regiment destroying two enemy divisions with one regiment, no, three divisions, plus the 16th Hunan Division. About this

Liu Yimin, the heroic leader of this heroic unit, had never even heard of it, so the cadres and soldiers of the Red 34th Division and the soldiers of a battalion of the Red 15th Division who participated in the reorganization on the Xiangjiang River, that is, the International Division of the Young Communist Party, and the Red 8

The soldiers of the legion immediately became broadcasters. The Red Army soldiers surrounded them and asked about everything about Liu Yimin and the 18th Red Regiment. The soldiers who were asked about it also looked proud and told what they knew and what they didn’t know according to their own rules.

Imagination said it, and the soldiers were dazzled and yearned for it.

In the temporary address of the Red Army headquarters, Bogu, Zhou Enlai, Zhang Wentian, Wang Jiaxiang, Mao Zedong, Zhu De and the heads of the various regiments who came after hearing the news gathered together. They listened to Vice Chairman Zhou reciting the telegram sent by the 18th Red Regiment in high spirits:

"The Central Revolutionary Military Commission combined with Chairman Mao, Vice Chairman Zhou, and Commander-in-Chief Zhu: Our regiment ended the Xiaoshui battle at 12:40 noon on the 12th, rested in Xiaoshui for 3 hours, and eliminated the 1,400 captured Hunan soldiers.

After the impurities were removed, they were urgently mobilized and incorporated into the army through heart-to-heart talks and other methods. The total number of the regiment was actually 4,700, organized into 6 combat battalions, an artillery battalion, a heavy machine gun battalion, an engineer battalion, a supply battalion, a recruit battalion, and a new army battalion.

Cavalry company, regimental training team, sniper platoon, reconnaissance platoon, guard platoon, communications platoon."

"During the reorganization of the troops, we learned from the radio station of the enemy's 16th Division that Wang Yuying's brigade of Tao Guang's division of the 62nd Hunan Division had crossed Xikou and was heading towards Jingwu Prefecture. Our regiment judged that the enemy's Wang Yuying Brigade was unstoppable and was likely to quickly occupy Jingwu Prefecture and then occupy it.

Tongtong County. Then he ordered the third battalion, seventh company and one platoon that stayed in Tongtang County to evacuate the channel and go to Jingwu Prefecture to use guerrilla tactics to harass the enemy. He also ordered the regiment's cavalry company of 50 cavalry to quickly advance from Xiaoshui to Xikou to conduct reconnaissance and monitor Shanmu Bridge to the creek.

Highway."

"After the main reorganization of the regiment was completed, the radio station confirmed that Tao Guang, commander of the 62nd Division, was leading Zhong Guangren's brigade to advance from Le'anbu to Xikou. Our regiment was determined to go straight from Xiaoshui to Xikou to meet the enemy's 62nd Division headquarters and Zhong's brigade. If Tao Guang's troops

If Tao Guang's troops have not yet arrived, an ambush will be carried out; if Tao Guang's troops have passed the mouth of the river, they will be pursued and forced to turn back and fight with us; if an encounter occurs, the enemy will open fire first and defeat them. To achieve the goal, divide the troops into two groups and leave them behind.

510 seriously wounded soldiers of the Hunan Army were handed over to the care of Xiaoshui villagers. Wu Zheng, the director of the logistics department of the regiment, was ordered to lead the teaching team, guard platoon, and supply battalion to escort the wounded of our regiment, and escort the seized materials of the 16th Division and 760 lightly wounded soldiers of the Hunan Army and captured officers.

Disguise the first part of the 16th Hunan Division and advance along the road towards Linkou; the main force of the regiment advances towards Xikou."

"At about 5 o'clock, the main force of the regiment met with the scouts. After learning that Tao Guang's troops had not yet reached the position of the cavalry company, political commissar Cai Zhong was left to lead two mountain artillery companies and recruit battalions to follow up. The main force divided into three groups and ran forward to seize the front hilltop.

, the hilltop on the east side of the highway and Beishan Village at the end of the highway."

"At 5:30, the enemy's leading company of Tao Guang arrived at the north end of Xikou. The cavalry company that I arrived in advance was hidden on the hilltop at the bend of the road. After letting go of the enemy's leading company, Tao Guang's main force arrived. At this time, our main force had arrived on the east side of the highway.

On the north side of the hillside, we were divided into three groups to seize the position. In order to buy time for the main force, the cavalry company opened fire decisively and severely damaged the cavalry company at the front of the enemy's main force. Later, our cavalry company retreated to the back of the hill to hide. The enemy mistakenly thought that they were being harassed by a small group of our rear troops.

Then they stopped advancing and concentrated their firepower to cover the front of the hill. The two regiments of Zhong Brigade were pressed forward. One regiment attacked the front hill in three waves, and another regiment seized the east hill. The troops directly under the brigade and the troops directly under the division fought on the road.

Prepare for battle."

"At this time, Li Qing, the director of the political department of our regiment, led the fourth and fifth battalions and the attached heavy machine gun company to eliminate the enemy's leading company returning for reinforcements and then occupied the hilltop and joined the cavalry company. Then he used the four-door troops attached to the two battalions to press

Artillery fire destroyed the enemy's mortar position, used machine gun and infantry fire to destroy the enemy's first wave of attacking troops, and began to pursue the enemy's retreating troops. Seeing that the momentum was not right, the enemy division commander Tao Guang immediately ordered Wang Yuying's brigade to return for reinforcements and sent the first report

Liu Jianxu of the Corps asked for help. At this time, regiment commander Liu Yimin led the 1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, Engineer Battalion, two mortar companies, and the 3rd Heavy Machine Gun Company to occupy the hilltop on the east side of the road, and set up 28 mortars to attack the enemy frontally.

The enemy on the road covered the enemy with fire. The engineer company and the three heavy machine gun companies attacked the enemy in front. The first and second battalions were divided into two groups and attacked downwards in a pincer-like manner to separate the enemy. The enemy was defeated and weapons were lost all over the ground. Wait for the enemy to flee.

In Beishan Village, we were attacked head-on by the 3rd and 6th battalions led by our regiment's Chief of Staff Liu Jianshe, and were surrounded and surrendered. In this battle, we annihilated one enemy division headquarters, one brigade headquarters, and two regiments, totaling 4,600 people, and captured the enemy division commander Tao alive.

There were 2,616 people under Guangzhou, 1,424 were killed, 560 were injured, and two radio stations, 30,000 yuan, and more than 4,000 light and heavy machine guns, submachine guns, rifles, and pistols were seized. Unfortunately, the enemy mortars were destroyed by our firepower."

"After interrogating the enemy's radio operator, we learned that Tao Guang had ordered the Wang Brigade to return for reinforcements and asked Liu Jianxu for help. Our regiment decided to expand the results of the battle, first ambush the Wang Brigade, and then destroy the enemy reinforcements after success. Then we used the 62nd Division radio to report to Liu Jianxu.

Encountering the Red Army, the 9th Red Army and the 15th Division of the 1st Army Corps, the Tao tribe had occupied the position and stood firm for reinforcements, requesting rapid reinforcements. At the same time, the new army battalion was ordered to gather the original recruits into a company, led by political commissar Cai Zhong, and escort the Tao tribe prisoners to

He was taken into custody in Xikou Village and directly incorporated into the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 companies of new recruits for battlefield education and transformation; Li Qing, director of the Regiment Political Department, led the engineering battalion, cavalry company, and two mountain artillery companies in Beishan Village

Set up a position on the high ground on the east side, preparing to ambush and assist the enemy; the main force of the regiment set up an ambush 5 miles away from Xikou. At the same time, the teaching team that had arrived at Linkou was ordered, and the guard platoon was to light more torches and pretend to be the 16th Hunan Division to reinforce the Xikou; the third battalion and seven soldiers were ordered to

The first platoon of the company intensified its efforts to harass the King's Brigade, creating the illusion of blocking the enemy's reinforcements; ordered the cavalry company to set off firecrackers at the north end of Xikou, creating the illusion of a fierce battle between the Tao tribe and me, and ordered the King's Brigade to speed up reinforcements in the name of Tao Guang. At 8 p.m.

The enemy's King's Brigade ran for reinforcements and entered the ambush circle. The battle was resolved in 5 minutes. The enemy's brigade commander Wang Yuying led 1,600 people to surrender, killing 1,900 enemies, and seized a radio station, 12 mortars, 12 heavy machine guns, and 54 light machine guns.

There are 3,200 rifles, submachine guns and pistols."

"At the time when the troops returned to Xikou for lunch, radio contact revealed that the enemy's reinforcements, the 63rd Division, had changed their marching route without authorization, starting from Zhaiya via Dalin Village and Huangjiashui Village along the main road and marching straight into Luocheng in an attempt to occupy Xikou and cut off our army's retreat.

Our regiment immediately adjusted its deployment and adopted the method of continuing to pretend to be reinforcements from the enemy's 16th Division, pretending to be Wang Yuying's brigade in an attempt to open up contact with Tao Guang's Ministry, and pretending that our army was fully besieging Tao Guang's main position to lure the enemy to speed up the reinforcements and concentrate the main force and firepower in front of Xikou Village.

Encirclement and annihilated the enemy on the farmland. At about 11 o'clock in the evening, the enemy entered the ambush circle. There was no formation. They swarmed towards Xikou Village and were swallowed up by our strong firepower. In this battle, one division headquarters and two brigade headquarters of the enemy's 63rd Division were completely wiped out.

The 4 regiments totaled 8,100 people. They killed 6,600 people under the enemy Lieutenant General Chen Guangzhong, the division commander, and captured 1,500 people under the enemy brigade commander Li Bojiao. They seized 3 radio stations, 12 mortars, 12 heavy machine guns, 56 light machine guns, rifles, and submachine guns.

, pistols and 6,900 guns, and the rest of the guns were damaged by artillery fire."

"After the battle, in order to extend the transfer time, our department reported to Liu Jianxu in the name of Tao Guang, saying that the Red Army's blocking force was eliminated and 5,000 people under the commander of the Red Army Ninth Army, Luo Binghui, were captured. Our department then withdrew from the battlefield and went to the front line of Jingwu Prefecture to rest and recuperate in hiding.

And implement radio silence. Please apologize to Army Commander Luo Binghui."

"After the troops rested today, they originally planned to carry out a sneak attack on the 43rd Division of the Guangxi Army that was advancing to Yatunbao. Unexpectedly, the enemy suddenly retreated at noon and was covered by aircraft. According to the investigator's report, the 15th Army of the Guangxi Army Xia Wei and the 7th Army of Liao Lei

They all retreated to the north of Guangxi. It is judged that the Gui army already knew that the three divisions of the Hunan army had been completely wiped out."

"The Hunan Army on the northern front only sent cavalry regiments in two groups to Xikou and Xiaoshui to survey the battlefield, and then quickly retreated. The remains of the Hunan Army soldiers were buried and disposed of by the township and security chief."

"Our department sent the fifth battalion, the sixth battalion, and the transport battalion, led by the political commissar Cai Zhong, to secretly set off at 7 o'clock in the evening to escort 4,000 Hunan Army prisoners who were willing to join the Red Army after preliminary education and transformation to the headquarters to replenish the main force. At the same time, they escorted 6 mountain artillery

doors, 24 mortars, 12 heavy machine guns, 100 light machine guns, 15,000 submachine guns, rifles, and pistols, 300 mountain artillery shells, 1,200 mortar shells, 150,000 grenades, and 12,000 heavy machine gun shells.

100,000 rounds of light machine gun ammunition, 1.5 million rounds of 79 bullets, some submachine guns, pistol bullets and 80 other carts of supplies. Please send effective troops quickly along Liping, Majia Tuan to Pingcha, and the new factory line to greet you. Password: Red Army. Return

Order: Victory is certain. The remaining prisoners will be transformed and formed into three combat battalions, 7, 8 and 9, of the 18th Regiment. Those who cannot be transformed will be released."

"Another: Our department has captured enemy division commander Tao Guang, officers below Zhang Liangji and 1,300 lightly wounded Hunan soldiers. It is recommended that the headquarters send people to negotiate with He Jian in exchange for arms and medicine. Otherwise, the culprits will be punished, and the rest of the wounded soldiers will wait until their wounds are over.

Later, he was mobilized to join our army. Liu Yimin, the commander of the 18th Regiment of the 6th Division of the Third Red Army, and Cai Zhong, the political commissar."

After reading the telegram, the whole place fell into silence.

After a while, Mr. Peng said: "Unexpectedly, newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. During the training in Xiyan, they only had more than 1,000 guns, and now they have handed over so many weapons and ammunition. Liu Yimin, well done! 18th Regiment, hero! This is

They are the troops of our 3rd Army Corps. Our 3rd Army Corps should go to greet them and escort the supplies back to the headquarters. I will go back immediately to make arrangements." After that, he turned around and left.

Vice Chairman Zhou said: "Comrade Dehuai, don't be impatient. Let's discuss it later."

President Peng said: "The team has already set off over there. I have to leave quickly. Time is tight. What, could it be that Vice Chairman Zhou doesn't believe in the combat effectiveness of my three armies and is afraid that he won't be able to protect the supplies?"

Without waiting for Vice Chairman Zhou's reply, Commander Lin Biao of the First Army Corps said slowly and softly: "Commander Peng, wait a minute. The Third Army Corps has only arrived in Liping for a short period of time, and many soldiers may not have eaten yet. In this way, can you come up with a

Regiment, I will ask the Second Division to form a regiment under your leadership, and I will go with you to welcome this heroic army."

Dong Zhentang, commander of the Fifth Army Corps, said angrily: "Liu Yimin was the commander of the leading company of our 34th Division, and Cai Zhongyuan was the director of the political department of our 34th Division. I will take the 101st Regiment to go with you."

Luo Binghui, commander of the Ninth Army Corps, said: "This brat Liu Yimin dared to trick me and say that I was captured by Tao Guang. I must personally lead a regiment to seek justice from Cai Zhong."

Seeing the several legion commanders arguing with each other, several central leaders laughed. Bogu said: "Old Mao, what do you think we should do?"

Chairman Mao smiled and said: "You guys are rushing to go, probably because you want to get more supplies and ammunition, and secondly, you are interested in the 4,000 elite Hunan troops. Isn't that right?"

Several legion commanders were embarrassed, but no one said anything.

Chairman Mao added: "I know that since the Long March, all the troops have suffered heavy losses and cannot be replaced. Even if they recruit some new soldiers, they will only be able to make up the number of people in the short term. I think this way, because the 34th Division has returned, the Fifth Army Corps is in the Xiangjiang River.

Bian has also been replenished to a certain extent, so we don’t need men or artillery. We should give priority to replenishing light weapons, ammunition and supplies. The third army in Xiangjiang has lost more than half. Now, although the 18th regiment has returned, the transfer

Returned directly under the Military Commission, 2,000 men were added to the 3rd Army Corps. The 9th Army Corps had many recruits, and the 1st Army Corps suffered heavy losses, so they each added 1,000. It was agreed that these prisoners were only willing to join the Red Army because Liu Yimin held a heart-to-heart talk and complaint activity.

The General Political Department has their report, which is printed and distributed to each legion for reference. If your ideological work cannot keep up, it is difficult to say whether these prisoners will change and become deserters."

Several legion commanders said almost in unison: "We are not afraid."

Chairman Mao then said: "Okay, as long as you say this. As for heavy weapons, the mountain artillery is centralized for use by the artillery battalion of the Central Military Commission. There are 8 mortars each for the first, third, and ninth mortars, 4 each of the 12 heavy machine guns, and 100 light mortars.

There are 20 machine guns for each of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 9th machine gun regiments and the cadre regiment. Other supplies are handled by the central column and distributed uniformly, with priority given to meeting the needs of combat troops.

As for who will lead the team to greet them, I think the leaders of the four main armies should not go. We need to study the current enemy situation and our army's action strategy. It is recommended that Comrade Chen Yun, Comrade Luo Ronghuan and the commander of the Sixth Division, Comrade Cao Lihuai, be sent to lead the team.

Each of the four legions will go to one regiment. If there is an enemy situation on the road, Comrade Cao Lihuai will be in charge of the military. What do you think?"

Several legion commanders looked at each other and said they had no objection.
Chapter completed!