Chapter 68 By the Wujiang River (1)

After a night of marching, the Central Guard Division arrived at Yuqing County at dawn. The First Guard Regiment sent one battalion to the ferry to contact the Third Army Corps. The Fifth Army Corps defended the ferry troops. The other battalions and the second echelon led by Liu Jianli were stationed in Yuqing County to camp.

Prepare to cross the river after dark.

Considering the factors of enemy plane reconnaissance and bombing, the follow-up troops of the Guard Division stopped rushing and camped in villages on both sides of the road leading to the county town in Yuqing.

Seeing that all the troops had entered Yuqing and there were no chasing enemies behind him, Liu Yimin told Chen Dayong, the commander of the third regiment who was responsible for the rear guard, to be more vigilant. After strengthening the alert, he took Li Chengyi's guard company to join Cai Zhong and rushed together.

Yuqing County.

After the two arrived at the county seat, they were relieved to learn that Gaoyuan had sent a battalion to control the ferry and contact the troops on the north bank of Wujiang River.

After taking a short rest, Liu Yimin will rush to the ferry to check the condition of the pontoon in person.

Gao Yuan said: "Commander, you have been traveling all night. Please take a rest. After the first battalion has contacted the third and fifth armies, they will send someone back to report."

Liu Yimin asked: "Who led the first battalion?"

Gao Yuan replied that Zhao Jie, the political commissar of the regiment, was leading the team.

Liu Yimin said: "You stay and camp while the political commissar and I go to the ferry to check the condition of the pontoon." After saying that, he took Cai Zhong and left.

After going out, Cai Zhong said: "Sir, please ride a horse, you can go faster."

Liu Yimin thought about it. It was a pity to leave the means of transportation unused, so he asked Li Chengyi to bring the war horse.

Li Chengyi brought a white horse, and Liu Yimin turned over and was about to get on the horse. Cai Zhong said "Huh", and Liu Yimin hurriedly stopped and asked Cai Zhong what was going on.

Cai Zhong said: "When did the teacher change horses? Why didn't I know?"

Liu Yimin then remembered that his war horse was maroon and this horse was white. He asked Li Chengyi what was going on.

It took Li Chengyi a long time to say: "The division commander's maroon horse was ridden by Tang Xingying, a cadre of the Logistics Department. This horse was assigned to him by the Logistics Department."

Cai Zhong said: "If you play the piano randomly, can anyone ride the commander's horse? Go and get it back from me."

Liu Yimin saw Tang Xingying's shy look in front of his eyes and said, "Forget it, let the girl ride if she likes. Political Commissar, let's go."

The two got on their horses and galloped towards the ferry.

Riding horses on mountain roads is not fast, but it just saves effort. When the two horses were walking side by side, Cai Zhong said: "Commander, there was no reply to the telegram we sent to the Central Revolutionary Military Commission before we set off yesterday!"

Although he had expected this situation, Liu Yimin was still surprised when he heard it. This shows that the Central Revolutionary Military Commission is still unsure about his approach. It seems that when he arrives in Zunyi, he will have to explain and report carefully. He said: "

Don't worry, there will be a call back. We are about to arrive in Zunyi. As long as we arrive in Zunyi and meet with the central leaders, everything can be explained clearly. I believe that the leaders stand higher than us, see further, and will agree with our handling.

There’s a way.”

Cai Zhong added: "You joined the Red Army late. You don't know how terrible it was during the suppression of counter-revolutionaries in the Soviet area. How many comrades who were killed in the hail of bullets were captured inexplicably. What you and Li De said last time in the passage, I

When I found out, I was almost scared to death. If you had been placed in the Soviet Area, you would have been locked up directly that day."

Liu Yimin said: "Didn't I not be locked up? This shows a problem. Their method will not work and people's mentality has changed. You see now, Chairman Mao has actually taken command of the Red Army. In the future, we will leave less

Many detours.”

Cai Zhong said: "I estimate that what you said in the passage will be featured in history in the future. I just can't understand, I have been in the Red Army for so long, how come you, a recruit, dare to say and do things that I

Don’t you dare to say or do it?”

Liu Yimin thought about it seriously and said: "Actually, there is nothing new about what I said. Many Red Army cadres and soldiers have thought of it, but they just don't have the opportunity to say it or dare not say it. This shows that the democratic atmosphere in our party is not strong yet, and everyone's thoughts

There are concerns, but it also shows that the sequelae of the expansion of the suppression of counterrevolutionaries are very serious."

Cai Zhong added: "This time you go to the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee. If you have the opportunity, organize your thoughts and try to speak them out so that they can play a role in the central government's decision-making. You don't know, from the Soviet area to Guizhou,

How many people have we sacrificed, it makes me feel sad when I think about it."

Liu Yimin said: "My time in the Red Army was too short and my qualifications were too low. I would probably just sit in and listen to that kind of occasion. But I can communicate more with the leaders and tell them my ideas. They are all smart people. I say

One, I guess they are not just thinking about three, but at least nine or ten."

Cai Zhong also laughed: "You guys always see things so thoroughly, and you also say it out loud. Haha."

When they arrived at the ferry, Liu Yimin saw that the pontoon bridge was still there. Just as he was about to walk onto the pontoon bridge to take a look at the Wujiang River, he heard Li Chengyi shouting that the enemy plane was coming. When Liu Yimin looked up, he saw an enemy plane hovering in the sky. He thought something was wrong.

This must be an enemy reconnaissance plane, which will soon attract bombers. The pontoon bridge is in danger. Sure enough, the enemy reconnaissance plane flew away quickly. Liu Yimin immediately ordered the first battalion to disperse and hide, organized machine guns to prepare for air shooting, and he also

He asked for a rifle from Li Chengyi, loaded it with ammunition, and prepared to meet the enemy bombers.

Half an hour later, four enemy planes flew in from east to west. They began to shoot and drop bombs on the pontoon bridge. The sound of machine gunfire immediately rang out from the first battalion position. The bullets chased the enemy planes, causing the enemy planes to dodge left and right in the air.

flash.

It can be seen that the firepower on the ground is relatively concentrated. After the enemy planes pulled up, they rushed directly towards the first battalion position. The smoke from the bomb explosion enveloped the first battalion position.

Liu Yimin stood as silently as a mountain with a gun in hand.

Several soldiers from the guard company came up to pull him, but he scolded them all and sent them back.

Listening to the explosions in the 1st Battalion's position, Liu Yimin was anxious. That was his most elite unit, and it was currently resisting tenaciously under the bombardment of enemy planes. He didn't know whether the losses were serious.

The opportunity came. The two enemy planes pulled up after dropping their bombs. Then the pilot saw Liu Yimin standing by the river. He pressed the nose of the plane and dived directly towards him.

Upon seeing this, Cai Zhong and Li Chengyi rushed over desperately, trying to pull Liu Yimin back.

The bullets from the enemy planes hit the dark rocks by the Wujiang River, bursting out strings of sparks. The soldiers of the first company of the guard were all anxiously shouting: "Commander, get down!"

Seeing that Liu Yimin did not move, the soldiers rushed out behind Cai Zhong and Li Chengyi, wanting to protect the division commander with their own flesh and blood.

The speed of airplanes of that era was only 500 to 600 kilometers per hour. When diving downwards, the speed would be faster. The enemy pilot looked at the stupid big man standing on the river motionless, and a group of red bandits ran out from the shore, grinning ferociously.

Once, press the machine gun switch.

At this time, the rifle in Liu Yimin's hand fired, and the bullet hit the pilot's head directly. You could clearly see blood blooming on the pilot's head with the naked eye. The out-of-control plane plunged crookedly into the Wujiang River.

Liu Yimin quickly removed the cartridge case, loaded the cartridge, and aimed at another enemy plane.

Another enemy plane saw its lead plane rushing into the Wujiang River. It was so frightened that it pulled up the nose of the plane and tried to pull up to escape. It was faster, and Liu Yimin was faster. When the gunshot was heard, it hit the enemy plane's fuel tank, and a fireball burst out in the air.

, the enemy plane came with a big explosion in the sky.

The other two enemy planes were bombing and strafing the 1st Battalion's position. When they discovered that two planes had been shot down, they immediately stopped bombing and prepared to pull up to escape. However, one of them was beaten down by the 1st Battalion's machine gun, and only one of them staggered away.

There was a cheer from the shore!

Cai Zhong had already rushed to Liu Yimin when he shot down the second enemy plane. He pulled Liu Yimin and pushed him under him.

Liu Yimin hurriedly said: "Political Commissar, let go quickly, the enemy plane has been shot down."

Cai Zhong looked up and saw that there were really no enemy planes in the sky. He turned around and shouted at Liu Yimin: "What the hell do you call a hero? Don't you know that you are a division commander? Don't you know that you have to fight against more than 10,000 people in the division?"

Are you responsible? I think you are just a new recruit, not worthy of being a division commander at all!"

After scolding and shouting enough, when he looked at Liu Yimin, this guy actually had a smile on his face and showed no sign of misunderstanding. Cai Zhong became angry again, turned around and scolded Li Chengyi: "I think you are a soldier and are stupid, no?"

You know your mission. If something happens to the division commander today, even if you are shot ten times, you will not be able to recover the loss. Don’t be a company commander, be demoted to a soldier, and go to the transport camp to be a groom! The Central Guard Division does not want you who don’t know yourself.

Duty-worthy soldier!"

The scolding made Li Chengyi hang his head and tears fell down.

Liu Yimin smiled and said: "Political Commissar, calm down and stop scolding. I just want to experience the combat characteristics and speed of the enemy's aircraft. Don't worry, as I said, the bullets and artillery shells that can kill me in this world have not been made yet.

"Come on, let's go check on the situation of the First Battalion." He turned around and said to Li Chengyi: "No matter what happens to you, the political commissar is angry, just let it be over. You go organize the troops to hide, the enemy planes will come soon, and

There may be more coming, so let all the soldiers hide and the machine gunners stay." After saying that, he took Cai Zhong to the 1st Battalion's position.

When he arrived at the 1st Battalion's position, Liu Yimin immediately became angry. In a short time, 14 soldiers of the 1st Battalion were sacrificed and 32 were injured. Liu Yimin called the political commissar of the 1st Battalion Zhao Jie and the 1st Battalion Commander Wang Dahu and started training directly:

"What did you two do? How did you practice the air-to-air shooting taught in the passage? The troop casualties were so heavy, which was greater than the loss of the entire Xiaoshui battle to annihilate one enemy division. Wang Dahu, tell me, is it

What's the problem?"

Wang Dahu immediately stood at attention: "Reporting to the division commander, these dozen soldiers who died were all new soldiers who joined the army in Jingwu Prefecture and Qingxi Town, and they have not had time to train tactical movements."

Liu Yimin said: "I won't listen to your explanation, and you don't want to make any excuses. No matter when you join the army, you must first train basic tactical movements when you are assigned to a battalion. The first battalion is the sharp knife of the entire division, at any time, anywhere,

Everyone must be able to complete combat tasks that other troops cannot complete. You can lead the first battalion for me. If you are not able, tell me as soon as possible and I will select a battalion commander from the entire division."

Holding back tears, Wang Dahu stood at attention and saluted: "Reporting to the division commander, I promise to lead the first battalion well. We can charge forward and win at any time and anywhere!"

Liu Yimin then nodded: "Okay! Tell the soldiers, just say what I said. If a battalion wants to be the sharpest sword in the division, it must strengthen training. Only by enduring hardship can it be sharpened into a sharp sword. If a battalion has good combat training,

If we don’t go, if heavy casualties like today happen again, I will give the number of the first battalion to other well-trained battalions, and let the first battalion serve as the recruit training camp for the entire division."

These words made Wang Dahu's lungs almost burst with anger. His eyes widened and he shouted loudly: "Report to the division commander, the first battalion will always be a sharp knife battalion and cannot be a recruit training camp. Just listen!"

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Liu Yimin shouted from behind: "Leave the light machine gun shooter and deputy shooter to me, and you take the soldiers to hide."

Cai Zhong looked on and nodded. Liu Yimin was a born agitator. He could make the cadres and soldiers scream with just a few words. When he was in Xiaoshui, any of his words, whether they were coaxing or coaxing,

Either way, they actually incited so many Hunan Army prisoners to join the Red Army. I heard that on the way from Liping to Zhenyuan, they incited the soldiers of the third battalion to be extremely glorious and proud. Today, they used irony to stimulate the first battalion.

, it is estimated that the first battalion will have to train hard. With this hard work, won’t the combat effectiveness gradually increase?

The more Cai Zhong thought about it, the more he thought Liu Yimin was a powerful guy, so he said, "If you become a political commissar, I guess all of us old political workers will worship you as our teacher."

Liu Yimin sighed: "The troops have been expanded, but the combat effectiveness of the regiment has dropped. Mainly because two battalions have been removed, and there are too many newly added captive soldiers. When we arrive in Zunyi, I want to report to Chairman Mao and Vice Chairman Zhou

, Mr. Zhu mentioned, let’s see if we can create two regiments and exchange the two old red regiments with the first, third and fifth regiments to increase the proportion of old red troops in the army.”
To be continued...