Chapter 2: The Bloody Battle of Dushan Town
Since we shook off the enemy in Tongbai, due to the increasing number of wounded and sick soldiers within our troops, our marching speed gradually slowed down. From the original over 100 miles a day, it has now dropped to around 70-80 miles a day. Although our troop's marching speed has slowed down, the enemy behind us has instead accelerated after entering the plain area. Without the cover of mountainous terrain, our troops became more easily discovered by the enemy. Moreover, because the common people in the plains are relatively wealthy and deeply influenced by the Nationalist Party's education, they regarded us as bandit armies and were unwilling to approach us. In order to obtain supplies, we had no choice but to suppress some of the local tyrants who bullied good people, which led to the villagers turning against us under the pressure of clan forces. As a result, the help we received in these areas became increasingly scarce, and our troops fell into a predicament, losing their "ears" and "noses", just like blind men, always facing extreme danger, many times on the verge of total annihilation! Especially during that encounter battle with the enemy at Dushan Town...
The 25th Red Army, after a long and arduous journey, crossed the Ping-Han Railway and then rushed south through Ping Shi and Biyang to Zhu Ma Dian. After crossing the Ping-Han Railway, the enemy's obstruction and the difficulties of advancing increased continuously, even the political commissar had a worried look every day, and the Nationalist troops had already caught up. Although the political commissar didn't say anything, Gao Quan could still hear the dense gunfire not far from the rushing troops, but he didn't mention it in order to avoid offending the political commissar.
Actually, Gao Quan had already sensed something was off from the number of times they relocated their overnight campsite. Almost every night, they would move two or three times, leaving Gao Quan, as a military and political committee guard, hardly any good sleep. The daytime marches were always in a daze. Seeing all the soldiers looking so listless, Wu Huan, the first political commissar, couldn't help but speak up. Gao Quan, squatting at the corner of the conference room door, quickly fell asleep and only vaguely heard phrases like "Zhengzhou, northwest, mountain, northeast, diverting the enemy..."
The military meeting that lasted less than half an hour ended quickly, and the sound of the wooden door creaking open immediately awakened the dazed Gaoquan. The little guy who woke up immediately stood up with a loud rifle on his back, using his bright red eyes to measure every military and regimental cadre who walked out, with faces full of worry and solemnity. There was also the political commissar in the house who carefully put a very tattered small map into a leather box.
To boost the morale of the troops who had not won a battle for a long time and were feeling low, the military specially held a pre-war rally to boost the morale of the soldiers. The army commander from the central government stood on the huge podium, facing the densely packed soldiers, loudly proclaiming that it was up to the young soldiers below to create a new situation! The simple-minded young men from farming families applauded with all their might, venting their dissatisfaction at just walking and not being able to fight for many days.
The mobilization meeting was held, and the troops with high morale quickly set off, led by the political commissar in front. This is also a major feature and convention of the Hubei-Henan-Anhui base area. After arriving at the mountain northwest of Zhumadian, except for some mobile sentries and fixed sentries who were dispatched, everyone else dispersed to busy themselves with burying pots to cook, or searching for firewood, or tidying up their own troops' overnight campsite! After all, on a mountain where the strong wind was blowing, even iron men couldn't withstand the cold wind that blew through the night.
After carefully drying the slightly damp dry grass with firewood, Gaoquan began to throw fist-sized stones into the bonfire dug under the giant stone. On a windy and cold night, these warm stones and dry grass could give them a good sleep and a comfortable night. Every time he thought of this, Gaoquan couldn't help but think of his robust father, who took him on a wild rabbit chase across the mountains or carried back home those huge wild boars shot with a shotgun. Unconsciously, his eyes became blurry, and the aroma of rice wafting from afar caught his attention again. His stomach growled "gurgling" and Gaoquan couldn't help but pat his uncooperative belly before pulling out an oversized bowl that didn't match his physique from his military backpack! With a face full of expectation, he ran towards Lao Huotou's side.
At this time, a dense gunfire sounded again not far away! Some annoyed Gaoquan looked at the distance with hatred, "Damn it! These white-skinned bastards made us have to eat corn bread that's harder than bricks again tonight!" He tightened his belt and had no choice but to return to his own campsite. Then he put the ancestral porcelain bowl passed down for 18 generations into his small backpack. The long-term war allowed him to pack up his simple belongings in just ten seconds, and then quickly joined the queue of the military guard company, of course, he was also at the very back, a little kid with a huge shotgun case on his back, compared to those brothers in front, this little guy was indeed quite funny! In fact, Gaoquan was also very depressed, because the political commissar, in order to take good care of himself, actually let him return to the guard company, which was truly a nursery, to rest.
Looking at the company commander in front of him who was gathering his troops with a serious face, Gao Quan actually muttered to himself: "Isn't he just two years older than me? If I were sixteen too, I would definitely be the regimental commander by now! Who needs you to lecture me?" This was actually the jealousy in Gao Quan's childish heart at work. Soon after the troops had assembled, they quickly moved out with the provincial committee leaders and staff under their protection.
All the way, the northwest wind was mixed with rain and snow, constantly invading this struggling team. Everyone's face was frozen red and purple, except for the white mist that kept coming out of their mouths. The young and weak children held hands tightly, trying to move forward without adding any burden to the main group. There were no tears, no crying, everyone was holding hands, not leaving anyone behind, because they were a whole! Not abandoning or giving up was the direction they were striving for! Although they are still very small now, no one dares to ignore these little red devils who will surely grow into towering trees in the future!
The heavy snow not only caused the Red Army's advance to be extremely troublesome, but also made the two divisions of the Nationalist Party led by the local still village team lose direction. After losing contact and fire with the Red Army's rear guard troops, they could no longer distinguish which direction the Communist Party's main force had gone. The muddy ground was already a mess on such a stormy day! Everywhere were people's chaotic footprints! Li Tianwater, the commander-in-chief of the pursuing troops, who was furious and resentful, whipped the still village team member who was kneeling down with several horse whips on his foreign horse! As for the reward he had promised earlier, it had long been forgotten in a corner of the Pacific Ocean!
"Damn it, those bastards got away again!" Looking at the vast expanse of misty mountains in front of him, and the stinging rain and snow on his face, as well as the flapping sound of his cloak in the fierce northwestern wind, all of this made Li Tian Shui, a bandit-turned-military-leader who knew when to retreat, feel like calling off the battle. Although he had been led around in circles for several days in the mountains, Li Tian Shui still had a strong interest in the fewer than 3,000 guns not far ahead. A reward of one million dollars was something he couldn't even collect in decades of plundering in these impoverished mountain areas!
At this moment, Li Tian Shui was not worried at all that he would run away, because he had already learned in advance from the telegram that on the only way to go, in Dushan Town, there was an independent brigade and a cavalry regiment under the command of the Henan Provincial Chairman guarding! He, Li Tian Shui, did not need to participate in this matter for now. After the defeat of both sides between him and the provincial chairman's troops, wouldn't it be wonderful to go up and reap the benefits? Moreover, after his own direct troops were damaged, the provincial chairman would have to rely more on him - this provincial chairman who had "promoted" him with one hand?
With a white paper fan, the notorious bandit Li Tian Shui from Yu Dong hid happily in the tent carried by the army and enjoyed himself with the 17th concubine from Qinyang. At the same time, he savored several puffs of authentic Indian Basma tobacco, and in the swirling smoke of the high-quality tobacco, Li Tian Shui seemed to be about to fly away. The concubine before him, with tears shining in her eyes, looked so beautiful and touching...
At this moment, the Red Twenty-Fifth Army, who was completely unaware of the situation, was rushing to Dushan Town in a hurry, searching for a temporary foothold, shaking off the pursuing troops behind them! And drink a few mouthfuls of hot soup, eat a mouthful of hot rice, capture a few brand-new rifles from the local militia and police station, as well as those shiny bullets!
