Chapter 29: Mobilizing the Enemy's Army 2

  Chen Haisong returned to the table and sat down, beckoning everyone else to sit down as well. After collecting his thoughts, he said: "The only one who can stop Ma Bufang's army from advancing now is Ma Bufang himself."

  Why does Ma Bufang want to fight? How does he want to fight? What factors are constraining him from fighting like this? We need to grasp Ma Bufang's mindset and think of a way.

  He was so enthusiastic about surrounding and annihilating the Red Army, showing great enthusiasm, in fact, he just wanted to rely on Chiang Kai-shek's big tree, legitimize his warlord status, give him military pay, grain, ammunition, and troop numbers.

  Chiang Kai-shek has always been keen on annihilating the Red Army at all costs, and recently he borrowed money to equip several dozen German-armed divisions, replacing a large number of old weapons. Ma Bufang also wants to get some, in order to expand his own strength.

  He can't just stick his own capital in there either, he's also worried about the huge losses ahead, which gives us an opportunity.

  We put forward the following suggestions to Ma Bufang's frontline command:

  The Red Bandits' plan to march south has been completely foiled, and they have regrouped in the Ni Family Camp area, where over 10,000 of their main forces have been heavily surrounded.

  But the bandits relied on the village stronghold, their will to fight was still strong, forming a crossfire and supporting each other. The Ma Yulong regiment of our army was well-equipped and well-trained but also suffered heavy casualties in the attack. Other militia units suffered even greater losses, and food and ammunition were consumed extremely quickly, making it difficult to take down.

  Today is bitterly cold and the ground is frozen, making it difficult to supply. Forcing an attack will only increase casualties and be detrimental to the group.

  The department thinks that the current strategy of besieging but not attacking the enemy of the Ni family is better. As long as we besiege them for a month, the Red Bandits will be forced to break through due to hunger and cold. Our troops have been well-prepared and have sufficient food and ammunition, and we must be able to annihilate them in a field battle.

  At the same time, I humbly request that the government take pity on the brave soldiers who are sleeping in the wind and dew, and quickly allocate military expenses, food, ammunition, medicine, clothing, especially when attacking villages and strongholds, the effect of trench mortars is very small, please send large-caliber mountain cannons to assist in the suppression.

  Currently, various troops are exhausted from prolonged battles, it is advisable to have them take turns coming to Zhangye for reorganization and rest. The plan is to prioritize equipping the 100th Division with the Type B equipment brought by the Central Government, then reinforce the 5th Cavalry Division with the replaced equipment, and finally supplement the militia troops with the remaining equipment.

  "If possible, please dispatch another division of troops as reinforcements."

  Chen Haisong spoke very slowly, carefully choosing his words, and the people around him listened more clearly, and the more they listened, the greater the possibility seemed.

  When Chen Haisheng finished speaking, Liu Gang also finished writing. Chen Haisheng took it over and read it carefully again.

  Tell Zhang Zhenyu: "This is a delaying tactic, and also a linked tactic. The goal is to let Ma Bufang agree to temporarily surround the front line without fighting, while hanging up Ma Bufang's greed."

  Only when the Red Army exists does he have utilitarian value, and only when the Red Army is difficult to fight can new equipment be obtained.

  We can mobilize the enemy's troops in the south to Zhangye under the pretext of rotating troops, disarm and capture them, and then our troops will advance to the front line step by step under their banner. Take the opportunity to contact the main force, transport supplies, and when the time is ripe, break through the encirclement and annihilate Ma's bandit army.

  "And the supplies we've just received can also be used as replenishment for our troops. What do you think, is this feasible?"

  Zhang Zhenyu excitedly said: "This plan is wonderful, this plan is wonderful. If it can develop according to the political commissar's thinking, that would be the best result. It's just unknown whether Ma Bufang will fall for it." "Yes!"

  Chen Haisong looked at his excited and somewhat worried comrades whispering to each other, and couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

  The Fourth Field Army had been a heroic and fearless combat unit since the Huangmeng Uprising, but it was also one of the hardest-hit areas in the expansion of the Campaign to Suppress Counterrevolutionaries.

  Especially after Zhang Guotao took the lead, in order to eliminate dissidents and establish personal absolute authority, many founders of the E Yu Wan Su area and important military and political leaders were framed, misjudged and wrongly killed.

  The rights of the Guards Bureau override those of all levels of Party committees; one careless word could result in dismissal, punishment or execution.

  Baijiayuan was even more terrifying, with its ruthlessness towards comrades, the viciousness of its methods and the shocking reasons it gave. Even the wives of Comrades Xu Xiangqian, Zhou Weizhong, Zeng Zhongsheng and Xu Xiangqian were killed.

  Nearly three thousand military and local leaders were killed on various fabricated charges, causing everyone to be in a state of panic.

  Gradually, commanders at all levels lost their ability to think independently and flexibly apply tactics, completely following the deployment of their superiors.

  Zhang Guotao was domineering and arrogant, with great personal ambition, but also had some talent and vision. He led his troops in battles across Hubei, Henan, Anhui, southern Shaanxi, and Sichuan, fighting many tough and major battles.

  Tens of thousands of people launched a strong attack, fortunately the troops executed the order decisively, and the brave generals were like clouds, such as Wang Shuyuan, Chen Zaidao, Wang Hongkun, Chen Xilian, Xu Shiyou, Sun Yuqing, Chen Haisong, Cheng Shicai, Li Xiannian, Xiong Houfa, Liu Liyun, Zheng Weishan, Du Yide and others who were good at attacking and defending, the soldiers' style was strong and stubborn, and they managed to develop the Fourth Red Army into a main force of tens of thousands of troops.

  The officers and soldiers of the Fourth Red Army were both afraid of and loved Chairman Zhang, they hated him yet admired him, it was very contradictory.

  In April and May 1937, the Northern Shaanxi region carried out a campaign against Zhang Guotao's line. Many cadres of the Fourth Red Army were not enthusiastic and some resisted, eventually leading to an incident where Xu Shiyou prepared to instigate some leaders of the Fourth Red Army to return to Sichuan.

  At this time, looking at the expressions of his subordinates, Chen Haisong felt that he must establish an independent and victorious mindset from a ideological perspective, build a comprehensive grasp of the battlefield situation thinking mode, adhere to the principle of preserving himself and annihilating the enemy, and form a tactical characteristic of taking the initiative, mobilizing the enemy, and being flexible and mobile.

  Staff officers must have independent thinking, and commanders at all levels must have the courage and ability to make timely decisions.

  The cadres' military command training at night was just an opportunity.

  Everyone except for worrying about Ma Bu Fang's uncooperativeness, had nothing to add and just said: "There is no guaranteed successful strategy, but once there is a strategy, it must be implemented. At the very least, it can affect the enemy's judgment."

  Then, according to the changing situation on the battlefield, continuously mislead the enemy, and gradually lead the enemy's thinking onto our own thinking. The key is that one's own strategy must truly move the enemy, making him feel that this approach is the most effective.

  We staff members must not only stare at the map, but also pay attention to the movements and desires of the enemy outside the map, as well as their contradictions, so that we can take advantage of them.

  "You guys say it is or isn't?"

  Arrange the radio station to send out the telegram in the name of Ma Yuanhai, the commander-in-chief of the Ma Jiajun Front Command. The staff at the command post immediately began to formulate various contingency plans for possible changes in this telegram.

  Chen Haisong came to the Political Department's Guard Section to find Section Chief Song Jianping and Officer Zhao Qirui, asking if there were any enemy agent activities in the city. Both of them indicated that none had been discovered at present.

  Zhangye is the strategic rear of the enemy, has always been under the control of Ma's army, with all its strength on the surface, easy to screen out, key figures have been arrested, having little impact on our military's covert operations.

  He also asked if there were any underground organizations of our party in the city, and the answer was that none had been found. Because our army is still operating under the banner of the Luhuomin militia, the city has added the Second Public Security Division to the 600th Regiment, and even if there are underground organizations, they will not openly show their faces.

  Chen Haisong asked about the question of Guo Xishan, Song Jianping said firmly: "Betrayal of the revolution, surrendering to the enemy on the battlefield, causing ideological confusion among the 14th Division troops at that time, triggering panic and wavering on the front line, directly responsible for the loss of Linze."

  Many comrades of the 14th Division who were captured at the same time as us hated him very much.

  I think it is necessary to enforce party discipline and battlefield discipline, execute by firing squad."

  Chen Haisong asked Zhao Qirui's opinion, and after being publicly criticized by Chen Haisong last time, he was arranged to work in the Security Division as a cadre. He felt that this big leader was very dissatisfied with the anti-reactionary campaign and was full of distrust towards the people in the Security Bureau.

  Although the work of reviewing cadres and checking the ideology of troops has not yet stopped, if any potential hidden dangers are found within the troops, they can only be reported to the Political Department. It is strictly forbidden to arrest people without the agreement of higher-level political organs, and it is even more forbidden to beat or coerce confessions.

  He had once felt that he would never see the light of day again, but along the way, the soldiers' refreshed and new spiritual outlook, as well as the harmonious and relaxed internal environment, also deeply moved him, and his thoughts were no longer so extreme.

  Chen Haisong listened and humbly expressed his opinion: "I agree with Comrade Song's handling of the matter, party discipline and military rules do not allow for violation."

  "How to deal with him, who will deal with him and in what form needs careful study."

  He looked at Chen Haisong listening very seriously and continued: "Guo Xishan was an old northwest army personnel who followed Dong Junlong to participate in the Ningdu Uprising. He often talked about food and clothing, had many complaints about the hardships of struggle, and was also very rude to his subordinates, with a very serious warlord mentality, so his betrayal has ideological basis."

  He was a regimental officer of the Red Fifth Army, and according to regulations, he should be tried by a military tribunal at or above the army level, and the execution must be approved by the party committee at or above the army level.

  We are at the division level and should not have the qualification to try him.

  In terms of trial form, the public trial meeting has a great influence and good educational effect, but it can also bring negative impact, affecting the image of the party and the military. The court trial has a small impact, but we don't have specialized military judges.

  "So, I suggest that he be temporarily detained for reflection. After the meeting with the headquarters, report to the headquarters leadership for approval and then have him tried by the military court of the headquarters."

  Chen Haisong nodded in agreement with his suggestion and let him be responsible for communicating with Guo Xishan, no need to interrogate, just listen to his mindset when he defected, why he had such a mindset, and what his current mindset is, striving to get him to write a written self-reflection material, as a negative teaching material.

  Chen Haisong asked Song Jianping to conduct a secret investigation on Zhangye City's West Iron Workshop, Yongxiang Fireworks Workshop and Baoxing Warehouse, especially to clarify the origin of Baoxing Warehouse and its personnel.

  Get a basic understanding of Song Chengde's situation, and at the same time, get a clear picture of the scale of industry and commerce in Zhangyecity, how many can provide services for the troops, such as clothing factories, blacksmith shops, firecracker factories, hospitals.

  Understand the situation of teachers who have studied in Japan or can speak Japanese in each school.