Chapter 54: The Changde Campaign (I)

  Time flies, and a week quickly passed, the Seventh Legion Headquarters received a telegram from Command.

  "Headquarters has received the latest news that Chen Cheng's unit will launch a winter siege in the near future, with no specific time. Now order Liu Hua to lead the 7th Army Corps to jump to the outer line, active in the Changde area, and disrupt the enemy's siege. The base leaves behind the Second Independent Division of the Second Route Army to guard against the enemy, and the 26th Army Corps also jumps to the outer line, keeping in touch at all times."

  "Commissar, it seems we should take action now. Send a telegram to headquarters and tell them that our department will resolutely complete the tasks assigned by headquarters." Liu Hua said with a smile, holding the telegram and facing the commissar.

  Communications officer, notify the commanders and political commissars of each division to come to the command center for a meeting this afternoon. Having said that, he sat down on the stool and quietly smoked his cigarette.

  Each instructor immediately guessed there was a task as soon as they received the command from headquarters and rushed to headquarters upon receiving the order.

  Soon, the conference room was filled with all the cadres of the seven military divisions. Liu Hua brought the political commissar to the conference room and first listened to the training situation of each unit over the past week. Upon learning that the three main force divisions had reached full strength and their combat effectiveness had been greatly improved, the three commanders were extremely delighted.

  Liu Hua and Zheng Wei separately gave some affirmation to the work of this period, and immediately entered the topic. Liu Hua asked Zheng Wei to make a general announcement about the telegram from the command center. The cadres below immediately showed a eager expression, all staring at Liu Hua.

  "Alright, you all know about General He's telegram, haha, don't look at me, everyone has a task." Liu Hua couldn't help but laugh. Immediately below, everyone burst into laughter.

  "Alright, everyone be serious." Political Commissar Guan reminded them hastily.

  "Now let me say that our goal for this external operation is Changde County, okay, now let Commissar Guan arrange the combat mission." Liu Hua looked at Guan Xiangying.

  "Comrades, our goal this time is Changde County Town. The army's intention is to capture Changde County Town. According to intelligence, Changde County Town is the logistics base of the Central Army's Xue Yue's three divisions. Currently, there are three enemy divisions stationed in Changde County Town, waiting for Chen Cheng's order to launch a winter siege against us at any time."

  "This time we will attack the county town after the enemy army leaves, and strive to get all the materials in the county town. Thoroughly disrupt the enemy's rear, making it impossible for them to normally surround our base."

  "I hereby order: The division, the brigade headquarters gets the reconnaissance battalion, the guard battalion sniper company as the vanguard of the entire division, the brigade commander follows the vanguard to act, the target is near Shimen Bridge next to Changde County, hiding and waiting."

  Second Master, the Logistics Department followed as the central army of the whole army, with Political Commissar and Director Li.

  As the rear guard of the entire army, we must rush to the vicinity of Chang and hide in ambush within two days. All radios of each division will be turned on and kept in contact at all times. Departure is tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock. Each unit must strictly keep its route secret and not expose itself. Did you hear that clearly?

  Yes

  The next morning, all troops began to move in an orderly manner towards Changde County. By the second morning, Taoyuan County was already empty and deserted.

  Liu Hua led a division that had already left the county town. In order to achieve the effect of a surprise attack, the entire reconnaissance camp was dispatched, and all troops took rural roads, avoiding main roads. All people encountered along the way were forcibly conscripted by the troops to prevent the news from being leaked.

  After two days of daytime hiding and nighttime marching, the troops hid in a big mountain 10 miles away from Changde. Liu Hua received telegrams from the Second Division and the Third Division, knowing that the troops would arrive tonight to gather, so he directly ordered the reconnaissance battalion to take all the remaining radio stations of the army division to hide on the outskirts of the county town for reconnaissance, reporting the enemy situation in Changde County at any time.

  Chen Cheng was now in his command headquarters, furious because of the frequent attacks by He Long's troops during this period. Although his own troops' losses were not particularly heavy, their material losses were extremely severe. Thinking that he had just taken office and had not yet acted, he had already suffered losses without cause. Every day, Chen Cheng urged each unit to speed up their march and hurry to the attack position to avenge this injustice.

  "Commander-in-Chief, all troops are in position and awaiting your order to launch a winter annihilation campaign against the Communist Army." The Chief of Staff walked over with a telegram.

  "Alright, now we can finally get rid of He Long. Order the troops to set out early tomorrow morning and start encircling and annihilating the Communist Army according to plan, advancing step by step, beware of ambushes." After finishing speaking, Chen Cheng lay back in his chair and let out a sigh of relief. Now it's your turn to suffer, He Long, Chen Cheng thought to himself.

  Finally, on that evening, all the troops of the Seventh Legion hid themselves, and the three main officers gathered together to discuss their next move.

  "Regimental commander, political commissar, reconnaissance battalion sent a telegram." The communications staff officer rushed into the command center.

  "Commissar, good news! The troops in Changde County have begun to assemble. My chance has finally come." Liu Hua smiled as he looked at the telegram in his hand.

  "Send a message to the reconnaissance battalion and let them continue their reconnaissance." Liu Hua continued.

  "Director of the Legion, now it's time for us three to discuss our division of labor," said Political Commissar Guang, responding to Liu Hua.

  "Well, Commissar, I'll attack the county town, you lead the troops to reinforce, and Director Li will be in charge of the rear support. How's that?" Liu Hua said after a moment.

  "I think it's possible, there is only one road between Changde County and the base area. I'll take two regiments to block the enemy, you use the rest to attack the city, I believe Changde County will definitely leave a large number of troops to defend." The political commissar looked at Liu Hua.

  "It won't work." Liu Hua was the first to object.

  "Two battalions are too few, Commissar. You take the Second Division to block the enemy's possible reinforcements. The replenishment of our troops is getting more and more difficult. We must minimize casualties and not engage in a fierce battle. You're also familiar with the Second Division. The remaining two divisions will attack the city."

  "I agree." said Director Li. And so, the three of them divided up the work.

  At this time, the three divisions in Changde County had all assembled, except for two brigades left behind to defend the city. Under Xue Yue's command, a column consisting of more than two divisions began to move out of the city, heading straight for the Sangzhi area.

  Xue Yue's position in the Nationalist army was extremely high, due to his long-term battles against the Red Army, he was extremely familiar with their tactics. Along the way, they marched with extreme caution, sending out countless scouts and gathering all troops into a tight formation, with all supplies concentrated in the central army. With this, Xue Yue confidently advanced towards the Sangzhi area.

  Liu Hua and others who had been anxiously waiting at the command post finally received the telegram from the reconnaissance battalion.

  "Signalman, order each division commander to come to a meeting." Looking at the telegram in his hand, Liu Hua shouted excitedly.

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