Chapter 58: The Great Victory at Qingxi Town (Part 1)

  In the distant place of Xiangxi, Huitong and Dongnan three areas five counties are connected. Anciently known as "Shu Yan Datan Creek Cave", belonging to "Gui Fang". In the 30th year of Qin Zhao Wang, a county was established, and in the first year of Song Shao Ding, it was renamed Zhenyuan Prefecture.

  Zhenyuan is the political, economic and cultural center of the eastern region. Outside the city, on the mountain, there are ancient Great Walls of Miao Ling guarding the urban area. Inside the city, there are eight grand guild halls built during the prosperous period of Ming and Qing dynasties, such as "Two Lakes", "Jiangxi", "Sichuan" and "Qin Jin". There are also twelve opera houses, including "Wanshou Palace West Building", "Dongyue Temple Opera House", "Huoshen Temple Opera House" and "Beiji Palace Opera House". Wu Jingzi, a famous writer of the Ming Dynasty, called Zhenyuan "the land of song and dance". The city's layout is like a Tai Chi diagram, with "winding paths and secluded doors" connecting stone slabs, brick and tile buildings, forming a Jiangnan water town with four-sided courtyards and wooden hanging foot buildings, making the ancient city more peaceful and simple.

  Zhenyuan's business is very developed, and it can be said that it is the material distribution center of Xiangxiang Province. Rich merchants gather here, and luxurious mansions are densely packed. The old saying "Zhenyuan Street, people crowded, carrying pottery jars were smashed, carrying tung oil couldn't get out of the city" has become a footnote to Zhenyuan's prosperity.

  Zhenyuan is also the birthplace of China's modern heavy industry. In the late Qing dynasty, the "Westernization Movement" emerged, and Zhang Zhidong and Li Hongzhang built China's first steel mill, Qingxi Iron Factory, in Zhenyuan, producing the "Tianzi No." steel ingot which was stored in Zhenyuan.

  Zhenyuan is also a transportation hub and military strategic location from Hunan to Guizhou and Yunnan, with land routes connecting directly to Guizhou and waterways via the Wuyang River flowing directly into Dongting Lake. It has been known as "Chu's Lock and Key", "Xiang's Throat" and "Eastern Heavy Town". Many ancient people have said that "to connect with Yunnan and Guizhou, one must first guard Zhenyuan" and "whoever occupies Zhenyuan will control Chu". In the late Southern Song Dynasty, the Mongol army and the Song army fought here for many years. Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang's expedition to Yunnan also made this place a key point. To this day, the Four Officials' Temple in the county seat still worships the four famous generals Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Lian Po and Li Mu, testifying to Zhenyuan's history of prospering from military campaigns and developing its city due to military activities.

  Historically, Zhenyuan was the place where Jingchu entered Yelang and abandoned his boat to go ashore. It was also a shortcut and must-pass place for the capital city to interact with the southwestern border and countries such as Annan, Burma, Siam, and India, earning it the reputation of "Southern Silk Road". Indian Prime Minister Nehru had followed his master to Zhenyuan's Qinglong Cave to lecture on scriptures and study when he was young, leaving a very good impression.

  At noon on January 1, Liu Yiming led the Central Guard Regiment of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army to garrison Zhenyuan.

  At this time, the sky is cold and the earth is frozen. The ancient city is dressed in silver and wrapped in white, looking like a fairy tale world, exceptionally charming.

  As soon as Liu stepped into the temporary division headquarters of his organization, Liu reported that the radio station had been set up and contact had been made with the Central Revolutionary Military Commission. According to a report from the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, the Third Red Army Corps had crossed the Wujiang River and controlled the Wujiang line; the Sixth Regiment of the Second Red Division had successfully raided Zunyi, annihilating the main force of Hou's brigade, and Hou himself had escaped to Tongzi, with the Second Red Division already controlling the strategic Loushan Pass. The First Red Division and Fifteenth Division had captured Renhuai, while the Ninth Red Army Corps had captured Meitan and was advancing towards Suiyang.

  Liu Yimin recalled that in history, the Red Army had captured Zunyi by giving each captive three silver dollars to cooperate with the Red Army and open the city gate. He estimated that this time would be similar. Liu Bocheng, known as "the Sun Wu of the current era", was good at using clever tactics and surprise attacks, and it was natural for him to take down a small place like Zunyi as the frontline commander. Thinking of Marshal Liu Bocheng's majestic demeanor in history, Liu Yimin couldn't help but smile slightly.

  Cai Zhong saw Liu Yimin's smiling face but he didn't say a word, so he knew this guy was daydreaming again. He asked Liu Jianli: "Is there any intelligence on Xue Yue's troops?"

  Liu Jianzhang said: "The Central Revolutionary Military Commission has cracked the cipher of Xue Yue's radio station and informed He Xinghua. Currently, the vanguard troops of Xue's 93rd Division and 54th Division are stuck in Yushan County due to heavy snow, while the main force is still in Xinhuang."

  Here is the translation:

  "Alright. Liu Yimin heard it. He raised his head and said to Liu Jianli: "Order the troops to take a rest as soon as possible. Arrange personnel to purchase or organize the masses to sew cotton boots. It's best to see if there are leather boots. Contact Hu Lao Hu and let him pay attention to the safety of the march. Order the reconnaissance company to focus on reconnaissance of the Qingxi terrain."

  The troops set out at night."

  Liu Jianzhi said: "Looking at the current weather and road conditions, Xue Yue's troops should wait for better road conditions before taking action. Can we consider letting the troops spend the night here?"

  Cai Zhong, Li Qing Wu Zheng and the team leaders and political commissars were all staring at Liu Yimin with eager eyes.

  Liu Yimin stared at Liu Jianzhang: "Don't take Xue Yue as Wang Jialie. Nor should the Central Army be taken for the Guizhou Army. Not all local warlords and troops are soft persimmons, cowardly eggs. If that's the case, the Red Army wouldn't have to come from Jiangxi to Guizhou."

  Looking at Liu Jian's red face and thick neck, he couldn't get down. Liu Yimin said again: "The Chief of Staff's consideration is not bad in itself, and everyone may also have this idea, after all, the troops have traveled hundreds of miles, and they are really too tired. However, let's think about it, our Red Army has occupied Zunyi, which is the second largest city in Guizhou. Going north can head towards Chongqing, going west can enter southern Sichuan, and even rely on the natural dangers of the Wujiang River and the northern mountains of Guizhou to establish a foothold in the north. Wang Jialie was deceived, Chiang Kai-shek was also deceived, and the various lords of Sichuan were disappointed that the Red Army's idea of moving had come to nothing. Everyone says, can Chiang Kai-shek sit still? Can Xue Yue sit still? Can Liu Xiang sit still? Can Wang Jialie sit still?

  The cadres were silent as cicadas in autumn.

  After a pause, Liu Yimin said: "It is possible that some comrades think that after the Battle of Xiangjiang, we defeated the Xiang Army and Gui Army at Xiaoshui and Xikou, and they retreated. Our army was invincible, and in just a few days, our Red Army swept across the southeast, and our strategic situation has clearly improved. This statement is reasonable, and in the short term, our situation has indeed improved a lot. However, the passive situation of the Red Army being surrounded and blocked has not fundamentally changed, and we are still in danger. Chiang Kai-shek is now gathering his forces to attack Guizhou. If we relax even slightly, let alone others, even the Xiang Army and Gui Army that we have taught a lesson will come at us from behind. Of course, they won't be able to fight as desperately as they did in the Battle of Xiangjiang, but if we want to turn back eastward, will they let us pass?"

  Liu Yimin spoke more and more urgently: "After our Red Army left the Soviet area, we had no base, food and ammunition supplies came from confiscation, and personnel replenishment mainly relied on captured enemies and new recruits. And what about the enemy? They have sufficient material supplies, and with the cooperation of local governments and reactionary militias, their personnel replenishment is endless. Maybe everyone doesn't know that the 3rd Division of the Hunan Army we eliminated has already been rebuilt, and it won't take long before they can be brought onto the battlefield. In Sichuan, adjacent to Zunyi, Liu Xiang and several warlords have only 200,000 to 300,000 regular troops, but they can quickly assemble more troops based on their backbone forces.

  We have strong men, we have military officers to lead us, we have food, and we have weapons. But if our main force, the Wan Hong Army, loses one man, it will be one man less. We cannot afford to lose, we cannot afford to fail!

  Looking at the cadres who were all deep in thought, savoring their own words, Liu Yimin felt that he had already achieved his goal. He changed his tone and said: "Only by eliminating Xue Yue's troops or severely damaging them can we bring down the Central Army's arrogant momentum, thereby intimidating the Sichuan army and other local warlords who want to take advantage of our misfortune and make a move against us, making them fearful of the Red Army. This will allow us to clear the way for our northward march against Japan. Therefore, our army must launch a surprise attack, fight quickly and strike swiftly, ending the battle before Xue Yue can react, leaving his troops no time to deploy, planes unable to find bombing targets, and artillery unable to find firing positions. Only in this way can we defeat the enemy with fewer numbers, overcome them with weakness, eliminate the enemy, and expand the Red Army."

  When Liu Yimin was about to finish, Cai Zhong interrupted and said: "Everyone must carefully understand the words of our superiors. I think that our superior has basically clarified the current situation of our Red Army, the enemy's strategic deployment, and the principles of this battle. Each regiment should convey it to cadres above the rank of squad leader. Director Li, please organize the speech of our superior and also organize the speech of our superior in the Tongdao area, print and distribute it for cadres and soldiers to study. Today's speech is titled 'Comrade Liu Yimin, Commander of the Central Guard Regiment, talks with cadres above the regiment level', copy and report to the Military Commission of the Central Revolutionary Committee and leaders Mao, Zhou, Zhang, Bo, Zhu, Wang, etc., and ask them to review it."

  After listening to Cai's words, the cadres all nodded in agreement. No one questioned Cai's arrangement of the central leadership positions because during the communication, the content of Liu Yimin and Sidorov's conversation had already spread widely among the Red Army troops. At the founding meeting of the Central Guard Regiment, Liu Yimin clearly stated the tasks of the Central Guard Regiment: to safeguard the Party Central Committee, to safeguard Chairman Mao, and to defeat all enemies. Therefore, from Cai on down, the officers and soldiers of the Guard Regiment had long regarded Chairman Mao as the commander-in-chief of the Red Army.

  Liu Yimin's emotions calmed down, and he smiled: "Commissar, you're being too serious, aren't you? This isn't going to make me unable to speak in the future, is it?"

  Tsai Chung said seriously: "No, I have organized your several speeches, including the coach's tactical movements and the speech to mobilize the prisoners. The more I think about it, the more I feel that what you say is right. There is a new kind of military thinking in this. This idea was not taught at Whampoa Military Academy, and the Red Army University also lectured very little on it. It is especially suitable for the current Red Army's warfare. We should organize it and let our cadres and soldiers study it, so as to bring everyone up."

  Liu Yimin smiled again, this time beaming with joy, making the cadres feel that their leader's mood had really improved.

  After laughing, Liu Yimin said: "Everyone will return and arrange for the troops to rest immediately. Prepare more cold-proof materials and camouflage materials such as white cloth. The engineering battalion should collect explosives in Zhenyuan, where the industrial foundation is good, and can manufacture more landmines and explosive packs. The field medical station should rush to collect medicines and emergency supplies. Do you all understand?"

  The cadres replied in unison: "Understood!"

  Liu Yimin waved his hand: "The leaders of the engineering battalion and artillery battalion stay behind, while the rest of you carry out your tasks separately."

  After the team leaders and political commissars left, Liu Yimin called Zeng Zhao again. He told Zeng Zhao and Lei Ming how to manufacture "cruel cannons", how to calculate the amount of medicine used for launching "cruel cannons", how to measure the distance and direction of launching "cruel cannons", and how to aim and prevent cannon explosions. After listening, both of them were shocked. Especially Zeng Zhao, who kept asking Liu Yimin how he came up with this method.

  Liu Yimin said that he was inspired by the experience of setting off firecrackers at home when he was a child. He had been thinking about how to make up for the Red Army's lack of firepower these days, and thought of trying it this way. The conditions were not met in Tongdao County and Jingzhou, but after arriving in Zhenyuan, he saw that transportation was busy and there was a certain industrial foundation, so he wanted to try it out and see if Zeng Zuo's skills would work.

  Zeng Zhao didn't say another word and pulled Li Chang to run away immediately.

  After the two men left, Liu Yimin asked He Mingliang if he knew how to make landmines. He Mingliang replied that he did, but now there were no factories or workshops, so they couldn't be made. Liu Yimin said it was possible to make them without a factory. He Mingliang didn't understand how they could be made without a factory, tools, or materials. Liu Yimin then said, "There must be a lot of explosives here. You collect the ceramic jars and vats from the villagers, fill them with explosives, add some iron nails inside, install a detonator, and it's done!"

  He Mingliang scratched his head, regretfully saying: "Why am I so stupid? If I had thought of this method earlier, when the White Dog Troupe was attacking the Soviet Area, if we had just buried some on the road, how many enemies could have been blown up?"

  Just as He Mingliang was about to leave, Liu Yimin stopped him again and asked if he knew how to detonate explosive packs from a distance. He Mingliang said he did, but they didn't have any explosives. Liu Yimin told him that there were many mines in Zhenyuan, so there must be explosive packs, and many electric wires too - he should hurry up and collect as many as possible. If he didn't understand something, he could ask Zeng Zhao, who would definitely know. However, he was to tell Zeng Zhao that any engineers or technicians they found, regardless of what they did, were all to be mobilized to join the Red Army. They could promise them some economic compensation, such as resettlement fees and so on.

  He Mingliang left. Liu Yimin turned around and saw that Cai Zhong and several other division-level cadres were waiting for him in the house, so he asked why they didn't go to sleep, as they would be departing at night.

  Li Qing said: "I am thinking about how many troops Xue Yue can lose this time."

  Liu Yimin smiled and said: "It depends on whether Xue Yue cooperates or not. It may be a regiment, a division, or even two divisions. If there are more, I estimate that Xue Yue will not be willing to give up. However, being unwilling this time does not mean he will be unwilling next time. In my opinion, if he doesn't stop pursuing and attacking, it's likely that the eight divisions he brought will have a hard time going back. As long as the main force of the Red Army can rest in Zunyi for a while, recover their energy, Chairman Mao's momentum is much greater than mine, that's truly a big move!"

  Several people were fooled by him. Liu Yimin suddenly remembered that he had not asked about the spoils in Zhenyuan, so he asked Liu Jianliang how the spoils were. Liu Jianliang said that there was no time to collect any spoils, and the Red Ninth Army did not stay in Zhenyuan County, only the vanguard troops attacked and then received orders to leave. So the county magistrate, militia commander, police chief, and tax bureau chief of Zhenyuan did not escape far, seeing the Red Army leave, they all came back. Everyone was caught, radio stations and telephones were controlled, but there was no time for interrogation.

  Liu Yimin immediately said: "This can't be done, must be interrogated immediately. Here is richer than Tongdao, and the benefits are definitely greater. In this way, Old Wu will stay behind, bring the three companies of the logistics battalion to dig up floating wealth here, mobilize the masses to expand the red."

  Wu Zheng immediately said: "Report to the superior, last time in Xikou battle, I followed orders to escort prisoners and supplies, but the cadres and soldiers of the supply camp were very dissatisfied. This time no matter what is said, I will go to the front line. I won't stay behind, even if it's just a logistics company."

  Line.

  Liu Yimin said: "Comrade Political Commissar, you arrange it."

  Cai Zhong immediately looked at Liu Jianli and Li Qing's faces. Before he could speak, Liu Jianli said: "I'm the chief of staff, I have to go to the front line, no need to look at me."

  Li Qing said: "It's easy to fight other troops, but fighting Xue Yue's Central Army, I must go, and also lead the troops to charge directly."

  Cai Zhong had no choice but to say to Liu Yimin: "Everyone has expressed their opinions, you decide."

  Liu Yimin said, "Since we're all going, we might as well lock up those guys and their families first and leave a brigade to guard them. Chief of Staff, notify Ji Fengnian of the 7th Battalion of the 3rd Regiment to lead a company to stay behind and interrogate prisoners, dig up hidden wealth, mobilize the masses, and find talented people."

  Cai Zhong said: "Let's stay in the new barracks, Qifengnianlian is the main force, good steel is used on the blade. (Computer ??)"

  Liu Yimin said: "Qifengnian did a good job last time in guarding the passage. But what the political commissar said is also right. So, let's leave one company of the guard battalion to continue guarding and strengthen our firepower. The new recruits must go to the front line; several months of training are not as valuable as one actual combat test. Let the chief of staff make arrangements. We'll take a rest for now, dismissed."

  It wasn't until then that they went their separate ways to sleep.

  Wang Jialie did not know about the fall of Wujing and Zunyi until he received a report from Wan Shiwei.

  On the morning of the 1st, after a regiment of Wan Xianguo's division was annihilated by the Red Fifth Army Corps' 34th Division, the regimental commander fled. The guy was quite clever and didn't dare to take the main road, so he crossed mountains and ridges back to Mei Tan. Just as he had finished reporting the annihilation of his troops to Wan Xianguo, the vanguard of the Red Ninth Army Corps arrived at the south gate of Mei Tan County.

  Wan Shiying knew that the Red Army had broken through Wujing and was approaching, so he didn't have time to investigate the responsibility of the unlucky regiment commander or report to Wang Jialie. He hastily led his troops in retreat. Originally, they were retreating towards Zunyi, planning to join forces with Hou Zhidao to defend Zunyi together. However, just as they were approaching Zunyi, they discovered that the Red Army was rapidly advancing on multiple fronts towards Zunyi. Wan Shiying knew that relying on Hou Zhidao's cowardly nature, it would be impossible to hold onto Zunyi, and if he entered the city, it would be like a sheep entering a tiger's den. He quickly turned his troops around to retreat towards Suiyang. Halfway there, they received news that Zunyi had fallen and Hou Zhidao's main forces had been annihilated.

  After much difficulty, on the 22nd morning, they ran to the Suining County border and found that the main force of the Red Ninth Army had caught up again. With no other choice, they turned towards Tongzi. It wasn't until 10 o'clock in the evening that Wan Xiying felt like he had temporarily shaken off the Red Army's pursuit, so he hastily reported to his uncle Wang Jialie in Guiyang about the loss of Wujiang, Zunyi and Loushanguan.

  The first feeling Wang Jialei had after receiving the report was that it was impossible. The main forces of the Red Army's First and Third Corps were still in Fuquan and Kaiyang two days ago, how could they suddenly appear in Zunyi? It was simply nonsense. The second feeling was that he had been deceived. How cunning the Red Army was! They pretended to be heading west towards Guiyang with their main forces, letting him mobilize the militia and adjust his main forces to defend against it, keeping him busy. But they actually turned north and took Zunyi. This time, without saying a word, all of northern Guizhou was lost. What a loss! What a shame! The whole country would know that old Wang had been played by Mao Zedong. When he saw Chiang Kai-shek again, he wouldn't even look at him straight in the eye. The third feeling was that Hou Zhiwen was completely finished this time, and it seemed that his goal of using the Red Army to eliminate his enemies had been achieved. Once the Red Army left, he could take back northern Guizhou. Thinking of this, Wang Jialei felt that all his efforts were worth it after all, and he had gained something in return.

  Next, Wang Jialei was worried again. Should he report to Nanjing immediately? If he reports now, the chairman will probably not be able to sleep at night, and in his great anger, who knows what will happen. If he reports a bit later, he's afraid that in the future, the chairman will have an excuse for him being aware of the situation but not reporting it, thus missing an opportunity. After thinking about it, he felt that it would be better to discuss it with his wife first.

  Madam Wan was very decisive and directly demanded that Wang Jialei report immediately. As for whether the Central Army's entry would affect Wang Jialei's rule, Madam Wan said it couldn't be helped now, as the southeast had been swept by the Red Army and the army had already been driven out, and the north was about to be lost too. The Central Army's entry was something that no one could stop, so let's drive away the red bandits first. If the Central Army comes, at most you won't be allowed to be the military commander or provincial chairman, just switch to a idle job. But if the Red Bandits occupy Guizhou, it's likely not going to be as simple as not letting him do that.

  Madam's words reminded Wang Jialei that after all, Chiang Kai-shek and himself had some friendship, and he was also more obedient. The Red Bandits were different, they wanted his life. So, Wang Jialei ordered to send a telegram to Nanjing immediately, reporting the situation of Zunyi's fall. Of course, it must be reported that our army fought bravely in Wujing and Zunyi, heavily damaging the main force of the Red Bandits, killing 6,000 Red Bandits, and capturing more than 2,000 guns.

  When Chiang Kai-shek received Wang Jialei's report, he was reading Wang Yangming's "Chuanxi Lu". This was his required course, and before going to bed, he would read a section and then keep a diary. He persisted in this way whenever he had spare time.

  The lady had gone to bed and finished reading her book. She was about to write in her diary when the head of the attendants, Yan Daojian, reported that there was an urgent military situation.

  Chiang Kai-shek took the telegram and looked at it, his anger uncontrollable, he scolded loudly: "Bastards, Wang Jialie and his gang are a bunch of useless people, they only care about fighting for territory and eliminating dissenters, they regard the central government's orders as child's play. The central government has repeatedly ordered them to strictly guard the Wujiang River, but instead, Wang Jialie withdrew his troops back to Guiyang, and Hou Zongliang hesitated and didn't move, allowing Mao Zedong to succeed! Bastards, they should all be shot! They lost Xunyi and still have the nerve to report that they killed 6,000 Red Bandits! Bastards, how many Red Bandits are there in total? He can kill 6,000 of them?!

  Look at Chairman Chiang's furious face, Yan Dao carefully asked: "What instructions does the chairman have?"

  Chiang Kai-shek sat in the chair, leaning his head against the back of the chair, and remained calm for a while before saying: "Order Xue Yue to set out immediately and head straight to Guiyang. Urge Wang Jialie to lead his troops northward and attack Zunyi. Order Liu Xiang to urge his troops to quickly move northward and attack Zunyi. Order the Yunnan, Guangxi, and Hunan fronts to speed up according to the previous telegram. Order the troops departing from Jiangxi to rapidly move southward and support Xue Yue."

  Yan Daogang had just gone out to send a telegram, and Chiang Kai-shek cursed again "son of a bitch, useless", before going upstairs to rest.

  At this time, on the main road from Zhenyuan to Qingxi Town, the soldiers of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army Central Guard Regiment were marching towards Qingxi Town with torches in hand and trampling through the snow.