Chapter Forty-Four: Lingering Melody (Four)
At the time when He Jian fainted, Chiang Kai-shek made up his mind and Bai Chongxi withdrew his troops. The Second Red Army marched all the way, defeated the reactionary militia several times, and arrived at Liping.
What the cadres and soldiers of the 2nd Division did not expect was that Leping was an empty city, with no soldiers guarding it, and most of the people had fled to the mountains. A few poor farmers opened the east gate of the city, beat gongs and drums, and set off firecrackers to welcome the Red Army. This made Chen Guang, Liu Yalou and the cadres and soldiers of the 2nd Division overjoyed. It is worth noting that since leaving the Soviet area, this glorious Red Army vanguard unit had encountered a scene where the masses spontaneously welcomed them for the first time.
Chen Guang and Liu Ya Lou excitedly asked the names of these peasants, who were also very generous and reported their names one by one: Wang Huatang, Liu Bayuan, Zhang Keming, Min Dewen, Zhong Jingzhai, "Zhou Huadian", Ning Laosi. After further understanding, Chen Guang and Liu Ya Lou understood why there were people welcoming the Red Army here. It turned out that both the Seventh Red Army and the Sixth Red Army Corps had been to Liping before, leaving a very good impression on the suffering people.
Of course, these farmers did not know that Leiping had long been sown with red seeds by the Seventh Red Army. When Comrade Xiaoping, Comrade Yunyi Zhang and Comrade Baqun Wei launched the Baise Uprising, there was a soldier from Leiping named Shi Laofa who had participated in the Guangzhou Uprising. He and Lian Dang representative Wei Shaohuai were entrusted by the Seventh Red Army to secretly return to Leiping Shuikou, using the collection of mountain goods as cover, engaging in revolutionary activities, and secretly establishing the Huai Gongping Township Soviet Government. Later, when the Seventh Red Army moved from Guangxi to the Guizhou border, it was Shi Laofa who led the troops into Leiping Shuikou. After the Seventh Red Army left, Wei Shaohuai was killed by the enemy, and Shi Laofa continued to fight in hiding.
Overjoyed, Chen Guang and Liu Ya Lou entrusted these farmers to go up the mountain one after another to shout back the hiding common people. Suddenly, Leiping City became lively, and the Red Army soldiers organized the masses to kill pigs and grind rice under the leadership of several old people, preparing to welcome the main force.
After the arrival of the First Division and the Central Column, Leping had made logistical preparations. Originally, Leping was a relatively wealthy place in southeastern Guizhou, with many shops and abundant goods, suitable for large troops to rest and replenish. Historically, before and after the Leping Conference, the Red Army rested here for several days.
The Central Revolutionary Military Commission immediately ordered the 3rd, 5th, 8th and 9th Red Army Corps to make a brief rest in Liping. The central column and the first division of the First Red Army were slightly better off, having made a brief rest on the way, the soldiers had put on new uniforms, eaten a full meal, and combed their hair. Other troops had not been refurbished since the Long March, as soon as they entered Liping, they were busy combing their hair, mending shoes, eating a good hot meal, and sleeping well. In addition, from the departure of Yudu to the present, the Red Army troops had been fighting all the way, many old comrades and relatives had sacrificed on the road to break through the blockade. This concentrated rest allowed comrades to reunite, and the city of Liping was filled with a strong joyful atmosphere.
The surprise was yet to come. At 6 o'clock in the afternoon, the head of the machine department reported again: The Red 18th Regiment annihilated the Xiang 62nd and 63rd Divisions at Xikou. Zhu De took over the telegram, glanced at it, and without consulting anyone, ordered all staff members to go out and loudly proclaim throughout the city the good news that the Red 18th Regiment had annihilated the Xiang 62nd and 63rd Divisions. As a result, Liping City was thoroughly immersed in an ocean of joy, the Red Army soldiers cheered thunderously, and the phenomenon of low morale after the defeat at Xiangjiang was swept away.
The owners of several shops selling fireworks in the city were thoroughly pleased, as Red Army soldiers would come to buy firecrackers in groups of three or five whenever they had some extra allowance, buying out all the firecrackers in Liping City and then setting them off.
The cadres originally wanted to stop the soldiers from setting off firecrackers, fearing that it would expose their military movements. But then they thought, let the soldiers have some fun. Since leaving Yudu, every day had been filled with sad news of comrades' sacrifices and enemy reports of where they were being pursued and how our army was fiercely resisting them. When had there ever been such uplifting news to boost morale? Besides, He Jian's loss of three elite divisions would probably have him crying for his parents right now, without the time to chase us. Even if he did come after us, what's to fear? As long as the troops got some rest and recovered their energy, the Red Army was not to be trifled with! Who were we afraid of? Let them come one by one, we'd kill them one by one; let them come in pairs, we'd kill them in pairs. We just hoped they would come! And so, the cadres not only didn't stop the soldiers but soon joined in the firecracker celebrations themselves.
Due to the long period of mobile warfare, there was little communication between troops, and many Red Army cadres and soldiers were full of curiosity about the 18th Regiment's annihilation of two enemy divisions, no, three divisions, plus the 16th Division of Hunan. They had never even heard of Liu Yimin, the heroic regimental commander of this heroic unit. Immediately, the cadres and soldiers of the 34th Division, as well as a battalion of soldiers from the 15th Division who were participating in the reorganization along the Xiangjiang River, that is, the Young Communist International Brigade, and soldiers from the 8th Army Corps, became broadcasters. The Red Army soldiers surrounded them, asking about everything related to Liu Yimin and the 18th Regiment. The soldiers being asked also looked proud, saying what they knew, and making up what they didn't know according to their own imagination, until the soldiers listening were amazed and admiring, and couldn't get enough.
In the temporary residence of the Red Army headquarters, Bo Gu, Zhou Enlai, Zhang Wentian, Wang Jiaxiang, *, Zhu De and the responsible persons of various army groups who rushed to hear the news gathered together, only to hear Vice Chairman Zhou reading the telegram from the 18th Division of the Red Army with a flying spirit:
"To the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, Chairman Mao and Vice-Chairman Zhou, Commander-in-Chief Zhu: My regiment ended the battle of Xiaoshui at 12:40 on the 12th. After hiding and resting for 3 hours in Xiaoshui, we removed impurities from the 1,400 captured Hunan Army soldiers and urgently mobilized them through talks and confessions to join our troops. The entire regiment now has 4,700 people, organized into 6 combat battalions, an artillery battalion, a heavy machine gun battalion, an engineer battalion, a logistics battalion, a new recruit battalion, a cavalry company, a directly subordinate training unit, a sniper platoon, a reconnaissance platoon, a guard platoon, and a communications platoon."
During the reorganization of troops, it was learned from the radio station of enemy 16th Division that Wang Yueying's brigade of Tao Guang's division of Xiang 62nd Division had crossed over Xiguan towards Jingzhou. My regiment judged that since there were no obstacles, enemy Wang's brigade would likely quickly occupy Jingzhou and then go on to occupy Tongdao county town. Therefore, it was ordered that the one platoon of the 7th company of the 3rd battalion guarding Tongdao county town withdraw from Tongdao and adopt guerrilla tactics in Jingzhou to harass the enemy, and also ordered the regimental cavalry company's 50 riders to quickly reconnoiter and advance from Xiaoshui towards Xiguan, monitoring the highway from Shangmuqiao to Xiguan.
"After the main force of our regiment was reorganized, radio contact confirmed that the commander of the 62nd Division, Tao Guang, led by Zhong Guoren's brigade, was advancing from Le'an to Xikou. Our regiment then decided to advance directly to Xikou to intercept and attack the enemy's 62nd Division headquarters and Zhong's brigade. If Tao Guang's unit had not yet arrived, we would implement an ambush; if Tao Guang's unit had already passed through Xikou, we would implement a pursuit, forcing them to turn back and engage in a decisive battle with us; if an encounter occurred, we would open fire first and defeat the enemy. To achieve this goal, our troops were divided into two routes: 510 seriously wounded soldiers from the Hunan Army were left in the care of the villagers of Xiaoshui Village, and the head of the regiment's logistics department, Wu Zheng, was ordered to lead the instructional team, guard platoon, and logistics battalion to escort the wounded soldiers of our regiment, transport the captured materials of the 16th Division, and take 760 lightly wounded soldiers and captive officers from the Hunan Army, disguised as part of the 16th Division of the Hunan Army, advancing along the main road towards Lin Kou; the main force of our regiment advanced towards Xikou."
"At around 5 o'clock, the main force of the troop merged with the scouts and learned that Tao Guang's unit had not yet arrived at the cavalry company position. They left behind Cai Zhong, the political commissar, who led two mountain artillery companies and a new recruit battalion to follow up later. The main force divided into three routes, advancing rapidly on foot, and seized the front hilltop, the east side of the highway hilltop, and the northernmost village of Beishan."
"At 5:30, the vanguard of the enemy's Tao Guang department arrived at the northern end of Xigou. I had already rushed to the cavalry regiment hiding at the bend in the highway on the mountain head, letting the enemy's vanguard pass through. After that, Tao Guang's main force arrived. At this time, my main force had reached the north side of the mountain slope on the east side of the highway and was rushing to occupy positions in three routes. In order to gain time for the main force, the cavalry regiment decisively opened fire and heavily damaged the enemy's main force vanguard cavalry regiment. Then our cavalry regiment retreated to hide behind the mountain head. The enemy mistakenly thought they had encountered a small rear guard unit of ours that was launching a surprise attack, so they stopped advancing and concentrated their firepower on the front of the mountain head. Two regiments of the Zhong Brigade pressed forward, with one regiment attacking the front of the mountain head in three waves, and another regiment occupying the eastern mountain head. The brigade's direct units and the division's direct units made combat preparations on the highway."
At this time, the head of the political department of our division, Li Qing, led the 4th and 5th regiments and the attached heavy machine gun battalion to annihilate the enemy's vanguard that had come to reinforce them. After occupying the mountain top, they merged with the cavalry regiment. Then, using two regiments equipped with 4 mortars, we destroyed the enemy mortar positions, and with machine guns and infantry firepower, we eliminated the first wave of enemy troops who launched a counterattack. We began to pursue the retreating enemy forces.
The enemy division commander, Tao Guang, seeing that things were not going in his favor, immediately ordered Wang Yuying's brigade to come to reinforce him and sent a telegram to Liu Jianxie, the commander of the First Army Corps, asking for help.
At this time, our division commander, Liu Yimin, led the 1st and 2nd regiments, the engineer battalion, two mortar battalions, and three heavy machine gun companies to occupy the mountain top on the east side of the highway. We set up 28 mortars to cover the enemy in front of us with fire, and with the firepower of the engineer battalion equipped with three heavy machine guns, we launched a fierce attack on the enemy in front of us. The 1st and 2nd regiments split into two routes to launch a pincer-shaped attack, cutting off the enemy's retreat.
The enemy was defeated, and their weapons were scattered all over the ground. When they fled north to Beishan Village, they encountered our division chief of staff, Liu Jianli, who led the 3rd and 6th regiments in a fierce counterattack. The enemy was surrounded and surrendered.
In this battle, we annihilated one enemy division headquarters, one brigade headquarters, and two regiments, totaling 4,600 people. We captured alive the enemy division commander Tao Guang and 2,616 others, killed 1,424 people, wounded 560 people, and seized two radio stations, 30,000 yuan, more than 4,000 light and heavy machine guns, submachine guns, rifles, and pistols. Unfortunately, the enemy's mortars were destroyed by our firepower.
"After interrogating the captured enemy communications personnel, it was learned that Tao Guang had ordered Wang's brigade to return and reinforce, and also sought reinforcements from Liu Jianxu. Our regiment decided to expand the battle results, first ambushing Wang's brigade, and then eliminating the enemy reinforcements. We used the 62nd Division's radio station to report to Liu Jianxu that the Red Army forces encountered were the 9th and 1st Corps of the 15th Division, Tao's troops had occupied the positions and were waiting for reinforcements, and requested rapid reinforcement. At the same time, we ordered the new recruits' battalion to concentrate the original new recruits into one company, led by Political Commissar Cai Zhong, to escort the captured enemy soldiers to Xikou Village for detention, and directly incorporated them into the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th companies for battlefield education and transformation. The regiment's political department director Li Qing led the engineer battalion, cavalry company, and two mountain artillery companies to construct positions on the high ground east of Beishan Village, preparing to ambush the enemy reinforcements. The main force of the regiment set up an ambush 5 li north of Xikou. At the same time, we ordered the instructional team and guard platoon that had arrived at Lin Kou to light more fires, disguising themselves as the Hunan 16th Division reinforcing Xikou; ordered the 7th Company of the 3rd Battalion to increase the intensity of harassment against Wang's brigade, creating a false impression of blocking enemy reinforcements; ordered the cavalry company to set off firecrackers at the north end of Xikou, creating a false impression of fierce battle between our troops and Tao's forces, and in the name of Tao Guang, ordered Wang's brigade to speed up their reinforcement. At 8:00 pm, the enemy Wang's brigade rushed into the ambush circle, and the battle was resolved within 5 minutes. The enemy brigade commander Wang Yuying led 1,600 men to surrender, killing 1,900 enemies, capturing one radio station, 12 mortars, 12 heavy machine guns, 54 light machine guns, 3,200 rifles, submachine guns, and pistols."
The troops returned to Xigou for lunch, and the radio contact discovered that the enemy's 63rd Division had changed its marching route without authorization, passing through Zhaiya, Daling Village, and Huangjiashui Village along the main road, directly inserting into Luocheng and Huabian, attempting to occupy Xigou and cut off our army's rear. Our regiment immediately adjusted its deployment, adopting a plan to continue disguising the enemy's 16th Division reinforcements, disguising Wang Yuying's brigade as trying to break through contact with Tao Guang's division, and disguising our army's full-force siege of Tao Guang's main position to lure the enemy into speeding up their reinforcements. We concentrated our main force and firepower on the farmland in front of Xigou Village, surrounding and annihilating the enemy. At around 11 pm, the enemy entered the ambush circle without formation, swarming towards Xigou Village like a swarm of bees, and was devoured by our powerful firepower. In this battle, we completely annihilated one division headquarters, two brigade headquarters, and four regiments of the enemy's 63rd Division, totaling 8,100 people, killing 6,600 people including enemy Major General Chen Guangzhong, capturing 1,500 people including enemy Brigade Commander Li Bohou, and seizing three radio stations, 12 howitzers, 12 heavy machine guns, 56 light machine guns, and 6,900 rifles, pistols, and other firearms. The remaining firearms were destroyed by artillery fire.
"After the battle, in order to extend the transfer time, my unit reported to Liu Jianxue under the name of Tao Guang, claiming that we had eliminated the Red Army's blocking troops and captured more than 5,000 people including Luo Binghui, the commander of the 9th Red Army Corps. My unit then withdrew from the battlefield and hid in the vicinity of Jingzhou for rest and reorganization, and implemented radio silence. Please apologize to Commander Luo Binghui on my behalf."
"After the troops rested today, the original plan was to launch a surprise attack on the 43rd Division of the Guangxi Army that had advanced to Yatunbao. However, at noon, the enemy suddenly retreated and had air cover. According to reports from scouts, the Guangxi Army's Xia Wei's 15th Corps and Liao Lei's 7th Corps have both retreated back to northern Guangxi. It is judged that the Guangxi Army has already learned that three divisions of the Hunan Army were completely annihilated."
The Northern Route Xiang Army only sent a cavalry regiment to divide into two routes to Creek Mouth and Small Water to inspect the battlefield, and then quickly retreated. The bodies of the Xiang Army soldiers were buried and handled by the village and Baochang leaders.
"We dispatched the 5th, 6th and logistics regiments, led by Commissar Cai Zhong, to secretly depart at 7 pm, escorting 4,000 Hunan Army prisoners who had undergone initial education and were willing to join the Red Army to headquarters to supplement our main forces. At the same time, we transported 6 mountain guns, 24 mortars, 12 heavy machine guns, 100 light machine guns, rifles, pistols, and 15,000 hand grenades, as well as ammunition and other supplies. Please quickly dispatch a capable unit to meet us along the Leiping, Majiatuan to Pingcha, Xinfang line. Password: Red Army. Response password: Must win. The remaining prisoners who were transformed established the 7th, 8th and 9th combat regiments of the 18th division. Those who could not be transformed were released."
"Additionally: Our department has captured enemy generals Tao Guang, Zhang Liangji and other officers, as well as 1,300 lightly wounded soldiers from the Xiang Army. It is suggested that the General Headquarters send someone to negotiate with He Jian, exchanging military supplies and medicine for their release. Otherwise, the ringleaders will be punished, and the remaining wounded soldiers will be mobilized to join our army after they recover. The commander of the 18th Regiment of the 6th Division of the Red Third Army is Liu Yimin, and the political commissar is Cai Zhong."
The telegram was read out and the whole room fell silent.
After a while, General Peng said: "Unexpectedly, it's really true that newborn calves are not afraid of tigers! During the Western Extension training, they only had more than 1,000 guns. Now they have surrendered so many weapons and ammunition. Liu Yimin, well done! The 18th Regiment is a hero! This is a unit under my 3rd Army Corps, and I should go to welcome and escort the supplies back to headquarters. I'll make arrangements right away." After finishing speaking, he turned around and left.
Vice Chairman Zhou said: "Comrade Dehuai, don't be in a hurry, let's discuss it first."
"Over there has already set off, I have to hurry up and go, time is tight. What's wrong, doesn't Vice Chairman Zhou trust the combat effectiveness of my three armies, afraid that they can't protect the supplies?"
Vice Chairman of the Military Commission did not answer, and the commander of a division whispered: "Commander Peng, wait a minute. The 3rd Division has just arrived in Liping, and many soldiers may not have eaten yet. How about this? You send one regiment, I'll let the 2nd Division send one regiment, under your leadership, and I'll go with you to welcome this heroic unit."
Division Commander Dong Zhen Tang said in a deep voice: "Liu Yi Min was originally the company commander of my 34th Division's spearhead battalion, Cai Zhong Yuan was the director of the political department of my 34th Division, I'll take the 101st Regiment and go with you."
Liu Yimin, that little scoundrel, actually dared to frame me and say I let Tao Guang be captured. I must personally lead a regiment to find Cai Zhong and get justice. - Luo Binghui, Commander of the 9th Army Corps
Watching several corps commanders arguing with each other in high spirits, several central leaders couldn't help but laugh. Bo Gu said: "Old Mao, what do you think we should do?"
Chairman Mao smiled and said, "You all rush to go, I guess one is to get more supplies and ammunition, two is to take a fancy to those 4,000 elite Xiang Army troops. Is that right?"
Several legion commanders looked embarrassed, but no one spoke up.
Chairman Mao also said: "I know that since the Long March, all troops have suffered heavy losses and have not been replenished. Even if some new soldiers are replenished, they will only make up for the numbers in the short term. I think this way, the Fifth Army Corps has returned with the 34th Division and has received some replenishment on the Xiangjiang River, so we don't need to ask for more people or artillery, but rather prioritize the replenishment of light weapons, ammunition, and supplies. The Third Army Corps suffered heavy losses on the Xiangjiang River, and although the 18th Regiment has returned, it was transferred back to the Military Commission's direct control, and 2,000 people were allocated to supplement the Third Army Corps. The Ninth Army Corps has many new soldiers, and the First Army Corps also suffered heavy losses, so each will be supplemented with 1,000 people. It was previously agreed that these prisoners of war are willing to join the Red Army because Liu Yimin carried out a heart-to-heart talk and a grievance activity, and the General Political Department has their reports, which were distributed to each army corps for reference. If your ideological work cannot keep up, it is difficult to say whether these prisoners of war will change or become escapees."
Several legion commanders almost unanimously said: "We are not afraid."
Chairman Mao continued: "Alright, with your words, that's enough. As for heavy weapons, the mountain cannons will be centralized under the artillery battalion of the Military Commission. Eight mortars each from the 1st, 3rd and 9th battalions, four heavy machine guns each from the 12th battalion. Twenty light machine guns each from the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 9th regiments and the Cadre Regiment. Other materials will be handled by the Central Column, uniformly distributed, with priority given to the needs of combat troops. As for who should lead the welcoming team, I think none of the four main army corps commanders should go. We need to study the current enemy situation and our military strategy. I suggest sending Comrade Chen Yun, Comrade Luo Ronghuan, and Comrade Cao Lihua, commander of the 6th Division, to lead the team, with each of the four armies sending one regiment. If you encounter enemy forces on the way, Comrade Cao Lihua will be in charge militarily. What do you think?"
Several legion commanders looked at each other and said they had no objection.
Chairman Mao said: "If there are no opinions, Comrade Bo Gu and Comrade Enlai, should we ask Zhu Lao to give the order?"
