Chapter 38 Chapter IX Defending the Victory of the Anti-Japanese War

On September 17, 1945, as soon as our Jizhong Column was formed, we received an order from the Central Committee that the troops from the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei and Shanxi-Suizhou areas be concentrated in the Zhangjiakou area to prepare to attack the invading enemy.Due to the rapid development of the situation and the urgency of the task, the troops were not organized or trained in time, so they bid farewell to the old liberated areas in Jizhong. Heying, Huashaoying, and Xuanhua entered the Shacheng area near Zhangjiakou in early October to stand by. From the perspective of the entire Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army, the Jicha Column and the Ji-Jin Column have more old troops formed during the Anti-Japanese War and have a stronger foundation, while our Jizhong Column has a weaker foundation. A large number of county and district guerrillas were incorporated on the basis of the regional teams for scattered operations.Although these troops have the characteristics of flexible and mobile guerrilla warfare, they lack the experience of coordinating large corps operations, especially the experience of tackling tough battles.Although we organized a training regiment in the spring of 1945 and had some backbone regiments, the backbone strength was too insufficient to expand the ranks in a short period of time.After reorganization, before and during our march, some troops took off the variegated plain clothes worn by the guerrillas and put on military uniforms, supplemented some light and heavy machine guns and mortars, adjusted the caliber of the rifles, and enhanced The firepower initially changed the appearance.

Soon after the reorganization of the troops, we accepted the task of marching thousands of miles.Most of the disciples have a certain foundation of consciousness.They were outraged by Chiang Kai-shek's criminal act of instigating the civil war, and they sang angrily while marching: "Whoever plants the crops will reap, and whoever plants the fruit trees will reap the fruits. We have shed blood and fought for more than eight years, and no one can take the fruits of victory!" Expressed everyone's firm confidence and determination to defend the fruits of victory.However, during the Anti-Japanese War, there was a song that sang: "Defeat the devils and go back to your hometown!" At this time, the devils were defeated and the Anti-Japanese War was victorious. At the same time, the troops used to be active in the central Jizhong area, but now they want to go to Zhangjiakou, Suiyuan, and leave the customs and fortresses, so the regional concept comes; in addition, Jizhong is a plain area, going west to north If you want to walk the mountain road, the thought of being afraid of climbing the mountain and suffering hardship also arises.

In response to this ideological situation in the troops, we educated and rectified our thinking and style of work as we marched. Through the self-education of the masses, we criticized family, regional concepts and guerrilla habits, and established that we are not afraid of expeditions, entering mountains, and enduring hardships. At the same time, by adjusting the organization, cultivating and enriching the backbone, and establishing various systems, the troops are gradually consolidated. Our Jizhong column (owed to the 12th Brigade) traveled thousands of miles from Jizhong, and entered near Zhangjiakou in early October to stand by.At this time, there were a total of 14 brigades and 31 regiments, totaling more than 53,000 troops, assembled in this area.The Fu Zuoyi Department of the Kuomintang has a total strength of more than 97,000 people. Among them, the main force of the Fu Department is about 47,000 people gathered in Jining, Zhuozishan, and Fengzhen. The rest of the main force is gathered along the Pingsui Railway. Troops configure the perimeter for maneuver.

According to the instructions of the Military Commission, the Suiyuan Campaign was under the unified command of Commander Nie Rongzhen of the Jinchaji Military Region and Commander He Long of the Jinsui Military Region.On October 12, our Jizhong column was ordered to be transported by train from Zhangjiakou to Chaigou Fort, and then assembled in Xinping Fort.Under the unified deployment of the military region, on the morning of October 18, our column attacked the enemies in Zhanggao Town and Sanshuiling by means of a rush.The fourth division of the enemy's new cavalry at Zhanggao Town and the sixth division of the enemy's temporary cavalry at Sanshuiling retreated first. On the 19th, we occupied Zhanggao Town and Sanshuiling.At this time, the Jicha column encircled Longshengzhuang, and our column used the main force to go straight to the north and northwest of Longshengzhuang to cooperate with the Jicha column to annihilate the enemies of Longshengzhuang; .At noon on the 20th, the Jicha column wiped out a battalion of the 91st Regiment of the newly formed 31st Division and a company of the 4th Division of the newly formed Cavalry. Zhuang intercepted and wiped out part of the enemy, while the rest fled in the direction of Hongshaba.

Then, our column continued to attack in the direction of Guancun, and cut off the enemy retreating northward in Fengzhen.On October 21st, our column occupied Guancun, and the enemy's newly formed 26th Division of the 67th Army fled westward. I followed and pursued, and occupied the mosque and Suji Station that day.On the 22nd, our column again entered the Laopingdiquan and Suji lines and approached Jining.At this time, the Jijin column also occupied Fengzhen and Gushan and Gudian north of Datong; the troops of the Shanxi-Sui Military Region occupied Liangcheng, Xintang, Tiancheng Village, Qidaqing, and Duanjia Village, each annihilating one part of the enemy.

At this time, under the sudden and violent attack of our army, the enemy retreated westward across the board. Jining only had the enemy's 35th Army Headquarters and the 101st Division, and Zhuo Zishan had the enemy's 67th Army Headquarters and the new formation. Twenty-sixth division.Based on this, the headquarters decided that the troops of the Jinsui Military Region would attack the enemy in Zhuozishan and cut off the enemy's westward retreat; the Jicha and Jizhong columns of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region would attack and wipe out the enemy in Jining. Jining defended the enemy to cover its main force to retreat westward, and under the cover of artillery fire, its 101st Division counterattacked against Xiangmeizhuang, Zhaijiacun, and Bulutu in the southwest of Jining.The 11th Brigade and the 31st Regiment repelled the enemy.Then, I used the 13th Brigade to attack a regiment of the 101st Division of the enemy who was still guarding Naobao Mountain.Under the fierce attack of our 37th and 39th regiments side by side, the enemy was defeated and fled to the northwest. I took advantage of the victory to pursue and occupied Sanchakou.But at this time, the brothers' column was too late to occupy Shibatai, so the enemy's 35th Army Headquarters and 101st Division took the opportunity to take advantage of the night to go around the north of Sanchakou and retreat westward to Suiyuan via Shibatai.At 7 o'clock on the 24th, our column occupied Jining City.On the 25th, troops from the Shanxi-Sui Military Region encircled and annihilated the enemy's newly formed 26th Division of the 67th Army in Zhuozi Mountain, defeated two regiments of the enemy's newly formed 32nd Division, and captured Zhuozi Mountain.Frightened by being annihilated, the enemy resorted to rapid contraction. On October 26 and 27, the main force withdrew from Sandao Battalion and Qiqi Battalion to Guisui.The victory in the first battle gave great encouragement to the commanders and fighters of the Jizhong Column. The troops were tempered and their morale was higher.

Our troops from the two districts took advantage of the victory and marched westward, followed and pursued them bravely, and approached the suburbs of Guisui. Around the southwest; after my column was transported by Jining to Taobuqi, it completed the encirclement of Guisui from the east and southeast.Then, the Shanxi-Sui Military Region advanced westward along Pingsui Road with the Independent First Brigade, Cavalry Brigade, and the Second Cavalry Regiment of the Jicha Column, and surrounded Baotou on November 8. Guisui is the capital of Suiyuan Province, divided into old and new cities, the old city is called Guihua City, and the new city is called Suiyuan City.The new city has a 12-meter-high city wall, which is relatively solid; the old city is an industrial and commercial area.The enemy used the temporary Third Army to guard the two cities, the Thirty-fifth Army and the newly formed Fourth Cavalry Division to control the old and new cities as a reserve team, and each cavalry column guarded the periphery.When our army completed the encirclement of the enemy in Guisui, it was actively preparing to attack the city.The enemy army concentrated its forces and counterattacked me continuously in an attempt to consume the main force of our army on the periphery and destroy our siege plan.From November 2nd to 12th, the enemy successively used two to three divisions to attack the positions of the Shanxi-Sui troops and the Hebei-Chahar column at Kongjiayingzi, Houbalizhuang, Hongshankou, and Bakouzi for five consecutive times. Relatively large counterattacks were defeated, with more than 3,000 casualties.On November 7th, the enemy concentrated about two regiments to counterattack the position of our 11th Brigade in the east of the city. Our column used the 11th Brigade to fight from the front, and the 13th Brigade to attack from the flank, and defeated the enemy. Annihilate one part of the enemy.

After the enemy's continuous counterattacks were frustrated and suffered huge casualties, they turned to stick to their defenses.There are two armies and six divisions defending the enemy in Guisui, and a heavy mortar regiment was airlifted from Chongqing for reinforcements. There are actually more than 24,000 troops, a certain amount of food and ammunition in reserve, and the city's fortifications are solid; our army was at that time The troops do not occupy an absolute advantage, the technical equipment is still poor, and there is no experience in attacking fortifications; and they have not been able to encircle them flexibly, lure the main force of the enemy out, and wipe them out outside the city. Therefore, it is not easy to succeed in quickly occupying Sui.For this reason, the headquarters changed the siege plan to a siege, first concentrated the main force of the Jinsui military region to strengthen the third brigade of the Hebei-Sui column, captured Baotou, isolated and returned to Sui, and strived to attract the enemy's aid from the west and wipe out part of it , and then attack and return to Suicheng.

During the siege of Guisui City, our Jizhong column actively sought out and wiped out small groups of enemies.On November 10, the 2nd Battalion of the 39th Regiment ambushed and wiped out an entire company of enemy spy battalions who were out to grab food in the Shuaijiayingzi area.On the 12th, after the 2nd Enemy Cavalry Brigade harassed our army near Shaerqin, south of Guisui, our column showed its characteristics of being good at running, and made the 37th and 39th Regiments of the 13th Brigade The two battalions wiped out the enemy by means of a rush.When I entered Shaerqin, the enemy had already fled to the southwest, and our troops followed up and pursued them. We seized the enemy in the areas of Hudongtu and Ellaqi, fought fiercely all day and night, and wiped out the enemy's second cavalry brigade and its third The entire regiment and most of the first regiment captured more than 600 enemies, guns, and horses each.

Our troops from the Shanxi-Sui Military Region attacked Baotou several times but failed, and the enemy's reinforcements came again, and it was not easy to attack in Guisui. It was very cold outside the Great Wall, and supplies were inconvenient. It would be bad for me to persist. The headquarters announced on December 14th He ordered to withdraw from the siege and return to Sui.Our Jizhong column first passed through Liangcheng and Fengzhen to Yanggao area on foot, and then transported by train to Shacheng, Xiahuayuan, and Huailai areas for rest. The Battle of Suiyuan lasted two months, wiped out more than 12,000 enemies, recovered the vast areas of Suidong and Suinan, smashed the enemy's attempt to attack Zhangjiakou and seize the two provinces of Chasuan and Suiyuan, and cut off the enemy's connection with Suiyuan and Shanxi. The defense of the strategic base centered on Zhangjiakou has played a certain role in cooperating with the negotiations between our party and the Kuomintang and striving for a peaceful situation throughout the country.

During the Battle of Suiyuan, the 12th Brigade of our Jizhong Column fought independently and liberated Yu County, Guangling and Nuanquan Towns, which are important towns in southern Chahar, and also achieved great victories. Yu County, Guangling and Nuanquan were the remaining strongholds of the Japanese and puppet troops in the Liberated Area of ​​Chanan at that time.Defending the enemy is a puppet army supported by the Japanese invaders. They have served the enemy for a long time, brutally oppressing the people, and sabotaging the War of Resistance. After the Japanese invaders surrendered, they were incorporated into the Kuomintang and continued to be enemies of the people. . Yu County is a famous ancient city in the south of Chahar Province. The city is twelve meters high and more than three meters wide. There is a moat outside the city, which is nearly seven meters wide and one meter deep. Overlooks the whole city.The eastern half of the city was guarded by the habitual bandit Hu Xihou's department, and the western half of the city was guarded by the Zong Hanchen Department of the Yuxian Security Brigade and the Daoist Armed Broadsword Society of the Reactionary Society, with a total of more than 2,000 people.The city walls of Guangling City are also relatively strong. There are large fortresses at the city gate and the four corners of the city. There is a bell and drum tower in the center of the city and the core circular fortifications.Nuanquan is an important town in Yuxian County. It is located between Yuxian County and Guangling. It has a wall about six meters high and three meters wide. Our Jizhong column was on its way to Chasui, and when it entered Xiheying on September 25, the 12th Brigade was ordered to capture Yuxian, Guangling and Nuanquan towns.The brigade is determined to overcome the above three points in one fell swoop by storm or attack, and annihilate the defending enemy.The 35th Regiment and the 3rd Battalion of the 36th Regiment attacked Yu County, the 36th Regiment (less than the 3rd Battalion) attacked Guangling, and the 34th Regiment attacked Nuanquan.On the night of September 28, each department completed the encirclement against the enemy.At 7 o'clock on the 29th, more than 30 people from the besieged enemy in Nuanquan counterattacked our Suguanbao position in the southeast, and were immediately wiped out by us.Our thirty-fourth regiment took advantage of the victory and began to attack Nuanquan at dusk that night. That night, the first and second battalions broke into the town from the southeast and southwest respectively, and then joined the battle with the third battalion and started street fighting with the enemy.Unable to resist, the enemy fled across the wall towards Yu County under the cover of a fake surrender.My thirty-fifth regiment blocked the attack from the direction of Yuxian with two companies.On the morning of the 30th, surrounded the enemy in the Da and Xiaoyinmaquan areas, wiped out the enemy, and then conquered Nuanquan. After capturing Nuanquan, our column transferred the 34th Regiment to Yu County to join forces with the 35th Regiment to attack and defend the enemy.The third battalion of the thirty-sixth regiment was rebuilt to strengthen Guangling's attack power. The 36th Regiment attacked Guangling City on September 29.After a night and a half day of fighting, the city gate was occupied, and the defending enemy collapsed into the city.On the 30th day and night, I forcibly attacked the city, but due to lack of preparation, I failed.The 35th Regiment launched a sneak attack on the enemy in Yucheng at 24:00 on October 1st. After occupying the city gate, the troops used firepower to cover the moat and climb the city with ladders. There were too many breakthroughs and no focus. , In addition, the city is high and the ladder is short, and the siege has been repeated several times without success.On October 6, the 35th and 34th Regiments attacked Yu County, and the 36th Regiment attacked Guangling again, but failed again. At the same time, the enemy strengthened their fortifications and defenses, making the attack even more difficult. Based on this situation, the 12th Brigade changed its battle plan, and strengthened the 36th Regiment with the 1st Battalion of the 34th Regiment. First, it conquered Guangling, and then concentrated its forces to capture Yu County, and decided to use tunnel blasting to attack the city.The troops then re-surveyed the terrain, selected breakthroughs, carried out tunnel operations, and conducted training and exercises based on the enemy's situation. At 22:00 on October 26, they attacked Guangling City for the third time.The 3rd Battalion of the 36th Regiment successfully blasted in the northwest corner of the city and quickly broke into the city.At the same time, the first battalion also successfully blasted in the southeast corner, but due to continuous counterattacks by the enemy, it only occupied a section of the city wall.Then, the 1st Battalion of the 34th Regiment joined the battle from the breakthrough of the 1st Battalion of the 36th Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion of the 36th Regiment joined the battle from the breakthrough of the 3rd Battalion. Annihilate all the defending enemies and conquer Guangling. The enemy defending Yu County was besieged by me for about a month. There was no food and ammunition inside, and no reinforcements outside. In addition, Nuanquan and Guangling were captured by us one after another.At this time, in order to preserve his strength, Hu Xihou was ready to wait for an opportunity to flee to Datong.While stepping up the tunnel work, I surrounded them tightly to prevent the enemy from escaping. On November 1st, I dug two tunnels under the west gate and south gate of Yu County, and completed the charge.On the 2nd, the 35th and 34th regiments attacked Yu County for the third time.That night, the west and south sides were blasted successfully. With the support of artillery fire, the 1st Battalion of the 35th Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the 34th Regiment quickly broke into the city by using the blasting effect. Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Hu Xihou was forced to surrender. The force attacked Zong Hanchen's department in the western half of the city.After about five hours of fierce fighting, except for more than 30 people including Zong Hanchen who fled to Datong, the rest were wiped out.So far, Yu County has been liberated for me. The battles in Wei, Guang, and Nuan lasted 35 days, wiped out more than 3,000 defending enemies, pulled out the remaining three enemy strongholds in southern Chahar, and liberated the entire Chahar Province.At that time, the People's Congress of Chahar Province, which was being held in Xuanhua, sent a telegram of congratulations and condolences to the 12th Brigade. The local people also presented the 12th Brigade with two pennants, "Kill the enemy like a tiger" and "Love the people like jade".On November 5th, the 12th Brigade set off from the Yuxian area and traveled westward by train along Pingsui Road in sections. On the 20th, it arrived at the Baita area east of Guisui and returned to our column organization. The Battle of Suiyuan was the first battle after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War.At that time, it was in the transition period from the national liberation war to the domestic revolutionary war, and from the scattered guerrilla warfare to the coordinated mobile warfare of large corps. Due to the rapid development of the situation and the urgent tasks, the local troops of the military regions immediately carried out the tasks as soon as they formed field armies. Ideology, combat thinking, leadership style, command methods, and work style are still at the stage of guerrilla warfare, and they are still far from meeting the requirements of large corps operations; for fighting annihilation warfare and mobile warfare, they are still unclear in terms of thinking, and lack experience in large corps operations. The technology and the organization of various battles are not suitable for the requirements of annihilation and mobile warfare.Coupled with the feeling of underestimating the enemy in organization, command and tactical use, Fu Zuoyi's familiar terrain, many cavalry, strong mobility, and fast movement were underestimated. In principle, there is also a lack of circuitous encirclement in tactics, mostly frontal flat pushes, and lack of careful planning, careful organization, and full preparations in battles. Therefore, although the troops fought bravely, there were more defeats and fewer annihilation battles; especially in Suidong Wei It was able to seize the main force of the enemy, annihilate it, and cause the main force to retreat back to Sui; after encircling and returning to Sui, it failed to annihilate the main force of the enemy at the periphery of Guisui, so it failed to complete the campaign mission satisfactorily. This battle was the first battle that our Jizhong column participated in after being upgraded to a field army. The troops withstood the test of this transformation and received practical training. Fighting under harsh weather conditions, all commanders and fighters united and fought bravely, and basically completed the task.What is even more valuable is that, due to the strong leadership of the party committees at all levels and the strong guarantee of political work, the troops endured hunger and cold under such difficult conditions, strictly implemented the "three major disciplines and eight points of attention", and resolutely implemented the party's ethnic policy. and new district policies.Everywhere the troops went, they took the initiative to publicize to the masses, helped the landlords to carry water, clean the courtyard, and do the work, so as to return the borrowed items, compensate for the damage, complete the formalities for food, respect the customs and habits of brothers and ethnic groups, and many people obeyed the rules and loved the people. model case. At that time, cadres and soldiers saw with their own eyes that many ordinary people had no food to eat, no clothes to wear, and some even had only one pair of trousers for the whole family, which aroused their class sympathy.They took off their underwear and gave them to the poor, and saved the food and distributed it to the local people. Therefore, the masses regarded us as their relatives, talked to the army, complained, and praised us as "life-savers" and "" Bodhisattva Army". When our army first arrived, many people listened to the enemy’s rumors and hid, but seeing that we would rather sleep under the eaves, set up tents and live under trees than enter the temple, they were very moved, and they all came back one after another and offered to be our guides , carrying stretchers, transporting food and ammunition, supporting the front line, and seeing off in the lane when parting, reluctant to part.This is the first time we have marched into Suiyuan. Although we did not capture Guisui, we have already left a good influence on the masses.