Chapter 44 Liberate Baotou

On October 11th, the Corps held its first enlarged meeting of the Front Committee since entering Suiyuan near Fengzhen, summarizing the situation after the troops entered Suiyuan. , researched and determined the next stage of operational deployment, and decided to leave a unit in the Jining and Xinghe areas to cover and open up local work, to consolidate the liberated areas of East Sui, and to concentrate the first, second, sixth and eighth columns together. The Ministry went deep into the hinterland of Suiyuan, marched towards Suixi and Suibei, first captured Taolin, Wuchuan, Wulanhua, Bikeqi, Chasuqi, Dengkou and other towns and surrounding areas, and then took advantage of the victory to capture Baotou and eradicate the enemy forces in Suixi important stronghold.

On October 14, my second column was ordered to march from the Guancun area to Suixi.The march was very difficult. At that time, Jiangnan was still in the season of crisp autumn, but Suiyuan had already entered winter, and the temperature difference between morning and evening and noon was 20 to 30 degrees.As the folk song says, "wear leather jackets in the morning and gauze in the afternoon, and eat watermelon around the stove".On the grassland, the new wind howls, fierce and biting, and the trees are withered, and there is a cold winter scene everywhere; sometimes the temperature drops to minus 10 or 20 degrees at night, and the soldiers have just put on cotton-padded clothes. Shoes, marching on the grassland outside the Great Wall.As the Tang Dynasty poet Cen Shen described in the poem about marching outside the Great Wall, "The head of the wind is like a knife, and the face is cut like a knife, and the horse hair is steamed with snow and sweat." The biting cold wind cuts through the cotton-padded clothes like a knife.During the march, the soldiers not only had to endure the invasion of cold, but also the test of hunger.Although the troops had silver dollars and cloth, the local people were short of food. Although they had money, they had no food to buy.The food consumed by our army during the long-distance march could not be replenished in time, and we had to starve when we encountered food shortage areas.Drinking water during the march is also a big problem.Some areas in Suiyuan have a lot of bitter water. At first glance, the rivers and lakes are green and crystal clear, clear and attractive; however, when you drink some water with your hands, it is bitter and astringent. Seasonal rain and winter snow are stored for drinking throughout the year. It is really "a drop of water is as expensive as a sleeve".

In order to protect the interests of the masses, the column instructed the troops to use as little water as possible to store water from the masses. In areas with severe water shortages, the troops had to drink salty and astringent bitter water. Some comrades drank too much, which caused stomach pains and diarrhea; Comrades use it to wash hands, face, and feet. When the cold wind blows, the skin becomes red, swollen and cracked, and blood oozes from the bloody holes, which is unbearably painful.In a very difficult environment, the majority of commanders and fighters have never forgotten the purpose of our army and put the interests of the people first.During the Suixi march, we saw that the local people were living in poverty, and half a year's grain of bran and vegetables was quite common. Some families could only spend the winter wrapped in broken quilts and snuggle up on the kang, struggling with hunger and cold.Although the commanders and fighters were starving themselves, they still cut down on food and clothing, and took out a lot of clothes, shoes and socks, and rice noodles to support the Suiyuan people who were struggling on the death line.Due to the Kuomintang's deceptive propaganda, the masses had doubts and fears about our army at the beginning of the march. In order to break the rumors of the Kuomintang reactionaries and expand the influence of our army with practical actions, many troops insisted on camping in the cowsheds of the masses at night during the westward march. , Under the eaves, in the door openings, and by the haystacks, they spent cold nights where the dripping water turned into ice. After dawn, they had to help the masses fetch water and sweep the floor, and do mass work.

The actions of our army have won the trust and support of the masses, and made them understand the nature of our army.The poor peasants and herdsmen who had suffered from extortion, oppression and exploitation by the Kuomintang reactionary army excitedly held the hands of our soldiers and praised our army as "the Bodhisattva army sent by the Communist Party and Chairman Mao to rescue the suffering."They were not afraid of the enemy's threats and intimidation. They organized one after another, took the initiative to lead the way for our army, organized stretchers, scouted the enemy's situation, raised food, and supported our army in combat. The trust and support of the people became a huge driving force for our army to march victoriously. .The vast number of commanders and fighters endured unimaginable difficulties such as cold, hunger, and sandstorms with strong will, and they marched bravely with perseverance, and their morale was always very high.

On October 22, our column advanced to the east of Baotou at the front line of Zhekou and Shaerqin, and quickly captured the area, and then swung our troops westward, approaching Baotou.The rapid progress of our army was beyond the enemy's expectations. Baotou's defending enemy Deng Baoshan's troops were afraid of being encircled and wiped out. Baotou City.At this time, towns such as Taolin, Wuchuan, Wulanhua, Tuoketuo, Helin, Saraqi, and Chasuqi in Suixi had also been captured by the neighboring columns, and a large area of ​​land between Guisui and Baotou was liberated by our army. .

Baotou, an important town in Suixi, is located on the north bank of Hetao of the Yellow River and at the end of the west section of Pingsui Road.The highway can lead to Ningxia and Xinjiang in the west, and Yulin in Shaanxi in the south. The city has a population of more than 70,000 and has developed industries and commerce. It is the first commercial city in Suining.The liberation of Baotou caused the Guisui defending enemy to lose an important support point in Suixi, which greatly shocked the Suiyuan enemy army.In order to deal with the enemy's counterattack and harassment of Baotou and quickly establish a democratic order, the Military Commission decided to impose military control on Baotou, and I was ordered to serve as the director of the Military Control Committee.At the same time, the heads of the Corps and the Jinsui Military Region appointed Zhao Guanying as the commander of the Baotou garrison, Yang Zhilin as the political commissar, Gao Kelin as the deputy political commissar, and Shen Tu as the secretary-general of the Military Control Commission.Commander Yang especially emphasized that Baotou is an important town in Suixi. It has a pivotal position in the military and has an important political influence. We must not only liberate Baotou militarily, but also occupy Baotou politically to eliminate the influence of the Kuomintang's long-term reactionary rule. .

On the 24th, the Baotou Military Control Committee, composed of most of the column and the Sixth Brigade and local cadres in Suimeng, was established and went to work in the city.As soon as we entered the city, Baotou Radio Station broadcast the propaganda slogan "The People's Liberation Army is the people's army. We welcome the People's Liberation Army to enter the city. Don't panic!" The 16- and 17-year-old announcers of Xinhua News Agency protected the radio station when the enemy fled in a panic, and handed it over to the Military Control Commission in its entirety.Comrade Shen Tu immediately praised his revolutionary act on behalf of the military control committee and appointed him to be in charge of the radio work. The young man was moved to tears.On the second day, the troops specially held a majestic and majestic entry ceremony. The Sixth Brigade and Sixteenth Regiment, who were in charge of security tasks, marched into the city in full force and mighty, and circled the main streets of the city for a week.At that time, our army was well-managed and well-equipped, basically beautiful weapons and equipment sent by Chiang Kai-shek. The entry into the city achieved the purpose of showing the enemy's military strength and also played a role in stabilizing people's hearts.On the second day of Baotou's liberation, the Mongolian worker Darji Kangbu (that is, King Kang) who lived in Baotou sent his lieutenant colonel staff officer Guan Ruiguang (Kang Kang's brother-in-law) to the garrison headquarters to announce the uprising when he was ill. Cross the Yellow River to Dalate Banner where his troops are stationed, and convey Kang Wang's order "not to fight with the People's Liberation Army, remain neutral, and cooperate secretly".The Military Control Council welcomed Kang Wang's wise attitude, and immediately returned to them the weapons and ammunition seized from Kang Wang's mansion when the troops entered the city.Zhao Guanying, Sheng Zhihua, Shen Tu, Li Yan and other leading comrades went to the mansion to visit King Kang many times.The column sent Comrade Zhang Luzeng, Minister of Health, to treat Kang Wang.At that time, Kang Wang, his family members and other officials expressed their great gratitude.Our army liberated Baotou for the first time, and the people still lacked understanding of our army. Coupled with the enemy's reactionary propaganda, many people still had doubts about our army and did not dare to approach us.When comrades Han Wei, Zhao Guanying, Liu Guoliang and I entered the urban area, the streets were deserted and depressed, and the shops along the street were closed; Transportation; some food and supplies abandoned by the enemy when they retreated were piled up everywhere; fur and fur products that had not had time to be transported away were scattered around at the station and in the warehouse.

In order to restore order in the urban area as soon as possible, after entering the city, the military control committee first announced the Anmin, clarified our purpose of marching into Suiyuan and the policy for people of all ethnic groups and classes, and announced the control discipline; in order to prevent enemy agents from sabotaging, the military control committee quickly took over the radio station key departments such as railway stations, water and electricity, and important industrial and mining enterprises; column art troupes and brigade propaganda teams took to the streets to publicize, performed live newspaper dramas, posted slogans, distributed leaflets, and held small rallies to publicize the policies of our party and our army and the national liberation war. situation.The Shanxi Clapper Troupe from the Shanxi-Sui Military Region also came to Baotou to participate in a promotional performance, which was very popular with the masses.Wei Cheng's troops cooperated with the streets to maintain order and publicize the masses.The Military Control Committee held a symposium attended by people from all walks of life in Baotou. On behalf of the Military Control Committee and the troops stationed in Baotou, I made the first speech amid warm applause. Work together to manage Baotou well.The upper-level people who attended the symposium also spoke one after another, expressing their support for the policies of the Communist Party and their willingness to contribute to the management of Baotou.All commanders and fighters participating in the execution of military management and garrison tasks strictly abide by the three major disciplines of our army, the eight precautions and the "Twelve Rules for Respecting the Customs and Habits of Mongolian and Hui Compatriots" promulgated by the Political Department of the Corps. Really do not commit any crimes.In addition to the intense garrison tasks, the commanders and fighters actively help the masses to treat diseases and work, caring for the masses of the people in every possible way.

On the second day after entering the city, two enemy planes flew over the urban area and circled for reconnaissance, causing panic among the citizens.Regardless of their own safety, the commanders and fighters immediately organized and directed the masses to evacuate and hide.The broad masses of people in Baotou and people from all walks of life who still remember the brutal actions of the Kuomintang reactionary army oppressing the people, praised our army's behavior of caring for and loving the people and strict discipline. They truly realized that only the Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army The great savior of Baotou people.The masses quickly eliminated the fear of our army caused by the deceptive propaganda of the Kuomintang reactionaries, and changed their attitude towards our army. Many progressive teachers, students, citizens and upper-level people actively participated in our army's propaganda team and assisted our army in maintaining order , investigate the weapons, radio stations and other materials left by the enemy, and persuade the hidden small groups of gangsters and stragglers to surrender to me.With the strong support of the people, within two or three days after the Military Control Commission entered the city, the situation in Baotou has improved significantly, the social order has quickly stabilized, and urban life has quickly returned to normal. The business was quickly resumed, the factories started to work one after another, all the more than 30 primary and secondary schools in the city resumed classes, the water and electricity supply was never interrupted, the radio station became a propaganda tool for the people, and for the first time the voice of justice of the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao sounded in the sky of Baotou City .During this period, He Long, Chang Chengwu, Li Jingquan and other leading comrades successively visited Baotou to inspect in person. They saw a peaceful and stable scene in the city, highly appreciated it, and warmly praised the work achievements of our military control committee.Political commissar Li Jingquan said: "Your troops have strict discipline, and you have never committed any crimes."

On the afternoon of October 30, people from all walks of life in Baotou City held an unprecedented victory celebration in the city to celebrate the liberation of Baotou by our army.When thousands of our garrison armed with guns and cannons arrived at the venue with neat steps, mighty majesty, and loud singing, about 10,000 to 20,000 men, women, and children waved colorful flags and flowers to express welcome and condolences to our army commanders and fighters In other words, a large number of people followed excitedly to the venue to welcome the People's Liberation Army into the city and congratulate the liberation of Baotou.The meeting was organized and directed by Li Yan.At the beginning of the meeting, a salute was fired (replaced by explosives) to build momentum.Then, Zhao Guanying, the commander of the garrison, and Shen Tu, the secretary-general of the Military Control Commission, spoke. At this time, the venue was full of emotions. The slogans of "Down with Chiang Kai-shek and liberate the whole of China" and "Support the PLA and build a new Baotou" resounded through the sky.Representatives from all walks of life in Baotou also delivered enthusiastic speeches at the meeting.In their speeches, they praised our party's wise policy and the strict discipline of the People's Liberation Army, and warmly welcomed our army to station in Baotou.Some said: After the PLA liberated Baotou, no one was arrested or killed, and no robbery occurred. In the evening, a lighting fireball rose over Baotou City, and the whole city was brightly lit, just like daytime.Carnival citizens, led by the portrait of Chairman Mao, held a city-wide parade to celebrate the people of Baotou getting rid of the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang and gaining a new life from then on, expressing the joy and joy of the people's liberation.

While the military was in charge of Baotou, in order to eliminate the remnants of the enemy around Baotou, the main force of the column, under the command of Deputy Commander Han Wei, marched into Baoxi and Baobei to chase and wipe out the remnants of the enemy.The enemies of Baoxi and Baobei have been attacked by us several times, and they have become frightened birds. Most of them are cavalry.In order to catch the enemy, the troops braved the severe cold, wind and sand, regardless of hunger and fatigue, at a speed of more than ten miles per hour.On foot and the enemy's cavalry, they finally surrounded the enemy in Haye Hutong, about a hundred miles west of Baotou. After a fierce battle all day and night, they wiped out a regiment of Deng Baoshan's troops, and successively liberated Guyang, Anbei, Gongmiao Town, and Changledian. and so on.At this time, most of the whole territory of Suiyuan had been liberated, and Guisui became an isolated city on the grassland outside the Great Wall. Based on this, the head of the Corps and the Shanxi-Sui Military Region decided to order our army in Suixi to return to the east and prepare to besiege Guisui again.On November 2nd and 3rd, my two verticals returned eastward by train or on foot from Baotou respectively, and entered the Xiaodahei River, Jiajiayingzi, and Zhaojun's Tomb in Suinan, and quickly cleared the periphery with brave actions. Forced the city wall, together with the brother column, surrounded more than 8,000 people defending the enemy in Guisui.Under the threat of enemy artillery fire and air strikes, the soldiers braved the severe cold and built fortifications day and night to prepare for the siege.The former committee decided that my besieging army would advance to the city gate on the 11th and launch a general attack on the evening of the 16th.Facing annihilation, the enemy army in the city was in panic all day long, like a turtle in a urn losing confidence in defending the city. At this moment, our Northeast Field Army successfully ended the Liaoshen Campaign and began to advance into the pass.The entry of the Northeast Army has brought new and major changes to the North China Liberation War, and the day of liberating all of North China is just around the corner.However, in order to divide the enemy force strategically, and not to alarm the enemy early, so as to keep the enemy force in North China in the Ping, Tianjin, and Zhang areas, so as to prevent Fu Zuoyi from deciding to flee south, the Central Military Commission ordered our three corps to stop attacking the city and withdraw from the siege again. Sui, open to Zhuozishan, Jining, Longshengzhuang, and Fengzhen in the east of Sui to form a favorable situation in the battle, wipe out the enemy at random, and rest on the spot and stand by.So far, the mission of marching into Suiyuan has ended successfully. This campaign, which started on September 5th and ended on November 14th, lasted for more than two months.The troops marching into Suiyuan, in accordance with the strategic deployment of Chairman Mao and the Central Committee, drove for three thousand miles and swept across the entire territory of Suiyuan. The rest of them threatened the capital of Suiyuan twice to return to Suicheng, greatly intimidating the enemy forces in North China, and echoed with the Second Corps of our army in North China, mobilizing ten whole divisions of the enemy's infantry and cavalry to run back and forth on the Ping-Sui Recha line, Fatigued with coping, Fu Zuoyi's troops were trapped in the dilemma of facing the enemy, taking care of one thing and losing another, and being helpless. They successfully realized the strategic intention of "detaining Fu Zuoyi's troops in the customs" entrusted by the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao to our army in North China.It guaranteed the smooth progress of the Liaoshen Campaign, created very favorable conditions for the subsequent victory of the Pingjin Campaign and the final peaceful liberation of Suiyuan in March 1949, and wrote a glorious page in the history of the Suiyuan Liberation War.