Chapter 36 (3) Before the combat order is issued

After the Red Army crossed Chishui and entered southern Sichuan, Liu Xiang adopted the policy of "defending the north and attacking the south", taking a defensive position against the Fourth Red Army and an offensive against the unstable Central Red Army.His military deployment is that the 36 regiments of Pan Wenhua's department deployed defenses in the areas of Chishui, Gulin, and Xuyong on the south bank of the Yangtze River, and strictly sealed off the Yangtze River; Hurry up to build fortifications, mobilize the militia and local armed forces, and do everything possible to prevent the Central Red Army from crossing the Yangtze River north.

Facing the Sichuan Army's three-way attack on Guning, Xingwen, and Changning, on February 7, Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, Luo Fu, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang held a meeting in Zhaxiyuanzi, Yunnan, and decided to abandon the plan to cross the Yangtze River in the north. The development area on the Guizhou border, and strive to develop from the west of Guizhou to the east, so that the corps of the Central Red Army quickly separated from the Sichuan Army and concentrated on Zhenxiong in the Yunnan border. On the 9th, the Central Red Army occupied Tashi.At this time, the three brigades of the Sichuan Army rushed from Zhenxiong to Tashi. In order to quickly get rid of the flanking attack of the pursuers, they decided that the Red Army would cross the Chishui River eastward and fight against Xueyue's troops and the Guizhou Army for development. On the 11th, Zhou Enlai and others led the Red Army to leave Tashi, march eastward through Shikanzi, and arrived at Moni, Sichuan on the 14th.

Two days later, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Revolutionary Military Commission issued a "Message to All Red Warriors", pointing out that "Since the Sichuan and Yunnan warlords concentrated their efforts on using the natural dangers of the Yangtze River to block us, and because the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Revolutionary Military Commission did not want to sacrifice us because of regional issues The Red Army has a vital force, so it is determined to stop developing towards northern Sichuan, and finally decides to establish a base in the three provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan." "In order to secure victory, we must seek favorable opportunities and areas to destroy the enemy. Under unfavorable conditions, we should reject the kind of risky, inconclusive battles. Therefore, the Red Army must frequently shift combat areas. Sometimes Go east, sometimes west, sometimes take the broad road, sometimes the small road, sometimes the old road, sometimes a new road, and the sole purpose is to win battles under favorable conditions.”

On the same day, in Baisha, Gulin, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De ordered the corps of the Red Army to advance quickly to the banks of the Chishui River, preparing to cross the Chishui River for the second time. From February 18th to 21st, under the command of Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, Zhu De, etc., the Central Red Army crossed the Chishui River at Taipingdu and Erlangdu, re-entered Guizhou, and rushed towards the Tongzi area. The return of the Red Army to northern Guizhou was once again beyond Chiang Kai-shek's expectations.He judged that the Central Red Army might go east to Xiangxi to join the 2nd and 6th Red Army Corps, and urgently ordered the Qian Army to rush to the Songkan area to intercept.In order to prevent the Red Army from developing further into northern Guizhou, Wang Jialie hurried from Guiyang to Zunyi to take command.Chiang Kai-shek ordered to ensure Zunyi, and Xue Yue urgently ordered Wu Qiwei, who was staying in Guiyang, to lead the 59th and 93rd divisions to cross the Wujiang River to reinforce the Guizhou army.

At this time, Mao Zedong proposed that the Yunnan Army and the Sichuan Army had conflicts and would not participate in the "pursuit" of the Red Army for a while. However, Pan Wenhua of the Sichuan Army did not dare to concentrate on "pursuing and suppressing" the Red Army because he was afraid that the Red Army would cross the Yangtze River north. The Qian army in northern Guizhou and the Xueyue tribe of Jiang's descendant lineage.Its combat deployment is to use the 37th Regiment of the 5th Red Army to prevent the Sichuan Army from pursuing troops in Liangcun and Shuanglongchang in the north.

Zhou Enlai, Luo Fu, Zhu De, Wang Jiaxiang and others thought Mao Zedong's idea was very good, so they unanimously decided to fight a big battle in northern Guizhou. The 37th Regiment of the 5th Red Army pretended to be the main force of the Red Army and used ingenious tricks to lure the troops of 3 brigades and 9 regiments of the Sichuan Army to Wenshui for 6 days, effectively cooperating with the main force in Tongzi, Loushanguan, and Zunyi .The 1st Division and 1st Regiment of the 1st Red Army captured Tongzi County on the evening of the 24th, cutting off the connection between the north and the south of the Guizhou Army. On the evening of the 25th, the 3rd Army of the Red Army captured the strategically important Loushan Pass. After repeated fierce fighting, they severely damaged 4 regiments of the Guizhou Army on the southern slope the next day, and the remnants fled south to Zunyi.

Loushan Pass was occupied, and the gateway to Zunyi was opened.The Red 3rd Army went all out and marched southward on the afternoon of the 27th to conquer Zunyi, and all the troops defending the city of Wang Jialie were wiped out.Seeing that the Qian army was defeated by the Red Army, Chiang Kai-shek urgently ordered Wu Qiwei to lead his troops to rescue Zunyi in an attempt to regain Zunyi.However, Chiang Kai-shek would never have imagined that this was exactly what Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong expected. After the Red Army reoccupied Zunyi, they had already made preparations to send reinforcements to Jiang's army. On the one hand, they built solid fortifications to wait for work to meet the frontal invading enemy;When Wu Qiwei commanded the 59th and 93rd divisions to approach Zunyi and attempted to attack from the direction of Honghuagang, the 10th and 13th regiments of the Red 3rd Army controlled the commanding heights such as Laoyashan and Honghuagang near Zunyi; The 12th Regiment roundabout surrounded Jiang Jun; the 3rd Regiment of the Red 1st Regiment and the 11th Regiment of the Red 3rd Regiment met the enemy in the direction of Lazy Bench and Yaxi respectively, led the enemy outside Zunyi City, and dragged Jiang Jun.

The battle started on the afternoon of the 28th and continued until the afternoon of the 1st of March. Wu Qiwei's two divisions were annihilated and repelled, and more than a thousand people were captured.He was so ashamed of this failure that he almost committed suicide.In the Battle of Tongzun, the Red Army wiped out 8 regiments of two divisions of the Jiang Army, captured more than 3,000 people, and captured a large number of military supplies. This was the first major victory since the Long March. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek flew to Chongqing and personally planned a new siege of the Central Red Army.He ordered the ministries of Long Yun, Liu Xiang, and Xueyue to rush to build blockhouses and implement a blockade, advancing step by step, in an attempt to encircle and annihilate the Red Army in the narrow strip of Zunyi and Yaxi, that is, the area west of Wujiang River. On March 3, he issued a warrant to Long Yun, Liu Xiang, Xue Yue, etc.: "The chairman of this committee has been stationed in Chongqing. All the troops that I station in Sichuan and Guizhou will be under the unified command of this chairman. Without the order of this chairman, no Advance and retreat without authorization, and work together to complete the mission together.” He judged that the Central Red Army would turn eastward and join the 2nd and 6th Red Army in western Hunan.

On March 4, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and Wang Jiaxiang jointly promulgated the decision of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission in order to eliminate the two divisions of Jiang's Zhou Hunyuan, Xiao Zhiping, and Xie Pufu: "In order to strengthen and unify operations, a special front enemy headquarters was set up in this battle, and Zhu De was entrusted As the commander, Mao Zedong is the political commissar." The next day it was stipulated that "all corps will be under the command of the front enemy headquarters when they arrive at the concentrated area, but the rear troops of the 1st and 3rd corps will be under the command of the field command."At this time, the biggest threat to the Red Army was firstly the two columns of Zhou Hunyuan and Wu Qiwei of the Xueyue Corps of Chiang Kai-shek's direct line, and the Qian Army, followed by the warlord troops of Sichuan, Yunnan, and Hunan.

Wu Qiwei's column in Chiang Kai-shek's direct line was newly defeated in the Battle of Zunyi, and its vitality was severely injured. It has not yet recovered and is stationed in the south bank of the Wujiang River.The Qian army was not strong in combat effectiveness, and was almost defeated in the Zunyi Battle, and its vitality was exhausted.Only the strength of Zhou Hunyuan's column stationed in the Renhuai and Changganshan areas is still there. Mao Zedong believed that while Wu Qiwei and Wang Jialie were still recovering, they turned to the Changgan Mountain area in the northwest to lure the Zhou Hunyuan tribe to be wiped out during the campaign.Because Zhou Hunyuan's troops have not yet received the iron fist of the Red Army, they may be proud and concentrate their superior forces to destroy them.

On the same day, Zhu De and Mao Zedong called Zhou Enlai to report in Yaxi on the deployment of the former enemy headquarters to eliminate the two divisions of Xiao Zhiping and Xie Pufu: "Zhou: (A) To meet the enemy west of Bailakan on tomorrow 6th, we will The Army Corps and the Zhu Corps fought from north to south and copied to the enemy's rear. The Third Army Corps fought from south to north, and the Fifth Army Corps was located in Bailakan as a reserve team. (B) Scattered soldiers were found in the direction of Songlin. It is better to be between Xihuamiaotian and Baliushui. (C) No. 6 of the Ninth Army Corps should withdraw to the vicinity of Baliushui to guard against Dadu. (D) If the enemy does not enter, a course of action must be decided tomorrow night. You should approach the front line. We At Bailakan on the 6th." Mao Zedong and Zhu De judged that the 7 regiments of the Xiao Zhiping and Xie Pufu divisions of Zhou Hunyuan's column marched from Changgan Mountain to Fengxiangba and Bailakan on the 6th, and the 6 regiments of Wan Yaohuang's division marched towards Changgan Mountain Moving forward.The 3 regiments of He Zhizhong of the Guizhou Army will advance from Shikeng Pass to Daheishui. Based on this, Mao Zedong and Zhu De ordered the 1st Red Army Corps and the cadre regiment to form the right column. At dawn on the 6th, they took Huamiaotian to attack between Changgan Mountain and Fengxiangba. , The 2nd Red Division flanked the enemy in the Qingkeng area, and the cadre regiment followed the 2nd Red Division, under the command of Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen; Yangmashui attacked from south to north, guarding Jiulong Mountain and Bailakan with a regiment, and attracted the enemy to advance eastward.The legion sent a small unit to the south of Taipingchang to confuse and contain any enemy.The Red 5th Army was the reserve team, and they entered the vicinity of Bailakan to stand by. On the 6th, the Wu Corps dealt with the two divisions of Xiao and Xie with violent actions, and continued to fight against the Wan division on the 7th.According to this combat deployment, take advantage of the weakness of the enemy's arrogance during the movement, confidently wipe out the 7 regiments of the Zhou Hunyuan Column's Xiaoxie Division, and then continue to fight and continue to wipe out the Zhou Hunyuan Column's Ten Thousand Divisions without giving the enemy any respite Opportunities to achieve the purpose of each break. However, Chiang Kai-shek learned the lesson of the disastrous defeat in the Zunyi Battle, and realized that the Red Army was not a defeated and fleeing army, but was still very effective and could not be solved quickly. He could only use the fortressist tactics of the fifth "encirclement and suppression" of the Central Soviet Area to encircle and intercept the Red Army. We also have to fight a protracted war.Therefore, he strictly ordered the troops not to advance or retreat without his permission, but to gradually narrow the encirclement with fortresses, and let the Red Army attack the fortresses for a decisive battle.Due to this change in the enemy's strategy and tactics, Mao Zedong and Zhu De's several plans to lure the enemy into in-depth failed to materialize, and the intention of concentrating superior forces to wipe out the enemy in mobile warfare also came to naught. In order to disrupt Chiang Kai-shek's "encirclement and annihilation" deployment, Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong resorted to tricks and asked the Red Army to pretend to wander in the Zunyi area to attract more Jiang troops.When the Red Army wandered around Zunyi, Yaxi, and Bailakan to lure the enemy, Chiang Kai-shek analyzed the Red Army's actions. On the one hand, he believed that the Red Army's combat effectiveness had not diminished and should not be underestimated; Even firewood is not easy to come by, and the Red Army's lingering in this desperate situation is a manifestation of the uncertainty of major policies.There are many Hengduan Mountains on both sides of the Yangtze River in this section, and the mountains are so steep that large troops cannot maneuver. From now on, the Red Army will have to break up into pieces and fight guerrillas north of Wujiang River. Therefore, he issued an order on March 9, ordering the columns of Wu Qiwei, Zhou Hunyuan, Sun Du, and Guo Xunqi to adopt the tactics of attacking separately and encircling and annihilating the Red Army in the southwestern area of ​​Zunyi. Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen faced the ever-changing enemy situation, and the commanders and fighters of the 1st Red Army were eager to fight. They called the Central Revolutionary Military Commission on March 10: "Regarding the current actions, it is recommended that the field army should advance to Dagu Xinchang and Sanchongyan, and eliminate Xi'an Village and Xinchang (Dagu Xinchang), the enemy of Sanchongyan." At the same time, he proposed five action plans for attacking Drum Xinchang. The Zunyi meeting criticized Li De's arbitrariness and domineering style of personally entrusting the work of the Military Commission. In the future, the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Central Committee will convene relevant personnel to discuss and make collective decisions on military issues.After the telegrams of Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen were circulated among Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, Luo Fu, Zhu De, Wang Jiaxiang and other leaders, Luo Fu immediately called a meeting in Yaxi for the leaders of the Party Central Committee, the Military Commission and the Red Army to discuss.Luo Fu has always had a democratic style. After taking over as the head of the Central Committee, he discussed everything according to the principle of the minority obeying the majority.More than a dozen people who attended the meeting agreed with Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen's plan to attack Dagu Xinchang.Only Mao Zedong opposed it. Mao Zedong said: "We can't just consider the Guizhou Army stationed in Daguxinchang, but also consider the two columns of Zhou Hunyuan and Wu Qiwei around Daguxinchang and the four brigades of Sun Du. Once we attack Daguxinchang, they will not Will stand by and watch!" Wang Jiaxiang said: "Judging from the current situation, we can definitely win the Dagu Xinchang before Zhou, Wu, and Sun Bu react." Mao Zedong said: "When we don't know the enemy's situation very well, we can't make such a judgment. You may only want to win the new field of drumming, but ignore the unexpected consequences caused by it. Once the battle starts, what we face Not only the Qian army, but all of Chiang Kai-shek's troops in Guizhou, we are in danger of being besieged!" Wang Jiaxiang said: "There must be a limit to avoiding reality. We can't always walk around the enemy and not fight a single battle!" Mao Zedong said: "We don't fight uncertain battles! It's not always a bad thing to go around the enemy, and now we really have to go around the enemy." Wang Jiaxiang said: "The Qian army was defeated by us just now, and they were very afraid of us. There is only one division stationed in Dagu Xinchang, and it is absolutely sure to eat it." Luo Fu said: "I agree with Comrade Jiaxiang's views. During this time, many comrades have reported to me that we are always playing hide-and-seek with the enemy, and that we cannot raise morale without fighting. Therefore, I think it is feasible to attack Daguxinchang of." "Comrade Enlai, what's your opinion?" Mao Zedong looked at Zhou Enlai, how he hoped to get Zhou Enlai's support at this time, and the support of this "person entrusted by the party to make the final decision in commanding the military" was decisive. of. After the meeting started, Zhou Enlai kept silent and did not express his position on both sides of the debate.Since he re-cooperated with Mao Zedong, he believes that in the current situation, Mao Zedong's strategy and tactics are the only way for the Red Army to get rid of Jiang's encirclement and interception.Every time he made a military decision, he supported Mao Zedong.But this time, he felt that Mao Zedong seemed to be a little too worried about the issue of attacking the new field of drumming.Always going around in circles to avoid Jiang Jun, the troops did complain a lot, they should seize the opportunity to attack Jiang Jun to boost morale. So on this issue, his point of view is biased towards Wang Jiaxiang and Luo Fu, but he did not express his position immediately.He looked around at the participants and said: "Many comrades haven't spoken yet, everyone should talk about their own views!" Seeing that Zhou Enlai did not express his support for himself, Mao Zedong lowered his head, knowing that Zhou Enlai did not support his views. More than a dozen people spoke one after another, agreeing with Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen's plan to attack Dagu Xinchang.Luo Fu could only once again "the minority obeys the majority", denying Mao Zedong's proposition.The meeting decided that Zhou Enlai was responsible for drafting and issuing combat orders. Before Luo Fu announced the end of the meeting, Mao Zedong left sullenly. The meeting was held very late, and it was already midnight when Zhou Enlai returned to his residence to draft a telegram to attack Daguxinchang.Tired after a long day's work, he was about to go to bed when there was a knock at the door.He opened the door and looked, startled.Mao Zedong was standing at the door holding a lantern. It was raining lightly, and his hair and shoulders were wet. Mao Zedong asked eagerly: "Enlai, have you given the order to attack Drum Xinchang?" Zhou Enlai said, "It has just been drafted and has not yet been issued." "That's good!..." Mao Zedong stepped into the room with a smile on his face. "Do you have any new ideas?" Zhou Enlai asked. "I went back and thought about it in the middle of the night, but I couldn't sleep." Mao Zedong said, "The more I thought about it, the more worried I became. Once we attack Daguxinchang, we will inevitably be surrounded by the enemy. This is not worth the candle!" Zhou Enlai made a cup of tea for Mao Zedong and said earnestly: "I know you didn't finish your speech at the meeting. Now, if you have any thoughts, please tell me all of them!" Mao Zedong lit a cigarette and took a few puffs, still feeling a little irritable.He stated his views to Zhou Enlai.Now the army is eager to fight, and the comrades in the central government are also eager to fight. This kind of sentiment is understandable.But you can't be emotional, emotional often leads to blindness, it is easy to make mistakes!In the last battle of Tucheng, they suffered such a big loss. He walked to the map hanging on the wall, pointed to the map and explained slowly that there was only one division of the Qian Army stationed in Dagu Xinchang, and its combat effectiveness was very weak, and it would be vulnerable to a single blow.Everyone has not considered now that the Qian army has a city wall on the edge of the city, and built a blockhouse outside the city, and the fortifications are very strong.Can it be taken off at once?If it cannot be taken down immediately, it is bound to become a tough battle.Let's take a look at the deployment of the enemies around the new field of playing drums.Not far to the north, there is a brigade of the Guizhou Army; in the Lubanchang area in the northwest of it, there are three divisions of Zhou Hunyuan; .Zhou Hunyuan and Sun Du just formed a north-south pincer attack on the Red Army! In addition, Wu Qiwei's two divisions have entered Daobashui from the east; the Guo Xunqi Department of the Sichuan Army has entered Zunyi; the main force of the Sichuan Army is stationed in Xuyong, Gulin, and Tongzi.If you are not careful, you will fall into the enemy's siege. After listening to Mao Zedong's analysis, Zhou Enlai thought about the map.Mao Zedong stared at him with a anxious expression on his face, waiting for him to speak.After pondering for a long time, he said to Mao Zedong: "I won't issue the order to attack the drum-playing new field for the time being. How about I call everyone a meeting at dawn to study your opinions?" "Okay!..." Mao Zedong was grateful and excited, not knowing what to say. Zhou Enlai smiled and said, "You should be able to sleep this time when you go back, right?" Mao Zedong also smiled, and said: "You should rest early. Don't get tired again, and forget my opinion tomorrow!" The next morning, Zhou Enlai called everyone to a meeting and persuaded the participants to accept Mao Zedong's proposition and give up the plan to attack Daguxinchang.After the meeting decided not to attack Dagu Xinchang, the troops concentrated in Ping'anzhai, Fengxiangkan, and Huamiaotian areas to seek new maneuvers. As soon as the meeting was over, Mao Zedong and Zhou En came to his residence to discuss another matter.The debate about attacking and beating drums aroused Mao Zedong's thinking. Military issues are different from ordinary issues. They cannot always be discussed by more than a dozen people.Mao Zedong suggested that a combat leading group be set up, entrusted by the central government with full authority to command the military. Zhou Enlai frowned and said, "You mean to restore the three-person group, right? But the Zunyi meeting just abolished the three-person group!" Mao Zedong said: "We criticize Bogu and Li De for personally taking over the affairs of the Military Commission, which is not wrong. But we also negate the system of the three-member regiment, which is inappropriate. Commanding operations must concentrate power, and it is always It is impossible to fight a good war if you practice 'the minority obeys the majority'." Zhou Enlai heaved a sigh of embarrassment, and said: "I am a member of the original trio, and now I want to restore the trio, so it is difficult for me to express my attitude." Mao Zedong said: "I know you have concerns. But this matter is the top priority! Let's have a new debate once or twice, and we can discuss it in meetings all day long. Don't lead troops to fight. Enlai, let's learn from Bogu and Li De. Lessons , the new trio is authorized by the Politburo and is responsible to the Politburo, so the Politburo collectively makes major decisions!" Zhou Enlai said: "The matter is of great importance. Let's discuss with Luo Fu and Jiaxiang before making a decision!" On March 12, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made a decision in Gouba, Zhou Enlai, Mao Zedong, and Wang Jiaxiang formed a three-member regiment to command the military with full power.