Chapter 10 Chapter 9 The Red Army's Expedition to the West and the Opening of the New Soviet Area in East Longdong

At the end of 1935, after the North China Incident, the anti-Japanese and national salvation situation in the whole country has been increasing day by day. In December, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a Politburo meeting in Wayaobao, northern Shaanxi, and determined the strategic policy of establishing the anti-Japanese national united front. In February 1936, in order to meet the urgent needs of the people of the whole country to resist Japanese aggression and save the nation, and to consolidate and expand the Shaanxi-Gansu revolutionary base, the anti-Japanese vanguard of the Chinese Red Army crossed the Yellow River eastward and marched eastward. In May, when the Eastern Expeditionary Red Army marched on the Tongpu Railway and won consecutive major victories, Chiang Kai-shek disregarded the safety of the nation and mobilized hundreds of thousands of central troops into Shanxi to intercept the Red Army's way of resisting Japan.In order to preserve China's national defense strength and express the sincerity of cooperating in the anti-Japanese war, the Red Army returned to Hexi after many victories.At this time, Chiang Kai-shek stepped up his attack on the Shaanxi-Gansu base area again.In order to consolidate and develop the Shaanxi-Gansu base area, strive for the Northeast Army to stop the civil war and unite in the resistance against Japan, and at the same time to welcome the Second and Fourth Front Army to go north, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China formed the Western Field Army, which began its western expedition at the end of May.After four months of continuous combat, the Red Army dealt a heavy blow to the enemy, won over the Northeast Army, made it change its position, and stopped its attack on the Red Army.At the same time, the vast new Soviet area was expanded, laying a solid foundation for the establishment of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region.

1. The Eastern Expedition and Return of the Red Army, and the heroic sacrifice of Liu Zhidan In November 1935, after the Red Front Army won the battle of Zhiluo Town in northern Shaanxi, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China faced an urgent problem: how should the Red Front Army and the Shaanxi-Gansu base area develop in 1936? We know that after the failure of the fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign in the Central Soviet Area.The Central Red Army was forced to abandon the original Jiangxi Soviet area for the Long March.One of the direct purposes of the Long March was to find a new base that would enable the Red Army to survive and develop during the strategic shift.The Long March of the Central Red Army arrived in northern Shaanxi, which finally gave a relatively stable foothold for the one-year strategic shift.However, the Shaanxi-Gansu Base is surrounded by the Yellow River and the desert on three sides. It faces Shanxi ruled by Yan Xishan across the river to the east, and the sphere of influence of the "four horses" of Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia to the west. It was also the Guanzhong base where the Kuomintang gathered heavy troops to "encircle and suppress" the Red Army.This geographical condition limited the large-scale development of the Red Army on the one hand, and there was no room for maneuver. Moreover, the land in the Shaanxi-Gansu Soviet Area was barren, the products were not abundant, and the population was only a few tens of dollars. The front army seeks development here, and is greatly restricted in the supply of food, clothing and quilts, and the replenishment of soldiers. ①

Under such circumstances, Mao Zedong analyzed the national situation and proposed that the Red Army on the one hand cross the Yellow River and enter Shanxi to fight, expand the political influence of the party and the Red Army, expand the Red Army and base areas, open up the anti-Japanese route, and prepare to fight against Japan directly. , which was later summarized as the policy of "seeking consolidation through development".But at that time many senior leading comrades of the Party and the Red Front Army.Comrade Peng Dehuai, who served as the commander of the Red Army, expressed concern about the Red Army's strategic eastward march.They believed that the Shaanxi-Gansu base area was the only relatively solid base area of ​​the Party and the Red Army at that time, and at this time there were still more than a dozen enemy divisions surrounding it from the south, west, and north.When the Red Army marched eastward, the enemy would take advantage of the gap from the back and flanks, and this base area was in danger of being lost; moreover, the Red Army on the one hand was very tired after arriving in northern Shaanxi, and its strength was weak. The whole army only had more than 11,000 people , and the target of the Eastern Expedition-the Shanxi warlords are relatively strong, claiming to be 100,000 people (actually 80,000 people). In addition, the Red Army is fighting with its back, and if it cannot proceed smoothly, it will be quite dangerous.Therefore, it is advocated to consolidate the development of the Shaanxi-Gansu Soviet Area, that is, to adopt the policy of "seeking development while consolidating".

In order to unify the ideological understanding, in December 1935, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a meeting in Wayaobao, northern Shaanxi. On the basis of determining the policy guidelines of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, the meeting passed the "Resolution on Military Strategy Issues", The policy of "combining civil war with national war" was established.It also stipulates: "The basis for the deployment of the First Front Army's operations should be firmly placed on the two tasks of 'opening up the anti-Japanese route' and 'consolidating and expanding the existing Soviet area', and taking 'opening up the anti-Japanese route' as the central task, and putting 'opening up the anti-Japanese route' Consolidate and expand the existing Soviet area' and closely link it. The specific steps, that is, put the main direction of the Red Army's actions and the development of the Soviet area in Shanxi in the east and Suiyuan in the north and other provinces."For this reason, the Red Army had the task of crossing the Yellow River east and entering Shanxi for combat.Later, the Central Military Commission held a meeting to further discuss the issue of the Eastern Expedition, and unified their understanding.It is believed that after necessary and sufficient preparations, taking certain measures, taking advantage of the enemy's paralyzed emotions, taking advantage of the enemy's surprise, and attacking their unpreparedness, the victory of the Eastern Expedition is sure.The Shaanxi-Gansu base area can also be kept in the hands of the Red Army.In this way, comrades who had concerns about the Eastern Expedition.Including Peng Dehuai gradually dispelled his worries.

On February 3, 1936, Peng Dehuai and Mao Zedong personally reconnaissance the water situation of the Yellow River, the terrain on the other side and the enemy's situation.Through careful reconnaissance, Mao Zedong and Peng Dehuai had a further detailed understanding of the military deployment of the Shanxi warlords. At that time, the military deployment of the Shanxi warlords was as follows: Yan Xishan, director of the Taiyuan Appeasement Office, deployed 25 brigades in two lines in order to prevent the Red Army from crossing the Yellow River eastward: three brigades from the 71st Division were deployed along the Yellow River from Heiyukou to Yumenkou The front line of more than 300 kilometers served as a front-line defense; two brigades of the 69th Division were stationed in Linfen; three brigades of the 66th Division were stationed in Changzhi and Jincheng; three brigades of the 72nd Division were stationed in Taiyuan; The five brigades of the division were stationed in Wubao, Yihe, Shenmu, and Fugu areas in the west of the Yellow River; the four brigades of the 70th division were the Taiyuan city defense forces; the five brigades of the 68th division were stationed in Hunyuan and Datong as strategic reserves.

The deployment of enemy forces in the Shaanxi-Gansu area is as follows: Yang Hucheng of the 17th Route Army stationed in Yichuan, Hancheng, and Baishui in an attempt to prevent the Red Army from developing south; Zhang Xueliang of the Northeast Army stationed in Yan'an and Luochuan in an attempt to prevent the Red Army from going south; The Jing Yuexiu Division of the 86th Division invaded south from Yulin and Dingbian in an attempt to occupy Wayaobao and Ansai; the 84th Division was stationed in Suide, Mizhi, and Qingjian to serve as garrison. The 35th Division of Ma Hongbin's Department of "Ningma" was stationed in Huan County, Qingyang, and Zhenyuan, Longdong, and the 57th Army of the Northeast Army was stationed in Heshui and Xifeng.

In order to ensure the victory of the Eastern Expedition, the Red Army formed the anti-Japanese vanguard of the Chinese Red Army with the main force of the first front army.Peng Dehuai was the commander, Mao Zedong was the political commissar, Ye Jianying was the chief of staff, Wang Jiaxiang (later Yang Shangkun) was the director of the Political Department, and Zhang Yunyi was the deputy chief of staff, under the jurisdiction of the Right Army, Left Army and Central Army. Left Army: Composed of the 15th Red Army Corps, under its jurisdiction are the 73rd Division (built in mid-February 1936), the 75th Division, and the 78th Division.

Right Route Army: Composed of the First Army Corps, under the jurisdiction of the First Division, the Second Division, the Fourth Division, and the Eighty-first Division (that is, the Eighty-first Division of the original Red 15th Army Corps). Central Route Army: Ye Jianying concurrently served as the commander-in-chief, under the jurisdiction of the Thirty Red Army (established on March 2, 1936, with Song Shilun as the commander and Yan Hongyan as the political commissar), the 224th Regiment of the 15th Red Army, and the 2nd Red Eighty-one Division a battalion. The troops staying in northern Shaanxi are: Red 28th Army (Liu Zhidan as commander, Song Renqiong as political commissar), Red 29th Army (Xiao Jinguang as commander, Gan Weihan as political commissar).

According to the decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Anti-Japanese Vanguard Army of the Chinese People's Red Army launched the Eastern Expedition from mid-February 1936 after relatively comprehensive preparations.The whole campaign is roughly divided into four stages. The first stage: break through the enemy's Yellow River defense line. On February 18, Commander Peng Dehuai and Political Commissar Mao Zedong of the Red Army's Anti-Japanese Pioneer Army issued an order for the Eastern Expedition. On the night of the 20th, the Red Army was divided into two groups, and the Red Army Corps crossed from the south of Wubao.After crossing the river, they quickly occupied Liuyu Town, Zhongyang, Shanxi; the 15th Red Army Corps forcibly crossed from the mouth of Qingjian River, and quickly occupied Yidie and Shilou, Shanxi after crossing the river.On the one hand, the Army Command moved after the Red Fifteenth Army.By the 23rd, the Red Army had captured Sanjiao Town, Liuyu Town, Yidie Town, and Tangma Town in western Shanxi, and controlled an area of ​​more than 50 miles from north to south and 35 kilometers from east to west on the east bank of the Yellow River, thus gaining a firm foothold in Hedong.

Seeing that the main force of the Red Army broke through the natural danger of the Yellow River and entered Shanxi, Yan Xishan hurriedly transferred the four brigades in Hexi back to the Lishi and Zhongyang areas in Hedong, and together with the 71st Division in charge of river defense, prevented the Red Army from advancing eastward; Three brigades of the 72nd Division went to Fenyang, and together with the 1st Independent Brigade advanced to Guanshang Village to stop the Red Army's movement, they transferred two brigades of the 69th Division from Linfen to Xixian County. Besiege the Red Army on three sides.Yan Xishan also transferred the main force of the 68th Division of Datong to Kelan, the main force of the Datong Cavalry Army to Nao County, the 66th Division of Changzhi to Jiexiu, and the Second Independent Brigade of Yingxian County to Wenshui to defend Taiyuan.

Facing enemies with multiple attacks.The red army on the one hand adopted the tactics of concentrating its forces on one or two routes. On February 25th, the 15th Red Army Corps wiped out two battalions of the leading troops of the 69th Division between Shilou and Xixian County; A regiment of the Second Independent Brigade of Annihilating the Enemy in Guanshang Village at the junction of the four counties controlled this combat hub. After Yan Xishan lost the important place of Guanshang Village, he immediately organized fourteen brigades to fight back.Counterattack northward from Xixian with three brigades of the 69th Division; counterattack westward with three brigades of the 66th Division from Jiexiu; counterattack westward from Fenyang with three brigades of the 73rd Division; Counterattack south from Zhongyang with the five brigades of the 1st Division.In response to this situation, the Red Army on the one hand, with a small number of troops, contained the enemy's 101st Division in the north and the 69th Division in the west, concentrated its forces, and sought to wipe out one part each of the enemy's 66th and 68th Divisions in the east. . On March 10, the 1st Red Army Corps and the 15th Red Army Corps defeated the enemy's 66th and 68th Divisions at Duijiu Valley in the Damai suburb of Xiaoyi.The first counterattack organized by Yan Xishan was smashed. During this period, under the leadership of Liu Zhidan, the Red 28th Army (250th Regiment, 251st Regiment, and 252nd Regiment) who stayed in northern Shaanxi was transferred from Hexi to the east of the Yellow River by the enemy's 101st Division. At the favorable opportunity when the enemy forces in Wu, Jia, Shen, and Fu were empty, they sent troops to capture Wubao, Jiaxian, Shenmu, and Fugu areas, ensuring the rear safety of the Red Army in the Eastern Expedition. In late February, the Central Military Commission ordered the Red 28th Army to participate in the Eastern Expedition, penetrate into the northwestern Shanxi region, and cooperate with the Central Red Army to quickly open up the anti-Japanese route. At the end of February, after the 28th Red Army conquered Shamao Town, they made intense preparations for crossing the river in the Hejiachuan area.After detailed investigation and research day and night, Liu Zhidan finally decided to cross the river at Luoyukou leading to Xing County, Shanxi. One night in early March, the battle to cross the river began. Under Liu Zhidan's personal command and organized fire cover, the Red 28th Army successfully broke through the natural barrier of the Yellow River and entered Shanxi.After crossing the river, the Red 28th Army immediately destroyed the enemy headquarters at Luoyukou, and then swept towards Heiyukou and Kangning Towns in Xingxian County, winning consecutive victories along the way. The second stage: go south and go north to fight. Just when the Red Army of the Eastern Expedition arrived at the Tongpu Railway, it was actively preparing to go east to Hebei and Chahar to fight against Japanese imperialism.Chiang Kai-shek actually ordered hundreds of thousands of central troops to be dispatched from Luoyang, Xuzhou and other key national defense areas to reinforce the Shanxi warlords and intercept the Red Army's way out.From the first ten days of March, the enemy's central army entered Shanxi one after another and was organized into the First Route Army of the Taiyuan Appeasement Office. Chen Cheng served as the commander-in-chief. The Second Division), the Thirteenth Army (under the jurisdiction of the Fourth Division, the Eighth Division Ninth Division, and the Thirty-first Division), the Ninety-fourth Division, the Ninety-fifth Division and the First Brigade of the First Division, a total of nine divisions.At this time, except that the enemy's 25th division had arrived at Lingshi, the other troops were still on their way. In order to expand the results of the battle, the Red Army on the one hand decided to develop a victory situation from south to north before the Central Army of the Kuomintang's direct descendants entered Jin Dynasty. On March 16, the First Red Army went down the Fenhe River from the outskirts of Damai, and arrived at Huo County on the 17th.The 15th Red Army Corps arrived near Lingshi to cover the First Red Army Corps to fight.When Yan Xishan concentrated his forces in Zhongyang, Shilou, Xixian, and Xiaoyi, and the defensive forces in southern Shanxi weakened, the Red First Army of the Right Route Army continued southward from Huoxian County on March 19, occupying Quwo, Xiangyang, etc. Six counties including Lingling, Hongdong, Zhaocheng, Linfen, and Huoxian destroyed more than 100 kilometers of railways and carried out mass work.The Red Fifteenth Army of the Left Route Army marched northward from Lingshi on March 18, passed through Wenshui, Jiaocheng, and Jinci, and approached Taiyuan.Afterwards, the Red 15th Corps of the Left Route Army marched northwest from the fork in Taiyuan, arrived at Loufan City, Jingdong County on the 26th, and turned to Xing County via Lan County on the 28th.The Red Thirty Army of the Central Route Army and other various departments, in Shilou, Zhongyang, Xiaoyi, Yonghe, and Xixian County, dealt with twelve enemy brigades, clamped down the main force of the enemy, and effectively guaranteed the Left Army and the Left Army. battle. From March 20th to 27th, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held an enlarged meeting near Shilou and Jiaokou in Jinxi, and decided to take "development and consolidation" as the operational policy of the Red Army, and to manage Shanxi as the current policy. The third stage: the two armies on the left and right move closer to the middle. When the Red Army's left and right armies went south and north to fight, the enemy's twelve brigades in the Zhongyang, Shilou, Yonghe, and Xixian areas occupied the ferry on the east bank of the Yellow River between Lishi and Shilou by the end of March.At this time, the Central Army of the Kuomintang's direct descendants who entered Shanxi was also actively preparing to "encircle and suppress" the Red Army.After controlling the ferry from Lishi to the west of Shilou, the enemy attacked the 15th Army of the Left Route Army of the Red Army with eleven regiments from Xingxian, Lanxian, Fangshan and other places; From Xixian, Jiexiu, Huoxian, Yuncheng and other places to attack the Red Army's right-hand army, the Red First Army.Under such circumstances, in order to continue to implement the policy of managing Shanxi, the Red Front Army Command decided on April 3 to gradually shrink its troops and wait to defeat the enemy. On April 4th, the Red First Army Corps of the Right Route Army moved north-south from Shanxi, passing through Fencheng and the ancient city of Xiangfen, and arrived at the area north of Hejin on April 9th. Captured Ji County on the 15th, wiped out the defending enemy, captured more than 300 enemies, and surrendered more than 200 guns. On the 18th, the Red Army Corps swept away the fortresses along the Yellow River more than 40 kilometers from Daning, Yonghe, Yongping Duguan to Qingshuiguan. At the same time, the Red Fifteenth Army of the Left Route Army moved south from Kangning Town, Xing County, Shanxi Province on April 4.In Linxian County, he joined the Red 28th Army led by Liu Zhidan. On the 6th, the Red Fifteenth Army of the Left Route Army continued to go south. On the 7th, they wiped out a company in Lishigedong, on the 11th, they wiped out a battalion in Jinluo Town, Zhongyang, and on the 12th, they wiped out the enemy's 66th Division in Shizhuang. A regiment of the 196th Brigade went to the Damai suburb of Xiaoyi to rest on the 14th. At this time, the 28th Red Army was marching and fighting in Baiwen Town, Linxian County, Shanxi Province, and received an urgent message from the Central Military Commission: "In order to cooperate with the Red Army to advance to Fenyang, threaten Taiyuan, and open up the connection between the front and northern Shaanxi, to ensure that the Red Army is backed by the old Soviet area, Order the 28th Army to immediately attack the coast of the Yellow River south of Lishi. They can also capture Sanjiao Town in Zhongyang to contain and mobilize the enemy." ① Following the order of the Central Military Commission, Liu Zhidan immediately led the 28th Red Army to set off from Baiwen Town, and after fierce fighting, arrived at Sanjiao Town via Lishi on time. Sanjiao Town is an important ferry in Zhongyang County, Shanxi. To the west of the Yellow River is Suide in the Shaanxi-Gansu base.There are strong fortifications around the town, and there is a regiment of enemy defenses, which are easy to defend but difficult to attack.In order to fight this battle well, Liu Zhidan stayed up for several days and nights, personally observing the terrain, carefully studying the enemy's situation, and strictly deploying the battle. On the night of April 13, the battle to siege Sanjiao Town started. Liu Zhidan had been commanding the battle nervously in the military command post. Due to sleepless nights and excessive fatigue, his eyes were bloodshot. His comrades advised him to rest for a while. He refused anyway, and said with a smile: "I don't know why the gun fired, and I didn't feel sleepy at all." On April 14, when he learned that the 251st regiment's attack had been blocked, he immediately discussed with political commissar Song Renqiong to let him Song stayed at the command of the military headquarters to grasp the overall situation. He personally came to the command post of the 251st Regiment and worked with the cadres to study the plan to destroy the enemy's bunkers. He pointed out: "This battle is related to the safety of the entire Red Army in Hedong. A member of the Communist Party showed the most tenacious perseverance to strike hard at the enemy to win the battle." Just as he was observing the enemy's situation in the forward position and commanding the soldiers to charge the enemy, he was unfortunately shot in the chest and injured his heart, and passed out immediately. After waking up, still with tenacious perseverance, he told the comrades around him intermittently: "Let the Political Commissar of Song Dynasty...command the troops...quickly...destroy...the enemy." After speaking, he stopped breathing.When sacrificed.He carried only six cigarettes and a few party documents that he frequently read. ① A red star in the northwest has fallen! Liu Zhidan was only 34 years old when he died. He dedicated his young life to the liberation of the Chinese people and shed the last drop of blood. Comrade Liu Zhidan is an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a staunch proletarian revolutionist and military strategist, and one of the earliest founders of the Northwest Red Army and the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Revolutionary Base.His life was a life of fighting.Like any great revolutionist, Liu Zhidan is no exception.He is not an ever-victorious general, and he may have experienced more setbacks and failures than others; he is not perfect, and in the torrent of revolution, there is also a process of practice, understanding, and groping forward.However, his high level of party spirit, his excellent moral character of devotion to the revolution, and his outstanding contribution to the liberation of the Northwest people will always be a monument in people's hearts.He never cared about personal status gains or losses, always placed himself under the leadership of the party organization, was utterly loyal to the party, infinitely loyal, brave and resolute in fighting the enemy, mighty and unyielding, no matter what difficulties and obstacles, senior officials and generous salary could not shake his will in the slightest .Although he suffered many failures and setbacks during the difficult years of founding the Northwest Red Army, he was never pessimistic, never discouraged, and always made persistent efforts.Never back.In the struggle within the party, he was always aboveboard, open-minded, strict in analyzing himself, good at uniting comrades, adhering to the party line and the work policy of seeking truth from facts.He often mingles with the masses, holds an important position, is always approachable, and is deeply loved by the masses in the Shaanxi-Gansu base area.He commanded operations wisely and decisively, and was able to seize opportunities in time.Actively and flexibly eliminated the enemy, so that the weak Shaanxi-Gansu Border Red Army and later the Northwest Red Army, under the siege of the extremely powerful enemy, always firmly grasped the initiative in the battle.He loves soldiers like brothers, and his horses are often given to the wounded and sick during the march.Sometimes he even carried the stretcher himself.When he was camping, whenever he was free, he twisted hemp rope and played straw sandals like the soldiers. He was exactly like ordinary soldiers, wearing the clothes of Pubaina and wearing straw sandals. He lived a very simple life and only knew how to endure hardships.I don't know enjoyment, I only know that there is a party, and I don't know myself. I really deserve to be called "the leader of the masses and the hero of the nation", ① worthy of being a "model of the Red Army", and ② "a model of the Communist Party". ③ Because Liu Zhidan had a very high prestige among the Northwest Red Army and the people in the base area, when the sad news of his sacrifice came out, the Shaanxi-Gansu base area was immediately shaken.Zhou Enlai personally went to the Yellow River Ferry to bring Liu Zhidan's body back to Wayaobao. April 24.Thousands of people gathered in Wayaobao, the capital of the base area, to commemorate Liu Zhidan. The general public and the Red Army officers and soldiers all mourned the loss of this Red Army leader who was like their own relatives.Because the Northeast Army attacked the Shaanxi-Gansu base area at that time, the situation was relatively tense. After the meeting, Liu Zhidan's body was secretly buried at the foot of Shuigouping Mountain, three miles outside Wayaobao City. In 1936, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China changed the name of Baoan County to Zhidan County according to the requirements of the local masses. 1940.The Party Central Committee instructed the Northwest Bureau and the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government to build Liu Zhidan Cemetery in Zhidan County. In 1943, after the seventh anniversary of Liu Zhidan’s heroic sacrifice, Mao Zedong wrote an inscription full of affection: “I only met Comrade Liu Zhidan once in northern Shaanxi, and I knew that he was a very good Communist Party member. His heroic sacrifice was due to an accident. , but his spirit of loyalty to the party and the country will always remain among the party and the people and will not be indelible.” In the spring of 1943, Liu Zhidan’s cemetery was completed, and the border government escorted Liu Zhidan’s coffin from Wayaobao to the cemetery. People burned incense and paper along the way , Kneeling by the side of the road, they held lit incense watches in their hands, all of them burst into tears and cried bitterly.When the portrait of the martyr Liu Zhidan and his coffin in the white flags were escorted past Yan'an by the spirit transfer team, people's emotions could no longer be restrained. Some complained, and some beat their chests and feet.In an instant, the tragic mourning and music, accompanied by the gathered cries, soared into the sky.Zhu De, Ren Bishi, Lin Boqu and other leaders of the Party Central Committee, the Northwest Bureau, and the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region who came to see the spirit could not help but burst into tears when they saw this scene. ②In May 1943, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the people of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region held a grand public funeral ceremony for Liu Zhidan in Zhidan County. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Zhang Wentian, Bogu, Wang Jiaxiang, Chen Yun, Lin Boqu, Li Fuchun, Peng Dehuai, Ye Jianying, He Long, Xu Xiangqian, Cai Chang, Li Dingming and others all wrote inscriptions on Liu Zhidan Mausoleum. Liu Zhidan was not able to leave much textual legacy for future generations because of his military affairs, but his outstanding character of going through fire and water for the cause of the liberation of the Northwest people has been shining through the ages and will be eulogized forever.The many folk songs about Liu Zhidan that have been passed down to the present in the east of Longdong and northern Shaanxi are not just the fair evaluation given by history and the people to this outstanding revolutionary?As Zhou Enlai wrote in his inscription: up and down five thousand years Thousands of heroes people's hero To count Liu Zhidan. The fourth stage: Xidu returned to the Shaanxi-Gansu base area. After Liu Zhidan died, the left and right armies of the Red Army completed the combat task of moving closer to the center and shrinking their forces. At this time, the 25 brigades of the enemy launched a siege to the Red Army in an attempt to annihilate the Red Army on the east bank of the Yellow River.The Northeast Army and the Seventeenth Route Army in northern Shaanxi also advanced to Yichuan and Hancheng to block the Yellow River from the west.With the enemy's army gathering and chasing and blocking, the Red Army no longer had the conditions to fight in Shanxi.Therefore, from May 2nd to 5th, the army on the one hand crossed the Yellow River from Qingshuiguan and Tieluoguan in Yonghe County, returned to northern Shaanxi, and entered the central areas of Yanchuan, Yanchang, and Yongping in the northern Shaanxi base area to rest and reorganize. On May 5, the Red Army on the one hand issued "The Red Army Requests the Nanjing Government to Resist the Armistice and Unify the Anti-Japanese War" (that is, "Return to Teachers and Power On"). The loss of China's national defense power was praised by the Japanese imperialists...'The return of the Red Army to the Shaanxi-Gansu base on the west bank of the Yellow River is to express sincerity to the Nanjing government, the national navy, army and air force, and the people of the whole country." ' The Eastern Expedition lasted 75 days, annihilating seven regiments of the enemy, capturing more than 4,000 enemies, capturing more than 4,000 firearms, and more than 20 artillery pieces. The Anti-Japanese National Salvation Movement was carried out in more than 20 counties in Shanxi, and the party's anti-Japanese ideas were promoted. The in-depth development of the national anti-Japanese national salvation movement.In this battle, the Red Army expanded its firepower to more than 8,000 people, enhanced its combat effectiveness, and at the same time destroyed Yan Xishan's rule in Shanxi.Forcing it to withdraw the troops that went deep into the Shaanxi-Gansu base from Shanxi to the east of the Yellow River is conducive to the consolidation and development of the Shaanxi-Gansu base. 2. Formation of the Western Field Army of the Red Army and Launch of the Western Expedition After the Red Army returned to the Shaanxi-Gansu base area, it kept its promise and stopped its combat operations against the Kuomintang army.However, Chiang Kai-shek insisted on the anti-communist civil war policy, refused to negotiate peace, mobilized heavy troops, and continued to "suppress" the Shaanxi-Gansu revolutionary base areas and the Red Front Army.Its military strength and combat deployment are as follows: the Northwest "suppresses the general", and Chiang Kai-shek himself serves as the commander-in-chief.Zhang Xueliang served as the deputy commander-in-chief, Yan Daogang served as the chief of staff, and commanded 16 divisions to besiege the Red Front Army and the Shaanxi-Gansu base areas from all sides.The Fourth, Eighty-ninth, and Seventy-second Divisions of the Thirteenth Army (Commander Tang Enbo) crossed the Yellow River westward from Jundu Town, Shanxi Province and entered northern Shaanxi. The Jingyuexiu Department of the Sixth Division attacked the northeastern part of the Shaanxi-Gansu base; The 40th of the Seventh Route Army: the 2nd Division and the 17th Division, attacking north from Yan'an, Fuqi, Yichuan, and Hancheng; the 111th Division of the 57th Army of the Northeast Army (Commander Dong Yingbin), The 1st and 2nd divisions, the 115th division, and the Heshui area of ​​Nanzhisu attacked the southern and central areas of the base area eastward; On the front line of Qingyang, prevent the Red Army from advancing westward. In the enemy's above-mentioned military strength and combat deployment, although Jiang Yan's army in the east is the main force and is responsible for the main offensive mission, it has just been hit by the Red Army's Eastern Expedition and moved slowly; The majority of officers and soldiers of the Route Army tended to resist the Japanese and were unwilling to fight a civil war; although the Ma Hongkui and Ma Hongbin troops in Ningxia in the northwest were resolute in their anti-communism, their forces were small and their territory was large, which was a weak direction. According to the new political and military situation, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China judged the situation and made a strategic decision to hold the Western Expedition.According to Nie Rongzhen’s recollection: "Comrade Mao Zedong sent a telegram to the leaders of our First Army and the Fifteenth Army as early as April 2, before we crossed the Yellow River westward on the 8th, explaining that it is not good to continue fighting in Shanxi. Bian and Jingbian) areas are empty of enemy forces, which can be used as a new direction of advance. After the Eastern Expedition returned to the division, the Politburo held a meeting and decided that the main force of our army should go westward, to the south of the Yellow River, and to the north of the Shaanxi-Gansu Avenue. ① On May 14, 1936, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a meeting of cadres above the regiment of the Red Armament Forces in Taixiang Temple, Yanchuan County, northern Shaanxi.After summarizing the experience and lessons of the Eastern Expedition, the strategic task of the Western Expedition was proposed. On May 18, the Central Military Commission officially released the "West Expedition Campaign Plan", proposing the tasks of the Western Expedition Campaign, the content of which is: (1) Attacking to the northwest, forming the base areas of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia, opening up connections with the Soviet Union and Outer Mongolia to the north, and opening up connections with the Second and Fourth Front Army of the Red Army in the south; (2) Persist in guerrilla warfare on the Eastern Front; (3) In the south, strive for the Northeast Army, the Seventeenth Route Army and other Kuomintang armies to fight against Japan. On the same day, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Central Military Commission decided to form the Red Army Western Field Army with Peng Dehuai as commander and political commissar, Nie Heting as chief of staff, and Liu Xiao as director of the Political Department.It governs the First Red Army Corps (Zuo Quan serves as acting army chief and chief of staff, Nie Rongzhen serves as political commissar, governs the first division, second division, fourth division, and second cavalry regiment), Red Ten Army Corps (Xu Haidong serves as army commander, Cheng Zihua Served as a political commissar, governing the 75th Division, 73rd Division, 78th Division, the Third Cavalry Regiment, and the Guard Regiment), the Red Twenty-eight Army (Song Shilun served as the army commander, Song Renqiong served as the political commissar), the Red Twenty-nine Army (Xiao Jinguang as commander, Gan Weihan as political commissar), Red 81st Division (division commander Wen Niansheng, political commissar Zhang Mingxian), the First Cavalry Regiment directly under the Western Field Army of the Red Army (regiment leader Zhang Aiping), special task force (regiment leader Zhu Shuiqiu, political commissar Member Qiu Chuangcheng).There are more than 17,000 people in the army. The first stage: Attack the border areas of the three provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. The Western Field Army of the Red Army was entrusted by the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission to enter the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border area to fight against the Ningxia warlords Ma Hongkui and Ma Hongbin, and to create a new western base. On the 19th, from the Yanchang, Yanchuan, and Yongping areas in northern Shaanxi, the left and right routes made a large-scale westward advance.The army on the left is the Red First Army, which assembled in Wuqi Town via Panlong and Ansai, and prepared to capture Huanxian and Quzi in the east of Longdong; Prepare to attack Anbian and Dingbian; Western Field Army Headquarters, Red 81st Division and the First Cavalry Regiment directly under the Field Army followed the right-hand army; the Red 28th Army maneuvered in the Yanchuan area; the Red 29th Army held back in Hancheng The enemy on the southern front; the Red Thirty Army insisted on guerrilla warfare on the eastern front. On May 27, the Red Fifteenth Army of the Right Route Army and other troops set out from New Castle and marched northwestward. On the 28th, they attacked and occupied Tiaoliang Town, Jingbian. Go west along the Great Wall, threaten Yanchi on the border between Ning and Shaanxi, and pretend to attack Ningxia. When the Red Fifteenth Army of the Right Route Army launched an attack on Anbian and pretended to attack Ningxia, the "Ningma" hurriedly transferred the 35th Division from Qingyang and Huanxian County in the east of Longdong to help Ningxia, and handed over the defense areas left behind to the Northeast Army. succeed.After Mao Zedong learned of the above information, he sent a telegram asking the Northeast Army not to prevent the Red Army from occupying Huanxian, Quzi, and Hongde, and at the same time telegraphed the Western Field Army to order the Red First Army of the Left Route Army to march southwest from Wuqi Town to Yuancheng, Huachi, Gansu. Send a part of the troops to guerrilla Qingyang to prevent the Northeast Army from going north from Qingyang, but only resolutely attack Ma Hongbin's troops and do not fight the Northeast Army. Following the orders of the Central Military Commission and Mao Zedong, the Red First Army of the Left Route Army set off from Wuqi Town on May 28 and entered the vicinity of Quzi on June 1.At this time, after the Kuomintang Northwest "Brigade Suppression" General Headquarters noticed the movement of the Red Army westward, it urgently transferred the 103rd Brigade (Brigade Commander Ma Yulin) and the 105th Brigade (Brigade Commander Ye Chengzhang) of the Ma Hongbin Division of the 35th Division of the enemy. Intercept at Yuancheng, Qingyang, and Quzi. On June 1, the Red First Corps of the Left Army launched a Quzi battle. Quzi is the throat from Longdong to Ningxia, the seat of the Huan County Government of the Kuomintang, and the first target of the Red Army's Western Field Army Left Army.At that time, Quzi Town was stationed in a special agent company of the 105th Brigade Headquarters, a platoon of the Cavalry Regiment of the 35th Division (regiment leader Ma Peiqing), and the Kuomintang Huanxian Security Brigade, with a total of more than 300 people. The 105th Brigade Changye Chengzhang also returned to the tune after deploying the interception operation. On June 1, the Second Division of the First Red Army (division commander Yang Dezhi, political commissar Xiao Hua) marched from Sansanlipu in Qingyang and Bazhuyuan in Huanxian County to the vicinity of Quzi Town.At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the Second Red Division launched a siege operation. After half an hour of fierce fighting, the Red Army broke through the defense line from the southeast corner of the city, entered the city, and started street fighting with the enemy.At this time, Ye Chengzhang, commander of the 105th Brigade of the enemy, led a group of desperadoes with shirtless arms and sabers in their hands, screaming wildly, came out from every corner of the alley, and frantically rushed towards the advancing Red Army. .Ye Chengzhang is a "brave general" of the "Ningma" unit, and he is highly regarded by Ma Hongbin for his bravery in front of the battle.He has an irritable, brutal and domineering personality, commits crimes on weekdays, oppresses the people, and commits all kinds of crimes. The local people hate him very much and gave him the nickname "Wild Mule".Under the frantic counterattack of Ye Chengzhang's gang, the Red Army troops entering the city were not able to gain a firm foothold and were forced out of the city.Under such circumstances, the Red Second Division summed up its experience, changed its tactics, adjusted its deployment, and wedged again. After repeated charges and fierce competition, by about 4:30 p.m., the Red Army basically controlled the entire city.Ye Chengzhang was blocked in the cave dwelling of a private house in the northwest corner of the city and resisted stubbornly.In order to capture this "wild mule", Zuo Quan, commander of the First Red Army, and Nie Rongzhen, political commissar, went to the battlefield to direct the battle.By 10 o'clock in the evening, all the remnants of the enemy were wiped out, and the "wild mule" was wounded and captured.The tune battle ended victoriously.In this battle, more than 300 enemies were killed, wounded and captured, and the commander of the 105th brigade was captured.Zheng Zhizhong, the magistrate of Huanxian County of the Kuomintang, slipped through the net and fled.Yang Youfu, deputy brigade commander of the 105th Brigade of the enemy, was also captured.After the victory in the battle of Quzi, the First Red Army attacked Qingyang and occupied Fucheng. On June 2, a total of 8 battalions including the 103rd Brigade, 206th Regiment, 104th Brigade Cavalry Regiment, and 105th Brigade 209th Regiment of the 35th Division of the enemy were at the head of the 103rd Brigade. Under the command of Yulin, they rushed towards the Red First Army on the front lines of Maling and Fucheng.According to the enemy's situation and geographical environment, the Red First Army decided to concentrate its forces to destroy the enemy.The Red Army laid an ambush in the Fucheng area. On June 3, the Red Army launched a full-line attack on the besieged enemy forces.After 3 hours of fierce fighting, the Red Army wiped out 6 enemy battalions, defeated 2 enemy cavalry battalions, and captured more than 1,100 enemy people.By June 5th, the First Red Army Corps occupied the surrounding areas of Huanxian County and Qingyang, Gansu Province, and severely damaged the enemy's 35th Division.At the same time, the Red Fifteenth Army of the Right Route Army occupied Hongliugou, an important point in the southwest of Dingbian, and attacked the enemy's local troops in Dingbian, Anbian, and Jingbian. At this time, the Northeast Army had accepted the request of the Red Army to stop at Zhenyuan and Qingyang in Gansu, and the enemy's 35th Division was retreating north of Guyuan.In the Jingbian, Yanchi, and Tongxin areas, there are only the newly organized Seventh Division and local militia armed forces, which is conducive to the division and annihilation of the Red Army. ①In this case, the Red Army continued to attack westward.From June 7th to 11th, the Red First Army Corps of the Left Route Army attacked Ningxia westward from the Huanxian area of ​​Gansu Province, and marched towards Tuying through Maojujing; The Red 28th Army, the Red 81st Division and the First Cavalry Regiment directly under the Field Army arrived near Anbian. After the left and right armies of the Red Army entered Ningxia, Ma Hongkui, the commander of the enemy's 15th Route Army and the chairman of Ningxia Province, urgently ordered Ma Hongbin of the 35th Division to return to the Zhongning area to strengthen the defense of the hinterland of Ningxia and prevent the Red Army from attacking.The Western Field Army of the Red Army continued to advance westward in order to annihilate the enemy. On June 13, the Western Field Army of the Red Army occupied Tuying and Wangtuanzhuang between Tongxin and Guyuan, cutting off the northward route of the enemy's 35th Division, and forcing the enemy to retreat to the Heicheng area of ​​Guyuan. The second stage: smash the enemy's counterattack and defend the newly opened area. After occupying a large area, the Red Army continued to seize the enemy's towns and strongholds. On June 18, the 78th Division of the 15th Red Army took advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness and conquered Dingbian County in one fell swoop.The second battalion of the first cavalry regiment of Ma Hongkui, the enemy stationed in Dingbian, was defeated and fled to Yanchi and Lingwu. On the 20th, the 78th Division launched an attack on Yanchi again, captured the city at 3 am on the 21st, wiped out two companies of the first cavalry regiment of Ma Hongkui's department, killed the enemy battalion commander Sun Guangxiang, and captured more than 280 enemies.Yanchi County was liberated.At the same time, the 73rd Division and 75th Division of the 15th Red Army Corps entered Yuwang County from the Dingbian area, passing through Mahuang Mountain and Dashuikeng in the south of Yanchi County. 6月21日夜，红十五军团包围了豫旺县城下马关，并占领了下马关以北的红城水。下马关守敌马鸿逵部骑兵营长孔庆福和敌县长董天祥率领敌军和地方民团死守待援。马鸿逵也从银川派飞机前往助战打气。红军围城两周后，下马关城内无水，人心浮动，红军向敌军喊话，解释党的政策，使守城之敌解除了顾虑，缴械投降。 27日红军兵不血刃解放了下马关。 28日，红十五军团进攻下马关以北四十里的韦州城。当时驻守韦州的敌军为马鸿逵部骑兵第一团第三营及400余名地方民团武装。 7月3日，红十五军团攻到韦州城下，曾一度攻上北城墙。城内守敌向马鸿逵告急求援，马鸿逵认为韦州在军事和政治上都有重要地位，韦州有失，危及金（积）、灵（武）的安全，其老巢银川难保，遂急派骑兵一、二、三、四团及保安处骑兵第一大队，共计1400余人的兵力，另附炮兵一部分，从金积、灵武一带驰援韦州。 7月4日，敌援军抵达韦州城下，红十五军团退守红城水。 西方野战军西征的胜利，给敌人以严重的打击。 6月中旬，蒋介石命令国民党军队“以马鸿逵部固守于中卫、五佛寺一线，防止红军北进；朱绍良部在海原、靖远，黑城构筑封锁线，防止红军南下，以东北军骑兵军何柱国部为主力，集结后向同心、豫旺进攻”。蒋介石还在电文中为马鸿逵、朱绍良、何柱国鼓励打气：“兄部奋勇敏捷，共成伟业，有厚望焉”。 ① 6月中旬，何柱国秉承蒋介石的命令，乘张学良到南京开会之机，指挥东北军七个师和三十五师马鸿宾残部，自庆阳、固原一线向北进攻，至七月初，攻占镇原三岔、庆阳马岭、阜城等地，并继续向曲子推进。此后，何柱国又集结东北军四个师及三十五师马鸿宾部一部兵力，于固原、土营之间，准备沿清水河北进，与北线的马鸿逵部相配合，南攻北堵，消灭红军于“中宁以南地区”。 在何柱国部进攻的同时，北线敌人也向红军发起反攻。6月24日，横山之敌一个团增援安边，被红军击退。7月5日，敌三个骑兵团又两个营，由韦州南犯豫旺，被红军击溃，毙俘300余人，敌军退回韦州。 在敌军南北夹击的形势下，7月14日，毛泽东致电红军西方野战军司令员兼政治委员彭德怀，提出了关于西征战役的四条作战原则：“（一）在对敌两团以上兵力作战时，似宜集结更优势之兵力，期于一举消灭之。（二）在作战条件不具备时，不妨再引退些，把敌诱至有利条件下以便一举消灭，这里需要多的忍耐性。（三）扩大与训练部队，使红军生息强大，造成将来战略上大举反攻之主要的条件。（四）对何柱国指挥进剿之全部东北军，宜决定消灭其一部，这样并不会影响大局，反而有利于大局。”①据此，彭德怀电告红一军团代军长左权、政委聂荣臻：“对东北军原则不与之决战，多作政治争取，但敌向我进攻时，消灭其一部也是必要的”。②7月17日，何柱国以骑兵第六师由固原向北作试探性进攻。红一军团在土营、豫旺之间的张家嘴、郭家嘴地区设伏，决心予以反击。当敌骑兵六师一个先头团进入埋伏圈后，当即受到红军的迎头痛击，经过一个多小时的激战，歼敌四个连，缴获战马300余匹及大批武器弹药。何柱国见红军早有准备，同时张学良又从南京返回，便停止了进攻。至此，敌人南北两路反击和出扰行动便以失败而告终。 在西方野战军向西进攻的同时，红二十八、二十九、三十军及地方武装、游击队在东线、北线、南线坚持游击战争，箝制敌中央军、晋军西渡黄河部队和陕北、渭北之敌的进攻。 6月初，陈诚指挥一个师又一个旅，由山西省军渡镇西渡黄河进入陕北，在敌人八十四师高桂滋部、八十六师井岳秀部的策应下，向陕甘根据地进攻。陈诚仍然采取堡垒战术推进策略，企图先肃清东线红军，尔后向西寻找红军主力作战。红三十军采取游击战术，进入吴堡地区，迟滞敌人的行动。 6月中旬，东北军第六十七军在蒋介石的责令下，由南向北进攻中共中央和中央军委所在地瓦窑堡，15日进至安塞、蟠龙、永坪。红三十军据守延川，准备抗击敌人向瓦窑堡的进攻行动。在这种情况下，中共中央与张学良进行了严正交涉。经过交涉，东北军于6月18日退出永坪、蟠龙。但敌八十六师井岳秀部却由北向南乘机向红军发起进攻，6月21日，敌八十六师两个营从石湾出发袭击瓦窑堡，中共中央和中央军委在地方红军的掩护下安全撤出瓦窑堡。6月24日，敌八十六师一个团由横山进攻安边，被红二十八军击退。7月15日，中共中央转移至保安（今志丹），从此，保安又成为陕甘根据地的首府。红二十八军、二十九军、红三十军、红八十一师及西北野战军直属骑兵一团和地方武装、游击队的抗击和箝制行动，有力地策应了西征红军主力的行动，保证了陕甘根据地后方的安全。 从5月19日至7月底的两个多月时间中，红军西方野战军在西征战役中，给敌以大量杀伤，歼敌两个团又一个营，俘敌旅长以下2000余人，解放了环县、豫旺、同心、定边、盐池等城镇，开辟了东西长约1000里，南北宽约数百里的广大地区，扩大了红军，发展了地方武装，征集了大量资财，为开展新局面，为红军三大主力会师，创造了有利条件。 三、陕甘宁独立师的组建及剿匪斗争 （一）陕甘宁独立师的组建 1936年5月17日，中共中央在决定西征作战的同时，决定成立陕甘宁省，统一领导和管理新解放的广大区域。陕甘宁省委书记李富春，省苏维埃政府主席马锡五，副主席朱开铨。陕甘宁省政府成立初期，省府设在吴旗县刘家渠，随着西征战役的胜利发展，6月份，迁至环县河连湾。 陕甘宁省成立后，陇东地方干部即随同西征红军主力一道西征。在红军解放一处地方后，党和政府工作人员立即就发动群众，建立红色政权，开展根据地建设。当时陇东新苏区建立的县级政权包括华池、曲子、环县、赤庆、固北、豫旺、定环等七县，再加上宁夏、陕西境内的豫西、定边、安边、盐边、赤安5县红色政权，陕甘宁省一共管辖12个县级苏维埃政权，人口约10万人。 当时，陕甘宁省初建不久，新区工作刚刚开展，加之地处陕、甘、宁三省交界处，敌情、社情都十分复杂。政治土匪张廷芝、赵老五等在这一带活动多年，武器精良，马匹肥壮，其手下的匪徒又多是凶悍的亡命之徒，战斗力较强。陇东新苏区创造以来，张廷芝、赵老五、耿天海等土匪武装及其他国民党地方武装经常对苏区进行袭扰破坏。他们破坏乡村红色政权，残害人民，屠杀党员干部，犯下累累罪行，闹得鸡犬不宁，人心惶惶，对发动群众、开展革命工作、进行根据地建设造成了严重危害。而当时，红军西方野战军要对国民党主力部队作战，一时还不能抽调部队承担剿匪任务。因此，组建一支坚强的地方武装，以配合和协助西方野战军的西征作战，清剿土匪，保卫陇东新苏区的安全，就成为迫在眉睫的任务。鉴于这样的客观情况，经中央军委批准，陕甘宁省在西征主力红军的协助下，于1936年7月17日在曲子县花旗镇，以原陕甘边苏区地方红军武装为基础，正式组建了陕甘宁独立师，由姚喆任师长，黎林任政治委员，尹国赤任参谋长，周志刚任政治部主任，周玉成任供给部长。①陕甘宁独立师归属陕甘宁省委军事部领导与指挥，军事部长肖劲光，政治委员赖传珠，下辖4个团，每个团三个连，全师共有1300多人。 陕甘宁独立师第一团由红二十九军二五七团改编，团长杨瑞森，政委刘禄昌。二五七团原是由鄜县独立一营和独立二营的一个连合编而成的。独立一营就是1933年11月下旬红二十六军在南粱建立的保安游击队发展起来的。这个游击队有180余人，战斗力比较强。直罗镇战役时，就是这支部队把东北军一0九师引入包围圈的。直罗镇战役后，保安游击队在黑水寺编为鄜县独立一营。独立二营是原鄜县游击队、甘泉游击队改编的。这两个营合编为二五七团后驻守劳山一带，阻止东北军向瓦窑堡的进攻。中共中央迁驻保安后，该团又在保安一带担任保卫党中央的任务。改编为陕甘宁独立师第一团后，主要随师部在陇东唐家台子、三岔一带活动，阻止东北军进犯。 陕甘宁独立师第二团是以中宜独立营为基础，并抽调洛川游击队、中宜游击队等地方武装组建而成的。团长朱日亮，政委刘英，参谋长何家流，政治处主任陈干卿。第二团成立后，由中宜地区开赴甘肃环县、固北作战。该团当时是陕甘宁省委军事部的直属部队，归省委军事部直接指挥。 陕甘宁独立师第三团是由关中独立三团改编的。团长陈国栋，政委初定为张仲良，但一直未到职，后由刘永培担任。1936年4月，新正独立营、新宁独立营、淳耀独立营合编为关中独立三团，7月改编为陕甘宁独立师第三团。4月，开赴曲子参加剿匪作战。 陕甘宁独立师第四团由华池独立营及庆环、庆合游击队组成，团长黄克秀，副团长罗德胜，政委任昌辉。共三个连。第四团组建后，进驻曲子一带开展剿匪斗争。 当时，由于陕甘宁独立师刚刚组建，武器装备很差，弹药奇缺，条件十分艰苦。“各团在装备上都差不多，每人一支步枪，五、六十发子弹，两个手榴弹。连以上干部有驳壳枪，团以上干部有手枪。每连配备一挺机枪，部队统一军装。政治生活也比较正规，政治课主要讲军民关系，军政关系，三大纪律，八项注意，阶级和阶级斗争理论，形势和任务等。军事课主要是军事技术。”① （二）陕甘宁独立师的剿匪斗争 陕甘宁独立师成立以后，各部均在陇东的曲子、环县、固原一带活动。主要任务是与土匪赵老五、张廷芝作战。 陕甘宁独立师第一团主要驻防并活动于曲子、三岔一带，从事剿灭赵老五等土匪武装的活动。当时，环县、曲子境内共有十余股土匪，其中赵老五股匪约100余人，该匪投靠环县国民党政府，作恶多端，为害最烈，经常袭击曲子、环县等地的县、乡苏维埃政权，危害人民群众的生命财产安全。1936年11月，赵老五率匪徒百余名流窜至马岭一带抢劫。第一团接到当地政府和群众的报告后，立即赶往清剿，在红军的坚决打击下，赵匪仓惶逃窜。第一团紧迫不舍，在追击中将赵匪歼灭大半。团政委刘禄昌在追击赵匪的作战中英勇牺牲。马岭战斗后，第一团政委由张明科接任，并将保安县独立营编入第一团。此后第一团移住三岔一带，相机打击敌人。12月，第一团在三岔铁王山再次与赵老五土匪武装展开激战。这次战斗中，赵老五土匪虽人数不多，但却占据有利地势，据险负隅顽抗。第一团几次强攻禾克，遂改变战术，由团长杨瑞森指挥部队正面佯攻，由政委张明科带领骑兵分队。迂回到敌人背后发起猛烈攻击。在第一团的前后夹击下，赵老五土匪溃散逃窜，战斗胜利结束。在这次战斗中，第一团团长杨瑞森又不幸牺牲，陕甘宁省委军事部派汪祖美接任团长，继续开展剿匪作战。 陕甘宁独立师第二团在陕甘宁省委军事部政委赖传珠的直接率领下，主要驻防靖边、定边、安边一带，开展剿匪斗争。这一带曾经是陕北军阀高双城长期盘据的地方，红军解放这一地区后，这里仍然流窜着高双城的一个骑兵营及国民党保安队、地方民团约达1000余人。这些反动武装经常袭扰苏区党政机关，蹂躏无辜百姓，气焰十分嚣张。8月，独立师第二团在安边、定边交界的韩家渠与敌展开激战，敌人凭借兵力众多，弹药充足的优势，向独立第二团发动疯狂进攻。独立第二团利用险要地形，沉着应战，打退敌人的多次冲锋。后因弹药告罄，只好沿山坡边打边撤。敌人见势愈加疯狂，穷追不舍。正在这紧要关头，红三十军前来增援独立师第二团的作战。独立第二团士气大振，立即向敌人发起冲锋，将敌打得落花流水，毙伤敌人400余人，残敌仓惶逃窜。这次战斗，独立第二团也付出了代价，伤亡100余人，团政委刘英负重伤，陕甘宁省委军事部派牛书申接替政委职务。完成这次歼敌任务后，独立师第二团返回环县，参加剿灭耿天海、赵老五的战斗。9月上旬，独立二团在石家台歼灭耿天海匪帮，平毁其据守的许多寨子。11月，第二团参加了山城堡战役，在此前后，独立师第二团在甘肃庆阳、环县木钵地区积极与进攻苏区的东北军作战，阻止了东北军的推进。 由于独立第二团作战顽强，因而多次受到陕甘宁省委、省军事部的表彰。省委书记李富春对独立师第二团政委牛书申赞扬道；“那个地方（指环县、华池一带）的土匪都怕你们，当地老百姓非常信任你们，称你们是'我们的二团'1937年4月8日，省委军事部政委赖传珠在陕甘宁边区的报纸上发表文章，对独立师第二团工作进行了表彰。① 陕甘宁独立师第三团接受改编后，在环县、曲子一带开展剿匪斗争。1936年秋，第三团开赴镇原马渠和三岔一带协助地方政府开辟新根据地。当时马渠的沈家寨据点是一个硬钉子，对新苏区威胁极大。9月，陕甘宁独立师师长姚喆亲自来到第三团驻地，指挥部队的作战行动。沈家寨驻有敌民团武装50余人，伪团总是当地有名的恶霸。第三团包围沈家寨后，敌负隅顽抗。第三团围攻三昼夜，最后用架云梯的办法攻破寨子，但土豪劣绅及民团团丁已从地道逃跑了。第三团缴获银元、元宝一驮，粮食100石，还有许多布匹和衣服，补充了给养，基本解决了全团三个连的冬衣问题。战斗中没收的牛羊都分给了当地贫苦群众。 围攻沈家寨后，第三团在毛井、黑山一带开展游击活动。这一带地域辽阔，人烟稀少，条件异常艰苦，尤其是吃水很困难，第三团克服困难，坚持斗争。不久东北军三个团前来“围剿”第三团。在敌强我弱的的形势下，第三团撤至曲子，后又转移到木钵，东北军步步进逼，第三团边退边阻击敌人，打了几个小仗。在此前后，第三团还承担了收容掉队的长征红军战士的任务，先后收容掉队的长征红军战士五六百人。 ① 陕甘宁独立师第四团组建后，先随独立师师部在曲子镇附近驻防，清剿士匪，担任警戒任务。1937年7月18日，土匪张廷芝部进犯陇东苏区，红四团在团长黄克秀的率领下，投入了剿除这股匪徒的战斗，给来犯之敌人迎头痛击。二将川一仗，红四团毙敌团长李向银，取得了旗开得胜的战果。7月20日，张廷芝土匪武装败逃华池县老爷岭一带，凭借天然屏障，据险抵抗。适值大雨倾盆，黄克秀命令第四团冒雨冲锋，一连突破敌人四道防线，当攻击第五道防线时，敌人居高临下，以密集火力封锁道路，第四团屡次冲锋仍不奏效。此刻，团长黄克秀脱掉上衣，用红布条束紧腹部，大喝一声：“同志们，跟我来！”，一手执旗，一手握枪，奋不顾身，勇猛冲杀。正当他刚一回头命令部队：“誓与阵地共存亡！”的一刹那间，一颗罪恶的子弹击穿了黄克秀的腹部，黄克秀倾刻倒于鲜血之中，牺牲时年仅27岁。在此期间，第四团参谋长何家流也黄克秀和何家流牺牲后，红四团指战员复仇的心情极为强烈，又向敌发起猛攻，并将敌包围在山上。穷途末路的张廷芝设假投降的计谋，派人来谈判。当时红军干部战士都主张打，彻底消灭敌人。但这次战斗的指挥者，陕甘宁独立师参谋长尹国赤却主张接受谈判，结果中了敌人的金蝉脱壳之计，张廷芝乘机潜逃。