Chapter 36 3. High platform of bloody battle

After the Fifth Red Army withdrew from Shandan, the brutal Majiajun and militiamen made a comeback. They searched for the Red Army from house to house, and arrested more than 100 wounded and sick members of the newly established county Soviet government, soldiers of the Volunteer Army and the Red Army who had left in the city, and drove them to the city with bullock carts. They were escorted to Ganzhou City (now Zhangye City), killed them all, and buried them in mass graves.At the same time, they carried out frenzied hunting and brutal persecution of the scattered Red Army commanders and fighters in various places. The cruelty of their methods is heinous, and the written records are as follows:

In December 1936, in Donglexitun, four separated commanders and fighters of the Red Army carrying a long gun and a short gun each were begging for food at Liu Hanwen's home. They were discovered by the local hooligan Liu Shengfu (who was executed after the founding of the People's Republic of China), and they arranged food, In the name of Su, he lured the four of them to Liu Wanshan's home to stay in place, and secretly gathered 11 thugs including the bandit leader Liu Rende (who was executed after the founding of the People's Republic of China). , snatched the opium he carried with him, dragged it to the Dashanba River Beach, and was killed by Bandit Liu with a steel knife.

In the same month, in West Zhangzhuang, Dongle City, two separated Red Army soldiers passed by. Zhang Xingzhi (executed after the founding of the People’s Republic of China) gathered several brothers from his own family and beat them to death with wooden sticks. Bury the body under the side wall on the north hillside. In November 1936, Wang Guizhen, a big bully in Shandan County and head of the pseudo-security regiment, captured a Red Army scout in the Dahuang Mountain ditch and killed him in Shipogou.In order to eliminate the evidence, the body was carried by horse to Luoquan Yazi in the mountain and buried.

In December 1936, Yang Shenggui, the quartermaster of the puppet militia, led the Ma Jiajun to search and arrest three scattered Red Army soldiers in Dahuang Mountain.The other two were tied up to Ganquanzi, Yang's residence, where they were tortured severely and wounded with knives. They were dragged by Yang Shenggui, Yang xx, Chen xx and others from the same village to bury them alive in a ravine. ……… The blood of the commanders and fighters of the Red Army was not in vain. In 1949, Shandan was liberated, and these villains who killed the Red Army were punished as they deserved.The heroic names and glorious deeds of the martyrs who dedicated their blood and lives to the revolutionary cause in the battle of Shandan will be recorded in the annals of history forever!

The Fifth Red Army once again embarked on the road of the Western Expedition, changing from the former "iron butt" (steel guard) to the forward of the whole army.At this time, although the "Xi'an Incident" had been resolved peacefully, Chiang Kai-shek's heart to perish the Communist Party was still alive, and he did not put down his butcher knife.He ordered the Ma family army to step up their offensive and completely wipe out the West Route Army.In a peaceful atmosphere, the West Route Army stepped into danger step by step. On the night of December 27, the Fifth Army continued to march west of Zhangye.This time, the West Route Army's supply department, health department, and its subordinate logistics team, clothing factory, arsenal, general hospital, and a part of the Women's Independence Regiment were also accompanied by the Fifth Army, all operating under the cover of the Fifth Army.Due to the large number of personnel in the logistics department and a lot of belongings, especially the dozens of seriously wounded people from the General Hospital, who were carried forward by the stretcher team, the marching speed was quite slow, and the marching team was also very long.In order to seize the opportunity and for the safety of the logistics team, Dong Zhentang ordered the thirty-ninth regiment, the forty-fifth regiment, and the cavalry regiment to be the forwards; the forty-three regiment was in the middle to cover the logistics team; Block the enemy.

On December 28, the 39th Regiment of the Frontier was blocked by the Han Qigong Brigade of the 100th Division of the enemy and some militia groups at Ershilibao in the east of Zhangye.The vanguard of the Fifth Army resolutely fought back, and the enemy quickly retreated and quickly withdrew into Ganzhou. On the morning of the 30th, Dong Zhentang led the five armies into Linze County, and the defenders in the city fled in panic.At this time, due to the slow movement of the rear baggage team, they were still far away in the area of ​​Pingyuan Fort and Wujiang Fort, preparing to cross the Heihe River.Seeing that the large army of the Red Army had passed by, the Qigong Department of the enemy Korea attacked from behind.At that time, the vehicles and camels of the supply department of the West Route Army were crossing the river, and the thirty-seventh regiment acting as a cover quickly deployed to fight back at the enemy.The 43rd Regiment, which had already crossed the Heihe River, also detoured from the south to hide and attack. The enemy cavalry couldn't stand it and were forced to retreat eastward.In this operation of the Five Armies, the various teams cooperated very well, and never gave the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of it. On January 2, 1937, the entire column entered Linze County.

After entering the city, Dong Zhentang immediately ordered the troops to hurry up and rest, and then found the military and political commissar Huang Chao. Huang Chao used to be Zhang Guotao's secretary and Zhang Guotao's confidant.During the period when the Red Fourth Front Army went south, Dong Zhentang actively completed the combat mission while standing on the side of Mr. Zhu, and fought resolutely against Zhang Guotao's separatist activities, which aroused Zhang Guotao's dissatisfaction.Later, Huang Chao was transferred to serve as the political commissar of the Fifth Army. First, the main cadres of the former Fifth Army were transferred away, and rumors were spread everywhere that Commander Dong had a warlord mentality and that joining the revolution was completely speculative, etc., in an attempt to empty him.After Hui Ning joined forces, Huang Chao restrained his behavior somewhat, but his defiant tone remained unchanged.According to their positions in the Red Army at that time, Dong was not only one of the 23 members of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, but also the leader of the famous Ningdu Uprising, and he had outstanding military exploits.Apart from the full support of Zhang Guotao, Huang Chao cannot compare with Dong Zhentang, who is more than ten years older than him.However, out of absolute loyalty and trust to the party, Dong Zhentang, a loyal and upright man, abandoned the previous suspicions and not only tolerated Huang Chao, but also obeyed Huang Chao, the political commissar too much, in some matters out of the party's organizational principles.

After a brief discussion between the two, Huang Chao decided to lead the army directly, plus the 37th and 43rd regiments to stay in Linze. A total of more than 2,800 people from the regiment set off in the early morning of the next day to attack Gaotai County. The only radio station in the entire army also stayed in Linze according to Huang Chao's intention. Gaotai County is located in the west of Gansu Province. It is the only place where the West Route Army leads to Xinjiang. It has been an important place for military strategists since ancient times.Not far to the south of the high platform is the Qilian Mountains with an altitude of more than 5,400 meters and is covered with snow all the year round; to the north is an endless desert with no human habitation.

The soldiers dragged their weary pace and marched again in the icy and snowy field. The howling old north wind mixed with large flakes of snow hit their faces sorely. Looking at this thinly dressed team, Dong Zhentang felt ashamed in his heart. Open up international routes, get military aid from the Soviet side as soon as possible, let the soldiers take a good rest, dress well, eat well, and then come back refreshed.Thinking of this, Dong Zhentang gritted his teeth and walked with the soldiers in the vast snowfield. The Fifth Army rushed to the foot of Gaotai City before dawn. Dong Zhentang carefully observed the sleepy town with binoculars, and then issued a battle order: "The 45th Regiment is on the left, the 39th Regiment is on the right, and the Secret Service Regiment is on the right." , The cavalry regiment is in the center, quickly deploy, and conquer Gaotai City in one fell swoop!"

The soldiers carried the ladders that had been prepared and rushed towards the city wall from all directions. Some of the enemies noticed it and began to resist resistance, while for some of the top of the city, the enemy didn't realize it until the siege soldiers climbed up.The limited resistance did not affect the overall situation. The Fifth Army took down the high platform with one effort. More than 800 militiamen who had not had time to escape surrendered and surrendered. All the officials of the pseudo-county office were captured. After entering the city, because the radio station was not by his side, Commander Dong immediately ordered the cavalry regiment to send people flying horses back to Linze to report the news, hoping that political commissar Huang Chao and the rest of the Fifth Army would follow up quickly, and at the same time telegraph the situation at Gaotai, the general headquarters of the West Route Army.The soldiers who performed the mission left, and Dong Zhentang felt a little tired. He returned to the temporary command post (the Catholic Church) in the city. Yang Keming, the director of the Political Department, was writing various slogans himself, and he was very busy.Yang Keming was the political commissar of the 33rd Army of the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army. After being merged with the 5th Army, he became the director of the Political Department of the 5th Army. He cooperated very well with Dong Zhentang. He is a senior commander who is not only young but also very talented. member.Dong Zhentang quietly came behind Yang Keming, and said with a smile: "Stop the civil war and unite to resist the Japanese. Good! Good! Good!" Throwing it on the table, he said: "Old Dong, the prospect is great! Now as long as the troops move westward with all their strength, they will reach Xinjiang in a short time. When we get the Soviet-made weapons and various supplementary materials, by then, hehe !..."

Dong Zhentang untied his belt and put it on the table, and said: "Switching shotguns for cannons is of course good! But now that the Xi'an Incident has been resolved peacefully, Erma is different from Chiang Kai-shek. They have run the Northwest for many years and have formed a solid, family The armed groups ruled by the Chinese style will not tolerate us." Speaking of this, Dong Zhentang stared out of the window for a long time, and said solemnly: "Be vigilant at all times, you can't stay here for long!" The next day, the detachment sent to Linze to deliver the letter returned, but the rest of the Fifth Army did not follow.What I brought back was just a telegram from the Central Revolutionary Military Commission: Gather in the Gaotai and Linze areas, and don't go west for now. Dong Zhentang was puzzled after receiving the power, wondering why the central government would not allow the west to enter again.It turned out that the central government considered the overall situation. After the Xi'an Incident, Chiang Kai-shek returned to Nanjing, immediately detained Zhang Xueliang who was accompanying him, and mobilized forty divisions to prepare to attack Xi'an, and the situation became tense again.At this time, the central government called to order the West Route Army not to go west for the time being, with the intention of watching the current situation, and that the West Route Army should return east to respond to Shaanxi and Gansu at any time. On the 8th, the Military Commission once again ordered the West Route Army to concentrate on eliminating the chasing enemies and create bases in Su, Gan, and An.According to the instructions of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, Xu Xiangqian and Chen Changhao decided to stop their westward march and prepare to meet the enemy in Linze and Gaotai.The various units of the West Route Army continued to move around Gaotai, Linze, and Nijiayingzi, and began to expand red, raise food, and establish base areas on the spot.As a result, Er Ma lost his composure, which was what they were most afraid of. Er Ma began to actively deploy and mobilize elites, preparing for a decisive battle with the West Route Army. Dong Zhentang had an ominous sign from the moment he received the order, but he still carried it out unquestionably.In the past few days, he has traveled all over Gaotai County, while taking the time to deploy defenses, and at the same time actively promoting the party's anti-Japanese ideas in the city with Yang Keming, director of the political department.To his relief, most of the more than 800 militiamen captured earlier were willing to accept adaptation and join the Red Army.These hundreds of people, well used, are not a small force. Accompanying the Fifth Army to Gaotai, there were more than one hundred female soldiers from the Third Battalion of the Women's Pioneer Regiment of the West Route Army.At the moment, they are also busy in various parts of the county, some are teaching the masses to sing revolutionary songs, some are promoting our party's political proposition of "stop the civil war and unite to resist Japan" to the masses, and some are shuttled in the streets and alleys , busy posting and writing various slogans.Under the propaganda call of the Red Army, the people in the city enthusiastically donated clothes and food to the Red Army.All of a sudden, the whole town boiled up, very lively. On January 12, 1937, the main force of the two horses came after them. The cunning Ma Bufang feinted to attack Linze and Nijiayingzi with a force, while the main force, Ma Biao, Ma Pu, Han Qilu, and Ma Lu, four cavalry brigades and an artillery regiment, In addition, more than 20,000 people from the four militia groups including Ma Desheng and Ma Zhaorui bypassed the two places, clamoring the slogan "I would rather die 10,000 people than lose an inch of land." All the way, they went straight to Gaotai City where the Fifth Red Army was stationed.Of course, this also contains the enemy's special hatred for the Red Army.This also starts with the history of the Five Armies. As early as 1928, when Dong Zhentang was the commander of Feng Yuxiang's Northwest Army, he led his troops to station in Xining and participated in a series of military operations to put down the "Hehuang Incident" of Ma Zhongying's troops. Many veterans in Dong's army participated in the battle against the "green horse". Enemy soldiers were pressing down on the border. After hearing the news, Dong Zhentang climbed to the top of the city, calmly raised his binoculars, and saw smoke and dust billowing on the Gobi Desert in the distance, and groups of Majia cavalry rushed to the high platform from all directions, all in one color. The black horse regiment, the white horse regiment, the red horse regiment...the sky covered the earth, and the scene was very spectacular. There were tens of thousands of infantry wriggling on the sand in the distance.The West Route Army is stationed in three places, but the Gaotai Five Army is the weakest, with only 3,000 troops.According to this situation, the prospect of a lone army is not good. Although Dong Zhentang had expected that there would be a fight with the two horses in this way, he did not expect it to be so fast. It would be nice to have a few guns on hand now. As for the shells, a few rounds will do.He was a professional artilleryman, so if he aimed at this distance, a few shells would surely knock the horses and bandits off their backs, and completely knock down the arrogance of the enemy.But now let alone shells, there are not many grenades. He put down the binoculars and turned back to find the confidential staff officer. He wanted to send a power call to the general headquarters for reinforcements.But he was disappointed, the confidential staff and the radio station stayed in Linze, under the control of political commissar Huang Chao.Dong Zhentang looked at the accompanying comrades and the soldiers on the top of the city, and said in a consistent and firm tone: "Comrades! The high platform is a strategic location for our Red Army to march westward. We must hold on to every position, hold the enemy, and win the battle." Time, the enemy is coming up from behind, the headquarters will not be unaware, the main force will definitely rush over to reinforce us!" After listening to Commander Dong's call, the soldiers were full of confidence, gearing up and rushing to repair the fortifications. Dong Zhentang returned to the headquarters and immediately assigned defensive tasks for the entire city: the 45th regiment guarded the east city and the eastern half of the south city; the 39th regiment guarded the west city and the west half of the south city; and the spy regiment and cavalry regiment guarded the north city.After the task was issued, he found Li Su, the chief of the enemy engineering section. Li Su was from Linqing, Shandong. He graduated from the Military Academy of the Northwest Army and joined the Communist Party of China in 1930. It was our party who entered the 26th Route Army of the Kuomintang and engaged in military transportation. One of the three-person team.After the uprising, he has been working in the Fifth Red Army Corps. He once served as the director of the Propaganda Department of the Political Department of the Fourteenth Army, the political commissar of the regiment, the political commissar of the school attached to the regiment, and the chief of the enemy engineering department of the Fifth Red Army.Dong Zhentang entrusted him with the task: before the enemy has completed the encirclement of the high platform, immediately lead several soldiers out of the city in batches in disguise, report the situation to the headquarters, and ask for support. The comrades who delivered the letters set off one after another. Can they successfully complete the task?Dong Zhentang wandered anxiously at the top of the city.Not long after, the enemy's shelling began. The intensity of the artillery fire was rare since the Battle of Hexi, and most of the previously built fortifications were destroyed.After the artillery fire, the horse bandits lined up outside the city and took an oath.The enemy front-line commander rode on a horse, held up a banner and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Brigade Commander Han has an order to capture the high platform, and everyone will be rewarded. After three days of holiday, all the property and women in the city will belong to you..." The enemy's death squad immediately shouted in unison, Ye Chongben, the commander of the 13th division (and the commander of the 45th regiment) on the top of the wall heard the anger, clenched his fists and cursed: "You son of a bitch, come on, I will send you off!" Go to the underworld to receive the reward!" Soon, rows of horse bandits carrying ladders, holding ropes and iron hooks, rushed towards the two-foot-high city wall howling.The cadres and soldiers of the Fifth Army were all veterans of blocking and defending battles. They were not in a hurry to fire.Fighting like this until the fourth day, the enemy did not catch anything, and suffered countless deaths and injuries. Wearing a heavy fur coat, Ma Bufang stood on the hillside outside the city, staring at the smoky high platform with a gloomy face, gritted his teeth and scolded the defeated soldiers of the death squad: "Ten to one, and you still beat like this, what a bunch of bastards!" !” After cursing, after thinking about it, it’s no wonder that his opponent is Dong Zhentang, a well-known former general of the Northwest Army, a top expert in defensive warfare, a hurdle that even Lao Jiang’s Central Army can’t overcome.How should we deal with this fist that the West Route Army has punched?Ma Bufang was helpless. As night fell, Dong Zhentang wandered anxiously at the top of the city, looking at the piles of bonfires lit in the Majia barracks outside the city, and the Qilian Mountains submerged in the night, he was considering the direction of the troops' next move.The troops have held on for four consecutive days, but the reinforcements they have been looking forward to have been delayed.Perhaps, that side was also firmly held back by the enemy, and there was no strength to reinforce the high platform.If this is the case, what should be done?He really had no idea how long these 3,000 people could hold out for.Besides, food and ammunition were seriously lacking. Every time the soldiers sent out of the city to search for ammunition on the enemy's corpses at night, they came back without much gain.The cunning Ma Bufang ordered the soldiers to carry only three or five rows of bullets each, and they would go back to replenish after firing.The ancient city of Gaotai has experienced several earthquakes, and the city walls have long been incomplete.At present, the horse bandits are ten times stronger than me, and they are well-equipped. Our army has no danger to defend and no help to wait for.If things go on like this, defending to the death will mean the annihilation of the whole army. At this time, Zhang Lixiong, the political commissar of the 45th regiment, passed by here at night to check the sentry. Seeing the army commander coming, he hurried over. A smile appeared on Dong Zhentang's face. Zhang Lixiong was a regiment-level cadre with both military and political skills, which is rare in the Fifth Army. He had praised this old subordinate many times at meetings.After days of fighting, Zhang Lixiong never slept more than three hours a night, and his eyes were red and swollen.Dong Zhentang held Zhang Lixiong's hand with heartache and said, "You guys have worked hard!" "Commander, aren't you the same as us?" The two found a nearby stone ladder and sat down. "How many times did the 45th Regiment repel the enemy's attacks today?" Zhang Lixiong made a little calculation and replied: "About 20 times, we attacked the top of the city twice, and we beat them down in time. The enemy's artillery fire became more and more fierce. Today, our regiment adjusted the deployment. , leaving the first and second battalions to stand firm at the head of the city, and the third battalion was withdrawn as a reserve team. The regiment officials and the special agent company were responsible for maintaining law and order in the city and raising supplies needed for combat..." Dong Zhentang was very satisfied with this style of play, and then asked: "How long do you think you can keep it like this?" "This..., it's really hard to say." Zhang Lixiong scratched the back of his head and couldn't answer for a long time. Dong Zhentang looked at him kindly, and then asked again: "There is nothing to say, why don't you tell me what you think about, I really want to hear your opinion." The old chief is a pragmatic and truth-seeking person, Zhang Lixiong is very clear about this, he pondered for a moment and replied: "Commander, we are all old subordinates you brought out from the Soviet area, follow you, we will climb snow-capped mountains, cross grasslands, Blocking, we have experienced countless tests of blood and fire. Now, it goes without saying that we have the confidence to stick to this high platform, but we are in short supply of food and ammunition. I counted, and the average heavy machine gun bullets in the regiment are only 200 rounds , there are only 100 rounds of light machine guns, only 10 rounds of rifle bullets, and less than one grenade per person. We have mobilized the masses to donate their axes, hoes, iron rakes, iron forks, butcher knives, etc. The consequences of using these cold weapons to fight against the enemy's infantry, artillery, and cavalry can be imagined. The two crises that occurred today were the result of the soldiers at the defensive point running out of bullets and the enemy swarming up. The fighting has been particularly fierce these days, and our regiment has paid a heavy price...." Zhang Lixiong talked here with tears, and couldn't go on. ... On the way back, Dong Zhentang began to think non-stop.People are crucial. In this extreme predicament, the commanders on the scene must make a decisive decision, choose to break through, and try to preserve these revolutionary elites. With them, the Chinese revolution can have hope and continue. .Thinking of this, he quickened his pace and came to the headquarters in the city. That night, Dong Zhentang convened a meeting of cadres above the entire army.When everyone arrived, Dong Zhentang didn't give too much explanation, and went straight to the point: "Our five armies have stood firm on the high platform for four days. Now the food and ammunition are almost exhausted, and the reinforcements have not been seen for a long time. I want to point out The Ministry is also firmly held back by the enemy. In this case, I decided to break out." Dong Zhentang said the word "breakthrough" very seriously.After hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement with the plan.Yang Keming first stated: "It is extremely necessary to choose to break through the siege. It is meaningless to stick to the small town of Gaotai. If you keep the green hills, you are not afraid of running out of firewood. As long as you keep the troops, you may take back 10 or 100 high towers in the future. I agree with the army. Long opinion." "The army commander is right. Fight if you win, and leave if you don't win! It has always been the tactical style of our army. Fight hard and wipe out everyone. What else can we use to revolutionize? With the main forces united, the enemy can't move!" Ye Chongben, the commander of the 13th Division, followed suit. Dong Zhentang nodded slightly after hearing this, then looked around at the cadres present, and said decisively: "If you have no objections, just follow me!" Dong Zhentang led everyone to the map and continued: "Choosing the direction of Linze to break out of the encirclement is definitely not an option, no matter how stupid the enemy is, they will not easily let us join the main force. The southeast direction is not good either. This is a desert area with an open terrain, which is suitable for enemy cavalry to pursue. They will be cut down by the enemy within a short distance." Dong Zhentang took a sip of boiling water, then pointed to the Qilian Mountains in the northwest and said: "Only To break through the mountains, as long as we enter the mountains, the cavalry will be useless, and the enemy will have nothing to do with us.” After speaking, he looked up at everyone, and his eyes rested on Lu Renli, the commander of the cavalry, and said: “I decided to go tomorrow. Break out in the middle of the night, led by Commander Lu's cavalry, followed by the rest of the troops, and act decisively and quickly. Tomorrow, you will lead people to dig a few holes in the northwestern city wall and leave a little soil, as long as one or two horses can pass The width of the horse, it can be broken as soon as it hits. The order to break out will be delivered tomorrow afternoon, everyone hurry back and rest, there is still a combat mission tomorrow.” Early the next morning, Ma's army changed their previous offensive methods and pointed their finger at the commanding heights of Xiguan outside the city - the Dagaobao rebuilt from the God of Wealth Tower.This commanding height is very important, it is like a powerful fist, and it plays an irreplaceable role in the entire high platform defense system.The enemy also saw this, and first suppressed the Red Army in the bunker with fierce firepower, then rolled gasoline barrels under the bunker to ignite, and piled up firewood.In an instant, the bunker was submerged in raging fire, and a reinforced platoon of the 45th Regiment was stationed inside. The soldiers tenaciously fired the last bullet, and then jumped down with steel knives in their hands, shouting slogans. Gaobao, even though he was still on fire, still chased and killed the horse bandits.Gradually, the warriors fell one by one until they all died heroically.Dong Zhentang stood on the top of the wall, clenched his steel teeth, punched hard on the battlements, and buried his head in pain.At the same time, fierce fighting was also going on in the east of the city, and there was also a big bunker in Dongguan, which was taken away by the enemy by the same means. The bunker fell, and two important commanding heights were occupied by the enemy, making it more difficult to defend the city.Then the enemy began to attack the city again. Rows of death squads, carrying ladders and hunchbacks on their heads, desperately climbed to the top of the city.Under the leadership of Dong Zhentang, the soldiers of the Five Armies repelled the enemy's crazy attacks again and again with revenge bullets.Finally, in the afternoon, Ye Chongben, the commander of the 13th Division, hurried to the Catholic Church of the Military Headquarters with a man who looked like a Ma family militia. The Red Army soldiers sent by the political commissar to deliver the letter. Dong Zhentang glanced at the soldier calmly, and then took the letter. The letter was indeed written by Huang Chao himself, but when he saw the content, Dong Zhentang's face suddenly sank: Commander Dong: Gaotai is an important stronghold to open up international routes. It is the only way to go west. The headquarters ordered that we must stick to it to the end, and survive and die with Gaotai!Otherwise, I want the head of Commander Dong! ... Dong Zhentang was shocked. He really didn't expect that the headquarters would make such a decision to fight the enemy for money, and embarked on the old road of "Left" adventurism to fight the enemy head-on.As a seasoned commander, he clearly knows that if the troops do not break through now, they will have no chance in the future. Infuriated, he carefully read the letter again, hoping to find some words for him to deal with flexibly, but the content was strict throughout, and there was no room for negotiation.He leaned on the window sill with a very serious expression on his face.After a moment of silence, Dong Zhentang turned around and said decisively to the soldier delivering the letter: "Please go back and tell Commissar Huang that obeying orders is a bounden duty of a soldier. I, Dong Zhentang, swear to live and die with Gaotai!" The soldier who delivered the letter left, and everyone looked at their army commander silently.Dong Zhentang ordered in a deep voice: "The breakout plan is cancelled, cadres above the regiment will have a meeting at the Catholic Church at night!" Everyone left separately, and Dong Zhentang was the only one left in the empty Catholic church. At this moment, he could no longer restrain the depression in his heart, and tears welled up in his eyes.He fell limply on the chair, he was so tired.... After a long time, he opened his eyes, wiped away the tears on his face with his hands, and began to blame himself: Dong Zhentang!What's wrong with you!Are you weeping and timid?No!No, I have been in the army for more than 20 years, whether it is going to the line of fire in person, or leading a team to charge, even if it is a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire, I have never been afraid!But this time is different, the lone army guards the dangerous city, and the city will be broken only sooner or later. This heroic army will soon be submerged in this vast desert... Thinking of this, Dong Zhentang's heart was cut like a knife. At night, in the dimly lit Catholic Church, all cadres above the regiment of the Fifth Army gathered.Dong Zhentang took out Huang Chao's letter from his pocket, and then said majesticly: "The letter from Political Commissar Huang ordered our army to guard the high platform to the death. People are in the city, people are dead and the city is dead. The Fifth Red Army will live and die with the high platform!" Hearing this Upon hearing the news, everyone seemed extremely calm.Dong Zhentang looked at everyone and said affectionately: "Comrades, some of you participated in the Ningdu Uprising with me, some of you fought the enemy side by side in the Central Soviet Area, some of you participated in the Long March as a steel guard, and some of you are brave. Comrades of the Thirty-Third Army of the Fourth Front Army. You have experienced hundreds of battles, and you are all good! I am honored to be able to lead you. But this time is different, you must be prepared for a bloody battle to the end!" Ye Chongben, the commander of the 13th Division, stood up first, and said loudly: "There is nothing to say! Commander, we will resolutely carry out the orders of the headquarters and you. Our 13th Division vows to live and die with Gaotai!" Other commanders also took the oath .Dong Zhentang was deeply moved, and said sonorously: "Comrades! Now the city defense fortifications will be heightened and thickened overnight, and the commanders of important defensive areas must come to the scene to organize forces. The two cavalry companies of Regimental Commander Lu are used as maneuvers to deal with any situation that occurs everywhere. danger!" After about half an hour, the meeting was over, and everyone left separately and returned to their defense areas. Only Yang Keming, the director of the political department, did not leave.Dong Zhentang stepped forward and held Yang Keming's hand tightly.Yang Keming looked at this generous brother affectionately, and said hesitantly: "Commander, what's the matter with Huang Chao. There is neither reinforcements nor..." Dong Zhentang patted Yang Keming on the shoulder. , interrupted his words: "Now is not the time to discuss this matter, let's not worry about it, Keming, hurry up and rest, the enemy may attack at dawn tomorrow." The two walked out of the church in silence. Dong Zhentang did not rest, he came to the position of the east gate, and the soldiers were nervously rushing to repair the fortifications.After many days of fighting, they were all ragged and unkempt, but full of energy.Dong Zhentang saw it in his eyes and felt pain in his heart.He stepped forward and shook hands cordially with every soldier.When it was the turn of a small soldier, Dong Zhentang was shocked. This little comrade, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old, had a bare left foot. Obviously, due to the barefoot, the foot was black with cold and there were blood spots on it. , was approaching him step by step with difficulty.Dong Zhentang went up to support him, then untied the coat from his body, put it on his thin body, and said guiltily: "Comrades, you have worked hard! The commander is sorry for you!" The soldiers surrounded the army commander, the little soldier choked up and said that he would not wear the army commander's clothes. Dong Zhentang held his cold little hand and said sternly: "I order you to wear it now. Wear it now. After the battle is over You can give it back to me." At this point, Dong Zhentang went to a high place, pointed to a bonfire of the Ma's army outside the city, and said loudly: "The horse bandits surrounded the high platform with heavy troops, relying on their superior strength to madly try to kill our five armies. Eat it in one bite! Comrades, what shall we do?" The soldiers roared in unison in the bitter cold wind: "Resolutely hold the position! Swear to live and die with the high platform!" The roars of these warriors are like sharp swords, cutting towards the dark night sky and the desert Gobi.In order to restore the light to the land of China and the complete liberation of the nation, this brave and righteous teacher is determined to use his own blood and life to forge an indelible truth.