Chapter 123 3. Military deployment to defend Yan'an

From June to October 1946, in terms of the national war situation, the all-out civil war launched by Chiang Kai-shek reached its peak, and its offensive force increased from 72 brigades at the beginning of the war to 117 brigades, an increase of 63%. 105 cities including Chengde, Zhangjiakou, Andong, Huaiyin, and Heze in the liberated areas.Chiang Kai-shek was dazzled by the superficial victory of the Kuomintang army in seizing cities and land. After occupying Zhangjiakou, the capital of the Jinchaji Liberated Area, he ordered the convening of a "National Assembly" in mid-November to continue to intensify the attack on the liberated areas.

With Chiang Kai-shek's order, Hu Zongnan immediately launched another attack on the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Liberated Area, and actively prepared to attack Yan'an.The first time was in early July, the 359th brigade led by Wang Zhen, one of the right-handed breakout troops of the Central Plains Military Region, crossed the Pinghan Road blockade, broke through the encirclement of the Kuomintang army, and repeatedly smashed the Kuomintang army's pursuit and encirclement plan. The Tang and Bai Rivers in the water basin were far away from Liu Zhi's pursuit. Upon hearing the news, Chiang Kai-shek scolded Liu Zhi for being incompetent, and ordered Liu Zhi to continue to pursue. At the same time, he ordered Hu Zongnan to send troops to the Jingziguan area at the junction of Hubei, Henan and Shaanxi to intercept, strictly preventing Wang Zhen from leading the 359th Brigade into southern Shaanxi.This time, in early November, Hu Zongnan successively mobilized his main forces from southern Shaanxi and southern Shanxi to reorganize 6 brigades including the 1st and 90th divisions. armored regiment.Six of the brigades were assembled on the front lines of Luochuan and Yichuan as the main force to attack from the south; the five brigades of Ma Hongkui's division in Ningxia attacked eastward, and Yang Chengyuan's troops, commander-in-chief of the western Shanxi region of Yanxishan's division in Shanxi, attacked from the south of Shanxi Attack from east to west in response to the sneak attack on Yan'an.

The Central Military Commission had already anticipated Chiang Kai-shek's conspiracy. On October 19, the Central Military Commission pointed out in a telegram: Chiang Kai-shek is conducting a peaceful offensive politically, and is actively preparing for a long-term war in the military. After occupying Zhangyuan, it will become more rampant. Hu Zongnan's army is actively preparing to attack Yan'an. This conspiracy actively develops the entire Luliang Mountain area, creating favorable conditions for threatening Guanzhong, opening up Huanglong Mountain, and defending Yan'an. On the same day, the Northwest Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China also pointed out in a telegram to He Long, Li Jingquan and others: "First, it is confirmed that Chiang Kai-shek is more determined to fight a civil war. The National University will fight ahead, but it is estimated that there will be no major fighting on the southern front for half a month. Second, I have asked the central government for instructions on the issue of defending the border area this afternoon. The central government has agreed to adopt a positive policy, and immediately ordered Jinsui to transfer two brigades to organize a strong field corps , advance to Zhong (Yang), Yi (Chuan), and Luo (Chuan) when the enemy is not attacking, to defend Yan'an. Third, Yulin should take this opportunity to strive to occupy all of Yulin before the fall (30), relieve the fear of fighting on three fronts, and never It should not be too late, and we should pay special attention to Ningma Xilai. Fourth, the attacking force consists of two regiments of the 4th brigade, 1 regiment of the church, 1 regiment of the police district, and about 5 regiments of the Jinduo Department. Yucheng..."

In response to Hu Zongnan's plot to attack Yan'an, on November 6, Mao Zedong drafted a telegram for the Central Military Commission to the leaders of the strategic areas, making military deployments for the defense of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia liberated areas, and ordered the 1st Column of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army, The 4th Column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army and the 1st Column of the Shanxi-Suiyu Field Army quickly crossed the Yellow River westward to perform the task of defending Yan'an and the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Liberated Area. The telegram pointed out:

The 1st, 1st, and 90th armies were marching from Linfen to Xi'an, preparing to attack the border area. Ma Hongkui's main force gathered in Hedong to attack the three sides, and then the two groups would attack Yan'an.Second, our army has the task of smashing the enemy, defending Yan'an and developing the Northwest after victory.Third, decide Yang (Yong) Su (Zhenhua) column (3 brigades), Chen (Geng) Xie (Fuzhi) column (3 brigades), Zhang Zongxun column (2 brigades) to cooperate with the border troops to carry out this task , with Chen Geng as the commander, Zhang Zongxun as the deputy commander, and Xi Zhongxun as the political commissar to command all ministries.Fourth, He (Long) and Li (Jingquan) ordered Zhang Column to immediately go to the Xing (County) Lin (County) area to rest and replenish, and wait for the delay.Fifth, Nie (Rongzhen) and Liu (Lantao) ordered Yang Su's column to immediately recruit new recruits to the Xing and Lin areas and wait for orders to start.Sufficient political work should be carried out in advance to ensure that escapes are reduced.Sixth, Chen Xie's column quickly captured Xixian, Puxian, Daning, Jixian, and Xiangning, controlled the Madouguan Ferry, and opened up the road to Yan'an.He Li immediately ordered Peng (Shaohui) Luo (Fei Bo) and the 4th Independent Brigade to go south to Luliang to cooperate with Chen Xie in the battle, and to take over and consolidate the Luliang counties when Chen Xie moved westward. Peng Luo immediately went to Fenxi to discuss everything with Chen Xie.After the 7th, 1st, and 90th armies returned to Shaanxi, the Jinhu (Zongnan) army has been greatly reduced. When the Shaanxi-Gansu battlefield is opened, most or all of the Liujin Hu army will be transferred to Shaanxi, except for Taiyue. Outside the brigade, a new brigade should be formed to deal with local upgrades.Pi (Dingjun) Xu (Zirong) must wait for Su (Yu) Tan (Zhenlin) to win at least one more battle in central China before he can be mobilized, and the road is far away and slow, so he has to find his own way on the spot.

On November 12, Peng Dehuai came to Fuxian, Chafang, Jinpenwan and other places to inspect the defense of the southern front.After returning to Yan'an after the inspection, he told reporters in a very positive tone: "This time defending the border area and defending Yan'an, our army will surely win." On November 13, the "Liberation Daily" published an editorial titled "Urgent Mobilization to Defend the Border Areas", pointing out: "Chiang Kai-shek issued the so-called 'truce order' to deceive the people with one hand, while the other bloody hand is actively planning to attack the border areas. Attack Yan'an. Chiang Kai-shek's arrangement has been going on for half a month, and now it is basically completed." "The border area is the holy land of democratic China. Chiang Kai-shek attacked the border area and attacked Yan'an. This is to tear his last little bit of shame, and expose the fascism nakedly." The truth about the gangsters." The editorial pointed out: "We must recognize that Chiang Kai-shek wanted to attack the border areas several times in the past, but he did not dare to attack, and this time he will definitely attack. Don't think that Chiang Kai-shek is still afraid to attack this time. They want to use one blow to completely wipe out the Chinese democratic movement. The attack on Yan'an and the border areas is for this purpose." "We must strengthen our confidence in victory. Chiang Kai-shek's team can be wiped out. We have already killed his team in the past four months." One-sixth of the entire army, or 35 brigades, was wiped out."

On November 18, Mao Zedong pointed out to the whole party in a document drafted for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in response to the Kuomintang army’s conspiracy to attack Yan’an: At the end of the day, Chiang Kai-shek was at a loss, and wanted to attack our party and strengthen himself by opening the "National Congress" and attacking Yan'an.In fact, this will backfire.The Chinese people resolutely oppose the split "National Assembly" organized by Chiang Kai-shek. The opening day of this meeting is the time when the Chiang Kai-shek clique begins to seek its own destruction.After Chiang Kai-shek's army had wiped out 35 brigades by us, when its offensive capability was about to be exhausted, even if it used surprise methods to occupy Yan'an, it would not damage the overall victory of the People's War of Liberation, and could not save the future of Chiang Kai-shek's demise.In a word, Chiang Kai-shek took his own path, opened the "National Congress" and attacked Yan'an, and all his deceptions were exposed. This is conducive to the development of the People's War of Liberation.Every locality should fully explain Chiang Kai-shek's two points of opening the "National Congress" and attacking Yan'an to both inside and outside the party, unite the entire party, army and people, and strive to smash Chiang Kai-shek's attack and establish a democratic China. (Volume 4 of "Selected Works of Mao Zedong")