Chapter 127 7. Hu Jun fought fiercely for six days and occupied the empty city of Yan'an

On March 13, Hu Zongnan launched an attack on northern Shaanxi from the Luochuan and Yichuan lines with a total of 15 brigades of more than 140,000 troops from the reorganized 1st and 29th armies. (About the date of Hu Zongnan's attack on Yan'an, there are two versions: March 13 and March 14. Here, based on the fourth volume of "Mao Zedong Military Collection" compiled by the Central Literature Publishing House and other units in recent years, "Zhou Enlai Biography" and other books , take the former statement) In order to strengthen the offensive, 75 combat aircraft were mobilized from Shanghai and Xuzhou to Xi'an, under the command of Wang Shuming, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Air Force, to carry out the largest-scale attack on party and government organs, military equipment, factories, warehouses and forward positions in Yan'an and other places since the outbreak of the civil war. "Strategic bombing". At about 4 o'clock on March 13, a batch of bombs were dropped near the North Gate of Yan'an in an attempt to blow up the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army.On the 13th alone, 59 tons of bombs were dropped.As of March 19, thirty to forty sorties were dispatched almost every day, taking turns to bomb for eight or nine hours.More than 30 incendiary bombs were thrown around Mao Zedong's residence in Yangjialing. Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and others who were in a meeting on the 18th interrupted the meeting several times to avoid the bombing of the plane.

Hu Zongnan's aggressive attack under the cover of aircraft and tanks was resolutely resisted by the Northwest Liberation Army.Although the teaching brigade and the 7th garrison regiment consisted of only 3 regiments, more than 5,000 people, and were extremely poorly equipped, the majority of commanders and fighters were brave and tenacious, relying on fortifications, and fighting for every inch of land. Pay a heavy price. Regarding the battle situation on the 14th, the Xi'an Appeasement Administration has detailed records: "The 1st Division launched an attack from the Xinzhuang area to the Santaizhuang line of the old Yecheng, and was resisted steadily by the enemy", "The 90th Division launched from the Yingwang area to attack Attacked near Liu Village, encountered stubborn resistance from the enemy along the way", "The entire 27th Division launched an attack from the Pinglubao area to Linzhen, and when encountering the enemy, taught the 2nd Brigade to resist against the strong fortifications of the fortress", "The 17th Division launched from Baozitou to attack Linzhen. The teahouse attacked, and the enemy resisted stubbornly based on the strong position of the Beishan Temple in the teahouse..." At the same time, the extensive attacks and bombing activities of the guerrillas and militia also made the Hu army move slowly, advancing less than 10 miles a day.Fei Changhui, former deputy director of the Xi'an Appeasement Administration and front-line commander, wrote in an article: "After the troops advanced, because the liberated areas had already completed the work of fortifying the walls and clearing the fields, the search troops sent by the various ministries of the Hu Army often encountered surprise attacks by the militiamen in the border areas, so they did not dare to go far. Reconnaissance at a distance, the situation is unknown, and the terrain is unfamiliar, so the troops move slowly." ("Cultural and Historical Materials Collection" No. 36, page 2)

After fierce fighting until the 16th, although Hu Jun broke through the first defensive position and occupied Linzhen, Longquan, Chafang, Niuwu and other places, his right army was blocked in the area south of Jinpen Bay and Mafang, and the left army It was blocked in the area south of Banqiao and Mazi Street, and failed to realize its planned plan.On the same day, Mao Zedong issued an order to praise the Northwest Liberation Army and instruct it to actively organize defense. The Northwest Field Force, under the unified command of Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun, immediately adjusted its deployment and formed three defensive corps to strengthen the organization of resistance.With the 1st Column (returned to the south of Yan'an on March 15th) and the 7th Guard Regiment as the right-wing corps, commanded by Zhang Zongxun and Liao Hansheng, they organized defenses in Daozuobu, Ganquan, Laoshan, Qingbeigou, and Shanshenmiao areas ; with the 2nd Column and the Teaching Brigade as the left-wing corps, commanded by Wang Zhen and Luo Yuanfa, organizing defenses in Nanniwan, Jinpenwan, and Songshuling areas; with the newly organized 4th Brigade as the central corps, led by Zhang Xianyue and Xu Liqing Command, in addition to no less than 4 battalions organizing defenses in the Miaoerliang, Chengzigou, and Shishilipu areas, the rest is a reserve team, placed in Yan'an and defending against enemy paratroopers and controlling the airport.

During the day, each corps used a small number of troops to fight steadily, stick to the key points, and organize troops to counterattack in a timely manner. They often used one squad and one platoon to fight against the Hu army in battalions and regiments.At night, they give full play to their strengths in night combat and attack extensively.The commanders and fighters could not eat enough food or drink water for several days, but they were always full of confidence and fought bravely. Due to the frustration of the attack, Hu Jun advanced slowly. After occupying Jinpen Bay and Daozuobu on the 16th, he adopted the "drilling tactics". To the front line of Yang's house.

The tenacious resistance of the Northwest Liberation Army, especially the laying of landmines everywhere, greatly increased the casualties of the Hu army and depressed their morale.Ren Zixun, the former deputy commander of the 90th Division of the Kuomintang Army Reorganization, wrote in describing the situation at that time: "In the area ten miles south of Jinpen Bay, the People's Liberation Army planted landmines everywhere, and the attacking troops encountered mines from time to time during their advance, killing and injuring people and horses. Quite a few, but the action was very slow. After occupying Jinpen Bay, there were more incidents of mine strikes. In every room or cave dwelling, on the threshold, in the pit fire, in the pit, in the water tank, behind the door, and on the window, there were mine strikes. The possibility of laying or tying landmines. As long as anyone enters the house carelessly, he or she will be killed or injured by the explosion with a single gesture of hand or foot. This makes everyone nervous and no one dares to enter the house , and no one dared to do it." ("Selected Materials of Literature and History" No. 36, p. 11)

Hu Zongnan failed to realize his plan to occupy Yan'an on the 17th, and Chiang Kai-shek urged him again and again, so anxious that he ordered a reward of 10 million yuan to the troops that invaded Yan'an first in the afternoon of the 18th.The order said: "When each division arrives at the line north of Yangjiapan, if time permits, they should form a commando team to attack Yan'an directly. The successful team will be rewarded with 10 million yuan." (KMT archives kept by the Northwest Military Region) Chen Wu, commander of the reorganized 90th Division, which was only 14 miles away from Yan'an, had occupied Yang's bank that afternoon. The first achievement in Yan'an!" (The 36th series of "Selected Literature and History Materials", pages 12-13) Unexpectedly, in the middle of the night on the 18th, Hu Zongnan suddenly ordered the reorganized 90th Division to change the direction of the assault and head eastward along the line from Baota Mountain to Qingliang Mountain. Regional offensive, the Reorganized 29th Army also stopped advancing after capturing Ershilipu south of Yan'an, and occupied Yan'an with the 1st Brigade of the Reorganized 1st Division.

On the evening of the 18th, the transfer and evacuation of the party, government, and military leadership organs and the masses in Yan'an had been completed, and the gunfire in the southeastern suburbs became more and more intense. Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai left Yan'an leisurely only after repeated urging by Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun. On the morning of the 19th, the Northwest Field Force voluntarily withdrew from Yan'an after completing its scheduled mission.At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Hu Jun's vanguard troops entered Yan'an.