Chapter 139 8. Peng Dehuai tuned the tiger away from the mountain

After the Kuomintang army entered the border area, it was difficult to obtain information on the operations of the Northwest Field Corps, and it became deaf and blind.The actions of its troops are mainly based on aerial reconnaissance, often subjective inference. In late April, the Kuomintang army conducted aerial reconnaissance and discovered that a group of ships had gathered at various crossings of the Yellow River east of Suide and Mizhi, and multiple small units of the People's Liberation Army were advancing in the direction of Suide.Based on the information obtained, the enemy's high command concluded that the main force of the communist army was gathering near Suide and preparing to cross the Yellow River eastward.He ordered the southern part of Hu Zong to quickly march northward along the Xianyu Highway, and ordered the 22nd Army of Deng Baoshan's Department stationed in Yulin to go south to Mizhi and Jia (Jia) counties to support them, in an attempt to attack from the north and the south, and annihilate the field army in Jiaxian and Wubao areas in one fell swoop, or Forced the field army to cross the Yellow River eastward.In addition to strengthening Panlong's defense with the 167th Brigade Headquarters leading a regiment and a security corps, Hu Zongnan ordered Liu Kan and Dong Zhao to lead 9 brigades to attack north from Panlong and Yongping on April 26.On the day when the main forces of the Dong and Liu armies began to dispatch, Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun immediately ordered the relevant troops to send reconnaissance teams to quickly find out the whereabouts of the enemy troops.At 19:00 the next day, Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun reported to Mao Zedong: "Dong and Liu's armies arrived at Washi at 15:00 on the 27th, and they appeared to have violated Suide." At the time of virtue, encircle and wipe out the enemies of Panlong."Mao Zedong replied: "The plan is very good. Let the enemy enter Suide in the north or Qingjian in the east, and then attack the enemies in Panlong and other places."

In order to "tune the tiger away from the mountain" and create the illusion of the enemy, Peng Dehuai also "followed the enemy's favor".One part of the 359th Brigade and one platoon were drawn from the other brigades to cooperate with the Suide Divisional Forces to act as the main force to retreat northward and fight against the enemy step by step.Along the way, some troops' armbands, symbols, worn-out shoes, socks and clothes were deliberately discarded to create false appearances and lure the enemy to speed up their march northward. Panlong Town in the northeast of Yan'an is the battle hub for Hu Zong's southern distribution, and the supply base ahead stores a large amount of military supplies.After each "armed parade", Hu Jun would come here for supplies.The 167th Brigade of Defending the Enemy is the main brigade of the 1st Division reorganized by Chiang Kai-shek's direct line, with excellent equipment and strong firepower.In addition to the 3rd Corps of the Shaanxi People's Self-Defense Army, which is a local reactionary armed force, the strength is nearly 7,000.Panlong is a small basin, surrounded by mountains, the terrain is steep, easy to defend but difficult to attack.The enemy used the highlands around Panlong to build many large and small bunkers, forming a group of bunkers, forming a crossfire network; around the group of bunkers, outer trenches were dug, each six to seven meters wide and deep.The main position of Dongshan is Jiyumao, which is even more solidly fortified, with bright and dark fortresses scattered all over the place.

Attacking Panlong was the first fortified battle on the Northwest battlefield.According to Peng Dehuai's analysis, if the field corps goes south to attack Panlong, the enemy will inevitably return to help, but it will take three or four days at the earliest to arrive.Beaulieu must be captured before the enemy.He said at the battle meeting: "At least we have 4 days to attack. But this is a tough battle. If we said that we ate two pieces of fat in the two battles of Qinghuabian and Yangmahe, then the battle of Panlong We must be prepared to gnaw the bones, and we must earnestly make all preparations for tackling difficulties and fighting tough battles."

When Hu Jun formed a "phalanx" tens of miles across and followed the "main force" of the field corps and rushed northward, Peng Dehuai led the field drivers to pass and stationed in a small mountain village called Xinzhuang beside the enemy's "phalanx".Scouts and staff officers kept sending urgent reports.It is only a few hills away from the enemy, and the distance is only about 1,000 meters, and it may be attacked by the enemy at any time.The personnel of the headquarters are all loaded with live ammunition, closely watching the enemy's actions, and are ready to fight the enemy at any time.Peng Dehuai said: "The enemy dare not go down to the valley because they are afraid that we will ambush them." As if nothing had happened, he lay on the kang, planning a plan to attack the enemy.When the scout reports: The enemy has passed.He jumped down from the kang and said: "'The road is facing the sky, each side will go', the enemy is going north, we are going south, each will go his own way, and each will do his own business!" He then ordered the troops to march towards Panlong. .

On April 29, Peng Dehuai and Xi Zhongxun issued a combat deployment to besiege Panlong.Use the 1st Column, 2nd Column's 4th Brigade and the New 4th Brigade to attack and annihilate Panlong and defend the enemy. The first part of the 359th Brigade and the teaching brigade block the enemy who may be reinforced in the north and south. On the 30th, the Field Corps surrounded Panlong Town, which was heavily guarded by the enemy, with lightning speed. On the evening of May 2, the battle to attack Beaulieu started.The field corps lacked fortified artillery, and mainly relied on soil work and blasting operations to destroy the enemy's solid fortifications.From the night of the 2nd to the morning of the 3rd, only the enemy's forward stronghold was captured, the outer trench could not be passed, and several attacks failed.The Northwest Field Corps did hit a hard bone.

At this time, Peng Dehuai ordered to stop the attack, consolidate the acquired positions, rest the main force, and promote military democracy.Each attacking force held a company platoon cadre meeting and a soldier meeting to discuss how to seize the main position and prepare to attack again at dusk.The commanders and fighters offered their ideas and suggestions, and proposed various effective methods such as approaching barbed wire fences, outer trenches, and enemy forts for trench operations, and attacking troops taking turns to feign attacks to consume the enemy's firepower.According to these suggestions, Peng Dehuai adjusted the attack deployment, concentrated firepower, improved tactics, and launched a fierce attack again.On the same day, Jiyumao was laid down, shaking the defending enemy.

At the tense moment of attacking Panlong, Peng Dehuai made a phone call with Wang Zhen in time and said: "If the enemy wants to escape, no matter which direction they break out from, they must be resolutely encircled and wiped out, and no one will be allowed to escape." When the troops reported, the enemy started When fleeing to Xishan, he immediately called Zhang Zongxun and Liao Hansheng of the first column: "The enemy is fleeing in the direction of Hetaoping. We must intercept, intercept, and pursue them in order to completely eliminate them." One slipped through the net.

On May 4th, the Field Corps seized the main positions of Dongshan and Beishan in Panlong, and attacked the enemy in Panlong Town from all sides after dusk.At 12 o'clock in the evening, the battle against Beaulieu ended victoriously.