Chapter 176 8. Mao Zedong once again expressed Chen Xie to develop westward

When Chen Geng's regiment broke through the Yellow River and advanced to the west of Henan, Liu Deng's army had already leaped to the Dabie Mountains, like a sharp sword, piercing the enemy's heart. Chiang Kai-shek was struggling to cope, and the Chen Geng Corps made another stab from the side.Chen Geng's Corps cut off Longhai, captured 4 cities, and won the victory of annihilating more than 4,800 enemies. The southward retreat began on August 27; the enemy who followed Liu Deng's main force reorganized the entire 2nd Division, and the 1st Brigade of the 206th Division of the Youth Army and the 124th Brigade of the 41st Division were also forced to assist westward. The Northwest Field Army fought with Liu Deng's main force.

In order to deal with this offensive of Chen Geng's Corps, Chiang Kai-shek cut out the flesh to mend the sores, demolished the east wall to mend the west wall: on the one hand, he hurriedly formed the 5th Corps with 8 brigades of the enemy army who was forced to aid from the west and the Luoyang area troops, led by Li Tiejun Unified command; on the one hand, the new 1st brigade, the 135th brigade and a part of the 206th division distributed in the east of Shanxian County, and the 167th brigade and the 494th regiment of the 165th brigade from the west of Tongguan have a total of about four and a half brigades The troops formed the Eastern Shaanxi Corps, commanded by Xie Fusan, commander of northern Shaanxi of the enemy's Xi'an Sui Department.In an attempt to attack our army from the east and west, open up the Longhai Road, and prevent the development of our army.

At this time, Mao Zedong sent several telegrams to Chen Geng in a row, pointing out that at present, in the vast areas east of Lanzhou, south of the Great Wall, west of Pinghan, and north of Hanshui, the initiative has been transferred to me, and we should let go of development and strive to Mobile warfare, maneuvering quickly, and covering a wide area.And specific instructions: the enemy in the Luoyang area must fight, and the main force should not be used; the main force should go west, take advantage of the opportunity that Hu Zongnan has not yet completed deployment in the west, seize the cities of Shanxian County, Lingbao, and Yanxiang, and annihilate the enemy's scattered defenses. Then go all the way out of southeastern Shaanxi and all the way out of Funiu Mountain to establish bases in western Henan, southern Shaanxi, and northern Hubei.

Chen Geng recalled afterwards: "At that time our main force was near Luoyang. If we attacked Luoyang, although the enemy's 3rd Division and other departments had not yet arrived, it was not certain that we would overcome it. Even if we conquered it, we would not be able to consolidate it. Once the enemies on the east and west If we get closer, it will be difficult for us to spread out and wipe out the enemy in large numbers. The main force will go west, take advantage of the opportunity to wipe out the enemy west of Shanxian County, and cut off the enemy's east-west connection. Advance, open up a vast new area, and better cooperate with the main force advancing into the Central Plains. Chairman Mao's instructions made us recognize this situation, which is of decisive significance for the victory of advancing into western Henan."

On the 29th, Chen Xie reported to the Military Commission: 1. The experience of crossing the river this time was insufficient, and the organization was not well organized; many pack mules died and fell ill when walking on the mountain road in the rain; Second, our understanding of the military commission's intentions is biased.After crossing the river, the main force headed southeast, preparing to seize the west of Luoyang by taking advantage of the emptiness, with the 38th Army and 22nd Brigade as the diversion direction.Now we have to turn around and head west, which is a waste of time.

3. On the 21st, two enemy regiments rushed to Hengshui Town, and I was determined to wipe out the enemy.The two brigades are the main attack, and the two brigades are fighting in the northwest of Luoyang.The two attacks failed, and the battle is not over yet. 4. Two brigades of the 4th vertical have been sent to seize Mianchi and Luoning respectively.After the battle of Hengshui, all four verticals marched westward along the railway and Luolu Highway, captured the counties of Lushi, Shangnan, and Luonan, and captured the three counties east of Tongguan.Qin Jiweizong temporarily stayed in the Xinmengluo area to contain the enemies of Luoyang, and first captured Yiyang and Song counties with one army, and then decided on the next move according to the situation.

On the 30th, Mao Zedong replied, agreeing with Chen Xie's battle plan, pointing out: "The west is empty, and it is easier to attack. The enemy near Luoyang must fight, so the main force should not be used." , and strive for mobile warfare, to achieve the goal of rapid maneuvering, wide occupation of enemy territory, and multiple annihilation of the enemy." ("Mao Zedong Military Anthology" Volume IV) After receiving instructions from the Central Committee, Chen Xie held a meeting with Qin Jiwei and others, and decided to abandon the attack on Hengshui. The main force of the 4th vertical marched westward, and the 9th vertical marched southward to contain the enemy and support Liu Deng's main force. (Chapter 9 of "The Memoirs of Qin Jiwei")

At that time, in addition to the enemy's Eastern Shanxi Corps, which concentrated more than 10,000 people to guard Shanxian County to prevent our army from advancing westward, the enemy west of Shanxian County was still gathering and deploying, one battalion here, one regiment there, forming a long snake formation. On September 2, the Chen-Xie Corps began to operate. First, a unit was used to monitor the enemy in Shan County, and the main force bypassed Shan County and went straight to Lingbao and Yan Townships.With swift action, we took a battalion here, a regiment or a brigade there, and wiped out the enemy completely.

On the 12th, our army liberated Lingbao, Yanxiang, Lushi and other cities.Then, use one to attack Tongguan in the west, and the other to attack Shanxian County. At this time, the enemy in Shanxian County was isolated, and the Chen Xie Corps captured the city guarded by more than 10,000 people. During the westward battle of the Chen Xie Corps, Commander Liu Bocheng and Political Commissar Deng Xiaoping instructed to break through the Longhai Road in order to cut off the connection between the enemy's northwest battlefield and the Central Plains battlefield.This is a strategic directive.The Chen Xie Corps resolutely carried out this instruction and completely destroyed this section of the railway.When the No. 8 Bridge, the famous dangerous bridge at that time, was destroyed, Xie Fuzhi also went to the scene to supervise and inspect it.