Chapter 192 7. Luo Lirong and others were captured

Under the urging of Sun Lianzhong, Luo Lirong also marched northward. On the way from Dingxian County on the morning of the 18th, he received twice a message from the Kuomintang Air Force saying, "We have discovered that a large number of communist troops are coming from the south. They are very close to you. The Third Army should do battle urgently." Preparation" ("Selected Works of Literature and History Materials" No. 20, Literature and History Materials Publishing House, p. 157) envelope. After Luo Lirong read it, he gave up his plan to camp in Wangdu, and instead camped in several villages near Qingfengdian, such as Dongnanhe and Nanbeihe, and ordered the troops to step up construction of fortifications and prepare for battle.At the same time, he asked the North to send troops to respond.In order to cover the 3rd Army's northward movement and delay the actions of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army, the Kuomintang Air Force dispatched 30 sorties of various types of aircraft from the 17th to the 19th to bomb and straf the marching PLA, but failed to help the 3rd Army get out of trouble. On the evening of the 19th, the 3rd Army was surrounded.

At dawn on the 20th, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army launched an attack.Yang Dezhi, Yang Chengwu, and Geng Biao issued an order: The Northern Resisting Aid Corps should "use all effective means to annihilate part of the enemy's advance, kill and consume the enemy in large numbers, and resolutely block the enemy's southern aid."After we have wiped out the 4 regiments of the 3rd Army in the south, "let the enemy come south"; If the enemy has entered Wangdu, I will continue to fight until we annihilate this group of enemies." Since the enemy's 3rd Army was concentrated in several villages centered on Xinanhe Village, forming a quincunx-shaped defense system with relatively concentrated troops and firepower, the fierce battle for one day did not achieve much results.

On the evening of the 20th, Yang Dezhi and others determined to divide the defending enemy first and annihilate them one by one.Take the 10th Brigade and command the 31st Regiment of the 11th Brigade to capture the South Joint Camp; the 11th Brigade mainly attacks the east and west rooms; the 9th Brigade attacks Gao Jiazuo; the 4th and 6th Brigade attack the 3rd Army Headquarters and the 7th Division main force to defend Southwest Union. After a day of fierce fighting on the 21st, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei field armament troops captured Nanheying, Gaojiazuo, and Dongxitongfang, consolidating the northeast and southwest breakthroughs of Xinanhe Village, creating extremely favorable conditions for the final annihilation of the 3rd Army.

During the battle on the 21st, the Kuomintang army dispatched more than 10 sorties, circling and strafing bombing at low altitude over the PLA positions and rear. They were shot down and injured by the PLA's light and heavy weapons, and 6 pilots were captured.After that, the planes no longer dared to fly low, and most of the food and ammunition dropped fell on the PLA positions. At 3:40 on the 22nd, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army concentrated the strength of more than 5 brigades, and under the cover of powerful artillery fire, launched a general attack on Luo Lirong's troops retreating to the southwest.

Luo Lirong had hoped for a long time that the reinforcements had not arrived. Seeing that the general situation was over, he ordered Deputy Army Commander Yang Guangyu and Deputy Chief of Staff Wu Tiezheng to command the military headquarters, and ran to the command post of the 7th Division by himself to organize troops to break through to the north with Division Commander Li Yongzhang.After hitting many times, they were all repelled. At about 8 o'clock, Luo Lirong, Li Yongzhang and others were captured, and the rest of the ministries also laid down their weapons one after another. At 11:30 on the 22nd, the battle ended.