Chapter 205 3. Wang Zhen ventured across the Yellow River

The task assigned by the Northwest Field Army to the 2nd Column was to cross the Yellow River westward into Shaanxi, destroy Hancheng and defend the enemy, and support the main force of the field army. As early as 20 o'clock on February 9, Wang Zhen proposed in a telegram to Peng Dehuai, Zhang Zongxun, and the Central Military Commission: "The main force of the wild set should be encircled and rescued. I will cross from Yumenkou Shijiatan to the west. Dates and tasks, please inform me immediately." I know. He (He Long) has already arrived in Xi County, and we need to wait for Peng (Dehuai) to confirm the date of my operation, so as to decide to meet with He and ask for instructions on the time and place of the westward journey.”

On February 15, Wang Zhen, the commander of the 2nd Column, received a telegram from Peng Dehuai ordering the 2nd Column to cross the Yellow River westward to participate in the Yichuan Campaign in Xinjiang, southern Shanxi. On the 16th, he presided over the convening of the column party committee. On the 17th, a mobilization meeting for the entire column oath was held in Xinjiang in order to march to the Kuomintang ruled area and switch to outside operations. He Long came here to inspect the troops and gave a speech. He said: "Chairman Mao said at the Central Committee's 'December Meeting' that the current war is not mainly fought in the liberated areas. The main force of the People's Liberation Army has already hit the Kuomintang. I went to the district. This is a turning point in history. You must make great contributions to this turning point in history! Today, I am here to send you off, and send you off to Jiang’s district to liberate the Northwest.”

Wang Zhen also said emotionally: "Ten months ago, Hu Zongnan attacked Yan'an aggressively and wanted to destroy us in one fell swoop. Are we so easy to destroy? I didn't expect them to be wiped out by us every day. Hundreds of thousands of troops let us eat them one bite at a time." He lost 70,000 people. They fought fewer and fewer people, and we fought more and more. Take us as an example, there were only more than 9,000 people in the past, but today there are more than 20,000 people. Yesterday he attacked us, today we have more than 20,000 people. Go and attack them. This is a real attack, and they will be wiped out before they have time to fight back. Boss He said today that we will switch to outside operations from now on. Our column party committee proposed eight tasks for 1948. The first one is, It is to strive to eliminate 30,000 enemies within this year. Boss He said that we should make contributions at this turning point in history. Now, on behalf of the column party committee, I call on everyone: to strive for the first contribution in 1948!" ("Wang Zhen Biography")

After Wang Zhen received a telegram from Peng Dehuai to cross the Yellow River westward to participate in the Yichuan Campaign, he wondered where would it be beneficial to cross the Yellow River?Crossing the river at a farther place is smooth and safe, but it will take more time, and the troops will be more tired if they walk more.If you forcefully pass through Yu's gate nearby, you will surprise the enemy and gain valuable time.It's just that the river at Yumenkou is fast-moving, the terrain is steep, the enemy's guard is extremely strict, and the risk is too great.So he thought about it all night.

At dawn, Wang Zhen summoned several leaders of the second column to discuss.When everyone heard that they were going to cross the river at Yumen Gate, they were very worried and talked about many unfavorable conditions.Wang Zhen listened silently, and then said: "It is meaningful because of the danger. I know that the terrain is dangerous and the enemy's defenses are tight. Hu Zongnan will also judge that we cannot pass. If 20,000 of us suddenly pass by, it will be very difficult for the enemy." How much shock was there? Therefore, the more dangerous the place, the safer it is, and the more dangerous it is, the more valuable it is.”

Finally, everyone agreed with Wang Zhen's opinion and decided that the troops would cross the Yellow River from Yumen Gate.But after this decision was reported to the Northwest Field Army Command, Peng Dehuai also felt that the risk was too great and asked Wang Zhen to reconsider.Since Wang Zhen had made up his mind, Peng Dehuai forwarded Wang Zhen's river-crossing plan to the Central Military Commission and got Mao Zedong's support.In Mao Zedong's view, "Wang Zhen is a man, if he says he can get by, he will be able to get by." ("Wang Zhen Biography") It was decided that Wang Zhen led the second column to cross the Yellow River west from Yumen.

Yumenkou is also known as Longmendu. According to legend, the ancient Dayu came here to control the water, and he led the crowd to dig Longmen Mountain, and the water of the Yellow River rushed out of the mountain gorge, rushing for thousands of miles.The knife-cut cliffs on both sides of the ancient Yellow River Road are like two stone gates, and Dayu named it "Longmen".People in later generations did not forget Dayu's achievements in digging the Dragon Gate, so they called it "Yumen". Yumenkou is located at the place where the Fen River flows into the Yellow River, 60 miles away from Hancheng across the river, and there are two enemy regiments defending the other side of the ferry and Hancheng.

On February 23, Wang Zhen led thousands of troops from the second column to the beach on the east bank of the Yellow River.On the right is the towering Longmen Mountain, and in front of you is the torrential torrent at Yumenkou.Wang Zhen and Xu Guoxian, commander of the 359th Brigade, and others came to the 717th Regiment, which was the first to cross.Yang Yiqing, the head of the regiment, selected the 4th company as the assault company, and personally selected 13 warriors to form a forced crossing assault team, with Xu Bangquan, the deputy instructor of the 4th company, as the team leader.

At dusk that day, under the cover of strong artillery fire, 13 warriors boarded the opposite bank in the first boat. After fierce fighting, four beachheads were occupied, the enemy's counterattack was defeated, and the main force of the cover went ashore one after another to fight.At 10 o'clock that night, all the 717th Regiment crossed the Yellow River to the west, Yumenkou was completely controlled by our army, and the Hancheng defenders abandoned the city and fled south after hearing the news.Then, Wang Zhen led his troops across the Yellow River. Many years later, Wang Zhen recalled: "Why did we cross the river at Yumen Gate? It was out of the enemy's surprise. Chairman Mao asked me later, and I said: The most dangerous place is also the safest. The chairman said: Ah! You You also know dialectics!" ("Wang Zhen Biography")