Chapter 219 7. Capture 3 important figures who defend the enemy alive

On May 18, after 72 days and nights of fighting, the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan People's Liberation Army finally subdued the "Wolfing Niu", and the "Wainiu City" returned to the hands of the people. However, Liang Peihuang, Xu Qichang, and Xie Xichang, three important figures in the enemy's defense of Linfen, had not yet been captured. When Dongguan was lost, Yan Xishan was in constant panic and worried. On April 3, he sent Lou Fusheng, the deputy commander of the 61st Army, to land in Linfen City in a small plane to convey his order: defend Linfen to the death, and hope that General Liang and all soldiers will live and die with the city. Survival succeeds, city perishes.And told Liang Peihuang "don't hope for reinforcements."

Liang Peihuang actually sent a reply to Yan Xishan: "I am willing to defend Lincheng with all the soldiers, and live and die with the city!" He also put some dry firewood under his bed, and put a barrel of gasoline next to him. Said: I hope my brother will go back and repay Chief Yan. This is my determination to live and die with the city. In fact, on March 9, Liang Peihuang sent out the "Jianzhanzi No. 114 Telegram", saying: "The defense of Linfen has entered a serious stage. This official has made up his mind to live and die with Linfen. If he dies in the middle of the battle, That is to say, Commander Xu Qichang will be the first agent of this officer, and Deputy Brigade Commander Xie Chang will be the second agent to continue the task of defending Linfen."

At this time, only the 30th Brigade was still defending the enemy in Linfen City, but it was obviously insufficient and its morale was low.However, the brutal Liang Peihuang was still not reconciled to failure, while reiterating his "eight kills" order: kill those who are ordered to attack and fail to advance; Those who are unable to help will be killed; those who are trapped in the adjacent line will be killed and those who will not stick to their positions will be killed; those who have misused shooting and falsely reported ammunition and invincible corpses in front of the battle will be killed; those who have falsely reported military information in an attempt to shirk responsibility will be killed; This kind of terrorist method coerces subordinates to work for them.On the one hand, the 30th Brigade was transferred outside the city to compete for ground positions, and young and middle-aged men and students in the city were hunted down to supplement soldiers, and the residents were forced to repair fortifications and build bunkers, determined to defend to the death.

Although Liang Peihuang vowed to Yan Xishan many times that he would "live and perish with Lincheng", "survive the city successfully", and "death the city will lead to benevolence".However, when our army launched a general attack on Linfen City on the evening of May 17, Liang Peihuang felt that his end had come, so he took six entourages and hurried out of the west gate to escape for his life.Fleeing to the Fen River, our army's gunshots flew from behind rapidly, and they jumped into the water before they could take off their shoes and socks.After crossing the Fen River, gunshots still came from all directions, and there were faint shouts of "hand in the guns and not kill" from the troops I was blocking. In the wheat field at the foot of the mountain.They were so hungry and sleepy that they lay down in the wheat field and fell asleep.

After the sun came out the next morning, they were captured by our army when they crawled out of the wheat field to dry their clothes. ("People's Daily", May 28, 1948) Xu Qichang and Xie Xichang also escaped from Linfen City on the evening of May 17. On the night of May 17, when our army entered Linfen City, passed the inner trench, and approached the Drum Tower, the core fortification in the city, Xu Qichang, based on his past experience, saw that something bad was going to happen, so he got out from a small crack in the west gate of the city. He crawled to the bank of the Fen River and jumped into the river with his shoes and socks on. After landing, his shoes got stuck in the mud, so he asked someone for a pair of shoes to wear. His legs didn't work, so he went to Xiagetuo Village to hide.Dream escaped the limelight and ran back to Taiyuan.However, this time his escape dream came true. On the 30th, when our Hexi troops went to Xiageduo Village to search for the remnant enemy, they finally captured him alive.

Besides, Xie Xichang, after breaking out of Linfen on the evening of the 17th, he fled westward desperately, and was blocked by our blocking troops along the way, and was beaten like a bereaved dog. On the 20th, when he led more than 130 remnant soldiers and fled to Xixigou Village in the east of Ningniuwangmiao Township, he encountered our blocking troops again, and had no choice but to capture them without a fight. On May 18, our army held an entry ceremony, and Wang Xinting accompanied Xu Xiangqian into Linfen City.In the evening, the captured Liang Peihuang stood in front of Xu Xiangqian with his head bowed.

Seeing that he was still barefoot, Xu Qiang asked someone to bring a pair of shoes for Liang Peihuang to put on, and then asked him, "Which batch are you from the Baoding Military Academy?" Liang Peihuang replied: "The third issue." "After decades of fighting, don't you remember the basic law of city defense that 'there is no army to save, no city to save'?" "Know……" "It's obvious that Linfen is an isolated city. Yan Xishan's distant waters can't save the nearby fire, Hu Zongnan can't take care of himself, and Chiang Kai-shek can't help him. Why do you still stick to it here?"

Liang Peihuang sighed helplessly. Xu Xiangqian asked him why he used poison gas?He tried to deny it, and he did not plead guilty until he pointed out all kinds of evidence.When asked what his original plan was, he said, "If your army attacks the city two days later, we will break through. It is estimated that there is a gap in Xishan, and we want to escape to Xi'an from there." Xu Xiangqian said: "There are nets everywhere, I can't go away!" After speaking, he ordered Liang Peihuang's family members to be found and reunited.At this time, the commander-in-chief of the "Defend Linfen Headquarters" really couldn't believe his ears.