Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Taiyuan, Victory Farewell
The loud sound of bugles ushered in another dawn in Xibaipo.The sun had just risen quietly, and the few red leaves on the persimmon tree in front of the door were drenched.The tenacious leaves melted away the thin frost overnight, and swayed tenaciously in the morning wind, unknowingly attracting a few beautiful birds.Birds and leaves sang heartily in the sun, and a subtle vitality slowly blossomed.
It was the last day of January 1949.The negotiations between the Pingjin Campaign and Fu Zuoyi were completed, and Beiping was peacefully liberated. A week ago, more than 200,000 people from Fu's troops left Beiping one after another to accept the reorganization. Today, the People's Liberation Army will officially enter the city of Beiping.This cannot but leave a historical imprint on Xibaipo at this moment.
Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Liu Shaoqi and others stood under the persimmon tree, some with their hips on their hips, some with their hands behind their backs, and some with a cigarette in their mouths, talking out of breath.They had just finished working all night, Mao Zedong suggested that they come out to take some fresh air, relax, and then take a nap, and then wait for Comrade Mikoyan, the special representative sent by Stalin... I don’t want to cross the threshold and hit a round of sun .Fresh air, fresh sunshine, a new and somewhat dazzling day is coming, who will feel sleepy!Everyone looked at the direction of Beiping at the same time, and Tan Xing suddenly couldn't stop the car.Naturally, the topic returned to the war just past.
"... Fu Zuoyi finally agreed to resolve the issue peacefully, and it was a last resort!" Liu Shaoqi said to Boss Zhu with a smile, "In this way, both sides are good, and the ancient cultural capital of Beiping is preserved, and there is an explanation for future generations. What a pity."
Zhu De nodded frequently, his face filled with affection and joy.Said: "If Liu Yalou hadn't gnawed down Tianjin and our army had come to the city of Beiping, I'm afraid it would have been much more difficult to solve the problem. Even if Fu himself understands righteousness, it's hard to say whether his subordinates will obey."
Everyone nodded.Everyone knows that although Fu Bu is not a direct descendant of Chiang Kai-shek and has deep conflicts with Chiang, he has never been ambiguous on the point of anti-communism.Fu Zuoyi's military strength in North China is claimed to be 600,000. It is of course not an easy task for him to lead his troops to accept peaceful reorganization when he has strength to rely on and a way to go.Zhou Enlai said with emotion: "At the critical moment, the chairman's decision-making was very wise. Attacking from three sides cut off his retreat, completely shattered the Fu Zuoyi Group's attempt to flee south and west, and created an extremely favorable situation for the peaceful settlement of Beiping's defense of the enemy!"
Mao Zedong said with a smile: "He beat Xin Baoan and killed him in the 35th Army; he beat Zhangjiakou again and cut off his westward retreat. Then, the Northeast Field Army sent this guy to Tianjin again. Fu Zuoyi couldn't be shaken." .He is at the end of his rope..."
As we spoke, the sun rose slowly, and the hillside was filled with light smoke.The cavalry team in the morning exercise shouted neatly on the road in the distance, and there was the sound of the ticking of the radio in my ears.Everyone suddenly fell silent, and no one said anything, silently savoring a kind of great joy that had never been experienced before.
The rapid development of the situation in the National War of Liberation has indeed exceeded the expectations of the decision-makers of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.In particular, the large-scale decisive battles dominated by the three major battles of Liaoshen, Huaihai, and Pingjin, not to mention unprecedented in the history of Chinese wars, are also very rare in the history of world wars.
From September 1948 to January 1949, in just over a hundred days, Dading in the Northeast, Shuping in the Central Plains, and Beiping were peacefully liberated, and the pace of war was accelerating!This cannot prevent Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and all the leading comrades of the Central Military Commission from reorganizing their thinking and having a new understanding of the established plan.
Mikoyan's presence will just provide an opportunity for this "cleaning up" work.Mie’s gesture was very good. In the contact telegram before his departure, he solemnly stated that he came to the CCP this time to "only listen and not talk." Later, when we met, he repeatedly said: "We are entrusted by Comrade Stalin to come to the CCP." Those who listen to the opinions of Comrade Mao Zedong... only listen with two ears, and do not participate in the discussion of decisive opinions..."
This is exactly what Mao Zedong wanted.He made careful preparations, putting forward specific opinions on the establishment of a new regime in the future, the restoration of production and economic construction after victory, the formulation of foreign policies, and domestic ethnic issues.Of course, the most important thing is the current development of the war situation.
Mao Zedong hoped to bring his voice and confidence to Stalin through Mikoyan.This was his real motive for expecting Soviet guests.
"When will Mikoyan arrive?" Mao Zedong broke the silence.
Zhou Enlai replied that he would arrive in the afternoon.
"They estimated us wrong before," Mao Zedong said, "this time I want to tell them that the time for our national liberation can be greatly shortened!"
Zhu De said: "Now, the main force of the Kuomintang army has been eliminated, leaving only 1.8 million people. The future focus will be on East China, South China, Northwest, and Southwest China. The situation is more complicated."
Zhou Enlai took up the conversation: "Will Comrade Stalin have any instructions?" "I don't care about him,"
Mao Zedong waved his hand: "Our affairs have to be handled by our own hands! The situation in East China and South China is not complicated, but the west is the most complicated. The northwest is the most urgent, and there are still two burdens that have not been shaken off, one is Suiyuan and the other is Taiyuan. , I can’t bear it anymore.”
Zhou Enlai said: "There is Fu Zuoyi. It's okay to let go of 50,000 people in Suiyuan. Taiyuan can't let go. There are too many worries."
This is indeed a pressing issue.Originally, Taiyuan City, which has received much attention in terms of overall strategic layout, should have put a small red flag on the chart long ago, but unexpectedly entered the final stage of the siege, and Xu Xiangqian, who was in charge of the command, suddenly fell ill.Seeing that victory is in sight, and hundreds of thousands of siege troops are leaderless, how can the Central Military Commission not be in a hurry!
The most urgent task is to have someone succeed Xu Xiangqian to take the lead and take advantage of the situation to develop the results.Otherwise, it is unknown that the siege will be abandoned halfway.Who is this person?Everyone thought of Peng Dehuai.
After the Battle of Libei, Peng Dehuai felt the pressure of the soldiers deeply.The Northwest Field Army was reorganized into the First Field Army, and the central government has made clear the important task of liberating the motherland's Northwest.The "big" of the Northwest spans the Loess Plateau, the Inner Mongolia Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude of more than 2,000 meters. Among the five provinces (autonomous regions), apart from the overlapping peaks, there are boundless deserts and plains.The mountain peaks are covered with snow all the year round, the plains have accumulated snow water, and there are countless salt lakes and swamps. As for the deserted Gobi desert, it is even more dangerous.Therefore, since ancient times, this land has not been very popular.The territory occupies one-third of the national territory, 3.2 million square kilometers in length and width, but the population is only more than 20 million, which is less than one-twentieth of the total population of the country at that time.
However, the Kuomintang army in the Northwest still has about 400,000 troops!The current strength of a field is only 155,000 at best.The huge disparity between these two figures and the vast barren land in the northwest prompted Peng Dehuai to think twice, and he still submitted a report to the Party Central Committee on the replenishment of troops.
Mao Zedong said: "It just so happens that Lao Peng will come to Xibaipo to hold the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee in early March. He can not only discuss the North China Army's participation in the Northwest War, but also talk to him about the siege of Taiyuan."
In fact, the issue of troop replenishment has been generally agreed upon in the exchange of texts and telegrams.On February 8, Peng called the Central Military Commission to report on the dynamics of the enemy forces in the northwest and an overview of the newly reorganized field forces, and proposed specific combat plans for the spring and summer of 1949.It is particularly emphasized here that if the old Xiye troops who stayed in Shanxi during March and April can be reunited, and Xu Xiangqian and Zhou Shidi's troops can enter Shaanxi to capture Tongguan and Weinan, and advance to Xi'an, then the First Field Army will be ready in April and May. Xifu and Baoji can be defeated.In this case, Hu Zongnan must abandon Xi'an and retreat to Hanzhong. Our army can take advantage of the enemy's withdrawal and wipe out its main force in pursuit and interception.
Four days later, Mao Zedong's reply was succinct and to the point: Take Taiyuan and let's talk.Once Taiyuan was liberated, at least two of the three corps in North China with 170,000 troops could be used in the northwest.
This promise was beyond Peng Dehuai's expectations.The 170,000 troops of the two corps is simply an extravagant expectation for Peng.As soon as he received the telegram, he understood the central government's eagerness to get rid of the "burden" of Taiyuan.On the way to Xibaipo for a meeting, Peng Dehuai said to Wang Zhen who was traveling with him: "After the meeting, I may have to go to Taiyuan to delay for a few days." Peng Dehuai seemed confident, so he was not surprised at all.He said honestly, "However, I have to make a condition."
Mao Zedong knew that Peng Dehuai said what he said, and never talked about conditions when accepting tasks.He was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "Oh? Lao Peng also made a condition, tell me, what condition is it?"
"Comrade Qianqian fought very hard in the front. Although he is sick, he is still the commander-in-chief of the battle. I will go to help him."
Mao Zedong nodded knowingly: "Okay! I think this condition can be agreed. However, in special circumstances, it is still up to you to make a decisive decision."
"Don't worry, Chairman, the burden of Taiyuan must be thrown off as soon as possible, so that the central government can go into battle with ease!" Peng Dehuai's smile is very precious, so confident and full of strength.
Zhou Enlai said, "No problem, Boss Peng has assured me..."
Mao Zedong stubbed out the cigarette butt, walked around in a circle, chopped his arm in the air, and said: "Set it down, the Taiyuan campaign is over, Zhou Shidi's 18th Corps and Yang Dezhi's 19th Corps will cross the Yellow River with you to enrich the army. Join the Northwest War!"
"In addition, Fu Zuoyi's team can allocate some for you." Zhou Enlai added.
The Second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will be held from March 5 to 13.
This is an important meeting to determine various policies after the national victory. The 34 Central Committee members, 19 alternate members and important staff present at the meeting are discussing the top priority of breaking the sky every minute.In Mao Zedong's speech, there was almost a new point of view, such as the People's Liberation Army is not only a combat team forever, but also a work team, and must be prepared to turn all 2.1 million field troops into work teams to carry out work in the new liberated areas; The strategic policy of "encircling the cities from the countryside" that has been talked about every day since "has now come to an end" and "from now on, the period from the cities to the countryside and the cities leading the countryside" and other formulations, make people listen. I feel refreshed.
The most inspiring, of course, are those details about regime building.Mao Zedong loudly declared: "All the conditions for convening the Political Consultative Conference and establishing a democratic coalition government are ripe." "We hope to occupy Nanjing in April or May, and then convene a Political Consultative Conference in Beiping, establish a coalition government, and set up the capital. Beiping." To establish a country of "the people's democratic dictatorship led by the proletariat and based on the alliance of workers and peasants".
Accompanying this huge expectation is a series of new spirits related to economic policy and foreign policy.After Mao Zedong passionately pointed out the great significance of the victory of the Chinese revolution, he solemnly reminded the whole party not to be dazzled by the victory, to prevent the growth of emotions such as arrogance, stagnation, greed for pleasure, and even unwillingness to live a hard life. "Sugar-coated cannonballs".In order to strengthen everyone's immunity, he moved out of Marxism, and used 12 newly edited "Must Reads for Cadres" to solve the problem of "low theoretical level of the whole party", saying: "Marx and Engels are teachers, and we are students... If within three years, 30,000 people have read these twelve books, and three thousand people have read these twelve books, that would be great."
This is the tone, and it can also be said to be a wake-up call.Mao Zedong tried to express the ambition of the goal and the perseverance of endurance. He also tempered a famous saying that has been popular in New China for decades: "To win the victory of the whole country is only the first step in the long march of thousands of miles."
Peng Dehuai memorized this sentence very carefully.For him, perhaps the first step of the Long March has not yet been taken.During the eight-day meeting, he hardly slept a full night's sleep. On March 13, the meeting was announced to be adjourned, and on the 14th, before dawn, he and Wang Zhen made arrangements to hit the road.They led a group of guards in two American jeeps, quietly bid farewell to Xibaipo on the banks of the Hutuo River, and headed straight for Shanxi.
Wang Zhen sat next to Peng Dehuai and dozed off after bumping around.And Peng Dehuai held a picture of Taiyuan in his hand, pondering endlessly.When the sun was about ten feet high, when the car passed Niangziguan, Peng Dehuai woke Wang Zhen up with his elbow: "Hey, it's time to break up!"
Wang Zhen rubbed his face vigorously, and said with a grin, "I don't know why, as soon as I sit next to the boss, sleepy bugs come."
"You mean, I'm not very energetic, and you young people are not interested?" Peng Dehuai pulled his face deliberately.
"No no no, the boss is always lively..." Wang Zhen made a grimace: "Besides, I'm not young anymore!" He glanced out the car window: "Don't worry, boss, we can still go the same way."
Peng Dehuai said: "Let's divide, I want to take a side road." He decisively ordered the car to stop, "The chairman is concerned about the front line in Taiyuan, I have to hurry up. You hurry up too, Boss He and Political Commissar Wang are moving overnight. At this time I'm afraid we will soon cross the Yellow River!"
Wang Zhen became serious.As soon as the car came to a stop, he jumped off the ground, stretched out his military uniform, held up his military cap, and saluted Mr. Peng through the window, saying, "Don't worry, Mr. Boss, as soon as I get back, I will hold an enlarged meeting of the Front Committee of the Field Army to discuss the results of the Seventh Second Middle School. Carry out the spirit of the plenary session, and guarantee to welcome the 18th and 19th Corps with a new look!"
Several guards who had gone with Wang Zhen also got out of the convertible to bid farewell to Boss Peng.A brat pouts his mouth and whispers to Mr. Peng's guards: "Didn't we break up after lunch? Why is the boss in such a hurry?"
This was overheard by Peng Dehuai, who said in the car: "Little brat, it's not me who is in a hurry, it's the enemy who is in a hurry..." Before he could finish speaking, the jeep had already rushed onto a rural dirt road next to it, kicking up a cloud of dust.
This half-baked remark was brought to the Front Committee of the First Field Army by Wang Zhen, and it was quoted repeatedly as a classic.In the first quarter of 1949, the so-called "the enemy is anxious", there are countless materials available for demonstration, and the most convincing one is of course Chiang Kai-shek's "retirement".This is January 21st.Under the situation where the People's Liberation Army was approaching the Yangtze River and the sound of rumbling cannons could be faintly heard at the head of Nanjing City, Lao Jiang was forced to betray his relatives and played his old tricks again.As a result, the day after Chiang Kai-shek left Nanjing, Fu Zuoyi of Beiping announced that the troops stationed in the city would withdraw from the city to accept reorganization. Acting President Li Zongren of Nanjing issued a statement stating that "the government is willing to start negotiations on the eight conditions proposed by the CCP."
The essence of Li Zongren's "discussion" is that he wants to retreat to the next best thing and implement "government by border" with the CCP in order to keep the "half of the country" of the Kuomintang.This decoction has not seen a trace of waves in the slumped Kuomintang camp.Only one person was stimulated, and that was Hu Zongnan who was still struggling to support the Northwest battlefield.
For Chiang Kai-shek's third resignation, Hu Zongnan looked at it with joy and encouragement.The moment he got the news, he had an expectation.Previous experience told him that great crises always come to an end with Jiang's wonderful performance. Could it be that "going down" this time is just "going down"?
Hu Zongnan quickly confirmed his judgment from two aspects.On the one hand, before Chiang Kai-shek returned to Xikou, he sent telegrams and letters one after another to his little brother, with only one central meaning, asking Hu Zongnan to maintain a high degree of sobriety and "struggle to survive from death"; on the other hand That is, Shen Zui, an important figure in the military command, came to Xi'an without anyone noticing.Hu Zongnan was well aware that Shen's secret mission had always been to attack Li Zongren in Nanjing, but now that he suddenly "leaved his post" and left, it could at least show a subtle change in Jiang's attitude towards Li Zongren.Is it to temporarily suspend the operation or give up completely?Hu Zongnan still couldn't understand this point.
Of course Shen Zui didn't come to Xi'an just to "reveal" Hu Zongnan.The demon king with double guns, who claims to have ten thousand eyes and ten thousand ears, was helping the "mountain man" Chiang Kai-shek with his crutch yesterday on the Miaogao platform. Today, he is fighting with the "big hero" Hu Zongnan who turned the tide Had dinner in the small living room of Dongcangmen in Xi'an.He said "Mr. Hu" one by one, and vividly conveyed Chiang Kai-shek's situation, intentions, and expectations for Hu Zongnan.It so happened that Hu had another glass of old Shaoxing wine for the first time, and his mind was full and he couldn't control it.
"Brother Shuyi, to tell you the truth, I have been having trouble sleeping and eating these past few months!" Hu Bishen was eighteen years older, and calling him "brother" was a bit flattering.He has an emotional side, but his speech is always constrained by the role, and he has always had to be cautious. Only a few people who "seek each other with their voices" appreciate this scenery.In the past, Xiong Xianghui was one of them, but then something went wrong, and his door was closed even tighter.But no matter how tight it is, the people of the Military Control Bureau must make exceptions. This is a concept established since Dai Li's time.
Shen Zui said: "I was born as a little ghost, and I knew how to arrest people. I worked as a miscellaneous job, and I didn't know what tactics were. If two armies were fighting against each other, I would be willing to be a primary school student in front of my husband. But my brother just didn't understand. Eight million people with bravery, excellent guns, and a cloud of generals, how can they not defeat the few thieves of the Communist Party?!"
"Brother," Hu Zongnan sneered and dragged his voice, "from one moment to another, today's Communist Party is no longer just a few thieves. It is said that there are many soldiers and many generals. In terms of tactics alone, the Communist Party's army is not as good as it is. There are so many things that need to be pondered!"
Shen Zui was secretly surprised by these words.The person in front of him is Hu Zongnan!This man is notoriously self-willed among the KMT.After all, heaven and earth reincarnate, and life can really polish people.He decided to scratch Hu Zongnan's itch, and make some windfall money.Therefore, Shen Zui asked with a look of admiration: "Mr. Hu has fought bloody battles with the Communist army on the front line for a long time, and he must have a good opinion on the success or failure of the current situation! Can you open my eyes?"
Hu Zongnan sighed and said: "I can't talk about high opinions, but I have a little bit of experience." He thought for a while, narrowed his eyes in pain, and said resolutely: "Northeast and North China are lost again and again. Why? Can't say The party-state has no talents, and it cannot be blamed for the whole army’s unwillingness to shed blood. It is really because the senior generals could not cooperate sincerely and were defeated by the Communist army one by one... The battle of Xuzhou is the best illustration of the situation, and it is the most necessary to review!"
Shen Zui nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice.
Hu Zongnan became more and more vigorous: "It's not me, Hu, who is boasting. I dare not say anything else. If it is about dealing with the Communist Party, who else has the qualifications to compare with me? I have studied their military affairs and their politics. , their revolutionary ideas. Who knows better than me the advance and retreat of the Communist army, the drills of officers and soldiers, political speeches, and the dispatch of people and food and fodder supplies? Ten years, brother, I have been fighting with the Communist Party without stopping. I am Zongnan. Two feet of loess, a whole body covered in blood, several sets of Zheng's clothes have been worn out!"
"Mr. Hu's unrivaled feats in suppressing the Communist Party have been seen by all the people in the country, and I am familiar with it, and there is no one in the national army!" He was so intoxicated that he poured the ecstasy soup into his death, "Oh, brother, the defeat of the national army to this point is beyond my dreams. Come to think of it! Now, the people of the country are discouraged, the friendly nations ridicule, and observers all over the world are stunned... I wonder if Mr. Hu has a good plan for the next step of the war?"
"A good strategy? Huh!" Hu Zongnan sneered, "The president gave me the four words 'survive from death', how to 'survive'? Instead of 'die while seeking to survive', just 'survive while seeking to die'. I thought about it Thirty years from east to west, the national army is no longer what it used to be, and we must reflect on it and start implementing a new strategy. Why don't we learn from the Communist Party and treat others in the same way as others!"
"Sir, please explain clearly." Shen Zui's interest increased greatly, and he hurriedly leaned over and approached Hu Zongnan.
Hu Zongnan put on the posture of an elder: "The best method of the Communist Party for more than ten years is to open and close, regardless of the gains and losses of a city or a pool, and attack from the camera. In this way, its limited force can always be preserved. And it is always the national army that suffers. Today, the national army should preserve its strength. If so, why not make great strides back and forward like the communist army, seeking opportunities during maneuvering, so as to achieve the goal of annihilating the main force of the communist army? ?”
Shen Zui acted as if he had an epiphany, and shouted "It's wonderful, it's wonderful!" He snapped his fingers lightly, circling in circles excitedly.
Hu Zongnan said quite proudly: "Of course, it will definitely not feel so good to hand over some big cities, some important strongholds, and large areas of land to the Communist Party. But what can be done about this? Otherwise, the strength of the national army cannot be preserved. Without this point, how can we compete with the Communist army for a long time? The lesson of the past is to underestimate the enemy, disperse forces and act independently, and defend everywhere, but not everywhere, giving the Communist army an opportunity. Look at the current situation Taiyuan, isn’t that the case? Oh, Yan Laoxi, old problem!”
There was nothing to say that night, and the sound of guns and artillery outside Taiyuan City seemed to have subsided a little.But Yan Xishan still stayed up all night.Since the loss of Yuncheng, it has happened from time to time that I can't close my eyes all night.It was Xu Xiangqian who closed his eyes, and Xu Xiangqian who opened his eyes. He knew that the Communist Party would never let it go until it got Taiyuan.In the dead of night, he sighed and sighed, never thinking that the achievements of his life would be left in the hands of this Wutai folk!Yan Xishan felt something unpleasant in his heart.
Waiting until dawn, Yan Xishan will convene a meeting of senior personnel from the military, administrative, economic and organizational aspects of the Sui Department.He wanted to read an invitation telegram sent to him by Acting President Li Zongren, which he had solicited from Acting President Li through his confidant Jia Jingde who was working in the Nanjing government.Then, tonight will be the last night that I will sleep on my homeland.Who knows if this trip will be possible... Yan Xishan deeply feels that his fate is too much and his future is bleak.
I don't know when, outside the window, it began to rain.Yan Xishan draped his clothes and sat up.The rain in Shanxi is also so kind, without a trace of wind, it just falls, under the eaves and on the leaves, tick-tock, it makes people feel sour.Since ancient times in life, it is not easy to get on a boat, and it is not easy to get off a boat.I remember that when Xu Qianqian went to Yuncheng, Yan Xishan was celebrating his 64th birthday, which spoiled the lively birthday party.At that time, Yan was still indifferent, thinking that "a cement blockhouse and a group of fortifications can withstand the strength of a company and a battalion of the Communist army", so he kept reporting the number of blockhouses and defense lines built to Chiang Kai-shek, and asserted with certainty "It's okay to guard Yuncheng for half a year." Because of his boldness, he dared to argue with Hu Zongnan and shirk responsibility.When Yuncheng was lost, Chiang Kai-shek's face turned ugly, and Yan Xishan's heart skipped a beat, but he still has Linfen!Linfen's 30-meter-thick crouching bull-style city wall and the garrison of Xu Qichang's "specially capable of defending the city" sixty-six divisions are enough for Yan to eat well and sleep well.He came to sit in the town in person, shaking all the scenery.
Unexpectedly, Xu Xiangqian took the fight against Linfen as a "battlefield training" and vowed that "if the beard turns white, he will take Linfen down."This blow hurt Yan Xishan, his head was covered, his eyes were dazzled, and his hands couldn't be controlled.Fortunately, there is also a Japanese advisory group as staff, and they have pulled in hundreds of thousands of troops to fight Xu Xiangqian in a decisive battle in Jinzhong.This time he has learned how to fight well. If he wants to fight sports, he can fight if he can fight, and if he can't fight, he can run away.As a result, soldiers were still lost.The loss this time was not a small amount, but 1 army headquarters, 5 military headquarters, 9 entire divisions, and 2 corps, adding up to hundreds of thousands of people!More importantly, Xu Qianqian also occupied 14 county towns and pushed the front line to the city of Taiyuan.
Yan Xishan, who was trapped in the city of Taiyuan, was dumbfounded. With a lonely sail, should he respond to the east wind or the west wind?
This is also what Chiang Kai-shek considered.Shanxi people's brains are turning fast, but they are not as fast as Chiang Kai-shek's moves.As early as the beginning of the Jinzhong Battle, Defense Minister Bai Chongxi flew to Taiyuan.As soon as Bai returned to Nanjing, Chiang Kai-shek personally came to "supervise the battle." He took Xu Yongchang, the principal of the Army School, and Jia Jingde, the head of the Civil Service Department of the Nationalist Government, two of Yan's cronies, and walked up to Yan Xishan in the light rain, saying "Baichuan, I Here we come!" Yan Laoxi almost burst into tears.
From then on, Yan Xishan was determined to "eat weights".
However, Xu Xiangqian did not give up everything he should do.Before the battle of Taiyuan started, he personally wrote a letter to Yan Xishan, hoping that Yan Nian and hundreds of thousands of elders would sit down and negotiate a peaceful settlement without resorting to force.Unexpectedly, Yan Xishan not only refused, but also killed the 80-year-old man who delivered the letter, and the letter was forwarded to Chiang Kai-shek.
Then hit.Xu Qianqian commanded the troops to capture Dongshan Mountain in Taiyuan in one go, and then after a hard fight, they occupied the first-line positions of Niutuo Village, Xiaoyaotou, Naoma and the "Four Fortresses" on the top of the mountain.At this time, Huang Qiaosong, commander of the 30th Army and the old department of the Northwest Army stationed here, sent people out of the city to discuss the uprising, but was betrayed by a division commander to which he belonged.Yan Xishan unceremoniously escorted Huang Qiaosong to Nanjing for execution by Chiang Kai-shek.
These two incidents allowed Chiang Kai-shek to see Yan's sincerity clearly.He thought that Yan Xishan would not become Fu Zuoyi anymore.As a result, the planes transporting supplies, ammunition and food landed in batches to the isolated city of Taiyuan.
However, after all, the Kuomintang was in decline, and as soon as Lao Jiang handed over the mess, he slipped away and went to run his small island.As soon as Beiping was peacefully liberated, Yan's colleagues who stayed there, such as Zhao Chenglian, Wen Shouquan, Guo Zongfen, etc., sent letters to persuade them to make peace.Yan Xishan yelled at Fu Zuoyi, but his heart softened a bit.
Just at this time, someone sent word: The CCP has sent Peng Dehuai to participate in the command of the siege of Taiyuan.
In fact, Peng Dehuai hadn't set off in Xibaipo at that time.On the afternoon when he arrived at the front line in Taiyuan, Peng Dehuai first went to see Xu Xiangqian, who was seeing a doctor, and then he was about to go to the front line, and no one dared to stop him.Just in time for the interval between battles, the commanders and fighters were repairing the fortifications. Mr. Peng heard everyone commenting that Yan Xishan was a stone in a latrine, which was smelly and hard, so he interrupted and said, "'stinky' is true, but 'hard' I don’t think so. Chiang Kai-shek’s Mud Bodhisattva can’t save him if he crosses the river!” As he spoke, he dragged Luo Ruiqing, Zhou Shidi, Yang Dezhi, Chen Manyuan, Li Zhimin, Yang Chengwu, Li Tianhuan, Wen Niansheng and others to look at the terrain.
Yang Dezhi said: "Boss, the front is chaotic and the enemy is fighting fiercely. Let's report on the map!"
"No," Peng Dehuai said resolutely, "If you don't go to the front, even a god can't win a battle with a phone and a map alone. I don't have that ability, so it's better to do it stupidly. Go to the field and touch it a few times!"
Accompanied by several leading comrades of the corps, Peng Dehuai repeatedly pondered the terrain outside Taiyuan City, selected three highlands occupied by the enemy, and said: "Once a peaceful settlement fails, we will do it. You three corps, one family A commanding height, if you take it down at any cost, Taiyuan City will be destroyed without attack.”
Within two days, all three highlands were obtained.That night, Peng Dehuai lay on the small square table covered with combat maps, and by the red light of the lantern, he personally drafted a telegram to Mao Zedong: "The battle in Taiyuan is developing very fast. The city will be captured at dawn on the 24th, and it may be captured on the same day. It is planned to return to Shaanxi in early May."
The date of April 24, 1949, was set exactly. On April 21, Mao Zedong and Zhu De will issue an order for the Chinese People's Liberation Army to march across the country, and put forward the slogan of "advance bravely, resolutely, thoroughly, cleanly, and completely annihilate all Kuomintang reactionaries who dare to resist, and liberate the whole of China"; On April 22, a million-strong army of the People's Liberation Army will cross the Yangtze River.If all goes well, on April 23, the blue sky and white sun flag of the Kuomintang Presidential Palace in Nanjing will fall to the ground with the wind.Then, on the 24th, even if Peng Dehuai didn't fire a single shot, half of Taiyuan City would collapse!
In the early morning of the day when Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De read Peng Dehuai's telegram enthusiastically, Yan Xishan in Taiyuan sent Liang Huazhi and Sun Chu, the deputy directors of the Sui Department, and Wang Jingguo, the chief of the Army Construction Association and the commander-in-chief of Taiyuan's defense. At that time, Zhao Shiling, chief of staff of the Sui Department, Wu Shaozhi, the secretary-general, and Yan Huiqing, the fifth younger sister of Yan, convened and read out the invitation letter from Acting President Li Zongren: "A peace delegation composed of Zhang Zhizhong, Shao Lizi and others will go to Peiping in a few days to carry out Peaceful negotiations, please come to Nanjing to discuss everything in detail."
Nobody is a fool.Everyone looked at each other and saw through the fate of Taiyuan City at a glance.
Sure enough, a few days later, on April 24, 1949, Yan Xishan, who was like ants on a hot pot in the Shanghai mansion, received a death call from Yan Huiqing, his fifth cousin who had served him for many years.The telegram reads: "...for days the cannons sounded like thunder, deafening, bombs flying like rain, horrifying, smoke and flames filled the air outside the house, a sea of flames, the room was dark and dead, all thoughts were lost, the general situation was over, the street fighting was over... this life is over, Farewell forever, see you in the next life, I hope it is not illusory, the younger sister is still in the world at the moment of power generation, and the elder brother is in the world when he reads the power."
At this time, Peng Dehuai, Zhou Shidi, Luo Ruiqing, Yang Dezhi, Li Zhimin, Chen Manyuan, Yang Chengwu, Li Tianhuan and others had appeared on Taiyuan Street.The troops were cleaning the battlefield, some were putting out the remaining fire in the corridor, some were evacuating the wounded or carrying the remains of the dead on both sides, and some were escorting long and short teams of captives out of the city.
Peng Dehuai said as he walked: "Taiyuan has been defeated, and Yan Xishan is about to become its executive director, but my task has not been completed yet!"
Everyone was surprised: "President Peng, what other tasks do you have?"
"Lead the troops! I'm here to lead the troops. Zhou Shidi and Yang Dezhi, you two lead the troops and follow me!"
"You mean, the 18th Corps and the 19th Corps are going to cross the Yellow River?" Yang Chengwu asked eagerly, "Then our 20th Corps..."
Peng Dehuai said: "This is the decision of the central government. You are reserved as the headquarters directly under the corps, and the tasks are also very heavy..." He told Zhou Shidi and Yang Dezhi: "Clean the battlefield quickly, let the troops take a rest, and prepare for the rapid march of thousands of miles. Prepare!"
A retreating team came over, looking a little messy, sparse, and out of formation.The soldiers were all covered in stains, some were unbuttoned, their hats were turned upside down, and their guns were on their backs. Some even cursed and complained while marching.Peng Dehuai was very angry when he saw it, and asked urgently: "Which unit is this? Call me the commander!"
After a while, a group leader with bandages on his head and arms ran to Mr. Peng.Stand at attention, salute, and report the unit number and your name.
Peng Dehuai pointed at the other party's nose angrily: "Are you the Communist Party or the Kuomintang? You are simply a bandit!"
The head of the regiment was scolded inexplicably and didn't know how to answer.
"Look at what you have brought the team to me! This is also called the People's Liberation Army? Even the prisoner team walks more neatly than you!" Mr. Peng pointed to the scattered team across the road and said: "It's too ugly. !"
The head of the group finally understood, and hurriedly saluted again: "Report to Mr. Peng, I will straighten out the team immediately."
Only then did Peng Dehuai's anger subside a little. He approached the head of the regiment, looked at his wound, and helped him to fasten the unbuttoned button. He carefully straightened the hat on the bandage, and said: " Comrade, we are the people's army, and the masses of the people are watching us with thousands of eyes. Marching on the street, how bad is this appearance! No matter how hard or tired, no matter how great the sacrifice, we must cheer up and maintain steel-like discipline , This is our magic weapon to defeat the enemy!"
With a shame on his face, the team leader kept repeating what he said just now: "I'll straighten out the team immediately!"
Peng Dehuai nodded, but said resolutely: "You need to conduct a review!" Then he turned to Zhou Shidi next to him: "We must notify them!"
Zhou Shidi came forward and reported in a low voice, saying that the regiment commander took the lead in the siege of Taiyuan, commanded very well, and the whole regiment fought very well. The command center, so that the street fighting ended early, is it right to make up for the mistakes and exempt from notification.
Peng Dehuai said: "Remember the military exploits for him, but today's incident must be notified!" He raised his voice as he spoke: "The meritorious should be rewarded, and the guilty should be punished. We can't be sloppy. Two circulars are issued together, and one criticizes. A commendation."
While talking, there was a bugle sound from behind to stop the advance, and the regiment leader was busy running back and forth to straighten out the team.
Peng Dehuai said with relief: "The army is a good army. It can fight, obey the command, and correct mistakes. It depends on how we take it..." He ordered to ride back to the headquarters and said: "I originally planned to let the army rest for a month. Let’s take a look at the Battle of Taiyuan. Now it seems that there is no time for you, and the troops must carry forward the style of continuous combat.” His voice suddenly became calm: “The Hu and Ma in the northwest are very rampant. Offended Xianyang. Besides, the wheat in Guanzhong is about to bloom..."
Hu Zongnan "inspected" exhaustedly and returned to the Sui Department's combat command center. He looked up and saw Li Zhenxi, the commander of the 38th Army, sitting there alone and dozing.Li came to the Sui Department to talk at Hu Zongnan's appointment, but Hu actually forgot the appointed time and made Li Zhenxi wait for him for three or four hours in vain.
Li Zhenxi stood up to meet Hu, and said in the first sentence: "Mr. Hu, pay attention to your health, your complexion is not very good!"
“是吗？”胡宗南强打起精神说，“人家说，国家中兴有两条：文官不贪财，武官不惜命。你我军人，唯战死沙场才是正宗，像阎老西那样临阵脱逃苟全性命，还叫军人吗？”
李振西诺诺，他深知此刻胡宗南需要的就是两个耳朵。
胡宗南被自己的话激愤起来：“可恶！这样的人居然还要准备去当什么行政院长！”显然，此话是发泄对李宗仁的不满意。蒋介石下野之前，曾亲口许诺给胡宗南两个军的番号和全副美械装备，要他扩充实力，以备不测。然而，李宗仁一上台，硬是把这两个军及其装备，转拨给了桂系白崇禧的名下。这对胡宗南是个不小的挫伤。
“国运不济，哪里还找得到公道哟！”李振西长长地嘘口气，顺着竿子往上爬。
胡宗南无可奈何地叹道：“目前西北局势，同过去相比，已大不相同。过去我们占着绝对优势，而目前……如果进攻太原的共产党军队以主力西渡黄河，与西北共产党军队会合一处，那我们就不一定占绝对优势了！”
李振西故作惊讶地瞪大双眼。事实上，这些看法他早就埋在心里，只是没把它说出口罢了。
“今后的战略……”胡宗南沉吟着。他希望李振西冒冒失失说出一个错误见解，由他来更正，并顺势把自己的“远见卓识”贩卖出来。遗憾的是，李振西谨慎得很，好像抱定只出耳朵、不出嘴巴的宗旨。于是，胡宗南把腔调拖了一拖不见回应，只好还是失望地由自己继续往下说，“今后的战略，我们要大踏步撤退，大踏步前进，以此歼灭共产党军队主力。也许我们一下进到陕北，或者一下退到四川。因此，我有个打算——”
李振西皱起眉头猜想这是个什么打算。猜不出，便急问：“胡先生有什么深谋远虑？”
胡宗南伸出右手，在李振西面前握成一个拳头，脸上含着得意之色说：“我想把你们几个战斗力强一点的军编到一起，有你三十八军，还有六十五军、一军，组成一个兵团，就叫作十八兵团吧，由李振带上，将来用于绝对需要的方向……”
李振西大悟，连连点头：“这是个好主意呀！不过，三个军还太单薄，最好把九十军也捎上。这样的话，或进或退，到哪里都可以独当一面。”
“可以，可以，还可以做更长远的打算！”胡宗南兴奋得一会儿站起来，一会儿坐下去，“有了这个第十八兵团，再把陕西保安队编成几个新军，交五兵团裴司令带上，会同省政府董钊主席一起维护陕西治安，我看就万无一失了！西安嘛，守亦可，放亦可，全不必计较它。”
听到这里，李振西暗暗咂摸出一点滋味：胡莫非要撤离西安？于是，投石问路：“西安城固防重，共产党军队纵有胆量来碰一碰，恐怕也得三思而后行。”
“一城一池，何必看得那么重！”胡宗南显得不耐烦，嘴上说得脆响，眼里却有心事。他顿了顿补充道，“过去国军所以失大于得，就是老把眼睛盯住那点点家当，怕丢了这个怕丢了那个，放不开手脚，然后呢，越怕越丢，从延安起始，以下诸城无不如此。昨晚我跟同官的褚静亚师通了个电话……这个褚静亚……”胡宗南皱起眉头，一言难尽。
同官是西安的重要屏障。李振西从胡宗南拖泥带水的口气里听出门道。据李所知，驻守同官的二十师师长褚静亚是胡宗南亲自挑选出来委以重任的，当时，褚力辞不从，胡宗南抓住他不放。褚提出三个团长由自己推荐任命，并在编成后作短期整训等条件，胡一一答应。像这样低姿态地求人家当师长，在胡宗南还是第一次。对此，西安城里曾有一片感慨。
当时，第二十师只是一个已经不复存在的番号，部队在哪里？胡宗南把陕西省三个保安团拨归给他。胡在西北拉队伍有牛皮可吹，陕西等省，上至省政府主席，下至县长，差不多都是由胡宗南一手保荐的。这些地方实权人物，哪个不想着知恩图报？所以胡宗南搜集地方粮秣物资及兵员，不怎么费力，那些灭了又生、生了又灭的部队，即溃即补的奥秘就在这里。
褚静亚领命之后倒也尽心尽责，在西安年节都没过，就冒着雨雪跑到耀县、白水拉队伍。直到1月中旬才马马虎虎扯起一个毛坯。说是三个团，实际官兵3500人，许多士兵，数九寒天，身上没有棉衣，数月没有关饷，队伍跟一群叫花子差不多。褚静亚就带着这么一群乌合之众开往同官，当了胡宗南一块挂在门脸上的烂布帘子。
胡宗南压根儿就没有想守住同官如何如何，不过是摆出一副继续经营西北战场的架势而已。在这个虚招的幕后，胡宗南紧锣密鼓地组建兵团、调整部署，到1948年12月底，其九十军在蒲城地区、六十九军在三原地区以及各个掩护性质的守备部署，均一一就绪。这期间，胡的内心充满着矛盾和痛苦。十数年的苦心经营一朝一夕即成了肥皂泡泡，能说不是块心病吗？ !这是任何“新战略”也治愈不了的。
1949年1月中旬，胡宗南突然把六十五军推到富平、九十军也撤到高陵附近，所有部队都奉命向北推进一步。是要调试一下其新战略的高度机动能力，还是表示对西北地盘即将丢弃的一份不甘？只有鬼知道。他这种略带浪漫色彩的情绪波动，很快又在冷冰冰的现实面前惊出了一身臭汗。这便是第一野战军1949年春季攻势的发起。
其时，彭德怀和王震正在西柏坡开会。
春季攻势由张宗逊、赵寿山、甘泗淇、阎揆要等几位组织指挥。
战役是从2月18日开始的。四军首先把枪口指向同官褚静亚的那个二十师和驻守耀县的敌六十九军，目的是要吸引敌主力西援，然后把一、三、六军压向蒲城、兴市地区，围歼敌三十六军的三十师和陕西保安第四旅。
正如胡宗南对李振西感叹的“这个褚静亚……”，同官一触即溃。关键时刻，还是胡的一道撤退令救了褚的性命。二十师在最不可收拾的情况下奉命“沿铜川（同官）、陈炉镇、富平向富县附近撤退，然后在三原待命”。到目的地一看，褚静亚才发现胡宗南刚刚配发下来的大批装备都给他的叫花子兵一路丢得差不多了。撤退路上，他的后卫团一直被解放军死死咬住不放，全师都在“且战且退”，草木皆兵。行李面粉，丢得满地都是。军官怨言不止，士兵携械开溜，部队拖到最后就剩一副骨头架子了！
褚静亚将情况如实报告六十九军军长谢义峰，请求部队休整几天。不料没有得到恩准，却得到裴昌会从咸阳亲自打来的一个电话，要二十师即刻开往泾阳王桥镇，防守龙首山，阻止解放军由淳化南进。
龙首山位于礼泉县唐陵上方，地势南陡北平，到处可以攀登，利于攻而不利于守。褚静亚太熟悉这个地方了，深知绝非自己一个二十师可以防守得了，更何况眼下二十师千疮百孔……褚静亚将实际困难再报告了一遍，请求上峰改变命令。
“军令如山，如你敢违抗，我当以军法从事！”裴昌会的口气不容商量。
就这样，裴昌会一句话把褚静亚的二十师送上了西天。褚硬着头皮赶到泾阳县以北约15公里处的“龙首”，一看阵地不由得倒吸凉气，东西全长30余里，以二十师那点单薄的兵力，只好采取重点防御。当即下令一面构筑工事，一面派人侦察。所幸的是，没有发现任何大的险情。一连两天，风平浪静。第三天入夜，解放军突然发起全面进攻。褚静亚勉力支撑，明知不可为而为之。第四天下午2点多钟，防线被突破了；5时许，师指挥所被围。随即，褚静亚和他的参谋长张凌汉，在王桥镇北面的麦田里被双双活捉。当晚7点左右，部队打得干干净净。
此时，国民党第一军退到泾阳以南；六十九军撤至泾河以西；九十军主力也退至永乐镇，还有一部留守三原及附近地区；六十五军及胡宗南的得意之作——十八兵团司令部退到泾阳。解放军第一野战军各部队越打越起劲，张宗逊等人决定以一、二、三、六共四个军同时向富平推进，歼灭这一地区敌人后，再定下步行动；以四军向淳化追击，打掉此地散落的敌十四师后，威胁西兰公路；另以骑兵在大邮、孝义、关山、交口和渭河北岸地区，消灭团匪、摧毁保甲，掩护地方工作。
这一计划得到中央军委的批准。军委指示要以当时情况酌定行动方案，告诫干部不要轻敌，防敌反击。于是，一野心中有了底，拳脚轻重有度地施展开来，几天工夫就把胡宗南所谓“进退”部署打了个稀里哗啦。
眼看着胡宗南手忙脚乱将要沉没，青海马步芳集团有点坐不住了。
唇亡齿寒的感觉促使马家军一反常态，主动请战出兵，配合胡宗南“反攻”。马步芳还在看老皇历，过去屡占便宜的往事让他太把自己那点本钱当回事，一上来就气势汹汹，忘乎所以。几个回合连遭伏击，这才认识到自己记错时辰，只好伤痕累累地退到陇东，感慨道：“共产党军队跟从前不同了！”
第一野战军开局满堂红，打出了威风。节骨眼上，王震从西柏坡回来了。战斗间隙召开前委会，把中共七届二中全会的精神一传达，全军上下欢呼雀跃。王震摆了摆全国解放战争的形势，毛主席怎么说的，周副主席怎么说的，朱德总司令又是怎么说的，绘声绘色。最后，他告诉大家，彭总已到太原带兵去了，马上一野又要增加两个兵团，胡宗南的日子不长了！就这么简简单单的一席话，比任何动员令都有力量。那些日子，战士们真像娃娃盼过年似的，日日夜夜心里都淌着蜜。大家全在望眼欲穿，凑一块儿就念叨：彭老总什么时候能回呢？
转眼到了5月初，是彭德怀满载而归的日子了。
在太原指挥作战这段时间，忙得打个喷嚏的工夫都没有，彭德怀除了刚到太原那天在一个叫峪壁村的小村子上跟徐向前见面聊了几句私话外，两人一直也没机会深谈。要分别了，彭德怀硬是把日程挤了挤，去跟徐向前聊聊。彭总说：“向前同志，太原前线党的总前委，你是书记，我向你汇报一下子。”
徐向前忙摇手：“彭总你太客气了！我一直很希望能在彭总领导下工作，也很想去西北，只是身体不行，恐怕是去不了了！”
“去年你打完临汾战役，我就想让你去西北，向中央请求了好几回，没能得到批准。现在太原拿下来了，中央决定把十八、十九兵团调给一野参加解放大西北，你哩，又病得这么严重！”彭德怀不无遗憾地叹口气，“你还是先把身体保养好，身体好些再去也不晚！”
“我真想跟咱们一野的同志们一起消灭胡、马匪军啊！”徐向前说着努力起坐，没有成功，痛得龇牙咧嘴，只好无奈地重又躺下，“你看这个身体，肋膜两次出水，胸背疼痛得厉害，身体虚弱得很，实在没办法。这次太原攻城，要不是老总你亲自来挂一下帅……”
“哪里话哟！”彭德怀制止了对方，“我这次是到你这里来学习的。你这里人才济济，周士第呀、罗瑞卿呀、杨得志和杨成武呀、陈漫远呀，还有胡耀邦和李天焕等同志，都呱呱叫嘛。你就不用讲了，在西柏坡，主席特别跟我谈到你指挥的晋中战役，他非常赞赏呢！”
彭总提到的这些名字，大体都是太原前线总前委的成员，是中央军委3月17日给徐向前定下的一套班子。对这个班子，徐向前非常满意。太原攻城过程中，大家齐心协力做了许多艰苦的工作。特别是后期徐向前病倒、彭德怀来了，所有工作都靠前委一班人主动自觉落到实处，指挥灵光，很让彭总感到得心应手。比如4月5日毛泽东突然电示徐，告诉说阎锡山离开了太原，李宗仁愿意出面交涉和平解决太原的问题。中央还作了具体安排，想比照北平的方式解决。这让病榻上的徐向前又喜又忧，“和平”二字他过去不是没跟太原提过，结果是热脸烫个冷屁股。请示彭德怀，彭也表示怀疑。但既然中央有指示，毛泽东说了话，多难也要试一试，无非是猴子不上树，多敲一遍锣罢了，只是时间要拉长，这让彭德怀比较揪心。
一封给国民党太原绥署副主任兼第十五兵团司令官孙楚和太原防守司令兼第十兵团司令官王靖国的信写好了。就让已经反正的阎部旧人赵承绶及被俘人员高斌、曹近谦拿着这两封信进太原城试谈，没想到在城门上便碰了壁。阎锡山临走前有令，被俘人员不许返城！
没有办法，太原前线司令部连续发布《告固守太原的蒋阎军官兵书》《最后警告阎锡山书》，口气提高八度，给了一点颜色。可是，太原守敌仿佛色盲，不但不听劝告，反而回敬了一阵炮火，还在广播里大喊大叫，说什么“坚强意志，奋斗到底”，什么“本成功成仁的决心，誓死保卫太原，以待第三次世界大战的到来！”全是阎老西的腔调，真是天真可笑。
彭德怀不客气了，当天下午便给太原送去一份《最后通牒》，同时命令各部队完成攻城准备。这时，毛泽东也看破李宗仁“和谈”中“南北分治”的阴谋，什么想法都没有了，就一个字，打！“何时发起打太原为有利，即可动手打太原，不受任何约束。”毛的电令仍对徐向前，尽管徐那几天说话都没有力气，实际支撑局面的是彭德怀。
这是个只有太原前线总前委一班人心照不宣的策略。徐向前后来忆起这段往事时说：“彭老总留在太原前线指挥作战后，为避免影响军心，那时下命令、写报告，仍用我的名义签署，实际上是彭老总在挑担子。他新来乍到，对敌我情况不熟悉，但慨然允诺，勇挑重担，实在难得。”
个把月时间的大半个太原战役，让彭德怀对十八、十九兵团指战员有了深一步的了解。他决定在部队出发之前，到各单位随便走一走、看一看，也算是个检阅吧。
两兵团指战员得到这个消息，好一阵忙活。那时，听到彭总的威名，谁不如雷贯耳？特别是许多解放战士，拿出一副要见大明星的劲头，刮胡子、洗澡，把最齐整的军装穿出来，有的营连干部还在那里悄悄地背报告词，生怕关键时刻在老总面前表现不利索。
彭德怀的心情的确很兴奋，同时又因这兴奋而格外庄严。两个兵团加上与两兵团一同入陕归建的一野第七军和一军三师，总共兵力有20余万！这与一年前带着那5万左右队伍转战陕北时的心情相比，简直不可同日而语！
然而，真正“检阅”这天，彭德怀却显得平淡如水。他还是那身硬不拉碴的老棉衣，袄外边扎着一根皮腰带。土布单鞋后跟都磨薄了，绑腿倒是精心打过的，同每天一样，紧紧恰恰。
按计划，兵团的领导都提前到齐了。彭德怀朝周士第一招手说：“走，从你们看起！”说着，头里爬上吉普车。
老将周士第是十八兵团司令员兼政委。他是广东乐会人，出身黄埔，参加过北伐和南昌起义，当年是起义军的二十五师师长。因为早年干过“大元帅府铁甲车队队长”，在国民党阵营里也很有名气。后来从红十五军团参谋长当到红二方面军参谋长，抗战中又任一二〇师参谋长兼抗大七分校校长，到晋绥军区，仍旧当参谋长，一直是贺老总的得力助手。这次太原战役他还是副总指挥。第十八兵团由他来挑大梁，稳稳当当。
周士第的两位副司令员也非常得力，一个是王新亭，一个是陈漫远。王新亭兼兵团副政委，陈漫远兼参谋长。这两位都是老红军，曾长期在高层军政机关工作。特别是王新亭，当过军、师、旅的政治部主任，还当过红四方面军的组织部长，抗战时又当一二九师组织部长，后来到三八六旅，从政治部主任到政委，然后到太岳纵队当政治部主任，太岳军区政委兼主任，最后为军区司令员。十八兵团刚成立时，他是第六十军的军长兼政委。
兵团政治部主任胡耀邦更不用说了，后来成为家喻户晓的风云人物。
十八兵团下辖三个军：第六十军、第六十一军、第六十二军。
六十军军长张祖凉，原是华北军区八纵副司令员兼参谋长，河南商城人，1931年的老红军，早年当过三十一军的保卫科长、三八六旅政治部主任和晋冀鲁豫军区十九军分区司令员。军政委袁子钦，在延安抗大时期就非常知名，是抗大总校的政治部主任，新中国成立后他跟随彭德怀领兵入朝作战，当志愿军三兵团政委，后来到总政任秘书长、干部部长，最后为总政副主任。
六十军的两位军政副职是白天和桂绍彬。参谋长邓士俊，军政治部主任周仲英。
军辖一七八、一七九、一八〇师，第一七八师师长温先星、政委刘聚奎；第一七九师师长黄定基、政委萧新春；第一八〇师师长郑其贵，政委王观朝。
六十一军军长韦杰，徐子荣任政委，副政委兼政治部主任郭林祥，参谋长胡正平。军长韦杰是个壮族人，原籍广西东兰县，1929年的老红军，在红十五军团七十三师当过团参谋长、团长，后来当骑兵团长及七十四师师长，抗战时任八路军一一五师六八八团团长和一二九师新编一旅旅长，任职前为华北军区十四纵队司令员。六十一军辖三个师：第一八一师师长王诚汉、政委张春森，第一八二师师长王海东、政委王贵德，第一八三师师长钟发生、政委杨绍曾。
六十二军军长刘忠是福建上杭县人，1929年参加红军，任过一军团侦察科长，太岳军区二分区司令员、太岳军区司令员和华北军区第十五纵队司令员。六十二军政委是鲁瑞林，副军长方升普，参谋长熊奎，政治部主任高德西。军辖第一八四师，师长林彬，政委梁文英；第一八五师，师长涂则生，政委孔骏彪；第一八六师，师长蒲大义，政委车敏樵。
第十九兵团司令员杨得志、政委李志民。耿飙和葛宴春任副司令员，政治部主任是杨自力。所辖六十三、六十四、六十五等三个军，都是经过战火千锤百炼的老部队。名将杨得志早在长征时期就是个“星”级人物。他是湖南醴陵人，1929年参军后，当过红一军团的一团团长，红二师师长，抗战时从八路军二纵队司令员当到冀鲁豫军区司令，后又任冀鲁豫军区一纵队司令员、晋察冀野战军司令员。他一路都是战功、声名赫赫，连国民党阵营都传遍了，俘虏兵过来张口就打听：