Chapter 157 8. Decision-making for summer offensive operations

The spring offensive has achieved the expected results. In order to further implement the spirit of the central government's instructions, on April 12, the head of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region is planning to launch a summer offensive. Cheng Zihua looked at the map and said: "At present, the main development direction of expanding the liberated areas should be in the Reliao and Yanbei areas. Work on both sides of Suilu Road, vigorously solve the cadres and weapons needed for the newly opened areas." Tang Yanjie said: "The green gauze tent period will be around May 10. We should seize the time to replenish the cadres and troops, conduct training with full staff, and solve material difficulties."

Geng Biao said: "The two military regions can act at the same time to achieve cooperation. Once this offensive is successful, not only will the liberated areas of the two regions be expanded, but also the two regions will be connected into one, creating extremely favorable conditions for a major counteroffensive." Zhu Liangcai said: "Political work cannot be relaxed either. We must take advantage of the disappointment of the Japanese and puppet troops to vigorously strengthen political work." Cheng Zihua said: "Instructions to actively cooperate with the Soviet Union in operations should be issued immediately to all military regions."

On the same day, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Branch of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued instructions to the strategic regions on actively preparing to cooperate with the Soviet Union in combat operations.The instructions state: ...The plan for expanding the liberated areas determined by the branch's senior cadres meeting in February puts the main development direction in the Reliao and Yanbei areas, which is of great significance for cooperating with the Soviet Union in its war against Japan.The district party committees should apply greater strength to actively complete this task.The party committees of the Hebei-Shanxi and Hebei-Chahar districts should strengthen the work on opening up the plains and Suizhou, and make great efforts to solve the problem of cadres and weapons needed for the opening up of the area.The Party Committee of Jirehe Liao District should make the greatest determination to open up the work of Rehe and establish a foothold in Rehe.The opening up of Rehe not only played a great role in consolidating eastern Hebei, but also should be used as a forward position for further opening up the Northeast and directly cooperating with the Soviet Union in operations.Before May 10th, all cadres and troops for the opening of the Qingsha tent period should be fully dispatched, and the training of cadres and troops should be carried out to effectively solve all material difficulties.We must make the cadres deeply understand that whether the plan to expand the liberated areas this year can be completed on schedule will have a major impact on our future cooperation with the Soviet Union in recovering the Northeast and consolidating the border areas.

On May 1, the Political Department of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region issued another "Political Instruction on Opening up New Areas and Expanding the Liberated Areas." After receiving the instructions from the sub-bureau and the military region, the Hebei-Shanxi Military Region organized and implemented them immediately. Deputy Commander Chen Zhengxiang said: "After the end of the spring offensive, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th divisions of our military region have advanced to the various railway lines, and the enemy has been forced to hide in Pingshan, Lingshou, Xingtang, and Wanxian. In the isolated stronghold, most of the remaining puppet troops with few data points are also controlled by our army. The current timing is very favorable, and we can organize and launch the Yanbei Campaign."

Chief of Staff Tang Zian went to the map and said: "Currently in the entire Yanbei area, the enemy has 87 strongholds, more than 3,600 Japanese troops, more than 4,000 puppet troops, plus more than 400 Datong mining police, and then they will come from the Guisui area. Counting more than 500 puppet Mongolian troops, nearly 10,000. The enemy has a lot of troops, but they are scattered in two so-called "Mengjiang security areas" along the Shanyin, Yingxian, Hunyuan, Guangling and Sanggan Rivers. On the blockade line, the troops are empty and scattered, which is a favorable opportunity for us to wipe out the enemy."

Wang Ping said: "Yes, I think the main purpose of this Yanbei Campaign can be set as the liberation of Hunyuan, Yingxian, Shanyin, the banks of the Sanggan River, and the areas on both sides of the Pingsui Road to Yanggao, breaking the enemy's The two blockade lines built this area into a solid anti-Japanese base.” Zhao Erlu nodded, and added: "After the Qingsha tent is set up, we will further develop towards Suidong." Final determination: Concentrate 6 regiments, 6 county detachments and Sanbeng martial arts team.Enter Yanbei with the 2nd Regiment of the 3rd Division and the 30th Regiment of the 4th Division, and cooperate with the 6th and 35th Regiments already in Yanbei to fight; use the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Division and part of the 43rd Regiment to enter the generation Combat in the counties, Nao County, and areas north of Wutai; use troops in the west of Ji, Zhengtai Road, and Tongpu Road to annihilate the enemy in front of you and cooperate with the main force in operations.

In order to facilitate combat, Yanbei's troops were organized into three columns.The 6th regiment of the 5th Army Division and the Datong and Yanggao detachments formed the 1st column. The combat area was north of the Guangling Line and on the west bank of the Sanggan River.The 2nd Regiment, 30th Regiment, 35th Regiment of the 5th Army Division, Yingxian, Lingqiu, Hunyuan Detachment, and Shanyin Military Workers Team formed the 2nd Column, commanded by the 5th Division Commander Chen Fangren and Deputy Chief of Staff Liu Su, The combat area is from the west of Guanglingnan Village to the Shanyin area, focusing on Hunyuan and Yingxian County, and opening the Hunying River.The 4th Regiment of the 2nd Army Division, a part of the 43rd Regiment, the Naodai Detachment, and the Wutai Detachment formed the 3rd Column, commanded by Zeng Mei, commander of the 2nd Division, to besiege Shahe, Fanzhi, Daixian, Naoxian, Wutai Enemy of the Taiwan region.

After the deployment was completed, Wang Ping emphasized: "Because of the balance of forces between the enemy and ourselves, we do not yet have the strength to carry out mobile operations, and this operation will still be of the nature of guerrilla warfare." Since Wang Ping, the political commissar and secretary of the district party committee, also commanded operations on the southern front, the division of labor consisted of commander Zhao Erlu forming a headquarters, and setting up a headquarters in the east of Lingqiu, and Wang Ping would go there at an appropriate time in the future.