Chapter 4 Chapter 3 Fighting Gaoyou fiercely, the Japanese and puppet defend the enemy

On November 9, 1945, Chongqing. Heavy fog covers Chongqing, covering the mountains, rivers and flowing water around the city of Chongqing.Under the fog, Chiang Kai-shek is holding the first secret military meeting after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. Senior generals including commanders and deputy commanders from all theaters across the country gathered in Chongqing.At this meeting, Chiang Kai-shek determined the guideline of "suppressing the Communist Party first" and proposed a military plan of "destroying the main force of the Communist Army within six months, and then clearing and suppressing the Communist Party in different areas".This plan stipulates: the first step is to control northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui, clear Shandong, and open up the Jinpu line; the second step is to gather heavy troops in Pingjin and "sweep" North China; the third step is to open up the Pingsui line and occupy Chasui.Attempt to use force to solve China's main post-war problems.

According to Chiang Kai-shek's deployment, after entering Xuzhou, Gu Zhutong, Tang Enbo, Li Pinxian, etc. actively prepared to launch a civil war, and instigated the Central China Japanese and puppet troops to cooperate with the Kuomintang army to attack the Central China Liberated Area; A part of the front army entered the Gaoyou and Shaobo areas; the 25th Army of the Kuomintang Army immediately occupied the Yang and Tai lines, and attempted to cooperate with the Japanese and puppet troops in the Gaoyou area to enter our base along the canal and cut Central China into two parts. Then they flanked the Central China New Fourth Army with the Kuomintang army on the northern front; the Japanese army in Gaoyou not only refused to surrender to the New Fourth Army, but threatened to cooperate with the Kuomintang army to "recover lost ground" to the New Fourth Army.

Under such circumstances, on December 3, Zhang Dingcheng, commander of the Central China Military Region, Deng Zihui, political commissar, Su Yu, deputy commander and commander of the Central China Field Army, and Tan Zhenlin, deputy political commissar and political commissar of the Central China Field Army, jointly called the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and reported to the New Fourth Army and the Shandong Military Region He proposed to hold the Battle of Gaoyou Shaobo, and proposed: "In order to break the stubborn army's attempt to divide the Central China base area, so as to persist in the future and maneuver the main force, I suggest that the three columns of the field army should be concentrated to capture Gaoyou and annihilate the stubborn 25th army that may come to help."

Gaoyou is located in the traffic artery of the Grand Canal and Subei Highway, controlling Yangzhou in the south and controlling the two Huaihe Rivers (Huaiyin and Huai'an) in the north, so it has always been an important stronghold of the enemy and puppet troops.After Japan announced its surrender, the diehards of the Kuomintang supported and connived at the enemy and the puppets. They mobilized 240,000 migrant workers and built a solid city wall more than 10 kilometers long outside Gaoyou City. At the beginning of December, there were more than 1,000 people in the two brigades of the independent and mixed 90th Brigade of the Japanese Army originally stationed in the Yangzhou area, and another secret service regiment of the 42nd Division of the 5th Army of the Kuomintang’s newly reorganized 2nd Route Army, which had just been reorganized from the puppet army. , more than 1,000 people, entered Gaoyou County, Central Jiangsu, and actively planned to cooperate with the Kuomintang army to attack the Central China Liberated Area.

Gaoyou City has thick walls, dense fortifications, and strong fortifications. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is an important channel for the Kuomintang army to attack the Central China Liberated Area.Therefore, the Kuomintang army smugly declared: "The canal is the gate of Taoism, and Gaoyou is the lock on the door. With this lock, the Communist army can be locked in a cage. As long as the lock is unlocked and the gate is entered, the national army can drive straight in and directly hit the two Huaihe Rivers." .” The anti-communist arrogance was very arrogant. The Japanese and puppet troops believed that Gaoyou's terrain was dangerous, and they could fight when they advanced, and they could defend when they retreated.In addition, it is guarded by heavy troops and backed by the Kuomintang army. It is really a "Golden City Tangchi", absolutely foolproof.Therefore, his attitude was extremely arrogant. He not only turned a deaf ear to the ultimatum ordered by the Central China Field Army to surrender immediately, but said arrogantly: "According to the order of the High Command, only Chiang Kai-shek is the official government of China. Your New Fourth Army Not eligible to be surrendered!"

With the increasing scale of the Kuomintang army's attack on the liberated area, the Japanese and puppet troops in Gaoyou City became more rampant, constantly harassing and threatening: "I am ordered to recover the lost ground, and immediately attack Baoying from the north." The Central China Military Region's proposal was quickly approved. On December 5, the Central Military Commission replied: "I agree to capture Gaoyou, and at the same time gather the main force to prepare for the deployment of reinforcements, but we must pay attention to the neutralization of the Japanese army, or allow them to withdraw, or ensure their safety after their surrender. Otherwise, the Japanese and puppet alliances will increase the attack. Difficult. For Sun Liangcheng, the goal is to win him back. The whole battle should be over within a month."

In accordance with the instructions of the Central Military Commission, after careful research, the heads of the Central China Military Region and the Central China Field Army issued a combat order to capture Gaoyou and Shaobo in the names of Su Yu, commander of the Central China Field Army, and Liu Xiansheng, chief of staff, and held a combat meeting in mid-December , for specific deployment. In order to achieve the intended purpose of the campaign, the campaign is planned to be divided into two stages. In the first stage, all attacking forces should be assembled according to the designated positions on the 18th of this month. The preparations for the attack were completed during the day on the 19th, and an attack was launched on each target at 21:00.The specific deployment is as follows:

The eighth column concentrates most of the main force and is responsible for attacking the enemy in Gaoyou City, and uses one to block the enemy in Yangzhou and the reinforcements in the lake, aiming to wipe out the defending enemy and capture Gaoyou City within 6 days. The seventh column concentrated its main force to attack the enemy at Shaobo Town, with one regiment on alert to the north, and one regiment conquered Dazha Town south of Shaobo; .The above tasks are limited to be completed within 3 days.Then, use one regiment to control the gate to the front line of Shaobo, and the rest of the troops will be transferred to the southeast of Zhenwu Temple to assemble, ready to attack the enemies in the direction of Yangzhou and Taizhou.

The special mission group directly under the field army concentrated on attacking the enemy at Cheluoba south of Gaoyou.After conquering, gather on the spot, head towards the lake, and use one forward to guard in the direction of exposed tendons to ensure the safety of the eighth column's flank. The Suzhong Military Region immediately sent a powerful force to cut off the Xian (Nvmiao) Shao (Bo) section of the highway, control the Canal Highway, and concentrate the main force on the area north of the Xiannv Temple and south of Chendian to block the enemy from the north.Use the local armed forces and militia of the 1st and 2nd military divisions to destroy the small strongholds along the roads east of Yiling and west of Potou, and completely destroy the Yang (zhou) Tai (zhou) and Kou (port) Tai (zhou) roads.

The sixth column assembled in the area south of Fanchuan Town, north of Dinggou, and west of Zongcun, serving as the general reserve team.Strengthen the reconnaissance and security of Tangtou, Guocun, and Taizhou for future attacks.Another regiment was sent to Guozikou, north of the Bazi Bridge, under the direct command of the Field Army Headquarters. In the second stage, after our seventh and eighth columns captured Shaobo and Gaoyou, the planned deployment of each department is as follows: The main force of the Soviet Central Military Region cooperated with the local armed forces to seize the Fairy Temple and Yiling, and wiped out the small strongholds on the Yangtai Highway.The sixth column was responsible for capturing the strongholds of Tangtou and Guocun, and then cooperated with the seventh column to capture Taizhou City.The rest of the troops rested in place.

Just as the Central China Military Region was deploying to attack Gaoyou, the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China changed its original decision. On December 30, the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China sent instructions to Chen Yi, Zhang Yunyi, and Rao Shushi in a telegram: "According to the intelligence of all parties, Jiang will concentrate his efforts to open up the Jinpu Road." If the recalcitrant army cannot completely stop the recalcitrant army going north, it must be wiped out in large numbers. I hope that you will make this request and prepare everything according to the current situation." At the same time, he instructed: "Su Yu's troops, the previous telegram agreed that they should go to Gaoyou to fight for Sun Liangcheng anyway. , to attack the 25th Army marching north, but please also consider whether it is appropriate, whether it is necessary for Su Yu's troops to operate in the southern section of Jinpu, to cooperate with you, please make a decision, and call Su Yu." At noon on December 11, Chen Yi and other leaders of the military headquarters of the New Fourth Army and the Shandong Military Region, in accordance with the instructions of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, made an operational deployment on Jinpu Road, and ordered "Su (Yu) Tan (Zhenlin) to lead the sixth, eighth, and ninth to quickly gather at Jinpu Road." In the southern section, carry out a large-scale strategic attack, and strive to control the 100-100-kilometer railway in one fell swoop, and seek to wipe out 1 or 2 divisions of the stubborn enemy going north"; ) Hu (Bingyun) Zong’s forces surrounded Gaoyou. While encircling, at the same time, strive for Sun Liangcheng’s quick recovery, and deploy to attack the aid of the 25th Army. The Sixth and Eighth Zongs should not be used in the direction of Gaoyou, but should be dedicated to dealing with Jinpu.” The Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China sent a telegram instruction on December 12: "I agree with the Zhenwu (Noon of December 11) telegram regarding the deployment of the Jinpu Road, and hope that it will be implemented immediately, and report to Zhang (Dingcheng), Deng (Zihui), Su (Yu) and Tan (Zhenlin) immediately ordered Wang (Bicheng) Tao (Yong) column to carry out the Jinpu Road combat mission and not go to Gaoyou." The headquarters of the Central China Field Army was set up in Huai'an Middle School in Huaiyin. Su Yu was holding the telegram, pacing back and forth in the room with his head down, in a state of anxiety. Tao Yong's eighth column has moved south of Baoying, Wang Bicheng's sixth column has arrived in Huaiyin, Zhang Dingcheng and Su Yu have arrived in Xinghua near Gaoyou, and everything is ready to launch the Gaoyou Shaobo Battle on December 19.At the same time, new changes have taken place in the enemy situation.The Kuomintang army is gathering heavy troops to Xuzhou and the Xubeng section of Jinpu Road.The 25th Army of the Kuomintang occupying Yangzhou has the tendency to occupy Gaoyou under the cover of the Japanese and puppet troops.The 49th Army of the Kuomintang also attempted to cross the river from Jiangyin to the north. The battle of Gaoyou is bound to be fought, and it will be fought sooner or later. It is better to fight sooner than later.Winning a quick battle will benefit both the present and the long-term.If you lose the opportunity to fight, there will be endless troubles.The most urgent task is to quickly realize the campaign decision. Thinking of this, Su Yu made up his mind, picked up a pen to draft a telegram, and proposed to hold the Gaoyou Shaobo Battle again. The military headquarters of the New Fourth Army agreed that the seventh and eighth columns would attack Gaoyou and Shaobo first, while leaving the sixth column in the Huaihai area.Stand by and cooperate with the Shandong Field Army to fight on Jinpu Road. After Su Yu received the telegram, he immediately held a combat meeting.He said: "The military department has agreed to our combat plan for attacking Gaoyou and Shaobo, and notified all participating troops to advance to the predetermined area immediately, and complete all combat preparations during the daytime on December 19!" After accepting the task, each unit quickly moved southward from Huaiyin and Huai'an areas, and assembled to the predetermined area.Make every effort to prepare for battle. After Tao Yong, the commander of the eighth column, received the task from the military region, he immediately held a column combat meeting.Tao Yong, formerly known as Zhang Daoyong, was born in Huoqiu, Anhui Province. He joined the Red Army in 1929 and joined the Party in 1931.He served as a regiment commander in the Red Fourth Front Army and has experienced many battles.The 9th Army of the West Route Army during the Long March fought bloody battles in the Hexi Corridor.Unfortunately, the West Route Army failed. Tao Yong and his comrades were unyielding, and were finally rescued by the Party Central Committee and returned to Yan'an.During the Anti-Japanese War, he was ordered to work in the New Fourth Army. He was deeply trusted by Chen Yi and Su Yu because of his bravery and skill in fighting. At the beginning of the meeting, Commander Tao raised his voice and excitedly said to everyone: "I want to tell my comrades the good news. In order to resolutely implement Commander-in-Chief Zhu's order and fully protect the lives and property of the people in Central China, the head of the military region decided to organize the Gaoshao Campaign. Deputy Commander Su of the Military Region led Qi Zong to the south of Gaoyou and captured Shaobo. ; Commander Zhang Dingcheng personally commanded our Eight Columns to attack Gaoyou City from the north. Let's attack from the north and the south to completely annihilate the Japanese and puppet troops who refused to surrender." Everyone is very happy to hear this exciting news.Tao Yong went on to say: "The walls of Gaoyou are high and thick, facing the water on both sides. There are two brigades of the Japanese army and 7 regiments of the puppet army, a total of more than 6,000 people stationed there. The task of opening Gaoyou is not easy! The task of opening Gaoyou is very arduous, and the head of the military region wants us to take care of it. Let’s take care of it, I’m a deal, everyone, how about it?” "Pack up! Pack up! Let the chief explain the tasks, and we will cover all the tasks entrusted to us!" The leading comrades of each regiment asked to take on the tough task.This is an old tradition in the army. The more difficult the task, the more honorable and energetic it is. "Okay! Okay!" Tao Yong said with a smile: "However, we have to prepare well. The 3-foot-high city wall requires people to climb. Thousands of Japanese troops will be wiped out if they don't surrender. This time, the head of the military region took us personally. Fighting, several counties have come to support, especially Gaoyou County has done their best, the conditions are very good. We have been fighting for 8 years, this show must be well sung! Let the Japanese devils try our last The Iron Fist of the People's Army!" "Please rest assured, Commander, we will be able to take Gaoyou on time!" Everyone was excited, full of confidence and courage to win. The troops quickly set off from Lianghuai, marched towards Gaoyou, and soon arrived at the east of Gaoyou to Sanduo to assemble for pre-war preparations.Zhang Dingcheng, commander of the military region, and Su Yu, deputy commander, and others visited the Eighth Column in person, leading cadres above the battalion to inspect the terrain, study the enemy's situation, deploy battles, and carry out political mobilization. Commander Zhang Dingcheng has been in Yan'an for a long time and participated in the Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Not long after he came back from Yan'an, he was wearing a pink earthen tweed jacket and was in very good spirits.When he went to the army, he would publicize the seven spirits, and let everyone know that after the victory of the War of Resistance, China still has two destinies and two futures. Continue to struggle for the new democratic new China. Tao Yong led the regiment and battalion cadres to conduct in-depth investigation and research around Gaoyou and deploy battles.According to the enemy's situation, tasks and terrain conditions, Tao Yong and other column leaders decided to carry out a major assault on the North Gate of Gaoyou, and deployed the 64th Regiment to attack the west side of the North Gate of Gaoyou along the embankment of the canal; the 66th Regiment and the Gaoyou Independent Regiment attacked Mount Tai, an important stronghold in the northeast of the city. The 68th regiment attacked the south gate of Gaoyou; the 70th regiment attacked the east gate of Gaoyou; the 72nd regiment was the main force to attack the city, and sent a part of its troops to guard Gaoyou Lake; the military region special task force attacked Gaoyou Cheluo Town in the south of the city ensures the safety of the entire city. On the evening of December 19th, the clouds were light and the stars were sparse, the wind was cold and the air was cold, and a full moon rose in the eastern sky. At 7 o'clock, the regiments launched a fierce attack on the periphery of Gaoyou on the battlefield 40 kilometers from north to south and 20 kilometers from east to west. There are especially many temples and temples in the northern suburbs of Gaoyou City.What Taishan Temple, Chengtian Temple, Ruyi Nunnery, etc., there are more than ten temples, large and small.Relying on these solid temples, the Japanese and puppet troops built a large number of fortifications, forming a dotted outer stronghold, which can be used for hiding and relying on. Tao Yong sits in the command post, guards the radio station and telephone, and keeps in touch with the regiments and battalions at any time.After a night of fierce fighting, the 66th Regiment attacked from the northeast, from Shuangmiao and Taishan Temple to Guandi Temple on the edge of Beicheng. Guandi Temple has two halls, front and back.The Japanese and puppet troops built blockhouses in front of the mountain gate, dug deep trenches and pulled barbed wire in front of the blockhouses.The enemy blocked it with fierce machine gun fire from the bunkers and temples.The assault squad rushed across the river, slammed stones from the deep ditch, drilled into the foul-smelling sewer, touched the enemy's side by the gate of Guandi Temple, and attacked Guandi Temple from inside and outside. At the same time, the 64th regiment launched an attack from the northwest of Gaoyou. After breaking through Tucheng in the northern suburbs that night, the 1st Battalion advanced along the embankment of the canal.Due to the unknown situation at night, the enemies in Gaoyou City did not dare to go out lightly. After dawn, the brigade of the Japanese and puppet troops rushed out of the north gate in a mighty manner, attempting to counterattack and retaliate.But within a short distance, we discovered that the main force of our New Fourth Army had captured the flour mill, and now it was inserted into a small temple by the north gate.Fearing that their rear would be cut off, the Japanese and puppet troops hurriedly retreated into the city and locked their doors behind closed doors. By noon on the 20th, the 66th and 64th regiments quickly cleared all the strongholds in the northeast of Gaoyou, approaching the north gate, and the 68th regiment also inserted outside the south gate. The three regiments fought side by side, and they all reached the foot of Gaoyou City, forming a tight siege of Gaoyou City. On the morning of the 20th, various ministries called and came successfully. Zhang Yunlong, the head of the 64th regiment, called: "Our regiment has broken through the outer Tucheng from the northwest, rushed along the canal embankment and the road, captured the flour mill, repelled the reinforcements, and has now reached the north gate. It's a small temple." Yu Binghui also reported: "My 68th regiment hit the city outside the south gate." A gratified smile appeared on Tao Yong's face.He said to Zhang Dingcheng: "The three main regiments have approached Gaoyou City, and the enemy has been surrounded. I'll go ahead and have a look." Zhang Dingcheng also put on a coat, and said as he walked, "I'll go to the front too." The two soon came to the north gate of the main attack direction.There are dense houses outside the north gate, and all kinds of eye-catching slogans are written, hung, or drawn on tall buildings and tree trunks: "The Emperor of Japan has already announced his unconditional surrender!" "Who are you bleeding for?" "Your parents and sisters are waiting for you!" "Put down your weapons and ensure the safety of your lives and property!" Xie Yunhui, deputy director of the Political Department, came forward and reported: "We are launching a political offensive on the ground. The enemy is huddled in the city, constantly firing guns and cannons, with a posture of desperate resistance. We are trying to find a way to send these small leaflets to the Go into the city." Pointing to piles of small leaflets, he said, "This was compiled and printed by the comrades in the Propaganda Section. It has Chinese and Japanese, text and pictures." "Okay, these propaganda materials are rich and colorful, and they will definitely break the morale of the Japanese and puppet troops." Zhang Dingcheng praised. Tao Yong also said affirmatively: "As soon as the Japanese emperor surrendered, the samurai lost their energy. But the Japanese commander here strictly kept the news from the soldiers. It seems that we have to tell them the truth." Zhang Dingcheng said: "I asked the enemy industry department to bring more Japanese and Korean comrades-in-arms to help." At this time, Gaoyou has become a bird in a cage and a turtle in an urn defending the enemy. The only way out is to lay down the weapons in your hands. Shaobo Town, a water and land transportation hub, is located 30 kilometers south of Gaoyou County. Its southwest and southeast are respectively adjacent to the military towns of Yangzhou and Taizhou. very important. After Japan surrendered, more than 100 Japanese troops and 1,400 puppet troops remained in Shaobo Town.Although they were surrounded by the New Fourth Army, they believed that they had dozens of light and heavy machine guns and some artillery, and they could still resist for a while. Representatives sent by our New Fourth Army ordered them to surrender, but they refused to submit. After accepting the task, Ji Pengfei, the commander and political commissar of the Seventh Column, led his troops to assemble in the Shaobo area, held a combat meeting, clarified the division of labor, implemented combat readiness measures, and stepped up combat preparations. Deterred by the superior strength of the Central China Field Army and the powerful political offensive, a regiment of Shao Bo's puppet army fled on the afternoon of December 19. That night, under the command of Commander Ji Pengfei of the Seventh Column, the 55th Regiment took the lead in launching a fierce attack on Shao Bo.The commando team was blocked by a small river while they were marching. The officers and soldiers jumped into the icy river desperately and waded across the river on foot.In order not to make the cotton clothes soaked and affect their tactical actions, many soldiers took off their clothes and passed through the icy river naked. Commander Su Yu has been commanding the front line of Shaobo. When he learned that the 55th Regiment of the Seventh Column had broken into the street of Shaobo Town, he quickly put on his coat and ran to the temporary command post of the 55th Regiment with the guards.The head of the regiment Zhou Jianping immediately reported to him: "After 12 hours of fierce fighting, the officers and soldiers of the whole regiment destroyed the enemy's three barbed wire fences and many steel and concrete bunkers, captured more than 300 puppet troops, occupied the Dawangmiao area, and made those who were sticking to the Longevity Palace More than 100 Japanese troops were completely isolated." Su Yu's face was full of joy, and he nodded repeatedly in praise: "Good! Very good!" "Bang bang", a burst of cold gunfire came from the middle school campus on the left, and the bullets passed between the guards Ding Zhen, Mao Zhifeng, and Lu Siyi, and hit the wall behind Su Yu. Su Yu immediately ordered Zhou to send a platoon to go After searching, the remnant enemies hidden in the campus were quickly eliminated. The Seventh Column conquered Shaobo Town and cut off the connection between the enemy and Yangzhou.So far, Gaoyou has been surrounded by our army. As soon as the Battle of Shao Bo was over, Su Yu returned to the frontline headquarters of the Northeast Central China Field Army in Gaoyou overnight, and immediately listened to the report of the eight vertical commander Tao Yong on the battle outside Gaoyou. On the morning of December 22, Commander Su and Tao Yong led cadres above the battalion to inspect the terrain of Gaoyou and make specific arrangements for the general offensive.Su Yu confessed to Tao Yong: "Our army's main attack direction is the north gate and the south gate. When the general offensive began, the artillery first carried out group shooting on the Japanese headquarters inside the east gate, so as to contain the enemy's main force at the east gate, so as to facilitate our army's main attack direction. The west gate is next to Roads, canals, and Gaoyou Lake, the terrain is not conducive to us but beneficial to the enemy. The enemy may think that our army will not place heavy troops here. We must take advantage of the enemy's mentality and try our best to use a ladder to climb the west city wall and meet the north. Remember to try your best to sneak attack and prepare for a strong attack. If the sneak attack fails, attack immediately to get the magic effect." With that said, Su Yu turned to Tao Yong and asked, "There are still three days to prepare, can we capture Gaoyou City as scheduled?" "Okay, sure!" Tao Yong replied very simply: "Please rest assured, chief, see you in Gaoyou City on the 26th!" After the troops of the Central China Field Army cleared the outer strongholds of Gaoyou, the puppet troops in Gaoyou City were forced to hide in the city, and most of the guards on the towers were replaced by Japanese troops. On the upper floor of Gaoyou City, a faded Japanese "plaster" flag swayed in the wind.Defending the enemy is full of jitters, and the grass and trees are all soldiers.They rushed to repair the fortifications day and night, increased their troops to patrol, and fired blindly outside the city from time to time. Three points were to demonstrate to the New Fourth Army, and seven points were to embolden themselves. After the Japanese emperor announced his unconditional surrender, the Japanese army strictly sealed the news and prevented the soldiers from knowing the truth. The soldiers' Bushido spirit was still at work, so the troops still maintained a strong combat effectiveness.In response to this situation, our army decided to launch a political offensive while launching a violent offensive. Under the guidance of the enemy's work department, the troops launched a propaganda campaign in front of the enemy.At first, the enemies in the city couldn't listen to these shouts, and when the microphone rang, they fired shells. Gradually, there were fewer guns. "Hey, Japanese soldiers, you are surrounded and cannot escape!" "Ha, why run away? There's no need to run away!" The enemy was still quite proud. "The emperor has surrendered, who else are you working for?" "The emperor surrendered? Nonsense!" "Don't believe me? Well, read the Emperor's imperial edict to you. Listen, 'I hereby order the Imperial Headquarters of Japan, and immediately order the command of all armed forces of Japan and armed forces under Japanese control wherever they may be stationed. Officers, himself and the armed forces they lead, surrender unconditionally. 'How? Put down your arms!" Then our army played "Homesickness" and other Japanese songs.They also hung slogans persuading surrender on the roofs outside the city, shot printed leaflets into the city with big bows and arrows, and fired bundles of leaflets into the city with mortars.They also used thick kraft paper to make a big kite, which was dragged by several people to the sky above the city at a distance of one kilometer from the city.Small packages of leaflets were tied to the kite, and a stick of incense stick was lit next to each package of leaflets. The incense sticks were long and short, and the ropes of the leaflets were burned one after another. The leaflets were scattered one by one, floating like snowflakes. Into every corner of Gaoyou City. On the night of December 25th, it was cloudy and drizzled. "Launch a fierce attack!" Following Su Yu's order, the attacking troops first broke through the south gate and entered the city for street fighting.In the northwest of the city, the 7th Regiment of the famous "Tiger Regiment" served as the siege commando. The first to climb the city wall was the 3rd Company and 1st Squadron of the regiment.Squad leader Yuan Jinsheng led the whole squad close to the city wall, braved the enemy's fierce shooting and the thrusting of hook and shackle guns, stepped on the swinging bamboo ladder, and recklessly climbed to the top of the city more than 3 feet high, and started a thrilling battle with the Japanese army. The hand-to-hand combat defeated the enemy's many counterattacks and ensured that follow-up troops entered the city continuously from the breakthrough. In the eastern half of Gaoyou City, there used to be a beautiful garden with towers and pavilions, elegant and elegant.After the Japanese army occupied Gaoyou, they chose this place as their headquarters, known as the "Hongbu". In order to form a more effective combat force, the enemy continued to shrink their troops and concentrate on the "Hongbu". When the eighth column assault troops approached the "Hongbu", the Japanese army was in a mess, and some of them just watched the officers and soldiers of the New Fourth Army rushing forward in a daze.Seeing that the general situation was over, the puppet army had no intention of fighting again.After a fierce gun battle, the gunfire around "Hongbu" gradually faded away.Under the powerful military and political offensive of the Eight Columns, the leader of the Japanese army saw that the defeat was settled, so he waved the white flag. After a day and night of fierce fighting, coupled with a powerful political offensive, the Japanese and puppet troops finally announced their surrender.Su Yu instructed that the surrender ceremony was presided over by Han Nianlong, director of the Political Department of the Eighth Column.Director Han Nianlong came to the Japanese Army Headquarters as a representative. "I am the supreme commander of the troops sent by the Imperial Japanese Army to Gaoyou, and I only negotiate with your supreme representative." A Japanese officer in full armor, standing upright with a command knife, said loudly. "I am the supreme representative, and now I order you to surrender unconditionally." Looking at this bumbling guy, Han Nianlong was really angry and funny. "The center of our brigade is in Nanjing. We agree to leave Gaoyou and go back to Nanjing. We can leave all the ammunition, supplies and heavy weapons in the city to you. For the safety of the road to Nanjing, we will take the light weapons with us. "The Japanese officers were still very cunning and wanted to bargain.It turned out that this guy was the commander of the 90th Independent Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Army Iwasaki Osamu. "Now, you and your subordinates must disarm immediately!" Han Nianlong said to Iwasaki majestically. Colonel Iwasaki felt very embarrassed, hesitated for a long time, and finally slowly took off the command knife from his body and put it on the table. All 890 Japanese soldiers in Gaoyou City surrendered to the Eight Columns.Residents hung out red lanterns and brought out cigarettes to welcome the New Fourth Army, and the streets were filled with jubilant crowds.Most of the troops of the New Fourth Army withdrew to the outside of the city, and strictly enforced city discipline. All receiving work was carried out in a planned manner in cooperation with the local government.There is no post-war chaos in Gaoyou City, only the joy of victory. On December 29, Su Yu received Japanese officers who surrendered.The Japanese military officer was very surprised, and said again and again: "I am so grateful! I am so honored!" General Iwasaki, the commander of the Japanese army, held up a shining purple command saber with both hands, bowed deeply to Su Yu, and said, "I would like to dedicate this purple cloud saber passed down from distant ancestors to the Chinese general who has admired his name for a long time!" Overcome the Battle of Gaoyou, wiped out more than 1,100 Japanese officers and soldiers (including 931 prisoners), annihilated more than 5,000 officers and soldiers under the commander of the 42nd Division of the Puppet Army Wang Hemin (including 3,942 prisoners), and captured 61 artillery pieces , 4,308 guns of various types, and repelled the Jiang army and the Japanese and puppet troops who were reinforced from the Yangtai line. The victory of the Gaoyou and Shaobo battles created the highest record for the number of Japanese soldiers wiped out in one battle during the War of Resistance Against Japan, broke the Jiang army's attempt to "unlock the door, drive straight in, and go straight to the two Huaihe Rivers", and greatly improved the strategic situation on the central and southern routes of China. The later Sino-Soviet campaign created good battlefield conditions. Zhang Dingcheng spoke highly of the victory of the Gaoyou Battle.He said: "This is a great victory in Central China." "We believe that as long as the spirit of victory and the fine tradition of the Gaoyou Campaign continue to be carried forward, any reactionary forces that want to attack Central China will suffer from the unity of our party, government, military and civilians." Struck by the same force, and wiped out!" When the Battle of Gaoyou was about to end, the Kuomintang troops in the Xuzhou area began to attack the Zaozhuang and Yixian areas east of Lincheng, Shandong.The military headquarters of the New Fourth Army decided to organize a decisive battle in the Lincheng area and ordered the sixth column of the Central China Field Army to enter Shandong to participate in the battle.