Chapter 4 Chapter 3 Between Peace and War, the Central Plains Breaks Out Bloody

On the third day of Mao Zedong's trip to Chongqing, a poem caused a disturbance.That day Liu Yazi, a well-known democrat, came to Guiyuan to meet Mao Zedong. The two old friends had separated for more than 20 years, and this meeting was very cordial.Liu Yazi is a famous revolutionary poet who sympathizes with and supports the revolutionary cause of the Communist Party, and is even a poet friend with Mao Zedong.Liu Yazi was in high spirits, and at the moment he became very popular with poetry. He wrote a poem to Mao Zedong, "Farewell to Yangcheng in the 19th autumn, and I reunited to shake hands with joy in Yuzhou. With great courage, sincerity and ability, laboring everywhere and fighting. Lei Qing and history are in the same boat. Zhongshan Karl has a double source, and a smile on Kunlun's head."As a thank you, Mao Zedong copied "Qinyuanchun Snow" written in February 1936 and gave it to Liu Yazi.

"Qinyuanchun·Snow" which swallowed mountains and rivers immediately attracted Liu Yazi.He stroked his beard and applauded repeatedly, applauding.After returning, he read and chanted carefully with a group of friends.This kind of story was circulated ten times and hundreds of times, and then it was published in newspapers. People copied each other, and newspapers and magazines also reproduced it one after another. For a while, there was a trend of "Luoyang paper is expensive".Public opinion in Chongqing had rave reviews for Mao Zedong all of a sudden, and they all felt that Mao Zedong was a man with outstanding literary talents, grand ambitions, broad-mindedness, and a heart for the world.

In this way, Chiang Kai-shek was anxious.Mao Zedong had grand ambitions and had the world in mind, so what am I?Chiang Kai-shek called Chen Bulei and said: "Mao Zedong has feudal emperor thoughts compared to Tang Zong and Song Zu. Hurry up and organize people to write articles, saying that he came to Chongqing not to negotiate, but to be king." Chen Bulei commented on the poem Quite proficient, I admire Mao Zedong's talent from the bottom of my heart, but for the needs of political struggle, I still follow Chiang Kai-shek's instructions.In the blink of an eye, the official media in Chongqing were all ready to criticize Mao Zedong's imperial thinking.Mao Zedong was dumbfounded by Chiang Kai-shek's absurdity. He didn't know that a poem he sent out on the spur of the moment could actually become a "handle" for Chiang Kai-shek's attack.

Smart people can smell the strange atmosphere in the negotiation from this poetry storm.It can be said that the hostility it showed towards Mao Zedong has preliminarily indicated that this negotiation is destined to be fruitless.Later developments also proved this point.Chiang Kai-shek insisted that the Communist Party must hand over the army and realize the nationalization of the army before talking about political democratization.Mao Zedong said: The government must be reorganized first, and a democratic coalition government including the Communist Party and other democratic parties must be formed before the Communist Party surrenders the army. It must first realize political democratization and then nationalize the army.

The problem is obvious, Chiang Kai-shek will not give up the Kuomintang's one-party status, let alone his monopoly of power. "One doctrine, one political party, one leader" is Chiang Kai-shek's ideology.He clearly instructed his negotiators, "Do not discuss the issue of reorganizing the government outside the legal system of the current government." If the government is reorganized according to the opinions of the Communist Party, not only the status of the ruling party of the Kuomintang, but also Chiang Kai-shek's dictatorship will not be guaranteed.Of course Chiang Kai-shek would not agree.

Conversely, the Communist Party will not hand over the army until the regime is reshuffled.The most fundamental reason for the failure of the Great Revolution was that the Communist Party did not have military power. In the era of "power grows out of the barrel of a gun", what would you have without the army?Would Chiang Kai-shek invite Mao Zedong to negotiate if the Communist Party didn't have so many millions of people? But Chiang Kai-shek still tried his best to force the Communist Party to hand over the army. When Mao Zedong attended the reception banquet held by the person in charge of "Ta Kung Pao", Li Ziba said: "You don't want to start a new stove." Mao Zedong said: "I agree with this, but Chiang Kai-shek has to take care of the rice. He doesn't care about the rice. What if we don't start a new stove?" There was another time when Mao Zedong attended Hurley's banquet. Hurley demanded that the CCP hand over the army and liberated areas, and either recognize it or break up.Mao Zedong replied: "If you don't admit it, you won't break it. The issue is complicated and needs to be discussed."

Mao Zedong went to visit Chen Lifu and said: "We went up to the mountains to fight guerrillas. We were forced out by the Kuomintang to suppress the Communists. We were forced to go to Liangshan. It's like Monkey King making a big disturbance in the Heavenly Palace, and the Jade Emperor named him Bi Mawen. But you didn’t even give us Bi Mawen, so we had no choice but to carry our guns up the mountain.” The "Double Ten Agreement" was promulgated.Let history judge the significance of this document signed by two parties with considerable military strength and intransigence.At this time, Mao Zedong was most concerned about how the battle on the front line was going. On August 23, at the enlarged meeting of the Politburo, Mao Zedong told Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping, who were going to the front line the next day, that if you fight better at the front line, I will be safer and there will be great hope for peace. a little.

Mao Zedong had no illusions about Chiang Kai-shek when he went to Chongqing.At the enlarged meeting of the Politburo before his departure, Mao Zedong said that going to Chongqing was to expose Chiang Kai-shek's conspiracy.He firmly believed that Chiang Kai-shek would not give the Communist Party any illusions.The so-called "peace negotiations" are nothing more than superficial articles for an all-out attack on the Communist Party. The final problem must be resolved through war. On October 17th, Mao Zedong, who returned to Yan'an, called together the cadres in Yan'an and told everyone about the situation of the Chongqing negotiations.

The humble venue was full of people.The scrambled wooden benches and the smoky environment do not look like a meeting of high-level cadres of a political party today.But none of the CCP cadres at that time cared about the environment of the venue. As long as Mao Zedong spoke, everyone was very interested. Mao Zedong still had the same speaking demeanor, with his hands on his waist, and his thick Hunan dialect, which clearly explained the issues that everyone cared about. Mao Zedong said at the beginning: "The agreement that has been reached is only something on paper. Things on paper are not equal to things in reality. Facts have proved that it will take a lot of effort to turn it into reality. The Kuomintang On the one hand, it is negotiating with us, and on the other hand, it is actively attacking the Liberated Areas. Why did the Kuomintang mobilize so many troops to attack us? That is because its idea has long been decided, to destroy the power of the people and to destroy us. "

Mao Zedong went on to say: "When he comes to attack, we eliminate him, and he will be comfortable. If we eliminate a little, he will be more comfortable; if we eliminate more, we will be more comfortable; if we eliminate him completely, he will be completely comfortable." Mao Zedong spoke sharply and humorously, and everyone present burst into laughter, including the serious Peng Dehuai, who was also infected by the chairman's humor and laughed. After taking a big sip of water, Mao Zedong continued: "When people call, we will fight. The fight is for peace. If the reactionaries who dare to attack the Liberated Areas are not dealt a heavy blow, peace will not come. He also warned that immediately Comrades who are going to work on the front line, we Communists are like seeds, and the people are like the land. When we go to a place, we must unite with the people there, take root and blossom among the people.”

Before I knew it, the two-hour report was over, and the comrades still had more to say. Mao Zedong lit a cigarette, and seemed to have a lot to say. He, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Ren Bishi, and Peng Dehuai chatted and laughed. "Don't believe what Chiang Kai-shek said at all. It's better if the chairman said it well. If he is eliminated, he will be comfortable. What's the deal? Let's go to war in the end!" Peng Dehuai said gruffly, throwing Mao Zedong and the others together. Amused. On the issue of negotiations, Peng Dehuai is a "battle faction".Before Mao Zedong went to Chongqing for negotiations, he strongly advocated fighting a few battles with Lao Jiang first, and then talking with him after he was comfortable. Mao Zedong waved his hand, exhaled a puff of smoke and said with a smile: "The negotiating table is another battlefield! You win the battle on the battlefield with the gun, and I also win the battle on the battlefield with the mouth. This is called mutual cooperation and complements each other!" "The chairman's visit to Chongqing this time has really gained a lot." Liu Shaoqi said, "Even if the agreement cannot be realized, we have won the initiative in politics. Chiang Kai-shek's rumors that we are destroying peace will be self-defeating." Zhu De said: "However, the chairman took a lot of risks this time. Many comrades are sweating for you! Everyone knows Chiang Kai-shek's character very well. I am afraid that the chairman will become the second Zhang Xueliang." "It can't be done. Chiang Kai-shek doesn't have the courage at this time. Not only did he not let me become the second Zhang Xueliang, but he also entertained me with big fish and meat. Look, isn't he gaining weight again!" Mao Zedong pointed to the slightly raised abdomen haha laughing out loud. The others also laughed.These leaders of the Communist Party just chatted with each other sentence by sentence, which was both funny and full of wisdom. ... In November 1945, Mao Zedong fell ill.This may be Mao Zedong's biggest illness since he fell ill in Jinggangshan.Mao Zedong was indeed too tired.During the negotiations in Chongqing, while dealing with Chiang Kai-shek, who set up traps everywhere, he also had to guide the strategic layout of the country.In addition, Lin Biao did not play very well in the Northeast, and Nie Rongzhen and He Long's Suiyuan Campaign also reached a stalemate.Occupying the Northeast and controlling Suiyuan can be said to be Mao Zedong's two major strategic decisions, but now that he has lost both, he fell ill under such pressure.At this time, Zhou Enlai was still dealing with Chiang Kai-shek in Chongqing.Chiang Kai-shek wanted to convene a CPPCC meeting immediately, and Zhou Enlai proposed on behalf of the Communist Party that the two sides must cease fire before the CPPCC meeting.On this issue, the two sides have come and gone and discussed many times, but they still cannot reach a consensus. Seeing the relationship between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party like this, US President Truman was also in a hurry.He had long believed that Chiang Kai-shek would not be able to defeat the Communist Party.And the Communist Party stood with the Soviet Union.If the Communist Party defeats Chiang Kai-shek, the Communist Party will inevitably lead China to the Soviet Union, which is absolutely unacceptable.So Chiang Kai-shek has become a hot potato for the United States.If you throw it away, you can't throw it away; if you don't throw it away, it will be very hot.Chiang Kai-shek couldn't fight well, and he kept sending the first lady to ask for money and guns.Truman was disturbed by this Chiang Kai-shek.But for the national interests of the United States, Truman still has to make a final effort at this time.After Hurley resigned, another mediator role emerged. On December 22, a man wearing a top hat, with a high nose bridge and exuding a military demeanor came to Chongqing. He will play a key role in the next round of KMT-CCP ​​negotiations on the armistice issue.He is President Truman's special envoy, American five-star general Marshall.Marshall, as an emissary in a special period, undertook this special mission. As soon as Marshall arrived in Chongqing, Chiang Kai-shek received him warmly and said a lot of high hopes during the meeting.Although Chiang Kai-shek was full of happiness, he seemed to be stuck in his throat.During the Anti-Japanese War, Marshall had some grievances with Chiang Kai-shek, which made him a little embarrassed.But the past has become the past, and Marshall decided to complete the task assigned by the president.He dealt with Zhou Enlai and Zhang Qun, and he insisted on negotiating the armistice agreement between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party.When he wrote "Marsah Ceorge Catlett" on the armistice agreement, he felt that his career in China had surpassed Stilwell and Hurley, because he changed the direction of history. But would an armistice guarantee a permanent truce? The truce between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party came into effect at 00:00 on January 14, 1946. After receiving the armistice agreement signed with the names of Zhang Qun, Zhou Enlai and Marshall, Chiang Kai-shek could not help but shudder, and frowned for a long time.I don't know what Chiang Kai-shek was thinking at this time, but he immediately issued an order: the Political Consultative Conference will be held immediately, and our army should fully occupy all locations before and after the truce order is issued. So, on the eve of the armistice, the Kuomintang launched a more frenzied attack. On January 9, the Kuomintang attacked our army at Gubeikou, and ended on the 12th with the failure of the Kuomintang army. On January 10, the 31st Army of the Northeast Kuomintang occupied Lingyuan and Hiraizumi.The 5th Division of the 94th Army of the North China Kuomintang and the First Division of the Puppet Army set off from Tangshan on the 10th, captured Fengrun on the 12th, and captured Yutian on the 14th. On the 11th, the Kuomintang army occupied Xiushuihezi, and on the 14th, occupied Liaozhong. On the 11th, Sun Zhen's Department of the KMT's Zhengzhou Sui Department occupied Xixian County. On the 12th, the 31st and 32nd Divisions of the 35th Army of the Kuomintang entered Taolin and Helin in Suiyuan. On the 14th, Fu Zuoyi's newly reorganized 4th Division and other departments occupied Jining, and the Eighth Route Army's Jinsui Military Region and a part of the Jinchaji Military Region launched a counterattack and then recovered. ... Similar military actions abound.As a result, an unprecedented strange phenomenon appeared on the land of China: while truce orders were flying all over the sky, wars continued. As an appendage of the armistice agreement, a military mediation office was established in Beiping. The American representative Robertson, the Kuomintang representative Zheng Jiemin and the Communist Party representative Ye Jianying formed the mediation office.Since its establishment, this institution may have been the busiest among all the official institutions in China at that time. Every day, there are pleadings and complaints received every day. After accepting complaints, it has to investigate and collect evidence everywhere.And the rulings that are often made are pale and weak, which makes people laugh and cry. Chiang Kai-shek still cooperated with the United States as always and continued his military deployment.As of April and May of 1946, Chiang Kai-shek had received US$1.35 billion in materials provided by the US government, which was twice the amount of US aid to China during the War of Resistance, which shows how much the US spent on Chiang Kai-shek.In addition, the United States also trained 150,000 technical officers for Chiang Kai-shek, equipped 45 divisions and brigades with American-made equipment, provided 936 fighter jets of various types, and helped Chiang Kai-shek transport 540,000 troops.So far, Chiang Kai-shek's war machine has basically been fully established. Having talked with the Communist Party for so many months, Chiang Kai-shek always felt unhappy.Talking, talking is not good; fighting, but not completely fighting.Chiang Kai-shek hates those Americans who shrug their shoulders when they speak. They fly around and mediate everywhere. First Hurley, then Marshall, and then Eisenhower. He really can't understand the Americans' share of Chinese affairs. Enthusiasm.But by June, he couldn't hold back anymore.What "Double Ten Agreement", all aside!At this time, Chiang Kai-shek finally tore off his mask of pretending to be peaceful. Chiang Kai-shek formulated an ambitious offensive plan, using 193 brigades and 1.58 million troops to attack the liberated areas such as the Central Plains, East China, Shanxi-Hebei-Luyu, Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei, Shanxi-Sui, Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia, and Northeast China.Eliminate the Central Plains troops of the CCP within 48 hours, occupy northern Jiangsu in two weeks, open up Jinpu Road and Jiaoji Road in three weeks, solve the problems in the pass within three to six months, and then capture the entire Northeast, so that the blue sky and white sun flag will be displayed in China. Flying high above the ground. With this strategic plan of comprehensive attack and quick battle, Chiang Kai-shek seems to have seen the magnificent scene of the national army galloping across the battlefield, invincible.He even thought of moving the capital to Beiping amidst the triumphant songs after returning the capital to Nanjing, and standing on the Tiananmen Gate tower, which symbolizes the spirit of the Chinese nation, grandly reviewing his victorious troops.With the development of the subsequent war situation, history proved that Chiang Kai-shek was nothing more than a dream. Wearing reading glasses, he kept marking on the densely packed map. Finally, the pencil landed in Dawu County, where Hubei and Henan meet, and drew a circle in the Xuanhuadian area. This is where the Central Plains Military Region is located.Chiang Kai-shek chose this as the first target of his attack on the Communist Party.He wants to wipe this place off the map of the Communist Party. In October 1945, the Southward Detachment of the 359th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, which had returned from Guangdong, joined forces with the 5th Division of the New Fourth Army in the Hubei-Henan Border Region and the Songyue Military Region, which had gone southward from central Henan, in the Tongbai Mountain Area of ​​Western Henan. The Central Plains Military Region was established. Li Xiannian As the commander, Zheng Weisan is the political commissar.The Central Plains liberated area once developed to more than 60 counties, forming a siege situation for the three towns of Wuhan, which are strategically important for the Kuomintang.In Chiang Kai-shek's words, the Central Plains Military Region "goes north to the Huanghuai Plain to disturb the Central Plains; goes south to Wuhan to see the two lakes; goes west to Sui (county) and Zao (yang) to control Jing (zhou) and Xiang (yang); and It can cut off the main artery of our Pinghan Road Central Plains." If China is compared to a person, the Central Plains is like the heart.Chiang Kai-shek wanted to return the capital to Nanjing, occupy East China, control North China, and seize the Northeast. The Communist Party put such a fist in his heart, and he felt uncomfortable anyway. "Whoever wins the Central Plains wins the world", the historical facts of China's previous dynasty changes have proved such a truth.Chiang Kai-shek's eyes were wide open, just staring at such a place.That is the place where the "True Dragon Son of Heaven" has its pulse!He also hopes to become the modern "True Dragon Emperor" one day. At the beginning of the establishment of our Central Plains Military Region, Hu Zongnan, the commander of the Kuomintang's first war zone, divided his troops and marched eastward along both sides of Longhai Road from the northwest; Liu Zhi, commander of the fifth war zone, marched from north to south along both sides of Pinghan Road. ; The troops of the sixth war zone marched from the south of Hubei to the north, with a total strength of about 300,000 troops, compressing more than 50,000 troops from the Central Plains Military Region to Xuanhuadian, a small town in northern Hubei with a radius of less than a hundred miles. This time Chiang Kai-shek still adopted fortress tactics, step by step, building bunkers, repairing trenches along the way, and preparing for war during the truce.By the end of April, the preparations for encircling the Central Plains Military Region were basically ready. All is ready except for the opportunity. On this day, Chiang Kai-shek called Bai Chongxi and Chen Cheng for a short meeting. The two generals of Chiang Kai-shek understood, and before he could speak, Bai Chongxi, known as "Little Zhuge", said: "Commissioner, Liu Zhi is ready, all I need is a word from you." Chen Cheng bowed his body and did not speak. Chiang Kai-shek, the proud student, always maintained a kind of respect and reverence for him. Chiang Kai-shek did not express his opinion immediately, but looked at the floor of the meeting room intently. At this time, Chiang Kai-shek was feeling the encouragement of the Northeast battlefield.In the Northeast, Du Yuming gained the upper hand in the duel with Lin Biao; at the same time, Hu Zongnan had also surrounded Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia with heavy troops; the situation on other battlefields was also very promising.Chiang Kai-shek now has every reason to believe that the Communist Party is not his opponent. Chiang Kai-shek has made up his mind, and he can no longer delay it, and can no longer talk about fighting and fighting endlessly. He suddenly closed his eyes and gritted his teeth: "Let's do it!" Bai Chongxi and Chen Cheng immediately stood up, leaned on their heels, and replied with standard military salute: "I obey." A decision related to the life and death of the Central Plains Military Region and even the whole of China, whether it is peace or war, has just come out. The next day, the Kuomintang Defense Minister Bai Chongxi and the Chief of General Staff Chen Cheng issued a joint order: "Our army's units south of the Longhai Line have been ordered to complete the reorganization. However, the Li Xiannian and Wang Zhen's departments of the Communist Army refused to accept the reorganization of the Ministry of National Defense. There are ulterior motives. I hereby order all armies to closely monitor them from the date this order is issued. If any misconduct is found, they will be wiped out immediately. Anyone who neglects their duties and fails to fight is to be discussed in common and according to military law Punishment. Rely on our officers and soldiers to fight against the enemy and make meritorious deeds! This order." The Kuomintang's massive attack is imminent. Li Xiannian was very anxious at this moment. It was not particularly hot in northern Hubei in June, but at this time his heart was on fire.He paced back and forth in the Xuanhuadian headquarters, and then said to Zheng Weisan and Wang Zhen neatly: "The main task of the Central Plains Liberated Area is to act as a barrier to the surrounding liberated areas, to contain the Kuomintang troops, and to cooperate with other battlefields. This task It has been basically completed now. I think we must break through quickly, otherwise we will not be able to act as a barrier to other liberated areas, and we will suffer unnecessary losses. I suggest asking the Military Commission for instructions whether to agree to break through immediately. What do you think?" In the past few days, Zheng Weisan and Wang Zhen were also considering this matter, and agreed with Li Xiannian's opinion. After receiving the emergency telegram from Li Xiannian and others, Mao Zedong wrote without any hesitation: Agree to break through immediately, the sooner the better, don't have any worries, survival first, victory first. When Li Xiannian and others were discussing the breakout, Liu Zhi, director of the Zhengzhou Appeasement Office, also held a meeting in his official residence to discuss the route of the siege.The "long-legged general" during the Anti-Japanese War was now the commander-in-chief of Chiang Kai-shek's Central Plains encirclement and suppression, and all the troops were under his unified command.He is sharpening his sword, and wants to announce the good news to Chiang Kai-shek with the same record as Du Yuming in the Northeast. As the "commander-in-chief", he delineated the siege deployment at the meeting: Liu Ruming's reorganized 55th and 68th divisions and Zhang Lanfeng's troops were on the front lines of Caoxian, Minquan, Kaocheng, and Lanfeng. The main force was deployed in Lanfeng and Kaocheng to prevent Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping went south; the 15th Division, 32nd Division, 38th Division, 40th Division, 85th Division, and 47th Brigade reorganized by Hu Zongnan and Sun Dianying's Department guarded Anyang, Xinxiang, and Luoyang, and the main force was deployed on the front line of Xinxiang to prevent the enemy from escaping; The 3rd Division, 41st Division, and 47th Division advanced from north to south, and the reorganized 66th Division advanced from south to north, encircling the Central Plains troops of the Communist Party in Xuanhuadian, gradually narrowing the encirclement, and using fortress tactics to eliminate Li Xiannian. A few days after the meeting, several armies with a total of 300,000 horses marched towards Xuanhuadian, and rushed towards the Central Plains troops with a murderous look. This day is June 26, 1946. The headquarters of the Central Plains Military Region was brightly lit. Li Xiannian, Zheng Weisan, Wang Zhen, and Wang Shusheng were discussing the breakout plan around a simple desk.This meeting lacked the chatter and laughter of the past, and the few people went straight to the topic as soon as they were seated. "According to reliable information, Chiang Kai-shek has ordered Liu Zhi to prepare for the siege before the 22nd. Liu Zhi's troops are approaching us from the north and the south. His outpost troops have been active these days, and planes come to monitor us every day. He They are also preventing us from breaking out." Li Xiannian waved a cattail fan with a low voice. Zheng Weisan took over the conversation: "The central government also knows our situation and wants us to break through immediately, the sooner the better. But now we are surrounded by Liu Zhi's troops, and all our clues are in his grasp. The task is very difficult, not only must courage, but also means. The preliminary preparations must be carried out in secret." The room was quiet, without any sound.The leaders of the Central Plains Military Region all felt unprecedented pressure was coming, including Wang Zhen who had gone through the hardships of "returning from the south to the north". It was Li Xiannian who broke the silence: "I think we should use Chiang Kai-shek's method of peace and action at the same time. This is called using one's own way to punish others. On the surface, we strictly abide by the "Hankou Agreement" in May. Liu Zhi created false appearances; in addition, from now on, all troops must be fully mobilized and prepared for all breakthrough work. As long as the time is right, they can take action. The question now is which side to break through. Everyone works together.” For breaking out, direction is a crucial issue, and it can also be said to be a strategic issue.At that time, there were 3 directions to choose from: east, west and north.But the meeting that day unanimously approved the plan to break out to the west, because there are Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountains in the west, and the area is vast and easy to maneuver. When encountering a large number of enemies chasing and intercepting, the troops can quickly switch to a guerrilla state, and then concentrate on moving westward. It can also be transferred to Taiyue or the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, or enter Sichuan by camera. However, this route is mountainous and dangerous, and the difficulty of marching on the way out will increase exponentially. Heavy equipment and some other supplies must not go with the army. However, as long as 50,000 troops can be safely brought out of Chiang Kai-shek's encirclement, no matter how difficult it is. All breakout operations proceeded as planned. Li Xiannian still sent people to Liu Zhi's troops to negotiate matters concerning the defense area as usual, and wrote propaganda slogans everywhere, calling for peace and unity.At the same time, Pi Dingjun was ordered to lead a brigade to deliberately reinforce the fortifications at the front of the Popi River in the northeast of Xuanhuadian, pretending to be the main force of the Central Plains Military Region and wanting to fight a fierce battle on the eastern front. On the 23rd and 24th, Pi Dingjun was ordered to move continuously and frequently in the position, secretly move westward late at night, and openly turn eastward during the day, and buried pots for cooking on the marching road, causing the main force to move eastward. The illusion of breakthrough. On the 26th, everything was ready and the main force broke through. Night has fallen, the sky is full of stars, and a ray of moonlight penetrates the clouds and sprinkles on the silent land of Shenzhou.The area around the Xuanhua store was quiet, and everything was sleeping, including the officers and soldiers on the first line of defense set up by Liu Zhi.The headquarters of the Central Plains Military Region in Xuanhuadian, shrouded in moonlight, was busy at this time. The radio station of the headquarters was beeping non-stop.The troops from all walks of life have assembled at the designated locations and are ready to go. The breakout was carried out in three ways.Wang Shusheng, deputy commander of the military region and commander of the first column, led the first column to form a left column and marched westward through the garden; Wang Zhen, deputy commander and chief of staff of the military region, led the 359th brigade to form a right column, passing through Jigongshan and Lijiazhai Wen Jianwu, the commander and political commissar of the second column, led the second column to form a middle column, and marched westward through Yangjiazhai and Wangjiadian. Li Xiannian was still in the headquarters, and he repeatedly told him to clean up the house and put away what could not be taken away.Then I called Pi Dingjun again and said a few words of encouragement.Pi Dingjun replied loudly on the other end of the phone: "I promise to complete the task." Under the cover of night, soldiers of the Eighth Route Army set off on tiptoe all the way.There was no light, no sound, and even the commands were kept low.The team was groping along the narrow path, one by one pulling one by one, and rushed towards their destination. At this time, Liu Zhi was sleeping in Zhengzhou, and he didn't know what was happening in Xuanhua store.And just a few hours ago, he had vowed to Chiang Kai-shek that the Communist Party's Central Plains troops were like turtles in a urn, and as long as they opened their mouths, they could swallow them all. Under the command of Li Xiannian and others, the main force's westward breakout continued as before.Pi Dingjun's troops moved from east to west as usual, negotiations with Liu Zhi were still going on, and the streets of Xuanhuadian were crowded with people as usual, very lively. On the 27th, Liu Zhi didn't get up until the sun was high.Since the Communist Party strongly protested the Kuomintang's siege of the Central Plains, the first thing he did after getting up every day was to ask the Central Plains troops in Xuanhuadian what happened, but every time he received a report, there was nothing unusual.After a long time, he relaxed his vigilance.This morning when he came together, he went to do outdoor sports. He was practicing Tai Chi vigorously, and he saw the confidential secretary running quickly from afar.The secretary stood at attention, sweating profusely, and reported to Liu Zhi before he could wipe off the sweat: The Communist Party's Central Plains troops showed signs of breaking through. Liu Zhi frowned, and ordered: "Speak clearly." The secretary replied: "Just received a report that Li Xiannian's troops show signs of moving eastward." Liu Zhi frowned, and then ordered: "Send a plane to scout." According to Liu Zhi's judgment, it is very likely that the main force of the Central Plains troops will break through to the west and join the troops in southern Shaanxi. "Did I make a mistake in my judgment?" After the secretary turned and left, he still stood there talking to himself, full of suspicion. Liu Zhi's reconnaissance plane hovered over the sky, and saw thick smoke billowing in the area east of Xuanhuadian, and the Communist army was launching a fierce attack to the east. There is no doubt that Li Xiannian's troops are heading east to break through. Liu Zhi quickly came to the war room, pointed his finger, and the troops from all walks of life began to attack the eastern part of Xuanhuadian. The 66th Army of the Kuomintang led by Lieutenant General Song Ruike rushed to the forefront. On June 22, after the joint order of Bai Chongxi and Chen Cheng was issued, he participated in an emergency meeting in Xingyuan, Wuhan. Immediately after the meeting, he rushed to the Xinyang headquarters and moved the military headquarters to Guangshui Station. The direction of Xuanhua store is approaching. Song Ruike, who graduated from Whampoa, was appreciated by Chiang Kai-shek, and he can be called President Jiang's favorite student.He knew the position of conquering the Central Plains in Chiang Kai-shek's entire continental war situation, and he was determined to make contributions to the party and the country. When Liu Zhi gave an order, he led the troops forward quickly. Song Ruike's troops met little resistance and arrived at Xuanhuadian on the evening of June 27.After Pi Dingjun led his troops to resist and cover the main force to break through, he dispersed to fight guerrillas on the spot. By dawn, Song Ruike's 199th and 185th brigades had all occupied the ancient city of Xuanhuadian and the surrounding strongholds. Looking at the empty city where people were leaving, Song Ruike stood outside the gate of the Central Plains Military Region without saying a word for a long time. Liu Zhi was even more surprised! He paced up and down the war room. 300,000 troops besieged the Central Plains for several months, built so many bunkers, trenches, and spent so much money, thinking that they could get something out of their pockets and achieve a great achievement in "suppressing bandits". Missing?The old man in Nanjing has just returned from the restoration of the capital, and he has placed great hopes in the battle of the Central Plains.It turned out like this, how to explain to the committee? Liu Zhi was dejected, at a loss for what to do for a while, and made several phone calls in a row, ordering all troops to quickly dispatch reconnaissance troops to search in a mountainous manner, and he must find Li Xiannian and Wang Zhen! Liu Zhi sighed and was looking at some documents when he received a battle report from the front: Enemy situation was found near Liulin Station, it may be that Li Xiannian's main force has broken through here. Liu Zhi's eyes lit up, as if he had found a treasure, before he had time to think, he grabbed the phone and shouted: "Stop it, block it!" Reporting to Liu Zhi was the reorganized 15th Division of the Kuomintang Army, and they had already exchanged fire with the 359th Brigade. The 359th Brigade broke through to the west along with the Central Plains Bureau and the leading organs of the Central Plains Military Region, and chose the line from Liulin Station to Lijiazhai Station in the south of Xinyang as a breakthrough. On the 29th, the troops arrived near Jiuliguan and assembled secretly in the woods. After several days of intense marching, Wang Zhen seemed to have lost some weight.He turned on the kettle, drank a few sips of water, spread out the map and studied the surrounding terrain carefully with Wang Shoudao, the political commissar of the 359 brigade, and Li Quan, the deputy political commissar, and planned to start along the Huangzhuang line from Liulin to Wushengguan on Pinghan Road. The 40th Regiment of the 135th Brigade of the 15th Division of the Defending Enemy Reorganization launched an attack, and the main force broke through Pinghan Road and rushed out of the encirclement. This was a crucial battle to break through the enemy's encirclement. Wang Zhen entrusted Li Quan, the deputy political commissar, to mobilize the commandos before the battle. Li Quan was also very thin, wearing a military uniform with frayed elbows, he waved his big hands and said to the commandos: "Comrades, everyone has worked hard!" The commandos were all in high spirits, listening to the commander's instructions with their heads held high. "We have escaped Liu Zhi's eyes. After several days of rapid march, Liu Zhi did not find us, and achieved the first step of victory. Now, in front of us is Pinghan Road, which is heavily guarded by the Kuomintang army. Breaking through Pinghan We won a major victory in our breakthrough. Tonight, our whole brigade will fight here, with the purpose of breaking through the Pinghan Road and breaking through the encirclement of the enemy." Li Quan paused, and continued: "Are you The combat backbone drawn from each regiment, you will play an important role in tonight's battle. Your task tonight is to use a fierce attack to hold back the enemy's firepower and cover the large troops to cross the Ping-Han Railway. I believe you will be able to complete the organization assigned tasks." Li Quan's words were short and powerful, and the soldiers' blood boiled when they heard it. At dusk, the troops moved into action.Our army's commando set off first, armed with mountain artillery and machine guns, and launched an attack on several Kuomintang strongholds on the outskirts of Liulin.The commandos are all young men in their twenties, and they don’t care about anything as soon as they grit their teeth. They just fire cannons, machine guns, and throw grenades. After two hours, they cleared a few bunkers around Liulin. Under the attack, the troops quickly occupied Liulin Town, Huangzhuang and other positions. Covering and blocking battles were fought from the evening of the 29th to the early morning of the 30th. After the bullets and grenades were exhausted, the bayonets were used to start hand-to-hand combat and seize the enemy's ammunition to supplement themselves.By 3 p.m., the 359th brigade and the accompanying head of the military region had safely crossed Pinghan Road. For Chiang Kai-shek, Pinghan Road is a lifeline economically and a wall militaryly.On the more than 1,000-kilometer railway line from Beiping to Hankou, the Kuomintang has heavily guarded all major cities such as Baoding, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, and Xinyang, and there are countless bunkers and strongholds along the railway line. .The Kuomintang troops traveled from south to north along Pinghan Road, dispatching troops and generals. Pinghan Road has great strategic significance for the Kuomintang. The Xuanhua store has become a footbath, surrounded by mountains, with Liu Zhi guarding every important traffic pass, Li Xiannian can hardly fly even with wings.Chiang Kai-shek thought it would be easy to eat Li Xiannian and Wang Zhen in 48 hours, but after 100 hours, not only were they not wiped out, but they crossed Pinghan Road and killed them all the way west. Chiang Kai-shek was angry and impatient, and the telegrams were too slow, so he picked up the phone and wanted to call the Zhengzhou Sui Department. They slipped away from under their noses. According to reliable information, the bandit enemy may flee to the Suizao area, and you are limited to 48 hours to cut off the bandit soldiers' way and annihilate the enemy in the Suizao area." Liu Zhi on the other end of the phone didn't dare to speak out, and answered yes repeatedly.The Kuomintang lieutenant-general was so coaxing before the siege of the Central Plains, as if he was about to establish a world-class feat, but the situation took a turn for the worse in a few days, and his legs were shaking when he answered Chiang Kai-shek's phone call.After hanging up Chiang Kai-shek's phone, he picked up the phone too, imitating Chiang Kai-shek's example and giving his subordinates a lesson. After several days of rapid march, our army was very tired.Because it was a breakout, they could not take the main road. The troops chose small and dangerous roads, and they had to cross mountains when they encountered mountains, and wade when they encountered rivers.The dry rations brought by the troops gradually decreased. In order to ensure a successful breakout, Wang Zhen called on the whole brigade to practice strict economy and eat only two meals of porridge a day. The most terrible thing is that Chiang Kai-shek ordered Hu Zongnan to allocate some troops to act together with Liu Zhi. Hu Zongnan blocked in front and Liu Zhi chased after him. One shouted to fight and the other shouted to kill.Chiang Kai-shek's formation is: If you don't wipe out King Li, you will never give up! 前有堵兵，后有追兵。 时值七月，鄂豫交界地带阴雨一下就是十天半个月，道路泥泞，空气潮湿。胡宗南和刘峙的队伍在烂泥的山路上稀稀拉拉地走着，白天晚上赶着行军，对于平常养尊处优的国民党官兵来说，哪受过这般苦。队伍里怨声载道，骂娘声一片接一片。连一些军官也有些牢骚了，有的把帽子一摘，吐出一口苦水，恶狠狠骂道：“他奶奶的！不是和平了吗？不是签订了《汉口协议》了吗？怎么又去追李先念？奶奶的，害得老子受这般罪。” 但这样的气候条件正是与刘峙拉开距离的时候，我军359旅官兵们没有任何抱怨，他们只知道，跑得越快，生存的可能就越大。 蒋介石仍一个劲地催促刘峙，要堵住359旅的去路，要全歼359旅！ 对王震、王首道率领的这支部队，蒋介石是伤透了脑筋。 他们是两年前从延安出发南下的，一路上穿陇海，过长江，翻山越岭，跃进万里。蒋介石派了好多支部队追击、围歼，但359旅仍然风风火火挺进到了湘南、粤北，开辟了以五岭山脉为中心的华南敌后根据地。后来还把鄂豫皖湘赣根据地和东江根据地连接起来，为我党在南方发展力量开辟了一块战略基地，直接威胁着广州、长沙等大城市和交通要道。 蒋介石老早就想吃掉二王部队，因为这支部队太能打仗了，几乎是一支全天候作战的部队，打仗没有规律。风雨交加的时候，天黑如漆的时候，就是他们出击的时候。蒋介石派了很多部队去围剿，像当年在井冈山围剿红军一样，但仍然无济于事。 后来在蒋介石的逼迫下，359旅被迫北返，蒋介石边谈判，边调动部队围追堵截，心想这一次你是跑不掉了，非把你堵在长江以南不可。殊不知，359旅又安全渡过长江，与新四军第5师胜利会师，并且还成立了一个中原军区，势力越来越大，直接威胁着南京、武汉。不仅如此，中原军区的存在还妨碍着蒋介石在整个中原、华北和华东的战略展开。 他咬咬牙，拨30万兵马给刘峙统一指挥，可谓下足了本钱，以6∶1的兵力来解决中原军区部队。但搞来搞去，还是让他们跑掉了。 虽然蒋介石命令一个接一个，但刘峙还是跑不过王震，歼敌于随枣地区的计划又破产了，359旅一阵风似地直插秦岭。 蒋介石就这样跟王震赛跑着。王震指挥部队突破紫荆关，强渡丹江，一头扎进了秦岭山区，与巩德芳领导的游击队会师，组成了豫陕鄂军区，并于8月2日进占了镇安县城。 蒋介石不甘心就这样结束对王震的追击，他站在偌大的军用地图前，盯着陕南足足看了10分钟，然后下定决心，既然你跑到陕南秦岭山区去了，解决你的任务就交给胡宗南，他正好养着几十万精兵呢！ 胡宗南正为自己在紫荆关没能堵住王震深感愧疚，这次接到校长指示，一定要倾其所有解决王震的问题。 他拟定了一个阵营庞大的进攻计划：整编第76师24旅和整编第15师135旅，从石泉、汉阴、安康向北推进；整编第17师84旅和整编第36师28旅向东推进；整编1师1旅、整编第36师123旅，整编第90师61、53旅和整编第76师144旅，从东、北两面压来，在旬阳坝、关口、太山庙歼灭王震部。 此时王震的部队已经减员近两千人，余下不足两千人了。胡宗南如此兴师动众，未免有点神经过敏。不过这样用兵是国民党将领的一种惯性思维，包括蒋介石本人。他们往往只注重兵力和武器装备上的优势，而在战略战术以及战士的精神士气上关注很少。当然，此时的国民党将领们满可以财大气粗，因为他们在物质资源和兵力资源上都占有绝对的优势。 陕南八百里秦川群山起伏，沟壑纵横，加上土匪出没，民情不熟，359旅的处境异常艰难。王震本来打算部队就地分散在陕南打游击的，如今胡宗南重兵包围，359旅再一次陷入了困境。 延安的中央领导们都为王震捏一把汗。从南征到北返，再到今天的突围，真可谓翻山越岭，千辛万苦。两年前从延安出发南下时，好多人都拉着王震的手说：胡子你一定要活着回来。当时的战争环境就是这样，战友们临别时都没有什么其他的祝福，活着回来就是最好的情感表达。这是当时的战争环境异常艰难所决定的。 毛泽东拿着王震部队的报告，心情非常沉重。报告中说359旅在陕南地形不熟悉，经常受到土匪的袭击，伤亡很大；胡宗南派兵重重围剿和追击，官兵精神都高度紧张，精神状态不怎么好。最要命的是没有粮食了，目前只能靠挖野菜、吃树叶充饥，好多官兵都拉肚子，体质一日不如一日；并且部队减员非常厉害…… “还是让他们回来吧！活着就是胜利。”毛泽东在有关王震部队的报告上批示，“另外转告王世泰、张文舟，派陕甘宁晋绥联防军南下出击，接应王震。一定要让他们活着到陕甘宁。” 王世泰和张文舟迅速拟定了一个南下出击接应359旅的行动方案：新编第4旅（旅长张贤约、政治委员徐立清）为左翼兵团，由长武、彬县之间突破敌人封锁线；以警备第3旅（旅长黄罗斌、政治委员李鹤邦）第7团及第5团为右翼兵团，由平凉、泾川间突破敌人封锁线；另外以警备第1旅（高锦纯任旅长兼政治委员）在旬邑地区分散游击，牵制胡军。 这天王震坐在一块大石头上察看地图，正在考虑下一步部队怎么展开，警卫员一声响亮的报告打断了他的思考。警卫员说中央刚刚来电，让359旅迅速组织北上突围，同时我联防军派出部队南下接应359旅回陕甘宁。 王震抬起头，腊黄的脸上又亮起了一丝光泽。回陕甘宁？回延安？历经了两年的风风雨雨，又要回到延安，太令人振奋了。从突围开始到现在，他的胡子就没剃过，现在已长了十多公分了。而这一年，他才38岁。王震摸了一把胡子，从石头上一跃而起，瘦弱的身体此时已充满了无穷的力量。 他把旅长郭鹏、政委王恩茂、副旅长徐国贤找来，决定把部队分成左右两个纵队，左路718、719团由王震、郭鹏和王恩茂率领，右路717团由徐国贤率领，分别夺路北上。 359旅最后一次突围开始了。 任何的困难此时都已不再是困难。359旅只有一个目标，打回延安去！ 在那个血雨腥风的年代里，延安已成了一个精神领地，一个胜利象征。他永远是一个圣地，受到所有八路军将士的顶礼膜拜。 有了这么一股精神力量，接下来的战斗虽然打得很艰苦，却发展得异常迅速。 8月27日，我联防军警3旅攻占太平镇。 8月29日，我联防军新4旅攻占平子镇、良平镇。 8月29日，359旅左纵队与联防军警3旅会师于屯子镇。 9月8日，359旅右纵队穿过徽县、两当、六盘山，从平凉以西跨过西兰公路由马渠进入陕甘宁边区。 9月20日，我警3旅击退胡宗南整编第96师向刘家大山峁的进攻，359旅彻底摆脱胡宗南的追击，突围成功。 9月27日，359旅回到阔别两年的红都延安。