Chapter 12 Chapter 11 Attack Yulin, transfer the enemy north to Shajiadian and cross the col

In the past year, our army has wiped out a total of 780,000 people from 97 and a half brigades of Chiang Kai-shek's regular troops throughout the country, plus 340,000 puppet troops, security forces and other miscellaneous troops that were wiped out, and a total of 1.12 million enemies were wiped out.Chiang Kai-shek's total strength dropped from 4.3 million to 3.7 million, while the PLA increased from 1.2 million at the beginning of the war to 1.95 million.On the Northwest battlefield, they fought continuously from March to July, and wiped out more than 26,000 enemies, while the total strength of the Northwest Field Force increased from 26,000 at the beginning to 45,000.

The comparison of this set of data between the enemy and the enemy shows that the situation is developing in a direction favorable to our army. Chiang Kai-shek was still busy, but the content of his busy schedule had fundamentally changed.If Chiang Kai-shek was busy setting fires everywhere before, he is busy putting out fires now.Whether it is the front or the rear, the development of the situation is enough to make Chiang Kai-shek unable to parry. Beginning in February 1947, prices in the Kuomintang-controlled areas skyrocketed, businesses closed down, workers lost their jobs, and the economy was almost in a state of collapse; while the democratic movements "anti-hunger, anti-civil war, and anti-persecution" in Beijing, Nanjing, Wuhan and other places were booming; The democratic parties have also accelerated their activities, and even the backstage boss, the United States, has begun to "force the palace" and repeatedly demanded that the government be reorganized... The political and economic crisis has heralded that Chiang Kai-shek is facing a huge disaster.

Chiang Kai-shek's hair fell out almost overnight.According to Chinese folklore, hair loss is a symbol of wisdom, and Chiang Kai-shek's hair is bald, which should be a sign of great wisdom.However, in just one year of contest with the Communist Party, it has been completely defeated.He rubbed his bare head and came up with a "National General Mobilization Proposal", which was passed at the National Government meeting on July 4, and then issued the "General Mobilization Order to Ping the Communist Rebellion".Despite Chiang Kai-shek's best efforts, it was of no help to the deteriorating situation, because the military, which was the backbone of the government, had slipped to the brink of collapse.

Hu Zongnan was already stuck in northern Shaanxi, and the situation in Shandong, another key offensive location, was equally bad.The 74th Division reorganized by the ace unit was destroyed in Menglianggu, and the consequences were no less than Hu Zongnan's failure in Panlong in northern Shaanxi.The failure of Panlong seriously injured Hu Zongnan, and the northern Shaanxi battlefield entered a defensive state; after the battle of Meng Lianggu, the Kuomintang also entered a defensive state in the Shandong battlefield.Chiang Kai-shek's two-punch strategy of shrinking his forces has completely failed at this time.

However, Chiang Kai-shek's real failure was not because of this.He stretched out his arms to attack on both sides, but his chest was exposed-this was his real flaw, a strategic flaw. Chiang Kai-shek did not realize his flaws, but at this time in Xiaohe Village, Jingbian County, Shaanxi Province, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Peng Dehuai, He Long, Chen Geng and others were gathering together to discuss and determine the strategic tasks for the second year of the National War of Liberation, Strategic approach and strategic deployment.This is the enlarged meeting of the Front Committee of the CPC Central Committee from July 21 to 23, 1947.Also present at the meeting were Ren Bishi, Lu Dingyi, Yang Shangkun, Xi Zhongxun, Ma Mingfang, Jia Tuofu, Zhang Zongxun, Wang Zhen, Zhang Jingwu and others.

The willows in Xiaohe Village are soft and the river is trickling. It is midsummer and it doesn't look so hot.The guards used willow branches to build a pergola in front of the headquarters of the "Three Detachments", and then set up a few old tables, plus a few buckets of cold water and a few rough porcelain bowls, and it was considered the venue for the enlarged meeting of the Front Committee.The meeting made a decision that shocked China: Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi's fourth column of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Force crossed the Yellow River south and marched into the west of Henan.

It was a bold decision, but history has proven it to be correct! At that time, the situation in the northwest battlefield where the enemy was strong and we were weak had not been fundamentally reversed, and it was very necessary to strengthen our troops to break Hu Zongnan's systematic attack.Originally, the central government had decided to let Chen Xie's column cross the Yellow River westward and break Hu Zongnan's attack together with the Northwest Field Force. On June 12, Zhou Enlai also sent power to Chen Xie's column on behalf of the Military Commission, proposing to make preparations for crossing the Yellow River westward. On June 14, Zhou Enlai called Chen Xie again, requesting a covert assembly to prepare for the westward move. On June 20, Mao Zedong also called Chen Xie, requesting an attack on Yulin in mid-July.

But on June 30, the whole situation changed dramatically.On that day, Liu Bocheng and Deng Xiaoping led 150,000 field troops from Shanxi, Hebei, Luyu and Henan to break through the natural barrier of the Yellow River in one fell swoop, approaching the southwest of Shandong, directly threatening the heart of the Kuomintang's rule - the Central Plains.Seeing the danger, Chiang Kai-shek was terrified and mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops overnight to intercept it.But Mao Zedong felt that a new strategic pattern was unfolding. He spread out the map and repeatedly studied the strategic situation in East China, Central China, North China and other places. He found that if two more knives were inserted in the western Henan and Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu areas, and Liu Deng went straight to the Central Plains, Chiang Kai-shek's situation would be very serious. If there is an emergency, the entire strategic pattern will change.On July 4th, Mao Zedong made up his mind to change the direction of the use of Chen Xie's column, cross the Yellow River to the south, approach the west of Henan, and form horns with Liu Deng, directly threatening the ruling heart of the Kuomintang.

But this is risky. Advancing into the Kuomintang ruled area is tantamount to not fighting in the rear.The strategies and tactics of the People's Liberation Army have always been based on favorable people and favorable terrain.Don't go to the rear now and advance into the Kuomintang-controlled area. Will the result be a lonely army going deep?What's more, Chiang Kai-shek's key attacks on Shandong and northern Shaanxi have not completely stopped. Mao Zedong also had concerns. On July 4, he sent a special telegram to Peng Dehuai, Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Geng, and Xie Fuzhi to ask for opinions and ask whether it was appropriate.

All the leaders who were asked were full of praise for Mao Zedong's bold idea.Chiang Kai-shek placed 128 of the 154 brigades in the main force in Shandong and Northwest China, while the internal garrison force was less than 30 brigades. This was a godsend opportunity to attack Chiang Kai-shek's heart.As long as the three armies are dispatched at the same time, and Liu Deng is approaching the Central Plains, Chiang Kai-shek will be in chaos and exhausted. This idea seems vague in strategy, but it is real in practice.One inadvertent tactical move will only lose troops; but one inadvertent strategic move will lose everything.

Of course, there are also tactical advantages for Chen Xie's column to be used in western Henan.One is that it can reduce the pressure on food in northern Shaanxi, and the other is that the Kuomintang troops here are empty, which can force Hu Zongnan to divide his troops here, and it can also reduce the military pressure on the battlefield in northern Shaanxi. After full demonstrations, at the Xiaohe Village meeting, Mao Zedong unified everyone's opinions and said: "We are determined not to wait for the enemy's offensive to be completely smashed, and before the People's Liberation Army surpasses the opponent in terms of numbers and equipment, we will immediately switch from strategic defense to strategic defense." The strategic offensive takes the Central Plains area where the enemy's forces are weak as the main direction of assault, implements a breakthrough in the center, shifts to outer lines of operations, penetrates directly into the enemy's strategic rear, and leads the war to the Kuomintang area, thus changing the entire war situation." On the 23rd, the third day of the meeting, Mao Zedong called Liu Bocheng, Deng Xiaoping, Chen Yi, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin. And after Liu Deng arrived in the Dabie Mountains, he commanded Chen (Chen Shiju) and Tang (Tang Liang) to undertake the entire interior combat mission." A decision to change the pattern of China's civil war was completed in less than ten days. All the generals present felt that a new situation was slowly unfolding. In just one year, the main force could go to the outside line. The development of the battle situation was indeed beyond people's expectations. Mao Zedong also listed a timetable for the war against Chiang Kai-shek. "It will take five years to solve it." Mao Zedong excitedly stretched out five fingers, but he was a little more rational and calm than Chiang Kai-shek. If it cannot be realized, it will be a few more months, and now it is said that the war will start.” Peng Dehuai has been sitting on a wooden bench without a back. His forehead is bright, his eyes are bright, and his thinking has not stopped for a moment. He is planning how Xiye will start the next move in northern Shaanxi after Chen Xie's column attacks west Henan.According to Mao Zedong's previous statement, the northern Shaanxi battlefield is a strategic containment area, and the task of the Northwest Field Force is to contain Chiang Kai-shek's strategic reserve team in northern Shaanxi to cooperate with strategic actions on other battlefields.How to restrain Hu Zongnan in northern Shaanxi is the focus of Peng Dehuai's thinking. Hu Zongnan has grown a lot now, and his troops are not scattered easily. Hundreds of thousands of troops are huddled together, walking together, and sleeping together.Relying on Hu Zongnan to contain him directly would not be very effective, or Hu Zongnan's superior force would bite him back.Peng Dehuai went over the situation on the battlefield in northern Shaanxi in his mind, and gradually fixed his eyes on Yulin. Yulin can be called an ancient city outside the Great Wall. It was originally the lair of Shaanxi warlord Jing Yuexiu.Yulin is located at the foot of the Great Wall. There is an intermittent Yuxi River in the west, boundless deserts in the west and north, and high loess slopes in the southeast, with ravines and ravines, and few people.Peng Dehuai's interest in such a remote town stemmed from its important military status. Yulin is the headquarters of the Shanxi-Shanxi-Suibei Border Region of the Kuomintang, and the commander-in-chief is Deng Baoshan.The garrison includes the 22nd Army under Deng Baoshan and the 28th Brigade of the 36th Division of the 29th Army reorganized by Hu Zongnan, with a total strength of more than 15,000.The defense area starts from Fugu and Shenmu in the east, passes through Yulin along the ancient Great Wall and ends in Hengshan, Ningtiaoliang and Anbian in the west, stretching 350 kilometers. Hu Zongnan echoed each other from afar, forming a comprehensive encirclement of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia.Yulin is an important stronghold in this encirclement circle, and an attack on Yulin can affect the entire battlefield in northern Shaanxi. The history between Commander-in-Chief Deng Baoshan and Yulin began ten years ago.At that time, he served as the commander of the new First Army, stationed in Lanzhou, Gansu. In the autumn of 1937, Taiyuan, Guisui, and Baotou fell into the hands of the Japanese army one after another. The Japanese army took advantage of the victory and marched westward, with the potential to sweep the Northwest.The Kuomintang Military Committee urgently ordered that the newly formed 1st Army and 165th Division stationed in Gansu and the 86th Division stationed in Yulin (the division commander is Jing Yuexiu's subordinate Gao Shuangcheng) be organized into the 21st Army, with Deng as the commander of the army stationed in Yulin to block the attack. The Japanese army marched west. When Deng Baoshan arrived in Yulin, the provincial governments of the Cha and Sui provinces and other agencies and staff, as well as tens of thousands of fleeing people, poured into the Yulin area like a tide.Yulin City, which used to be deserted and deserted, immediately became lively because of the arrival of a large number of exiles.The task before Deng Baoshan was not only to send troops to block the Japanese army's westward advance, but also to properly accommodate the suffering brothers and sisters who came from all over the place.From then on, Yulin's status as a bridgehead to block the Japanese army's westward advance militarily, and as a safe haven to appease refugees from all sides politically, immediately became prominent. Deng Baoshan remained calm and transported the Genghis Khan enshrined in the Bailing Temple to Lanzhou for placement, which initially stabilized the turbulent psychology of the Mongolians.Immediately thereafter, five guerrilla detachments were organized, stationed along the Yellow River in Baotou, harassing the Japanese army day and night, and preventing them from advancing westward. The joint defense force of the three provinces of Shaanxi and Suizhou.Deng Baoshan's hard work has initially stabilized the situation in Yulin.Since then, his status in Yulin has also increased day by day, and no one can match him. During the Anti-Japanese War, the situation in the Northwest was relatively stable.The function of the Deng Baoshan Group has changed from blocking Japan's westward advance at the beginning to cooperating with Hu Zongnan to block the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. For Deng Baoshan, this was a very depressing time.The frontline was full of gunfire, and many bloody sons and daughters died on the battlefield, but his 21st Army blocked the Communist Party in this small town in northern Shaanxi, doing nothing.Because they are not direct descendants, sometimes even food, salaries, guns and ammunition are not in place.The subordinates complained, the common people criticized, Deng Baoshan also felt very embarrassed.After blocking the border area for a long time, sometimes he fought a few battles with the Japanese with the Eighth Route Army, and soon became acquainted with the Communist Party.Deng Baoshan went to Yan'an several times, and Mao Zedong personally received him. Not only was he warmly entertained, but he also gave him a lot of political inspiration. Deng Baoshan was both moved and excited, and his admiration for Mao Zedong grew day by day.And Communist Party generals such as Xiao Jinguang, Wang Zhen, Nan Hanchen, Chen Qihan, etc. even ran around Yulin like a lantern, and had frequent contacts with Deng Baoshan in public or private.During these days with the Communist Party, he gradually discovered that the Communist Party's doctrine, program, line, and policies are so similar to his own ideas, and they can get such enthusiastic support from the people.He clearly felt that the Communist Party was more popular than the Kuomintang. Chiang Kai-shek and Hu Zongnan are well aware of Deng Baoshan's close relationship with the Communist Party.During the Second Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Kuomintang in 1946, the Nationalist Government asked Deng Baoshan to detour to Ningxia to go to Chongqing for a meeting. Deng Baoshan deliberately passed through Yan'an on the grounds of the long distance, and lived in Yan'an for more than 20 days, staying overnight with Mao Zedong and Zhu De. chat.Deng Baoshan sometimes sighed for the current situation, and sometimes applauded Mao Zedong's great wisdom and bravery.Before leaving, he still held Mao Zedong's hand reluctantly. During the meeting, Chiang Kai-shek once asked Deng Baoshan his views on the current domestic situation.Deng Baoshan straightened her chest, and said plausibly: "I would like to support the leader as Washington, but not Napoleon." Chiang Kai-shek was taken aback, but Deng Baoshan did not expect such an answer.He didn't say anything at the time, but he already felt that there was an emotional distance between Deng Baoshan and himself.Coincidentally, as soon as the Second Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee ended, Deng Baoshan took a sick leave and ran back to her hometown Sanyuan, Shaanxi to recuperate.Chiang Kai-shek was overjoyed, and while persuading Deng Baoshan to return to Yulin as soon as possible, he secretly ordered Hu Zongnan to choose a capable and reliable person to go to Yulin to preside over the overall situation.Hu Zongnan also felt that Deng Baoshan was unreliable for a long time, and immediately sent his confidant Dong Zhao to Yulin, where he was given the title of deputy commander-in-chief, and Deng Baoshan was still the commander-in-chief. At that time, the number two person in Yulin was Zuo Shiyun, commander of the 22nd Army. After Gao Shuangcheng died of illness in 1944, he took over Gao Shuangcheng's post.He is meticulous in his work and loyal to Deng Baoshan.Zuo Shiyun and Dong Zhao are from the same hometown. Logically, Zuo Shiyun should work well with Dong Zhao and conspire with the party and the country—this is also an important reason why Chiang Kai-shek and Hu Zongnan chose Dong Zhao to go to Yulin.However, the Yulin garrison had a strong feudal local concept. From Zuo Shiyun down, they were polite to Dong Zhao's arrival on the surface, but in private they formed a united front of "rejecting Dong".In the past few months, apart from seeing a few fortifications, Dong Zhao did nothing else, and he couldn't say a word about the military aircraft.Dong Zhao felt more and more boring, so he might as well continue to be the commander of his whole army.In order to escape, he told Hu Zongnan that according to his brother's observations over the past few months, Deng Baoshan must be in charge of the Yulin military. In the past few months, Deng Baoshan, who returned home from illness, was also uncomfortable. The place that haunted her day and night was Yulin, the mountains there, the water there, the ancient Great Wall there, and the people there. Can't let go.The ten years of feelings in Yulin hit his heart violently like a flood that opened the gate.Only at this time did he realize that he had formed a bond of life and death with Yulin. Under Chiang Kai-shek's urging again, Deng Baoshan went to Yulin again. On the day he arrived in Yulin, all the soldiers and civilians in Yulin city beat their waist drums and tied big red flowers, and lined the road to welcome him.Deng Baoshan was completely moved, sitting in the jeep with ups and downs, unable to calm down. Chiang Kai-shek asked Deng Baoshan to continue to work in Yulin because of Deng's prestige in Yulin, not out of trust in Deng.If it fails to send someone to replace Deng Baoshan, the only option is to put nails on Deng Baoshan.When Hu Zongnan aggressively attacked Yan'an in March 1947, Chiang Kai-shek instructed Hu Zongnan to airlift more than 6,000 people from the reorganized 28th Brigade to Yulin on the grounds of strengthening Yulin's defense. Hu Zongnan also sent a senior staff officer surnamed Cai to Yulin. Strengthen liaison.Yulin, which has lived relatively peacefully for many years, suddenly became full of gunpowder.Not only the common people are not used to it, even Deng Baoshan and her subordinates are not used to it. Xu Bao, commander of the reorganized 28th brigade, and this staff officer Cai are absolutely loyal to Hu Zongnan.Hu sent the two of them to Yulin, one to contact Yulin to jointly suppress the Communist Party, and the other to strengthen control over Yulin.From then on, Deng Baoshan felt extremely uncomfortable.At that time, he made two plans. One was that he would leave Yulin as soon as he had the opportunity. This place of right and wrong is no longer what it used to be; These are Deng Baoshan's two plans.He also thought about the uprising. At that time, there were many Kuomintang generals who surrendered to the Communist Party.But at this time, Deng Baoshan did not have enough courage and confidence to do this. When Peng Dehuai led the Northwest Field Troops to gallop across northern Shaanxi and beat Hu Zongnan, Ma Hongkui, and Ma Bufang to the point of pain, Deng Baoshan was also paying close attention to Peng Dehuai's actions.Although he sent troops to cooperate with Hu Zongnan to attack the northwest field troops, those actions were all symbolic and had no real effect. No matter in terms of feelings or beliefs, Deng Baoshan is unwilling to be an enemy of the Communist Party, let alone meet the People's Liberation Army.With the salary of the Kuomintang and the job of the Kuomintang, he had no choice but to cooperate with Hu Zongnan in taking actions.He also believed that based on his friendship with the Communist Party, the Communist Party would not really take action against him. But in the eyes of the Communist Party, Deng Baoshan is Deng Baoshan, not equal to the Yulin defenders.There are more than 10,000 Yulin defenders, guarding the throat of the northern part of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, so that the Northwest Field Forces are always threatened by the enemy.For such a stronghold, of course, it is necessary to pull it out quickly. On July 30th, the scorching sun was in the sky, the sun was pouring down, and it was as hot as a fire.There is a saying that "Practice on three days in winter and three days in summer." The main force of the Northwest Field Force set off under the scorching sun in this dog days with light clothes-advancing along the Dali and Xiaoli Rivers towards Yulin.The next day, the Military Commission called and decided to form the front committee of the Northwest Field Force with Peng Dehuai, Xi Zhongxun, Zhang Zongxun, Wang Zhen, and Liu Jingfan. political commissar. Peng Dehuai and Zhang Wenzhou each rode a tall horse and marched in the middle of the team.At the Xiaohe meeting, it was decided that the Shanxi-Sui Military Region would return to the Shan-Gan-Ning-Jin-Sui joint defense system, with He Long as the commander and Xi Zhongxun as the political commissar.After the meeting, Xi Zhongxun and He Long went to Shanxi to work in the rear of the organization. Peng Dehuai made up his mind to take Yulin, so that he could get sufficient supplies and ammunition.He said: "The soldiers only brought rations for six days. We must finish the battle in Yulin within a week. Once Yulin is captured, food, ammunition, medicine, and the source of soldiers will not be a problem." It was too hot, and I was sweating profusely while sitting on the horse.Zhang Wenzhou wiped off his sweat: "Yes. Yulin is comparable to the second Panlong. The central government's decision that Chen Xie would attack the west of Henan is completely correct. If he crosses the Yellow River to the west, the rations of tens of thousands of people cannot be solved at all. Our logistics commander Liu Jingfan is so worried!" Peng Dehuai said with deep emotion: "The third column of Xu Guangda and Sun Zhiyuan of the Shanxi-Sui Military Region will soon cross the Yellow River to northern Shaanxi. As a result, the pressure on food will be even greater. This time, the Military Commission decided to congratulate the old President to lead the local armed forces and logistics in Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Shanxi-Sui Work, we have a reliable rear. Southwest Shanxi is a rich place. When I went to Xiaohe Village for a meeting, Chen Geng's mules were full, full of mung beans, fungus, rice, good stuff. I I ran over in the mud with political commissar Xi, empty-handed, and ate and drank for free for a few days, how embarrassing!" While the two were talking, the topic turned to Deng Baoshan again.Zhang Wenzhou said: "Our army will go north and suddenly besiege Yulin. I'm afraid Deng Baoshan is not ready yet!" "It's good if you're not ready! We treated him well. During the Anti-Japanese War, he blocked us. When we started the mass production movement, we even gave him food. What have he done in the past few months? Chiang Kai-shek asked him to He did whatever he wanted to do, and even sent troops south to attack us. The central government was so dangerous in Wangjiawan that day. If Deng Baoshan’s bastards really ran into him, what do you think? The chairman said that Deng Baoshan can fight for it, and I think he can fight for it. But he is a bit indecisive. I guess his current mentality is to stick to the status quo, and neither the KMT nor the Communist Party will offend. Chiang Kai-shek’s order, deal with it; the Communist Party does not confront it head-on. There must be a difference between us and the enemy. He is sitting in Yulin, and I am not happy at all. This time I have to beat him, whether it is war or peace, there must be an explanation." For Deng Baoshan, Peng Dehuai had an indescribable feeling.When Xi Zhongxun sent people to contact Cao Youshen, commander of the New 11th Brigade, and Hu Jingduo, deputy commander of the Kuomintang's Northern Shaanxi Security Headquarters, he also tested Deng Baoshan's attitude.But Deng Baoshan always pretended to be stupid, not humming or haha.Xi Zhongxun once told Peng Dehuai that Deng Baoshan had feelings for the Communist Party, but he couldn't make up his mind to completely abandon the Kuomintang, and his attitude was rather hesitant.If you want him to lead an uprising, you must beat him a few times, and beat him badly.If you don't hurt him and don't let him get into trouble, he will maintain the status quo, prefer Yulin, and live his leisurely life. Deng Baoshan immediately got the information that the Northwest Field Army went northward along Dali and Xiaoli.Zuo Shiyun ran over sweating profusely: "Commander-in-Chief, Peng Dehuai led 7 brigades and tens of thousands of people came over aggressively. The people who came here are not good!" Deng Baoshan waved her cattail fan and said unhurriedly: "Does the Communist Party need such a large force to attack Yulin? They really want to attack Yulin, but they don't necessarily have to use force! Don't be so flustered, I think the Communist army is 'drunk' Weng's intention is not in wine'!" "Drunkards don't mean to drink alcohol?" Zuo Shiyun was a little confused, "What is it about?" "Mobilize Hu Zongnan's main force to go north!" Deng Baoshan turned her head and said with a slight smile: "This has two purposes. One is that after Hu Zongnan's main force started to move, Peng Dehuai began to play the trick of 'siege the city and fight for aid' to find the right opportunity to eat Hu Zongnan." One or several; the second is to contain Hu Zongnan's main force in northern Shaanxi to coordinate with other battlefield operations. You didn't notice that Chen Geng and Xie Fuzhi's troops in southwestern Shanxi are taking a rest, and it is estimated that there will be big moves." Deng Baoshan is scheming and has a clear view of the combat intentions of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and Peng Dehuai.Zuo Shiyun was quite surprised by his analysis.But Deng Baoshan underestimated the determination of the Northwest Field Army to attack Yulin.He didn't believe that the People's Liberation Army would really attack Yulin. In his opinion, based on his friendship with the border area, the People's Liberation Army had to notify them first if they wanted to attack Yulin. Peng Dehuai led the Northwest Field Army all the way to Yulin.The battle sequence at that time was: the second column, the new 4th brigade, and the teaching brigade Zhenchuanbao first attacked the outer strongholds such as Yuhebao, Guidebao, Sanchawan, Zhaozhuang, etc., and strived to wipe out the enemy outside the city. The second column surrounded the north and northwest of the city, the new 4th brigade surrounded the southeast of the city, and the teaching brigade was a mobile force; the 4th and 6th regiments of the Suide Army Division were under the command of one column, surrounded the enemies of Xiangshuibao, and covered the main force of the first column. Wujiapo crossed the Wuding River in the north, and after annihilating the enemy in Sancha Bay, surrounded the south and southwest of the city; the third column of the Shanxi-Sui Military Region (commander Xu Guangda, political commissar Sun Zhiyuan), the independent 5th brigade (brigade commander Li Fuke, political commissar) Commissar Wang Chijun) attacked the enemies of Liuqianhe and Qingyunshan from Shajiadian in the northeast of Mizhi via Xingshuta and Yinjiangmao. Wanhuyu attacked the enemies of Gaojiabao and Qiaochatan, and surrounded the east of the city. Xiangshui Fort, Poluo Fort, Guide Fort, Yuhe Fort, Kangjiawan and other places were all occupied by the Kuomintang Yulin troops when they went south in April.Because the field army was busy dealing with Hu Zongnan and ignored this matter, the Yulin troops still have a small number of troops stationed in these places. The Northwest Field Army played triumphant songs all the way, sweeping away those small towns like a gust of wind, and the troops from all walks of life approached Yulin City. At this time, Deng Baoshan was still entertaining in his Taolin Villa, and when he heard the report, he couldn't help shivering.He believed that the People's Liberation Army was indeed going to attack Yulin. Deng Baoshan's deployment to defend Yulin was as swift as that of the field army's advance to Yulin.He withdrew all the troops from the outer strongholds to Yulin City, determined to stick to Yulin City. The bravery and tenacity of the Northwest Field Army has long been known.The Kuomintang defenders in various strongholds on the outskirts of Yulin scrambled to retreat to Yulin, fearing that they would be caught and captured by the People's Liberation Army if they moved too slowly.For a while, the various roads connecting Yulin were full of Kuomintang soldiers who were in a state of embarrassment. Peng Dehuai ordered the troops to advance faster, otherwise the plan to wipe out the enemy outside the city would fail, and only a few empty cities would be obtained by then. Wang Zhen and Wang Enmao led Er Zong to the front, chasing after the retreating Kuomintang army.On the highway in Sanchawan, a battalion and a batch of luggage of Xu Bao's 82nd Regiment of the Kuomintang were intercepted.Then, Xu Guangda and Sun Zhiyuan crossed the Yellow River with three verticals, attacking the city and looting land all the way, after taking down Gaojiabao and Qiaochatan, they went straight to the city of Yulin. Deng Baoshan set up Yulin's first line of defense at Sancha Bay.After the Second Column wiped out Xu Bao's battalion, the 2nd Regiment of the New 11th Brigade of the Sanchawan garrison and the 2nd Battalion of Xu Bao's 82nd Regiment felt that the situation was not good.Hurry up and report to Deng Baoshan that the People's Liberation Army is coming fiercely, and there may be accidents.Zuo Shiyun suggested to Deng Baoshan: "It's better to just withdraw all of them. There are many groups standing outside alone, weak and weak." Deng Baoshan thought for a moment and gave the order to retreat. It's too late, but it's fast.He Bingyan and Liao Hansheng rushed up like a gust of wind with Yi Zong, and together with Er Zong they flanked Sancha Bay from left to right.In less than 3 hours, the enemy of Sancha Bay was resolved.Zhou Xiaowu, head of the 2nd Regiment of the 11th Brigade of the Kuomintang, was injured and captured. Xiao Bingnan, commander of the 1st Battalion, and Wei Changlin, commander of the 2nd Battalion, were killed. Deng Baoshan retreated from Taolin Villa to the city in a panic.He was in a bad mood, with a sullen face and veins on his forehead.Zhou Xiaowu, Xiao Bingnan, Wei Changlin, and Zhang Tiqing were all children from his hometown that he brought out to fight against Japan. They lived and died with him for many years. . The Battle of Sancha Bay made Deng Baoshan very sad, and it also made Deng Baoshan determined to defend Yulin.That afternoon, in a Christian church, he rearranged the city's defense force and divided the whole city of Yulin into four defense areas: east, west, south, and north. Yin, Xu Bao, commander of the 28th Brigade, and Zhang Yunqu, deputy commander of the 86th Division, served as commanders respectively.Deng Baoshan made a powerful pre-war mobilization, ordering his subordinates to stick to their positions and not to be negligent.He also called the magistrate of Yulin County and asked him to mobilize the masses and organize stretcher teams, ambulance teams, and transportation teams. He wanted to fight a people's war like the People's Liberation Army. After the Sanchawan battle, all units of our field army had been deployed to the designated assembly positions in advance, and the whole city of Yulin was tightly surrounded.Peng Dehuai took the staff of the headquarters to make a big circle around Yulin, and decided to choose the Lingxiao Tower highland at the south gate of Yulin as the main target.The terrain here is high, and it is the only commanding height outside Yulin City. After breaking through the high ground of Lingxiao Tower, the task of siege is only half completed. It was Deng Baoshan's intentional arrangement to put Xu Bao, the commander of the 28th brigade, in this first position, but Xu Bao was very happy.Handing over the Ling Xiao Tower to him shows that Deng Baoshan still trusted him at the critical moment, and it also proves that the 28th Brigade played a pivotal role in the Battle of Yulin.He needs to make a good use of it, so as to reflect the difference between the central lineage and the local miscellaneous brands. On the evening of August 6, when I returned to the brigade headquarters, I called several regimental leaders to the front, patted their chests and spoke out, repeatedly urging not to disgrace the direct line of the Central Committee. All the preparations for the siege of the city were done, but on the evening of the 6th, there was a sudden gust of wind and heavy rain poured down in an instant. The entire city of Yulin seemed to have been hit by a major flood.Peng Dehuai stayed up all night in the headquarters, his face was covered with dark clouds like the weather.Originally, Deng Baoshan could take Yulin City in one fell swoop while Deng Baoshan's shrinking forces were not stable, but now the heavy rain gave Deng Baoshan a chance to breathe. At dawn on the 7th, it rained all night and reluctantly stopped.The entire Loess Plateau has been washed clean, and the morning breeze is blowing, and there is still a hint of coolness.The weather is not so hot, the air is not so dusty, and Yulin City looks fresh and eye-catching under the sunshine.Peng Dehuai walked out of the house to take a breath of fresh air, and the fatigue from a sleepless night was swept away.The various units of our army continued to attack on the muddy road.At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the 715th Regiment of the 358th Brigade advanced step by step and took down the airport in one fell swoop, cutting off the air traffic line between Yulin and the outside world. Deng Baoshan felt more and more critical.At first he judged that Peng Dehuai didn't really want to attack Yulin, but now that the People's Liberation Army is approaching the city, the cruel reality can no longer be avoided.He hastened to send a telegram from Yulin to Chiang Kai-shek and Hu Zongnan, hoping that the army would come to help them starry night. Hu Zongnan didn't react too much, but Chiang Kai-shek immediately flew to Yan'an in a panic. Taking Yan'an has been Chiang Kai-shek's long-cherished wish for many years, and it is also his wish to come to Yan'an to see what this "capital of red bandits" looks like. Chiang Kai-shek's arrival in Yan'an shifted Hu Zongnan's attention from the battlefield in northern Shaanxi to welcome him.He hurriedly organized a huge welcome team for emergency training, and airlifted the best living facilities and delicious food from Xi'an. Although Yulin was in a hurry, he sat quietly and waited for the arrival of Chairman Jiang. Chiang Kai-shek came, with Wang Shuming, deputy commander of the Air Force, and Luo Zekai, director of the Ministry of National Defense.Hu Zongnan's welcome ceremony was extremely grand, but at such a critical juncture, Chiang Kai-shek did not show any special favor for this play.He was in such a hurry that he didn't even have time to visit the cave dwellings where Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and Zhou Enlai lived before a military meeting was held. Yulin was in a hurry, but Chiang Kai-shek did not follow Peng Dehuai's plan.His overall combat policy is: taking advantage of the opportunity when the main force of the People's Liberation Army is stalemate on the outskirts of Yulin, Hu's troops quickly go north, invade and occupy counties and strategic points in northern Shaanxi, and strive to find opportunities for a decisive battle with the main force of the Communist Army. Chiang Kai-shek wanted to take advantage of the passivity of Yulin being besieged to change the initiative of the Hu tribe to attack the city and land. It was the rainy season, it was raining heavily, and the roads were muddy.It is possible for hundreds of thousands of troops to go north, but how to solve the supply?Ever since he lost Beaulieu, Hu Zongnan always felt unable to move forward. A "leader" is a "leader" after all, and he always acts swiftly and resolutely in solving problems, and says what he says.Chiang Kai-shek pointed to Wang Shuming and said: "The transport planes are concentrated at Xi'an Airport, and supplies are dropped by air!" One sentence solved Hu Zongnan's big problem.In the past, when the 3rd Military Region of the Air Force was required to dispatch aircraft to cooperate in operations, all of them were lazy, and sometimes they were obedient.It's different now. With one word from Lao Jiang, he gave himself many phone calls that seemed to be begging. At night on the 7th, Peng Dehuai ordered a full-scale attack on Yulin City.All of a sudden, guns were rumbling all around Yulin City, and the flames were soaring into the sky. The sound of guns and guns and shouts of killing were mixed together, which completely broke the tranquility and freshness of Yulin after the rain. The field army's main attack direction is the Lingxiao Tower position in the south city. This is the commanding height of the whole city of Yulin, and it is also the gateway to enter and exit Yulin. If you take the Lingxiao Tower position, you will be half successful in capturing Yulin.Therefore, in Lingxiao Tower, whether it is the 716th Regiment of the 358th Brigade of our army and the 2nd Regiment of the Independent 1st Brigade as the attacking side, or the 3rd Battalion of the 82nd Regiment of the Xubao 28th Brigade of the Kuomintang Army as the defender, they all worked hard and used their strength. Do your best to fight this offensive and defensive battle. The battle is fierce and brutal. The soldiers of the 716th Regiment of the 358th Brigade and the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Independent Brigade have long put their life and death at risk. They have only one belief: to take down the Lingxiao Tower, and there is great hope for solving Yulin City.The Lingxiao Tower is also extremely tenacious in defending the enemy, with a battalion resisting opponents several times its size.The fierce battle lasted for two hours, and the defending enemy gradually retreated due to weak troops.The battalion commander Gu Suidong kept calling for help to the brigade commander Xu Bao, but at this time Xu Bao was also in a state of desperation. The southern city he was in charge of defending was being attacked by the People's Liberation Army everywhere, so how could there be reinforcements?In the end, the conflict had to be concentrated on Deng Baoshan.At this time, the position of Guanjing Temple in Beiguan was shrinking, and Dongyue Temple outside the east gate had been occupied by the People's Liberation Army. The emergency mobile troops in hand had already been overwhelmed, including the health team and signal soldiers, but they still felt that there were not enough troops.Deng Baoshan had no choice but to order "stand still and wait for help".He believed that since Chiang Kai-shek had already arrived in Yan'an, he would never sit back and watch Yulin. Chiang Kai-shek and Hu Zongnan are having secret talks, and we don't know the content of the secret talks.The next day, the Zhong Song Department of the Kuomintang stopped its pursuit of the 6th Cavalry Division of the People's Liberation Army, and led his reorganized 36th Division on the muddy road, secretly marching towards Yulin from the direction of Xihuachi—this should be The result of the talks between Jiang and Hu Mi. Deng Baoshan was in a hurry in the headquarters, and suddenly received a report of the fall of Xu Bao Lingxiao Tower: the 3rd Battalion was completely wiped out, and the battalion commander Gu Suidong was killed.Deng Baoshan sighed a long time, jumped up from the kang with a gloomy face, rushed out of the headquarters, got into a jeep and went straight to Nancheng. The status of Lingxiao Tower is really too important!Its high and dangerous terrain just happens to block the south gate of Yulin tightly.阵地上筑了许多防御工事，易守，却不好攻。当时凌霄塔不仅是一个战场上的防御阵地，还是众多榆林官兵心理上的一个防御阵地！凌霄塔在，就说明榆林城还是安全的。如果凌霄塔不在了，那么榆林城就可以称得上大势已去。邓宝珊心里明白，那时官兵们仍然奋力抵抗，很大程度上都是因为凌霄塔还在。现在解放军占了凌霄塔，不仅从阵地上动摇了榆林的防御体系，还从心理上动摇了榆林的防御斗志。无论如何，凌霄塔必须夺回！ 徐保早没了以往的神气劲，灰头土脸地耷拉着脑袋，像是等着邓宝珊的发落。他知道凌霄塔对于榆林的意义有多大。邓宝珊把凌霄塔交给他，是委以重任。而现在凌霄塔被自己丢了，作为总司令的邓宝珊是有权处理他的。他开始庆幸自己幸亏没向胡宗南打过邓宝珊的什么小报告，不然的话，今天死定了。 邓宝珊怒气冲天闯到了徐保面前，不由分说就骂开了：“徐保，你给老子听着！凌霄塔的重要性你是知道的。老子把它交给你，你却给老子搞丢了。你必须给老子夺回来，夺不回来，老子非找你算帐！”邓宝珊一向温文尔雅，今天一急，不禁把徐保破口大骂了一通。 徐保眼都不敢抬，两条腿像筛糠似地颤得厉害。待邓宝珊气嘟嘟地走后，徐保马上组织兵力直扑凌霄塔阵地。 彭德怀一直密切关注着前线战况，自6日战斗打响，他几乎就没合过眼。这是他第一次与邓宝珊正面交锋，没想到邓宝珊那万把人还那么经打，野战军虽然夺得了榆林城外围一些小阵地，但城墙怎么都突不破。凌霄塔阵地一度攻占，但那个不要命的徐保自己挥着大刀督阵，硬是把凌霄塔又夺回去了。西城的小西门也曾一度被突破，但对方炮火太猛烈，冲锋了好几次都没能冲进去。第二次爆破，又因为地形不熟、药量不够而没能成功。看来还真不能看轻了邓宝珊，他的部队还是有一定战斗力的。 邓宝珊虽然着急，但守住榆林的把握已经比较大了。一方面凌霄塔又重新掌握在自己的手里，另一方面其他防线基本能与解放军打个平手，更重要的是，钟松带着整编第36师的第123旅、165旅正由东华池沿长城星夜驰来。 彭德怀已非常清楚，攻下榆林已不大可能，在此情况下，唯有“围城打援”一计可施。彭德怀及时调整了战役目标：决定把我军分成两部，一部继续攻击榆林，吸引钟松部快速运动，另一部于有利地形设伏，准备打援。 钟松鬼头鬼脑，生怕中了彭德怀的埋伏，再次成为解放军“围城打援”战术的牺牲品，竟不惜带着部队绕进一片荒无人烟的沙漠地带，避开了我军的设伏圈，于12日早上赶到了榆林城。 无可奈何，彭德怀下达了撤退令。第二纵队向长乐堡转移，主力向榆林东南地区集结，待机歼敌。 从榆林外围撤退后，彭德怀正在搞榆林战役的总结，他对各纵旅首长说：“这一仗我们俘敌3，200余人，毙敌2，000余人，收复和解放了横山、响水堡、鱼河堡、归德堡、高家堡等城镇和地区。榆林城虽未能攻克，但调动胡宗南主力北上、配合晋冀鲁豫纵队南下的目的达到了。所以榆林一仗仍然是一个胜仗。胡宗南现在派他的整1军、整29军气势汹汹扑过来，又要找我们的主力决战，我看，战机又要来了。” 钟松带着部队进了榆林城。他现在是援榆功臣，邓宝珊待他更是不薄，一边向蒋介石为他请功，一面又是好酒好肉地招待。12日晚，邓宝珊为钟松搞的那个丰盛的招待晚宴，把钟松连日来的疲乏打扫得一干二净。邓宝珊喝红了眼，钟松也喝红了眼，推杯把盏中兄弟相称，气氛甚为融洽。但胡宗南像是存心不让钟松过舒服日子似的，他明明知道晚上八九点钟的时候邓宝珊肯定在宴请钟松，他却偏偏在这个时候发了一封急电，令钟松带部队火速南下，到绥德与刘戡会合。 钟松解榆林之围后南下与董、刘会合，是蒋介石来延安之时就设计好了的。蒋介石告诉胡宗南，陕北战场不要再稳打稳扎了，要急推猛进。钟松神不知鬼不觉突然出现在榆林周围，然后再急速南下，与大摇大摆北上的董、刘会合，要一举歼敌于榆林周围地区，或者压迫解放军过黄河。 但胡宗南的胃口比蒋介石还大，他不仅要找西北野战军决战，还要捉住中共中央首脑机关。上次刘戡带两个师出去转了一大圈无功而返，他十分不满意。这次蒋介石亲临延安下达任务，他发过誓一定要拿出点战绩来的。 中共中央机关是在董钊、刘戡两军北上后，于8月1日离开小河村的，他们沿着大理河东进，向野战军主力靠近，这时中央纵队代号由“三支队”改为“九支队”，周恩来兼任司令员和政治委员。13日这天，“九支队”通过无定河大桥，进入了黄河与无定之间的南北长约三四十公里、东西宽约五六十公里的夹道区域。在这里，中央纵队面临着第二次危机。南有刘戡7个旅之众的追兵，北有钟松的两个旅前来围堵，又处浩瀚的沙漠地带，东为滚滚黄河，西有水势日益看涨的无定河。如果南北两敌会合，向东封锁黄河渡口，并控制无定河、米脂、佳县一线，中共中央机关和西北野战军将被挤在佳县、米脂、榆林三县间南北十五公里、东西二三十公里的狭小地区，这样将处于回旋余地几乎等于零的困难处境。 彭德怀审时度势，他心里明白，要解己之围，唯有集中力量歼灭钟松，但“九支队”800人马又不能不保护——这可是事关全国战局的大事。彭德怀决定赶紧开前委会议，在这样的重要关头要用集体智慧来应付局面。会上几乎没有争议，一致认为保卫党中央的安全是当务之急。彭德怀权衡了好长时间，决定把这个任务交给三纵。 许光达接到南下接应中央机关的电令时，既激动又感责任重大。刚刚从山西大后方赶来，就直接参加围榆战斗，围榆结束，又去保卫党中央毛主席。在山西时，只是与阎锡山、胡宗南的小股部队打一打而已，但一来陕北，就遇上了保卫党中央保卫毛主席这么重大的任务。他想起了临行前贺老总的交待：“陕北战场敌情严重，战况瞬息万变，一定要听从彭老总的调度。如果你们不听从指挥，不服从安排，就说明贺龙带的部队有问题了！”许光达回想着这些，扭过头对政委孙志远说：“老孙啊，咱们这次把命豁出去也要完成任务啊！” 钟松气势汹汹，带着部队朝南一路扑来。自进入陕北以来，他带着整36师走南闯北，从无定河到三边，从西兰路到古长城，陕北的每个角落都到过，有的地方还到过两三趟。军事会议上分析起陕北的地形来，他钟松最有发言权了。 刚刚解了榆林之围，钟松嚣张得不得了，一心想继解榆林之围后再立个大功。他把第123旅放在最前面，作为师的前卫部队。14日，123旅出发不久，就在归德堡碰到了解放军的抵抗。但胶着了一会儿，解放军突然朝南一路逃去。旅长刘子奇满腹狐疑，“难道共军引诱我急速南进？”他不敢贸然出动，把情况报告给了钟松，钟松也变得谨小慎微起来。他拉着队伍在陕北转了这么多圈，又有青化砭、羊马河的前车之鉴，现在应该小心为上。他原计划是走无定河东岸沿绥榆公路南下的，怕遭埋伏，现在也不走这条大路了，全师改无定河西岸南进，一路上果然平安无事。 彭德怀早就判断到了钟松的行军路线，把三纵派去南下接应中央机关后，就把余下的主力部队全部布置在沙家店，另派小部分部队与钟松保持接触，把他吸引到沙家店来予以消灭。 8月18日这天，董、刘两军逐步靠紧，向中央纵队直逼过来。中央纵队正在黄河汊道葭芦河边上，情况万分危急。 毛泽东骑在马上，神情凝重地思考着。根据侦察员的报告，敌人正一步步紧逼过来，中央纵队目前的处境很不让人乐观，弄不好真有可能让敌人“包了饺子”。他曾经说过，不打败胡宗南绝不过黄河。毛泽东向警卫员要了一根烟，狠狠地抽了一口，他将余下的烟往地下一扔，眼里闪烁着坚毅的光，他勒住缰绳，说了一句：“我们回去！”大队人马静静地跟在毛泽东的后面，沿着葭芦河向黄河相反的方向翻山而去…… 中央机关刚走，刘戡就到了葭芦河边。河水滔滔，汹涌澎湃。刘戡怎么也想不到，毛泽东没有过黄河，而是朝相反的方向去了。他报告了胡宗南，胡宗南命令，迅速寻找解放军主力决战。 彭德怀把队伍安在沙家店附近有一天多了，他相信，钟松一定会来的！ 18日，也就是毛泽东在葭芦河脱险的时候，钟松带着整36师师部和第165旅由镇川堡到了沙家店。这时他的部队分为两个梯队：123旅（附165旅493团）为前梯队，由镇川堡向乌龙铺方向推进；他率师部和第165旅为后梯队，在沙家店以西地区跟进，准备在乌龙铺与董、刘两军会合。 彭德怀站在一处高高的山头上，向各部队首长下达了围攻沙家店之敌的命令。 一纵、二纵以及教导旅迅速出动，把钟松围在了沙家店附近地区。 钟松刚与前面的刘子奇联系上，准备出发到乌龙镇，这突如其来的变故令他手足无措。时至深夜子时，大雨滂沱，雷电交加。西北野战军步步向前，而钟松则在泥水坑里打转转。他赶紧命令刘子奇率整123旅来援。刘子奇在乌龙埔，距沙家店仅30多公里，但中间隔着几道山梁，夜色一片漆黑，险象环生，刘子奇不敢贸然出动。一直到第二日6时，天亮了雨也停了才带着队伍向沙家店赶来。 沙家店周围的有利地形已被解放军占领，钟松只抢占了几座无足轻重的山头，劣势已非常明显地显现出来了。 胡宗南得到钟松被围的消息，立即电令刘戡急速驰援。刘戡刚刚追中央纵队到黄河边上，现在又要掉头翻山越岭赶到沙家店，心里极不痛快。但自从进入陕北以来，他一直在挨骂，特别是羊马河一仗，他甚至被胡宗南指着鼻子骂了一顿。怒归怒，命令是必须执行的。但带着队伍快到沙家店时，又遇到了解放军的阻击部队，组织了几次冲锋，也未能通过。 毛泽东和中央纵队已经安全转移到了米脂县的梁家岔。沙家店战斗最激烈的时候，毛泽东接连抽烟，茶饭不思。他对周恩来说：“恩来，这一仗生死攸关啊！打得好，我们转危为安，不走了；打不好，我们就往西走，出长城，进沙漠。” 20日晚8时，终于传来了我军全歼整36师的捷报。 毛泽东兴奋异常，在窑洞里大声喊道：“打了这一仗，我们就过坳了！拿酒来！” 沙家店一仗，全歼敌整36师师部和123旅、165旅6，000余人，俘123旅少将旅长刘子奇和少将参谋长罗秋佩。师长钟松和165旅旅长李日基逃走了。 刘子奇被送到了后方，在那里他见到了先前被我军俘虏的前167旅旅长李昆岗，31旅旅长李纪云，135旅代旅长麦宗禹，123旅36团副团长何干林，31旅副旅长周贵昌、参谋长熊宗继，92团团长谢养成等国民党团以上军官。