Chapter 3 Chapter 03

Luo Lirong, who was suddenly attacked in Qingfengdian, had no sign of the reinforcements he was looking forward to?It wasn't his master who prevaricated him, reinforcements were indeed sent out, and 5 divisions were dispatched at once, led by Li Wen.They had already entered the Xushui area north of Baoding, and the Kuomintang soldiers were standing on trucks, one after the other, just waiting to fly to Qingfengdian immediately after breaking through.But even if they couldn't move forward by one step, Sun Lianzhong, the director of the Baoding Appeasement Office, personally flew a plane to supervise the battle over Xushui, and still couldn't move forward.

While the battle at Qingfengdian was raging, there was also a raging battle north of Baoding. It was this battle in Baobei that blocked Luo Lirong's desperate reinforcements. If the reinforcements from the five divisions in the truck were not blocked and arrived at Qingfengdian, then Luo Lirong, not the People's Liberation Army, would definitely win. In other words, preventing the enemy from aiding the South is the key to determining the victory of Qingfengdian. This is a daunting task that is difficult to accomplish but must be accomplished. On the evening of October 17th, the field division ordered Chen Zhengxiang, the commander of the second column, Xiang Zhonghua, the political commissar, Han Wei, the chief of staff, and Zheng Weishan, the commander of the third column, to stay and continue to block the enemy in Baobei. Lead the south to move to Qingfengdian.It is required that the troops blocking the attack in Baobei regard the victory of Baonan as a victory, and within 4 days, do not allow the northern frontline enemy to cross Baoding.

At 10 a.m. the next day, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Field Army Command issued a combat deployment to contain the enemy in the north and annihilate the enemy in the south. 1. The 22nd Division of the enemy in the north is advancing towards Gucheng, and the 208th Regiment of the 94th Division is still in the north of the Qing Dynasty, and nothing has changed.The enemy in the south has seven divisions of three armies and sixty-six regiments, and marched north along the railway to Xinle. Today they can reach Dingxian County, and it is expected to fight in Wangdu and Fangshunqiao predetermined areas on the 19th.

2. Determine to contain the enemy in the north and annihilate the enemy in the south. 3. Deployment: The third column (nine brigades are missing), the second column (fourth and sixth brigades are missing), and the seventh brigade are still using their original positions (with necessary secret adjustments) to contain the enemy in the north, using all positions and villages as far-reaching layers Layer defense equipment, fight against enemies, and gain time (one hour and one minute are valuable).In case of being breached by the enemy, the second vertical protects the east and the third vertical protects the west to fight against it.If the enemy advances rapidly towards Baoding, they should rush to Yuzhuang south of Baoding and south of Daran in the north and south to build fortifications regardless of everything, and continue to firmly prevent the enemy from going south.The Second Vertical and Fourth Brigade advanced to Xugaozhuang, Banqiao Town and the area east of it at dawn at 19:00 today (18th) and rested for a few hours, then continued to go to the Wangli area west of Wenren to stand by. (Dao Bang) wipe out the enemy.In terms of combat deployment, Yesi also stipulated that the southern line was under the unified command of the Yesi, and the northern line, that is, the Baobei blockade, was under the unified command of the heads of the second vertical.

Nie Rongzhen believes that with the strength of 7 brigades plus local troops and militia, it is sure to wipe out the enemy in field battles, and the combat deployment formulated by the field army is also feasible.Everyone expressed no opinion.Liu Shaoqi raised a question: Do we need so many troops to stop the attack?Is it possible to use a brigade?He was considering that more troops would go to Qingfengdian, so that it would be more certain to eliminate Luo Lirong.Nie Rongzhen said: One trip is not enough.This is a plain area, not a mountain pass, and troops must be deployed everywhere, and defenses must be built in depth. In critical times, the enemy may come to encircle them.Moreover, the battle of Baobei is very critical. If the enemy's reinforcements can't be stopped here, if they join up with Luo Lirong's troops from Shijiazhuang, Qingfengdian will not be able to fight.Therefore, Baobei's troops are not too many, but not enough. It is not easy for them to block the enemy's reinforcements.Liu Shaoqi nodded in agreement.

Nie Rongzhen asked the troops marching into Qingfengdian to make a quick decision. He foresaw that Baobei would be very difficult.Later, when fighting Shijiazhuang, the Second Zong who participated in the Baobei blockade was specially arranged to fight outside Shijiazhuang because of too many casualties, because the enemy reinforcements did not dare to come out, fearing that there would be another Qingfengdian.Therefore, Erzong actually "rested and recuperated" once. With such a disparity in the strength of the enemy and ourselves, it is fine if one man guards the pass and ten thousand men cannot open it.

But there is a map of Pingchuan in the Baobei area. Once the enemy breaks through Baobei's position, not only will Luo Lirong's crisis be resolved immediately, but it will also form a flanking attack on the troops going south.Only by resolutely stopping the enemy who protects the north can we guarantee victory on the southern front. When he received the order, Chen Zhengxiang was organizing troops at the front and was preparing to attack Xushui City again. Suddenly, there was a 180-degree change, and he was both happy and worried.Finally, there is an opportunity for a big annihilation battle. Luo Lirong, who couldn't be transferred no matter how much he can't be transferred, will definitely not be able to escape this time.However, after the main force went south, there were only 4 brigades left in Baobei, while the reinforcements to the north were 5 divisions. In addition, there was a division of Liu Huanan in Baoding and two regiments of the New Second Army. Attack from behind.However, our army is in the disadvantaged situation of being attacked on both sides and fighting with its last stand.In addition, there is no danger to defend in the north and south of Xushui, which is extremely unfavorable for defensive warfare.In such a situation where the strength of the enemy and the enemy is relatively unfavorable on the battlefield, it is really difficult to persist for four days and four nights, or it is almost impossible.

Must be prepared for a bloody battle.Chen Zhengxiang immediately held a short meeting with Han Wei, deputy commander and chief of staff, and Xiang Zhonghua, director of the Political Department, to study and formulate the basic plan for defensive operations. , Jizhong Independence Seventh Brigade, relying on the original position, organizing defenses, and resolutely entangled the enemy.The Second Vertical and Fifth Brigade continued to attack Xushui, confuse the enemy, and cover the main force's attempt to go south. On the evening of the 19th, the Third Column and the Seventh Independent Brigade took advantage of the darkness to abandon the first defensive position and retreat to the south of Xushui to organize defense.The 2nd Vertical and 5th Brigade gave up the siege of Xushui and withdrew to the south of Xushui to act as a frontal block.In addition, the third battalion of the fifth brigade and the fifteenth regiment and the brigade direct reconnaissance company organized defenses south of Caohe to prevent the Baoding enemy from going north to meet them.At the same time, all participating troops are required to give full play to our army's strengths in close combat and night combat, and each department actively cooperates and supports each other so that the enemy has no gap to take advantage of and resolutely complete the blocking task.

After discussing the battle plan, Chen Zhengxiang exchanged views with Zheng Weishan, commander of the third column. Zheng Weishan discussed with political commissar Hu Yaobang how to deal with this fierce battle after the Fourth Column, the Second Column Six Brigade, and the Third Column Nine Brigade went south.Several plans were conceived, but they all felt that the troops were not enough.While reporting the blocking plan to the Yesi, he asked the Yesi to transfer back the 21st Regiment of the Seventh Brigade, which broke the roads and blocked the enemy in Zhuoxian County and Gaobeidian, to strengthen the defense force.Nosi immediately responded by telegram agreeing, and instructed that the enemy on the Xu-Gu Line seemed to be ready to attack our No. 1 and No. 2 positions, and the rest remained unchanged.In order to buy time to wipe out the Shijiazhuang northward enemy in the Baonan area, our deployment is basically unchanged except for the necessary adjustments of the various columns. The three columns are deployed far and deep to the southwest to build positions.If the enemy attacks us fiercely, we should fight resolutely, and it is not advisable to give up when it is not in danger.In case of failure, they will take turns to resist and retreat in the direction of Suicheng and Dawangdian.Use each village to fight and buy time.

The ministries remaining in Baobei immediately adjusted their deployment and repaired fortifications overnight. It was already late at night on the 17th. Chen Zhengxiang walked out of the shelter and stood on the embankment of Nanpu River to look out. I saw that artillery fire was still flying over Xushui City, and our army launched an attack on Xushui City again.The battle has lasted for seven days and seven nights, how much the troops need rest.But no, as soon as Xushuicheng's attack stops, the enemy will immediately discover our attempt to shift the main force of our army.And the next four days and four nights will be a more desperate struggle.

On the 21st, the Qingfengdian battle gradually became clear, and the general attack on Luo Lirong had already begun.The enemy is impatient, now it is not a matter of pinching from north to south, but to help Luo Lirong escape as soon as possible.Relying on Shijiazhuang is unreliable. Shijiazhuang only has one division and some miscellaneous troops, and the defense is still difficult, so they dare not come out at all. Only Baobei is the new force.Baobei's reinforcements have hundreds of vehicles, and it only takes a few hours to ride in a vehicle.But it was too late to even see a shadow. In the field army headquarters, everyone understands the pressure on Baobei.Yang Chengwu, the second political commissar, said that the comrades over there suffered a lot.Chief of Staff Geng Biao said, our side must be fast and race against time.Commander Yang Dezhi asked Qingfengdian to end the battle as soon as possible.At the same time, Baobei was notified of the battle situation in Qingfengdian in time.When Zeng Siyu, the commander of the four columns, was studying the general attack on the southwest, Commander Yang Dezhi called to ask, the troops in the southwest direction reported that the howitzers had hit their command post, and asked Zeng Siyu what was the situation in the north?Zeng Siyu said, I will report to you after I find out the situation.Zeng Siyu thought, the enemy in the north passed through our defense line yesterday, and they can reach Baoding at the fastest tonight. They can't come today, they can't be magic soldiers, right?I think it's better to be careful, and the attack will be made at dawn on the 22nd, so there should be no accidents during this period.He immediately dispatched the thirty-sixth regiment to quickly advance to the river bank east of Wangdu to make arrangements for unexpected situations.After investigation, it was our own Japanese-style howitzers fired from the artillery position at the northeast corner of the Southwest Heights that flew over the Southwest Heights and jumped to the southwest. After a false alarm, I was relieved. In Baobei, the soldiers put forward such a slogan: fight on, survive on, and survive the enemy is victory! Yang Dezhi said that the word "boil" shows the cruelty of the Baobei battle and the indomitable determination of the cadres and soldiers.In order to speed up the progress of the battle, Yesi decided to concentrate the superior forces of the five brigades to attack Luo Lirong's headquarters from four directions at the same time, and sent a small number of troops to prepare to block the possible reinforcements from the Baoding direction. In the early morning of the 22nd, the general offensive began. At around 10 am, the Qingfengdian battle ended. And until 10 o'clock in the morning on the 22nd, it is still very long, what kind of fierce battle will it be!Every soldier in Baobei's resistance understands that the southern line of annihilating the enemy and the northern line of blocking are two battlefields in one battle. Although the northern line is for containment, it is a more important direction.Only when the northern line is blocked can the southern line win. Originally 100% of the troops were fighting in Baobei, but now 3/5 have been withdrawn, leaving 2/5. At this time, the enemy did not decrease because of the reduction of our troops, but instead increased to 19 regiments, a full 12 regiments more than the first day's attack.The 94th Army, the 16th Army, and the 95th Independent Brigade under the command of Li Wen, commander-in-chief of the enemy's 34th Army Group, consisted of more than 10 regiments of 5 divisions, preparing to cross Xushui and go south to rescue Luo Lirong. At dawn on the 19th, the 43rd Division of the 94th Army of the enemy hurriedly began to attack.The pressure of the blocking force is self-evident. Zheng Weishan, the commander of the third column in Baobei, calculated such an account. Originally, the enemy had 13 infantry regiments, but we had 30 infantry regiments, twice as many as the enemy.From the evening of the 17th, 15 regiments of our army went south, and the next day, 3 regiments of the second vertical and fourth brigades went south.Now there are only 3 main brigades and one local brigade in Baobei, a total of 12 regiments.After the battle at Qingfengdian became fierce, in order to end it as soon as possible, Yesi transferred the third and seventh brigades to Qingfengdian.That is to say, in the end, only 9 regiments were blocking the attack in Baobei, and there were 3 local regiments among the 9 regiments.Zheng Weishan adjusted the deployment immediately after the fourth brigade went south (the second vertical fifth brigade and the independent seventh brigade were based on the original No. Based on the No. 2 positions on the front line of Yantai, Gaolin Village, Gaolinying, and Qilindian, all available terrain and features were used to make far-reaching defensive configurations. The enemy has already learned from aerial reconnaissance that most of the main forces of our army in Baobei Going south, knowing that they were going towards Luo Lirong, they intensified their offensive. At dawn on the 18th, before the Second Column and Fourth Brigade were withdrawn, the enemy's main direction of attack was the positions of the 23rd and 22nd Regiments. The troops of the 7 regiments rushed over under the guidance of the tanks. Although our various firearms, Molotov cocktails, anti-tank grenades, and cluster grenades fired intensively at the enemy, the enemy was like a red-eyed gambler, and the supervisor team brandished a saber In the battle, whoever backed up would be beheaded on the spot. More than 20 heads were cut off and thrown in front of the team. At 9:00 in the morning, more than 200 enemy soldiers broke into the 23rd Regiment's 3rd row of the 23rd Regiment under the cover of tanks The position is very dangerous. The 1st Company started hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. The battalion commanders rushed to the front line to command. The 23rd Regiment ordered the 2nd Battalion to help block the breakthrough. Fierce artillery fire blocked the follow-up enemy. An hour later, the intruders were eliminated and the position was consolidated. In the afternoon of the battle, Linzhuang and Liuzhuang in the second position were broken by the enemy, and retreated to Liangzhuang and Chenzhuang to continue to set up blocking positions. On the 19th, the 43rd Division of the Ninety-Fourth Army of the enemy launched an all-out attack on the positions of Gaolin Camp and Qilindian in the Third Column. Shells rained down on bunkers, bunkers, and trenches. Shoot at the enemy in the broken fortifications.On this day, because the heavy machine guns of the guards ran out of bullets and their firepower weakened, the enemy broke into the positions of the two battalions of the Independence Seventh Brigade.The fighters of the two battalions, surrounded by the enemy on all sides, turned into the village and competed with the enemy room by room.Chen Zhengxiang, the commander of the Second Column, called and asked if he could stand up?Xiao Xinhuai, the brigade commander of the 7th Independent Brigade, shouted loudly, our guarantors are on the ground, and we will never let the enemy open a gap from us.I'm going to organize a counterattack right away, please support us with some ammunition.Chen Zhengxiang immediately asked Deputy Chief of Staff Zhao Guanying to organize personnel to send a batch of ammunition to the 7th Brigade. It was hard to make it to another restful night. Although most of the defensive positions are still in our hands, some defensive positions have been occupied by the enemy.How will the battle be fought tomorrow?Chen Zhengxiang was thinking about it, and received a telegram from Ye Si, praising them for fighting well in the first two days, saying that our army going south had completed the siege of Luo Lirong and was tightening the encirclement.Ask them if they can last until the evening of the 21st?What's the problem?He also said that in order to preserve our vitality and resolutely prevent the enemy from going south, we can give up the first defensive area at will, turn to the south of Xushui, and carry out continuous resistance.Persevere for one more minute, and the victory in the south will be more guaranteed.Chen Zhengxiang immediately asked the chief of the confidential section to generate electricity for the field division, so that they could command the southern line with confidence. We immediately adjusted the deployment of the southern line to ensure that the aid enemy would not be allowed to cross the Caohe River at dusk on the 21st. The enemy on the northern front was attacked for two consecutive days. They finally entered Xushui at night, but they couldn't find their opponents.It was not until the morning of the 20th that I carefully came out from Xushui two ways.It was only when he found that the other party retreated again and again that he became more and more courageous until he went crazy. This is not so much a tough battle as it is a contest of will. A will of steel trumps tanks, planes, and cannons of steel. In front of the positions of the 3rd and 8th Brigades, the enemy was helpless, so they turned to the Beiying and Lucaowan positions of the 7th Brigade of the local army, and fought hand-to-hand combat.Zheng Weishan ordered the Eighth Brigade to support.The 12th Regiment, under the leadership of the head of the regiment, Xu Xin, occupied the preset position in the southeast of Hezhuang, and cooperated with friends and neighbors to carry out counterattacks from both wings, but the Lucaowan position was still broken by the enemy.At dusk, all three columns withdrew from the frontline positions.The Seventh Brigade moved from Yantai and Gaolin villages in the southwest of Gucheng to Zhangfeng and Renli in the west of Xushui.The Eighth Brigade moved to Shigezhuang and Shilipu in the southwest of Xushui, and joined the Fifth Brigade of the Second Column.The solitary seventh brigade moved to the south of Baoding in the area of ​​Nandaran, organized a new defense, and restrained the enemy's new second army stationed in Baoding, so that it could not go north to threaten the rear of the blocking troops, nor could it go south to rescue the besieged third army. military. After fighting for a few days, I also felt the pattern of the enemy. Like going to work, the attack usually starts around 8:00 in the morning. defense. On the night of the 19th, Zheng Weishan looked through the battle report of the day. He saw the casualty statistics of the Eighth Brigade, and thought to himself that the Eighth Brigade had too many casualties and was too tired after 10 consecutive days of fierce fighting.And the Seventh Brigade has been a reserve team for the past two days, and it has not been used much. Now is the critical moment, and it is time to take the Seventh Brigade up.When I was preparing to make up my mind, I received a telegram from Ye Si to send the Seventh Brigade southward at night to deploy defenses between Baoding and Fangshun Bridge. South aid, but not let it go north. The Seventh Brigade was taken away by Hu Yaobang, political commissar of the Third Vertical.Before Hu Yaobang left, he shook Zheng Weishan's hand and said, "Old Zheng, we have divided our troops into two more, and your burden is even heavier!" Zheng Weishan said, don't worry, we will swear to stop the enemy of South Aid!Zheng Weishan on the northern line has only one incomplete Eighth Brigade.In the entire Baobei battlefield, there are only six main regiments and three local regiments of the two brigades of the 2nd and 5th Brigade and the 3rd and 8th Brigade. The day of the 20th was the most intense day of the Baobei blockade.Zheng Weishan received a telegram from the head of the field department, and the field department instructed Chen, Han, and the nine regiments commanded by Zhao, Zheng, and Hu, who were blocking the attack in the north, to use part of the fortifications to fight back, attack sideways, and strive for counter-attacks.Use all effective means to annihilate part of the enemy's advance, kill and consume the enemy in large numbers, and resolutely prevent the enemy from aiding the south.After I have wiped out the four regiments of the Third Army head-on, I will send the enemy south.Yesi telegraphed that although the resistance position north of Xushui was broken through after fierce fighting for four days and four nights, Xushui was still about 160 miles away from Qingfengdian, so it was still possible to buy time to wipe out the northward advance with six brigades. The enemy. Now the corps in the south are fighting fiercely, trying to capture Luo Lirong alive. Luo Lirong was already very nervous, and his telegrams asking for help came one after another.Sun Lianzhong ordered Li Wen from the northern line to join the general reserve team.Concentrate all the artillery fire and fire thousands of shells per hour.On the position of Hejiazhuang alone, the enemy shelled continuously for more than an hour, firing nearly 10,000 shells.The infantry took turns attacking in dense formations.From the first line of Baoding to Qingfengdian, more than an hour by car is enough.But it was just over an hour that made the enemy out of reach. On the 21st, the resistance battle reached its most tense moment, and the enemy stormed with 10 regiments.Zheng Weishan ran out of the command post, boarded a high ground, saw an enemy plane circling overhead for a long time, and later found out that Sun Lianzhong was supervising the battle.It turned out that Luo Lirong said in the telegram that the reinforcements are coming quickly by car. The situation is urgent. If it is delayed for another day, the whole army will be martyred.When Chiang Kai-shek heard that the Third Army was about to be wiped out, he scolded Sun Lianzhong's mother loudly and ordered to rush south for reinforcements.Sun Lianzhong scolded Luo Lirong for being an idiot again, and asked him to quickly organize a breakout.At the same time, he also scolded Li Wen for his poor command, so he went out to supervise the battle in person, and asked Li Wen to concentrate all his troops to storm the road. Even if he lost 3 regiments, he must open the road and rush to Qingfengdian on the same day.In this way, Li Wen went all out and put all the two divisions in the reserve team into the battle. On the road to the south guarded by the Eighth Brigade, the fierce artillery fire has never been seen in the War of Liberation for more than a year. There are about 3 regiments of enemies, under the supervision of artillery fire and heavy machine guns, they are like raging waves. , one wave curls another wave.At the front of the enemy's position, there are hundreds of large trucks lined up in a long snake, full of enemy soldiers.It seems that they are all lined up in Xushui City, and they will rush to Qingfeng shop as soon as they break through.Seeing this scene, Zheng Weishan knew that Luo Lirong must be in a tight spot.Otherwise, why did the enemies here go crazy? In order to confirm this judgment, Zheng Weishan asked the staff around him, how is the situation on the southern front? Sure enough, the staff officer around him said that the third army has been completely surrounded and is now being divided. It's no wonder that victory often lies in this persistent effort. After fierce fighting until 1 pm, Shigezhuang's position was broken through. At 3 o'clock, the enemy occupied the Xiliu camp.The frontline positions of Banbidian and Shandong Camp were also breached.The enemy in Baoding took the opportunity to attack the position behind our army, and the position south of Caohe was also lost.The enemy immediately went north with a regiment to support the enemy in the south.The distance between the north and south enemies is only 6 kilometers.And the general attack on Qingfengdian has not yet started, at least one or two more days to block the enemy.Chen Zhengxiang decided to adjust the combat deployment, so that the 3rd Vertical 7th Brigade and the Jizhong Du 7th Brigade moved south immediately, and the enemy seized the front line of Xingyangyi, Dawei Village, and Dabai Regiment south of Baoding to build fortifications and establish a third defensive position.In this way, even if the enemy of Beiyuan meets the enemy of Baoding, he cannot be allowed to approach Qingfengdian.The fifth brigade and the eighth brigade continued to fight against the enemy on the northern line. Before dark, the road must be blocked to prevent the enemy from the north from joining the enemy from Baoding. That night, after receiving a telegram that the 7th Brigade and the 7th Brigade had arrived, Chen Zhengxiang immediately ordered the 5th Brigade and the 8th Brigade to bypass Baoding from the east and west, and turn south to the second-line positions. At 3 a.m. on the 22nd, the general attack on Qingfengdian finally began. In the past few days, the enemy who rescued Qingfengdian had killed and injured more than 4,200 people, but they were still on the front line of Baobei, and the third army they wanted to assist was completely wiped out on the morning of the 22nd.Upon receiving this news, the advance team of 50 vehicles dispatched by Li Wen quickly withdrew before contacting the fifth and eighth brigades that were waiting in full force.Li Wen was afraid that the communist army, which was fighting continuously, would take him as the next target.