Chapter 38 1. He Yingqin won the full house

The Battle of Xiangxi should be said to be He Yingqin's wonderful work.In the eight years of the Anti-Japanese War, the Kuomintang army fought 100 battles on the frontal battlefield, and fought 22 times. The Xiangxi battle was the final victory.In previous battles, the Kuomintang army has won countless victories, but they were all partial victories in the battle, such as the Taierzhuang victory, Changsha defense battle, Hengyang defense battle, Linyi defense battle, etc., which fully demonstrated the bravery of Chinese soldiers Tenacious, with a fearless spirit of sacrifice, inflicted heavy losses on Japanese imperialism.But these victories were not held in the end.

Analyzing the Battle of Xiangxi from the perspective of the domestic situation, the background of this battle is very similar to the Battle of Xuzhou.The Battle of Xuzhou was a turning point, and the Battle of Xiangxi was also a turning point. In 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out in China.This year, the Chinese army fought two large-scale battles, one was the Battle of Songhu, and the other was the Battle of Nanjing. Both battles ended with the disastrous defeat of the Kuomintang army. The sky over China was clouded with dark clouds, traitorous remarks such as the anti-Japanese subjugation theory and the invincibility of the Japanese Empire flooded the society, the morale of the Chinese army was low, and the Chinese people sighed.They could not see the slightest light of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan.The Chinese army, which had an absolute advantage, was defeated by the Japanese army and fled. They even lost their capital and slaughtered more than 300,000 Chinese compatriots.The situation is disheartening.

In 1938, China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression entered the most critical year.At that time, the pessimism of failure was permeating the whole country. Whether this dangerous mood could be dispelled as soon as possible was related to the future and destiny of the Chinese nation.This historical task fell on Li Zongren's shoulders inadvertently.In the Battle of Xuzhou, under the direct command of Li Zongren, Chinese soldiers fought bloody battles and wiped out more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers. This was the first major victory for the Chinese army on the frontal battlefield since the beginning of the War of Resistance. It dispelled the fallacy that the Japanese imperial army was invincible, successfully reversed the unfavorable situation of the Kuomintang army's repeated defeats, and made the Chinese people see a bright future for the War of Resistance.

The Battle of Xiangxi in April 1945 also had the same significance. 1944 was the most dangerous and worrying year in China's Anti-Japanese War. In this year, the Japanese army launched the "Operation No. 1" in Henan, Hunan and Guangxi. The Kuomintang army lost 600,000 troops and lost Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian. In most parts of the province, four provincial capitals, 146 small and medium-sized cities and 36 airports were lost.During the entire battle, except for Hengyang, which held on to the isolated city for 47 days, the Chinese army was almost defeated at the touch of a touch, and it was defeated for thousands of miles.It is unbelievable that such a big defeat occurred at a time when all the allied countries of the world had turned to a full-scale counter-offensive.The call for reorganization of the Kuomintang revived throughout the country, and Chiang Kai-shek was passive in the competition with the United States, which caused a huge negative impact internationally.The rule of the Kuomintang is in jeopardy.

In order to give the Chinese people a brand new impression, Chiang Kai-shek vigorously rectified the army, executed two lieutenant generals who fled without authorization, and bought weapons and equipment from the United States on loans.At the same time, for its own benefit, the United States promised to arm 35 divisions for Chiang Kai-shek and help the Chinese army conduct American-style training.It was against this background that the Japanese army launched the Zhijiang Operation.The long-awaited counterattack of the Chinese army started here. The national army, which had been silent for two or three years, wanted to reproduce the glory of the Battle of Taierzhuang in western Hunan.

The Battle of Xiangxi went through a month of offensive and defensive strategies. It can be said that it was very successful by adopting the strategy and tactics of fighting one by one, luring the enemy to go deep, dividing and encircling, and gathering and annihilating them.The strategic counter-offensive in the second stage was also very effective in the early stage, vigorously killing and wounding the vital forces of the Japanese army.However, Chiang Kai-shek's "military obedience to politics" led to the hasty end of the second phase of the Xiangxi Battle, which greatly reduced the Xiangxi Battle.

It is unbelievable that after Chinese soldiers shed blood and sacrificed their lives, and paid a huge price to surround the Japanese army in Xuefeng Mountain, for the needs of the Sixth National Congress of the Kuomintang, they let the besieged Japanese army go, and the murderous demon escaped.The practice of Chiang Kai-shek of the Kuomintang, which is contrary to the interests of the Chinese nation, has been strongly condemned and criticized by historians for decades.Chiang Kai-shek's "military obedience to politics" is the most apolitical expression. It does not proceed from the interests of the nation, does not proceed from the overall situation of the War of Resistance, and ignores the feelings of the people in western Hunan and the officers and soldiers who participated in the war.In order to decorate this appearance, he actually shows mercy to the evil devil, which is a crime that cannot be punished!

Although the Xiangxi battle was anticlimactic, the Chinese people at the time didn't know it, and neither did the representatives of the Sixth National Congress of the Kuomintang. They were all kept in the dark.According to Chiang Kai-shek's will, He Yingqin walked into the venue in a well-groomed and energetic manner, stepped onto the rostrum, and the audience burst into warm applause.He humbly gave a military salute to the delegates, and then eloquently introduced the situation of the Xiangxi battle to the delegates. He Yingqin first talked about the significance of the Xiangxi Battle. He compared the Xiangxi Battle with the Xuzhou Battle to illustrate the great significance of the Xiangxi Battle.The strategic and tactical principles of the Battle of Xiangxi were expounded in detail.The delegates were very interested in the formation of the Chinese army at the foot of Xuefeng Mountain, especially the strategy and tactics of the Chinese army to fight one after another, lure the enemy deep, divide and encircle, gather and annihilate them, and gave them warm applause.

The applause from time to time in the great hall aroused the mood of He Yingqin's speech.He spoke eloquently and enthusiastically praised the bravery and tenacity of the Chinese soldiers, and their fearless spirit of not being afraid of sacrifice. In the minds of the representatives, Zhou Zhidao, Qiu Xingxiang, Tao Fuye, Zhong Xiongfei, and Liu Guangyu who did not win a medal are all heroes, well-deserved anti-Japanese heroes.Their heroic deeds touched the delegates and the Chinese and foreign journalists who came to interview. He Yingqin also praised the front-line commanders Wang Yaowu, Tang Enbo, Li Tianxia, ​​Shi Zhongcheng, Hu Lian and other generals, especially Liao Yaoxiang's new army joined the battle, which played a role in China's national prestige and military prestige.He also thanked the Chinese and American Air Forces and General Chennault for his great contribution to the Battle of Xiangxi.

Without the support of the Chinese and American air forces, and without them holding the air supremacy of Xuefeng Mountain, there would be no victory in the Battle of Xiangxi.The Battle of Xiangxi was the result of Generalissimo Chiang's wise leadership and his wise decision-making. There were thunderous cheers at the venue, and the representatives asked to go to the front line to condolences to the heroic troops.He Yingqin's military report was very successful and received applause from all the halls. Even Chiang Kai-shek and Li Zongren applauded and congratulated. At this meeting, there was another person who got a benefit, that is Wang Yaowu, who was elected as the executive committee member of the new supplementary middle school with the highest number of votes.Tang Enbo also passed the test.

The Battle of Xiangxi promoted many generals of the Kuomintang army, such as chiefs of staff Xiao Yisu, Zhang Lingfu, Zhou Zhidao, Qiu Xingxiang, Tao Fuye, division commanders Cai Renjie, Li Yan, and regimental commanders Li Yunliang and Du Ding, etc.They are either promoted or promoted.This battle really tested them. The Sixth National Congress of the Kuomintang closed on May 21. During the 17-day meeting, no substantive issues were resolved. Only the "Resolution on the CCP Issue" was passed in the last few days.Chiang Kai-shek said in his summary report at the conference that today's central task is to eliminate the Communist Party, Japan is our external enemy, and the CCP is our domestic enemy!Chiang Kai-shek had bad intentions. On the one hand, he opened his eyes to the Japanese invaders in western Hunan, and on the other hand, he went on a killing spree against the Japanese Communist army.The ferocious face is clear to the people of the country. The Seventh Congress of the Communist Party of China has not yet concluded. From April 23 to June 11, it has been held for 50 days.The meeting unanimously approved Comrade Mao Zedong's political report "On the Coalition Government", Zhu De's military report "On the Liberated Area Battlefields", and Liu Shaoqi's report "On Amending the Party Constitution".The congress called on the whole party and the people of the whole country to work hard to realize the bright future of China.The Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China showed that the Communist Party has fully grasped the law of the development of the Chinese revolution and learned the art of leading the revolution.The Chinese Communist Party's tit-for-tat slander and accusations against the Kuomintang show that it will be the party that wins nationwide. At the end of the Sixth National Congress of the Kuomintang, the Xiangxi battle did not end.Although He Yingqin's military report at the conference declared victory in the Battle of Xiangxi, this is not the case in reality.What Chiang Kai-shek and He Yingqin said was just an expedient measure, and it was a political need, and the unfinished battle still had to be fought. Therefore, after the Sixth National Congress of the Kuomintang was adjourned, the troops participating in the Xiangxi Battle entered the pursuit phase. Many generals and soldiers did not understand that in the big counterattack earlier, the 18th Army opened a big hole in the encirclement, allowing the Japanese army to escape from the encirclement, and now ordered the troops to pursue and annihilate them.If I knew today, why bother?It shouldn't have been released in the first place.What kind of battle is this?What a mess. Frontline officers and soldiers are complaining, not because they don't understand the relationship between military and politics, but because they don't know the inside story.Of course, complaints belong to complaints. Once the pursuit order is issued, the officers and soldiers will carry it out.Commander Wang Yaowu instructed: The Fourth Front Army quickly pursued the enemy in front of them, suppressed the Japanese army on the left bank of Zishui, captured fighter planes and wiped them out.Order the 100th Army to advance to Huangqiaopu with one division, continue to pursue Jincheng City and Tangdukou, and gather another division near the entrance of the cave. Order the 18th Division to attack the remnant enemies on the front line of Heshang Bridge and Yankou. After the effect, continue to pursue the front line of Yantang Chong and Shitan.The 73rd Division attacked the remaining enemies near the bridge and Jukoupu, and then pursued in the direction of Shimajiang.After they received the order, they acted immediately.Interestingly, the officers and soldiers of the 118th Division of the 18th Army fought bravely to be the first. They surpassed the other troops in pursuit, arrived at the Monk Bridge ahead of schedule, and intercepted the Japanese troops who were crossing the river.The two sides fought fiercely for several hours, and the Japanese army suffered heavy casualties.Before the 18th Division, which received the order to attack Heshang Bridge, arrived, the 118th Division won the victory and captured a large number of heavy weapons from the Japanese army. Immediately afterwards, the 118th Division captured Baizhu Bridge, another stronghold of the remnants of the Japanese army.They continued to advance, fighting more and more courageously, and advancing to the southeast of the beach, together with the 15th and 77th divisions of the brother troops, cut the Japanese positions into several sections.The Japanese army fought repeatedly and fought fiercely until May 31 before driving the Japanese army out of the position. More than 5,000 people from the 64th Division of the Japanese Army were stationed on the front line of Xiangxiang. They sent more than 1,000 troops to the northeast of Gushui from the small road.The 53rd Regiment of the 18th Division held fast to Gushui, while Liang Zhiliu of the 15th Division stormed the enemy northeast of Gushui.In order to occupy Gushui, the Japanese army launched a fierce attack on Gushui with mountain artillery and tanks. The 53rd regiment struggled to support it and was driven out by the Japanese raiders. Liang Zhiliu mobilized all the main forces of the 15th Division, and launched an offensive from the south, west, and north at the same time, occupying Dabuqiao and Xinqiao on the outskirts of Gushui.At night, a battalion of the 43rd Regiment of the 15th Division sneaked into Gushui Street and cooperated with the 45th Regiment to advance to the left side of the Japanese army. At midnight on June 6, the main force of the 15th Division, together with the 577th Regiment of the 193rd Division, launched a general attack on Gushui.The Chinese army attacked from inside and outside, and the main force entered the market. The fierce fighting continued until the afternoon of the next day, when Gu Shui was completely recovered and all the Japanese troops who had entered were wiped out. After 3 pm on June 7, there was no fighting on the entire battlefield.The Chinese army has restored the original defense lines and positions before the Xiangxi Battle. So far, the Xiangxi Battle has ended victoriously. The Battle of Xiangxi lasted nearly two months, and finally ended with the complete defeat of the Japanese army.According to the historical records of the Kuomintang troops participating in the war, the Chinese army killed 12,498 Japanese soldiers, wounded 23,307, captured 17 officers, 430 soldiers, captured 3,447 horses, 24 artillery pieces, 1,333 rifles, and trophies in this battle. 24 tons. The Chinese army also paid a huge price in the battle against aggression and defending Zhijiang in western Hunan. 7,737 soldiers were sacrificed and 12,483 were injured.In particular, it should be pointed out that wherever the Japanese army arrived, they committed murder, arson, rape and looting, and committed numerous crimes.Only five counties in Western Hunan have incomplete statistics. The Japanese army shot and killed 8,563 innocent people, injured 1,175, raped 1,850 women, burned 14,158 houses, and slaughtered 1.19 million pigs and cattle.The people of Xiangxi made great sacrifices. The Xiangxi Battle has written an extremely glorious page in the history of the Chinese War of Resistance and the modern history of China.