Chapter 38 Recapturing Baise——An artillery expert and his six mountain cannons

On June 3, 1930, the Red Seventh Army returned to Donglan from Hechi.The Military Front Committee held a military meeting in Kuixing Tower and decided to recover Baise. On June 4, the main force of the Seventh Red Army marched towards Baise. On June 8, the first and second columns of the Seventh Red Army launched an attack on Baise City.The headquarters of the Red Army is located on Chengbi Mountain, only ten miles away from Baise City.Chengbi Mountain is the main peak pass of the Longfu Mountains, which straddles the important towns of Baise, Tianzhou and Pingma.There are many mountains and cockroaches here, emptying out; the snake roads in the mountains are winding;

Although the "Communist Suppression Brigade" formed by Xie Chongjian and Huang Huangting, about 3,000 people, was stubbornly defending Baise City, they took advantage of the favorable terrain of Baise City, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the built-up fortress.The first and second columns of the Seventh Red Army launched attacks from Chengxiguan and Beiguan respectively. After two days and two nights of fierce fighting, they failed to win. According to the enemy's information, Xie Chongjian has ordered more than 2,000 bandit armed forces from Dianshan Laolin on the south bank of the Youjiang River to reinforce Baise along the Barutuo Valley, attacking the Red Army front and rear, in an attempt to wipe out the Red Army on the northwest side of the city.The Front Committee of the Seventh Red Army held an emergency combat meeting at the Chengbishan headquarters to study and formulate new deployments.After two days and nights of fierce fighting, the siege of the city could not be defeated, and the enemy's reinforcements came aggressively again.

The army is extremely unfavorable. Should we continue to attack the city, or retreat for the time being and wait for another day? Some people advocate giving up the attack on Baise for the time being, and taking a detour to capture Fengyi, Enlong, Guode and other towns along the Youjiang River where the enemy's defense is weaker, and then attack Baise. Commander-in-Chief Li Mingrui said: "This proposition is not unreasonable, but it cannot be avoided just because of minor afflictions and small defeats. There is a saying among military strategists: 'In ancient times, those who were good at attacking did not use up their troops to attack a fortified city, and those who were good at defending did not use up their troops to defend the enemy's charge." If you use all your troops to attack a fortified city, you will waste your troops and food, and your success will be delayed. If you use all your troops to defend against the enemy, the troops will not be divided, and we will be unprepared to attack each other." He also said: "Courage is also needed when fighting! Weakened and exhausted, exhausted and exhausted, so we restrained it." Although our army was unable to attack the city for two days, it exposed the enemy's firepower and fortifications, which provided our mountain artillery with a bombardment target."

Speaking of this, he paused for a moment, raised his hand and swipe lightly twice on the simple map hanging on the wall, and continued: "I have discussed with Commander Feng (Feng Dafei) and will dismantle the hidden map last year. The six mountain cannons in Fenghuang Cave were assembled, and Battalion Commander Feng commanded the artillery platoon to bombard the enemy's fortifications. Hehe, as long as one corner is broken, I can take the city in one fell swoop!" As soon as his words fell, everyone's eyes turned to Feng Dafei who was sitting on the stone sill by the door and was writing calculations on the ground with a small stick.

Chief of Staff Gong Hecun said: "I'm talking about artillery experts, can your gun still work? Are you sure?" Feng Dafei put on a cold face on purpose, and said: "Your words are wrong! What do you mean whether it can be used or not, I am familiar with the 'cannon', it will go off as soon as you hit it, and it will hit every shot!" Everyone heard something and laughed loudly.Feng Dafei didn't smile. Gong Hecun said: "I'm referring to the mountain cannon, not your 'five brothers, carry the cannon out of the camp, it rains heavily, and withdraw the troops back to the camp'!" There was another burst of laughter.

Feng Dafei said: "No matter what kind of cannon, it will work in my hands!" The laughter almost shook the room. Deng Bin said: "It seems that our artillery experts are well prepared! I heard from Commander Zhang that during the Battle of Long'an, Comrade Dafei commanded the artillery to bombard the enemy's artillery positions and the enemy's forward positions, and made great contributions in covering the evacuation of the troops. This time the attack on Baise The fortifications built by the enemy far exceeded our estimates; in addition, considering the safety and property of the residents in the city, the commando team was adopted to attack the city by crossing the moat. I completely agree with what Commander Li said just now, but using mountain artillery Bombing the enemy's fortifications is nothing like bombing the enemy's positions! The target must be accurate, and if there is a slight deviation, it will cause losses to the people in the city."

Feng Dafei stood up and said: "Don't worry, my mountain cannons have eyes. They only bombard the enemy's fortifications and do not destroy the houses. However, the west and north gates of the city will no longer exist." Zhang Yunyi said: "There is no joke in the army, you should issue a military order!" Feng Dafei said: "If you can't attack the west gate and the north gate, then unscrew my head!" Zhang Yunyi said: "It's better for you to hold your head firmly. What we want to recover is Baise City!" In the evening of that day, the six mountain cannons of the artillery platoon of the Seventh Red Army were commanded by Feng Dafei on the side of Fenghuang Mountain, and bombarded the northwestern city of Baise.

Before the bombardment, the troops who arrived at the edge of the city set up a loudspeaker made of foreign iron and shouted to the enemy in the city: "Brothers in the militia, we are the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, a team fighting the world for the poor!" "I advise you to put down your weapons quickly. , stop working for the reactionary militia leader!" "Now, I declare to you: the Red Army's cannons are about to bombard your fortifications!" There was no movement in the city.The loudspeaker continued to shout: "Announce again: the artillery of the Red Army is about to bombard your fortifications!" "Announce again: the artillery of the Red Army is about to bombard your fortifications!" "Announce again: the artillery of the Red Army is about to bombard your fortifications!" Your fortifications are bombarded!"

bombardment!bombardment!bombardment!The shouts of the loudspeaker rang frequently over Baise City.The city was still dead silent.The sentinels at the bridgehead below the city poked their heads out from time to time to look around, and then immediately retracted their heads. Flocks of crows and sparrows yelled "Wow" and "Chick" on the city gate tower, flying around chaotically, as if they felt that a catastrophe was imminent, and they were conveying a bad omen to the guards of the militia. Li Mingrui put down the binoculars and nodded to Feng Dafei: "Let's get started."

Feng Dafei drew out his command saber, raised a white light in the air, and slammed it down: "Pass me the command, everyone takes their positions, fire!" "Fire—" "Fire—" "Fire—" Boom—boom—boom— The target of the first round of bombardment was the north gate of the city.The ground trembled like malaria under the impact of the shells, and the sound of the explosion merged into a continuous roar, which made people's eardrums "buzz".A wave of air wrapped in billowing smoke threw the rubble, bricks and wood above the city gate into the air, and then floated and scattered one after another.When the smoke gradually dissipated, the entire tower had turned into a sea of ​​flames

Boom—boom—boom— Immediately afterwards, one after another shells exploded on both sides of the city tower, and the tall and ancient city walls were torn, smashed and scattered piece by piece like a dilapidated curtain. With the lingering sound of the second round of bombardment, the siege charge sounded, and the first and second column siege troops lurking in the moat and the suburbs carried a pair of ladders and poles, crossed the trenches and charged into the city, killing them. The sound is loud!Fierce street battles raged in the smoky setting sun, machine guns sprayed orange flames, like bright lightning bolts among the clouds in midsummer It was night, and the Seventh Red Army successfully recovered Baise.Xie Chongjian and Huang Jinting took the remnants of the "Communist Suppression" brigade and fled to the old forest in Dianshan... At the celebration meeting, Deng Bin, Zhang Yunyi, Li Qian, Feng Dafei and others toasted to Li Mingrui frequently, congratulating him on his decisive command and victory in the battle to regain Baise after joining the party. Li Mingrui drank it all in one gulp, and then poured wine to pay respects to everyone: "I want to send my blood and tears to the mountains and rivers, and to sprinkle a piece of land on Dongshan Mountain. I, Li Mingrui, pledge myself to the revolution and die to serve the country. I just want to unite Kyushu and share the world! But after several battles, The killing from the south to the north is a disaster for the rest of my life. I am really ashamed of my father and fellow countrymen when I hear about the defeat of Dufu and the people's thieves. Since I have made friends with many sages and generals in our party, I have gradually cleared my mind. Here, I am very grateful to you for your kindness to me. Earnest teaching and sincere help, come, come, I offer a toast to you all! Do it!" Deng Bin was in high spirits, and he clinked two cups with Li Mingrui: "Prosperity depends on personnel, mountains and rivers are empty and terrain. Those who win people prosper, and those who lose them perish. Our brave Red Army is closely related to the future and destiny of 400 million people. If we want to rule the world, Who else but me?!" Zhang Yunyi also raised his glass to respect each other: "Growing up in Si, standing in Si, a sage does not mourn the death of his body, but worries about the decline of his country. Brother Yusheng, since we met in Nanning, we are not only emotionally compatible, but also like-minded; now , brother has been accepted as a member of our party, it is really a joy in life! Come, come, brother and I drink three cups: one cup relieves sorrow, two cups lead to the road, and three cups exchange for the sun and the moon!" Ding Dong in the wine glass, full of heartfelt feelings.The ancient and young city of Baise peacefully enters a warm dreamland under the affectionate caress of the mother-like waves of the rushing waves of the Youjiang River. From time to time, the cries of gulls and birds are heard on the river, which sounds like the murmur of summer night. After regaining Baise, the Red Seventh Army continued to expand its achievements, and successively recovered Fengyi, Enlong, Silin, Guode and other counties along the Youjiang River, and all of them restored Youjiangsu District.The entire Youjiang area once again presents a scene of "dividing the fields and land is really busy".