Chapter 4 Chapter Three: The First Annihilation of Huang Botao's Corps

Just as Chiang Kai-shek was exhausted between Shenyang, Beijing, Xuzhou, and Nanjing, and the battle between the Nanjing Kuomintang army and Xu Bang was still being debated, the East China Field Army launched an offensive to encircle and wipe out Huang Botao. Regarding the annihilation of Huang Botao's corps, Mao Zedong had repeatedly discussed with Su Yu. On October 22, after Mao Zedong approved Su Yu's combat deployment for annihilating Huang Botao's corps, Su Yu issued a preparatory order for the Huaihai Campaign on October 23: (1) Concentrate the 1st column, 4th column, 6th column, 8th column, 9th column, 11th column in Nakano, Luzhongnan column, 2nd column, 11th column, 12th column of Subei Corps, and 10 special forces columns to encircle and annihilate Huang Botao's corps centered on Xin'an Town.

The Fourth Column and the Eighth Column attached a field artillery battalion, which was under the command of the commander of the Fourth Column Tao Yong and political commissar Guo Huaruo. They first attacked and wiped out the enemy at Guanhu Lake, and then quickly divided from northeast to southwest to encircle and wipe out the canal station and the artillery car area to defend the enemy. In order to split the connection between Li Mi and Huang Botao's two corps.After succeeding, they immediately deployed blocking aid along the canal and the banks of the Yi River to ensure that the main force encircled and wiped out Huang Botao's corps.

The 11th vertical took the opportunity to move along both sides of the canal from Suqian to the canal station section, and cooperated with the four verticals and eighth verticals from south to north to attack and annihilate the enemy at the canal station, and cooperated with the four verticals and eighth verticals to block the aid. The first column, the sixth column, the ninth column, the Luzhongnan column and the main force of the special column were directly commanded by Nosi. First, they were responsible for encircling and annihilating the enemies of Xin'an Town and Wayao, and then turned their troops eastward after they succeeded.

The sixth column attached two special longitudinal field artillery companies, marched through the east and west areas of Matou, first wiped out the enemies in Wayao, Chengjiaji, Maxu and their surrounding areas, and then cooperated with the Lu army from southwest to east along both sides of the railway. Zhongnan Zong and Jiu Zong gathered to annihilate the enemies in the Xin'an Town area. A column with two howitzer companies and a field artillery company attached to a special column. At the beginning of the battle, it first followed the Sixth Column and the Luzhongnan Column and then advanced to Tancheng, south of Matou, Honghuabu, and north of Yangjiaji The region is on standby.

The Nine Zongs went east along the Shuhe River and southwest of Taolin, and first seized and controlled the northeast highlands of Xin'an Township with one part, and its main force went straight into the area between Xin'an Township and Gaotangou to divide and surround the enemy in this area, and then divided them into groups one by one. annihilate. The Lu Zhongnan Column first used the main force to cooperate with the Lu Zhongnan Base Regiment to encircle and annihilate the First Brigade of Shandong Security in Tancheng on the evening of the 7th. The vertical and nine verticals gathered to wipe out the enemies in Xin'an Town.

All the howitzer regiments and tanks of the special forces column assembled in the Zhuchen area at the beginning of the battle. The second column, the 12th column (owing to the 34th brigade), the 11th column in the middle of the field with a howitzer company and 4 field artillery companies are all under the command of Wei Guoqing, the commander of the North Jiangsu Corps, and Ji Luo (Ji Pengfei), the deputy political commissar. Commanding, marching east of Chi'an Town, first of all, divide and encircle the enemies in the Ahu and Gaotangou areas and quickly compress and encircle them, trying to annihilate part of them first, and then concentrate the main force to annihilate them one by one according to the situation. The first battle initiated One day, the second column was not used temporarily, and it was used in the main assault direction after the siege was completed.

(2) In order to allow the main force to have enough time to encircle and wipe out Huang Botao's Corps, it was decided that the Seventh, Tenth, and Thirteenth Columns would be under the direct command of Tan Zhenlin, the political commissar of the Shandong Corps, and Wang Jian'an, the Deputy Commander, from the Lincheng and Zaozhuang lines to Hanzhuang, Taierzhuang, Along the canal and in the Jiawang area, the offensive was used to contain and confuse Feng Zhi'an's Ministry, forming a situation of besieging Xuzhou, causing Liu Zhi's illusion, attracting Qiu Qingquan and Li Mi's corps to aid from the north or stagnate near Xuzhou, not daring to boldly aid from the east.

The tenth vertical went south along Lincheng and Shagou, annihilated Hanzhuang defending the enemy first, seized the canal bridge to cross the south, expanded the offensive along Jinpu Road and the east side to Liguoyi and Liuquan Town, and cooperated with the enemy in the Jiawang area of ​​the seventh vertical to attack . The Seventh Column runs between Lincheng and Zaozhuang, first to occupy the Wannianzha Bridge, and another part cuts off the enemy's retreat in Zao (zhuang) and Yi (county) before the main force moves, and covers the main force from Wannianzha and its east and west areas. Crossing the canal and attacking Jiawang, seeking to annihilate Feng Zhi'an's headquarters and forcing Feng to revolt, the vertical should be under the unified command of Song Shilun, commander of the Ten Columns, and Liu Peishan, political commissar.

The Thirteenth Column was in charge of encircling and annihilating the enemies of Taierzhuang. The main force crossed the canal from the west of Taierzhuang to Wannianzha and went straight to Biantang and Suyangshan, cutting off the enemy's retreat along the canal to the south of Taierzhuang. The enemy of Cao Baji section, the main force is heading east, and is ready to cooperate with the four verticals and eight verticals to block and wipe out the Xuzhou East Aid Corps. The order requires all ministries to organize elite reconnaissance troops approaching the combat area, to ascertain the distribution of the enemy's forces and position composition, and to closely monitor the changes in their actions. If they find signs of the enemy's shrinking and gathering, they should seize the opportunity to advance and intercept each one. Annihilation, or on the spot Divide and encircle without causing them to shrink and assemble. All troops marched in from the spot on the evening of November 6, and launched a unified battle on the evening of November 8.

After the preparation order was issued, the entire Huaye army began intense preparations.However, Mao Zedong did not feel relieved after he had approved the plan that Su Yu and others put forward to satisfy him. His eyes were still fixed on the Xuzhou battlefield. At 3 o'clock in the morning on October 26, Mao Zedong called Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin, and informed Chen Yi, Deng Xiaoping, Liu Bocheng, Deng Zihui, and Li Xiannian, and put forward the specific deployment of "containing the two corps of Qiu Qingquan and Li Mi, dividing and annihilating Huang Botao's corps": "100 The two divisions of the army have been added to Xin'an Town and belong to the Seventh Corps. Huang Botao has 8 divisions in his hands, and Li Mi's 5 divisions have assembled at the Canal Station and the Lijiaji area in Yunxi. Huang and Li have a total of 13 divisions. Together. You originally planned to use two columns to annihilate the two divisions at the Canal Station. You may find it difficult to control the canal to block the enemy. It seems that you can only start from the junction of the Huang and Li groups, that is, between Xin'an Town and the Canal Station. , use two columns to cut off the connection between Li and Huang, and use one to two columns to pinch Li Mi from Taierzhuang to the south and from the north, and use one to two columns to attack and annihilate the enemies in Hanzhuang, Jiawang, and Liuquan areas. The Qiu Corps was forced to defend to the north with one or two armies, and then attacked with one column and two points at Dangshan, Feng County, Guangzong. Until the two columns attack from Suisu to the southeast of Xuzhou, this will ensure the containment of Qiu and Li, so as to facilitate the main force to divide and destroy the Yellow Army. We have already telegraphed the use of strong troops instead of second-class troops for the main attack. In this case, it is necessary to have a few days to readjust the deployment. In order to ensure victory, it is better to postpone the launch of the battle for a few days, and do not rush into it." ("Mao Zedong Military Works" Volume 5, p. 131)

On the 27th, Mao Zedong also telegraphed Rao Shushi, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin to make plans for the Huaihai Campaign to take into account changes in the situation.The telegram said: "When you are studying the deployment, in addition to the current situation, you must also estimate some possible changes in the situation. You must imagine several situations in which the enemy may change, which should include a more serious situation. You must be prepared. There are ways to deal with this situation." ("Mao Zedong Military Collection" Vol. 5, p. 134) Mao Zedong proposed that the current situation may change as follows: The 8 divisions of Huang Botao's corps may change from the current state of relatively scattered deployment, which is conducive to division and encirclement and suppression, to a state of relatively contracted and close together, which is difficult to divide and suppress when our army approaches. When the 8 divisions of Huang Botao's corps were encircled and wiped out by our army, several divisions were wiped out, but it may be difficult for several divisions to be wiped out because they were assembled together. The close proximity of the two armies of Li Mi's corps may make it impossible for our army to control the canal. If our army fails to move from Taierzhuang to the direction of Suyang Mountain, the two armies of Li Mi's corps may all join the canal station and its east , is very close to Huang Botao's corps, which may prevent our army from completely annihilating Huang Botao's corps. If our troops attacking Hanzhuang, Jiawang, and Liuquan from Lincheng are incapable, or if their actions are inappropriate, they will not be able to attract an army from Qiu Qingquan's regiment to deal with this area; If the troops are not active and cannot attract a part of Qiu Qingquan's corps to stay there, then Qiu Qingquan's corps may enter the line of Daxujia, Bayiji, and Nianzhuang with one army or more troops to connect Li Mi's corps enabled Li Mi's corps to actively reinforce Huang Botao's corps. Chen Yi and Deng Xiaoping led 11 brigades from the central field to enter the middle area of ​​Guoyang, Yongcheng, and Bozhou counties on November 4, trying to fight Sun Yuanliang's corps and threaten the Xubeng line. Of course, it will greatly cooperate with our army in Huaye. As a result, it may attract one army of Qiu Qingquan's corps and Sun Yuanliang's corps to deal with them.However, Huaye's army's plan should be based on Huaye's direct and effective restraint of Qiu Qingquan. play a fatal role. After our army won the Battle of Jinan, there may be a mentality of underestimating the enemy among the cadres. If this mentality is not overcome, it may affect this battle. Under the guidance of Mao Zedong, Su Yu made necessary adjustments to the original combat deployment based on the situation of the Kuomintang army in front of him and considering the possible changes after the start of the battle, forming the final plan to encircle and wipe out Huang Botao's corps. Telegram Mao Zedong.Telegram says: Today, we jointly studied with Tan Zhenlin and Wang Jianan. It is estimated that after we launch attacks from various quarters, Jiang Jun may stick to the current situation, so as to achieve the goal of consuming our troops on the periphery to defend Xuzhou.Secondly, the Li and Huang corps were assembled to stick to a few points and support each other.If it is found that our main force is attacking the Xinhai section, the Huang Corps will gather and stick to Xin'an Town as the core, and Li Mi will defend the canal and the Nianzhuang line, which will be very maneuverable. Therefore, no major changes will be made in the deployment. The suggestions are as follows: (1) Attack Yutai with the Three Columns, Guangzong, Jiduyi, and the Three Brigades (possibly fleeing), and capture Fengxian and Jing'an Towns. .Captured Lincheng, Hanzhuang, and Jiawang with seven or ten columns, and approached the northeast of Xuzhou after controlling Liguo Post.Surround Taierzhuang with one part of the Thirteenth Vertical, its main force is controlled at Suyang Mountain and its south, and a powerful part advances into the Caobaji line, threatening Li Mizhi's left back.For example, after the Seventh and Tenth Columns succeeded, they would use the Seventh Columns as the restraint from Jiawang, approach Xuzhou, and block the enemy head-on; the Tenth Columns would move eastward, and cooperate with the Thirteenth Columns to fight against the Li Mi tribe in the west of Yun (He).In addition, the Eleventh Zong of Central China (Hu Bingyun Zong) attacked the Canal Station (Hexi) and Zhaodun Line along the west bank of the canal.The two brigades of the Jianghuai Military Region attacked the Zhaodun and Nianzhuang lines, causing us to gather and wipe out the Li Corps from the north and the south, and took the posture of attacking Xuzhou so that we could fight in the east of the river.All the above ministries launched the battle on the evening of the 7th. (2) The Yundong campaign focused on the annihilation of Huang Botao's corps.The first step in the battle must be to open up the battlefield, arrange blocking positions, divide the enemy so that they cannot gather, or approach the Li Corps, or flee eastward to Xinpu and Haizhou, so as to facilitate the second step to wipe out the Huang Corps.Therefore, it is planned to use eight columns to capture the gun carriages and four columns to capture the canal station. After success, the two columns will be responsible for frontal support.If Yunxi's attack is successful and Li's corps can be restrained, then according to the situation, four or eight columns will be drawn, and Xin'an Town will be attacked in the second step.In order to facilitate the opening of the battlefield, the first step is still to annihilate the enemies of Wayao (the 63rd Army) with the first column, the sixth column, and the Luzhongnan column; the nine columns are used to monitor the enemies of Xin'an Town; If necessary, the column will be deployed to attack the enemies of Wayao; the 11th column (Wang Zhang) and the 12th column will be located near Ahu to divide the connection between the 25th Army and the Huangbing regiment, the 64th Army, and the 100th Army .After the first task is completed, the second step is to divide and annihilate the enemies of Xin'an Town and Ahu with 1, 2, 6, 9, 11 (Wang Zhang), and Lu Zhongnan Zong.Four or eight columns were divided by one column to block the enemy head-on, and one column was drawn to encircle the Sixty-Fourth Army.The special vertical is assigned to each vertical in Yundong to participate in the war according to the tasks of each vertical.Except for one battalion assigned to the Eighth Column of the Shandong Corps Artillery Regiment, the rest were assigned to the Seventh Column and the Thirteenth Column to participate in the battle.Because only by completing the first step of the battle can we avoid the dispersal of our troops and extend the distance of resistance, so that we can attack Xin'an Town in the second step.If our army goes south, when the Huang Corps gathers in the suburbs of Xin'an Town, they will attack Xin'an Town with the 1st, 6th, Lu Zong, and 2nd and 9th Columns, but they can also carry out a split and encirclement attack on the battlefield. The enemy cannot shrink and escape.The latter launched the battle on the evening of the 8th with all the vertical forces in the east ("Li Yu's Military Anthology" p. 405). Su Yu sent this telegram to Mao Zedong in the name of Rao Shushi, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin. Therefore, Mao Zedong's telegram on October 30 approving Su Yu's combat plan and deployment was also sent to Rao Shushi, Su Yu, and Tan Zhenlin. The telegram said: "The plan and deployment are very good, please implement it immediately. There is only one point, the battle will be divided into two nights in Yuqi and Qi, will the Yellow Army be alerted, and you will quickly shrink and gather when you are not close to the enemy during the day and day It seems that it is better to act together in Yu Wan or Qi Wan at the same time, so that the enemies everywhere are attacked at the same time. At the same time, they think that they are in a dangerous situation and cannot take care of each other. It will take two or three days to find out the direction of my main attack. But because all our ministries are already in front of them, and they are no longer able to reinforce each other, it is extremely important that the ministries of the Yellow Army lose the necessary time to shrink and gather." ("Mao Zedong Military Collection" Vol. 5, p. 153) Mao Zedong emphasized that the battles against Huang Botao's corps, Li Mi's corps, and Qiu Qingquan's corps should be launched on the same night, and he fully affirmed the role of this battle: "If this battle is well fought, it is possible to wipe out 8 divisions of the Huang Corps and two divisions of the Li Corps." 1 division, Feng Zhian 2 to 3 divisions, and soon the enemies in the East China Sea and Huaihe River may be wiped out, and the battle north of the Yangtze River will begin. The southward adjustment can only be deployed along the Yangtze River, which is of no help to the overall situation." ("Mao Zedong Military Collection" Vol. 5, pp. 153-154) This combat plan was formulated under the guidance of the operational policy, which fully embodies the campaign guiding ideology and operational principles stipulated in the operational policy. In terms of troop deployment, it not only ensured the central task of concentrating superior forces to annihilate Huang Botao's corps, but also used troops reasonably to create a momentum to besiege Xuzhou and conceal our army's campaign intentions; The troops have formed an organic connection with each other, taking into account both the victory of the first battle and the development after the launch of the battle; the Central Military Commission's emphasis on "starting the battle on the same night" is to confuse the enemy and gain time for our army to divide Enemy, preventing the enemy from shrinking played a good effect. In terms of combat principles, it is emphasized that the three corps of Huang Botao, Li Mi, and Qiu Qingquan and the individual armies in the three corps should be separated, which makes it easier for our army to concentrate superior forces and annihilate the enemy one by one. The determination of this battle plan has changed a lot compared with the initial conception of the campaign. In particular, it stipulates that Nakano and Huaye will launch attacks at the same time. The scale of the battle allowed our two major field armies to join forces in Huaihai to engage in a strategic decisive battle with the enemy, laying the foundation for annihilating the main force of the enemy north of the Yangtze River. On November 4th, Su Yu issued an order to attack Huang Botao's corps, and all units were scheduled to launch a unified battle on the evening of November 8th. However, due to changes in the enemy's situation, Su Yu boldly started the battle two days earlier. On November 5th, Huaye entered the Zouxian, Tengxian, and Linyi areas in southern Shandong in concealment, and moved into the starting position to stand by. The combat target was directed at Huang Botao's corps. Huang Botao (1900-1948), born in Tianjin, studied in the No. 9 Mixed Brigade of Jiangxi Army.Participated in the Northern Expedition, and was admitted to the fifth phase of the KMT Army Officer Corps. In 1931, he was promoted to major general and brigade commander, and was randomly transferred to Hunan, Jiangxi and western Hunan to "encircle and suppress" the Red Army. Huang Botao was promoted to lieutenant general and division commander in 1935, and entered the third phase of the special class of the Army University in 1936. During the Anti-Japanese War, he served as the staff officer of Lu Zhonglin, the commander of the Hebei-Chahar Theater, and the senior staff officer of the military command department. In 1940, he planned the "Southern Anhui Incident" for Gu Zhutong, which shocked China and the world. After 1945, Huang Botao participated in the anti-communist and anti-people civil war launched by Chiang Kai-shek. In 1946, he led his troops to attack Zhang Dingcheng's troops of the Central China People's Liberation Army. At the turn of spring and summer in 1947, he fought against our army in the southern Shandong area. In June and July of 1948, in the battle of Eastern Henan launched by our army, we were hit hard again. Our army was able to escape the complete annihilation because our army voluntarily withdrew from the siege. To boast of Huang Botao's great victory in eastern Henan, Chiang Kai-shek personally presented Huang Botao with the Blue Sky and White Sun Medal. In August 1948, Chiang Kai-shek reorganized the Seventh Corps and appointed Huang Botao as its commander.The Seventh Corps has jurisdiction over the 25th Army, the 63rd Army, the 64th Army, and the 100th Army.After the establishment of the Huang Botao Corps, it was assembled in Xin'an Township. Gaoliu (about 10 miles southeast of Xin'an Town), the 100th Army is stationed about 10 miles north of Xin'an Town. Huaye pointed the combat target at Huang Botao, but Huang Botao was not completely unaware. In October, Huang Botao learned that Huaye's main force had gathered in southern Shandong, Chen Yi had arrived in Linyi, and Liu Bocheng's troops also appeared to be moving to Xuzhou. The three columns of No. 10, No. 11 and No. 12 were heading east on Longhai Road, and they expressed two opinions to Liu Zhizhong, commander-in-chief of Xuzhou's "Suppression Commander-in-Chief": "(1) The main force of Chen Yi's Ministry will unite with his three columns in northern Jiangsu to flank the Ministry of Defense, while Liu Bocheng's Ministry will contain the main force of the Jun Department from the southwest to prevent the army from supporting the Ministry of Responsibility. The attempt to defeat each corps one by one is very obvious. (2) Our army is distributed along the Longhai line, with a vast front, and there are enemies in all directions. They are omnipotent. The only way to imitate Napoleon's regimental concentration method is to gather all the corps around Xuzhou, and then seize the opportunity to defeat Chen and Liu's armies one by one before they meet." ("Biography of Senior Generals of the Republic of China" No. 5 Collection, p. 551), but Liu Zhi did not comment on this opinion. On November 3, Liu Zhi held a meeting of generals above the army commander in Xuzhou. Guo Rugui, director of the Department of Operations of the Ministry of National Defense of the Nanjing Government, made a report, in which he proposed that Chen Yi's Ministry should occupy Haizhou first, or fight the Seventh Corps with all its strength, so it should be quickly Considering adding troops to the east of the canal, the Seventh Corps should gather its forces and prepare for the battle. In the afternoon of the same day, Huang Botao once again suggested to Liu Zhi: take Xuzhou as the center, gather all the corps to prepare for war in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, and implement the tortoise tactics of deep trenches and high fortifications, and the corps are connected with each other. Liu Zhi asked for instructions accordingly. Chiang Kai-shek. When Chiang Kai-shek was captured by our army in Shenyang, he decided to abandon Xuzhou and stick to Haizhou.Haizhou starts from Lianyungang in the east, ends in Donghai (Niushan) in the west, starts in Ganyu (Qingkou) in the north, and ends in Guanyun in the south.Lianyungang is a good natural port in Haizhou Bay in the northwest of the Yellow Sea. It faces the sea on three sides and leans against Yuntai Mountain. It is located at the end of Longhai Road.This is a flank of Xuzhou. It is connected to Qingdao and Yantai in the north, and echoes to Shanghai in the south.When Chiang Kai-shek summoned Li Yannian, commander of the Ninth Appeasement District in Haizhou, he said: "There will be a big war in the Central Plains, and some urban strongholds may voluntarily give up. This is a strategic need. Only Qingdao and Lianyungang will not give up. Qingdao and Lianyungang are The two keys to change the strategy, I believe you, I will give these two keys to you, and I hope you can do it yourself." He also told Li Yannian that the 100th Army of the Seventh Corps will open Lianyungang from Xuzhou and form the Ninth Appeasement District . When Li Yannian returned to Haizhou, the 100th Army was also ordered to march into the Haizhou area. After Li Yannian returned to Haizhou, he strengthened the deployment and checked the defense facilities. He was not afraid of defending Haizhou but was afraid of abandoning Haizhou.Even if the area of ​​Haizhou was attacked from three sides, Li Yannian felt fearless and could escape by sea as a last resort. If he abandoned Haizhou, Li Yannian believed that nine out of ten he would pull his troops to Xuzhou, which would be troublesome. However, on November 4th, Chiang Kai-shek changed the original battle plan and decided to abandon Haizhou and fight Xuzhou. He ordered Li Yannian in the Ninth Appeasement District to lead the 44th Army to move westward to Xuzhou (under the command of Huang Botao); he ordered Huang Botao's corps to cover Li Yannian's troops Assemble to Xuzhou after the westward retreat.Liu Zhi originally planned for Huang Botao's Corps to gather in Xuzhou on the 5th, but because the Corps was tasked with covering the westward retreat of the troops in the Ninth Appeasement Zone, Li Yannian, the commander of the Ninth Appeasement Zone, did not receive the order to retreat until the night of the 5th, so he It was decided to start the operation at dawn on the 6th, and the retreat was completed on the 7th.Huang Botao had no choice but to wait in Xin'an Town. Chiang Kai-shek's deployment this time made Huang Botao anxious. At 10 a.m. on November 5th, an order was received to withdraw the Seventh Corps to the west of the canal in the early morning of the 6th to take over the defense line of Li Mi's Corps.At 8:30 that night, another order was received, and the operation was postponed. Li Yannian's 9th appeasement area troops were received on the spot. After the 9th appeasement area troops crossed the canal, the Seventh Corps moved westward. Huang Botao faithfully carried out his orders and anxiously waited for the troops in the Ninth Appeasement Area, but Li Mi's corps did not wait for Huang Botao's corps and retreated towards Xuzhou.During this period, Huang Botao never expected the difficulty of passing the canal on the way to the west, and did not build bridges in advance. On the evening of the 6th, Huang Botao, who had just finished an emergency military briefing, pointed to the map and introduced the situation on the battlefield to Li Yannian and Li Yikuang who had retreated to Xin'an Town. If you fight in Xin'an Town, you will be alone and helpless. If the enemy advances westward, you will encounter the enemy if you don't reach Xuzhou. Moreover, the Xuzhou Engineering Corps will build canal bridges in the future. I have ordered the 63rd Army to cross from Yaowan Town, and the rest of the army Going west tomorrow morning, it is too late to turn in. To cover the 44th Army’s westward withdrawal from Haizhou, the military opportunity must not be delayed, otherwise the entire corps will be surrounded, and the overall situation will be at a disadvantage. The Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly changed its combat plan, and is always passive. It is the general who has no talent, and the whole army is exhausted. This battle is like a collapse, and everything is lost. What will we do in the future? At midnight on the 6th, Huang Botao asked the guards to invite Li Yikuang.Huang Botao said to Li Yikuang full of emotion: "According to the scouts of the Communist Army near Honghuabu in Tancheng tonight, more than a dozen columns of Chen Yi's main force have all gone south. The first has assembled in Tancheng, Pixian, and Feixian. Numerous columns are rushing forward, judging from this, the enemy will not allow our regiment to retreat westward and assemble, and it is certain to attack our regiment first. You and Jigong (Li Yannian name Jifu) will hurry tomorrow morning to avoid accidents on the road. Guo Rugui and Xu Langxuan in the combat hall , Zhang Zongliang and others made such a plan, which makes people sad. The army is fighting, changing its mind at any time, shaking the morale of the army, and affecting morale. Don't they know? There are more than 100,000 soldiers in the Corps, and Chen Yi's main force is more than 300,000. The Li Corps will be defeated. On the way to retreat to the west, You Yi encountered the enemy from the side and fought everywhere. His foothold was uncertain, and he was defeated individually. The most worrying thing. Please tell Boss Liu (Liu Zhi) to pay attention to the other corps. If I am surrounded, I hope other armies will come to rescue me. The ancients said that if you win, you will raise your glasses to celebrate, and if you lose, you will try your best to save us. We cannot do this. The nature of this battle is different from the previous battles. It is a decisive battle for the main force. The relationship between life and death, please tell the boss, and pay attention to motivating commanders at all levels of the battlefield, otherwise we will die together, and no one will be able to leave." Huang Botao finally said: "The Kuomintang cannot defeat the Communist Party. They follow the instructions of their superiors to the end, but we obey them." From Huang Botao's suggestions to Liu Zhi and his conversations with Li Yikuang and Li Yannian, it can be seen that Huang Botao has long been aware of our army's intentions and deployments, but just as Huang Botao said to Chen Shizhang, commander of the 25th Army under his command: "It's a pity My approval of this plan is too late, and I’m afraid it’s too late to retreat now.” The various ministries of Huaye who entered the starting position and were on standby to attack discovered the enemy's attempt to retreat and assemble in Xuzhou, and immediately reported to Su Yu. Su Yu immediately ordered the attack to be launched on the 6th, and at the same time telegraphed the Central Military Commission. The telegram said: "The Huaihai Campaign will still be implemented according to the established policy. In order to expel and solve the small number of stubborn soil along the east coast of the Yi River, so as to cover the construction of bridges and the main force to advance, we will use Lu Zong to encircle and annihilate Tancheng, The nine divisions of Wang Hong of Dabu; the 6th vertically encircled and wiped out Matou and the enemies along the north and south river banks; the 7th vertically encircled and wiped out the enemies of Yi County and Zaozhuang; The Hebei-Shandong-Henan Independent Brigade marched towards the Fengxian and Dangshan lines in order to clear the enemy's periphery. It will approach the enemy tomorrow night and block the news. On the evening of the 8th, it will complete the division and encirclement and launch the attack. The Huaihai Division has sent troops to approach Xinpu and Haizhou , to find out the situation. If the enemy has indeed retreated, it is better to arrange to take over the city, maintain order and discipline, grasp the policy, control Lianyungang, and deploy a guard to the sea. Another part is used to cooperate with the Binhai local armed forces and one part of the Subei Corps to strictly guard against the enemy. The westward advance of the Forty-Fourth Army made it impossible to join forces with the Huang Corps in a timely manner." When Mao Zedong replied to Su Yu and others on the 7th, he pointed out: "I fully agree with the attack deployment described in the call at 20 o'clock on the 6th. I hope you will resolutely implement it. Unless there are particularly major changes, do not change the plan. The more determined the more victorious. Under this policy , It’s up to you to act decisively. Don’t ask for instructions on everything, but report the battle situation and opinions every day, every two days, or every three days.” Mao Zedong clearly gave Su Yu the power to act decisively. Su Yu advanced the launch of the Huaihai Campaign by two days. History has proven that these are extremely precious two days.If we don't strive for these two days, Huang Botao's corps may walk away. "These two days have disrupted the enemy's combat deployment and created a favorable opportunity to divide and encircle Huang Botao's corps." Su Yu even said later: "If Huang Botao was allowed to rush into Xuzhou four hours later, the battle would be bad. beated." Changing the combat time approved by Mao Zedong requires not only wisdom, but also courage, especially for Su Yu. On November 5, 1948, Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin ordered the East China Field Army to form 16 columns with more than 400,000 horses in accordance with Chairman Mao Zedong's first phase of the Huaihai Campaign. An area of ​​more than 700 Huali wide in Ganyu attacked the Xuzhou Jiang Jun defense area in a mighty manner. The first route (left wing) is the North Jiangsu Corps, led by General Wei Guoqing, the commander of the Corps, with a total of 3 columns and 8 divisions, marching southward from Ganyu County to Ahu Town, preparing to cut off Huang Botao's Corps from fleeing eastward to Haizhou and Lianyungang The way out, and cooperate with the local troops in northern Jiangsu to attack Haizhou and Lianyungang. The second road (middle road) is the headquarters of Huaye, led by Su Yu and Tan Zhenlin, with a total of 7 columns and more than 20 divisions. They go south from Linyi and gallop towards Xin'an Town, where Huang Botao's corps is stationed. Li Mi Corps contact. The third route (right wing) is the Shandong Corps, led by Corps Commander Xu Shiyou, with 3 columns and 9 divisions, going south from Tengxian County, going straight to Daxujia Station on Longhai Road in Xudong, cutting off Huang Botao's escape route to the west, and blocking Xuzhou Jiang Jundong aid. The fourth road (Northwest Road of Xuzhou) is the third column of Huaye, the Guangdong-Guangzhou column, plus the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Independent Brigade, a total of 7 divisions, and cooperates with the main force of the Central Plains Field Army to attack the west of Xuzhou to hold back the Jiang army stationed in Shangqiu Qiu Qingquan's corps came to the east to help Xu Dong's troops complete the encirclement of Huang Botao's corps. On the eve of the march of various armies in Huaye, Commander Chen Yi and Political Commissar Deng Xiaoping, in accordance with Chairman Mao's instructions, commanded four columns of the Central Plains Field Army, and first launched an attack on Zhengzhou and Kaifeng on October 21. City, wiped out more than 10,000 enemies.Then the division marched eastward, according to Chairman Mao's first phase of the Huaihai Campaign, with 4 divisions to attack the enemy stationed in Shangqiu, in order to contain Qiu Qingquan's corps and prepare for the encirclement of Xudong and Huang Botao's corps. Unexpectedly, he quickly went south to the area between Xuzhou and Beng, captured Suxian County, and cut off the connection between Jiang Jun in Xuzhou and Bengbu.At the same time, another column was ordered to advance to Guoyang, and another column to advance to Mengcheng to prevent the Huangwei Corps and Sun Yuanliang Corps from reinforcing Xuzhou. The curtain of the Huaihai War, which shocked China and the world, opened.16 columns of the East China Field Army, 7 columns of the Central Plains Field Army, plus local troops, totaling more than 600,000 horses, coordinated operations on the Huaihai battlefield, which is more than 700 miles in length and width. According to the combat plan, they launched offensives to their respective predetermined targets.It's really people like tides, horses like dragons, mighty and mighty, and their prestige shakes the sky. The Huang Botao Corps was established in July 1948, under the jurisdiction of the 25th Army, the 63rd Army, and the 64th Army. In early November, the 100th Army and the 44th Army were also placed under the command of the Seventh Corps.In this way, when the Huaihai Campaign was launched, Huang Botao's Corps actually had 5 armies, a total of 10 divisions, and about 150,000 people. When my East China Field Army surrounded Huang Botao's corps on November 6, Huang Botao began to retreat westward on the 7th.Why?So what? When encircling and annihilating Huang Botao's Corps, our East China Field Army placed three columns between Yuanshan and Daxu's house, tenaciously blocking the enemy aided by Xuzhou.This is the fortification of the 1st Battalion of the 87th Regiment of a certain unit that was responsible for the blocking mission. After September 1948, Huang Botao's corps gathered in Xin'an Town, east of Xuzhou.Huang Botao deeply felt that his corps was far away from Xuzhou and was isolated, so it was easy to be annihilated by the People's Liberation Army.Therefore, he once proposed to Liu Zhi that all the corps should be gathered around Xuzhou to avoid being defeated by the People's Liberation Army. He believed that the Xuzhou Kuomintang troops were distributed along the Longhai Railway, with a vast front, and there were People's Liberation Army troops in all directions. If you are few, you will be few if you prepare the front, and you will be few if you are prepared for everything, and you will be few if you are omnipotent.”He proposed that the only way to be safe is to follow Napoleon's regimental concentration method and concentrate troops around Xuzhou. On November 3, Huang Botao expressed his opinions to Liu Zhi again, advocating that "taking Xuzhou as the center, gather all the corps to prepare for war in the east, west, south, and north directions, carry out deep trenches and high fortifications, and connect the corps to each other." tactics". When Gu Zhutong decided to assemble the corps to Xuzhou on November 5, he hurried back to Xin'an Town that night and immediately deployed to retreat westward.But at this time, Huang Botao received another order from Liu Zhi, asking him to cover the westward retreat of the 44th Army of the 9th Appeasement Area of ​​the Kuomintang, which was originally scheduled to retreat from the sea. retreat.Therefore, it was not until the morning of November 7 that Huang Botao's corps began to withdraw from Xin'an Town in the chaos and moved closer to Xuzhou. Huang Botao's original deployment for the westward withdrawal was to order the bridging troops to build a parallel pontoon bridge in the north of the railway to connect the roads on both sides of the canal; the 25th Army sent a part to occupy Niushan, cover the 44th Army's retreat first, and then serve as a bridge to the east. The 100th Army occupied the gun carriages, guarded the north, and covered the 63rd Army, 64th Army, and 44th Army to pass through the canal. The troops of the East China Field Army marched towards Xuzhou through the southwestern area of ​​Shandong, wading through the icy river But at this time our army had launched an attack, the enemy felt that the situation was urgent, each army had its own plans, and Huang Botao's deployment could not be carried out.Under such circumstances, Huang Botao had to change his original deployment and changed it to: the 25th Army first occupied Niushan with part of it, covering the retreat of the 44th Army; The main force retreated across the canal and then followed up; the 63rd Army crossed the canal from Yaowan and retreated to Nianzhuang; The army retreated; all the armies gathered after arriving at Nianzhuang, and then turned to Bayiji and Daxu's house. On the morning of the 7th, the entire Corps began to withdraw westward in the order of the 100th Army, the 64th Army, the Corps Headquarters, the 25th Army, and the 44th Army (the army began to arrive at the city head east of Xin'an Town on the 6th).The 63rd Army retreated from Xin'an Town to Yaowan in the southwest. On the way from Xin'an Town to Xuzhou, there is the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.Only one railway bridge can pass through the canal in this area, and all the boats along the river were sunk into the bottom of the river or hidden downstream by the local people. In addition to the 63rd Army, Huang Botao's Corps, with more than 100,000 people from the other 4 armies, plus the local personnel of the Kuomintang, passed through the same bridge, which was extremely crowded.These Kuomintang officers and soldiers each wanted to flee. Many people were squeezed into the water, and some were trampled to death on the bridge. Some troops even used machine guns to open the way in order to snatch the canal. Until the 9th, except for Liushisan who was deployed to cross the river in Yaowan, the other four armies crossed the canal one after another.Huang Botao ordered the two regiments left behind in the east of the river to hold the bridgehead to prevent our army from pursuing. He also ordered to pour gasoline on the bridge and burn it down. In the afternoon, Huang Botao's troops entered the Nianzhuang area west of the canal. In November, Xin'an Town, located by the canal bridge between Xuzhou and Xinpu, was shrouded in a misty early winter mist, with gray houses, gray streets, gray gun towers, gray fortifications, and dust rising all over the sky. This old town has become a gray world. At the door of a gray compound at the east end of the town, on the 7th floor of the steps stood a Kuomintang general, about 50 years old, medium-sized, fat, bald, wearing a straight military uniform, with gold stars on his shoulders and "Zhongzheng" on his waist. Sword", with a row of medals pinned to his chest, he is Huang Botao, commander of the Seventh Corps of the Kuomintang Army.At this moment, I don't know if it's because of the gray world that caused his unhappiness, or because he has been disheartened after many years of fighting, his heart seems to be covered with a layer of gray fog, and he looks dingy. 往日，他可不是这样的心情，每当穿上将军服，望望胸前的这枚青天白日勋章，总有一种欢快的情感产生。半月前他也不是这样的心情，当杜聿明宣布了向北攻击计划时，他也曾有一番兴奋，打算再在战场上再获得一枚勋章，就是在两天之前吧，他的心情也不像现在这样，尽管北进计划耽搁了，顾祝同重新调整部署，命令他将第七兵团带往徐州，但他认为此举却是正中下怀，几个兵团合在一起，总比让自己作为长蛇阵的蛇头伸在外面要好得多了。 而今天，他却不得不忧虑了，战报不断飞来，传说共军已经南下，正向他这里扑来，有的说共军已到阿湖镇了，而他竟然还待在这里。 黄伯韬暗自在埋怨刘峙，他百思而不得其解，在作战会议上，明明是让他5日动身，向徐州靠拢，而刘峙却将正式命令改为7日，要他等待驻在海州的四十四军过来，再向西撤。四十四军原属川军，并非刘峙嫡系，让黄伯韬这个主力兵团待在随时有大战爆发的火山口上，为这杂牌军断后，无论从战略与情理上都说不通。 时间愈来愈紧迫，黄伯韬在屋里实在坐不住了，不时地走到门口向西眺望，映入眼帘的仍是一片灰蒙蒙的天地。 四十四军的先头部队终于到了，背着枪支的士兵，拄着拐杖的官员，赶着马车牛车的富商、乡绅及他们的娇妇嫩女，一起混杂在队伍里，个个面呈惊慌之色，蹒跚而过。黄伯韬望着这群溃不成军的队伍，气不打一处来，刚转过身去，忽听“嘎吱”声响，一辆小车穿过人流在门口停下。 从车里钻出两位满脸灰垢的将军，黄伯韬一看，原来是第九绥靖区司令李延年和国民政府参军处高参、总统特派战地视察员李以匡两位来临，黄伯韬只好迎上前去握手问候，相互寒暄了几句，黄伯韬望着李延年，赌气地说： “吉公，刘总司令英明决策，我在这里恭候大驾已经两天了。” 李延年听出黄伯韬的弦外之音，他心里也有股怨气，怏怏不快地说：“老兄，第九绥区已经撤销，我是被撤职的闲员，岂敢有劳大驾！刘总把金钱看得比国家还重要，关于撤退海州的军事情报，他的唐经理，比我这司令长官还要提前一天知道呢。” “唐经理？”黄伯韬似乎发现了秘密所在，吃惊地问道：“吉公，这唐经理是……” 李延年索性和盘托出，道出真情：“黄兄，你还蒙在鼓里吧？唐经理就是刘总在新浦私设的盐店的经纪人，他身上有刘总的一座银行。4日晚上，他就对我说：'刘总来电，要我随司令一起回徐州。'我当时还不知道有西撤的计划，问他：'你怎么知道我要回徐州？'他说：'海州不要了。'从他那儿回到驻地，到第二天我才接到徐州方面的正式命令。身为总司令如此泄露军机，真是岂有此理！” 黄伯韬听李延年这般一说，才恍然大悟，原来自己被愚弄了，刘峙的葫芦里卖的不是药，而是钱！第七兵团在新安镇推迟两天行动，不是为了四十四军，是为了保护刘峙的这位唐经理，为了保护刘峙的私产。 会战尚未开始，身为徐州“剿”总司令的刘峙，为着自己的金钱，竟置十几万军队将士的生命而不顾，将一场战争看得如同儿戏！想想将来，黄伯韬真有点不寒而栗，不由怒从心起：“如此指挥，党国怎会安在！” 站在一旁的总统战地视察员李以匡闻听，心里也暗暗埋怨刘峙太过分了。但因身份特殊，不便多言，只能从中调解，说道：“吉公、黄公，事已至此，还是以大局为重，经扶乃是福将，大敌当前，还靠诸公辅佐，共度危难。” 黄伯韬将怒火暂时压进心头，领着两人到司令部作战室小坐。由于刚开过作战会议，作战室里烟雾腾腾，黄伯韬先打开窗户透透气，再吩咐侍卫点上两盏汽灯，然后拉开地图上的绿色帷幕，一边介绍第七兵团的战场态势，一边将自己这两天来的焦虑道了出来： “吉公，匡兄，并非我黄伯韬多虑，刘总这一耽搁，使我兵团处境极为不妙，根据情报，现在从阿湖到运河桥65公里处，陈毅所率40万兵力正从北面平推下来，我在新安镇孤军无援，只能等明日侧敌西进，很可能到不了徐州就要遭到包围，立足未稳，随地应战，何以制胜？”说到这里，黄伯韬望望这两位将军，关心地说：“据说陈毅所属共军在郯城、邳县、黄县周围集结，二位明早应尽快离开这里，免遭不测。” 李以匡听完战情，方知事态严重，明白了黄伯韬对刘峙的埋怨的情由，本想劝慰几句，想想劝也无用，自己又颠簸了一天疲惫不堪，便起身告辞，和李延年一起去刘家楼大院安寝。 黄伯韬送走二人后，回到寝室躺在床上，心里仍思潮起伏。他望望挂在将军服上的青天白日勋章，感到一生沉浮，历历均在眼前。他回顾一生的周折，想想自己好不容易才爬上这个官位，掌握了一个大兵团的12万人马，本可如意称心，但眼下却又面临危难。现在会战尚未开始，已有不祥之兆，搞不好生命危在旦夕，实在令人不胜感慨。他越想越睡不着，索性爬起来，从橱柜里拿出瓶白兰地，自斟自饮。酒过三巡后，醉眼朦胧，他猛想起李以匡是自己陆大的同窗，关系甚厚，便索性令卫士把酒带上，悄悄来到了刘家楼大院。 此时已过午夜，李以匡正在酣睡，猛听得叩门之声，疑有军情，赶忙抬头一看，门前站着满脸酒气的黄伯韬，旁边卫士的手里还拎着两瓶白兰地。他心想：黄伯韬的这种情绪对即将到来的会战十分不利，必须劝慰一番，当下微微一笑，说：“黄公，深夜来访，看来有要事相告？” 黄伯韬勉强笑了笑，说道：“匡兄，你我在陆大同窗，平素难得相见，大战在即，日后能否聚首就很难说了，故而特备水酒一杯，为兄洗尘。”说着，二人坐定，卫士斟酒后退下，黄伯韬端起酒杯：“来，干杯！” 李以匡端起酒杯：“黄公，第七兵团系国家劲旅，黄公骁勇惯战，战功赫赫，愚弟敬佩。今日战地相聚，理应同庆，祝黄公旗开得胜，为徐州会师干杯！” 两杯相碰，杯中同是白兰地，味道却不一样：一个想让它变成甜酒，另一个则看做是苦酒。 两人又喝了不少，黄伯韬醉了，语无伦次地说：“国民党是斗不过共产党的，人家对上边指示奉行到底，我们呢，全他妈的阳奉阴违……” 李以匡赶忙打断话头，“黄公，不说这些了，喝酒吧，杯中清！”他想结束这次谈话，只好再敷衍几句：“黄公忠心赤胆，久为总裁所知。今日听此肺腑之言尤为感慨，我一定替兄转告。刘总年迈，难免有失，全靠司令们好自为之。陈毅所部战事刚毕，疲劳不堪，即兴兵南下，百里之遥哪能说到就到？兄明日起程，火速西进，即使共军赶到，这里已是一座空城了，待兄会师徐州，我在九里山下为兄洗尘，干杯！” 这几句话倒像是给黄伯韬斟了杯甜酒，心想，要真如李以匡所说，那我还有什么忧愁呢？他一扫阴云，微露笑意，端起酒杯：“但愿如此，为党国昌盛，干杯！” “砰砰砰！”新安镇东头传来一阵枪响，夜深人静，枪声特别清脆。两人一惊，酒杯同时放下。黄伯韬的醉意被枪声惊退一半，额头上出现几滴冷汗，他跨过桌椅，拿起电话，命令值班参谋：“查明原因，火速报来！”随即起身告辞。 天色微亮，黄伯韬率第七兵团匆匆离开了新安镇，大队人马向徐州奔去。黄伯韬和参谋长魏翔坐在一辆吉普车里，昨夜的酒精还在发挥作用，他在车子的颠簸中，昏昏沉沉地睡着了。 行至半路，前边传来一片慌乱的呼喊：“共军来了，共军来了，运河桥上打起来了！”嘈杂的声音将黄伯韬惊醒。他不相信共军这么快就到了运河桥头，心想：这也许是遇上了小股游击队吧？但细细一想觉得也不对头：我这么个大兵团行动，游击队岂敢虎嘴里拔牙！当他正在猜疑中，告状的来了，在盘问一番后，才知道是周在道的一○○军和海州来的四十四军在运河桥上，为争夺道路发生了火并，自相残杀。黄伯韬又气又急，赶忙前往运河桥平息事态。 其实，事件的发生并非偶然。周在道的一○○军也算是黄伯韬的一支心腹队伍。两天前，周在道接到的命令是为四十四军断后，保护四十四军通过运河桥再向西撤，心里就憋着一股火气，但军人以服从命令为天职，尽管心中有气，但还得守在运河桥头等待两天。到了今天拂晓，四十四军的先头部队终于来了，刚到桥头就听到远处隐隐传来了枪炮声，大家争先恐后地往桥上挤去。这一座总共不过5米宽的运河大桥，被人流堵塞得水泄不通，谁也挤不过去，于是，你踢我一脚，我砸你一拳，人挤着马，马冲着人，马车、牛车、人群混在一处，乱成一团。 一○○军的几位团长，纷纷来到他们的军长周在道跟前，怨声载道： “军座，像这样挤法，我们3个月也通不过！” “军座，这都是谁的主意？让我们掩护这帮混蛋！” “军座，你快拿个主意呀！” “军座！军座！” 周在道憋了两天的火一瞬点着：“慌什么！你们就没有办法吗？堂堂正规军，对付不了这群乌合之众！” 望着周在道气得血红的眼睛，几位团长顿时心领神会，马上命令部队架起机枪，准备向桥上扫射，哪知道，没等他们先开火，四十四军到先动手了。 拂晓，四十四军军长王泽璇，坐了一辆像甲壳虫似的小车爬到了运河东岸，一路上望着逃难的人群，心里十分烦恼，他也有他的怨恨。 几天前，还在海州的时候，王泽璇收到了老爷子、国民党四川省政府主席王瓒绪特地派专人送来的密信。The letter said: “据悉，委座侍从室密讯，五大战场相继失利，拟在淮海地区集中兵力，诱敌决战，力争全胜，以固民心。我看在连战败北的情况下，还要集结兵力背城一战，何异杀鸡取卵！这一战，徐州将首当其冲。吾儿，你应以我病重为由，立即请假，回川待机……” 读完信，国防部的命令已经到了。原命令是：“放弃海州，四十四军由上海来船撤往蚌埠。”接着不到两天，又来一道命令：“撤销海运，四十四军由陆地撤往徐州。”老爷子的信果然证实了，可请假回川已来不及，徐州四战之地，未来实在是不堪设想，这自然令他心里焦虑。侥幸的是，命令上说有周在道的一○○军为其掩护，估计一路还算安全，也就暂且搁下心思，准备到徐州后再设法溜回四川。临行时，王泽璇还带上海州医院的护士余小姐，一路随疲于奔命，但有美人相伴，倒也还不甚寂寞。 奔波两天，到了运河东岸，正等着过桥，就见副官骑着匹马飞奔而来。 “军座，桥上拥挤，部队全被堵住了。” 王泽璇破口大骂：“龟儿子，怎么搞的嘛！” 副官继续报告，“军座，我们已派出纠察哨准备维持秩序，调整人群，依次通过。” 王泽璇点点头：“要得！要得！” 副官摇了摇头：“军座，不行呀，一○○军周军长已密令警卫营在桥头架起机枪，准备向我们桥上的人开火。” 王泽璇闻听，顿感自己被出卖了，对副官说： “命令部队，火力掩护，强行通过！” “是！”副官赶到桥头，布置四十四军也架起了机枪，并且先发制人，“砰砰砰”打了起来。 一○○军见状，更不含糊，“哒哒哒”机枪喷出了火舌。 黄伯韬赶到运河岸边，激战尚在进行。他向前看去，运河桥上一片狼藉，桥下尸体成堆，连桥栏杆上也悬挂着士兵、女人、骡马的尸体、枪支、弹药、皮箱、车轱辘，满地皆是，运河里流着污垢的血水。这时，他又向东望去，他那十几万人马、车辆，黑压压地停留在野地里，好像已被冰结住了，他看看手表，这场火并又整整耽误了两个多小时，不觉脸色铁青，责问王泽璇： “王军长，这是怎么回事？” 王泽璇余火未熄，气匆匆地道：“司令，一○○军欺人太甚，周在道枪杀友军，贻误战机，该当何罪？你看着办吧！” 黄伯韬打心里是向着周在道的，可眼下不行。四十四军刚刚归属第七兵团管辖，还得以安抚为主，只好压住内火，矜持地说： “王军长，管好你的部队，一切由我做主！”说完，向一○○军呼叫：“周在道吗！胡闹，命令部队停止射击，违令者军法从事，你跑步过来！” 王泽璇明白，黄伯韬的火气也是冲着他发的，彼此心照不宣。 双方停止射击，撤掉火力，周在道怒冲冲地来到黄伯韬身边，见到王泽璇，视若无人。心里说：论怒气，黄司令心中的积怨不会比我少。 一场火并虽然平息，但黄伯韬心里却暗暗叫苦，他望着长长的运河铁桥，想想这么多部队要从桥上通过，还得需要多少时间，昨夜的焦虑又一次涌上心头。但事已至此，也是万般无奈，只有临时召开个紧急会议，去重新调整行军部署。 黄伯韬部署完毕回到车内，细想自己尚未交战已先损兵折将，免不得又是一阵叹息。 这时，值班参谋前来报告：“黄司令，四十四军的一位参谋主任失踪。” 黄伯韬一愣，忙问：“什么时候？” “昨天夜里。据调查，可能是共军侦察员干的。” “噢？”黄伯韬心里一惊：看来西撤计划已经暴露了，途中这一仗是非打不可的了。 参谋长魏翔从车镜里看到了黄伯韬的忧虑神情，轻声说：“黄司令，这位参谋主任失踪，是真的被俘虏，还是临阵脱逃？依我之见，两种因素皆难否定。况且，即使是我们的计划暴露了，但共军部队尚在百里之外，我不信他们会如此神速。说不定他们追到徐州，为时已晚了。” 黄伯韬半信半疑，勉强地点点头，转身命令值班参谋：“命令一○○军派出特工队，跟踪追击，通知后续部队严密封锁交通要道，捕获共军侦察员。”说完，便对司机一挥手：“快！火速西进。” 一阵急促的马蹄声从岗南村那边传来。 岗南村离西柏坡20里。那里住着军委二局的一支重要队伍，高高的天线从村子里伸出来，但伪装得天衣无缝，不论是从地面或是天空，看见的只是一片树林。 年轻的二局局长戴镜元骑着战马，猛挥一鞭，那一朵炭火般的牲口长嘶一声，踏过碎石路，跨过恶石沟，直奔西柏坡而来。听见嗒嗒的马蹄声，中央机关的人们全都止步凝神，引颈注目，打量这飞驰而来的战马。 戴镜元几乎每天都来西柏坡送情报，每次都骑这枣红马，嗒嗒嗒嗒，流火一般，20钟便从岗南村到了西柏坡，他注意到，人们关切的目光全落在他左肩右斜的挎包上。 淮海战役一开始，从参谋、卫士、炊事员到幼儿园的保育员全都关注起前方的局势来了。 “黄伯韬怎么样了？” “跑啦！向西跑啦？” “怎么让他跑了呢？” “听说是从地道跑的哩！”有人煞有介事地说。 后来，黄伯韬兵团被围在了碾庄。 “怎么还没歼灭呀？” “难打呢！” “这家伙这么顽固？” 开始，西柏坡的人们，从毛泽东到炊事员，都以为只需一个星期就可以结束歼黄战斗。后来，决定延长到10天。再后来，又决定延长到半个月…… 人们揪心地盼着淮海战场的捷报。 “主席睡觉了吗？” “没有，灯一夜都亮着！” 只要是毛泽东睡觉了，就准是打了大胜仗。 “听说黄维兵团也来了。” "yes." “哎呀呀，喷啧啧……” 大伙的心似乎又压上了一块石头。 这次戴镜元又带来了什么情报呢？ 戴镜元在围墙外跳下马，将缰绳交给哨兵，飞步直奔军委机要室，把电文交给了叶子龙主任，叶子龙手下有3个译电员。 戴镜元走出机要室，见周恩来的秘书刘长明站在一辆黑色的小轿车边，正向他招手。 这辆小轿车是打下济南后华野送给毛泽东的，车的原主人是第三绥靖区中将司令官王耀武，车上装着防弹玻璃，可毛泽东一次都未坐过。 戴镜元走过去，小声问：“周副主席还在工作？” “每天只打两个盹，趴在桌上睡，一次1个小时，1分钟都不多。”刘长明打了个哈欠，“紧张得很啊！” “你就不能劝一劝？”戴镜元有些生气。 “我？”刘长明双手一摊，“他肯听我的？你还不晓得这是什么时候！主席已经10天没脱衣服上床了！” “他妈的黄伯韬！”戴镜元在心里骂起来。 毛泽东的卫士组长李银桥拿个竹竿轻轻地撵走了毛泽东住所窗外那片竹林里归巢的鸟雀，耷拉着脑袋往回走，刘长明很是同情地叹了口气说：“他肯定挨主席熊了