Chapter 3 3. Le Duan inspected Lang Son after the war and was speechless in front of the ruins

There is a famous saying in the Vietnamese army: "One soldier can deal with thirty Chinese soldiers." No need to refute, just laugh.The Vietnamese army did not really reduce its troops to 133,334 people in order to make an overall challenge to the Chinese army, which totaled 4 million at that time. However, the arrogance of the Vietnamese authorities and the Vietnamese army also has its material basis.After the United States retreated to Vietnam, Vietnam seized military equipment worth more than 20 billion U.S. dollars.As part of the compensation for the huge price of the long-term struggle against the United States and the national salvation, and the strong strength of defending the motherland for peaceful construction, the amount is not only considerable, but also should arouse full confidence and pride.

Sadly it leads to arrogance and self-indulgence. The United States and the Soviet Union will not compare with him for the time being. Which country in the world would dare to compare with Lao Tzu." No need to be complimented by others, Vietnam self-directed and acted to put on the high hat of "the world's third power in foreign affairs".Not only is there sufficient weapons and equipment, but Vietnam believes that the combat quality of its soldiers who have been tested by the flames of war is also first-rate.Little do they know that there are at least six or seven countries more qualified than it are snickering at its self-proclaimed third child.

What's more, like a big belly and thin legs, Vietnam's national strength cannot be commensurate with its military strength.At this time, Vietnam should take advantage of the post-war peace and good international and surrounding environment, use the greatly saved military expenditure and a large amount of foreign aid to vigorously develop the economy, obtain recuperation, improve people's lives, and achieve long-term peace and stability. China strives to pursue such a rich country policy.But no one can imagine that a few well-to-do families can live a stable and prosperous life with a poor and wicked neighbor.

Vietnam fell into the second pathetic, using military expansion to solve domestic economic problems.And because of the once-in-a-century flood in 1978, 4.3 million tons of grain was lost, and the militarism reached its peak. At the end of 1977 and the beginning of 1978, the Vietnamese army adopted the strategy of "quick battle and quick decision" in an attempt to annex Cambodia in one fell swoop, which was condemned by international public opinion and the Cambodian army launched a strong counterattack.From February 1978 onwards, the strategy was changed, and the method of gradual advancement was adopted to continue the aggression against Cambodia. Tanks and artillery were not effective, and aircraft and gas bombs were used.The Vietnamese authorities, who threatened to "occupy Phnom Penh within 24 hours" (Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh), expanded the war of aggression against Cambodia while intensifying the conflict on the Sino-Vietnamese border.

According to common sense, Vietnam should try its best to avoid fighting on two fronts, especially avoid premature conflict with China.However, due to interests, Vietnam had to take risks and openly confront China. First, China is a huge obstacle for Vietnam to promote regional hegemony and realize the ambition of "Indochina Federation". The military power, showing off its courage for a while, does not pay attention to China, which has just gone through the Cultural Revolution and civil strife; third, the economy is depressed and the population burden is heavy. Overseas Chinese; Fourth, if they are against China, they can ask for more aid from the Soviet Union.etc.

Regarding Deng Xiaoping's repeated warnings and punishments on behalf of China, a Vietnamese government official said, in the autumn of 1978, we studied how Deng Xiaoping would punish Vietnam. "Historical Records: Biography of Su Qin" mentioned that when a country punishes another country, there are three kinds of punishments: that is, punishment by tactics; punishment by isolating the other party; punishment by force. For "punishment by force", Yue's strategy is a trilogy. A. Don't hesitate to sell Cam Ranh Bay, go all out to the Soviet Union, win a large amount of aid, and at the same time sign the Soviet-Vietnamese treaty called friendship and cooperation but actually a military alliance as soon as possible, so as to limit China's force punishment.

B. Concentrate forces, fight with a large force to accelerate the capture of Phnom Penh and the vast areas of Cambodia, establish a puppet regime, and create a fait accompli before the Chinese national team is assembled, thereby forcing China to cancel the punishment by force. The first two parts were completed on November 3, 1978 and January 7, 1979, respectively.On the contrary, China's attitude has become tougher and more intense as the situation has deteriorated.China has repeatedly emphasized that what it says means what it says. Vietnam, the "third military power in the world," said that it is not afraid of China. Naturally, it will not take it back, and it will not be able to spit out the Phnom Penh. It has offended China and simply offended it to the end. So—

C. Relying on the Soviet Union, breaking the cans and breaking the cans, showing the world the prestige of "the world's third power in foreign affairs".Beginning with the invasion of Cambodia, the troops on the Vietnam North Line entered the second level of combat readiness.On the eve of Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States, the troops on the Vietnam North Line entered the first level of combat readiness.The communications unit requires the communications soldiers to "not get off the machine, and wear earphones all the time."The anti-aircraft artillery unit conducts a "first-level combat exercise". The "Thang Long" Air Force Division strengthened flight training, especially night flight training and combat exercises of large, medium and small aircraft groups.The automobile fleet of the General Staff of the People's Army is in a state of high tension and is ready to transport combat cadres to various places at any time.Artillery and rocket units change places and move frequently.Hong Kong reports that the Vietnamese strategy appears to be to use missiles and air power rather than infantry to counter China's deep assault on Vietnam, while using traditional guerrilla warfare against Chinese occupying forces.They planted vast numbers of mines and bamboo stakes along the possible Chinese invasion routes along the mountainous frontier.A person in Hanoi said that in fact, bamboo forests in Thanh Hoa and Nghe Tinh provinces have been cleared in a nationwide campaign to make bamboo stakes.

The posture of the Vietnamese army cannot be said to be tough.They analyzed that the Chinese army might gather at the border of China and Laos and suddenly appear in the plain area through Laos, so they hurriedly withdrew the second-line troops.During the actual battle, the second-line troops of the Vietnamese army did not dare to reinforce, seeing the first-line troops wiped out one by one. On the tenth day of the war, Deng Xiaoping met with the American journalists who accompanied the US Secretary of the Treasury to visit China and said: "Vietnam claims that it is the third largest military country in the world. We have no other purpose except to dispel its myth. We don't want their Territory. We also have to make them understand that they can't do whatever they want all the time."

On March 31, Le Duan inspected the military town of Lang Son, the "third military power in the world".Spring here is devastated.He was silent for a long time. The one who was so stubborn was that the spring water that came after him actually recited a poem. However, the war has been fought for another ten years, and it no longer dares to show the banner of "the world's third military power".